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Show MABEL RECEIVES A SALARY. A Xot1 Plan to Intarcat Growing- Daughter Daugh-ter In the Work of tha House. "Do you biow," said Mrs. Warner confidentially to her friend. Mrs. Howard, How-ard, "that I am in great distress about my daughter Lacy?"' "Indeed!" said Mrs. Howard, in some 1 alarm. "Yes, really! She is getting so careless care-less and indifferent about the household work. Of course she does not positively refuse to help me, but she goes about everything in such an indifferent wav, and evidently takes no interest in her work. I have eluded and scolded her, but it does no good that 1 can see, and I don't know what to do about it. Do you have the same trouble with Mabel?" "Oh, no," replied Mrs. Howard, cheer-fully. cheer-fully. "I occasionally have to direct Mabel, but she is very willing to work." "Mabel always was a good girl," sighed Mrs. Warner. "She has her faults," said Mrs. How-ard, How-ard, with a smile, "but she cannot very well object to doing the work she is paid for." "Paid for! Do you mean to say you pay Mabel for helping you-" "Certainly." "I never heard of such a thing!" "Haven't you?" said Mrs. Howard gently. gen-tly. "Why, I have paid Mabel for working work-ing ever since she was 8 years old. At that age I began to set her such simple tasks as wiping dishes, dusting the furniture furni-ture and watering the plants, and for those duties I gave her ten cents a week. With each year her duties increased, in-creased, and also her wages. Now she is 17 she fairly shares all the household duties with me, and I pay her $1.50 a week." "The idea!" exclaimed Mrs. Warner. "I think that is too much money for a girl to throw away, and I'm sure I can't afford to give Lucy any such allowance." "It is not an allowance," replied Mrs. Howard; "it is a salary, and out of it she buys all her own hats, ribbons and gloves, and it also leaves her enough for pocket money, which I think all girls ought to have." "Oh, if you look $t it Id that light," said Mrs. Warner, "you give her wages and then yon spend them for her!" "Not at all. Mabel does her own buying, buy-ing, and I find that she has learned how to shop with judgment and economy. Besides, the knowledge that she is being paid gives her a proper ambition and pride in her labor, as well as the ability to use money in a sensible way." "I am afraid Lucy would not like the idea," said Mrs. Warner, with a doubtful doubt-ful shake of her head. "I should think she would," assured Mrs. Howard. "Every girl likes to feel independent, and, if she knows that she has earned the money in her purse, she will spend it wisely. Of course she will still look to yon for dresses and wraps and shoes, but in time you can increase her weekly wages until she can bny everything she needs. Remember that you will have to do so anyhow, and if in so doing you can at the same time inculcate incul-cate the knowledge that she is doing her duty as a daughter, your money will be very well spent." "It does seem reasonable," said Mrs. Warner, as she rose to go. "I will try the plan with Lucy." Golden Days. |