MOORE’S  RURAL  f^EW-lfORRER 
‘i’atiifs’  llortfolici. 
ETHEL. 
The  Iian’csl  was  ripe  on  the  hill. 
The  han-est-moou  teitfued  in  the  sky, 
And  her  mantle  of  gold  float'd  down  o’er  the  world 
And  gilded  the  waters,  by  breezea  uncnrled, 
%vhen  plighted  were  Ei  uel  and  I. 
V\'e  stood  by  the  muruiuring  marRc. 
In  the  lull  of  tlic  evrning’s  breath , 
And  wc  said <Va  tUoae  rriTileta  mingle  thoir  tide. 
Our  epirita  iiDitcd,  us  one  shall  abide 
Till  wc  cuter  the  ocean  of  Death. 
Wc  plucked  the  fair  flowera  of  hope 
To  garlimd  our  life-ahallop  o’er ; 
And  wove  us  bright  fnlirica  of  faith  for  our  sails. 
And  with  Love  fpr  our  pilot  we  feared  not  the  gale.s  j 
That  might  threaten  from  headland  and  shore.  i 
We  sailed  in  this  lovc-freighted  bark  ! 
On  the  tide  of  the  nmvwting  river ;  j 
And  morning  gle.aniB  deepened  Iheir  lints  into  splendor,  ! 
And  Bimset  glows  melted  to  twilight  so  tender 
That  wo  fain  woidd  ha>e  lingered  fore\'er. 
But  the  current  we  could  not  delaj’. 
And  the  pictures  so  fair  to  behold, 
Of  sky -tint  and  landscapn  with  fragrantest  flowers, 
Like  flocks  of  fair  birds  in  Biimroer-time’B  hours, 
Flew  past  u»  on  pinions  of  gold. 
Many  daj'8  far  away  wc  descried 
A  boat  with  a  sail  black  as  night ; 
And  Bometimea  we  deemed  It  a  phantom,  but  when 
It  drew  near  and  we  saw  the  rale  boatman  ^vlthin. 
Our  souls  read  Ita  meaning  aright. 
I  knew  what  that  dark  wing  would  bear 
Away,  aud  I  strove  wUhmv  might ; 
But  aho  whi*percd.—“  Farewell.  Love,  'tis  heavenly 
here. 
But  I  see  the  Orceu  IIiUs,  and  'tis  hcavenllcr  there," 
And  the  boat  vanished  iuto  the  night. 
Alone  in  m.v  shallop  I  sail 
On  the  tide  cf  the  uureetiag  rivor ; 
And  her  tender  farewell,  and  her  love-hghted  eyes. 
Arc  home  on  the  breeze  and  gleam  out  of  the  skies, 
And  1  long  to  l>c  with  her  forever.  r.  ii.  o. 
THE  FLOWER  AND  PLANT  MANIA. 
BY  BOSE^UEKANIUM. 
Yes'm,  it'D  Via!  “Where  linve  1  been?’’  In  a 
very  koocI  world,  my  dears,  storlnif  up  Mie  Joys  of  ' 
tho  present  as  so  many  shining  llttlo  bits  toward  ’ 
the  great  heaven-mansion  wt^  are  all  hopijiy  for 
In  the  future  I  And  though  I  am  not  sure  that  ! 
things  are  pmper  In  Improper  places,  as  a  biy-<IlK-  ! 
nltarj- 1  am  jjolnfr  to  write  u  just  here  that  It  ts  ; 
my  private  heller  we  will  have  to  pul  up  In  very 
much  the  same  kind  of  mansion  we  an;  able  to 
fashion  from  fhe.so  Uliputian  pebbles.  Now  that 
I  Rhoiihl  say  it,  who  certainly  shonldn't,  after  all 
my  past  faith  and  works,  I  trust  the  lenient  sister¬ 
hood  will  not  make  my  Durden  of  penance  greater 
than  I  can  bear.  And  If  any  on..!  is  ofrendf!d,  1 
wish  It  to  bedlstlnetly  imdersioofrfbnt  i  cM/i’f  rc/cr 
tn  f.cr— not  by  any  means!'  But  she.  If  she  lonks 
acro.s;i  the  hU'CCt  into  Imr  nelghher’s  affairs  (tluMiyh 
she  wni't,  we  all  know !)  may  possibly  luiderstand 
who  It  Is  that  has  become  the  baidsoi  my  romurks. 
Now  that  our  eye  Is  upon  her  let  us  scrutlnlzo 
her  dolnys.  8he  Is  most  nerwinly  an  ambitious 
cundUlalo  tor  air  and  exercise,  for  sIp'  him  mado 
just  thlrty-Otie  trips  from  her  altllng-room  to  the 
suun}’  fsouth  steps,  bearliig  burdens  ivhieh  vary 
from  hvo  to  forty  pounds  ea<!h.  “  Her  blessed 
floivcrs,  and  she  couldn’t  part  with  them  for  a 
world.  They  aro  so  eomforllhif,  c.inipauloniible 
.-ind  soolhBw.  They  imtkn  her  pure,— and  bet¬ 
ter U,  In  merey  husli !  We  are  llokle  us  a  i 
woman  In  our  waveriutf-s  toward  solid  reforma-  i 
tlons  and  we  are  parUeuli»rly  tender  on  tills  sut.- 
Jecl;  HO  let  us  alone  until  we  get  the  dtsugreeahlo 
(UiU'Off  our  rebellious  hands.  If  wc  recollect  liow 
thlug.s  looked  iMoneof  our  wldt^awake  elaJrvoy- 
uut  trips,  we  are  very  skeplleal  In  regard  to  her 
hu.sband's  faith  In  their  calming  riuallUes.  In 
truth  wii  beileve  ho  candidly  set  v  dov.-n  as  a 
deplorably  nervoits  and  cross  v.cdip.<n,  ihoicdi  the 
next  lijsunt  he  told  himself  11  \\,i.sonly  .a  bi’ute 
who  would  getout  of  patkmce  wUh  »Ue  i>  dc,  ir.mi-  j 
hllug,  back-iudio-aiul-Uead-ueUe-y  luotlicr  of  his  | 
children.  If  bOi’HiA  fdt  his  eohlueiss  let  us  hope 
that  some  potent  Intluencc  llo'vlD'g  from  tliost!  ' 
thlrly-outi  beautiful  spechaens  of  smiling  uulure 
may  cliann  awsiy  her  heart  HCUe.s,  as  she  cla.sps 
frail  urmHiuoimil  them  and  tug.^  them  in  fiom  the 
cooling  air  this  evening. 
“  Did  we  ever  put  our  vagufl.v-expres.sed  faith 
into  prnctlL'e?’  .■tye !  wc  have!  Did  we  not 
whitewash  our  vtsa'g'j  with  a  l.iellevlng  smile  while 
frost  dhl  Ills  he.st  night’s  works  among  our  plungefl 
and  our  hedded-out  tilings?  Did  wo  tiol  look  to 
our  flax  aud  our  wool,  and  let  tUe  tender  peren¬ 
nials  look  to  themselves  7.  Did  we  not  Ignore,  th*' 
creepers,  the  inillere,  the  cllmbei-H,  tlio  Jewsthiii 
wander  and  Hie  Jeu's  that  don't  wander,  and  build 
ourselveaupontlieautul  wall  thatglvosa  broader 
vision  ? 
We  awoke,  and  lol  a  thousand  (strictly  meta- 
phorle)  delegates  fiom  (nrelgn  kind  had  got  the 
doors openetl  and  fastened  Iheir  footholds— or  root- 
holds— within.  The  liibh’s,  stniida,  bi’ackets  and 
mantels  were  coneeded  ptyssesslons.  They  nailed 
down  the  sewing  machine  lid  and  kept  the  piano 
IM  open.  Our  soul  faintwl  within  us— hut  our 
rufUes  needed  to  be  Ironed.  We  nad  foresworn 
ourself  against  lifting  a  single  pot  the  whole  win¬ 
ter  through  (except  laome  urn  or  twelve  tliat  wc 
had  just  culled  from  the  ereamlcal  cream  of  flovv- 
erdom),— hut  we  wantod  the  laundry  i^ble.  We 
practiced  meeknes.s  for  three  hours  and  then 
blandly  unbosomed  our  desires. 
“Most  certainly  you  can  have  It,"  tvas  tho  an¬ 
swer.  “Just  set  tho  plants  Inlhc  sunshine  of  the 
dlnlng-rooin  w  lndow.s.  H  will  do  them  goorl  I" 
Think  upon  It,  ye  who  vow  vows!  Yet  we  took 
up  our  cross  and  never  a  murmur  escaped  these  j 
patient  Ups !  1 
"  There  is  a  tide  in  the  afl'ahs  of  men - "  ! 
and  tvomt’uioo,  w'hen  they  won’t  endure  another  ; 
atom  for  anybody.  We  reached  that  climax  j 
when  onr  boautlful  new  footslcol  ,anil  slipper  box  j 
was  requested  as  a  ca.skel  for  the  ext/st.  ni  t 
tubeiwe  bulbs.  Then  It  was  l  hat  we  I’Osc  up  like  , 
a— like  a  apuuky  woman!  and  npoko  the  thing  ; 
that  we  moiuit!  “I’m  not  going  to  permit  It! 
Iv’e  Liikon  too  much  puliis  with  the  uuUslde  of  that  ; 
box  to  think  of  turning  It  Inloa  dry-cellar.  The  < 
tuberoses  ina.v  go  to  the— green-house.  If  they 
want  to!  There!"  But  they  didn't  seem  to  de¬ 
sire  the  voyage,  und  I  have  csncluded  that  speak¬ 
ing  the  thing  one  me.uis  Is  only  a  figure  of  speech, 
afU-rall;  tor  the  bulbs  are  all  wrapped  for  pack¬ 
ing  and  to-morrow  my  slippers  move?  Can  any 
1  one  tell  where  they  aro  to  go? 
FOR  AND  ABOUT  WOMEN. 
Anne  Ukewsteu  Is  writing  letters  from  Rome  to 
the  I’hllndelphla  BuUelln. 
Q,vken'  Victoria  has  decided  to  send  twenty 
pictures  of  tlic  Royal  collection  to  the  American 
Centennial. 
MISSR.S  Evrmnk  and  Althea  Taylor  of  Westport, 
havo  lost  hy  fire  thoir  ancient  family  mansion, 
built  in  1700. 
Mrs.  .It;u\  Waru  Howe  lectured  In  Reading.  ' 
recently.  Her  nubject  was  “The  Legacy 
of  the  (Jond  Shepherd."  i 
JciJA  A.  DOCi.n  of  Now  Yorii,  has  rceovered  , 
55,f»0<>  dam.ages  for  a  fail  on  the.  I'o  In  City  Hall  | 
Avenue,  In  January,  1S73.  i 
Mk3.  N.  E.  Rc.ssEi,t,  of  tlreertleld.  Mass.,  Is  \ 
President  of  a  new  Hodely  an:;lll;uT  to  Hm  ] 
Woman’.H  Uourd  of  .Missions.  i 
Htatisi'ics  are  given  to  prove  that  of  the  surn  t 
lolnl  of  hiiirinii  mlscr.v,  pluslcal  and  mcut.il, 
women  have  lo  be.ar  two-thirds.  ' 
firoKK  girts  all  over  the  t!ountry  are  taking  a  ■ 
llrm  stand  on  the  .sit-down  question.  They  h.ivc  J 
thosyinpathy  of  (he general  imblle,  | 
Mat!.  Makv  IIownT,  the  well-known  advocate  of 
Abolition  aud  Woman  Surrra.ge,  now  appears  ns  a  ' 
corri.!si!Oiulent.  of  l.ho  N.  Y.  Observer.  i 
Mtss  r.  E.  TowNi.Evha'ii  ecentl.vbe  'u  j)nM(;iilng 
In  Wulllngford,  Conn.,  and  a  Moody  and  Sniikty 
revival,  on  a  small  Hcale,  hu.s  crowned  her  efrort.s. 
Mrs.  Hteabns,  the  widow  of  tho  late  Dr.  Samuel  | 
Steams,  eighty-two  years  old.  has  Ju.-:t  returned  ' 
from  Kansas,  making  the  2,000  miles  Journey  ! 
alone.  j 
Miss  1.  C.  Dk  Veli.ino  of  SprlngUcId,  Maisis.,  has  | 
gonctoNew  Haven,  lo  take  part  In  the  temperance 
work  hy  request,  and  win  a rterward  go  to  Port¬ 
land,  Cl. 
MrsSxV.nna  E.  Dickinson  Ls  said  to  bo  In  sueh  an 
unHaUsfactory  state  of  health  that  her  physician 
h.us  ordered  her  to  abanrlon  all  woric  and  take  a 
sea  voyage. 
.losEntiNE  J.  Tno.vCLs  of  Cornell  rulvcmlM'.  is 
among  the  eonto.slants  for  the  (ireek  prize  In  t  he 
annual  ln1.i!r-colleiflatc  Itterary  contests  Just  hc- 
gun  In  this  city.  Alay  she  winl 
Minnie  Wuitk  of  North  MUldleboro,  Mas-s.,  a 
girl  only  seven  years  old,  u  few  days  ago  plunged 
Into  ,1  pond  and  pulled  out  Leila  LIneoln,  ten 
years  old,  who  had  broken  through  the  ice.  , 
A  DEACTiKirr.  and  arlatocriiMo  LouLsville  girl  of 
seventeen  smokes  a  short,  black  clay  pipe  tilled 
with  the  sermigest  ping  lohai'co.  She  was  horn 
with  a  love  of  Dm  weed,  and  Uichiibltlias  lilcadlly 
gnovn  upon  her. 
The  Princess  Natalie  De  Kesehko,  reeenUy 
manled  to  Prince  Milan  of  Scrvla,  Is  described  a.s 
looking  like  a  tJreek  statue  stepped  down  from  Its 
ptsiestal,  and  us  having  the  air  ot  a  goddes.s  when 
goddesses  v\T-re  brdlev’ed  in. 
'I'liB  MarquUo  De  Chainhriiu,  the  granddaughter 
'  of  Lafayette,  nofv  a  resident  Of  Washington,  has 
ill  her  po’^se.s.ston  a  act  of  pcarLs  given  hergrand- 
moiher  by  Marie  AiitolneCte,  at  whose  wedding 
i  that  lady  acted  a.s  bridesmaid. 
I  In  Newark  the  other  day  a  fashionable  mother 
'  saiil  10  the  ftunlly  physician  In.  the  preojcnce  of  her 
1  i.iirce  jdggllng,  frivolous  daughtors:  “Doctor, 
how  can  we  Improve  our  girls  ?"  “  By  Improving 
the  uiot.her.H,’’  was  tlie  gniff  re.pLv. 
Mas.  R.iviASWAMr,  a  native  Hindoo  ChilsUan 
lady,  the  wife  of  a  clergyman  at  Indore,  has  heeii 
appointed  by  Maharajah  Ilolkar,  on  a  salary  of 
one  hundred  rupees  (about  ntty  dollnrs),  iuHtiitor- 
ea'j  to  the  zenana  of  Bala  Sanib,  the  young  prince. 
A  Western  lady  glve.s  the  following  advice  to 
gills  engaged  In  lo<xkltig  up  hushaiid.s “  Lookout 
I  for  ph.vNlcal  health  and  beauty  for  the  sake  of  tiie 
I  race.  Do  not  bestow  a  glance  on  the  lean,  dv'spep- 
fle,  (Mdaverous  biped;  shun  liim  as  you  would  a 
I  pi*slll-*n(N>." 
There  seenuj  to  be  much  surfcrlng  this  winter 
among  the  genteel,  poverty-stricken  women  in 
Washington .  .\  few  days  ago  two  1  adlcs,  dcscend- 
1  anw  of  three  of  the  mowt  distinguished  men 
I  whose  mimes  ore  Interwoven  with  the  history  of 
tills  cOUntiT-  were  turned  out  of  their  home  in 
that  city  for  nou-jiayment  ot  rent. 
Makv  Mckpoch  Mason  divides  her  sex  Into 
three  ela.s.ses— the  giddy  butttTflle.s.  t  he  busy  bees 
and  the  woman Yi  rlghlers.  The  llr.sl  are  pretty 
and  Hilly,  the  second  plain  and  use-tiil,  the  third 
mwiiU-sh  and  odious.  The  tirat  wear  long,  trailing 
!  :  drcfHSOS  aud  arolle  at  you  wliile  waltzing;  the 
second  wear  aprons  and  give  you  apple-dumplings ; 
and  the  third  want  your  manly  prerogatives,  your 
dress  coat,  your  money  and  your  vote. 
^>fai)iii5  foi'  t[ic  loung. 
THE  OLD  FEOVEEB. 
"  The  boy  is  father  of  the  man." 
Such  talk  Bounds  very  queer  to  me, 
But  I  RupnoBC  they  mean  to  say 
If  1  a  true  br.avc  nun  would  be, 
I  must  not  be  a  sueakins  boy. 
Hut  in  my  vvorlc  or  in  luy  play, 
VVIutevor  I  iiuj  nay  or  do. 
Be  true  ami  houetit  as  tlio  day. 
"  The  boy  li  fallwr  of  the  man." 
1  wonder  how  it  la  with  t'lrlr.  i 
It  all  ific'.v  i-are  tor  Is  to  >)0 
Pretty  and  fair,  with  Kloe-jy  enrlB, 
And  lunilaonie  will  Uioy  grow 
To  noble,  women,  good  and  true  ? 
Or  will  they  be  like  i)rt.'tt,\  dolls 
Which  ploHee  us  f'R’  an  hour  or  two  ? 
"  The  hoy  In  father  of  die  mail  " 
Then  hoyj  and  girW.  suiipor.e  we  look 
For  tho  best  paitern  wo  can  liud, 
And  tako  huii  for  our  oepy  hook. 
Tlion  looking  Iniekward.  wP  uia.V  wee 
\  pleasant  i>iith\vivy  cle;ir  and  hright, 
,\nd  looking  forward  we  'nay  hopo 
Tc  reach  the  worhl  ot  htrht. 
LEXTERS  FROM  BOYS  AND  GIRLS. 
From  a  Virginia  Ctrl. 
DEARKcHAt,:  lu  imc  i>r  the  numbers  tor  this 
month  1  read  a  letter  fniniioiir  cuiTcspondcrit  iit 
Kocky  iMounU  Va.,  and  thought  I  would  reply,  as 
wmeof  the  other  i'ou.-!l ns  liave  done  iio.  I  would 
mo.M,  gladly  reel  Ivc  and  iickuovvledgo  Hu;  title  of 
rchithm.Milp,  which  “Young  To  vt”  so  disdainfully 
rejeeted,  should  It  be  tendered  me;  iiiid  i  would 
also  say,  for  t  he bcn'jtltof  said  foiTcspo!id'>nt ,  that 
tin;  "hdr  cousih.H”  are  not  e,i7r,  „/<7//  an.vlous  to 
liave  him  aeknowlcdgi'  the  He;  It  was  merely  a 
coiiili*.sy  cxteiuled.  The cuniplirnent  In;  paid  u:i.  In 
speaking  ot  our  soelety,  Isrcti li  ned  in  all  sln<;erlly. 
The  lUppiint  Ulk,  vvhldi  geiitli'ini:n  think  so  liiler- 
esllng,  Is  most  tlivsomc.  and  wc  must  euduro  II, 
and  ev  en  engage  In  It,  If  their  company  would  be 
tolerated  at  all.  I  gneH.s  no  more  intru.slou.s  will 
be  made  upon  Voono  Tom.  and  I  hope  he.  will  not, 
Uereafter.  iclvc  publicity  to  Ills  opinions  rcg.ardlng 
Mil!  “tyli”'  portion  ot  .vour  correspoiKloni.s.  lll.s 
letlei-s,  generally,  aro  Interesting,  iind  1  hope  ho 
will  not  bo  Hlleueed  by  this  rebtilT.— Minneuaha, 
Salem,  Riianoke  I’u.,  I'lt. 
From  a  Canadian  CIrU 
!  What  1  will  do,  for  I  want  a  microscope  so  bad.  1 
have  three  pet.s— a  flower,  a  cat,  (her  name  Is 
“  Beauty,")  and  a  chicken,  named  “  Lady  .fane 
Brown.”  Have  any  of  the  better  writers  cauglit 
any  little  nibblt.s?  1  used  to  have  pet  rabbits,  but 
I  let  them  go.  I  linve  my  box  set.  I  have  a  funny 
name  for  a  girl.  Hood  by.— Dickie  Simpson. 
From  an  Oregon  Ooy. 
Dear  Kck At.:— 1  have  read  so  many  letters  In 
I  3  our  good  paper  from  bf>3-a  and  girls,  l  thought  I 
'  notilrt  vvriic  one.  1  am  going  to  try  Iti  get  up  a 
!  club  tortile  RntAt,  ifynu vlll  p’e.ase  send  speei- 
I  men  ctiplcs.  The  past  has  been  a  very  proeperons 
year  for  farmers,  and  I  think  eveiT  farmer’s  boy 
ought  to  take  just  such  a  paper  us  tho  lltiiAi,.  1 
am  a  farmer's  son  ten  years  old— hut.  for  fear  that 
j  my  letter  is  too  long,  I  will  close. — Chas.  Ward, 
1  Salon,  Marion  Co.,  Orojun. 
From  a  South  Carolina  OIri. 
Dear  t’orsiss ;  Perhaps  Webster  Smitu  didn’t, 
know  (hilt.  I  vva.s  n,  Bmitu,  but  1  am.  My  name  is 
not  riiniciE  but  JJi.tEN  J.  .smith,  Wallwlla,  Oconee 
t'o.,  N.  c.  The  above  Is  my  nddre.ss,  Mr.  Smith. 
.\a  tor  m.v  eallro  drt!H.A  I  have  made  and  worn  all 
of  (he  now  off,  but  lonc  a.nothor  to  make.  What 
has  beronte  ot  VorNo  Bach?  Ad  tor  “Tom,’’ I 
Hiluk  ho  vvH)  not  write  any  move.  Thanks  to  tho 
New  Yorker  nnl  sweet  Mua.iB  C.  (Ui’kORD  for 
Hi'-li  Icll  u-H.  T  wlsli,  If  agiTcahle  to  them,  Wirn 
Kosk,  Komi’ino  BKa.siE  and  Milmk  would  write  to 
me.  tiood-by,  dear  l  oiudus,  tor  this  Is  wash-day, 
and  I  have  to  got  dinner  with  my  sUtor's  help.— 
'  I  Ei.i.en  j.  S.,  Wa'/mUa,  S.  C.,  Dee.,  Is75. 
'  '  From  n  New  Jersey  Cirl. 
Mr.  Editor;  l  iun  a  girl,  twelve  years  of  age, 
.  and  1  thought  I  oould  like  io  bo  one  of  tho  Rukat, 
I  coii.sins.  May  I  ?  My  grandtalher  tak«R  four 
weekly  ])aper«,  one  r>cml-vveid£ly,  aud  one  monthly. 
'  Of  till  Hie.;vi!  I  like  the  RURAi.  best,  tbough  Ihcro 
arc  others  that  1  like  to  read  veiy  much.  I  ha  vo 
I  been  Hying  to  nialce  out  lllubtruted  R.ebu.sNo.  in, 
but  did  not  succeed.  There  H  no  slnglug  si.’hool 
[  In  tills  neighborhood,  but  1  think  11.  v/ould  bo  nice 
'  I  If  Uiere  wii-i.  If  this  doe.s  not  llud  Its  way  to  tho 
'  i  waste-basket  I  will  try  again.— Minnie,  Lconard- 
I  j  viUe,  Xew  ./eruei/. 
,  ^  From  a  Hudson  River  CIrH 
r  Dear  Rural  Having  read  many  of  the  B03’s’ 
’  '  and  Hlrls’  lcH.ei-.H,  I. am  becoming  much  Interested 
I  III  them,  and  am  trying  for  the  llrst  time  to  se o 
.  what  1,  a  little  country  girl,  can  do.  I  am  attend¬ 
ing  school  Hits  winter  and  am  stndyliig  fora  jnlzo 
In  Loxlajgryply.  Lust  term  I  won  Ihrcc  prizes. 
Tiny  were  for  Arithmetic,  Crummurand  HpelUng, 
Dear  Ain.  Editor :— This  Is  tho  llrsl  lime  I  ever  '  especially  the  licit.  Y'oung  tom's  letters  were 
alteinptcd  lo  write  to  Uic  IIukai-.  I  am  eleven 
years’ old.  My  brother  Ims  taken  tile  Rural  Hic 
lust  j'pur,  and  we  all  like  It  very  mueli.  Pa  takes  . 
several  papers,  but  ma  and  1  like  the  Rural  the 
best,  on  aeeouotof  the  nlec  slorle.i  and  llkev  isc 
Hie  useful  Hints  on  garacniug,  and  the  many  good 
recipes,  fam  going  lo  school  and  taking  music 
les.sons.  I  have  two  pets.  One  of  them  Is  a  bean-  j 
tlful  red  bird,  a  present  from  iny  cousin  In  Ohio;  It  j 
■‘lugs  aw  ccH.y.  The  other  Is  a  small  blaekaiidtan 
dog,  whose  name  Is  “Trent."  I  am  very  fond  or  ‘ 
1  hfse  pets.  We  have  a  nleo  horse  t.li.at  I  and  rny  j 
;ilater  ALujoie,  who  Is  four  years  joungerthar  my.  . 
self,  drive.  Jl  has  been  very  pleasant  here  thl.s 
winter  ni  far.  There  lia.s  heen  goml  .sleighing  for 
the  last  tt.n  daj's,  and  wc  uro  cnjnjlng  It  vTry 
much.  I  will  now  close.  wT-ihlng  j'oii  and  all  tho 
Oousfna  ot  tho  Rur.ai,  n.  Merry  CJii)sluia.s  und  a 
Happy  New  Year.— Adiue  Cruickshank,  Trenton, 
Out. 
From  a  Weatern  New  York  CIrl. 
Mr.  Editor:— We  have  taken  j'our  pajier  ever 
Since  I  can  rciuembor,  aud  1  like  It  very  mucli,  es- 
pccUilly  Iho  LetUrrs  from  Boys  and  OlrLs.  1  um 
fourteen  years  of  age.  I  liavi;  (wo  brothers  and 
slstci's  older  than  myself.  I  live  o:i farm  of  137 
acres,  near  the  l.akeHhore  aud  Soul  hern  Michigan 
Kallwa) .  and  about  tlirco  miles  from  the  plcusanl 
village  of  Frodouia,  the  Im  uHon  oi  the  State  Nor¬ 
mal  and  Training  School,  where  one  of  my  broth¬ 
ers  und.lM'ith  slaters  attend.  It  Ls  a  very  nice 
looking  building,  quite  an  Improvomout,  und  also  a  j 
great  bencllt  to  the  place.  There  are  about  too  ^ 
pupils  from  ihLs  and  other  States.  Fredonlu  Is  also 
quite  noted  for  its  natural  gas.  lam  lame  and  i 
therefore  I  do  not  go  lo  school,  but  am  taking  ^ 
music  lessons,  which  I  like  very  imuih.  And  now, 
Mr.  Editor,  If  you  please  to  print  this  perhaps  r 
will  write  again. — .Jessie  A.  II.,  Fredonia,  K.  F. 
From  an  Eastern  New  York  Boy. 
Mk.  Editor:— I  write  to  you  In  regard  (o  that 
small.  VYcsUtu  New  York  Boj',  who  dug  22.i  ou.sh 
cLs  of  iKitatnes  In  ton  hours.  I  am  a  farmer’s  boj’, 
!  and  11 VM  in  a  town  w  here  cvvry  farmer  raises  from 
25  lo  50  and  >Ai:iie  cvv'ii  lOiI  acres  of  potatoe--;.  My 
father  ndsi.-d  nlwait  50  ;n  res  this  yra,-.  J  do  not 
pretend  that.  i  i-an  dig  225  buslicls  ot  potal’ics  In 
ten  hours,  but  f  would  ho  iiloased  to  dig  a  race 
with  that  smart  b03’ whenever  there  tire  potatoes 
to  dig.  Did  that  potato  digger  dig  ten  hours  on  a 
'  stretoh,  or  did  he  dig  one  or  two  Inutri  a  dn.v  7 
Did  hfs  basket  hold  Ro  lbs.  7  What  ts  Ihr  name  of 
the  pot  atoes?  How  many  did  you  get  out  of  a 
hill?— E.  M,  L,  Ilarl/ord,  Wa«A.  Co.,  .V.  F. 
most  too  simple  to  think  of.  My  letter  Is  not  very 
long,  yet  still  I  hopo  It  will  ilnd a  welcome  In  your 
,  colmnns.— Louie  M.,  Cuxnaekie,  A.  Y. 
From  a  Mlosourl  Ctrl. 
Mr.  Editor:— as  j’Ou  were  so  kind  lopnbllihmy 
letter  I  thouglit  I  would  write  again.  I  am  sorry 
j  that  T  took  Homfino  Bessie's  name,  but  as  1  ■wrote 
j  Unit  1  think  I  am  enlltled  to  it.  r  should  like  to 
correspond  with  her.  a.s  1  came  from  Can  idn.  T.ly 
‘  addrCKS  1»  HeUiI.n  M.  S.M  V  i  n,  Canton,  Lewia  Co.,  Mo.— 
\  Wild  Romp. 
e  Ijc  |!ujj,lcr. 
ILLUSTRATED  REBUS.-No.  2. 
mm 
ir>?“  Answer  in  two  weeks. 
Prom  a  Southotn 'What  State?)  Cirl. 
Dear  Editor:-!  thought  as  I  liked  your  paper  [ 
SO  much  that  I  would  3vrll  ('  to  j’ou.  This  ts  not  the 
first  time,  tor  I  have  written  three  times.  The 
first  time  my  letter  was  not  published,  but  ray 
second  (the  Dew  Drop)  was,  anti  I  want  to  see 
where  thl.sone  goes.  I  am  12  years’  Old,  and  am 
sta.rtug  with  my  brother  this  winter,  and  I  all)  go¬ 
ing  to  try  mighty  hard  to  get  up  a  club  for  your 
paper.  I  have  one  sub.scrlber,  but  I  am  afraid  I  i 
shall  not  get  the  others ;  but  if  I  can’t  I  don’t  know  I 
CROSS-WORD  ENIGMA.-No.  2. 
MA'  first  is  In  Jay  but  not  In  hawk, 
My  second  Is  In  crayon  but  not  In  chalk ; 
My  third  is  In  auh;  but  not  In  trade, 
My  foiirtli  is  In  wither  but  not  In  fade ; 
My  llflh  is  in  robe  but  not  In  gown, 
My  sixth  Is  in  eliy  but  not  m  town; 
My  seventh  Ls  In  bowl  but  not  in  dish, 
My  eighth  is  In  long  but  not  in  u  tsh ; 
My  ninth  Is  In  rise  hut  not  in  fall, 
My  tenth  Ls  In  barn  but  not  In  stall; 
My  eleventh  Is  in  orange  but  not  in  peach, 
Aly  twelfth  is  in  some  but  not  In  each. 
My  ’A  hole  gives  the  name  of  a  celebrated  Amer¬ 
ican  humorist.  o.  n.  f. 
rs’"  An-swer  in  t'vo  wcc'k.s. 
BIBLICAL  DOUBLE  ACROSTIC.-No.  1, 
!.  A  Persia?:  vine.  ?.  A  Ureek  letter.  3.  An 
Italian  city.  l.  A  Ilc'cic’v  month.  5.  An  Idol  of 
I’j!'  Egyptij;!--,.  «.  A  l;L’ :  of  T.irael.  Tho  Initials 
elve  a  woman  of  Jopp  i.  ..nd  the  finals  a  Judge  of 
Isro/’l.  Isola. 
CT  "  Answer  In  two  wee’Ko. 
- - - - 
PUZZLER  AN5V7ERS.-Deo.  25. 
I  - 
Star  Puzzle.— 
ZAP 
Illuttrated  Rebus  No.  li.- Locke  on  the  T'nder- 
standlng. 
