AO- 
FES. 
MOOSE’S RURAL WEW-YORIER. 
VALENTINE DAY; 
Or, Peter Ballou and Kezlah Delay. 
BT RUNE BLUFF. 
Keziah, a maiden of summers no few. 
Was not quite an bdkoI, tUoueh fur from a shrow; 
And Peter was leading a bachelor's life. 
Though he scorooly could toll why he ne'er took a 
wife. 
When Valentine’* liny ar. usnal came round, 
Keziaii and Peter still single It found ; 
But the little blind god from his how sent a shot, 
And objections to wedlock wore forthwith forgot. 
From PETEft's lank bosom there came a long sigh, 
" Why shouldn't 1 double and married life try?” 
He went to a store where windows were gay 
With fanciful beauties for Valentine's Puv. 
Such marvels of letters, great envelopes white, 
AH fill agree—only a small place to write 
The dear ono's address, and pictured beside, 
fcuch rapturous embloms! or else to deride 
Pome lonoly condition, some doomed by stern Fate 
To take the world slng'y and ne'er find a in a to. 
Ecstatic emotions ! such loverly bliss 
One could scarcely believe of a cold world like this 
Cards tied with ribbons, pierced hearts, too, and 
rings,. 
With numberless other such soul-stirring things : 
At the sight, mnny hearts faster heat in the breast. 
The same if It bent under boddlco or vest. 
And one of the rarest that Peter could find— 
Iiovo's passion portraying, all aptly designed— 
He bought and addressed to kkziah delay, 
And sent It unto her that Valentine's Day. 
“ l guess that'll fetch her—If "twont nothing will. 
And Bachelor Pete will be bachelor still,” 
lie seemed calm ns a stole, though he said, ” t con¬ 
fess. 
My heart's a volcano ; 1 hope she'll say 1 Vos.' ” 
Kkziah stood thinking, this maid not o’er young, 
Sharp lines on her forehead, a snap In her tongue : 
Iter ringlets, so scanty and threatened w ith gray, 
lfung down in a very trim, orderly way. 
Sho murmured, “Alan! how the years tlv away. 
I'm sing'e another Saint Valentino’s Day 
And while sho was musing so sad at the though i , 
The lotter of Bachelor Peter wits brought. 
Surprised, although quite overjoyed at the sight, 
Thoro 0 (shod o'er her features a look of delight. 
She opened It quickly, so anxious to sec 
What all the contents of her letter might be. 
A nd tenderost. verses of 1< >vc there *be found ; 
She read them aloud—how enchanting the sound I 
And written below, " Thcso versos are true, 
May I see you to-night? Your own, I’. Ballou.” 
ller very best gown she straightway did don ; 
A bright little ribbon sho quickly pinned on. 
With fluttering ends that did grncofnliy float 
Away from thelaco that surrounded her throat. 
Anil Peter his flaxen locks brushed with great care. 
While repeating the speech he'd begun to prepare. 
Then wishing't was over with faltering heart— 
'Twas too late to back out—ho made a bold start. 
Once there, his fine speech was entirely forgot - 
In it fluster he said, " Will you have me or not?” 
And ICeziau— well, here It uuHiccth to say, 
They were wed long before the next Valentine Day. 
--- 
“HOW ONE WOMAN ‘SIMPLIFIED.’” 
Ay Article from ” the Columbian Simpli¬ 
fies and Time Provider.” 
Phenice Frazer found herself at twenty- 
seven a widow. She had been living in an 
ample, well-furnished Ik use of three stories, in 
a city-—when tbo Joy nnd stay of her life was 
taken awav. Three little children were left 
her, and akuowledgc of l ho fact that great caro 
and economy were necessary to save a remnant 
of the fortune she supposed was theirs. 
During the dead lull of existence that follows 
so great a bereavement, when the kindness of 
friends leaves little to do and social wares break 
short of the door, she laid her plans. First to 
train her children rightly with her whole 
strength. How to do it? was the question that 
revolved Itself over and over as the dull duys 
and sleepless nights went by. At last she de¬ 
termined to use only apart of her house, to 
keep but one servant, and to 6et about a man¬ 
ner of living that should Involvo a coat of less 
than half the usual expenditure. She madetho 
two parlors her sleeping and sitting room*, and 
turned the basement diuing room intober serv¬ 
ant's sleeping room,—while she had her simple 
meals laid In her kitchen, which was well pro¬ 
vided with modern improvement*. A furnace, 
hot and cold water and gas, made the labor 
comparatively light. Tn© season of mourning 
released her from social duties and widows' 
weeds prevented an increase of sewing. 
In this comparatively cjuiet time she set about 
finding a country home near good schools, 
where, for the same or lees expense, her chil¬ 
dren could have greater advantages of freedom 
and healthful exercise. 
After a few months the city house was sold 
and a little home in a farming town secured. 
A faithful English woman went with her to 
stay three month*. At the end of that time, 
settled in the new place, somewhat at case 
amid its Riirvoundibgs and beginning to feel 
somewhat recruited by the repose of country 
life, she saw the servant depart with not a few 
regrets over the breaking of the last link that 
bound her to the old life. After a sorry expe¬ 
rience with help to be had In the neighborhood, 
she set to work to loarn to cook some favorite 
dishes ; bought a cow; secured the services of 
a reliable person to care for her; aud began in 
earnest to study the philosophy of making ten 
dollars do the work of fifty. 
Then first did she feel entire liberty to do 
such things and Buch only, as seemed necessary, 
husbanding her strength for the most import¬ 
ant needs. It was delightful to know that she 
could lock t ho doors at seven and go to bed with 
her children, since she must be awake as soon 
as they. It was a satisfaction to know that no 
one had a right or the ability to comment, if 
her dishes were piled up in the sluk till the 
children were happy, amused and relict. It was 
a comfort that, not a soul could remark upon 
the condition of five out of seven rooms when 
sho did not choose to have them. Day by day 
necessity mado. her choose which dudes were 
most important; hour after hour taught her to 
be well contented to doa few things well. Week 
bv week she learned to satisfy first her beet am¬ 
bitions. to make her Uttleohlldren comfortable 
and happy, healthful, self-denying and useful. 
To describe the process: It was more by 
leaving things undone that once she had con¬ 
sidered absolutely necessary than in any new 
machinery or remarkable endeavor. Everything 
w.ts put away that could not be freely and fear¬ 
lessly used -everything that, being ornamental 
only, needed care— every choice tiling likely to 
break except such as could bo hung upon the 
walls. Clothes wore worn that were already in 
store and worn Just us they were made, such as 
were easily washed and ironed, Thai, was put 
out of the house to bo done sent off Monday 
morning and returned Thursday night. Enough 
milk was saved to make butter, the rest unspar¬ 
ingly used or given away. Pio and cuke, pickles 
and preserves, tea nnd coffee, were discarded. 
Good bread, fine and course, mush of all kinds, 
tbo best of sirup and sugar, with fruit, milk and 
meat gave her children wholesome food with 
little trouble. 8 he had much to learn from her 
new neighbors of household economy and the 
easiest way of doing things. Every such sug¬ 
gestion, from Whatever sourer, was adopted: 
while she turned ft deaf ear to sneers at her 
garden, which want of relish of Its vegetables 
and tbo high price of labor, mado unprofitable 
till her children grew older. Hints, too, of her 
extravagance when sho sacrificed tbo lawn hay 
to the pleasnro of a playground, she tried to 
boar with a good-natured smile. Undisturbed 
freedom and growth within her own four walls 
repaid her. She succeeded In living on a small 
Income, regained her health, and probably saved 
her lire by timely caro. 
She bad time to teach her children to observe 
and lovo every living thing—to play with them, 
to rend to them, to contrive constant, occupa¬ 
tion for them; to know as they grew older 
every companion and thoroughly every teacher 
who helped her In her training. Time forw ilk*, 
for frequent rides and plc-nlcf.—time to teach 
them to do a thousand things that, made them : 
Independent, observing nnd careful. Time to 
know their temptations and childish troubles 
—to make them her confidants and to receive 
their confidences in return. Time for good 
books,drawing, —for the prayer meeting, which 
happily was held In the afternoon, and a better 
chance to live soberly, righteously, godly. The 
years slipped by and her reward camewhileshe 
was yet comparatively young; indeed, she re¬ 
ceived it every day. Dainfy food, evening par¬ 
ties, Dishionublesociety, lino dressing, exquisite 
sewing, fanciful trimming, elaborate scouring, 
were crowded out of her life, and in the re¬ 
trospect did not seem worth a sigh compared 
with what, had been secured. 
Her lessons were not learned easily, nor at 
once, but over and over again with persistent 
self-denial. But If young wives, mothers and 
housekeepers Would ouly realize that It is pos¬ 
sible to live an honest., happy aud dusiraMelife 
in ways that, are new, odd, or at least different, 
from those In which they have been nurtured 
and different from those around them, neither 
the energy nor the knowledge of the way to do 
It would be long wanting. 
Marquette, Mich. Fanny M. Steele. 
- -» » 4 -- 
WOMEN PERSONALS. 
Heading fur th^ §[(rang. 
GRAMMAR IN RHYME. 
Three little wordB you often see 
Are Articles, a. un, and the. 
A Noun’s the mono of anything, 
A school, or garden, hoop, or swing. 
Adjectives, the kind of Noun, 
As great, small, pretty, white, or brown. 
Instead of Nouns the Pronouns stand— 
Ilcr head, tiis luce, yoar arm, my hand. 
Verbs tell something to be done— 
To read, count, laugh, sing, Jump, or run. 
How things are done, the Adverbs tell, 
As slowly, quickly, ill, or well. 
Conjunction* joiu the words together— 
As men and women, wind or weather. 
The Preposition stands before 
A Noun, us in, or through tho door. 
The Interjection shows surprise. 
As Oh ! how pretty -Ah '. how wise. 
The whole are called Nine Purl* of Speech, 
Which reading, writing, speaking teach. 
had ill luck with them ; they died. I may try 
to raise some more next summer.—R. w. A., 
East Haven , Conn. 
LETTERS FROM BOYS AND GIRLS. 
From a Nebraska School Clrl. 
Dear Children: .Seeing so many young 
folks writing, I thought 1 would try and relate 
to you a little about my life. Although r am 
young, yet T have seen u great deal. I was born 
in New York City; you know that la a. very 
large place. But I came out West before I 
know anything of tho city. 1 suppose you 
think Out West Is a very wild place, the same 
aa'i dl(l before l saw It. Hut now I think it is 
u vi ry^beoutiful country. Some parts have lots 
of fmit. anii'bther things to make life happy, 
nnd the further I go West the better I like It. 
I once lived in Missouri, but I did not like to 
llvo thoro very well. There were a great many 
negroes living thoro. Now I live further West, 
which I like hotter. Before I over saw an In 
dian I thought ho wiiw something of a curiosity, 
but now that. 1 have Been bo many of them, I 
have changed my mind. If any of you want to 
see one, why Just come out West, and you can 
see plenty of them. I am going to school now, 
of which T am proud. Sometimes it Is very 
difficult to learn my lessons, but l always think 
of that good rule, ‘‘Try, try again.” Now I 
will stop for this time, and IT this is accepted 1 
will “try, try again."—E llus Scuroder, Bea¬ 
trice, Nrh. 
From an Illinois Girl. 
Dear Rural:- I am living with my uncle In 
Waukegan. He takes the Rural, and I anx¬ 
iously look for It every week. I think It Is so 
good. There are a great many little stories In 
it for children, like myself. 1 read the little 
girls’ and hoys’ letters, and want I hem to know 
how much T enjoy reading them. I am nine 
years old; havo been going to school, but am 
sorry to say that l am going to leave hereto 
live with another uncle. My dear papa being 
dead, l am moved about quite often. 1 shall 
miss the Rural, ever so much when I get over 
to Grand Rapids, where I am going to live.— 
Carrie Campbell, Waukegan, 111. 
[Carrie sbouhl coax her Grand Knplds uncle 
to subscribe for the Rural, or get up a club 
herself and thus secure a free copy or premium. 
Ed.] 
Inquiries About Snow Birds and Files. 
Dear Editor:— l would like to be one of tbo 
Rural cousins, and will inaugurate myself by 
asking a. fow questions: 1. Whore do the snow 
hirds stay during the summer, or what are they 
called in summer? 2, Where doth© tiles come 
from?. They always seem full grown when you 
first, sec them—the common house files I mesin. 
1 am a little girl, thirteen years old, and live on 
a farm in Western New Voik- 1 like the Rural 
first-rate. My father subscribes for It, and he 
likes it better than all the other papers that he 
takes.—C ousin Coha. 
LWho of our young readers will answer Co¬ 
ra’s questions? Ed.] 
A granddaughter of Dr. Paleyhas beaten 
all the boys at Cambridge In moral science. 
Lady Franklin offers $10,000 to any Arctic 
explorer who will recover the records and pa¬ 
pers of her late husband. 
Miss Bancroft, tho youug lady who was 
recently married to Count Tziccuzkal, baa now 
got a name which is the Dearest approach to 
the phonetic spelling of a sneeze that has yet 
been made. 
>Uss Anna Dickinson has left tho platform 
and is studying for the stage. She works brave¬ 
ly, and will make her debut, probably as Joan of 
Are— a character for which she haa the great¬ 
est admiration. 
Mrs. 8. A. Gifford of Worcester, Mass., Rev. 
Mrs. GuBtin of Attleboro, Mrs. M. L. Draper of 
Ronton and Mrs. Dr. Spetlgue of Cambridgeport 
addressed a mass temperance meeting held in 
the First Methodist Church of Worcester, re¬ 
cently. 
Mrs. A lice Cooley, who recently died at 
Brookfield, Mas*., at t he age of 100 years, was 
married on t he first- dav of the present century, 
In the twenty-fifth year of her age. and went to 
her new house, where she rePtded till .Tan. 1, 
1873, a period of Just 75 years, when she died. 
1 She was a lady of rare beauty and saintliness of 
character. 
Our Minister’s Donation Party. 
Dear Rural:— As I do not remember seeing 
any letters in the Children’s Department about 
Donat Ion Fart ice, I shall describe one I attend¬ 
ed a fow evenings since. It was held at the 
parsonage, and tbo company broke up before 
11 o’clock F. M. There wore a good many peo¬ 
ple there—about 75. I think. We had singing, 
games, and any amount of fun. At 1) o'clock 
the refreshments were handed round, the 
voting men making themselves very useful In 
passing the cakes, Ac. After the supper there 
was more talking, singing, Ac.; then tho minis¬ 
ter dismissed the company and all commenced 
preparing for the ride home. The donations 
were quite liberal and satisfactory to the min¬ 
ister and hi- family. Donation parties are no 
doubt carried on differently in some localities, 
and should bo g'ad to hear Honiething nu the 
subject from others of the young folks that 
write to tho Rural; but I am sure tney could 
not have a pleasanter time, for all seemed to 
enjoy t hemBcIves, and I heard several persons 
say t hey had never enjoyed oue more. Excuse 
me If my letter Is too long, but I have never 
before written a letter to be printed, so you can 
judge—T he rural's Friend, 3. 
A Guinea Pig Wanted. 
Dear Rural :—1 often read In your paper 
letters from little girls, and as I want some In¬ 
formation that I think you can give me, I take 
this opportunity to say to you that I am a little 
girl of ten years and am very fond of pots. I 
had a very nice green parrot last summer that 
could talk to me, laugh and cry, and play with 
me. But it fell off its perch, dead, I felt very 
bad, and now I have made up my mind to get a 
guinea pig If lean find out where to go for It. 
Can you tell me where I may purchase one? 
If you can, please tell through your very u&eful 
paper.— Estelle, Plymouth. 
[Estelle can get a Guinea Fig at almost any 
fancy bird store i,® New York, but perhaps sho 
had better write to the Rural Purchasing 
Agent, Mr. Redding, who 1 b a Dice young man 
and very obliging.—E d.] 
From a Young Entomologist. 
Editor Rural:- Will you perin’t me to Bay 
a few words to the young people through the 
columns of the Rural. I am a farmer's son, 
and also a beginner in tho study of Natural 
History. My specialty at present 1 b Entomolo¬ 
gy. I would liko to correspond with a few 
young naturalists in several partsof the United 
States, Including tho Territories (aud tbo fur¬ 
ther from my home tho hotter), for the purposo 
of exchanging Information, specimens, etc. I 
will with pleasure try to do my part If some of 
tho Rural young people will open tho corre¬ 
spondence by writing to Tuos.O. Blair, New¬ 
castle, Ind. 
Queries for “ California Clrl.” 
Mr. Editor. — Please ask “California 
Girl” if sho will please tell mo something 
about tho climate—how worm It is in summer 
and how cold In winter? If people havo tho 
fever and ague there, and tho ; eucr.il health 
fulness of the country? What prices aro paid 
for help, and something about mining? What, 
prices are paid there, Ac.? If “California 
Girl” will answer this, I shall bo very much 
obliged, and will answer any questions she may 
ask, if I am able to do so.—N ew York Bor. 
What comes once In a minute, twice in a 
moment, onco In a man's life and three times 
in mamma's? The letter M. 
@he f uidcr. 
PROBLEM.—No. 4. 
AB * BO * EU=80 (SAB 4-SBC) ; 
or AB * DC *,EB= 25 (SA B c SHE); 
or A B • BO - F.B - 30 (2BC + SEE). 
B. F. Burleson. 
Answer in two weeks. 
CROSS-WORD ENIGMA,—No. 2. 
Determine the dimensions of a. rectangular 
parallelopipedon, whioh shall contain eit lier £0, 
25 or 30 times as many cubic feel as it numbers 
linear feet in the perimtter of Its baBO, depend¬ 
ing upon which of its three dissimilar faces it 
rests. 
From a Connecticut Boy. 
Mr. Editor As I like your paper very 
much, I thought I would write a few lines. I 
llvo In East Haven. 1 go to school at Wood- 
ardtown, N. J. I am eight yeagts old, and have 
a little brother four year* old. Last Sunday I 
went down to a neighbor's barn, and while 
there I cut my finger nearly off on the hay cut¬ 
ter, and 1 tell you. boys and girls, It is best to 
let It alone. My finger Is all right now. I have 
fourduoks and a drake. Every morning they 
are up on the neighbors’ houses and trees. 
They aro great flyers. I have a number of very’ 
nice ohleksns, and among them a pair of Hou- 
dana. I have tried to raise some rabbits, but I 
Mr first is In Latin but not In Greek; 
AJy second is iu river but not, in creek; 
My third is in month but not in week; 
My fourth i» in search but not In seek ; 
My fifth is in jowl but. not in cheek; 
My si*th Is In lowly but not In meek; 
My seventh Is In onion but not in leek ; 
My whole waa President of the United States. 
£3^" Answer in two weeks. x. y. z. 
- ♦« ►- 
PUZZLER ANSWERS.-Jan. 30. 
Problem No. 2.— 
31.40381207 rods. 
47.72021388 “ 
20.78007405 “ 
Anagram No. l— 
Beyond the flight of time. 
Beyond this vale of death. 
There surely Is some blessed clime 
Where life Is not a breath ; 
Nor life's affections transient fire 
Whose sparks fly upward to expire. 
