dishes in a little greasy water. When molasses is used in cooking, it
is a prodigious improvement to boil and skim it before you use it.
It takes out the unpleasant raw taste, and makes it almost as good as
sugar. Where molasses is used much for cooking, it is well to prepare
one or two gallons in this way at a time.

In winter, always 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