The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1884-09-26
The Parlor Daughter.

A great deal of fault is foundwith the
parlor daughter. 1t is said of her that
she sits at the piano and sings, What
Is Home Without Mo,her?' while the
mother in question is toiling over tho
fire In the basement. No doubt this is
true, for the parlor daughter nearly
always has kitchen mother. n good,
plain sensible woman who says Young
people will be young people," and
takes every burden from her pretty
daughters shapely shoulders TO put
them on her own, already bowed down
with care.
So you see it is often the mothers
own fault that there is parlor girl.
She loves this daughter and wants her
to enjoy life while she is Young. she
does the work OF n servant herself and
is happy in so doing. She loves to
hear Lottie play on the piano. 1t seems
to her that she could work all day to
the accompaniment of Silver Threads
Among the Gold. or Sweet Violets."
She has been all her life trying to
learn one tune and has never accom-
plished it yet. And Lottic is pretty
and has white hands with taper fingers,
and goes TO n manicure. The parlor
daughter had no trouble 10 educate
her mother up to all those advanced
ideas She was willing pupil. She
remembers what hard time she had
when she was young. and goes to the
other extreme with Lottie, who does
nothing but amuse herself. and must
have help to do that She is stylish,
and 1t pays to dress her well. She
has knack for fancy work, painting
and other accomplishments that to the
mother indicate genius. She writes a
lovely hand, and has plenty of cores
pondents. She takes books from the
library, and belongs to literary club.
Her young friends do not work, why
should she?
The only reason why she should
work is TO show that she possesses n
spark of gratitude; that she has too
much respect for the mother who has
done so much for her to let her wear
out her declining years in the routine Of
house work, while she plays the role OF
parlor ornament; that she knows in
her secret soul. that labor ennobles
instead of degrades, and that the key
of the kitchen is higher medal of
honor than q diploma of idlencss.
Mother-love is something wonderful.
1t is more blest in giving than in re-
ceiving. But already tho mothers
steps are tending down that hill which
she never again can climb; her hair is
turning gray; her eyes are weary; she
wants no unwilling drudge to hel p her.
but service of love. Think you, the
creak. creak of that daughters chair,
as she rocks to and fro in tho parlor
above, is the true rhythm for her to
work by or the tinkling of the piano
keys. touched by her satin-smooth
fingers, tremolo of love? Is it
good or loving heart that will read tho
thrilling romances of Mrs Southworth
or May Fleming with bated breath and
falling tears. while pale, tired mother
is washing dishes in the kitchen? 1t
may be the mothers fault--the fault of
too generous, too unselfish love; but
If the daughter has good heart will
she take advantage of such mistaken
kindness? Will she not rather prove
herself
"A creature not too bright or good
For human natures daily food"
and refuse ut once and forever so
anomalous position as that of Parlor
Daughter in home that must be
sustained by Kitchen Motherp No
young man with brains will ever expect
to find good wife in young woman
who Is not first good daughter.