St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1957-09-13


her all around maid, az was the
custom in those days That meant
this young girl did all Of the
/ work
Later, Mrs. Smith I'VE will call
herr noticed her maids perfect
English and all Of the other good
qualities she had. She began TO
wonder why this girl who had
come into their home, a perfect
stranger, and had arranged the
work so she was able 10 go to her
room afternoons, did not go out
more.
So she said: Mary, you are
such a perfect housekeeper and so
nice TO have around the house,
have begun TO think Of your fu-
ture. What are your plans?"
Mary looked little shy and in
very soft tone replied. II have
always wanted 10 be a nurse, but
after my parents were killed in an
accident when / was only ten,
have lived with first one rela-
tive then another. None of them
had much so spare but they shar-
ed willingly with me and they
gave me a High school education
and told me / would be able to
save enough money TO take a
nurses training course If be-
came a maid. Being a maid gives
me my salary to save toward my !
training. was told by my aunt !
to be the best kind OF maid and |
not shirk and l could stay in one
home until saved enough for my |
course"
Mrs Smith was so quiet Mary |
thought she must be angry. After |
Mrs Smith left the room the rest |
OF the day was very unhappy for
Mary because she was afraid she
was going to lose her job.
Mrs. Smith, however, was MAX
ing plans for Mary but she could
not tell Mary until she was sure
her plans would be carried
through. She told her husband
she would be very sad to lose
Mary, but she sked him II he
would help Mary get started in a
good nurses training school. He
looked at her and asked her II
she was feeling OK. He told her
Mary was the best maid they had
ever had and why would she want
10 help send her away! Knowing
women, you know she talked to
Mr.. Smith, and in the course OF
conversation, she said" Mary will
be a good nurse II she can start
learning now, but II she has to
wait several years before she is
able to buy the necessary things,
she will need, she may become
discouraged and spend the rest of
her life feeling that life had not
been as she wished.
Within a months time, Mr..
Smith had written several schools
Of nursing and he and his wife had
driven quite distance to see one
they thought would be just right
for Mary.
Finally the big day arrived
when they called Mary in the liv-
ing room and asked her how she
would like to enroll in a certain
school OF nursing She was over
joyed but soon remembered she
was not prepared.
Mrs, Smith had the list OF things |
she needed and she took Mary |
shopping bought all Of her uni
forms, etc, and told Mary they |
would be happy to have her make !
her home with them when she |
came back to their city. Not as a
maid, but as a friend.
Mary was so happy she wanted !
TO can her relatives and tell them !
the good news. They, too, were !
very happy for her and appre-
ciated the Smiths interest in
her
Today, 81 years later. Mrs.
Smith is an invalid. Mary, one OF
the towns best nurses, got leave
Of absence from her position as
the head OF her department in a
large hospital in a city some dis
lance away and has come home"
to care for her friend for the few
months she has 10 live.
No amount Of money Mr.. Smith
could afford to pay a nurse would
make his wife as happy as she Is
knowing Mary is coming home
and will be with her until she is
well, tShe does not know the end |
is so nearO
Mrs, Smith, as a young woman,
was her Brothers keeper" She !
sowed goodness and kindness and |
now she is reaping what she !
sowed
Progress
A man who aNas a Httl, ,,,s,rs, 1