The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1890-11-06
FARM. GARDEN AND
HOUSEHOLD.
Weary M others

am convinced that there are times in
eyerybody'a experience when there is 80
much to be done, that the only way to do
it is to sit down, and do nothing. This
sounds paradoxjcal, but il is not,
For instance there is the overtasked
mother of a family, In moderate circum-
stances, who must he brain, bands,
stomach snd feet for dozen lite chill
dreu, and theiI father, who counts full
another dozen. DO the best she may,
plan the wiscst she may, her work &C
cumulates fearfully ON her hands. one
days labor laps over on the next. till she
cannot sleep at night for fear she shall
oversleep in the morning And though
she works ard all day and gives herse
no relaxation, she cannot see any result
at the close, save that "she hath done
what she could
OF course you say, Let her be salts
fed with that, and not worry about it. 10
That Is only another proof how easy it *
for some people to bear the trouble Of
other people. Suppose her nervous sys-
TEN has been strained to the utmost, so
that every step is WEAKNESS and every
fresh and unexpected demand sets her
'all of trcmbe," as women express IT,,
what is the use of reasoning then about
not working1 The more she can't work
the more she will try it, TIL she drops in
her tracks.
Now, there are self-sacrilcing mothers
who need somebody to say to them
STOP! You have just to make your
choice now between death and life. You
have expended all the strength you have
on hand, and must lay in new stock be-
fore any work can be done by you. So
don't go near your kitchen. Get right In
to bed and lie there, just as a man would
do If he didn't feel one quarter as bad as
you dos and my word for it, the world
will keep going around just the same as
If you were spinning, spasmodic test
otum, a. hens do, long after their heads
have been cut off, Yes, just lie there till
you get rested; and they all find out, by
picking up the burdens you have dropped,
what load you have been uncomplain
ingly shouldering. Yes, just lie there
and tell them to bring you something nice
to eat and drink; and forbid, under dread
full penalties, anybody asking you what
the family are to have for dinner. Let
them eat what they like, so that they
don't trouble you, aud season 1t to their
taste; and here's hoping 1t will do them
good"
And now, having located you comfor
tnbly under the quilt, out of harms way,
let me tell you That II yin think r-.e'e ..c
doing God service. or anybody else, ~
using up years strength in a week. you
have made sinful mistake. | don't care
anything about the basket of unmended
stockings, or any nursery nightmare
which haunts the dreams of these "Mar-
tha' mothers.
You have but one life to live; that is
plain. And when you are dead, all the
kings men can't make you stand on your
feet again; that's plain. There, then
don't be dead. In the first place, go out
part of each da, rain or shine, for the
fresh air, and don't tell me you can't; at
least, noi while you can stop to embrolder
your children's clothes. As to 'dressng
t, go OUT don't dress. If you are clean
and whole, that's enough. Have boots
with elastic at the side, instead of those
that take so long to ''lace up;' in short,
simplify your dressing, and then stop
every wheel in the house, If necessary, in
order to go out, hut go. Fifteen minutes
Is better than nothing. If you cannot get
out in the daytime, run out In the even
ing and IF your husband cannot see the
necessity of it, perhaps he will on reflec
ton after you have gone out. The moral
Of all this is that if nobody else will take
care of you, you must just take care your
self-NeU York Ledger.