675 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
possession and quick adaptability, without 
which no family of consideration would be 
bothered with them. Once fairly launched up 
this first stepping-stone of social advancement, 
small and doubtful as it may seem in compari¬ 
son, they are beyond the narrow restrictions 
ami intolerance which distinguishes town 
society from country people. As servants, 
though acting in constant obedience, they 
have a license of activity and a breadth of 
sphere which is only bounded by their capacity 
and ambition. From child-nurse, to chamber¬ 
maid. to waiter, to cook, to housekeeper, to 
superintendent, and final acquirement of au¬ 
thority, not only in domestic but social affairs, 
are natural gradations, and social recognition 
is consequently more easily reached by the 
merits and ability of a servant than the 
wealth of a dull peasant. The former will 
outgrow and out-develop tho inferiority of 
his early circumstances, while the latter re¬ 
mains a nonentity everywhere but iu his 
native place. 
Germany, with its distinct social types aud 
conservative exclusion of alieu elements, af¬ 
fords the best illustration of tho forcing 
power of pure merit and character. With it, 
circumstances of low birth and antecedents 
are simply a temporary barrier to be worked 
away by personal exertion and transforma¬ 
tion. Without it, there is neither desire nor 
ability to remove it, aud society's doors are 
only opened on tho outside. Thus we see in 
the lowest strata of life a demonstration of the 
same social principles which work throughout 
the world for the rising and survival of the 
fittest. 
MUSINGS OF A QUIET LIFE. 
NUMBER TWO. 
ZEA MAYS. 
This is a rare treat I'm having this after¬ 
noon, sitting out in the old orchard. I believe 
it would lie better for us if we would spend 
more of our time out of doors. I think we 
could if wo would only manage it. 
This morning I was very busy, as thousands 
of my countrywomen ware. There was 
breakfast, tho children to lie got off to school, 
and baking and churning, and sweeping and 
mopping, and quite a pile of rags, which in 
candor l confess were loft over from yester¬ 
day, 
A bird has at length come forth as if for 
my special attention, aud after flying almost 
into my face, has seated itself on a bare 
branch near by. It pecks ui its plumage, 
which is quite “Quakery” beneath, rather 
darker, perhaps, above, and if I mistake not, 
I saw a little trimming on its dress. If it 
would only sing now! But Quakers think it 
wrong to sing in meeting, I believe. Maybe 
tho bird couldn’t sing much if she tried. 
I did get a bit of time when churning to 
look into a new library book, this morning. 
Perhaps one-half of the women of the United 
States were engaged somewhat as I was this 
morning, and one-fourth of them fretting or 
groaning, becauso they must toil so. They do 
not see the force of the poets advice: 
"Oet work! 
It Is better than whut you work to set.” 
Many of the tired and worn-out mothers, I 
fancy, are saying: “What’s the use? How 
can I better my life?” There is this use, 
my sisters! you are bringing up your boys 
and girls. Is that nothing? Will it not 
amount to something some day? Make be¬ 
lieve—like the little kitchen girl in the “Old 
Curiosity Shop,” whose recipe for orange peel 
wine was a tumbler of cold water with a 
littlo bit of peel in it “not much taste,” she 
said, “unless you make believe very much,” 
Some of us will have to “make believe” 
much to feel that we are well off, and having 
u good time, but let’s try it! Mr. Gradgrind 
says: “Now what I want is facts. Teach 
these boy's aud girls nothing but facts. Facts 
alone are wanted in life. Plant nothing else 
and root out everything else.” 
Mr. Gradgrind’s family was not a success. 
Facts are good, aud imagination is also good. 
I remember that when iu the trundle-bed, I 
had a habit of creating imaginary circum¬ 
stances, building air-castles for my own en¬ 
joyment. But in some way I came to think 
it wicked. Let imagination have a little 
chance, among tho stem facts, of life; don’t 
deal iu them too much with children, 
STRAY NOTES FROM THE FARMER’S 
WIVES CLUB. 
LITTLE THINGS. 
Mrs. Stearns, apparently the most matter- 
of-fact and the very least given to sentiment 
of any one iu our whole company, surprised 
us by opening our last with a feeling recog¬ 
nition of the power of little things to affect 
our happiness. 
“ Little acts of kindness perhaps carelessly 
performed, little civilities received from an 
unexpected source^ are often pleasantly re¬ 
membered. The receipt of a New Year’s 
card, representing a spray of the Lilies of the 
Valley, comiug from an acquaintance living 
at a distance whom I seldom saw, has been a 
pleasant thing to think of since, aud recalls 
the pleasant friendship which for many years 
existed between the sender and myself. 
I remember when a chili! of ten years or so, 
on my daily walks to aud from school, I 
passed a Large white house, and in the front 
door yard flourished, in the month of June, 
a beautiful damask rose-bush, full of lovely 
roses and buds. Myself and a companion 
daily admired and commented on their 
beauties, and wished we had just one. One 
morning we mustered courage enough to 
enter the house and ask a y'ouug lady who 
lived there if she would please give us a double 
rose. *0, certainly,’ said she, smiling pleas¬ 
antly, * I am glad you like flowers,’and going 
out she gathered each of us a handful of 
roses and buds, that made our young hearts 
glad, and never since have I seen those lovely 
flowers in bloom without thinking of that 
morning aud of that gentle girl who so kindly 
gratified us. 
Are we particular enough about “little 
things" in our everyday life, as farmers’ wives? 
Do we take time to lie, not only civil, but cor¬ 
dially kind to those we meet, school children 
and all? I fear some of us err in neglecting 
proper forms of speech, with the idea that it 
is putting on airs to do so, forgetting that, as 
the old adage has it, “Politeness is only the 
just medium between ceremony and rude¬ 
ness.” 
I)o we always, when hurried with our daily 
labors, take time to speak as wo ought to all 
about us? Does not the hasty or irritable 
word too often escape us, to wound needlessly 
those we love and care for? As littlo savings 
increase our fortuues, so littlo words and acts 
of kindness go far towards making a good and 
worthy life. 
Farmers’ wives, with tho fearful amount of 
work which they soo to be performed, have 
double need “to despise not the day of small 
things." Little savings of their time and 
strength, as well ns attention to small econo¬ 
mies in living, will help them to make the 
most of their surroundings. dorinda. 
Domestic dTccmonu) 
CONDUCTED BY EMILY MAPLE. 
MOTHERS—THEIR PETTY TRIALS AND 
SOME OF THE RESULTS. 
ANNIE L. JACK. 
I often think how little is understood of the 
causes that make so many women’s lives seem 
so narrow and petty. People seldom think 
that we have to set our brains to an evenness 
with our children’s of all ages and tempera¬ 
ments, if the family is large, and to try to 
keep pleasant aud gracious all the time. 
Nothing stimulates sn much as to break the 
monotony, by going out and away, if only for 
a little excursion to the woods in the bright 
summer or autumn days, or a brush against 
the varied minds that city life affords. Tho 
mother of a family, large or small, has cares 
and responsibilities, aches and pains, that are 
altogether her own, and it is often a wonder 
to me to see how bright and genial such re¬ 
main amid many cares. “The back’s fitted to 
the burden” is a homely saying, but a true 
one, that often occurs to me. As oar children 
grow up and learn more of life, they learu to 
appreciate better the care and anxiety that 
have attended their earlier years, aud it Is a 
satisfaction to parents to remember that such 
will be the case. The blessing of a serene 
xnind can never lie over-estimated, and a per¬ 
fect control of one’s own spirit will be reflect¬ 
ed iu the spirit of the household, and form its 
happiness or misery. 
"It is as cross-looking as its mother,” I have 
heard remarked of an ill-tempered child; but 
no one know’s, perhaps, the cause of that 
mother’s humor, or the influence it exerted 
upon the child even before birth. Men who 
irritate their wives with every petty trifle, 
little dream how the effect of such a proceed¬ 
ing may be handed down and reproduced in 
their children as is the love of tobacco or 
strong drink. I remember well at the Phila¬ 
delphia Exposition seeiDg two infants aud 
their nurse on the grounds, and never did I 
see the force of expression so fully exemplified. 
One with a serene face smiled at the passers- 
by; the other hold its little face puckered iuto 
all sorts of contortions. Yet in dress, and 
feature, size and complexion they were exact¬ 
ly alike, the difference of the inward spirit, 
making the only variatiou. The signs of old 
age are more easily seen on a face that bears 
the stamp of fretfulness, lines form that show 
the inner working of the mind. Avarice and 
selfishness are not to be disguised, nor the 
spirit of unrest that gnaws at many a heart. 
Yet better for us all,even amid small worries, 
to be able to govern ourselves, and fight 
against the narrowing down that is the nat¬ 
ural results of our small but unvaried and 
manifold duties. 
A SOCIAL CHAT. 
It seems a long time since I have hud n chat 
with the Rural readers, for I have lieen tak¬ 
ing a rest—the first in over two years, 1 took 
my two youngest girls, and went to visit a 
dear friend residing in a village on the Con¬ 
necticut shore of Long Island Hound; and a 
pleasant visit did we have. Every moment 
was enjoyable. Three days and two nights 
we spent on a rock one mile from the shore. A 
small house coutaiuiug two rooms was built 
on the rent; in one of them were two beds; 
iu tho other, a cook stove and cooking uten¬ 
sils, with wood and coal handy. It is rented 
out to picnic parties. We went in a still vessel 
to the beach, the first morning wo were there, 
and dug soft-shell clams for chowder, and it 
tasted all the better made and eaten in such a 
strange place. The next day we sailed to 
Faulkner’s Island, and went up into the tower 
of the light house there; but words fail me to 
describe the magnificent beauty of the Ian. 
tern. 1 never imagined the things to be such 
works of art. The one there was made in 
Paris and cost #7,000. The island itself is very 
picturesque, standing about ‘JO feet above the 
level of the water. It bus a fine dwelling- 
house aud out-buildings on it, besides the light¬ 
house and steam fog-whistle bouse. There is 
also considerable land, which is well cultiva¬ 
ted. 
But I did not see any place I liked better 
than my own home, and l was glad to return 
to it after an absence of two weeks; and after 
the greetings were over, 1 called for the Rc- 
RALS which had come while I was uwuy. In 
the number for Heptember III, an article 
headed, “A Word to Those Who (Jan Under¬ 
stand,” attracted my attention, and l agree 
with the writer’s ideas in most things; but it 
seems to me her way of washing is hard, and 
I only wish she could realize how tho hard 
rubbing of clothes is dono away with by soak¬ 
ing them over night iu luke warm water, and 
wriugiug them out of it Into a boiler of hot 
suds with a small piece of soda in it, and let¬ 
ting them boil one-half hour, then putting 
them iu cold water and rubbing them out. 
Put into clear water und rinse; then into a 
slightly blued water; pass them through tho 
wringer and hang up. While my first boiler 
is over, I wash out my colored clothes ready 
to rinse. 
1 thiuk the manner of hanging out clothes 
and taking them in, has milch to do with 
making tho ironing easy. Hang all clothes 
evenly, and seo that the selvedge of sheets is 
smoothed out, and when taking iu, fold ouch 
piece nicely as you take it from the line, and 
you will find the ironing half done. If wo 
have a good drying day, mamma’s cook 
brings in the clothes as soon as they are ready 
to iron and gets atib. Hhe willsomotimes have 
the better part of the plain ironing done by 
tho time I have finished washing, and have my 
kitchen mopped up. Then wt sprinkle the 
rest, all but the shirts and collars, which I do 
next morning before wo commence to iron, 
aud so we get at it early and finish the sooner. 
My shirts, collars, table linen and nice clothes 
always look well, for 1 don’t like to soo such 
things half done, 
1 echo every word she says about keeping 
cleuu. I must have pure air in plenty with a 
generous supply of sunshine all over my house. 
Another thing 1 would say is, never put soiled 
under-garments which are damp with per¬ 
spiration, into a basket or other close place, 
without first hungiug them up to dry. 
AUNT EM. 
DOMESTIC RECIPES. 
SPIOE ROLL. 
“ My children are very fond of spice roll. 
They are always teasing me to make it on 
baking-day.” 
“ How do you make them?” asked my host¬ 
ess. “ I always like to learn all the ways of 
cooking possible.” 
“ I take a loaf of bread when light, and 
work in some butter and sugar; when it is 
light again, roll out about half ari inch thick, 
aud sprinkle with flour, spice and sugar; com¬ 
mence at one side, aud roll up into a loaf; 
let it get light again and bake." 
“That is very much the same way in 
which I make cinnamon roll,” said Mrs. B. 
“ I proceed the same as you do until the 
spreading; then l use butter instead of Jlour, 
cinnamon, and sugar. Roll up and cut in 
slices; lay in a pan; let it get light, and bake. 
Mine are sliced before baking, aud yours 
after.’’ 
“I call them buns,” says my hostess’s sis¬ 
ter. 
So an afternoon’s visit resulted,among other 
things, in the above exchange of methods. 
C. E. JACK. 
CHICKEN PIE. 
For tho crust, take equal parts of sour cream 
and buttermilk, one pint of each ; a tea¬ 
spoonful of salt and one of soda, and make a 
dough the same as for biscuit. Lina the sides 
of a suitable baking rlisb (a milk pan is an ox- 
eellent, one) with this paste. It noods no bot¬ 
tom crust, as it is apt to bo heavy. Have tho 
chicken already boiled until tender in water 
seasoned with salt and popper to the tasto. 
Cut the pieces up well and lay them in the 
dish, and put in bits of butter hero und there. 
Then cover all with the water in which the 
chicken has been boiled. It must not bo thick¬ 
ened with flour, or in the process of baking it 
will be too thick. Mold some butter into the 
remaining crust and cover the pie with it, 
wotting tho edges and pressiug them well to¬ 
gether. Cut some slits iu tho center und bake 
in a moderate oven an hour or more. When 
there is no bottom crust used, the remains 
may be more easily warmed over. 
TO COOK HALT PORK. 
Soak the slices overnight in sweet milk. 
Scald them in clear water in the morning and 
fry. Then dip each slice in a batter made of 
a couple of eggs, half a teacup of sweet milk, 
a pinch of salt, and us much flour as can be 
readily stirred in. Cover each slice thickly 
with this batter and return to the spider, aud 
Cook until the batter is done. With working¬ 
men, this makes an agreeablo variety. 
GOLD BISCUITS. 
Those left over from tea may be made better 
than when freshly baked, by dipping them 
into hot water and placing them singly on the 
grate in the oven long enough before break¬ 
fast to let them got well wanned through. 
In warm weather, when ice is not, to be had, 
fix tho butter plate neatly, and place it iu a 
pan of cold water fresh from the well an hour 
before meal time. aunt iiachkl. 
CHICKENS AND MUSHROOMS. 
Clean and wash your fowls and stuff them 
with chopped onions and mushrooms. Fill 
the craws with the usual dressing. Lay them 
in a pot and pour soup stock over them. 
Simmer till tender, then take up on to a hot 
plate, strain tho gravy and season to taste. 
Htir in a little sifted flour, stir up and boil. 
Some prefer a little milk mixed witb it, and 
finely chopped parsley boiled in tho gravy. 
LAMB PUDDING. 
There was cold lamb left over after it had 
been to the table in the form of a hot and then 
a cold joint, so we cut tho meat off, cracked 
tho bones aud put over tho fire in three quarts 
of water, with an onion, then boiled all down 
to a quart, and took out the bones; stiffened 
with broud crumbs, put in seasoning to taste, 
lieat iu two eggs anil a bit of butter, and 
poured into a buttered mould; sot into a pan 
of hot water and cooked for ua hour in the 
oven. Turu out und pour gravy over it. 
CAULIFLOWER, 
It is best tied up iu a piece of uetting. It 
should be put into salted water when boiling, 
and when done be put iuto a deep dish with 
the blossoms upward, and a cupful of drawn 
butter poured over it. 
TO (JOOK RARSNIPS. 
Boil till tender in hot, salted water; scrape; 
slice lengthwise when they are nourly cold. 
Flour all over aud fry iu salted lard or drip¬ 
ping. _ A. L. J. 
WATER COOKIKH. 
The following recipe for cookies 1 found in 
an old paper. Every one liked them and 
wanted them again: Two eggs, one nod one- 
half cup of sugar, one cup of butter, one-half 
cup of cold water, one half teuspoonful of 
soda, one of cream-of'tartur, though I use 
tartaric acid, which only takes half as much. 
CANNING TOMATOES. 
Many people complain of their tomatoes 
sjioiling. The reason is that they do not cook 
them enough. We are always successful. 
After they begin to boil, season and let cook 
‘JO minutes; can immediately in ordinary fruit 
jars. I want to ask if that lady who gave the 
receipt for “Everlasting Cookies” ever kept 
them as long as a year ? No matter how many 
1 bake, do the best I can, they will not lust 
more than a week. Also, if tho person who 
gave the recipe for mock mince pies leaves 
apples out of the pies, or only out of the re¬ 
cipe? They would not be anything without 
chopped apples. mamma’s cook. 
- ♦ ♦ » 
Professor Ilorsford’s Baking Powder. 
The Dyspeptics Delight, 
makes digestible bread that can be eaten 
warm by dyspeptics und all others without iuj 
jury,— Adv. 
lIorMlord’N Acid Pliowpliate. 
Beware »l Imitations. 
Imitations and counterfeits have again ap¬ 
peared. Be sure that the word “Horsford’s ’ 
is on tho wrapper. None geuuiue without it. 
— Adv. 
