Evening star., 1927-04-28
The Bargain.

TIME small nickel clock on the
stand at the side of the bed
gave warning click that in
Il Just half a minute it would
strike, the time for Miriam
Nourse to rise and prepare breakfast
for Dan, her husband. She slipped
out of bed, and, dressing hurriedly.
went downstairs. Going through the
hall she adjusted the chains to the
furnace and in the dining room she
pulled up the shades. She paused u
moment before entering the kitchen.
She dreaded what she was to find in
the kitchen, because the night before
her daughters, Caroline and Helen.
had entertained some of their crowd,
but even past experience had not pre-
pared her fully for what she found A
fast drying up loaf of bread and an
empty cream bottle gave mute evi-
dence of the fact that the girls had
raided the Kitchen in search of eats"
and a pile of sticky dishes in the sink
announced the fact that they had had
a perfect bout of candy-making.
Miriam picked up the empty bottle
and sighed. That empty bottle meant
that ther was no cream for Dams
morning cup of coffee, and Dan with
out his morning coffee. She
drafts and found that her needless
girls had not attended to the fire after
their frolic and the fire was out.
''Oh. those girls! Will / ever be able
to teach them to be thoughtful?"
With a sigh Miriam took the coffee
can down from the corner in the
kitchen cabinet. 1t was SO light that
she did not have to remove the cover
to learn that t.le girls had used up
the last drawing of coffee. We'll"
she thought, there isn't any time to
worry now. I'll have to do my best,
which I'm afraid isn't going to be
very good this morning"
Just as Miriam was setting the
breakfast on the table Dan came
downstairs.
"Oh. Dan" she said. there isn't
any coffee this morning, but I've
made you a splendid cup of orange
Pekoe.''
mo coffeew Dan was plainly dis
appointed Did you forget to order
it, Miriam?"
NO" Miriam answered. there
was plenty, but the girls used it last
night. You know they had a crowd
in"
"U-umm," mumbled Dan, but Miriam
knew he was not pleased
Miriam was in the kitchen ironing
when the girls came down at 10
O'clock for their breakfast.
whats up, mother?" Caroline
asked. You're as white as a ghost. |
i bet you've got another one of your
headaches coming on. 1t makes me
tired to see the way you wear yourself
out fussing over this old housework. |
I'd let it go If l were you. You just
wait until l get home of my own
and you won't see me killing myself !
doing lot of unnecessary things. !
When l get a home it's going to be
run on common-sense principles"
You're just right, Carol" chimed
In Helen, who was the younger of the |
two girls. Mothers just plain fussy, |
and awfully old-fashioned, and if she |
had her way we'd all be trotting
round with q broom or dustcloth in |
our hand two-thirds of the time. and
the rest of the time we'd have our |
heads tied up in cold water and |
camphor because we'd overworked. |
When / get a shouse I'm going to let
1t take care of itself. Oh, I'd like to
live in this house for one week and
do just as l please, and 1 bet we'd
be lots more comfortable and never
know the difference. either
The girls would no doubt have con-
tinued the conversat ton, because their |
mothers housekeeping methods came
UP for frequent discussion, but Miriam
Unexpectedly interrupted.
''Girls." she said. I'm going to
make a bargain with you. Your