Home comforts; or, Economy illustrated, by familiar scenes of every-day life

Front matter

L /

' HOME COMFORTS;

BY LILLIE SAVERY.

Chapter I. Pagb

Economy Illustrated in a pair of shoes — Mrs. Doolittle is disgusted with rtie meanness of Mrs. Savery — She contrasts Mrs. Savery's kitchen with her own — How to make a corn cake — Pictures of health — Children and check aprons — Mrs. Doolittle upon cornmeal cake — Mrs. Doolittle disgusted with the economy of a supper that costs nothing — Trees that bear fruit, and trees that don't bear fruit — How to work a garden — Economy of space — The V/aterraelon, and where it grew — Delicate children — Going to marry a mechanic, 9-22

Chapter II

Salinda Love>7ell — A nine days' wonder — Studying economy — Economy of the bed-room arrangements — The oaken box — The lame boy, and the economy of kindness — The trunks and their contents — The economy of ventilation — Warming the house — A new radiator—The book shelves — Hanging up the dresses — Making much of little room — Economy in furniture — New use of a trunk — The Magic Ciiair — Mattress making — Economizing time — Making rag carpets — The Doolittle family— Fancy work — Works of fiction — The way that children should greet their mother — Lillie and Frank —Brothers and sisters— Evening readings — Good books— Punctuality— There come.«i fatiicr — A warm greeting — Teachings of afiec-

X CONTENTS.

PAGE

tion —The tea-table — Good breeding — Cora cakes— Mus?i — White and yellow meal — Economy of silver ware — Housekeeping— Proper food — True art of cooking — Tea-table lectures — How to boil a piece of meat — The secret of good food, .... 24-S2

Chapter III

Tlie breakfast — Harmony — Economy in food — Dough-uuts — Economy of time — The musquito net — Carpets and calicoes — Grateful reminiscences — Rats and their counterparts — The magnetic power of a smile— Scripture answers— How to make bread — Saving stale bread — Bees in the city — The plain dinner — Greens — Account with the garden — Work for a day — What a remarkable boy — How he was home taught — There is a cause for everything— Studying ship-building— All for the best — Mind culture — Keeping oui moths — Saving trifles — The poultry house — Deodorizing — The grape-vine — The garden — Economy of space— The cistern — Washing dishes — Something worth economy — Cheap soap — Making tea, 83-120

Chapter IV

The tea — Vegetable diet — Efifect of pork eating — Opinion of tobacco — Excerpta upon domestic economy — Cause of puny children — Salt, is it necessary? — Folly in eating — Digestion — Argument for drinking — Uselessness of condiments in food — Clothing— Such is fashion — Suitable clothing — Folly in eating and sleeping — Early rising — Walking exercise — Be courteous — Value of good temper — Rules of household economy — Punctuality — Household teachings — Botany — Poor economy— Economy is not parsimony — Learn to say I can't afford it — Care of the sick — Cure of Erysipelas— Family amusements, 122-150

Chapter V

Saturday iu the kitchen — ^The rice pudding — Soup — Preparation for Sunday — Iced tea — A day of recreation — How to treat servants —

PAGB

Horsemanship for girls — Magnetic power of 'the voice — The Doolittles* turn-out — My smelling bottle, or I shall faint — Vulgar things — Forgetfulness-r-The visit to the country — A sensible man's will — Mrs. Whitlock — The welcome — The farm-house— Trees by the roadside — The four buildings — The barn — The wind-mill — The strawberry bed — Uncle Samuel and the children-— The farm-house tea-table — Country bread — Natural homage — Meeting the Doolittles— Thinking one thing and saying another — The contrast — The Doolittle farm — Strawberries and cream at home — Something better—My dear little wife— Haj;)py hearts, .... 153-196

Chapter VI

Visit to the Doolittles — Out of tune — A garden in shocking order — The boys — Influence upon character — Rough and tumble fight of the boys, and the result — Oil upon the waters — A scene behind the scenes— Another crash — The Doolittle tea-table — The stolen milk —A lesson learned for life, 193-212

Chapter VII

Doolittle coming home — The effect of home influences — The effect of drinking— Walls have ears — The listener — Plotting villains — Doolittle fsits his picture taken — Insubordination — A family scene — Leaving home — The pledge — Doolittle in the lawyer's office — A contretemps — The budget of news — The experiment of city life ended, 213-235

Chapter VIII

A change of character— Mr. and Mrs. Doolittle— A match broken up — The return home — Forgiveness — Mr. Doolittle and daughters —An affecting scene— Talk of moving — A death i:cene, . 236-244

•chapter IX.

PAGB

Stx months on time's railroad — Talk of marriage — A lesson of economy — As man and wife should live — The old house— The pleasant surprise — The old bed-room — Goodness and happiness— House furnishing— The kitchen, parlor, and bed-rooms — A pleasant meeting — Captain Peabody and Salinda — The approaching wedding day — The Doolittle girls — A great change — The way to spend winter evenings — Business punctuality — The mysterious package — Gratitude — Another suspense — The wedding and the end, 247-276

ECONOMY ILLUSTRATED.

Chapter I

Economy Illustrated in a Pair of Shoes — Mrs. Doolittle is Disgusted.

" Oh, dear me, Mrs. Lovewell, I am heartily tired of visiting t]]at Mrs. Savery. What do you suppose I found her doing yesterday afternoon, when you know it was so pleasant that everybody was in the street ? Oh, you need not guess ; I am sure you never w^ould think of the right thing."

" Indeed, I don't know that I could, but I have no doubt it was something useful. Practicing some of her arts of economy, I suppose."

" Economy indeed ! Why, it is downright 1*

10 KC():S01LY ILLUSTKATED.

meanness. I should be mortified to death, if I was caught at such a piece of business."

" Why, Mrs. Doolittle, you alarm me. Pray, what was she about ?"

'' About, indeed I Why, she was making a pair of shoes."

" Slippers, you mean, I suppose ; I often do that for my husband."

" Oh, yes, worsted work ; that is a very different thing. No, it was a pair of shoes for herself. She had taken a pair of old shoesoles, from which the tops had been worn out, and had cut new uppers from an old pair of her husband's black lasting pantaloons. Did you ever hear the like! I was really disgusted to hear her talk about it."

" Why, what did she say."

" Why, she said, ' there now, Mrs. Doolittle, I sat down after dinner, and commenced the job, with Susan to help me rip off the old soles and bind one of the new shoes, and now you see I have got just as good a pair of shoes, and for aught I see, just as good looking as the old pair that I paid a dollar and a half for.

A NEAT KITCHEN. H

And that is what I call economy. Is'ow I will go and show Susan how to make a new corn cake for tea. Don't yon want to learn V

" I told her no indeed ; when I got so poor, and I put a real meaning emphasis upon the word — when I got so poor that I could not keep a cook that knew how to do her own w^ork, I would come and learn the trade."

^^ Was she offended? Indeed Mrs. Doolittle, you were rather rude. You might have learned how to make a very nice cake."

" Well I must acknowledge that I did ; no, she was not the least offended, but insisted that I should go down with her to the kitchen and see how it was done. I had a good mind to refuse, for I expected that I should get a grease spot on my new silk, just as like as not. I am sure I should in my kitchen ; but would you believe it, hers is as clean as a new pin. "Why the very floor looks as white and clean as a table. I do think she must keep that Susan of hers scrubbing all the time. Tor my part I don't see how she ever gets through all the work and do the washing too. I wish I could get such help."

12 ECONOMY ILLUbTUATKD.

" Mrs. Saverj says it is by economy. Economy of time, as well as everytliing else. But about the nice corn cake?''

"Oh yes. Well I never; why it was just nothing to make. I could have made it jnst as w^ell as she did."

" If you had know^n how."

"Why yes, to be sure ; but it is nothing to learn; and then to hear her count the cost. Why she would feed a whole family for sixpence. In the first place she took a cup of Indian corn meal, not over three cents worth, she said, and white at that — I always use yellow meal — it has more taste than the white — and put it in a clean wooden bowl, and what do you think she mixed with it, to make her cake? Water; nothing but water. Yes a little pinch of salt; but that she said she could not count the cost of, it was so small; and then she mixed, and stirred, and beat the meal and water together as though she was beating eggs, until she got it into a smooth batter, that would just pour into a shallow tin pan, about an inch deep. The cake when done was about as thick as my thumb. She. fii-st put the pan

>:lat childkex. 13

into a very hot oven and let it cook until the batter got stiff, and then she opened the stove doors and set the cake up edgeways right before the glowing coals until it got a nice delicate brown crust, and then drew it back and let it bake slow a long time — half an hour or more I should think."

'' And was it good ?"

"Good! why I declare I never tasted anything so delicious in all my life. I wouldn't have believed it, that just meal and water could be made so good. But that is not all. Just as she had got her cake turned up before the fire, in came lier two children — such pictures of health — did you ever see the like !"

" She says that is ' the economy of health.' It is cheaper to keep them healthy than sick, as well as more comfortable. You found them very neat, too."

"Neat! I never saw the like. But it's no wonder; look at the pains she takes with them. Why, it must keep Susan busy all the time."

"Then who does the work?"

"Well, I don't know^ I can't understand it. I wish I could get along so. But then my children are always sick. Hers are always well and tliat makes the difference."

" No, the difference is in always keeping them well. But you w^ere going to tell us something more about the cake."

" Oh, yes. When the children came in, Lillie said,"

'' Oh mother, will you let me bake a sweet cake for brother Frank and me?"

" Yes, if you will run up to your room and put away your things, and get on your aprons."

" Directly down they came, and as I live, both of them with check aprons on. I should not like to see my children dressed in check aprons. It looks so common, and sort of countryfied. Then Lillie took the bowl of batter, and got a part of a teacupful of molasses, and a spoonful of ginger, and stirred it in, and then she got a cup of sour milk ; and what do you think that was for?"

" I suppose to put in the cake."

" Yes, but first she mixed with it a little super carbonate of soda^ until she set it all foaming, and then stirred it into the batter, with a little more meal to thicken it again,

THE COKN CAKE. 15

and poured it into an iron pan about twice as deep as the other, and clapped it right into the hot oven, where it baked until we had almost done tea, and then Susan brought it in smoking hot, and Mrs. Savery cut it up into squares, opening- each piece and laying on a little lump of sweet butter, and so serving it round to each one ; and would you believe it, in a respectable family, that that was the only cake on the table. I declare I had no great opinion of corn meal sweet cake, it seemed to look so mean ; and then I had already eaten hearty of the plain cake, and did not think I would touch this one, but Lillie, with her insinuating little coaxing way — I don't know who could resist her — said I must taste her cake, and with that she asked me to take my knife and lay it open, and then she took a spoonful of juice out of the quince preserves, and spread over it, and I began tasting and tasting, and would you believe it, the first 1 thought about what I was doing, I had cleared my plate, and Lillie was helping me to another piece; she was so delighted to see mo eat it with such a relish, when I only

16 ECOA^OMT ILLUSTRATED.

intended to ' give it a taste, just out of compliment.' "

" Then it was good ?"

" Good ! I never tasted anything more delicious. I have often had a cake upon my table that I paid a dollar for that did not give lialf as much satisfaction ; the bakers are getting to cheat so dreadfully. I could have forgiven her about her meanness — don't you think it is meanness ? — in making shoes, or putting check aprons on her children, if she had not preached me one of her sermons upon economy, and actually proved to me that the supper, delicious as it was, had literally cost nothing — that is next to nothing. There was the meal three cents — the molasses and salt and soda, three cents — the tea, two cents — the sugar and milk, two cents — the butter — butter is high now, but that was not over four cents — and let me see, was that all?"

" You mentioned some quince preserves."

" Oh, yes, but she said they actually cost less than nothing. About eleven years ago — it was to commemorate the first birthday of Frank — she planted a quince bush, and then

FLATTING A TKEE. 17

she told how she made it grow, and bear fruit. She said she always kept the ground loose and covered in the summer with straw, which she wets with soap suds and dishwater, and last year her quince tree bore more than she w\anted ; and so a friend of hers came and brought her own sugar, and did all the work, and put up the quinces at the halves, while Mrs. Savery was away on a visit in the country. So she proved, you see, that they really did cost nothing. I wish I could live so."

" I don't see why you could not, you have got a nice place for a garden."

" Yes, full of bushes and flowers, but I have got no quince tree."

" But you must do as Mrs. Savery did ; plant one."

" Yes, and I might not live till it bore fruit. And besides, I never could do as she does. We hire all our work, and I often tell Mr. Doolittle it costs more to raise a few roses and flowers than it would to buy them. But then our girls must have a garden."

" Don't you know how Mrs. Saveiy works hers?"

" Oh, yes : her husband is a mechanic, and knows how to work, and don't mind it, and he spades up the ground before breakfast, and then Mrs. Savery and the children, and Susan all work at it, and that is the way they make their things cost nothing. We live different, you know."

" Perhaps they make it a pleasure, instead of toil. I recollect going in there one day last summer — the door was open, and it was just at sundown, so I walked in and through the house — the tea-table was standing, just as they left it, and all hands were out in the garden as busy as bees. I recollect Lillie was saving safron, which Mrs. Savery said would sell for enough to pay for all the medicine they used in a year.

Frank was cutting his third crop of grass from the borders, which he sold to old Capt. Peabody, for I don't know how many quarts of milk. Tlie old lady, you know, makes a living from her two cows. I declare there

THE GARDEN. 19

was not a spot in that garden tliat hadn't something useful growing in it. But that was not all; I do believe that garden is the great secret of health of those children.

As soon as Lillie saw me, she ran up and shook hands, and said, " she was so glad I had come, for father was just wishing that some of our friends would come in, and then he would cut the big melon."

" Melons ! why, do they raise melons upon that little patch of ground?"

" "Why no, I cannot say they do exactly, for the seed was planted in a barrel of earth set on the flagging, and the vines were trained up on top of a little flat roof building in the yard, and there they grew six or eight feet from the ground, some sweet delicious water-melons. That was what Mr. Savery said was the economy of space. It was ' economy of space ' indeed ; for underneath the barrel of earth, was one full of ashes, saved from their chamber stove, where they burn wood, and that barrel used to run off a little lye to soften the hard water of their well."

" Oh, I always buy potash."

20 ECOIS'OMY ILLUSTRATED.

" And slie always saves it. A gallon of lye will soften a large kettle full of hard-water, and as you see, said Mr. Savery, takes up no room, and the leached ashes make excellent manu]'e. That is what makes Frank's grass grow so rank, and our fruit trees look so thrifty."

" Well, did you eat the melon?"

" Oh yes, as soon a.s Lillie mentioned it, her father got up and brought it down, and Susan drew a pail of cold water and put it in ; and Frank said then he would run over and ask Aunt Mary and tlie girls, to come and join the water-melon party ; and upon my word, I do think it was the sweetest melon, and sv/eetest family circle I ever got into in all my life."

" And was it big enough for all of you ?"

" Oh yes. I have often paid three or four shillings for one nothing like as good. And while we w^ere eating — or ratlier while we were talking, after satisfying all of our appetites, Susan and all, Mr. Savery told Lillie to get her little account book, and show me, not only how she was learning to keep accounts, but how much they were indebted to the gar-

CHECK APRONS AND THICK SHOES. 21

den. Really I never could liave believea it. But the best of all, said he, it teaches my children habits of industry and economy."

" Oh yes, that word economy always comes in."

" Well, I am sure it is a very good word, and at this time particularly necessary for all to learn, and practice too. It would save much suffering among the poor."

"Tes, it may be necessary for mechanics, and such sort of folks, to be always saving, but thank fortune, my family are able to live without working like common laborers in the garden every day. Besides, my children ain't able to do it ; they are very delicate."

" Perhaps, Mrs. Doolittle, it is the garden, and check aprons, and thick shoes, and corn bread, and all that, that makes Mr. Savery's children so healthy. And certainly, when they are dressed for church, there are none that look prettier, or attract more attention by their pretty behavior ; if they do work in the garden and get ruddy faces, and dirty fingers."

"Well, well, if you ain't getting to be a convert to the Saverys' economy. I shall expect to see you soon, making your own shoes."

'' I don't know as to that, but I will tell you what you may see me doing — and I intend to begin to-morrow — and that is taking lessons in the art of house-keeping. You know my daughter, Salinda, is soon to be married, and I think we had better give Mrs. Savery five hundred dollars of her portion, for some lessons in the economy of house-keeping, the practice of which in time will pay it back, twice over."

" And so you are going to get her to give your daughter the finish of her education, after all you have done for her. Well, well, I am beat now."

"I shall certainly make her the ofier. I have been thinking about it for some time; and now what you have told me has fully convinced me that a quarter's tuition from Mrs. Savery, will be worth more than any quarter she ever had at boarding-school, or from her music master or French teacher; for to be candid with you, Salinda is going to marry a mechanic."

"A mechanic! Oh my! the richest mer-

MARRY A MECIIAXIC. 23

chant's daughter in town, going to marry a mechanic. Well now I must go, and tell the news. What will my girls think ! good bye." " Good bye. Yes, yes, Mi-s. Doolittle, tell your girls, and all the rest of your acquaintance, that Salinda Lovewell, is going to take lessons of economy of Mrs. Savery, and then marry a poor mechanic. Well, we shall see, whether that won't be good economy.

2-i ECONOMY ILLUSTRATED,

CHAPTEE IT.

The Merchant's Daughter — Preparation for Marriage.

Salestda was a sensible girl, and was delighted with the project, hinted at in the close of the last chapter. She had been all her life in a boarding-school, and knew no more of keeping house, than though she had never lived inside of one. But as she had made up her mind to marry, and as her mother said, a mechanic, and as Mrs. Doolittle said, nothing but a mechanic, she began to think that she knew nothing about the very thing she should know^ about, and asked her mother what she was to do.

Her mother knew the theory, but as she had been a long time living in a hotel, she could not teach her the practice. She knew Mrs. Savery could, and she intended to make it an object for her to do it.

That very ev-ening, Charley Goodman was to call and have a talk with Salinda and her

HOW TO BEGIN LIFE. 25

father and mother, to fix upon the wedding day. Of course he wanted it soon — the sooner the better.

" Charlie, said Mr. Lovewell, I have given my consent freely to this match, but I am afraid that neither you nor Salinda, know anything about the economy of house-keeping, and if you marry a girl ignorant of that, one who has been a reputed rich merchant's daughter, I am afraid that with your salary of a thousand dollars a year, you will run under. What think you my boy ?"

" Why sir, that you began with that, in exactly the same position that I am, and you got along pretty well."

" True, but I married the mother of the girl you are after : and in less extravagant times than these, and for two years she did her own work, with the assistance of a little girl she took, almost from the street."

" And so vrill I do my work, father, if you will give me a chance to learn how. Let me go and live one year with Mrs. Savery — I am sure Charley will wait — or even half that time. [ shall know how, and I hope shall be able 2 to take care of my own liouse, and live comfortably, without being dependent upon my father, or using up all the income of my husband."

" Spoken like a sensible girl, and worthy of the honest man you have chosen for a husband. I am sure he will be willing to wait for this finishing touch of your education. When will you go ?"

"If you are all willing, and Mrs. Savery will take me as her pupil, I will go to-morrow morning."

"Agreed. Do you all say agreed. Yery well. I will answer for Mrs. Savery. And Susan, what a proud day for Susan, for it was her that your mother took, a poor friendless orphan, and learned how to work, and become the useful woman she is. Come wife, let us go and see Mrs. Savery, while the young couple have a chat together upon future prospects."

It was a nine days wonder with Salinda's acquaintance, and boarding-school companions, when they heard that such a rich man's daughter, had not only agreed to marry a plain

LEAKNING HOUSEKEEPING. 27

mechanic, but had gone to serve a year's apprenticeship to learn house-keeping, and some of the most foolish ones, including the Doolittles, resolved to " cut her acquaintance," as they had no idea of associating with a ''kitchen girl," or a "mechanic's wife." This did not disturb Salinda, as she was anxious to commence life just as her mother had done, and see if she could not help her husband as her mother did hers, to build up a fortune, by industry and frugality.

Mrs. Savery received her with open arms, and promised her, "that before a year was over, she would be just as able to take charge of her house, as her teacher; and not only learn the art of living w^ell, but saving all, and actually growing rich upon what in most houses is wasted."

" In the first place, we will go up and see where you are to sleep. You know our house is small, and we have to economize room, but I am very much opposed to small bed-rooms, because they cannot be well ventilated, and that is of the utmost importance on account of liealtlu I think vour mother told me that you had always been accustomed to sleep on a feather bed. It will, I fear, seem hard at first, to sleep on our mattresses ; but I never allow feathers in the house, except some thin pillows of old well-seasoned feathers."

" Oh, I can soon accustom myself to a hard bed. But shall I not sleep wdtli Lillie ? it w^ould save room. I am anxious to make as little trouble as possible."

" Not much ; and then it is more healthy, in warm weather, to sleep separate. This is your bed, and that is Lillie's. Both in one room, yet this thick curtain w^ll give each the privacy of separate apartments."

" You have taken too much trouble, I fear, on my account."

" 'No trouble is too much when health, comfort, neatness and respectability are concerned. This curtain, being open top and bottom, will allow a free circulation of air, which will be much better than a close partition, and as we have no bath-room in the house, this arrangement will allow you both to enjoy the healthy luxury of a sponge bath of cold water in the bathing tub, every morning. I shall expect,

IN A SMALL ROOM. 29

too, that each will keep her own apartment in order ; and there, see how easy it is to draw aside the curtain, and now for the use of both together, you have a large pleasant room."

'' Oh, I am sure I never saw anything nicer. What a pretty toilette table ; but I do not see any wash-stand."

" You shall see that. The room is small, you know, and as I expect you and Lillie to use it as a sitting room, for your work and reading, when you wish to retire from the family circle, or from visitors, I prefer to have the conveniences for washing out of sight. Look here."

Mrs. Savery stepped to the toilette table under the glass, and drew aside the snow white curtain, and there was a neat little painted wash-stand, with its white bowl and pitcher and soap dish, and drawer, and all the little conveniences. Beneath that was a square tin tub, made to fit so as to economize all the space ; the whole only taking up the room of the toilette table. The stand was set on casters, and could be rolled out wherever convenient. In a drawer was a piece of India-rubber cloth, that could be spread over the carpet during the bathing operation. On the table was a plain square oak wood box, very neatly made, with a lock, in which all the toilet articles could be kept.