242 
MOORE’S RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
And then Mr. Simpkins took his leave with a | 
roguish twlnklo of his eye towards the young 
people, and Mrs. Pecklngton went over to spend 
the evening Wit h Mrs. Dorcas Dottleford, her 
pet crony, and Cora sat all alone in the (Ire light, 
sewing, sighing and thinking. For George 
Merrllton lmd gone home early to secure Mr. 
Simpkins' companionship a part of the way 
through the lonely roads which were already 
becoming veiled in snow. 
The tall, old-Jashloned dock in the angle of 
tho old-fashioned kitchen chimney had just 
struck midnight, when Cora Dallas was roused 
from her sleep by a sheeted form at the foot of 
her bed — tall and narrow, clad In white—but 
no ghost, nevertheless, but Mrs. Pecklngton’s 
self. 
“What's the matter?" cried Cora, breath¬ 
lessly. 
“ My money!" gasped the widow, waving her 
hands tragically in the air. 
“But what of it 
“ It’s clean gone, stolen, took away ?” 
“Are you sure?" eagerly demanded Cora. 
“As sure as I am that you’re staring at me 
now. I felt up chimney for It the last thing 
afore I got ready to go to bed, and it was— 
gone,." 
In vain proved all search. Neither up chim¬ 
ney, nor down cellar, nor in any Imaginable or 
unimaginable corner was the bag of gold pieces 
to be found. 
“Mrs. Pecklngton," said Cora, huskily, it 
must have been stolen.” 
“ Yos,” said Mrs. Pecklngton, whose lips were 
now compressed, and there was something in 
her manner that Cora had never before noticed, 
as she called thb white-headed farm boy, and 
told him to run over and ask Fanner Hlmkins 
to step to the Pecklngton place that morning. 
“And you may us well Stop for George Mer- 
rilton, you come hack," said she. 
When he was gone, she came up close to Cora 
Dallas. 
"Cora,” said she, “ we two are alone together 
now, and I am the last one to bo hard on you ; 
confess now, and we’ll see how the matter can 
be cleared up.” 
Cora opened wide her brown eyes. 
“Confess what? ” she asked, innocently. 
“That you took the money; there was no one 
elso that oouid have done It. You were here 
all alono last evening, and l know it was a 
strong temptation to a gai that never had live 
dollars "f her own In tho world. Cora, you're 
young, child, and I don’t believe you're alto¬ 
gether bad, but Satan sifts us all as wheat, and 
M 
“Stop!" cried Cora, growing white and 
breathless, “you suspect me—you think I am a 
thief! Mrs. Peckington may God forgive you ; 
forgive you for your very cruel .suspicion." 
Mrs. Pocklogton was silent. She knew not 
how she could help tho Impression which so 
strongly bore upon her miud. Who but Cora 
Dallas could have taken the missing gold? 
“George, George!” gasped the poor girl, 
flitting up to him as if for safety, as the door 
opened and tho stalwart form nf George Mcr- 
rllton appeared; “ she believes that 1 stole the 
money; you do not think so, do you ? ’’ 
George Merrllton’s eyes sparkled nervously. 
“Cousin Clarissa,! would stake my life on 
Cora’s innocence." 
Mrs. Pecklngton shook her head. 
“It looks ugly for her," she said, “but of 
course If she can prove It—" 
“It, needs no proof In my eyes,” said George, 
quietly, as ho drew Cora’s arm within his, 
“There, little one, don’t tremble so, and look 
so wonderfully frightened—no one shall dare 
harm you as long as I am by your side.” 
“But where's Mr.Slmkins?” asked the widow, 
missing her strongest ally in this hour of need. 
“ Xf you please, Ma’am," said the white-head¬ 
ed farm boy, " he had gone away suddenly to 
AUenvilie at four o’clock this morning, to see 
his father, as ho had a stroke, and they don’t 
expect him back not till tho last of tho week,” 
Mr 3 . Pecklngton stood undecided. 
"At ail events," she said, to Cora, “you can’t 
expect Bbelter under my roof no longer. I 
didn’t look for such treatment from you. 
“Cousin Clarissa." said Merriltoh,bravely,“ I 
love Cora Dallas, and I stand here to espouse 
her cause. You may sue her If you like." 
“I shan’t do that," said the widow, “least¬ 
wise not until Jeborum Simkins comes home 
t o advise me what’s best.” 
“But," went on George Merrllton, “I shall 
make her my wife this very day in order that. 1 
can offer a home in place of the one which you 
so cruelly deprive her of." 
The widow, albeit naturally a kind-hearted 
woman, fired up at this. 
“ Of course I’ve got nothing to say,” she said, 
»* if you ohooss to marry a thief—" 
But she stopped here—the upblazing lire in 
Merrilton’a eyes admonished her to go no 
further. 
It was lonely enough those cold winter days, 
sitting at her fireside, the money gone, the 
merry sound of George MerrIIton’s voice silent, 
and Cora’s bright presence vanished. 
“If I should be wrong in ’sposiug she took 
It,” she said to licrself, “ I should bo dreadful 
sorry, to think Of all the ugly names 1 called 
her—but I don’t see as there can possibly be 
any doubt to it. Any way, Jehorum will advise 
me when he comes.” 
And on the d jsky edge of Saturday night 
Farmer Simkins came. 
“ I never was so glad to see anybody in all my 
born days," said Mrs. Pecklngton, impulsively 
Jumping up from her seat—and she to)d him 
the story of the vanished bag of gold, before he 
had a chance to deposit, bis portly bulk upon 
the choir she hospitably drew forward. 
Mr. Simkins turned doll red then a tallow 
white—got up and sat down again, and finally 
dragged a leather bag from the recess of his 
butternut-colored coat-tail. 
“I ncver‘11 play off a practical Joke again, 
blamed ef I do," lie ejaculated ; “for T declare 
to gracious. I hadn’t any Idea of the mischief I 
was a doin’! Here’s your money, Clarissy—I 
heard you telling the young folks where it was, 
when 1 was a scrapin’ the snow off my feet 
under the window, that, night, and I reached It 
down Just for a Joke, when you was gone tosec 
about the supper. I meant to have brought it 
back the next morning and have a good laugh 
with you about the burglars, but you see how 1 
was fixed-father got poorly and I couldn’t 
think of nothin’ but him—but you won’t lay it 
up agin me, Clarlasy, now will you? ” 
“But Cora Dallas?" gasped the astonisbod 
widow. “ I’ve told everybody she took it." 
“Then you and I must go round and explain 
matters to everybody, that’s all," said the 
farmer. 
And Mrs. Pekington began to cry. 
“Poor Cora," she sobbed, “poor motherless 
child ! 1 could bite out my own tongue when I 
think what wdeked things I have spoken with 
it. But I’ll go right over there, and beg her 
pardon, so I will, and George's too.” 
Cora Merrllton forgave Mrs.Pecklngton much 
more sweetly and readily than her husband 
could bring himself to do—and she even came 
over to help the widow make wedding cake 
for her own matrimonial benefit. 
“For, of course, 1 knew it could all be set 
right sooner or later," said Cora, cheerfully, 
“ and we'll let bygones be bygones." 
And the widow solaced her conscience by 
presenting Mrs. Cora with Just half the con¬ 
tents of the mischievous leather bag for a w ed¬ 
ding present. 
tstoijid. 
to take care of a collection ; and it furnishes a 
vast deal of just such Other information as a 
collector needs to know. Besides, there Is a 
complete list of the birds of North America, 
also of the extinct species. See. Every farmer 
and farmer's boy and girl should know the 
birds wldcb frequent the farm, and such a book 
as this should lie accessible to all who desire to 
make collections. 
NEW PUBLICATIONS. 
Pretty Mrs. tJnsion. nnd Ollier Stories.—By 
John Esten Cooke. New York: Orange Judd 
Coinjmny. 
Published originally as a serial in Hearth 
and Home, it is now issued In book-form, well 
printed and on good paper. Of novels we have 
plenty ; but of good novels we have few. The 
world la filled with literary trash, and still more 
is constantly on the way. “Pretty Mrs. Gas¬ 
ton," while it cannot he styled trash, and while 
it Is smoothly and easily wril ten, does certainly 
contain a number of very hackneyed situations 
and Incidents. As an example, the heroine Is 
caught In the same old storm that we find In 
thousands of readable and unreadable books, 
upon the Identical bridge, ovor t he same swol¬ 
len stream, upon which so many heroines havo 
been before, and just In the nick of time is 
rescued by tho same fortunate lover,—M auian 
O imeur Is discovered to be in love with .the 
same penniless young man, and to bo the un¬ 
fortunate daughter of the same purse-proud, 
haughty father, w ho opposes their union. But 
withal the book is a good one. The plot is fair, 
though not very original; the dialogues are 
easy and natural, and^the effect of the whole 
work upon the reader is ploasnui. It is a book 
from which much pleasure and profit can be 
derived and no harm can result. The short 
stories which follow cannot fall to please and 
real.y make the book worth Us price. Tho Oit- 
ange .ItruD Co. deserve the highest praise for 
the manner in which tho book is gotten up. and 
we hope more publishers will emulate the care 
and taste displayed in this work. 
Epidemic Delusious-A Lecture by Frederick 
R. M.ARVTS, M. D., read before the New York 
Liberal Club May 9 1ST;}.—New York: Asa K. 
Butts * 00. 
This lecture attracted a good deal of atten¬ 
tion at the time of its delivery. Dr. Marvin 
believes the moral and hygienic means best 
adapted to the prevention of epidemic delu¬ 
sions 1* the creation of a healthy public senti¬ 
ment-“A public sentiment which shall make 
eplduuii 03 of Intellectual disorder Impossible 
by furnishing a moral soil In which superstition 
can find no root and an atmosphere too bracing 
for the growth of intellectual derangements.” 
He says, " of all the delusions that have spread 
themselves ovor the earth, making and destroy, 
iug the philosophies of the world, none are 60 
thoroughly disintegrating as Moral Agency.” 
And an illustration of the tenor of hU thought 
is found In the statement that “ so soon as men 
ceased to believe in witchcraft, witches ceased 
to existthat “ when we leant to dismiss 
Spiritualism the ghosts will go out like the 
flame of tho candle.” 
Field Ornithology, comprising a Manual ol In¬ 
struction for procuring, preparing and preserv¬ 
ing Birds and a Check List of North American 
Birds, by Dr. KLLtOTT COXES. U. S. A.—New 
York: Dodd A Mend, l’rlce $3,5U. 
This volume will be welcomed by all young 
naturalists, especially those who propose mak¬ 
ing a specialty of Ornithology ; fur It tells Just 
what implements are needed for collecting, 
their use, gives directions and suggestions for 
field w'ork. how to register and label, a list of 
instruments, materials and fixtures for prepar¬ 
ing bird skins, how* to make a bird skin, how 
The Heroes ol llic Hcven Hills.— By Mrs. C. B. 
Lain?, Author of Id o Seven Kings of the Seven | 
Hills.” Philadelphia: Porter A Coates. 
This form* the second volume of a little his- | 
tory of Ancient Borne, which was begun by tbc 
same author in “ The Seven Kings of the Seven j 
Hills.” Of the two volumes Mrs. Laino says, 
In her preface to the present one, that “their 
pages, based entirely upon t he historical rec¬ 
ords which have been transmitted through the 
pens of so many ancient writers, can lay no 
claim to originality.” And yet the book is a 
roost interesting one, and admirably designed 
to stimulate tho young to a closer and more 
extended study of aiicisnt history. 
The Safest Creed, and Twelve other recent Dis¬ 
courses of Reason.—By Octavius B. Frothing- 
ham.—N ow York : Asa K. Butts A Co. 
There are a great many people who do not 
believe just as Mr. F BOTH INGHAM does; and 
there are many who suppose they do Dot be¬ 
lieve with him ancl who Judge him unchari¬ 
tably, who do not know what he believes and 
preaches; and there arc some who would not. 
know if they could. But those who would be 
just toward all men will find themselves better 
aide to do justice to Mr. F„ if not wiser, by 
reading these discourses. TVe think they will 
fail to find him as black as he lias been painted, 
no matter whether they indorse what ho says 
or not. _ 
Sex nnd Education. — Edited by Mrs. Julia 
WAI lo Howe. Boston: Roberts Bros. 
This is a series of short essays by some dozen 
of our best writers, severely criticising "Sox 
in Education.” written by Dr. E. H. Clarke. 
The question how and how far women shall he 
educated, and what special precautions arc 
needed to prevent health being sacrificed, is of 
the greatest Importuned, and there Is room for 
wide differences of opinion. This little work, 
containing the calm judgment of some of the 
foremost women nr the time, will materially 
assist reaching a right conclusion. We recom¬ 
mend Its careful perusal. 
Commentary on tlic New Testament.—By Rev. 
LYMAN Abbott. New York and Chicago: A.S. 
Barnes & Co. 
This is tho third number of the series, the 
first having been issued in October last. The 
commentary is a valuable one, showing schol¬ 
arship and industry, and it seems « pity its use¬ 
fulness should be hindered by such wonderful 
slowness in production. It has taken six 
months to get to Matt. XX., and we are quite 
unable to tell how many years It will be before 
the entire work appeal’s. 
Trodden Down.—By Mrs. C. J. Newdt. Phila¬ 
delphia: T. B. Peterson A Bros. 
This is the third of Mrs. Newby’s novels we 
havo received, and is by no means equal to Its 
predecessors. Much of it, while told with dra¬ 
matic power, is absurd. It reads like a story 
made for a market—the heroine mourning a 
sin which Is no sin*, (but which society is ready 
to call so,) and atoning for it in a fashion which 
seems absurd, if not impossible- 
Married,—A novel By Mrs. 0. J. Newby. Pbil- 
udelphio : T. B. Peterson & Bros. 
One of the best novels issued of late. A pic¬ 
ture of English home life, with few incidents, 
artlstioally workod up. 
SPARKS AND SPLINTERS. 
Spell Murder backward, aud you have its 
cause. Spell its cause in the same manner, and 
you have Its effect. 
The last useless task that a German professor 
has found for himself is the counting of the 
hairs in a buffalo robe. 
A fop, in company, wanting his servant, call¬ 
ed out, "Where’s that blockhead of mine?" 
“ On your shoulders, sir," said a lady. 
Wren you hear a man say the world owes 
him a living, don’t leave any moveable articles, 
particularly any bank bills, lying around loose. 
A waggish editor says that the streets of one 
of the Western cities are to bo lighted with red¬ 
headed girls. That chap wants to hug the 
lamp-posts. 
Here Is a matrimonial advertisement“ A 
young lady of exterior and pleasant appearance 
wishes to marry a gentleman of just the same 
way of thinking." 
Are blacksmiths, who make a living by forg¬ 
ing, or carpenters who do a little counter-fit¬ 
ting, any worse than men who sell iron and 
steel for a living? 
A Florida paper has ascertained that a 
healthy alligator can cat Beveu negro children 
Inside of seven hours and not display any 
symptoms of disquiet. 
A Green Bay paper says that a widower 
with a clean shirt on can marry in that town 
within three hours. Green Bay is northeast of 
Detroit—boats leave In May. 
A Lancaster man wos heard to say that 
during the twenty years of his married life he 
was never known to speak a cross word to Ills 
wife. Those who know him say he dare not, 
j&tbbath |leit ding. 
PERFECT RESIGNATION-AN ACROSTIC. 
[The initial letters of the alternate lines beginning 
with the first give the were father. The remaining 
initial letters taken in order give the word MOTHER.] 
Father, to Thee I lift my longing eyes, 
My hope, my love, my all now rest In Thee: 
Arotmd my shattered bark the tempests rise. 
O let Thy arms of lovo encircle me.— 
The llpht-s of time are fading one by one. 
The glow of earthly bliss has fled my gaze ; 
Hung on Thy mercy nnd Thy love alone. 
Here would I linger out my fleet ing days. 
Entwine Thy arms around Thy lonely one. 
Enwrap him in Thy robe of perfect love, 
Remove, each stain, and when life's work is done 
Raise to a mansion In Thy court above. 
[F. Moore. 
-♦♦♦ 
DAILY WORK. 
In the name of God advancing. 
Sow thy seed at rooming light: 
Cheerily the furrows turning. 
Labor on with all thy might. 
Look not to the far-off future, 
Do the work which nearest lies i 
Sow thou must bctorc thou rcapest, 
Rest at Inst Is labor’s prize. 
Standing still Is dangerous ever. 
Toil is meant for Christians now; - 
Let there be, when evening cometh. 
Honest sweat upon thy brow; 
And the Master shall come smiling. 
At the setting of the nun, 
Saying, as He pays thy wages, 
“ Good and faithful one. well done 1" 
[From the German. 
BIRTH AND DEATH. 
How quickly one generation or men follows 
another to the grave ! IVe come I ike tho ocean 
waves to the shore, anti scarcely striko the 
strand before we roll back Into the forgetful¬ 
ness whence we came. “ There is a skeleton in 
every house." Ay, in some, many. We can 
stand upon the corner of any street, and, look¬ 
ing back, wc shall see that all the houses have 
changed occupants in a few years. Tho rid 
men have gone, arid a generation that knew 
them not tins taken their places. Yes! while 
we look, we ourselves grow old and pass on 
to join the caravan whoso tents nro almost in 
sight on the other side. In youth tbo other 
world seems a great way off, but later we feel 
and realize that It Is closer at hand: and what 
Is better, nature does the preparatory work for 
passing into it, so that easily we grow Into it— 
are born into it. 
-*•-«..»-- 
TIME THE GREAT HEALER. 
Time heals all griefs, oven tho bitterest, and 
It Is well that it should be so. A long-induiged 
sorrow for the dead, or for any other hopeless 
loss, would deaden our sympathies for those 
still left, and thus make a sinful apathy steal 
over the soul, absorbing all Its powers, and 
causing the many blessings or life to bo felt as 
curses. As the bosom of earth blooms again 
and again, having burled out of sight the dead 
loaves of autumn, and loosed the frosty bands 
of winter, so does the heart—in spite of all that 
melancholy, poets write — feel many renewed 
springs and summers. It Is a beautiful and 
blessed world we live in, and, while life lasts, 
to lose the enjoyment of it is a sin. 
--. 
THOUGHTS FOR THINKERS. 
To feel a conviction of Immortality wo must 
live for it. Let any otie firmly believe that the 
soul is permanent, and live from that belief, 
and soon exlstenoo will seem permanent, too; 
the world becomes the veil of a brighter glory 
that lies behind It. and the condemnation of 
unbelief is lifted off, since the mind, oonsclous 
of its own noted being, does not wait for im¬ 
mortality, but “Is passed from death unto 
life.” 
Our habitual life is like a wall hung with 
pictures, which has been shone on by tho suns 
of many years: take one of the pictures away, 
i and it leaves a definite, blank space, to which 
our eyes can never turn without a sensation of 
discomfort. Nay, the involuntary loss of any 
familiar object almost always brings a chill as 
from an evil omen; it seems to be the first 
finger-shadow of advancing death. 
Let not your thought* dwell continually upon 
your dlstreeses and afflictions. Suffer not the 
chambers of your soul to be ever hung round 
with dark and dismal ideas. Look sometimes 
on your brighter scenes; suffer not your sorrow 
to bury all vour comforts In darkness and 
oblivion. Thankfulness is one way to joy.— 
Watts. 
My conception of a perfect man is of one full 
of power ami life, moral sentiment and imagi¬ 
nation, but with nil thoso subordinate to a 
central summer of love, and that subordinate 
to God. I have never seen that man.—Beecher. 
It Is a greater virtue to forgive one injury 
than to do many courtesies, because it is hard¬ 
er. Many a man will do tor another that will 
not eutfer for him. 
Science says prayer Is unphilosophlcal; sen¬ 
timent bids us to go to sea and learn to pray 
amid helplessness and fear .—Noah Porter. 
