Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1880-01-30
Mrs. 1ivingston's System.

Mrs. Livingston had system; she ATE,
drank, slept and nearly died by it.
Monday morning, rain or shine, the
washing was done: if it rained, the clothes
were dried in the house around the IRE or
anywhere. but dried they must be. Tues
day she ironed, and such ironing every
brown towel was faithfully folded and
ironed all over, and she would have con-
sidered it an everlasting disgrace not TO
have iroued her skirts on both sides. Wed
nesday she mended. laid away the week 8
wash and charmed Thursday her house
was swept and ..garnished from cellar to
garrett, or perhaps shall say from garrett
| ia cellar. Friday she did the thousand
aud one things which come under the mead
Of s'little puttering jobs" Saturday she
baked and mopped floors. A very GOOD
system you perceive il only she had 'Doss-
ed'' the system instead Of letting the sys'
tenn boss her. Were either Of the two
children i'll, it was only question OF get
| ting to bed before Sunday morning; the
| system went on as usual. Did the mother
herself feel hardly able to raise from her
bed, she worked it off," but the system
! must not be interfered with.
| AS the months went by, Mrs. Living
ston's voice became fretful, querulous
/ whine, the crows feet began to gather on
her face, the circles to deepen under her
eyes, her foot to lose it's elastic step-in
short she failed daily; but the system went
on the same. a
4 One Monday morning the sun rose and
found Mrs. Livingston in bed; when her
husband came in with the milk he went
into the bedroom in surprise at not find
| ing her-and here let me say that he was
a good. faithful husband-one who did all
he could to tighten his wife's labors, and
demonstrated with her almost daily on the
system, which he said would kill her yet.
..sAre you sick this morning, Emma ?" he
said "Do not let the clothes boil over on
the stove, my head swims so that must
I sit down minute" she replied,
i Even in her delirium she knew the day
of the week, and washed as usual. The
washings were done without her now fol
many weeks; and when at last she did rise
from her sick bed, it was to months OF
weary convalescence, more trying to an
energetic woman than dangerous illness
In the long days that she reclined in her
easy chair-the slightest jar enough almost
|, to draw tears from her eyes; the least thing
enough to upset her calm and quiet for the
\ day-she had ample time to think Of the
wreck she had made of herself, the neglec
ted opportunities for intellectual and phys
ical growth, the money her sickness hao
cost in various ways-yes, so much time
a that sometimes she almost grew frantic!
III There came time at last-one blessed
, day-when mother" took the household
reins again; took them to drive herself, in
/, stead of allowing the system to do it fol
, her; time when the children and father
followed her around with loving looks, ant
= thanked God that mother was we'll again
even though she could never be as stronl
as before her illness. ~
Z Look out for these systems, sisters; the.
Q are making invallds and old women O
many Of u.s. Remember that dirty floo
{ is better than back ache; and that be tn
, house ever so clean and neat, it loses TO
the family all pleasure, if the home moth
er is tired and depressed ---Amabel G. An
o dre,cs u, Country Gentlemen.
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