Smyrna times., 1884-08-20
The Parlor Daughter.

A great deal of fault is found with /.
the parlor daughter. 1t is said of
her that she sits Mt the piano and sings,
"What is Home Without a Mother?"
while the mother in question is tOiling
over the fire in the basement. No
doubt it is true for the parlOr daughter
nearly always has kitchen mother, a
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; so
she does the work of a servant herself,
and is happy in SO doing. She loves
to hear Lottie play on the piano. It
seems to her that she could work all
day to the accompaniment of "Silver
Threads Among the Cold" or "Sweet
Violets." She has been all her life
trying to learn one tune and has never
accomplished it yet.
And Lottie is pretty and has white
hands with taper fingers, and goes to a
manicure. The parlOr daughter had
no trouble to educate her mother up to
all those advanced ideas. She was a
willing pupil. She remembers what a
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 it pays to
I dress her well She has a knack for
> fancy work, painting and other accom-
% plishments that to the mother indicate
+ genius She writes a lovely hand, and
{ has plenty Of correspondents. She
u takes books from the library, and be
70 longs to literary club. Her yOun2
friends do not work, why should she
y The only reason why she shoulC
,o work is to show that she possesses
u spark of gratitude; that she has to,
u much respect for the mother who ha
~ done so much for her to let her wea
III out her declining years in the routin,
u Of housework, while she plays the rol
+ of parlor ornament; that she knows i
NJ her secret soul, that labor ennObles il
az stead Of degrades, and that the key {
1o the kitchen is Il higher medal Of hone
llS than diploma of idleness.
AS Mother-love is something wonderful
DIS 1t is more blessed in giving than in +,
al ceiviug. But already the mother
o7 steps are tending down the hill whiC
''' She never again can climb; her hair
turning gray; her eyes are weary 81
wants no unwilling drudge to help he
b. but service of love. Think you, Il
ely creak, creak of that daughters chai
tn, as she rocks to and fro in the parl
ed above is the true rythm for her to wOl
ere by? or the tinkling Of the piano key
an touched by her satin-soft fingers,
nd tremolo of love? Is it a good or lOvil
ere heart that will read the thrilling I
of mances of Mrs. Southworth or Nj
rly Flemming with bated breath and ia
the ing tears, while pale, tired mother
ead washing dishes in the kitchen?
so may be the mothers fault-the fault
the too generous, too unselish love; b.
Dhe if the daughter has a good heart, W
val she take advantage of such mistak
six kindness? viii she not rather pro
On herself
tile g. creature not too bright or good
vos For human natures daily food
ars and refuse at once and forever
the anomalous position as that of Par
the Daughter in a home that must be 81
and tanned by Kitchen Mother?
all young man with brains will ever {
an pect to find a good wife in Il you
ape woman who is not first a good daus
rial. ter.