mv, a 
MOORE’S RURAL flEW-Y 
SSD 
A SONG OF A LIFE 
_ i 
BY DIANTITA DIMMICK REYNOLDS. 
Potvn by the waters they strayed together, 
Hand In hand, in those early days 
When the honey-tipped clover and the heather 
Perfumed the air with an incense of praise; 
Hand in hand, while the skioa were golden. 
And flowers bathed in dew, and bird songs ran 
Through their shlromerlnjr brightness, and the olden 
Forests grew vocal with tones /Boluin. 
Down by the waters they sat together. 
Where the cowslips btolderad the emerald hanks. 
And the thistle.(Inch, rustling Ills golden feathers. 
Bat a-lllt ’tnong the aiders warbling thanks; 
And their hearts kept tunc to the carol of birds. 
And t he song of winds and waters which ran 
Through the dewy flowers, on grassy swards, 
While the youth to the maiden thus began t 
“ Oh ! thou sweetest angel of life’s summer time, 
The power of thy presence hath wrought the 
change; 
Life blossoms around thee in her sunniest prime, 
O’ershadowcd br sanctities rare and strange. 
Ah ! love's sweet miracle, round me throws 
A mantle of joy. and o’er me flings 
Such awe as up through the spirtt grows 
At sweep of garments, and sense of wings. 
“ Thou core of my heart 
But the maid, like a bird, 
Fluttered aside as a step was heard; 
The Squire's young son, the pride of the town, 
Tall and strong, with a bold, fair face. 
Bowed and smiled with a princely grace, 
And passed up the path to the cottage brown. 
“ O, hear me, Beloved !”— 
A cry of sharp pain ! 
But the young poet lover pleaded In vain ; 
She hid her face from Ills troubled gaze. 
And glanced through the summer’s golden haze, 
At the wind-swept Jasmine over the. door— 
At a shadow which fell on the oaken floor. 
There were two who walked In the sweet moonlight 
Where the pine ir ea murmured low ; 
There were two who plighted their vows in the 
wood. 
In the wood where the waters flow. 
There a os ono who wandered with vacant sight, 
There was one who, listen as listen he might, 
Could hear hut. one wail run to and fro, 
Bike the night, winds of winter over the snow ; 
“ Dost to me '.-lost!—and 1 love thee still!” 
Jangle the bells In tbo steeple gray 1 
There comath two in the blithesome May, 
To wed where the people kneel to pray, 
The Squire’* young son, the pride of the town,— 
Tall and strong, wlto a bold, fuir face,— 
And tlie gentle maid with a winsome grace, 
And eyes violet blue, and hair nut brown ; 
Jangle the bolls through the joy-thrlllod town ! 
There was one who sought deserted ways. 
Who stood alone in the crowded street,— 
Who climbed hoar mountains, rough and wild. 
And prayed where wave* and surges beat. 
There was ouo Who wandered many a year, 
Wandered, and found no place of rest, 
And came at last, as a grieved child comes 
Nestling 'rating those it loves the best, 
To the olden wood where tin: cowslips blow— 
To the murmuring wood where the waters flow,— 
And found a cb'ld with a sunny face, 
With eyes like stars, and brow like snow. 
Who clambered up on the stranger's ltnoe, 
And, tracing the lines upon bis face 
With curious lingers, prattled with glee 
Of Mamina, Freddie, and baby Grace. 
Close pressing the child to bis throbbing breast, 
He, out of the depths of bis misery cried 
To the Father In heaven to give him rest; 
But the Father gave strength to overcome, 
There, in the shade of his trystlug place,— 
Was manhood's glorious battle won. 
Freed from the fetters of selfish desire, 
The radiant angel of Dove arose— 
Aroso from the ashes of utter despair, 
Into the Joy of divine repose— 
Into such ministering as angels know. 
He led the child to the cottage gate, 
As the tramp of a riderless steed was heard; 
Down In the wood, intoxicate, 
They found him prone, the Squire’s young son, 
Grown bearded and stout, his tottering gait, 
And bleared rod eyes—the shame of the town ! 
Bleeding, and senseless, they bare him on 
To the cottage door, whore many a year 
She had watched with the stars for his coming late, 
Praying, and waitiug till the Heavens should hear. 
There was one who ministered with an angel’s hand 
To the varied wants of the group within; 
There was one who plead as a brother pleads, 
“ Go thou no more in ways of sin.” 
And the drunkard arose from his bed of pain 
On his brother’s strong arm—a man again. 
War 1 War ! Terrible war ! 
Blow the clarion ! Beat the drum l 
Gather the hosts from near and far 
To strike the traitorous foeman down ! 
There was one who rushed to the thick of the fight. 
Where the smoke uf battle obscured tbo day ; 
There was one who. shouting, “ God the Right!’’ 
Proffered his breast to the fiery dart, 
Aimed at IBs country’s bleeding heart. 
And they bare him shattered aud bleeding away, 
War l War! Pitt'less war'. 
Blow the clarion ! Beat the drum ! 
Gather the hosts from n jar and far 
To strike the traitorous foemau down ! 
There were those around tbo dread wheel of Fate, 
Breathless, silent, eager-eyed. 
As sue slowly counted her victims out, 
Doomed to the bloody sacrifice! 
There was grief in the cottage down by the wood— 
Down by the wood where the waters flow; 
The young mother foil like one t.tmt was dead 
When she heard whom the. Fates decreed to go. 
There was grief in the cottage down by the wood, 
Grief which was crushing and hard to see; 
The young mother, wild with her misery, stretching 
Her arms to the fat her of t lie babe on her knee. 
A long wail of anguish run down through the wood— 
Ran down In the path which leads o'er the down: 
An anguish which hushed the war-trumpet's breath, 
Ami hushed the Can* of the war-drums' beat, 
As It gathered Itself into the heart of the town. 
There was ouo who hoard, and pitied, and spake, 
Out of the depths of a CHRIST. Uko love. 
Courting a CHRtST-Uke Joy in pain ; 
“ Go home with your babes. I ha ve faced this storm, 
Anil will face it for you again.” 
Pale front the draining of receent wounds, 
But calm tts God’s angel .sons of light. 
He wn,tobeo the group of mother and babes 
Till their forms wore lost hnong the trees from his 
sight; 
Then turned with a spirit lifted up, 
Into the roar of the cannon’s breath ! 
Into the hideous clang of battle! 
Into the ghastly still ness of death ! 
Down to the front, In a nameless grave, 
Sloopeth one of God's noblest sons. 
Op in the cot by the sheltering wood. 
The wood where the ceaseless waters flow, 
The mother siugeth her vesper hymns 
To the pattering of l’eet which come and go. 
leading for the §oimg. 
MY OLD TOM. 
(BEE illustration, page 337.J 
Come, come, pretty puss, come sit on my knee, 
And tell me how it Is at night you can see. 
Without any candle, to catch all the mice, 
Which nibble the pudding, and all that is nice. 
Now go to steep, pussy, or else go to play. 
For 1 to mamma have my lesson to say; 
To idle all day will, I know, uot be right, 
So good-by : wo will have a good frolic to-uight. 
NOVEMBER HERE. ' 
THfisutnmer’s joys are over and the splendors 
of the painted leaves. The trees stand out 
gaunt and bare, and the blue skies sadden into 
gray. The nights grow keen and frosty, the 
sunbeams faint and chill. Jack Frost, scatters 
Ids ashes broadcast over lawn and meadow, and 
the brooks shiver and sigh ns they creep 
through the sodden leaves. Old Probabilities 
talks of snow, we feel it in our bones, and shall 
not be surprised to sec, at any hour, the crispy 
uir whited with dancing snow Hakes. Hut, 
after all, these arc not the “ melancholy days " 
of which the poets sing dirge like strains as 
the “saddest of all the year.” November, 
ruddy with tingling life, and with the free, 
fresh winds blowing out her nut, brown tresses, 
has her own charms, as she clasps old winter 
by the hand and loads him in to bn crowned 
“ ruler of the Inverted year." For the last rose 
of summer she gives us the blue fringed gentian, 
bright with frosty Row. in her rougher winds 
are tonic draughts of life, and in her long 
nights and radiant fireplaces, dear homo de¬ 
lights, uni at her Thanksgiving tables the 
fairest consummation of domestic joys. 
—--- 
THE “MUSICAL TREE.” 
Something now is tho musical treo. It is 
owned by a resident of Murray Hill, who pur¬ 
chased it In. Europe, aud is quite positive it is 
the only tree of the kind in America. It is an 
artiilcial tree or bush about live feet high set in 
a large square tub of Russia leather. It looks 
very natural and beautiful, every lcar, sprig and 
twig being absolutely perfect in the workman¬ 
ship of copying nature. Touch a knob on the 
side of the tub and instantly the tree is literally 
filled with small birds of every imaginable lino 
and color, including those represented In the 
rainbow. Each and every bird begins to sing, 
ami very sweetly, too, their soft notes blending 
beautifully in harmony. Touch the knob again 
and tbo birds disappear mysteriously, to reap¬ 
pear whenever summoned by pressure of tho 
little gold knob. Aiid this is tho musical tree 
about which so much is said in fashionable 
circles up town.—iV. Y. Evening Mod. 
-♦♦♦- 
A PRISON ROMANCE. 
A singular prison romance lets just been 
disclosed in the Canadian penitentiary at King¬ 
ston, where Elizabeth Jones has for six years 
been confined for the murder of her cousin, 
sentence having been pronounced on her own 
, confession. Her father was executed for the 
same crime, notwithstanding the declaration 
of the girl that she alone had committed the 
deed and that he was not guilty—Indeed knew 
nothing of the murder. She has now admitted 
what has always been generally believed by the 
public, but by herself strenuously denied—that 
her father was the murderer, and that sbo bad 
accused herself oj his crime to shield him, and 
at his desire. She took no part in the crime, 
and was not aware of its commission till her 
father told her he had done it and implored her 
to save him, a task which she devotedly at¬ 
tempted and persisted in after it was hopeless. 
-♦♦♦- 
A RESERVED SEAT. 
The advantage that a married man lias over 
a bachelor is illustrated by this little story 
which the Newport (It. IJ News tells : “ A mar¬ 
ried lady went to the operaliouse Inst Thursday 
evening as soon as the doors were opened, and 
look with her an old hat of her husband's. Se¬ 
lecting two of the best seats in the house she 
put herself in one of them aud tbo bat in the 
other, and waited for her husband. Of course 
everybody thought that the seat had been reg¬ 
ularly taken and vacated for a moment, so they 
let It and the hat alone. About 8 o’clock the 
fortunate husband of the patient aud enter¬ 
prising wife came in and took tho seat that had 
been kept for him." 
-- 
Mme. Anna Iiishou has sung her last farewell 
in San Francisco, beeu “ literally embowered” 
in floral offerings, and sailed for Australia. 
LETTERS FROM BOYS AND GIRLS. 
How to Trap Woodchucks. 
Mu. Editor: — I read the letter which was 
signed “Trapper,” arid 1 feel it a pleasure to 
answer the question about “ woodchuck trap¬ 
ping.” T am up to all woodchuck dodges. First 
of all find ils bole; (and it might be well to statu 
here thiit there might be more than mm hole, 
so if you see more lodes near (he hole in which 
you think the woodchuck is,stop them up with 
rocks or rails.) I said, first of all find his hole, 
and if he is in there you will see his tracks; and 
smell In the said hole, and If you smell a dusky 
odor peculiar to the woodchuck, it is not de¬ 
serted—tho woodchuck is surely there. Sot at 
the mouth of the hole a common stool trap 
without bait. Take loaves ami cover over it. 
Now, don't go and overdo the matter by piling 
a great many on tho trap, but just cover it 
thinly,so old chunky won’t, see too many leaves 
or bo won't stop in it. Dut. don't get tho leaves 
on so thin that you can see tho trap. Look out, 
that you don’t got tho trap so far in that it 
won't, spring, or so far not t.imt the woodchuck 
can go around it without stopping in it. II,v it 
1 don’t mean the hole but the steel trap. 1’lease 
write to me through tho Rural how t can trap 
a skunk, or how you trap tho skunk, and toll 
what, success you have with the woodchuck 
trapping with my directions. —Wild Roarer, 
Rant Bloomfield, N. F. 
How an Ohio Boy Traps Woodchucks. 
Dear Mr. Editor; 1 have never written a 
letter to bo printed, but having road a great 
many in your paper from the boys f thought I 
Would try and write one. 1 am eleven years 
old; my fattier has taken your paper eighteen 
years, ami we all are glad when it comes front 
tlm office. I like I,rapping very much ; have 
caught a great many muskrats, woodchucks, 
&c. V i ring Buckeye Trapper, in a late Ru¬ 
ral, wants to know bow to trap woodchucks. 
1 will tell him how I manage to trap them, fset 
the trap in the hole and cover the trap, chain 
and all with leaves, grass or dirt, so that none 
of it is in sight; am very careful also not to set 
a trap that has had either a skunk or mink 
caught In it, for they don’t seem to like that 
kind of perfumery. We oonnot catch them in 
the winter at all. Wo have been so busy husk¬ 
ing corn this fall I have not had much time for 
trapping. Think this letter Is long enough for 
Hie first one; If you see lit to publish it, per¬ 
haps 1 will try again.—C larence S., Ihmm Cn„ 
Ohio. 
color. I am gat hering a great many autumn 
leaves and ferns, which look so pretty In tho 
winter and remind one of the beautiful season 
that is past. 1 have a very pleasant home, hat e 
two sisters and two brothers. We have a very 
nice organ. Our farm Is about one hundred 
acres; the D. ID S, Railroad runs through it and 
we have a station only a lew feet from our door, 
so It is very convenient for us \<dien wo wish to 
travel, Hlster and brother and Iattond school ; 
I like it very much. Our winter term begins in 
a few weeks. My Dither has taken fcbe RURAL 
for a great many years ami wc like it very much. 
1 have been very much pleased wiih Cousin 
Johnnie'S letters; think it very kind of her to 
take an interest In the young folks, and to cor¬ 
rect t heir letters so nicely. Hope she will not 
overlook mine. Well, Mr. Editor, if you think 
this worth printing, perhaps I will write again 
and tell you about my school. Cousin Alice. 
From u Girl Teacher of a Bible Class. 
Dear, Good Rural: I have Inst been pe¬ 
rusing your delightful pages and find, as of old, 
many very interesting pieces hi your dear col¬ 
umns. I have boon going to write Tor some 
weeks, but circumstances forbade, wo having 
company or aometblugto prevent. This morn¬ 
ing 1 have made up my mind to cast in my mite 
with all the dear cousins. I was most delighted 
in reading Cousin Johnnie’s letters and her 
pleasing and Instructive advice to the young. 
I t hink tiiose that improve by it. will make their 
mark lit this world aud be prepared for the fu¬ 
ture-0 von oin*Cousin liven. I hope she will 
not get so timid again when she takes another 
trip. There were many pieces I much admlrud, 
but when I canto to the picture of Tom and his 
wooden horse T was pleased with the lines, 
*■ For Tom could never bare to see 
Dumb animals abused,” 
I thought, them worth being put in letters of 
gold. What a world of abuse the dumb animals 
receive 1 As mme of the dear cousins wanted 
a letter from the S. S. Scholar, I write; but this 
summer I have been a Bible Class toucher. M. 
B„ Mop tv Lane, N, Y. 
From a Badger State (Wisconsin! Boy. 
Dear Editor; My father has taken your 
paper for a great, many years. I am eleven 
years old, and 1 have been Interested in the 
boys' and girls’ letters in the Rural over since 
’ l havo been old enough to read them. My 
father is a farmer, but I have never lived on 
1 the farm much. ! have lived In tho oily, and 
have been going to the Normal School and like 
it very much, i have a pet. horse that I can 
ride and drive. 1 have been reading PAUL Dtr 
’ OliATLLU'8 works and have beou very much In¬ 
terested in them. If this be worth publishing 
’ l will write again. Geo. B. R., Oshkosh, TFte. 
From a Bay State Girl. 
Mr. Editor; I have been wanting to be¬ 
come one of the “Cousins” for some time; 
will you please count me as one? [Yes, gladly .j 
1 have not seen many letters from the boys and 
girls of Massachusetts. SAMPSON must, be care¬ 
ful how he speaks against, city hoys. All of my 
acquaintances arc brave aud courageous—quite 
equal to the eoutifry boys, I'm sure, 1 have 
been collect ing caterpillars for several months, 
and enjoy feeding and watching them. £ keep 
all the different kinds of caterpillars iuseparaie 
boxes, makes holes In the boxes for air, and 
give them fresh leaves every morning—when 1 
don't forget it. Has Cousin Johnnie ever no¬ 
ticed that tbo caterpillars, who have used most 
of their hair in weaving cocoons, which havo 
been broken or disturbed, turn into chrysa¬ 
lides? Will Lulu please write again and de¬ 
scribe her caterpillars, and excuse me for criti¬ 
cising her letter, and saying that caterpillars 
make cocoons cocoons make chrysalides? 
Would not many readers of the Rural like to 
keep a Gaterpillary ?•— Emma, Boston, Maw. 
From a Kansas Boy. 
Young Readers of tite Rural:—I live 
hero in Kansas, where there are a great many 
things that would interest many of the read¬ 
ers of this. There are large prairies, all of 
which arc more or less settled up. 1 have no 
pets, us some of tho Young Rumlista have, but 
I have quite a number of books and papers. I 
am going to school with other boys and girls. 
I don't live near large cities, like a great many 
of my young readers, nor have I overseen one. 
Tim nearest (own (for it is not a city) to which 
1 live is Chanute, in this County. 1 want to 
hear from other Rural readers. This is the 
first time I ever wrote for the press, so you 
must look over my mistakes.—D. W„ Neosho 
Co., Kansas. _ 
From a Northern Nev* York Cirl. 
Dear ltnttAL Cousins : — l am a farmer’s 
daughter, fifteen years old, and live in the 
northern part of the State of New York, in u 
very pleasant town. I like the country very 
much. It is looking very beautiful now; the 
foliage of the trees is of almost every shade aud 
®hc Ipuidfr. 
PROBLEM.-No. 16. 
Standing by my carriage on the summit of 
a precipitous mountain in Utopia, and being 
curinu.-i to know its elevation above the sur¬ 
rounding plain, I found, by casting my eye 
along the opposite spokes of ono of the wheels, 
an object In Lite distance on the plain below 
intersected by their range. Elevating my eye 
to the next spoke above, and then to the 
next. I noted in a similar manner two other 
Intersected objects on the plain. My carriage 
being provided with a meter for measuring 
distances, and the objects Intersected being 
oh my route of travel, 1 found, afterwards, the 
distances between them to tie TO and 170 rods, 
respectively. Admitting the center of the axle- 
tree to be two feet, from the ground, and the 
80 spokes of the wheel to be placed at equal 
distances apart, what, was tho bight of the 
mountain ? 
O 
' / [ 
W 1 ! ’Wflj 
c t 
AB-170 rods; BC=70 rods; the angle ADB or 
BDC=18°. 
Beale of figure, 160 rods to the inch. 
Oneida Castle, N.Y. B. F. Burleson. 
JAnswer in two weeks. 
-M4- 
WORD-SQUARE ENIGMA.-No. 3. 
1. A vessel ; to conceal; a thought; a loud 
sound. 
2. A part of the.body ; a curious plant; mid¬ 
day ; a mark. 
IS. To detest ; a man’s name ; a water fowl ; a 
girl’s name. 
HESf” Answer In two weeks. Azilk. 
--- 
PUZZLER ANSWERS.-Nov. 7. 
Problem No. 15.— 
Has,. . 1,777.81839 miles, or 25° 42' 50*. 
Peryendloul.tr.. .4,860.63248 miles, or 70" 19' 36)4*. 
Miscellaneous Enigma No. 9.—Seminary. 
Anagram No. 3. “The Heavens declare the 
glory <>f God, and the firmament sheweth His 
handiwork,” 
P 
