u, i tnimc this a very poor trade for one of the 
Cousins to follow. There Is another writer I 
would like to praise a little. He writes some of 
the best letters that appear in the Rural— some 
of the most- sensible. This is Rocky Mountain 
Job. I agree with him on the bed-quilt question 
al30. I guess I have criticised enough. 1 wlU 
now correct a mistake I made in my first letter, 
instead of Living in the northeastern part of 
Pennsylvania, I live in the northwestern. The 
reason l made this mistake was because the name 
of the place I Live In Is North East. I am sorry to 
-say that in the last two Rukals there were no 
letters from the boys or girls. What is the mat¬ 
ter? Are you all asleep, or are you waiting for 
some one to start something to quarrel about? If 
so, try me.— Young Ohatoh, North vast, ra.. 
SONGS AND SINGERS 
FALLING ASLEEP 
There came a maiden bright and fair, 
Over the pavement tripping, 
And never a thought had she of care, 
And never a fear of slipping. 
But Oh ! alas! for all of that. 
Her feet flew out and down she sat— 
Down in the onld, cold snow ! 
And in her face came a flush of red, 
And a look of surprise, but all she said was 
Domino 1 
You kissed me at the gate last night. 
And mother heard the smack; 
She says it's naughty to do bo. 
So please to take it back. 
I Joaquin Miller. 
I took it back, and then said she, 
“ You rogue, you stole another, 
rieaso take it back." I did, and then 
I kissed her for for her her mother. 
[Oil City Derrick. 
Passing along the entry floor. 
Softly I paused at a chamber door. 
Over Its threshold I may not go 
Even most quietly, for I know 
Angels within their vigil keep— 
A mother la singing her child to sleep. 
Sometimes a murmur or a cry 
Comes from the little one; soothingly 
Over it the voice I hear. 
Sweet in its patience, soft and clear, 
Till, as he listens, slumber lies 
Soft on the closing baby eyes. 
A Saucy Cousin. 
Dkak Rural:— Hoping that the Cousins will 
accept me. and having read wlLh much pleasure 
the letters or Slaykkokconcejt, I will also take 
a hand. The girls being very bashful. 1 would 
say to them that they had better look out and nor, 
get, the boys excited, for they are resolved on 
vengeance. Clio Is very brave, but she is only 
another specimen of garrulous woman. Talking 
on politics, a gin will talk one deaf In no time. 
If Scotch Lassie Is not afraid to speak, why has 
she fled i She probably remembers the old ad¬ 
age, “ Whistling girls and crowing hens always 
come to some b;id ends.”— BaknkyBlackstone. 
Doth not a Presence from above 
Bend over ub as full of love ? 
Doth noth a voice as soft and clear 
Sing in the weary spirit's ear— 
Weary with passion, tears and cries, 
Striving to change life’s destinies ? 
O ! let its listen, and In the deep 
Beauty of Trusting sometimes Bleep! 
HOW TO LEARN TO SWIM 
j ne instructions as to the movement or the 
ankle-joint, In number three, should be also borne 
In mind, as it, Is Indispensable to perfection In 
swimming, and Is done so that there may be as 
little friction as possible when the feet are being 
returned to renew the stroke. The toes are 
turned out again, to allow of the root, being 
kicked our, with less waste of strength t han could 
otherwise be the case. Do not hitch the body la 
any way; the limbs must do all the work. Keep 
the neck stirr, uud make do effort to raise the 
head above the surface of the water, beyond the 
motion of arms and legs. Tbe weight of the 
head U diminished considerably when It rests on 
or in the water. Tbc body and legs should be 
level, the bead being very slightly raised. 
Many swimmers experience difficulty lu regu¬ 
lating the breathing. There should be no diffi¬ 
culty at all In breatlUng as regularly in the water 
as when walking on terra-Jlrma, once tbe llrst 
disagreeable feeling In learning It has been got 
over, l he fastest and best of our living swim¬ 
mers have the mouth and nostrils immersed in 
the water for at least two-thirds of the time they 
are swimming. Tills, aloug with the Improved 
side and overhand stroke, accounts for the very 
fast swimming that Is belDg performed, at the 
mutches especially. The mouth and nostrils lie 
HEAVENLY THOUGHTS FOR 
GUIDANCE. 
From a Georgia Clrl. 
Dear Cousins :—As I have a few spare moments, 
l thought I would write you a few brief lines— 
that is, If you will accept me as a cousin. I live 
In the city of Griffin. I have a great many hot¬ 
house plants which are very beautiful, i don’t 
see why Solomon Sai> should be so against the 
girls, I thought all the boys liked tbe girls. I 
think him very Impertinent. I would like very 
much for some of the cousins to tell me the mean- 
ing of the word “ Mtepuh," i have been very anx¬ 
ious to nnd out. I am thirteen ; can sew, and play 
on tbc piano. I clean up my own room and go to 
school.—E. 0., Orifflh, Ga. 
A Those that seek me early shall And me.—Prov 
v ill. 17. 
Do I feel the importance of early coming to the 
Saviour, and at once eommonclng the Christian 
life? Do l realize the danger of delay; that life 
Is imcertatu, and temptations Increase, the power 
of sinful habit Is strengthened by the postpone¬ 
ment of God’s claims? Have i thought of the 
many promises and encouragements the Bible 
holds forth to the young, and of the greater 
safety, and happiness, and usefulness of those 
who early give tbemselver to Christ ? if [ have 
never come to him, will 1 come now? 
Go to work, my friend; the world Is getting 
bettor. 1 have a dream that prisons will not al¬ 
ways be cursed with the shade of the gallows; that 
Ignorance will not always exist In tills world; 
that the withered hand or want will not always 
be extended for charity; that wisdom wilt sit in 
tho Legislature; that, honesty will sit In the 
courts; that charity will stand In ail the pulpits, 
and that the world Is progressing in education, in 
everything that will carry out the grand destiny 
of the American people. 
Great measures of grace carry with them the 
greatest, evidence of a man’s union and commun¬ 
ion with God and the more a man's union and 
communion with God are evidenced, the more will 
the soul be Ailed with that Joy which Is unspeak¬ 
able and full of glory, and with that comfort and 
peace which pass understanding. In great meas¬ 
ures or grace, as In a crystal glass, tho soul sees 
the glorious face of God shining and sparkling, 
and this nils the soul with joy. 
A person converted in youth la like the sun ris¬ 
ing on a summer’s morning to shine through the 
long, bright day. But one converted late in life, 
Is but as the evening star, not appearing till the 
day is closing, and then but a Utile while. The 
most matured, and useful, and happy Chrtstlans 
are, for the most part, those who early come to the 
Saviour. 
The trouble with men’s consciences is that 
they are low-set, bUod, insensitive. If conscience 
In men were enlightened, If It were sensitive, and 
CROSS-WORD ENIGMA 
My Aral Is In fast but not In slow, 
My second Is iij plant but not in sow ; 
My third Is In cat but not In cow, 
My fourth Is In stack but not In mow ; 
My llftn is In Albany but not In 1’roy,' 
My sixth Is lu stupid but not In coy; 
My seventh is In stem but not In leaf, 
My eighth is in anguish but not in grief. 
My whole Is a village or Long island, 
t*- Answer In two weeks. D 
DOUBLE ACROSTIC 
1. A verbal relation. 2. Prodtga 
retreat. 4. A well-known game. 5 , 
herdsman. 6. Two vowels. 7. The 
lng ships. 8. An article of furniture, 
10 . A bad cold In the head. 11. A sty 
tecture. 12 . Tho peerage. Prlmals 
form two of the British provinces, 
W Answer in two weeks. 
ANAGRAMS OF FISHES 
DIAGONAL PUZZLE, 
1. A consonant. 2. A pronoun. 3 . To 
debt. 4. Want. 5. A man’s Aaine. Prlma 
city of France; diagonals, a city of England, 
car Answer in two weeks. l 
TO BREAK OFF BAD HABITS. 
Understand the reasons, and aU the reasons, 
why the habit is Injurious. Study the subject 
until there Is no lingering doubt In your mind. 
Avoid the places, the persons, and the thoughts 
that lead to the temptation. Frequent the places, 
associa te with the persons, indulge In the thoughts 
that lead away from temptation. Keep busy; 
Idleness la the strength of bad habits. Do not 
give up the struggle when you have broken your 
resolution once, twice, thrice—a thousand times. 
That only shows how much need there la for you 
to strive. When you have broken your resolu¬ 
tions, just tbluk the matter over and endeavor to 
understand why it is you failed, so that you may 
be on your guard against a recurrence of the same 
circumstances. Do not think it an easy thing 
that you have undertaken. It is a folly to expect 
to break off a habit in a day which has been gath¬ 
ering long years. 
NAME PUZZLE 
Place the names of four ladles so that the In¬ 
itials form a flfth. 
esr- Answer in two weeks. B 
WORD-SQUARE ENIGMA 
1. A territory. 2. A narrow cylinder. 3. a 
man’s name. 4. Pan of a ship. 
X3T Answer in two weeks. l w 
PUZZLER ANSWERS.-July 21 
Maltese Cross.— 
LETTERS FROM BOYS AND GIRLS, 
Cross-word Enigma.— gusquehanna. 
Anagrams or Animals.- i, LupduK 
chills ; 3, Pole-cat; i, Skunk; 5, Ermine; 
7. Jayuar; h Jackal; fl, Jackass ; 10, Swims 
G, Lynx ; 13, Ichneumon : U, Baboon ; 15 , 
Bwe: 17. bow; 18. Kitten: iff, Lioness; 2(1 
Woodchuck; 22, Bobu; 23, Buffalo; 24, Wl 
Malrus; 26, Kangaroos; 27, Unicorn. 
Diagonal Puzzle.— Primal*, Henlopo: 
als, Hatteras. 
Word-square enigma.— 
mu 
time 
EMMA 
MEAN 
From a Pennsylvania Boy. 
Dear Rural :—I come among you this time not, 
as Independence says, as a “ peace-maker," but 
to give you my opinion or some of the writers. I 
don’t think very much of Solomon Sap atid Slav- 
eropconceit. I agree with Clio, in regard to 
Solomon sap being a love-crackedyouth, and with 
Adelk W., In regard to Slaykrofconokit. Com¬ 
ing into our ranks as slayer of conceit, as he cabs 
