This water in the eoII la removed by drainage 
and this process la one of the most Important In 
the art or cultivating the soli, it has made pleas¬ 
ant, healthful and fruitful flelds, or offensive, un¬ 
wholesome and useless swamps and marshes; ithas 
doubled and trebled the yield of thousands of 
flelda, It has enriched the farmers who have ap 
plied It to their lands, and it has been the means 
of producing food for thousands of Industrious 
workers who without It. would have lacked the 
means to live, 
There Is another Injurious effect which Is pro¬ 
duced by water In the soli which should 
be mentioned. Where water exists, air cannot 
go. Let us then consider for a moment the con¬ 
dition of soil that is filled with water and that 
of one which is free from It at the opening of 
Spring, The snow has disappeared; the beams 
of the sun cheer the glad soil; the warm breath 
of Spring come3 from the South and blows upon 
the earth; but the soil fllled with water to the 
surface, or very nearly, receives no warmth, the 
sun’s heat is lost and wasted upon it. for no heat 
can penetrate the dense mass of sodden earth and 
no warm air can enter ltB pores. It remains cold, 
and no evidence of life springs from It. But the 
soli which is drained has parted with Its water; 
this has sunk down Into the drains or the under 
soil and has flowed away. As the water sinks 
down the warm air rushes in* to take Its place; 
the sun beams upon the Boll and its beat goes 
down into and warms It; the roots of the plants 
are awakened from their winters sleep; they drink 
in the warm air and absorb the heat of the sun. 
With a suddenness unknown In other climates 
and countries than ours, vegetation bursts Into 
life with a bound, and we exclaim as we look 
around, amazed at the surprising change, ‘‘Summer 
is come I" Yes, summer to the industrious skillful 
farmer who may bring out bia plow and turn over 
his drained Helds; but it is still Winter to the 
honored Friend, and yet have never brought Him 
such a gift. But 1 must conclude my story. We 
Bang hymns and played games until midnight. I 
remained on the coast several years, and was re¬ 
joiced to see my Christmas tree bear much good 
fruit. A unite C. E. T. 
Arthabaskavme, P, q. 
THE HIKED SQTJIKREL 
THE PABABLE OF THE TALENTS 
A lion to the squirrel Eiud: 
“ Work faithfully for me, 
And when your task iB done, my friend. 
Rewarded you shall be 
With barrellul of finest nuts fresh from 
My own nut tree." 
" My lion king," the squirrel said," to thie 
I do agree." 
The squirrel toiled both day and night 
Quite faithful to his hire; 
So hungry and bo faint, sometimes, 
He thought he must expire. 
But still he kert his courage up, and tugged 
With mi/ht and main. 
“Hownice the nuts will taste,"he thought, 
“ When X my barrel gaiu." 
At last, when ho was nearly dead. 
And thin, and old and gray. 
Quoth lion; " There’s no more hard work 
You’re fit to do. I’ll pay.” 
A barrelful of nuts he gave—ripe, rich. 
And big, but oh! 
The squirrel’s tears ran down hie cheeks: 
He’d loet his teeth, you know. 
LETTERS FROM THE COUSINS 
Uncle Mabk and Rural Cousins:—I will now 
report my success and failures with the seed sent 
me from the Rural. The okra didn’t come up at 
all. I was sorry, but fortunately had plenty with¬ 
out It. The Surprise muskmeton did not do well; 
I didn’t get one good one. They were all faulty, 
l suppose the soli did not suit them. The portu- 
lacas were wonderfully beautiful; every morning 
there would be a perfect boquet of bright colors. 
1 have saved a great many seeds from them. I 
only had two or three plants of phlox to bloom, 
butwehavea very large bunch lu the garden,which 
Is very beautiful. I only had one plant, or Double 
China pink. The mignonette were very sweet, but 
Just as soon as they bloomed they all died, until 1 
only had one plant living, when one morning I 
found It covered with something looking like red 
spiders. 1 poured some warm soap-suds on lt> 
which kUled the insects. I am going to try to bet¬ 
ter prepare for my flowers next year. 1 think 
Bertha Estella would be a pretty double name for 
Mary Walker’s little sister. Stella would be a 
pretty single name. Loupie 8. 
Griffin, Ga. 
Dear Uncle Mark I have thought for some 
time that I would write to you, to see if you would 
let me Join your club. I am a farmer’s daughter 
and have a garden of my own to cultivate ar.d T 
would be pleased to receive some seeds. 1 have 
many pets, three cats, Frank, Tilly and Pearl; a 
large black dog named Rover, and a canary bird 
named Charley, Rover can jump through a hoop 
as nicely as a circus performer. We have a great 
many flowers In the summer. At the town 
fair here this fall our flowers took the second pre¬ 
mium, we mean to get the flrst premium next 
year. Your affectionate niece, 
Sullivan Co., N. Y. Mary E. Carrier. 
lor which we are held accountable? First, God 
has endued us with our natural powers. These 
are high trusts, for which we shall be reckened 
with, according to our means and opportunities 
of employing them, according as their strength or 
feebleness may be. There are some with facul¬ 
ties of a high order; master-spirits, who by their 
powers of reasoning, or force of eloquence, can 
sway the masses either for good or evil. Upon 
such ob these there rests a heavy responsibility." 
“ To whom much is given, of him shall much be 
required.” 
There Is, again, the responsibility arising out of 
our position In life, and the Influence It gives; our 
worldly circumstances, our educat ion, our oppor¬ 
tunities of usefulness. Above all, there is the re¬ 
sponsibility arising out of the dispensation un¬ 
der which we live, in gospel times and with gos¬ 
pel privileges. Numerous, Indeed, are the gilts 
bestowed upon all, and the graces bestowed upon 
some, but ever upon the stewardship, and this, 
whether we regard our natural life or our rell- 
lou9 privileges. Think of our services and sacra¬ 
ments ordained by Christ hlmBelf; the written 
word and a living ministry. •• warning every man," 
says the apostle, “ and teaching every man, that 
we may present every man perfect in ChrlBt 
Jesus." 
now should not this urge us to the right Im¬ 
provement ot our several trusts, the wise employ¬ 
ment of the talents which God may have given us, 
knowing that to abuse, or not rightly to use them, 
will constitute a crime for wliloh we have to give, 
a reckoning. Aud yet, aa with the servants In the 
parable, some traded more or less diligently and 
gained other talents, while some hid theirs In a 
napkin and gained nothing; so among tne pro¬ 
fessed followers of Christ some are diligent and 
Improve their opportunities, others are slothful, 
negligent, and do nothing for their aosent Lord. 
You see, then, what It Is that constitutes our 
stewardship, and In wliat our responsibility con¬ 
sists. Not ministers and teacheis only, but we all 
are stewards when wo consider our natural facul¬ 
ties; we are stewards when we consider our so¬ 
cial advantages, our domestic blessings, and reli¬ 
gious privileges, and are accountable to God for 
all. 
We have now to notice the special qualities 
which are required In the condition of a steward 
and they are two, fldelliy and wisdom. “ Who,” 
said the Savior, "Is that faithful and wise stew¬ 
ard, whom his lord shall make ruler over his 
household?" The practical question is, How are 
these qualities to be realized ? 
Well, to be faithful as a steward In things of 
this world one must ascertain what are the duties 
of his calling. To do right In any office Ittssneces¬ 
sary that we have a correct knowledge of our 
work, the object and scope of It. It is absurd for 
a man to undertake a work of which he knows 
little or nothing. 
Now, If this be true In earthly callings, how 
much more in things spiritual. It therefore be¬ 
comes a flrBt duty of the Christian to know what 
Is the will ot God, that we may know what our 
duty is: and secondly, we should ask of God that 
He would give us guidance, grace and wisdom, that 
we may do In a way and in a spirit well-pleasing 
In Ills sight. 
Again, aa good stewards we must bring to His 
service such feelings of attachment to our Master 
aud such love ror His work as will show that we 
are worthy depositories of the trust counded to us. 
And many are the considerations why we should 
cuerlsh such feelings. From Infancy He has 
crowned us with mercleBand loving kindnesses. 
Ho has sent ills Son, His only begotten Son, to re¬ 
deem us from sin and Its consequences; and has 
opened to us the prospect ot a glorious Immortality 
beyond the grave. 
Fortner, aa good stewards we must not only 
know what is our duty; we must do It. a mere 
knowledge of the Master’s will, or a mere profes¬ 
sion ot attachment to His person, however ardent, 
will not do. Something more Is needed; there 
must be diligent working. Christianity is not 
merely a creed, It Is a power; not a system of be¬ 
lter, but a habit of work. This It Is which marks 
a knowledge that la practical, a genuine faith. 
There can be no real lalth In the heart where there 
Is no irult brought forth In the life. “ I must be 
about my Father sbusiness,” said Christ; “I must 
do the work of Him that sent Me,” Let this be 
our resolve: “ 1 muBt he about my Father’s busi¬ 
ness,” •' I must do the work of Him that sent me.” 
FARMING FOR B0Y8 AND GIRLS.—NO. 8 
HENRY STEWART. 
Drain tog. 
Plants cannot live without water; but neither 
can they live In an excess of water. When the 
soil is In a right condition of moisture plants and 
crops thrive. When the soli is too much fllled with 
water the plants become sickly, the leaves turn 
yellow and drop from the stems, because they are 
drowned. They are drowned. In fact, just as muoh 
as any animal that needs air to breathe Is drowned 
and dies when plunged into the water; for plants 
need atr as well a9 animals, and if the roots of a 
plant are covered up with water they can get no 
atr, because the water drives the air out of the boII, 
and being heavier than the air, takes Its place. 
To test the presence of water in the soil, one may 
dig a small hole, as shown at, A, figure 21 ; if the 
water rises In the bole to within a foot of the sur¬ 
face, as shown by the lines lathe open space, one 
may be sure that the water stands at the same 
hlght all through the sou. Thl3 Is evident to every 
person, young or old; and the fact depends upon a 
law of hydrostatics, which is that branch of sci¬ 
ence which relates to the pressure and movements 
ot water aud other liquids. This law Is, that 
liquids when at rest always preserve an even, level 
surface. This Is shown more plainly by the Illus¬ 
tration B, flgure 21, of a bent pipe, in which, when 
Dear Uncle Mark I have often thought 1 
would ask you to let me become a member of the 
Horticultural Club. 1 am seven years old, I go to 
school most or the time. I have a garden In which 
i raise flowers. I hope you will send me some 
seeds. I do not grow many kinds but they are 
generally very nice. Yours, 
Beaver Co., Pa. Bessie McCloud. 
CHRISTMAS AWAY UP NORTH, 
To The Horticultural Club I often read In 
the Rural letters from the nephews and nieces. 
I am an auntie and very fond of all little nephe ws 
and nleoes. 1 am sure that you will be glad to 
get a letter from an auntie who has spent sev¬ 
eral winters far north, on one of the most dreary, 
ice bound shores of America. I went there to 
teach school, and the first time I saw the rough- 
looking, big boys ot whom X was to take charge, 
my heart failed me. Most of them were half- 
breed : that Is, one of the parents being Indians. 
But love works wonders; 1 soon won their regard, 
and found my work of teaching them a groat 
pleasure. 
My school-children informed me that It was 
customary to give the teacher a "fling” they call 
It, on their birthday, I Inquired and found 
that they usually had a dance with cakes and 
rum, and every one who came to the dance paid 
a shilling in money or goodB, all of which was 
given to the teacher. I told them that 1 had a 
dear friend whose birthday I wished they would 
join me In celebrating. They listened with the 
greatest attention while I told them how lich 
this friend was, and that He loved little children, 
and would be so glad to have them keep U1 b birth¬ 
day. X said, ** Every one of you can bring him a 
gift, which will please that dear friend much. 
Thatis your love.” 
Then I said, “I suppose, ohtldren, you know all 
about Christ-mas?” “ou, yes I" they replied, 
"isthat the fellow you are speaking of? Why, 
when he went away from the coast he was very 
poor. And do you know him ? He knows us very 
well. Many a funny story he told us.” It was 
my turn to be astonished. Was It possible that 
these children had never heard anything about 
that moat beautiful day—Christ-mas?" 
It was Just eight days to that honored birthday, 
and my scholars joined me heartily in making 
preparations to celebrate It. The boys were busy 
every evening cutting evergreens for us to make 
Into wreaths and to festoon round the school¬ 
room. The girls and 1 made cakes, and I was the 
lucky possessor of a barrel of appies. 
It was 10 o’clock the night before Ohrlsmas Eve 
before I found time to go to the woods to get that 
tree which you all know about, but which was a 
myBtery to the children of this loe-bound coast. 
Off we started at 10 o’clock, teacher, boys and 
girls, to the number of twenty-five. It was cold, 
but the moon was very bright. Only those who 
ha ve been In the far North in winter have seen the 
moon Bhtne in all its glory, and the aurora-borealis 
adding Its light making the scene magnlttcent be¬ 
yond description. We had to hoggins with dogs 
attached to them, and snow-shoes ror the bush. 
We brought home a goodly tree, and alao a quan¬ 
tity of mountaln-aah berries to deck the ever¬ 
greens with. 
By Beven o’clock Christmas Eve all was ready, 
the tree being loaded with rosy apples and pres¬ 
ents, for every one of my scholars had an apple 
and a present. The tree was lighted with bits of 
tallow candles stuck on every branch. I had in¬ 
vited the parents, so the school-house was crowd¬ 
ed. All were fllled with admiration, and while I 
told them of the wonderful love of Him whose 
birthday we were celebrating, and what that 
Christ had done for us all, that rough crowd kept 
a solemn silence. I asked the children if they had 
"prepared a gift for that best of Friends.” One 
of my scholars answered, “ You told us He wanted 
our love.” Xsatd, •< Yes; will you give Him your 
best love?” And they all pledged their love and 
obedience to Him who had come into this world to 
die for them. And that night I lay awake, think¬ 
ing with grief of how many of my little nephews 
and nieces, who know all about that mueh-to-be- 
Dear Uncle Mark My father takes the Rural 
and we like it very well. I would like to Join your 
club If you would take me. My mother has prom¬ 
ised me a pteoe or ground to plant with flowers, 
and I hope you will not forget me when you dis¬ 
tribute your Beeds. Your nephew, J. G. Lang, 
Dutchess Co., N. Y. 
HIDDEN DANCES 
1. Is the tree leafless? 
2 . He sprang from arch to arch. 
3. Sara, bandoline ruins the hair. 
4 . You must not poke a lire. 
5. Noah, or ** N. P.," I perceived. 
6 . Asrnln Uethla was a Dane. 
7. Mrs. F , I gave them all 1 had. 
8 . At the ball Kttie fainted. 
9 . E wait zinced my walls. 
10 . I met the squad, Xtlllea. 
11. Will wire do, Walter? 
12 . WbatalegErmanlias! 
13. Can candy be made at home? 
14. In Donnegal Lopez too sick. 
15. When you get tne lan, Dan, go home at once. 
10 . In yonder cot ill Ion dwells. 
17. Do move quick, Stephen, 
is. Pascho, ’tie changed now. 
19. Watch the lance It. sends out. 
zsr Answer in two weeks. Little One. 
FTQ. 31. 
water is poured into one part of it. the water rises 
in the other part to precisely the same level. 
It is on this law that the action and presence of 
springs depend; for a spring bursting out of the 
ground, or the water rlslrg in a welL Ls simply the 
effort of the escaping water to rise to the level of 
Its source, which may be at a distance. So, when 
the hole la dug in the soil, the hlght to which the 
water rises In it is exactly the same as that to 
which the water lies in the surrounding soil. This 
line is called the water-table, which means In 
other words, the water surface below the soli, and 
this water-table Is represented at A, flgure 21, by 
the dotted Une above the aarker shading. The 
darker shading represents the wet soil and the 
lighter s .adlng the dry soil, if a crop should be 
planted m a soli fllled with water to this extent, 
the roots will descend until they reach the water, 
when they will stop growing, and as they stop, the 
plants stop, because the roots are the mouths of 
the plants, so to speak, and when they stop the 
gathering of food the plants starve and grow no 
more, indeed, the facts are even worse than this, 
for the following reason : There la another law of 
hydrostatics, which is, that water will rise above 
Its general level in narrow tubes, as shown at C. 
This is called capillary attraction, because the 
narrow tubes may be likened to hairs. The word 
Is derived from the Latin oaplllus, a hair, and cap¬ 
illar is. belonging to a hair. 
The same action takes olace in sand or loose 
soil because the spaces between the grains of sand 
act precisely as small tubes and so the water 
rises in these spaces. A sponge or a piece of loaf 
sugar sucks up water in the same way. Thus 
the water rises higher in the soil than In the hole 
and may even reach very near the surface at a 
short distance from the hole; as seen at B, where 
the water table Is seen to be lowered eonsldera- 
bly by the hole dug in the soil 
CR0S8W0RD ENIGMA 
In knight, but not lu earl, 
in diamond, but not lu pearl. 
In fierce, but not in wild. 
In strong, but not In mild. 
In pennon, but not In flag. 
In boast, but not In brag. 
In grind, but not In bray. 
In brick, but not In clay. 
Whole Is consecrated to sacred uses. 
C3T- Answer In two weekB. 
SQUARE WORD 
Something very small. 
A short article. 
A limited time. 
A girl’s name. 
r*” Answer in two weeks. 
PUZZLER ANSWERS—DEC. 11 
Numerical Enigma.—E nergy is the price of sue- 
ceas. 
Square Word.— 
MARL 
AREA 
READ 
LADE 
Verbal Charades. — Nosegay. — M. M’D (Good- 
rich), a lunatic (Hill End). R. 1>. (Colly Blue) o H 
(Stanmore), J C (Hill End), R M. (Nandewa), Public 
Kchoolcoy (Annidale), A. N, (Den). 
Hiddrn Bu8iNr.gR Men.— 1. Potter; 2. baker; 3. gad- 
nler; 4 mason, 5 tailor; ti. cooper;7. ahoemaker• 8 
blacksmith; 8. bricklayer, 10, painter; 11. tlnuer; 12. 
oanmaker; IS tinker; 14. cobbler; 15, huckster; lrt 
l'U, ntar i IS* carpenter; 19. Jeweler; 20 . lock, 
ginlth;21. cabinet-maker; 22. undertaker; 22. uDhol. 
»terer;S4. merchant ,26. grocer. 
No one ever designed injury to another but at 
the same time he did a much greater to himself.— 
Bishop Butler, 
No sense In having sickness In the family if you 
will use Hop Bitters tn time. Ask those who 
know 
