MOORE’S RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
FARMER, DAVIS’ WIFE. 
BY MARTHA REJIICK. 
The work or tho day lists been faithfully done, 
Down in the West sinks the blood-red sun ; 
The farmer sits in his cottage door. 
His land and Ills stock he is thinking o’er, 
While his good wife toils at her busy round, 
Where early and late she is sure to be found. 
( 
The fields are all planted, tho waste slope laid 
down, 
Tho hands of tho farmer are rugged and brown, 
He has toiled In the sun iu the long spring day. 
But now he Is taking his rest on Ills way, 
And ho smokes his pipe in the open door. 
While he tells his plans for tho morrow o’er. 
The good wife puts the last dish down, 
On her low, white brow you can see a frown; 
There’s a basket of mending and many things 
more. 
That lightened must be from tho morrow’s store. 
She would like the rest that she cannot know 
In the treadmill round whore she still must go. 
“ I wonder my .J a n h has faded so fast,”— 
The farmer’s eyes urc open at last; 
“ I know she was hearty and hale years ago. 
Now what is the matter I’m sure I don’t know ; 
We both have worked hard,—'Ms a farmer’s life,— 
But I’m sure I don’t know what alls my wife.” 
The good wife is withered, and old, and gray, 
And tho farmer keeps on in Ids old-time way ; 
She tolls at the dairy, the kitchen, and all, 
The work of three men on her broad shoulders fall, 
For. reckoning the children. I'm sure they’d despair. 
If they had but a third of her labor and care. 
’Tig a hard, troubled world, as most, of us know. 
And early our dreams mast put nil' their bright 
glow; 
But give us a little of Change and of rest, 
Who by burdens so many are sadly opprest, 
And a little thought for the work that is done, 
(And never is finished from suu to sun.) 
WOMAN’S PROPERTY RIGHTS. 
In the Kttral New-Yorker .lime 21st, (flee 
“ Diary of a Ruralist.,) i here was an article just 
touching Woman's Rights, in the light of the 
marriage question, or rather the rights of mar¬ 
ried women holding property independent of 
their husbands. On a slight reading it may all 
seem very good, but circumstances have led me 
to think, as well as read, and if you, Mr. Editor, 
are willing, I should like to put. Borne of my 
thoughts in your paper. 
Until reading'Iho article in question, I was 
unaware that a woman's property was not liable 
for her own debts in any State. That seems 
rather unjust, to me, but l doubt, if it holds 
good in many of the States. But t fail to see 
the injustice of rendering.-! husband answerable 
for the debts of bis wife. Has lie not vowed to 
protect her? is be not the lawful supporter of 
his family? Where should a woman go to, if not. 
to her husband? Sometimes, I know, they 
prove but frail supports, and Instead of the 
dinging ivy, she emblemizes the staunch oak. 
When called upon, does she not do it grandly? 
Tills is a fine country f The road to wealth is 
said to be open to all, and if success comes to 
some while treading that path, what wrong do 
they if, while it is honofubiy theirs, a portion is 
laid away for the wife, and children. Perhaps 
the writer would not object to its being given 
to motherand sisters! Hut should not provision 
be made for wife and children as well? 
It seems to me that a, thoroughly conscien¬ 
tious woman would help her husband to right 
others by what ho has given her, if she could 
do so, without endangering her children. She 
is not called upon to do that. Even the lowest 
order of animal life is taught self-preservation, 
and a love of offspring) and they who cry down 
this law iiwi/ see the time uhen they would 
gladly shelter themselves underneath it,. No 
matter what law is made, there will always be 
some to turn It to their own bad ends. 
Now, take another look at tho subject. Sup¬ 
pose the property, greut or small, comes to her 
from the hands of a father -a man who has 
grappled successfully with die world, and when 
his feet have been called to tread i he dark val¬ 
ley, has walked through It all the mote peace¬ 
fully because he knows the daughters he leaves 
behind him are provided for, it may be richly 
endowed, or perchance just enough to keep 
them from the need of the world's cold help. 
If in after years they marry and their husbands 
through misfortune, failure of others, or it may 
lie crime, become impoverished, would it be 
justice to wrench their property from them? 
Fathers do nol labor and work for this f They 
seek tliur runney for their children —not for the 
men those children may choose to marry. 
Cause a woman to be liable for her husband’s 
debts, and this injustice would be done, unless 
the law was very discriminating. Some far- 
seeing critic may say ” Do not fathers work for 
their sous, and is it fair that their portion 
should be liable?” In answer, would-not the 
daughters if they too should enter the busy 
marts of trade ? 
And now, Mr. Editor, I have given you some 
of my thoughts. Perhaps you will consider 
them in too crude a. state for your valuable 
paper. To have them deemed worthy is all that 
is asked by A Constant Reader. 
--♦ - 
u One of the lessons a woman most rarely 
learns is never to talk to an angry or a drunken 
man,” 
MADAME IDA PFEIEFER. 
Mme. Ida Pfeiffer stands at t he head of all 
female travelers. Brought up at Vienna as the 
playfellow of her rough brothers, she soon 
equaled them in their bold independence, and 
always wore their dress. At tin* age of four¬ 
teen, l o her great grief, her parents put her Into 
a suitable ensiume, and intrusted the care of 
her education t<> a you nit professor, from whom 
she received four years of solid instruction, and 
from a turbulent child was changed into a mod¬ 
est young lady. Her gratitude was boundless ; 
and when a Greek asked her hand in marriage, 
at the age of seventeen, she discovered that 
she could love none but her tutor, who was 
equally pleased with her. His want, of fortune 
made her parents refuse their consent; three 
long years passed without their meeting, but 
their feelings were unchanged. Chance hrought 
them together for a few moments, and Ida’s 
emotion was so great, that fever came on, and 
she was not expected to receiver; but a strong 
constitution overcame all. 
Determined not to stay with her parents site 
declared her intention of accepting the first 
offer she received. An estimable man, thirty 
years older than herself, came forward ; and In 
spite of her romantic disposition, she made an 
excellent mother and housekeeper. Her sons 
grew’ tip; and when her duties wore ended, at 
the age of fifty, she determined t.o indulge in 
her ardent love for traveling. Her debut was 
made in Palestine; and from thence she passed 
from one adventure to another, endured the 
most rigorous cold and overpowering heat; 
went among the savages of South America; 
braved the tempests of Capo Horn; sat beside 
Queen Pom,ire at a banquet in tho South Sea 
Islands; hunted tigers, pistol in hand, in the 
Indian jungles; descended into the diamond 
mines of Borneo; was taken prisoner ill Mada¬ 
gascar; and explored Ihu country of those ter¬ 
rible cannibals, the Dyaks, who only spared her 
life in consideration of her ago. 
Worn down by a terrible fever in Madagascar, 
she embarked In an almost, dying state for 
Mauritius; tho desire of once more reaching 
Europe sustained tier; and she arrived at Vicu¬ 
na in 1858, only to pass a few painful months 
with failing strength until death released her. 
It is difficult to pass a judgment on such a sin¬ 
gular life; those who think that women are 
most to In? admired when they display their 
weakness will consider such bold adventures In 
tho world as a proof of madness; while others, 
believing that, women are endowed for every 
vocation and aspiration, and can fool the noble 
enthusiasm of great men, will not hesitate to 
consider Mine. Ida Pfeiffer as a wonderful ex¬ 
ample of courage and self-dependence. 
- 
GEORGE ELIOT ON WOMAN. 
__ • 
The readers of Geohob Eliot’s works hav e 
found many wise and witty passages about 
women. We cull a few for the benefit of the 
lady readers of {he Rural New-Yorker. In 
" Adam Bede ” wo read : 
“Wo look at the one little woman’s face we 
love, as we look at the face of our mother 
Earth, and see all sorts of answers to our yearn¬ 
ings,” 
“It is generally a feminine eye that first de¬ 
lects the moral deficiencies hidden under tho 
‘ dear deceit' of beauty." 
“ The vainest woman is never thoroughly anx¬ 
ious of her own beauty till she is loved by the 
man who acts her own passions vibrating in re¬ 
turn,” 
“ Women who are never bitter and resentful 
are often I lie most querulous; and If Solomon 
was as wise os he Is reputed to bo. I feel sure 
that when ho compared a contentious woman 
to a continual dropping on a rainy day, he had 
not a vixen in his eyes njury with long nails, 
acrid and selfish. Depend upon it, he meant, a 
good creature, who had no joy but in the hap¬ 
piness of the loved ones whom she contributed 
to make uncomfortable, putting by all the tid¬ 
bits for them, and spending nothing on herself. 
Such a woman as Lisrktu, for example a t once 
patient and complaining, self-renouncing and 
exacting, brooding the live-long day over what 
happened yesterday, and what is likely to hap¬ 
pen to-morrow, and crying very readily both at 
the good and the evil.” 
“The mother’s yearning, that oompletost type 
of the life in another life which is the essence 
of real human love, feels tho presence of the 
cherished child even in the base, degraded 
man.” 
“ If a woman’s young and pretty, I think you 
can see her good looks all the better for her 
being plain dressed ... It seems to me as a 
woman's face doesna want flowers ; it’s almost 
like a flower itself.... It’s like when a man’s 
singing a good tune, you don’t want t’bear bolls 
tinkling and interfering wF the sound.” 
“I’m not denyin’ the women are foolish; 
God Almighty made 'em to watch the men.” 
“ I daresay she’s like the rest of the women— 
thinks two and two’ll come to make live, if she 
cries and bothers enough about it.” 
“ These poor, silly women-things—they’ve not 
the sense to know it's no use denying what's 
proved.” 
“Ah! the yomen are quick enough—they're 
quick enough. They know the rights of a story 
before they hear it, and can tell wun what his 
thoughts are before he knows ’em himself.” 
Reading for the fming. 
MOTHER’S WELCOME. 
UY MRS. St. P. A. CROZXER. 
TnK love of her heart, is yours, my lad; 
Do you sue how liar ayes grow bright. 
When slio hears you open t he cottage door. 
And year heavy step ou the ashen floor 
She tins scoured so clean and white ? 
Do you see the flush on tier brow, my lad, 
Like the piuk on the damask rose, 
When she hours your voice grow soft and sweet, 
If you chance to meet on tho village street, 
As she to tho market goes ? 
The love of her heart is yours, my lad; 
You have only to ask her hand, 
Anil you may gather as pure a flower 
As overgrew in a native bower, 
Or blossomed In tropic land. 
’Tis the sweet, first love of a trusting girl, 
And is yours, all yours, my boy ; 
I’m glad, for I know that, your heart is true, 
And you’ll be to her us she is to you, 
And that mutual trust brings joy. 
So bring the child to our home, my lad ; 
Tho’ your mother’s locks are gray, 
And show that her heart must he growing old. 
It shall never bo said that lier heart is cold, 
And cannot love to-day. 
A* It loved when you were a bubo at my brenst. 
And I stroked your sunny hair, 
And watched tho smiles as they came and wont 
On yeur infant face. In Its sweet content, 
Till yon were sleeping there. 
And there Is room In my old heart yet 
Fur a bird to build its nest, 
And the child you bring, like a trusting dove, 
Shall never want for a mother’s love, 
’Till mother has gone to rest. 
LETTERS TO YOUNG RURALISTS - No. 17. 
FROM C0TT8IN JOHNNIE. 
This time, Cousin Joiinnik is going to write 
exclusively to the boys. Not the very little 
buys, either, but those who begin to think they 
are almost men, and, in consequence, are ex, 
trembly anxious to appear manly. Now, there 
is nothing I admire more in boys t han manli¬ 
ness. But there Is a difference of opinion be¬ 
tween some boys and myself, as to what is 
manly; so I will mention a few tilings that I 
do not consider so, First and foremost, I don’t 
think it’s a bit manly to swear. Yet some boys 
seem to think it is the very bight of manliness; 
but do you know when i bear boys or men do 
so, they shrink away and become so small they 
are not a whit bigger than the hall of my little 
finger I - I don’t think it’s manly for a boy to 
swagger up to a bar and order a “gin cock¬ 
tail " or a “ brandy smash,” even if half adozen 
old loafers do look on and laugh and applaud 
the act. I don’t consider it manly for a boy to 
make himself sick t rying to smoke, and then 
persevere until lie lias succeeded in fixing a 
habit upon himself, that will not only waste Ids 
money but injure his health. Why, my dear 
boys, some of the immUest men I have over 
known, never touch either loh;y?co or alcohol 
in any form.—l don’t liiink il.’s manly to give 
up Sunday school, because you have grown 
rather tall, and fancy you are too old to be 
taught. It. -seems to me aUtrr unmanly to re¬ 
main iu ignorance of important truths. I don't 
consider it manly for a boy to apeak of his 
father os the “governor,” or the “old man," 
and his mother as the "old woman!” Nor to 
“ brag,” or bo ready to knock everybody down 
who don’t treat him with quite as much re¬ 
spect as he thinks ho deserves. Nor to monop¬ 
olize the conversation when older and wiser 
heads are by. Nor to bet, ami talk slung like 
a horse jockey. Nor to set small boys or dogs 
or roosters fighting. Nor to loaf round, doing 
nothing in particular, or else reading dime nov¬ 
els, or the silly, impure, “ blood and thunder” 
illustrated weeklies with which the land Is 
flooded. -I don't think it's particularly manly 
to try and raise a sickly little scarecrow of a 
mustache, that everybody will laugh at! Nor 
swagger about the house with your hat, on, 
snubbing the younger brothers and slaters, tell¬ 
ing the latter that “girls don’t know any¬ 
thing.”—I don’t think it’s manly ever to break 
a promise, or tell a. lie, big or little, black or 
white, or to take advantage of any one, or to 
do anything stingy, or small, or mean. I don’t 
think it's manly, even if you can’t go home 
with the girl you would like t.o, to let any girl, 
or woman, however ugly, or old, or disagreea¬ 
ble, go home alone, on a dark nipht. 
But there—I will tire your patience if I go on 
any further. 
-- 
LETTERS FROM BOYS AND GIRLS. 
A Land of Wild Came. 
Kind Rdual: —My name Is Virginia, and I 
am eleven years old. My pa is a farmer and 
merchant. I am going to school. I think we 
have the best teacher in the world. He is very 
strict. He has about sixty scholars now. and, 
during study hours, if any of us even move our 
lips or tongue, so as to make a noise, he will 
make us stand out on the floor, hold one hand 
over the mouth, the book in the other, and 
study for a half hour. Though that awful war 
made us all poor, yet we are thankful to Al¬ 
mighty God that we have as many blessings as . 
we do. Qur mountains abound with wild game, 
such as doer, hear, panthers, wild cats, wolves, 
foxes, opossums, raccoons, squirrels, polecats, 
pheasants, partridges, quails, and a variety of 
other pretty birds. Our farms, with lint! cattle, 
horses, sheep and swine. We have a plenty 
of good, purr, milk, idee, sweet, yellow but¬ 
ter, and plenty of domestic fowls and eggs. 
Our fruit, this year, is scarce. We are soon to 
haven railroad. The Ohesapouke and Ohio It. 
It. w ill run near us. They arc malting a great 
tunnel near here. I can hear the loud blasts. 
They sound like cannon.— Virginia, IF. Va. 
Only Seven Years Old. 
Dear Mr. Editor: I have wanted to write 
you a letter this long time, but I am only seven 
years old, and can only writo my name. My 
tun is going to write it for mo, and I am going 
to t.ell tier every word what to say ; but she says 
I mast not feel bad if you dou’t print it, for you 
Only print letters that the girls and boys writo 
themselves, but I want, to try, and if it ain't 
good enough to print, when L get older I will 
try again. My pa luis taken your paper ever so 
long, and I think tho letters from the girls and 
boys are tho best part., I wish I could see you 
print a paper. I have a little baby brother, ton 
months' old, and I think be is tho best baby in 
all the world ; he can say dn-du. and ma-tna, 
and creep all over; he can stand up by a chair, 
and sometimes he pulls my hair. I wish lie 
would grow faster, so I could play horse with 
him. When I was five years old l put five dol¬ 
lars in the bank ; when I was six years Old L put 
in six, and when 1 was seven years old I put in 
seven, so now I have eighteen dollars. I guess 
t will buy a hurae.— Frankie .1. C. 
A Nice Home. 
Dear Mr. Editor : t am n. little girl, twelve 
years old. My papa hart been one "f your Rural 
readers for tho last eight years, and wo think it 
a very valuable paper, for it lias taught Urt a 
great many things about gardening and fann¬ 
ing. I read a great many letters from tho girls 
and boys. I thought I would write one, and 
toll you what a nice home I have. My papa Is 
a farmer; lives near tho center of Ohio. I have 
two sweet little brothers and no sister, which 
makes a nice little family. My mother takes a 
great deal of pains in .sending me to school and 
learning me to sew and to bake pies and cakes. 
—L. E. Ettie. 
E A 
Si _ „ 
■ o 
81 
Answer in two weeks. 
MISCELLANEOUS ENIGMA,—No. 1. 
1 am composed of fit letters: 
My 4, 27, 11, 7, 13 is a necessary article. 
My 27, 8, 9, 9, 3, 8, 'J is a kind of dog. 
My 21, 27, 1, 0,10,13,12, 20 is an island in tho At¬ 
lantic. 
My 4,14, 20, 27, 13 is an article used in school. 
My 32, 20, 12, 22, 3, 24, 20, I I is a celebrated Car- 
thagenian general, born B. ('. 217. 
My 28,20, 3, It is one of the plagues of Egypt. 
My 25, 15,1), 2(1 is a musical instrument. 
My 24, 30, 21, 20, 5 is a girl's name. 
My 18, it, 20,22, 31, 2 is a kind of fruit. 
My 19,29, 22, 23, 9 is what some men lack. 
My 21,11, 5, 2, 34, 20, 3 is an herb. 
My 10, 19, 18,10, 8 is more than half. 
My 9, 20, 3, 12, is what ts often wished for. 
My 9, 20, 14, 20, 3, 31, 17 is the capital of one 
of tlie United States. 
My whole is a true saying. J. J. Harvey. 
C5ET" Answer in two weeks. 
-«♦» 
PUZZLE.—No. 1. 
1 am seven letters. I am a most credulous 
individual; and 1 am used'to allure others. I 
am also a part of a machine; and yet 1 am a 
Ugh. While I have but seven letters I really 
have sixteen. Tho first two of the 1(5 signify 
movement; t he first three a poison-ball, a piece 
swallowed, a heap, a month, s ouL, and bird’s 
head or neck; my fourth and fifth are two 
vowls and my ten last arc very uggcst.ive of 
water wherever they are used. Wh t am I ? 
Unule Charles. 
Answer in two weeks. 
-»♦«- 
PROBLEM,—No. 1. 
A sill forty feet in length and of uniform 
size from end to end, is to be carried by six 
men using two levers. Now, if two of the men 
take one lever and place it under the sill al the 
distance of nine feet from one end, bow far 
from the other end must t he other four men 
place the other lever, so that each man shall 
carry one-sixth of the weight uf the sill ? 
Answer in two weeks. 
