Motherly Talks With Young Housekeepers - free ebook by H. W. Beecher

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Motherly Talks With Young Housekeepers

H. W. Beecher

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MOTHERLY TALKS WITH YOUNG HOUSEKEEPERS:

MOTHERLY TALKS WITH YOUNG HOUSEKEEPERS:

EMBRACING EIGHTY-SEVEN BRIEF ARTICLES ON TOPICS OF HOME INTEREST, AND ABOUT FIVE HUNDRED CHOICE RECEIPTS FOR COOKING, ETC. BY MRS. H. W. BEECHER. NEW YORK: J. B. FORD AND COMPANY. 1873. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1873, BY J. B. FORD &amp; CO., in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. University Press: Welch, Bigelow, &amp; Co., Cambridge....

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PUBLISHERS’ PREFACE.

PUBLISHERS’ PREFACE.

T HIS book, composed of brief and pithy articles, on almost every conceivable point of household duty, is a friendly monitor for young wives, and a mine of good sense and information for growing maidens. Originally published in the Household Department of “The Christian Union,” the articles have been so frequently called for and inquired after by those who had found help in them, that the author yielded to the desires of others, and has gathered them into this little volume. Mrs. Beecher’s notio

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INTRODUCTION.

INTRODUCTION.

F OR the last two years we have occupied a corner in “The Christian Union” with the following brief articles, and from week to week endeavored to bring to its readers something useful and practical. We have reviewed the daily labors indispensable to all classes of homes, giving whatever suggestions or criticisms seemed to us most needed or desirable, not only as regards the manual labor of a household, but also the actions, motives, and principles which build up and secure the happiness of a fam

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I. SYSTEM IN WORK.

I. SYSTEM IN WORK.

“I HAVE been hard at work all day,” we think we hear some say; “up stairs and down, from the cellar to the attic, looking into every nook and corner, and ‘putting things to rights’ generally. O dear! I wonder what next those grim old housekeepers would expect me to take hold of. I have everything in good running order, as far as I can see, and now how I would like to take a book and curl up somewhere, out of sight and hearing, and have one of the old-fashioned good times I used to have before I

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II. MARCH.

II. MARCH.

T HE morning sun shines brightly, the air is mild and balmy; you go about your early cares with a cheerful spirit; and, after seeing that the “pickings up,” the brushing and dusting, which are a daily necessity, are faithfully performed, you sit down to your sewing, your books, or your writing in a satisfied and comfortable state of mind. But in a few hours the sky grows dark; grim and threatening clouds obscure the sun; the wind sweeps round the house with long, wailing moans, or short, fierce

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III. SPRING LABOR.

III. SPRING LABOR.

M OTHS.—The first few days of April are too near kin to March to warrant any decided steps toward the regular spring house-cleaning; but it is quite time now that special attention be paid to moths and their characteristic destructiveness. In furnace-heated houses, moths are occasionally found in mid-winter; but they are only the advance guard of the main army, and do little harm, save by the annoying reminder of what one has cause to fear in spring. In April they will begin to show themselves v

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IV. SUNSHINE AND FRESH AIR.

IV. SUNSHINE AND FRESH AIR.

F EW realize how dependent we are on sunshine and fresh air for good health and pleasant, cheerful homes. When shown into a dark and dismal parlor,—blinds all closed and heavy curtains dropped to exclude light,—and creeping forward in search of a seat, fearing, each step, to stumble over a chair or upset a table loaded with small wares on exhibition, we always feel suffocated, as if in a vault among dead men’s bones. And when the servant, after calling her mistress, returns and opens the shutter

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V. HOUSE-CLEANING.

V. HOUSE-CLEANING.

“L AST year I thought house-cleaning would be ‘real fun.’ I had never before taken the entire charge of such extensive operations, and thought, in my simplicity, that I would show the old ladies how a smart young housekeeper would walk through the fiery furnace, with not even the smell of fire upon her garments. But I little dreamed what I had undertaken. I found out, however, before the ‘fun’ was ended, to my entire satisfaction, and now, in this my second year of housekeeping, look forward to

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VI. WASHING-DAY.

VI. WASHING-DAY.

“I F it were not for the washing, housekeeping would lose half its terror. But I rise every Monday morning in a troubled and unhappy state of mind, for it is washing-day ! The breakfast will surely be a failure, coffee muddy, meat or hash uncooked or burnt to a coal, everything untidy on the table, and the servants on the verge of rebellion. With a meek and subdued countenance, with fear and trembling, lest some unlucky word of mine may infringe upon their dignity and cause them to leave before

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VII. PUTTING CLOTHES TO SOAK.

VII. PUTTING CLOTHES TO SOAK.

“A YOUNG housekeeper” is troubled at the idea of “putting clothes to soak” overnight. She is sure it must take two or three hours to do it, and asks, “How is one to do this, who lives in the country, where the ‘modern improvements’ of hot water and cold and stationary tubs are not found, except in the houses of wealthy families; but where all the water must be pumped or drawn by hand, and carried to the tubs by one who has all the work to do for husband and family, and perhaps keeps a few boarde

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VIII. PATIENT CONTINUANCE IN WELL-DOING.

VIII. PATIENT CONTINUANCE IN WELL-DOING.

A FTER one of those days of perplexity and annoyance that will occasionally come to all housekeepers, old or young, order having at last been restored, and peace beginning to dawn out of the confusion, we took up the pen to begin our weekly talk with young friends. But pausing for a moment’s rest and deliberation, our thoughts took form and life, and led us into an imaginary conversation with a young housekeeper, passing though the same trials we had just been battling with. We think we cannot d

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IX. PREPARING FOR THE COUNTRY.

IX. PREPARING FOR THE COUNTRY.

J UNE, the month of roses, is near, and all who are compelled to live a large part of the year in the city are looking forward to some weeks of rest from ever-ringing bells, interminable flights of stairs, and all the wear and tear that belong peculiarly to a city life. But there is much to be done before you can safely close the doors and leave the house and its content under lock and key, for the summer. Every part of the house should be thoroughly examined, and none but the eye of the mistres

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X. HEEDLESSNESS.

X. HEEDLESSNESS.

T HERE are many annoyances that fall to a housekeeper’s lot which seem very insignificant when spoken of, and too trivial to put on paper; but they are grievances nevertheless, and like a wasp’s or bee’s sting, though small, not easily borne; and when they follow each other in quick succession, and are constantly repeated, the accumulation, like a whole swarm of bees, will tax the grace and patience of the strongest. It is the little frets of daily life that, when summed up, become almost unendu

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XI. WASHING FLANNELS.

XI. WASHING FLANNELS.

“C AN you tell me what has been done to my blankets? Not a year in use, and look at them! Fortunately I put but two into the wash this week, and now I think I shall never dare to have another washed. My pretty, soft, white blankets absolutely ruined!” Not ruined, as far as use is concerned, but the beauty has departed, never to return. Did you overlook the washing of them yourself? “Most certainly not! I never did such a thing in my life. I told the laundress that I wanted her to be very particu

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XII. JUNE CARES.

XII. JUNE CARES.

T HERE is much of romance and beauty in the month of June, partly imaginary and partly real. During the frosts and snows of winter, the sharp winds and dreary storms of spring, our thoughts turn with most affectionate longings towards June,—the month of loves and roses. Yet, when she comes, hardly any other month of the whole year brings so many little frets and annoyances as the month of June. The first two or three days, so warm and balmy, lull us into a dreamy state of delightful rest and sec

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XIII. PURE AIR AND THOROUGH VENTILATION.

XIII. PURE AIR AND THOROUGH VENTILATION.

A T all seasons of the year it is important that the house should be kept dry and well ventilated; but extra precautions are necessary in warm weather. The nights are often close and sultry; windows are left open with the hope—often a vain one—that an occasional breeze may deign to sweep through the rooms, and assist us in the labor of breathing. And here is danger. The night air, what there may be of it, and the heavy morning fogs, fill the house with dampness. The bedclothes are moist and disa

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XIV. MILK AND BUTTER.

XIV. MILK AND BUTTER.

J ULY and August are trying months for those who have charge of milk and butter, unless the work to be done is performed in large establishments devoted entirely to it. When a milk-house is built under large trees, to shield it from the fierce heat of the mid-day sun, with a stream of pure cold water running through it, the labor is diminished full one half. Indeed, we should not call it labor, but an exhilarating amusement to take charge of such an one as we saw, a few weeks ago, in Norwich, Ch

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XV. MAKING CHEESE.

XV. MAKING CHEESE.

F IRST, a dry, airy, thoroughly ventilated room must be provided, of even and moderate temperature. It should be used for a cheese-room only, and access denied, if possible, to all but the operator. It is useless to attempt the work if flies cannot be excluded; and, when open to all, that is impossible. The windows should be kept open in fair weather, but blinds always closed, to avoid currents of air, except to admit what light is needed while the work is being done. Frames covered with wire or

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XVI. A TROUBLESOME QUESTION.

XVI. A TROUBLESOME QUESTION.

“O NE of the most urgent of the unsolved, irrepressible questions of the times,” says the “Household,” a most excellent Vermont paper, “relates to the trials which modern housewives experience in their efforts to manage their households satisfactorily, and still have time for needful rest and social culture. As yet the problem remains a puzzle alike to the housewife and to the philanthropist. Labor-saving machines, which promised so much relief, practically fail to lighten materially the houseke

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XVII. WOMAN’S KINGDOM.

XVII. WOMAN’S KINGDOM.

“I SEE unrest, discontent, strife, and sin: I see girls—children in years—from whose cheek the first blush of innocence, from whose soul the last vestige of youth, have vanished; women sold to frivolity; women wasting most precious gifts; women whose ambition has no higher object than to mislead and triumph over men; men growing hard, selfish, and wicked, the slaves of their passions, going down to death, with no hand to save,—all for the lack of a true home . Then I remember that the home is th

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XVIII. THE KITCHEN.

XVIII. THE KITCHEN.

U NFORTUNATELY, many ladies have not health or strength sufficient to take such supervision as will secure a neat and well-arranged kitchen; and, still more unfortunately, there are many, and we fear the number is increasing, who have such repugnance to any care save the genteel arrangement of their parlors, or the fashionable adornment of their persons, that they shun their kitchens as they would the plague. They will give occasional directions for some fancy dish, or the more elaborate details

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XIX. HOW MUCH IS A WIFE WORTH?

XIX. HOW MUCH IS A WIFE WORTH?

A FEW weeks since, a party sitting near us in the cars were speaking of a young man, a wealthy farmer, who had just disturbed his friends by venturing to marry a poor girl. We judged by the conversation that he had been well educated, and for wealth and intelligence was quite looked up to by his townsmen. But he had married for love, not money or position, and these friends were liberally using friendship’s privilege to make rather severe remarks about him in his absence. First, it was so foolis

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XX. TEACH LITTLE BOYS TO BE USEFUL.

XX. TEACH LITTLE BOYS TO BE USEFUL.

H OW often, when anything has been said of teaching little boys to be useful, have we heard mothers exclaim, “What an idea! Teach boys to be useful! I wish you would tell me how; for of all the restless, awkward, mischievous, troublesome comforts on the face of the earth, I do think boys are the most trying. I am sure I love my boys just as much as I do my girls; but it is so much harder to manage them, to keep them out of mischief, to know what to do with them. They were vexatious enough when w

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XXI. BLEACHING, STARCHING, AND REMOVING STAINS.

XXI. BLEACHING, STARCHING, AND REMOVING STAINS.

A YOUNG housekeeper writes us: “Without the least knowledge of domestic concerns, I passed from the school-room into the position of a farmer’s wife. Together with other things of which I am ignorant, I need some minute directions for starching, ironing, removing stains, etc. Any hints on these points would be very acceptable to me, and I doubt not to many others. I can now succeed very well in managing the cooking and butter-making, but am sorely tried about my washing and ironing sometimes. Wi

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XXII. TO IRON SHIRTS, VESTS, AND EMBROIDERIES.

XXII. TO IRON SHIRTS, VESTS, AND EMBROIDERIES.

S HIRTS cannot be ironed with ease and ironed well without a bosom-board. It should be made of pine, well seasoned and entirely free from gum; one and a half inches thick, one foot nine inches long, and eighteen inches wide; very smooth and straight; rounded on one end, and rubbed with sand-paper to remove all roughness. The square end must also be smooth, and with a hole in the middle near the edge, to hang it up by. Take two or three thicknesses of an old woolen blanket and cover one side. Str

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XXIII. A TALK ABOUT BEDS.

XXIII. A TALK ABOUT BEDS.

A S we look around silently among the many young housekeepers, we think we hear some of them say, or, if they don’t, they ought to, “I am ashamed to ask any one into my chambers, for my beds are a perpetual vexation to me. They look as if tossed up by a whirl-wind; the mattress laid on unevenly, every inequality as visible as if the occupants had just risen. The sheets and blankets never find their proper place, and the pillows are as hard and knotty as if made of cotton batting. I try to teach

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XXIV. MARKETING.

XXIV. MARKETING.

I T is very important that every lady should understand how to select and purchase such stores as may be needed in her family. This knowledge must be acquired in girlhood. Mothers should allow their daughters to accompany them occasionally in their market expeditions, quietly explaining, as they pass from one stall to another examining the various articles needed, their reasons for rejecting or purchasing. We are all inclined to put off, from day to day, this part of our domestic instructions wh

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XXV. TRUST YOUR CHILDREN.

XXV. TRUST YOUR CHILDREN.

T HERE is no lesson that so well repays the teacher as that by which children are taught to feel that they are trusted ; that father and mother commit matters of importance to their care, with confidence that they will not disappoint them. Begin this teaching while the child is yet young. Of course you must gauge the importance of the trust by the age of the child, taking care that you do not tax the little one beyond its capacity, but being just as careful to have it understand that you are in

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XXVI. WHO INVENTED BREAD?

XXVI. WHO INVENTED BREAD?

A MONG the countless varieties of food, bread, in some form or other, has been almost universally recognized as “the staff of life.” When it became so truly a necessity, or who was the happy inventor, we know not. How far before the creation wise men have pushed their researches and discoveries, we have not the skill to ascertain. The first mention of bread we remember is in the third chapter of Genesis, when Adam was driven from Paradise and compelled “in the sweat of his face to eat bread,” “b

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XXVII. HOW ABOUT THE LITTLE GIRLS?

XXVII. HOW ABOUT THE LITTLE GIRLS?

“A SHORT time since you advocated ‘teaching little boys to be useful’ by training them to do, indoors or out, whatever, for the time being, lay within the compass of their strength and ability. But now we wish to ask, How about little girls ? The boys say it isn’t fair to call upon them to perform ‘girls’ work,’ unless the girls are made to reciprocate the favor, and are willing to take their turn in doing ‘boys’ work’ when necessary.” Bless your little hearts, dear boys! Who objects to that? No

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XXVIII. STEALING SERVANTS.

XXVIII. STEALING SERVANTS.

I N The Christian Union a while ago, “Laicus” gives the history of a transaction between two neighbors, in which he thinks the indignation manifested by one of the parties was uncalled for, and her objection to the proceeding of the other “but a relic of the old-time slave system.” The case given was in this wise. Mrs. Potiphar, it seems, “picks up a little girl in New York, and goes through all the trouble, discomfort, and anxiety of teaching her, until she becomes, at last, a very useful and e

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XXIX. FALL CLEANING.

XXIX. FALL CLEANING.

T HE summer is over and gone; cold nights and mornings have so frightened and subdued the flies, that it is easy to hunt them from the house, and by a little extra watchfulness prevent their gaining possession again. The sun, still quite warm and summer-like in the middle of the day, tempts them out from their hiding-places, and they will swarm in at open doors and windows, if unprotected by wire and net frames, in great numbers. Take care that these safeguards are doing duty whenever windows or

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XXX. FASHIONABLE DRESS.

XXX. FASHIONABLE DRESS.

W E are often asked why we do not speak out plainly, in the way of counsel and reproof, about the absurdities of fashionable dress, now so apparent? What good would it do? Almost every paper has spoken plainly, or hinted—the worst kind of speaking, however unmistakable—on this subject, and what is the result? Week by week the fashion-plates are increasingly monstrous, until at last we are uncertain whether it is a bona fide fashion plate we are looking at or “Punch” and “The Budget of Fun.” Neit

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XXXI. LESSONS BY THE WAYSIDE.

XXXI. LESSONS BY THE WAYSIDE.

L OVE lightens labor, and crowns Care with rosy garlands which beautify her rugged and repellant features. But when those whose presence makes labor easy are absent, Care is more likely to become a hard taskmaster. Our house being thus left unto us desolate, for a few days, we rebel, and have run away. Seated all alone in one of those cozy little rooms in the “palace-cars,” on the banks of the Hudson, we will try for once how it feels to be free from care, and give ourselves up to the full enjoy

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XXXII. PAULINE PRY.

XXXII. PAULINE PRY.

W E come this week to spy out the land,—to roam “up stairs, down stairs, and in the lady’s chamber”; to creep into all by and forbidden places; to look into the bedrooms, ransack the wardrobes, peep into the drawers, it may be; overhaul trunks and boxes, perhaps; in short, to take all manner of liberty and find fault to our heart’s content. Now we slip, unseen, into the guest-chamber. It is very pleasant and inviting; but we don’t think the bed is made up very neatly. There are “humps” in the ma

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XXXIII. BUY YOUR CAGE BEFORE YOU CATCH YOUR BIRD.

XXXIII. BUY YOUR CAGE BEFORE YOU CATCH YOUR BIRD.

A YOUNG lady writes that this old adage is often repeated to her “in connection with grave warnings against early engagements and early marriages,” and asks for our opinion and advice. This old proverb sounds very wise, and if taken literally may, for aught we know, be correct doctrine; but when used as a warning, in the connection which our friend suggests, we don’t more than half believe in it. We are no advocate for very long engagements or unreasonably early marriages; but we do believe that

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XXXIV. CARE IN SELECTING A HOUSE.

XXXIV. CARE IN SELECTING A HOUSE.

C HOOSING a house or tenement is one of the cares that often devolves upon the wife, and demands great skill, good judgment, and sound common-sense, because there are so many things to be taken into consideration. We have been favored with a book published in London entitled “The Best of Everything.” We have not yet so thoroughly examined its contents as to be able to judge if it warrants that title, but have been much pleased with some “Hints on choosing, buying, or building a House,” and think

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XXXV. VISITING FOR ONE’S OWN CONVENIENCE.

XXXV. VISITING FOR ONE’S OWN CONVENIENCE.

T HERE are very few housekeepers in cities or large towns who will not, at the first glance, understand precisely what this means; and, however many may have been tempted to indulge in this style of visiting, and perhaps often yielded to the temptation, there will be none found, we venture to say, who will not heartily protest against it, when practised upon themselves. We have before us a letter from a lady on this subject, and think we cannot do better than to transcribe part of it for the ben

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XXXVI. WILL THEY BOARD, OR KEEP HOUSE?

XXXVI. WILL THEY BOARD, OR KEEP HOUSE?

W E think it is considered allowable to criticise and gossip about household matters generally , so that we don’t intrench on anybody in particular . But to avoid meddling was a doctrine so thoroughly inculcated in our youth, that in our talk with young housekeepers we have found ourselves shrinking from touching upon many little mistakes that need rectifying, or topics that will bear discussion, forgetting that we are really not prying into private family matters. Yet, thanks to many letters of

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XXXVII. CHOICE OF COLORS IN DRESS.

XXXVII. CHOICE OF COLORS IN DRESS.

BLONDES. I N the selection of articles for dress, one should be guided, not only by the quality of the fabric and durability of color, but also by observing if the color will harmonize with the complexion of the wearer. Nothing marks refinement and culture, or the want of it, more than the combination of colors in one’s attire. It is folly to spend time and thought upon the adorning of the body, to the exclusion of other and more important matters; but it is always wise to do well whatever is to

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XXXVIII. HARMONIZING COLORS IN DRESS.

XXXVIII. HARMONIZING COLORS IN DRESS.

BRUNETTES. I N the last chapter we noticed the colors most appropriate and harmonious for the fair and the ruddy blonde . We shall now note a few peculiarities of the pale and the florid brunette . In the pale brunette , the eyes and hair are usually a deep brown or brown-black, and the skin pale, often with some sallow shade. With this peculiar complexion, light or very dark colors are the most becoming, because the light colors harmonize with the tint of the skin, and the dark colors with the

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XXXIX. A WORD ABOUT MOTHS.

XXXIX. A WORD ABOUT MOTHS.

“M OTHS in the winter! Pray don’t speak of them! Some weeks later will be time enough to stir up our minds by way of remembrance. The vexatious little torments! they surely don’t work in winter! And yet I have noticed several little spots, or holes, that looked as if eaten by moths. I am sure they were not there early in the fall: I couldn’t understand it, but was so confident that moths did not do their mischief in winter, that I have been trying to find some other cause for these marks.” Ah! t

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XL. WINTER BUTTER.

XL. WINTER BUTTER.

M UCH has been said and written on making winter butter. Our papers bring daily complaints of the article as sold in our markets, and furnish us with many elaborate directions how to overcome an evil which can no longer be meekly endured. In large butter factories, with every facility for preserving uniform temperature, it is not easy to accept any excuse for poor butter, summer or winter; but when butter is only made in small quantities, simply for family consumption, and at a time when the cow

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XLI. REPAIRS.

XLI. REPAIRS.

A FRIEND writes: “I have been much interested in the Grand Patching and Darning Exhibition; but my husband is rather skeptical as to any great good resulting from it. He seems to think it a waste of time to do this work with such particularity, and doubts if, in these days of plenty, women will find it necessary to patch, piece, and darn so elaborately. I reply, that probably a large portion of those who have seen or read of this work may never be called upon to do it; yet we know that there are

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XLII. ACCURATE WEIGHTS AND MEASURES IN COOKING.

XLII. ACCURATE WEIGHTS AND MEASURES IN COOKING.

Y OUNG housekeepers very often complain that, notwithstanding their most earnest efforts to work in strict accordance with given rules or receipts, their failures are more frequent than their successes. They admit that sometimes their work proves satisfactory, but ask, “Why should it not always be so?” The difference in the results of their various trials can only be attributed to the method and accuracy, or to the haste and carelessness, with which their labor is performed. Unless there was som

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XLIII. TEACHING LITTLE GIRLS TO SEW.

XLIII. TEACHING LITTLE GIRLS TO SEW.

“Y ES, I suppose I shall be obliged to teach my little girl to sew, some time; but I am very thankful that I have some years yet before I need take up this cross. I supply her with bits of cloth, needles, thread, and scissors, and let her amuse herself with an attempt at sewing; but how I dread the time when I must begin in earnest, and try to teach her the proper way! I sometimes hope that by letting her botch and play sewing, by and by, as she sees me making even seams, and taking small stitch

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XLIV. THE CARE OF POULTRY.

XLIV. THE CARE OF POULTRY.

W E make no pretense to any great skill or experience in raising poultry, and may not be able to furnish satisfactory answers to questions which have been sent by some of our readers who appear wellnigh discouraged by repeated failures; but we venture a few suggestions which, if acted upon, will, we think, in part at least, overcome some portion of their difficulties and perplexities, and may be acceptable to others in their first attempt. The agricultural papers are filled with descriptions and

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XLV. INSTITUTIONS FOR THE EDUCATION OF WOMEN.

XLV. INSTITUTIONS FOR THE EDUCATION OF WOMEN.

V ASSAR is, we think, the first college for women ever established. The liberal provision for its maintenance, in accordance with the wishes of the founder,—the chapel, library, cabinet, recitation-rooms; the houses for the professors; the dormitories for the students; the dining-hall and kitchen; the laundry and the bakehouse,—every needed accommodation, are all completed in the most approved manner. The whole is heated by steam, and lighted by gas. Here physical culture receives all the care t

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XLVI. GREAT MISTAKES.

XLVI. GREAT MISTAKES.

W HEN the weather becomes so warm that furnaces and large fires can be dispensed with, the regular “spring cleaning” is usually commenced in earnest. Until then, the most perfect housekeeper cannot prevent the accumulation of ashes or fine dust, which, ascending from the furnace or stove below with each morning’s renewal, will find a lodgment in carpets and furniture, and can be fully removed only by a longer process than can be given weekly. Were it not that the carpets and furniture would be u

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XLVII. STUDY TO MAKE HOME ATTRACTIVE.

XLVII. STUDY TO MAKE HOME ATTRACTIVE.

I N planning and furnishing a house, young people too often sacrifice true taste and their own conscience for style ; forgetting that they should arrange a home for comfort , not for a temple of fashion. So large a portion of the money set apart for the whole outlay is expended in adorning their parlors,—the only part of a house which is, in a measure, public property,—that they are compelled to cheat themselves out of much comfort and convenience, when they come to the furnishing of the real ho

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XLVIII. THE CARE OF COOKING-STOVES AND RANGES.

XLVIII. THE CARE OF COOKING-STOVES AND RANGES.

N EXT to perplexities and trouble with servants, there is nothing that so severely afflicts the careful housekeeper as the attempt to secure attention to the cooking-stove or range. The reasons given for failure in any particular point are innumerable, and all cast the burden of blame on the poor, inoffensive stove. There never was such a miserable cooking-stove. The fire won’t burn, or it burns too fiercely; the oven won’t bake at all, or bakes so furiously that everything you trust to it is ru

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XLIX. THE OLD WAYS AND THE NEW.

XLIX. THE OLD WAYS AND THE NEW.

I T is interesting to note the changes and improvements which have been made within the last half-century in almost all the conveniences and implements which are needed in the preparation of food. It may be that the ease and comfort by which this labor can be performed, through these new contrivances, when compared with the old ways, and the facility with which all classes, rich or poor, can and do secure all or some of these conveniences, has tempted to an indulgence in luxuries regardless of e

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L. A FEW HINTS ON CARVING.

L. A FEW HINTS ON CARVING.

I T is a great accomplishment to be able to carve well and easily, without awkwardness; but it is one that receives altogether too little attention. Too often it would seem that the host or hostess, or whoever is called upon to perform this table duty, has no idea of there being anything needed but to hack off in the most expeditious manner as much meat as is required to satisfy the wants of those present, without the slightest reference to the mode in which it should be done, or the choice bits

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LI. PARENTAL EXAMPLE.

LI. PARENTAL EXAMPLE.

P ARENTS may give “line upon line and precept upon precept,” in their assiduous watchfulness over the manners and morals of their children, yet, if they do not constantly bear in mind that example has more influence over the young than precept, their efforts will be of little avail. If you reprove a child for careless usage of books, show them how they are injured and defaced, by turning down corners, scribbling on the margin, or throwing them down on the face, how much good will such lectures d

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LII. TRUE TASTE MORE EFFECTIVE THAN MONEY.

LII. TRUE TASTE MORE EFFECTIVE THAN MONEY.

M ANY imagine they must relinquish all hopes of gratifying their tastes, or the inherent love of the beautiful, if they do not rank among the rich. This is an entirely false idea. There are houses upon which thousands of dollars have been expended, that would be quite intolerable to people of real refinement as a permanent residence. The whole arrangement and furniture are so stiff and formal, so heavy and oppressive with superfluous ornament, that simple curiosity to see what strange vagaries c

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LIII. COOKING BY STEAM.

LIII. COOKING BY STEAM.

M UCH has been said of the superiority of steamed food over that which is boiled or baked; and year after year the papers or magazines devoted to domestic economy and the improvement and simplification of household labor have advocated this mode of cooking meats, vegetables, and many other articles of food, every few months recommending some new invention. We have tried one experiment after another, finding, to be sure, some imperfection in all; but enough that was practicable to convince us the

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LIV. VEGETABLES.

LIV. VEGETABLES.

J UNE is the season when vegetables are most abundant and can be had in the greatest variety. Among the numberless articles of food there is nothing so conducive to health as good, fresh, and properly prepared vegetables, and nothing which so easily deranges the whole system if used stale, unripe, or badly cooked. Vegetables having so large a share in our comfort, it is essential that housekeepers should understand how to prepare every variety not only in the most attractive manner, but also in

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LV. CABBAGE.

LV. CABBAGE.

I N this chapter we have something to say of an old familiar friend, the Cabbage , which for ages has been one of the most useful of all our vegetables, being very productive, and, for many persons, nutritious and healthful. It is found growing wild on the cliffs in many parts of the southern coasts of England; but these do not very closely resemble the large, vigorous vegetable we see on our farms and in our gardens. There it is dwarfed, not weighing more than an ounce, with a few feeble leaves

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LVI. PULSE.

LVI. PULSE.

M ANY of the most useful and important of farinaceous or mealy kinds of vegetables are known under the name of pulse . All the large varieties of the bean , pea , lentil , tare , and vetch belong to this family. The Vetch and Tare are chiefly used for cattle; very seldom in this country or England are they seen on our tables, even among the poorest class of people; but the lentil , a kind of bean, is greatly esteemed among the French and Germans, and, when properly and carefully prepared and sea

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LVII. POT-HERBS AND SALADS.

LVII. POT-HERBS AND SALADS.

T HE number of plants and vegetables that are of excellent quality, and can be profitably cultivated for purposes of pot-herbs and salads, are so numerous that we can only mention the names, with here and there an item, that we may rouse the young housekeeper’s curiosity sufficiently to tempt her to search for their full history herself and we hope lead others to do the same. In Burr’s “Field and Garden Vegetables of America,” is a “full description of nearly eleven hundred species and varieties

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LVIII. MISTAKES IN COOKING VEGETABLES.

LVIII. MISTAKES IN COOKING VEGETABLES.

F RESH vegetables, properly prepared, are among the most important articles of food. They mostly abound in saline substances that are indispensable to the maintenance of a healthy condition of the whole system; but to secure the blessings they were designed to yield, everything depends on their being freshly gathered and carefully cooked. It is very difficult to obtain freshly gathered vegetables when one is obliged to depend on the city markets for them. In this, as in many other things, our fa

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LIX. DIVIDED FAMILY GOVERNMENT.

LIX. DIVIDED FAMILY GOVERNMENT.

“I HAVE a family of young children, naturally amiable and obedient, who, while very young, seldom needed even slight punishment; but as they grow older wants and wills are thickening, and, occasionally, natural perversity and willfulness are manifested which sometimes require restraint. The mother’s heart would shield her children from such denials or demands as the father sees is necessary to their proper education and future happiness. Her tenderness warps her judgment, and too frequently her

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LX. HOW CAN WE SECURE GOOD SERVANTS?

LX. HOW CAN WE SECURE GOOD SERVANTS?

M ANY inquiries reach us, both from city and country, as to the best and most certain way to secure, if not the best, at least tolerably good servants. It is a question impossible to answer with any degree of certainty. The very best managers, the kindest and most conscientious, are no more sure of being suited than those who work without method, and are not governed by the law of kindness. “Where shall we apply when searching for help?” is a question that is asked very frequently, and is equall

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LXI. THE GUEST-CHAMBER.

LXI. THE GUEST-CHAMBER.

I T is the prevalent opinion among housekeepers that the guest-chamber, or “spare room,” must, in every respect, be the best and most desirable chamber in the house. We think this a mistaken idea. Of course the room should be pleasant and inviting, furnished as tastefully and with as many conveniences as can be afforded, without curtailing the comfort and pleasures of the family, and with such regard to comfort that a guest, on entering, may feel at once not only at home, but as if surrounded wi

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LXII. THE CARE OF INFANTS.

LXII. THE CARE OF INFANTS.

“A RE our little ones so related to household cares, that Mrs. Beecher will give young mothers, now and then, a few words of instruction on the management of infants? I am a young mother as well as young housekeeper , and although not very competent, I, and probably many others, could easier work our way unaided to a respectable standing in all that pertains to the manual labor of the household, than risk mistakes in the care and training of our babies. I think the little ones very necessary to

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LXIII. PERSONAL NEATNESS.

LXIII. PERSONAL NEATNESS.

T HOSE who have the oversight of household affairs, and perhaps are also compelled to perform much of the manual labor themselves, cannot be expected to keep their garments at all times spotlessly clean, still less can they preserve their hands soft and delicate; yet there is far too much inexcusable carelessness about personal appearance, among those who are called upon to be always active and industrious, as well as among those who have fewer responsibilities. “Well, I, for one, don’t see how

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LXIV. ARE HOUSE-PLANTS INJURIOUS TO THE HEALTH?

LXIV. ARE HOUSE-PLANTS INJURIOUS TO THE HEALTH?

“M RS. BEECHER: My wife and I are both attentive readers of the ‘Christian Union,’ and we venture to ask for a few words of information upon the subject of house-plants . We are passionately fond of flowers, but have frequently seen it stated that plants, especially flowering plants, vitiate the air, rendering it unfit for breathing purposes. Is that really true? We like plants in our sleeping-rooms, but of course would give them up if convinced that they were injurious to the health. We have he

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LXV. BAD BUTTER.

LXV. BAD BUTTER.

O F all the needless discomforts common to boarding-houses and hotels, we know of none so truly inexcusable, nor which subtracts more from one’s enjoyment, than the use of bad butter for cooking purposes. When placed on the table in the butter-dish, if found to be imperfect or quite unpalatable the butter can easily be rejected. To eat good bread without butter, or, if the bread is unsatisfactory, a fine mealy potato with a little salt, is by no means the greatest hardship that you may be subjec

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LXVI. OCTOBER.

LXVI. OCTOBER.

T HE brilliant hues in the mountains, the falling leaves in the lanes (over which the horses’ feet make such sweet yet melancholy music), remind us that October, the brightest, dearest month in the whole year, has come; but while we rejoice in anticipation of the glorious hours it promises, we must not forget that during these mild, invigorating days our houses must be set in order properly to meet the sharp November weather, which is close at hand, and the fiercer blasts of winter which will fo

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LXVII. THE SLAVERY OF FASHION.

LXVII. THE SLAVERY OF FASHION.

“W ORN OUT,” “ Overtaxed ,” “ Used up ,” “ Too tired for anything ,” are expressions daily heard from mothers and housekeepers; and the languid step, pale, care-worn face, and heavy eyes bear witness that these are not foolish, unmeaning words, but all too near the truth for safety. Most are ready to recognize the fact that half the feebleness and ill health among women arises from over-exertion while attempting to carry burdens too weighty for the constitution. Yet how much of this is needless,

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LXVIII. PICKLING AND PRESERVING.

LXVIII. PICKLING AND PRESERVING.

I N the preliminary steps to almost all new enterprises there are “lions in the way,” from which it is very natural, at first, to shrink back with at least a partial discouragement; and, as a general thing, the two most formidable “lions” which cross the young housekeeper’s path are pickling and preserving ; that is, if she has not, before marriage, taken part in this work, under her mother’s supervision. We hear more complaints and repining in this direction than in any other. Time, strength, a

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LXIX. WHAT HAS BECOME OF ALL THE LITTLE GIRLS?

LXIX. WHAT HAS BECOME OF ALL THE LITTLE GIRLS?

W E look in vain into many pleasant homes, or into the streets, cars, or steamers, for what was once a common sight, and was then, and ever must be, the sweetest object in nature,—a simple, artless little girl with all the pretty, unaffected ways and manners of unsophisticated childhood, fresh and beautiful, about her. There is no lack of small beings, dressed in such a marvelous style that Darwin himself would be puzzled to make out the class to which they belong; but we find nothing to remind

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LXX. PROCRASTINATION.

LXX. PROCRASTINATION.

A N inclination to put off till to-morrow that which were more appropriately done to-day seems quite natural to almost every one, but it is one of the symptoms of depravity, and the earlier it is fought and conquered the better. There are some sensible mothers whose constant endeavor is to prevent this habit from gaining a foothold in their children’s characters. From earliest childhood they watch and nip it in the bud. Those who have lived an active life—every moment claiming its own special wo

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LXXI. THE SUREST REMEDY.

LXXI. THE SUREST REMEDY.

T O the troubles and annoyances which befall housekeepers there is no end, if they are obliged to rely on servants for comfort and peace of mind. In social gatherings the conversation often turns on the trials they experience from this part of their household. It is not at all strange that it should be so, for “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh,” and verily in this particular the heart has ample reasons for being abundantly filled, and there is no end to just cause of complain

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LXXII. A FEW LITTLE THINGS.

LXXII. A FEW LITTLE THINGS.

W E take up now a few perplexities which are apt to disturb the equanimity of the young housekeeper, and propose to give some minute directions for the better performance of those “little things” which so often discourage the beginner, such as the building of fires, dusting, etc. With an open grate or fireplace in daily use, it is very necessary, before any dusting can be thought of, to clear out the grate, remove the ashes, and kindle the fire; for nothing so fills a room with dust as the neces

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LXXIII. PLANNING FOR THE WEEK.

LXXIII. PLANNING FOR THE WEEK.

N OTHING so simplifies labor as a well-defined, regular plan for each day’s specific duties. At first, to one unaccustomed to systematic work, it may be difficult to get into the track, and follow the route until it is so familiar that it becomes almost second nature. But with each effort, duties thus methodically performed will be easier, and when the plan you design to follow has been well digested, and each part so adapted as to reach toward the good of the whole, labor will not only be great

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LXXIV. SHOPPING.

LXXIV. SHOPPING.

W E have heard from ladies remarks like the following: “Before I was married, and cares and responsibilities became more and more exacting every year, there was nothing I used to enjoy more than roaming from shop to shop, seeing everything that was to be seen, but without the responsibility of purchasing, because my mother always attended to that. My shopping in those days was only to gratify curiosity. But now it must be done in earnest, without shopping for sight-seeing or loitering,—the only

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LXXV. DUSTING.

LXXV. DUSTING.

A MONG the many little things a good housekeeper should vigilantly watch over, while trying to teach a child or inexperienced girl, careful and thorough dusting is one of the most prominent. It is not alone those who are confessedly ignorant that require this supervision, but one half of all the hired help we ever saw have never been trained to do that kind of labor perfectly. They are accustomed to look at it as being of less importance, and more easily slighted without attracting notice and su

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LXXVI. A CHAPTER ON SOUPS.

LXXVI. A CHAPTER ON SOUPS.

H ESITATION in taking the first steps in any new enterprise or new work is very common. With some it springs from great caution; with others, from lack of confidence in their own ability. They magnify troubles which may arise, and imagine all manner of difficulties, until very small and easy duties are clothed in a mystery which they shrink from solving. In working, a novice, if at all timid or lacking self-reliance, often keeps herself in a constant state of alarm lest she make some great mista

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LXXVII. MORE ABOUT SOUPS.

LXXVII. MORE ABOUT SOUPS.

M ANY suppose they can obtain just as good soup by preparing the whole between breakfast and dinner, claiming that the idea of keeping “stock” on hand is a foolish one, and an increase of the cares and labors of providing. We think this is a mistake, springing from ignorance in some cases, in others from the fact that the objectors have never tried what seems to us the better way. It is certainly the most economical, and on trial we are sure will be found a saving of time and labor, instead of a

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LXXVIII. TESTING CHARACTER.

LXXVIII. TESTING CHARACTER.

N OTHING so completely unmasks all the peculiarities of each individual, showing bright and noble traits most clearly, and casting deeper shadows on all that is weak, disagreeable, and unlovely, as being shut up in a steamer or in cars for days together, acquiring an intimacy in one week far more familiar than would have been formed in a year of ordinary intercourse. Nowhere are selfishness, irritability, and vanity so quickly detected; nowhere are such opportunities to manifest patience, self-a

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LXXIX. IF WE KNEW!

LXXIX. IF WE KNEW!

T HE wind is playing with the long gray beard on the grand old live-oak over our heads; the air, soft and balmy, brings the slightest intimation of perfume from the orange-trees around us; the golden fruit, half hidden in the rich, glossy leaves, and here and there a bud just opening into the delicate blossom, give promise of another harvest before the first is fully gathered. Before us lies the beautiful St. John’s river, smooth and tranquil as a summer sea; but a steamer in the distance, like

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LXXX. IN SUCH AN HOUR AS YE THINK NOT.

LXXX. IN SUCH AN HOUR AS YE THINK NOT.

W HEN a young girl is called by the death of her mother to assume the management of the family before her home education has been completed, we know of very few cases which draw so largely on our sympathy. Grief and depression for the loss of a mother is hard enough for the young heart to endure; and added to this, it is no easy thing to accept the responsibility of providing for the comforts of those thus thrown upon her care. All the economical arrangements of the household, the oversight of c

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LXXXI. GRUMBLING.

LXXXI. GRUMBLING.

I T must be that a certain class of people find pleasure in fault-finding and grumbling, or they would not search so industriously for an opportunity to exercise their talents in this direction; or, failing to secure a legitimate occasion, willfully manufacture one. In the family, this habit is, unfortunately, often carried to a great extent, even among those who are, undoubtedly, sincerely attached to each other. The first word in the morning is usually a querulous inquiry or complaint about so

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LXXXII. LITTLE FOXES SPOILING THE BELOVED VINE.

LXXXII. LITTLE FOXES SPOILING THE BELOVED VINE.

“A MOTHER” desires to know if she fails in discipline, or if her children are more troublesome and difficult to manage than other people’s. She has coaxed, reasoned, whipped; shut up in solitude, fed them on bread and water, or confined them in a dark room; but all appears to be ineffectual. They do nothing really wicked , in the strict sense of that term; but they forget or disregard all rules or commands, are mischievous and careless; boisterous and full of frolic one day, to the neglect of ev

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LXXXIII. WASTE NOT—WANT NOT.

LXXXIII. WASTE NOT—WANT NOT.

M ANY, particularly among the young, associate economy and frugality with meanness, ungenerousness, and a churlish, disobliging disposition. “There would be no pleasure or comfort in living,” said a young lady, when a friend was endeavoring to show her the desirableness of “counting cost,” before entering upon any extravagant expenditures,—“there would be no comfort in living, if I must stop and consider the price,—adding up at every step, and deliberating upon the sum total before I dared to ma

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LXXXIV. MAKING CAKE AND PASTRY.

LXXXIV. MAKING CAKE AND PASTRY.

O NE of our young friends, speaking of her troubles, says:— “I must have cake in the house, but shrink from the attempt to make it; and in my brief experience in housekeeping have, so far, depended on the bake-shops; for I know nothing about such work, and won’t let my girl see me trying it, lest she find out what a novice her mistress is. If I should put all the materials for my cake together, in the most careful manner, and when it is taken from the oven find that it was not good, I should not

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LXXXV. AS THY DAY SO SHALL THY STRENGTH BE.

LXXXV. AS THY DAY SO SHALL THY STRENGTH BE.

F ROM those who seek counsel or consolation we receive many letters which we would gladly excuse ourselves from answering, by the plea that such topics come not under our supervision. But we cannot feel that words for “The Household” mean only information about the washing, cooking, and house-cleaning,—simply those things which belong to the temporal state and bodily comfort. We are compelled to attach a broader meaning to that word household . All the joys and sorrows, the hopes and fears, all

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LXXXVI. WHAT WE KNOW NOT NOW WE SHALL KNOW HEREAFTER.

LXXXVI. WHAT WE KNOW NOT NOW WE SHALL KNOW HEREAFTER.

S TRANGE how natural it is for each individual to feel that there are no troubles, no sorrows, so severe as his own! How ready we are to feel that if the lessons our Father is teaching us were such as others around us were learning, we could surely bear them with fortitude! The mother whom we spoke of in the last article, like many more who fully understand her difficulties,—for they are passing over the same rough road,—felt her trust and faith failing; yea, would “gladly lie down and die,” bef

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LXXXVII. UNTIL DEATH DO US PART.

LXXXVII. UNTIL DEATH DO US PART.

“A WIFE” writes that she has three children; has been married eight years, and thinks it would be pleasant to be relieved from all home cares, and travel for a few months. Her mother would take her children home, so that she could feel perfectly at ease about them, but her husband objects. He cannot possibly go with her, and though it would be much pleasanter to have him accompany her, yet she could go with friends, who would give her every attention. Her husband is abundantly able to afford her

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YEAST.

YEAST.

Yeast. —Good yeast is indispensable in order to secure good bread. Pare and boil eight medium-sized potatoes. Remove them from the water when done, and put into it one small handful of loose or two teaspoonfuls of pressed hops. While these are boiling, mash and roll the potatoes very smooth, free from lumps; mix with them three even table-spoonfuls of flour, a half cup of sugar,—brown sugar is the best for yeast,—one even table-spoonful of ginger, and three of salt. Strain out the hops after boi

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BREAD.

BREAD.

General Rules. —Five quarts of flour and one quart of milk or water are sufficient for two loaves in quart-pans. Rub shortening, salt, and potatoes, if used, into the flour before wetting it. The milk or water for wetting should be about milk-warm, and the yeast be stirred into part of the wetting for the sponge, or into the whole, if the bread is to be made without sponging; then pour it on the flour and knead. Bread without Sponging. —Sift five quarts of flour, cover and set by the fire to dry

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BISCUIT.

BISCUIT.

Morning Biscuit. —One quart of flour, half a teaspoonful of salt, two table-spoonfuls of yeast, and one pint of sour milk, with half a teaspoonful of soda dissolved in it. Work this into a dough; then rub into the dough half a cup of butter. Knead well; cut off small bits; shape them into biscuits; lay them in the bake-pan, cover closely with a bread-cloth, and let them stand overnight in a warm place in winter and a cool place in summer. Bake in the morning for breakfast. Tea Biscuit. —Peel and

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BREAKFAST AND TEA CAKES.

BREAKFAST AND TEA CAKES.

Corn Cakes. —Rub one table-spoonful of lard into four cups of corn meal. Stir the meal into four cups of sour milk, with a teaspoonful of salt. Beat two eggs very light, and put in one teaspoonful of soda, the last thing. Beat well, and bake in small gem irons, or light tin forms. Another Way. —Three teacups of corn meal, one teacup of wheat flour, two teacups of milk, one teacup of cream, or a third of a teacup of butter, three table-spoonfuls of sugar, one egg,—beat yelk and white separately,

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SOUPS.

SOUPS.

General Directions. —Before giving some receipts for soups , we wish first to remind our young housekeepers that it is important for them to bear in mind the necessity and economy of keeping good stock constantly on hand. The French stock-pot is always in readiness to receive every bone, coarse or refuse bit of meat not suitable to use for the main dish or for side-dishes. We understand that the French use earthenware for this purpose and also for “soup-digesters.” It would be a benefaction if o

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FISH.

FISH.

To boil Fresh Fish. —Clean, wash thoroughly, wipe dry, and then sew up in a cloth, kept solely for fish, and plunge at once into boiling water that has been first salted sufficiently. Sew the cloth up on the back of the fish. Take it out when done, cut the threads down the back of the fish, and cut the skin of the fish so that in taking off the cloth, the skin will come off with it, leaving the fish white and whole. Be careful not to break it, as it should come to the table in good condition. Ea

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MEATS.

MEATS.

Leicestershire Hunting Beef. —Take four ounces saltpetre or one of allspice. Rub it over a nice round of beef very thoroughly. Let it stand twenty-four hours, then rub it in as much common salt as will be needed to salt it to suit your taste. Keep it in a cool place twelve days, turning it every day, then put it into a deep pan and cover it, upper and under side, with three pounds of beef suet. Then cover with a thick paste, and bake slowly for six hours. It will keep for six months, and is high

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SALADS AND OMELETS.

SALADS AND OMELETS.

Chicken Salad. —Well-fattened chickens, of medium size, tender and delicate, make better salad than large, overgrown ones. Put them on to cook in the morning, and save the water they are boiled in for soup. When cold, remove the skin and cut the flesh in pieces, the size you prefer. Some like the meat very coarse, others choose it quite fine. This is entirely a matter of taste. When cut up, throw over the dish a towel slightly damped in cold water, to keep the meat from drying. Take the best cel

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EGGS.

EGGS.

Boiled Eggs. —Be sure and select fresh eggs for boiling, never more than a week old. Have the water just boiling; if boiling fiercely when the eggs are put in, it will crack the shell. Three minutes will boil an egg soft; five minutes will be necessary if you like them hard, and ten or twelve minutes if needed for salad; in the latter case they should be thrown into cold water the instant they are taken from the boiling water, else the white will be dark colored or clouded. When perfectly new, a

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VEGETABLES.

VEGETABLES.

Much care in selecting vegetables is necessary, but still more in preparing them for the table. It is to be regretted that so little attention is given to this. Half the enjoyment that should be derived from the abundance of the best varieties which our farms and markets offer in every summer season is lost by unskillful cooking. So evident is this fact, that it appears quite important to call the particular attention of young housekeepers to this part of their duty. We are so much in earnest, a

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CAKE.

CAKE.

First examine the range or stove. See that the ashes are shaken out, and sufficient coal added to keep the oven in working order till your cake is put together and baked; for fuel should never be added while bread or cake is baking. See if the dampers are all right, and ovens at the proper heat,—a slow, even heat for rich cake, a quick heat for plain cake. The range being in proper condition, next collect all the ingredients to be used. Line the tins with buttered paper. Sift the flour, then wei

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PIES, PUDDINGS, AND DESSERTS.

PIES, PUDDINGS, AND DESSERTS.

Pastry. —One quart flour, half-pound butter; mix half the flour with ice-cold water, stiff enough to roll; put it on a well-floured paste-board, sprinkle flour over and roll half an inch thick. Divide the butter into three parts; shave one of the three portions quite thin and put it lightly over the paste, shake one third of the dry flour over it, fold the four ends inward, then double the sheet together and beat it with the rolling-pin till it is about half an inch thick; shave a second portion

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PRESERVES AND JELLIES.

PRESERVES AND JELLIES.

To Can Peaches. —We find the following mode of canning peaches in “Tilton’s Journal of Horticulture,” published in Boston. That journal is always so reliable, that we have no hesitation in giving these directions to our readers: “Take large ripe peaches,—not over-ripe,—halve and pare neatly and lay on a large meat-dish. To a three-peck basket of fruit allow four pounds of sifted sugar; sprinkle it over the fruit as you lay it in the dish; when done set it in a cool place overnight; the next morn

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CHEESE.

CHEESE.

Stilton Cheese is one of the richest kinds. The cream of one day’s milk is added to the warm new milk of the next. In England they are made in a deep hoop or vat containing from eight to ten pounds, and are not considered of proper age for the table till two years old. Little blue spots through the cheese, not at all like those on common moldy cheese, is the test of ripeness. We have seen them made in a two-quart hoop. They require very careful handling, and are very fine (we think more agreeabl

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PICKLES.

PICKLES.

Peach Pickles. —Select the finest and fairest fruit (we prefer Rareripes or Honest Johns to Morris Whites or Malacatoons, but that is a matter of taste), weigh the peaches, and for every pound of fruit take a full pound or slightly heaped quart of granulated sugar; put one gill of good cider vinegar and half a gill of water to every six pounds of sugar; put the vinegar and water into the preserving-kettle first, then add the sugar, set the kettle on the back part of the range or stove where it w

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MISCELLANEOUS HINTS.

MISCELLANEOUS HINTS.

To Make Tea. —There is very little skill required in making tea, and yet very few have it well prepared. It is important that the water should be boiling , not simply scalding; if it is not, the tea will be worthless. For English breakfast tea it is best to allow two heaped teaspoonfuls for each person. Either put the tea into a perfectly dry pot, and set it on the corner of the range till heated through, before adding the water, or fill the teapot with boiling water and let it stand till thorou

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GLEANINGS.

GLEANINGS.

To Clean Kid Gloves. —Have ready a little new milk in one saucer, a piece of white soap in another, and a clean cloth folded two or three times. On the cloth spread out the glove smooth and neat. Take a piece of flannel, dip it in the milk, then rub off a good quantity of soap on the wetted flannel, and commence to rub the glove toward the fingers, holding it firmly with the left hand. Continue this process until the glove, if white, looks of a dingy yellow, though clean; if colored, till it loo

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