Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1893-10-07
FRon FART TO coUNTINdRool.

Written for the HERALD by "LoT."
"1'll be hanged if l do it." said a
boy turning flushed and angry face
to the poor overworked farmers wife,
as she stood at the kitchen table
molding great white loaves of bread
ITS not boys work, and l wasn't
hired here to work in the kitchen
don't have to; you can wash YOU
own dishes, WON'T"
The tired woman's lips trembled;
her pinched and drawn features,
sunken and purple trimmed eyes, told
pathetic story of toll and suffering
that had worn her frail form to a
skeleton; but silent CLEAN ofsympa-
thy shot from her large, brown eyes
and something of the spirit that NOV
ed the boy prompted her to ac-
knowledge, 1--WE are very much
alike; you are openly rebellious, while
| have for years been secretly so. With
the work SO uncongenial, so distaste-
full, that despised it more and more,
I have often queried, will the time
ever come when can turn my back
to the kitchen, with its clippers,
buckets, frying pans, pots, ETC., that
to me have been instruments of tor
ture, and will the work l love, ever
come within my reach? l have shed
enough tears, since ! became a far
mer's wife, to drown the little life
there still remains within, had those
briny drops been gathered into pool,
but little good did fretting and
grieving do. The same round of des-
pissed work confronted me at dawn,
and followed each day, each month,
each year, till grew grabbed, sour,
and fault-fnding; till l despised my
home, my friends, and even myself
when l caught by accident my image
reflected. questioned divine justice,
for thought how could a Just God
mete out blessings so unequally to
the beings he had created for did it
not seem that one-half the people were
born pack-mules to carry the other
half, no better than their unfortunate
selves, and alas, oh, alas! belonged
to the unfortunate class"
"Why, Mrs. Brown" broke in the
astonished lad, you have fine farm,
kind husband, lovely children, and
so much to be thankful for that you
ought to be happy.
well said, my boy, that is the
very sentiment wished to draw out
Of you l began to look inward and
examine. | found I was more disa-
greeable than my work. found, too,
that l was not fitted for the work my
pride and ambition coveted. | found
l had already more than | deserved,
and a measure of contentmeut crept
through my heart. Though l am not
happy woman, l have learned to
bear patiently and submissively the
burdens as they come, and to be
grateful for all the blessings that fall
to me. am striving now to do my
humble task well, and though it be
distasteful, there is some consolation
i'll the thought that / am at least max
ing comfort and happiness for others,
and the time may come when rest and
ease WILDE mine. Like ME, you have
ambition; like me you have no love
for, nor pleasure in, the work you
are called to perform; like me, you
have many blessings for which you
should be grateful. More fortunate
you have youth, health, strength, and
a splendid mind. Grand possibilities
will open up to you, if you prove
worthy But like myself you have a
proud, naughty, scoruful, defiant
spirit, and if you do not curb it, in
stead of success in life, you will meet
nothing but failure and ruin. rous-
ed this spirit in you by asking you to
wash the dishes true You were not
hired to do housework, but they do
not need you in the field. Can you
not show an accommodating DISPOSE
ton and feel cheerful over it, when the
task is such light one? Is there not
just as much honor for you in rubbing
a polish on dinner plate as i'll lifting
heavy loads of corn into wagon and
dragging over a rocky field all day
Do your humble task cheeriully, and
be sure that it will work only good
for yourself."
You are right, Mrs. Brown, see
it all now. l thank you for your lee
ture, and am ready to help do any
thing You want done. You pulled the
right rein on me. Ifyou had tried to
force me, would have been as stub.
born as a mule
81 am glad you have decided to do
the right thing for you have thus
helped yourself to great many favors
that can do for you, one of which
will tell you of l intend to help you
with your studies all through the long
winter evenings"
This news was too much for the
boys gravity. He turned cart-whee
all round the spacious kitchen, ant
Rugged and kissed Mrs. Brown til
her little old wrinkled face grew pink
declaring all the time you are The
best and the dearest little woman il
the world"
My story, which is a true one. ha.
pleasing sequel. Years have passed
That boy who started out at the ag,
of ten without penny in his pocket
passed several years on the farm witt
his kind friend, learned all she coulC
teach him and then went to college
where he graduated at the head of hi
class. He became successful mer