To those of our “girls” who can do “hemstitching,” we commend this pattern, which was most kindly sent to us the other day from Glasgow. Fig. 1 represents a piece of pink (or any other colour) linen, 34½ inches square. In the centre may be worked, in white linen thread, a conventional design, or, better still, the initials or name of the friend for whom it is intended; a border of hemstitching is then added, any nice open pattern of half an inch wide. The corners A, B, C, D, are then cut out four inches, turned over the other side and mitred down as in Fig. 3. Fig. 2 represents a small square of white linen with a narrower inner border of hemstitching, and a small pocket, feather-stitched all round, in the centre. This white linen is placed in the middle of the pink as seen in Fig. 2, and the edges of the latter are carefully hemmed down over it. A yard of strong white ribbon, an inch and a half wide, is then sewn on the outside near the initials as shown in Fig. 1. Be careful to notice that one end is long and the other short. When in use this case is spread out, like an apron, on the lap, and the method of folding is shown in Fig. 4. All the work materials are inside, and the little pocket contains thimble, scissors, etc. Roll it up from the lower edge, pass the long end of ribbon round it twice, tie in a bow, and behold! everything is compact and neat. “COUSIN LIL.” [Illustration] HOW WE MANAGED WITHOUT SERVANTS. BY Mrs. FRANK W. W. TOPHAM, Author of “The Alibi,” “The Fateful Number,” etc. CHAPTER II. That very afternoon we set to work, moved our belongings into mother’s room, and dragged up the carpet in our own room. Ann washed the boards for us, while we went off to the stores for the stain. We had to wait till the next morning before we could begin our staining, but it did not take us very long to finish. Ann advised us to let her rub it over with boiled oil, and it certainly looked far better afterwards. That good-natured girl spent her afternoon in unpicking our old carpet to find the brightest pieces to turn into mats. “Don’t you go down on your knees, miss, to dust these boards,” she impressed upon us more than once. “Where I lived last they had a deal of stained floors, and we always put our soft brooms into a bag of linen and dusted them with that.” The servants worked very hard, as we did also, so that by the time cook was ready for her new place we had “spring-cleaned” the house all through, staining the floors of the three bedrooms we were using, and putting away all superfluous glass and china, as well as some ornaments and nicknacks.