The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1882-09-28

spectively nine, seven and four, whSm
we called Tip, Earle and Benny. And
mother did the work for us all. l don't
see how she managed it, but she did.
Milly was the only one who had ever
taken to house-work, and mother was
one OF those domestic burden-b bearers
who never consider their burden SO
heavy but that they can add another
trife.
Father had never been fortunate,
pecuniarilv; and being anxioas to give
all their children good education, the
labor saving for this end was added to
their ether toll. And then, like many
another good and unselfish, but unwise
mother, she allowed us our own way,
and spoiled us through indulgence; and
as we had often heard her say she
would rather do thing than take the
trouble to teach us how, we felt as
though we were actually comforting a
favor upon her by letting her have her.
own way.
To be sure we could sweep, dust, wash
dishes and make beds, and we're familiar
with some of the minor details of cook.
cry; but to keep the domestic machine
we'll oiled and in constant motion was
like trying to converse in an unknown
tongue. And so now, without any ade-
quate knowledge of work and its. re-
sponsibilities, we found ourselves with
a mountain of difficulties to surmount,
and pretty mess we made of it for o
few days, too.
1t was not difficult to get through sup
per, for, thanks to mothers provident
hands, there was enough prepared for
that meal; but when, next morning, we
found the bread was out, cookies all
gone, and not stray pie for dinner, our
troubles began-and they broadened and
deepened with every passing moment, as
we became painfully awake to the fact
that making bread and pastry was q
branch of our education which had been
terribly neglected.; and when at 10
o'clock father, in blissful ignorance Of
the novices in charge at home, sent up
sirloin roast and the information that a
stranger would dine with us, and fifteen
minutes later the washerwoman brought
in the clothes for us Co iron, was ready
to melt in tears, and Kate was 30 cross it
was dangerous to speak to her. Oh, that
weary, weary day! But only the begin
ming of many similar ones that followed.
How we longed for mothers skillful
hands to straighten out the tangled
threads our awkward fingers managed to
produce. There was something to be
done from early morn till late &C night;
so that no sooner did we fancy ourselves
free for half an hour than some duty un-
done would stare us in the face, or the
children would come in with clamoring
tongues and empty stomachs, and in a
few days / became addicted to chronic
f-etfulness, while Kate was transformed
into q veritable scold. John scowled
over the miserable meals; Kate leased us
in every vulnerable point; but poor,
patient father pitied our infirmities, and
ate what was set before him for con-
science sake.
It went on this way about fortnight,
when, after very quiet day, we took
our books and sat down for a quiet even
ing. But alas for our hopes! Only ten
minutes of peace, and the honest "ahem"
from father, caused us to look up.
do you know, girls" he inquired,
whether mother mended my pants be.
fore she went away? / should like
them to put on in the morning. She
generally did her mending every week, 1
believe"
"Therer' burst out Kate, shutting her
book with bang, while /, after one de-
spending glance at the fascinating pages
of "David Copperfield, went to examine
the mending basket.
II was full to the brim; shirts, socks,
little gingham coats with the pockets
torn down and the buttons pulled half
of, with shreds of cloth hanging to
them, fathers pants and Nellie's school
dress, with great rent clear across the
front.
With doleful sigh lifted the basket,
and without word we sat down to the
unwelcome task. Nine, ten O'Clock
came and went, and the basket WAS not
half emptied Of its contents. Father,
John, Ross aud Nellie gasped and
stretched, and one by one followed the
children OF TO bed. Eleven, and still We
sat silent and grim rs ghosts, solemnly
stitching away at tue endless rents.
"Cad," said Kate. at last, jerking
out the words ~ if she hated them,
''how do you like III"
Like what9" l asked, in astonish-
ment.
"This life OF slavery. This humdrum
everlasting stick to It, unsatisfactory
xistence. Without speck of variety
about it. just over and over, round and
around, until we seek our rest low in the
ground"
"Oh, Kater' L exclaimed, almost
shocked, mot 30 bad ~ that; not nearly
80 had a. that"
Eyes; worse than that with many.