BE6 14 
£&x the 1 )oimn,, 
saw some boys playing on the 
street the other day. It was 
at noon time. Most of the 
boys worked in offices orsliops. 
They were glad of the chance 
to run about and jump after 
eating their dinners. They 
had an old tin can. It was 
battered and knocked all out 
of shape, for several teams had 
run over it. The boys counted out and the 
one who had to be “it” stood near the can. 
while others kicked at it. The point, was for 
the boy to touch the one who kicked it last. 
The one caught in this way had to be “it” and 
take his place by the can. The can had a hard 
time for it was kicked all up and dowu the 
street. The hoys seemed to have lots Of fun 
out of it and everything was good uatured. 
YV ken the whistles blew for one o'clock how 
the boys scampered away to work. An old 
fellow with a great bag on his shoulder came 
along at last and picked up the can. 
I bklikve in playing strong aud hearty 
games. 1 like a good game of base ball as well 
as the next one. I used to say I would rather 
play a game of ball than eat my dinner, but I 
guess I am past that now. 1 like to see girls 
play ball. They can do it without losing a bit 
of dignity. Everybody needs to spend a part 
of the time out in the air and sunshine and 
growing boys and girls who won't exercise, 
will bo sure to make little old men and women 
before their time. The trouble about playing 
ball aud other games like it is that, men aud 
boys want to go off by themselves and have 
all the fun. Then agaiu some boys get so ex¬ 
cited about it. that they forget everything else 
and neglect, their work. That is wrong. Theic 
is a time for work and a time for play and 
they must not run together. What 1 like is to 
see the whole family from graudfather down 
to the baby play a game of ball. That makes 
goo! fun for all concerned, everybody feels 
better for it and there is no harm done. 
It hardly seems possible that Christmas is 
so near, does it? Yet if we ean believe the 
almanac it is close at band. 1 suppose old 
Santa Claus is hard at work packing up his 
goods and getting his reindeer into shaj>e for 
the trip. I hope he will find you all this year: 
as he is a pretty good old fellow, I guess he 
will. I always feel a little sorry when I hear 
of a boy or girl who has lost faith in Santa 
Clans. I always believed in him and 1 al¬ 
ways meau to. Santa Claus does more for us 
than we think. Even when he is so busy that 
he can't come himself, the talk about him al¬ 
ways moves those who are about us to say and 
do the things wo like to have said aud 
done. It is good to talk about him and 
think about him just as long as we cau. 
We want to be children, in one sense, 
just as long as we live. We mustn’t carry 
any ill feeling against anyone over Christmas. 
Tf we don’t feel just right towards any person, 
now is the time to get ready to forgive aud 
feel right. Remember this now, and bury all 
the spite aud bitterness and all the rest of it 
so far out of sight that it never will come to 
light again. 
Every night when I go home I can see the 
great torch of Liberty out iu the harbor. It 
makes a fine showing—high up iu the air. 
For a long time Liberty was in darkness, as 
no arrangements had been made for keeping 
up the light, but now it is brilliant euougb. 
This idea of Liberty is a grand one. 1 hope 
you can all see it some day. 
LETTERS FROM THE COUSINS. 
Dear TJnci.e Mark: I have read the let¬ 
ters of the Cousins aud enjoyed them very 
much, and would like to be a Cousin too. I 
wrote you a letter once before and It found 
its way into the waste basket and I thought I 
would try again and see if you would not let 
me in this time. Our school is closed this 
week, there is so much sore throat. We plant¬ 
ed the seeds, but it was too dry for them to do 
well. The Alaska Peas did better than any of 
them. I have some corn that is called the 
Japanese, ami will send you some if you 
would like me too. It grows on top like broom 
corn. Yours respectfully, 
Shelbyville, Ills. LILLIE VAN dyke. 
TYou may send the corn. 1 hope the sore 
throat did not get after you.—U. m.] 
Dear Uncle Mark: It is too damp for us 
to go out to-day. so I will spend part of the 
time iu writing a letter to yon, that I ought 
to have written sonic time ago. Rut I was 
sick a long time this Fall. All of us were sick 
at the same time with diphtheria. Thank you 
for the sweet peas you sent us last Spring. 
The weather was so cold and wet we did not 
plant them as early as we ought, and they did 
not grow as well as they would if planted 
earlier; but such as bloomed were beautiful 
and were very sweet. I sent a few of my seed 
to my little cousin in Alabama, YVe have a 
few pansies blooming now. Our Guineas laid 
a great many eggs last Summer. I raised a 
pretty flock of young ones. That dog you 
told us about must have been very cross to 
kill your kitten. Our dog is so fond of the 
cats be does not like to see us play with them. 
We all like the “Story of a District School” 
very much, hut I like what you have to say to 
the Cousins more than anything iu the Rural. 
Papa has lately bought for Mamma an Avery 
Sewing Machine, No. li. She is delighted with 
it. It sews so fast and makes so little noise. 
It. is a great deal simpler than her old one. I 
cau bake a nice loaf of bread. I have never 
made up the dough, but Mamma says I may 
when l get stronger. I made some nice cab¬ 
bage pickle by myself. My brother Rives has 
learned to make brooms very nicely. Y\ r e 
pulled the fodder from the corn for him. He 
and George have raised some fine celery this 
year. Your affectionate niece, 
Farmville, Y r a. bkttik DANIEL. 
[I am glad yon areall better again, I never 
like to be sick. Guineas are good layers, but 
don’t they make a noise, thoughI think our 
dog is sorry now that he killed the kitten. 
He is a cross fellow, though, and cares mostly 
for himself. I am very glad that you ean 
make good bread. That is the best accom¬ 
plishment a woman can ever learn. 1 guess 
your house will be kept pretty clean with all 
the uew brooms you are making.—u. m.] 
Dear Uncle Mark: You either did not 
get my last letter or it went to make your 
fire: but 1 will try agaiu. The Garden Treas¬ 
ures almost all grew; they were lovely. The 
Alaska peas were ripe here in 80 days from 
planting. Angel of Midnight Corn did not 
ripen; it was killed in August, YVe had a 
nice garden this Summer. I have a Jersey 
calf named Bessie but Papa says it will die. 
Mamma bus 2.'i hens. Papa and my brother 
Y\ : allace claim the cow aud cat. October was 
as fine here as August is any year. 
From your Niece, 
Marquette, Mich. sadie m’combie. 
[I am glad you have the live stock so well 
divided. 1 think Wallace has the worst share. 
I do hope the calf will not die.— u. m.] 
Dear Uncle Mark: I wrote one letter, but 
it went into the waste basket. My Papa has 
taken the Rural nearly nine j’ears, and I en¬ 
joy reading the letters flic best. I live on a 
farm one mile and a half from Middletown. 
YVc have four horses, oue colt, five cows, two 
calves, and Hi pigs, aud lots of chickens. YY r e 
had a hen with 15 chickens, and she did not 
loose any. We intend to raise more chickens 
next year. I did not receive any sweet peas. 
We planted some Of the Garden Treasures sent 
out by the Rural. There were quite a num¬ 
ber of different kiivIs that came up; some of 
them were very pretty. We had a nice vege¬ 
table garden this year. My brother planted 
the peas; they bore well, aud wo saved some 
of them for seed. YVe planted a few of the 
melon seeds, but they did not do very well; 
the melons were very small. 1 live where I can 
see ISt. Helena aud Cobb mountains. St. 
Helena Mountain is 4,545 feet high, and Cobb 
Mountain is higher. I live 15 miles from the 
big Geysers. I have been there two times. 1 
have a black cat that I call Gypsy. She got 
her foot in one of our steel traps, and hurt it; 
but she is getting better. 
Lake Co.. Cal. luella j. coburn. 
[Good for tbut ben. She deserves a medal 
and a long life. Better let her try again next 
year. That cat will be very careful where she 
steps hereafter.— U. M.] 
Dear Uncle Mark: I am 11 years old and 
would like to join the Y. H. C. Papa has 
taken the Rural for two years. Hike to read 
the letters of the Cousins. I live in Mercer 
Co., N. J. 1 live on a large farm and my 
Pupa has a fertilizing mill. I have a pet colt. 
It follows me all around. I raised all of the 
poultry this year and Papa gave me a share 
in them. Papa cut very nearly 200 tons of 
hay and 1 raked it all with Papa’s uew 
steel-tooth sulky rake. I have a pair of twin 
brothers 10 months old, aud another brother 
and sister. Carrie m. dilatukii. 
Itobbirisvillo, N. J. 
[You are a great farmer. You do more 
than some men eau do. YVe are glad to have 
you join. We would like to see those l'ttle 
boys.—0. M.] 
Dear Uncle Mark: I am not going to 
school this afternoon, so 1 will write to you. 
YY’hat are the best kinds of hens you know of? 
We have had almost every kind, and we like 
the Plymouth Rocks best. We have the Pekin 
ducks; they are all white, anil are much larger 
than the other kinds. We are wintering 34 
head of cattle, 21 sheep, five horses, and three 
pigs. We have a very good two-year-old 
stallion; its name is “Bob Lambert.” I live 
close to a river, and have plenty of fishing and 
swimming in Summer and skating in Winter, 
Are there any of the Cousins who would like 
to correspond with me? .james stevens. 
Kirkdale, Quebec. 
LI like the YVyandottes pretty well, though, 
of course, it depends greatly upon what you 
want hens for. If I wanted to supply an egg 
market, and had plenty of range. 1 think 1 
should try Y\ T hite Leghorns, Fora small floek, 
sueh as most farmers want, ray choice would 
be Wyandottes or Plymouth Rocks. The 
Langshans are going to be popular though, 
and they are fine birds, too. Perhaps some of 
the Cousins will want to write to you.—u. m.J 
Rheumatism 
YVe doubt if there is, or ran ho, a specific 
remedy for rheumatism; hut thousands who 
Have suffered its pains have heon greatly hen 
efited by Hood’s Sarsaparilla. If you have failed 
to find relief, try this great, remedy, it corrects 
the acidity of the blood which Is tlie cause of the 
disease, and builds up tile whole system. 
“ I was afflicted with rheumatism twenty years 
Previous to 18S3 I found no relief, hut grew worse, 
until I was almost helpless. Hood's Sarsaparilla 
did me more good than all the other medicine 
I ever had.” II. T. I5 ai.com, Shirley Village, Mass. 
Hood’s Sarsaparilla 
Sold by all druggists. $1; six for $5. Mado 
only by C. L ROOD & CO., Lowell, Mass. 
IOO Doses One Dollar . 
CHOICE ENGRAVINGS 
BOOKS RECEDED. 
Calendars. —There are plenty of these use¬ 
ful reminders from which the public may se¬ 
lect this year. One may read the best thoughts 
of his favorite author from day to day, for 
nearly all the more popular authors have been 
brought into the service. Roberts Bros,, Bos¬ 
ton, Mass., present the Daily Morning aud 
Evening Companion Calendars. These are 
very neat iu appearance. The selections have 
lteen made by two critical ladies, and are the 
fruits of a very extensive reading. Opening 
the Evening Calendar at random, we find the 
following. “Labor disgraces uo man; unfor¬ 
tunately you sometimes find men disgrace la¬ 
bor—U. S. Grant.” The YVhituey Calendar is 
published by Houghton, Milfliu & Co., Bos¬ 
ton. This contains a vast amount of practical 
information as well as quotations from the 
writings of Mrs. A, D. T. Whitney. The fol¬ 
lowing hint given for November 19 will do for 
every flay in the year. “.Separate accounts, 
as well as short cues, make best friends,” 
Cassell & Co. (Limited) of tins city send out 
the Beecher Calendar. This is very attractive. 
It bears a fair portrait of Mr. Beecher with 
pictures of his home, of Plymouth Church and 
other buildings. Each page contains no ex¬ 
tract from Mr. Beecher's sermons or other 
writings. “Active little is bettor than lazy 
much,” is Mr. Beecher’s counsel for January 9. 
These calendars all contain many good aud 
comforting thoughts, if each family wherein 
they bang could spend a few moments eaeh 
night in discussing the thought for the day, 
much good could be done. 
Natural History for Little Folks is 
the title of a series of handy little volumes 
which Lee and Shepard have prepared. The 
books are prepared by Mrs. Sanborn Tenney 
aud appear to be carefully written,in language 
that any child cau Comprehend. Each volume 
contains from 80 to 100 illustrut ions. One bonk 
is given up to birds, others to quadrupeds, in¬ 
sects, shells, etc. Bueli litt le booksare far bet¬ 
ter as presents for children than many of the 
so-called stories with which Christmas trees 
and stockings will belined. They might boused 
very successfully as text books in place of the 
Readers which are so frequently changed in our 
schools. 
Somethin® new in the line of holiday books 
are the cheap aud handy volumes published 
by Lee <fc Shepard. “Home, Sweet. Home.” 
“Curfew Must. Not Ring To-night. - ’ “Nearer 
My God to Thee,” “Abide With Me.” "My 
Faith Looks lip to Time” and “Rock of Ages” 
are all beautifully illustrated and printed. 
They are bound in leatherette with gill edges. 
The volumes are small enough to go into the 
pocket. They ought to be popular this sea¬ 
son, All lovers of the above poems will be 
delighted with the accompanying illustrations. 
The Madonna of the Tubs, by Elizabeth 
Btuart Phelps (Houghton Miffim & Co.), is a 
beautiful Christmas story. It was originally 
published in Harper's, but has been rowrittten 
aud enlarged, and many illustrations have 
been added. We like it lietter than any of 
the other stories by Miss Phelps. It is a ten¬ 
der, beautiful love story—the right kind of a 
story—one that leaves a feeling of hope anil 
gladness in the heart. YVe wish every one of 
our friends could read it this (iirist.mns. 
Little Miss Wheezy, by Penn Shirley 
(Lee A Shepardi, is a very cunning little story 
of a bright little girl. “Wheezy” is but a pet 
name for Louise. Every one likes to read 
about these cunning little children, who say 
such odd tbiugs and are yet children—not 
little old people, Old people are made young 
again by reading good stories of children, aud 
children are never tired of reading about 
other children. 
PhSVfUauf-ou;* 
----r~*“*— 
DIXON’S “Carburet of Iron” Stove Polish wai 
established In 1H27, and Is to day. as it was then, the 
neatest and brightest in the marker, a pure plumbago, 
giving off no poisonous vapors. The size Is uow doub¬ 
led and cake weighs nearly half a pound, but the quali¬ 
ty and price remain the same. Ask your goocer for 
Dixon’s big cake. 
B'autiful HELtOTYPE ENGRAVINGS, carefully 
chosen and finely finished, and admirably Hutted to 
the decoration of rooms when neatly framed; also, 
for Portfollosand Art studies. ’I hey Include many 
of the fines! works of the Great Modern Artists, 
such as Millet, iiabrlel Max. Burne-Jones, Paul 
Thmnnnn. Millais, Lelshton. Landseer. Rosa Ron- 
lteur. George Mason, Frederick Walker and others. 
They are printed in permanent ink, on heavy 
plate "paper. Inches In size, with engraved 
title aud India tint, uud are sold at 
One Dollar each. 
Sent, post-paid, to any address, securely wrap¬ 
ped, upon receipt of price. 
An Illustrated Catalogue mailed upon receipt of 
stamp. 
HELIOTYPE PRINTING COMPANY. 
till Tremoui Street, Boston, Mas*. 
Brewster’s Patent Rein Holder, 
Your lines are where you put them—not under 
horta's’ feet. One agent sold fftdoz. In five days; 
one dealer sold sis dor,. Iu if, days. Samples 
worth 81.50FREE. Write f,,r terms. 
E. £. IIUEYVSTEII. Holly, Mich. 
HOME ’ • • Y . Book.-keeping, Business Forms, 
Penmanship, Arithmetic, Short-hand, etc., 
... taugnl bv MAIL- Circular- free. 
IIRTaNT A STttATrtlY’S, Buffalo. N. Y 
Weekly—Sixteen Pages. 
■lOI KNAt.. Chicago. Ills. 
S1 a year. .Sample eopyjiee. 
r nnspeecbes, Selections, etc., and agents' new Sample 
OUU Cards for a Je stamp. Givis x BitO., Codlz, Ohio. 
CHAMPION EVAPORATOR! 
Fjr CIDER. soUGHl M, FKl IT .1 KI.I.IE-, mid 
has OOfrtugated pan o, r i ve, doul>- 
Un[) eap’tcUji; small 
. connected by siphon-. 
" tiled fur cleans! in:,and 
able to distribute WPar; automatic regulator, and 
other advantages too numerous -i mention. Cata¬ 
logues free. <>. II. t.ltIMM «V CO., Hudson,O. 
cyrup nans 
, easily ltao- 
intercnange- 
A Nam rallm Study tor Boy* and Mirl». 
KV BUY i >N E TUCK OWN r.\XIo K KM Is I 
For gl I will send reoelpt and complete Instructions 
for Embalming and Moulding Birds, Klslt, anil Small 
Reptiles, .lust the thing for I lie long Win ter evenings. 
Every boy and girl ean become u Naturalist, and have 
a complete collection of Birds and Animals at u noinl 
nal cost, not to exceed five cents each. 
JOHN T. LINK. 
BOX 793, SILVER CLIFF, COLO, j 
arm Funny Selections, Scrap Pictures, etc., and nice 
05JU Sample Cards for 2c. Hn.L Baud Co,, Cadiz, Ohio. 
5 PIECES SILVERWARE 
all iwiii Hi.I laLi< Aif< nr,» or 
MHlTo Fn*HI> hiLi Ul I’LA l *: i O.. Jh 
In Sfttln-linod 
(Am 1 , FKEK to 
... %nlc%. AdilrrM 
Northford, Conn* 
GUNS 
liur»io anot tiun now *ni. 
" $15 Breechloader “ $ 9.50 
All kitula (iIMSguarmnUsed lower Misti 
elsewhere. oi sunup for tllnitrsUrd 
CS.t-H.lo KUO. POWELL A CLEMENT, 
ISO Mala SL, Cincinnati, Ohio. 
WORK 
FOR ALL. (<;jll a week and expenses 
pnld. Valuable outfit anil particulars 
free. P. O. VICK FRY, A tXIUSTA, MAINE. 
•ICIUPCQH jioum. sgwi.xu tmubnhs 
tfllluCn for in-.<Mi up. Warranted 
& years. New and perfect. Sent on trial II 
desired. Organs given as premiums. Bend 
for circular with 7,000 testimonials from 
every state. Wc cati save you $15 to 9,V>. 
SHI. PAY5K A CO,, Cl IV. fl.mrw St., Chlemto. 
KV Elf V HOI) Y should have the Reliable Diction¬ 
ary and Appendix, just nut. :W pages—2S.UK) words— 
valuable Tables, Phrases,etc. Illustrated. Post-paid, 
for :u ets. m AMUNB. Box 3 hn, FRANKLIN, N. H. 
nr Mi/CD WEEKLY REPUBLICAN. 
U L 11 V L li Devoted to Mining, Stock UaL-liig, 
” and Farming. The news of Colo¬ 
rado. Wyoming. N* w Mexico, aud Rocky Mountain 
Country gathered and published weekly. A paper of 
Interest to every one wishing to "go west" or invest 
Iu Western enterprises. S pages; 2lsc year. Price. 
Two Hollars per yi peel men Copy FREE. Ad 
dress REPUBLICAN PUB. CO., Denver. Colo. 
NO GENTLEMAN 
who h as once shaved 
WITH GENUINE 
YANKEE fOAP will 
ever bo without it. 
It eoftens tho 
board, soothes the 
Skin. Its lather ia 
heavy’ and does not 
dry utt the face. It 
has no equal. All 
DranaUts keep It. 
Avoid Imitations. 
Trial Sample by 
Mail, 12 cts. 
Tho J. B. Williams Co., 
Conn. 
, Manchester, 1840. 
s GENUINE 
YANKEE SOAP, 
MAJJCHLSTER CONJi, 
WILLIAMS J BROTHERS 
CHtMISnAND APiTTHCCARItS, 
1 baaMa«*>, iiw i j 
Not, M 
Formerly Williams & Bros 
PATENTS 
P. A. LEHMANN, Solicitor or Patent*, WtahluKtoo, D. 0 . 
Nocturne uuleea patent loecured. Send lor Circular, 
