1900 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
509 
A Barberry Experiment, 
“No, I never did!” The tone indicated, 
“and I never want to!” 
“Shoe-pegs and raisins don’t strike me 
as mixin’ well,” the speaker went on to 
say. 
“Who said anything about shoe-pegs?” 
asked her companion. 
“Nobody; only when you speak of 
mixin’ nice plump layer raisins with 
them little seedy barb’rys, I can’t help 
thinkin’ ’bout what Josiah says when¬ 
ever I put ’em on th’ table: ‘Shoe-pegs 
again to-night, Cindy? I’ve done ’em 
with punkin, an’ I’ve done ’em with 
sweet apples, but they’re always shoe- 
pegs to Josiah. An’ I can’t help thinkin’ 
if I sh’d smother ’em with raisins, they’d 
be ‘shoe-pegs’ to him, still.” Lucindy 
Perkins gave a quick, emphatic snuff, 
and settled herself back squarely in her 
chair. 
Cousin Maria Richards had introduced 
a numoer of city notions during her so¬ 
journ at Elm Farm; some of them Lu¬ 
cindy had reluctantly acknowledged to 
be improvements. Serving asparagus on 
toast, for instance, had recommended it¬ 
self as ueing a good way to use up stale 
bread. Banana fritters and banana float 
had been the salvation of a dozen ban¬ 
anas that Josiah had been foolish en¬ 
ough to invest in, one day. Lucindy’s 
thrifty nature lent itself readily to all 
such ways of using up what, otherwise, 
would have been wasted. But when 
Cousin Maria came in from a morning 
walk w.th a basketful of plump red bar¬ 
berries, and asked her whether she had 
ever preserved them with raisins, she 
decided that it was time to put a stop to 
these hifalutin fancies. Apples and 
pumpkin you can waste and never miss, 
so ran her thoughts; but raisin's—good 
big layer raisins—why, she didn’t even 
think < f using them for her Thanksgiv¬ 
ing pies; and the idea of cooking them 
with seedy, sour barb’rys— 
“Seems to me, Maria, you city folks 
waste r good deal of time experiment¬ 
ing on vict’ls!” she exclaimed, suddenly. 
Cousin Maria smiled good-naturedly, as 
she lifted a bunch of rosy berries from 
the basket in her lan. 
“Aren’t these beauties, Lucindy V' 
“H’m! They look well enough, if 
that’s what you mean; and also, for that 
matter, do choke-cherries. ‘The proof 
of the puddiu’s in the eatin.’ ” And sue 
smiled grimly. 
“Will you allow me to do a little more 
experimenting to-morrow, Lucindy?” 
“With barb’rys?” 
Cousin Maria nodded. 
“I don’t b’lieve Mason’s got a raisin 
in his store. He never lays ’em in ’fore 
the middle of October.” 
“Don’t worry about the raisins, Lu¬ 
cindy; all I want is the use of your stove 
and preserving kettle,” was the reply. 
The next day was a busy one for 
Cousin Maria. As soon as the breakfast 
dishes were cleared away, she took pos¬ 
session of the kitchen. She stripped 
and washed the barberries, and then 
equipped herself for a walk. If Levi 
Mason couldn’t be depended on, she 
knew where she was sure of finding 
some raisins. She hadn’t tramped 
the country for nothing, during the past 
month. Lucindy expressed astonish¬ 
ment that Levi d “stocked up” so early, 
when Maria came back and began to 
strip from their stems the raisins she 
had succeeded in obtaining. 
“I didn’t stop there, Lucindy; I 
thought it wasn’t best to trust to an un¬ 
certainty; so I went down the hill and 
across the bridge, to—” 
“Land sakes; you haint been way 
down to th’ Centre?” broke in Lucindy. 
“I thought you’d been gone considerable 
while.” 
“I enjoyed the walk very much. 1 
only hope that you and Josiah will en- 
MOTHERS.—Be sure to use“Mrs.Wins- 
low’g Soothing Syrup” for your children 
while Teething. It is the Best.— Adv. 
joy the preserves equally well,” was the 
reply. 
Lucindy’s mouth dropped and her eyes 
wandered restlessly from the large 
raisins falling from Cousin Maria’s busy 
fingers, to the tin dish where the bar¬ 
berries were floating. Then all of a sud¬ 
den she found herself quoting Scripture. 
It would hardly seem that “pearls and 
swine” could be in any way associated 
with Cousin Maria’s work; but Josiah 
always said that “Cindy could find a 
text to suit any emergency.” Her 
thoughts did not always blossom into 
such, however. She had a way, not 
wholly peculiar to herself, of saying just 
the opposite of what she had been think¬ 
ing. 
“Tuem raisins look good enough to 
eat,” was what she finally said; and 
then, as sort of an afterthought,—“it 
seems a pity to mix ’em!” Lucindy’s 
snuff was an exclamation point that al¬ 
ways followed a decided statement. 
Cousin Maria looked up quickly. 
If you’d rather I wouldn’t make the 
preserves, Lucindy—” she began 
“Land no, Maria, don’t stop!” was the 
hurried response. “I’m rather cur’ous 
to taste the stuff, now you’ve started 
on’t.” 
When Josiah came in to dinner, the 
preserve was simmering on the back 
part of the stove. He gave an apprecia¬ 
tive sniff. 
“Still at it, ’Cindy? It beats th’ dick¬ 
ens how you find things to mess up. 
Tho’t them damsons was goin’ to end up 
th’ season.” Still Josiah smiled broad¬ 
ly; for if there was a short cut to his 
heart, it was through the preserving 
kettle, so to speak. Lucindy always 
had her dark closet in the cellar well 
stocked with preserves, from Spring 
rhubarb to Autumn quinces. The con¬ 
coction upon the stove bubbled and sim¬ 
mered, and pretty soon a few drops spat¬ 
tered over. Josiah sniffed again. 
“Smells consider’ble like bar—” 
“It’s a new preserve that Cousin 
Maria’s puttin’ up for us.” Lucindy 
hurriedly checked the words hovering 
upon Joseph's lips; and while Cousin 
Maria gently stirred the bubbling fluid, 
to prevent another misdemeanor, she 
bustled round the table with wifely so¬ 
licitude, until Josiah’s attention was 
tactfully withdrawn. Late in the after¬ 
noon Cousin Maria stood at the kitchen 
door, wooing a gentle breeze to fan her 
heated brow. Lucindy cast a furtive 
glance at the trim row of jars upon the 
table, as she passed through the room. 
Cousin Maria’s attention was held by 
the antics of a colt down in the pasture, 
and Lucindy cautiously lifted a spoon 
that lay upon the table, and quickly 
dipped it into the bowl of “left-over” 
that stood besides the jars of fruit. The 
shadow of a smile played about her lips, 
and it broadened when she set a dish of 
the tempting preserve beside her hus¬ 
band’s plate. 
Josiah came in hot and tired from an 
afternoon in the grain field. He drew a 
long breath that ended in a sigh, as he 
pulled his chair up to the table. Six 
o’clock, and the cows were not yet 
milked nor any of the evening chores 
done. A farmer’s life admits of few 
leisure moments in Summer. From 
sunrise to sunset there is the same mo¬ 
notonous round of duties. Josiah did not 
complain—neither did Lucindy. “Man’s 
work is from sun to sun, but a woman’s 
work is never done,” was all the allusion 
she ever made to her lot. To-night, 
Josiah seemed almost too tired to eat. 
He had little to say. He hoped that the 
rain would keep off a day or two longer 
till the meadow lot was mowed; and he 
asked Cousin Maria if he hadn’t seen her 
tramping off towards the “Centre,” in 
the forenoon. This was about all that 
was said. Meanwhile, two anxious 
women were waiting his verdict upon 
the dish of sauce that yet remained un¬ 
tasted. At lengtn Josiah raised the 
spoon to his lips. His countenance 
brightened. He tasted again; this time 
more eagerly; yet, with the perversity 
of mankind in general, he refrained 
from comment. 
Cousin Maria was disappointed wnen 
the meal finally ended without anything 
having been said regarding the fruit of 
her day’s labor; although there was no 
mistaking .Josiah’s silent appreciation of 
it. She wasn’t used to men’s ways, 
Lucindy told her. The cows were 
milked and the last chore done. Josiah 
sat reading the paper. Lucindy was 
kneading bread. Her work always over¬ 
lapped into the hours when other people 
were resting. Josiah looked over his 
glasses at the table where his wife was 
patiently patting her lump of dough, 
and said: “I declare ’Cindy, I came 
nigh smacking my lips at th’ table to¬ 
night, that new sauce o’ yourn tasted so 
good. What was it?” 
“Barb’rys;” replied his wife, with a 
faint smile upon her tired face. 
Josiah finished his paper in silence. 
HELEN M. RICHARDSON. 
A Rainbow Shawl 
A very dainty-looking wrap, which 
women have been wearing on the veran¬ 
das at some of the Summer resorts, is a 
rainbow shawl, which is knitted in ordi¬ 
nary plain knitting stitch. It is made 
of Shetland wool, with large bone or 
wooden needles No. 5 or No. G, about 
one inch in circumference. It will take 
seven skeins of Shetland wool, four of 
white, one of pale pink, one of pale blue, 
one of pale yellow. 
Cast on 200 stitches. Then knit in the 
following order: 12 rows, white; 2, yel¬ 
low; 12, pink; 2, yellow; G, white; 2, 
yellow; 8, blue; 2, yellow; 12, pink; 2, 
yellow; 32, white; 2, yellow; 7, blue; 2, 
yellow; 32, white; 2, yellow; 7, pink; 2, 
yellow; 32, white; 2, yellow; 7, pink; 2, 
yellow; 32, white; 2, yellow; 12, pink; 2, 
yellow; 5, white; 2, yellow; 5, white, 2, 
yellow; 8, blue; 2, yellow; G, white; 2, 
yellow; 12, pink; 2, yellow; 12, white. 
Crochet edge around. A fringe (of sim¬ 
ple chain stitch) about three inches long 
is very pretty. The lighter the tints the 
more perfectly they will blend and the 
better the rainbow effect. 
Riding a Horry. —You can’t afford on 
a farm (or any other place, for that 
matter) to deprive yourself and children 
from indulgence in individual tastes. 
It is surprising sometimes how a small 
outlay adds to the interest, and fre¬ 
quently profit as well. I have known of 
several instances where fancy poultry, 
dog or cattle breeding of sorts most in 
demand in that part of the country, has 
resulted in interesting the whole family 
and adding largely to the income. Have 
a hobby of your own choosing; one that 
will give you the most pleasure, and 
you will be surprised at the ease with 
which you can do the almost endless 
routine work of a farmer’s wife. 
Mrs. Kittie Grant. 
AV\t. WORLD'S ^ 
Elgin Watches 
possess accuracy and endurance 
under all conditions and in uli 
degrees of tomperature. 
Full Ruby Joweled. 
Sold by jewelers everywhere. 
An Elgin Watch always has the 
word ’‘Elgin” engraved on the 
works—fully guaranteed. 
Send for free booklet. 
f ELGIN NATIONAL WATCH CO. ELGIN, ILL. | 
$L25 for Nothing 
Our presses have completed printing our 
Catalogue No. 99, of everything to 
Eat, Use and Wear. Each copy 
costs $1.00 to print and 25 cents to 
mail. As an evidence of interest, 
send 10 cents in stamps to help 
pay postage, and you may deduct 
these 10 cents from your first 
order of $1. It required 17 car 
loads of paper for this won¬ 
derful catalogue, which con¬ 
tains 480 pages,size LOCxl i 
inches, equivalent to over 
1000 pages of the ordinary 
catalogue. We save you 
25 per cent, to 75 per 
cent, on everything 
you buy at every 
season of the year. 
There 
is little 
you can 
think of 
that this 
book does 
not contain, 
excepting Lo¬ 
comotives and 
Boats. We even 
quote Live Ani¬ 
mals. Everything 
man, woman or 
child wears, all kinds 
of food, everything 
for tlie home, for the 
oflice, for a hotel, for use 
on a farm, in a barn, or for 
every known purpose, can 
he found in tiiis catalogue. 
Tills book contains over 
19,000 illustrations and quotes 
prices on over 150,000 differ¬ 
ent articles. 
Lithographed Carpet, Rug and 
Drapery Catalogue, and our Clothing 
Catalogue with large samples at¬ 
tached, are also Free, Expressago paid 
on Clothing; Freight paid on Carpet. 
This book quotes 
wholesale prices 
to consumers, 
and witli it in 
your posses¬ 
sion you buy 
c h e a p e r 
than the 
average 
dealer. 
Which book shall eve send f Address this way : 
JULIUS HINES & SON 
Department 425 BALTIMORE, MD. 
B.B. 
Oases of New Goods crowding 
in by the hundreds. 
Many advance lines of late, 
dressy things opened—styles and 
value that show the strength of 
this store’s hid for the preference 
is merit. 
One line in particular—52 inch 
all wool Oxford Homespuns, 
50c. 
—decidedly smart—so attractive 
as will get extra attention. 
Other new Homespuns 85c. to 
$3.50—the $1.25 and $1.50 lines are 
56 inch goods—elegant weave and 
high-toned effect. 
Surplus lot of Lupin’s make all 
wool Black Camels Hair, 35c. 
yard—48 inches wide. 
Maker put worth in them— 
never intended them to sell for as 
little as even twice this. 
Samples will surprise you. 
BOGGS & BUHL, 
Department C, 
ALLEGHENY, PA. 
Thoroughly trains young 
men and women for busi¬ 
ness and secures situu- 
Poughkeepsie.N.Y. Htions. Instructions by 
i mail or in person. Ex¬ 
penses low. For full Information, address 
C. C. GAINES, Box 817, Uoughkcepsie, N. Y. 
ha r 
Buy Direct 
from luctory at wholesale prices 
..^i-^you pay one small proiltonly. Why 
. 1 -mkk pay agents and dealers high prices. 
All attachments free. 80 days free 
trial. Warranted 20years. 180,000 sold. 
*85.00 Arlington Gem for.. I* I 2.1)5 
Drop Kcnd Arlington Gem.. # 15.50 
*50.00 Arlington for.till 7.00 
fn *115.00 Kenwood for.*21.50 
| Jj Other Much Inca at *9,* 10.50 A $ 12 
tmS Large illustrated catalogue and 
testimonials free. CASH BUYERS’ UNION. 
1.58-104 W. Van Huron St., It-848 .Chicago, III 
Brass Band 
la.trumenta, Drums, Uniforms. 
Jk Hupp.ler. Write for catalog, 44fi 
Illustrations, fltKK; it gives in¬ 
formation for musicians and new 
hands. |_YON * HEALY, 
*« Adams 8K, CHICAGO. 
“ Wood treated with Creosote is not subject to dry 
rot or other decay.”—Century Dictionary. 
Cabot’s Creosote Shingle Stains 
are 50 per cent cheaper than paint, and 100 per cent 
better for all rough woodwork. Made in all colors, 
and durability guaranteed. Samples on wood and 
illustrated catalogue sent on request 
SAMUEL CABOT, 81 Kilby St., Boston, Mass. 
| | ||L 7 V vLivrj, w 1 at druggists. 46 c 
UUL 0 size of us. Coe Cheui. Co., Cleveland, O. 
WE WANT YOU 
to represent The R. N.-Y. at Fairs. Liberal 
terms will be sent on request. Write early 
for appointment, and give place and date of 
Fair you waut to attend. 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER, New Yoke 
