The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1913-08-09
WHEN WORK WAS PLAY.

Maize was sitting on stool in front
of an open fire. In her hand she held
little broom, as she had been sweep
ing up the hearth and had sat down
to consider whether she would take
the corner of the dining room which
was next to the parlor, or let Lucille
have it when she came over to play
paper dolls. This was the favorite
corner, as the parlor door opened into
the dining room in such a way as to
make that corner little room.
AS she sat there thinking the matter
over her mother came in with her
wraps all on. "O!" she said, "you are
brushing up. That's good! When you
finish you can dust, and then set the
table. I'm going up street. I won't
Sa7rgone very long"
aIazie was well-trained child and
did not argue with her mother. Eyes,
mother" she said, but there was a
look of disappointment in her face
that made her mother think, "Tll stop
at Kuntz's and bring her some candy"
She kissed her daughter and hurried
out.
Well, no paper dolls, that was clear,
unless the work was finished before
mother got back. For after she came
Maize would have to help in the
kitchen and Lucille would have to go
home to her dinner.
Just then a tap was heard on the
window and a face framed in red
cap looked in. Maize jumped up and
opened the side door.
20 Lucile!" she exclaimed, was
just fixing up to play paper dolls and
mother came in and told me to dust
the dining room and set the table.
She's gone out
Lets play while first" suggested
Lucille.
81 guess we'd better do the work
first. Maybe there will be some time
left, if we hurry as fast as ever we
can"
Tap, tap-another face at the win
dow framed by two blue mittens and
fur cap. There's Maud" exclaimed
both children at once, as they rushed
to open the side door.
Again the woeful tale was told
work instead of play.
WELL" said Maud, II know what
let's do. There's a game learned at
Cousin Clara's that you can do work
by"
"a gamer" said Maize. How car
you play and work at the same timer
"Just get me a sheet of paper anC
a pencil and I'll show you" She tore
the paper into halves, quarters, eighths
sixteenths. On each piece she wrote
the name of an article of furniture
mothers chair, fathers chair, higI
chair, mantelpiece, sideboard and 81
on. Then she put these pieces into ;
box saying, We'll draw these first
Maize and Lucille watched with grea
interest. On other pieces she wrot
the names of things to go on the tabl
asbestos cloth, white cloth, plates
knives and so forth. These she pu
into a separate box.
Taking up the first box she held i
out to Maize and said, Draw one.
Maize put her hand in and pulled on
a piece on which was written sid
table," "That means" said Maud
that you must dust the side table,
1t was not long before all tire
were as busy as bees, running to tn
box, drawing the slips and busting tn
furniture. Soon the first box wa
empty and they started on the SEE
ond. These slips told how to set TIL
table. Everything was on but tn
carving knife and fork, and Lucille an
Maize were both hurrying back for tn
last slip when the door opened am
there stood Mazie's mother They ha
been so lively they had not heard tn
front door open. What is this?" sh
said. "You haven't put your friend
to work, have you Mazie?"
80 it isn't work." they all cried
Its play. We've had lots of fun!"
Perhaps, then, you don't want this,
said her mother, as she handed Maxi
box of marshmallOws.
Yes. we do. too" said Maize, san
Wen sit right down and toast them.
-MagD 3. Thompson. fnhse enid Apostle.