Newspaper Page Text
Note.—Space frequently compels us to
condense communications, but we feel as
sured our friends will not condemn the
necessity for the exercise of this liberty.
All are welcome—too many cannot come
—and we note with pleasure every new
arrival and every repeated visit. Let each
add to the value of this popular department
by asking for and giving information, mat
ters of interest, etc.
Dear Woman's Work:
I don’t think I can possibly let the holi
days pass by without wishing all my fami
ly a very “Merry Christmas!”
To many, the coming of Christmas, is a
time of rejoicing,'to others a time for sad
ness and regret. A few short years ago, and
many homes were filled with childish
shouts of glee, and laughter; now, perhaps,
the band is broken. Some are in distant
lands,or scattered far away from the dearold
home nest, leaving two hearts desolate and
longing to hear once again the shouts of
joyous laughter, as one by one, the little
stockings are taken down and emptied of
their contents.
Oh, happy childhood! How innocent
are all your joys. With what merry
laughter are the rows of stockings hung !
what peeps, to see if “Santa” is near.
But soon, all too soon, is the dear delu
sion dispelled, and the knowledge of who
“Santa Claus” is, always brings a feeling
of incredulity, and regret.
It is within the power of all, to make
some heart happy, some desolate heart
joyous. Don’t forget that in our crowd
ed cities, are manv little ones who
have never heard of Santa Claus. What a
little it will take, from your abundance, to
bring j >y and gladness to a few such.
1 recall, as 1 write the above, the happy
faces of three poor children, that lived
a short distance from our home, as on
Christmas morn, I carried a basket of all
kinds of nice things over to them, not for
getting a doll for the baby girl. What if
it was only a common china doll? it made
happy the little heart for many a day.
Children rarely forget a kindne;s,and a first
impression is generally lasting.
There was the sick grandfather, very old.
indeed, who feit the need of something the
family could not afford. He had wished
for some wine For him there was stored
away a bottle of blackberry wine and an
old-fashioned pipe, as he was an inveterate
smoker. For the mother a generous cake
and a shoulder cape, with many little gar
ments that were out-grown, though still
warm and comfortable. All these things,
simple themselves, brought tears to the eyes
of the mother, tears of joy. they were, to
know that, though poor and humble, they
had been remembered in our pleasures tor
Christmas. And then what a light heart it
gives, to know you have brightened at
least one home, by an act of kindness,
There are two little stockings, yet to
hang at our fireside and be filled.
Please God they may be there for many
years yet.
I am thinking of, and wishing foraZZmy
scattered family, a very pleasant and
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Little Mother.
Dear Woman's Work:
I have never written for publication in
my life and feel a great hesitancy at now
beginning. I like our paper so very
much that I want to tell you just how
much you are appreciated, so will ask the
friends that read please “don’t read me
with a critic’s eye, but pass my imperfec
tions by.” I think our paper isjustsplend
ed, and feel as if 1 would like to know
all the contributors. I hope they will be
among the number whose portraits will
be forthcoming. I would like so much to
know just how they look.
If I do not see this in our next woman’s
work, I d< n’t think I would ever have
courage to try again. 1 will send with
this a pretty pattern of knit lace. Won’t
some of the ladies send some pretty,narrow
crochet edgings to our paper? 1 want
something about an inch wide.
Yours,
Einna.
Dear Woman's Work:
Have any sisters made use of the “Cork
paper” used to pack glass, . and other
fragile articles? It is extremely light weight,
of pale straw color, covered with .particles
of ground cork. It takes gilt or any
stain, does not fall apart, can be used lor
frames, boxes, easels and many uses, is ex
tremely cheap. For pine picture frame,
join flat strips in the usual manner; it the
corners don’t mitre neatly, no matter it is
hidden. Cut strips of paper the exact
width, glue firmly, let dry, then gild or
stain. 1 fold narrow strips, scarlet silk or
veivet, place on inside edge of frame
just a scarlet line shows between glass and
frame as a relief.
Take high square cigar box, line wi ,
poppy, red tissue paper drawn throui bri
hands to give crinkle effect. A ft
touches of glue fastens lining. Covof-r
with cork paper, gild, screw small brass
curtain ring on one corner of lid to lift by. |
Tie pretty satin bow in ring. Present to <
papa or husband for cuffs and collars. I :
have one of very small cigarette box, cover- )
ed and lined and ornamented with cluster j
of scarlet poppies on lid. It holds collars, I
cards and parlor scraps. Save your poppy
pods to make paper poppies to
brighten your walls this winter.
Mrs. G. B. Parsell.
Dear Woman's Work:
This bleak November day gives us a
fore taste of the winter which lies before us;
the earth is sere and brown beneath our
feet, the sky so dull and gray above our
heads, the limbs are bare of leaves, and
the wind whistles and shrieks and rages
among the trees, as though rejoicing in its
mad, wild way over the beginning of its
winter’s reign.
There is a charm in all this to a true
lover of nature,which is deep and unuttera
ble. I wish our boys and girls would study
nature and cultivate a love for her in her
wild and wayward moods, as well as when
clothed in verdure and decked with flowers.
They could learn from her many lessons of
contentment and peace, if they only would.
In nature everything fulfills its mission,
from the tiny blade of grass pointing
heaven ward,to the cloud-capped mountain,
cold in the grandeur of its eternal shroud
of snow.
There is nothing low and grovelingin
nature, everything points upward. Last
summer I had an Akebia vine which I
tried to persuade to run downward, but it
was an utter' failure; it grew and twined
around a post of my veranda; it soon
reached the top of the post ana ran across
to another. Then my futile attempts began;
1 tried to get it to run down that post but
it would not; I would wind it around the
post and tie it and think it could not help
but grow the way I wished, but by the
next morning it wou.d be turned upward.
<nd climbing bravely skyward. So we
should ail do; never give up to difficulties
<>r force of circumstances. No matter how
hard our surroundings, let us push onward
let us ever lilt our faces skyward, ami
every day try to grow braver .better and
purer.
Your bright, good paper teaches us this
lesson—it points us continually to better
and brighter ways of living. I love it be
cause it is printed in our dear Sunny South.
1 have no war to make with other sections—
I wish to live in peace and good will to all
mankind, but 1 love the South with a per
fect love; it beats in my pulse, thiobs in
my heart, and courses with my blood
through every vein in my body; it has
grown with my growth, and strengthened
with my strength, and from its warmth
will spring flowers to beautify my grave.
Mrs. Z. Chastain.
Dear Woman's Work:
A pretty pincushion is made of crazy
work in form of ascent satchet and tied
with a bright ribbon.
Tiny scent satchels are made of different
colored ribbon about two and a half inches
long. Fringe and tie with narrow ribbon
of different lengths. There should be
seven in a bunch.
A photograph holder is pretty made
of garnet plush, lined with pale blue or
yellow satin and tied with ribbon to
match the lining. One corner should be
turned back and bow of ribbon fastened
on. Mrs. Nellie Morgan.
Dear Woman's Work:
To me our paper is a bright gem whose
effulgence permeates my innermost soul.
There is no home but would be morally
better from the monthly visits of such a
paper as “Woman’s Work,” with its
cheering and useful pages.
Your well wisher, Mrs. M.E. Snipes
Mississippi.
Dear Editress:
“ Another year has passed away!
Time swiftly speeds along.”
Yes, a whole year has passed, since the
reception of the first number of “Woman's
Work,” and I have thought with each
successive issue that I would write and tell
you how very much my husband and my
self love the paper, but. “Procrastination,”
has stolen a whole year from me and this is
my first attempt. I feareven now I shall fail
to* interest you and the many readers of
“Womans Work.” In the first place I
won d like to answer some questions which
appeared in the May number, in regard to
treatment of household servants. I know
nothing of while servants, as in this section
they are all negroes, and very tew here
would care to exchange.
After loni Are they over-worked? I have )
ight and i e this y ear i 1 cook dinner
When or 1 a ”d ironing days, and with )
Pof those two days she has i
i two or three leisure hours both morn- )
ing and afternoon. Second. She is paid I
; accordingly. Third. She is fed from the 1
! table, having a portion of every thing on |
! the table, even to jelly, pickle, preserves )
( and sugar. Fourth 1 let her go to all their
I picnics and celebrations, and help her fix
her basket. I also give her the privilege of
going to Church every Sunday. This was
my grand-mother’s and my mother’s way
of treating their household servants, even
when they were slaves, and it was so all
over the South.
As Winter is upon us again, I will give
one of my ways of dressing butter. After
taking from the churn and working, let it
get cold, then work thoroughly, make it
cone shape; have a cup of boiling water at
hand; take a large screw, dip it in hot wa
ter and commencing at the top of the but
ter, press downward, go all around several
times, dipping the screw in the hot waler,
as often as it becomes cool. A golden
cake of butter dressed this way looks too
pretty to cut.
If you see proper to print this I will
write again. Your true friend,
Ida Washington.
Dear Womans Work:
I have been wanting to write you some
time to ask if some one of our band can
tell me how to conveniently furnish a bath
room in a country house, where we have
no water pipes. What kind of stove would
be best and cheapest for heating water and
warming the room? Will some one tell
me a good way to keep potatoes during
winter, when we have no cellar? lam a
young housekeeper as yet. but hope in time
to be able to give others some valuable
hints. Now I must ask advice of kind and
wise friends.
With love to all the sisters, I am yours,
Leila Gaines.
Dear Editress:
I have been reading your valuable paper
for nearly a year, and have often thought
I would write a communication for it, but
have neglected to do so.
Words are inadequate to express my
love for Woman’s Work, and surely no
■ >ne enjoys it more than 1 do.
I take several magazines and dailies, but
will lay any of them aside to read and re
read Woman’s Work. When my subscrip
tion expires, please notify me at once, and
don’t stop the paper which I love above
all others.
I With affectionate blessings for Woman’s
Work, and its many readers, I am your
true friend. S. B.
Fordland, Mo.
Words to Think of. —Work is no dis
honor, and laziness is no credit to any one.
It is good to have good wages; but half
pay is better than nothing, and working
for nothing is better than idleness and
vice. There is no true manhood without
independence. He whose individuality is
swallowed up in fashion, folly or society,
has lost that which be may never regain,and
without which his life must be a vain one.
He who restrains himself from luxury may
help others in necessity. He who helps
others may look to God to help him.
Difficulties are placed in our way that
we may overcome them, and pass through
conflicts to victory, and through victories
to triumphs. Pride goes before destruction,
but honor and nobleness and independ
' ence of soul are approved of God, and are
profitable to man.— Exchange.
If we are cheerful and contented, all na
ture smiles with us; the air seems more
balmy, the sky more clear, the ground has
a brignter green, the trees bear a richer
foliage, the flowers a more fragrant smell,
the birds sing more sweetly and the sun,
moon and stars appear more beautiful.
Men rarely succeed in changing the
world; but a man seldom fails of success
if he lets the world alone, and resolves to
make the best of it.— Bulwer.
TO THE YOUNG READERS OF
“WOMAN’S WORK.”
i
We will give one dollar for the best let
ter sent us by children before the fifteenth
•j of January next. It will cost you nothing
| to comp ete for this prize, if y“U are already
. a subscriber to Young Folks, and if you
' are not, you will be thankful a thousand
times for subscribing. And should you
i not be successful this time, perhaps you
1 will another time, as wu will continue this
offer from month to month. So every one
send in your letter and subscription if you
are not already one of our family. Address
i “Young Folks,” Newton Hamilton, Pa.,
"Letter Box.”
I' - ‘
Use wandering milk-root tea for dyspep-
: sia.
Beware of the first cross word in the 1
) morning.
Long, plain effects are sought after in all
draperies.
Inveterate tea drinkers invite early
wrinkles.
Honeycomb or smock work is very effec
tive on children’s dresses.
In pressing flat embroidery, lay the ar
ticle wrong side up on a damp cloth.
The leg-of-mutton or gigot sleeve is
fashionable for all dresses of light-weight
| material.
When making up unbleached muslin
I you must allow an inch to the yard for
i shrinkage.
|
New walking boots are laced in frjnvL
the uppers being made of the material!off
the dress and foxed with russet.
If your sewing machine runs hairdland
your oiler is empty, try as a substitute
equal parts of clean lard and kerosene oil,
If a dish gets burnt in using, do not
scrape it, put a little water and ashes in it
and let it get warm. It will come off
nicely.
To clean straw matting, wash with a
cloth dipped in clean salt and water; then
wipe dry at once. This prevents it from
turning yellow.
For chapped or cracked hands use a tea
of witch-hazel. It is also good tor canker
ed mouth or throat with golden seal and
white sugar added,
Take a quarter of a yard of mosquito net-
i ting, fold and refold it until the required:
, size, then tack it as you would a Comfort,,
and you have a good dish-cloth.
For an informal or family breakfast,.
I cream tinted damask cloths with borders
;in bright colors are liked. The napkins
match, and are finished with fringe.
Clean knives with a soft flannel and Bath
hri<-k. If rustv. use wood ashes, rubbedl
on with a newly cut bit of Irish potato.
This will remove spots when nothing else
; will.
A room with a low ceiling will seem
•! higher if the window curtaiqs bang to the
) floor. Lambrequins may be used to extend
the curtains to the ceiling and thus carry
out the effect.
To clean bottles, put into them some
kernels of corn and a tablespoon of ashes,
I ha’f fill them with water, and after a vigor
ous shaking and rinsing you will find the
bottles as good as new.
In case of burningthe hand, which often
occurs when one is cooking, at once spread
a thick covering of common baking soda
over the injured part, then tie a cloth over
it. It gives speedy relief.
An excellent way to clean old brass is to*
use ordinary household amonia, un-diluted
and rub wilh a brush. This will leave the
> metal clear and bright. It should then be
rinsed in clear water and wiped dry.
Shirt bosoms never blister if starched on
the right side, but if they are wrong side
out when starched they are apt to do so.
Pour mixed starch into boiling water, in
stead of pouring boiling water on the starch,
in that way never using more starch than
) is necessary, as the simple starch and water
:can be saved.
For a Bad Cold.—Just before getting
i i.ito bed for the night, soak the feet in mus
tard water as hot as can be borne; put the
feet first into a pail half full of warm water,
adding by degrees very hot water until the
desired heat is attained, protecting the
body and knees with biankets so as to re
tain the vapor of the water and induce a
I good sweat. Next take a dozen drops or
I more of strong spirits of camphor on white
sugar or in water, get into bed under
plenty of blankets, and sleep off the cold.
; As a warmer for a sick-room, or for use
in very cold weather a sand-bag is said to
be superior to the old-time bottle'or brick,
Get some clean, fine sand, dry it thoroughly
■ in a kettle on the stove; make a bag about
j • ight inches square of flannel, fill it with
! the dry sand, sew the opening carefully to-
I gether, and cover the bag with cotton or
linen cloth. This will prevent the sand
from sifting out. and will also enable you to
heat the bag quickly by placing it in the
oven or on top of the stove. The sand
holds the heat for a long time, and the bag
can be tucked up to the back without hurt*
ing the invalid.