THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
£ 0 T tf)t: 
TALKS BY UNCLE MARK. 
There have been 2,001 numbers of the Ru¬ 
ral issued. That is quite a curious thought, 
isn’t it? Think of being old enough to look 
back 40 years and remember old faces and 
scenes How times have changed since then! 
This number of the Rural will seem to many 
of the fathers and mothers like a birthday. 
1 remember a little quotation that seems to me 
appropriate: 
A birthday In youth is a wonderful thing. 
How eager we wait it in life’s verdant spring! 
Hut when we grow older we find that the day 
Has dropped all its fun as the years sped away. 
The day is a mirror; our faces we scan 
To see how the wrinkles have cut boyhood’s tan.” 
When you get older you will see why it is 
that birthdays and holidays make the older 
folks thoughtful and silent. I can’t explain it. 
You will have to learn as others have learned. 
One point to remember is that 40 years hence, 
when the 4,000th number of the Rural is is¬ 
sued, you boys and girls will be the men and 
women, able to look back and see things from 
behind. 
Will 1928 show as great an advancement 
over our present conditions as we can now 
show over 1848? That is a question I often ask 
myself. Nobody can answer it. Some peo¬ 
ple are very gloomy about the future of this 
country. They think the Anarchists, the So¬ 
cialists and other bloodthirsty fellows are go¬ 
ing to ruin us. They think we live too fast, 
and don’t stop to think what we are doing and 
where we are going. For myself, I must say 
that I feel pleasanter over the prospect. Dur¬ 
ing the past week I have been looking over a 
good many files of old papers, and I can’t find 
a time for 75 years back when there was not 
this same growl about the future, and this 
same dismal prophesy of failure. Now I look 
around me and see lots of happiness, lots of 
things to be thankful for, and I am bound to 
believe that Americans are just as good, just 
as honest, and true, and patriotic as they ever 
were. These Anarchist fellows are doing a 
good share of the howling, but for every one 
such there are a dozen sound, strong and hon¬ 
est people, who work faithfully and silently, 
but are all ready for a crisis at any time. The 
sober workers rule this country. It always 
has been so, and it always will be. We have 
plenty of such folks still, and all of our boys 
and girls are going to add to the number. So 
I don’t feel afraid for our country, so long as 
our boys and girls stare right. 
Every person who aims to help this country 
has got to recognize one very important fact: 
that is that the public has a right to demand 
a certain share of his time and thought. If a 
man lived on a desert island all aloqe he might 
afford to be very selfish and have no thought 
for the welfare of others. When he leaves 
his desert island, and goes to live where other 
people are he finds a different state of affairs. 
He can no longer stand off and say, “I’ll do 
just as I like, and if people don’t like it let 
them get out of the way.” In a free country 
like ours every man has a right to enjoy him¬ 
self as far as he is able, but he has got to stop 
when he interferes with the rights of others. 
Oftentimes there is a division of opinion as 
to what these “rights” are. After a while 
the majority of the people come to the con¬ 
clusion that certain things are right and other 
things are wrong. Then they make rules 
that must guide people in their actions. These 
are laws and all the people must obey them. 
Sometimes it is found that these rules will not 
work well; then the people change them. 
These public laws are not unlike the rules of 
a ball game in their workings. When a player 
bats a ball outside of third base it is a foul, 
and he can’t run on it. When it goes inside 
the base line it is fair, and he can run. One 
hit may be as hard as another, but the major¬ 
ity of ball players have decided that it is fair 
to all parties to make the foul line where it 
is. So our law-makers, the people, try to 
make laws that shall be fair to all parties. 
There never was a law made yet that did not 
call for some little concession and compromise 
from every citizen. Laws cut off a little of 
our personal liberty, but the little which each 
^ itizen throws in makes a great total of jus¬ 
tice and protection for the country. Now, 
then, the point to be learned from all this is 
that each citizen of a country is bound to obey 
the laws of that country, to know what those 
laws are, to take an interest in changing or 
modifying them, and to remember that no 
country under the sun can ever prosper until 
the people realize that great laws are made of 
liitle bits of self denial and patience contri¬ 
buted from all the people. You boys and girls 
that learn this fact before you are 21 will save 
yourselves a good deal of trouble. Don’t for¬ 
get that. 
I spoke of the advantage of being able to 
look back and see things from behind. It is 
like looking at the back of a house. When I 
was a boy there used to be a fine white house 
on a hill nearby. The front was always fine 
with clean paint, a good lawn and neat fences. 
From the road it gave an idea of respectabil¬ 
ity and thrift. When you saw the back of it 
you got another idea. The back yard was al¬ 
ways cluttered up, the paint was never fresh, 
there were wood piles, slop buckets and dirt 
all about it. On one side you got all the good 
qualities and on the other all the bad ones. If 
a man wanted to buy the place it would be 
pleasanter for him to buy it from the front, 
but it would be safer for him to buy it from 
the back. Isn’t there something to remember 
in this? Life looks to a child just as this house 
did from the front. Everything is bright and 
pleasant and cheerful because all is new and 
untried. Youth is a happy time, surely. 
When you can look at life from behind, as 
many old men can, you will see a different pic¬ 
ture. It is more like the back of that house. 
All the mistakes and bad moves are seen. 
Borne of them seem bad enough, too. If a 
man who can see into the back yard of his life 
could live that life over again, you can be 
pretty sure that he would make things differ¬ 
ent. Now then, you won’t see the back yard 
of life for many years; why talk about it? 
This is the reason. All of you have j 
friends who are older than you are. They 
love you and would be glad to have you go 
through life with a better back yard than they 
can show. You get impatient sometimes 
when they give you good sound advice based 
upon actual experience. You think you know 
more than they do! You don’t! What they 
say may not be very palatable, but in 99 
chances in 100 it will do you lots of good. 
LETTERS FROM THE COUSINS. 
Dear Uncle Mark and Cousins: What 
a little “tempest in a teapot” we are. But I 
quite agree with Cousin Emily and “Brownie,” 
if our help are not good enough for us to as¬ 
sociate with they are not good enough to 
work for us. I know Brownie and I would be 
“chums” if we were closer together. What a 
sweet little letter she writes. I think that I 
would rather be a good cook than anything. 
Papa and Mamma praise me a good deal, so I 
guess that is why I like to be a good cook. 
Now, Cousins, let me tell you how to make 
something appetizing for breakfast, and see if 
it doesn’t please Papa and the boys. Take 
some cold mashed potatoes, pour iu enough 
milk to make them quite soft, then stir in 
flour to make it stiff, beat up an egg, put in, 
add a little salt and sugar; make into little 
patties and fry in hot lard. Oh! girls, have 
you any papers or magazines or books that 
you would exchange for others? If so let me 
know through the Rural. Do you play cro¬ 
quet? I do, and love it. Did you have any 
sleigh-rides last winter, Uncle Mark? This is 
leap-year, remember, and if we have much 
snow this winter, we Cousins are liable to take 
you sleigh-riding quite often. Let mo tell you 
how to make boiled icing, Uncle Mark, so 
when eggs are scarce you cau still ice your 
cake. Take one teacupful of granulated 
sugar and five tablespoonfuis of milk, let boil 
five minutes; take from stove and beat until 
cool; if too stiff, add more milk. Uncle Mark 
don’t you think we should always be happy? 
Mamma always reproves me for singing and 
laughing around or iu the house, and some¬ 
times it seems to me that I couldn’t keep still 
to save me. Mamma don’t think it is ladylike, 
but I do; I love to sing and when I am at work 
I can hardly keep from it. Please give us 
your advice about it. Oh! girls, I had an old 
hat all worn out; but I needed it, so I took a 
piece of paper and put a crown in it, then cov¬ 
ered it with dark calico, and when finished it 
made a pretty picturesque hat. Won’t some 
one tell me how to make butter? 
HONOR BRIGHT. 
LI shall be all ready for the riding either iu 
sleighs or buggies. As for the singiug, that 
depends upon how well one cau sing. I no¬ 
tice that my singiug seldom makes people 
very happy so I try to let my good spirits flow 
out in some other way—U. M.] 
Dear Uncle Mark: I should like to join 
the Y. H. C. and be a Cousin. I have not 
written before. I write to you to let you 
know what kind of a country this is. The 
spring is very backward. There was a suow 
storm here April 30. Please do not let my 
letter be so unfortunate as to get iu the waste 
basket. Yours truly, eva slaght. 
Alcona Co., Michigan. 
Dear Uncle Mark: It is raining now. I 
think it is soaked deeper than it ever has been 
since we have been out here. My little brother 
was nine years old April 28, and we were go¬ 
ing to have a party, but it rained so that no 
one could come. We have 17 little calves and 
one colt. Our school was out two weeks ago 
last Friday. We had a gopd teacher this term 
and we all liked her. I like to go to school. We 
have an old mule that we call Jack. Sammy 
takes old Jack and goes after the cows every 
night. I don’t like to ride mules as well as I 
do horses. Uncle Mark if you will have your 
picture published in the Rural, I will send 
you mine. Your niece, ipa m. davidson. 
Parker, Colo. 
[I don’t think my picture is good enough to 
go into the Rural. —U. M.] 
Dear Uncle Mark: I have been reading 
the Cousins’ letters, and think they are very 
interesting. I would like to join the Youth’s 
Horticultural Club. My parents have been 
taking the Rural five years. We live on a 
farm, about five miles from town. We are 
seven in our family. I have one brother 
younger, and one sister older than myself. 
My grandmother makes her home with us. 
I think it is so nice to have a grandmother to 
live and be with us at all times. She will be 
68 years old this month. We have some of 
our garden made, and some onions, lettuce 
and radishes up. The cherry trees and straw¬ 
berry plants are beginning to blossom. We 
have had a very nice spring for farmers to put 
in the small grain. I hope you will print this, 
as it is my first letter to the Rural. If I see 
this in print, I will write again. 
Yours truly, alice walker. 
Iriquois Co., Ill. 
Hood’s Sarsaparilla 
This successful medicine is a carefully-prepared 
extract of the best remedies of the vegetable 
kingdom known to medical science as Alteratives, 
Blood Purifiers, Diuretics, and Tonics, such as 
Sarsaparilla, Yellow Dock, Stillingia, Dandelion, 
Juniper Berries, Mandrake, Wild Cherry Bark 
and other selected roots, barks and herbs. A 
medicine, like anything else, can be fairly judged 
only by its results. Wc point with satisfaction to 
the glorious record Hood’s Sarsaparilla has en¬ 
tered for itself upon the hearts of thousands of 
people who have personally indirectly been 
relieved of terrible suffering which all other 
remedies failed to reach. Sold by all druggists. 
$1; six for $5. Made only by C. I. HOOD & CO., 
Apothecaries, Lowell, Mass. 
IOO Doses One Dollar 
rj S-fUNYE’S 
n ational rake 
rpr» \r yrr i I and YOU • ■■ 
IK JL 111 1 WILL USE NO OTIIEK. 
J$S- ITS LEADING MERITS ARE 
That it will not scratch your ground. Needs no ad¬ 
justment, but will rake clean on all surfaces. Will 
not scatter at the ends. Will form a windrow in 
heavy or green grass. Is easily held down while at 
work.# It has the simplest, most durable, as well 
as convenient dumping device of any rake in the field. 
BELCHER& TAYLOR AGR’L TOOL CO. 
BOX 75 , CHICOPEE FALLS, MASS. 
CHANNEL CAN CREAMERY. 
Slakes the most Butter, liaises all the Cream 
without ice. We furnish Churns. Butter- 
Workers and all kinds of Dairy and 
Creamery Goods, first order at whole¬ 
sale. Agents Wanted. Scud for circulars. 
WOT. E. LINCOLN CO., 
Warreu, Mass., aud Ft. Atkinson, Wis. 
DEDERICK’S HAY PRESSES. 
, „ e te ,e the customer 
/jfK keeping the oue 
*91 
Order on trial, address for circular and location of 
Western and Southern Storehouses and Agents. 
P. K. DEDERICK &. CO., Albany, N. Y. 
If your dealer does not keep the "MACOMBER II AND, 
CORN aud BEAN PLANTER,” send $2 aud get one. 
Money refunded, if it does not suit. 
8. 1VI. MACOMBER, Adams, Vt. 
Best 
Steel 
q Wire 
iH 
N 
iWOVEN WIRE FENCING 
Wire Rope Selvage 
80c. to $2 per rod. 
All sizes aud widths. Sold by us or any dealer in this line of 
goods. FREIGHT I’AIH. Information free. 
Write The McMULLEN woven wire FENCE CO. 
No. Market and Ontario Sts.. Chicago, P l 
PEERLESS DYES 
Arc the BElST. 
Sold by Druggists. 
WEBSTER 
^EBSTEfi^T' A 
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3000 more Words and nearly 2000 more Illustra¬ 
tions than any other American Dictionary. 
WEBSTER IS THE STANDARD 
Authority in the Gov’t Printing Office, and with 
the U. S. Supreme Court. It is recommended 
by the State Sup’ts of Schools in 36 States, and 
by leading College Pres’ts of U. S. and Canada. 
It is an invaluable companion in every School 
and at every Fireside. 
Sold by all Booksellers. Pamphlet free. 
G. & C. MERRIAM & CO., Pub’rs, Springfield, Mass. 
ami ^oultivj. 
STANDARD 
GALVANIZED WIRE NETTING. 
For Poultry Fencing. 
i 3-4 OF ONE CENT FOR 2 INCH MESH NO. 19 WIRF. 
EVERYTHING FOR THE POULTRY YARD. 
Illalchers and Brooder*. 
'Send for circular BROPKNER & EVANS, 
28 VESEY STREET, N. Y. CITY. 
THE BEST CATTLE FASTENING! 
SMITH’S 
SELF-ADJUSTING SWING STANCHION, 
The only Practical Swing Stanchion Invented. Thou¬ 
sands in use. Illustrated Circular free. Manufactured 
by F. G. PARSONS & Co.. Addison. Steuben Co. N. Y. 
CALF Wcaners and bucking Cow Muz- 
Circular. 
zles. The best in the world. Send for 
II. C, RIUE, Farmington, Conn. 
o 
EH 
ft 
EH Ph 
Ph 
P 
25 
Warranted to put horses and cattle in 
good condition when all other means fail. 
IT ERADICATES all HUMORS 
that may be in the animal, and produces 
a fine glossy coat. Guaranteed to free 
stock from worms. 
SURE CURE for MILK FEVER and 6AR6ET, 
SURE CURE FOR HOG CHOLERA. 
$100 will be paid for anything poisonous 
found in our food. If your feed dealer has 
not got it send for circulars and price list. 
VALLEYOMILL CO., Brattleboro, Vf. 
$5 
to a lay. Samples worth $1.50, FREE. Lines 
nor under the horse’s feet. Write Brewster 
Safety Hein Holder Co., llollv. Mian. 
Choice CHESTER WHITE PIGS from pre¬ 
mium registered stock, of all ages. Prices low. 
A. Darlington stroile, WEST CHESTER, PA. 
JKRKKY RED, POLAND.CHINA, 
Chester White, Berkshire A York¬ 
shire Pigs. Southdown, Cot—wold 
find Oxford Down Nheepand Lamb. 
Scotch Colley Shepherd Dog, and 
Fancy Poultry, Send for Catalog*. 
W'.ATJLEK BCKPKK A CO.FkUa.Ps, 
THOKOUGHBRED Geese, and Turkeys, 
from the best strains. Bred for Health, Meat aud 
Eggs, .standard Birds. For prices of Eggs and 
Birds, address I)R. B. BURR, POCASSET. MASS. 
Raise No More Wheat 
But make your money out of the Barn and Poultry 
Yard, as the Dairy. Poultry aud Doctor Book tells 
For five 2-ct stamps. (J. G. Hirner, Allentown. 1’a. 
Laval 
Hl^rss^juARS ^bEPARfATORS 
General Advertising- Rates of 
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aa sesond olass mall matter. _ , 
