The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1882-10-04
4 NEiGHBORLY CHAT.

Mrs.. smith, after the Otu-uine
| fashion of some country neighbor-
hoods, had brought her work to
Mrs. Worth's house, intending to
spend the afternoon.
Had she been in some houses per
haps her conversation would have
/ been gossipy-even slanderous-in
| It's character but Mrs. Worth, she
knew, was not oneto encourage any
thing of the kind; so before she was
aware she was discussing with her
hostess topics of a very different ma
ture.
Are YOU mendins Iaura's dress?"
asked Mrs. Smith, IN a tone of deep
est surprise.
"Yes-why not?' answered Mrs.
Worth.
Because she's twelve years old
quite big enough to do her own
mending."
Big enough, yes-but she hasn't
the time
Hasn't the time, indeed ! Why
Mrs. Worth, ! never saw your Laura
doing any thing"
"Oh, Mrs. Smith, you must re-
member she goes to school. "
"Goes to school ! So do my girls.
But there is plenty OF time for mend
/ ing out Of school hours"
Not so very much Mrs, Worth
spoke quite firmly.
"She leaves home at s in the
morning and does not get back un,
til ) in the afternoon. When could
she sew ?"
"An hour before supper, or two
hours in the evening"
Why, Mrs. Smith. you forget her
lessons they take up all the even
ing: and certainly think she is en-
titled to her one hour before supper
for rest and amusement, and after
her hard days work"
."Well. | don't think so. think,
after l let my girls off all day and
enjoy themselves doing nothing, it's
little enongh for me to get some
work out of them when they come
home"
Il say it's cruel; children's con-
stitutions are not made of iron y
Mrs. Worth was growing indig-
nant.
That's all very well to say but
are children any better now than
they We're forty years ago? Their
mothers and grandmothers had to
get up and do half days work be-
fore they went to school.
"Perhaps-but, perhaps, if the
children in the past had not been
so shamefullv overworked, the chill
dren in the present might have in
herited more strength than they
have. The human system is not a
machine, out of which must be tor
tured the greatest amount OF labor
Of which it is capable; but it is the
abode of an immortal life, to which
all labor, however great or small, is
the servant. My Laura is not ma
chine, she is an angel :"
Mrs. Worth was so earnest that
She actually more than halt convinc-
ed her fault-finding neighbOr.
Maybe you're right said Mrs.
Smith, hesitatingly, "but ! think
mending for q girl twelve years old
encourages her to idleness." ="
Not at all" emphatically an
swered Mrs. Worth; she has no
chance to be idle. With her school
and her lessons, she has more on her
mind than |, with my whole house
and family. And if you will care
fully question every mother, teacher
and child in the neighborhood, l
think you will be compelled to agree
with me-"
Mrs. Smith was at loss for an an
swer, so she let her eyes wonder
aimlessly around her.
Suddenly she caught sight of the
basket filed with neatly ironed
clothes.
SIX handkerchiefs marked L.
Four pairs OF stockings. Three sailor
collars. All in the wash in one
week"
Mrs. Smith made long pause be-
tween each comment.
Mrs. Worth, does Laura use all
those in one week.
"She does"
But what extravaganza :" ex-
claimed Mrs. Smith. you indulge
her too much. You'll make her too
dainty. I think it does children
good to keep them down little.
Why, that's clean handkerchief
every day"
Mrs. Smith, | do not consider
myself extravagant," answered Mrs.
Worth.
Laura wears no jewelry or fancy
dresses to school. But ! feel that if
ever | allow my child to be anything
else than perfectly clean, | do her a
moral wrong. The body cannot be
dirty without tainting the soul.
Laura needs-absolutely needs
Just what YOU see. | will never for
get the miseries / endured as a child
bv an insufficiency of these thinge.
| had no mother"
As she spoke. the lady dropped
tear on her hand.
Her visitor was touched, and felt
rise within her something like ad-
miration fer the speaker.
"Well,' she said at length, "Lau-