The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-11-25
SYSTEM IN WORK,
A Case Which Should Teach Ambitious
HOusekeepers a Wholesome Lesson.

A Case Which Should Teach Ambitious
HOusekeepers a Wholesome Lesson.
A great many women wear them
selves out in the endeavor Ito COM
press quart within the limits of a
pint measure" And these very
women are those who consider them
selves methodical. They plan GER
tain amount of work for each week,
which they might perhaps perform
were heavenly order the rule. of this
world of disturbances. They are apt
TO forget that illness, or unexpected
visitors, or the sudden resolve of the
maid OF all work to leave, may inter-
vene and spoil their best-laid plans. A
safer method is to lay out for each day
only SO much special work, in addition
to the ordinary routine duties, as will
require at most from three to four
hours for its accomplishment. Thus it
viii be possible TO DO the task. and
there VIII be time for the faVorite book,
the new music and the pleasant visits.
If too much is planned nothing will be
performed, and the sense OF things
incomplete will wear upon the soul
and darken the spirit. A case in point:
A conscientious hoUsekeepcr had
planned to put up her pickles and pre-
serves and TO arrange the garments
for autumn use within given time,
forgetting that she had but one
pair Of hands and that illness was
not an unknown quantity. With
wise % forethought the fruit and vege-
tables were ordered to be delivered at
2 certain date. and preparations for
weeks preserving were begun. So
much was to be done each day. the
performance ofwhich required constant
work from morn till dewy eve, without
allowance for an hours rest. at IS
always orderly, you know, to have
every thing gotten out of the way as
rapidly as possible was her remark.
''True,' replied friend less ambitious
to be known as model housekeeper,
''but you have only one servant, and
you are not a MACHINE, and should
some illness superveae, all your prepa-
rations would be spoiled" "'Oh! we
are not sickly persons and my children
never require doctor" was the re-
ioinder. Matters went on swimm;ngly
for two days; the tomatoes were
chopped, cucumbers in brine, cabbages
waiting for preparation. peaches, pears
and plums in the cool cellar ready for
manipulation. On the third afternoon
one OF the children came home from
school complaining of headache and
was told to lie dOwn and rest. By
supper time the child had a burning
fever; but as he was a sturdy fellow, |
some simple remedy was given, and he |
was put TO bed. The tired mother, who |
had spent the day in compounding cat
sup, was awakened toward dawn by "a
fearful cough, and, going to her boys |
room. found him almost suffOcated in |
his attempts to free himself from the |
oppression upon his chest. A physi- |
clan was summoned, who pro-
nounced the case one of acute pneu-
monia, and the means necessary for
It's relief were such that required |
the mothers undivided attention.
Here was a dilemma The unexpected |
had happened, as usual, and all the
well-laid plans had gone agley. The
ambitious woman was, however, quite |
sure she could accomplish her picking
and attend to her Ill child also. Leav- |
ing a younger child with the patient,
with iniunctions that she was to be
called if needed, the mother rushed to
the kitchen to put on the preserving
kettle with the sugar weighed the
evening before At the critical mo-
ment Of the boiling of the sugar ring
from the bed room summoned her.
Forgetting every thing in her anxiety
TO relieve her suffering boy, she was
not little astonished on her return to
find that the sugar was candy, and the
peaches were brown from their long
standing after they had been peeled.
The situation was plain; she could not
leave her child, and the cherished plans
for winter dainties must be overthrown.
Bidding her neighbors to take such
things as they could use, the various
supplies were speedily removed and
the indefatigable woman began to think
of the clothes. The woolens were
taken out of the camphor and work
was begun But like the preserving,
it had to be given up. Her faithful
nurse could not also take seamstress'
place. There was only time and
strength to care for the little sufferer.
Four weary weeks passed before the
child could be brought down stairs.
and the mother, then exhausted, needed
g week of quiet repose to regain some
of the life given in the care of the
patient. The lesson was not lost, and
the preserving and picking are now
done ''in detachments, and there is
no hurry, no exhaustion, and, best of
all, no fretting over the non-accom-
plishment of work beyond the capability
of the ambitious plan-maker.-M Y.
Commercial AdUertiSer.