FEB 7 
84 
Breckenridge, Major-General Hardee, Gen. 
Beauregard, and Gen. Leonidas Polk, follow¬ 
ed by memoranda on the Civil War. make 
this number one of great interest to the ex- 
soldiers of our country. 
IlAnpKR's Monthly, for February, lias for 
a frontispiece a reproduction of the peculiar 
painting “The Mermaid and the Sea-wolf,” by 
F. S. Church; it gives us a portrait of the 
Marquis of Salisbury, and seven illustrations 
of his residence, Hatfield House, and its in¬ 
terior. “New and Old in Yucatan” is finely 
illustrated, as is also “An Art Student iu 
Ecouen.” “The Lick Observatory of Califor¬ 
nia;” “The Federal Union;” “Pullman; a 
Social Study;” and “Guardian Birds,” are 
among its attractions. The little poem, "A 
Transfigured Guest,” is accompanied by a 
beautiful illustration. “East Angels,” and 
“At The Red Glove,” have reached respective¬ 
ly the third and thirteenth chapters. 
Godky’s Lady's Book has for the opening 
illustration a hundsoine steel plate, its subject 
a very cute little couple, consisting of a chub¬ 
by boy, in a characteristic pose, and a little 
colored girl, who is looking over his cold 
shoulder, “making eyes at him,” and asking, 
“Will you be my Valentino?” A flue picture 
of Mr. W. W. Corcoran, of Washington, D.G., 
the philanthropist, accompanies a biographi¬ 
cal sketch of that gentleman,and a description, 
with illustration, of the famous institution 
known as the “Louise Home.” There are 
some especially good short stories this month, 
besides the interesting serials. A sprinkling 
of pretty poems fills out the literary part of 
the book, and the balance of the reading mat, 
ter is made up of useful information on almost 
every point that can interest a lady, 
MUSIC. 
The house of Oliver Ditson & Co., Boston, 
sends us a roll of music, published this month. 
There is a goodly portion of it adapted to 
soloists. Among these pieces are, “Twilight,” 
by Hayden; “0 Lamb of God Still Keep Me,” 
by Schubert ; “O Saviour, Holy Saviour,” by 
Gounod. There are also songs on generul sub¬ 
jects, pieces for the piano, etc. 
tor Women. 
CONDUCTED BY MISt KAY CLARK. 
TAKE THE REST. 
In these days of Sabbath desecration iu high 
places and in low, it is good to find some old- 
fashioned principles on the subject, still in 
woiking order. Here is an instance from a 
man who owned a large milk farm. Selliug 
milk ou Sunday is generally thought to be one 
of tbe “necessities,” and that a milkman can¬ 
not thrive except lie sends out his wagons on 
that day. But this man determined, in the 
face of all precedent, to carry ou tbe business 
another wav. On Saturday he sent out his 
wagons twice, and the majority of bis cus¬ 
tomers were just as well suited, and some of 
them much better. On .Sunday the milk wus 
set, and the cream made the week's butter. 
The horses wore turned out into the field, and 
had their day of rest, so a sick horse ou Mon¬ 
day morning was an almost unknown thing 
among them. God m8de the Sabbath law 
for the good of “cattle,” as well as for the 
household. The law of tbe place was “no un¬ 
necessary work on the Sabbath,” and it was 
well carried out. They did not stretch that 
word “necessary” until it reached far enough 
to cover all the common week day work. 
Every man and every child on the place knew 
that there was a difference. On Saturday 
afternoon all hands went to work to prepare 
for the Sabbath. Extra fodder was cut and 
brought in, water troughs filled, everything 
looked after and finished up by six o’clock. 
It was the verdict of this man that he could 
not recall a single thing, however smalt, by 
which he hud ever lost a dollar becuuso of his 
Sabbath observance, but very much went to 
show that ho was a great pecuniary gainer 
by it. 
The experiment can easily be tried by any 
one who is skeptical on the subject. The di¬ 
rect and indirect benefits were both well mark¬ 
ed and most satisfaetoy. The blessing of tbe 
Lord on a place is worth more than a good 
deal of money in the bank. There is a great 
increase of nervous disease in our land, and 
one great source of It is Sabbath desecration. 
No brain is set to ruu without rest seven days 
a week. “The Sabbath was made for man,” 
and its benefits roach out to his physical as 
well as his spiritual nature. If the Sabbath 
was observed in the spirit of God's command, 
we should see an era of prosperity dawn on 
our land such us it, has uever known. What 
household will make the experiment for itself 
in this opening year? olive. 
CHRISTMAS GIFTS.—SIX MONTHS OLD. 
Well, well! it is well enough I suppose to 
make such a hurrah over Christmas, but what 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
does it all amount to, girls? I really believe 
it would be a more acceptable offering to give 
a poor child a shirt, or a petticoat, to keep 
them warm, than a whole bushel of these fan¬ 
dangoes, and gimeracks that you have been 
so busy over for a whole month. They are 
pretty enough but what do they all amount 
to? By another year they will be all yellow, 
and fly specked, and either go into the fire, or 
waste basket. Now it seems to me that a 
good strong apron, or a pair of warm stock¬ 
ings, or even some pocket handkerchiefs 
would be of more account, than a puper- 
tinseled gewgaw to hang on the wall. Yes, t 
like pretty things, but l do not fancy seeing 
the walls all hung round, with little patches 
of linulky worsted and paper. J hold to giv¬ 
ing if one is needy, and when one does give, 
have the gift something useful and that will 
wear. Time Is money, and how much of it is 
just wasted tu making these folderols! Now 
girls just look at it. Your worsteds, tinsels, 
card board and silks, ull cost money; then 
there Is your time wasted in making all those 
things. Now, if you would take the same 
money and buy a book, that would be of real 
value for years, or a pair of towels or some¬ 
thing real useful, you would suve your time, 
and the present would be just as acceptable, 
as those transitory things, that are really of 
no earthly use. Then what is the use of giv¬ 
ing presents to rich folks at all? They are 
able to buy whatever they wuut ; and ten to 
one, If you do not have to go without some¬ 
thing you really need, because you spent all 
your change in buying for those better oil' 
than you are. Scut your Christmas cards! 
Yes 1 know, and you have got lots of them. 
Aud what good do they do you f They are got 
up just to make money on. 1 know they look 
pretty enough, but 1 should rather have one 
good nice book, then a peck measure full of 
fringed Christmas cards. 
“Clear behind the times!” Well, I shall keep 
behind for one while. But I have got some 
common sense left, I guess. 1 was in at 
Esquire Jackson’s the other day, and they 
were cleaning house, and Mrs. Jackson came 
out of her bedroom with a whole bunch of 
hair receivers, shaving cases and toilet covers 
and dumped them into the stove, saying that 
was the quickest way to get rid of such rule 
bish. 1 thought, what lots of time was wasted 
in making them that might, have been turned 
to better advantage, not to say anything of 
the waste of material. A pair of mittens or 
some baby socks would not have taken any 
more worsted, and would have been of some 
benefit to somebody. There are lots of poor 
children that suffer with cold toes and fingers 
that would be thunkful to have something 
warm to keep them comfortable. But Christ 
mas gifts are not given to please the Christ- 
child. No, there is too much self taken into 
consideration, and if one gives a present this 
year, they will probably got something in re¬ 
turn next, Christmas. I know all about it. I 
have not been i lind or deaf for almost 70 
years. I have studied human nature and read 
humanity like a book. Nobody can cheat me 
much. No, 1 am not going to scold, I am 
only telling you the truth. If you are able to 
rnuko a present, and wish to give a friend 
something for a keep-uke, Christmas is a good 
time to do it; but for goodness sake! Give 
something that isof use or value, and that can 
be kept without being considered as rubbish. 
But I should not go without comforts myself 
for the sake of making a handsome present to 
some rich man’s daughter. 
Charity begins at home, you remember; 
but if some person is poor or sick. I believe in 
helping them, even if you do have to deny 
yourself a little for the sake of doing it. 
Now, 1 know my notions are old fashioned, 
but I really think 1 am right, aud I have a 
perfect right to my opinion, for this is the 
land of the brave and the free. 
GRANDMOTHER. 
THE VALUE OK LAUGHTER. 
I.AUoirvEit! 'tls the poor man's planter, 
CoverliiK up each saU disaster, 
I.auKhltiK, be forgets his troubles, 
Which, though real, seom but bubbles. 
Laughter! whether loud or mute, 
Tells the human from the brute; 
Laughter! 'tin hope's living voice, 
binding mi to multc a choice; 
And to cull from ttiorny bowers, 
Leaving thorns and tuklug flowers. 
A SOCIAL SKETCH. 
I had gone through seeding, breaking, and 
ull the labor incident to the season iu a new 
country without a single holiday, and us it 
was now the beginning of July, 1 thought I 
would rest my team and myself for a day urid 
take a turn round among some of my neigh¬ 
bors. I must explain that 1 was “baching it.” 
and, therefore, in a condition all the more likely 
to appreciate the society of women, and so 
made my first vi-.it to the house of a married 
couple. Nothing could exceed the warmth of 
my welcome and the desire to make my visit 
as enjoyable as possible; nor was I inclined to 
be the least ceremonious, or in any way to t.i eat 
lightly their good natured hospitality. I wait¬ 
ed over diunor and talked about everybody 
and everything local, as is the custom; but 
the thought would assert itsel f, there was some 
thing twixfc man and wife that did not agree 
with uiy idea of conjugal bliss. Were you to 
ask mo what, it was 1 could scarcely define it. 
The good man is as tine a type of a gentleman 
and a farmer ns there is iu the Territory; gen¬ 
erous, helpful, and active in every good work, 
but he seems to lack the power of unbending 
and tbe ability to make himself in sympathy 
with bis wife. His idea of life is controlled 
more by duty than by love, and domestic 
affairs regulated more by the mind than the 
heart. She, poor woman, was what might be 
called thoroughly under control; performed 
ull her duties in a methodical way, and her 
speech was rather matter-of fact, and the man¬ 
ner of it very apologetic. She rarely smiled, 
aud if she did so it. was quickly repressed, as if 
she had committed an indiscretion iu the pre 
senceof her lord and master. Their only child, 
a little girl of about six summers, seemed the 
only connecting link. She was as gay a little 
romp as 1 have seen for many a day, with 
rosy cheeks aud a sparkliug eye. Her talk, 
too, was quite interesting; but as a hanuon- 
izer between father and mother, she was a 
failure When I left them I thought 1 had 
had enough of visiting for the day, uud went 
hern® to my shanty rather disappointed with 
my day’s outing. 1 thought that, after all, 
single blessedness had much iu its favor, and 
that,, like Hamlet, it were better to “bear 
those ills we have than fly to others that wo 
know not of.” A mouth or so afterwards 1 
again went to that house, this time on business. 
The husband was away, so the lady did the 
honors, and uever was 1 so much surprised at 
anything as tbe change in her. The face that 
previously had an indifferent, cold expression, 
was now animated and intelligent. The 
small, dark eyes sparkled brilliantly, and a 
smile, womanly and fascinating, took posses¬ 
sion of her race, 1 could imagine wbat 1 now 
saw was the light of other days, aud could not 
help feeling somewhat sad that such a genial 
soul, and such a buoyant, happy nature should 
be so sternly repressed. And yet the husband 
is ns good and true a man as you can meet; 
but there is no doubt be lacks something. 
That something, I think, is the waut of sym¬ 
pathy und a true appreciation of a woman’s 
love, which will not bear to be looked at or 
treated harshly, but must have sympathy and 
a tender love iu return. How near this 
couple were to true happiness was quite ap 
parent; they had all the elements in them¬ 
selves, but the little that was wanting was 
sufficient to tiring them under tin- description 
of “married not mated.” t. macalpine. 
Would You have Thought It? 
Domestic Cconomi) 
CONDUCTED BY EMILY MAPLE. 
PITHS. 
How much of your life has been wasted 
iu beginning work which you have uever 
finished? 
Small tables with the tops heart-shaped are 
fashionable. 
When boiling rice don’t stir it, but shake 
it. This insures the grain being whole. 
One’s work becomes drudgery only when 
bis heart is not in it, that is, if he enjoys good 
health. 
You will find tender meat always fine- 
graiued and without thick strips of sinew or 
gristle running through it. 
Square table covers are now put ou with 
the pointed corners at the sides of the table 
instead of at the logs. 
Don’t allow children to drink tea or cof¬ 
fee; no, not even when it la two-thirds milk 
and water. If they crave something warm 
to drink, give them a cup of hot milk. 
In our opinion a sirloin steak when it is cut 
into the flat bone, is superior in tenderness 
and juiciness to a porterhouse. 
Red or Canary-colored silk lamp shades, are 
just now in request. 
Have a pair of white woolen mittens to put 
on when hanging up clothes iu cold weather. 
It takes bat little time to cut them out and 
ruu them together on the machine and they 
will be found very comfortable when the 
thermometer is below freezing. Make them 
with long wrists and fasten them to the sleeves 
with shield pin*. 
Truthfulness is a virtue that never stands 
alone. 
Some men take better care of their horses 
than they do of their wives. 
KITCHEN TALKS. 
ANNIE L. JACK. 
The rain came down in torrents, aud some 
ostrich plumes were very sad-lookitig, and wet 
when our hats were taken off. Tbe Amateur 
Cook hud a bright lire of coals, and after tak¬ 
ing the feathers from the hats she just dipped 
them into warm water and then placed them 
on u towel to partially dry, then held them 
over the fire, shaking them all the time. 
When partially dry. they were curled better 
by drawing the fibers through the fingers, 
and a small ivory crochet needle holder, and 
came out a* good as new. “Nothing like 
taking things In time,” suid the energetic 
renovator. 
As I looked over the clothes this morning 
for the washing, it seemed to me that they 
were getting dingy—the inclement, weather 
being against proper drying. I think we use 
too much blue, and 1 intend after this to use 
pure indigo, and to dissolve it in a little soft 
water and then bottle. Lot it stand and add 
more water according to your judgment. 
Clothes should not have more blue than 
enough to take oil' the yellow tinge and make 
them the color of uowlv fallen snow. There 
are so many good soaps, and machines nowa¬ 
days, that washing is robbed of its terrors, 
though in my case I can never get the woman 
who comes in by tbe day, to use tbe machine 
or wringer of her own free will. She always 
prefers the old-fashioned wooden washboard, 
and her own strong hands,iu spite of iny per¬ 
suasion. 
Wlmt a comfort flowers uro in the house! 
I go into some of my neighbors’ kitchens, 
and the familiar odor of hyacinths will greet 
PijscdUncoujs 
It is very annoy¬ 
ing when in the 
bath to drop the 
soap and have to 
feel for it. The 
Ivory Soap Jloats, 
and is without ex¬ 
ception the most 
luxurious Soap lor 
bathing, it lathers 
freely, and is easi¬ 
ly rinsed oil, leav¬ 
ing a sense at 
cleanliness and 
comfort attainable 
by no other means. 
