"Well, even if there's only two children, if their Ma is makin' 'em caps to hold back their ears and pinchin' their noses regular, she ain't got no time to have her own nose flattened out against the glass lookin' for The Household Guardian."
"'If, however, through ignorance or the press of other occupations,'" Grandmother resumed, clearing her throat, "'this early care has not been given, every woman, no matter what her circumstances are, may at least be well-groomed.'"
Matilda giggled hysterically.
"What's the matter now?" queried Grandmother, with interest.
"I was just thinkin' about the erect carriage and the groomin'. The man what wrote that piece seems to think a woman is a horse. Reckon I'll get myself a curry-comb."
"It might improve the looks of your hair some if you did," the old lady observed, caustically. "'No woman is so poor that she cannot take the time to attend to her personal appearance, nor so rich that she can afford to neglect it. The hair should be shampooed at--Continued on page sixty-seven.'"
"The hair should be what?"
"'Shampooed at least once a month.'"
Face Massage
"What's that?"
"Don't interrupt," commanded the old lady, with the dull red burning on her withered cheeks. "Here I am readin' to you and tryin' to improve your mind and all the time you're interruptin' me."
"Only to ask questions," Matilda returned, with affected submission. "If I'm to have my mind improved I want it well done."
"'In the intervals it should be frequently brushed, and the regular weekly face massage'--that's printed wrong--'the regular weekly face message should not be neglected.'"
"What's a face message?" asked Matilda, curiosity overcoming prudence.
"Anything that's said to anybody, I suppose. Now don't speak to me again. 'The nails must also be taken care of and one or two visits to a good manicure will show any woman how it is to be done. The implements are not expensive and will last----'"
"What's a manicure?"
"Some kind of a doctor, I reckon,--'and will last a long time. A few simple exercises should be taken every night and morning to preserve the fig--Continued on page seventy.'"
"Preservin' figs ain't any particular exercise," Matilda observed, shaking out the mended skirt. "You can do most of it settin' down."
"'Preserve the figure,'" Grandmother continued with emphasis. "'Soap and hot water may be used on the face if a good cold cream is well rubbed into the pores immediately afterward.'"