a; 
DEC. 25 
854 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER* 
UfoaMttg for tljr f ottng. 
GOOD GRAMMAR. 
Three little words you often see 
Are articles—a, an and the. 
A noun's the name of anything-, 
As school cr garden, hoop or swing-. 
Adjectives tell what kind of noun, 
A« great, small, white or brown. 
Instead of nouns the pronouns stand— 
Her head, h'-s face, your arm, my hand. 
Verbs tell of something to be done— 
To read, count, sing, laugh, Jump, run- 
How things are done the adverbs tell. 
As slowly, quickly, ill or well. 
Conjunctions join the words together, 
As men and women, wind r weather. 
The prepositions stand before 
A noun, as of or through a door. 
The tnterjeotlons show surprise, 
As ah! how pretty—oh ! how wise. 
The whole are called nine parts of speech, 
Which reading, writing, speaking teach. 
CHRISTMAS. 
ESTELLE, 
Christmas! What a magic word, and how 
closely It Is connected. In the eyes of little folks, 
with Christmas trees and bountiful feasts of good 
things 1 How, even In their dreams, dolls, small 
Saratogas containing their wardrobes, little cook 
stoves, kitchens, sets of dishe?, drums, tin engines 
ferry-boats, knives, skates, and all the many beau¬ 
tiful playthings float like a panorama before their 
eyes. 
How the excitement of the little ones carries me 
back to a time in my childhood, when poor mamma 
had her hands full to find bread and shelter for 
my two youDger brothers and myself. As Christ¬ 
mas drew near our talk was of little else but a tree, 
would we have one, or not ? 
We had a dim Idea that this was different from 
our other Christmases, before the cruel war killed 
papa, but whether we were too poor to have a 
Christmas tree was a problem we were unable t.o 
solve, but which troubled us greatly. Mamma’s 
eyes would fill with tears, and she would look so 
sad whenever she heard us talk ; and once, when 
we ventured to ask her if she thought Santa Claus 
would remember us If wo tried to be good, even 
though we were poor, sbe sobbed right out, as If 
her heart would break, but soon controlled her¬ 
self, wiped away the tears, and for our sakes smiled 
and looked pleasant. 
At last the eventful night came, and we were In 
a quandary as to whether we had better hang up 
our stockings. The boys were for hanging them 
up, but 1, feeling the weight of my three senior 
years, thought we had better not, as Santa Claus 
forgot all at>out children when they became poor, 
and It might make mamma feel bad and cry again. 
But she, seeing our trouble, told us to hang them 
up. it wouldn’t do any harm, and we might get 
something if we didn’t make any noise but went to 
sleep early. So, after our prayers were said and 
we were tucked up warmly In our beds, she kissed 
and left us. 
It was hardly light* Christmas morning, when I 
awoke, quickly Jumping up I awoke my brothers, 
and we three In night-dress and bare feet made 
our way to where we had bung our stockings. They 
looked as if they were full for a bundle was stick¬ 
ing out of the top of eacti. On seeing them, we 
uttered an exclamation of joy, which was turned 
to one of bitter disappointment, as we found on 
taking hold of thorn, that they were nearly empty, 
only containing a few candles and an odd-looklng 
bundle, which proved to be a doughnut doll-baby, 
with queerly-proponloned arms and legs. In my 
heart l had really thought Santa Claus would not 
forget us, and now the disappointment was so 
hitter, that 1 threw the doughnut baby on the floor, 
breaking one of Its arms. 
“ Stella 1” It was mamma's voice, as I looked In 
her face 1 knew she had seen me. and felt sorry 
about It. In a fit of remorse I ran to her arms and 
had a good cry; when my sobs had ceased, she 
said, “goand raise that curtain In the corner." 
I obeyed, and could we believe our eyes, there 
stood a tree loaded with beautiful toys, besides a 
number of boxes on t he table. 
With eyes bright with pleasure, we stood fascin¬ 
ated by tbe bright scene until aroused by a hearty 
voice, saying, *• why don’t you take them otr ?” 
Turning around, we beheld a man in the dress of 
an officer of the navy. Seeing we did not recognize 
him, he said, *• come here, little folks, and kiss 
your uncle;” after which proceeding, he unloaded 
the tree. 
Such a lot. of presents from Uncle Will, then 
there was a present for each of us from mamma. 
Mine was a little toy cooking stove, with all the 
apparatus for cooking How that stove had 
haunted my dreams both waking and sleeping, 
for a long time, and how many times when on my 
way to and irom school, and when sent by mamma 
on errands, 1 had gone out ot my way to go ny the 
stove and gaze In the window that contained It. 
And now it was really mine. 1 was afraid 1 would 
awake and And It all a dream. 
Little dll we then know how poor mamma had 
worked early and late to get our presents; but we 
soon learned how Uncle Will, mamma's brother, 
came after we had been put to bed, and frightened 
her very much, as she tnuugiit he had been killed 
In the war. lie did not forget mauuna'8 Christ¬ 
mas, but. gave her our old home, where we 
used to live when papa was alive. And now we 
are living there and are so happy. Among the 
relics of my childhood none are so dearly prized, 
as that little stove, and a one armed doughnut 
doll 
LETTER FEON HONOLULU. 
Dear Uncle Mark:— I fear you will think 
that Hawaii nel has forgotten you altogether; far 
from It. 1 often think of you all and have started 
several letters to you, but writing to ones’ friends 
and to a paper are two different things. I write 
so rapidly and carelessly, that. I have to go over 
my composition, correct It and rewrite, and It 
takes time, and with me Just, at present it Is a 
scarce article. Last July my parents left me for 
a visit to California to see It papa would derive 
any benefit from a change ot climate. After a 
four months trial he was thoroughly examined by 
one of the best doctors, Dr. Cole, and hla state¬ 
ment Is, pulmonary consumption, both lungs 
affected, A mild climate and no more medicine is 
prescribed. This week I received news of their 
home-coming, and by friends I am told to prepare 
myself for a great change In my dear father’s 
appearance. And loving him as I do it la hard to 
think that the time may soon come when 1 shall 
no more have a father, but though ho be taken, a 
Heavenly Father remains. He Is about to send 
me the severest trial I have ever known. 1 have 
murmured against it but now I feel that God 
knows best and He will be sure to comfort us; so 
now my whole aim la to make our truly beautiful 
home as lovely as possible, 
I have been housekeeper for my cousin, my 
adopted sister and a young married couple, friends 
of ours, for four months, no! the young couple 
have only been here two months, still I have been 
busy, very busy all along with a large home like 
ours, and I alone at Its head to direct. It Is no easy 
task and I am glad to so soon welcome home my 
loved ones. So you see, Uncle Mark, my time has 
been fully occupied and I know you will forgive 
my silence. 
And now allow me to thank you for the seeds you 
kindly sent me. I planted -them all with such 
care and some bloomed so nicely; then I was very 
sick and my plants were neglected. I felt, so sorry 
to find some dead whilst others I have petted 
back to life. If aDy seeds are sent to me next, 
year I hope to have better success. 
I Intended to have sent you an autograph of our 
King's this time, but I have not found time to pay 
him a visit, and several of my young lady friends 
are waiting patiently with their albums for his 
autograph. 
I have Just written a long letter to L. L. Lewis, 
a Rural couslu and a very Interesting correspond¬ 
ent. I also correspond with Rachel 12. Moore and 
enjoy her letters. 1 await one by the next mall. 
And now my final paragraph and the real ca use 
of my writing to you. Our great wonder, the vol¬ 
cano, is giving us a grand break-out, the first 
since '<is. It Is impossible for me to attempt a 
description so 1 have asked my cousin to try and 
procure a paper aud mall It to you, and you will 
find a splendid description as witnessed by a 
gentleman of our acquaintance; the eight must be 
grand, and I hope It possible to visit It. 
My parents were on Hawaii In ’<3S and mamma 
says she never wishes to go through another time 
like that. They could not get away for the 
schooners could not get to land, and besides papa 
was the sole manager or a plantation and not 
another white person within twelve miles. Not 
a blade of grass, not a drop of water but what was 
brought by the natives from the mountain three 
miles away. The sun was like blood, and for 
days sometimes It was not to be seen on account 
of the dense smoke. For months they slept In the 
open air and could feel the ground surging under 
them aDd all was so hot. Earthquake?, too num¬ 
erous to count. Cattle that bad been wild became 
tame. The trees waved and snapped like whips, 
stone walls fell everywhere. It was a fearful 
time. All this time I was in a convent hoarding 
school and received no home letters, and wondered 
and fretted at my parents' silence. This eruption 
does not seem to be accompanied by earthquakes, 
drought, etc., and yet the Bight Is grander than 
any previous. Hoping Lncie Mark and the 
cousins will enjoy the perusal of this letter and 
also the paper, and with best wishes for a Merry 
Christmas and Ilappy New Year, Hawaii nel bids 
good night. Frances M. Lack. 
-♦ -- 
LETTERS FROM THE COUSINS. 
Dear Uncle Mark:— I wish to thank you for 
those seeds which you so kindly sent me. They 
all came up nicely. The china pinks were beauti¬ 
ful. as was also the phlox; my favorite phlox was 
a pale pink one. The cockscomb was something 
new, being variegated, buff and crimson. V> ehad 
good success with the Rural seeds. We were all 
very much pleased with the beautiful flowers of 
the Lemon Hollyhock, which we received in 
1879. I have an oleander four years old, and eight 
feet high, It was full ot flowers from May till .Sep¬ 
tember, there are three seed pods on It at present, 
and 1 b getting more. I»o they olten get seed? I 
have never heard of It before. The muskmelon 
seed all came up, hut did not do as well as they 
might on account of not having much rain. I had 
one nice large one of which I saved all the seed. 
Uncle Murk, can you tell me which Is the tfest 
method of treating the C alia lily; so that It will 
bloom during the winter. 
Your affectionate niece, 
Wayne Co., O. Anna Crouse. 
[It Is not common for the Oleander to have seed 
pods in this climate. The Oleander la easily prop¬ 
agated by putting cuttings into a bottle of water 
where they form roots In a few weeks. You are 
aware that the Oleander Is very poisonous and that 
none should ever put the leaves or (lowers in the 
mouth. Tbe Calla lily requites thorough drain¬ 
age, yet frequent waterings. u. m, 
Dear Uncle Mark:—P lease add my name to 
the Horticultural Club. We have a great many 
house plants this winter, among them an Olean¬ 
der, several different kinds of geraniums, both 
sweet-scented and other kinds, an OxaUs that 18 
always In bloom, ruehlas, a double rose petunia, 
callas and others. We had about 40 different 
kinds of roses last summer, and a balsam that 
came up self-sown In our rose bed, and grew to be 
a beautiful shaped tree about three feet high and 
over eight feet In circumference, and It was a per¬ 
fect beauty when covered with nearly all white 
blossoms with a little sprinkling of red. 
Love to all, Esthlla B. Hunter. 
Hartford Co., Conn. 
Dear Uncle Mark :—I am a little girl nine 
years old, my pa has taken the Rural a good 
many years and I like to read the letters from the 
cousins very much and I would like to join the 
horticultural club for I am very fond of flowers. I 
live on a farm and my pa keeps horses and colts 
and cows and pigs and poultry and I like to help 
him take care of them. 1 can unharness a horse 
and tie him In hla stall and feed him and my pa 
sometimes calls me a Tom Boy, but I do like to be 
outof doors and among tbe flowers and In the fields, 
and I drive the cows to and from the pastures. 
From your little niece, 
Schenectady Co., N. Y. Alice Conde. 
tirji 
n pu« 
i 
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