THE BUBAL 
the lambrequin hanging curtain-wise’from a 
pole at the back. For this you require a 
curtain pole—corresponding, of course, with 
those at the windows—the length of the man¬ 
tel-piece. This is fastened to the wall i5 iueh- 
es above the shelf, The scarf or lambrequin 
is a strip of dark crimson felt 27 inches 
deep. It is fastened to the rings of the 
pole, hanging flat against the wall to the shelf, 
where it is held by a few invisible tacks to 
keep it from slipping forward. It covers the 
shelf, hanging over the edge, for the depth of 
about two iuches. At each end the piece cov¬ 
ering the shelf should he about 15 inches long¬ 
er than the curtain-part at the back, so that it 
will hangover the ends with a. scarf-like effect. 
The ends should be decorated with embroid¬ 
ery, and edged with gilt crescents. A charm¬ 
ing trimming, and one within the reach of 
those not gifted in embroidery, is cretonne 
outlined in tinsel. We do not mean applique 
work, but bands of cretonne, with the pattern 
both outlined and filled in with colored tinsel, 
and the background worked with cruzy stitch 
floss. Cretonne with a handsome arabesque 
pattern should be chosen, showing up dis¬ 
tinctly on a dark or light ground; it looks 
like some quaiut oriental stuff when worked, 
And the wall decorations' Well, you may 
soon accumulate from art publications a few 
daiuty etchings, to be surrounded by gray- 
white mats and flat bronze frames—you may 
happily possess some of your grandmother’s 
plates, which are fastened to the wall by 
plaeque hangers, and a corner bracket or two 
would support charming, but inexpensive 
plaster casts. Your mantel drapery will 
show off your china to great advantage, and 
though inexpensive in the extreme, our ideal 
parlor will be a joy forever to its deft-fingered 
creative genius. 
SOME WAYS AND THINGS AT THE 
RURAL GROUNDS. 
ALICE BROWN. 
It is the middle of November; the soberest 
aspect of Autumn is here and gives promise 
that Winter will not delay its coming much 
longer. 
The trees are nearly leafless, the Golden Oak 
and the Weeping Beech are almost the only 
deciduous trees still holding a few green leaves. 
The hurry anil push that came with the 
growiug buds and rampant weeds of Spring in 
fields and gardens, settled into more leisurely 
work as the leaves fell and the weeds were 
killed by frosts. But when the active worker 
finds nothing to do in the fields he continues 
his work indoors. So here, although the 
Grounds are deserted, the household is as busy 
as ever. Thu children took up their studies 
the first of October, the house-cleaning began 
soon after, the work on the seed distribution 
will soon commence, and a Winter of work lies 
mapped out before us. 
Regular duties, regular studies with some 
purpose and some aim in life, seem to be the 
watchwords here, and added to these some 
pleasure, some happiuess iu each day if possi¬ 
ble. The necessity of work is recognized in 
many households where the need for recrea¬ 
tion is quite forgotten. 
The routine here includes a variety of duties; 
nouse-work is planned so that each day of the 
week has its regular share. The washing is 
done on Monday by a woman living in the 
neighborhood. On Tuesday the ironing is be- 
guu by the girl employed in the house. On 
Wednesday the week’s cleaning begins in the 
kitchen and the upper ami lover hall, on 
Thursday two bedrooms are cleaned aud a 
third one on Friday. On (Saturday the halls 
aud kitchen are agaiu cleaned. 
Mrs. (Jarman makes the bread for the fami¬ 
ly, twelve loaves every week, irons the “ gude 
mon’s" collars ami often his shirts, superin¬ 
tends the cooking, sometimes making soups 
and cooking savory dishes that call forth 
warm praises from the children; these things 
and a hundred others she does and does well, 
in addition to her editoi ial work and regular 
studying, it is a source of pleasant wonder 
to me where she finds the hours for all she 
does. The Rural is indebted to her for its 
carefully prepared index, aud every week 
part of one day is given to the work of index¬ 
ing the last paper. 
Two hours every day are spent in reading 
the agricultural papers of the country for 
items that the Rural readers find under 
“ Wbut Others Say.” Parts of Thursdays 
and Fridays are given to the work of editing 
her department. An hour or two of study 
in some text book, chemistry, philosophy, 
botany or Latin takes its share of every day. 
Just now Mrs. Carman ami 1 have joined Ce¬ 
rise in her study of Arnold's First Lulm Book, 
and we recite together four days of each week 
in the editor’s *• paper carpeted” sanctum. 
At half past three, when school is finished 
for the day, we spend about half an hour in a 
brisk walk. These walks are a daily pleasure 
and are better than any thing else to make 
Winter seem cheery; we share all its moods 
and see its beauties. 
Snow and raiu and sticky roads only call 
out wraps that defy them and overshoes that 
protect from their moisture and mud. Some¬ 
times in our walks we go to the east toward 
River Edge, sometimes west, a favorite walk 
through a lane to the top of a gentle slope, 
where we look eastward over intervening val¬ 
leys to the wooded Palisades of the Hudson, 
or we go north aud south aloug level stretches 
of country road bordered by sumacs, black¬ 
berry vines, gray heads of the golden rod in 
its winter guise and the seed umbels of the 
wild carrot that opeu aud close in a curious 
fashion with the chauging weather. 
To one who has never tried the plan of 
going out every day through the Winter, it 
seems like an impossible thing for a busy per¬ 
son to do. Or if not impossible, a disagree¬ 
able tbiug. “What would the neighbors say 
to see me walking, as though for a wager, past 
their houses every day?” is often the first and 
final objection to the plan. But if undertaken, 
the oddity soon wears away, while the benefits 
are lasting. Suitable wraps are very necessary, 
not showy or expensive, but warm and not too 
heavy. Goods from an old felt skirt, lined 
with the material from an old woolen dress, 
made me a short warm sack for my walks all 
one Winter; mittens, hood and overshoes com¬ 
pleted the outfit. 
If dressed thinly so the wind pierces through 
oue as soon as he steps from the door, little 
benefit will come from the out-door air. But 
comfortably wrapped there is a sense of free¬ 
dom iu defying the wintry air, aud a feeling 
chat the country iu its leafless sleep is all 
one’s own. 
When we began our regular walks about 
the first of November, we could not go far 
without feeling tired, but a little practice has 
brought back our strength of last Winter, so 
when wo have time enough, two miles seem 
short. 
Supper is a little after five, and the even¬ 
ings are divided between pleasure aud study. 
While Mrs Carman reads aloud to Mr. Car¬ 
man in bis office, from books, magazines or 
papers, Cerise spends an hour at her lessons, 
Travers amuses himself iu a variety of ways, 
and my time at present is given to Latin 
conjugations and declensions. 
The first hour after supper is often spent in 
the parlor, where Mrs. Carman plays the 
piano, Mr. Carman the violin or banjo. Cerise 
the banjo, aud Travers finds music in a tam¬ 
bourine. Saturday' evenings all work is laid 
aside and it is made a time of social pleasure. 
One of the assistant editors, who lives near, 
often comes in to widen the circle and join m 
the games or music. 
Times of depression and gloom come here 
sometimes, when work seems hard, when the 
country' seems lonely aud nothing seems 
worth the effort needed to gain it. Who is 
there that does not know what the feeling is? 
Who does not want at times to fly away from 
the routine of his life? But the old feeliug of 
pleasure iu everyday living comes back again 
and the household skies brighten once more 
into gladness and enjoyment of simple, com¬ 
mon pleasures. 
FANCIES IN CHINA. 
The changes of fashion iu china aud table 
decorations are as arbitrary, and to many 
feminine minds more interesting than those in 
dress. 
A cracker-jar is a new addition to the 
regular dinner set. It is about the size of a 
quart fruit can, is prettily decorated and has 
a close fitting cover. 
For celery there comes a flat boat-shaped 
dish with along curving handle like the neck 
of a swan. Little dishes for fish sauce in the 
shape of a plump fish have one side hollowed 
Out as a receptacle for sauce; the tail turns 
upward slightly curved and serves for a 
haudle. 
A new roll tray has a decoration iu fac¬ 
simile of u folded and fringed napkin laid on 
the dish. They are pretty for hot breakfast 
rolls or may be used for boiled corn, being 
oblong in shape. 
Bone dishes, now accompany all the nice 
dinner sets. They are curved so as to fit the 
rim of the plate, and ure placed close to it to 
receive the bones and debris that otherwise 
would encumber the plate. 
Oatmeal bowls about two inches deep, with 
fluted or fancy edges have saucers belonging 
to them. They cost about fit) cents each. 
A plutter that is not altogether new, but 
very convenient lias a corrugated bottom, aud 
slopes slightly toward one end where there is 
a gravy well. selma clare. 
- - 4 » » - — 
GOLDEN GRAINS. 
Everyone must see daily instances of 
people who complain from a mere habit of 
complaiuing; and make their friends uneasy 
aud strangers merry by murmuring at evils 
that do not exist, and repining at grievances 
which they do not really feel . 
Dr. Packard says we may. in one sense, 
make too much of our work, our responsibili¬ 
ty, our pressing anxiety for souls. Jesus 
Christ invites us to himself, to eujoy bis word, 
and be comforted iu bis presence. This is as 
much our prerogative as it is that, of any of 
our hearere... 
Religious work may usurp the place of re¬ 
ligious life, aud we may be so anxious for suc¬ 
cess in high aud truly great things, that 
devotion and love aud peace and joy may 
come to stand as secondary. They are pri¬ 
mary. That is our first call—to Christ’s side. 
Thence he seuds us out with his love in our 
hearts .... 
Perhaps a revival would come soonest if 
we forget it, and drew nearer Christ. And 
yet we are to use common seuse methods in 
arousing aud guiding the public mind. We 
must watch and pray. 
Thomas Manton says: “As busbaudmen 
when their ground is overflowed by water, 
make ditches ami water-furrows to carry it 
away, so when our minds and thoughts are 
overwhelmed with trouble, it is good to 
divert them by some other matter. But 
every diversion becometh not the saints; it 
must be a holy diversion as with the Psalm¬ 
ists: ‘In the multitude of my thoughts within 
me, thy comforts delight my soul.’ ”. 
The Baptist Weekly reminds it readers 
that the cheerful are the busy. When trouble 
knocks at your door or rings the bell, he will 
generally retire if you send him word you are 
engaged. 
Domestic Ccomniuj 
CONDUCTED BY MRS. AGNES E. M CARMAN. 
CLOTHES POUNDER. 
The above is very convenient as well as a 
labor-saving device for washing quilts, blan¬ 
kets and all kimlsof woolen goods. It is made 
out of a block of dry basswood eight inches in 
length and four in width. The upper half is 
shaved away until it is barely three inches 
across the top, aud the corners are out off as 
shown in the illustration. V-shaped pieces 
are sawed out of euoh side, leaving four 
prongs. Bore a hole in the top large enough 
to insert an old broom handle aud the thing is 
done. CANADIAN. 
---- 
CHRISTMAS STITCHES IN SANTA 
„ CLAUS LAND. 
ANNIE L. JACK. 
So many stockings to till! 1 do not wonder 
that Mr. aud Mrs. Santu Claus often get tired 
aud discouraged, especially when they do not 
know how their gifts will be received I 
called upon Mrs. S. quite lately. She does not 
get much credit for helping the old saiut, buL 
like many another wife, is content to let him 
get all tlm credit. She was busy knitting a 
blue wool toque, a chain for a foundation 
large enough for some fair-haired miss; then 
she added four chains to the foundation, then 
three loops through the other three of the 
four uud three loops through tlio following 
two loops of the foumtatiou; pull u loop 
through all the loops now on the needle, one 
chain, take up five loops, the first through tlm 
stitch above, where the five loops were worked 
off together. Many people prefer to make 
their own familiar stitch iu crochet, but the 
toque must be three-eighths of a yard long. 
Join the ends neatly, gather the top of the cap 
and place there a crocheted cord and tassel. 
Tack this with the end down on the join to 
coneeal the seam, and then turn the cap up to 
suit the face. 
Another very useful thing she was making 
for an old lady was a pair of foot muffs. They 
were of double wool on wooden needles. A 
strip a little wider than the length of the foot, 
Unit backward and forward till the piece was 
20 inches long, then cast off, and the ends 
sowed together into a bag with an elustic in it 
to tit the ankle. Lying in a basket about the 
Workshop were some very pretty calendars; 
and I found that she got them from merchants 
who gave them a.way—aud with a pot of glue 
she pasted them on to pretty artistic back¬ 
grounds, either cut out or painted, for she 
can use the artist’s brush to advantage. 1 
uoticed, too, that in dressing dolls she had a 
lot of cardinal Jerseys, aud they were all 
made out of some closely woven but half- 
worn stockings. 
In the workshop I saw all the work that this 
indust rious wife had done. Pretty photograph 
frames in birch-bark, and canoes and baskets 
of the same material, tilled with moss and 
bitter-sweet, or with home-made candy. 
There was a fire-screen, too, made of the 
pretty, shiny feathers of tame ducks and other 
fowl, stitched on to a five-cent fan that had 
first been painted brown. Then there were 
some cheap dns -pans that, were similarly 
painted, with the handles done in red, and 
tied with a ribbon. Many a housekeeper 
would value this better than some useless ar¬ 
ticle. A pretty gift where fpras and autumn 
leaves can be obtained, is made by bleaching 
some of the former in soft water and chloride 
of lime, Cleanse them after rinsing in clean 
water, with blotting paper, and pin up stiffly; 
the autumn leaves are simply pressed. These 
on paste-board in the shape of a plucque and 
mounted in velvet, are bright and pretty 
pictures, of interest, to the giver and the re¬ 
cipient, if place and date of gathering are 
mentioned in a corner. 
There were splendid stocking bags iu Santa 
Claus land, made of cretonne aud gathered at 
the top with little riugs and ribbons, and I 
saw the loveliest cushions uII filled with bal¬ 
sam needles and having different covers 
according to fancy: but substantial enough 
to |iut one’s head on them for rest and health¬ 
ful breathing, and 1 suggested to the old lady 
that I thought she ought to have a few hop 
pillows, for if she could grow the hops the 
pillows would ouly cost the making up iu 
pretty cretonne, anil would be a great com¬ 
fort to sleepless people or those that suffered 
from headache. She had a lot of boxes and 
baskets tilled with fruit — grapes or ap¬ 
ples, or assorted baskets—and I felt sure they 
would prove very acceptable gifts to those 
who did not have them without purchasing. 
A pot of hyacinths or other plants would be 
another nice gift. 
♦ - — 
ONE WINTER—IV. 
ANNE THRIFTY. 
Wk all rose from the table to welcome our 
visitor. He handed the jug he carried to 
Sammie. and the sack to Uncle John, saying 
“The women folks sent these things to you; 
they don’t amount to much, but we thought 
Annie VI like some real country fixings to cook 
with, so T brought them along.” While he ex¬ 
plained, the boys bad found that, the jug con¬ 
tained sorghum molasses, and their beaming 
faces showed how much the discovery delighted 
them,lor they were as fond of sweets as young 
cubs. Uncle John invited his brother-in-law 
to a seat at the supi>er table, but he had eaten 
supper with u friend w ho came iu from the 
country with him, so Uncle John turned his 
attention to the contents of the sack while he 
asked after aU the relatives at Rookmade 
Farm. A smoked ham, two bags of dried ap- 
ples, one of sweet, the other of sour upples, 
and a peek of popcorn came out of the depths 
of the sack. 
Country housekeepers with ample stores of 
all kinds m cellar aud closet can hardly real¬ 
ize how F valued these things from the farm, 
and the thanks I tried to express w ere not half 
what I felt. 
These simple gills coming as they did at the 
close of a Imppy Thanksgiving Day, made us 
all feel doubly thankful. We lengthened the 
evening and allowed the boys to sit up to “see 
Uncle Rob,” as they begged to do, until he 
bade us good-by and good night, and left us to 
join the friend he hud brought with him to 
the eity. 
The holiday over, we all went to work again 
und as 1 put away the dried fruit the uext 
morning the remembrance came to me of a 
cake my mother sometimes made of dried up- 
ples. We had considered cake beyond our 
