CEE'S BUBAL WEW-YOBMEB 
^omcstiq C^oitomu. 
DON’T “ DOWN WITH THE STOVES.” 
I’m very indignant, Mr. Editor! Why ? 
Because I’ve just returned from a call upon 
Mrs. Spruce, my neighbor, who is one of 
your tidy souls, Her little Mary, sis years 
old, is dying, and she sent for mo. Notwith¬ 
standing my sympathy fox' both mother and 
child, I am indignant, and if I do not exhibit 
the tenderness 1 really feel in this letter it 
will be because I cannot! What has so 
aroused my indignation ? This : — I found 
that every stove in my good neighbor’s 
house, except the kitchen stove, had been 
down two weeks. The carpets had been 
taken up and a whole week devoted, with¬ 
out intermission, to scrubbing, cleaning, 
whitewashing and general family discom¬ 
fort. Poor Mary, in the. midst of this me¬ 
lee, had taken a severe cold, which had been 
neglected for house cleaning, and she is 
dying of congestion of the lungs. Besides, 
there isn’t a soul in. the house that has not 
got a handage about, the throat, or a wet 
cloth on the head, a shawl about the shoul 
ders, and the “snuffles ” and hoarseness ! 
The whole family have been living in the 
kitchen in order to keep warm and the other 
rooms clean ! The bedroom where the poor 
child lay was as cold as a barn, as damp us a 
cellar, and the air as foul as a vault. Oh! oh! 
But the house was clean!—oh, so clean! 
When I went into the house I felt as if en 
toning a tomb. The air was chill and damp. 
Mrs. Spruce met me with an anxious face 
as I said: 
“ I didn’t know Mary was sick—what ails 
the darling?” " 
“Oh! she’s got congestion of the lungs 
and is very low. She took cold while we 
wex-c house cleaning, and it was neglected 
in our hurry, and ’’—away the poor mother 
rushed to answer the moans of her sick child. 
Finally she came back, and I said: 
“You will all die here!” 
“ Why, what do you mean?” 
“ Bo you want your child to get well J” 
“Of course I do—why do you ask such a 
question?” / 
“ Because she will not and cannot in this 
atmosphere. May I do what T t hink best?” 
“ Oh, anything to sa^e my child!” 
I sought the kitchen girl, who called Far- 
mer Spruce, and down out. of the garret 
wuj brought the burnished stove, wrapped 
up in paper, and it was put. up quickly and 
a good fire started. Then the windows were 
dropped, the child taken from the foul bed¬ 
room to a cot near the fire, and the win¬ 
dows of the bedroom opened wide. Farmer 
Spruce said, “ I declare, this fire is com¬ 
fortable.” Poor Mary breathed easier and 
looked better; but L fear she will die. Poor 
Mrs. Spruce finally realized what she had 
been doing, and as t came away said:—“Oh! 
Mi's. A.llkn, it she dies I shall never forgive 
myself !” 
Do the mothers who read the Rural un¬ 
derstand why I am indignant? 
Esther Allen. 
Steamed Eggs .—This dish has of late been 
rather the favorite in my family, as it is a 
new one to us. Break the. eggs into a but¬ 
tered plate or small meat dish and place on 
the fire in a steamer, over a kettle contain¬ 
ing t wo or three quarts of cold water. Salt, 
pepper and butter them to suit the taste. 
W hen the water has boiled two or three min¬ 
utes they will be done. 
Baked Eggs, which are also a new dish 
with us—though I much prefer the steamed 
ones are prepared in the same way, except 
t hat they are set into the oven on a grate 
and baked. Julia M. W. 
Iftodcs ami fKanitei[s. 
OVER-WORKED FARMERS’ WIVES. 
I have a few words to say about over- 
worked farmers’ wives, having been one 
myself long enough to be entitled to speak 
on the subject. Where there is a lai’ge farm, 
with hired help out of doors, and numerous 
children, and help in the house is almost 
impossible to find, its is very often the ease 
in farming communities, it, Is almost una¬ 
voidable that women should be overworked, 
unless they are indolent enough to take 
things easy. In such cases ( tliink a woman 
should use a great deal of head work, and do 
as few kinds of work as possible, cooking 
particularly, but do well what she does do. 
l’ies, for instance, take more time In prepa¬ 
ration than many other kinds of food, and 
rolling out pie crust is a serious item if one’s 
strength runs low. Unless a woman has 
plenty of leisure, strength, or good help, 1 
think men ought to learn t,o do without 
them, i have seen women who exhausted 
themselves by not having any order about 
their work, baking whenever the bread was 
gone, ironing whenever it came right. 1 did 
so myself until I learned better, and now 1 
can accomplish twice Ihe amount of work, 
in the same time, with half the strength. 1 
have seen women who toiled so unceasingly 
that they did not even take time to look over 
the weekly papers. 1 do not think anything 
is gained by it, for a rest and change of sub¬ 
ject is always a benefit. I do not believe 
there is in the. world a class of human beings 
who undertake or accomplish as much busi¬ 
ness as a farmer’s wife who does her own 
work and brings up a family of children, and 
no class is more deserving of words of sym¬ 
pathy and encouragement, than these quiet 
toilers. Farmer’s Wife, 
SPRING GOODS. 
HUSK MATS, &c. 
Whei/ we consider how much dust and 
mud they save from the carpets and floors, 
as well as much wear and tear of those arti¬ 
cles, it is rather surprising that, so few house¬ 
keepers seem to know their value, but put 
down at the door instead an old piece of car- 
pet, or even sometimes an old coat, or pair of 
pantaloons, which looks rather shabby, to 
say the least, while husk mats look well and 
answer the pui'pose of cleaning feat much 
better. 
To make them, separate the corn husks 
from the stem and assort them, throwing 
aside any that are brittle or decayed. 
Dampen them a little by dipping into warm 
water, and wring as dry as possible, if they 
are to be braided immediately. Select about 
nine good sized husks, and tie a strong twine 
around them about one inch from the butt 
ends, which should be even. Separate them 
below the twine into three equal parts, and 
proceed to braid, adding a husk or two as 
each strand is lapped over, leaving an inch 
or so projecting at the butt end of each husk 
for the brush. The braid should bo about 
one inch in width. Sew the braids together 
on the smooth side, with strong twine and 
coarse needle, shaping them into oblong, 
round or square mats, as fancy dictates, 
borne ladies prefer to dip the husks into a 
red, blue or brown dye before braiding, 
which makes them px-ettier of course. There 
should be one of these mats outside and an¬ 
other inside of the back door, .as well as at I 
the front. 
RAG CARPETS. 
I would like to express my opinion on that 
interesting subject, “ Rag Carpets.” 1 think 
if anything deserves the appellation “home¬ 
ly,” it is a “ whip-o-skip ” mg carpet. Since 
“order” is the first great law, why not let it 
extend into the minutes of household affairs 
and unite Ihe beautiful with the useful? 
J have before me a roll of striped rag ear- 
pet (fifty yards) just from the weavers, all 
the cutting and sewing of the rags the work 
of my own bauds. When 1 unrolled it F 
was surprised, u J did not know as anything 
so handsome could be made from rugs; and 
I doubt whether a new “tapestry” could 
have given me more pleasure. I commenced 
it three years ago, but worked on it only 
springs and falls, during the vacations be¬ 
tween my schools. When I was a “wee 
girl ’ I remember being very happy sewing 
carpet rags for “dear mothei\” That car¬ 
pet was ours; this is mine. No, “ours,” 
after ail—husband’s and mine! I shall not 
put down the carpet question until after our 
County Fair! Mrs. M. Dutton Buxton. 
Orleans Co., N. Y 
-♦♦♦--- 
COUSIN AGNES’ RECIPES. 
Cocoarvut Cake.—' Two pounds sugar, one 
pound butter, one pound ami three-quarters 
flour, ten eggs, two grated cocoanuts, one 
cup milk, and the milk of the coeoanut; add 
one-lialf teaspoonful soda last thing. This 
makes two loaves. 
.Measure Cake.— One cup sugar, one-half 
cup butter, one-half cup sweet cream, two 
eggs, one teaspoon soda ; flavor with lemon. 
Cookies.— One cup butter, one cup sweet, 
milk, two cups sugar, two teaspoons cream 
tarter, one teaspoon soda, flour to roll; roll, 
cut in small cakes, and hake ten minutes. 
Any spice you choose. Cousin Agnes. 
-♦-*>-- 
Cleaning Silver. —Dr. Elsner says : 
Water, in which potatoes have been boiled 
exercises a remax-kable cleaning influence 
upon silverware of all lands, especially 
spoons that have become blackened by cm-'h 
K voii delicately uIuihchI mid ©nR;i*&ved articles 
caii.it is said, be made hrlghtby thiss method 
even.better than by the use of the ordinary 
polishing powder, which is apt to settle in 
the depressions, requiring particular care in 
its removal. 
Camels’ hair cloth, of lighter quality, is 
introduced for the spring. For promenade 
costumes there is no material more suitable 
for the polonaise. There are varieties of 
camels’ liair cloth, such as begigneand de 
bege, and all descriptions of diagonals, sonic 
with narrow others with wide twill; some 
rough others with smooth surfaces, but all 
are soft and clinging, and designed for wear 
with silk skirts. 
These goods are not always made in polo¬ 
naises. A favorite style now is the English 
walking jacket with revere, single or double- 
breasted, pockets and cuffs very simply 
trimmed, with an overskirt long in front, 
slightly open, ami but little draping in the 
back. It is to be understood that this cos¬ 
tume, which is one of the most suitable and 
convenient, is not stylish or adapted to visit¬ 
ing toilettes. 
Leno cloth is very suitable, for spring or 
even summer costumes, it comes in plain 
colors as well as stripes mid mottled designs. 
Ihe best, which is known as silk leno, is 75 
cents a yard, it is strong, light, and cool. 
Empress cloths, in dark blue, with white 
polka spots and broken rings, make very 
pretty morning costumes. They are math, 
in polonaises, French waists and overskirts, 
and are worn with black silk skirts. It 
must lie remarked that the pea, ash, hues 
of blue, and llm olive shades of green are 
passe. The blue known as Napoleon blue is 
the type of color preferred. All the old 
shades, indeed, like the browns and grays, 
are reasserting themselves : 
I here are, of course, a great variety of 
goods that come under the head of what are 
called traveling goods—grays and browns— 
but, we would advise no one ever to purchase 
a dress for such a purpose. There is nothing so 
suitable for a journey as a dress past its first 
freshness, ami nothing which so soon takes 
the freshness from a new dress as a journey, 
i here, is nothing that can be commended for 
traveling wear to be compared with au old 
black silk, which can be replaced at hotels 
with a good one. But whatever be the state 
of any one’s wardrobe, the purchase of stuff 
goods for a traveling costume is an expense 
not worth incuiTing, 
, Bx white goods there is a now variety of 
nannook, with figured uxid lace stripes, very 
pretty indeed. Ijightdotte.il Swiss muslins 
with stripes and figures make the prettiest 
possible thin dresses, which, with care, will 
last a summer without washing. 
Bique is not a favorite goods. It falls in 
too heavy folds and is apt to grow yellow' in 
washing. ’The prettiest trimming for pique 
skirts are the embroidered muslin flounces 
that, in German embroidery, are very inex¬ 
pensive. 
TRIMMINGS. 
Of all trimmings fringe and lace are the 
most used. Colored fringes, plain, twisted, 
tasseled in balls, are used on colored dresses. 
In black there is the widest, choice. It conies 
in all possible designs. In the handsomest, 
jet is largely introduced ; balls of line cut jet 
alternate with knots of silk Plain fringe 
has a beading of jet for the head. Others 
have passementerie braids, a very handsohie 
trimming in itself. Fringe made entirely of 
jet is very effectively used with lace, the 
lace falling over it. 
Passementerie is generally mingled with 
jet, jet predominating. Garments trimmed 
with it are very elegant and dressy, but it 
scorns very inappropriate for summer wear. 
Cut steel is also mingled with trimming, but 
it is not to be commended for beauty. Both 
steel and jet are also mingled with laces. 
Yak and French laces are both beaded. 
French lace is more and mom used, especial¬ 
ly for the trimming of light gray silks. The 
patterns are copied from thread and often 
can scarcely be distinguished from it. On 
scarfs anil veils the pure thread should be 
used, but where lace ia gathered or put on 
at all full, or furnishes edges or headings for 
flounces, the French lace answers admirably. 
Embroidery, as lias been noticed, is very 
fashionable. The new dolmans are covered 
with it, anil the black silk cuirass jackets are 
elaborately embroidered. Jet is also mingled 
with embroidery. Braiding is in many in¬ 
stances used instead of embroidery; it is 
very effective and very easily done. Polon¬ 
aises of camel’s liair arc embroidered in 
Shaded wools of the same tint. Batiste, linen, 
pongee salts come in boxes embroidered— 
generally in the open English embroidery. 
Wool is also used on batiste. For white cos¬ 
tumes, embroidery is the trimming pre- 
leu od. Ihe handsomest are worsted in tuts 
mate. ml. Very beautiful skirts, with flounces 
:, y 7° rk0C ’ Cwn be bou Sht, to be worn 
w.i.th P° lan «ses. But with bought embroid- 
er ies a,ul lushing, costumes quite as hand¬ 
some can be made at home. 
Buttons of new style have already been 
noticed. Button holes, it must be remarked 
are bound with silk or of the material, instead 
of being worked. 
arC a larg ® part of lhe garniture 
now. 1 hey are sometimes arranged with 
argw jet buckles. No precise direction can 
be given for them, as they follow every ca¬ 
price, andtheir effect depends on the judg- 
ment and taste of the person who arranges 
the n. 1 lus much can be said:-they are not 
tied m bows at the back, but are generally 
knotted down on the skirt. ‘ V 
In trimmings of the material, piping 
puffs, bands, folds, are all used. The dudn 
puff is a favorite way of heading flounces 
and there are varieties of shell trimming’ 
The old-fashioned box plaiting i s no longfr 
worn. 
GLOVES. 
Kid gloves are now an indispensable arti- 
' ® f .4 e88 ;. [ h ?y fnllo ' v in their shades the 
prevailing tints m dress, and are, of course 
now to be found in every shade of gray and 
hT V "' J 1 "s'"'™"'"”' ooslm,,,,:. light 
tints are used; also with black silk and gren¬ 
adine. But, ah a rule, gloves the shade of 
the dress are selected. For full dross toilette 
white gloves are worn, though for most oc¬ 
casions tints of blush, tea rose, lemon, and 
pearl are worn. They are also much 
more becoming. Four to six buttons are the 
prescribed numbers. There is a glove that 
has but one button, and closes over the arm 
instead of buttoning, which is very beeom- 
u'g to ho am,. Gloves with two buttons 
cost *3.25; three, *3,50; each button costing 
twenty-five cents more. Undressed kid are 
still used tor promenade and traveling- 
the best qualities are in ecru, gray and 
brewn They cost *1.50 in two buttons, 
suit gloves, With a kid finish, are made in 
the same way. They come with long wrists 
in delicate shades. Gloves of Lisle thread, and 
Lisle and silk mixed, are for country wear. 
BOOTS. 
Buttoned boots are the most fashionable 
style. They are not, so high as formerly 
have square? toes and « broad heel. All or¬ 
namentation on boots is in bad taste, such 
tassels, fancy stitching, &c. For wallc- 
ing boots, soft French kid U used—either all 
of k.d or with cloth uppers. Morocco, French 
calf and dri;- ; , f ,,i kid are preferred by many 
to k.d, which often rubs and becomes shabby 
HliPflers and half low shoes are worn in the 
house and as often as practicable, to display 
the fanciful stockings now in full favor The 
Mane Antoinette is the favorite slipper 
trimmed with high bows. Quilted satin and 
gray linen slippers are used for negligee. 
BUCK ALPACA DRESS 
(Genevieve.) —Make your black with one 
of the new style derrii-poloxiaise. In front 
let t.lio first two seams end in a rest; on each 
side the material falls in straight, square 
pieces almost to the bottom of the skirt 
they should be wide enough to almost meet 
ui the back. Underneath the basque a 
pamer puff should fall, and with a sash and 
bow connect the two front pieces. Trim 
with a puff, ending in a ruffle caught down 
with a piping of alpaca or silk. The trim- 
mmg up the front of the pieces is continued 
over the shoulders and around the neck 
Make the sleeves coat, and trim with two 
rows of the puffs. Do not make the skirt 
over three yards wide. Trim first with a 
kilt plaiting, eight inches deep; over this put 
a slightly gathered ruffle of the same depth 
and finish with a puff and ruffle. Do not hem 
the flounce on the machine—a French hom is 
the prettiest way to finish it. Turn up the 
flounce on the right side, the depth you de¬ 
sire, and blind-stitch it down. Otherwise 
bind it. 
novelties. 
For party wear slippers are more fashion¬ 
able than boots. The--.ire ornamented with 
full satin rosettes and bows. For dancing 
shoes are preferred, either laced or buttoned! 
White kid boots may be cleaned, when soiled 
with benzine. Black satin boots are the 
handsomest for more subdued toilettes 
For home wear line French kid are worn. 
rbe l,ir K 0 ■ f’iunon fans have run through 
their brief season of favor. They were too 
large for comfort, and few ladies were suf¬ 
ficiently practised to use them skillfully. 
The favorite fan is of medium size, of satin 
with pointed flowers or sprays of point or 
point applique luce, mounted on pearl sticks. 
Charlotte Corday caps, of muslin and lace 
are. worn, for breakfast. They may be ar¬ 
ranged very becomingly by knots of ribbon 
for young persons. The. muslin should be 
used only to give lorm to the cap. 
