well, I wonder what sort of a civil service ex¬ 
amination she could stand, or whether her 
friends would consider her competent to take 
a position in a well ordered household. 
I am in a peculiar position; for if J. H. G. 
is a woman I have a few questions I should 
like to ask her—questions she should be able 
to'answer fully, or else she will staud convicted 
of preaching without practicing. Bat if .T. 
H. G. is a man, then unless my young lady 
readers can concientiou«ly answer these ques¬ 
tions this position is in a measure established. 
However, hit or miss, I am going to ask them. 
I have boiled down the many which come to 
my mind, aud without classifying them at all, 
will present a few of the roost simple and 
common. You see I am not striking as high 
as“civil aervice”-ouly in the sense of being civil 
while at service. Now, here they are, so pre- 
are to answer them intelligently. 
1. Which foods are richest in nitrogen, and 
phosphorus! 1 2, What are their proportionate 
desirability as food? 3. The proper tempera¬ 
ture of a house, and how to maintain it, and 
the relative proportions of nitrogen and ox¬ 
ygen necessary. 4. How would you determine 
the various grades of flour, coffee, tea, etc. ? 
5. What would you do first if your child was 
suddenly seized with croup or choking; or 
should receive a sharp blow by falling? 6, 
What medicines would you give for a slight 
cold or hoarseness, and the quantity ? 7 What 
kinds of food would you allow the children to 
eat; or what deprive them of while dieting? 
Now if J. H. G. is a single man, he can pin 
these questions inside of his bat, so as to have 
them handy to submit to his young lady 
friends. If he does not find one who can 
answer them correctly, he is indeed unfortun¬ 
ate in his friends—and so are they. But if J. 
H. G. is a woman, she may be able to answer 
them at once; or if she cannot do so, she must 
confess her iueompetency, stop finding fault 
or criticising, and study up intelligent replies; 
thus fitting herself for the position of wifeand 
mother, which is the natural result of social 
intercourse; and then be ready to act when 
the emergencies are upou her. Not only to 
J. H. G. alone, does this apply; but let it be 
generally accepted aud acted upon. Is it not 
good enough to be? criss-cross. 
TO MOTHERS. 
SrEAK gently to the children, nor wound the tender 
heart. 
The time may not be distant when you and they must 
part; 
So just forget tbo worries aud the battles you've to 
fight, 
And lu the quiet evening kiss them a warm "good 
night.” 
They, too, are swiftly nearing the battle-field of life: 
And lest they should be worsted In the fight with sin 
and strife. 
Oh. gird them with the armor of a mother's perfect 
love— 
A shilling, pure example of faith in God above. 
The trials that await them in the far-off after years, 
The happy childish laughter may melt to bitter tears, 
The bonule curls that cluster around your darling’s 
brow. 
The ruthless baud of sorrow may render white as 
snow. 
Ah! then the recollection of a mother’s tender care 
May smooth life's rugged pathway—may save from 
many a snure: 
And tu the hush of even, as in the days of yore, 
In fond imagination they’ll feel your kiss once more. 
’Twill cool the burning forehead ’twill raise their 
thoughts to God. 
When the loving Ups that gave It are cold beneath 
the sodt 
The hardest heart will soften—the tear-dlmm'd eye 
grow bright 
At childhood’s happy memories,and a mother's sweet 
"good night." EVA SMITH. 
Domestic (Sconcing 
CONDUCTED BY EMILY MAPLE. 
KITCHEN TALKS. 
ANNIE L. JACK. 
It is a cold, dreary September day; so out of 
place it seems for golden September, that one 
feels as if the world had lost a month aud 
landed us into the middle of October without 
waiting for the almanac. So we have crowd¬ 
ed into the kitchen at oar different employ, 
ments, determined to make the best of it- 
thougb the wind “is never weary” aud the 
light through murky clouds is indeed dim. 
The Studout is busy iu our little greenhouse 
re painting the sashes; the happy boys have 
douned lust Winter’s jackets and make now 
and then a dive into the kitchen from the 
workshop, where they arc making repairs and 
discussiug tho lust partridge shooting. The 
little ones ure safely overhead at lessons with 
au elder sister, while the Amateur Cook is 
trying new recipes and experiments to tempt 
our palates, and to bo afterward given to the 
Rural if found worth trying. Apple pies 
aud cookies are beyond tho experimental 
phase, but there are so many flavorings for 
custard and so many improvements to pump¬ 
kin, that it is well worth trying to get the best. 
“We are likely to have a great many pump¬ 
kin pies this year,” said the Cook, as she beat 
the eggs, “and I wish our Domestic Econo* 
mists would send to the paper their recipes for 
the old fashioned Thanksgiving pies that we 
do not often see nowadays. The Idler 
laughed dubiously, aud remarked, “It was 
rather a sell to plant pumpkin seed for Hub* 
bard squashes and here we are without a 
squash to bless ourselves with for all Winter. 
Couldn’t somebody get up a recipe to make 
pumpkins taste as good as squashes as a vege¬ 
table. It would surely be as good as preserved 
turnips and carrots that some ladies make 
into a conserve for want of something bet¬ 
ter.” 
“After all,” said the thoughtful Cook, “peo¬ 
ple do like pie, aud more especially iu the Fall. 
One did not care for it in Summer when there 
was a breath of strawberries at every meal. 
Do you remember that lovely day in June 
when mother said: ‘Strawberries three times 
a day tire me?' ” 
The Fruit Grower who bad entered unseen 
and was helping himself to a cookie fresh 
from the oven, then said: “If you were to be 
suddenly deprived of fruit for six months, you 
would appreciate it better, for even without 
any thought of its great healthfulness, there 
is no way in which such a variety of food can 
be prepared for the table, not only as a relish, 
but as the substantial part of a meal; les3 
meat, and more apples and grapes at dioner 
time would tend toward blood cleansing, and 
act as a tcnic without being a medicine.” 
“There’s nothing like praising your own 
wares,” said the Idler, at which we all laughed 
aud began to discuss the jelly made from the 
Duchess grapes, which is as clear as amber, 
with a slight greenish tint can he, and without 
foxiuess, having a pleasant flavor that is not 
found iu the purple grapes. For game, we 
made jelly of wild grapes, its peculiar sharp 
taste being very appetizing, and I advise any 
one who is within reach of this gipsy among 
the grapes, to try its quality as a jelly for meat. 
♦ 
ANNUAL ANNOYANCES; SOOTHING 
SIRUP; RECIPES. 
In localities where grain is raised to any 
great extent, the hardest work of the year for 
both farmers and their wives, is now being 
done: namely, the thrushing. A small army 
of hungry tneu confront the cook, 10 or 15 ex¬ 
tra, according to the kind of machine used. 
If thrashiug is done by steam, a third more 
men are needed; but the work is much more 
quickly done. 
It. is never very good economy to prepare 
for thrashers iu advance; at least nothing 
should be got ready, except what will keep a 
few days, for no one can tell precisely how 
long it will take to complete one job before 
they enu go to another, aud then rainy 
weather or a break down of some of the 
machinery or something else may cause un¬ 
avoidable delay. A jar of pickled beets and 
one of giugersuaps are generally a sufe in 
vestmout, becuuse they will usually keep good 
until the family can dispose of them: but 
most other things must be made as they are 
needed, or there will be much material 
wasted. Baked pork and beans are a stand¬ 
ard dish, aud may be quickly prepared if the 
• beans are already picked over. 
A large dish of stewed green apples, if all 
ready, may be quickly made iuto pies, aud if 
lard is plentiful at this time of the year, a 
heaping pan of fried cakes gives a feeling of 
relief. But with all this ready, the time 
when the thrashing machine drives into the 
barn-yard will show of what material the 
housekeeper is made. To prepare and cook 
potatoes, onions, cabbage and tomatoes, and 
have them ready for the table at the right 
time; to have the coffee all ready to pour, and 
the proper quantity planned beforehand, is 
likely to prove a formidable task to an inex¬ 
perienced or inefficient house wife. Perhaps 
to get through, it is necessary that the machine 
should be run as long as daylight lasts, and to 
have supper after that by lamp light. Then the 
dishes must he washed aud preparations made 
for breakfast, if that has not been attended to 
before. After men and machines have taken 
their departure, the whole house is to be put 
in order, beds have to be changed and washed, 
floors cleaned, chambers swept, aDd the usual 
every-day drudgery resumed although the 
weary worker thinks every such siege is the 
last one she could endure and live. But, like 
sheep shearing, and a few other hard jobs, it 
comes only once a year. Head work makes 
any kind of business run more easily, but no 
amount of it will make every kind of farm 
work otherwise than an annoyance to be en¬ 
dured, because it can not be avoided. 
The wife of a physician said, in my hearing, 
not long since, “I wish it were a legal crime 
to give soothing sirup to infants It is not 
necessary; it is a troublesome habit to teach 
them; it is very hurtful, aud may lead them 
into habits of intemperance when they grow 
up.” 
steamed rrown bread. 
Two teacupfuls of sour milk, two coffecup 
fuls of Graham flour, one half teacupful of 
molasses, one teaspoonful of soda. Steam 
three hours. 
COOKIES. 
One cupful of butter, two of sugar, two eggs, 
od6 small teaspoonful of soda, dissolved in two 
tablespoonfuls of milk. 
CORN STARCH CAKE. 
One cupful of sugar, one half cupful of 
butter, one half cupful of corn starch, one 
cupful of flour, one teaspoouful of soda, one of 
cream-of-tartar, whites of four eggs, well 
beaten. Flavor with lemon. 
AUNT RACHEL. 
WHY TEETH DECAY. 
In the Rural of August 26, want of clean¬ 
liness is given as the reason why teeth decay. 
This is only one of many reasons. In very 
many persons the cause of decayed teeth dates 
back to infancy, when the wee toddler is fed 
cookies instead of bread and milk. The little 
ones are also fed too much white bread and 
too little Graham bread and vegetables 
Speaking of people losing their teeth, Dr. W. 
W. Hall says: ’' The cause has been traced large¬ 
ly, and as the very chief, to the increasing fana¬ 
ticism of the people for white flour." A person 
can not expect to have good teeth unless the 
elements of which they are composed are sup¬ 
plied to the body by the food. Fine flour will 
make teeth very similar to what pine bolts 
are to machinery. To have good teeth one 
must eat largely of brown bread and vege 
tables. Especial care staouM be given to the 
diet of children as well as to the cleanliness of 
the teeth. _ L s w - 
DOMESTIC RECIPES. 
CORN SOUP. 
Grate about a half-dozen ears of corn, add 
The Fight 
against that feeling of indolence and de¬ 
bility, common to even* one in the 
spring and summer months, is of no avail 
without the aid of Ayer's Sarsaparilla. 
By its use, impurities are expelled from 
the blood, and new life is infused into the 
It stimulates aud strengthens all 
the digestive and assimilative organs. 
C. A. Whecicr, Hotel Clltlord, Boston, 
Mass., stays: “A few bottles of Ayer’s 
Sarsaparilla, taken in the spriug, make ine 
feel well and strong the whole year.” 
C. J. Ilodemer, 145 Columbia st., Cam- 
bridgeport. Mass., says; “I have gone 
through terrible suffering from dyspepsia; 
but I have cured myself, and saved a 
great deal of money in doctors’ bills, by 
the use of 
Ayer’s Sar 
•aparilla.” It will help you. 
enough water to make a thin mush, and boil 
15 minutes; then add pepper and salt aud a 
pint of sweet cream, boil a few bubbles, take 
from the fire, and stir in one beaten egg. This 
is really excellent. 
apple dumplings. 
Take one quart of flour, a very little salt, a 
tablespoonful of baking powder, a littleshort¬ 
ening (drippings are good) and mix as for pie 
crust with sweet milk, roll in round shapes 
aud fill with apples; place in a pan and then 
pour the pan half fall of sweet milk, and hake 
until the apples are soft. Give this a trial. 
In making pumpkin pies, it improves them 
greatly to add a small quantity of cinnamon 
and ginger. 
APPLE CAKE. 
Take enough flour for two cakes, add a little 
salt, a scant half teaspoonful of soda, as much 
again cream-of-tartar, one egg and a handful 
of sugar. Mix up soft as for biscuit dough, 
roll and cover with apples plentifully sugared. 
This takes the place of raised dough, which is 
much nicer than pie crust. 
HARIET BROWN. 
MAPLE-SUGAR CAKE. 
One-and-one-half cupful of flour, one cupful 
of sugar, the white of one egg, one tablespoon¬ 
ful of butter, one half cupful of milk, two 
even spoonfuls of baking powder. Bake in 
two cakes. 
inside. 
Two cupfuls of maple sugar, boiled to wax 
quite hard, have the white of one egg beaten 
well, and pour the sirup od, stirring all the 
while. If the frosting be too hard, wet the 
knife in hot water, and smooth over. This 
makes a very fine cake. d. n. Spaulding. 
-w-— 
QUESTIONS ANSWERED. 
PICKLED PEACHES, AND JELLY THAT WILL NOT 
STIFFEN. 
Please give your recipe for pickled peaches? 
Having made some currant jelly, I find that 
it is not stiff, please let me know if there is 
any remedy for it? mrs. l. ayers. 
Ans. —These questions were answered by 
letter, but from the fact that a wrong address 
had been given us, our letter was returned. 
We herewith give the desired information, 
hopiug it may not yet be too late for our cor¬ 
respondent’s needs. Pickled peaches: To seven 
pounds of peeled fruit allow three-and-a half 
pounds of white sugar, one quart of vinegar 
and spice to taste. Put the fruit into a porce¬ 
lain kettle with the sugar, vinegar and the 
spice tied up in a small bag. Cook gently un¬ 
til the fruit is tender, careful that it retains 
its shape. Paek the peaches id jars, cover 
with the hot sirup and seal. A good plan 
when jelly is not stiff enough, is to set the 
cups or glasses in the sun with bits of window 
glass over them to keep out the dust and in¬ 
sects. Do this for several days, removing the 
glasses nights and mornings to wipe off the 
moisture which has collected upon the under 
side. 
dingy preserves. 
Would you kindly inform me if there is a 
white currant that will preserve white; mine 
are the White Grape, and they turn to quite 
a pink shade on being preserved. a. j. c. 
Ans —We have preserved all of the different 
white currants and have found them alike in 
changing to a dingy pir kish white ; a color 
not at all pleasing to the eye. 
strength and vigor follow the use of 
Ayer’s Sarsaparilla. Mrs. Ann H. Farns¬ 
worth, a lady 7!) years old. So. Woodstock, 
Vt., writes; “After siillering for weeks 
with prostration, I procured a bottle of 
Ayer’s Sarsaparilla, and before I had 
taken half of it iny usual health returned.” 
Thos. M. McCarthy, 36 Winter st„ Lowell, 
Mass., writes: “ I have been troubled, for 
years, with nervousness, and pains about 
ray heart, especially in the morning. 1 
also suffered greatly from debility. 1 have 
been cured by Ayer’s Sarsaparilla, and 
am now able to do very hard work.” 
Henry 11. Davis, Nashua, N. H., writes ■ 
“I have found relief from that feeling of 
languidness, prevalent during the spriug. 
by taking Ayer’s Sar- 
saparilla. 
I have taken it for years.” 
Lowell, Mass., U. S. A. 
Price $1; six bottles for $o. 
Prepared by Dr. J. C, Ayer & Co., 
For sale by all druggists. 
gttt.sccUaneausi 
Renewed 
