Miss Beecher's Housekeeper and Healthkeeper. Catharine Esther Beecher
CHAPTER XVIII.
CARE OF DOMESTIC ANIMALS.
Interesting Association of Animals with Man, from Childhood to Age—Domestic Animals apt to catch the Spirit of their Masters—Important Necessities—Good Feeding—Shelter—Cleanliness—Destruction of parasitic Vermin—Salt and Water—Light—Exercise—Rule for Breeding—Care of Horses: Feeding, Grooming, special Treatment—Cows: Stabling, Feed, Calving, Milking, Tethering—Swine: naturally cleanly, Breeding, fresh Water, Charcoal, Feeding—Sheep: winter Treatment—Diet—Sorting—Use of Sheep in clearing Land—Pasture—Hedges and Fences—Poultry—Turkeys—Geese—Ducks—Fowls—Dairy Work generally—Bees—Care of domestic Animals, Occupation for Women 305
CHAPTER XIX.
CARE OF THE SICK.
Prominence given to Care and Cure of the Sick by our Saviour—Every Woman should know what to do in the Case of Illness—Simple Remedies best—Fasting and Perspiration—Evils of Constipation—Modes of relieving it—Remedies for Colds—Unwise to tempt the Appetite of the Sick—Suggestion for the Sick-room—Ventilation—Needful Articles—The Room, Bed, and Person of the Patient to be kept neat—Care to preserve animal Warmth—The Sick, the Delicate, the Aged—Food always to be carefully prepared and neatly served—Little Modes of Refreshment—Implicit Obedience to the Physician—Care in purchasing Medicines—Exhibition of Cheerfulness, Gentleness, and Sympathy—Knowledge and Experience of Mind—Lack of competent Nurses—Failings of Nurses—Sensitiveness of the Sick—“Sisters of Charity,” the Reason why they are such excellent Nurses—Illness in the Family a providential Opportunity of training Children to Love and Usefulness 313
CHAPTER XX.
FIRES AND LIGHTS.
Management of Lamps and Candles 324
CHAPTER XXI.
CARE OF ROOMS.
Miscellaneous Advice as to Furniture, setting Tables, Packing, and Stowing—Rules for Washing, Carving, and Helping—Care of Chambers, Kitchen, and Cellar 330
CHAPTER XXII.
CARE OF YARDS AND GARDENS.
Preparation of Soil—Making a Hot-bed—Re-potting—Laying out Yards and Gardens—Care of house Plants—Propagation of Plants—Ingrafting—Cultivation of Fruit by Women 349
CHAPTER XXIII.
SEWING, CUTTING, AND FITTING.
How to instruct in these Arts in common Schools 361
CHAPTER XXIV.
ACCIDENTS AND ANTIDOTES.
Treatment of the Drowned—Antidotes for Poisons—Conduct in Thunder-storms and Fires 366
CHAPTER XXV.
RIGHT USE OF TIME AND PROPERTY.
Meaning of the Word Right—How do Men decide what is wise, best, and right?—What is an intuitive Principle in all rational Minds—Who are called righteous and virtuous Men in all Nations and Ages—Effect of Danger in deciding what is right—The Law of Rectitude or Right—Distinction between emotive Love and voluntary Love illustrated by Christ’s Teachings and Example—Explanation of “Faith,” “Love,” and “Repentance,” as taught by Jesus Christ—The proportion of Time and Property required of the Jews—Illustrations of Christian Benevolence—Self-denying Benevolence happifying, and can be cultivated—Consideration of various Modes of Charity 370
CHAPTER XXVI.
CARE OF INFANTS.
Remarks of Herbert Spencer and Dr. Combe—Advice of medical Writers—Best Remedy for Fevers 390
CHAPTER XXVII.
MANAGEMENT OF YOUNG CHILDREN.
Physical Care—Intellectual Training—On cultivating Benevolence in Children—Sympathy with Little Ones important—Gentle tones best 401
CHAPTER XXVIII.
FAMILY RELIGIOUS TRAINING.
Woman’s Responsibility as chief Educator of the Family—The meaning of the Word Right—The End, or Object, for which all Things are made, and how learned—Difficulties in interpreting Revelation—Distinctive principle of Protestantism—Danger in the future Life, and different Views—Influence of Belief in Danger illustrated—Rule of Interpretation used in common Life, and to be applied to the Bible—What we must do to be saved—Theories differ, but an agreement in facts revealed—How a Woman must decide for herself and for those she controls 414
CHAPTER XXIX.
CARE OF SERVANTS.
Distinction between emotional and voluntary Love to others—This the Principle to guide in the Care of Servants—Ladies who do their own Work—Intelligence saves Labor—Benefits of domestic Labor—The Training of Servants a prime Duty of American Housekeepers—Modes of avoiding Difficulties—Rewards of benevolent Care here and in the Life to come 424
CHAPTER XXX.
DOMESTIC AMUSEMENTS AND SOCIAL DUTIES.
The only proper Object of Amusement—Various kinds that are safe, and others that are wrong, either in Quality or Excess—Hospitality 440
CHAPTER XXXI.
LAWS OF HEALTH.
The Laws of Health are Laws of God, and should be taught to all Children—Laws of Health for the Bones, Muscles, Lungs, Digestive Organs, Skin, Brain and Nerves, Teeth, Eyes, Hair, etc. 454
CHAPTER XXXII.
COMFORT FOR A DISCOURAGED HOUSEKEEPER.
Some of the great Trials of American Housekeepers enumerated—How to meet them with Comfort and Success 459
NOTE A 466
INDEX 473
THE
HOUSEKEEPER AND HEALTHKEEPER.
PART FIRST.
CHAPTER I.
ADDRESS OF THE AUTHOR TO AMERICAN HOUSEKEEPERS.
My