4 4 Â¥ at ‘l‘ "‘ " "L PRAYER FOR THE KITCHEN Lord of all pots and pans and things, since I've no time to be _ h_ A Saint by doing lovely things, or watc ing late with Thee, I _ Or dreaming in the dawnlight, or stormtng Heaven‘s gates, I d l [1 Make me a saint by getting meals, an “as â€" ing up the plates. Although I must have Martha's hands, I have a Mary mind; And when I black the boots and shoes, Th}r sandals, Lord, I find. I think of how they trod the earth, what time I scrub the floor; ' Accept this meditanon, Lord, I havent time for more. \Varm all the kitchen with Thy love, and light it with Thy peace; , Forgive me all my worrying, and make all grumbling cease. _ Thou Who didst love to give men food, in room, or by the sea, _ Accept this service that I doâ€"I do it unto Thee. â€"M. K. H, s at at 1‘ 4 4 4 as smell of new bread embrace me and there on the wall is the old clock whose tick-tock has told me the time since I was a child. Our kitchen faces the south and it has five big windows to make it a place of light and joy. Immediately on the left is the sink and the drying cupboard. Then there is a doorway to a little hall from which doors lead into the larder, the parlour, the attic staircase and the large cupboard. 1n the hall there are the hooks for our clothes. Warmth is provided in our kitchen by the large brick stove, for baking as well, which stands half-way along the north side, Our smaller cooker is next to the sink and in the corner the door to the bedroom. The solid furniture of the kitchen living room was mostly made by my father. My hus- band has added to it with the help of the vil- lage carpenter. In the corner there is an angle cupboard and in front of one of the windows a table for the radio and newspapers. By the end wall there stands a high, ancient dresser and in another corner is a wooden sofa which can also be made into a bed. There is a chest for logs and a short bench near the stove. Be- tween the Windows is a long refectory table with benches and chairs. A huge bench, which is as long as the gable wall, has a shine from the wear of a great many years. In one corner there is a tool cupboard and beside it, in front of the window. a sewing machine. On the wall near the door are places for the churn and the separator. A rocking chair completes the I1 simple, pale green furniture of our “vin room. g I sit down on the rocking chair who“ the clay is just turning into evening and w, my thoughts wander and my feet rest M, mother’s old table harp is hanging ,,,, ,h‘e beamed wall. Its strings have been broke“ and untouched for many years, for the “lave, has gone. The present day hustle and huétlp have penetrated everywhere. The art if my, ancestors, harp playing, is becoming Hm, even here in the old Kalevala playing fig-j.“ I, must be ready-made music, by just 5,, ,1",an on the radio. This frantic hurry drives also the mall- holder’s wife. Hurry from the cowsher’ w, 3,. kitchen, from the kitchen to the launti «hut; or to the fields. It compels the plan. ,g H,- new methods to increase the effectivt-i ‘53 [,i work. When electricity was introduci 1111., our village a few years ago, we had i M in, too, and though the expense seen ‘ 33,. orbitant then, we have managed to it If( ,1, Now we have an electric pump to punt! yam to the cowshed. From there we carry. rater in buckets to the kitchen. We even 1151- i h: plate, to my joy. Running water and lel’l» ing to the house is a distant but ever 35:! dream. We have no cellar yet, so the i. i has to be kept in a small larder and in :tori: house. Fortunately there are blocks u -e in help in the dairy. ' A new building for the steam-bath V. built last autumn. There also we do the 11th": and we have a washing machine wt i \HI' turn by hand. I am especially grateful for electricii Now We can at least plan new improvemv int the housekeeping. When we carry ti out is another matter. Everything is very pet- sive for there is very little money in i ‘lilll- ‘ holder's home and. what there is ha he spent very cautiously. The telephone lulc‘ also be a boon as we live so far avvzi no: centres of communication, but there ml one in the Whole village yet. These thoughts come to my mind : i at in the rocking chair. Fuchias and peltl m» are in bloom on the Window sill. I get and give them water, also to the pink ru mi climbing ivy in the parlour. I peep 1‘ iii» bedroom where I can hear the even br: 2in: of the children. I tidy up their toys i: not own play corner. The sandpit on a 512‘ W“- spot near the verandah has been very i ulm‘ I for there the children like to play on dEYS. There also it is easy for a mother i 590? ‘ an eye on them. Continuous work from early morning W, night is the way of life in all country l “73" On the wall of my home there is a piCtW “m the words: “Pray and Work.†It is all “lr' loom and I hope to be able to leave it > 3“ inheritance to my children. It is an at» W“ for a farmer’s home and brings 1319557 3 “7' those who follow it. â€"From “The Countrywu “3â€â€ HOME AND COUNTRY