MOORE’S  RURAL.  NEW-YORKER, 
Jlomrstit  €coiiomi|. 
HOUSEHOLD  ECONOMY. 
Maxy  ladies  have  pieces  of  sillcs,  ribhons  and 
tics,  etc.,  which  are  faded,  but  not  much  worn. 
These  can  he  reiiovaUsl  luid  made  to  look  very 
nicely  iudetsd  by  dyoitig,  and  pressing  while  they 
are  yet  damp.  A  cheap  and  pretty  way  is  U~t  dip 
them  in  an  analino  dy*;.  Tic  a  very  little  rose 
analinc  in  a  thin  cloth  and  dip  it  in  a  weak  soap¬ 
suds  until  it  is  dark  enough  to  suit.  Tlion  wash 
the  silks  and  thix)w  them  in  the  dye.  As  soon  ns 
they  arc  the  right  shade  take  them  t)ut,  and, 
when  partly  dry,  iron  them,  and  they  are  ready 
for  use.  The  ar’ticles  look  better  if  the  dye  is 
u.scd  as  soon  ns  made. 
Another  shade  of  red  may  be  obtained  in  the 
following  manner:  For  one  pound  of  silk  take 
three  ounces  of  alum.  Warm  the  solution  and 
soak  the  goods  an  hour  in  it.  Then  talie  them 
out  and  put  into  another  dye  made  of  cochineal, 
tlu’oo  oniicos ;  nutgalls,  two  ounces ;  ci'eani  of 
tarUr,  one-third  ounce.  I,et  them  be  in  this  dyo 
one  hour.  When  few  goo<ls  are  to  be  colored, 
the  dj-e-stiifT  must  bo  projiortioTjed  accordingly. 
Silks  may  l)e  colored  orange  with  a  aolution  of 
annatto  and  soda. 
The  first  Mid  last  recijies  are  very  cheap,  and 
it  is  very  Uttlc  trouble  to  use  them.  Many  a 
ribbon  that  looks  past  all  hopes,  would  do  good 
service  again,  if  washed  clean,  thou  dyod  in  this 
way.  Schoolgii'la,  whose  pin-money  is  limited, 
can,  in  this  way,  have  fresh-looking  ribbon.s,  and 
I  think  a  little  rose  color,  or  scarlet,  i.**  a  charm¬ 
ing  addition  to  almost  every  young  lilies'  toilet, 
if  fashion  has,  for  ao  long  a  lime,  ruled  them  out 
and  brought  faded-looking  colors  into  favor. — 
Mbs.  Lokbtta  E.  K.  Tdbner, 
Fairfield,  Ohio. 
■ - »-»♦ - - 
A  HOUSE  OF  OUR  OWN. 
Next  to  being  married  to  the  right  person, 
there  is  nothing  so  important  in  one’s  life  as  to 
live  under  one's  own  roof.  There  is  something 
more  than  a  practical  charm  in  the  expression  of 
th«  wife :  “  ^Ve  have  <nir  cosy  house ;  it  is  thrice 
deal-  to  ii.s,  hecauso  it  is  niir  own.  Wo  have 
bought  it  with  the  savings  of  our  earnings. 
“Many  were  the  soda  fonntiiins,  theconfection- 
ary  saloons  and  the  noccHsities  of  the  market  wc 
had  to  pass,  many  a  time  my  noble  husband  de¬ 
nied  himself  of  the  comfort  tobacco,  the  re¬ 
freshing  draught  of  beer,  wore  his  old  clothes, 
and  even  patched  up  boots ;  and  1,  Oh,  me !  made 
my  old  bonnet  do,  w'ore  tho  plainest  clothes,  did 
the  plainest  cooking;  saving  was  tho  order 
of  tho  house,  and  to  have  ‘a  homo  of  our 
own  ’  had  been  our  nnited  aim.  Now  wo  have 
it ;  there  is  no  landlord  troubling  us  with  raising 
the  rent,  and  exacting  thi.s  and  that.  There  is 
no  fear  harlmrcd  in  our  hosorti  that  in  sickness  or 
old  age  we  will  bo  thrown  out  of  house  and  home, 
and  the  money  we  have  saved,  which  would  oth¬ 
erwise  have  gone  to  pay  rent,  is  sufficient  to  keep 
U9  in  comfort  in  the  winter-days  of  our  life." _ 
Selected. 
A  FEW  RECIPES. 
Fritters.— One  quart  of  milk,  one  pound  of 
floiu-,  add  seven  well-beaten  eggs,  a  teaspoonfid 
of  salt.  Drop  by  the  spoonful  Into  hot  lard  and 
fry  a  light  brown. 
Family  CoA'c*. -Yelks  of  eight  eggs,  and  one 
cup  of  sugar,  kneaded  stiff  with  flour.  Roll  out 
thin,  cut  in  fancy  shapes,  and  fry  in  hot  fat. 
Acid  Tarts. — Take  one  egg,  one  enp  of  sugar, 
one  cup  water,  one  and  a  half  toasiKionf  uls  tartar¬ 
ic  acid,  one  teaspoonful  flour,  one  teaspoonful 
extract  lemon,  a  piece  of  butter  sue  of  a  walnut. 
Cook  over  steam,  then  fill  the  iiasto  and  bake 
moderatelj'.  Put  the  lemon  in  Just  Iiofore  bak¬ 
ing.  Ice  them  if  you  wish. 
iCisses.— Two  pounds  of  powdered  sugar,  tho 
whites  of  eight  eggs,  beaten  to  a  froth,  then  add 
the  sugar  and  flavor  with  lemon  or  vanilla.  Tho 
whole  should  be  beatcii  very  hard  a  few  minutes, 
then  drop  in  oval  shapes  on  white  paper  which 
has  been  slightly  buttered,  and  place  in  a  moder¬ 
ate  oven.  Bake  to  a  pale  brown,  then  place  tho 
flat  sides  together.  l.  e.  k.  t. 
- - — 
USEFUL  RECIPES. 
Articles  on  which  flour-paste  has  been  used  are 
often  injured  by  rats,  oven  after  the  paste  has 
become  dry  and  hard.  This  can  be  prevented  by 
mixing  a  small  quantity  of  corrosive  sublimate 
with  the  paste.  Those  who  have  tried  this  pro¬ 
nounce  it  harmless  to  persons  handling  it,  and  a 
complete  safeguard  against  the  rata. 
french  Toast. — Beat  fom-  eggs  very  light  and 
stir  them  in  a  pint  of  milk;  slice  some  bakers’ 
bread,  dip  the  pieces  into  the  egg,  then  lay  them 
m  a  pan  of  hot  lard  and  fry  brown  ;  sprinkle  a 
httle  powdered  sngai-  and  cinnamon  on  each 
piece  and  serve  hot.  If  nicely  prepared,  this  is 
an  excellent  dish  for  breakfast  or  tea — quite 
equal  to  waffles. 
/>nioi»  Pie. — Boil  in  one  and  a  half  quarts  of 
water  tho  juice,  pulp  and  grated  peel  of  two 
lemons.  When  it  boils,  add  three  heaping  ta- 
blospoonfuls  of  flour,  mixo<l  smootli  with  cold 
water.  Before  it  cools  add  twi)  toacuiiftils  of 
sugar,  three  well-beaton  eggs,  a  piece  of  butior 
Italf  the  size  of  an  egg,  an<l  a  little  salt.  Bako 
with  under  and  upper  cni.Hts. 
To  make  Hominy.-  I’ut  some  concentrated 
lye  in  a  kettle  and  dissolve.,  take  five  ears  of 
white  corn,  aholl,  put  iulo  the  lyo  and  boil  one 
hour,  or  iinlil  tho  sinus  will  wasli  olT ;  tlieii  wash 
four  or  livo  times,  or  until  fi-ee  from  hulls  and 
the  taste  of  lyo,  thou  put  it  into  a  keltio  of  fresh 
water  and  boil  all  d.ay.  When  wanted  for  use, 
put  in  a  skillet  and  fry  with  lard. 
AnoUier  lA>mon  Pie.  -Make  a  very  short  crust 
and  roll  rather  thick.  For  every  pie  take  the 
grated  rinil  and  juice  of  one  lemon,  ono  teaenp- 
ful  of  sugar,  and  tho  yelk  of  ono  egg  ;  ono  cup¬ 
ful  of  sweet  milk  or  water,  ono  teaspoonful  of 
starch,  softeued  with  a  little  milk ;  bake  about 
an  hour;  beat  tho  white  to  a  frotli;  add  two 
tablesiioonfuls  of  sugar  and  iwur  over  tlie  top ; 
bake  slightly. 
To  Make  iJo<xl  Molasses  Vandy.  -  Two  pounds 
white  colftH)  Mugiir,  one  quart  niolassos  sirnp, 
three  tablespoonfuls  of  vinegar  ;  put  in  a  small 
piece  of  butter.  I'ou  can  toll  when  it  is  boiled 
enough  by  ilipping  your  Anger  into  u  cup  of  cold 
water,  then  into  tho  candy,  quickly  back  into 
the  water,  and  if  that  which  slicks  to  your  linger 
is  hard  and  soaps,  tho  candy  is  done,  and  should 
be  ixmrwl  ui>on  a  greased  marble  or  tiu  pan ; 
add  a  little  essenco  of  lemon,  tlion  pull  it  Ull  it 
becomes  white. 
To  make  Uotun/.Winc  or  Mead.  -To  a  gallon 
of  water,  put  2  lbs,  of  honey  and  1  lb.  of  sugar ; 
boil  for  an  hour,  put  in  tho  whites  of  four  eggs 
to  clarify,  and  skim  it  quite  clear  while  boiling; 
then  put  it  Into  a  clean  tub,  and  let  it  stand  for 
a  week,  putting  in  a  toast  iviUi  honey  to  make  it 
work ;  then  put  in  a  cask,  adding  tho  peels  of 
three  or  four  lemons,  lot  it  stand  for  a  month, 
and  then  if  it  is  not  sufficiently  lino  put  in  more 
honey,  and  lot  it  stiuid  longer. 
Cold  Stum. — Out  up  ilie  cabbage  very  fine  witli 
a  sharp  knife,  and  sprinkle  over  it  a  toasiioon  of 
salt.  For  a  largo  dish,  say  a  quart  of  cut  cab¬ 
bage,  use  two  eggs,  a  piece  of  butter  the  size  of 
an  egg,  half  a  teacup  of  water,  and  half  a  teacup 
of  good  vinegar.  Isoat  tho  eggs,  whites  and 
yolks  together,  very  light,  add  tho  water,  vine¬ 
gar  and  butter,  and  put  all  lu  a  tin  on  tho  lire, 
stirring  all  the  time  until  it  is  of  a  creamy  thhdi- 
nesH.  I’our  it  hot  over  the  cabbage,  stir  up  well 
with  a  fork,  and  leave  to  cool. 
Utilizing  Old  Tin  Cans. — Tho  Housekeeper 
gives  tho  following  suggostlons:— Take  off  tho 
top  of  tJie  can,  pimch  holes  on  the  opposite  sides 
near  the  rim,  put  in  a  wire  bail,  and  you  have  a 
little  bucket  which  may  serve  for  a  paint-pot,  to 
keep  nails  in,  or  other  handy  purposes.  Take 
off  the  top,  cut  to  the  propei-  shape,  and  fasten 
on  a  11.-111(110  by  means  of  a  screw  through  a  hole 
in  the  bcjttom,  and  a  nseful  scoop  may  lie  made. 
A  saucepan  tor  small  mosses  may  bo  made  by 
cutting  down  a  can,  leaving  a  strip  to  bo  bent  at 
right  angles  and  turned  aroiuid  a  stick  to  serve 
as  Inuidlo.  A  coai-se  grater  for  crackers,  etc., 
is  easily  formed  from  a  piece  of  tin  fastened  to  a 
board.  The  holes  in  tho  grater  should  be  made 
with  an  old,  three-cornered  file. 
Dliilituit  liifonnatioii. 
MEDICICES  PRODUCING  DISEASE. 
Du.  Robert  Walker,  in  a  valuable  essay  pub- 
Ushed  in  tho  May  Science  of  Health,  forcibly 
states  the  objections  to  an  indiscriininato  or  free 
use  of  dr  ugs. 
A  tomporary  increase  of  action  may  be  induced 
in  any  organ  by  exciting  it,  but  that  action  can¬ 
not  bo  sustained  for  want  of  power  in  tho  organ. 
It  is  a  law  of  nature  that  only  as  niucU  power 
can  bo  put  forth  by  any  organ  us  that  organ 
poBsoBsoH.  If  by  stimulation  wo  get  an  extra  effort 
to-day,  a  lesser  action  must  bo  Uie  result  to¬ 
morrow.  As  power  Is^gius  to  bo  exhausted, 
action  begins  to  fail,  and  an  organ  falls  as  much 
below  its  usual  activity  when  a  stimulant  is  with- 
drawm,  as  it  was  raised  above  by  the  stimulant ; 
BO  that  no  permanent  gain  is  had  in  stimula- 
tion. 
A  strong  and  vigerrous  organ  may  bo  excited 
to  violent  action  by  the  use  of  proper  medica¬ 
ment;  but  if  the  organ  is  weak,  tho  degree  of 
action,  under  tho  influence  of  the  medicine,  will 
correspond.  At  the  first  introduction  of  a 
nuxlioiiio  to  on  organ,  the  effect  wUl  bo,  iHirhaps, 
vigorous,  because  there  is  jaiwcr  to  respond ; 
but  the  vigorous  action  exhausts  tlie  power  of 
tlie  organ,  so  that  to  get  tho  desired  effect,  tho 
medicine  must  be  increased  from  day  to  day,  and 
often  is  increased  imtil  all  power  to  respond  is 
exhausted  and  death  ensues.  A  cathartic,  for 
instamvj,  has  been  the  nsual  drug-medical  plan 
of  inducing  action  in  the  bowels,  as  it  usually 
succeeds  if  there  is  power  iu  tho  bowels  to  re¬ 
spond  ;  liut  if  tboro  is  no  power  iu  tho  bowels,  as 
in  p.-uralyais  of  them,  or  in  death,  tlicro  will  bo 
no  action,  no  matter  how  groat  the  quantity  of 
medicine. 
Homotinics  the  uiodicino  used  to  “cure”  a 
disoaso  pi-rMhiccs  a  contrary  one ;  but  more  gen¬ 
erally  it  adds  to  the  existing  difficulty.  Cathar¬ 
tics  were  inUiinlcd  to  remove  constipation,  and 
temporarily  they  may  ai)pcur  to  succoed.  but 
they  pi-ove  to  bo  a  sure  way  of  permanently  pro¬ 
ducing  the  difficulty.  Calomel,  though  it  tem¬ 
porarily  overcomes  torplilty  of  liver,  is  the  surest 
ivay  to  induce  torpidit.y  of  liver.  Diuretics, 
though  they  may  imweaso  the  How  of  m  ine,  arc 
sure,  means  of  reducing  llm  power  of  the  kidimys; 
Alcohol  is  reputed  to  tie  the  great  strcngtlionor' 
hut  none  become  so  weak  as  those  who  enu- 
limially  nso  it.  If  you  want  a  steady  hand, 
drink  a  enp  of  tea ;  but  if  you  want  unsteady 
nerws  continue  its  use.  Tea  is  coiisidercd  al¬ 
most  a  specific  for  some  forms  of  headache,  hut 
the  sure  way  to  produce  hoadacho  is  to  continuo 
a  free  use  of  it.  And  so  oii  Uirongh  tlie  materia 
niediea.  Khow  me  a  dnig-mcdicitio  tliat  will 
apparently  iimrt'imo  activity  of  an  organ  or  set  of 
organs,  and  I  will  show  you  ono  that  will  ulti¬ 
mately  reduce  activity  of  them. 
Tho  same  ohjectious  that  wo  offer  to  drugs  are 
applicable  lu  hygiouic  agencies,  when  employed 
on  drug-mcdicat  principles.  Water  is  a  valuable 
health  agency,  and  when  used  hygienically,  no 
excM'ptioius  are  to  be  taken  to  its  use  ;  bnt  when 
used  as  a  stimulant,  excitant,  tonic,  sedative, 
oto.,  and  as  a  great  ciu'c-all,  it  is  little  better 
than  diiigs.  Stoani  baths  may  ho  useful,  packs 
are  excellent,  Um  various  water-cure  appliances 
are  commenilahlo ;  but  they  should  never  bo 
used  to  produce  a  condition  that  the  vitality 
iu  tlie  patient  cannot  sustain.  Baths  arc  to  bo 
employed  to  fulfill  the  coudiUons  necessary  to 
health ;  but  purity  of  blood  and  all  other  results 
must  come  because  <jf  vital  action,  jicrmancntly 
induced  and  not  through  tomporary  e,xcit(niicn(. 
'I’he  true  province  of  all  treatment  is  to  develop 
and  dislrilmtc  vital  power  without  exhausting  if. 
Trciitnicnl  should  Blrengthun  tho  patient,  not 
weaken  him;  it  should  increase  vitality,  not  re¬ 
duce  it ;  it  sliould  supply  tho  coiulilions  of 
health,  hut  not  Btimulate  or  excite  temporary 
action. 
The  attempt  to  get  well  by  stimulating  into 
healtli,  is  like  an  attempt  to  pnll  one’s  self  into 
the  upper  region  by  tugging  at  (he  straps  of  his 
boots.  The  effort  is  like  struggling  in  quieksnnd, 
the  more  you  struggle  tlic  deeper  you  sink.  If 
one  is  in  the  quicksand,  it  is  very  tenqiting  to 
struggle,  blithe  rarely  struggles  himself  free. 
♦  — 
HYGIENIC  NOTES. 
One  ounce  of  the  essence  of  bitter  almonds  will 
communicate  an  agreeable  taste  and  smell  to  an 
ounce  of  the  castor  oil  of  commerce,  and  will 
not  at  all  effect  its  medical  aciion.  Rersons 
taking  this  medicine  should  order  it  to  be  thus 
flavored. 
Or,  Cobbold  states  that  caso.s  of  tape-worm  are 
twice  as  frequent  araong  males  as  females,  Uie 
difference  being  expl.ained,  in  his  opinion,  by  the 
more  cauUims  and  fastidious  habits  of  the  female 
sex,  as  contrasted  with  males,  iu  relation  to  the 
iugostion  of  undordono  meat. 
J)r.  fyon  Playfair,  at  tho  recent  meeting  of 
the  British  Social  Science  Association,  quoted 
Michelet's  statement  that,  for  1,000  years,  no 
one  in  Europe  used  the  bath,  and  urged  that  it 
was  no  wonder  tliat  tho  epidemics  of  the  uiiddlo 
ages  cut  off  one-fourth  of  the  jiopulatiou. 
Pumpkin  PuuUice, — T’ho  best  remedy  I  over 
used  for  scrofiilonu  swellings  or  sores  is  dried 
pumpkin,  stcweil  in  as  small  a  quantity  of  water 
as  poHHiblo  aud  applied  as  a  poultice.  If  the 
swelling  or  sore  is  on  the  limbs,  apply  it  directly 
to  the  affected  part ;  if  about  the  head  or  neck, 
apply  to  the  wrists  or  hands.  One  or  two  poul¬ 
tices  in  tweuty-four  hours  will  usually  bo  suffi¬ 
cient. — A.  M. 
In  the  course  of  a  Lecture  on  Mtreury  recently 
delivered  at  Vienna,  the  Icg-bono  of  a  man  was 
exhibited,  whoso  death  had  undoubtedly  been 
hastened  by  morem-y.  On  striking  the  hone 
heavily  on  the  table,  out  fell  thousamls  of  little 
glittering  globules,  which  rolled  about  on  the 
black  surface  before  the  lecturer,  collecting 
hero  and  tliero  into  cU-ops.  Tliis  mercury  had 
been  absorbed  during  life,  and  proved  the  death 
of  the  absorbent. 
.1  Mother  Wants  Ocoasionallv  there 
appears  in  tlio  Hygienic  colunin  of  Uie  Rukal 
some  information  for  young  mothers,  whicli 
comes  very  opportunely  Ui  mo  and,  1  presume,  a 
great  many  others.  1  should  like  very  much  to 
hear  from  the  old  aud  experienced When  they 
consider  the  proiier  time  for  weaning  an  infant 
child,  what  food  should  be  given  it,  and  any 
hints  that  would  helj)  mo  to  bring  my  litUe  boy 
through  tlint  process  with  health  and  stoeiigth.-- 
Mrs.  fl.  A,  B. 
Will  some  of  our  readers  reply.— En.  Rural. 
FARMERS’  LIFE  IN  WINTER, 
The  .Toumal  of  Ohemisti’y  iu  speaking  of  tho 
lonesomonoss  of  farmers’  lives,  or  how  souio 
manage  to  live  pleasantly  and  others  unhappily 
under  the  same  circumstances,  says: 
Probably  not  ono  of  tho  iiulnstrial  classes  has 
been  80  directly,  and  wo  may  B,ay  disastrously, 
inrtiicnced  by  modern  innovations  and  changes 
as  farmers,  and  this  rebates  specislly  to  the 
winter  life  and  piusuits  of  this  class.  T'lie  netivo 
work  of  farmers  and  their  families  was  not  in 
any  degree  suspended  in  winter  until  wllliin  a 
third  of  a  century.  Indeed,  tho  hardest  labor  of 
tho  year  was  performed  by  them  in  cold  weather  ; 
they  no  more  thought  of  housing  thehisolves 
when  tho  snows  came  than  of  living  by  bogging 
and  stealing.  Tho  country  was  compai-atively 
now,  and  there  were  clearings  to  be  made,  logs  to 
he  cut,  wood  to  bo  hauled,  stono-walls  to  bo 
built  (for  many  of  our  coiumou  field  walls  were 
put  up  in  the  dead  of  winter)  ;  tho  ways  wore  to 
bo  kept  clear  of  snow  obstructioiis  ;  com  was  to 
bo  shoUed  and  taken  long  distances  in  mill ;  tho 
cows,  oxen,  horses  and  8hce[i  wore  to  be  fed, 
and  tho  pigs  to  bo  looked  after. 
Thoro  wore  no  idlo  hours  for  tho  farmers  of  a 
generation  ago  iu  winter ;  and  the  same  may  ha 
said  of  tho  women  and  children  indoors.  All 
was  hurry  in  tho  kitchen  from  early  daylight  to 
sunset ;  iviul  when  tho  ovening  darkness  came  on 
the  knitting,  spinning,  daniing  and  patcliiug 
continued  until  eight  or  niiio  o'clock,  when  all 
went  to  bed.  The  clothing  worn  by  the  family 
ivas  of  domestic  make,  fabrica  of  linen  as  well  as 
of  wool.  The  wool  was  taken  from  the  backs  of 
tho  sheep,  scoured,  carded,  8|)mi,  woven  and 
dyod,  on  tho  farm  premises.  Tho  bark  of  the 
butternut  afforded  a  favorite  tint  of  yellow- 
brown  ;  and  oliipped  logwood  and  copperas 
bought  of  tbo  distant  grocer,  gave  tho  inky 
black  suited  to  garments  for  Bunday  use.  Thu 
hum  of  industry  never  ceased  in  tlie  dwellings  of 
the  earlier  race  of  farmers,  excojit  at  night  and 
on  “Lord’s  Day.”  And  they  wore  happy, 
healthy,  contonted ;  but  little  money  was  needed, 
they  had  few  artificial  wants,  and  their  ambition 
was  confined  to  tho  nan’uw  limits  of  their  home¬ 
steads. 
But  a  great  change  has  occiuTcd,  and  now 
farmers  have  become,  so  fur  as  winter  life  is 
oonc»?rnod,  a  kind  of  liihernating  animal,  liko 
the  beai-s  and  frogs  in  tho  woods  and  marshcH, 
(Joal  has  taken  Uio  place  of  wood  to  a  laigo  cx- 
tonk  oven  in  the  country,  so  there  is  little  chop¬ 
ping  to  bo  done;  there  arc  no  walls  to  build,  no 
heavy  timber  to  haul,  but  little  com  to  husk  or 
shell,  fow  sheep  and  cows  to  feed,  aud  but  little 
marketing  to  do.  Wlion  tbe  first  snow  storm 
spreads  its  white  mantle  over  the  face  of  mother 
earth,  all  is  hushed  and  silent  around  most  of 
our  farm  homosteuds.  The  crowing  of  a  solitary 
ctmk,  perched  njiori  the  barnyard  fonoo,  seems  to 
be  almost  [lainful  inlruHiou  n[iou  tbo  general 
silence.  As  regards  t)ic  family,  the  boys  are  uot 
seen  around  the  chojqiing-block,  or  on  the  hay¬ 
mow  ;  tho  girls  arc  seldom  seen  at  tho  windows 
with  their  k  rutting  work,  or  iu  Uie  snow  jiath 
leading  to  the  barn,  with  milk-jiail  in  hand. 
The  boys  are  away  at  school,  or  s«u-viiig  as  clerks 
in  some  city  store ;  the  girls,  if  at  homo,  sit 
listloHsly  about  the  rod-hot  parlor  stove,  discon¬ 
tented,  lonely,  with  “nothing  to  do."  And 
really,  there  is  very  little  they  can  do ;  there  is 
no  wrsil  to  card  or  spin,  no  flax  to  run  into 
threads,  no  industrial  labor  that  wUl  give  them 
oven  a  small  return  in  ready  money.  The  largo 
factories  do  all  the  spinning  and  weaving,  and 
make  all  the  Ixmnets,  stockings  and  under  and 
outer  garments ;  and  willing  hands  in  isolated 
homos  find  no  remunerative  employment.  The 
great  want  of  the  age  Is  some  industrial  labor 
which  can  be  iierformed  at  farm  homesteads, 
and  tho  dwellings  of  the  jioor,  so  that  a  little 
money  can  be  oanied  at  home,  lu  the  progress 
of  events,  wc  have  tlie  expectation  that  some 
new  avenues  of  industry  will  be  opened  in  this 
direction,  aud  when  this  o«xura  a  blessing  will 
rest  upon  thousands  of  happy  homes. 
The  discoiu’agod  state  in  which  large  numbers 
of  our  fanners  live  is  not  favorable  to  health  or 
happiness  ;  neither  is  it  favorable  to  sucoess  in 
any  direction.  Winter  In  the  country,  in  Now 
England  and  the  other  Northern  States,  is 
really  quite  a  severe  ordeal  to  puss  through  ; 
but  it  can  be  made  a  time  for  mind  improvement, 
and  also  a  time  of  preparation  for  the  active 
labors  of  the  summer.  Every  good  and  useful 
b«M)k  a  fanner  reads  is  an  acquisition,  the  value 
of  which  cannot  bo  stated  iu  dollars  and  cents. 
Winter  is  the  time  to  improve  the  intellect,  the 
time  to  lay  up  those  stores  of  knowledge  which 
will  servo  iu  old  age,  when  the  eyes  are  dim  and 
tho  hearing  impaired,  os  food  tur  thought  and 
meditation.  In  tho  altered  condition  of  things 
which  prevails  in  this  age,  fanners  must  seek 
new  modes  of  occupation  In  winter,  and  every 
one  who  seeks  is  quite  sure  to  find. 
I 
