Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1873-12-12
The Leisure Hour.
.ur Iy.BLL SFE.vT SU.u.uBR.

This story is for common people," so if
you are one of the uncommon people, or
think you are-whch 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. l get so dis
couraged and disheartened that feel as if
I'd just like to give it all up and die. What
with the children, aud the housework, aud
my ignorance, life is a burden to me-"
Poor cousin Belle ! dim suggestion of
plan by which 1 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. Why?
Because 1 had New England mother; and
if there are any better housek eepers in the
world than the New England housekeepers,
there ought TO be separate department in
Barnum's for exhibiting them TO the gaze
of an admiring world.
NV mother had Faculty" She was
gentle woman, but when she walked through
a room, the chairs, tables, etc., used to mar
shal themselves into place, as if general
WIS SlNlIS lilt NOld VI w
soldiers.
All her daughters wese instructed in
honsewilely duties. not only served an
apprenticeship as "second girl" but was
"chief cook as well, and when my father
said:
kitty, the bread is just as good as your
mohers,' thought had graduated with
the highest honors. This was my good for
tune. Poor Belle mad 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 of her web of life
in a tangle, whe.c / could have woven
without let or hindrance.
Now, this was my plan. Belle was nat
urally very quick and bright, and i 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 a lovely summer
at home. We had talked about it all win
ter. We were going up the st. Lawrence,
10 see the Thousand Isles 10 visit Monlre-
al and Quebec; then TO Mount Desert, and
on to the White Mountains, then to finish
the summer at Newport
Could II 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 Goose's melo-
dies and the alphabet?
That night when l went up to my room
Iput on my shrinking cap" and sat down
to make my decision.
All at once the true question at stake
flashed across my consciousness. My pleas
ure against anothcr's need. And so th
is your Christianity, said l TO myself, SO
verely; this is the enthusiasm for human
ity," which you talk about so loltily
Whereupon, gave myself as sound flag
ellation, morally, rs any monk ever CAV,
himself physically with a knoted cord
and, the question being settled, retired L
sweet sunber and peaceful dreams.
"Belle," SAID I, the next morning a
breakfast, Il think there is way out o
your trouble"
"Oh !" said she, radiantly, "if you onl,
could help mev'
"But, Belle, if we find a way out you'll
have TO abdicate, and let me be kind q
absolute Empress of China for few
months. How would you like thatP" sal,
l, a little doubtfuly, for Belle was severa
years my senior, and matron's dlgnit.
must be very tenderly approached.
"Kitty, you've no idea how heavenly
would be 10 me TO have some one tell IN
every day just what TO do, again. That
one of my worst troubles. To think ey
cry n corning when I get up that must lei
myself and everybody else whist to d,
,, when don't know what want done my
self"
"Well, them said I, "we'll begin to
dav."
"Listen, Harry, and children" said Bell,
, clappins her hands gleefully, "you mu,
! all mind cousin Kitty, and so must
Wen all he young together. begin /
fee restored Already"
"Very WELL" said !, judiclously, "to-da