Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1875-08-26
ECONOMY IN THE HOUSE.
HOLD.
How Mrs. McGOOchen did her own
WOrk--The Savings of a Week,


How Mrs. McGOOchen did her own
WOrk--The Savings of a Week.
One morning about two weeks ago
Mrs. McGOochen beamed blandly
across the breakfast table on her hus-
band, and informed him that she had
concluded to discharge the hired girl
and do her own work. This announce
ment startled Mr.. McGoochen almost
as much as if she had declared her de-
termination to commit suicide He
had long known that hired help was a
heavy drain upon his meagre salary,
but his wife had educated him to re-
gard it as Indispensable, and he made
up his mind to endure it forever. That
she should voluntarily offer to dispense
with the services of q girl was some
thing for which he was not prepared.
Looking at her with an expression in
which hope and doubt painfully min
gled, he said:
"You-why-you can't do it, Eliza"
Cant do it, indeed I'd like to
know what's the reason. Lots of wo-
men in this town do a great deal more,
and think nothing of it. Our family's
small-just you and me and Henry
| Ward-and ifI can't do the work for
US three I'd better go to the hospital
and done with it,
"What put you into the notion ?''
asked her husband, hardly vet recov-
cred from his surprise.
''Well, Peter" she replied, speaking
in tender, self-reproving tone, 81
| will tell you. I've been thinking late
/ ly how hard you have to work, and
how little ( have done to assist you, in
comparison with what 1 might and
ought to do, and it appears to me that
l should try to reduce our expenses
as much as possible, and the best way
1 know of is to do my own housework
We are poor, just making beginning
in life and it is my duty to help you"
With a voice almost choked with
emotion at this unexpected evidence of
his wife's devotion and energy, he feeb-
ly essayed to break her resolution, say
ing that he did not want her to be
slave for him, that she was too deli
cate for the task she contemplated,
that all he asked of her was continued
love and sympathy
ooh, that's all romantic" interrupt
ed Mrs. McGoochen. 'sIt's Nighttime
my love and sympathy was assuming
2 practical form. I'll discharge the
girl this very day. But there is one
condition, Peter
T ''Name it, my noble wife,
, ''That new caaPet you thought we
were unable to get. Now, if 1 do my
own work it will save at least 500 a
year, and you can certainly afford the
, carpet" o.
"OfcOurse, my love, if you are salts
fed you are not undertaking morethan
, you can perform"
She was satisfied, and so it was set
tied Mack Iugged the carpet home at
, noon, and found the girl gone. His
wife was gone, too, but she returned
. shortly, having only been around tel
y ling the neighbors that she was now
r doing her own work. Dinner was late.
! but then it was the first meal by heI
fair fingers, and he could make allow
h ance for the novelty of the position
: in which she found herself placed.
q Acting on her suggestion, Macl
y brought home a new rocking chail
. when he came to supper. They were
:, saving 800 year, and could well af
ford such little things. When his wife
returned from her visit to the rest O.
the neighbors, whom she had been in
= forming that she was now doing he
own work, she was delighted with tht
: new chair, and declared that they mus
have a full set of furniture to match
:. "You know, Peter, that I will NOR
q than save the cost of it in year, ant
- I will feel so proud to know that my
labor secured it.'' This was said so be
70 seemingly, and she hung so lovingl.,
- on his neck the while, that Mac
\ couldn't resist the appeal The furni
in ture was sent down the next day
sh About three days after, Mrs. McGoo
Io chen coaxed Peter into buying her
~ new silk dress, and the next day sh
or wheedled him out of a set of jeWelrJ
bo 1t was the same old plea-she wa
7e tightening expenses so much by doin
oT7. her own work that she felt she wa
entitled to something extra. 1t woul
amount to no more, she reasoned
than the hire of girl, and Pet'
could well afford to give to her.
- Mack began to get uneasy. Ws
bo there, after all, any saving in doin
at without hired girl Wouldn't th'
q. sort of economy bankrupt him in lie:
al than year? He got piece of papt
~ and pencil and figured.
y " Expenses one week without help:
he Carpet--------------------- ~ :
of Furniture Observation-Disclosures 3o !
as. Dress and Jewelry--------- 80 {
~. Total ------------S15O {
d. Cost of help one week. 2
in
,h- Balance in favor Of domesticS14S
40 McGoochen was asteunded. Gras