October 1, 1909 
_ The Ladies’ Page 
Woman’s Work. 
To wash and bake, to mend and make, 
The steps of weary toil to take, 
- To cook and scour, to dust and sweep, 
And all the house in order keep. 
To rise at morn and o’er and o'er 
Do duties done the day before, 
Yet know that in tomorrow’s train 
The same old tasks will come again, 
And often to herslf to say 
The o'd, old lines in weary way, 
“From dawn of day till setting sun 
‘‘Woman’s work is never done” — 
To watch and pray, and gladly take 
Love’s crosses for love’s crowning sake 
To joy and grieve, to smile and weep. 
Her deepest thought in silence keep. 
To teach and lead, to hope and trust, 
Have trust betrayed, as woman must, 
To gently chide, to cheer and bless, 
And bear with patient tenderness 
Her burdens all, not shrink away, 
But bravely look ahead and say. 
“From dawn of life till setting sun 
Woman’s work is never done.” 
A Practical Demonstration. 
How do I know what kind of a husband 
you will make. 
Miss Flora Hugton was a_ practical 
girl 
‘Yes, my dear,’ she went on to her 
prospective fiance, Mr. Appleton Dickerby 
‘we may as well understand each 
other. What I’ve seen of you I like, I 
may say even more. But we'll be a long 
time married—if we are—and we may as 
- well make sure beforehand. Are you 
practical ? Do you know ‘anything about 
running a house? You must forgive me 
if I seem too particular, but it’s an im- 
portant matter for both of us.’ 
‘Of course it is,’ said Dickerby, ‘and no 
one realizes it more than Ido. Of course 
I can’t exactly say about myself, but I’m 
Willing to do what you want me to, to 
prove my love and possible fitness for 
the grand vocation of being "your 
husband.’ ; 
At this moment a message was placed 
in Miss Flora’s hands. She read. ‘it 
_ her husband, who is on 
THE AUSTRALIAN GARDENER. 
hastily, with an almost painful look of 
anxiety. _ 
‘ Did you ever!’ sheexclaimed. ‘Here’s 
a note from my sister Jane, who says that 
a trip in the 
north, has just been taken ill, and she 
must join him at once. She wants me to 
run over and take charge of the hous® 
while she is gone.’ 
‘ Perhaps, dear,’ said Dickerby, ‘ I can 
be of some assistance to you in this 
emergency, and ineidentally’ 
Flora smiled gaily. - 
*So you can!’ she exclaimed. ‘Just 
the thing. Why, it’s as if Providenze 
had intervened. I’m sorry Charlie’s sick 
but now I know it’s for the best. It will 
- be a splendid opportunit: ” she went on 
enthusiastically, ‘for me to see what kind 
~ of a husband you will make,’ 
Flora’s mind worked rapidly. 
‘Yes,’ she exclaimed, ‘I seoit now. You 
can report to-morrow morning at the 
house. There will be lots to do.’ 
The next morning, at nine o’clock 
- Dickerby reported at Flora’s sister Jane’s 
_house, according to instructions. 
Ho 
found her arrayed in a short skirt and 
shirt-waist, ready for business. : 
‘Excuse my appearance,’ she said, ‘but 
you know one has to wear one’s old clothes 
at this sort of thing. Now, first we'll take 
all the rugs out and put them in the back 
yard. There’s a man coming, but this 
will help.’ — 
Dickerby took off his coat and got to 
work. 
‘Now,’ said Flora, she had 
finished, ‘ all the pictures must come down 
and be dusted ” ae 
Dickerby got the step-ladder, 
toiled until lunch. 
‘T’ve discovered, whispered Flora 
triumphantly, as she leaned over the 
table, ‘that the nurse is a traiter. She 
when 
and 
has been actually abusing the baby? Think ° 
of it! Jane is so blind! The cook told me 
all. I don’t dare leave her alone with 
the little fellow for a moment. Now this : 
afternoon I shall be busy sewing these 
curtains, and I’ve let her off on purpose - 
as I’m on the track of another who may 
come, so [ wish you would look after the 
baby.’ 2 
-£I don’t know much about the manage- 
39 
ment of infants,’ said Dickerby 
dubiously. ‘Of course, I’m willing to 
try.’ 
A few minutes after Dickerby was led 
into the nursery and introduced to the 
baby. : 
Dickerby did his best, but all his efforts 
seemed purposeless., 
Flora was obliged to respond to his ardent 
cries, 
‘I’m afraid,’ she said at last, ‘that Dll 
And, by 
the way, you didn’t half take those rngs 
Every few moments 
have to give up those curtains. 
out; and as for the pictures, why, they 
are strewn all over the floor. Don’t you 
even know how to hold a baby?’ 
Dickerby got up. ert 
* No,’ he said, ‘and 1 don’t propose to 
learn. I’m glad we’ve tried the oxperi- 
ment, for I realize as a husband ’m a 
failure. None of it for me! T’ve had 
enough. I shall still continue to love 
you, Flora. all the days of my life; but I 
see now that it won’t do. I don’t know 
anything about rugs or pictures or 
babies, or anything else about a house, and 
I don’t propose to learn.’ 
He dragged himself to the door; but 
“before he could get outside a pair of 
“sturdy feminine arms was about his 
“neck. Flora had hastily placed the baby 
in the crib and gone to the ‘rescue. 
‘Do you mean all that, dear?’ she 
asked. 
ali certainly do.’ itn 
‘You'll never raise a finger to do a 
thing?’ 
* Never.’ 
She clasped him to her. 
‘Don't you see,’ she cried, ‘ that you're 
just the man? 
Dickerby gasped.. 
‘Do you mean to say,’ he cried, ‘that 
you still wish me to be your husband—on 
’ my terms?’ 
‘I most certainly do, she laughed 
back, ‘ for now I know that you’ll let mo 
alone to do just as I please in my own 
house.’ : 
—‘ Scraps.’ 
To scale fish easily pour on hot water 
slowly till the curl, then scrape quickly. 
Wash in several waters, having the last - 
_ cold and well salted so no slime will be 
left. 
