Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-01-13

at 10 getting quite common back here in
the country" writes personal friend, to
have rag parties [ presume you have no
idea what rag party is, so will tell you.
A woman makes up her mind that she wants
a rag carpet and to this end she put. forth
all her energies, every half worn or
cast of garment is washed and colored
then cut or torn in narrow strips about half
an inch wide The coIors are then thor
oughly mixed. giving ~ a result random
or hit or miss heap of rags, hence the name
hit-or- miss carpets. The next thing in or
der is to send out the invitations. This is
usually done about one week in advance
These parties usually include ones most
intimate friends and most neighborly neigh
bors. whole day is spent in cooking
cakes, pies and various goodies, while on
the morning of the appointed day, a pot of
beans. an old fashioned Indian pudding
and loaf of brown bread are at early
dawn tucked sxsy in the old brick
oven to sputter and steam aud cook In time
for dinner, or meats. corned beef and tongue
or boiled ham may be prepared the day be-
fore These with the cakes and pies and a
cup of hot coffee with rich cream make up
the lunch which is always placed upon ia
bes. The friends meanwhile have come
with needles and thimbles-alwsys in colt 90
dresses and large aprons, and have beer
sewing together. his or miss. the narrow
strips from the huge pile in the middle OF
the door (thesa parties are usually held in
an upper unused chamber to save the dust
from going through the best rooms below
After sewing few yards one begins to form
a ball, and keers sewing and ~inding until
the ball weighs one pound One pou I'd il
the required weight for q yard of carpeting
The party breaks up before tea time. In
this way one is he lped over or relieved of the
monotonous tssk of sewing ones carpet rage
all alone. Ii 10 quite interesting and many
stores are told a. one Of the party comes
to little strip Of the first bsby's frock or
the absent sons baby stockings or grandpa .
old red vest. do not know 40 this will in
terest you for believe yon have horror
of rag carpets am quite right. but
thought would tell you, for you are al
ways anxious to know what we are up to
out here now have told you"
REGULAR MEALS FOR School CHILDREN.
1t is important, says Mazda Mel, in
Farm and Fireside, that school children
should have plain. nutritious break fast.
sod time enough 10 eat it without hurrying
In too many families especially during the
short days of winter, breakfast is 50 late
that the children hurry down q few mouth
fuis, with one eye on the clock. and then,
perhaps, run all the way to school to avoid
being tardy. heard 4 teacher Who has .
class Of forty girls cay tina, she bad found
that ar lo~at II L. Ia
10 school without eating any breakfast, and
IS many more took only coffee with hot
roll. These we're girls Of from thirteen to
fifteen wears of age-the age when they
need the bes, food and no stimulans
iaae Hearth.
Have you . dish warmer--I hope YOU
have, for IL you are obliged to eat from a
cold plate with cold fork. and drink your
coffee from cup in which there va. lust
enough to cool it. then you certainly lose
more than half the real comfort it is every
ones privilege to enjoy during the break
fast hour. A very good substitute for q
wire dish-wsrmer lie large tin pan. Put
large plate in fret. On this pu. the knives,
forks and spoons. Then around the sides
Of the pan stand the plates on edge, then
the saucers. and in the center the cups.
Over all turn another pan the same size.
Place in the -stove oven or over an open
register for few moments. Then remove.
but let the dishes remain covered until
placed upon the table. Bits or pieces
Of cold meat too small to be cut in
slices can be chopped fine, adding =
little pepper, salt. and IN onion il relishea, |
put into bake tin and covered With
mashed potatoes {coid. boiled) that have
been we'll mixed with sweet cream, and the |
5hole we'll dotted with small pieces of but |
er. This if set in the stove oven for hat
N hour will come out fit for king to eat. |
The fat from boiling meat. should al. |
rays be dipped OF before any vegetables
re added. This can be used in cooking
o alss can that which comes from the |
ossts, il poured Cd before il has burned.
To change the water whom COOKING