Eeaimt§ for tjjc flottrtiL 
TO THE SONS OF THE FARMER.— No.7. 
REV. A. W. MANGUM. 
Let us Bee if mere Is as much difference as is 
often assumed between tlic income from a useful 
industrial pursuit and that, from a learned profes¬ 
sion. Take 1lie occupation of the farmer as an 
example of the lirst. Suppose a young man, or 
sound body and mind, with good habits, Degins at 
the age of twenty-one. The first year he hires for 
wages, receiving $ 10 a month and his board. That 
board ts worth $'.2r>. He also has the use of his 
room and necessary furniture, lie enjoys many 
opportunities of Improving his mind, and Is gain¬ 
ing Information about farm life in the experience 
of every day. lie is not subjected to any current 
loss, ns lie works with utensils and Worses that be¬ 
long to ills employer. < Hunting that be 1ms spent 
half of ids receipts for clothing and incidentals, he 
closes the year with $6U and Ids experience and 
improvement as 1ns profit, 'tills is the result of 
no investment, but simple labor, and that labor 
such ns we may call uneducated, if he is faithful 
he Is likely to receive increased wages; or, at any 
rate, to have opportunities to turn extra pennies. 
Ii he shows himself true and profitable to his em¬ 
ployer, he will soon be at a premium, continuing 
to discharge every duty well, he will be able, at 
the age of twenty-six, to procure a small farm of 
Ids own. He bus thus, with little or no invest¬ 
ment. made a living, established a character, won 
experience, earned a home, and secured a basis 
for independence and a permanent livelihood. By 
the time lie is thirty, he may reasonably hope, he 
will have a good little farm, stocked with all the 
requisites for Its successful cultivation. When he 
counts up his gains at the end ot the year, after lie 
is thirty, he nvny lie discouraged to find that lie 
has only a small amount ot actual money, or only 
a few surplus products that he can sell. But con¬ 
sider. He has lived on t he products and proceeds 
of Ids farm through a whole year, If he lias tried, 
he has improved several acres of land. He has an¬ 
other year of instruction In direct experiment, 
lie lias, probably, made additions of value to Ills 
implements or Ills stock of some kind. Thus he 
goes, from year to year, all thc> while making the 
support of himself and those dependent upon him, 
and all the while enjoy!ug for himself and bestow¬ 
ing upon others many comforts that he has not 
recognized in his account of profits and losses; 
but such comforts as others, who are engaged in 
different occupations, must purchase with money 
or fail to obtain. 
Now take a young man, aged twenty-one, just 
entering the practice of ihe law. If he has no 
move to invest than the farm-boy had, he must in¬ 
evitably fail from the si,art. nut. we will concede 
that he is educated, in the common sense of the 
word. Mill, years must elapse before lie will be 
as well prepared for las work as the farm-boy was 
for ids simpler task, lie has no experience. He 
may possibly have a few clients during his lirst 
year. They are not likely to be oi the paying 
class. Men who have money are apt to seek well- 
known talent, and experience In an advocate, when 
sacred rights are In peril. The young lawyer is 
dependent upon Incalculable uncertainties. Still 
his expenses run on everyday, lie must pay for 
all he enjoys, ills profession must board 1dm, 
clothe him in style, rent and fnruisli Ids office, 
buy ids books and fuel, pay all ids sundry little 
bills, and defray Ids hotel and traveling expenses. 
How much clear gam will he probably have at the 
end of the first year of his professional labors? 
He lias been forced to make formal purchases of 
a number ot things t hat the young farmer received 
regularly and without cost, liven after ten years 
have passed away, it Is uncertain whether the 
average young lawyer will have a title to a home 
with as many conveniences and comforts as belong 
to the farmer’s little possessions: and whether the 
said young lawyer will have a settled, trustworthy 
practice, that will meet tils current wants and 
guarantee as much clear gain as the farmer had at 
the end of his tenth year. 1 am willing to concede 
that much lias been gained by the lawyer In the 
way Of reputation and experience. Granting all 
that can be reasonably claimed, the comparison Is 
not discouraging to the farmer. 
you may wish to consider the comparison, when 
t he young farmer is educated as well as the young 
lawyer, in that Instance the farming ought to be 
done more intelligently, and, lu consequence, more 
profitably. There will he many more methods of 
making extra gains, realizing enjoyment, Increas¬ 
ing reputation, and gaining pleasant and useful 
lniluenee. Educated farmers are greatly needed 
to-day; not only on the farm, but in various public 
positions. This la repeated, that It. maybe duly 
appreciated. The farmer Is hot an exile or a monk, 
lie Is In the very throbbing center of society; and 
has a multitude of approaches to the masses 
around him, favorable to the enlargement of his 
own fortum- and I lie improvement of their own 
condition. 
The great truth is that so much does not depend 
on me character of one's occupation as upon t he 
manner In which be pursues It. Signal success Is 
achieved by the /cm only, in any department of 
human labor and enterprise. What are the princi¬ 
pal reasons of this? While these reasons are 
numerous, and different In different cases, still we 
Uiay mention, as one of the most prominent, the 
truth that so few are really and persistently faithful 
to the requirements of the work they have uuder- 
taken. History has made It an adage: “A sure 
reward to the faithful.’' We may add : success Is 
Impossible to the unfaithful. There Is no effect, 
without afl adequate cause. There are no result¬ 
ant. advantages for those who have neglected the 
indispensable conditions, Nature is generous, so¬ 
ciety Is often forbearing, and providence la won- 
drously kind; but man must work, If he would 
win. Many fall, because they are not willing to 
a y the price of success. Many do not make, be- 
THE RURAL 
NEW-YORKER 
cause they have not energy to labor, or self-denial 
to say no to unnecessary and expensive pleasures. 
Others make, but spend in foolish Indulgence of 
self or others, some follow costly habits of vice 
or fashion. Frequently one forms associations 
that are essentially baneful to Ills true interest in 
every respect. Keep your calling, and your calling 
will keep you. Be as loyal to your chosen sphere, 
as the worthy man Is to the bride he Inis espoused. 
Let no vain influence come between you and your 
work. 
“ Let all the ends* thou alins’t at, 
Be thy Country’s, God's, aud Truth’s I” 
-- 
A CUNNING DOG. 
Dons sometimes exhibit traits that, are almost 
human; and we sometimes wonder whether 
Pythagoras was very far wrong in his theory 
that ttie souls of men at their death, and also 
before their creation, Inhabit the bodies of animals. 
Certainly, it so, the soul of a certain lttl le black 
spaniel named " Mg’' must originally have be¬ 
longed to some greedy boy whose Indulgent ]>a- 
rentsfed him upon kiflcknaeks until he died, for 
never was there an animal more particular in fits 
taste in regard to rood. Many times Nig would 
go supperless to bed because his master In¬ 
sisted upon his eating plain bread and butter In¬ 
stead of cake; and lie was known to fast an en¬ 
tire day on .one occasion, because his breakfast 
consisted of fi led potatoes and beet bones rather 
than hot rolls, of which he was extravagantly 
fond. 
But little, boys learn to get their own way, and 
little dogs are quite as apt. 
After a time Nig concluded that the only sure 
method of obtaining what ho wanted was to eat, 
or hide away what was given him and then beg 
for more; and. therefore, he would carry off the 
crusts which lie found upon his plate, bury them 
at the foot of the garden and then return, and with 
wagging tali ask for a doughnut or a cookie, 
which he seldom fatted to receive. 
By this aud other tricks the spaniel generally 
managed to secure such food as he best liked, and 
for a long tilde the shrewdness which he exhibited 
and the hearty laughs which he excited made his 
master forget how bad were the habits which he 
was forming. But one day Nig made too great a 
fuss about the supper which was placed before 
lilm. and, as a punishment, a severe order was 
Issued: 
The dog was to cat just what was left from the 
table and nothing more. What was good enough 
for the family must, do for him. 
That night Nig slept In happy unconsciousness 
of the new rule; but when morning came, and 
breakfast was over its full Import became known 
to him. For his master had eaten codfish and po¬ 
tato, aud codfish aud potato was alt that was left 
for master Nig. 
A plate with the fishy food was prepared and 
placed In Nigs corner, and lie was invited to par¬ 
take. At first he approached with evident hunger 
and delight, sulffing eagerly at the offered plate; 
hut when Ids nose told him what It contained his 
countenance and Ms toll both fell, lie looked at 
his master In a reproachful manner ai d turned 
sadly away. Ho was called back and ordered to 
eat. Slowly lie returned, but, instead of eating, 
he carefully pushed every particle of food from the 
plate to the floor, crowded It close under the rim 
of the dlsli, and again retired to a chair where ho 
seated himself, looking soberly at the plate and 
then at his master os though entering a remon¬ 
strance against such a breakfast. 
But his master was obdurate and spoke sternly: 
“ Nig, you must eat that fish aud potato before 
you have anything else.” 
No sooner were the words spoken than tlie dog 
leaped from the chair, ran to the door, and disap¬ 
peared. 
For two entire days nothing was seen of him, 
and his master began to fear that the Uttle fellow 
was lost, when early upon the morning of the third 
day Nig presented himself at the door and began 
to beg for his breakfast as usual. 
Hoping that tlic dog's hunger had overcome hts 
scruples, the fish aud potato were again presented 
to him. He regarded It for a moment with a sor¬ 
rowful air, ears aud Lull drooping low, and then 
quietly walked out of the door without tasting It. 
This time he was gone nearly a week, and when, 
at last, he returned, his master succumbed. The 
obnoxious fish and potato were thrown away, aud 
Nig fared sumptuously upon fresh beet and hot 
rolls. 
Since, that time the spaniel has eaten only such 
food as he prefers. Like many children he had 
fought the battle out aud conquered.— wide A "hi ke. 
- ♦ ♦ «- 
WHY THE PEOPLE LAUGHED. 
ALICE P. ADAMS. 
It happened many years ago at Miss Crell’s Flo¬ 
ral Concert. The hall was gaily festooned with 
evergreens ; all t he girls wore white dresses and 
wreaths of flowers while the white tvowsers of 
the boys were decorated with red stripes, and each 
hopeful fondly sported a necktie of the patriotic 
colors. 
The entertainment opened with a duet by the 
King and (jucen of the Floras, followed by a cho¬ 
rus In which all of the performers look part. The 
fresh young voices were well trained, and It was 
a pleasing sight to look upon the sprightly faces; 
many a mother's heart throbbed with pride as she 
singled out her blithe boy or gladsome girl from 
the others. 
The last selection on the first half or the pro¬ 
gramme was a song by Annie Maoleod. She was 
a wee Uttle dot about six years old aud her white 
dress was trimmed with sprays of periwinkle (or 
myrtle, as It is frequently called by the children.) 
She looked so cunning when she stepped out on 
the stage and made her diminutive bow that the 
people became very quiet, and listened Intently 
that they might catch every word. This is the way 
her song began: 
There was a little maiden. 
And x!io wore n little bonnet: 
Shu had a little finger 
With a little ring upon it." 
She had sung these four lines, when, cliauclng to 
look down, she saw a great hornbug slowly crawl¬ 
ing up her dress. (You have often seen them on a 
summer evening, children, ilying about the room 
attracted by the light ; aud do you remember how 
they frightened you when you were small, and 
you begged papa to kill the •• ptnebbugs?”) 
When little Annie Saw the beetle, she forgot, 
about staging the next verse but screamed at the 
top or her voice, “ Oo-oo-li! there’s a bug on me 1” 
and ran from the stage crying with fear and mor¬ 
tification at having “ talked out loud." 
Ilow the folks did laugh 1 No studied witticism 
ever called forth such a torrent or hilarious mirth 
and applause In that old hall as this poor child's 
terrified exclamation. Very fortunate was It that 
the accident occurred just before the short inter¬ 
mission, as it would ha ve been impossible tor that 
audience to sit quietly In their seals and listen 
gravely to a ballad without an opportunity for 
gett ing rid or some of t heir Jollty. 
When the commotion had partially subsided 
there were calls for ‘Annie Maoleod I” and "the 
rest of that song!” Miss Groff then appeared on 
the stage, and waiting till all was quiet, informed 
the assemblage that Uttle Annie had been taken 
home, and said they would proceed with the pro¬ 
gramme without further delay. 
But during the remainder of the entertainment 
more than one with dlficulty repressed a laugh as 
Ue recalled the child’s consternation and ludicrous 
outcry when she discovered the Intruder. 
A tew days later, the weekly paper contained a 
notice of the concert, which ended thus: “But 
we consider little Annie Macleod’s song and speech 
the happiest effort of the evening.” 
THE HORTICULTURAL CLUB. 
It has given me much pleasure to he able to 
send to each member of t he club, except to those 
who have recently won prizes, a Gladiolus bulb, 
which I hope will have been safely received by the 
time they read tiffs. The bulbs were some that 
could be spared from the Rural Grounds, and 1 
could think ot no better way to dispose of them 
than to distribute them among my young friends. 
We commonly call the Gladiolus a “bulb,” but, 
speaking moro strictly In accordance with the 
definition given lu botanies, It la a “ conn” or solid 
bulb; that Is. a fleshy, underground Stem, of a 
rounded or oval form, and a compact texture. 
The real bulb consists ot layers or scales, 
like the union aud the Lily. If you will compare 
one of these with the Gladiolus you can readily see 
the difference. 
The Gladiolus Is a tender plant, aud the bulbs 
should therefore uot. be set In the open ground till 
about the middle of May. Each bulb sends up a 
stem two loot high, which, In August, bears a 
spike of six to twelve large tlowcrs of the most 
brilliant colors Imaginable, from dazzling scarlet 
and orange, through all intermediate shades to 
almost white., though there are none or a pure 
white or of a bright, unspotted yellow, A scarlet 
or orange ground, splashed and spotted with some 
other tints, Is the most common. The bulbs should 
be set six to nine Inches apart, in rich, mellow, 
garden soil, and five or six Inches deep. When 
the stem is ten Inches high It should be tied to a 
neat stick to prevent the wind from blowing It 
over, in the fall, before frost, the bulbs are taken 
up, dried for some days in the sun, the tops cut off 
and the bulbs kept in a warm, dry place during 
the winter. Uncle Mark. 
- ♦♦ ♦- 
LETTERS FROM BOYS AND GIRLS. 
Dear Uncle Mark :—The seeds came aU right, 
and 1 am very much pleased with them. Will you 
tell me 1st, what Is Meutzella ornata? 2d. Is the 
“ Hose of Sharon ” really a rose ? 3d. Should the 
Hollyhocks have a rich ground, and how deep 
should 1 plant them? 4th. Are the Aquileglas 
hardy ? 
I had an asparagus bed last year, and sold tho 
asparagus at the village; I made $u.5u out of that. 
Father Intends to plant a larger one this year. 
Please put my name on the list of your Horti¬ 
cultural Club. Your young friend, 
Mabel C. Hoskins. 
Ans.— l. Mentzella ornata Is an ornamental, 
perennial, flowering plant. It bears large, white, 
fragrant flowers, that open only at sunset or on a 
cloudy afternoon. The flower has ten petals ar¬ 
ranged in two circles, the Inner petals narrower 
than those In the outer circle, and a great many— 
zoo to sou stamens. 2. No, it Is not a rose, but a very 
handsome shrub, that In late summer hears large, 
rose-colored flowers; the botanical name is Hibis¬ 
cus Syrlacus. 3. The Hollyhocks will give you the 
best satisfaction In a rich soil. Cover tije seed 
about half an Inch, It will not flower the first, 
summer, and can therefore be grown In a nursery 
bed till next spring, when It shoiffd be planted 
where It Is desired to bloom. 4. Yes. 
Dear Uncle Mark and Rural Cousins:—! 
would like to jolu the Horticultural Club, as 1 have 
had a little experience lu gardening. To begin 
with, I am ten years old, and I want to tell you 
what 1 did last summer. My lather gave me a 
small place that had been used for a pig pen. 1 
spaded It rnyself, planted radishes, onions, cab¬ 
bages, lettuce, etc. My mother told me It 1 could 
make enough out of my garden l might subscribe 
forupuper. Sol began In good earnest. My radishes 
came on very soon; 1 tied them In binall buhehes 
of ten or twelve In each bunch, and took them to 
the nearest town, where they sold for from rour to 
five cents per bunch. Next came my lettuce, 
onions and cabbages; to be sure T did not realize a 
large price for them, but as I worked In my little 
garden nights and mornings, aud did not neglect | 
my school duties, I made enough to enable me to 
take the dear Rural this summer. Father has 
given me a different piece of ground to work this 
year. It is twenty-four feet long and twenty-two 
feet wide. Now, dear Uncle Mark, if I see this in 
print, 1 will ten you from dine to time how I am 
getting along with my garden. 1 shall always love 
your dear paper and work for Its Interest. 
Lucas Co., o. Walter c. gavhart. 
NEED OF MORAL DISCERNMENT TO AP¬ 
PREHEND GOSPEL TRUTHS. 
Tuts great truths of the Gospel require for their 
apprehension some moral discernment. How can 
a thoroughly selfish ttiau understand die truth of 
Christ’s divinity ? Divinity, to lilm moans force or 
quantity rather than quality ot being. How much 
would you know about me Apollo Belvktere II one 
should simply I,ell you that It consist ed of so many 
cubic Inches of white marble, and weighed so 
many pounds? What Idea of Us beauty would 
those words convoy to you ? some such quantita¬ 
tive nodon of Christ's divinity a seltisli man may 
get, and it Is the only Idea of him that we find in 
the writings of many theologians, such a notion 
may well be disputed about, but It Is ot no prac¬ 
tical value. To apprehend the beauty of Christ’s 
character. In which His divinity chiefly resides, 
one needs much schooling In the services Of obedi¬ 
ence aud love. And the more men know of this 
the less they will be Inclined to dispute about It. 
Christ Is our example; but he who supposes that 
Christ's work consists simply Hi furnishing us an 
example has a very Inadequate Idea of what man 
needs and of what Christ is. It is true that we 
have some power of copying, by observation and 
volition, the conduct Of those that are belter than 
we are ; but it Is also t rue that the lives which are 
mainly the result or Imitation are defective and 
unlovely lives. “ That peculiar character,” says 
Dr. Mo/.ley. " which we admire in another, would 
become quite a different one la ourselves could we 
achieve tile most successful Imitation. The copy 
could never have the spirit, of the original, because 
it would want, the natural root upon which the 
Original grew. We ought to grow out of our own 
roots; our own Inherent propriety of constitution 
Is the best nucleus for our own formation.” This, 
then, is what wo need—t lie healing, the quicken¬ 
ing, the replenishing of our spiritual life. It Is not 
a model to grow by; Ills “more life and fuller 
that we want.” That Is what Christ came to 
bring: “1 am come that they might have life, and 
that they might have It more abundantly.” By 
faith in Him we are made partakers of Ills nature, 
and thus the very elements of virtue In us are re- 
Intorocd. The tulip bulb does not need a full 
grown tulip to look at that tt may learn how to 
blossom; It needs to feel at Its own heart the 
warmth of the sun and the moisture oi the soli. 
Not Christ before you as an example, but " Christ 
In you,” communicating to you the vitalizing en¬ 
ergy of ills own eternal life, la the power or God 
unto salvation.— SumSUiu -1 flermon. 
WHEN JESUS COMES. 
There Is one very sweet sense in which “ Jesus, 
cornea” to Jits own followers in these days. He 
does not come In fleshy form, as lie did eighteen 
centuries ago; nor does Ho come amid clouds aud 
celestial splendor, as Ho will at the itnal Judgment. 
But in spirit, seen by the eye of faith, Jesus draws 
delightfully near to those who seek for H Ls pres¬ 
ence. He comes to the. awakened penitent, who 
cries out to Him: “ Come and take away my stony 
heart, and make it u heart ot flesh.” Already you 
may hear Ills knock at your heart, aud Ills loving 
voice: “ If thou wilt open the door, 1 will come In 
unto tliee and sup witJi then, aud thou with me.” 
Hasten to let Him mi He will not be satisfied 
with a closet or a corner or your heart, or with a 
paltry share of your thoughts, grudgingly given. 
He wants every room—your faculties, affections, 
and will, must all be surrendered to Him. The 
key of your purse must be Ills, too. Don't plead 
that you are not worthy that Ue should come 
under your mol. lie loves to Stoop to the lowly In 
spirit, lie will bring His own entertainment with 
Him when He “ sups” with you. You will be fed 
with more than angels’ food when the King slttetli 
at the table. This ls the very essence of conver¬ 
sion ; to turn sin out of the door and convert your 
heart into a dwelling-place for the sinner’s friend. 
“ Admit Him, for tho the human breast 
Ne’er entertained ho kind a elioet; 
Admit Him, and you won't expel, 
For where He oolites, He couios to dwell.” 
The richest aud most Joyous hours In a believer’s 
experience are those In which he Lasted of Christ’s 
presence In close spiritual communion. The be¬ 
liever feels the warmth and the light of His coun¬ 
tenance. Uls left hand is under our head, and 
Ills right hand doth embrace us. We.can roll oil 
our cares and worries and doubts upon His ever¬ 
lasting arm. Such times of close companionship 
with Jesus are our holiest and happiest hours this 
side of heaven. 
into sick rooms where His children lie, Jesus 
often comes. No physician visits so faithfully. 
Noble old llalyburton, ol‘ Scotland, said one morn¬ 
ing to bis family; "Jesus came to me in the third 
watch of last night, walking' upon the waters, 
lie said to me, * i am Alpha and umego, the be¬ 
ginning and the end, and 1 have the keys ot hell 
and death, lie stUlcd the storm In my soul, and 
10 ! there was a sweet.calm!' 
When Jesus comes lu ihe house of sorrow, He 
speaks the same wonderoua words which lie spake 
to the mourners at Bethany. Ho allowed death 
to come there flrst to make ready for Uls own 
coming. Is not this one reason why death Is al¬ 
lowed to take our loved ones? Then we are ready 
to send for Jesus l— Southwestern Presbyterian. 
