The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1901-07-12

idiensss. end eating my bread In bit
,tsrness because could see the end
coming. There II no one who 10 in
hny way bound TO help as. Why
should q slet Q false pride keep me
from doing honest labor of the handf
And there 10 more of IL than you
imagine, mother dear. IL takes more
than q low order of intellect to man.
ego the affairs Of family as q
housekeeper, doesn't it?"
Mrs. Clark did not answer, and Bar
bsra went on: "You know, mother,
made q special study in college of So
DIAL economics. The application of
those principles to a real, live prob
lem had great fascination for me.
Now, the hircd-girl problem in this
country is q real, live, social and eco
nomic problem. Why shall I not be
able to do az much real service to 90
ciety and the home life of America by
entering service a. hired girl and
studying IL from the inside, as IL went
into q schoolroom like other school
ma ANS, to teach? love adventure.
Why not try this? No one knows how
much might be able to do for HUI
msnity socially as hired grill"
Mrs. Clark looked at her daughter
again with that questioning look of
doubt which she often felt when Bar
bara spoke in q certain way. Il was
not the girls habit to treat any sub
ject fiippantly. She was talking with
great seriousness now, and yet there
were ideas in what she said that her
mother could not in the least under
stand.
"But even from a money point of
view, mother, such position as this is
not to be despised. II my services are
satisfactory, 1 can get $4.75 or even
five dollars q week, and my board and
lodging and washing and other Incl
dentals thrown in. Suppose had
position as a stenographer in one Of
the Offices downtown. l could not pos
sibly command over $50 a month. Out
of that take my board, lodging, wash
ing, clothes, etc. And L could not pos
sibly save out of it over ten dollars
month. Whereas, working out at
service, could save twice that much
in actual wages. II go into Bond
mans store, for instance, as a sales
clerk, cannot get over five dollars a
week, out Of which must board, lodge
and dress myself. Mother, I have
thought it all out, and 1 feel that I
must go in answer to this advertise
ment. don't mind the social stigma.
do mind the bitterness of living in
idleness at home. Let me do some
thing useful if it is only for little
while. l am sure a servant can be
useful"
at is dreadful thought to me,
Barbara" said Mrs. Clark with sigh.
81 never dreamed that child of mine
would ever be hired girl!'"
Say servant mother. Servant is
noble word. Christ was a servant.
Don't you remember DR.. Laws sermon
on that word last Sunday?"
The girl spoke lightly, not knowing
herself the depth of the truth she
stated, and yet her mother started and
shrunk back almost as if the words
were sacrilege. 1t is possible, how
ever, that the older woman caught
some glimpse of that great Light in
the social life of men; for, when she
spoke again, it was with yielding to
Barbara's wish that was new to her.
81 don't understand you, Barbara.
If only the money that your father
saved for your education had been
more wisely invested, we might-but
it is too late to think of that now. 1t
is the thought that you are throwing
away your preparation for life on
something beneath you that makes me
oppose this. But if you do go from this
other motive, that changes matters
somewhat"
"Of course it does, mother! Let me
go. l should not be happy TO go with
out your consent. l will DO this: Twill
go for trial. This is probably the
only way J can go, anyhow. But, if
after a reasonable time find it is i'm
possible for me to continue, if even my
dream of any possible service to So
ciety turns out to be ridiculous or fool
ish, l will come back and-and-be a
burden to you again, mother, until
find out what L am good for in this
world"
ut is only on some such condition
that i am at all willing to have you
take this step, Barbara" said her
reluctantly, as Barbara rose
and stood up by her for moment in
silence. She suddenly stopped and
kissed her mother, and then walked
over to the window and looked at her
watch.
after six. l might as we'll go right
over there now"
"They will ask you for references"
the mother spoke up, nervously, al
ready doubling the wisdom of the
whole affair.
Barbara resolutely gathered up her
81 have Prof. Whites letter-the
Chautauqua summer, mother, I can
take those" Barbara referred to a
summers experience when in company
with several seniors from the college
she had served as head waiter and
at large hotel in a state
Chautauqua assembly.
"They are good as far as they CO."
"Yes, mother, and 1 am sure they
will go far enough in this case. This |
n mily-v Rarhara picked IN tho M