DETROIT, JANUARY 26, 1886.

THE HOUSEHOLDmguppIement.

 

BE UAREF’ UL.

 

Be careful, ye whose wedded hearts
Are lovingly united:
Be heedful lest an enemy
Steal on you uninvitedi
A little, wily, serpent form,
With graceful, luring poses;
0r, coming in a different guise,
A thorn among the roses!

Be careful, ye whose marriage bells
Now merriy are ringing;
Be heedful of the bitter word,
The answer keen and stinging,
The sharp retort, the angry eye
Its vivid lightning flashing;
The rock on which so many hopes
Are daily, hourly dashing.

" Bear and forbear;” the only way
To trea . life‘s path together,
Then come, and Welcome, shining sun,
Or come dark. cloudy weatherp-
Two loving hearts disiolved in one
That cannot live asunder,
gave put Love’s golden an. or on—
Oh, world, look on and wonderi
W
SOME PRIVATE OPINIONS, PUB-
LICLY EXPRESSED.

 

I have several letters lying before me
requesting an opinion on subjects in
which the writers are deeply interested.
I offer no apology for answering through
the HOUSEHOLD—indeed most have re-
questeda reply through this channel,—
because the subjects mentioned are those
in which others are interested; and
though my individual opinion goes for
but one woman’s thought, others may be
induced to write upon the topics sug-
gested. and new ideas be elicited.

“AutiLodge” wants to know if it is
kind or rightin a husband to absent him-
self from home one or more evenings in
the week to attend “lodge meeting;” and
spend money for “dues” and other ex—
penses which is needed in the home. It
is also a grievance that the affairs of the
lodge are a secret which the wife cannot
share.

Is it kind or right? With the single
exception of the Masonic order, all
secret societies and organizations, of
which I know anything, are to be regard-
ed in the light of mutual benefit or in-
surance companies, which pay to the
family of a deceased member a stated
sum of money, within a very short time
after his death, in consideration of the
“ dues” or assessments paid in life. The
question then seems to resolve itself into:
Is it kind or right for a husband to make
provision for his wife and family in case
of his death? a question which I should

man is providing for his widow, it seems

lodge meetings; nor murmur at the ex-

cept in rare instances, than the interest
on the sum to be paid at decease. Did
you ever think what it means to a wife,
with little children to provide for, to have
the husband—the bread-winner—sudden—
iy taken away, with no money on hand,
and funeral expenses to pay? To be
left nearly penniless, in a world whose
sympathies soon chill and whose charity is
tempered by an' expectation that you will
speedily do something to help yourself?
I have known many a woman who wept
and complained at being left alone
“lodge nights,” but never one who was
not willing to accept, and gratefully too,
the sum of money which the lodge paid
her after her husband’s death. Moreover,
there is, Isincerely believe, among the
members of a secret society, a feeling of
brotherhood which I regret to say is
totally unknown among women, and
which therefore they cannot properly es—
timate, but which greatly helps a man in
his business relations. Many a kindness
is done a man in trouble simply because
he belongs to “ our lodge.” To help one
another is the great principle of such as-
sociations. The member of the Masonic
order ina strange country, sick, friend—-
less or in poverty, isacharge upon his
brother Masons, who though they my
be utter strangers to him personally, are
bound by the obligations of the order to
assist him, to nurse him in sickness, and
bury him in death. The unwritten
history of secret societies is fud of “the
charity which vaunteth not itself,” as
thousands who have been aided in time
of need can testify. I am permitted to
tell the followmg, which occurred in this
city: A. member of a certain secret
society was removed to the Pontiac
asylum for the insane, where he was
literally dying by inches. His wife had
several small children, whose care pre-
vented her from leaving home in search
of employment. She owned the little
house in which they lived, and there was
a small barn at the rear of the lot, which
she thought might be converted into a
house for herself; then she Could rent the
cottage, and the sum received would
materially assist her in providing fer her
family. By the laws of the society, no
part of the sum which would be due at

 

answer by saying it was more than kind

and right, a positive duty. Since then a

to me itis not “kind and right” to grudge
him the enjoyment he can get out of the

pense, since the annual outlay is less, ex-

 

that event, but the lodge contributed
nearly $80 by subscription, several car-
penters volunteered to work after their
regular day’s work was done, a painter
temporarily out of a job gave his time,
and the barn was converted into a
a neat and tasteful dwelling through the
brotherly kindness of men, many of
whom had never seen the person they
were aiding. Knowing even so little as
I do of the objects of these societies, I
cannot join in “Anti-Lodge’s" denun~
ciations. Moreover, I think it does a man
good, socially, to belong to them, and
helps make him generous and ready to
hear the cry of distress. As for the
secrecy, it is simply putting into eflfect that
Scriptural injunction about doing good in

secret, isn’t it? the impersonal lodge

acting the part of a beneficent Providence.

The “secrets” are nothing which should

be permitted to raise even the slightest

shadow between husband and wife.

E. B., of Howell, asks advice about
convertinga large, low room, old-fash-
ioned in style. intoaparlor. Shall she
stain and varnish or wax the floor, putting
an English art square in the centre, and
What shall she do with the white, bare
walls. I take it that here is an old-
fashioned home, one of those‘ where we
expect to find York and Lancaster roses,
larkspurs and eglantine in the front yard,
and small Windows and Wainscoted
rooms inside. New waxed and varnished
floors, and rugs and “English art
squares” go with high ceilings and Walls
With dado and frieze. But on our
friend’s low walls, a dado and frieze
would greatly diminish the apparent
height;even the frieze alone would de-
tract from the seeming altitude. We
should, in all our furnishings, pay great
heed to whatlam tempt-ed to call the

“beauty of congruiry,” or fitness of
things to each other. Such a room as is
described cannot be made fine or fash-
ionable; let it therefore be cosy and com-
fortable, with no ambitious attempts at
“style.” Strined'paper would increase
the apparent height of the walls, but
striped paper is not used at present.

Cover the walls, then, with a light paper
of small pattern; there are beautiful
shades in cream, old gold. terra-cotta,

any of which would do nicely. Cream

color would be pretty. with the advantage

of making the room lighter. I may say

here that the dark papers are not used at

all now, and that many who have uscd

 

her husband’s death could be paid before

 

them are tearing oflf the dingy, dungeon.
like colors and hanging light, small

 

  


 

2

THE HOUSEHOLD.

 

figured paper in place. A border in old
gold or golden brown in a conventional
pattern, by which I mean regular figures
——not flowers—is appropriate. 01' a
band of plain crimson velvet paper, six
inches wide, with a line of gilt outlining
itsjunction with the wall-paper, would
look well. 1 would p lper the wall over—
head, with a lighter tint of the color on
the walls, and have the woodwork either
finished to imitate some light tinted wood,
for which its present painted surface
forms a good background, or painted a
deeper tint of the prevailing color, the
first being preferred. I would cover the
floor entirely with a pretty ingrain car-
pet, preferably old gold and maroon,
because these colors wear well and do
not show soil. I would buy or make a
Turkish lounge—divan, Imean, of course
—-and take care that all my chairs were
easy chairs and no two alike. That
would be “ my way ” of furnishing such
a room as our correspondent describes.
Another lady asks what she shall get
for her children to read. Subscribe. first,
for St. Nicholas, Youth's Companion.
Harper‘s Young People, Wide Awake or
Babyland; one or several of these, accord-
ing to the age of the children. If you
need but one, my choice would be the
Youth's Companion. For girls Little
Women and Old Fashioned Girl are books
which will be read over and over again.
Miss Yonge’s works, Miss Muloch’s and
Mrs. Whitney’s, are all stories which girls
enjoy. Dickens’ Child’s History of
England, Miss Strickland’s Queens of
England. Hepworth Dixon’s "Her
Majesty’s Tower”——the new edition in
two volumes, $3,——Baker’s “Cast up by.
the Sea,” are all uSuful, interesting and
instructive books. Of books especially
for boys I know much less, but “Toby
Tyler, or Ten Months with a Circus,” is
highly recommended. J. T. Trow‘oridge’s
. books for boys are also good reading.
What “ family story paper” is the best?
None; they’re “pretty much of a much-
ness.” Iwould sooner lay anice crisp
greenback on a bed of glowing coals
than send it to the publishers of any ex-
clusively “story paper ” which I have
ever seen. They are all like trashy and
demoralizing, a positive damage to their
readers. It I wanted to educate children
in frivolity, I would feed them on such
stuff as these silly journals furnish. No
indeed; if you desire your children to grow
up with a taste for literature, read to
them when they are young, read with them
as they grow older, and at all times talk
with them of what has been read and
what is going on in the world. Read
yourself, and in book reviews and notices
you will learn what to buy for them; next
thing to reading a book is to read a good
review of it. Baum.
W

FLOORS AND WALL PAPER.

 

A correspondent wishes to know
whether she can varnish ordinary wall
paper, and if so, what kind of varnish
should be used; and also how to stain and
wax a floor. There are certain papers
made eSpecially for varnishing, to which
varnish can be applied with good results.

Ordinary paper will not receive the var-
nish. even though first “ sized ” With glue
water. The practice has fallen into dis-
use. To stain a floor, use one and a half
ounces of crystals of permanganate of
potash to a gallon of water. Apply to the
floor with a flat brush, hot, following the
grain of the wood. Let dry, and apply
linseed oil, rubbing it in thoroughly with
a flannel rag. Three or four applications
are necessary. Cover the cut wax with
turpentine, let it melt, and cool to the
consistency of cream, rub on the floor
with flannel rags; then call in your hus-
band and sons and the hired men to
polish it off, which requires a vast amount
of “elbow grease” and muscle, and a
polishing brush. This polishing process
must be repeated at intervals, according
to the wear. Does it pay? Not for a
woman who must do her own work. A
painted floor, or one covered with carpet,
willsave agreat deal of labor net fully
justified by the results to the ordinary
woman.

-,____......__..._.
“ RELIGIOUS LOTTERIES ”

Under this head an article in the
HOUSEHOLD of December 29th, by Paul
Johnston, attracted my attention, and
seems to call for a few words in reply
from me, as he quotes quite extensively
from my article in the Saginaw Evening
News, in reference to church festiVals.

I as thoroughly deprecate all fascina-
tions and entanglements leading down to
those dark gambling dens, with their
robberies and debaucheries, as any one
can. But I regard it as a very nice
point for those having the management

(.0 to indulge them in the various amuse-
ments by which they are surrounded, and
just where an absolute refusal will be
most beneficial.

I can not better convey my ideas on
the subject than by giving a brief sketch
of the widely different. training of child-
ren by two sisters, with whom I chanced
to be well acquainted: There was about
twenty years’ difference in the ages of the
sisters, but about three hundred years'
difference in the Christianity they repre-
sented. The elder sister married early
and with her husband and a few others
of their “faith and order,” formed alittle
settlement in the then far west. They
were creed-clad and self-sealed for the
Kingdom.

For years, having little intercourse with
the outside world, and, therefore, lacking
that healthful element of society, contro-
versy, that prevents high-stepping, rough-
shod bigotry from trampling down the
rights of others, they became literally
“hard~shelled”— each one a fossilized
John Calvin. But the restless tide of
emigration, rollin g westward, reached at
length this settlement, bearing with it
the younger sister, now a wife and moth-
er, who hoped to find helpful counsel in
the mature life and large experience of
the elder, but her more liberal views of
Christianity (something after the Robert
Colyer pattern) were regarded by her
as a wicked heresy. Even the society

 

of her children (her oldest about the age

of children, to decide just how far it will'

 

of her sister’s youngest) was looked upon
as—if not absolutely pernicious—at least
dangerous. If they played together, Mrs,
I’m-Right kept watch and ward to see that
no improper games were introduced—v
playing pin and marbles she prohibited.
as leading directly to gambling. ~

She had grown-up children whom she
regarded as fine specimens of thorough
religious training. Their features were
expressionless, and their movements awk-
ward and ungainly as a dromcdary’s.
Yet she looked upon them with pride;
they never laughed on Sunday, and never
did anything she told them was wicked.
A gaping hell was an ever present object
in their minds, and to escape its torment:
through endless ages their only aim in
life. The younger members of this fam-
ily, seeing the joyous freedom of other
children of their age, chafed at their con-
finement. They saw their cousins gather
eagerly round a table at evening in a
cheerful room, sometimes reading funny
stories, that would make the whole house
ring with theirlaughter. Often all would
engage in a game—avilude, authors, so-
ciety and history cards were on the table
—their mother even joining with them,
and teaching the younger ones to be
quick and thoughtful in playing. In
summer, croquet and various games
suited to the spacious lawn, gave a happy
hour at evening. ‘Mrs. I’m-Right often
took her children to spend an evening
with her sister’s, hoping by strictly for-
bidding their taking any part in the
games to impress them with the “ awful
wickedness ” of such amusements. No
matter how laughable the story that was
read, her stony features never relaxed one
jot of their rigidity, but she often lifted a
horrified look to the face of her sister,
accompanied with a few words of bitter
reproof.

But a day of trial for her parental rule
came at last in the shape of a church
festival.

However glaring and attractive the
show—bills that covered half the barns in
the neighborhood, no boy of her‘s ever
dared ask to go to a circus, but a church
festival was a different thing. It was
given out by the S. S. Superintendent,
who said he hoped all would turn out and
give it generous patronage, as the proceeds
were going to the library fund—he spoke
of several attractions intended to enter—
tain the crowd, among others a “ grab—
bag,” which, he guessed. from hints he
had gathered from those preparing it,
would hold bushels of fun.

This innovation in church matters was
a severe shock to her ideas of propriety,
but she finally decided, after keeping her
son a whole week “on the ragged edge
of uncertainty," that he might go and
spend fifty cents for anything he wanted
to eat, but he was strictly forbidden to
spend a cent “in that grab—bag, or any
of the rest of those wicked games.”
Twenty-five cent-s bought a full meal, and.
yet twenty-five cents remained to be eat-
en. He was sixteen years old, but of
course. from the training he had had. too

, bashful to buy bon—bons for the wicked,

giggling girls (who were wondering i


THE HOUSEHOLD

3

 

he would dare to), or ask any of them to
eat with him; so sullen and alone he
could only eat, while he saw the other
boys draw all manner of funny things
from the grab bag. Every new drawing
brought a merry burst of laughter, and
helped them to get rid of the awkward
bashfulness so painfully felt by young
boys from the country, when first min-
gling with the young folks of the village
in a gathering where all are expected to
do something to help in the entertain-
ment.

That boy, so carefully reared, so strict-
ly kept from all the “fascinations of
these little games of chance,” while
watching the merriment of others, felt
himself robbed of the possibilities of en-
joyment. He became sullen, defiant and
profane. He hated the religion that taught
only mortification and pain. He haunted
the gambling dens in a spirit of revenge.
He went swift to ruin.

His cousins, who had been taught that
God was a loving father, instead of a
wrathful tyrant, early embraced religion.
They love and revere the mother who was
both their counselor and companion. No
member of that household ever visited
saloons.

While I frankly admit that many things
have been done at church festivals that I
very much disapprove, because they for-
nish an excuse for some who will say:
"It is no worse for me to gamble at the
saloon, than for Christians to gamble at
the church,” yet I do not believe that
any of the church festival games with
which I am acquainted ever “helped to
cultivate a taste for gambling ” in places
where the breath of infamy blurs the
windows, and the presence of true and
noble women is never known.

Paul Johnston touches a point in his
last sentence that has the ring of true
philanthropy in it. I doubt not that many
readers of the HOUSEHOLD will be glad to
find in its columns an article on that
subject from his ready pen.

PETRESIA PETERS.

WAUSEO, 0. ‘

VARIETIES.

However great the benefits to be de—
rived from travel, the thought of leaving
home is not without apang; for in the
“ home” isa sweet certainty, a security
found only there. Yet do not many of
our home discords and difficulties arise
from too long continued and close asso-
ciation? Nature is rich in variety, she
gladdens us with the fresh beauty of
Spring, and the full glory of summer.
She displays autumn bounties, and revels
in rich hues, closing the year with bare,
brown landscapes, which the frost king
deebrates with snowy robes and brilliant
ice-crystals.

Life often associates us most intimately
with those who jar us at every movement,
and even the most tender ties are
strengthened and enriched by each
individual gathering freshness and new
culture amid varying associations and
surroundings. One cannot speak too
strongly in favor of such changes. Many
of our dearest memories, our most beauti-

 

ful tokens of love, are gathered from
home friends during our separations.
We become too much alike, we grow
monotonous in tone of character. Mor—
bid sentiment and unpractical views
grow upon us. Change tends to develop-
ment. Amid new associates and scenes
we look about more intently. as a sleepy
child rouses on being shown some object
dear to the child-interest. We cease to
be so engrossed by the agitations, ad-
mirations, and annoyances occupying
the unbroken routine of home-life. We
touch actual being, as distinguished
from our dreams of it. Gathering new
material for thought, in warmer
sympathy for to-day grasping more
clearly the great questions of life.

Victor Hugo says: “ To travel is to be
born and to die at every instant." We
find all of life a hastening, a rapid
journey, except its hours of anguish, and
even these become in time almost
perished memories. We are continually
in pursuit of new facts, the old left be—
hind faint and musty in the distance.
Those interests and agitations of so great
moment to us dissolve upon our atten—
tion “like snow flakes on the water.”
The question is whether we’ll take the
journey determined upon winning
courage and self-control.

Spencer, in his “Education," makes
all knowledge subordinate to that re-
quired for self-preservation. Nature
leaves comparatively little to our blun—
dering here, yet we greatly need culture
in this direction. The animal instincts
need refining; worry and fear must be
vanquished by intelligent self-control.
In the various instances of disquietude
and want of self-control every one meets
in traveling, we may see the deficiencies
of knowledge in this line. We want to
know how to live in the broadest sense,
and to acquire Whatever is of. practical
value to us. There are unmistakable
evidences of culture, and in these days
of easy transit, to acquire the art Of
traveling is an essential matter. To do
this, one need not take long journeys
nor travel extensively. I know a young
lady from the country whose trips from
her home to acity fifteen miles distant
for music-lessons, gave her all the ex-
perience she needed to teach her the
care, courtesy, reserve, and other re—
quisites in taking alone a journey of any
distance. Can not parents of even
moderate means take these things into
consideration, and give their girls oc‘
casional opportunities of gaining valuable
experience in this way?

Country girls do not care to be called
“green,” even if it is nature’s beautiful
color. And they need to know some—
thing of our great growing world, at the
same time being carefully instructed in
its ways of broad and deceitful leading.
The young feet will go out from the
home paths, the young heart must give
of its hope and strength to the world’s
work. Seek not to deter, but make true
and sure thepreparation for the lessons
in temptation which may come, must
come to all. .

In one of our large depots I observed a

 

young girl enter and takeaseat. She
appeared nervous and ill at ease, ap-
parently unaccustomed to traveling.
Trains came in every few minutes, and at
every arrival she passed out to see if it
were her train. In a moment, the direc-
tion and destination of the train being
announced, as is the case in all depots,
she became composed again. If some
friend would instruct such young persons
—and some Older ones as well—telling
them to inquire the time of their train's
departure and, observing it, sit still until
its announcement, such a friend would
be supplying a “want long felt." One
need not stand until weary, watching, for
you can’t hurry the train, and yet we are
a little amused at the man, or grown-up
boy, who bustles in, deposits satchel, etc.,
strides up to the ticket agent, asking,
“How long before that train?” “Ten
minutes, sir." Passenger walks off, re-
maining as quiet as possible for several
minutes, returns to the ticket window,
saying, “Why don’t that train come?"
(Here we see the necessity of the pro-
tecting barriers thrown around the rail-
road employesl) Receiving slight atten-
tion, the man takes a survey of the wait-
ing passengers, goes out on the track, and
looking both ways, impatiently exclaims,
“Well, I’d like to know why that train
don’t come!" And thus he continues to
make himself interesting, until we are
all relieved for him by the train’s arrival.

On leaving one of the long line of omni-
buses in Chicago, a woman with several
children gets out, leaving her hand-bag
on the seat. Rather careless; what will
assure her of its recovery in the hurry of
the crowd? As it happens, the last pas-
senger hands it to the policeman at the
door, who, concealing it under his coat,
enters the depot and walks carelessly
about, till a woman near runs frantically
towards the door, exclaiming, “I forgot
my satchel!” '

“ Should have thought Of that before,”
coolly remarks the policeman, holding out
the last article. Immensely relieved, the
woman takes it, and sinks down in her
seat almost overcome by nervous reaction,
Everything, money and ticketswere in it.
I wondered if she’d remember thereafter
that a woman, especially if travelling with
children, should have all her bundles
secured before the train or conveyance
stops, then give her whole attention to
the exit? Forethought saves anxiety
and haste, while in such instances “hind
thought” often avails nothing.

Again I wonder why many women are
not more genial and helpful to each
other in traveling? Men form many
pleasant acquaintances and gather much
of interest from friendliness towards
each other, while women seem to distrust
their own sex. A woman, reserved yet
genial, social but not confidential, may
form traveling acquaintances with profit
and pleasure both. to herself and others.

S. M. G. ,-
Rocxronn, ill.

—————¢99..—___
COMMUNICATIONS for the HOUSEHOLD
should be addressed te the MICHIGAN
FARMER, HOUSEHOLD Department, De-
troit, Mich.

 


4:

 

THE HOUSEHOLD.

 

USEFUL SUGGESTIONS.

 

When making over stockings I find it a
good plan to lay the two raw edges to-
gether, and sew closely over and over;
done in this way they never rip as they
used to do when I used the machine.

I lately learned a nice way to mend the
knees of home ~knit hose for children, a
problem which had long puzzled me, as
darning looks so ugly on the knee. Take
yarn to match exactly, and without cut-
ting the stocking, take up the stitches far
enough below the hole to cover all the
thin part, and as far around the leg as
may be necessary;knit this flap just like
an ordinary heel, back and forth, until it is
large enough to cover the entire knee;
then without cutting away the old part,
sew it down very nicely. The stocking
will look as good as new and more than
repay the trouble.

Instead of winding something round
the head when sweeping, try taking a
square of light print—eighteen inches—
round Ofi the corners, and hem it all
around. About one inch from the edge
stitch on a narrow casing in which run
elastic to fit the head; hang it with the
duster, and you will never regret having
made it.

Dip a newspaper in water, tear it into
scraps and scatter it over the carpet; this
will save much of the dusting without
spotting the carpet.

It has become “quite the thing”
some quarters to have toothpicks on the
table, and when the meal is finished pass
them, then all hands fall to picking their
teeth; is this the latest craze? I confess
it is repulsive to me. and I would just as
soon think of taking out my penkn ife and
cleaning my nails at the table as to lean
back and pick my teeth. Perhaps I am
behind the times, but if so I will stay
there. and my guests will have to do like
wise.

To the little stranger who has come to
the heart and home of A. A. J ., I would
send this beautiful benediction from the
lore of the Hindoo:

“Little child, as thou camest into the
world weeping, while all around thee re—
joiced; even so mayst thou go out rejoic-

ing. while all about thee weep.”

vMRS. W. J. G.
HOWELL.

Our correspondent is justified in her
condemnation of the “ toothpick craze.’
The practice of putting toothpicks on the
table is “ more honored in the breach than
the Observance,” and now seldom follow-

ed.
409——

EVENING RECRE ATIONS.

 

 

I am especially interested in the talks
to the young girls and their mothers, in
the HOUSEHOLD. I quite like the idea of
a “reading circle.” Where I live, the
young people have a few standard games
which they play at all their surprise
parties and. in fact, nearly everywhere
they meet

Nearly all of the games terminate in a
kiss, which seems to be the chief aim and
attraction. It looks silly to me, and I
think that it would be much more im-

 

proving to use their tongues intellectually
a part of the evening. Still. I would not
obstinately object to their playing such
games once in a great while; but Ido
Object to such games being played to the
exclusion of all other amusements. I
hops this will escape the waste basket,
because I really desire the opinions of
the Housnnom .

Ihave been wanting the words of the
song entitled, “ Old Folks at Home,”
written by Stephen 0. Foster; and would
be obliged if some one who has them
would send me a copy. The Housnnom
Editor has my address. Box Am.

Waannn Lam.

__—...——_—

PORK POT-PIE.

 

I have a recipe for pork potpie, which
has the merit of never being one particle
heavy. Of course fresh meats, if one has
them, are much to be preferred.

Soak over night about one pound of
salt pork, half lean is preferred, having
first cut it into small pieces. At 10
o’clock next day set it boiling in two
quarts Of water. Save a piece of bread
dough, from the morning’s baking, of
sufllcient size for your family. At half
past ten mould this somewhat harder than
you would for bread, and set to rise. If
pressed for time you may leave it in a flat
cake nearly the size of the kettle, but if
made into balls, it presents a better ap-
pearance on the table. Then at half-past
eleven, if the meat is very fat, skim some
away, and substitute butter, season to
taste with salt and pepper, and drop in
potatoes pared and halved. As quickly
as the soup boils drop in the balls, cover
closely, and cook one half hour. After
skimming out the meat, potatoes, and
dumpling, if there should remain too
little soup, :1. little water and more butter
may be added, and all nicely thickened.

E. M W00 DMAN.
__*.,____

HOUSEHOLD HINTS.

Paw Paw.

 

NICKEL trimmings can be kept bright
by rubbing with a woolen cloth saturated
with spirits of ammonia.

 

THE tops of oldleather boots make ex-
cellent foundation for holders. NO fear
of burned fingers if squares of this leath-
er are covered with several thiaknesses of
cloth, which can be renewed when worn.

To select celery for the table do not
choose the mammoth sorts, which are
often hollow stalked and strong, but
rather the dwarf, soiid, thoroughly blanch-
ed varieties. These have a rich, nutty
flavor far superior to that of the rank—
growing kinds.

 

IN boiling down cider for apple jelly,
or “condensed cider.” the main point is
to expose as much surface to the air as
possible and to do the work quickly, that
it may not be too dark in color. Choose
a large, shallow dish for boiling down,
and do not try to handle to.) much at
once.

 

A CORRESPONDENT of the Country Gen-

 

tleman says many a woman has had an
extra wrinkle added to her brow by hav—
ing to burn green wood in the cook-stove.
That’s true; and if husbands wish their
wives to remain young and pretty, as
well as sweet-tempered, they should see
to it that there is plenty of good, dry,
sound wood ready for use.

 

IF you like beans cooked whole, with—
out being mashed into a pulpy paste,
soak them over night in cold water, and
next day parboil them till the skins are
ready to split, then drain and turn on
plenty of cold water. This keeps them
whole and mealy even after being baked.

T ms creases can be taken out of velvet
and the pile raised by drawing it across a
hot iron over which a wet cloth has been
spread. If there are pin marks over
which the pile refuses to rise, brush it up
with a stiff brush and steam it, repeating
the operation several times. Narrow
velvet ribbon can be ironed by dampen—
ing the back and drawing it across the
flat face of an iron set upright on a table.

 

mer. which has become yellow
with use, says an exchange, may be
bleached by putting it for some days in a
solution of hard soap to which strong
ammonia has been added. The right
proportions are 11} pounds Of hard curd
soap, fifty pounds of soft water and two-
thirds of a pound of strong ammonia so-
lution. The same object may be obtained
ina shorter time by placing the flannel
for a quarter of an hour in a weak solu—
tion of bi-sulphate of sodium, to which a
little hydrochloric acid has been added.

 

PROF. ARNOLD, a noted dairy authority,
told the Dairymen's Convention how to
judge cheese: “When you place your
finger on a piece of cheese, if it breaks
and crum ralesyou may be sure it is good;
if it springs back like India rubber, the
cheese is tough and indigestible. If the
cheese is gritty on the tongue, reject it; if
it melts like a ripe pear, it will digest as
easily as bread. Don’t be afraid of cheese
because it is porous; the holes are caused
by gas, the same as in bread, but if there
is an putrefaction, the nostrils will easily
detect it.”

9——

Contributed Recipes.

 

CORNED Bans—For fifty pounds of beef,
take one pailiul of water, one pint of salt, one
teaspoonful of sugar, and one tablespoonful of
pulverized saitpetre. Put in a kettle, let come
to aboil, skim, and when cold turn on the
meat, which should be’cut into pieces, rubbed
with salt and packed tight in a cask or jar.
This is splendid for use in winter, but the
brine is not strong enough to keep the meat in
hot weather. AUNT LOUISE.

PORT HURON.

 

CBEAMED Formosa—Butter a three-pint
tin basin; put into it a layer of cold boiled,
sliced potatoes, salt, pepper and butter, then
more potatoes, butter, etc., and so on till the
dish is nearly full; then turn over the top a
coffee cup-full of rich milk. Bake in the oven.
These are the “ real Oakland House creamed
potatoes.” Ln).

PORT HURON.