“She was very busy, in these six weeks although she had decided to make very little towards the furnishing of her new home.
She had one quilt that she made when a little girl, and most of her centerpieces, stand covers, and the like, had been made in her spare time since she was fifteen. After much consultation with her sister, she decided to buy a white spread, the material for two comfortables, a white tablecloth, and two red ones for every day use, three roller towels and six dish towels. Her father gave her a pair of warm heavy blankets for a wedding present, and this constituted their modest outfit.
The days flew by, while she and her sister hemmed and stitched, putting all sorts of loving memories into the work, that would live long after the material had worn out. One or two of her intimate friends came in to help her make up her underwear, every day dresses and aprons, and the wedding dress, which was of dark material, that would serve her as a best dress for some time. It was made prettily, and trimmed with ribbons and laces, and she made an attractive bride as she stood up with John in her father’s home.
…
I have another maxim, that will go well with yours, John, said Mary as she prepared for a ride to town. Be genuine. I don t want any cheap lace curtains. I can’t afford good ones, so I will get scrim, and not pretend it is what it is not.
Acting on this principle the young folks bought good all-wool ingrain for their sitting room carpet, and used no carpet in their bedroom. It would be warmer, of course, but we are young and strong, and it is much cleaner this way, Mary consoled herself. One day she begged a bag of rags from her older married sister, and braided a big oval rug to lay in front of the bed.”
Source: Farmer’s Wife magazine, January 1, 1906, available at “Illinois Digital Newspaper Collection” at the University of Illinois Library.