HOME CIRCLE

Southern Cross, Volume 17, Issue 15, 24 July 1909, Page 11

HOME CIRCLE

SONNY'S SOLILOQUY. ... We've got a parlour in our house That's scarcely used a bit ; I tell you, even Pa himself Don't class go there and sit ! 'An' if I dared to step inside Her temper Ma would lose ; Say, what's the good o' havin' things That people dassn't use ? My sister's got a cushion, too, All stuffed up nice an' fat, An' not a person in this house Can put their head on that ! It has a real invitin' look, All worked in reds and blues ; Say, what's the good o' havin' things That people dassn't use ? An' over at Aunt Martha's house "They've got a satin chair ; I tried to sit down on it once, But she said, "Don't you dare !" An' if I just go near the thing, She fusses an' she stews ; Say, what's the good o' havin' things That people dassn't use ? —Selected. ORANGE BLOSSOMS. A wedding which excited a good deal of interest was solemnised at "Harwood," Mataura Island, on Wednesday, 7th July, at the residence of Mr and Mrs W. Brash, when their only daughter Mary was united" to Mr James Linton, manager of Omimi Dairy Factory, and eldest son of Mrs and the late James Linton, of Mataura, Tuturau, and Wyndham. The ceremony was performed by the Rev. D. Maclennan, M.A. Miss Mary Linton, sister of the bridegroom, attended „ as bridesmaid, and Mr Alex. Brash, brother of the bride, was best man. There was a large number of guests present on the happy occasion, and the young couple were the recipients of many good "wishes as well as more tangible tokens of esteem. OBSERVATIONS BY AN EVERYDAY WOMAN. UNSUNG HEROINES. (By "Shasta.'') If we are to believe our wise men, kome life will soon be a thing of the past.. Women are giving up housekeeping and. child-rearing to become doctors, lawyers, or typists, leaving poor man desolate and dreary to mourn over the blackened ashes of deserted homes. Despite these melancholy predictions, I venture to be comfortably optimistic about the future, for when the possible man comes along, even •fcfce modern girl can be induced to •»ive up theories, and devote her energies to home-making and ordering the family roast. With all due deference to the learned ones, who wax mournful over the deficiencies of womankind, I maintain that our women are just as homeloving, self-sacrificing, and adorable as their much-lauded grandmothers, auad much more sensible as well. Crinolines and tears went out of fashion together. While pur men are worrying over us in* their ponderous, futil* way, we are cheerfully cooking asd darning soeks for our cri-

tics. Woman learnt long ago to smile at man's airs of superiority, and to love him —faults and all. She goes on her -capable, practical way, looking well to the instruction of her children, keeping a kindly, critical eye on her husband's doings, whilst she maintains an even balance between an ever-increasing expenditure and an income that" refuses to increase in the same proportion. The average woman works with 1 a patient acceptance of her manifold responsibilities, and when we see our girls cultivating their gifts of head, hand and heart, there is no need to worry about the preservation of home-life. They will in turn become clever housewives or cheerful old maids. Consider the mighty band of .women who pursue a monotonous course of small duties the year through. Whilst this army of stay-at-homes is willing to live dull and contented lives within the four walls of home,'the sanctity of our home-life is assured. We see our undramatic heroine out shopping, making a shilling do the work of two, for she is something of a financier ; ; going on her round of afternoon, calls, for she never neglects her social duties ; we see her returning to her own fireside to enjoy a peaceful evening in the company of her husband. lie reads dull extracts from parliamentary debates, and talks learnedly on astronomy and flying machines, fondly dreaming, good man, that she is listening with breathless admiration, while all the while she is calculating how long that roast of mutton can be'made to' last with judicious cooking, and if she can possibly turn her blue skirt once more, and so make it last a little longer.

In spite of her uneventful life' the welfare of the 4 nation lies in her hands. She, in her proud position of wife and mother, is the true help-mate of man, and guardian of a. nation's honour. The charming emancipated women who wield ready pens and aVe ever ready to assert their rights are not numer. ous. The g'reat majority of our women are obscure heroines, spending" their lives in maintaining the peace and comfort of our homes. Their feet are quick to go on errands of mercy, self-repression and self-sacrifice h'ave become second-nature with them. They, in their loving 1 humility, are the very last to believe in their own goodness. All honour then, to the home-mak-ing, burden-bearing, unsung heroines — the everyday women. HECIPES. —Prune and Date Pie.. — Soak prunes until soft, then remove stones. To two cups of prunes add one-half cup of dates cut in tinypieces, the grated rind and juice of a lemon, three tablespoons of sugar and enough of the prune juice to make the filling of the right consistency. Dredge with flour, dot with bits ci butter, put on upper crust, and bake fifteen minutes. 4—Cinnamon Rolls. — Mix a rich baking powder biscuit dough to which lias been added onehalf cup of sugar and one-half teaspoon of cinnamon to each pint of flour. Roll out as nearly square as possible, spread lightly with softened butter, sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon mixed. Beginning at one ond, roll closely and carefully. With a sharp knife cut off half-inch sections, and lay them in greased baking pans about two inches apart. Bake quickMr.

—Tomato Hash.— ~ i Two cups tomatoes, two c'ups cooked diced meat, 1J cups stale breadcrumbs, two tablespoons butter, '"ne teaspoonful onion juice, three saltspoons of salt and one-eighth saltspoon of pepper. Melt butter and pour over breadcrumbs ; add salt and pepper, then mix in tomatoes, meat and onion juice, seasoning to taste. Put some crumbs in a baking dish, then the meat mixture, with the rest of the crumbs on top ; bake in a moderate oven till brown.