mm 
ki 
mm 
er*** 
35 
* 
facial topics. 
WINTER EVENINGS. 
IIow wo Spend Them. 
BY DORE HAMILTON. 
t eg ' expensive, and very pretty tidy, thus: she 
OCtitl diOptrS* lakes rounds uf white muslin four inches ill 
®> * diamatcr, turns the edge, and gathers with a 
_ — — _ — strong thread, draws up and fastens. She 
sews nine of these little rounds together in a 
WINTER EVENINGS. diamond shape, and six diamonds form the 
How w o spend Them. tidy. I dare say that brackets and shelves, 
by doiie HAMILTON. dolls, cnul,cs ' *nd carved frames will spring 
_ from under Fhank'b hands. 13 ruck’s gift 
The days have grown shorter and colder; lies in his use of pen and pencil; he’s a won- 
& snow fall occasionally covers the turf and derful boy for making collections, and turn- 
bends the boughs of the beautiful evergreens ing odd collections to account. lie likes to 
on the lawn. Winter lias fairly come and mark paper and envelopes, cither with pur- 
-vve have settled into the old winter evening pie and black inks, or with water-colors; so 
ways. What are they? I’ll tell you. bis friends will doubtless be favored with 
Our three eldest attend 
school in the village, and our f 
dinner is on the table as soon 
as they are at home. The 
outdoor and indoor “ chores ” 
are done, lamps lighted in i ^ 
the library, and we gather ,||||§i 
round the table midway be- |j 
tween the bright “ Morning j 
Glory ” and the windows. Wo 
hardly ever drop the blinds 
of this family room in the 
•winter time, for my worthy 
husband maintains that happy 1 
people shouldn’t grudge a bit 
of light and warmth to those 
who are meeting wind and 
storm. Paterfamilias is usu¬ 
ally busied for a little while 
each evening with papers and 
letters; and this is the time I 
devote to helping the child* . 
ren with their lessons. I do 
not see how any wise mother 
can he Quito content to leave 
all educational matters in the 
hands of any teacher, how* 1 
ever skilled or competent. She j 
loses influence, to say the 
least, when she does not on- j 
ter heartily into plans of 
study. Again, class teaching 
is so general ; and a mother 
usually knows best what 
methods to take in instructing 
her own children. 
After Biiuce’s perplexing 
problem is finished, and i 
Frank’s translation will hear I 
grammatical test, and Min¬ 
nie’s geographical puzzle is 
done, out come the hooks. 
Just now we are making our¬ 
selves acquainted with Ameri¬ 
can events prior to the devo¬ 
lution. It would amuse any IE 
one to hear the comments of W 
thechildrcn. They have been L 
much interested in the In- | 
dian tribes who figured in 
colonial times, and the twins, 
usually the mildest of the 
flock, waxed warlike yester¬ 
day in their play of Pocahon¬ 
tas, King Philip, &e. Du 
Chaillu and Livingstone 
have related their travels to 
us; we have read a good deal 
of biography and fiction. 
Oldtown Folks was very well 
received by our audience last 
winter; so was Nicholas Nick- 
leby and one of Scott’s ro¬ 
mances. Of course we en¬ 
courage free discussion of 
these readings, and if every¬ 
thing is not fully understood 
now, wo believe their lives 
will he the better for this early 
training. During the read¬ 
ing, everybody’s hands are 
busy. Oir whittling genius 
lias perfected an arrangement . 
which keeps his shavings off 1 
the floor, and he brings his work to com- many new monograms during the holidays, 
plcte. Minnie lias a hit oi sewing or knit- One of the pretty thiugs that Azalia is 
ting, she lias lately been promoted to the making, is a "silent comforter,” to hang upon 
caie of Frank s wardrobe, and exhibits a the wall of her mother’s room. Upon a sheet 
laudable zeal to perfect herself in all the of drawing paper, she paints in old English 
ftnger-ciaft necessary to hilfill her duties letters, with India ink, some comforting text; 
creditably. Bruce is making an album of the initial and all capitals are ornamental 
le.tf impressions, and my twins five years and in colors, and under each text is a bit of 
old—F loy with her doll and Fred with his painting. With the text, “Abide in me and 
shaggy Fido, are as quiet as healthy chil- I in you,” she lias put. afewgreen vine leaves 
green, and finished at the top with a bow 
and loop. I forgot to say that the lower 
part of the case has the owner’s name upon 
it, made by cutting letters from a paper and 
spattering over them. Cushions of white 
drilling are ornamented in the same way, 
and muslin tidies also. Fern and ivy leaves 
make the prettiest patterns, but any graceful 
loaf may be used. 
Talking about these Christmas things lias 
led me away from our evenings. Wc nearly 
always have music, especially since Azalia 
has come; then there are the apples and 
nuts, and quite olteu the pop corn. The 
bright nights lead us out, occasionally, to 
sign of reproof; with a sister’s gentle pres¬ 
sure of the hand, or a brother’s noble act of 
forbearance; with a handful of flowers in 
green and daisy meadows; with a bird’s nest 
admired but not touched; with pleasant 
walks in shady lanes; and with thoughts 
directed in sweet and kindly tones and words 
to nature, to beauty, to acts of benevolence, 
to deeds of virtue and to the source of all 
good,—to God Himself.— Blackwood. 
The Problem for Institutes, 
In the Rural New-Yorker of Decem¬ 
ber lOtb, I noticed, on page 085, several so¬ 
lutions to the problem in your issue of No- 
literal}) Utarltr. 
trace the constellations by aid of our plain 
sphere. Sometimes wc have a general play, 
father and I playing as much as the others. 
Somehow, we have just about as much hap¬ 
piness as we can bear. I do not think our 
children will have bitter memories of their 
childhood, nor am I afraid that they will be 
in haste to pass out of its love and shelter. 
dren ought to be. 
on a branch. The words, “ As seeing him 
After the reading and its discussion the who is invisible,” have a cross above them, 
games make their appearance. We have and underneath is a crown of lilies. She 
quite a store of these, most of them of home will finish seven of the sheets this year, and 
consti action. Frank made our dominoes ultimately increase the number to thirty-one, 
last winter, and is now engaged hi enrv- so that there maybe one for each day of the 
ing a set ot chcaainen. Bruce made month. She is doing another kind of work, 
“ H,ltllor3 >” 0U1 ‘ arithmetical game, and the which is adapted to (doth or paper, and is so 
“ date leavesand he proposes to create a simple and pretty that others may like to try 
parchesi board before spring. As to Min- it. She has just finished a letter case, wldcii 
nie s dissected maps, 1 made them myself, she cut from Bristol hoard, pinned ivy leaves 
by cutting the maps Irom an old atlas, and upon it in a graceful pattern; then with a 
pasting them on stiff Bristol hoard. fine tooth brush, moistened and rubbed on 
Just now we are thinking of onr Christ- good India ink, she threw dots of gray upon 
mas gifts, and have already planned them, the case by drawing the brush over the back 
As the time draws near, wc are obliged to of a knife blade, 
let a part of the family occupy the kitchen The art consists in throwing vert/ small 
during a part of each evening, so that ini- specks of the coloring matter till the hoard 
portant secrets may not be divulged. There takes a uniform neutral tint. The leaves 
are wonderful book-marks and transpareu- are then removed, and the pattern appears 
cies to be cut, and Minnie is making an in- in pure white. The case is bound with 
|btrcati0traL 
EDUCATIONAL NOTES. 
More About the Use ot Words. 
I am asked what I think of “ Wellses 
Goatses skins.” 1 think nothing of the ex¬ 
pression, except that it is quite incorrect. It 
should he Wells’s goats’ skins—Wells’s to 
be pronounced Wellses. My questioner 
seems to forget that plural nouns form the 
vein her 12th, 1870, page 321. I thought I 
could give a simpler solution. On working 
it through, 1 found my answer did not agree 
with those in the Rural; so I thought I 
would send you my solution to the problem. 
If you think it worthy your notice, please 
examine it, and also the first solution on 
page 385, and see how he gets his mean pro¬ 
portion, 172.2, from this expression, 105, 
0625x282.24. I can’t see how begets it. 
But here is my solution: —16 4-5—16.8 
inches and 10^—10.23 inches; now 16.8 
inches 10.25—6.55 inches, the difference in 
thickness between I lie large and small end, 
Now 6.55-:-2=3.275 inches amt 10.25x3.275= 
13.525 inches mean proportion of the whole 
log; or the log contains the same amount, of 
lumber as one of the same length and 13.525 
inches square. Now, 13 525x13,525- -183.025- 
625 inches surface of one end. Multiply the 
length, 216 inches, by the surface, and di¬ 
vide the product by 144, and you will have 
possessive case, simply by the addition of the contents, 216-144—8-2; and 182 ! 125625x 
art apostrophe. T would suggest that as 2-3=274.3884375 feet, the answer, this, I 
“ goat” is a common noun, it might properly think, is a very simple solution; and if 1 
commence with a small “ g.”— e. a. h. have made no mistake in figures, it is cor- 
Whore Kducntiou Begins. 
Education does not commence with the 
alphabet. It begins with the mother’s look, 
with a father’s nod of approbation, or liis 
2-3=274.3884375 feet, the answer. This, ! 
think, is a very simple solution; and if I 
have made no mistake in figures, it is cor¬ 
rect.— Jack. 
-. - — — 
It is one main point of happiness that he 
that is happy doth know and judge himself 
to be so. 
NEW PUBLICATIONS. 
[All books announced In this Department run bo 
procured nt the RURAL N kw-York Kit office.] 
Or I tern of a Sentimental hller from Greece, 
Turkey, Egypt, Nubia mid tlio Holy },und, by 
Harry IIauewooo Leech, with portrait of the 
author, engravings of Oriental Life, etc., etc. 
(New York: Appleton & (!o.)-A pleasant book 
of travels, compiled from a series of letters, 
written on the spot, from tin* various localities 
of interest, enriched with tills 
of local gossip and stories, pic¬ 
tures of Oriental life and cos¬ 
tumes, full enough In detail to 
| he satisfactory, without being 
burdensome. There is no attorn pt 
ni line writing, or suggestions 
of extravagant, enthusiasm. It 
is Just such a book as a poetical, 
St cultivated "Sentimental Idler,” 
with abundant leisure, fond of 
adventure, and with somewhat 
keen observation, would be sup¬ 
posed to write. The inhabitants 
of the various climes, their cos¬ 
tumes, modes of living, claim his 
attention, and form the princi¬ 
pal topic of Ids letters. Other 
matters of equal Interest to 
many renders are inwrought ns 
accessories. The book is neither 
striking nor original in style, but 
it forms a very entertaining 
companion for one who tins a 
tasto for Jett ora of travel, pleas¬ 
antly and familiarly written. 
will t a t'tngtance — A 
Tale of Lovo and Adventure, 
by Ktnah an Cornwallis, (New 
York ; Carleton.) We have been 
fascinated, and still horrified as 
though held In the grip of a. 
nightmare during the entire pe¬ 
rusal of 1 liis book. There are 
some pleasing characters, but 
they seem t.o be drawn along 
like tlic reader, down,down into 
the demoniacal regions, beyond 
the reach of light or relief. The 
story opens in Boston; but the 
hero finds Ids way to Now York, 
and from thence he wanders to 
different climes, and returns, 
enc.il and every stop being dogged 
by a seeming hard, irresistible 
fate. Bobbers, ghosts, and oven 
the horrors of a Medical Col¬ 
lege. where a murder is com¬ 
mitted for a small sum of money, 
and the body of the unfortu¬ 
nate man is dissolved Fn boiling 
potash, and then cast into the 
sower. Any one who is natur¬ 
ally timid, and is In the habit 
of looking under the bed, for 
robbers, before retiring, had bet¬ 
ter not rend “ Adrift With a 
Vengeance." 
.Ulriant anti Other Poem*) 
by John Green leaf Whittier. 
(Boston : Fields, Osgood & Co.)— 
It seems to us that the more 
Whittier writes tho better ids 
work. This is, of course, ns it 
should be; but it 1b not tho 
rule, for unfortunately there is 
a largo class of writers who 
“ write out,” or who are content 
to allow their reputation to tide 
into public favor indifferent 
work. Whittier does himself 
no discredit in this poctil of “ Mi¬ 
riam j" aud the thirteen poems 
accompanying it tiro worthy Ills 
reputation. Tbis anuouncement 
of live book will be sufficient 
for intelligent readers. 
Suburban Stent chen, by W. 
I). Howells. (Now York: Hurd 
& Houghton. Price, $1.75.)— Mr. 
Howells Is a lively, sketchy 
writer, whoso volumes, ‘‘Vene¬ 
tian Life," and “Italian Jour¬ 
neys,” were very readable, in¬ 
deed. These home sketches— 
there are nine of them—are 
pleasant pictures of life and 
character, as a keen, apprecia¬ 
tive observer of It sees it every 
day, and proves bow much we 
lose dally by not taking in tho 
significance of events as they 
occur, and comprehending the pictures the 
grand daily panorama passing before us presents. 
.ittvenluren of a t'o u>ur JYaturaltnt , by LlJ- 
CiKN Heart (New York: Harper & Brothers.)— 
This volumo contains one hundred and seven¬ 
teen Illustrations-and beautiful Illustrations 
they are, too. This is a etory of adventures In 
Mexico, and is a lively talk about the wonderful 
natural objects that country produces. No 
young person can fall to gain much valuable in¬ 
struction from it. and thin information 1 b given 
in a popular way, which is sure to enlist the at¬ 
tention of the young reader. 
doing- on a *iti»aion % by PaulCobden, illus¬ 
trated, (New York ; Lee. Shepard & Dillingham.) 
In spite of a little exaggeration In the characters 
drawn and In their speech, this story will com¬ 
mand attention; aud It teaches the lesson so 
much needed now-a-days, that one need not go 
far off on a “mission;” there is enough to be 
done at home fit the way of instruction and Help 
to those around us. It has some tine Illustrations, 
and is a handsome book in every way. 
Little funny 1171 lou, by HARRIET BEECHER 
Stowe (Boston: Field, Osgood & Go. Price, 
$1.50.) This is a characteristic story, and of 
| course, both In (cresting and instructive; for it 
is rarely the case that Mrs. KtoWE writes any¬ 
thing for children that is not good. It can be 
ordered through the Rural New-Yorker 
I office. 
iranbury Outturn, by Joseph J. White, 
(New York: Orange Judd & Co.) seems to be a 
practicable and exhaustive work on this sub¬ 
ject. Wo should certainly advise those who are 
| about engaging in cranberry culture, and who 
I are without experience, to consult it. 
