361 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
. $or ©tomra. 
CONDUCTED BY MISS FAITH RIPLEY. 
HER LAST WORDS. 
No ! Let me go alone—'tis better so. 
My way aud yours are widely far apart. 
Why should you stop to grieve about my woe ? 
And why should I not step across your heart ? 
A man’s heart is a poor thing at the best, 
And yours itt no whit better than the rest. 
I loved you once ? All, yes! perhaps I did. 
Women are curious things, you know, and strange. 
And hard to understand; and then, besides. 
The key of her soul’s music oft doth change. 
And so—ah, do not look at me that way — 
I loved you onoo, but that was yesterday ! 
Sometimes a careless word doth (rankle deep— 
So deep that it can change a heart like this. 
And blot out all the long sweet throbbing hours 
That wont before crowned gold with rapturous bliss; 
So deep that it can blotout hours divine. 
And make a heart as hard and cold as mine. 
Nay do not speak. I tuner can forget; 
So let us May good-bye, and go our ways. 
Mayhap the pansies will start from the dust 
Of our past days the slumbrous, happy days 
When I wan trusting, and life knew no grief. 
But blossomed with my clinging, sweet belief. 
Good-bye! good-bye ! Part of my life you take— 
Its fairest part- Nay, do not touch uiy lips. 
Once they were yours. hut now. oh. my lost love, 
I would not have you touch my linger tips. 
And saying this I feel no chill of pain; 
r cannot even weep above my slain. 
If God cared ought for women who have loved 
And worshipped idols false, I trust ho will 
Keep us so far apart that never more 
Our paths may cross. W'hy are you standing still ? 
Good-bye, I say. This is the day’s dim close; 
Our love is no more worth than last year's rose, 
[Lad,u'8 Journal. 
DESCRIPTION OF CUTS. 
No. 1 .—Shoe-Pocket.—T his pocket, which Is In¬ 
tended to hang on the wall of a bed-room or dress¬ 
ing-room, is made of undressed Holland, the hack, 
and flap that turns down at the top, are cut In one 
piece, measuring twenty-eight Inches in depth, 
and twenty-two in width. The pockets are cut 
ten Inches in length; they are sewn to the founda- 
NO. 3. 
tion. Each pocket is formed by one large pleat, 
and ornamented with a braiding or embroidered 
design. The. lower flap is cut separately, and 
measures seveD Inches in depth, this isornamented 
to correspond with the pockels, and is scalloped 
and buttoned at the edges. 
No. 2.—CnAtH-C over Embroidered in Cross- 
Stitch.— This cover is of crash, embroidered In 
cross-stitch with colored ingrain cotton. Tho 
cover Is finished at both ends with fringe, and Is 
tied to the chair with strings, as shown in the en¬ 
graving. covers of Mus kind are pretty, and serve 
to preserve t he backs aud scats of delicate chairs 
or to hide evidences of wear and tear. 
Nos. 3 and 4.—Borders in Cross-Stitch.— 1 These 
borders are woven with colored Ingrain cotton, and 
are suitable for table-covers. 
THE WOMAN’S CLUB. 
HOME 8T0DY. 
As some of the “ clublles” have from time to 
time referred to the Boston Soc. for line., of Home 
Study, perhaps a word or two trom one of Its 
students may be of interest to some one. 
in December last 1 decided to Join and I selected 
as one course, a history of the urteenth and six¬ 
teenth ccntuiles and was directed to begin with 
Beebohm’s History of the Protestant Revolution, 
it Is surprising what an amount of interesting and 
useful Information one can extract troin this book 
by a little study. It Is admirably arranged for 
purpose of study. The marginal notes which 
appear on every page serve to n.\ the most Impor¬ 
tant events in the memory. 
To how many of us busy housewives are Savan- 
arola, Chas. V., Francis 1., Leo X.Lorenzo de Aledlci, 
Zwlngel ami Luther more than names? What 
do we know or their lives and times? And yet 
each of these men exerotsed an Immense lnilu- 
ence In his day and generation, au Influence In 
many cases that we of to-day feel. M any of us 
doubtless know of Luther that he was an obscure 
Romish Monk who attempted to rerorm the church 
and who at, the Diet of Worms defied em¬ 
peror and pope, are wo wise about his particular 
dogmas for which men have fought and died ? 
Did he draw his inspiration direct from the Scrip¬ 
tures or did he merely amplify, emphasize, and se¬ 
cure a larger hearing for a doctrine already In ex¬ 
istence ? When this man stood before the proud 
emperor, surrounded by princes, and distinguished 
ambassadors from the court of Rome and dared 
all fpr conscience sake, did he strike a blow lor 
religious freedom simply ? Feudalism, what was 
did. With delicate health and three little chil 
dren clamoriDg for mama’s constant care, and a 
farm-house and husband (?) to overlook, 1 hardly 
have time to avail myself of the Society's liber¬ 
ality. 
1 find, however, that It. is not necessary to settle 
down into a domestic drudge and nonentity, even 
among the bills and rocks of Pennsylvania's oil 
region, where strangers suppose there Is nothing 
No. 1. 
It? now was It abolished? Is It true as claimed 
by a “Greenback” paper lately that gold and sli¬ 
ver as mediums of excha nge are relics of feudal- 
dalisra ? I feel assured that not one farmer’s wife 
In two hundred could answer all of those ques¬ 
tions and yet a few hours reading would make 
any woman Intelligent on these and a myriad ol 
other topics. 
I like the way of studying recommended by Miss 
Margaret Harvey In one of her letters lately. She 
says in effect (what Is most true) that, the mother 
of a family can not find time to seclude herself 
for a staled time, but If she nuty “studios as she 
goes,” ironing, washing, baklug, sweeping or sow¬ 
ing, site can accomplish much and lighten the 
drudgery of every day life. 
One delightful feature of the Boston Society is 
that when In studying the books recommended it. 
the regular couise. If you become especially inter¬ 
ested In an Individual, a city, a system or an 
epoch, you can by asking your lady correspondent 
find out the books which will give you precisely 
what you want to know. For example, I 
wanted a portrait or Florentine manners In the 
fifteenth century and was directed to read George 
Idiots' Romola. Those of you who have read the 
book, know how excellently It suited my purpose. 
8o, to give me an Idea of the social life and times 
of Luther, Sclionburg Gotta Family, was recom¬ 
mended. Shakespeare'S Uenry the Eight, was 
suggested when I was reading the history of 
Henry Vlirs matrimonial complications. All this 
was outside of the regular course. 
Ladles, one and all take my advice and join the 
society next October, even If you can only study 
ten minutes a day, Cordially. 
Mrs. Templine. 
WHAT A DELEGATE FROM THE OIL RE¬ 
GIONS HAS TO SAY. 
I am very much interested in the Rural, and 
especially so In tho “ Woman’s Club.” I have 
often thought 1 would like to Join although I don't 
know as anything I could write would be of benefit 
to anyone, however, I always had a desire to see 
myself In print, and It tills letter Is not consigned to 
the waste basket (that bug-bear of aspirants to lit¬ 
erary fame,) I may be able to assist some poor, 
weary sister, as 1 have been encouraged many 
limes by reading hopeful words written by some 
of the other club members. 
1 agree with 8arah. There are a low—one at least- 
interested in hearing about the Boston Society to 
but rocks and oil. I live in a beautiful farming 
neighborhood In the middle of Oildom. From my 
home we can see gaslights from oil wells In every 
direction. We have the best ot markets, and with 
fourteen towns of greater or less size within a ra¬ 
dius of twelve miles, we ought to he happy, but 
we are not. We poor mortals always want a " lit¬ 
tle more” Ot something a little different. We are 
too far from railroad (four miles;) too far trom 
church (oue mile;) too near some great rocks in 
the woods, etc , etc. Why can’t we be 
with what the Great Glverof All secs fit to give us? 
Especially ought wo to be bappy when for a 
the Rural Publishing Co. furnishes first-class 
reading matter ol every kind, and even allows us 
poor (irpcn-trodden women to condole with each 
other and air our pet hobbles; then It makes us the 
recipients of so many favors, viz.: clocks, seeds, 
etc. I can’t imagine what this company's next 
freak will be; possibly each subscriber will be 
forced to receive a lease of Western farm land, 
a residence on Filth Avenue. 
Now, I have written a great deal without 
hinting at the subject I set out to discuss, viz.* 
“ carpet sweeping.” This subject of carpet or no 
carpet 1 find is agitating the public mind consid¬ 
erably. I, for one, am In favor ot a good rag car¬ 
pet on the sUtlng-room floor, and with reasonable 
care there Is no need that the room be filled 
dust at every sweeping. 
in the Rural of April 12. Mrs. D. L. B. suggests 
the “use of salt for dust,” Allow me to give my 
experience with It: Threw or four years ago, a 
young lady boarding with me sprinkled salt on the 
carpets or the sttttng-room and chambers, for the 
weekly sweeping. Afterwards I noticed mat In 
the corners of the rooms the carpet was sticky, and 
the castors of the bedstead were so rusty they 
would uot move. The pedals ot me sewing ma¬ 
chine were also covered with red rust. I was at a 
loss to account for It for some time, but Mary ex¬ 
plained it, and l stopped using salt, as a Austin- 
fextant. I have always found It worked well to dip 
the broom iu a pall of clean water occasionally, 
while sweeping. This will keep down the dust 
pretty effectually. Shake the broom well out of 
the water, and do not use all the strength at com¬ 
mand. arid so send the dirt across the room utonce, 
but take your sweeping easy. Also take your 
carpet up and give It a good beating every six 
months. C. E. J. of oildom. 
-- 
ENGLAND’S QUEEN. 
I wonder If there lives a woman who has been 
No. 1- 
Encourage Study at Home. I wish those who un¬ 
derstand Its workings would write more about It. 
I am a very warm friend of education, whether It 
be book learnlug, kitchen learning, or that taken 
from the great book of Nature and taught by the 
Great Master who knows all things. 
I should love to take a course ot study trom this 
society, but have not the courage to undertake It 
and I fear n ot the strength to carry it through If I 
more over-praised man this one? The anniver¬ 
sary of her birthday, which occurred lately, was 
made the occasion tor such a flood of adulation us 
was positively nauseating to one who stopped to 
reflect on.the uuworthlness of the subject of It. 
She Is praised for being a good wife and moth¬ 
er. Are mothers and wives of this class so 
rare that a woman is to be extolled for simply 
doing her duty in these relations ? If It Is claimed 
that people of her rank have temptations which do* 
not assail those In the lower walks of life, one can 
very promptly dismiss this by pointing out that we 
do not live In me eighteenth century, and the 
profligacy which cliaraeterized the courts of this 
woman’s ancestors would not bo tolerated now. 
Whatever her Inclinations, she would be compel¬ 
led to conduct herself with propriety. As to being 
a good mother, the eldest son, to say the least, does 
not reflect the brightest luster on her training. 
This, so far as I can understand, is about all 
that there is to be said In her favor, that she is 
negatively <jouti. Not. grandly good, but she sim¬ 
ply does her duty by her immediate family. Rath¬ 
er a remarkable characteristic of the head of a na¬ 
tion; the nominal ruler of millions of people. 
Washington and Lincoln arc revered In this 
country not for their loyalty to their wives, but for 
the noble services they rendered their country; 
and likewise the memory of an Arnold or a Tweed 
is execrated for the crimes committed against so¬ 
ciety, and the Pint Of the man's being a loving hus¬ 
band or father does not lessen his condemnation In 
the least. Victoria is avaricious and petty to a de¬ 
gree which would disgrace her meanest subject. 
When her children marry she comes like a pauper 
before the people and asks for a settlement on 
them. Asks, too, when she knows that the burden 
of the extra expense will fall on her poorer sub¬ 
jects. Want, squalor and wretchedness are almost 
at her palace gates, aud not ouly does she retrain 
from relieving the poverty, but, she will not pro¬ 
vide for her own children out of her abundance. 
Think of a woman In her station givingUme and 
attention to devising just how low In the neck and 
how short lu the skirt, gowns worn at her recep¬ 
tions must be! Then, too, she showed her Inex¬ 
pressible littleness when she slighted Mr. Glad¬ 
stone In not Inviting him to her son’s wedding. 
“ This is my wedding, and I Intend to Invite whom 
I choose.” As the English, people paid the bills. It 
seems to me it was hardly her wedding, and be¬ 
sides It was In rather bad taste to Insult a states¬ 
man who has rendered such glorious services to 
his country. The trouble with Mr. Gladstone Is 
that he lacks that obsequiousness of mind and 
manner which Is such Incense to the vanity of 
those sma ll souls. 
Contrast this compound of arrogance, pettiness 
and avarice, who has had all the advantages of 
living In this cultured age, with Zenobta, that des¬ 
ert queen, who, though bom seventeen centuries 
ago, challenges the admiration of every genera- 
No. 2 . 
tlon. Brave, generous, noble*, [there was a queen 
to worship. By her side how insignificant appears 
this much extolled Victoria ? 
One who believes In giving 
“ Honor to whom Honor is due.” 
- ♦ ♦ ,- 
SOME REMARKS. 
I have been reading Washtenaw’s article m the 
“ Club” of April 5. and I cannot but wonder what 
sort of rnen she lias known all her life. I am curi¬ 
ous to know where she lives. Let me quote a lit¬ 
tle : “ Men insist that women shall be beautiful. 
No speech is too coarse or too bitter to charac¬ 
terize their utter contempt lor plainness in a gtiL” 
There Is no doubt that men admire beauty in a 
woman, I think we all do. I know that a beauti¬ 
ful woman is as much an object of admlratJou to 
me as to any man who ever lived. I gaze upon her 
with never-wearying delight; and If. with beauty, 
she has good sense and a good heart l glory In her 
as an ornament to the sex, 
Washtenaw says that Sir Owen Chevenlx but 
voiced the sentiment of his sex when he declared 
he preferred beauty to excellence* of character In 
a woman. Perhaps it may be the preference ot 
some of the more coarse and sensual among men, 
but spiritual and mental worth seeks its kind. 
While l see plain, yes, homely women wooed and 
won, in preference to belles aud beauties, by men 
ot excellence and talent, I cannot but feel that 
Washtenaw’s sweeping criticism is unjust. 
It. Is hi no censorious spirit, my sister that I 
write t hese words but just tor this reason ; I have 
noticed that men in writing and speaking of wo¬ 
men arc apt to put apart for the whole. Are some 
women frivolous aud silly ?—they at once issue a 
proclamation—** Women are vain creatures, with 
no thought above a fashion-plate.” Is oue woman 
Inefficient and weak? The flat goes forth, “ Wo¬ 
men are helpless and Incapable.” Of course Ido 
not say that ali men tire so unreasonable. 
