for i\)t 
POULTRY FARMING IN NEW YORK. 
Poultry fanning is not a common pastime 
in the city, and “Hen Flats” aie doubtless yet 
in their infancy. Indeed, it may be question¬ 
ed whether they ever will attain to a vigorous 
growth; and yet we kuow of a family of 
chickeus that live contentedly in one of these 
select structures, and that in the corner of a 
city yard. This “Flat” is built upon the most 
approved duplex plan, with living rooms be¬ 
low and sleeping apartments above. A room 
with a glass front enables the fowls to sun 
themselves m-doors in cold weather; while a 
yard or “run.” enclosed with wire netting, 
affords opportunity for them to exercise out 
of doors. The rhildren call this flat “the Gal- 
liua,” which the bright boys who read this 
paper will nnderstaud is th» Latin word for 
heu. It all came about from allowing tbe boys 
to bring borne a brood of pet chickens from 
the country last September; and these have 
gradually been increased until from six the 
brood has grown to number more than a 
dozen. There are a few Plymouth Rocks, two 
or three Houdaus, and, best of all, a trio of 
beautiful White Leghorns, recently obtained 
from a celebrated poultry farm in New Jersey. 
The finding of the first Leghorn egg suggested 
the following verses, in which the delight of 
the youthful poultry farmers is but faintly 
expressed. Tbe peculiar interpretation of the 
word Leghorn, as given by the youngest boy, 
is expressed in the tirst verse: 
THE LAY OK THE FIRST LEGHORN. 
O, beautkooB, rare, poetic egg ! 
Laid by our little Leghorn queen; 
The hen with “ liorn« upon her leg.” 
A dainty chick as e’er was seen. 
We noted late her solemn air 
As if on business thought Intent, 
Her nest prepared will; anxious care, 
Her hours In meditation spent. 
She meets with gruee and dignity 
This crisis iu the peace-fowl life, 
And to her sisters cackles see 
The joys of a domestic wife." 
The other fowls in corners crowd, 
Hen-peeked, crest-fallen, mortified; 
While Chautteleer crows long and loud, 
And struts tile yard with swelling pride. 
JOSEPHINE C. OOODALE. 
♦ » » - 
TILE STORY OF A DISTRICT SCHOOL. 
A COLLEGE BOY’S DIARY. 
(Continued.) 
1 ‘Give that calf more rope!” 
I recognized Jack Brawn’s voice; I could 
have told it in a moment. I started up, and 
dropped my singing book on the desk. I made 
up my mind, all in an instant, that I might 
just as well have it out at once. I was not iu 
the least afraid, as I had expected to be; 
somehow 1 felt that I had right on my side, 
ana couldn’t fail. The girls were frightened, 
or pretended to lie; 1 don’t think they really 
were. They gave a series of little screams, 
and ran off the platform. Most of them put 
their hands over their faces as though they 
wanted to shut the fight out : but I noticed 
that they kept their fingers wide apart, so that 
they could keep their eyes open. In the ex¬ 
citement of the moment l forgot my big stick, 
and marched down to the edge of the platform 
with nothing in my hands. The boys stood 
in a crowd by the door watching me eagerly. 
“Who said that!” I demanded. 
“I reckon l did,” said Jack Brawn, with a 
surly snarl, as he pushed his way out of the 
crowd towards me. “I reckon 1 did. AY hat 
ye gouter do about it?” 
Out of the corner of my eye I saw Mollie 
Brawn dancing up and down with joy at the 
thought of the beating she fully expected I 
would receive. 
1 think 1 know something of tbe wav prize 
fighters fee) when they stand up for the fight. 
1 must have felt r,hat way as Jack pushed his 
way up to me. I was not frightened, but 
there came a mean, cruel feeling over me, a-s 
I drew back rny hand and struck with all my 
force at Jack’s .face. There flashed through 
iny mind a remark old Johnson had let drop: 
“If ye ever hev any fight, jest git iu the fust 
lick; that’s half the battle.” 1 got in the “fust 
lick” iu that battle with a vengeance. 
The effect of my blow was so surprising 
that I could hardly realize for a moment what 
hud happened. Jack staggered back, and, iu 
trying to support himself, fell heavily against 
one of the front desks. His head struck 
against the corner as he fell. He lay motion¬ 
less on the floor. 
I must confess that 1 was so surprised at 
what l had done, that for a moment I could 
not stir. Tbe scholars did plenty of moving 
however. When the bully fell against the 
seat tbe back bone of the insurrection seemed 
to break. The boys seemed to regret that 
they had not called for a closer confinement 
of the “calf” instead of suggesting “more 
rope.” They scattered a way like a flock of 
sheep. Tin* larger ones tumbled over each 
other in their haste to get out at the door, 
while the smaller ones ran behind the desks. 
All seemed to think Mint it was only a ques¬ 
tion of time before I would knock them all 
into a state of insensibility. The gilds 
screamed and ran away as fast as they could. 
Mollie Brawn caught her hood and her great 
dinner pail and started on the run for 
home scattering doughnuts and pieces of pie 
all aloug the route. I had one earnest friend 
in little Johnny Billings. He fairly danced 
his satisfaction and snapped bis fingers until I 
thought one of them woukl come off. 
Jack Bmwu sat up and feebly rubbed his 
head as I reached his side. I think the scholars 
expected I would at ouce proceed to murder 
him. Several of the girls began to cry; and 
the large boys made haste to put the school- 
yard between us. They were all surprised 
when I held out my baud to help Jack to his 
feet. He seemed stunned by his fall. He put 
his hand to his head and stared at me vacantly 
as I asked him if he was badly hurt. Ho was 
whipped and he seemed to realize it. He 
walked to his seat, packed up his books, took 
his hat and slunk out at the door without a 
word. I was not sorry to see him go, and I 
must confess that I had no desire to call him 
back. His education was about complete. 
I rang tlie bell with an emphasis that startled 
the scholars. Tt was wonderful how greatly I 
had risen iu the estimation of my pupils. That 
one blow bad done more than a month of 
talking to give me a character. I had won by 
an accident,, for I knew very well that I never 
could have whipped tbe bully alone. The 
boys started for the door the moment they 
heard the bell. They never had been so 
prompt before. They carefully scraped the 
snow from their boots, and took oil' their hats 
as they entered the room. They even walked 
on their toes as they passed to their seats. 
The rough walls of the school-room looked 
down upon a scene of intense study that they 
had not noticed before in years. I even 
think I could have started to sing almost any 
song, without uny remarks from the school. 
I knew that ray victory had been a dishon¬ 
est one, but I would not have been human if I 
had not taken advantage of it. With all tbe 
importance of my new lease of power. 1 
rapped on the desk. The school was all at¬ 
tention iu an instant. There was a death-like 
silence as I informed the school that I proposed 
to enforce respect and order at all hazards, 
and that I should consider it my duty to treat 
all rebels as I had treated Jack. I doubt if 
any speaker ever delivered uu address that 
was listened to with more wrapt attention than 
was this little speech of mine. 
After school the pupils went home as quick¬ 
ly as possible to spread the news of the pro¬ 
posed spelling match and the light. I stayed 
behind to sweep out the school-house. As 1 
came to the door with mv broom, Johnny 
Billings came out from his favorite hiding 
place behind the wood pile. He jumped up 
and down, slapped his hands OH his sides and 
fairly crowed in his delight. 
“It done me good, teacher,” he said, “for 
ter see you down him, an’ 1 reckon I was glad 
fer ter help ye, too!” 
“ Why, what did you do, Johnny?” 1 asked. 
“ I reckon I run a stick betwixt his legs an’ 
helped throw him,” said he, gleefully. “Ye 
see, teacher, 1 was clos’t by an’ see him make 
fer yer. I reckoned he’d eat ye up 'cause he is 
powerful stunly-like. Ho I ketelied up a 
sorter cane like thet laid on the floor and 
sorter timed him. When. 1 see you bit out I 
run that stick betwixt his feet an’ gin it a 
twist. Like ’null' that’s what tlirowcd him. 
He bit his head ser hard agin the desk thet 
he’s fergot all about that stick. I reckon.” 
Before I could thank Johnny, or before be 
could say more. Mr. Mouser, the treasurer of 
Bear Creek, came tramping in. Johnny was 
cute enough to say as Mr. Mouser entered; 
‘Can’t l go now, teacher?” 
“Yes,” I answered, and my brave little 
comrade started for home on the run. He 
stopped every few rods to clap his hands and 
jump up and down. 
■ -- 
LETTERS FROM THE COUSINS. 
Dear Uncle Mark: Will you admit a lit¬ 
tle Southern girl to the Y. II. C. i 1 had sev¬ 
eral choice flowers grown from the Garden 
Treasures; one lovely verbena that I prize 
very much. Mamma asked Papa if he would 
take the Rural another year, and he replied 
he did not see how he could help it, you had 
such a polite way of making your readers sub¬ 
scribe. The morning of tbe sixt h we found 
everything covered with snow; it measured 
13 iuebes. This was something unusual with 
us. Papa is a farmer and a lover of fine stock, 
also fond of reading. We took 10 papers and 
magazines this year. I huve Mrs. Fisher’s 
face and biography iu my scrap-book, taken 
from your paper. Papa saves all bis papers, 
and only gave mo this leaf because we liked 
her writings. I will close by sending my love 
to you and Aunt-, if there is one; I hope 
there is. 
I am 10 years old to-day. I'hope this will 
escape tbe waste basket. 
Sincerely your niece, 
PAULINE MONTGOMERY. 
Cbildersburg. Ala. 
[There isn’t any Aunt-yet, but, of 
course, nobody knows what may happen some 
day. When such a person appears upon the 
scene you may be sure that I will convey your 
message. I am glad you like Mrs. Fisher. 
She has a good face.—u. M.] 
Dear Uncle Mark: Although we have 
taken the Rural for a long time, this is the 
first time that 1 Iirvc written to you, and now 
I would like to join your club, too. I am 11 
years old, and I aiu going to school every day. 
We have only one-half mile to go to school, 
and I am glnd we do not have such a time as 
they had in Bear CreeK. Every week when tbe 
Rural comes, we all try and see who can get 
it first so as to read the story. I have been 
t rapping rats and mice for Papa. He gives me 
one cent for every mouse and four cents for a 
rat. I caught five rats in one day. They had 
been stealing Mamma’s eggs. We could not 
find out where they went to for a long time. 
Papa and I went to two fairs this fall. Wo 
show d some stock ; grain, fruit and vegeta¬ 
bles. We had pretty good luck in getting 
prizes. One fair was the Northeastern, at 
Flint, and the other was the Midland County 
fair. There was no fair held at Saginaw. Our 
farm is about 10 miles from Saginaw and one 
mile from Midland. 
Yours respectfully. 
HENRY BEYTHAN, JR. 
Saginaw Co., Mich. 
[I aru glad to get your letter. I hope you 
will have good luck at catching rats. They 
are far better caught than at large. 1 hope 
you will make a good farmer some day. I 
have heard something about you before. It 
is a very queer story; it reads like a story in 
a book, but it is true. Over seven years ago, 
two young men went into the pine woods in 
Northern Michigan to work in a lumber camp 
through the winter. They were freshmen at 
college, without much besides their heads and 
hands to help themselves along They didn’t 
know much about ehopping wood. It was a 
mild winter, and when tbe snow began to 
melt they were about tbe first to lie dis¬ 
charged from tbe camp. They had no friends, 
to whom they could apply for help, within 
1,000 miles. There was no work to be had. 
There was nothing for them to do hut to walk 
down to the southern part, of the State, where 
work could be found. So they started, and a 
long, hard tramp it was. They had all kinds 
of weather. One day it rained bard, the next 
it froze solid and then the snow came. It was 
a long, weary, homesick tramp. They slept 
wherever they could find a place, and ate what 
they could earn as they went along. Saturday 
night they stopped at a large white house and 
asked fora chance to work for a night's lodg¬ 
ing. The man who lived there took them 
right in and made them feel at home as they 
had not done in many a day. They did not 
learn his name, for they went tramping on in 
the morning. They knew his iuitiuls were 
“H. B.,” for they saw these letters more than 
once. Years wont by. The young men found 
work at last and got through college. After 
a while, one of them came to work in the 
olfiee of the Rural. One day, in looking 
over some letters, he came to the name of 
Henry’s Papa, Somehow• it came over him 
all at once that he must be the man with 
whom ho stopped that night in Michigan, lie 
wrote at once to see about it, and sure enough 
it was so Both remembered all about the 
visit. Now isn't it funny how such things 
turn out? That young man asks me to tell 
this story, and I am glad to do it. I believe 
that Henry’s Papa is a good man, and 1 would 
like to see him myself. Perhaps he won’t find 
that all tramps find him out as this one did, 
hut still I am sure ho will always do what ho 
can to give all well behaved people a lift. 1 
wish him a Happy New Year with ull my 
heart.— uncle mark.] 
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- r - KINU’S IMPROVED 
HAY CARRIER. 
Warranted to give satisfaction- Send 
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1 Big discount for early orders. 
4 JACOB KKII.EU, Box 814, Murlon, O. 
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Trial Sample by 
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