davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-06-03
Hints in housekeeping Time,

THESE are the days of the year when,
according to all housewives creeds, the
house must be regenerated. Not, of
course, the city house neither the brown
stone palace on Murray Hill, nor even
the mildar expressions of brick and NOR
tar grandeur on quiet side streets; at this
season fashion demands that these shall
lapse into brown Holland and dust, and
lie torpid until October. But from sea to
sea, in all the towns and villages, and
farm-plaCes, the innumerable legions of
twostory brick houses and wooden villas
have just undergone the smashing and
drenching of spring cleaning, and their
anxious mistresses are eagerly consider
ing how they may be made more COM
Portable and prettier for the coming year.
This is the proper season for such prepa-
ration, the winters stoves and their dust
being at an end, and the teamwork, and
canning, preserving and meatsalting not
yet begun. We have word or two of
advice to these housekeepers, with am
bilious desires and lean pocket-books,
who never saw an " artistic upholsteTer,"
and to whom brica -brac, or proofs be-
fore letters, are phrases of an unknown
tongue.
1st. The principal object of hopeless
| longing is, nine times in ten, new car
| pet Now, why carpet at all? 1t will
| require at least two-thirds of the money
you allot for furnishing always does.
| No doubt the horrible rumor will spread
through the vi'lage that Mrs B. "is
reduced to bare floors" But you can re-
taliate and triumph by citing Tie most
costly houses III New York, furnished in
the native woods-the very wood which
grows at your back door; that is, if you
are not strong enough to possess your
soul and pretty floor in silence and com
| fort. The floors of every new house
should be finished with well-seasoned
chestnut, ash, walnut, or yellow pine,
which may be either vanished or oiled
You have then a surface under your feet
with exquisite granting and color, which
no loom can equal, and which never
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-06-03
The Way to Stake Out bitches.

BEFORE commencing to drain a field
the first requisite is to arrange the posi-
ton of the main drain, which should be
carried through the lowest part of the
greatest hOllOws wherever they may oc-
cur, whether through the middle or
along the bottom or sides. If the fields
slope uniformly from one end to the
other one main drain is quite sufficient
| but if the surface of the field be I'M
dulated any hollow of any considerable
extent and at any side of the field or at
the bottom of any slope to which water
may incline to run must be provided
with its mains or leaders according to
the extent of land which requires to be
drained. Sometimes an open ditch
alongside of a hedge is converted into a
leading dram, which is an exceedingly
Objectionable practice, for it exposes the
ends of the drains to frOsts and other
vexatious evils when it is left standing
open and when it is covered it is equal
~ bad, as it incurs the risk of being par
TALLY or totally injured by the hedge
roots. 1t would be wise in all cases if
the drainer would SO plan his operations
as to keep as far off trees and
fences as possible, as drains cannot
be considered to be absolutely safe
from the roots If placed within the
range of their travels Main drains in
no case should ever be made nearer to a
hedge than eighteen to twenty feet; and
it may also be remembered that a main
drain should not be cut upon a hedge
ridge where there is much traffic, such
as Carting. Main drains should be made
a few inches deeper than the small ones,
especially at the lower end, to expedite
the egress of the water out of the small
er ones, as it often happens to be level
on each side of the leader. For exam
pie, suppose the depth of water to be
two or three inches in the leader, and
the small ones on the same level, it would
assuredly check their flow, and conse-
quently water would stand accumulated,
which would make the expected cure d
baneful disease: for what name can be
given TO an inefficient drain but an arti-
fetal receptacle for stagnant water? To
determine the position Of main drains is
an operation of great Importance, when
it is understood that the small ones
should always run parallel to each other
and in the direction of the greatest slope.
N T. Herald
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-06-03
Mrs. Headache.

WAS taking walk lately III town
which / sometimes visit, when | came
suddenly upon a strengthening little
house, with narrow windows, in front OF
which were standing a crowd Of queer
looking creatures, with very small bod.
les, big heads and mouths, and long, ugly
arms.
"What can they be?" l wondered
"Perhaps elves or fairies.
/ had read about elves and fairies, and
knew that fairies are always very pretty,
and very nicely dressed in what we
would call evening dresses, but that elves
are awkward and ugly, as well as poorly
clothed. But these little fellows had
very nice clothes on all made of scarlet
cloth What and who could they be?
So stood looking at them until the tall
est among them, by mounting on the
shoulders of another, rang the bell.
Very soon little fellow, just like them,
opened the door, and in they rushed. 1t
was evidently their home. Before the
little porter could shut the door pushed
in after them. I think now it was rather
a rude thing to do under the circum-
stances; besides, if they had been elves,
they might have changed me instantly
into white mouse, or a rose-bush, or a
brass doorknocker, and | might never
have recovered my own shape to this
day. But, without stopping to think of
this, I went in The little porter ushered
me into a little parlOr, where everything
was very small. Here, at little table
covered with books and papers, sat lit
tie old woman, dressed in bright green
and wearing spectacles.
She bowed her head. / bowed mine.
Then | began to make an awkward sort
of apology for the strange way in which
| was behaving; but the lady Of the
house stopped me by saying:
make no apologies. [ am Mrs. Head
ache"
Mrs. Headacher | repeated.
Eyes; Mrs Headache"
Poor creatureI' thought / to myself.
81 wonder if she has headache every
day?"
She really seemed to understand my
thoughts, for she answered very quickly,
"No, | have no headaches myself IN
your sense of the word, but have the
control of all the headaches among chill
dren in this part of the world. Those
are my sons Look" And | locked and
saw innumerable little fellows, all busy
some hurrying out, some hurrying
home, some waiting for orders. Mrs.
Headache turned to her pile of books.
Here" said she, Il have in writing
all that they are to do to-day. Number
1867
Number 1876 came in at once.
81 want you" said his active little
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-06-03
Small Fruits Ill the Country.

WE are not SO uneharitable as to sup
pose that those who seek the country for
rest and recreation in summer fail to find
an abundance of good, wholesome food
of substantial kind; but the choice
delicacies in the way of fresh fruits and
vegetables sLch as city people prize
most are generally lacking just when
and where they should be cheapest and
most abundant. The cause of this is the
TOO common neglect of what may be
called a fruit garden" where the small
fruits are cultivated as a speciality, and
distinct from those generally grown in
orchards The residents of our cities,
who see trains of cars arriving every
morning loaded with strawberries, rasp-
s,erries and similar fruits during their
special season, might, with good reason,
imagine that every farmers table was
well supplied with these delicacies, the
surplus only going ito market; but a
hrief visit 10 the rural districts will
quickly dispel these illusory views of
country life, for we may safely assert
that not 5 per cent. of those who own
and cultivate gardens and farms raise
small fruits enough for the use OF then
families. If we visit the districts from
which our markets are supplied with
these fruits, fine plantat ions may DC
found Welding abundantly the choices
kinds; while in the immediate nelghool
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-06-03
Some Of the Remedial Properties Of
BOraX.

IT may be interesting to some to know
that weak solution Of boraX water
snuffed up the nostrils, causing it to
pass through to the nasal passage to the
throat, then ejecting it from the mouth,
will greatly relieve catarrh, and in cas- es
not too obstinate or long standing WILL
if persevered in, effect permanent cure.
It is also of great value in case Of in
famed or weak eyes. Make a solution
mot too strong), and battle the eye by
opening and shutting it two or three
times in the water. This can be done
by means Of an eye-cup, or equally well
by holding a handful of the water to the
eye. Another difficulty with which many
persons are afflicted is an irritation or
inflammation of the membrane lining
the cavities of the nose, which becomes
aggravated by the slightest cold, often
causing great pain This can be greatly
relieved, if not entirely cured, by snuff
ing borax water UP the nostrils two or
three times day. The most difficult
cases of sore throat may be cured by
using it simply as a gargle. AS a wash
for the head it not only leaves the scalp
very white and clean, but renders the
hair soft and glossy. 1t has also been
found by many to be of invaluable serv-
ice in case of nervous headache. If APP
piled in the same manner as in washing
the hair the, result is wonderful. 1t may
be used quite strong, after which
rinse the hair carefully with clear water !;
let the person thus suffering remain in a
quiet, well-ventilated room until the hair
is nearly or quite dry, and, if possible,
indulge in a short sleep, and there will
hardly remain trace of the headache.
If clergymen, teachers and others, who
have an undue amount Of brain work
for the kind and quality OF physical ex-
ercise usually taken, would shampoo the
head in this manner about once week,
and then undertake no more brain-work
until the following morning, they would
be surprised to find how clear and strong
the faculties had become, and there is
reason to hope there would be much less
premature decay of the mental faCul-
ties. As toilet requisite It is quite in
dispensable. If used to rinse the mouth
each time after cleaning the teeth it will
prevent the gums from becoming dis
eased or uncleanly. In short, in all
cases of allaying Inflammation there is
probably nothing better in Materia Med
lea. The average strength of the solu-
ton should be small teaspoonful to a
toilet glass of water,-Rurag Neso Yorker.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-06-03
How to Obtain Choice Butter.

We present the following brief sum-
mary Of the leading or more essential
requisites for the production of good
butter:
|. Securing rich, clean, healthy milk
milk obtained from good COWS, well
cared for, kindly treated, grazed upon
sweet and nutritious pasturage, free of
weeds, and provided with an abundance
Of clean, fresh water.
2 Drawing the milk from the COW in a
clearly manner and setting it in an IN
tainted atmosphere and keeping 1t q
uniform temperature-about so deg
Fahr., while the cream is rising
3. Swimming at the proper time and
before the milk becomes old and bitter
or is decomp6sed.
4. Proper management in churnIng.
5. Washing out the buttermilk thor
oughly and working the butter so as not
TO injure its grain.
o. Thorough and even incorporation
Of pure salt and putting down in tight,
clean, Well-made packages packages
that Will exclude, as far as possible, the
admission of air.
z Placing the butter after it is packed
If not sent at once to MARKET in q clean,
COOL well-ventilated cellar--one that is
moderately dry and absolutely free from
all impurities and offensive odors
s. Cleanliness in all the operations
from the time the milk is drawn to the
packing and marketing the butter is of
5mperotsoe necessity. Judgment and ex
perience in manipulating the cream and
working the butter must, of course, be
an element that is not to be overlooked
OF dispensed With.-RurdL Neao Yorker.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-06-03

needs patch, darn or renewal. In the
living-room, chambers or nursery car
pet simply becomes breeding place of
dust, impurity of air and disease. Color
and warmth, if necessary, may be given
by home. made mats, which can be re-
moved and shaken every day, as are the
costly skins, Persian and Egyptian rugs.
in city houses.
I'd. Having thus saved the price of
the carpets you can afford more to furni-
ture and decoration; and just here we
warn you to beware of the "cheap and
pretty" system urged in many fashion
periodicals. A substantial set of cham
Der furniture of good wood and graceful
outline will outlast dozen fimsy,
painted cottage suits, and increase in
softness of tone and beauty every year
The economical young housekeeper, too,
is apt to cover her walls with chromos,
which are given away by tea or life in
suranCe companies, and which hopeless
ly vulgariZe her own taste and that of
her children; she pastes gilt paper on
wood to make window cornices; she
makes barrel-chairs; she spends weeks
and months of leisure time in sewing
bits of colored cloth on Turkish towel
ing, or working silk and gold thread on
canvas tor chair-covers or afghans; the
covers and afghans cost twice as much
as clear-ti wooden reps, and are
denominations to the eye; her time
is wasted; the mock gliding spots
will mildew in a month"; the slaves
Of the barrel give way, and the
visitor collapses inside; the whole
house is palpable fraud, cheap imita-
ton, and an imitation which soon grows
shabby and requires perpetual renewal.
There is no excuse in poverty for sham
or f1imsiness. The money invested in
Turkish toweling, in decalcomanies, or
potichomanies, would give to the walls
of rooms soft, grateful color; furnish
them with good photographs of the best
pictures, and excellent casts of two or
three of the greatest works of art; would
buy strong, artistically-made chairs;
place table in the center of the room;
cover it with books and work, and fill
the windows with living flowers and
trailing ivy. In such aroom there would
be beauty, service, and an education for
both mother and children. If our house
keeper will give her leisure time for a
year to the study of her children, her
photographs and her flowers, she will be
first to laugh at her sham gliding and
monsters of fancy work. Serj5nar's
Monthly for June.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-06-03

hardly study for thinking of it. The
| fruit of the tree of knowledge certainly
seemed to be within his reach to-day,
| and yet he showed no disposition to
pluck it.
"This is the dullest lesson that ever
was" said he at length, impatiently
Then he settled himself down upon the
sofa and went to sleep.
Susie came down not long afterward
and found him there She knelt down
beside him and gave him little shake,
and almost instantly found herself clasped
tightly round the waist.
Don't! don't, Will How rough you
arep'
VIII opened his eyes. a believe was
dreaming. | thought twas Net She
never used to mind" and he turned his
face to the wall with little sigh
That evening the two children invited
Pinkie into the sitting-room Poor pussy!
Though his little mistress tormented him
sadly, he had missed her very much.
Finding it very pleasant to be noticed
again, he condescended TO perform all
his various feats in the most satisfactory
manner.
A few days after this VIII wrote Nettie
a letter. Here is a portion of it:
/ believe I miss you. | didn't think so at
first, but do now. Pinkies better than moth
ing to amuse fellow, but he can't begin
with you. don't get my lessons ue1y much
better than did when you were here. And
Sues traps 1ciW get whisked about somehow
She says they do it themselves. She found
four wrinkles in her best pocket-handkerchef
yesterday, so you see you didn't do all the
mischief, after all. From your affectionate
brother, WILL.
This was Nets answer:
I'm glad you miss me, VIII, for Aunt Lizzie
thinks she must come back soon. Uncle
Moses G call Mr.. Twitchell Uncle Moses, he
says if I'll stay and be his little girl he'll give
me this-year's lamb for my own. There's a
bossy, too, that can have if I'll stay, but I
don't b'lieve coeld ever BELONG here t7atIy, be-
cause you and mother and father and Susie
wouldn't be here. I've got so many things to
tell you; you'd never know 'em if | didn't,
cause I don't have time to write 'em, so I'm
coming home. You must kiss the others for
me; they can kiss you. You'll have the most
kisses, but no matter. NETTIE.
About a week afterward a Iappy
group was gathered in the little sitting
room. NetCie had come home.
The small maiden's cheeks were as
brown "as a berry," and her black eyes
sDarkIed with excitement as she narrated
her wonderful childish experiences.
Her tongue was fairly tired at last,
however, and thoughtful silence fell
upon the little company.
viii was the first to break 1t. "Ifyou
should ask again, mother, which one of
US could best be spared Pm sure l
shouldn't know what TO say"
"Nor l." said Susie.
81 should say not any of u.s." spoke up
Nettie, eagerly. We aoant each other,
don't we, mother?"
yes" replied mamma, with a little
tremble in her voice-"we want each
other"
And she kissed her darlings tenderly,
praying that they might never be too
old or too much engrossed in the worlds
cares or it's pleasures to say from the
depths of honest hearts, owe want each
other. "-ChristGan Union.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-06-03

hood there will be scores of families who
never taste anything of this kind better
than the hedges and roads offer, and that
is merely through negligence, and not
for the want of means of procuring the
plants, or facilities for cultivating them.
1t is very evident that we have as
people paid far too little attention to
fruit gardens, however much has been
done in the way of orcharding Small
fruits for home use would be a great
blessing to country people, and help the
housewife out of many puzzling di-
lemma in trying to think of something
for " tea" during the hottest weather in
summer. The wild pastures and woods
may give partial supply, such as it is,
but it costs more time and labor to gath
er wild berries than it does to produce
the very best varieties in the garden
Besides this, no one locality produces all
the various species, and it is folly to
offer as an excuse tor not planting the
different kinds of berries that they
grow wild III our woods" as many farm
ers have done, and doubtless will do
again when urged to plant the choice
sorts.
There was time not many years ago
when the cost Of plants of the best varie-
ties might be urged as an excuse by those
who had not an abundance of means,
but that day is past, and the very best
sorts can be had at very cheap rates,
varying from cent each for strawberry
plants up to ten for the very choicest
currants and raspberries.-N. Y Sun.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-06-03
Om Rops ard Girls.
A JUNE DAY.

Up in the morning, sun, sun, sun.
Out in the meadows, fun, fun, fun!
Birds on the tree-tops sing, sing, sing;
Pink-white the blossoms cling, cling, cling.
Leaves on the branches, new, new, new;
Warm sky above US, blue, blue, blue;
White little baa-lambs play, play, play;
Brown bees a-humming, gay, gay, gay.
Green things around Us grow, grow, grow;
Brooks in the meadows flow, flow, flow;
Bright pretty squirrels leap, leap, leap;
Blueballs and daisies peep, peep, peep.
One song the brides sing, sing, sing;
One word the flowers bring, bring, bring;
Hark! doyou hear il, sweet girl and boy?
All earthis whispering, JOY, joy, joy!
George Cooper, in Nursery.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-06-03
HOUSEHOLD HINTS.

To PICKLE BLACKBERRIEs.- Three
quarts Of blackberries, one quart OF
cider vinegar, one quart of sugar; no
spice is required. Put all together at
the same time into kettle and boil ten
or fifteen minutes.
RYE BREAD.-Pour boiling water on
rye meal and mix into stiff dough
make it into squares or rolls and bake in
a hot oven. When the beginner can ma
nipulate the dough readily he may sue
coed in making it light in loaves three
inches in diameter.-Sc5ezace Of Health.
To PICKLE RIPE ToMAToEs.-To one
gallon of ripe tomatoes, peeled, add two
tablespoonfuls each of mustard, black
pepper and allspice, one each of cloves
and salt. All the seasoning must be
ground. Cover with vinegar and let them
scald, but not boil, for three or four
hours
IRISH Potato CAKE.-Take quarter
Of peck of potatoes, boiled and mashed
fine, and seasoned with salt; add pint
and half Of flour, work thoroughly,
and make into cakes a half an inch thick,
and the size of an ordinary tin plate rub
with flour, and bake brown on both sides.
Butter them as they are taken out from
the griddle, and serve hot for breakfast
or tea.
BATTER CAKES OF UNB0LTED FLOUR
One quart of unbOlted flour, one gill of
Indian NEAL one gill of yeast; mix the
unbolted flour and Indian meal together :;
pour on sufficient warm water to make a
batter rather thicker than for buckwheat
cakes; add the yeast and little salt let
them rise and bake them on a griddle as
buckWheat cakes; butter and serve them
hot
SWEET TOMATO PICKLEs.-Four quarts
Of cider vinegar, five pounds of sugar,
eight pounds of fruit, two ounces of Gin
namon one of cloves, one teaspoonful
each Of allspice and salt; scald the vim
egar and sugar together, skim, add the
spices, boil up once, and pour over the
fruit; pour off and scald this vinegar
twice more at intervals of three days and
then cover close. This recipe is also
good for plums and peaches.
To PICKLE RIPE CUcUMBERs.- Take
firm, ripe oucumbers as soon as they turn
yellow; pare them, take out the seeds
cut them in strips two inches in width,
let them lie in weak salt and water eight
hours; then prepare a sirup of one gal
ION of cider vinegar, five pounds of sugar,
for eight pounds of cucumbers; add Gin
namon, mace and ginger, boil twenty
minutes, then strain. After drying the
cucumber with soft cloth put it in the
sirup, and boil until soft; skim the
pieces out carefully, lay them in col
ander to drain, then boil the sirup to the
consistency Of molasses, pour it on the
cucumber, and keep in cool place
HousehoJG
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-06-03

Petroleum oils are coming into use
for dressing leather, and it is stated that
their use for this purpose is largely in
creasing. 1t is claimed that by the use of
petroleum many advantages are gained,
among which are: that the leather can
be reduced to pliable condition more
rapidly and with less cost than with pure
animal oils; that the coloring of tanned
leather is effected more rapidly and thor
oughly than by the old process, and that
= 2 finished product is superior, both in
pliability oHc toughness, to animal oils.
The heavier GRANTEES of petroleum, such
as paraffine and steam-reduced oils, are
the only ones used in this way.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-06-03

Wash foor-cloths in clear, warm
water, then go over them again with a
wash composed of an egg well beaten
and mixed with a pint of warm, clear
water. This will give them newness
which will be quite lasting.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-06-03

STAGE-sTRUCK-The man who was
knocked over By an omnibus.