The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1883-03-14
Mrs. Winsted's Blue Monday

Mrs. Winsted's Blue Monday.
Eyes dearie," said sweet, placid Mrs
Winsted, looking into the fire with a
thoughtful face, yes, / used to have my
blue Mondays too but l have learned a
more excellent way. / have found out
that Christian should be careful Tor
nothing, butt everything by prayer and
supplication with Thanksgiving, make
her requests (and trials) known unto
God"
Well, answered little Mrs. Cleveland
{" l believe as you do, of course; but
haven't learned how to put it into prac-
tice. Do tell me about one of your Mon
days, if you can remember real indigo
colored one. Since I've been coming to
see you, you are always so sunny"
1t must have been FIVE years ago. I"
said the elder lady, that one never-to-
be-forgotten day, an avalanche of petty
troubles fell on my head. "Johnny
then an active lad of ten, had sprained
his ankle, and he found it hard to sit still
with his bound foot on the pillow, even
when 1 could devote my time to enter
tanning him. The baby was teething and
fearfully cross. Elsie and Lulu were at
home because there was scarlet fever in
our ward, and the school was closed for
the time. So had my hands full with
the nursery.
"On this particular Monday I felt
nervous and fretful, after. wakeful
night with the baby. What was my dis
tress when Norah, the nurse, came to me
with one of her raving headaches, and
told me she could not stay up another
minute. 1 sent her to bed and descend
ed to the kitchen to see to the breakfast
things, still unwashed, and to engineer
Bridget, my new cook and laundress,
through her first Mondays campaign.
Entering the kitchen, there was
Bridget, her shawl and bonnet on, calmly
standing beside the steaming tubs.
It's going I am, she said The place
is unlucky, and I'll not stay in it the day.
An there's too many frilled dresses for
the baby, and the gintleman has too
many shirts in the wash, an III not stay
Entreaties were vain, paid the wo-
man she shook off the dust of our domi-
Gle from her substantial feet, and saw
her no more.
"My DEAR I felt quite desperate, but
l frightened the fire, set things straight,
and went to my wailing baby. What
ever happened, he needed care, and
should have it. l had Just rocked poor
little Ted to sleep and comforted Johnny,
and settled the little girls nicely with q
scrap-book, when who should ring the
bell but telegraph boy, with message
from my good man:
Barker and his wife are at the
Hotel, and leave town tonight. Have
invited them to dinner at two. Please
do your best
of I could have reached my John in
any way. would have begged him to
take back that unfortunate invitation,
bat at that hour, eleven, he was never in
his office. There was nothing to be done
but 90 to work, weary as | was, and ar
range dinner for the Bankers.
Il don't mind telling you, dear, that l
sat down and had agood cry. What did
l have for dinner? l don't recollect
precisely, but think I made some sort
Of picked-up affair, not the elegant en-.
tertainmentmy dear husband had in his
minds eye at all. / had a cold boiled
ham in the house, and some cold chicken
left from the Sabbath dinner, and with
canned vegetables, potatoes, pickles, good
bread and butter, coffee, and preserves,
we somehow made out. But to get even
that simple meal ready, to serve it nicely,
to get myself to receive stranger-guests,
tired me very, very much. And was
frightened to think how vexed and I'M
reasonably disturbed l was with John,
who supposed my domestic force was as
usual, and who, man-like, never took a
thought about washing-day.
/ went into my chamber, shut the
door and prayed few moments. told
the Lord that was all wearied out and
asked Him to make me patient and
stronger Of heart. Somehow while ]
prayed the burden grew lighter, and, al
most as if voice had spoken then to me,
the words Ny grace is sufficient for
thee, were breathed into my soul.
was able to meet my friends without dis
turbed looks, and we got through the
visit pleasantly-almost merrily.
After they had gone away, Norah
descended from her room, pale, but bet
ter, and able to sit with the chicks and
let me 90 to lie down At six O'Clock
that night, sent as have always felt sure
by the Lord Himself, to me His child, my
good Jemima knocked at the door. She
has been with me ever since,-the best o