24fi 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
f August, 
were proof against even phosphorus. They ate the 
well buttered (phosphorased) slices of bread with 
avidity, and I did not see that they diminished in 
numbers for some time, but when using next the 
last batch the box contained, I noticed the former 
dose had not all been eaten, and I fancied the rats 
were not as plenty. That dose finished them — at 
least I have not seen or heard of a rat on my prem- 
ises since, though my neighbor's dog had busy 
work, about that time in an adjoining yard. I im- 
agined the phosphorus did not kill them outright, 
as I would see half stupid rats running about, and 
as they strolled over into the next premises, were 
an easj prey to a large Newfoundlander. If they 
ever return, I have one more chargeleft, and if that 
is not sufficient, Lane, or somebody else will have 
a customer for another box. Tabittta. 
Moral Education of Children. 
To make a child do right is one thing, to teach 
him to prefer right doing is another, and much 
more difficult task. The first can be accomplished 
by rewards and punishments, the latter only by 
calling into action his own conscience, and accus- 
toming him to obey its requirements. Children 
trained under the first system are like a clock kept 
at the right hour by frequently moving the hands ; 
but, as every one knows, a time-piece will only re- 
main correct when the regulator is properly adjust- 
ed, and the same is equally true with children ; 
they mustnot only be governed, but trained to gov- 
ern themselves. This plain, undeniable statement, 
.explains why so many who have been brought up 
with the greatest strictness, have, when removed 
from parental control, and left to themselves, speed- 
ily run to ruin. It was like removing the brakes 
from au engine under a full head of steam. 
It is an error to suppose that a child can be 
taught to love virtue by merely telling him what 
is right. * Some of the most graceless pests in the 
community have grown up in families where the 
Bible and the catechism were administered as reg- 
ularly as the daily meals. Scoffers have pointed to 
such examples as proof of the worthlessness of the 
Holy Book, as a guide for life, but this is no more 
reasonable than to pronounce water of no value be- 
cause those confined to it in youth, have afterward 
destroyed themselves by intoxicating drink. Moral 
truth whether drawn from the Bible or other 
sources, is Valuable above other teaching only in 
proportion as it is wrought into the life "by daily 
practice. We may safely challenge the world to 
show an instance of a wicked man, who from child- 
hood was accustomed to guide his life by the pre- 
cepts of the Bible. The first requisite for right 
moral training of children is the living example of 
the parent or teacher. The greater part of educa- 
tion of children whether good or bad is accomplish- 
ed by this agency. It is useless for a father to 
ehide for anger, and exhibit passion himself when 
inflicting punishment for the child's display ef tem- 
per. Every blow given under such circumstances, 
will confirm the combative tendency of the child. 
The father who talks about honesty and boasts of 
sharp bargains* is teaching his child the first prin- 
ciples which may make him an accomplished swin- 
dler. The mother who rebukes vanily, and yet in- 
dulges in display of dress and ornament, will find 
that her "actions speak louder than words " in the 
formation of the character of her daughter. Most 
of the fixed habits of life, those which determine 
character and make or unmake the mau, are the di- 
rect results of imitation while in youth, and they 
who would be happy in their children, must accus- 
tom them to walk side by side with themselves in 
the ways of virtue. 
One of the securest ways to instil and confirm a 
love of right-doing is to give children an experience 
Of the pleasure of such conduct. For instance, a 
child is prone to selfishness. Punishment can uot 
drive it out, offered rewards only appeal to and 
strengthen the motive it is desirable to suppress. 
Make such a child the almoner of your bounty to 
some poor neighbor. Let him hear the grateful 
thanks of the widow for the present received at 
his hands, and witness the delight of Ihe scantily 
clad child to whom be has given some article of 
clothing. He will participate in the pleasure, and 
soon be easily induced to secure similar enjoyment 
for himself, even at the price of self denial, if the 
parent watches for and makes opportunities for 
him to exercise his own benevolence. Another 
powerful but much neglected means of confirming 
right principles and actions in children, is a readiness 
to appreciate and mark with approbation their ef- 
forts to do right. As long as the child's conduct 
is unexceptionable, and causes no trouble to the 
parent, he is too often left unnoticed, but any de- 
parture from this course is immeliately marked, 
and perhaps visited with reproaches and punish- 
ment. The writer has known children to purpose- 
ly do wrong in order to attract attention ; they 
were uneasy at being left as mere cyphers, whom 
nobody cared for. The love of praise is a natural 
endowment, intended by the Creator to act as one 
of the strongest incentives to right-doing, and the 
parent who fails to appeal to it is both unskillful 
and unwise. Although a child feels au inward sat- 
isfaction in good conduct, yet it loves to be appre- 
ciated, and when praise is so pleasant to bestow, it 
is to be wondered at that parents are generally so 
sparing of commendation. This subject is almost 
an exnaustless one. Its full elucidation would re- 
quire volumes, and we can only hope to here pre- 
sent a few leading points to elicit thought in the 
right direction, and thus aid parents in securing one 
of the most earnest desires of their lives, the wel- 
fare of their children. 
A Cutting or Lap Board. 
A convenience of this kind was described in the 
Ar/riculticrisl Vol. XXI, page 372, (Dee. No.,) and 
highly recommended. A subscriber, A. M. Ward, 
Hartford Co., Conn , writes that he was construct- 
ing such an article, when the paper containing our 
description arrived, and thinking it superior, he 
sends an illustrated description for the benefit of 
our readers. The board is 27 inches long, 18 inches 
wide, and % inch thick ; made of white pine, which 
should be sand-papered smooth, and may be wax 
polished if desired. Two strips of hard wood are 
fitted to the ends by tongue and groove, to prevent 
warping ; this is preferable to the use of cleats. 
Inch marks are made around the three sides, from 
left to right, which will be very convenient for 
measuring any work in progress. Additional fin- 
ish is given by inlaying a % inch strip of Boxwood 
around the edge, to receive these marks. Both 
sides of the board are finished alike, though this 
is not essential. Tfie curve in front to receive the 
body of the person using it is four inches deep. 
Where much work is required, and the board is to 
be used by a strong person, Mr. Ward recom- 
mends to make it 24 by 30 inches, and the body 
circle 6 inches deep, and says he prefers to have it 
square cornered, and without supporting legs. 
Such a board will cost from 25 cents to $3, accord- 
ing to material and finish, aud it will save many 
a weary hour of bending over a table in cutting out 
dresses and other similar work. 
Coal On, foe Bed-Bugs. — One who has tried it 
says : " Tell the Agriculturist readers that if any of 
them are unfortunately troubled with bed-bugs and 
think nothing but the spirits of turpentine and ni- 
trate of silver mixture will Rill them, they labor un- 
der a mistake. Coal oil does it effectually, besides 
rendering the places where it is used, unpleasant 
abodes for new comers. Use a still' leather or quill 
and apply to all infected places. The offensive 
odor in a room soon passes off with free ventilation 
■ — c m — .-• 
For the American Agriculturist. 
Convenience of Bags. 
In many houses which I have visited, as I have 
noticed how various articles were "lying around 
loose " I have wished to say to the good woman of 
the house, "make a few bags," but as politeness 
forbade my appearing to notice any want of tidi- 
ness, I can only avail myself of the columns of the 
Agriculturist to give a few hints which will be seen 
by thousands of housekeepers. First there are the 
shoes and boots of the household, which are usually 
left standing in closets or corners, where they are 
liable to be misplaced, and where to me they al- 
ways look unsightly. Make a bag of dark colored 
muslin to contain them, and have it hung on a 
particular nail in the closet, or if there be not 
room there, in some vacant corner of the bed-room. 
Always place them there when removed from the 
feet, and teach the children to do the same (after 
having thoroughly cleansed them) and they will 
always be at hand when wanted. Then a hag for 
each sleeping room to contain soiled clothing for 
the wash, will contribute much to the tidy appear- 
ance of the premises. It is any thing but inviting 
to see a sleeping room strown with such articles, 
and I do not wonder that many families are so 
sensitive about allowing strangers to inspect their 
sleeping apartments, when they are so frequently 
adorned with the garments awaiting wash-day. My 
opinion is that our rooms should be kept as pleas- 
ant for our own occupation as for that of strangers 
who seldom visit us. I have also found it a great 
convenience to keep bags for the reception of 
patches, strings, buttons and all the etcetera which 
usually encumber the family work basket. It 
saves no little time to be able to go at once to the 
proper receptacle for such articles, and I also find 
that the articles themselves are much more likely 
to be saved against a time of need, if there be a 
convenient receptacle at hand to receive them. In 
the pantry there should be plenty of boxes with 
close fitting covers, to contain the salt, and various 
kinds of 6pices, but if these can not be convenient- 
ly obtained, then muslin or paper bags may he 
made to serve a good purpose, and prevent much 
ineonvenieuc and waste. I do not believe in hav- 
ing much bag-gage when travelling, with which to 
annoy gentlemen, hack drivers, and myself, but in 
housekeeping I have found great saving of time 
aud patience in having au ample supply, and there- 
fore give the hint to those who may need it. 
Maktha. 
• i ■♦— — • 
The Clothes Line, 
This is too often a source of annoyance to the 
" women folks " on washing days. Many a make- 
shift is resorted to, such as driving nails in the 
house or some out building, and stretching a line 
from that to the nearest fence, supporting the line 
in the middle with a crotched pole. Both nails aud 
hooks are objectionable, on account of rust, and a 
rain, by shrinking the line, often snaps the nails or 
hooks and lets the clothes down into the dirt. 
Every housewife should have a nice "bleaching 
plot " of grass from 20 to 25 feet square, and around 
this let the clothes liue be stretched on four corner 
posts. If one cannot afford turned, painted posts, 
set rough ones with a cross pin near the top to 
prevent the liue from slipping, but the turned 
posts, with a round head and small neck are much 
more ornamental. Make them of durable timber. 
The writer once fixed a clothes line very conven- 
iently in a carriage house with a hole for the liue 
to pass out, aud over a scries of wooden pulleys 
fastened to several posts. The line was coiled 
around an axle inside, with a crank and stop or 
ratchet wheel, to wind up by. Putting the rope 
through the hole and raising the ratchet stop, the 
end was passed through the several pulleys, aud 
