Tub for the Playroom.—­Every playroom should be provided with a galvanized tub to hold water for sail boats.  What boy does not like to play with water, boats and artificial fish?  Do not expect him to be contented with toys or plays that amuse the little girl.  The boy prefers splashing in water or making a noise with a hammer.  Aquatic toys are numerous and reasonably cheap.

NOW OR NEVER.

Gather the rosebuds while ye may,
Old Time is still a-flying;
And this same flower that smiles today
To-morrow will be dying. 
—­R.  Herrick.

Cleaning the Rug at Home.—­Baby’s fur rug may be cleaned at home by giving it a thorough bath in dry cornmeal.  Rub the meal in as though it were soap, shake it out and rub in more meal, letting it remain in the rug for a day or two.  Then shake out and the appearance of the rug will be much improved.

The Value of Wise Conversation.—­A single conversation across the table with a wise man is better than ten years’ mere study of books.—­Chinese Proverb.

Tooth Powder.—­Look well at the teeth of the little ones.  Charcoal and tincture of myrrh are very beneficial to the teeth of the young, and both are easily procured at any drug store.

Silence.—­Silence is one of the hardest arguments to refuse.—­Show.

[812 Mothers’ remedies]

A Dish for Children.—­An old-fashioned dish which never fails to delight the children may be prepared as follows:  One quart of cornmeal, one pint of ripe chopped apples, three tablespoonfuls of butter, pinch of salt, one and one-half cups of water.  Sweeten the apples to taste and bake as ordinary corn bread.

THE NOON OF LIFE.

  What! grieve that time has brought so soon
  The sober age of manhood on? 
  As idly might I weep, at noon,
  To see the blush of morning gone. 
                                   —­Bryant.

Mouth Breathing.—­Little ones who habitually breathe loud or snore in their sleep may be troubled with an adenoid growth.

Family.—­A happy family is but an earlier heaven.—­Bowering.

Obedience.—­Prompt, unquestionable obedience in children seems to be a thing of the past, is the criticism of a recent writer, who adds:  The up-to-date mother no longer tells her offspring that they must do or leave undone certain things because it is right.  She enters into elaborate explanations and they need no longer blindly obey.  This is not the wise preparation for the adult life.  Unless we have taught our children the necessity for life’s discipline, which they cannot at the time understand, it will make them rebellious and fail to work out the peaceable fruits of righteousness.

The Value of a Laugh.—­A laugh is worth a hundred groans in any market.—­Lamb.

Sanitary Drinking Cups.—­Supply the youngsters on going to school with folded paper cornucopias which come in sealed packages for a small sum.  These are used for drinking cups instead of those found in public places.  Teach the children to make these useful little drinking cups from clean white paper, and there will be no danger of contracting disease from a drinking cup used by everyone who passes.