Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-11-02
NO. 26O.
MISCELLANEOUS READING.

A FRENCH WOMAN AT HoNE.-She helps
10 cook the dinner she has bOughr for ser.
wants are wastetul with coal and she knows
10 an ounce how little she can use In thar
marvellous place, French kitchen, where
two or three holes in stove cook such deli
cate dishes, and perform such culinary teats
no conception Of she fits about like fairy
creating magical messes out of raw material
of the most ordinary kind. Yes. though lady
born and bred. refined and elegant. and agree
able in society, belle in her way, she does
not think it beneath her dignity to Tighten the
household expenses by practical economy and
activity.
The dinner of q French family is cheap
and simple. There is always soup, the meat
of the stew-pan sometimes, if net strict in
their expenditures, another plate of the meat
generally two vegetables, dressed and eaten
separately, and sometimes mot always)
sweet dish il not thar, a little fruit, such as
may be the cheapest and ripest in the season.
But there is very little Of each thing, and
It is rather in arrange ment than in material
that they appear rich. The idea that the
French are gourmands in private life is incor-
rect. They spend little in eating, and they
eat inferior things though their cookery is
rather a science than q mere accident Of
| civilization. At home the great aim Of the
French is to save, and self.sacrifce that will
lead To this result is cheerfully undertaken.
more especially in eating and in the luxury
Of idlenesS.
No French woman will spend shilling 10
save herself trouble. She would rather work
nla tn hn nd ~
ribbon, or new pair Of gloves, than lie on
the softest sofa in the world in placid fine
ladyism, with crumpled gsuHe on her bare
hands.-Lady's Treasury.
THE ExrTY CRADLE-The death Of lit
tie child is to its mothers heart like the dew
on plant from which bud has just per-
ished. The plant lifts up its head in fresh
ened greenness to the morning light; go the
mothers soul gathers, from the dark sorrow
which she has passed, Frightening Of her
heavenly hopes
As she bends over the empty cradle, and
fancy brings her sweet infant before her, a
ray of Divine light is on the cherub face
1t is her son STILL but with the seal of immor-
tally on his brow She feels that heaven is
the only atmosphere where her precious flow
er could unfold without spot or blemish, and
she would not recall the lost. But the ami
versary Of his departure seems to bring his
spiritual presence near. She INDUCES in
that tender grief which soothes, like an opiate
in pain, all hard passages and cares in life.
The world to her is no longer filled with
her human love and hope in the future, so
glorious with heavenly love and joy; she has
treasures of happiness which the worldly. un-
chastened heart never conceived. The bright
fresh flower with which she has decorated
his room, the apartment where her infant
died, are mcmentoes of the far brighter hopes
now dawning on her dreams.
She thinks Of the glory and beauty Of the
New Jerusalem, where the little foot will
never find a thorn among the flowers TO rem
der shoe necessary. Nor will pillow be
wanted, for the dear head is reposing on the
breast Of the Saviour, and she knows her in
fant is there in that world Of eternal bliss.
She has marked one passage in that book
now emphatcally to her the Word Of Life,
now lying closed ON the toilet table, which
she daily reads: Suffer little children to
come unto me, for Of such is the kingdom Of
heaven"