490 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[November, 
THE H(D)HJ§EHS3)!LP. 
I3f° For other Household Items see “ Basket ” pages. 
Window Shelves for Plants. 
In partial return for the many hints I have 
received from the American Agriculturist, 
please accept the following, which, so far as 
I am aware, is original with me. If one has 
window shelves for plants, it is convenient 
to have them so arranged that the plants may 
receive the greatest possible 
benefit from the light in the 
daytime, without incurring the 
risk of freezing at night. To 
accomplish this, take two of 
the castings used to hold up the 
ends of curtain rollers, figure 
1, and fasten them on the in¬ 
side window casing at the de¬ 
sired hight. For the shelf, 
1—the US0 half-inch stuff, cutting it 
BRACKET. , | i ?_ • /-» a 
the shape shown m figure 2. 
The width at the widest part may be five or 
six inches ; at the ends one inch. Bore gim¬ 
let holes lengthwise into the narrow ends as 
indicated by the dotted lines, slip the shelf 
between the castings, and put a picture nail 
through the hole in each casting, and into 
Fig. 2. —THE WINDOW SHELF. 
the gimlet hole in the corresponding end of 
the shelf. Insert a screw-hook in the ceiling 
above, directly over a point half way between 
the short edge of the shelf when turned 
toward the glass, and the same edge when 
turned toward the apartment. From this 
hook No. 9 or 10 wires depend, and are 
hooked upon wood-screws in the edge of the 
Fig. 3. —THE SHELF IN POSITION. 
short side, the shelf itself being thus supported 
in a horizontal position, whether turned in 
or out. If other shelves are required, they 
may be put between castings fastened lower 
on the casing, and be supported horizontally 
by a wire depending from the edge of the 
upper shelf. The advantage of the arrange¬ 
ment is, that, in addition to the higher tem¬ 
perature secured for the plants by the turning 
of the shelf, the window curtain can be con¬ 
veniently interposed between the glass and 
the shelf at night. If a wider shelf is de¬ 
sired, a suitable block may first be attached 
to the casing, and the casting screwed to 
that; or, if the castings are not at hand, a 
bracket-lilce block may be used instead. Care 
should be taken to have the shelf fill the 
space between the end supports, as in this 
way it will be stronger, and the whole affair 
should be as light as is consistent with neces¬ 
sary strength. Rubus. 
Home Topics'.—Childish Disrespect. 
BY FAITH ROCHESTER. 
This is the fault that some persons would 
punish with especial severity, and such per¬ 
sons are apt to judge superficially, or more 
by a child’s words than by its meaning 
or motive. Very young children often 
speak disrespectfully without any idea that 
they are doing wrong. They are natural 
democrats (not in a modem political sense), 
and they have an innate sense of “ equality.” 
“If you won’t be 6aucy to me, I won’t be 
saucy to you,” said little Fanny when her 
mother reproved her for sauciness. Fanny’s 
mother, perhaps, had never thought that a 
parent could be guilty of sauciness, but I 
often think of the child’s remark when 
children speak disrespectfully to their par¬ 
ents. I can usually see that they have 
brought it upon themselves—that more pa¬ 
tience and gentleness on the parent’s part 
would have prevented the hasty reply. 
Parents certainly should treat their chil¬ 
dren with respect. Not as though the chil¬ 
dren were their superiors, but as though they 
had rights which all were bound to respect, 
and feelings which the parents should re¬ 
gard, and tastes and preferences worthy of 
reasonable consideration. Children so treated 
will not be tempted to serious impudence. I 
do not say that they will never speak words 
that sound saucy. The only way to prevent 
that, is to bring them up in a state of constant 
fear, so that they never speak at all except in 
well-considered words. If children feel free 
and easy and confidential with their parents, 
they will be apt to address them sometimes 
very much as they do their playmates of their 
own age, and sometimes this will seem dis¬ 
respectful when no disrespect is intended. 
Of course we should try to teach them good 
manners, and this includes gentle and respect¬ 
ful behavior, but if we send them to school, 
or allow them to play with their little neigh¬ 
bors, they will probably pick up expressions 
that we cannot admire, and use them in the 
family. Few children of natural indepen¬ 
dence or spontaneity have never said “ I 
won’t ” to their parents. But often this means 
nothing more than an expression of prefer¬ 
ence—or too vehement expression, which 
should certainly be modified. But the child 
expresses the momentary feeling, and imme¬ 
diately repents, and intends no disobedience. 
You remember the Bible story about the 
two who were bidden to go work in the vine¬ 
yard. One said, “ I go, sir,” and went not. 
The other said “ I go not,” and afterwards re¬ 
pented and went. I am sometimes reminded 
of this by the children’s conduct. Who are 
we that we should sit in judgment of the 
children and condemn them ? If we are the 
children’s parents we are a part of the “old 
stock ” whence the children, with their vari¬ 
ous dispositions, have sprung. If the dispo¬ 
sition is wha 1 - is called “ bad,” did the child 
deliberately choose it? Did it even ask for 
you as its parents ? Did you not bring it into 
the midst of life’s grave responsibilities with¬ 
out asking its consent or consulting its pref¬ 
erences? It is certain, then, that the child 
has a right to great patience and forbearance 
from those whose duty it is to give it support 
and education. 
Most of us commit the same faults that we 
deplore, and try to correct in our children. 
Probably we have learned more prudence 
than they, but few of us are always courte¬ 
ous in our treatment of others. 
I hope no one supposes me to be making a 
plea for sauciness. I disapprove of it heart¬ 
ily, but I think that duplicity is a fault that 
has a deeper root and more dangerous ten® 
dency. Some children of the most respectful 
demeanor toward parents and teachers, turn 
out to be most treacherous persons, and when 
they get beyond the fear of the lash they 
naturally mature into scoundrels. 
If we must choose between a very quiet 
and respectful behavior in our children, with 
never a word amiss, and with a growing re¬ 
serve between parents and children as the 
latter mature ; or a frank companionship and 
intimate fellowship between parents and 
children, though the frankness sometimes 
turns to momentary sauciness—I, for one, 
should choose the latter alternative; and I 
could hardly be sorry, in sober moments, if my 
children had spunk or independence enough 
to assert themselves if I should forget myself 
and encroach too far upon their self-respect. 
In almost every family there are discordant 
temperaments, and these will sometimes 
clash, especially when put under the hard 
strain of poverty, to which many are born. 
Mending 1 Stockings and Shoes. 
BX A MINNESOTA HOUSEKEEPER. 
You do not hear people talk of mending 
stockings. They darn those articles usually. 
But I have learned to sew patches upon 
stockings after they have been worn a good 
deal, and have borne considerable darning. 
New heels of strong woollen cloth may be 
sewed into old woollen socks, and strong cot¬ 
ton heels into cotton hose. The old ragged 
heel may be cut away, but the new heel 
should be made large enough to lap well 
under or over the edge of the stocking, as cut 
away. Do not turn in the edges, because this 
makes the work too bungling, but darn 
lightly back and forth across the two edges, 
or if in great haste (as many a poor mother 
must be if she has all the work of a family 
to do), run around both edges, not drawing 
the thread too tight. For patches on other 
parts of the stocking besides the heel, strong 
parts of old stockings cf the same quality 
are most suitable. Of course this is not so 
nice as good darning, but it is much more 
quickly accomplished, and in many cases this 
is a very great merit. 
Many poor people have no idea how many 
pennies they might save if they would some¬ 
times mend their own shoes. I don’t know 
much about the cobbler’s art, but I have 
learned by experience that a coarse needle 
and strong black linen thread can accomplish 
wonders. For instance, here is a pair of 
“school-girl shoes.” That is what the shoe 
dealer called them when we inquired for 
