The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1891-03-06
FOR MUTUAL BENEFIT.
A Reading-ROOm Plan That Was
a Great Success

s'Oh dear!' exclaimed Mrs Perkins,
dropping down into a chair, after
finishing her weeks ironing; II do
wish ! had a little time 10 read Not
that 7 complain, but it does seem Us il
'wCluan'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
Poor Mamie! You do have a busy
life-and you are only two years older
than /! But if were you, should not
iron those everyday sheets and pillow
cases and towels SO conscientiously;
and l shouldn't wear so many white
skirts, nor dress the baby in white
every day"
oh! yes You would" sighed Mrs
Mamie. Il used to think just those
thoughts. | knew before we We're
married that Ilarry's salary would not
be large enough for Us to keep n house
maid. and thought our housekeeping
would be sort Of play affair. / did
make 50 many good resolutions about
letting things 90, and furnishing our
house simply and dressing simply, but
ON dear! There i just about So much
10 do, no matter whether you think you
win get along easily or not Monday
IS washing day; Tuesday, ironing;
Wednesday, baking; Thursday, sweep
ing: Friday. mcnding and sewing, and
saturday, baking again
Yes, Mamie" hcsitated Gertrude,
but then she went uravCIy on. in
the first place, your washing is larger
than il need be-hush. you must listen
it Is. Your starched clothes snd the
balys. May would be just "a sweet II
she were dressed in colored ginghams
and she would have a great deal better
time, and be healthier, too. l don't
wonder that you do not want her to
play in the sand, the way you dress her
so that IS reform No. -
Mrs. Mamie looked a=s II she wanted
to be convinced Of this, but that it
would take too much hcroism and in
dependence, so long as Mrs Fuller, op-
posite, and Mrs Lamson. next door. al
ways kept their little ones so daintily
dressed. But Gertrude kept on:
$50. IL your washings were smaller
your ironings would be so much easier
too. Harry ought to have his linen
sent to the laundry. It is enough TO
y
so long. Then comes Wednesdays
work. You cook too much--yes you
do. Nannie!-that Ia, you could set u
simpler table. You have too many
pies and cookies and doughnuts- You
know it takes an awfully long time to
roll out all those things; and there are
so many desserts that are more whole
some and easier made-cold puddings,
jcllies 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, and standing over that hot
stove.''
But have to, really" interrupted
Mrs. Nan
NO, 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, suppose 1t
did not seem handsome enough; vet if
you would only wait for little dirt To
show itself! Oh, have been so exas-
pcrated to see you sweep. sweep. s4reeD:
and now | am going To say all want
to, having begun so fuently," she
laughed little, but continued earnest
ly, lit always gives you a 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"
But Aunt Martha looked as if she
thought l was a very shiftless house
keeper"
''Oh, AuHs Nart4dl yes, she is one of
that kind of women who polish their
stoves until You can see your face in it.
l 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, Sanniel
Again, you dress the baby as If it We're a
little princess, and it is not in good taste.
Children ought to wear very simple
frocks instead of tucl1s and flounces and
Insertions And your own gowns might
be'made with fswer stitches; and instead
Of hemming your sheets and pillow
cases by hand, you might use your ma
chine"
''Oh, no" protested Mrs. Mamie, in
lismay.
We'll, il You keep on this way, by
he time yon are ten years older, and
rou ought TO be a young, fresh, healthy
woman at thirty-five, instead of which
-ou viii 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;
leTer reading, but engrossed and wof- |
led for fear you are not as good a /
iousekeeper as Mrs. Winslov: Your /
iorizOp bounded by q dishcIoth. |