7 0ST. 49 MOORE’S 
R 13 
RAL NEW-YORKEI 
? • 259\ 
Jfodtes' f) oi[t-c^olto. 
MAIDENS OE TWENTY-FIVE. 
BY MA.JASA. 
“ IF I’m not married at twcnty-Qvc. 
Than I surely w 11 go West;” 
Did the maiden dream her thoughtless “ if ” 
Could bo more than a careless jest ? 
But the years have passed — the Spring-dime 
years. 
The freshness of girlhood too, 
“ With my earthly goods I thee endow,”— 
Comes not—what now can she do ? 
And still r.he tarries—and still sho waits. 
All of hope has not grown dim ; 
While her friends look grave and shake their 
heads, 
And they think her chance quite slim. 
Out West—oh, yes, vast fortunes are made. 
There owners wed maidens fair; 
But the saying shout the “ bird and chaff” 
Is as truo there as elsewhere. 
Out West are the plains so grandly broad, 
And rivers with shining sands. 
But the cottage home, and marble block. 
Were not roared by idle hands. 
Out We3t thero's work, a large reward, 
But not for the drones in the hlvo; 
Somehow the region has not been found 
Where the hangers-on can thrive. 
Now, ye maidens fair Of twenty-five, 
Stay where you ; ro if you shirk, 
But there is room for the hand aud brain. 
If only trained for the work. 
Out West there's room for woman to work, 
Why say what her sphere shall be. 
When slio gains lier bights and wins success, 
Look up -all tno world anil see ! 
A PLEA FOR MOTHERS. 
An article in the Rural of Sept. 14, concern¬ 
ing “ Country Women,” can hardly bo allowed 
to pass unchallenged by at least, ono of their 
number. Will the time ever come when wo 
shall cease to have our respected grandmothers 
and the good old times held up before our eyes? 
It. is really provoking to hear these notable old 
ladies praised for wilfully working so hard at 
all times as to leave to t heir descendants only 
enfeebled constitutions and worn out nerves, 
and then expect them to have the energy and 
physical strength to aeoomplish the same 
amount of hard work that, they themselves 
have done. One cannot help pitying ihe poor 
babies and little children of those days, who 
must have been sadly neglected while t he spin¬ 
ning and weaving was going on. 
I suppose it is possible for ono woman to do 
the work for a family of twelve; but sho must 
have perfect health and no small children; sho 
must care nothing lor reading, so that not a 
moment uood bo wasted on newspapers and 
books; and above all, sho must have a perfect 
enthusiasm for her work; must delight in wash¬ 
ing dishes above all earthly’ enjoyments; must, 
find it her chief pleasure to make soup in tho 
Spring, or apple butter in tho Fall; and must bo 
glad of the opportunity Of patching old clothes, 
or darning stockings at any time. 
But we cannot all take pattern of this model 
housekeeper. Mo.-t of us lmvo little children 
whoso daily and hourly wants must be attended 
to. To tho mother with constitution enfeebled 
by the demands of motherhood, who Is earnest¬ 
ly striving t.o take i. neer euro of her llttlo 
children, to respond alway s to their incessant, 
wants, and yet to neglect nothing of the mani¬ 
fold duties of a housekeeper, a nd with only one 
pair of tired hands to accomplish it. all-to this 
overburdened mother the advice of " Cay uga,” 
“Don't be afraid of work, go at it with a will 
and do it,” will seem like the '• last straw on the 
camel's back." A mother can hardly work 
calmly with a tear-stained baby-face before her, 
and two little bauds stretched imploringly out. 
to be taken. 
Ju regard to tho “complaining women,” let 
me recommend for “Cayuga's” perusal these 
lines of Shakspkake's ; 
“ A wretched soul bruised with adversity. 
We bid it quiet when we hear it ery; 
But were we burdened with iilco weight of pain, 
As much, or more, we should ourselves complain.” 
Q. It. H. 
-- 
THE WESTERN BOYS DEFENDED. 
In tho Rural New-Yorker of January 13th, 
I road “An Old Maid's Soliloquy," signed 
“Uino.” Now, although of course you know 
who “ Uino " is, it is not to be supposed that l 
know. Hut “Lino" has written some pretty 
hard things against us Western boys, and I write 
this just to let her know that, although thero 
are black sheep In every community, we can 
6how as fine specimens of Nature's gentlemen 
here In Nebraska as anywhere else—East not 
exoepted. 
We have young men who do not spend all 
their time aud money Ju saloons, who do not 
use tobacco in any shape or form whatsoever, 
and try to be honest and upright in all their 
dealings with their fellow oreatures, and to do 
their duty in that state to which it has pleased 
God to call them. At the same time I am free 
to own that “Uino” has a great deal of truth 
on her side; and, what is more, matters are get¬ 
ting still worse, and I blame tho present low 
style of literature for it.. I allude to the dime 
novels, certain magazines, and other papers, 
most of thorn illustrated, which no young man, 
if he had any respect for himself, would read 
for any consideration, f only wish that every¬ 
one would look at them in the sumo light that I 
do, namely, as rank hut very subtle ootmiis. 
If I were a girl the three leading questions I 
would put to n young man who paid mo any at¬ 
tentions, would bo, “ Do y ou drink beer, spirits, 
or such like? Do you U60 tobacco? Do you 
road dime novels?" If he could not answer 
these in tho negative, I would negative him 
sharp. Such is the opinion of a 
Palmyra, Neb. Western Boy. 
-♦4-k- 
WOMAN PERSONALS. 
Rev. Puebe A. HanafOkd, in a recent ser¬ 
mon, said : In Boston a father and daughter 
Occupy a law offieo together; in Chicago a 
woman—tho wife of a judgo— conducts the legal 
newspaper which is authority in legal circles. 
Woman-physicians are ably and successfully 
ministering to their own sex all over the land, 
and to tho little children who naturally look 
tirst to the motherly hand of woman for help. 
And I need not remind you that woman to-day 
stands in the pulpit, for tho very fact that you 
listen to the voice of ft woman here to-night, 
proves a vast area of progress since tho day 
when it was counted disgraceful for a woman 
to attend your meetings. All doors are open to 
woman for work; and though all doors are not 
yet open for her to study In the classic halls 
from whence her fathers and brothers were 
graduated, yet the day will surely come when 
Harvard, and Yale, aud Tufts, ami Amherst, 
and Brown, and many another college In the 
land will rejoice to welcome tho grand¬ 
daughters if not the daughters or tho students 
now within their walls. 
Among the Interesting ladies In New York 
society are Miss Selma Bohg and Marie A. 
Brown, the faithful translators of Mine. Marie 
SofjubSouw Anri’s works, tho famous Swedish 
authoress. Miss Boro is a. native of Finland, 
and came to Ainei iea because she despaired of 
doing her countrywomen much good so long ns 
they were tinder Russian rule. Sho Is a small 
woman, with blue eyes and flaxen hair; full of 
enthusiasm and ourneatness in any good work. 
Besides the 8< n WART/, novels, she is translating 
those of August Blanche and I,. Tapolins. 
Unfortunately she has had very bitter experi¬ 
ences with some American book publishers, tho 
story of which will soon appear in book form, 
aud promises to produce a sensation. 
Some time ago a young American woman 
found herself deserted aud without employ¬ 
ment in London, Sho was an Orphan, named 
Blanche Oswald, who laid been induced to go 
to England from Now York as n nurse for the 
children of a lady who was traveling. Doing 
unable to get work or assistance, she could not 
lead a mo of shame, and would not beg; 80 she 
commuted suicide by precipitating herself 
from the parapet of Waterloo Bridge, into the 
Thames. Since then no less than throe suicides 
have occurred in one day from the sumo bridge; 
all, doubtless, suggested by tho unhappy fate of 
the American girl. 
The Hon. Mrs. Meynell-Ingram Is the weal¬ 
thiest. woman in England, as well as a widow of 
many attractions. This young lady, who is 
about twenty-four years of nge. Is the daughter 
of Loud Halifax, better known as Sir 
Charles Wood, and Is probably the wealthiest 
of widows. She murried about two years ago 
Mr. Hugo Meynell-Ingram nl Temple New. 
sani, in Yorkshire, and Hoar.Cross, in Stafford¬ 
shire, whom his dentil bequeathed to her £250,- 
000 a year In land absolutely. She has no chil¬ 
dren. Speculation Is already rit'o as to tho man 
on whom her second choice will fall. 
Mies Mary Elizabeth Chantrell of Rot- 
tlngdern, England, a person of property, had a 
innnia for collecting cats and dogs, so that sho 
bad under her roof tiu fewer than thirty of tho 
former and forty-three ol’ the latter, bust. 
Spring she loft her homo and quadrupeds in 
charge of ft couple of servant girls; but she for¬ 
got to leave any money for victualling the me¬ 
nagerie and the- girls. The latter,as the trades¬ 
man refused credit, took ilioir leave, and the 
unfortunate pels were shut up without food, in 
consequence of which some of them were forced 
to kill and eat their companions. 
Kate Field complains that at tho Paris ban¬ 
quet to Stanley, tho discoverer of Living¬ 
stone, women were studiously neglected. Tho 
American women were anxious to honor Stan¬ 
ley, but since they could not do that, some of 
them assembled in tho halls of the Hotel Chat¬ 
ham, where they pounced upon the African 
hoy, Kalulu, showering him with kisses. At 
tho Stanley dinner given by Sir Charles 
Dilks in London, women were present. 
Miss Nellie Grant (tho President's daugh¬ 
ter), it is announced, Is to “ come out ” this sea¬ 
son—which means that tho chrysalis girl is to 
become the butterfly woman. Accordingly 
other Washington young ladies arc to follow 
suit and suit themselves with suits which will 
cost their dear papas heavily—more than the 
unapproachable costumes of the buttorllies of 
Summer. 
One Miss Aurora U. C. Phelps of Boston, 
has i-sued a call to the “True Friends of Pro¬ 
gress,'' to form a new political party. She bases 
her call upon the vital element of woman's 
right to unrestricted industrial or other educa¬ 
tion, froo choice of employment, and a seif- 
sustuining, independent homestead ownership. 
THE AMERICAN GAME. 
ICArn ono of the players mast lmvo two slips of 
paper; on one write a noun,and on the other q ques¬ 
tion. All the papers are to be thrown together (after 
being folded so tho writing cannot be suun), and each 
play or takes one of the questions and ono of tho 
nouns, and writes an answer, bringing in the noun. 
It ts an amusing nod iinelleotu.il game. The follow¬ 
ing are specimens and will exhibit the mode: 
Would vou like a diamond ring, and why ? 
Noun California. 
Once I liked a diamond ring. 
For the hope It. brought to me. 
That in years that wore to come, 
I should he no longer free. 
And I like my diamond ring, 
Better stdl for it is old, 
And beneath it, now there lies 
One of California gold. 
Wnicn is tho happiest, tho bachelor or married 
man, and why? 
Nunn: C'Hlflish Ball. 
Which Is the happiest, cun you toll, 
One that's wed or one that’s not ? 
Is a single life tho best, 
Or a double one the happiest lot ? 
Hot cakes has tho married man, 
And everything the best of all; 
While bachelors have nothing else 
But crusty broad and codfish ball. 
Is it wrong to confine birds in cages ? 
Noun: Scissorn. 
If I were a little bird, 
I could better answer true. 
Whether wo are doing wrong 
To coniine him as we do. 
But sometimes ho scorns to say, 
As he flutters to and fro, 
Bring your Mtoors, Indy dear, 
Loose my fetters, let me go. 
Which do you prefer, fact or Action ? 
Noun Oum Drops. 
Facts oro stupid things, you know, 
And hum-drum every way; 
They always happen Just so-so. 
To Saturday from Sunday. 
tn Action everything Is nice: 
If you for yum drops long, 
Your fancy brings them In a trice, 
Of every iiizo and form. 
Not for novels do I plead. 
Or lying tonguo approve, 
Fancy and Action often lead 
To virtue and to love. 
Myra Forrest. . 
-- 
THE BIRD KINGS. 
I1Y FRANK FERN. 
Tjik big birds were to have a kingdom. They 
held a meeting in the tops of tho high trees, 
and there oumo Hawks, Crows, King-birds, Rob¬ 
ins, Jays, and fill fholurgo birds of theairexcept 
the owl. He had been invited, but when it was 
told him that It was to bo held In daylight he 
refused tocotno. Tho smaller birds wore not 
allowed to cornu, for it was over them that the 
largo birds were to bo kings, and it was l’earod 
they would refuse to be governed if the plans 
were discovered. 
J’he meeting was gravely opened by Mr. Hawk, 
whoguvo a short, speech expressive of his ap¬ 
proval of the kingdoms, then laid u plan for 
the ditferent. kings before thorn. Tho Itobius, 
King-birds, arid other such birds, were to have 
the orchards, and with them their children were 
to live us princes. The birds of prey were to 
have the Forest for their government. There 
was one law that nil the small {birds iu their do¬ 
mains were to be held as servants to the kings, 
to build their nests and bring them food. 
Great was the sorrowing among the little birds 
when t he kings came. Each king had a large 
number of Sparrow Hawks ns an escort. Those 
birds bad had no kingdom given t hem, but were 
hi be the body-guard of the other kings, and 
share with them tho spoil of the nests which 
were to ho destroyed. 
There was one orchard in which a large barn 
stood,and beneath its eaves Swallows had built 
their neflts undisturbed lor many years. In t he 
trees were many nests of Bluebirds and Spar¬ 
rows, while in the old stumps Wrens had taken 
their homes. Thorn were many, many birds, 
ami they had madesweet music all the Summers 
before. But a largo family of King-birds enme 
here to govern it, and the Sparrow-Hawks were 
ordered to tear down tho nests. Cruelly was 
t his order obeyed, and tho young birds became 
food for the king's escort. And then the birds 
we re set. to work making nests for the king, and 
little straw and mud houses, upon the corner of 
the orchard, for the Sparrow-Hawk*. The Swal¬ 
lows brought the mud. the Sparrows the straw, 
and the Bluebirds built them, while the little 
Wrens brought the food; and the great fedows 
ate so greedily that they were glad indeed when 
night came. 
“ Woe is me," said a Swallow, lighting upon a 
mud hole where the mortar was got for the 
nests. “My wings are too tired to bear my 
weight longer, and I have been so busy l have 
not laid a chance to catch a moreol of food." 
A little Chipmunk sitting upon a stump close 
by heard the Swallow’s complaint, and rolled a 
kernel of wheat down to him. 
“Many thanks,” said the Swallow, picking it. 
"I've seen how things were going," said Tom 
Chipmunk, “and I wouldn'tstand it—no. not 11” 
and he raised his tail above his back In an inde¬ 
pendent way. 
“What would you do?” meekly asked the 
Swallow. 
Stop em upl Stop’em up!” and Tommy 
Chuckled nil over at tho Idea, so that ho rolled 
from the stump. 
“Stop 'em! How?" inquired tho Swallow, 
pleased to see Tommy so tickled. 
“Cover them over with mud, then they can’t 
»et out. Caught in their own nests, be! he!” 
chuckled Tommy, scampering into his hole. 
Up flow the. Swallow with his mini,and stealth¬ 
ily told his companions what. Tommy Chipmunk 
had said. Tommy was held as quite an ornolo 
among the birds, and Ihat day a secret meeting 
was hold at the mudhnle, at which Tommy ex¬ 
pressed hia ideas again. So It waS agreed that a 
roof should he mado over the nests at first, 
and then tho hole completely sealed up by the 
Swallows. 
“ Would you not Ilk©a root' over your nests?” 
asked l he little birds of t lie king. 
“ Oh do, papa; it will bo so grand, and aston¬ 
ish king Robin when ho comos to see us," said 
tho Crown Prince. 
“ do I do!” echoed nil the other princes. 
“And shull wo not build them over the police 
houses, also?” again asked the litilo birds. 
“ Yes, let It be done to-day," quoth tho king. 
Ho that day roofs were mado over tho nests of 
tho king and family, and over tho Sparrow 
Hawk s nests, and they wore all closed up ex¬ 
cept tin)holes in front through which they wero 
led; and the Idug and the pripcos thought It 
was all very nice. But that night, the Swallows 
brought more mud, and tho Sparrows more 
straw, and tho holes in front were closed up 
light, shutting in tho king, the princes and the 
Hawks. And the next morning tho birds all 
met at the stump where Tommy lived,and sang 
a song so loud that Tommy awoke; and that 
Jay he mode a grout feast for them, and invited 
some of his family, who brought wheat and 
corn and nice fruits, and such « day for tho 
birds was never again seen. 
ic flitidei*. 
ILLUSTRATED REBUS.—No. 13. 
IRIK 
See. , 
Answer in two weeks. 
MISCELLANEOUS ENIOMA.-No. 4. 
I am composed of 99 letters: 
My 1, IT, 2f>, 73, 47, 70 is an animal. 
My 2,10,30, 50, 41,88 is a fruit. 
My ft, 24, 15, 30, 58, V0 Is a bird. 
My 11, 43, 03, 00, 3, 87 ift a plant. 
My 12, IB, 40, 88. 00 , 28 Is an animal. 
My 1ft, 8, 37, .50. 83, 0 is a bird. 
My 10, 45, 80, 3, 02, 32 is a tree. 
My 28, 0, 48, 32, 00, B3 Is an animal. 
My 23,18, 40, U, 01, 78 is a bird. 
My 20,10, 7, 00, 07, 55 is a 11 h. 
My 37, 53, 4, 38, 30, 58 Is a t rue. 
My 30, 80, 05, f)3, Y7, 25 is a reptile. 
My 34, 70, 11, 20, 05, 31 Is an Insect. 
My 41, H, 71, 3, 08, S3 Is a bird. 
My 13, 4 , 13, 07, 41,12 Is a vehicle. 
My 14, 7ft, Vi), 03,13, 6 is an animal. 
My 51, 31, 04, 41, 2, 33 is a reptile. 
My 57, 30, 30, 73,17, 04 is an insect, 
lily 02,3, 54, 34,22, 60 is a bird. 
My 71, I*, 08, 15, 35, 10 is an animal. 
My 81, 02, 0, 80, 34, 47 is a bird. 
My til, 20, 12,40, JO, 30 is a tiower. 
My whole is a poetic quotation. 
Sheffield, Pa. Isola. 
‘ Answer in two weeks, 
—--- 
CROSS-WORD ENIGMA.—No. 5. 
M y first is in bad but not in good; 
My second is in after but not in before ; 
My third is in shad but not in lish; 
My fourth is iu life but not in death ; 
My lUTli is iu least lint not In most; 
My sixth is in happy but not in sad ; 
My seventh !s tn best but not iu worst; 
My eighth is iu love but not In hate; 
My ninth is in bark but not in wood ; 
My tenth Is In retreat but not in defeat; 
My eleventh is In Fall but not In Winter; 
My twelfth is In done but not in begun; 
My whole is a district in Arabia, 
t-v/'" Answer in two weeks, 
- 
PUZZLER ANSWERS.-Oct. 5. 
Illustrated Rebus No. II. — Hartford is a 
large cit y in Connecticut, 
Geographical Enigma No. 1.— Grandeur of 
character lies wholly in force of soul. 
Bible Question No. 2. — For answer, see 
Samuel II, xlx: 18. 
Problem No. 4.— 
22.097426 rods. 
10.379751 “ 
ll.t4S822 “ 
Puzzle No. 6.—1, Fan; 2, Ra; 3. llano; 4, An; 
5, Ran; whole is Franco. 
