\\\\\n. . ‘

 

 

DETROIT, MARCH 23, 1889.

 

 

THE HOUSEHOLD-"Supplement.

 

 

For the Household.
COUNTING THE ROBINS.

 

BY A. H. J.

The round fat-breasted robin,
First harbinger of spring.

Hops lightly o‘er the dingy drifts
His chee'y notes to sing.

With faces close against the pane,
To watch on fence and tree,

The children count with merry shout-—
Each feathered friend they see.

And as their wisdom is not that
Wh ch reads between the lines,
It chances that the same dear bird

Is counted many times.

And I fancy as I listen,
How sunny life would be,

If we. like them. would reckon
All gladsome things we see.

And scanning not our neighbor.
For thoughts which shadow flit; g,
Could count. not once, but many times.
Each robin of our spring.
Thorns.

-—-———.oo—~————-

“ They also serve who only stand and wait t"
And if. dear Mast er, such must be my fate,
Teach me before l‘hine august will to bow,
And face t: e future with unrufiied brow.

To wait while others serve, to stand aside
My lmall beginning in the dust to hide
Bast Thou decreed? Let me contented be;
Even this poo: service may be do ie for Thee.

The gift I have I0 prized, it is all Thine;
Thou needest not or work or word of mine,
Patient I hide Thy time. or soon or late;

Thy servant still, though I but stand and wait.

—.o.————.

SPRING FASHIONS.

 

I approach the topic of fashions this
spring with a good deal of diifidcnce. The
styles I see on the streets and in the shops
are so unlike the remarkable creations of the
fashion books, which resemble nothing
heretofore created and deserve the epithet
unique, a term freely accorded them. Is it
possible we are going to return to the short
waists, the scanty, clinging skirts, the
great hats of the Empire? Is the bustle, so
roundly abused, really and truly “ to go? ”
Iam sure Idon’t know; the books say so,
the dressmakers in urging their new models
bewail the conservatism of Detroit ladies,
who are slow to adopt striking innovations,
and thom who are expected to adopt the
latest styles, say “ But we should be so con-
spicuous, don’t you know.”

I think it is safe to say the ultra features
of the Empire styles will be much modified

before they are generally adopted for street
wear. House dresses, dinner and recep-
tion toilettes, will undoubtedly partake
more or less of the more pronounced
fashions, which have the merit of novelty,
and are charming on those whom they hap-
pen to become. The straight skirt, the
wide sash, puffed sleeves and surplice
bodice are pretty on graceful young figures,
but the woman who has passed her twenty-
fifth birthday should “ go slow ” in adopt-
ing them till they have become familiar.

Fashions for street wear will be greatly
modified. The skirt steels are much
smaller but are not dispensed with; a small
pad bustle is still worn, and loopings and
drapings are largely discarded for the f ull—
very full, draperies falling in straight lines
to the foot, or at most slightly caught up
in the back or on one side to break lines
which would otherwise be too severely
plain. All the embellishment which for-
merly was expended upon the skirt now
characterizes the corsage, which has two
or even three revers, folds and plaits cross-
ing each other, and vests overlapping or
parting to disclose another, so that it is a
mystery how the wearer ever enclosed her-
self within such a complex affair. Sleeves,
too, show pufiings and slashings, and deep
cuffs with the sleeves fulled to them; these
are gladly adopted by the thin woman who
has suffered from the skin-tight fit so long
worn, while the lady with plump arms is
content to still display their rounded out-
line in a perfectly plain sleeve.

There are many “ novelties ” this spring,
principally in goods with woven borders,
or patterns designed for front and sides,
and some are very handsome and marvels
of weaving. But they are costly, and not pro-
fitable in the eyes of the judicious woman,
who knows how soon they are “ out,”
and how when the season is over they are a
drug on the market at half their first value.
It is always safe to select standard goods in
popular colors. We have this year the
usual assortment of these in serges, camel-
ettes, cheviots, Scotch flannels, twilled
wools, Henriettas and cashmeres, though
the cashmere has apparently superseded
Henrietta; in fact a great deal of the goods
sold as Henrietta at low prices was really
only cashmere of a good quality, being
simply a case of “ a rose by any other
name,” etc. Many ladies choose a pretty
light weight wool suiting for early spring
street wear, and find it “ just the thing”
for the mountains or the seashore. One
can never make a mistake in choosing for

 

 

street wear a good material, in a quiet, in-
conspicuous color, and making it up plain-
ly. A showily dressed woman on the
street draws all eyes in a not too compli-
mentary scrutiny. Black silk—never en-
tirely out of fashion—is to have a revival
this summer, the failles being favorites;
there are many cheaper weaves, as satin de
luxe, armure, and surah, as well as the
never quite out of style grosgrain. Black
lace dresses are still in great favor, both the
Chantilly or French laces and the striped
and flowered nets being used. The French
laces have a scalloped edge; the nets are to
be hemmed, and rows of narrow moire rib-
bon form a very pretty decoration.

The stores here are full of jackets and
newmarkets being closed out at very rea—
sonable prices. If the new Empire and
Directorie styles prevail, we must of neces-
sity have new models for wraps. Tires
are the usual mantles, in the patterns we
have known so long, slightly modified in
trimmings but not materially altered in
shape. But the “ newest thing out ” is the
Marie Antoinette fichn, which crosses the
bust in front and is tied at the back with
long ends. This of course is only for sum-
mer wear. Some of the new jackets are
very simple, the edges being stitched or
bound. and no trimming whatever; others
have waistcoat effects, with vests of a
lighter shade of the same color. Buy no
coats with machine braiding on them.
Long cloaks are generally closcfitting
rcdingotes, with princesse bucks and fronts
that lap at the left. “

Some one asked me if sash ribbons are
to be worn this summer. Sashes will be
very fashionable, but are quite wide and of
soft silk, and made over a whaleboned,
girdle-shaped foundation; they must be
very long, also. A way to arrange one of
these Empire sashes is to pleat oneend
narrowly and hook to the right side of the
dress at the waist line; draw it across the
front, widening to the left side where it
must be tacked to keep it. in place, let
the wide folds continue across the back to
the right side, then draw them in narrow-
ing pleats across the front to the, left, and
let the sash fall ina long loop and two long
ends. Simpler sashes are put straight
across the front, lap or cross behind, then
are brought round to the front again and
tied below the waist with long ends and
loops It will- be seen them fore that a
stiff ribbon would be ungraceful and too
bulky. The ends of the sash are fringed.

BEATRIX.


‘

13E HOUSEHOLD.

 

 

GARDENS.

 

Quitea difference in gardens? well, “I
should remark! ” The majority of gardens
bear a striking resemblance to the men who
make them. Some—and the number is
(not legion—are planted in long rows and
cultivated with a horse; others are filled
with grape vines, currant brush, berry
bushes, fruit trees, the seeds sown promis-
cuously and left to battle it out with the
weeds, drought and floods. There is a
hand-to-hand contest, a final struggle, and
the vegetables give it up. I am going to
describe my farther’s garden; it lives in my
memory yet. Not only was it good for the
inner man, but it was pleasing to the eye,

“ a thing of beauty and a joy forever.” It
was about one hundred feet square; a nice
wide path ran through the center from
east to west, and from north to south, this
was graveled to keep the grass from creep-
ing in. \Vhen the snow began to melt
away in March, a generous supply of
manure was spread evenly all over it,
brought from the sheds in a wheelbarrow,

{for never a horse stepped inside our garden,

me'ither did a stray hen cluck and scratch

or Chanticleer proclaim that he had dis-
covered a hill of cucumbers. A sharp
picket fence inclosed the ground, which was
sandy in character, decidedly not the light

ind which drifts around like snow; it had

way of staying where it was put; was rich

nd productive. When it became apparent
that spring had really come, when the sun’s
rays had warmed up the ground a little,
three or four great big stout Irishmen were
set to work with long handled spades turn—
ing over the ground; afterwards, it. was
raked with the garden rakes and was as
fine and smooth as a hotbed. Their part
of garden-making was finished. Now
came a full blood Englishman who got in
lots of superfluous h’s and left lots of
necessary ones out. For the sum of one
dollar per day he laid out the garden, sowed

the seeds, each in its turn, kept it free
from weeds until it could take care of itself;
:and father always said thatthe money thus
invested brought him the best returns. And that we were almost certain were green,
to come down to' the facts of the case, and
good common sense, this is the only way
one can have a good garden; one man or
woman must make it a business to sow and

weed. There is so much to be attended to
on a farm, especially a large one, that the fine flavor of our asparagus could be at
proper time for sowing and hoeing is tributed. ’
neglected. And with a garden as with In one corner of the garden was a hop
character-building, let the proper time pass vine, and forming a carpet like a “cloth
by in which to drop the seed or pull out the of gold ” were the stiff yellow flowers that
weeds, we will never receive satisfactory looked like gaudy marsh flowers that grow
in Michigan. Adjoining this was another
garden separated by a row of currant
bushes, and this was sacred to berry bushes,
the blackcap, the red Antwerp and a yel- baking powder, or the soda and cream of
low variety; while crossing one end was a tartar used in making biscuit or cake, is
These bushes were mixed with the flour the more certain the
thoroughly cultivated and beans planted result will be satisfactory. The flour ought
among them. Green peas were raised in to be put througha fine sieve twice at least
the field, oats sown among them to hold after the baking powder or soda and cream
them up, the marrowfat the favorite.

If there is any one thing pleasing to my are not quite sure of yourself on “soda
eye, it is a good garden laid out with taste biscuit,” and remember also if you would
and kept free from weeds. I know a good have light puffy, flacky biscuit, not to mix

results. '

In the southeast. corner of this garden
was an asparagus bed. It was there in my
earliest remembrance. It was raised per-
haps a foot and a half above the surface of
the ground, and stout planks all around it
iike a wall held the soil. This always re-
ceived the refuse brine from meat barrels,
manure, etc, and was large enough so that
we cut it every day, dividing it in thirds.
This we valued very highly. The walks
were bordered on either side with bush
beans; they made a pretty green border and

rots, parsnips, vegetable oysters, beets, were
sown in rows in one of the squares; one
variety of beets I remember as being simply
delicious, they were golden yellow, turnip-
shaped and very sweet. an early variety.
Then there were the white long blood and
turnip beets; the crook-neck summer
squash, yellow as gold and warty as a toad;
the cucumber vines occupied another square
with occasionally a nasturtium winding
and trailing about with its gaudy blossoms
and delicious little pods for pickles.
Radishes, two or three varieties, and lettuce,
spinach for greens. these three were near
neighbors, with perhaps a pansy and
hyacinth scattered among them, the Eng-
lish love of flowers cropping out. Egg
plants; peppers of [various "kinds, the tiny
variety for pepper sauce and the great
bull’s-nose for stuffing: tomatoes, large red,
and pear shaped yellow for preserving
and tomato butter, and cabbage—the
sugar—loaf, the Savoy, the Drumhead.
There were a few rows of sweet corn, for
early use; the most of it was raised in a
field adjoining, and consisted of several
varieties, including the Evergreen; and we
have eaten of this after snow came. It was
cut up while green and left in large
bunches set convenient to the house. Lima
beans which I liked for succotash, but I
cannot remember that we raised the wax
bean for string beans; it may be they had

telopes, rough skinned, sweet as honey—oh,

not been introduced at that time. Water
melons and muskmelons, the former the
size of pumpkins, with clouded green
rinds, deep red center and black seeds; the
latter, the long yellow thick-meated can-

that water melon patch! how lovingly does
memory linger over it, how many times has
my mouth watered at recollections of it!
How many times amid the cares and per-
plexities of life have I indulged in a good
hearty laugh, as there rose before my
mental vision the picture of myself, sneak-
ing out of the house with a couple of
knives in my pocket, meeting George at
the garden gate, our raid on the melons,
plugging those great monstrous melons

and then heaving them contemptuonsly
into the asparagus bed among the fringy
green tops! I have always believed that it
was owing largely to the copious use of
rotted melons that the unusual growth and

vegetables as they come along, and I feel
like encouraging the men folks to have one.
But when it comes to my getting out in the
dewy morning to “ catch the worm,” drab-
bling my skirts, staining my hands with
dirt and weeds, making mud ‘to set out
cabbage plants, I’m afraid “my name’s not
written there.” I don’t like it. Still, we
read that exercise in the fresh air is con-
ducive to good health, helps bad com~
plexions, aids digestion, and being in close
communion with nature elevates our
thoughts. I am going to make a desperate
effort to have a good garden this summer,
I will furnish the seeds and the indispensable
small boy—I will be still more generous, I
will occasionally go out and give it my
personal supervision, make suggestions,
etc., and sign an agreement to eat my share
of the vegetables. Now if that is not en-
conragement enough for one man I would
like to know what is?

BATTLE CREEK. EVANGELINE.

 

BEEF AND PORK PICKLE.

The Germavntown (Pa) Telegraph annually

republishes its somewhat famous recipe for

curing meats of any kind, hams, beef, pork,

mutton, etc., a recipe often tested and

found satisfactory. By following the

directions with exactness, excellent results

are obtained, and 'the formula is well worth

a trial. Here it is:

“ To one gallon of water add one and one-

half pounds of salt, one-half pound of
sugar, one-half ounce of saltpetre, one-

fourth ounce pure potash. In this ratio the
pickle can be increased to any quantity de-
sired. Let these ingredients be boiled to-
gether until all the dirt from the sugar
rises to the top and is skimmed off. Then
throw into a tub to cool and when cold pour
over your beef or pork. The meat must be
well covered with pickle, and should not be
put down for at least two days after killing,
during which time it should be slightly
sprinkled with powdered saltpetre, which
removes all the surface blood, etc., leaving
the meat fresh and clean. Some omit boil-
ing the pickle, and find it to answer well,
though the operation of boiling purifies the
pickle by throwing ofi the dirt always
found in salt and brown sugar. The potash
should be omitted unless it is pure. If this
recipe is strictly followed it will require
only a single trial to prove its superiority
over the common way, or most ways of

putting down meat, and will not soon be
abandoned for any other.
surpassed for sweetness,

The meat is un-
delicacy and

 

vurnished a quantity of beans. The car-

strawberry bed.

freshness of color.”

._.___._._...———-—

THE more completely and thoroughly the

tartar are added. Remember this, if you

 

garden when I see one; I can eat my share of the dough too stifl.

 

  

 

  

E
I
i

 

 

 

     


 

    
  

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i
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l

 
 

 

THE HOUSEHOLD.

     

8

 

 

"[Paper read at the March meeting of the Colum-

’for an essay to be read at a farmers’ meet-

'tiveness and beauty, and they are not con-

should in my first attempt at literary
‘Work, mention the few and omit the many.

.as pleasant and attractive as is consistent

.will always add to an impressive effect.

  

 

3

HOME ADORNMENTS

 

bia Farmers’ Club, by Mrs. M. Kelly, of Col-
umbia, Jackson 00.]

Since the above subject is one given me

ing, I infer that I am expected to make
mention of only such adornments as are
suitably adapted to farmers’ homes. There
are many things which add to its attrac-

fined to either the indoor or outdoor de-
partment of the home. Pardon me if I

It cannot be too strongly urged upon
farmers that their homes should be made

with their circumstances, especially the
more visible surroundings. The care of
outdoor surroundings, of course, properly
falls upon the head of the family, but the
'part of it which consists of sweeping and
raking the yards about the house, carrying
away pieces of boards, barrels, baskets of
{old boots and worn out tinware, repairing
the barnyard gate to prevent the unwel-
«come invasion of mischievous cows and pet
pigs (which are never genteel enough to
'to leave things as good as they find them),
is a disagreeable duty which often devolves
upon the housekeeper, Whose real duties
should be confined to indoor affairs.

It is not a mistake to devote as much
space to the yard and ‘lawn, as can be con-
veniently afforded. If you are about to
rebuild, set the house well back. Nothing
gives more pleasure than to feel free and
not hampered. . Level the lawn nicely,
giving it a gradual descent from the house,
and cover it with a thrifty carpet of blue
grass. Construct appropriate walks and
drives, plant in groups here and there
shade and ornamental trees, but never fruit-
bearing trees; they are always objectionable.
A few Well arranged beds of flowers, if well
kept, that is, thriftily :and cleanly raised,

Where it is observed that persons love
flowers it is suggestive of hospitality and
benevolence. Well did the poet write:

“ 0, they look upward in every place,
Throne h this beautiful world of ours.
And bright as the smile on an old friend’s

face.
Is the smile of the bright, bright flowers."

A little labor expended in this direction
will add much to the good looks and ap-
pearance of your possessions, and be a tell-
ing factor in your favor if you expect to
sell. It is hardly necessary for me to add
“the already threadbare advice about keep-
ing up and in repair the barns, outbuild-
ings, fences and all other farm appurten-
ances in general, yet this is an arc of the
circle of home adornments. People who
are progressive and aim constantly at im-
provement, are said to be the happiest.

Prominent among the most important
home adornments, are cheerful, healthy
faces. Cheerfulness is productive of health
and inviting to visitors. A very profitable

expenditure is that which secures good re-
liable papers, especially where the list is
composed principally of standard agricul-

that we have of late been professionally

advised “to read and then think.”

If I should omit to call attention to the
indisputable fact that improved varieties of
live stock smack sensibly of modern, pro-
fitable home adornments, I would receive

severe criticism from my friends. To re-
vert again to the indoor adornments of the
home in a general way, I should venture
the assertion that plain substantial furni-
ture, corresponding with one’s circum-
stances in life, is much the best adapted‘to
adorn a farmer’s home. Selections of this
kind speak more plainly of one’s good

judgment and stability.

I would not neglect alimited number of
pictures, and certainly not those of near
friends if procurable; they carry one’s mind
back with a tendency to avert selfishness,
and bid us remember others that we may be
remembered. Sunshine and pure air,
wholesome food and good order, along with
other things, go to make the home pleasant,
and pleasantness is an indispensable re-
quisite among home adornments.

How marked is the change and contrast
between the recognized home adornments
and conveniences of the present day and
those of the past! When we allow our-
selves in imagination to wander back in
thought forty years, to the legendary
andirons, oaken bucket, spinning wheel,
cowbell, bedcord and ox team, it can hardly
be realized that they were once highly
prized home adornments and conveniences.
History repeats itself, and from this fact
we can expect still greater changes; but
who can in his imagination look into the
future, and reveal to his own personal sat-
isfaction thehidden mysteries of the com-
ing age an hundred years hence? Who
can predict what fashionable home adorn-
ments and conveniences will consist of at
the expiration of the short space of time
included within the coming decade?

“Life is what we make it.” People are
said to be “ largely what they read;” hence
it follows that an important home adorn-
ment is pure, instructive reading matter,
such as will assist in solving the many in-
tricate problems Which constantly beset our
paths. _

Fancy adornments bear evidence of
thrift and prosperity; but we should not
too hastily pass the words of the poet, who
says:

“ Not in prosperity‘s broad light,

Can reason justly scan

The sterling worth, which, viewed aright,
Most dignifies the man.”

——...——_—

THE BATTLE BEGINS.

I am going to clean house early this
spring, for several reasons. One is to make
use of the snow before it is all gone. When
you take up a carpet have a few shovelfuls
of snow thrown on the dusty floor and
when you sweep it out it will take every
particle of dirt with it, and is better than
anything else for that purpose. Then a
handful of it taken up with a cloth is good
to wash windows with, acts like sand in
getting off the dirt without scratching the
glass. After shaking the carpet spread it
on the snow, throw some on it and sweep

 

It will be remembered

tural journals.

again, the snow will be pretty dark and the

   

 

carpet will be clean. Then I want the
extra housework finished so that when the
really warm days come, and outdoor work
can be begun, I can dig in the dirt outside
Without feeling there is any “misplaced
matter,” as some one calls dlrt, in the house.

Since A. H. J. explained to us the terrible
consequences of a community in towels,
I feel encouraged to tell all Michigan about
my bedbugs. I had one bedstead from
which every known remedy failed to ex—
terminate them. I took it entirely apart,
so that there were no two boards fastened
together. It was not a difficult job, as the
glue had been dissolved long ago by boil-
ing water. Found there were nice secure
places between the boards, contrived by the
cabinet-maker on purpose for bugs. With
the wish that we could have women to
superintend the manufacture of furniture,

women who know the extra work the find-
ing one bedbug makes, Icleaned and put
.that bedstead together. Then I filled every
crack with tallow so that a bug could not
possibly hide from sight. Then I rested
the seventh day.

Have you ever noticed that the very good
housekeeper is quite likely to be a scold
unless she has unusual self control, while
the woman who does not care very much
how her house looks is the best soul alive,
always good natured and a means of grace
to those of her household in giving them a
chance to cultivate patience, forbearance
and long suffering? And do you know
that a really good cook must be somewhat
of an epicure herself? I have come to this
conclusion in watching the efforts of a
young housekeeper to make good coffee,
who does not drink it herself and does not
know how coffee ought to taste to be good.

What does Bess mean by growing straw-
berries on tamcrack poles. Consider my-
self an experienced gardener, and have
grown strawberries in every possible way,
even out of the bungholes of barrels, but
never on tamerack poles. Will Bess please
explain. HULDAII PERKINS.

PIONEER.

u
D

 

FROSTED PLANTS.

It is exasperating enough to bring a lot
of plants through the winter, only to have
them nipped by an unseasonably cold night
in the early spring. But such accidents
will happen, and we should know the
proper treatment to be employed in such
cases. Sprinkle immediately with cold
water and banish toa cold dark room or
cellar, to remain until the frost is all out,
and if alive bring gradually to the light
and warmth. When the soil is frozen in
the pots set them in cold water until soft;
then give free drainage. It is surprising
how much freezing some plants will
endure when thus treated. Prune away all
dead branches and foliage, and give a
stimulant now and then, as ammonia or
soot in the winter; and many that have been
badly frosted will quickly revive and re-
sume growth as spring is with us once
again. But remember plants that have
endured frost once are like frosted heels,
very susceptible to cold.

 

Firm-0N. MRS. M. A. FULLER.

 

 


4:

LETTERS FROM THE LONE STAR
STATE.

Mrs. C. E. Decker, M. D., of Mt.
Clemens, having been ordered to Texas to
spend the winter on account of her health,
writes her sister, Mrs. W. K. Sexton, cf
Howell, some very entertaining letters,
from which Mrs. Sexton kindly makes the
following extracts for the pleasure and
profit of HOUSEHOLD readers:

COLEMAN, Texas, Dec. 19, 1888
MY DEAR SISTER:

We are having the loveliest weather
imaginable. The day before yesterday we
drove to and crossed the Colorado river,
six miles from here; rode without a shawl
or wrap of any kind. This afternoon we
are sitting out on the gallery—as the porches
are called here—and as I write I wonder
how it is up north. Can hardly believe it
is winter.

I had a delightful trip from first to last.
Left Detroit at 2 P. M. Tuesday, on the
Wabash road, which took me through
Adrian and a part of Michigan I had never
seen, across a corner of Ohio, through
Indiana, across Illinois to Springfield and
on to St. Louis, which we reached early the
next morning. I was sorry to have night
come and shut us in, but I was up early,

for I wanted to see all I could, and I knew
we were nearing the Mississippi river. We
came in sight of it soon after daylight, and
although I had been told I should be dis-
appointed in it, a feeling of grandeur stole
over me when I thought, “This is the
Mississippi, and who ever thought I would
see it.” Although it is a muddy river, yet
it looked grand, and the great iron bridge
over it looks as though no power could
move it. We were obliged to wait some
time on the bridge for the out-going train,
and as I sat there with the stream flowing
far, far below, saw the river steamers, long
flat boats and boats of all kinds, and
watched‘the loading and unloading on the
levee, and negroes driving one horse and
donkey carts, I just felt too grand for any-
thing. After leaving the bridge we soon
entered a long dark tunnel that runs under
the city, came out into daylight, were
rushed on till we were landed in the Grand

Union depot of St. Louis. There I got a

high toned dinner, and the porter from the

car called another porter into the waiting
room and told him to see to me, and get me

off all right. I gave him a quarter and I

tell you he just did wait on me in fine

sh

 

a e.

We waited there some time, but Idid
not dare to go out much, but hope to when
I go back. Fell in company with a gentle-
man and lady from Alabama. We went
out for a short walk; could not go far
enough to see the gardens, but did see some
fine buildings, among them One of the old
cathedrals, whose tower went up out of
sight, almost. Among the sights we saw
were Gen. Grant’s statue in a large open
square, some pretty parks, etc. We wended

our way back to the depot, our train was

soon called and we were southward bound.
The route took us down through Missouri,

across Arkansas, crossing both the Arkan-
sasand Red rivers, on to the beautiful hills

through Arkansas led through the cotton
and rice swamps.
State are beautiful, with little streams
winding among the pine trees, then we
would emerge from that scenery to a swamp
with cotton growing,

and mouths wide open.

THE HOUSEHOLD-

Some parts. of the

log cabins, and
negroes, oh, my! It was a beautiful day, as
we passed through that State, and the
Dinahs and pickaninnies were all in the
door or yard, without much clothing, eyes
Their cabins were
seven by nine affairs, chimneys built on the
outside, because, as one gentleman said, the
family or chimney had to be out of doors—
not room enough for both inside. Am
sure I saw the veritable “ Little old log
cabin in the lane,” and I thought back
years ago, and did not wonder that poor
Aunt Chloe was “done heart broke ” when
she thought Uncle Tom might be sold to go
to the cotton swamps. I should think oxen
were used almost exclusively as beasts of
burden, for all through this part of. the
State we see carts drawn only by oxen, and
such oxen! Sometimes one and sometimes
six of these creatures were drawing one
cart or wagon.

As we neared the Arkansas river the
scene changed, and before I knew it I said
“ Oh! isn’t that lovely.” The river on the
eastern side has a long flat pebbly beach,
while on the western side the hills rise_
directly from the water’s edge, with such
beautiful pine trees all the way up. The
scenery here is very grand. But we were
whirled along until we crossed the Red
river, rightly named. It looks like pounded
brick, but has pretty banks, hills and pine
trees. So we rode and rode, and looked,
and talked, and got tired and made fun of
it. There were only a few through pas-
Sengers, but they were all very pleasant,
and of course on such along ride we' got
well acquainted and had lots of pleasure.
Some of the passengers would occasionally
get off to get a meal, and come in and say
“Wasn’t that vile stuff we had to eat.” I
would get the porter to bring me a cup of
tea, spread my table and eat my lunch with
all the composure imaginable. At one
place I got off the train, went down the
platform to the ground to walk a little, so I
could say I had trod Arkansas soil. Our train
only stopped at the large towns. We
passed through Little Rock, and soon, just
on the border between Arkansas and Texas
we came to the quarantine that was estab-
lished during the yellow fever panic, a
long row of white tents; were glad we were
not obliged to stop there.

 

DOMESTIC HELPS.

I never have written for publication and
scarcely know how, but I want to say
“ Thank you ma’am” for favors received.

Of all the Households I have had the
FARMER HOUSEHOLD suits me best. It
comes in the most convenient shape, and is
not filled with advertisements.

I can make good bread with half a yeast
cake and four or five potatoes. I make a
.bowl of yeast that lasts me two weeks.

with flour mixed with white of egg.

I mended a beautiful china cup to-day

 
 

plain sponge cake in layers, spread with
sour cream sweetened and flavored. It is
better a few days old.

Mother's doughnuts are made with one
cup each 'of sugar, cream and buttermilk,
one teaspoonful each of cinnamon and soda,
and one egg; mix firm. ANNA.

Bonfire .
W

A PORT HURON dealer in brooms says

that inasmuch as it has come to be under-

stood that one of the characteristics of a
good broom is the green appearance of the
thrush, indicating toughness, elasticity and
durability, manufacturers provide this re-
quisite by dipping the brush, when the
brooms are completed, into a solution of
Paris green, which gives precisely the right
color, enough remaining on the brush to
tinge it. Thus is found a new application
of Paris green to the “ arts and sciences ”—
the great art of. adulteration—and a new
danger for the housekeeper who is in the
habit of testing her cake with a broom-
splint—not a very clean practice at best,
now a possible source of poisoning.

,—-——-—*OO—-—-—

THEY say .women seldom invent aids to
their own work, but Mrs. Hungerford, of
Ithaca, N. Y., at the farmers’ institute held
there, exhibited the skimmer with which
she removes cream. It was one of her
own invention, and was double the size of
the ordinary skimmer,,and without holes.
With this skimmer she could take off the
whole quantity of cream on a pan at one
time. She first turned the edges of the
cream over towards the middle, and then
lifted it off clean with one effort. She had
also invented a screen, made of thick paper
tacked to a frame of lath, the screen being
as wide as the pans, and long enough to
cover three pans. The lath, made smooth,
rested on the edges of the pans. The effect
of this cover was, that the cream did not
dry up on the edges of the pans and make
so many white specks in the butter.

.- «0—. __,_.__

Contributed Recipes.

WHITE CAKE Wrrnon'r Enos—due cup of
sugar: butter size of walnut; one cup sweet
milk; two cups flour; two teaspoonfuls baking
powder, or one of cream tartar and half tea-
spoontul soda. Flavor to taste. This also
makes good layer cake. ‘

FRUIT CAKE Wrraour Eons -0ne cup
sugar (brown is best it nice); one cup New
Orleans molasses; one cup sour milk; one cup
butter; one cup raisins; one cup English cur-
rants; one cup citron: one teaspoonful cinna-
mon; one-fourth teaspoonful each of cloves
and grated nutmeg; one rounding teaspoon-
ful soda. Seed and chop the raisins, wash
and dry the currants. Stir the cake quite
stifl With sifted flour: roll the fruit in flour
and stir in last. Bake slowly three hours. If
a cofl‘eecup is used in measuring. this will
make a common-sized panful when baked.

COLD Mun—Take a good-sized soup bone,
boil until the meat drops from the bone.
Skim out the meat. Cht with a sharp knife,
using a fork in the other hand. or chop, but
not too fine; pour over the meat the liquor or
stock that it was boiled in. Season to taste.
Stir well together, and set it in a cool place to

 

 

of Texas. The greater part of our way

    

A rich cake canabe made by baking a

harden. Slice thin. Nice for tea or any
meal. Mas. E. P. 8.
Oman.