THE BUBAL H E W-Y©B MEB. 
AUG, tl 
Rafting for t£re ijouna. 
THE OWL. 
The great white owl looks wondrous wise 
In his throne on the old oak tree. 
With his long hooked nose and his glassy eyes, 
The old solemnity! 
But, ah ! my children, ’fcis all pretense, 
lie’s dozing all the while; 
That judge-lilco air of wit and sense. 
Is worn but to beguile. 
Thou look at the man behind the wig. 
And trust not outward seeming: 
For the pompons owl that looks so big, 
is a dimeo who is idly dreaming. 
Buckners Station, Ky. Laura S. Haoner. 
-«-*-+-- 
THE WHIP-POOR-WILL. 
“ Whip-poor-will! ” 
“ Whip-poor-will 1” 
Why dost thou 
Whip poor Will ? 
I suppose moat of the little millers of Uie Rural 
out. among the fields and woodlands have heard 
the low, sail voice of the willp poor-will, but many 
of you have novel* seen the i pi I el lltlle felhJW as he 
flits about In the early dusk, and from hillside and 
orchard bough calls softly “ whip-poor-will, whip- 
poor-will,” aud heard the mammas say to the cry¬ 
ing little folks, •• Hark, the birdies are scolding tbe 
naughty little babies!” 
The ornithologist, Wilson, hits named him Oap- 
rlmulgus vodrerus. Is not. that a pretty long name 
for so small a bird 7 
lie wears a modest little coat, a sort of mixture 
of black, brown and rust color, in tine streaks and 
sprinkles. One long stripe of black marks the 
grey of the top of the head, while the sides of the 
head are of a sort-brick color, with a semi-circle 
of white around the throat. Around the bird-face 
Is a row of bristles, whiskers we call them for fun, 
longer than the bill, while the beak Is a mottled 
white and brown. A veritable little Quaker, with 
never a trill or iiuaver, uevor a frolicsome note in 
all his little song, 
The whip-poor-will fancies a homo lu the low¬ 
land near a stream, aud for u nest he makes a 
slight excavation upon tbe surface of the dry 
ground somewhere lu cool, woody places, usually 
close by some sheltering rock or hidden by a mossy 
log, and there, about the let of dune, a3far north 
as 43 deg. north latitude, you may discover two 
bluelsli-whlte eggs, thickly mottled with dark 
olive. 
By and by, when (he little ones are large enough 
to run, they dart in and out like tiny brown chick¬ 
ens or partridges, taking care of Themselves as 
chickens do, and at tbe tlrst approach of danger 
hiding themselves under any leaf or twig, and are 
very hard to discover, because ot their ipilot color. 
There are many people who do nor. like to hear 
the whip-poor-wiLl’s call, and think he sings only 
of sorrow, but the III t ic voice, though sad, sounds 
almost human, aud we number among our list of 
little feathered friends the whip-poor-will. 
Maude Merrpitu. 
HINTS TO THE YOUNG FOLKS. 
UNCLE MARK. 
An exact knowledge of the nature and habits of 
insects and animals, of the growth aud nature of 
plants and flowers, ts one of the most desirable 
branches or knowledge, not only to the young 
people of the country, hut of the cities. 
The young oi rhe cities have less opportunity 
fortbe observation and study ot objects of natural 
history. Out from being removed from them they 
i.eem more alive to that study. I n the cities the 
young have the parks and gardens, but have less 
opportunity to study aud handle tbe objects, for 
there are card ul warnings not to pick any learor 
fl iwers, and also to ** Keep oti the grass.” 
In the country there are no such restrictions, 
and wo can conceive of no more Interesting pas¬ 
time than the strolls in the pastures, by the road¬ 
side or iu the groves lu pursuit of, or in the exami¬ 
nation of such particular objects of natural his¬ 
tory as may be determined upon. 
The great numbers of wild flowers, many of 
them often considered by the farmer its weeds and 
pests, are some of them of great Interest aud 
beauty. Who will give names and descriptions of 
those found In their localities 7 Who has ever 
caught and described a katy-dld 7 Who or our 
young people have carelully studied the habits of 
tbe birds In their localities? Be sure to examine 
closely and carefully, and be exact in descriptions. 
A PET WOODCOCK. 
CHAT. 
Mu. John Morris., of Jefferson Market In New 
York city, has a tame woodcock which is quite a 
natural curiosity In his way. 
The woodcock, whose name is Dick, was caught 
in a store In the city to where he had by some un¬ 
accountable means wandered from his native 
Helds, about a month ago. Ilis owner provided 
Dick with an airy cage and some dry weeds for a 
nest, and a box of moist earth with worms mixed 
in the dirt, and -has succeeded In making him 
quite tame. 
The box of earth ts some six inches by ten, and 
Mr. Morris mixes in It nearly a pint of worms a 
day, and white doing so Dick pushes against his 
hands, crying quite earnestly because he cannot 
get at them direct. 
When the worms are covered In the dirt and 
some moss placed over them, Dick is allowed to 
dig for them, which he does very industriously, 
thrusting his bill through the moss, catches a 
worm and brings It to the surface, bites it and 
then swallows it. 
Dick evidently thinks well of his captivity, for 
he amuses himself rocking the box and surprising 
any careless worm which shows Itself with a com¬ 
ical expression of satisfaction. 
Mr. Morris proposes to give Dick a large, airy 
cage and a good, solid box to play and dig In. 
LETTERS FROM THE COUSINS. 
The Brmvn Thrush. 
Uncle Mark: I would like to ask you a few 
questions in regard to the name ot two kinds of 
birds. One is a bird about as large as a robin, 
and yellowish brown above, and white and brown 
specks beneath. It has a rather short tall and 
flies slowly like a young bird Jusl beginning to fly 
with qulolc vibrations or the wings. It builds Its 
nest on the low limb of a tree, ot grass leaves, «o., 
nest about like a robin. Tbe eggs are blue (light) 
about as bulky ns m robin’s egg, but more round¬ 
ing and the largo end slightly flattened. Tbe 
other bird Is a trifle smaller than the common 
“ Phoebe,” or the same color, it has a crest on the 
back or its head which points backward. The 
beak Is black aud around the upper part of its 
neck it is of iVreddtsb lino. It is lighter below than 
above and has a medium-sized tall, it has, I 
think, no song but occasionally a chirp. The 
markings or the male are a little brighter than' 
that of the female. The nest is built of wool and 
twigs on A limb about ten feet high, and Is as large 
asacocoanut; the eggs are five hi number, and 
quite long and white, with black specks both out¬ 
side and Just under the shell. Please print the 
answer in the Hurai. or write me, a description of 
the Brown Thrasher and Its egg. j. n s. 
Khlnebeck, N. V. 
(The first bird mentioned by you. corresponds to 
the Wood Thrush, (TwrdUS Wustellnus); the nest 
and eggs pretty accurately described; excepting 
that the color would rather be termed deep blue, 
with a slight, greenish tinge. The second men¬ 
tioned, resembles tbe Wood Powee (Contoptls 
vtrens) It has no song, but frequently calls pee-we, 
in a low plaintive voice, Tbe nest,, as you describe. 
Is not as It ts generdlly found of this bird, moss 
and lichens usually form part of (he outside ma¬ 
terials ; but as this family of fly-catchers is a nu¬ 
merous one, It will be worth studying further. 
The Browo Thrasher, (Harporhynchus rufiia) 
is one of the best, If not the best song bird of this 
continent; few birds of the old world equals Ids 
melodious voice, which Is soft, loud and In some 
individuals very varied, both In compass and pitch: 
In bis song he Is quite unlike the Wood Thrush, 
which has a set, song with all the species. 
The Brown Thrush (or thrasher, as sometimes 
called) arrlvesln the neighborhood of New York 
in tbe early or middle part or April. lie is first 
seen, or heard, scratching over the dead leaves Of 
a wood In search of food: next be Is seen on the 
top of a free or high bush, pouting out ids unriv¬ 
alled notes, which Justly claim for him the title of 
nightingale or North America. Not being an Imi¬ 
tator, as the mocking bird, he gives no discordant 
sounds; all hla music Is of a rich character. He is 
not shy, but wilt come very close to dwellings to 
feed or sing; but lu building hla nest he rotires to 
a secluded spot, builds It low In a bush or on the 
ground, often near low ground or the edge of a 
wood. The nest Is strongly but not very evenly 
built of dry grass, roots or twigs, lined with soft 
grass. 
This bird, being very docile and confiding, his 
color can be often seen distinctly; back reddish 
brown, breast and under part whitish, with rows 
of brown spots on breast; his bill Is long and a 
little hooked at the point; his crown flat; tall 
long, color brown. When singing, his bead Is 
slightly raised, tall hangs almost perpendicular; 
his whole beiug appears to be excited In the ear¬ 
nestness or tils performance, its eggs are rather 
over an Inch In length, four or five In number, 
whitish, sometimes inclined to greenish ground 
color, with spots covering much ot tbe ground 
color, of a reddish brown. 
tie leaves very early, lor a bird that arrives so 
early in Spring from the South as he does, com¬ 
mencing his Southern migration lu September be¬ 
fore the foliage Is falling, which protects him 
from the gunner; being so tame, and larger than 
a Iioblu, he would be u tempting object to the 
boys who show no mercy to the poor birds. He 
does not Winter so far South as many of our birds; 
lives mainly on Insects, doing much good In their 
destruction. He will take a few berries from the 
garden, but lu general lie is quite modest in bis 
sphere, considering the good he has done towards 
raising them, by destroying tbe insects, rendering 
us dellghttul and charming vocul performances 
during bis rests Horn Buch labor. o. m j 
Dkak Uncle Mark.—I t has been a long time 
since I was admitted as a member of the Club, but 
I have never reported, so l will try now. 1 re¬ 
ceived the seeds and thank you very much tor 
them. I sowed the China Pink seed In a box, lu 
March, and transplanted them to the garden when 
large enough. They grew nicely, and are lu blos¬ 
som now and are very large and double. 1 sowed 
the Phlox and Mignonette In the garden. The 
Phlox has grown nicely It Is in blossom now 
and Is very pretty, while the mignonette seems as 
H It would smother itself growing so fast. I had 
six seeds ot ukra, five or them came up and have 
done well, some or the pods are six or seven inches 
long. We had some for dinner one day, hut did 
not like It very well. We have had a great deal of 
fun at “Gumbo’s ” expense, ll seems to me that 
it.should not be called “dwarf” because It lias 
grown so fast, and each plant is so large, 
i had enough of Lbe muskmelon seed for four hills. 
J put some well-rotted manure from the pig-pen in 
each hill, hut two hills have not grown very well 
though I don’t know why. The melons did sur¬ 
prise me, they grew so fast. I counted six large 
ones to-day, besides several smaller ones. The 
Cuthbert raspberries are growing nicely. They 
have had quite a number or berries on. 
implanted the Iris, Aqullegla and Pentatemon seed 
mjboxes. A good many of the iris seeds grew 
and I transplanted them to the garden. They are 
about four or five inches high now. only three or 
four Fentstemons came up and four Aqulleglas. 
Only one seed of hibiscus came up, and it does not 
grow very well, can It be kept, through the win, 
ter ? The Magnolias have not germinated at all, 
One seed of the Ipomnea Is growing, and the 
golden mangels arc doing well. 
I have a good many flowers In the garden, 
though I have not had much time to attend to 
them this Summer, I have a good many gladioli, 
but they are all nearly alike : some of the spikes 
were live feet four Inches high, but the wind 
blew them down last week. 
I am raising gladiolus bulbs from seed this Sum¬ 
mer, but they do not grow very well, I have two 
seedling geraniums which have leaves that are 
almost white, with very little green in them. The 
seed was from a scarlet geranium, and they are In 
the same bed with them. Why should they be 
alitatii pairing. 
IN HARVEST DAY. 
Thro’ Farmor Gale's wide fields X passed 
J list yester eve; 
My week of holiday was spent, 
And idly on the stile f leant, 
Tftkiiltr my leave 
Of all tbe fab* and smiling' plain. 
Wood, vale and hill. 
And all the homely household baud, 
(The warm grasp of each kindly baud 
Bides with rue still); 
And I was sad. The stricken grain 
Around me lay; 
I could but. think of silent glade— 
Of buds and blossoms lowly laid 
The harvest day. 
White 7 
We sent for some strawberry plants last Spring, 
Miner’s Prolific, Charles Downing, and sharpless. 
They are all doing well. We have had plenty of 
rain, and crops are very goo . 
I wish I could send you a bunch of flowers from 
my garden. I am studying botany this Summer 
. aud like it first-rate. l have Gray's First Lessons 
and Field Book. 
Can you tell me how to keep snapdragon plants 
through the winter? 1 have tried a good many 
times, but never succeeded. 
l am afraid this letter is too long, If it is, please 
say so, and I will try to do better next time. 
Ever yours, Fussy Willow. 
Moul Icello, la. 
[The root of the Hibiscus Is hardy and peren¬ 
nial. tout, it the herbaceous species, will die down 
and must have Its rest., other species may be 
lifted and potted. Tho snapdragon may be lifted, 
cut down aud potted for indoor plants during the 
W1 uter. Your geranium may be from a cross with 
some other variety, now showing Itself, hut we 
caunot account for these variations, some con¬ 
sider It a disease.—r. M.] 
Dear Uncle Mark : l thought l would write to 
you and tell you bow my flowers are prospering. 
My sweet Mignonette Is In bloom and has been 
for the past tw o or three weeks. I guess every 
seed of It grew. The Poriulaca did not come up 
at all; but tho l’hlox came up aud are now In 
bloom. The Double Chinese Finks are not very 
good. Uncle Mark, ts there such a. tblug as get¬ 
ting the sou too rich? if there is, i believe I got 
too rich sou for my I’lnks. 1 got It at the woods. 
I guess I’ve told you about that n ip t o the woods 
l do not think I will try another very soon. My 
muakmelous, I came near forgetting. Only five 
stellcs came up. out of the twelve seeds planted 
but what did grow are very fine. There are mel¬ 
ons on them that are half grown. 1 have’nt 
many plants as yet, but have some hopes of get¬ 
ting more soon. 1 have a large Wax-plant that 
ts In bloom and two kinds of Geraniums. They 
are the nicest plants I have. Uncle Mark if you 
ever come to Stryker we will be glad to have you 
call on us. Martin. 
Stryker, Ohio. 
F. S. Bring some of our nieces and nephews 
along with you. 
[It is not usual to get the soil too rich. Leaf 
mold is a good kind of soil, but usually It is not 
rich enough to grow the healthiest flowers. 
_ U. M. 
Uncle Mark :— Some time has p asaed by since I 
wrote you last, but I have not forgotten you, and 
when I see the handsome flowers In blossom from 
the seeds you sent they remind me of my dul y to 
write again, and thank you for them. Most all or 
the seeds came up, both of the flower and veget¬ 
able seeds. The okra, phlox, magnolia, iris and 
grape seeds have not come up, but have been 
’ watched with great care. My garden Is looking 
very finely— flowere In abundance and weeds a 
scarce article. My pansy bed Is a beauty Indeed; 
for I fiavc a great variety. My house plants, look 
well, too, healthy and strong, l have a large be¬ 
gonia that came from a single leaf. J started it. 
In water and when rooted put It lu earth, and now 
It has so leaves. I must tell you about a large 
Normandy horse, four years old, that, father has. 
He had him weighed a few days since and Ills 
weight was i.iioo pounds. He broke through the 
scales when driven on to them, and it frightened 
him almost to death, but be bad no serious Inju¬ 
ries, rather says. No more for tills time, else 1 
will realize the result. Your niece, A lick. 
Dear Rural Cousins:— it is now Summer, and 
the country Is all activity. A llliough exceedingly 
warm, the harvesters are busy and of good cheer, 
as the harvest, It is said, never was bettor. A 
good harvest and peace is all a nation caD wish 
for. But lu prosperity we must. not. forget the 
fiord's harvest, nor should we ever Jail to ask for 
the help which our lovlug Saviour offers, that we 
may have strength to doom* duty In the field or 
life, and that we may he one In the harvest of tbe 
fiord. Fearing i have Intruded on the good nature 
of ye editors, I will close by stating that 1 vy would 
be pleased very much to get a letter from the Two 
Sisters, Lizzie B. and O. M., even though over so 
little. Please excuse your loving cousin, Ivy, 
Liberty villc, Ulster Co., N. Y. 
Dear Uncle Mark:—1 am ten years old, and I 
go to school. 1 have a mile to go. My grandpa 
takes the Rural, and F llite to read tho letters 
from the cousins very much, and would like to 
become one of them. 1 am very fond of flowers, 
of which wc have quite a number. ■* omo or tbe 
seeds from the Rural office are growing nicely. 
1 like to go out in the fields and woods gathering 
wild flowers and listen to the singing of the birds, 
and In the Fall we have a nice time gathering 
nuts. J have been watering my flowers for six 
weeks, and I am almost discouraged. I have been 
looking for rain, but it does not come. Ida. 
Mountain view, N. Y. 
" And this la all!" 1 sadly said, 
"* These withered leaves— 
This xatbered Krain ! Sprintf's hours of bliss 
And Summer's ylory turn to this— 
Some yellow sheaves 1" 
Then Farmer Gale—that pood old man, 
Ho simply wise - 
Who overheard, and quickly turned, 
Said, while a spark of neper burned 
In his pray eyes: 
“ Lad, thou art town-bred, knowing: naught 
Whereof thou pratest! 
For, l>e the flower as fair as May, 
The fruit it yields In harvest day 
Is still tho preatest! 
“ And thou thy sprlnp shall quickly pass • 
Fast falls the leaves 
From life’s frail tree. In harvest day 
See that before thy Lord thou lay 
Homo yellow sheaves.” 
He went his way; I mine; and now 
I hear the flow 
Of busy life in crowded street— 
Of caper voices, hurryltip feet. 
To come and po. 
Yet e’en while flashiup factory looms 
My hands onpape, 
I see that far-ofl* upland plain— 
Its lonp, low rows of gathered praln, 
Its rustic Hape, 
And hear them say “ Let pleasures fair, 
And passions vain, 
Aud youthful follies, fade and die; 
But all pood deeds,pure thouphts and high, 
Like golden grain, 
" Be patherod still." Blest harvest store, 
That only prows 
In hearts besprinkled with the blood 
That evermore—a sacred flood— 
From Calvary flows! 
Lord, when Thou callout, when this world 
My spirit leaves, 
Then to Thy feet, oh, let me come, 
Brinpinp, in Joyful harvest-home. 
Some yellow sheaves ! 
—Sunday Mapazinc. 
THE NEW LIFE. 
Very impressive Is It, In reading the story of 
our Lord's last words with his disciples, to notice 
how earnestly and repeatedly Be strove to Im¬ 
press upon them the " whither” of bis going. 
The mere fact absorbed them; He was seeking to 
teach them the meaning and purpose and results 
of the fact. Iu those last chapters of St. John 
we have our Lord’s own interpretation of his as¬ 
cension: " I go to my Father." This takes away 
what would otherwise have been the irreparable 
loss or ills wltndrawal. He h.is not, then, passed 
away Into an unknown realm, distinct from hu¬ 
man interests. Between Jilin and these whom 
Ills love had bound so closely to Himself, there Is 
no void of strange, unimaginable existence. “I 
go to my Father. The grave will not hold Me; 
stand not gazing down Into Its dark depths. I go 
to my Father. The abysses of space will not re¬ 
ceive me into (heir iiu -oii vagueness. Think not 
(hat beyond tho midnight stars I dwell. But 
let this be your eonsclousnese *. with the Father— 
your Father, as well ns Mine—1 live; therefore 
how close t.o you. with God—my God and your 
God—therefore, through me you will draw near 
to Him." on the Resurrection-morning, the as¬ 
surance was repeated. The first message uttered 
lo the disciples from his glorified lips was, “I as¬ 
cend unto my Father.” 
We may think, first, of the aspect of our Lords 
ascension lo relation to Himself. He bids us do 
ho, as he bade those twelve, deep as Is the mys¬ 
tery of ineffable joy unto which bis words lead. 
1* or It Is the joy of the eternal Hon—a joy Incon¬ 
ceivable by mail. Yet has He Himself drawn 
aside the veil that, hides ft. Unspeakably tender 
Is His appeal: “ If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, 
because l go unto the Father: for my Father Is 
greater than I.” You would rejoice lu my joy, 
even while believing It were your loss. 
- -♦♦♦- - 
Make a Beoinninu.— Remember lu all tblnga 
that, If you do not begin, you will never come 
to an end. The first weed pulled up In the garden, 
the first seed In the ground, the first shilling putln 
the savings bank, and the first mile traveled on a 
jouney, are all Important tilings; they make a 
beginning, and thereby a hope, a promise, a 
pledge, an assurance, that you are In earnest In 
whut you have undertaken. Dow many a poor, idle 
hesitating outcast Is DOW creeping and crawling 
on his way through the world who might have 
held up his head and prospered, if. Instead of put¬ 
ting off his resolutions of Industry and amendment, 
ho had only made a beginning, 
— - 
When we fight more against ourselves and less 
against God, we Bhall cease fighting against one 
another. 
— -- 
Christ Is not valued at all, unless he is valued 
above all.—St. Augustine. 
