Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-05-06
Clean Hands

Mothers checked kitchen apron
reached from Phoebe's chin to her TOSS
and she stood on wooden stooi as s ho
wa shed the dishes. But even though sne
was such a little girl, her hands WORKED
30 quickly in the warm suds, ana tho
dishes were SO clean as she placed them
in the rinsing pan. that any one wouId
have said: "Ah, this is not the frst time
that Phoebe has washed dishes Tor her
mother. She has learned how by DOING
It very often" And as Phoebe WORKED
she sang 80 merrily that any ono wouio
say, phoebe likes to help her motnor,
even though the work IL dish Washing.
While she was still singing. the door
opened and Mabel peeped In. Maoei
was Aunt Mabel's little daughter ana
Phoebe's cousin.
"Oh, how can you sing when you
wash that greasy pan? Ugh. the
thought of how your hands feel makes
me Creep" and Mabel looked at her own
pretty hands. II will not wash d1snes.
But today is Saturday, and Nora
cannot do more than the baking IL 10
mothers busy day. and she neeos nelp'
Phoebe polished till the pan shone.
"Well. I wouldn't do it," Mabel cried,
and ran away. ~
When the dishes were all put away
on the pantry shelf, the small hands did
look a little red; but do you think
Phoebe cared for that when mother
called THANK you, Phoebe, dear: you
have made the whole morning easier
She did not take the checked apron on,
for she knew that mother was hurryine
to find time to polish the silver. 1t was
slow. tedious task. but mo- ar ;, hao
said to Nora, II must try to do 1t.
Phoebe knew why. Uncle Matthew
was coming to spend a whole week with
mother. Uncle Mathew was the broth
er mother loved so dearly and had not
seen since he went away to far coun-
try.
In short time the silver knives and
forks and spoons were spread on the
kitchen tabl !. and how they began to
shine! First a dab Of powder on the
soft channels cloth, then round and
round went Phoebe's fingers; not dark
stain escaped her notice.
Suddenly the door opened. LOOK al
your hands. They're as black as piece
of coal" Mabel had como in. As she
spoke she rolled her own dimpled HANDS
in her white apron.
It'll all come off, laughed Phoebe.
well. wouldn't do that for any
one. I thought you'd be ready to come
out to play by this time"
It did take q good deal Of securing to
take the stains away from the fingers
when the bright silver was laid away IN
it's place: but do you think Phoebe
Nora: "See what the child has done!
She is a little treasure"
| The clock on the kitchen nante
warned Nora that dinner time was com.
ing, and she cried: What shall I do
| The vegetables are not ready. The bak'
ing and the extra work have made M
late"
TN peel the potatoes, Nora. Let me.
! It was little Phoebe who spoke.
you, child! They'll stain your hand'
! again."
ooh, the stain will all come off," Soor
Phoebe was seated on tho low kitchen
stool, with pain in her lap almost a.
! big as herself Again Mabel popped he1
her head through the kitchen doorway
well, you're the queerest grill" sh%
called. .-. r-.
Queer girl, indeed" snorted Nora
Never wee bit Of help have ye giver
your mother and she as busy al
Phoebe's"'
Uncle Matthew came. and Phoeb'
soon found him to be as dear an uncle
as mother had said. He had tn
strangest way Of looking at ono. Phoeb'
\ SdlQ 10 uS0ScAIs OCAONO AAO S@AA e3AAAAS>'
see what think" OF course this wal
not quite true but certainly Uncl'
Matthew was very wise. He was g
wise that It was not long before he un
derstood just why Phoebe's mother wa
so gay and happy and rested, and VIII.
Mabefs mother sometimes seemed al
most too tired to smile.
Both little cousins wondered when
the day before he went away, he caugh
their small hands in his big one; sid
by side they rested: Mabels soft, dim
pied, white ones, and Phoebe's roughen
ed and red, with here and there a stain
Slowly he said: ~E
Beautiful hands are those that do
/ Work that Is earnest and brave an
true,
Moment by moment tho long da
/ through ...
TITS big mistake to think that low
ing work makes them ugly, my dears.
The next day when Uncle MATTHEW
kissed Phoebe good bye, he pinned
beautiful gold and pearl pin under he
chin as he whispered, "A badge Q
honor for the little maiden whose hand
and heart are pure and clean and goo
and beautiful, because they are ready t
give loving service"
In nlo Cows Twontv.fivo Hal