The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1901-08-15
WHAT is DRUDGERY?
CAN IT BE THE LABOR THAT MAKES
HOME A HAPPY PLACEf

Te.che.-Love IL the sweetener OF
Daily Toll.
We hear much nowadays of the
"drudgery" of woman's work. The new"
or emancipated woman looks with pity
ing eyes upon her sister on the farm,
with her long routine of tasks, her labor
stretching often from sun to sun. Away
with such drudgeryl" she says and goes
on her chosen way, which is patterned as
closely as possible after the masculine
career.
Such a woman the other day set me
thinking. I went to The Standard Die
tionary, and there l read:
Drudgery-Hard and constant work
in any mental or dull occupation; service
marked by WEAKNESS and spiritless rou-
tine"
The definition suggested many things.
Somehow l was reminded of Il story TAX
en- years ago from an English paper and
preserved in one of my many scrapbook
volumes. | pass it on to The House
keeper sisterhood. 1t is entitled 1.-THE
Happiest Man In London and tells of
a couple living in a single room with
nothing but the most necessary furniture.
For % years the wife had been paralyz-
ed, and all this time her husband had
been her nurse, protector, support and,
most of all, her lover She could scarce
ly speak, and her only strength of ex-
preston lay in her eyes, looking straight
out, clear and shining. In response to a
new doctors question this hero of man
told in the simplest and most sincere
way how he lived:
81 get up early of a morning, you see.
sir" said Temple, as our hero was named,
land make our breakfast and attend to
her Then before start for work-I'm in
an engineers employ just boards her
up in bed so she can't fall out. I'm back
at dinner hour, and we have it together
Then. when have work. my evening soon
passes. There's usually a bit of cooking
to be done and washing up and the room
to see to. An invalid must have things
clean about her. 1t isn't agreeable to just
lie and look at anything dirty. like Luc-
to keep bright. But there, she always is,
and If occasionally she gets down | soon
cheer her up. don't 1, Lucy? Me and Sun
ny together. Sunny-that's our bullfinch
He's asleep now, covered up, you see. and
l won't disturb him. But by day he's
that lively He chirps and talks away to
Lucy. He's company for her, Sunny is.
bless his little hearth
And the story tells how the tired man
coming home from his work goes cheerily
about the cares of his little household,
how he eats the tasteless meat from
which Lucys beef tea had been made,
enjoying the meat the better the poorer it
was, because he knew thereby that the
tea was good and how he did some wash
ings to save pennies for Injuries for his
dear invalid. 1t describes how the old
man got ready for the night. He was
obliged to retire early whenever posi-
ble He brought warm water to the bed
side and washed the hands and face of
his wife and tied on her white nightcap.
Gin the morning he would perform her
toilet again and do her hair for her, and
he took pride in doing it, as he said, ''as
stylish a hairdresser.') Then he ar
ranged on the chair SO as to be within
reach candle In a tin candlestick, q
glass of water and a biscuit. After that
he fetched large prayer book and the
Bible, read the Psalms and the second
lesson for the evening and afterwa rd
prayed. He thanked God for the many
mercies vouchsafed to them that day, for
food and power and opportunity to work
and for home. He remembered those
that had none of these blessings and beg
ged that they might receive them. He
commended himself and his wife to God s
keeping throughout the night.
There came a day when the friendly
young doctor announced that he was go
ing away for a month and would brirfs;
another friend" back with him, and this
who had not found life an easy thing:
God bless you, sir. You couldn't tell
me anything that wonld make me more
rejoiced. The dear young lady. We seem
to know her now. already. but we shall
really see her. I'm sure ?"
''Oh. yes" answered the doctor. land
you'll love her, Mr.. Temple. Every body
does"
Lucy. did you hear? The doctor is go
ing to bring the dear young lady"
The woman Enclosed her eyes. She
looked at the doctor. and her drawn face
seemed flooded with sweetness. Her lips
moved.
"She says. God bless you. sir Lucy
says, God bless you.' and when she says
1t she means it. All. we know what G
blessed thing married life can be, don't
we. Lucy? It's n solemn act. sir to take
a woman to be your wife. But, when the
blessing Of God rests upon a union, mar
rage is a sacrament that brings you an
added grace, Your. faith grows, and your
love grows, and your nature deepens
You learn many things. I'm DID, and I've
lived. but the part of life that has helped
Inc to the best knowledge is--just that.
took Lucy l said I'd love her. comfort
her, honor her and keep her in sickness
and in health. I've tried. and we've been
happy. Sir love does it all. You'll want
to comfort her. you'll have to honor her
and If sickness comes you'll love her al
the more"
From the bed came strange sound II
was something between laugh and a
sob. and the doctor. turning looked away
again. Her husbands words had moved
the wife to tears, but her face was ra-
diant with the joy in the upturned eyes.
Temple laid his hand on hers-hers
which could give no answering pressure
'Sir," he said. II can't wish you better
happiness than I've had. l wish you as
much And take it I'm about the hap
piest man in London
Was it drudgery. the toiling all day for
daily bread, the work in the house and
the preparation of the meals, the care OF
a helpless. almost speechless, invalid for
% wears life literally hOupdoJ no tbe