110.  The Last Step.—­A great many times last winter I had to go into the cellar to tend to the furnace when it was too light to light a lamp, and too dark to enable one to see easily.  Almost every time I had to feel around to be sure that I was on the bottom step.  One day my husband was doing some painting in the cellar and happened to think that a little white paint on that step would help.  Now we wonder why we did not think of it before.

[Miscellaneous recipes 869]

111.  Truth spoken with malicious intent is greater error than keeping of silence where wrong is meant.

112.  Boiled Potatoes.—­Boiled potatoes should be served as soon as they are cooled.  To make them dryer, drain off the water quickly, shake them in a strong draught of air and do not put back the lid of the kettle.

113.  To Prevent Ripping.—­When hemming table cloths, sheets, etc., on the machine, try the following plan:  Sew the hem as you always do, but when you come to the end, instead of leaving a long thread to tie it, to keep from ripping, simply lift the presser-foot, turn the goods around, place the presser-foot down again and sew back over the same seam again, and sew about half an inch more.  It makes a neat finish and no danger of the hem ever fraying out.

114.  To Mix Corn Bread.—­To mix corn bread more easily warm the bowl that it is to be mixed in.

115.  Mending Table Linen.—­To mend table cloths and napkins, take the sewing machine, loosen the tension, lengthen the stitch, place embroidery rings over the place to be mended, and stitch back and forth closely.  You have a neat darn, easily done.  When laundered you can scarcely see it.  Do the same with stockings.

116.  Children’s Toy.—­Save all the empty spools, and when any dyeing is done in the household, drop the spools into the fluid for a few minutes, and they will make fine playthings for the children on a rainy day.

117.  To Keep Coffee From Boiling Over.—­To keep coffee from boiling over add a lump of butter about the size of a small marble.

118.  Sour Milk Pancakes.—­We are very fond of sour milk pancakes, and have often had to go without any in the winter when the weather was cold, just because the milk would not sour.  I have learned to put a teaspoonful of vinegar in a pan of milk, that I wanted to use for the cakes the next morning, and find that it never fails me in making the milk sour.  Placing the pan over the register for the night helps matters along.

119.  When the Wooden Scrub Bucket Leaks.—­When the wooden scrub bucket leaks pour sealing wax into the crevice and paint on the outside.  This will make it last for a longer period.

120.  Rust Spots on Clothes.—­Many rust spots on clothes are caused by bits of soap adhering to the latter when they come in contact with the bluing water.  The discovery has been of great help to me because I can now easily avoid having these unsightly marks.  I merely cut the soap into small pieces, and tie them in a salt bag I keep for the purpose.  With this treatment the soap dissolves just as quickly but does not come into direct contact with the clothes.