St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1880-12-03
Fall House-Cleaning.

A subject of engrossing interest to al
home makers at present is that of the
autumn housekeeping. A few prac.
teal remarks by one who is herself
about to engage in the general warfare
against dust and foul aif, may be OF
help to some one whose experience is
limited. l overheard two elderly gen.
tlemen talking a few days ago. Don't
time ?" said one. II scarcely ever
know when house cleaning is going on"
was the astounding reply. 1t was a
fact, too; so quietly and with so little
hustle is this stupendous thing got
along with in that happy mans house
hold. In the first place it is wise
plan to clean one room at time, and
put it in perfect order before disturbing
another room. Have the curtains
washed and irOned, if they need it, be-
fore cleaning the room. 1t will rest
you to know that there is one room set
tied and the work there ended. Not to
make home hideous and herself unat-
tractive should be the cleaners aim,
and it will be praisworthy achieve
ment if in addition to putting the house
into good order for a long winter, she
has also been able to live and let the
family live cheerfully and even COM
fortably during this period of hard
work. Some weary woman with aching
head, with hands burned, scratched and
bruised may think it is asking a great
deal of her to expect that she shall pur-
sue the even tenor of her way, while
she is working twice as hard as usual,
and is subjected to the many annoy
ances unavoidable at this time. But it
is really asking her simply to hoard
her strength. 1t uses up great deal
of vital force to fret and scOld while en-
gagged in any hard undertaking, and if
she feels uncomfortable or little i'll
natured let her express herself through
the broom and scrubbing brush. "If l
wish to sweep my house and not feel it
much let my self think of the solid
South and the Chisolm outrage" said a
friend of mine, "then the corners are
busted assure you" Do not try to
do anything else on the day set apart
to clean closets; it is very fatiguing to
take out, deliberate over, ana put back,
the usual belongings of a closet. Ev-
erything should be thoroughly aired.
Have just as few things as possible in
the closets opening ont of sleeping
rooms: old shoes and soiled garments
poison the air. When the bedrooms
are aired each morning the closet door
should be left open that it may have its
supply of fresh air. If fresh paper is
to be put on and you have any doubts
as to the healthfulness of its cOlOring
take piece to the chemist; he can at
once by simple test determine if it is
wholesome, or loaded with arsenic.
After washing woodwork always wipe
it with a soft cloth this prevents drops
of water being left to dry on and dis
color the paint. A danger which all
ambitious but delicate women should
avoid is trying to accomplish too much
in one day. The temptation to do just
one more thing and then another, is so
great that much firmness is needed to
resist it, but we must not yield. House
work rarely kills, but imprudence fire.
quently does. Running out doors when
heated with sleeves rolled up and I'M
protected head and feet are needless
exposures, certain to be followed by
more or less suffering. Every wife and
mother ought to feel that she is of too
much consequence in her family to be
laid aside even for day, and she owes
it to those who love her, even if they
do not say much about it, to take the
best possible care of herself. Golden
Rule.