AaRICULTURIST. 
[November, 
and making- all the ends meet; the skill to be 
evinced in extracting the greatest amount of com- 
0 t from supplies on hand, the abihty to make 
fvery hour o "my time tell upon happmess of 
those Hove, or the growth of 
seem better to me, and happier, than all the feh 
ions of cities, the delights of theatres, the vanities 
of dress, or the splendors of wealth. 
The substantial results of my first year s indus¬ 
try I can sura up as follows : With Edward’s rainy- 
day assistance, I have hnadc a mattress, and an 
extremely neat and comfortable sitting room 
louno-e. My needle and sewing machine have done 
iny own sewing and made all my husband » and 
ray own new winter clothing. I have made three 
hundred and twenty pounds of butter, and twelve 
fifteen-pound cheeses. I have four dozen and a half 
cans of preserved fruit. On the lower shelf of my 
store closet there is a large jar of tomato preserve, 
a smaller one of strawberry, one of quince, a large 
jar of quince and axiple, and several quarts ot man¬ 
ufactured honey. A large paper bag I have filled 
with dried corn, and another with dried apples. The 
pigs we saved from infantile death stand in my 
sitting room in the form of one of Wheeler & Wil¬ 
son’s best. A rug so handsome that every one con¬ 
siders it bought at the store, lies before oui sitting 
room fire. Two quilts add warmth to Sue’s bed, 
and that of our hired man. 
Have I been happy ? I’ve been too happily busy 
to think whether I was enjoying myself or not, 
but upon retrospect, I must pronounce it by far 
the most delightful year of my life. 
Leaves from My Joiirnal.—K^o. IX. 
PRIZE ESSAY BY MRS. B. M’CLELI.AlSr, OF OHIO. 
November .—The glory of the Dahlias has depart¬ 
ed. They look as if mourning that their reign is 
over. But they have well performed their part, 
and given us some useful lessons. Now, some fine 
day, let the bulbs be exposed to the sun and air 
until well dried, and then put in the cellar for safe 
keeping until another season of flowers. Roses 
need not be covered yet. They bear the cold well. 
Even the choice monthlies-designed for the winter 
sitting room, must not be hurried into close, warm, 
quarters. They had better stand on the porch 
awhile. But notice the Chrysanthemums. Now 
is their time of triumph. Jack Frost cannot make 
them bend to him. Among the early snows they 
blossom still. What a bright “ good morning” they 
give us after one of these biting nights. What 
mysterious ]n’inciple of life is theirs ? So frail and 
yet so strong! Emblems of immortality. Thus 
the good man’s soul, when its surroundings die, 
plumes its pinions for that clime wdiere “ ever¬ 
lasting spring abides, and never fading flowers.” 
The cars furnish a good jdace for the study of 
human nature. How involuntarily we sit in judg¬ 
ment upon the characters of our fellow travelers ! 
How trifling an act will cause them to rise or fall 
in our esteem! Is there some strange magnetic 
influence by which we are attracted or repelled, or 
is it only the offshoot of plain common sense ? 
I was on board for a night trqi. In the absence 
of sleeping cars, the passengers had arranged them¬ 
selves as best they could. Some had generously 
appropriated two entire seats, and wuth the aid of 
coat, shawl, carpet bag, etc., seemed likely to pass 
a comfortable night. Others sat crowded and erect. 
One little company soon attracted my attention. 
The man had evidently taken good care of number 
one. Stretched at full length upon the seat lie 
was enjoying a serene snooze. Opposite sat his 
wife and baby. How tired she looked as the hours 
went on! Occasionally she would snatch a nap, but 
all the while holding the little one in her arms,_ 
with such a care at her heart she could not sleep 
long. I had no patience with Lazybones, as I in¬ 
wardly named him, and put it down in my ov-^n 
mind that he ought not to have a wife or baby 
either. At length, opening one eye dreamily, it 
chanced to fall upon them in the corner, when 
presto, change! He rose at once, gave one good 
stretch to his cramped limbs, prepared upon part 
of his seat a nice bed for baby, took it tenderly 
from its mother’s arms, and laid it down without 
waking it. Then, arranging coats and shawls with 
dispatch, his weary wife sank down upon them with 
such a trusting, grateful look that I knew her bui- 
den was gone—and so it proved. Till broad day'^- 
light she slept, apparently without one anxious 
thouglit. And well she might. Did baby wake,-— 
strong arms were ready for it, and gently was i 
soothed to rest. Faithful, untiring sentinel that he 
was ! I really felt like shaking hands and begging 
pardon for my harsh judgment at first. But con¬ 
sidering that this would place me in an embarrass¬ 
ing situation, I resolved to be more deliberate in 
forming an opinion of the character of others, and 
write this doAvn to deepen the impression. 
I have been turning a pair of sheets to day. It 
is good economy, as they will last a third longer. 
After they become thin and worn in the middle, 
rip open the seam, sewing the opposite sides to¬ 
gether. My good, prudent mother, taught me this, 
and I can never feel quite easy until it is done. 
Graham bread should be freely eaten through the 
winter months. If rightly made it is both healthy 
and palatable. It should not be stiff enough to 
mould, but only so thick as to be conveniently stir¬ 
red with a spoon. Set a sponge as for other bread. 
After rising, add one half teacupful of molasses, 
(some prefer it not so sweet,) and one teaspoouful 
soda, to sponge sufficient for one loaf. Thicken 
with flour as above. If kept moderately warm it 
will soon be ready for baking. It is even better 
when fresh sour milk can be had, to be stirred up 
with that, (adding more soda,) and baked at once. 
Composition C'a/ce.—Three eggs, one-half teacup¬ 
ful of butter, one and a half of sugar, two and a half 
of flour, one-half cupful sweet milk, one teaspoouful 
of cream of tartar, one-half teaspoonful of soda, a 
little salt. This is suflflciently rich for almost any 
occasion. Flavored and frosted it is a good loaf 
cake. Baked in shallow pans it is nice for jelly 
cake, or in patty pans for fancy cake. It is a con¬ 
venient and reliable rule for the housekeeper. 
A favorite and simple cake is the raised cake. 
Take one coffee cup of light bread dough, add one 
egg, one cup of sugar, one-half cup of butter, a little 
salt and nutmeg, one-half teaspoonful of soda, and 
raisins, if desired. Mix all together with the hand 
very smooth. Let it stand half an hour, and bake. 
I have received some bracketts and a card rack 
from Nellie, which are very pretty. They are made 
of cigar boxes, [I am glad these, for once, can be 
j)ut to a resiiectable use,] cut with a knife into 
fanciful shapes, and varnished. They can be ar¬ 
ranged in clusters, or scattered about the walls, 
surmounted Avith a delicate vase of flowers, choice 
shells, or anything ornamental. Her letter gives a 
description of a Sabbath School she had visited. 
It is held in a jileasant hall in town, secui’ed for the 
purpose. Bracketts adorn the walls, with vases 
of flowers in their season. Wreaths and mottoes 
of evergreen here and there—“ Get wisdom “ He 
shall gatlier the lambs in His arms“ Enter His 
gates with thanksgiving “Love one another.” 
A recess in one part of the room for the infant 
class. Above it this motto—“The Bird’s Nest.” 
A fountain in front of the desk. Three or four in¬ 
struments accompany the voices in their songs of 
praise. It is refreshing thus to see the beautiful 
made to serve the good. 
Dreary, desolate, chiU, November. The verdure 
has gone from the meadow, the trees have doffed 
their royal robes, the skies are gray and leaden. 
We shiver about, saying ivinter has not yet come, 
and knowing too well we are not prepared for its 
coming. Young people linger to chat upon the 
streets, but with blue lips, and red noses, and cliills 
that curdle the blood. Benny runs in from his 
play, and though stoutly protesting he is not cold 
at all, his fingers are red as cherries, and he joins 
the rest encircling the stove, no doubt to keep 
that warm. True winter has not come. It is 
not summer, neither is it spring. Can it be au¬ 
tumn ? It is not sleighing, neither is it decent 
wheeling. There is no pleasure in riding, none in 
walking. Well, well, can nothing be said in its 
, praise? Do neither moon nor stars appear? Ah, 
nestled someAvherc among its thirtjM’cvolving suns 
is one dear day, so bright and gladsome, that Avith 
a halo of beauty, it illumes the rest, redeeming the 
Avhole to the rights and honors of the sisterhood 
of months Thanksgiving Day ! How timely its 
coming, hOAV beneficent its mission ! How fitting 
that with grateful hearts avc enter into the courts 
of the Lord, and “sing praises unto Him Avith the 
timbrel and harp !” “ Let everything that hath 
breath praise the Lord.” The nathm bom Ncav 
E nglander, though thousands of miles, it may be, 
from the old homestead, Avelcomes and celebrates 
its annual return. How busy are his thoughts Avith 
the memories of childhood ! Father and mother, 
brothers and sisters, again surround the family 
board. The portly turkey has the chief place of 
honor, Avhile at its right the chicken pie of ample 
dimensions modestly bides its time. Vegetables 
of all kinds send up their grateful incense, and 
cranberry sauce, jellies, pickles and celery give A'a- 
riety to the scene. But to the child the next course 
lias a more thrilling ifieasure. Plum pudding noAV 
has the place of the turkcAg Avliile circled about it 
are choice flaky pies of CA’cry conceivable kind. 
Willie has often before been put off with the smaller 
half of one piece. Now look at his plate! He 
thinks he will take some of each, and mother re- 
iflies he shall have just as much as he AAvants. Of 
course he can’t dispose of it all, but hov,^ sagely he 
reasons that it might make him sick, and he’ll not 
be such a fool as to spoil all the fun in that Avny. 
Now hurrah for iflay! With pants tucked into 
boots, Avith mittens and muffler, Avith sled and 
skates too, was there ever a boy so happy as he ! 
The young people of the neighborhood come in for 
the evening, and gathering round the fireside crack 
nuts and jokes together. Little Lucy, Avith the blue 
eyes and flaxen curls, Avhom Willie in his OAvn mind 
pronounces by far the handsomest lady (?) in the 
room, he gallantly offers to draAV home on his sled, 
and thus ends the programme of Thanksgiving D.ay 
years ago. We care not to draw a parallel betAveen 
it and that of the present. Its delights seem ever 
ncAV, and each return demands a richer and more 
grateful offering for the mercies of another year. 
Now, surel}’, Avinter is just at hand. Flannel 
wrappers and draAvers, woolen stockings, and sub¬ 
stantial shoes and boots, must forthwith be put in¬ 
to service. They cost something indeed—but not 
60 much as a cold and cough that no doctor's skill 
can arrest, not so much as a new made g'l ave among 
the snoAVS, the vacant place at the table, and the 
broken hearts of the bercaA'ed. 
But hoAV fares it Avith the poor and unfortunate? 
Cannot a fcAV garments be spared from our comfort¬ 
able stock ? Cannot words of tender sympathy 
and encouragement be spoken, or useful hints, that 
shall stimulate to truer economy, and more hopeful, 
persevering labor.— “Inasmuch as j'e haim done it 
unto one of these, ye have done it unto Me.” 
Am 01<l Moiisekecper’s Advice to 
all young housekeepers in the country is to furnish 
their rooms Avith good Ingrain carpets, (all wool). 
Don’t deceive yourself Avith the economical idea of 
rag or hemp carpets. The clean floor is greatly pref¬ 
erable. Those Avho are averse to scrubbing could 
have painted floors. The shade of newly planed pine 
boards, it seems to me, Avould be appropriate for the 
floor of the common room, dark colors shoAving the 
.Ifcist, and giA'ing a gloomy appearance to the room. 
Wor the same reasons, select a carpet not too dark. 
CiSmliMMi lirertd. —To everj^ quart of un¬ 
bolted Avheat meal add one cup of molasses, and 
one tablespoonful of lard or butter. IMake it up 
Avith milk and yeast. When risen, Avork in a little 
soda, make it into loaves, raise again, and bake. 
g’cs* I>ro|>s. — Two tablespoonfuls of 
molasses, one of lard, half a cup of sour milk, one 
teaspoonful of soda. Will be better Avith one egg, 
but can be made Avitliout. Flour enough to make 
a batter that Avill drop easily. Bake quickly. 
Poor Man’s CmIkc. — One tablespoonful 
of butter, one egg, one cup of sugar, one of SAveet 
milk or cream, one teaspoouful of soda and two of 
cream of tartar, mixed dry in tAVO cups of flour. 
