To Tighten a Loose Sewing-Machine Belt, put a few drops of castor-oil on it; run the machine a few minutes and the belt will tighten. To Remove Sewing-Machine Oil Spots: (a) Wet the spots with spirits of turpentine and wash out with cold water and toilet soap, or, (b) Rub the spot with chalk as soon as noticed. Leave for a short time, then brush, and the spot will disappear. To Pair Stockings--For stockings with white heels or tops, mark with indelible ink. For all-black stockings, use colored threads, making a cross-stitch on one pair, two cross-stitches on another, etc. To Prevent Cutting of Stockings--If the covering of the button on side elastics comes off, wind with a fine rubber band. A Sewing Suggestion--A small, inexpensive flashlight should be kept in the sewing machine drawer. It will not only save many precious minutes, but will relieve eye strain when threading a machine needle on a dark day or at night. IN THE BEDROOM To Clean Bed Springs--To clean the dust and dirt from bed springs, set them out in the yard on a sunny day and turn the hose on them freely. The sun and wind will afterward dry them in a few minutes. If Your Alarm Clock Rings Too Loudly, slip an elastic band around the bell to diminish the noise. The wider the band that is used, the greater will be the suppression. Protection Against Spilled Water in Sick Bed--If water is accidentally spilled in bed when attending someone who is ill, it can be quickly dried by slipping a hot-water bag filled with very hot water between the bed covers over the wet spot and leaving it there for a few minutes. To Clean and Polish Brass Beds--Brass bedsteads can be cleaned by rubbing them with a cloth which has been slightly moistened with sweet oil; then polished with a soft, dry duster, and lastly with a chamois leather. If this is done occasionally, it will keep them in good condition for years. But it is a better plan to use the lacquer, given below, after cleaning. Wooden bedsteads should be wiped every three months with a cloth moistened with turpentine to keep them clean. To Keep Brass from Tarnishing--To keep brass beds and other forms of brass work from tarnishing, and also to avoid frequent polishing, the brass should be lacquered with gum shellac dissolved in alcohol. Apply the lacquer with a small paint brush. Ten cents worth will lacquer a bedstead. Clear, hard-drying varnish is also good for this purpose. IN THE PARLOR