CHAPTER XIV.
THE PRESERVATION OF GOOD TEMPER IN THE HOUSEKEEPER.
Easier for a Household under the Guidance of an equable Temper in the Mistress—Dissatisfied Looks and sharp Tones destroy the Comfort of System, Neatness, and Economy—Considerations to aid the Housekeeper—Importance and Dignity of her Duties—Difficulties to be overcome—Good Policy to calculate beforehand upon the Derangement of well-arranged Plans—Object of Housekeeping, the Comfort and well-being of the Family—The End should not be sacrificed to secure the Means—Possible to refrain from angry Tones—Mild Speech most effective—Exemplification—Allowances to be made for Servants and Children—Power of Religion to impart Dignity and Importance to the ordinary and petty Details of domestic Life [274]
CHAPTER XV.
HABITS OF SYSTEM AND ORDER.
Relative Importance and Difficulty of the Duties a Woman is called to perform—Her Duties not trivial—A Habit of System and Order necessary—Right Apportionment of Time—General Principles—Christianity to be the Foundation—Intellectual and social Interests to be preferred to Gratification of Taste or Appetite—Neglect of Health a Sin in the Sight of God—Regular Season of Rest appointed by the Creator—Divisions of Time—Systematic Arrangement of house Articles and other Conveniences—Regular Employment for each Member of a Family—Children—Family Work—Forming Habits of System—Early Rising a very great Aid—Due Apportionment of Time to the several Duties [280]
CHAPTER XVI.
HEALTH OF MIND.
Intimate Connection between the Body and Mind—Brain excited by improper Stimulants taken into the Stomach—Mental Faculties then affected—Causes of mental Disease—Want of oxygenized Blood—Fresh Air absolutely necessary—Excessive Exercise of the Intellect or Feelings—Such Attention to Religion as prevents the Performance of other Duties wrong—Unusual Precocity in Children usually the Result of a diseased Brain—Idiocy often the Result, or the precocious Child sinks below the Average of Mankind—This Evil yet prevalent in Colleges and other Seminaries—A medical Man necessary in every Seminary—Some Pupils always needing Restraint in regard to Study—A third Cause of mental Disease, the Want of appropriate Exercise of the various Faculties of the Mind—Extract from Dr. Combe—Beneficial Results of active intellectual Employments—Indications of a diseased Mind [293]
CHAPTER XVII.