Mrs. Pooley’s Fridays by Mrs. S. R. Town

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 14, 1910

Mrs. Pooley’s Fridays

By Mrs. S. R. Town

MRS. S. R. TOWN

The children had been waiting with some little patience to come into mother’s bed, but it was late when she awoke, and they were met with a decided refusal. Her husband’s warning of the previous evening had been outweighed by the attractions of the book she was reading, which had engaged her weak sight and vivid imagination till a late hour of the night, resulting in nervous headache.

And now the duties of the day loomed up before her like a nightmare, and she felt positively panic-stricken before beginning. There were so many ways to turn she could not think of accompanying the family at the breakfast table, and almost grudged the time consumed by the morning’s devotions.

The children had never been so trying. She scolded them until she was ashamed of herself, which fact they were not slow to perceive, nor to adjust their conduct and estimates accordingly.

The whole day was one anxious scramble to accomplish the Friday’s work in time for the Sabbath, and left her with nerves tense and muscles quivering. The last straw seemed to have been added when her husband came home and blamed her for having undertaken so much. Why had she not let things go? Then she collapsed entirely and sought the retirement of her own room, leaving the family to begin the Sabbath as they had begun the day, without her. Everything looked the blackness of despair. The children were incorrigible, her husband unsympathetic, the Lord very far away, and she herself a wreck.

Thanks to a night’s rest, heaven seemed nearer in the morning sunlight as she read in the loved faces about her the devotion she could never in any sane moment have questioned. But the lesson must not be repeated.

During all the coming week she planned for the Sabbath, so that the following Friday morning did not find her confronted with such a full program. And better still, it found her leaning on the promise, “As thy days, so shall thy strength be.” Thus fortified, her spirits were calm, and the battle half won.

The children were taken into bed for a few moments, and admitted to mother’s arms and her plans for the day, until converted into active and aggressive allies.

At breakfast and prayers the family presented a solid front most disheartening to the domestic mischief-maker. The children proved amenable, and mother received discernment to see before becoming exhausted where still other things could be abbreviated in the day’s program.

When the father returned, he found the family singing round the piano, and all together ready to welcome the Sabbath in peace and happiness. Mrs. Pooley resolved by God’s help never to begin another day without the strength promised for that day.

Takoma Park, D. C.