The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1876-12-21

ssss se 49,
the faculty Of bewitching the baby in
some way, so he was charmed with her,
and Matte felt SO grateful that she
wanted to stoop down and kiss that
wrinkled face with its crown Of whiten-
ed hair beneath its snowy cap. And
this was the dreaded mother-in-law!
She felt, rather than thought, that she
could 90 to the mother quicker than to
the son with her many perplexities in
housekeeping.
The work moved on very smoothly
that day, with grandmother to keep the
children out Of her way. It seemed
like doing the work in new atmos-
phere. The afternoon found Matte
settled down comfortably to her sew
ing, the baby soothed to sleep, soft
towel dipped in warm water wrapped
about his chest, carefully covered with
"How soundly and sweetly he is
sleeping!" said his mother. "He has
not slept like that for a week"
ssThere is no soothing strip equal to
it," said grandma, ''where there are
any feverish symptoms; and there is
not the slightest danger, where you
cover the towel well with flannel. Now
l can help you sew, daughter, if you
will be kind enough to give me my
specs. I am master hand at patch
ing, and see that Charley is much like
other boys, and pokes his knees through
his trousers, just as his father did be-
fore him. thought that the cloth that
could hold out for six weeks with that
boy, was cloth to be recommended"
"Could you always have as much
system about your work as you wished,
mother, when your children were lit
tle?" asked Matte, broaching the sore
subject.
Grandmother laughed, good hearty
laugh, maybe at remembrance of the
old times-certainly it was not laugh
that hurt any body's feelings. Matte
knew she was not laughing at her, and
her voice was so cheering that she
caught the spirit and laughed too,
though that subject had always been
regarded as any thing but laughing
matter.
"All young housekeepers nearly have
the same tug and toll, and the same
fight for system about their work, and
pretty much the same discouragements
that is, where they make an effort to
do their duty. They set out with fine
plans of order, and may be carry them
out for while, but, dear me, one little
baby can knock all their fine plans in
the head, and not be much of Hercu-
les either. l know how it goes, dear;
1 can speak from experience. Babies
are terrible autocrats, and the younger
the more imperious. A young mother,
who loses hours of sleep every day, may
well be excused for leaving many things
undone which she could otherwise do
very easily. A baby's wants must be
attended to first, even when well, and
when sick, the duty is doubly binding.
You must learn to bear patiently those
worries which neglected work will cause
us, not neglected dates, for nothing is
a duty which one can not do. You can
not keep your work up square and even
with little children to care for, unless
you have the means to secure good
help.'
81 am so glad you do not blame me-"
said Matte, gratefully, and then she
dropped the stocking she was mending
and wound one arm around the good
woman's neck, rs she kissed her wrin-
killed. cheek more chan once.
"Blame you, darling? should like
to see any one blame such busy, eff
Gent little worker as you are. If
Horace ever does, his mother will see
to him forthwith. He's taken a great
deal of seeing to in his day, and it did
him good. Don't you think so?n
Matte laughed, and said Horace al
ways declared he ''owed every thing to
his mother"
"Of course 1 wasn't thorough
enough" said the old lady, smiling,
'sor ] might have made him still bet
ter boy; but it is easier looking back
than looking ahead. But speaking of
systems, dear, l will tell you of one
plan that has been great help to me.
l never thought much of setting down
on slate or paper the particular duties
of each day, with the hours set to them.
Such things can not be carried out in a
woman's everyday life, even if students
and professional men can. But it does
help me to set down on slip of paper
the things have to do indoors and out
-as, for instance, the pieces Of sewing
I wish to do. Every thing l can think
Of in that line, set down. Then, when
| have time to sew, glance over it, and
decide which piece will go about first
As soon as it is done, cross it off.
That is such a comfortable thing to do,
that crossing off! Sometimes will
finish several small pieces in a day, and
that makes the list look beautifully less.
By setting them down 1 do not forget
any, and l can more easily choose which
Il. Al