New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1860-04-16
written for the New Orleans Daily cfescentl
ouH HousHs1xMMP1aR-
By Macy AsHLEY.

rosewood coffin in the front parlor, and our deao
mothers head powed therein, how Auntsuyche |
gded ip among us, in her stiff cap and sitter col
lar and took the keys Of the house," There are
some people whose faces always remind you, dls-
agreeably, Of funeral sermons. They have sal |
low, skinny look, as if their lives had been passed
performing the Office Of watchers with the dead.
They have step which reminds you Of the sick
room, and their hands always seem about to spread
cloths, wet with camphor, over your face.
Aunt Suyche was just such person. Tall ana
angular, with neck and shoulders which seemed
az II nature had attempted to make pair OF com
passes and spelling the work concluded to Patch IL
upon human head and body. With great eyes
which used to wink slowly, after the manner Oh an
owl, and never seemed to grow sleepy. WIN taih
lips always pursed up as though the owner thoagnt
there was too lavish a use OF material; a neufe
with a slight inclination forward, impressing one
with the idea that 1t was too long ana oughe 10
have a tuck taken in it-this was our housekeeper.
We were a frightened, trembling, awed group OF
children FIVE little motheress BARNS, too young to
know what motieress meant-crouching before
the library fire and dreadng to leave it because it
was company for us in our wretchedness, when
Amt suyche came among ia. She examined all
our tongues and felt of all pulses, to learn if
there was 4 possibility Of physician being needed
in the night, then babe us every one go to bed.
No use Of wasting fire and candle for us to sit mp
by, she said,r when we ought every one to have
been asleep an hour ago."
This was our first intimation of Aunt Suyche's
leading trait. She was an economist. She COM
menced life by being prematurely born She no
doubt intended to save time by it. She had gone
on saving all her life. She saved time in the morn
ing by getting up two hours before day, routing
out all the servants, who, in consequence, loss
their temper, the only ,one thing Aunt Suyohe
didn't deem worth saving; and as father never
cared TO breakfast before eight oclock, there was
deal Of unnecessary wood burned and light con
sumed. This deficiency was, however, all atoned
for in the evening when Immediately after supper
every one of the domestcs was sent to bed, Aunt
Suyche herself being taper-bearer; not allowing
them to have light longer than the barest possible
time necessary for them to get between the Sheets
emo trusting such folks she said; and as for
their begging for light to mend their clothes by,
and saving evening was their only time, they, ten
to one wanted to read some trashy novel instead;
and as for their clothes, people in their situation
had no business to tearsthem. When Margery, the
cook struggled in a tallow candle and stuck it up
in an empty beer bottle, SO that she might mend
her stockings for Sunday, one night after Aunt
Suyche had gone off with the safety night lamps
father had been careful to provide; and when the
candle accidentally fell out and struck its blaze
against the musquito bar and burned up the bed
and other things, amounting to ten times the worth
of the oil she would have used, if allowed the use
| of the lamp, Aunt Suyche gave the poor woman
| one of her most annihating stares, in which was
| tho concentrated anathemas Of twenty seedlings,
| for our housekeeper never wasted words-then told
her TO behold the result Of her want of economy
abe a moor Irish cook. to expend two cents out of
ber WAGES for a talloyy candle which she knew she
| canla mt afford to burn! Moreover, she said, it
/ II has mt YOU out of good place. Girls who
| cannot save for themselves wont save for their
| employers-go! Poor Margery went--a victim to
! her want OF economy; and Aunt Suyche, sane
| timon;ouslv reclaimed I" ii ia hard ALWAYS to do
| ona,s dutvs but feel have discharged mine ~
| Father took A different view of the matter and
he himself sent for Marcery to return But she
4 said now that she was away she reekoned she'd
stay away--tboueh she had felt hard at leaving a
4 Mace she had kent for ten years.
| new cook came in her place. and then came
the tug Of war She would smoke the coffee
brown the mackerel and scorch the toast bu
4 Aunt Suyche allowed none of it to be thrown
away. Neither would she discharge the servant
i for she was cheap help, and Aunt Suyehe believed
| in the economy Of low wages, even though it in
cluded worthless work. For father, Aunt Suycht
herself made tile good cup of coffee and broilet
the palateable plate of fish. We children wert
made the slop-pails in which was thrown the burn
bread and bitter coffee, being admonished befor,
we went to table to eat what was set before
and not say word. Being terribly afraid of Aun
Suyche, we obeyed implicitly. There probab.
never was more puny, wretched wormy set o
children in any one house than in ours unde
Aunt suyches saving system we gradually went t.
waste. She was our mortal terror. We dared no
sleep enough, dared not eat enough, did not wea
enough, and exercised not at all. Pretty idea
Aunt Suyche would eAclalm, Tor ilne youngstef
like us to be IN bed when the whole house was III
J OF daylight; wicked 70 waste 50 mneh time; an
: she bade us De OUT before the COCK crew one
, again. out We always ctawiea' anu i,oln 'iia
Tune I'LL oreahiast Wei' ihop,hs afouuu 'ls onee
less house- nusslhs outseres peioie w. wi
gta'e III tne library, mle,e - mas pesef puii. ny
save as .nose nouis mnen iae,el "ss eApeose
lone W CIV VIC = p.essins - $50
ehe oniny milup" panos, VI, @n.en sanis "
s1ey nsh' sllae 10y upon . ''Ae oss''e SUI
e ham-hourn,hs.