Though her father couldn't bear them,
And her gentle mother said
That she wished her child should wear them
Tied with modest bows instead.

But their wishes she made light of,
And her gaudy ribbons grew
Bigger every day, in spite of
All her friends could say or do.

Till this child, all counsel spurning,
Found with horror and surprise
That her bows were slowly turning
Into monstrous butterflies.

First they gently swayed and fluttered,
Then with spreading wings they flew,
Ere one sad farewell was uttered,
Straight into the welkin blue.

So she vanished; still her mother
Hopes those wandering bows will bring
Back her daughter, when the other
Butterflies return with Spring.

[Illustration: THE PUDDING STICK]

This Department is conducted in the interest of Girls and Young
Women, and the Editor will be pleased to answer any question on
the subject so far as possible. Correspondents should address
Editor.

It isn't a very hard task to set the table, is it, girls? Yet I find
that it takes skill, taste, and pains to do this simple thing so very
nicely that the family coming to the table three times a day will have
the feeling that they have been expected, and their comfort and pleasure
planned for.

One important thing to be considered when setting the table is the
table-cloth. This should be of fair white linen, if possible, with a
pretty pattern of ferns or blocks or clover leaves, but even if it be
coarse, and not beautiful in design, it must always be spotlessly clean.
Do not let the laundress starch your table-cloth. No starch is needed.
It must, however, be ironed with exquisite nicety, folded evenly down
the middle, and the crease made by folding shown plainly by the pressure
of the flat-iron. A table-cloth must not be laid upon the bare table.
Next to the table you must have a heavy undercloth of felt or Canton
flannel. This serves several purposes. It removes the danger of injury
to the table itself from hot dishes, which sometimes leave a disfiguring
white rim or scarred edge upon it polished surface, it deadens sounds,
and it brings out well the pretty figures on the cloth. If used with
care, an undercloth of this kind will last a long time, and I have found
Canton flannel much more satisfactory than felt.

When you begin to set your table for breakfast or dinner, decide on the
places for the different members of