THIS QUESTION OF ECONOMY.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 177, 26 May 1916, Page 4 (Supplement)

THIS QUESTION OF ECONOMY .

HOW I LOOK AT IT By A TWEENY-MAID (in the "London Daily Mail.' ) 1 remember the day when the war economy craze began m our house. Cook says to me, "She wants to curtail expenses. She says we must eat less butter and sugar, and waste less salt and mustard and soap. Meat onl> once a day, and make up with vegetables and potato-skins and mac ironi and oucli-like.

" Garbage," 1 said"And lastly," says cook, for all tlu? world like our minister on Sundays, lastly no Yorkshire with our beef.' "Thanks many," said I. "I should like to give a month-., notice from today. You might mention to her . i the morning." "What for?" says cook. " I don't hold with such ways, says I "1 didn't start the war, and I ain't going to end it. We've had wars before, my father says, and got through all right without any fuss or worriting at home. It's a fair panic." '•lt's going to be a fair picnic, said cook, who will have her joke; "lots •' show and fun and nothing sensible to eat." "Anyhow," I said, "it don t mafce no difference to me—unless, of course, 'Duke goes to the front." "He won't go to no front," was cook's remark, "won't Marmadiike. He's one of the unfit, I should say. So I u» and at ner. " Unlit ycrself, I said; **' 'Duke's small, because ins mother gave him gin and his father taught him to smoke when he was a kiddy, but he's got a strong heart, de couldn't carry all them scuttles up it he hadn't." "All I know is," cook said, he wouldn't be vaccinated without holding your hand; that isn't much like a soldier." , . . . '■lt's because lie always feels taint when he's vaccinated," I explained. "Some people can't help it." "How often has he Wen uone.-' asked cook, suspicious-like. "Oh! when he was a baby, same ns the rest of us," I says. "There, yoii'd better get to your vegetables, Mirabel," said cook, knowing she'd got the worst of the argument, "and don't throw away your collyflour water. It's going to be used for the maiger soup. I stared at her. "It s ram; poison, I said; "you've only got to smell it to know that." "Can't help it," says cook ; them s my orders, and I'm going to obey them. And if every British man does likewise we shall win the war easy." I thought better of my notice because 'Duko said if I left he'd enl-st in the Irish Guards. Cook had given him •> nastv hint by dropping a pigeons feather into his coal-scuttle. So I stopped on, and then all of a sudden he goes and 'lists without so much as a keepsake or a photo or anything. , , I cried my eyes out, and cook was that nice to me I said I'd stay. But when She said I'd have to leave or take less money I advertised and go, about ninety answers all of em offering evenings out, and no washing dor.c or windows, and your tax paid, and anything you liked to ask m the way A wages. , ~. If you believe me. I took £2b a yeai and a page under me. then Mind a dream about 'Duke laying on the battlefield, and I felt I must go back to where he'd know how to find me, denu or alive. . , .. Cook fell on my neck, and 1 hadn t been back a week before 'D;Ke turned up in kakee as smart as smart, and his head all tied up with bandages, and rang the front door bell as bold as brass "I've got a message for the missus," ho said, "from the captain. 'K s in the 'orspital out there.' When he comes down to "he kitchen be-says "Where's Mirabel?" I was hiding bcihnd cook, and coon laughs and 'Duke turns pule and drops into a chair. . '•Wot!" he says, "married another bloke 'as she?" . , Then 1 comes out and ho kisses me rigth before tl. mi all, and says he thought of me on top of Hill bO and made up his mind if he came back to win mo for his bride. Cook says at supper, "You dulnt have a teed like this out there, 1 H 'Duke says yes he did. It's men they want out there, not meals, lie says. And then he gets serious. "I marc.ied through a village oncet where the Germans had been," he told us, " until n-e druv 'em out. There were women laying in rows—dead. We caught a Prussian soldier hilling in t.ome rumsla. was wounded and had got left behind. He had his baymt beside him, and what d'ye thmk was on it ?" "Don't tell us!" screamed cook, but "Duke took no notice ami went on : " A little golden-'eaded cl.ap ol two. It turned me faint, 1 tell yer, and 1 d seen a lot of dreadful sights by then. Cook was holding ner heart and 1 tclt meself coming over queer, so I grabbed 'Duko's hand. "What d'ye tell us for? gasped cook. , " 'Cos it's good for you to know, said 'Duke; "you're too blooming careless about the war over here by a long sMit. Them Germans won t never be content till they've got England, and don't vou be so cocksure they won t jr ot it.' They'll take all the bei-ting we can give 'cm." „ "Hut what can we dor asks cook. "Do," he savs, "why do your bit same as the rest of us. Don't waste jrrub or money or time or trouble. Help your men to go and light -don't keep holding of 'cm back. And stop grumbling about things as don't li...tter. Nothing matters except the war. eel "Yes, I see, 'Duke." 1 said, ami smoother him down. And I ain't never grumbled since, not even when Duke went oil' to the front again. And '. does my work on less pay and helps the h.p maid it. the bargain—all to give Her more money to send coiuf< rts io the troops. And on my afternoons ill' 1 oblige at a grocer's where they're Fv.ry night I prays on my bended short of men. So 1 can t do more, knees for us to win the war, and for Marmadiike because I don't hold with pet names when you're saying your prayor.->~ to come back safe. Si ems time 'Duke'-; right and lb - war matters Io us all, from the top floor to the ba-einent, more ilian air. thing ever did mrtter or ever fill, world without end. Amen. P.. H-M.