The Arizona sentinel., 1888-04-21
A GOOD IDEA.
A Common Kind of Little Household


 Fairy and Household Angel.
 ''How is your mother to-day, Ruthie?'
 Ruthie raised rather discontented face to meet the very cheery one of their next-door neighbor.
 'Oh. she's great deal better, thank you, Mrs. Bright She's been helping 'round good deal this morning, for we've sent Nora away. She's gone to lie down, but she'll be glad to see you, I known.
 Don't disturb her, dear. Pm sorry she had to give up Nora so soon, but glad she got such a good little daughter to help her"
 "We!l, don't know" said Ruthie, rather delefully. If I was bigger I suppose might be some good. but I'm SO little"
 "A willing mind helps out small hands wonderfully. little girlie. '
 "May be so, but I've been wishing I could have lived in fairy times, Mrs. Bright"
 ''Why, dearest?"
 'Oh! Just thlnk now nlce It would De to have one come in all smiling and with a shining dress and long curling hair, and give one wave of her golden wand and have this kitchen all cleaned up before you had time to turn 'round.
 Ruthie laughed as she spoke, and Mrs. Bright laughed with her.
 "But it seems to me-" said Mrs. Bright ''that the people in those times must have been rather a lazy set. Don't you think yourself. now, that it is a great deal better to stir around wrtn a bright face and a light heart and quick little hand and set things right in just the way God meant us to do-hey. dearie?"
 "Well. l suppose you are right Mrs. Bright" said Ruthie, with an answer ing smile. ''But it's day after day. and l do get so tired of plodding over the same things. It's dishes and kettles and pans, and pans and kettles and dishes"
 'It's the spirit you put into the do- ing that will make it pleasant dear. Try to look upon the kettles and pans as so many humble stepping-stones to raise you into the atmosphere of lov- ing service. It is in the little things of life that the Master has given most of us the power to do for Him. So go on, dear. You can do far better than have a fairy to come and do for you. You can be fairy yourself-a real house. hold fairy. and work wonders if you try. Goodbye '
 The cheery face disappeared. leav- ing its reflection on Ruthie's as she looked about her. The little conceit exactly suited her fancy.
 Il believe that's good idea" she said to herself. lam going to try how many wonders I can work before din- ner time. It will surely be wonder to get this kitchen clean. I've a good mind to go at it thoroughly. not to do it just half way. It always feels mis- erable to do things by halves, think. But where shall I begin?''
 She soon found place to begin, and was striving with all her might to work | real transformation in the disorderly | room. Nora had done the scrubbing and other heavy work before going away, but there was plenty still to be done in the large room which served | for both sitting-roOm and kitchen. Ruthie paused in dismay as last of all she opened a corner cupboard.
 1t hasn't been touched for weeks" she said, 'and father and Ned have tucked away every thing into it :"
 For moment she felt tempted to give it nasty touch or two and leave it for more leisurely day.
 No, Iwon't," she said, firmly. "Fairies never sighted their work, at least any that have ever read of. I'm going to get to the farthest corner. But, there's babyr
 She softly stole into her mothers room and brought out the curly-haired darling. who seemed little inclined to be fretful after his sleep. But she petted and coaxed him until with a crust in his hand he was quite content to be tied into his chair and watch her IS she went into the farthest corner.
 "Oh! here's your iumping-jack, ba- oy." And he crowed with delight as 'he brought out the long buried treas Ire. And here is Ned's skate-key hat he's been moaning about for weeks , md always had to borrow of the other ,oys. And oh, oh, if here isn't my , tory book that I only half read $ trough. How did it get in here. I t vonderi Well-there's nothing like ,iving things a good going over once n awhile. How long I've been hunting or that! I '.Now, baby, if you'll only be good a s title while longer, I'll try to make some i iscuits for dinner, l know exactly how , lother does them" :; Whether it was the iumping-jack or