490 
THE RURAL, WIW-YORKIR, 
JULY 22 
a moment. Talk of facing a cannon! cannons 
miss o'fcener than they hit; the fellows behind 
them are just as much afraid of you as you 
are of them: but if that foot should rise up it 
would surely take you somewhere between 
your toes and your scalp, it couldn’t miss if 
it tried. 
I tried to keep one eye on her tail, and one 
on her eye, suuposinz that these two points 
would gauze her feelings, but that didn’t 
leave me any eye for milking with, and it 
was necessary that I should attend to myself 
here. I managed to go through the operation 
after a fashion and considered myself a 
graduate. 
When the calf was old enough I got rid of 
him for veal, and then my skill as a milker 
came into plav. T have read of men being 
punished by hanging them up by the thumbs; 
I’d rather have that k : nd of punishment twice 
over than go tbronah the suffering I went 
through in my early milking experience; the 
first quart came in a way that was enticing; 
the wrists felt a little pain at the second quart; 
they grew powerless at the next, and the 
whole arm seemed to be dropping off soon 
after this. But when I carried the milk into 
the house I was compensated for my pains by 
the satisfaction my wife took in straining and 
pouring it into pans. 
Somehow the cow did not come up to ex¬ 
pectations in quantity, though I gave her hay 
and grain without stint. I was told that she 
must have pasturage, so I hired a vacant field 
at one dollar a week. I led her to the pasture 
and at night attempted to drive her home, but 
before I managed to get her in the barn I had 
to chase her through every street and alley 
in the city, and it was nine o’clock that night 
when I closed the barn door on her After 
that I led her to and from thelet, but I always 
estimated and allowed myself 30 minutes to 
chase her about the field before finally catch¬ 
ing her. I broke more commandments in 
those races than I ever did before in my life. 
As the flies began to gather I saw she was 
exceedingly sensitive, and there were times 
when she did not discriminate between them 
and me; in fact I think she blamed me for the 
pain they caused her, and one night she sent 
them and me flying, only I fell on my back, 
while they probably fell on their feet, It is 
a fearful thing to lose confidence in a cow! 
From that time on I was in constant fear of a 
repetition; and about once in three days my 
fears were realized There was a novelty about 
it that prevented it’s getting old. She never 
kicked twice in the same place, nor in the 
same way, and I had a standing bet with 
myself as to where she would plant her foot 
next. 
Hot weather came; grass dried up; water 
dried up; milk dried up. I had to carry four 
pails of water to her every noon; and carrying 
water two squares on a hot, July day is not 
pastime; there was water enough in her barn 
but she would never condescend to drink 
there. Then my wife began to complain that 
we were not getting milk enough, and I began 
to complain that I was getting a deal more 
out-of-door exercise than I cared for in dog- 
days. 
About this time I was led to examine into 
the profit made on our cow. I found that 
what I fed her in the barn was costing $1.25 
per week, and feed in the pasture $1. more, 
making $2.25 per week, and not counting the 
work of taking care of her. Turning to our 
accounts when we were buying milk I found 
four quarts a day had cost us $1.75 per week 
and had given us all the milk we needed, 
while we were having no more milk than we 
wanted at an expense of $2.25. 
If I ever was wrathy in my life I was then. 
I showed the figures to my wife and left them 
with her, while I made a call on the editor of 
our paper. That night an article appeared 
on “Healthful Milk," in which it was said, 
‘ ‘ a deal has been written about the adulter¬ 
ation of milk, etc., it is all rubbish; there is 
scarcely a milkman in the county who would 
think of doing anythiug of the kind, and milk 
from the green fields of the country is better 
than any milk from city fed cows.’’ There 
was more of it, but this was the gist of the 
article, and I awaited results. 
A few days after I was told that our milk 
did not taste like the milk we used to get, and 
within a week it was understood in our house 
that our cow must go. But now cows were 
down in value; the only otfer I could get for 
her was $10, from a man who said she was 
worth only what her hide and tallow would 
bring. While I was debating over this offer, 
and sitting in the house one evening, I heard 
a stealthy step just outside my window. My 
wife heard it too and whispered, “Thieves get 
your gun. 1 ’ I got my gun, a breech loader, 
took off my shoes, and cautiously went to the 
back door; it was dark, by I saw an object 
under the library window. “ Who are you?" 
I asked, bringing my gun to my shouller; no 
answer was given, but I heard the fellow 
moving as if getting away. “Stop!" said I, 
“or Ill shoot.” The rustling continued, and 
I fired. There was a commotion as if fifty 
men were being killed, and my wife brought 
a lamp to the window. I had shot our cow! 
She had forced her way out of the barn in 
someway, and was nibbling under the window 
when I first heard her. My shot broke her 
leg. In the morning I saw the man who 
had offered $10 for her, but he said the 
shot bad spoiled the hide, so I told him he might 
have her for nothing, if he would only take 
her away. 
So ended our experience with a good,family 
cow. I shall never own another unless Edison 
invents one that won’t kick, will not dry up, 
and does not eat. And my wife tells her 
friends she will have none but country milk. 
BRIC-A-BRAC. 
Nothing is so good as it seems beforehand. 
— George, Eliot. 
The proper way to check slander is to des¬ 
pise it; attempt to overtake and refute it, and 
it will outrun you. 
If every person would be half as good as he 
expects his neighhor to be what a heaven this 
world would be. —Luther Norris. 
The pleasantest things in the world are 
pleasant thoughts, and the greatest art in life 
is to have as many of them as possible. 
for Women. 
CONDUCTED BY HISS RAY CLARK. 
FOREVER AND FOREVER. 
I think of all thou art to me, 
I dream of al! thou eanst not he, 
My life la blessed with thoughts of thee, 
Forever and forever! 
My heart Is full of grief and woe, 
I see thy face where’er I go, 
I would, alas! It were not so. 
Forever and forever! 
Ah, no ! T could not bear the pain 
Of never «eelng thee again ; 
I cling to thee wltn might and main. 
Forever and Torever! 
Perchance If we had never mot, 
T had been spared tuls mad regret, 
This endless sie ving to forget, 
Forever and forever! 
Perchance If thou wert far away, 
Did I not see thee, day by day, 
I might again be blithe and gay, 
Forever ami forever! 
But leave me not; I love hut thee, 
Blessing or curse, wUlcbe’er thou b«. 
Oh! be as thou hast been to me, 
Forever and forever! 
[Selected. 
-- 
and doubtless many would be glad to utilize 
them did they understand any method of 
doing so. Now there are several ways of 
using these designs, some of which even the 
most aesthetic art-lover who is readv to cry 
out against everything not strictly genuine, 
can find nothing to carp at; while others will 
be found available for that large class who 
possess neither time or means to carry out 
minute and difficult details. 
One of the most artistic modes of applying 
silhouettes to household adornment is by means 
of the water color panels—now so popular in 
our art schools. The materials required for 
this work are the panels, ranging in size from 
. that of a card photograph inches, 
costing eight or teo cents, to the large panels, 
7>£x 141*3 inches—costing twenty-five to fifty 
cents; several sizes of camel’s hair brushes, 
one for fine lines and delicate parts, others 
for general work, one for blending, and a 
large one for broad sweeps in paiuting large 
figures A pair of small, sharp-pointed scis¬ 
sors, a tube of black (oil color), and a sharp 
lead pencil. 
Select the silhouette yon desire to paint, and 
carefully cut away every particle of the sur¬ 
rounding margin, leaving only the clear out¬ 
lines. Place it in position upon the panel, 
holding it in place by means of very fine 
cambric needles, pressing the points carefully 
through the extreme edge*, and into the wood. 
Then trace the outlines with great care, using 
light but firm touches of the hard pencil. 
Having mixed a portion of the paint with 
a little turpentine, take the smallest brush 
and loading It lightly go over all the out¬ 
lines, then with the medium size—paint arms, 
face, and other more delicate parts, using the 
large brush for the drapery and other broad 
portions of the picture. Oa the hair, apply 
the color by stippling, holding a stiff brush 
perpendicularly and giving successive taps 
upon the part. The round bristle brushes, 
used for Poonah-paiutiug, will be found the 
best for this purpose, finishing up with the 
camel’s hair brushes. Blend tbs color in 
smoothly as possible, leaving no rough spots, 
irregular lines, or uneven spaces, but using 
the paint—of a consistency like thick cream— 
if too thin it will appear streaked and prob¬ 
ably “run;” if too thick it will drag under the 
brush and make rough, uneven places. 
Where the panels are of a pleasing, delicate 
tint, such as a buff, pale green, pearl or blue, 
the effect is lovely. 
A pleasing change is made by sketching the 
designs on prepared ebonized panels, and 
painting the figures in with Chinese white, 
slightly tinted to an ivory shade with chrome. 
This gives the appearance of the Chinese in¬ 
laid work. 
By using Japanese designs aud letters in 
this way charming imitations of their words 
are produced and various household orna¬ 
ments, such as book re«ts, toilet boxes, card 
receivers, etc., are made with most satisfac¬ 
tory results. 
The less artistic mode of using these sil¬ 
houettes is to cut the margin carefully away 
and then to paste the figures iu position, pat¬ 
ting aud pressing every part to exclude the 
air, then when dry to give a coat of copal or 
demmar varnish according to the ground, the 
delicate colors requiring colorless varnish. 
When dry a second coat is given, and after 
the surface becomes hard, it should be care¬ 
fully polished by rubbing off gently with a 
soft wet cloth, covered with pulverized pumice 
stone, rinsing thoroughly, and re-varnishing, 
repeating this until a highly-polished surface 
like papier-mache is obtained. 
-» ♦ «- 
LAWN TENNIS COSTUMES. 
It was only two years ago that one could 
see displayed outside of almost every dry 
goods house piles of a cotton material for 
tennis suits. It was very conspicuous for its 
colors, w hich were red, brown or blue, on a 
white ground. Also for the style, which 
was stripes of all widths. 
Our streets were studded here and there 
with these costumes, than which nothing 
could be uglier, for they looked as if the awn¬ 
ings bad suddenly become moveable, and 
were taking a promenade. However much 
of pleasure there was to he had iu wearing 
such, none was given to those viewing the 
same. They had their day, and it was a very 
short one, of which we were glad. 
Since that time there has been an improve¬ 
ment in these costumes, and for the benefit of 
our young lady readers we describe a few. 
The game of lawn tennis has increased in 
favor, and is rapidly taking the place of cro¬ 
quet. It is one well calculated to show off 
both the figure and costume, rnd it becomes 
all who play it to dress iu the best of taste, 
using judgment as to what is becoming; and 
there is great liberty of choice, fur the more 
showy the better its t ffect. 
The pannier po'onaise takes the lead, as it 
allows the entire front of skirt to show, and 
to have this either plain, of a rich material, 
The shortest and surest way to live with 
honor in the world is to be in reality what we 
would appear to be; and, if we observe, we 
shall find that all human virtues increase and 
strengthen themselves by the practice and ex¬ 
perience of them. 
Show me the man you honor; I know by 
that symptom, better than any other, what 
kind of a man you are yourself. For you 
show me there what your ideal of manhood 
is, what kind of a man you long inexpressibly 
to be.—C arlyle. 
It is not what we earn, but what we save, 
that makes us rich. It is not what we eat, 
but what we digest, that makes us strong. It 
is not what we read, but what we remember, 
that makes us wise. It is not what we .in¬ 
tend, but what we do, that makes us useful. 
It is not a few faint wishes, but a life long 
struggle, that makes us valiant. 
In the castles and palaces of the ancient 
nobility of France, the tapestry frequently 
presents memorials of their pride of ancestry. 
On the tapestry at the Duke of Choiseul’s is a 
representation of the Deluge, in which a mm 
is seen running after Noah, and calling out, 
“My good friend, save the archives of the 
Choiseul family.” 
Recall at night not only your business 
transactions, but what you have said of those 
of whom you have spoken during the day, 
and weigh in the balance of conscience w hat 
you have uttered. If you have done full jus¬ 
tice in all your remarks, it is well. If you 
have not, then seek the earliest opportunity 
to make amends, and carefully avoid a repe¬ 
tition of the wrong. 
death. 
What of death? 
The one heritage truly, the Silence that salth 
To all care and all effort, ’Be still!” the one blessing 
The poorest of all may be sure of possessing; 
The rest from all fever; thp peace from all pain; 
The one antidote certain for life’s bitter bane; 
All humanity’s right, that Divinity gave 
When Ite peopled the earth, and permitted a grave; 
The last mystery waiting mortality’s ken, 
To be read bye and bye. 
" Geraldine:" Dr. Holland. 
NAPOLEON’S MATCH-MAKING. 
Napoleon, in spite of the claims of army 
and nation, apparently found time to do an 
enormous bus in ess as a match-maker. 
He married all his brothers and sisters. He 
executed the same kindly offices for his 
nephews and his nieces. Even the children of 
his wife by a former husband, and that 
husband’s offspring from a former marriage, 
were equally escorted to the altar, and married 
to the girls and youths whom the famous 
Corsican selected. 
When everyone within his own circle was 
thus provided for, N apoleon set to work upon 
matrimonial schemes for his pet soldiers. 
Ney, Soult, Berthier, and a score of other 
favored generals received strong hints where 
they should place their affections. As you 
might do auything with Napoleon but contra¬ 
dict him, his plans were uniformly successful 
for the time l:*eing. 
That the husbauds generally detested their 
wives, or the wives hated the husbands 
assigned them, did not come within the im¬ 
perial match-maker’s thoughts. He was Em¬ 
peror, and determined that he would regulate 
the creation of a new nobility much as a 
cattle breeder selects stock. 
The result can hardly be said to have been 
worth the trouble. Napoleonism, empire, 
nobility, Napoleonic tradition even, came to 
the ground with a ci-ash, and to-day its only 
remains are a few historical paragraphs. 
MRS. LEE’S JOURNAL. 
MARGUERITE. 
It’s queer how many people will study a 
given subject and arrive at different views 
concerning the same. It makes me think of 
the seven blind men feeling the elephant! ’’ 
“What now?” I asked of Aunt Belinda. 
“Ido think Mrs. Story’s spectacles must 
have been all askew when she wrote this arti¬ 
cle in May 20th,’’ she answered. 
I would rather judge that her digestive 
organs are exceptional. She has not arrived 
at the real spectacle age or she would be 
wiser, said I. 
Aunt Belinda dropped the Rural, saying, 
“ Now that article ought to be answered. I 
can’t bear to think a minute of such heresy 
creeping into the dear old Rural. Not make 
a study of what we eat!—why it ought to be 
taught next to the catechism! Of course, 
everybody knows that oat-meal makes muscle, 
fish feeds the brain; beef is the grand 
strengthener; tea and coffee are not as nour¬ 
ishing as cocoa, better If they were never 
used. I read an article by Dr. Holland once, 
and he argued that the great cause of con¬ 
sumption in New England was innutritious 
food—too much pork and beans,—until the 
system became reduced and was an easy prey 
to disease. Then it is surprising how little some 
people think even when the best is at hand. 
Last Fall when I was off visiting I saw a 
friend put a steak on to fry before potatoes 
were pared, and when I tried to eat it I could 
not. It was hard and dry and tasteless. At 
another place one of the ladies picked up a 
nice roast and put in a kettle of cold water to 
cook. 
“Oh, it ought to be boiling,” I said quickly. 
“ I’m in a hurry to get it out of my way,” 
she answered. 
“ Why, I read an article last night com¬ 
plaining because so many farmers did not 
provide themselves with plenty of vegetables 
and variety in fare. Surely none can live bet¬ 
ter, if they only use a little forethought in pro¬ 
viding. It’s true though many of them have 
pork, potatoes, jams, butters, pies and cake, 
but no vegetables; or ripe fruit for dessert.” 
Aunt Belinda you must answer that article 
yourself, said I. 
“ No, preaching and practising are more in 
my line than writing. I see your pencil tab¬ 
let is handy, write for me aud I'll provide 
your dessert for dinner, I really must hurry 
home for old Top knot has so far defied my 
powers to keep her in the coop. There is a 
place somewhere, but I cannot find where, 
that she slips out of the hensry and goes into 
the garden.” 
No poultry in your garden, said I. 
“No nor yard,” she answered, “ they spoil 
the gross." 
I turned to my writing after her departure 
with a sense of relief. No planning of dessert 
to-day, and everything is so scarce. After 
Bessie removed the plates and prepared the 
table for dessert she sat before me a fruit dish 
of tempting, luscious strawberries and a pitch¬ 
er of thick cream. 
“ Her own raising on the south side of the 
garden,” she told me to tell you, said Bessie. 
Dear Aunt Belinda I how kind and thought¬ 
ful it was of her. And we enjoyed to the full, 
those delicious berries. 
-♦ * » — 
PANELS EMBELLISHED WITH 
SILHOUETTES. 
MRS. C. S. JONES. 
The various periodicals publish admirable 
silhouettes, which are well worth preserving, 
