Where the fancy for trifles is not indulged in because of the ab-
sorption of time in some other direction, the sewing-basket too fre-
quently gives evidence of the fact that one form of fancy-work has
taken the place of the other, and that the substitute is of no more
real necessity than the first article.
The work-basket can be, and is oftentimes, one of the most dispirit-
ing objects in life to a woman of mistaken views regarding dress. It
can be so filled with ruffles and flounces, and frills and tucks, that
existence seems a long season of hems and gathers and plaits, and
by the time the garments are completed the spirits are depressed, and
the necessity for greater effort discourages the tired devotee.
The price paid for finery by too many of the sex is dyspepsia.
They sacrifice animation and good nature for elaborately made cloth-
ing, and, if they knew it, they pay a yet greater cost, for, besides the
loss of good health, there is the disquiet of heart, the irritability of
mind and the general peevishness that accompanies all exhaustion.
It does seem a pity that the work-basket should be an evil genius
in a home, when it ought to be woman's best friend, and the best
solace of many an hour of life.
Work is inspiring where there is not too much of it, and sewing is
a restful occupation if taken up and put down when the inspiration
is upon one. It becomes a cross when the tyranny of fashion
demands too much of nervous fingers, and when the hours spent at it
are taken from nobler pursuits. Temperance in sewing is as much
demanded as temperance in eating or drinking, and only the temper-
HOME-MAKING AND HOME-MANAGEMENT.
5:
ate know how to enjoy the pleasant pastime. How many times sew-
ing has rested and soothed the weary wife and mother as nothing
else would, and what pleasure the fashioning of clothes has given
when they were really useful and needful in the house!
Sometimes the variation of work rests us, for nothing is more
tedious than a great number of articles all to be worked upon
till finished. Taking sewing leisurely, is the way to enjoy it, and
there is really a world of satisfaction and rest to be found in the
work-basket if it is called into requisition in the right spirit.
It is a real comfort to a prudent-minded person to be able to
fashion anything, and the pleasure of seeing an article grow into form
and shape is certainly great, if necessity is not so stern as to demand
toil of us. The satisfaction is not so much in making the thing to be
made, as in getting pleasure out of the making. There is a keen en-
joyment to be had out of sewing if it is not allowed to be too
absorbing or engrossing, and if it does not become the master instead
of the subject. To work to some purpose is to weave in with the
warp and woof of each particle of surface gone over a pleasant
memory, and thus associate surroundings and circumstances until for
all time to come the heart shall remember just how the work was
done, and where. How many such memories have we all ? How
many associations dear as time, are awakened by the sight of a dress
or a handkerchief, or a neatly-made garment — worn and worthless,
perhaps, but kept because of the tender recollections. It is thus that
sewing should be done ; it is in this way that the work-basket should
be utilized, and a solace it is to those who thus use it.
Page 30
Presented as published in 1883. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
Where the fancy for trifles is not indulged in because of the absorption of time in some other direction, the sewing-basket too frequently gives evidence of the fact that one form of fancy-work has taken the place of the other, and that the substitute is of no more real necessity than the first article.
The work-basket can be, and is oftentimes, one of the most dispiriting objects in life to a woman of mistaken views regarding dress. It can be so filled with ruffles and flounces, and frills and tucks, that existence seems a long season of hems and gathers and plaits, and by the time the garments are completed the spirits are depressed, and the necessity for greater effort discourages the tired devotee.
The price paid for finery by too many of the sex is dyspepsia. They sacrifice animation and good nature for elaborately made clothing, and, if they knew it, they pay a yet greater cost, for, besides the loss of good health, there is the disquiet of heart, the irritability of mind and the general peevishness that accompanies all exhaustion.
It does seem a pity that the work-basket should be an evil genius in a home, when it ought to be woman's best friend, and the best solace of many an hour of life.
Work is inspiring where there is not too much of it, and sewing is a restful occupation if taken up and put down when the inspiration is upon one. It becomes a cross when the tyranny of fashion demands too much of nervous fingers, and when the hours spent at it are taken from nobler pursuits. Temperance in sewing is as much demanded as temperance in eating or drinking, and only the temper-
5:
ate know how to enjoy the pleasant pastime. How many times sewing has rested and soothed the weary wife and mother as nothing else would, and what pleasure the fashioning of clothes has given when they were really useful and needful in the house!
Sometimes the variation of work rests us, for nothing is more tedious than a great number of articles all to be worked upon till finished. Taking sewing leisurely, is the way to enjoy it, and there is really a world of satisfaction and rest to be found in the work-basket if it is called into requisition in the right spirit.
It is a real comfort to a prudent-minded person to be able to fashion anything, and the pleasure of seeing an article grow into form and shape is certainly great, if necessity is not so stern as to demand toil of us. The satisfaction is not so much in making the thing to be made, as in getting pleasure out of the making. There is a keen enjoyment to be had out of sewing if it is not allowed to be too absorbing or engrossing, and if it does not become the master instead of the subject. To work to some purpose is to weave in with the warp and woof of each particle of surface gone over a pleasant memory, and thus associate surroundings and circumstances until for all time to come the heart shall remember just how the work was done, and where. How many such memories have we all ? How many associations dear as time, are awakened by the sight of a dress or a handkerchief, or a neatly-made garment — worn and worthless, perhaps, but kept because of the tender recollections. It is thus that sewing should be done ; it is in this way that the work-basket should be utilized, and a solace it is to those who thus use it.