September, 1890. 
169 
/ ORCHARD 
^VW/-.-v..- 
U. S. Mail. 
In response to J. L. Sloan's query in re- 
gard to canning pumpkins, we have receiv- 
ed nothing very encouraging. 
Mrs. Cowles, New York, writes: 
"I tried to can pumpkins one year, and it’s the first 
and last time for me. I took all the pains in the world, 
and cooked it most all day. and I never saw anything 
look nicer than it did in the cans. But goodness! the 
first one I opened nearly took my breath away. It was 
the worst smelling stuff I ever got hold of, and I 
thought I should never get the can sweet again. Well, 
I had to throw away the whole lot, and that’s my ex- 
perience with canniDg pumpkin.” 
We wish others had written on this sub- 
. ject; but from the silence, we conclude that 
no one has been very successful. In our 
own judgment, it hardly pays to spend 
much time over anything about which there 
is so much uncertainty. 
“Martha”, Pennsylvania, asks for “ are- 
liable way of making quince jelly, using 
only the cores and parings” while “House- 
keeper” wishes directions for making soft 
gingerbread. 
Some one, who signs herself “Anxious 
Mother,” says: 
“Can you tell me whether it is true, as the papers 
say It is, that diphtheria can be cured by burning tar 
and turpentine? Did you ever know of any one that 
tried It?” 
We have never had any personal experi- 
ence with diphtheria, but there are many 
who have faith in the remedy mentioned, 
although “Babyhood" suggests that those 
who think of using it should give timely 
notice to the fire department. Another 
alleged cure is the juice of ripe pineapples. 
What do our readers know on the subject? 
Is It Necessary? 
"" Some one has said that a woman's life is 
largely spent in picking up after others: — 
that is she has to be constantly putting in 
order and straightening out tilings which 
others have disarranged. 
This may be true, but is it necessary? 
Why should the wife and mother be expect- 
ed to do the work of husband, son. or 
daughter? Is it not largely a matter of 
training; — or rather a lack of training? 
If children are taught to take care of 
their own possessions, if boys and girls are 
required to keep their rooms in order, 
habits will be unconsciously formed which 
will save others many weary steps. 
True, it is often easier to put away Tom’s 
books, hat, and coat yourself rather than to 
insist upon his doing it: and, if it were for 
only once or twice, it would hardly be 
worth while to make the attempt. But 
look forward to years of putting away his 
x possessions: and, if you have no pity for 
#• yourself, remember that Tom will doubt- 
less marry some day, and if you teach him 
habits of thoughtful care, you will greatly 
lessen his wife’s burdens, as well as merit 
her constant gratitude. 
Did you ever chance to have the young 
man, occupying the room directly over 
yours invariably announce his retiring hour 
by throwing his shoes heavily on the floor? 
When you have been suddenly roused from 
your first nap by the thump, you may have 
been indignant at his thoughtlessness. Yet 
had his mother trained him to think of the 
comfort of others, even in such trifles, you 
would doubtless never have heard the shoes. 
It is the little annoyances of life that wear 
upon us, rasp our nerves, and hamper our 
usefulness: and. when we stop to think how 
many of them are wholly unnecessary, we 
mothers ought to resolve that our children 
shall lessen and not add to the burdens of 
others, and that the training which they 
are unconsciously receiving shall serve to 
make them kind, thoughtful, and agreeable 
men and women. 
Fruit Pies. 
In these days, when pie is so generally 
denounced, it is well to remember that its 
unwholesomeness lies largely in the under 
crust which may be dispensed with to 
advantage. 
If you have never tried it, make your 
next berry or fruit pie with this omission, 
and see if it isn’t the best one that you ever 
made. It may be somewhat difficult to 
serve, but its wholesomeness will more than 
make up for that. Perhaps you will like it 
better yet, English fashion, in a pudding 
dish, with a great deal of fruit, the crust 
being slight in comparison. 
As thoroughly baked fruit is a valuable 
food, the only objectionable part of a pie 
must be the pastry; and those who wish to 
avoid it altogether may be easily accom- 
modated by this method. Surely most sen- 
sible persons would prefer one of these de- 
licious pie-puddings to the thick pieces of 
indigestible crust, with a streak of fruit 
between, so often served under the name 
of pie. 
Comfort Before Show. 
For most of us, as well as for our children, 
“school begins" again in September. Vaca- 
tion time is oyer, and we resume the regu- 
lar round of household cares, from which 
we have had more or less relief. Our sum- 
mer has gone, and though heat and dust 
may still remain and cold weather seem far 
away, yet the shortening days and an indef- 
inable something in the air remind us that 
winter will surely come. 
Hence, the wise housekeeper begins al- 
ready to plan the season’s campaign. She 
considers what new clothing must be bought 
for the various members of the household, 
what deficiences there are in table or bed 
linen: what new furnishings are necessary 
throughout ' the house. By beginning in 
good season, and sewing a little every day, 
much may be accomplished which, if we 
waited till the need arose, we could not 
possibly do alone. 
In the autumn house-cleaning, more than 
in the spring, we feel anxious to make our 
houses as attractive as possible: for we know 
that the cold weather will keep us indoors 
a large part of the time. But let us be sure 
that we are not spending money for showy 
furnishings in the “company rooms” so 
long as the family living and sleeping 
rooms are deficient in comforts. 
It is not uncommon to find houses in 
which the “parlor” and guest-chamber are 
showily furnished and decorated, while the 
rooms which the childem occupy three 
hundred and sixty five days in the year are 
bare and unattractive, — perhaps even un- 
comfortable. 
If environment plays the important part 
in character development which most mod- 
ern writers claim, surely we ought to be 
very particular in these matters. Indeed, 
in the affairs of the household, we can 
hardly have a better motto than “Comfort 
before show.” 
A Use for Old Letters. 
Letters are interchanged so frequently 
now-days, and accumulate so rapidly, that 
most people cannot think of preserving 
them, but usually bum them as soon they 
are answered. 
A better, because more useful, method of 
destroying them has lately been found. It 
consists in cutting them in pieces the size 
of the finger nail, and using them for stuff- 
ing pillows, cushions, etc. These pillows 
are light and cool, and are highly recom- 
mended by physicians. 
It would be tiresome to cut many at a 
time: but. by keeping an old pillow case 
at hand, the bits may be put in whenever 
one feels like cutting. It will be a good 
amusement for children on rainy days, es- 
pecially if they are not required to do it, 
but it is suggested to add variety to their 
occupations. 
Stewed Pears. 
A delicious dish for luncheon or tea is 
made as follows. Remove the skin from a 
dozen pears; put them in a sauce pan with 
just enough water to prevent their burning, 
and a cupful of sugar. Place them where 
they will stew gently f6r five or six hours: 
serve cold with whipped cream. 
Scraps. 
To make macaroni tender, put it in cold 
water and let it come to a boil. 
To beat the whites of eggs quickly, put 
in a pinch of salt. This cools the eggs and 
also freshens them. 
Cream, to be whipped, should never stand 
on its milk more than twenty four hours. 
In case you have not a whip-churn, use a 
Dover egg-beater. 
A little common table salt, sprinkled over 
the surface of a mustard plaster, will enable 
the patient to keep it on comfortably for 
hours. 
To clean bottles, put into the bottle some 
kernels of corn and a tablespoonful of ashes: 
pour it half full of water, and, after a vig- 
orous shaking and rinsing, the bottle will 
be found as good as new. 
