The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-08-26
THE FAMILY CINDERELLA.
She Is One of the Most Helpful of
All Her Sisters.

WRITTEN FOR THE SUNDAY REPUBLIC.
She hasn't a fairy godmother-this family
Cinderella. Bless me, / wish that she had,
still this hope, that she may one day so to
! the ball and meet her adoring and adorable
| Prince.
, AS yet. however. the little Cinderella has
no romantic dreams. Maybe. in looking
backward some day. she will confess that
she really hadn't time, else she would have
INDUCED in them"-the romantic dreams.
What a wonderful and useful little body
the family Cinderella is! Have you ever
noticed her particularly? Alas! 1 am afraid
you have not paid her as much attention as
you should have done. The family Gin
derella is. usually. accepted too much as a
matter Of fact.
The family Cinderella must be ready
morning, noon and night to do the family
errands II the seamstress is busy fashion
ing dresses for herself and sisters it Is Gin
derella who must don her street clothes and
run downtown" for the forgotten spool Of
thread or another yard of ribbon. If the
grocer has neglected to fill the order COM
pletely. and the missing article is wanted
just at meal time. 1t is Cinderella who starts
out in quest Of 1t or max a duplicate pur-
chase at a nearer shop.
Now, there is no reason in the world why
the family Cinderella's tasks should not be
shared by some other member of the family.
1t is Just because her little feet are so will
Ing that she Is, many times. imposed upon.
But here's a tribute to the family Clnderel-
la: She is a capable girl always. She is a
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may be depended upon to attend to matters
with promptness and dispatch. Observe her
and confirm this report.
Many times I have been truly sorry for
the family Cinderella. Though she has never
admitted 1t. 1 am quite certain that she
feels, sometimes. at least. that more con-
slderation might be shown her.
It Is not always the youngest girl of the
household that one finds in the role of the
family Cinderella. Quite as often 1t may
be the eldest. Indeed, age has nothing to
do with it. The girl member of the house,
hold who plays this role is simply the one
who has allowed herself to be made the
ready-runner here and there.
It ia a charming trait, that of willingness
to he helpful to all those about one, and a
! child should early be taught this. but it is
an Injustice to any particular one to I'M
pose upon them the greater share of all the
host of little things that must be done
| every day.
Thoughtlessly we may impose upon even
those whom we love dearly. I am certain,
| for example, that the family Cinderella's
mother loves her devotedly. and yet she
| sometimes wonders why it is that Cinder-
| ella pouts and declares she is tired. Then
| how a little word of praise would cheer
Cinderella's heart! But the family Gin
derella is q bit of a philosopher. She rea-
| sons this way: Things must be done and
| l suppose I I'M the one to do them"
Often the family Cinderella is not young.
| Then, ah! then, my heart does go out in
sympathy toward her. Maybe in this way
runs the story Of the Cinderella whose
girlhood has slipped away:
! A long time ago. when this Cinderella
! had just left the schoolroom, and she