Train the children little by little to bear certain light responsibilities in the home. Even in a home in which all the household tasks are done by trained servants let the girl and boy have some small duty to perform, if it be nothing more than to keep the match-safes filled. They will thus acquire an interest in the home which can be aroused in no other way.
Indeed, every child, boy and girl, should be trained to do easily and well the common household tasks upon which depend so much of the happiness and well-being of the home. Such knowledge and skill often prove of use in unexpected emergencies and make for general efficiency. The ancient symbol of the housewife's office is her bunch of keys, hung at her waist or placed in the key-basket, so we have used this latter phrase as our chapter heading.
HOME TASKS
Here are a few brief directions for the usual home tasks in which both boys and girls may to some extent be trained.
Table Setting (Usual dishes and cutlery)
Different homes vary in unimportant particulars in the placing of the dishes. The following is a common arrangement for the dinner table:
At each place lay the fork vertically at the left-hand side, the knife vertically at the right, and the soup-spoon to the right of the knife. This places each utensil so that it is ready for the hand which uses it most. Put the teaspoons to the right of the soup-spoon, and the napkin to the left of the fork. Place the glass just above the knife, the butterdish above the fork, and the individual salt-cellar, if used, between the two.
Father and mother sit at the ends of the table. Put carving-knife and fork at father's place; also the soup ladle, as father serves the soup and carves. Mother pours the coffee and tea and serves the vegetables. Therefore the soup and dinner dishes must be placed before the carver, and the needed vegetable dishes and cups and saucers at the mother's place. Here, too, must be placed the sugar bowl and cream pitcher.
In the United States it is customary to serve most vegetables upon individual saucers. In England they are usually served upon the plate.
If salad is to be served, oil and vinegar cruets may be put on.