THE LESSON OF THE BROOM

New Zealand Tablet, 31 August 1911, Page 1717

THE LESSON OF THE BROOM

. The duster dropped from Muriel's hand to -the window-sill, and she gave herself up to dreaming, for once regardless of the fact that, when the dusting was accomplished, the beds were to be, and, after that,luncheon to be prepared for her mother and for the children coming in from school. Presently she murmured: 'I envy Florence earning fifteen dollars a week as stenographer and Katy making, no one knows how much, giving music lessons, and Margaret earning enough to buy all her lovely clothes teaching china painting. I believe I'm the only girl of our set doing housework. If only mother were strong. It i seems sometimes as if I can't endure this sort of thing much longer. But I must remember how "uncomplaining mother is and how patiently father goes over his figure at the office ,and how Jack and Jenny repay me in kisses and caresses and—' 'Brooms! Brooms! Brooms!'

The call, in a resonant, masculine voice, interrupted Muriel’s dreaming. She passed to the sideboard, opened a drawer, took out a purse, made her way to the front door and from there to the gate, where she waited, an attractive girlish figure in her neatly-fitting dress of striped pink gingham, a pink sweeping cap covering but not wholly concealing her soft, wavy, brown hair.

The broom man walked down the middle of the road, slightly ahead of his horse and waggon, the latter filled with brooms of all kinds and sizes. Muriel watched the broom man and thought him good to look at in the September sunshine with his tall, erect, broadshouldered figure and his well-shaped head. . Good morning, missie.’ The broom man paused in front of the gate and his horse paused and Muriel came tripping out to the waggon. Good morning,’ she said. ‘ I’ve watched for you every day this week; mother thought it was about time for you to come.’

Your ma’s right, missie. I make four visits a year down this street. Your ma was sick when I was here in July. I hope she’s better.’ Much better than she was then, but still not really well yet,’ Muriel answered. , ‘First, I will look long,, soft broom for the hardwood floors,’ she added, in her businesslike way. Here you have it, missie.’ The broom man drew out a broom from tho stand on the waggon, ‘This

is the best broom for hard .floors— don’t raise a dust, you know, or scratch. Brooms are a good deal like folks; . you. have to -have the right broom for the right place, just as you have to have the right man, for the right place, when you want to. get the best out of either. - The : broom man laughed ■ and showed two rows of even, white teeth. ‘Take : me for instance; I m a good deal like this besom, best fitted for rough work, while your pa,—well, guess he wouldn’t last long at rough work, but for handling a pen, he’s all right.’ ■; -v •..v• . Muriel smiled, thinking of her father’s white,' . slender, well-shaped hands, and said: * Now, I ’will look at a short handbrush; mother thinks that kind so nice, for sweeping corners and to use with the dustpan on the stairs. " • ’ The broom man nodded his head. ‘ I’ve seen folks use a whisk broom on hardwood steps and scratch em; there it is again, you’ve got to have the right broom for the right place.’ ■ , When the short hand-brush had been selected and the two purchases had been paid for, the broom man reached under the seat of his waggon and drew out a tiny feather duster which he placed in Muriel’s hands, with the words _ ,■ With my compliments to your ma, missie; and I hope she ll soon be herself again. I’m giving these to my regular customers. You’ll find it handy for delicate dusting like brushing specks of dust off the ornaments on the mantel, and that. You 7 can use it where you can’t use the long broom, or the short one; it will fill a, place where they can’t, just as I suppose you fill a place in your ma’s house that, nobody else could fiU. t And, the broom man threw, back his head and laughed his laugh that was good to hear. ‘ There you have it again, missie; there’s a whole lot to brooms just as there is to folks,’ nr • ) Vell .’, new brooms sweep clean, for one thing,’ Muriel smiled. Thank you,’ she added, as she flitted away. Standing beside her mother’s couch in the pleasant south room, with the dainty luncheon she had prepared, Muriel observed smilingly; 1 * * u The broom man came this mornings mother, and I brought the two you said we were to , have. He was real nice and gave us a tiny feather duster for delicate rpm- ing> ,v e said : , He said, too,’ Muriel smiled reminiscently as she placed the tray on the table and plumped up the cushion behind her mother, "‘ that brooms are a good deal like folks; you have to have the right one in the right place to get the best results.’ ' 4.1 As 1 ba y e been blest in’ having you, dear.’ ■ The mother i looked up and her eyes filled with love and gratitude. ‘ What would have become of me if you had felt it was not your right place to be with me? Do you know, Muriel, : I almost think I should have von 6 ? U -r 16 strul „ e on ß a £° if it; had not been for you. But now, I feel the worst is over for both of us, and it will not be long before I shall again be well yo^wisfi 0 ’ thmgS and you will be free to do the things me » ®h,- mother, I ) vanfc on ty ,to do what is need of me, Muriel cried lovingly, as she bent and left a kiss on the thin, white cheek below.