Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1901-07-19

the Kitchen, 1t has no good ventila-
ton, and it is not attractive in any
way as n room ut the close of a hard
days work"
1T Is the room my girls have al
ways had" Mrs. Ward spoke quickly
and angrily.
Maybe that is one reason you have
had 30 many" said Barbara, grimly.
The memory of the hot nights spent
in the little back room framed Bar
bara's answer.
Mrs. Ward started to her feet.
This is impertinence," she said,
while her cheeks grew red with an
ger.
ut is the TRUTH You asked me to
give my reasons for leaving. That is
one of them" replied Barbara, calm
ly. "It is true of good many other
houses in Crawford, too. The small
est. least attractive, poorest room in
the house is considered good enough
for the girl. ! know it isn't true of
great many houses that furnish as
comfortable a room for the servant
as for any other member of the fam
lily. But 1t is true of this house. I
am not blaming you for it, but who
ever made the house for the express
purpose of planning to give the hired
girl of the house that particular
room, which in this case happens to
be the hottest, most uncomfortable
room in the building"
Mrs. Ward sat down, and again
looked at Barbara keenly. Her anger
vanished suddenly, and she said, with
faint smile: II don't know but you
are right about that. Will you go
on?"
"In the second place." Barbara
went on, slowly, II have not had any
regular hours of work. Four nights
this week worked until ten o'clock.
Three nights last week sat up until
II with the children while you and
Mr.. Ward went to entertainments or
were out to dinner"
But what shall we do?" Mrs. Ward
suddenly cried out despairinely.
Some one must stay with the chill
dren. And Mr.. Ward and l have So
cial duties we cannot neglect. am
sure we go out very little compared
with other people"
II can't answer your questions"
Barbara replied. "But I 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
OF eleven o'clock. There is no regu-
lar hours Of labor in hired girls
life. In this house."
Neither are there any regular
hours of labor In mothers life in a
home said Mrs. Ward, quietly. "Is
your burden harder than mine? Or
Is 1t any harder than your own will
be If you ever have home and chill
dren - have?"
The sudden question smote Bar
bare as new one, and in moment
she felt conscious of an unthought Of
problem in the social economics of
housekeeping. She had not thought
it all out, as she had told her mother.
II the home life was never to 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
I'm any case" she finally said, re-
lnctantly, 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 1 have"
"But you would not be willing to
change places with me?" Barbara
asked, looking at Mrs. Ward doubt.
fully.
ut is not question of changing
places. Isimply want you to see that
in the matter of time you are not
abused. But go on with the other
reasons" And Mrs. Ward folded her
hands in her lap with resigned air
that made Barbara vince little, for
what she was going to say next
would in all probability anger her.
Another reason why have decided
to leave is the Sunday work. During
the four Sundays l 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 it 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 part of mans home life.
What shall he do? Never invite a
friend home to dinner for fear of
giving the girl little extra trouble ?"
Il don't mind it during the week."
barbara replied, thoughtfully, '.but It
does not seem to me to be lust the
thing on Sunday. A good many fam
lies make it rule not to have ex-
ira Sunday dinners. Do you think it
is quite fair?"
We 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 to see them in their just
light. Besides, Barbara had received