ii6 



DOMESTIC ECONOMY. 



[Chap. IV. 



omy with any satisfaction ? Ho looks every time he comes into the house 

 witli an anxious eye at the progress of the work, "lioping the confouiulcd 

 long-armed quilting-frumes will get out of the way some time." Now, for 

 the special benefit of such nervous gentlemen, some good soul out in Mich- 

 igan has invented a quilting-machine that has no arms to stick out in the 

 way. " jSTecessity is the mother of invention," and this inventor, we sup- 

 pose, lived in a log-cabin only sixteen feet square, which, as it contained two 

 beds and a cooking-stove, had no spare room to set up the quilting-framcs 

 on four chairs ; so he contrived a machine something like this, as near as 

 we can understand the description : Frame four legs together like the Irame 

 of a kitchen table, with side pieces nine feet long, dropped five inches below 

 the top of the legs, and end pieces two and a half feet long. Now take some 

 scantling, two or two and a half inches square, and round them with inch 

 round tenons upon each end to work in sockets in the top of the legs. Upon 

 one end of each of these rollers have a little ratchet wheel and catch, and 

 nail a strip of cloth along one side of each to which to tack the edges of the 

 quilt. When all ready, roll it all but tho two and a half feet wide strip 

 upon one roller and tighten the catch ; now quilt tliat side and roll upon the 

 other roller and so on till finished. The side pieces should be made to go in 

 with a key, so that the frame can be taken down and packed away at any 

 time, even with the quilt half finished, as it can be rolled up snug. It is a 

 simple piece of domestic machinery, but would add to the comfort of many 

 a household. 



467. Carpets and Carpet Sweepers. — Keep a broom exclusively for carpet 

 sweeping. Never use it for any other purpose. Every one knows that the 

 daily dust arising from sweejjing carpets causes a permanent injury to furni- 

 ture, books, pictures, and the lungs. It is an old but good way to sprinkle 

 the floor first with damp tea-leaves, and then sweep Avith a bristle brush ; 

 but latterly we have found it much easier and more convenient to use one 

 of the new revolving carpet sweepers, which takes up the dust and puts it 

 away in a box so it does not rise without using any moistening application. 

 They are especially suited to libraries, offices, cabinets, and parlors. 



The most economical carpet, probably, is a good, stout American ingrain, 

 which will cost about two dollars a square yard. If you are buying a 

 carpet for durability, choose small figures. A fai'mer should never grudge 

 the money to cover one room, at least, with a first-rate carpet, and 

 cheaper ones for sitting-rooms, bed-rooms, and dining-room, if one is set 

 apart for the latter purpose. There is no furniture that adds so much to 

 the comfort of a house at the same cost as carpets. These is no labor better 

 bestowed about a house than giving the carpet a thorough shaking and 

 beating in a hot, dry day, upon the clean grass, at least once a year. 



You need not hesitate to wash a carpet with strong soap-suds, with a 

 brush, as it lies upon the floor, using clear water afterward, and drying it 

 by ironing upon coarse towels spread over the wet si:)ots. 



4:68. Remoring Stains — Beef-Gall.— There is no better substance than the 



