666 
OCT. 2 
grafting for tljr jgtmng. 
RHYMES AND ANIMALS. 
I strung the following rhymes together to tickle 
the ears of my little boys, four ana six years old. 
They tease their mamma to read them over and 
over again, and then fetch the big illustrated dic¬ 
tionary to have her point out the funny animals 
with Buck strange names and tell what she can 
about them. This fancy for rhyme and rhythm is, 
I suppose, a characteristic of nearly all children, 
and perhaps the publication of this will amuse a 
wider circle than my little household. The aim 
has been, arte r euphony, to have the most Incon¬ 
gruous animals in juxtaposition: 
Alligator, Beetle, Porcupine, Whale, 
Bobolink, Panther. Dragonfly, Snail, 
Crocodile, Monkey, Buffalo, Hare, 
Dromedary, Leopard, Mud turtle, Hare, 
Elephant, Badger, Pelican, Ox, 
Flytngdsh. Reindeer, Anaconda, Fox, 
Guitieapig, Dolphin, Antelope, Goose, 
Hummingbird. Wesael. Pickerel, Moose, 
Ibex, Rhinoceros, Owl, Kangaroo, 
•Jackal, Opossum, Toad, Cockatoo, 
Kingfisher, Peacock, Anteater, Bat, 
Lizard, Ichneumon. Honeybee, Rat, 
Mockingbird, Camel, Grasshopper, Mouse, 
Nightingale, Npider, Cuttlefish, GrouBe, 
Ocelot, Pheasant, Wolverine. Auk, 
Periwinkle, Krmine, Katydid, Hawk, 
Quail, Hippoputamns. Armadillo, Moth, 
Rattlesnake, Lion, Woodpecker, Sloth, 
Salamander, Goldfinch, Angleworm, Dog, 
Tiger, Flamingo. Scorpion, Frog, 
Unicorn, Ostrich, 'Nautilus, Mole, 
Viper, Gorilla, Basilisk, Sole, 
Whippoorwill, Beaver, Centipede, Fawn. 
Xantko, Canary, Polliwog, Sv.an, 
Yellow-hammer, Eagle, Hyena, Lark, 
Zebra, Chameleon, Butterfly, Shark. 
— W. n. K., in Cincinnati Gazette. 
BOUQUETS OF AUTUMN BERRIES. 
MAUDE MEREOITH. 
Crimson and gold, crimson and gold, 
When the Summer’s wane, and the days grow old, 
When the crickets cry in the reedy w-ays 
And the Autumn drapes with her ruist of haze. 
The old anecdote of the boy who wished that 
each season as it came "would always last," has 
keen sometimes quoted as an example of the fickle¬ 
ness of human nature, but roollahly so, as each 
season holds Its own peculiar charm, so much so 
that, we never could wish any season to make 
haste, to pass, and yet the joy of each one Is en¬ 
hanced by its coming and going, by Its changing, 
shifting panorama. The soft warm breath of 
Spring, the glowing heat of Summer, falling hot 
and still on the dense green of the forest trees, 
and the long lances of the fragrant fields of corn, 
the gorgeous coloring of Autumn boughs swinging 
low with ripened fruits, and brown nuts beating a 
soft tattoo on the dry earth. Even the storms of 
winter, through which comes the jingle of sleigh- 
bells, and the laughter of home returning school¬ 
boys, all have their vailed fascination, and add to 
the joy of nature’s lovers, and the name of her wor¬ 
shipers is legion. 
We have been away over the hills through field 
and wood in search of our Winter bouquets. Not 
the grasses of which we gathered great store In 
the full beauty of meadow and sedge, hut the 
hardy Autumn berries, that defy the early frost 
and cling to their branches long after the foliage 
lays in heaps and wind-row, by fence and moss- 
grown hollow. 
Brightest and best for Winter bouquets Is the 
climbing bitter-sweet, celablrus scandens, whose 
CLIMBING BITTER SWEET.—FIG. 319. 
capsuled berries, of a brilliant, waxy scarlet with 
coverings of orange, brighten not only their na¬ 
tive hedge-rows and forests, but, transferred to the 
parlor mantel, light up as a inlnature “burning 
bush,” to which It Is closely allied. Euonymus 
Amertcanus, being a shrub, from two to five 
feet In bight, called also hitter-sweet or burning- 
bush, from Its brilliant appearance In the early 
Autumn. These berries once gathered are a “Joy 
forever,” as time has but little power to destroy 
their beauty. They loose, to be sure, much of 
their glossy freshness, but sufficient brilliancy of 
color remains to make them useful In filling up 
hoquets of grasses or grains. In and out among 
the flowery foliage of the woodbine hide the pur¬ 
ple clusters, mlnatures of the royal fruit that glad¬ 
dened the heart oi 
" —Tin homeward turning Jew 
When Eschol’s clusters on his shoulders lay," 
and swinging in tnelr slender red stems, are very 
pretty but fall to quickly If cut for ornament. 
The woodbine, also, called Virginia creeper, is 
called by botanists, ampllopsis qulnquefolla, and 
no longer confouuded with the poison Ivy as form¬ 
erly. 
Next we find the black alder, prlnos verticel- 
latus, as It is called. It Is a native of our wood¬ 
lands, a trim, upright shrub, of about eight feet In 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
hlght, the bright, scarlet berries clinging all Win¬ 
ter to the naked twigs. 
11 O'er yon low wall, which guards our unkempt zone. 
Where vines and weeds and scrub oaks intertwine, 
Safe from the plow, whose rough discordant stone 
Is mossed to one soft gray by lichens fine. 
The tangled blackberry, crossed and recrossed weaves 
A prickly net-work of ensanguined leaves; 
Hard by, with coral beads, the prim black alders 
shine.” 
The native dog-wood, cornus stolonlfera, are 
dotted over with a small, white berry, that we 
gather to relieve the blaze of our red clusters and 
bring out tbe shades of the purple woodbine. 
This shrub Is sometimes called red osier and red 
twigged dogwood, on account or its red bark, 
which makes It very conspicuous when the leaves 
VIRGINIA CREEPER.—FIG. 320. 
have fallen. Here comes a spray of American 
holly, Ilex opaca. Residents of our eastern coasts 
know more particularly of the beauty or this 
plant, as the Christmas festivities approach, as its 
handsome, glossy leaves and bright scarlet berries 
light up the churches and homes with an aspect or 
beauty strongly contrasting with the snow and 
Ice outside, making real the old English song : 
“Tk» mill-wheel's frozen m the stream, 
The ohurc.h is deekod with holly; 
The mistletoe hangs on the garden wall, 
To ’fright away melancholy." 
The useful barberry, b. canadensis, also con¬ 
tributes some of Its violet colored fruit to our al¬ 
ready half-filled basket. 
A few clusters of rose hips, though they lose 
much of their beauty In drying, and some of the 
little apple-llke fruit, the thorn, will finish our 
collection for this time, except as we pass the old 
garden on our homeward way, where we stop for 
the beauttrul white wax balls, called b.v some snow- 
berry. symphoricarpus racemosus, that swing 
half the Winter over the mossy garden wall. A 
half hour spent In arranging our gleanings will 
add beauty to the unoccupied nooks and corners 
of the room. 
“ Ab on the ground of somber fir 
And azure studded juniper. 
The silver birch its buds of purple shows, 
And scarlet berries loll where blooomed the wild 
sweet rose." 
SEPTEMBER DAYS IN IOWA. 
Again the golden apples swing on the heavy 
laden boughs, and the grapes cluster on the vine, 
sending a rare spicy fragrance far beyond the 
vineyard, through the quivering sunlight. The 
bird songs are hushed, save here and there the 
shrill call of a bevy or querllous Jays, still darting 
about the oak branches tike brilliant flocks of 
laplz lazuli, that awaken remembrances of the 
melodies of June, for 
Once again September sun has spread 
Her veil of amethyst above our head. 
And, touching summers fading robe of green, 
With fleck of crimson here, and gold between, 
Has, by the highways all her warriors stood. 
Brave golden rod, and asters of the wood. 
And garnered in ber wreath of golden grain 
From breezy upland or from blossoming plain. 
Her task fulfilled, her labors wholly done, 
Behind her all the seasons victories won, 
With folded hands she stands, and grand. 
And smiles with gladness on tbe restful land. 
The woodbine trails Its blood-red banners 
against the brown rock on the river side, and the 
fisher-boy shoots his skiff under the overhanging 
grape vines, and drops the purple clusters into 
his white splint baskets until, heavily loaded, he 
drifts homeward In the sunset, catching the echo 
of shouts and laughter as a crowd of jolly boy6 flu 
huge sacks with black walnuts, butternuts and 
hickory nuts, In anticipation of the long winter 
evenings. 
The wild plum spreads the ground in crimson 
and gold of luclous fruit, where the busy house¬ 
wives gather up their winter store of preserves 
and plum butter, which old Dolly draws homo m 
the heavy express, long since Innocent, of paint or 
varnish Each housewife wears the spacious 
brown sunbonnet—log-cabin—one the exact coun¬ 
terpart of the other; but nature is prodigal with 
her gifts, and hearts are full and happy. Has not 
the same wagOD, with quilts for cushions, and au 
abundance of straw on the bottom for softer stow¬ 
age of the little boys, taken all the family to the 
fair? Grandpa and grandma on the middle scat, 
father, mother and Uttle Jennie In tront, Hattie 
and the two grown girls on the hack seat, and the 
little boys In the sort <7) corners, once at the 
Fair Grounds the wagon found lodgment, In the 
rapidly fllUng semi-circle. Dolly and Jim are 
tied to the hind wheel, the bag of oats brought 
from under one seat, a basket of lunch from 
another, t-lie white cloth spread, and the fair la a 
picnic also. But the picnic proper Is the " Har¬ 
vest Home,” and oh! the “Harvest Home” 
among the merry nawkeyes! The velvet green 
ot meadows, the gold of grain stubble faraway on 
all sides, in the stillness of the oak groves the 
squirrel hies away with a long ch-u-r-r, and the 
great black walnuts In their plump green rinds, 
play a heavy bass to the light trebble of the drop¬ 
ping acorns. The scarlet crab apples gleam from 
out the thickets, and In the fence corners, where 
droops the crimson tiped sumac, the prairie hen 
calls her mother brood. Away In the blue the 
silvery cloud lands lie, and over all tails the 
amber sunshine of September. 
All over the land the year holds up her hands 
filled with her products, and we say “ a fair.” 
Fair has It been ? Ay, to some all years are fair, 
but others there la ever the sound of sobbing 
rain drops and dripping eaves. M. M. 
-- 
LETTERS FROM THE COUSINS. 
Dear Editor:—M y paper came to-day; the 
dear old Rural, now glad I was to see It again 
I got excited over Its arrival, and behaved quite 
ehlldlsU, no doubt, In the estimation of my less 
interested neighbors here. 
I have been reading the Free Plant and Seed 
Distribution; well do I remember my first packet 
of Chinese Pink seeds. I now have a most beau¬ 
tiful bed of the plants, all In bloom, from seeds I 
have carefully saved every year. 
I have not been able to plant and care for all 
tbe seeds that the Rural has sent me, and I have 
exchanged some with my friends. 
A few days ago I saw the Hollyhocks In blos¬ 
som, and lovely, indeed, they were. 
I have about sixty varieties of annuals this 
Summer. 
I intend exhibiting some of my plants at the 
fair to be held the 21 st, S2d and 2 nd of this month. 
We shall also exhibit the Golden Rural Tomato, 
the Ovoid Mangels, and probably some of the 
Beauty of Hebron potatoes, all from the Rural’s 
Free Seed Distribution. 
I have a beautiful bed of scarlet geraniums In 
blossom; cutting came originally from the Rural 
Thauks to the donor, and may God bless you, is 
the wish of your friend. Mary Waley. 
Connecticut. _ 
Dear Uncle Mark:— We did not get our seeds 
planted very early and the dry weather prevented 
their growing very well until August, when the 
Summer rains came, and then they grew finely. 
We are going to have a larger and nicer garden 
next year. If you will come down here we will 
show you how things grow In the Sunny South. 
You must not come until the frost nips the chills. 
Give our love to all the cousins. 
Virgil Eugene, Ella, Mom.ib and Tulula 
Burlesen Co., Texas. Herron. 
Dear Uncle Mark I am a little girl six years 
old. Papa takes your good paper, says he cannot 
do without It. I like to read the letters and I want 
to join your club. I mean to have a garden next 
year, and will you please remember me when you 
send seeds. I have a little sister three years old, 
and a little brother sixteen months old, he Is full 
of mischief. My grandma helps to take care of him. 
This is my first letter, I hope you will print It, as 
I want to surprise my papa. Liza G. Powell. 
Steuben Co., N. Y. 
HIDDEN ISLANDS. 
Neighbor Neold Is gone. 
Suma trap that dog. 
Did the bride sing? 
A melltas maniac. 
Cap ever deny It ? 
Cana rye Is tall. 
Must Helen answer ? 
Meuncey, London is a great city. 
As great a crime as murder. 
Ytr Answer In two weeks. Jayhawker. 
-«»« 
ACROSTICAL ENIGMA. 
My first comes In the murmerlng breeze. 
My second sits In his chair at ease. 
My third assists the young and gay. 
My tourth prefers In crowds to stay. 
My fifth Is near my lady love. 
My sixth’s at home In realms above. 
My seventh Is seen In waters clear. 
My eighth remains with kings, I hear. 
My whole Is missed altho’ ’tls near. 
IT? - Answer In two weeks. Mary Waley. 
A DIAMOND PUZZLE. 
abbaifj fleabtng. 
SOME TIME. 
Some time when all life’s lessons have been learned, 
And sun and stars forevermore have set, 
The thing's which our weak judgments here have 
spurned. 
The things o'er which we grieved with lashes wet, 
Will flash before ns, out of life’s dark night. 
As stars Bhine most in deeper tints of blue -. 
And we shall see how all God’s plans were right, 
And what seemed most reproof was love most true. 
And we shall see how, while we frown and Bigib 
God's plans go on as best for you and me, 
How, when we called He heeded not our cry, 
Because His wisdom to tho end could see: 
And e'en as prudent parents disallow 
Toomuoh of sweet to craving babyhood, 
So God, perhaps, is keeping from us now 
Life's sweetest things because it seemetli good. 
And if, sometimes, commingled with lire’s vine, 
We hud the wormwood, aud rebel and shrink, 
Be sure a wiser hand than yours or mine 
Tours out this potion for our Ups to drink; 
And if some friend we love Is lying low. 
Where human kisses cannot reach his face, 
O, do not blame the loving Father so. 
But wear your sorrow with obedient grace ' 
And you shall shortly know that lengthened breath, 
Is not the sweetest gift God sends His friend, 
And that sometimes tho sable pall of death 
Conceals the fairest boon his love can send ; 
If wo could push ajar the gates of life, 
And stand within, and all God's workings see, 
Wo cou d interpret all this doubt and strife, 
And for each mystery could find a key. 
But not to-day, Theu bo content, poor heart! 
God’s plans, like lilies, pure and white unfold, 
We must uot tear the close-shut leaves apart, 
Time will reveal the calyxes of gold; 
And if, through patient toil we reach the laud 
Whovo ttroil feet with sandals loosed may rest, 
Where we shall clearly know aud understand, 
1 think that wo shall say, " God knew the best.” 
-- 
THE VOICE OF CONSCIENCE. 
A practical point Is the duty of keeping con¬ 
science aUve and tender. It Is the will of God that 
we should have this testimony ot approval, which 
indeed will sustain us In every good way, will en¬ 
courage to perseverance, and will comfort in trial. 
Nothing, save the approbation of God, exceeds 
the value of an approving consclenco; In fact, the 
voice of an enlightened conscience is the voice of 
God within us, His word echoed in the heart. On 
the other hand, It Is God's mercliul provision that 
this voice warns us against sin, deters us from evil 
purpose; or, If we have done wrong, reproaches 
us asgutlty, and so leads us with true contrition to 
that fountain where all sin may be washed away. 
St. Paul describes It when he said “ I exercise 
myself” to keep a conscience void of offence 
toward God and men. This exercise grows into a 
habit of godliness. Whereas to tamper with con¬ 
science or to silence its voice leads to hardness 
aud impenitence of heart, with readiness for all 
evil. 
Another duty is to be tender towards the con¬ 
sciences of others. T he apostle gives many direc¬ 
tions as to this in regard to those who are true 
believers. For instance, some may imagine that 
the Divine law prohibits certain things which It 
really does not. We are not to urge a weak or less 
Instructed brother to violate his conscience by 
Imitating our freedom, and so sin against light 
which he possesses. The noble spirit of St. Paul 
decided In sucb a case to deny himself in lawful 
things rather than make his brother to offend by 
acting against his conscience. 
While It is obviously a Christian’s duty thus to 
act tenderly towards a brother, the same rule 
does not apply to cases when It Is not conscience 
but self-will, or prejudice, or false teaching that 
dictate the conduct of others. To accommodate 
ourselves to opinions or practices which we know 
to be contrary to the word of God is only to 
strengthen error, aDd it Is our duty to point out 
the mistake of ascribing to conscience what Is due 
to false feeling or wrong teaching. 
May we be enabled to deal faithfully with our 
own consciences, and Justly and tenderly with 
those of others. And may we assure ourselves 
that we are led and governed by tbe Spirit of God. 
Thus only shall each ot us be enabled losay, “I 
have lived In all good conscience before God until 
this day.” 
1, A letter; 2, to speak falsely; 3, Lnfiamed ; 
4, an andiron; 5, a hotspur; 6, the sacred book of 
the Boodhtsts: 7, pertaining to dower; s, to re¬ 
ceive ; 9, a letter. Gtrs. 
ir??“ Answer In two weeks. 
DIAGONAL PUZZLE. 
l, A consonant; 2 , a French pronoun; 3, a sort 
of rose; 4, lazy; 5, a stream of water. Primals 
and diagonals form two animals. 
Y9T Answer In two weeks. Little One. 
-- 
A SQUARE. 
1, A berry; 2, the first vertebra of the neck ; 
3, to mend; 4, to make; e, a plant. u. 
nr - Answer in two weeks. 
PUZZLER ANSWERS.-Sept. 25. 
Diamond Puzzle:— 
G 
G E M 
GENET 
G E N I S IS 
M E S N E 
TIE 
S 
Hidden Buildings.— 1, Mill; 2, capital; 3, bam;4, 
store; 6, shanty. 
Dnor Letter Puzzle.—" All Is uot geld that (flit¬ 
ters.” 
Crossword Enigma.—P omegranite. 
Tennysonlan Enigma.—" He makes no friends who 
never made a foe." 
Little Things.— Great virtues are rare; the 
occasions for them are rare, and when they do 
occur, we are prepared for them ; we are excited 
by the grandeur of the sacrifice; we are supported 
either by the spleudor of the deed In the eyes of 
the world, or by the self-complacency that we 
experience trom the performance of an uncommon 
action. Little things are unrorseen; they return 
every moment; they come in contact with our 
pride, our insolence, our haughtiness, our readi¬ 
ness to take offense : they contradict our Inclina¬ 
tions perpetually, it is, however, only by fidelity 
lu little thlDgs that a true and constant love to 
God can be distinguished from a passing fervor of 
spirit.—Fenelon. 
- »♦ » 
Tire apostle of the Gentiles said: “ T am not 
ashamed or the Gospel of Christ, for It Is tho 
power of God unto salvation to every one thal 
belleveth.’’ The goal of its missionary ambition 
and hope is, that It goes forth to save. Not that 
It simply aspires to save, but It does save. To 
this result as well as to this Intent it Is the wisdom 
of God aud Lhe power of God.—London Christian, 
-» ■» ■»- 
My own experience la that the Bible la dull when 
I am dull, Wheu 1 am really alive, and set In 
upon the text with a tidal pressure of living 
affinities, it opens, it multiplies discoveries, and 
reveals depths even faster than I can note them. 
The worldly spirit shuts the Bible; the Spirit of 
God makes it a fire flaming out all the meanings 
and glorious truths,—Horace Bushnell. 
