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FARMER'S DOOR MAT

Every doorstep should be provided with a footscraper and a brush or broom, and every one, as he comes in, should take the time to use them before appearing on the carpet or clean floor. If a regular scraper-one made for the purpose-is not at hand, one can make one from a bit of hoop-iron, which is to be placed on a step or edge of the porch in a convenient place. It is well to provide a "mud-mat," which is simply strips an inch or so square-fence pickets will answer-screwed to three or four cross-pieces an inch apart, or a more elaborate one can be made by stringing the slats upon fence wires. One with muddy boots is very apt to stamp and rub them on the steps or floor of the porch; a mud-mat will clean them off more effectually, and save the porch hard wear. A very excellent mat may be made by boring holes in a board, and drawing corn husks through the holes. Careful persons change their foot-gear when they enter the house to remain any length of time-a custom conducive not only to neatness, but so greatly to comfort, that it is to be commended.

MOVING. When about to move to another house, begin packing two weeks beforehand. Carefully pack small and fragile articles in boxes and barrels. In this way, china and glassware, and fragile ornaments may be stowed away with odd articles of clothing, bedding, etc. Books should be packed in boxes, or wrapped several in a package, in several thicknesses of newspaper, and tied with strong twine. They can thus be transported with very little handling. Larger pictures should be taken down and tied in couples, face to face, with rolls of soft paper between the corners to prevent rubbing. Small pictures may be packed with clothing in bureau-drawers and trunks. Take up carpets last. When about ready to move, select one room up-stairs into which remove every thing possible from the other rooms, and another below for the same purpose. If the occupant of the house into which you are to move will do the same, you can easily make some rooms there ready for occupancy. Of course each room must be swept down and scrubbed. As soon as the floors are dry, carpets may be put down in the more important rooms, and the furniture moved in. On the day the transfer is made, see that coal or fuel is provided, so that a fire may be started, and take along a basket, with matches, towels, napkins, knives and forks, sugar, tea, bread, and other materials for lunching. With all the caution you can exercise, you will find Franklin's old saying true, that "three removes are as bad as a fire." Houses that have been empty may become fever breeders when they come to be re-occupied. An English sanitary officer alleges that he has observed typhoid, diphtheria, or other zymotic affections to arise under these circumstances. The cause is supposed to be in the disuse of cisterns, pipes, and drains, the process of putrefaction going on in the impure air in them, the unobstructed access of this air to the house, while the closure of windows and doors effectually shuts out fresh air. Persons moving from the city to their country homes for the summer, should see that the drains and pipes are in perfect order, that the cellars and closets are cleared of rubbish, and the whole house thoroughly aired before occupying. Copperas used freely in the cellar is a good and cheap disinfectant.