The herald., 1921-08-25
SPRING CLEANING
BY LYDIA LION ROBERTS.
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of scraps"
81 can't help it," retorted Beatrice,
her brown eyes swapping. I've been
housekeeping all day, and I'm tired
to death"
"You look it," said Allan grimly, his
gray eyes travelling from his wife's un-
tidy dark hair to her flushed face and
rumpled housedress. You used to
keep yourself up and be full Of fun at
supper time and play to me evenings,
he continued reprOachfully, land now
you are always too tired and don't
even change your dress"
1T is easy enough for you to tall"
flashed Beatrice, you can keep your
self spick and span all day in the or
fee with no dirty work to do, ana
she glared resentfully at her hus-
bands smooth, brown hair, clear brown
skin and immaculate clothes. we
can't afford to have the cleaning done,
and so / have to do ii, and you can't
expect me to do everything else be-
sides"
oeoS'
Beautiful spring." growled Allan.
Beatrice frigidly cleared the table
and then went to bed in naughty 81
lence, while Allan read and rested and
then wondered what made him such
crouch lately.
The next morning Allan hustled up
first and brought his wife a cup OF
coffee before she wss out of bed.
Thought you might like an extra
rest" he smiled sheepishly.
"Oh, that's dear of you," responded
Beatrice, quickly. as she Rugged him
In affectionate remorse.
1--WE had my breakfast, and you try
and take it easy today" said Allan as
he left for the train.
"Now, isn't that just like a manT'
thought Beatrice, as she began TO
dress. There is so much to be done;
curtains to iron, paint to clean and
windows to wash. Oh dear! l get
so tired and cross. In all our five
years of married life we have never
Quarreled so much as we have lately.
Allan is so unreasonable sometimes,
and / can't bear to have our nice
new home get dirty, but this house
cleaning takes the heart out of me-"
A part of verse she had once read
came suddenly to her mind:
Yes. clean your house-and clean your
barn in every part;
But-in housekeeping time don't forget
N heart.
That's a funny idea" she unused.
II wonder IL l housecleaned my heart
what I'd do? suspect I'd throw away
some selfishness and envy, and scrub
out some stubbornness, and iron the
wrinkles out of my patience and SYM
pathy. Then I'd polish my musical
| talents and make the rooms all shin
/ ing with the brushes Of tenderness
and love-"
! She laughed at the whimsical idea.
81 think I'll try a change" she final
| ly decided. 81 don't need to get all
my hard work done at once, anyway.
I've been too much the housekeeper
and not enough the home-maker Of
this family"
Allan had been through o trying
day, for orders had gone astray, his
best clerk away and inefiiciency caus-
ing trouble. He sighed with relief as
he started for home, and then his
spirits sank.
"No rest for the wicked" he
groaned inwardly. This is house
cleaning time and it's 'pickups for
me again, 1 suppose. Well, it's up to
me to smile and bear It."
He squared his shoulders and whis-
tied loudly as he ran up the steps OF
his pretty suburban cottage. The
door opened quickly and Beatrice said
smilingly:
Hello, honey, / was watching fol
you. Isn't it a lovely spring evening y
Allan looked at her in pleased sur
prise. Her wavy black hair was pref
tily coiled with little curls tempting
kisses around her ears. Her brown
eyes sparkled and her cheeks glowed
family pink and cool. Her green and
white dress was one that he especially
admired, and a crisp, ruffied apron
swung saucily as she went into the
dining room.
Mullins tonight, dearie," she said
4 cheerily, as she brought in the supper
Allan sighed with satisfaction at the
taste Of the hot mullins and juicy
steak. The silver shone, the daint!
china glistened, there was vase OF
jonquils in the center of the table anC
opposite him his wife talked merrill
Of the news Of the day.
There's no place like home" ht
declared, appreciatively.
"Tn pack the dishes and play to yol
awhile" said Beatrice, after her hus
band had eaten so much that he haC
to kiss the cook.
Allan leaned back comfortably II
his favorite chair, listening in perfec
enjoyment as Beatrice played piec'
after piece they both loved.
Lets sing" he suggested, finally
and got up to stand beside her at tn,
piano.
This is like old times" he exclaime,
boyishly. II feel about twenty an,
you look like sixteen again. VIVA
has happened, anyway? Have yol
found the fountain of youth, or beef
left a fortune"