Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1879-09-19
About the House.
GRAPE PRESERVES.


Pick the grapes from the stems,
pop the pulps from the skins, doing
two st a time, one in each hand,
between the thumb and finger; put
the pulp in a porcelain kettle, and
stew gently until the seeds are loosen
ed, then strain and rub it through
seive; weigh it with the skins, and to
every pound of this allow one pound
of granulated sugar, but do not put
it in yet; put the skins and juice in
in the kettle, cover closely, and cook
slowly until the skins are tender
while still boiling add the sugar and
move the kettle back, as it must not
boil again; keep very hot for fifteen
minutes, then, seeing that the sugar
is thoroughly dissOlved,p pour the fruit
in cans, and screw down the covers as
quickly as possible. The grapes
should be dead ripe, and none but
those with tender skins should be used
in this way. The Isabella is excel
lent, but the Concord defies time and
patience with the thickness and
toughness of its skin. There is Fox
grape which is preserved green, and
is verv beautiful; it is large and
firm, and before boiling it is cut open,
and the seeds are taken out.
SUGGESTIONS FOR THE SICK ROOM.
In preparing meal for any one
whose appetite is delicate, it should be
made to look as tempting as posi-
BILE. The tray should be covered
with the whitest napkin, and the sill
yer, glass and china should shine with
cleanliness. There should not be too
great variety of viaHds, and very
small portion of each one. Nothing
more quickly disgusts a feeble appe-
tite than a quantity of food present
ed at one time. The patient never
should be consulted beforehand as
to what he will eat or what he will
drink. IF he asks for anything, give
it to him, with the doctors permission;
otherwise prepare something he Is
krown TO like and offer it without
previous comment. One of the chief
offices of a good nurse is to think
for her patient. His slightest want
should be anticipated and gratifed
before he has time to express 1t.
Quick observation will enable her to
detect the first symptom of worry or
excitement and to remove the cause.
An invalid never should be teased
with the exertion of making a de-
clsion. Whether the room is too hot
or too cold ; whether chicken broth,
beef tea or Cruel is best for his lunch
con, and all similar matters, are ques
tions which should be decided with
out appealing to him. Household
troubles should be kept as far as
possible from the sickrOom. Squab-
bles of children or servants never
should find an echo there. In the
event of some calamity occurring,
which it is absolutely necessary the
sufferer should be informed of, the ILL
news should be broken as gently as
possible, every soothing device en-
ployed to hslp him to bear the shock.
Above all, an invalid or even per-
son apparently convalescent, should
be saved from his friends. One gar
rulous acquaintance admitted for
an hour will undo the good done by
a week of tender nursing. Whoever
is the responsible person in charge
should know how much her patient
can bear, she should keep careful
watch on visitors of whose discretion
she is not certain, and the moment
she perceives it to be necessary, ,pO-
litely but firmly dismiss them. She
must carry out implicitly the doctors
directions, particularly those regard
ing medicine and diet. Strict obe-
dience to his orders, a faithful, dill
igent, pains taking following of his
instructions, will ensure to the suf-
fersr the best results from his skill,
and bring order, method and regular
ity into domestic nursing.
4 Nurse an Scribner for September.