The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1934-09-13

"a " " . Y 4AAc144S
painter, yard Helen Essary
man, forgot to come this
morning.
But
The wall scrapers are here.
The house is being prepared
for repapering.
Soggy canvas is spread over
the hall, sitting room and bed.
rooms on the second floor.
I Water drips from the wet
walls and runs out beside the
doorwayS and down stair steps.
Bureaus, desks, pictures, rugs
and lamps are being carried
back and forward from room
to room as the work pro-
crosses.
Window shades are being
taken down. Curtain rods are
jutting into the backs of our
happy family.
The phone rings every few
minutes, as usual.
Vigorous young wall Scrapers
in overalls dash up and down
the stairways with buckets of
water, cans of wet plaster, long
scraping poles and long-handled
brushes.
Books are being borne from
one room to the other in the
arms of the family. Some fall
heavily on the floor as they are
carried.
Elene, youngest daughter, is
whistling loudly and continu-
ously in an off-key. She is leav-
ing soon for a weekend at Rock
Ridge, near Upperville. Is now
happily engaged in filling her
suitcase with picture puzzles,
playing cards, and dolls. So she
whistles and whistles.
And the phone rings. A be-
quilting voice says:
"Can you come to the studio
and have your picture made this
afternoon? Not this afternoon?
So sorry. Some other time,
then"
Boss of scraping crew an
nounces that downstairs ceiling
seems mighty weak to him.
Maybe the whole thing will
have to come down."
Special delivery messenger ar
rives with invitation to eldest
daughter from school friend in
Harrisonburg to be bridesmaid
in wedding. Oldest daughter en-.
chanted. May she be a brides
maid? Just think of all the
lovely clothes and things"
Certainly she may! Il do think
of all the lovely new clothes and
things.)
Man-of-the-house on vacation
in the home wanders about
with wet paper stuck to the
Soles of his shoes and STEP
ladder in his arms. Supervising
wall Scraping. Taking down cur
tains. etc., etc.
Sudden shower makes neces-
Sary quick removal of IS
glasses of crab apple and grape
jelly from kitchen window stills.
Jelly made yesterday by canny
columnist who discovered long
ago that jelly-making counter
acted all antidomeStic sins.
Doorbell rings.
mo, we do not want any veg.
etableS today"
Doorbell rings again. Clean
ing man calls for curtains just
removed from windows. He is
followed by window shade man,
who bears off six window shades,
damaged by summer storms, to
be turned upside down and
hemmed.
Peggy, middle-sized daughter,
announces that she would like
to give Lula Washington a
wedding present, too. May she
please have some money?
There's a cute little shop at the
foot of the hill. Departs with
maternal pocketbook.
Back-door bell rings. Paper
hangers arrive with long
tables, treStles, rolls of paper,
tubs of paste and brushes, ready
to begin work on third floor
rooms already scraped.
Elene appears. inquiries rap
idly and in clear tones:
MAY 1 have Mary to lunch?
Why do I have to take an extra
bath, just because 1 am going
away? What dress must I
wear?"
And I, the mother of this
happy family, what am I doing
meanwhile?
1 am sitting in the empty
pantry not far from the rack
of clothes and the shoe bag
just transferred by scrapers
from my dressing room closet.
MY typewriter is on the drain
board by the sink.
1 am perched on a kitchen
stool-trying to write.
At this moment know that
Any woman who has or wants
Q job is silly.
I shall educate my youngest
daughter to be a Lady. A use
less. careerleSS Lady.