Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1901-12-13
BORN TO IERDE
BY CHARLES N. JHELDOV.
A.uAss ss-I QUESTION CLASS"
EDWARD BLAKE"
lospyrtsA. isoa ~ cAAzlss n sAsldssJ
BY CHARLES M. JHELDOW,

would have resented as an unparal-
leled impossibility such a thought as
that of the pastor of the Marble
Square church choosing for his wife
even a girl like Barbara. his intellec-
tual and Christian equal. But many
things since Barbara's coming into
the home had conspired to change
Mrs. Wards old habits. And, as Mr..
Ward asked his question now, she
saw a picture of Barbara and Carl as
they had been one evening a few days
before the child's death. His little
arms were about Barbara's neck. and
his pale. thin cheek was lying close
against hers.
"If il should come 10 that" she
finally answered Mr.. Wards question
slowly, IL am sure there is one wom-
an in the Marble Square church who
will not make any trouble"
Mr. Ward looked surprised. But,
as he went out into the front hall 10
lock the door for the night, he NUT
tered: "A man can never tell what a
woman will say or do when she is
struck by lightning"
During the week that followed Bar
bara spent all the time she was able
TO spare from ner own work in Sc
curing facts connected with her pro-
posed plans Mrs. Ward herself went
with her 10 several well-known
houses in Crawford, and introduced
her 10 her friends. In every instance
Barbara found there was the great
tp4 IN he
but no two women seemed 10 agree
as to any policy or plan. There was
unanimous agreement on one thing;
namely, need Of capable, intelligent,
honest servants i'm the house, who
were to be depended on for continu-
Gus service. or for at least period of
several years that might be reckoned
as continuous, the same as a busi-
ness man could count on the con-
tinuous service in his employ Of
competent bookkeeper or clerk who
was necessary to the welfare of the
business, but no more so than a
competent servant i'm continuous
service is necessary to the welfare
of the home.
1.-THE trouble is" one woman after
another would say, "in the girls
themselves. They do not have any
ambitions as, class. They do not
wish TO be taught. They resent adj
vice. They are ungrateful for nearly
all favors. They do not thank any
body to try to improve their condi-
ton. We are tired of constant efforts
made to solve an unsolvable problem
with the material that must be used"
Still, in spite of all discourage
ments, Barbara bravely determined
TO go on, and her next effort was di-
rected toward the girls who had ex-
pressed a willingness to go into serv-
ice in the home instead of the store
and factory.
She managed to call all these to-
gether Saturday evening at her own
home and with her mother helping her
she made a pleasant evening, serving
some light refreshments and enter
tanning the girls with music and pic
lures.
There were eight of them in all.
Two of them had had little expert
ence at house service. None of them,
really competent to manage the af-
fairs of a household. Two were
American girls who had lived on
farms, and had come into Crawford
10 accept small places at Bondman's.
Their experiences there had not been
pleasant and they were ready TO try
something that promised at least
temporary financial relief.
Barbara gave little impromptu
talk before the girls went home, and
ended by asking the girls to ask ques-
tions or talk over in general way the
prospects of housekeeping service as
she had described it TO them.
do you think Miss Clark, from your
own experience, that the hired girls
loss of social standing is the one great
obstacle 10 the settlement of the ques-
tion of service?" one of the American
girls asked. She was a ight-looking
girl, evidently a lover of fine-looking
dresses. and, as Barbara discovered,
with habits of extravaganza far be-
yond her little means TO crafty.
Barbara hesitated moment before
she answered.
Eyes, ! think perhaps that is the
most serious factor in the problem.
I don't consider il unanswerable.
believe that Christian housekeepers
and Christian servants can find an an
swer that will satisfy them both"
IL think the irregular hours are the
hardest part of the homework" said
one of the girls, an honest-faced Ger
man. somewhat older than the others.
81 worked two years for a family in the
west. and some days | did not get
through my work until nine and even
ten o'clock at night. One reason /
have liked the store is because the
hours of labor have been regular. /
know just exactly how long have to
work But / cannot earn enough where
I now am. saved over one hundred
and fifty dollars one year when / was
out working at four dollars "A week"
ats the dirty work that don't like"
spoke up understanding girl whom
Barbara had found in the bundle de-
partment at Bondman's. Barbara