Home Interests.

Otago Witness, Issue 1240, 4 September 1875, Page 19

Home Interests.

TRAINING CHILDREN.

It is possible that caseßmay arise where physical coercion may need to be exercised by the elder members of a family upon the younger, but too much care cannot be taken to prevent all infliction of corporeal pain by one child upon another. An appeal to parental authority and protection is always in order, aud very rarely can it be justifiable in any degree for one child to strike another. It is hardly possible to emphasize too strongly the wisdom and sound policy of thi3 principle. It is a common remark in conferences among parents "that it was a great deal easier to train the older ones than it is to rear the younger, on account of the influence the former exert in the family." The merciless criticism of faults but recently outgrown by the critic is very hard for the junior brother or sister to bear, and often more injurious to the character of the sufferer than indulgence in the error would be. Enmity is awakened, impotent anger aroused, or the habit of repression, that bane of all free development, is forced upon the child. There are elder brothers aud sisters who habitually appropriate everything that comes into the family to themselves and crowd out the' younglings, on the principle, " first come, first served." All honours, privileges, emoluments, belong by right of primogeniture to them, and what they do not want the rest are welcome to have. What kind of citizens will such brothers and sisters make ? The family is the nursery of the State. If each child is taught and compelled to respect the rights of every other child in the household, not to take advantage of his weakness,, his ignorance, his misfortune, or his tender years, but to render to every one his due, what but just, kind, honest, and law-abiding citizens can be made by such training? In the atmosphere of such a home, where the largest freedom consistent with justice to all is secured to each, the more delicate and exquisite traits of character are developed equally with those which make up the ordinary, everyday individual, and each thus contributes to the sum total of the family happiness whatever is rare and choice in the endowments with which Nature has gifted him.

Mirth at Meal-times. — Everybody should plan to have pleasant conversation at the table, just as they do for having good food, A little story-telling, a little reading — it may be of humorous things, anecdotes, &c. — will often stimulate the joyous element of the mind and cause it to act vigorously. Try and avoid going to the table all tired out. Let all troublesome topics be avoided. Don't scold domestics. Don't discipline children. Think and say sometning pleasant. Cultivate mirth, and laugh when anything witty is said. If possible never eat alone. Invite a friend of whom you are fond, and try and have a good time. Friendship and friendly intercourse at table whets the appetite, and promotes the flow of animal spirits. Gas Pokers. — It is only quite recently hat anything has been done to obviate

the trouble invariably attendant upon kindling fires. Various fire kindlers, such as cakes of rosin and sawdust, &., have been introduced, and found very j serviceable ; but the latest and most original effort in this direction is a " gas poker ? " simply a hollow iron tube, j shaped like a poker, and perforated holes in one extremity, and the other arranged with a flexible tube of sufficient length to connect the "poker," when thrust into the stove or grate, with the nearest gas burner. This done a match will light the gas, and in a few minutes you have a fire, whether of wood or coal withont any litter. Any kind of coal but anthracite may ihus be readily lighted. For city use, or wherever gas is used, this is the simplest and most effective idea yet brought out. Rice Pudding. — Try the following recpipt : Take one teacupful of soft, boiled rice, one tablespoonful of butter, mixed in the rice while hot ; add one quart of sweet milk, one teacup of sugar, the yolks of five eggs, season with lemon ; bake until done. Beat the white of five eggs to a stiff froth, and stir in it live heaping tablespoonfuls of powdered sugar ; spread over the custard ; return to the oven, and bake a delicate browu.

Simple Remedy to Purify Water.— Tt is nofc generally known, as it ought to be, that pounded alum possesses the property of purifying water. A large teaspoonful of pulverised alum sprinkled into a hogshead of water — the water stirred round all the time — will, after the lapse of a few hours, by precipitating to the bottom the impure particles, so purify it. that it will be found to possess nearly all the freshness and clearness of the finest spring water. A pailful containing four gallons may be purified by a single teaspoonful.

Sleep for Children. — Put your children to bed early, and let them have plenty of sleep. Young children should take their "naps " regularly. But there is a great difference in children, some taking naps till they are six or seven, while others do not after they are two or three. It is healthier for children to sleep by themselves. Have a strong string attached to each head-post of the cot, with a ring noose at the end. Slip the noose over the upper corners of the blankets, and you will save them from the discomfort of sleeping naked all night, as well as from the danger of taking cold. For Breakfast.— Oatmeal porridge with milk and sugar or Indian corn mush, with a little Sfood syrup. Or, cracked wheat, with milk and sugar. Or, baked potatoes, with bread and butter. Or, beefsteak or mutton chop, with baked potatoes and bread and butter. If you are thin and need fat, use the first three ; if you are fat use the last named two. Drink cold water or a little weak coffee.

To Brown Potatoes Under Meat. — Boil some fine, large, mealy potatoes ; take off the skins carefully, and about an hour before the meat is cooked put them in the dripping pan, having well dredged them with flower. Before serving drain them from any grease, and serve them up hot. Beef and Mutton are improved by keeping as long as they remain sweet. If meat begins to taint, wash it and rub it with powdered charcoal — it often removes it. Sometimes rubbing it with salt will cure it.