at home might have been other
than it was. For love sweetens everything and makes all duty
pleasant and all hardships bearable. Without it the palace is haunted
with demons; with it the hut is tenanted by angels.
" In palaces are hearts that ask.
In discontent and pride,
Why life is such a dreary task.
And all good things denied ;
And hearts in poorest huts admire
How Love has to their aid
(Love that not ever seems to tire)
Such rich provision made."
f
Whether in palace, mansion, or cottage, in crowded cities amid the
incessant roar and traffic of the busy world, or in the country village,
a world in miniature, whose news and gossip have seemed more im-
portant than the fate of empires, home life is the life that has been
most real to us, whose joys have been the dearest, whose sorrows the
LIFE AT HOME. 23 1
keenest. The world may be a " stage and all the men and women
merely players," but home life is a reality to every one of us, mak-
ing us what we are in feeling if not in fortune. In other chapters of
this volume the separate phases and component parts of home life
are considered. Of life at home as a whole, when we view it as a
picture of the past, the memory and imagination of each reader must
fill up the scenes and circumstances. Of life at home as a present
reality to every one, if it be a happy one, full of flowers and sunshine,
let us thank Heaven for it and guard it well. If it be unhappy, let
each of us honestly consider what share he or she may have had in
making it so, and what remedy or reformation is still within our power
so that it may be life at home indeed.
'■ 1::
HOUSEHOLD ORN/MENT/TIOf^.
" Infinite riches in a little room."
^, ARGE BAGS to place slippers in for parties, or to carry
rubbers or waterproof to opera or theatre, are made
of gray, brown, or stone color, with a monogram em-
broidered, braided, or outlined in the centre.
Antimacassars are now called chair backs, and some
of the new ones are made in coarse toweling embroidered and cut to
the shape of the chair like a hood, so that they can be slipped over
the back.
No material is too common to be a medium for ornamentation.
If you have any old worn-out hassocks, procure some green or crim-
son baize, and on this work at intervals ^.fleiir de lis or any blossom,
in a neutral tint, and then cover the old hassock with the same,
putting any additional stuffing beneath where required.
A sheet of unbleached cotton can be easily converted into a quilt
by lining and binding it to the depth of six inches with Turkey red
twill; cover the sheeting with a trellis, work in green crewel wool,
worked in outline, the diamonds about six inches long, and at each
insertion work also in outline a bunch of cherries. It will both
look and wash well.
Pincushions, to be hung on gentlemen's looking-glasses, are
made of swan-skin in the shape of a rabbit, and well stuffed. ]For a
lady's toilet-table there are two new shapes — one like a gypsy ket-
tle, supported on three sticks, covered with ribbon, the kettle being
represented by a round satin cushion, bordered with ribbon ruching;
also a high back chair, the seat, the cushion, which lifts up and forms
(232)
HOUSEHOLD ORNAMENTATION. 233
a receptacle for studs, earrings, etc. This is made in card-board, and
covered with pink calico and muslin. •
Page 148
Presented as published in 1883. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
at home might have been other than it was. For love sweetens everything and makes all duty pleasant and all hardships bearable. Without it the palace is haunted with demons; with it the hut is tenanted by angels.
" In palaces are hearts that ask.
In discontent and pride, Why life is such a dreary task.
And all good things denied ; And hearts in poorest huts admire
How Love has to their aid (Love that not ever seems to tire)
Such rich provision made."
f Whether in palace, mansion, or cottage, in crowded cities amid the
incessant roar and traffic of the busy world, or in the country village, a world in miniature, whose news and gossip have seemed more important than the fate of empires, home life is the life that has been most real to us, whose joys have been the dearest, whose sorrows the
keenest. The world may be a " stage and all the men and women merely players," but home life is a reality to every one of us, making us what we are in feeling if not in fortune. In other chapters of this volume the separate phases and component parts of home life are considered. Of life at home as a whole, when we view it as a picture of the past, the memory and imagination of each reader must fill up the scenes and circumstances. Of life at home as a present reality to every one, if it be a happy one, full of flowers and sunshine, let us thank Heaven for it and guard it well. If it be unhappy, let each of us honestly consider what share he or she may have had in making it so, and what remedy or reformation is still within our power so that it may be life at home indeed.
'■ 1::
" Infinite riches in a little room."
^, ARGE BAGS to place slippers in for parties, or to carry rubbers or waterproof to opera or theatre, are made of gray, brown, or stone color, with a monogram embroidered, braided, or outlined in the centre.
Antimacassars are now called chair backs, and some of the new ones are made in coarse toweling embroidered and cut to the shape of the chair like a hood, so that they can be slipped over the back.
No material is too common to be a medium for ornamentation. If you have any old worn-out hassocks, procure some green or crimson baize, and on this work at intervals fleur de lis or any blossom, in a neutral tint, and then cover the old hassock with the same, putting any additional stuffing beneath where required.
A sheet of unbleached cotton can be easily converted into a quilt by lining and binding it to the depth of six inches with Turkey red twill; cover the sheeting with a trellis, work in green crewel wool, worked in outline, the diamonds about six inches long, and at each insertion work also in outline a bunch of cherries. It will both look and wash well.
Pincushions, to be hung on gentlemen's looking-glasses, are made of swan-skin in the shape of a rabbit, and well stuffed. ]For a lady's toilet-table there are two new shapes — one like a gypsy kettle, supported on three sticks, covered with ribbon, the kettle being represented by a round satin cushion, bordered with ribbon ruching; also a high back chair, the seat, the cushion, which lifts up and forms (232)
a receptacle for studs, earrings, etc. This is made in card-board, and covered with pink calico and muslin. •