Value of System in H ousel lold Work 



113 



not be without its use, even to the young 

 housewife, for such an education is fitted to 

 develop and strengthen all the qualities she 

 requires — industry, perseverance, patience, 

 and self-control. Armed with these, which 

 we may term the tools for her future work, 

 she cannot fail to acquit herself with credit. 

 Although at first ignorant of household 

 details, if she apply to these the same patient 

 industiy which she exercised in the study 

 of history or science, the effect ^vill soon 

 be evident. In a very short time she will 

 attain to a clear comprehension of her posi- 

 tion, and experience will increase the useful- 

 ness and grace with which she fills it. By 

 reading she can supply the lack of experience ; 

 but unhappily books suited to guide the 

 young housewife are rare, at least compared 

 with the flood of publications on almost every 

 other subject. A French author says — " It is 

 to be -wished that a book were written in every 

 country for the use of our housewives, quite a 

 small book on kitchen economy, simple, 

 clear, and easily understood." He adds, 

 " when this book is wanted it will be written." 

 That it is needed we are sure, and trusting that 

 it is wanted we propose to carry out the plan. 

 Short and simple we intend the work to be, 

 but yet so comprehensive, that it may em- 

 brace everything connected with the house- 

 wife's duties, with special reference to the 

 fan-n and to the cottage ; and introductory 

 to the details hereafter to be given, we would 

 offer to the young housewife a few general 

 and scattered hints, to aid and encourage her 

 in her untried career. 



And, in the first place, we hesitate not to 

 say yours is an important sphere — a noble 

 work. Begin it, then, with cheerfulness, and 

 continue it with hope. At first your duties 

 are much lighter than they are likely to be 

 in after years, you may even think too trivial 

 to occupy your attention, that attention which 

 you have been accustomed to give to what 

 you consider more important objects. This 

 is a great mistake. Your former studies should 

 have been pursued with a view to fit you for 



and arranging once expended on lessons and 

 studies must now be brought into play in your 

 household arrangements, for be assured, that 

 without systematic attention, your household, 

 however small, will soon falltinto disorder. 

 I say systematic, because system — method, if 

 you will — is the foundation of all domestic 

 prosperity. AVhere that is wanting, confusion 

 and misery must ensue. In the works of the 

 Almighty we see order reign ; safely, then, 

 may we follow this high example. And we 

 are assured that the housewife whose plans 

 are formed wisely, and carried out persever- 

 ingly, though possessed but of moderate 

 abilities, will be far inore successful than one 

 endowed with far superior talents, if she is at 

 the same time destitute of this high qualifica- 

 tion, and suffers herself to be guided by 

 circumstances, or inclination, or caprice. At 

 the outset of your career, then, consider the 

 circumstances in which you are placed, the 

 duties that devolve \ upon you, and, after 

 mature deliberation, form your plans. This 

 done, pursue them resolutely, and be no 

 lightly moved from them ; at the same time, 

 when circumstances demand their temporary 

 relinquishment or modification, consider the 

 claim, and, if needful, yield to it ; not to do 

 so would, in many cases, be fooHsh, perhaps 

 wicked. And, in planning out work for a 

 specific time, see that you lay no more on 

 yourself or your dependants than you can 

 accomplish. The neglect of this will destroy 

 the working of the best system ever formed. 

 If a thing cannot be done, this being included 

 in your plan will not make it possible ; it 

 must therefore be left undone. Numerous 

 other things may share the same fate \ thus 

 the work of one hour will be continually 

 treading on the heels of another (so to speak) 

 and so order will speedily degenerate into 

 confusion. 



The thoughtful and considerate mistress 

 portions out to her domestics the work for 

 which she knows their strength and abilities 

 to be equal, and leaves them undisturbed to 

 carry out her wishes. Perhaps she has 



this ; your proper sphere of labour, and all daughters who are naturally anxious to take 

 the qualities then developed are now to be their share in household matters. If they are 

 brought into exercise. The power of planning allowed to do so, the probability is, they will 



