The Iola register., 1901-11-15

they got when they begun. know one
girl who has been with one family five
years. The first year she had two dol
lars and seventy-five cents. The third
year they increased her wages to
three and half for fear of losing her,
and they have remained at that figure
ever since. Girls who work out do not
have the ambition to get on that young
men in a business firm have. They
cannot look forward to a better condi
tion or higher pay"
"That isn't true in some families l
know" replied Barbara. 81 know
some people in Crawford who offer in
creased wages for increased ability OF
length of time the girls stay with them.
OF course, we have to remember that
most people who hire labor for the
house claim that they can afford to
pay only about so much for such work.
The woman who lives next to Mrs.
Ward complains because Mrs. Ward
gives four dollars and a half week.
The other woman says she is un-
able to pay so much; but all her girls,
when they hear what | am getting,
want as much, whether they are ca
pable of earning it or not. Then, be-
| cause she cannot pay it, they become
dissatisfied and leave her. ! am afraid
Mrs. Ward has made an enemy out of
a neighbor on my account, by paying
me what she thinks am worth
Don't you think you are entitled to
the four and n halle" asked the care
less-looking girl.
"Indeed, | do" replied Barbara,
laughing. 81 think earn every cent of
! it,"
"rhen 1 don't see what right the
! other woman has to find fault with
Mrs. Ward for paying it,
81 don't, either" said Barbara,
frankly. But perhaps the whole
question of wages belongs to the ques-
ton of ability. I don't think, though,
that we need to talk so much about
| that as about the need of a true
thought of what service means. There
is practically no ideal of service in the
minds of most girls to-day. To serve
is to follow Christ, who was a servant.
To serve family, to minister in the
|
every day in the line of duty, working
cheerfully, heartily, washing dishes
clean, sweeping rooms without shirk-
ing, learning the best ways to prepare
food for the house hold-all this is part
of a noble life. and il is this thought OF
the dignity and nobility of service that
is lost out of the world to-day. 1t must
be recovered before we can begin to
solve the question. There must be ON
the part of the mothers and housekeep-
ers and on the part of the girls who
consecrate themselves to home minis
try real thought of the real meaning
of a servants place in the economy OF
life. The homes of America must learn
to sanctify and bcautify the labor OF
the hands. Not until our social Chris
tianity has learned the lesson of min
istry, and learned that it is as noble
to minister in the Kitchen as in the
pulpit, not until then shall we begin
to have any answer worth having to
the question Of service in the home"
Barbara stopped suddenly, and ther
said, with a smile at the little group,
But this is a long sermon for Satur
day night, and see how late il isl
can't ask you TO stay any longer
But l want you to come again"
The understanding girl was the
last to say good night. As she shool
Barbara's hand strongly, she said
"I don't think the sermon was toe
long, Miss Clark don't go tc
church on Sunday, and | need preach
ing. 1 think maybe l owe you NOR,
than you imagine"
To Barbara's surprise the girl sud
denly threw her arms about hel
neck and kissed her. There was {
tear on her cheek as she suddenly
turned and went down the steps ant
joined the others
"If l have such an influence ovel
that soul, my Lord" prayed Bar
bara that night, "help me to use i
for her salvation" 1t was alread,
becoming a sweet source of satisfac
tion to Barbara that the ambition o
her life was beginning to mean a say
ing of other lives. She was only ye
dimly conscious of her great influ
ence over other girls
The next day was Sunday, and sh,
remembered her foolish remark t.
Mr.. Morton. During all his absence
she had not been to the Marbl,
Square services. She had ATTENDED
elsewhere, but had not been out il
the evening, going to her mother
and spending the evening reading t.
her. She had at present Rev +. b
Meyers book, THE Shepherd Psalm,
and both mother and daughter .wer,
enjoying it very much.
She was reading the last chapter
and even as she read she remem beret
that this was the night when tn,
Christian Endeavor society at tn,
Marble Square church had the entire
service. There was no preaching aft
er the Endeavor meeting, which
closed about eight o'clock.
1t was half-past eight as Barbars
finished the beautiful narrative, anG
her mother had thanked her and
made comments on une cIearness o.