The Lambertville press. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1858-1???, 1859-01-13
Chr Aonsthold d.
FROM THE AMERICAN AGRIcULTURIsTI
Cheap Household Convenienoes.
BY ANNA HOPE.

II could lire without closet, " said lady to
me, "but don't know how I could live with
cut closet door" AS she spoke she opened
this valued door, and displayed It's various con.
Tenlences, Upon it hung her dressing gown,
her working apron, and other articles, suspended
from small brass nails or hooks. On the lower
part OF the door was a shoe bag from which
shoes, and CATERS and India rubbers were
peeping out, ready for her selection at any mo.
ment
A shoe-bag is a great convenience. After
becoming accustomed to use it, lady would
scarcely be willing to be without one Shoe
bags are made in various forms Sometimes
square piece of calico is taken, and two rows of
pockets felled on. These pockets are wide and
deep enough to admit easily pair of CATERS
or slippers, yet not so deep as to conceal the
whole shoe A larger pocket may be made for
"leggins," or stockings or any comforts for the
feet. These bags may be tackled to the closet
door.
Other shoe-bags are made of two circular
pieces of calico-the larger about yard in dia.
meter, and the smaller little more than two.
thirds Of a yard These circles are so folded
as to make eight divisions, and are sewed to.
gether where they are creased. Through the
hem Of the larger circle string is drawn, thus
forming bag for stockings.
Pockets may be made in a straight piece of
calico, and this gathered around small circle
like the bottom Of basket and the top
drawn.
These bags may be made of calico, or delaine,
or merino, or of any material one chooses. The
pockets can be made of different colors.-
Brown linen, trimmed with colored braid, is
pretty.
A travelling tolet-bag of oiled silk is another
convenience 1t should be made with different
sized pockets for the brush, comb, fine comb,
nail brush, tooth brush, wash.cloth, or sponge
and soap.
Much Of the furniture of chamber may be
made with very little expense where economyis
a consideration. Soap-boxes lined with paper
and covered with chintz, make not only good
seats but are useful as substitutes for drawers -
AS receptacles of pamphlets and newspapers
they are not to be despised Shoe-boxes, thus
lined, and covered, form quite respectable
"divans." A long box for lounge, with
top that can be raised is nice place for dresses
not in common use. Dresses hung in closets
become "stringy" and if folded in a small com.
pass they are wrinkled Almost every one has
seen the hour-gass work-tables They are
frequently made too high, bnt when they are not,
they are very pretty articles of furniture, and
the pockets around the top are always convent
ent. Toilet tables are sometimes made by
putting substantial top over barrel and
covering it with furniture calico Such a bar.
rel is pretty sure to be full of what, other wise
no one knows exactly what to do with Very
comfortable hassoeks, for the feet, may be made
by cutting out two circles of cotton twelve or
fourteen inches in diameter, and stitching be.
tween them strip six or seven inches wide
Stuff this evenly and firmly with the contents of
the rag-bag if you have nothing better, and then
cover it with carpeting or drugget.
A cutting board is desirable in every family.
This ismade to lie on the lap. The outer edge
is somewhat rounded, and the inner is cut out
so as partly to inclose the body, thus keeping
it in place with less difficulty than otherwise
1t is very wearsome to stand by table to cut,
as every one knows Even common square
piece of board is much better than nothing for
this purpose.