In the busy whirl of the metropolis, there is little leisure for domestic enjoyment. It is not even known when sleeping is accomplished; and eating, at least the one comfortable meal they allow themselves, is crowded between daylight and dark, at "blind-man's holiday." But in Boston and Philadelphia, in all sober country towns and villages, where pleasant society can be had, the work-basket makes its appearance upon the round-table once more, and chit-chat is stimulated by busy hands.
Nice plain sewing, not so fine as to injure the eyes, nor so large as to encumber either the workwoman or visitor, is always a graceful, womanly resource. It does not distract the attention, and many wearisome stitches may be set unconsciously, thus lightening hours devoted to real task work. We would not advise embroidery as an evening occupation, for the reason that, in most cases, it is a strain upon the eyes, to be felt sooner or later. Embroidery is, nevertheless, very fashionable just now; cotton embroidery for infants' shirts and petticoats; for pocket-handkerchiefs, and the bands and sleeves of underclothes. The patterns are, in general, points or scallops, enriched with eyelets or dots in rows, stars or diamonds; sprays, light wreaths, and even the elaborate work to be found at Bradbrook's, where a single garment, with an embroidered yoke, is valued at $13, are also in use. Worsted embroidery is chiefly used for flannels, sacques, and skirts, or blankets for infants. Silk is also chiefly fashionable in the wardrobes of children, their dresses, tunics, sacques, and cloaks. For older persons, it is nearly superseded by the use of broad braids, ribbons, and galoons as trimmings.
Worsted knitting is a favorite and appropriate branch of parlor industry. Opera shawls are very fashionable the present season, a plain centre, with a band of white, or some contrast on the two sides, and a border of points or scallops in the principal color. Rigolettes, or worsted caps, of every description, for evening wear, carriage boots, half handkerchiefs or spencers, to be worn beneath cloaks and shawls, infants' shirts, socks, sacques, and aprons, are included in the ample list. For many of these, directions will be found in the "Lady's Book" from month to month, and novelties are always in preparation for our centre-table circle. Crochet and ornamental netting, slippers, chairs, and ottomans of worsted work, are still in vogue.
"Miss J. H."—The yarn required is called Saxony, and comes numbered. For infants' shirts, 60 is the best; that is, if you knit closely, and use moderately sized bone or wooden needles; they stretch very much in washing. "Split zephyr" will not wash as well, although it may look whiter and softer at first. They can also be made, if more easily procured, from any fine domestic worsted or yarn, such as used to be saved in New England for "best stockings." To wash an infant's knit shirt or robin requires peculiar care.
Dip it in hot soapsuds, as hot as the hand can bear, and squeeze it out repeatedly. Rinse in clear water of the same temperature. Then iron or press it; but, when nearly dry, pull it into the required shape, taking great care to stretch it down, not crosswise, or it will shrink in length so as to be useless. It will thus look like new again.
"Mrs. S. Lawton."—It is best, in teaching a servant to wait, to have her take all the silver first upon a tray of convenient size. It saves from jar and breakage, and scratches the silver less. For instance, in removing soup, she should take the spoon of each person from the right, and then the plates can be piled smoothly and quickly upon the tray in her second round. So of the knives and forks in the second remove. The tray should then be cleared for the reception of the castors, salts, etc., which should at once be set in the china closet, if convenient, as it is useless trouble and exposure to breakage to have them placed upon the side-table, in the midst of china and glass that has been used.
"Annie."—It is best to have the magazines bound at once; they are apt to get loaned and spoiled, besides giving trouble in assorting, if kept over a year. It is safest to file any magazine or paper intended for binding, just as soon as every one has read it. The volumes can be done neatly for about seventy-five cents apiece.
"A Young Contributor" should bear in mind the oft-repeated rule that manuscripts are to be written only on one side of the leaf. In all conversations, the remark of each person must have separate and distinct quotation marks, and, in general, form a separate paragraph. By attending to a few simple rules, she will be much more likely to find favor in the sight of editors, who are accustomed to judge of the merit of an article by the very style of a manuscript, the unpractised writer betraying him or herself in minor points on the very first page.