The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1893-02-08
Woman's Work Is Never Done.

couplet. / don't believe it. There was
time, however, when believed every
word of it. In common with many 9TH
ers of my sex | thought that the work
of the household WAS one amending
round of toll. 1t worritd me aid l
worried over the situation until | al.
most wished that | might find rest in
the grave. To think that this world
should be world of drudgery was more
than | could stand. l made up my
mind that would see for myself
whether there could not be some mo-
ments of sweet surcease from toll, some
moments which ! could call my own
for pleasure and for rest which were
not spent in sleep.
Studying the situation over carefully,
found that the only way to "get
through was to plan my work and get
down to system. By the aid of a
paper and pencil listed the duties
which must be confronted every day.
| allowed so much Time for each duty.
Giving myself ample time for every
thing That had to be doue l found that
the work could be accomplished in a
certain numbtr Of hours each day.
Going over the list carefuly,I found
there were a few things that could be
Topped off without materially affecting
the completion of the work. This may
seem like trying to slight my duties,
but Go not consider it so. / know
that l was doing many superfuous
things merely because l was in the
habit of d ing them. For example, |
changed my children's dresses every
day because l wanted them TO look
neat and tidy. l found that by watch
ing little / could have the children
keep their clothes neat and clean for
several days without much trouble.
This not only made my work much
Ii liter but taught the little ones habits
of nealness that were worth q great
deal 10 them in after years. The same
things was true in regard 10 keeping the
| floors neat and clean. One or two
sweepings week kept the carpets
cleaner than they had been when every
one was allowed 10 come into the house
with muddy shoes and the broom used
once or twice every day. After study
ing the matter over for some time, /
found no trouble in making oat com
plete programme for my daily duties.
BY scrutiniziug this programme l i'm
proved it, and it was not long until l
found that the tiresome, ceaseless toll
which had made life burden began to
be pleasure and / had some time for
reading, visiting and enjoying myself
as thought best.
Housekeeping is one of the fine arts
If done in the light way. 1t is the fin
est art that is open to woman to-day if
done with an artistic hand directed with
brains. The hight st ambition of any
girl should be to become the noble wife
OF good man. She can do this only
by being good housekeeper. That
man is to be piled who marries a
woman who knows how to paint, or
play the piano, or do fine needle work,
or any hing else that is considered an
accomplishment mt and yet knows nothing
about houseke eping. Many house.
holds are made hideous by the pound
ing of piano when the bread which
goes upon the table three times a day
is not fit for the pigs to eat. would
be the last one in the world to dscour-
age the giIls from becoming proficient
in art or music or anything else that
goes to make this life better, but to at
tain all these accomplishment and neg
lect the more important work that is
placed in the hands Of woman to do is
the greatest mistake that any one can
make. | say, and / know what l am
talking about, that the duties of any
housewife under ordinary circumstanc, 8
can be done in good time and on
good time and the "geod woman" find
time TO improve herself and devote a
part OF the precious twenty four hours
of each day to the social culture of those
around her. The way 10 do it is to sys-
lemat re. Study your work and the
way TO do it. Have time for certain
work and do it in that time. Econo-
mize on your time and learn to do
things the best and quickest way. Be
satisfied with fair days work and let
each day take care Of itself. Save steps
and strength wherever and whenever
you can. DO not cross the rivers be-
lore you come to them. Work to save
work as well as TO do it, and, my word
for it, you will get through with your
daily tasks as well as the men do and
you will live longer and better for hav.
inc d0na an unf Ao,,i a., gtocL.aos