teres ted. In a few months, if the pupils pos¬ 
sess average natural abilities, she secs the awk¬ 
ward, untutored strangers transformed into 
capable, self-respecting servants. 
It Is not necessary to moke them our com¬ 
panions becuniso we take some interest in the 
welfare of those in our employ who, for the 
sake <»f improving their condition, have often 
surrendered every tlo that hound them to home 
and kindred. When our Swedo girl has been 
trained in t he way she should go, it is our in¬ 
terest to keep her as long as possible; but 
sometimes a lover from over the water comes 
to claim his promised bride, or some ono cov¬ 
eting our kitchen treasure offers wages beyond 
our means, when a new arrival is sought to 
take her place. Wherever there i« a Swedish 
settlement it is easy to tlnd girls who are 
anxious to secure places and work for low 
wages at first; but as with this class of ser¬ 
vants money is a great incentive to industry, 
wo have found it best to pay them all they can 
earn, they having less inducement then to seek 
a new home. 
The foregoing remarks are not designed to 
discourage the employment of any other help, 
but simply to direct attention to a class of do¬ 
mestics which, with few exceptions, we have 
found to be competent. 
BABY SWEET! 
KEEP A STIFF UPPER LIP/' 
UY ALIQUA 
Tnnni; 1ms something gone wrong 
My brave boy, it appears, 
For I fee your proud struggle 
To keep back the tears. 
That Is rig it. When you cannot 
CHve trouble the slip, 
Then bear it, still keeping 
“ A stiff upper lip!” 
Though yon c onot escape 
Disappointment and care, 
The next best thing to do 
Is to earn how to bear. 
If when for life’s prizes 
Vou’. e running, you trip. 
Get tip—start again, 
“ Keep a stiff upper Up!” 
Let your hands and your conscience 
lie honeBt uud clean; 
Scorn to touch or to think of 
The tiling that is moan. 
But ho d on to the pure 
And the right with firm grip, 
And though hard be the task, 
“ Keep a stiff upper lip !” 
Through childhood, through manhood 
Through life to the end, 
Struggle brav ly and stnn I 
By your colors, my fri ml. 
Only yield when yon must. 
Never “give up the ship,” 
But fight on to the Inst 
With “a stiff upper lip.” 
Papa calls her sweetheart, 
Mamma calls her love, 
She is Grandpa's darling, 
Grandma’s sweetest dove; 
Little, laughing baby, 
Everybody’s pel. 
Though she has been with us 
Not a slxmonth yet! 
Snow nukes white and fleecy 
Fall down from the sky. 
All this wintry weather 
On Earth’s bosom lie; 
So her baby spirit. 
Pure as falling snow. 
Game lo tis from Heaven 
Little time ago! 
What her real name is, 
That I cannot tell. 
Lest the listening angels 
Call her homo to dwell. 
Trust to God the future. 
Ho wtl) guide her feet; 
Tn the happy present. 
She is Baby Sweet! 
Wayne Co., N. Y., 1871. 
SECRET MARRIAGE 
HIRED GIRLS—SWEDES AS SERVANTS, 
me exposure ot some domestic or social vil¬ 
lainy based on a secret marriage. Some con¬ 
fiding young lady has been induced t.o marry 
her lover secretly, and to keep the marriage 
secret for months, and perhaps lor years. In a 
recent case marriage has been kept a secret for 
nearly seven years, of course a man who 
wishes to keep his marriage secret Is almost 
always actuated by selfish and usually base 
motives. He is acting a part playing a game, 
and his confiding wife is pretty sure, in the 
Cud. to find herself the victim of his treachery 
and baseness. 
A woman should never consent to he married 
secretly. Her marriage should bo solemnized 
In the light of publicity, and not in tho shadow 
of concertment. She should distrust a man 
who has any reason for shrouding in darkness 
the act which—in bis estimation at least- 
should be the crowning glory of his life. T he 
man who always has some plot on hand, who 
naturally takes to trickery and concealment, 
and Is never ready to have his actions brought 
out into the clear light, of day, is apt to lie »o 
Constitutionally base that ho seldom, even by 
aceideut, deviates into tho path of honor and 
virtue. No woman who values her domestic 
happiness should ever listen to the suggestion 
of such a man in favor of a secret marriage. 
by ruth lev: 
How we shall obtain and keep competent 
help in the kitchen is a question of such im¬ 
portance to the majority of American house¬ 
holds that we may be allowed to devote some 
time to its discussion. Many ladies arc very 
successful in training their servants, and per¬ 
haps they will bring the light of their expe¬ 
rience to bear on a subject of such general 
interest. Tell us by what moral Inllnouces you 
hold in check those ignorant beings who have 
such faint perceptions of truth and honesty 
that our valuables often disappear quite as 
mysteriously as the china did from Mrs. 
Smith’s closet, without even the return of tho 
broken fragments to the rightful owner! 
For thirt y years past we have employed hired 
help in tho house more or less cacti year, and 
during that time we have had many excellent 
girls whose society and friendship worn as val¬ 
uable to us as their manual services, and some 
others whom no amount of forbearanco or pa¬ 
tient teaching ever could mold Into trusty, 
reliable help. Twcnty.flve years since, in some 
sections of the country, it was not thought 
disparaging to one’s social position to work 
out. School teachers, seamstresses and daugh¬ 
ters of tho 'Squire and thrifty farmer have 
often come to our assistance in cases of emer¬ 
gency, and wero in all respects consistent with 
the proper performance of their duties treated 
as members of our family. 
There never seemed to mo any justice in 
making a very grout distinction between our¬ 
selves and respectable. Intelligent girls who 
are willing to do ror us the same kind of work 
that wo, in their absence, are obliged to do for 
the comfort of our families. In this republican 
country the changes of fortune very often ele¬ 
vate the maid to the position of mistress, when 
society is compelled, though it may be reluc¬ 
tantly, to recognize her claims to equality. If 
the better classes of American girls who sup¬ 
port themselves could be assured that doing 
housework tn good families would bp just as 
honorable as teaching school, or wearing away 
tho best years of one’s life over a sewing-ma¬ 
chine, I believe that many of them would 
choose t he former as being healthier and less 
exhaustive labor, while it now commands very 
fair wages. Until a radical change is made in 
the social status of hired girls, few desirable 
Americans will be induced to qualify them¬ 
selves thoroughly for doing general house¬ 
work; so wo must select our domestics from 
tile foreigners who annually seek homes in this 
country. 
Of all the nationalities represented in our 
kitchen of late years—including American, 
Irish. German, Scotch, and Swede—I would 
recommend healthy, good - natured Swedish 
maidens, not long uway from their fatherland. 
In nearly every Instance when we have em¬ 
ployed them, they have, after some training, 
proved to be honest and faithful workers, 
needing only to understand their duties to be 
willing to perform them. I prefer to take them 
as soon after landing on our shores as they 
shall have recovered from the effects of a long 
voyage and acquired a slight knowledge of our 
language, so that bv a few words and signs they 
t in know what Is required of them. They arc 
then anxious to learn uur ways, cheerfully 
obey orders, and are grateful for Instruction 
and kindness received in a atrauge laud. To 
lie sure, their ideasof neatness differ somewhat 
from ours, but the watchful yet pleasant super¬ 
vision of the mistress will Boon correct all un¬ 
tidy hublts. The wonderful strength, born of 
their out-of-door life in Sweden, 16 a marvel to 
us, who seldom acquire such muscular vigor, 
and it certainly 1b a positive comfort to find 
somebody able and willing to bear some of uur 
heavy burdens. With the aid of little books, 
containing a few words and sentences trans¬ 
lated from tho Swedish dialect into ours, and 
LETTERS FROM BOYS AND GIRLS 
From a Wide-Awake Maryland Lass. 
Deau Mu- Editor:— I always look forward 
to your paper with great pleasure. I was going 
to say 1 turn directly to tho “ Reading for the 
Young,’’ but I don’t, ami I must not, l.ell a lib; 
I generally look for your “Story Teller," and 
when I have finished that I turn with groat in¬ 
terest to tho “Reading for the Young.” I 
laughed a good deal when I road that letter 
from Dew-Drop. I wonder how old that young 
lady is. r daro not call her a little girl ; she 
would doubtless be greatly offended, bet 
ttuse 
she speaks of being desperately In love with 
Young Naturalist, f think sho must have a 
very good opinion of horsoir, as she says *he is 
prettier arid smarter than any boy or girl that 
writes to your paper. I think I havo talked 
enough about Dew-Drop, don’t you? I must 
toll you something about Where I live, and how 
1 plucked up courage to write to you, Woil, I 
live in Maryland, near Annapolis. We have 
quite a large farm and lots of animals, of 
course, and very spirited horses, of which I 
stand iu groat dread, having been run away 
with by one of them when we first came here, 
for you must know wc have not lived on a farm 
long. Papa was formerly an editor, and farm 
life being new to me I like it very much. 
There,what, a stupid thing I have done! I 
have nevor said a word about our little dog, 
Jack, we brought from New York with ua. I 
always say Something about Jack in all my let¬ 
ters, till I suppose my friend ', are sick of Jack, 
I must, toll you the reason I talk so much about 
him. You must, know that, lie is a very accom¬ 
plished dog; he can sit up and speak when he 
wants anything, and he is great company for 
me. I believe little girls always consider It, nec¬ 
essary to tell their ago when writing to news¬ 
papers, so I must not make an exception to the 
rule by not telling mine. I am almost twelve. 
1 have forgotten to tell you anything about my 
six. cats. I am more fond of cats than any other 
animals, so I have plenty of them, of ail sizes 
and ail ages. There Is one old cat who is the 
mother ol them all; then she has throe young 
sons, larger than herself, though she is seven 
years old ; sho also has twosmall kittens. Papa 
From n Southern Now York Boy. 
Mu. Editor: This Is the first lotior l have 
ever written for the Rural, and I fear it will 
not be very good. My pa has taken the Rural 
for fourteen years, except last year, and I could 
hnrdiv wait till \* n - v Y„ nr , we cou , (l 
take li. again. 1 live on ufarm l lire© miles from 
Friendship, A llegany Co., N. Y.,u m l nine miles 
from Genesee, Ibnvo lots of pep;; n dog—his 
name is Pooler and. two sheep named June 
and Millie, and twenty hens. I have names for 
them all. My pa keeps seven cows and two 
horses. Wo live within half a mile of the Mid- 
daugh cheese and butter factory, called the 
best In Western New York. I hope you will 
think this worthy of printing, and irsolwlll 
try and do better next time— Lawson L S 
Friendship, N. F„ Feb. :J3, 1874. 
KEEP THE BIRTHDAYS, 
Keep the birthdays. They belong exclusively 
to and are treasured among tho sweetest mem¬ 
ories of home. Do not let anything prevent 
some token, be it ever so slight, to Show that it 
is remembered. Birthdays are great events to 
children. For one day they feel t hoy are heroes. 
Tho special puddings are made expressly for 
thorn ; a new jacket, trousers with pockets, or 
the first pair of boots is donned, and big 
brothers and sisters sink into insignificance 
beside “little Charley," who la “six to-day,” 
and is soon “ going to be a man.” Fathers who 
have half a dozen little ones to care for are 
apt to forget birthdays—they come too often. 
Sometimes they are too busy, and sometimes 
when they are bothered ; but II they only knew 
how much such souvenirs are cherished by 
thoir children years afterward, when, away 
from tho hearthstone, they have none to re¬ 
mind them that they have added one more 
year to the perhaps weary round of life, or to 
wish them, in the good, old-fashioned phrase, 
“many happy returns of rlieir birthday,” they 
would never permit any cause to step iu be¬ 
tween them arid a parent’s privilege. 
We are always glad to 
for this Department. 
icccivc contributions 
ILLUSTRATED REBUS.-No. 9 
A Seasonable Marriage was that which 
occurred In Brooklyn, N. Y., on the first day of 
March and of Spring, and which we find thus 
chronicled: 
MARCH—SPRING.—On Sunday, the 1st, In 
the People’s Tabernacle, by tho Rev. C. ZUNS, 
C. A., Miss N. U. Spring to A. March. No 
cards. No presents. All are welcome. 
Though the parties united aro entire stran¬ 
gers to us, we trust they will have a long aud 
pleasant March through life, hailing many joy¬ 
ous Springs, and being blessed with occasional 
(if not annual) buds and blossoms to repose 
upon or climb the paternal vines! 
Answer in two weeks. 
ACROSTIC.-No. 1 
lxhe rouowing lines were written to a young 
lady, containing in the Acrostic her supposed 
lover's name.] 
Give me. the heart that’s fond and free. 
Let love pervade its every thrill; 
Tho others may as irlcndiy be, 
T Here’s none but him the place can fill, 
rm? * ?r “nt the wish ; i’lj ask no more 
T ban he in aucred love run give: 
11 rlft£ e £ , I « lft r, " n ' Heaven** .tore 
u 1 h®*fb,Wth should guide me while 1 II ve 
by tho fair beam which ho bestows 
, I* 0 KV Wt! . !U ’ kffktmy trembling bark, 
It shall not ask tho breeze that blows 
To strengthen life’s declining apart. 
Search well these Am twelve lines, to find 
The mme of him you fondly deem 
Best lilted to ymir taste iir.d mind 
lo nil the measure of their theme. 
Search well Hut letters In each line ; 
They all in smooth progression lie 
From first to twelfth: and thus untwine 
lilt! Gordon knot Fve tried to tie. 
Answer fu two weeks. Dickon. 
Queen Victoria is gradually recovering 
from tho grief of her widowhood. For tx long 
time after the death of the Prince Consort she 
could uot bear to touch a piano, uor did she 
even allow one to be opened in her presence. 
Now she has resumed her old accomplishment, 
and plays duets with her last remaining daiigh 
ter, the Princess Beatrice; and Gounod lias 
arranged some of the music of ** Jeanne d’Arc ” 
as a duet for the Queen and her daughter. 
From an Eight-yoar-old Florida Boy. 
MR. Editor I have road with interest the 
many letters of the Boys and Girls, and although 
only an eight-year-old boy J will try a few Hues. 
My father takes the Ritual and ever so many 
other papers ; he is a lawyer and Is away from 
home a good deal, and says he leaves the papers 
to keep us company while he t* gone. We live 
in the country at. a pleasant place called Shady 
Grove. I am now going to school to u lady 
teacher from North Carolina. I am learning 
quite fast, ami we have great sport, but best of 
all when I am home I iiclpmanurse the babies. 
We have two little babies, a boy and girl; they 
are about, a month old now. The boy is named 
Theodore Thomas and the girl Theodosia 
Irene, but I call them Bubby and SisBy, they 
are so pretty and cunning, I have three other 
Mothers, take Notice.— One of the resolu¬ 
tions offered and discussed at the Vineland 
Anti-fashion Convention was the following: 
Resolved. That when the mother puts her 
girl into petticoats and her boy into trousers, 
she seals the girl’s doom as a slave and gives 
the boy a title-deed of ownership which lie 
records and presents ag:dnst her whenever. In 
after We, she asks for equal rights with him. 
PUZZLER ANSWERS. - Feb. 28 
Illustrated Rebus No. 7.—A sewing circle 
Miscellaneous Enigma No. 7.—A good mim. 
is rather to be chosen than great riches 
GEOGRAPEfC.u, Cross-Word No. l.-Nogoa 
by repeating the numes of ail articles in daily 
use our Swede girls make rapid improvement, 
in which the housewife finds herself quite In- 
