The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1891-06-03
The MOthIess Treasure House.

The MothIess Treasure. House.
The Congregational church at Hazel
wood was filled with an earnest, atten-
tive audience. The gifted pastor had
chosen for his subject, Heaven, the
Mothess Treasure House," and for his
text Luke xii: 80: " Provide yourselves
bags which wax not old, a treasure in
the heavens that faileth not, where no
thief approached, neither moth cor
rupteth." Among the listening throng
sat Aunt Prudence Allen, whose feet
seemed even now standing at the por-
tails of that home whose mysteries the
Reverend Mr.. Brown was striving to
fathom. Near her sat little Mrs. Hey
wood. She wanted to listen, but her
thoughts had been sent back into the
experiences of the past week so sud-
denly and forcibly by the words,
neither moth corrupteth," that she
could not follow the speaker into that
land which seemed so far away, so
shadowy. This mundane sphere, with
its moths and its carpet-bugs, its cock
reaches and ants, was so terribly tan
gible! :" hope to get to heaven some
day." she thought, but do wish Mrs.
Brown or some other experienced
housekeeper would preach little SER
mon on the surest way to
Tighten woman's woes, and
EXterminate her worst of foes"
Such a practical sermon would be in
valuable"
The closing hymn, the benediction-
and then the congregation filed slowly
out into the clear, cold air, in which,
however, there was hint of the COM
ing springtide.
Mrs. Haywood felt conscience smit-
ten. 81 have not heard word of that
sermon-might just as well have re-
manned at home. There goes dear old
Aunt Prudence! am going to appeal
to her."
Aunt Prudence's threescore years and
ten had taught her many lessons, but
none more valuable than a broad, toll
Grant sympathy for inexperienced home
makers; therefore it was with hearty
goodwill that she granted Mrs. Hey
woods request that on the following
Wednesday afternoon she and two or
three other troubled housewives might
assemble, notebook in hand, in her cosy
sitting-room, there to seek a remedy
for their numerous ills.
"The first of my course of lectures"
said Aunt Prudence, with droll smile,
" shall be entitled The Plague of
Vermin.'
"The title is not an agreeable one, but
neither are the moths, cockroaches,
ants, flies, rats, and mice which ii COM
prehends.
"With most housekeepers there is too
little system in the management of
their households. Because certain
l. =, Il
and regulations are concerned, many
housewives take it for granted that all
home matters can be conducted in a
haphazard fashion, this mistaken idea
has wrecked the happiness of many a
for everything how much they mean,
every day, every year of your life will
make more clear.
carpet-bugs gain foothold-but in the
case of one of my audience Smiling at
Mrs. Heywood7 the citadel had been
captured before she became COM
mander-in-chief Take Time by the
forelock and begin to store your furs
and flannels Just as soon as they can be
laid aside. An hours attention once a
month combined with a few sensible
precautions will be all that is necessary.
d" If a cedar chest be available, it will
simplify matters if it be air-tight and
kept tightly closed. A packing-boX Sc
curely lined with tarred paper is equally
good; or, in lieu of either of these,
use perfectly whole paper tlour-sacks
Take each article and make sure that it
is shaken, brushed, whipped clean; if
washable, wash it; if in need of re-
pairs, repair it, then when you need it
next year what relief to feel that all
that is required is to unpack it. Use
camphor-gum freely. Make little bags
of thin muslin to hold the gum. Many
use fresh Persian insect-powder, freely
peppered through the garments. Once
or twice through the year the articles
should be examined and the camphor
or powder renewed. A look in time,
like the proverbial stitch, may save
many valuable article.
Furriers claim that sealskins are
never attacked by moths, owing to the
odor of the dye; but, if moths be re-
PEELED, would not trust the voracious
carpet-bug.
THE eating of carpets by moths is
often serious trouble to the house
keeper.
In salt you will find simple but
very effective preventive. Turpentine
is also excellent. When the carpets are
up for the spring or fall cleaning, be
particular that the cracks in the floor OF
under the base-boards are thoroughly
cleaned. Then sprinkle the floor plenti'
fully with ordinary salt, putting the
lining papers over this salty bed. Give
the carpets thorough bi-monthly sweep
ings after removing all movable furni