hour later, be found the ladies all assembled, and 
discussing the probabilities of Kate Thornton's 
engagement, Maggie Hogarth aflirrning that “it 
Kate was one of a thousand, 
[Written for Moore’s Rural New-Yorker.] 
WELCOME ARE THE BIRDS AGAIN 
could not, be so, 
and would not throw herself away upon such a 
it was only 
IIT CKO. A, If A MILTON 
Hark! I hear the merry ringing 
Of ft joyful Blue-bird hinging! 
This bn token* spring returning, 
And we know the bird* lire coming: 
Wuloomc every hrigbt’ning hue 
That is decking earth &Dew,— , 
Most, among the glad’nirtg train, 
Welcome are the bird* again! 
Welcome sunshine, bright and warm, 
Following the wintry storm,— 
Winter has Its pleasures fair,— 
{’leasing rides and bracing air; 
But we tee them pass away, 
Nor would wish a longer stay,— 
Now a snng comes o’er the plain, 
Welcome are the birds again! 
Welcome all the festive hours, 
And the gonial April showers,— 
Welcome murmurs of the rill, 
Blooming Hose or Daffodil; 
Welcvme hutable Violet, too, 
.Sparkling in the vernal dew,— 
Hut. while all these beauties reign. 
Welcome are the birds again! 
Yep, we welcome all the brightness, 
And the joyful, spring-like lightness,- 
Welcome March with bright’nlng ray, 
Smiling April, lovely May; 
All the swelling buds and leaves, 
All the garlands Nature weaves,— 
Most of ail the joyful train, 
Welcome are the birds again. 
Yes, the bright and genial spring 
l’urc And sweet delights shall bring,— 
BiiDg a thousand precious joys.— 
Bring bin thousand blooming toys; 
Now each little brook is swelling, 
And each sparkling fountain welling,- 
Coming with the cheerful train, 
Welcome ore the birds again. 
While we cherish every gem, 
Every spring-like diadem, 
While we see the brightness now 
Glowing on the vernal brow; 
While we see that God will bless 
Nature with his bright impress, 
Let our song’s most grateful strain 
Welcome here the birds again! 
South Butler, N. Y., I860. 
stupid fellow as John Langton, 
and Maggie looked very wise, 
some mischief, 
laughing immoderately, when Miss Bugbee as¬ 
serted that “ such a common sort of girl, so heed¬ 
less and thoughtless, need not look very high.” 
Lavra Wthmham said that, “with all her 
eccentric ways, Kate had a vein of deep feeling 
and elevated thought, that very few girls ever 
attain,” which opinion Rvth Pick lb readily con 
firmed, adding “ that she would hesitate at no sac¬ 
rifice to servo her friends, and her bitterness 
against her enemies was more by habit than 
nature.” 
“She Becks enmity rather than friendship,” 
said Miss Bpgbee, “and her conduct with this 
young man, from Maggie’s own showing, is very 
censurable." 
“ T did not intend to show any such thing, and I 
am positively certain, that, with all her erratic 
ways, she is a far better Christian than some who 
sanctimoniously assume to be censors. She has 
watched night after night with that poor woman 
in the valley, and has absolutely taken,—adopted, 
—her little orphan cousin. She docs not count 
it the least goodness,—says that she only gratifies 
herself, and deserves no credit She is beloved 
by every one who has penetrated that covering 
of singular obstinacy in which she strives to en- 
Don’t you like her, Sol.?” said 
For Moore's Rural New-Yorker. 
GEOGRAPHICAL ENIGMA. 
I AM composed of 4fi letters. 
My 1,15, 19, 3 is a county in Virginia. 
My 2.16, 39, 40 is a river in Prussia. 
My 4,14, 24,2, 7, 21 is a county in New York. 
My 5,13, 8. 34, 31 is ft. gulf on the Mediterranean coast. 
My 30, 22,10, 37, 36 is a town in Virginia. 
My 18, 26, 32, 41,34 is a lake in Asia. 
My 38, 8, 35, 46 is a connty in Kentucky. 
Mv 12,16, 9, 43, 44, 11 is a town in Hindostan. 
My 42, 29, 25, 4 is a cape on the Atlantic coast. 
My 17, 44.22, 6, 33, 27, 20,15 is a town in Illinois. 
My 12, 28,11, 45, 36, 41, 23 is a monnt in Aria. 
My whole is found in the prophecy of Isaiah. 
Rolling Stone Valley, Minn. H. D. Mkddice. 
|jfT Answer in two weeks. 
with loathing, even when the calm eyes were 
beaming with confidence. The thought pained 
him now, and ho could not banish that pleading 
gaze as it offered him love for the lust time. He 
thought of her children, and the happy home 
which she now beautified for another, and sighed 
in hislonliness, feeling perhaps, for the flrBt time, 
that it is a hitter and solemn thing to cast away 
the honest, enduring love of a faithful human 
heart 
He had a pussive faith in the delights and bene¬ 
fits of matrimony, hut he would gladly have fore¬ 
gone the blessing at this time, and saved himself 
from the awkward dilemma which soon became a 
subject of gossip with all his so-called friends. 
Each one had a dear, particular friend to intro¬ 
duce, who was a model of all that 1 b desirable in 
a woman, combining in one frail, mortal tenement 
the aggregation of all feminine virtue and loveli¬ 
ness. He was so thoroughly confused, and so 
uncertain of his own desires, that he resolutely 
determined to “ go the rounds” 
be attempted a selection. 
ILLUSTRATED REBUS. 
velop herself, 
she, naively, to her cousin. 
“Yep, Maggie, and no, for she invariably gets 
the better of me in all her bantering. There is a 
very unusual tone of vigor and good common 
sense underlying her nonsense, 
ed to be excused. He began to conclnde that he 
wanted a wife to suit himself, — not one expressly 
adapted to a minister’s needs. 
Miss Bugbek remained several days, during 
which time our hero sought refuge in the winning 
smile* and calm, gentle words of Laura Wynd- 
ham, being startled, however, by some new and 
unaccountable emotion, on the second day of her 
visit, when meeting in the hall a lady who had 
been calling upon his sister and cousin,—one 
whom he knew, and yet could not qnite recall,— 
Site relieved his puzzled look, by pertly saying, 
“Kate Thornton, at your service.” 
“I ought not to forget and old fre—enemy, like 
that, l’ardon me, hut you have grown so hand¬ 
some,—” 
Dear Mr. Pickle, I, your enemy? Indeed, I 
am a candidate for the honor that you are seeking 
to confer upon some love-lorn lass. Look at me 
well,—what if 1 haven’t black hair and black 
eyes,—dear me, how solemn you have grown since 
Libbie Dalton refused,—” 
“ Unfeeling, tantalizing creature. IIow could I 
ever forget your talent at torture! Come, stop 
awhile, and we will have a regular, scientific 
battle.” 
Oh, spare me, my dear sir,” said Miss Thorn¬ 
ton, with a mock, terrified air, “Miss Bugbke ab- 
’ sorbs al! the acien‘?<*allotted to the feminines in 
thiB region. She is ready for you, doubtless, even 
now.” 
“ It is too warm to talk with Miss Bcgbee, —be¬ 
side, I haven’t my armor on,—one must he encased 
and see all before 
Accordingly, accom¬ 
panied by his sister, he paid a visit to Borne rela¬ 
tives in a distant county, (t. so happened that his 
cousin, Magoie Hogarth, had a school-friend vis¬ 
iting her, a “ sweet, pretty” girl, very pleasant to 
look upon, and one whom it would be very easy 
to love. Maggie whs vehement in her praises, as¬ 
serting that during three years at school, she was 
never once out of temper, and never failed in tbe 
performance of any duty. “0, Sul,” she ex¬ 
claimed, “what a love of a minister’s wife Ehe’ll 
make,” and with this thrust she ran away,leaving 
her auditor looking extremely foolish and guilty. 
He had really been thinking the same, as her gen¬ 
tle figure flitted about the drawing room, adding 
grace to every group, aDd harmony to every cir¬ 
cle. It seemed the business of her life to smooth 
rough places and polish neglected gems. She 
had an oily word to check each note of passion, 
and an appealing glance to smother each breath 
of unkindness or reproof. It was impossible for 
any person to look into her clear, hide eyeB, while 
conversing quietly, and not feel that she craved 
love, and, in return, held ready an overflowing 
heart. 
Bhe sometimes wrote tender verses, and often 
sang low, floating melodies, daintily touching her 
favorite instrument,—the guitar. Slie loved to 
wander alone by the river-side, strolling away da¬ 
ring the long snmmcr afternoon, when her friends 
were taking their accustomed siesta. Mr. Pickle 
had noted this habit, and about a week after his 
arrival, took occasion to saunter down the orch¬ 
ard, and along the hedges, hoping to meet the 
fair vision which had been so readily enshrined 
in his thoughts. lie soon saw the flutter of her 
white dreBs through the green leaves, and found 
her seated upon a grassy bank, with Longfel¬ 
low's “Hyperion,” open in her hand. She had 
been reading of Paul Fleming’s early sorrow, 
and a look of mournful longing still rested upon 
her serene face, as he approached, exclaiming,— 
“ Ah, I have found you, and in noble company, 
Longfellow is as pure, and tender, and holy, as a 
dying saint. How he curbs and checks all earthly 
tendencies in giving his quaint, floating measures 
to the w r orld; hut • Hyperion’ is too misty und 
cloud-like lor me. Can you fathom its ‘ dreamy 
obscure’ ?” 
“ Scarcely, but I can feel its vague yearning, and 
unsatisfied grasping after something spiritual, 
ever within reach, yet ever unattained. I can 
never reason out my faith, or obtain any clear 
views of doctrinal belief.” 
The Reverend gentleman made no reply, but, 
half-reclining upon the rustic seat, gazed upon 
the fleecy clouds far up in the blue, canopy above, 
and after a few’ moments, quietly said,—“Do you 
know, Miss Laura, that I have often wished that 
I wore a cloud, soaring, floating, vanishing. 1 be¬ 
gin to tremble at the responsibilities of life,—the 
fearful issues,— the direful sufferings and heait- 
w’rnng penalties of existence. Like Tall Flem¬ 
ing, I dive in the crystal water for gems and find 
only sparkling sand. I would fain drop the bur¬ 
den, and he only a fairy land of vapor in the 
vaulted sky,” 
“The world cannot do without you, Mr. Picki.e. 
There are too many tendrils even now clasping 
your strong frame,—too many burdens resting up¬ 
on you,—their weight should make you stronger.” 
“And yet, however strong, I must have some¬ 
thing to lean upon,—something strong in its 
weakness, tilling all the void, so empty and 
dreary. I sometimes think I have found it," and 
he glanced qucstioningly upon the glowing face 
beside him. 
At this moment, voices were heard, and Mrs. 
Hogarth appeared, saying to her companion, 
“Yes, you are just the person, Miss Bcgbee, 
so practical, so prudent, so superior in every 
respect.” 
“ But I could never think of a mission.” 
“Good afternoon, aunt,” said Mr. Pickle’s 
pleasant voice, as the astonished ladies were just 
passingthe little thicket which had concealed the 
speaker and his companion. 
“Why, Solomon, how T came you here? Allow 
me to present Miss Bcgbee, Mr. Pickle. You are 
acquainted with Miss Laura Wyndham, Miss 
Bugbee.” 
Miss Bugbee bowed distantly, evidently shock¬ 
ed at finding tbe young lady rambling alone with 
even so unexceptionable a gentleman as ifr. 
Pickle. She was a tall, pale girl, with keen, grey 
eyes, and dark hair,—dressed with, tbe most rigid 
propriety, and deporting herself with an air of 
She sweeps away 
cobwebs with a masterly hand, w hen she under¬ 
takes to set a person right,” and he thought of 
the defined picture of himself, which she had re¬ 
vealed in her last remarks. He looked at Miss 
Wyndham's fair tresses as they grew golden in 
the western sunlight, at her Bweet, pure face and 
liquid eyes, confirmed in the idea that she would 
make an irreproachable wife for a minister, but 
that her tender suavity and calm beauty did not, 
and could not, waken the depths of a fathomless 
She seemed tame 
nature not yet fully roused 
and spiritless, too easily won, and as little valued. 
It was all surface, no depths to fathom, no laby¬ 
rinths to tread, and hence no prize to win. 
115 s pre-occnpation vanished at once, and he 
lent himself with a facile grace to the various 
amusements and employments of those about 
him, inwardly rejoicing that two days hence he 
should return to his quiet home, safe from all 
maneuvering, and secure from any temptation to 
dispose of himself unworthily. Mrs. Hogabtit 
gave a grand party the next evening, introducing 
Mr. Pickle to a multitude of “ paragons,” all of 
whom elicited only passing attention from the 
fastidious gentleman. 
As he stood within the shadow of a deep win¬ 
dow, conversing with Laura Wyndham, he no¬ 
ticed a very graceful lady, bowing herself away 
from a bevy of gentlemen, and taking the arm of 
one, walked slowly toward the piazza, which was 
thronged with promenaders. She was dreBsed 
with the utmost simplicity and elegance, and 
although not entirely beautiful, had an air distin¬ 
gue that would command attention in any circle. 
As she turned toward the window, and met Mr. 
Pickle’s astonished recognition, she laughed out¬ 
right, saying, 
“Ah, Rev. Solomon, I decline the honor before 
it is offered. I might excuse you for forgetting 
me in two years,—hut in two days,—never.” 
“Miss Thornton, you are a chameleon, changing 
hues with the occasion,—one day a rude hoyden, 
the next a saucy school-girl, and then,—ah, my 
heart!—a marvel of grace and beauty.” 
“ I decline the honor, Rev. Solomon, My eyes 
■mv hair is a countrified brown,” 
fjjy” Answer in two weeks. 
For Moore’s Rural New-Yorker. 
SURVEYORS’ PROBLEM. 
A surveyor is directed to ran a line, starting from a 
given point, in latitude forty-three, and run due east ten 
allies. Jo complying with his directions, he starts cor¬ 
rectly, and pursues a straight line, liy ranging a row of 
stakes, accurately in line, the whole distance. How far 
must the last stake be moved to the north to place it on 
the same parallel of latitude as the starting point? 
I’ittsfurd, N. Y., 1860. L. L. N. 
Answer in two weeks. 
[Written for Moore’s Rural New-Yorker.] 
HUNTING A WIFE. 
BY LYDIA A. TOMPKINS, 
ANSWERS TO ENIGMAS, &c., IN NO. 532. 
> CHAPTER I. 
Now, the Rev. Solomon Fickle was, by no 
means, the acid-faced and gloomy-hued individual 
that his name would Indicate; his sole misfortune 
being, too many friends and too much money. 
He had been praised, petted, watched over, sought 
and caressed, by a large circle of relatives, and 
being tbe “smartest” young man in his own im¬ 
mediate neighborhood, naturally commanded a 
certain deference, which has unsettled many a 
wiser head than his. And it must he admitted 
that he withstood, in a remarkable degree, this 
tacit flattery, and grew up a very good and intel¬ 
ligent young person, yet unmistakably lacking 
that vigor, unflagging resolution, and self-reli¬ 
ance, which surmounted difficulties ever bestow. 
He had met no thwarting*,—pined for no love or 
friendship which he had not received,— and thus 
never found his capacities sharpened by tbe keen 
edge of friendless poverty, or tbe marvelous tonic 
of hard labor. 
It is true that he had never been tempted to 
lavishness, by any undue amount of spending 
money; neither had he ever felt, that, in case of 
emergency, he should not be well supplied with 
every thing needful. Upon the whole, he had 
been judiciously brought up, and, save that one 
shade of vanity, was singularly free from any of 
tbe faults usually ascribed, in wholesale, to young 
men of the present day. 
He was a diligent scholar, and graduated with 
honor, passing from College immediately to the 
Theological Seminary, and after finishing the re¬ 
quired course, his ardor nothing abated, hesought 
an appointment from the Home Missionary Soci¬ 
ety. But, alas, he had no wife, —missionaries 
must have wives. They must exemplify the 
Christianity which they profess, by the patient 
forbearance and enduring love necessary in every 
phase of that beautiful existence, which is the 
dream of poet-souls,—'the finale of every novel, 
and the basis of all the true comfort permitted 
mortals in this lower sphere. 
This was a serious difficulty which the Rev. 
Solomon had not at all anticipated. He had a 
very natural liking for the sex, but had never 
wasted much time in the dallying and trifling 
which he deemed emphatically necessary in any 
attempts to pleaso. It had been his fortune to 
win several, unsought; aud he now, unquestion¬ 
ably, felt inclined to hasten away if he saw a deep, 
black eye turn languishingly upon him, or one of 
azure hue droop perceptibly, if, by chance, he 
turned a full gaze upon it. That he had some 
tender memories and regretful thoughts of some¬ 
thing lost, which hud seemed to clash with his 
ambitious plans, can not be denied; but as this 
was now lost beyond remedy, he, philosophically 
and earnestly, turned to the new employment 
which demanded his energies,viz;—“Hunting a 
Wife.” 
And now begins our tale,— one of lieurt-burn- 
ings, thwarting*, pinings, dreams, and languors, 
which Becm as likely to beset young clergymen,— 
all immaculate as they are,—as any other class of 
men. who claim all the ills of humanity and some 
of the diviner elements. 
Every young female face was deliberately scan- 
Answer to Geographical Enigma:—Christopher Colum¬ 
bus. 
Answer to charade:—Vlght-cap. 
Answer to Illustrated Rebus:—Seward, Toombs, and 
Douglas—three Presidents in embryo. 
Answer to Poetical Enigma:—The four forms of one 
name are Mary, Maria, Marion, and Miriam. The queen, 
“whose soul was stained with blood,” was Bloody Mary. 
The one “ called the good,” was Mary, wife of William, 
Prince of Orange,—both queens of England. “ The 
lovely and unfortunate,” was Mary, Queen of Scots. 
The two French queens were Marie Antoinette and 
Maria Therese, The cruel queen of Spain was Maria de 
Padilla. The “ authoress of pleasant lame," is Marion 
Harland. The “Hebrew songstress" was Miriam, sister 
of Moses, and I am, most humbly yours, Miriam E. 
MOORE'S RURAL NEW-YORKER, 
THE LARGEST CIRCULATED 
Agricultural, Literary and Family Weekly, 
IS PUBLISHED EVERY SATURDAY BY 
O. I). T. MOOKK, ItOCIlESTEJt, N. T. 
are not black, 
and she passed on, with just the slightest tinge of 
hauteur in her manner, which changed to an ear¬ 
nest and absorbed air as she occasionally passed 
the window, conversing in low tones with her 
companion,—the gentleman before mentioned,— 
John Langton. 
The young clergyman's sensitive pride was 
wounded by the ill-timed and bravado thrusts 
which came in such full measure from Kate 
Thornton's wicked tongue aud wickeder eyes, 
but he could not resist the temptation to glance 
at her queenly figure through the window, and 
silently wish that John Langton would betake 
kimselt' elsewhere. 
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He was accustomed to rev¬ 
erence and awe, from country girls especially, and 
he felt piqued at this rough treatment, and could 
not forget it. He wondered that he cared,—such 
a saucy minx,—unworthy of any attention, and 
yet there was something so kindling in her eye, 
and penetrating in her vivacity, he really thought 
that such a rich and vigorous nature needed some 
foster care and development, which might be 
given, if he could only tame the wild bird that 
soared out of reach with a bound, if unwarily ap¬ 
proached. Several times during the evening he 
strove to lure the watchful, winged creature to 
his side, but she, as often, flew to some covert ever 
open to receive her. Convinced that he was de¬ 
liberately avoided, he yielded ihe point, aston¬ 
ished that she should thus refuse the benefit and 
prestige of his patronage. He might, perhaps, 
have taught her something, bat “never mind, if 
she didn't care, be didn't.” 
Mr. Pickle had once said that his wife must 
have black eyes and black hair, and Kate Thorn¬ 
ton had now a standing missile to hurl upon all 
occasions, which 6hc freely used, glorying in her 
power to torture its nnfortunate author. All 
agreed that Kate Thornton was the belle of the 
party, and bantered their reverend friend upon 
not paying homage to the reigning queen, to 
which be replied by calling her a “spiteful crea¬ 
ture,’’ and decidedly “ill-bred.” 
The guests returned to their homes, and Mr. 
Pickle, as he thought, to a week of solitude; hut 
he was met upon his threshold by bis mother and 
a beautiful girl, with magnificent black eyes, 
whose fascination he well remembered, and now 
gladly welcomed.—[To be continued. 
Publisher’s Special Notices and Oilers. 
Back Numbers (from. January) still fur¬ 
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reference or binding; — or subscriptions can com¬ 
mence with the New Quarter — April . Members of 
the same Club can begin at different times if desired 
— some with January and others in April, or all 
at either time . 
$3“ A New Quarter of the Rural begins with Apnl, 
a good time for single or club subscriptions to commence. 
We can, however, still supply back numbers, bo that all 
who wish the complete volume for reference or binding, 
will be accommodated. Every person remitting, ac¬ 
cording to our terms, for a dab of IP, IS or 20 previous to 
1 st of May, I860, will receive a package of choice imported 
Flower Seeds, as heretofore offered for early clubs 
jrgf” Additions to Clubs are now in order, and Club 
Agents will please forward the Subscriptions of those 
who wish to secure the Rural, Back Numbers of 
this volume can still he supplied to new subscribers, and 
will be in all cases where ordered, until we otherwise 
aunounce. Send on the new recruits! 
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every Subscriber, Po6t-Jkigter or reader is requested to act 
as voluntary agent for the Rural, by forming clubs or oth¬ 
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terest in tbe paper and the cause it advocates, either by ob¬ 
taining new subscribers, or inducing others to act in its be¬ 
half, If any lose or wear out numbers in shovino the paper 
—that’s the best way to get subscribers—we will duplicate 
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(or has been) sent as well as the one where you wish it- 
