OCR Text |
Show SUPERFLOUS LABORS <br><br> An unpleasantly neat housekeeper is generally sharp-tempered and irritable. Always tired, her nerves are not under perfect control. Oh, what a miserable house that is wherein everything is put away and considered too good to be used, and where one is pursued with broom and dusting brush, from morning until night, while the housewife's high pitched voice is incessantly bemoaning the awful amount of work she has to do! I once heard a lady say that she liked to visit people who were extremely neat, for she went home inspired to do her own work more thoroughly. But I always feel uncomfortable for a month afterward for fear I have dragged a chair out of its place, or left an unnecessary crease when folding my napkin. Then when such people visit my own cosy home, where every blind is open to admit the sun, and every table made to be used, I feel so sure that they are criticising [criticizing] "shiftless" ways that I have no comfort in their society. Pray do not think that I am an enemy to order and neatness, for I truly admire both, and believe in keeping everything as clean as possible in a quiet unobtrusive way, and letting well enough alone. Have home pleasant enough for one to rest in without continually thinking of the labor it takes to keep it in order, so that one can rehash his food without swallowing with each mouthful a protest that it had been prepared at the expense of so much strength. Then, too, these extra neat housekeepers are so busy cleaning where it is clean, and finding new work for themselves, that they have no time to change their faded calicos for pretty afternoon dresses, or to enjoy a restful time with a book or some light sewing. They are so absorbed in cleaning their houses that they quite forget themselves, and degenerate into animate broomsticks. From all such may man soon be delivered. |