THE SPARE BED by Mrs. H. W. Pierce

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 2, 1901

THE SPARE BED.

By Mrs. H. W. Pierce

MRS. H. W. PIERCE. (Oxford, Miss.)

I HOPE I may be pardoned for saying a few things that seem needful to be said,—things which one cannot say to the hostess who has entertained her guest with the kindest feelings and most sincere desire for his comfort. It may be the tired canvasser, or possibly the no less weary minister and his wife, who, at a late hour, are shown to their room for the night. A stately bed, well-formed and with square corners, greets the eye. It looks grand: what more can any one wish? But let us investigate. Did it ever occur to you that all do not enjoy the feathers which give such a fine shape to your bed? To a few persons they produce an effect not unlike that of a mild mustard poultice, causing a surface burning of the whole body, and especially of the spinal column, where the nerve-centers are located. So off goes the feather bed; maybe there are two old ones that descended from a loved grandmother, or some ancestor still further back.

What comes next in the construction of the bed? It may be an old hard mattress, uneven and worn out, but surely the thick feather bed will cover its hard, lumpy proportions. Instead of an old mattress, it may be a tick stuffed very full of hard straw that has never been stirred, or it may be a little worn straw—too much worn for any bed that is used every day. There are no springs on the spare bed yet, because they were more needed somewhere else, and the feather bed will make up for their absence.

Put the springs on your own bed, weary housewife, if you have but one set. That is right. But do not depend on the feather bed for the comfort of your guest. Resolve that this very next corn husking you will have a good, sweet bed of the husks, or shucks, as some call them, carefully excluding every one that is too stiff or a little moldy. The children will save a few every day, and you will soon find you have enough to fill your tick. Then make another tick just the size of the bed, fill it evenly with cotton, and tie it, as you would a comforter. Six pounds of cotton will do nicely for this home-made cotton mattress.

Be sure that your tick is thoroughly clean and sweet. The cover for the mattress must be kept clean, too; and the sheets must also receive attention. Do you find it too much work to wash them each time after a guest has occupied the bed? If so, you may put them on the family beds if you feel willing to sleep after your guest; but in any case do not put your friend into a bed that has been soiled by unknown occupants. Let the coverings be light and clean.

You say, “This is more easily said than done.” Yes, but a little forethought will help you to keep the bedding clean. Tack a half-breadth of print over the ends of the ticks. This will protect them a long time, and it may be easily removed and washed. Perhaps you cover old quilts or comforters; if so, never cover dirt.

Let the fresh air and the sunshine into your spare bedroom, and frequently carry out the bedding into the sunshine and wind. Opening the window a few inches is not sufficient. If the windows are small, take one out entirely; you will be repaid by the sweet smell in place of the dusty, moldy odor of the shut-up room.

Look carefully after scents; if you are not quick to detect them, ask some one whose olfactories are in a normal condition. An unpleasant smell may spoil the restful comfort of the dear ones unto whom you delight to minister. See that the floor and everything in the room are scrupulously neat and clean. Do not ignore little things; not one is of small importance. Nice furnishings are not necessary, but the demand for cleanliness is imperative.

The weary, overburdened mother has our sincere sympathy. To such we would say: Do not try to do all the work yourself; set your girls, or even your boys, at the work of cleaning a room thoroughly every morning. With a light broom and a small mop a child can do the work when not more than ten years old, if he is carefully taught.

You would rather do it yourself? This feeling is quite natural, but do not yield to it. Sit down one morning, and in a kind, encouraging way oversee the work; another morning trust to the honor and ability of the child to do it all alone. The little worker will delight to call you to see how nice everything looks when his work is finished; and you will be surprised to see how fast a genuine good taste is cultivated in the neat arrangement of the room. I found it that way with my own precious daughter, now sleeping, when she was small.

Do not fail nor be discouraged even if you have poor health. For many years I had poor health and could never do the work in all parts of the house the same day. And to make the matter worse, I naturally lacked order. But I never was satisfied with poor housekeeping, and very often prayed that God would make it possible for me to become a good housekeeper; perhaps I should say “home-keeper,” for this is surely included in God’s plan. I believe He was as well pleased to answer that prayer as any other that I ever offered; for cleanliness and order are pleasing to Him, and He will help us over the hard places in our household duties if we trust in Him.