A lady writes to us that she has found great satisfaction in reading
HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE to a number of boys, whom she invites to meet at
her house every Wednesday evening. She says she finds the stories and
articles excellent and charming. Besides reading aloud to the boys, she
lends them books, and, we presume, assists them in other womanly and
Christian ways to grow up to a useful and intelligent manhood. We desire
to thank Miss E. J. Y. for her kind letter, and we are not without the
hope that our allusion to it may indicate to other friends an easy and
beautiful method for doing good.
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ANGIE.--To make nice sago gruel for your invalid sister, wash an ounce
of sago very carefully, and then soak it for two hours in a pint of
tepid water; simmer it in the same water about fifteen minutes, stirring
it gently. Sweeten and flavor it, and serve it at once.--Your milk toast
will be delicious if you brown your toast very evenly, dip it for an
instant into boiling water, and then spread it with a very little
butter. Lay it in a deep hot plate; a soup plate will do. Boil a
tea-cupful of milk, which you must thicken with a tea-spoonful of corn
starch mixed with a pinch of salt in a little cold water. Pour this over
your toast.
In serving sick people with food please be sure not to offer them too
much at a time. Do not bother them by saying, "Would you like this?" and
"Will you have that?" They do not know what they wish, and they think
they want nothing. They have to be coaxed to eat, not in words, but by
offering them dainty things daintily and prettily prepared. The finest,
cleanest napkin, the thinnest, loveliest cup and saucer, and the
brightest silver should be taken when you are arranging the meals of
invalids. Sometimes, after all your trouble, they will scarcely taste
what you have prepared, and perhaps they may be a little cross and
petulant. Remember then that suffering has made them weak and tired, and
do not be discouraged, but try again, for on good and patient nursing
the doctor depends for success in treating the sick as much us he does
on his medicines and his skill.
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D. C. H.--There is a real Jimmy Brown. The Postmistress has seen him
several times.
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J. B.--It is easy to make a tennis net if you have any one to show you
how, but it is almost impossible to describe the manner of making it so
as to be understood. If you live near the sea-shore, you can get some
fisherman to teach you. If not, perhaps your mother or her seamstress
can show you how to make it. If you can not learn before next summer,
and yet want the net very badly, you may buy one for three dollars.
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RITA.--You will probably obtain the information you desire about the
care of silk-worms by addressing the Ladies' Silk-culture Association,
1028 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (over Keystone National
Bank). This association, which is doing much to stimulate this branch of
industry, has recently given an exhibition at St. George's Hall in
Philadelphia. It was formally opened by Governor Hoyt, ex-Governor
Pollock, and other distinguished gentlemen. It was designed to
illustrate the various branches of the silk industry from the forming of
cocoons to the perfected fabric.
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It would seem as if the variety of the articles to which we would call
the attention of the C. Y. P. R. U. this week was extensive enough to
please readers of all tastes and ages. Mr. George Cary Eggleston carries
us back to those terrible days of religious persecution when differences
in creed bathed the soil of France with blood; Mr. Ralph Watson tells us
of the curious "Collocalia," whose nests supply the Chinese with the
principal ingredient of one of their most highly esteemed soups; Mr.
Charles Barnard gives us full information how to while away our leisure
hours with the interesting and inexpensive and at the same time
instructive pastime of taking photographs; and Mr. B. Hardwicke tells
the boys and girls how to supersede the pleasures of coasting by the
more exciting sport to be had with the toboggan.
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