'husky woman'

HORACE: A man needs someone to take out the garbage.

DOLLY: And Irene Malloy is just the one to do it!

The rest of the song sets up this joke:

Vandergelder:
It takes a woman all powdered and pink
To joyously clean out the drain in the sink
And it takes an angel with long golden lashes
And soft dresden fingers
For dumping the ashes
Yes it takes a woman
A dainty woman
A sweetheart, a mistress, a wife

Cornelius, Barnaby, & 2 customers:
O yes it takes a woman
A fragile woman
To bring you the sweet things in life

Vandergelder:
The frail young maiden who's constantly there
For washing and blueing and shoeing the mare
And it takes a female for setting the table
And weaving the Guernsey
And cleaning the stable

All:
O yes it takes a woman
A dainty woman
A sweetheart, a mistress, a wife
O yes it takes a woman
A fragile woman
To bring you the sweet things in life

And so she'll work until infinity
Three cheers for femininity
God bless femininity

Vandergelder:
And in the winter she'll shovel the ice
And lovingly set out the traps for the mice
She's a joy and treasure for practically speaking
To whom can you turn when the plumbing is leaking?

That's the point... he wants a woman to do his housework. It's the whole joke built into the song. And to be the best at doing the work, she should be "husky",i.e. strong. Love is not on Vandergelder's mind.

The war is not meant to be won... it is meant to be continuous.