Year: 1874

Icouldn't blame Mary for getting
married. 1t is the right. thing for a
woman to do when she finds the right
man: and John, Mary's intended, is in.
dustrious, capable and henest, and the
two love each other. But what was l
to do! Mary had been with me two
years, and understood all the ways of
the household; was, in fact, second
mother to the children, and had borne
the burden of domestic toll so faithful
ly and constantly that it seemed like
breaking up housekeeping to try and
live without her. So for time after
the news first came that she was really
going away, my spirit sank within me.
But we 60 on living in spite of every
thing until our time comes to die, and
to the courageous soul, a way out of
the most distressing dilemma will sug-
gcst itself. 10 get new girl, that was
not to be thought Of at present. II
there one thing have always been
careful about it is the coinpanionship
of my children, the language they
use, the moral tone that surrounds
them; and often for months l have
done my own work rather than receive
into the family all element essentially
foreign and uncongcnial. 1t is no great
thing to do ones own work, especially
if one has good health and all the con-
yeniences Of thoroughly appointed
kitchen, but in my case how to earn the
support Of a family Of seven with the
pen and at the same time carry on all
necessary household industries was
quite serious question. Housc.kccp-
ing and writing never did and never
will go. we'll together, and how to
manage the ''irrepressible conflict be-
tween them Lecame all at once ques-
tion'of the first Importance. But as l
rcvolvcd the matter, light poured in,
hope sprang up, courage revived, and l
felt equal to anything.


Never does my gratitude to my
mother mount so high as when ''my
girl leaves me; and l reflect that
there is not any thing in all the yearly
round OF housework or sewing that she
did not teach me to do, and that do
not feel perfect mistress Of. My chill
dren have been trained in the same
school, and though they we're occupied
with their studies, we decided in the
family council that when Mary left
each one would shoulder certain por-
ton Of the work, and between us we
would do it all save the washing, which
we would hire. George, my oldest
son, understands bread making, and he
agreed to mould the bread in the morn
ing before school, and am to bake it.
James the second son, will take charge
of the fires and have the kitchen fire
hot when I come down to get breakfast,
so no time will be lost. The two little
girls can set the table, clear it away.
and wash the dishes, and the two
youngest boys will he ready to wait on
the older ones, and do all the small
chores, like bringing in coal, picking up
kindling, and the like.


There is nothing like having a con.
ycnicnt house to do work in. Mine is
all on one floor that is, all the living
rooms; the sleeping rooms arc all up
stairs, and if by the time / get the
downstairs work done am tired out
and want rest, it won't hurt the beds
to air until dinner is over. AS for the
arrangement Of the rooms down stairs,
nothing could be more felicitous; the
kitchen opens into the dining room, this
into the library and sitting room
There are ample closets and shelves in
the kitchen, a pump in the sink, an ex
ccllent stove, big work table, two
windows and door leading out on q
small piazza, so We have light in winter
ventilation in summer, and comfort all
the year round. My kitchen is not very
large; in fact it is only ten by ten.
Some women like great big kitchen
but don t, and I had mine built small
on purpose. 1t is but step from the
stove to the pantry, to the closet. to
the sink, to the pump, to the work ia.
ble, and very little time and strength
arc wasted in going from point to point
| had kitchen once that was twenty.
seven feet long and thirteen wide. The
sink and cellar door were at one end
the china closet at the other, and the
stove in the middle. The pump was in
the yard three steps down and twenty
away. The meal and the flour had to
be kept in the room over the Kitchen
My girl left me all Of a sudden. as girls
will, with two boarders, baby and
three children to do the work for, and
| did think that kitchen would kill me,
In memory Of that, had my present
kitchen so contrived that in case ! was
left without help the desertion would
not be overwhelming, and it isn't. NV
dining-room, too, is model of conven.
ience. The pantry has door opening
into it, and it is but step from the
china closet to thc dining-table, and an.
other to the kitchen.


BY the time Mary was married our
housekeeping campaign was planned
and settled upon in every particular.
Nothing remained but to carry it out
and between you and me, reader, that
was no inconsiderable part of the labor,
Brain work is all very we'll in its way,
but it takes little muscle along with
1T to make matters go smoothly,
Hitherto | had sat up late at night to
write or read, l could lie in bed till
breakfast was ready without any com.
punction-farcwell to sweet morning
maps now. I must be up betimes, and
as Jimmy, who had charge of the fires,
was hard student, and hard sleeper
too, l had to wake him up myself,
which he relishcd as little as did. But
while he was getting the fire hot had
time to dress the children and comb
my hair for the day. managed when
getting our five o'clock dinner to make
provision for the breakfast. to have
potatoes to warm over, hash prepared
over night, or some other dish ready
that could be placed on the table quick
ly. Of course, We give up batter cakes,
except as luxury on Saturday, when
one Of the older hovs conld frv +ho,n