The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1907-09-20

soOn got tlreQ ana lett her to her own
resources. The poor little wife could
uot cook, she had never been taught
how to keep house, and Pat was
often obliged to 60 back to his work
with nothing better for dinney than
bread and boiled tea. The house was
dirty and in disorder, and Nellie soon
got tired Of keeping herself tidy.
Twelve years passed and what a
change! The once bright and hand,
some girl was now care-worn wo-
man, the mother of five children. She
never knew when her husband would
return at night, for, poor man, be
dreaded the confusion of the house,
with the children crying, the mother
scolding and everything in confusion.
Pat found it more pleasant to pass
his evenings where he would have
peace and a comfortable fire in the
public house; besides, he had COM
panions like himself, and good deal
of the weeks earnings was left there.
Nellie's eldest child Kitty was now
ii year old; Mollie 9, and Johnnie 6.
The baby was but a year old, and
child of had died
One day when the children return
ed from school they told their mother
that they were learning to cook and
and to clean house." Mrs. O'Hara
did not heed them much, as each day
they related to her about the various
things they had learned, Kitty beg
ged "to be let try something" but
the mother refused
"Where can get things for you to
cook 2" she said. 1--WE can't afford
danties."
"But, mother" said the child, "we
can cook vegetables. Mollie and John
ME can help, too"
Mrs. O'Hara laughed at the "non-
sense of children" and refused to
have her house upset.
The nuns told the school children
to practice at home what they had
been taught in school, but Kitty told
them that her mother would not let
her.
"Never mind, child" said the Sis.
ter, "we'll see her soon.".
Accordingly, one day the Sisters
called Oh Mrs. O'Hara. The poor
woman was in disorder as usual and
apologized for the state in which they
found her and the place.
II have so much to do, Sister,
said she, "between getting the dinner
ready and minding the baby that l
have no time to clean the house."
why don't you get the children
to help you ?" said Sister Patrick.
"Oh! 1 could not be looking at
them pulling the things about" she
replied "they would smash every
thing"
NO." said sister, "they would not;
we find Kitty very handy; she has
taste for housekeeping"
otis easy for you to talk, Sister,
said the woman, "but it you had
home like this, and a man drinking
halt his earnings and coming in at all
hours of the night, 1 wonder what you
would do?"
II would try and find way out of
the difficulty" laughed the Sister.
Suppose. now you allow the children
tomorrow to do as they have been
taught in school, and try just for one
day to let them have the responsi.
bllity. promise you they will not
'roak anything" .
Very we'll, Sister, let them do so,
as tomorrow will be Saturday; but I
know what to expect"
The next morning Kitty said !:
Mother, you are to do nothing today
after breakfast but mind baby and
sit in the garden"
II know I'll pay for my holidays"
said Mrs. O'Hara. eve have no
meat for dinner" '--
"Never mind we can have vegeta-
BILE soup and colcannon,"4 ans swered
Kitty.
Little Jonnie was to take part in
cleaning, so he got coarse apron on
and some whiting with cloths, and
the some whiting with cloths, and the
girls set him to work rubbing spoons,
tins and lids of pots. They got the
vegetables and put them on to boil,
having first cleaned and prepared
them. Mollie then proceeded to take
all the delf off the dresser and set
about washing them, while Kitty
cleaned and scrubbed the shelves. That
task completed, they arranged the
things in order again.