40 
JAN § 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
ever look like that? She was quite certain it 
didn’t look that way now. 
A door opened and steps came into the next 
room. She knew it was mother, for she heard 
baby fretting in a sleepy way, and the low, 
soothing mother-voice hushing him as she 
laid him in his cradle. Not her own mother— 
she had gone to the better land many years 
ago, and this one had come to Nell when she 
was an unreasonable little girl of twelve years i 
—a wise loving woman, whom Nell reverenced 
and dearly loved. Two little boys had fol¬ 
lowed mother into the room. Nell could hear 
their mingled voices clamoring for many 
things, after the manner of children, and 
baby kept up his fretful cry. 
“Those dreadful boys! If they would only 
go out baby would go to sleep,” Nell said to 
herself. Must she go out there? It was so 
peaceful in here. 
She looked over at Grandma. The dear old 
lady was looking anxiously at her. Grandpa’s 
eyes were on the floor. He was lost in thought, 
but she seemed to hear his tones again, “She 
is such a comfort, our little girl.” Nell slipped 
quietly out of the door, and the next moment 
Grandma heard her say, “Let me rock baby, 
mamma, you are tired, and the boys want 
you.” She also heard the mother’s “Thank 
you, dear,” and then the tramp of many feet 
out of the room, and all was quiet save 
Nellie’s voice in cradle lullaby to the little 
one. 
Grandpa heard it; it roused him from his 
reverie, “Who is singing, mother?” he asked. 
“Nellie,” she softly answered—“to the baby.” 
“Oh? yes,” he said “I think I must have 
been dreaming, her voice is so like her 
mother’s” Grandma had noticed it too; old 
memories came back to them both, and they 
sat silent. A loud peal of the door bell made 
them both start. Nell heard it, too, and it 
roused even baby, just crossing the border 
into dreamland. Nellie settled him back on 
the pillow, singing softly the while. Mamma 
herself answered the bell, smiling pleasantly 
on the tall youug fellow standing there, who 
eagerly asked was Nellie home. Mamma said 
she was. “Well: Mrs. Bi*own, Annie is going 
with Tom Wright over to Uncle Jo’s. They 
are going to have a little company, to-night. 
We just heard of it, and I thought, perhaps, 
(hesitating a little, and stammering over his 
words,) Nellie would like to go with me, It’s 
splendid sleighing, and not so very cold. May 
she go, Mrs Brown?” 
No mother, much less this good stepmother, 
could have refused the request made in this 
frank boyish way, and he followed Mrs. 
Brown into the cosy sitting-room, where 
leaving him, she went to Nell who, waiting 
with glowing cheeks and sparkling eyes 
whispered softly (not to waken baby) “Oh! 
mamma; how good! I heard you say I might 
go.” 
It took but little time for Nell, with moth¬ 
er’s help, to put herself in party trim. Then 
warmly wrapped from the cold, she was lifted 
into the sleigh, and tucked around with the 
robes. The two aged people, attracted by the 
sleigh bells, and vo ices outside, had gone to 
the window. Grandma’s face wore a bright 
smile, but Grandpa looked perplexed. 
“Where are they going, mother? ” he said 
“this cold right, and it’s almost dark, too.” 
“Oh: only for a little ride, dear, I suppose,” 
the dear old lady answered, adding briskly, 
“they are young people, you know, not old 
folks like you and I.” 
“On, yes,” said Grandpa, “I see. Well, let 
them go, but” with an anxious look after the 
retreating sleigh, “it seems to me its pretty 
dark for children to be out.” 
Grandma did not answer. She went con- 
contentedly back to her rocking-chair. 
Grandpa soon followed, and the two old peo¬ 
ple sat together in the double twilight, that 
of their lives, and that of the New Year's eve. 
a farmer’s sister. 
WHAT THE GRANGERS DID TO HELP 
AN AGRICULTURAL COUNTY FAIR. 
A great deal of uncertainty was felt and 
evinced by the President and managers of the 
Chautauqua Co., Agricultural Society during 
the latter part of the summer of ’88 in regard 
to the financial outlook for the coming fair at 
Jamestown. In the first place, the nature of 
the grounds was such that nothing like “rac¬ 
ing”, or even a trial of horse speed could take 
place. Marvin Park, although furnished 
with some of the best buildings in the State 
for an agricultural exposition, with its Floral, 
Mechanic, Dairy and Poultry Halls, and its 
half mile or more of sheds for the accomda- 
tion of stock, is adjacent to the outlet of 
Chautauqua Lake, and, within the memory of 
many who are not the “oldest inhabitants”, it 
was a vast swamp, This piece of land has 
been so far reclaimed as to make it admirably 
adapted for all the uses of au agricultural 
fair, except the yery, (pieFtjQflftWfl one of 
horse trots,” which the loose and spongy na¬ 
ture of the soil forbids. It is thought that 
probably the whole tract is underlaid with 
water at no great depth, as fast driving 
causes the ground to shake and vibrate for a 
great distance around the vehicle. This con¬ 
sideration, together with the fact that the 
fair which was held the first week in Septenr 
ber would lap on to the International Ex¬ 
position at Buffalo—only 70 miles distant— 
which would probably draw a great many of 
the fine cattle and horses for which Chau¬ 
tauqua Co. is noted, caused apprehension in the 
minds of the officers of society, 
Chautauqua Co. is one of the strongholds 
of the Grange, there being 17 thriving organi¬ 
zations within its limits, numbering thousands 
of members. The President, Vice-President 
and several of the directors are members of 
Union Grange No. 244, which has its place of 
meeting in Jamestown, and is nearly 400 
strong, being the largest grange in the State. 
The question was several times asked at its 
sessions, “What can the granges—what can 
Union Grange do for the fair?” It was finally 
decided that the Agricultural Society should 
offer three prizes, of $50, $30, and 20, for the 
three best exhibits on wheels made by granges 
in the county. From this competition, how¬ 
ever, Union Grange was to be excluded on 
account of its superiority in numbers and its 
proximity, which would render the contest 
unequal should it be allowed to compete. 
Again arose the question, “What can Union 
Grange do individually to help the fair ?” 
At last a lucky thought entered the head of 
one, which, on being voiced, found ready 
acceptance with the majority, to the effect 
that the Grange should make a free exhibition 
of whatever its members might choose to 
bring of the products of field, garden, orchard 
and home. The inner angle of Mechanic’s 
Hall was the place chosen for the exhibit of 
Union Grange. A space about 10 feet in 
width was partitioned off from the hall by 
upright posts on which were hung and fes¬ 
tooned elegant draperies with wreathings of 
various grains tastefully arranged, for, as one 
expressed it, “Evergreens which are so gener¬ 
ally used for decorations are the free gift of 
the Creator and are common to every one 
who may choose to gather them, but fruit, 
grain and flowers come by labor and are the 
emblems of our industry,” so these three 
products were chiefly used as being most 
appropriate. On the cut-off corner of the 
outer angle between the draperies was sus¬ 
pended a round shield, three feet in diameter, 
covered with wheat heads sewn flat on its 
face, with the words “Union Grange” in large 
letters arranged in the form of the segment of 
a larger circle made of everlasting flowers, and 
below this “No. 244.” Around the shield was 
a fringe of oat heads, adding grace and 
beauty. Tne walls in the rear were covered 
with mahogany-colored cloth, forming a 
charming back-ground for the display of pic¬ 
tures and household work. On one side of 
the angle was a miniature representation of 
Chautauqua Lake, on a table 10 feet in length, 
with Lakewood, or the Saratoga of Chau¬ 
tauqua, in the back-ground. The shores of 
the lake were formed of sand and pebbles 
covered with moss, while in front ran, at 
short intervals, a miniature train of cars 
loaded with produce, representing the C. L. 
Railway. The cars passed behind a screen at 
the back, and at either end of the table was 
a huge pyramid which was turned by the 
same power which propelled the train. One 
pyramid was covered with flowers and the 
other with fruit both fresh and canned. Back 
of this table, in letters 22 inches long, was the 
word “Fraternity,” the motto of the grangers, 
made by stringing kernels of corn on wire. This 
involved a great deal of work, but the effect 
was unique and altogether in keeping. Then 
there were fine oil paintings and crayons 
executed by the farmers’ daughters which 
vied with anything seen in Floral Hall 
furnished by the city ladies, and specimens of 
needle work, silk patchwork, crochet, tidies, 
etc., such as fair-going people are familiar 
with, all the very best and finest which the 
wives and daughters in so many happy homes 
could produce. A beautiful floral shaft which 
might well hav9 been the pride of a profes¬ 
sional florist was the admiration of all be¬ 
holders. Quadrangular in shape, it grace¬ 
fully rose from the pedestal some two feet or 
more, tapering gently and ending in a point 
at the top. Two of the sides were covered 
closely with white flowers, with letters in 
scarlet geraniums makiug the words “Faith,” 
“Hope,” while the other two sides, which were 
covered with green, bore the words “Charity,” 
“Fraternity” in white. On the opposite side 
of the hall were specimen products of the 
garden, field and orchard. The city papers 
and no doubt most of their readers pro. 
nounced this exhibit of Union Grange, which 
was made without auy entries for premiums 
and without cost to the Agricultural Society, 
fhe most attractive display eyer seen at a 
Chautauqua County fair. The third day of 
the fair came the “Grange wagons”, five 
in number, from as many different 
granges, tastefully decorated and loaded with 
samples of everything fine to the taste, and 
pleasant to the eye, which the Creator grants 
to reward the faithful labors of the husband¬ 
man. These were displayed in the most ad¬ 
vantageous manner according to the various 
tastes of those who had a hand in their con¬ 
struction. Each wagon carried also many 
articles of skill and taste fashioned by the 
ready fingers of the wives and daughters who 
lent their aid, fabrics which a half century 
ago would have been the marvel of an artisan. 
The advent of the “grangers”, had been well 
advertised, and consequently the crowd which 
came to witness this new feature at an agri¬ 
cultural fair was immense, the gate fees were 
increased accordingly, the fair was a financial 
success, and the officers were made happy. 
CHAUTAUQUA. 
GOLDEN GRAINS. 
How true It Is no spoken words can Rive 
Form to the best of thoughts which In us live! 
—Samuel Burnham. 
Dr. Clarke says a blind or deaf man has 
infinitely more reason to deny the being, or 
the possibility of the being, of light or sounds, 
than an atheist can have to deny or doubt the 
existence of God. 
Sir Wm. Temple truly says that company 
are to be avoided that are good for nothing; 
those to be sought and frequented that excel 
in some quality or other. 
How important, then, that we have friends! 
How important that we have good and pure 
friends! An impure hand stains the soul on 
which it is laid. Many a character carries a 
blot through life which an hour's companion¬ 
ship left on it. Many a life-web is marred 
and spoiled by the threads which unworthy 
and defiling friendships weave into it through 
the years. But the friendship of the pure and 
noble purifies, ennobles, adorns, beautifies 
and exalts. 
Oliver Wendell Homes describes old 
age in the following exquisite lines: 
“Youth longs and manhood strives, but age re¬ 
in embers— 
Sits by the raked up ashes of the past; 
Spreads Its thin hands above the whitening embers 
That warm its creeping life-blood till the last.” 
“This day our daily bread,” says the Con¬ 
tributor, has in it the great lesson of taking 
only to-day’s burden, instead of adding that 
of a day which may never come. W e may 
and must look ahead and make such plans 
and provisions as are within our reach, but 
in all cases, without worry and fear or 
anxiety. He who feeds sparrows is sure not 
to overlook his children. 
That is not wise molding of childhood 
which aims at brilliancy rather than sterling 
worth. Character, pure, symmetrical and 
sincere; attainments, solid, practical and well 
in hand, these scale the rising hights of suc¬ 
cess, and shine out over the sometimes rough 
and sometims dark sea of life with an evenness 
and intensity that no mere outward show and 
glitter can rival. 
Sir Arthur Helps says with respect to the 
kind of persons to be trusted, it may be ob¬ 
served that grave, proud men are very good 
confidants. Secrecy is very much a matter of 
habit; and it may be expected that those who 
have ever had to conduct any business in 
which secrecy was essential will acquire a 
habit of reserve for all occasions... 
To the country parsons whose lives are 
made miserable by the flood of doubt and 
uncertainty which is apparently sweeping 
over our country, the author of Robert Els- 
mere brings words of encouragement and 
consolation, and advises them to fear not; 
although the higher criticism will doubtless 
destroy much that they have learned to love. 
The historical and scientific method, when ap¬ 
plied to Christianity, may prove much that 
they hold dear to be no more than a beautiful 
myth. But a God of wisdom and goodness 
yet remains. They can still believe in a 
Power not ourselves which makes for right¬ 
eousness, and in a religion whose cornerstone 
is the Divine brotherhood of man. 
Domestic Ccoixotmj 
CONDUCTED BY MRS. AGNES E. M. CARMAN. 
“7/ all dainty fingers their duties 
might choose, 
Who would wash up the dishes 
and polish the shoes." 
1889! 
“Gone with Its hopes, its joys and Its fears— 
Gone with Its griefs. Its sorrows and tears— 
One more link In the chain of years— 
Another year has gone!’’ 
ANew Year! What has t instore for 
us? Will it be a year of joy and prosperity, 
or will it be a year of grief and disaster? 
These questions force themselves upon us as 
the old year goes out and the new one is about 
to dawn. The young and gay look forward to 
“New Year’s” as a day of festivity, but to 
the older the memory of the past years is sure 
to bring sadness with it. How many of us 
who had a happy, unbroken home-circle last 
year, will find a vacant chair at tne fireside, 
a loved voice stilled forever, an empty place 
in the heart that nothing can fill! And when 
the Now Year comes, all the sadness of the 
dying year rushes over us afresh. But even 
in our sadness comes the thought that the 
dawn of each year brings us nearer that great 
New Year, when the cares of this life are 
ended. 
What good resolutions we start out with! 
We say we will be more careful and more 
frugal in the year that is just opening; that 
we will keep a watch on our tongues and 
tempers; that we will do, oh! so many won¬ 
derful things in the year that is to come. 
But how long do we keep these resolutions? 
Not long, many of us, I fear. But we can, if 
we will. If we form a good resolution, let us 
keep up to it each day, and if we do this, we 
will.find ourselves victors at the close of the 
year. 
We all long to achieve some great, wonder¬ 
ful thing in life, and while waiting for the 
great thing to come, we neglect our every¬ 
day, common-place duties, because they are so 
common-place. But it is these very common¬ 
place, every-day things that build up the 
whole net-work of our lives. Do each duty 
each task as it presents itself, and when Death 
calls he wilfnot find us with hands filled with 
the threads of life, tangled and knotted, but 
will find us with our web woven to the best of 
our ability, ready to give the ends into some 
one’s else hands. 
Who will begin with this new year? Do 
not set yourself too many tasks, but pick out 
a few things that you know you ought to do 
and set to work at once. A good plan might 
be to make a little placard on which to write 
your new resolutions; frame it neatly and 
hang it on your wall where you will see it 
when you wake in the morning. This will 
remind you each day of the promise you 
made yourself when the year was young I 
mean to do this myself—who else will? 
DORA HARVEY VROOMAN. 
“ Your day will come , 
though it ai~rive but slowly ; 
There's cream in all life, set however 
lowly." 
A KITCHEN TALK. 
ANNIE L. JACK. 
It is a busy time for mince pies and plum 
puddings, for traditional good cheer seems to 
be a necessity with the young and gay crowd 
that form our circle. Christmas and New 
Year’s Day are really the children’s times for 
enjoyment and we older ones are to have our 
pleasure in seeing them happy. Given a 
large amount of bread crumbs and less suet 
a plum pudding is not at all indigestible, and 
even mince pies can be made with enough 
apples and fruit to render them harmless 
And when one has plenty of home-grown 
fruit, and can make candy at one’s own 
kitchen fire, it is a great pleasure to the little 
ones to “help.” 
The younger girls are just beginning to con 
the cook books that have been such a guide 
to the elders, and we watch them experiment 
with a scrt of sadness’amid our pleasure—the 
sadness of retrospection. 
Meanwhile the kitchen fire burns brightly 
and everything betokens good cheer. The 
housewife’s bugbear is waste, and it is quite 
an item to take care of the food that is pre¬ 
pared for this seasou. Mold and decay in 
various forms are likely to creep in, and we 
Piswnatteowiei 
When Baby was sick, wo gave her Castorio, 
When she was a Child, she cried for Castorla, 
When she became Miss, she olung to Castoria, 
When she hwl Children, she ^ave them Castoria 
