Daily Kennebec journal., 1884-06-13
BaiIu 1kfnr1sber 5ournal.


What mothers of to day need is inde-
pendence and common sense. In these
days of fashion many woman wears out
because she is desirous her children shall
have as many tucks, founces, plaits and
frills as her neighbors' children. Or she
heats her blood until she is tired and cross
over a cooking range that she may pre-
pare food to equal or excel her near
neighbers She. may be, belongs to that
unfortunate class whose better half judges
her from the amount of labor she per-
forms.
MY wife is the smartest woman in
town. She will do more work than man
anv day"
Have you not heard such remarks?
Beware husband; nature will have her
revenge, and if you want that smart
woman to care for you in your old age,
save her strength. stop the overworklng
of those strained nerves, unless you desire
to have another to fill her place.
Mothers, dress your children according
to Your means and ability. If your
friends two-years- old Susie is $50 sweet
and pretty in her embroidered white
dresses" don't try and excel, but let your
two-vears-old Flossie wear her warm,
dark wooden dresses, and her health will
be cared for, and she will become more
sensible woman than Susie, whose moth
er's aim is for her baby to be admired. |
do not discard fashion when properly used.
Copy that happy medium which calls for
no remarks.
II YOU cannot dress as your neighbor
without working far into the small hours
of morning. wearing out brain and body.
for your husbands sake, for your chill
dren's sake. make your dress with less
bands and shirrings, and save your
strength. .'As you commence, so you
must 90 on is an old saying. Make
yourself slave to fashion for child,
and assuredly, by the time she is l6 your
bones will ache and your spirit quake over
the endless work of her wardrobe
If a person visits you for the amount of
food he get s, let him stay at home before
you worry yourself almost to desperation,
neglect your babies and many other duties
preparing company fare" Let him con-
tent himself with such as would constitute
the repast of your ordinary family. If
your husband constantly praises you for
the amount of work you master, take his
praise kindly, but don't try to accomplish
more than you are bodily able for the sake
of obtaining his praise. Save your
strength for the future. when you will be
of more value to him than his praise is to
you now.
If your neighbor does think you slow.
lazy, be independent. and if you are
wearied from your mornings labors, lie
down for half-hour's nap-if the dinner
dishes do remain unwashed and the floor
tor awhile. Refreshed by
your rest, those dishes will disappear
rapidly. other chores be accomplished, and
it will be bright, cheerful face which
greets the boys and girls on their return
from school, and father from his days
labor. In caring for yourself. your health
and strength. you are caring for all the
members of the family.
Can another fill the place you will leave
vacant, if you work yourself to death
Will another love your children as you do ?
Then, mothers. in reasons name and
common sense. dress your girls more
plainly, cook less company dinners, sage
your strength and take work easily.
whether John praises you or not God
will honor your motive and you will feel
richly repaid for your watchfulness and
care for your own health as the years 60 by.