Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-10-08
@Ottrster 4aiIg Spy.
My First Year of Housekeeping.
BY MRS NJ. C. GARDNER.
From Peterson's Nagazina for Ar


OF my married life, its perplexities and cares
come up before me in far more vivid colors
than Its Joys; though the retrospect often pro-
Tokes laugh where the real experience caus-
ed bitter tears
was just twenty years old when l became
the wife OF clergyman, poor country pas
tor. 1t was a love match, and, with the usual
thrittlessness of lovers, think it did not then
occur to US that we could not live upon love,
or that it would need such vulgar appliances
as roast beef and platable buildings to preserve
in its purity the divine essence Of the grand
passion.
Everybody said that was totally unfit for
a minister's wife. | was naturally exceeding
ly joyous and mirthful, and without particle
of the staid dignity expected from persons in
my position while my husband was a grave,
thoughtful man, endowed by nature with a
commanding personal appearance and prepos-
sessing manners. l do not wonder now that
people could not see the propriety of his
choosing me for wife, when so many pattern
women stood ready to accept him. My own
family had butone objection to the match; he
was poor, and had no idea of practical house
keeping.
Ah how well remember the first washing
day. My husband, after vainly trying to per-
suade me to hire washwoman, q knew that
he could not afford it, came into the back
kitchen to help me himself. We were very
merry atfrst, but after rubbing fflittle patches
OF skin frem every knuckle and burning our
arms till they looked like illustrated maps of
some unknown country, we began to find out
there was little poetry and no fun in the wash
tub.
But the ironing day was worse yet. Nothing
but pride kept me from rolling those starched
shirts into bundle and taking them across
the held to my mothers kitchen. ! forgot to
mention that we had taken up our abode in
parish but one mile distant from my fathers
house.
l had never ironed any starched clothes of
any description, but from my brothers at home
had imbibed very exalted ideas in regard to
the Importance of immaculate shirt bosoms.
My husband told me all that he could remem-
Der of his mothers method, and then betook
himself to his study. Shall ever forget my
feelings when the fiat-iron, heated seven times
hotter than its won't and carefully applied to
the glutinous sarface, suddenly struck up an
attachment for the same, and when forcibly
separated left its whole image and superscrp-
ton behind, in black and brown colors. l
have that shirt now. / keep it to show to
those wise mothers who are training their
daughters for future uselessness.
But it was in cooking that found my chief
time commenced housekeeping, had result
ed in spelling several kinds of rich cake, con-
cocted in accordance with those impossible
recipes which ill our modern cookery books.
L had never made loaf of bread in my life
Bakers bread served US for a time-for so
long time, indeed, that we found out all its
good qualities, and have not tested its excel
lencies for many years.
We had been married and settled nearly
fortnight, when, one morning, my husband
came in with a letter in his hand and very
anxious expression on his face. 1 sprang up
from my eat, nearly upsetting the breakfast
table, W hich was waiting for him.
''What is the matter, Frank? Is anybody
sick or dead? Have you got bad news?"
"No. At least it ought not to be bad news"
t'Well, what is it? Something serious, l
know from your looks"
''No Hattie, nothing of the kind. Only l
feared it might annoy you. 1t is only note
from my college chum, Fred Knowles, saying
that he is going to Boston and will call on us
and-get his dinner to-day" said my hus-
band finishing the sentence reluctantly.
1t was my first call to entertain company,
and knowing by this time my ignorance, l
shrank back affrighted from the prospect l
confess, too, feeling of deep modification
that my husband could not receive his most
back upon his pleasure. All my natural en-
ergy and pride was aroused, and determined
to become good, practical housekeeper, at
whatever cost of time and labor. But the
present emergency was first to be attended to.
81 suppose | had better get some fresh
loaves from the bakery?" Frank looked at
dry, light slices on the breakfast table, as he
spoke.
eyes, think so. And some meat, Hattie
That forlorn old roast has lasted fortnight,
am sure. think should recogize its bones
if saw them in Africa. Do you think you
could broil a steak, Hattie ?"
''Yes. But, Frank, you must come out of
the parlOr and overlook me. And if you will
get me some peas and lettuce, and other vege-
tables shall get up a famous dinner"
half smile fitted over his face. He had
heard of my famous dinners before.
''Well, we must do our best. The cars
will not arrive until two o'clock, so there
will be plenty Of time for marketing and cook
ing"
sis Mr.. Knowles very particular ?" asked,
timidly. "Will he notice if things go just
little wrong?"
'Perhaps not. But he will have natural
curiosity in regard to the capabilities of his
friends wife, But think we shall do very
we'll"
81 am sure we shall" was my encouraging
response, inspired by bright idea that sud-
denly occurred to me. In accordance with it,
my husband had no sooner started for the mar
ket than L, slipping on my hat and shawl,
started on a long walk through the fields and
woods l was going to consult my mother
about dinner. l surprised her by bursting in
to the diningroom, quite out of breath from my
hurried walk, just as the family were sitting
down to a late breakfast.
''Is it Hattie, or her ghost?" asked my IA
ther getting up to welcome me. eff my
memory serves me, our Hattie used to be a
late riser"
Housekeeping improves me, papa"
'Don't wait to talk" said mamma. ''The
coffee will be spoiled. Take of your bonnet,
Hattie, while get another cup and plate, and
we will chat afterward."
''No, thank you. l cannot stop min
ute" Mamma opened her eyes in astonish-
ment.
"You are not going to walk directly back
again? Let me take your shawl"
"But mnst go. We are going to have
company to dinner. Franks chum. And |
want to know how long to boil the potatoes
and other"
Such chorus Of laughter as interrupted
me. "Why, my dear child, boil them till
they are DONE"
81 know as much as that mamma; but
when must begin them, to have them done
at the right time? / have got peas to cook,
and beefsteak, and l ought to make a pud-
ding Oh, dear!"