44 
RURAL HOURS. 
would not set about moving the same day in Holland. In that 
sensible, prudent land, not more, perhaps, than a dozen house- 
holders at a time, are expected to sacrifice comfort and furniture 
by such a step. On the Zuyder Zee, it probably takes a family 
at least a year to make up their minds to move, and a year more 
to choose a new dwelling. But see what this custom has become 
under the influence of go-aheadism ! May- day, for ages associated 
with rhymes, sweet blossoms, gayety, and kindly feeling, has be- 
come the most anti- poetical, dirty, dusty, unfragrant, worrying, 
scolding day in the year to the Manhattanese. So it is with this 
cleaning process. Most civihzed people clean their dwellings : 
many nations are as neat as ourselves ; some much neater than 
we are ; but few, indeed, make such a fuss about these necessary 
labors ; they contrive to manage matters more quietly. Even 
among ourselves, some patriotic Avomen, deserving well of their 
country, have made great efforts to effect a change in this respect, 
within their own sphere, at least ; but alas ! in each instance they 
have, we believe, succumbed at length to general custom, a ty- 
rant that few have the courage to face, even in a good cause. 
It must be confessed, however, that after the great turmoil is 
over — when the week, or fortnight, or three weeks of scrubbing, 
scouring, drenching are passed, there is a moment of dehghtful 
repose in a family ; there is a refreshing consciousness that all is 
sweet and clean from garret to cellar ; there is a purity in the 
household atmosphere which is very agreeable. As you go about 
the neighborhood, the same order and cleanly freshness meet you 
as you cross every threshold. This is very pleasant, but it is a 
pity that it should be purchased at the cost of so much previous 
confusion — so many petty annoyances. 
