456 
THE BUBAL 
ISEW-YORHEB 
MARSH 6 
“ Well! don’t make a snapping-turtle of yo ur- 
selt!” said Blanche. 
“ Girls, I wish you had a little sympathy and 
feeling forme. You are all just too hateful! ’’said 
Olive, pettishly and with tears In her eyes. 
“ Why, what's the matter 1 ” said Rose, “ I am 
sure 1 have not been ‘ hateful, and I have plenty 
of feeling for you.” 
“ O, come, Olive; don’t be a stupid old goose nor 
a snapping-turtle either 1 ” said Margaret. •* How 
were we to advise or sympathize with you until 
we knew you wanted either? I was planning up 
somelhlug while you were giving us a sample of 
your amiability: What day have you and your 
‘ adored one ’ appointed to * fly ’ on the • wings of 
love ’ versus a railroad cat ? ” 
“ Next Tuesday,” sullenly answered Olivo. 
“ Well, don’t you see how easily we could pack 
up aud leave on Saturday, while the Laming 
crowd are gone on that trip up the river? And 
then Jerry could go over in the evening and deliver 
a note to Paras, In which you could say that all 
was discovered, and that your cruel sisters had 
hurried you off and you had no idea where they 
were taking you, that your heart was broken, 
&c.!” 
Olive made a sudden spring and threw both 
arms around Magaret as the latter finished speak¬ 
ing aDd half smothered her with kisses, saying, 
“ Margaret, thou art indeed a pearl!” 
“ With the exception of being ‘ just too hateful!’ 
said Margaret, with a laugh. 
“ But where shall we go to?” inquired Blanche. 
“ We oan’t go home Just yet.” 
“ O, wo can go to B — and pay old Aunt Cordy 
a visit. She wouid be ‘ mightily pleased to see ye 
gals!’” said Margaret. 
“That's so! and just the place for us!” said 
Rose. 
I have read somewhere that— 
" Man proposes: 
God disposes.” 
But in the case of the “clan ” it was woman who 
proposed and man who disposed, for on Friday 
night, when the Misses Skidmore’s trunks were all 
packed and Arabella’s note to Karas scaled and 
directed, the four gentlemen so often mentioned 
In this story disposed of all the plans they had 
proposed. It happened In this wise: Paras per¬ 
suaded his three friends to go with him and spend 
the evening with the Misses Skidmore, as he said 
he would not dare to go alone, and otherwise he 
should not be able t 0 6ee his affianced for several 
days. A very Innocent proposition, but it effect, 
ually disposed of several propositions. 
It had been a dull, gloomy day; sultry with 
sudden gusts of wind, and late in the afternoon 
threatening clouds appeared, that culminated Just 
at dusk In a slow 1 , drizzling rain, that bid lair (foul) 
to last far into the night. 
The Misses Skidmore had spent a dull, tedious 
afternoon, and when Rachel came in with the 
lamps and toid them that if, was raining, Olive 
sprang up and said, “ Come, girls, let us have some 
music and a Jolly, good time! No danger of callers 
to-night, and so we will have a minstrel troupe. 
Blanche and I will be the 1 end men;’ Margie will 
he ‘ middle man,’ and Rose will be the audience r* 
“ Good t” 
“Splendid!” 
“ Agreed I” said the other three girls, and forth¬ 
with the fun commenced. 
In the meantime Paras and his friends, nothing 
daunted, sallied forth under the protection or um¬ 
brellas. Arrived at the retreat, Enders was in the 
actor ringing the bell when Faras suddenly re¬ 
strained him. The entrance door was slightly 
ajar, and from within came the sound or music 
and laughter. Paras boldly pushed the door open, 
and silently followed by his companions, entered 
the hall and walked to the parlor door and gazed 
in upon a strange sight. 
The feeble Miss Malvina was seated In a most 
ridiculous attitude at the piano playing an old- 
fashioned negro medley wlrli an effect neither 
soft nor gentle, white Miss Frederica, whose upper 
lip was adorned with a moustache (produced by a 
few touches of burnt cork), was singing in a loud, 
masculine manner, the words of the melody M iss 
Malvina was playing. At the other end of lire 
piano stood the romantic Miss Arabella with a 
violin from which she w r as drawing the most dis¬ 
mal and discordant sounds. In the center ot the 
room was Miss Melissa, with her arms extended 
and her hands daintily holding up her skirts on 
either side, displaying a pair of slippered feet that 
were keeping time to the lively music, while her 
cheeks were flushed and her cap-strings flying 
wildly about. 
Margaret Dean and Hugh Eaders were engaged, 
and she had promised that when the golden rods 
bloomed ag aln she would become his wile. When 
he told her of his Invitation from the Lansfngs, 
she, to his surprise, Insisted on his accepting it, 
as she was going with the “ clan” to some “ out- 
of-the-way” place In the country, and that he 
might, as well go and enjoy himself, 
“ But, Darling,” said he, “ it would be such a 
bore, aud 1 shall be expected to play the devoted 
to some of those- girls.” 
“O, well, Hugh, I can trust you, dear; and per¬ 
haps It will not be such a bore, and If It la you 
need not stay; you can make some excuse and 
leave.” 
Hugh did not wish to accept the invitation, but, 
as Margaret Insisted and as the engagement be¬ 
tween himself and Margaret was still a secret, he 
finally concluded to go. 
Robert Lansing aud Rose Sheldon were a most 
devoted couple, and rumor said they were engaged, 
but as yet there was no engagement existing be¬ 
tween them, though It looked much as though 
there soon would be. 
Lance Stedman wai Blanche’s constant attend¬ 
ant, and In spite of hl3 reticence and grave ways, 
she loved him with her whole heart and felt confi¬ 
dent that he loved her, though he had never told 
her so In plain words. 
The next afternoon, after the arrival of the Lan¬ 
sing guests, Olive made an excuse to send old 
Jerry to the village, and when he returned, she 
asked him if he saw any of the company at the 
Lansing's. 
“ Yes, Miss; they Is all out on the lawn playing 
croquette.” 
As he was passing around the corner of the 
house, Olive called out, “O, Jerry! I almost for¬ 
got ; we want to take a drive In the open carriage. 
Please get it ready Immediately, and be sure and 
put on your tall hat.” 
Three flushed faces confronted her as she en¬ 
tered the door: “O, Olive!” cried the girls, “ we 
can’t 1” 
“ You silly old geese! ccme right up stairs this 
minute and get dressed! It will break the Ice a 
little, for next week we must return Mrs. Lan¬ 
sing’s call.” 
A half hour afterward the Misses Skidmore were 
being driven at a slow, dignified pace along the 
road that led past Lansing’s. Miss Malvina par¬ 
tially reclined on a pile of rich cushions and pil¬ 
lows. She was dressed in sombre black which 
brought out her gray puffs and pale face, for she 
was now quire pale from excitement. Melissa 
also wore black, but it was relieved by an antique¬ 
shaped bonnet of white straw trimmed with pur¬ 
ple ribbon and white flowere. Fredericks sat on 
the front seat very straight and dignified. She 
wore a black derby hat with a brown wing fasten¬ 
ed at one side, and a dress of brown lawn made 
severely plain and old-fashioned. Arabella wore 
a white dress very much rutiled and very short, 
with a blue sash tied around her waist In regular 
baby style. On her head was a marvel of millinery 
art composed of blue silk, satin and lace. It w T as 
very flue aud Stylish. but too small for her bead, 
and evldehtly suitable only for a very young Miss. 
She also wore an immense blue bow at her throat, 
lavender gloves on her hands, and carried a huge 
fan. The hat belonged to one of her younger sis¬ 
ters, and when the other girls recognized it, and 
asked her how she came by It, she said, with great 
merriment: “O,it,was Just, what I wanted, sol 
helped myself to It! Papa can buy her another 
one; but won’t there be a storm when I take it 
home! It won’t do much good, though, for by 
that time I shall have had my fun and the scold¬ 
ing can’t take It away!’’ 
As they drove past Lansing’s, there was a sud¬ 
den hush and whispering among the gay party on 
the lawn, and all eyes were turned toward the 
Misses Skidmore who, amid the profound silence, 
drove solemnly past. Not one of either party 
stirred, with the exception of Arabella, whose 
face, which was now a flery red, was suddenly 
averted, hut she turned It as quickly again and 
looked hack at the party on the lawn and he’d her 
fan before her face In mock bashful ness. 11 was a 
splendid little bit of acting and was well appre¬ 
ciated by her audience. 
There was great laughter and merriment among 
the young people on the lawn as soon as the car¬ 
riage was out ot hearing, and a great deal of cough¬ 
ing and suppressed laughter among the Misses 
Skidmore. 
They rode out every pleasant afternoon after 
that and always passed the Lansing plaoe, and 
nearly always saw some of the guests. 
Finally, one pleasant morning they decided to 
return Mrs. Lansing’s call, and were soon on their 
way. Malvina wore her customary black, with 
the addition of a long crape veil. Melissa wore 
her gray silk dress; her white bonnet trimmed 
with purple and white, and an old fashioned black 
lace shawl draped around her. Frederlcka wore a 
scant brown silk with a half fitting sacquc and 
plain linen collar and cuffs. Her skirt was short, 
with no overdress. Her sleeves were short and she 
wore one-button kid gloves that were a size too 
large for her hands. On her head she wore the 
block derby hat with the brown wing that she 
always appeared In. Dut Arabella carried off the 
honors, arrayed In a sky-blue silk dress that her 
mother had worn when she was a girl, and of 
course quite out of style now; on her head a broad 
white leghorn hat with a wreath of pink and white 
roses encircling the crown; flesh tinted gloves that 
were too large on her hands; a short white lace 
sacquewlth flowing sleeves, and a whole set of 
cameos In antique settings, the sight ot which on 
her would almost have caused her mother to ralnt, 
for she valued them as precious keepsakes. After 
they had enjoyed a hearty laugh at each others 
comical appearance, they proceeded demurely to 
the carriage and were soon standing at Mrs. Lans¬ 
ing’s door. 
They wore shown into the reception room, and 
Mrs. Lansing soon appeared and cordially greeted 
them. In a few minutes after, Julia and Clara 
Lansing appeared and were Introduced to the 
Misses Skidmore. They sat down near Arabella 
and entered Into conversation with her. 
“Are you fond of croquette?” asked Julia. 
“O, Yosl It Is so sweet!” giggled Arabella. 
“ I suppose then that you and your sisters play 
a great deal ?” said Clara. 
“ O, no, Indeed I" sighed Arabella, with clasped 
hands, “ my sisters are so much older than I am 
that they have very little sympathy with me. I 
am so full of youth and spirits that It Is very dull 
for me sometimes." 
All this was said with an accompaniment of gig¬ 
gles, sighs and jerky movements, that caused her 
to appear extremely rlduculous. And had not the 
Misses Lansing been well-bred young ladles they 
would have indulged in a hearty laugh then and 
there. 
In the meantime Mrs. Lansing had prevailed on 
Frederlcka and Malvina to remain to lunch which 
would soon be served. 
“ Arabella,” said Frederlcka, “Mrs. Lansing has 
kindly Invited us to remain to lunch, and your 
sister and 1 have accepted.” 
This was- to use a slang phrase—a stunner, and 
Arabella was so startled that she awkwardly 
dropped her fan, halt rose from her scat, but sat 
down with a very red face, and said, with great 
gush, “O, Freddie! how sweet 1” 
“Frederlcka, had you not better ascertain If 
Melissa wishes to remain?” lalntly suggested Mal¬ 
vina.—[To be continued. 
• Jor M outfit. 
CONDUCTED BY MISS RAY CLARK. 
THE FARMER’S DAUGHTER, 
BV AN NTS'. L. JACK. 
She dwelt within a quiet home, 
No model of the graces, 
Unknown to culture’s higher ■walks. 
Or fashion's giddy places. 
A thoughtful girl, so sweet, so wise, 
With earnest face and deep grey yes 
The farmer’s gentle daughter. 
From morn till eve the little maid 
Is busy at her labor; 
She sweeps and dusts, aud feeds the hens, 
And never minds her neighbor; 
No gossip ever listens to, 
(A merit ran: ’tween mo nud you), 
Thus lives the farmer's daughter. 
On baking days her tiny hands 
Are skillful at the making; 
No bread more light and sweet than her’s 
Was ever made by baking. 
She chums the butter, golden, sweet, 
And keeps the dairy clean and neat, 
This busy farmer's daughter, 
Her garden is an Eden fair, 
A-bloom with pinks and roses; 
She know- the mim of even’ flower 
And makes some gorgeous posies. 
Grows peas and radishes, and cress, 
And corn and squash and herbs to press. 
This happy farmer’s daughter. 
Long may she bravely Emile on us. 
Our darling household fairy. 
The queea of garden, house, and lot 
And princess of the dairy: 
To teach us by hor pleasant way 
To love the things of " every day,” 
God blees the farmer’s daughter. 
-■ ■ « ♦ » » 
AN EXPLANATION, 
The letter In our last Issue from Mrs. J. E. s.— 
for which thanks are tendered—has suggested the 
necessity of a few words of explanation: 
It was not, and Is not now, the intention to sac¬ 
rifice the “Department for Women,” but owing to 
the great press of matter ror all departments, a 
deviation from the usual course was absolutely 
necessary. Occasional raids may ho made In the 
woman s kingdom, but the foe Is not to conquer 
the entire possession. Be of good cheer, “ Rural” 
sisters, and kindly exercise a little forbearance. 
A REQUEST. 
Will Margaret B. Harvey, whose love for Art 
has rendered her acquainted with the works of 
the great masters, give to her ‘ Rural” sisters— 
whose knowledge is more limited—the subjects of 
some of the finest large steel engravings? 
Mbs. S. H. 
--- 
“ BITS OF EXPERIENCE.” 
YELENA. 
Reading the above heading in a mechanical pa¬ 
per, It struck me so forcibly that I have concluded 
to borrow It and relate a few of my own dally ex¬ 
periences 
Some seven years ago my husband and myself, 
owning to circumstances and a change of residence, 
concluded to break up housekeeping and board. 
Last spring, however, wo decided to return to 
our native town and settle under our own roof, 
with our feet under our own table Although 
somewhat out of practice. It was not difficult to 
again “ bake and brew.” sweep, dust, etc., as every 
housekeeper has more or less of It to do. It, how¬ 
ever, was decided upon to have a good pair of 
strong arms to do thu bulk ot the work, while I 
was to oversee the household generally and to do 
the planning. Wise heads were shaken In a mean¬ 
ing way, hut nothing daunted, we engaged a 
strong Irish Mary to do the whole of tho work, 
well and quietly, “ and to be In nights,” I was to 
pay her the first of every month for the last 
month's work. Knowing that she had been out to 
service for several years. I said to her that the 
dishes In such a cupboard were for dally U3e, and 
she was to set the table, having things convenient, 
In order, and to make them look the beat It was 
possible to every time. Everything was to be 
done well, aud the best was to he made of every¬ 
thing that was provided lor her. As a general 
thing I would do the marketing. 
Well 1 She began, aud I began! It was, “ Will 
yez be afther telling me how yez would have the 
loike of that?” In a high, strained tone, fairly 
making the ear tingle. Said I, quietly, “Do It, 
Alary, the best you can, and 1£ It does not suit I 
will tell you what changes to make. If you do It 
well and do It differently from my way, l will 
learn, but If I have you change It, you will be the 
one who learns.” This seemed rather to ploaso 
her, and I think It. gave her a certain pride that 
tended toward doing everything well. But, of 
course, I am obliged re firmly and quietly attend 
to things daily. For instance, tho first time she 
made bread It was very good, but had a little too 
much yeast, and so I told her. The next time it 
was excellent, and i said to her I hoped she would 
make It as good every time. Several weeks after 
followed good bread, then It began to be poorer 
and then a little worse. I said to her that some¬ 
thing was wrong and we must find out what. She 
assured me that she had tried hard but It was her 
luck. Looking into the matt r I found the barrel 
had been stood In the pantry on the floor just over 
the cistern and the flour was damp. Mary was 
told to lake me barrel into the kitchen, take out 
the flour and dry it and dry the b arrel thoroughly; 
then put the flour in again and find a dry place for 
the flour-barrel. Having given my instructions, I 
went Into another part of the house to do some work 
of quite a different kind. The next day, making in¬ 
quiries, I found Mary had the flour and barrel as 
“ dhry as dhry could be,” and had put the flour-bar¬ 
rel Into the kitchen chamber, away from the dust 
and damp. Since then we have had excellent 
bread again. 
I can hardly leave this without a comment, that 
Is, with all mechanical skill and with all rur 
strength we must use a little brains In running a 
house economically and well. Thore was a cause, 
the cause wa3 not that she was careless, but In 
this case It was the dampness that had Introduced 
Itself so subtlety that neither her instinct nor her 
knowledge had as yet fathomed it. It was not 
damp enough to be seen but my hands being sen¬ 
sitive, i could feel it, and although it might have 
been questioned whether there really was enough 
to have any effect, tho drying of the flour proved 
there was. She knew aa welt as I did that damp 
flour would not make good bread, but she had not 
found our, that, her flour was Just damp enough to 
prevent her bread being good. Had I taken the 
matter In hand In a different manner there prob¬ 
ably would have been quite a different result. The 
Irish are faithful and true when they once realize 
that you are upright and Just to them and to your¬ 
self; but they are of a flashy temperament and 
must be dealt with “cool and Arm.” When one 
finds things awry it may be difficult to appear 
calm, especially If one happens to he at a white 
heat; however, if you forget but for a moment and 
lose your temper In a loose tongue you will soon 
learn that you have lost a good name with It, also 
tho respect of your matfl-of-all-work aud feel a 
rankling In your mind that lessens even your own 
good opinion of yourself. In other words you find 
yourself feeling very uncomfortable and no good 
coming of It. This leads to the “ servant” subject 
upon which we see so much written about. There 
are two sides to it, namely, those who hire and 
those who are hired. Both have a story. However, 
so far aa m.v observation and experience goes It Is 
want of tact in managing that 13 lacking themost. 
As a general thing we do not hire until necessity 
compels us to, then there is so much to bo done 
that our mind becomes flustered, our plans are 
only half made, things generally are muddled and 
wc get nervous and out ot temper, and our help Is 
so “ rolled that It Is no use trying to do anything.” 
Everyone cannot go Into a strange placo and work 
to advantage the first few days. And a girl who 
has to work out for a living cannot come to you or 
mo and take the bulk of our accumulated work 
and do It In a fewdays, or possibly, weeks, then go 
to another place, and so on the year round. They 
must work steadily, and must not overwork, else 
they break down, and who will then care for 
“ Mary ?” certainly not the one wpo exacted tho 
most, drudging of her. Then, too, the girl’s former 
life ought, In a degree, to be taken Into account, 
her own home may he little better than a hovel, 
there may have been no teaching to make her 
thoughtful aud Industrious, no ways, no means, 
ot showing her how to do tho very things most 
households require to have done every day. Insist 
on a servant being kind and willing; with these 
two elements almost every woman oan with time 
and tact secure valuable help. 
, - — -»♦» ■ ■ - 
FASHION NOTES. 
Toe fancy for dressing the throat as closely and 
high as possible Is again revived. Thick ruchings 
of crepe ltsse and light lace worn in tho dress, 
sometimes above the collar or plaiting , or on tho 
outside of them. The quilled laco is frequently 
doubled, the plain edges meeting In a seam which 
Its fullness conceals, and a tiny bunch of flowers 
nestles in Us folds at one side. 
Misses wear Derby felt hats for every day, or 
else sealskin toques or turbans. Fanciful silk, 
satins, or velvet turbans are for better wear, also 
Pinafore hats with plaited satin In the brim. Felt 
toques with beaver borders in quaint bowl shape 
are trimmed on top with a gay satin how for 
smaller girls, while the very smallest wear cap 
bonnets of velvet or of quilted satin and lace, also 
fancy turbans. 
Large collars appear on all handsome dresses for 
children, and round shapes are taking the place of 
square ones. 
YouDg ladles wear their corsage bouquets on 
one side or the neck, near the shoulder. 
Dinner cards of sandal-wood are the newest. 
They are highly elegant and expensive. 
Black kid gloves are tho most popular ror dress 
occasions, because they make the hand look 
small and shapely. 
Black satin walking skirts have no trimming 
whatever. Their elegance Is in their simplicity. 
Broad soled shoes are the newest. They have a 
doublo row of buttons on the outside, and are very 
showy. 
One by one brides discard the old fashioned 
white satin. 
Plush collars and cuffs will be much worn on 
early spring dresses and wraps. 
In many ot tho new designs, both imported and 
domestic, cords ot gold or silver thread and silk 
aro much used. Skirts of lullo and gauze are 
looped with them, and they aro used as a sort of 
frame or setting for bunches of powers which 
decorate ball dresses. Very fine cords are even 
used tor trimming sleeves, berthas and the coif¬ 
fure. 
The fashion of a corsage different from the dress 
will prevail In the spring. LoDg corsages of ma¬ 
terial and color different from the skirt will be 
worn both in the house and on the street, and 
later when the weather Is warmer without any 
wrap. 
For fine white handkerchiefs hemstitching in 
blocks on the hem and needle-worked scallops are 
shown, also the frilled handkerchiefs with one or 
two ruffles laid In lino plaltlngs, and overcast In 
saw-tooth notches. 
In spring the polonaise will be generally re 
vlvcd. Its composition will be somewhat changed, 
but It will be the polonaise again. Princess dresses 
will be worn also, but with certain changes. 
