It was a remark made by Mrs. Melendy which first called my attention to this subject. I had been saying something complimentary of her very interesting little family. “Ah, yes! Mr. McKimber,” she answered, “if I only knew how to bring them up as they ought to be brought up!” I suggested that children need, more than any thing, a mother’s time and attention. “But that’s just what they can’t have,” said she; “for, to tell the truth, the three meals take about all day, so I have to turn off the children.” Mrs. Melendy is the woman whose husband “always wants his piece o’ pie to top off with.” I had frequently heard that remark in regard to the “three meals,”--heard it unconcernedly, as relating to a subject in which I had no interest. But when it was repeated that day by Mrs. Melendy, and in that connection, I was suddenly awakened to its full meaning; and the idea occurred to me that woman might not have been created mainly for the purpose of getting three meals a day. If she were, thought I, what a waste! for, certainly, a mere meal-getter might have been fashioned out of cheaper material. I am a curious person for following up any subject to which my attention has been particularly directed; and, in following up this subject, I have observed closely what goes on daily under the name of housework; and I find it to be a never-ending succession of steps. Why, such an everlasting tread-mill would wear out a strong man! Not only a tread-mill, but a hand-mill, and a head-mill: for hands must keep time with the feet; and, as to the head, I have often heard Mrs. Fennel tell Martha she must keep her _mind_ on her work. And, truly, the calculating and contriving demanded by each day’s operations require some mind.