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DETROIT, W N E

2, 1888.

 

 

THE HOUSEHOLD-f-Supplement.

 

 

BAB 17 IS KING.
A rose-curtained cradle, where nestled between
‘So'lt cambric and flannel, lie pounds seventeen,
Is the throne of a tyrant whose praises I sing.
or an autocrat awful—for baby is king!

Good solemn grandfather dares scarcely to
speak.

Or walk, lest the sleeper should hear his boots
creak:

Grandmother’s a martyr in habits and cap,

Which the monarch un settles as Well as her nap.

Father, stately and proud, just home from the
House,

Grows meek on the threshold, and moves like a
mouse, '

To stare at the bundle; then outward he goes

Like an elephant trying to walk on his toes.

Mother, queen of the ball room, throws loya‘ly
d o wn

Before him the roses she wore in her crown;

And sings little love songs of how she loves best

The fair baby blossom she rocks on her breast.

Good aunties and cousins before him bow low.

Though he rumples their fringes, twists collar
and bow;

He bids the nurse walk with his majesty’s self,

And cries when she stops like a rr erciless elf.

He flings right and left his saucy, fat fists,

And then the next moment expects to be kissed;
He demands all your Watches to scatter about.
And meets a refusal with struggle and shout.

Then failing to conquer with passionate cry,
He quivers his lips, keeps a tear in his eye,
And so wins the battle, this wise little thing—
He knows the world over that baby is king!
_______...______
Would you know the baby’s skies?
Baby’s skies are mamma‘s eyes.
Mamma’s eyes and smiles together
Make the baby’s pleasant weather.
Mamma, keep your eyes from tears,
Keep your heart from foolish fears,
Keep yorr lips from dull complaining,
Lest the baby think ’tis raining.

———-—-—«-——

A LETTER TO THE GIRLS.

 

 

DEAR GIRLS—The ladies have written
several letters lately on the subject of hired
help, and perhaps they will not object to'a
few written by the girls themselves.

The experience of eight years as hired
girl in a farmhouse has taught me some-
thing ot working out, and 1 have came to
the conclusion that on the whole it is a
good business for a young woman. There
is always a demand for good girls to do
housework, and people generally pay all the
wages the work is worth. There are of
course things that are unpleasant about
working out, there is also about any place
in life. We often feel lonely in the midst
of a happy and loving family, and of
course we have many duties and cares, and
our work is subject to criticism. Still, we
have all our board and wages, and are free

    

.. «OV‘K.__~-~e__,, \

 

from the responsibilities of a family and the
c ills of society, and may lead a contented,
happy life.

It does not make it true for us to say we

are as good as our employers. No, the
ladies we. work for are generally superior to
us in many ways. What good girl would
wish to work for a lady who is beneath her?
It would be next to as bad as being married
to a man who is not her. equal. Still there
are many of us who are naturally bright,
and if we had the advantages of a good
mining and education, would perhaps be
the equals of many who have enjoyed those
blessings. And there are many ways left
for us to improve ourselves, ways that our
time and money will allow. Our friend,
the Editress, has spoken of a good way to
improve the mind by thinking over good
things while we are at work. Then too, let
us adopt a plain; neat style of dress, suited
to our station. Not cheap jewelry, and
summer silks and “plush cloaks” as the
Jackson lady says. If we try to be good
and true, there will be no need of our feel-
ing out of place in society; for we soon win
for ourselves a position of respect in the
neighborhood where we live, and we do not
worry about our social position. Now girls,
the most important factor in our improve.-
ment will be, more good reading.

Many of us live in families where several
of the best papers and magazines come
regularly, and in the country, I think our
employers are glad to have us read them all
the time we can yet. Why girls, did you
ever think when you opened the Century
or St. Nicholas, or the North American
Review, that even the ladies of New York
and Boston do not have any nicer papers
than these? Some of us do not have these
excellent mag-zines to read, and then girls,
let us have a paper of our own. Do you
know there is something very pleasant
about a paper that you feel is yours, earned
by work and paid for? Fortunately there
are many of the best papers in the home
where I live; yet as I need a special help in
Sunday schoo., this year I have taken the
Sunday School Times; this I try to read
through every week, and it is an excellent
help. Perhaps if a young person has but
a few general papers to read and wishes to
take one of her own, the Youth/s 00m
pam’on, $1 75 per year, is good as any; or
for one more religiously inclined, the New
York Weekly Witness, $1 per year. Any of
us could afford these, couldn’t we girls?
Why some of us would not wear a new hat
that did not cost more than either of these.
John Alden, the New York publisher,
sends out many of the best books so cheap

 

that the poorest can afford to have them. A
copy of “ The Story of the Bible,” or a
subscription to the Youth’s Companion
given to the little ones at home, would often
be money well spent. The children of the
poor sometimes need something besides
food and clothing; and a lady of experience
has told me that she thinks one dollar spent
for good reading for children is worth ten
dollars spent on their education a few years
later. It has been a benefit to me to read
but few things and read them well; for you
know our time to read is necessarily limited.
But the new magazines have such bright
pleasant articles in them, they are very
helpful in the quiet of a country life, and
cheer the monotony very much. Good
books fill our minds with contented, cheer-
ful thoughts, and our lives are made better
and happier by them. Now girls, won’t
some of you write another letter to the
HOUSEHOLD, and tell us of any thing that
you think will help us to be more womanly—
more of a help to the world?
HIGHLAND. RUTH CURTIS.

.__.—....___-

CLEANING THE CELLAR.

Dr. Hanaford, in a letter to the N. E.
Farmer, reminds us many malignant dis-
eases have their origin in the impure air of
an uncleaned cellar. He recommends a
careful cleaning. removing all decaying
vegetables, sour brine, refuse of all kinds,
damp earth, rotting wood, and adds:

“The cellar should be as thoroughly
cleaned as if it was to be the seat of an ex-
hibition, for the health of the family is of
more importance than the eyes of the
neighbors! The scrapings from the bot-
tom of the cellar will be of service in the
garden, while a good coating of whitewash
will be of great service in sweetening the
whole premises. 1 will add that there has
rarely been a'season when there was as
great an occasion for cleansing the cellar as

'at present, in consequence of the extensive

disease and decay of the potatoes last fall,
many of these having been put in the cel-
lar, a large per cent of which will now be
found contaminating the air of the home.
The sooner they are removed to a respect-
able distance and covered by the soil, the
safer for the family. In addition, it is
necessary to put two opposite windows in
the cellar on hinges, so that they can be
raised, allowed freely to swing, admitting
the escape of the foul air and a supply of
pure, while it will be well to open aside

door on some mild and windy day, that the
air may sweep through the cellar, expelling
the foul gases. This may be safely done
when the weather is not freezing cold.”


 

4:

 

THE HOUSEHOLD.

     

 

 

The American is much coarser, heavier,
more sleazy, and the dyes are not fast. We
see them marked eight and a half cents in
great piles at the merchants’ doors, from
that price up to ten cents and a shilling, the
latter really the only grade worth buying.
The French satteens are imported, it is
alleged: they have a fine, close twill, even,
silky in appearance, often being mistaken
for summer silks, yard wide and fast in
dyes. Thirtydive cents buys the very best;
there is also a grade that sells at 25 cents
which is pretty good.

“ What sort of gloves are to be worn with
silk and lace dresses; and are mitts fash-'
ionable.” Buy the fine silk gloves to wear
with such costumes; they are quite ex-
pensive, being worth from $1 to $1.25 per
pair, and are not very durable; they will
not endure hard wear. Mitts are less popu-
lar, though still carried in stock by our
merchants.

Black hosiery holds its own, though ladies
do not hesitate to purchase and wear more
delicate shades, especially during hot
weather; when the black stockings will
crock, despite the asseverations of the sales-
men. The black goods are now almost
universally woven With the bottoms white
to obviate crockin g.

-———ooo—-———

“PUT ON MORE COAL."

The doctors are finding out a great many
things nowdays, concerning the effects of
extemals and surroundings upon the physi-
cal condition and well-being of humanity.
It has been a popular fallacy that a warm
house must be unhealthy, and that perfect
hygiene demands cool rooms, and a low
temperature. The apostles of latter day
knowledge tell us, however, that our
houses ought to be warm enough so that
there is no sensation of chill. Warm rooms
are essential to health and beauty. Cold
rooms send the blood inward, leaving the
- skin blue and pinched. The extra clothing
worn to keep up the heat of the blood is
injurious, dragging down' the body with
undue weight, and exhausting vitality. '

It is a mistaken economy to scrimp in fuel
and keep everybody uncomfortable: more-
over, the changes in temperature bring on
rheumatism, neuralgia and kindred diseases.
The constant heat should be sufiisient to
keep the blood warm at its normal tem-
perature. Think how many colds are due
to going into an unwarmed parlor to en-
tertain chance callers, because the sitting
room was a little out of order, or the parlor
is better furnished! The guest, in her out
door wrappings, is fairly comfortable; at
least she is not shivering like the poor
victim who vainly tries to be cordial with
her teeth chattering and the life blood
turning to seeming ice in her veins. Better
“put your pride in your pocket” and the
company in an untidy room than thus in-
terfere with the circulation of the vital fluid.

The cold weather of the present month
should be a lesson to those who clean house
early not to banish stoves in April. In our
uncertain climate. fires are an absolute

necessity until the middle of May, often
till the first of June. It is imprudent, arash
invitation to colds and all their conse-
seqences, to take down the stoves before

 

settled warm weather. Nor is it best to
take down the “good friend,” the coal
stove, and replace it by the less reliable
wood stove, until that time. A wood fire
blazes up and goes out unless tended; a
coal fire can be kept low and furnish a
steady heat. A grate in a house isa corn-
fort, but not to be depended on to warm a
room on a cold day; it takes the chill of!
the air and brightens and dispels the
dampness and chill of a rainy day in sum-
mer. Where there are no grates, a wood
stove ought to be left up during the sum-
mer, especially where there are babies or
young children, and old people, and a fire
built in damp weather todry the air and
promote its circulation.

“ Heat is life; cold is death,” says an old
saw. Remember this, and keep your rooms
comfortable. Do not, above all things,
attempt to “ harden ” delicate children by
exposing them to cold, or insisting they
shall sleep in cold rooms. If the air is very
chill, the little ones are apt to sleep with
the bedclothing drawn over their heads, a
most unhealthful, debilitating practice, but
one which shows their instinctive protest
against the conditions you enforce upon
them. L. 0.

Demon.
-———.'..—-———-

ABOUT CAKE-MAKING.

“ Dorothy,” in the Country Gentleman,
says: .

“ There are various light cakes, made
with soda or baking powder, which when
eaten quite fresh have a very pleasant text-
ure, and combine with jelly, chocolate,
cocoanut, made cream or fruit, to form a
toothsome compound, preferred by some to
the standard fine cakes of the pastry cook.
But these finer cakes have the merit of
keeping much better, so that there is both
economy and convenience in making them
wherea fine cake is required, though the
amount actually consumed is small; beside,
to the cultivated and exacting palate, these
are the cakes demanded as strictly first-
class. .

“Fine cakes are cheaper, and one may
almost say better, on the farm than any-
where else, because butter and eggs,
abundant in quantity and above suspicion
in quality, are the first essentials. In all
cakes approaching pound cake in texture
(and pound cake is one of the good old
standard kinds which will never go out of
fashion), there are two important rules to
be observed: One is that the paste or bat-
ter must be made quite stiff—much stiffer
than the light soda cakes, in which the pro-
portion of butter is small, and the other is
that great care must be exercised in baking.
A slow oven spoils a plain cake; a quick
oven spoils a rich cake. A rich cake re-
quires to be baked slowly and for a long
time, and it is usually best to cover the pan
with a piece of card-beard for a part of the
time. ‘When taken from the oven it should
be set down gently, and left to cool in the
pan in which it was baked.

“The objectionable ‘ strong ’ flavor some-
times noticed in pound cake is invariably
from an inferior quality of butter or stale
eggs being used, or else from carelessness in
regard to the pan in which it is baked, which

sweet fat or oil, and lined with paper. The
best butter is quite as essential for making
pound cake as for eating on fresh biscuit.

More than that, it must be like the real gilt-
edged article in being lightly salted. Salt
butter should be washed freely in cold wa-
ter to free it from the excess of salt.”

—-———...——
HOUSEHOLD HINTS.

 

AN exchange says: After being caught
in a rain or snowstorm with a felt hat and
it is wet, on coming inside do not put it to
dry without brushing. With the brush
begin at the rim and go round and round,

always the one way, brushing very hard,

until the crown is reached, brushing this in
the same way until you finish in the centre
the top of the crown; then put it away to
dry, and when wanted it will look almost
as good as new. Never put a felt hat away
while wet without brushing, or it will be-
spotted when dry. Men’s stiff hats may be
kept looking nice if treated in this way
after being out in a storm.

 

HOMEMADE Brussels rugs, manufvctured
out of old carpets or remnants of new from
the carpet stores, will sometimes curl on the
floor, and refuse to lie smooth. To remedy
this it is necessary to shrink them. Tack
them firmly to a bare floor, face down, ani
sponge the wrong side with water. They
will dry over night, and when dry will stay
where they are put.

.____..*___.

Useful Recipes.

 

BAKED PIE-PLANr.-—Remove the thin skin ,
cut in inch lengths, put into a granite or
earthen pudding dish, add a generous quan-
tity of sugar and bake slowly till clear. Stlr
once carefully that all may cook alike.

 

STRAWBERRY PRESERvns.—Take perfectly
r‘pe, sound, solid berries picked on a dry day,
assort them, taking only the largest to pre-
serve. Allow pound for pound of sugar and
fruit. Put the berries and sugar together in -
layers in a large earthe: dish and let stand
over night. Next day put the whole, very
gently, into a preserving pan and bring
slowly to a boil. Shake the pan
slightly from time to time, and pass
a wooden spoon round about the outer edge,
to prevent the fruit sticking or burning, but
do not stir the berries. Remove any scum
that may rise to the surface. and continue to
boil, very gently, for twenty minutes. Pour
oi! the juice, put the berries into cans, filling ’
them about two-thirds full, return the juice
to the pan and boil slowly till a little will jelly.-
on a cool plate, then fill up the cans and seal.

—___...—-——

THE new “Jewel” sewing-machine fur~
nished by the FARMEB has the “ high arm "
which so many ladies prefer, and is in all
respects a first class machine, which will do
all grades or work, from heavy cloth to fine
cambric. It is handsomely finished, with
folding leaf, or table, and six drawers. A
full set of attachments is furnished with it,
quilter, binder, etc., and also attachments
by which a raffle may be sewed to a band .
and the band edgestitched at one opera-
tion, and also a raffle sewed to a band, the
band edgestitched and a piping put in.
Every machine is guaranteed to be as rep-
resented. A “Jewel ” machine maybe seen

 

must always be well greased with perfectly

 

at the FABMEB oflice.

 

 

 

  


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DETROIT, W N E 2, 1888.

 

 

THE HOUSEHOLD-f-Supplement.

 

 

BAB Y IS KING.
A rose-curtalned cradle, where nestled between
Soft cambric and flannel, lie pounds seventeen,
Is the throne of atyrant whose praises I sing.
Of an autocrat awful—for baby is king!

Good solemn grandfather dares scarcely to
speak.

Or walk, lest the sleeper should hear his boots
creak:

Grandmother’s a martyr in habits and cap,

Which the monarch unsettles as Well as her nap.

Father, stately and proud, just home from the
House,

Grows meek on the threshold, and moves like a
mouse, I

To stare at the bundle; then outward he goes

Like an elephant trying to walk on his toes.

Mother, queen of the ball room, throws loya‘ly
d o wn

Before him the roses she wore in her crown;

And sings little love songs of how she loves bes'3

The fair baby blossom she rocks on her breast.

Good aunties and cousins before him bow low.

Taough he rumples their fringes, twists cellar
and bow;

He bids the nurse walk with his majesty’s self,

And cries when she stops like a n erciless elf.

He flings right and left his saucy, fat fists,

And then the next moment expects to be kissed;
He demands all your Watches to scatter about.
And meets a refusal with struggle and shout.

Then failing to conquer with passionate cry,
He quivers his lips, keeps a tear in his eye,
And so wins the battle, this wise little thing-
He knows the world over that baby is king!
_ .. . _..._______.
Would you know the baby‘s skies?
Baby’s skies are mamma’s eyes.
Mamma’s eyes and smiles together
Make the baby’s pleasant weather.
Manama, keep your eyes from tears,
Keep your heart from foolish fears,
Keep yo-"r lips from dull complaining,
Lest the baby think ’tis raining.

 

 

A LETTER TO THE GIRLS.

 

DEAR GIRLS—The ladies have written
several letters lately on the subject of hired
help. and perhaps they will not object to'a
few written by the girls themselves.

The experience of eight years as hired
girl in a farmhouse has taught me some-
thing 01 working out, and 1 have came to
the conclusion that on the whole it is a
good business for a young woman. There
is always a demand for good girls to do
housework, and people generally pay all the
wages the work is worth. There are of
course things that are unpleasant about
working out, there is also about any place
in life. We often feel lonely in the midst
of a happy and loving family, and of
course we have many duties and cares, and
our work is subject to criticism. Still, we
have all our board and wages, and are free

  

 

from the responsibilities of a family and the
c ills of society, and may lead a contented,
happy life.

It does not make it true for us to say we

are as good as our employers. No, the
ladies we. work for are generally superior to
us in many ways. What good girl would
wish to work for a lady who is beneath her?
It would be next to as bad as being married
to a man who is not her equal. Still there
are many of us who are naturally bright,
and if we had the advantages of a good
mining and education, would perhaps be
the equals of many who have enjoyed those
blessings. And there are many ways left
for us to improve ourselves, ways that our
time and money will allow. Our friend,
the Editress, has Spoken of a good way to
improve the mind by thinking over good
things while we are at work. Then too, let
us adopt a plain; neat style of dress, suited
to our station. Not cheap jewelry, and
summer elilks and “plush cloaks” as the
Jackson lady says. If we try to be good
and true, there will be no need of our feel-
ing out of place in society; for we soon win
for ourselves a position of respect in the
neighborhood where we live, and we do not
worry about our social position. Now girls,
the most important factor in our improve-
ment will be, more good reading.

Many cf us live in families where several
of the best papers and magazines come
regularly, and in the country, I think our
employers are glad to have us read them all
the time we can yet. Why girls, did you
ever think when you opened the Century
or St. Nicholas, or the North American
Review, that even the ladies of New York
and Boston do not have any nicer papers
than these? Some of us do not have these
excellent mag-zines to read, and then girls,
let us have a paper of our own. Do you
know there is something very pleasant
about a paper that you feel is yours, earned
by work and paid for? Fortunately there
are many of the best papers in the home
where I live; yet as I need a special help in
Sunday schoo., this year I have taken the
Sunday School Times; this I try to read
through every week, and it is an excellent
help. Perhaps if a young person has but
a few general papers to read and wishes to
take one of her own, the Youth’s 00m
panion, $1 75 per year, is good as any; or
for one more religiously inclined, the New
York Weekly Witness, $1 per year. Any of
us could afford these, couldn’t we girls?
Why some of us would not wear a new hat
that did not cost more than either of these.
John Alden, the New York publisher,
sends out many of the best books so cheap

 

that the poorest can afford to have them. A
copy of “ The Story of the Bible,” or a
subscription to the Youth’s Companion
given to the little ones at home, would often
be money well spent. The children of the
poor sometimes need something besides
food and clothing; and a lady of experience
has told me that she thinks one dollar spent
for good reading for children is worth ten
dollars spent on their education a few years
later. It has been a benefit to me to read
but few things and read them well; for you
know our time to read is necessarily limited.
But the new mlgazines have such bright
pleasant articles in them, they are very
helpful in the quiet of a country life, and
cheer the monotony very much. Good
books fill our minds with contented, cheer-
ful thoughts, and our lives are made better
and happier by them. Now girls, won’t
some of you write another letter to the
HOUSEHOLD, and tell us of any thing that
you think will help us to be more womanly—
more of a help to the world?
HIGHLAND. RUTH CURTIS.

‘————...—_—_—

CLEANING THE CELLAR.

Dr. Hanaford, in a letter to the N. E.
Farmer, reminds us many malignant dis«
eases have their origin in the impure air of
an uncleaned cellar. He recommends a
careful cleaning. removing all decaying
vegetables, sour brine, refuse of all kinds,
damp earth, rotting wood, and adds:

“The cellar should be as thoroughly
cleaned as if it was to be the seat of an ex-
hibition, for the health of the family is of
more importance than the eyes of the
neighbors! The scrapings from the bot-
t0m of the cellar will be of service in the
garden, while a good coating of whitewash
will be of great service in sweetening the
whole premises. 1 will add that there has
rarely been a‘season when there was as
great an occasion for cleansing the cellar as

'at present, in consequence of the extensive

disease and decay of the potatoes last fall,
many of these having been put in the cel-
lar, a large per cent of which will now be
found contaminating the air of the home.
The sooner they are removed to a respect-
able distance and covered by the soil, the
safer for the family. In addition, it is
necessary to put two opposite windows in
the cellar on hinges, so that they can be
raised, allowed freely to swing, admitting
the escape of the foul air and a supply of
pure, while it will be well to open aside

door on some mild and windy day, that the
air may sweep through the cellar, expelling
the foul gases. This may be safely done
when the weather is not freezing cold.”

 


THE HOUSEHOLD.

 

 

SUCCESS IN LIFE.

 

" Naught in this life is gained by chance,
Life is a struggle, not a dream;
And if we would mount on the ladder of
fame.
Our rounds must be perfect as they seem ”

Success in life we often attribute to
chance, and we find ourselves wondering
why one person is so lucky when no more
worthy than others; iorgetting that luck
never mide any one great or good. That
this life is one of acnon and of energy. a
field of lab )r where he who strives hardest
is most triumphant, becomes daily more
apparent. lt is not to be expected that
fortune, fame and honor will drop upon us
without ac ive exertion on our part, but we
must be the architects of our own fortune.
We are to build our own ladders, and form
the rounds from the gnarled and twisted
tree of human nature. We should see well
to it that every part is perfect and placed
upon a foundation firm and strong. The
structure rests upon our character and our
ability; our character the platform, our
ability the beams and braces. This plat-
form will need the greatest test, for upon it
we must stand to build the rest. Our
characters are formed by many little acts
and thoughts. They should all be virtuous
ones. untarnished by any vice, that they
may increase and become ornaments of.
great value. We will liken the first round
in our ladder to energy, which must bring
the weight of strong will and determination
to bear upon the weak points in our nature.
If we find any flaws in the rounds, they
must be remedied, for if we fail in making
the first secure our structure will be weak
and unsteady.

“ S), the rounds, let us make of solid wood.
Let us chisel them well and fit them tight,
That they may not break and let us down
If we should mount to some worthy height."

This life is not all sunshine. Why should
it be? As clouds and rain are requisite to
the growth of plants, so perhaps the clouds
of disappointment and burdens of life are
necessary for the development of those
virtues which are required to make life
worth living; but a large part of life’s bur-
dens are self-imposed and wholly needless.
Fears of calamities which never happen, a
doleful habit of looking at the worst, a sus-
picious disposition, a jealous turn of mind
——these are some or‘ the tyrants that load
us with burdens heavy to bear and grievous
to carry. We brood over these imaginary
things until discontent takes a firm hold
upon us, which is likea canker-worm eating
and lessening the strength of the round.

Then again we are so willing to decide the
life work of others, but when we come to
decide for ourselves, we oft-times, as the
world says, mistake our calling, and if we
fail in one thing, we are ready to drop r-very
thing, then and there, and try something
more alluring, in which we are just as liable
to fail; as in the case of the Irishman:
“ Carrying his bed up the ladder and notic-
ing the carriages in the street, he said to
himself, ‘ The rich can ride in chaises, but
the poor must walk, be jabez.’ He hasten-
tened down, threw away his bod, and find-
ing the overseer demanded his wages, say-
ing he was going to carry ahod no longer as
he was a bore poet for sure. ‘ Tell us your

poetry,’ says the overseer, and Pat began:
‘ The rich can ride in chaises, but the poor

  

——the poor—by jabez they must walk.” The
inspirations come to us, but as in Pat’s case
the power to retain and combine them into
something nobler and higheris lacking.

But there is something which is sure of
success, it is the determination which
having entered upon a career with a full
conviction that it is right, pursues it in
calm defiance of all opposition. If we desire
to rise higher and higher as the years speed
on, we must climb round by round and at
last we will reach the summit of our ambi
tion. We should remember that every
duty faithfully performed, every temptation
met and overcome, is a round in our ladder
to lift us up.

Deeds of sympathy and charity, words of
love and encouragement, all tend to our
elev.ition. The opportunities for these lie
always before, not behind us, and God’s
promises of Divine love and help are full
and many. .

We can do and be as near right as pos-
sible now, and saving ourselves from too
great repining over what cannot be helped,
go forward, reaching out toward higher and
better knowledge, attainments and achieve-
ments. We should let our light shine as
we climb extending ahelping hand that
others may be induced to rise also, and
whatever we do,

“ Let us watch our hearts with a jealous care,
Let us driv e away every thought of wrong,
And as f ar as we are able to build,
Make the rounds of our ladde: firm and
strong.” P

[The above essay was read at the April
meeting of the Siline Farmers’ Club, but
the name of the writer was not sent us by
the Secretary of the Club, hence we regret
we cannot give proper acknowledgement]

__—....__

FASHION J O I‘TINGS.

 

Basques were never so much trimmed and
so dressy as at present. A. perfectly plain
'one is absolutr ly never seen on a dress with
any pretensions to style. For instance, a
basque of cashmere has a fine pleating set
in on the front, reaching only to within per-
haps three inches of the top of the darts;
meeting this, and tapering to a point at the
bottom of the basque, is a plain piece of
goods covered with braiding, rounding up
in a scallop at the top over the bottom of
the pleats; on each side, framing this, is a
loose fold of the goods laid in irregular
pleats, and a deep turned over collar fits
round the neck and down the sides of the
fine pleat'ng to cover the top of the loose
folds. The sleeves have a braided cuff.

Galloons and braids are still extremely
fashionable, they are the most approved
trimmings for wool goods. Those of silver
or gilt tinsel, combined with black, blue,
brown, green, etc., are very pretty. They
cost from 50 cents to 352, according to width
and quality, and are used to best advantage
on waist and sleeves.

If you are going away for the summer,
do not wish to be encumbered with much
luggage, yet will have occasion to wear
several suits, have two basques made to
your best silk and to one of your wool
dresses. A plain black silk dress is never
over dress for any occasion, a well made
and nicely trimmed one is always full dress

 

for anything short of a bridal reception.

 

One skirt will wear out two waists, easily
enough. A lady who is preparing for a
summer trip has just had a blue camel’s
hair made up with two waists. The skirt
has a panel of velvet on one side, and on
the other are two folds edged with blue and
silver braid. One basque crosses diag-
onally from left to right with a velvet rever,
and is closed below with handsome blue
and steel buttons. The other has a vest cf
the velvet outlined by the braid, and adif-
ferent style of buttons. With these she
will wear a blue straw bat, trimmed with
wide moire ribbons, and to make it more
dressy on occasion, she will pin in a cluster
of blue and grey ostrich tips.

The prettiest hat 1 have yet seen for a six
year old was a fine black wide-brimmed
affair, with an irregular wreath of yellow
buttercups round the crown, “only that and
nothing more.” And with my eyes upon it
I found my lips repeating one of child-
hood’s rhymes:

"Buttercups and daisies,
Oh the pretty flowers!

Coming in the spring time
To tell of sunny hours,“

and smothered the words in a laugh, lest
the respectable middle-aged gentleman
with the gold-headed cane approaching me»
should think me lately escaped from
Pontiac.

Grey gloves are often worn with grey,
black and blue dresses, but the tan shades
still remain favorites for general wear. The
preference is for a medium stitching upon»
the backs, instead of the very heavy rows
in favor last winter.

If the buttonholes of your basque are
worn, or the front is soiled, you can hide
the offending portions by adding a Shirred
vest of surah or other silk, or one laid in
fine pleats and edged by some of the gal-
loous now so fashionable. Or a pleated
strip of silk can be set in at each shoulder

seam and crossed in surplice fashion below. ,

The sailor suit is just as popular as ever
for boys from three to seven or eight years
of age. Gingham dresses for the three year
old boys have kilt skirt, with white blouse
waists and deep sailor collars of. the plaid
white and blue flannel suits are made in the
same way.

H )w true it is that no matter how hand-
some the material of a dress, it it is not well
made, it has " no style?” Isaw a lovely cop-
per-colored plush on the street the other day,
a rich and costly material; but the skirt did
not hang evenly, on one side it almost
touched the walk, on the other it was at.
least two inches shorter. neither bonnet
nor gloves harmonized with the dress, and
in spite of the costliness, the wearer did
not look well dressed. B.

_... M.s.__ __. a

AN INQUIRY.

 

Mrs. H. H. J., of Paw Paw, says: “I
have received many valuable hints from our
little paper, and now wish to ask it any of
the ladies have used any of the creameries
advertised in the FABMEB, whether they
give entire satisfaction, are cheaper and-
better than ‘ home made’ creameries, etc.,
etc. Our house was destroyed by fire last
winter and we are just building a new one.
Of course we are anxious to get the best, so
shall be glad to learn from others and profit
by their experience.”

    

 

t.l~..n—I92fli~t~l»h , .

 

   
   


 

 

THE

FLOWERS AND BIRDS.

 

The robin repeats his two musical words,
The meadow lark whistles his one refrain,
And steadily over and over again
The same son: swells from a hundred b’rds.
Bobolin k, Chickadee, blackbird and jay,
Thrasher and woodpecker, cuvkoo and wren,
Each sings its word, or its phrase, and then
It has nothing furth er to sing or to say.
Into that word, or that sweet little phrase
All there may be of its life must crowd,
uni luliing and liquid, or hoarse or loud.
It breathes out its burden of joy and praise.
We have seen the icy chains of winter
broken, stealthily the green grass has
crept over the bare broa n earth, the
leaf buds have burst, and the blossoms have
come again; the cowslips and wood violets,
“johnny jump ups,” jorquils. hyacinths
and wood anemones. The dandelion shows
his bright face, and if we knew him by any
other name we would go into raptures over
the fine cut leaves and beautiful color. But
with the flowers, who would from choice be
natural, but are forced at times to be arti-
ficini, as with everything else they pass
through so many changes. Oh, for a glimpse
of an old fashioned flo wer garden, where
each plant had an individuality of its own,
and refused to lose itself in something else;
where the roses could clamber about where
they pleased, unrestrained by trellises ani
stakes, where hollyhocks rejoiced in being
single and had never heard of being double;

where there were no set rules for beds. but.

everybody knew his neighbor, the modest
little bluebell lived in the shade of the
gaudy pee my, golden candlesticks and the
tiger lily, brilliant in color and spotted as
an adder, moss pinks ran riot among the
tulips and narcissus. And the roses—no
hybrids then. The beautiful Damask rose
growing as luxuriantly as in its native home,
the cunning little “ button” rose, the
delicate yellow and stately white. and the
bachelor buttons, or old maid’s delight,
ragged robins, lilacs, white and purple and
Persian, and then in some pleasant sunny
spot were the old fashioned marigolds and
poppies. The old fashioned flower garden!
Would our grandmothers recognize their
favorite fl were in the doubled and variegat-
ed ones of to-day?

0h, changes will come to all flowers that grow,
And single will merge into double, (know;
The tulips and poppie, I scarce recognize
With peta s so many, so mixed up the dyes.
The old fashioned flowers, I cling to them yet,
The favorites of childhood I ne‘er can forget;
And if time in passing should rob m a of sight
Tue memory of them‘will ever be bright.

We older people are veritable children in
our eagerness for spring and the flowers
and birds. What a thrill of jiy fills our
hearts when the first notes of the robin are
heard; “Cheer up! Cheer up.” that is all
there is of it, over and over again, the first
thing in the early morning before there is a
streak of light. I know, for I have a trick
of waking up at that hour and it has be-
come a habit; but I believe I am more th in
repaid for losing that nap so many feel to
be a positive necessity, by the concert that
I hear. There is a large wild cherry tree
nearly across from our house at the roadside
and there the birds congregate, and such a
trilling and warbling I never heard, while
high above all others, clear and distinct, is
that one refrain “ Cheer up! Cheer up!”
Dear little robin, friend of my childhood
and womanhood, many and many a time
when l have felt that hope and heaven were
along way off, your sweet little song has

    

 

given me strength to take up the burden of
life again. Life would be simply unbear-
able were it not for these beautiful things
that God scatters along our pathway. And
yet we begruige the blrd the little fruit he
wants to eat, and put scarecrows in the
strawberry bed and cherry tree for fear he
will steal some. He is only taking what
belongs to him, he picks up the bugs and
worms from the trees so we can have
the fruit, and he chooses to take his pay in
a few cherries and berries. There is no
gun on the premises, and if there were 1
should intercede for the robin’s lite.

And this is all that the fl awers and birds
amount to. Their season is short. The
flower gives off its fragrance, its beauty
pleases the eye, it fades and dies, but
comes again the next season. The bird
knows nothing but its own note. It gives
its one song for our pleasure—it is all it can
do——over and over again. And the lesson
of the two is the same, let us learn it and
take it home. Let us give of our best; it is
such a little while at the longest that we
are here; our lives, like theirs, are short; we
live our lives and then we yield them up,
our bodies return to the earth, resolve into
different elements, our souls into the great
beyond—to the Father who gave.

BATTLE CREEK. EVANGELINE.

_____...————

DOYLIES.

 

A set of doylies, a tray cloth, and a nap-
kin to spread under the meat platter to pro-
tect the table cloth from accidentalsplashes
of gravy, a smaller one to designate the
spot for the vinegar cruet, pepperbox, mus-
tard and other condiments, and still another
to lay in the bottom of the low cake basket,
are little accessories to the dining-table
which modern usage has made almost
necessities. They are little trouble to
make; any girl at all Skillful with her
needle can soon accomplish them in odd
moments, the expense is slight, and the
work easy. If you have an old linen sheet,
not too fine, use the best portions of it; if
not, buy the moderately coarse butchers’
linen, or the coarse linen sheeting. If too
fine, it is trying to the eyes to pull the
threads and the decoration is not as effec-
tive. The doylies, should be eight inches
square; pull threads for a hem a quarter of
an inch wide, or fringe out three-fourths of
an inch all.round, and a quarter of an inch
from the fringe draw five or six threads and
hemstitch (no hem of course) on both sides.
Then, a little way from this, in the lower
left hand corner, with Turkey red cotton in
outline stitch, work a straight line four
inches long each way from the corner, or
far enough to enclose the design which is to
be worked in this corner. Select some
simple floral pattern in bold lines, and out-
line it carefully with the red cotton. The
same design can be used for all, or each
may differ. The Briggs transfer patterns
come in play here; or, if you find a pretty
design elsewhere it easy to transfer it by
laying the linen over it, holding it to the
light and tracing with a pencil. Daf-
fodils and tulips are good patterns, because
they give bold, slightly curving lines. Wild
roses, buttercups or pansies will work well.

Something new in this line was recently

I

HOUSEHOLD.

 

   
   

3

fl

 

shown at a Woodward avenue fancy store.
The doylies were about eight inches square
when done, with an inch wide hem androw
of hemstiiching. In the centre a five inch
square was outlined, and in this small scat-
tered flowers were worked in red silk, and
connected irregularly by finer lines in
olive brown silk; these fine lines were to
imitate crackle ware.

The tea cloth, or tray cloth, should of
course be larger. and should be adapted
somewhat to the size of the table. It should
be sufficiently large to hold the sauc are, the
cups in groups of two, sugar how], spoon-
holder, cream pitcher, and stand for teapot.
The edges may be fringed or hemstitched;
the first is prettier. the last “ neWest." afl
the designs are put in the corners. Two
Spoons crossed, a pitcher, a cup and saucer;
an urn, are appropriate. Sometimes a tea-
kettle is worked in the large space in the
centre.

The cloth under the platter follows the
general style of the other, and is large
enough toshowits edge and corners; it is
often put on cornerwise. A carving knife
and fork, crossed, makes a good design for
the centre. The cake napkin is worked in
flower pattern. and no arbitrary size can be
given. It has been disc )vered that a doyley
is necessary for the dish in which boiled
eggs are served. The doyley is laid in the
dish, the eggs placed in it, and the corners
folded over them to keep them warm. To
decorate it, draw acircle three inches in
diameter in one corner, whose outer edge
shall be two and one-half inches from the
extreme tip of the corner, within the circle
draw three eggs, and nearest the corner
some broken lines to be worked in yellow
silk and rcpresent straw, outline the eggs
and the circle with white silk, dtrn the
space inside the circle above the eggs with
light blue silk, and that below them and
next the straw, with dark yellow-brown
silk. Only one corner is decorated; the
edges are fringed, and two rows in outline
stitch are worked around the entire doyley
in yellow silk.

These little things add a good deal to the
daintiness of the table, and are little labor
either in making or using.

_—..._..*_.—__

CLEANING PAINT.

During the house-cleaning season the
washing of the paint is of great importance
to the housewife. Where cleanliness is the
only thing desired. there are a number of
labor-saving soap powders in the market
that will do the work well, with very little
hard work on the part of the housewife. but,
unfortunately, the greater number of them
contain soda, and are for this reason injuri—
ous to the paint. Soia is an excellent
thing to remove dirt, but with the dirt it is
too apt to take the paint; therefore, if a
woman wishes to keep her paint looking
nice, she will not use soda as an assistant
in cleaning it. Another ohjaction to the
use of soda is that it mines the hands,
making them rough and sore. This objec-
tion is the worst, for with sore hands it is
anything but a pleasant task to do the
house work. To be sure, all soaps to a more
or less extent contain soda, but most good
soaps, and none but the best soaps should


      

4:

 

THE HOUSEHOLD.

 

 

be used in the kitchen, contain such a
small proportion that there is little danger
of their doing much injury to either hands,
or paint.

Begin work by dusting all the ledges over

the windows and doors, then the panels
and casings of doors and windows. I‘here
are many kinds of cloths used for washing
paint, but there is nothing that does the
work as well as old flannel. Old worn-out
underflannels should be put aside especially
for this purpose. Always use two cloths,
one for washing, the other to wipe dry.
The washcloth should he of flannel, and
the dryer either clean white flannel or clean
crash. Old cotton cloth is often used to
wipe dry, arid where crash or flannel is not
at hand it does very well, but it is not as
good in any way as the other cloths, and
should never be used in preference. Have a
wooden skewer and a small flannel cloth to
go into crevices and corners. Have a pail
all of warm water, and with the flannel
washcloth go over the paint, using some
good soap. Don’t wet the cloth so it will
run down on the paint, thereby leaving
streaks that will be very difficult to obliter-
ate. Wet the cloth and wring out, not too
dry, but just enough to keep the water from
dripping.

Do not wash too large a space at a time,
or there will be a diiference noticed wueu
the paint is dry. Wipeeach piece first with
the washcloth wrung out dry as possible,
then wipe immediately, being careful to
wipe well where the spaces jiin, so there
will not be any dark mark between. Before
cleaning the paint it is best to have the
floor washed up clean and thoroughly dry,
so that when doing the lll')p boards and
lower part of doors the cloth will not smut
the paint in consequence of coming in con-
tact with a dusty floor. Have an old thick
mat upon which to set your pail and cloths
when not in use, and the floor will not be
covered with little puddles of water, as is
usually the case where the pail stands on the
bare boards. When the paint is thoroughly
dry and clean, rubbing it over with whiting
on asoft cloth will give it a nice polish.
Delicate shades of paint that are not much
soiled may be cleaned by using a little
whiting in the water. Grained wood can
be cleaned nicely with tea, having it of
medium strength and well strained. This
will not remove the gloss, which the use of
soap will surely do. Ammonia in the
water should never be used for cleaning
paint, for, although excellent as a cleanser,
it gives the surface of the paint a dull, dead
look, as it removes the polish. Where the
room is to be repainted, ammonia water will
remove the dirt quicker, and with less labor,
than anything else, and will be found ex-

cellent for the purpose.-——American ulti.
vator.

—-——OOO———

SEVERAL letters to the HOUSEHOLD
were received too late for insertion this
week. Copy should be sent in early in the
week if desired it shall appear the Satur-
day following, as the HOUSEHOLD is
“made up” Wednesday morning. The
Editor has a great yearning for more letters;
her cup of happiness runs over when the
compartment in her desk devoted to. the
Housman) is full of “ copy.”

 

AN IMPROMPTU DESSERT.

 

We country folks do not usually have
formal callers in the forenoon, but to—day
some city people drove out and Spent the
whole day in making short calls, and it so
happened that one party came in just as
another took their departure, and when the
last ones went it was too late to prepare
the dessert planned for dinner. 1 intended
to make a steamed pudding, and had some
dried peaches simmering on the back of the
stove for its fruit. All that was to be done
was to take a pint of milk, a little salt,
thicken with prepared flour, add the peaches,
or any other fruit, steam over the potatoes
and serve with sugar and cream. but there
was not even time for that now; so I put a
half dozen crickers, lightly buttered, into
each dish in which it was to be served,
poured just enough boiling water over to
sof'en them, covered with a layer of the
peaches and set the dishes in the oven to
keep warm. Then when we were ready for
it, covered with cream and powdered sugar,
and it was all eaten with a relish, no one
dreaming that it was a make-shift arranged
all in a minute.

The prepared flour is made by mixing
one package of Horsford’s Bread Prepar -
tion with twenty-five pounds of fl )ur; and [
always keep the mixture on hand because it
is so very convenient. Whether for biscuit,
chic-en-pie crust, dumpiing, steamed
pudding or pancakes, the process. is exactly
the same and always so easily done.

1 like my own way of putting butter on
the table, but know of no one else who
manages as I do. Each one has his or her
own butter plate, as is common with napkin
rings. One has Melrose ware and another
an Indus, one plain white and another
with a gilt hand, one square and another
leaf-shaped. These are. filled, brought to
the table and carried away on a tray used
just for that purpose, and only need washing
occasionally. There is no scraping of buttc r
from any dish, no one of the family eats
after another, and there is no waste. I
have a little stamp «just a letter C—that
was cut out with a jack-knife on the end of
a stick of maple stove-wood, then sawed
off and trimmed down for a convenient
handle, and it makes such cute little cake ,

a trifle larger than a silver dollar and just'

right for these dishes, but of course I only
use that in cold weather. EL SEE.
WASHINGTON.
————¢o¢—-——-—-

HOUSEHOLD HINTS.

 

IF quilts are folded or rolled tightly after
washing, then beaten with a rolling pin or
potato masher, it lightens up the cotton
and makes them seem soft and new.

DARK blue drilling makes very neat and
pretty aprons for certain kinds of work.
The amateur artist, for instance, can wear
such an apron and find it a great protection
from paint.

 

IF you do not wish your stoves to rust
during the summer, store them in a dry
closet or attic. Better let them remain up
all summer than put them away in a damp
place. it is customary tomb the stove over
with kerosene before storing it, but an ex-

 

 

change says a better way is to mix stove
polish with melted lard, and then rub this
well over every part of the stove and pipe.
To take rust out of steel, says an ex
change, rub the st eel with sweet oil; in a
day or two rub with finelv powdered un~
slacked lime until the rust all disappears,
then oil again, roll in woollen and put in a
dry place, especially if it be table cutlery.

 

STALE bread or biscuit can by Steaming
be rendered as nice as when fresh. Cut the
bread in slices and stand them in the
steamer, leaning against a bowl in the
middle, so the steam will reach evary part
of the slices. Let them remain for five or
six minutes, remove the cover, turning it
up quickly so the condensed steam on it
will not drop on the bread, butter each
slice as it is removed, pile lightly on a hot
dish. Split the biscuit, observe the same
precautionsin steaming, and serve in the
same Way.

C ontributed Recipes.

 

POTATO BALL—One cake of yeast, disso 1v-
ed in a very little water; one teacupful of
mashed potatoes; one tablespoonful sugar;
one teaspoonful salt. Mix first with the po-
tatoes, then With the yeast; ready for use in
two days. To use, take half a ball, mix with
two quarts water or milk and proceed as usual.
Another cup of potatoes seasoned as before:
mlxed with the other half ball, gives the stock
for next day's baking.

LIGHT Roms—Warm a quart of milk, add
two beaten eggs, one-fourth pound butter,
one cup yeast and flour to knead. Make at
n ght if wanted for breakfast.

HUMINY CROQUETTES.——One cupful of cold
b)iied hominy; one tablespoonful of melted
butter; stir hard. Moisten with a cup of cold
milk, heating to a soft light batter. Add one
teaspoonful sugar, and last a well-beaten egg;
roll in balls, With floured hands, and fry in
hot lard.

COOKtEs.+Eight cups of flour, sifted; two
of sugar: one of butter: two eggs: one cup
sweet cream; one heaping teaspoonful bak-
ing powder: flavor: sift white sugar over
them; roll out and bake in hot oven.

GINGER COOKIES.—One cup sugar; half
cup shortening; half cup molasses; two-thirds
cup warm water; one-fourth teaspoontul salt;
one teaspoonful ginger; flour enough to roll;
dissolve one teaspoonfui soda in the molasses.

APPLE PUDDING.—TWO cups bread crumbs;
two cups chopped apples: one cup sugar; four
eggs; one cup milk; scald the milk and pour
on the crumbs. Eat with warm sauce, or
sweet cream. Another pudding which is nice
cold, we think, is made by beating the yolks
of six eggs with two tablespoonfuls of sugar
and stir in a quart of milk; when it comes to
a boil, put in two tablespoonfuls of corn-
starch, dissolved in a little milk, stir hard.
Beat the whites to a froth, add three table-
spoonfuls sugar, spread over the pudd1ng and
brown. ETBELDA.

NILES.

 

PIE-PLANT PUDDING.—Remove the thin
skin. cut into half-inch lengths, cover the
bottom of a deep pie plate or pudding dish
thickly with the pie-plant, and pour over it a
biscuit dough made soft enough to spread
with a spoon. When the crust is done, loosen
the edges with a knife, invert the pudding on
a plate, leaving the pie-plant uppermost.
Sprinkle abundantly with sugar and serve
with cream and sugar.