Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1901-08-16

terness because i could see the end
coming. There is no one who is in
any way bound TO help us Why
should 1 let a false pride keep me
from doing honest labor of the hand?
And there is more Of il than you
imagine, mother dear. IL takes more
than low order of intellect to man
age the affairs of a family as
housekeeper, doesn't it?'
Mrs. Clark did not answer, and Bar
bara went on: You know, mother, |
made special study in college of So
cial economies. The application of
those principles to real, live prob
lem had great fascination for me.
Now, the hired-girl problem in this
country is n real, live, social and eco
nomic problem. Why shall / not be
able DO do as much real service to So
ciety and the home life of America by
entering service as hired girl and
studying il from the inside, as if went
into a schoolroom like other school
ma'ams, to teach? | love adventure.
Why not try this? No one knows how
much l might be able TO do for hui
mainly socially as hired girl"
Mrs. Clark looked at her daughter
again with that questioning look Of
doubt which she often felt when Bar
bara spoke in n certain way IL was
not the girls habit to treat any sub
ject fippantly. She was talking with
great seriousness now, and yet there
were ideas in what she said that her
mother could not in the least under
stand.
But even from a money point of
view, mother, such position as this is
not TO be despised. If my services are
satisfactory, / can get S4.75 or even
five dollars a week, and my board and
lodging and washing and other Incl
dentals thrown in. Suppose | had a
position as stenographer in one OF
the offices downtown. | could not pos
sibly command over $50 a month. Out
of that take my board, lodging, wash
ing, clothes, etc. And | could not pos
sibly save out of it over ten dollars
month. Whereas, working out at
service, / could save twice that much
in actual wages. II go into Bond
mans store, for instance, as a sales |
clerk, ! cannot get over five dollars a
week, out OF which / must board lodge |
and dress myself. Mother, | have /
thought it all out, and l feel that /
must go in answer TO this advertise /.
ment. | don't mind the social stigma. /
l do mind the bitterness Of living in /
idleness at home. Let me do some I
thing useful If it is only for a little /
while. | am sure servant can be .
useful"
ut is dreadful thought TO me.
said Mrs. Clark with a sigh.
II never dreamed that a child Of mine
would ever be a hired girl"
SAY servant mother. Servant is
a noble word. Christ was a servant.
Don't you remember DR.. Laws sermon
on that word last Suuday?"
The girl spoke lightly not knowing
herself the depth of the truth She
stated, and yet her mother started and
'hrunk back almost as if the words
we're sacrilege. 1t is possible how
ever, that the Older woman caught
some glimpse of that great Light in
he social life Of men; for. when she
poke again, it was with yielding TO
barbara 5 wish that was new TO her.
Il don't understand you, Barbara
+ only the money that your father
saved for your education had been
more wisely invested, we might-but
t is too late to think Of that now. Ii
5 the thought that you are throwing
way your preparation for life on
omething beneath you that makes me
oppose this. But if you do go from this
'ther motive. that changes matters {
"Of course it does, mother Let me
o. l should not be happy TO go with
ut your consent. will do this: will
o for trial. This is probably the
My way l can 90, anyhow. But, if l
fter reasonable time ! find ii is i'm
ossible for me to continue, if even my I
ream Of any possible service TO So {
iety turns out to be ridiculous or fool
II, l will come back and-and-be a
urden TO you again, mother, until | &,
nd out what l am good for in this
-orld."
1T is only on some such condition !
hat ! am at all willing to have you s
AXE this step, Barbara" said her
lother, reluctantly, as Barbara rose :
nd stood up by her for a moment in
lence. She suddenly stopped and
Issed her mother, and then walked
yer to the window and looked at her
atch.
After six. l might as well go right
YER there now"
They will ask you for references"
lie mother spoke up, nervously, al
lady doubling the wisdom of the
hole affair.
Barbara resolutely gathered up her :,
,urage. :
II have Prof. Whites letter-the
lautauqua summer, mother, / can
Ike those" Barbara referred 20 a f
mmer's experience when in company \
til several seniors from the college
e had served as head waiter and
at large hotel in a state -
lautauqua assembly.
They are good as far as theygo." r.,