Smyrna times., 1870-10-26

and vines, allowing ivy to creep in and out |
among the fancy mCshes Of the fender; and !
you We no idea how pretty the effect is. Her
old fashioned centretable Nas too small, so she |
obtained big pinewood top for u dollar, |
screwed it on, enlarged the little square table |
cloth by sewing on pretty border, and now
On winter evenings, all the family can sit
around it and have room to spare She
bought second hand carpets, put all the best
parts around the edges Of the room, and the
worst III the middle and covered the centre
| with square drugget, that cOrresponded
charmnely in color. / haven't time to tell
half She found two old bedroom chairs some
where, rubbed and oiled them, stuffed out the
seats and covered them with lovely striped
material, which | learned yesterday vas made
out of an old green waist and pair Of Uncle
! Benedict S cast-away pantalOOns She mends
her canebOttom chairs with twine and then
varnishes the seats SO that you scarcely can
tell they are mended. She makes her own
sOap-stones for her stove, by taking three
parts in bulk OF potter baker, clay to one OF
wood-asheS, string in water till a thick paste
is formed, and plastering it thickly in place
with kitchen spoon. 1t soon hardenS, and
the fire bakes it harder and it will last for
months. If piece is broken out Of lamp
chimney, instead of throwing the chimney
away, she puts in the piece very neatly with
thin strips Of paper, stuck on with mucage,
and knows by experience that 1t will hold"
in spite OF the heat If her shoe is too tight,
she Sits it over the toe till it is easy, and con-
ceals damages with big rosette. She turns
old window-shades upside down, and leaves
the old faded part rolled up at the top; or if
she has chance to buy new ones, always buys
plain buff linen and makes them up herself
She makes foot benches out Of starch boxes,
draping the latter with pretty chintz or thin
+ muslin over pink paper-muslin. As mother
says, " She beats all )" yet, when you hear of
E each thing, it is so simple, you think at the
! time it is hardly worth noticing. Still, John
and | have cleaned good many other useful
: : ideas from Aunt Benedict household contri
vances.
| shall never forget the time Aunt and
went on visit to Boston. She carried hal
, her knick- in her hoopskirt cover How
= she managed to wear the article so burdened
| cannot imagine but she insisted it was per
e fectly convenient and comfortable Once a
,s our journeys end, she unpacked of course
! 1t was funny to see two great pockets taker
! !, off from under her dress. They were about a
half yard long, but they we're very . handy,
II she said. Her paregoric and camrhor vial
re we're rendered secure by means OF small piec
le Of thin indiarubber carefully tied over th
liee corks. A capital plan it is" said Aun
" Benedict. Il bought a handful of thes
,e scraps at the rubber store for ten cents, abou
De two years ago. and they We been invaluable.
The weather changed suddenly during ou
le Journey to Boston, and Aunt Benedict foun
herself growing very cold so she took bl
~ newspaper, folded it kerchief fashion over he
bosom, pinned another around her waist, pu
her black shawl neatly over all, and declare
- herself to be perfectly comfortable l believ
she pinned another newspaper over her petit
coat so as to keep her knees warm, but l al
not sure. She told me that often when 81
got her shoes damp, she would put in 6oub
paper sole, and so protect her feet perfect
until she had chance to obtain dry shoes.
travelling, she sometimes puts newspapers |
tween the scanty covering OF hotel beds, co
sidering TWO big newspapers equal to qui
One day, during our visit, l found myself u
expectedy out Of clean lace collars We we
dressing for dinner, and | was in no little di
may " Never mind, said Aunt B1nediC
ecstatcally, " manage it. Light the Ga
i always carry case-knite with me ar
some sugar.
While was staring at this very irreeva
remark, Aunt lifted one Of the long pocke
out Of the bureau drawer temporarily devOt
TO her use, took ou. two parcels and set to wO
washing my collar, stffening it slightly wi
weak sugar. water and ironing it between t'
sheets of letter-paper with the fiat blade Of t
case-knife She heated the knife at the 6
Jet beside TIE bureau, and used it with gre
dexterity. My collar looked like new. I
sugar gave it just the right body" withC
- stiffening it, and the fat blade smoothed
without giving it the tight, hard look that Ii
is sure to acquire under the weight of an or
nary iron.
- "Aunt Benedic:," said I, putting it
"you' re genius? Oh ! there S an ugly gre
spot on the end of my neck ribbon. Nc
what shall doP 1t won't do to cut the ribt
shorter than it is.
unit Never mind, SAID Aunt Benedict,
nts can fringe IL III minute
ack $50 fringed it; the spot disappeared, a
rsal my bow was prettier than ever.-Hearth a
$ in Home