Should there be only a joint and a pudding, they should always be served up separately; and the dishes, however small the party, should always form two courses. Thus, in the old fashioned style of "fish, soup, and a roast," the soup and fish are placed at the top and bottom of the table, removed by the joint with vegetables and pastry; or, should the company consist of eight or ten, a couple or more of side-dishes in the first course, with game and a pudding in the second, accompanied by confectionary, are quite sufficient. In most of the books which treat of cookery, various bills of fare are given, which are never exactly followed. The mistress should give a moderate number of those dishes which are most in season. The cuts which are inserted in some of those lists, put the soup in the middle of the table--where it should never be placed. For a small party, a single lamp in the centre is sufficient; but, for a larger number, the room should be lighted with lamps hung over the table, and the centre occupied by a _plateau_ of glass or plate, ornamented with flowers or figures. 815. _Carefulness._--A proper quantity of household articles should always be allowed for daily use. Each should also be kept in its proper place, and applied to its proper use. Let all repairs be done as soon as wanted, remembering the old adage of "a stitch in time;" and never, if possible, defer any necessary household concern a moment beyond the time when it ought to be attended to. In the purchase of glass and crockery-ware, either the most customary patterns should be chosen, in order to secure their being easily matched, when broken; or, if a scarce design be adopted, an extra quantity should be bought, to guard against the annoyance of the set being spoiled by breakage--which, in the course of time, must be expected to happen. There should likewise be plenty of common dishes, that the table-set may not be used for putting away cold meat, &c. The cook should be encouraged to be careful of coals and cinders: for the latter there is a new contrivance for sifting, without dispersing the dust, by means of a covered tin bucket. Small coal, wetted, makes the strongest fire for the back of the grate, but must remain untouched till it cakes. Cinders, lightly wetted, give a great degree of heat, and are better than coal, for furnaces, ironing-stoves, and ovens.