C. Y. P. R. U.
A lady writes to us that she has found great satisfaction in reading Harper's Young People to a number of boys, whom she invites to meet at her house every Wednesday evening. She says she finds the stories and articles excellent and charming. Besides reading aloud to the boys, she lends them books, and, we presume, assists them in other womanly and Christian ways to grow up to a useful and intelligent manhood. We desire to thank Miss E. J. Y. for her kind letter, and we are not without the hope that our allusion to it may indicate to other friends an easy and beautiful method for doing good.
Angie.—To make nice sago gruel for your invalid sister, wash an ounce of sago very carefully, and then soak it for two hours in a pint of tepid water; simmer it in the same water about fifteen minutes, stirring it gently. Sweeten and flavor it, and serve it at once.—Your milk toast will be delicious if you brown your toast very evenly, dip it for an instant into boiling water, and then spread it with a very little butter. Lay it in a deep hot plate; a soup plate will do. Boil a tea-cupful of milk, which you must thicken with a tea-spoonful of corn starch mixed with a pinch of salt in a little cold water. Pour this over your toast.
In serving sick people with food please be sure not to offer them too much at a time. Do not bother them by saying, "Would you like this?" and "Will you have that?" They do not know what they wish, and they think they want nothing. They have to be coaxed to eat, not in words, but by offering them dainty things daintily and prettily prepared. The finest, cleanest napkin, the thinnest, loveliest cup and saucer, and the brightest silver should be taken when you are arranging the meals of invalids. Sometimes, after all your trouble, they will scarcely taste what you have prepared, and perhaps they may be a little cross and petulant. Remember then that suffering has made them weak and tired, and do not be discouraged, but try again, for on good and patient nursing the doctor depends for success in treating the sick as much us he does on his medicines and his skill.
D. C. H.—There is a real Jimmy Brown. The Postmistress has seen him several times.
J. B.—It is easy to make a tennis net if you have any one to show you how, but it is almost impossible to describe the manner of making it so as to be understood. If you live near the sea-shore, you can get some fisherman to teach you. If not, perhaps your mother or her seamstress can show you how to make it. If you can not learn before next summer, and yet want the net very badly, you may buy one for three dollars.
Rita.—You will probably obtain the information you desire about the care of silk-worms by addressing the Ladies' Silk-culture Association, 1028 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (over Keystone National Bank). This association, which is doing much to stimulate this branch of industry, has recently given an exhibition at St. George's Hall in Philadelphia. It was formally opened by Governor Hoyt, ex-Governor Pollock, and other distinguished gentlemen. It was designed to illustrate the various branches of the silk industry from the forming of cocoons to the perfected fabric.
It would seem as if the variety of the articles to which we would call the attention of the C. Y. P. R. U. this week was extensive enough to please readers of all tastes and ages. Mr. George Cary Eggleston carries us back to those terrible days of religious persecution when differences in creed bathed the soil of France with blood; Mr. Ralph Watson tells us of the curious "Collocalia," whose nests supply the Chinese with the principal ingredient of one of their most highly esteemed soups; Mr. Charles Barnard gives us full information how to while away our leisure hours with the interesting and inexpensive and at the same time instructive pastime of taking photographs; and Mr. B. Hardwicke tells the boys and girls how to supersede the pleasures of coasting by the more exciting sport to be had with the toboggan.