r,]\nj \r ■)' 
jb ■. 
LITTLE VOICES. 
UY GEORGE HOWLAND. 
Do you over fancy, mother. 
Tattle voices in the air, 
Sweetly mingling with each other, 
All around your easy chair. 
For the moment hall forgetful 
Of the change, till regretful 
Shadow on your face appears, 
Thinking of the vanished years? 
When alone at evening sitting. 
When no other sound yon hear. 
Do yon sometimes cease your knitting, 
Fancying some one is near; 
And your eyes an Instant, closing, 
From your busy cares reposing. 
Do you starting e'er behold 
Little forms there, as of old ? 
One, the little wretch, it may be. 
Who with bold, determined front, 
Pitiful, conceited baby. 
Launched at you his plain “ I won’t,” 
And was quietly conducted, 
Where he was soon reconstructed; 
As by touch of magic wand, 
Hade obedient and fond ? 
Or whom once you sought with weeping, 
And beneath a half-felled tree, 
Found him on t«is hatchet sleeping, 
As wo men may napping see, 
And—poor child, who like fate misses,— 
Caught and covered him wit h kisses, 
Wondrous in their quick relief 
To each childish pain and grief ? 
When the early morn Is breaking 
Is your voice still ever heard, 
As when It from slumber waking 
Told us of the early bird? 
And forgive our thankless seeming, 
If wc sometimes, while half dreaming. 
Failed, then only, to rejoice 
At the music of your voice. 
Happy they, who in their gladness 
Shall no worse awakening And; 
Ilappy they in joy or sadness. 
Who recall that voice so kind, 
Alul that changeless love remember, 
Aud will still t ill life's December, 
If so far the current Hows, 
Keep it fresh beneath the snows. 
to be cared for. There is nothing in Iho 
world of mind or matter, of nature or art, 
that can stir t licit* leaden souls and make 
them feel that, it is a grand and glorious thing 
to live,—to he a worker in the same universe 
with God Himself; and that life is a crea¬ 
tive, vitalizing and thinking force,—is im¬ 
mortality and glory and power. They look 
like men lacking all vitality that can place 
man above the lower animals; and Heaven 
pity the women they may marry! The man 
fetches sink Manners. 
V 
FASHION TALK. 
BY MI NT WOOD. 
Artists’ Reception, Toilettes, Personalities, 
Edith’s Trouble, Etc., Etc. 
Everybody and everything in these latter 
ness like his hair. The pictures and busts 
one may see of him arc very like him, and 
with a remembrance of either would enable 
us to recognize him at once. William: R. 
Alc.ek, author of “ Friendships of Women,’’ 
is of slight, symmetrical figure, a shapely 
head, bald on the top, and the hack covered 
with light brown hair, a little gray and in¬ 
clined to curl. Some still lingers to define 
the horizon of his fine brow. His profile is 
clear hut delicate, his eyes a blue-gray, and 
jiabbuflt Ucubing. 
BLESSINGS. 
MY MAMIE S. LADD. 
MOTHERS AND SONS. 
BY JARVIS WILTON. 
1 looked out of my window this morning, 
and saw the light, lleecy snow, just fallen, 
white and pure as the innocence of young 
life, lying upon the brown earth’s bosom, 
spread in furrowed lines across the street, 
nestled against the shielding arms of the 
fences, and even hidden within lliu porch lat¬ 
tice. It had been driven hither and thither, 
by the pitiless winds, seeking shelter and 
finding none. The little brown snow birds 
were hopping from bush to tree, flutterimr 
their wings hi the snow and chirping glee¬ 
fully. The cold, lake wind blew across the 
prairie, (tarrying with it part of a blue jay's 
shrill song. 
1 shut, down the window, feeling thankful 
for shelter, for the glow of a cheerful fire, 
and thankful, too, that I was not obliged to 
he out in the piercing wind and cold of the 
wintry day. 1 looked out. to compare the 
inside warmth and comfort with the outside 
chill and storm, and saw a woman plodding 
through a great snow-drill, toward the hum 
yonder, carrying in one hand a pail of slop 
for the generous family cows, and in the 
other a milk pail. She was a woman past, 
the prime of life, and the mother of a large 
family. 
I knew that two stalwart, healthy sons of 
hers were cither silling comfortably around 
the kitchen fire which she had lighted, or 
lazily dozing the morning away in bed, while 
she, with the one pair of hands, which must 
make and mend, and wash and iron, and 
hake for a family of eight, was out in the 
cold, windy, stormy morning, doing that 
work from which any humane man would 
have spared her. When she had fed the 
cows and done the milking, she would go 
hack to the kitchen and get the breakfast. 
And so, day after day, she will work, as site 
lias done for many a year, unceasingly and 
uncomplainingly, till late at night, over and 
over again, until the last morning’s sunrise 
of life finds her unable to do it longer. 
For women must work, tint! men must sleep, 
TIioukIi there’s little to earn and many to keep, 
And the prairie winds are moaning, 
I sat and moralized. 1 wondered if this 
voluntary slavery, tor drudgery and slavery 
arc synonymous, was an outgrowth of wo¬ 
man’s infinite tenderness and love of her off¬ 
spring’, of her great, unselfish devotion for 
their sakes, or of man’s unspeakable sefish- 
ness. Perchance, when the kind mother’s 
work is done, these young men will find need 
of some one st ill, to mend and iron and wash 
and hake for them. Somewhere, they will 
each find a maiden who does not know them, 
and the unsuspecting ones will each believe 
she lias found her hero till the Judas kiss 
has sealed her to a life-long servitude, and 
she finds that the sweet wines of life were 
never meant for her lips,—that the great, 
warm, noble, manly heart she believed in 
was only an illusion. 
The poor mother spoiled her sons in her 
mistaken love for them. They have not 
energy and strength of character enough to 
really live. They merely exist, as calmly 
who has not respect enough lor Ins mother 
to shield her old age. from hardships and ; 
drudgery like this,—all done for the love she 
hears her child,—ought never to have had a : 
mother! I have heard this same mother say 
again and again that she would to Heaven 
she bad not a child in the world, they gave 
her so much trouble. 
In contrast, l have seen a young man per¬ 
form acts of courtesy toward his mother as 
if lie were a lover, and which, 1 had no 
doubt, were prompted by Ills respect and 
love for her. T have seen him hasten to 
save her from performing a wearisome labor 
which lie could do us well, though it was 
not out-door work. 1 have seen her eyes 
rest fondly and proudly upon her son,—so 
kind, noble and manly; who, by liis own life 
and manner of working, could dignify the 
very trifles of a homely life, make them har¬ 
monize with the grandeur of the great whole, 
and draw fountains of rich enjoyment from 
all; this son the joy of her life, and a com¬ 
fort to her as her years begin to go down 
toward the further shore. 
I have seen that, son touch with holy rev¬ 
erence the lips of the good mother who had 
so taught him to live that he felt thankful 
for life, its capabilities and capacities, and 
for the greater gift of a noble and worthy 
manhood. 
Which mother and which son lives to the 
best purpose,—really lives most, and best ful¬ 
fills the great object of life, to do good and 
make others happy,—let thine own heart tell. 
-♦♦-*-- 
MORE ABOUT VICTORIA. 
In the Rubai, of January 9th, I road with 
much pleasure an incident in the early life 
of our Queen; but allow me to say it is in 
the Isle of Wight, not the Isle of Man, that 
Hie Dairyman’s Daughter is lmried. Another 
incident, in the life of Victoria may show 
that the in 1 ructions of a pious mother were 
not lost, A friend of mine had been staying 
Home weeks in the Isle of Wight in the sum¬ 
mer of 18(53, and on her return related tome 
the follow iilg: 
A lady being told one day that a poor 
man, living in a cottage near by, was very 
ill, she resolved to call and visit him, and 
see if lie or his family were in need of any 
assistance she could give them. When she 
entered the room where the sick man lay she 
saw a lady in very deep mourning sitting by 
the side of the bed reading the Bible to the 
poor man. The lady finished the. chapter 
she was reading, and, after speaking-words 
of sympathy and com foil, to the sick man, 
she took leave of him, and, bowing to the 
visitors, site went quietly away. A (ter she 
had left t he house the visitor was told “ that 
is Queen Victoria; when she is staying at 
Osborn she is in the constant habit of visit¬ 
ing the sick and needy; hut we all under¬ 
stand there is to he no parade; we are all to 
behave to her as we do to any other lady. 
May God bless her 1” m. a. b. 
Fremont, N. Y. 
-- 
GOSSIPY PARAGRAPHS. 
A little girl one Christmas eve seeing 
the sun setting said:—“Mamma, I know 
what makes it look so red over there ; Santa 
Claus is baking.” 
By a thoughtful — hut henpecked — Old 
Boy —1 n our school days the “ rule of three ” 
is proverbially trying; how much harder, in 
alter life, do wc feel the. rule of “ one! ” 
Four daughters of a wealthy Berlin hanker 
were recently married to as many brothers. 
The wedding festivities were simple, the 
principals having agreed that the necessary 
sum for a stylish wedding should he given to 
the poor. 
In “ Forest City,” Me., a village thirty 
miles above Calais, that lias grown up in the 
. course of Lhc last five years, every young 
lady and every young man at home is a Good 
Templar. The sale of liquor was never per¬ 
mitted there. 
h for liis mother must ,iave » or S‘ V( '> a reception, for the deepwith tendernessand thought. His man- 
sake ol ventilating themselves or tlieii j,^of speaking is scholarly and lucid, his 
friends. It is customary with New York s p eec i 1 poetical, his sentences artistic, liis 
artists to give a reception at the National comparisons perfect, his voice musical, and 
Academy of .Design, to inaugurate the open- | ( * H gesticulations shocking. So much for 
ing of new exhibitions of pictures; aud so t | ie ,, mn w p 0 | Kl( | u, ( . audacity and justness 
one was given a few evenings ago, and all lo j U . OV0 p, q ie incredulous that women are 
those fortunate enough to possess one of I lieir 0 f possessing friendship for each 
artistically arranged Invitations, could pass other Added to his authorship, he is a 
by the door warden and up the marble stairs p l<eat .j ier () f || lP Liberal Christian order, 
and mingle with the elite of artistic circles. Passing from the sublime to the artistic, 
The corridor was decorated with flowers, wc NV oulcl suggest to the owners of skilful 
queenly camellias, conscious of their fairness in . m j| m i a tors, that In lieu of the vulgar 
being enhanced by the scarlet and crimson | 0( .| i( .|, mK | narrow velvet hand worn about 
splendor of the drooping aznlias. Heaps of t | 1( . m . ck low-throuted bodies and round 
Egyptian callus lifted their white domes collars, a much prettier charm may he made, 
against, the lire leaves of Mexican milkweed, <>|* scorlft. garnet or blue velvet. Cut a cross 
while up through the rotunda of space rose n0!ir ]y mree inches long, and of proportion- 
such strains and swells of music that every w | t uj, t from a piece of thick pasteboard, 
third person was saying, “How exquisite! Cover with the velvet, and put a row of tiny 
How divine 1” cut steel beads through the center of the 
Of course wc didn’t go to see the pictures, perpendicular and transverse bars. Fasten 
but to see the handsome men and women p, a narrow velvet ribbon of the same shade, 
and fine toilettes. Wo do not, delight in de- . m( | t j t . j n i 0J1 g loops at the hack of the neck, 
molishing your line theories, or in sending Komi writes that, slu: is in trouble, is go- 
your ideals reeling off from the pedestals jp,* p, |, 0 married (no wonder!) in church 
Upon which you have enthroned them; but jp the morning, and wishes advice about her 
hi a word, if you think artists are any better, t fress, bridomaid’s dress, etc. Wish we could 
more f pirituel , or hotter mannered t hanoihor p r j n ^ | J( , r ] ( .||,.|- j u t nji . it is such a womanly, 
people, you make a great mistake. Wc modest letter, that we know everybody 
have seen very many artists, aud we never wou id 8a y » /& is getting a treasure of a 
saw a downright handsome one yet. They w if,. i” Rut we are quite sure she would 
are a set of inveterate smokers, and will talk | )0 frightened out. of tier wits to see herself 
to you with their mouth full of pipe, sending ju lu .j lU ant i aSB ], a will need the help of 
a wliilf of smoke into your face with quite as ttl( , In vve forbear. We would advise a 
much abandon as if you were the Indian p 0 p]in or excellent quality of serge, in ash 
girl on the canvass before them. To be sure or g ] a te color. Cut the skirt short, front and 
the women artixtex do not do so, as they have s - 1( | e | m . a <||hs closely gored, back breadths 
nice, clean studios, devoid of cigar stumps straight and gathered at the hack. Trim 
and stained old meerschaums lying- about. 
Neither do artists choose women of physi¬ 
cal beauty for their wives, if the ladies who 
accompany them to their receptions fill that 
relation to them. We looked in vain for 
one handsome woman to feast our eyes up¬ 
on. The prettiest dresses encased the Ugliest 
wearers. It was the play of Hamlet all the 
way through with Hamlet left out. New 
York wom»>n are not nearly so Ixiaiitiful as 
those of Philadelphia, and a Chicago man 
avers that Western men are far and away 
superior to New York men in physical as 
well as intellectual attractiveness. One 
would quite believe from newspaper reports 
of similar assemblages, that. 1 lie men are all 
brave and gallant, and the women fairas the 
dream of an angel It Is not no. Those are 
stereotyped phrases, and arc no nearer truth 
the bottom of the skirt with a bias flounce 
nearly half a yard deep. Make a puffing 
two inches wide, two inches from tiie upper 
edge of the bias for the flounce; hind the 
upper and lower edges with taffeta silk a 
shade darker than the dress fabric. Make 
lappets for the aide seams reaching down 
below the pocket slit, and border them 
around with a flounce like that on the bot¬ 
tom, proportionately smaller in size. Make 
the body round, and put a narrow flounce 
trimming, like that on lappets, on in pompa¬ 
dour fashion, letting it run around the hack 
an inch or two below the neck. Put, a simi¬ 
lar trimming around the sleeve at the dhow. 
Cut sleeves small, and bullouiug over on the 
under side with three buttons. Have a fine 
linen collar, with an edge of lace or tinted 
ruffling, and cuffs to match, worn inside the 
than when wc say the men were made of H i acV e. At the throat a broad neck-tie of 
sl icks and the women had bridge noses and ribbon of the same shade as trimming. Belt 
enormous ears. We worship beauty in man uke the dress, hound with silk, and fasten- 
or woman, and ha ve run the gauntlet of im- i n g with a rosette or renaissance bow. 
pudenee more than once to revel in the p or a wrap, a loose fitting basque, with 
beauty of some stranger’s face. But to 8 hort skirt, and sleeves ample enough to 
toilettes. draw over dress sleeves easily. Trim the 
The utmost license of dress is allowable, bottom with flounce, and For the hack make 
Men in swallow tails, round and square skirt- a hood, with lining of silk, and finish the 
ed coats, gloves of every conceivable shade P nd of hood with a silk tassel. Finish ends 
and color. Women in bonnets, and with- 0 f sfaeves with a caff of Hilk. Buttons in 
out; dowagers in fur capes and velvet dress- front to the bottom of waist; buttons of 
es, and younger women in more brilliant wrought silk; kid gloves same shade of dress; 
colors, and who had a way of managing hat of same shade of silk, with puffed crown, 
their t rains so as to display their delicate kid finished with a how aud ends of satin ribbon, 
slippered feet. One pretty bonnet was of We do not think you need a bonnet. If you 
white tulle with the edge and ties defined Wtt nt merely a veil to protect your face, get a 
with a braid of white satin. One pretty half circle of black lace. If to protect your 
coiffure was made by rolling the hair in hat also, a square of asli-colored grenadine. 
puffs from a little above the neck to the fore- if you were not so averse to bright colors, 
head. The front hair was crimped and fell 
on both sides in a curl. Powdered Imir was 
considerably affected, and where diamond 
powder is used the effect is quite glitteriug. 
The prevailing color in dress was black, as 
it is nearly*everywhere. The showiest cos¬ 
tumes were of red or green silk, round dresses 
we would rather see bright green silk used 
for the trimming all the way through, and 
brightening your hat for spring. It would 
ho becoming and quite suitable. 
The bridesmaid need not lie dressed like 
the bride, and not better by any means. You 
must, not forget t hat you need a large water- 
with short overskirts and flehues of white proof cloak for traveling; and, if you have 
crape, or barege, with white silk sashes. A 
short dress of white cashmere with upper 
skirt trimmed with narrow satin bunds and 
netted silk fringe, hows of black ribbon on 
the shoulders, and black lace flehue was 
noticeable. Most of the ladies wore wraps; 
none, get a lead-colored English cloth. A 
fashionable lady was recently married whose 
wedding dress was of that material. The 
bridesmaid and her attendant precede you 
entering church, site taking position so as to 
he at your left and the groomsman at the 
lace shawls, and white opera cloaks, and right of your alllanced. The minister should 
md bake for them. Somewhere, they will the theater recently. On coming out, he re- 
3 ach find a maiden who does not know them, marked — “ 1 hey played well, didn t they i 
md the unsuspecting ones will each believe The eottsin from the rural district looked 
she has found her hero till the Judas kiss round at him and said, “ Of course they did; 
has sealed her to a life-long servitude, and that s what they are paid to do.” 1 here s 
she finds that the sweet wines of life were practical criticism for you! 
never meant for her lips,—that the great, A widow lady who lives near Starkville, 
Warm, noble, manly heart she believed in Miss., besides attending to her little children, 
was only an illusion. two in number, and performing her other 
’flie poor mother spoiled her sons in Iter housework, planted, cultivated and picked 
mistaken love for them. They have not out during the past season two bales of mid¬ 
energy and strength of character enough to dUng cotton* On Saturday last she hauled 
really live. They merely exist, as calmly one of the bales to Meridian and sold it, real- 
and inertly as a sheep lying in the shade of izing the handsome little stun of §180, and 
a summer pasture, with no object in life but holds the other bale for higher prices. 
utlcd there. Arab scarfs holding predominance. But one 
A gentleman took his country cousin to lady appeared with arms and shoulders de¬ 
collete, and those were of such perfect fair* 
ness l hat every one must have thanked her 
in heart for the shining vision. Many of the 
trained silk dresses were made with the plain 
widths straight on the bottom, or with a sinu¬ 
ous edge, while the train was in deep scal¬ 
lops, hound with the same and headed with 
rows of narrow braid of the same shade. 
Light rheiui sides with deep peplums of pink 
be in readiness to proceed with the ceremony 
as soon as the bridal party reaches the altar. 
We omitted to mention the number of 
yards of fabric you will need for your dress. 
If of single width, fifteen or sixteen yards, 
and four yards of silk, including enough tor 
hat. Let us hear how you prosper in house¬ 
keeping “out West.” 
-—■ 
Matrimony. — When a young man in 
some of the countries goes a courting, the 
Goon gifts IIo givoth unto all,— 
To those who pralMo, unit who ro ;ilo; 
And o’or tho taint, where’er they full, 
Shines clear His brightly beaming smile. 
So cold aro wc, our eyes so dim, 
We do not know how hlest wo are; 
With careless lips I its praise wo hymn, 
And live unmindful of His (litre. 
Through every grief and alt the gloom, 
Dear Lord, which wintry euro will bring, 
Oh! teach us still to sou tho bloom 
And promises of gladsome spring. 
Oh! make ns grateful for Thy love, 
That wo may praise Thee with our strength. 
And in that fairer world above. 
Dwell, over blest, with Thee, at length. 
---- 
LOVE FOR CHRIST. 
BY MRS. M. E. VAN WAGNER. 
Not alone for the chosen few who beheld 
the Divine Master’s face while He dwelt 
upon the earth, clothed in the garb of hu¬ 
manity, were His sympathies, His counsels, 
and the infinite love and tenderness of liis 
heart enlisted; hut to every creature to-day 
comes the joyful tidings of a glorious 
Saviour’s matchless Love. And not alone 
to Peter is the question, “ Lovest. thou me," 
addressed, but ills sweet, loving tones may 
he heard making the same inquiry of every 
child of Adam. 
i low many are there who would reply with 
the disciple, “ Lord, thou k/unmt that 1 
love thee,” hut in art they utterly deny Him. 
Jesus says, “ If ye love mo, keep my com¬ 
mandments;” hut how few heed the com¬ 
mand, “ Set your affections on things above.” 
With the multitude,— and alas! that a por¬ 
tion of them arc those who have beheld with 
the eye of faith their Creator bleeding and 
dying upon the Cross, — earthly joys and 
objects are all that appear worthy of their 
consideration or desire. 
Olt, let us, to whom the sound of Jesus’ 
name is sweet music, daily inquire, “ In what 
manner have 1 evinced my love for the Mas¬ 
ter V” Let us pause for a moment and con¬ 
sider how He has proven liis love for 
disobedient, rebellious man. 
Yonder, far above the azure, star-lit, heav¬ 
ens, in realms of glorious brightness, seated 
upon the Great While Throne, sits the ma¬ 
jestic and glory-enshrouded Creator of the 
Universe, arrayed in the purple robes of roy¬ 
alty and magnificence. The white-robed 
angel throng cast their golden crowns at 
His feet, while strains of ravishing music 
from angel lips and harps of gold swept, by 
angel lingers, sound through the lolly domes 
of Heaven, and gush forth in glad, sweet 
echoes. Suddenly the blessed Son of God 
upstarts from Ilia radiant Throne, and 
amidst the wonder and weeping of the 
angel host, descends to our earth and com 
mcnUes liis love work for fallen earth-worms: 
“ When for His crown of glory 
A crown of thorns lie wore. 1 ’ 
View Him In His weakness and forbearance 
all along the way, and at last behold Him 
nailed to the cruel Cross, spit, upon and de¬ 
rided; when, hark ! from the pale lips of the 
suffering, bleeding Saviour, fall these words 
of infinite love and sweetness: —“ Father, 
forgive them; for they know not what they 
do.” 
“ The Saviour I Oh, what, endless charms 
Dwell in the blissful sound.” 
Dear reader, does not your heart go out in 
love to this tendd, precious Saviour ? Is Do 
to you“ the fairest among ton thousand, and 
altogether lovely?” Oh, confess and honor 
nint before men, that when Time shall he 
no longer—when the elements are burning 
and the archangel’s trump shall summon the 
whole Universe to appear before the Judg¬ 
ment Heat of Christ—- you may behold the 
love-lighted eye and glory-beaming face of 
Him whom, not having seen, you loved; and 
having confessed Him upon the earth He 
will own you in the presence of the angels, 
and welcome you to the joys and ineffable 
delights of Heaven, to dwell in His beatific 
presence and sit with hjtn forever upon Ills 
starry throne. 
Pleasant Valley. 
-- 
Effect of Christianity. — Nothing, I 
am persuaded, would more strongly bring 
before us wliat a new power Christianity 
was In the world than to compare the mean¬ 
ing which so many words possessed before 
its rise,and the deeper meaning which they 
obtained so soon as they were assumed by if 
’ as the vehicles of its life, the new thought 
and feeling enlarging,purifying and enno¬ 
bling the very words which they employed. 
• — Trench on t/te St udy of Words. 
Prejudice.— Every man is more or less 
narrow; every man as he grew older hard¬ 
ened into some prejudice. He did not know 
they were prejudices; if he did, he would 
or green,edged with fringe,'were conspicuous, first question the woman asks of him is, shako them oil and tread them under his 
Among the guests none was looked upon “Are you able to keep a wife when you feet; he thought them the most solid and 
with more reverence than the white-crowned, have got her?” What a world of misery it precious and permanent things In tho world; 
kindly-faced poet, William Cullen Bry- would prevent if the young women in all but it was not wise that he should be per- 
ant. He is of medium height, thin, aud countries would stick to the wisdom of that mitted to stereotype them, and be able to 
wears a full heard, which is of silvery white- question ! transmit them to luture generations. 
