176 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[June 20. 
we can choose the least expensive articles, and carry on our I 
household affairs in the least expensive way; hut when our 
income is so very small, our only refuge is to give up every 
thin" that can he given up, and bring ourselves into such a 
compass as not only to feel that we are not spending one 
unnecessary shilling, but that we are actually living within 
our means. What can we look forward to, when we know 
that we are, every year, exceeding our income, although it 
may he by a trifling sum ? That hill must he paid with next 
year’s money, and consequently our next year s income will 
be just so much less than it was before. This must he the 
case, if we do not keep strictly within bounds, and if we have 
no kind friends to aid us in our difficulties; and then, again, 
how can a delicate mind hear to make itself a burden to even 
the kindest friends ? When we are not doing our strictest, 
most self-denying duty in this matter, we cannot feel that we 
are submitting to the will of God, or receive without remorse 
the bounty of others. 
It will be my endeavour to obtain, from some of the best 
and most experienced managers, such scales of expenditure 
as will enable persons of small income to adapt their con¬ 
sumption to their means in some degree; hut in those scales 
which I have hitherto examined I find, that in the case ol a 
family with three children no servant is allowed when the 
income is less than ;£150. 
One of our correspondents, in whom we feel a lively interest, 
possesses “ nearly an acre of garden,” for the cultivation of 
which the sendees of a man are required, who is useful also 
in other ways “ connected with the house.” As many other 
i of our readers are very possibly situated in a similar manner, 
| we will venture to suggest a retrenchment, that may perhaps 
be distasteful to the feelings, and at first to the judgment, 
hut which will, we think, be found of some decided benefit, 
if the trial be made; it is, to give up the enjoyment of the 
garden,—of the kitchen-garden, at least; to let it, and dis¬ 
miss the man. At the lowest computation of wages the 
regular weekly payment will be seven shillings, which by 
the year will amount to £21 os lOd ; but in most cases, par¬ 
ticularly in the neighbourhood of towns, the wages are higher 
than these. 
The purchase of vegetables all the year round will not 
amount to more than one-half of this sum, and most pro- 
i bably to much less, when they are prudently and economically 
I managed; and thus a considerable sum in a small income 
is at once obtained, besides the rent of the ground, which 
although it may not be much, is still something, and every- 
! thing in such cases should be considered. With “ a good, 
superior” servant in the house to overlook all things, a hoy 
or a woman might be employed for a couple of hours in the 
morning to clean shoes, knives, Ac., and to perform the little 
morning offices required, which would he a far cheaper plan 
than that which is now pursued. 
A relative of our own has adopted the plan of giving up 
the expense of a garden with complete success, even where 
the labour of a man is still required in the managment of 
land. In this case the relief is felt; how much more, then, 
when the man can be entirely dispensed with ? Unless a 
garden can be made to pay its own expenses, those of the 
labourer, and to supply the family too, it is an outgoing, and, 
in the circumstances we are alluding to, should be resolutely 
given up. 
May I also suggest to our most kind correspondent, that 
where a conveyance can he hired the pony and carriage 
might be resigned. “ Pleasurable excursions ” with those 
we love are indeed delightful, but they must not be indulged 
in at the expense of that which is right; and so serious an 
item per week as a labourer’s wages will make a striking 
alteration in the year’s account. 
Let this suggestion be seriously considered where so much 
depends upon retrenchment. It is wonderful how many things 
are considered “ indispensable” until they are given up; and 
then we are amazed to find how well and quietly we go on 
without them, and how little we really miss them. This is 
no theoretical remark, but one grounded upon actual expo- 
i rience; and we feel sure, that where a conscientious desire 
exists to conform to those circumstances which a Gracious 
Father sees to he good for us, and in which His Hand has 
placed us, all things will be possible and even easy to be done. 
The best way to set about a reform is to make it at once, 
boldly and resolutely, and adapt ourselves to it; we shall find 
_ 
the effort far less than we expected, and the consequences 
great; whereas, if we do anything by halves, we are not the 
less inconvenienced, and the result will be unsatisfactory. 
There is, of course, always a degree of awkwardness on first 
beginning a new household system : it does not immediately 
work well; little alterations require to he made in the various 
parts, so as to fit them conveniently to each other,—and this 
takes a little time and skill; but it should on no account lead 
to vexation of spirit, or despair. All things mil right them¬ 
selves in time, where sound principle, firm resolve, and good 
temper, grapple with the foe. Godly fear and trust will make 
many rough places plain, and we need them both, in all their 
fulness, even in the seeming quiet of our own homes. A wife 
and mother may have little of the external world to cope 
with, hut she has to “ guide the house, and give no occasion 
to the adversary to speak reproachfully and this is in 
itself a mighty charge; but it will not be beyond the power i 
of any one who takes “of the water of lif e> freely." 
Where a husband and wife combine cordially in their efforts 
to economize and renounce, all human means are in their 
hands ; they have then only to seek and expect the promised | 
blessing upon all who do the will of God. 
HOUSE-DRAINAGE. 
The theme which is the object of this paper has only of ! 
late years seriously engaged the attention of the English 
public ; the very subject is, in fact, unattractive and dis- 1 
tasteful,—all discussion, therefore, upon the vital evils of its 
neglect, has been in consequence too much avoided; it was i 
left entirely to the architect, or the bricklayer; and in few 
instances, till a very recent date, have their arrangements be¬ 
trayed either sufficient care or even knowledge of the subject. 
This state of tilings is the more remarkable, from the obvious 
evil of bad drainage, to which in so many houses our senses 
must bear testimony, especially in the dwellings of crowded 
localities. It is here that the evil commonly exists in its 
most aggravated form ; but it is not confined to towns,—it is 
met with, in a modified degree, in country houses and in 
cottages: often in these the evil may not be so great as in 
suburban dwellings, hut then the remedy is much easier— 
the excuse for inattention, if possible, less. In many of 
these a self-acting trap, or valve (which may be bought for a 
few pence), by preventing the passage of the gases of putre¬ 
faction, cures the nuisance; in others, the re-laying of the pipe- 
drain, originally' placed without a sufficient fall, accomplishes 
the desired object. These little modem improvements 
require, for their application, only a little common sense ; 
they do not need any considerable engineering skill, or 
material expense. But, if the householder is in doubt as to 
the origin and cure of such a dangerous nuisance, as that to 
which t have alluded, how readily can he now consult those 
who have in most towns now paid very considerable attention 
to the subject. These things should make us all, indeed, 
promote, in every way in our power, the progress of sanitary 
improvement, of systematic house-drainage, and of the con¬ 
sequent employment of workmen, well acquainted with the 
best principles and detail of their business. Let no one 
object to this on the score of any imaginary invasion of his 
independence, or interference with his right thus to neglect 
his own comfort and health, as well as to endanger that of 
his neighbours and visitors. 
Such false and injurious conclusions have thus strongly I 
been alluded to in a late able Report of the Survey on House- 
drainage : —“ It is only when the overflowing cesspool, or the 
choked-up drain, is no longer bearable, that the mitigation 
of the evil is forced upon him (by the services of the 
scavenger). And from year to year is this unwelcome visit 
repeated. Nor is this all; yet more unwelcome visitors— 
sickness and disease—force their way in by the same channels 
in spite of him; and those are happy who escape the most 
unwelcome visitor of all—death : too often prematurely sum- , 
moned to these scenes of neglect and apathy.” 
Of the close connexion between disease and bad drainage I 
there is abundant testimony. Dr. Southwood Smith observes ; 
(Report of Commissioners on Public Health, page 3): —"It 
appears that the streets, courts, alleys, and houses, in which 
fever first breaks out, and in which it becomes most prevalent j 
and fatal, are invariably those in the immediate neighbour- ; 
