5VU\Y S 
OOBE’S BUBAL NEW-YORKER 
fjortfolia. 
S PRING , 
I * BY EtrTH DANA. 
Give joy to the earth! for the garlands of Spring 
Are crowning with beauty the hill and the plain; 
The lark and the robin most merrily sing. 
While farmers are hopefully sowing their grain. 
There’s joy for the lone mountaineer whom the snow 
Hath bound with Its drifts to his cold, mountain 
cot;— 
With sunshine and verdure restored, ho will know 
How God, in His kindness, hath softened his lot. 
There’s joy in the. homo by the wild, fonmlng sea. 
Where tempests rich treasures have tossed on the 
strand; 
For the calm on the face of the waters will be 
As sweet as the hush of the blast on the land. 
The invalid pines for the warm, fragrant air 
That floats o’er the land of the orange and palm, 
And hails with thanksgiving these zephyrs that bear 
From sunnier rliraea their life-giving balm. 
How happy the children of want who have crept, 
All winter, so hungry and bold to their beds. 
That only the pitying angels have kept 
1 he shadows of death from their innocent heads. 
The Spring, like a fairy, is weaving for them 
•Vow garments to wear In the place of t he old ; 
With magic she robeth the woodland and glen 
In beautiful vestures of azure and gold. 
No monarch may fetter the sunbeams that-bend 
So lovingly down from the dome of the sky, 
But their brightness and beauty fresh courage will 
lend 
To tho toiler who wisheth that Heaven were nigh. 
■-♦♦♦-■ 
ABOUT HOUSEKEEPING. 
BY MBS. 0. H. C. 
“The man that’s got a good housekeeper for 
a wife is a lucky individual,” said a female 
friend of mine the other day, smiling at me as 
she spoke. 
” Yes,” I replied, “if lie only appreciates the 
blessing. I regret to say, I know some men 
who do not. Anti such men ought to be made 
to keep house and nook for themselves. Queer 
housekeeping and cooking that must, lie, I’ll 
venture to assert!” 
And we laughed merrily at the idea. 
Ho it is. Women, if left alone, or living a 
single life, are able to take very good care of 
themselves; but a man must be taken care of, 
poor fellow! when he is at homo. Whatever 
ho may be abroad however smart, and energetic 
he may be In some business mat!era, or how 
well able to conduct even tho grandest schemes 
of life ho can but allow that he is almost as 
helpless as a, child in some of the mysterious 
home arrangements. Without the help of some 
woman, he would bo a urlm ruble erratum. I 
would like to see him endeavor to “get up” Ids 
own linen and the appurtenances thereto. How 
dignified lie would look at t he washtub, and 
how scientifically he would boll and rinse and 
bang ids garments on tho line, upside down 
and Inside out (as they should bo). And how 
patient ho would bo at the Ironing table In a 
hot kitchen ! If tilings should go contrary, and 
the iron st ick to the line bosoms or tho starch 
stick to the Iron, how nicely lie would got out 
of the scrape! ife would never search anything 
—Oh, no! 
Ami when it came to tho culinary operations, 
what triumphs of artistic cooking lie would 
achieve! I am not talking of professed cooks 
—no doubt they are perfect in their line but 
of men in general, who know nothing of kit chon 
machinery, and have to depend entirely on 
womankind for the creature comforts, and who 
ought to appreciate, more I tem they usually do, 
the labor and patience exercised fur their'ben¬ 
efit. How often they will scold and grumble 
at their faithful servitor, bo she wire or hand¬ 
maid, while she is doing her very best to make 
them comfortable. Such men deserve to have 
pins stuck points upward in their downy pit- i 
lows instead of having said pillows beaten up , 
and patted so nicely for the better repose of 
their ungrateful heads. 
Men do not. often consider that while they 
are fighting the battle of life abroad, there is 
also a battle of Jife for t he wife to fight in the 
kitchen, where tho toughest and hottest part f 
of the engagement comes off with Bridget ! I ( 
am of a domestic turn, myself, and like to keep 
my house and husband- I mean, 1 like to keep f 
my harm in order and kitchen too, if Biddy t 
would only let me! But, “twelve dollars a 
month and presents included," seems to think r 
that she may upset things, and clean things, a 
and dirty things, without Id or hindrance— 
else, “ Ye can stay in the parlor where ye be- , 
longs, ma’am! I allows no Interference In my j 
kitching.” Yet Biddy, with her sauciness and 
clumsiness and her blunders, often makes me 
laugh. And talking of Irish blunders, “re- 1 
minds me of a little story," with which f will !' 
wind up tills wandering essay. ' 
A party at an English house were assembled 
in the parlor awaiting the summons to dinner, 
and as no people are more stupid when in a n 
room together than hungry ones, very little c 
was said and t.hc moments dragged away until, 
of ft sudden, ari Irish footman thrust his frizzled sl 
head in at the door, and shouted out at the top a 
of his voice, “Bid any of ye see the musthard a 
potThen the laugh came in ; and after that. I 
everybody brightened up, and there was no j tl 
lack of hilarity. () 
Sycamore Villa, near Brooklyn, L. I. I n 
MAY, MAYING, MAY-DAY. 
In old times the first day of this spring month 
was celebrated as a festival. If our calendars 
were right, the first, day of spring would coincide 
with the t wenty-first, of March, the day in which 
the sun crosses tho equator at tho vernal equi¬ 
nox. Time was wiien tho rural populations of 
several countries of Europe gathered flowers, 
made floral offerings, elected a queen, and 
danced around the •• May-pole." These cus¬ 
toms have fallen Into disuse in the other con¬ 
tinent, and have never been adopted in this. 
Much is said and written about tho “merry 
month of May; " but in the Northern States of 
the Union it, Is a harsh, uncomfortable month. 
“ April showers 
Bring May flowers,” 
may be true in England; but with us Juno is 
really tho flowery month, the first that brings 
halm and perfume and perfect freedom from 
water-proofs and overshoes. In New York City 
tho first or May is moving-day. Carpets are torn 
up, goods hustled into carts ami wagons and 
drays of all descriptions, some families turning 
out \\ bile others are moving in, and all is hurry, 
bustle, and confusion—a harvest for express- 
wagons and carriers; distress, damage, loss, and 
misery to thousands who do not own their own 
homes. Franklin said, “ throe moves are equal 
to one fire." I f so, how many families have boon 
many times burned out? After all, May is a 
beautiful month, whose lovely, pleasant, days 
are the harbingers of birds and fruits and 
flowers. 
lading for tin! girmtg. 
FAIRY-FOLK. 
Tin: fairy books have told you 
Of the fairy-folk so nice, 
That, make them leathern aprons 
Of the ears of little mice; 
And wear the leaves of roses. 
Like a cap upon their heads, 
And sleep at night on tlilslle-down, 
instead or feather-bods! 
‘ These stories, too, have told you, 
No doubt to your surprise, 
That the fairies ride hi coaches 
That are drawn by butterflies; 
And come Into your chambers. 
When you arc locked In dreams. 
Amt right across your counterpanes 
Make bold to drive their trains; 
And that they heap your pillows 
'Villi their gifts of rings and pearls ; 
But do not hoed such idle tales, 
My little boys and girls. 
There uro no fairy-folic that ride 
About tho world at night, 
Who give you rings and other things, 
To pay for doing rigid.. 
But. if you’d do to others what 
You’d have them do to you. 
You'll be ns blest as if the best 
Of story books were true. [Alice Cur//. 
« » »- 
OUR LAST VISIT TO THE OLD GARRET. 
EDUCATION OF WOMEN. 
The Independent, remarking the fact that 
not one woman was saved on the fated Atlan¬ 
tic, although many had the sumo chance of life 
as the men, observes: 
The strength of women at tho crisis of their 
life depends on their physical culture while 
children. Let parents be no more ashamed of 
their girls’ brown faces and fists than of their 
boys’. Let. them train and clothe them so that 
they-cun run and climb and care for and protect 
themselves. Let them take them with their 
brothers into the harvest field. A boy is not 
ashamed of work; no more should bo a girl. 
The refinement that shuts a girl out of God’s 
sunshine, and allows her no rougher work In¬ 
doors than to embroider worsteds, or tap ivory 
keys, or dust a marble mant le, is refining her 
oil of (lie face of tiic earth to give place to the 
daughters of the servants ip the kitchen. 
ORANGE FLOWERS AT BRIDALS. 
Mil. Turns, In Things Not Generally Known, 
says: “The use of those flowers at bridals is 
said to be derived from tho Saracens, or at least 
from the East, and they are behoved to have 
been thus employed as emblems of fecundity.” 
In answer to the objections of .Juxta Turin;, I 
would say that the introduction of the orange 
Into England was not subsequent to the days of 
chivalry. Their is dear proof that orange trees 
were growing in England in the reign of Henry 
VII. French milliners, would not, I think,have 
selected t he orange flower. 11 is not a beautiful 
flower, certainly Inferior to white roses, lilies of 
tho valley, snowdrops, and other tilings which 
may ho regarded as appropriate, it was a. uni¬ 
versal medlmval custom to wear wreaths of 
flowers at weddings, and very natural it would 
be in the south of Europe to use the orange 
blossom f*>r the purpose. The flower and its uso 
were both probably introduced to this country 
t igethcr. 
-- 
A STRING OF PEARLS. 
He denies himself who asks what it is impos¬ 
sible to grant. 
The best way to destroy the wicked, is to 
make them good. 
LOVE, which is only an episode in the life of 
men, is the entire history of women.— Mme. de 
Stool. 
Grant graciously what you cannot refuse 
safely, and conciliate those you cannot con¬ 
quer.— Lacan. / 
NOTHING is loss ill our power than the heart, 
and far from commanding it, we are forced to 
obey it. -HeltrUu;. 
The first ingredient in conversation is truth, 
the next good sense, the third good humor, and 
the fourth wit.— Sir W. Temple. 
However brilliant an action may be, it ought 
not. to pass for great when It Is not the result of 
a great, design. La Uachefaueald. 
He is happy whose circumstances suit his 
temper; hut he iamoro excellent, who can suit 
liis temper to any circumstances.—Hume. 
Great souls attract calamity us mountains 
the thunder-cloud; Imt while the storm bums 
upon them, t hey are the protection of the plain 
beneath.— Jeon Paul. 
The more believers love God, the more they 
love one another; as the lines of a circle, the 
nearer they come to tho center, the nearer they 
come to each Qth e r.— Charnock. 
In all evils which admit remedy, impatience 
should Ini avoided, because it wastes that time 
and attention in complaints which, if properly 
applied, would remove the cause. 
Generosity during life is a very different 
thing from generosity in the hour of death ; 
One proceeds from genuine liberality and be¬ 
nevolence, the other from pride or fear. 
Weed, tho old farm was sold, and wo were to 
leave the dear old home, where we had passed 
so many happy hours, for one more convenient 
and modern, hut. one around which no such 
tender memories cling as round t.lm “ old red 
bouse;" and as we wandered around, taking a 
farewell look at each familiar spot, our minds 
worn Oiled, partly with regret. Unit we wore to 
leave all these dear associations, and portly 
with bright, anticipations for the future. I 
seal ed myself for I he hist time in I ho old grape 
vine swing which was over my resort in these 
pleasant, dreamy days when, wearied with play, 
l sought its quiet retreat for it was none of 
your exciting, frolicking swings, but very staid 
and quiet, just a gentle sway, like an evening 
breeze. 
But we reserved OUT last visit for the old gar¬ 
ret, and we almost dreaded to pm. our feet on 
t hose stairs where we Imd played *’ meeting’’ so 
many times with our bouncing rag babies for 
wo never took our dolls for such rare occasions; 
we used sometimes to contend about who 
should lie the “preacher," but I was generally 
chosen the “orator of t he day,” and with my 
eloquence brought tears into my own eves, if not 
to the eyes of rny audience. How many limes 
those babies had to bo taken out of “ meeting" 
and punished for their misdemeanors ! But. we 
find ourselves at last. In the old garret, and the 
llr-t. thing that, greets our eyes is the lingo old 
eWinney through whose wide throat had risen 
tile flame am! smoke of live broad fireplaces in 
the days of “Old Lang Sync.” There stands 
grand father's old arm chair, with ils arms worn 
smooth as glass, whore ho had reposed his 
tremulous hands as he sat by the lire napping, 
with tho old family Bible on Ids knees and liis 
mug or eider on the hearth by Ids side; here, 
stretched across the room, are those ponderous 
beams on which, by the aid of a broken chair 
and a friendly lift, wo have taken such wonder¬ 
ful journeys from “our house” to “Mrs. Bar¬ 
ber’s," our neighbor the other aide or l ho chim¬ 
ney, and on which we had rhltlon to tho village 
for our family provision*. Tho old saddle jg 
still there, Just, as when wo took our lust ride. 
But, they are not all pleasant memories con¬ 
nected with those beams, for as I grew tailor, I 
often forgot, to stoop, and my poor head paid 
the penalty for passing their ness” with¬ 
out making u bow. 
Here, beneath the window, stands t hat litt le 
wheel, by whose aid we have “ spun many a long 
yarn” to our neighbors, about our trials in 
housekeeping ami getting the children through 
tho measles, as we spun an imaginary thread 
on the little wheel, as, no doubt, its former 
owner has done many a time, only her thread 
and troubles were not Imaginary. Last, but not 
least, is that little window that looks toward 
the east. When our dear parents had gone to 
tho village, some two miles away, and t he long 
day began to draw near its close, and we had 
wearied ourselves running to the gate to see if 
they over would oorne, we would hio away to 
the garret, climb to that little window, ami 
watch till wo could see them coming over the 
last hill on their homeward way. Then what a 
scampering, to sec which should ho tlm first, to 
greet, thorn. From that Bame window wo could 
look out away across the orchard, and when 
laden with spring blossoms, it seemed that, wo 
might drop rigid, down on the tops of tho trees 
without harm, they looked so soft and downy. 
But, perhaps, I have already wearied your pa¬ 
tience, and wo will now leave the old garret, 
with all its associations, and if my young friends 
are pleased with their visit there, they may 1 
hear again from the Old Red House. 
Mns. J. 0. G. 
And now 1 must, tell the children a story I 
read in this book I have mentioned. All little 
folks have noticed theant hills, and theswnrma 
and swarms of ants, bustling about, in such a 
busy way ; but who would believe that each 
one of these little follows can think and does 
think! T tie .a ids really have thoughts about a 
great, many things ; about, building their houses, 
about their food ; am) in connection with this, 
they often have a great deal of anxiety con¬ 
cerning their oob's. The ant s' cows t Who ever 
hoard of such a thing? Now listen, f..r this is 
all true. Their cows are not red, like ours; 
they arc green, but. t hey have tiny horns. 
Every one has not iced upon plants a small 
green insect; a freshly-grown stalk of arose 
is sure to be covered thick with them. Now, 
these lit tle insects feed upon tho plant, and 
from their bodies exudes a drop of sweet liquid. 
This is designed for the young insects, i ho same 
as our milk is Intended by Nature for tho little 
calves. 
But the ant s also are very fond of this milk, 
as wo will call It; accordingly, they capture 
the insects and carry them off to their houses— 
the ant, hills to he t heir cows ; or perhaps they 
gel, possession Of a whole drove by building 
their house close around the stalk where the 
Cows already are. The ants, you see, have very 
wise little heads. 
Bui you will lie surprised when I tell you that 
tho cows make no objection whatever when 
I lie ants take t hem in their mouths and carry 
them off; for it, appears they have a very friend¬ 
ly feeling to the ants and like to live with them. 
And so loving are tho ants that often they got, 
the eggs of the green insect, and nurse and tend 
* hem very carefully, till they hatch into cows. 
But occasionally it happens one colony of 
ants will go and fight another colony, in order 
to get their cow* n\vay from them. When this 
is done, the cows are taken up in great haste 
and deposited in tlm cellar while the fighting 
goes on. 
We have no room to tell more, blit some time 
will say something about spiders. We should 
like to hear very much from “ Young Natural- 
lst< Laura Southgate. 
SlIic filial or. 
ILLUSTRATED PROVERB. No. 4. 
fT/" Answer in t wo weeks. 
PUZZLE. No. 7. 
r am ten letters, l hav e wi ngs. My first three 
is an insect; tnv first, siTder.qtes an act-which 
is common to some birds and some fish ; but all 
fish nor all birds do Dot have the power to do 
what my first -lx would indicate. My first three 
ami last four denote a sport which Is both ab¬ 
sorbing and compensating if one Is skillful. My 
las! four is on animal which lives in the water; 
Also a certain kind of flesh ; also a. counter usecl 
in various games; also a nautical term ; also a 
pi(. tO of timber* jil.sii an act or circiipai ion com- 
mon among a large class or men; also a social 
artifice; also to st rengthen, to splice, Am. While 
i have but tun loiters, I have utau seventeen; 
and my seventeen are just as Important to me 
as my ton. Altogether, I am well known to 
most mariners. What am I ? 
Uncle Ciiari.es. 
tW” Answer In two weeks. 
THE WISE ANTS. 
I snoui.n like to ask “ Young Naturalist” if 
he has ever read a book called “The Insect 
World,” by Ftqcier, and why he does not tell 
something in the paper about animals or in¬ 
sects ? 
INVISIBLE FRIENDS-No. 1. 
1. There is your hat; tie it on. 
I ran very fast.. 
•t- He is in a sad plight. 
4. O scare that, hen. 
5. Will you mend Ann’s frock? 
(>. Do raise that window’. 
7. My razor is dull. 
8. We should tell tho truth. 
fi. I saw a darkey. 
Young Rural Reader. 
Answer in two weeks. 
PUZZLER INQUIRIES.—No 1. 
1. John Baker asks some one to give him 
the method of solving the following problem: 
1 wo men iagreed to dig a ditch one hundred 
rods long for *11,41. t pon digging, one end was 
round harder t ha n the other. They then agreed 
that one should have a shilling per rod more 
inao the other. They each (turned $50. How 
many rods did each dig? 
:J. Herbert V. Plummer asks for rule for 
oblique angled triangles. Given one side and 
two angles, to determine the remaining parts. 
--- 
PUZZLER ANSWERS.—April 19. 
Drop Letter Puzzle No. 2.— 
Earth outgrows the mythic fancies 
Sting beside her iu her youth, 
Anri those debenture romances 
Sound but dull beside the truth. 
ILLUSTRATE! Proverb No. 3. “ He who fol¬ 
lows a toad m o fail into a ditch.” 
Cross-Word Enigma No. 8 .—Galaxy. 
Word-Puzzle No. 1.—Farming, 
Jf 
