fW 
Ip Jrahbs* JiutHmitj* 
DRIVING HOME THE COWS. 
“Ah, lack-a-day?” the grandame said, 
Ah, lack-a-day I 
The sun shines warm on the roof to-day ; 
The snow melts down from the eaves away; 
The grass shoots up through the softening clay. 
My two brave lads in the South are laid, 
Both in the same grave rudely made ; 
What matters it whether the country is saved, 
To Mona, my child, and me? 
Who’ll till for us the homestead farm, 
Who’ll gather the harvest into the barn, 
And drive away with his strong right arm 
Grim want from Mona and me? 
Who’ll cut for the fire the hemlock boughs? 
Who’ll pitch the hay to the lofty mows? 
Ah, me ! and who'll drive home the cows. 
For Mona, my child, and me ?” 
“ Oh! is it well?” the maiden said, 
" Oh! is it well ? 
Did ye not hear the preacher tell, 
How good seems clogged with an evil spell, 
But God in his wisdom worketh well ? 
And how if a man be brave and true, 
And cheerfully does what Id's strength can do, 
The Lord, in his mercy, will guide him through? 
’Tis as true for you and me! 
These hands can spin, if they cannot wield 
The workman’s scythe, in the mowing field, 
And the golden crops which the harvest yield 
Shall not ungirnered be. 
True, we may not cut the hemlock boughs, 
Or pitc the hay to the lofty mows, 
But, Grandma. I’ll drive home the cows, 
When the sun sets on the lea.” 
The Summer came. The Spring-time passed 
And the Summer came, 
Down through the freshly scented lane, 
Morning and evening, just the same, 
The brindled cattle went and cane; 
Down by the brook, where the lilies blow 
Along by the banks where the mosses^row, 
And the tender grasses, bending low, 
With the sweetest juices fill. 
And farmer Bright saw the little lass, 
Up and down through the meadow pass, 
Ankle-deep in the billowy grass, 
Sun-browned but winsome still; 
And he wondered why he never took 
The path that le i by the meadow brook, 
In tead of going so far to look 
For pasturage lip the hill. 
“Ye stay too long!” The dame complained, 
** Ye stay too long! 
The eastern sky is flushed with the dawn, 
The morning bird soars up with a song. 
And the dew is dry on the gra.-sy lawn; 
The unstrained milk is thick with cream, 
The needle rusts in the unsewed seam. 
While you, by the biookside, sit and dream 
Vain dreams that no good can do.” 
O’er the face of the maiden a glowing tide 
Flushed till her cheeks were crimson dyed ; 
She tried to speak, but her tongue was tied— 
Ah* Mona! She knew* ’twas true. 
Still she could but own that’t was very sweet, 
Down where the path and the wavelets meet, 
To tarry awhile with lingering feet,— 
Fair reader, nor yet could you. 
“ If you but knew—.” She faltered at last, 
“ Oh. if you hut knew! 
Dear Grandmamma, may I tell to you 
The tale that he told, so tenderly true?” 
The grandame sharply queried—' 4 Who ?” 
Farmer Bright,” said a voice at her side, 
Kich and deep in its manly pride, 
“ Unworthy, he sues for a worthy bride,”— 
And the good dame cleared her brows,— 
“He’ll till for you the homestead farm. 
He’ll gather the harvest into the barn, 
And drive away want with his strong right arm. 
Solemnly too he vows, 
That dame and daughter shall know no care, 
II the maiden will answer his earnest prayer. 
Speak, Mona, beloved one,”—but Mona was—where ? 
In the meadow after the cows. 
—John G. Andreios. 
He l^aStes’ Sfloral fccJkuet unci Pictorial Same 
HOME ADORNMENTS, OR ECONOMY PUT 
TO A TEST. 
By Illi Nois. 
Let it be my cheerful endeavor to tell the little 
comer of the world devoted to the interests of The 
Floral Cabinet, how, with hut little money, one 
can make a plain place of sojourn both pleasant and 
attractive. It is true, that we would prefer rare pic¬ 
tures, graceful statuettes of gleaming marble, richly 
carved brackets, pretty stands of flowers, easy chairs 
and all those accessories so luxurious and appreciable 
in a beautiful abode. But if money, .with its magic 
power is wanting, must our homes go unrelieved by 
those adornments that help make them the fairest and 
dearest spots on earth ? It is not absolutely necessary 
that we should depend on the taste and skill of others 
to supply them; hut on the contrary, if we accept the 
simple means at our disposal and take time and pa¬ 
tience, wonders may he effected. Now, I shall confine 
this description to articles made by one whose efforts 
in that direction were sufficient to put economy to the 
most severe test. 
First, discarded hoops were brought into use. There, 
don’t the noses of some of my readers curl suggestively, 
and doubtless more than one exclaims: “Willever old 
hoops cease being brought forward as useful or orna¬ 
mental?” It is my humble opinion that they will 
always he found useful; even if lost to the world for a 
while, it is probable their skeletons will he found by 
future antiquarians who will stand over them in awe 
and contemplation; hold learned discussions and 
finally—but I am digressing and mil not tell what can 
ho done if these erratic thoughts arc not subdued. 
By the exercise of ingenuity, pretty brackets can he 
constructed. If there are any rough places on the 
hoops, make a thick flour starch, rah over, and when 
dry they will be found perfectly smooth; then paint 
brown and dust bronze powder over them and the 
effect will surprise and mislead many as to what they 
really are. The most appropriate pictures for placing- 
on these brackets arc engravings taken out of periodi¬ 
cals. Stitch them on stiff card-hoard and frame with 
long yellow straws; let the ends project an inch and a 
half; cross them with dark colored wheat ears; sew 
the same on the middle of the spaces at the end and 
sides, or make card-board frames an inch wide and 
cover with corn husks, sewn on in little points. The 
contrast of either is pretty against the dark bracket. 
From the same material make three wall baskets of 
graduated sizes and finish each place of joining with 
gilt paper. The first basket fill with dried and crystal- 
ized grasses, vivid-colored autumn leaves, berries and 
everlasting flowers. The second reserve as a conve¬ 
nient receptacle for copies of The Ladies’ Floral 
Cabinet, and the third and largest hang up with a 
view to make a display ; with it must ho combined 
wooden brackets, made after “Illi Nois’” model, and 
for which a patent is to be obtained. 
This bracket is very simple and will therefore meet 
the requirements of many women unlike “El Mina,” 
not the fortunate possessor of “John” to come with 
his strength and skill to their assistance. Saw from a 
smooth hoard, three-fourths of ail inch thick, a piece 
six or eight inches square, or larger, if desired; bore 
a gimlet hole in each corner, paint, or if preferred, 
cover with red or green cloth; cut the border in points 
and embroider with yellow wool or silk floss, an easy 
pattern in Point Russe; take two pieces of worsted 
cord, each thirty-four inches long, put the ends through 
the holes and tie them on the under side in large knots, 
then cross them on top and they will hang evenly. 
Suspend two of these brackets against the wall and 
within the wall basket previously mentioned, put on 
them pots of Ivy, Tradescantia, or any drooping vine 
or flower that fancy may dictate, and the result will he 
a fairy-like basket of green. Suspend similar brackets 
by the windows and if the plants require training make 
hoop or grape-vine trellises in the shape of crosses, 
arches, etc.; fasten securely to a slender stake and place 
firmly in the pot and they will amply repay time and 
trouble. For a comfortable sewing chair saw a light 
barrel in proper shape, then stuff the inside with cheap 
cotton, put a layer of the same around the outside, or 
better and more convenient to handle, take a worn-out 
quilt or comfort, and cover smoothly; then cover again 
with the discarded hut pretty “ Dolly Yarden make 
a side plaiting four inches wide and stitch a narrow 
red or green oil calico hand, about three-fourths of an 
inch below the upper edge; surround the front, back 
and bottom with this hand and every joining will he 
concealed; tuft the hack and bottom with pieces of the 
colored calico, finish with castors, and none will deny 
the chair a beauty and success far prettier than many 
sold for fifteen dollars. 
The half of a small keg makes a stool, a square box 
with hinged lid a good place for shoes, and an old, low 
trunk, covered and hound with the plaiting, is con¬ 
verted into a useful ottoman and made to do double 
service, as the inside can he used to hold spare bed 
coverings; an hour glass made to correspond will com¬ 
plete five necessary articles en suite that every 
woman requires in her own room. 
Old-fashioned flat frames can be utilized in different 
ways with hut little expenditure. First, cover 
smoothly with putty, then place corn on very evenly 
and let dry; out of the putty form pretty designs for the 
comers, such as scrolls, leaves, etc., etc.; paint and 
varnish, put in a picture, hut leave a margin half an 
inch for a band of gold paper that width under the 
glass. 
Another frame is covered with leather, relieved with 
bunches of oak leaves and clusters of acorns. A deep 
hack made for either and covered with a velvet back¬ 
ground for a group of “skeleton leaves” made after 
directions given in The Cabinet, will he appreciated 
as a beautiful household ornament. As gilt cornice 
for white curtains is not always to he obtained; a very 
handsome one can be made from stiff white swiss. 
Take a piece niue inches wide at each end, fold under 
an inch and a half and lay in large box plaits, tack to a 
wooden frame that projects about five inches from the 
window and that serves to support the curtains. On 
this plaiting arrange autumn leaves, brown and red 
berries, in contrast against the misty white, and a very 
tasteful and inexpensive cornice is the result. A hang¬ 
ing basket of card-hoard, covered with dried mosses 
and containing bottles of water holding thrifty sprays 
of Ivy, add completeness to the window. Rather an 
unique looking “What-not,” and one that does not 
belie its name, is made out of three-cornered shaped 
hoards, with front slightly rounded. A stiff paste¬ 
board hand is fitted around the front; this is covered 
with buttons from an old “charm string.” Arrange 
the light and brilliant colored ones in tasteful groups 
against the black and dark ones, and by lamp-light the 
display is both pretty and novel. 
A beautiful toilet case is made from a common pine 
box. First give it three coats of good black paint, 
then line the inside with pretty chintz, or, if preferred, 
paint it. Arrange on the outside, in a tasteful man¬ 
ner, small dried leaves of different shapes and colors ; 
those that are deejfiy serrated are prettiest and most 
showy. When covered to suit, brush warm glue 
water over it and let dry, and finish with three coats of 
copal varnish. The work will he found durable, 
easily performed, and the material without price and 
within the reach of all. Au old-fashioned octagon 
table, with broad sides, is easily converted from an 
unsightly to a handsome piece of furniture by the same 
means. Some of these suggestions may not he new 
to all, hut as “there is nothing new under the sun,” it 
is not required that all our efforts shine forth with 
originality; therefore, in conclusion will say that this 
article was only written to assist sister women who 
seem to possess a hereditary propensity for “pretty 
things,” hut unfortunately have limited means to 
further their desire, and if in any way it helps them 
adorn their homes with satisfactory results, one 
adherent of The Ladies Cabinet will feel amply 
repaid for having her “say” about economy being put 
to a test. 
\y\ 
