MOORE’S RURAL NEW-YORKER: AN AGRICULTURAL AND FAMILY NEWSPAPER. 
(Bburntioiml Dtpartimnt. 
BY L. WETHER ELI,. 
are you educating YOUR BOY I 
This inquiry is addressed to ovory parent 
who may cast his eye upon it, that has a son, 
or a ward to educate and fit for the active 
duties of life. Aro you during his child¬ 
hood either instructing him yourself in the 
rudiments of reading, spelling, arithmetic, 
geography, the art of writing, English gram¬ 
mar, composition and book-keeping, or 
sending him to a master who is competent 
to teach him these essentials of a primary 
education ? If so, then you aro doing what 
ought to be done for every boy in the land. 
But no faithful parent will, or rather, 
should bo contented in barely knowing that 
his boy is professedly attending to these 
several studies during the days of his child¬ 
hood and youth—for many a boy is spend¬ 
ing his youthful probation over the books 
that contain the elementary knowledge 
necessary for him in future life, without ac¬ 
quiring it. This is a fact to which many 
who have passed from boyhood to manhood 
in by-gone years have borne their testimony 
with deep regret and remorse. See then, 
that your boy attends to theso things in 
such a way, as to receive discipline and ac¬ 
quire knowledge daily. 
It is no less important that he be taught 
also, to labor—to work with his own hands 
—so that if need bo, ho can support himself 
by labor. There are many, who, when they 
como to manhood, though they possess fine 
talents, and what is denominated “ a finished 
education,” yet aro unable to provide for 
themselves food and clothing, unless they 
can find employment in what is called a 
professional life, or the business thereof. 
No such man can be said to havo “a fin¬ 
ished education,” and no education should 
bo qualified with such an epithet that does 
not thoroughly furnish a man so, that if he 
cannot provide for himself the necessaries 
of life in his own chosen way, thero are other 
vocations to which ho can readily turn his 
attention and secure an independent living. 
Such a man can be an upright and honest 
officer of government or any other corpora¬ 
tion—you can trust him—he is to be relied 
on—for to bold an office is an accident as it 
were of his life. Not so however with him 
who is an accidont of tho office—who knows 
no other way of support, but that of favor¬ 
itism which comes from personal friends or 
from government. Educate your boy then, 
if you would make a man of him, so that 
he shall have tho power of a man within 
him—then will he always demean himself 
as a man, wdierever and whenever he is 
called to act. This is educating - your boy, 
and furnishing him for the days of man¬ 
hood. 
TEACHING LITTLE CHILDREN AT HOME. 
Dear Rural : —I feel quite ambitious to¬ 
day, to write a piece for publication. I never 
havo written for papers, except'our own lit¬ 
tle Snow-Drop, odited by our district school 
master, so I may not make out very well.— 
If you think it not worth printing reject it, 
and I will not trouble you again. 
Tho subject on which 1 wish to write, is 
that of teaching children how to read beforo 
they commence going to school, which can 
be done much easier, and is attended with 
much loss harm to the child, physically, than 
by the usual method. It is admitted by 
many, that children are sent to school too 
young—sitting so long and so still is too 
much for their young natures to endure.— 
It is natural for youth to bo gay and light; 
then wdiy confine them for six hours in a 
day, within the walls of tho school-house, 
with only a few minutes vacation? I have a 
little girl four years old, who has never been 
to school a day, nor would she know how to 
conduct herself thero—she would bo play¬ 
ing and talking, as is natural for children— 
yet she can road and spell better than her 
playmates at five or six years, who have at¬ 
tended school two or threo seasons, though 
I have spent very little time with her. 
My method of procedure is this : when 
she was between two and three years old 
she was very restless, and not pleased with 
her play things, so I procured some blocks 
and cut letters from old papers, which I 
pasted on tho blocks, and gave her them to 
play with; telling her there was A for Ag¬ 
nes, which is her name, B for boy, C for cat, 
&c. I gave her a few at a time, and when 
she had those learned, gave her more; she 
first recollectod what they stood for, but 
soon had the letter. It was but a short time 
before she had learned all, and I had spent 
no time but to toll her what they wore when 
she brought them to me. It was all play 
for her—she called them hor visitors, and 
the letters were their names. Sho was not 
cooped up during this time, but had her lib¬ 
erty to exercise in the open air, which is ne¬ 
cessary for all who would enjoy good health 
and buoyant spirits. 
But some mothers will say that they have 
not education, and aro therefore obliged to 
send their little ones to school while young, 
that they may not bo behind their mates.— 
It is worse than a waste of time; they had 
better learn nothing until they aro six or 
eight, than bo cooped up in tho dirty school¬ 
room, suffering for want of air and exercise. 
But you know your letters, do you not ?— 
Then get some blocks or chips, and paste 
printed letters on them, and give them to 
your child to play with, and toll him there 
is A, B, C, &e., which stand for some person 
or thing lac is fond of. When you wish him 
to learn to read and spell, as you set sewing 
and see something going on which you think 
will pleaso him, (children swinging on a 
board for instance.) tell him he may spell 
about it, then direct him to fetch II and E, 
tell him that spells he. then I and S, then U 
and P; tell him what they all make ; this will 
be pleasing and create a desire to read more. 
Inthis way ho will soon learn to read, and read 
naturally, and the school teacher will have 
more time to teach the larger ones. I con¬ 
tend that children ought to know their let¬ 
ters before going to school; at any rate it is 
so much less trouble. 
I have made a more lengthy epistle than 
I intended, so I will closo. My love to Em¬ 
ma Jane and Lucy —tell them we should bo 
glad to hear from them again. 
Yours truly, Eumina. 
Waukesha, Wis., 1852. 
WEST NEWTON (MASS) NORMAL SCHOOL. 
The Spring Examination of the Massa¬ 
chusetts State Normal School at West New¬ 
ton, took place Monday and Tuesday of last 
week, and was one of those choice scenes 
which gladden the hearts of tho friends of 
common school education. 
The teachers, graduating from the State 
Normal schools, are commending themselves 
more and more fully to the confidence, re¬ 
spect and liberality of the towns and dis¬ 
tricts which employ them; and no one, we 
think, can attend the examinations of these 
schools, without feeling that they are an in¬ 
valuable, indispensable auxiliary to the com¬ 
plete working of our system of common 
schools. Tho thoroughness of intellectual 
training, and tho excellent moral influence 
which are evident on all hands, impress tho 
visitor most strongly in their favor. 
The Normal School at West Newton, it 
will bo remembered, is designed for female 
pupils only. Tho whole number which pre¬ 
sented themselves as candidates for admis¬ 
sion during the last year, was 115. Of theso 
GS were admitted as pupils, 8 of whom were 
subsequently obliged to leave, unable to 
proceed, either from ill health or incompe¬ 
tency. 10 pupils, who had already finished 
tho prescribed course of four terms, were 
allowed to continuo their studies in a three 
years’ courso, which is instituted for those 
who prefer it. There is a class of 15 ex- 
seniors or advanced pupils, who are fitting 
themselves for some noble service in the 
groat and holy work of education. The 
whole number of pupils belong to families 
in a great variety of conditions and occupa¬ 
tions of life. The parents of these young 
ladies are found in no less than 36 different 
occupations. Tho average age of those who 
have been members the past term is about 
18 1-6 years. Part of them were from 7 
different counties, and 41 towns in our own 
Commonwealth, whilo 14 of them came from 
other States—Rhode Island, Now Jersey, 
Tennesseo and Louisiana; all, of courso, ex¬ 
pecting to bo employed in teaching for a 
time in Massachusetts. Tho number in the 
class that graduated this spring was 26, most 
of whom are already engaged to teach sum¬ 
mer schools. 
Tho faithful, devoted and highly esteem¬ 
ed teachers of this school aro admirably ef¬ 
ficient in elevating tho tone of study and 
culturo. Their example and influence in¬ 
spire the pupils with a glorious ardor in their 
pursuits, and throw around them a genuine 
scholarly, and almost enchanted air, which 
makes the plain school-room a scene of 
rapid proficiency in learning, of cultivated 
sensibility, of puro delight. Indeed, the 
principal has found that his main effort must 
bo directed to restrain tho ardor of study 
within prudent limits for sleep, exercise and 
recreation; and has been obliged to resort 
to strict rules to curb the eager, consum¬ 
ing ambition of these young aspirants for 
knowledge. 
Tho examination, as usual, at this school, 
showed tho admirable adaptation of the 
mind of females to tho important sphere of 
the teacher. The principal is tho only male 
teacher; tho rest, generally threo assistants, 
are females. Hero it can bo seen that the 
most vigorous action of tho intellect will 
consist with tho most delicate sensibility and 
most refined manners. It is well that such 
influence is being more generally employed 
to mould tho character of the young. The 
properly trained female teacher can do more 
to fashion tho character and manners of 
young children especially, to graco and dig¬ 
nify, than tho male teacher can, though oth¬ 
erwise equally well qualified.— Zion’s Her¬ 
ald and Journal. 
Education in Kentucky. —Tho annual 
report of the Kentucky Supt. of Public In¬ 
struction, which has just made its appear¬ 
ance, shows a gradual improvement in the 
system of popular education in that State. 
The Common School Fund for the year 1851, 
amountod to $123,000, and thero are 206,- 
000 children in the State within school ages. 
The Superintendent estimates tho income 
from bonds, bank stock, and taxes, set apart 
for school purposes for tho present year at 
$133,000, and thinks it may in a fow years 
reach $140,000. 
labbntlj Shaftings. 
MADAM KOSSUTH AND HER CHILDREN. 
When tho Hungarians were overcome, 
Kossuth was forced to fly for his life, and 
after taking a sorrowful leave of his wife and 
children, scarcely expecting ever to see them 
again, he fled to Turkey. The children 
were placed in the care of his private Sec¬ 
retary, who gave them up to a wicked and 
cruel Austrian called Haynau, and ho car¬ 
ried them to the city of Pesth. 
Madam Kossuth kept as near to her 
children as she could, but as soon as she 
learned that they were given to Haynau sho 
turned her whole attention to the securing 
of her own safety; and she went wandering 
all about Hungary, seeking shelter and pro¬ 
tection among the lowest and poorest of tho 
inhabitants. Once she was sick of a typhus 
fever and had nearly died, but after a whilo 
she recovered sufficiently to commence her 
travels again, though almost too feeble to 
go about. In order to concoal who she was, 
she sought employment as a servant among 
tho poor peasants, and was thus employed 
in the family of an humble carpenter in a 
village called Orash Haga. Indeed, she was 
driven lo a great many shifts, as you may 
well suppose, that sho might not fall into the 
hands of the Austrians. All along the streets 
she saw notices posted up, offering forty 
thousand florins,—which is more than four 
hundred dollars.—to any one who would ar¬ 
rest her and put her in prison. 
Among the persons who fled with Kossuth 
was an elderly lady, who, being unable to 
THE COCOA. 
The Cocoa is a tree which delights in the 
sands of tho sea shore, whoro but little else 
will vegetate. Its root is possessed of innu¬ 
merable cord like fibres, no longer than one’s 
finger, yet exceedingly tough and very 
strong. These interlace each other and in¬ 
sinuate themselves into crevices of the rocks, 
whero longer roots could find no sustenance. 
The tree is consequently tenacious of life 
and exceedingly difficult to uproot. 
Besides this beautiful adaptation to cir¬ 
cumstances by its Creator, there is another 
in the arrangement of tho thickly coated nut 
with its hard shell, that makes it so buoyant, 
that the winds and tides waft them at times 
to the shores of islands forming by that 
wonderful worker of tho deep—tho coral in¬ 
sect—where, among tho scanty sands, they 
vegetate and add beauty and worth to deso¬ 
lation. 
It is affirmed of this troo in India, that 
thero is no part of it not applied to somo 
useful purpose. Not cabins only, but fre¬ 
quently largo houses, aro constructed en¬ 
tirely of materials furnished by tho cocoa. 
Tho trunk furnishing in various ways the 
framo work, often fastened together by 
cords made from tho fibrous envelope of the 
nut, whilst its leaves plaited, form tho roof 
and sides, rendering them impervious to 
wind and rain. 
Dr. Duncan, mentions that the fibrous en¬ 
velope of the nut has been woven into ca¬ 
bles by which 74 gun ships havo safely out¬ 
rode heavy gales of wind, and that, even 
when European cables havo parted. Tho 
fresh leaves are much relished by the ele¬ 
phant. The ashes of tho wood aro so much 
charged with potash or soapy matter that 
the native fisherman of Coylon substitute 
them for soap. 
It is a fruitful troo, two or throe products 
boing gathered annually, to the amount 
sometimes of 100 nuts or more. It bears 
from its eighth to its sixty-fourth year. Tho 
half ripe nut contains frequently threo or 
four pints of a clear aqueous liquid, fra¬ 
grant and pleasant. The nut itself is high¬ 
ly nutritious. Cutting the extremity of the 
sheath whence tho flowers spring, a white, 
Bweet liquid distils from the wound. Thus 
endure tho fatigues of the flight, was left be¬ 
hind, and so sho determined to go in search 
of Madam Kossuth, and if possible restoro 
her to her husband. For this purpose sho 
disguised herself as a beggar and began a 
long journey, mostly on foot, across tho 
broad sandy plains which lie in tho southern 
part of Hungary, but sho could find nothing 
of Madam Kossuth. Sho then commenced 
another journey, still in tho character of a 
beggar, and went to Turkey, where she found 
Kossuth, and taking a letter from him, to¬ 
gether with his signet ring, sho for a third 
time started forth on her mission of love, 
and for many a long and weary day she wan¬ 
dered and wandered, inquiring hero and in¬ 
quiring thero, until at last, in a hospital, in 
a distant and miserable part of Hungary, 
sho found the object of her search, to whom 
sho handed tho letter and the ring of Kos¬ 
suth as an assurance that sho was a friend 
—for they were unacquainted with each 
other. They very soon determined to leavo 
there, and so, after suitablo preparation, 
they started in company on still another 
tedious and toilsome journey, and meeting 
with many dangerous and narrow escapes, 
they reached Turkey, whoro Madam Kos¬ 
suth onco more joined her husband, and a 
most affecting meeting it was too, after so 
painful a separation. 
Madam Kossuth is now with her husband 
in our country; her childron are in England. 
— Youth’s Casket. 
is called Palm wine, and is obtained also, 
from other species of tho palm. This, when 
concentrated by boiling, deposites sugar.— 
If fully exposed to the air, it acquires vinous 
properties, and in twenty-four hours be¬ 
comes vinegar. Tho nut yields an oil, but 
little inferior, it is said, to that of sweet al¬ 
monds. Of the shell, cups and various 
small articles are manufactured, t. e. w. 
CINNAMON TREES. 
In the afternoon 1 visited tho cinnamon 
plantations, of which thero are many in tho 
vicinity of Colombo. The cinnamon trees 
or shrubs are planted in rows; their height 
does not at the utmost exceed nine feet; 
tho blossoms aro white and scentless. From 
the fruit, which is smaller than an acorn, oil 
is obtained; when tho fruit is crushed and 
boiled the oil swims at tho top; it is usod 
for lightening, mingled with cocoa-nut oil. 
The cinnamon harvest takes place twice fo 
the year; tho first, called tho great harvest, 
from April to July; the second, the little 
harvest, from November till January. Tho 
bark is pulled off tho slender branches with 
a knife, and dried in the sun, by which pro¬ 
cess it acquires a yellowish or brown color. 
Tho finest cinnamon is of a light yollow, 
and about the thickness of a card board.— 
The fine cinnamon oil used in medicino is 
obtained from the cinnamon itself: it is shak¬ 
en in a vessel full of water, in which it is 
stooped for eight or ten days; tho whole is 
then thrown into a still, and distilled over 
a slow fire • on the surface of the water thus 
obtained the oil after a short time collects, 
and is removed with tho greatest care.— 
Travels in India. 
THE SOAP PLANT. 
From a paper read beforo tho Boston 
Society of Natural History, it appears that 
the soap plant grows all over California.— 
The loaves make their appearance about tho 
middle of November, or about six weeks af¬ 
ter the rainy season has fully set in; the 
plants never grow more than a foot high, 
and the leaves and stock drop entirely off 
in May, though tho bulbs remain in the 
ground all summer without decaying. It is 
usod to wash with, in all parts of the coun¬ 
try, and, by those who know its virtues, it 
is preferred to the best of soap. The meth¬ 
od of using it is merely to strip off tho husk, 
dip tho clothes into the water, and rub tho 
bulb on them. It makes a thick lather, and 
smolls not unlike brown soap. Tho botan¬ 
ical name of the plant is Phalangium po- 
maridianum. Besides this plant, tho bark 
of a tree is also used in South America, for 
tho purpose of washing. Soveral other 
plants havo been usod in different countries 
as a substitute for soap. 
Mary. 
All the sweet names that women wear 
Are dear to me as flowers in Spring; 
But one alone is passing fair,— 
“ Mary”—my favorite name,—I sing. 
Mother of Him, who, on the tree, 
Sustained our load of guilt and shame; 
Thou hast an added charm for me, 
For “ Mary” was thy tender name. 
Wise chooser of the “ better part!” 
Aleck learner at the Savior's feet I 
Thou livest ever in my heart,— 
The type of all that’s pure and sweet. 
Frail Magdalen 1 whose tears, like rain, 
Bathed the blest feet of God’s dear Son; 
Kind soother of His mortal pain ! 
Unshrinkiug, self-denying one! 
Last watcher at His cross and tomb ! 
First visitant, e’er morning came; 
Thy constancy in hours of gloom, 
Is brought to mind by that loved name. 
AIy AIother ! best beloved on earth 1 
Thou, too, that honored name dost bear, 
And in my praise of Woman's worth, 
Thou hast no slight, unworthy share. 
Mv Mothek I ah, what memories start 
Afresh to life, at thought of thee; 
And gratitude, within my heart, 
Swells like a fouutain gushing free. 
If e’er that fountain cease to flow, 
Or I forget thy tender care, 
No after pleasure may I know, 
But life be desert, bleak and bare. 
Peaceful be thy declining years, 
Radiant thy path with heavenly light— 
Till, summoned from this “ vale of tears,” 
Thine eyes behold the Glory bright. 
[ Western Literary Messenger. 
PRAYER IS THE MEASURE OF LOVE. 
It is a striking remark, ascribed to Saint 
Augustine, that prayer is the measure of 
love. A remark which implies that those 
who love much, will pray much, and those 
who pray much, will love much. This re¬ 
mark is not more scripturally than philo¬ 
sophically true. It is tho nature of love to 
load the person who exercises this passion, 
as it wero out of himself. II is heart is con¬ 
tinually attracted towards tho beloved ob¬ 
ject. He naturally and necessarily exercises, 
in connection with tho object of love, tho 
communion of tho affections. And this, it 
will bo readily seen—viz : tho communion 
of the affections is the essential character¬ 
istic, and perhaps, it may bo said, tho es¬ 
sence and sum of prayer. In acceptable 
prayer, tho soul goes forth to God in various 
acts of adoration, supplication, thanksgiving 
and praise: all of which imply feelings of 
trust and confidence, and particularly lovo 
to Him who is tho object of prayer. Ac¬ 
cordingly, he who loves much, cannot help 
praying much. And on tho othor hand, 
when the streams of holy communion with 
God, fail in any considerable degree, it is a 
sure sign that thero is a shallowness and 
drought in that fountain of lovo from which 
they have their sourco. 
THE BABY’S DEAD. 
There is a world of feeling in tho follow¬ 
ing little occurrence, which wo clip from a 
contemporary: 
On last Monday wo wero riding a short 
distance from the city, when wo met a little 
girl, who appeared in great haste, and whoso 
eyes looked as if she had been weeping.— 
She looked as if she wanted to speak, and 
on our stopping, she came closo up to the 
carriage, sobbing as if her little heart was 
broken, whilo tho tear drops wero standing 
in her eyes, and said, “ The baby’s dead: 
We were an entiro stranger to her, but she 
knew of but one baby in the world, and 
that baby to whom she was no doubt ten¬ 
derly attachod, was dead. Those three 
short words wero a full text for reflection 
the balanco of the ride. Wo might write 
columns on them, but we will merely re¬ 
peat to our readers what the little girl said 
to us, and let them reflect, as we did on the 
thought that “ tho baby’s dead.” 
Saturday Evening. —Reader, do not let 
this season pass without some profitable re¬ 
flections. Carefully review tho week : sum 
up the blessings you havo received from a 
Father, whoso provident care has kept you 
in life, in health and in comfort, while others, 
overy way your equals and perhaps your 
superiors, havo been prematurely cut off, or 
spared to live in misery. Think of this, 
think of it with gratitude. Calmly and earo- 
fully review the transactions of tho week.— 
Have you been industrious and frugal?— 
Have you habitually controlled your temper 
and your tongue? Have you thought of the 
poor and infirm, and to tho extent of your 
ability relieved them? Have you labored 
to mako your home pleasant and attractive; 
havo you acquired or imparted any useful 
knowledge? Havo you answered any of tho 
great and important ends of your existence? 
Look these questions in tho face; answer 
them honestly, and without evasion—and 
your sleop to-night will be more quiet, and 
your future life better than your past. 
“ I never complained of my condition,” 
says tho Persian poet Saadi, “ but onco, 
when my feet wero bare, and I had no money 
to buy shoos; but I met a man without feet, 
and became contented with my lot.” 
We always find excuses for our own mis- 
c nduct but never can palliate tho errors of 
others, even though they erred from less 
cause than ourselves. 
Reading bad books is as dangerous to the 
mind as poison is to tho body. 
We better love to see thoso to whom wo 
do good, than those who do good to us. 
