The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-06-03
A Bit of Experience.

Mr.. Editor My father was farmer,
and for me life on farm has many at
fractions; but never learned to do the
work. My mother intended her girls
should become good housewives but,
like many others, she could not think
her girls, so lately her babies, were any
where near the marrying age-and so
they went to school and she did the
work. When the first young man {" hav-
ing serious intentions came among
her flock she was surprised, and could
only say "wait -; but Cupid seldom
takes advice, and so two " babes in the
wood - were married and went to keep
ing house. The store-room was well
filed, and cook-books, big and little,
adorned the parlor table; and these two
"babes " had not a suspicion that house
keeping was anything more than doing
work by sure and easy rules. My first
attempts were quite success, so long
as / was in the alphabet period, but
when the time came that | must rely on
my own judgment, found it wanting.
/ had neighbor-a maiden lady and a
notable housekeeper-to whom | often
went in an emergency, and she helped
me over some rough places; but she did
not approve of "young things getting
married, and l did not like the smile
she wore at such times. 1t seemed to
say, " You are young, very young, and /
wish you might find it out" / remem-
Der distinctly my first attempt at churn-
ing. We added COW to our possessions
I almost said to our family, so great
was our regard for her-and had glow
ing visions of cream and golden butter
| even thought of little spending
money, should we have butter to SELL
When l had cream enough / wanted to
churn it, but took the opportunity when
the other babe " was away, not feel
ing quite sure of success. The churn
was crank affair, and poured in the
cream and began to turn. / turned
and turned-and how my arm ached!-
peeping inside every two minutes; but
no butter was to be seen. AT last, I'm
sheer desperation, l ran across the yard
to my neighbor with the smile, and
asked abruptly what she did when she
churned and the butter did not " come. "
That smile was more aggravating than
ever as she answered, briefly, L" Keep
churning." That was a drop too much
and / went back in tears, resolved to
overcome my difficulties by practice,
asking no more advice of her. | have
found the reading of good practical az
ticles to be help, and have kept a
scrap-book in which to paste recipes,
and information of all kinds cut from
papers and books--and now, after years
of trying, have come to have the knowl-
edge | needed at the start. Had / been
taught to do housework from child, /
might have saved much worry and
doubt, to say nothing of needless steps
and some money. My experience has
taught me one thing-that no rules OF
instruction can take the place of actual
practice. Materials for cooking vary
in quality, and always must, and sue
cess in many things must depend on the
judgment and practical knowledge of
the housekeeper. So long as people
must eat and the family is an institu-
ton, women must do housework. And
happy is she who does it willingly and
well, not regarding it as drudgery, but
as a high calling, and giving it of hei
best in thought and ability. A. NJ. S.