42 
9 
JAN 20 
Malherbe.—There are only two beautiful 
things in the world, women and roses; and 
ODly two sweet things, women and melons. 
Bulwer-Lytton.—Oh. woman 1 in ordinary 
cases so mere a mortal, how in the great and 
rare events of life dost thou swell into the 
angels 1 _ 
Saville,—Women have more strength ^ 
their looks than we have in our laws, and more 
power by their tears than we have by our 
arguments. 
Emerson —A beautiful woman is a practi¬ 
cal poet; taming her savage mate, planting 
tenderness, hope and eloquence in all whom 
she approaches. 
Anna Cora Mowatt.—Misfortune sprinkles 
ashes on the head of the man. cut falls like 
dew on the head of the woman, and brings 
forth germs of strength of which she herself 
had no conscious possession. 
Thackeray.—Almost all women will give a 
sympathizing hearing to men who are in love. 
Be they ever so old they grow young agaiu in 
that conversation, and renew their own early 
time. Men are not quite so generous. 
for Womm. 
CONDUCTED BY MISS KAY CLARK. 
MY HOME. 
This is the p'aee that 1 love the best. 
A little browu house, like a ground-bird's nest, 
Hid among grasses, and vines and trees. 
Summer retreat of the birds and bees. 
The tenderest Halit that ever was seen 
Sifts through the vine-mnde window screen— 
Sifts and quivers, an - * flits and falls 
On home made carpets and gray-hung walls. 
ways keep a few torn ahead, and by sewing 
at odd times and a little while in the evening, 
you will find your number of balls increase, 
and you will hardly miss the time. Then, 
when house-cleaniDg comes, and you really 
need your carpet, you will be surprised to 
find that you have almost enough sewed, and 
I you scarcely know when it was done. It will 
then be a very small matter to finish it up, I 
think this way of doing is a great saving of 
time aud rags, for when a garment is put 
away, intended to be put into a carpet some¬ 
time, it is generally wasted. First, there is a 
piece torn off for a cleaning cloth, and then 
another piece for a duster, and so on, until 
there is nothing left worth tearing up,whereas, 
if it had been torn up right away, when no 
longer fit for use, it would have all been 
saved. You say we need such things, and 
cannot do without them. Well, so you do; 
but, there are always smaller rags that would 
do for that, which would be of no use in a car¬ 
pet. For the benefit of that sister who wanted 
to know some things before the Spring house¬ 
cleaning, I will tell her how I clean my rag 
carpets. Beat or shake the dust out thor¬ 
oughly; then lay it on the grass and scrub, as 
you would a floor, using warm rain-water and 
no soan—unless there be grease—as soap has 
a tendency to make it hard and stiff. Turn 
and scrub well on the other side, and then 
turn it back to the side first scrubbed, and 
rinse well with cold well-water. Use plenty 
of water. Rinse the other side, and hang it 
on the line. When dry, it will be found soft, 
pliable, and perfectly clean. If the carpet is 
large I sometimes rip the center seam, mak¬ 
ing two pieces, as it is then more easily han 
died. Gretchen. 
GIRLS’ DRESSES. 
All tbroueli June, tbe west wind free 
The breath of the clover brings to me; 
All throtufb the languid .Tu'y day 
I catch the scent of new-mown hay. 
The inornln.v-glories and scarlet-vine 
Over the doorway twist and twine; 
And every day. when the house Is still, 
The humming bird comes to the window sill. 
In the cunntngest chamber under the sun 
I sink to sleep when the day is done: 
And am waked at morn, In mv snow-white bed; 
By a singing bird on the roof o’erhead. 
Better than treasures brought from Rome, 
Are the living pictures I see at home— 
My aged father, with frosted hair. 
And mother’s face, like a painting rare. 
Far from the city’s dust and heat, 
I get hut sounds and odors sweet. 
Who can wonder I love to stay. 
Week after week here hidden away 
In this sly nook, that I love the best— 
The little brown house like a ground bird's nest. 
RAG CARPETS. 
Now that the busy work is past, the family 
sewing all done op, and the little ones fixed 
for Winter, the thrifty house-wife turns her 
attention to that indispensable article—a rag 
carpet. It has been condemned by many for 
costing more than it comes to, not worth the 
trouble, and so on; but for all practical pur¬ 
poses, I think there is nothing equal to a rag 
carpet. It is true, you can buy an Ingrain 
almost as cheap, but they are poor, worthless 
things, half cotton, that in one season’s use 
are all faded and worn, and not worth putting 
down agaiu. 
For the family sitting-room, in tbe coun¬ 
try, where the children study and play, and 
whe» - e the men come with mud on their boots, 
fresh from the barn-yard, there is no carpet 
that will stand the wear and tear like a good, 
full-warped rag one. It can be turned—the 
center seams ripped and the outer edges 
turned in, bringing tbe brightest bjeadths in 
the middle, and made to look almost as good as 
new. Ia this way it can be made to last sev 
eral years; and when past doing duty in tbe 
sitting room, the brightest pieces will do for 
a bed-room, or w ill answer for the kitchen. 
Some people put off sewjng the rags until 
a few week? before they need them—perhaps 
until the Spring cleaning is fairly on hand, 
and then they ransack every closet, ward, 
robe and garret, in search of cast-cff gar¬ 
ments. They Icing them down stairs until 
every corner of the room is filled with rags, 
and all is hurry, bustle and confusion, until 
the men folks wish that snch a thing as a rag 
carpet had never been invented. Nothing 
else thought of, and every member of tbe 
family that can handle a needle, from the 
largest to the least, is compelled to sew until 
that carpet is sent away to be woven, and then 
they all draw a deep breath of relief and hope 
it will be a long time before they will need 
another one. 
Now my way of doing—and I may be 
conceited enough to think it is a better way— 
is this; whenever I find a garment that is past 
use, I tear it up and keep the rags in a basket 
handy, so that whenever I have a little 
time, and there is no other sewing particu* 
l»rly urgent, or when a neighbor drops »n 
i*» chat, a few minutes, J sew them I *»i 
A few weeks ago we gave two cuts show¬ 
ing how our boys can look, and this week we 
give the girls a chance. 
Figs. 36 and 87 are designs into which a gar¬ 
ment not quite new, can be remodeled; for 
often we find that with a little fixing an article 
that has had careful wear, can be made to 
look fashionable again. 
Silk galloons, satin cord and mobair braids 
have been, and still are, very much worn. 
Strawberry red, myrtle green, “soldier” 
blue, terra cotta, in various shades, make 
j pretty suits for children. 
Cheviot, or flannel dresses can be made 
with a double breasted waist; and box plaits 
laid below a shirring of some eight or ten rows, 
back and front, trim the skirt. Though there 
Fig. 36. 
are many new styles of making children’s 
dresses, nothing can excel the Princess button¬ 
ing down the back, with the not too long skirt, 
draped high on the sides; and the under 
skirt trimmed with either ruffles or puffs, up 
to where the upper skirt meets it. A colored 
silk, made in this style, is decidedly hand 
some; using Spanish lace for the ruffle, with 
the same around the sleeves and neck, laid in 
side plaitings. 
- » « »- 
OUR TABLE TALK. 
Meal times were always pleasant seasons 
at Mrs. Primrose’s house, no matter how sim¬ 
ple the fare. I think it was mainly because 
of her steady' determination to keep the wor¬ 
ries of life from coming to her table. No 
matter bow closely they pressed them at 
other times, she would strive to take her 
meals in peace and quietness. She knew that 
it was the very best aid to digestion, and that 
the opposite course was almost sure to bring 
an dyspepsia if long followed Fot/d in 
an angry, moody spirit never could produce 
pure, rich, nourishing blood. 
As one little help to good cheer, each child 
was expected to appear at table with face and 
hands clean and hair neatly brushed, a low 
glass being handy where they could see them¬ 
selves, and a comb and brush were always at 
hand in a little drawer so there could be no 
excuse. It makes all feel better to see tidy 
children sitting about the table, and tbe 
Fig. 37. 
children respect themselves more and are in 
consequence better behaved. 
Mother was almost sure to give her wavy 
hair a smooth brush before she sat down, and 
often she slipped on a fresh, pretty collar, of 
which she kept a large stock always at hand 
and well done up. They were often only of 
dainty sprigged cambric, made by herself, at 
the expense of two cents each, and so she felt 
she could afford as liberal a supply as she 
wished. But those collars were a help, and 
gave the children a much pleasanter remem¬ 
brance of mother than if she bad been accus¬ 
tomed to go about without any, as some moth¬ 
ers do, when no company is present. 
Mother was a great hand to talk at the 
table, but it was always on some cheerful 
subject. She was very adroit in turning the 
conversation into a pleasant channel when 
something the reverse was started. Children 
soon learnel that it was not the place to bring 
up complaints or disagreeable subjects, and 
father sensibly adopted her plan, as he had 
found out by long experience what a wise lit 
tie woman she was. 
Family discipline was reserved for some 
more suitable occasion, and faults and fail¬ 
ures were not talked over as they are at some 
tea tables “a9 soon as father gets home.” 
Children learn to hate such mealtimes and 
would absent themselves if they eould. Food 
eaten in fear and trembling is worse than 
useless to the poor little offender. 
Children accustomed to bright, cheerful, 
intelligent talk about the home table, grow 
up marked for their intelligence and pleasant 
manners. They are an honor to their father 
and mother wherever they go. Dr. Franklin 
said that the talk at his father’s table was 
the means of inspiring him with a love for 
study and investigation which gave a bent to 
his whole life. Save up your best thoughts 
for this social hour and theu dispense them 
with a liberal hand, and you will not fail of 
your reward. J. E McC. 
Domestic Cconomt^ 
CONDUCTED BN EMILY MAPLE 
THE "CLUB” ASKS A QUESTION. 
ANNIE L. JACK. 
The ‘'Mothers’ Club” has been neglected all 
through the rueh and hurry of Summer and 
Fall work, and now the Winter brings more 
leisure there seems some difficulty in picking 
up the dropped threads aud renewing the vu 
ried subjects that were of such interest to us 
all. In fact, there is a little coolness among 
the members. Some of them were convicted 
last Winter of petty geasip. •»»*»* of be¬ 
ing promptly “rusticated, ” according to the 
by-laws of the club, were allowed to come and 
sow discord among the members. Then the 
minister left the village, and, of course, his 
wife went with him. She had often poured 
oil on the troubled waters, and by her wise 
and gentle sayings had become almost a neces¬ 
sity to our meetings. So with her leave-tak 
ing we felt as if the brightness bad left these 
pleasant reunions But to day some of the la¬ 
dies had met by appointment at‘ Hillside, 
and for want of other subjects addressed to 
me this question; “Mrs. Every-Day, what is 
‘Domestic Economy’?” I am not much ac¬ 
customed to extempore speaking, but will 
here transcribe my answer: 
“Economy means the judicious use of what¬ 
ever material we may have in hand, whether 
it be money, food or clothing: to get the most 
and best and at the same time the cheapest, 
seems to me the proper application of the 
term. It is no disgrace to practice economy 
—good cooks never waste, and where one will 
extract all tbe flavor from material used, an¬ 
other will lose or throw It away. To use up 
odds and ends so that the dust-bins do not 
contain more than their share is part of every¬ 
day economy, aud as waste is a crime, it is 
the duty of every housekeeper to see chat this 
is attended to—not, as I once heard a lady 
say. by going down to the kitchen “ once a 
week,” and turning out the mouldy bread and 
stale meat aud vegetables, but by daily atten¬ 
tion that these do not accumulate. 
In nothing is there more waste than in the 
creaming of milk; when one person in skim¬ 
ming a dish will do it with gentle system, 
evenness and care, another will have the 
cream all over the sides of the pan, or mingled 
with the milk, unskinimable, So, too, in 
dress, where one person, by a careful over¬ 
sight and judicious mending, will make a 
dress last until it is all worn threadbare, an¬ 
other with careless handling and inattention 
will look shabby aud ill-dressed in the same 
class of goods even if as well made. Aud 
there is no greater necessity in our households 
than to teach our children that economy is a 
part of their education, and not a disgrace or 
meanness; that it be practiced in their use of 
pocket-money' and care of clothes; that a 
patched garment is more honorable than one 
unpaid for, and that there is no subject of 
greater importance in the household than “Do¬ 
mestic Economy. ” 
By the time my little talk wa3 finished 
nearly all the members were present, and 
after mutual congratulations and a pleasant 
little reunion we agreed to meet next month, 
and parted greatly encouraged, and wishing 
each other, as 1 do the readers of the Rural, 
a “ Happy New Year!" 
- » ♦ «- 
PEEPS ACROSS THE WAY. 
NO. 4. 
MAY MAPLE. 
“Why do you take so thick a paring from 
your potatoes ?” inquired Mrs. Thrifty of our 
neighbor, one morning while making a 
friendly call. 
“ Oh, I always take all the eyes when I pare 
potatoes; I hate to have them making eyes at 
me, after they have been cooked,” said the 
would-be witty housekeeper; “besides, it 
takes too much time to do otherwise, and the 
parings don’t hurt the pigs." 
“ But I should hate to give the very best 
part of the table food to the swine, and take 
the leavings. The starch of the potato is the 
nutritious part, and a large percentage of 
this lies near the surface. So, one-fourtb, at 
least, of your potatoes go to waste, as far 
as the family food is concerned, and that 
would amount to quite a considerable item 
in purchasing the year’s supply. One-fourth 
of your usual supply of potatoes, when sold 
at a fair price, would purchase many an ar¬ 
ticle of convenience that you are now going 
without because you can’t afford both the 
waste and needed implement.” 
Mrs L.’s flag-seated chairs were sadly di¬ 
lapidated, though the frames were still good. 
A frieud advised her to take them to a certain 
“ Jaek-of-all-trades ” and have them reseated 
with splints. She thought ho would do the 
work for $1.50 per dozen. 
“But 1 cannot spare even that small 
amount, much as 1 would like to have it done, 
for it takes about all wo can get now a days 
to keep myself and growing children in food 
and comfort a lie clothes. I don’t know but I 
might send a part of them at a lime,” said 
Mrs. L. 
“ I’ll tell yon how I managed about chairs, 
a few years ago,” said Mrs. Thrifty. “When 
money was scarce, and furniture was high, 
1 bought a good piece of Kentucky Jeon, cost¬ 
ing 20 cents per yard, and by measuring and 
plaunlng, 1 found 1 could cover five ebair- 
seats with a single yard ; of course, one of 
them was pieced through the middle; notches 
were cut-at the corners of each square piece 
to fit niealy stoknd ‘-he ob&ir posts. ”.’>0 
