Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-01-14


to leave is the Sunday work. During
the four Sundays I have been here
you have invited in several friends
to Sunday dinner. This makes Sun
day morning my hardest day."
1T has happened so this last month.
that is true" Mrs. Ward confessed
reluctantly; "but it has been rather
unusual. In three instances I 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 a mans home life.
What shall he do? Never invite q
friend home to dinner for fear Of
giving the girl a little extra trouble p
II don't mind it during the week."
Barbara replied, thoughtfully, "but it
does not seem to me to be just the
thing on Sunday. A good many fam
lilies make it a 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
1y, 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
some new ideas since she sat down to
give her reasons for leaving. The
next time she spoke it was with a
feeling of doubt as to her position.
'There is another thing that I have
felt good deal, Mrs. Ward. You
have asked me to give reasons. You
will not think me rude if go on?"
II asked you to go on" Mrs. Ward
replied, smiling feebly.
''Well, during the four weeks have
been in the family, you have never
invited me to come into the family
worship, and you have never asked
me to 60 to church with you, al
though I told you when I came that
l was a member of a Christian En-
deavor society in Fairview before we
moved to Crawford. I don't mind so
much being left out of the church
services, but I cannot get over the
feeling that as long as I am hired
servant have no place, so far as my
religious life is concerned, in the FAM
lily where I serve"
Contrary to Barbara's expectation,
Mrs. Ward did not reply at once; and,
when she did, her voice was not an
cry. It was, rather, sorrowful
statement that gave Barbara reason
to ask herself still other questions.
'There are some places in family
that are sacred to itself. Mr.. Ward
has always said that he thought the
hour of family devotions was one of
the occasions when a family had
right to be all by itself. Of course,
if friends or strangers happen to be
present in the home, they are invited
into this inner circle, but not as a
right, only as privilege. We have
had so many girls in the house who
for one reason and another would not
come into worship, even if asked, that
for several years we have not asked
them. But the main reason is Mr..
Wards. Is there to be no specially
consecrated hour for the family in
it's religious life? Is it selfish to wish
for one spot in the busy day sacred
to the home circle alone?"
Barbara was silent. II have not
wished to intrude into your family
life. I only felt hungry at times to
be recognized as religious being
with the rest of you. Would my oc-
casional presence have totally de-
stroyed the sacred nature of your
family circle?"
20, I don't know that it would"
sighed Mrs. Ward. II have only given
you Mr.. Wards reason. He feels
quite strongly about it. AS to the
Do you think ought to in
vite my servant to 60 with me?"
II would if you were working for
me-" replied Barbara, boldly, for she
was on sure ground now, to her own
mind.
"Are you sure?"
II know I would" Barbara replied,
with conviction.
Mrs. Ward did not answer, but sat
looking at Barbara thoughtfully. Bar
bara rose and looked into the oven,
changed a damper, and then went
over to the table and stood leaning
against it.
''Your other reasons for leaving?"
Mrs. Ward suddenly asked. AS she
asked it, Carl came into the kitchen
and went up to Barbara.
81 want a pie. Make me pie, Bar
bara, won't your" he asked, climbing
up into chair at the end of the table
and rubbing his hands into the flour
still on the kneading-board.
Barbara smiled at him, for they
were good friends, and she had
grown very fond of the child.
eyes, if your mother thinks best
and you will sit down there like a
good boy and wait a little" Carl at
once sat down, only begging that he
might have the dish that Barbara had
used to mix eggs and sugar in.