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DETROIT, APRIL' 25, 1887.

 

 

THE HOUSEHO-LD-“Supplement.

 

 

 

DEGREED.

 

Into all lives some rain must fall,
Into all eyes some tear-drops start,
Whether they fall as a gentle shower,
Or fall like fire from an aching heart.’
Into all hearts some sorrow must creep.
him all souls some doubting come,
Lashing the waves of life's great deep
From the rippling water to seething foam.

‘Over all paths some clouds must lower,
Under all feet some sharp thorns spring,
Tearing the flesh to bitter wounds,
0r entering the heart with their bitter sting.
a‘Upon all sorrows rough winds must blow,
Over all shoulders a cross be lain, ’
B )wing the form in "ts lofty height
Down to the'dust in its cruel pain.

Into all hands some duty thrust,
Unto all arms some burden given,
Crushing the heart with its dreary weight,
0r lifting the soul from earth to heaven.
Into all hearts and homes and lives
God’s dear sunshine comes streaming down,
Gliding the ruins of life’s g'reat plan,
Weaving for all a golden crow n.

-————...-—————.

CHILDREN AT SCHOOL.

 

One of our. contributors asks the ex-
perienced mothers and school teachers to
give opinions as to the proper age at which
children should be sent to school. I do not
know that my experience in teaching par-
ticularly fits me to answer the question,
but I have long held the opinion that,
generally speaking, no child should be sent
to school, unless perhaps to a kindergarten,
under six years of age. I donot think
school is the place for babes; they are best
and safest at home. There is little that
they oughtto learn at best, and it is not
just to the teacher—nor to other and older
pupils, to compel her to give her time to the
«care of such young children.

Isuppose‘I shall “fall into condemna—
tion ” if I say that I believe the best teacher
children can have, during their early years,
is their mother. A wise, patient woman
can do more for her children than the best
teacher; she has a more abiding interest in
them. The trouble is the average woman
“ hasn’t time” for such work; and too often
neglects what'she might do in that line, for
the sake of dressing the youngsters more
elaborately. It has always seemed to me
that, were I a mother, 1 should much pre-
fer to undertake the education of my chil-
dren myself. But I am very well aware of
the many objections to and difficulties in
the way of carrying this idea into practice.

A great deal of the time spent by very
young pupils in school must necessarily be
wasted. It ought to be so. Their minds
are too immature fur mental application, it
is cruel to require it. “ Study your lesson!”

     

are unmeaning words to them; they do not
know how to study. They ought to be
where their restlessness will not disturb
others, where they can play and sleep and
laugh at pleasure. Their attention should
be claimedfor but a few moments at once.
This leaves much unemployed time which
the teacher disposes of by letting the rest-
less infants “go out to play.” But unless
one knows the style of children with whom
their own are thus associated, it is better to
let them play at horde.

I would not send a precocious child, or
one who manifests unusual aptitude to
learn, to school so young as one who is
rather slow. Parents make a great mistake
when they push their children ahead be—
cause they are “smart.” They are very
proud of their unusual development; but
as the earliest bloom, the first fruit to
ripen, is seldom as perfect and well-devel-
oped as that which comes later, the result
of slower and more symmetrical growth, so
precocity in children often indicates un-
healthy and abnormal conditions of mind
and body. It is seldom the precocious, for—
ward boys and girls who make our brilliant

by the slow; the bright child is too often the

_mediocre man, sometimes because of the

injudicious and over~stimulating training
in youth.

I haVe often thought how many difficul-
ties would be smoothed in the student’s
way if, in youth, children were trained to
habits ofobservation. There is so much, in
that direction, to be taught before text:
books are needed. I honor the mother who
never says “ Run away, child, I’m busy!”
when the little one asks her a question
about flower, or leaf, or anything else,
though these infant philosophers have a
way of propounding questions which would
puzzle Plato. Herein is the advantage of
education for women; what a zeal for
knowledge, what stores of information,
they can impart to these thirsty little minds,
so eager to know all about this wonderful
world to which they have so lately been in-
troduced! The bent of many a noble mind
has often been fixed not far from the cradle.

The truth is, in the haste which charac-
terizes our age, we begin the education of
children too young, force it too rapidly,
crowd into three or four years what really
requires six or seven, and turn out young
people “graduates” at seventeen and
eighteen, with their “education finished”
just at a time when they ought to be fairly
Obeginning it. A young girl whose frail
health had necessitated absences which

 

men and women; the prize is more often won‘-

 

greatly retarded steady work in school said '

to me once, when I was urging upon her
the need of “parking haste slowly,"
“Why, I shall be twenty years old now,
before I can graduate!” as if it were some-
thing to be greatly lamented. She only ex-
pressed the popular feeling. that anybody
with a modicum of brains must get through
the prescribed jumble of sciences, languages
and ’ologies while they are still legally
“infants.” To crowd into a few of the
earlier years of existence, when physical
and mental development is yet incomplete,
the study and discipline which are to serve
as the educational basis ofa lifetime, is the
height of folly. One thing crowds out
another; there is no time for mental as-
similation;,onr young people are forced to
take their knowledge as an anaconda does
his meal, all at once, and digest during a
long period of torpidity. Such a course is
manifestly unjust, injurious, unproductive.
Newspapers and magazines cry out against
it, but the schools assert their patrons de-
mand this wholesale "cramming,” and
what the “dear public ” demands it gener-
ally gets. When parents themselves take
a sensible, judicious view of the educational
situation, and realize that so—called educa-
tion is worth nothing if its cost is the price
of health, when they will (levote the years
from ten to twenty to symmetrical evolu-
tion and development of mind'and body,
instead of pushing the children through
school and into society, to get them
married and “settled in life,” we

.shall have less mediocrity and more

sterling intellect, and fewer men and

women will count themselves old at forty

five. BEATRIX.
———¢oo—-——

WORK FOR WOMEN.

 

There ”are so many women who are
longing to be more independent, and ask-
ing what they can do to earn a little
money, that I am encouraged to tell one of
my ways. My advice would be, till the
garden. It will benefit the health and
there is money to be made in it, if you are
anywhere neara market. Take just one
thing to which your soil seems best
adapted, or for which you can find a market,
and make a specialty of it. We planted
twenty-four quarts of early peas last spring
and sold twenty dollars’ worth, besides
using all we wished in a family of eight
persons, and we had enough for seed if we
had had time to save it. This is only one
thing out of many. Poultry-raising is
profitable, too; 1 sold my dressed poultry
last season for ten cents per pound, taking
it direct to the consumer; my neighbor only
got five cents for hers. I expect to do


  

 

!

2 .

THE HOUSEHOLD.

     

 

 

better this season, as last year I was only
learning how. C.
FOWLERVILLE.

—-——“.———-——

HINTS ’FOR YOUNG HOUSEKEEPERS.

 

In heating canned tomatoes for the

table season with nothing but salt, unless!

you are sure all who are to eat them like
sugar in them; in that case you can put in
aTittle or add the sugar at the table. Oh
no consideration put in butter or pepper,
their flavor is much fresher without it.

The nicest way to prepare eggs for tea. is
to fill the spider or frying pan (the former
is best, being deepest) two-thirds full of
boiling water at boiling heat, drop in the
eggs one at a time, from the shell if you
know they are fresh; if you only guess at
their being fresh, break them into a saucer,
and slip them one at a time in the water,
hot enough to cook them, but do not let it
boil, dip some of the water over 13.10 tops of
the eggs until they are white, or have a
cover very hot to put over them, and they
will cook on top by the» steam, when done
soft or hard as you like them, take them up
one ata time, free from the water, on to a
platter, with no seasoning of any kind; you
can garnish with bits of green, as cress,
celery leaves in little pieces, or parsley.
When eaten, the only seasoning is a little
salt and pepper if liked; nothing else if you
wish delicate first class eating.

Fried eggs, unless to be eaten with ham
or bacon, should be tried in butter; if you
have the hot cover to put over them while
frying, you will require very little butter“
Never turn an egg over if you care in the
least for looks. I use a sheet iron kettle
cover, and heat it by laying on tOp ot' the
stove, where it is clean as well as hot.

To prepare mashed potatoes, when ready
to put to cooking slice them in two length-
wise. if there is a clear streak through the
cents1, cut out a three—cornered strip the
whole length of each half, as this will not
mash soft a'nd smooth. When cooked drain
dry, mesh with an old fashioned masher
until they begin to look creamy and smooth,
then add cream and milk, nearly half a
teacupful for six or eight potatoes, salt
enough to give them the right flavor; no but-
ter; milk aloneis preferable.

In all fruit pies, put in a good sized
sprinkle of salt, no butter.

Two pieces of red brick rubbed together '

to reduce as fine as flour, will take‘off more
black, and add a finer polish in three
seconds than Bath brick, coal ashes, or
water lime will in three times three seconds.

Instead of using kerosene oil in washing,
use the same amount of benzine; you will
avoid that dirty, greasy scum, and it is fully
as cleansing.

In cooked starch put in gum arabic, dis-
solved to mucilage, a teaspoonful to a pint
of starch for collars and cuffs and shirt
fronts, a tablespoonful for a dress. For
muslin dresses it is invaluable; this stiff-
ness does not leave the dress until washed
again. I also put in a few shavings of a
sperm candle. I have no trouble in bringing
a gloss on my starched clothes. A teacup-
ful of the starch prepared for the colored
clothes, put into the last rinsing water, will
give tablecloths and napkins just the-right
stiffness to iron nicely, and they will keep

also iron nicer, although they do not take
enough of the starch to be perceptible to
the hands.

I have just seen in print again “Rub
your stoves with kerosene oil, when you
put them away.” Now don’t do any
such thing; there is nothing that bears the
name of oil that is so bad for stoves; it eats
every thing of a greasy nature flOlll the
iron, and then instead of staying in the
place of what it has eaten, a very few weeks,
and that has also taken its leave. No one
need worry if carpets or clothing get
saturated with oil, if exposed to a free cir-
culation of air a few weeks, not a trace of

it will be found.- H.
ALBION
—-——-...—__
WHEN TO PLANT THE FLOWER
GARDEN.

 

If we could only know that this warm,
bright weather would not prove delusive
and that our garden preparations might go
on without fear of‘late bligzards or hard

the inclination to bring out our stored away
treasures, and give sun and air a chance to
arouse their dormant energies! But the
smiles and tears of April are vain delusions;
we must wait. It is a safe rule to follow the
farmer’s planting in the flower garden.
When he plants potatoes, set dahlia tubers,
gladiolus, tritoma and caladium. When
corn is planted sow annuals out of doors,
and transplant seedlings from hotbed or
boxes. When corn is up set tuberose and
tigridia bulbs which you have started in
the house, in rich and sunny beds, and bed
out house plants. Plant perennials and
sweet peas when the frost is out, if
neglected last autumn; or plant when field
peas are sewn. There is such frequent loss
of seed by too early planting it is well to
have a guide.

. The Dahlia is a much admired flower,
and likely to hold the good will of growers
for unlimited time, as it is ever assuming
some new and attractive appearance. When
first brought to notice as a garden flower,
being introduced from Mexico in 1784, it
was a single flower, but many years after
was transformed into the perfection of
doubleness by European florists, and until
the rage for single flowers the past three
years, it was satisfactory in that form.
Varieties are multiplied principally ,by
raising young plants from seed: and there
is no kind of seed that is so sure to give us
something new and desirable that I know.

There are tall and dwarf plants, both bear-
ing large flowers, and the pompon varieties
are usually tall, .and not often dwarf. as
some suppose; the foliage is invariably
smaller. Although by managingwell we
may bring dahlias to bloom early, they
are then out of their seas )n, as they are

essentially autumn bloomers, and will not
produce as perfect blossoms at an earlier
season. Many have grown dahlias for
years without observing that the tubers

produced no plants, ,as they bury the clump

as taken from the ground in autumn. This

is not a good way to plant year after year,
as they deterioriate. The tubers are grafted
by florists sometimes, but cuttings strike as

 

freely as coleus, and either those or seed-

 

clean much longer. The cotton clothes '

freezes, how pleasant it would be to follow1

lings will bloom as early and profusely as.
when whole clumps are planted. The
FARMER gave a good article on dahlias two
weeks ago, so I will only say plant‘ 1n rich
deep soil, stake well, especially, the tall
varieties; give water and fertilizing liquids.
in dry weather to induce better blooming.
Gladiolus bulbs are suited with the same
generous treatment. All bulbs require
rich, light or porous soil which should be
well worked. A few good flowers are to be-
preferred to many starved and neglected.

ones. Mus. M. A. FULLER (DILL).
FENTON.
. —-———QO#——-———

INDIA SINCE HASTINGS’ TIME.

 

From Hastings’ time may be dated Eng-
land’s real acquisition of power in India;
and unscrupulous and arbitrary' as may
have been his administration, he in fact
established the sovereignty of England in
India, founded a polity, and preserved and.
extended an empire. England, arrogant
and avaricious- then, as ever since, was
losing power on land and sea. Africa,
France and Spain were measuring arms
with her and were victorious, and in the
Mediterranean and Gulf of Mexico, much of
former victories was wrested from her
grasp. In the game of nations which was
being played in that era of the world’s
history; Hastings held a master hand, and
by his skillfulmanosuveri g alone, was India
saved to England.

The mention of Hastings’ time has a
musical charm for Americans, as those
years witnessed the triumph of our national
independence, and the establishment of our
grand republic, and the same Burke and
Fox, the recital of whose Speeches in Par-
liament, calling for peace with the Ameri-
can republic, tired our souls wit_1 enthusiasm
in our childhood days. were as eloquent in
the impeachment of Hastings.

India and America have taken onward
strides since Hastings’ time. In the
world’s great drama, the scenery has often
shifted, the lights have been checkered,
actors have come and gone, their places
quickly filled, the acting has been noble or
debasing, as the true character of the actor
developed—and still the ceaseless ebb and
flow of human life goes 011, and the prob—
lem of life is worked out for weal or woe.
Could we be placed upon some lofty height,
and see‘ the millions of the people of the
earth pass in grand array, we 'should see
,India swell the force two hundred million
strong, and as we hear the solemn tread of
nations, as they file before us in review,
faces of lighter and darker hue, on each
face we see enstamped the image of the
Maker, in every. eye the reflection of the
soul immortal, and in a halo of divine love,
encircling all, we read—the brotherhood of
man.

In the government of Indit, Hastings
was succeeded by Lord Cornwallis, who
retrieved his ill fortune in endeavoring to
conquer Americans by military success in
India. He was succeeded by Sir John
Shore, and he by the Duke of Wellington,
then known as Colonel Wellesly.

The British empire in the East, like that
pt Napoleon let in Europe, could only be
maint tined by constant fighting; it was the

 

price paid for empire, and to stand still was

 

 

  


  

THE HOUSEHOLD.

 

3

 

to retrograde. It was during the adminis~
tration of Col. Wellesley that Tippoo Sahib
lost his crown and life. And now, Earl,
Lord, Baron, Viscount and Duke, ‘followed
each other in quick succession. until in
1857 and 1858 the terriole mntinybroke
out. When Lord Canning took the reins of
government, everything promised a reign
of peace and prosperity. With the early
days of 1857 came the first mutterings
of the storm that was to sweep over so
largea portion of British India. At the
commencement of the year chupattees
(cakes of flour and water), were circulated
mysteriously through the northwest
provinces, treasonable placards appeared
at Delhi. and other suspicious occurrences
gave warning of Mohammedan disaffection
or conspiracy.

The immediate consequence of the
mutiny was the transfer of the government
of India to the British crown, and it was
the fate of this last representative'of the
East India. Company, to sentence the last
great mogul and heir of the house of Tinfir,
to be transported across the seas as alelon.

By an act of Parliament which received
the royal assent Aug. 2. 1838, Queen Vic—
toria was declared sovereign of India, and
in 1877 the Queen formally assdmed the
title, “ Empress of India.”

The home government of India is vested
in a secretary of state, who is a member of
the English cabinet. He is assisted by an
under-secretary and a council of fifteen
members. The executive government is
administered by the Viceroy, appointed by
the crown. There is a legislative council,
composed of seventeen members.

Since Hastings’ time, the blessings of
the Christian religion have been carried to
the people of India dwelling in heathen
darkness. In the midst of the green flag
of Mohammed, and the golden crescent, the
standard of the cross is planted, and the
banner of love and good will to man is un-
furled to the breeze. The night of dark-
ness and superstition is fast passing away,
and as the clouds vanish the light is
breaking, and the golden sheen of the
brightness of intelligence and hope is re-
placing the blackness of despair.

The philosopher Bacon has said “ Being
without well-being is a curse.” The average
Asiatic can respond to the truthfulness of
this statement, at least in his religious ex-
perience, for the prevailing view of life is
not that which thrills the soul at the
thought of its continuance, and the Hindu
religion gives little brightness of ' hope, in
the anticipation of a future existence.

Closely allied to the Christian religion,
and consequent thereupon. came civiliza-
tion and national prosperity; commerce
was increased, home industries built up,
mannfactories and printing presses estab—
lished, education fostered, railway and
telegraph lines constructed, and India
wheels into line in the onward march of the
civilized nations of the world.

HoWELL. MRS. W. K. SEXTON.

-s-———-Q..———_.

Vz‘ck’s Magazine says the “ moon-flower”
is the old and well-known Ipomam bona
mayor I. noctifiora; the “beautiful and

‘ fragrant cinnamon vine” is only the
Chinese yam; and the “ beautiful coral lily

of Siberia,” simply the old reliable Lilz'um
tenuifolt'um.

guilt and shame, will depend largely upon

 

OUR BOYS AND GIRLS.

 

[Paper read by Mrs. Elliott '1‘. Sprague at the
Farmers” Institute at Battle Creek, Feb. 18th.]

I feel assured that these words will meet
a responsive echo in 'the heart of every
parent, for there is no other object in
which so much of hope and fear, joy and
sorrow, love and interest is centered. The
two 'so unlike in theirnature; one so bright
and sparkling, full of life and vivacit-y,
whose spirit- it would be as impossible to
suppress as to prevent the little “johnny
jump up” from showing his blue face in
the April rain and sunshine; the other like
the wood violet, modest and retiring, seek-
ing some friendly shade for seclusion and
protection. Truly

“ They are idols of hearts and of households,
They are angels of God in disguise;
His sunlight still sleeps in their tresses,
His glory still gleams in their eyes."

The babe becomes an object of solicitude
from the moment the mother’s arms enfold
him. How best to care for his physical
wants, so the little body shalldevel‘op, what
to do when the 'child shall need mental
training, are continued studies. Locke had.
a theory that the mind of the infant was
like a piece of blank paper; that the parents
were wholly responsible for every charac-
ter traced thereon: but I believe he changed
his theory later in life, and admitted that
traits of character, certain features, pecu—
liarities, etc, were transmissible from
parent to child, thus recognizing the law of
heredity through numberless generations.
Owen Merideih makes it fearfully real
when he says:

"Long ere the child has left the mother‘s knee

The Web ofthe man's character is spun;

hose future paths no liVing eye can see.

Ere life‘s beginnings were—by Fate begun;

And all the living do and all they be,

Proceed from what the dead have been or

Since gaggshath no finality on earth.“

In this age of free thought we can accept
or reject any theory that may be advanced.
I think that God creates the soul, man
makes the character. The child soul is‘'
without character. It is a rudimental
mental existence, spotless, guiltless and in—
nocent. It is the chart of a min yet to be
filled up with the elements of a character.
These elements are first outlined by the
parents, or those who have him in charge.
As the child becomes a youth he assumes the
formation of his own character. Whether
it will be one of beauty and glory, or one of

the influence that has been thrown around
him. There is no one that livelh to him-
self alone. “lnfluence is to a man what
fragrance is to the flower and flavor to fruit.”
It mu- t be either for good or bad. Of course
the first influence the child will h we is
home influence. “ If I wanted to gather up
all tender memories, all lights and shadows
of the heart, all banquetings and reunions,
all filial, fraternal, conjugal afiections, and
had only just four letters to spell out al
the height and depth, and length and
breadth, and magnitude, and eternity of
meaning, I could write it all out with the
four letters of Home.” Home’s not merely
four square walls. It is not merely a place
to eat and sleep in. The dearest associa-
tions should cluster around it, and years
after our feet have wandered away from it,
when we have made homes of our own—~~

 

or it may be we have no home or dear ones

 

-——when Time has silvered the hair and fur-
rowed thebrow, the memory of it will be as
restful and refreshing as is the green oasis
to the thirsty, tired desert traveller. For
there are times when we pass many mile-
stones on the road of life, with a burning
thirst and a hungry gnawing at our heart,
and instead of the love we crave, we receive
“ nothing but hu‘sks.”

There are such a var.iety of homes. Homes
wherelhe strong right arm and protecting
care is gone, and the rearing of the little
ones and management of properly devolves
upon the mother, who sits alone and help-
less, never realizing until now how impor-
tant it is to be fitted for such an emergency.
Homes where wealth has never flung its
plenty, but where a “ contented mind
makes a continual feast.”

“ When the roses are blushing the sweetest
And the vines climb up to the eaves.
When the robins are rocking their birdies.
To sleep ’mong the maple leaves:
The sunshine falls down 'cross the threshold
When the labor of love seems but rest.
Whether rocking the household birdies.
Or keeping the dear home nestz“

There are homes where intemperance has
entered, and the husband from indulging
in an occasional social glass, has become
an habitual druukard, for the path is an easy
one that leads from the one to the other.
The wife feels “ that life indeed is not. the
thing she planned ere hope had lied.” She
and her little ones must bear the stigma
society places upon them; how hard her lot
to train those little minds. with such a
living example before them; hard to keep
the wolf from the door, hard to bear the
abuse and repronrhes heaped upon her.
Homes where filth, dirt and squalor reign
rampant,where disorder and confusion do
away with all quiet, t;ie wife with no secret
longings for something better than she has
known.

" The husband sits in the chimney lug
(u‘rumhling and dozing o‘er pipe and mug."
No newspapers, books or pictures. Life

more than a “ stern reality." Homes

where the demon of neatness conspires
against comfort, and a steady warfare is
waged against dust and dirt, newspapers
are laid over stair carpet so it will not be-
come soiled or worn, windows are darkened
so the sun will not fade the carpets or in-
jure furniture; men are met at the door with
brush broom arid slippers, as boots are not
tolerated indoors; and the madam secretly
prides herself upon her immaculate house-
keeping qualities, little dreaming that she
destroys the harmony of home, and drives
her loved ones away. Still other homes
where the wife feels that she needs a larger
field of labor, that she can be more useful
out in the worl l. Husband and little ones
are left to take care of themselves, and she
enters the lecturing field, raising her voice.
against the evils of the day. Opinion is
about equally divided regarding “ woman’s
mission,” if it be at home, or out in the
world. A field of labor can be found most
anywhere we look for it. If we do our
duty in our own homes, and then find time
lagging on our hands, I believe in giving
the public the benefit. It is not always in
the great things of life that. we can do the
most good, there is always some one near
us whom we can help. “The ladder that

reaches to Heaven is not wooden rungs,
or cold senseless material, but God has

  

a


4:

THE HOUSEHOLD.

 

' made every human being so dependent
on his fellow creatures that" each one is
lifted up by some one above him; some
busy heart that reaches out and feels an-
other’s need; and when it is all over, and
our feet will run no more, and our hands
are helpless, and we have scarcely strength
to murmur a last prayer, then’ we shall see
that instead of needing a,larger field, we
have left untilled [many corners of our
single acre, and that none of it is fit for the
Master’s eye, were~it net fer the softening
shadow of the Cross.”

“ It is not the world-praised wonders,

That are best in our Father’s sight;
Nor the wreaths of fading laurels,

That garnish Fame's dizzy height;

But the pitying love and kindness,
The work of the warm caress,

The beautiful hope and patience
And self-forgetfulness.

The trifle in secret given,
The prayer in the quiet night,
And the little unnoticed nothings
Are good in our Father‘s sight.”

There are also ideal homes, where the
father and mother, mindful that “as they
sow they shall reap,” are trying to have
the harvest golden instead of blackened
and disgraced. The home machinery is
well balanced, all are mutual helpers; the
feeling of sympathy and interest that the
parents show for each other. is manifested
between brother and sister. House plants,
books, pictures, give an air of refinement.
No rooms are shut up because too good to
be 'used, but the children are encouraged to
enjoy everything with careful usage. The
first ed ation youth receives is at home;
this is t foundation of the education they
‘will receive in later years; how important
then that there should be no mistakes

made. '
‘ ( To be Continued.)

——.0.——-
CLEANING NEW KETTLES.

A reader of the HOUSEHOLD asks how to
clean a new kettle. This has been an-
swered, but I will give my way as I think it
an improvement.

To clean a new or rusty kettle, build a
fire of light wood, (out doors) around the
kettle and inside the same; turn often until
the varnish is thoroughly burned off; take
a piece of pork on a fork and grease the
kettle inside and out, burn again, then
wash in soapsuds. This leaves the’ kettle
smooth and nice. If the ladies will try
this I think they will be pleased with the
effect. 1 know this is good for I have
cleaned kettles the same way. If it is too
cold to go out doors, the kettle can be put
in a heating stove, (it must be a wood
stove). A. L. w.

ASPER.
J —.§.§-—-———

COOKING SALT PORK.

I am a farmer’s .wife and see a good
many days when ham or side pork is the
only meat I have to cook, but I change my
mode of cooking it, so we do not get
very tired of it, as we can get fresh meat
two or three times a week. To fry pork I
cut the slices thin and nice, not in chunks,
put in the frying-pan, fill up with Icold
water, let stand on the back of the stove
till it comes to a boil; take out, drain,
- grease the pan, heat it quite hot, roll the
pork in flour, and fry on one side to a nice

 

brown, then turn and brown the other side.
When done have the rest of the meal ready
for the table. Cold fried .pork is good if
out in fine pieces, take of! the rind first,
put is the frying-pan with a little gravy;
when hot stir in quickly half dozen eggs
slightly beaten; send to the table hot and

see if it is not good. ENQUIREB.
Puma. -

A nice way to cook salt pork, is to
freshen, fry nicely, then prepare abatter of
two eggs, a teacupful of buttermilk, a tea-
spoonful of soda, and three tablespoonfuls of
flour; beat thoroughly, then roll each slice
in the batter and fry again. Another way
is to slice and freshen in sweet milk over
night, rinse thoroughly in warm water
and fry, being careful not to let it burn.
This makes it almost like fresh pork, and
much nicer than if freshened in buttermilk.
Corned beef is nice prepared in the same
manner. MILL Mums.

Fonss'r LODGE.

.__.._...___.
QUESTIONS ANSWERED.

‘ Azalia, of Ionia, asks some questions,
which to save space we answer without re-
peating. The desired information about
dahlias and gladioli bulbs is given in Mrs.
Fuller’s letter in this issue. The best
remedy for the tiny white worms which eat
the bark from the roots of house-plants is
lime water,“ a' tablespoonful applied oc-
casionally. The abbreviations used in
crocheting are Oh for chain, Sc for single
crochet, Dc for double crochet. as follows:
Having a stitch on the needle, put the
needle through the work and draw through.
making two on the needle. Take up the
silk again, and draw through both stitches.
Tc or Tr, treble crochet; Ste or Str, short
treble crochet, drawing thread through
three stitches at once; Ltc or Ltr, long
treble crochet, the thread is thrown twice
over the needle before inserting it in the
Work; the stitches are worked off two at a
time. A star or asterisk indicates a repeti-
tion. Tto means thread over twice and is
used in knitting. Directions for crocheted
shoulder capes were given in the HOUSE-
HOLD‘ of Sept. 15th, 1885. If our corres-
pondent has kept her papers she can readily
refer to them.
———.}.____-
KNITTED LACE.

I will send a pattern for narrow lace,
which I think is pretty: Cast on nine
stitches, knit across plain.

lst row—K 3, n, o, n, o, k 1, o, knit 1.

2d row, and every alternate row plain.

3d row—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, n.

9th row—K 4, o, n, o, k 3 together, 0, n.

11th row—K 6, n, o, n.

Repeat from the first.

IONIA.

AZALIA.

___A..____

SPLENDID vinegar is made from sweet
apples, in a shorter time than usual also.
Fill a ten gallon keg half full of the cider
from sweet apples, keep it in a warm
room, with the bung-hole covered with a bit

of muslin to keep dust and insects out.
Three months’ time will turn the cider into
first class cider vinegar, a very different ar-
ticle from the stuif made from fruit parings,
tea-rinsings and other slops. - '

 

HOUSEHOLD HINTS.

A PIECE of zinc placed on the coals of a
hot stove will clean out the stove pipe. The
vapor produced carries off the soot by chem-
ical decomposition.

BENT whalebones can be restored and
used again by simply soaking in water a
few hours, then drying them, taking care
to keep them straight. '

KID shoes may be kept soft and free from
cracks by rubbing them once a week witha
little pure glycerine or castor oil. Only a
little should be used.

To KEEP slop pails, whether painted or
not, from rusting, keep a small piece of
sheet zinc, about two inches square. either
loose, or soldered fast. One who has tried
this a long time vouches for the truth.

ONE of those economies which, smtll in
themselves, yet sum up a respectable total
in the course of the year, is to purchase
hard soap in quantities, and allow it to dry
out before using. Freshly made soap dis-
solves very rapidly, and in the course of
the Monday’s washing a large part of a ,
bar will dissolve and be wasted, often quite
as much as is sufficient to do the washing.
The unnecessary soap, in the suds; reddens
and wrinkles the hands, also.

AN exchange suggests that a worn carpet.
especially a light one which is much soiled,
can receive no better treatment than to be
ripped up and colored. Just now there is a
fashion of having the floor-covering in some
dark color, with but little contrast in color.
A worn ingrain, Brussels, or Wilton carpet
can be colored madder red or the duller 1n-
dia tint, dark green, coffee brown, or wine
color, and the pattern will take a deeper
color than the ground, so it will make quite
a new and handsome covering for the floor.
It is worth trying, where economy must be
considered, as it must be in most farmers’

homes.
——-OOQ-———
Contributed Recipes.

SPONGE CAKE—One scant cup granulated
sugar; one cup flour; one teaspoonful baking
powder; three eggs; a little salt; flavor with
emon.

Lanr’s Cane—One and a half cups‘ gran-
ulated sugar; one cup sweet milk; half cup
butter; two cups flour; whites four eggs;
one and a half teaspoonfuls baking powder.
Flavor with pineapple.

YELLOW CAKE—One cup sugar; half cup
butter; yolks of four eggs; half cup sweet
milk; One and a half cups flour; teaspoonful
vanilla; tn 0 teaspoonfuls baking powder.
Both these recipes are very delicious.

MOLASSES CAKE—One cup Orleans molas-
ses; one teaspoonful saleratus; one teaspoon-
ful ginger; 8. little salt; eight teaspoonfuls hot
water; five tablespoonfuls lard or fried meat
grease; flour fora not very stiff batter. Bake

in two thin sheets. Very nice.
EVANGELINE.
BATTLE CREEK.

 

 

FLOWER SEEDS FOR 1887.

I will send one package of choice pansy seed,
mixed sorts, for 15 cents.
cents each; five for50 cents; 12 for $1. Seeds
from over 100 choice varieties of perennials, .
everlastings, annuals or herbs, six packets for
250; 13 for 500 or 30 for $1. Send stamp for list

MRS. RI. A. FULLER (DILL),
Box 297, Fen'ton. Mich.

 

Dahlias, any color, 12 '