490 THE TTOVSICHOLD. 



It will remove all scratches aud white marks made by bruising. DeBtroy 

 the rags or keep in open sight, as oiled cloths have been known to ignite 

 spontaneously. 



(4) Into one pint of linseed oil put lialf a pound of treacle and a glass of 

 gin; then, stirring well, apply sparingly with a Unen rag, aud if rubbed until 

 qiiite dry with linen cloths, this mixture will produce a splendid gloss. 

 Eating tables should be covered with oilcloth or baize, to prevent staining, 

 and be instantly rubbed when the dishes are removed. 



(5) Make a mixture of three parts of linseed oil and one part spirits of 

 turpentine. It not only covers the disfigured surface, but restores wood to 

 its original color, aud leaves a lustre on the surface. Put on with a woolen 

 cloth, and when dry rub down with woolen. 



(6) A nice furniture polish is made by mixing boiling linseed oil and 

 ■white varnish, using one-fourth varnish to three-fourths of the oil. Apply 

 with a flannel, rubbing thorqsttiJeiy, a/f5 afterwards rubbing with dry flannel 

 or chamois skin. rV 



(7) Equal quantities of common wax, white wax, white Boap, in the pro- 

 portion of one ounce of each to pint water. Cut the above ingredients fine, 

 and dissolve over a fire until well mingled. 



A "Very Clieap Bed Covering—The American Agincitltiirisl says: 

 .Many years ago, in one of the severe winters when there was much hardship 

 among the poor, a city paper suggested that old newspapers, spread over 

 the bed, would form an excellent substitute for blankets and coverlets. 

 This brought upon the joui-nal a great deal of harmless ridicule from other 

 papers, but it brought comfort to many a poor family. In the matter of bed- 

 clothing, especially, we are apt to associate warmth with weight, and do not 

 consider that there is no warmth in the coverings themselves, but that they 

 merely prevent the heat of the body from passing off. Whatever is a poor 

 conductor of heat will make a warm covering. Paper itself is a poor con- 

 ductor, but still poorer are the thin layers of air that ai-e confined when two 

 or three newspapers are laid upon one another. A few newspapers laid over 

 the bed will keep one miich wanner than some of the heavy, close woven 

 blankets. We do not propose newspapers as a substitute for blankets ancj 

 comforters, but it is Oi:e of those makeshifts that it is well to know. In 

 traveling one may, by the aid of a few papers, secure a comfortable rest in a 

 tliinly-clad bed, and if we cannot afford to give a destitute family a Idauket 

 or a comforter, we may show them how to increase the usefulness of their 

 thin coverings by stitching a few layers of newspapers between them. It 

 may be well to remind those who grow window plants that, by remo\'ing 

 them away from the ^Adndow and arranging a cover of newspapers over them, 

 they may be preserved from harm in severely cold nights. With the plants 

 as with ourselves, it is not so much that cold comes in as that the heat goes 

 off, and often a slight protection will prevent the escape of heat. 



WUat an Old Housekeeper lias I^earned. — " Never too old to 

 learn," and hero are a few of the things wo have learned at our house: 



That ripe cucumbers make a good sweet pickle. 



That a piece of cork is Itetter than cloth for applying brick to knives. 



That clabbered milk is better tliau water lor freshening salt fisli. 



That people who chew plenty of good beef and eschew jjork are sensible. 



That apples which take a long while to bake, should have a little water 

 in the pan. 



