American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1846-06-22
ry, will you listen and profil?" l asked, Sc

riously, for beheld breakers ahead.
"Mary, the time was when household duties
were all new TO me; nay, all distastelul. Un.
| accustomed to them, and unskilled in them, J
shrank from them, dreading and avoiding them.
| wept over them, too, in very bitterness Of
soul. My domestcs left me, as every New
England house-koeper knows how unceremo
niously they sometimes will, and | was sole
mistress Of the kitchen, pantry, sink, cooking
ST owe, and all. What shall do3 was the pitt
full cry. | Contrived to get along easy, any
way, sohet | could get early released from ac-
tive household duty; in word, Mary, was
shrk! My husband, punctual, exact, and wo-
fully particular, so then thought, did not at all
| relish the appearance of things under my care;
it was too evident for me not to know it. 81
hate, !" and 81 Dread" promised every kitchen
day, until at length dishes, plates, pots and
pans, IN most untoward state, began TO ac-
cumulate fiightfully upon my hands. Ny hus-
band was silent and cold; ], frctful and fault
finding; sad pass! "This will never, never
do" circulated one cold, gray morning; when
every thing looked grayer and more cherries
than ever. My closets; drawers, and store room!
Had the rats and the mice made such a strife,
then were there somebody to blame. Asst was,
all me! "but it wont do'' and began TO look
about me- From beneath little shelf under
the sink, drew out two stew pans; first one
and then the other, with apple burnt and BAH
ed and crusted on them. had slowed them
away without courage to enforce the scraplng
and scrubblng necessary to their restoration
on tho upper shelf. Every day for week had
they peeped out, and every day had tried to
push them further UNDER but no, not they; and
now they stood out as large as life, with doz-
en- plates in similar condition. How loath-
ed the sight of those stew pans, with cold, grea-
sy water standing in their bottoms. What shall
DO! At this point, a scene of my cowardly IN
efficiency flashed across my mind. There
was, shrinking and shivering between the two
stew-pans!
"No longer shall this be, resolved instant
ly. Taking off my rngs-and rings are WON
derfully in the way of washing up dshes-and
tying on checked apron, heroicalIy seized u
stew pan by the brim. Scrape, scrape, scrape,
washing, rinslng, and they were clean, inviting
| ly clean. Two nice, round, agreeable favored
stew pans stared me in the facet | turned
them over; not a speck or flaw could BIO detec-
ted. had done it, actually done it, and not
so bad work either. ] smiled complacently
upon the two, and they reflected my smiles
From that moment | took courage; resolved
10 do, and then inward strength rose up. From
. -
shrink from, or dread, or put off anything
/ Whatever was to be done, | did it, and in the
right time, and from that time, too difficulties
began to vanish. | found could do: nay, and
| tvould do. Depend upon it Mary, you must
seize right hold of your domestic duties and
discharge them promptly and efficiently ifyou
would be faithful to yourself and your house
hold. Shrinking, dreading, putting off cools
the water, without washing up. Long time at
ter, if ever tagged, away | ran to the shelves,
to refresh my courage by look at the two stew
pans. They encouraged and strengthened me.
Those dear old stew-pans, with faces so clean
and round. From them date all my house
keeping skill and efficiency. My husband does
not know how much he owes them when he
surveys my domain with so satisfied all air
Yes, Mary, the secret Of it is, after long misdo-
ing, we must have a starting point, something
on which to Gegin in good earnest, seriously.
One thing well achieved, and we take courage
for the next. And now, Mary, what lesson do
you learn from ths?"
THAT must instantly see if the salt is in
the pot, and boiling, too" cried Mary, bright
ly, Fastening away with more alacrity than
had vet seen her toward the kitchen
All yes young house-keeper, prompt achieve
ment is the very soul ofhouse keeping ii you
have been busy idler during your madenhood
in your mothers paIlor you have little pros
pect of usefulness, prosperity, or enjoyment, as
a wife, mother, and a matron, unless you
are willing to see with your own eyes, to work
with your own hands, and become the ubiqui'
tous mistress ofy your household.
!.