1864 .] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
391 
THE FAMILY UMBRELLA. — Engraved, for the American Agriculturist. 
mcnt ;is altogether worthy of general favor. But 
though we make no pretensions to critical powers 
in music, we still have our likes and preferences, 
and this instrument more nearly answers to our 
tastes than any othei we have heard. We like its 
tones and compass of sound, and its organ-like depth 
and flexibility. It seems to avoid at once the asth¬ 
matic wheezing of the old melodeons, and the reedy 
clattering of the harmoniums. In short it makes 
good simple and natural music, such as the uncul¬ 
tivated ear is pleased to listen to, and with which 
the partially disciplined voice may readily unite ; 
and both ear and voice are cultivated by it. The 
6ize aud form of the instrument are also in its fa¬ 
vor, making it an elegant and not cumbrous piece 
of parlor furniture. Its price too, ranging in these 
times of high prices down nearly to a hundred dol¬ 
lars — though more elaborately constructed and 
highly ornamented ones cost much more—brings it 
within the reach of the many. These remarks, 
however, scarcely apply to the large sized and 
finely finished ones, whose excellence in all things 
pertaining to an instrument of the kind, would 
justify much higher praise than we have given. 
We have written these things without solicita¬ 
tion from any one, and without the knowledge of 
tlio^c whose pecuniary interests we may seem to 
furor The interests of our readers is the object 
we have sought especially to promote, and in that 
interest we have prosecuted our inquiries,and now 
we record our convictions. We write also in the 
interest of social music, music for the family, the 
school, the Sunday-school, and the neighborhood 
church, where the instrument is necessary to the 
maintenance of the most interesting portion of the 
devotional exercises—which with its accompanying 
good results is promoted by the use of a good in¬ 
strument, but damaged by an inferior one Other 
instruments of the same family may combine many 
of the good qualities of the one we have named, 
but we commend no other as in all points its 
equal; and believing that in such a case it is as 
much a matter of economy as of good taste to ‘get 
the best’, we name only this one. 
®©ys 4 raw munrars. 
About tlse {Picture. 
Were it not for the anxious looks of the aged 
“ school ma’am,” in the picture, one would almost forget 
the pouring rain, while looking at the sweet sunshiny 
faces nestled so lovingly together under the umbrella. 
Innocence and affection give a charm that nothing can 
equal. The tidy looks of these children, the capacious 
umbrella, almost too large for their little hands to man¬ 
age, and their beaming faces, tell of a careful, loving 
mother, watching foi their safe return. If we could fol¬ 
low them we should find a happy home—no matter how 
humble or lowly—a home bright as a blooming garden, 
and these two children the sweetest flowers there. Re¬ 
member the secret of such a home—love and its fruits. 
What a r S'oa«l bid l«r a goldier. 
We have often written in behalf of toads ; we are glad 
to see them hopping around our garden in large numbers, 
and have paid boys for bringing them in there in baskets, 
by the hundred, as insect destroyers. A friend con¬ 
nected with the United States Sanitary Commission re¬ 
lates for the American Agriculturist , the following inci¬ 
dent which he witnessed, that exhibits Mr. or Mrs. 
Toad in a new character : A number of wounded from 
the battle of Petersburg were lying in a hospital tent, 
among whom was a negro whose leg had been taken 
off. He was on a mattress on the ground, and the weath¬ 
er being hot, the dressed stump of his leg was exposed, 
and a swarm of flies were settling upon it Presently a 
large toad hopped into the tent, and taking his station 
near the edge .of the bed began “gobbling ” up the blue 
bottles in “ double quick.” The moment one alighted 
within six inches of the spot, he would square himself 
for the attack, his eyes twinkling with excitement, and 
then with a flash of his tongue and a smack of his mouth, 
the unlucky insect would disappear. The boy was asleep 
when this commenced, but soon awoke, and was at first 
frightened at the ugly toad ” so near him ; but our friend 
bade him be quiet, and pointed out the service the crc.i- 
ture was rendering, ’■ten the negro and all present voted 
