1887 
84-3 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
thoughts by its brilliancy, a silent messenger 
to bid us remember and believe the methods 
of the Great Creator. 
Blessed Christmas tide! “Peace on earth 
and good will to men;" the message is as good 
to-day as it was 1887 years ago. Let us accept 
it and add our litt le gifts to the needy and our 
good wishes to the general festival, remember¬ 
ing that, it is “more blessed to give than to re¬ 
ceive,'' especially if the gift be an act of self- 
denial, which is the only true generosity. 
SUGGESTIONS FOR CHRISTMAS. 
ALICE BROWN. 
Those who do not make, but buy, their 
Christmas gifts, must show their loving 
thoughtfulness by their wisdom and nice judg¬ 
ment in selecting them. Christinas gifts 
ought to be worth a great deal more than 
their money value; it is the thought that some 
oue has noticed our need and filled it that 
glorifies the gift; or the gift may introduce 
some new pleasure unwished for, because un¬ 
known. “It seemed so good I wanted you to 
have it,"’ is love's prompting, whether the gift 
is insignificant or costly, 
The children in a family can, by uniting 
the sums they would each spend for the father 
and mother, buy some one thing more accept¬ 
able than the several little things each alone 
would buy. 
If pictures are appreciated in a family they 
will be a source of pleasure not only to the 
receiver but to all. But in choosing a picture 
for another it is important that his taste 
should be suited. If one has decided prefer¬ 
ences they are usually known to Ins friends. 
Good copies, engravings, or photographs of 
famous paiutings can be bought in any city, 
and in almost any size, ranging in prices from 
$1.50 to $'10 for pictures from nine by 12 up to 
25x18 inches in sizes. The plaiu oak frames, 
so much in use now, are less expensive than 
many other styles, for a picture nine by 12 
inches in such a frame costs about. $1. With 
larger pictures the frames must, be broader as 
well as larger, and so cost more in proportion. 
The pictures of Landseer, Rosa Bonbeur and 
Sir Joshua Reynolds alone, offer an attractive 
variety from which to chcosc. The “Angels’ 
Choir,” of the last-named artist, a group of 
five bright children’s faces, is familiar to 
many, and will brighten any room where it 
may hang. 
To be introduced to the writings of an in¬ 
spiring authoress is always a pleasure, and in 
giving books at Christmas time this pleasure 
may often be given with the book if the giver 
is one of those who makes friends of their 
books, and are thus prepared to introduce 
others to them. A book given with a warm 
word of praise for its contents will be read 
with twice the interest that would otherwise 
be given it. In some families the most ae- 
ceptible book would be the latest edition of a 
good unabridged dictionary, A year’s sub¬ 
scription to a good paper or magazine is a 
constant reminder of Christmas cheer, aud, 
like pictures aud books, gives pleusureto more 
than one. 
A housekeeper usually appreciates pretty 
china and glass of all kinds; the little pitchers 
with glass stoppers in their narrow mouths, 
that are used instead of vinegar bottles, are 
. a great convenience and cost from 50 cents to 
$1 apiece, and some of them are very orna¬ 
mental. 
Whole t®a-sets containing 50 pieces are of¬ 
fered as low as 83 in New York, and for less 
than $10 a very pretty gold-banded tea-set of 
the thill French china can be bought. Dinner 
sets contain from 180 to 150 pieces and cost 
from $15 up to 81,000. Any one whose life is 
that of au invalid will value dainty dishes 
from which to eat his or her solitary meals. 
A plate, cup and saucer, little butter dish, 
tiny sugar-bowl and cream pitcher, of delicate 
ware, and pretty patterns, need not be very 
costly and yet give great pleasure. Big dishes 
are unnecessary and very awkward m a sick¬ 
room. 
Handsome lamps make very cheerful pres¬ 
ents ; so do candlesticks of pretty patterns with 
a supply of colored caudles; such candles cost 
from three to 18 ceuts apiece, aud lamps range 
in price from 81 to 825 and higher. A collec¬ 
tion of flower seeds, that should lie started 
early, such as pansy, daisy, geranium and 
many biennials, would gladden the heart of 
any lover of flowers. Named varieties of 
these can be bought in packages costing from 
10 cents to 50 cents each, but a package of 
choice, mixed varieties will often give as great 
pleasure. 
There is, of course, au endless variety of 
things suitable for Christinas gifts, and yet 
few can choose from the whole of this great 
array. Their purses, the tastes or needs of 
their friends, or their opportunities for buy¬ 
ing, limit them to a very few things, aud yet 
1 think many persons add a lack of fore¬ 
thought and planning to these unavoidable 
limitations 
A HINT. 
The flavor of wild fowl is best preserved by 
putting pepper, salt aud butter into each bird, 
not bread dressing. The fowls should he served 
of a tine color and with rich brown gravy. To 
take away the fishy taste they sometimes have, 
baste at first with hot water in which an 
onion has been boiliDg, with a Little salt, or 
soak in salt and water all night. MRS. J. 
ONE WAY OF CLEANING A FLOOR; 
CURING HAMS. 
Having picked up an old magazine the other 
day the following paragraph caught my at¬ 
tention : “The right way, and indeed the only 
correct way, to clean a floor, is to move every 
movable thing out of the room, thus making 
the way clear: and then with plenty of 
hot suds in a tub, scrub the floor with a 
broom, taking care not to splash the walls; 
then with a mop gather up and wring out all 
the dirty water, wipe the floor dry and then 
go over it with clean hot water. Scrub well 
with the broom, wipe up with the mop and 
after that rinse with clean cold water and 
wipe up with the mop after it has been 
washed and made perfectly clean; that is the 
good old way our mothers scrubbed and 
mopped floors; and it is the only way to do it 
well.” 
I laid dowu the book with a—shall I say.— 
sigh of despair? I had just finished cleaning 
my kitchen floor and although 1 had not gone 
through more than a quarter of that process. 
I was already very tired. IVhat sort of a con¬ 
dition would I have found myself in had I 
been obliged to follow out such directions. 
I have often asked myself what part of wo¬ 
man's work can go undone without detriment 
to something or some one. Certainly such 
distressing nicety as that had better be slight¬ 
ly modified; for it certainly is a sin to waste 
one’s strength in such uncalled for ways. No 
wonder women grew up in ignorance, with no 
care for intellectual food, and with no knowl¬ 
edge of personal needs for developing healthy 
bodies and minds that might be living springs 
of wisdom. How could mothers with two nr 
three little ones to take care of spend so much 
time upon a floor two or three times a week; 
and because they do not, should they meet 
with reprimands from those who have little 
else to do than to wield the pen in criticising 
other people’s work ? 
“The girls wanted I should be sure and see 
you to-day and get your way of curing hams. 
M-never tires ot telling how sweet, juicy 
aud tender the breakfast ham was when she 
spent that winter with you.” said a friend dur¬ 
ing a call. So I gave her the recipe; and al¬ 
though I think I gave it to the Rcral readers 
some years ago, as it is butchering season I 
will give it again for the benefit of the new 
readers. 
Take equal quantities of saltpeter, sugar 
aud salt; thoroughly pulverize and mix to¬ 
gether. Have the hams and shoulders placed 
with the rind side down upon boards in the 
cellar or some cool place where they can be 
kept for a week or more. Rub the ends of 
the bones and fleshy surface with, the mixture, 
and let them be for a day or two, and then 
rub them agaiu with more of the powdered 
ingredients, and let them wait another day, 
when they require the last rubbing, with 
more of the saltpeter mixture. After this 
rubbing a good sprinkling of salt is put over 
the whole aud they are then left two or three 
wfeeks, or uutil it is desirable to smoke them, 
when they are well wrapped in brown paper 
and packed away for future use, excepting 
oue for the present occasion. 
Saltpeter in butter is as distasteful as the 
noxious herbage spoken of in a recent article 
by Mrs. W. C. G. A good 0 ) 80 }’ of our but' 
ter makers have lost their good name as 
butter makers by using saltpeter to destroy 
the taste of leeks, elders, etc. Such butter 
had l>est. be used at home, or sold to the baker 
as shortening. It certainly is a long way from 
first-class butter. may maple. 
CRYSTALLIZED ORANGE. 
Cut the fruit into rather thick slices, pick 
out the seeds, dip into the beaten white of egg 
and then in powdered sugar. Dry in a very 
cool oven on paper-lined plates. Nice to serve 
with nuts aud raisins. Mrs. e. b. 
MRS. BROWNING’S TRIED RECIPES. 
SNOW PUDDING. 
Soak half a box of gelatine in cold water for 
half an hour, then add one-half pint of boiling 
water. When cool stir in the well-beaten 
whites of three eggs, two cups of sugar, and 
juiee of two lemons. Boat all for half au hour 
or more, put into a mold to cool, turn into a 
glass dish and pour round it a boiled custard, 
maije with the yelks of the eggs, 
MAPLE SUGAR PIE. 
l)n« small cup of sugar, grated or [scraped, 
mix with two well beaten eggs, a little salt, 
and asmuch cream as your pie plate will hold. 
This requires an under crust only. 
APPLE HEDGE HOG. 
Two pounds of apples pared and sliced, one 
and a half pound of white sugar, one-half 
pint of water. Boil all together till quite 
thick, and keep stirring to prevent burning. 
Put into a mould, turn out when cold, stick 
all over it split almonds. Serve with whipped 
cream. 
MARMALADE PUDDING. 
Butter a tin mould, put some marmalade in 
the bottom and round the sides, then line the 
mould with bread and butter cut into strips, 
half fill with small hits of bread and butter 
put in loosely aud a little more marmalade. 
Beat up four eggs, mix with one pint of milk, 
oue large teaspoooful of sugar, and a little es¬ 
sence of vanilla. Pour into the mould, cover 
closely, steam for one and a half hour, serve 
with powdered sugar. Tnis is very good 
made with “Conserve of Lemon" in place of 
marmalade. 
MILANESE MACCARONI. 
Boil the maecaroni in plenty of water, well 
salted, till tender, drain and put in a pudding 
dish with alternate layers of grated cheese, 
pour in enough rich milk to cover it. let it 
stand for au hour or more, put some bits of 
butter on top, set the dish in a dripping-pan 
half full of boiling water, and bake in a mod¬ 
erate oven for half an hour. 
VERY LIGHT SUET PUDDING. 
Sift together three cups of flour, two large 
teaspoons of baking powder, one teaspoon of 
salt, and a little ground cloves and cinnamon. 
Add two cups of finely chopped suet, three- 
fourths cup of sirup or molasses, two well 
beaten eggs and enough milk to make rather 
a stiff pudding batter. Give it a good beat, 
pour into a buttered mould, steam for three 
hours and serve with sirup. 
GERMAN PUDDING. 
Three-fourths cup of sugar, one large spoon¬ 
ful of butter, mix as for cake, add two eggs 
well beaten, one cup of milk, flavoring to 
taste, and enough flour l into which some bak¬ 
ing powder has been sifted, to make an ordi¬ 
nary cake batter, beat up very light, pour 
into a buttered mould, bake in a quick oVen, 
turn out on a dish, sprinkle with a little sugar, 
serve with lemon sauce. A convenient recipe 
when one is pressed for time. 
CABBAGE SALAD. 
Three eggs well beaten, one tablespoonful 
of sugar, one tablespoonful butter, oue tea¬ 
spoon mustard mixed with one-half a small 
cup of good vinegar, salt and pepper, one pint 
finely cut cabbage. Melt the butter in a tin 
on the stove, mix the other ingredients to¬ 
gether aud put into the pan, when hot add the 
cabbage, keep stirring all the time till it comes 
to the boil. When it is done, put in a dish: 
when cold garnish with small green and yel¬ 
low celery tops. 
|U t.o r ell a n co u,$ §1 cl mtis tag; 
Never Despair 
Until you have tried what Ayer’s Pills 
can do for you. It is the Liver that 
renders your views of life so gloomy. 
Depend upon it, a box or two of Ayer’s 
purely vegetable, sugar-coated. Cathar¬ 
tic Pills would materially change your 
feelings, and still make 
Life Worth Living. 
Lucius Alexander, Marblehead, Mass., 
says : "l was severely afflicted with 
Dyspepsia aud Enlargement of the 
Liver, most of the time being unable to 
retain any solid food on my stomach. 
Three boxes of Ayer’s Pills cured me.” 
•• Ayer’s Pills are a sure cure for 
Liver Complaint. Nothing seemed to 
help me until I finally began to take 
Ayer’s Pills.”— E. $. Fulton, Hanover, 
N. H. 
Ayer’s IE 3 ills, 
Prepared by Pr. J. C. Ayer& Co., Lowell, Mass. 
Sold by all Druggists and Dealers in Medicine. 
NIX wlrt 
IK WWHI 
iDRIluUVE 
PURE MILK. 
WARREN 
MILK BOTTLES 
Patented March 23d, lb 8 li. 
Adapted for the Delivery 
f Milk In all Cl tie* 
anil Towns. 
A LONG-NEEDED WANT 
AT LAST SUPPLIED. 
A. V. YV HITKM AX, 
73 Murray St., SEW YOKE. 
GLEAN YOUR MILK. 
milk 
STRAINER 
made. Every Dairyman 
Lhould have civ _A i « E N TS 
BEST 
WANTED. Send, for 
circulars to mile manufacturer*. 
MOSELEY 4- hTUDDAKD 
M hi) uftu't'<•« (V. U Hiutuey, >’t. 
Wells.Richardson & Co’s 
Improved 
EXCELS 
1N STRENGTH 
PURITY 
BRIGHTNESS 
NEVER TURNS PANCID. 
Always gives a bright natural color, and will 
not color the Buttermilk. 
L seii by thousands of the best Creameries and 
Dairies. ! ’o not allow your dealer to convince you 
that some other kind isjiist as good. Tell him the 
BEST is what you want, and you must hare Wells, 
Richardson & Co‘s Improved’ Butter Color. 
Three sizes, 25 c. 50 c. $ 1 . 00 . For sale everywhere. 
WELLS, RICHARDSON & CO. 
BURLINGTON, VT. 
EPPS’S 
GRATEFUL-COMFORTING 
COCOA 
YV. L DOUGLAS 84 SHOE, the original 
and only hand-sewed welt S4 shoe in the 
world, equals custom made band-sewed 
shoes that cost trom S6 to 89. 
W. L. DOUGLAS 
$3 SHOE. 
The only 83 SEAMLESS 
Shoe in the world, with¬ 
out tacks or nails. 
Finest Calf, perfect flt.^y 
and warranted. ». v>n grtss, c 
Button and Lace, all c, ^ 
styles toe. As stylish Ah 
and durable as those 
costing tioil'.BoySj 
all wear the YV. 
L. DOUGLAS. 
S3 Shoe 
xzt\ pries 
_ »f«Q pel 0* ho*A*a of Shos.] 
YV. L. DOUGLAS 83.50 SHOE is unex¬ 
celled for hear. wear. If 1 ot sold by vaur dealer 
write YV. L.'DOUGLAS. Brockton, Mass. 
■The NORTH-STAR Washboard is made 
o( true scljii sh-et of zinc, produe- 
inz a Jvnib--faced board of the 
. greatest durability. The deep 
™ (Itltiogmakes,itho 1 d more wa-er 
r than any o'Her Niard. A hard¬ 
wood fr<oue. firmly held to- 
"g.Tiler with an 1 oil 1 bolt, se¬ 
cures strength. durability and 
‘economy. The objection raise ! 
against th s boa d ootnvs from 
drivers, who say ‘- 6111 '}' last too 
' long ” It your grocer refuses to 
•pmcu o thi ■ hnnni for you, write us. 
ON 30 DAY’S TRIAL. 
RUPTURE RETAINED AND CURED. 
We agree to retain any ease 
reducible or refund your mo¬ 
ney. also to cure any accept¬ 
ed case our Medicated-Soft’ 
Pad and Rupture Solution 
cures bad cases of direct and scrota) her¬ 
nia without knife or needle, Hydroee'e, 
Varicocele, and Sperraalorhea successfully 
treated, either at office or by corresrond- 
enee. For circulars, rules of measurement, and self- 
instruction, call ou or address 
SANITARIUM, i 719 F.awt MarUet * i treet, 
Indiauapolis, Indiana. 
JAPANESE AND CHINESE 
Fruit Tree®, Plants. Bulbs and Seeds, ft 
choice Lily Bulbs. §!; 3 rare Chrysanthe¬ 
mums, 91 ; 13 Mammoth Chestnuts, 30 ets. 
Free by mail. H. H. BERGER * Co.. 317 
Washington at , San Frauelsco.California. 
Catalogue free. 
.V/.H* PLUMS. 
TREES four tosix feet KELSEY. OGDEN. BOHTAN 
and PRUNCS SI MO NI. GRAFTS of above bv mail. 
Address WI LEY X CO., 
Cayuga Co. Cayuga, N. Y. 
Free Catalogue. 
HI I PI/CAP Rasp'y.''Johnston’s Sweet.” Supe- 
lll LI "A rior in sweetness and for market or evap- 
ULfl orating. S.JOHNSTON.Shortavilie,Ont.Co.N.Y 
PARKER’S GINGER TONIC 
The Best Cute for Coughs. Weak Langs, Asthma, Indi¬ 
gestion. Inward Pains. I vln»tisoon. Combining the most 
valuable medicines with Jamaica Ginger, it r»ens* cura¬ 
tive cower over disease unkcov i, to oilier remedies. 
Weak Lungs, Rheumatism. Female Weakness, and the 
distressing ills of the s. -vh. Liver Kidnevs and 
Bowels are dragging thousands to the glare who would 
recover l>" u health by the timely use cf Pap.kxr’s 
o in., tit I CMC. It is new tile and strength to the aged. 
DO©. at Druggists. Htscox & Co., l«3\vultamStreet, N.Y. 
HOME STUDY—ON THE FARM. 
The inventor's otvn system of Phonography: no teach¬ 
er needed: learners mutually aid each other. Instruc¬ 
tion book. cents. 1 Established, 1W8, Address 
PHONETIC DEPOT, Tyrone, Pa. 
CARDS 
paper. *1! fix % Sc 
U PuiuwSMm, 5iO V-r^A. HiJ.Um, 
St—e Vv cwy ,u.t -I 1,0 Eltu,t rated 
Home and youth, cuiii, ouo, 
A lvkuy month. 
Mk I 1.000 UVE AGENTS WANTra 
Mr! hwV at once, uur Agent s Outiii 
a beautiful SAT IN -LINED CASKET 
SlLYv^. IVY ARE, sent tree. Write .or it, 
A LI, I Nil i'll lily all. Y KB ro., VV alii me lb rd. Conn. 
OF 
