\J HORLEY'S 
i.ltll!|,l< Hi* 
ceasing work, what can she talk about to a stray- 
visitor other than such trifles as Mrs. A’s trouble 
with her servant or Mrs. B’s Blck chickens? 
In a meeting or women who talk about their 
household affairs, there Is far more real practical 
every-day wisdom discussed than In a meeting of 
literary young misses who glvo their opinion aa 
to the relative merits of various authors. 
I think such a body aa the Kitchen Club Mrs. 
Annie Jack tells us of, cannot be too highly com¬ 
mended. l have no doubt all the members feel 
their wits greatly brightened by the meeting, if 
they do discuss no higher subject than cookies. 
Silll l wish, whether they gossip or not, that 
housekeepers would give more attention to house¬ 
hold science, so that in their cooking, their house 
and Its appointments, they would violate no hy¬ 
gienic canons. 
aired and sunned than the cellar, and I am al¬ 
ways glad when the windows and doors can be 
Opened and a thorough ventilation takes place 
before cleaning. Then white smoking hot 
lime, with a good handful of salt in each pail¬ 
ful to destroy insects, a full brush and strong 
arm, and in half a day the cellar will smell 
sweet and wholesome. Wo mix a little cement 
with the refuse whitewash, aud a little sand; 
these make a mixture that will fill up all holes 
where troublesome mice might creep through. 
A friend of mine, after cleaning all the cellars, 
burns a little sulphur in them, the fumes of 
which purify from mold, and destroy insects or 
fungoid growth. More important than the 
house-cleaning of parlor and spare bed-room 
is that of these the “ lowest rooms.” 
m* luliHcatifmsf 
Temperance Light. 
A new Temperance Bong Book of low price, hnt the 
very best.quality. By Guo. C. Hrno, an.l \T. E. 8er- 
yoss, with the valuable assistance of a number of onr 
Jjcst Moijpr find music writer?. A we)] printed snd beau¬ 
tiful lifrt 0 boo If. Senri 12 ctx > in stmti t px,) /or n! 
Costs but $10 pr. hundred, and 12 cts. pr. sittgle copy. 
ARTHUR SULLIVAN’S VOCAL ALBUM. 
Contains Twcnt.v-.fYmr of the bcstsonirs of this famous 
composer, any three of which are worth the moderate 
pries of this flue volume, which in $U(). 
AU Sunday Schools that try it, take to \\ iiite If nlies, 
(otiets.) No better Sunday School Song Book ever made 
Tub Eii press Augusta, of Germany, had In 1870 
aa her reader a French gentleman named Gerard- 
One day he was reading to her a book on the war 
of 1870-71 and came to a passage In which the 
French were treated with a good deal of severity, 
“ Skip that, if you please,” said thu Imperial lady, 
with equal gracefulness and quickness, 
Mrs. Julia Atzkoth, of Florida, has raised the 
first coffee grown In the open ah- In this country) 
so far aa known. 
NEW ENGLAND CONSERVATORY 
METHOD FOR THE PIANOFORTE. 
BUTTER COLOR 
OgS.25, 
complete. In 3 parts, each B7.6II.) Has been for vears 
a standard and favorite method, and is constantly in 
use by the teachers of the conservatory, and by thou¬ 
sands of others. 
IMPORTED CLYDESDALES 
I have just noticed in a late Rural di¬ 
rections for coloring butter with the juice of 
carrots. We have tested the different meth¬ 
ods of coloring butter quite thoroughly and 
some time ago discarded the use of carrots 
for this purpose; as we fouud that, aside 
from the trouble of preparing them, there 
was another objection to their use—when the 
butter is kept for some time (even for a few 
weeks), it is apt to acquire a disagreeable 
flavor from the decay of the vegetable matter 
in the coloring. Were it not for these objec¬ 
tions I would prefer it to the prepared but¬ 
ter color which we buy; for if one uses a 
little too much carrot juice the butter will 
still be of a golden tint, while a very little 
too much of the other gives a disagreeble red¬ 
dish tinge. Therefore groat care is neccessary 
iu usiDg it—better use too little than too 
much at first, while learning how to propor¬ 
tion it. I never have found that the prepared 
color injures the keeping qualifies of butter 
in the slightest degree, and the expense of 
using it is a f mere nothing as a twenty-five 
cent bottle will color inoie than three hundred 
pounds. E. K. B. 
and other desirable strains of Trotting- Stork, fo 
sale, cheap, and on easy terms. All stock guarau 
teed as good aa represented. Catalogues sent free 
Correspondence solicited. Address 
POWELL BROS., 
SpriiiKhoro, Crawford Co., I’a. 
Try LAUREL WREATH, (Sl.oui, High School Singer. 
Try MASON’S TECHNICAL ilXEUOLSES. Piano, 
($2.M> i 
Try T HE MUSICAL RECORD. Weekly. *2.00 peryear. 
Try GOSPEL OF JOY, (30 ct»b Best " Gospel ” Songs, 
Try AMERICAN ANTHEM BOOK. (*1.25) 
OLIYER DITSON <St CO., Boston. 
C. II. Dlr.on Jt Co.. J. K. DUxon * Co. 
M3 Broadway, New York 1228 Chestnut St.. 1 hila. 
CONDUCTED BY EMILY MAPLE, 
porteui; health. Patton* Stock quicker 
i than anything olfltJnon<utx<iipntlty of 
milk In O-ws, and CO;VI'S NOTHING 
Hu* b»tm before lh*» public, for uver 25 
year*, and him mir-t faded to give satis- 
faction. fal/ o-.-ri/gAt to. Circulars, 
with convincing testimonials, free 
TilO RLEY FOOD OO., 
18 and 40 Franklin St., Chicago, III. 
AGENTS WANTED to Sell the NEW BOOK. 
CONCERNING HOUSEHOLD MATTERS 
TELLS MOW TO 
Cultivate all the Farm Crops In the Beat Manners 
Breed JFeed and Caro for Stock i Orow Fruit; Manage 
Farm Business; Make Happy Homes, and 
Hoxv to Make Money on t!»e Farm. 
- E I e iT. Farra?r phouM have a copy. 860 Pages. 
140 Illustration*. Send for circulars to ® 
J. C. McCURDY & CO., 1’h.ilatlelphin, Pa. 
MARY WAGER'FISHER. 
To the Rural readers in search of starch for 
“mourning” calicoes, or plain dark linens or 
cambrics of any sort, let me recommend the 
use of gum-arabic as being the must satisfac¬ 
tory of all starch for such purposes. Dissolve 
the gum iu warm water—say at first a tea¬ 
spoonful iu a pint of water or less. Of course, 
the amount used must be in proportion to the 
required stiffuess aud the amount of fabric to 
be starched. Apply the solution to the surface 
of the fabric with a small, dean cloth, makiug 
only a small portion of the frock at a time 
moist with it. A little practice will make one 
an adept iu the use aud application of it. If 
you wish the goods to have a gloss, iron on 
the right side; a soft, uew appearance is pro¬ 
duced, if ironed on the wrong side. Forty or 
fifty cents’ worth of gum-arabic will serve for 
such starchiug, aud keep the mucilage bottle 
filled for a long, long time—two or three years 
in a small family. OKI straw hats may be 
stiffened anew with it, and made quite pre¬ 
sentable if carefully pressed. At all events, if 
you have a very dark, or black cotton or linen 
frock to “ do up,” invest five or ten cents in 
gum-arabic aud try it. I am sure that you 
will never ask for a more satisfactory method. 
Cleaning Stoves of Ashe*. 
To clean a stove hearth of ashes after coal- 
cinders aud ashes have been removed from the 
pan, do not use a brush or broom, as that 
makes a dust. But take a woolen cloth, or 
even a “ worn-out” cotton stocking, or piece 
of woven underwear stuff, and wipe off the 
hearth. 
Cleaning Paint. 
When yon “ clean home ’’ this spring, soften 
the water with soda for cleaning painted wood— 
use no soap. Use a flannel cr cotton-flannel 
cloth. Begin with closets, pautries and “cran¬ 
nies ”—which should be made clean and “put 
to rights ” first. This is really the most 
fatiguing part of house cleaning for the mis¬ 
tress, as much ot it must be done by herself, 
aud so it is better to attend to it before one’s 
strength is half used up, 
Good Knitting Yarn. 
I would be glad to be informed where good 
stocking yarn can be procured. I pay from 12 
to 13 cents per ounce for red stocking yarn iu 
the city (Philadelphia), and the stockings will 
wear from one to two weeks on the feet of a 
certain three-year-old boy, when holes iu the 
heels and knees appuar. It is very discourag¬ 
ing to knit stockings under such circumstances. 
I have experimented with different brands of 
domestic yarn; but with about the same re¬ 
sult. I know that old-fashioned home-sputl 
yarn wears a great deal better ; but where can 
it bo had? I think there are many persons 
who are old-fashioned enough to kuit—or ne ;v- 
fashioned—who would be equally glad to kuow 
where good, strong, soft yarn can be had. 
H IGH CLASH POU LTRY, Grave Vines.Smal' 
FrmtsJ finer than ever. 
Send for circular. Geo. S. JossELnsr, Fredonia, N. Y 
P LYMOUTH ROCK. KliUS for sale from pure 
bred fowls, $1.00 for 13, warranted fresh and true 
to name. L. H. SMITH, Scipio, N. Y. 
WIM.M HIGHWAY BSSfiJSSSr 
A Household Libra- lift j)(]([] V B reliable and energetic 
ry of itself. Active I 1 U Li W, w;m te<l to whom 
best tonus and exclusive ter- it i I) |) IV U V V for partie- 
ritory will be given. Mend UdFI H1BQ« ulars at 
once to Evans te Co., Publishers, 1 vn III? 1UUAI 
No. 9 Murray Street, New York. "Lll/ 11L V it 11. 
I ^Inte 
DOMESTIC RECIPES 
IN SOUTHWEST MISSOURI. 
1,000,000 acres well-watered Timber 
and Prairie Lands along the line of the 
St. Louis and Sau Francisco R.R. for sale 
at from $2.50 to $8.00 l»cr acre on 
set ren, years' time. Excellent for Stock, 
Fruit, and Farming. The pest Tobacco 
Region in the West, Short winters,con¬ 
venient markets, superior schools, low 
taxes, healthful climate, good society. 
Free transportation from St.Louis to pur¬ 
chasers of la nd. Send for maps and circulars. 
W. H. COFFIN, Land Commissioner, 
Temple Building, St. Louis, Mo. 
SHARPLESS STRAWBERRY. 
Genuine No. 1 plants direct from the “ Home of the 
Hharplcsa in Central Pennsylvania,” by express nr, loo, 
S 1.50; pr. 1,000, $10.00. By mail 40 ots. pr. 100 additional, 
atalogues free. Address 
J. L. DILLON, Bloomsburg, Pa. 
Blacult Making, 
If, when making biscuit, the saleratus is 
sifted with the flour instead of dissolving it in 
water, the biscuit will be lighter and better. I 
use a moderately heaped teaspoonful of salera¬ 
tus to two cups of sour milk or buttermilk. I 
prefer buttermilk, but the buscuit, must be 
mixed as soft as possible. 
Brown Bread. 
Three and a half enps of Graham flour ; two 
cups of Indian meal; two-thirds of a enp of 
sirup; one pint of milk; one pint of water, 
or if you have not plenty of milk use all water; 
one teaspoonful of saleratus and one teaspoon¬ 
ful of salt. Steam four hours. It is excellent. 
I always make it to eat with baked beanB. My 
husband thinks it is better than the famous 
Boston brown bread. Mrs. P. C. C. 
KIEFFRR’S HYBRID 
BLlDHT PROOF PEAR. 
“40 Yearn* Experience in 
Pear Growing," telling how to 
amid the blight and insure poo-1 crop*. 
“40 Years’ Anionic Small 
Fruits,” tolling wbat and how to 
plant. Either sent by mail for 14c.; 
both for 2<>r. mnlwu) free. 
WM. PARRY, Cinnaminson, N. J- 
The Vergennes. 
The best NATIVE GRAPE yet offered to Grape- 
Growers. A chance seedling- from Venrennee. Vt., 
originating with \V m. E. Greene. It combines Vigor. 
Hardiness, Fairly Uirening, Superior Excellence of 
Flavor, Thin Sinn. Soft Pulp; will dry to a iias-iii and 
can be kept till March in good condition. 
Its value for this quality C3u scarcely be overesti¬ 
mated lor the Viuevardisc and Amateur. Skju> kor 
Circular. Yiuett forwarded by mail or express on 
receipt of price. Address 
THOS. CALEF, Bridgeport, Conn. 
Fruit Trees,I IIMB C A I T 18 excellent for horses, 
& 0 - . LUIflr War’Ll sheen, &c. All kinds 
ol salt in full supply; also, Ferris’ Land Invigor- 
ntor and Crop Protector-death to Hessian Fly 
and other yeets. I ee it and reap a go Iden harvest. 
EDWIN FERRIS & CO., 
Wholesale Suit & Fish Healer 183 & 185 Washington 
Stocking Supporters. 
I think I have an improvement upon chil¬ 
dren’s stocking supporters. Make a skeleton 
waist of rubber webbing and 6ew on to a stout 
band, which may be used for the drawers also. 
Then sew on V-shaped straps on both sides 
with buttons on, with which to fasten the 
stocking elastic. I knit seaming onto the 
wrists and bottoms of my children’s flannel 
drawers, which I think much nicer than but¬ 
tons. 
To Use Stale Bread. 
Soak the bread in hot water until soft; when 
cold add two eggs, half a cup of sweet cream, 
one teaspoonful of 8oda, a little salt and flonr 
to make a 6tiff batter like fritters. Fry in hot 
lard or boil in water. To be eaten with siiup 
or whateverliked. 
Graham Gems, 
One pint of buttermilk, oue teaspoonful of 
soda, a little salt if butter is not used, one 
tablespoonful of shortening, oue tablespoonful 
of sugar, Graham to make a batter like Johnny- 
cake. Mrs. J. G. Bell. 
about purchasing- fertilizers 
and wishing to save from 1(H) 
to 2.0(H) per cent., can do eo by 
GEORGE CASPER. M. D„ 
Mauateo. S. Fla. 
BERRY CRATES Rest and Cheapest made 
Send for Free Circular. 
N. D. BATTERSON, Buffalo. N. Y. 
eending stamp to 
Silver Cake. 
Two cups of granulated sugar; one small 
cup of butter; two even cupsful of sifted flour; 
whites of 12 eggs; juice of one lemon. Cream 
the butter, then add the sugar, stirring until 
very light. Beat the eggs to a stij}' froth. Add 
the flour to the butter aud sugar then the 
whites of eggs and stir all to even lightness. 
Bake in small square tins. Rose water may 
be used for flavoring the icing. 
Ginger Snaps. 
One even cup of butter; one cup of brown 
sugar; two cups or molasses; a teaspoonful 
of salt and two of soda. Any spice liked and 
flour to roll out. Put all but flour into a clean 
pan and boll five minutes. Then remove from 
fire and at once begin to add flour. Work as 
rapidly as possible and bake in a quick oven. 
Mart B. 
PEN-THOUGHTS FROM EVERY-DAY 
HOUSE. 
MRS. ANNIE L. JACK 
be have now open an imxuenge stock of the most approved varieties of CARPETS and FLOOR COVERINGS 
MANUFACTURED BY OURSELVES 
Expressly for this season’s Retail Trade, consisting of AX.MINSTERS- WILTONS. VELVETS, 
BRIStsELS, INGRAINS, Arc., Arc., In 
JST ew Styles and Designs. 
These goods will be found to combine in an unusual degree, Elegance of Appearance and Positive Wearing 
Qualities, and are well worthy of the inspection of intending pnrchaset‘8- 
Wealsooffer .i Full Line of TURKISH ami EAST INDIAN RUGS and MATS, CHINA MAT¬ 
TINGS, OILCLOTHS, Arc., Ac., AT THE LOWEST POSSIBLE PRICES. 
Special Inducements offered to Churches. Steamers and Hotels. 
or. tfc J. DOBSON, 
CAltFET MANUFACTURERS AND RETAILERS, 
40 & 42 WEST 14th ST., N. Y., Near Gth Ay. Elevated R. it. Station 
JOHN VAN GAASBEEK Manager. 
How balmy the air! I always think in 
spring-time of those lineB of Whittier’s : 
•' And all the windows of my aoul 
I open to the eun.” 
It seems as if the windows of the bouI and 
of the house are wonderfully renovated by the 
spring air and sunshine. The children revel in 
them. Their brown cheeks have taken on a 
tan that only next winter's frost will remove ; 
but better so—better the air and suushiue, aud 
the free play of healthy lungs “open to the 
buu —” than pale cheeks, and a tendency to dis- 
ase. No part of the house needs to bo earlier 
Note.— We wish to thank Col. F. D. Curtis 
for a side of bacon which the family pronounce 
of the very best quality. e. m. 
