People's voice., 1899-04-07
MRS. MASONs NEW LEAF,

Mason dropped wearily into ,
tempting rocker. Visiting her ole
schoolmate, the dressmaker. wa,
about the only luxury the busy house
wife allowed herself. 1t was like a
breath OF summer to be with some
one who could speak of her happy
girlhood days.
Il wish you'd stay and have a bite
with me-" urged Miss Hadley. I'm
going to make an oyster stew, and
have some cream puffs and orange.
in the house"
'Oh, l can't trust Lizzie to get SUD
per, and the girls will need help in
dressing for the party, and pa is 90
ing to the watch meeting" sighed
Mrs. Mason.
She was one of those tired women
who sigh automatically. She looked
longingly around the inviting room
with its blooming plants in the win,
dow. The sewing machine had beeu
pushed back, and the little table, with
new magazine and the shaded lamp
was drawn in front of the glowing
oaSeourner. Open doors showed a
pretty little bedroom and a neat
kitchen, which was dining-room as
well, with teakettle singing on fine
shining bit of a stove. There was
that exquisite sense of order so rest,
ful to one who is wearied by continu.
ally picking up after others.
i came across this today" said
Miss Hadley, bringing out a photo
graph OF two pretty, blooming girls,
leaning over a railing.
Did l ever look like that?" said
Mrs. Mason, tears springing to her
eyes as she gazed at the thin. faded
woman reflected in her friends old
fashloned mirror. "You have held
your own, but haven't, Kate"
Nellie, you are just the one to re.
solve tonight to be more patient and
unselfsh the coming year, and, if DOS
siDle, drive a few less nails in your
coffin. Now l want to ask YOU to
turn over a new kind of leaf. Re
good to YOURSELF as the colored peo-
pie say"
But the duties of a wife and
mother" began that parsonage
Are first to be her best self" inter.
rupted her friend. "Are you content.
ed as it is, Nellie?"
Mrs. Mason colored. She had been
secretly envying the cozy little home.
targe enough to give one the house.
keepers enjoyment without the weari.
ness OF large establishment. The
quiet where one could read or think
undisturbed seemed almost heaven to
the tired woman.
Nellie" said her friend, divininp
her thoughts, your mistake is in try.
ing to be am angel, where a strong
determined, happy woman is needed.
Some worthy has said: Come to
thine own aid!' and the Bible saws:
Hold fast that no man take tbv
crown, and yours is your own sweet
womanhood. Why should you deprive
your family of the pleasure of taking
care OF you and showing their graft.
tsde?"
Mrs. Mason was used to her friends
plain speaking, but this time it sank
deep into her heart. When she
reached her own home she felt for a
moment that the boisterous welcome
OF the children compensated for the
work and care they constantly occa-
stoned. Mr.. Mason came in. and his
wife turned patient smiling face
towards him.
Wa,can't you watch the gas more
closely? 1t was so cents more this
month. What, girls, did you get your
new waists made out? Your grand.
mother used to do all the sewing, and
did not have some one to do her work
either. Ma, I brought oysters. Cant
you cook them? We like your soup
better than Lizzie's."
Mrs. Mason was glad to put down
the two heavy children who were sit
ting on her lap and escape to the
kitchen before she was tempted to
remind him that his mother had not
80 much as seen waist such as his
daughters considered necessary.
Yes" she thought, with a smile. as
she watched the soup, "there will be
a new leaf turned over that will make
a new book for some of US"
Mrs. Mason ate her supper in
thoughtful mood, hardly noticing her
husbands remarks about Tommy.
Mr.. Mason was devoted father. and
one way in which he expressed his
affection was by having his wife put
in half of her time pouring out medi.
cine for the children. It was ALWAYS
some kind of tea or plaster. or a
day from school, for the children.
and the good man never dreamed that
he might as well have risked the chill.
dren without constant nursing as
taken the chances in his wife Of
heart failure from exhaustion. Tom.
my was slightly affected with a cold
In his head, so the fond father began.
Ma, you must soak Tommy's feet
and tie up his throat, and make him
some onion syrup, and put a poultice
on his chest. You've let him take
cold'-not noticing how much health.
ier his offspring seemed than his wife
Il wonder if it is my fault that he
always thinks of the children first?"
Mrs. Mason thought, as she cut the
cake her own hands had made. he.
cause it was special kind her hus-
band enjoyed.
That evening the girls noticed that
their mother did not wait on Them
as much as usual, though she looked