816. _Attention to little things._--By attention to _little things_, the neat appearance of a house may be secured, and time and labor saved. For instance, when you are sewing, carefully deposit your bits of thread, &c., in a little basket or box, instead of throwing them on the floor. And again: set your chairs out a little from the wall, instead of putting them close to it, which would not only rub the paint from the chairs, but would soon deface the beauty of the wall-paper. These appear like trifling things--but nothing is too trifling to demand our attention, when we are endeavoring to fulfil the duties of our sphere. 817. _Cheerfulness._--Does it seem singular that _cheerfulness_ is placed among the requisites for good house-keeping? But it is of far more importance than you would, at first view, imagine. What matters it to a brother or husband, if the house be ever so neat, or the meals punctually and well prepared, if the mistress of it is fretful and fault-finding--ever discontented and complaining. The _outside_ of such a house is ever the most attractive to him, and any and _every_ excuse will be made for absenting himself; and the plea of business or engagements will be made to her who is doomed to pass her hours needlessly in solitude. 818. _Of Economy in Expenditure._--Economy should be the first point in all families, whatever be their circumstances. A prudent housekeeper will regulate the ordinary expenses of a family, according to the annual sum allowed for housekeeping. By this means, the provision will be uniformly good, and it will not be requisite to practise meanness on many occasions, for the sake of meeting extra expense on one. The best check upon outrunning an income is to pay bills weekly, for you may then retrench in time. This practice is likewise a salutary check upon the correctness of the accounts themselves. To young beginners in housekeeping, the following brief _hints on domestic economy_, in the management of a moderate income, may perhaps not prove unacceptable. A bill of parcels and receipt should be required, even if the money be paid at the time of purchase; and, to avoid mistakes, let the goods be compared with these when brought home; or, if paid or at future periods, a bill should be sent with the article, and regularly filed on separate files for each tradesman. An inventory of furniture, linen, and china should be kept, and the things examined by it twice a-year, or oftener if there be a change of servants; the articles used by servants should be intrusted to their care, with a list, as is done with the plate. In articles not in common use, such as spare bedding, tickets of parchment, numbered and specifying to what they belong, should be sewed on each; and minor articles in daily use, such as household cloths and kitchen requisites, should be occasionally looked to.