How great are the responsibilities of housekeepers! Sometimes an
indigestible article of food, by its effect upon a commander or king,
has defeated an army or over-thrown an empire. Housekeepers by the
food they provide, by the couches they spread, by the books they
introduce, by the influences they bring around the home, are deciding
the physical, intellectual, moral, eternal destiny of the race.
You say your life is one of sacrifice. I know it. But, my sisters,
that is the only life worth living. That was Florence Nightingale's
life; that was Payson's life; that was Christ's life. We admire it in
others, but how very hard it is for us to cultivate ourselves. When in
this city young Dr. Hutchison, having spent a whole night in a
diphtheritic room for the relief of a patient, became saturated with
the poison and died, we all felt as if we would like to put garlands
on his grave; everybody appreciates that. When in the burning hotel at
St. Louis a young man on the fifth story broke open the door of the
room where his mother was sleeping, and plunged in amid smoke and
fire, crying: "Mother! where are you?" and never came out, our hearts
applauded that young man. But how few of us have the Christ-like
spirit--a willingness to suffer for others!