Jfeufies* |otlt-c#otur. 
THE LAST THING OUT. 
Wiiat new-fangled notions those days. 
This Professor’s beginning to teach! 
And even declares just how far 
The soles of our slippers should reach. 
In winter of course I am cold; 
How these gaiters do pinch my toes, 
And the herds are awfully high 
Tis the fashion, as every one knows. 
What nonsense to leeture on dress - 
On ruffles and long-sweeping trains; 
.Mv polonaise, sashes and bows 
Were all made by Madame DEUAtvs. 
Thirty yards for my last silk I bought, 
And Madam® complained all the wlillo 
It really wasn't enough— 
Am I to bo Mamed for the style? 
And he talked for ever so long, 
Of cooking, both wholesome and nice; 
Oh, dear. what, a burden and care, 
Ever since I have been Sirs. Price ! 
For Bridget is saucy and slow. 
And the rest I’ve tried are as bad; 
Next year I’m determined to board, 
Where food hi to eat can be had. 
Early hours ho said health required. 
And Charlie koep* saying the same; 
At the party ’twits full ten o'clock 
Before Mrs. Oeneral B. came. 
IIow absurd to grumble and scold, 
And talk of ways better, and best; 
1 am sure 1 have trouble enough. 
And I only do like tho rest. 
This new education of girls, 
And reproof for the women who shirk 
The duties of life. Is all right 
For those who wero brought up to work; 
I’d not think of tho lecture again. 
But tho Governor’s wife and her set 
Will be there, so I must go, too, 
For Kcform is tho last thing out yet. 
Majasa. 
WASHINGTON LETTERS.-II. 
BY MARY A. E. WAGER. 
MOORE’S RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
JReacling foil ^ & flttn S- 
123 
SENATORS—AGRICULTURE—THE ADMINISTRATION , 
CHURCH. 
There uve a groat many women in Wash¬ 
ington just now—society women, lobbyists, j 
department wonion, suffrage and literary , 
women, and transient visitors, who come , 
singly or in battalions for sight-seeing. But . 
among them all none have more Interested 
me than a little old lady in black, who has 
won the right to one of I he most e ligible 
seats in the Senate gallery by her persistent 
occupancy. She comes early, settles herself 
quietly, where she can command a full view 
of the Republican side, and then takes out 
her knitting, -which is of white, homespun 
yarn, and will one day be a man’s sock. I 
mean to “ interview ” her some flay, and if 
I do will tell you all about it, for her indus¬ 
try and moral courago are very remarkable 
characteristics in this city of loafing. 
The Senate has not. perceptibly changed 
since 1 was here two years ago. Rosuok 
Conkling looks as young, as handsome, 
and seems as happily Conceited and assert¬ 
ive as ever. Senator Fenton smokes less 
than he did, but as usual abounds in leisure, 
looks as neat us a now pin, and exorcises bis 
old knack of bowing, talking, and winning 
visitors into his political harness. Matt 
Carpenter has grown bigger and lazier, 
tumbles his iron-gray hair about, and looks 
as if he luxuriated in physical repose. 
Charles Sumner looks hardly as robust, 
but retains his terrible husky voice and ter¬ 
rifying maimer. ITU wife, or rather the 
lady who had the courage to marry him, 
lives in Europe. Senator Ames, who won 
the beautiful Blanche Butler, and is the 
youngest member of the Senate, has a iiuo 
figure, a pleasant, intelligent face, and looks 
happy. Garrett Davis, cadaverous and 
threatening, is full of tire on that branch of 
tho Civil Service Reform which shall inves¬ 
tigate the Grant family and its relatives 
who hold office under the Government. 
Congress mu^t tind a dearth in the need of 
Reform to stoop to such miserable aud pet¬ 
ty persecut ions of the President. 
In tho House end of Congress one is never 
conscious of but one thing, aud that is, that 
that it is a perfect Babel of the most dis¬ 
tracting nature. The atmosphere that per¬ 
vades the galleries is enough to demoralize 
the best constitution on the earth. The 
only encouraging sign of improvement in 
either branch of the National Legislature, 
is that there is decidedly less smoking of 
tobacco by the members, than two years 
ago. And less smoking means less wine and 
whisky-drinking, less mental muddle and 
more sensit ive moral convict Ions. It is a 
vice too disgusting and ruinous for any one 
not in its service to have a particle of pa¬ 
tience with. The Agricultural Department 
has added somewhat to the attractiveness 
of its grounds. A large conservatory has 
been erected, and objects of ornament and 
architecture add to the general outside ap- 
i pearancc of things. In tho interior, some 
new pictures and models have been added. C 
Prof. Glover seems a little less enthusiastic ^ 
than of yore. Mr. Dodge is quite as digui- 
tied and English-ified in his appearance as 
ever. Commissioner Watts is as unlike 
Gen. Capron as it is possible for two men 
to be. He is, however, pleasant and chatty, 
has a certain beniguaucy of countenance 
that reminds one Of his kindly-faced grand¬ 
father, and. moreover, expresses some very 
beneficent ideas in regard to the Depart¬ 
ment work, and believes that Congress and 
the Department were never more in unity 
and sympathy than at this moment. Mr. 
Saunders, who presides over the loafing and 
blossoming things, cheers one most radiant¬ 
ly with his hearty Scotch ways and words. 
Talking of women and strawberries the 
other day, he says, “What docs Horticulture 
for Women mean? " 
“Why, 1 suppose it means tho culture of 
fruits for a livelihood," I said; “raising 
strawberries aud tending green-houses.” 
“ I wonder if they fancy it to be easy work!' ’ 
he exclaimed. “ Why, it. is the heaviest 
work I know of, and it is unwholesome, 
moreover. It Is terribly back-break big to 
cultivate .strawberries; and to get off small 
fruits to the market, one has rest neither , 
night or day in their season. The dampness j 
of conservatories or green-houses gives one j 
the rheumatics and lumbago, and from all 1 i 
can see it is a most miserable undoi taking 
for a woman.” 
Perhaps so; there’s considerable misery 
in anything a woman undertakes, or a man 
either, for that matter. The first employ¬ 
ment 1 hoar of that is not hard on tin- back, 
brains and heart,, 1 will subscribe for. If 
suffrage will only turn the World right side 
out, 1 pray that we may all vote t wenty 
times a day. Just now there is considerable 
suffrage talk. At a reception the other 
evening a member of Congress from Ten¬ 
nessee introduced the topic, and I asked 
him what Congress was going to do about 
woman suffrage. 
“Oil, we don't mean to do anything. 
When women want suffrage, they shall have 
it. It is not a matter for legislation, it 
comes from within, and lie placed bis hand 
on ills shirt bosom. Beni ivnent is All agree¬ 
able sauce at times, and one can die on it, 
but it is poor stuff to live on. Bo long as 
four or five hundred thousand women have, 
already petitioned Congress for the righ t to 
vote, it constitutes quite too formidable an 
asking to authorize a man in the insinuation 
that women don't want the privilege. Be¬ 
cause I do not care to vote, or go to church, 
or get married, it does not follow that m\ 
next, door neighbor feels as I do. If five 
’ hundred thousand women want the priv- 
• ilego of going to "destruction,” let them 
5 have it, T say. I am not at all afraid of 
losing my feet or head in case of such an 
I event, or of society being any worse than it 
s | 1ilH been with twice five hundred thousand 
> male “idiots and lunatics ” controlling the 
* polls. 
s i am going to a woman’s prayer meeting 
, this afternoon, for women pray here, as well 
s as powder, ancl Tor preparation will t.-U you 
v a little about religious matters, as seen on a 
= Sunday morning in the Metropolitan Meth- 
1 odist Church, which is the church of tho 
'< Administration. 1 went with u friend whose 
« scat adjoins that of the President, so that, 
for my right hand worshipping neighbor i 
had Mrs. Grant, whowas clothed in a black 
’ velvet suit, t rimmed with Russia sable. She 
' is usually accompanied by the President, 
e Miss Nellie, who is a very young lady, and 
, a sou of twelve years, perhaps. Back of the 
’ President’s seat, sit Mr. and Mrs. Cot.fAX. 
two rather ordinary and sensible looking 
e people. In front sit Judge FusiLKU and 
e family, and two or three Japanese Princes, 
GOING TO SLEEP. 
BY BOSE GERANIUM. 
Come, Maupik, darling, and sit on my knee, 
Coy little nestling, so wild in your glee, 
Lot your round Hoad on my shoulder here Uo, 
And while 1 rock, coo your loving ’’ by-by.” 
Wee, restless lingers, that tenderly press 
Close round my neck in iv loving caress: 
Rosy lips, parting, and hiusot eyes bright, 
Are ye not weary of playing to-night t 
Aye! for thy head, like a dow-thlrsty rose, 
Droopetb and droopetli. tutown to repose. 
Lower and lower tlic dark lashes sweep— 
Dear little MAUDIK has fallen asleep! 
O, precious baby! in slumber serene, 
Heaven's protection bo ever thy screen, 
Guarding thy spirit thro’ earth's weary night, 
Into the morn of eternity’s light. 
THE CHILDREN’S LETTERS. 
BY AUNT EDITH. 
LHJGJHU, i.1* 1* VM« * - w "■•re - - ' . 
family, and two or three Japanese Princes, 
who are studying law with him. They are 
very devout, and one is staid to be a member 
of the church. Ju«t back of my friend sits 
Chief Justice CHASE, looking somewhat fee¬ 
ble, but bettor than last year, so his friends 
sav, lie is almost eutlrely bald, there be¬ 
ing scarcely any hair left on or about his 
head. Save when his face is illumined with 
a smile, one would hardly think of calling 
him handsome now. But when he takes 
your hand and speaks, you at once accord 
him love aud reverence most hearty. Tho 
entire congregation at the Metropolitan is 
most remarkable, being made up of notables 
from .ill pari - o! tl mi ry. Rot. Dr. 
Newman, the pastor, speaks entirely with¬ 
out note', lie is a handsome man, with a 
mellow voice, happy 111 his choice of words, 
and a popular, if not a great preacher. Tho 
singing is congregational, led by an organ 
and choir. The latter comprehends a man 
singer, whose solos at the close of the service 
I always read the children’s letters with 
delight, and want to place a letter to them li 
in their columns to encourage them to write “ 
letters. It is an excellent way for them to j, 
learn to do business, and feel self-reliant. , 
It improves their writing and spelling, and 1 
strengthens their families of thought, i I 
remember teaching a young man to write ' 
his first letter. He was far front his home 
and parents, who wore anxious to hear from 1 
him. He knew liow to write, but said he { 
had never written a letter, and did not t 
knowhow. “ What shall L write them?" | 
ho asked. “ Write them where you are— i 
when you came here - what prospects wo 
offer you, and all other tilings that you , 
would tell them were they near enough for . 
v,m to visit them.” After giving him those 
directions, he went to writing, and wrote a 
very good letter. 
Tho inexporineed, whether young or old, 
need to be taught how to do the things they 
are not accustomed to do. Borne learn early; 
others require more careful and patient in¬ 
struction. When children are taught to do 
things correctly, it is a great blessing to 
them, and others, ever after. Those who 
do their work well, whatever kind of work 
it is, will, if faithful, honest aud temperate, 
always find employment where they are 
known. .. _. 
Now, children, T want to tell you—one and 
all -never swear, never use tobacco, or drink 
beer or liquors of any kind. Resolve now, 
while you arc young, to refrain from these 
tilings, and you will grow up much healthier, 
happier, and be much more useful aud re¬ 
spected, and live to greater age, than oth¬ 
erwise. 
Onondaga Co., N. Y., Feb., lbi'2. 
--- 
OUR LETTER8 FROM BOYS AND GIRLS. 
How a Young Boy Figures.— Willie 
W eight, years old, writes from L moil City, 
Fa.’, thus fnjm-nUvclu I g<* to school and 
ant trying to learn. I have two sheep. Mr 
fucle, John C’OE. gave them to me for a 
t’hri.itmas present. 1 have put them out on. 
shares, and expect, if 1 live to bo forty-one 
year* old, and can keep them out until Unit 
time to double every three years, that L 
will have enough to keep mo the balance of 
in V life. For 1 would have over twelve thou- | 
sand dollars worth, if sold at three dollars 
each ; and if that amount of money was put 
out at *ix percent, interest, it would bring 
• seven hundred and i wenty dollars per year. 
? Our place is growing very fast. U think 
verv much of your paper ancl that every 
’ person ought to take it . as there is so much 
; useful information in it. I do not think of 
anything else to write, so good-by, Mr. Rr- 
it vt ” [Didn't your papa help you figure ?] 
For my share I got me a suit of olothes this 
winter. I help father do the chores evening 
and morning. When I grow up 1 want a 
farm of tny own and mean to bo a fanner. 
A M iusonxl Girl.—Taut Fi.t.ie M. writes 
as follows; —This is the first year we have 
taken your paper. 1 like to read t lie letters 
of the little girls very much. They put mo 
in the notion of writing for your paper. I 
am nine years old. i have been in six States 
—Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa 
and Missouri. Mv home la now in Missouri. 
1 live in Rocheport, Boone Co., on (he Mis¬ 
souri River. I enti see the boats passing 
everyday, i have two little sisters; one is 
named Jennie Wright; baby sister's name 
is Daisy Woods. She is six mouths old. I 
am learning to sew. I made Daisy Woods 
a wrapper last week. 
From tlio Green Mountains. — Cora 
D. L. writes:—My papa is u subscriber for 
your paper, and f read the boys’ and girls’ 
letters, so 1 thought 1 would try aud write 
one. 1 am a little girl of eleven years old. 
1 came from Bloomington, Ill., to Milton, 
Vt. 1 came here w hen I was six years old. 
1 am verv much attached to the Green 
Mountains. I have a little brother; his 
name is Fdgene. Ho is full of mischief. I 
have a little dog; Ills name is Jetty. 
A Put Owl.— Robert T). of Vincent, O., 
writes:—I do not live on a farm, but we 
have one; I have uo father, or we would 
live ..n my farm; my father died in the 
army when 1 was a year and a-half old; I 
am ten years old now. L do not take, your 
paper, but I read mv grandfather's. I have 
no pets, only a kitten; I did haveapetowl, 
but I let it go, for there were so many other 
little birds Hying around the cage, and they 
would plague it so, 1 let It go. 
A Feeble Calf.— Martha A. W. writes: 
1 live in Jerusalem, ouiy eight miles from 
Albany. My pa is a farmer, and lias over 
two hundred acres of land, and I often run 
and play about; but the great est curiosity 
I have now is a little calf t hat papa gave mo 
if I would feed it; for it was so weak and 
feeble, poor thing. I go to school about two 
miles from home. We have a good teacher, 
itlid my folks think that 1 am improving 
slowly. 
Breaking Colts.— Frank J. It. of Fast 
i Bloomfield, N. Y„ writes:—! live in the 
west ern part of tho Empire State. 1 do not 
go to school, but study at home. I have 
’ been helping my father break the colts. 1 
' liav an irou-grav colt, nearly two years old, 
; which 1 rail Major; 1 intend to break him 
. before pring. A short l ime ago my mother 
purchased t wo beautiful gold fish and made 
me a present of them. 
A Queer Pet.—L. A. L. of Richland Co., 
’’ Ohio, writes:- I have a cat; his name is 
4 Tommy; ho Will put his paws around my 
nock; I can dress him up and lie will play 
o baby. We have a large dog, he will shake 
hands; his name isShep; ho is six years old. 
j 1 go to Sunday School. 
I Taking Pictures.—T. L. A. writes from 
BelleTonte, Fa.l was learning tho photo- 
r ' r raphing art, but I thought I would go to 
e school till March or April, then commence 
:, it again. I had token one picture when 
school commenced. My boss thought it 
very good for tho first one. 
<®he fJiu'dcr. 
ILLUSTRATED REBUS.-No. 7. 
■Mllgui , D 11" ” / IO. HU *-i»v .." ■ - - - 
are very delightful, which assertion every 
one who has heard him will indorse. Tho 
church has a chime of bells, which gingleall 
sorts of pious and some secular melodics, 
which are good to lull one to sleep, if you 
are not too hear, and to summon you to ser¬ 
vice. There they go this very moment, to 
the tune of “Sweet Hour of Prayer,” and 
I’m off. Good-by. 
P. S.—I meant to add, for the edification 
of the party-going girls, that the most effec¬ 
tive party dresses worn hero are of white 
tarletati, trimmed with alternate ruehings 
and quillings of black turletan, —sashes 
and all. 
A Pcnnsylvauia Mtss, Nellie |says: 
My father takes the Rural New-\ orker, 
and I love so much to read tho letters of the 
little boys and girls. I have long boon 
wanting to write one, too. 1 am a little girl 
nine years old. I do uot. live on a farm, and 
have lotu of pets, as many of the little girls 
do; but f live in town, the pleasant little 
town of Emporium, situated on the head¬ 
waters of the Driftwood, a branch of the 
Kinnamuhouiiur. I have three brothers and 
one sister. My little four-year-old brother 
is ai eager every week to see papa » Rural 
as anv of us. Last summer 1 had some 
beautiful flowers, such as Balsams, Asters 
and Portulaccas, besides many ot her kinds. 
1 had quite a variety of house plants, but 
our cold nights proved too much for them, 
and 1 lost thorn all. 
Study and Work.-C harlie M. D. 
says:— lam ten years old, and am a fanner s 
boy 1 live near the town of Bellevue, < >hm. 
Tam going to school; 1 go to school about 
nine months out of a year. I work on the 
farm during vacation, and on Saturda's. 
Mv father thinks education.ought tube well 
rubbed in with work. I have a nice black 
team, that is called mine. Last summer i 
plowed twelve acres of corn twice; 1 also 
cut twenty-three acres of grass, and raked 
it with tho horse-rake. I rakcu hft} 
iirivs nf wheat stubble for father, on shares. 
jgr* Answer in two weeks. 
-I4t- 
BIBLICAL SQUARE-WORD.—No. 2. 
A tower near Bethlehem. 
A domestic bird. 
A plain in Syria. 
A Bible name for tare. 
J57" Answer in two weeks. 
Isola. 
PUZZLER ANSWERS.-Feb. 3. 
Illustrated Rebus No. 5.—Familiarity breeds 
contempt. 
IllDDLE No. 1.—A Key. 
Cuuss-Wohd Enigma, No. 2.—Wild houey. 
PUZZLE No. 1. 
MONDAY. TUESDAY. 
m., nop Currie, Emma. Margie, Mury, Pnehe. 
Funny. Marla. Currie. Helen, Hattie. 
MONDAY. 
Margie, Currie. Emma. 
Murv, Funny, Marla. 
Phebe, Amelia, Kate 
Anna. Mira. Iattlo. 
Rose, Sarah, Helen. 
WEDNESDAY. 
Margie, Anna, Rose. 
Currie, Maria. Kate 
Emma, Mira, Sunili- 
Murv, Amelia, HatUc. 
Phebe, Fanny. Helen. 
FRIDAY. 
Margie. Amelia. Sarah. 
Carrie, Phebe, Rose. 
Emma, Maria. Hattie. 
Mary, Miru, •' 
Anna, Fanny, Kate. 
Currie. 
Emma, 
Mury, 
Phebe, 
Euuna, 
Anna, 
Rose, 
Funny, Amelia. 
Sarah, Marla. 
Margie, 
Carrie, 
Emma 
Mary, 
Anna, 
Helen. 
Kate. 
Hose, Mint, KutO. 
TitUUSnAV. 
Margie, Mira, Fanny. 
Carrie, Mary, Anna. 
Emma, Helen, Kate. 
Phebe, Surah, Hattie. 
Roue, Amelia, Maria. 
SATURDAY. 
Margie, Helen, Marla. 
Carrie, Mini, Amelia. 
Emma, Phebe, Anna. 
Mury, Sarah, Kate. 
U-j»e, Funny, Iluttio. 
Rose. Carrie, 
Hattie. Emma, 
Margie, 
Carrie, 
Emma, 
Phebe, 
Anna, 
SUNDAY. 
I la trie, 
Funny, 
Mary, 
Mira. 
Amelia. 
Kate. 
Bamh. 
Rose. 
Maria. 
Helen. 
