The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1901-07-26

We hear much nowadays of the
"drudgery' Of woman's work. The new
or emancipatcd 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 drudgery" she says and goes
on her chosen way, which is patterned as
closely as possible after the masculine
career.
Such woman the other day set me
thinking. l went to The Standard Die
tiouary. and there | read:
"Drudgery-I Hard and constant work
in any mental or dull occupations; service
marked by WEAKNESS and spiritless rou-
tine"
The definition suggested many things.
Somehow | was reminded Of q story TAX
Tn years a1o from an English paper and
preserved in one of my many scrapbook
volumes | pass it on to The House
Keeper siStcrhood 1t Is entitled The
IIappiC~t Man In London and tells Of
a couple living in a single room with
nothing hut the most necessary furniture.
For - years the wife had been paralTZ-
ed. ana all this time her husband had
been her nurse, protector. support and,
most Of all. her lover. She could scarce
~ speak and her only Strou-th If cN-
preston lay In her eyes. looking straight
ont. clear and shining. In response To a
new doctors question this hero of a man
told in the simplest and most sincere
way how hc lived:
Il yet up carly Of morning, YOU see,
sir" said Temple. as Cur hero was named.
"and make our breakfast ANA attend to
her Then before start for work. m in
am cu.iuCers employ just boards her
W. iu tDd $50 she can't fall ont. I'm back
at dinner hour. and we have it together.
Tnun. when have work. my evening soon
PASSES There's usually Il hit of cooking
To be dome and washing Zip and the room
to see TO- An invalid must have things
clean about beer. Il isn't agreeable To just
H. and hook at anything dirty. Ike Lucy
To- keep bright. But there. She always is,
anil If occasionally SHE gets down | soon
chrcr hcr up. don't I, Lucy? Me and sun
lily together. Suuuy-that's our hullhnch.
Hos asleep now, covered UP, YOU see, and
! WORT disturb Linn. But by day he's
that lively, He chirps and talks away to
Lucy. Hes company Tor her, Sunny is,
bless his Httle heart
And the stony tells how the tired man
coming home from his work goes chccriy
about the cares of his little household,
how he cats the taStrloss meat from
which Luoys beef tea had been made,
enjoying The meat the better the poorer 1t
was, because lie knew thereby that the
tea was good, and how he did some wash
iugs 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-
hle. He brought warm water to the bed
side and washed the hands and face Of
his wife and tied on her white nghtcap,
On 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 as hairdresser.'o Then he ar
ranged on the chair 50 as to be within
reach a candle in tin candlestick, a
4 glass Of water and a biscuit. After that
he fetched Il large prayer book and the
Bible, read the Psalms and the second
/ lesson for the evening and afterward
prayed. He thanked God for the many
mcrcies vouchsafcd 10 them that day, for
food and power and opportunity to work
and for a home He remembered those
that had none of these blessings and beg
/ gcd that they might receive them. He
. commended himself and his wife TO Gods
keeping throughout the night.
There came day when the friendly
young doctor announced that he was go
ing away for month and would bring
another friend" back with him, and this
is the response he had from these two
who had not found life an easy thing:
God bless you, sir, You couldn't tell
me anything that would make me more
rcjoiced. The dear young lady. We seem
to know her now, already, but we shall
really see her, I'm sure!'
'Dh, yes answered the doctor, land
/ you'll love her, Mr.. Temple Everybody
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 a
blessed thing married life can be, don't
we Lucy? It's solemn act, sir, to take
woman TO be your wife. But, when the
blessing Of God rests upon a union. mar
rage lsIa sacrament that brings you an
added grace. Your faith grows, and your
love grows, and yorr nature deepens.
You learn many things. I'm Old, and I've
hVed' but the part of life that has helped
me to the best knowledge is-just that. |
took Lucy, | said ia love her, comfort