u 
who rode in their golden chariots to the 
Pythian Festival. You would rather stroll 
up Broadway and see the thousand and 
one elegant things and peep into the thousand 
and one happy faces. 
Now is the time when you wish you had 
worked harder during the year so that your 
purse could now be heavier; and that so 
many of the pockets in that Santa Claus bag 
didn’t contain home-made things. The con¬ 
tents of some purses are making glad the 
hearts of those who send their work to the 
Woman’s Art Exchange on Fifth Ave. in this 
city. In every respect the rooms are better 
calculated to show off the goods here than at 
the old home on 20th Street. 
It is not conceded that this exchange ful¬ 
fills all the Hues of charity, but it does good 
work for many of the class it desires to reach, 
viz., artistic women who would like to dis¬ 
pose of their handiwork, some of whom have 
met with reverses, and others who have not, 
but who nevertheless wish to earn something 
by usiug their talent. But you meet with 
disappointment here as well as most other 
places where you try to dispose of your 
work. The sum of five dollars paid by any 
one person will enter the work of three, for 
one year. 
Now it has been known that things have re¬ 
mained unsold the whole year, even such as 
were contributed to the Household Depart¬ 
ment and many have, perhaps, had their nice 
pickles, jams and fruit spoiled without being 
sold. This is hard of course, but you cannot 
gain anything in this world without an effort, 
and where one fails another succeeds. You 
see the jar of jam standing right next to 
where yours was, might have been sold, and 
yours left, so there’s something in that. Per¬ 
haps the Exchange has not been as well pa¬ 
tronized in the past as it will he in the future. 
The other day the rooms were crowded and 
at noon quite a number enjoyed the nice 
home-made cakes and pies. In all the depart¬ 
ments the dantiest taste can be satisfied, as 
almost everything a woman’s hand can fash¬ 
ion may be bought, aud many things quite 
reasonable. In the Housekeeping Depart¬ 
ment there are rows and rows of good things 
both canned and bottled, and beside, bread, 
cake, pies and biscuit there is Alderney but¬ 
ter, fresh eggs, sausages and chickens. 
From the Exchange let us go for a moment 
to a vast emporium where in the crowd 
coming and going constantly, a glimpse can 
be had of a portion of life the rich enjoy Here, 
many a modern Cleopatra can be seen clad 
in gorgeous robes of velvet, surrounded by 
glittering jewels which seem a fitting part of 
the same, aud of course enhances the beauty 
of it. You smile sometimes as you see the 
aged couple who are selecting some elegant 
jewel how worried they look, till some young 
eye approves, when they depart fully satisfied. 
Standing close together are well-preserved 
middle ag^d men whose faces indicate a happy 
and prosperous present. Then there are those 
who have come to admire only, and who revel 
among diamonds, pearls, rubies, sapphires, 
clocks, bronzes, pottery, glass, stationery' and 
fancy goods. All of which are stored up in 
the memory of these persons, who are too 
busy' to covet a single gem. 
We hate to close without saying a word to 
the children about the wonderful playthings 
now to be seen, admired, and bought. Oh, 
how the heart bounds with the wish to be a 
boy, to ride yon superb rocking-horse, unload 
that express wagon, tend the grocery store, or 
don regimentals and ‘“march through Geor¬ 
gia.” Or to be a girl and arrange the doll¬ 
house, dressiugtbe dolls, etc. Then there are 
games of all kinds, tool chests, printing-press¬ 
es, cars, boats, moukeys, elephants, and oh, 
yes, grand skates aad sleighs, the latter bear¬ 
ing such nice names as “Victory,” “Excel¬ 
sior,” “Hero,” “Dash,” “Snap,” and for the 
girls, softer names, such as “Fuss,” “Daisy,” 
“Moliie” and “Minnie.” 
VIVIAN WHITEFIKLD. 
The Garden Treasure seeds have this year 
been selected with especial care. Not less 
than 100 different kinds of flower seeds will 
be found in each packet, one of seven sent to 
subscribers in our present Free Seed Distribu¬ 
tion. 
A DAY’S JOURNEY. 
Leaving our little village station in Cen¬ 
tral Vt. in the early twilight of a short Nov. 
day we sped along northward en route for 
that laDd of promise the great West. We 
could but regret the loss of the charming 
scenery hidden from our view by the darkness, 
yet half restored by memory, having seen 
it once on a perfect day in June who could 
forget it? The river St. Lawrence, the Thou¬ 
sand Isles, the background of forest and 
mountain, remain upon memory’s wall, a joy 
forever, though frost and snow now veiled it, 
and the shadow of winter’s silence rested upon 
it. Midnight found us in Montreal, even the 
short halt made here sufficed to show we were 
in a foreign land, dress, manners, speech, all 
differing from the Yankee of the Green Mt. 
state. At daylight we arrived in Kingston 
and from thence onward to Toronto which we 
reached about noon we could but liken the 
prospect to a succession of panoramic views, 
appearing aud reappearing with little inter¬ 
vals of dull forest, dark aud somber, like the 
delay iu the scene shifting of the canvas, and 
profit by this to have the picture well engraved 
on memory's wall. Along the shore of Lake On¬ 
tario Summer seemed still to linger lovingly, 
as if reluctant to leave so eucbanting a spot. 
But as we advanced westward the evidence 
of Winter, having come to stay, was apparent 
in the heavy snow drifts that half concealed 
the fences here and there as we approached 
Michigan. The dull, sleep}’ air of these Ca¬ 
nadian towns affords a striking coutrast to the 
life aud stir of the West, or of thrifty New 
England villages. No Presidential election 
disturbs their serenity every fourth year. 
Little change occurs in a whole life-time, for 
those who keep the even tenor of their way 
here, so conservative appeal's everything 
about them. At Guelph, a very pleasant 
place, we noticed that John Buuyau kept the 
City Hotel. What more appropriate than the 
author of “Pilgrim’s Progress" should open an 
inn for the accommodation aud com fort of so¬ 
journers! Pleasant towns were named iu hon¬ 
or of the world’s great poet, Shakspeare 
Stratford, sounded familiar, but the Avon did 
not appeal-, yet in its place the beautiful St. 
Clair, which though not celebrated in song or 
story like the rivers of the old world, we often 
felt equalled in loveliness any of them. The 
Blue Danube could not boast a deeper blue 
than this rapid-flowing stream, through which 
the inland seas pour so great a volume of wa- 
ter.thatitscurrents are swift,startlingly swift, 
as one stands upou its banks, aud is told 
that never has the body of one drowned 
here above the Fort been recovered. Like 
the fabled Maelstrom, on Norway’s coast, 
it was fathomless and terrible, yet as the 
full moon poured its mellow light across it, 
how magnificent and grand it looked. Some¬ 
what rudely recalled from our reverie by the 
detention of those who came out of Canada, 
and must, encounter that dreaded official the 
Custom House officer “clothed in a little brief 
authority” we could but imagine he enjoyed 
the discomfiture of the passengers, who were 
obliged to pass under his surveillance, and in 
a merciless kind of a way overhauled the bag¬ 
gage belonging to them. Borne of our nation¬ 
al holidays should be set apart, for the taking 
and annexing of Canada to the United States, 
for to them it properly belongs. Soothed by 
the promise of being in Chicago in the morn¬ 
ing. we went on our way rejoicing, and at 
daylight were awake to greet the dear old, 
swampy, smoky, elegant, delightful city of 
Chicago. Ever so much land on the outskirts 
of the city that hasn’t been made up yet into 
avenues, parks, business streets, etc. I The 
material is ample for whatever growth this 
child of the West may attain. The land upou 
which the thrifty Teuton now raises immense 
quantities of corn and cabbage for his favor¬ 
ite “saurkraut” will no doubt in the near 
future, become busy thoroughfares. The lake 
marks its eastern limit. The prairie west 
seems illimitable. CORA. 
ONLY. 
Only a pair of glasses old, 
Only a tress of snowy hair; 
Trivial things In themselves, perhaps. 
But they whisper to me of a golden stair. 
Only a liuneh of withered Mowers, 
Faintly telling of hy-goue years. 
But she that plucked them, walteth now 
In a lami which knows not sorrow’s tears. 
Only a pair of slippers.-frayed— 
I lay them under my treasures low, 
Atul think of the once weary, feet. 
Now walking lu paths of rest, I know. 
And last, and dearest, and Best of all, 
Blotted by tears, by time «traced, 
Isa worn ohl picture, dim and gray. 
Holding a gltmpse of my futher’s face. 
Roll roll, ye years with quickened pace. 
Break waves of Time with pulsing swell, 
Fling back the portals of the spheres, 
That I may with my ioverj ones dwell. 
The Rural New Yorker is a farm, gar¬ 
den, floricultural, literary, religious, news 
and complete rural journal aLl in one. It, is 
original from beginning to end. Have you 
seen its Supplement describing its present Free 
Seed Distribution to subscribers? Have you 
seen as $3,000 worth of presents to subscribers 
who send us clubs? If not, send for the -up- 
plement. It will be forwarded free of charge. 
CONDUCTED BY EMILY MAPLE. 
CHAT WITH OUR GIRLB WHO EXPECT 
TO BE HOUSEKEEPERS. 
MAY MAPLE. 
Not long ago I attended the wedding of one 
of our Rural girls. For the last five years 
she has been in the habit of “working out,” 
when her assistance was not needed at home. 
Although she worked for stipulated wages 
she has always been considered a member of 
the family where she served, receiving the 
treatment of an elder sister rather than that 
accorded to a servant, and she seemed to take 
the same interest in the work of the farm¬ 
house as did the matron herself. She strove 
to excel in the art of cooking, and making use 
of good economy, and she was as skillful iu the 
sewing room as iu the kitchen. Having a sunoy 
disposition, with a willingness to amuse 
and instruct the little folks, she soon be¬ 
came a favorite with the young people as well; 
and a certain young farmer in particular cast 
admiring glances upon her rosy, dimpled 
cheeks, and appreciated her many good qual¬ 
ities, and he finally obtained her promise to 
become his wife,some time in the future, and 
now’ she has fulfilled this promise. 
“What have you laid by from your earn¬ 
ings, Minnie, toward housekeeping ?” I in¬ 
quired, as I put the finishing touch to a pretty 
wreath that was to ornament the “ bride’s 
loaf” of cake, and she arranged pictures and 
vases of flowers, in preparation for the oc¬ 
casion. 
“She has almost all the necessities for a be¬ 
ginning;” said a friend who, like myself, had 
arrived the day before the wedding. 
‘‘You know,” said Minnie, “that some time 
ago I purchased a full chamber set for my 
room, including half-a-dozen cane seated 
chairs and a large and small rocker. Besides 
these, T have purchased a cottage bedstead, 
two good feather beds, and plenty of blankets, 
cloth for nine pairs of sheets, twelve pairs of 
pillow-slips, a dozen towels, three linen table¬ 
cloths, with napkins; a good set of dishes, 
with steel cutlery, and heavy silver-plated 
spoons, besides several pieces of tinware aud 
little conveniences that do not cost much, yet 
are seldom found in a farmer’s kitchen. 
Don't you think I have quite a ‘setting out?' ” 
said she, while a pretty, self-satisfied smile 
spread over her fair, sweet face. “And I 
have clothed myself comfortably, purchasing 
all my wedding finery; aud if it is not as 
showy as some of my friends would have 
chosen, it is substantial, and I have never 
been without pin-money by me since I began 
working away from home, and my wages 
have seldom exceeded two dollars per week.” 
“And her charities have not been few nor 
small,” whispered Mrs. Kindly in my ear. 
How I did wish that every one of our 
Rural girls could begin her married life 
with such a stock of household wisdom and 
household goods. Minnie’s thorough know¬ 
ledge of domestic economy will be worth a 
fortune to her. Upou looking over her little 
stock of tinware, I thought she must have 
had an eye for “work made easy,” so I will 
aunex a list of tin articles, that you may have 
the privilege of selecting such as you thrnk 
will be most necessary in the homes over 
which you will preside in the not far-off 
future: 
The wedding dress was of dark-brown cash- 
mere, trimmed with satin, and finished at the 
neck and wrists with rich creamy lace. A 
cluster of tiny, white lilies at the throat was 
the only ornament. You see, as she said, the 
dress was a serviceable one. and there was no 
sham, so it could be remade, and thus be 
made to wear a long time. Of course, I know 
you wish to hear about the groom. Though a 
farmer, he is a gentleman, who has a pretty 
good knowledge of farming and stock-raising 
from experience as well as theory. From his 
boyhood he has been accustomed to the busi¬ 
ness. and thus has learned self-reliance and 
the art of calculating from cause to effect, and 
therefore be has the possibility of making 
farming a success. 
TIN-W r ARK FOR THE HOUSEHOLD. 
Wash boiler, dish-pan, half a dozen milk- 
pans (even if there is no milk), basins of vari¬ 
ous sizes; tin pails, with and without covers; 
tin cups ind dippers, two of each; pint molds, 
for rice and blanc mange; long-handled skim¬ 
mer, measures, broad and low to be easily 
cleaned; bread pans, round cake tins, long 
pie tins, coffee-pot and tea-steeper, steamer, 
large and small graters for horse-radish and 
nutmeg; egg beater, cake turner and cutter; 
apple corer. flour dredge, canisters for tea 
and coffee, crumb tray aud dust pan. 
MINNIE’S WEDDING CAKE.—GOLD AND SILVER 
CAKE. 
One-and-one-half cup sifted flour, one-half 
cup of butter, one cup of sugar, one-half cup 
of sweet milk, one-and-one-half teaspoouful of 
bakiug-powder, whites of four eggs, vanilla 
for flavoring. Beat the butter and sugar to a 
cream, then add flour and milk, then IHvor- 
iug, and, lastly, the whites of eggs. For Gold 
Cake, substitute the yelks for whites, and lem¬ 
on for vaDilla flavoring. 
JELLY ROLL. 
Three eggs, one cup of sugar, one of flour, 
one teaspoouful of cream-of tartnr, oue half 
teaspoouful of soda, dissolved iu a spoouful of 
milk or water. Bake in long tins, spread with 
jelly, then roll. 
WATER-MELON CAKE. 
For the white part take two cups of white 
sugar, two-thirds of a cup of butter, 
two-thirds of a cup of sweet milk, the 
whites of five eggs, a heaping teaspoonful of 
baking powder sifted into three cups of flour, 
any flavoring you prefer. For the red part 
or core of melon, take one cup of red sugar 
sand, one half cup of butter, two-thirds cup 
of sweet milk, two cups of flour, one teaspoon 
of baking powder, the whites of five eggs, one- 
half pound of rasins or English currants. In 
filling the cake pan, put the white dough out¬ 
side and the red inside; just before putting it 
in the oven drop in the raisins here and there 
to imitate seeds. 
FROSTING FOR CAKE. 
One cup of frosting sugar, two table spoon¬ 
fuls of water, boiled together; take it off the 
stove and stir in the white of one egg beaten 
to a stiff froth. When well stirred together 
spread upon the cake. This is said to be very 
nice. 
Have you seen the a nnounccrnent of the 
Rural's present Free - Seed Distribution? 
Have you read an account of its $3,000 worth 
of gifts to subscribers alone? If not, send for 
the Seed and Premium Supplement., It will be 
sent at once free of charge. 
KITCHEN-TALKS. 
ANNIE L. JACK. 
The “Amateur Cook” has just exclaimed 
that she is “tired of jumping up every min¬ 
ute, to see to something in that kitchen,” and 
I feel a good deal of sympathy for her, as I 
know she is busy with dainty work as Christ¬ 
mas gifts, that must be done in time. But the 
three - meals must be attented to, and though 
sisters are generally good-natured aud helpful 
to each other, there is a feeling of indepen¬ 
dence, and a conscious sense of duty done in 
attending to oue’sown allotted share of labor. 
I have tried to simplify the work in various 
ways, some days cooking two days’ dinner so 
as to have an intervening breathing spell 
and again having lunch at noon, and the din¬ 
ner iu the evening. But this latter plan makes 
the clearing up so late it often spoils the even¬ 
ing, and as country neighbors sometimes drop 
in to tea, having eaten a noon dinner, it 
caused complications that were often trouble¬ 
some. But young girls who help their mother, 
or who superintend their fathers' household 
after their mothers’ tired hands are forever 
still, must learn to systernize their work so 
that they can have time to enjoy their lives 
as they go along. Now 1 know that, as a 
general thing, these nimble young feet are not 
chary of their steps; but the mind must be on 
the work as well. If you go to the cellar 
three times for things you could have brought 
up at once, it is time and energy wasted. Bo 
if in preparing dinner you put on the vege¬ 
tables and complacently sit down to work at 
the fancy slippers or tidy you are embroider¬ 
ing, only to remember, just as you have 
shaded yonrsilksand takeuoueor twostitches, 
that you have forgotten to put salt in the 
water, it is no use to say “Oh dear, that tire¬ 
some kitchen!” say, rather, that tiresome lack 
of memory! 
There are girls who work with willing hands 
at whatever they find to do, yet one can tell 
by the way they go about it that there is no 
forethought. “Oh, dear, there is no hot 
water to wash the dishes!” is ample proof that 
there is not a regular thought to provide a 
supply. How much tea and coffee are wasted 
for want of accuracy and attention to details. 
The water is near!y boding; there is perhaps 
a little too much tea put in—but enough to 
make it bitter and unpleasant; or, mayhap, 
while busy with other things, the coffee boils 
over, and the rich fragrance flies up to the 
celling, leaving a bitter, muddy drink in the 
pot. So in setting the table, if when all are 
seated one has to go for the salt, another for 
a fork or spoon, it makes a needless confusion 
that often causes irritation and spoils the 
peace of a meal time. Twice as much work 
can be accomplished in a given time if proper 
management is used, and regularity in a rou- 
tirne of duty. “I never know when to go 
home to dinner,” said a young farmer to me 
once. “It may lie ready at twelve or at one, 
just as tbo women folks feel inclined,” If the 
“women folks” were only puuetuul and made 
him so, it would have been better for them all; 
aud instead of the necessary kitcheu labor be¬ 
coming a drag, it would have been eu.-ily man¬ 
aged and kept in order. To drudge all the time 
is not much sign of being a good worker. 1 
have much more respect for the mistress of a 
tidy bouse, who has leisure to sit down, than 
for the one who is forever toiling in the 
kitchen and always iu a muddle. It is a sure 
sign that something is wrong. 
- *** - 
WASHING DISHES. 
“I have learned so many things since I 
