Inspiring Words from Benjamin Franklin

“Money never made a man happy yet, nor will it. The more a man has, the more he wants. Instead of filling a vacuum, it makes one.”



“To lengthen thy life, lessen thy meals.”



“Speak ill of no man, but speak all the good you know of everybody”



“When in doubt, don't.”


“He that speaks much, is much mistaken”


- Benjamin Franklin

1894 Advice for Housewives

The Following is taken from a book, "Primer of Domestic Economy" by Edith A. Barnett.
This was published in London, in 1894:

1. "Whether the income be small or large, certain or uncertain, the good housewife will keep an accurate account of her income and expenditure.

2. To buy on credit is never economical. Shopkeepers naturally ask more when they have to wait for their money.

3. To have a bill at every shop you deal with is extremely harassing, and makes a housekeeper always feel short of money, since every quarter-day she must settle up her debts and then run in debt again at once.

4. The secret of economical buying is never to buy anything that you do not really need, and not then unless you can spare the money to pay for it at once.

5. A penny saved is a penny got.

6. The pennies saved every day by good management, soon become pounds, and what is wanted is to keep them safe against a rainy day; which is an expression used to signify a time when your income may be less than it is now or some emergency when you may require a little extra expenditure, such as a doctor's bill, or a country trip, or special teaching for a talented and industrious child. Then, again, there is always old age to look forward to, and if that is not already provided for in other ways, some saving should be specially ordained to meet it.

7. Probably women as housekeepers spend the greater part of the money that is spent in the world."

Mama's Prayers

The Residence of the Honorable Horace Greeley, Currier and Ives, 1872

 

 

Gospel Song: "Thank you Mama for Praying for Me"

 




(April 2014, edited update: I can no longer find the original video and song online, by "The Inspirations," which is my favorite version.  However, the lyrics below are from them.  The current video (above) was shared with me by a reader.  The song in the video is sung by Amos Raber.)

Lyrics for "Thank you Mama for Praying for Me" sung by The Inspirations

Somebody, somewhere was praying that night
When Jesus came in and I saw the light.
It must have been Mama
I've heard her before
as she knelt by her bedside, her tears touched the floor.

Thank you Mama for praying for me
If you had not prayed, then where would I be.
They called you old fashioned, but you loved the Lord
and your prayers touched the Master as your tears touched the floor.

She held to the altar and wouldn't give in
'Til she knew all her children had been born again.
Just an old fashioned Mama, but she loved the Lord
and her prayers touched the Master as her tears touched the floor.

Thank you Mama for praying for me
If you had not prayed then where would I be
They called you old fashioned, but you loved the Lord
and your prayers touched the Master as your tears touched the floor.

Thank you Mama for praying for me
If you had not prayed then where would I be
They called you old fashioned, but you loved the Lord
and your prayers touched the Master as your tears touched the floor.

                                ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

  - To find out more about this blog, or Mrs. White, please visit our About page. -

From the Archives - 

Making the Most of Humble Means - Poor and Pretty Living.

Contentment - A Covered Bridge and Graceful Living in Rural Vermont. 

A Peaceful Routine - The Four Little Tasks of Home.

Mrs. White's special book for homemakers:

"Introduction to Home Economics:  Gentle Instruction to Find Joy in Christian Homemaking." 

Paperback, 200 pages. 

Hello Mama - Kingsmen Quartet

Lyrics for "Hello Mama" by The Kingsmen Quartet


"Hello Mama

I just called to tell you
All those tears you shed for me
they were not in vain.

Cuz you see there was
something happened
tonight while I was traveling
down a lonely road
I thought that you should be the first to know
I'm not the same.

All those dreary days, they're over now.
Those sleepless nights are passed.
All those prayers that you have prayed so long
They're answered now at last.

I'm not the man that I used to be
and Mama you can sleep tonight
for I've found Jesus, now everything's alright.

All because
I'm not the man that I used to be
and Mama you can sleep tonight.
I found Jesus now everythings alright
It's alright."

From the Archives - 

Beautiful Living - Feminine Grace.

A Blessing - The Light in a Messy House.

Remembering my Childhood - Manners Learned at the Finishing School.

 - To find out more about this blog, or Mrs. White, please visit our About page. -

- It is an honor to be the bookkeeper for the house! - 

Find detailed instruction and inspiration in budgeting on a small income, along with a method for keeping a handwritten ledger, with lots of thrifty ideas, in Mrs. White's book:

 -An Old Fashioned Budget: Humble Financial Management for the Christian Housewife. 

 Paperback, 77 pages.