356 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



July 



qnart of flour, one teaspoonful of soda two of 

 cream tartar, a little salt ; mix with water or milk, 

 just which you have the most of, and into the 

 dough stir the rhubarb as you would plums into 

 cake ; steam one hour and a half. Eat hot with 

 sweet sauce. A pint boAVl full of cut rhubarb is 

 enough for a quart of flour. 



Mrs. S.B. Sawyer. 



For the New England Farmer. 

 DODSra WITHOUT "HELP." 



I have no need to infonn you that writing for 

 papers is not my forte, but there is one subject 

 that is of importance to housekeepers, and it is with 

 them I wish to have a little discourse, and 1 know 

 of no more ready mode of communication than 

 through the columns of our favorite paper, the 

 New England Farmer. 



For the past quarter of a century there has ex- 

 isted a growing evil, until it has become one of the 

 most annoying trials incident to housekeeping. I 

 speak of ohtaming and retaining good help. Since 

 the custom has become so general of delegating to 

 others the power and oft times the right of the 

 kitchen, we have been subjected to much inconve- 

 nience in procuring trusty , faithful persons, who 

 were reliable. If, peradvcnture, an acceptable one 

 is found, it is at an exorbitant price for wages, 

 so that with breakage, waste and losses, the ex- 

 pense is not much short of from seven to eight dol- 

 lars each week. Now, sir, to obviate, as far as 

 possible, this difficulty, and at the same time to 

 preserve the placid tempers of our husbands, a 

 few families are trying an experiment of running 

 our own train (so to speak). Three families of us 

 have dismissed our Kathainnes and Marys, and 

 have rolled up our sleeves and we make things 

 hum again, — and it is a wonder to ourselves how 

 admirablj' we succeed. Our little fancied troubles 

 recede as we approach them, and often do we 

 break out in a hearty laugh at our success. And 

 then, too, our health is much improved, and al- 

 though at times a little fatigued, yet the necessary 

 exercise has repainted our sallow cheeks (so they 

 say), and entiui is banished from our midst. And 

 more than all, the approving smile of our husbands 



well pays us, for trying to do without help. We 

 have made arrangements with a faithful person to 

 come occasionally to wash, iron and clean house, 

 but aside from that we attend to the wants of our 

 families. It is now over a twelve-month and I 

 pronounce it a success. We feel competent to 

 judge, as the four seasons have passed with their 

 sequent labors, and the abatement of the tax on our 

 nerves and purse renders it an experiment -worthy 

 the trial. 



I venture to say, if any of our lady friends could 

 be induced to do their own work six months, they 

 would hai"dly be persuaded to have so annoying 

 and expensive an appendage in the house as what 

 is called help. Fannie. 



Elmtoood District, Middlesex Co., Mass. 



P. S. It was not my intention to have added a 

 postscript to this note, but woman-like I have a 

 last word, which is that much depends on the co- 

 operation of the family to have the experiment 

 succeed. If any other of your readers have made 

 the trial I wish they would relate their experience 

 for the benefit and encouragement of others, f. 



Remarks. — Bravo! Our fau* correspondent is 

 entitled to a hearing, for she practices what she 

 preaches. She has found the secret of independence 

 in her household matters, and so long as health is 

 spared her and her household cares are not rnulti- 

 j plied beyond a reasonable extent, need have no 

 ' reason to repent her "strike" against incompeten- 

 cy and wastefulness on the part of her "help." 

 Of course there is a limit to her ability, and of 

 j course there is something to be said in favor of 

 1 "help," but, as the majority of families, and espe- 

 cially those who reside in the country, are situated, 

 j Fannie's course is praiseworthy, and has our 

 cordial commendation. Be it understood, how- 

 I ever, that we consider no husband deserving of 

 j such a wife, (or of any wife at all,) who will not 

 do his full share of the multiplicity of chores and 

 errands willingly and seasonably. This, alone, 

 I will lighten housework of nearly one-half its cares, 

 I and leave the wife time for attention to some- 

 I thing besides the routine of the kitchen and cham- 

 ber, and give her opportunity for recreation, with- 

 out which body and mind will suffer. Ed. 



