437 
small teacupfuls of water. You may not 
know that eggs are very quickly beaten light 
if water is added to them. Stir in the mixed 
flour and meal, and if the batter is not as stiff 
as ordinary corn-cake batter, add a little 
more meal. A teaspoonful of suit must be 
added to the eggs. For shortening use the 
essence of ham. This is only to be obtained 
from a roast ham, and one roasted in the par¬ 
ticular way of this old Auntie, which was 
such a good one that I will digress right here 
to tell you of it: Boil a ham until the skin 
can be quite easily taken off. After that 
place it in a rather slow oven; the fat that 
oozes from it is called “essence” and is the 
best shortening for any kind of corn-bread, or 
muflius. Use two tablespoonfuls of this 
melted aud stirred in at the last. 
It was Charlie who discovered, as I hinted 
before, that Welsh rarebit was an especially 
appetizing concomitant of pone. Every one 
knows how to make it, so I will ouly tell 
you that my supper,with the addition of sliced 
bam roasted.as above, canned fruit, and tea, 
was voted a great success. mhs. c. h. 
WHY HER HEALTH IB GOOD. 
I am always interested when the Rural 
girls talk about their brothers, especially good 
ones. I belonged to a family of old-fashioned 
size myself, and I remember with keen plea' 
sure how my three big brothers used to staud 
between myself and our sedate mother when 
she used to shake her head over my romping 
propensities. “ Let her run and jump, mo¬ 
ther,” they would say ; “that is what makes 
women worth having.” Accordingly I used 
to climb fences or trees as handily as a boy, 
and could run, when necessary, with the best. 
To be sure, I used to feel rather conscience- 
stricken when my mother, used to the quiet 
behavior of my two oldest sisters, would look 
grave and wish that I would bo more wo¬ 
manly l a girl of ten, who could hardly endure 
to have my clothes tight enough to touch me, 
as it seemed to take away my breath; but 
my admiring brothers encouraged my ac¬ 
tive habits. I believe that breathing 
the pure air of the country and gratifying a 
keen love of nature by constant association 
with her works, developed an endurance in 
my constitution, that has smce then carried 
me safely through years of care and steady 
hard work on a farm, and the rearing of a 
family of my own, and has left me with the 
spirit to enjoy life now as well as in those 
early days or better. Each returning spring 
gives me the same delight, in the early 
flowers and beautiful landscapes, which I en¬ 
joyed so much long years rgo. I have always 
felt as if there «as a special link between me 
and nature, else why should her charms give 
me such delight. BETSEY TROTWOOD. 
HOW TO MAKE A FERNERY. 
I was much interested in the talk on wild 
flowers in a late Rural. Our wild flowers 
are certainly very beautiful, and each little 
lass knows her own special favorite. (How I 
recall with what eager delight wo youngsters 
used to scour the meadows for the first crow¬ 
foot violet and blue-bell!) But, to my mind, 
there is nothing to compare to the fern, with its 
beautiful, feathery foliage. There are a great 
many varieties of this lovely plant, but as I’m 
not much of a botanist, I’m almost afraid to 
attempt to air my Latin names But it does 
not matter much, for all the little country 
boys and girls know the fern. 
At homo eac i one of us children had a cer¬ 
tain plot given us to make a garden. We could 
plant whatever we liked best, and take care of 
it just as we pleased. My especial delight was 
a rockery devoted to ferns and columbines. 
These plants abound in the woods, among the 
rocks, and along the streams, so all we had to 
do was to build the rockery and then go to the 
woods for them. They come up every season, 
and so, when you once establish a rockery of 
this kind, you will have it from yeur to year. 
But what 1 wanted to tell you was how we 
made a movable fernery. How fresh and 
pretty it was all through the winter! How it 
gave us a glimpse of the woods, aud cheered 
our hearts through the cold, dark, bleak days! 
First of all, we got (I suppose I should say 
procured) the very largest cheese-box we could 
find in the village; then wo made a visit to the 
woods, aud gathered a great basketful of bark, 
just us rough as wo could get it. We also 
burned up all the pretty lichens we could find 
on the old fences and rocks. While we girls 
were doing this, Ned filled his little wheel bar- 
iow full of rich, dark, woody earth. Then we 
started, home, well laden, looking like little 
tramps, or ‘ minties.” With the aid of lath- 
nails and a hammer we fastened the bark all 
over the outside of the cheese-box, placing it 
so that the grain would run up and down, as 
on the trees; next we tacked the lichens on to 
the bark. When this was done it looked as if 
we had a section of a great rouud tree, instead 
of a common little cheese-box, 
We next filled it with the earth that Ned 
had brought from the woods. This was the 
first day’s work. Next day we went to the 
woods again, this time for ferns. With trowel 
and knives we dug up a number of different 
varieties, being careful to take as much earth 
as possible, and also to get the plants ns small 
as we could. (If you have them small there is 
not so much danger of breaking them. If 
you take larger ones they are apt to wither in 
the moving and die off. Of course, if the root 
is all right this does not matter much, as 
they soon send out new fronds, but then you 
will have to wait for your fernery to look 
pretty.) 
We planted the ferns in the box, and also 
put in several “ Runaway Rob ” roots ; these 
latter soon spread all over the earth aud ran 
down the sides of the box, while the ferns 
sent out new shoots of fresh-green—some pale 
and shadowy, others deep and dark. 
The ferns may be fastened to the top of an 
old stump or any place that is most conven¬ 
ient when in the yard. We had an extra 
piano-stool, so took the cushion off and placed 
the box upon it. The stool had graceful, curv¬ 
ing legs, so was in keeping with the fernery. 
We watered the latter plentifully so as to 
keep it moist all the time, and the plants 
grew luxuriantly through the whole winter. 
In the spring we set it out in the garden. 
With a little addition of new bark and a few 
more bright lichens the n«xt fall, it was still 
bright and fresh for the coming winter. 
Tho pleasure it gave was well worth the 
little amount of labor it took to make it. 
A CHAT ABOUT WASHING. 
While visiting with some friends the 
other day, among other things usually dis¬ 
cussed by rural ladies was the business of 
washing, which must be done every week in 
all well-regulated families. 
Mrs. .Sydney rubbed her clothes through 
two waters, using plenty of soap before put¬ 
ting them into the boiler; after boiling 15 or 
20 minutes they were taken out aud rinsed in 
plenty of water. 
Mrs. Louie put her clothes into a tub of 
clean, cold water the night before she wanted 
to wash. The brown ones were rolled into a 
loose bundle anil tucked down ono side by 
the white ones, and all were left to souk over¬ 
night together. In the morning they were 
put through the wringer, and the white ones 
were put into the boiler of hot Suds, and boil¬ 
ed 15 or 20 minutes. Then they were taken 
out, and put into a tub of warm suds, and 
rubbed as they needed, which, in most cases, 
was very little. While these were being rub¬ 
bed, tho brown ones were in the boiler, and 
when they came out the blue calico dresses, 
aprons, and checked shirts, etc., were put in 
dry, and boiled for a few minutes. A good 
deal less rubbing was required than in tho old 
way, and when they came out of the rubbing 
tub they were rinsed, and those that needed 
it were starched, and they went on to the line 
looking clean, in less time than it used to take 
to rub them through one suds. 
“Well, now can you tell me how to do up 
my lace curtains*” said Mrs. Sidney. I replied 
that I could tell her how I used to do mine 
when I lived with my brother, forsince I have 
lived here, I’ve not had any experience with 
them. “After washing and drying, I starch¬ 
ed them in thick boiled starch that had been 
pretty well blued, and then spatted them be¬ 
tween my hands. You know what I mean— 
the old-fashioned way of clear-starching, til 
the starch is thoroughly and evenly worked 
into the lace and embroidery. Then I pinned 
them down on the parlor carpet, puttiug the 
pins an inch apart. Begin on the straight 
side and pin by a line or figure in the carpet 
so tho lace meshes will be true; then pin one 
end, then the other side, stretching to its na¬ 
tural width, then across the other end. It 
used to take about half an hour to one four 
yards long. I always left them till the next 
forenoon before taking up.” 
“But will not the carpot stain the lace?” in¬ 
quired Mrs. Sidney. 
“Not a bit, and I should not hesitate to pin 
down on a well swept rag carpet. I have 
tried tacking down sheets aud pinning the 
curtains to them; but they never looked near¬ 
ly as well. Even-old curtains that have begun 
to break look enough better to pay for the 
trouble of carpot-pinning. Hand wrought 
muslins should be handled the same way. 
They will then look as they do when pur¬ 
chased. 
The first washing done at “Forest Home,” 
after that visit, was done after Mrs. Louie’s 
direction. One would be surprised to see how 
much tho cold water soak and the wringer 
did towards cleansing tho soiled garments. 
And the rest of the work was indeed much 
easier. may maple. 
TWO BREAKFASL' DISHES. 
The Spuaish families of Sau Francisco have 
a way of poaching eggs that is very delicious. 
Heat an earthern dish over a moderate fire; 
Wells,Richardson & Co’s 
molt in it a good-sized piece of butter; add a 
small onion minced fine, salt and pepper, 
minced parsley, and a very little finely minced 
Chili pepper. Break the eggs one by one into 
the boiling butter, and turn them as soon as 
they are set, using great care not to break the 
yelks. Serve very hot in the same dish in 
which they were cooked. 
I don’t know what to call this dish, whose 
basis is mutton, but which contains so many 
ingredients. It is simply a hotch-potch, but 
it is very good. Mince a large onion very line, 
and fry with butter in a deep frying-pan until 
lightly browned; add three largo lettuces 
pulled in pieces, a pint bowlful of minced 
mutton, a cupful of boiling broth, and two of 
boiled peas. Season liberally, or rather taste¬ 
fully, and stir to prevent burning. When 
very hot, turn out on to a hot dish, and serve 
with points of toast around. a. g. 
WHY LAMPS EXPLODE. 
In almost every daily paper one may read 
one or more accounts of terrible accidents 
resulting from the explosion of kerosene lanq s, 
1 do not remember ever reading why such ex¬ 
plosions wore supposed to have occurred, and 
the natural inference is that the oil must have 
been below the standard. This, however, is 
not necessarily the case. Lamps that stand 
half filled for hours before being lighted aro 
dangerous. The oil vapor mingles with the 
air in the upper part of the lamps and forms 
an explosive mixture. The safe thing to do is 
to fill the lamps every day so that there may 
be no room in them for this explosive mixture. 
_ _ K. 
VALUE OF HOT MILK AS A STIMU¬ 
LANT. 
If the tired men, and women, too, who 
“brace up” on beer could only be induced to 
try hot milk they would never again return 
to such unwholesome stimulants. It must be 
heated as hot as it can be sipped, and although 
it will bo somewhat less acceptable to tho 
palate on account of the fact that when heat¬ 
ed it loses its sweetness, still the promptness 
with which its cordial influence will be felt 
will be appreciated by any ono willing to be 
convinced. Statistics prove that men and 
women who do not drink do more work and 
endure more hardships than those who use 
spirituous liquors. header. 
SHERBETS. 
CURRANT. 
One pint of currant juice, one pint of sugar, 
the juice of a lemon and a quart of water. 
Boil the water and sugar together for 20 min¬ 
utes, then add tho currant aud lemon juice. 
Cool and freeze in an ice-cream freezer. 
STRAWBERRY. 
One quart of strawberry juice, one quart of 
water, juice of two lemons, a pint and u gill 
of sugar. Boil sugar and water together 20 
minutes, add the juice of strawberry and 
joinon, cool and freeze. mrs. economy. 
iilisircUuneous 
fSTRENGTH 
EXCELS IN PURITY 
( BRIGHTNESS 
Always gives a bright natural color, never 
turns rancid. Will not color the Buttermilk. 
Used by thousands of the best Creameries and 
Dairies. Do not allow your dealer to convince you 
that some other kind is just as good. Tell him the 
BEST is what you want, and you must have Wells, 
Richardson & Co’s Improved Butter Color. 
Three sizes, 25c. 50c. $1.00. For sale everywhere. 
WELLS, RICHARDSON & CO. Burlington, Vt. 
(33 Colors.) DIAMOND DYES 
aro the purest, Cheap- 
- est. Strongest, and most 
Durable Dyes ever made. 
" v '~ One I ()<•. package will color 
1 to ‘1 pounds of Dross Goods, Garments,Yarns, Hags, 
etc. Unequalled for Feathers, Kibbnus. and all Fane;/ 
Dl/eing. Also Diamond Paints, for Gilding, Bronx. 
iiig, etc. Any color Dye or Paint, with full instructions 
anil sample card mailed for 10 cents. At all Druggists 
WELLS, RICHARDSON & CO., BURLINGTON, VT. 
FOLDING 
pANOPY 
w TOP. 
Just the thing for all styles 
and sizes of wagons. LIGHT, 
HANDSOME. Easily attached. 
Send for circular and prices 
of this and other oanopies. Local Ayents Wanted Flute 
where you saw this. 1). U. BEERS & CO. XCYY tOYTIl, (jt- 
J,o Soli 
our 
1 
AGENTS 
WANTED 
CAMPAIGN BIOGRAPHIES 
Will be first out. BEST, CIIKA PEST, and go 
like wildfire. Secure territory at once Adoress 
HUBBARD BROTH KBS. Philadelphia, 
Boston, or Chicago. 
EPPS’S 
GRATEFUL—COMFORTING 
COCOA 
UIPTnR STEAM 
Vlu I unEVAPORATOR 
The GREATEST INVENTION of the Age 
WILL DO 
lOHOURS 
WORK IN. 
40 Minutes 
Leaves 
in every 
FRUIT, BERRY 
andVEGETABLE 
the natural color 
and taste. ■ * 1 
Price, $6 to $10. AGENTS WANTED. 
A fortune in every territory. Don’t wait. Let us 
register your county at once. We send perfect 
working models and outfit for $2. $1500 to 
X:t500 can be made in each county this season. 
The Victor Steam Evaporator Co. Cincinnati,O. 
Your Life 
Is in danger while your blood is impure. 
Gross food, careless personal habits, and 
various exposures render miners, loggers, 
hunters, and most frontiersmen peculiarly 
subject to eruptive and other blood diseases. 
The best remedy is Ayer’s Sarsaparilla. A 
powerful alterative, this medicine cleanses 
the blood through the natural channels, and 
speedily effects a cure. 
Ayer’s Sarsaparilla, 
Prepared by Dr. .T. C. Ayer & (*o., Lowell, Mass. 
Price $1; six bottles, $o. Worth $5 a bottle. 
CHANNEL CAN CREAMER Y. 
Makes the most Butter. Raises all the Cream 
without ice. We furnish Churns. Butter- 
Workers and all kinds of Dairy and 
Creamery (iumls. hirst order at whole¬ 
sale. Aoents Wanted. Send for circulars. 
Witt. £1. LINCOLN GO., 
Warren, Mass., aud Ft. Atkinson, Wls. 
CARNATION PIN KS, tin? new beautiful paper 
flower. F,very kkkined lady crazy to make i hem. lull 
printed directions 10 cents. Flower all made anu direc¬ 
tions 50 cunts postpaid. C. F. LAO, Ablugton, Mass. 
PEERLESS DYES 
Aro the BEtsT. 
SoldbyDruwjsto, 
rnnm tnumt 
Upright and Horizontal, 
Stationary, 
Portable and Semi-Portabli 
8 to 1 6 Hotmo Power. 
Illustrated Pamphlet Free. Addre 
AMES LEFFEL 4, Cl 
SPRINGFIELD, OHIO, 
or 110 Liberty 8L, New Yoi 
Zinc Collar Pad. 
Over 3,000,000 of then-, 
have been used, 'l’he 
most reliable and dur¬ 
able I* A Hi for sore- 
neck horses or mules. 
Weather or wear lias 
no effect on their cura¬ 
tive properties. We 
solicit a trial. For sale 
by all saddlery jobbers. 
Ask your harness- 
maker for them and 
Insist on having the ZINC I*A I» and no other. 
ZINC COLLAK PA I> CO., ltifcliuniiii, M leh. 
VTr,K’R INSECT EXTERMINATOR 
1 lVJiV U g ure Death to all Insects. 
Water Bugs, Roaches, Flies, 
Mosquitoes, Cabbage Worms, 
Potato or Squash Bugs, Aphis, 
etc. Harmless to plants vege¬ 
tables or health. Invaluable 
In every household. Zinc Bellows for lions, use. con¬ 
servatories, etc., by mail, 25 ets. Larger size, tie ets. Exter¬ 
minator, by mail, per pound, without bellows, 60 ets. Large 
bellows for garden use, $1.25. 
JAMES VICK SEEDSMAN, 
ROCHESTER. N. Y. 
to HPNi a day. Samples worth $1.50, FRF.F., Lines 
not under tho horse’s feet. Write Brewster 
Kn.f«*tv Kein Holder Co.. Holly. Mi o/.. 
JERSEY KEI), I’Ol.t ND-III IN A, 
thfslrr White, Herlo.hire A York- 
tthlre Pigs. Southdown, Cot-wold 
and Oxford llown Sheep.nd limb. 
Colley Shepherd l>ogx and 
Faney Poultry. Send for Catalog-*. 
W.ATLKE Bl'KPBX k CO.Fhi' v ** 
SOLD I lit anything olso in tho world. Either sox. Costly outfit 
Terms YTiRg. A44re*!« Co.. August* Main* 
\ 
