In the beginning, then, be sure of one thing, — that all the wisdom you have or can acquire, all the patience and tact and self-denial you can make yours by the most diligent effort, will be needed ever}^ day and every hour of the day. Details are in themselves wear3'ing, and to most men their relation to housekeeping is unaccountable. The da3''s work of a systematic housekeeper would con- found the best-trained man of business. In the woman's hand is the ke}^ to home-happiness, but it is folly to assert that all lies with her. Let it be felt from the beginning that her station is a difficult one, that her duties are im- portant, and that judgment and skill must guide their per- formance ; let boys be taught the honor that lies in such duties, — and there will be fewer heedless and unappre- ciative husbands. On the other hand, let the woman re- member that the good general does not waste words on hindrances, or leave his weak spots open to observation, but, learning from every failure or defeat, goes on stead- ily to victory. To fret will never mend a matter ; and " Study to be quiet" in thought, word, and action, is the first law of successful housekeeping. Never under- esti- mate the difficulties to be met, for this is as much an evil THE BAY'S WORK. 37 as over-apprehension. The best-arranged plans may be overturned at a moment's notice. In a mixed family, habits and pursuits differ so widely that the housekeeper must hold herself in readiness to find her most cherished schemes set aside. Absolute adherence to a system is only profitable so far as the greatest comfort and well- being of the famil}' are afiected ; and, dear as a fixed routine may be to the housekeeper's mind, it may often well be sacrificed to the general pleasure or comfort. A quiet, controlled mind, a soft voice, no matter what the provocation to raise it may be, is " an excellent thing in woman." And the certainty that, hard as such control ma}^ be, it holds the promise of the best and fullest life here and hereafter, is a motive strong enough, one would think, to insure its adoption. Progress may be slow, but the reward for every step forward is certain. We have already found that each da}^ has its fixed rou- tine, and are ready now to take up the order of work, which will be the same in degree whether one servant is kept, or man}^, or none. The latter state of things will often happen in the present uncertain character of house- hold service. Old family servants are becoming more and more rare ; and, unless the new generation is wisel}^ trained, we run the risk of being even more at their mercy in the future than in the past. First, then, on rising in the morning, see that a full current of air can pass through every sleeping-room ; re- move all clothes from the beds, and allow them to air at least an hour. Onl}^ in this way can we be sure that the impurities, thrown off from even the cleanest body by the pores during the night, are carried off. A neat house- keeper is often tempted to make beds, or have them 38 THE BAY'S WOBK. made, almost at once ; but no practice can be more un- wholesome.

AI-modernized reading of the original text

In the beginning, then, be sure of one thing, — that all the wisdom you have or can acquire, all the patience and tact and self-denial you can make yours by the most diligent effort, will be needed every day and every hour of the day. Details are in themselves wearing, and to most men their relation to housekeeping is unaccountable. The day's work of a systematic housekeeper would confound the best-trained man of business. In the woman's hand is the key to home-happiness, but it is folly to assert that all lies with her. Let it be felt from the beginning that her station is a difficult one, that her duties are important, and that judgment and skill must guide their performance ; let boys be taught the honor that lies in such duties, — and there will be fewer heedless and unappreciative husbands. On the other hand, let the woman remember that the good general does not waste words on hindrances, or leave his weak spots open to observation, but, learning from every failure or defeat, goes on steadily to victory. To fret will never mend a matter ; and " Study to be quiet" in thought, word, and action, is the first law of successful housekeeping. Never under- estimate the difficulties to be met, for this is as much an evil THE BAY'S WORK. 37 as over-apprehension. The best-arranged plans may be overturned at a moment's notice. In a mixed family, habits and pursuits differ so widely that the housekeeper must hold herself in readiness to find her most cherished schemes set aside. Absolute adherence to a system is only profitable so far as the greatest comfort and wellbeing of the family are afiected ; and, dear as a fixed routine may be to the housekeeper's mind, it may often well be sacrificed to the general pleasure or comfort. A quiet, controlled mind, a soft voice, no matter what the provocation to raise it may be, is " an excellent thing in woman." And the certainty that, hard as such control may be, it holds the promise of the best and fullest life here and hereafter, is a motive strong enough, one would think, to insure its adoption. Progress may be slow, but the reward for every step forward is certain. We have already found that each day has its fixed routine, and are ready now to take up the order of work, which will be the same in degree whether one servant is kept, or many, or none. The latter state of things will often happen in the present uncertain character of household service. Old family servants are becoming more and more rare ; and, unless the new generation is wisely trained, we run the risk of being even more at their mercy in the future than in the past. First, then, on rising in the morning, see that a full current of air can pass through every sleeping-room ; remove all clothes from the beds, and allow them to air at least an hour. Only in this way can we be sure that the impurities, thrown off from even the cleanest body by the pores during the night, are carried off. A neat housekeeper is often tempted to make beds, or have them 38 THE BAY'S WOBK. made, almost at once ; but no practice can be more unwholesome.

The easiest way in housekeeping and cooking