lftl 4. 
THE R.U RAL NEW -YOR KER 
12 a i 
Water Glass Floor Faint. 
This is certainly invaluable. Smooth 
off the floor, filling all the cracks with 
filler or putty and then paint it with a 
coat of sodium silicate (soluble glass), 
the same used to preserve eggs. It will 
also preserve floors and save the back 
of the woman who has to scrub and clean 
them. The water glass dries immediately 
and three coats should be put on one after 
the other. If you wish to change the 
color of your floor, add yellow ochre or 
vandyke brown (water colors, not oil). 
Try on a board until color desired is ob¬ 
tained. When paint is dry cover it with 
a coat of varnish comprised of three parts 
linseed oil and one part Japan drier, 
mixed. Any kind of floor or old furniture 
may be treated in this way. I. M. B. 
Rare Northern Visitors. 
One of the pleasures of the Winter 
season on the farm, is the watching of 
our bird visitors. The chickadees and 
nuthatches soon become very bold and 
familiar, and occasionally the eye is glad¬ 
dened by the sight of some rare northern 
species, driven by the rigorous cold from 
the higher latitudes which are their home, 
to Central New York. Sometimes the 
snow buntings sojourn in our fields or 
the northern shrike pays us a visit, and 
once, a great snowy owl remained for 
several days in the vicinity, upsetting 
everyone’s notions of owl habits by ap¬ 
pearing boldly by daylight. We were 
much interested when, in December of 
the present season, the news spread that 
a rare water fowl had been captured 
alive by some boys of the neighborhood. 
It proved to be the white brant, or Arc¬ 
tic goose, a bird seldom seen in the East¬ 
ern United States, though common in 
the Middle West and on the Pacific 
coast. We went to see him and pitied 
his sad plight; he was confined in a 
small poultry house with a flock of cack¬ 
ling hens. He was a splendid fellow with 
a lordly bearing and long, powerful wings 
with which he could strike a staggering 
blow. Poor bird! We could not save 
him from being killed and eaten, but we 
indulged a hope that the new national 
laws for the protection of migratory birds 
may preserve his race from extinction. 
In the first week of January, we had 
a fresh surprise. Some strange birds 
were found feeding on the seeds of the 
ash trees bordering the roadside. They 
lingered for several days and were seen 
by different members of the household, 
none of whom was able to identify them. 
One afternoon, I noted a flutter of wings 
in a tall ash tree near the corner of the 
orchard, and I knew that my chance had 
come. Then I, a middle-aged woman, and 
I feel no shame in the telling, dropped 
everything and went bird hunting. Ap¬ 
proaching cautiously, I found a flock of 
.'!0 birds, about the size of robins, 
busily feeding in the branches. I 
knew at once that they were pine gros¬ 
beaks, for I had conned the description 
in Blanehan’s “Bird Neighbors” until I 
had it by heart. They used their heavy 
bills with much cleverness, stripping off 
every seed, and littering the snow with 
the empty hulls and broken stems. All 
the while, they kept up a low-toned twit¬ 
tering that sounded at a little distance 
like the tinkle of distant sleigh bells. 
They were led by a fine male whose head 
and back were brilliant red in color, 
while the wings were marked with black 
and white. The rest were females and 
young males, the former in rich brown 
attire, while the latter had reddish tints 
on head and back. As I stood in the 
snowy road, watching them at a respect¬ 
ful distance through the glass, they sud¬ 
denly swept down and alighted in a 
small apple tree barely 10 paces from the 
spot I occupied. Then, white some 
preened their feathers in the tree, others 
fluttered to the little spring near the 
roadside fence and drank their fill. The 
snow-covered landscape, and the group of 
handsome birds, hovering about the little 
pool, made a picture which will never be 
forgotten. 
I have felt some resentment toward 
the woman writer who declared in one of 
her books that the things that country 
people do not know about objects in na¬ 
ture would fill not one, but several vol¬ 
umes. The statement was quite true at 
the time, but couldn’t she have admitted 
that we had not a fair chance? We could 
Viot spend long hours watching bird house- 
iteeping through,an opera glass as she did. 
The books on bird life of 20 years ago 
were scientific works, full of long, hard 
names, intelligible only to the scientist. 
These conditions have changed in the last 
few years. We now have splendidly il¬ 
lustrated nature-study books, bulletins 
and trained teachers to help us. So, in 
most instances, we have only ourselves 
to blame, if, when approached by the 
person who wants to know, we are un¬ 
able to answer his questions intelligently. 
M. E. COLEG HOVE. 
The Rural Patterns. 
8151 Blouse with tunic for misses and 
small women, 16 and 18 years. With 
long or three-quarter sleeves, with or 
without chemisette. 8132 Fancy blouse, 
34 to 44 bust. 8145 Semi-princess gown, 
34 to 42 bust. With two-piece yoke skirt. 
8146 One-piece yoke skirt for misses and 
small women, 16 to 18 years. S133 One- 
piece peg-top skirt, 22 to 32 waist. With 
high or natural waist line. Price of each 
pattern 10 cents. 
Prices quoted for embroidery designs 
are for stamped goods and material for 
working, but transfer patterns of any de¬ 
sign will be furnished separately for 10 
cents each. 
No. 664. Design for embroidering a 
handkerchief ten inches square. Stamped 
on linen lawn with mercerized floss to 
work, 25 cents. 
No. 561. Design for embroidering a 
baby’s bib, having scalloped edges but¬ 
tonholed. Stamped on best white pure 
linen, mercerized floss to work, 25 cents. 
border. Stamped on pure white linen, 
one yard long, 6 in. wide, with mercerized 
floss to work, 25 cents. 
No. 680. A design for embroidering a 
girl’s low-neck nignt gown with short 
sleeves. Stamped on best quality nain¬ 
sook, sizes 6 to 12 years, with floss to 
work, 9S cents. 
Spear’s Room-Size 
Brussels Rng 
Only $-||S5 
$1.50 Casb 
Balance, 75c 
a Month 
Order No. 
D 4736 
Beautiful 
hi ch color 
Brussels 
Rub. size 
9 x 12 , red 
rose de¬ 
sign, 
green 
^leaves 
and 
tan 
ground. Guaranteed full 9-wire 
Tapestry Brussels with wool 
facing. This Is the greatest genu¬ 
ine Brussels Rug value you ever 
saw. It Is perfectly safe to order 
direct from this advertisement, as 
we positively will refund your 
money If on receipt you are not 
satisfied with your bargain. " 
Bed, Spring, 
Pillows, Mattress 
Complete 
\ Only 
Order 
No. D S12 
Balance, 75c Monthly 
This handsome, complete 
Metal Bed Outfit, consisting 
of heavy, perfectly construct¬ 
ed Iron Bed, any color, 4 foot 
6 inches wide; a good woven) 
wire spring with all steel 
frame; 60-pound cotton 
mattress; 2 feather pillows. 
1 Will Trust Yon Gladly 
Wherever You Live’ 
‘I believe in every man who 
earns a living. I am for the 
average home lover—the man who wants home pleasures but 
hasn’t a whole lot of money to spare all at once. My credit plan 
of buying is for him. I want to get acquainted with all those who desire 
to make their homes cheerful and comfortable. I can help them get what 
they want. Thousands are saying. 'Spear helped us to beautify cur 
homes on his liberal credit plan.’ I want many more friends like that. 
Send for my bargain ^ _ 
book now and lot me s '— 
explain how I give — OI 
‘ Credit to the Natioa. ’ 
Pittsburgh 
« 
Let Spear Make Your 
Home Sweet Home” 
Open your charge account 
with Spear of Pittsburgh. He 
will trust you—no matter 
where you are—and save you 
money at every turn on alt 
kinds of household goods on 
the most liberal and easiest 
charge account credit plan. 
No need to scrape and save for 
months and years. By Spear’s 
plan you pay as yon can—a lit¬ 
tle each month. You'll find 
Spear fair and square. He has 
no iron-clad rules and will be 
pleased to give you 
' 30 Days* Home Trial 
of any articlo so you can examine 
and try it out, r’.cht at homo. If 
you don’t want to koop it, send it 
risht back at Spoar’e expense. 
Spear has many thousands of 
happy, friendly families on his 
open credit books. It’s his life 
work. His wholo heart is in it. 
it! A Man from Ohio 
wrote 9pcarof Pittsburgh, eaying, 
*'I wish you could see my home 
today. We are plain working 
people, butthcre is not a million¬ 
aire who enjoys greater comforts 
than we do in our homo." Spear 
wants you to boautiry your home 
without any strain on your pock- 
etbook. Spear asks no unreason¬ 
able questions, does not let your 
neighbors know your business. 
Try out Spear's plan by order¬ 
ing any article shown here, 
enclosing first payment by Draft* 
Money Order or Kegistered Mall 
—or send for Spoor s Free 
Book of Home Bargains now. 
W&wm 
s 
THE 
Get this Bog Book 
—It’s FREE! 
Spear’s big Free Bargain 
Book is just like bringing 
the choicest, handsomest 
stock of Home Furnishings 
—many times the size of 
even the greatest city store 
—right to you —to study 
over and choose from. 
It is tilled with pictures 
and full details of his lib¬ 
eral, modern, open ac- ] 
count, long-time easy- 
payment plan. No mort¬ 
gage, no security. Shows 
Thousands of Bargains 
in Furniture; Carpets; Rugs; 
Btoves; Portieres: Clocks; Go- 
Carts; Dishes; Ranges; Re¬ 
frigerators; Silverware; 
lace Curtains; Sewing Ma¬ 
chines; Washing Machine*; 
Mattresses; Springs; Bedding 
Malt this 
“Homo 
Sweet 
Home 99 
Coupon 
Mow 
£■“•,$1 Shear’s Big Rocker Bargain 
75c Casb—Balance, 50c Monthly 
Large, roomy, comfortable, well 
made rocker with high, wide back, 
fully tufted and buttoned. It is 
very roomy and upholstered with 
high-grade black Sylvan leather. 
,t is made over full steel springs 
with beautiful ruffled edge. Has 
high gloss “Kenwood" quar¬ 
tered golden oak finish. 
*>SPEAR & C0.<* S 
n-nl LI P!Hatnrnli .a 1 
Spear’s “HOME SWEET 
HOME" Coupon 
Spear & Co., Dept. H Pittsburgh, Pa. 
Please send me. free, your complete 
Bargain Catalogue with Prices. Terms 
and Information, without the slight¬ 
est obligation on my part. 
Name .. . 
Dept. H Pittsburgh. Pa. 
’Let Spear Mate Your Hon* 
SWEET Home“ 
Street- 
Town . 
.-State.. 
Save s 5 to s 23 
Factory Prices—Freight Paid—One Year's Trial 
Buy direct from factory 
and get abetterstove for 
less money. Freight pre¬ 
paid— stovecotnes all pol- 
ready to sot up. Use it one year—if 
you areu't satisfied we refuod your money. 
Write for Catalog and Prices. Hie Free 
Catalog sturtvt why improved features ofCnldCuta 
Stoves make them fuel-savers and splendid bakers 
-why they have given salisfartkm for S3 years 
Gold Coin Stove Co., 3 OakSt.,Troy,N.Y. 
WF I I drilling 
YV El LL MACHINES 
Over TO sizes ami styles, for drilling either deep or 
shallow wells in any kind of soil or rock. Mourned on 
wheels or on sills. With enginesor horse powers. Ctrong, 
simple and durable. Any mechanic can operate —sin 
easily. Send for catalog. 
WILLIAMS BROS.. Ithaca. N. Y. 
SEND NOJtfONEY 
SETTER LIGHT ‘-KEROSENE 
Beats DAYS 
Ele A trlc ^;i?^F REE 
Electric 
or 
Gasoline 
Without sending a cent you can use this wonderful, 
economicaloi Ulght 10 days Free, then return at our ex¬ 
pense if not satisfied. Gives powerful white Incan¬ 
descent light, burns over 50 hours on one gallon Kero¬ 
sene (coal oil). No odor, smoke or noise, simple, clean, 
won’t explode. Guaranteed. We want one person in 
each locality to refer customers to. - - _ 
Write *?or 10-DAY FREE TRIAL AGENTS 
OFFER —agents’ wholesale prices IAI ANTPn 
and learn how to get ONE FREE. ” w M *' 1 u 
Make money evenings and spare time. One farmer cleared 
over $S00 in 6 weeks. Exclusive territory given. 
| MANTLE LAMP CO.. 52 1 Aladdin Bldg- Chicago. IIMnoU 
H°Sr®tek of fcs! 
Running wn- VV ^ fVU * ■■ 
Iff «h«n ani ™ 
where you want It. For your oountry home —farm, gar¬ 
den, lawn. Water pumped from nearby stream, pond 
or spring without expense of power. Low In coat: hifch 
inefficiency. Thousands ol <he»« 
■ FOSTER High Duty Ram Rumps 
now in use. Write today for ad toots. 
POWER SPECIALTY CO., 111 
Trinity BIJg. f Sew York j 
Our present prices are about 50 per cent under the 
f/M/Jr market. The new Gordon -Van Tine Building Ma- 
/ terial Catalog, with 5,000 bargain offers, is now ready 
/ for the mails. IE you are going to build a home, tills 
/ great sale of Guaranteed Building Material enables you 
1 to make a clean-cut saving of from £300 to £1.500. If you 
are going to repair or remodel, build a new barn, poultry 
house; garage, or do any kind of building, send for the big 
FREE Catalog. We guarantee quality, safe delivery 
and satisfaction. Three big banks behind that guarantee. 
m ii n i i . -- f/n 
-'All Lumber. Millwork. Hardware.^ 
^Tinware and Painting 9J|Cq 
..Material (Plan No. 147) 
Free Book of Plans 
for Houses. Cottages, Bungalows, etc.—the most complete, 
practical and artistic plans ever drawn for houses costing 
from £600 to £6,000. We will not only save you from £300 to 
$1,500 on the material to build a house, but will furnish, 
FREE OP COST, a full set of Architect’s Blue Print 
i Plans and Specifications for any house you select from , 
\ the Gordon-Van Tine Plan Book. Enclose 10 cents to / 
\ pay postage and mailing this magnificent book. /, 
\ Don’t put off writing for the big Catalog with over / 
\ 5,000 money-saving offers on Building Material. A 
llffk, Gordon-Van Tine Co. Mm, 
5397 Case Street JM/Mm 
j All Lumber, Millwork. Hurdware, 
(Tinware and Painting OQflC 
f \ Material (Plan No. loS) wwUO 
All Lumber. Millwork, Hardware, ‘/ 
Tinware and* Painting CCOO ' 
Material (Plan No. 140) v ” "O fJ 
SAVE 50% ON A NEW HOME! 
5,000 Building Material Offers^ 
in New Gordon-Van Tine Catalog 
