0
C7 lPx?ie.xI
(ZTXral Oil
t'Tlr ELIZA STIMPSON looked longingly out
R Of her Bninll shop window and across Rock
I road, which was steeped In spring sunshine
I sunshine that wan not reflected upon her face.
Bhe was a plump, well proportioned woman,
who would have been pretty but for the dis
contented droop about the corners of her
mouth. The world had not used the second
Mr Btlmpson quite fairly and she did not feel on good terms
with It. Btlmpson was away at work all d;iy; moreover,
Stimpson was not a companionable person, and until Btlmp
son the younger put In nn appearance six weeks previously,
the second Mrs. Btlmpsm had found life decidedly dull In
the country town to which fate had transplanted her.
As for the shop, there was neither pleasure nor profit In
that, she thought. Business was brick enough on Saturdays
and on Thursdays market days when drovers came through
the town with cattle, and all the countryside went shopping.
Hut otherwise trade was chiefly confined to small children
demanding "a penny's worth o' licorice," or "a peppermint
slick "; and. If fortune favored the establishment, a party
of thirsty cyclists who might drink half a dozen bittle-s of
lemonade. Ruth Kllza was not accustomed to that class of
trade and would have said so plainly had there been any
listener to whom she liked to talk. Hut a neighborly chat
was a thins; she eschewed! not relishing the company of
other Inhabitants of Hulk road, who would one and all have
been extremely pleased to come and gossip with her. As It
happened, however, there was no one In whom Ruth Kllza.
cared to confide, with the exception of that bundle of pink
llaniK'l previously referred to as Htlmpsnn the younger, whose
power of understanding was at the present stage limited.
.lust now this young gentleman lay asleep In a wicker
bassinette, dec-orated with cheap muslin ami rose colored
sateen, and his mother, who had finished early In the day
all the work that duty and necessity required of her. having
no particular occupation with which to speed the long hours
of the afternoon, stood behind the counter, her hands on her
hips, and melancholy lines settling on her fair skin. She was
young and strong and she was desperately dull.
Suddenly a look of Interest animated her face. She peered
forward. " If there Isn't Miss Fancourt! I do wish she'd step
In herr."
A quaint little figure was coming up the road nn elderly
maiden lady nlmost as small as a child, with slightly bowed
shoulders, but a brisk walk. Miss Fancourt of Fancourt
manor half a mile further on, where the old house was set
amid its Immemorial elms was a lady, who belonged to the
crinoline period. Obviously she wore one still beneath her
three flounced skirt. Her closely fitting bonnet with Its flat
folds of ribbon was adorned with what was formerly called
a curtain a kilted frill covering her knot of gray brown hair.
Iter coat was a comfortable garment with deep pockets and
wide sleeves. Miss Fancourt had long ago adopted what she
considered a suitable and becoming style of dress, and was
never seen In anything else. Rhe had conservative tenden
cies, and as, notwithstanding her nge and oddities, she was
of considerable Importance In the little Insular town of Red
Regis, It will be seen that she was a person to be propitiated.
Ruth Kllza was perfectly nware of this, and had for long
yearned after an opportunity, hitherto denied her, of further
lug a scant acquaintance with Miss Fancourt. Rhe gasped
from suspense ns the old lady approached her door. Miss
Fancourt usually walked with on object In view. She had
now apparently come from the town and she seemed tired.
Could she bo persuaded to enter and rest nwhlleT Ruth
Kllza was prepared to dash out and proffer hospitality,
though pride forbade It; fortunately, she was not required to
immolate herself thus far. Miss Fancourt was gazing un
certainly In at the window; she turned the door handle, the
shop bell tinkled, and Ruth Kllza lifted a flushed face which
in order to hldo her nnxlety she had bobbed beneath the
counter In search of some Imaginary article she was sup
posed to have dropped.
, " Good afternoon," remarked Miss Fancourt suavely.
" You have some excellent bananas "she pointed to a
bunch hanging from the ceiling. " I wish to have a few."
" How many would you like, ma'am?" rejoined Ruth
Kllza, reaching for a knife, and racking her brain for some
thing to say that might detain her visitor before it was too
late.
" Six, If you please. Your bananas are finer than any I
have observed In the town and your fruit generally looks
good." Miss Fancourt took a chair without being Invited
and glanced about her. " Tou seem to be a discriminating
purchaser."
" Btlmpson buys the stock that being what I always said
I never would do-H wasn't likely," returned Ruth Eliza
bluntly. " Nor It wouldn't be wise, either," she ndded, as
an afterthought, ' me being no Judge of such things."
" Perhaps you have not kept a shop before?" said Miss
Fancourt gently. "No doubt It must be difficult to get ac
customed to It."
' I was brought up to the millinery." was the bitter re
sponse. " I never bud no call to set me hand to anything
else till I took up with Btlmpson."
" Ah!" There wus a world of meaning In the monosyl
lable Silence reigned for half a minute while Ruth Kllza care
fully chose the choicest bananas.
" It seems a long while since you were this way, ma'am,"
she ventured.
" Does It?"' said Miss Fancourt, with a smile that looked
almost deprecatory, and that certainly could not help being
kind. " I wonder you're not too busy to notice who
goes by.'"
' I get through me work quickly, ma'am. I never was
one to let the grass grow under me feet. And there's days
like this afternoon when time hangs heavy me being alone
so much. If It wasn't for the baby " . ,
Miss Fancourt's, hand shook suddenly as she took the
paper bag containing the bananas. She wus going to say
.something which seemed unkind. She disliked saying It Im
mensely, yet she had come for the purpose, for she felt
that It must be said.
" Young woman," she Inquired In a tone that meant to
be answered, " when were you married?"
Ruth Kllza flushed afresh, warmly.
" We wus married a year last Faster eve, to be Bure."
" I am truly glad to hear It." Miss Fancourt spoke with
evlilent satisfaction.
" Where did the ceremony take place?"
Stimpson you must know was called by name of Ruth Annie.
"She'd stood godmother to me as a little 'un, und that
kind hearted she was, which may have come to your knowl
edge, living In the same place. A better woman nevi r
stepped than the first Mrs. Stimpson, for ail she was In the
habit of saying that she was but a poor thing and getting
on In life. That was by reason of her having married Stimp
son, who was ten or twelve years younger than she. She
was always good to me and mine, having been a girl friend
of my mother's. And when father died, in poor circum
stances, leaving mother with a growing family through hav
ing lost a deal of money In the upholstering, which was his
line of business, Mrs. Stimpson shed write up to mother:
' Send Ruth Eliza along to Red Regis when you want to get
rid of one of 'em. It'll be a nice change for her and she
can stop a long while.' And so I did. ma'nm, and glad to
do It, too. M.iny's the school feast I've been to up at the
manor In those days, but you dlsremember me, which Is but
natural." Miss Fancourt shook her hend evasively. Her
memory was certainly nt a loss. For some time past she had
fancied that she must be getting old.
" So many come and go nowadays," she Said In nn apolo
getic tone, "and girls grow up so fast. 1 Used to know every
one In Red Regis. Now it seems to me that I See nothing
but strange faces. My sight Is failing me, 1 fear. I knew
the first Mrs. Stimpson well, and I may say, young woman,
that It has been you must pardon my plain speaklrfg a mat
ter of sorrow to me that poor Stimpson. who I feel sure W a
well meaning mnn, should have been led by loneliness into
doing anything of which she would not approve."
was the place to live In. I thought, even then, and I've had
no cause to change my views since. Well, things went on
so till the first Mrs. Stimpson was look with the disease that
carried her off. Suffered something horrid with bad legs,
she had, for nigh, on a quarter of a century, she used to
say, and It set In to the bone and developed pel ry-an-tlt us.
The doctor said there wasn't no hope from the first, but she
wouldn't have Stimpson told till she was dying. What she
did was to send for me, and as I was Just out o me time I
got a few davs. as 1 thought, and came down.
" She was lying abed room over this and Stimpson. of
coure. was out. lie works Lr Mr. Vetch, the builder, and If
It wasn't for him drawing a steady wage of his own tiiat
way. he'd be nowhere, for this little shop, which It's alwavs
been Tils hobby to keep on with, don't turn much. The first
Mrs. Stimpson managed It in her time-just to pleasure him
but she couldn't make a profit to speak of out of It. though
she pul her back Into It, she did -which Is more'n you can
say of me. to be honest. If you was to ask me, I should
say It helped her. Into her grave. There's nothing much
coining in in a neighborhood like this. 'Tlsn't to be ex-
I 6 X&f ' one ln Red RK'8- Now it seems to me that I see nothing fjjjTTg-Ssj
M Jhifsfi' V? 0 Vv the flrBt Mr8, 8t,mPson wel1, and 1 may 8ny- youiS woman. r"?st5 Oi
' ASK i that It has been you must pardon my plain speaklrfg a mat- (, " i?T5r VTi VWV
II TJiUk Jv v. 'VvVV I I ter of sorrow me ,nat P,,or Stimpson. who I feel sure W a UN. 2YT v V
If o "yS f if? V' iP. W V well meaning mnn, should have been led by loneliness into ) 2 P$jlii i JV
d0lng anj thlnK 0f W'1,l'h WOU,1 nPrrtVe'"
Hint fit tiiil r i TrxfcZS?- 555" .'Srl II ' :"'M"1'JM1T Yi ' rXll
i 'I1' !l l!! !;!.
do, but be said he didn't wish to bestir himself looking i ho
tthcre, and he thought It best to go on as we whs, for Je ,
never was one to care what folks saJd. Hut I thought. I
could do better by him If I married him, so wo went to
church and a hnrph-r couple never was.' "
That was the first Mrs. Stlmpson's story. "'Now,' said
she. ' he Isn't fit to live alone. No widower Is, and he hasn't
been accustomed (0 It at any time. I won't say nothing about
duty, Ruth Fllf.it. nor yet gratitude, for I wouldn't wish . to',
force the affections of any young woman, but If you run siy
the word t shall die happy.' " ' 1
' And yon snld It?" In pilred Miss Fancourt breathlessly.
" I said it. ma'am. That comes of being too kind heart
ed. ' I'll take him," I said. ' for better or worse, and If it
tm ns out worse I'll stick to him, so help me God, for I owe
It to you.'
" Well, she hail Stimpson upstairs after that as soon ns
ever he comes home, but I didn't know not then what
passed. It wasn't for me to speak, and I hoped against hope
she'd get better, and all would be forgotten. Hut she didn't.
She died the next Tuesday, and me and Stimpson followed
her to the grave. I'd looked for him to show sentiment for
once In his life, but he was that quiet there was no knowing
how he took It. When she'd been put away, as we were com
ing down Queen's lane on our road home, he put with what
was on his mind.
"'Ruth Annie spoke to me about you," said be. 'I
wouldn't wish to go against any fancy of hers. and. nil things
considered, we can't do better. So you can lake It from mo
that I'm willing.'
" ' Willing ain't the word for me.' I said. ' Hut a prom
ise Is a promise, and the dead don't give back no bond. I'm
bound,' I said, ' so here 1 am, and I'll do the best I can.
When's It to come off?'
, "'I cale'late that three months Is about long enough to
wait as things he," was his answer. ' Hut there ain't no need
for you to go back to the city. There's room and plenty, as
you're aware, ov r the shop. I'd have to engage a woman
If you went, so you may as well stop.'
" It wasn't what you might call a canoodling courting
was II, ma'am? Stlmpson's not the sort to overstep the
mark. I thought to meself nt the time If you was half a mnn
and give me a good kiss, I'd slap your face, but I'd like you
nil the better for It.
" So It happened as most like you've heard -that I house
keeped for him those three months, bearing In mind the first
Mrs. Stlmpson's wishes, for I knew will she'd not rest easy
with him handed over to a stranger. And when Raster eve
came him and me walked up to church, quiet like, and got
ourselves married. A sister of mine and her husband, living
at Hnttersea, came down ns witnesses. And over and above
telling them, neither nie nor Stimpson didn't feel no call to
talk about the affair Just then In the place, seeing It didn't
concern any one else, and the time and all being rayther pre
cipitous. "But dear! dear! The to-do there's been about It! You
wouldn't believe that Rock road was so particular. I'm sure
whatever kind of folk came to live In the neighborhood, I
shouldn't want to Interest meself In 'em. Hut that's the cus
tom In the country, I'm told. In the city folks nre too thick
upon the ground to pay attention to uny one who doesn't
get In their way. Oimme the city, where there's more work
und less talk. I've been forced to say to Stimpson more'n'
once, ' You'd best own up that we're married, and let's ha'
done with It, If 'tis only for my sake,' but never a word
passes bis lips. He hn' got set onto himself at the works, I
make no doubt, but all Red Regis knows there's nothing to bo
got out o' him, and his fellow workmen kind of take it 111
that he's so unsociable, but I'm sure that's nothing to what
he Is at home. 'Tlsn't cheerful living), with Stlmpsnn.
"I enn mind the day. Miss Fancourt, when I've had as
many as ten of the neighbors In. asking whatever made me
marry Stimpson, and anything else that came uppermost
short of whether I'd married him at all, which was what
they really wanted to know. Terrible reflective, too, they
were In some of the things they said. And If there happened
to bo anything going on nt the manor to which you'd kindly
Invited 'em, I do assure you, ma'am, there's not a woman
living ln Rock road but 'ud come In and tell me all about It,
Just to mark the difference that I wasn't there meself. I
won't say but what It made me mouth water, but I didn't
care not a Jot," pursued Ruth Eliza fiercely, " till Mrs. Skirt
at ID said she wasn't a-going to have ber fifth baptized along
of my boy."
"Ah!" said Miss Fancourt, reverting to the point she
!)
!
i
I
I
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waivt
suck a 3ea3 oTcsxplaixatio:
3
" Up at the church, to be sure," repeated Ruth Kllza.
" Any one can have a look at the entry, I s'posc," she udded
ii Utile defiantly, " If they're set on seeing It. But folks'
want such a deal of explaining to not meaning you, of
course, ma'am. It's kind of you to come and I'm sure I'm
only too pleased to mention how u happened. You see I
couldn't go back o' nie word to the first Mrs. Stimpson and
that's how it came about."
, Miss Fancourt placed her old fashioned sunshade securely
on her knees, with her small, neatly gloved hands crossed
over It, und drew up her feet on to the under rail of her
chair. Thus comfortably settled the forgotten bag of
bananas lying on the counter she regarded Ruth Eliza
earnestly.
' " I should like you to tell me ull you can," she said gently.
" That Is, of course, If you feel ut liberty to do so."
Miss Fancourt was u sympathetic soul, though withal of
a prejudiced turn of mind. Iler kindly old eyes were shining
now. Henceforth the scepter of Fancourt manor might be
extended In Ruth Eliza's favor. Ruth Eliza plainly realized
the probable issues at stake. She was relieved to find a
ready listener In Miss Fancourt and broke boldly through
the unaccustomed crust of reserve that had been closing
round her.
" Well, you see. ma'am, It was this way. The first Mrs.
Ruth Eliza, bridled. Politic reasons alone prevented the
free expression of her feelings.
" I can assure you, ma'am, it was quite another pair of
shoes, so to sjeak."
Mlsa Fanoourt scented the girl's Indignation, and replied
soothingly: "No doubt, no doubt, I see that now. Popular
opinion has been unjust to you. young woman, and I grieve
that I should have allowed myself to be Influenced to such a
degree by the talk of the town which reached me. Tray
continue your story. You became a milliner, I think you
said."
" Well, ma'am," explained Ruth Kllza sulkily. " mother
hud moved Into a small house at Wulliam and took lodgers,
but Mrs. Stimpson It was that thought of getting me ap
prenticed to the millinery. WIckeiiH Bros, was where I went
a nice little shop at the west end of the main street, with a
most genteel trade and the business suited me wonderful
well."
Ruth Kllza warmed to her subject as she proceeded.
" Then Mrs. Btlmpson 'ud have me dtwn here whenever I
could get a holiday her having always been partial to me.
It's different as most like you're aware, ma'am to go to a
place for a holiday, and to have to live In It. I never both
ered me head about Stimpson ln those days, but I enjoyed
coming down here for a breath of country air, though the city
peeled. Well, ma'am, ns I was saying. Mrs. Stimpson she
took my baud and held on to 11 till It kind of came to me
that she'd never leave hold.
" ' Dear! Dear!' I said. ' I am sorry to see you like this.'
" ' Ruth Kllza!' she said, ' I have but one regret In going
and that is Stimpson."
" ' He'll take on terrible,' I said to please her, and could
lia' bitten me tongue nut the next minute when I see what
wa.s coming.
"'Ruth Eliza!' said she, 'I done a good bit for you, but
you're worth It. I got the best possible opinion of you, Ruth
Kllza. If you was to say you'd have him, you'd take a load
off me.'
." Well, ma'am, of course, It was true she had done a
good bit for me one lime nnd another, but to pay It back
that way had never been In me mind, and I was taken as
you might say by surprise.
" ' Stlmpson's silent,' said she, but he's kind. You'll
never hear a hard word from him. 1 brought him up as a
boy and I ought to know. He was own nephew to my sister
Sarah's husband that died (which, of course, she'd told me
many a time), and him having no parents of his own he
lived along of Sarah and me from a little feller, and when
Sarah died he was about 111, and folks began to talk, so I
married him. I'd put It to him plain what I was about to
started from. "You haven baby?"
" To be sure, ma'am," asseverated Ruth Kllza, in whose
rc.ind this main fact had never been lost sight of. "And
him as fine a child at 6 weeks as you'd find In Red Regis.
Jest you take a peep at him." Ruth Eliza retired Into the
little room at the back of the shop with Miss Fanoourt at
her heels. The second Mrs. SLImpson and the lady of the
manor, now oddly ln accord, steped reverently and noise
lessly to the side of the bassinette where the snub-nosed
morsel of humanity reposed beneath the rose pink coverlet.
Two tiny eyes twinkled ns they bent over him. Stimpson
the younger wna nwake. and no prince robed ln purple and
swansdown ever looked lovelier, thought Ruth Kllza. She
forgot her wrongs forgot even Stimpson as she raised the
child and took off his outer flannels. He snuggled a bare
downy head ngalnst the ample curves of her neck and bosom,
curves that swelled with mother love.
Miss Fancourt gazed at the pair appreciatively. Her
sight might not be as good as It was once, but It enabled her
tc see a sudden and transforming beauty In Ruth Eliza. Bye
and bye she surreptitiously wiped away a drop that glistened
down the side of her nose.
" Ah." she said softly. " My housekeeper Is fond of
bnhlca, Mrs. Stimpson. You must bring him up to the manor
and take a cup of tea with her next Sunday "
SSSSS9SSSSS3SSS999S9SSS3
i
Practical Joints for the SBusu ftouseA
Apart
From those conced-d requisites, a good
conscience and good digestion, there is an
other indispensable to. those who covet sleep
and who have passed the heyday of youth,
und thut, need it be said. Is u good bed.
The wise housewife does not defer for
icurs the purchase of a hair mattress, sleep
lrg or half sleeping, on knobby and pro
tuberant beds of straw, coin husks, or ex
ec lsior while money Is spent lavishly for
gowns trinkets, and table luxuries. True,
the first cost of a mattress of curled hair
laid over a frame of woven wire is gretnter
than that of an Inferior bed, but with ordl
i nry care It will last a lifetime needing only
occasionally to be taken apart and made
over when it Is as good as new, and, being
"always sweet and clean, Is a pledge in Itself
vt refreshing rest.
Pillows, loo, should be adapted to Indi
vidual preferences If sb tp Is to come without
too much courting. Hlesslngs on the house
mother who allows to each member of the
t .nilly a choice as to pillows, und who, when
'ractlng the role of hostess, gives the guest
nt leust two of a kind from which to make
tt selection. The most hygienic, graceful, and
restful sleep Is that had without pillows, and
t'ist mother Is twice blessed who can rear
her children without the need of pillows.
Whatever material niuy go to fashion ths
tiieets. whether cotton or linen, pray let
there be enough of It, so they may be of
toodly length for tucking In at the head and
tcot of the bed and come well down at either
side And bewsre of wrinkles. A sheet
should lit the bed as the paper fits the all.
Sheets are usuully seamless, but when made
of iwo narrow widths of muslin, oveii aiided
down the middle, care should be taken to
place the wrong side of the seam away from
the uleeptr, so that he will not be obliged to
ktrclch a weary frame over this corrugation.
Ai to blankets, ln making the bed the open
did belongs nut at the foot, as ten out of a
dozen women seem to fancy, hut ut the head
of the bed. It ona be too warm with both
folds a single blanket will keep off the chill,
uud towurd morning, when ths ulr Is sensibly
colder, one may draw up the second fold and
be comfortable.
The Ditty Duties
of the general housework inuld begin at 6
c clock, litr rising hour. Uy tJ JO, after dress
ing, stripping her bfd. and opening the win
dow, she leaves her room und Is downstairs.
She now opens the furnace drafts and puts
on a little coal. She lights the kitchen fire,
tills the teakettle, andputs on to cook any
thing thut requires some little time. She
opens the windows on the first floor, brushes
up the floor und halls, and sweeps off the
trout steps. v
She goes over the bare floor In the dining
room with a cloth, and dusts the dining
loom, puts more coul on the furnace, closes
the drafts, and gives a look at the kitchen
tire. She now sets the table for breakfast,
laying everything neatly and evenly. She
returns to the kitchen und prepares break
fust. She cuts bread, fills the glasses, and
brings in the butter the last thing.
When everything Is served she unnounces
the meal, putting on a clean apron fo wult
on table. During the lust breakfast course,
she goes to the bedrooms, strips the beds,
turns the mattresses, hangs the bed cloth
ing over the chairs, and lets It air as she
goes over the floors with a carpet sweeper,
und then empties the waste water.
She then goes downstulrs and has her own
breakfast, clears the table, scrapes the
dishes, and puts them In water. She returns
to the bedchambers, makes the beds, dusts,
und c'.euna the bathrooms.
She washes and puts away the dishes,
rinses the dish towels, and puts them over
to boll. She takes a peep Into the puntry
and refrigerator, wiping off the shelves of
each, and scalding out the ice box three
times a week. Slit- then cleans and Alls the
lumps.
She now attends to any fpecial duties like
window cleaning or sweeping, stops it la
lime to prepure luncheon, and sets the
tabu for this meal nhllj uirlng the dining
room. After luncheon she clears the table,
daikens the dining room, and finishes any
tin 11 duties left from the morning.-
She then changes ber dress, cap, and apron,
brushes her hair, and Is ready to wait on
door. She has the afternoon tea truy ready
to take In promptly at 5, and curries it In
at the proper hour.
She starts In good season to get dinner, and
If possible, so arranges her preparations that
she can leave the cocking half an hour to
Se t the table. If she has not elre.-ej earlier,
she changes her waist before announcing
dinner.
During the meat course, the soup dishes
may be washed, and during the salad course
the meat course dishes may be washed.
After serving the dessert, she has her own
dinner, finishes washing the dishes, clears
the dining table, darkens the dining room,
and puts the kitchen in order for the night.
On Monday morning she rises early enough
to ge t a good start at the washing, as prompt
beginning insures time for rest In the latter
part of the day. So on Tuesday with the
Ironing. On Monday the mistress assumes
charge of the bed chamhe rs and the dusting.
Fish Fancies
The most essentia! point in chousing llfh
is their Iii.sIiih ts, uud this is determined us
follows: If the gills ure red, the eyes promi
nent uud full, and the whole lish stliT they are
good; but if the eyes are sunken, the gills
pule, und the ttsh Hubby they ure stale und
unwhulesome, und though often euten In this
condition, luck ull the fine flavor of a freshly
cuught flsh.
The IIhIi being chosen, the greulest cure Is
necessury In cleaning. If this Is properly
done one 'washing suffices; the custom of
allowing fresh fish to lie ln water after clean
ing destroys much of their flavor.
Fresh water tlsh, especially the cattish,
buva often a muddy tusle and smell. To get
rid of this, souk ln water strongly salted,
say a tup of suit to a gallon of water, letting
It heat gradually in this and boiling it for
one minute, then drying it thoroughly before
cooking.
All 1 1 -1 1 for boiling should be put Into cold
water with the exception of sulmun, which
loses Its color unless put Into boiling water.
A tablespoon each of suit and vlnegur to
eve-ry two quart of water improves the
flavor of all belled fish and also makes the
flesh firmer. Allow ten minutes to the jsjund
after the fish begins to boil, and test it with
a sharp skewer. If it runs In easily the Huh
can b taken off. Jf a fUh kettle with strain
er Is used Ihs tlsh cn be lifted out without
danger of breaking. If not It should be thor
oughly dredged with flour and served In a
cloth kept for ths purpose, ln ulJ cases
drain It perfectly and send to the table on a
folded napkin held Umii the platter.
la frying flsh. like ull fried aril. Its, should
lie Immersed In the hot lard or drippings.
Small itbh can be fried whole; large ones
boiied uud cut iu small piece. U they ar
ouseceeper.
egged and crumbed the egg will form a cov
ering, hardening at once, and absolutely
Impervious to fat. Pan fish, that is, flounders
and small flsh generally, can also be fried
by rolling In Indian meal or flour and brow n
lng in the fat of salt pork. Baking and broil
ing preserve the flavor most thoroughly.
Cold boiled flsh can always be used either
by spicing as In the rule to be given or by
warming again ln a little butter and water.
Cold fried or broiled flsh can be put In a pal
und set In the oven till hot, thus requiting not
over ten minutes; a longer time giving a
strong, oily taste, which spoils It. Plain
boiled or mashed potatoes ure served with
tish w here used as a dinner course. If flsh
is boiled whole do not cut off either tall tr
lo ud. The tall can be skewered In the mouth
if liked, or a large fish can be boiled In the
sliupe of the letter S by threading a trussing
needle, fastening a string around the head,
then asslng the needle through the middle
of the body, drawing the string tight, and
fastening It around the tail.
Ihe Way
To be a good neighbor Is to be above every
thing else both friendly and obliging.
'Fo be a popular neighbor It Is quite neces
sary to be un amiable, approuchuble, and de
pendable member of the locality In which you
live. You cannot afford to be only self-interested.
You must not deplore the expendi
ture of time and attention given to the task of
placing yourself on the most agreeable foot
ing with all those who live nearly ubout your
home, in d you should nut muke the mistake
i f accepting one fellow resident us a comrade
sud refusing even to nolle another because
you consider the former Is your social equal
und the latter Is not exactly one of the llrat
families In Ihe country side.
In setting out to make yourself a genuinely
populur neighbor, let It be one of your most
fixed und valued rules that you not only ac
cept but gladly Invite the acquaintance of
every resident In your vicinity, whether they
are ths children of colonial dumes or tht
humblest of newly arrived Immigrants from
Europe. Among these, of course, you will
select your Intimates, and many of thrm will
always remain the most formal of acquaint
ances, but do not live In Ignorant of ths fact
that so soon as a man or woman becomes your
neighbor, awhether he la a millionaire or
coal beaver, bs has glvsn you a claim on your
SBu yJcla Jt. Direcker.
Interest and civility. And do not be Inclined
to hold back overling, to discuss und weigh
the necessity of making the first advances
when negotiating neighborly feeling between
your own household and Hlunk's, which may
have Just recently been established next
door.
Never take Into profound consideration the
fact that the Blanks are strangers und
wholly unknown to your vkinlt and to your
friends; Ihnt they appear to be neither beau
tiful nor Interesting, rich, nor socially at
tractive. Do not wait to see how the othei
neighbors will receive them or what kind of
appearance they will make at church on
Sunday. Give them a kindly welcome.
Laying the Table
Bee to It first thut the table linen' has been
laundered well und Ironed smoothly, with
only one crease. The dining table, of course,
Is covered with a table felt, which Is thick
cunton flannel. Fold the napkins four lliue s
in Ironing, and then make one more fold with
the hand to hold the bread, nnd phu e them
ut the left of the forks. Never usee the fami
ly napkin rings when entertaining.
At each place put one of your be st dinner
plutes, In which tiie oyster plate is to be
set. Place at the right of the service plate
us many knives us will be required be fore
the (leKMcrt, each one with the sharp edge
turned toward the plate and In the order in
which they will lie nee-ded. beginning with
the extreme right. At the right of the
knives place the spoon for soup, which
should be a tahlc'siieion or soup sHon, with
the Inside of 1 1 if bowl turned up. then the
oyster fork at Ihe extreme- light. At the left
place as many forks as will be needed and
III the order In which Ihe y will be used; Hie
flsh fork ut the extreme left und the entree
fork next, then the fork for the? roust, which,
of course, should lie the largest, then the
fork for the sulad. all with tines turned up,
the last fork close to ths plnte. If you have
not mnny courses the dessert spoon and
fork may be on the t ible from the beginning,
but If the meal be elaborate omit them until
the dessert Is served. Too profuse a display
of silver Is apt to be vulgar.
At the upper right band of the plate near
Ihe center place a tumble;-or goll I of water;
If win Is used the glas will take the piaco
above the knives. P'hc- the i upkins, W illi
a small piece of brtuc. Infoi Hd ut the le ft
of the forks or upon the servle-e plate If
prefe-rred.
Butter has absolutely no place at a well ap
pointed dinner table and individual butter
plates should never be used ut dinner. Bread
Is never passed, the only bread used being the
irll or nmall siuare piece thut Is folde d In the
ne.pkln. This Is eaten dry with the soup.
The decorations of the table should be
modest. Flowers In the center or u growing
plant ure always In ordi r. It is also In good
taste to place a small bunch or a single)
flower at each plate. One or I wo small silver
or glas dishes containing bonbons or sailed
almonds are usually placed on the tuble.
Avoid using salt shakers, even If that should
be your habit when alone. Place two small
suit cellars and Individual pe-ppers, one black
and one red, diagonally opposite- each other
on the table.
The epjestlbn of lighting the table Is lmxir
tant, particularly If one lives In tho country,
where lamps must be used. Don't put one
on the dining table, but place it on a smai
- table ln a corni-r and have- It shaded. On the
table pluee four tall candlesticks with fancy
colored shades on the long candle s, the llgh'
from these will be soft, without glare, and
will be In much bolter taste thun having too
li. rce or strong a light.
Don't forget your finger bowls, which
should be only one--half fille d wilh water, and
have some small flower floating on top, or
eve n a geranium leaf. They ran be fllli d wil h
water anil stand on the sideboard throughout
the meal. Each llngi r stiwl should he placed
on a fruit plnte. w hich has on It a small dolly.
Appetizing Apples
These are Invalid dishes which nre equally
nice- for ordinal) family use.
HAKKD AI'PI.KS.-WIpe, core, and pare
sour apples. put In an eurthen or granite
ware baking dish, fill cavities wild sugar,
nnd allow six drops lemon Juice to each
apple, then Cover bottom of dish wllh boil
ing water. Bake In a hot oven until soft,
basllr.g every eight minutes wilh sirup ln
dish. Care must bo taken thut tipple s du not
lose their shape. Hcrv hot or cold, with or
without sugir and cream.
APPLE SA I 'CIO. Wipe, quarter, oore, snd
hire- two apples. Make a Ml lip by boiling
one-tlilid cup each water unci sugar and a
fw plains of suit six minutes. Add tipples
to cover bottom of saucepan und cuok until
soft, watching carefully that sections of
apple do not lose their sfiupe. Remove from
sirup, then cook remaining pieces. Strain
sirup remaining in pan over apples. Larger
quantities In these proportions may be pre
pared. STEAMED APPLE SAPCE.-WIpe, quar
ter, core, and pure one und one-half apples.
Put ln saucepan, sprinkle with sugar, add
few grulns salt, and enough water to prevent
apples from binning. Cook slowly until
apples are soft, then rub through a sieve.
The quantity of sugar and water used must
depend upon the sweetness and Juiciness of
the fruit. Larger quantities may be pre
pared In these proportions.
BAKED APPLK SACCK.-One and one
half apples pured, cored, and cut In eighths,
two tablespoons brown sugar, one teaspoon
lemon Juice, one tablespoon wuter. Put alter
nate layers of upples, sugar, and seasonings
In small earthen baking dish; cover and buke
In a slow oven one hour. A few gratings of
nutmeg may be used. Hi-rve hot or cold
APPLES IN HLOOM.-Select a medium
sized blight red apple. Wipe and put ln
small saucepan. Add twb-thlrds cup boiling
water and cook slowly until apple Is soft,
lurnlng frequently. Take from saucepan and
remove skin carefully, using a silver knife.
Scrape off all pulp lhat adheres to skin and
replace on apple that. Hie red color may not bs
lost; to water In saucepan udd one and one
half liihle spooiis sugar, f e w grutlngs lemon
rind, and three-fourths tablespoon orunge
Inloe. Le t simmer until sirup Is reduced to
Iwo tablespoons, then strain over apple.
Chill anil se rve- wllh whipped cream.
APPLE SNOW'.-WIpe, pare, and quarter
one sour apple. Put In small Btralner, pluce
ijver boiling waler, cover, ami lei sleum until
upple la soft, then rub through u sieve; there
should be oiie-fnuith cup apple- pulp. Beat
white of one egg till stilt, using a sliver folk.
Sweeten upple pulp to lueti- and add gradual
ly to beaten while of egg. e-oi,t Iniilng the
beating. Pile lightly on glans serving dish
und serve with crenin.
STEAMED CUBTARD.-Yolks two eggs,
tubli-Kpoon sugar, few grains mil. one cup
scalded milk, on tablespoon wine, one
fourth teaspoon vunllla. Beat egg yolks'
slightly, add sugar and salt, stir constantly
while adding graduully hot milk. Cook In
double boiler, stirring until mixture thicke ns
und a coaling is formed on the spoon, Birw ca
ul once. Chill and flavor.
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