Don’t “ sit down ” on the enthusiasm 
of your neighbor, or even your enemy. 
Enthusiasm is a short-lived joy that is 
altogether too rare in this vale of tears. 
Don’t try to kill it, no matter on what it 
is founded. If you can’t rejoice with 
those that rejoice, get up a little enthu¬ 
siasm on your own hobby. 
* 
So .mk of us start out in life with an 
ideal in mind and, with more or less 
diligence, seek for the person embodying 
all that we desire. Sooner or later in 
life, according to our patience and ob¬ 
tuseness, and, perhaps, after some very 
bitter experience in being disillusioned, 
we begin to realize that it is far easier 
to adapt ourselves to the shortcomings 
of another, than to bring him up to our 
impossible standard. 
* 
Some of Ihe pretty, delicate colors of 
the summer materials will need to be 
“set” if they are to gladden our eyes 
all summer long. We must return to 
our grandmother’s thrifty ways of set¬ 
ting the colors of all the wash goods by 
soaking them in strong salt water awhile 
before washing. Dry in the shade, as 
the sun is the cause of much of the fading. 
* 
Another item which must be remem¬ 
bered if one would have her wash dresses 
retain their freshness, is to starch and 
iron them so that they shall have the 
same finish they had when new. Do not 
make them stiller than they were, and 
do not iron a gloss on material which 
had a lusterless surface when new. To 
this end, it will be found necessary to 
iron on the wrong side. It is a little 
more painstaking, but a comparison of 
the two methods will convince any one 
that it is worth while to do it, at least, 
on one’s best summer dress, if time can¬ 
not be spared for more than that. 
* 
How stubborn a man is, sometimes, 
when some woman who deserves it, 
wishes a little praise from him. Yet on 
other occasions, he can be extravagant 
in flattery. What a blunderbuss he is 
to think that any woman doesn’t know 
the difference between merited praise 
and flattery. She weighs them at their 
worth. The fine things a man says be¬ 
fore marriage, and the compliments 
which he pays to other women, will not 
pay the debt of praise he owes to his 
wife. 13y the way, notice that phrase, 
1 ‘pays a compliment.” We do not give a 
compliment. We owe it to the person 
who deserves it. 
THE SOUVENIR SALE TABLE AT THE 
COUNTY FAIR. 
HE idea was suggested by Mrs. 
Eairweather’s complaint in regard 
to the usual attractions at the county 
fair. Mrs. Fairweather’s ideas were not 
always practical, but her complaints 
were usually well founded, and gener¬ 
ally coupled with an idea ; for some said 
that she fairly bristled with ideas. So 
when she complained about the useless 
attractions often presented by the man¬ 
agers, and the swindling games and 
tables, Mrs. Rush listened, and agreed 
with her that it was a pity that people 
who must spend their money, could not 
find something useful to spend it for, in¬ 
stead of wasting it so. And then she 
inquired why some of the young people 
did not plan to have a table and sell 
souvenirs and fancy work, adding chat 
many people who attend the county 
fairs would be glad to buy the fancy 
work on exhibition to carry home as 
souvenirs. Hut that is never for sale 
and they have to content themselves 
with peanuts and prize packages. Why 
don’t some of the societies have a sale 
table, and make a little money in an 
honest way, instead of letting it all go 
into the swindlers’ pockets ? 
Mrs. Rush exclaimed, “ Why, that 
would be a splendid idea ! Yes, I think 
that it would be practical too ; for I 
have seen women trying to find some¬ 
thing that they could carry home to 
friends or children, and they were unable 
to find anything very satisfactory. And 
I know of ever so many young 
and old ones too, who would be glad to 
make pretty souvenirs for a sale table. 
There’s little Hope Gay crocheting her¬ 
self blind in order to earn a little money ; 
crocheting pretty lace two inches wide 
for the store, where they retail it for 15 
cents per yard. She is a cripple and 
dependent on her aunt, who works hard 
for a living. Then there is May Hurst, 
who paints lovely little things for the 
stores at Christmas time, and Johnny 
Farrell, the lame boy, who carves pretty 
brackets and frames, and hosts of others 
who would be glad to make things if 
you thought they would sell.” 
“Sell!” exclaimed Mrs. Fairweather. 
“ Such a table would be the greatest 
attraction at the fair! It would not 
need any advertising ; it would adver¬ 
tise itself !’’ 
As Mr. Squeers said of his boys, when 
Mrs. Rush knew a thing, she went and 
did it, and she was never so happy as 
when she was able to give people a 
chance ; and Mrs. Fairweather’s idea 
bade fair to give several people a chance. 
That very afternoon, Mrs. Rush made 
up a list and started out, and when she 
returned, she had another long list of 
pretty and useful things pledged for the 
souvenir fancy table. Next day, she 
went to the fair managers to see about 
a place for the sale, and found them 
willing to allow her room for a large 
table in a pleasant corner of the hall, 
agreeing to let her make a free trial for 
the first year, with the proviso that, if 
it were a success, she might pay for the 
privilege every year after. 
Two days before the fair, all of the 
articles were sent to Mrs. Rush’s house, 
and priced and marked. Such a collec¬ 
tion as there was ! Mrs. Rush had stipu¬ 
lated for small articles that need not be 
priced too high. There were stacks of 
doylies, teapot holders, and holders of 
all kinds, mats and handkerchiefs, col¬ 
lars, aprons, tray cloths and bureau 
scarfs, sacques, shawls, afglians, and 
crochet work galore. Johnny Farrell 
sent beautiful brackets, frames, and 
book shelves, while May Hurst sent a 
quantity of lovely hand-painted articles 
from chamois penwipers and celluloid 
napkin rings and pin trays, to plaques, 
scarfs, and little panel pictures, so that 
Mrs. Rush said that she must have sat 
up nights to paint them. Hut May as¬ 
sured her that she did not, for many of 
them were her holiday goods left over. 
Old Mrs. Nicholson made some pretty 
rugs, and poor, rheumatic Mrs. Whitman 
sent several pairs of knit socks. 
What a time Mrs. Rush had arranging 
them ! She had to press several of the 
consignors into her service, and those 
who were able were appointed to take 
charge of the sale during alternate hours 
of the three days’ fair. But they were 
all as happy as larks over their table, 
and when Jared Talbot sent in two 
dozen camera photographs of familiar 
places about town, they put the finish¬ 
ing touch to a most attractive exhibit. 
Hope Gay w r as installed as cashier, and 
the girls laughingly declared that her 
sweet face, crowned with its golden hair, 
attracted more visitors toward the sale 
table than the articles did. Hut, if so, 
it was fortunate for them all, for, before 
the close of the fair, not a single article 
was left on the table, and the visitors 
were trying to buy some of the articles 
on exhibition upstairs. 
All those who had profited by the fancy 
table, unanimously agreed to thank Mrs. 
Fairweather for her idea, as well as her 
liberal patronage, while Mrs. Rush dis¬ 
covered that she had endeared herself to 
them all by simply giving them a chance. 
The venture was so complete a success, 
that the managers voted to allow it to 
be continued every year at a low rent, 
and even went so far as to allow many 
of the larger articles on exhibition to be 
marked for sale, with the proviso that 
the articles sold should forfeit the pre¬ 
miums awarded by the society. 
ALICE E. PINNEY. 
A HOMEMADE CLOTHES RACK. 
IG. 149 shows a very serviceable 
clothes drier, to be screwed to the 
wall above the kitchen stove, or else¬ 
where. It is a plain strip of inch-thick 
board, with a thick strip of wood screwed 
to its front at the lower edge. Holes 
are bored in the back piece with corre¬ 
sponding grooves in the front piece, and 
into these round sticks are inserted as 
desired, the sticks being kept in the 
wire hooks below when not in use. Old 
broom handles may be sawed off and 
used for this purpose, or bioken rake 
handles. This drier is easily and quickly 
A HOMEMADE CLOTHES RACK. Fig. 149. 
made, and will be found equally as use¬ 
ful as the patented articles sold in the 
stores. w. d. 
CARING FOR THE BABIES. 
HE majority of children are healthy 
when they are born, and may be 
kept healthy if they receive the care 
and attention which all mothers should 
give. A baby loves warmth, and he 
needs plenty of good, nourishing food. 
During the first few months of his life, 
he will sleep all night and about one- 
third of the day. He soon becomes a 
creature of habit, and it is very import¬ 
ant that the habits first formed are good 
ones. Decide upon certain hours for 
sleep, make his surroundings all that 
they should be, and leave him to enjoy 
his nap undisturbed. If he be treated 
in this way, it will be but little trouble 
to get him to sleep when the time for his 
nap arrives. 
The watchful mother can soon decide 
whether a child cries because he is 
“ spoiled” or whether he is in pain. If 
he is suffering from an attack of colic 
take off all his clothes except the band, 
which should not be disturbed if he is 
crying very hard. Wrap him in a large, 
soft, woolen shawl, and rub his little 
limbs, stomach and bowels with the 
hands. A drink of water as warm as he 
will take it, is often beneficial. When 
he is thoroughly warm, he will usually 
stop crying, and nestle down into the 
shawl, for a long, comfortable sleep. 
Warm the blanket and pillow of his 
crib, fold the shawl closely around him, 
and place the crib in a corner where the 
draught cannot strike him. When he 
wakes, he will be as bright and fresh 
as ever. 
All authorities agree that, if the 
mother is healthy, her milk is the best 
diet for the baby. Hut if, for any rea¬ 
son, a mother cannot nurse her baby, she 
w 11 find among some of the prepared 
foods, an excellent substitute. Give the 
child a regular amount at a regular time, 
and see thaf he feeds steadily until 
the supply is exhausted. Wash the 
bottles and rubber nipples immediately 
after using, and put in the sun or 
over the stove, where they will dry 
quickly. If this be done promptly, soda 
water to correct the acidity of the bottle, 
will be unnecessary. Have, at least, two 
bottles and two nipples, and use them 
alternately. The rubber nipples that 
are stretched over the mouth of the 
bottles are best. Up to the age of six 
months, feed him every two or three 
hours during the day, and once or twice 
at night. At this age, babies begin to 
want a little more variety of food, and a 
little well-boiled rice, seasoned with salt 
and butter, may be given in addition to 
the lactated food if desired. Nicely 
cooked sago and tapioca are usually 
liked, and if given in small quantities, 
can do no harm. Add other articles of 
diet gradually, giving a very little of 
each kind until the child becomes accus¬ 
tomed to it. 
A daily bath is not only necessary for 
cleanliness, but it is strengthening also. 
Provide a bath tub. and pour the water, 
which should be heated until it is as 
warm as new milk, into it. Set the baby 
in the tub, and allow him to splash 
water to his heart’s content. Then wipe 
him dry with soft linen, and dress him 
quickly. If baby is suffering from a 
cold, do not imagine that a bath will 
make him worse. Have the room warm, 
and give him a sponge bath, keeping 
him uncovered as little as possible. Put 
on his clothing, which should be warm ; 
he will feel refreshed, and the bath will 
be a positive help towards his recovery. 
He should spend an hour or two every 
afternoon or evening, in a cozy baby car¬ 
riage, in the open air, unless the weather 
is damp or stormy. If you are so for¬ 
tunate as to have time to go with him, 
do so, by all means, for it will be almost 
as much benefit to the mother as the 
child. Hut if you cannot do this, see 
that he is confided to careful hands, for 
all jolting or rough driving should be 
avoided. k. j. c. 
TWO WHISTLING LITTLE MAIDS. 
HEN I was a little girl, my father 
bought a small farm, lie was a 
clergyman in one of the towns among 
the hills of Connecticut, but he was very 
fond of outdoor life, and a great be¬ 
liever in its health-giving properties. 
He was very fond of fruit and vege¬ 
tables, and enjoyed planting them, for 
his own family’s use and others, whose 
more extensive farming gave them very 
little time, in those days, to plant gar¬ 
dens of their own. The farm was about 
lp 2 ' mile from our home proper, although 
we had a good deal of ground there, 
with a garden and orchard full of good 
things to eat, and flowers of all kinds to 
enjoy. There had been a house on the 
farm at one time, but it had been 
burned, and only the cellar was left to 
tell where the house had once been. 
The barns were left, and there was a 
fine old garden, a complete tangle of 
vines and old-fashioned flowers which 
my mother loved. There was fruit in 
abundance, and we liked to go with my 
father as he made his daily vi sits there 
to see that everything was in order. 
One afternoon, my father said to my 
sister Katie and myself, that the grapes 
were ripe at the farm and we could ride 
up with him and gather them. We were 
ready in a moment, and on reaching the 
place, we ran down into the orchard, 
which was just back of the garden, and 
picked my hat full of luscious ones, and 
then we climbed up and seated ourselves 
on the top rail of the gate which was 
