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DETROIT, W N IE: 20, 1887.

 

 

THE HOUSEHOLD-"Supplement.

 

 

H0 W IT WORKED.

 

Amid New England‘s sunny hills
One pleasant summer morn,
A sturdy little Yankee boy
Was hoeing at the corn;
A busy, cheery matron toiled
’Mid culinary scenes,
Resolved the dinner hour should bring
The favorite dish of beans.

A tempting meal was soon displayed,
Spread by the housewife‘s care,
When loud and long the warning blast
Re—echoed through the air.
Obedier t to the dinner-horn
The boy laid down his hoe,
But breezes wafted to his ears
“ My boy, hoe out your row!”

The flies got in the gravy-bowl,
And sported o'er the tray;

The bread got dry, the butter soft,
The farmer worked away.

The coffee boiled, got blue, then cold,
The juicy steak was burned,

While 011 the boy the farmer pressed
The lesson he had learned.

And, while he thus instructs the lad,
The cook begins to scold,
“ [wish that man could ever learn
To come when he is told.”
The moral should be stated here
For those who wield the hoe,
Whene‘er you hear the din ner—horn
Lay down your tools an d go.
——.lIargie E. Sleu‘arf.
—_.w._—
THE LITTLE ONES.

 

“Children are angels; pure white souls
that will never know evil unless it is
taught them. Their minds are white parch-
ment, 011 which you may write what you
Will.”

I am likethe fellow, who, when he heard
universal salvation preached, commented
on the sermon: “Pleasant doctrine! good
preaching! I only wish i: was true.”

My experience with the little ones has
convinced me that Iwas deeply in error
when I believed, asI once did sincerely.)
that if a child was taken in hand early,
and carefully and steadily trained, it was
possible to so fix habits of industry, order
and management, that they would become a

second nature, and would cause no trouble

to the possessor.

I find that careful training is necessary
with the best of children, but there is .a
great difference in the natural traits. A
child by nature industrious, methodical
and docile, can be trained to be almost a
machine in the exercise of such qualities.
One that is devoid of all but docility, can
be trained to a very satisfactory perfor-
mance, but another that adds to these first, a
thoughtless, turbulent or a contradictory,
contrary disposition, will never reflect very

 

great credit on your most patient, persis—
tent etforts. But do not deSpair. Educate,
train patiently; the most unpromising seem
“to take a turn” when unreasoning,
thoughtless childhood gives place to the
more matured mind; when the responsi-
bilities of life are felt, and the necessity
and worth of such virtues make them-
selves apparent. Then the instructions are
remembered and help innnensely to build
the wall of resolution necessary to carry

out such duties; then the enforced habits of'

childhood again show their effect, and
what was done under protest and “ ag dust
the grain,” now falls in harmony with
desire, even if nature is dissatisfied. Many
a life of moral conviction is maintained
only with a persistent and perpetual war
with natural predilections and hereditary
predispositions.

The task of training immortal minds, is
in many cases a thankless one, during the
process, but rich blessings are often held
in store by the future. But, if our best
efforts prove failures, and when we have
trained our children up in “the way they
should go,” they disappoint us, and make
the proverb read, “Train up achild and
away he will go,” while we naturally grieve
over the failure, we are not called upon to
take all the blame upon ourselves.

When one has done the best possible in
the light of the present, if failure, partial
or entire, results, she should take comfort
from :he thought that if after all her pains-
taking labor, failure results, the situation
must h we been much more deplorable
without such influence, or that the nature
was one so nnhappily constituted that pre-
cept and example were alike powerless for
good. As there are some soils so sterile,
arid and unreclaimable that all cultivation
is lost, there are some mortals apparently
lost to teaching or example. But do not
blame them too severely, nor harrow your
own conscience with unmerited reproach.
Pity them, as the possessors of a nature so
unresponsive to good, but for the posses-
sion of which they are wholly irresponsible,
and for the result of which they will be
judged with unbounded, unlimited mercy,
or justice could not be satisfied.

Parents are more to blame, if blame it
may be called, for transmitting their own
faults of character, than for the failure in
educating such faults from their natures. I
heard a lady once say, “I consider myself
responsible for the souls of my children.”
No such dread responsibility ever was
placed on my heart or conscience.

Plant good seed in advice, water and cul-
ivate it by good example, and leave the re-

 

sult with One who will overrule all things

according to his good will and pleasure.
INGLESIDE. A. L. L..
-—¢o.—-————

THE SUMMER PARLOR.

 

A pretty fashion is just coming into vogue
here, by which the homes of those who are
not able to visit mountains or seashore, but
must summer in town, are made very charm—
ing in appearance and delightfully cool-look-'
ing for the hot weather, at a comparatively
low cost. It has long been the custom of
those who are fortunate enough to own cotv
tages at any of our popular country resorts
to furnish them in a light and airy manner,
with straw mattings for the floors, rattan
or cretonne-covered furniture, and cheap
but dainty, white window draperies. This
idea' 15 transfetred to the city home, and the
effect is almost like having a new house.
The heavy brussels or ingrain carpets are
taken up, beaten, sprinkled with campnmr
or tobacco, packed in paper-lined boxes and
sealed by pasting paper over the cracks to
keep out moths. The light straw matings
are then laid over the floors, and rugs—the
inexpensive Smyrna being often chosen—
are scattered about to relieve the bare look.
Willow and rattan rockers, betlecked with
ribbons, replace as far as possible the heavy
upholstered furniture in winter use, or. it
any of these are retained, they are covevfif
with cretonne in delicate tints. The 0118.21}
est and thinnest goods are selected for wlta~
(low draperies, even to cheese—cloth at 9r
cents a yard; or the pretty lace curtains 1:; 7
so cheap are employed. Everything is 111:3:-
as light and airy as possible; the grate 1;.,-;.
be filled with brakes from the woods—4 >9. 3/
a load of them go through the streets TM"
other day, no doubt for some such purpose;
and flowers are lavishly used.

There are a couple of young matrons ' '
Cass Avenue who have tints metam‘rphnst _!
their winter parlors into summer ones, and
who are fairly enthusiastic over the remit,
and not disposed to overlook the fact that
they have reduced the fear of moths to :2 [l
and the labor of caring for the rooms to a
minimum. The matting requires the dust
to be wiped from it with a cloth dipped ill
salt and water, and the willow chairs are-
“just no care at all.”

Some of these low, roomy f arm houses,
whose apartments are inclined to be gloomy
and a trifle “stuffy” in summer, might be-
thus transformed at no alarming cost. The
mattings are three feet wide, cost about
80 cents per yard and would last several
summers, when the best parts could be uti-
lized for covering balls or bedrooms, for
either of which purposes they are excellent.

 


 

2 THE HOUSEHOLD.

 

 

Some of the girls who anticipate entertain-
ing their friends at their homes this sum-
mer and are groaning in spirit over the ugly
ingrain of a past era, may be glad to know
how easily they can furnish a cosy, artistic
and home-like “ summer parlor.”

BEATRIX.

HOME GOVERNMENT.

 

“Mamma, will you be sure to cover my
ball to-night?” pleads the little busybody,
“I have waited two days now and I need it
bad.” Could a fond mother say nay to such
an important question? Certainly not, so
after the other little wants had been sup-
plied-and the last young head was in the
land of dreams, the pleasure of covering the
ball began, for as she sits and thinks of the
many trials and temptations her children
will meet when they are away from her
care and protection, the many little duties
she does for them become real pleasures,
and she wishes she could always have them
where she could minister to their wants.
What a few short years we have to hold
the little ones in our protection and care,
before the young wings flutter to leate the
home nest and try their fortune for them-
selves! How a mother's heart yearns for
' her children’s welfare; how she watches
each leaf of knowledge and progression un-
folding in their minds; how she mourns
over each misstep and rejoices over each
action that brings credit and honor to them!
Kindness to our children is like bread upon
the waters. it will return many fold. Love
begets love, and a child that is treated with
love and respect at home is almost sure to
return our affection and will not be in a
hurry to leave home; while those who are
induced to do their duty just from fear of
stern and unloving parents, will in most
cases go in search of more congenial homes
at an early age; and being ignorant of the
instructions and training that loving
parents bestow, will probably yield
to the evil influences thrown around
them and become worthless. It seems
as if there should be a way to prevent
pe)ple, who have not enough love for
their children to treat them honorably, from
bringing them up under their own govern-
ment. Better give them to some one who
could treat them kindly and teach them to
be useful in the world through love of doing
right instead of fear of authority. There is
occasionally a heartless mother, but more
frequently the father is devoid of proper
feeling for his children; sometimes I think
it is want of care and thought. The father
in fulfilling themany duties required to get
something ahead for a rainy day, forgets
that something more than victuals and
drink is required to satisfy a child’s wants.
It is natural for a child to love something
or somebody, and what more fitting for its
first affections than its parents?

I heard a woman say the other day that
she could not remember one single loving
word or caress or even word of praise from
her father, nothing but htrsh words and
commands which had to be obeyed promptly.
If she got any pleasure at home or abroad it
was her mother who planned it for her.
Her common clothes were seemingly be-

grudged her, and any extra dress or hit of-

finery came from the mother, who would go

 

in need of good clothes herself in order to
have her children appear respectable. What
a different feeling that woman must have
for her parents when she c impares their
treatment of her! Not one half of us real-
ize the responsibility resting on us in caring
for our children properly; and no one rule
is so imp tr ant as keeping the home happy.
Let love and kindness reign supreme, and
when the child does wrong—as th‘y all will
sometimes—let earnest loving words be the
weapons to bring him back to the paths of
rectitude.

Do not over-indulge them, as that is quite
as bad as being harsh; have their duties as-
signed them and see that they do their
allotted work well, but after the cares of
the day are over and the boys wish recrea-
tion then is the time to call into action your
powers to make home happy and thus pro-
duce a magnet to draw them from worse
places. Their minds and bodies perhaps
are not trained or developed enough to sit in
a corner quietly and talk about the crops or
thl latest soothing syrup. What they want
is fun, and somebody to help make it.
Throw open the musical instrument, let
them sing and sing with them, no difference
if your voice is getting squeaky; a little of
the comical mixed with the harmony will
not matter. An interesting book read
aloud. a game of some kind, or cheerful and
instructive talk, all tend to pass the even-
ing until it is too late for them to wander.
I have been thinking to-night while fixing
my boy’s ball, what a lonesome home it
will be if they leave us when grown up.
How I will miss the many little duties I am
now called on to perform for them. but I
hope 1 can look back and think that 1 have

treated them as I ought.

C. B. R.
VICKSBURG.

—...____
VERY ' QUEER LAWS.

It strikes me that the Legislature at Lan-
sing has this year indulged in some “funny
business;” at least it so appears to a feeble
feminine intellect like mine, unaccustomed
to deal with questions of public policy.
Some of the new laws which “ The People
of the State of Michigan do enact” are
fearfully and wonderfully made, considered
in their relation to each other. For instance,
a girl may consent to her own ruin at the
age of fourteen, and the man who ruins her
may evade the consequences of his deed by
pleading her consent, thus making her out
a prostitute at an age when most girls hardly
know the meaning of the word. But if she
wishes to enter the honorable state of mar-
riage, she may not do so till she is eighteen
years old, and then only with the sanction
of parents or guardian, and of the State,
also, since the county clerk must be called
upon to furnish a license. If a young man
ruins a girl under eighteen, and is moved
by remorse to make her the only rep rration
in his power by giving her his name, he may
not do so till she has reached the legal age!
I am no friend to “baby marriages,” and
believe the necessity of obtaining a lizense
through proper channels calculated to at
least cause more reflection upon the matter
than if the young couple had but to seek a
justice willing to unite them without ques-
tions for the sake of the fee. But there is

 

a glaring inconsistency in pronouncing a
girl unfit to marry till she is a certain age,
and allowing her to legally consent to her
own ruin four years before she is legally
competent to say whom she will marry.

BE iTRIX.

FROM A NEW CONTRIBUTOR.

 

I have never written for the HOUSEHOLD
before, but have read it with pleasure and
profit, sometimes wishing I could have a
word in some of the interesting discussions
which from time to time have been carried
on in its columns, but always prevented by
many cares and labors; for I am, like
Martha, “cumbered with much serving,”
as most mothers with large families must be.

Like Mac. I love neatness, both in dress
and surroundings, but have long since
found that it is impossible to be always so,
or to expect it of others. Is dainty damask
table linen quite appropriate for a table at
which men from the harvest field are to sit?
Would not common coarse cloths be better
suited to the occasion? Doubtless men
might be more careful than they are some-
times, but is not Mae expecting too
much of those who are literally earning
their bread by the sweat, not only of the
brow, but of the whole body? If Mae had
grown up in a new country, had seen the

learing of the land. the burning, the
gathering up of brands and burning again,
had seen the men with faces, hands and
arms the color of a negro’s, and the black
on the table cloth where they had sat, she
might have thought that something to com-
plain of. Yet the women of that day did
not complain much; they knew the necessi-
ty of the work, and the impossibility of
avoiding the grime. I write of what I have
Ingself experi-nced; in my younger days I
was familiar with these things. Though
my father was very poor, and we knew
nothing of luxuries and elegancies, yet my
mother was as daintily neat as any woman
I ever saw, and taught the children to be
careful and neat also, and as far as possible
made things pretty and bright around her.
She whitewashed the rough walls, hung
white curtains at the windows and before
the beds, and always had flowers in her yard,
and vines to shade the house, yet she was
nevera complainer at any unavoidable un-
tidiness or discomfort. It was a free life
that we lived, and not unpleasant for the
children, but was'harder for the older ones;
and I am glad that many of them have lived
to see better times, and enjoy the fruits of
their labors.

I was much interested in Beatrix’s “ In
the Sshoolroom,” think her idea of a
calisthenic drill a most excellent one, and
wish it could be carried out in every
country school, but am afraid that many of
the teachers would hardly know how to do
it. I also quite agree with her that it is not
all of a teacher’s proper work to fill the
little heads with “book learning.” If
their powers of observation could be culti-
vated more, it womd be very much better.
In the matter of personal neatness too, I
know that teachers may have great in-
fluence. 1 think, however, that Beatrix is
somewhat mistaken in her general idea of
country schools, and unjust in her remark
that the lowest bidder usually takes the

 


 

THE HOUSEHOLD. 3

 

 

situition. 1 know that in many instances,
probably in most, the greater price is will—
ingly paid to secure the better teacher. She
must have formed her opinion from the
way school matters were managed when
the country was quite new, and the poverty
of the people, who were struggling to make
homes for themselves and their children,
made poor teachers and small wages a
necessity, just as were poor clothes and
coarse food. In those days an occasional
“old teacher” might be found, who had
'the “ good common school education ” of
the day, but in most cases the schools were
"taught by young persons, who, being a little
brighter and quicker than their fellows, had
«outstripped them in the studies, and were
secured for a small stipend, to impart this
superior knowledge. Some parents taught
and trained their own children in the com‘
mon branches, and fortunate were those
children whose parents had the education—
and the willingness to do so. But we must
not blame our fathers; they builded as well
as they could with the material at hand.
Perhaps, indeed, they “builded better than
they knew,” for many of their sons and
daughters are the fathers and mothers of
'the present, and like Enoch Arden, are
filled withanoble ambition to give their
children a “better bringing up than theirs
has been;" or rather, abetter education. To
than belongs the credit. to a great extent,
of the uniform excellence of our common
schools. The teachers are generally pretty
well paid and well educated, many of them
much interested in their work, taking pains
and trying to impart, not only a knowledge
of DOUKS, but much general information,
and to teach their pupils the art of gaining
knowledge by their own interest and ob-
serv ttlon. '

In the matter of books too, Beatrix must
not imagine that all country fathers use the
weed. nor that they all grumble when a
new brmk is asked for. Indeed, I think that
most of the children are supplied with at
least a moderately liberal hand, as liberal as
the father’s means will admit. The
grumbling is more likely to be at their care-
lessness in using and wearing out books,
They do not prize them and take care of
them as their parents did the few that fell
to the lot of their school days. And are
there not twO sides to this question
also? Will one who does not, by nature,
love books, think any more of them for
having a very liberal supply? Will he not
rather prize them the less because they come
so treely? The mere interest of novelty is
but an evanescent one. And on the other
hand. the true lover of books, while he will
of oourse be glad of anew one, will not
lose his affection for the old, but will read
over and over the really excellent selections,
perceiving more plainly each time the
beauty and wisdom of the thoughts pre-
sented, and thus his memory will be
strengnhened and all his life influenced for
g0od. It is very probable however, that
there is a wise medium in this, as in most
other things; the supply should be neither
too liberal nor too scanty; and there may be
some whose intellects, naturally rather
sluggish, might be stimulated into a
healthy activity, if their brain food he
spiced with a judicious variety.

 

The subject of schools and teaching is a
very interesting one, especially to parents,
and one can scarcely find a stopping place,
when once launched on it, but this article
is already very long and 1 will close.

WILLIAMSTON.‘ GRISELD A.

____...*—.———

WHAT CAN I DO?

 

[Paper read by Mrs. R. D Palmer, of Brooklyn,
before the Norvell Farmers‘ Club at the meet-
ing at Fair-view. the home of L. D. Watkins,
of Manchester.]

It is necessary sometimes that we do a
little personal work. This question ought
not to be answered in too great haste. We
might at first be inclined tothinknot much.
In some places it is good to see our own
littleness, and in others it is best to make
all there is of us count. How many of us
count one every time? Not long ago I read
this brief paragraph in the Chautauquan, by
T. H. Huxley, in which he says: “I am
only one; but still I am one. I can not do
everything; but still I can do something,
and because I cannot do everything, I wil1
not refuse to do that something that I can
do.” How true, and yet how few look at
it in that light 1

Resolve to do what you can, and the first
step of advancement is already taken. To
begin with self is giving society an eloquent
lesson of advancement, and if more would
ask themselves this question and find their
proper place and fill it, how wise, happy
and prosperous as a whole would society
become! For society, being made up of
units, will be prosperous and lnppy, or the
reverse, in the same degree as the respective
individuals who cimpose it. If you Want
any permanent position, show by your
works that you are capable of filling that
position; but if you wish to be little and
unknown, hide yourselves behind your in-
feriority and the world will let you alone.
If you are by naturetimid, all the more
necessary that you should be placed in a
position where you will overcome that timid-
ity and become self— possessed; such persons
make some of our best workers. If one
thinks what they say or do is about right,
they are apt to over-estimate their talent,
and make them selves disagreeable to others,
and perhaps come before the public unpre-
pared, and not do as well as another with
inferior talents. We cannot all do the
same thing. with the same case and perfec-
tion, but when we are able to see wherein
we are deficient, you who have not tried it
will be surprised to find how practice will
make perfect.

We are quite apt to want what we have
not, while not many are pleased with their
present attainments or occupation. For in-

stance, take one who has no voice to sing, .

how apt they are to say, “If I had your
voice I would not wait to be urged to sing.”
Or if they possessed a talent for art, they
would not work at farm labor; not thinking
that this discontent unfits them for any
position. That is why the farmer’s bov
wishes to be a merchant. and the merchant
becomes tired of his business and buys a
farm, when he is not fit for a farmer, and
he does not find it out until he has made
some terrible blunders. Some ought to ask
in connection with “What can I do?”
“What ought I to do?”

One very important thing is to try and

 

take good care of self; to do so one must
have sound ideas on the principles of self-
preservation, such as suitable food, properly
cooked, well ventilated rooms, and enough
exercise to fulfill nature’s requirements. It
is rare indeed to meet with an instance of
overwork, then let us work with a will
and think of our work as play. I was read-
ing, not long ago, of a young man living in
one of the cities of the southwest, who is
doing a large, thriving and exacting busi-
nes, and who nevertheless finds time to be
secretary of the State Sunday School Asso-
ciation, secretary of his district Sunday
School Association, secretary of the Y. M.
C. A. of his city, superintendent of an after-
noon mission Sunday school, teacher of a
Bible class in his church school, and the
conductor of a twilight prayer meeting on
Sunday for boys, and yet did not neglect
his business. That shows what one earnest
worker can do if he tries.

We know there are some who have not
the disposition to try, for fear they will
break down physically. I know we are
wonderfully delicate machines, and yet we
are different from all other machines, for
we have power of ourselves to keep the
machinery in good order; but for some rea-
Son many of us have failed to do so. It
must be that some hidden the is doing its
work; and as we Cannot recall the past, our
first work should be to try and find that
hidden foe. One of the greatest essentials
of a healthy life is to live in an atmosphere
containing its fu lproportion of oxygen, and
plenty of sunlight to give active life. Then
let us see if our rooms are sufiiciently ven-
tilated. It has been estimated that each
full grown person will breath in one gallon
of air every minute, and that which he
throws out is one-fifth carbonic acid gas,
which forms a poisonous vapor. N ow how
long will it take for th’s company to con-
sume all the oxygen in this room if there is
not good ventilation? Some houses are well
ventilated while others are not. I will give
youa method of ventilation that is very
simple, and I like it. It is called Mr. Bird’s
costless system of ventilation. I guess
there is no patent on it, because it is called
costless. It is simply this: Raise the lower
sash of the window two or three inches, and
fill the opening underneath with a piece of
wood fitted for that purpose; this leaves a
corresponding space between the meet~
ing rails in the middle of the window.
through which a current of air enters, and
is directed towards the ceiling, the inner
sash being higher than the other. Now
we have a good ventilator that any house-
keeper may have, and there will be no ex-
cuse for breathing impure air.

We ought to be ready to do good to those
around us if we have good machines or
bodies to work with, for perfect health
brings peace, love and happiness, and one
who is possessed of all these, cannot help
but be a blessing to those with whom she
associates. If we cannot do the work, we
can hold the light; we can be pure gold
every time, and we can make sunshine in
the feelings of others, which is a great
blessing in this life. Live above the petty
cares of this life, and keep them well under
your feet. One brave, cheerful person by
her example can rouse the despairing, and

 


 

4 THE HOUSEHOLD.

 

in time of trouble can show a noble quality
of courage, patience and cheerfulness, ex-
emplifying the .power and value of the
Christian’s trust in time of darkness and

danger.
——-«.—_

STRAWBERRIES.

 

Strawberries and all sorts of green veg-
etables, commonly called garden sauce,
and a most wholesome and toothsome sauce
it is too—when gathered from one’s own
“one acre”—but not so much so I find
when gathered from the grocer’s stands,
where it is kept fresh (‘9) by ways and
means that are to the outside world a
mystery—have been in market here since
the middle of March. But it has taken al-
most their weight in silver—quite so in
copper—to supply one’s table with them.
Strawberries came in at 25 cents per quart,
dropped to 20 cents and remained there
till last week, when they came down to 18
cents, but this week the home crop is com-
ingin, and—but I’m going to tell you: I
said to a friend yesterday, “I cannot pay
such a price for strawberries any longer,
and strawberries I must have. Fourteen
cents yesterday—a city quart—and many
poor ones at that.”

“Well,” said she, “I’ve been thinking
the same, and to-morrow morning we will
go out to a strawberry farm that I know of,
and see what can be done.” So it was all
arranged, and this morning. at eight o’clock
we were there. By the way, this is one of
those perfect days in June, when Lowell
says Nature lays her ear against the earth
and tries if it be in tune. Surely all is
melodious, smooth, sweet and tuneful, and
it was simply delightful out there amongst
the well kept fruitful vines and trees, the
shrubs and growing gardens, where not one
weed could Ifind, everything was so abso-
lutely clean, fruity and fruitful. . Oh what
an abundance of all the good things that
grow out of the earth there would be, if only
every one who owns land would cultivate it
in that way! Why the very land itself
revels and rejoices in its own sweet whole-
someness, its freedom from all that can
offend, its fullness of all that enriches and
makes glad the physical man; and acting
thus through the agency of physical upon
the higher Spiritual nature, making better
men and better women, for 1 am a firm be-
liever in the theory that a man well fed isa
man half saved.

But to my story: We found there a
couple of old people who were the owners
and directors, and their help, who were out
picking berries. We made our errand
known, and said the 01d gentleman, “Had
you been here last evening you could have
had a bushel of berries gathered yesterday
day morning, at six cents per quart.” Fancy
our feelings, and we could not get one of
those same berries from any grocer to-day
short of the rate of ten or twelve and a half
cents per quart! I said I would take two
quarts this morning, my friend said she
would take three pints. N o “ city quarts”
there, for when I got home I had a plump
two and a half quarts, costing me only
twelve cents, and my friend had a like pro-
portion for nine cents. And as it is but a
little way out there, I shall visit or send to
the strawberry farm every day, as long as

 

the season lasts. Oh, but are theynot de-
li-ci—ous? Another year I hope to have of
my own raising. The old gentleman said
this morning. “There is money in straw-
berries at five cents per quart; I could raise
them and make a good profit at that. I
have already with what few I have sold
this season, made moremoney off that piece
of land than I could have realized from any
other crop with like labor and expense of
raising.”

Have any of the HOUSEHOLD ever canned
strawberries without sugar? If so, with
what success? All the canned strawberries
that I have ever attempted to eat were
simply canned preérves, and I always have
to give up beaten, and leave uneaten the
fruit which but for the destruction of its
flavor and wholesomeness by so much sugar,
I should eat with the keenest relish. They
all tell me “ Oh they won’t keep without
they are put up so.” But I’m going to try
my hand at putting them up “straight.”

FLINT. E. L. NYE.

HOUSEHOLD HINTS.

 

A LADY says that brown duck makes one
of the nicest summer carpets imaginable
for a dining-room, if a bright crumb cloth is

'spread under the table. The same lady

recommends it as an excellent material for
camping-out suits for children.

 

THE Southern Cultivator wisely says:
“Don’t from year to year store away
things in the hope of using them some-
time, or ‘once in seven years,’ accord-
ing to the old saying, but give them away
where they will do good and be of service
to some needy and deserving person. Give
away the old shoes, clothes, books and
newspapers; the latter will gladden the in-
valid’s heart and make the children’s eyes
glisten with delight.

 

AVERY nice vinegar is made from honey,
in the following fashion. Take a barrel or
cask, lay it on its side in a place out of
doors where the sun will strike it, bore an
inch hole in the upper part of each stave,
and over this nail a piece of tin finely per-
forated, rough edges outward, to admit air
and keep out insects. To a gallon of water
allow a pound of honey, thoroughly mixed,
It will take from the first of April to the
last of October to make vinegar, but when
made it is “splendid.”

 

CATHERINE OWEN says the rule for roast-
ing meat is a very hot oven. No roast meat
can be what it should be, that is, dark as
mahogany outside and pink inside it beef;
a fine yellow brown if poultry, veal or lamb,
and white when cut, unless putinto a hot
oven at first. To put meat into an oven and
let them get hot together will result in
making the meat tough, and in summer it
will have a. close, unpleasant taste; the
gravy will be gray and broth-like instead of
rich and brown.

 

PLUMS and prunes are dried by commer-
cial fruit growers in the following fashion,
which we should think might be copied on
a small scale by the housekeeper who is
fortunate enough to have more luscious pur-
ple damsons or green gages than she can
preserve, can or spice. The process is as

 

follows: Add one-fourth pound of concen»

trated lye to five gallons of boiling water.
Dip the plums, perfectly sound, ripe fruit,
into this and let remain fifteen or twenty
seconds.
the purpose. The object 'is to cut or scald
the skin. Then rinse the plums in clear
cold water, which should be renewed if you
have any quantity of plums to prepare. Dry
them in an evaporator, subjecting them to
considerable heat at first, and gradually
diminish till they are dry enough. The
fruit should not be dry as a chip, but soft
and pliable. Keep them exposed to the air
for a few days to cure, and when stewed
they will be found to be a superior article.
._...__...___

WE will be glad to receive from our ex- »

perienced housekeepers any recipes which
they may have tested and found excellent,
especially those which be appropriate to

the coming fruit and vegetable season, also ~

directions for preparing sauces and relishes,
pickles, etc. Any of our readers who have
canned vegetables with success are es-
pecially requested to give the method em-
ployed, in detail. Also, if any one has dried

Lima beans, and succeeded in cooking-

them so as to be worth the trial, we would
like to know “ all about it.”
..__......_.__

MAKE arrangements to can all the sur-
plus fruit .possible. Fruit is one of the
most healthful articles of diet; it saves
doctors’ bill and is much more palatable
than medicine. Use it liberally, both fresh

and canned, and keep the children healthy. .

-———«o——-——-—
Contributed Recipes.

COFFEE JELLY.—One box Cox’s gelatine,
dissolved in a little boiling water; one quart
strong coffee, sweetened to taste: add the
dissolved gelatine to the hot coffee, stir well,
and turn into a mould—a circular mould
with a tube in the center is the best; the
mould must be rinsed with cold water before
using. Set it in a cool place, or on ice. When
stiflf turn out 'on adish and fill the center with
whipped cream, heaped up a little.

LEMON PUDDING.—Yolks of six eggs; one
cup sugar; half cup water; yellow rind and
juice of two lemons; moisten in warm water
six crackers, or slices of stale cake; lay in the
bottom of a buttered baking-dish, pour the
custard over them and bake until stiff. Beat
the whites of the eggs to a stiff froth;
add six tablespoonfuls of sugar: frost
the pudding: returnit to the oven and brown
slightly. Eat either hot or cold.

PINEAPPLE PUDDING.—Butter a pudding
dish, and line the bottom and sides with slices
of stale sponge cake: pare and slice thin a
large pineapple, place in the dish, first a layer
of pineapple, then sugar, alternating until all
is used; pour over a small cup of water, and
cover with slices of the cake, previously dip-
ping in water to soften: cover with a buttered
plate and bake slowly two hours. Serve with
powdered sugar and sweet cream.

Puss PUDDING.—Stir one pint of flour, two
teaspoonfuls baking powder, intosmilk until
very soft. Place in a steamer well-greased
cups, put in each a spoonful of batter; then
fill the cups 8. little over half full of straw-
berries, then a spoonful of batter; steam
twenty minutes. Make a sauce of one cup

sugar; half cup butter; two eggs: beat thor-
oughly and stir into one cup boiling milk.

When it thickens add a cofleecup of mashed _

strawberries. EVANGELINE.

BATTLE CREEK.

A perforated dipper is best for'