THE RURAi NEW-YORKER. 
failing for t|t gatmg. 
UNCLE MARK PROPOSES THAT THE COUS¬ 
INS UNITE TO FORM A HOR¬ 
TICULTURAL CLUB. 
WHO WILL JOIN? 
Dear Girls and Ho vs: Xot long age Uncle 
True published ten questions lor you to answer 
and offered two prizes lor the two best answers. 
The readiness with which you responded to this 
proposal shows that you are wide-awake, and en¬ 
courages me to make you an offer also. It Is not 
to answer any questions, to solve any problems, or 
to perform any great feat of any kind. 1 simply 
propose that all of you who are fond of gardening 
and love flowers unite with me to form a Horticul¬ 
tural club. 
Many of you, I doubt not, have already little 
gardens all your own In which you raise such veg¬ 
etables and flowers as you are especially fond of. 
I well remember the little garden I hud when I 
was a small boy. It was a small plat of rich land, 
only about two rods square, in a comer or the large 
garden. This 1 fenced In with a hedge of currant, 
bushes, and in it 1 cultivated strawberries, rasp¬ 
berries, peas, carrots and a number of my favorite 
flowers, and even grafted aud budaed fruit trees, 
l found it a very healthy aud pleasant occupation, 
and acquired in the cultivation or this garden, a 
love for flowers and horticulture generally that 
has never since left me, but which has, on the con¬ 
trary, constantly grown stronger as the years have 
passed. 
1 venture to say that you will flud gardening as 
pleasant as I did, and 1 shall be glad to assist you, 
by answering through the Rural, all reasonable 
questions you may ask concerning the management 
of your gardens. 
The seasdu is already far advanced, and all who 
wish to unite with me to form such a club must 
make preparations at once. Secure a piece of 
ground, but only a small piece, If too large you 
will find It hai’d work to keep it clean, Secure 
seeds of the plants you wish to glow, aud send In 
your names to me that I way know who'belong to 
the club. Hut I desire to learn now much you know 
about gardening already, i therefore offer four 
prizes for the four best essays on horticulture, or 
any branch of It, that I may receive from the cous¬ 
ins before April 9th, 1ST9. The prizes to consist of 
choice flower seeds or our own selection. 
1st prize.30 varieties. 
2d “ 25 " 
3d “ .,...20 " 
4 th “ 15 •* 
It Is not necessary to write an essay In order to 
to Join the club. All can join the club, but those 
who desire to compete for the seeds must write 
essays. Now let me hear from you. 
L'ncle Mark. 
JOHNNY’S TROUBLE. 
May MAl'LE. 
“ What troubles you, Johnny?” said a lady to a 
little ten-years-old boy, who stood In the doorway, 
with a swelling throat and tear-stained face, try¬ 
ing hard to keep back the tears that would steal 
from under the long, dark lashes, aud to choke 
dov\ n the sobs that would betray the rlslug grief, 
he replied: " They don’t care one bit for me." 
“ Who does not * care one bit ’ for the little boy ?” 
“ Pa and ma don’t.” 
“ Why, yes, they do, child,” said the lady, at the 
same time stroking down t he glossy rings of hair 
on the boy’s head. “If they did not care for you 
and love you more than words can tell they would 
not get you so many nice clothes to wear and such 
a variety of pretty toys to amuse you and good 
books to Instruct you. He sure, my dear boy, they 
do love you ever and ever so much.” 
“ Well, they don’t ever act as if’m did. They 
don’t say they love mo, and they’re al’ays tollin' 
me I’m the worst boy they ever see, and I don’t 
think they’d care if r m didn’t have any little boy.” 
“ Oh, Johnny 1 you must not fee:! like that. You 
know papa and mamma would both be very, very 
sorry If anything should happen to their little boy. 
Don’t you know how hard they are working to 
make a nice home for you when you are grown to 
be a man ? When tbelr boy is careless and naughty 
they feel out of patience with him; and then they 
think he does not do as well as he might, Just as 
you feel toward Tip when he does not mind and do 
as you want him to.” 
“ But Tip is a dog, and don’t care If I do scold 
him; does he?" 
“ Yes. Tip cares and feels as badly to be scolded 
as you do. Haven’t you noticed how he always 
droops his ears aud hangs Uls head when you speak 
sharp to him? aud how happy he seems wheu you 
tell him he’s a good dog and you like him ?” 
*• Yes; and I’llgo now and find him, and tell him 
that I love him ’cause 1 was cross to him when ma 
scolded me just now for gettin’ my clothes so 
dirty. I wish pa and ma ever had time to tell me 
that they loved me, I guess 1 wouldn’t always be 
doing’ somethin’ they didn’t want done.” 
Ah! how many little hearts are aching lo hear 
those sweet words, " Mamma loves you,” or “ Papa 
loves Ills boy.” Every day the little sentence may 
be repeated or demonstrated by a. gentle caress, 
and it will never become old; never distasteful, 
even though the child counts the years or twenty, 
thirty, forty, even to three score and ten. The mu¬ 
sical cadence of these words, “I love you,” will 
ever be sweet to the listening ear.’ 
Many parents seem to think It makes the little 
five-years-old boy unmanly to be petted; for him 
to sit upon lap Is almost a disgrace; Indeed many 
a child is ridiculed till Its little cheeks burn with 
shame because he shows an Inclination to he ca¬ 
ressed by the mother he has been heretofore taught 
to feel was all the world to him. He Is early turn¬ 
ed off to be “ Pa’s man.” Alas! for the little fel¬ 
low, “ Pa ” Is never demonstrative, and when John¬ 
ny’ comes hangiug around his chair, hoping he 
may feel a loving arm about him and a kiss upon 
his cheek. In nine eases out of ten lie Is told to “ sit 
down somewhere out of the way.” 
What wonder Is It that so many children learn 
to feel that nobody cares for them, and thus be¬ 
come reckless of their actions for the present or 
future. How many of those who now flit our pris¬ 
ons might trace their unfortunate career to their 
childhood, when for the want, of love demons trated 
In words and caresses, they’ learned to be selflsh 
and careless of others’ weal or woe. 
It is all wrong to let a child feel that he Is ever 
Urn old to be loved and petted. It is lore that keeps 
the heart warm for holy resolves and noble actions. 
One who feels and knows that he Is beloved will 
have courage to face the world, even though his 
garments are threadbare and the larder empty. 
He Is sure the sun shines for him as well as the 
rest of mankind. 
On the other hand, one who never hears, oris nev¬ 
er made to JM t hat he is inexpressibly’ dear to t he 
family circle lives under a cloud, though he may 
ride In a chariot and be robed In “ purple and fine 
linen.” 
Then don’t be afraid or ashamed to say, either In 
word or act, to the son or daughter, “ 1 love you.” 
-♦ ♦- 
SHADOW PICTURES. 
Some very amusing pictures may be formed of 
the shadows thrown on a wall or screen by let¬ 
ting a light shine through holes cut In a piece of 
M.' j I 
Sr* | 
paper, and If these holes are skillfully cut the 
features and expression of a face may be closely 
Imitated. You can easily see whom the accom¬ 
panying picture represents, and if you draw It on 
tracing paper and then cut out all that is black, 
you can make a shadow picture of It. 
My little relatives, don’t > r ou think It would be 
nice to make such pictures yourselves? If you 
try’ hard aud practice much you will soon be able 
to make some very nice ones of persons and all 
kinds of animals. Uncle Mark. 
-♦ ♦ ♦- 
THE DUKE’S STRATAGEM. 
There was once a German Duke who disguised 
himself, and during the night placed a large stone 
in the middle of the road near his palace. 
Next morning a sturdy peasant, named Hans, 
came that way with his lumbering ox-cart. 
**u, these lazy people! ’ said he, "there Is this 
big stone In the middle of the road, and no one will 
take the trouble to put It out of the way. ’ And so 
Hans went on his way, scolding about the laziness 
of the people. 
Next came a gay soldier along. Ills head was 
held so far back that he didn’t see the stone, so he 
stumbled over It. He began to storm at Lbe coun¬ 
try people, and caU them “ boors and blockheads 
for leaving a huge rock In the road for a gentleman 
to tall over." Then he went oil 
Next came a company of merchants with pack- 
horses aud goods, on their way to the lair, to he 
held at the village near the Duke’s palace. When 
they came to the stone the road was so narrow 
that they had to go off In a single tile on either 
side. One of them cried out, "Did anyone ever 
see the like of that big stone lying here all the 
morning, and no one stopping to take It away ?” 
It lay there lor three weeks, then tue Duke sent 
word to all the people on his lands to meet near 
where this stone lay, as he had something to tell 
them. 
The day came, and a great crowd gathered at 
the Dornthou. Each side of the cut was thronged 
with people overlooking the road. Old Hans, the 
fanner, was there, und so was Berthold, the mer¬ 
chant. 
And now a winding horn was heard, and the 
people all strained their necks and eyes toward 
the castle, as a splendid cavalcade came galloping 
up to the Dornthou, 
The Duke rode into the cut, got down from his 
horse, and with a pleasant smile began to speak 
to the people thus r 
"My friends, 11 was I who put this stone here 
three weeks ago. Every passer-by has left it 
where It was, and scolded Uls neighbor lor not tak¬ 
ing it out of the way.” 
When he had spoke these words he stooped down 
and lifted up the stone. Directly underneath it 
lay a small leather bag. The Duke held It up that 
all the people might see. On a piece of paper, 
fastened to the bag, were these words, “ For him 
who lifts up the stqpe.” He untied the bag, and 
out fell a gold ring and twenty largo gold colus. 
Then every body wished that lie had moved the 
stone, instead of going round It and only blaming 
his neighbors. They all lost the prize because 
they had not formed the habit of helpfulness.— 
Christian. MU'Ocute. 
-- 
HOW TO PLAY “ GO TO ALBANY.” 
The players sit. in a row, and the first says: “ I 
am going on a Journey to Albany,” or any place 
beginning with an A. The one seated next to her 
says: "What shall you do there?” ThEverbs 
and nouns in the answer must begin with the same 
letter, so on through the alphabet. The one who 
asks the question, “ what will you do there,” con¬ 
tinuing the game. Hut as an example is better 
than any directions, we wlU relate to you how a 
party of children played !t : 
Ellen-l urn going on a Journey to Albany. 
Louisa—What shall you do there ? 
Ellen—Ask lor apples and apricots. 
Louisa— (To her next neighbor.) 1 am going to 
Boston. 
Frank—What will you do there ? 
Louisa—Buy bonnets and buns. 
Frank—I am going to college. 
Susan—What will you do there? 
Frank—Cut capers. 
Susau—I am going lo Dover. 
Sarah—What will jou do there ? 
Susan—Dress dolls. 
Sarah—I am going to Erie. 
Russel—What will you do there ? 
Sarah— Eat eggs. 
Russel—1 am going to Falrhaven. 
Grace—What will you do there ? 
Russel—Feed fawns with Dogs. 
Grace—I am going to Greenbush. 
Howard—What will you do there ? 
Grace—Give gold to girls. 
Howard—I am going to Hanover. 
Sarah—What will you do there ? 
Howard—Hunt with hounds and horses. 
The party goes through the alphabet In the 
above manner. Whoever cannot answer 
readily, after due time Is allowed, must 
suffer a penalty.—[fvrcyfc Rural Press 
BEHEAD AND CURTAIL. 
1. Behead and curtail keen, and find 
to sever with a knife. 
2 . To desire, and And a verb. 
3. A vagrant, and find a male animal 
4 . Betrothal, and find to decay. 
J 5. To long for, and flud a human organ 
0 . To journey, and find to talk wildly 
7 . A race, and find part of the human 
body. 
s. a slattern, and find a dog’s name. 
9. The winning card, and And a drink. 
10. veracity, and find a wagon wheel track. 
11 . A sharp, ringing souud, and find pale and 
thin. 
12. A traveling chest, aud find to scamper. 
13. Worthy, and find a metal crust. 
H. Worthless, and find an eruption. 
16. To gabble, and And an animal, 
lo. A metal, aud find a preposition. 
IT. Of old. and find a conjunction. 
18. A lad, and nud not in. 
19 . A couple, and find two words meaning all 
right. 
20 . The stomach of a cow, and flud to undo. 
21 . To suffocate by water, and find a quarrel. 
22. The world, and find genius. 
23. Dry weather, and find to put to flight. 
24 . An outbuilding, and find a pronoun. 
25 . To vilify, and find wickedness. 
Answer in t wo weeks. Little One. 
- -- 
CROSS-WORD ENIGMA. 
My first Is In china-aster hut not in cactus, 
My second is In carnation hut not in arbutus; 
My third is in belladonna but nor in dahlia, 
My fourth Is in heliotrope but not lu fuchsia; 
My fifth Is Ui candy-tuft hut not In jessamine. 
My sixth is in rosemary but not In columbine; 
My seventh is lu laburnum but not In ladysllpper, 
My eighth Is In narcissus but not In oleander; 
My ninth Is In pink but not In amaranth, 
My tenth is in golden-rod but not in tragacanth; 
My eleventh Is In coriander but not In japonlca. 
My whole is a fragrant flower. 
!tsr Answer In two weeks. Md. 
-- 
TRIPLE ACROSTIC. 
1. Presaged. 2. A month aud a vowel. 3. Walk¬ 
ing In sleep. 4. Touching. 5. Rost of a word. c. 
A town on the Hudson (curtailed of the last two 
letters). Prlm.ils, centrals and Duals form three 
Dish bays. 
S&~ Answer In two weeks. Balto. 
MAGIC SQUARE. 
Arrange the nine digits In the form of a quad¬ 
rangle, so that auy three figures, added vertically, 
diagonally or horizontally, will make fifteen. 
S3*~ Answer In two weeks. Mermaid. 
-• »♦ 
PUZZLER ANSWERS.-March 8. 
Syncopations.— I, Ghat, Gat, 2. Noon, Non; 3, Tuat, 
Tat; 4, Black, Back; 6, Sena, Hca; 6, Yeou, You; 7, 
DJoor. Door; 8, Flat, Fat; 9, I’rtlte, Pate; lo, Meuse, 
Muse; 11, Lech, Leh; 12, Inn, lu; 13, Dl’in, Din; 14, 
Tarn, fau; 15, Toro, Too; 16, Jaen, Jan; 17, Nao, No; 
18, Palos, Pals; 19, Swale, Sale: 20, Suir, Sir; 21, He rm, 
Hem; 22, Spey, Spy; 23, Iona, Ina; 24, Sauda, Sana; 26, 
Doou, Don. 
Sabbath fading. 
THE FOUR CALLS. 
The Spirit came in childhood. 
And pleaded, “ Let me in;” 
But ah ! the door was bolted, 
By thoughtlesHnesa in sin. 
The child said, "I’m too young yet; 
Thera’s time enough , to-day 
I cannot open." Sadly 
The Spirit went his way ! 
Again he came, and pleaded, 
In youth’s bright, happy hour. 
He called, but hoard no answer; 
For, lured by Satan’s power. 
The youth lay dreaming idly. 
And sayiug, “ Not to-day; 
Not till I’ve tried earth’s pleasures.” 
Again he turned away! 
Again he came in mercy. 
in manhood's vigorous prime; 
But still he found no welcome; 
The merchant “had no time.” 
No time for true repentance; 
No time to think and pray; 
And so, repulsed and saddened. 
The Spirit turned away! 
Once more he ealled and waited • 
The man was old and ill; 
He scarcely heard the whisper; 
His heart was cold and chill. 
*‘ Go; leave me; when I need thee. 
I’ll call for thee.” he cried; 
Then sinking on his pillow. 
Without a hope he died ! 
(National Baptist. 
Dr. Thomas of Chicago, gives hla ideas of the 
Sunday question In his usual frank fashion :— 
One of the unsettled questions of our American 
society is the manner In which the public should 
be expected and required to Observe the Sabbath 
day. The guiding principle in this, as Indeed in 
nearly all questions, is, that the Sabbath is the 
servant of man, and not man the servant, of the 
Sabbath; that Is, the Sabbath was made for man, 
and not man for the Sabbath. It Is not a great 
something that mail should bow down and wor¬ 
ship, or that comes to enslave man; but an ap¬ 
pointment, a provision for bis good. Ana acting 
upon this general principle, our modern society 
has moved away from the severer ideas of our 
earlier history. We no longer make the Sabbath 
a day of gloom, of closed windows and solemn 
aspect; hut rather a day of happiness In the home, 
and Joy In the house of God. We have adapted 
our Ideas of labor and rest on that day to what 
seems upon the whole to be the least labor and the 
most rest for all, In permitting the use of street 
cars. In all things we should study the whole 
nature and wants of man, and seek the greatest 
good of all. One use of t he Sabbath Is rest. All 
needful public labor hould as far as possible con¬ 
form to this Idea, and be so lightened us to permit 
all to enjoy a degree of that rest. As an example, 
our sGeet cars should be run fewer hours than on 
week days; and the public should conform to this. 
The company has no more right to run the cars on 
Sunday, simply to make money, than a merchant 
has to keep open his store. And so of all neces¬ 
sary public work. Then, we should consider that 
man has a nature suited to, and needing the in¬ 
fluences of Divine worship aud sacred associations. 
And when the law of congrulty, or of fitness, is 
studied, It will appear that this appeals to a part 
of his nature, different D-om Die light and the 
simply amusing, Mau needs amusement as well 
as study or worship, but it does not seem that the 
Sabbath is the proper day for such a purpose. 
Especially does It not seem proper to make the 
Sabhatli a day lor public amusement. And this 
seems the tendency In our midst just now. 
WAYSIDE SHRINES IN THE TYROL. 
Scattered along the road at very frequent 
Intervals are the shrines and stations aud cruci¬ 
fixes with which this whole land Is disfigured. To 
the South German mind the tears of the virgin 
and the cruel bodily sufferings on the cross seem to 
be the only effective emblems of Christianity. 
Generally absurd, and often painful, and always 
coarse, these tokens are too frequent to excite 
reverence, and can have little other effect tlian to 
maintain the routine ol the formal observances of 
the Church. The Madonna wears hoops of enor¬ 
mous dimensions; she frequently weeps behind a 
painted handkerchief; and In one instance, where 
she was of wood aud of life size, she held t he fresh- 
ironed linen with painted hol der of our own time- 
S<- little does the real character of the crucifixion 
Impress Itself upon the popular mind, that It Is by 
no means uncommon for the bleeding side of the 
wooden Christ to be decked with flowers and rib¬ 
bons on festival days, lu one case a bunch of cat¬ 
tails was stuck between the knees. It Is perhaps 
well for the tourist that these shrines occur so fre¬ 
quently, for 1 heir shock Is weakened by familiarity, 
and one soon comes 10 pay little heed to them.— 
Harper's ilagiains. 
We should feel that the religion of the Bible 
stands alone, not only as to the wisdom and gran¬ 
deur of her communications, but equally so as to 
the boldness of her evidences, the sublimity of her 
credentials aud the god-like dignity vvltu which 
shecometh to the light, that her deeds “may be 
manifest that they are wrought In God ."—M'lLtane. 
-*-*--•-- 
Like as a father pliieth his children, so the Lord 
pitleth them that fear Him. God Is love; that Is, 
ne Is the very impersonation of love Itself. 
Wherever His nature extends, there is love; 
love In Its essence; love in Its fullness. Ills love 
is commensurate with Himself. All His affections 
are as infinite as He Is. 
