ny sort of water but the very
hottest.

They only filled one dish-pan to begin with, and after it was half-full
Margaret put in the soap-shaker and stirred it around till the water was
foamy. She hung it up again, and began to put in the tumblers.

"You must be careful that those are not icy," her grandmother cautioned.
"Even after they have been emptied they must stand till they are fairly
warm, or they will crack as soon as they touch the hot water. But you
must be most careful of all about cut glass; that really needs a special
lesson. If you have a piece there, set it to one side, and when the rest
of the glass is done and the silver, we will take that." There was a
fruit-dish which had been used for breakfast, so it was put on a corner
of the table where it could not be knocked off, to wait its turn.

The tumblers and finger-bowls were put into the hot soapy water at once
and turned about in it till they were clean. Then they were wiped while
they were still a little soapy, without rinsing them, because in that
way they were polished like diamonds. After they were lifted out and put
on the tray the silver went into the pan and was well scrubbed with the
mop, and then rinsed with very hot water, which proved to be too much
for Margaret's hands; when she tried to lift out the forks and spoons
she could hardly touch them.

"Ouch!" she exclaimed. "It burns me. I must put in some cold water."

"No, indeed!" said her grandmother, "that would spoil everything. Just
slip a large spoon under all the silver, and lift it out at once. There
is a saying that no water is hot enough to wash silver in unless it is
too hot to put your hands in. Just see how fast the heat in it dries it
as it lies on the tray! And see how it polishes, too, as I wipe it! If
it were cold it might be greasy, and certainly it would not look half as
well when it was done. Now before we take the china I will tell you
about washing cut glass. You can put some fresh water in the dish-pan,
but make it only as warm as your hand."

While she was getting it ready the grandmother got a soft brush and a
cake of nice white soap, and, after trying the water to see that it was
not too warm or too cold, she mixed the soap in thoroughly. The
beautiful glass bowl was lifted carefully into the pan and scrubbed with
the little brush till every crack was cleaned and it was brilliant with
the suds. Margaret was not allowed to lift it out on the tray for fear
she shou