Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1934-12-27
Timely Hints
Bv HELEN M. SMELTZER
q, Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate
WNU Service.
sEFFICIENCY! That's what you


Gardner paced up and down, around
little heaps Of things not yet picked up
from the bedroom floor. IF men ran
their offices as carelessly as you women
run your homes |" he continued. III
we utterly disregarded system the way
you housekeepers do. Oh heavensl
what q mess it would be-"
"Oh hush up, you make me nervous"
Esther showed back bright curla I'm
tired of always hearing you rave about
masculine efficiency"
Just like you--taking offense when
| try to give a few helpful hints" Ben
retorted.
Esther surveyed the cluttered room
She did try to plan. but there was al
ways something coming up. One could
say, DISHES. 8 to 8 :15; beds, 8:15 to
8 80; and so on. II looked fine on
paper. But baby would choose 8 100 to
fuss. He couldn't read mothers sched.
ule Of work. Esther grew highly In
dignant
Forget 1t or you'll dud your shots"
She kept her voice bright-it was still
early In the day and she had LOT to
do. She had to be cheerful Baby to
battle. dress, feed, put to sleep; dishes
to wash and wipe: kitchen to mop;
baby's washing; beds; clean up the
living room; lunch-the morning
seemed too short. Oh, well. no need for
lunch exactly at twelve today. Ben's
vacation took care Of that He didn't
need to have q puncrual meal these
two weeks. Esther tied her neat apron
hastily as The First started to wall
for his breakfast
Twelve o'clock Lunch ready"
Ben's booming voice woke the baby.
Little Ben had refused to stay on
schedule that morning and had started
his nap an hour late.
"You quiet the baby. I'll be right
down to fix something" Esther called
from their bedroom.
What Nothing ready for lunch?
Why it's twelve o'clock ]" Ben sounded
peeved.
mo hurry today. dear, you KNOW"
Esther called. You don't have to be
anywhere at one"
"You women!" Ben exploded again
Say listen here Esther. This after
noon you and I are going to take an
hour off and I'll plan your work for
you, since you don't seem able to do 1t
yourself" Ben lost his temper com.
pletely and Esther knew that his golf
had been bad But she grew very re
sentful.
Lunch was a quiet, sullen affair.
At three, after little Ben went to
sleep-off schedule-Esther Joined her
husband on the terrace She carried
pencil and paper. Her voice was soft
too soft, If Ben had stopped to no
tice. It put him off his guard
See how easy 1t is, If you just stop
to plant" he was saying, condescend-
ingly. Even nit-wit could follow
this scheme and have time to rest be-
sides"
Esrher's smile only became sweeter.
You rest now. DEAR" she said in a
concerned voice. ~ must catch up on
some tag ends 80 that this schedule
can 60 into effect in the morning with
out hitch I'm sure you'll find that
things will run along as smoothly as
they do in your office"
Bonnie woke at six. as usual, and
Esther fed him and put him into his
kiddy pen to play. She prepared break
fast and put her hat, coat, and suit.
case near the front door. The alarm
rang at seven She heard Ben getting
up as she slipped out the door.
well. how did the time budget work
out. dear?" Esther, radiant, burst into
the kitchen at twelve-thirty, three days
later. Ben was preparing canned soup.
The baby walled.
There You've awakened the baby T.
Ben's eyes were pleading. He was a
bit embarrassed.
mot off schedule. surely!' Esther
appeared Mortified. With gay laugh
she threw her arms around her un-
happy husband. Sorry l ran out on
you, Sweet" she cooed. But got so
tired of working 50 iDefficiently.
knew the baby was safe. and as long as
you could run things 50 much more
efficiently"
Gut it, Esther" Ben said. Il
couldn't work the darn thing even the
first day had Elsie come in to do
some of the things, but even at that
"Some one called up, and there were
five minutes wasted" Esther said.
"And Mrs Roberts talked a half
hour over the fence while burned the
| rubbish Nosey" Ben confessed.
"And there was always something
extra popping up. wasn't there. old
dear?" Esther was really sorry for her
| husband.
IF you hadn't come today. I'd have
hired everything DONE" he said
II was wondering If you would
well. I was too stubborn. guess,
Ben admitted. II just wanted to prove
to you that II could be done. But II
couldn't"
| Not with an infant around" Esther
sympathized, Fastening into the kitchen
| just In time to keep the soup from
burning.
| Miss Ellis"
'Yes. Mr. Gardner"
Are those statements ready?"
| "Not got Mr. Gardner I'm sorry