Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1873-10-23
MY WELL-SPENT SUMNER.

THIS story IS Tor common peoples" so
if you are one of the uncommon people, or
think you are-which is just the same
turn the leaf and pass on. This is not for
you
kitty, I'd give the world if l only
knew how to keep house like you. l get
so discouraged and disheartened that
feel as if I'd just like to give it all up and
die What with the children, and the
housework, and my poor ignorance, life
is burden to me-"
Poor Cousin Belle! dim suggestion of
plan by which l might help her out of
her trouble had been floating through my
brain for several days, and this pathetic
appeal brought my ideas to focus.
Now, I know how to keep house Why
Because had New England mother
and if there are any better housekeepers
in the world than the New England house
keepers, there ought to be separate de-
partment in Barnum's for exhibiting them
to the gaze of an admiring world.
My mother had faculty" She was
a gentle woman, but when she walked
through room, the chairs, tables, ETC.,
used to marshal themselves into place, as
if a general was giving the word of CON-
mand to his soldiers.
All of her daughters were instructed in
housewifely duties. I not only served an
apprenticeship as second girl" but was
"chief cook" as well, and when my father
said:
kitty, this bread is just as good as
your mother's," l thought l had gradu-
ated with the highest honors. This was
my good fortune. Poor Belle had never
been taught anything but the piano, and,
as she sagely remarked, "They couldn't
eat music.'
This was her ill-fortune, and so it came
about that Belle, a thousand times prettier
and brighter than / ever thought of being,
had gotten the threads in her web of life
all in a tangle, where could have woven
without let or hindrance.
Now, this was my plan. Belle was nat
urally very quick and bright, and could
stay with her six months and train her in
housekeeping. All that she needed was
to be taught But-alas for the "buts'' in
this world-we had planned lovely sum-
mer at home. We had talked about it all
winter. We were going up the ST. Law
renee to see the Thousand Isles; to visit
Montreal and Quebec; then to Mount Des-
ert, and on to the White Mountains, then
to finish the summer at Newport.
Could give itup, and stay shut up in
this little, "pokey," unfinished Western
village, teaching Cousin Belle to do what
was as easy to me as Mother Goose's mel
odies and the alphabet?
That night, when went up to my room,
l put on my thinking cap" and sat down
to make my decision.
All at once the true question at stake
flashed across my consciousness. My
pleasure against dnOthers need. And so
this is your Christianity, said l to myself,
severely; this is the enthusiasm for hui
mainly" which you talk about so loftily
Whereupon, gave myself as sound a
flagellation, morally. as any monk ever
gave himself physically with knotted
cord, and, the question being settled, re-
tired to sweet slumber and peaceful
dreams.
Belle" said /, the next morning al
breakfast, 81 think there is way out of
your trouble"
"OhT said she, radiantly, "if you only
could help met"
"But, Belle, if we find way out you'll
have to abdicate, and let me be kind OF
absolute Empress of China for few
months. How would you like that 81
said l, little doubtfully, for Belle was
several years my senior, and matron's
dignity must be very tenderly approach
ed
"Kitty, you've no idea how heavenly ii
would be to me, to have some one tell me
every day just what to do, again. That is
one of my worst troubles. TO think every
morning, when get up, that must tell
myself and everybody else what to do
when l don't know what want done my
self"
"Well, then" said I, "we'll begin to.
day"
aListen, Harry, and children" said
Belle, clapping her hands gleefully, "you
must all mind Cousin Kitty, and so must
|. Well all be young together. l begin
to feel restored already"
Every well, said l, judicially, "to-day is
Thursday. We will devote the rest of the
week to getting the house in perfect order.
We must have clean casket to put our
Jewel of home in"
Talk about gymnastics! There may be
great pleasure in throwing out pair of
wooden dumb-bells and then drawing
them back again, but how can it possibly
compare with flying around room and
putting it in exquisite order, that those
who you love may be comfortable in it!
10 ENJOY your WORK thoroughly you
must idealize it, and who could idealize a
pair of dumb bells?
Saturday night came, and the house was
like a bandbox. Then l put my finger
on ''tender spot" in the household
economy.
About one-fourth of the needless work
was caused by a lack of order. The Lord
of Misrule was sovereign, and it some
times looked as if hats, and coats, dresses
and playthings had rained down.
"Now," said /, quoting my mother, ''the
house cannot be untidy if every person
puts his or her things in place"
"Hear! heart" shouted Cousin Harry,
Bellies husband, mischievously.
8 "You may laugh, Harry" said l, shak-
Ing my head at him, "but it is true"
"That's So" he replied; "there is con-
siderable sense in that curly head ofyours,
after ALL"
"Very WE'LL" said /, "what is the use of
sense if it won't help us out of our
troubles! Now am going to draw up q
what do you call titan agreement, by
which each member of the family binds
himself to keep his or her things in per-