Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-05-26
A Wise Father.

In one Of the leading towns of central
Iowa there resides wealthy banker whose
eldest daughter has but recently become en-
gagged TO be married. As would be expected
from the position of her family, this young
lady has had the benefit of the best social
and intellectual advantages at home, besides
having been a student at Vassar for some
time, and travelled considerably, from all of
which she has attained quite 40 unusual de-
gree of culture for lady Of only twenty
years. To an ordinary observer it would
seem that her training had been all that
could be desired but her father thought
otherwise. When he found that she had de-
cided to take upon herself the duties of wife
hood, he, knowing how greatly the happi-
ness of families is affected by the house
wifery qualities of the woman at the head
declared that the marriage should be de-
layed until she had made herself thoroughly
familiar with the duties of a housekeeper.
To be thorough he knew required more than
mere theoretical knowledge, SO 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 response
bilities Of housekeeper. The mother con-
sented, and the young lady undertook the
duties of her novel position with will to
do her very best. Several months have
now elapsed, yet her interest is never known
to flag although her position is no sinecure.
The family is very large, and being exceed
ingly hospitable, the house is 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 in the future, when she shall pre-
side over home of her very own, her zeal
and enthusiasm increases from day to day
as experience adds to her proficiency. In
order that her work may be systematic, she
is allowed certain sum of money each
month with which to supply the table, and
as a special inducement to the exercise of
economy, all 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
expenditure; therefore the minutest details
are studied, and not dish makes its ap-
pearance upon the table without the cost
being fully estimated previous to its order
| ing. 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 remark that it was really astonishing to
discover the many ways of economizing pos
sble to woman; and as an instance of her
own experience, said she frequently found
for some expensive dish desired that some
thing else equally wholesome and fully as
| palatable, could be furnished at one-half the
cost. The father often accompanies her to
market and instructs her in the selection OF
vegetables, the cutting of meats, etc., show
ing such as are suitable for different pur
poses, and how to avoid wasteful and un
wholesome purchases. Does not this little
sketch contain valuable suggestion for the
benefit Of other parents This young lady
will gain in less than one year, at an expen
diture of probably one-third the vital energy
required in the schoolroom, knowledge thai
will contribute thousand fold more to the
happiness of those depending upon her il
the future, than any amount of school train
ing could possibly do yet how few think t.
give daughters similar preparation for th'
home cares and home duties so sure to form
part of every woman's life. Were parents
more thoughtful in this respect, the burden
of young wives would be greatly lessened
while the amount of money which would b,
saved to young husbands would oftentime
be sufficient to lay the foundation of grea
wealth. The thought is worthy of consid
Grafton on the part of all those who ma,
hold in their hands the shaping of a young
girls future.-L. j. l.. in the Housekeeper.