Nebraska advertiser., 1859-09-15
From the Prairie Farmer.
HOuSekeepeF's Dairy.
By MRS. F. D. GAGE.

By MIS- p D. 0AGEs
JUNE 29.-"Wby, Kate, wha, dust
you raise"
"Indeed, ma'am, it's niver meself that
can help it,"
"Why not."
"Why not, is't your asking an sure
I'D like to be seeing the body that could
help raising dust on a carpet the likes
of this"
II know the carpet is dusty; but l
think with little care we can get along
without raising such whirlwInd.
"It's meself would like 10 see It DOOM"
said the rosy checked lass, and with cer-
tain twitchings and jerkings, she gave in
dications Of a storm.
"Well, then, Kate, you sit down here
in my arm chair, while take the broom" ;"
said Mrs. Dean, "and we'Il see if it can't
be done"
So Mrs. Dean laid down the sewing
and took the broom from the restive little
chamber maid, who seemed to think the
hight of good service was vigorous action,
and consequently went through the house
like hurricane, pitching the chairs from
the walls into the middle of the room,
making tables and ottomans spin as if they
had lost their centre of gravity, tossing
up windows and swapping open blinds,
aud then with an energy, equal TO the
emergency Of an earthquake, proceeded
to set every atom of disturbed dust in
motion, raising fog that. when settled
an hour after she had finished dusting,
would bronze every article in the room.
Kate folded her hands and leaned against
the mantle, but could not be induced to
sit down, while Mrs Dean proceeded to
show her the modu8 oPerandi Of sweep
ing without raising dust.
There, Kate, you see how do it. !
take short strokes with my broom-I bear
on little; and when l have finished my
stroke, | don't hlrt my broom up foot
from the floor, sending all the dirt afy, as
you do-see the difference now-but /
draw it gently back and make another
stroke, so. You see it is not as hard
work as your way to sweep the room In
the first place; and then it is not half the
work TO dust afterwards, because dust will
get into all the little cracks and creYices
in the furniture. Those carved roses,
now, on the top of the chairs-see how
they look; a hirt of the brush or your
duster will not remove that; it will take
pains and time to clean them. Then it
creeps inside Of the clock and nestles it.
self in the folds of the curtains, steals
into the bookcase, takes lodging on the
cornice and sticks to the paper; don't you
seen how much mischief It does 2"
"Indade, ma'am. do; and niver bit
did l think Of all that before"
"You see how, it is, Kate; you only
raise the dust out of the carpet and scatter
it all about, and then with your duster you
hirt it Of the chairs, mantles, tables and
other things, and back it goes on the
carpet again.
"And sure then, it's meself that sees
your right intirely, and I'll strive to be
doing it your way" and with ''lhankee
ma am" Katie gIided out, and was soon
heard singing in the dining room.
June 29th-Talking about servants
we saw in one of our city papers the other
day a lugubrious article about the terrible
conduct of servants, ending in the deCla.
ration, "that they were our masters, and
and suggesting the propriety of passing
laws to restrain them; that if they were
impudent or failed to do duty, they should
not collect wages" and more after the
same style.
But who are to be the judges in this
matter! We have a fancy that such
power might be awfully abused; and the
poor girls would find il impossible to work
a month with some housekeepers wot of,
and not speak words that would be con-
strucd into impudence. Let me tell all
those ladies that talk about servants being
masters or mistresses, that the blame may
sometimes be their own.
"And sure now, Mistress Smith, if it's
another rag you be bringing down into the
wash today said my friends kitchen
help, "I'll just throw it out for yees, for
niver stitch more will / do than what
lies upon the Aoor.''
Mrs. Smith was sensible woman
She knew the wash was not heavy, so very
calmly answered.
''Just as you please, Mrs. MacQueen:
l have quite bundle up stairs, which must
be done to-day. and if you are not able to
do them. please leave Immediately, and if
can't do them myself. / will get some
one that is stronger than you seem to be-"
Mrs. Smith walked up stairs, and Mrs.
! MacQueen trembled from her head to her
feet lest she should lose her place. and
never was a washing done better or quicker
Never, under any circumstance, spat
and quarrel with domestic. The surest
method to keep down rudeness, is by never
being rude. The woman who uses harsh
language and rude epitbets to hired help
puts herself at once on level with them