The tea or coffee cup and the egg-glass should be filled with boiUng water, that they may not cool what is put into them. A pretty little pot should hold the tea or coffee, and there should be a tiny cream-jug and sugar- bowl. A vase containing a few flowers, pref- erably those without a heavy perfume, should grace the tray, and in the preparation of the food every evidence should be given of tlie loving thoughtfulness that has left un- sought no means of lightening the discom- fort of the sufferer. Where there is no bed- table, there should be another tray, smaller than that in which the breakfast is brought. This may then be placed on a stand or chair beside the bed, while the other holds the cup or plate upon the patient's lap. A large nap- kin or clean towel should always protect the bedclothes from food that may possibly be spilled upon them, for few things are more 86 THE invalid's BBEAKFAST unpleasant to a sick person, especially to one afflicted with a squeamish stomach, than the sight of a spot of egg, coflfee, or grease on sheet or spread. When such an accident occurs, the stained article should always be promptly exchanged for a fresh one. The meal over, every vestige of food and every reminder of the repast should be at once removed, the patient's face 'and hands again sponged oflP, the pillows shaken and turned, and the invalid's position changed. Should any odor of food remain, the room may once more be aired. Peace and quiet must reign while the in- valid eats. If visitors are to be admitted it must not be at that time. Only one or pos- sibly two members of the family, and those the quietest ones, may be present, and the conversation must be pleasant and cheery. No distressing topics must be broached, no references except encouraging ones made to the invalid's state of health. In the deli- cately balanced condition of nerves which generally afflicts a sick person, very little 87 WHAT TO EAT — HOW TO SERVE IT will serve to upset the equilibrium and to effectually banish appetite. All that love's ingenuity can suggest should be done to provide a variety of food for the invalid. After a little while she usu- ally tires of what impatient men, under sim- ilar circumstances, stigmatize as " slops," and wearies for something more substantial and appetizing than gruels, broths, and soft toast. In those cases where solid food is forbidden by the physician, catering is more difficulty but often a convalescent is permitted to eat a greater variety of food than is offered her. Cream soups, clear soups, broiled birds, a bit of tenderloin gteak, a Iamb chop, a tiny baked omelet, raw, stewed, and roast oya- ters, broiled and fricasseed chicken, poached and soft-boiled eggs, a bit of venison, dishes of rice, sago, and tapioca, jellies, custards, blanc-manges, fruits, plain ice-cream" — there is almost no end to the dainty memvs that can be arranged. Every meal should be a surprise; there should be no discussion in the invalid's presence of what she can eat, although every reasonable wish ghe expresses '38 THE invalid's BREAKFAST for any article of food should be gratified, if feasible. The sick one's lot is hard enough at the best, and no expedient should be left untried to ameliorate it. 89 A BREAKFAST -PARTY LAKGE breakfasts, or dejeuners d la four- chette. are not a very common form of entertainment in this country, and yet they may be made charming. Unlike luncheons, where there are usually only women present, both men and women may be invited to a breakfast. The hour is usually twelve, al- though it may be a little earlier or later. One o'clock is the latest hour which it is advis- able to set for a breakfast.

AI-modernized reading of the original text

The tea or coffee cup and the egg-glass should be filled with boiUng water, that they may not cool what is put into them. A pretty little pot should hold the tea or coffee, and there should be a tiny cream-jug and sugarbowl. A vase containing a few flowers, preferably those without a heavy perfume, should grace the tray, and in the preparation of the food every evidence should be given of the loving thoughtfulness that has left unsought no means of lightening the discomfort of the sufferer. Where there is no bedtable, there should be another tray, smaller than that in which the breakfast is brought. This may then be placed on a stand or chair beside the bed, while the other holds the cup or plate upon the patient's lap. A large napkin or clean towel should always protect the bedclothes from food that may possibly be spilled upon them, for few things are more THE INVALID'S BREAKFAST unpleasant to a sick person, especially to one afflicted with a squeamish stomach, than the sight of a spot of egg, coflfee, or grease on sheet or spread. When such an accident occurs, the stained article should always be promptly exchanged for a fresh one. The meal over, every vestige of food and every reminder of the repast should be at once removed, the patient's face 'and hands again sponged oflP, the pillows shaken and turned, and the invalid's position changed. Should any odor of food remain, the room may once more be aired. Peace and quiet must reign while the invalid eats. If visitors are to be admitted it must not be at that time. Only one or possibly two members of the family, and those the quietest ones, may be present, and the conversation must be pleasant and cheery. No distressing topics must be broached, no references except encouraging ones made to the invalid's state of health. In the delicately balanced condition of nerves which generally afflicts a sick person, very little will serve to upset the equilibrium and to effectually banish appetite. All that love's ingenuity can suggest should be done to provide a variety of food for the invalid. After a little while she usually tires of what impatient men, under similar circumstances, stigmatize as " slops," and wearies for something more substantial and appetizing than gruels, broths, and soft toast. In those cases where solid food is forbidden by the physician, catering is more difficulty but often a convalescent is permitted to eat a greater variety of food than is offered her. Cream soups, clear soups, broiled birds, a bit of tenderloin gteak, a Iamb chop, a tiny baked omelet, raw, stewed, and roast oysters, broiled and fricasseed chicken, poached and soft-boiled eggs, a bit of venison, dishes of rice, sago, and tapioca, jellies, custards, blanc-manges, fruits, plain ice-cream" — there is almost no end to the dainty menus that can be arranged. Every meal should be a surprise; there should be no discussion in the invalid's presence of what she can eat, although every reasonable wish she expresses '38 THE invalid's BREAKFAST for any article of food should be gratified, if feasible. The sick one's lot is hard enough at the best, and no expedient should be left untried to ameliorate it. A BREAKFAST -PARTY LAKGE breakfasts, or dejeuners d la fourchette. are not a very common form of entertainment in this country, and yet they may be made charming. Unlike luncheons, where there are usually only women present, both men and women may be invited to a breakfast. The hour is usually twelve, although it may be a little earlier or later. One o'clock is the latest hour which it is advisable to set for a breakfast.

What to eat, how to serve it