Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-09-23
Gales aud Sketfhes.
How Ilnsthsn and I went to Aoasekeep'
Ing.
A VOICE FROM A COTTAGE KITCHEN.

evening, 6S We u6u uOuC SNOtC5 VI IWCs
before. to talk the matter over. We had
always planned to keep house in that in
definite future period known as "some.
time" but now it really seemed as if the
time had come for rs to make our fitting
and gather the sticks and straws for oul
own nest. We had gradually come to feel
that we had outgrown that one room, large
though it was. While we were only two
or even while Laddie only crawled about
the floor. we had gone on very well. bu
now that his sturdy legs began to make
excursions wherever his rowing fancy lee
him. ! saw it would be much better to live
down stairs. and have yard where
could shut him up. and let him make muc
pies and build railroads, to his heart:
content
The question was, could we afford it
Our income was fixed fact true, it might
increase, but 1t would not do to count on
any more than what we had, and We mus
torn all our plans on that basis. Bu
there are more families who live on fifty
dollars q month than who have a larger
income. and wages decrease from thi.
standard all the way down TO ninety cents
day, with which sum people are expected
to pay house rent, purchase food and fuel
and keep out of the poorhouse, and they
do it, too
Hannah" said Elnathan, 1--WE shall
have to be very economical"
II know it," said I, solemnly, for had
been counting the cost. and pricing things
tor the last three weeks, and had grown
a little dlsheariened. as | had gradually
striker off article after article from my
list of would likes" until nothing was
lett but the indispensable must HAYES,
aud the cost of these doomed up formida-
bly, as saw how little we had to purchase
with, and how many things we needed for
the most modest housekeeping.
The first consideration was the house
itself, a low, white cottage thar would
have looked better for fresh coat of paint,
and containing four tiny rooms on the
ground floor, and two above. 1t would be
cheap, and contain no tenants but our
selves. 1t was one of several belonging
to that intangible body known as ''the
corporation" and nobody knew when an
other would fall vacant, so we thought
best to secure it while we could. We
walked up to it and looked about us. II
was plain that the little square parlol
must remain shut up for the present, as
we had nothing in the world to put into it.
The kitchen was the largest room, being
long for its width. and we decided that
one end of it must also serve for dining
room. 1t was, fortunately, very pleas.
ant room, with a good iron sink. running
water. and two shelved closets. The ad
joining shed. being partially floored,
would answer for wash room in warm
Waafhar Tho tipu ctttip had al
a large, shelved, closet, and the bed room
had square clothes press of ample size.
Elnathan measured the rooms and found,
to our delight that the carpet which COW
cred the large room we now occupied
would cover both the sitting room and
bed room. 1t had been an expensive pur-
chase at first, for ingram of he best quail.
ity cost then nearly as much as body brus-
sells does to day. We had the usual
"chamber set and decided to purchase
nothing more until the kitchen was fur.
nished.
Then we walked soberly down town to
make our purchases. trying to appear like
stald old housekeepers who were merely
going to re-furnish little. but | don't
believe we deceived anybody; no doubt
our inexperience shone out in our faces
The FIRST thing was stove We were
obliged 10 buy much smaller and cheap
err article than we should have liked, but
it was The best our means would allow.
at will probably answer your purpose for
couple of years." said the dealer, look
ing me over as If he hadn't much faith in
my ability to manage cooking stove, and
in my secret heart hadn't either. That
Stnyp did fn
years.
The usual assortment of ironware which
the dealer glibly ran over, duly discussed,
Elnathan stood by in dazed sort of wav,
while | selected dishpan. breadpan. chop
tray and knife, tubs, line and pins for
washing. and few other absolutely neces-
sary articles. ranging from mixing spoon
to smoothing irons, without which the
humblest kitchen cannot be carried on.
dared not look at anything but indispen-
sables, much as | wanted some of the
handy little contrivances so freely dis
played, each one costing so little. but the
sum total swelling far beyond our modest
purse.
/ That bill paid. we made our next visit
to a crockerv store. making little, low
voiced calculations on the way. We could
compass nothing but stone china of the
plainest and whitest. At that time there
were none of the pretty. decorated sets
which can how be purchased for much
less than we paid for our ugly white ware
but ugly though it was. it was strong and
! serviceable. and we were verv glad to get
it.
Then came the dining table, which we
had decided should be good extension
For" said Elnathan. there are some
things we cannot afford TO buy cheap
This. and four black walnut. cane bot
toned chairs. completed our purchases
We had spent less than hundred dollar.
and considered ourselves ready to order
provisions and commence housekeeping
We put down the carpet and put up the
curtains. two yards of bleached cotton do
ing duty at each window They were mo-
as artistic as the flowing white muslin
draperies popularity supposed to adorr
cottage windows. but neither did the,
catch as much dust or require as muci
clear starching and ironing. to sayno,hing
of the difference in price. The greer
outer blinds had to do the rest, and where
these were missing at the two west kitchen
windows. Elnathan planted some hopvine:
which soon made pleasant green dra
perry. The stand belonging to the bed
room turniture did duty in the Sittioc