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THE HOUSEHGLD===§upplememm A DOMESTIC EPISODE. “ You’ve ceased to love me, John, I fear; A great change has come over you; You do not sit beside me, dear, And hug me as you used to do. “ You used to praise my eyes, my hair, And often kissed my lip and brow When we sat on one rocking chair— Dear John, why don’t you do so now? “ You used to call me your delight, Said you were proud my love to win, And kept me at the gate at night Till ma would come and call me in. “ You called me then your ownest own, Your popsy pet, you did, you know; That happy time is past and gone— Ah, dearest, what has changed you so f” John laid his paper on his knee, And heaved a sigh, and said: “ I fear Whatever changes there may be You’ve brought about yourself, my dear. “ This much, at least, you must confess; Whene’er my visits I would pay, You did not meet me in the dress In which you’d been at work all day. “ Your hair was not in paper curls, Your slippers flapping on your feet; You were the prettiest of girls, With everything about you neat. " A snow-white collar then you’d wear, And at your throat a pretty bow, A flower of some kind in your hair— Now, darling, what has changed you so?” .— ——§OO—-—--—- ODDS AND ENDS. A very pretty tidy came under the editorial eye the other day, which is simple in construction and economical in make-up. It is a “daisy ” tidy, and the daisies are made of No. 13 rick-rack. A circle is cut out of bleached cotton, using a silver dollar as a pattern. On this the rick-rack is sewed, beginning at the cir— cumference, and sewing it so the points overlap. A little practice enables one to “catch the idea.” A few French knots in old gold silk form the yellow daisy-like centre and conceal the end of the braid. Forty of these are made. Sew 36 of them into four squares of nine each. Get a yard and a half of any colored ribbon you prefer—peacock blue is very pretty—cut it in two, and lay the strips at right angles to each other; on the place where they cross, sew the four remain— ing daisies. The squares of nine are to be sewed into the right angles formed by crossing the ribbon, with the ends of the ribbon extending beyond them; these ends are to be fringed out, and serve to attach the tidy on the chair; it is to be put on diamond-wise, and is particularly pretty on a patent rocker. A simple and serviceable nightdress for the baby is circular in form, with but one seam, up the back, and the tiny shoulder- seams which fit it. Almost any ingen— ious woman can cut a pattern for herself by cutting a half circle. doubling it, cut— ting off the point for the neck, and cut— ting out a gore the edges of which, when united, shall shape the shoulder, and then cutting armholes. The half-circle is too full and should be narrowed a little. Ordinary yard wide cotton will require a little piecing. These are very easily washed and ironed, great labor savers. Edge neck and sleeves with embroidery, if you choose, but the garment is just as serviceable without it. A very neat and pretty finish for the bottom of an infant’s robe dress is five very narrow tucks, a wider one of one and a half inches, five more narrow ones, and a three inch hem. The paper—flower craze has struck Detroit, and everybody is snipping tinted tissue paper. The fancy store windows are filled with floricultural novelties, some of which are like nothing in heaven or earth, While others are really pretty. Roses, poppies and carnations are gener- ally the most natural. Certainly the materials are excellent. The fine French papers come in the most exquisite shades of coloring, and the centres of poppies and daisies are to be had for the buying. The story is told that a lady who had just been given a paper carnationas a pattern twisted its stem into the buttonhole of her dress till she went to her room, and everybody who entered the dinlng-room commented on “that lovely carnation.” When told it was paper it required the test of handling to convince some “doubting Thomases ” that she spoke the truth. Clusters of these flowers are ar- ranged on fans covered with bits of fringed paper and used for wall orna- ments. I wish some of the nervous, dyspeptic, semi-invalid women who have been housed all winter in close, unventilated rooms, would try the “garden cure ” in— stead of patent medicine or adoctor. We have faith cure, mind cure, and various other kinds of cures, but the garden cure is best of all. I tried it once, on a doc— tor’s prescription, if you’ll believe me, and cheerfully bear witness to its efficacy. Try it, you weary women, instead of thinking you must put your little remain— ing strength into the spring sewing and cleaning. Use the means by which you can gain added vitality. There is in who received new strength whenever he touched the earth. The story, like all mythology, has its hidden meaning. The elixir of life lies in sunshine, fresh air and earth. Take these medicines, simple and without cost.’3,'l’hey will do you good. .Have a little spot of ground pre- pared, if it is but six feet square, plant your flower seeds and tend them. The unusual work, with the lassitude of the spring weather, will make you feel more fatigued than if you worked in-doors. But your outdoor labor is medicine; take the dose daily till it becomes pleasure. Be not too ambitious; one hour each day will keep your little flower bed as trim as a parterre under a Scotch gardener. Send for seeds of a few hardy, easily grown varieties, such as sweet pea, petunia, phlox Drummondi, ageratum, aster, balsam, pansy, candytuft, calliopsis and pinks; these are enough for a start, and will give you rich returns in flowers, while the outdoor exercise will bring you health and vigor. Perhaps some of the ladies who have asked for patterns of baby’s slippers, have never thought that it would be very easy to knit them exactly like the foot of a stocking. Cast on stitches enough to fit the ankle, knit a few rows plain, set the heel and shape the foot just like a stock- ing, then crochet a row of shells round the ankle; and finish with a cord and tiny balls to draw it up and keep it in place. The Bazar says jackets are to crowd the small wraps closely for popularity this spring. Be it as it may, the propor- tion of short wraps to jackets, seen in our stores and on the streets, is very largely in favor of the former. Ultras fashionables, however, say Detroit is al- ways about a season behind in the matter of fashions, owing to the conservatism of the ladies, which perhaps accounts for it. Yet the little wraps are much more dressy than jackets, and afford room for more effective decoration. They are trimmed this season largely with worsted lace, which comes in colors to match nearly everything, and' 1s cheap, ranging from 20 to 75 cents, according to width. It IS pleated on very full, and two rows used. Anew silk tape trimming, con- sisting of loops and ends of tape mingled with strands of crimped silk, is also very handsome, but more expensive, costing from $1 40 to $1 75 per yard. The dis— tinctive feature of the new jackets IS the sleeve, which is “oriental” or slightly he old mythology the story of a hero flowing from the elbow to the wrist. The .é-www‘i «i. :- 8.:.;~;..L‘ ~ ' 335.1. ‘,‘ (23-x.gTHr-M-‘rug < .- ~.;:s;1§;-CL¢<-J.z.-u V ‘:- ‘ r. ‘- - — . " - , - ‘w1v3.4-~.Wm;§-Tgy< . .‘ . .. «xv—w ... _ 3“,.” a ,1 . 2 'THE HOUSEHOLD. upper part is close fitting, but the lower is widened sufliciently to show the con- tour of the wrist and lower arm. BE ATRIX. ——..—.w-—— EARLY WORK IN THE GARDEN. Many of the subscribers to the FARMER who are sending for seeds, ask for direc- tions for starting them. Seeds for out- door planting are either perennial, bien- nial,,or annual. Perennial seeds should be sown in autumn if not very early in spring, as they germinate slowly, but most surely while the soil is wet and cool; the plants bloom the second year from plant- ing, with a few exceptions which bloom the first season and remain in perfection many years after. But few perennials require protection through winter, and that but a slight covering of leaves or straw. Biennials blossom the second year after sowing and then die. but are usually re- produced by self sown seeds, so that when once established there is no farther trouble In retaining them. It is well to remember the more promptly perennial seed is sown after ripening, the better, to save time in starting into growth. Annuals are either hardy or tender, and most of our hardy annuals are peren— nial at the South. Those may be planted in open ground after the weather is settled and the soil is warm; or may be sown in hotbeds, but as they germinate freely may be sown where they are to grow. Or, as all but poppies bear trans- planting, a seed bed may be made for them, and by the time they are fit for transplanting the border can be made mellow and fine for their reception. Our variable spring weather makes it unsafe to plant half hardy or tender annuals out of doors. Many sow seeds in boxes in the house in fine light rich soil, keep moderately warm and moist, and give plenty of air when growth begins. Seed- lings should always be transplanted as soon as well up. If the weather is un- favorable for setting them in the garden, have a shallow box ready with good soil, and set them in that, and they will grow . in better form and strength. If allowed to stand crowded long after they are up, they will become drawn and weak. Nearly every one, I think, sows seed too thick, which is a “risky” practice, for if the plants are thick they are slim in grown and will rarely recover lost vitality . Although verbenas' are hardy annuals the seeds are very slow in starting, unless given heat and constant morsture, which can be done by covering the soil after sowing with flannel wet in warm water until signs of growth appear; then cover the box with mosquito netting a day or two, and transplant as soon as rough leaves are grown. The hotbed (German) Ihave so often described saves all risk and trouble, and is a very small expense. The bed is made the usual way, but the cover is white cloth instead of glass, which after being tacked flrmlyzto the cover frame is saturated with linseed oil and eggs well beaten together; about two eggs to a pint of oil. When dry it is snow white and waterproof. and all that can be desired for starting plants for an ordinary garden the last of April or first of May. Of course for plants that are started early and are kept under cover until quite or nearly grown, while the hard frosts and solid earth are yet in order, glass is necessary; but as we are not such “ early birds,” we should choose things suitable to time and conditions For growing greenhouse bulbs and seeds, cuttings, etc., this German hotbed is just right, and when the weather becomes hot the cover can be replaced with clean cloth and they do admirably. MRS. M. A. FULLER. ”—0.“— THE FARMER’S WIFE; HER LA- BOR AND RE WARD. FENTON. Paper read by Mrs. L C. Crittenden at the Farm- ers’ Institute at Howell, Feb. 27t.h It was said of old that there was noth- ing new under the sun. The wise man must have admitted himself mistaken had he lived at the present time, for it is a new thing for the farmer’s wife to assert her claim to be considered a not unim- portant factor in the advancement and prosperity of the commonwealth. For while the wife of the average farmer oc— cupies a comparatively humble sphere, and her life is mainly spent in the dis- charge of the homely and commonplace duties incident to her vocation, the re- sponsibilities of her position are import- ant, and by no means inferior to any other. To the fidelity and ability with which she has performed her part in the drama of the past, the present bears abundant witness. Her influence, like the silent forces of nature, powerful, though noiseless, slow, but sure and benefi- cent, manifests itself in results. His~ tory abounds with accounts of the self— sacrifice and her01sm of the women of revolutionary times; tells “ Of fearless Puritan maidens 01’ old Colonial days, Of wives who prayeo and counseled, Who knitted. and wove and spun; Of wise, strong-hearted mothers, Who bravely wrought, While heroes fought, And reared the Coming Man.” Man reared by those mothers have made our country famous. Of our presi- dents and men of renown, “men too great to be presidents,” men who have discharged great trusts with wisdom and integrity, very many have had their birth- place on the farm; have been trained to good habits and right principles, by plain, unassuming farmers’ wives. There is a great deal said and sung about the “ Dig- nity of labor,” yet in spite of it all, the labor of the farm house is thought to be almost degrading by many, and of little account by more, classed as “unproduc- tive;” but how, pray, is the farmer to raise his'cabbage, corn and beans, with— out the aid and cooperation of this much despised and little appreciated domestic service? .Methinks the hands of Moses would soon fail and fall, were not Eur. (her) at hand to uphold at least one of them. Not long ago the farmer’ s wife was the chief manufacturer of the country; her family was clad from sole to crown with the product of her loom and distafi ; bed-furnishing and table napery were all supplied by her handicraft. Although this branch of domestic labor is done away with, and the click of the loom and whirr of the spinning wheel no longer heard, the farmer’s wife, who is her own help, has quite enough to do to supply the incessant demands on hand and brain, and too often she demonstrates her housekeeping abilities at the expense of her home-making attributes. For while a reasonable attention to the requirements of the farmer is necessary to the comfort and order of the home, the latter is vital to its happiness and attractiveness to its members. Statistics show that the number engaged in agricultural pursuits about equals that of all other industries. The farmer’s wife then presides in the majority of the homes of our land—for boarding and lodging houses are not homes; neither can that name be applied to the dens and cellars of cities, where so many congre- gate—and exerts an influence for good or evil which reaches to eternity, and moulds the character of those who exer- cise acontrolling, or a mighty power, in the destiny of the nation,—for “ The strength of the republic lies in the homes of the people.” If the farmer is priest of the soil, and to him belong the finest wheat and first fruits, the wife is priestess at home, and to her belongs the best that home can offer, the esteem, and love, and reverence of its members. She should have a part in the very best of their lives, and to command and deserve this, she ought never to be outgrown by husband or children, in general knowledge. She should excel in real education; not that which affects the head merely, and glazes men and women over with accomplish— ments to shine in society, but which im‘ proves the heart, enlarges the sympathies, warms the affections, gives refining and ennobling influences, and forms firm, symmetrical character. The life of woman on the farm is too secluded and monotonous. She needs the culture of travel and association; the self-reliance and attrition which contact with minds only can give. To accomplish this desirable end, some means should be adopted to bring women together often for the interchange of ideas; not merely to discuss the utility of washing butter, or manufacturing rag carpets, although these subjects are apropos in time and place, but for mutual improvement and helpfulness in carrying forward those aims and principles which refine society. For if there was ever a time when it was requisite that wives and mothers should actin accordance with the teachings of the Bible, and attempt to liftlup and purify and carry our country onward, so that it shall be in practice what it is in theory— the great leading Christian nation of the world—it is now; and the wives and mothers and daughters of farmers have as much depending on them in the war- fare against the gigantic evils of these times, as our foremothers in the early conflict with material foes. The farmer’s wife is the conservator of THE HOUSEHOLD 3 the home; to her it owes its intelligence, harmony, and purity; to her economy and industry, its wealth, comfort and beauty; her reward is in the prosperity and happiness of those she loves; and in the success of these aims and principles which tend to elevate and Christianize humanity. ”—— MOTHERS AND DAUGHTERS. There is much force and truth in the remarks made by “ One of the Girls ” in a late issue of the HOUSEHOLD, to the effect that mothers were many times responsible for the improper behavior of their daugh- ters in the company of young men, inas— much as they had failed to give them in— struction, or enlighten their experience by proper counsel or warning. The mother by sad experience knows many pitfalls and snares hidden in the path way youth must travel, and both love and duty should inspire her to point out the dangers and provide safeguards for her child’s inexperienced feet. And it is only by iteration and re-iteration, line upon line, precept upon precept, in sea— son and out of season, that the youthful mind can be impressed. On the other hand, it is sadly true that many girls give very little heed to the admonitions of the mother, no matter how wisely or kindly given, and with a perversrty born of self-conceit, pride themselves on following their own head- strong will, careless of the wounded heart of the mother, and the bitter con- sequences that too often follow to them— selves. Happy indeed is the mothér who is able to hold the confidence and sym- pathy of her daughter, so that her kind and loving control may be willingly ac knowledged, and her counsel sought through the years when most needed; the years when self-assertion is awakened and aggressive, and self—conceit the most prominent factor, unawed as yet by the humiliation of defeat, and with all the boldness of inexperience. How carefully must we move to save them from the perils they will not see, and the dangers they cannot comprehend, and yet not tighten to a strain that may break the bonds of control so necessary to preserve! How much wehave to forbear, how much to forgive, how much to endure, only the conscientious mother can realize. While we are carefully avoiding the Scylla of governing too much, trying to teach the unfledged mind to try its own pinions, that it may learn strength and feel re- sponsibility, we may strike the other side, the Charybdis of too little control, and the weak but precious child of our affec- tions falls wounded and broken at our feet. How often, too, at such a moment, when overwhelmed with suffering, 'per- haps filled with undeserved sel f-accusings, come the bitter sneers of self-constituted judges, rasping the heart-wounds to su— preme agony, asking, “Why did you do this?” “Why not do the other?" In the self-complacence of their arrogant arraignment, no mistake could have occurred had they been at the helm. Mothers, you who have daughters reared «to true womanhood, settled in happy homes, or armored in matured experience and solid sense taking up Life’s respon— sibilities, do not arrogate to yourselves superior wisdom or judgment, but rever— ently thank God, who has led you and yours in the ways of truth and virtue, and blessed your endeavors for the right. If your darlings, carefully as you have instructed and matured them, had been beset by the same temptations that have fallen to the lot of some others, they might not now have been so happy and blessed. It is only the sorely tried and tempted, who have triumphed, that are proved, and even these might have had an hour of weakness, that, found, would have caused their fall. Let us cultivate charity for faults and sympathy for the unfortunate, even the sinner, even while we sternly reprobate the sin; and while we gather our treasures around us, thank the Giver of all good gifts that they have been kept and pre' served from temptation, rather than sit in merciless judgment on some poor un- fortunate, who perhaps deserves more our pity than our censure. I think, too, that mothers often arraign themselves and each other for sins of omission or commission unjustly. If with the light we have, we each day do the best we may, we should recognize the fact that it is all that could be required of us; and we have no right or cause to make ourselves unhappy over what might have been. We should do our duty day by day, honestly, fearlessly, trustingly; and whatever the result, know that we are blameless in the sight of Him who searcheth the heart, and who will often bring light out of apparent darkness, and good out of seeming evil. There will always be unwise mothers, and willful, disobedient daughters, but, happily, we don’t find them in the major— ity, and let us hope their numbers may grow less. A. L. L. INGL‘ESIDE ___‘..__ FROM OUR LITTLE INVALID. Thanks Betty, A. H. J. and Beatrix for your kind words of sympathy. I have a beautiful home, and loving parents, so many kind friends, and much to be thank- ful for. I read a great deal now; I have just finished T. S. Arthur’s “Steps To- wards Heaven,” and wish all who sufier much pain would read the last article in the book called the “Angel Pain;” I think it splendid. Then I have the HOUSEHOLD, the dear little paper! how I look for it every Wednesday, and never let it out of my hands till it is all read over. I think I have every HOUSEHOLD from the first printed, and would not part with them for a great deal. I have read Bess’s conundrum in the HOUSEHOLD of March 23rd, and am waiting to see the answers. But I have a question that I would like to have answered about tobacco-chewers. My papa and brothers do not chew, but sometimes we have men who do, and ugh! how filthy! Now why will men spit in their own or any other person’s house, either on the floor or in the spittoon? I have seen men throw their quids in the cuspidor; it is enough to give one the ty- phoid fever to clean after such men. Would it not be right to make the boys, instead of the girls, clean the cuspidors? I think if they had it to do there would not be so much of the work to be done. TEMPERANCE. —-—-—ooO—--—- KNITTED LACE PATTERNS. Seeing a request in the HOUSEHOLD for directions for knitting lace, and having quite a number of pretty patterns I ven— ture to send the directions for some of them: WOODsIDE. CLOVER LEAF EDGE. Use two knitting needles and on one of them cast on ten stitches. In the direc- tions k. stands for knit, p. for purl, n. for narrow, o. for thread thrown over. First row—Knit plain. Second row—K two, 0, n. k one, o twice, n, k three. Third row—K five, p one, k two, 0, n, k one. Fourth row—K two, 0, n, k seven. Fifth row—K eight, 0, n, k one. Sixth row-—K two, 0, n. k one, o twice, n, o twice, n, k two. Seventh row—K four, p one, k two, p one, ktwo, o, n, k one. Eighth row—K two, 0, n, k nine. Ninth row—Bind off three, k six, 0, n, k one. Repeat from second row. ENGLISH POINT LACE. Cast on fifteen stitches. First row—Slip one, k one, o twice, p two together, k one, o twice, k two to—' gether, k three, 0 twice, p two together, k one, o, k two. Second row—Slip one, is one, p one, k one, o twice, p two together, k four, p one, k one, otwice, p two together, k two. Third row—Slip one, k one, o twice, p two together, k two, 0, k two together, k two, 0 twice, p two together, k two, 0, k wo. Fourth row—Slip one, k one, p one p two, 0 twice, p two together, k three, p one, k two, 0 twice, p two together, k two. Fifth row—Slip one, k one, o twice, p two together, k three, 0, k two together, k one, o twice, p two together, k three, 0, k two. Sixth row—Slip one, k one, p one. k three, 0 twice, p two together, k two, p one, k three, 0 twice, p two together. k wo. Seventh row—Slip one, k one, o twice, p two together, k four, 0, k two together, 0 twice, p two together. k the rest plain. Eighth row—Bind off three stitches, k two. 0 twice, p two together, k one, p one, k four, 0 twice, p two together, 1: two. Repeat from first row. MOLLIE MOONSHINE’S SISTER. HAMLIN, N. Y. —-——«o——- “ WOM AN’S WEAPON ” AGAIN. THE We had a good dissertation on sweep— ing a few weeks ago, from our Editor, and perhaps this may be like some other subjects that have been discussed; so many have written about it that the topic is worn threadbare. But woman-like I thought I would have my say, for it is through this interchanging of thoughts and ways of doing work, that improve— ment comes. We are all anxious to learn the best mtnner of doing work, with the least possible labor. I thought how nice, fresh and clean Beatrix’s room must look after that wiping-up process. But it makes a lame back and rheumatic limbs ;.a,......q,w..~=<—.m..vr- __ a; 1-...» ” «Ms—mm”, . 4: THE HOUSEHOLD. ache to think of. I save all the tea grounds, and when sweeping day comes round, I rinse them in three or four waters to get all the stains out, and after dusting and setting outside all the movable articles, sprinkle the tea leaves over the carpet, and after having wet the broom in warm water, sweep them back and forth lightly, they will collect pretty much all the dust, and when well swept ofl leave the carpet looking bright and clean. When I do not have tea grounds enough I wet newspapers and tear up in small pieces. We do not all have carpet sweepers, and I have heard some contend that the stiff bristles in them, wore the carpet more than a broom. What do the ladies say about them? s. A. G. DBABBOBN . ———...———— BESS’S CONUN DRUM. Iwant to tell Bess what I think of her conundrum. I would invite my husband to sit at the fire with me; if he did not accept the invitation I would take the girls to the hall myself; it would be per- fectly proper to do so. A man so selfish that he cannot spend a part of his precious time with his wife and daughters, does not deserve the name of husband. The man who dislikes taking his team out nights is either lazy or thinks more of his horses than of his wife. It is not only right but her duty to go; if the neighbors did not call I would hire some one to take me. The husband would not sit quiet many evenings at the fire; he would go too. I don’t think this world was made expressly for men. Wives are as much to blame as the men; if they are told to sit by the fire, down they sit, and find fault about it. KATE. BATTLE CREEK. —___...—— LACE PATTERN. As spring is coming I wish to say to the lovers of flowers, if you never have done so, invest a few dimes in hybrid perpetual roses. Mine have very little ,, care, no protection. and I have blossoms from June until snow falls. Will some one kindly send a recipe for a good hard soap for laundry use. I send a recipe for Violet, of Okemos , for I be- lieve young girls should be encouraged in household work, so few nowadays will try. I send also a lace pattern for her. Cast on nine stitches; knit all even rows plain. lst row, 1: 3, n, O, n, o, k 1, o, k 1. 3drow, k 2, n, O, n, o, k 3, o, k 1. 5th row, k 1, n, o, n, o, k 5, o, k 1. 7th row, k 3, o, n, o, n, k 1, n, o, 11. 9th row, k 4, o, n, O, n, 3 together, 0, 11. 11th row, k 5, o, n, 3 together, 0, 11. 12th, back plain. MISS STODDARD. IxLAY CITY. ______...___ LADIES who furnish patterns for knit- ted and crocheted lace are requested to write plainly and carefully, to punctuate properly, and to write out, either at the beginning or end of directions, the ab- breviations used; in this way such direc— tions will benefit those for whom they are intended, and the compositor and proof-reader be spared considerable trouble. HOUSE HOLD HINTS. Possrers some of our readers may have canton flannel draperies which have faded under exposure to the light. The N. Y. Tribune recommends dipping them in a dye made from the popular Diamond Dyes, using it not very strong; and when the goods is nearly dry brush vigorously with the nap. This has been tried with success. MISS PARLOA’s method of clarifying fat which has been removed from gravies, soups, etc., is to put it on the stove in an iron pan and heat it slowly. When melted set it where it will bubble, and when all motion ceases, the sediment will have found the bottom of the pan, and the fat will be pure and clear, ready to use for any culinary purpose. TO SAVE stair carpets nail several thicknesses of old carpet or canvas over the edge of each stair. It is a good plan to buy more carpeting than is needed to cover the stairs and move it each season so that the whole will wear evenly. If stair carpets cannot be changed in this way they will not wear long. A CORRESPONDENT of an exchange tells how she protected her baby from draughts on the floor the past winter. She had a box made, two feet by three feet, and just high‘enough to allow baby to look over the top as she sat on the bottom Of the box. The lady says: “Fasten strong cleats on each end, and into these put good casters. Pad the sides and cover with pretty calico. Put several layers of newspapers on the bottom and cover with carpet. In such a warm box my little girl spent most of the winter. Her playthings were within reach. In it she learned to creep and to stand, 'and the sides being so soft a bump did not hurt her. Her little brothers amused her by rolling It about the floor. It did not take up as much room as baby and her scattered playthings. It deserved the name the children bestowed upon it—the palace-car.” HERE is a very simple way to make slippers for a very young babe: Measure your baby’s foot; crochet or knit out of single zephyr a perfect square, a little longer each way than his foot, double and sew the two ends together, crochet a scallop around the top, run a piece of elastic through the scallops, drawing it small enough to fit the baby’s ankle, and put a ribbon bov on the front of the slipper. The baby’s foot shapes the slipper, and is kept nice and warm on cold mornings.” MISS CORSON says macaroni should never be touched by water which is not absolutely boiling; if it seems dusty, wipe it with a dry towel. Macaroni should be boiled till a bit can easily be pinched off with the fingers. The time for cooking varies from five to twenty minutes, the latter time for the large tubes. When done, it should be drained and thrown into a large panful of cold water, or water poured upon it in a colander till, the little tubes are free from tne gelatin- ous coating extracted, by boiling, then drained again, when it is ready to be finished with cheese, tomatoes, etc. ‘ THOSE who can mince meat for summer use should remember that a thorough heating is necessary if the meat is to keep. It will surely ferment unless well heated and canned when hot. The various recipes for “mock mince pies” are quite as good as the genuine mince in- summer. ——-—-—+eo—-— HULDAH PERKINs’ request is granted. Please let us hear from you more fre- quently. __«.___ HOUSEeLEANmG,making garden, spring sewing, all the work of the spring, will soon claim the attention of our busy housekeepers. But in the midst of your duties, do not forget'the HOUSEHOLD. Send us notes of the improvements and adorn- ments you have planned; tell us what you get for agood dinner now when the ap- petite craves a change from the hearty food of the winter, anything which will help and encourage others. ——.4.‘.__. THE very best thing out for preventing the juice escaping from pies while baking, is a tube of writing paper put in the center of the top crust and allowed to stand there while baking; the syrup boils up into the tube while hot, but recedes when cool to its proper place. A. F. ——«9-—-— TEERE are many, very many of our contributors whom the HOUSEHOLD Ed- itor holds in memory, and would be truly glad to hear from again. Others who are interested in the HOUSEHOLD have prom ised to write, but still delay, despite the promises won by considerable coaxing. And these we hope to hear from soon. Some have said that they could not handle the topics treated by other writers as well as they, and so stay away. But we want variety; not all talk on abstract themes, not all chat of books or family relation- ships, but methods of management, criti- cism of customs, details of economies, labor-saving ways, and useful recipes, The thinking housekeeper is always learning; it is a duty and should be a pleasure to pass on her discoveries to others. -——-—-—-“O——— Contributed Recipes. GINGER COOKIES.—One cup sugar; four tablespoonfuls melted butter; one teaspoon ful soda, dissolved in one-fourth cup hot water , one teaspoonful ginger. Roll as soft as you can, and bake. GINGER COOKIES No. 2.—0ne cup of New Orleans molasses; half cup lard; one egg; two table spoonfuls sugar; half cup sour milk; one. teaspoonful each of soda and ginger; a little cinnamon and cloves. Roll very soft. MISS STO DDARD. IMLAY CiTY. WEEATIMUFFINS.—Mix one pint of milk. two eggs, three tablespoonfuls yeast, 9. little salt, with flour enough to make a stiff batter; let it rise four or five hours, and bake in mufi‘m rings in a hot oven about ten minutes.