3o7 
i89o 
CONFESSIONS OF A COUNTRY GIRL. 
SECOND SERIE8. 
PATTY GARTON 
F OURTEEN to20 may be called the age 
of aspiration; during those half-dozen 
fateful years most girls go through a good 
deal of mental turmoil. We are apt to 
long for great deeds—for some change from 
the surrounding monotony—and oh, what 
a worry we are to ouj* mothers ! Those years 
usually decide the marring or making of a 
girl’s character; it is a time when the 
mother’s influence is either fixed for the 
rest of her life, or else is entirely overthrown. 
My transition period is not so far away that 
I have forgotten my own sensations. I 
don’t think that grown-up people really 
think how sensitive in every way a young 
girl is during that growing-up period. She 
is still regarded as a child—or ought to be 
—and her sensibilities are not regarded as 
very keen, yet she feels very strongly, as a 
rule, and suffers a good deal from woes 
both real and imaginary. 
One very tender point with girls at this 
age is the question of personal appearance, 
and grown-ups unconsciously cause a good 
deal of unhappiness by joking or unfavora¬ 
ble comment. It is certainly an awkward age 
when the girl is neither child nor woman,and 
there is often some peculiarity—it may be a 
stoop, or a habit of hunching the shoulders, 
or an awkward walk—but whatever it is 
it should not be commented on in such a 
way as to make the object of the reproof 
unhappy. I have repeatedly heard mothers 
call attention to such defects, in a way 
which made the poor girl shrink and blush 
and feel as if the whole universe were taking 
note of her peculiarities. And it takes 
such a little thing to make one unhappy at 
that age; we can’t see far enough to realize 
that such trouble is temporary, and we are 
not likely to philosophize over it. Such 
comments on person or manner really lead 
to self-consciousness, which is not far re¬ 
moved from vanity. 
Do you think it wrong for a girl to con¬ 
sider her clothes as far as she can, trying 
to dress suitably and becomingly, without 
intrenching on time required for other pur¬ 
suits? It does seem to me that a girl who 
doesn’t care a bit how she looks is rather 
selfish, for it is a good deal pleasanter to 
look on a becoming gown than an ugly one. 
Even if it is cheap cotton, there is no reason 
why it should not be pretty, especially 
now-a-days, when all the patterns of fig¬ 
ured silks are reproduced in cotton. Nor Is 
there any reason why a girl should choose 
an unbecoming color, even in a morning or 
working frock. It need not look old-fash¬ 
ioned, either; things are now so plainly 
made that one has a good chance to be 
economical without looking, as the school¬ 
girls say, as if one’s clothes came out of the 
Ark. 
One thing I dislike exceedingly is to see a 
girl wearing out her old clothes in the 
kitchen, just in their original form. Some 
seem to think it more economical to wear 
an old stuff gown too shabby and untidy 
to be seen in, for a working dress, instead 
of a neat, plain cotton made for the purpose. 
I could never see a reason for that; my 
stuff gowns are made over, and brushed, 
mended, and kept clean until the last; then 
they seem all to go to pieces at once, like 
the “one-hoss shay.” With clean frills at 
neck and wrists, and an expansive white 
apron, an old dark gown can be made avail¬ 
able for rainy afternoon wear at home, 
long after it is too shabby to wear out-of- 
doors, or even at home on sunshiny days. 
The clean collar and cuffs will give it an 
air of neatness, and a big, white apron, like 
charity, covers a multitude of sins. 
It is surprising, too, how much longer a 
frock looks well, and lasts in wear, when it 
is always carefully hung up when taken 
off, always brushed when necessary, and 
always kept in good repair. Some appar¬ 
ently careful girls seem to run through 
their clothes in just about half the time of 
others, but in most cases the secret is 
simply in the way the gown is cared for. 
As for cotton frocks, I certainly think it 
does not pay to wear them until they are 
excessively soiled. I can wear a morning 
gingham for two weeks without washing, 
but I always put on a loose, dark cotton 
wrapper when sweeping, scrubbing, black¬ 
ing stoves, or doing any other very dirty 
work. As soon as the dirty work is done, 
the ordinary neat morning dress is re¬ 
sumed ; thus I am enabled to keep my 
frocks clean for a longer time, and avoid 
fading them by the hard washing needed 
to clean them when very much soiled. I 
have found it a very good plau to have a 
loose-sleeved calico wrapper of the abused 
THE RURAL AEW-YOKKER. 
Mother Hubbard shape, merely for the pur¬ 
pose of slipping over a good gown. It is 
excellent if obliged to do cooking, bread¬ 
making, or anything of the sort, when 
dressed for the afternoon, or to slip over a 
best dress if there is unexpected kitchen 
work to be done. 
HAYING THINGS HANDY. 
I T seems to me that almost any house¬ 
keeper might profitably devote at least 
one of these spring days, or such a portion 
of it as she can spare from routine duties, 
to sundry small reforms needed in almost 
any household, and to'the arrangement of 
all possible conveniences. Such provision 
ought to be included in the semi-annual 
“ setting-to rights,” for the word includes 
it. 
Many women are very negligent in this 
respect, and time and strength are spent 
needlessly every day in paying the penalty 
of their carelessness. 
So before the busy season has begun, or 
the first hot days are upon us, let each take 
a little time to look about her, and see what 
preparation she can make beforehand for 
the summer’s burdens, in the shape of 
thrifty conveniences and labor-saving con¬ 
trivances indoors. 
If there is a perverse or smoking chimney, 
perhaps now it can be cured. If paint will 
save much scrubbing, or a drain pipe the 
tugging of slops, now is the time to apply for 
it. 
If a shelf here, a drawer there, a swing- 
door in another place, will save steps or 
“clutter” or annoyance, the housewife 
owes it to herself and her household to see 
that they are provided ; and though few 
women like to tease, or even insist, a little 
gentle insistence will often carry the day. 
Was it to housewives Emerson was speak¬ 
ing when he said : “ If there is any good 
thing in store for you, it will not come at 
the first or second call ? ” 
But there are other convenient arrange¬ 
ments quite within her own province and 
her power to compass, which the thrifty 
housewife will attend to while there is time. 
She will see that nothing has place in 
pantry, closet or kitchen which does not 
properly belong there. 
This I know is a part of house-cleaning, 
and its mention seems a needless reminder. 
But many people allow petty accumulations 
to crowd essential things, and lose time and 
patien.ce both, thereby. 
A vigorous extermination of such in¬ 
truding articles will leave space for neces¬ 
sary and convenient things and their nicer 
arrangement. 
The pantry, which in many houses is the 
place where the food is prepared for the 
oven, ought to contain all cooking utensils 
and all ingredients commonly required, 
save those perishable things which must be 
kept in the cellar, as milk, butter, fruit, 
eggs and the like. 
It is convenient also to have most articles 
labeled. Of course the housekeeper her¬ 
self knows which box contains saleratus, 
and which cream-of-tartar, and just where 
she keeps her corn-starch She recognizes her 
spice-boxes at a glance, and does not need 
to investigate before she dips into rye, or 
rice, or Graham flour. But how does she 
know what emergency may send another 
there in her place, or that friend, or hus¬ 
band, or children may not have some time 
to prepare a day’s meals. 
An abundance of well-arranged piece- 
bags are a great convenience. If there are 
many grown people or daughters in the 
family, let each have her own piece-bag of 
stout material and generous capacity to 
contain the ever-multiplying bundles. If 
there are little children, let there be several 
for light and dark, coarse and fine, thick 
and thin pieces, and have a real “ handy- 
bag ” in a convenient closet, to hold pieces 
that are likely to be wanted often, such as 
cotton cloth, light and dark silesia and 
cambric, bits of lining-muslin, flannel and 
basting, besides tape and elastic. Have, 
beside the family button-box—and a box is 
much better than a bag for buttons, though 
it ought to be of wood with a sliding cover 
—a small one for white buttons aud another 
for boot-buttons, and keep them in a con¬ 
venient place, aud, moreover, have each 
feminine member of the household assured 
of their exact location. 
There should be several capacious bags 
to receive the remnants of worn-out cloth¬ 
ing; one for pieces of old white cottons; 
another for similar colored cloths, a small 
one for twine, and one for waste-paper, be¬ 
sides the rag-bag proper. All these should 
hang in an outer room, convenient to all 
the family, and near them should be kept 
another for soiled linen, olive e. dana. 
MARTHA TUBY’S EVANGELISTIC 
WORK. 
T HEY were organizing a Womans’ 
Union in the little country church 
at the comer. 
“ I appoint Mrs. Martha Tuby supe* *n 
tendent of evangelistic work,” said th< 
newly-elected president in a loud * id de 
cided voice. 
Mrs. Martha Tuby arose in a flutter and 
said: 
“ Mrs. President, I’ll have to be excused, 
I’ve a man to home plowin’ who has to be 
evangelized with 21 good, square meals an’ 
three clean shirts, with the buttons all on, 
every week. I’ve six children who have to 
be evangelized with 36 washed hands, 18 
washed faces and combed heads, an’ proper 
meals an’ six suits of lately-washed and 
mended clo’es; besides, I have to evangelize 
’em pretty of’en with their father’s slip¬ 
pers, to say nuthin’ o’ their catechism an’ 
Sunday School lessons, an’ hearin’ ’em say 
their prayers an’ puttin’ ’em to bed every 
night. I’ve nine calves, seven pigs, an’ 20 
ducks an’ 12 turkeys, an’ half of ’em jest 
ready to come off with young uns, an’ 41 
hens, with 10 of ’em a-settin’, an’ they all 
need a dretful sight of evangelizin’. I’d 
like to evangelize this hull place an’ the hull 
wurld besides, (the Lord knows it needs it 
bad enough) if I could; but I ain’t equal to 
the hull of It, an’ bein’ that duty as well as 
charity begins to home, you’ll have to ex¬ 
cuse me.” 
And she sat down with the air of a 
woman who knows what she is ah' at. 
Then the president sighed a regretful sigh 
and said: 
“ I withdraw my first appointment, and 
appoint Mrs. Mary Grundy in Mrs. Tuby’s 
place.” GERALDINE G. 
A Common Mistake in butter making is 
carelessness in selecting and using artificial 
color. The best on earth is none too good. 
Use Thatcher’s Orange Butter Color and 
you have it right every time.— Adv. 
Dried or evaporated fruit, provided 
it is nicely cooked, is an appetizing addition 
to the breakfast-tablein spring, when fresh 
fruit is hard to obtain. Stewed prunes or 
peaches are especially nice. Both should 
be soaked over-night and stewed slowly. 
Drop Molasses Cakes.— To one tea-cup¬ 
ful of New Orleans molasses add one even 
tea-spoonful of soda, and beat thoroughly; 
add one egg and again beat vigorously. 
Then add one-third of a tea-cupful of warm 
butter, (or butter and lard), and enough 
flour to make the mixture quite stiff when 
stirred. Spread in a thin layer on a large 
baking-tin; moisten the top thoroughly 
with a mixture made of equal parts of mo¬ 
lasses and cold water. Bake in a hot oven; 
cut in squares and serve either cold or 
warm. Where one is fond of cookies with 
coffee, these are a pleasant change. 
K. b. j. 
piSccUancou.o' ^dvertfcing. 
Advertisers treat all correspondents 
well if they mention the Rural New- 
Yorker. 
Many Clergymen, 
Singers, actors, and public speakers use 
Ayer’s Cherry Pectoral. It is the favorite 
remedy for hoarseness and all affections of 
the vocal organs, throat, and lungs. As an 
anodyne and expectorant, the effects of 
this preparation are promptly realized. 
“Ayer’s Cherry Pectoral has done tnegre^t 
good. It is a splendid remed/ for all dis¬ 
eases of the throat and lungs, and I have 
much pleasure in testifying to its merits.”— 
(Rev.) C. N. Nichols, No. 'fishery. Mass. 
"In my profession of an auctioneer, any 
affection of the voice or throat is a serious 
matter, hut, at each attack, I have been re¬ 
lieved by a few doses of Ayer’s Cherry 
Pectoral. This remedy, with ordinary care, 
has worked such a magical effect that I have 
suffered very little inconvenience. I have 
also used it in my family, with very excel¬ 
lent results, in coughs, colds, &e.”—Win. H. 
Quartly, Minlaton, So. Australia. 
Ayer’s Cherry Pectoral, 
preparrh by 
DR. J. C. AYER & CO., Lowell, Mass. 
Sold by all Druggists. Price $1; six bottles, $5. 
The BEST on Wheels. “Randy” Wagons, 
Buggies. Surreys, Spindles. Buckboards, Con¬ 
cords, Phaitons, Cabriolets, Two Wheelers, Road 
Carts.etc. 52-p:wje catalogue and circular." How 
to purchase direct from the manufacturers," FREK. 
SYRACUSE. X. Y. 
68 Murray St.. New York, 
i SIS Sudbury St-, Boston. 
Platform Wagon 
J§°- The Elkhart Carriage 
Harness Mfg.’Co. 
| For 16 Tears 
hare sold to 
_ consumers at 
WHOLESALE PRICES, sating them the 
dealers* profit. Ship anywhere for ex¬ 
amination before buying. Pay freight 
charges I f not sutlsfuetory. Warranted 
for 2 years p 64-page Catalogue FREE. 
Address W.B> 
Elkhart, 
t. PRATT, 8ee*y, 
- - Indiana. 
- - nevona a question we 
l have the bent line of CARTS made, for 
the Horseman, Farmer, or lor business or pleas¬ 
ure purposes. Send stamp for Catalogue and 
wholesale prices. A. L. PRATT & CO.. 
71 to 81 Willard St., Ka'am.tiio. Huh. 
L OW-DOWN WAGON on high wheels— only 
Practical, Common Sense i arm Wagon it 
the world. Send for 28 reasons why. 
GARDINKK IRON WAGON CO., 
Mulllca Hill. N. J 
This is the strongest, cheapest and best 
Butter Color ever made or sold in any mar¬ 
ket. A 25-cent bottle will give the finest 
June tint to 500 lbs. of winter butter. 
Send for circulars and prices if your dealer 
doesn’t keep it. 
~ THATCHER MFG. CO.. Potsdam. IV. Y. 
My specialty for 33 years. 
Vines of all valuable vari¬ 
eties. Nice 1 year Concords 
■i___ _ • XO per 1.000. Niagara.Em- 
pireState, Woodruff Red, Green Mountain, Moore’s 
.Diamond. Moyer. Nectar,Wirt, Jewel,Moore’s Ear¬ 
ly. Delaware, Pocklington, Brighton, Ives, eta ;.ln- 
dnstry. Triumph and other Gooseberries. Blackberries, 
Raspberries Currants & Strawberries. Finest stock; prices 
low Catalogs free. GEO.W CAMPBELL. Delaware, Ohio. 
JOHN SAUL'S 
WASHINGTON NURSERIES. 
Our Catalogue of IVew, Rare and Beautiful 
Plants for 1890. will be ready in February. 
It contains list of all the most Beautiful and Rare 
Greenhouse and Hothouse Plants In cultivation, a, 
well as all Novelties of merit, well grown and at very 
•°w prices Every plant lover should have a copy. 
OHCU1DS.— A very large stock of choice East In¬ 
dian. American, etc. Also. Catalogues of Roses, 
Orchid s. Seeds. Trees, etc. All free to applicants. 
JOHN SAUL, Washington, D. C. 
NORTHERN SEED POTATOES. 
Per Bush. 
Per Bbl 
Rural New-Yorker No. 2, $3 00 
$7 00 
Early Ohio. 
... 100 
2 75 
Early Albino. 
... 100 
2 50 
Beauty of Hebron.... 
... 1 00 
2 5o 
Clark’s No. 1. 
... 1 00 
2 50 
Chas. Downing. 
... 1 00 
2 50 
Sunlit Star.. 
... 1 00 
2 50 
Bonanza . 
... 1 00 
2 25 
Orane’s Potentate... 
... 1 00 
2 25 
2. And many others. 
Send to 
A. C. SABIN, 
Glen wood, 
Iowa. 
SEED POTATOES 
Choice selected Houlton, Aroostook Co., 
Maine, Early Rose, Beauty of Hebron, and 
all other well known varieties. For sale by 
W. E. DURYEA’S SONS, 
Produce Commission Merchants, 119 Warren St N Y 
FOEEST TREES. 
Catalpa Speciosa, 
White Ash, European 
Larch, Pines, Spruces, 
Arbor Vita's, etc., etc. 
*’ Catalpa Speciosa Seed. 
Forest and Evergreen 
Seeds. . 
R.DOUGLAS & SON. 
Waukegan, ttt 
FARMERS 
Saw and 4>rial Nlll. 4 H.P. 
and larger. Catalogue free. 
DeLOICHMILL CO.. Atlanta. Ga 
■ -f ruik ami lent 
JLV Lotuses. Also, White Water Lilies. Se 
for Catalogue. 
GEO. RICHARDSON. Lordstown, Ohio 
THE EMPIRE 
MACHINE. 
The Best. <>th year. \\ eaves both farm and lawn 
fence. .v> cents per rod complete. •l.'> rods a day. 
Every machine warranted. Freight paid. Wire, 
etc,*, at wholesale prices. AGENTS WANTED. 
Good commissions paid. Illustrated Catalogue free. 
Empire Machine Co., Richmond, Ind 
