Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1880-12-09
4 Wise Father.

In one of the leading towns of central
Iowa, wealthy bankers eldest daughter
became engaged to be married. As
would be expected from the position of
her family, this young lady had the ben
eft of the best social ami intellectual
advantages at home, beside having been
student at Vassar for some time, and
travelled considerably, from all of which
she had attained quite degree of cul-
ture for a lady of only twenty years.
To an ordinary observer 1t would seem
that her training had been all that could
be desired but her father thought 9TH
erwise. When he found tina. she had
concluded to take upon herselfthe duties
of wifehood he, knowing how greatly
the happiness of families is affected by
the housewifery qualities of the woman
at the head, declared that the marriage
should be delayed until she made her.
self thoroughly familiar with the duties
Of housekeeper.
To be thorough he knew required
more than mere theoretical know ledge,
so with wise fOrethought he carefully
provided the means whereby the prac-
teal worth of the instructions received
could be fully tested and for this pur-
pose the mother was requested TO retire
in the back ground for a season, while
the daughter should assume the respon-
sibilities of house-keeper. The mother
consented, and the young lady under
took the duties other novel position with
a will TO do her very best. The family
was very large, and being exceedingly
hospitable the house was seldom with
out the presence of guests from abroad
but inspired by the ambition to acquit
herself creditably in the present, as well
as by the sweet hope that in the future
she should have a home of her own to
preside over, her zeal and enthusiasm
Increased from day to day as experience
added to her proficiency.
In order that her work might be sys-
tematic, she was allowed a certain sum
of money month with which to supply
the table, and as a special inducement to
the exercise of economy, all that could
be saved therefrom was to be placed 10
their private account for individual use.
This monthly allowance being by no
means large, she was obliged to exer-
else care in its expenditure, therefore
the minutest- "details were studied, and
not a dish made its appearance upon the
table without the cost having been fully
estimated previous to its ordering. In
this manner she learned many things
that might be of great value TO her in the
future.
She was once heard to remark that it
was really astonishing to discover the
many ways of economizing possible TO
women; and as an instance of her own
experience, said she frequently found for
some expensive dish desired, that some
thing else equally as wholesome and full
~ as palatable, could be furnished at
one-haIf the cost.
The father often accompanied her to
market and instructed her in the select
ION of vegetables, the cutting of meats,
etc, showing such as are suitable for diff
ferent purposes, and how to avoid waste
full and unWhulesome purchases.
Does not this sketch contain valuable
suggestion for the benefit Of other par
ents? This young lady gained in less
than one year, at an expense Of probab-
| " one-thiId the vital energy expended
! id the school-room, knowledge that VIII
| contribute a thousand fold more to the
happiness Of those depending upon her
! than any amount of school training could
possibly do; yet how few think tog give
I daughter similar preparation for home
( cares and home duties so sure 10 form a
, part of every womans life, Were par
1 ents more thoughtful in this respect, the
/ burden of young wives would be greatly
! leSsened, while the amount Of money
which would be savedto young husbands
would oftentimes be sufficient to lay the
foundation ofgreat wealth. The thought
is worthy of consideration on the part
/ Of all those who may hold The shaping
of young girls fortune.