St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-01-06
chronological Journal.


thought that she heard not the opening
of the door when he entered.
land what has put my Brownie into
such brown study that she has neither
eyes nor ears for things of time and
sense?'' inquired Mr.. Smith, after stand
ing in the doorway for about two min
utes watching his wife,
80, Ned" exclaimed Mrs. Smith,
starting up from her reverie, II never
could be missionary, never"
s'Well, am glad to hear you say So"
said Ned Smith, seating himself beside
his wife while broad smile shOne over
his cOuntenance: 81 would be sorry to
have you leave me here alone, | assure,
you, and have no intention, myself, of
going to some distant cline to work
among the heathen."
Med, you may laugh at me if you
will; you know don't think of heather
in foreign lands at all; but L do feel
sorry for the people about us who are
daily killing themselves"
''Dear mel! calculated Mr.. Smith,
''who is committing suicide nOw?'
"Our neighbor, Mrs. Wilkins, and
many others beside" soberly responded
Mrs. Smith.
''Now you speak in riddles,' said her
husband. Il do not fathOm the depth
of your meaning"
ut is only this, Ned; / am saddened
at the thought of people working and
worrying over trifieS."
'.Why, Brownie, do you not think
trifles make perfection? And perfec-
ton is no trifie."
''Ned, l wish you would be serious
for once and listen to what l say''
Mr.. Smith drew on long face and
said; "NOw am all serious attention,
with mind wholly yours"
ga man should have mind of his
own,' was the saucy retort.
The mischievous expression came
again to Mr.. Smiths eyes as he replied:
My mind is yours and you are mine;
Brownie, am going to be sober as a
judge and listen most obediently while
you relate the cause of yonr sudden at
tack of profound meditation"
'Well, this afternoon" began Mrs.
Smith, Il was out calling On our neigh
bors, and went, first, across the street to
Mrs. Wilkins, and found that parsonage
lying down completely exhausted from
overwork. She does all her own work,
and with her large family that is no
light task at the best. She is by nature
a strong woman, energetic and industri-
Gus, priding herself on how much work
she can do in day. That, you know,
is different from me. for try to accom-
plish a good deal by doing just as little
as cam"
81 understand just what a sinsibly
lazy wife l have" said Mr.. Smith, with
his face long drawn.
Brownie continued, 81 had conceit
enough to think myself able to instruct
her in the way of doing, and to convince
her of the truth that whoever might be
better employed is idle.' Yesterday
she put large washing out ON the line,
and when went over to-day she had
just finished ironing great pile of
clothes, and was lying down from sheer
exhaustion.
that?" asked Mr.. Smith, II have seen
my Brownies white hands moving
swiftly over the ironing-board."
But my hands are not all hard and
rOughened by drudgery. l think my
hands and head are the more easily kept
clean by wearing gloves and cap when
doing sweeping and such kinds of
work."
"And perhaps Mrs. Wilkins} isn't so
fortunate in having a kind, conslderate
husband like Mrs. Brownie Smith,
''Of course not" was the emphatic
answer, and neither has Mr.. Wilkins
a wife SO awfully wise as Ned Smith
has. l esteem ourselves highly enough
to be very self-satisfied, but that isn't
doing good to any one else"
"Oh, you want to be out performing
some great public work, ambitious to
be home missionary or something of
the kind. l am becoming enlightened
nOw," and the mile spread itself over
his face again.
II had no thought of missioning at
home or anywhere elSe," replied
Brownie, with some spirit; ''but my
afternoons experience made me think
what difficult work missionaries had
to do, and never could have faith and
patience to work reform among peo-
pies prejudices. 1t does seem to me
that good, practical sense is one of the
strong as Mrs. Wilkins, yet you have
never seen me day after day exhausted
by over-wOrk. L manage my work
while Mrs. Wilkins work manages her;
that is the difference.
II told her that when I had large
ironing to do, did not try to iron all
in one day; and then such articles as
sheets, tea towels and the coarse under
garments were only put smoothly
through the clothes wringer, when
washed, then Thoroughly dried, folded
anu put away IOf use. i mink they
have fresh, sweet, clean smell. that
they lose by being dampened and
irOned. But Mrs. Wilkins looked
shocked at such proceedings and said
her conscience wouldn't rest easy if
she left so much as rag without every
wrinkle ironed out of it, and then she
couldn't feel comfortable until her work
was all done up and out of the way. |
wanted to say that /, too, would have
troublesome conscience if l daily i'll
jured my health by unnecessary work,
but she looked so tired and careworn
that hadn't the heart to be cross with
her, and so l talked CHEEKY nonsense
until she was glad that had come i'm.
for it had livened her up bit.
II next went across to Mrs. Deans
and there found another tired. worm
looking woman, all Hurried and flushed
over the cook stove, baking cake and
mixing wonderful connections.
Mrs. Dean boasts of her good cook
ing, and has her table spread with
dainty, delicious dishes, rich and un-
wholesome, that tempt the daily eater
on to sure dyspepsia, and there is per-
petual bowling in that family with
some ailment or other.n
"Oh, well, Brownie, the public has no
idea how you starve your family with
your Ideas of plain living" put in Mr..
Smith.
sYes,n said Brownie. tive are starved