DEC. 24 
LETTERS FROM THE COUSINS, 
PLoreUanrotts 
out as far over the edge as he possibly could, 
and hold the horses’ heads while the great 
wagons came creaking bj r us; and the Mexi¬ 
can drivers usually took occasion to crack 
their long whips when about even with us, 
causing our horses to shy and start. 1 
thought once that wagon and all would go 
down over the steep precipice. 
They had considerable sport at my expense, 
for there was a mule tied behind one of the 
loads, and I was afraid of him and crawled 
dowu the bank as far as I could to be out of 
harm’s way. And the animal appeared 
equally frightened, for he tried to climb the 
hill which rose uji from the road like a per¬ 
pendicular wall. Failing in this, he slunk 
around behind the wheels, and I believe he 
was more scared than I—though the rest do 
not agree with rue. 
After awhile the hills separated and we 
drove through valleys again. For miles the 
road lay through a beautiful park—Nevt- 
bury Park I think it is called—and the whole 
section is a vast wheat field. It seemed 
strange to sow grain where there are so many 
trees. Live-oaks they were—just like these 
at San Gabriel but some of them were covered 
with gray-green moss; I never saw anything 
like it before. The branches were draped and 
festooned, and the moss hung down for over 
six feet from some of the limbs. Mi’s. Erman 
says it is formed by the action of the sea-air. 
Whatever is the cause it makes the trees 
look much prettier, and I wish it grew on 
all the oaks. We brought some back with 
us, and Mr. Erman found me an especially 
nice piece that I expect you will see some 
day, for I put it with the restof my curiosidads, 
(Please take notice that l am studying Spanish.) 
We spent the first night at a country hotel 
in the Conejo (Co-uay-ho,) which being 
interpreted is “ The Rabbit Ranch.’’ We 
didn’t see any rabbits, and I think the name 
ought to be changed to something that would 
mean the abiding place of roosters, for I hope 
that I may never again listeu to such crow¬ 
ing as I heard there, as Violet and I (especially 
Dear Uncle Mark.—I have delayed 
writing to you about the seeds you sent us. 
My brother Robert and myself sowed them 
and cared for them. All have done well. We 
have taken much pleasure in seeing how nicely 
they grew, and i'i having something different 
from the neighbors near us, for none of them 
take the Rural and of course, cannot have 
them unless we give them some. We had the 
best bed of celery I know of in this town and 
a bed of Japan Judas tree plants. My brother 
had quite a plot of the Dollv Dutton corn this 
year and the Surprise Musk Melons were 
excellent. We lost the Okra from frost. The 
pinks you sent were very handsome. We had 
about thirty different kinds, some double, 
some single, some large, and some dwarf—all 
handsome. We have a box of carnations in 
the bouse yet to bloom. The radish you sent 
two year’s ago we have saved and have had a 
good suppty of seeds. We try to save all the 
seeds sent us so in time we will be well sup¬ 
plied. We would like to be classed as mem¬ 
bers of the Club if you will accept us. We 
•will try to fulfill all requirements. I received 
the prize for best attendance at school last 
term, and tire term lief ore a prize for spelling. 
Harwinton, Conn. Jennie Colt. 
THE 
GREAT GERMAN! 
REMEDY 
THE BABY’S PETITION, 
ANNIE I,. JACK. 
The toby has seen but one Christmas, 
And now she ia trying to walk ; 
But her steps are as slow and uncertain 
As Is her endeavor to talk. 
But she knows—tor the little ones told her— 
(How soou Children do understand), 
That the kind Christinas saint Is soon coming 
To Oil stockings all over the laud. 
So she flirllts with her nurse every morning, 
And covers her dear, chubby feet. 
Holds tightly the gay colored stocking 
No matter how much we entreat. 
We wonder at curlv-hend’s meaning 
Till one day the chimney she sees, 
And shouts with her wide-opened stocking, 
*' Bing siimliti, dood man, if 'oo please.” 
It was only a baby's petition. 
And passed with a tear and a smile; 
The sweet infant graces of childhood 
The coldest of hearts can beguile. 
But It touched on a cord in our being 
The thought is so truly our own, 
When we reach out our hands for a “ sumftu. 
And ask it In prayer at the Throne. 
NEURALGIA, 
SCIATICA, 
LUMBAGO 
BACKACHE, 
GOUT, 
SORENESS. 
CHEST, 
SORE THROAT, 
QUINSY, 
SWELLINGS 
SPRAINS, 
FROSTED FEET 
THE COLD, COLD SNOW, 
Dear Cousins: —With Uncle Mark’s per¬ 
mission I will write this letter to you. We 
are all looking forward to the Christmas 
week, knowing that of all the days Christmas 
is the children’s day. We shall then expect to 
see many of our letters published, if Uncle 
Mark wiil be so kind, aud we hope t.he cou¬ 
sins will readily respond to Uncle Mark’s kind 
invitation to write at least twice a year. 
Won’t we keep him busy, though, reading 
letters, for already there are quite an army of 
us. But just think of the waste paper which 
some of our letters may make if they are not 
published. However, each one must strive to 
write newsy letters, or they will become 
monotonous and uninteresting, and write 
only on one side of the paper. Bear in mind 
'there are three things to look forward to; 
first, that Uncle Mark will surely read them; 
second, that some will most assuredly find 
their way to the waste basket, and, third, 
they may be published and make us sur¬ 
prisingly happy. P. H. B. Leikem. 
The cold, cold snow ! the snow that lies so white . 
The moon aud stars are hidden, there’s neither 
warmth nor light; 
I wonder, wife—I wonder, wife—where Jeanle lies 
this night! 
’Tls cold, cold, since Jeanle went away ; 
The world has changed, I sit and wait, and listen 
night and day; 
The house is silent, silent, aud my hair has grown so 
gray; 
’Tis cold, cold, cold, wife, since Jeanle went away. 
And tick ! tick! tick ! the clock goes evermore ; 
It chills me, wife—It seems to keep our chUd beyond 
General Sodil; Fains, 
TOOTH, EAR 
HEADACHE 
AND 
No PfcpirAtion on enrf.li equals St. ,1 Arons Oil. s* a safe, 
grins. 8iMri.K And cueae Enter mil Remedy. A IriAl entails 
but the ooinjmruiVPly trifling outlay of M Cssw. and every 
one sufforlng with yaiu can have onesp and positive proof of 
Us claim*. DIRECTIONS IN ELEVEN LAN01IAUE8. 
SOLO BY ALL DRUGGISTS AND DEALERS IN MEDICINE. 
A. VOGELER & CO. 
Baltimore, Md., XJ.S.A. 
Dear Uncle Mark.—I had no garden this 
Summer, but I had a flower-bed. It was so 
dry that nothing but my gladiolus bloomed. 
I watered all ray flowers, but it didn’t do any 
good. I wrote last January, but did not see 
my letter in print, and was nearly discour¬ 
aged, but as you say, try, try again. I will 
try once more. I should like to tell the 
cousins about my pet cat. He is a year-and- 
a-half old, aud is called Buff. Last Spring, 
after his mother was shot for catching chick¬ 
ens (she seemed to think them the only game 
fit for cats) Buff seemed to adopt the little 
orphan kittens, always sharing his dish of 
milk with them. Mamma says she has often 
heard him calling them in the night. Strang¬ 
ers who saw them supposed the group a 
mother and her family. Emma L. Redrah. 
Fountain Green, Ill. 
DAISY’S YEAR IN SOUTHERN CALI¬ 
FORNIA. 
PROFESSOR 
ALICE P. ADAMS. 
My Dear Mother: We have just come 
back frem the nicest kind of a trip, and I 
will tell you as much as I can about it in this 
letter. Mr. Erman found that he was obliged 
to go to Santa Barbara on business, and us 
none of us except his wife had ever been 
there, and he dislikes to travel alone, he 
agreed to take us ail with him if we would 
“ be good.” Violet aud I promised imme¬ 
diately, but you must correspond with Mr. 
Erman if you would know how we “kept 
the faith.” I am certain we were not very 
sober-minded, I am losing all my reputation 
for (lignite, but there is so much to enjoy 
here that I cauuot “ preserve a calm and un¬ 
ruffled demeanor,” as the precise Miss Briggs 
would say. 
Santa Barbara is 110 miles from Los An¬ 
geles, making it nearly 120 from here. Mr. 
Erman drove us up in the spring wagon, 
(which is one of the completest carry-alls I 
ever saw) and Bert rode his pony. We 
started early Monday morning, and reached 
Los Angeles before half the city had finished 
their breakfast. Such a drive as we had the 
first day! Sixty miles! and then the horses 
did not seem very tired! They are quite 
small, but appear to be very tough, and Mr. 
Erman says they can travel farther and 
endure more than large American horses. 
The scenery we passed through is quite 
different from that about San Gabriel. Here 
the hills and mountains inclose a broad val¬ 
ley, but there were hills aud hills—nothing 
else. We were riding “ among the hills,” as 
some one rein irked, and immediately Mrs, 
Erman repeated several verses from Whit¬ 
tier’s poem. (I mean to read it as soon as I 
finish tny letter ) Some of the steeo hills 
Violet and l walked up, for it was a pretty 
heavy pull for the horses. I remember the 
first Ion ' hill wc went down. The road was 
cut out at tne side, and wound in aud out so 
that you could only see a little way ahead. 
It was very narrow, usually jiist wide enough 
for a single tracx, but every now and then 
were places where teams could pass if neces- 
san . 
We met four going down that one hill— 
great six horse teams ear tying loads of grain 
to Los Angeles. Mr. Erman had the outside 
track, so each time he had to get the wagon 
? yOSPJWi7 c 
Dear [Uncle Mark.— Papa takes the 
Rural and I want to join the Club. I am 
a little adopted daugther, and 10 years old. 
My home is a good home, I love my parents 
and try to be a good girl. My papa is a 
farmer. We live eight miles from Port Town¬ 
send on Port Discovery Bay; I study physical 
geography and arithmetic, read in the fourth 
reader, and I am learning to play on the 
piano. I have a Little vegetable and flower 
garden, and I have also a cow and calf, some 
chickens and a nice little canary bird. I have 
written several letters to yon, but have never 
sent them because I was afraid vou would not 
print them. I wish you could come out to 
to see us, but we are so far away. Your 
friend, Annie G. Wkbbkr. 
Port Townsend, Washington Teiritory. 
Made from Professor Horsford’a Acid 
Phosphate. 
Recommended by leading physicians. 
Makes lighter biscuit. cak«s, etc., ana 
is healthier than ordinary ~*ew- 
1 a cans. Sold at a reasonable price. 
The U orsford Almanac and Cook Hook 
Hum ford Chemical Works, Providence, R. I. 
GOLD MEDAL, PARIS, 187a 
JS BAKER’S 
NOTES 
Keep the subject of the next Discussion in 
mind. 
A member of the Club has asked us to print 
some pieces suitable for declamation, so this 
week we give a piece of poetry entitled “ The 
Cold, Cold Snow.” In the course of the Win¬ 
ter we shall publish other pieces. 
Dear Uncle Mark: I have been delighted 
with the letters from the cousins ever siuce 
papa commenced taking the Rural. lama 
little girl ten years old. and I am sure I should 
feel very proud to have a new uncle so kind- 
hearted as I really think Uncle Mark is. And 
then the seed distribution! llow pleased 1 
should be to get some nice flower-seeds. We 
had a nice large, orchard on our farm, but 
the canker worms have nearly destroyed it, 
as well as our neighl>ors’ orchards, too. I was 
much interested In reading the discussion on 
house plants, for 1 do love planks, they look 
so cheerful in the windows and the vines look 
so pretty climbing around the Inuse, 
Cottage Grove, Wis. Emma J. Gurnee. 
We are much gratified at the maimer in 
which our attempts to profit and please, are 
received by the members of the Club, but 
especially glad to sec them interested in the 
Discussions and in letter writing. 
Lest some should think that no names will 
be received for the Club after Jan. 1st, 1 will 
say that we shall be glad to enroll at any time 
the names of any of our young friends who 
lake a lively interest in our work. 
A PCIITO lif A ||TCnKVEKYWHFUFtoBe'l 
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ting Machine ever invented- Will knita pair of stock- 
InKH. with Heel and Toe complete, iu 2U xnlnatee. It 
will also knit a great variety of fancy work for which 
there is always; a ready market. 8eud for circular 
aud terms to the TwombW Knitting .Machine 
P#**. HW TroriiAiit RnatioTl 
I hope none of the cousins will be discour¬ 
aged if their letters do not appear in print. 
Where so many ore received we can publish 
only the best; but be assured Uncle Mark 
reads them all, and so knows just whut each 
one writes. It is a good thing to have prac¬ 
tice in composition and penmanship, and all 
should do the best they can to say good things 
iu plainly written lettei-s. u. M. 
OKI. my LHGLUQT QiOlUUWWt^ Atvjnivu, 
which I like to read. I have been to school 
this Summer, aud have only staid out one day. 
I have two flower beds of my own, and I en¬ 
joy flowers ve^y much. I had very pretty 
pansies, verbenas, snapdragon^, white mari¬ 
golds, Princess feathers, petunias, two kinds 
of yellow marigolds, red Washington plant, 
white lilies and larkspurs. 
Williamson, N. Y. Lillie Pratt. 
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