The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-07-30

widower OF fifty, with four daughters and one
SOD. She was girl of spirit and intelligence,
devoted to her husband and loved by his chill
dren. Disparity of years she never thought Of.
"Milly,n she said one day, as we we're talking
over our married life, 81 am the harpiest wo-
man in existence; you cannot imagine how
reverence my noble husband; and my brothers
and sisters (for cannot help calling his chill
dren SOY are the pleasure of my life when he is
ABSENT
"But how in the world do you manage such
ooh, easily enough" she replied. "You know
my aunt who trained me was very systematic
/ must confess to having some dread when
first came home, for the former Mrs. Chapman
was. had heard, an excellent manager. The
discipline of the house had somewhat fallen
away since her death, and soon saw that the
servants we're careless, and disposed to look
upon my coming as an innovation upon their
rights. Robert, in a day or two alter our return,
said to me-
"There is but one servant that care to re.
tain, if any of the others ere not agreeable to
you, and even old Fanny will pension of If she
should be disposed to resent your interference
in the present manaP So continue them
or discharge them, as you think ft'
Having this power vested in me, with only
one reserve, and holding the reins OF punctuality
and early rising in my hands, my influence was
deepotic. On the morning after, / called all the
tour servants into the dining room and kindly,
but firmly, made them understand tnat each
must be down stairs by six O'Clock, and none up
in the evening after ten, excepting the upper
housemaid; that each one must individually
keep to her own work, but that, if l requested
either OF them to perform some duty not exactly
within her province, she must do it without
domur; and al o that their daily duties, OF which
| would give them list, must be punctually and
thoroughly performed; OF the latter mode
should myself judge. If they could not agree 10
these terms, it would be better for them to say
so, and at once. Three OF them at once accepted
the regulations, and have had little fault to find
since. The cook turned resUlve then, but not
afterwards I had nndprotOOd har phipf fault yUa
toreetiulness; the dinner would be well cooked,
but frequently the appropriate sauces and vege-
tables would be omitted. Another circumstance,
amounting to nuisance, ! had to complain of :
the tradesmen, while waiting Tor orders, would
assemble IN the lower hall leading to the Kitchen
and at this time the housemads would join them
and the laugh and joke we're freely passed;
besides, these morning gatherings became the
headquarters Tor disseminating all the gossip of
the house: who were wishing; who going; who
cross; and who eood!tempered. This | was
determined to put down, and l did"
"Why, how could you do this? 1t is Just what
] complain OF with my one servant. Bridget will
gossip, for sometimes | really cannot at moment
tell what should like for dinner, and while am
considering she is amusing herself"
''The remedy is very simple replied Bertha
81 merely transferred the practice of my aunts
house to my new home. wrote out on a strip
OF paper bill OF fare for the day, and under
meath this, at some distance below, wrote The
different orders, such as the butchers, the gro-
GERS, and the tishmans, writing them very DIS
tInctly, and widely dividing them by a line,
which line afterwards nearly cut through, SO
that each respective order could be rapidly torn
of and given to each party In writing an order,
say for the butcher, | distinctly defined the
weight of Joint, and whether / required much or
little lat. The tish-monger sent IN always his
bill of fare, and two. minutes sutticed for him.
These orders | also transferred to the weekly
books end the dinner bill OF fare the cook came
to my dressing-room tor at o'clock every morn
ing. At 10 punctually went into the kitchen,
chn 10 hn
larder, where directed what was TO be sent up
for luncheon what meat and pudding should be
served up Tor the servants dinner. l had the
bread-pan daily wiped out. The order tor the
bread was written in the bread-book - what
loayes to change if it we're needed, what guam
ttY to take in-each was put down separately,
whether loaves, rolls brown bread, flour, or
cakes; and | called both on baker and grocer,
and gave them to understand that unless an
order was in my writing they were not to de-
liver it,"
What did you write down the grocer's order,
tooW
"DIost certainly did. 1t is but little trouble,
and an hour III the morning will suffice for all;
besides, how is it possible 10 keep a check upon
the expenditure OF a limited income If such were
not the case.n
"But eight hundred year is not a very
! limited income" l remarked.
at all depends upon the requirements of a
family whether it be considered large or small.
| There are four young people, myself and hus
band, four servants, and boy, making in all
eleven persons. The education of the younger
! children is not yet completed, and this swallows
! up considerable sum; besides, Robert has
claims upon him which am not authorized to
mention. So limited do we fnu eight hundred
year that tor the last twelvemonth have had
all our dresses, excepting one made at home"
"Nlade at home Don't you find it very ex
! pensiye to have a needle-woman in the house
They are always so Slow"
You co not know, perhaps, that | am great
| adept with my needle. 1t was an accomplish
! ment my aunt thought of paramount import
7 anCe, and insisted upon it that no needle-worB
should go out OF the house. She got clever
/ dressmaker to come once month"; and, by din
! of observation aud some aptitude, acquired
! sufficient of the art to cut out and make up
dress. pouted and was sadly troubled at first
| but how thankful am now l can scarcely
| express"
"And you played so exquisitely, and you
drawings used to be my envy; what pity Il
lay down these requirements, and degenerate
into q mere household drudge though mus
say your appearance is not exactly that"
Bertha looked at me in amazement, and at las
burst out into such ringing laugh that th
elder of the two children who were playing oil
the floor got up and ran across to her, resteC
| her little arms on her lap, and said. "What di(
| hoo laugh tor" while the totty babe crawled t
| her feet, saying as fast as he could, "An' M
too" She caught them both up, and broke on
| into such torrent OF song that convinced me
| however much she had neglected her music ant
dancing, her voice had been cultivated to tn
| highest extreme.
"Why, Milly," she exclaimed, lis it possible
that you think a woman cannot unite accom-
| plishments and usefulness? Surely they shoul'
go hand in hand together. You don't mean Il
Tell me that you have given up your music
that you never play, never sngN
1T is even so," l replied, scarlet tus
mounting to my face, for she sat with such pre-
voking astonishment on her face that l tel