Democratic Sentinel, Volume 4, Number 15, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 May 1880 — HOME INTERESTS. [ARTICLE]

HOME INTERESTS.

Nellie’s Diamond King;. Oh! breathe not her name; she hath gone far away, Far away to that world where the beautiful stay; We mourn her long absence; why does she noUeomc Once more to caress us and smile in our home ? Ah! Iter lily-white hands of nature’s pure mold Are folded and lovely, though icy and cold; The soft, gentle touch of her finger so light. Thereon gleamed a diamond, flashing and bright. Oh! bring it not forth; the flash of the gem Will deepen our sorrow and dizzy our brain; No, no! it may lie in its satin-lined case, Where her beautiful fingers has made it a place. Am I dreaming? Will Nellie ne’er come home to sing? Or wear on her finger her new diamond ring ? Whene’er we behold it, the tear-drops will bring To our heavy, lone hearts: that gift—Nellie’s ring. Fond memory clings to the boon ; overwhelmed Is the fond, doting father, mother, and friend; ’Tie for Nellie we mourn, not the new diamond ring, For she sings with the angels as angels do sing. She wears on her forehead a diadem crown. And, for aught we may know, a ring in her home; She is more than an angel, adorned like a bride, Her glorified spirit, untrammeled, untried. She is waving the banner salvation doth bring, Betrothed to her Savior, she is wearing His ring; Uncase the sad relic, for the tears we have shed Are diamond-like droppings on the grave of our dead. Chicago, 111. Nettie’s Motiieb.

Strawberry Culture. A neighbor of mine last summer had an abundance of garden ground, and was very successful at raising potatoes and vegetables in general; these he would sell and purchase strawberries and other fruits. One day I said to him, “ Why don’t you grow your own berries?” “Oh,” he, “it costs more to grow them than they are worth.” Now I differ with him there. If he or any one else would purchase a hundred strawberry plants this spring and set them out on good land, well enriched with hen manure and wood ashes, at a distance of two feet apart each way, then for the labor you will get a partial crop this season and a full one next year sufficient to supply a good-sized family from air investment of not more than a dollar. I need scarcely ask how far a dollar would go, if you go to a nursery to get your strawberries, but at a shilling a quart would make only eight of them, so I think my neighbor was very far in error. Now suppose yon make up your mind you are going to put in some strawbeiTy plants, the next thing is the selection of varieties. There are some kinds called the pistilate, which produce no fruit unless hermaphrodites or perfect bloomers are planted with them. However, you can always count sure on a crop from either Wilson's Albany or Green Prolific. These two are old well-known sorts, such as have been thoroughly tried, and will stand the test. Enough plants' to set twenty-four feet, single row, will be mailed, postpaid, for 15 cents, just to let you try raising them in your own garden. When'your plants reach you, before you go to set them out, put the roots in a puddle of dirt and water stiiTed together to the consistency of cream. Then set each plant the full length of the roots, leaving the crown of the plant even with the surface of the soil. Never set plants on ridges ; rather a little higher than lower than the level. About two weeks after setting, sow common, salt over the bed at the rate of ten bushels to the acre, and each year following, just before they bloom. The salt tends to produce moisture—a very important item in growing strawberries —besides it is sure death to givibs, which do great damage by eating off the roots just beneath the surface. The soil should be kept well loosened up between the rows and around the plants, and all the runners ent off until September, then allow them to form some new plants, training them with the aim of making a compact row about eighteen inches wide. Cover the strawberry bed with clean straw or prairie-hay as soon as the ground freezes. Only barely cover the bed, for, if you put on too much, you will smother the plants. In the spring remove the covering to each side of the plants, leaving it between the rows fox' a mulch, to be removed entirely when fruiting is over. Spade or plow between each row, tearing out most of the plants, leaving only enough to grow fox' another year. Mb. Rennie, Ainswobth, lowa.

Prof. Payne at Home. Good evening, ladies and gentlemen ; glad to see all so comfortable and complacent. This home institution is a grand tiling in our land. Without it civilization would snuff out, the preacher might hold forth till doomsday, and the schoolmaster stay within. A very fine thing this home arrangement. So poke up the fire and turn on the lights. But more upon this point anon. Ahem! Do any of you gentlemen of the “ Home” use tobacco ? Or is that a spittoon back in the corner there? How is this, ladies? Do any of you ladies practice tight lacing, paint deep, pinch your feet in high-heeled gaiters. bang yoiu - hair iu front and false-switeh it behind, chew gum, drink tea and gossip about your neighbors ? Ahem ! I have just made arrangements with a legislative friend of mine to introduce a bill before the State Legislature whereby all mothers bringing erring babies into any church, lecture-room, concert, ox- other place of public amusement, shall be immediately sent off to the Reform School.

Uncle Lute, I give you a hearty slap on the back for your pithy remarks on this “hands-off” business.' No woman will erect a perpetual lighthouse over her virtue, warning “Beware” from afar, except a prude or a simpleton. Hit ’em again for me. I was amused at the lady who, because a certain gentleman, in a competitive flight of his muse, expressed himself as renouncing all fame “ for the love of one pure woman,” thought that, because he cherished such lofty sentiments, he must be a tit mate for an angel. Now, does she not know that there is a great deal more preaching done than there is practicing, and these poets, as a rale, who are so lofty and touching, never really feel and practice what they express ’? The poet who wrote that stirring address to hc-abeds, commencing,. “False luxury, and will not man arise,” etc., did so. snugly ensconced in his bed waiting until breakfast was ready. And it is universally known that the poet who wrote “ A life on the ocean wave ” never was at sea in his life, and had as mortal a dread of water as a dog smitten with hydrophobia, so appearances and words are altogether deceiving and untrustworthy. As to slouchy wives, I have no charity for them. I would ignore their existence if I could. Many wonder at the great reluctance on the part of young men of to-day to marrying ; but when I see the frowsy heads, the untidy, unbecoming dresses of the wives of those young men who are married, I cease to wonder. It is a little singular that women think it necessary before marriage to “ fix up ” and look always at their best to win and keep the loves of their sweethearts, but think it altogether unnecessary after marriage. Were women as particular to keep themselves looking becoming and to be always in the best of humor when wives as when sweethearts, we would have fewer slighted and misused wives in our land. And a tidy, painstaking wife will always make a husband less careless and slouchy. A man with a slouchy wife, be he naturally ever so “starchy,” never cares much for his own appearance. And now my oracle closes its mouth and considerately opens its ears. Prof. Payne. Chicago, 111. Progress. We cannot remain in a dormant state while we are in possession of our natm-al faculties. Oux- minds are ever eagerly and constantly grasping after knowledge and future developments. Science and literature are continually on the wing, pressing upward and onward, and with this mighty tide we are also being wafted on, and the results of time and experience are indeed wonderful.

What would our dear old grandfathers and grandmothers, who have been silently sleeping in the tomb for the past thirty years, say were they to behold us now, and see how wc live, and the improvements of the last fifty years ? Probably they would think we were living like Kings and Queens in comparison with the way that they used to live. Sewing-machines have taken the place of the old-time-used spinning-wheels, both large and small. I can remember how I used to enjoy the buzz-buzz of my grandmother’s big spinning-wheel, and watch the long, white, soft wool rolls, as she would draw them ont and transform them into fine threads, and reels or wind them on the spindle. With her white cap and broad, wide, full frill, close to her face, and her large handkerchief brought around her neck and crossed in front so nicely, I thought she was the best grandma that ever was. I can distinctly remember of hearing my grandfather say that he guessed people would ride in carriages that would go without horses some day, fin now ths means of transports-

tion from place to place is carried on with almost Ughtning rapidity. The telephone is one of the very great improvements of the present age. The audiphone is considered to be another. I converse in my room with people in any part of Chicago, through the telephone, and have found it many times to be a very great convenience. And what will the next fifty years bring forth ? I shall not be here to know, but as long as this world continues to exist it will continue to move on in the same ratio of progression. Nettie. Chicago, 111.

An Act of Manhood. I beheld a beautiful sight the other day, one that brought a thrill of pleasure to my heart and a fervent blessing to my lips. It was not a display of rare and costly fabrics, no rich design ox - elaborate work of art, no tempting bit of drapery or gorgeous floral combination — only a simple, ingenious act of devotion that brought with it a reverence for man entirely unknown before, and left a vivid impression stamped upon the sacred walls of memory. It is to be regretted that pictures of the same class are so rare that only now and then can one be procured with which to adorn the inner sanctuary of life for the nobilit" of nature that I saw represented in such beautiful coloring is, as far as my observation can determine, seldom seen iu the walks of every-day existence. The world may be filled with true and noble men and women, as, indeed, I have faith to believe it is, but only now and then do' we find one of either sex that takes as deep thought of the obligations under which they exist as they properly should. It is a rare occurrence to see young people devote thomselves to the wellbeing and enjoyment of their parents when under tlxe influence which society exerts over their actions. The old-fashioned dress and appearance of the mother, though in days agone she may have seemed tho true embodiment of a saint in her faithful love and devotion to her charges, too often brings the blush of shame to the cheek and the ungrateful word to the lips. Then neglect, with its chilling, blighting presence, steps in, and mother's heart aches and longs for a little Of the love and tenderness she once lavished on the one who is ashamed to own the tie, and fails to stand manfully beside her, protecting her with his brave presence as she has fox' so many jezrs cherished and protected him. But there are those in the world who dare the remarks of society, and stand nobly beside the old love, bidding defiance to the new, braving the contumely of tlxe false hearted for the sake of hex - who has been his sole reliance in the days agone. This is the beautiful sight I behold : A young man supporting the bent form of his aged mother, tenderly caring for her and making his own elastic step conform with her slow and labored plodding, unconscious or entirely careless <>f what the world might say of her oldfashioned garments and wrinkled visage. Do you wonder that I called down the blessings of the angels upon his perfect manhood? ORLENA. Chicago, 111. Bible Kiddles for the Children. What was the age of the youngest King when he came to the throne, and what was his name? How many foxes did Samson tie firebrands to, and what did he do it for? What King killed Uriah for his lieautiful wife, and how did he kill him ? How many dreams did Joseph, when he was a child, dream, and where was he when he dreamed them’? From what originated the name of Jacob s Ladder? How many dreams did King Pharaoh dream ; what was the result of those dreams, and who interpreted them ? Who deceived his blind old father, and by so doing stole his brother’s birtliright, and how did he do it? Who sold his birthright to his brother for a mess of pottage ? What made Samson so strong, and how did he die ? How many years was Noah building the ark before the ilood ; how many people were saved iu the ark, and how old was Noalx when he died? Who was the first man killed by a Cain? Nettie. Chicago, HI. Why Roys Loaf. Here I come once more, and I don’t know where to commence. I guess I will have to tell why the farmer boys loaf. In the first place, the boys were allowed no privileges at home, or but few at best. They had no games to play of evenings, because their parents did not think right to play, or they might make a little noise, as boys are apt to do, and then it might take a little money to buy t hose games. Perhaps they have no interesting books to read, no newspapers, and, in short, they have nothing to amuse themselves of evenings. The consequence is, they go to the store to loaf, and have all the fun they wish. After a habit is formed, it is not very easily broken. Remember the old saying, “A stitch in time saves nine.” A little money spent for books, games and newspapers will save a heartache, and, perhaps, many boys from learning the baa habits generally picked up in town, such as chewing, smoking and drinking whisky. Farmer Boy. Colburn, Ind. Washing Fluid. For the benefit of housekeepers, 11l give a recipe for washing fluid that I know is good and. will not rot clothes: Borax, four ounces ; saltpeter, four ounces ; sal soda, twen-ty-four ounces; sal ammonia, one-half ounce; aqua ammonia, two ounces; alcohol, four ounces ; spirits of camphor, one-half ounce. Dissolve all in one gallon soft water, put in a jug and cork tightly. Put the clothes to soak over night, or for a short time in the morning, in warm suds containing one-half teacupful of the fluid. After rubbing, boil a few minutes in suds containing one-half teacupful of the fluid. I always put my elotlies in cold suds and let them come to a boil, and not boil over ten minutes, if as long as that. Then suds and rinse again in bluing water. They will look nicely. Pansy. Mondovi, Wis. _ From Georgia. For the benefit of some who would like to hear a description of this part of our country I would say that I live in the extreme southwestern part of the State, near the beautiful little town of Fort Gaines. This thriving little town, with its majestic water oaks, evergreen shrubbery and salubrious climate, is pleasantly situated on the banks of the Chattahoochee river, near the Alabama and Georgia line. This country for climate, health and a productive soil can hardly be excelled. Our main productions are corn, cotton, sugar-cane, peas and potatoes. Cotton is king. Small patches of oats and wheat are sometimes planted, but I think the grain crop this year will prove a failure, as it is nearly rained with rust. Georgian. Fort Gaines, Ga.