The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1891-07-01
. FOR MUTUAL BENEFIT.

FOR MUTUAL BENEFIT.
A Reading-Room Plan That Was
a Great Success.
ssOh dear.w exclaimed Mrs. Perkins,
dropping down into chair, after
finishing her weeks ironing; Il do
wish had little time to read! Not
that I complain, but it does seem as If
swoman's work was never done"
Her cousin Gertrude looked up from
the block house which she was building
for the amusement Of eighteen-months-
old baby May, and two sympathetic
lines showed themselves between her
brows.
ssPoor Mamie. You do have busy
Rf-an6 you are only two years older
than 1! But if were you, should not
iron those everyday sheets and pillow
cases and towels so conscientiously;
and shouldn't wear so many white
skirts, nor dress the baby in white
every day."
ooh! yes you would" sighed Mrs.
Mamie. 81 used to think just those
thoughts. I knew before we were
married that Harry's salary would not
be large enough for US to keep house
maid, and I thought our housekeeping
would be sort of play affair. l did
make SO many good resolutions about
letting things go, and furnishing our
house simply and dressing simply, but
oh dear. There is just about so much
to do, no matter whether You think you
wiz get along easily or not. Monday
is washing day; Tuesday, ironing;
Wednesday, baking; Thursday, sweep
ing; Friday, mending and sewing, and
Saturday, baking again.
ssYes, Nannie," hesitated Gertrude,
but then she went bravely on. in
the first place, your washing is larger
than It need be-hush! you must listen
1t is. Your starched clothes and the
baby's. May would be just as sweet if
she.were dressed in colored ginghams,
and she would have great deal better
time, and be healthier, too. l don't
wonder that you do not want her tc
DIZZY III S4lS V4iS " y W. ~AAS -1NN
so that is reform No. II
Mrs. Mamie looked as if she wanted
to be convinced Of this, but that it
would take too much heroism and in
dependence, SO long as Mrs. Fuller, op-
-sasi5e, and Mrs. Lamson. next door, al
ways kept their little ones so daintily
dressed. But Gertrude kept on:
$50, if your washings were smaller,
your ronings would be so much easier,
too. Harry ought to have his linen
sent to the laundry. It is enough to
bseak your back to bend over that table
so long. Then comes Wednesdays
work. You cook too much-yes you
do, NannieI IS, you could set a
simpler table. You have too aany
pies and cookies and doughnuts- You
know it takes an awfully long time to
roll out all those things; and there are
somany desserts that are more whole
come and easier made-cold puddings,
jelhes with cream, custards, and you
always have fruit in the summer. Why,
my dear girl, you are just spelling your
complexion by staying in the house so
much, ana standing over that hot
"But have to, really" interrupted
Mrs,,Nan-
ssNo, you must listen. I have saved
you at least two hours each day, and
now comes Thursday. Mamie, you
know that you sweep when it is not
necessary. And when you furnished
your house you ought to have used more
straw mating. But then, I: suppose it
did not seem handsome enough; yet If
you would only wait for little dirt to
show itself! Oh, have been so exas-
perated to see you sweep, sweep, sreep;
; and now am going to say all want
to, having begun SO fuently," she
laughed little, but continued earnest
", 1T always gives you nervous head
ache after sweeping, for you are not
content with stirring up one room, but
you go through all the rooms that you
,use:n
ssBut Aunt Martha looked as if she
thought I was very shiftless house
keeper"
s s'0h, Aunt Martha! yes, she is one of
that kind Of women who polish their
stoves until you can see your face IN it.
T don't believe in the old-fashioned way
of housekeeping, neither do you, but
YOU haven't quite the moral courage to
defy gossip. And your sewing, Mamie.
Again, you dress the baby as if it were a
little princess, and it is not in good taste.
Children ought to wear very simple
frocks instead of tucks and aounces and
insertions. And your own gowns might
be.made with fewer stitches; and instead
Of hemming your sheets and pillow
cases by hand, you might use your ma
chine"
ssoh, not" protested Mrs. Mamie, in
dismay.
'sWell, if you keep on this way, by
the time you are ten years older and
you ought to be young, fresh, healthy
woman at thirty-fve, instead Of which
you will be thin and tired and sallow,
with a chronic head and backache, al
ways staying in the house, unable to
walk or enjoy any thing out of doors'
never reading, but engrossed and wor-
Hed for fear you are not as good a
housekeeper as Mrs. Winslow; your
horizon bounded by a dishcloth, a
broom and needle! Oh, Mamie! you
are too good and sweet and clever to
become mere machinen'
Tiers w&a little silence; then Mrs.
Mamie spoken and her voice was little
husky, yet there-~as new ring IN
it, as if she would r0oS beyond her
world that was growing so marrow.
.sWhat would you have me do?>Shere
is no library in town-thls IS ONYX a
little New England village-and don't
believe there are women enough here
Who wonld take interest enough to
form magazine club"
.ssHaye YOU ever tried?" asked Ger
t-ude-
"No-7 Mrs. Mamie hesitated-
s<WeN have plan. At the END OF