Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1914-09-11
WHY LIEF HOME

OuG Oh my S6EAhSSb A~GOA1S-
lions is Of watching her making my |
dainty clothes, for she was deft with
her fingers. Even as q child noticed
that she cared little for plain sewing, |
and that IL she ever hired seam
stress 1t was TO fashion the I'M
ornamental garments while she her
self would stitch for hours on an |
deliberately embroidered frock or coat.
1t was we'll that she had the ability |
to do the fine needle-work OF which |
she was fond, for my fathers income
would not permit her to buy such. !
He was In moderate circumstances, |
and all my life was accustomed to a
home In which but one maid was
kept
fancy / had happy childhood, as
childhoods go. There is popular
fiction that the happiest time of ones
life is when one 10 SO young that one
is absolutely under the control OF
ones governors. SRAchers, pastors
and masters" Pt@Aaps 1t ia, but as a
small girl lcngsd often to have my
own way. told my father this once
when wRs but ten years OF age. He
smiled whiHsically and patted my
head.
An, nttie girl" he expostulated.
how foolish you are! Here is your
dad wishing that he need never decide
what is right and what ID wrong for
himself, but that there was some one
In whom he had perfect confidence
who would say to him you ust do
this OF you must not do that.
was fond of novel-reading, but
read only such books as my parents
approved. / have wondered often
since how 1t happened that ! was in
such complete subsection to my father
and mother. l know that there were
at school girls who read what they
pleased, but when left home my
mother had asked me to peruse only
such books as she, my father, or the
school principal recommended. pro-
missed and kept the promise. My room
mate was q singularly sweet, pure
minded girl, and cared for no other
lntimates. although / was on pleas
ant terms with many of the other
scholars But / think all OF them
thought me too prim and particular to
be much fun. SO when ! returned to
my home at the end of my school
career my fastidious mother and my
anxious father found me as childlike
and unsophisticated az when they had
sent me from them. They had decid
ed that l was not to go to college.
knew there had been a little discus
sion about this matter, but my fla
Their had very strong convictions along
these lines. He wanted his daughter
to be "aIl womanly,' and had a con
tempt, founded more upon prejudict
than upon knowledge. of the typica
college woman. While my motheri
views did not coincide In every par
ticular with his, she was SO anxious Il
keep me with her that she readily &C
cepted his decision against college
She needed me, she said She hal
been $50 lonely" since left and want
ed me for her very own friend an
companion now and always"
She told me this the night after RI
turned 70 the little home and the pre-
ty room that had been done over
for me.
so many Of the girls know ar
going TO do things Of some kind"
informed her Mother, dear, il Their
any special line of work you want N
to take up7 Do you want me to hav
some way OF earning my living?"
moi" she said impulsively. "Whs
/ want is TO have you to myself :
long as / live. at least" she adde
until you marry. And perhaps yc
may not do that. Even then woul
want you to live near me. have ga
rinced myself. and my own wishes. +,
the sake OF having You educated, al
i feel that have the right to enjc
you now"
But" hesitated as / asked Il
question. suppose that the tin
should come when had to suppo
myself-what could do them"
ut won't come, l hope" she |
sisted. And II 1t did-why, y,
write . beautiful hand. You can
secretary-or something!"
Several years later ! remember,
that speech.
The following evening my faith
and / had long talk as we sat |
gether on the yeranda. Mother h
a headache and had gone to her roc
early. insisting. however, that he
her undress and see her comfortat
In bed before joining my father whe
he sat alone, smoking.
What have you been doing?"
asked as / came out softly upon t
yeranda after leaving my mother In
peaceful sleep, soothed thereto by
gentle stroking OF her aching he,
When ] told him ne drew me down
a chair beside him.
Poor little GIRL" he said bant
ingly. you are already getting brok
into work, aren't your"
Work." I exclaimed, almost
dignantly. II don't cali 1t work
make poor, dear mother comfortal
when she is ILL.,"
1T may get monotonous after
While." he remarked dryly. And Il
he sighed. | asked no questions, |
again IN my heart was the old
miliar ache for him and for my mott
and the old puzziing question as
which should sympathize with.
Soon our talk drIfted to my sch
days, and. tentatively, / said to i
just what had eaid to my mot
the evening before about my acquir
some way Of earning living. w
did he think of IT.
He smoked for several minutes