306 
MAY 42 
CHARLES DENNIS. 
“ Pattteake, pnttlcake, baker's man!” 
The mother sang to her “little man,” 
Who, with dimpled fingers and arms of snow, 
Laughed and crowed as he “made the dough.” 
Ten little fingers of rosy hue 
Meet as they “ pick and stick It too.” 
Ten little fingers “ put It to hake,” 
Into an oven of fairy make. 
Ten little lingers have made the bread. 
And then, all tired, are cuddled to bed. 
Teu old lingers all wrinkled and bent, 
O’er a cold white face a shroud indent, 
Covering a breast that no more shall ache— 
They have finished the lesson of pattlcake. 
A PRAIRIE GARDEN. 
PRING at length came after that 
long, long Winter. I was so 
tired of staying in-doors looking 
at the dark and gloomy walls, 
for there was nowhere to go—no 
meeting, no Sunday-school—so I 
had to remain iu the house until 
I was almost sick. How gladly 
did I welcome the first warm days. I put in 
Lettuce aud Radishes in February, and al¬ 
though they did not come up, it gave me 
some variety. At the proper time I planted 
my garden and anticipated great results, but 
the gophers, moles, ground squirrels, potato 
and squash bugs made frantic efforts to thwart 
me aud would have succeeded had 1 not been 
persevering and planted more thau I would 
need, so I had plenty of vegetables aud lots of 
flowers. But the wind, oh the wind! hmv it 
swept over the vast expanse of prairie without 
a tree or bush to break its force, gathering 
streugth it seemed at every blast, until every¬ 
thing would bend or break in its fury; the 
dust moving in clouds at times like snow iu 
Winter, obscuring even the sun, rocking to its 
foundation our puny mansion, which is so 
small that the wind blows on all sides at once. 
What would I have given lor some shelter or 
a house -‘founded on a rock.” for we have no 
stones here and our cellars are just holes in the 
ground, with the houses set on posts. How¬ 
ever, the storms don’t last long; we are get¬ 
ting groves and windbreaks, and the crops are 
mostly good. I promised to tell about the 
wild flowers. There were only a few that 
were new to me, but some of them were 
very numerous. The grand Prairie Lily, with 
from one to three red bells on a stalk, aud the 
tall White Larkspur thickly dotting the 
prairie make a lovely scene. There is a spe¬ 
cies of Blue Perennial Larkspur that is not 
excelled by anything that 1 have seen in that 
family. Another lowland plant, which my 
botany calls Snowy Orchis, with tall racemes 
of flowers looking almost like white butter¬ 
flies, is so fragrant that one stem perfumes the 
whole room; another of the Lily Family con¬ 
sists of a thyrse of creamy white flowers about 
one-half an inch across. A very fragrant 
plant growing iu the woods, is a vine with 
purplish-blue flowers which I thiuk is a Clema¬ 
tis. I have dug some ot the most desirable 
and placed them in tho garden, but with the 
poet I am sometimes wont to exclaim: 
‘‘Tell me ye winged winds, that round my pathway 
roar, 
Can you not find some quiet spot, where hoys are 
known no more;” 
or at least where the whole of man's existence 
is not devoted to the one aim of hog-raising. 
It was nothing uncommon to find a neighbor’s 
dooryard completely turned upside down by 
their whole herd of hogs, aud then when every¬ 
thing at home was completely turned up, we 
might see that many of my choicest plants fell 
oft-times to the relentless snout of the enter¬ 
prising porker. Winter coming on, I pre¬ 
pared my house-plants in order to keep them 
through the Winter, fearing that I should not 
be able to keep them from freezing, but we 
got the lnuse fixed nice and warm, so that I 
have never had them frozen since the first cold 
spell. It only freezes iu tlie extremely cold 
weather, but most of thorn 1 put in the cellar. 
I keep one window fall, but Upon cold nights I 
pack them neatly in the rocking-chair, pin a 
heavy quilt around them aud they sleep se¬ 
cure. But we don't let the house get so very 
cold; we sometimes keep a little fire, believing 
that it takes as much fuel to warm the house 
after it gets so cold, as it does to keep it in a 
reasonable degree of warmth. 
Such was our flint year, and we now possess 
a farm moderately stocked, and yielding good 
crops of com, oats and potatoes. Orchards, 
groves and shelter-belts ax-o springing up 
around us; fruit and flower gardens are begin¬ 
ning to be seen, and we have a .Sunday-school 
in almost ever)- school-house, so that we are 
beginning to feel at home. I do not want you 
to understand that there is nothing but vexa¬ 
tion in a new country, but there are vexations, 
and one must, have courage to overcome them. 
Young men that intend to come West, make 
up your minds that if you wish to make 
a fortune you will have to work for it; aud 
don’t decide to run in debt any more than you 
can possibly help. Girls, there is much trouble 
in building a new home, but there is a great 
deal of pleasure in changing a wild prairie 
into a lovely garden. M. W. Thomas. 
I have a first-rate substitute for thumb-pots 
in which to start early vegetable plants in the 
house. It is an egg-shaped gourd from the 
size of a hen to a goose-egg. I cut them in 
halves, take out the seeds, and set them iu 
soil in pots or boxes; plant two or three seeds 
in each, then completely cover them with 
good, rich soil. When 1 waut to set them out 
I run a knife next to the shell and the thing is 
done, the plant being set iu its place without 
knowing it. It is no trouble hardly to fix 
them. 1 don’t know how long they will keep, 
as I raise new ones every year. m. w. t. 
LETTERS FROM THE COUSINS. 
Dear Uncle Mark: —I should like to have 
my name oxt the roll with the other cousins. 
I have thought of writing to you before, but 
my courage failed. My mother has been sick 
ever .since January, and 1 have done all the 
work for our family of five, excepting the 
washings. My sister and I have been to school 
nearly every day, although the snow has been 
very deep. My sister Nina is seven years old. 
She gets the wood aud eggs, and gets up in 
the morning aud swi-iqis the sittihg-room while 
I get the breakfast. My brother Linn is three 
years old. Une uight he got seven eggs and 
smashed them all. To-day I baked two loaves 
of bread, three of cake, and finished the iron, 
iug. Our ironing is so large mother don't 
let me do it all at once. Since school closed 
I have made two aprons and helped to make a 
dress. We have got, eight little pigs and eight 
calves. Father is getting ready for sugaring, 
aud has bought, a new evaporator, which lie 
likes very much. We should like to have you 
and the Cousins drop in and eat warm sugar 
with ns. "Old Wiggins’s” storm filled our 
roads full of suow. Iu some places there are 
great ehanuels where the snow is as high as 
the horses’ backs ou either side. I wish that 
more of the Cousins would write. Your niece 
Otsego Co., N. Y. Florence Parkes, 
(Thanks. It would give Uncle Mark gi'eat 
pleasure to eat warm sugar with such a busy 
little bee, but as the fates order it otherwise 
for the present, be will have to live in antici¬ 
pation for the future.—U. M.] 
Dear Uncle Mark: —I thought I would 
keep my cousinly agreement and write you 
another letter. Ah this locality is rather a 
poor one for melons, ou account of the season 
being so short, I thought I would plant miue 
in a box, so I got a nice one aud filled it with 
rich soil which I got from where there had 
been a wood-pile years ago, and planted my 
seeds carefully iu it. One pleasant day I set 
it outdoors, when along came a provoking hen 
and scratched out all the seed. I found some 
of them, which I replanted, but my brothers 
dug them up aud lost them ail. 1 guess I will 
tell you how I get my spending money. Four 
years ago we sold our toys, (sleds, rocking- 
horses anti the like), which brought ns (my 
brother and myself) one dollar ($1,(10) each, 
with which we bought a pig apiece. When 
we sold the pigs wa subscribed for "Harper’s 
Young People,” The next year I bought 
another pig. Father had a sick calf, and he 
told my brother and I that we might have it 
if we could make it live, so 1 bought my broth¬ 
er’s share for one dollar ($1,00), The calf 
lived, though stunted. I sold my live stock to 
father, and as yet have not concluded what to 
buy this year. 
Respectfully your neice, 
Keswick, Iowa. May L. L. 
Dear Uncle Mark. —It is rainiug to-day 
so I caunot go out, so I will write to you and 
tell you what I have been doing this Spring. 
I sowed a half-bushel of Washington Outs 
that we raised from the seed you sent us. 1 
have plowed all the tobacco land, the garden, 
and am nearly done plowing for corn. Tho 
Spring has been so cold we have only j ust 
begun to plant anything in the garden. My 
brother and 1 planted a good many trees last 
month, some of them shade, the others fruit, 
ti'ees. Two years ago I bought a calf. She 
js a fine cow now, and the other day I sold her 
calf and bought u beautiful Jersey heifer. 
1 am yours respectfully, 
Farinville, Va. G. W. D. 
Dear Uncle Mark:— l have received tho 
Mackinnou Pen for my premium for six sub¬ 
scribers, and so I will write you the first letter 
with it. It is a grand pen. I send thanks for 
it. My watermelon seeds came out like rnosv 
of the others. I planted them early, but soon 
a cold snap came aud they rotted iu the 
ground. I am going to have a garden of my 
own this Summer. Your nephew, p. o. T. 
Mattituek, N, Y. 
PROFESSOR 
MAKING 
vy 
POWDER 
Made from Professor Horsford’s Acid 
Phosphate. 
Recommended by leading physicians. 
Makes lighter biscuit, cakes, etc., and 
is healthier than ordiuary Railing Pow¬ 
der. 
In Mottles Solti nt a renxonnble price. 
Tlte llorslord Aim nunc nnd Cook Book 
sent free. 
Rumford Chemleal Works. Providence, R I. 
H.!»I. ANTHONY, Ag't 100 and 102 Reade 8t., N. Y. 
Northern Sugar Cane Manual. 
By Professor Wjcbfr & Scovtllk, Cbampaltme, Ills, 
sent free on application toOEO.L.SormK.BufTalo.N.Y. 
Hatv i l ffu ))) )tic<L 
PERFECTION 
CREAMERY and 
SURPRISE CHURN 
MANUFACTURED BT 
CHAPIN A- SMITH, 
Pou 1 nicy, Vti 
Send xmstal card for circulars, 
ALL THE YEAR ROUND 
THE FERGUSON 
BUREAU CREAMERY. 
Makes the Best Butter. 
It develops the finest flavor and color. Tho butter 
haKjjiobesttraUujuHGteejUpg^^iiviny. 
It makes the most butter, uses the leost ice, and 
saves the most labor. 
Hundreds have discarded deep setters and adopted 
the Bureau. 
DON’T BUY ANY CANS, PANS OR CREAMEB, 
or send your milk to the factory, until you have Bern 
for our large illustrated circulars and price lists. 
THE FERGUSON M’K’G. CO.. Rurllnirton. Vt. 
FOWLER & WOODWORTH, Sole Mfi-s. of 
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Fowler’s nay Carriers, Grappling Forks and Pulleys. 
Send for Illustrated Circulars. FOWLER A 
WOODWORTH, Toughannoek Falls. N. Y. 
NOYES’ HAYING TOOLS 
Cuvier. 
STACK INF, (HIT IN 
LIES 0U II0M I A(1 
AW AY IN ISAK.VS. 
Save labor and money; 
si triple. i'l arable, cost but 
little. No trouble tu get 
over high beams or to 
the etui ol deep bays, 
hotisands now In use. 
Wood Pulleys, 
floor Hooks, etc. 
build tor circular 
and designs for 
tracking barns, tu 
U. S. Wind Engine &. Pump Co., Batavia, Kane Co., 
THE CHAMPION 
Shir-Sling & Carrier 
for unloading.has no equal in capa¬ 
city, adaptation or saving of time, 
labor or expense. It embraces Un¬ 
true principles of unloading hay 
and grain; 61 loads unloaded In six 
hours. For descriptive circular, ad¬ 
dress 
G.VAN SICKLE, 
SliortHVille, N. Y. 
STAR CANE MILL 
The only Double Mill made In 
the West. Twenty different 
styles aud sl/.es, suited to 
every capacity, from one 
third of au acre to thirty-live 
acres per day, prices ranging 
from to 
STUBBS 1 EVAPORATOR. 
I. A. Hedges, after testing It 
wtth others, says It Is (lie Best 
| Evaporator made. It took the 
.. only premium awarded for 
; done at the St. LftUls Fuir tu 18S1. 
-Full stock Of snail MAKERS’ 8111’- 
IE8. Send for Circular tu 
J. A. FIKLU A CO., 
CREAMERY & UEEBIOERATOR 
COMBINED. 
Sixes for one cow to fifty. 
For families, large & small 
dallies, factories and for 
the ureom gathering sys¬ 
tem ; for hotels, restaur¬ 
ants, bon nil rig schools and 
like Institutions. 
Adapted for Summer ana 
Winter dairying- Used 
either with or without 
lee. 
Sold strictly on Its merits 
_Warranted us represented. 
AGENTS WANTED For Circulars address 
Moseley «v- Stoddard Mfg. c«.» Foultney, Vt. 
Rectangular and Square Box 
Churns. Cheapest because the 
best. No inside fixtures, and 
aheap* reliable. 7 sizes of 
each kind made. We make 
Curtis’s Unproved Factory 
Churn and Mason's Power 
Butler worker. I ru/uesturned 
proof given of their superior 
QtMlifvasiu material and eon 
struetlon not dreamed of by 
other makers. Send for Dai- 
rt/tnan, free. Cornish & Cur¬ 
tis, Ft. Atkinson, Wls. 
The S. R. NYE IMPROVED 
BAY STATE RAKE. 
MAN I RA CTVUKD BY THE 
BELCHER & TAYLOR 
AGRICULTURAL TOOL CO., 
Chicopee Falls, lines. 
This Rake received the highest award at the Cen¬ 
tennial Exposition and Field TrtuL The ouly Sliver 
Medal awarded nt the Farts Universal Exposition In 
IH7H. it Is easily handled by a girl or boy strong 
enough to drive a horse. Send for circulars. 
THE GREGG RAKE. 
Can he Operated by the Foot Alone. 
Leaving both bunds free for driving. Can be operated 
us ji complete Hiuid-Dtunptng Rake, at the will of tlu¬ 
ll river. cun be uperuteii easily OJ any Hoy or Girl 
who can drive a horse. First vlass In every particular. 
Mrotig uml Durable. Best of material. Well Finished. 
Thoroughly tested; acvor mils, tii-dii for circulars. 
9 Address GREGG & CO.. Sole Manuf m n itr.RS, 
Truinunsburjt, N. Y. 
Alsu manufacturers of Lawn Mowers, Plows, &e. 
trill., wluMll-Ilor,, llorni- ilnf, lipiin.-i. Covorvr., A': - iinvo no cq'iiii We ehoer above, our 
Combined Prill al.n tlir HorW'Hoe tun Cultivator an it Hiller, aud m a unlvtrwl Coverer We are very pertain Ibat f»rmrr« and 
gardeners eaoqnt nilnrd tn br without nur labor earing tool* Study our Catalogue carefully, and MU'* "i*h UR. Our S'l tun Cat¬ 
alogue, wtUi 41) engraving* amt chapter an proper Cult)ration of Crop* guaranteed In Internet every one working the toll, will tie tent 
to yonr own addreee, free, upou receipt of ten name* of neighbor*, m<»l Interfiled In farming and gardening. A. L. ALLEN 
A 4JO., Patentee* aud Bole Manufacturer* ol the Plural, Jr. Good*, U? Jk ltt Catharine BC, Philadelphia, I*a. 
