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after, if they are to be comfortable on the small pittance that their own exertions will supply. Some servants have distinguished themselves by this valuable quality, and their worth has generally been acknowledged and rewarded by their employers.

I recollect from infancy being taught to respect “careful Nanny," the servant of my parents, when they were young housekeepers; who, on being desired to take in a pennyworth of milk, respectfully observed to her mistress, that she thought a halfpennyworth as much as would be used in so small a family. On being sent to market, and, among other things, desired to bring in a pound of gravy beef, Nanny observed, "It is such a disgrace to a cook to buy gravy beef; the bones of roast meat, and the liquor of boiled, if properly managed, will make gravy good enough for the first table in the land." The young mistress was not above taking lessons in frugality from this valuable servant; and many of her maxims and methods have been handed down to children's children. “Let us be frugal as to our dress," says one, "our diet, our money." There is a certain skill in some people's way of doing things economically, and, when possessed by a poor man's wife in the laying out of money, is one of the highest qualifications for her station, and nothing contributes more to the comfort of the whole family. How Nanny reckoned, I cannot tell; but, as the wife of allabourer in after-life, she always kept free from debt, cleanly, and ready to spare half a dozen turfs to a sick neighbour, and render any little aid in her power. She would say, "My husband's harvest wages clothe himself and the children; my gleaning pays the shoemaker; the orchard pays my rent; the garden does this; the children's work yields so and so. Every prudent housekeeper, whether rich or poor, should keep a true account of all his expenses. Know exactly what you earn and what you spend if difficulties arise, you will thus soon discover them, and learn how to overcome them. For instance, if a man finds that his expenses in the last week have been thirteen shillings and his wages only twelve, he sees a short remedy: "Next week," says he, "I must either earn fourteen shillings or spend eleven." It is not so easy to do this at the end of a month. By a clear account also you may discover how you can save a few pence, or do without some trifle, when it is necessary to lessen your expenses. I hope that by industry and good management you may be spared any great straits; but, if otherwise, would it not be better to have

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half a loaf to-day and half to-morrow, than a whole loaf to-day and none to-morrow? Whatever your income may be, therefore, allot your money into portions for certain expenses, and keep strictly to them, and you will find great comfort, even if it require some self-denial to do so.

If you pay your rent weekly, let that be secured first; if quarterly, lay by every week for it, that it may be ready for the day. Something weekly should be regularly laid by, according to the size of the family, for shoes and undergarments; for those, of necessity, will always be wearing out. Perhaps you may be able to put your money into a shoeclub or a provident-club, if there are such in the place you reside in. When enough is saved for a pair of shoes, let them be made in readiness for the one who is likely to want a pair first. You will find a great advantage in the wear if shoes are hung up for a month to become thoroughly dry before they are used. Shoes, like every thing else, should be mended in proper time. If a careless boy wears his shoes in holes, that which at first might have been mended for fourpence will require two shillings or half-a-crown, or perhaps be so far gone that it will not answer to mend at all. Shoes wear much longer if changed daily, as they will not then be trod awry. Use little children to cross their feet in taking off their shoes, and always untie them first. They will thus acquire the habit, and the shoes will wear equally.

But, while I am giving you useful hints for saving, I must not forget to caution you against improper ways of spending. If you would be either rich, respectable, or happy, avoid most scrupulously the dram-shop and the pawnbroker's. When I see the signs of these trades, I always fancy they form a hand-post on which is inscribed "The Road to Ruin." Of all destructive practices, none bring poor families so soon to ruin and wretchedness as a habit of borrowing of pawnbrokers, on pledges, except it be that of frequenting dram-shops. There is a sort of shame attached to both these trades; for the shop-windows of both are blinded up, that passengers may not see those that are within.

I have one word more to say, and that is-be content with your own lot. Mind, now, I do not want you to content yourselves in wretchedness and destitution. I would have you strain every nerve to better your condition; I would have you satisfied in your own mind that no stone has been left unturned, either in the way of industry or frugality, that might gradually improve your circumstances.

By such endeavours you will be gradually improved; and with that experience and prospect I would have you be contented and cheerful. But if you indulge yourself in hankering after every thing which you see a neighbour possess, (a neighbour, perhaps, who has no family, or a smaller one than yours, or who may possess what is not necessary to your well-being,) then farewell both to saving and comfort! If you aspire to be at the top of the ladder without patiently climbing it, both your safety and happiness are in danger of a sudden downfall.

Various.

A FEW WORDS ABOUT CANDLES.

CANDLES are expensive articles. You will therefore carry them steadily, that they may not gutter down; and you will see that no pieces are left in the candlesticks to be melted away when you clean them. Carefully save all such pieces; and never take a whole candle for the kitchen while any of them remain; nor yet suffer them to burn in the socket, but fix the small pieces in a "save-all." If you have not these useful articles in the kitchen, you may easily make one with three strong pins fixed into an old cork, cut to fit the candlestick. A tin save-all, however, can be bought for one penny; and if your mistress finds you disposed to be careful and frugal, she will allow some for the use of the kitchen. Why these little articles are called "save-alls," will easily be seen if we consider the following case:

Suppose one candle to be burnt every night without a save-all: we may say that an inch at least will be wasted. In one week we shall thus lose a whole candle or more, which will equal fifty-two candles in the year. If there are ten candles to the pound, and each pound cost sixpence, fifty-two will cost more than half-a-crown; which half-crown would have bought several useful articles.

If you have occasion to leave the kitchen for any length of time, put out the candle while you are gone, and do not

let two or three be burning at once when one is sufficient; neither place a light in the draught of an open window or door, where it will burn away very wastefully. Several pounds of candles may be thus needlessly used, and this is wasteful and extravagant. In snuffing a candle, take care not to cut the wick too short; it makes the candle gutter when fresh lit. Candles in the day-time should not be left in the candlesticks in any warm place, but put neatly in the candle-box, which is usually hung in a cool part of the house or cellar. The best kind of candlestick for servants and children is a broad flat one, with a wide saucer round it; the extinguisher and snuffers should be chained to it. A candle should never be carried into a stable or loft except in a lantern. In going to bed, every one should carefully extin. guish her candle before getting into bed, and never place it on a chair or table within reach of the curtains and bedclothes.

In some parts of England the economical poor will make their own candles at a very trifling cost, in the following way: A thrifty cottager sets the children to collect the rushes from the meadows when they are full of pith and strong; the rush is then cut into lengths of a foot and a half long, taking the middle or best part of the rush. The green skin is next carefully peeled off nearly all round, leaving only a thin strip to prevent the pith breaking. In this state it is soaked in melted grease, which may be bought for fourpence a pound. A tin tube, the same length as the rush, should be filled with the melted grease, in which the rush is placed to soak, and afterwards hung up to dry. A piece of the bark of a tree, bound round with tape, and so nailed to the cottage wall, serves to keep the candles in, and saves the expense of a candle-box.

Half a pound of prepared rushes may be bought for one shilling and sixpence, and will contain eight hundred rushes: three pounds of common grease will also suffice to soak them. They answer well for most purposes: but if a poor woman has needlework to do at night, she should have a good candle for the sake of her eyesight.

Various.

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"The lark awakes me with his song,
That hails the morning grey;
And when I mourn for human wrong,
I think of God, and pray."

Let worldlings* waste their time and health,
And try each vain delight;

They cannot buy with all their wealth

The labourer's rest at night.

Bowles' "Little Villager's Verse Book."

RURAL

ECONOMY.

ON KEEPING FOWLS.

Ir is, perhaps, seldom that fowls can be conveniently kept about a cottage; but when they can, they may be made very profitable. Three, four, or six hens, to lay eggs in winter, with proper attention, might be made to clear every week the price of a gallon of flour. They might be bought in November, and sold in April. Hens, to lay eggs in the winter, should never be more than two years old. Pullets, that is, birds hatched in the previous spring, are perhaps the best. They should be kept in a warm dry place, and not let out

*Those whose thoughts are only of this world.

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