p. 15 | A Woman’s Work by Martha E. Warner

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 15, 1916

A Woman’s Work

By Martha E. Warner

MARTHA E. WARNER

CARMEN SYLVA, the late Queen Elizabeth of Roumania, once said: “A woman is made for the home. Her hands should be trained to do beautiful things, things which she can do by her own fireside, and there her husband should find her.” But how many women of today are neglecting the things they can do at home, in order to have time for outside interests!

One mother of four children leaves her little ones to care for themselves out of doors when they are from two and a half to three years of age. Their home is on a busy street, where automobiles, trolleys, and drays pass constantly. Many a time an anxious neighbor has rescued the youngsters from the very jaws of death. If they go into the house, they are greeted with the words, “Get out of my sight. I told you not to come in until dinner time. Now clear out!” And what does this mother do? Oh, her time is fully taken up with her numerous clubs, her sewing, shopping, and calling! Her children never trouble her, for she refuses to “be tied down” to them.

There is another home where at nine o’clock at night the twins were missed. The mother sent an older child to find them. After calling at several places he finally found them, but instead of taking them home, he joined the crowd, and stayed until ten o’clock. Were the parents alarmed?—Not at all. They confidently believed their children safe “somewhere.”

“One evening another father and mother put their children to bed, locked the house, and went to a whist party. The children did not stay in bed, and in some way overturned a lamp. The house caught fire, and neighbors came to their rescue. It took hard work to save the house.

If God has given us children, nothing should keep us from faithfully caring for them. The first business of life is home missionary work. One writer has said, “The home of your children should be the most desirable and happy place in the world to them, and the mother’s presence should be the greatest attraction.”

Clintonville, Conn.