The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1880-02-12
Mrs. LihngstSne's System.

MTSsAlVURStOne naQ 3 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 fire or anywhere, but dried they
must be. Tuesday she ironed, and such
ironing! 5eyery brown towel was faith
fully folded and ironed all over, and she
would have considered it an everlasting
disgrace not to have ironed her shirts
on both sides. Wednesday she mend
ed, laid away the weeks wash and
churded. Thursday Her house was
swept and garnished from cellar to gar
ret, Or perhaps l should say from garret
to cellar, Friday she did the thousand
ana one things that come under the head
Of "little, puttering jobs" Saturday
she baked and mopped floors. A very
good system, you perceive. if only she
had ''b6ssed' the system instead of let
ting the system ''boss'' her. Were
either of the two children ill, it wan
only question of getting to bed before
Sunday morning; the system went on
as usual. Did the mother herself feel
hardly able to rise from her bed, she
worked it off," but the system must
not be interfered with. e" "j' ~
q As'the months went by Mrs. Living
stones voice became a fretful, quern-
lous whine, the crows feet began to
gather on her face, the circles to deep
en under her eyes, her foot. to lose is
elastic step4Ain short, she failed daily;
but the system went on the same.
One Monday morning the sun rose
and found Mrs. Livingstone in bed;
when her husband came in with the
milk he went into the bedroom in sur
prise at not finding her up-and here
letme say that he was good, faithful
husband lone who did all he could to
lig hten his wife's labors, and remon-
strated with her almost daily on the
system, which he said would kill her
yet. care you sick this morning,
Emma?'' he said. ''Do not let the
clothes boil over the stove. My head
swims so that I must sit down a
minute.' rt
Even in her delirium she knew the
day of the week, and washed as usual!
The washings were done without her
now for 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 a
dangerous illness. In the long days
that she reclined in her easy-chair-
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 neglected opportunities for intellec-
tual and physical growth, the money
her sickness had cost in various ways
yes, so much time that she almost grew
frantic! 49,
There came time at last-one
blessed day-when ''mother" took the
household reins again; took them to
drive herself, instead of allowing the
system to do it for her; time when
the children and father followed her
around with loving looks, and thanked
God that mother was well again, even
though she could never be as strong as
before her illness.
Look out for these systems, sisters;
they are making invalids and old wom-
en- OF, many of us. Remember that a
dirty floor is better than back-ache;
and that be the house ever so clean and
neat. it loses for the family all pleasure
if the home mother is tired and de-
pressed.--Ana6et c.. .Aaadrea0s, in Conn.,
try Gentleman.