The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-10-28
An Everyday Queen.

i rs, lllOIllSl. III
With sigh of discomfort Helen
LAID aside her book and tied on apron:
eating, eating, eating. How tired
I am of 1T all. 1t seems as II the
whole work of the world turned on
eating. 1t is the first thing in the
morning, almost the last thing at night,
anu all the way between. 1t only l.
could stay h, IL and read, instead OF
muddling abuui "a the Kitchen"
No one would i,a>n used the term in
reference to Helen s.,nlck, neat handed
movement about her MOrE. Still, her
heart to-day was less i'll 1t than usual,
as her mother soon perceived.
"You're not going to put "n the
sliced peaches in that dish, DEAR
"Why not, mother"
81 always think fruit looks so much
pretter in the high glass dish. | sup
posed you thought So"
$50 do, mother" said Helen, bring
ing the dish. "But, after all" she adj
ded with little impatience, "what's
the use of making such fuss about
the way things look for the short time
we sit at the table? 1t seems to be
contemplate, sometimes, the hours
and hours we spend getting ready for
eating-hours that might be so much
better spent"
Her mother looked at her with a
. smile, half of amusement, hall or
surprise.
"What would you do without it, Hell
Ell? Even YOU with all your higher
ambitions, could scarcely get along
without eating"
mo, am sorry to say L suppose l
couldn't. But l would be glad 10 co
with crust and glass of water II l
could have the time to study and mt
myself for better things.
"And what would your father ana
brother do?"
30, of course, they would never put
up with any such thing. feel out OF
patience sometimes when | see them
coming up to dinner. Just 20 eat, eat,
eat. Now, confess, mother, don't you
think yourself there is u great dsal
more trouble than necessary made
about cooking"
II have no doubt there is, Helen, in
some quarters. But when you remem-
ber that the Lord has made lis as we are,
dependent upon the eating which you
hold in such lofty disdain, l cannot
feel that it is such trifling matter"
80, | dont't mean to despise neces-
sary food, mother. But how far we so
beyond what would keep usa live"
"Perhaps so. Perhaps not 50 very
far beyond what serves to keep us III
the best, heartiest life. If eating were
intended merely to keep us alive, |
scarcely think we should have had
such a wide selection. Bread and
meat would do that, but how many 9th
er things the loving Lord made for his
children Would the bounteous earth
Z hive given ussuch riches of fruit and
vegetables, if it were thing to he
despised that we should enjoy them?'
"Ycu are beginning to crowd me
rather cosey, mother" said Helen,
with a smile, as she took the lettuce
leaves she had been about to throw
away and laid them as q garnish
around dish of salad "still cannot
help wishing that 1 might be one of
those for whom some other duty had
been laid out than this everlasting
round of housework."
Mother shook her head with a
serious look.
There are thousands and thousands
of girls all over the land, yes, all over
the world, Helen, to whom it is laid
out to do this same housework which
troubles you. 1t is not in many
respects exactly the word which many
would select if they had the choice,
but you must remember that very few
have the choosing Of their lifework.
And as that is so, and there is so much
housework to do and SO many must
do it, would it not be far better to bring
it up to a standard of sweetness and
dignity instead of trampling it as low
is we can and then spending much
useless regret upon our inability to rise
above it and escape from it ?''
"Go OH mother"
"If you give little thought to it,
my daughter, you will see that there
is much in it to call forth the best in
young girl. 1t is loving ministering
to those we love.
Just as far as we bring our best
endeavors to it, making home sweet
and attractive, so far shall we elevate
our work and ourselves"
Helen set down meat dish to make
her mother bow.
'Thank you na'am. You'll be
making me think mystlfaqueen next"
II don't know any better qneen
dear, than the queen of bright,
happy homemade SO mainly by her
own efforts. Success and happiness,
say 7, to the house queens all over the
land, and may they grow to be more
and more awake to their royal privilege.
-CongregationaliSt.