t
10
The Commoner.
VOLUME 8, NUMBER 20
I
;
Tho Old Annclmir
Porhaps no poom hns boon moro
widely quoted than tho following,
writton by Eliza Cook. Sho was
born in London, England, in tho year
1817, and died at Wimbledon, Eng
land, Soptombor 23, 1889. Her
father was a atorokoopor, but tho
daughter early manifested litorary
tastes. Sho wroto for many periodi
cals, and published "Eliza Cook's
Journal."
I lovo it, I lovo it! and who shall
daro
To cjiido mo for loving that old arm
chair? Fvo treasured it long as a sainted
prizo.
I've bodowed it with tears and om
balmod it with sighs,
'Twas bound by a thousand bands to
my heart;
Not a tio will break, not a link will
start
Would ' you learn tho spell? a
mother sat there!
And. a sacred thing is that old armchair.
In childhood's hour I lingered near
The hallowed seat with listening ear;
And tho gortl' words that mother
would glvo
To fit me to die and teach mo to live.
Sho told mo that shamo would never
botido
f."Wlth Truth for my creed and God
Ir'tor tny guide
Sho taught mo to lisp my earliest
prayer,
As I knolt besido that old armchair.
I Bat and watched her many a day,
Whon hoi oyo grew dim and her
locks wero gray;
And I almost worshiped her whon
sho smiled,
And turned from hor Biblo to bless
her child.
Years rolled on, but the last ono
sped t
My Idol was.shatterod, my earth-star
fledl ;. - .'
1 loAvht how much, tho heart can
heir,
Whon I saw hor dlo fn that old arm-
- chair.
Tls imst, 'tis past! but I gazo on it
' now
With quivering breath and throbbing
brow.
'Twas there sho nursed mo, 'twas
there sho died,
A.nd memory flows with lava-tide.
Say it is folly, and deem mo weak,
While tho scalding drops start down
my cheok;
But I lovo it, I lovo it, and can not
tear
My soul from & mother's old arm
chair. .
Tho Selfishness of Sacrifice-
Do not neglect tho outings, even
though thoy may bo of but a fow
hours' or a day's duration. Tho
house-mother particularly needs
theso tomporary releases from tho
.nervo-racking tensions that como of
tho daily routine. A journey, or a
visit is not always restful, or satis
fying, and from either of theso one
sometimes returns moro worn than
.when the trip was undertaken.
.House-mothers, who aro proverbially
good to others, should learn to bo
good to themselves. Often tho sac
rifices upon which wo pride our
selves aro but formB of selfishness,
for in making them we are but con-
Hutuuis our own inclinations and
pleasures, rather than tho pleasures
of othors. It Is our delight to deny
ourselves that others may have tho
good times; but vory of ton the fam
ily would havo twice tho pleasure,
if wo would allow thorn to onjoy a
littlo of tho doinff without, and thus
have tho pleasuro of feeling that thoy
havo added to our pleasure. Many a
son and daughter would gladly share
their good times with mother, reliev
ing her of tho drudgery of serving,
and would thereby increase the hap
piness of ovory member of tho com
pany. Children aro not selfish by
nature, but are readily taught sel
fishness through tho unwise example
of tho parents. Boys and girls aro
not to blame, if they accept tho
services that aro forced upon them
from their babyhood, and many a
girl gets an erroneous idea of moth
er's tastes through never having her
attention called to their existence.
"Mothor does not caro for nice
clothes," or. "Mother never cares to
go any where," aro expressions often
heard from young lips; and mothers
aro themselves to blame for these
ideas. Instead of the mother being
tho sorvant, sho should be tho rul
ing spirit, to which all her family, as
willing servitors, aro ready to bend
mo Knee. Now, girls and boys, see
to it that mother gets out into tho
sunshine, and see that she shares
in your good times. All she needs
is to bo mado to seo that her hap
pinoss is your happiness. In your
outings, make a comrado of mother.
And got tho Idea that "mother does
not like nico things," out of your
heads. See that she has them.
noxt to an Impossibility t9 use that
which Is foul. A bed roo'm that is
kept closed always has the "bed room
smell," which is at once detected on
entering it from an open room.
Plenty of water, internal and exter
nal, plenty of fresh air, and plain
foods sparingly partaken of, will
greatly counteract tho debilitating
effects of heat.
Keeping Cool
Ono of tho surest ways to keep
cool during the hot days is to re
move all useless draperies, take up
tho carpets, and give tho floors a
going over with a cloth and cool,
clear water whenever the dust
shows. Cleanliness and comfort go
together, and. it is no harder to wipe
up a stained and varnished; or paint
ed floor, onco a day than It is to stir
up tho dust with a broom, only to
go over everything with a cloth and
remove tho dust after it has settled.
Such floors do not need scrubbing,
as tho dust and dirt do not enter
into tho wood. Children can do this,
if a littlo pains aro taken to teach
thorn; if no children, the gude mon
can try his hand at it, when seeking
ways in which to help tho tired wife.
When one gets used to bare floors,
stained, painted, oiled, or waxed,
they are generally liked, and if rugs,
or strips of carpot aro scattered
about over tho most used parts, the
big, back-breaking,' dust collecting
carpets will nevor be replaced. These
ip5Lor rugs aro easlly taken out
aJd..th0 dust shaken or beaten out
of thorn, whenever necessary. And
u ??,SH y ined-"P bare flo0r is de
lightfully clean looking and cool
Every room should be flushed with
fresh air and sunshine for a few
hours overy day. If the sun is hid
den, the fresh air will do good work,
iry keeping tho doors and windows
open as much as possible, night or
day. In all weathers, tho windows
may bo down an inch or two from
tho top, or the lower sash raised as
much. Where drafts are disliked, or
not to bo endured, tho sash may bo
raised, or removed, and cheese-cloth
taoked ovor tho .opening. This will
keep out rain, or dampness while
lotting in tho fresh air. Above all
things, as VOU Valll A lrnnrl TiooTfi. j
not sleen in tifriitTv.nTD ' "
J When one is used to clean air, it is
Tho Ice Chest
Where ice is available, a homo
made ico chest can readily be con
structed at a saving of expense. Take
a large box, of a .convenient size,
and put in the bottom a layer of
saw dust, chaff, or cut hay or straw,
as is most convenient. Set a smaller
box Inside the large one, and pack
tho filling tightly all around the
sides. A galvanized iron pan, the
size to fit in the smaller box, and
half its depth, is to hold the ice, and
this should havo a spout about six
incnes long for draining the water
off as the Ico melts. This spout
must, run through the bottoms of the
boxes and tho packing. Nail short
legs on the bottom of the large box,
and under this set a pan to catch the
drip. Lay a shelf in the box above
the Ice, and finish with a padded,
tightly-fitted cover, which nancl nnf.
be hinged on, but may be, if pre-
ierreci. it must fit In tightly.
Where ono has a cool oofinr n
improvised refrigerator may be had
by digging a hole six inches deep,
uuu cementing tno sides and bottom,
and into this, place a frame, covered
with fine-meshed wire gauze, having
a close-fitting cover, and no bottom.
Sot the frame in the hole, and mix
plaster of paris to a thin cream and
pour into the framo. half nn inn.
thick, for a bottom. The plaster will
set in a fow minutes, and no in
sect can get into the enclosure. See
that the lid is close-fitting, and al
ways fastened down tightly.
If ice is not available, find nn hne.
a cool collar, it is easy to dig a hole
several feet long, and wide as want
ed two or threo feet deep; brick
this up, sides and bottom, and ce
ment over the brick; fit a top to
it, close-fitting, with a "ventilator"
pipe, the end of which Is to be cov
eral with gauze wire, runninc
through it. In this m ,'", , ir?
be kept, with very little cost for ma-
jeriuiB. ii one has a "milk house"
in the side of a hill, such a "box"
can be made, and hnffm. 0,i
kept ice cold. These conveniences
Ii u . mtI In money, and
tho labor will not ho fH wmu Mo
vable will bo untold. '
Strawberry Sherbet. One quart
of strawberries, one quart of water,
sugar to tasto; mix, and freeze in
molds. Before frozen hard, add tho
well-beaten white of ono egg, mix
well with a large spoon and leave
in tho freezer until ready for use.
The sherbet may be molded by freez
ing in a brick-shaped mold and is
sent to the table in that form, with
fern leaf placed on the platter, and
a smaller ono on top or the brick
Iced Tea. A mixture of one
fourth black and three-fourths P-ron
tea is good; for black, English break
fast may be used, and for green,
young hyson. Allow a level tea
spoon of the mixed teas for each
cupful wanted. Early in the morning
have the water freshly boiling, scald
out the pot and put in the tea; over
this pour freshly boiling water, as
many cupfuls as one desires. Cover
closely; let steep (not boil) for five
minutes, then strain into a pitcher,
cover and set to cool. Longer steep
ing will give darker color, but is
not so wholesome. Boiled tea is not
fit to drink. When the tea is quite
cold, put into the refrigerator. If
wanted in a hurry, set the pitcher
into which It Is strained Into a bowl
of ice-water; but do not add ice to
the tea, as that weakens it. In
serving, fill tall glasses with cracked
ice, aaa a slice of lemon to each
glass, and pour in the tea. Sugar
may be added individually to taste.
This tea will not disturb the nerves.
Remember, tea must not boil.
A. Handy Contrivance
For dropping oil in making may
onnaise dressing, the Delineator tells
us to try this plan: Cut one small
groove and two smaller ones in a
cork that fits the oil botle. Place
the bottle on the top of a pitcher to
prevent it rolling off the table; under
the mouth of the bottle have a bowl
containing the yolk of an egg. and
a dash of cayenne pepper; as the oil
falls, drop by drop from the smallest
groove, mix thoroughly with an egg
beater; when about an ounce of oil
has been used, turn the bottle so
the oil will run in a small stream
from one of the larger grooves. Add
lemon juice as needed, and a pinch -of
salt at the last. -
Query Box
Somo Refreshing Ices
Mint Beveraeo Wnoh v.
from the stems a handful of fresh
mm, xuuves; oruise and steep in
water kept just at the boil
ing point, a hsrnrifni rn
tumblerful of water, for a few min
ute, sinun and bottle the decoc
tion, cork, and not nn i , i.
when cold set in tho refrigerator
until wanted, then a littlo cracked
ice and sugar to taste may be added,
this is excellent for a disordered
stomach, or where clear water can
not be taken to quench thirst.
Lemon Sherbet. To one quart of
boiling water add the juice of Ave
lemons and ono pound of sugar: let
stand until cool, then strain. Add
ni """" "" "ozen acta two
well-beaten whites of eggs and a
Pint of sweetened whipped cream.
H. J. N. and Othm-H TJmni -
replies to "Baking" query.
w?T"5reited butter ls sometimes '
substituted for olive oil in salad
dressing, if the oil can not be had
Mrs. S. The long-shouldered .
effect may be had for shirt waists by -using
the epaulet yoke, or bv -
r"M",u Dllttva extending well over -the
tops of the sleeve.
L. M The different fruit acids
arfalIJ, citric and tartaric. Malic
acid is found In peaches, apples
pears, currants, gooseberries; citric
in oranges, lemons and limes- tar
taric acids abounds in gres I' '
m. $. c. A complete outfit-for
bead work consists of a loom, needles '
directions, patterns, etc., and usuaflv
costs $2 at art stores. Beads in coi-
rbunch.11"0' CSt tGn t0 fifteenncents
it ?' '"tH you win took' over the
atiof wilhTh8 ff0red Smbin!
nndnalY ' SeJSSS0 will '
S-AiS
--, UUb oouu your order to Tho -Commoner
office. ino
Annie M. A persistent use of tho "
2m. complexion brush, scrubbing
with warm water and a pure S
tBSia8. BOap off hPcfeap w
e YH1 rld you of the "black heads
which is only dirt in the pores of "
the skin. A wetting with egoPod vine- s
AN OLD AND WELL TRIED REMEDY
curea wind colic and la tho W romfw fL!
rlioea. Tvy-oaty-flvo wuts a boUJ fordid.
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