HAPPY HILL FARM. Getting Settled . BY MRS . C , C . WOUTERS - from "Farmer’s Wife" magazine, 1st January 1906, St Paul.
“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 .
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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 .”