human
I always see to the refreshments when they meet here, said Catherine to her three helpers, as she appeared, wearing by Hannah's request, her brown smock.
gpt
You can crack the nuts for the salad if you will, Frieda; and Hannah, if you and Alice will get the dishes out of the way, that would be the most help. Mother wants Inga to sweep the living-room, and we can have a jolly time out here.
human
You ought to see the kitchen at Frieda's house, said Hannah, as she made a fine suds in the rinsing pan and poured it over the glasses.
gpt
What did you think of our black stoves and things, Frieda?
human
I saw one in the American church first, you know.
gpt
You are the nicest thing I ever saw, Frieda. You don't say anything unfavorable of anything any more. When I was at your house I kept criticising the whole country. But you are so polite,--as polite as Karl!
human
We were children when you were in Berlin, Hannah. Now it is proper for us to act like grown-ups.
gpt
You were awfully grown-up in that pillow fight last night!
human
Don't let me ever catch you turning prig, Frieda Lange, advised Hannah.
gpt
And now don't ask me what a prig is, for I don't know in German, and there's no way here to find out. What else are you going to have for eats, Catherine?
human
I suppose you'd think I was a prig if I told you how I hate that word 'eats,' so I won't tell you! The chief thing to-night is the birthday cake, of course. And Inga is going to make grape-fruit sherbet. It's so nice with a little tang of tartness to it, you know. And we'll have olive sandwiches with the salad and coffee. You can all help with those!
gpt
It's such fun to help, said Alice.
human
At home there are so many of us, and no maid at all, you know, and we have awfully jolly times, really. Mother is cook and she has a different scullery-maid for each meal. And the rest of us divide up the rooms, and so on. The boys are great workers, too. Even little Jack brings in kindlings and wipes the silver. He plays the knives are men, and the forks their wives and the spoons the little children.
gpt
O, so did I, always, cried Catherine.
human
And it used to worry me dreadfully not to know positively that the proper couples were together. Once I tied them all neatly with different colored silks, but Mother didn't approve. Through with the nuts so soon, Frieda? Then you can begin on the sandwiches.
gpt
Ach! The butter is too difficult!
human
Cream it, then. So! and Alice illustrated.
gpt
I'll go to work on these, too, while Hannah puts away the dishes, for I don't know where they belong.
human
All right, said Catherine.
gpt
But please don't talk, any of you, for a few minutes. I don't want to lose a word that any of you say, and I'm afraid the cake may suffer.
human
I wish I had four of my own, she thought to herself.
gpt
How the other mothers must be missing them! Four more interesting and delightful girls I never have known. Hannah has grown more mature since I saw her last, and Frieda is distinctly unique. Alice is the kind you can tie to. But I really think, without prejudice, my Catherine is a shade sweeter and steadier and more responsible than all the rest!
human
I'm so glad, said Catherine, stretching a little,
gpt
You need the Rest yourself, said Hannah.
human
I think it was a shame that out-of-town call had to come for your mother this afternoon. She would have enjoyed these things, and she looked so tired.
gpt
I know. But I'm so glad she could go away and feel sure I'd carry things through. You don't know what a comfort that is to me! Whenever I feel discouraged about things, I always pluck up spirit by remembering that I'm really useful to her. I couldn't practise medicine myself, you know, but there have been lots of things Mother couldn't have done, if I hadn't been here to help at home. I wish she could be here this afternoon, though, for she is so clever at foolishnesses like this.
human
You're clever enough at it, yourself, growled Hannah.
gpt
I don't see how you can do it. You and Alice make me sick with envy. You can cook and manage and tutor and make rhymes and everything, and I can't do much of anything!
human
How about playing the violin?
gpt
I can't do that, said Frieda suddenly.
human
I cannot do one thing. O, there comes Dr. Helen, after all! We were wishing you were here,
gpt
I met a messenger on the way, telling me that I need not come, and I'll admit it was a relief. I knew you'd get on all right, but I did want a finger in the pie. There! You may put my hat and coat away, Hannah, if you will, and I'll get right to work. How prettily you are putting that smilax on, Frieda!
human
That's right to cheer Frieda up, Mother, said Catherine.
gpt
She was just saying that she couldn't do anything.
human
Frieda was saying that? I thought you embroidered that wonderful apron yourself?
gpt
O, of course, but that is only _Handarbeit_,
human
Hand work is highly valued these days, remarked the doctor.
gpt
If you could teach Catherine to sew so well, Frieda, I should be even prouder of her than I am now. But it must not distress you when you find that there is some one thing you can't do. No one does everything well. It's one of my pet theories that for every talent one has, there is some other he hasn't. It's part of the balancing of the world. Think how very disagreeable it would be if there were one person who could do everything, and some one else who could do nothing at all.
human
Don't you think there are some people who can't do anything?
gpt
Not really. Some people never seem to find their special line. I've known people so perverse they wouldn't do what they could, simply because they would have preferred something else. But I'm a firm believer that every one has a gift.
human
Is _Handarbeit_ a gift?
gpt
Indeed it is, said Dr. Helen.
human
And it is a gift more widely distributed than everybody knows. If you can, do help Catherine to discover that it is one of hers!
gpt
She helped me find out that I liked to sew, said Hannah.
human
I hated the sight of a needle before I went to Germany. But I didn't know you hated sewing, Catherine.
gpt
I don't, Catherine answered tranquilly.
human
But there are always so many other things to do, and there is so much to read. It makes me shiver to think that I have only three years more at Dexter, and I haven't begun to read all I want to. I'd like to move over to the library and stay there.
gpt
That's a serious criticism of your college life, Catherine,
human
I suppose there is a library at Dexter, but I was there a whole term, and never went inside it once!
gpt
Well, said Dr. Helen,
human
That is certainly very appropriate, and a good close to our rather sermonizing talk. I suppose fifty-year-old birthday parties should lead one to serious thinking! But now show me how far your nonsense rhyming has progressed. It's nearly supper time.