May 6, 2006 @ 4:20 am | Filed under: Mrs. Child's Wise Advice

The American Frugal Housewife by Lydia Maria Child, published in 1828, is a nuts-and-bolts how-to manual for home management. Crammed full of recipes, helpful hints, stain-removal techniques, parenting advice, herbal remedies, cures, and essays on the virtues of thriftiness, this slim volume became the housekeeping bible for legions of nineteenth-century wives. I myself have relied on Mrs. Child’s expertise (both in Frugal Housewife and her other books) for many small details in my Charlotte books.

In the days ahead it will be my pleasure to share with you some of Mrs. Child’s pearls of wisdom. We shall begin with her cure for chapped lips, which I am quite confident in declaring none of you have ever tried. And never will.

“EAR-WAX.—Nothing is better than ear-wax to prevent the painful effects resulting from a wound by a nail, skewer, &c. It should be put on as soon as possible. Those who are troubled with cracked lips have found this remedy successful when others have failed. It is one of those sorts of cures, which are very likely to be laughed at; but I know of its having produced very beneficial results.”

—The American Frugal Housewife, p. 116.

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Tags: homemaking, housekeeping, Lydia Maria Child, home and hearth, home remedies

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1. Karen E. says:

   Ugh … I can hear my children wretching now ….

   Posted on May 6th, 2006 at 6:25 am

2. Jamie says:

   Eeeewwwww! Eeewww eeewwww eeeewwwww. And eeew.

   Posted on May 6th, 2006 at 7:19 am

3. Alice says:

   And if you’re particularly frugal, you may still have enough left over to make candles.

   : )

   Posted on May 6th, 2006 at 7:21 am

4. Teri says:

   I’m always losing my chapstick but I think I can always find my ear … perfect!

   Posted on May 6th, 2006 at 7:47 am

5. Beth says:

   LOL Thanks for the laugh! Useful information … should I ever be lost in the wilderness, with chapped lips!

   Posted on May 6th, 2006 at 11:06 am

6. xixi says:

   I just made an audible AUUUUGGGGGHHHH directed at my monitor!

   Posted on May 6th, 2006 at 12:40 pm

7. Jill, The Crib Chick says:

   I’ve been enjoying your blog (found through the Well-Trained Mind board list), and this was certainly an unexpected giggle. :o)

   Posted on May 6th, 2006 at 4:13 pm

8. Mary Ellen Barrett says:

   That was so odd I had to buy the book. Yuck.

   Posted on May 8th, 2006 at 8:49 am

9. CarolG says:

   Well, I guess it would keep you from licking your lips, and isn’t that half the problem when they are chapped! What a hoot!

   Posted on May 8th, 2006 at 9:56 am

10. Mama Squirrel says:

    Yech. I’ve linked.

    Posted on May 11th, 2006 at 6:34 am

11. Coram Deo says:

    Wondering What to do With that Excess Earwax??

    Mrs. Child has just the ticket. Youve got to go here to read it….

    Posted on May 11th, 2006 at 6:55 pm

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