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Classic
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page 348
it may be entirely filled in with a plain green. The edges of the sacking may be
fringed by raveling. To give it weight, line with an old piece of carpet or
heavy cloth.
TO WASH DISHES FOR SECOND COURSE.--When spoons or dishes, used in any course at
dinner, will be needed also for the next, have a pan of hot soap-suds, and a
dish-cloth or mop, and a clean towel ready in some convenient place in kitchen
or pantry, so that they may be quickly washed and wiped.
LABOR-SAVING CONTRIVANCES.--Every good housewife has neatly arranged cupboard
and dish-closet. Every thing has its appropriate shelf and division. But there
are other things for which provision should be made. A pile of books is
sometimes seen in one part of the dining-room, a few newspapers in another, and
a pair of shoes in a third. The inside of a closet is sometimes a mass of
confusion--"a place for every thing," and every thing thrown promiscuously into
it. Half a dozen garments are hung upon one nail, to crowd each other out of
shape; others are thrown upon the floor amid heaps of boots and shoes. And so on
to the end of the chapter of careless and slovenly disorder. There is no excuse
for such carelessness, and no satisfaction in such housekeeping. Want of time is
no excuse, for such want of system and order is the cause of the most prodigal
waste of time. It is only necessary to use the brain a little to save the hands.
Systematic habits, doing every thing well, and the hundred little contrivances
which will suggest themselves to every neat and ingenious housekeeper, will save
time, and establish order and cleanliness. Have shelves in the closet, and
regular rows of hooks and plenty of them; let one side be appropriated to one
kind of clothing, with a hook for each article. If necessary to preserve the
order, make a neat label, and paste over each hook. Make shoe-pockets (these
pockets are made of about two and a half yards of calico; one yard of which
makes the back, to be tacked to the door when done. Split the remaining yard and
a half in two, lengthwise, and, placing the strips about one inch apart, make,
across the back, three rows of pockets, by stitching first the ends of the
strips to the sides of the back, and then gather the bottom of each strip to fit
the back; then separate each strip into two, three, or four pockets, according
to the use for which they are designed, and fasten by switching a narrow
"piping" of calico, from top to bottom of the back, between the pockets. All the
work may be done on a machine. A border of leather, stitched on the edges of the
back, and a narrow strip used instead of the calico "piping," make whole much
stronger) on the inside of the doors, and never put any thing on the closet
floor, where it will be trodden upon in entering for other articles. Never stuff
any thing away out of sight in haste and disorder. Hiding dirtiness does not
cure it. Those who write many letters should have a case, with "pigeon-holes"
labeled and arranged alphabetically--a box for three or four letters is
sufficient--in which to keep them, with one compartment for unanswered letters.
When the case becomes crowded, or at the end of the year, wrap in packages, and
label with letter and the year. Newspapers and magazines, when preserved, should
be neatly filed in order and laid away, or sent away for binding. The
work-basket, which is in daily use, is often a spectacle for gods and men--the
very picture of confusion and disorder. When it can be afforded, one of the new
ladies' adjustable work-tables, of which several admirable styles are made and
widely advertised, will be found a great convenience; especially where there are
children--whose little fingers delight in tumbling the contents of the basket.
If a basket is used, it should be divided into compartments. A circular basket,
with divisions about the edge for smaller articles, and larger spaces in the
center, is convenient, and easily kept in order. All these, and hundreds
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