Hints for Home Comforts

Exercise in the open air is of the first importance to the human frame, yet how many are in a manner deprived of it by their own want of management of their time! Females with slender means are for the most part destined to indoor occupations, and have but little time allotted them for taking the air, and that little time is generally sadly encroached upon by the ceremony of dressing to go out. It may appear a simple suggestion, but experience only will show how much time might be redeemed by habits of regularity; such as putting the shawls, cloaks, gloves, shoes, gums, &c. or whatever is intended to be worn, in readiness, instead of having to search one drawer, then another, for possibly a glove or collar— wait for shoes being cleaned, &c.— and this when (probably) the out-going persons have to return to their employment at a given time; whereas, if all were in readiness, the preparations might be accomplished in a few minutes, the walk not being curtailed by unnecessary delays.

Eat slowly, and you will not over eat.

Keeping the feet warm will prevent headaches.

Late at breakfast— hurried for dinner— cross at tea.

Between husband and wife little attentions beget much love.

Always lay your table neatly, whether you have company or not.

Put your balls or reels of cotton into little bags, leaving the ends out.

Whatever you may choose to give away, always be sure to keep your temper.

Dirty windows speak to the passer-by of the negligence of the inmates.

In cold weather, a leg of mutton improves by being hung three, four, or five weeks.

When meat is hanging, change its position frequently, to equally distribute the juices.

There is much more injury done by admitting visitors to invalids than is generally supposed.

Matches, out of the reach of children, should be kept in every bedroom. They are cheap enough.

Apple and suet dumplings are lighter when boiled in a net than in a cloth. Scum the pot well.

When chamber towels get thin in the middle, cut them in two, sew the selvages together, and hem the sides.

When you dry salt for the table, do not place it in the salt-cells until it is cold, otherwise it will harden into a lump.

Never put away plate, knives and forks, &c., uncleaned, or sad inconvenience will arise when the articles are wanted.

Feather-beds should be opened every third year, the ticking well dusted, soaped, and waxed, the feathers dressed and returned.

Persons of defective sight, when threading a needle, should hold it over something white, by which the sight will be assisted.

In mending sheets and shirts, put the pieces sufficiently large, or in the first washing the thin parts give way, and the work is all undone.

Reading by candlelight, place the candle behind you, that the rays may pass over your shoulder on to the book. This will relieve the eyes.

A wire fire-guard, for each fireplace in a house, costs little, and greatly diminishes the risk to life and property. Fix them before going to bed.

In winter, get the work forward by daylight, to prevent running about at night with candles. Thus you escape grease spots and risks of fire.

Be at much pains to keep your children's feet dry and warm. Don't bury their bodies in heavy flannels and wools, and leave their knees and legs naked.

Apples and pears, cut into quarters and stripped of the rind, baked with a little water and sugar, and eaten with boiled rice, are capital food for children.

After washing, overlook linen, and stitch on buttons, hooks and eyes, &c.; for this purpose keep a "housewife's friend," full of miscellaneous threads, cottons, buttons, hooks, &c.

For ventilation, open your windows both at top and bottom. The fresh air rushes in one way, while the foul makes its exit at the other. This is letting in your friend and expelling your enemy.