Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-11-21
A Wise Father.

! In one of the leading towns of cen.
.ral Iowa there resides Q wealthy
banker whose eldest daughter has but
recently become engaged to be married.
A would be expected from the posi-
ton of her family this young lady has
had the benefit of the best social and in.
tellectual advantages at home, besides
having been o student at Vassar for
some time, and travelled considerable,
from all of which she has attained quite
an unusual degree of culture for lady
of only twenty years.
To an ordinary observer it would
seem that her training had been all that
could he desired; but her father
thought otherwise. When he found
that she had decided to take upon her.
self the duties of wifehood, he, know.
ing how greatly the happiness of fami-
lies is affected by the housewifery quail
tiles of the woman at the head, declared
that the marriage should be delayed
until she had made herself thoroughly
familiar with the duties of a house
keeper.
To be thorough he knew required
more than mere theoretical knowledge,
40 with wise thoughtfulness he was
careful to provide the means whereby
the practical worth OF all instruction
received could be fully tested; and to
this end the mother was requested to
retire into the background for season
while the daughter should assume the
responsibilities of housekeeper. The
mother consented. and the young lady
undertook the duties of her novel posi-
ton with will to do her very best.
Several months have now elapsed, yet
her interest is never known to flag, al.
slough her position is no sinecure.
Jlhe family is very large, and being ex-
ceedingly hospitable, the house is sell
dom without the presence OF guests from
abroad; but inspired by the ambition to
acauit herself creditably in the present,
as we'll as by the sweet hope in the fu-
ture, when she shall preside over
home of her very own, her zeal and en-
thusiasm increases from day to day as
experience adds to her proficiency.
In order that her work may be sys.
tematic, she is allowed q certain sum
of money each month with which to
supply the table, and as special in
ducement to the exercise OF economy,
oil that is saved therefrom is placed to
her private account for individual use.
This monthly allowance being by no
means large, she is obliged to exercise
care in its expenditures; therefore the
minutest details are studied, and not a
dish makes its appearance upon the ia
Bile without the c.st being fully est.
mated previous to its ordering. In
this manner she is learning many
things that may be OF great value to
her in the future.
Not long since she was heard to re-
mark that it was really astonishing to
discover the many ways of economizing
possible to woman; and as an instance
of her own experience, said she fire.
quently found, for some expensive dish
desired, that something else equally
wholesome and fully as palatable,
could be furnished at one.half the cost.
The father often accompanies her to
nNket and instructs her in the selec-
tiOa of vegetables, the cutting of meats,
etc., showing such as are suitable for
different purposes, and how to avoid
wasteful and unwholesome purchases.
DOcb uOt bulb 1IttAo bhOeOA SShsoAA
valuable suggestion for the benefit OF
other parents? This young lady will
gain in less than one year, at an ex-
penditure of probabably one-third the
vital energy required in the school
room, knowledge that will contribute Q
thousand fold more to the happiness OF
those depending upon her in the future,
than any amount of school training
could possibly do; yet how few think
to give daughters similar preparation
for the home cares and home duties so
sure to form o part of every woman's
life. We're parents more thoughtful in
this respect, the burdens of young
wives would be greatly lessened, while
the amount OF money which would be
saved to young husba nds would often
times be sufficient to lay the foundation
Of great wealth. The thought is worthy
Of consideration on the part of all those
who may hold in their hands the shap-
ing of young girls future.-L. J. L.,
in the Housekeeper.