MOORE’S RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
•r° 
FEB. 27 
1147 
Jfodfys' fqtjfotui. 
BY-AND-BY. 
There's a little mischief-maker 
That is stealing half our bliss. 
Sketching pictures In a dream-land 
That are never seen in this. 
Dashing from our Ups the pleasure 
Of tho present white we sigh : 
You may know this mischief-maker. 
For his name Is By-and-By. 
He is sitting by your hearth-stones. 
With his sly, bewitching glance, 
Whlsp’rlng of the coming morrow 
As the social hours advance; 
Lolt’ring. mid our calm reflections, 
Hiding forms of beauty nigh ; 
He’s a smooth, deceitful fellow. 
This enchanter, By-and-By. 
You may know him by his wlnnclng. 
By his careless, sportive air ; 
By hts sly, obtrusive presence. 
That is straying everywhere i 
By trophies that he gathers 
Where hi* somher victims He, 
For a bold, determined fellow 
Is this conqueror. Hy-nnd-By. 
When the calls of duty haunt us, 
And the present seems to be 
All the time that ever mortals 
Snatch from dark eternity. 
Then a fairy hand seems painting 
Pictures on a distant sky, 
For a cunning little artist 
Is the fairy, By-uud-By. 
“ By-and-By” the wind Is singing; 
“ By-and-By,” tho heart replies, 
But the phantom lust above us, 
Ere wo grasp It, ever flies. 
List not to the Idle charmer, 
Scorn tho very specious lie— 
Do not hellffve or trust in 
This deceiver, By-and-By. 
-♦ ♦ » 
“MA SCOLDS AS MUCH AS EVER,” 
BY MAY MAPLE. 
“ Ma scolds as much as ever,” writes Cousin 
M„ In her gosstppy letter; “ and the worst of it 
Is. she really baa so little reason for scolding, 
now that we children are all grown up and out 
of the way, comparatively speaking. There 
are only two of u» at home, anil you may be as¬ 
sured we do all we can to lighten her labors. 
But If she can’t find onough to do to keep her 
heart, bands and brains busy for lior own fami¬ 
ly, she must have half-a-dozen grandchildren 
yk some adopted nurslings for whom to pro¬ 
vide ; and then she frets and mourns because 
she must economise In hat ex peases In order to 
keep even with her yoarly income. 
“ She Is morally sure that her husband and 
children do not care how hard, she has to work 
to save the property provided they can have 
plenty of spending money. She can’t afford to 
have things like her neighbors, because the rest 
of the family must have all the extra fixing. Bhe 
Is certain that pa spends enough for fancy 
pipes and tobacco every year, to buy her a real 
gros grain silk. Hut when hcofTers her an equal 
sum, she knows he means It as an Imposition. 
He would not offer It If he thought she would 
take it: when tho truth is ho would be glad If 
she would accept twice the amount, dross nice¬ 
ly, take an occasional vacation and thus And 
rest and happiness and be the cheerful little 
wife she might be and was long ago. 
“ If Jt chances to be a stormy day and pa con¬ 
tinues his work, she frets because ho does not 
take care of himself and save her the trouble 
of nursing him through a siege of rheumatism. 
If he starts off to enjoy asocial chat In some 
more amiable household, while the rain patters 
down, she thinks ho might as well do some 
chores about tho house and pick up and put 
away the * traps' that, are scattered about. 
“ If Harry, (her oldest son,) who Is roaliy the 
pride and Joy of her heart, comes In from the 
Held and marches to the pantry for some dough¬ 
nuts or cookies, which she has l hat morning 
made to suit his fastidious taste, wo be to him 
If he ts found eating more than one or two of 
those great, lusty, fat brownies—and Indeed It 
does seem that one ought to be enough for a 
really hungry man's meal; but Harry declares 
that they are such puffy things that it takes a 
round dozen to pacify his growing appetite—a 
compliment to the cake3 ma does not half ap¬ 
preciate ; and then 3he scolds because they are 
gone so soon. 
“Thus It goes on, day after day: worrying 
herself to death over what 6eem the veriest 
trifles ; making herself miserable and all about 
her unhappy. She never allows herself a mo¬ 
ment's rest from earliest dawn till the last one 
of the family Is locked in slumber. And she 
seems to think it a sin if others sit In her pres¬ 
ent.e with folded hands. Does she suppose the 
world will cease its revolutions If her labors are I 
delayed? She is our dear mother, and because 
she Is our mother we love and reverence her; 
but how much closer might our sympathies be 
knit together if she were more gentle In her 
manners and more demonstrati va with her lov¬ 
ing caresses. Not one of us would think less of 
her If she rested often from her wearisome 
rounds. Her charities are various. Are there 
any sick ones In the vicinity for miles around, 
It Is her kind services that are freely given. But 
^er own work must go on the same If she sits J 
up half the night, following one spent in watch 
lng, to accomplish her purpose. It fairly makes 
one dizzy to contemplate her tedious round of 
self-Imposed duties! 
“ * Can It be necessary to drudge one’s whole 
life away?’ Is a question I often ask myself as 
I sit by my window and gaze upon the works of 
Nature. And every twig, every blossom, the 
giant elm and cloud-oapt mountain, seem to 
shout, ‘ No, no; there must be rest and change 
if we would develop all tho organa of self-oul- 
ture or Improve all talents given us by the 
Master.’ ” 
■-♦ - - 
FLOWERS FOR THE SICK AND WEARY. 
There are times when the heart Is one melo¬ 
dious song of praise. When we rise in the morn¬ 
ing our hymns of gratitude leap forth spontan¬ 
eously. The sky never seemed as lovely, tho 
birds’ carol Is longer and sweeter. Flowers lift 
up their heads fora welcome which we cannot 
resist giving them,—for even in hours of sad¬ 
ness they pierce tho gloom, scattering their 
bright rays into the darkened soul, ofttlmes 
coming us messengers of peace. So in our mo¬ 
ments of exulting joy they claim the first place. 
Oh, blessed be flowers I How many times have 
you won your silent way into the homes of the 
rough and uncouth, teaching thorn your lessons 
of humility and love—taming down the harsh, 
unrefined nature Into a more gentle and deli¬ 
cate one. But not hero arc your best lessons 
taught. It Is In the room of the sick, t.lio weary 
and discouraged that your presence brings most 
hope and Joy. I do not think wo can measure 
the greatness of the lessons taught by these 
silent teachers of hope, purltyand trust, to the 
weak, discouraged ones of earth. But into how 
many homos are they sent by kind friends dur¬ 
ing Iho long, droury months of frost and snow ? 
The rich can procure them without trouble and 
even humble homes are ofttlmes adorned with 
them. But there are hundreds to whom they 
come as rarely as diamonds glitter on the brows 
of peasants. 
Yo who have flowers In abundance, gather 
from (hem into little missions of love your 
bouquets and send to those who have none, 
that they may fulfill the work which they were 
placed on earth to do. You who have a few be 
not selfish with these, but see how many clouds 
vou can scatter from your sick friends’ brow 
how many homes you oau brighten by these 
little gifts of lovo. I tell you the lessons taught 
them will not be the only ones learned. Tney 
will not only bring Joy to the receiver, but a 
great delight to the giver's—a sweet peace that 
you are using even tho smull things of life to 
His honor aud glory. Eoitu M. Grey. 
HORACE GREELEY’S DAUGHTERS. 
A New York letter writer says:—It Is now 
nearly two years since the death of Mr. Horace 
Greeley, and this season for the first since that 
ovent, his daughters Ida and Gabrlelle, occa¬ 
sionally make their appearance In public. 
Gabrlelle is still very young, probably not more 
than 18, but has grown during her years of 
seclusion into a tall and very beautiful girl. 
Both have exquisite complexions, lovely eyes, 
ripe scarlet lips, and the sweet child-like ex¬ 
pression that distinguished their father, Ida 
Is most like her father, however, In appearance 
and Gabrlelle like her mother. 
Evidently tho moBt devoted affection exists 
between tho two girls. Ida, the elder, looks 
after her sister lovingly, and says,—” Hasn’t 
she grown tall and pretty?" And Gabrlelle 
remarks, “Don’t you think I begin to look 
more like Ida?” Their manners are very 
charming, perfectly simple, easy and unaffected 
yet with a fine air of good breeding, and even 
distinction, of which they are apparently quite 
unaware. Wliat their future will be It is im¬ 
possible to foretell, but so fathered and 
mothered, for Mrs. Greely would have been a 
very distinguished woman had she not have 
been the wife of so distinguished a man, they 
should hardly have the lot of common mortals. 
-»• » 
“NOW I’M GRANDMAMMA!” 
Our illustration on page 145 represents a 
dainty and demure little lady of some five orslx 
summers, who has taken It into her bead to 
play at being a great deal grown up. Having 
appropriated one of Mamma's lace veils out of 
whlcji to improvise a cap, she has donned 
Granny’s go|tl spectacles, thrust her chubby 
little dimpled fingers Into the old-fashioned 
chinchilla muff which Grandma always carries 
when she goes out, and, assuming an exceeding 
grave demeanor, anoounees herself with 
much satisfaction as “ Grandmamma," firmly 
convinced that her disguise Is perfectly Im¬ 
penetrable. A moment hence, perhaps, muff, 
veil and glasses will he threwn aside, and the 
youngpretender will nolongerhe “Grandmam¬ 
ma,” but Grandmamma’s darling one again. 
-♦♦ ♦ ■ — ■ 
The world has been compared to a looking- 
glass which gives back every man the reflection 
of his own face. Frown at it, and it will turn 
and look sourly at you ; laugh at it and witli 
it, and it Isa Jolly, kind companion. 
-- 
In love, a» In everything else, truth Is the 
strongest of all things, and frankness is but 
another namo for truth. You arc less likely to 
be deceived yourself when you never deceive 
others. 
-- 
Truth' 8 supreme revelations come in sorrow 
to Individuals, and in war to nations. 
Heading for the innitg. 
“ OBBIE-DOBBIE.’ , 
BY MRS. HATTIE F. HELL. 
“Obbie-Dobbie ” was a baby— 
Funny name, I think, don't you ? 
This is wliat her papa called her, 
And sbeliad another too. 
Funny name, and funny baby. 
With a cunning little face ; 
And the other name they called her 
Was the prettier one of Grace. 
One day, little “ Obble-Doblnc’' 
Laughed and laughed with all ber might, 
looking up Into lier dress sleeve. 
Eyes and nose nil hid from sight. 
Marocua said, ” Why, what’s the matter? 
Is It real, or make-believe 
All this fun The baby answered 
”Iam ‘aughln’ In my s’eevc.” 
Iii a moment I remembered 
t had Bald those words one day. 
Little thinking baby prattle 
Would repeat them o’er in play 
With such literal translation. 
(What au impress Our words leave !) 
Papa’s little " Obhle-Dobblo ” 
Laughing In her baby sleeve ! 
- 
A BOYS’ AND GIRLS’ GARDEN. 
I,think overy boy and girl should try and 
have a little piece of ground each summer and 
cultivate a few vegetables and flowers. A per¬ 
son may realize considerable pleasure from 
tending to his or her gtrden in the summer 
time. 1 always choose for the situation of my 
garden a piece of ground along by the side of a 
fence facing the south. 
As soon ns the ground hoglns to thaw in the 
spring I take a spade and dig the ground all up 
moll >w aud flue. I then mix some well-rotted 
manure with the ground and let It lie a week 
or so, and then dig it up and finely pulverize 
the soil and plant the seeds, generally some 
Squash, melon arid cucumber, beaus, verbenas, 
asters and zinnias. A person may sometimes 
make a little money In tho early spring by rais¬ 
ing a f*w early tomato aud cabbage plants. 
Sow a few seeds In a box some time in March, 
and set It In a window where there is plenty of 
light, and warmth, taking care to water occa¬ 
sionally. If possible, set the box in a window 
where the sun cau shine on it sometimes. Jna 
few days the seeds will come up, and In a few 
weeks t,hey will be quite large, and may be 
taken up and sold to people who wish a few 
early plants to set out and who themselves have 
not taken the care to raise them. Besides, 
when plants are raised in the house In a box 
they are free from the attacks of bugs ami 
worms. Flowers also are attractive and pleas¬ 
ant things to raise. Everybody likes flowery, 
except, perhaps, persons who are so wicked 
and brutish that they can see no beauty In such 
things How pleasant it Is In winter to have a 
few flowers to look at when everything else Is 
barren! They seem to smile upon us, and this 
is very pleasant in tho dreariness of winter. It 
makes a little summer for us indoors. 
Enjoyment is the principal thing attained in 
having a garden, and It often happens that 
those who have the smallest gardens have the 
most enjoyment and pleasure all summer. A 
person may also learn considerable from a 
garden, even though It be only a little one In a 
bOX or pot. A garden need not necessarily be 
as large as au orchard, but just a little piece of 
ground a few rods square will >ufflce. In 
planting your seeds do not place them too thick 
or too deep, for If you do they will fall to ger¬ 
minate and will probably rot. I hope no boy 
or girl who reads this will fall to have a garden 
the coming summer. If you cannot got any 
ground of your own, procure an old soap box 
or tin can and till It with dirt and plant your 
seeds, and tho pleasure and enjoyment, realized 
therefrom will amply compensate for all the 
trouble you may have had with them. 
Altoona, Pa., Feb., 1875. Lark. 
— 
TRAP THE RAT8 AND MICE. 
Do not be Idle or think of other less useful 
sports. Go at it in earnest, girls aud boys. 
See who will trap the most, and report through 
the Youths’ Column in the Rural. I know 
the Editor will be pleased to hoar you are en¬ 
gaged tn such noble work. Noble? Yes: only 
thjuk how these filthy creatures try to taste of 
all things eatable which, they can get at. Get 
a description of all the traps you can and set 
them. Bo Bure and set them In their runways 
as near their hiding-place as you can, if you 
can find It, so that they rnay blunder Into It. 
Do not be discouraged, but persevere. Set all 
tho different traps you can and you will catch I 
some of these useless creatures. 
With this sport you may have the satisfac¬ 
tion of doing good ami being useful. It is bet¬ 
ter to engage in something useful for your 
sport than in that which is useless. Do not 
despise this work. Rats and mice do not de¬ 
spise your food, hut they often make It despis- 
ablc. Rats will kill tho little turkeys and chick¬ 
ens which you prize so much. 
Let every one who has leisure take hold of 
this work in earnest, every whore—in cities, 
In villages, and In the country. These destruc- J 
xlve pests are > o numerous that there is need 
of many workers, but every one killed will help 
to diminish the number. Do not drive them 
to other quarters, but trap and kill them. 
Aunt Edith. 
FEED THE BIRDS IN WINTER. 
In “ Birds Waiting for Breakfast,” Mr. Wil¬ 
ton teaches children to remember the poor 
sparrows, thrushes, titmice and finches In the 
winter time, when thorn Is neither berry, hip, 
haw nor grain of corn to be seen around, aud 
when, with 
“ Drooping book and rutiled feather, 
Hungry looks they cast below. 
Sitting huddled up together 
O’er their tablecloth of snow.” 
It Is a “snowy table, but no bread;" soon 
however, rosy-faced girls and boys cluster at 
tho window of the cheerful breakfast room, 
tho birds, all eye and our, look and listen, and 
wait opposite tho wlndow-pano tho sash is 
raised, 
“ Loving bunds throw showers Of crutrbs. 
Thou, while bird* their bounty gather, 
Rosy chocks and curly head 
Bond and pray to God tholr Father : 
‘Give us Lord, our dally bread.’ ” 
We are quite anxious to remind tho children 
that as soon as the ground Is covered with snow 
the birds need to he remembered with crumbs 
and seeds. It will ho but little trouble for the 
children In each house (and if there are no 
children, lot tho “ old folks ” do it) to scatter 
some food about the house when there are 
birds in the neighborhood. Pigeons, In cities, 
will soon discover grain aud bread left out for 
them, and come regularly about dinner-time. 
And in tho country, the smaller birds will soou 
take advantage of the generosity nnd thought¬ 
fulness of the boy or girl who provides for 
them. 
Children who are thus thoughtful and kind to 
birds In winter will be less likely to rob their 
nests of the eggs or the young birds in spring, 
and will find no pleasure in shooting them 
when they are old enough to have a gun .—Our 
Dumh Animate. 
fUtsder. 
PROBLEM.—No. 5. 
Construct, geometrically, a square acre. 
Oneida Castle, N. Y. B. F. Burleson. 
V&" Answer In two weeks. 
GEOGRAPHICAL ENIGMA.—No. 2. 
I AM composed or 40 letters: 
My 32, 22, 17, 57, 20, 45, 25 a lake In Western New 
York. 
My 25, '40, 11, 46, 54 a lake in Africa. 
My 10, 2-4, 50,40,22, 47 a lake in the Chinese Em¬ 
pire. 
My 1,14, 34.52,10,15, »5 a village in Texas. 
My 32, 20, 26, 46, 33, 43, 38, 8, 34, 30 the capital of 
one of the United States. 
My 31, 4, 7, 12, 16, 3, 27, 82, 13, 38, 1, 2-4 a river in 
Smith America. 
My HI, 16, 49, 28, 37, 46, 5, 19, 3, 13, 38, 41, 48, 46 a 
village In England. 
My 44, 9, 36, 6, 23, 2 a group of islands in the 
Atlantic. 
My 21,37, 13, 31, 18,'48, 46 a lake in Turkey In 
Asia. 
My 42, 34, 47 a cape on the coast of Africa. 
Mv whole is one of the Proverbs of Solomon. 
&T Answer In two weeks. A. b. 
HIDDEN FISHES.—No. 1. 
1. Did you ever meet Sancho Vytho while In 
Portugal ? 
3. Blanche gave me her ring as a token of 
friendship. 
3. We clambered up Mt. Washington slowly. 
4. For the bar you must master the whole 
code of laws. 
5. Be certain to take tho rod car, Peres'. 
6. For mooring our. yacht we had dockage to 
pay. 
7. Friend Mack, ere Lent cornes wo must en¬ 
joy one more frolic. 
8. Hal, I buttered my sandwich on both sides. 
0. My pot canary fell off his perch, dead. 
10. Hush ! rim pi lng through the forest, flows 
the brook. Luctle One. 
fAnswer In two weeks. 
-- 
PUZZLER ANSWERS.-Fob. 13. 
Problem No. 4.— 
11.07350227 feet. 
11.44956050 “ 
6.16514801 “ 
Cross-Word Enigma No. 3.—Lincoln. 
