It raises the value of the operation, and demonstrates its usefulness and necessity; for if there is little difference apparent between the house before cleaning and after, there is a world of odds between a house-_cleaning_ and a house _cleaned_.

There is a perfect delight in seeing what order _can_ be brought out of chaos, even though you are obliged to make the chaos first, to produce the effect.
I had inflicted several of these impressive lessons upon Mr.Smith.
He had become so much horrified at their confusion, that I do believe he had fully reconciled himself to dust and dirt, as the better alternative.

They were, to be sure, at some little cost of comfort to myself, and reflectively produced discomfort for him; for he traced, with a correctness which I could easier frown at than deny, many a week's indisposition to my house-cleaning phrenzy.
And when a man's wife is sick, if, he is a man of feeling, he is unhappy.

And if he is a man of selfishness, he is wretched, too; for what becomes of husband's little comforts, when wife is not able to procure or direct them?
So Mr.Smith,--for the better reason, I believe--pure compassion--declared, long ago, against wholesale house-cleaning.

And he has so often interfered in my proceedings with his provoking prophecy, "Now, you know, my dear, it will make you sick," that I have striven many a time to hide pain under a forced smile, when it seemed as if "my head was like to rend." Now, a woman _can_ carry her point in the house by stubborn daring, but "the better part of valor is discretion," and I have learned quietly to take my way, and steal a march upon him;--open the flood-gate--set the chimneys smoking--up with the carpets--throw the beds out of the windows--pack the best china in the middle of the floor distributing pokers and fire-shovels among it--unhang the pictures--set all the doors ajar--roll the children in dust--cover my head with a soiled night-cap--put on slip-shod shoes--and streak my ancles with dust and dirty water.