The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1861-04-03

crmsoned
Now, if you had been careful housekeeper; or
thoughtful one you would have visited my chamber to
see that all was right there You would never have left
your mothers comfort dependant the uncertain ad
mnistration of servant Next, the room hasn't been
busted twice since have been here. My fingers are
soiied with everything touch and it hasn't
been swept under the bed Or bureau fer month But
this only affects your guests-is only SO much taken
from their comfort. Let look to things that
involve the comfort of your husband for these are OF
MISREPRESENTATION. You asked him. yesterday morn
| ing to get you pink lined envelopes. He brought
them at dinner time. He asked you to darn rent in
black alpaca coat that he could it. Did you
do he requested. No. You read and toyed with fine
needle work all the morning but never touched the
coat and when he asked for what reply did you make
Oh you hated darning above all things and told him he'd
better direct his tailor to send for it, The day had be-
come unusually warm and he had to go out after dinner
wearing thick cloth coat just because you had almost
wifuly neglected to perform solight service for your
husband. Do you imagine that he never thought OF
your failure to do for him what he had asked That he
didn't feel your indifference to his comfort? Your kiss
depend upon it, Martha, touched his lips coldy; and
your loving words if any spoken, were as sound
ing brass and tnklng cymbal in his ears. lie looked
past all lip affrmatOns, and the failure IN deed.
'And failure in deed to be the rule under your
administration of his household instead OF the excep
tons Most especially is this the case to what apper-
tains to the dinngroom and kitchen Tie meals are
always badly cooked and badly served. The sovenii-
herself and standing rebule to her mistress IhaVnt
seen really clean dish-as regard ceanliness-sInce
l have been here. Nor clean knife and fork, Your
cruet stand is offensive to the eye. There is sneared
mustard bottle, with a smeared SpoOna ketchup bottle
with half an inch of tomato ketchup the bottom, and
an Gil bottle empty I'pper and vinegar bottles Will
not describe The cruet stand itself is dark as eadi
and the napkin rings and spoons not much better.
pray, stop mother" said Martha, interposing with
face rather nearer to scarlet than white
| mus say
be and escape your husbands observation Can such
things be, and prove daily offence and annoyance
him? Can such things be, and not irritate him. at
times into unkndness? lie would be more than mortal,
my child he temper proof against assaults upon
good nature, like these"
Martha was not fool-though there are too many IN
: her position, sorry to say to whom the word
most significantly applies She saw, through her moth
ers clearer vision the blindness in which she had been
and the folly of her defective household administrations
saw that in holding herself above domestic duties and
manpulaons she governed more by PRIDE and IN
dolence than just regard for witey or womany dignity
saw that to hold fast her husbands love- she must do
something more for him than offer loving words; Tor HE
being real and earnest demanded earnest work from all
from the delicate wife as well from the more endur-
e ing husband
On the morning as Edward lifted his cup to his
r lips he said with a smile Of pleasure:
# 'What fine coffee Martial l didn't know when |
tasted anything so delicious. Your handiwork infer!
It And Edward looked from his wife to her mother.
:. NO" replied Mrs Barton; it is none Of my handi.
Il work"
',But it's mine +" said the young wife who could not
If keep back the pleasure in seeing
; her husbands pleasure was so great.
Yours?' Edward set down his cup and looked across
n the table in real surprise.
i eyes, mine | made tie coffee this morning.
you did? Well, as said it is delicious! wouidnt
give this cup of coffee for all the stuff that has been in
: the house since we entered it.'
$ The steak next praised
J. ''Did you cook this also?" asked the husband.
.I superntended the work, was answered.
" cit is only necessary for some people oook at thing
4 and they will come all right said Edward, land
shoaldnt wonder Martha, ii you belonged to the mum
s. bern
There was a compliment and reproofin the sentence
IS and both were felt.
..Do need to say another word my daughter sait
Mrs Barton when She was alone with Martha again.
If u think not MOTHER" answered. "Since ou
e talk Yesterday have been looking at my place, az
yogng wife from standpoint, and ! find that
l. have misunderstood my duties But they very pls
now; ana shall not need another remainder. foun!
at girls fall into some strange notions about Wes con
er dition They think Of it something more ornamenta
than useful as invested with more qu9eny dignity thai
a homely administration Of-serylcc IN the household
She is to be loved aud pcted and cared for with untr
ing devotion and tenderness but caring for her HUSBAND
Mt in the unatractive of family, in the kitchen,
ls need be- does enter some maginaonS as thing
all included in the relation Of husband and wife
N "And GOODNESS irritation i'll nature and too ofte
alterations are the consequence" said Mrs. Barton
to You felt change in your husband Did not the caus
present itselt?"
Id "Notuntil you pointed it ont to me-"
"Cau it be possible that you were blind my daugh
is tor?"
ev Il was just SO blind, motherl"
''Do YOU wonder that Edward was annoyed, at times?
sI wonder that he had so much tOrbearance, was tn
tn reply Il wonder that he did not speak out painyah
nd tell me my duty
So you might not have understood him. said Mrs.
he Barton "Ie could not have said all that have salc
e. There would have been the appearance OF selfish re
T." gard for his comfort Young wives do not alway
understand n husbands reproving words, which ar
m more ant to be blind than enghten; forthey USUAL
spoken under the impulses of chated feelings. 1t
id better therefore that should have helped you to Sc
clearly in matter involving so many consequences
&C. DUTIES or A LADY IN HER HoUsEHoLD-Nithou
regularity, no house be managed with any deS[e
of economy or comfort. No mistress or head OF
household therefore, should trust her domescs wit
the cares of the storeooms, Closets and kitchen viii
or out keeping careful supervision over each OF tnei
ra herself The best hour ornspecon IN regard 10 ths
of matters is Immediately after breakfast All the matt
rails or stores well the necessary directions ma
ed then be given out. She should also see Tor hgFsei
that everything is made the BEST use OF by those
of whom she entrusts the culinary operations, ana tli
te oto is left to the chances Of disorder and vast
No lady should ever regard herself above this roun
or skillfu housecare; for however accomplished ST
may be- her domestic duties of the first lmportanc
ad Thus in regard to the simple matteraonc Of the dinn
tabe-its appointments, and the mode Of conductin
he on such an occason-the influence of faithful atte
ton to duty the part of the female head of hous
ls hold affairs is at once evident Everything should
to only be in its proper place but have place by itSe
ga Clean table linen should only be given out after Il
Id? soed has returned its appropriate place Glass
III: should be kept in closet in the dining room and on
not that number of glasses given out that may be wane
lily Everything being thus at hand and the utmost careft
M ness enforced much trouble, and, in the course of
ry- year considerable loss will be avoided. Punctualty
the management of all home affairs also ndispensab
in The meals should always unless unavoidable causualti
intervene be ready at the accustomed and expect
ask hour If the mistress is punctua the domestcs
an also be so and thus the mind of the husband will
be rufed and there will be confusion and no bic
or erngs, but harmony and cheerful appreciation
up every meal followed by genial relaxation and peasa
len conversation These are not trAes however theym