CONDUCTED BY MISS HAY CLARK. 
CALDWELL AT SPRINGFIELD. 
Rcre’s the -spot. Look around you. Above on the 
hit'h t 
Lay the Hessians encamped. By the church on the 
right 
Stood the gaunt Jersey farmers. And here ran a 
wall— 
You may dig anywhere and you will turn up a ball. 
Nothing more. Grasses spring, waters run, flowers 
blow 
Pretty much as they did ninety-three years ago. 
Nothing more did I say ? Stay one moment; you’ve 
heard 
Of Caldwell, the parson who once preached the word 
Itown at Springfield V What! No ? Come, that’s 
bad. Why he had 
All the Jerseys aflame. And they gave him the name 
Of the “rebel higb priest.” He stuck in their gorge, 
For he loved the Lord God—and he hated King George! 
He had cause, you might say, when the Hessians that 
day 
Marched up with Knypbauseu, they stopped on their 
way 
At the “ Farms,” where his wife, with a child in her 
arms, 
Sat alone in the house. How it happened none knew 
But God—nud one of the hireling crew 
Who tired the shot. Euough! There she lay. 
And Caldwell, the chaplain, her husband, away! 
Did he preaeh—did he pray? Think of him, as you 
stand 
By the old church to-day; think of him and that 
band 
Of militant cowboys! See the smoke and the heat 
Of that reckless advance—of that struggling retreat • 
Keep the ghost of that wife foully' slain in your 
view— 
And what could you—what should you, what would 
you do ? 
Why, Just what he did! They were left In the lurch, 
For want of more wadding. He ran to the church, 
Broke the door, stripped the pews, and dashed out lu 
the road 
With his arms full of hymn-books, and threw down 
his load 
At their feet! Then above all the shouting and shots 
Hang his voice: “ Put Watts into ’em, boys; give ’em 
Watts.” 
And they did. That is all. Grasses spring, flowers 
blow, 
Pretty much as they did ninety-three years ago : 
You may dig anywhere and you’ll turn up a hall. 
But not always a hero like this—and that’s all. 
Bhet Haete. 
SHUT THE DOOR—SOFTLY. 
Nine people out of ten leave a door open 
behind thorn. They do not seam to know how 
to shut a door. It appears to be a natural and, 
probably, an inherited inability, just, as with 
some people there is no such thing as knowing 
one tune from another, as with others it 
is impossible to acquire facilities and handi¬ 
ness in the use of tools. Modern ingenuity 
has tasked itself to make up to a suffering 
world for the incapacity or negligence of 
people who never close a door, by the appli¬ 
cation of weights or springs that will auto¬ 
matically do what every man. woman and 
child ought to do instinctively. But even 
these appliances are not. always to be relied 
upon; clearly the door should be closed by the 
person w ho opens it. There ought to be a 
thorough course of instruction in our schools 
in the art of shutting doors. The first lesson 
would inculcate t he elemental and simple duty 
itself. Boys and girls should be kept passing 
a doorway, each one opening and closing t he 
door for himself or herself, until not a mother’s 
son or daughter of them could lea ve a door 
ajar. Then the finer features of the accom¬ 
plishment might be introduced. There are 
people who always shun a door; there are 
others who hold it open and close it so slowly 
that numberless colds uud sore throats have 
time to march through. But without becom¬ 
ing too fastidious, it is important that every¬ 
one should be taught to close the door and 
fasten it in some w ay. 
SYMPATHY. 
It is acknowledged that most women possess 
the quality of sympathy tou remarkable ex¬ 
tent. Mrs. Browning possessed this gift; it 
vibrated on the chord of poetic expression in 
her. Jane Austin and Caroline Bronte led re¬ 
tired lives, but they had the power perpetually 
to pass out of their eireumscrilied individuality 
to that of others, and the genius to retain uud 
turn to account the fleeting impressions of 
tlieir passing contact with individuals. The 
darlings and the ornaments of society arc the 
women who can throw themselves best into 
the Interests Of the moment; if to this sensitive 
nature belongs u native sincerity, confidence is 
attracted, and friendships made and retained. 
Mudame Recantin' is, perhaps, the best type 
of this gift, of social sympathy allied to a 
certain reality of nature. She attracted the 
best and most gifted of her time. When age 
had marred her beauty, poverty succeeded 
wealth, and partial blindness made her infirm, 
her salon in the Abbaye an x Bois was still the 
resort of eminent men and women of the 
period. She wus not a wit, she w-us always 
somewhat shy; but she bad the wish to win 
love rather than admiration, and possessed the 
THE RURAL. NEW-YORKER. 
MARCH 24 
tact of drawing out the best gifts in others. 
She had the genius of friendship; her stead¬ 
fastness could not be shaken. Sympathy gives 
an angelic grace to virtue. 
-*-*-•- 
ALPHABET OF PROVERBS. 
A grain of prudence is worth a pound of 
craft. Boasters are cousins to liars. (Confes¬ 
sion of a fault makes half amends. Denying 
a fault doubles it. Envy shooteth at others 
and wonndeth herself. Foolish fear doubles 
danger. God reaeheth us good tilings by our 
owm hands. He has worked hard who has 
nothingtodo. Ilfcostsmore to revenge wrongs 
than to bear them. Knavery is the worst 
trade. Learning makes a man lit company for 
himself. Modesty is a guard to virtue. Not 
to hear couseieuce is a way to silence it. One 
hour to-day is two to-morrow'. Proud looks 
make foul work in fair faces. Quiet conscience 
gives quiet sleep. Richest is he who wants 
least. Some faults indulged are little thieves 
that let in greater. Boughs that bear most 
hang lowest. Upright w'alkiug is sure walk¬ 
ing. Virtue and happiness are mother and 
daughter. Wise men make more opportu¬ 
nities than they find. You will never lose by 
doing a good turn. Zeal without knowledge 
is fire without light. 
THE INSIDE OF TWO HOMES. 
It has been said that to know the character 
of its inmates you have ouly to look at the 
furniture aud other internal arrangements of 
a house. This is not always true, for wc all 
know beauty-level’s who live in barest and 
most prosaic of dwellings, but it is a fact that, 
most homes have an individuality of their 
own which is or ought to bo their chief charm. 
Glad to have once more a home of their 
own, the inmates of the little house did not 
spend much of thought or time on how it 
should be furnished: but as soou as the plaster 
w'as dry gathered together their possessions 
and moved into it. Most of these possessions 
had been purchased in richer—not better- 
days, aud were therefore good, solid articles, 
but now showed the murks of many “moving 
days,” and were decidedly dingy. The car¬ 
pets were larger than was needed, aud after 
being ripped and thoroughly cleaned, were re¬ 
made aud looked almost like new. 
The long, bare windows caused Hope to look 
dismayed, for the old shades were all too 
short. But a few yards of pretty, cheap mus¬ 
lin was bought, and deft Augers soon draped 
them. Still there remained the bare, uu- 
paperod walls aud primed woodwork, which 
were eye-sores indeed. After the pictures 
wore hung pressed ferns aud maple-leaves of 
gorgeous colors wore arranged upon them, 
and thus relieved some of their ugliness. The 
woodwork had to be endured one Winter, 
though ivy wreathed the arch between the 
parlor and sitting-room, and did what it could 
in hiding some of it The old furniture was 
well polished—there is nothing like friction, 
otherwise called elbow grease, for beautifying 
hard wood; it is the best of polish—and the 
big easy-chairs, if they were a little faded, 
gave a comfortable aud iuvitiug look, which, 
with the open piano, pretty tidies, table- 
covers, books everywhere, and plenty of bric- 
a-brae, brightened and made the rooms look 
like living-rooms. But the crowning glory was 
the bay window, with its trailing vines and 
blooming plants; this it was that caused all 
visitors to say, “How pretty! what, a pleasant 
house you have!” Ten years have not changed 
it very much—few are the articles added, one 
or two new carpets, a little upholstering, a 
few more books, more and rarer plants in the 
windows, and a little paint and pa]>er on the 
woodwork and walls. It is still a little, plain, 
open-faced house, taking in all the sunshine of 
the short Winter day, aud giving out its tire 
and lamp-light by night to ull who are abroad. 
To its inmates it is a lmvun of rest, “the 
dearest spot, on earth.” 
Great wagon loads of new things were be¬ 
ing carried to the large house opposite—while 
Hope wus making the most of her old ones— 
and soon it is adorned with gay Brussels ear- 
pets and suites of parlor aud chamber furni¬ 
ture. Pictures arc bung on its walls and filmy 
lace and dumn.sk ut its windows. Each of the 
rooms in the main building ure fitted up com¬ 
plete by a city dealer, and are tine indeed. The 
dining rooms, kitchen and liaek cltamliers are 
reserved as receptac les for the old house be¬ 
longings so you step from the Brussels to the 
rag carpet from the rep and brocatel to the 
splint-bottomed chair and Boston rocker, which 
though comfortable, looks somewhat out- of 
place in the high walled stucco corniced rooms. 
Ten years have not changed this house much. 
The grand parlors and guest chambers look 
just as they did, for nothing wears or fades out 
unless light touches or use dims it, and neither 
sunlight or people Ira ve been allowed to tar¬ 
nish ought here. The blinds ure never opened 
except on the rare occasions of a tea thinking, 
sociable, wedding, or funeral. Then its own¬ 
ers and the neighbors view it. in its glory, and 
the latter envy and congratulate the former. 
No flower ever blooms in its bay window; a 
bead basket filled with paper abominations 
called flowers hang there; no sunlight is re¬ 
quired to reveal its ugliness. The back rooms 
are a little more shabby for they are occupied; 
tufew modern things have been added as the 
old wore out. Here Mr, S., sits in his shirt¬ 
sleeves an<l smokes his evening pipe placidly, 
content in knowing that he owns the finest 
house iu town. Mrs, S., is not quite so w’cll 
satisfied; sometimes she thinks it would be 
nice to use her fine rooms, but habit and the 
fear that flies, dust, and sunshine will injure 
them, deters her: and so she will go on to the 
end of her life wondering in the meantime 
why her children are so anxious to leave such 
a fine home. Milly Bird. 
-*-•-«-- 
Fig. 147. 
— ♦ ♦ » 
WORK FOR WOMEN. 
HELEN BARRISTER. 
Much is said about employment, for women 
whereby a little money could be made or 
rather earned without compromising a good 
social position. Women in comfortable homes 
with a family of children to rear, and caro for 
have their hands often fully occupied. Othere 
without the patter of children’s feet in tlieir 
household, have so much to do, they tell their 
neighbors they have no time for “ anything.’ 
Other women are making homes happy for 
their aged parents. Others are in the delight¬ 
ful circle of girlhood’s home, with parents, 
brothers and sisters around them and share in 
the labors incidont thereto. To some of these, 
comes the thought occasionally' “ How nice it 
w’ould be to do some work at home aud Ik? 
paid for it.” Many times, various kinds of 
work if obtainable could bo done at home 
without causing neglect of other duties. 
Many' women are without these ties, so to 
speak, aud are free to seek for employment. 
But they prefer to get along with a bare pit¬ 
tance instead of earuinga good living forthem- 
sel ves. Why i f Because they' have false ideas 
about, the respectability of this, that, and the 
other kind of work. 
Many a lady is living on the generosity of 
indulgent friends, whose self-respect w'ould be 
increased by earning her own living. She 
fears she would not be respected. 
Said a parasite lady, who secretly yearned 
to do something for her support, “ I wish I 
were a widow' with six children on my' haurls. 
Then I would take In liuc wushing and iron¬ 
ing and other things and have a good excuse 
for it. But if 1 should attempt to do any 
work for wages, 1 should disgrace myself and 
offend my friends. If I could obtain a situa¬ 
tion as a teacher in the public schools, or teach 
music or some such thing. T would do it. 
at all hazards. But. I cannot., so I must do 
without handsome dresses, a gold watch and 
chain aud all that.” 
A friend of here, failing to obtain a situa¬ 
tion in a seminary, folded her certificate and 
did dressmaking until pool- health admonished 
her that it must be given up. Then she took 
the place of second girl in a wealthy family at 
a salary of six dollars a month with reasona¬ 
ble privileges included. True she did uot eat. 
at. the table with her employer, nor wins she iu- 
vited to parties, as other young ladies were. 
She enjoyed good health although her meals 
were eaten at a less pretentious table. The 
food was excellent and her appetite ditto. She 
paid short visits to friends, wrote letters, did 
sewing, reading etc., without neglecting any 
duty. Five yeare have passed aud she lives 
with the same family' at more than double her 
former salary. Bhe is not a recluse, but a real 
happy lady. 
Domestic Ccononu} 
CONDUCTED 15V EMILY MAPLE. 
COMPANY-TEA. 
ANNIE L. JACK. 
Ik 1 lived iu a locality where it was the 
fashion to have the table loaded down with 
pastry and cake, I would try to introduce u 
new' order of things. First, let the table 
linen be nice, the dishes as pretty us one can 
afford, the bread and butter of the best qual¬ 
ity. 1 would have a large glass dish in the 
center—high or low as suited my fauey—filled 
with whatever fruit w r as procurable, and in 
the season when it was practicable, a button¬ 
hole bouquet at. every plate. This is no vision. 
I have tried it,, and in our home it is a regular 
part of the bill-of-fare. “But they ennuot live 
on flowers?” No, but another truth says 
“Man does not live by bread alone,” and I 
have ofteu seen real enjoyment expressed by 
guests at this b'ttle attention; besides, the 
flowers "break the ice” aud give them some¬ 
thing to talk about. One kind of preserves 
is enough, unless you do not know' the taste of 
your guests, and fear they may have an aver¬ 
sion for a certain kind. For instance, I have 
a friend who visits me to whom I never offer 
canned peaches, having hoard her say that the 
sirup reminds her so innch of castor oil. I 
find f/ood cake the cheapest. Make up, and 
keep on hand in a tin box or earthen crock, 
good fruit cake, and it will keep aud improve 
with ag©. Then “silver” and “gold” cake for 
whieh recipes have been ofteu given in the 
Rural, cut up well. In the Spring of the 
year I always thiuk a custard ta-stes nice with 
whipped egg and sugar on the latter, just 
set by a fow r minutes in the oven. Any house¬ 
keeper of experience by n little thought on the 
subject can prepare a more wholesome tea 
with more variety, and of better appearance 
than the wonderful array of cake that seems 
so essential to country housekeepers. “Seven 
kinds of cake!” I once heard a gentleman ex¬ 
claim as we left a hospitable farm house. “It 
is nb wonder those girls haven't time to read, 
or don’t take the magazines. Why it must 
keep them all their spare time beating eggs.” 
If M. R. H. will save those eggs and the but¬ 
ter and other ingredients, and with the money 
purchase little extras for table-furnishing— ' 
something unique and pretty—have her tea 
the very best aud her food of the choicest 
those of her visitors who call on her for the 
pli asuro of seeing her and not for the sake of 
a “square meal.” will enjoy it all the better. 
As I heard a lady lately say to another, “You 
do not follow the fashions; you set them;” so 
in this matter of company teu, or anything 
else pertaining to our guests, we are not obliged 
to follow an example unless w'e approve of it; 
but should act as our own conscience and con¬ 
venience dictate. “Eating for health” and 
eating to oblige our hostess are two different 
things, and if people would decidedly refuse to 
partake of indigestible compounds, and elabo¬ 
rately' got up “teas,” housekeepers would soou 
cease to prepare them, and a heavy burden 
would be lifted from the shoulders of the tired 
and overtasked women whose cares u<*ed light¬ 
ening, uud whose lives are one incessant round 
of cooking, a great deal of which is unneces¬ 
sary. It is too late perhaps to reconstruct in 
some households where the men are exacting 
and long used to the old ways; but if the 
younger generation are allowed to acquire the 
same habits, and are fed on pastry and cake 
that vitiate the stomach aud ruin the health 
the mothers have only themselves to blame. 
God gave to man, the “fruits” anil “herbs,” 
let us see to it, that we do not neglect his gifts 
and try to build for ourselves a tower of ills 
that will descend to the third and fourth gen¬ 
eration. And if the members Of our families 
think aright—and I think they do more than 
they get credit for—they will not wish to 
overtask the willing hands that too often like 
"Hannah Jones.” “work so hard a servant’s pay to 
save, 
She made herself most willingly a household drudge 
and slave 
What wonder that she never read a magazine or 
book, 
Combining as she did in one, nurse, housemaid, 
seamstress, cook." 
And even though the will is there, and the 
strength, let us not expend them on company 
teas, but rather set the fashion for plain, 
wholesome, hygienic meals, spending the time 
in discovering what is health-giving and labor- 
saving, sanitary and yet savory. Give your 
guests a hearty welcome, let the table appoint¬ 
ments Is? faultless, the food clean and whole¬ 
some, and teach them that a part of the banquet 
is “a feast, of reason and a flow of soul.” 
BEANS; PRESERVING MILK, ETC. 
Beans are a very nutritious and healthful 
food when properly cooked, but many' people 
Cxik fat pork with them, which makes them 
too greasy for children and people of weak 
digestion. Almost any one con eat beans 
cooked in this way: Wash well aud soak in 
warm water for u while, skim out into another 
water and let boil a short time, again skim 
into another water and cook till soft. Turn 
on to earthen baking plates, add a little salt 
and some butter and bake in a moderate oven. 
In cool weather they will keep several days 
anil are very convenient when a hasty meal is 
wanted. A lean ham or shoulder bone cooked 
with beaus gives them u good flavor aud is a 
good way of using up such bones w hen the 
meat has been mostly cut from them. A piece 
of lean beef cooked with them is also good for 
those who can eat meat. Most people relish 
baked beans if good and properly cooked. 
