Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1848-11-17
From The Practical Educator.
DOMESTIC EDUCATION.
BY REV. H. WIHsLow.

What q charm pervades that dwelling, whose
malron has the grace Of a thorough domestic
educaIOnl Al air Of neaIness, order, simpici.
~, ch@eriulness, pervades and blesses all
The very atmosphere is sweet. You scarcely
enter the door before unsquivocaI signals beto.
ken the presiding angel wiIhin. The dsor-slone
is so clean, the dOor-handle so bright, the mat,
haI-sIand, and other entry couveniences. so tidy
aud so huy, the air so pure; the servant, in
neat apparel, and with smiling face, opens The
door 50 generously-that the first impression
is, Here is home, SIOesi home.
Nor does further 'ingress and more close
observation dlsaPpoint you. If costly drapery
does not hang al the windows, nor pnncely car
pets grace the floors, nor sparkling chandeliers
and duZzllng ornaments display lhsir owners
weal1h-lhings not unirequenly serving only
as miserable apologies, for the truer ornaments
everything around you bears record, that the
eye Of taste aud the hand Of diligence have been
freshly upon il. How bright the steel and brass;
how clean the hearth; how luminous the win
dows; how free from dust the sofas, chairs, aud
everything around you. The entire room has
an air Of purity, comfort and hospitality. How
easy and tasteful the arrangements. That
bookcase, with its well chosen voumesy that
comfortable, with its choice specimens Of thought
and skill: the vase in yonder corner, displa wing
the beauties Of well cleansed and walered
green plant, unfolding its luxurant leaves and
opening lis brighI-eyed blossoms, as if TO smile
gratitude on lis worthy benefacress,-all evince
this the home of one who knows how 10 live
and make home happy.
! Gna faar ic uynlI- p;ob oprxoLonJ;r
You can hardly touch but to soil, and your
presence is thus Ismpiedto question It's welcome.
But that fear is banshed the moment the lady
enters. The cordial and generous smile, that
charming beneyolence which only true heart
can yield, and which all true hearts can appre.
ciate, puts you instantly at ease, and makes you
regardless Of all but objects Of mutual and real
interest. 1t is no longer the house, the room,
the lurniture;-it is that, only that, for which
you are present, whether il be a call Of business,
charity or friendship.
! But the parlor is, perhaps, not the best place
10 furnish decisive tests Of the highest order Of
domestic education. There are, at least, four
places more unequivocal-the kitchen, the eel.
lar, the sore-closet, and wardrobe. Well, lei
US take a look at these; for though the good lady
has no vanity TO crafty, she has the benevo-
Ience 10 crafty our reasonable curiosity, and
she is entitled TO an honest confidence that she
has nothing to fear from our eyes.
The kitchen is, if possible, more attractive
than the parlor. 1t is only an hour since break.
fast, and yet everything is cleaned and restored
TO its place. The floor, the sink, the tables, and
all the kitchen appurenances, are so pure,
sweet and wholesome, that health and comfort
seem there 10 have found their most favored
home. | would as soon take a lunch there, as
in the kings dlning-room;-l halfthink it would
taste even better, especially if ministered by the
lady's own hands.
Shall we enter the cellarl Here, too, the
same neatness, order, convenience, and econo-
my, are everywhere seen. The barrels are ar.
ranged in order against the wall; the floor is
cleanIy swept; no cobwebs impend from the
ceiling or beams above, and the purity Of the
air proves at once the cleanliness and careful
ventilation of this subterranean Department.
On that stand are the brushes, and the convent.
ences fer cleaning and polishing shoes; here is
the well'arranged vegetable and provslonary
department. there, perhaps, the wash.tubs and
benches;-in word, nothing is in this cellar
which ought not 10 be here, and every thing
which ought to be here, is here, and in the
right condition. Such is good housewives
cellar. Even the impudent rats themselves.
and the more lawless mice, seem tohave learned
that this is holy ground;-thsir impIous feet
never d0file il.
We may be INDUCED look into the store
closet. Here, again, we find the same order,
neatnesS and economy. The coffee, teas, su-
gars, spices, &C., are all neatly arranged and
we'll covered; the less bulky articles are placed
in small, tight boxes, each carefully labelled;
the preserves are carefully kept from becoming
acid or mouldy, by close covering, cool position,
and occasional scalding; The fruits are inspec-
ted, sorted, and used with promptness that
forestalls decay and waste; the cheese is kept
in tight, cool vessel and the cake is also care.
fully stored in stone or earthen, TO keep it fresh
and sweet; in a word, all things here svince,
that the guardian spirit of this house knows the
secret OF true comfort, with true economy.
Perhaps we oughtnot to inrude into the ward
robe; and, indeed, after what we have seen, it
may appear needless to do so. But there are
TWO or three things here which we cannot for
bear to NOTES.-The first is the order with
which the articles are arranged. Each mem.
Der Of the family has his place. His clothes
are hung, or laid in drawers, and place ex-
clusively assigned to him; so that the mother,
the servant, or even the child, could get any
article wanted in the dark. This saves all
waste of time and temper in search of mislaid
clothing The next thing to be noticed, is the
carefully preserved integrity Of each article
Nothing is placed here, but in condition to be
worn; not a hole or rent in single artcls,-
SO that all of this family are saved the vexa-
tiouS liability of being obliged to dress over a
second or third time, TO secure sound garment.
Another thing TO BIZ noticed, is the cleanliness
Of the articles the whiteness of the linens, and
the entire absence Of everything that could be-
token the presence Of moth. After what We
have seen, we may safely conclude that all is
right in this house;-if peace, content, abun-
dance, happy husband and virtuous children,
are not found here, it is not, we presume, the
/ Eaut of The wife Something more howevey