478 
JULY 28 
THE RURAL WE^-YORKER. 
vogue in Europe, and as a student of trees, 
he has, as is very well known, long been, per¬ 
haps, the highest authority in the United 
States. The work of bis life has been a very 
useful one, as he united to the practical voca¬ 
tion of agriculture a thoroughly scientific 
mind, which means a very great deal 
Dr. Warder was tall and slight in figure, 
and there was nothing in his face or appear¬ 
ance that, would distinguish h>m to the casual 
observer as a man of eminence. He was ex¬ 
tremely well-bred and without being in the 
slightest degree polite to excess, he w r as so 
thorough a gentleman in his manners and 
habits, as to have been such from nature and 
not from training. He had a woman's delicacy 
joined to a man’s manliness. Although dead 
at the age of 72 years, he must have passed 
away in full mental health and activity. 
for lUomm 
CONDUCTED BY slISS RAY CLARK. 
HOME DECORATION. 
MRS. PHEBE RUDER. 
Homes can be furnished so tastefully and 
economically nowadays, and there are so 
many ways of making rcallv elegant, little 
affairs for adorning a room, that there is 
positively no excuse for their non-appearauee. 
except a distaste for such work which it seems 
to me is an element foreign to woman’s 
nature. I really pity the family where the 
mother, the prime mover of the domestic 
machinery, has no thought beside sewing on 
the weekly patches or watching eagerly for a 
chance to take a few stitches in a half-worn 
garment, whose chief ambition is to have her j 
wash flapping on the line before her neighbors J 
(shiftless things) have half done theirs. This , 
energetic, working mother, who cultivates 
in her children no love for the beautiful, but 
scolds them for a drop of gravy on her clean 
table cloth, or the prints of their baby fingers 
on her shining panes. Let us take a peep into 
her parlor or "square room” as she calks it. 
From the carpet on the floor to the spotless 
w'hite-wash overhead, there is not a vestige of 
anything to awaken the admiration of a 
chance visitor. A piece of carpet spread be¬ 
fore the well-polished stove; window shades 
of green paper with flaming bouquets in the 
center, which have done service for the last 20 
years: a stand with an oilcloth spread, on 
which lies perhaps the last newspaper (not the 
Rural, you never see that in such homes a s 
this). On one side of the large old-fashioned 
clock, hangs the “ Equestrian figure of Wash¬ 
ington,” and ou the other “ Napoleon crossing 
the Alps,” or The Prodigal Sou ” Who has 
not seen such rooms as I have described l 
And what sensitive person does not experience 
a chill upon entering them ? 
Such a variety of pretty things can be made 
so easily. A hanging basket is made as fol. 
lows: Cut a cirele of paste-board about tv elve 
inches in diameter, fold together three times, 
then curve the widest end and cut a curve 
from each side of the folded piece. Open and 
you will have a circle with eight scallops for 
the edge of the basket and eight curves to be 
sewed over and over on the outside, this well 
shape the basket which is now ready for cover¬ 
ing: sew on bunches of scraped horn until all 
is completely covered; horns can be easily 
scraped with a piece of glass into little 
crinkled shavings as white as snow. At each 
of the eight corners hang a loop of gold-lined 
beads; fill the basket when done with cotton 
even full, then arrange artificial flowers in it. 
A handle can be made covered with the shav¬ 
ings, and suspended with a ribbon from a hook 
or nail in the ceiling. • 
Another handsome basket is made of all¬ 
spice, strung on a thread and looped thickly 
on a circle of wire which forms the opening at 
the top; make the loops twelve or fourteen 
inches long according to the size you have the 
circle of wire, they are them caught together 
near the bottom which forms a tassel, varnish 
and you will be surprised at its beauty. You 
can place a tin basin in the top for water and 
cut flowers, or bouquets of dried grasses, or 
Autumn leaves. 
Make window lambrequins to match your 
carpets or furniture with white shades be¬ 
neath, trimmed with the same color. 
Hang your walls with neutral tinted paper 
having a bright, cheery border of the prevail¬ 
ing hue. If the room is low hang your cur¬ 
tains from the ceiling and thus make believe 
they are as high as your neighbors across 
the way. 
It is a great addition to a south wiudow in 
Winter, to have a nice shelf across it, filled 
with choice plants. 
A large collection is lather troublesome to 
those who have small rooms and a large 
family. The shelf is always out of the way 
and is made prettier still by tLe addition of a 
)axnl>requin, 1 made one tor mine <>f 
broad cloth cut in fanciful scallops, button¬ 
holed around with green and having leaves 
and flowers cut from cretonne, gummed on 
each scallop. Have a center table by all 
means, be it ever so humble a one, where the 
family can all gather around Winter evenings 
with their books, games, fancy work, or mend¬ 
ing baskets, Fill up the bare places ou the 
walls with pictures, no matter if they are not 
masterpieces of art.. If they are all you can 
afford, bang them up and be glad you have 
them Have plenty of rugs. There are so 
many ways of making them that I will ouly 
mention on e or two. The handsomest home, 
made rugs are made of rags or yarn drawn 
through burlap. You can draw the patterns 
yourself or buy them ready stamped with any 
design your taste selects. A very desirable 
one is made of burlap and worked as you do 
canvas. Lineit with bed-ticking to make it 
firm. A worsted fringe is put on just as you 
would finish a tidy. Germantown wool Is the 
best to use as it retains the color longer, does 
not so soon grow dingy. 
Do not let your sewing machine go without 
its cover, when cotton is so cheap and they 
are so easily made. The checker-board tidy is 
just the shape for this purpose. Of course 
you have a lounge of some kind. If it is of 
brussels or rep, make a “ scarf ” (as they are 
called in these ** aesthetic ” days,) to cover the 
bottom and trim the ends with fringe. One 
covered with cretonne, having bright flowers 
and trailing vines, is very comfortable look¬ 
ing; then make a large square pillow to match 
with a ruffle around it, or if your lounge is an 
old-fashioned shape, not having the head 
raised, make a small bolster in addition to the 
pillow. This will be a very enticing place for 
one to lie down and take “ forty w inks,” as 
this is about all a busy housewife can get in 
the day time. Whether you have abundant 
means or not, make your home comfortable. 
Have at least one room where all the family 
can gather “ ad libitum.” and not feel obliged 
to replace every chair and fold up the paper 
when through reading it, but can lay it on the 
table or throw it ou t he floor. 
One of our city millionaires was called upon 
one afternoon by a lady friend. She found 
him in his elegant parlor, sitting tipped back 
in a chair, with his feet upon the costly 
marble mantle, and smoking. He said there 
was no room in his house too good for him to 
smoke in. nor a chair too handsome to bo 
placed in any position he chose to put it. 
Well, we hardly endorse all this, but the 
idea is of the right sort. And so we say, have 
at least one room where it is not just the very 
wrong thing to do—as you please. 
DON'T SELL ALL THE EGGS. 
No, it is poor economy to save up the eggs 
just to sell them, because they bring a good 
price. There is nothing more strengthening 
and nourishing than eggs as an article of diet, 
and farmers certainly, ought to indulge in the 
luxury of eating them. Four eggs contain 
more nutriment than a pound of beef-steak, 
and wall give more strength; and a person 
will not tire of egg-diet, as quickly- as they 
will of fresh meat. They uever distress the 
partaker, and if properly cooked can be 
eaten with perfect safety. For an invalid 
there is nothing so wholesome as a raw egg i 
beaten up with a little sugar, aud stirred 
into a glass of milk; mr if milk is uot allowed, 
a tea-cup of pleasant cider;) and taken before 
breakfast it gives strength and health. Boiled 
eggs are more wholesome than fried ones, aud 
egg sandwiches are a delightful dish, taken 
either hot or cold, and are especially suited 
for lunch or picnics. Omelets, poached eggs, 
or boiled eggs cut in slices and a cream gravy 
poured over them, are splendid substitutes 
for meat at breakfast. 
Admitting that it is a source of income to 
produce eggs for market; is it best to go with¬ 
out them in the family for the sake of making 
money for the wallet# If one has more than 
they need for home consumption, of course it 
pays to sell, but it is not judicious to deprive 
ones self of the comforts of life, for the sake 
of a few paltry pennies. Custards aud pud¬ 
dings are good changes in the bill-of- faro, 
aud much better than pies, for hut weather, 
and eggs are an important item, in their 
manufacture. 
As to cake, of various kinds, the less you 
make the better-, for Hummer. It does very 
well in cold weather to keep a supply on 
hand; but it is not nice, or healthy to eat much 
rich cake iu the Hummer. The less meat, aud 
rich food, one takes into the stomach, 
the better they feel; and the heat does not 
prostrate them so sensibly, as when they are 
fed with indigestible compounds, therefore, 
use what eggs you need iu the family, and if 
there is a surplus, they can behold. s. h. r. 
PIONEER LIFE IN MINNESOTA. 
Youth is so hopeful that nothing seems too 
jjreut for it to undertake—for what has l>een 
done, says the spirited hopeful heart, can be 
done again, and when I, a happy bride, left a 
fond and widow r ed mother, I thought there 
was none so happy, and I felt sure I could do 
anything, aided by my young lawyer hus¬ 
band, aud tbat no one had ever been so loved, 
so favored and shielded as I. I determined no 
home should ever be happier than my love 
aud energy should make the one over which I 
should preside. How much brighter life’s 
journey looks as we ascend the hill of life than 
when we reach the top, and commence the 
downward trip. How thorny now, where so 
recently only roses bloomed! 
Law business with John w r as unprofitable, 
for he was the true type of manhood, honest 
to a cent, and there were plenty who w ere 
not; but he learned that he must seek another 
business, or never gain the competence he 
desired. My health being delicate, ho thought 
country air would prove best for both, aud, 
with some misgivings I confess, I bade him 
adieu as he started off full of hopeful cheer to 
find for us a home somewhere in the far West. 
Hoou came cheering letters from Northwest¬ 
ern Minnesota, telling of the broad prairies 
whose fertility was marvelous, everything 
cheap, and the cost of living a mere nothing. 
Then, as I had laid by a sufficient sum of 
money, I determined to give him a surprise, 
and wrote John to meet a friend of ours ou 
a certain day. Had I knowm then what 
awaited me, I should not have been so anx¬ 
ious to leave fneuds, tried and true, com¬ 
forts and loved scenes for the uew'er fields 
w-hioh coutained husks and thistles. Once 
there I never shrank from duty’s call. Hhall 
I ever forget that long ride in the rough 
farm wagon ? I enjoyed every mile of the 
way, for we had so much to talk of, so 
mnn y bright plaus, and it was so delightful 
to be together once more. Our merry laugh 
startled the birds, aud we were fairly intoxi¬ 
cated with joy, for we were really going to 
our own farm, and our love was to make it 
a home which should be ours when old age 
came. Miss Mowatt, says: “ Misfortune sprin¬ 
kles ashes on the head of a man, but falls 
like dew on the head of a womau, aud brings 
forth germs of strength of w hich she her¬ 
self had no conscious possession; ” and I de¬ 
termined to do what uone of our family had 
the courage to do, aud laugh away all per¬ 
plexities. It was easy to make those vows 
when the sun shone brightly, but it required 
stout hearts to brave ull battles aud conquer 
the homesickness which would creep in when 
sick and alone, and in danger. From the 
comfortable cot where love hud taken me, I 
came to the rough shanty of one room, w'hieh 
served as kitchen, dining-room, parlor and 
bedroom. My kitchen contained u ste>ve ( 
wood-box, shelf for tin-ware; my dining-room 
a pine box table, and small box for three 
cups aud six plates; my parlor, two chairs 
and a trunk; my bedroom, some boards nailed 
together to make a bin, this tilled with pftu. 
rie-hay, and a comforter over it, one pil¬ 
low, which was long u bone of contention 
between us, each insisting the other should 
use it, as they needed it most, and it was 
never settled till enough game was shot t 0 
make another. 
My palace, as I used to call it in the old 
days, had one door, and two openings to ad¬ 
mit light, but so high that 1 had to stand on 
tip-toe to look out, aud often on gloomy days 
I seated myself high on a dry goods box to 
look out toward my nearest neighbor who 
was three aud oue-hali' miles distant. But i L 
was borne, and I proclaimed myself queen of 
the prairie shanty. Our rooms were divided 
only by imaginary w alls, and when company 
came, we used boxes or a saw horse tor chaiis, 
as we had but two store chairs. The west 
portion, or bed room, was shingled, so we 
could keep dry, unless the rain beat against 
the sides and drove through the cracks, then 
our lmy got wet, and had to be dried next day. 
One severe storm soon after my urrival wet 
candles, matches aud everything, aud we had 
to wade about iu the dark as best wo could 
each moment expecting our frail home would 
be thrown far across the prairie by the severe 
wind. But the same watchful Muster pro¬ 
tected us here, as in our childhood’s home. I 
tried each day to prepare a bill of fare from 
my scanty larder tbat should prove tempting, 
but I found it difficult— yea— impossible, but 
for our excellent tippet ires which this climate 
always brings. I had no cow, no fruit, uo 
hens, but during my first Hummer here 1 had 
six eggs sent me by one w ho hoard 1 was sick. 
These 1 hoarded carefully, lest John from hard 
work should be sick aud need them. Smile if 
you will over my pies, but on rare occasions 
I made them of stewed dried apples, and lie- 
iug unable to get lard used pork trying; und 
sometimes used biscuit dough for ci ust Hav¬ 
ing no rolling pin I used a bottle, und this an¬ 
swered for potato muslier too; iu fact for va¬ 
rious other purposes. W itb a hatchet 1 ground 
my spice and coffee, and made a steamer from 
an old pan by punching it lull of holes. This 
I was obliged to do as 1 had but one kettle, 
and thus I could cook several things at a time 
in my two steamers, and oue kettle; but at 
first we w r ere not over stocked with provision, 
as pork, beans aud flour were all we could 
get, aud I often fried bread as a substitute 
for potato. Cake was unknown, as 1 had only 
a large bread pan to bake in, and we could 
do without, Eggs never less than 10 cents, 
aud butter an unknown substance, remember¬ 
ed as one of the luxuries of childhood. Cows 
scarce, and two expensive for us. I have 
turned my flour bag, scraped the dry, hard 
chunks from it.caused by getting damp,pound¬ 
ed, aud sifted this to make into bread, and 
glad enough to get it. But we laugh«»d over 
these tilings, and hoped for better days when 
we should see a house going up, and comfort 
again surrounding us. Money was scarce, 
and so much to lie done we could not afford to 
have a w ell bored, so had a slough well, and 
the water contained so much alkali, or sur¬ 
face water, that it made us weak and sick 
all the time. One Summer eve just at sunset, 
one of OUT best and strongest horses—who by 
the way wus blind—broke his halter and 
strayed dowu to the well, which was nine feet 
deep and fell iu. Only one spade on the place, 
and that w ith a weak back, what, was to be 
done? Ride to the nearest neighbor, get help, 
and spade, was the first thought; but all this 
took time and night was coming on. There is 
always some bright spot, and ours w r as, that 
it was moonlight and thus wo could see what 
we were about. 
[2b be Continued,.] 
DARNED LACE OR NET. 
We give our lady friends a pattern for 
daruiug ou bobinet lace; one that is easy to 
copy, aud which looks rich aud showy w hen 
done. Nothing in the line of table, or bed 
linen in these days are left without trimming 
or embroidery, and for those who cannot 
afford a great outlay for such articles, just as 
pretty aud much more durable trimming cau 
be made at odd minutes, by the busiest house¬ 
wife. 
Irish Point, and Valeucieunes, looks far 
handsomer, but for use iu a family, w here 
the father earns $1,000 a year, such trimming 
would not correspond with the surroundings. 
And how often do we see cheap goods, have 
as handsome an effect as those more costly. 
Several years ago we remember reading about 
curtains made of white Canton flannel, and 
we thoxight the writei surely had given the 
goods so used the wrong name, or we did uot 
Fig. 40D. 
know what Canton flannel was; aud we were 
sure that we did. A year or so after reading 
about them, we were visiting a friend living 
in the city; having been escorted to our room 
by this friend, our attention was instantly at¬ 
tracted to the curtains, which hung so heavy, 
yet soft, and were so cool and rich looking. 
Being of good Now England stock, and having 
inherited some of the Yankee inquisitiveness 
we read about, together with what we are 
told is oue of the characteristics of woman, 
the question was immediately asked : “ hat 
are your curtains made of; they look so beau¬ 
tiful?” *' Canton flannel, and 1 have uever 
regretted their cost,” was the somew hat face¬ 
tious reply. 
Wo once visited an acquaintance who had 
been recently married, and who was a lady of 
exquisite taste, having the menus to gratify it, 
too. Home of this same curiosity or inquis 
ativeuess, followed us here also, for we had uo 
doubt of the elegance w« should see iu her 
apartiueuts, more especially the sleeping-room. 
What won our surprise,to Und the lambrequins, 
for windows and mantel, made of blue silesia, 
«i,je pleated, and put on with brass headed 
