JUNE H 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
385 
©omcstir (frmwrng. 
CONDUCTED BY EMILY MAPLE. 
CONCERNING HOUSE-HOLD HELPS. 
In Two Papers, 
MARY WAGBB-FISHER. 
A feav years ago, an English family settled upon 
a worn-out Virginia estate, and one bright mem¬ 
ber of it has written a book which describes, In a 
most amusing and dollghtrul way, the experiences 
they had among the “ P. F. v*a-” Among their 
perplexities and difficulties was a continual 
trouble in getting efficient “ help,” and the author 
of this racy book confesses that when she was 
fairly worn out with hard work, she found some 
“comfort" in the iact that they had not settled 
“Out West ” where the wives of farmers have such 
a hard time. She thought It enough to make 
one’s heart ache, to read of the wretched slavery 
of the Western settlera’ wives, and she quoted 
what one woman had written to an Eastern pa¬ 
per, the substance of which was that her husband 
owned $00 acres of land In Iowa; had reaper, 
mower, horse rake and various other more or less 
costly labor-saving farm Implements. All harvest 
time ntne men were employed. The woman who 
was wife, and the mother of live children, one a 
baoe m armB, was expected to have breakfast, on 
the table ready for this party of workmen before 
sunrise. At. night she helped in the milking of 
nine cows—the baby often crying in her lap dur¬ 
ing the task. She had butter to make and only a 
refractory dog t.o help her with the churning, she 
had the sour milk to carry to the pigs ; to make 
and mend; wash and starch and Iron; wash, dress 
and feed the children; pick, can, dry or otherwise 
preserve fruit for Winter use; cook three full 
meals dally, with a luncheon to bo sent to the 
Held, constituted her regular work. The one 
thing that seemed to her meat grievous, was lug¬ 
ging the sour milk from the cellar to the pig-pen. 
One day aa she was dishing the dinner with one 
hand, baby balng on the other arm, she asked one 
of the hands, who was resting in the porch, to 
fetch a bucket of water from the spring, and was 
reproved by her husband for so doing. That re¬ 
proof was a tlnal straw to break lxer heart, U not 
her back, aud she found a doltful sort of relief in 
writing to an Eastern newspaper, detailing her 
trials, and asking what she ought to do. 
Whether this case should be regarded aa excep¬ 
tional, the many Western readers of the Rural 
can decide for themselves. But it is unquestion¬ 
ably true, that farmers' wives, as a rule, both East 
and West, have too heavy a burden to carry ; that 
they break down under U, often die, and the “ be¬ 
reaved” larmers console themselves with wife 
number two. 
That these worked-to-death women are so 
hedged In by circumstances as not to see how they 
can do otherwise than actually to work the breath 
out of their bodies, la easily enough understood 
by anyone who has had any experience In atmn.gr 
circumstances. There stems to be so muoh that 
will go to W88te ir the mother and wife does not 
look after everything and the children at all 
events, must be taken care of, so that there are a 
hundred duties pulling the strings lrom aa many 
directions, and the lalthlul, conscientious help¬ 
meet Is used up In the turmoil of manual labor 
that has an altogether,Inadequate amount of rest 
and oi compensation In It. 
I know perlectly well the self-control and the 
strength or will required to let things go undone, 
and the one lesson that 1 have lound above all les¬ 
sons the hardest to learn, Is to let every earthly 
thing go to destruction aod waste rather than to 
allow myself to be wasted ; that Is, to regard my 
health and physical welfare of more Importance 
than any amount Of money, or anything thatiepre- 
sents money, or that can be procured for money, 
1 say this in order to convince such women aa may 
read this, and whose llve3 seem to demand too 
much of them, that l fully understand and appre¬ 
ciate their circumstances, and that I kuow talking 
Is one thing aud doing is altogether another. 
In the hrst place It is always possible to let 
some things go undone, the doing of which at 
first appears to be absolutely necessary. Iu an¬ 
other place, it Is by no means essential that the 
“ help” for the house should consist of the female 
gender. A smart young man to do housework la 
often w orth two women, and there’s not a thing 
connected with housework that a man can’t do 
just aa well as a woman, If he only will set himself 
about It, It Is notan uncommon thing in Euro¬ 
pean hotels for the entire service to consist of men. 
At first It seemed to me odd for a man to do my 
chamber work, but I very soon became accus¬ 
tomed to it, he did everything so quietly and 
deftly and without comment. According to the 
latest census, there are S98.29S more men In this 
country than women, and this predomlnence of 
the male sex exists In 30 States and Territories 
the excess of males being largest m the Western 
States, and In the State of lowa, where the wo¬ 
man lived who had the hardihood to ask a hired 
man to bring a bucket of water, there are 100,000 
males to 91,630 females. These are facts which no 
one can well dispute, and where there ure so 
many more men than women, there ought to be no 
reason why women should be so overworked, pro¬ 
viding this excess of men can be turned into 
“hired help.” 
Now, that Iowa woman undoubtedly was well- 
meaning, but. for all that she was what might bo 
called, without any exaggeration, a “ Born Fool,” 
and her husband was a monster of oruelly, who It 
Is to bo hoped has long ere this “passed to Ills re¬ 
ward.” But in all probability heatUl lives, and Is 
grinding the life out of that woman with his farm 
of 800 acreB, nine cows and nine 11 hands at nar- 
vest time. To protect such wives and to punish 
such husbands, there ought to be societies sup¬ 
ported by the State, for the Prevention of cruelty 
to Wives, as the wives themselves are not made 
of the stuff that Is self-protecting. The duty of 
that woman was obvious enough, and It Is not 
worth while to tell what or how she ought to have 
done.—To be continued. 
-- 
ANOTHER WEEK FROM MRS. CLAY’S 
JOURNAL, 
ANNIE L. JACK. 
[Port Huron Commercial.] 
Charles Nelson, Esq., Proprietor Nelson House, 
speaking to us recently, observed: I Buffered so 
much with Rheumatism that my arm withered, 
and physicians could not help me. I was In des¬ 
pair of ray life, when some one advised me to try 
St. Jacobs Oil. t did so, and as tf by magic, I was 
instantly relieved, and, by the continued use o 
the oil entirely cured. I tnank heaven for having 
used tht- wonderful remedy, for It saved my life. 
It also cured my wife.— Adv. 
Sabbath.— Whata blessing la a good school for 
the children In the morning or afternoon of this 
day of rest. It is of more value than we think, 
and better for the little ones than the 
long sermon they often have to sit through, 
with their legs dangling from the high seats, 
and not daring to kick. I remember, when 
Nora was a little mite of a girl, she was very 
anxious to go to church. Three Sundays In suc¬ 
cession I yielded to her pleading voice, and, 
dressed In her prettiest frock, she sat with won¬ 
derful decorum beside me in the pew. Friends, on 
coming out, spoke kindly to her; one lady re¬ 
marked that aho was “ the best-behaved child in 
church.” Oqp day, a little while after this, I asked 
her if she could tell me anything the minister said. 
She shook her curly head. Did she never hear him 
talk of Jesui, and the Bible v Shake No. a. Then 
suddenly aho spoke : " But I can tell you what he 
does," and sultlog the action to the word, she 
shook her tiny tlsta and brought them down on a 
book with force, saying, “ lie pounds the big book, 
and stamps his feet as if he was mad, and makes 
great big eyes at me, and looks so cross be makes 
me frightened.” it was but the opinion of a six- 
year-old child, but I have Blnce wondered If a little 
Sunday-school talking at home would not have 
been better understood. 
We make It a point to have aa little cooking as 
possible on this day of rest. I think a piece of cold 
roast lamb, with a salad and potatoes and a dessert 
of fruit, fresh or canned. Is very easy and simple 
to prepare. This Is what we Intend to have to¬ 
day. The potatoes were prepared at breakfast- 
time, and need only to he put on the fire to boll 
while the table Is being set. In Summer an Iced 
pudding of rice, corn-starch, or custard Is a very 
nice addition to the fruit, by way of a change. But 
my stand-by Is fruit In Its season, and out of It as 
far as l can have It by canning. And by these 
simple economies of time and labor we try to work 
together for each other’s good, and enjoy our Sab¬ 
bath not only for Its spiritual privileges, but aa a 
blessed gift from Heaven—a day of rest. 
-- 
THE FORENOON LUNCH. 
It was a hard day in Mrs. Morris’s kitchen, and 
Bridget was cross and the work dragged, and Mrs. 
Morris herself felt wearied and faint by mld-tore- 
noon. Now sbe might have scolded and hurried 
Bridget and fretted herself Into a white heat by 
dinner-time, when the world would have looked 
dark enough to her. But she chose a better plan. 
She made a nice cup of tea in the bright little tea¬ 
pot, took out a saucer of fruit for herself and one 
tor Bridget, added a slice of cake and set Bridget’s 
out on the kitchen table. 
•< There, Bridget, whan you get time, stop and 
pour yourself a cup of tea, as I have done, and 
take a little lunch. It win rest you, we both need 
it after an early breakfast.” 
“ Thank you, ma’am," said Bildget smUlng. 
“ It's you knows how to make a good cup of tay.” 
So she sat on the back porch Btep, in the pleasant 
Autumn sunBhlne, and sipped her tea and ate her 
fruit and cake, thinking to herself that it wasn't 
every woman who would have taken that trouble. 
Mis. Morris sipped her tea by the sitting-room 
window looking out on the pleasant door-yard, 
with its bright clusters of Chrysanthemums, hardi¬ 
ly blooming In spite of early Hosts. It was only a 
little waj side rest to both women; but It did them 
a deal or good. It strengthened them for the rest 
of the morning’s work, made both more cheerful 
and more one In feeling wtili regard to the house 
and its labors. This friendliness between employer 
and employed Is worth cultivating. No one is 
the better for being parapeted; but little kindly 
attentions that show a really friendly heart, are 
dear Indeed to "the stranger In a strange land.” 
This occaslona lunch when It Is needed will 
often help one wonderfully through the day’s du¬ 
ties. If one ts really hungry it is the right time to 
eat, and often tf the meal Is deferred for an hour 
or two the appetite Is gone and a sense of over- 
weariness and languor has taken Its place. Noth¬ 
ing can disorder the digestion worse than picking 
and eating bits at all hours, oar digestive appa- 
jatusls got up on very different principles from 
the sparrow’s. But a regular, light lunch In the 
middle of a hard-working forenoon is very useful 
to many. Aud while you are providing for your¬ 
self, It la a little kitchen courtesy to give “ a cup 
that cheere hut not inebriates,” to Bridget also. 
It will work well I know, for I have tried it. Some 
little treat of that kind to look forward to, la often 
an incentive to quicker, better work, because done 
In a happier spirit. Olive Gray. 
THAT QUESTION. 
I was in hopes that Mrs. Wager-Fisher would 
condeicend to notice the reply of “E. M. W.” 
which appeared In the Rural New-Yorker; but, 
on reflection, It would be folly for her to do so, 
hence her silence. The common people are prone 
to ridicule etiquette and rednement, and persist 
in adhering t.o their Inbred vulgarity. Mrs Fisher's 
motive m opening the question was undoubtedly a 
good one. She desired to impress upon the parent 
the importance of a good example to the child. It 
parents are destitute of the ordinary usages or 
polite society, tney will surely mortify their grown¬ 
up daughters, although they may be possessed of 
“ good sense, natural affection, and true nobility 
of soul,” R. M. L. 
FOR 
HI 
HEIHSATISNS 
Neuralgia, Sciatica, Lumbago, 
Backache, Soreness of the Chest, Gout, 
Quinsy, Sore Throat, Swellings and 
Sprains, Burns and Scalds, 
Genera! Bodily Pains, 
Tooth, Ear and Headache, Frosted Feet 
and Ears, and all other Pains 
and Aches. 
No Preparation on earth equals St. Jacobs Oil as 
a sa fe, sure, simple and cheap External Remedy. 
A trial entails but the comparatively trifling outlay 
of 50 Cents, and every one suffering with pain 
can have cheap and positive proof of its claims. 
Directions in Eleven Languages. 
SOLD BY ALL DRUGGISTS AND DEALERS IN 
MEDICINE. 
A. VOGEX.ER Sc CO., 
Raltirnorc, Htd, 9 XT, S. jL, 
GOLD MEDAL, PARIS, 1878. 
GERMAN 
The most 
popular 
the mark 
sweet 
is nutritious and palatable; 
a particular favorite with 
children, and a most excel¬ 
lent article for family use. 
The- genuine, is stamped S. 
German, Dorchester, Mass. 
Detv arc of imitations. 
Sold by Grocers everywhere. 
AV. 11 A.Tv IdII «5fc CO., 
Dorchester, Mass. 
The Literary 
Revolution. 
To keep In good humor the good people who delight 
In good books j to wake up the alow uooksellere w ho 
are inclined to go to sleep in the summer, instead of, 
like a ’possum, In the winter j and to prevent our 
friends, the /il. a,. * , ij .-» I — n book publish¬ 
er^ from for- dlCVlf) J300KS. getting us, 
we hare concluded to publish a few more cheap hooks. 
If we are to name him at all, we must, of course, head 
Ahnl-oenroi >>a the list with the Immortal 
OUiUvtSUUtlLL ShakespeJPe, ami will give 
you either hta “Merchant of Venice “or 11 Hamlet, or 
any one of his fourteen other principal pin vs, in beau¬ 
tiful type, for t real*. At TV, l e 
thosamopilooycu may have A All t'U LI Jlln. 
Macaulay'B " Ufa of Frederick the Great.” former price 
11.85. or Carlyle’s ‘-Robert Burns," or Lamatline’s 
Que«n Washington lrvi n<u of ^ 
Scots,” or Thomas Hughes’s “Manliness of Christ." 
Washington Irving’s wonderful, delightful, heretofore 
inaccessible “Sketch Book,” which contains the Incom¬ 
parable Rip Van Winkle, you can A ,, 
have for a dime. For Che same prlca -- * I ' l lilt*, 
Ipnin Hvnurn we will give you “Tom Brown 
lum JJlOlVU a t Rugby,” the best hoy's 
book ever written, exoopt “ Robinson Crusoe," which 
you can liave ulso for 10 cent*. To 
charm those who X.-1 llotH.., delight in action, 
we give also for 10 rent* each. Cooper s “ List of (lie 
r’fwimtr’a Mohicans," one of the most justly 
l" t-' 1 . celebrated Amoi-icjui novels, and 
Mohicans. 
front of famous historical Action. Three are only spool 
metis of the cheap books wo pub! I*h, are all In good 
typo, neatly printed, and are not in the bread side or 
any other *‘*UU" or “ square 1 ’ stvle, but handy pocket 
volumes, of counu in paper binding. Our motto, how¬ 
ever, has always been (hat a book worth reeding la 
worth preserving, as well as worth owning, and our 
largo list of standard books, to which we ore making 
additions, with speed unpivco dented In the history of 
publishing, are all elegantly and strongly boil ml. In 
cloth or better stylo, and so d at prices proportionately 
low with those in pajsu- covers. Wo Issue these few 
only lu puinoUlet form, as specimens of the quality of 
our good literature, and thew^poelal term* will not be 
feSSth. 5,000 Booksellers 
S luted States and Canada are prepared tn either atmn 
antly supply or liberally (dander our piiHicntiona. 
We give liberal terms to clubs where no bookseller acts 
as agent. Descriptive Catalogue, and Illustrated pamph¬ 
let describing book-making and type-setting by steam, 
on AMERICAN BOOK 
Fo^^!>^Ju^ 4 er. Br0at)Way ' Y ° rk ' 
PtereUanemtis. 
CARPETS. 
MOQUETTE CARPETS.—We 
have just placed on sale 300 pieces 
American Moquette Carpets at the low 
price of SI.40 per yard—the cheapest 
carpets ever offered. They cannot be 
had elsewhere in the city. 
WILTON CARPETS at $2.25, 
full five-frame, and equal in quality to 
anything offered in this market at $2.75 
or $3 per yard. 
AXMINSTER and MOQUETTE 
Carpets from $1.50 to $2.50. 
Best BODY BRUSSELS Carpets, 
$1.25, $1.40, $1.50 and $1.60—the latter 
for the choicest patterns. 
TAPESTRY CARPETS.—Hav¬ 
ing exhausted our first offering of 75 
cent Tapestry Carpets, we have placed on 
sale for a few days, another lot of the 
SAME GOODS at the SAME LOW 
PRICE. These goods are equal to 
those Bold elsewhere at 90 cents and$l. 
We have other goods varying in price 
up to $1.15. 
We have also on exhibition a superior 
TAPESTRY CARPET, equal in 
Texture and Quality to anything made 
either here or in Europe. 
INGRAINS—We have of the best 
Extra Superior Grade a very full line 
from 75 cts. to 90 cts. per yard. Also, 
a line a grade lower at 65 cts. to 75 cts. 
—all wool. 
Persons in want of CARPETS will 
do well to call on us before purchasing. 
Every Carpet is warranted as repre¬ 
sented. Pull satisfaction guaranteed or 
the money refunded. 
J.&J. DOBSON, 
CARPET MANUFACTURERS, 
40 and 42 WEST 14th 1ST., NEW YORK. 
John Van Gaasbeek, Manager. 
GOLD MEDAL AWARDED 
the Author. A new and great 
Medical Work, warranted the 
be*t and cheapest. Indispensable 
to every man, entitled “ t he Sci¬ 
ence of Life, or Self Freerrva 
tioo;" bound in fin ret French 
muslin. etnhossed. full gilt, 300 
pp., contains beautiful steel en¬ 
graving*. kit preffriptiops, price 
only til.Xi, sent by tusil. illus¬ 
trated sample, 8 cents: send now. 
Address Pen body Medical Insti¬ 
tute or Dr. W. II. !*A IlhElt, 
4 It ii 111 no h St., Boston. 
IIft 0 HI CATARRH and 
HHuHL BRONCHITIS. 
Chillis Troutmeut for Nasal and Bkon’cutat. 
Catarku is the only one that can be relied 
upon for the Permanent and Positive 
CURE ofy, 
this disease. 
-'Home Treatment 
Physicians 
recommend 
it. For details of method and terms, address 
Rev. X. P. CHILDS, Troy, Oliio. 
YOUR NAMEontoTSiSUGs 
7A 
111 We ' v style®, hy best _ 
I BE Ckromu» t taH'UcattfS, H‘at«rSccaes,*tc. —notwoaliks. 
■ “ Agent's I ’-omplale Sample Bonk.2<>C. Great variety 
Advertising and B. r.l-Kdgr fa rd*. Laves t prices to dealers 
and printers. ItlO .Sui/ipi-' ,/ .{"'vrrliinnj/ < vmb.oOc, 
Address STEVEN5 -bicOA. Box 22, Norllnord, Ct. 
Gold and Stiver Chromo Cards, with name, 10c. 
.JV post paid. Gko. I. Ricico & Co., Nassau, N. Y. 
A All Gold. Chromo * Llt'g, Cards, (No 2 alike,) 
Qrt elegant cards, Snowflake, etc., 10c. Aots. icanted. 
OU 2U samples 3c. Listfree. C. Vick, Arbela. Mich. 
AftCMTC ill a 1 ITC n&YlSKYW'HPBJStoseli 
AU t N I O WflNIt lithe best Family Knit- 
ting Machine ever Invented- Will knita pair of stock¬ 
ings, with Heel and Toe complete, in 2o minutes. It 
will also knit a great variety of fancy work for which 
there is always a ready market, send for circular 
and terms to the Twombly Knit ling Machine 
t’n.. Washington Street, Boston, Mass. 
r ^rtinper day Bt home. Samples worm 35 free 
•J) -1 HP q) oU Address Stinson & Co., Portland. Maine 
' /v/i a week tn your own town. Terms and $5 outfl 
"00 free. Address H. Rsllett A Co.. Portland. Main 
Steal estate. 
WISCONSIN I ll HIDC 
500,000 Acres ISilillJJll 
ON THE LINE OF THE 
VVISCON SHIN CENTRAL R. R. 
For full particulars which will be sent free, address 
Chas. L. Colby, Land Commissioner, Milwaukee, Mis 
