Year: 1866

Years rolled on. More children-boys and
girls-were born to me, till numbered eight.
My husbands prospects frightened with each
addition to our household, but not sufficiently
so that could afford to trust their education
to expensive schools; and / have lived to be
thankful that such was the case. Gifted with
useful education, was well fitted to lay the
foundation for a more elaborate superstructure.
Above all things, l nrst taught my children
obedience. However much lacked Judgment
and experience in managing the ailments OF my
children, here l was at home. had been
taught to obey, aud became convinced, from
what saw in other families, that children
could as they were trained to good or left to
run wild, make or mar the happiness of every
home. Dot was docle from sheer inability 10
be otherwise; my little Edith, from natural
sweetness OF temper; but there were six Others
with every shade or temperament to control or
to guldeathree girls and three boys-besldes


Soon after the birth of the latter could
afford two servants one in the nursery and one
in the kitchen; but do not for one moment
imagine that my active eXections were at all
lessened by this apparent help-far from it.
II / requested anything to be done, had always
10 see that it was so. My little ones learned
early to obey; even babe of three months,
when held up my finger, and put on grave
look, knew that such was the language of
reproof though l spoke not. 1 early accus-
toned my infants TO go 10 strangers, and thus
relieved myself of a great deal of trouble: not
that signs OF rebellion did not sometimes appear,
bat never allowed child TO become master.
This obedience was not OF spontaneous growth,
but the result of constant though gentle drill
ing, if it may be so called. Ii child wanted
any thing not within its reach, and cried if it
was not given Immediately, it certainly never
then got 1t. and was made to understand this.
Consequently, IL soon became wise enough to
know crying was useless: This was great trouble
at first, but had been so trained, and had seen
the good effects on large family OF brothers and
sisters, aud therefore / was trm-too much so,
my husband oflen told me.


Er. 1;,nsA AnI 49,
house was necessarily small; yet there we re-
mained till my sixth child was two years old.
But, however, small it was, one room /
spared to make nursery. Consequently we
had but one sltting-room, and that open to all
visitors who chose to call on us. Occasionally
| we found this had its Inconvenience, though
| nothing to what 1t would have been If the chill
dren had been rambling over the house from
| attic 10 kitchen. The room was only back
| parlor, but it opened on to the strip of garden
| at the back. From its situation there were ro
| 'poundngs" overhead, and no sliding down
| balusters at the risk of broken heads or necks
| The garden was their own, and divided into
| little patches. one patch being appropriated to
each OF the children, excepting baby, to whom
was conceded the right to meddle with each as
became the reigning power in the house.
Two things was specially firm in-order and
neatness. "A place Tor everything, and every


thing IN its place." was conspicuously written
up in the nursery. There was a low cupboard
with shelves for books and another for TOYS, of
which there were plenty of all kinds. l never
thought money badly spent in expensive TOYS.


! remembered my own delight in them, and also
in story y-books-not sensible ones, must con.
TESS, but Mother Goose's Melodies, - Jack and
the Bean Stalk, "The House that Jack Built y
and others OF the same kind, not resplendent
with pictures in gold and ,colors, but some
rough woodcuts, that seemed sufficient to con-
yey the meaning of the story, which in more
than one instance led to attempts at copying
thus early developing the initiative faculty.
Outside In the passage were pegs for hanging
I'D clOakS and hatS-n0ch mith ito
name; and in the garden was a shed, where all
the gardening tools were deposited. | do not
mean to say that anything like continuous order
or neatness was kept, or that constant reproof
went on IN consequence of shortcomings; but
good habits were given, if they were not always
followed. frequently put away the htters
myself. saying kindly


Mamma likes to see the room tidy; let us all
help to make 1T So" Then the little feet pattered
about, and the little hands were ready to be
useful; then kiss was given to each, and such
a joyful clapping and shout at the end of our
laborl


Then mamma must sing song, or tell tale.
or play at company, or do anything else that the
little elves asked by way OF amusing them. And
herewas the great and powerful charm held over
my children, In the play hours | became one
OF themselves, so that their play did not often
become romp-though this l seldom objected
to- provided IL was not too rough. And from
the youngest 10 the Oldest endeavored to make
each independent of help. What they asked the
servants to do for them beyond the necessarv
routine OF bathing and dressing them, was asked
as favor not as service demanded, Also
each child was made assist the other az mnch
as possible, and with loving words and kindness


1t was somewhat difficult matter with
large and increasing family, to give them eco
nomcal yet relishing food. ] can at this
moment recollect my horror, when child of
boiled rice, boiled mutton and mutton broth
q dislike originating in the manner of cooking.
Tor instance, rice, which was invariably boiled
10 paste when II came TO table, and there
AS child, observed that my nurse never ate
any OF the mixture which, with potatoes and
boiled mutton-so hard that ones teeth could
not get through twas Invariably the nursery
dinner three times a week. Then there was
always diet day, when no meat was allowed
only mutton broth. | can well recollect the
greasy mess, from which / used 10 turn TO
bread and butter, and ale it with a relish, with
the stewed fruit which always made part OF the
dinner. The very name of det-bread now
conjures up the whole scene OF our diet-day
dinner.


Notwithstanding my own dislike to mutton
and rice, gave them to nv children, but cooked
in a very different manner ana we nad diet
day. too, and a very good thing II is In family
to put aside animal food for one dav out ofseven,
merely as a matter concerning health. / should
mention that very easily got my servants into
the habit though Il was not compulsory upon
them TO do SO. NY husband dined out one day
in each week, and this gave us opportunity


/ had three-quarters OF a pound of rice
washed In boiling water three times and finally
In cold water this was to take off the earthly
taste of the rice. -Four quarts of milk, which
would cost shilling, were destined for our
pudding / had two deep pie dishes each
n - -. IL a