The Iola register., 1901-11-29
BORN TO SERVE
By Charles NJ. Sheldon,
Author q I'm HIS g STEPS; "loHE KInes
BLAKE - Btc.

tOopYriRht, lnO, by Charles NJ Shaldon.l
Five years after this Barbara and
her husband were standing together
one evening in the dining-room Of
the parsonage of Marble Square
ch1rch, evidently awaiting some
guests.
Ralph Morton was nodding approx
nj Of some little detail of the table
furnishing, and Barbara was saying:
$50 lovely to have the old friends
with us tonight, isn't it, Ralph?"
Indeed it is. Although ! could be
satisfied with present company" the
minister answered. gallantly. He was
stifl the lover as well as husband
That's selfish" Barbara smiled as
she came around to his side of the
table and stood there with his arm
about her, the love light in her eyes
as strong as ever.
~ have never quite got over that
interruption of Mrs Wards the night
7 courted you in your Kitchen" he
said. laughing.
"You have had five years TO make
IL up. SIR" Barbara replied, answer
ing his laugh with caress, and as
the bell rang she ran to the door ts
meet her guests.
"We've all come along together, you
see" Mr.. Ward said. in his CHEEKY
fashion, as he entered with Mrs.
Ward and Mr.. and Mrs. Vane and
Mrs. Dillingham;. I'VE have been over
to the training school and looked at
the new addition. It's a great help"
The minister and his wife greeted
them eagerly; and when they were
seated at The table after grace was
asked the talk naturally turned about
the work of the training school and
it's results. A ncat-looling girl with
n pleasant, intelligent face came in
TO serve the first course.
Jennie" Barbara said, with a
smile that revealed her winsomeness
and proved that the years had added
TO its power, these are old friends
of mine. You have met Mrs. Ward.
This is Mr.. Ward, Mrs. Dillingham;,
Mr.. and Mrs. Vane, Jennie Mason"
The girl nodded pleasantly in re-
sponse to the words of greeting given
her. and when her work was over she
went out.
"Is Miss Mason one OF your girls?"
Mrs. Vane asked, rubbing her nose Wig
Oreusly, as her wont was when she
had some particular problem in mind
"Yes, she is just out Of the school.
She is really fitting herself for hos
pital service, but wanted to take the
course, and is with me this winter"
"Are these her mullins 2" Mr.. Ward
inquired. suspiciously.
"No, SIR" Barbara laughed. Those
are mine. / made them specially for
You in memory of the old times"
''Ah, we've never had any like them
sinoe you left us for a better place,
have we, Martha?" MIR. Ward said,
turning to his wife.
mo, not even the girls from Bar
bara's school can equal her" Mrs.
Ward answered, giving Barbara
grateful look The years had strength
ened their friendship and love.
81 don't see that the training school
has solved the hired girl problem in
Crawford" Mrs. Vane said, as IL vexed
at something she had heard. al
though it is wonderful what has been
done in so short time"
We've had our woes" Barbara an
zwered, with a sigh. ut takes SO
long to make people see the Divine
side of service. Now, Jennie. as good
and capable n girl as she is. longs
to escape from the drudgery. as she
calls IT, and become something be-
sides servant"
"As long as humanity is what il Is,
1 imagine that will always keep the
problem unsolved. But am sure the
girls who 90 out of the school are
learning the beauty of service more
and more every year."
81 can speak for the truth of
that" Mrs. Dillingham; nodded vigor-
ously to Barbara across the table.
''The girl you sent me last week is
treasure. She is neat, competent and
Christian. | am ready TO pay her the
maximum wages at the start"
Mrs. Dillingham; referred to scale
of wages agreed upon in Crawford
since the training school was started.
This scale was a mutual agreement
between housekeepers and servants,
and was regulated by certain we'll
defined conditions of competency. 1t
provided for a certain increase every
month of small amount, and had
proved mutually helpful as far as
tried.
"At the same time" Mrs. Ward said,
81 don't believe the servant girl prob
lem is mostly one of wages or work.
believe-tt is more a question or an
understanding on the part of those