AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
505 
1884.] 
Useful and Ornamental Household 
Articles. 
The bird-cage converted into a hanging-basket, 
as seen at tlie left of the engraving, makes a very 
pretty ornament for the sitting-room in winter. 
An old bird-cage can be used, by giving it a coat of 
paint, or regilding it. Get a tin pan about two 
inches in depth, make a number of holes in the 
bottom of it, and also in the bottom of the cage, 
fill the pan with rich earth, and pl.ant some light, 
running vine in it; set it in the bottom of the cage, 
and fasten on the top by means of stout wire, as 
the ordinary fastenings will not be secure enough. 
The music rack in the lower corner, is formed 
from an old-fashioned wash-stand, in the manner 
fully described in the Household Department of 
the September number of this year. 
A pretty cover for a flower pot may be made 
from a Japanese fan. Cut the end sticks off, and 
sew the paper parts together. Kun a thread 
through the upper part, and draw it to fit the pot; 
also run one through the end of the sticks, where 
the rivet was inserted, to keep the bottom in place. 
The color of the fan should form a pleasing con¬ 
trast with that of the plant and flowers in the pot. 
A common cigar box aids in the ornamentation 
of an ordinary clock, as seen in the illustration. 
Cut a hole in the bottom of the box, large enough 
to admit the face of the clock, cover the box neatly 
with plush, cut the opening in the plush an inch 
smaller than the one in the box, slash it around, and 
draw it through, and glue it to the inside of the box. 
The lid should be covered separately, and fastened 
on the box with small hinges, or by means of pieces 
of muslin glued on the inside, to serve as hinges. 
Fasten the clock securely in the box. The vine may 
be either embroidered or painted; if embroidered, 
it must be done before the covering is put on. 
Cover a small shelf for the clock with the same 
material, and finish it around the edge with fringe. 
Now that the days for fans are over for this year, 
the Japanese fan catch-all is in order. Cover one 
side of the fan with satin, using muslin on the 
other side. Make a pocket of satin, and sew it on 
the side of the fan covered with the same material. 
This forms the catch-all, shown in the lower cor¬ 
ner. Finish with a large bow on athe handle. 
Catering for the Sick. 
MART WINCHESTER. 
“ How I wish I knew what to make for Mrs. 
Ellis that would tempt her appetite,” said 1 to 
Aunt Lizzie, who was visiting me ; “she has been 
a very kind neighbor, and it would be a pleasure to 
send in something she would relish if I only knew 
what. Her girl is well-meaning enough, but not 
exactly adapted to take care of a sick person, and 
her little daughter is too young to do more than 
wait on her mamma, as well as she knows how.” 
For the benefit of those who have felt as I did at that 
time, I repeat some of Aunt Lizzie’s suggestions. 
That day we made milk-porridge by taking a half 
pint each of new milk and water, and letting them 
come to a boil in a saucepan. Then two teaspoon¬ 
fuls of flour were rubbed smooth in a little cold 
water, added to the boiling milk and water, and 
allowed to cook an instant, salted slightly and a 
little nutmeg grated over the porridge. 
A small gilt-band china bowl was filled with this 
porridge, and covered with a doiley; a bit of salt 
codfish was pulled into shreds and laid on an old- 
fashioned glass sauce plate ; a cracker split and 
toasted, and all arranged on a tray covered with a 
fresh damask napkin. Little Bessie undertook to 
carry it across the way with many injunctions, and 
Robbie as bedy-guard to open and shut doors and 
gates. They returned bringing the good news that 
“ Mrs. Ellis ate every drop and crumb, and said 
she felt ever so much better.” But without 
going further into details with regard to my 
neighbor, I will add a few acceptable dishes. 
Chicken Panada. —Boil a young chicken half 
an hour in a quart of water, then pound the white 
meat to a paste in a mortar with a spoonful or two 
of the broth. Season it carefully with salt, add 
more of the broth and boil a few minutes. It should 
be of such a consistency that it can be drank, 
though rather thick. The remainder of the broth, 
with a little rice added, will do for another meal. 
Egg Gruel is at once food and medicine. Some 
have great faith in its efficacy in chronic dysentery. 
Boil a pint of new milk ; beat four fresh eggs to a 
light froth and add to the milk while it boils ; stir 
together thoroughly, but do not let it boil again ; 
sweeten with loaf sugar and grate in a small nut¬ 
meg ; add a little salt. Use half of it while it is 
warm, and the other half in two hours or so. 
Wine Whey for a patient convalescing from fe¬ 
ver is an acceptable drink. Heat half a pint of new 
milk blood-warm, pour in one glass of wine, and 
let it remain undisturbed until the milk curdles. 
When the curds settle, strain it and let it cool. A 
spoonful of rennet water hastens the operation. It 
may be made palatable with loaf-sugar and nut¬ 
meg if the patient ean bear it. Sherry is the best 
wine for the purpose. 
A Blanc-mange is easily prepared, and very nu¬ 
tritious. To a quart of milk in a farina kettle or 
tin pail, set in a kettle of boiling water, add half 
an ounce of w'ell washed Irish moss, and let it cook 
in the milk until it thickens ; then strain, sweeten, 
and flavor, if the natural moss taste is not liked. 
Oat-plouk Jelly may be eaten either warm or 
cold as preferred. To a pint au<l a half of boil¬ 
ing water in a double boiler, add an even teaspoon¬ 
ful of salt. Mix a cup and a half of sifted oat-flour 
with half a pint of cold water to a smooth paste, 
and stir it into the hot water ; when well mixed, 
cover, and let it cook two and a half hours. 
USEFUL AND ATTRACTIVE DEVICES FOR THE HOUSEHOLD. 
Dj’awii and hnuravtd for the American Agriculturist. 
