The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1882-08-08
Eternal DISTINGUISHING.

The quiet fidelity with which she will
dish-wash her life awav for "him," is d
marvel of endurance and grace. Just
here is the servitude of woman heaviest,
no sooner is her work done than it re-
quires to be done again Man works up
jobs, ends them, and takes his pay. This
pay can be translated into something else
desirable. A man works all day, and
draws pay for that days work This
pay allures him, as oats horse home.
ward bound. Thus men work by terms
and jobs; and although work is endless
as to quantity, yet when cut up thus into
terms and jobs, we men 90 heartily on
our journey and count our milestones-s
Not so with our mates. sShe mends
our socks, and we put our irrepressible
toe upon the darned spot, and she darns
it sgain. "She' washes for the family,
and the family makes haste to send back
the same garment to be washed again.
"She' puts the room in order, and We
get it ready to be "rid up'' again. The
same socks. the same washing, the same
room every time. She has no success
i've jobs, no terms, no payday, no tally
stick OF life She washes the same dish
three hundred and sixty-fve-yes, three
times three hundred and sixty-fiye times
every year. No wonder she breaks 1t
and is glad of it! What relief to say,
l"Tve. done with that dishr'
1 Not only have we washed dishes, hut
also we cooked and served and helped
eat meal With 'bated appetite because
Iof cooking) and now we are astounded
at the number OF thoughts, and steps,
iand acts, and processes involved in d
very plain supper. Only two Of Us, jolly
cronies, caring nothing for style, and
needing only very plain supper. And
we had it, and with it came wisdom.
Gentlemen, ali! We 90 into room
and see table ready set. 1t seems to
us one thing-it Is, in fact from fifty to
two hundred separated things, taken
down one by one for Us to use, and for
-her' to wash and put back whence they
came. There is pate of biscuit To
that plate of simplicity we with our own
hands and feet brought together new
lquick fire for baking, viz: kindling wood,
raking out stove, and bod for coal; -four
i from the bin. shortening from the gravy.
drip down cellar, salt from one box, SUI
gar from another, soda from the Jar, acid
] (muriatic) from bottle, d spoon, q
pitcher OF water, dripping pan, and q
lin pan for mixing up these ingredients;
and after all, happening to forget the
things for ten minutes, we burned the
biscuit half through, in way which We
men reckon quite objectionable in
cook. Meanwhile, that one plate of bis.
cult added to the eternal dish-wash two
spoons, two pans, one plate and little
cup. just little piece OF steak con-
tributed eight pieces to the dlsh-wash.-
4 A few strawberries sent in six pieces to
be got ready to soil again. -Four eggs
impress themselves on six separate arti.
cles
Gentlemen, we hegan at ten minutes
iof siy, aud quarter of eight we found
ourselves trumphant-everythi clear.
ed away except the dish-cloth. You see
we washed up the bread pan, dish-pan
S"" oiuns oooiuioS 1itom all | anu our uQ-
gers too, and dried them off with the
dish cloth. Now, where on earth can
we go to wash ont that dish-ragf Not
in the clean panl Not over the clean,
dry sink! We stood aehast for five
minutes, and then wadded up the rag,
round like ball, and tucked it into the
far corner OF the sink, and shut down
/ the cover--our sink has cover But
that rag, though hidden, was heavy on
our conscience. ssShe" never would
4 have done so. We have seen clean dish.
cloths but how they washed them passes
our skill
i And so. as we said, "shen is away.
leaving US to Thought and good resolu.
tions. We shall be wiser and better
man for at least two days after her.re.
turn. And whenever we stop to think,
shall rank successful house-keeper and
home maker, as worker second 10 none
on scale of achievement and deserv.
ling Her services are like the air, the
rain and the sunshine. indispensable, yet
too often enioved without Thanksgiving.
i Rev. T. K. Beecher
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