Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1901-09-06
BORN. TO JERUE
BY CHARLES NJ. SHELDON,
Of QUESTION CLASS"
EDWARD
Copyright. 1900. by Charles N. sheIdoss


"In the second place." Barbara
went on, slowly, 81 have not had any
regular hours of work. Four nights
this week | worked until ten o'clock
Three nights last week | sat up until!
IL with the children while you and
Mr.. Ward went TO entertainments or
were out 10 dinner"
"But what shall we do?" Mrs. Ward
suddenly cried out despairingN
"Some one must stay with the chill
dren. And Mr.. Ward and | have so
cial duties we cannot neglect. | am
sure we go out very little compared
with other people"
81 can't answer your questions"
Barbara replied. "But l know one
reason why | feel like leaving is be-
cause | never know whether my work
is going TO end at eight or nine or ten
or eleven o'clock. There is no regu-
lar hours of labor in a hired girls
life, in this house."
"Neither are there any regular
hours of labor i'm a mothers life in n
home" said Mrs. Ward. quietly. us
your burden harder than mine? Or
is il any harder than your own will
be if you ever have a home and chill
dren as I have?"
The sudden question smote Bar
bara as new one, and in a moment
she felt conscious of an unthought of
problem in the social economics of
housekeeping. She had not thought
il all out, as she had told her mother.
If the home life was never 10 be free
from the necessary drudgery of life,
why should she complain if in the
course of service in family exact
hours and limits of service could not
very well be determined? She was
somewhat troubled in her mind to-
have the question thrust upon her
just now. She was not prepared for
il.
I'm any case" she finally said, re-
luctantly, 1.-The hours are so long and
so uncertain that"
but you have Thursday afternoon
and nearly all of Sunday. You have
more real leisure than l have"
But you would not be willing TO
change places with me?" Barbara
asked, looking at Mrs. Ward doubt
fully.
ut is not a question of changing
places. l simply want you TO see that
in the matter of time you are nu
abused. But go on with the other
reasons" And Mrs. Ward folded her
hands in her lap with a resigned air
that made Barbara vince a little, for
what she was going TO say mkt
would in all probability anger her
Another reason why have decided
TO leave is the Sunday work. During
the four Sundays | have been here
you have invited in several friends
TO Sunday dinner. This makes Sum
day morning my hardest day"
ut has happened so this last month,
that is true" Mrs. Ward confessed
reluctantly; "but il has been rather
unusual. In three instances ] remem-
Der the gentlemen invited were par
ticular business friends of Mr.. Ward.
and he was anxious to please them,
and invited them home with him
from church rather than send them
to hotel. But such social courtesies
are a part OF a mans home life.
What shall he do? Never invite
friend home to dinner for fear of
giving the girl little extra trouble ?"
''I don't mind il during the week."
Barbara replied, thoughtfully, but II
does not seem to me TO be just the
thing on Sunday. \ good many fam
lilies make il rule not TO have ex-
ira Sunday dinners. Do you think it
is quite fair?"
eve haven't time to discuss it. Go
on" Mrs. Ward answered, not sharp
ly, as Barbara thought she might.
There were traces of tears in the
older woman's eyes that disarmed
Barbara at once. The excitement OF
her nervous tension was beginning
TO subside, and the attempt TO mar
rate her grievances in their order was
helping her 10 see them in their just
light. Besides, Barbara had received
49, <5Sees Ill