Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1888-08-17
HOUSE OR HOME7
How Woman Can Make Family Life u
Real Blessing,

Real Blessing.
"Why did you bring tho m in here
Johnp-Mrs Markham of all people In
the world You know what perfect
housekceper she is. What must she
have thought of this roomp" said Mrs.
Wood to her husband, as the front
door closed on tho neighbors who had
been making an evening call.
Mr. Wood smiled in his happiest
manner as he answered.: ut was just
because it was the Markhams that /
brought them into this cosy sitting
room. wanted them to see what n
home was like. l don't care fig
whether their house is always in order
or not; know there isn't corner in
1t that compares with this room" And
with loving eyes he looked around the
CHEEKY l.ving-room in which books,
magazines, papers, games. toys and
work-basket gave evidence OF the
occupation of the inmates. II want
ed" he continued. Tom Markham to
have q good timo once in his life; for
/ don believe he's ever happy in that
great house VIII ere he never dares 10
move for fear of putting something
out of order Didn't you see how lie
enjoyed ii? knew he wanted to help
Jack with his kite; he could hardly
keep his eyes off the boy Poor Toml
to think their only boy should have
run away! l don't wonder they both
look old and worn"
Mr.. Wood sighed. and his wife has
tened 10 say: "Oh. Idldn't really care,
only l thought it would seem like
dreadful confusion to them. the chill
dren get so many things around"
but they don't run away" rejoined
che husband. "You know they seldom
wish to go out evenings. and l know
that you are q perfect home-maker,
and that's worth far more than mere
housekeeping"
Oh. that all mothers realized this! l
thought, as my mind followed the
Markhams TO their perfectly-ordered
but drcary house. unworthy the name
of home. Nowadays almost every
newspaper has household depart
ment, filled with rules and directions
concerning all kinds of work, from
dish washing to the furnishing and
care of the guest-chambeT But is
there enough said about home-mak
ingP
There Is no doubt of the Importance
of good housekeeping; no doubt, too,
that many American women have
sadly neglected their duties in this
line, and that some have been moved
to reform by the popular agitation of
the subject. But do we not know
perfect housekccpcrs'' who make
their husbands lives n burden. and
sour tho dispositions of children not
yet in their teensP
The majority of American women
are not rich; many add to their
myriad housekeeping duties the care
and training of children, with only a
general house-work" girl to help
along. Let such women attempt to
keep house in accordance with tho
strict rules laid down by the writers
on housekeeping. and who will blame
them II they never get beyond the
daily routincP
have read of woman, with hus-
band and five children, who did all
her own work. Kept her house always
in perfect order from garrct TO cellar.
never neglected her childrcn's man
ners, morals or clothes, exceled as n
cook, was always informed as TO the
contents Of newspapers. magazines
and the latest book. and was never
known to appear cross or discouraged.
There may be such women, never
saw one. Certainly they are not and
never can be numerous. For the vast
majority there is limit to time aud
strength. Some things must be neg
lected.
The question then is. which shall
suffer. the house or the homer
Surely no true woman would decide
in favor of the former And what man
does not enjoy bright, cheerful.
happy home, with wife not too tired
to show her interest in all that con-
Germs him and the children, even if
some sweeping and dusting have been
neglected, and the table lacks elabor-
ately-prepnrcl dishesP
as not tho life more than meat, and
the body than raimontP" H. c.
Rankin, IN Christian at Work.