B4U 
'T H F3 RURAL NEW-YORKER 
December 2S, 
Woman and the Home 
From Day to Day. 
THE NEW YEA li. 
Who comes dancing over the snow, 
Ilis little soft feet all bare and rosy? 
Open the door, though (he wild winds blow 
Take the child in and make him cosey; 
Take him in and hold him dear, 
He is the wonderful New Year. 
Open your heart, be it sad or gay. 
Welcome him there, and use him kindly, 
For you must carry him, yea or nay, 
Carry him with shut eyes so blindly; 
Whether he bringeth. joy or fear, 
Take him. God sends him. (his good New 
Year. —Dinah Mulock Craik. 
* 
A dainty for afternoon tea is made 
by buttering thin slices of whole-wheat 
bread, then cutting into strips an inch 
wide. Cover eacii piece with melted 
chocolate, sprinkle with finely chopped 
nuts and then set away to harden. 
* 
Hat ruffling, used to trim large hats, 
is $1.75 a yard; it is soft silk on the 
bias, with the edges raveled out to form 
a fringe. The ruffle is about six inches 
wide, box-plaited down the middle, so as 
to form a full double frill. A band of 
this around the crown, with a big chou 
or rosette a little to one side of the 
front, makes a very pretty trimming for 
youthful headgear. 
. * 
We have had a number of specifics 
for the cure of ivy poisoning. The 
Clinical Review offers an addition to the 
list. Experiments have lately shown 
(hat permanganate of potassium solution 
(one per cent, and stronger, according 
to the delicacy of the skin) is the best 
antidote for ivy poisoning. It acts 
promptly and thoroughly, but must be 
freely and well applied, and acts much 
better in a solution as hot as can be 
borne and kept hot for a half hour or 
so. 
* 
Mere is a recipe for sour milk ginger¬ 
bread, given by the Chicago Record- 
Herald: Rub a cupful of butter to a 
cream with two of sugar; add the 
beaten yolks of three eggs and a cupful 
of loppered milk, or of buttermilk, two 
teaspoon fuls of ginger and a teaspoon¬ 
ful of cinnamon. Have ready a quart 
of sifted flour, into which you have 
sifted twice a teaspoonful of baking 
soda. Add this to the batter alternately 
with the stiffened whites of three eggs. 
Mix well, beating the batter upward with 
long strokes, and bake in two cards, or 
in small tins. Wash over with white of 
egg while the cakes are hot. You may, 
if you like, leave out the ginger and 
substitute mace for the cinnamon. 
* 
The long Winter evenings give an op¬ 
portunity for much more extensive read¬ 
ing than is possible at other seasons. 
We may read solely for amusement, or 
we may read with a well-defined plan 
of personal improvement. Some literal 
people regard reading for amusement as 
a complete waste of time, and class all 
the lighter forms of literature as trash. 
This is unfair; it is quite possible to 
broaden one’s mind and gain in per¬ 
sonal sympathy and insight through 
well-selected fiction, poetry and essays, 
and such reading is certainly needed by 
those whose isolated lives prevent them 
from frequent contact with their fellow 
men. But this does not include all 
classes of so-called light reading. There 
is a tendency among some modern 
authors to exploit the morbid and un¬ 
wholesome, and, with a pretense of pic¬ 
turing life as it is, to present unattrac¬ 
tive virtue and genial vice, in such a 
way that the average reader is very 
likely to confuse his standards, and 
gradually to suffer a mental debasement. 
One is more than likely to find such 
books among those quoted as “the six 
best sellers.” Tt is very necessary that 
the reading of young people should be 
under the guidance of intelligent elders, 
and that no new book should be taken 
on trust, merely because the author is 
favorably known. Our plea for light 
reading, however, must not be regarded 
as a suggestion that this is the only class 
of reading to be indulged in. We be¬ 
lieve that everyone should direct his 
reading into some instructive channel 
also; best of all into a channel that en¬ 
nobles his daily round of work. 
* 
“Uncle Henry,” whose experience is 
thus related in the Youth’s Companion, 
may point a moral for some other self- 
confident young men. 
“It’s all nonsense, and a waste of 
time,” said Uncle Henry, “ to tell a 
young man what kind of wife he ought 
to pick out when he gets ready to marry. 
Nine times out of ten he has picked 
her out already, and if he hasn’t, he 
doesn’t need anybody’s help.’ 
“What do you know about it?” he was 
asked. 
“1 know something about it by ob¬ 
servation,” he answered, “and a little by 
experience. When I had reached the 
age of 25, with a fair income and good 
prospects, I thought it was time for me 
to marry. I had almost decided to ask 
a certain Naomi Henthorne, but didn’t 
altogether like the family, and was in an 
uncertain frame of mind about her, 
when some of my friends began to take 
it upon themselves to assist me. They 
told me that Naomi was the very girl 
for me—that I couldn’t find a better 
wife if I were to hunt all over the 
country, and so on. In short, they 
praised her so highly that I made up 
my mind I’d follow their advice. • I be¬ 
gan paying attention to her, and in a 
few weeks I ‘popped the question.’ ” 
“Well ?” 
“Well,” said Uncle Henry, with some 
reluctance, “she said she wouldn’t marry 
me if I was the last man on earth.” 
Neckties of the Day. 
A half yard of satin ribbon 1§4 inch 
wide makes a fashionable necktie for a 
lady’s wear with a white turnover col¬ 
lar. Machine stitching and French knots 
give style and that touch of individual¬ 
ity belonging to hand or custom-made 
articles. Unlike the ordinary bow, the 
loops of this tie are longest, and are at 
the back, the ends shorter and in front 
of the loops. The entire width across 
both loops measures five inches. Each 
pointed end is, at the tip, %. inch shorter 
than the loop it rests upon. Four rows 
of machine stitching, done in sewing silk 
matching the ribbon in color are across 
each loop and three rows outline each 
end. Have the two ends of one piece, 
the two loops another and reserve only 
a trifle over an inch for the crosspiece 
which is drawn as close almost as pos¬ 
sible. To point the ends make one 
narrow turning of the ribbon and then 
bring this together at the back, form¬ 
ing a right angle point, as shown 
at the right in the little sketch. Catch 
the ribbon lightly together and machine 
stitch as if hemming, and the point will 
be neat and secure. After stitching three 
rows make the five French knots, using 
embroidery silk of the same color. Lay 
the ends upon the center of the ribbon 
reserved for the loops and it will be 
seen where to locate the four rows of 
stitching; the outside line should lie just 
under the tip of the end piece. Stitch 
these lines before sewing the loops, as 
they are merely for decoration and upon 
one thickness of the ribbon. Sew all 
together, fastening the crosspiece as 
neatly as possible, and sew to its back 
a tiny loop of white silk cord elastic, to 
be snapped over the stud holding the 
collar. The model was made of a soft 
shade of lavender and was worn by a 
woman past 50. Young faces with fresh 
coloring can wear almost any of the 
more striking new shades, and such a 
necktie can catch and accentuate some 
hue in the costume. But prune and 
dark reds arc always safe for brunettes, 
and a touch of the right shade of blue 
will often make blue eyes appear several 
shades bluer. 
A similar tie may lie made very pretty 
by using three shades of any becoming 
color. Do not make loops, but have 
three pairs of ends made as in the little 
sketch of the tic first described. Have 
the darkest shade at the back, the light¬ 
est in front and each pair a quarter of 
an inch shorter than those it rests upon. 
A necktie of Scotch plaid ribbon was 
recently seen which gave a bright touch 
to a young girl’s blouse. Upon a collar 
of the material were pointed straps of 
the same, three on each side of the neck, 
and under these the ribbon was run and 
tied in a stiff 1 it tic bow in front. Often 
these neckties are exceedingly small, the 
5-inch one described being about the 
average limit. Remnants of lace or em¬ 
broidery are among almost every 
woman’s stores which could be fash¬ 
ioned into the little butterfly bow of 
fashion. Before bowing up these may 
lie a strip about 10 inches long and 3)4 
inches wide. Gather through the middle 
lengthwise, draw close and cover the 
gathering with a crosspiece not over 1)4 
inch long. The strip may lie formed by 
running two lines of insertion together 
and edging these with lace. The lace 
edging may cross the ends of the strip 
also, and the butterfly will be the more 
complete. Use lace edging an inch or 
more wide and the central part of the 
strip may be of fine lawn. In fact there 
is really no limit to the combinations 
of any sort of dainty materials which 
may be used. As these bows need fre¬ 
quent washing, tack them lightly and 
straighten out, that they may be ironed 
smooth and remake with their first 
freshness. If a flat band matching the 
lace and insertion tie be made long 
enough to cover the front plait of the 
shirtwaist, using perhaps one line of in¬ 
sertion edged with lace both sides, a 
plain blouse is made smart. 
AUGUSTA ROSE. 
A Picture Frame. 
I had a picture which I wished to 
frame, and there was an old gilt frame 
in the house. But the picture was all 
of soft grey tints and the gilt frame 
made it look flat. It needed a dull black 
frame. All at once I remembered my 
buggy painting experiences. At the car¬ 
riage painter’s I got five cents worth of 
"flat black,” with the turpentine to thin 
it, and I very soon had my dull black 
frame. The paint should be thin enough 
to flow' easily and should be put on with 
a soft, fine brush. One coat put on 
carefully ought to be enough. Putting 
on a second coat does not give as good 
results, as it is likely to be a little 
glossy. _ s. B. R. 
Red Apple Butter. — I allow two gal¬ 
lons cut apples and about three pounds 
brown sugar to each gallon of apple 
butter; there is more or lesss required 
according to (he sourness of the ap- 
pless. Wash (he apples before paring, 
and save two three-gallon crocks full of 
the reddest of the parings, not pressed 
in, only leveled gently. In the evening 
I pour on boiling water until it is to 
the top of the parings and cover with 
a plate; the next morning drain them 
through a colander and use the juice 
to cook the apples in, as it improves the 
color of the apple butter. Pour the 
juice in the kettle and put in as many 
apples as required (just so it is not 
too thick to stir occosionally) until the 
apples begin 1o cook. As soon as any 
of the apples begin to get soft they are 
stirred constantly and more apples added 
as soon as there is room for a few at 
a time. When the apples are all cooked 
smooth 1 commence putting in the 
sugar, never enough at once to stop the 
boiling. When I think I have nearly 
enough in 1 dip out some and taste it, 
and then add small quantities until there 
is enough. After there is enough sugar 
in and it has boiled a short time lift 
out a little in a saucer and let it cool; 
if it leaves a juicy place when a tea¬ 
spoonful is lifted out keep on boiling 
until it does not do so. a reader. 
Appetite for Crabs 
'I'HE codfish has an enormous appetite 
for shell-fish, crabs and lobsters. 
He eats them alive and he eats them 
raw. He eats them all without in¬ 
digestion and grows fat. He has a 
powerful liver. 
The oil from the cod’s liver makes 
Scott’s Emulsion 
A natural power to digest and to 
produce flesh is in every spoonful. 
This power means new vigor and new 
flesh for those who suffer from wasting 
diseases. 
All Druggists; 50c, tind $1.00 
The Fuel 
6ayed 
. “A Poor Stove is not 
Cheap at Any Priet ” 
With one motion the Lift Top Plate is raised 
and held up by an automatic catch ,so the entire 
f re box of the STERLING RANGE may be 
fed evenly with coal. Think what an immense 
saving of fuel the uniform fire in the 
:L!N< 
means. Ordinarily two griddles have to be 
removed and the coal spread by either shovel 
or poker. Our Lift Top Plate saves time and 
allows only the proper method of feeding a 
fire with either shovel or coal-hod. This fea¬ 
ture, too, is most admirable for a perfect broil¬ 
ing. One of the lids in the top plate is of | 
sectional rings for small utensils, and remains 
undisturbed even, for the rings are specially 
weighted to held in place. 
We are telling you of but one feature of over 
twenty used in the STERLING RANGE 
which contribute to the most wonderful kitchen 
stove in the world. Our booklet, which we 
want you to have, fully explains why you 
Obtain the most for your money when you pur¬ 
chase the range which 
“ bakes a barrel of flour with 
a hod of coal,” and our deal¬ 
er will show why it is true. 
SILL STOVE WORKS, 
Rochester, New York. 
Write Dept. A for free booklet. 
DIRECT Irom FACTORY 
at Wholesale Prices 
Freight Paid 
We guarautee safe deliv¬ 
ery, all polished 
and ready ior 
your home. Fur¬ 
thermore. after 
A Whole Year's Trial 
if not satisfac¬ 
tory you may send 
it back and we w ill 
refund all your mon¬ 
ey. This is our stand¬ 
ing offer, warranted 
by nearly 60 years in 
making 
GOLD COIN 
STOVES AND 
RANGES 
This is an unusual opportunity to get a High Grade 
stove at a low price. Send to-day for Our Illustrated 
Catalogue of ranges and stoves. A postal will do. 
GOLD COIN STOVE CO.. 3 Oak St.. Troy, N.Y. 
'Successor to Bussey & McLeod—Established 1860) 
[SAVE HALF YOUR FUEL 
BY USING THE 
tvll Rochester Radiator 
ill 
Fits any Stove or Furnace. 
I Guaranteed to do all we claim 
Et# “ -•£[ or money refunded. 
ji o * i Wrltefor booklet on beating homes. 
Rochester Radiator C-o., 
^\ 30 Furnace 8t., Rochester, N Y. 
Price from 
$•2.00 to 
$ 12.00 
For hard or 
soft coal, 
wood or gas. 
fit 
FUMA 
55 kills Prairie Dogs, 
Woodchucks,Gophers, 
and Grain Insects. 
•‘The wheels of the 
gods grind slow but 
exceedingly small,” So the weevil, but vou can stop 
thelrgrlnd Q 3 r b 0 n BiSUlj)flide”aredoing" 
EDWAK1) It. TAYLOR, Penn Van. N. Y. 
CORNED BEEF 
We use only FRESH REEF, and then noth¬ 
ing but the plates. WE GUARANTEE THE 
QUALITY. Everybody orders again, as the 
CORNED BEEF is as we represent. Write 
for prices—will answer promptly. 
GEO. NYE & COMPANY 
Springfield, Mass. 
