in i\)t gmitty. 
LETTERS FROM THE COUSINS. 
Deah Uncle Mark: It is but a short time 
since I wrote to you, but here goes another 
letter just the same, for I feel like storming a 
regular blizzard when I read Mrs. Fisher’s 
writings in regard to hired help. Of course, 
some will say that I am nothing but a school¬ 
girl, but I expect to have to work out yet for 
a living. All of us farmers cannot afford to 
have a tenant house. And we have had a 
good many hired men and none of them that 
we were ashamed of either, and they were 
welcome to make their home here, for some 
of them had none to go to. Then how would 
it sound when Saturday night came if we 
should tell them that we did not want to see 
them again till Monday morning? If they 
are good enough to do our dirty work they 
srfVely are good enough to eat at our table 
and lodge with us and they need not make up 
their own beds in the morning either. They 
might better be at the barn feeding the horses 
or milking the cows or plowing. The idea of 
a man that works out by the day and has to 
get up early to go to his day’s work, stopping 
to make his bed before he went! I would like 
to step into the different farm houses after the 
men had made their beds. I imagine they 
would make a good picture for a comic al¬ 
manac; don’t you think so Uncle Mark? 
Mother says that farming has two sides; 
the bright side and the dark, and we can make 
it dark or bright just as we feel about it. 
The farmer’s wife to be successful must have 
a love for the business as well as her husband 
and she need not do all of the farm work 
either. Now, Uncle Mark, I want to know if 
you think it is a disgrace for a girl to know 
how to harness her own horse and milk the 
cows if necessary. Is she any the less a lady? 
Please tell me, and is not the girl that can 
help her mother in the kitchen just as tony 
as the girl that sits with her feet on the fen¬ 
der, and does fancy work, never thinking of 
the steps that she could save her poor, tired 
mother? Now, Uncle Mark, I want to hear 
from some of the rest of the cousins about 
this. LENA BENNETT. 
Schuyler Co., N. Y. 
[Well, now, that is a stormy letter, isn’t it? 
School girls have just as much right to give 
their opinions in the Rural as the President 
of the United States has. Uncle Mark has 
worked out as a hired man himself. He al¬ 
ways lived with the family and never thought 
he hurt them any by being one of the family. 
The people always made him feel at home. 
If he worked on a large farm where many 
bauds were employed he would rather live in 
a separate house, but if he worked alone he 
would rather work where he could be 
one of the family. I think every man 
ought to know how to make up a 
bed, sew on buttons and patch clothes. 
It won’t hurt them at all to know and it may 
save them lots of trouble some day. Your 
mother is just right about our making our 
lives bright or dark as we choose. I have al¬ 
ways thought that most of the bitterness and 
spite and unhappiness "in this world were all 
humbug. We all have our troubles, no doubt, 
but broodiug and grumbling all the time is a 
poor way to get rid of them. 1 never had any 
trouble in finding a bright side in farm life, 
and I know others can find it if they care to 
do so. I can hardly make words strong 
enough to state what I think of the girl who 
will sit down in a comfortable chair and let 
her mother work for her. Shame on her, I 
say!— uncle mark.] 
Dear .Uncle Mark: We had nice 
weather for a while, but the last few days 
have been very disagreeable. I killed a fox, 
for which I received the bounty of three dol¬ 
lars, and I saw another one, but could not get 
it. I got several rabbits this winter. I have 
never written before. I will answer Harry 
Hayes’s question about catching hawks. Put 
a pole into the ground so that it will be about 
15 feet high on more; put a steel trap on top 
of the pole, and fasten the chain to the pole. 
1 have never tried it, for there are not many 
Hawks here>' It is not necessary to put bait 
on it, for it is their habit to light on some¬ 
thing high. A farmer’s daughter wants a 
recipe for chocolate candy. I will write my 
sister’s recipe. Two cups of sugar, one tea¬ 
spoonful of corn starch, one tablespoonful of 
butter, one-half cup of cream or water, one 
square of grated chocolate. Boil rapidly un¬ 
til it will harden in water or snow. 
Kankakee Co., Ill. aubrey mortimer. 
[That trap will work pretty well, and so will 
a board with sharp spikes driven into it. 
Hawks are pretty wise, though, and it is hard 
to catch them. I am inclined to think that 
candy will be good.— u. m,] 
Dear Uncle Mark; I live in Nebraska. 
I am (i}4 years old. I have three brothers. 
Dan is five years old, Roy is three and baby 
George is almost 10 months old. We have a 
calendar, so we can tell the dates and our 
ages. It is cold to-day, but no snow. 
Your Nephew, 
Strong, Neb. frank le fever. 
Dear Uncle Mark: I have never written 
to you before, but I have read the letters in 
your kind paper and would like to become one 
of the Cousins. We live on a farm in Chit¬ 
tenden County, Vermont. We have 11 cows 
and three horses. We live near a hill where 
we slide. I am 10 years old. I have four sis¬ 
ters and one brother. I do chores, saw wood, 
rake hay, ride horse to cultivate, and slide 
down hill when I get a chance. My father 
has taken the Rural for a number of years 
and likes it very much. 
Your Nephew, Stanley b. tuttle. 
[I guess sliding down hill is the pleasantest 
chore, but the others do most good.—u. m.] 
Dear Uncle Mark: I have not written to 
you for over a year, as I am not much of a 
hand to write letters Our school closed three 
weeks ago last Friday. 1 live half a mile from 
the school-house, and part of the time I had 
to wade through snow-drifts waist deep, and I 
am five feet tall. But I went every day for three 
months and a half. About the coldest weather 
we have had here was this morning (Feb. 9), 
when it was 18 degrees below zero at eight 
o’clock. The snow here is two feet and a half 
deep. We have seven bound volumes of the 
Rural, and we are taking the eighth volume; 
my eldest brother takes it. Your niece, 
Charlevoix, Mich. julia e. newman. 
Health and Strength 
If you feel tired, weak, worn out, or run down from 
hard -work, by impoverished condition of the blood 
or low state of the System, you should take Hood’s 
Sarsaparilla. The peculiar toning, purifying, and vi¬ 
talizing qualities of this successful medicine are soon 
felt throughout the entire system, expelling disease, 
and giving quick, healthy action to every organ. It 
tones the stomach, creates an appetite, and rous s the 
liver and kidneys. Thousands testify that Hood’s 
Sarsaparilla “makes the weak strong.” 
Hood’s Sarsaparilla- 
“I have taken not quite a bottle of Hood’s Sarsapa¬ 
rilla, and must say it is one of the best medicines for 
giving an appetite, purifying the blood, and regulat 
ing the digtstive organs, that I ever heard of. It did 
me a great deal of good.” Mrs. N. A. Stanley, Cana- 
stota, N. Y. 
“I ha/1 salt rheum on my left arm three years, suf¬ 
fering terribly. I took Hood’s Sarsaj arilla, and the 
salt rheum, has entirely disappeared.” H. M. Mills, 
71 French Street, Lowell, Mass. 
Makes the Weak Strong 
“Feeling languid and dizzy, having no appetite and 
no ambition to work, I took Hood’s Sarsaparilla, with 
the best results. As a health invigorator and for gen¬ 
eral debility I think it superior to anything else.” A. 
A. Rikkr, Utica, N. Y. 
Hood’s Sarsaparilla 
Sold by all druggists. §1; six for $5. Prepared only 
by C. I. HOOD & CO., Apothecaries, Lowell, Mass. 
I OO Doses One Dollar 
IN 30 DAYS’ TRIAL. 
-THIS NEW 
I ELASTIC TRUSS 
1 Has a Pad different from all 
others, is cup shape, with Self- 
adjusting Bail in center,adapts 
itself to all positions of the 
body while the ball in the cup 
f presses back, the intes- 
- - -v tines just as a person 
es with the finger. With light pressure the Her¬ 
ds held securely day and night, and a radical cure 
ta-in. It is easy, durable and cheap. Sent by mail Cir- 
ars free. KGULESTON' TRUSS CO., Chicago, III. 
COLS 
FliKK. 
Live at home and make more money working for us than 
I nt anything else m the world. Kither sex. Costly outfit 
Terms FKKE. Address, TKUK & Co., Augusta, Maine. 
CQ 7S STEAM COOKER 
FREE ! “©a 
W ewant an active and intelligent mac 
or woman to represent ub in each town 
To those who are willing to work we 
S romise large profits. Cooker and 
utfit free. Apply at once for Terms 
WILMOT ( ASTLE A 0O.. Rorh .t.r N v 
e STUDY. Book-keeping, Business 
Iwl E. Forms,Penmanship,Arithmetic,Short¬ 
hand, etc., thoroughly taught by MAIL. Circulars free. 
BltY A NT & STRATTON’S. Bullulo, N. Y. 
AGENTS HERB 
and farmers with no experience make gi‘3.50 an 
hour during spare time. J.V. Kenyon, Glens Falls, 
N. Y., made SIS one day, $7(1.50 one week. 
So can you. Proofs and catnlogne free. 
J. K. Suki'akd & Co., Cincinnati,Q, 
HELP 
Samples free. 
WANTED. $25 a week and expen¬ 
ses paid. Steadv work. New goods. 
J. F. HILL &CO., August Me. 
MUSIC 
SELF 
TAUCHT. 
RICE’S SELF-TEACII- 
TEM. All can learn music 
PROF. ... 
ING 8Y8TEJ- _ 
without the aid of a teacher. Rapid, 
correct. Established twelve years. 
Notes, chords, accompaniments, thor¬ 
ough bass laws, e-c. Ten I,e»Bon» 10c. Circulars 
free. Q. $. RICE MUSIO OO^ S tate Street, CHICAGO. 
65 
A MONTH AND BOA KD for 3 Bright 
You up Men or Undies in each county 
P.W. /-I EliliER) Philadelphia, Pa, 
Blighted Prospects 
are largely the result of improvidence and lack 
of enterprise. Those who look out for the good 
chances, get on: such people are fast learning 
that they can live at home and make 81 and 
upwards per hour at work for us, in our new 
line of splendid business. All who take hold 
are started free by us. All ages. Both sexes. 
Anyone can do this pleasant, easy work. Those 
who are ambitious and enterprising will write 
at once and learn all; no harm will be done if 
you do unwisely conclude not to go to work. 
All is free. Address Stinson & Co., Portland, 
Maine. 
$85 SOLID GOLD WATCH FREE! 
This splendid* solid gold, huntinpr-case watch, is now sold for 
$85; at that price it is the best harprain in America; until lately 
it could not be purchased for less than §100. We have both la¬ 
dies’ and gents’ sizes with works and cases of equal value. 
ONE PERSON in each locality can secure one of these 
elegant watches absolutely E It E E. These watches may bo 
depended on, not only as solid gold, but as standing among the 
most perfect, correct and reliable timekeepers in the world. You 
ask how is this wonderful offer possible? We answer—we want 
one person in each locality to keep in their homes, and show to 
those who call, a complete line of our valuable and very useful 
Household Samples; these samples, as well ns the watch, 
we send ABSOLUTELY FREE, and after you have kept them in 
your home for 2 months, and shown them to those who may 
have called, they become entirely your own property; it is pos¬ 
sible to make this great offer, sending the Moli<l Ool<l 
Watch and large line of valuable samples Free, for the 
reason that the showing of the samples in any locality, always 
results in a large trade for us; after our samples have been in a 
locality for a month or two, we usually get from $1,000 to 
$5,000 in trade from the surrounding country. Those who write 
to us at once will receive a great benefit for scarcely any work 
and trouble. This, the most remarkable and liberal offer ever 
known, is made in order that our valuable Household Samples 
may be placed nt once where they can be seen, all over Ameri¬ 
ca ; reader, it will be hardly any trouble for you to show them to 
those who may call at your home, and your reward will be most 
satisfactory. A postal card, on which to write us, costs but 1. 
rent, and if, after you know all, you do not care to go further, 
why no harm is done. Hut if you <lo send your address at 
once, you can secure, free, an Elegant #H5, Solid Gold, 
Hunting-Case Watch and our large, complete lineof valu¬ 
able Household Samples. We pay all express freight, etc. 
Address, Stinson’& CO., Jiox 252 Portland, Maine. 
lira! ©srtatr. 
SA NET INTEREST As 
« k GUARANTEED BY THE K * 
JARVIS-CONKLINO 
MORTGAGE TRU*T CO., 
KANSAS CITY, MO. 
Capital Paid-up.$1,000,000 
Surplus. 100,000 
Reserve Liability. 1,OO»,0OO 
Debentures secured by first mortgages on improve! 
real estate held by the Mercantile Trust Co., New York. 
Call at office or write for particulars. 
.1 nrvis-Conklin Mortgage Trunt Co., 
239 Broadway, New York City. 
Unnnv f L Good Land, near the sea, cheap. 
OUBII.y OU U LI1 • Fine climate, excellent markets 
Circulars free. E. C. Lindsay &. Co,, Norfolk,Va. 
Protect Your Hens- and save valuable eggs by 
using Grundy’s Safety Nest. No animal or fowl can 
disturb a hen on this nest. Hen closes and opens it. 
Costs 9 cts. Easy to make. Description free. 
FRED GRUNDY, Morrisonville, Ills. 
JERSEY KF.I), I’OI.AMMTIIMA, 
C'hesler White, Berkshire A York¬ 
shire Pigs. Southdown, (otswold 
and Oxford Down Sheepand Lamb* 
Colley Shepherd Dogs and 
Fancy Poultry. Send for Catalogs* 
.ATLKK BCBPKE A CO.Phlla.Fta 
consequent STERILITY. 
Habitual slinkers cured by using 1 bottle of Haboriri. 
For Cows or Mares it has never failed. Delivered at your 
expres3oflfice for $2 Wallace Barnes,Box fcOl,Bristol,Ct. 
FA RMERS! Address W A. Burr. West Falls, N. Y. 
Eggs from Sagamore slrainWyandottes,second to none. 
PATENT AUTOMATIC HEN’S NEST. 
Does away with all trouble in Poultry Yard. Address 
for circular, E. Schumacher, West View, Pa. 
IIALSTED’S DUPLEX CENTENNIAL 
I N C U BATORS, 
First, Foremost, Best. 50 Egg Machine, only $20. 
Centennial M’I’g Co,, Box 250. Rye. N. Y. 
EGGSZEHATCHING 
2( Varieties of Land and Water Fowls, 
Price List free. New prices. No catalogue. 
J l unnir iar,Tsm:TH men st, 
. L> IVIUulV, columbus, ohio- 
THOROUGHBRED !’!’ ,:,T,! '- 
Jeese, and Turkeys, 
___ Bred for Health, Meat acd 
Eggs. Standard Birds. For prices of Eggs and 
Birds, address DR. IL BURR, POCASSET. MASS. 
from the best strains. 
BLATCHFORD’S 
CALF MEAL 
Is strongly indorsed by hundreds of Testimonials 
from Agricultural Experiment Stations and Farmers 
and Breeders throughout the country. 
As a perfect substitute for miik, for rearing calves 
and young stock, until able to eat grain. 
As an excellent preventive for scouring, being much 
used for this purpose with most satisfactory results. 
It is largely used by the most prominent breeders. 
BLITCHI'OKD’S 
ROM STOCK FOOD CATTLE CAKE, 
on 
EXTRA OIL CAKE. 
Exceptionally rich, and highly recommended for 
feeding stock. 
Most valuable at this season of the year. 
For further information send for “Pamphlet on 
Feeding,” issued and mailed free by 
E. W. BLATCHFORD & CO., CHICAGO, III. 
MARYLAND FARMS. Book and Map FREE. 
C. E- SHANAHAN, Attorney, EASTUN, MD. 
SOO.OOOTIMBER 
LANDS! 
In Northern Wisconsin, 
Will be sold at #5.00 sin acre, on lonnr time, to 
Actual Settler**, itich soil—healthful climate— 
good drinking water—line market facilities— steady 
demand for labor at good wages. Purchase now and 
have choice of lands. Full information with maps, 
pamphlet, etc., furnished FREE Address 
LAND COM M r SSI ON HI*. 
All Wanting Farms. 
Good land for Fruit, Grapes. Peaches, Vegetablfs, 
Poultry, Grain and Tobacco; 30 miles South of Phila 
delphla, on a line with Baltimore. Md. Best of Mar¬ 
kets, Mild Climate, Healthy, no Malaria. Wild Land. 
$25 per acre. Town Lots, *150. Easy terms. Also Im¬ 
proved Farms. Prosperous business place. Better 
than the cold Northwest. For circulars, etc., address 
V. K. LANDIS, Proprietor, Vineland. N. Y. 
FARMS FOR SALE. 
The Equitable Trust Co. offers for sale ajarge num¬ 
ber of Improved and Urimproveo Farms in Iowa, 
Missouri, Indiana and Illinois. These farms were 
acquired under mortgage forclosure, ami will be sold 
at low valuation, on easy terms, in tracts from 40 to 
1,000 acres Address, stating number of acres, kind of 
land, and what State wanted. 
G. W. KENDALL, W. Mang’r. 
71 WASHINGTON ST , CHICAGO, ILL. 
and poultry. 
Ohio Improved Chesters 
Warranted cholera proof. 
Express prepaid. Wins 1st 
prizes in the States and For¬ 
eign Countries. 3 weighed 
3806 11»«. Send for descrip¬ 
tion and price of these fam¬ 
ous hogs, also fowls. Till: 
L. B. SILVER CO., Cleicl&nd, O. 
Send for facts, and mention Rural New-Yorker. 
BAUCH’S PURE RAW BONE MEAL. Abo 
$25 
PHOSPHATE -ym 
Send for Prices, Samples and :ill Information. 
BACG1I «fc SONS CO « Mfrs., Phl adeli i.ln. 
Orders for LIVE QUAIL filled promptly. 
Apply to B F. D WIGGINS. 
Shelbyville, Tenn. 
TI 
■ staivdah.!) 
GALVANIZED WIRE NETTING. 
Poultrv Fencing. 
O 
re 
so 
■d 
re 
re 
ct 
a 
re 
Trade Mark. 
Only three-quarters of one cent per square foot for 2 
In. mesh. No 19 Wire Hatchers Brooders. Tarred 
Pap r. Drinking Fountains. Feed Trays. Ground 
Bone. Beef Scraps. Oyster Shells Incubator Sup¬ 
plies. Everything for the Poultry Yard, fcend two 
ceut stamp for Catalogues. Address 
BROCK NEK & EVANS. 
28 Vesey St., N. Y. City. 
Mention the Rural New Yorker. 
POULTRY NETTING 
VERY CHEAP, 
AT 
WM. CABBLE 
EXCELSIOR WIRE M’F’G CO., 
43 Fulton Street, New York City. 
General Advertising 1 Rates of 
THE RURAL NEW - YORKER. 
34 PARK ROW, NEW YORK. 
DiaCC.nnnUIMPOW L8&EGGS. Send 2c. 
DUir UUwlllll stamp for beautiful illustra¬ 
ted circular. T. F. McGREW, Jr., Springfield. O. 
to $8 a day. Samples worth $1.50, FREE. Lines 
not under the horse’s feet. Write Brewster 
Safety Rein Holder Co., HoUv. Mush. 
A NEW BETTER PRESERVATIVE. 
KELLOGG’S 
ROYAL SALT. 
POSITIVELY PREVENTS BITTER 
FROM EVER BECOMING RANCID. 
Endorsed by the Leading Agricultural Papers and 
Dairymen throughout the United States. Send for 
Circular. 
BUTTER PRESERVATIVE SALT CO., 
Office and Factory: 
Foot of West Eleventh Street. New York City.N.Y. 
HARTFORD 
WIRE WORKS. 
Hartford, Conn. 
MANUFACTURERS OF 
POULTRY NETTING. 
Send stamp for Price List be 
fore buying elsewhere. 
The following rates are invariable. All are there¬ 
fore respectfully informed that any correspondence 
with a view to obtaining different terms will prove 
futile. 
Ordinary Advertisements, per agate line (this 
sized type, 14 lines to the Inch).30 cents. 
One thousand Hues or more,within one year. 
from date of first Insertion, per agate line, 25 “ 
Yearly orders occupying 14 or more lines 
agate space.25 “ 
Preferred positions.25 per cent, extra. 
Reading Notices, ending with “Adv.,” per 
line, minion leaded. .75 cent*. 
Terms of Subscription. 
The subscription price of the Rural New Yorker Is: 
Single copy, per year...$2.00 
“ “ Six months... MO 
Great Britain. Ireland, Australia and 
Germany, per year, post-paid. $3.04 (12». 6d.) 
France. 8.04 (161* fr.) 
French Colonies. 4.03 (291* fr.) 
Agents will he supplied with canvassing outfit on 
application. _ 
Entered at the Post-office at New York City, N. T, 
as seoond olass mall matter. 
