Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-11-05
Nv WeII.Spcnt summer.

10 1VA AAN NhN VI Ai' uncommon INNIfNf ~ ]
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 only
knew how to keep house like you. get
so discouraged and dishearteued that ]
feel as if I'd just like to give it all up and
die. What with the children, and the
homework and my ignorance, life is a bur
den to me-
Poor Cousin Belle dim suggestion Of
a plan by which might help her out Of her
trouble had been floating through my brain
for several days, and this pathetic appeal
brought my ideas TO a focus.
Now, know how to keep house. Why2
Because had New England mother; and
if there are any better housekoepors in the
world than the New England housekecpors
there ought to be a separate department 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 a room, the chairs, tables, etc, used
to marshal themselves iuto place as if
general was giving the word Of command
to his soldiers
All her daughters were instructed in
housewifely duties. not only severed an
apprenticeship as second girl" but was
" chief cook as we'll and when my father
said
" Kitty, this bread is just as good as
your mothers" thought | had gradu-
ated with the highest honors. This was
mn 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 i'll fortune, and so it came
about that Belle, 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 butts" 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 it up, and stay shut up in
this little, pokey," unfinished Western
village, teaching Cousin Belle to do what
was as easy TO me as Mother Gooses melo
dies and the alphabet p
That night, when | went up to my room
put on my thinking cap" and Sc
down to make my decision.
All at once the true question at stalk
flashed across my consciousness. My pleas
ure, against anotberS need. And so thi
is your Christianity, said to myself, Sc
verely; this is the enthusiasm for human
ity,' which you talk about so loftily
Whereupon, gave myself as sound flag
ellation, morally, as any monk ever gave
himself physically with a knotted cord
aud the question being settled, retired t'
sweet slumber and peaceful dreams
Belle" said |, the next morning a
breakfast, al think there is way out o
your trouble"
"Oh :" said she, radiantly, if you onl.
could help me -
4" But, Belle, if we find way out you'll
have to abdicate, aud let me be a kind O
absolute Empress of China for few months
How would you like that ?" said |, littl
doubtfully, for Belle was several years IN
senior, and a matron's dignity must be yer
tenderly approached.
Kitty, you've no idea how heavenly
= would be to me, to have some one tell m
every day Just what to do, again. That
one of my worst troubles. To think ever
morning when | get up that | must te
myself and everybody else what to d.
when don't know what | want done my
self"
"Well, then, said | "we'll begin o-day.
"Listen, Harry, and children" sal
Belle clapping her hands gleefully, "yo
must all mind Cousin Kitty, and so must
"We'll all be young together. begin
feel restored already"
"Very well, said | judiciously, " to-da
' is Thursday. We will devote the rest {
: the week to setting the house in perfe'
= order. We must have clean casket to pr
G our jewel of home in"
. Talk about gymnastics There may
great pleasure in throwing out pair
e wooden dumb.bels and then drawing thel
c back again, but how can it possibly con
5 pare with flying around room and puttr
it in exquisite order, that those you 10y
o may be comfortable in it2
To enjoy your work thoroughly you mu
g ideaize it, and who could idealize pair
&c dumb-bells2
10 Saturday night came, and the house VI
D. like bandbox. Then | put my finger {
n "tender spot " in the household eco
T. omy.
lr About one.fourth Of the needless wol
st was caused by lack Of order. The Lol
n of Misrule was sovereign and it sometim
lie looked as if hats, and coats, dresses al
t. playthings had rained down.
le "Now," said |, quoting my mother "tl
y house cannot be untidy if every pers'
ie puts his or her own things in place"
e. "IIear hear !" shouted Cousin Harr
y Bellies husband, mischieviously.
ie "You may laugh, Harry" said |, sba
le ing my head at him, but it is true"
oil "That's so," he replied, " there is co
siderable sense in that curly head Of you
after ALL"
re "Vcry we'll" said |, "what is the U
III Of sense if it wont help US out Of o
G. troubles ? Now | am going to draw up
,h what do you call it2-an agreement,
r. which each member Of the family bin
he himself to keep his or her things in perf'
! /! order"
IN All entered merrily into the arrangeme
On Harry drew up formidable looking doc
u ment. He and Belle signed first und
&C. meath the children wrote in regular ord
nc and one of them gleefully put the pen
tween the baby's chubby fingers and guild
them to mako "his mark
it Then We reduced the regular routine
en- the work to perfect system, aud every d
a Cousin Belle was to devote her spare ii
he TO learning something
- Monday morning came. The house v
in perfect order. Belle says, cheerily