davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1914-12-06

eaten them at my house says they like
them better as / cook them than in any
other manner. For creamed mushrooms
on toast, peel the largest mushrooms,
being careful to break each one open
through the center to be sure there are
no worms inside. Don't let any water
touch the mushrooms until you are ready
TO cook them. Have ready a large frying
ban with a good amount OF butter and
fat smoking hot, wash the mushrooms
thoroughly, so there will be no grit with
them, drain, and then put into the hot fat
stirring and turning the mushrooms con-
tinually for several minutes, or until
all are well scared with the fat Cover
and cook slowly two or three minutes
longer; then add hot water sufficient to
cover them almost entirely; cook fifteen
minutes longer. Add salt, pepper, and
slight grating of nutmeg. Add more
water IL necessary and enough canned
~milk TO make rich gravy. Thicker
with little flour and just before taking
up the dish squeeze over the mushrooms
the juice Of small lemon and poar all
upon hot buttered toast. Ny family care
for no meat or vegetables when they can
have all they want Of this dish, which we
think ft for king. Next time will give
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1914-12-06
Sits All Day NTH Nothing 10 Do.

am a shut-in and never get anything
to read except when some one gives me
something of that kind. II any one will
send me some magazines will read then
and pass them on to some one else. am
a bookworm and Just sit all day with
nothing to do. 90 that II 1t were not for
books and papers believe I should 20
Grassy I will be 10 grateful for anything
Of the sort and will pay charges on them.
MRS. J. E. c."
Here 10 a chance for some one to gsthes
. fragrant memory" hope tho shut
in may be aided by the books and maya
zines she longs for and that she in turn
may be helped by the example of which
the story 10 told In the preceding letter to
make friends for herself who will cheer
her lonsliness
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1914-12-06
AS TO CHRISTMAS PRESENTS

THAT are you planning to do
A about Christmas presents this
wv year? Some weeks back-along
In the summer In faot-we had
a talk on holiday gifts with sug-
gestions as to how to choose and make
them. But that was before the war cloud
had rolled over Europe and Swallowed
even the people on this side of the water.
Has the war changed your attitude with
regard to Christmas giving7
Only few days ago I heard woman
utter her feelings on this point. She Il, a
member OF family who have always
made much Of the Yuletide, both In the
way Of home pleasures and of libaral pres
emit bestowal, and she spoke slowly and
respectfully, after reading an account of
the sufferings from cold and hunger Of
the distressed Belgians.
If we only had tho courage . do 1t,
We would make : change In our Christ
mas customs this year" she said. I'VE
, would pledge ourselves to give no presents
which would cost more than 80 cents or a
dollar each. even to our dearest and best,
and We would send the remainder from
our Christmas money to the poor sufferers
on the other side. We could show Just
~ much love and thought by card os we
could by an expensive present, and we
could save a lot that would bring helftto
the needy
1t sounded rational and plausible, and
at FIRST several persons present seemed
disposed to adopt the idea. But CON-
mon sense man in the company spoke
UP decidedly.
Hsr 4u.k 81
would mean to the working people If it
were carried out? " he asked. Do you
know that trade has fallen Off SO much al
ready that shopkeepers are reducing their
force and that IL every one were to cut
down on Christmas gifts for the sake of
helping the unhappy foreigners. 1t would
bring need and suffering to our own
doors? If ever there was q Christmas
when we should give to the full extent
of our means, 1t Is the one that is COM
ing"
How many of you have thought about
that when you made your decision to
make few Christmas presents or none
at all this year?
I grant that on the face of It there
seems a certain incongruity in sending
gifts when we know of the need about
us on every side. We feel as IL we had
no right to give or take pleasure while
there are those to Whom our money might
mean relief from cold and hunger. Yet,
on the other hand, the money we pay
out to workers in any class stands for
self-support and comfort.
Can we not make our Christmas giving
80 I, 1I~
and 'bestowing happiness on our families
and friends? can we not choose our
presents in suclfa fashion that they may
mean aid to the needy as well as gratia-~
cation to those we love?
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1914-12-06

those that hang in the closet for an as
sortment of footwear and also those for
carrying a single pair of shoes IN travel
ing; cases for brush and comb, for hand
kerchiefs, for gloves, for wells, pineush-
ion covers, bureau covers. sofa pillows
etc. And I have not begun on doilas.
centerpieces, guest towels. Turkish towels
with embroidered initials or monographs
washcloths, similarly marked or any one
of dozens OF other useful and delightful
items. including the always popular hand
kerchiefs of all styles and manners OF
marking. When you once begin on use
full presents there seems no end to them.
Last year heard woman declare that
for her Christmas presents she wanted no
merely ornamental or useless gifts.
Everything l wish to belong to one OF
two classes" she asserted. the useful
articles, like things to wear or to use In
my house or the things which will be dts
posed of and put out Of the way, like
flowers or fruit or something In the line
of food. Don't give me pictures and brio
A-brac and ornaments or other trlfles
which will clutter up my house and |
shan't want to throw away because love
the persoHs who gave the things or be-
cause | will hurt some ones feelings by
casting them out"
" n
There is a good deal Of force in her posi-
tion and when the gifts can be made
by some one to whom the work will bring
help in purchasing necessary food and
clothing the presents possess double
value.
But I can't afford to have my gifts
made" hear a Cornerite say 1t is as
much as can do to pay for the materials,
let alone the work on them. Ihad planned
TO knit or crochet or embroider some little
thing and make my work constitute the
value Of the present"
That is all right. The material you buy
for the present helps to set money In
circulation, even II IL be only q small
amount. II every one would do her share
in proportion to her ability tho heart OF
the manufactures and OF the retail dealer
would sing for Joy andthe discharged'em-
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1914-12-06

not too far away l would like to con-
tribute some books. music. and maya
zines. | will be glad to do so and also to
pay charges upon them. X b.
This is ahelpful letter, clearly and wise
ly written, and am glad to use it. am
also much obliged for the offer made in
the concluding paragraph. 1t is likely
that there are those who would be thank
full to accept the offer she makes of books,
magazines. and music. hope they may
fall to those who could not get them
without ayailing themselves of X. BIS
kind willingness to pay the charges on
her gifts. I will be happy to supply her
address to those who wish it and will
write for 1t inclosing stamp for reply.
Another friend is moved to send recipe
for Never Fail pie crust,
" Sift half a teaspoon of salt and an
eighth of a teaspoon of baking soda with
one heaping teacup of flour. Work five
heaping teaspoons of lard into the flour.
working it in lightly with the finger tips.
Do not knead it. as that would hurt the
globules in which the lard is encased. Add
enough sour milk to make the pastry of
a consistency to roll; usually three table
spoons are enough This depends, of
course. upon the size of the teacup used
? in measuring the flour. Roll half of the
pastry for the bottom and half for the
top crust of the pie. Do not fold the
pastry over and roll again. a. that spoils
the f1akiness Of the crust That IL why 1t
is necessary to cut the pastry In half, 10
that the top crust will not be rolled twice:
use half the pastry only II you are maxi
ing an open pie and spread the pastry on
the bottom Of the pie tin. flrst turning
this with the bottom side UP. This Will
insure an even, deep crust, free from air
bumps. / have used this pastry for ten
years and have never failed to turn out
rich, fiaky, delicious pie crust. Here 10 a
suggestion which may be of use to Sonic
one: 1t is on how to mend skirt hangers.
If you break your shirt hanger. do not dis
card 1t. Run each piece of the broken rod
into opposite ends of an empty spool. 90
that the ends of the rod meet In the center
of the spool. Then drive four matches
into each end of the spool. They will NIL
the hole 30 tightly that the rod cannot
move. Trim of the parts of the matches
protruding beyond the spool and tie a
twtne around the spool to hang it by.
MRS. B. c.
Again am glad to offer my thanks for
the helpful suggestions. The pastry rec
ipe is new to me and shall try 1t at an
early day. These two sets Of instruc-
tons come in with especial timeliness at
this season. when preparation IL under
way for Christmas pies and the weather
makes pastry less Of 4 drain upon the
digestion than at any other time Of the
year.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1914-12-06

the recipe for cooking Belgian hare II you
care to have it. AUNT MAUD"
Those of us who are not able to gather
mushrooms for ourselves sometimes pur-
chase them In the markets and we are
glad to have so good a recipe for pre-
pairing them-a recipe which has borne
the test of trial In a family. The recipe
for Belgian hare will be welcomed when
it comes. and it is quite possible there are
enough housekeepers able to get the hares
to make its appearance helpful. I regret
that l cannot follow out the request
made by others and repeated by % Aunt
Maud that ] should give the name OF
the place from where the letters come,
but I can only give to her the same reply
] make to others. that 1t Is against the
rules of the paper.
Could Make Good Use Of Pieces.
II saw in a recent Issue an offer by
Mrs M. L. p. to give a bundle of silk and
velvet pieces. would be glad to get them,
for ! am q poor woman with three chill
dren and l could make good use out ofthe
pieces. MRS. +. H.
I am sorry that tho pieces had been
given away before this application ar
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1914-12-06

An Illustration of the sort of thing I
mean was given me a while ago by a
friend interested In charitable efforts.
She was on the committee of a Christ
mas sale which was started for charita-
BILE end little late in the season. when
there was not much time left to make
the articles required to supply the tables.
In order to secure these several girls
who were out of work were engaged by
the day to sew on such useful articles as
children's froclxs, aprons, household linen
or all sorts. to embroider doilies and bu-
reau covers and the like. The money for
the enterprise was bestowed by wealthy
woman and the items made were to be
sold at the bazaar. In this way two
methods of help were engineered.
Something of the same kind may be done
by all of us. Do you know some poor
woman who can do dainty needlework
and who has been impoverished by the
war distress? Give her some of your
Christmas sewing to do. Your friends
who love your presents because they con-
tain the work Of your own fingers will
value them all the more because the
stitches have been set by some one who
"ithOdb yVdi HClp MOulu nave ndu no
Christmas dinner for herself or her house
hold.
Tell a friend that you will have a new
set of napkins she has bought for her
family use hemmed and marked as your
Christmas gift to her. Tell another that
you will have her initials embroidered on
her latest dozen of towels as Christmas
remembrance. She will be none the less
delighted because your gift takes this
form than If you gave her something less
useful and which would not stand for as
sistance accorded some one in distress.
X \
Make your gifts practical, so far as you
can. Somehow 1t seems more in harmony
with the prevalent state of mind than
to bestow giddy and useless trifes.s Until
you come to think of 1t you have no idea
of how many tokens you can find which
will give work to those who need it and
bring pleasure to your friends.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1914-12-06
Dreamed Mushrooms on Too.f.

would like to offer q recipe of nv
own for cooking mushrooms. I cannot
tell you how to be sure they are not
poisonous. only know which are edible
and which are not. They bring big price
in the markets. 10 are quite q luxury
A they cook down to little or nothing
it u we'll to know = way to make them 20
~ far ~ possible, Every ene VIE has
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1914-12-06

ployes would have some chance OF getting
back TO the work that pays for rent and
food ana clothing.
All Of us will have to economics this
yaar-thers is no doubt of that. Most Of
US are reducing our outlay for clothing OF
various kinds. mailing the old garments
do, cutting over and remodeling so far as
We can; giving up the new tailor suit or
the evening frock. retrimming last years
hat; hunting out raiment we had laid
aside as hopelessiy out of date and en-
deavoring to bring II into some likeness
to prevailing styles. With the majority
Of us 1t Is a matter of necessity, not of
choice. We would like to be able 10 get
new outfits. but with the present uneer.
tainty of conditions. with our ignorance of
how much longer the strain must con-
tinuc and how far more pressing the need
may be before the end. we do not feel tusti-
fled In going to any expense we can avoid.
The same economy runs through every
line of business and trade Can YOU not
think how it must affect the incomes OF
all workers. Of how It must obnge en-
ployers to discharge their men. of how It
must hamper the industries of the entire
country? Much of II is unavoidable, but
we can do our little to help conditions by
refusing to give UP making Christmas
presents. II we do not feel happy in be-
slowing them In our own family and
yearn to spend the money in relieving
necessity In some form, let us buy cloth
ing and other articles for tho needy aud
thus start the money in circulation aud
increase the employment OF workers IN
one line or another. IL we must bring
our Christmas tokens down to Christmas
cards, at least do not give up those so
long as we have even a few pennies 10
spend upon them.
More than this. we individually and col
lectively need all the cheer that we can
put into Christmas Few of us appreciate
how the general standard Of Joy has been
lowered by our sympathy with our suf-
fering fellows across the water. While
the papers TEEN with accounts of the
fighting and dying and starving Of the
soldiers and of the innocent ones who have
been drawn into the clutches of this ter
rible war machine we cannot find much
lightheartedness anywhere.
We cannot afford to lessen this by the
disregard of the holiday sea son. by giving
up any of the merrymal1ing OF the season
that it is within our power to compass
No matter how much we do we cannot
entirely ignore the anguish OF others. and
IL we can. even-for a little while, bring
brightness and JOY the memory of the
peace for which Christmas stands, the
hope that the struggle will end in a clearer
and more beautiful day. let us do our ut
most with this In view None OF the
bright observances, the happy surprises.
the delight OF children should be omitted
so far as 1t lies in our ability to bring them
to pass.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1914-12-06

rived, but | hope it may meet the atten-
tion of some one else with pieces to be
stow. will gladly send the applicants
address to any one who writes for it, in
closing stamp. Please do not send par
cells of this size to the office of the paper
but secure the address directly from me
and then send to the correspondent who
has made the request
i. X
Substitute for Ear Trumpet.
To the deaf who cannot afford ear
trumpets l wish to say that they should
not be discouraged. | have had several
relatives who were deaf and spent many
dollars trying to secure something which
would enable them to enjoy conversation
In the home and with friends. but nothing
ever proved so helpful to them as a paste
board tube, such as calendars are mailed
in. These are known as mailing tubes and
cost practically nothing. / am sure you
can easily get one and would suggest
tube of medium size as being easier to
handle. You can cover IL with black rib
bon or silk and tie piece OF ribbon
around the middle. to hang 1t over your
arm when you are shopping. / know the
tube to be satisfa Glory. as ono relative
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1914-12-06
English National Anthem.

In response TO the inquiry for In.
words of God Save the King am Rlsd
to be able to send the following:
God save our gracious king
Long live our noble king
God save the king!
send him victorious,
Happy and glorious
Long to reign over US
God save the kingl
Tho richest gifts In store
On him be pleased to pour
Long may he reign
May he defend our laws
And ever give cause
To sing with heart and voice
God save the king!
"RA"
am sure the Cornerite who asked these
lines will be glad to see them even IL. liks
many national anthems. the sentiment Is
better than the verse.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1914-12-06
MARION HARLAND'S HELPING HAND.

H~ ONE time ago 1 wrote asking
w you to help me find home for
my year old boy. You pub
lished my request, but the only
reply came from too far away
to be of any help to me. 1t is almost i'm
possible for me to keep him with me and
make living. I could perhaps find
home for the boy through some charity
organization. but don't want every one
to know my business. hate to give the
child away, but would not interfere with
the management of any one who took
him to a good home. He is healthy,
good looking, and intelligent boy, and l
want to give him every opportunity pos
sible. know can't give him the atten-
ton he needs and no matter who had
him I would still be his mother You can
see the confidence 1 place In you when
think you can get this matter straight
ened out. but hope the request will be
printed soon so that can get an answer
and settle the question before long.
''A ANXIOUS MOTHER"
In the first letter which came from this
correspondent she stated that the boys
father had been dead three years, that
she is anxious to raise him up to be a
useful citizen. ana that she hoped there
may be some couple living In the country
who would care to take the child for their
own and bring him UP well. I print this
request here in the hope that some one
may see 1t and feel disposed to take the
boy. 1t Ii = terrible strain for q mother
to yield her child under any circum- s..
stances and the only thing that makes it
tolerable Is the faith that he will be bet
ter cared for by strangers than at home.
and that they can give him the oppor-
tunlties she is unable to provide. will
be glad to give this address of AN
Anxious Mother " to any one who wishes
adopting her boy.
Directions for Pie Crust.
am always much Interested In the
Helping Hand and often wish could as
sist In some way. Not long ago some one
asked for directions for making pie crust.
Those given in reply were excellent, but
; much too expensive for the average house,
keeper. So want to tell you how make
a paste that ID good and also inexpen-
sive. I give the proportions of ingredi-
ents so that any one can make as much
or as little as is wished. use the follow
ing myself. in a family Of FIVE, three of
whom are men. and we all like it.: For
two and half cups of sifted flour take
two-thirds of cup of lard. Add level
teaspoon of salt and work lightly with the
finger tips until the mixture Is like meal. 4
Then moisten the flour with half Z cup Of
cold water This paste is little trouble
70 make and 10 excellent. Also let me tell
the sisters of unique combination for
fruit jam; at least it was new to me. I
got it out of a story read. Pick over
two pounds of grapes. heat until soft. and
put through sieve. Add only small
cup Of water when you start to cook.
When you have put them through the
sieve set them on the stove again and
thicken with ripe pears cut fine, adding
three cups--a pint and a quarter-of sugar.
STR smooth and cook down about one
half or Z little less. It IL good. II Lam
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1914-12-06

or eantaloupe. Possibly II had Travelled
too far and had thus lost Its flavor. Have
other readers had better luck with this
fruit?
An Exchange Of Lessons.
have correspondence course of mr.
Seen lessons on dressmaking and drafts
for waist and skirt which [ would be
pleased to exchange with some one for
lessons on millinery. / hope some one
else would like TO make the exchange as
much as l do. judging by the letters
which appear in the Corner many lives
are being frightened and cheered by the
kindly services of the Corner.
Mrs. NJ. B, c."
Can any one meet with the exchange she
desires? 1t looks like an opportunity for
mutual assistance, and / am always glad
to further plans for the exchange of les
sons OF any sort / will be glad to give
the address of Mrs. NJ b. c. to any one
who writes for II and incloses a stamp.
II i;
Request for Music.
II would like to receive the music
offered. MRs. M. 10 r.,
As the name of the friend offering the
music is not given. nor any clew as to the
name. am sorry to say cannot give the
address desired. Is there any one who
has music TO give for this correspondent
i am unable to tell II vocal or instru-
mental music Is what she desires.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1914-12-06

who lived in our home used 1t entirely
4" Il. E. II"
Such advice as this is bound to be help
ful and | only hope many may see it and
make use Of II. A while ago correspond
ent advocated rolling thin sheet of cellu-
loid into cornucopia and using this in
stead Of the ear trumpet manufactured
especially for the deaf, and the suggestion
seemed excellent. The counsel given by
h. Il. II. is even simpler, and shall be in
terested to learn IL ii is followed and with
what success, While any appliance OF
this kind is less valuable than the ability
to read the lips, 1t may yet serve as an
assistance to those who have not acquired
lip reading.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1914-12-06
Casaba Delicious Melon.

] have Just read your request in the
Corner to be enlightened as to what ca
saba Is. 1t is a delicious melon, II prop
erly ripe. a production Of Burbank's, be-
ing CROSS between = pumpkin and a
melon. procured mine of fine grocery
and fruit merchant. where I was told
what I have just repeated to you.
A. MRS. M H."
lam sratefuifo for this information, which
comes from . Cornerite. and interested to
know that she had one of these melons
which she found delicious. At my fruit
srsr's request 1 sampled piece of one
not long ago when he was trying to sell me
some Of the casabas which he had Just
received, and declared to be fine. Per-
haps the specimen he gave mo was not up
to the mark; It was certainly insipid and
far below the level of.ths ordinary melon