Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1853-11-30

obliged to work either; for since her faith
cr's death more than one friend has offered
her home. But Kate prefers life of in
dependence
Well, Harrison, | know all that | of
fered her home myself for your sake, but
she would not accept it. Mrs. Weston
gave her chance to earn her living with
her by sewing, but she refused the place.
Your father, knowing your predictions,
and wishing to do all he could for Kate, of
fered her place in the public schools, but
that she did not like. Nothing else would
do, (and Mrs. Grey's tone sounded very
much like sneer,) but to become kitch-
en- girl. am sure we have done our part
by Kate, and if she will not respect herself,
we are not in duty bound to respect her.
Mother said Harrison, and he spoke
aolemnly and earnestly, to woman who
respects herself, kitchen is as safe place
as parlor; it is not the trade that gives
dignity to a man or woman, but the man
or woman that should give dignity to the
trade. If kitchen work is actually dis
graceful, why do you ever 90 into your
kitchen. Why do you, Christian wo-
man and mother, ever let the child of an
other mother go there
why, my child, l don't think kitchen
work disgraceful-you know DON'T re-
piled Mrs. Grey, excitedly, 'but you know
how all ladies feel about it. can't con-
troll public opinion, and somehow there is a
kind of reproach attached to hired girls,
and it's useless for us to attempt to set So
ciety right in that matter There are too
many kitchen girls who are not intelligent
and upright, and suppose that is the rea-
son they stand so low
Exactly SO; but where good girl, one
every way worthy, makes it her choice of
business, and does, day by day, the same
work that you have done for years, is it
right, is it just for you to withdraw your
kindness from her because some unworthy
woman has done the same work. 1t is the
heart that people carry into labor, not the
labor itself that degenerates.'
Mrs. Grey knew her son was right, but
yet she was not quite willing, or had not
moral courage to acknowledge her error; so,
waving his argument, she replied:
why did she, knowing all these things,
refuse all other modes of living [ should
have thought she would have had more re-
spect for us
| tell you, mother, Kate had respect and
love and honor for us and for herself You Of
fered her home it would have been a
home of dependence and the world would
have said shame on Kate, she is fishing
Gov h~sbani Ms~. p.OotD,s. 'vOv,EI Lauo
given her sewing; but she knew that Sc
dentary lite would no. agree with her, and
she preferred health to false responsibility.
/ Father offered her school,
And she ought to have taken it, said
Mrs. Grey tartly; there was no dependence
or sedentary life there
9 Let us see about that, too. Mr.. Boyd
2 ten years ago, was the wealthiest farmer in
= p. He was sent to the State Legislature
and to Congress, drank his wine, and thought
/ like thousands of others, that he could moi
# fall and like thousands of others he was
l. mistaken, as | fear. my dear mother, one WI
t love well, will be ere many days pass, if he does
not take heed. The sons, following the ex
:. ample Of the father, fell also; money wen
IS through their hands like water. Meantim,
| Mrs. Boyd, almost broken hearted, to saw
/. Kate's feelings, sent her off to school abou
n ihe tine | left for college. She remained
/ three years, and then returned to find he
s. father drunken sot, property all gone, an,
Il her brothers gone to California, where, prob
d ably, they have ended their days. as she doe
not hear from them. Her mother died YER
10 soon, and her father, having no check, pu
r an end to his miserable existence, by delir
ID um tremens. Kate's early life was free fror
,e care, she was the child of wealth, her schoe
days gave her no chance for learning to
w useful and at ease in a house. She felt thu
50 every woman should, if possible, be goo
ve housekeeper-and housekeeper she ha
w reason to hope she would one day be, 70
from my boyhood up, with your consen
7 too, mother) has she had the promise of b
o. ing my housekeeper, and so she resolved t
no engage in that work, which would best
. her for the place she expects to occupy. Al
tv is ityou, mother, that would advise me
IS desert her because she is struggling to pr
ot- pare herself for duty?'
Well, don't know; it does seem hare
,se but still, Harrison, somehow don't like t
,ut idea Of your marrying kitchen girl
po 1t is strange, said young Grey, paci
,ir. the floor back and forth, in an almost ang
civ mood that this abomnable prejudice h
civ taken such fast hold of the minds Of all "
on. men. You, mother, of all others, to ts
mo thus of the few and stinted callings open
,er. woman, to make this one, which is more i
red portant andindispensable than all the othe
de. and upon which more ofthe happiness, heal
see comfort and prosperity of a household {
set pendS, diSreputable. seems to me the heig
Of inconsistency. Half the married WON
ado in the State are kitchen women for son
of body's establishment, and often work me
the hours, and harder and faster, when supp
od ted by husband, and for far less wages, t
flo than when they were kitchen girls on th
via, own hook. 1t has always been wonder
70 me that women will so oppress their o
hon sex. A man may work at any trade he pl
. of ses, il after his work is done, he puts OH
pto aristocratic coat, and behaves, and is at he
ali. a gentleman, the world at large recogni
,nd him as such. But education, talent, bear
of grace, nor goodness cannot wash the br'
,;rl from the brow of the kitchen girl
: Of Your love for Kate, makes YOU see til
res things too strongly
No. mother, my love for Kate ma
tho me see these things truly. Love is a gr
,or sharpener to the eyesight. If the fashio
be and talented Charles Preston was to
= :. sert our dear Mary, simply because ] Ct
I;fa to marry the girl of my heart, and Mary