106 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
peifectly at home in the culinary department. 
Iherc is no lack in the store-room, for Edward’s 
father is well off, and provides his family with all 
they need. We sat down, and one after another the 
family gathered round the table. Jane was still in 
hed, and Julia was not quite ready. The hoys were 
busy about something, and we were nearly half 
done eating before the entire family assembled 
at the table. It seemed so strange to me, for my 
father would never ask the blessing until every 
child was in his place, and we were as obedient to 
the ring of the breakfast bell as it was possible to 
be. But here, every one came when ready, 
and all left when they had finished, as though they 
were at a hotel. Jane made her appearance after 
"we were quite through, her hair in curl papers, and 
with a soiled morning dress carelessly wrapped 
aiound her. She said she had laid awake reading 
Victor Hugo’s “ Toilers of the Sea,” until a late 
hour, and didn’t feel like getting up early. At last 
everybody Avas done eating, and I helped clear away, 
expecting th.at the table would at once be put in 
its place, and the dishes Avashed up and put 
aAvay. EdAvard Avent out Avith his father to look 
about the place, and the boys Avere busy Avith their 
sleds and skates. EdAvard’s mother Avas taking 
care of the milk, which had set through breakfast 
unstrained, Avhile Julia devoted herself to her 
canary bird, and Jane dreamily addressed herself to 
the task of Avashing the dishes, talking all the time 
about the novel she had read the night before. It 
Avas ten o’clock before every thing Avas put aAvay, 
and then it was most time to begin to get dinner.’* 
It was very different at my home; Ave Avere all 
made to get up early, and while mother moved 
about the house, putting everything in order, and 
superintending the several domestic departments, 
one of us girls got the breakfost, another took care 
of the milk, and tlie other trimmed the lamps and 
helped generally. The boys brought in wood and 
did the various chores that boys usually do. We 
all sat down to table together, and after breakfast 
and prayers Averc over, one of us girls cleared aAvay 
the breakfast dishes, another swept the floor, or 
made the necessary preparations for dinner, ’and 
thus by a division of labor, OAir Avork was all done 
up by nine o’clock, floors swept, beds made, and 
everything in order. Mother had us take turns in 
the different departments. I had entire charge of 
the table one week, Avhile Emeline attended to the 
chamber-work and sweeping, and Jennette was re¬ 
sponsible for the Avork not included in these divis¬ 
ions. Thus, by a system of rotation in office, Ave 
all became familiar with the entire household rou¬ 
tine, Avhile Mother directed and supervised all. 
March 10<A.—I Avas not half done writing in my 
Diary, Avhen Edward came in Avith bad news, and a 
funny time we have had! The old mother pig sud¬ 
denly died, leaving ten poor little orphan babies 
only three days old. “What shall be done Avith 
them?” Ave both exclaimed. My sister Jennette, 
Avho came home Avith me to stay a month or tAVo, 
and who is extremely fond of animals, suggested 
that Ave bring them into the house and raise them 
by hand. So Ave took the tAvo bushel basket, filled 
it half full of soft oat straAv, and the bereaved 
family Avas established in a Avarm corner back of 
the kitchen stove. I scalded a quart of ncAV milk, 
added a little water, as I had seen mother do for 
human babies, and Jennette and I spread large 
aprons in our laps, and began to feed them. We 
had to open their little mouths with our fingers 
and pour the milk down their musical throats. 
Such a squealing as they made ! but they relished 
the SAveetened laeteal very much. In two hours 
we repeated the operation, passing them all back 
into basket No. 1. At night avc took turns in feed¬ 
ing them every two hours. They soon learned to 
squeal the moment they hoard the rattling of the 
spoon, but by feeding them the last thing at night, 
and the first thing in the morning, avc secui-ed 
good rest last night, and they arc groAving so fast! 
I meant to liaA^e written more about my Adsit, but 
llie advent of the ten baby pigs so unexpectedly 
into my kitchen, quite banished all thoughts of 
writing from my head. And I have been occupied 
with Jennette, and in teaching Sue, and in making 
and receiving visits.—Who should come to see me 
the other day, but Bettie Ilannum! She was mai-- 
ried the Aveek after I Avas, and went right to house¬ 
keeping. Such doleful accounts as she gave of her 
experience in cooking ! She used to sajg she 
thought my mother was very hard on her girls to 
make them do so much housework, that it Avould 
be time enough to learn hoAV Avhen she had a house 
to keep, and her mother Avanted her to enjoy her¬ 
self while she Avas free from domestic care. She 
sees her mother’s mistake now. 
IjcaATcs ft’oiM. ]W[y Jonmal. 
PRIZK ESSAY BY MBS. B. mI.CLELLAN, OE OHIO. 
I have been making a “shoe bag” for Lizzie to- 
daj. I made a small one, too, for Hannah’s room, 
though I don’t know as she will take the trouble to 
use it. As it is quite fanciful, she will like it for an 
ornament at any rate. Lizzie’s is of green delaine, 
bound Avith crimson braid, and lined Avith cambric 
of the same color. It is really pretty. A good size 
is three quarters of a yard in length, and half a yard 
in width. This gives room for three tiers of bags, 
Avith three in a roAV. The lower ones arc the deepest; 
and the upper, being the smallest, furnish a nice 
place for the shoes of the little ones, or for stock¬ 
ings as well. One of the lower corner bags is just 
the place for “ father’s ” slippers. The bag should 
be tacked upon the inside of the closet door of the 
bed-room.—A “string bag” is most conA^enient in 
the pantry; made of calico, a quarter of a yard 
square, and hung by a stout cord to its oavu nail. 
Let every string around store bundles and every 
thing else find place in it. Though Avithin reach of 
Charlie,” Avho has such unheard of uses for 
strings, it Avill always be running overfull. Anoth¬ 
er useful bag about house, is one for patches and 
pieces of all sorts. This should be large and square, 
so that, upon drawing it wide open, the Avhole con¬ 
tents can be seen, without being at the trouble to 
empty it. The old-fashioned '“ragbag,” though 
not ornamental, must have some g'ood corner for 
safe keeping. Not a shred should be carelessly 
thrown aAvay. Its contents Avill keep the tin mend¬ 
ed, and noAV and then furnish a bright addition 
in that line, Avhich the careful housekeeper, Avith 
a self-satisfied shrug, will pronounce “ clear gain.” 
I called to-day upon two of my friends, and have 
been thinking so much about them, I must tell my 
Journal some of my thoughts to night. They are 
both considered very superior housekeepers, but 
A'iew life and its duties from quite opposite stand¬ 
points. Mrs. W. is an inveterate scrubber. Her 
house, from attic to cellar, and everything in it, is 
just as clean as soap and sand, and hard rubbing 
can make it. She has a large family, and usually 
does the work herself, for she can not find help 
neat enough to suit her. Of course she has no 
time for any thing else. She is jaded and Avorn, 
and so annoyed by dirt, that I fear her children do 
not find home either bright or happy. She seldom 
goes out, but she mourns that her cares allow her 
no time for enjoyment. 
The home of Mrs. Y. is equally neat, but much 
more inA'iting. She is often called overnice. Per¬ 
haps she is. But she says she has found that keep¬ 
ing every thing in order, and doing every thing at 
the right time, saves work and time too, and she 
does it for that. At any rate, she has time for many 
a work of love. She visits the poor and the sick, 
Avith hands and heart full, for their relief and com¬ 
fort. She is kind and polite to all, intelligent and 
beloved. If a choice bouquet is Avanted, or a deli¬ 
cate cake, a prden herb, or the very best recipe 
foi any thing in the housekeeping line, it is Avell 
understood that Mrs. Y. is the one to supply it. 
Hei children rise up and call her blessed, her hus¬ 
band also, and he praiseth her.” Her home is re- 
lieA^ed from the stiffness and exactness of too scru- 
lAulous order, by the atmosphere of love, Avith 
Avhich it seems ever surrounded. 
March. One of my neighbors told me to-day, 
that her Pickled Peppers Avere coA'cred Avith a Avhite 
scum. She had scalded the vinegar, and then put 
on new, but all to no purpose. She had come to 
the conclusion that the A'inegar was poor. That 
maybe the trouble, as Pejapers keep better than 
other pickles. But for the past two years I have 
put horseradish root among mine for this A"cry 
purpose, and it has been “just the thing.” It adds 
a fine element to their flavor, and has wholly pre¬ 
vented the Avhite scum. Tomatoes are favorite 
pickles Avith us. I choose those of small size, slice 
them and scald a fcAv minutes in strong salt ivater. 
After draining, I pack them in a jar, sprinkling 
among them cloves, cinnamon, peppers, and horse¬ 
radish. The vinegar should be scalded, and poured 
over them hot. They keep well until they are 
eaten up! When blustering March comes round, 
pickles find a good market. I don’t know Avhy it 
is, but the apjietite becomes dainty, and craves 
something sour and stimulating. Now is the time 
for the housekeeper to bring out from her hoarded 
treasures the canned redxherries. How splendid 
their color! How delicious and acceptable their 
flavor! Mr. Frisby declares, again and again, that 
they “go to the very spot.” However, they must 
not be dealt out too generously. Currants, black¬ 
berries, and jellies, give a good A-ariety. Apples, 
too, must be freely used, for they will soon become 
insipid, and there is scarcely an end to the different 
modes in which they may be prepared for the ta¬ 
ble. Cut into halves, removing the cores and skins, 
and filling the space with a little butter and sugar’ 
j and baking in a pan, in which has been poured a lit¬ 
tle water, they make an excellent dessert to be eaten 
Avith cream and sugar, or served as sauce for the tea- 
table. “Yankee Pie” is another favorite dish. Slice 
apples into a quart basin, or pudding dish, which has 
been well buttered. Add a little Avater, and cover 
Avith crust about half an inch thick, made up as 
for soda-biscuit. It requires about three-quarters 
of an hour to bake. Place the plate to receive it 
upside doAvn upon its top, and reverse the whole. 
The apples, white and soft, Avill thus be upon the 
crust, and may have a dressing of butter, sugar, and 
nutmeg. But the crowning dish of all is fresh ap¬ 
ple-pie. (That is, proAdded I make it myself!) Too 
much apple is usually put in a pie. Let the plate 
be only even full, but of a quality that is tender, 
tart, and juicy. Add sugar, butter, salt and a liitle 
nutmeg. This last gives a lemon flavor if used in 
small quantity. 
Mr. G. took dinner Avith us ^o-day. He came 
round to his favorite topic—comparing the women 
of the present generation with our Avonderful 
grandmothers and great-grandmothers of the olden 
time. He enjoys it so Avell, and is so perfectly set 
in his opinion, that I don’t take the trouble to haA’o 
any argument with him. One fact, however, is 
noticeable. He never alludes to the sturdy old 
grandfathers, who Avere a match for their Avives any 
time. Who ever heard of them with fldse shirt 
bosoms and wristbands, Avith paper collars, and all 
manner of fancy neckties, with kid gloves, or 
stoA e-pipe hats, or cloth boots, or bosom pins, CA^en 
if they were miniature links, or nde und compass set 
in gold! Were they found at the Theatre, or Opera, 
or even at the counting-room, until the small hours 
of the night! B}^ nine o’clock they and their fami¬ 
lies were in bed, and long before the morning light 
crimsoned the east, they were up and at Avork, 
milking the coavs, and feeding the cattle. Hoav, in 
the dead of Avintei-, with good homespun suit, and 
cowhide boots, and mittens that “mother” had 
knit, they were off with an ox-team to the Avoods, 
cutting and draAving, with ncA'er flinching patience, 
the year’s supply of firCAVood. Hoav heartily they 
breakfAsted, and dined, and supped upon ^^pothick," 
with a good mug of cider for a condiment. Who 
CA^er heard then of bronchitis, or dj^spepsia, or a 
A'oyage to Europe, or dumb-bells, or fishing-smacks, 
for health ? I do hope Mrs. G. doesn’t try very hard 
to be like our grandmothers, for I am sure her hus¬ 
band don’t remind me in the least of the grand¬ 
father’s of yore. 
A blessed old man of eighty-three was mine, 
when he went to rest. A fresh, rosy face, and .a 
heart full of love, had he. His teeth were as sound 
as a nut, but his head Avas bald. He AA'ore a wig of 
young broAvn hair. Ah, me! human nature Avas 
the same then as now, after aU! 
