Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-03-12
miscellaneous.
HowILearned Housekeeping

How 1 Learned Housekeeping
l am an orphan and, SO far as practical
knowledge goes, am about as ignorant
"sweet girl graduate as ever took pos
session of diploma. Fortunately fol
nv future usefulness am not an heiress,
nearly all my little fortune having been
consumed in giving me my education, and
I was very glad to accept hearty INVITA-
ton to make my home with my mothers
only sister, giving her in return the as
sistance which daughter would natural
| " offer. Aunt Bellies home is in the
country. Uncle John has farm OF two
hundred acres. and though a prosperous
man there are debts still unpaid which
compel many small economies. l have
been here SIX weeks and even in that time
have learned some things concerning
housekeeping which seemed so wonderful
to me that am sure they would help a
great many inexperienced housekeepers
One of the first duties which Auntie as
signed to me was the kerosene lamps.
She told me that much of the danger from
kerosene arose from carelessness with the
burners. AS often as once in two weeks
she told me to remove the wicks and wash
the burners thoroughly in hot soap suds
using feather and a soft brush TO re-
move all oil and dust from every part.
This insured perfect draft and prevented
the disagreeable odOr which often accom-
panies the use of kerosene. If the wlcks
seemed dirty from settings in the bottom
of the lamps. they too were washed with
soft seap. rinsed and thoroughly dried.
The oil was poured out, the lamps cleaned
and fresh oil put in. By these precau-
tons auntie's home is perfectly lighted,
and the danger is reduced to the least
possible amount Several thicknesses OF
porous paper are kept on the shelf where
the lamps stand to absorb the oil which
OoZes out. We have found no way to pre-
vent the oil from coming out.
Auntie's kitchen is a model of conven-
fence. The stove occupies the middle of
one side leaving room for a large closet
on the right where all cooking utensils
are kept. There is also supply OF salt.
sugar and spices, so that one has but to
turn around to find what one needs to sea-
son anything on the stove. On the left is
the wood box, half of which is in the
kitchen and the other halt in the wood
house so it is filled from the outside,
The sink for washing dishes is
under large south window be-
tween the closet described and china
closet, which also opens into the dining
room. One shelf of this closet is used as
buffers tray. if that is not misnomer.
The food is put there when ready for the
table, and the dishes congregate there
when sent from the table. saving many
extra trips to and from the kitchen. There
is a pump in the sink. which also saves
steps. The stove has large reservoir
provided with a faucet on the side next
the sink.
The water for drinking purposes comes
through pipes from spring on the hill
side into a covered tank. which is also
provided with faucet high enough for
pail to set under it. A second series of
pipes conveys the water away from the
house to lovely little pond few yards
away. The store room opens from the
kitchen and is supplied with meal-chests.
air-tght cans tor tea, coffee. spices and
dried fruits, which are always bought at
wholesale. Raisns and currents are
picked over washed, scalded, Ito prevent
insect ravages,) and when dry are packed
in tight cans.
There is large table for cake-making,
ETC., with marble slab for pastry. l
have not mentioned doors, but there are
plenty OF them and they are placed for
convenience rather than with regard to
symmetry. The floor of this model kitch-
en- is stained and oiled and the woodwork
painted and vanished 80 the task of keep
ing 1t clean is very slight.
Amopr Auptio'c 10 6ay;oao
her care of Goldfish struck me as worthy
of notice. She buys large fish and picks
it up ready for cooking when it comes
home. The shredded fish is put into a
paper bag and hung in a dry place, so
there is nothing to be done but cook it
when it is needed. The farm is three
miles from the nearest town which makes
it necessary to buy IN large quantities as
a trip to town is not always convenient.
Auntie is a devoted lover of nature and
she says she made everything about her
housekeeping as easy as possible in order
that she may have time every day for a
walk or a drive.
She often whisks me off at moment s
notice to visit birds nest. to watch the
sunlight filtering through the leaves, or,
better still, to drive among the lovely
hills and valleys, gathering flowers and
ferns to decorate the house. and visions OF
beauty to furnish enjoyment on dull days
| wonder if shall like the country as
well when winter comes as | do now
rd-songs, and the world, so far as one
can see, is scene of perfect loneliness. -
Good Housekeeping.