26 



$l)c .farmer's iHontl)ltj faigitor. 



clearing of these remaining forest lunds. By no 

 means would we recommend tlie cutting down 

 ami burning olf the growth upon a single acces- 

 Biblu acre of forest in the State : tlie standing 

 trees upon all these lands will in a very few 

 years become of sufficient value at least to pay 

 for the clearing. 



Bathing or Washing in Winter. 

 This operation so essential to good health, is 

 so liule practised in winter, that the very naming 

 of the subject will send a thrill through the sen- 

 sitive frame;) of many of our readers, and they 



w ill draw their garments close tiro I llieni, and 



move nearer die fire to save themselves from 

 taking cold while reading this article. 



There is hut liule trouble in bathing in hot 

 weather, when the application of cold water lo 

 the system is often grateful. But in cold weath- 

 er, there is in most minds a dread of water al- 

 most as meal as in one afflicted with hydropho- 

 bia, and bathing and washing in winter, are gen- 

 erally discontinued ; and this is one cause of 

 colds at this inclement season. 



In summer the skin is soft and moist, and by 

 profuse perspiration, and the frequent change of 

 garments, tlie system is cleansed, in some meas- 

 ure, without washing ; yet washing is necessary. 

 But in winter the perspirable matter passes out 

 on the surface of the body, where it lodges, lorill- 

 ing 8 dry scurf, closing the pores of the skin, and 

 perspiration altera while becomes impeded, and 

 Ihe redundant matter is thrown inward upon die 

 lungs, and must be thrown off hy coughing ; thus 

 requiring a double office of these delicate organs, 

 which have enough lo do in their own peculiar 

 province, in a climate where the thermometer ot 

 leu varies in twenty-four hours as many degrees. 

 Infants are generally washed daily, hut when 

 they become large children and adults, they often 

 go six months without this operation, so essen- 

 tial to health and comfort. The face is washed 

 often, the body seldom, Why this difference? 

 A thorough washing' of the whole system once a 

 week is not a harsh task, and the advantages from 

 it will he great. It will not only add to health and 

 happiness, hut to life itself If one thinks he has 

 not lime, let him take the time from the hours 

 of sleep, even if he he already limited in that 

 respect to tive or six hours iu the twenty lour. 

 He will sleep faster after bathing, and make up 

 for the deficiency. 



After bathing or washing in cold water, brisk 

 rubbing, with a coarse cloth will produce a pleas- 

 ant glow, and prevent injury to a person ol deli- 

 cate constitution. But those who choose can use 

 warm water in a warm room. We say to our 

 reatlers.as you value health, life and happiness,give 

 due attention to thorough and frequent bathing 

 ami Mashing. See that every member ol'lhe family 

 attends to it, at least once a month ; once a week 

 is belter. There is no excuse for the gross neg- 

 lect on this subject, fur if any one has not a hath, 

 or show er bath, a tub is sufficient ; and any one 

 who has six hours to sleep can take half an hour 

 fur bathing, and then he will gain an Injur in 

 sweeter and sounder sleep. — Hartford Rep. 



Boys should be Mechanics. — Boys should have 

 tools for their own use, ami they should be 

 taught to use them, and keep them in order. In 

 this way every boy may learn the use of com- 

 mon tools; and then, in case he is a farmer, he 

 can attend to various mechanical affairs, and not 

 have to spend a few hour's time lo procure a 

 mechanic to do an hour's work, as is often the 

 case with the farmer, especially iu sections 

 sparsely settled. 



Some boys know so little about the use of 

 tools, that their fathers pay a considerable bill 

 annually to furnish ihem with playthings, when 

 they are big enough to make all carriages, &c, 

 that they need for amusement, if they were fur- 

 nished with tools, and had but very little instruc- 

 tion. 



When a boy is big enough to haul a sled up 

 hill and slide down, he should be capable of 

 making his own sled, and not depend on another. 

 Every boy can do far more than he or his pa- 

 rents are aware of, if he is placed under favora- 

 ble circumstances for trying, and for developing 

 his mechanical powers. 



A farmer once remarked to us that he was iu 

 want of a drag at a busy season, and after spend- 

 ing more time iu trying to get someone to make 

 it, than would have been required to construct 

 it, he was under the necessity of attempting the 

 job himself; and he succeeded well. Had that 

 farmer been trained lo the use of tools in his 

 boyhood, he would have known his ability, and 

 would not have wasted his lime in the vain en- 

 deavor to procure another to do what he could 

 do himself: and that was doubtless only one 

 among many instances of his depending on oth- 

 ers for what he might have accomplished him- 

 self at much less expense. — JV. E. Farmer. 



Birds. — It is proved that a pair of sparrows, 

 during the time they have their young to feed, 

 destroy, on an average, every week, three thou- 

 sand three hundred and sixty caterpillars. This 

 Calculation is founded upon actual observation. 

 Two parents have been known to carry to their 

 ne.-t liiuj caterpillars in an hour; and, supposing 

 the sparrows to enter the nest only twelve limes 

 during each day, ihey would cause a consump- 

 tion id hair hundred and eighly caterpillars: 

 this Mini gives thirty-three hundred and sixiy 

 caterpillars extirpated weekly from a garden. 

 Bui Ihe utility of liie birds is not limited lo this 

 circumstance alone, for ihey likewise f-ed their 

 young wiih butterflies and oilier winged insects, 

 each of which, if not destroyed in this manner, 

 would become the parents of hundreds of cater- 

 pillars. 



Russia. — Dr. Baird, who has travelled exten- 

 sively in Russia, says there are over 7,000,000 

 lion, an Catholics, 3,000,000 Protestants, general- 

 ly Lutherans, nearly 2,000,000 Jews, and about 

 4,0C0,000 Pagans and .Mohammedans. 



Our Homestead. 



BT MISS PUEBt CAKEY. 



Ourold brown homestead reared its walls, 



From the wayside dusl aloof, 

 YV here i lie apple boughs could almost cast 



Their fruitage on its roof: 

 And the chetry Iree so near it grew, 



Thai when nwake I've lain, 

 In the lonesome nights, I've heard the limits, 



As ihey creaked against Ihe pine: 

 An-i those orchard irees— o, those orchard trees! 



I have seen lay little brothers rocked 

 In their lops, by the eununei breeze. 



The sweet brier under Ihe w indnw sill, 



Who h Ihe early birds made glad, 

 And the dam tsk rose by the Harden fence, 



Were all ihe flowers we had. 

 I've looked at many a flower since then, 



Exotics rich and rare, 

 That to other eyes were lovelier, 



Hut not to me so fair ; 

 For l hose roses bright — O, those roses bright ! 



I have twined I hem Willi my sisters locks, 

 Thai are laid ill the dust from sighl! 



We had a well, a deep old well, 



Where Ihe sprin» was never dry, 

 And the cold liiops from the mossy stones 



Were falling constantly : 

 And lliere never was i\ .iter half so sweet 



As that in my little cup. 

 Drawn np lo i lie curb, by the rude old sweep 



Which my f.ilh r's hand set up: 

 And lb it deep idd well— O, ihal deep old well! 



I remember yet the splashing sound 

 Of the bucket, as it fell. 



Our homestead had an ample health, 



Where at night we loved lo meet ; 

 There my mother's voice was always kind, 



And iier smile was always sweet : 

 And there I've sat cm my Cithers knee, 



And watched hie thoughtful hrow, 

 Wi'h my childish hand in his raven hair — 



That hair is silver imu ! 

 Rut that broad health's light— O, that broad 



hearth's liglll ! 

 And my father's look, and my mother's smile, 

 They are ill my heart to night. 



— .Kutional Eva. 



The collector at Cleaveland, Ohio, states that 

 the lake commerce of that place last year ex- 

 ceeded in value $ 10,000.000. 



Kentucky has sent litis season to Cincinnati, 

 over 120,000 hogs, which realized to ihe owners 

 $790,000. 



Interesting Facts about the Indians. 



The last report of Col. Medill, the indefatiga- 

 ble Commissioner of Indian Affairs, abounds iu 

 much useful information. Some of ihe facts 

 stated are very gratifying — some are extraordin- 

 ary. We have been particularly struck with the 

 condition of the Choctaw Indians, now n arly 

 all located west of the Mississippi. They ave 

 eight laige hoarding schools iu Iheir country, at 

 which males and females are taught. They have 

 also set apart ihe interest upon certain monies 

 invested in stocks of the United Stales, for the 

 education of such of their youth as evince most 

 aptitude for a classical education. Last summer 

 five of their boys were sent to Delaware College, 

 under this plan, and in a few months were found 

 sufficiently advanced for admission to the fresh- 

 man class, where they have since maintained 

 their standing, manifesting mental capacity, in- 

 dustry, and self-denying application, fully equal 

 to their associates. 



Besides the boarding schools, many neighbor- 

 hood schools are established, which are taught 

 by natives in their own language. These schools 

 are attended by adults and children. 



The Choclaws, as we learn from Col. Piche- 

 lin, one of llieir leading men, a half-breed of 

 considerable information and intelligence, are 

 good thrillers — better, indeed, than some of their 

 civilized neighbors in Missouri. What will in- 

 terest our readers the most, however, is the fact 

 that several thousand slaves are held by the 

 Choclaws! Every successful farmer has his 

 slaves. This no doubt resuhs from tlie charac- 

 teristic Indian aversion to all kinds of labor, dis- 

 tinct from the baltle-field and the chase. 



There is a considerable production of cotton 

 iu the Choctaw nation. The increase over the 

 crop of last year is over three hundred bales. 



Their legislature or general council is conduc- 

 ted upon strict parliamentary rules, and contains 

 some powerful intellects. They are now dis- 

 cussing the propriety of altering the punishment 

 of capital crimes — hanging is about to be insti- 

 tuted for shooting, as al present directed by their 

 criminal code. 



The Choclaws, says Mr. Rutherford, the U. 

 S. Agent, have a delightful country — good soil, 

 ami a climate favorably adapted to the growing 

 of corn, cotton, wheat, &c. 



A vigorous and apparently a successful effort 

 is making to elevate ihe Choctaw females from 

 the state of inferiority and degradation to which 

 Indian women have been subjected. The effort 

 is very general iu its character, ami the results 

 are gratifying. The females are taught not only 

 the branches of a literary but also of a social ed- 

 ucation. They are compelled lo speak English, 

 taught lo read, lo write, to sew, to spin, lo cook, 

 &c. 



One of the agenls writes: "The people gene- 

 rally are waking up to the subject of education 

 and general improvement. Iu three different 

 places Saturday and Sabbath schools have been 

 commenced. The expense of these schools is 

 raised by individual subscriptions. The whole 

 number of learners is between seventy and 

 eighty. The man of thirty or thirty-five years, 

 is seen silling with the little child of seven or 

 eight, learning lo read their own language. Ma- 

 ny of ibis people are determined lo learn soitie- 

 thing; if ihey cannot learn the English, they will 

 learn their own language. The effects of these 

 schools have so far been good. Their minds have 

 been turned off from llieir former hat. ils and cus- 

 toms, which have olien prevented llieir making 

 gootl crops. Another good effect is, these schools 

 tend to instruct and elevate the mind. From 

 twenty years' close observation on the habits and 

 manners of ibis people, I can truly say that ihe 

 'ball slick ami ihe violin ' have done very liule 

 towards civilizing or Christianizing them. But, 

 on Ihe other hand, I am happy lo say that schools 

 and the preaching of die gospel of Jesus Christ 

 have done much. I would not deny this or any 

 other people of their pastimes, but I would re- 

 commend those which would elevate them. Tho 

 Choctaws have this proverb now among them- 

 selves: ' We begin to improve just in proportion 

 its we give heed lo the preaching of the gos- 

 pel.'" 



Another says: "The students were examined 

 on the following studies : spelling, reading, tir'uh- 

 melic, geography, English grammar, chemistry, 



