Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1876-11-16
Agricultural Department.

Agricultural Department.
housekeeping without Misery.
We had this morning the pleasure of
a brief call from one Mrs. Hurry.
Things.Righ:-Along, a very estimable
lady of our acquaintance, but somewhat
peculiar in the management of her
household affairs.
81 just drove over, Mrs. Glenn" she
said, ''to see if you couldn't give me 4
bit of advice about my housekeeping.
I do have such time of it !! and hus-
band and tho boys always get so cross
and fretful before it is over with, and
that is worse than even my own weari.
ness and discomfort; but then you
know these masculines never can see
any reason in the semi.annual 'confu.
sions, but look upon them only as an
unreasonable and senseless welding Of
mop and broom for no other reason
than 4 malicious upsetting of their
much.loved peace and quiet. What
housekeeping again so soon! is their
invariable exclamation twice 4 year.
Husband doesn't generally say much,
but he always puts on an injured fair
that's harder to contend against than
any words and the boys declare regu.
larly every fall and spring that it's
worse than bedlam, and last spring &C.
tually put a long standing threat into
execution and betook themselves to
the tavern for board and lodging. |
couldn't so much blame them either,
for l got down sick in the very midst
of the confusion and couldn't so much
as raise my head from my pillow :Or
nearly a week, and no help to be Oh.
tanned for love or money, and all ow.
ing to my poor management, as nus.
band afterward encouragingly declared
l thought this fall I would see II l
could get along any better or with any
less of the annoying confusion OF
which the family complain so much,
and knowing you never get all at skies
and seyens as we do at our house, l
concluded to try to learn your process.
I have everything we'll ready for be-
ginning, all the carpets up, curtains
down and stoves moved out, and now
if you'll toll me where to begin and
how to proceed, I'll go directly home
and get to w r.k.'
"Wen, Mrs. H. said, laughing a
little at my neighb0r's idea of readl:
ness or prepa: alton of work, ''if l
were to advise you at all in TINS
matter, I should say, first undo that
winch you have done. io lone and
put down your carpets and put up
your stoves and restore things as
nearly as possible to their normal
condition. Then, having accomplished
the preparatory things I mentioned in
my last paper, get out of the way your
week. washing and ironing. prepare
| bread, pies and cakes for at least a
| week ahead, that in case of sickness,
company or other unlooked-for him
drance, you need not be worried by
thoughts thereof, or obliged to get up
in haste supplies for the table when
excessively weary. Ii company should
come, do not trouble yourself over
much about the edibles; give them
such as you have prepared for your
own family, and if sensible people,
whose regard is worth retaining, they
will feel far more happy and cotented
than if you set before them the riches,
repast and along with in a weary
harassed and fretted face. Now vol
are ready for beginning. You mus
not expect too easy or brief task
HOuse-cleaning is at best wearisOme
but not necessarily the bleak, bare
uncomfortable state of chaos so Otter
made. Take one, or at most tW'
rooms, at a time. usually make
commencement with closets and bed
rooms. Thoroughly cleanse it ant
restore t. absolute order before dis
turbing so much as curtain o
picture elsewhere. Next the parlo
and sitting-rooom and if you accomp
lish the former along with what ha
already been mentioned. at the end Q
the first week, it is all you shoul
expect. But get all you have under
taken fully accomplished if possible
Then you don't feel the burden of a
uncomfortable confusion, and you ca
rest peacefully on the Sabbath withou
a thought for the morrow. You shOul
have so previously arranged as to hav
little washing and ironing on thes
housekeeping weeks, particularly tn
second one, when you are beginning t
grow very weary and the hardest q
the struggle is at hand. Wash, iro
and bake on Monday and Tuesday,
you can accomplish so much withou
, extra exertion; but much depend
: upon your family and help. =.
,, Now comes the sitting or famil
room, and this is generally the hare
est work of the whole-so many del
cate things to be gathered up, so man
! heavy things to be gotten out, larg
l and dusty car pets to shake and get u
. and down, plants and vines to care fol
. and bookcases and cupboards to loo
to and set in order. If you feel 20
; can possibly afford it, by all mean
i provide yourself with good help for
few days. particularly if your mel
!; folks are not at hand to lift or carr!
as the case may require. The fami]
room in disorder is indeed chaotic
:. The walls and windows. sleeveless an
J carpetless could be bleaker
+ more desolute No wonder 'husban
! and the boys get dispirited, partic'
larly when are added the weary frow
u and the petulant word of the m0tht
= and wife. Unless painting and pape
j. ing he found necessary, a day or a da
> and half. with good help, shout
: make all right again here. Then thel
= is the kitchen, pantry and st0re'roon
. and if you can have able help, you ca
IL 60 ON and perhaps finish up the last
= the week, but not otherwise. Yc
o must rest again at need and take
= leisurely, little at time. Do tho
u OuQhly as YOU 90: no work can