Page:Family receipt book.pdf/15

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15

cambrie handkerchief, rub the spot briskly, changing thc por-tions of the handkerchief frequently and in a minnte or two the spot will disappear. On silks which fray easily, this plan will be unsuitable.

TO REMOVE A TIGHT STOPPER.

It frequently happens that the stopper of a glass bottle or decanter, becomes fixed in its place so firmly, that the exer-tion of force sufficient to withdraw it would endanger the vessel. In this case, if a cloth be wetted with hot water, and applied to the neek of the bottle, the glass will expand, and the neck will be enlarged, so as to allow the stopper to be casily withdrawn.

ECONOMICAL FUEL.

In places where coal is scarec and dear, a tolerably good fuel may be made by mixing the culm or refuse dross of coal with elay, and moistening the whole with water-masses in the form of bricks or balls may be made, which, when dry, will burn with an intense heat. Where peat prevails, that artiele may be casily charred by burning in a covered pit or stove; and this charred peat will be found to give a great heat when used in an open fire. The Duteh make much use of their turf in this manner. Another economical fuel, easily procurable where there are woods of Scotch firs, consists of fir cones or tops, which contain a great quantity of solid woody matter in addition to the resinous, and arc excellently adapted for domestic fires.

To LIGHT A FIRE.

To light a fire, clear the ashes from the grate, leaving a few cinders for a foundation, upon which put a piece of dry crumpled brown paper, and lay on a few small sticks crosswise,then some of larger size, and on them a few picecs of coal, and next the large cinders; and when the flames have eaught the coal, add a backing of small coal and cinders. When the fire has become low, stir it together, but do not turn the large cinders ; clear the front of the lower bar to admit air, and pass the poker into the bottom of the fire, to clear it of ashes; and then with tongs put on a few large pieecs of coal towards the front of the fire, but not on the upper,else the fire will smoke. Coals should not be thrown on, but put on gently with a scoop or shovel; and even the smallest ashes may be burnt at the back of the fire, if they be covered with small coal. The best and quickest mode of re-storing a neglected fire is to stir out the ashes, and with the tongs to fill up the spaces between the bars with cinders. If