NOV. 27 
Hraiitng for tjjc fiouug. 
THE NEW ARRIVAL. 
A charming little tldciy iddy bit of mother’s bliss, 
A tiny toddles, sweet as flowers of Spring-; 
A precious popsy wopsy—give its mammy, den a kiss, 
A pretty darling itsy witBy ting ! 
So that's the little fellow ! H’m ! A healthy looking 
chap. 
Another mouth to feed as sure as fate ! 
No, wife, I don't consider that his coming’s a mishap, 
But still I could have done with lesB than eight. 
BROTHER. 
My eye ! Is that the baby ? What a jolly little pup ! 
But I say, ma, wherever is its nose ? 
And I say, father, by and by, when he gets more 
grown up. 
He’ll wear my worn-out Jackets, I suppose. 
UNCLE, 
Another? Well, thank goodness, I’m not a married 
man, 
What! Don’t I think him pretty ? No, I don’t. 
To keep him from the workhouse you must do the best 
you can; 
Don’t think that I’ll assist you—for I won't!" 
How are we getting on to-day ? I trust we soon shall 
mend. 
We mustn’t think we’re strong Just yet, you know: 
We’d better take a something which this afternoon I’ll 
send. 
And let me see—hum !—ha !—ah, yes—Just so. 
He’s lovely, that he is, mum 1 See them sturdy little 
legs! 
He’s twice the Bize of Lady bmither’s third ; 
And when he come6 a-cuttiug of his little toosey pegs, 
He’ll be a man, he will, upon my word. 
NEIGHBOR, 
Oh yes, dear, he looks healthy, but you mustn’t trust 
to that— 
I do not wish, of course, your dearest hopes to dash, 
But when I see atender babe, so ruddy, strong and fat, 
I—look, dear, on his face! Is that a rash ? 
ma (da capo). 
A charming little tiddy iddy bit of mother’s bliss, 
A tiny toddles, sweet as flowers of Spring; 
A precious popsy wopsy—give it’s mammy, den a kiss. 
A pretty darling itsy wltsy ting! 
WINDOW GARDENING. 
MAUDE MEREDITH. 
' An illustration la given upon this page, figure 39S j 
showing the pleasant appearance of a window fur¬ 
nished with plants during the Winter months. 
Many a child has tound hts first development of 
taste for rural subjects In the contemplation of the 
beauty of growing plants in the house In Winter. 
The window need not be as elaborate as here 
shown, but plants may be of such numbor as the 
circumstances will admit. 
There lain window gardening one advantage 
not found In using pots alone, as In parlor garden¬ 
ing, Window-boxes may here be used and less 
care will be required, and so a greater variety of 
plants may be cared for in a small space. As 
here shown the window garden consists chiefly of 
pots set upon brackets and shelves, making a very 
ornamental appearance; but a box or boxes may 
be used alone, or with pots, and vines trained up 
the window or upon the walls. Hanging-baskets 
make a fine addition, especially In the absence of 
brackets. 
The window-box may be a simple wooden box 
of the shape desired, or more elaborate and ex¬ 
pensive, and made of pottery-ware, or lined 
wltn zinc, as the taste and means dictate. 
A box of the length of the wlndow-slll, or 
two made to fit the sill for convenience of 
handling, covered Inside with pitch, or they 
may be used plain. The outside may be or¬ 
namented with coarse bark or simply painted. 
The earth should be light and porous and with 
coarse gravel or charcoal in the bottom. If pre¬ 
ferred, there may be small boxes and placed upon 
an old table, or upon a stand purposely construct¬ 
ed, with one stair above another. The addition 
of simple trellises or uprights with cross-pieces 
and the training of vines upon them gives a pleas¬ 
ant variety, but whatever may be said, the taste 
of ihe gardener should be cultivated by designing 
and arranging these details so tar as possible. 
ir a couple of wires or willow strands or rataus 
are bent over from one end of the box to the other 
and slats fastened across them a couple of wax 
plants, hoya carnosa, may be planted and will 
grow over the arch making a complete mass of 
waxen beauty. The leaves, like the English ivy, 
are strong and firm, never falling oft unless 
through some accident, and as they will bear al¬ 
most any neglect they seldom lose a leaf. A Boft 
sponge will clean the dust from the leaves, and 
the. great clusters of fragrant bloom of a pure 
waxen white, are of rare heauty, remaining per¬ 
fect for weeks. The buds usually set the season 
before blooming, and If the flower is not cut, 
will blooyi year after year from the same flower 
stalk. It is aLso a rapid grower, I have had one 
young plant throw out four branches, or runners, 
each about two yards in length In one season. 
The wax plant requires a light, sandy soil, and 
only a small quantity of water. A very rich soil 
kept moist w in rot the plant on near the root. In 
the same pot can be placed any drooping vine, 
the numerous family of aedurns, moneywort, or 
that prettiest of all droopers the Coliseum Ivy, 
Llnarla Cymbalarla. On a lower shelf may be plac¬ 
ed pansies and primroses. As they require to be 
kept cool, a north window suiting them best, but 
as most windows are raised more or less above 
the baseboard they wlU find sufficient shade, and 
very few are the house plants that afford greater 
satisfaction, care should be taken in watering 
the primrose that no water fall on the buds, as it 
causes them to rot. In the Spring they can be 
turned out Into the shady border, and another Au¬ 
tumn the plants should be divided and put Into 
small pots, and kept shaded until well rooted, 
then as they grow, repotted using a pot of larger 
size. The primrose usually commences flower¬ 
ing In December, and continues until the next 
May or June. For a hanging basket, nothing 
could be prettier than a clump of oxalta bulbs, 
mixed varieties, If preferred, or an entire basket 
of a single kind. This plant also prefers a light 
sandy soli with liquid manure occasionally. 1 
have sometimes had my oxalls disappear entirely, 
and at first thinking It dead 1 turned the soli out 
of the pot, when I discovered quantities of bulbs, 
fresh and Just ready to start a new growth which 
they soon did, bloomlrg with fresh vigor. Just 
the cause of the freak I never understood. 
For the shelf m front, a tall trefilsed fuchsia for 
centre piece with foliage plants on either side will 
make a brUUant showing, and after Ailing the box 
with geraniums or other shrubby plants, set Ger¬ 
man ivies or any other drooping vine along the 
edge to cover the front of the box and twine about 
the rustic supports. No window win be perfect 
without pots of English Ivy on either side to arch 
the window. Too much cannot be said In pralBe 
of this hardy plant for Indoor use. Growing either 
in the shade or In theBunllght, bearing almost 
Uncle Mark: I am thirteen years old. We came 
up here to the backwoods of Canada to try and be 
farmers. I would like to Join your club and be one 
of the cousins. It you will accept me. Next Spring 
1 am to have a patch of ground to cultivate for my 
own, and I would like to get all the Beeds I can to 
Cry my skill. James coi.b, 
Uplands, Ont, 
Dear Uncle Mark:— I would like to Join the 
Horticultural Club and become one of the cousins. 
I am 13 years old. I play the violin and can play a 
little on the guitar, but I can’t say I have done 
very well In raising flowers. This Is our first year 
of taking the Rural and we all like it very much. 
1 like to read the cousins' letters. We live 65 
miles from Chicago. From your niece, 
lroqutose Co., III. Laura Jane Rknwoktrv. 
Dear Uncle Mark:—I am a little girl 11 years 
old. I would like to join your club. My papa has 
been taking the Rural for two years. I have a 
Canary bird and my mamma has quite a number 
of house plants. Please remember us when you 
send seeds. Your niece, Linnie Berlin. 
Clarion Co., Pa, 
Dear Uncle Mark I am a little girl 11 years 
old. Papa has taken the Rural for 18 years. I 
have two little sisters, Effle and Nettle. We all 
atrlratf llcafrmg. 
WINDOW GARDEN.—FIG. 398 . 
any change of temperature to which a living room 
la subjected, It still thrives and goes on its quiet 
way to beauty and perfection. 
Maderla bulbs planted in boxes and bung behind 
pictures will send out dainty runners and entirely 
wreathe the,cords and frames, although preferring 
strong sun and rich earth, yet they will do very 
well on the most meagre tare. And the common 
ground tvy-the JUl-go-over-the-ground—of our 
childhood’s kitchen garden, makes a very airy del¬ 
icate basket plant. The sweet alyssum of our 
mother’s flower borders Is also utilized, and this, 
like the mignonette, should be planted in the pot 
where It is expected to bloom, as transplanting 
after the profuse blooming of Summer they are 
sure to die. 
All plants, as well as people, require fresh air, 
and their leaves, which serve for lungs, should be 
kept as free from dust os possible. A fine rose 
waterlngpot will aid lu cleaning the leaves and leaf 
stalks always showering the plants In preference 
to pouring a quantity of water about the roots, 
which necessitates a strip of oilcloth underneath 
the plants, that can be readily wiped up, giving 
the plants proper care without Injuring the car¬ 
pets. 
A st eady temperature of from oo to 70 degrees by 
day and down to so at night is best adapted to the 
requirements of most plants grown in common 
windows. 
LETTERS FROM. THE COUSINS. 
Dear Uncle Mark: I have been thinking 1 
would write to you for a long time, but have been 
afraid it would be so poor a letter It would never 
escape the waste basket; but If you wfii accept my 
humble self as one of your nieces, I will try and 
write again, l am very fond of flowers, and have 
a window-garden, and have a small variety of 
flowers in our yard. 1 wish to ask if I should dry 
the roots of geraniums beiore hanging them up in 
the cellar by their roots for Winter, a friend told 
me she dried hers before she pul, them In the cel¬ 
lar. Our cellar Is quite damp, and I would like to 
Inquire of Uncle Mark and of all the cousins, It 
there ls 4 a pure white fuchsia owned by any of them, 
and If I could get a plant or this oolor by sending 
to a florist. Your niece and cousin, 
Mao(gie)nolia. 
[We have lost your address. There Is no cer¬ 
tainty In obtaining colors of f ucnslaa. There Is no 
special need of drying the roots of the geranium 
before hanging them up.—U. M.j 
wish to join your club. Please remember me when 
you send seeds. From your niece, 
Muscatine, Iowa. Sarah Edith Frazier. 
HIDDEN OFFICERS. 
1. In lieu ten ants were caught. 
2. Cad, ether l.j dangerous. 
3. The air is humid 1 ship men alive! 
4. Eugene rallied at last. 
5. Recoimno Doreia Is quite 111. 
o. Use a semibreve this time. 
7. Have some bad rum! Majority rules. 
8. On the brig a dlersls was read. 
9. I saw him drag oma nearly home. 
10. As for Dick be dives too deep. 
11 . Privately speaking, he falsifies, 
12. Gaspro 0. lore my dress. 
13. 1 see the border lying down. 
14. Let (by my command) Erin c. hie fast to 
camp. 
15. In the dismal hospital, stew arduously the 
beef tea. 
I3f~ Answer In two weeks. Little One. 
A TRIPLE ACROSTIC. 
The first word of a page inserted at the bottom 
of the preceding page. One who betroths. A 
blble curse. A wine. Prlmals, centr als and finals 
form three vehicles. 
25r- Answer In two weeks. l. o. 
PUZZLER ANWER8.-N0V. 13. 
Hidden Birds, —l. Bird of Paradise; 2. rhea; 3. pea¬ 
cock; 4. Jahint; 5, uyuiphieus; 6. capercaillie; 7. 
hoopoe; 8. dotterel; 9. ousel; PI. ring-dove; 11. cushat • 
12; finch; 13. tern; 14. chough; 16. grebes; 16. dab- 
chicks ; 17. beefeater; IS siskin; 19. stilt; 211 palmiped; 
21. Bwift ; 22. ehimuey swallow; 23. canvas back duck ; 
24. robin red-breast-, 25, turtle-dove. 
A Diamond Puzzle.— 
C 
s tr e 
S U A L E 
C ii A It A D E 
E L A N D 
E D D 
E 
Name Puzzle.— Zaccheus, Ezekiel, Naaman, Al- 
pheus, Solomon. Initials form “ Zeuas.” 
A Fractional Puzzle.—A braham. 
THE GOLDEN SIDE. 
There is many * rest on the road of life. 
If we would only stop to take it; 
And many a tone from the better land. 
If the querulous heart would wake it. 
To the sunny soul that is full of hope. 
And whoso beautiful trustne’er faileth, 
The grass is green and the flowers are bright. 
Though the wintry storm prevailetb. 
Better to hope, though the clouds hang low. 
And to keep the eyes still lifted; 
For the sweet blue sky will soon peep through, 
When the ominous clouds are rifted. 
There never was a night without a day. 
Nor an evening without a morning, 
And the darkest hour, the proverb goes. 
Is the hour before the dawning. 
There is many a gem in the path of life 
Which we pass in our idle pleasure, 
That is richer far than the jowcled-crowu 
Or the miser's hoarded treasure; 
It may be the love of a little child. 
Or a mother’s prayer to heaven. 
Or only a beggar's grateful thanks 
For a cup of water given. 
Better'to weave in the web of life 
A bright aud golden filling. 
And to do God’s will with a ready heart, 
And hands that are swift and willing, 
Thau to snap the delicate silver threads 
Of our curious lives asunder, 
And then b’ame heaven for the tangled ends. 
And sit to grieve aud wonder. 
- ■* » « - 
8ITTING DOWN WITH JESUS. 
“Command the multitude to sit down,” They do 
so, in long lines, upon the verdant grass. He 
takes the live loaves and two tlahea out of the 
rustic lad’s basket, and begins to distribute. The 
meager provision grows and grows, until not only 
are alt the thousands abundantly fed. but there 
Is a surplus of broken food to fill a dozen baskets. 
There Is something akin to this In our spiritual 
experiences. We often worry like the disciples, 
about the best means of feeding our souls, or of 
bringing the Gospel bread to needy souls around 
us. We Invent new methods; we try all manner 
of devices; we get up all “attractions” In the 
sanctuary and the Sabbath school; we go to all 
sorts of “villages to buy,” “Ob, If we only sit 
down with Jesus, aud accept what ho bestows, 
with Ills rich blessings on Itl Oh, If congrega¬ 
tions would sit and receive the Gospel of life from 
their own Shepherd, and pray over It and prac¬ 
tice It! If teachers would only aim more to keep 
their classes sitting quietly at the feet of Jesus, 
to take lu nis trutb, and to think about it! The 
transcendent truth of the new birth was revealed 
to Nlcodemus when he sat as an Inquirer at tbe 
Savior’s feet. The woman of Sychar found tbe 
well of salvation only by waiting to be taught by 
the great Teacher. The most zealous worker 
needs to have Instruction, prayer, reflection, and 
heart-converse with God, or else he will become 
superficial and shallow. Like Mary he must sit 
down with Jesus, and gain deep views of Jesus 
and of himself.—liev. T. L. Cuyler. 
THE HOUR BEFORE CHURCH. 
I have in my eye at present the hour before you 
go to church on the Sunday forenoon. I am anxious 
about It. The note struck then is likely to give 
tone to your spirits all day. Redeem It as much as 
you can from rarnlly duties; redeem It wholly from 
plaiting and putting on of apparel; redeem It wholly 
from all vain conversation, flow very much the 
power of the minister depends upon the preparing 
of the hearers heart! If you once come up to 
church with your mind crowded with trifles, what 
can ministers do ? They can do nothing but beat 
the air. What else can they do if there be nothing 
before them but air to beat at ? it will make a 
sound, and that Is all.’ 1 fear tli&t many of my 
dear people spend more time on Sunday morning 
In putting veils on tnelr faces than In taking the 
veils off their hearts-more time In trying to make 
themselves appear before men what they are not 
than In trying to make themselves appear before 
God what they are.—W. Arnot. 
The Loud was with Joseph, yet It might not 
have seemed so to some men in Joseph’s condition, 
listed by his own brethren. Sold Into Blavery. 
Lied about because of his well-doing. Cast into 
prison unjustly. Did that look like havlDg the 
Lord’s presence? “But the Lord was with Jo¬ 
seph.” And the Lord Is with a great many of His 
children who are having a very hard time In the 
world. Because we are hated, and are lied about, 
and are suffering unjustly, we mustn't think that 
the Lord has neglected us. ! t ts our own personal 
comfort, our personal prosperity, our personal 
popularity, that Is tU9 test of God’s presence and 
favor. He Is Just as near to us when everybody 
el so seems to have deserted us as when wu are the 
center of a great circle of love and admiration. 
And It la better to have the Lord with us In a 
prison than to be without the Lord In a palace.— 
H. Clay Trumbull. 
A lady on one occasion said to Mr. Wesley 
“ Supposing you were to know that you would die 
at 12 o’clock to-morrow night, how would you 
spend the intervening time?” “Why, just as I 
Intend to spend It,” said hti. “ I should preach to¬ 
night at Gloucester, and again to-morrow morn¬ 
ing. After that l would ride to Tewkesbury, 
preach In the atternoou, and meet the Society In 
the evening, l should then repair to friend Mar¬ 
tin's house, as ho expects to entertain me; con¬ 
verse aud pray with the family; retire to ruy room 
at 10 o’clock; consign myself to my Heavenly 
Father; lie down lo rest, and wake up In glory.” 
