156 



KEW ENGLAND FARIVIER. 



Maech 



these garments of taste and comfort for her house- 

 hold. 



It was the fashion a few years since to wear 

 boots of the same color and material as the dress ; 

 and then many young women, in a spasm of econ- 

 omy, furnished themselves with a set of tools, and 

 went to work making boots for themselves and 

 their friends. But their enthusiastic fit soon wore 

 off. Perhaps if it had continued they would not 

 have found themselves able to manage the more 

 substantial, and more sensible materials of which 

 women's boots are now made. Yet the same 

 energy and prudence, which prompted them to 

 that work at that time, ought to set them to mak- 

 ing all sorts of house shoes and slippers. Serge, 

 thibets and the thicker woolen cloths are suitable 

 materials, with the addition of felt — M'hich old 

 hats will furnish— thickly quilted in layers, for 

 soles ; or, in some cases, the thinner sole leather, 

 procui-ed of the shoemaker or at the leather-deal- 

 er's. Worn-out shoes and slippers will serve for 

 patterns, and silesia and common worsted braid — 

 often remaining after making dresses— for linings 

 and bindings. Boots should be kept in repair by 

 inserting new elastic gores when needed — stitch- 

 ing them evenly with a stout needle and strong, 

 waxed thread; by neatly mending the eyelet 

 strips in the same manner, and also all broken 

 buttonholes. Both serge and leather boots can be 

 mended with a short needle and strong thread, by 

 slipping the needle between the lining and the 

 outside and passing from side to side of the rent 

 or rip with small stitches. 



Every article of clothing should be carefully 

 used, promptly and faithfully mended, and when 

 not in actual service either folded or hung 

 smoothly away from dust and dampness, where 

 nothing can soil or injure it. It is the duty of 

 housewives to teach by their own example the im- 

 portance of maintaining an agreeable personal 

 appearance — which can never be accomplished 

 without thorough neatness and tidiness in attire ; 

 no nicety nor elegance can ever atone for the ab- 

 sence of these virtues, and the influence of a 



mother's habits in these respects is beyond calcu- 

 lation. 



[The next chapter will give suggestions and directions 

 concerning Children's Clothing.] 



From Putnam's Magazine for February. 

 THE OUTCAST. 



Her sympathies are yours and mine, 



Her heart is full of human love, 

 Her tastes, in spite of tinsel shine. 



Do naught against her nature prove; 

 Not less her pity is tlian ours, 



Nor are her joys an idle jest; 

 Sharp are the thorns beneath the flowers 



She clasps unto her woman's breast. 



She came into her life of blame. 



Like us, in helplessness of grace; 

 Unconsciously received her name. 



Unconsciously assumed her place; 

 Blessed with maternal care or cursed 



With poverty's neglect, she rose 

 Through years' gradation and rehearsed 



Her future of allotted woes. 



It was not if she could or would ; 



the took her fate, like us, on trust; 

 Her follies are no natural mood. 



Nor does she choose for jewels, dust; 

 For had she chosen, well we know 



Her life had been our counterpart, 

 With more perhaps than we bestow 



lu sympathies of mind and heart. 



The glances of her evil eyes 



On us pass judgment none the less 

 Than we, who walk in saintly guise, 



Condemning what we only guess. 

 Where we discern a gulf between, 



She sees a simple line of chance. 

 And holds that we like her had been, 



But for the chain of circumstance. 



The stars that guard the lovers' talk 



Are not more ch iste with holy light. 

 Than when they guide her wayward walk 



Through the waste places of the night; 

 And she and we beneath their rays 



Reason the same, or reason not. 

 And misinterpret others' ways 



To make our own the happier lot. 



And which of us the saints shall say 



She's wholly wrong nor partly right; 

 Or who, beneath that painted clay, 



Pronounce there is no blameless white? 

 Then cast not at her stones of pride. 



Low stooping from our height above; 

 But, moving humbly at her side. 



Lift up her life with saving love. 



