davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-07
MARION HARLAND'S HELPING HAND.

tween her nature and mine I can only she didn't utterly despise me. If have any regret about mamma it is only that she wasn't my very own so that she would have felt free to direct and correct me and help me. if possible. to overcome was weakness-I knew had many hateful habits but never made much of an effort to fight them. l am slow, inefficient, self centered, insincere at times (but not in this letter, l assure you). critical, n- clned to melancholy brooding-in child hood. plain sulky-and other things too numerous to mention.
 Mamma is first and foremost a mother and always does far more than less than might be expected and she is the most wonderful homemaker I ever knew. She helps every one and is the life and soul of nected. The most casual glance into her beautiful brown eyes will reveal a depth of understanding and sympathy rarely met
 She has gone through many situations more than usually trying and yet I have never seen her lose her temper; I have never heard her voice raised in anger at ally Oft. Eohc iidS uSNCi bcci cioSS UT SNSH hasty with any of her own five children or with my sister or myself. The five half brothers and sisters are dears-I never saw any other children to compare with them, all SO sunny, so bright. so loving and lovable. Next to my love for my husband q believe I do not exaggerate when I say it) come my deep regard and admiration and thankfulness for my step- mother. E. D. w."
 Again I must express my regret at my inability to print the whole of the long letter from this correspondent instead of selections. It Is one of the most remark able letters have read and cannot thank the writer sufficiently for having opened her heart in it as she has done. It is a let ter to make even discouraged stepmothers take fresh heart and believe that there may be chance to win love and under standing that they have thus far missed. and it should move stepchildren to make stronger efforts to look for the good in the parents whom they have thus far failed to understand. For my own part confess to a great wish to know not only the step mother but the stepdaughter as we'll.
 * j:
 Wants Start in Poultrv Business.
 I wonder if you know of any one who will help a person to help himself. My husband and I have tried and are willing to do anything that is honest, and if we could only get some one to give us a start I am sure we could make a success We have fine chance to raise and sell chick ems proftably if we had incubators and eggs to fill them. We have had experience and thoroughly understand every feature of the poultry business. So many go into chicken raisine and get discouraged often throwing incubs tors. etc.. aside. that l wondered if there were not some way to get
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-07
Use Tpo Pans.

There are two sets of conditions under which dshwashing is done. In one the housekeeper lives in an apartment or a house where there is unlimited hot water When this is the case she can hold her greasy plates under the hot water faucet and rinse them off thus before she lays them in the dishpan of hot suds. If she Is unable to do this she should have two dish pans, one in which to rinse, the other in which to wash. Let us suppose you be- long to the second class, since incline to think there are more of those than of the others.
 See. then, that you get all the food and grease possible off your plates, not only with the scraper but also by the use of a piece of soft paper Crumpled up news paper will answer for the purpose. All this should have been done and the paper bun ded into the stove or rolled up in another paper before you begin the washing Have plenty of hot studs in the pan at your left hand, clean hot water in that on your right
 Start With the drinking glasses. If they have only clear water in them they will not need to be washed In the suds. When
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-07

regard as confidential, but it has moved me to keen desire to help these people to help themselves. I am afraid rather doubt her statement that nine out of ten persons would rather do this than be sup ported, but am quite convinced that she belongs to the proportion of those who wish to be independent and to work. There are undoubtedly unoccupied incubators and unused cameras that would help her to carry out her desire of earning her own living. and I hope and pray that the eyes of the owners of these articles may light upon this letter and the hearts be opened to her plea. As she says, she does not ask to have those things given to her. but lent until she can, establish herself in sefsupporting occupation. l do not wish to give her name to any except those who have the articles she wishes or can put her in the way of getting them. shall hope to receive early requests for her name from those who are in a position to give her the lift she asks toward ena- bling her and her husband to take care of themselves.
 * #
 Sct-Freczing Ice Cream.
 "Will you please tell me just what IS meant by self-freezng ice cream?' Some
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-07
Other Things that Make Lob Easu.

Here, therefore, is my way" of wash ing dishes. There are few details which will perhaps be of interest. In the first place I have large tray on which to carry a good many dishes at time, but better even than that Is an arrangement like a tea wagon which is little moro than tray on wheels. All the soiled dishes can be put on this and wheeled out to the kitchen, and the clean articles returned from the kitchen in the same way. This lessens the amount of travelling back and forth between the dining room and kitchen or buffers pantry or sink. or. wherever else it is that the dishes are washed.
 Next I always wear gloves when vash- ing dishes. Fond as I may be of the work. l do not care to sacrifice any good looks my hands may possess to this particular branch of housewifery Tho cast-off gloves of the men of the family stand me in good stead. since the task demands . freedom of lingering tight gloves would forbid. I clip off the finger tips. catch the ends of the cut seams so that they will not rip. and go about my business, secure that my hands are not becoming reddened and roughened Against this the mop is a further protection. It's long ndHQlt SdNcS lily IdNiiiS tO uiP iiieO lho water in order to cleanse the dishes. =
 Not long ago some one told me tn at
 considered the mop for dish washinE
 sanitary. There is no reason why u should be any more insanitary than dish cloth. My mops are not only scalded out at the conclusion or my dish wash ing, but once a day they are put over the fire and boiled as my dish towels are. and then hung up to dry. They are as sweet and clean as the towels and have no chance to become musty or i'll smelling.
 I wish that other housekeepers ould try my way, or tell me of theirs. and ad- vance what arguments they have in favor of their own methods. when these differ from my own and against those of which I have told. think the letters would mako and profitable reading.
 have told elsewhere of the pleasant recollections I have of the dshwashing of my earlier days, of how my John read the evening paper to me while did my work at night with dishpan and mop, how the children went over their lessons with me as washed the breakfast dishes. Has not some one else similar pleasant stories to tell in connection with her dishwashing?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-07
MY WAY OF WASHING DISHES.

in that charming book of Mrs. whitney's. We Girls" written years ago, a notable housekeeper spoke of ammonia as 'her kitchen maid -? I have often thought of that when I have seen what almost miraculous effects are wrought by a little ammonia in the water with which greasy dishes are washed. Especially Is 1t useful when large dishes which have held meat and fat are to be washed. or frying pans or saucepans in which greasy cooking has been done. A little ammonia poured into the hot water with which they are filled will cut the grease and enable you to cleanse the articles with a minimum of labor. Lacking the ammonia. borax may be used in its place. Both are strong alkalis which mix with the grease to make . saponaceous compound that cleans and purifies.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-07

of them-will go into the garbage pail, which should be lined with paper to save you labor in making this clean.
 Assemble all the pieces in classes before you get to work and see that you are dressed for the business Have long bib apron with sleeves which will cover you completely and protect your dress from possible spashes. Be sure that you have a full supply of boiling hot water, that there is soap enough in your soap shaker. that the bottle of domestic ammonia is close at hand, and the silver polish and brush with which to remove spots on the silver. hang your towels within easy reach. and then get to work.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-07

~ O much has been said on different
 phases of the stepmother question
 that I had concluded to close the
 subject, believing that nothing new
 or striking would be uttered con cerning it. But the other day letter came which led me to change my mind and deter mine to give place to one more commu- nicaton relative to stepmothers. l wish l had space for the whole letter-it is worth printing-but the pressure of other cor respondence forces me to condense some portion of it. to my great regret. l know that the part l am able to use will be read with keen interest and appreciation.
 l, too. have a stepmotner. and after reading some of the letters you have re- gently printed l can scarcely wait to tell you that of all the women l have ever known she is, without single exception. the grandest and noblest. There are many. many incidents in our life together which I cannot think of without becoming all choky.' especially when I consider how poorly l have repaid her for all her kind ness. l can see so clearly that whatever trouble there was at any time was alto- gether my own fault.
 Of course, it makes a great deal of difference whether one is still young when acquiring a stepmother. and whether one has little or no recollection of ones own mother. l was less than 8 years old and my younger sister only a few days old when our mother taken from us and so have absolutely no recollection of her. We had an unnatural existence at our home with various housekeepers and at my grandmothers for about five years and I can recall how we hailed with de- light the news that we were to have a new mamma.
 ' She was such pretty little woman, so full of fun. and she could think of the most wonderful things to amuse and de- light children. She had the most exquisite taste in the selection of birthday and Christmas gifts and she put so much time and thought into everything she did for us. l still have the wonderful letters she wrote to us when we went visiting. some written on fancy paper or scalloped all around the edges, profusely illustrated. often in rhyme and written in the most delicious style. She remembered to inquire after the health of each doll by name.
 \" When took scarlet fever little more than a month before her first baby came fand she had never had the fever herselD papa and the doctor had to lead her from the room forcibly-she insisted upon stay ing to Jake care of me. I look back on that month as one of the happiest of ali strange as it may seem, and it was mamma who furnished the happiness. She in vented dozens of ways to keep me amused, made me two wrappers of which l was very proud and when was enough better I'd open the door into the hall crack and she would sit at the foot of the stairs and read to me or write letters at my dic- tation.
 When consider the vast difference be-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-07

they bear the marks of sticky fingers, or mouths they should be rolled in the suds, transferred quickly to the clean water, taken out, and dried swiftly before they have time to cool.
 Next after them comes the small silver. If the pieces have been standing in hot soapy water in the pitcher they will need only moment in the hot suds touch or two with the mop. before they, too, take their place in the clear hot water. From this they should be lifted, two or three pieces at a time, dried at once and ranged on tray spread with a napkin to save the silver scratching. Lay the different kinds to- gether, spoons, forks, and knives separate ly. This will save you trouble when you put them away. If there Is a stain or a mark of tarnish on a piece of silver it will require but an instant to remove it with your silver polish. Such attention as this every day
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-07

work This letter seems to bring us very close to one of them and I trust that some one may have silk pieces to send to help the shut-in wife make something which will not only pass her time but also enable her to gain little profit from it. The Italian recipes she offers in ex- change are pretty sure to appeal to some of our housekeepers who like to get good dishes from all countries.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-07

hand. the water will still be hot by the time you reach the china. Each piece must be dipped into the hot suds, swabbed off with the mop. and then slipped into the pan of clear water. Cups and saucers must be attacked first. then the plates, last of all the dishes. Should there be an unusually large lot of dishes to be washed it may be necessary to renew the supply of hot water. but if you have worked briskly there will probably be no need of this.
 Neper Drain inc Dishes.
 Never should there be any draining Of dishes. I know there are many housewives who advocate this. I have even known those who assert that when china has been entirely freed from grease and stickiness SO that all it lacks is the final touch of the towel, time and effort can be spared and as good results, achieved by putting the plates in a drawer. dashing boiling water over them, and leaving them to dry of them selves. would like to know what the Cor nertes think on the subject. Personally, I have found that plates not dried by towel are likely to show streaks and roughness, and I have suspicion that few maids and not many housekeepers would always make sure that the water used in the final shower was hot enough to do the work properly. know that my method will bring success and adhere to it. feeling also that the saw ing of time and toll is not sufficient to repay me for the possibly untidy state of my china.
 I spoke a while ago of having the bottle of ammonia at hand. Do you recollect that
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-07

DINNER. Tomato bsque Lleftoverl. Roast chicken. Boiled rice. Spinach. Green apple pie.
 Coffee.
 FRIDAY.
 BREAKFAST. Oranges. Cereal. Dropped eggs. Quick biscuit.
 LUNCHEON. Kippered herring. Baked potatoes Popovers. Crackers. Cheese. Marmalade Tea. Corn soup. Boiled salmon. Green peas. Spinach souf1e Ileftoverl. Strawberry shortcake.
 Coffee.
 SATURDAY.
 BREAKFAST. Raspberries Cereal. Scrambled eggs. Whole wheat muffins.
 Coffee.
 LUNCHEON.
 Creamed salmon. Green pea pancakes [leftoverl. Cheese fingers. Jam Tea.
 DINNER
 Giblet soup TleftoverJ. Chicken pie [leftoverl. Young beets. Rice croquettes [lsftovsrl. Caramel custard "I
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-07

it smooth and fine grained. the want of stir ring must be made up for in another way. Let me tell you how I managed with my " self-freezing ice cream. I made the custard for it Saturday afternoon. using six or seven eggs to a quart of milk. heated the milk to scalding, poured it upon the eggs beaten light with four cups of sugar, returned the double boiler to the stove and cooked the eggs. milk. and sugar long enough to thcken we'll favored them with vanilla--I usually boiled vanilla bean with the milk-and put it where it would get cold overnight. Sunday morning went to the cellar before breakfast and packed the cream. used plenty of ice and coarse salt and beat the custard we'll when put quart of cream in it, then packed ice and salt around the freezer, covered 1t with a piece of carpet, and left 1t for two hours Just before 1t was time to leave for church went downstairs again, opened the freezer, scraped the cream off the sides and bot tom of the freezer, where it had begun to congeal and beat 1t with all my might for five minutes or more, so that the frozen and the unfrozen parts were thoroughly blend ed. Then packed it again, breaking the ice fine, as had been done before and using about four times as much lee as salt. put ting them in alternate layers drew off the
 water which had melted from the ice. cov- cred the freezer again and left it. sure that when we were ready for our dessert the
 cream would turn out, perfectly frozen, . solid column and smooth enough to satisfy any one. had the recipe in the first place from dear old housekeeper on a farm and I never have had better Try 1t in my way and see If you don't agree with me. Then let me know the result
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-07

gest problem, yet ike is anu
 want to conquer the worst details" So writes one of my valued Cor ner correspondents.
 I wonder if she and some of the rest of you will believe me when l say how few 10 my mind are the worst details " oi dish washing. Frankly. l like it. have always liked it ever since learned that there is a dainty way of doing it.
 When l hear women lament, as do fre- quently, over the time and trouble that must be spent in washing dishes l marvel to my self to what better use the rest of their time Is consecrated that they should grudge even a little of 1t to dish washing. and then catch myself up with the thought that they don't know what enjoyment there really may be in this work when it is properly done.
 I am not prepared to say that l would like dish washing if l had to do it with the wrong tools or with those that are imper- eect. l cannot blame any woman for de- testing it when see how some of them set about it. If had before me pile of greasy dishes piled haphazard into one big pan half filled with lukewarm water, piece of soap floating about in it. a ragged and dirty
  various articles, and an insufficient supply of small thin towels to dry the dishes with I am quite sure l. too. should turn from the task with loathing and shirl1 it in any way 1 could.
 Not so do l wash dishes when have my own way with them. Two dishpans, plenty of hot water, a piece of soap in a soap shaker, long handled mop. tray on .1l. .-tIz 1frl. h Arxr h1ir dant clean towels with which to wipe them compared with the other method or lack of method which l have outlined my way seems sheer play and pleasure.
 j: a.
 Way 10 Rinse Silper.
 Suppose you try it for a while and see how you are impressed by my plan.
 To begin at the beginning sort the dishes when you clear your table If they are car ried from the dining room to the kitchen before scraping them try to do some of the sorting as you put them down-the glasses in one group. the teacups and saucers in another. the plates with food on them in still third. Have tall pitcher at hand and stand your silver in this, the tines of the forks, the blades of the knives, and the bowls of the spoons downward. and All the pitcher half full of hot water with tea spoonful of ammonia in it. Then when you have time to come out and make the dishes rep iy for washing you will find your work diminished.
 When this time arrives begin by scraping the food from the dishes and plates using for this a knife with a flexible blade. A palette knife, such artists use, is good for this purpose. As a matter of course you will put into small saucers or bowls such portions of the food in the dishes as can be served again. Don't put the dishes in the icebox or pantry with the remnants of food in them. When this Is to come into service the dishes will have to be washed and it is better to do it now. The scraps which are to De thrown away-I hope there may be few
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-07
Ae * Rhubarb Custard Pie.

have tried the inclosed recipe for rhu- barb custard pie, and find 1t SO delicious that am glad to pass it on to the readers of the Helping Hand. Prepare enough rhu- barb for one or two pies. as desired. Place in dish and cover with boiling water. and set aside for ten minutes. For each pie beat the yolks of two eggs with two-thirds of cup of custard blend two tablespoons of flour and pinch of salt with one cup of cold water. and mix slowly with the eggs. Line a pie tin with crust. drain the water from the hubbard. place the hubbard in the crust. and pour over it the egg mixture. Bake until slightly brown or until the custard is set. Beat whites of the eggs, stiff. spread over the top of the pie. Sprinkle with sugar. and brown.
 MRS. R. c. B. I ann sure this must be good. and am as glad to have it as I know other house. keepers and cooks must be. Thank you very much!
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-07
Lost the Tops.

Lost the Tops.
 Will you tell T to do about my glass jars for can have number of them in good but have lost the tops of some ubbers of oth- CTS How can J. F."
 By writing to eturers of the jars. They undo fops and Fub- bers in stock fs thoss you
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-07
Much in Need of a Trunk.

am mother with three little chill dren. Their father is a victim of tubercu- losis. We have struggle to get along and l am much in need of a trunk. If some kind friend could spare one for me 1t would cer- tainly be much appreciated. will gladly furnish some one lot of pine needles and cones for stamps to pay postage on them.
 MRS. A. L. G."
 You do not say what kind of 8 trunk you wish and can only hope that if any one has trunk to give away. it may be the sort you desire. Your offer of pine needles and cones will probably be accepted promptly. Silk Pieces tor Quill.
 have favor to ask. am practi- cally . shut-in. but I like to sew. and if any one has silk pieces for quilt would be glad to get them. My husband is out of work. and we are living on $4 a week. 70 l cannot buy the pieces as used to do. sell these quilts to help along all can. If you think any one would like some Italian recipes would be glad to send in return. MRS. M. E"
 fancy that all of us have had sympa- thetic thoughts of what it must mean to 4bs woman in the households of men out of
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-07
Old Craphophone Records.

CT have lived in a wheel chair for six years, and suffer most of the time. My only pleasure is little old graphophone, but the records are old. and we have played them over and over until we are tired of them. Since my husband died there has been but little money for lux- uries, and records would como under that heading If any of the Helping Hand have records that they are tired of will gladly pay the express and they would give mo great pleasure. MRS. K. H. H."
 am sure there are some of the Helping Hand readers who have records they are tired of I am positive I am tired of those I hear played by some of my neighbors. and fancy my own fatigue must be sec ond to theirs. Will not some of the readers who are looking for agplace to put new rec- ords clear out some of the old ones for the benefit of this lonely shut-in whose only pleasure is "a little old grapho- phone I shall be very happy to sup- ply her address on demand.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-07
FAMILY MEALS FOR A WEEK.


  Toasted Engish muffin
  Corum DNNER LUNCHEON
  ten~erl labub
 
  Black bean soup WEDNESDAY,. Roast eef DnHAhr cereal conee Bcona andn
  MoNpHhY RREAKFAsr lee hash Graham mgems Aparagu salad cneae'
 
  aked and e"eo toHatoes ana cese 
 
 DINNER rHtnsbAr. Cold roast m teef % with r hors seadish sauce carots Potoe smashed an Baked Drop biscuit X * of leftover warmedov macar
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-07

- ILL you tell me the proper way \A} to wash dishes? It Is my big
 WV gest problem, yet l like l. and