Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-07-03
BALM Kfnnrber Journal.
system and Foretnoueht.

System and forethought are two BRAIN
maidens which every housekeeper needs
to call to her assistance to enable her to
accomplish her duties in the proper way,
and at the right time. Every day in the
week should have its appointed work; and
except In cases OF great trouble, such as
sickness or death. it should never be all
lowed to lap over upon the next days
work.
For instance, if Monday is washing day.
it should be done on that day, even if extra
help has to be hired, because if it is not
done, the weeks work cannot come out
even on Saturday night. Many families
are now adopting different system. and
have their washing done on Saturdays,
and the house is all cleaned up nicely for
the well-earned Sundays rest. Then the
| clothes are ironed on Monday, and Tues
day is day for general work, putting
away ironed clothes, cleaning the pantry,
and odd jobs; or it is made the baking
day. On Wednesday. there can be lull,
and company can be invited to dinner or
tea. On Thursday comes the general
sweeping and busting, and every part of
the house is put in order, thoroughly aired.
and made "sweet as new mown hay" On
Friday there can be baking of bread and
biscuits for Sunday, and the soiled clothes
can be put into water and soap. so as to
soak over night. By rising early Saturday
morning, the weeks washing can be ac-
complished before the middle of the FORE
noon, and after dinner the one who has
done the hard work of cleansing the
i weekly clothes should be allowed two
hours sleep in her own room. Thus in
vigorated, she will be ready to sleep all
night, and rise as fresh as a lark on SUM-
day morning. Sunday should be a day of
rest for all the family; and the greater
part of the food needful should be pre-
pared on the previous day.
II A delicious oyster soup can be prepared
in 90 minutes, leaving ten of them to boil
the tea kettle; coffee can be made in the
same time. And with cold roast of beef,
mutton, lamb or veal. or pressed corned
beet, or tongue. thinly sliced, with sliced
cold potatoes stewed in milk and butter,
and apple-sauce and pickles, Chill sauce,
or picallly, for a relish, and custard
pudding or pie tor dessert, few farmers
would complain of their dinner. Little
work should be done on this day, when
the tired muscles, nerves and brains. over
wrought with six days of labor, cry out
for rest, entire and complete, with time
to think.
Our brain-maidens also assist us TO ar
range our work so as to save fuel. which
here yearly increases in cost. If bread is
sponged, or kneaded up at night, it can be
kneaded again, ready to be baked with
the first heat of the oven. Pastry is much
fiakier if it is mixed the previous night,
and the fruit is prepared for the pies.
Then it will not take over half an hour to
prepare the pies for the oven, and as soon
as the bread is baked they will be ready ;
and the dreaded baking will be over be-
fore the breakfast dishes are washed. If
one chooses. Breakfast dishes should be
prepared over night-bacon or ham sliced
thin. and put to soak in dish of cold
water, and potatoes sliced to be fried with
it. II hash is to be prepared, chop the
meat and potatoes separately at night, and
save time in the morning. The breakfast
table can be laid the previous night, and
in the kitchen the kindlings, coal or wood
should be placed close by the stove or
range, ready for use, and not minute
wasted in making the fire.-Cor. Country
Gentleman.