\\\\\\\\\&\\\\\\

 

 

DETROIT, MARCH

21,

1591.

 

 

THE HOUSEHOLD-"Supplement.

 

 

AT HOME

 

BYA ='1.F.

She knew not the name of a science ;

She knew not the name of an art;

On the “ ologies" placed no reliance:

No charity wore in her heart.

To a few things she clung very, firmly,

The sphere of a woman was one.

And she often asserted quite sternly.

That the right place for her was "' ter hum."
So once when she heard of a lecture.

To be given by one of her sex,

She puzzled her brain to conjecture

What the world would be coming to next.
The next proved to be a committee:

The next a physician in chief!

What a shock to her mindi What a pity!
To give her good soul some relief;

Her world was shaken from center to gallery.
She talked so long and so loud,

That she wearied herself at a smaller salary
Than the woman who talked to a crowd.
Her house and her duties alike were deserted;
Her husband took dinner alone,

While at her neighbor‘s she firmly asserted
That the place for a woman was home.

--——--—.-0.-—-——
THE GOSPEL MISSION

It was Saturday night, and the usual
throng with baskets and bundles crowded
the streets and jostled each other in the
aisles of the old Central Market among the
piles of lettuce and radishes, asparagus and
cucumbers, the cheese and the abominable
looking stufi yclept butter, and rubbed
against the denuded poultry which evi-
dently had experienced the debilitating in-
fluences of a “ warm spell.” “Let’s go
over to the Gospel Mission a few minutes,”
said Madame, and at the responsive “ I’m
with you,” we inhaled a few whifl‘s
strongly suggestive of dead fish, whisked
round a corner or two and, halting before
a glass door and curtainless windows, were
hidden to “Walk right in and take seats
up in front,” by a man who seemed a sort
of gospel sergeant stationed outside to en-
courage hesitating recruits and overcome
the reluctance of the timid, and who wore
as insignia of his office a semi-military cap
and a silver cross which gleamed from the
lapel of his coat. We entered a bare look-
ing room, the floor covered with oilcloth
which was neat and clean, and plentifully
furnished with cheap wooden chairs ar-
ranged to leave an aisle through the centre
leading to a low platform at the further
and, on which stood a piano and more
chairs, and a little stand. The most notice-
able thing was the dreadfully close and
impure air, redolent of red hot stoves and
unwashed and unkempt humanity; it
seemed almost thick enough to be cutout

 

in wedges; and no wonder, for probably
every man present stood in the middle
of his wardrobe, and slept in it as well.
Thirty or forty men and boys had gathered,
most of them clustered about the big stove
nearest the door, and half a dozen women,
some with children, straggled in later,
several carrying the baskets in which they
would later take home their Sunday
dinners.

The Mission, realizing that those it wishes
to benefit will not go out of their way to
receive its benefactions, goes to them. It
is located among saloons, and though a
strong arm could throw a stone from it al-
most to the Soldiers‘ Monument, it is in a
tough part of the city, being established
where those it works among most do con-
gregate. It was a decidedly new phase of
city life to me, and I studied a few of the
faces carefully; few showed any particular
intelligence, many were dull and stolid, a
few “tough” and brutal, yet most were
quiet and attentive. Not a few were boys
of 18 and 20, who but for this refuge would
probably have sought the neighboring
saloons. Here were light and warmth and
music, and nothing to pay, while those
who have not money to spend are not.wel-
come in the beer halls.

The exercises began with singing of
gospel hymns, to the accompaniment of a
piano which sadly needed tuning, but the
audience was not critical and sang with a
zeal quite without knowledge of musical
phrasing and modulation. A miss of
fourteen years, perhaps, sat by the accom-
panist and sang with an abandon which
indicated she loved to sing and was no
stranger there. She was the “Little Nell"
of the assembly, hers perhaps the only in-
nocent young face present; and one man
of twenty-eight or: thirty years never took
his eyes from her face while she sang
“Peace, Be Still” as a solo.

The leader of the services, an old, white
haired man who scattered h’s with a lavish
disregard which betokened his nationality
—“ ’appy ’arts and ’umble ’omes ”—oflcred
a brief prayer, then more singing, another
prayer by a “ brother ” with one arm. who
claimed to have had a personal interview
with the Lord in his apartment, and to
have since “ sot out ” for a better life, then
a rollicking hymn sung forte accelerando,
and the leader read a few verses of
Scripture which he commented upon in
homely phrase, suited to his hearers’ com-
prehension. More singing; it was evident
the leader Understood its power to hold his
audience; he kept close watch and when.

 

ever he detected symptoms of restlessness
he had recourse to the well-thumbed
hymnboak. I confess to having been more
moved by the simple, unafiected, earnest
petition of one of these reclaimed men than
by many a more labored and ornate
prayer from cultured brains. He said
“tur’ble” and “sech” and “childerlng,”
and “h’ain't got no," but every word
came from a heart full of the soul‘s sincere
desire. He didn’t pray for the Jews nor
the Hottentots, but he did ask God’s mercy
and strength for the poor druukard; and
for the sinners round about him. And
while they were singing with painful dis.
cords but no lack of voice, another hymn,
I thought what a figure would a certain
learned, scholarly, precise clergyman I
wot of, with his faultless linen, his irre-
proachable frock coat, his eye-glasses and
his dignity, cut before such a heterogenous
assembly of real gross sinners—men who
knew more of saloons than churches, were
familiar with the police court, had some
of them perhaps bottomed chairs at the
House of Correction. 1 could fancy that
ten sentences of his wisdom would disperse
the crowd without the need of hell, book
or candle. Ah, well, each to his kind, and
in his placel-but here Madame gathered
her furs about her and saying “ We’ll go!"
stayed not upon the order of her going.
Outside, she said, “ I felt as if that air was
crushing me down " as we both took deep
draughts of pure fresh oxygen into our
lungs; the atmospheric weight was cer-
tainly considerably above the normal
pressure of sixteen pmnds to the square
inch, and I for one felt as if I’d like to take
out my breathing apparatus and wash and
disinfect it. It seems as if a little venti-
lation and pure air would be an eflicient
aid to the gospel.

Then we went over to Mallory’s and had
some ice cream to take the bad taste out of
our mouths, deciding as we went that we,
at least, had no inclination for “ slum~
ming.” To do good to this class of people,
one must be among them and of them.
They are repelled by those who are above
them in rank and culture; such can get no
hold upon them, and can best help by
furnishing means for the conduct of the
work by those who have themselves known
poverty, ignorance and temptation.

The same evening, at the Lyceum,
Goethe’s masterpiece, the tragedy of Faust,
was being acted. Herein mimic show was
the tragedy which is so real in so many
human lives. Faust typifies the struggie
of a soul between good and evil. Tempted

 


 

2

THE HOUSEHOLD.

  

 

by Mephistopheles, who represents our
baser propensities, he abandons honor and
wisdom and truth for sensual gratifica’ions,
burdens himself with guilt, seems given
over to evil, goaded onward by the mock-
ing devil who tempts afresh whenever
conscience reproaches. Marguerite's story
is the tragedy of her sex in all ages. To
the excess of that which in itself is beauti-
ful and good, she owes her fall. Along
with her story runs that of the man, im-
pressed by her purity and goodness, yet
weakly unable to resist his baser self.
Faust’s repentence and the disc ‘mfiture of
Mephisto are meant to teach us no human
soul need be entirely dominated by evil
so long as we will strive against it. And
I wonderedif any erring, struggling Faust,
repentant of an ill spent life, were among
that unshaven, shabby crowd at the Gospel
Mission. Bnarnrx.

OTHER PEOPLE’S CHILDREN.

J. H. W. evidently thinks that I view
life from a pessimistic standpoint. But I
believe I can, without egotism, or without
a fear of contradiction by those who know
me best, say thatlam not 80(1‘088 and
crabbed as my letter would perhaps indi-
cats. I enjoy extending hospitality to any
one who is worthy. But in the case men-
tioned I do not feel that i entertained
angels, nor did I make distinction between
rich and poor, for certainly appearances
would indicate wealth, and one of them
cccupied a high social position. Nor do I
think that I carried on a very extensive
business in the uplifting of mankind, in
this particular case. The girls were out
for a lark, and a cheap one, little caring at
whose expense it was obtained.

Of course there may be circumstances
when such enttrtainment is admissible.
For instance, if carried on as it is in a little
college town where asister of the writer
lived for several years. The friends of the
students came with a quantity of pro-
vision Commencement Week and were up
in the morning ready to help in any way
they could. They understood that it was
to be a mutual affair. The hostess was
thus permitted to attend the exercises, and
the week was pleasantly and profitably
spent.

Now so far as those children are con-
cerned, when I have time I play with
them myself and should be glad to prepare
playthings for their amusement. But
after the fifth child is off to school, I find
that I have not many minutes to give to
my neighbor’s children, for dinner mu-t
be on the table at twelve, and allowance
must be made for interruptions from
callers, agents, e‘c. Only one day last
week, I was putting on my hat to attend
tOSOme very important errands, when a
little girl came in saying, “Mamma has
gone away and she said I could stay with
you until she came home tonight.” After
some time spent in urging I persuaded her
togo with me. After the first call she
changed her mind and insisted upon going
back to the house. I knew her to.) well to
try my persuasive. power, so had to defer
my business until evening, and had to go

  

through a hard rain storm too. I love
children dearly, but there is such a thing
as patience ceasing to be a virtue.

I wish to thank all who have had the
kindness to notice my crusty letter. I
wish I could thank personally Katharine
of Genesee for a recipe for mustard pickles;
it was published some time ago. I made
three gallons last fall by her rule, and I
thought I should be compelled to appoint
a guard over that crock, every time the
children came in they wanted just one
more. We ate the last of them long ago,
then we used every drop of the vinegar.
Now I am thinking some of breaking the
crock into pieces, that each one of the
family may have a piece as asouvenir of
happy days when mustard pickles were
plenty. 1 hope to n ake six gallons next
year. I used several heads of cauliflower
with mine, and it was delicious. Some
time I Would like to tell the ladies of the
Bousnnom) how I made some window
shades for my bedroom test are much
superior to any Oil shade I ever saw.

UNION Cm. D. E.

DOES IT PAY?

 

It was a wondertully bright morning;
the snow made great golden patches on
the wall. and the English sparrows seemed
to be jubilant. for they twittered and flut-
tered and made hasty flights from barn to
garden, from bush to tree. The air was
quite spring-like, one almost looked for the
green grass and the crocus to put in an
appearance, so different this midwinter
from prevtous ones. Such harmony
reigned out of doors the natural supposi-
tion would be that the same good genius
presided within the large and commodious
house. In the dining room stood the
housewife, the very personification of dis-
tress. She looked around on the wreck,
wondering where to commence carrying
(if the debris. For be it known the social
had been held in this same house the even-
ing before, and while the good sisters had
been over Zealous passing refreshments and
the little glass dish for the small dimes
which should defray expenses in dark
days to come, not one pat in an ap-
pearance to help set the house in order.
Not a mouthful of breakfast had been
eaten and the little clock chimed out eight
—time the children were started for school,
but they hadn’t opened an eye yet, and her
head ached as if it would split. The cook-
stove was covered with milk pails con-
taining a lot of notice grounds, the coffee.
pot and teapot, every dipper and tin cup
shared the same fate. Not 'a dish, spoon,
knife or fork but was dirty, and a great
pile of tablecloths, towels and napkins
s'ared her in the face with an air of de-
fiance. Remnants of cake, mussed bis-
cuit, bones of ham and beef, pickles with
one bite taken out of them, crumbs of
cheese, all lay about or were jumbled to-
gether with an air ‘of having known better
days surrounding them. The pantry
shelves were crammt d~jammtd full—no
one would suppose they had ever been put
in Ol‘dt r, yet she had worked all day yes-

 

d-ry, papering them and cleaning every
corner, so that she would not be labeled a

slack housekeeper. In the sitting-room,
bed-room and parlor, it looked as if that
big horned individual had been through
with a pitchfork.

She dreaded to even look up stairs where
the young folks played all the evening; it
was ringing in her ears now, “ Happy is the
miller who lives in the mill. Mill turns
around with a free good will,” varied with
“ Go choose the East; go choose the West;
go choose the one that you love best.” It
beat anything she ever heard of, but then
she played Copenhagen when she was a
girl, before she was married. People’s
tastes were much the same, even though
customs did change. The first time she
ever saw Simon they were Playing that
same game, he slapped her hand ’til it was
almost blistered, and she always told him
he hugged like'a great bear. As she started
up with a blush at reviewing all this
childish trash, her eye fell on the Tiddledy
Winks—some of the grown folks had en-
joyed that game—but the box was broken
and three Tiddledys gene. But something;
must be done, and done immediately,
for there came the men with the milk, and
where on earth Simon found a pail to milk
in she couldn’t even imagine—she honestly
believed it was the horse pail from the
barn. Well, the fire was started, the coffee
drained off and warmed, social coffee so
’twas strong of course; some potatoes were
sliced and warmed up, no one was very
hungry, a corner of the table cleared, and
Simon had just remarked that several
boards were kicked off the stall, and the-
colt sick from being turned out. when the
baby screamed and half a dozen small
children came trooping out to be dressed
and fed. Simon is a little deaf, he couldn’t
quite hear distinctly what it was that the
good wife muttered, as she pressed both
hands to her aching head, but he believes
to this day ’twas she “ wished she’d never
got married,” but to his glory be it ever
transcribed he held the baby while the
other children were dressed, fed and
started for school; he stayed in the house
all day long and put his shoulder to the
wheel setting things to rights; he never
“ forgot” but once and used profane
language; no one noticed the slip, and
when at night the sun dipped his big
round red face in the west and sent long
slanting bars of sunshine through the west
window of the dining room and kitchen,
perfect order reigned, but the poor tired,
jaded wife, lying on her bed with a wet
cloth on her head and mustard drafts on
her feet, asked herself over and over again
“ Does it pay ? ” EVANGELINE.

Burns Cnnsx.

 

MISS MILLIE ARNOLD, of Chesaning,
writes the HOUSEHOLD: “ I am a miss of
sixteen years and live near the quiet little
village of Chesaning, where lam attending
school. My father enjoys reading the
FABMER very much, and mother and my-
self the HOUSEHOLD, which we take much
interest in. I as well as El. See am very
much interested in studying the dictionary.
Excuse me, but I must ask one question
and then close: Will some one please tell

 

me some way to make fancy work?”

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

THE HOUSEHOLD.

3

 

A BAKING CABINE I‘.

 

- While we think our new home a model
of convenience, I will mention only two
of its features. One, a baking cabinet,
consists of an enclosed table, the back of
which extends forty-two inches above the
table proper. On this, beginning fourteen
inches from the top of table, is a closed
cupboard of three shelves eight inches
wide, in which the various spices and small
tucking utensils are kept. (Pint glass
cans are perfection for spices, allowing
none of the strength to see ipe, and showing
at a glance what they contain.) Below the
table, on the right, are three drawers, two
of which are divided into compartments
for sugar, oatmeal, etc. The other is used
for rolling-pin and other baking utensils.
On the left is a V-shaped fl )ur bin, hinged
at the bottom, allowing the top to swing
out when wanted—a cord preventing it
from swinging too far. Between table top
and flour bin is a place for the breadboard.
An oilcloth cwers the top of the table.
The outside of the cabinet is of Norway
pine, finished in oil, with bronze pulls for
drawers and bin, the whole mounted on
double casters, forming a piece of furniture
at once attractive as well as convenient.

The other convenience is a carboy
for kerosene placed on a shelf about
four and a half feet from the floor
in the wood-room, the oil being drawn

directly into the lamps through a
small iron siphon with an air cock at the
bottom. Speaking of this prompts me to
add that it ismuch cheaper for two families
to buy oil by the barrel and store in car-
boys till wanted. By removing one from
its wooden case you will have an excellent
vessel in which to make and store cider
vinegar. E. o. L.

LITTLE PRAIRIE Roxnn.

——-——...——-_

THE MOVE AGAIN.

ON

Yes, we have migrated once again. It
was not the'stern decree of relentless fate
that forced it, nor did the restlessness of a
perturbed and unsettled mind dictate it.
Noltyrannical landlord ejected us, nor did
an unsatisfied creditor close down on us
and order us to move on.

No ghostly visions disturbed our nightly
rest, no aggregation of caterwauling sere-
naders made night hideous, no deep mouth-
ed buyers of the moon “ rather than such a
Roman ” startled us from the sleep of the
just, no failure of crops, no murrain among
the cattle, no quarrels with our neighbors
suggested or inspired a change.

No i just because we wanted to, we
made a winter move. The flight was not
far, but it was fair. We have a more
pleasant location, higher ground and better
drainage, and a better and larger house; a
great desideratum in a family of two per-
sons. Some of our friends fear we may
get lost in our new mansion, and kindly
promise to keep a good look out for us.

But the moving ! there’s where the fun

comes in. It was so short adistance that
no formal packing was deemed necessary.

Our goods and chattels were carried over

‘ in wagons, wheelbarrows, baskets, pails,

 

pockets and arms. The weather was cold
and the flitting hurried, and the movables
were put in piles, windrows, bundles, heaps
and miscellaneous groupings. Not an ef-
fort was made to inventory any package,
and the result was the washboard was
found (at last") tied up with the piano stool,
the soap in the potato basket, and' the
carving—knife in the comb case, while sev~
eral weeks went by ere we found the coffee
and the biscuit-cutter.

Darby took up all the carpets and clean-

ed them (by the way, he put them down
by proxy, moved and set up the stoves the
same way. and likes the plan so well that
he insists he’ll never change it), put the
china and glassware through their paces,
sent the mirrors and pictures over by kind-
hearted neighbors, and managed matters
generally in the faultless manner so natural
to him. At last we have settled down into
very home-like surroundings, and believe
we are fixtures for the remaining years
allotted us.

This is a beautiful village, with the most
cordial, genial people possible to imagine.
“ Ingleside ” is now the home of the daugh
ter of the family; “Msplethorpe,” tenant-
less and forlorn, waits a buyer, and “ Fair-
holm,”stately and pleasant, with verandahs
on every side, invites the friends of Darby
and Joan to hasten to partake of its hospi-
talities and admire its convenient arrange-
ments. Now with Tiny Tim let us all

pray. “ God bless us all.” a. L. L.
FAXBHOLM. '
——...—-—_-_

TREATMENT OF TRAMPS .

I quite agree with the sentiment of “ The
Lessons of a Tragedy " in the HOUSEHOLD
of Feb. 14th. Michigan can furnish men
to superintend her State institutions who
will realize the responsibility laid upon
them and will never overlook binding rules
and regulations upon a supposition that
“ everything is all right.”

I was glad of what was said relative to
mothers and daughters. I have been
called an old maid and a Puritan many
times because of my ideas on this subject,
but I stand it all right and hear as though
I heard not many times.

When I came to live on the farm I laid
down for myself a rule that I would not
give to beggars at the door, but lest any
one should suffer for the cup of cold water
which I might have given, I would invite
any who came to sit down and eat, feeling
that if I saw them eat 1 should know
that it had done them good. I followed
this rule until I became convinced that in
some way our house was being advertised
as a good free hotel; and one Sunday I
actually found two tramps sitting patiently
on the front steps waiting my return from
church. The hired man was at home or
they might not have been so considerate as
to wait. One day a tramp opened the
door and walked right in, saying in broken
English “ I may stay here all night.” I
opened the door and replied “ You may
walk out.” He was so astonished that he
obeyed me, but looked through the win-
dow until he saw my boys, as large as my-

 

self, then disappeared. My courage for-
sook me as I realized what might have
happened had I been alone; and since this
tramps get two slices of bread with a piece
of cold meat handed out to them and the
door is shut. We liVe right by the railroad
and no doubt that accounts for our having
so many such calls.

I always put pockets on my gingham
aprons, that I may have a place for my
handkerchief and not be tempted when the
children all sneeze at once to seize the dish-
cloth, as once hinted atin the Houssuonm

I think it pays to warm the children’s
shoes in the morning, for I take no stock
in the theory that children have an extra
supply of heat in their bodies.

When preparing cabbage I think it pays
to chop enough for two meals at once.
Chop very fine and dress enough for cold
slaw the first day while crisp. Set the rest
away in a vegetable dish, covered with a
plate, for hot slaw, thus you have the bowl
and knife to wash but once.

I agree with Fidus Achates with regard
to those children. If I were D. E. I should
tell my neighbor just how the matter stood, .
and said neighbor must be either very sel-
fish or very thoughtless if she takes of—
fense.

With regard to J aue Carlyle I think she»
did more than her duty. We all honor the -
mother of Thomas Carlyle for the trials
and sacrifices made in that humbla home,.
that Tom might have an educ ition; but
when she blacked Tom’s boots for him she
helped to make him the domestic tyrant he -
afterwards became, and by her own con-
fession Thomas became “ gey ill to live
wi.’” The disagreeable side of C trlyle’s
character mars the fruits of his genius to
my mind. MRS. W. LG.-

HOWELL.

 

W ASKING.

 

I too, think too much kerossne used "
yellows the garments; therefore, I am not
in accordance with Good Housekeeping in
using four tablespoonfuls of kerosene.-
My method: Into a ho ler containingr
three pailfuls of soft water, put one half
of a cake of good soap, shaved fine, and-
two tablespnnfnls of kerosene, boiling
till the soap dissolves. Add the clothes, ,
the best first, after so tpiug wristb suds,
collars, etc , and let them boil ten minutes.
Suds well through two waters, then blue
them, using the board if needed, in the
first suds. Add no more soap or kerosene
to the contents of the boiler, but add all
the garments you wish.

I prefer soaking the clothes over night
or wetting them before putting them into -
the boiling water, although some don’t. I
have washed this way for years, always
putting the clothes into boiling water, and
it has never set the dirt in mine.

The tenacious greasy scum is caused by
the use of too much kerosene in proportion
to the soap used, andtwotabieapo midis of
kerosene is a great plenty for a half of a
bar of good soap.

Yellow, Offensive clothes are often due»
to inmflicient sudsing.

Owosso. EMOGENE.

 


 

4 THE HOUSEHOLD.

 

 

COMMENTS .

It has been over a year since I have en-
tered the HOUSE-HOLD, and yet I don’t sup-
pose I have been missed. I have enjoyed
greatly many of the articles, and have
often thought “Now I will write,” asI
have been stirred by some of your con-
tributions. Tonight in looking over back
numbers I determined to wait no longer.

In Aug. 23i, Polly’s article on “ Kind-
ness to the Living,” gives much food for
earnest thought. If any of you have for-
gotten it hunt it up and read it again. I
have often thought of Ella R. Wood’s lit-
tle girl, and wished I knew if all was as
perfectly satisfactory as she hoped and ex-
pected; am almost tempted to do likewise.

I: want to thank A. l; L. for letting us
poor stay-at-homes see some of the won-
ders of our land. ‘

Am sorry Huldah Perkins is so anxious
to pry into the spirit world. I always
thought her too sensible for that, and I
rather think yet she has not much faith in
spiritism.

Perhaps as there has been a lull on the
subject of politics for some little time, I
may not be welcomed very cordially if 1
bring up the subj :ct again, but I want to
say to M. E. B. that I too, cannot agree
with her upon the suffrage question. I can
say with Ella R. Wood that “I am not a
radical woman sulfragist, yet I feel we
ought to have a voice in the law of the
land.” I do not suppose this would bring
heaven to earth, for all women are not
good and true any more than all men, yet
Lbelieve they will average with the men,
and right is right. M. E. H. seems to
exult in the fact that the Prohibitionists
would get sadly left, in their expectation of
woman’s ballot, for she says she “ knows
many good Christian women who feel just
as their husbands do towards that party.”
Well yes," pity tis, tis true.” Many a
Christian mother and father would vote
the same ticket the brewer and saloon
keeper votes; many a father new votes for
that party which licenses the saloons to
ruin his boy or his neighbors’ boys, and
there are mothers who if they could vote
would help the same cause. Oh that
Christian fathers and mothers might be
aroused on this great question, but many
will never be awakened until the fiend
gains possession of their own dear ones.

Noam ADAMS.. FIDUS ACHATES.

 

SUPPLEMENTARY.

 

Dear me, U'ngracious, you didn’t tell
half the trials of the “Country Piece
Maker,” one who writes for her own
“ amazement,” as it was once printed, and
pays for the honor of print in time and
postage which some say would do more
real good if transmitted into a patch on her
husband’s overalls. There is the request
for an obituary poem, which respect and
sympathy are ready to grant while the
fickle Muse refuses to suggest a single line.
Thejcard board messenger, where under
the, “ your’,presence is requested,” she
reads, in invisible text, “ and a big puff in
the papers expected;” that soitbunch of
feminine sentiment, who, (this ‘_aiiiiction,is

I

 

rare) “admires” her above all the whole
world of authors, and would give anything
to be able to pour out her soul in such
notes; that soul is no mmmon one; its feel-
ings are too deep, its aspirations too high
to be lost for the lack of one talent, and
she proceeds to p )ur them into the ear of
our poor PieceMaker; expecting them to
be used as grist for the poetry mill, which
is always supposed to grind at its owner's
command. Then, when the whole gang
in that far off printing-room rises up and
mutilate her pet lines beyond recognition;
making her scan her “ neighbors ” instead
of “horizon,” talk of the culture of
“ animals,” instead of “ annuals;” and
when she writes about her very first baby,
makes the title of the gushing verse a
“Love of Labor,” in place of “A Labor of
Love.”

Ah, yes, time and paper are exhausted
but topic is very far from keeping step
with them. A. 11. J.

THOMAS.
_—-—...——

MORE ABOUT HOUSES.

 

The answers to Elizabeth’s inquiry as re-
garding the convenient arrangement of her
house have been noted with much interest;
and as the time approaches for us to "pull
down and build larger,” I am very anxious
that we make as few mistakes as possible.
And may I ask the opinion of the House-
HOLD regarding front hall and stairs in a
farm house? I look at it in this light:
Front and back stairs are a necessity, and
what is more handy than a hall, a place for
hall rack; then the hats and overcoats, the
umbrella and canes need not take up
room in the closets. And instead of build-
ing a small front hall or sort of entrance
way, with the stairs in some other part of
the house, as in many instances, why not
enlarge the hall enough to give room for
stairs too? I am afraid that 1 do not side
with the majority of the family concerning
halls in farm houses, yet feel that a
woman should have more to say than a
man concerning the arrangement of a
house. So will some one with a front hall
tell me her experience, please. Regarding
furnaces, can the chambers be heated, and
what is the expense of putting in a fur-

nace? I have other questions to ask some
time but not now.

Iwas surprised to find that the HOUSE-
BOLD was only seven years old. I found
it on the table when I came to my new
home just six years ago, and it has always
remained with us, and is always read
through. FAY.

FLINT. w

RENDERING LARD.

 

,A lady recently inquired through the
HOUSEHOLD whether it was necessary to
put water in the kettle when rendering
lard. It is not necessary with the leaf lard.
Cut it up into small pieces, put a few into
the kettle and let them melt over a
moderate fire; add more as the quantity of
melted lard increases. When the milky
look has disappeared, it is ready to dip oi!
into pans, or whatever you wish to keep it
in. Keep a slow fire, and don’t be anxious
to “ cook the scraps.” The fat from the in-
testines must be soaked in plenty of water

 

which should be changed at least once. Of
course there will be a little water with it.
It should not be mixed with the leaf lard
and scraps of fat meat (trimmings) which
are to be rendered together, but should be
tried out in another kettle, by itself. When
wanted for use, melt and fry raw potatoes
in it; they will absorb the strong taste'and
odor, and make it all right for useh
————...—-
HOUSEHOLD EIN 1‘8.

Mas. Roman, author of “How to Cook
Vegetables, recommends covering the tops
of jelly tumblers with two thicknesses of
tissue paper, the edges pasted down with
white of egg. After the edges are thor-
oughly dry, dip a paste-brush or sponge in
water and just moisten the top of the
paper: As it dries it shrinks, and forms a
cover as smooth and tight as bladder skin.
Jelly in cooling forms its own air-proof
covering; then if it has a porous top, like
paper, it will keep forever. Keep jelly in
a dark, cool closet.

 

THE men of the South Jack son Farmers”
Club were recently called upon to answer
the following question: “ Which would
you rather have in your home, a scrupu-
lously clean, tidy housekeeper, who keeps
everything in order and always provides
something delicious to eat, but who has a
sour, cross temper, scolding tongue and
scowlin g face; or a slovenly housekeeper, a
poor cook whose meals are never on time
and food never well prepared, but with an
even temper, smiling face and don't-care
for muddy boots disposition? " And didn’t
every blessed man vote for the smiles and
the dirt! ‘

.__...___

MRS. H. Sco'r'r, of Garland, comes to
tell us how she mended an iron kettle.
She says: “ Cut two square pieces of hoop
iron an inch and a quarter wide. With a

spike nail make a hole through both ,

pieces. Use one for the outside, the other
for the inside. Get some of your husband’s
harness rivets, put them through the holes
you have made, put on the washer and
hammer the rivets down firmly. Your
kettle will be as good as new. I mended
one in this way about twelve years ago and
it is all right yet."

 

A. E. L. asks how letters for the Housin-

HOLD should be addressed. Anything

sent to THE MICHIGAN Farmers, Housn'

HOLD Department, reaches us safely.
-———¢o+

Contributed Recipes.

 

 

Fanunrts' CAKn.-0ne cup sugar: one cup
flour; two eggs; four tablespoonfuls of sweet
milk; two teaspoonfuls baking-powder sifted
in the flour. Bake in three layers in a quick
oven and put together with soft frosting.
This was pronounced the boss cake at a picnic
dinner at a birthday party: the best p'e was
an orange pie made like a lemon pie.

PLAINWELL. Buss.

 

Coax Brunt-One cup molasses: one cup
buttermilk; one and a half cups cornmeal:
two-thirds cup flour; halt teaspoonful salts:
heaping teaspoontul soda. Steam one and I
half hours, not covered except by the lid of
the steamer. and bake live minutes.

His-rt Macaw.