THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
28? 
fairs' portfolio. 
OLD TIMES AND NEW. 
BY SOrjIIA C, GARRETT. 
Does memory ever lead you back 
To days long since gone by, 
When near our homes the forest grew 
And brighter was the sky ? 
Great, changes have come round since then. 
All proper in their place. 
And it becomes us pleasantly 
To bear them all with grace. 
I’m thinking of this farm of mine 
As It was in years ago, 
All covered with forest grand, 
In w hich deep fell the snow; 
That lay till spring came softly on 
With nOoii-tiincs mild and damp. 
And we were eating pork aud bread 
Out in the sugar camp. 
But maples, oaks nnd graceful elms 
By scores have fallen low. 
With many a spotted buttonwood 
That grew long years ago. 
Those buttonwoods with hollow trunks 
For smoke-houses were "sawed,” 
Then drawn by oxen to the yard 
While loud we “ Keo"-ed and ”haw”-od. 
And all those tall old hickory trees 
With loose and shaggy bark. 
When loaded with their ripened nuts, 
How well they made their mark! 
Then happy troops of boys nnd girls, 
With bags and bankets flew 
To get the nuts at each early morn. 
While fresh aud damp with dew. 
No time hud they to loiter there 
And pass an bile day. 
For always then, the well-ground axe 
Beside the woodpile lay. 
On spinning wheels wore fleecy rolls 
All waiting to be spun. 
By merry girls with skillful hands. 
When other work was done. 
Now, happily, all this is changed; 
The wheel is set away, 
Tho grand piano takes its placo, 
We’ve music all the day'. 
Instead of axes, now the wood 
Is cut by whirlingsaws, 
And coal to burn, from Lehigh’s banks, 
The rapid engine draws. 
Now, merry nulling parties ride 
To lind where walnuts grow, 
With lunch of “ chicken flxius" crisp, 
And cake and sandwich too. 
And when the shades of evening come, 
The troop, still gay returns, 
With wagons lilted with fragrant nuts 
And autumn leaves aud ferns. 
More changes yet will come along 
As on Time rapid whirls, 
But we believe these happy day's 
Just suit our hoys and girls. 
Niagara Falls. 
A MOTHER’S LOVE. 
BY MK8. EVA KDGERTON, 
What is there on the faco of this wide earth 
like a mother’s love—so unselfish, so full of de¬ 
votion, so lorglvlng and so true 7 We have no 
oi her loves but what are exacting. The love of a 
brother, sister, husband or friend, expects more or 
less attention and reciprocation of affection; but 
a mother asks not for recompense, seeks no praise. 
All through our infancy she guards and guides us, 
and through our childhood up to maluror years, 
even after we have left her side and strayed from 
her blessed teaching and advice, her heart still 
goes out to us, and prays for us that We may be 
useful aud honorable, and that our footsteps may 
never go astray. 
What, is there that will touch one’s heart like a 
mother's love, so tender and so enduring 7 A man 
who forsakes virtu-', who leads a reckless, un¬ 
scrupulous life, Is somet lines called back from the 
depths of degradation by the memory of a moth¬ 
er’s love, a mother’s prayer, or some recollection 
Of his Innocent boyhood, when a mother’s influ¬ 
ence cast a halo over all That mot her may not 
dwell among the living, but lu the •• secret places 
of the Most High” her love arid care may still ex¬ 
tend to us, may still smooth our pathway and help 
to chasten our hearts with kindness toward one 
another. 
1 have often thought that when my work on 
earth Is ended, when I lay down my burden and 
have been rewarded for the good 1 have done, 
however small It may have been, no joy could 
seem holler or purer than the consciousness that 
I had smoothed my mother’s road through life, 
and striven to repay the debt I owed her. Oh! 
could 1 bat impress It on the minds of children to 
be kind to their mothers and solicitous about their 
comfort, how many care-worn hearts and silver 
hairs would go down In happiness to the grave! 
Blind and deaf to all duties of conscience must 
they be who would carelessly wound a mother’s 
loving heart. 
-- . 
A PICTURE, 
Oiri.s! do you want to make a pretty picture, 
without much expense? If you do, procure a 
glass and frame, and some white wadding the 
size of the glass. Split the wadding open ; this Is 
for the purpose of removing the glazed part; lay 
this, with the split side up, on a paper a trifle 
larger than It is. Then procure dlfftrent colors 
of zephyr, and you may work after a pattern, or 
from your own idea, and make a bouquet or 
wreath of flowers. Pick tho zephyr to pieces, iu 
the same manner as you would scrape lint, nnd 
lay it on tho wadding In the shape of flowers, 
using the dliTerent shades, as required. When 
done, place the glass upon the work before it, Is 
removed from the table, bring the paper up, and 
paste It to the edge of the glass, to hold It all firm. 
Put it In the frame and hang In a good light, it 
you have artistic taste, and use It In making your 
picture. It will be pretty, ir you desire, you can 
make a pretty frame for It of hiown paper, past¬ 
ed over pasteboard, and varnished. Flowers may 
be cut out of the paper and put on, lu Imitation of 
leat her work, varnishing them the same as the 
frame. Or a frame can be made for small pict¬ 
ures out of cigar lighters. The black walnut ones 
arc the prettiest, and look nicely when varnished. 
Besides the ornament which such things are to 
a room, It la such a satisfaction to make them 
ourselves. All the little blemishes grow dim be¬ 
fore the pleasure of saying, “ I made them my¬ 
self.” L. E. K. T. 
Rafting for tljc gouttg, 
srx SPARROWS. 
Six saucy b i'arrows all in n row. 
Perched upon tho oaves in the moruinir, 
Sa> ing to each other, ” Wo shall have buow ! ” 
Who gave the little sparrows warning ? 
Down came tho snow In tho bitter, bitter weather. 
The winds they wore sharp as any arrows ; 
Hound tho lire tho hoys and girls sat cuddling all to¬ 
gether ; 
Aud then what, become of the sparrows? 
Oh! I saw a little maid who, ust beforo tho snow 
time, 
Spread a feast of crumbs for the saucy little things; 
Down flew the six aud carried off the crumbs iu uo 
time. 
"Ah!" says the Little maid, "I wish that I had 
wings!" 
sen. L. E. K. T. 
-- 
TESTIMONY. 
Ai.ta HtTu.KTT, Chicago's woman lawyer, died 
recently. The male lawyers or that city have 
passed resolutions, containing t he following inci¬ 
dental encouragement to women In thclr profes¬ 
sion " Although the legal profession has hither¬ 
to been almost, If not altogether, considered as 
exclusively for men to practice, yet wo freely 
recognize Miss Hullfltt’R right to adopt It, an her 
pursuit In tire and cheerfully bear testimony Lo 
tho fact that In her practice? she never demeaned 
herself In any way unbecoming a. woman. 81ic 
was always true to her Clients and thetr interests, 
but. she was equally true to her sex and her duty; 
arid If women who now are, or hereafter shall be¬ 
come members of our profession shall be equally 
true, Its honor will never be tarnished, nor the 
respect, good-will, and esteem which It, Is the 
duty and pride ot man to accord to women be In 
the least diminished by their membership.” 
- ♦ ♦ ♦-. 
WOMEN. 
Vassar has 885 girls—the fairest count you over 
heard of. 
Fashion has struck a severe blow at high 
bustles. They slope now like a defaulting clerk— 
suddenly yet gracefully. 
They were talking of an actress. Said one: 
" Yes, she has great talent. What age is she’’ 
“ 1 don’t know, but she looks every day of it!" 
A man out West who offered ball for a friend 
was asked by the .lodge tf he had any Incumbrance 
on his farm. “ Oh, yes,” said he, " my wife.” 
A wife whose home Is uncongenial will not, 
tamely submit to see her husband happy—not. 
while she has energy enough left to develop his 
“get up and git.” 
President Angello or .Michigan University 
says that the girls In that Institution are lu all 
respects able to compete In studies with the 
students of the other sex. 
In the Orient they won’t let a fellow sec his girl 
until the clergyman has tied the knot, and In that 
way a poor mother has a chance to work off her 
cross-eyed daughters. 
Paris gossip saysEverything In female attire 
Is worn with frayed edges, niaklug It difficult to 
distinguish ragged dresses from whole ones. The 
most fushlonuble trimming is known as the 
“ ragged edge of despair." 
A laky la WUlltnatiile, Conn., dissected, the 
other day, an old-fashioned, ttrawberry-shaped 
needle cushion which had been In use In the fam¬ 
ily for over nay years, and took therefrom 218 
needles, as good as new. 
About seventy ladles of Ht.. Louis, desiring to 
testiry to their admiration of Miss Nellsou, the 
actress, called upon her at the Inn where she was 
staying a few day-s ago and Insisted upon her 
giving each of them a kiss. 
Here t3 what Dundreary said about It: 
“ Ya-as, she was a n-nioe girl. I w-was g-golng 
to marry her m-myself, but I d-dldn’t get up that 
m- morning, or something or th-that sort; I d-don’t 
w-wecollcct now Ju-juth what It watli.” 
A nice young girl In this city works studiously 
on a model for framing—" God Bless Our Home," 
during the presence of Charles. In Charles’ ab¬ 
sence she occupies her time In spanking two little 
brothers and blessing members of tile family 
generally. 
There Is nothing like a pleasant surprise, A 
Windham county girl, who hung up her stocking 
Christmas, and thought she had taken everything 
out ot It, aocldentally found four oranges and a 
pound and a half of broken candy ludden way 
down In the toe. 
In the line of persons waiting their turns 
to pay their taxes at a collector’s onice in San 
Francisco the other day, was a woman wearing 
pinned to her dress a placard which read:—•• Tax¬ 
ation without representation is Tyranny." Her 
novel but undemonstrative mode of assenting 
women’s rights attracted a good deal of attention. 
A to UNO woman In the seminary at Rockford, 
Ill., wished to be married, contrary to her parents 
wishes, and was therefore closely confined in her 
room. Her lover and another man planned her 
elopement. She was to jump from the window lu 
the second story, and they were to catch her lu a 
buffalo robe. Khe had forced her courage iu the 
Jumping point when the plot was discovered. 
LETTERS FROM BOYS AND GIRLS. 
A New Cousin. 
Mr. Editor:— I would Uko a little space In tho 
Boys’ and Girls’ Column of the Rural. i am a 
farmer boy, and a reader of the Rural (since tho 
beginning of tho year). I liko It very much, es¬ 
pecially the boys’ and girls’ department. I have 
wanted to write a letter tor this column, but I 
thought it best to wait until I became a little ac¬ 
quainted with some of the cousins, for fear that 1 
might Hud myself impaled at the outset on the 
sharp point of a pen, wielded by the hand ot somo 
one (or perhaps more) of the fair cousl ns who have 
written such peppery letters for this column. 
But Scotch I,assies little lilre-cracker stirred me 
up, nnd 1 resolved to “ put In my oar,” as she ex¬ 
presses It, and risk the consequences. She pitched 
Into Uirrather too Indiscriminately, and seems to 
think us badly used up; but she will Ilnd that, 
some of us. at least- are not to bo frightened by 
such small artillery. “Transparent, creatures,’’ 
tiro wo? Well, admitting that we are, there Is 
coil solution in the fact that If there are six points 
for one piety, there are an equal half-dozen in 
favor of t he other; so It will not do for her to 
harp much on that string. The Lassie was not a 
bit too severe on those whose ungeot lemanly, not 
to say Impudent, letters provoked her attack. 1 
have not a word to say In defense of any (I cannot 
say gent leman) person who will speak disrespect¬ 
fully of his mot her’s sex; but 1 believe that those 
who merit her criticism are the exceptions, not the 
rule. And really, now, my plain-spoken Lassie. 
boys are a very necessary evil, after all, are they 
not? or, as my sister says, they are a very handy 
nuisance, which Is a great dual for a girl to admit 
to a fellow’s face. Ai.uk T.’s letter was pretty 
goo-;; bnt I was somewhat amused by tho lofty 
t one which she assumed In speaking of us boys. 
Of course, we little children feel highly flattered 
that, she should deign to notice us at all—such 
a condescension, you- know, l liked young 
Teacher’s letter very much, arid hope to hear 
from her again. Aud Prairie CmcKKN’s letter! 
I want to say a few words about that, but not by 
way of criticism, for she Is, I thick, considerably 
older t han 1 am, and she wrote a good, motherly 
letter. 1 heartily Indorse every word of It,; but, 
my dear, good Prairie Hen, didn’t you oxnIt some¬ 
thing, just a few words, you know, that you in¬ 
tended to say to the other party ? If not-, don’t 
you think that, with a very little alteration, tho 
shoo would lit the other foot, too 7 Now, you 
gave the girls somo good advice, and, of course, 
you did not Intend to be partial; but as you for¬ 
got to, or did not have time to give the boys a 
sKee from the same lour, please excuse me if t 
try, In my humble way, to Ilnlsh your good 
work. I oung man, arc you looklug around for a 
companion for life ? I r so, never marry a girl who 
neither has willing hands to work nor knows how 
to use them, for If she has not., bow can she do 
her share toward malting your home pleasant 
and happy? So, boys, beware I Look out- that 
the girl or your cholco Is ntted to rill a higher 
sphere than that ot a mere parlor ornament—one 
who will be useful, as well as ornamental. Now, 
I am afraid that I have abused the good nature of 
the edLtor.— Hayseed. 
Taylor to the Front! 
Dear Rural:— As [ have never seen a letter 
from Taylor, 1 thought I would bo the first to 
write. I live on a very pleasant farm, a mite and 
a-half from the village. Our winter school closed 
about. live weeks ago; during the term we had 
rhetorical exercises once in two weeks. The last 
day of school we had two papers, contributed by 
the boys and girls; the boys’ paper edited by —, 
and the girls’ by my sister. Prairie chicken's 
letter was a real good one. r agree with D. n, in 
regard to a- king questions, arid t will ask one : 
How many times does the word Jehovah occur In 
the Bible? I think the letters from the boys and 
girls are very Interesting or late. The girls do not 
criticise Wnoist r as much as they do Yocxo Tom, 
You, no Bacu, Solomon Sap and R. 0. IL, all of 
whom need criticising, especially Young Bach, 
who, by the way, must be quite a martyr, If he 
cannot resist, a girl’s tongue, ft he could, he would 
have written, i think it would he bettor it the 
Cousins would sign their full name and address, 
so that one could Correspond with another with¬ 
out asking for their address. Please print this, 
and not disappoint mo tho Second t ime.—L hxoha 
VV., Taylor, .V. r. 
The Kind Word, &c. 
As you very kindly printed my flrst letter, I write 
again. I will not try to hurt the feelings of my 
cousins, but I will say what I think. J wish to 
ask them If they think it, is cousinly to write such 
IU-natured letters about each other? I do not. 
Girls, It you had four splendid brother’s you 
would, I am sure, overlook the little errors and 
conceits of your hoy cousins; lor we an have our 
little faults. T think I hour my enraged young 
lady say, “ What a stnunc! They would become 
unbearable if we did not make them descend from 
their high horses unco In n while.” But girls Just 
t ry praising the boys for tho good they have done, 
for t here is such a thing, and you will see how 
much sooner they will descend. Won’t you boys? 
Now for tho bo,ys. I hardly know what to say to 
you for fear it win awaken the evil spirit and on 
wilt come down on me. Tf thorn must bo war bo- 
tween us, l will remain true, to iny colors nnd 
stand b,\ the girls. But, boys, please write letters 
that will bo Interesting to the girls as well as 
yourselves and do not fluff all manner of fault with 
them; then T think wo shall get on lu a very 
pleasant and cousinly manner. What say you 
cousins all ?— Alice V. 
A Seneca Falls Violet. 
Dear Friends :— 1 suppose 1 am not a Cousin, as 
I have never written to the Rural before. We 
have only taken the Rural a short time. I think 
It a splendid paper, and 1 should in Isa 11. very in u< li 
wore wo to give it up, especially tho Intters. The 
young people have been having gay Limes the past 
winter with coasting, skating, and parties. Re¬ 
cently, twelve of us young folks gave an enter¬ 
tainment to the older people. We had two eliar- 
ades and Several handsome tableaux, together 
with utter comic ones. I for one am tired of hear¬ 
ing about quilts, although l have pieced live. 1 
aiu very fond of reading; hut, us nearly alt young 
people do, 1 lovo stories best, if this does not 
find Its way to the waste-basket, I may try again. 
—Violet, Seneca {•‘alls, v. r. 
An Ohio Clrl Rises. 
Dear Cousins:— One of t-lio cousins wrote, some 
time ago, and asked me what I did on long winter 
evenings, It r did not piece quilts. She must re¬ 
member J did not say I never pieced any quilt, 
for i have placed two, and liavo them quilted, and 
another very near ready to quilt. I expect to 
lmvo a quilting this week. If I have a very dim- 
cult, lesson to learn, I study that. I thought, 
grandmother started *ut (In her last letter) very 
pious, but when she said tho beaux might go to 
thunder I guess she forgot all about religion and 
grammar, both. I will close by telling the girls 
to keep ahead of tho boys ir they can.— A. o. mu u. 
Who Knows ? 
I WOULD Uko to ask a question In tho Children’s 
Column about tho snow bints. I live in st,. Law¬ 
rence Co., N. Y., where there are a great many 
snow birds, Nome people think they are white 
before a snow storm, and berore a rain storm they 
are dark. 1 want to know If they arc a different 
kind nr flock, or If It Is the position In which thoy 
arc seen that makes them look differently 7— J as. 
A. S. 
DECAPITATIONS. 
t. Decapitate a cutting instrument, and leave 
perceiving sound; decapitate again, and leave 
parts of the head. 
2. An Inelegant hand-writing, and leave to 
creep; again, and leave a sharp-pointed instru¬ 
ment. 
3, Part of a burn, and leave an article of furni¬ 
ture ; again, and leave capable. 
1 . A small branch, and leave a conceited fellow; 
again, and leave a sportive trick. 
5. An orb, decapitate twice and leave this placo; 
again, and leave before. 
r>. A ptpc for conducting a fluid, arid leave a kind 
of bird; again, and leave without. 
7. To fall or run out, and leave a kind of medi¬ 
cine; ugaln, and leave sick. 
8. Value, and leave a kind of grain; again, and 
leave solid water. 
9. To scant, and leave to form Into plaits; again, 
and leave a young spirit of evil. 
10. Enchantment, and leave Injury; again, and 
leave part of tho body. 
n ev _ Answer In two weeks. s. c. 
- ■■ ■ ■■ 
HISTORICAL ENIGMA. 
I am composed of 45 letters : 
My 19, 37, 0, 23, 24,4, 35, 29, 7 a king of Denmark. 
My 29, 14, 11, 12 , 29, 17, 43, 3 a king of Lombardy. 
My 6, 1 ( 1 , 12 , 10 , 3, 25,8, 24 twin brother of Her¬ 
cules. 
My 21 ,41, 29, 5,15, 29, 3,14, 24 a hero of Thrace. 
My 21,12, 2fl, 25, o, 41 an Indian king of Now En¬ 
gland. 
My 24, 29, 30, to, 7, 20 wife of Adrian. 
My 2, i, 2\ 44, 29, 22, 39, 24 a king of Palmyra. 
My 32, 34, s, 7 a Welsh prince. 
My 33, 27, 24, 33, 35 a noted Polish divine. 
My 9, 13, 25, 3, 31, 3«, 40 a V. S. Senator of 1776. 
My 45, 42, 2 , 29, 24 an ancient city. 
My whole urges us to sot a good example. 
f *f~ Answer in two weeks. Little One. 
•-♦-*-*— : - 
PUZZLER ANSWERS.—April 21. 
C h a r a r»K.—Room -mate. 
Word-square Enigma.— 
hear 
edge 
ague 
REED 
