8 
0  SES.  SO 
the  SURAL  S^EW-YORKER 
"3 
'Ia^li^s'  llorifoliij. 
THE  EEASON. 
BY  KATE  MCBtDEK. 
QiRt,R  used  to  learn  baking  and  brewin)4. 
To  read  and  to  write  and  to  count, 
Now  tboiufb  they  are  always  a  dointr. 
Their  ways  are  of  little  amount. 
Some  chattyr  French  %-erb8  like  a  maerpie, 
While  others  embroider  iu  floss. 
And  In  this  wise  which  we  live  in, 
Thiuifs  useful  we  now  translate  g-roas. 
Our  grandmas,  poor  eoiils  1  were  old-fashioned, 
Their  knowledge  of  matters  was  small. 
And  It  showed  their  want  of  refinement 
To  darn  stockinirs  ovrr  a  ball. 
Now  we  are  so  much  more  enlightened. 
Have  made  such  a  wnudrous  advance, 
'ihat  thuuHh  some  cannot  boil  a  potato, 
They  know  how  to  flirt  and  to  dance. 
It  is  true  that  poor  va  takes  it  sadly. 
And  talks  of  tbo  i>oor-house  for  all. 
While  ma  would  give  each  i>ue  most  gladly 
To  some  verdant  sir,  If  hcM  call. 
But  men  they  have  grown  stmugely  eautioua. 
They  do  not  prefer  such  a  wife. 
And  this,  my  dear  friend,  is  the  reason 
Some  choose  to  live  single  their  life. 
-  -  - 
THE  COMING  HOLIDAYS. 
BY  BOSK  HKH.tNIUlI, 
nuulo  to  (lancii  iil  sight  of  so  ciinuliig  a  llltln 
“MalagaTurl  lt?,"  aa  a  pair  of  awcot  hands  iash- 
loned  tor  a  wee  girl,  oaoe  upon  a  lHue.  The  nia- 
uu-lala  reciulred  were  a  bit  of  card,  alx  cloves  and 
a  big  raisin  !  The  raMu  wtis  ilattenod  out  prop¬ 
erly,  the  round  heads  were  uipped  out  of  tour 
cloves  and  they  were  arranged  to  just  peep  out 
for  feet.  One  plump  clove  head  looked  forth 
where  a  head  ought  lo  he,  and  the  stem  of  llie 
sixth  improvised  a  short  but.  excellent  tall.  A  few 
wise  stitches  secured  It  to  the  card.  If  possible, 
tbls  excruciatingly  perfect  turtle  ouUlld  nature 
herself.  1  almost  looked  to  see  It  w rlggle ! 
There !  Not  another  word,  or  the  sago  editor 
will  reduce  this  article  to  ashes.  But  In  all  your  1 
gifts  and  happiness,  do  not  fall  to  remember  the 
poor  and.  If  possible,  add  mmu’tninii  toward  cheer¬ 
ing  their  cruel  lot. 
May  the  dear,  loving  Maviour,  hostow  upon  you 
each,  to  brighten  the  New  Year,  the  gifts  of  his 
peace,  “  which  pas.seth  iinderstanaing,"  and  may 
your  year  be  full  of  happy  surprises ! 
♦  »» 
WHIFFS  FROM  CANADA. 
iL 
Tuk  question  of  sulkible  gifts  Is  one  which 
puzzles  small  liOids  as  pyovokiugly  as  older  ones  u 
—at  least  It  dill  a  few  years  ago,  ami  an  eight-  p 
year-old  maldi.-n  who  brought  me  her  bundle  of  k 
coaddentlal  cures  this  morning,  assure.s  me  that  p 
tlme.s  are  not  changed,  p 
t;an  l  help  you  to  a  decision,  my  dear  ?  bet  me  y 
try.  We  will  commence  with  an  alr-castle.  Ma-  t 
Uirlal— plain  white  writing  paper,  silver  paper,  j 
hoop-wire,  mucilage,  line  white  thread,  lilvlde  t 
the  paper  Into  pieces  two  Inches  squaro,  fold  one  n 
over  evenly,  once,  which  will  give  you  a  tinysiieet  y 
two  Inches  long  and  iuiir  as  wide;  jiress  the  fold  y 
firmly ;  then,  commencing  at  the  hack,  c\it  It  lulu  i 
narrow  strips,  leaving  llicni  eoaueetod  tiy  one 
quarUT  of  an  Inch  on  each  mai-gln.  open  it  witii  ^ 
a  broad  knlfe-blado  and  wind  til's!  one  end  and  , 
then  the  otner  ancmt  a  smooth,  ronnd  sl  ick,  and  j 
glue  them  Wlih  a  band  of  silver  paper  one  quarter  ^ 
of  an  Inch  wide.  The  wooden  mold  should  be  j 
small  enough  to  let  Uio  white  paper  slightly  over-  j 
lap.  Forty-four  ot  these  “  castles”  will  be  re-  , 
qillred.  When  IlnlsUed,  by  means  of  a  delicate  , 
needle  secure  a  hue  Ihreiul  straight  across  the  , 
center  of  one  end,  looping  It  lo  the  little  cross- 
thread  of  the  next,  so  as  to  keep  them  aljOiit  one 
third  of  au  Inch  apart.  Make  a  eirelo  ot  the  hoop 
six  Inches  In  diameter  and  wind  It  with  silver 
paper;  then  tie  the  rows  on  at  even  ULstaneos, 
leaving  each  alternate  row  so  that  Its  widest  parts 
will  be  even  with  llte  narrowest  parts  of  the  oth- 
tu's.  .suspend  the  hoop  by  three  threads.  1  think 
you  will  agree  with  mo  that  this  Is  one  of  the 
pretllCHt  alr-caatlss  you  have  ever  seen. 
For  a  card-case,  cut  out  two  pieces  of  perforated 
card  three  Inches  long  by  two  wide  (larger  If  you 
like),  coiMillug  the  rows  to  have  them  e.Kactly 
even.  If  you  can  cut  them  out  in  fret-work,  to 
Imltoto  a  IttCe  pattern,  cross  or  heart,  so  much  the 
better;  but  If  not,  work  a  neat  Ixirder  and  center¬ 
piece  with  worsU'd,  silk  or  hair.  Lino  them  with 
bright  silk  or  ribbon  and  fimten  them  with  little 
cross  pieces  the  same  shade.  Four  pieces  of  rib¬ 
bon  half  un  lucli  wide  will  be  required  and  os  long 
as  acroas  the  card-ease,  allowing  for  seams.  Se¬ 
cure  the  ends  under  the  Uni  ug,  fasUmlug  the  op¬ 
posite  ead.s  of  the  straps  sewed  to  one  cover  to 
correspondUig  place.s  mi  the  other.  laively  imok- 
luarks  can  be  made  by  lining  perforaPal  card, 
cut  in  irct-work,  with  bright  bits  of  rlbliou  or  sil¬ 
ver  paper,  and.a  beautiful  photograph-caso  and 
book-marker  combined,  by  having  l.wo  plenes  of 
card  and  cutting  an  oval  from  one  for  the  picture. 
Ribbon  should  be  pUmod  between  them  and  one 
end  left  open  to  admit  the  photograph. 
For  a  pcn-wlper,  procure  bits  of  dark  cloth, 
scarlet  tlaunel  and  a  few  round,  black  beads.  Cut 
the  darkest  cloth  In  a  elrelo  three  inches  across 
and  pink  It.  Make  a  ilauncl  one  onc-Jialf  Inch 
smaller.  Fold  Into  a  half  circle  and  then  told 
three  times  over,  securing  the  edges  with  a  stitch. 
Make  the  lluuuol  one  in  the  same  way  and  draw 
it  into  the  center  ot  the  dark  one,  fafiteulng  It 
with  a  bead.  When  you  have  done  six,  arrange 
live  In  a  circle  and  catch  the  points  securely  with 
a  thread.  The  sixth  one  will  drop  In  and  fill  up 
the  top,  making  a  neat  Utile  pyramid  and  a  really 
useful  article. 
.A  lovely  picture-frame  can  be  made  In  alum, 
thus:— From  a  thin  board,  suitably  cut  wllb  a 
ledgo  at  the  back,  cut  an  oval  frame  two  Inches 
wide,  with  au  opening  to  suit  your  picture.  Wrap 
the  frame  with  white  candle-wick  or  strips  of 
twisted  cotton  and  crystallze,  using  the  propor¬ 
tion  of  one  pound  of  idum  to  a  quart  ot  water. 
The  color  may  be  varied  hy  adding  a  little  dye  to 
the  solution. 
Some  boy  may  delight  his  mother  or  sister  with 
a  supper-box.  it  should  be  lined  w  1th  still  paper, 
made  with  a  lid  and  strong  leather  hinges  and 
covered  with  carpet  or  cloth.  It  might  bo  a  Joint 
affair,  and  sister  might  embroider  the  cover. 
When  done,  it  wlU  look  Just  like  the  most  Inno¬ 
cent  footstool  imaginable. 
Please  do  not  forget  that  four-ycar-old’sdolUe 
would  be  delighted  with  a  pair  of  stockings— real, 
ones— white,  with  a  red  ring  around  top  and 
toe.  If  you  can  knit,  it  will  take  but  a  llltlo  time 
|.  to  do  them.  And  lour-y ear-old  hei-sell  might  be 
Holiday  Employment. 
THREE  boys  come  In  with  rosy  cheeks  and  bright 
eyes,  blowing  their  lingers  as  they  take  off  nilt- 
tens  and  cap.s.  *•  I  loll  you  It's  cold,”  says  Ja.mik, 
“  and  I  don’t  think  you'll  get  any  more  green, 
mother,  for  It’B  snowing  now.”  They  have  been 
to  the  woods  to  gaihei'  the  varied  Lycopodiums 
used  tor  Christmas  decorations,  and  every  siiare 
hour  the  girls  and  I  are  bu.sy  making  wrealhs, 
sprays,  crosses  and  other  davlccs  for  the  city 
market.  For  years  the  dealers  lu  Montreal  sent: 
ui  Boston  for  their  supply  of  the.se  evergreens, 
until  wo  olTorod  souie  of  native  growth,  which 
prove  equal  lo  the  Imported  article,  and  althoiigb 
keeping  our  llugei-a  busy  In  a  busy  sea-Kon,  sup¬ 
ply  the  girls  with  pocket  money  with  which  to 
purchase  I’Uriaimas  glfi-s,  and  suhscilbii  for  the 
KuHAf.  and  several  iimgiizlncs.  The  lialf-dayH 
thoycAuld  spare  from  home  lessons  and  Hatnr- 
days,  for  sovei'nl  weeks  pii.sl,  have  been  spent  In 
the  woods  where  I-ycopodlums  grow  In  abun¬ 
dance,  V^rlnglng  hfime  a  total  of  scvenil  cart¬ 
loads,  besides  biigs  or  c.uoice  sorts,  pigeon-berry 
and  other  low  evergreens,  with  some  ot  the  renns 
that  give  viirhity  lu  the  wreaths. 
AnolUor  source  of  Income  to  the  children  Is  the 
culture  of  evcrla.stlng  llovvers  and  ornamental 
graas<?H,  which  we  grow  annually  from  seeil,  pick¬ 
ing  every  second  or  third  day,  and  hanging  In 
small  bunches,  Hinlk  upward,  in  a  dark  closet  lo 
dry.  But  the  superior  and  highly-colored  llowers 
from  Germany  keep  ours  low  iu  the  market,  and 
wo  nnd  these  low-growing  evergreens,  that  need 
no  culUvullou,  pay  us  better  for  the  labor  of  ar¬ 
ranging. 
It  Is  true  that  our  rtngors  sometimes  ache  It  we 
alt  Bieadlly  at  the  work,  but  when  we  get  UrtHl 
ihere  are  plenty  of  other  dutlc.s  rc(|Utrlug  our 
attention,  and  wo  return  to  our  pretty  li  lmmliigs 
with  renewed  oneiTgy.  No  one  hut  the  children 
seeks  any  of  the  prollUOf  this  1’lirlstma.Hweavlng, 
and  U.  Is  particularly  the  pin  money  for  the  little 
girls,  who  have  not  so  many  opporthiillles  as  Ihclr 
brothers  tor  earning  extra  dollars. 
If  the  lime  over  comes  when  wo  can  send  our 
products  to  New  York  and  other  cities  lu  the 
mates,  without  the  duties  that  now  prevent,  1 
expect  the  rich  woods  around  us  will  yield  a 
wealth  of  ferns  and  autumn  leaves,  as  well  as 
Chrlhtmas  ovei-grceris,  that  will  find  readier  sale 
than  Can  bo  made  with  only  our  local  mai  ket  to 
supply.  For  rich  ness  of  colorl  ng  and  variety  thcro 
Is  nothing  that  can  surpass  the  beauty  of  our  Ca¬ 
nadian  wood.s  in  late  autumn,  and  I  ottcu  wonder 
that  travelers  In  search  of  varied  scenery  do  not 
more  frequently  visit  us  In  the  pleasant,  glow¬ 
ing  October  days. 
If  my  blots  are  useful  Iti  any  home  wli(«rc  farm¬ 
ers’  Ixiys  and  girls  long  lor  a  little  spare  cash  to 
purchase  what,  tho  Uartl-worklng  father  cannot 
afford,  I  shall  bo  amply  repaid,  and  1  say  to  them, 
“Go  to  the  woods,  for  f/«ve  Is  rich  material,  not 
only  for  tho  articles  I  have  meutlon,>(1,  but  for 
choice  rustic  w  ork— from  giiarlcd  sticks  and  many 
other  induhtrle.s  suitable  for  your  hands,  that  a 
little  thought  will  suggest— HO  that  you,  as  well 
!  as  our  happy  selves,  may  enjoy,  lu  preparation 
and  pleasant  toll,  a  turetasU^  ot  tdirlstmas.” 
*  Annie  L,  .Jack. 
^catling  for  ik  |oiing. 
STOCKING  SONG. 
ON  EVE. 
Wei.cowk,  Christinas,  heol  and  toe  ! 
Here  ws  wait  tlu'e  iu  a  row, 
Come,  Rood  Santa  Claus,  wo  bp|f— 
Fill  us  tightly,  foot  and  leg. 
Fill  us  nnicUly  ere  you  go. 
Fill  UB  till  we  oviTtlow. 
That’s  tho  way ;  and  leave  us  more 
Heaped  lu  idles  uihiu  the  floor. 
Idttle  foot  that  ran  all  day 
Twitch  iu  dreaius  of  merry  play ; 
Little  feet  that  Jumped  at  will 
Lie  all  tiiuk.  and  warm  aud  still. 
See  US  !|how  we  lightly  swing; 
Hear  lilt !  how  we  try  to  sing. 
Welcome,  <  ’liristmoB,  heel  and  toe  ! 
Come  and  till  mi  ere  you  go ! 
Hero  we  hang  till  some  one  uliubly 
Jumps  with  treasure  down  the  chimney. 
Bless  us  !  how  he’ll  tickle  us. 
Funny  old  St.  Nicholas  ! 
- - - 
LETTERS  FROM  BOYS  AND  GIRLS. 
EVERGREEN  DECORATIONS -HOW  THE  | 
CITY  IS  SUPPLIED. 
With  the  near  approach  of  Christinas,  the  side¬ 
walks  and  stalls  anniuil  Washington  Market  are 
lined  with  CUrl.stuia.i  trees  aud  docorallonR.  A 
visit  wmsmade  to  several  of  these  .stalls,  and  In 
conversation  wit  h  one  of  the  owners  our  reporter 
wa.H  told  that  the  season  Inis  not  yet  fairly  set  In, 
It  being  a  short  oue,  nor.  Lusting  more  than  two 
weeks.  ChrLsUnaa  week  Is  their  busiest  time. 
The  greater  part  of  those  trees  are  now  brought 
from  Maine,  Connecticut,  Penn.sylvaula  and  .New 
Jersey.  Many  women  lu  country  towns  Und  em¬ 
ployment  lu  tho  making  of  wreaths,  cj  osieH,  stai's, 
triangles  and  roping,  which  is  used  In  decorating. 
The  prices  arc  mucli  the  same  as  hiAt  year,  though 
the  dealers  complain  that  tho  demand  Is  nut  so 
large  os  lu  previous  years,  which  they  attribute 
to  the  hard  times.  A  live-root  tree  can  be  bought 
tor  25  cents ;  15  und  ic-foot  trees,  |t>  to  ;  a  tine 
I  23-foot  tree,  fi5  or  $20.  'I'he  crosses,  wreaths, 
I  stars  aud  tiianglos  aro  soiling  at  $1  a  dozen,  and 
roping  at  Vi  “ud  3  cents  a  yard.  The  standing 
pine,  laurel  aud  cedar  wreaths,  which  are  very 
pretty,  are  also  selling  at  f  l  a  dozen.  The  steamer 
which  arrives  every  morning  from  .Matawau,  Key- 
1  port  aud  other  places,  carries  large  quantities  of 
these  greens. 
From  our  Colonial  Friend. 
DEAR  Cochins  Well,  boys,  I  see  the  girls  have 
ar  jused  you  at  last.  I  wiw  beginning  to  be  afraid 
you  were  going  to  lot  them  have  the  whip  hand 
over  yon,  but  1  was  well  pleased  to  see  you  wore 
not  going  to  endure  their  conceit  any  longer. 
Come,  boj  s,  I  am  going  to  cullsL  against  them. 
I  think  I  he.v  ought  to  learn  how  to  .speak  to  their 
betters.  I  like  Yor  no  linrroit’s  lottors  very  mucli, 
and  If  we  had  a  few  more  storms  like  the  last 
one,  wo  would  hoou  have  the  girls  overpowered. 
I  agree  with  Y.  E.  about  piecing  quilts.  What  Is 
Urn  use  of  toai  Ing  up  good  elotb  for  the  purpo.se  of 
sowing  It  Uigelher  again?  1  suppose  they  think 
It  will  keep  Ihem  out  of  ml.sehlef.  if  It  does,  I 
think  llKiJ.K  H.  K.  ought  bi  plecw  half  a  dozen 
qullU  to  keep  her  temper  down.  Do  write,  wriie 
again,  Bkijj:,  aud  Ictus  huvo  another  of  your  pre- 
clou.H  epistles.  Well,  t^ouslns,  1  shall  I'atlguo  you 
In  going  on  in  this  way,  so  l  will  give  you  a  brli;f 
(leseriptloii  of  tho  crops  lu  this  vicinity— Indeed 
they  might  not  be  called  crops  at  all.  Wheat 
never  ylelduil  so  poorly  as  It  did  this  year,  aud  all 
other  grains  are  the  same  way.  A  largo  part  of 
the  grain  lielug  gras.s  seed,  I  think  tho  fowls  will 
tare  well  this  winter.  We  have  cold  weather 
here  now,  and  have  not  had  sleighing  until  two  or 
three  days  ago.— It.  H.  C.,  0/i(.,  con, 
A  Duet. 
Dkak  ItCHii.  Friends  :— Wo  have  hew  reading 
the  letters  from  tlie  girls  and  boys,  and  thought 
we  would  write  one,  too.  Vouno  Kuitor  thinks 
there  is  no  use  lu  eutllng  up  calico  Just  tor  the 
funofsewlnglttogctlieragaln.  If  he  over  marries 
aud  his  wife  thinks  as  ho  does  about  It,  we  pity 
thorn  both !  Wo  tliluk  Cousin  Gvesv  Bkli.e  Is 
about  right  lu  regard  In  pli?clng  quilts.  We  like 
Youso  AuTisT’s  letter  and  would  like  to  conospoiul 
with  her,  It  agreeable.  We  have  our  Ideas  about 
YOUNO  B.vou,  STORM,  and  Younu  Tom,  but  we  will 
not  expre.ss  tbem,  os  there  Inns  hecu  enough  said 
on  the  subject,  yet  wc  would  Uko  to  hear  from 
them  once  more.  ' 
Now,  we  will  tell  you  something  about  ottr- 
selves,  provided  you  would  llko  to  hoar.  We  are 
farmers'  daughters,  and  are  not  ashamed  to  own 
It.  We  go  to  the  same  school  and  pursue  tho 
same  studies.  We  are  nut  sLsU'rs.  <Jue  of  u.s  ha.s 
an  organ  aud  the  other  a  piano,  and  wo  can  play 
on  either.  We  can  milk  u  cow  or  d rive  a  horse. 
Just  u-s  occasion  may  require.  Wo  iireof  tho  same 
age  aud  hlglit,  and  weigh  ls.5  lbs.  each.  We  will 
now  close.  Hoping  to  see  this  in  print,  we  re¬ 
main,  Fakmku.4’  Dauijuteius, 
Monroe  Still  Alive. 
Dk.vr  Cousins:—!  have  read  the  letter.sof  the 
CouHlus  (or  some  time,  and  I  enjoy  them  very 
much,  but  1  have  never  written  unUl  now.  As  all 
are  welcome,  I  make  no  apology  for  Intruding 
Into  tho  "magic  circle.”  I  think  D.  B.  talks 
pretty  "big”  for  a  cousin,  but  1  llko  her  plan  of 
ivsklng  and  answering  questlotia,  and  would  sug¬ 
gest  that.ull  questions  should  be.  de-slgued  to  be  of 
use  to  us,  eJjfo  they  will  be.  but  a  mere  ptisllme.  1 
would  like  to  propose  the  following:  What  wu.stho 
name  and  daUiOt  the  prlntuig  of  tho  nrstwork 
ever  printed  ?  I  should  supiKisc  the  hottest  Uhvn 
In  America  to  be  .Macapa,  belug  un  the  wiuator, 
at  the  mouth  of  the  Amazon,  tiulio  (Fquiulor)  Is 
also  on  the  equator,  but  high  on  the  inountaln, 
and  hence  cooler  than  .Macapa.  isn’t  Ai.ick  too 
hard  on  You.so  ICuitok,  for  calling  his  paper  a 
“sprightly  sheet?”  Not  having  a  copy  to  Judge 
from,  1  am  sure  i  should  llko  to  see  one,  I  have 
done  eonshlerahle  In  the  line  of  printing,  but 
neverstavtedanewspaper.— w.  b. 
done  ?  I  have  one  sister  aud  no  brothers.  I  am 
lltteeii  years  of  age,  and  live  feel  eight  luehes  In 
hlght.  My  sister  Is  tour  years  younger.— M  .iv , 
.Hhfo/i,  .V.  I'. 
[Regarding  faun  work,  Uncle  Truk  thinks  It 
highly  proper  that  tho  girls  should  know  how  to 
do,  and  do  iw  much  ot  It  us  l3  oon.Hlstent  with 
health  aud  inodosty.] 
A  Wl9h  that  Should  Iba  Gratified. 
DEAR  KuR.vn :— 1  am  not  going  to  tell  you  about 
my  complexion,  except  that  I  have  got  oue.  I 
live  on  a  farm,  as  most  of  the  girls  that  write  to 
you  do.  I  like  to  draw,  and  expect  to  take  lessons 
next  suinmer  If  nothing  happens  to  prevent,  and 
I  hope  some  time  to  become  an  artist.  I  have  a 
piano,  and  I  have  taken  a  few  lessons,  but  I  don’t 
like  to  practice,  and  It  ts  evtdotil  that  I  shan’t  be 
a  very  great  musician.  I  gnl,  a  great  many  au¬ 
tumn  loaves  last  (all,  I  prefw  them  lu  hooks,  and 
when  they  get  perfei'lly  dry  I  ta-ki.^  them  out  of 
the  books  and  varnish  them  with  common  var¬ 
nish.  1  wish  that  soma,  ot  tbo  girls  would  tnll  me 
of  sometUlng  m  make  for  holiday  presents.— Nei.- 
I.IE  K.  W.,  Ii'iilrhim'ii,  I’l, 
Canada  la  Heard  From. 
I  i.0Nn  have  thought  1  would  like  to  be  among 
the  Cousins,  so  1  have  made  a  start.  1  am  eleven 
years  old.  I  go  to  school,  and  like  It  very  much. 
I  read  In  tho  'rhlrd  Reader  and  learn  Geography, 
Arithmetic  and  Grammar.  I  have  live  brothers 
and  two  sisters.  My  father  takes  tho  Rural. 
,  Mother  Is  trying  Lo  get  another  person  to  suh- 
^  scribe  with  her;  she  would  so  llko  t.o  got  the 
I  plants  the  Kdltor  ho  kindly  offered.  Wo  havo  a 
1  very  [irotty  garden.  We  took  the  ilrst  prize  at 
tho  County  show  this  year  on  garden  vegetables. 
’  This  Is  my  Ilrst  attempt.— Amanda  M.  B.,  nullcor- 
j.  (on,  Out. _ _ 
>  An  Editor’a  Chick. 
Dear  Sir:— 1  thought  I  would  write  you  a  few 
*  Uuos.  I  am  a  girl  (ou'rteon  years  old.  1  go  lo  day 
*  school  and  Sunday  school.  I  have,  a  very  nice 
^  tcaelier.  My  papa  Is  tho  editor  ;ind  publisher  of 
‘  the  Times.  Mymaiiimaha3agrecnhou.se:  Ills 
*  looking  very  well.  If  you  do  not  think  onr  llireo 
'  loiters  too  bad,  we  should  llko  to  see  them  In 
“  print.  Wo  want  to  surprlso  our  parents  and 
■  friends.  We  have  not  seen  any  from  this  place, 
“  aud  thought  wo  would  try,  I'loase  print  this.  I 
^  leiualii,  your  trloiid— .Ma.mik  c.  .MEKRin’. 
From  Lottie  King. 
Dear  Mr.  Knrrou:— 1  wa.s  so  iihcisrd  to  see  my 
letter  prliitod  that  1  tUougUt  1  would  wrlto  ugalu 
I  am  Very  mucli  Interested  lu  tho  letters  lo  the 
Rural;  1  read  tluuu  tho  Ilrst  Uilug.  Thougli  I 
am  very  small,  I  am  piecing  a  bod  quilt  too,  like 
MAv  Bki.lk  li.  1  study  every  day,  and  like  It  very 
much,  I  am  glad  to  see  tho  letter  from  Mary  a. 
s.  Your  little  trloiid— Lori'iE  Kino. 
From  C.  L. 
Dear  Mr.  Editor;  — i  thought  that  I  would 
write  you  a  few  lines.  I  am  a  llttlo  girl  eleven 
years  old.  I  go  to  Sunday  school  aud  church.  I 
think  a  good  deal  of  my  Sunday  school.  Good-by, 
ILLUSTRATED  REBUS. 
mm 
0 
From  a  Western  New  York  Girl. 
Dear  Rural:— I  thought  It  would  not  be  In¬ 
truding,  It  I  u  rote  a  few  lines  for  your  valuable 
paper,  as  I  am  one  of  your  many  readers.  I  am  a 
farmer’s  daughter,  and  live  on  a  farm.  I  can  do 
housework,  cut  and  make  almost  any  garment, 
sew  with  the  sowing  machine  and  piece  bed 
quilts.  I  havo  made  one  called  the  “beggar’s 
([ullt,”  which  contains  (}.50  pieces,  no  two  allkw.  I 
collected,  pieced  and  completed  It  lu  six  weexA 
1  can  mow  with  tho  mowing  machine,  drive  a 
wheel  rake,  drag,  aud  harness  a  horse.  Now  1 
wish  to  ask  Uncle  True  It  he  consldera  It  im¬ 
proper  tor  girls  lo  know  how  tarm  work  should  be 
Answer  In  two  weeks. 
- -  - - 
MISCELLANEOUS  ENIGMA. 
I  AM  composed  of  3‘Z  letters : 
My  15,  5, 2.1,  2?  a  part  of  the  human  frame. 
Aly  It,  s,  ‘2,  5,  ;l  a  range  of  raouutaliisl u  Europe. 
My  ’i.’i,  1!'.  31,  21, 13  essential  to  vitality. 
My  IT,  15,  2.4  a  pronoun. 
.My  21,  T.  V2,  '.w  oftA-n  causes  great  dcslnictlon. 
My  1,  rt,  27,  11,  ‘-'9,  20  an  article  of  eomiuon  mse  la 
every  humsohohL 
My  »,  5, 22,  1, 30  used  by  huulcra  In  Houth  America. 
.My  IS,  20,  10  iL4od  by  some  musicians. 
My  14, 10,  20  a  number. 
My  whole  Is  au  ancient  proverb. 
3  Sf"  Answer  I n  two  weeks.  3. 
■  ♦♦»  ■■■- 
DECAPITATIONS. 
— 
1.  bkhkau  a  part  of  the  human  system,  and 
leave  a  conj  unci, Ion. 
2.  An  anUhal,  and  leave  a  pleasant  beverage. 
3.  A  flying  animal,  and  leave  a  preposition. 
4.  What  we  often  see  by  the  roadside,  and  leave 
a  loathsome  lUsease. 
5.  Part  Of  an  apple,  and  leave  a  mineral  sub¬ 
stance, 
tiy~  Answer  lu  two  weeks.  u.  ! 
- - •- 
PUZZLER  ANSWERS.-Doc.  16. 
ilLUSTRATED  llEROA.  —  Prstioblug  lu  a  sileiit  dis- 
courso  is  a  portiou  of  our  dally  extierlsncc. 
Miscellaneous  Enioma.— "0  Liberty,  how  many 
crimes  are  euuiuiilted  iu  thy  uame  ?"  a  - 
Geooraphical  KNioiiA.— Thou  slialt  not  steal.  ^1 
