WOMEN'S WORK.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 59, 10 March 1923, Page 24

WOMEN'S WORK.

I hive always wondered wlij* women nuvke euch n fir~s about housework, and minding children, write* D.L.L. in ft Sydney paper. To a man who works in an office from nine until five, slaving away all day, looking after refractory typists, and so on. home life seem? just one long, delightful dream, a dole* far niente, delightful dream. 60 when I had a. treek's holiday, and my wife suggested * ebopping tri-gie one d«y wit* a friend, I was only too pleased to agree. "Leave Willie vittFmis," I Mid. (He'a just 12 nioii'the. ami «>r*\V"<rie everywhere.) "He's no trouble I'll have a nice, long, happy day in my garden, while you're out."

I wondered why she smiled. Well, =he got away at nine, left baby having his morning sleep, and I turned my attention to the housework. Heavens! fancy grumbling at washing up! I'll start on that. "Dear mc! Kettle empty and the gas blazing Filled the kettle i while It wa.s boiling, 1 though I'll feed the fowls. Nothing like having a, system. If woman only did that, all their worries would 'be over. 1 saunter down the yard enjoying tlie ueatitiiUl morning sunshine. I just reach the gaite when a long drawn howl, followed by a dull, sickening thud, sounded from the house. Flinging the food anywhere, I race back to the bedroom to find Willie on the floor. He had climbed over the side, with the usual result.

I take iliim into the kitchen, put Mm, still roaring, into hia chair. I crave him all the spoons, the alarm clock, and egg-beater, the saucepan lids; in fact everything but the carvers. Stilt ;fce roared. Then, happy thought. He's [hungry. I make hia bottle. S'truth! the wife said something about milk and measurements, but I wai not listening. I pour condensed milk ill to lii_ bottle, fill it up with boiling water, crack the bottle, heave it out the window, and at the -same time notice all tlie fowl* are in the garden digging up my pet seedlings. 1 must have left the gate open. Raving, 1 rush down the steps and shoo t.hem out. Tho front door bell rings. 1 fray inwardly that it is the wife come back, perhaps liav ing forgotten something. Merely a <bawker. I slam the i door in his face and rush back to the kitchen, to find baby had reache.d over ,and pulled everythintr off the tabie with the cloth. (We breakfast jn the kitchen). | Having mopped him up and put him on the floor I open another tin of eonI denied milk, and give it to him to e*t with a spoon. Thank heaven; quietness at last! Kow for the washing up. Xo! While he's quiet Til make the foed. Systems and children don't seem to <r0 together.

Tearing into tlie bedroom I just get the first sheet on when another roar send* mc. flying back, to find the cat sharing the condensed milk, and baby

with a scratched hand; milk is everywhere. I nurse him, dandle him, still he howls. Another ftag ait the front door. Cursing, I tear along the passage and open It, to find a friend of my wife's, a meddling, bilsy*body, wlio-m i loathe. "Cm —er, the wife is out," I stammer. "So I should imagine," she remarked, stalkincj into the kitchen. "What's the matter with Willie. What* he crying fort I can see the wife's out." Away she went. 1 was beginning to think that women are right about nousework. Just then a neighbour's little daughter of about 14 came in. "Geel" she said, and nicked up baby. "He ought to he bye-bye. He's dead r sleepy." She wiped his face, cuddled him up. and had him asleep In ten minutes and in his cot. She cleaned up the mess, made the beds, had the kettle boiling for lunch —all before t could turn around and collect my t-enwes Then, airily, she remarked: "Hall mc if be wakes after lunch," and she went out and left mc ponderingWillie slept until three, and I repaired the damage done to the pardon. Tlie wife arrived home at 3.30 to a tidy house, but I never breathed a word. Not I. Hut the office for mc every time. 1 should say!