The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1902-08-12
Our Social Chat.
. EDITED BIZ AUNT JENNIE, RALEIGH, NO.. +"
AUNT n LETTER.

A, M. III. writes US a nice letter IN
which she tells us to use soda in the
water when cleaning a refrigerator.
If you have never tried putting just
a little of it in pots and pans wher
washing them, especially after hav-
ing used them for cooking onions,
CABBAGE, etc., do so, and you will be
pleased to find the odor gone. Let me
tell you too that while boiling vege-
tables, they can be rendered much
more digestible by the addition OF a
pinch of soda.
Ruth's letter is excellent. Her pen
pictures of those two homes are natur-
al. There is a difference between a
house-keeper and a home-maker. A
busy mother remarked to me not long
since that she felt so tired most of the
time because of her efforts to keep
things in order and worried because
she finds no time to devote to her
children. The house and all it con-
tanned was scrupulously clean and the
little folks dressed beautifully. All
this fatigue and worry because she
did not divide her time so as to be a
house-keeper and a home-maker.
It is an agreeable sensation to real
ize that the house is all right and that
the children have all the pretty clothes
they want; but the body is more than
raiment and the companionship of
mother is dearer to the child's heart
than all the spotless napery or dust
less bricabrac in existence. Her com
radeship in their youth will be a ray
of light to illumine their paths
through all time. Of course, it is nee
essary that we have home comforts,
but in attaining them let us see that
we do not tilt the scales of justice by
piling on more discomfort than we
have comfort.
Home making and housekeeping
are very closely allied, but one is a
tyrant whom you yourself have en-
gagged to watch over and rule you,
while the other will prove a kind,
helpful friend if you will but heed her
advice and be a little lenient with
your better self. Fretfulness will 81
lently fold its rufaed wings and creep
away. The children will be happier,
for they will have mother and their
toys-as well as mud pies. There is
no fun in childhood comparable with
mud pies. I have seen very creditable
work in moulding done by children
whose only teacher was experience in
handling mud. Oh, the fun of it
when the child realizes that the old
apron it wears will not be injured if
it does get dirty. Indiscriminate
handling of red mud by the children is
a nuisance to a mother, but if she will
fix them for playing in it and be care
full to have pliable mud instead of
slush or loblolly, they will be delighted
and mayhap develop latent talent for
sculpture of which you have not hith-
erto dreamed.
Where are Flossy, Johnny Brown.
Wild Rose, Mrs. Mckinney, Nash
Chap, Reader, and Lucius? I would
like to hear from them.
AUNT JENNIE.
P. S.-Since my letter was written
Mr.. Railroads article has arrived. It
is quite interesting, and as the COM
petition for mems letters on cold
Times in the South" has not expired,
I hope that others will send reminis-
cences of slavery and war times. We
shall also be glad to print the letters
of any other ladies who care to write
on this topic, although the prize con-
test for lady readers has ended.
A. J.