FEB.2S 
THE BUBAL WEW-YOBKEB. 
444 
Jfrr ©lomra. 
CONDUCTED BY MISS RAY CLARK. 
WHAT AILED THE PUDDING 1 
BY JOSEPHINE POLLARD. 
“ What 6hall we have for dinner to-day? 
Bald Mrs. Dobbs In her pleasant way : 
" For Sally has much to do. and would wish 
That we’d get along with an easy dish— 
Something that wouldn't take long to preparo. 
Or really require much extra care." 
Said Mrs. Dobbs: “ There isn’t a doubt 
But what we'd all fancy a stirabout 1" 
*’ A hasty pudding ! Hurrah ! that's nice!" 
Exclaimed the girls and boys in a trice. 
Then Sally put on the biggest, pot, 
And soon the water was boiling hot, 
And Mrs. Dobbs mixed together some flour 
And water, and in less than half an hour 
The pudding lxigan to bubble up thick 
And dance about with the pudding-stick. 
Bald Mr. Dobbs, as lie made a halt: 
" Our Sally Is apt to forget the salt; 
8 o I’ll pul in a pinch ere I leave the house." 
And ho wont on tip-toe, as still as a mouse, 
And, dropping a handful in very quick. 
Stirred it well about with the pudding- stick, 
And said to himself ■ " Now, l»n’t thiB clever?" 
At which the pudding laughed louder than ever. 
Then Mrs. Dobbs came after a while, 
And looked in tho pot with a cheery smile. 
And thought how much she'd enjoy the treat. 
And how much the children would want to eat ; 
Then said: “ Our sally has one great fault— 
Hhe's very apt to forget, tho salt!" 
And Into the hasty pudding was sent 
A handful of tills Ingredient, 
John, George and Jennie, and Bess, in turn. 
Gave the stick a twist, hist t.ho pudding burn ; 
For oh! how empty and wretched they’d feel 
If anything ruined the noonday meul! 
And each In turn liegau to reflect, 
And make amends for Sally's neglect, 
For tho girl was good, but she had one fault— 
She lam utru apt taforget the. Halt l 
But Hally herself, it Is strange to say, 
Was not remise in her usual way; 
But before she wont to her up-etairs work 
She threw in a handful of salt, with a Jork, 
And stirred the pudding and stirred the lire. 
Which made the bubbles leap higher uud higher, 
And as boou as tho clock struck twelve she took 
The groat big pot oif the groat big hook. 
It wasn’t scorched! Ah ! that, was nice ! 
And ono little dish would not su^ico 
Mr. or Mrs. Dobbs, i guess, 
John, or George, or Jennie, or Boss; 
And as for Sally, I couldn’t say 
How much of the pudding she’d stow away, 
For she was tired and hungry no doubt, 
And very fond of this stirabout. 
A happier group you'd ne’er be able 
To find than sat at the Dobbs’s table, 
With plates and spoons, and a hungry wish 
To eat their fill of the central dish. 
But ns Dobbs began hi Uate 
The pudding, ho dropped his spoon in haste; 
And allot the children did likewise, 
As big as saucers their staring eyes. 
Said Mrs. Dobbs, in a voice not sweet: 
’* Why, it isn't fit for the pigs to oat!" 
And I doubt if an artist would o'er be nble 
To depict their looks as they left tho table. 
Haiil Hally; “ I thought it would he so nice! 
But I must have salted that pudding twice ?" 
And uouo of the family meutioued that they 
Had a hand in spoiling the dinner that day. 
—Independent. 
■* * » - 
DESCRIPTION OF CUTS. 
No. 62Evening-dress. The dress Is of faded 
rose-colored muslin, trimmed with Insertion, 
kilted Cretonne lace, and bows of satin ribbon, 
this la worn over a plain Princess robe of faded 
rose silk. 
No. 68:—Shows a design for neck w r ear and, 
also a style of dressing the hair. 
No. 64Lace Tie. The tie Is a combinat ion of 
lace and mull or other gauzy material. 
Nos. 65, 66Are designs for crochet or zephyr 
work. 
- 4 «♦- 
A DAY AT A QUILTING. 
One morning Mrs. Raymond called with an Invi¬ 
tation for me to a quilling at a nolgbor’a nearly 
two miles away. And now I will tell the Bisters 
of the “ Rural ” about the quilting. It was at the 
home of our new neighbors, tho Neal’s, who live In 
a little log house In the woods, nearly half a mile 
from any neighbor. Fair Ulster, used only to a life 
of affluence, to scenes of grace, and beauty, 
surrounded by all that a cultured taste can 
crave, do you turn Indifferently from my home¬ 
ly. sketch ? Would that I could Imbue every 
heart with the glorious, uevcr-dytng truth that 
love may reign as royally and hearts as truly beat» 
within tho lowly cottage as In the princely man¬ 
sion; that the humblest log-cabin of the forest 
may bo hallowed by love as deep and tender as 
any that ever performed Its blessed mission on 
God’s fair earth. 
“Grandma Neal" Is paying our neighbors her 
autumnal visit, and not ono, from her handsome 
son down to the wee-toddler, but Is remembered In 
some substantial way -Indeed, “ Grandma ” Is the 
“good fairy of the Neal household;’’ aud though 
her means are limited, the simple gifts from her 
humble store bring Hlnecro pleasure to tho hearts 
that lovo her. “Such apples and pears! such 
plums and grapes as Grandma brings l” surely 
their like was never seen lu that little kingdom 
where Bhe reigns a crowned queen. Love does 
reach out to clasp its own, tho wide world over! 
Among tho gifts were materials for some bed- 
qullts, needed for the bitter cold nights of the 
winter; and wishing to see all completed before 
her departure, they decided to make “ a quilting." 
One quilt was on the frames when we arrived. We 
were a company of three, two others having pre¬ 
ceded us. We set to work with a right good will: 
amidst social chat, now and then a burst of song, 
and many a merry peal of laughter; tho work 
went on, only a pause to obey the call to dinner. 
This quilt completed, we removed It from the 
frames, and, after tho usual shaking and fun in 
throwing It over the head.of some blushing lass, 
we hastened to put on another quilt: this was 
merely covering an old quilt with new calico. 
No. 62. 
The old lady said, she thought It a good plan, 
when quilts became worn, to cover them plainly, 
outside and line with ne ,v calico, quilting on the 
cover (not closely,) Instead of tacking; it saves 
buying new cotton. Of course, tho quilts should 
be perfectly clean before being covered; and after 
the lining is stretched on the frames and the quilt 
spread tnereon, should there he any much worn 
places, lay upon them pieces of cotton-batting 
(this may also bo from old qullm.) and then care¬ 
fully put the cover in place. 
I was thereby reminded of Aunt Marla’s plan, 
which Is to take new, cheap, unbleached muslin 
(sheeting,) and color It for covering worn quilts, 
though her way Is to tack the covers on. This Is 
cheaper aud more durable t han common calico, a 
very good color for this purpose (as also for cotton 
stockings, carpet rags, etc.,) may be made as fol¬ 
lows Make a strong dye by boiling unrossed soft 
maple bark with water, lu an Iron kcttlo; strain 
through a colander, rinse the kettle and put Into 
It, the clear dye, to every ten or twelve quarts ad¬ 
ding a piece of alum nearly as large as a butter¬ 
sired color, hang them In the shade to dry; then 
wash them In soap-suds and rinse thoroughly. If 
a different, shade be desired, part hemlock bark 
may be used. 
But to return to the quilting. After dinner the 
talk drifted Into other channels, Mrs. Neal, the 
elder. Interesting us with some Incidents from her 
ripe experience, ror sne is an old lady, with silver, 
threaded thickly upon her brow, ono who has 
quaffed deeply of life’s sorrows and disappoint¬ 
ments as well as Its Joys and aunstilne. Some re¬ 
mark touched a tender chord In her memory, and 
Bhe spoke of the time of the one great affliction of 
her early womanhood, when thebeloved husband 
was removed from her side by that tneludlbte mes¬ 
senger—Death. How he was comforted and up¬ 
held In a dying hour by a trustful reliance on bis 
Saviour, aud with what firm assurance he declared 
that, though many troubles and dangers might 
beset, and their feet wanner far from the path of 
right., his children—two little boys scarce more 
than babies—would eventually become living mon¬ 
uments to Christ. Sublime faith! And Its fulfill¬ 
ment., now In their manhood, the aged mother 
longs and prays (we cannot think In vain) to see. 
At supper the canned pears were so nice that I 
really could not help remarking It. 
•• The grapes and plums,” said she, well pleased, 
“ I canned before I came; the apples and pears I 
brought with me. You see, Lizzie here has had no 
experience In canning fruit, and T wanted her to 
leant.” Then she kindly told me her way of can¬ 
ning fruit—a method, she said, by which fruit 
would keep for years. For t he quart cans, about 
two quarts of fruit is required. To each of these 
large cans. If of grapes or plums, allow two tea¬ 
cupfuls of sugar, heaping and packed, which she 
says la a pound. For apples and pears, one teacup¬ 
ful of sugar. Add Just a little water to start a 
Bteam in canning apples and pears, none for juicy 
fruit, and cook the fruit with the sugar a few 
minutes, or until the fruit Is done; then take a 
glass can, wrap It to the very top In a towel wet 
with cold water, and with the hot fruit immedi¬ 
ately till the can brimming full, and Bcrew the lid 
down tight. She did not say, Out I presume It 
should be kept In ft cool, dark, dry place. I have 
not tried this way of canning fruit, but certainly 
It seems a very quick and easy one. 
Supper over, wc rolled the quilt for the last time, 
finished marking it., and quilted a short time; then, 
finding that we could not finish the work—the 
gathering shadows warning us of approaching 
night—amidst many thanks for our assistance, we 
said good-night, and turned our facea homeward. 
Gladdys Wayne. 
-- 
REVIEW OF THE WOMAN’S CLUB. 
THE MOTHER-IN-LAW. 
I shall never dU this position, I therefore rise 
No. 65. 
to preach a short sermon, from an Independent 
standpoint 
You will find my text In Paul’s Epistle of the 
Ephesians, Chap. V. beginning at verse 2Sth; " So 
ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. 
For no man ever yet hated bis own flesh, but 
nourlaheth and cherlsheth It. For this cause 
No. 68. 
nut, having first dissolved It. In a little hot water; 
wash the goods lu strong soap-suds and put them 
lu; stir often, lifting them Into tho air occasion¬ 
ally ; do not let them be crowded in the dyo. This 
process secures an even color. When of tho do- 
shall a man leave his father and mother, and 
shall be Joined unto Ills wife, aud they two shall 
be one flesh." 
No triune government has ever yet been per¬ 
manent, save that of the Father, Son and Holy 
Ghost, and even In this, a sacrifice had to be made 
to appease the anger of a Just God. Therefore, 
oh! frail man, never attempt to set up a family 
of three heads, for each will become a Medusa 
whose very hair has turned to serpents—green- 
eyed monsters of Jealousy. In all such confedera¬ 
tions, one must become a mere cipher, and this 
from natural causes, Is likely to be the wife, If 
her husband remains subservient to “ his mother.” 
No. 64. 
From experience, the mother quite naturally 
takes precedence In the responsibilities new to the 
young wife, and by right of this activity, secures 
the confidence In her superior Judgment, and the 
deference to her will and wishes which she Is un¬ 
willing to share with that young chit, his wife, 
who Instead of growtng self-reliant, becomes daily 
more dependent, shrinking back within her nar¬ 
row domains, dissatisfied with herself, and Jeal¬ 
ous of the precedence of her mother-in-law. 
The husband is disappointed In his helpless little 
wife and begins to regard his mother os a martyr 
and suggests that she have wlfey help under her 
direction. The wife takes no pride in doing a 
thing for which. If well done, mother will get 
the credit, and goes about It with little energy, 
whereas If she were left to herself encouraged 
with love and confidence reposed in her, the will 
would find the way to the accomplishment of 
difficult tasks. “ Experience Is the best teacher,’* 
and here let the wife take her first lessons. The 
mother can prove her love, and endear herself 
not only to the daughter-in-law, but more deeply 
to that son, through acts of kindness to the 
daughter, without wrestling the reins of govern¬ 
ment from the rightful head of this newly estab 
llshed domesticity. 
Why should she desire to take upon berself the 
responsibility of raising another family? She 
only Increases her own cares, and Instead of bind¬ 
ing, to her, often alienates, by Interfering with 
this twain. If she feel aggrieved, let her remem¬ 
ber she has had “ her day” in the love of her own 
husband, the proof of which la tbls son over 
whom she Is contending with the wife of his bosom. 
She belongs to the generation passing away, 
while there Is a prospect for a long life stretch¬ 
ing before this couple who must pull together 
through all Its cares. Should the wife then be¬ 
come a cipher In the very outset ? The sooner 
she is fitted tor this struggle the better, and every 
mother will do well to let her son’s wife “ Paddle 
her own Canoe" In this voyage of life. Let her 
take satisfaction lu seeing his devotion to that 
wife who has the brunt to hear, let life go ever so 
easy with the pair. By her own sufferings, mor¬ 
tifications and disappointments, let her measure 
No. 66. 
those In store for the young wife, and pity her. 
She too may have one day become a forgotten 
mother, or no mother at all (which Is worse.) She 
may never have even the memory of a child-love 
to cheer her solitude. Mrs. M. L. S. 
WINTER GOSSIP. 
MRS- E. A. H. 
Puilkna called one January morning to borrow 
a saddle. She hail already ridden three miles, on 
her old, gray nag. with her feet hanging down be¬ 
low the old sheep-skin strapped ;to his back, the 
breeze playing about them and her unprotected 
ankles,as freely us If It had been a warm summer’s 
day instead ot the chilly winter's day that It was. 
But Phllena was not cold; of course not, at least 
she said so; to have acknowledged that she was 
would have been as much as to say that she 
ought to hide those dainty feet in overshoes, a 
