THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
IlKtirincs far tljc gottnij. 
DOLLY’S CHRISTENING. 
KLEANOB KIRK. 
“I'Ll, be th6 Roodest Uttle (firl 
Tha ever you did see, 
II you'll let we take my dolly 
'i'o cliuroli with you and me. 
It's too drefful bad to lrare her, 
When we's all ►roue away ; 
Oh! Oaaette will be so lonesome 
To stay at home all day." ‘ 
'Iwas such a pleading pair of eyes, 
And winsome little face, 
That mamma couldn’t well refuse, 
Tho’ church was not the place; 
For dolls or play-thinxs she well knew. 
Util) mamma's little maid 
Was alwaya ao'obedient, 
She didn't l'eel afraid. 
And tho 1 Casette oame straight from France 
She really was quite small. 
And could be carried very well 
Right under mamma's shawl. 
So when they reached the great atone church, 
And sat iuaide the pew, 
Coaette was placed in Mabel’a arms— 
Both of them dressed in blue. 
No mouse was ever half so still 
As this sweet little lass, 
Uutll the sermon was quite through— 
Then this did come to pass : 
A dozen babies (more or less,) 
Dressed lu long robes of white. 
Were brought before tbo altar-rail— 
A flash of heaven's own light. 
Then Mabel stood upon tho seat. 
With dolly held out straight, 
And this la what the darling said : 
" 0 min’sier, pease to wait,; 
And wash my dolly up Ufee that— 
Her uame it Is Casette.” 
The" mlu’eter'’ smiled and bowed his head ; 
But mamma blushes yet. 
--- 
LETTERS FROM BOYS AND GIRLS. 
For the Uttle Folks. 
Listen, little children, while I tell you about a 
hog that got drunk on cider. No doubt you have 
seen a great many druDkcn men, but perhaps 
never a drunken dumb animal—they usually hav¬ 
ing too much self-respect to get drank like some 
men. And even thl8 one of which 1 am about to 
tell you, would undoubtedly have scorned tUe 
Idea, had he kao .vn beforehand the evil effects of 
taking “a drop too much.” 
It was a great many years ago, when nearly 
every farm had a large orchard, and arter storing 
away what apple3 were necessary for family use, 
the remainder were manufactured Into elder, 
which was afterwards converted iuto brandy and 
the most of it consumed on the premises during 
the ye ti'. 1 was a boy then, and we lived about 
hair a mile from au uncle of mine where the 
affair happened, the relation of which, by my 
aunt, caused no little merriment among us chil¬ 
dren. 
Previous to making elder, It was necessary to 
cle an the bairels of all the old elder and settlings 
which might remain lu them from the previous 
year’s supply, and In doing this, my uncle thought 
It would be a mailer of economy to turn It out 
where It would run down Into the hog yard, 
where was confined a large old sow with some 
ten or a dozen pigs of about three or four weeks 
old, so that they might drink It and nothing 
would be wasted. Accordingly, barrel after bar¬ 
rel was brought out and the contents emptied be¬ 
fore the old sow who stood ready to receive them, 
and as each new lot came, she grew more and 
more excited over it; her eyes glistened and she 
would fairly dance for joy, while she seemed 
mentally ejaculating, ‘‘A uttle more elder for 
Miss Dinah,” until finally, she began to show evi¬ 
dent signs of Intoxication. She would cut up all 
sons o£ hoggish capers—she would run, and 
squeal, and tumble down ; then she would scram¬ 
ble up and try to walk on two legs, but she would 
make about as much headway as some other 
two-legged creatures do when drunk. But there 
was one thing noticeable about her, she was per¬ 
fectly good-natured about It; she didn’t offer to 
fight, or even to bet on how much she was worth, 
but kept on cutting up silly capers and ludicrous 
races, till at length, yielding to the force of cir¬ 
cumstances, she gave over her vagaries, and 
stretching herself at lull length upon the ground, 
was soon lost in a state of beastly Intoxication. 
The little pigs, which till now had stood buck ap¬ 
parently wondering what had befallen their 
mother, now came forward to examine her us 
she lay insensible on the ground. They would 
ply their little noses to her to see If they couldn’t 
rouse her from her stupor; falling In this, they 
would start In a string one after another and run 
her over from head to tall and back again; cry¬ 
ing meantime most piteously, as though their 
hearts would break over tbe supposed death of 
ihetr mother. Thl9 was continued for a long 
time, tilt finally the old lady, having in a meas¬ 
ure slept off the effects of her debauch, with much 
difficulty, regained her feet, and looking around 
as If to ascertain her locality, sneaked off to her 
nest out of sight; nor did she show herself again 
until she was sure she was entirely sober 
Whether she signed the pledge or not I never 
learned, but certain It was she was cured of 
drinking; for while she lived she was never 
known to taste of another drop of Intoxicating 
drinks; which Is more than can be said for a 
great many two-legged beasts. 
You will agree with me that by getting drunk 
the mother was sotting a very bad example be¬ 
fore the little ones, but l think the whole family 
were heartily ashamed or It, Blnce I never knew 
one of them afterwards to get any worse for li¬ 
quor ; though we can’t tell what might have hap¬ 
pened had they lived a good many years, and 
mingled In society; but they all died young, 
which was fortunate for them after all, If It saved 
them from drunkenness. Don’t you think so ? 
a. n. u. 
"Mississippi" Makes His First Appear¬ 
ance. 
Dear Cousins :— I am a new cousin claiming a 
hearing, If Uncle True thinks thl9 worthy of In¬ 
sertion. I like the letters from the cousins, and, 
as I have not seen a letter from this State, I 
thought I would tell you all something about 
this part of the world. I live In what Is known 
as the “Prairie Belt;” of course this prairie Is 
not to be compared with the prairies of Texas, It 
being only about fifty miles long, and no» half so 
wide. This la very fine land, and moat of It la 
now under cultivation; however, there is one 
place In it, just as it was when the Indians used 
to hunt deer here before Mississippi was settled. 
This prairie land gets very muddy in the wluter, 
aud the mud sticks so fast that some say tt will 
pull the soles off of your shoes. 1 hare never 
had It pull my soles off, but I have had it pull 
my shoes off leaving me to make my way as best 
I could without tUem. If one does not like the 
mud, he can go to the hills, aud there he will 
find a rich sandy soil. Our bottom lands are also 
fine. 
Our farmers devote their time to raising corn 
and cotton. Cotton Is the chief product, but our 
lands will grow as Qne small grain as the best 
lands In the West, and a few farmers do grow 
small grains and grasses. 
I expect some of the cousins never saw a cot¬ 
ton plantation (for I have seen grown people who 
never had seen one) and for their benefit I will 
tell how one looks. It grows, on an average, about 
waist high, and is very pretty while growing; 
everything looks green, and the white and red 
blootns&lvc it the appearance of a large flower- 
garden. A field of tfiree hundred acres presents 
a grand sight In the fall when It has opened. 
Then everything is so white that It looks as It It 
had snowed. Cotton Is picked with the fingers, 
and we boys have lots of fun picking cotton, 
we all run races and see who can pick the 
most. I never was a good picker, because 1 
was always too lazy to stoop so much. A good 
picker can get out as much as three hundred 
pounds per day. I would like lo tell you all 
more, but I am afraid I have already sail too 
much for the first time. I hope the boys wltl be 
better hereafter, but the girls need not stop be¬ 
cause the boys won’t write. It Uncle True takes 
this, you may hear from me again. 1 won’t say 
how old I am, but 1 am a good-sized boy. 
AUg- SOth, 187$. MISSISSIPPI. 
A Very Early Snow-Drop. 
Dear Uncle True :—Oh, Cousins, where are 
ye? I haven’t seen a letter for a long time, and 
my spirits have decended three degrees and a 
tenth. The young people’s column Ls nothing 
without the boy s'and girls’ letters. Why don't 
you write? I am stricken with grief at such tar¬ 
diness. Where Is Storm ? Perhaps some of you 
remember his letter in tho Rural of October 23, 
1876. I don’t think I have seen one irom him 
since. Why doesn’t he write ? We want such let¬ 
ters a3 his and those of Madcap Mollle, Bell, E. 
F,, Adele W., Found Ed, and Wlld-flre. Come, 
cousins, wake up ! and have a regular exciting 
time, even a pitched battle would bo preferable to 
tuis continued silence. 1 defy the boys to beat 
the girls I Slayerofconcett, my lad, where art 
thou? Hast thou, too, deserted? or art thou 
waiting until the girls get cooled off somewhat? 
Solomon, some more of thy wisdom ; we poor 
creatures are sadly la need of It; let us benold 
some of the productions of thy pen ore long. 
Cousins all, will you not heed my request, and 
write? I want to see the young people’s page 
full of letters next week, if, when I take the 
Kukai. In my hand and eagerly turn Its leaves 
until my gaze rests upon the page, i find none, 1 
Bball be bowed to the earth In dire distress. I 
have another request to make: Will Rocky 
Mountain Joe, if he be still In existence, please 
step forward and tell me where, In the Rocky 
Mountains he lives, and what the place ls like ? 
Now, his hair needn’t rise for fear of a gl rl’s be¬ 
ing after him, and I will dispel bl3 tears at once, 
and inform him that It Is merely for Information 
regarding the country round there, that I ask 
him so to exert himself. Will he tell me what I 
wish to know? Sir Editor! Did you deem the 
cousin's letters that wero sent you lately—IT 
there have been any—unworthy of publication, 
and so filled the waste-basket to overflowing 
with them? Oh! I entreat you with upltrted 
hands and streaming eyes, to let Lhls, my touch¬ 
ing appeal, come forth In your paper, thereby 
sending a cheering ray to my saddened heart. 
Cousins, adieu. Yours, sorrowfully, 
Norfolk, Co., Va. Snow-drop. 
A Trip to the Falls. 
Dear Cousins :—Good for Madcap Mollle! Now 
there will be some letters—ora fuss. And, Mollle 
I would suggest that you tell us In your very first 
letter what you have been doing this Bummer. 
Have you been on a pleasure trip, or have you, 
like myself, been quietly baking at home y And I 
think after all, If one must bake, home ls about 
thebeBt place to bake in, I am sitting Just now 
In my favorite nook In an old pear tree. Some¬ 
time 1 will describe it. I will only say now that 
It ls in the middle of a large orchard, just a little 
way from my home. I came here with a pocket¬ 
ful—as the boys elegantly put it—“chock full ” of 
plums. Dollclous, little, Bweet pluma, but alas, 
they are rapidly disappearing. Now, Just wait 
till I get another one and I will tell you of what 
was about the only pleasure trip I took last sum¬ 
mer. It was an excursion to Niagara. We start¬ 
ed quite early, going on tho care, and arrived 
there In due season. Then, after walking around 
& Uttle in tue Park, going down to Prospect Point, 
etc., we went down the Inclined Railway; 
some of the party went over lu the ferry. 1 wanted 
to go very much, for I love the water, but the 
lady with whom I went to the Falls, being very 
timid, wouldn’t hear of suoh a tUlng, &o I wa9 
obliged to be content with land. When we came 
up to dry land again, for everything down there 
ls washed with spvaj from the falls, we had our 
dinner In Prospect Park, which, (the dlnnei) ( 
wasn’t the least pleasant part ol the day I can 
assure you. After that we visited Goat Island 
and the Three Sisters, (I think tho view from the 
Three Sisters is the finest I saw), and went a step 
into Canada, not more, tor there was not time for 
any sight-seeing there; then to the depot. We 
had to run for the train as It was. But my plums 
are all gone and so I am sure ls Uncle True's 
patience, so I must end this short (?) letter. 
Thanking Uncle True very much for the answers 
he gave to my questions last time, I remain, 
Leonora. 
Query"Where Is Jumping Jack?” Ans.— 
Dead Sfience. 
Her Introduction. 
Good evening Cousins.—M ay I come and 
swell your ranks? Methlnks 1 hear your an¬ 
swer, yes. Why do they respond so readily? 
some one may nsk. Because they think (J udg- 
lng by my name) that I am all animation, and 
will help to enliven their circle. Now cousins. 
1 don’t want you to be disappointed by infer¬ 
ring the opposite to what I may be. Perhaps 
my signature reminds you of Topsy, who took 
an active part In “ Uncle Tom's Cabin,” and that 
I wilt do the same In our circle. I don’t pro¬ 
pose to do any such thing, and why ? for the sim¬ 
ple season—that I haven’t the wit to do so. Per¬ 
haps l ought to have left my last remark un¬ 
said, for some of the boys, as Slayerofeon celt. 
Young Bach and several others l might mention, 
may regard me as of little consequence. And 
you know 1 wouldn’t have them think ihat for 
anything, because 1 flatter myself that I am of 
a little Importance if t am not humorous. I have 
some good com inou sense which lsa great deal 
better. I am somewhat older than most of the 
cousins, I Judge, and may be in your way; but 
as you have so kindly admitted mo, I will pro¬ 
mise not to tire you too often with my long, 
prosy letters. Trusting my admission has met 
the approval or Uncle True (for 1 suppose the 
tnvlt itlon of new members must be sanctioned by 
him), l will close this Introductory letter. 
Cousin TorsY, 
A Kls9 for Uncle True. 
Dear Uncle and Cousins.— Will you altow a 
little girl away off In Kentucky to enter your cir¬ 
cle? I am a dear lover of the Rural, and when 
It comes can hardly wait for mamma to sew and 
cut It, aud being the only little girl In the family 
I generally get it first,. Whore shall 1 look first ? 
Oh, turn to the pictures, what a treat I Lltrle 
brother, four years old, crowds in to “ shoe ” too. 
As, soon as I get the paper all to myself I turn 
with eager delight to the letters. The names or 
Lily Lee, Wild Peru, Wild Rose, and many oth¬ 
ers are quite familiar to me. I am eight years 
old, have never been to school, but «m learning 
at home. I have one. Uttle brother, Johnnie, and 
he ls a true boy, full of mischief and fun. My 
papa has been taking the Rural ever since 1 can 
recollect. I can’t write much this time, not 
knowing If I shall he admitted. 1 have never 
seen a letter to the cousins from good old Ken¬ 
tucky, and It I am not counted In I will know I 
am not welcome; if kindly received, I will write 
again and tell you more about myself and my 
home. Love to all the cousins whether you claim 
me or not, and a kiss to dear Uncle True. 
Todd Co., Ky. Katie M. Mobley. 
Not for Several Years- 
Dear Rural Cousins:— Allfiougu It has been 
Several years since I have written lo you, my 
dear unknown young triendsof Tnii Rural, still I 
hope you will give me a hearty welcome among 
you once more, l still read the letters, and hope 
that the writers will follow my example, and wo 
will soon gain as much room In the paper as we 
ever possessed. We have been having quite a 
pleasant time this summer down hero in our 
quiet little village of the Sunny south. There 
have been several picnics aud we enjoyed our¬ 
selves greatly playing and fishing. The lady 
with whom 1 board bus a great many flowers In 
bloom now, notwithstanding tho dry weather and 
excessive heat of tho last few months. I can 
send bouquets Lo my dear friends whenever I am 
so disposed, but sad to say, fate has not smiled on 
me as on most of my companions, for I have no 
sweetheart to love and cherish. I think it ls best 
for the growu-up pcoplo to have lovers; and 1 
abide by my own opinion. 
Hoping my young friends will write oftener 
and long letters, I again subscribe myself your 
cousin, John W. E. 
Carrollton,Ala., Sept., 187$. 
To the Front at Last. 
Dear Uncle Truk WU1 you please consider 
me one of the cousins. Some undeflnable fear 
has prevented mo rrom coming to the rronl and 
joining your number before. I would like to ask 
Uncle True If he considers It right for people to 
read novels? I have only taken your paper for 
about six months, yet I assure you l like it very 
much. Will some of the cousins please tell mo 
how they fix their autumn leaves to keep them 
through the wluter? Now, if Uncle True will 
please print this, he will greatly oblige, 
A Rural Cousin, 
-—-♦-- 
PUZZLER ANSWERS.—Oct. 19. 
Charade.— May-baaket. 
Double ACROSTIC.— Initials, Perch; finals,Trout. 
Transposition — 
Yet do not thfflk f doubt thee; 
I know tby truth remains ; 
1 would not five without theo, 
For all the world domains, 
UOV.** 
Jklitetlj llmtiiirg. 
WHERE HAST THOU GLEANED TO-DAY 
An, never true workman tolled in vain, 
E’en though he watered bis seed with tears; 
Bright golden stalks and the full-eared grain 
In God’s due season” for lilm appears 1 
Dear Christain worker, what sheaf for you 
Stands safely bound in the twllbrht gray 1 
Thy soul drinks blessing midst falling due— 
O. tell us, where hast tliou gleaned to-day I 
it. 
Has some fallow ground sprung green at last— 
Doth tltn stubble field its grace renew ? 
Where bramble shadows have long o’ercast 
Doth rude fenco-ooruer yield treasure too ? 
Where Borrow’a sickle, with edge so keen. 
Left naught Of promise In smiling May, 
Humility’s fragrant petals loan— 
O, reaper, hast thou gleaned there to-day » 
m. 
Whore Satan's briers the fingers wound 
Have not your lalwrs been all too brief 1 
Remember, where sharpest thorns are found 
Stands richest blossom for Master's shea! ! 
Yet there’s precious grain in ev’ry field— 
No scythe sweeps wholly, though swuug for aye 1 
For thousands of sweets tho harvest yield— 
Say, Christian, where hast thou gleaned to-day ? 
iv. 
E’en Job returned from the close mown valo 
More richly laden thau Joyful P.uih; 
For him, where e thers thought crop would fail. 
Flashed goms of wisdom aud pearls of truth ! 
When in stubble field of affliction tried, 
Like grand old Daniel, we’ll often pray 
The Angel of Meroy wifi walk beside, 
And bend our sheaves at its closing day 1 
IChrlMan at TVork. 
-*■■*■■*-- 
MATERIALI8M IN THE POPULAR FAITH. 
Many defenders of the faith are greatly alarm¬ 
ed, Just now, by the spread of materialistic doc¬ 
trines. It ls reared that the belief of men in tho 
truth of the gospel will be undermined by this 
movement; and a host of apologists under the 
able and confident leadership of Mr. Joseph Cook, 
are aiming themselves with such arguments as 
they can command to meet this dangerous foe. 
The materialism which excites their alarm Is that 
whloh appears In Connection with the recent In¬ 
vestigations lu physical science—the materialism 
of Brin and Butchner and Carl Vogt; Ihe alleged 
(but net acknowledged) materialism of Tyndall 
and Huxley and Spencer. From the teachings of 
these physicists and philosophers the danger to 
religion ls supposed to come; and these are the 
names with which polemical pulpits are resound¬ 
ing, and the pages of quarterly reviews are plen¬ 
tifully besprlokled. 
Wc arc not Inclined to belittle the perils con¬ 
fronted by the church on this side, nor to ridi¬ 
cule those who are trying to meet them; but It 
may be that materialism In other shapes la as¬ 
sailing our faith In another quarter. Sometimes 
it Is true that the most dangerous fees of the 
church are In Its own household. Sometimes the 
enemy outside tho camp has a powerful ally 
within. We wish to suggest the Inquiry wnether 
It be not so In this case; whether there bo not a 
very considerable materialistic element mingled 
through and through the popular faith; and 
whether this materialistic leaven, which ls not 
tho product of modern science, but which has 
been propagallLg Itself In Christian thought 
all through the cent uries he not, after all, more to 
be reared than scientific skepticism. 
-•-«-*- 
BIBLE ARITHMETIC. 
Addition.— Add to your faith virtue; and to 
virtue, knowledge; and to knowlegc temperance; 
and to temperance, patience; and to patience, 
gofiltne8s; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; 
and to brotherly kindness, charity. 2 Peter, 
1: 5—7. 
Subtraction,— Laying aside all malice, and all 
gullo, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil 
speakings—desire the sincere milk of the Word, 
that ye may grow thereby, l Peter. 2:1, 2. 
MuLTirt.icATtoN.—Grace and peace be multi¬ 
plied unto you through the kuo w ledge of God and 
of Jesus our Lord. 2 Peter, l: 2. 
Ho that mtnisterctli seed to the sower doth 
minister bread for your food, and Increase ihe 
fruit of your righteousness. 2 Cor. 9 : 10 . 
Division.—C ome out from Among them, and be 
ye separate, satth the Lord, and touch not the 
unclean thing; and 1 will receive you, and will 
be a Father unto you, and ye shall be My sons 
and daughters, salth the Lord Almighty. 2 Cor. 
6:17,18. 
One of the religious Journals expresses the 
hope that the Committee of Bible Revisers “ will 
have honesty and grace enough to weigh with 
the utmost Impartiality the auriiorlty for every 
passage tu the Holy Word, and that wherever 
the evidence tor an interpolation Into God’s Word 
overbalances by tho slightest fraction that In 
favor of the passage, they will consign it to mar¬ 
gin or brackets, or omit It altogether, as tha evi¬ 
dence may require,” To this the Interior seems 
to object. •* Who,” It. asks, “shall certify to us 
tho absolute accuracy of those balances? It was 
not nominated In tho bond that they were to sup¬ 
ply a new canon, ir, however, the highly Im¬ 
probable supposition should prove true, that the 
Committee are thus amuslug themselves, their 
work will fall so heavily from the press ns to 
mash some of them. A steam derrick could not 
hoist an cmasculutcd Bible Into a single evan¬ 
gelical church.” We do not quite get the force 
of this objection. It is true that the revisers 
wero not expected to supply "a new canon;” 
and though the quustlou or the canon was not 
settled by miracle, and canaot be regarded as be¬ 
yond the pale of argument, yet we have heard 
no desire expressed that the Revision Committee 
take up that question. 
