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DETROIT, DECEMBER 5, 1887- ‘

 

 

 

.THE HOUSEHOLD-"Supplement.

 

 

A MOTHER‘S LEISURE.

 

She paused beside the doorway
Where her treasures lay asleep.
And thought an hour of leisure
Was hers to hold and keep.
A rare, rare bit of leisure—
She wondered what to do;
To finish up a. little sketch.
Or read a story new;
To write a letter to a. friend.
Or make a simple rhyme:
To try her rusty music,
0r enioy an idle time: '
But a sudden cough behind her
Filled her [thither-heart with dread:
The thought of rest and literature
With art and music tied.
Her rare. rare bit of leisure
Proved a myth as you may see.
For in a moment she decided
To make some Union Tea.
November 28th a. H. .i.

 

..__
GIFTS AND THEIR GIVING.

At this season of the year, many people
are attacked by a pe 'uliar form of mania,
which runs its course in two or three weeks,
during which it attains fever heat, culmin-
ates atatixed date known as Christmas,
and is followed by a reaction accompanied
by great depression of spirits and often by
financial and physical collapse. It is the

assion for making presents, sanctioned by
custom and tradition, said to have originat-
ed in commemoration of the offerings
brought by the wise men of the East to the
infant Jisus: but somewhat diverted from
its purpose in that few give gifts to the
church, representative of the risen Christ,
at this season. The custom had in
old times a beautiful significance. a mean-
ing which seems to have been largely lost
in later days, so that many have come to
regard the practice as troublesome and ex-
pensive, and more to be honored in the
breach than in the observance.

In the first place, we make presents to
members of our own family and relatives
and those to whose favor we would com—
mend ourselves, rather than to the destitute
and needy, as was the original intent of the
custom. Often we give beyond our means,
spending money needed for essentials at
home, in making costly gifts for those who
already have enough and to spare. We
buy foolishly, not suiting our offering to the

tastes of the recipient, who feels under an

obligation to us for something for which he
has no use, and in which he takes no
pleasure. And sometimes, I am sorry to
say, the giving seems to be rather a com-
mercial exchange, in which each reckons in
secret the value of the gift given and the
one received, and strikes a balance in his

own or the other’s favor. as happens. This
spirit crops out very often in unguarded
speech, especially in the young. “I sent
Minna such a sweet tascinator; it t0ok me a
week to make it, and all she sent me was
this beggarly sachet,” and the despised
“confection ” of ribbons and violet powder
was pettisbly thrown intoacorner, while
an unmistakable frown made very un-
becoming lines on a fair young forehead.
“I don’t know what on earth to send Mary:
last Christmas she sentme that-lovely table—
scarf. and this year I must make it up to
her, but ldon’t knko how on cart) to afford
anything nice, these hard times, and so
much else to buy. But I hate to have her
think I’m mean!" said a busy young house-
keeper perplexed over many things.

lsn’tit true? Is not that the spirit in
which Christmas gifts are frequently ex-
changed? Dees not giving under such con-
ditions become a tax, a forced contribution,
levied through a time-honored custom
which is felt to be somewhat of an extor-
tion?
I have an acquaintance here in this city,
who has counted up thirty-eight Christmas
gifts she hat “ got to make.” Her list in-
cludes relatives, members of her own family,
her servant and washerwoman—and these
are tie most deserving of all—and sundry
wealthy neighbors. ller husband’s salary
is not large, and his family is an expensive
one; think of the aggregate of these un—
necessary, uncalled for presents. coming to
swell the bills at the close of the year! A
young girl commenced preparing her gifts
in September: she said: " I have so many
to make for and so little money, I must be-
gin early or I shall not get round,” and she
gave up the time which should have been
spent over her lessons at school and her
music at home, to etching Kate Greenaway
designs on towels, and spoiling her eyes
over heuristitching, a most unwise sacrifice,
which I blamed her mother for permitting.
SO it goes; the gift giving begun as religious—
ly symbolic has degenerated into a very
Worldly business indeed. to a great many of
us.
I do not think this view is so true in the
country as in the city; at least it seems so
to me. There the giving is confined more
to the family circle, and the gifts are more
commensurate with the means of the giver.
I do not wish to be understood as objecting
or discountenancing the custom of Christ-
mas, it is only its abuse I object to; the
spending more money than it is right we
should spend; the giving because some one
else has given to us, when we feel we can—

 

not aiford the return, the meanness of spirit

which calculates values. 0an pleasure
n a gift comes——-or ought to comm-much
.lnore from delight in the infection that
prompted it than its pecuniary worth; and
next from a sense of suitability. which
shows our inclinations have been regarded
in its choiCe; though one may not be so
jealous as "Lucy Snowe’s" lover in
Ville/tr, who Would not i}(‘-'Cpt her birthday
offering until Convinced that it was de
signed solely and particularly for him.

The girls often choose Christmas as a
time to in a certain sense, express to
their particular friends anong the young
men. their obligations for attentions in the
way of concert, supper. theatre 2 nd party.
where custom decrees thr- young men shall
bear the expense. 'l‘rue. many girls expect
presents from them in aidition to other
favors, and feel their company a sufficient
repayment; but others. less ("inceitetL per-
haps, avail themselves of the season’s
privilege to "balance accounts." But it
is better not to do So unless you are sure
the young man thus favored will not con-
sider your gift an invitation to respond
with another. Young men just beginning,
or working on a small salary, have many
ways for their money, and a great dislike to
having the girls think them mean or stingy.
They are, tempted to spend the money
which ought to go to the washwoman or the
landlady, in repayment of a gift. If you
have done as some girls still do. let them
know you accept no gifts from gentlemen
except flowers or bonbms. or perhaps an
inexpensiVe book, you can feel free to give
a Christmas greeting, making your offering
appropriate, something you have reason to
believe will be acceptable. and not t0o
dainty for use. Men don‘t yearn for
sachets and chair drapes, but they can up-
preciate a half dozen handkerchiefs marked
with their initial, a pair of gloves or a.
pretty tie.

I believe We are on the way to a reform in
this mafter, for whenever a custom gets to
be so onerous as in many cases this has be-
come, it works its own remedy. There is a
spontaneous throwing off its oppressive
bondage, and we adjust ourselves to more
healthy conditions. This will come in
time in Christmas gift-giving, as it «has in
many other things. BEATBIX.

w

~ FARM BREAKFASTS.

 

I wonder how many farmers’ wives ever
really prepared any such a week’s breakfasts
as those given in a recent HOUSEHOLD

 

by E. R. S. She says, “They are not
elaborate nor are they meager.” They cer~

  


  

tainly are. not meager: they are what I
should call elaborate and not at all a fair
sample of the average farm breakfast. If
the rest of her meals through the day are
on the same scale their much abused
stomachs are indeed to be pitied. Then
too, I should consider such breakfasts rather
expensive. If E. ii S. was obliged to pre-
pare breakfast for from three to five hirrd
men, I hardly think she would offer them
chocolate and marmalade with all the rest
they had for Sunday’s breakfast. But per-
haps the fact that they were prepared for
only two made some difference. In any
case [should not care for so elaborate a
breakfast. However, each one to his taste.
And Mr. E. B. S. mry consider himself for-
tunate if he can afford such breakfasts the

year round. EUPHEMIA.

ALnrox.
——-—-«.——-—-

CHRISTMAS GIFTS.

The Editor says: “If you have anything
to say about Christmas. speak up."

I would like to suggest a few pretty
things and would also like to hear from
others, as I am very fond of fancy work and
do a greu deal of it.

Take a piece of plush twelve inches wide
and about eight inches long: line with satin
to match, of any pretty contrasting shade:
then tie the lining with silk in diamonds,
put cotton batting between and sprinkle
the cotton with violet powder: then sew to—
gether, edge with cord (heavy chenille is
best), then on the lining put two straps of
ribbon half an inch wideacross the top (each
end) to hold the gloves: then put a wider
ribbon around the case to tie when folded
together. I have just made one in peacock
blue plush with pink lining. ribbons and
cord.

Chamois skins make pretty button bags.
Sew them across on the right side, up about
three inches from the bottom. then gild a
band half an ihch deep, then cut in narrow
strips for fringe; pink the _top and turn the
point of the bag down a ways. Take a
Spool and draw a circle, gild a fine line
around it and sketch insome little figures, or
paint a flower inside. Then in pretty fancy
letters put in with gilding: “ Button, but-
ton, who’s got the button.“ Or make a
bag of silk, satin or plush, face it with the
silk, run ribbons in to draw up and put on
the letters in gilt. lhave tried both ways
and the)" are very useful.

A novel bangle-board is a. pretty little
chair. not a very large one, say about eight
or ten inches in height: gild, then make a
pin cushion to fit the seat, cover with plush
and leave enough to tack on the under side
of the chair, fold the corners by the legs
smooth, and then on the point of the chair
seat put in hooks to hold your button hook,
pins, etc: tie a ribbon across the back and
make a good sized bow at the top and one at
the side. They are pretty and not ex-
pensive, corting 65 or 70 cents.

I have made some aprons for afternoon;
that are very much admired. Buy a yard
and a quarter of dotted muslin, the dots
should be the size of a penny—then draw
with a pencil large wild daisies, leaves
large and small, scatter one or two broken
leaves down the apron, then etch in yellow

leaves in olive; put in a deep hem and
bunch the daisies (27. e. make them in clus—
ters); then turn down a hem and run rib-
bons through the hem to tie: or shir in two
or three rows and have the ribbons at each
side. Some have a dislike to gingham
aprons for the kitchen. [have worked in
the white squares in cross-stitch a fancy
pattern: one called Roman border. Make
seven crosses up, then seven for the top,
down three, in five, then down five, then
with seven again for the bottom of the
figure, work in red wash cotton and it adds
a great deal tothe apron and is not any work
to speak of.

I will not suggest anything more at this
time, as this is my first letter to the HOUSE-
HOLD and it may find its way to the basket-
We enjoy the little paper. and I hope some
of the girls will tell what they are doing for
Christmas. Ihave so many friends that I
want to remember and I run ashore for new

things. Tomrv.

A NN’ Armor}.
0.“

HOME TALKS.

 

NO. X

 

The macaroni and cheese and rice pud-
ding we will cook in the morning. as the
oven will be needed after ten o’clock for
that baked chicken. Set the rice over to
steam: two coffee cups will be needed, with
three pints of water and a half teaspoonful
of salt.

Put six ounces of macaroni to boil in
salted water: it should be covered nicely.
Make a custard for the rice in the largest
pudding dish: use six eggs beaten lightly,
two quarts of rich milk. a coffee cup of
sugar. if that is not sweet enough add more,
lump of butter size of an egg, half a nutmeg.
Stir in the rice and set to bake. do not al-
low it to boil. 1 should think three-quarters
of an hour would be sufficient; when you
serve it pass strawberry jam with it, no
butter and sugar. When the macaroni is
tender drain off the water, warm that small-
sized brown-ware dish; lay in a layer of
grated cheese, pepper, salt and bits of but-
ter and proceed until the dish is full, but
finish with cheese: pour on rich milk to fill
the dish two~thirds full, and bake three-
quarters of an hour. These two dishes can
be. kept warm until needed. The beef’s
tongue is boiling, it will be done about ten-
o'clock, that is to be set to cool and is
served on individual platters with a spoon-
ful of tomato sauce. or simple stewed
tomatoes, as thick as they can be cooked
and seasoned with butter, pepper and salt.
The giblets, or hearts, gizzards and livers
of the chickens must be boiled tender and
chopped line, to add to the gravy. The
beets can be cooked before the stove is
needed for the potatoes. coffee and other
things, slice them in the dish, sprinkle on
three tablespoonfuls of granulated sugar
and half a cup of vinegar; set them where
they will be just warm. Always be sure to
put vegetables into boiling water and when
they are done take them up, as they will
absorb water if allowed to stand, add salt
to nearly all kinds: lima beans, corn, to—
matoes, squash, peas, asparagus, I do not
salt until they are done. When you pare

 

wash silks, than the stems and some few

  

potatoes throw them into a pan of cold

 

2 'I‘HE HOUSEHOLD.

water, as it keeps them from turning red.
After they are boiled dry them over the fire
to make them mealy, and try to have them
done just as they are needed: thzy are much.
better than when allowed to stand. There
is such a difference in potatoes. some fly all
to pieces before they are done in the center.

Rub the chickens with salt. outside and
in: make the dressing the same as you did
for the fish, only use more sage and make
it more moist. After filling them spread
them liberally with butter and bake the:-
for two hours. turn them often and baste
each time, proceed as you did in roasting
beef ; make the the gravy the same, adding
the giblets chopped fine. The waffles for
tea are made as follows: One quart sweet
milk: two~tl1irds teacupful melted butter;
six eggs, whites and yolks beaten separately;
four teaspoonfuls baking powder; flour to
makea batter so it will pour nicely. It is
slow work baking them one at a time, but-
ter them and sprinkle powdered sugar be—
tween them, they are so nice for tea. Now
everything is “booming," I will commence
the comforters, and leave you and your help
monarchs of the kitchen.

BATTLE (‘ni-znx. EVANHEIJNE

———-—9¢~———

MERRY CHRISTMAS.

 

The Christmas days will soon be here,
when the little folks will expect aChristmas
tree and lots of nice things, and who can
have the heart to disappoint them. What
mother worthy of that dear name does not
delight in playing “Santa Claus” to her
little ones. How to fill and trim a tree so
that one need not feel it a. luxury too dearly
bought, is a question many are cudgeling
their brains to solve. A tree need not nec—
essarily be an expensive affair; some as
pretty ones as I ever saw cost but very little
money. Here are a few hints that may aid
some.

- Many pretty toys can easily be made at
home at no expense to speak of, except the
time, and they will please the children quite
as well, and certainly last much longer than
those we buy. Toy animals are pretty,
easy to make, and the materials are to be
found in almost any home. For a little
white dog, rabbit or cat, use canton flan-
nel, the. nap side out to give a decoy ap-
pearance, cut out the parts, sew together,
leaving an opening underneath, through
which stuff with cotton batting. then close;
use beads for eyes, red twist for the mouth,
line the ears with pink cambric, and use
waxed threads for the whiskers of the cat.
For a horse use dark cloth, a bit of old
fringe will serve for mane and tail. An
elephant and camel are comical looking
toys; insert sticks in the legs of the camel,
to stiffen them. Shape two pieces of wood
for tasks for your miniature Jumbo and
cover them with pieces of old white kid or
paper cambric: roll abit of the cloth for
the tail. For a mouse, rat. or duck use
plain brown cashmere: cut out the parts,
sew together, stuff same as for the others.
Any of these animals can also be used for
pin cushions: think of a great hum-pbacked
camel, or a kitten or rabbit with their
backs thrust full of pins.

A boot shaped autograph album is an-

 

other novelty. The inside leaves are to be

 

  

    

"V

   

 

 
 


 

.‘v

.-..-.m My...

    

 

 

    

T‘HE HOUSEHOLD. 3

 

—w

 

of unruled paper, the cover of red card
board, at the top are four perforations made
with a shoemaker's eyelet punch, and
through these openings are drawn two tiny
bows of narrow blue ribbon, the cover is
ornamented with scrap pictures. Ajump-
ing jack, although an old-fashioned toy,
will always be welcomed where there is a
child; they can easily be made from paste-
board. Cut out the parts, fasten the joints
of the limbs with bent pins; and with a
pencil mark out its clownish features: for
the body use two same sized pieces of card
board, held far enough apart by the insert-
ing ofa piece in each shoulder and near
each leg, fasten a string to each arm and
leg in such a way that when pulled down-
ward, poor “Jack" will at once assume
violent contortions. much to the amusement
of the little folks.

Various colored birds are pretty, and
doubly so when a liberal number of them
are used to help dress out the tree: make
the body of red, blue, or yellow cloth, and
black for wings and tail, wire wound with
brown yarn for legs. A dove on the wing
is a lovely tree ornament, and so appro-
priate. Cut out a pasteboard dove and cover
both sides with cotton flannel. the decay
side out; stuff slightly, then with strong
thread suSpend the dove in the tree, the
head inclined downward, and fasten a sprig
of evergreen in its beak, the effect is beauti~
ful; when no longer needed for the occasion
it can be used for a window ornament, by
suspending the same way at the top of the
window, so as to give a good outside view.

Now for the tree. Place it in shape to
receive the pretty things, putting on the
larger ones first. If not convenient to visit
the store for those little penny articles, for
ornamenting a tree, then you can make
them. Stars, anchors and English walnuts
are pretty covered with tin foil, strings of
popcorn, paper balls, or tiny cornucopias
made of bright colored paper and filled
with sweetmeats are all pretty and serve
the purpose.

There. if these few words hive aided any
1 am repaid for penning them. If any
one wishes to make some of these toys
but have no patterns, send postage to me;
I have a variety and will give you all you
wish. I have patterns for horse. pig, rab»
bit, cat, rat, mouse, elephant. sheep, camel.
duck, dove on wing, bird. deer. balloon. air
castle, match safe. match case. wheelbarrow.
letter holder, boot, autograph album. sofa,
chair, rag doll and large doll’s body. On
each pattern I will give directions how to
make. Send one stamp for postage if only a
pattern or two are wanted, but for the whole
of these send six or seven stamps. Do not
wait until near Christmas, for then I will be
buSy, but now 1 have. ample time to oblige
you. Mas. F. A. WARNER.

EAST SAMNAa.

—-—40&~——-——

CHRISTM AS GIFTS.

 

For those who have plenty of money there
is no need of suggestions, for the shop win-
dows are filled with beautiful things: but
for those who wish to make their presents
instead of buying them every suggestion
helps. For grandmothers there is nothing
more appropriate than crocheted slippers,
shoulder capes or nice warm underskirts.

When there are small children in the family
mittens or leggings do not come amiss.

Very pretty and inexpensive picture
scarfs can be made of scrim. It is wide
enough to be cut into three strips, and one
yard and a quarter is a good length. The
ends are fringed out for about two or three
inches while the sides are hemmed with a
very narrow hem and drawn work a quarter
of an inch from the hem. Any pretty de-
sign can be worked with tinsel cord across
the ends. Another neat way is a finish of
two rows of drawn work and three rows of
half inch ribbon interwoven above.

Acrostics, spelling the words “ Merry
Christmas,” are pleasing. Plain cardboard
out five by six inches is a pretty size. Se-
lect appropriate Bible texts or familiar «1m»
tations from favorite authors and write them
in b ack ink on the cards, excepting the first
letter which should be written in colored
ink. A pretty spray of grasses or flowers in
one corner adds much to the beauty. Two
Christmas cards are used for the covers.
Tie all of the cards together in order with a
ribbon, and you will have a very nice Christ-
mas greeting.

llandkerchief cases are made. of two con-
trasting colors of satin eight by eighteen
inches. The two are sewed together and
interlined with wadding sprinkled with
sachet powder. The upper end is turned
down two inches and the lower end turned
to meet the upper. The right hand corner
of the lower part is turned over until it
rforms ahalf square. Ribbon bows are fas~
tened on the corner which turns over and
on the two corners of the upper part.

All).

—-—————&oo————-——

TALKING TOO MUCH.

 

l‘think there is no fault which a woman
is more prone to confess than the one of
talking too much; nothing she is more apt to
wish for than the timely silence called
"golden.” But the tongue is a ditiicult
member to curb: she resolves and resolves
again only to find conscience holding up
some unjust sentence, an uncalled—for crit-
icism. or a piece of silly gossip to shame
her sensitive mind: or turns, cringes and
perhaps lies her way out of something
which has reached her subject’s ear and re-
turned, in perverted meaning and double
strength to her own. It seems strange too
that while we talk so much ourselves. we
should be so sensitive over being talked
about.

I often think that with our rights of suf-
frage granted, we could never run for office
for we should die in the midst of the cam-
paign from the cruel things said of us.
Who of us could survive the venom of Nast’s
cartoons, or any of the newspaper “leaders?”

Men are different. They claim the royal
right of continually slurring the play of our
tongues, while the truth is their own play
just as freely and just as foolishly. but
what they say doesn’t take the same effect.
Two of them will often stand at the point
of blows for an hour, and call each other
every bad name in the calendar, but meet
next day with a good natured nod, and in
a week all is forgotten: while a woman
seldom comes to a direct “war of words”
with her enemy, but hears, through that

 

indispensable third person, of some remark

    

 

about her face, dress, manner, or character.
and feels mad all over forever after. She
may feel that there was truth in it, but that
helps very little. She may say over and
over again that, for the sake of things she
loves better she is willing to yield the honor
of immacculate housekeeping to others.
but when she hears that some friend has
mentionedthe fact of having seen dust upon
her frames and webs upon her walls, in
spite of her pride of intellect, the pain
comes in her heart and stays there until it
grows old. When this old year dies the
new will be greeted by a host of new re-
solves, and W.‘" 1 know that from many a
true, thoughtful woman, will be offered one
to break up the habit of “talking too much,"
while at the same time she may smile to re-
member how often it has been made before

and broken. A. H. J.

Trio-M as.
———‘

 

DIARY OF A WEEK.

Dear me, how full the time is! Evangtr
line tells us she is a farmer’s wife, and yet
we see she gets time every week to write
an article for the lionsnnoxm. I really
cannot find time, though 1 would like to
once in a while. llan‘y told me a short
time ago of his approaching marriage to
Hetty, and I do so want to give him a few
short talks that he may not be such a
thoughtless, selfish man as many I know,
for I want him to have a happy, live wife,
not a dead “ yet living” one in a few short
years. Ialways "set great store” by Betty’s
mother and knew she would teach Betty in
the way she should go, but I really was
heat the other day when 1 went over there
and saw the great amount of things she is
going to give Hetty for a “ setting out.” I
about made up my mind it would be of no
use to talk to Harry, for he will not have to
buy anything for so long that he will be so
astonished when Hetty does ask for a new
dress or anything he will have forgotten my
twilight talks. and will open his purse
grudgingly and hand her a five dollar bill.
thinking that ample enough to get any
woman a dress.

Well, [will keep a diary this week, be-
ginning to—night, and perhaps in that way I
may see where I could find time to write my
mite for the llonsnnoim. We (the girls
and I) rose shortly after five this morning
(Monday) and started bravely at work de-
termined to accomplish something this
week. for we want to get our sewing
done up so we can make some Christmas
presents: money is scarce this year, and
we will have to make instead of buying.
1 attended to the creamery, May got the
breakfast, Mary put up the dinners, there
were four to put up separately, and Bell
went at the washing. The clothes had
been put to soak over night and she thought
she could wring them out and get the tubs
ready and put over the boiler of water be-
fore breakfast. By the time all this was
done Mr. -———~ and Johnnie had brought
in the milk, fed the horses, hogs and calves,
and were ready for breakfast. Breakfast
over, May had to get ready and go to the
shop. She drove the horse down instead of
waiting until Mary went to school. Mary
washed the breakfast dishes, Belle and I
went to washing. thinking we had a good


 

4 'I‘HE. HOUSEHOLD.

 

 

start and would get done in good season.
. Belle thought she could get the skirt of her
new satteen dress out out in the forenoon
and perhaps get it nearly made in the after-
noon after folding the clothes. But alas
for the plans of men and mice: about eight
o’clock the teacher’s father came and said
the teacher was sick, and would Belle
kindly teach for her.

Belle took her hands from the suds and
prepared to go, Johnnie took Mary to town
to school, and when he came back he started
for school. and as there was no one to help
I concluded I had to complete all unfinished
work.

I got through washing, did the map-
ping, swept up the dining room, watered
the plants, attended to the bird, and had
dinner ready soon after twelve. I did not
have to be so punctual to-day as the hired
man has gone, and Mr. ——-—— did not get
home from town until a. little past noon.

After dinner I washed the dishes, made
a fire in the furnace, changed my dress and
found I had time to sew a little. I sewed
on my dress until four o‘clock, then made a
fire in the kitchen stove, put over the irons
and a kettle of water to wash the creamery,
then I went out and brought in the sheets,
knit underwear, red tablecloth and coarse
shirts and folded them, Slightly sprinkled;
then ldrew off the milk from the creamery
and put it warming for the calves; by this
time the irons were hotand I commenced to
iron, as it was too dark to sew and Belle had
come home. She got the supper and I
ironed the clothes I had folded and the
coarse towels in addition.

The girls and Johnnie came home, hungry
as usual and with their usual store of news.
The girls brought four letters. one for each
of them and one for me. Supper over,
Belle and Mary washed the dishes and pre-
pared things in readiness for breakfast;
May practiced and I finished folding the
clothes. After the work was done we spent
an hour reading “Ben Hur” and com-
menting upon the same.

Tuesday, Nov. 15th, we arose at the usual
early hour, but as this was the morning for
churning May took care of the creamery in
addition to getting breakfast, and I pre-
pared the churn and did the churning,
Belle stirred up a cake. She used a new
recipe which a young lady friend gave her,
and found it made a very nice cake and
would prove very valuable when eggs are
scarce. I would give it, but I think we
have had a surfeit of cake recipes in the
HOUSEHOLD and I forbear. After she put
her cake in the oven she mixed fried cakes,
and had them partly fried before breakfasr.

The men were unusually long doing the
chores this morning, as they were going to
butcher, and filled the scalding tank with
water and made the fire before coming in,
I had finished churning, taken care of the
butter and put it down cellar and Mary had
washed and scalded the churn.

Breakfast over, May started for the shop,
Belle finished the fried cakes and made a
huckleberry pie, then finished the ironing.
Mary washed the dishes and I did the other
work, washed and filled the lamps, baked
the bread (salt-rising) and in addition went
down cellar and brought up all the old pork
in the banel. washed it, took off the skin,

 

cut it up in small pieces and put it in water
to soak, as we do not like old pork after we
have the new, and I thought it good economy
to try it out for lard. I got through in time
to make a pair of sleeves for my dress be-
fore dinner, and Belle found time to crochet
while on her fascinator.

After dinner 1 put the pork over to try;
I would not have worked at this in the
afternoon only I knew we would want the
kettle in the morning to try out the fresh
lard. Belle cut out the skirt of the dress,
and as I wanted the machine she sewed up
the widths bv hand. I put the sleeves in
my basque, then tried it on and found the
braid ornamenting the front was not quite
true, one side being lower than the other.
1 took it off, concluding dressmaking was
not altogether lovely. The pork had tried
enough, so while it was cooling I scalded
the barrel, that it might be ready when
wanted for the new pork,othen finished
caring for the lard and changed my dress;
after which I ripped the braid from the
basque and basted it on again. It was now
time for the night work. We put up our
sewing, I started the fire in the kitchen
stove and Belle drew off the milk from the
creamery, I brought up the butter and
worked it over, then packed it in the
package, which it just filled. This I shall
-:0ver with muslin, then put salt over and in
the morning send by express to Detroit to
a private customer.

When May came home she said: “Belle,
where is your goods? I will draft and cut
your dress and perhaps Ican fit it to-night.”
Belle got the goods, the dress was cut out,
bested together and the fit was perfect.
May felt quite elated, as this is her first at-
tempt at fitting. We have had our even-
ing reading in “Ben Hur,” and Mary and
Belle have each written a letter. -

( Continued next week)
—-———-——...-—_
THE CRESCENT CITY.

New Orleans is one of the grandest, most
wretched and most wonderful cities in the
world. I fancy to most of you it would
mean a combination of smoke and noise,
black mud and wickedness.

It is a grand place only to the rich. One
finds there the extremes, both of pleasure
and misery, people enjoying and enduring,
very close together and profoundly ignorant
of one another; sometimes the good faithful
servant will suffer shame and want for his
master and family.

A N )rthern woman who spent the winters
South, used to talk with these colored ser-
vants to draw them out and learn some.
thing of Southern life. On one occasion
the cook was sent to market with only 25
cents to purchase vegetables, etc. to supply
the family one meal; she felt ashamed and
knew not how she could do it. Love
aided her, and “Necessity is the mother of
invention.”

The people there despise labor; perhaps I
should say there is a class who do. If one
purchase no more than a corset she would
not be seen carrying it home; it must be
delivered at her house, then she seems dis-
trustful and will not pay till it has been de-
livered. The wealthy despise those who
must labor, and spend their time in dress
and amusement. I believe that is wicked

_ “mm-n...’

 

in so far as all idleness is wicked, and the
utter wasting of good faculties in frivolity
is sin. It seems as if there were no end to
the places ofaniusement, theatres, matinees.
operas, night and day excursions by land
and water all days of the week. Sunday is
only observed by the few as a sacred day; it
is rather set aptrt as a day for amusement,
while some labor every day alike.

If you have never seen the great. heavy,
low, long wagons that carry huge loads of col;

ton over the rough stone streets, I can con 7

vey to you no idea of the terrible noise they
make, it is just deafening when they pass
I noticed these on Sunday when there was
less‘pther noise, as they trotted along not
loaded. ,

Ilorses are never hitched in streets, there
are no posts. I never saw a farmer’s
wagon. I mean a good looking two-horse

lumber wagon; poor little mules and one-

horse carts, even the street cars are drawn
with one mule. Poor things, how I pitied
them! Sometimes they would slip and fall,
cutting themselves on the sharp stones.
Nowhere did I see tine horSes except among
the very wealthy and on the fire engines, the
latter were large and fat.

Yes, there is the Margaret statue which
Brunefille describes. I saw the Square:
there she sits in that great arm chair, benevo-
lence shining out of her eyes, one arm
encircles a child, the joy of her heart. She
has left a more lasting monument than
marble in the hearts of the people, by found—
ing schools for orphan children; there are
two large buildings opposite, one on each
side of the Square, one for boys, the other
for girls. Orphans of Catholics are well
provided for—it is a Catholic city. There
are many schools and hospitals supported
by charity under Catholic instruction and
supervision.

There are many other beautiful squares.
If you would like sometime I will tellyou
of Jackson and Lafayette Square and Lee’s
Circle. M. E. HALL.

Lnsmn.

 

TROUBLE WITH HOUSE PLANTS.

Will some one please tell me what is the-
trouble with my plants. I have a few in a
south window that were doing so nicely,
they were really a source of great satisfaction
to me. But such achange within the last
two weeks! The leaves of the geranium
and fuchsias turn yellow and have to be
picked oif by the handful. I do not allow
the earth to become dry before watering,
it cannot be that. Thought at first the water
I gave them might be too warm, so used
cooler; have used a very little 'ammonia in
the water frequently. The thought came to
me this morning I am using hard water and
pretty hard at that. So will some one tell
me if that is injurious to house plants.

FLINT. COZEI‘TE.

[We are rather inclined to think perhaps
the trouble is too much ammonia. A very,
very little, and not often, is all that a potted
plant can stand. This we learned by ex-
perience, killing a fine chrysauthemum by
what we thought quite homeopathic doses.
Possibly too, worms may be feeding on the
bark of the roots, iniucing decay; or too
much water with imperfect drainage may
cause the troubled

 

 

 

ea...