Jlomrsftr (Etottotmt 
rny puffy blanket wan too much of a blanket; 
niy head was smothering »‘nd my body swelter¬ 
ing. I totted and I writhed, I stretched and I 
kicked, till at last J pushed aside my covering. 
Somewhat easier, I lay uncovered till the cold 
demanded a replacement of the •* bed-clothes.” 
Then another discomfort overtook roe. I wanted 
to gather the “clothe*” ahout roe. but they 
would not: my back waa cold, my face was cold, 
and currents of cold air seemed to course all 
over me and there, adding insult, to injury, over 
me lay that mountain of feathers, like the op¬ 
pressive scone in a nightmare, or tbo crushing 
burden of CuunmAN, in tbo ‘‘Pilgrim’* Prog- 
rcsH. Cold 8lid rv%r»cf n r a 
reaav as many slices of nicely buttered toaet as 
there are birds, and servo a quail, breast up. on 
each slice. 
Another way is to heat, a few spoonfnls of 
cream and pour a spoonful over each slice of 
toast before placing the quail on it. 
Wo arc aware that the above method of pre¬ 
paring and cooking game birds is not in accord¬ 
ance with the Hoyle of game epicures, But we 
believe that most of our readers will agree with 
us in liking it better. 
alone, and these were not merely the people 
of a few near-by counties, bnt from tbo whole 
Wale, the mountaineers of the Blue llidge, and 
the fishermen of the sea-eoast. Though wo 
might mention some little changes for tha bet¬ 
ter, to our mind, in the regulations and arrange¬ 
ment, we still must give the officers credit for 
the efficient manner in which the whole thing, 
so far as seen on the gronuds, was conducted! 
And here lot us tender our thanks to them 
for courtesies extended, which wo fully ap¬ 
preciated. 
We had not time to give the show of horses, 
mules, etc., much attention, but noticed a few 
fair draft and carriage horses. As there 
ninety nine entries, however, 
must have been 
is too often the case where 
FEATHER BEDS, 
Mbs. Maple's “ Vexed Question,” (p. 270, Oct. 
27.) reminds me of my first acquaintance with a 
German feather Led. A few years ago, I rode 
np one evening to a German farmer's house near 
the Texas Colorado, some 1G miles from Gid- 
dings, and asked for accommodation for the 
night. After a few apologies regarding their 
faro and lodgment, they assented, and though 
they were poor, they treated mo very kindly. 
Tha house was of rather aboriginal construction, 
with wido piszza in front and division in the 
middle; three rooms without doora, and windows 
in each roombut were there noue, the apor- I 
tures between tho logs would afford light and 
ventilation enough. Tho family consisted of 
old gentleman and lady, married son and Lis 
wife, and a few younger sons and daughters. 
It was January, and a damp and chilly night; 
but after feeding my horse, 
NOTE. 
were 
we suppose there 
some good ones, unless—as 
. . racing is placed 
- in the fore-grounds of agricultural shows—the 
list was made up of nuchas have nothing to re¬ 
commend the mexcept some dozen or so spurts of 
speed for their year’s work. Vo marked no im¬ 
provement in cattle. A small herd of Devons and 
two or three out of some ten Jerseys being all 
1 that were worthy of notice. Home inferior 
sheep and fino Angora goats, and we come to 
the swine. One pair each of imported Berksbires 
and Essex arc hard to beat, though two 
lots bred in N. C. were fine ; a few pens of “Razor 
Lacks were, it seemed to us, only useful as a 
contrast to the Berkshire* and Essex. The 
poultry interest was poorly represented. Home 
good turkeys and geese, and only one trio of fowls 
—Bull Conchina—were worthy of a premium, 
farming implements and machinery in goodly 
profusion from a hoc to a steam engine. There 
was clcae competition in most kinds of farm 
products, all of which classes were well filled. 
Samples of wheat, ryo and oats from Wayne Co., 
were worthy of special notice. 
Exhibition Hall was filled to overflowing with 
—well, everything, bnt there is space only to 
notice a few of the moro striking features. 
The display of greenhouse plants was largo and 
embraced many rare var ieties. Tho only show 
of cut flowers we now remember was one of fifty 
varieties of Dahlias, fine und perfect flowers. 
The whole of one side of the west wing of the 
ball was filled with specimens of mineral, 
agricultural and mechanical productions 
from the museum of the State Department 
of Agriculture, which, under the effi¬ 
cient management of the gentlemanly Com¬ 
missioner Col L. L I’olk, is destined to do much 
good which is, indeed, already visible* in the i.,_ 
A FAMILIAR CHAT ABOUT TEETH 
GAME. 
WILD DUCKS, PRAIRIE CHICKENS, 
BY FAITH niPLEV 
AND QUAIL 
As tho season for game draws near, a fev 
hints and well-tried recipes may prove acceptabh 
to our readers. 
As a family, we prefer wild turkeys, ducks 
and prairie chickens to 
look forward to our 
real pleasure. But 
average cook, is loo often as 
as a chip; whether this i 
or haying the knowledge, unwilling- 
preparo it properly, 
Most people who take any interest at all in 
their teeth, are possessed of an insano desire to 
make them white. It never seems to occur to 
tLcm that possibly there may be shades in teeth 
as well as in complexions. The fact is everv 
one can not have white teeth : if they are not 
naturally “pearly” it is worse than useless to 
attempt to make them so by artificial means. 
. care any set of toeth, unless they are 
tionally ill-favored, may be made not only 
itable but really handsome. 
tli should bo regularly cleaned ; I empba- 
regularly ” because most of the blemishes 
j wl„eh disfigure teeth, arise from the spasmodic 
vyay m which they arc attended to. Days are 
allowed to elapse between "cleanings," and as a 
result “ tartar” accumulates, and “Kozodout" 
or some other much advertized dontrifice is used 
to do what should have been accomplished bv 
harmless means. 
To begin with, 1 object to tooth-brushes as 
they are generally used. Scouring the toeth 
vigorously with a stiff bristled brush is most 
unwholesome yet this is the way in which people 
clean their teeth. As I understand it. the ob¬ 
ject of the brushing is to remove such particles 
ot food as may remain around the teeth, and to 
counteract the effect of the gases which arise 
from tho stomach. Does the brush dislodge all 
the fool? If yon think so, just experiment 
\utn a tooth-pick after brushing. The brush is 
useful in its place, but it is not an effectual 
cleanser. After each meal it is well enough to 
use a soft brush, but it will be found that con- ! 
■iderable food remains wedged between tho . 
:«otli, and the way to dislodge it is not to scrub i 
we had a good hot 
supper—bread, butter, molasses, pork-sausages, 
bacon, baked sweet potatoes, coflio and good 
milk. After supper wo entered into lively con¬ 
versation, and the hilarious old couple particu¬ 
larly enjoyed relating their circumstances uud 
adventures, and hearing of the conditions and 
locations of their countrymen. By degrees, and 
almost imperceptibly, the young folks left us, 
till in the enthusiasm of our conversation, wo 
stopped to find it 11 o'clock. 
They both started in astonishment, and the 
old lady soon found a tallow candle, incased its 
base in a piece of paper, and stuck its end into 
the mouth or a quart bottle, to light me to bed. 
Before showing me thither, however, she rather 
took me a-back by asking me if 1 could sleep 
comfortably in a feather bed? Of course I 
our domestic fowls, and 
weekly game dinners with 
hen served by the 
dry and flavorless With proper 
is through want of exceptional!' 
knowledge, 
ness to take the trouble to 
wo are not able to say. 
Of all meats, game requir 
cooking. Being naturally 
domestic fowl, basting and larding will alone 
supply this deficiency, 
Whilo acknowledging that the more plainly all 
kinds of game are cooked, tho better they retain 
their fine “wild flavor,” and while preferring to 
broil quail and all other smalt birds, we cannot 
say that we like a broiled prairie chicken or wild 
duek as well as one stuffed and roasted. 
If the “wild flavor" is disliked, first parboil 
with an onion or two in tho water, and then cook 
as desired; or pare a lemon, careful not to break 
Die white skin, and piano inside of the bird for a 
dav or two, renewing the lemon twice a day. 
B rds should always bo dry-picked, and‘many 
think they should not bo washed, wiping clean 
being alone all t.hut is necessary; but when 
miles intervene between the place of killing and 
eating, we feel that a quick wash and wipe in no 
way harm them, and that it is absolutely necos- I 
down. Apparently satis lied, Bhe conducted me 
across the entry to a room where were two beds 
and two raw-hide botton ed chairs, and showing 
me the bed farthest from tho door as the one I 
should occupy, placed the bottle with the candle 
beside it on the floor, and wishing n.o good¬ 
night, sho vanished, 
I was extremely tired and sleepy; and though 
I faintly noticed the mountain-like proportions 
of the beds, I was too eager for rest to make a 
preliminary examination. I hastily undressed, 
blew out the light, and jumped into bed_no. 
not quito! What! I pat forth my hand to turn 
down tho bed-clothes — but bed-clothes there 
were none. Pillows? No, no pillows. Sheets? 
Not any. Why, what a curious bed ! Yes, two 
beds—one above tho other; and they were so 
big too, so puffy, and so soft! 
How on earth did the people sleep on these 
beds ? I asked myself; and finding no other con¬ 
clusion than that they mu st just throw themselves 
on the top, as a man would on the hay in a barn. 
1 did so likewise. Down, down, I went, the 
plumage volume incasing me beyond view. At 
first this seemed nice ; but I soon became un¬ 
comfortable ; one Bide of mo wrs roasting and 
tho other freezing ; my head was too low and 
my feet wero too high, my arms were imprisoned 
and my movements were awkward. In fact, 
after lying lengthwise and crosswise, and tossing 
and turning, and moaning and groaning, I got 
so desperately uncomfortable that sleep escaped 
me. 
I resolved to rise and dress; but I had only 
pants to put on, for I left my coat to dry by the ■ 
kitchen fire. How I longed for my saddle and 
being used. Instead of larding, wo prefer a 
piece of salt pork or bacon skewered, or tied on 
the breast and back of the bird. 
Neither ducks nor chickens require boiling or 
steaming before roasting, unless one knows that 
they are unqualifiedly tough. 
But little water must be put into the dripping- 
p?n at any one lime; it must not, however, be 
allowed to cook dry. Add a spoonful of butter, 
a little salt and pepper, and baste the bird at 
least every ten minutes, turning frequently. 
Let it roast an hour, moro or less, to suit tho 
taste. 
Just before the bird is done, remove the slices 
of pork, rub with butter and a little Horn-, and 
return to tho oven to brown. To the gravy in 
tho pan may be added the chopped giblets, which 
FOWLS FOR FARMERS, 
BY HENBY HALES, 
MUCH discussion has arisen of late years 
in regard to fowls as to which are the most 
profitable—pure-bred or croBS-bred. Some assert 
that there has been no improvement for the last 
twenty-five years, and still prefer the common 
barnyard fowls, while others give preference to 
tire pure-bred birds. To tho practical farmer 
thi6 is a question of importance, as he does not 
want anything to feed and care for, that does 
not pay for the trouble, and. moreover, he wants 
NORTH CAROLINA STATE FAIR. 
The Fair of the N. C. State Agricultural So¬ 
ciety was agaiu favored with as fine weather 
as could be, which was one of the causes con¬ 
tributing to the grand success of the exhibition, 
I ho people seem to be fully aroused to the im¬ 
portance of curtaining a live society in their 
state, and this year came ont in full force, not 
empty-handed, but bringing creditable speci¬ 
mens or all the good things with which a kind 
1 1 evidence Las blessed the labor of their hands 
The whole number of entries was 1950. There 
