Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1901-07-19

feeling of doubt as to her position.
"There is another thing that 1 have
felt a good deal, Mrs. Ward You
have asked me to give reasons. You
will not think me rude If go on?"
II asked you to go on" Mrs. Ward
replied, smiling feebly.
well, during the four weeks have
been in the family, you have never
invited me to come into the family
worship, and you have never asked
me to go to church with you, al
though 1 told you when came that
l was member of Christian En-
deavor society in Fairview before we
moved to Crawford. don't mind SO
much being left out of the church
services, but cannot get over the
feeling that as long as I am a hired
servant have no place, so far as my
religious life is concerned, in the FAM
lily where serve"
Contrary to Barbara's expectation,
Mrs. Ward did not reply at once; and,
when she did, her voice was not an
cry. It was, rather, a sorrowful
statement that gave Barbara reason
to ask herself still other questions.
There are some places in family
that are sacred to itself. Mr.. Ward
has always said that he thought the
hour of family devotions was one Of
the occasions when family had a
right to be all by itself. OF course,
If friends or strangers happen to be
present in the home, they are invited
into this inner circle, but not as
right. only as privilege. We have
had SO many girls in the house who
for one reason and another would not
come into worship. even if asked, that
for several years we have not asked
them. But the main reason is Mr..
Wards. Is there to be no specially
consecrated hour for the family in
its religious life? Is it selfish to wish
for one spot in the busy day sacred
to the home circle alone?"
Barbara was silent. II have not
wished to intrude into your family
life. only felt hungry at times to
be recognized as o religious being
with the rest of you. Would my oc-
casional presence have totally de-
stroyed the sacred nature Of your
family circle?"
80, don't know that it would"
sighed Mrs. Ward. II have only given
you Mr.. Wards reason. He feels
quite strongly about it. AS to the
church. Do you think ought to in-
vite my servant to go with me?"
II would if you were working for
me-" replied Barbara, boldly, for she
/ - =,
mind.
Are you sure?"
II know I would" Barbara replied,
with conviction.
Mrs. Ward did not answer, but sat
looking at Barbara thoughtfully. Bar
bara rose and looked into the oven,
changed damper, and then went
over to the table and stood leaning
against it.
"Your other reasons for leavinga"
Mrs. Ward suddenly asked. AS she
asked it, Carl came into the kitchen
and went up to Barbara.
81 want pie. Make me pie, Bar
bara, won't you?" he asked, climbing
| up into chair at the end of the table
and rubbing his hands into the flour
still ON the kneading-board.
Barbara smiled at him, for they
were good friends. and she had
grown very fond Of the child.
eyes, If your mother thinks best
| good boy and wait little" Carl at
once sat down, only begging that he
might have the dish that Barbara had
used to mix eggs and sugar in.
* have told nearly all the reasons,
think" Barbara answered slowly,
\ and she turned toward Mrs. Ward.
"Qf course, there is always the rea-
son Of the social loss. don't know
any of the young women in Craw-
ford; but, If did, do not think
that any Of those who have money
or move In social circles would speak
to me or recognize me for myself if
they ever knew was a servant"
Mrs. Ward did not answer. Barbara
silently confronted her for moment,
and it was very still in the kitchen
except for the beating of Carts spoon
on the inside of the cake-dish.
"And then, of course, I see no OPP
portunity ever to be anything but
hired girl. How long would you want
me to work for you, Mrs. Ward, as I
have been doing for the last four
weeks?"
Indefinitely, suppose" answered
Mrs. Ward, frankly.
Eyes, you see how it is. If should
be willing to stay with you, I might
stay till was an old, brolen-down
woman, always washing dirty dishes,
always messing in kitchen, always
being looked down upon as an infe-
rior, always being only part of the
machine, my personality ignored and
my development dwarfed, never receiv-
Ing any more wages than when be-
gan, or, at most, only a little more,
always in q dependent, servile posi-
ton. Once 9 hired girl, always one
so long as you choose to have me and
consented to stay. Is that cheer
full prospect for girl to consider as
final?"
Mrs. Ward did not answer. Barbara
had spoken out all that the four weeks
had been piling up in her mind. Once
spoken, it relieved her; but she was
troubled over the thought that, even
if all she said We're exactly true, there
was still somewhere in the economic
world factor of service she had not
fully nor fairly measured. She could
not escape the self-accusation: "But
ministry is still ministry If this fam