American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-09-20


and luscious fruits swimming in bowls of
cream. Hurrah for the country, l say,
Homemade butter and dollar day
To the farm we went. 1t was rainy
day when we moved, but as our house
was let we had to go when the time
was up. l did not know much about
packing, and did not begin that business
till morning, so it was late in the day be
fore we got started, and the coming fami
" was moving in long before we left. A
ludicrous picture we made, when once
slowed away on the top of pile of bed
ding, baby in my lap, the other two beside
me, and George holding a mammoth um-
brella over us. How 1t did driZZle, driZ-
zle, We were all pretty well soaked by
tried to cheer us with visions of warm
| fire, for had he not taken the precaution
to pay boy he met on the street the day
before, to have the fires made before we
arrived, and the teakettle which was sent
| out with some provisions the day before,
| boiling? Alas, what was our dismay to
| find not only no fire, but that all the cook
| ed eatables had disappeared. The house
was as cold as a barn and damp enough
| to give any one the blues. Everything
| was drippingly, drizzlingly wet.
"Never mind" said George, 1--WE will
| have fire soon. Where are the
matches"
Where were the matches, sure enough!
| Nobody knew; and after hunting long
and Intellectually, George went to neigh
boris to borrow some. In half an hour
he was back again, but as everything was
damp it was long time before the fire
consented to burn; but at length the house
| grew warm, and fishing out some tea,
bread and prunells we had brought with
| us, we made quite comfortable supper,
and then prepared to set up bedstead.
A damp mattress was thrown upon it,
| and damp pillow, sheets and cover fol-
lowed. How 1 wished myself back
again in my own little cottage.
In the morning what confusion was be-
fore me. Baby was sick, the two older
children hoarse, and 1 felt as if 1 had
been beaten. My flesh was sore, and not
a joint in my body was in tune. Maggie,
my heretofore trusty girl, declared the
country was no place for her, so she left
me on the first train for the city. Now
here was a situation! George tried all
| we decided to go to work the best we
could, for neither of us could say to the
other, Il told you So" though l felt like
a culprit all the time.
"Ho, hum! A bad beginning makes a
good ending, so let us go to work." and
at work we went, and ere long the house
looked quite presentable, and we were
thankful that nothing worse than bad
colds and sore limbs followed our NOV
ing.
George had provided a score of milk
pans, and when the milk was strained
away, l prided myself on their bright
looks; and began to see in prospect the
golden balls of butter slowed away in
jars for winter use. 1t was not long ere
l found it was no child's play to lift the
heavy pans up and down from the
shelves, and it was something could not
put off.
In the city the water was brought into
my kitchen sink, but now l had to bring
it some distance in a large wooden bucket.
We had a pig, and as l had no girl,
must feed it; the barn was some rods
from the house. When strawberries came,
for they did come at last, somehow 1 had
lost part of my former relish for them.
Cream had ceased to be a luxury. l had
too much of the article, and as the straw
berry beds were too wet in the morning
for me to gather the luscious fruit, found
it no pleasant task when the sun was
beating on my defenseless head The
children got dirty and ragged and hungry
too sometimes, for the bread often gave
cut, and there was DO baker or butcher
to run to. OF course we tried to keep
everything in the house. l tried to be a
model housekeeper-if ever woman did
but it was hard work when my limbs
were so tired that l longed to lie down
anywhere, to have the sleepy children to
battle and put to bed. 1t was hard work
to remember and set my bread in time to
rise for baking next day. 1 almost wore
myself out fixing up the yard and garden
and then my little darlings spoiled it, SC
had no pleasure in it.
To add to my distress the neighbors
were always singing Mrs. Butterworth's
praises in my weary ears. "She was such
good housekeeper. Such an excellent
manager" all of which l could not deny
having had ample chance to test hel
housekeeping qualities. George snubbed
our city friends who were dying to visit
us. The few who did come almost set nae
crazy. l had now succeeded in getting q
girl, but like Mrs. Butterworth's she
was always grumbling when company
came.
had no idea that it was so hard mat
ter to keep everything up in the country
The washings were no small item and
found some difference between doing the
washings in ones own house, or having
them done at a laundry; and oh, the piles
of dishes, pans and jars! Jars that must
be washed and scalded and after all, my
butter lacked the sweetness of Mrs. But
terworth's, and it took so long to bring it
No matter how tired l was, if l attempted
TO hasten the matter by making the cream
little warmer, the butter was white and
frothy. l found it anything but pleasant
to receive visitors, though 1 asked Mrs
ButterwOrth to bring her children and
stay a week with me.
She came, but did not keep my break
fast waiting, but rose early, and having
dressed the children, came down when the
first bell rang. How much she assisted
me. How kind she was. And one day
when l was very tired, she came in and
taking my work from my weary fingers
in very short time performed the much
dreaded task
How grateful feltl And then I told
her all; how selfish had been, and how
disguised l had become with myself
81 know all about it, DEAR" said she
81 have been a country housekeeper, and
l know, too, that in spite of sun and
shade, cool breeZes and sweet flowers the
Overworked housewives arms will ache
and though she may appreciate all the
beautiful surroundings and fresh garden
luxuries, she cannot forget or throw of
the load of WEAKNESS that almost contin.
ually Expresses her. You city folks look
only at the bright side of farmers life
for admit it possesses very bright and
sunny side; but it takes toll and care to
make a country home habitable."
How humble l felt when she came and
put her arms around me and talked thus
We sat there long, my true friend and l. she
so'nOble and kindly in her manner | so
self abased. As | looked over the past
and saw how selfish had been, could
do nothing by way of recompense but
make a clean breast of the matter. Thus
| was the bond siren Uthened betwppn rs