New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-08-02

&anS ana 10 assure n0r OaugnL6r-nOt ~
dressing herself to NJ Auguste that she
would implore Pere Hildegrsnd to offer
special prayers that the roofs of houses in
which dwelled impenitent pagans should
such calamity should occur. that the chill
dren should by miracles escape it and that
their mother should be from home. NJ.
Auguste made ne reply, but taking his
fusil de,sr canoas and calling his faithful
dog, he departed to the swamp, since which
controversy la belle mere had never been
near the house when NJ. Auguste was at
home.
She contented herself with the invOca
lions OF lie Pere Hildegrand as stated. She
was however recalled and assumed COM
mand and her orders were, in military par
lance, respected accordingly. But she had
very few orderlies to obey her orders.
Madame Clarisse executed the wishes of
her husband au rigeur. In this she was
some what assisted by the extremely slen-
der capital left her with which to conduct
the experiment of voluntary labor. Being
in arrears to the colored cook who migrate
fully needed dress, of her c0lOred Nurse,
who arrogantly expected a pair of shoes,
both of these insubordinate domestics
hypocritically professed a great liking for
Nine. Clarisse, but set up the absurd ex-
cuse that they could neither go bare
foot nor naked. An atrociOus washweman
who had taken the family work at
so much per month, actually made
an insurrectionary mouth at having to
wash and iron few pltry dozen of things,
which the belle mere had cast into the fam
lily washing, and for which all compensa.
ton was denied with bitter invectives by
Nine. La Belle Mere and an intimatiOn of
doubt whether pair of stockings had
reported with the rest of the garments.
1t was an active day when these man
dites domestique left. There was little cook
ing done, the baby being indisposed, was
rocked about thirty miles of lineal distance,
while the washing was indefinitely post
poned. Nine. Clarisse wept at inter.
walls. Her manner acclaimed against
the folly of M. Augusta in becoming an
abolitionist, and recoun ted the number of
servants which her papa had in attendance
at the Belle Chase plantation.
There came knock at the door, and a
lady entered. 1t was Mrs Benson, an
American lady, the wife of lumber dealer,
inhabitiug the shores of the New Canal
She came around to ask if Nine. Clarisse
could tell her anything about Sarah DOtt,
who wished to take her washing. Mrs.
Benson was particular who came into her
yard, besides she would not employ the wo-
man if it interfered in any way with Mme
Clarisse. Mime. La Belle Mere addressed some
angry words in French, but her daughter
answered that the woman was a good
washer, and, as far as she knew honest;
that she could have no objection to Mrs.
Benson employing her, OF course. The
more so that her husband and herself had
determined not to employ any more colored
servants. Mrs. Benson looked at the frail
little lady and her practiced eye noticed the
forlOrn and uncomfortable menage. She
s.id in a kind, motherly way, Times
are hard, and we must all do
what we can. This is new to you,
Madame, but 1 was born in Connect
cut and raised in Ohio, SO you see have
always had to do exactly what you have
undertaken to learn. So you must let me
help you all l can. will come over to see
you, and whatever l or Mr.. Benson can do
for you while your baby is sick and your
husband away. you may count on. Now,
let me come and do right good days
work with you. You will get through with
all your chores, as we called them in Bos-
rah, and have good start at housekeeping
without help as we call servants in
Ohio"
Nine. Clarisse was weak and discouraged,
so she expressed her thanks and said she
would be glad Of such neighborly advice.
La belle mere was excluded from this con-
ference by reason of her not being we'll up
in her English.
"You see" said Mrs. Benson, beginning the
lecture on domestic economy, "its easy to
keep house, but you must always begin the
evening before"
Nine. Clarisse looked up from her sleep
ing baby.
"Your wood, your water must be in place;
before you go to bed, the furniture must be
set in place, the clothing laid out, or put
away, the books and needle work arranged,
and everything fixed for good start.
We used to make our own bread, that re-
quired attention, even to getting up at
night to see if it was all right. After all
this, and before covering the fires and put
ting out the lights you may read chapter
of the good Book for all, though it's we'll
to have some one reading something while
the rest work. l have known everybody |
get the children's geography lesson |
that way, and sometimes there would !
be grand disputes about grammar or spell
ing, and the old ones properly laughed at |
for not knowing as much as the children. |
But any way, clean up everything, plates, |
dishes, forks, saucepans, and put every !
thing in its place at night, and then it is
really surprising to see how little work you |
do need. AS soon as you dress-your
man ought to be up and out little be-
fore you, 60 that your wood will be in |
the stove handy-you first put on your
water and let it come to a boil. You
will want coffee, may be an egg,
and warm water to wash up everything.
You may work up your dough, cut out your
biscuit, fry your meat, and as you come
md go you can spread the cloth and put on
The breakfast things. The children will be
Up with the rest, but make them fix them
elves tidy and clean; then make them
lelp. There mgy be pigs or chickens to