JAfi. © 
SING ME A SONG. 
BTC. H. ORES WELL. 
Sixo me a song 1 
And let It be a sweet old plaintive strain. 
That echo loves to hear and breathe again— 
lingering long. 
Sing me, oh, sing! 
A soft, melodious verse, a gentle lay— 
My spirit needs It, for, to-rlay. to-day, 
Came sorrow's sting! 
Sing, lore, to me ! 
Thy voles can dry the tears within my eyes. 
And stifle in my breast the throbbing sighs 
Sing, love, to me ! 
One soothing song! 
The melancholy mood is on me now— 
And mental p In doth polo my aching brow 
So long, *o long! 
Sing, sweet, One lay, 
To oa'ro mr troubled soul—this life, this life. 
Is like the ocean with the wind at strife 
from day l*. day. 
Sing me a song ! 
’Tis all I ask, ‘tts all l wi3li for now— 
The hour is still, and whispering breezes flow— 
Sing mo one song! 
Brooklyn, L. I„ Dec., 1874. 
TRAINING- CHILDREN. 
[The following essay prepared for reading be¬ 
fore the JacksoD Farmers' Club, by Mrs. Ann 
Hopkins, eoutalns some excellent suggestions 
and pungent truths for the consideration of 
parents.—F,(>. It. N. Y.] 
Tho management of children Is a subject 
upon which few writers attempt to give us any 
light. Almost any other tlietue is chosen In 
preference to this. The best way to raise colts 
to grow up strong, healthy and obedient—the 
best way to winter calves, and feed cows to 
mako them give more milk ; even the filthy, 
worm-eating hog Ins a column In almost every 
paper. The chickens, birds, bees, fruits, flow¬ 
ers and Insignificant Insects arc all tenderly 
oared for by the pen aDd ink process—but the 
child, the innocent, hetples.-. Image of God, is 
left out In the cold world of Inattention. We, 
tbo parents, move on in the gay, thoughtless, 
hurrying, fashionable world, nor pause to ob¬ 
serve the many wavs wo neglect tbo culture of 
our children. Not one parent in llfty properly 
considers the obligation the advent of a child 
plaoes thorn under, nor do they try to under¬ 
stand their duty as parents, They have not 
time to listen to their child and help develop 
its intellect. No, If they did somebody would 
raise moro corn and get rich faster tbati they, 
or that lady across tho way oould add one more 
ruffle to hor dress than I. consequently the 
child i* left with little oaie or thought bestow¬ 
ed upon Its Intellect -just enough perhaps to 
drive it in very desperation to see* bad com¬ 
pany. 
In this attempt we must not forget our pub¬ 
lic schools which, of course, cannot be praised 
too highly, but without proper home training 
—that Is, wit hout assistance in discerning good 
from evil, without bestowing affection, advice, j 
prudent attention, etc., that wdll enable them 
to grow up honest, upright, virtuous, respected 
men and women—we say without this aid their 
learning helps them to oommlt more daring, 
disgraceful deeds. 
For one moment let us look at the result of 
tho present mode of culture. There la not one 
of you. Ladles surd Gentlemen, but have hoard 
tho remark, " Children are worse now than they 
wore when I w;uj young.” We oannot take up 
a paper without seeing the words “ Murder," 
“Suicide,” “Burglary,” dtc.; and thus wo will 
ru>a on from worse to worse until this once 
glorious nation will be ruined. Thebudy of the 
child Is abused as often as the mind Is neglect¬ 
ed. Fashion is one groat cause of this; the 
application of “hickory oil” another. Very j 
often tills is used when justice would demand 
the reverse. My very heart, bleeds at the re- I 
memoranoe of a parent who. thinking she was ; 
unobserved, beat her child which was begging 
for merev. when the parent and not the child 
was to blame for the act. Being provoked, and 
acting without reflection Is no excuse whatever, j 
This very abuse and neglect, is laying sin at 
our door which would make us shudder, couid 
the curtain of the future be lifted a moment. 
Oh, parents come to the rescue I You mothers 
that are clamoring for suffrage, attend to this 
duty, and soon your efforts will b<* crowned | 
with success, and the highest praise will be 
your reward. 
Parents, let us not shirk ; let us uow begin 
this reformation—not wait for some one else - 
lest we be like the people of yore, who, believ¬ 
ing the moon to be inhabited, thought they 
would let them (the Inhabitants) know the 
earth also wr.a inhabited. A night w:,g decided 
upon when all people should mak*- loudest 
nolso they possibly could. It was said to be 
tho stillest time ever was known; everybody 
waiting fur some other one tobogin.. Let us. 
aaObrlsliaa parents, gently lead our children 
by example, counsel, and the beneflt, of our 
preseno until we secure their complete oon- 
fldence,-leUing them express their thoughts 
and desires to ua. we being considerate, ex- 
pl inlng, reasoning, showing them the right 
and wrong, tint II they will so prize our smile of 
approbation that they will walk in the paths of 
virtue and usefulness to obtain it. 
A PLEA FOE THE SILENT COMPANION. 
— 
BY MAY MAPLE. 
! - 
Don’t kick and scold him flecausc he chances 
to look In at the door with his great brown 
eyes, or possibly steps upon your polished floor 
with his four-rowed feet. To be sure be Is only 
a dog, and the barn may perhaps be the proper 
place for bln>. But he is just as sensitive to 
kind or rough treatment as you are yourself, 
though you tnay have the “ blue blood" of roy¬ 
alty in your veins. 
Money may buy luxuries and the flattery of 
so-called friends; but it will not purchase the 
good will of a dog. You may desire the sym¬ 
pathy of your fellow mortals in times or sorrow 
or affliction, yet in nine cases out of ten they 
“Will laugh at your calamities and muck when 
your fear cometh.” They wIII partake of your 
hospitality, accept your favors, that may be 
I bestowed with a liberal hand,—we;,r the badge 
of your influence pinned upon their sleeves,— 
worm from you your secrets, under cover of 
the most confidential friendship, -and at the 
same time take from you that which is of more 
value than riches, j our good name, by the vilest 
slandeis; betray tho trust you repose In t hem 
to your worst enemies, which, if you are ambi¬ 
tious of distinction, yon cannot be without; 
and, if by any possible means they can sneak 
| Into your post of honor even by dethroning you, 
| be assured they will strain no point of flucly- 
spun sentiment, by not accepting the situation. 
Not so w ith the dog, who oats from your hands 
I even the crumbs that fall from the table. Does 
he see grief upon your countenance, his gentle 
: caress and sad eyes at once bespeak Ida sym¬ 
pathy. It matters not whether prosperity or 
adversity attend you, he Is still your faithful 
friend. Tell to him your most engrossing se¬ 
cret and he never divulges by word or look. Ho 
never makes impertinent Inquiries about your 
business or gives uncalled-for advice. Ho is at 
once In all your travels, Triond, protector and 
tervanfc, wit h affections equally as strong as his 
superiors. 
Then let me entreat you, once moro, to be 
kind and considerate to the “ old dog.” Don’t 
leave him to make his bed In a snow bank, or 
to stand shivering with cold and pinched with 
hunger at your door. If he is only a dog, he is 
one of God’s creatures, and as such deserves 
kind treatment and good care. 
-♦♦♦—-- 
DON’T FEET, GOOD WOMAN! 
BY MRS. B. C. RUDE. 
Yes, I know there are a great many provok¬ 
ing things in this life; for Instance, it is pro¬ 
voking to lind, after you have written half a 
dozen letters with a snub-nosed pen, that you 
had choice new ones lying just under voiir 
nose, in a box of cast-off powders that the 
Doctor left—the very la»t place in tho world 
that a convalescent would be rummaging. 
It’s Just a trifle provoking to have some ig- [ 
noramus set the clock back fifteen minutes 
Just as you expect to take the train for a fune¬ 
ral or, what is akin to it, a political conven¬ 
tion. It is aggravatlng, to say the least, to have 
the teapot oover drop off every time you pour a 
cup of tea. 
Green wood is a terrific evil, especially when 
it la an inch too long at each end. And. oh 1 
when the best platter Is smashed the day be¬ 
fore Christmas, It ia simply awful. But then, 
what are you going to do about it,, any how? 
It keeps one on the move so to flare at every¬ 
thing 
Oh, your husband don'r. come homo nights, 
eh? Woll, he Is a bruto—that is. If vou are 
pleasant and keep pictures on the walls. Tell 
nim I said so. will you ? Don’t look in tho least 
ruffled^ though ; don’t, even acoiol, if there is a 
dent in your forehead Just as deep as tho win¬ 
dow sash, made by hoboing your noad against 
the window to look for his odraing. 
Fretting is not admirable in any case. rt 
takes the fat off, deepens the wrinkles, fades 
out the hair; and bile In a stirred up condition 
Yellows the skin, Oh.it don't, “pay” to fret 
if you want to be handsome. Take everything 
as It comes, whether it be a broken clothes 
line nr a late husband. 
And if vou and I. my friend, wait, in patlnce 
till beauty '*rowns our efforts, patience will have 
had a perfect work in at least two lives. 
♦ « »-— 
HOME AD0ENMENT8. 
In the winter time we should make our pre¬ 
parations for summer, for whea the warm 
weather comes there ia so much to be drone eut 
of doors that we have to leave many orna¬ 
mental items that can just ua well be made In 
winter- 
Ii you wish a pretty rustic, etond for your 
flowers, procure four sticks of uniform length, 
as crooked and knotty as possible—perhaps 
four feet would be about the right length ; fast¬ 
en these together about half wav down, and, 
spreading the top apart, fasten it firmly with 
something strong, in imitation of a camp chair. 
A board may bo used for this purpose, or, if 
the manufacturer is not an adept in driving 
nails, strings or strips of basswood bark may 
be used and the sticks tied together. The 
sticks maybe left with the bark on or taken 
off and varnished. The varnish brings out the 
grain of the wood. The details of rim stand 
Can be changed to produce a variety. They 
may he arranged to hold a deep font, in which 
the plants are grown. I had one of these 
bowls during the past summer, planted with 
very common plants, which elicited many com¬ 
ments and seemed to be admired, A Blooding 
Heart Geranium occupied the center; Ivy 
plants drooped In profusion around the edge. 
There was a Btrawherry Geranium, a Crimson 
and Purple Fuchsia and Wandering Jew. It. 
was a perfect mass of green, with an occasional 
brilliant blossom. Another smaller bowl con¬ 
tained a perfect tangle of Maurnndia vines, 
very dainty and pretty. They were deluged 
with water every evening and bad excellent j 
drainage, so they kept In a flourishing oondl- I 
tion all summer. Loretta K. Turner. 
Reading fur iguttg. 
THEEE LITTLE GIRLC, 
On*, two, three! 
Don't you see ? 
All little girlies belonging to me : 
There's Katie so busy, and mischievous Lou, 
And Elsio, who nothing ns yet can do 
But eat, and sleep, aud kick out ber feet. 
And "make beltevn" augry itnd look very sweet; 
“ A terrible trouble," some folks say; 
Their father and 1 Ihink another way. 
Like a miser his store. 
We count o'er nnd o’er 
Our treasure-, though well we knew them before. 
And number thorn out like houses and lands; 
&lx little feet, and six little hands. 
Two that are gray and four blue eyes. 
Three little heads toe think wondrous wise; 
; Throe rosy faces with each a small nose. 
Thirty fat fingers and thirty fat toes. 
They look very quiet. 
But, I’ll not, deny it, 
They're capable. Bometimes, of making a riot. 
There's Katie, my eldest daughter. 
She likes to dabble her hands In the water; 
Lulu has found out a beautiful piny. 
Scattering tho ashes every way ; 
While baby Elsie, the sly little minx. 
Can spill her milk and look wise as a sphinx. 
One, two, three! 
As you mar see. 
There’s work enough in the world for me; 
So many little wants to supply. 
So many times to sing “lullaby,” 
So many little garments to sew,— 
And the face* a«e always dirty, you know,— 
So busy the days, so wearied the nights. 
Half the time going in putting to rights. 
As you may guess,~ 
And 1 confess,— 
There are anxious thoughts that at limes oppress! 
Hopes, plans, and fears for a future day : 
But all the mother can do Is to pray, 
“ leather, watch tln'm wltb Thy sleepless ej es. 
And out of Thy wisdom make vie wise.”— 
Then comes a sweet voice, as pleading as may be, 
Down goes thn pen, and up conies—a baby 1 
[Kuril) Days. 
-- 
LETTEB8 FEOM BOYS AND GIELS. 
Letter from Young Naturalist. 
Uow Do You Do ?— Am I welcome once more 
within the merry circle of cousins, after being 
absent so long? I have been having thp Jolliest 
times Imaginable -sliding down bill in a real 
Old-fashioned down East ,notv storm! And 
i this is a great I rca* to me, a my home is In lb" 
1 level couhtry bordering on the Genesee Valley. 
I agree wpa 'Oti'G Student in bis mention 
of that most delightful book, the “Alhambra," 
us l do with bln whole letters, with one excep¬ 
tion. However, I dare not mention (hat-for 
| fear ol’ Cousin Johnnie’s dreaded fits. Equal 
j with Ikvino'h, in my estimation, are the efforts 
of Lord UULWEit Lvtti.n; “ Kenelon Chilling¬ 
ly," “ Pilgrims of the Rhine" and “ Pelham.” 1 
think especially fine. Do not tny cousins like 
the full, musical verse of Longfellow? His 
writings are such as one loves to llugsr over, Id 
that delicious, hazy atmosphere and exquisite 
coloring of an American October twilight. Will 
Youno Student, and any other cousins who 
are so inclined, write to me? My address is 
Spencerport, N. Y. Iam seriously inclined to 
doubt the veracity of Young Bach, for I have 
waited vainly —though expectantly— for the 
coming of that belligerent damsel whom he 
says, is “ going for" me. How suddenly he has 
disappeared from tho couaiuly circle where be 
created such a sensation and received such a 
decidedly warm welcome. Ah, well I such is 
fame! And, by the way, what has become of 
our Courin Dew-Drop ? I hope she has not dis¬ 
appeared, like her transient namesake, before 
that, draadful quietus administered by Cousin 
Johnnie. Perhaos I am audacious, but I should 
really like to see her photograph. You know, 
“Faint heart never won fair — picture!"— 
Young Naturalist, Hamilton , N . F. 
From a Nebraeka School Olrl, 
Dear Editor:— I have long thought that I 
would write you, but have been afraid that you 
would throw my letter In the waste basket. 
The other day, when my teacher was hearing 
the class in Geography, ho asked, “Can a. ship 
go any other way from San Francisco to New 
York than by the way of Capo Horn ?’’ I said 
there was a ship canal across tbo Isthmus of 
Panama. He said there was not. Now will you 
be so kiud as to tell me in your paper if I am 
right, as I have no authority for my statement. 
[You were mistaken about the canal.— Ed.] 
I am a wild Nebraska girl, fourteen years old 
and like to read your paper very much. I never 
have been to school much, it Is so far—two 
miles. T live on a farm eight miles from Ne¬ 
braska City. My pa rente a farm. He raised 
scarcely anything this year, it was so dry, so I 
do not know as mamma can take the Rural 
next year, for we have no money. All the other 
girls tell about their pets, so I must too. Mine 
is a large gray and white cat; It comes to my 
chamber every morning and wakes me, and It 
wilt strike at me when I tell it to. I think it 
knows a great deal. I hope you will answer my 
question In your next paper and oblige— Min¬ 
nie, Dunbar, 1Keb. 
From an Albany County Boy. 
Mr. Editor:—I am a reader of the Rural 
and eleven years old. I hope you will count 
me as one of the cousins. I have a few pets, 
sueh as rabbits, kittenB, doves, and a largo 
Newfoundland dog. I live near tho City of 
Albany and go to the school in the city every 
day. I often ride in the park and boo the deers 
in tho summer. The park Is not very large, 
but very nice. I hope you will not think (hat f 
am] a city boy, for I am not, although I go to 
school there. I wish that girl who said she had 
a noso big, bigger, biggest would correct my 
mistakes. We are going to have tableaux at 
church Christmas Eve, and T am going to be in 
one (“Tho Spirit of ’76.’’)-WtLL H. S., Slivger- 
lands, N. F. 
From a Bay State Clrl. 
Mu. Editor:— In your Rural New-Yorker 
of Dec. 6 is a geographical enigma, the answer 
to which I find to be the Territory of Montana, 
will also write a letter for the column of “Let¬ 
ters from Boys and Girls." I have written once 
before, but I suppose you thought that you 
had read it. or else you did not like it. Smt I 
j ^11 “Try, try again ’’ as the old saying is. I 
! liv * the country In a very little village. I 
have a little brother three years old and he is a 
very cunning boy, wo all thiuk. His name Is 
Charles. I also have a little dog named 
“Dick," and a little bossy named "Daisy." I 
have a goldfinch named “Abe." He Is a very 
handsome bird. I don’t know whether I shall 
ever make as many bedqiiilts as Dew-Drot 
did, but, T am making a With, a Friendship and 
a plain bedquilt, which is made out of square 
calico. J don t think I will write any more, 
and T close with wfshlngthnt this will be in the 
next Rural.—Susie C. H., S. Ablnyton , Mass. 
Inquiry about Catching Snow Birds. 
Dear Editor I have wanted to write you 
a letter for a long time, but could not get ft. I 
am a little buy H yeaas old, and have to go to 
school, and have nearly a mile t,o go. 1 read in 
the Fourth Reader and study in the Second 
Geography. I would like to know If any of the 
little readers nr the Rural Nr:w-YoRlctn can 
I fell me how to catoh snow birds? J have tried 
to catch them with a box and a string Listened 
to tho bottom or tbo stick, and tried to get 
them under the box, but they would not go 
under and I can’t get one.— A. H. 
®fte fuller. 
PROBLEM—No. 1. 
TnK two lines which fllsect the acute angles 
of i, right angled triangle and which terminate 
at. the bass and perpendicular of the tricur'e, 
measure 60 and 60 rods respectively. Required! 
the aides ol the triangle. 
BD=50 rods; CE=60 rods. 
Scale of figure, 30 rods to the inch. 
PF Answer In two weeks. 
MISCELLANEOUS ENIGMA.—No. 1. 
— 
I am composed of 16 letters . 
My 1,10, 6 Is a small animal. 
My 7, 8, 4,16 is an article of vegetation. 
My 5, 4, 6, ia a girl’s nickname. 
My 12, 14, 15 is a small article. 
Mj 3, 2, 15, 15, 16, 11 is an article of woman's 
wear. 
My whole Is the name of one of the signers of 
tbe Declaration of Independence. 
tgr Answer in two weeks. 8. 
CR0S8-W0RD ENIGMA.—No. 1. 
i 
My first Is in good but not in bad. 
My second ib In stripe but not In plaid : 
My third Is in planet but not In star, 
My fourth Is in eng’ne but not in car, 
My fifth is in sea but not in land. 
My sixth is in finger but not in hand ; 
My seventh la in brook but not in well. 
My whole is tbe town in which I dwell 
13P" Answer in two weeks. Bella F. 
' -- 
HIDDEN GROCERIES.—No. 1. 
1. Dm you hear that branch crack ? Ernest, 
do come down off that tree. 
2. Have you read the story of Abelard and 
Helolse? 
3. You staid too long. Tea la over. 
4- He said. “I am a oar on India rubber 
wheels." 
5. Remus, tardy as he was, kMled Romulus. 
6. O live, sweet girl, for my sake. 
] 7. Here is a toothpick, Lester. 
83F" Answer In two weeks. Little One. 
