The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-17

purse. Also the woman who lives on farm
all the year around. who with the aid of tre
others of the family does her own work AID
is independent of employees. who relies
habitually on the products of the garden
and dairy and poultry yard, probably finds
summer an easier time than the winter.
But the housekeeper who must watch ex-
penses closely, to whom the addition of a
few dollars to her weekly bills means worry
and distress, has hard time to get alonS
In the summer. She has to plan closely to
Keep within her allowance and besides
this she must meet the countless small
exigencies. such as those to which have
already referred. of marketing difficulties.
or shortage OF supplies, or failure on the
part of her purveyors OF provisions. of un-
satisfactory domestic service, of insufficient
water, of inconsiderate visitors have
passed over unnoticed the plague of flies.
the pest of mosquitoes, the struggle to keep
both out of house that is open as much as
IL Is closed. and the fact that IL any guest
or member of the household is kept awake
by heat or noise or mosquitoes or anything
else and comes down to breakfast unre-
freshed the housekeeper. for some mys-
terious reason, always feels herself direct-
ly responsible for the discomfort.
y =
Burden on the Householder.
Yet, after all, the summer comes and the
family goes to the country. and the house
keeper who has been in harness all winter.
who has worked herself weary cleaning
house and making ready for the fitting
from town, must set her country house in
order and take up the heavier burden of
summer home making. II she had the
chance to give 1t up she would probably de-
cline. John and the children love 1t, and
1t does them so much good!' she would
say, and put her veto on any project of rest
for herself that would rob them of their
special share in the good old summer
time.'
What is to be done about 1t? Only two
suggestions present themselves to me-one
for the housekeeper and one for the oth-
ers-the family and the visitors. First. for
the housekeeper: elf you are she. try to
cultivate philosophy and not to take life
too hard. After ALL worry doubles the
trouble, and If you can make joke con-
tretemps the sting goes from them. Bring
your religion to your help, and see In your
annoyance chance for development in pa
tience, and recollect that no effort you can
put forth for your family will mean half so
much to them as your cheer and good tenn
per. Even If you boil inside. try to main
tain a calm appearance, and by and by the
boiling will settle to simmer. and this in
time cease to bubble and seethe and trou-
BILE and be at rest.
We who are the family have our share in
making matters light, in refraining from
complaints, in trying to save steps and
stumbles in leaving unsaid the words
that irritate or wound. II we are possible
guests. 1t lies with us to spare the hostess
the Inconvenience of delayed replies to in
vtations. to come at the time we are asked
and to go before she is tired of us, not to
arrive unannounced. to show in every pos
sible way that the visit is giving us genuine
pleasure. and that when we conclude it we
leave debtors to the hospitality which has
made our pleasure possible.