Ebook Tried and True

"She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness." (Prov. xxxi. 27.)

The natural desire to have everything in order, and to show that one is capable of keeping house as it should be kept, places the inexperienced in most awkward and unpleasant situations. She must of necessity do things the wrong way in order to learn what to avoid - what not to do as well as what to do, and in what order it must be done to prevent disorder and confusion. To make the work possible even in the smallest domestic enterprise, she has to learn by experience that each step must be taken in logical order. The first thing to do is to think out, as far as she can, every domestic undertaking before beginning it - as to what preparations are necessary, what the first thing to do, what the next, what the last, how much time it will take, what it will cost, etc. There are many tasks that are better and more easily done if due time for preparation is allowed. A rule that commends itself is to finish the work on hand without unnecessary diversion to other matters; do the most important thing first, have it finished and out of the way before beginning another.

One thing at a time, and that done well,
Is as good a rule as I can tell.