Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1901-07-10
CHAPTER /.
THE WORLD NEEDS LOVE.


Richard Ward, anNiously, lit comes
back TO the old question: What are
we to do? You know | am not strong
enough TO keep house alone. We can't
afford to break up our home and go
into hotel, and yet il seems almost
the only thing left to do. What shall
we do?"
Il don't understand why all our girls
stay so short . time!" exclaimed Mr.
Ward, irritably. And then he looked
across the table at his wife. and his
look softened little as he noted more
carefully her tired face and the traces
OF tears on her cheeks.
"Oh. | don't understand IT! All
know is that they are all simply hor-
ria. do everything for them and
never get anything but ingratitude
from every one of them, The idea of
Maggie leaving me to-day of all the
days. just when Aunt Wilson was com
ing. and Alfred home from college, and
Lewis down with his accident; it is
more than i can bear, Richard. If you
were any sort of n man, you would
know what to dol"
We'll, l am any sort of n man. and
don't know in the least what TO do, re-
piled Mr.. Richard Ward 10 himself, as
ms wife laid her head down on the
table, regardless of several dishes
overturned, and broke into sobs as Il
Tellef to her feelings which had been
growing in hysterical power ever since
Maggie. the hired girl, had that morn
ing not only given notice of her de-
Parture but had actually left, after Il
'briet but heated discussion about the
-housework in the Ward family
The two children at the table turned
frightened looks first at the father and
then at the mother, and the youngest
of them began to cry.
stop that, CARL" exclaimed Mr..
Ward sharply. Then, as he pushed
back his plate with the food on it un-
touched, he muttered to himself:
I'm losing all my Christianity over
tins miserable hiredgirl business. It's
breaking up our home life and wreck
ing the JOY of our very children"
The child's lip curled in piteous eff
fort at control and the older one be-
gan eating again, looking from father
TO mother anxiously
Mr.. Ward rose, and, going over t o his
wife. he sat down by her and stroked
her head gently.
There. Martha. you are all worn
out. Just go into the sitting-room and
ne down. George and l will do up the
dishes, won't we, George? Wen play
hired girl tonight, won't we?"
Let me help, tool" cried Carl
yes, YOU can help, too. Finish your
supper, and well have a Jolly time
washing and wiping. Now. Martha.
you go in and lie down. Wen get
things Strengthened out somehow"
Mrs. Ward feebly protested. but al
owed her husband to lead her into the
sitting-room, where she sank down on
lounge.
I've got splitting headache, Rich
ard; leave the dishes until morning
You're tired with your business"
NO. | don't like to see them living
around. Besides. dirty dishes have a
way of growing with miraculous rapid
ity when the girls gone and things go
% pieces like this" he said with
lapse into irritation again.
Its not my fault" exclaimed Mrs
Ward, sharply. Carl, stop that noise"
she added as Carl began to gather up
some of the dishes, piling the biggest
plates on the little ones and letting
Severa! knives and forks clatter to the
floor in his eagerness to help.
Don't he always nagging the chill
dren. Martial" said Mr.. Ward. angrilv.
tossing his temper for the tenth time
that evening. The other times he had
lost il silently.
Its always: Stop that noise! from
mother when her head aches" said
George as he tried TO pick up the
knives and forks quietly, and let them
drop twice before he had them back on
the table.
'See me help! See me heIp!" sung
Carl as he started towards the kitchen
door with his arms full of dishes. The
pile was too heavy for his strength:
and, a S he neared the door the column
began 20 tOppIe, ~ balanced for mo-
ment on the edge OF safety, and then
fell with crash. The child looked AZ
the ruin moment in terrified silence.
then sat down ON the floor and began
20 cry
Mrs Ward sat up on the lounge and
looked at her husband almost saw.
aRely.
Richard Ward. IL you don't do some
thing TO change all this"
She did not finish her sentence Inn,
lay down and turned her face 10 the
wall Ia despair. And Richard Ward Of
che firm Of Mead, Ward and Company
known IN business circles as good
agreeable, and fairly successful mer
chant. and in church circles al "a con.
sistent member and active Christian
man, turned from his wife and went
out into the dining-roOm with a loot
on his face that his minister had never
seen, and a feeling in his heart thai
was good way from being ,vhat
might be expected ia q man who wa.
''in good and regular standing" in IN,
Marble square church
1T would be very funny if e. vcr,
..nL u. NOR o. ~. 81. ~ " - - IL IL L -