these w oodland treasures, ami once more cross¬ 
ed the silent forest, now full of the mellow 
Winter sunlight. MrooEdren a sigh and said, 
“Undo Pen, squirrels don’t have to lenit, do 
they?" She added, after the negative answer, 
“I s’pose I don't exactly want to he a squirrel, 
but I'd like to live among those pretty things 
all the time. I know for certain that. I should 
never feel the least bit cross; no, not the least 
bit.” 
There were no yawning rents in the maiden’s 
dress, and her careful mother smiled at the 
enough, and we had enough to cover the parlor 
floor and the best bed-room—about forty yards 
in ail. 
While wo wore tacking down the carpet one 
of the neighbor’s girls came in, and after prais¬ 
ing our carpet,, said: 
’* We have got a new carpet." 
" When did you make it?” mother asked. 
“ Oli, we didn't make it; it is n boughten car¬ 
pet.” 
“We couldn’t afford a boughten carpet,” re¬ 
plied mother, "they cost so much.” 
RECONNOITERING IN THE WINTER 
NEW PUBLICATIONS, 
Scene— Fann-houso kitchen. Time—An after¬ 
noon In February'. Individuals —Mrs, Kate 
Parsons, her little daughter and her middle- 
aged brother, tho latter drawing on a pair of 
rubber boots, and making inquiry' for the market 
basket. 
“Going to market, uncle?" said the little 
girl, who had Just, begun her task in fact, was 
just knitting off the stitches on her second 
needle. 
“Yes, MtDfiE, and 1 shall be especially charm¬ 
ed by your company if mother will say yes to 
me.” 
Mrs. Kate faced about and remarked severe¬ 
ly:—“P en Dennis, do you want to take the 
child hazing off to the woods this cold after¬ 
noon?" 
She is a fine tlguro of a woman, this Mrs. Kate, 
and she looked things unutterable with her 
sharp, black eyes. She is a fearfully exact and 
conscientious housekeeper: she loves to work 
—at least she says so—and as a farmer's wife, 
her energies have unbounded scope. She rises, 
like the Scripture matron, before the day, and 
liiycth her hands to the spindle, in spite of liv¬ 
ing in close proximity to a factory where excel¬ 
lent yarn Is made. She thinks all pleasant 
walks or rides are so much lost, time, and you 
can understand that the proposal to spoil lit t ie 
MrDGE's afternoon's labor wasn’t agreeable. 
But a-* Pen Dennis straightened himself up, he 
gave a hearty laugh, and tho matron’s face re¬ 
laxed. The gentleman aforesaid flattered him¬ 
self that the world was made for bis benefit, 
and that lie has learned how to get a reasonable 
amount of enjoyment out of it. He further¬ 
more holds the opinion that he’s going through 
life for the last time, and it’s worth while to 
learn all he can. Nature lias condescended to 
teach him much of her hidden lore, and ho de¬ 
lights to translate her mysteries to his favorite 
niece. 
“Can’t I go, mother?” she asked, in her most 
coaxing tones. 
The matron gave no sign that she hoard tho 
request, but continued in a mollified tone, 
“She'll take cold, I know.” 
“Nonsense!” „ 
“She'll tear her dress.” 
“Doubtful 1” 
"She won’t finish that stocking heel." 
“She’ll learn something better than slip and 
bind, Kate. Depend upon it, she wants a 
change after being cooped up in the house so 
long. I'll take good care of her, and she'll come 
back with a pair of red cheeks in place of these 
white ones." 
"Well, I suppose you must have your own 
way, Penn. You always managed to get it;” 
and with a faint smile she saw Mint Midge was 
warmly equipped in sack, and hood and mit¬ 
tens. The three set off most gaily, for of course 
Spot trotted at Midge’s side down the mead¬ 
ows, across the pasture and into the woods, 
where he Instantly deserted her, and ran for 
tiic woodchuck boles, that were a constant ex¬ 
asperation to his doggish nature. The brown 
leaves rustled and sighed ; the tall spoke plant 
had dropped Its tropical-looking foliage, and 
naught remained of its beauty save theshrlveled 
purple berries on its discolored brandies. Little 
squirrels pattered along the fallen trees, and 
then scampered off home. Our hero went down 
on ids knees and carefully scraped tho green 
moss from a beecli true, for a hanging basket, 
as It doesn’t fade like most other varieties. He 
said t o Midge “ Will you look at that log yon¬ 
der while I get this?” 
"Oh, Uncle Pen !" she cried, after a minute, 
“do come and see these funny little things— 
such cunning gray steeples,and little ones with 
red tops, and little brown-headed pins—only 
they're all alive, r suppose.” 
Sure enough, a multitude of falry-llkc liver¬ 
worts and lichens M ere covering the log with 
their beautiful tapestry. So then ami there the 
Wenders of Sculpture. - Hy LOUIS ViARDOT. 
New York : Scribner, Armstrong A Co. Is 73 . 
Another volume of the already famous illus¬ 
trated library of wonders. It, Is a translation 
from a French work, and has sixty-two fine 
illustrations of the most famous statues in ex¬ 
istence. The sculpture of various nations is 
treated of In separate chapters. A chapter on 
American soulpturo lias been added to this edi¬ 
tion. No illustrations of American siulpturo 
are given, which is an oversight to bo rogrottod. 
Tho book Is of interest to all readers. 
Back-Log Siudies. By Charles Dudley War¬ 
ner. Boston : James It. Osgood & Co 1*73. 
A nRAU'riKui,, dainty volume, from the pen 
of one or our most gonial humorists. Those 
charming studies originally appeared lu Scrib¬ 
ner's Monthly. They have been road by thou¬ 
sands, and reproduced In most of the papers of 
the country. All who admire tins author M ill 
bo glad to got his productions lu tills form. The 
book is illustrated, and makes a volumes of 3«l 
pages, _ 
Philip. Knrnsrlifl'e, Or, The Morals of May 
Pnir.-Uy Mrs. tin wards. Now York : Sheldon 
& Company. 1873. 
The author of this novel has a reputation for 
writing a good story, which u’ill give her many 
readers. She is interesting, pointed and pi¬ 
quant. The scone of this romauco is in Franco 
and London, and the characters appear to bo 
well drawn, wbllo the plot is Interesting. Tho 
book is a largo one, of nearly two hundred 
double columned pages. 
Hymn Mu sic, specialty adapted to the Hymnal of 
the American Episcopalcuurch, by .Jah, Pearce, 
Mas, Bac. Oxuu. Now York: W. A. I'ond & Co 
047 Broadway. 1 
Though written for tho Episcopal Church, 
the music and hymns will lie wclcomo in many 
other churches and in the family circle, Tho 
music is, as all hymn music should bo, simple 
ami melodic, and the harmony not unnecessa¬ 
rily intricate. It is a good book to have. 
The Household Book of Sours.—B y. F. 0 Bow¬ 
man and C. A. Dana. Now York: tv. A. Pond 
& Co., 517Broadway. Price 
A large and well printed selection of songs, 
arranged for Tour voices, and grouped as Na¬ 
tional Airs, Songs of Sentiment, Songs of Na¬ 
ture, Songs of Devotion, and Folk Songs. The 
collection is one of the best and neatest, and 
deserves to be tho most popular one wo have 
seen for a long time. 
An Only Sister.— By Madame Guizot DeWitt. 
New v ork : Harper & Bros. 1873. 
One of tho charming series written for girls, 
and edited by tho author of "John Hulifax, 
Gentleman.” Thisstory paints real French life, 
ami the real French woman in her best and 
noblest typo. The book, a small volume of 350 
pages, is illustrated, and written in Himpio lan¬ 
guage. _ 
Plain Talk uimur iuaauity.-By T. W. Fisher, 
The object of this book is to exhibit Insanity 
in its true light, for tin; purpose of preventing 
it. Its causes, forms, symptoms, are discussed, 
as well as the treatment of mental diseases. 
Remarks aro also given on hospitals and asy¬ 
lums. The book is intended for popular reading. 
Hrcad-aud-Ciieesc mill Kisses. By B. L. 1'AU- 
JKON. New York : Harper & Bros. 1873. 
This pathetic and dramatic story, from tho 
pen of the later Dickens, has appeared in tho 
columns of Harper’s Weekly, It is a Christinas 
Tale and makes a pamphlet of 175 pages. All 
who read it will he delighted, it is profusely 
illustrated, and can be had for 75 cents. 
A Passion jti Timers. — By A \\\in Thomas. New 
Y ork : The American News Company. 1873. Price. 
(u ceuta. 
Mrs. Pender Ccdlip has written manybooks, 
which have given her an established reputation. 
Uke all the rest, this is an English story of love 
arid adventure, told by one who knows how to 
tell a good story. 
Treason nt Home.— By Mrs. Giieenougii. Phil¬ 
adelphia: T. B. Peterson & Bros. 
This novel professes to take one through all 
the phases of English society. One Lady Tre- 
myss is tlie heroine, who has things all her own 
M-ay. The end of the story is quite unexpected. 
For its kind, it has the reputation of being a 
good story. 
At His Gates.— By .Mrs. Oliphant. New York 
Scribner, Armstrong & Co. 
A volume of 330 pages, handsomely printed, 
in paper covers, with31 illustrations. Thisstory 
first appeared In Scribner’s Monthly, where it 
attracted much attention aud was greatly ad¬ 
mired. It. is a good English love story. 
Christopher Crooked.— A Christmas Story. By 
WM. k HATHAWAY. New York: G. p, Putnam 
A ileus. 1873. 
A shout, crisp, pleasantly-told American 
story, just as good to read since Christmas tirno 
as at I tiat season. It is beautifully printed, and 
is well adapted for children. 
The Mysterious Gucst.-By Miss Eliza A. De- 
PUY. Philadelphia: T. B. Peterson & Bro. 
A so-called novel of the modern school 
(which is a very poor school), founded on inci¬ 
dents connected with Rov. Kleazar Williams, 
the pretender to tho French throne. 
RAPERY. — (See Page 175.) 
"Ours only cost two dollar) a yard, and it’s 
real nice; we girls braided for it, and it only 
took a year." 
Mother looked at mo and I looked at mother: 
unit her of us spoke, hut our eyes spoke a whole 
library. Mary Jones and Her slaters had earned 
a whole carpet , worth, twice as much as ours, In 
n year, by braiding palm leaf hats at thirteen 
cents apiece. Whan the last tank had been 
driven into its place we rose from our knees 
sadder and wiser women.—J^tnc Brandon. 
bright eyes aud red cheeks of the littlo'girl as 
she threw off her wraps and took out their 
spoil. The busy woman at the sewing machine 
actually stopped its hum and looked. 
“Pen," she said, softly, “do you remember 
when we lived at Lester, how we used always 
to lie building houses, and sticking hemlocks 
and brakes for trees ?" 
‘"Why yes, tvATE; you built proper houses 
and I made wigwams." 
“And you have purtridgeberries, I declare! 
I had them in my hair the first lime I ever saw 
John, and that's twenty years ago;” and the 
machine resumed its hum. 
Little Midge slipped up behind her mother's 
chair and Listened a spray of the berries among 
her dark tresses, then sat, down to the stocking 
and spoke never a word till her task was done; 
tlien. guided by her uncle, she filled a soup plate 
with t he moss and ferns, which, under a glass 
shade, will grow and blossom for days to come. 
Pen Dennis, in the solitude of his room, 
M ove the trailing evergreens into a garland, and 
hung it on a Mail just above a little drawing, 
dated long years ago. And he sighed as lie 
thought that the dear fingers which made it 
M ere never more to unclose, tile blue eyes M ould 
never again behold him. The one sweet dream 
of his life had faded and gone; all that was left, 
to him was the memory of Ills beloved Alice. 
JUDGING BY APPEARANCES 
ancee. A person dressed in a suit of homespun 
clothes, stepped into'a house in Boston, on 
some business, where several ladies were assem¬ 
bled in an Inner room. One of tho company 
remarked in a low tone, that a countryman was 
in waiting, and agreed to have some fun. The 
following dialogue ensued: 
“ You're from the country, I suppose?” 
“Yes, I’m from tho country.” 
*’ Well, sir, what do you think of the city?” 
“ got a tar rial sight of houses In it.” 
“ I expect there are a great many ladies M-hore 
you come from.” 
“ Oh yes, awoundy flight; jist forull the world 
like them,” pointing to the ladies. 
“ And you are quite a beau among them.no 
doubt." 
“Yes, I beaus ’em to meetin’, and about.” 
“Maybe the gentleman will take a glass of 
M ine," said one of tho company. 
“ I thankee; don’t care if I do." 
“ But you must drink a toast." 
“ I eats toast, what Aunt Debby makes, but 
as to drinkln’, J never seed the like.” 
Wliat was the surprise of the company to hear 
the stranger speak as follows: 
“Ladles and gentlemen,permit me to wish 
5 'ou health and happiness, with every other 
blossiug the earth can afford, and I advise you 
to bear in mind that we are often deceived by 
appearances. You mistook me by my dress for 
a country booby; I, from the same cause, 
thought these men were gentlemen. The de¬ 
ception Is mutual. I wish you good evening, - ’ 
HISTORY OF A RAG CARPET 
I was the only girl in a family of six, as poor 
as poverty and as proud as Lucifer. We—that 
is, mother and I—wanted a carpet, and we con¬ 
cluded to make a rag carpet ; the boys agreed 
to help us, and we went to work. We saved and 
washed, dried, out, seM'ed for four mortal years. 
Sometimes the hoys M’ould say they would cut 
no more, hut after a brief season of repentance 
they invariably returned t o tlie charge. Moth¬ 
er’s hands were blistered, mine were blistered, 
the boys blistered theirs, aud tlien father took 
up the shears, but lie soon gave it up, saying 
that “tho tarnal thing would cost more than it 
would he worth." The rags were all cut, sewed, 
colored and wound Into balls at last. Aunt 
Dolly spun the warp of wool from our pet lamb's 
back, aud wove tho carpet. It looked well 
