_ HOUSEKEEPING. _ 373 any spot of dust is too firmly fixed, wash in luke-warm soap-suds, and im- mediately rub dry with chamois-skin. If there is open-work carving, draw the cloth through, or dust with a paint-brush; and it will be found more con= venient to blow out some of the places which are difficult to reach, for which purpose a small pair of bellows may be used. To clean and dust a piano, use half a yard best canton-flannel with a nap free from all specks and grit, brushing lightly over to remove the dust; if there are finger-marks or spots, rub up and down over them, always keeping the nap next to the instrument. - Dust under the wires may be blown out with a pair of bellows. Keep the piano closed at night and in-damp weather; open on bright days, and if pose sible let the sun shine directly upon the keys, as the light will keep them from turning yellow. Tune every spring and fall. Asa last finishing touch to the rearranging of the parlor, leave late papers, magazines, a volume of . poetry, or a stereoscope and views, where they will be readily picked up by callers. THE SITTING-ROOM. The sitting-room should be the pleasantest, because most used, of all in the house. Do not put down a Brussels carpet here, because it is too hard to sweep and holds too much dust. To prevent moths under the carpets, grind black ‘pepper coarsely, mix with camphor-gum, and strew thickly about the edges and wherever they are to be found. To clean the oil-cloth, use warm water without soap, or, what is much better, milk and water. By keeping mats at the doors it will only be necessary to sweep the sitting-room thor- oughly once a week, but occasionally, when very dusty, it may be cleaned by setting a pail of cold water by the door, wet the broom in it, knock off the drops, sweep a yard or so, then wash the broom as before, and sweep again, being careful to shake all the drops off the broom, and not to sweep far ata time. If done with care the carpet will be very nicely cleaned, and the quantity of dirt in the water will be surprising. The water must be changed several times. Snow sprinkled on and swept off before it has had time to melt (be careful to have rooms cool), is also nice for renovating a soiled carpet. A scrap bag hung on the end of the sewing-machine, for storing all bits of cloth and rayelings, and ends of thread, will save much sweeping. In sum- mer, wire doors and mosquito-nettings in the windows will keep flies out, and at thesame time admit the air. Washing windows and wiping off doors once a week after sweeping, keeps all tidy. To remove finger-marks, which are con- stantly appearing on doors about the nobs, use a damp cloth assoon as they — are observed. THE BED-ROOM. The family bed-room should be on the first floor if possible, if the house is properly built and there is no dampness. Matting is better for the floor. than carpet, because freer from dust, and this is the room used in case of sickness. If made properly it will wear for several years. Canton mattings— are made on boats in pieces about two yards long, and afterward joined on shore into pieces of fifty yards. It is easy to see where these short pieces - are joined; after cutting into lengths, first sew these places across and across — v 374 | HOUSEKEEPING.

AI-modernized reading of the original text

_ HOUSEKEEPING. _ 373 any spot of dust is too firmly fixed, wash in luke-warm soap-suds, and immediately rub dry with chamois-skin. If there is open-work carving, draw the cloth through, or dust with a paint-brush; and it will be found more convenient to blow out some of the places which are difficult to reach, for which purpose a small pair of bellows may be used. To clean and dust a piano, use half a yard best canton-flannel with a nap free from all specks and grit, brushing lightly over to remove the dust; if there are finger-marks or spots, rub up and down over them, always keeping the nap next to the instrument. - Dust under the wires may be blown out with a pair of bellows. Keep the piano closed at night and in-damp weather; open on bright days, and if pose sible let the sun shine directly upon the keys, as the light will keep them from turning yellow. Tune every spring and fall. Asa last finishing touch to the rearranging of the parlor, leave late papers, magazines, a volume of . poetry, or a stereoscope and views, where they will be readily picked up by callers. THE SITTING-ROOM. The sitting-room should be the pleasantest, because most used, of all in the house. Do not put down a Brussels carpet here, because it is too hard to sweep and holds too much dust. To prevent moths under the carpets, grind black ‘pepper coarsely, mix with camphor-gum, and strew thickly about the edges and wherever they are to be found. To clean the oil-cloth, use warm water without soap, or, what is much better, milk and water. By keeping mats at the doors it will only be necessary to sweep the sitting-room thoroughly once a week, but occasionally, when very dusty, it may be cleaned by setting a pail of cold water by the door, wet the broom in it, knock off the drops, sweep a yard or so, then wash the broom as before, and sweep again, being careful to shake all the drops off the broom, and not to sweep far ata time. If done with care the carpet will be very nicely cleaned, and the quantity of dirt in the water will be surprising. The water must be changed several times. Snow sprinkled on and swept off before it has had time to melt (be careful to have rooms cool), is also nice for renovating a soiled carpet. A scrap bag hung on the end of the sewing-machine, for storing all bits of cloth and rayelings, and ends of thread, will save much sweeping. In summer, wire doors and mosquito-nettings in the windows will keep flies out, and at thesame time admit the air. Washing windows and wiping off doors once a week after sweeping, keeps all tidy. To remove finger-marks, which are con- stantly appearing on doors about the nobs, use a damp cloth assoon as they — are observed. THE BED-ROOM. The family bed-room should be on the first floor if possible, if the house is properly built and there is no dampness. Matting is better for the floor. than carpet, because freer from dust, and this is the room used in case of sickness. If made properly it will wear for several years. Canton mattings— are made on boats in pieces about two yards long, and afterward joined on shore into pieces of fifty yards. It is easy to see where these short pieces - are joined; after cutting into lengths, first sew these places across and across — 374 | HOUSEKEEPING.

Buckeye cookery