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DETROIT, OCTOBER

 

 

   

‘20, 1885.

 

 

THE HOUSEIflIO-IJD>===§uuppleme—smto

 

 

THE SONG UP THE HOI’SEKEEPER.

 

Sweep, sweep, sweeo,
In the short December days,
And dust, dust, dust,
In the Summer’s silvery haze!
It’s 0! to be a slave,
And forever a duster flirt,
And wear the years of our life away
In a hand to hand battle with dirt!

Sweep. sweep, sweep,

While the dust rises up to our eyes.
And scrub, scrub, scrub,

Then drive out those horrible flies.
Husbands hungry and tired,

With buttonless trousers and shirt.
Ieekly retire from the awful scene,

While we fight a pitched battle with dirt.

0. men with brow serene,
How much work you make for your wives 3
Leaving your boots and shoes under foot—
And eating cakes, tarts, and pies.
Cor. k, cook, cook,
To meet the demands of our kin,
And bake, bake, bake,
Though the heart is faint within.

0! for a little change—
A respite, however brief!
From the petty trials 0! housework free—
From mutton, pork and beef,
New songs to gladden the heart,
To all would be far more sweet
Than that old, old .tune by housekeepers sung:
“ What shall we have to eat?”

0! but to breathe the breath
Of the fragrant new-mown hay:
And in pastures and woodlands green
To wander far away;
For only one short hour
Away from housework to steal
And dreamily rest by a babbling brook
While-some one else cooks the meal 2

,_l_... wvoo-~»—A ——-

“ SHIFTLESS ” )IANKIND.

 

If there is any woman who deserves the
commiseration of her sex, it is the one
who is married to a “ shiftless ” husband.
If she is herself industrious and energetic,
she suflers a life-long martyrdom through
the happy-go-lucky, easy—going man who
is always going to do great things “to-
morrow ” if he can be let alone in idleness
to-day. The dictionary definition, “char-
acterized by failure, through negligence
or incapacity, to provide for one’s self, or
use the means requisite for success,” par-
ticularizes the type of man exactly. Yet
he would be deeply indignant at being
called “ shiftless,” and would point to
what he is going to do to disprove the
charge. He works, to be sure, in an
irregular, spasmodic way, when it is not
too wet ’or too dry, too hot or too cold,
but is easily discouraged and easily tempt-
ed to town. Crops fail because of poor
farming and debt and poverty follow. It

is less my object to arrairn the shiftless
man as a farmer than to point out the
consequence of his shiftlessness to his
family, hoping. the girls who are yet to
marry will be induced to consider the
character and habits o; the young men
who come to marry them, and discard
these of the shiftless type.

 

The shiftlvess man’s Wife must not only
bear patiently the poverty that surely fol
lows his incapacity, but must always
suffer the want of every household con—
venience and comfort which a considerate
man can so well arrange to save labor in'
doors; for though the shiftless individual
may be one of the kindest of men, and
really love his wife, his kindness rarely
materializes in practical help. He is al—
ways “just going to;” he never does.
What a damper to all pride in home, all
endeavor to make it pleasant and attrac-
tive, all ambition for the future, it is to a
wife to see the fences going down, the
gates swinging on one hinge, old wagons
and plows and piles of rubbish scattered
over the yards, boards off the buildings,
everything getting more and more dilapi-
dated, and always every suggestion met
by “by and by.” To see the habit of
procrastination more firmly fixed in the
character every year while poverty comes
on apaco, to feel that neither arguments
nor entreaties can effect a change, what a
continual trial to an ambitious, energetic
woman, who longs to stand on a par with
her neighbors in prosperity, and is hurt
in her wii'ely pride at having her husband
regarded as an incapable! If, in addition
to her own legitimate burdens she at—
tempts to bear his also, and by sheer de—
termination and will mm‘ces things move,
it is not long before the neighbors begin
to make innuendoes about “hen—peeked
husbands" and “women who wear the
unmentionables.” She may know she is
right, may realize the consequences if she
gives up her efforts, may know she is the
more prudent and successful manager,
but the true wife does not pique herself
on this knowledge. It hurts her pride, for
the woman ought always to instinctively
rely upon her husband’s strength, feel-
ing that though she may be able to stand
alone, by his side, the strength of his
heart and nature is there to support her at
need.

The shiftless man resents any interfer—
ence with his duties. If reminded that
others must suffer through his ignorance
and incapacity, he “ will ’tend to it ”when
he gets around to it. If you do not be—

 

lieve a man of this type can make for—

bearance beyond a virtue. and a woman’s
life miserable in (livers ways, listen:

The shiftless man finds the snow too
deep or the weather too cold to work in
the woods in Winter; so March’s lengthen~
ing days and melting snows find the
summer’s wood still in the wood—lot.
When thus admonished spring is near he
draws up a few loads, then the ground
gets too “soft ” for hauling. He works a
few more days. in the woods, and all at
once is in a desperate hurry to start the
plow, Last fall he was going' to build a
wood-shed “in the spring,” this spring
he postpones it till “next fall,” and this
job off his hands, he plumes himself on
virtuous. intentions while all summer long
his wife runs out in sunshine and rain to
bring in by armfuls the green wood,
which sizzles and splatters and fries. and
consumes half its heat trying to burn it-
self up. By harvest the wood-pile is ex-
hausted, and after every chip and splinter
has been picked up. the nearest fence is
laid under contribution, or he unhitches
the team from the reaper and starts for
the wood—lot, grumbling all the time at
the nnreasonableness of the “ women
folks” in making aman stop his work for
such a trifle as wood. Yet the lesson is of
no avail, for next spring finds the wood—
shed not built and the wood still uncut;
his wife never knows E. M. P’s friend,
“ P. O. Goodwood.” There is no cistern;
that is to be built with the woodshed, and
till that time. comes every drop of water,
save who: can be caught in a barrel with
a board for an cave trough, must be ltDO-
rionsly brought from the well, and cleansed
for washing with lye or sal-soda. Or, if
there is a cistern it is empty bECr‘tUSe it
leaks or the cave-troughs are full of refuse
or leak, or have fallen apart. Or the].e is
no pump, and a forked pole or an old
rope is the substitutein style. And all this
drawing water and bringing in wood,
mind you, falls on the wife and daughters,
whose work is thus increased fourfold,
for wood and water are not one whit less
essential in housekeeping than flour or
meat, indeed without the former the latter
are unavailable. “ Hope springs eternal ,,
under oft renewed promises, but the
promised “ to-morrow ” never comes. The
wife gets cross and peevish, the daughters
are discontented and wonder why they
can’t have “ things like other folks,” and
both grow old and bent before their time;
while worst of all, the sons pattern after
their father and emulate him in procrastin-
ation and disregard of home convenience

 

and helpfulness.

 

 


  

2

THE HOUSEHOLD.

  

 

This type of husband never has a gar-
den because he can “ raise enough corn or
wheat on the land to buy the vegetaoles
and not be bothered ” and “being bother-
ed” is a great dread to the shiftless man.
Hence the family diet is salt pork and po-
tatoes, with an occasional mess of
“greens” laboriously gathered from the
fields, and the few rows of sweet corn
planted with the field corn where it will
mix nicely. No small fruits, of course;
these can be bought much more cheaply
than they can be raised, in his farm econ-
omy, and so wife and daughters scour the
fields and waste places for wild berries,

and risk health in wading in swamps for
huckleberries; for when it comes to buy

ring there is never money to be spared.
“ What’s the use of buying when we can
raise such things right on the farm!” and
a fresh installment of promises is made to
be fulfilled “ next year.”

The shiftless man, aside from dealing in
promises, has a mind full of large pro—
jects. He sees “ in his mind’s eye,” great
improvements to be made “by and by.”
Pending that time, it is as well to let
things go. It is not worth while to re-
hang a sagging gate, he is going to build
a new one presently; no use to patch a
leaky roof or paint the house, because
some day he will build the finest mansion
in the township; nor dig a cistern, since in
the infinite beyond he will build one to
hold all the water that falls on the farm.
Thus familiarized with magnificent ideas,
he disdains small things. The business

. maxim that small profits are better than
none he does not consider good logic,
hence whatever he engages in must prom-
ise him large pay. His neighbor may
make fair wages at some outside busi—
ness, he will none of it unless the work is
light and profits large; rather idleness
than small returns. Never conquering
but always conquered, always content
with amakeshift and looking ahead to
“to-morrow,” when he comes to die he
remembered what he was “ going to do”
and finds he has accomplished—nothing.

The shiftless woman in the home is
bad enough, but the consaquences to the
family are less than when the husband is
the incapable. Perhaps you will object
to this idea, since a shiftless woman can
easely make home unpleasant, but the
husband can escape the home dis-
comforts; outside life is more to him
than to his wife, whereas home is every-
thing to her and there can be no prosper-
ity where shiftlessness rules the great
source of supply. And so, girls, don’t
marry into a shiftless family unless you
have the taint in your own blood. Don’t
say yes to a young man, who, having his
own way to make, has grown up indolent,
without industrious habits, and without
business talent and “ snap.” You can tell
from the Way he “gets around” during
the “courting days” something of the

promise of the future, something too from
family, something from employer. The
hazard of the pledge, “for better or
worse” will surely prove for worse unless
you are prudent, and your whole life be
spent in waiting upon a leaky roof,
“hooking up” water from a pumplcss
reservoir, and frying sap out of green

\

STRAY THOUGH I‘S.

 

Satisfaction,—I have wondered, when

hearing people speak of “ being satisfied,’

if it be intended that we should realize

that state in our earth-experience, where

the interest and pleasure of life consist in

pursuit, action. Because of growing to
new heights, there is continued necessity
of completing what we thought finished-

Satisfaction signifies completion. We
may feel it in a brief, limited sense, when
we have realized some desired goal; but
there must ever be a lack in the gratified
satisfaction from the cause of incomplete-
ness. Though we may half understand
the term, it is more to dream of in some
future development. Gaining any point
aimed at, so much still tempts ambition
to nobler achievement; we are spurred on
to a higher plane of being. Satisfaction
and realization should be the open door
to progress.

“I wish,” how often those words are
on our lips! Yet do we really believe in
wishing, except as it gives to action en-
thusiasm? If by earnest thought and en
deavor we labor to make life conform to
a noble, beautiful desire, then indeed it
becomes something grand; but it is grand
because it has grown into something lof-
tier than wish; it has become a purpose,
an ideal, to be wrought out in life.

We look sometimes at our work, our
place in the world’s thought and action,
and painfully feel how small it is, how
transient seem its benefits in any life!
Many of us have pictured an ideal life
which led not where the path of to-day
guides. Yet if our feet were to tread that
lost path, the great and sad “might have
been,” would content await us? It is only
after our souls are weary and bleeding in
these “ missions ” we count great, that
we turn with longing to the simpler ways
and know that in the enjoyment of life’s
little comforts, and the constant love of
those for whom we labor, here lie peace
and content. Little lessons gathered here
and there, little joy-gems found glittering
in the rough path of onward journey,
little by little desire, love, and buoyant
hope help to build up knowledge.

The sublime exists in thought and in
deed. While one may think grandly and
build high ideals, another may live, act
the ideal, while his expressed thought is
homely and common-place. Ideals are
prayers, oftenest unexpressed, built as
we ourselves grow. They measure our
desire for perfection, they form our per—
ception of the real; for “ The ideal is the
real.” Since the real is eternal, an ideal
is abiding and indestructible. As im-
aginationperforms its grandest mission
when building and beautifying the intel-
lectual temple by employing realities, so
the ideal must rest a firm base upon the
enduring, chaste reality of being. What
is the “ ideal ” to you? That which you
fancy would make the world great and
life happy, or does the ideal signify all
the good, the true, the beautiful every-
where? Is the rose less a rose because it
blooms by the dusty road side? The ideal

others to find it. Helpfulness is the true
idealism.
Sympathy! Oh, word of mighty mean-
ing! Few comprehend it, few seek to do
so. How we wrap round'us the garments
of self love and blindness, heedless of the
pain and yearning by our side! There is,
in sympathy. a leading out of self to all
nobleness. We see how human life is
woven and interwoven, a “ stupendous
whole,” whose spirit is God. Whatever
grand points or virtuous extremes of char‘
acter one may boast, only he whose fac—
ulties are all 'in healthful activity is sym—
pathetic. His heart touches humanity’s
at every point of need. Full experience
unfolds life, pain reveals its finer teach‘
ings. Through the gateway of suffering

we enter the sanctury of the heart.
S. M. G.

LESLIE.
~——-——ow———-—

“HE KNOWEI‘H BEST.”

While one will tell us that our life is
mapped out, every plan formed at the
time we are created, another with equal
gusto will contend that it is no such thing,
that we we are free agents, and can do as
we please; that God gives us faculties to
reason, to tell the good from evil, judg-
ment, and power to resist evil if we will;
that we can lay our own plans and trust
to Providence to have them mature and
be realized. What do you think; have all
the plans that you have made terminated
just as you planned, or have some of your
dearest hopes been blighted? A man or
woman is highly blessed who passes
through life without disappointment.
Just as soon as we become old enough to
think about such things, and act for our-
selves, we lay plans for the future; we'
say we will accomplish certain things,
make our life just as grand and symmet-
rical as we can; when we have found our
speciality, we go to work and make all
out of it we can. The farmer lays plans
for each year and for successive years,
the crops to be sowed, secured, sold, and
the money invested the most advanta-
geously. Of course, he is quite depend-
ent upon the weather, quite often his best
laid schemes “ gang aft agley;”. and leave
him “naught but grief and pain for
promised. joy.” Instead of gentle show-
ers, there are floods, of a long drought,
early frosts—a great many things can
conspire against him, and friends and
neighbors will say say “ how terribly un-
lucky—he did not start in right—failed
in judgment.” The world at large sits in
very cold judgment upon our failures,
but applauds us loudly if successful. The
little child looks forward to the time
when he shall be a man, and plans what
he will do, and just as we frustrate and
change the child’s plan, so does God ours.

“ We are but children—things that we do,
Are but as sport in the Infinite view.”

But I often think when we see our
dearest plans and fairest hopes blighted
like rose leaves when the chill winds
blow, that God’s ways are best. While
we are helped in a multitude of ways,
the most of our life we must look out
ourselves. “Life is a problem, and we

 

 

wood. BEATRIX.

   

we shall realize as we live it, as we help

 

solve it on the blackboard of the world.’

 

 


  

  

 

 

THE HOUSEHOLD 3

 

“Fortunes are not always made to order;
but have to be hewn out; characters are
forged on the anvil of industry by the
well directed strokes of the heart and
hand. Children are what they are made,
men and women are what they make
themselves. The web of life is drawn
into the loom for us, but we weave it
ourselves, we throw our own shuttle, and
work our own treadles; the warp is given
us, but the woof we make, find our own
materials and color, and figure it to our
own taste.” In other words, life is what
we make it; if you do not succeed at one
thing, try another; a whole lifetime need
not necessarily be blighted and wasted

because acherished plan fails. We grope them, I thought probably there were
in darkness, work so blindly—how can

we know what the end will be?

“ But while we frown and sigh
God’s plans go on as best for you and m c:
How when we called he heeded not our cry,
Because His wisdom to the end could see:
And e'en as prudent parents disallow
Too much of sweet to craving babyhood,
So God perhaps is keeping from us 1 ow
Life’s sweetesc things because it seemeth
good.”

Oh! so many times, mingled with life’s
'wine, we find wormwood and gall, so
bitter to our taste. We will be so much
happier if we labor with more patience
and contentment; there is nothing in
nature’s work that hurries; the tiny seed
that we drop in the warm mellow soil in
the spring takes time to germinate, grow,
and bear fruit.

"‘ Then be content, poor heart.
God’s plans like lilies pure and white un-

3
We must not tear the close shut leaves apart;
Time will reveal the calyces of gold;
And if through patient toil we reach the land
Where tired feet with sanc als loose may rest;
When we shall clearly know anc undersuand,
I think that we shall say that God knew best."

EVANGALINE.
BATTLE CREEK.

 

A GOOD SUGGESTION.

 

I do not know that all are like me, but
if I can get a good book or paper, and
comfortably seated in my easy chair, I
can forget all weariness and considerable
sickness, living over the life of some
notable person, or traveling in distant
places of our own country, or in other
countries or ages. As the evenings are
now quite long, many will take time to
read now, who would not in daylight,
and how would it do for book lovers
when they have found something extra
good, to mention it through the House—
hold for the benefit of the rest of the
family? My experience is that it is as
impossible to judge a book by its name
as a person merely by name, except as
we always expect certain excellence of
certain authors.

As I have made the proposition, per-
haps I had best set the ball rolling. I
will mention only a few of those recently
read. “Life History of our Planet ” by
D. Gunning; Tyler’s “Early History of
Mankind;” “Primitive Culture,” two
volumes; “Atlantis ” by Ignatius Don-
nally; a little book, “Life among the
Piutes,” by Sarah Winnemucca Hopkins,
a chief’s daughter, every man and woman
should read it; “Life at Puget Sound,”
with sketches of travel in Washington

Hunt Jackson; “ Dr. Sevier,” by Geo. W.

“Marble Faun ” ' and “ Blithedale
Romance ;” Bayard Taylor’s “ John God-
frey’s Fortune," and "Hannah Thurs—
ton;” Charles Kingsley’s works, and the
first 01" Geo. McDonald’s; these are nearly
all old books; because I had not read

others who had not. If Iwere going back
to last year’s reading I should mention
“Ben Hur” by Gen. Lew Wallace.

I heartily appreciated S. M. G.’s beauti-
ful letter, "' Life is Helpfulness,” also
A. L. L.’s “ Making the Best of Things."

M. E. H.

ALBION .
—-——oo.—————

SUNDRY HYGIENIC MATTERS.

 

A. H. J. avows herself a heretic on the
subject of bathing. In ameasure, I agree
with her. The plunge into “aforeign
element” once a day, or twice as prac-
ticed by some, is good only for those of
vigorous habit and strong constitution.
It is possible to overdo the matter by ad-
vocating the principle “If alittle is good,
a good deal is better,” an illogical con—
clusion arrived at because of our ten-
dency to go to extremes. Yet I believe
the daily sponge bath is beneficial to both
children and adults. Not a mere pas-
sage of a wet sponge over the person,
followed by a languid removal of super-
fluous moisture, as if the whole pro-
ceeding were to be gone through with the
least possible exertion; but a quick
sponging, succeeded by friction sufficient
to cause a healthful glow. I consider the
glow, or reaction, as of quite as much
importance as the ablution. There ought
to be plenty of Turkish towels in use in
every house, their roughness is an ex—
cellent excitant. When a bath is not
possible a vigorous rubbing with one of
these towels, or with a flesh-brush, is the
best possible substitute, as it frees the
pores of the' skin, and by bringing the
blood to the surface quickens the circula-
tion. Such towels are cheap, too, very
large, wide ones may be bought for
twenty-five cents, some at twenty cents,
and even less. and they wear excellently.
A tablespoonful of salt in the water
used for a sponge bath is recommended
as strengthening. Many buy the sea-salt.
obtained from sea water by evaporation,
and to be bought at the druggist’s, and
thus enjoy at least a part of the benefits
of surf bathing at home. About the best
use which can be made of alcohol is in
the bath; it invigorates and strengthens,
and is especially beneficial to weak and
puny children and invalids. A tea
spoonful of ammonia in the water on a
hot day, cools and refreshes the heated
body, and prevents in a measure the un-
pleasant odor of perspiration.

 

Territory, British Columbia, Oregon and

California, by Caroline C. Leighton. If a foot-bath instead of a dose of medicine.
you once begin any of these works, you Use water as hot as you can bear it, and
will find them so interesting you will not plenty of it, in a pail rather than a
leave them half read; to me they are as washbowl if you have not a regular foot
fascinating as any novel. I read some of bath. The pain is caused by pressure on
these also; Iwill give the names of a few the blood vessels of the head, and this
that please me: “Ramona,” by Helen pressure is caused by imperfect circula-

tion of the blood, produced by cold ex—

Cable; “Afraga,” by Mugg, a romance of tremities, or by overeating, which dis«
Norway and Lapland; Hawthorne’s tends the stomach, causing pressure on

adjacent veins, thus impeding the flow of
the blood, and the head, being furthest
removed from the great source of supply,
because oppressed by the sluggish blood.
After the foot-bath lie down for an hour,
if possible get a little sleep, and you will
wonder what magic removed the pain.
Use hot applications on the head. no
matter how feverish it may be; the
danger of congestion is much less, and
the relief quite as great. If you are sub-
ject to headache, instead of buying all
the nostrums of the drug store, pay par-
ticular attention to your diet, and be
especially careful about over-eating.
Avoid greasy gravies, rich food of all
kinds, eat plenty of fruit, fresh or canned,
vegetables, meat in moderation, avoiding
pork, which is difficult of digestion. Eat
only enough to satisfy hunger; alittle
self-denial will reward you remarkably.
A. H. J. is right in believing what we
call “ colds ” are in most cases congestion
caused by over-eating rather than ex-
posure to atmospheric changes. Take
time to take care of yourself; nothing is
gained, much lost by neglect. Remem-
ber health is your capital, if you waste it
you will be poor indeed. Many who
know the right way say they have “ no
time ” to attend to themselves, but inevit-
ably, sooner or later, they are obliged to
take time to be sick. BEATRIX.
_.__.....___

EXPERIENCE WITH A CREAM-
ERY.

In reply to Mrs. J. P. P., of Wisner, in
regard to the practical working of a
creamery, I would say that I have used a
Mosely & Stoddard cabinet creamery for
five summers, and made butter for a fam-
ily averaging ten persons during that
time. I would not exchange it for the
best stone cellar, or the most approved
milk house in Michigan, for butter-
making purposes. I do not mean readers
to infer from the above wholesale state-
ment that it will make “ gilt—edged ” but-
ter without work, or without care or at-
tention. But Ihave made it with much
less work, and it has been of more uni
form quality the year through, without
regard to “dog days,” or“below zero’
weather.

It is very much easier to draw the milk
and cream off from three or four cans
than it would be to skim ten or fifteen
pans, wash them, and strain the milk.
With a cabinet creamery there is a refrig—
erator, in which the cream, extra plates
of butter, cold puddings and custards,
and many other little things which it is
desirable to have cool may be kept, and
which saves countless wearisome steps in
going down cellar. The contents of mine

 

When you have a severe headache, try

 

in a hot day in summer are as numerous


THE HOUSEHOLD.

  

 

and varied as those of a small boy’s pants
pocket.

Cream can be taken from the top, or
milk drawn from the bottom any time
without detriment. I think only those
who have used it can appreciate the value
of having all the ice—cold, sweet milk for
the dinner or tea table that you wish.

The size of creamery I use requires
three pails of water; in hot weather to be
changed twice a day, in moderate weather
only once. Five months of the year.
from November to April, it usually does
not need any. It is very much better to
have ice to use in hot weather, though not
necessary.

There are some things to be learned by
experience in using a creamery for
working butter; first, perhaps is this:
The cream being sweet, must stand at
least twenty—four hours to ripen, or it
will require a longer time to separate it
into butter; and second, it is more bulky
and needs a larger sized churn in propor-
tion to the quantity of butter. There are
other matters that will readily suggest
themselves to any one using thought and
reason to direct their work. 0.

LITTLE PRAIRIE RONDE.

___.___..*____.

A GOOD SOAP.

 

I am happy to count myself one of the
“ Household,” and have for some time
thought Imight contribute some recipes,
and now that we are so kindly asked for
a recipe for sugar-cured hams, and as I
have such a good one, I can no longer
keep silent. [The recipe will be found
on the fourth page of the Household-
—ED.]

So much has been said in our paper in
regard to soap, I do not know as my
article will be read. I wish it were possi-
ble for me to tell you how I prize Bogue’s
soap. When nearly distracted on the sub
ject of soap and washing machines, my
“ gem ” of a girl, Maggie, said if I would
only let her use Bogue’s soap as she had
previously done she knew I would never
use any other, and she was right. We
have had a family of eight all the season,
and some of the time ten or eleven; two
of these are my little girls, one four and

one two years old. Every mother will
understand, I think, what soiled clothes
mean. We have washed every Saturday,
putting our clothes in warm water on Fri.
day night with one third of a cake (or
one-half if there are many articles) of the
soap shaved and dissolved in warm water.
After soaking the clothes over night, the
next morning they are rubbed out of this,
putting a little more soap on some spots
if necessary, rinse and blue, and if your
clothes are not immaculate it is the fault
of the one who washes. I do not soak
fiannels or colored clothes, but make a
new suds for them, washing them through
it directly. I fancy some will say it can-
not be done. I wish you could see my
clothes, they are a pure white, not yellow
as some may suppose, and the clothes
have all been hung out through the sea-
son, at nine or half past nine o’clock;
then we are, ready for Saturday’s clean-

after the dinner dlshes are washed. No
more boilers and blue Mondays for me! I
have tried Frank Siddall’s soap. It is good,
but not to be compared with Bogue’s.

I have a “Perfection creamery ” and
have had a pleasant experience with it,
which I shall be pleased to relate some-
time.

The Household is hailed with delight,
and I hope my article. may benefit some
one. Mas. F. MeP.

CALEDONIA , N. Y.
._—-...——-—-

A TABLE FOR HOUSE PLANTS.

 

Ben: Perley Poore, in the American
Cultivator, thus describes a table to hold
house plants, which is really an excellent
device for the purpose; and which every
woman who has a dozen plants to keep
over should arrange this season. He
says:
“The greatest obstacle to success in
the cultivation of house plants, in rooms
heated by furnaces or stoves, is the dry-
ness of the air. This may, in a measure,
be overcome by a table suitably con-
structed, and the selection of plants best
adapted to a dry atmosphere. The table,
as I have seen it described. should be
the length of the window, and two or
three feet wide, the boards being tongued
and groved. Around the edge nail a
strip three inches wide, making the
corners fit tight. The table is then to be
filled with two inches of clean white sand.
Alayer of nice green moss on the sand
not only retains and gives off moisture,
but has an elegant effect, in contrast with
the brick red of the flower-pots and the
usual colors of the furniture.
“ With a table of this kind, the foliage
of the plants can be frequently sprinkled
with water. which keeps them clean and
promotes their health; the drippings and
surplus water are caught and absorbed by
the sand, and the floor of the room is
thus kept clean; the sand, indeed, ought
to be kept constantly wet, even watered
for this purpose if necessary. The
evaporatmn from the sand will diffuse
itself among the plants and through the
room, and thus overcome, in a small de—
gree, one of the chief obstacles to the
successful culture of plants in rooms.
"The flower stands in common use
are altogether unfit for a room, the sur—
plus water, dead leaves, etc., fall to the
floor, injuring the carpet, and giving the
room an untidy appearance. The table
above described is free from these on-
jections, besides having positive advan-
tages for the successful growth of plants,
which no or
possess. It should be fitted with rollers,
to facil
and cleaning the p1
purpose of moving it
window during cold nights.

plants,
the long winter
pleasantly.”

——————-—.OO—-—-—

they are to be smoked. These are import
ant points to the beginners.

W

the Household.

 

ing and baking and no fire in the kitchen

    

dinary flower stand can

itate the operation of watering
ants, and also for the
back from the
Such a
table, supplied with bright and fresh
will enliven any room and make
days, now at band, pass

A NOVICE in housekeeping would very
likely inquire how long hams are to be
kept in the pickle, and how long and how

M. E. H. encourage Beatrix by writ-
in g she has a shoulder cape nicely started.
Thanks to M. E. H. and B. of Delhi Mills,
for kindly, appreciative words concerning

BY soaking wild plums for thirty-six
hours in water containing a tablespoonful

of soda to the gallon they will lose their
puckering qualities and become fairly
good fruit for canning or for fruit butter

W

Contributed Recipes.

 

 

PICKLED Oxroxs.—Seiect the small white
onions. Boil them ten minutes in equal por-v
tions of milk and water. Drain them, and
turn boiling spiced vinegar over them. Use as
allspice, as it turns the onions dark colored.

 

SUGAR Curran Huts—For 100 pounds of
meat take four quarts salt and four ounces of
saltpetre, dissolved in hot water; add enough
good molasses to make a thick paste; cover the
meat side with the paste, rub in well and pack
in a barrel, rind side down. This may be old
to the readers of the Household, but if proper—
ly used will I am sure give good satisfaction.

MRS. F. Mr‘P.
CALEDONIA, N. Y.

 

PICKLE FOP. Hans on BEEF.—-F01‘ every
hundred pounds of meat take nine pounds of
coarse or rock salt,half gallon of molasses;
three gallons of water; quarter pound of sait-
petre; one ounce of saleratus. Put these
ingredients together in a kettle; boil and skim,
pack the meat in a barrel or cask and pour
the pickle OVer it. lf you wish to keep beef
late in the summ er, pour off the brine, boil and
skim, and return it boiling hot. I think the
meat would keep all summer if it were not
eaten up. Put the beef for drying in the barrel
with the other, taking it out in about ten days.

 

and hanging it up to dry. 3.
DELHI MILLs.
FRIED BALLS.—-0DC cup of granulated

sugar,seven tablespoonfuls of melted butter,two
eggs, one cup of sweet milk, a little nutmeg, a.
teaspoonful of salt, three teaspoonfuls of cream
of tartar, one and a half of soda, flour enough
to roll and cut: if too much flour is used they
will be hard; if just right you can pinch them
in two with the thumb and one finger. Cut so
they are about one inch in diameter; fry in hot
lard. As fast as they are done, take them one
at a time and roll in fine white sugar in a bowl.
If you wish them for common use, and not
quite so rich, make them the same, only use
instead of one cup of milk a cup and a half or
a little more, and cut as you usually cut fried
cakes. M. E. n.
iLBION

 

E. S. B.’S BREAD Ramps—Prepare a fer~

mentation as follows: Take two cups

of flour; one cup of sugar; one-
half cup of salt; thoroughly mix with

one quart of lukewarm water; add two yeast

cakes, previously soaked. Set in a warm place"

It will rise in few hours; you can tell when it.
is light, as the flour will rise and form a sort
of scum. Take two quarts of hot mashed
potatoes; pour over them three quarts of cold
water, strain through a colander, add the
fermentation previously prepared, and let rise
again. This makes between two and three
gallons, and can be set away in a cool place in
the stone jar in which it was made. To make
the bread , sift the flour at night and set in a.
warm place near the stove, but never sponge
the bread till morning. Stir into the flour two
or three quarts of the prepared liquid. Use I.
water. The sponge will rise in an hour; mix
into one large loaf; let it rise, then make into

small loaves and let them rise again: bake in a
moderate oven forty-five minutes. [The above
recipe, which appeared in the Household of the
MICHIGAN FARMEB February 18th, 1884, has
become “ historic.” It was tested by many of
our subscribers, who cordially endorse its
excellence; and is republished at the request
of many who failed to try it before it became
famous,wh0 have lost the original copy. EL]