Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1855-05-11
FfOW LIIt IIIustFhIv
A Girl to do Homework.

"A Girl TO 90 douseWork.
Early one morning, Mr.. Jones
was Seated in his buggy driving
a spirited horse, in pursuit Of a
girl to do house work. This was
the fourth day Of the cam
paign, and bid fair to prove as
unsuccessful as the former ones,
yet he drove on, hoping against
all past experience, till meeting u
neighbor he reined in his horses.
"Good morning, Mr.. Mason;
can you tell me where | can find
a girl to do housework? My wife
is sick, and | wish to get one for
n few week. am willing to pay
any pricel"
"Indeed, Mr.. Jones, that's a
hard question: thcre'sgirls enough
to be sure, but they won't do
housework. Neighbor Hardpan,
down in the hollow there, has halt
a dozen, but ! don't suppose you
could get one for love nor money.
I've tried them time and again,
but they won't go out"
"Thank you,'' said Mr.. Jones,
there's nothing like trying" So
saying he stopped at the door Of
Mrs. Hardpan.
"Good morning, Mrs. Hardpan
I called to sec if | could get one
Of your daughters to do house,
work for me a few days?"
"Ohl dear man; why massey on
US, Mr.. Jones, you've no idee how
feeble my darters are: they
wouldu'tbe toughenough any way
they couldn't stand it to do house,
work week; Anna Maria has got
a desperate lame side, and | don't
purtend to put her to doing any
thing, she's so feeble; and Susan
Sophia has a dreadful weak stun
ic; She can't eat any thing unless
it is cooked just so-she don't
even make her own bed; and as
for Amelia Angelina, she's troubl-
ed with u terrible palpitalion Of
the heart; she can't lift half a
pail Of water. Why don't you
get an Irish girl?"
Here Mrs. Ilardpan paused fol
breath. and Mr.. Jones babe her 1
good morning and renewed hi
journey, and just at nightsucceed
ed in getting a married woman,
who brought her baby with her, t
come and do n little baking ant
stay n day or two till he should
make a further trial.
This, dear reader, Is no fancy
sketch. And now let us for ,
moment look Mt the iebleness o
Mrs. Hardpan's daughters. An
ma Maria is tough enough to liv'
in n dress which congresses he
ribs from four to six inches, an'
leaves for both lungs about a
much room as one ought to oc
cupy! OF course she could no
do house work. Susan Sophi
can stand it to dance till midnigh
then read novels till daylight
sleep till eleven o'clock in tn
morning, eat hot cakes, and drinl
strong coffee for breakfast: bee
soups; butter gravies; mince pie
and fruit pudding for dinner
pound cake; lemon tarts; and hal
a dozen cups Of green tea Tor sup
per; with clover, charcoal and Stat,
pencils for desert. Poor, veal
stomach! Amelia Angelina is
pale slim delicate creature, yet sh,
"can stand it" with her breas
bone pressed upon her heart by ,
tight dress, SO that it can scarcely
beat! No wonder it is ut tim,
obliged to make n terrible effor
to free Itself Of its surplus blood
Amelia Angelina, too, is strong
enough to carry six or eigh1
pounds Of cotton batting, and ,
small "cut of cloth" about her lips
wear thin shoes, and 60 "bare arm
ed in winter. What a wondeI
that she should have palpitatiol
Of the heart.
Now is it any wonder that
young ladies, managed in Thu
way, are not able and willing to d.
homework? Their dress, manner
Of living, habits Of thinking, al
have a direct tendency to engen
der and confirm disease. Hence
spinalcomplaint, dyspepsia, heart
disease, consumption, ect., are the
legitimate results. If we would
have our daughters healthy, lei
Us see that these, and kindred
evils, are corrected. Let them
lay aside the strait jacket and
adopt a dress which allows the
free motion Of every joint and
muscle, and the full expansion
of the chestJ exchange their nov
els for histories, brography, poetry,
ETC., take at least half an hours
exercise in the open air daily; dur.