The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-04


when Messy sweeps only in the mid
die of the room,y Peggy went on, ''and
tells little white lies about putting fresh
water in the vases of flowers; when she
hides the dishes instead of washing them
so she can get to Church in time for
the first hymn, she may think she's serv-
ing heaven, and that she's a model
daughter of Rebecca, or whatever the
name of her church society is, but she
isn't. She told me that her society was
sewing on aprons to be sent in a mission
ary box to the savages way off soi1ie-
where
you think. then, that Messy as a
church member may be a shining light,
as Bill Nye says about clever men for
husbands, but as Christian she's a
brunette flzze, eh?'' Betty asked.
Il do indeed" Peggy agreed. I've been
thinking how I'd like to form a class
with Messy in 1t and address it upon the
subject Of the things left lndone when
some of us start to Keeping Lent" Peggy
announced.
"Why Peggyi" Betty exclaimed. "Bet-
| ter rehearse your lecture to me right
here before you go out and begin to talk
| incoherently OF course, you'd begin by
clearing your throat-A-heni Ah!--
Ladies and-er-er-M Mossy,"
"I'm serious. Betty Peggy said
| thoughtfully. Don't be foolish. [ may
] be wrong in my views. but would really
| like to give Lenten lectures to some peo-
pie | know. Messy stealing oranges to
keep a vow to eat no meat, Is no worse
than woman | know who got-up out OF
a sick bed the other day to go to church.
l heard her singing at the top of her
voice, Abide With Me- and when the
beautiful impressive service closed 1 saw
her stop one of her friends and heard
her ridieule a certain woman outrageous
ly for tightening her mourning
ITO think this woman was saying
with the same insincerity that Messy uses
when she tries to Justify herself for
in order to get to church in time, Ito think
her husband has only been dead two years
and she's actually taken off her veil--the
crepe veil, mean!"
.'Now, this woman who had committed
the objectionable crime of taking off the
dreadful old germ trap of a crepe veil,
Peggy related, "happens to have been
sick a good deal lately and her physician
advised her to leave off some of the heavy
black trappings that she's been swathed
in for two years, because he considered
it unhealthy. Now, wasn't that a Chris
tian like speech to make coming home
from a Lenten service after she had lis
tened to the beautiful prayer. 'Nourish lis
in all goodness and increase us In true
religioni' 1t makes4ne sad"
would that woman be one whom you'd d
invite to your Lenten lecturer" Betty
asked curiously.
.'One of the many" replied Peggy. 'Td
ask every woman who is so buey hnrryine
through her home duties In time to get to
church that she hasn't time to be kind.
and I'd tell her that we may hold ser
vices at home in our own hearts as well
as at church, and that to my way OF
thinking 1t is better to stay at home and
say a quiet little prayer to God, at peace
with ones self, than it is to go to church
fluctrated and irritated with ones SER
wants and children and the world gener-
ally"
But don't you Think asked Betty,
that Lent is a season when properly OBJ
served that makes us over?"
'.I do indeed" replied Peggy. Il think
everyone of us should go to church every
one of the 40 days. I believe in fasting
and in prayer and in all sorts OF good
works. but l think we miss the real spirit
OF this beautiful season when we only try
to keep the letter of the law. l think
that there are occasions when going to
church must rank before the Most High
Judge as quite as worldly an enjoyment
as going to ball. There are women who
go to church when they should be at home
where they are needed. / think any per-
son who neglects duty to say prayer
to God places herself with the Pharisees.
who did their work to be seen and heard
of men. Our little black Messy in her
own way is no worse than women who
should be 200 years more advanced than
they are Messy leaving her breakfast
dishes unwashed to slip off to morning
services to sew on aprons for Fill
islanders, with the rest of the daughters