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Show Kathleen Norris Says: The Women We Need Bell Syndicate. WNU Feature. 'When Pete was five years old he was killed by a car driven across the sidetvalk." By KATHLEEN NORRIS '"X TY WIFE is so darned I cheerful," writes a 1 VI man from Butte, Mont., "that you can't help loving her! " It seems to me that no sweeter or more sincere tribute trib-ute was ever paid a woman. There was a soundness and fineness about this man's letter let-ter that struck a heartening note in these days of broken homes and easy divorces. "We've had 14 years of joys and sorrows," his letter goes on, "and when the smoke blows over, just one person is carrying on, sensibly and quietly and bravely, and that's Molly. When we were married I was making $200 a month, and three years later, with a second baby coming, I was laid up with muscular rheumatism for almost a year. I Molly carried on, had her baby, worked, borrowed, managed some-now some-now and always was cheerful! "Financially we got straightened out again, paid bills, began to buy a home, and our third child, our first boy, was born. Those were good years. But when Pete was five years old, he was killed by a car driven straight across the sidewalk and Into the garden where he was playing play-ing with his sisters. Molly carried on. Our third girl was born a few months later. "Then came the war, and the importing im-porting firm for which I worked went to the wall; no job, no savings, sav-ings, and my mother, widowed and an invalid, came to live with us. We rented our house, moved into town, shortened sail everywhere. This was before the big defense plants and the big salaries got started. 'Never Failed Us Once.' "The joy and hope Molly put Into our lives then will never be forgotten forgot-ten by me. She never failed us once. Her life had been shattered; motherhood had brought her anguish, an-guish, I had contributed months of sickness, helplessness, unemployment. unemploy-ment. But wherever she was, the little lit-tle girls were laughing, and she was laughing with them; hospitality wasn't ended, nor good home meals, home fires, home talk. Her affectionate affec-tionate appreciation of my mother's help for mother, with mending and watching the children, did all she could, made my mother love her like a true daughter. "This is my tribute to the most gallant wife any man ever had. We have no money troubles now, and we have three lovely little girls to go on into better times with us. But whatever is ahead, I can never be afraid while this woman Is beside me." Could a letter be pleasanter reading? read-ing? I don't know how. But about one thing you are wrong, Walter. This is not mere "Cheerfulness." Cheerfulness is a more or less natural natu-ral quality; It can come from perfect health, from youthful optimism opti-mism and high spirits, even from shallowness id sefishness. What Molly has is something much finer than that. She has the rare fineness of a soul and mind tried and purified by fire. To be comforting, hopeful, with a sick husband hus-band and dependent babies is not mere "cheerfulness." It Is true saintliness. Cheerfulness will not I was laid up for a year. ... 'BEYOND CALL OF DUTY" We seldom read about the wives and mothers who are quietly doing their part without with-out fanfare, in good times and bad, in happiness and in sorrow. sor-row. The selfish, the unfaithful, unfaith-ful, the undutiful wives get in the news, but the great majority, major-ity, who are doing all that can be expected of them, seldom get a line of commendation. Then there are some women whose courage, energy and unalterable un-alterable cheerfulness is so extraordinary, ex-traordinary, that they seem almost al-most to be superhuman. They are daily giving the best that is in them and far more than anyone has a right to demand. Such a wife is described in this article one who carried on in poverty and sorrow with a bouyant heart. On the other hand, she has not changed by a touch of prosperity she did not ask for luxuries to compensate com-pensate for her endurance of difficulties. carry a woman over the dark abyss that opens before her feet when an only son is torn from her by the cruel carelessness of an irresponsible irresponsi-ble driver. Cheerfulness does not face illness, weariness, doubt, anxiety anxi-ety and change with a head held high and colors flying. 'Others Come First.' With Molly, fundamentally, and first of all, comes thought for others. She will not let them see that she is hurt. Nobody must feel any worse because Molly is stricken. Selfish grief will not bring little Pete back; and if the others see her serene and busy, interested in their welfare, wel-fare, their interests, just as she always al-ways was, it will go far to make life seem good to them again. We are going to need many women wom-en like this in the years immediately immediate-ly ahead of us. Women will look at the conditions of their lives and say to themselves; "this is just what I have said I couldn't bear and here it is." Women will find the men who come back from war are almost strangers; women must care for a crippled husband or son, a blind husband or son, all the rest of their lives. Women who have been financially independent, will find now that they must go back to the status of housekeeper, or else sacrifice marriage itself. Women 1 must meet every mental and i psychopathic problem in those they i teve; depression, despair, distaste for work of any kind, cynicism as 1 regards the future, bitter disillusion- ment. ( Brace your soul for this postwar . ordeal. It won't last; things do adjust ad-just themselves; conditions that seem insufferable have a way of smoothing out. Normal home life is a great tonic for bruised nerves and spirits, and even the blind-once blind-once the first shock is over, are not necessarily unhappy people. One woman like Molly in every home would solve the whole world's problem in the approaching days of reconstruction. Be that woman in your household. Blocking Iland-Knit Garments To "block" a new or newly-washed newly-washed hand-knit garment, here i? an easy method. Sprinkl two heavy j bath towels slightly and spread the I garment between them, pulling to ! desired measurements and pinning I to shape. (Before washing it is : handy to lay garment on paDtr or i cloth and draw outline to use in re- ! shaping.) Cover with a board or 1 other firm, fiat surface. Weight this ! down and leave until the garment is iry. A light steam-pressing, without I washing, also gives a finished look I i |
