We cannot leave this book without giving a few simple rules for nursing the sick. Most of our young people, and many old, are ignorant of the commonest principles.

Never wear a rustling dress or creaking shoes in waiting on the sick. Be careful not to shake the bed, or fidget near it, so as to touch, disturb, and needlessly fatigue the invalid. Few noises are more irritating in sickness than noise from the grate. The startling effect of putting on coals may destroy the effect of an opiate. It is better to put them on one by one. In voice and manner be gentle, and in spirit cheerful and hopeful. Do not depress by tears, but control looks, words, and actions. Say nothing in the room, or even outside the door, which you would not wish the sick to hear. Ask questions but rarely, and never occasion a needless effort to gratify your own curiosity. In giving nourishment with a spoon, be careful to raise the bowl of the spoon so as not to drop anything, or annoy the sick person by untidy feeding. Be sure to have cups, spoons, and glasses clean. Make everything as attractive as you can from the nicety and freshness of the dish. Do not allow jellies or rejected dainties to remain in the room. The time may come to any boy or girl when they may desire to watch by a sick bed of a parent or friend, and the above rules may assist them.

If the sick person should take a dislike to you, be not disheartened at it; but if possible resign your place by the bedside. It may be that you were clumsy, and awkward, or over-anxious. It may be only one of those unaccountable fancies which sometimes takes possession of the sufferer, and which it is our duty to treat with care and consideration.

1.—COOKING FOR THE SICK.

Beef tea. Take one pound of beef, without any fat, cut it in very small pieces, and put it in a bottle; cork it and put it into a kettle of water, and boil it until the juice is exhausted; this will do for very sick people who can only take a teaspoonful of nourishment at one time. Take a pound of lean beef, cut it up fine in a quart of cold water, let it boil an hour, then salt it, and put in a pinch of cayenne pepper, strain it, and it is ready for use. This given to a person troubled with sleeplessness (from general debility), about a half cup full just before retiring, will generally enable the patient to sleep.

2.—PORT WINE JELLY.

Take a half pint of port wine, one ounce of isinglass, one ounce of gum arabic, one ounce of loaf sugar; let it simmer for a quarter of an hour, stirring it till the gum and isinglass are dissolved, then pour it into a mould. When cold it will be quite stiff.

3.—TOAST WATER.

Brown thoroughly, but not burn to a cinder, a small slice of bread; put it into a pitcher, and pour over it a quart of water which has been boiled and cooled; after two hours pour off the water; a small piece of orange or lemon peel put into the pitcher with the bread improves it.

4.—TO PREPARE RENNET WHEY.

Get a rennet, such as is used for cheeses. Then take a piece two inches square, or a little larger, rinse it first in cold water, then pour on to it two table-spoonfuls of hot water, and let it stand a half hour in a warm place. Take three pints of milk, and heat it blood warm. Then pour in both the rennet and water, and stir it in well. Cover and let it stand in a warm place, to keep the milk of an even temperature; it must not be moved until it turns to a curd; then cut up the curd with a spoon and strain it, and boil up the whey once. It is then ready for use. If in an hour it does not turn to a curd, take out the rennet, and put in some more freshly prepared. It will then surely curd.

5.—FLAX-SEED SIRUP.

This we know to be an excellent remedy for a cough. Boil one ounce of flax-seed in a quart of water for half an hour; strain, and add to the liquid the juice of two lemons and half a pound of rock candy. If there is a soreness and general weakness from the cough, add half an ounce of powdered gum arabic.

6.—MUCILAGE OF SAGO.

Take an ounce or a table-spoonful of sago, steep in a pint of water, in a pan placed on the back of the stove for two hours, then boil for fifteen minutes, stirring it all the time. This mucilage can be sweetened with sugar and flavored with lemon juice, or milk can be added.

7.—APPLICATIONS FOR THE SICK.—REFRESHING LOTION.

Mix one table-spoonful of vinegar, one of eau de cologne, and one of water. Dip a linen rag or a handkerchief into this preparation and lay upon the head. It refreshes a patient.

8.—RECEIPT FOR CROUP.

One tea-spoonful of powdered alum mixed with molasses or lard, and sometimes water; make a child with croup swallow it; it is a quick emetic.

9.—REMEDY FOR SORE THROAT.

Take a tea-spoonful of chlorate of potassium and dissolve in a tumbler of hot water, and gargle the throat every two hours.

10.—BURNS.

Dissolve alum in water, and bottle ready for use; or common lime-water; either remedy applied at once will relieve a burn and draw out the fire. Pour the solution into a bowl, and hold the burnt place, if possible, into it, or wet cloths with it. Sweet oil and laudanum can be added to the lime-water.

We simply give a few remarks for ordinary troubles, which may be useful; but we cannot leave this article without giving some useful rules for making good bread, which few make, and every young girl should learn how to do, as good bread is essential to the health of every household. An experienced housekeeper has kindly prepared for us the following article.