CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT ON THE SHELF In France the young girls have a dull time of it till they are married , when ` Vive la liberte ! ' becomes their motto . In America , as everyone knows , girls early sign the declaration of independence , and enjoy their freedom with republican zest , but the young matrons usually abdicate with the first heir to the throne and go into a seclusion almost as close as a French nunnery , though by no means as quiet . Whether they like it or not , they are virtually put upon the shelf as soon as the wedding excitement is over , and most of them might exclaim , as did a very pretty woman the other day , `` I 'm as handsome as ever , but no one takes any notice of me because I 'm married . '' Not being a belle or even a fashionable lady , Meg did not experience this affliction till her babies were a year old , for in her little world primitive customs prevailed , and she found herself more admired and beloved than ever . As she was a womanly little woman , the maternal instinct was very strong , and she was entirely absorbed in her children , to the utter exclusion of everything and everybody else . Day and night she brooded over them with tireless devotion and anxiety , leaving John to the tender mercies of the help , for an Irish lady now presided over the kitchen department . Being a domestic man , John decidedly missed the wifely attentions he had been accustomed to receive , but as he adored his babies , he cheerfully relinquished his comfort for a time , supposing with masculine ignorance that peace would soon be restored . But three months passed , and there was no return of repose . Meg looked worn and nervous , the babies absorbed every minute of her time , the house was neglected , and Kitty , the cook , who took life ` aisy ' , kept him on short commons . When he went out in the morning he was bewildered by small commissions for the captive mamma , if he came gaily in at night , eager to embrace his family , he was quenched by a `` Hush ! They are just asleep after worrying all day . '' If he proposed a little amusement at home , `` No , it would disturb the babies . '' If he hinted at a lecture or a concert , he was answered with a reproachful look , and a decided -- `` Leave my children for pleasure , never ! '' His sleep was broken by infant wails and visions of a phantom figure pacing noiselessly to and fro in the watches of the night . His meals were interrupted by the frequent flight of the presiding genius , who deserted him , half-helped , if a muffled chirp sounded from the nest above . And when he read his paper of an evening , Demi 's colic got into the shipping list and Daisy 's fall affected the price of stocks , for Mrs. Brooke was only interested in domestic news . The poor man was very uncomfortable , for the children had bereft him of his wife , home was merely a nursery and the perpetual ` hushing ' made him feel like a brutal intruder whenever he entered the sacred precincts of Babyland . He bore it very patiently for six months , and when no signs of amendment appeared , he did what other paternal exiles do -- tried to get a little comfort elsewhere . Scott had married and gone to housekeeping not far off , and John fell into the way of running over for an hour or two of an evening , when his own parlor was empty , and his own wife singing lullabies that seemed to have no end .
Mrs. XXXXX was a lively , pretty girl , with nothing to do but be agreeable , and she performed her mission most successfully .
Babyland Brooke Meg Scott day first fro hour months year