The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1943-07-29
By KATHLEEN NORRIS
Bell syndicate.--wNU Features.
TARRIET BARNES. /;


years old, is one of many
= = women who finds a war
time schedule somewhat dis
tracing. She works at a lathe
from seven at night until after
midnight; comes home exhaust
ed to drink cup of coffee and
sleep until perhaps nine or ten.
Her husbands hours are from
eight until four, nominally, but
he often works until early eve
ming. The daughter teaches
in night school and folds band
ages for the Red Cross every after
noon. Harriet goes to market at
about two o'clock, gets her own sup
per at six, leaves something inviting
for Larry, and goes off to work.
Linda and her young man usually
join Larry for dinner, but they have
to hurry off, too, to their waiting
classes. The sons of the family are
in the navy.
Sometimes I ask myself if we are
the happy group of ten years ago."
writes Harriet. ''My lovely eight
year-old girl, my boy twins, were
busy and content then with home
work, Scouts, movies, comics, radio,
helping mother make doughnuts,
going off for long picnic trips in the
old car-not a cloud, and not a
bomber, in the sky. Now it's all
higgledy-piggledy, laundry not home,
tailor called and gone away again,
dust everywhere, telephone not an
swered, marketing long, slow
process, weekly letters to the boys
often real burden to write. For I
like to put in little jokes and clip
pings and show a certain amount of
spirit and courage-and they simply
aren't there!
But now let me explain why I
am working. will say honestly
that, while would make any sac
rifce for my country, and am indeed
facing the possibility of the supreme
sacrifice of my sons lives with what
philosophy I can, the money ques-
ton also makes difference to me.
While am working I can put al
most two hundred dollars a month
toward the mortgage we have car
ried on our home for II years.
never thought of attempting to raise
it until got this war job. Other
bills have been paid; we are solvent
for the first time in our married
lives.
Savings to Meet Peace's Drain.
ST blame myself now for the old,
slipshod years when I never was
quite caught up with monthly bills
and regarded mortgage as some
thing about as essential as a roof.
Now I feel differently Now I feel
that we may have some years of
serious social upset after the war;
hundreds of women losing jobs, thou
sands of men seeking them, certain
war businesses that are booming to-
day completely extinguished; peace
time enterprises slow to start up
again. It will be a great comfort
to me if I can say then that we
own our home clear of membranes
and that have some money safe in
war bonds.
MY husband and daughter want
me to stay home and keep the house
in the old way. That means careful
management, money shortage, and
no more payment on the mortgage,
which is now down to 81 300. Larry
can give me about sos month for
household expenses; Linda pays odd
bills-sometimes telephone or gas,
and for her own lunch and clothing
costs. Now and then the boys send
Ma a special check, but most of
their money goes to government
bonds. didn't say, but you may
have inferred it, that counting pay
and overtime, am being paid more
than husband and daughter together.
I know that is only temporary, but
I would be glad to make good use of
it while it lasts"