67© 
iOCT. © 
THE RUBAI. NEW-YORKER. 
girl’s eyes would not sparkle over such a gift to 
her new dolly. Even the haby had Ills box of 
treasures fashioned by cousin Susy’s nimble fin¬ 
gers. And the reason why she could make every¬ 
body such dainty presents In such profusion on 
Christmas day was Just because she bore It In 
mind all through the year and began in season. 
1 hope some other dear girl will say. “I will do 
just that way myself.” Lois. 
•- ♦ » -- 
JUST TRY THE EXPERIMENT. 
Pine rains have made the late gardens bring 
forth abundantly, and fruit trees are so laden In 
many sections that they need props to keep them 
up. 
While wo rejoice In these good things which 
the kind Father has given to us, let us remember 
those near us who have no part or lot In this 
abundance. The poor and struggling household¬ 
ers who have no ground to cultivate, and where 
existence seems almost a dally miracle. 
What a blessing to the poor widow yonder, 
stitching her life away on that dreary “ Southern 
work”.as they call It, would be a basket of sup¬ 
plies from your luxuriant garden. A few hills of 
potatoes, which you would uever miss, a dozen of 
corn, a paper bag tilled with those ruby tomatoes. 
How her children’s eyes would brighten at the 
sight of a basin of white harvest apples, a few 
pears or rosy peaches. 1 know the garden would 
be none the poorer, for I have tried, and have 
seen others try, this experiment of scattering and 
yet Increasing. 
Good Grandfather M. drove into town one day 
with a load of hne apples, hut the market was full 
and no one cared to buy. He did not wish to take 
them back, so he bethought him of a poor widow 
who might be glad to have them, so he drove 
around to her little house, and told her If she 
could store them away she might have them. 
Such joy and gratitude he had seldom seen, as 
shown in her broad scotch face, and In the faces 
of her four children. He had not even guessed 
her great, destitution, but afterward ascertained 
that these apples and bread were their main liv¬ 
ing all that Fall. 
Every year after that, as long as she lived In 
that section, she was told to come In the Fall and 
get a wagon load of apples from the orchard for 
her Winters supply. A good neighbor kindly 
loaned Ills horse, and the children helped pick up 
the fruit, partaking of a bountiful dinner at the 
farm house. It was tne event of the year to them. 
Always after the good woman went away she 
asked for the Lord’s blessing on the orchard. 
“ May ye never want for an apple crop." 
It is years ago since grandfather died, hut at 
times the neighbors still say. “ How is It your 
orchard always bears whether others do or not?” 
«it Is the old sootell woman’s blessing," is the 
answer. 
If you were sending a gift to your Lord you 
would not hestate to pick out your soundest, fair¬ 
est fruit. Remember he has said, " Inasmuch as 
ye have done it unto one of the least of these, ye 
have done It unto me.” It seems wonderful that 
he should notice such little gifts, but we have his 
word lor It. Surely that should be a sufficient 
stlmulous. Mbs. J. E. MoN. 
-- 
A FEW HINTS. 
In wearing shoes, always smooth out the 
wrinkles and the marks of the toes and aukles 
when taking them oft at night. Then they will 
look new very much longer, as they will not so 
soon become set to the shape of the foot, and white 
spots will not form at the great toe and side. 
Change stockings backward and torward from 
foot to foot, in this way they win wear eveuly, 
and not be so likely to break out In holes on one 
side while the other remains comparatively good. 
When takffig a sponge bath lu warm weather, 
begin at the waist first and finish with the feet. 
Then change the wator and towels, and complet¬ 
ing the bath, end with the face and neck. In this 
way one does not become all heated up with the 
exertion and feel scarce cleaner and fresher than 
before. 
A lady friend haB made for every sleeping room 
In her house a valuable convenience. In the follow¬ 
ing manner s first, she took a soap box and had It 
mounted upon four legs, which were originally 
pieces sawn off In shortening bedsteads. To the 
box she had attached un outer Ud, with hinges. 
An inner lid fitted at the top upon the strips 
nailed In for the purpose just below the edge or the 
box. This Inner Ud was perforated In the centre, 
and provided with a movable piece, and both Ud 
and piece could be easily moved whenever re¬ 
quired. Immediately beneath the inner lid and 
on the bottom of the box, lu the centre, was nailed 
a large square block, of a size sufficient to support 
a piece of crockery ware, and of a thickness ade¬ 
quate to raise It up so as to touch the inner lid 
from below. The whole woodwork was then 
stained to Imitate walnut; so that when finished 
the article made quite an addition to the bed-room 
furniture. Such a one, bought at a store, would 
have been quite expensive; but this cost but a few 
cents and It looks almost as well. An article of 
the kind la especially valuable to those living In 
the country where the lack of drainage precludes 
other conveniences particularly Is this the case 
in cold or stormy weather, but those living in 
the country may think such a thing too costly, 
and, In consequence, often suffer much annoyance. 
To all such 1 would say, hero is a simple, easy 
mode of supplying yourselves with what, once 
had, you will never want to do without.. 
MARGARET B. HARVEY. 
FARM LIFE. 
In these strtkmo days, when nearly every news¬ 
paper contains some article advising the "out-of- 
work” mechanics and laborer's to leave the crowd¬ 
ed cities and villages and try earning their bread 
by the tilling of the soil—there is often much won¬ 
der expressed at the reluctance of these unfortu¬ 
nates to take this good advice. But when I look 
about and see the lives that many farmers lead, 
J do not wonder. 
I know men worth all the way from five to 
twenty thousand dollars, with fine houses, and 
commodious hams—few of the latter large enough 
to contain their bountiful harvests—whose days 
from early dawn till long past sunset, are spent tn 
the most unremitting toll. True, time enough Is 
taken to satisfy Nature’s craving for food and 
drink, but how ? why, by hurrying Into a hot kitch¬ 
en, taking a hasty "dabble" at the sink, sitting 
down to a disorderly table and sharing with the 
files, of the abund ant supplies, provided by the 
tired, and probably cross housewife, for we women 
are apt to be touchy when we are overworked and 
worried, just as some of our masculine companions 
are. 
Don't imagine farmers hereabouts lack for fine 
parlors and shady dining-rooms, oh, no! but these 
cannot be used everyday— they must be kept for 
company; so, too, the pretty dresses and adorn¬ 
ments of the mother must be saved, and the faded 
soiled ones worn, to correspond with the uncomb¬ 
ed hair and untidy feet, which too often Is the uni¬ 
form “from morn till dewy eve." There Is no 
need of farmers living In this way, but that many 
do we all know, some one wiser than I must say 
why. 
But is it a wonder that sons and daughters leave 
such homes as these—where books and newspa¬ 
pers If provided, are often unread, for lack of time 
—and try other ways of getting a living—more en¬ 
ticing than farming, which should be the most 
pleasant of all labor? 
Who can see the beauties of this lovely earth 
better than the farmer and his family, If they do 
not spend all their time in the cultivation of their 
land, but remember that they have heads and 
hearts? 
It will be easy to convince these unemployed 
townsmen that It Is good to live In the country, 
when we learn to appreciate, and make good use 
of our blessings. When our lawns are as clean and 
att ractive as the little squares In town; our houses 
and families as neat and attractive as the mer¬ 
chants’ or the lawyers' houses and families, and 
when farmers and their families have read, mark¬ 
ed and learned, so that they can converse more 
Intelligently than many are capable of doing now. 
Mary Mann. 
-»♦- 
FASHIONS. 
Hoods, fichus, and pelerines, of various styles 
and dimensions are now fashionable. 
Collars are also being made Immensely large; 
for morning wear they are not altogether white, 
but scolloped out and embroidered with red, 
black, blue, &c. This, well and tastefully selected, 
gives much harmony to the toilet. The cuffs are 
either plain or plated, but always matched to the 
collar. 
The deep sailor-collar In surah of two shades of 
color, plain or figured, fastened with a somewhat 
loose bow of the same. Is very pretty. It is worn 
with the high-necked dress, either of the same or 
of another color, according to taste, provided the 
colors, If contrasting, are selected with care. 
Hats for morning wear are made very simple, 
with little ornaments; as a rule they have neither 
flowers nor feathers, but only a large bow of soft 
surah tn front upon the crown; below this a thick 
quilting of unbleached tulle or lace, coming a lit¬ 
tle beyond the border; behind, the ribbon or 
surah, twisted so as to become quite small, is 
passed through the straw and then tied under It 
in a how, which droops over the chignon ; this Is 
a very clever arrangement, for with the small 
knot of hair which It is now considered pretty to 
wear at the back of the head, there is under the 
hat, with Its lowered brim, an empty space un¬ 
pleasing to the eye. 
A dccukss hat Is of Leghorn straw, open border, 
lined with a band of dark red velvet slightly 
gathered at both edges. Two tong shaded red 
feathers trim this hat, one droops over the 
crown, the other comes rorward over the edge 
of the border; a how of palest pink satin placed 
on the right side completes the trimming. 
There Is also a bonnet of fine black English 
straw, edged with a Jet head border, finished with 
a head rrlnge; semi-wreath of large closely- 
pressed red popples round the trout part; aigrette 
of black and old-gold feathers at the sides; bow 
and very wide strings of poppy-red satin. 
To these very new and stylish bonnets and hats 
may he added the pretty little Creole hat of rough- 
and-ready straw, Dent down in front and at the 
back, and trimmed with a Madras kerohlef In 
rich warm colors, coquettlahly tied on one aide. 
For young girls the kerchief Is sometimes ex¬ 
changed for an enormous Alsaclau bow of velvet 
or satin ribbon. 
Plaids, not In the Scotch but Madras style, pre¬ 
vail In new Autumn goods, nere colors are 60 
blended together as to form an harmonious whole. 
Uncertain shades of green and blue, with every 
possible shade of yellow; deep reds, with flesh 
color, dull shades of lilac, grays and browns; such 
are the favorite mixtures, as different as possible 
from the bright tints of Scotch plaids. 
Madras plaids are extremely fashionable. They 
are now reproduced lu silk and woolen fabrics. 
When not entirely of tins plaid, the costume Is 
very generally trimmed with plaid kerchief-borders 
effectively disposed, so as to show to the best ad¬ 
vantage round the outline of double skirt or tunic, 
bloat e or casaquln-bodice. 
A dress of Madras plaid in attenuated shades of 
green and blue, with a few touches of bright red 
and yellow, la made In the Princess shape behind 
and with a basque In front. It is trimmed In the 
shape of a tlohu with bands of bluish-green velvet 
finished with a flowing bow of satin ribbon to 
match; a pointed tabiter, trimmed at the edge 
with a similar band, and Is finished at the hack 
Into two shawl-points, which form the tournure. 
The sxlrt is trimmed round the foot with a deep 
fiutlng, edged with a band of velvet. 
BE INDEPENDENT. 
A Word to Youiik Farmern’ Wives. 
The unavoidable labor on a large farm can be 
much more easily met and accomplished If every 
mistress of a house would cultivate sturdy inde¬ 
pendence with regard to her household affatrs. 
A woman with half a dozen children ought not 
to expect to have as many nice things or as many 
leisure hours as the neighbor who perhaps has 
none, or only one. 
Every woman should plan her affairs with an 
eye to her own incomo, and not wish to copy from 
her friends, 
Happiness and peace lie In tho path of Indepen¬ 
dence. t f your neighbor makes fo ur kinds of cake 
when she expects you to tea, set her a better ex¬ 
ample when she returns your visit, by getting a 
less elaborate meal, and by this means save your 
time and strength. Aunt Rachel. 
No matter what your feelings or aliment Is, Hop 
Bitters will do you good. Prove It. 
lomtstir (fctoitomu. 
CONDUCTED BY EMILY MAPLE. 
MENTAL AND SOCIAL IMPROVEMENT. 
M. H. L. 
IIow Interesting and full life becomes when 
we have well defined aims—how listless and 
unhappy without them. The poor factory 
girl toiliug day after day, thinking of Satur¬ 
day’s pay, and how much comfort she can 
give to those who depend upon her, is far 
happier thau the well-to-do person without 
any purpose in life. Is it not because boys are 
usually educated with a defiuite aim that they 
are meutully stronger and better able to meet 
the rubs of life than the girls who often pass 
much time iu listless dreaming over their pos¬ 
sible future, tbe result perhaps of reading 
silly novels which tend to give perverted and 
false views of life, weakening instead ol giv¬ 
ing vigor to the brain ? Let the girls be edu¬ 
cated with a practical outlook and how differ¬ 
ent their future would often be, and would we 
not have fewer unhappy marriages where the 
wife is full of fancied neglects, often imagin¬ 
ing herself a victim to misplaced affection ? 
This is an age of progress, and instances 
can be adduced to show that the time has passed 
for discussion about whether or not the girls 
can be educated side by side with the boys. 
This has been fully tested, and when women 
vote we shall not hear so much of wife beat¬ 
ing. 
In "The Popular Science Monthly” for 
May, 1878, is an article on wife torture in 
Englaud, m which facts are given that would 
startle the most credulous. I am glad our 
English sisters are up and doing in the women 
question. 1 spent a short time in a somewhat 
isolated couutry village this Summer, and the 
simple villagers were surrounded by the most 
charmiDg scenery. Nature had been lavish 
in her gifts to them, but they plodded along 
day after day, never seeming to look up and 
drink in the grand and beautiful aboat them. 
I could not help thinking that if Charlotte 
Bronte had had such surroundings, instead of 
that barren moor whence she sent out Jane 
Eyre, a book full of imagination and fire 
which has thrilled the civilized world, how she 
would have appreciated it. The trouble with 
the villagers seemed to me to be that they had 
so few wants. They eat, drank and slept, liv¬ 
ing ODly to gratify their lower instead of cul¬ 
tivating their higher natures; in short, with¬ 
out a well defined and exalted aim in life. 
The long Winter evenings would soon be 
upon them, and I ventured to suggest that it 
might be a good plan for some of the younger 
and more intelligent among them to organize 
a kind of literary society where they could 
converse freely on some topic previously 
agreed upon. For instance, take some city— 
Paris. London or New York; or, if preferred, 
take a famous individual—Wesley or Luther— 
aud let each member read up and use all avail¬ 
able means of finding out on the snbj'ect what 
will be instructive and interesting at their 
meetings. In this way the latent talent will 
be developed and an influence will spread 
abroad which would open up a desire for still 
further investigation on other topicB. I was 
gratified to learn on my next visit thatthepro- 
ject had been favorably received, and on Sun¬ 
day I had the pleasure of hearing the minister 
announce from the pulpit that on 6uch a day 
and hour the first literary meeting would take 
place. Is not this a step in the right direction? 
WHAT TO DO IN AN EMERGENCY. 
A person accidentally got a fourpenny coin 
into his windpipe. It was wedged In edge¬ 
wise, and his breathing was not interrupted, 
except that it produced a kind of wheezing 
noise, Bimilarto that of an asthmatical person. 
He sought a surgeon, who administered an 
emetic, aud said that nothing more could be 
doue. The emetic failed to remove the coin. 
The next day he called on another surgeon, 
who by auscultation could detect the coin at the 
bottom of the windpipe. Ho was told that uo 
more could be done for him, and that mortifi¬ 
cation would soon set in. A lady told him of a 
similar accident, and the way it was removed 
was by placing the gentleman on his head, and 
giving him a violent slap between the shoulders’ 
at the bottom of the wind pipe. A cushion wa» 
placed on the floor for his head, hia legs held 
np and a violent blow given on his back soon 
made him exclaim, "Here it is!" The coin 
fell from his mouth to the floor. 
Hattie Hopeful. 
-♦ - - 
8P0NGE CAKE-AND STIR PANCAKES. 
The following recipes were given us by Mrs. 
G. T. H., of Long Island. Mrs. H. haB become 
noted, and justly, iu her neighborhood, for her 
sponge cake, and her directions for making it 
are in this wise: Nine eggs, the weight of eight 
eggs in sugar aod the weight of four iu flour, 
a tablespoonful of lemon juice and a little of 
the grated rind. Separate the yelks from the 
whites, adding the \elks, one at a time, to the 
sugar and beating each thoroughly with the 
sugar, then stir in the lemon juice and rind, 
next the whites whipped to a stiff froth and, 
lastly, the flour—puttingit all in at once—after' 
wbkfi stir as little and lightly as possible. 
For baking use the ordinary round bread tins 
or bar cake tins. Line with paper, grease or 
not, at pleasure, and bake in an oven suitable 
for bread baking (an oven that will brown 
bread within 10 minutes after placing it in 
oven) 40 or 45 minutes. Try with a bent broom 
whisk. As soon as taken from the oven turn 
out of the pan and slide onto an inverted sieve— 
this requires dexterity. Mrs. H. always frosts 
Ihe bottom of the cake, that being the smooth¬ 
est. 
The recipe for " stir pancakes” originated in 
her immediate family and these are a very pop¬ 
ular dessert with them. She remarked that in 
times of unexpected guests, when there was 
not time for a more elaborate dessert, these 
cakes Ailed up the gap and were always sure 
to be appreciated. Take a quart of sweet 
milk, four eggs, a pint of Bifted flour, slightly 
heaped, and a little salt. Beat the eggs, add a 
little of the milk, then a little of the flour and! 
60 on until all are in. Put a piece of batter 
the size of a walnut, into a frying-pan ; 
when heated pnt a teacupful only at a time 
of the batter into the pan, and at once 
commence to stir up with a knife, exactly 
as one would when scrambling eggs. Work 
into a round cake about the size of a small 
tea plate, and as soon as nicely browned, turn 
with a griddle-cake turner aud brown on the 
other side. As they are taken from the frying- 
pan do not pile one upon another. Serve with 
butter and sugar—granulated or powdered. 
-- 
DOMESTIC RECIPES. 
To Clarify Fat. 
Cut into small pieces, fat of either beef or 
mutton. Put iuto a saucepan and cover the 
pieces with cold water. Stir until the water 
bolls, skim carefully and allow to boil until the 
water has all been discharged in vapor—the fat 
will then be of the color of salad oil—strain, 
and it will keep any length of time. 
Mrs. L. Jones. 
Apple Batter Pudding. 
Four beaten eggs, one pint of rich milk, two 
cups of flour, one teaspoonful of salt, two even 
teaspooufuls of baking powder. Peel and core 
eight ripe, tart apples ; put into adeep, baking- 
dish; fill the center of each with sugar and 
pour the beaten batter over them. Bake an 
hour and eat with cream and sugar, flavored 
with nutmeg or lemon. 
Good Apple Butter. 
Boil a kcttleiul of new cider until reduced 
two-thirds. Have a quantity of tart, juicy 
apples pared, cored and sliced, and put in as 
many iuto the kettle as the cider will cover. 
Cook slowly until tender, skim out aud put iu 
a second supply of apples. When tender turn 
all out and let stand over-night. In tie morn¬ 
ing return to the kettle and boil down until 
quite thick. Add whatever spice you please. 
It requires almost constant stirring. 
_Mbs. J. J. K. 
Quince Preserves. 
Pare, quarter and core, saving the skins and 
cores. J ust cover the quarters of quince with 
cold water and simmer until tender. Take out 
the pieces carefully, and lay on flat plates. 
Add the parings, etc. to the water, cover tight¬ 
ly and stew an hour. Strain through a jelly- 
bag and to each pint of the juice add a pound 
of granulated sugar. Boil, skim, add the 
pieces of quince and boil gently 10 minutes. 
Turn out and let stand over-night. Iu the 
morning skim out the pieces, boil up the sirup, 
pul in the pieces, simmer 10 minutes, take 
out onto flat dishes and set in the sun. Lot 
the simp boil until it begins to jelly, then fill 
the glass cans tw*. -thirds full of the fruit and 
cover with the sirup. Mart B. 
To Bleach Ferns. 
A 10-year subscriber usk6 some of the Rural 
readers, wbohave experience, to give directions 
for bleaching ferns, 
-- 
The greatest nourishing tonic, appetizer, 
strengthener and curative on earth. Hop Bitters. 
