Domestic 
HOPE EVERMORE’S CONTRIBUTIONS. 
A MEDLEY PICTURE. 
One of the prettiest pictures I have seen 
lately, among a picture-loving people too, 
was a medley picture. As it is composed of 
many smaller ones, almost any lady of taste 
and ingenuity can make one, provided she 
has ft liberal supply of engravings as a basis 
to start from. If one has enough pictures 
representing some particular subject —as 
school or rural scenes—it is more interesting 
to ohooso ft subject and then so arrange the 
pictures that they may represent it as nearly 
to perfection as possible. It will not do to 
make such a, picture in a hurry, os it requires 
considerable time and patience, os well as 
artistic skill, to do it well. Wliilo some of 
the pictures will jut on to each other nicely, 
the objects must be cut out from others and 
pasted on wherever they will produce the 
best effect, for they must be so arranged 
that one could hardly imagine bo many on- 
grat ings had helped to make such a beauti¬ 
ful picture. A large, blank sheet of unruled, 
white paper should be used as a foundation, 
and upon this mark with a pencil the exact 
size you design the picture to be, leaving a 
white margin of about two inches. 
CUCUMBER PICKLES. 
Put into a jar or barrel one pint of molasses 
to each gallon of cold water ; add the cucum¬ 
bers daily, as you pick them, having them 
first washed with n feather brush, and see 
they are not scratched or bruised, and that 
the stem Is cut, not broken or pulled off. 
Put a weight on them, and when they have 
become sufficiently sour remove them to the 
cellar or a cool place, but never let them 
freeze. If more liquor is needed, add molas¬ 
ses and water as beforo. Since horseradish 
was rocommanded in the Rural New- 
YORJCBR a few years sinco, I have used it 
with the best results, and now put it among 
all pickles to prevent scum or mold. Add 
spices if desired. These pickles are as good 
as cucumber pickles can be made, will keep 
a year and arc ready for use at any time after 
the first few weeks. 1 think all housekeep¬ 
ers, to whom it is new, will hail this recipe 
with delight, as I did, for I was tired of 
“salting down,” and too much of a temper¬ 
ance woman to use or make whiskey pickles 
for my family. 
PRESERVING PLUMS FOR WINTER. 
I have found the following method a very 
good one for keeping plums fresh through 
the winter for cooking purposes, and It is 
particularly desirable where one wishes to 
put down a large quantity—a barroifuli, for 
instanco, as some of my neighbors have done. 
Carefully assort the plums, rejecting any 
that are worm-eaten or which show signs of 
decay ; wash them, and remove the bloom, 
which can best be done by placing them in 
a clean, coarse towel or sack, and gently 
shaking them back and forth ; put them into 
a barrel or cask, and pour on boiling water 
until it entirely eovera them. Put a round 
cover over them with a weight, to keep 
them in the water, and a cloth cover over 
all, until they become cold, when any tight 
cover will suffice. Keep In a very cool place 
where they will not freeze. As the plums 
should bo scalded until some of them begin 
to crack open, it is sometimes more conven¬ 
ient to scald them in a kettle of boiling water 
over the fire, as by the former method they 
will not be sufficiently scalded unless enough 
boiling water to cover them Is poured on at 
first. When wanted for use, dip them out, 
add fresh water, sugar plentifully, and stew 
as other plums. Hope Evermore. 
• - ■»»»■ ' - 
FAIR PLAY. 
I have been much interested in reading 
the many wise and sensible letters from 
good, practical farmers’ wives, and I cannot 
sufficiently admire Esther Illen and others 
whose opinions and experience have made 
their letters so interesting. But now, dear 
sister Kuralists, how would you like, for a 
change, to hear from one who is not of your 
kind—one who is weak where you are strong, 
and one who, where you are wise, is very far 
otherwise i I am a farmer's wife, but not 
more fitted for that position than a pony is 
fit to draw an ox-cart. And you know the 
poor pony might puli and tug, and by that 
means might draw the cart; but after a 
year of such work, If he was still alive, what 
would he be i A poor, broken-down, value¬ 
less “plug,” when if he had been put to his 
proper work, he would have been as sleek 
and frisky as a kitten Now, I have always 
lived on a farm aud 1 love country life ; but 
for tlm life of me, I can’t find my highest 
delight in churning, washing, ironing, &c. I 
suppose Esther Allen ;bles3 her dear, ener¬ 
getic soul I) will say “lazinesa!” But I beg 
your pardon, it is not so I 1 like what I like, 
and I hold that it i? my right to choose nay 
work as it is the right of my masculine 
friends. Now, a farmer has two sons : John 
likes fanning and James don’t; so John 
stays homo where he belongs and whore he 
lovos lo be, but James must have a profes¬ 
sion or a trade, or ho must measure off tape 
and calico, as his tastes incline, and lio is 
smiled upon and encouraged; but just let 
the farmer's daughter dare to say she hates 
housework, and she is at once condemned 
as hopelessly lazy ; for what is a woman 
meant for if not for that ? 
Now, some may give up to the prejudice ol’ 
those around them, and do what is repulsive 
to them for the great honor of being called 
“smart;” but 1 intend to do*As I ploaso. 
There are womon who like the toll of a farm¬ 
er’s wife and can do work enough for two, 
hard work too, aud be as fresh as a rosebud 
in the afternoon, and a3 smiling as a sun¬ 
beam. I am glad there arc such ; I have 
several in my mind now. They are a bles¬ 
sing, and I sometimes wish 1 wore one of 
them ; but everybody cau’t bo alike, and I 
cannot, with pleasure, eouflne mysolf to 
work which alwayamakos me “ fagged out,” 
weary and spiritless. Can 1 help it if I like 
pencils, pen and book bettor than broom, 
mop and wash-board i Bo blame me who 
may, so long as there are big, stout BRIDGETS 
and Dinars in tho world, I will stick to my 
opinion that the work was meant for their 
brawny hands. I am only a wee woman, 
and have not seen 3U years quite yet, and 
have always had strong arms to protect and 
willing Lauds to work for me, and I hold 
that tho great and strong should take care 
of the small and weak. Ermenoaude, 
— - - -»♦■»- 
DOMESTIC BREVITIES. 
Ginger Wine is a wholesome and pleasant 
summer drink with common or soda water. 
For a cask of 10 gals., take 12 lbs. of moist 
and 21 lbs. of loaf sugar, 1 lb. of ginger, 2 lbs. 
of raisins, 28 lemons, 8 Seville oranges ; peel 
tho oranges and lemons thin, then squeeze 
out all the juice, and boil it with the sugar 
and 10 gals, of water for an hour, putting the 
ginger in to boil for half an hour, just pound¬ 
ing it or cracking it first; put the rinds of 
the lemons and oranges into the cask, with 
the raisins chopped line, and pour, in the 
wine boiling hot into the cask ; when almost 
cold add a teaspoou£*il of yeast ; lot it work 
or ferment two or three weeks, aud when it 
is quiet put in 2 oz. of isinglass in a narrow 
bag suspended to the bungholo, and stop 
down tho cask clone and free from air ; it 
will be fit to drink in 3 months. 
Grape Leaf Pickles. —The Moravians in 
Salem, N. C., are said to put up cucumber 
pickles as follows :—But a layer of sour, wild 
grapes with tho leaves of the vine in the bot¬ 
tom of a vessel; then a layer of the cucum¬ 
bers, and alternate thus until the vessel is 
full, or until you have put in as many cucum¬ 
bers as you desire. Then put in water enough 
to cover them, and place boards and weights 
on top to keep them under water. They do 
not require any further attention, although 
you may, if you desire, take them out and* 
finish them with vinegar. They are called 
grupe leaf pickle. 
Moth Preventive. —The following recipe for 
keeping moths out of clothing, the J ournal 
of Chemistry says. Ls a favorite in some fam¬ 
ilies :—Mix half a pint of alcohol, tho same 
quantity of spirits of turpentine, and two 
ounces of camphor. Keep in a stone bottle 
and shake before uslug. The clothes or furs 
are to be wrapped in linen, aud crumpled-up 
pieces of blotting-paper dipped in the liquid 
are to be placed in the box with them, so that 
it smells strong. This requires renewing 
about once a year. 
Cocoanut Cuke. — I send my recipe for 
cocoauut cake ; I never ate better :—Three 
cups sugar, % cup butter, 4 cups flour, 1 
cup sweet milk, whites 9 eggs, 2 teaspoons 
cream tartar, i teaspoon soda ; beat the eggs 
to a stiff froth and stir in last, after the flour ; 
bake in 6 or S jelly-cake tins. Tim will make 
two loavesWhites of 4 eggs, beaten to a 
froth ; add sugar enough to make thin frost¬ 
ing ; spread between the layers and sprinkle 
thickly with prepared cocoanut.— May Lil¬ 
lian. 
Orange Cake.— Two cups sugar, 2 cups 
flour, the yelks of 5 eggs with the whites of 
3 eggs, 1 teaspoon aoua, 2 teaspoons cream 
tartar," y eup water, juice 1 orange ; whisk 
the whites or 2 eggs until dry, to which add 
4 tablespoons pulverized sugar, with the 
grated skin of t orange. Tiffs is very nice 
i made with a lemon in place of an orange.— 
i E. A. Hobby. 
MENTAL HYGIENE. 
Bur there is still another class of facts dif¬ 
fering from any of those mentioned, that 
has a powerful influence of mind upon lon¬ 
gevity, viz., tho influence of mind upon the 
body. Mental training, a well-balanced 
miml, a cheerful, contented disposition and 
temperate habits are, with rare exceptions, 
found indispensable. Now, these presup¬ 
pose a harmonious development of the whole- 
body, aud particularly of all parts of tho 
main, For it is impossible, we believe, to 
obtain tho qualities here mentioned in a high 
degree without these two conditions. Aud 
the nearer this development approaches that 
standard of organization upon which is based 
the great law of longevity, the greater will 
bo not only the agregate amount of health, 
but the longer tho duration of human life. 
This statement will be found abundantly 
verified In the history and character of per¬ 
sons who have reached a great age,—Ur. 
Nathan Allen. 
- ■ - ■■■ - . — 
HYGIENIC NOTES. 
Chafing of Infants — Bismuth u Prevent¬ 
ive. —Q. U. Bm.ith, M. D., writes to the Pacific 
Medical and Surgical Journal that he values 
bismuth very highly as a preventive of chaf¬ 
ing, and says :—Take sub-nitrate of bismuth, 
in flue powder, and put lu a thin flannel bag, 
and use as tho old nurses use the old style 
“starch bag” in dusting over tho chafed 
parts, or those parts that are likely to, or 
have already become sore from any cause 
whatever. Bhould tho parts be too tender 
for the use of the powder in this way, it 
should be sprinkled on plentifully. The good 
effect will, in many instances, manifest itself 
very quickly after the application. I have 
found bismuth an excellent external remedy 
for raw, blistered surfaces, and many othcr 
more or less superficial ulcerated surfaces. 
What in in the Bedroom. —The importance 
of ventilating bedrooms is a fact in which 
everybody is vitally interested, aud which 
few properly appreciate. If two men are to 
occupy a bedroom during a night, lot them 
Blup upon weighing-scales as they retire, and 
then again in the morning, and they will find 
that their actual weight is at least ft pound 
less in tue morning. Frequently there will 
be a loss of one or two pounds, and the aver¬ 
age loss throughout the year will be more 
than one pound ; that is during the night 
there is a loss of a pound of matter, which 
has gone off from their bodies, partly from 
the lungs, and par tly through tho pores of 
the skin. Tho escaped material is carbonic 
acid and decayed animal matter, or poisonous 
exhalations. 
Borax for Colds. —A writer in The Medi¬ 
cal Record cites a number of cases in which 
borax has proved a most effective remedy in 
certain forms of colds. He states that In 
sudden hoarseness or loss of voice in public 
speakers or singers, from colds, relief for an 
hour or so, as by magic, may bo often ob¬ 
tained by slowly dissolving, and partially 
swallowing, a lump of borax the size of a 
garden pea, or about three or four grains 
held in the mouth for ton minutes before 
speaking or singing. This produces a pro¬ 
fuse secretion of saliva, or “watering” of 
the mouth and throat, probably restoring 
the voice or tone to .the dried vocal cords, 
just as wotting brings back the missing notes 
to a flute whoa it is too dry. 
Slicking Salve .—Seeing a recipe wanted by 
Nellie J. Bunker for a sticking salve, and 
having a good one for any kind of wounds, I 
send It Imping it will be of some use to some 
one:— I pound resin; y oz. camphor gum; 
1 oz. beeswax ; iy oz. mutton tallow; lump 
of alum size of a walnut; 5 teaspooufUls 
laudanum ; put nil but laudanum and cam¬ 
phor gum In an iron vessel and cook slowly 
until it cooks up small bubbles and looks 
light colored ; then remove from the fire aud 
let it cool a little ; then add the camphor 
gum and laudanum ; pour into a pan of C'*ld 
water and when cool enough work it until it 
looks quite whito. This salve is good for 
lameness or pain in the side.—M. a. j. 
Pure Air for Consumptives. — The late 
Dr. Marshall of England said “ If }. were 
seriously ill of consumption, I would live out 
of doors day and night, except in rainy 
weather or mid-winter; then I would sleep 
in an unplastei ed log house. Physic has no 
nutriment ; gaspings for air cannot, cure 
you ; monkey capers in a gymnasium cannot 
cure you, and stimulants cannot cure you. 
What consumptives want is air, nob physic; 
pure air, not medicated air; plenty of meat 
and bread.” 
Seasickness. —Sir James Anderson, in a 
work on seasickness, says :—“ For this dis¬ 
ease avoid brandy, but ease tho stomach 
first with warm water then with cold.” 
;patrons of Vnt'ibaiulrn. 
ITEMS FROM THE GRANGES. 
Patrons Planting Trees and Vines.— The 
Rural Bun suggests Let each Grange re¬ 
quire every member to plant out one or 
more fruit trees or grape vines (which duty 
might be held as a debt against the member 
until tho proper season occurs). If the cus¬ 
tom ls permanently fixed, that there shall 
be as many fruit, trees set out as there are 
meetings of the Grange, it will convert even 
fence-corners into places of profit, and supply 
an Immense amount of fruit to tho country 
without feeling it pecuniarily or otherwise. 
On old fields where scarcely anything else 
will grow, peaches and grapes, plums and 
cherries may be made to yield In prodigal 
profusion. By all moans, the fence-comers 
around tho farm should bo devoted to this 
purpose. At present thoy are usually given 
up to briers and hushes, and form uncouth 
borders to our farms. 
Meaning of Patrons' Picnics.— The Rural 
World says:—“The season for basket pic¬ 
nics has arrived. Such a pieweing as there 
will bo tiffs coming summer, was never 
known before. Every County in every Stato, 
where Grangers abound, will have its grand 
barbecues or picnics. Such meetings as will 
be seen this summer, will astonish those not 
members of the Order. When the big farm 
wagons turn out, filled with men and wo¬ 
men, and rosy-cheeked sons and daughters, 
business is meant. There is no foolishness 
about it. Farmers won't leave then* farms 
and crops, and load up and take their whole 
family with them—not leaving any one even 
to watch over the premises—unless they are 
intently in earnest, and know that something 
Ls wrong and must be righted. The farmers 
are going to have lively times this summer 
—big meetings ; a general awakening. They 
are going to cleanse the Augean stable. A 
fearful reckoning awaits those who have 
betrayed them.” 
A Grange Insurance Scheme.—A Missouri 
Patron proposes the following That each 
grange have a standing committee to act as 
insurance agents who may bo paid a small 
fee, who shall examine and estimate value of 
property, aud keep a record of same at the 
Grange hall, subject to the inspection of all 
the members of that Grange. Then each 
could sign a bond, to take effect when so 
many thousand was insured, for payment of 
any necessary assessments. There should lie 
an assessment mado at first, and a treasury 
formed, so that losses might bo repaired 
without delay; and in cases of failure to 
pay, premium could be settled without dis¬ 
satisfaction ; for bonds are sometimes bad ; 
but by this arrangement you have their * 
money in advance. This money could bo 
loaned—sent from Grange to Grange, or even 
loaned to those men in the South, who are 
destitute of funds, answering tho purpose of 
“the Grange bank.” When a fire occurred, 
make another assessment and keep up the 
treasury. This treasury to be separnte from 
the Grange treasury ; so that a man who was 
not insured would reap no benefits or losses. 
Not Satisfied with the Accessibility of De¬ 
grees.—A. Missouri Grange has adopted the 
following :— Besotved, That the fact of there 
being certain degrees In our Order that oro 
only attainable through position, is contrary 
to the best interests of the Order, aud op¬ 
posed to every principle of republican insti¬ 
tution, and that we as a Grange demand that 
every degree in this Order be made accessi¬ 
ble to all alike. 
Too Much Talk. — A Tennessee Patron 
says j—I must say that I fear there are too 
many that mistake tho real object of our 
meetings. We come laden with debate and 
long speeches and resolutions to offer, that 
perhaps are of minor importance, or such as 
. we cannot reach until wo further advance, 
aud 1 would suggest to all true Patrons to be 
very careful in all our meetings, to act with 
discretion, grasp at what wo can roieh, and 
hold fast to that that is good ; do more and 
talk less, and wisdom will be displayed in 
action and not in words. Introduce not lung 
for mere argument sake, or pastime, but in¬ 
troduce such as will be for the good of the 
1 Order. Let us work together for our own 
' benefit by commencing immediately at 
home, and as we grow older, wiser and more 
; powerful, then we can reach further, 
