602 
THE RURAL HEW-YORKER. 
SEPT 8 
iox iljC gmtttg 
THE MISSING RINGS. 
SOPHIA C. GARRET. 
T was very kind of you Mrs. 
Ma 3 r son, to bring me a slip 
of one of your choice roses. 
1 did not know you.were away 
from home that day, until we 
reached your house. Great 
w as our surprise on being ad¬ 
mitted by that poor stick of a 
girl, Hester Briggs, who 
lived with us a month, two 
years ago. She told us she had beeu working 
for you six mouths She said you had been 
over at your cousin’s for three days, and she 
was keeping house for Mr. May sou and the 
children. They did not seem to be suffering 
from her ministrations. How came you to 
employ her, Mrs. Mayson ? She was so hope¬ 
lessly stupid when here, that I was thankful 
to get rid of her at the end of a month. Had 
I beeu possessed of more patieuce, I might 
have got along with her, but I had a chance 
to get another girl, and so sent her home. I 
think you need help badly, or you could not 
endure her in your bouse. Her face looks for¬ 
bidding.” 
“We disliked to have a new girl, but as 
Belle left us for a home of her own, after a six 
years’ stay, there was no alternative. Hear¬ 
ing of this girl, we called on her widowed 
mother to make inquiries about her. It was 
a poverty-stricken place. "We beckoned to the 
woman, who saw us from the window and 
came out to us. Team started to her eyes 
when we told our errand. ” 
•*I’m afraid she won’t do for you, ma’am. 
She has had good places, but the folks never 
kept her more than a month or so, because 
she acts so seared-like. She wus bright 
enough when a little girl. Her poor father 
drank, and was not as kind to her as a sober 
parent would have been. She starts so when 
strangers speak to her. She is too nervous. 
She grew discouraged, but we all did, for 
that matter. Now , that is past, and we are 
lying to be happier. Will she have to go up 
stairs often, and have you many steps at 
your house? She is awkward, and acts giddy- 
like on stairs. At Mrs. Woods’she fell down 
cellar the first day she was there. Her screams 
frightened them, and they, brought her home to 
me at once. Then Mrs. Carr came for her. 
There she caught her toe in a rip iu the car¬ 
pet, and fell and hurt her wrist so badly, that 
she could not go out to work for a year. Then 
Mrs. Tellur hired her and she slaved for them 
twelve weeks. They turned her off without 
paying all that was due her. Ou calling for 
the balance of her wages, they told me she 
had broken and wasted more than tlm amount 
due. and would not pay her another cent. 
That was her last place.” 
“ In Hpite of these antecedents we hired 
Hester and took her home with us. She had 
no heavy trunk and only a few garments 
wrapped in a shawl. She told me y 011 I uni 
called, when I came home that day, and said 
you thought my roses were pretty. So l cut 
off a slip of my finest straw-colored rose for 
you, aud she looked pleased, and ran out for 
a bit of moss to wrap arouud it. If her good 
wishes will avail anything, it will become a 
beautiful plant.” 
“ 1 have heard a rumor lately, about some 
trouble with a dishonest girl at your house, 
but did not know that Hetty was the girl iu 
question. As it reached me iu a round-about 
way, perhaps it is not worth mentioning.’ 
“Hetty was accused of dishonesty by a lady 
who was visitiug us. Humor, of course, in¬ 
formed yon that she was guilty. Far from 
it. Rumors respecting girls at service rarely 
come laden with good tidings, and this was not 
an exception. We have been silent ou the 
subject, as poor Hetty said, Oh don’t tell a 
word of it Mrs. Mayson. People will repeat 
the story over and over to every one. Maybe 
they’ll get it twisted uud twirled every-which- 
way, until they’ll believe that I stole Mi's. 
Carlmond’s rings.” 
“Mrs. Carlmond visited us on her w ay home 
from the South. We were invited to dine at 
Senator Hall’s when she was here, and were 
putting on our wraps to go when she said: 
“There! 1 have left my lings on the dressing- 
table iu my room. I’ll run lip stall's and get 
them in a moment.” We got into the carriage 
and waited a few minutes, but she did not 
come. Hetty brought her water-proof cloak, 
which she had been brushing, and w as direc¬ 
ted to carry it back, as the day was warm aud 
not a cloud to be seen. Gettiug out of the car¬ 
riage, I went to ascertain the cause of our 
visitor’s delay, and found her search¬ 
ing her trunk in an excited manner. 
“Oh?” she whispered, “Are you sure your girl 
is honest? I left them right here,” pointing to 
a place on the dressing-table near some lace 
trifles, “l took them off before washing my 
hands, and forgot all about them until I was 
putting ou my gloves. The diamond iiug 
given me on my birthday was one of them, 
and that girl has taken them I fear. Do oblige 
me by going to Senator Hall’s without me. I'll 
stay and question her, and get them from her, 
before she has a chance to pawn them.” “I loft 
her and went out to tell Mr. Mayson. He had 
driven several rods away, aud was talking 
with a neighbor at the road-side. We gave up 
our visit and I helped Mrs. Carlmond in her 
search for the missing rings. Poor, artless 
Hetty never devined why we so suddenly 
abandoned our plan of going out. to dine. 
Sending her to the garden with the children, 
we went to her rooms and examined her trunk, 
w hich w as an old one I had given her. Feel¬ 
ings of shame w ere uppermost in my mind, as 
we looked among the scanty store of clothing* 
Every garment had been carefully mended to 
make it last longer, and some seemed only 
kept in form by skillful darning. A small box 
w'as pulled from its hiding place iu the bottom 
of the trunk by Mrs. Carlmond, who said in a 
triumphant whisper, “1 have found them now: 
1 know I have!” The box contained photographs 
of H etty’s t.wo little brothers w ho were not 
living. Unwrapping the bit of black crape that 
covered them, marks of tear-stains were seen 
on the chubby little faces. Hitherto these bad 
been kept sacred from the gaze of strangers; 
now we had ruthlessly intruded upon them, 
aud for what a cruel purpose I Unknown to 
me, Mra. Carlmond went to the garden to 
question Hetty. Filling the childrens’ aprons 
with roses, she sent them in, for the vases iu 
her room. Cautiously approaching her victim 
she asked her if she dusted the dressing-table 
ufter sweeping her room that morning.” 
“1 forgot to dust uia’am.” said the unsus¬ 
pecting girl. “Forgot, it! Nothing of the 
kind, Hetty. You dusted the table aud took 
some rings that I left upon it. Give them to 
me at once, and I’ll hush it right up.” “Hetty 
rau into the kitchen where I was uiakiug 
preparations for tea, crying, “Oh ma’am, that 
lady says I have taken her rings! 1 never 
touched them! 1 wouldn’t steal a cent’s worth 
to keep myself from starving!” Then she 
gave a shriek of despair, which seems ringing 
in my brain .yet. My husband beard it and 
came iu to discover what had occurred to 
cause such a cry. I told him in a whisper, 
aud we tried to soothe the poor girl. She 
drank a little tea thut I urged her to take, 
and went away to her room. After an hour 
or two 1 crept quietly in to see her, and found 
her restless and feverish with excitement. 
Looking up she said piteously, “Do you be¬ 
lieve 1 have beeu so wicked as to steal those 
rings?’’ “No child, I am sure you are innocent. 
Don’t feel so budly about it. They will yet 
be fouud.” "I’m afraid they never will, but— 
but I didn't take them.” Bathing her lace, 1 
launed her until she fell into a tr oubled sleep. 
In the morning she was really ill, and begged 
me to send for her mother. 1 told her 1 would 
see altout it, aud wont down to the kitchen to 
speak to our washerwoman, who was sorting 
the clothes lief ore beginning her work. Hold¬ 
ing up a handkerchief she said, “What’s iu 
this ma’am? There’s something tied mthe cor¬ 
ner of this handkerchief. Just you look?” 
(To be Concluded.) 
GROWING SWEET POTATOES. 
You wanted some of the Virginia Cousins 
to tell how to raise Sweet Potatoes. 1 am not 
a Virginian, but what they call around here 
a V aukee. aud as we have raised them for a 
number of years, aud have always been suc¬ 
cessful with them, I will tell you how we 
manage. 
The 1st of April procure the seed potatoes, 
and make a hot-bed by digging a square hole 
iu the ground the desired size, about two feet 
deep, aud place corn stalks in the bottom; then 
line stable manure, and on top of that, wood 
dirt. Place the potatoes iu carefully one by 
one; great care should always be taken in 
handling them, not Co bruise them, and if there 
is any mold on them it must be wiped off or it 
will cause them to rot. Do not place them too 
near together, aud never cut them. Cover 
with wood earth about three inches deep, and 
then put a frame around the bed u few inches 
high, aud cover with boards, so they will not 
get chilled or wet from rain, in four or five 
days, if it is warm, take the cover off iu the 
middle of the day, covering again at. night. 
In about ten days, if it is warm, commence 
sprinkling them with luko-warm water. In 
two weeks they will commence coining up. 
Give them more air aud water as they grow. 
Prepare u piece of saudy soil lacing the South 
After plowing the laud, open furrows about 
t hree feet apart; fill them with manure, throw 
the dirt over it from both sides which will form 
a list, aud then with a hoe smooth the top of 
of the list. When the slips are a few inches 
high, draw them carefully, disturbing the po¬ 
tatoes as little as possible,and set them about 18 
inches apart in the row, and cultivate the same 
as Irish potatoes. If you keep the bed well 
watered there w ill be more slips in a few days. 
Now a few' words about llowers, aud I will 
close my loug letter. The Chater Hollyhock 
seeds you seut us last year have blossomed aud 
are beautiful. From the seed seut out this 
year, we have some of the handsomest Phlox 
I ever saw. Have you ever seen the Truinpet- 
Vine in blossom? I have never seen a cultivated 
vine more beautiful. Do you think some of 
the Cousins w'ould like some seed? If you do 
I will send you some. 
I fouud out what it was that killed my 
chickens; it was a black snake. 
Amelia Co. Alida Brewer. 
[Many thanks for your very interesting let¬ 
ter. IVe are always glad to receive just such 
lettei-s as this, because the instruction con¬ 
tained iu them is quite valuable. 1 he Trum- 
pot-vine grows here iu Central Park, aud as 
you say is very beautiful. 
If any of the Cousins desire the seed, if they 
will send a stamped envelope to me, enclosing 
a return stamp, 1 will forward it to you — 
Uncle Mark.] 
LETTERS FROM THE COUSINS. 
Dear Uncle Mark:—1 ought to have 
written long ago to thank you for the package 
of flower-seeds you so kiudlv sent me. They 
came too late for this year’s plant ing, though 
it is perhaps just as well that they did, as the 
drought aud other hiudrauces have caused our 
Hower-gan’on to prove a failure this Summer. 
You might think wo had forgotten how to 
care for flowers could you get a glimpse of 
our flower-beds, but I assure you wo are not 
accustomed to drought here. Why, even the 
weeds look discouraged, and seem half in¬ 
clined to give up. Indeed, almost every kind 
of vegetation is showing the effects of the 
drought. The Rural Coni and Perfect Gem 
Squash are the only vegetables in our garden 
that are lookiug well. The prospects are cer¬ 
tainly not very flattering this year for this 
part of Oregon. Farmei's arc just heginuiug 
to harvest, but it will be some time before the 
late sown grain will be ready for gathering. 
Some of the hop yards are looking tine now, 
aud promise a good yield. 
1 had a very enjoyable time on the 
“Fourth,” and hope all of the “Cousins ’ silent 
the day in equally as pleasant a manner. 
How many of the Cousins have tried growiug 
geraniums from seeds ? My sister has uiue 
grown from seeds that she planted last, Spring. 
There have been heavy fires in the mountains 
for some weeks past, which fill the air with a 
dense smoke that settles around us at tames 
like a thick fog, making ever thing look 
dreary and gloomy. Hoping that the rest of 
the “Cousins” will have a more favorable re¬ 
port to make of their success in gardening, I 
am Your niece, Loretta A. B. 
Brownsville, Oregon. 
gulvcvtissUi]. 
THE 
FARMER’S FRIEND, 
*‘REX MAGNUS.” 
The Humiston Food Preservative. 
WHAT IT WXIili DO. 
It will preserve and keep sweet for any reasonable 
length of time, lu all seasons and climate, meats, 
poultry, flsli, milk, cream, butter,eggs and lard,cider 
and other vegetable Juices, without any chanje n 
their taste or appearance. 
Stubborn Fuel. 
This Isa strong statement, but the most searching 
and thorough tests have moved conclusively that it 
is a stubborn fact. Incredible as It may appear. 
35 DAYS TEST. 
REX MAONUS has kept twenty-three 
kinds of meats and other food thirty-five 
days in a warm room (average 70°) and 
here is the testimony of the eminent scien¬ 
tific gentleman, who had exclusive control 
of the experiment in his private laboratory, 
vk : Prof. SAMUEL IF. JOHNSON, of 
Yale College. 
The Professor’s report, dated March T. ’S3, says : 
“My tests of 35 davs In daily mean temperature of 
"HO, oh mouts, etc., bought In open market, have eer- 
tainlv been sever*', aud I am satisfied thut. the differ¬ 
ent brands of Hex Muguus, The Hnilllslon Food Pre 
scrvntlve, with which 1 have experimented, /miv <ie- 
camptished all ctuinml for them. So far us 1 have yet 
learned, thru urn the only preparations that arc in¬ 
justice, unit at the iatnr linos practicable. Tor domestic 
use. At the banquet on ‘treated’ meats at the New 
Haven House l could not tUxItuyiush between those 
Which had been sixteen days in my laboratory unit 
those nr wty taken, from the mfnyrcdt&f of the hotel. 
The oysters wore perfectly palatable and fresh to 
my taste, aud belter, as It happeued, than those 
served ur the same lime, which were recently taken 
from the shell, the roost beer, steak,chlefceu, turkey 
and quail were utl u* point us l hare cere eaten." 
Ilex Magnus Is sate, tasteless, /at re. ami Prof. John- 
sou adds in Ills report : "I should anticipate no ill 
results from Its use aud consider L no on a • harmful 
than common suit." 
Thousands of c<i unity conclusion experiments In ul 
purls of the country have brought the same good 
results. 
It III list not becompnred with the worthiest* 
deceptions which have preceded it. It suc¬ 
ceeds where nil others have tailed. 
Ily the use of Rex Magnus the Farmer can make 
sure that his products will remain fresh mat hi yi>od 
condition until sold regardless of the weather. This 
insures him the best price lor bis merchandise and 
no losses by spoilage or deterioration. 
Fresh..Tlent ou the Furoi. 
Most Farmers are at a distance from town and have 
found It ilinietllt If not Impossible to have the variety 
of Iresh animal food that is not only desirable to the 
palate hut essential to health. A quarter of beef, u 
whole mutton or oilier fresh meat If treated with 
Rex Magnus will keep until It is Used up. and will af¬ 
ford a pleasing variety to the usuuldiet of corn beef, 
mackerel and salt pork. 
Si ill |i!c and ('heap. 
The directions for use arc so simple that a child 
can follow them, and Its cost amounts to only the 
fraction Of a cent per pOUUd of meat or other food 
treated aud not over two cents per gallon for milk, 
elder, wine or vinegar. II trill save many times ils 
cost. 
Uncle Mark:— Thinking that my name 
would pVObably bo dropped from the roll of 
the Horticultural Club if I did uot soon put in 
an appearance, 1 have at last concluded to 
; write and toll you about my watermelon fail¬ 
ure. 1 had such poor success with my inelous 
that I did not like to rajHirt. Only two plants 
came up, and, alter a severe struggle with the 
cold weather and other evils, they died The 
seeds you sent, this year wore received all 
right and were planted when 1 got home from 
school iu June. They are all growing nicely. 
ThOsunflower is several feet high. 
We did not seeany R UR ALB while at school 
so did uot know what was beiug done by the 
Club, aud 1 felt quite like a strauger when 1 
commenced lookiug over the old papers. We 
intend to take some plants with us this year 
aud expect, to have the Rural, too, so will 
probably know mote about the discussions and 
other doings of the Club than before. 
There was a piece ou “Intemperance” in 
some of the papers a few years ago which 1 
would like to see again. 1 lost it some time 
ago, and can only remember the first verse, 
which is: 
“There’s a road all completed—in perfect con¬ 
dition, 
Running straight, with no turns, from the 
earth to perdition; 
There at e trains starting out every hour in the 
day, 
There is room for all souls who are going that 
way, 
Aud the dejtots are scattered broadcast o’er 
the land— 
There are men everywhere who wait your 
cotuuiund, 
With “Tickets to sell, tickets to sell; 
Tickets to ticket you through to Hell f’ 
Unlike some of the Cousins, 1 do not care to 
appear in print, and am uot at all afraid of 
the waste-basket; in fact, 1 believe I would 
feel more “at home” there than anywhere 
else. Your niece, 
4 Evanbburg, Penn. Ellnina. 
Safe, Pure. Tasteless* Ami Harmless. 
Rex Magnus never falls, It does Its work (borough - 
ly aud perfectly, it U oompountleii rrnm pure unu 
liarniluris lugr^iUc'Di* find unutalUH nothing that will 
Injure the most delicate system. It Imparts no taste 
u tiatecee to the articles treated, and It Is Impossible 
to detect any difference In flavor between fresh arti¬ 
cles and those preserved with II. except In the ease 
of meats which are improved In flavor and quality 
by the keeping. 
Gel It and Try It. 
You can do so ata small expense. You do not have 
to buy a county right nor costly recipe. It 'e sell 
neither throne mu' thf other ! All gr(KH?i‘s, druggists 
and general stores keep It, or w<* will send sample 
package prepaid by mull or express us we prefer. 
Pinnies and Price*. 
The various brands and tlielr relail prices are as 
follows: "Vlamliue,” for preserving meats, poultry, 
llsh aud game, 50 ets per lb.; “Ocean S\ uvo.” for 
oysters, clams, lobsters, llsh, etc.. 50 eta. per lb.; 
“Pearl,’’ for cream. $1.00 per lb.- “Snowflake,” for 
milk, butler, and cheese, W ets. per lb.; "queen,” for 
eggs, *1.00 per Ui.j “Auua Vitae," for medlcii! purposes 
and for keeping fluid oxtraet*, JUKI per lb.; "Ann 
Ferment." “Anti-Mold," and "Anti Fly," 50 ets. each. 
THE HUMISTON FOOD PRESERVING GO., 
72 Kilby St., Boston, Mass. 
TOILET LUXURY. 
WILLIAMS’ BARBERS’ BAR SOAR, 
Originally Intended for shaving. Ils absolute purity 
auu remarkable Emollient qualitieshave led tons use 
by thousands us u 
FAMiLY TOILET SOAP. 
Multitudes who have tried the most expensive im 
ported Sonus, suy thut uoue have given them such 
genuine sntWnctlon. For the buth or nursery, It is far 
superior to "i'a*tlle,” and nothing Is purer, sweeter 
or moretdllcuckms fora 
TOOTH SOAP. 
We will mail a sample to any render of Ibis paper 
on receipt of 8c. stump, uud a cake of Genuine Yankee 
Soap for 12c. 
.1. b.WILLIAMW * CO., 
G LASTON 1*UIt V, CONN. 
Nplendld! 60 Latest Style ChrOUlOCards, name on, 10c 
j Premium with 3 partes. JS.1I. Pardee, New Haven. Ct 
a week in your own town. Terms and $!>, outll 
free. Address U. HAU.kT & Co., Portland, Me 
