A DAILY MESSAGE

Hokitika Guardian, 12 June 1929, Page 1

A DAILY MESSAGE

ONLY AN OFFICE-CLEANER How close we can live to another human being, and know nothing about her! How dependent we may be for the smooth working of our lives upon the. services of another, and yet never ■“contact” her! How many do we meet, but never really see—touch, yet never really feel—speak to, yet never really converse with! How many there are whose lives touch ours at a hundred points, yet nev6r meet at one! Perhaps this applies with peculiar force to our mental attitude towards the office-cleaner. Every morning we reach our office and find everything in order, because the office-cleaner lias been up betimes and has been ahead of us. We take it all for granted. ‘ If we think of her at all, it is as a mere cog in the business machine. Few of us think of the office-cleaner. And yet, 'if we did but trouble to look into the, hearts and homes of women who prepare the offices in readiness lor the day's work each day in a great city what an epic could be written! A few days ago the press, recorded that an office-cleaner bad been knocked down by a motor-bus, and killed. Only an office-cleaner, hut the world is 'poorer for her passing. 1 know something of her story. She worked from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. and from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. winter and summer. No day was too long, no work too hard. Her life was inspired literally !>v love for her child. She was a widow, v’he lmd a home to provide, and education to provide for, and she faced hei responsibilities with splendid courage, determined to give .ier child a bettei fighting chance in life than she herseli had had. Going home from her work one night utterly tired, she met her death, and it was then only that one began to think of her life. Brave, courageous, unselfish, loving, thrifty, energetic, honest, long-suffer-ing, this woman was great, and one of those rare human , gems found in humble surroundings, entitled to rank with the big ones of the world. She, and a thousand like her, are deserving of our homage and our reverence, and yet we pass by with just a nod or a “good morning.”, regardless of the wonderful battle she may be waging, the indomitable courage with which she may be ;lacing liie. So all around us there are thousands of men and women, in humble offices, whose drab lives are crowned with poetry and beauty. If wo could but draw the curtains that surround othei lives, and see the heart, and reach the spirit, and learn “the secret springs of action,” we .should he more tolerant, less critical, more sympathetic, and more generous. There is room m every walk of life -for us all to radiate the comfort of human fellowship and understanding. Ifor some of the least of us are the greatest. M. PRESTON STANLEY