s set the handle of your pump as high as possible,
before you go to bed. Except in very rigid weather, this keeps the
handle from freezing. When there is reason to apprehend extreme cold,
do not forget to throw a rug or horse-blanket over your pump; a frozen
pump is a comfortless preparation for a winter's breakfast. Never
allow ashes to be taken up in wood, or put into wood. Always have your
tinder-box and lantern ready for use, in case of sudden alarm. Have
important papers all together, where you can lay your hand on them at
once, in case of fire.

Keep an old blanket and sheet on purpose for ironing, and on no
account suffer any other to be used. Have plenty of holders always
made, that your towels may not be burned out in such service.

Keep a coarse broom for the cellar stairs, wood-shed, yard, &c. No
good housekeeper allows her carpet broom to be used for such things.

There should always be a heavy stone on the top of your pork, to keep
it down. This stone is an excellent place to keep a bit of fresh meat
in the summer, when you are afraid of its spoiling.

Have all the good bits of vegetables and meat collected after dinner,
and minced before they are set away; that they may be in readiness
to make a little savoury mince meat for supper or breakfast. Take the
skins off your potatoes before they grow cold.

Vials, which have been used for medicine, should be put into cold
ashes and water, boiled, and suffered to cool before they are rinsed.

If you live in the city, where it is always easy to procure
provisions, be careful and not buy too much for your daily wants,
while the weather is warm.

Never leave out your clothes-line over night; and see that your
clothes-pins are all gathered into a basket.

Have plenty of crash towels in the kitchen; never let your white
napkins be used there.

Soap your dirtiest clothes, and soak them in soft water over night.

Use hard soap to wash your clothes, and soft to wash your floors. Soft
soap is so slippery, that it wastes a good deal in washing clothes.

Instead of covering up your glasses and pictures with muslin, cover
the frames only with cheap, yellow cambric, neatly put on, and as near
the color of the gilt as you can procure it. This looks better; leaves
the glasses open for use, and the pictures for ornament; and is
an effectual barrier to dust as well as flies. It can easily be
re-colored with saffron tea, when it is faded.

Have a bottle full of brand