Rensselaer Union, Volume 7, Number 13, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 December 1874 — Page 6

RECIPES, ETC.

—Remedy for SouriStomsrh.—l know a person who was in the habit of taking a teaepunafiil of pine charcoal pulverized tor sour stomach, and thought it an excellent remedy. It was taken mixed wtthswect milk —Car. Rural yew Torher. —Treatment of Erysipelas.—The Medical Record states that in • the Brooklyn City Hospital the following has proved efficacious as a local application in erysipelas: Acetate of lead, carbonate of magnesia, camphor, each twenty grains, water one pintj —Bo mi Felon.—The London Lancet suggests the following simple treatment: As soon as the disease is felt pul diriHHly over the spot a fly-blister about tire sD.tof your thumb nail and let it remain for six hours, at the expiration of which time, directly under the surface of theJiiister, may he seen the felon, which can instantly be taken out with the point of a needle or a lancet. —Boiled Flour for Invalids.—Take a pound of fine flour and tie it in a linen cloth as tight as possible; after frequently dipping it in cold water, dredge the outside with flour till a crust is formed round it, which will prevent the water soaking into it while boiling. Then boil it until it becomes a hard, dry mass. Grate two or three spoonfuls of this and prepare it as you would arrowroot, for which it is an excellent substitute, — Exe Wounds.—ln the absence of the ordinary applications, such as adhesive plaster, etc., use cotton wool, which is more generally at hand. It has many advantages over other dressings; in being lighCit does not pain, but relieves it: it is a protection to the wound from other injury, and need not be removed as soon or as often as other applications. It should be applied in quantity and w ith a bandage.— Rural New Yorker. —The white of an egg has proved of iate the most efficacious remedy for burns. Seven or eight successive applications of this substance soothe the pain and effectually exclude the burn from the air. This simple remedy seems preferable to collodion, or even cotton. Extraordinary stories are told of the healing properties of a new oil which is made irom the yolks of ben’s eggs. The eggs are first boiled hard, the yolks are then removed, crushed, and placed over a fire, where they are carefully stirred until the whole substance is just on the point of catching fire, when' the oil separates and may be poured ofi. It is in general use among the colonists of Southern Russia as a means of curing cuts, bruises and scratches. — Boston Journal of Chemistry. —A new method of broiling equal in every respect to the gridiron, excepting that it lacks the smoky taste, is this: Bet your spider on the stove, and let it get smoking hot. Put in no butter or any kind of grease. Have your meat previously prepared by t rimming oil alt pieces of bone, gland, superfluous suet and tissue that will bind the edge and make it turn up. Lay it carefully and smoothly in the spider. It will stick fast at first but as soon as it is browned can he loosened with a knife. Sprinkle a little salt •n the upper surface, and turn it over. Let the other side brown the same as at first. Have a platter warmed, lay the meat carefully upon it, without besmearing the edges; dress with butter and pepper, and send to table hot By this process you have a crisp and brown surface, w ith the, juice retained as well as by broiling, and the additional advantage that the inevitable drippings are sSved and cin he converted into gravy. —Star Spangled Banner.

Tobacco and Its Culture.

There are many varieties of the tobacco i>lant of both temperate and tropical growth. The plant attains a larger growth in a temperate clime but loses that fine flavor which belongs to all the tobacco of lie tropics. Some varieties are but adapted for cutting; others for snuff, and still others for cigars. There are nearly rifty varieties of tobacco cultivated, some of which are of fine color, texture and flavor, while others are coarse, dark and strong. There are many kinds cultivated in this country, incluaing the following: Connecticut seed leaf. New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and \\ isconsin seed leaf, Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, Perique (La.), Florida, Missouri tobacco, and some other varieties. Some of these are very similar in kind. Virginia is a fine smoking tobacco, adapted for the pipe; Connecticut is jnstly celebrated as the finest eigar wrapping leaf known to commerce, while Ohio raises both cigar and cutting leaf. Bome few years since the growers of the plant in the Connecticut Valley entertained the belief that the valley was capable of producing a leaf tobacco exceeding in flavor the variety now cultivated and retain that fine texture that gives it its value. Many leading varieties were tried, including brinoco, Latoka, and most of the varieties grown in Cuba. By repeated trials they succeeded in raising a variety known as Spanish tobacco, which promised to be the coming tobacco plant in New England. The plant is of strong growth, attaining about the same height as seed leaf—perhaps attaining a little more altitude —has a small, hard stalk, with leaves about two feet in length and corresponding breadth. The plant comes forward rapidly and ripens much more rapidly than seed leaf, thereby insuring against all danger from autumnal frosts. The Latoka and Persian tobacco was first brought to this country by the well-known traveler Bayard Taylor, some years since, and was tested by many tobacco-growers in all sections of the country, but on account of its sir.e—being one of the smallest varieties—could not be cultivated with much profit, tt Is well adapted for the pipe, and is of a peculiar flavor, while the color (about like light Virginian) fits it for all lovers of mild tobacco. Another variety tested in New England has been known a> Podunk tobacco. This is doubtless another variety of seed leaf, the result of b’ inging seed from various countries. 1 acre are quite a number of varieties of <eed leaf cultivated in New England, Mi idle and Western States. There are our leading varieties in Ohio, and another has recently been discovered in a niost singular manner. A few years sin b a number of plants growing near >ome hushes attracted the attention of the grower on account of the peculiar color of the leaf. The leaves were careiully picked and the plants allowed to fro to .seed. The next season plant-beds were made and several acres planted; the result was the same, the leaf exhibiting the same color while growing and curing dawn to a very light shade, which gives it the name “White tobacco,” or as it is known now, “ Congress premium tobacco.” As a cut tobacco it

bids fair to rival other tobaccos used for this purpose. In California the plant is bring cultivated to a considerable .extent, anti; the hew method of curing. discovered Mr. Culp will doubtless makeits .cultivation a success, and add '; still another great product to the number now cultivated in that wondrous clime. Hut while new varieties of the plant are being tried, new methods of culture are being tried, which have much to do with the growth and quality of the plant . In the New England States especially have tobacco-grower* been more -particularly interested. in new.—varieties, and test qd more than any part, of the country. In Virginia not so much attention has been paid' ,to new varieties (although there are mi/ny grades and qualiilos) oh account of their tobacco being adapted for the pipe rather than for a cigar w rapper. While the tobacco plant readily adapts itself to aoil and climate, it often loses those essential qualities which render it valuable and a source of profit to the cultivator of the weed. Some kinds of tobacco may be grown in almost any climate and still retain, in a measure, their essential qualities, such as texture, color, size and weight. Others, however, change altogether on being intraduced to new’ sections of country. When the London and Plymouth Companies landed in Virginia they found tobacco (uppowoc) a very small plant, with leaves not much larger than those of the walnut tree, and growing about two feet in height. The English colony took a deep interest from the first in the plant and at once commenced its cultivation. The care and attention bestowed on the plant soon changed the whole character of it, both in size, color and general quality. It has been so in New England; now the plant is of much better color and texture than when first cultivated, and, as new varieties are being tested, w ill undoubtedly produce varieties of the plant excelling those now being cultivated. New varieties as they are introduced into the country cause new r and improved methods of culture to be tried in Order to perfect the leaf. European and American tobacco are decidedly different, particularly in strength, the former not possessing the strong qualities possessed by the American plant. On being cultivated, however, in America it in a short time becomes as powerful in flavor as if always grown here. In order to test new varieties of the plant properly they should be tried upon various soils and with the aid of various fertilizers. In this way the grower can easily determine just what soil and cultivation are required for the plant. If the leaf is to be light select light soil; if, on the contrary, a dark leaf is desired the plants should be “set” upon a dark loam. In this manner the grower can readily obtain the color, texture and body of leaf required. Not only will stlch experi ments be valuable but the results will be gratifying and interesting.— E. R. Billings, in American Grocer.

Protection for Winter.

There arc two leading causes which injure plants in winter beside a low temperature, namely: the- sweep of cutting winds and the rays of the sun on frozen tissue. Both of these should be taken into account in providing protection for winter. We sometimes see striking cases of injury by the winds. Plants are occasionally thrown partly out of the ground by the heaving frost, and hard winds have twisted and uprooted them. An extensive farmer assured us that his wheat crop was often lessened to one-half the amount by this cause alone in exposed places—a loss which the shelter of woods or timber screens prevented. A striking case of a similar character once occurred on our own ground in the days when Mediterranean wheat was generally cultivated. An exposed field was partially covered with a thin coat of straw, spread after the ground had become frozen; the other part had no straw applied. The thin covering of straw was sufficient to shield the wheat-plants and prevent their destruction, and the subsequent yield on this part was about twenty bushels per acre. The sharp winds destroyed nearly all the wheat on the bare portion, and it was not deemed worth cutting. The action of winds on garden plants often produces similar results. Strawberries are sometimes heaved by frost, and then killed in the same \vay,*wlien a flight covering would serve completely to protect them. Where they are not killed, more or less injury is done by exposure. Any gardener can easily satisfy himself on this point by covering a portion of his strawberry beds and leaving a part exposed; the former will come out fresh, green and vigorous in spring when the covering is taken off, while the latter will be browned and of weakened vitality. Some years ago we made a series of experiments of the depth of the frost in the soil early in winter. Where bare ground was fully exposed to the sweep of the winds it had frozen down to a depth of six inches. In small hollows, or sheltered places, it had not frozen three inches, and under the lee side of an evergreen screen the frost had not gone down more than an inch. Then, again, even quite thin grass afforded much protection, the frozen ground not being more than half as deep as where there was bare exposure. A heavy mat of grass had nearly prevented all freezing. and the soil where the grass was under the lee of an evergreen screen was not frozen at all. This difference would of course be less as the cold weather of winter continued; nevertheless, the ference was strikingly obvious after spring opened, the thickly-protected grass having started early and grown several inches, while the green points on the shortly-cropped suriace were just making their appearance. If so gieat a benefit results to farm crops, not less beneficial will be the effect of protecting garden crops and ornamental plants. Straw berries would be earlier as well as more vigorous and productive with a moderate degree of covering. Herbaceous peiennials. even if quite hardy, would start earlier in spring and grow and bloom better if properly protected. The results would vary with seasons, an open winter vrith little snow rendering protection mole important than when there is an ample snow covering. Its importance, therefore will vary with different regions of country. At such a place as Grand Traverse, in Michigan, for example, where the snow covers the ground deep from autumn into spring and where potatoes remain out all winter without harm, it would be needless. The same result how ever, be produced in northern latitudes by employing evergreen screens. B. Macomber, of Grand isle, Lake Champlain, us that his screens usually prevented the winds from blowing the snow off so effectually that the earth did not freeze at all during winter. This suggests protection in

; two ways: either by spreading evergreen | branches,on the surface or planting a [-temporary Screen several feet high by Lsetting large evergreen branches into { crowbar holes in a row before the freezj itx.tr up of winter. There is one precaution which inexperienced gardeners may learn fretfi some !gf the cases, we. have cited, and this is ' not to cover green leaves or green plants so densely as to exclude air. The farmer know s that very deep- snow will smother and rot his wheat plants; a similar result will take place if too dense or im- ■ pervious a covering is spread oyer strawberry l i as, orvoff jtrostrattrTsspberry canes or grapevines, the Wood of which remains soft and green, and which has not been well ripened. This is one cause of the unfavorable reports of covering vines. And for this reason it is safer merely to prostrate them on the ground, or if covering is required to-use evergreen branches for this purpose. Strawberries do well with evergreens for a cover, or, if litter is used, corn-stalks or stiff rye straw are better than fine and soft straw, r jvhich, when wet, will pack too closely for the good of the plants. But tender plants, which part with their leaves before winter, may be densely covered without harm. Trees and plants often reputed perfectly hardy, although not actually killed by severe winters, are often retarded in grow th for a time. We tried the experiment on a vine of the White Sweetwater grape. A portion w-as left on the trellis, another portion was* merely prostrated on the ground, and a third received a thin stratum of earth. All survived the winter; but the covered vine opened its buds fresh and green before the others; then the prostrated vines; and lastly, and slowly and feebly, the exposed part. In the case of an unprecedentedly severe winter, when the thermometer went 2G deg. below zero, a weeping ash not killed was so checked in vigor that a part of its buds did not open till the following August. Such facts as this will suggest the importance of cutting and securing “grafts early in winter; if their full vigor is to be insured, although in some winters it might make no difference. On a large scale, in large vineyards or field plantations of raspberries or strawberries, such suggestions as some of these may not be applicable, or protection may be impracticable, yet on more limited grounds the different modes here indicated may often prove of much importance.— Country Gentleman,

Rugs and Mats of Coffee Bags.

f A very prett/ style of rugs may be made of even such homely materials as coffee bags. Choose those of even texture and have them washed and ironed smoothly, or, as some will prefer, buy the same material by the yard, which will be still better, as it will be clean and with the original stiffening. The rug must be cut of the desired size, allowing for the fringe, and then worked in cross stitch with coarse Germantown wool, just as one would work on Java canvas. Some rugs arb very handsome when done with a Persian pattern; and, if preferred, the designs may be made very gorgeous by introducing an applique center - of—searlet, crimson, blue, or green cloth or flannel, button-hole stitched to hold it down. The edge is fringed out in the usual way, being secured by the button-hole edge. The more it is worked the handsomer it will be, and even for a table-cover for a common stand or center table the effect is excellent and it will be found most durable. One of our friends has made lambrequins for her mantel and windows. and worked: them. In green and maroon, which looked very well. Another is doing a piano cover with an elaborate border and center-piece. As rugs for parlor doors or to spread before your dressing-table up-stairs they will be very useful and desirable articles, and can be made very substantial by lining them with a piece of carpet or other thick material.— Harper's Bazar.

PHUNNYGRAMS.

—As my wife at the window one beautiful day stood watching a man with a monkey, a cart came along with a broth of a boy, who was driving a stout little donkey. To my wife then I spoke, by way of a joke: “ There’s a relation of yours in that carriage.” To which she replied, when the donkey she spied: “Ah, veßi a relation by marriage.” —On one occasion an Irishman’s house caught fire, and his wife, running to the nearest available water, caught up a kettle from the hob and was hurrying up to the attic, where the flames were already at work, when she was met on the stairs by Pat himself. Is it a fool ye are,” he cried, “ trying to put out a fire with hot water?” —The Bishop of Wurtsburg once asked a sprightly little shepherd boy: “What are you doing here, my lad?” “ Tending swine.” “ How much do you get?" “ One florin a week.” “I am also a shepherd,” continued the Bishop, “ but I get much more pay.” “ Then I suppose you have more swine under your care,”’innocently replied the boy. —“ I wouldn’t be a cook for the whole world!” said a fashionable young lady to her betrothed husband. “Of course not,” he replied. “If you were to cook for the whole world you would never get through your work. you'll be able to manage it nicely for our little family." —My dear sir, when you remark that the good old days of innocent childhood seem to have fled you don’t know what you are talking about. You ought to haveoeen in Jersey City the other day when a school teacher sat down on a chunk of wax and had to have a quarter of a yard of cloth cut out before he could get loose from the swing-chair.— Detroit Free Frees. —-One day last week—this is the way the broker tells it, although we’re inclined to think he yarns—a man came to a Des Moines note-shaver, handed him a note duly signed by a “ good man,” and asked him if he would buy it. The note had two years to run. The man of money glanced at the signature tind notified the customer that he would purchase the document if they could agree upon terms. “ Well, what will vou give for it?” said the seller. The broker took his pencil and figured. When he-had completed the example he scratched his head and muttered, “ No. that can't be correct,” and figured again. Again the result didn't suit him and again he stirred up the capillary substance with his forefinger, and again he “ciphered.” The third result appeared to satisfy him. and ’ooking up at the customer he remarked: “At first I thought I was mistaken, but the second and third trials verify the finding of the first. According to our, rules for shaving paper you owe me just fifteen dollars, but as it’s you. I’ll take the paper and call it square.” The seller studied awhile and. concluded not to do it. — lowa State Regieter.

. Our Young Folks. A CHILD'S LETTER. I BY MARY WlLirr. .r' ' i- y Dow Stood Santa (Jiaus, * The tfirl- uud we bova Are longing tor Christmas. which no doubt you know: Still nr send you a letter— Could I only write better— But J promised, and buck on my word I can't go. Of- myself I'll not write, it:. : "Twere not meek nor polite, But I'd fell you of some who trieuds greatly lack -—-- And. I know, quite a small hint will do. To make yott fill tighter and higher your pack. There's poor Willie Clichet, Once stnart as a cricket,, Nowlame and bed ridden for many a day; To be happy he tries. But, with tears in his eyes, • He whispers, of pain, and I cease to feel gay. Oh, please dou't forget To stop there and set Some of your very best goods at their door; Some little books, too, Quite plain ones will do. And Willie will read them and wish there were more. ~ ~ '/And poor ragged Bick, - And Annie, who’s sick, They live in the cottage just back of the mil); You'll see what they need, . I’m sure, for—indeed—--WeiL the nearest way for you is over the hill. And there’s Widow Blame/ With little boy Jamie, Their larder is empty, and so is their bln: She washes clothes and scrubs floors. And Jamie does chores, For they're dreadfully poor, I heard so from him They’ve never a mite From morning to night More than breadmade of corn-meal, and coffee of rye; True, it keeps them from starving, But they’ve never a l'artlTing Left them for extras after clothing they buy. And oh! I forgot— Too bad, is it not? — There's Davie and Jakie, Eugenie and Ben, A ad Maggie aud Clara, And Katie O’Harra, And Alice and "Zadie, all live in the glen. They’re watching and waiting, And mueh they are prating Of Christmas and all things thal make it so gay— Of sweetmeats and toys Tint good Santa Claus Has promised to briug-them when once on his way. N ow. I’ll only add here, While the end I am near Of my letter so lengthy, and faulty, and bold, That the land's full of poor. Along highway and moor. Some hungry and starving, some freezing of cold; Hearts aching with sorrow. Awaiting the morrow. In garret and cellar of city and town; •_ You'll find them, I know, In your rounds as you go— Good-by, Santa Claus, I’m Your Friend, Johnny Brown.

JACK’S CHRISTMAS.

“Hurrah! No more school till after Christmas!’’ shouted Httis Jack Harvey, as "he burst into his mother’s room and tossed his sachel from his shoulder to the ceiling. Mrs. Harvey looked up from her sewing and smiled. She called Jack to her side, and as he bounded into her arms she thought how bright his eyes were and that the winter air had painted his -cheeks as red as the two big apples she had stowed away in his lunch-basket that morning. “Jack,” she said, as she ran her fingers tenderly through his golden hair, “ what do you suppose Christmas comes every year for?” Jack raised his eyebrows and opened his blue eyes to their utmost. He had supposed that every baby knew the purpose of Christmas, and here was his mother asking a great boy of seven why it came. “ What for, mamma? Why every fellow knows that Christmas comes to bring us holidays and toys and sugar plums and ” “ But, my dear boy, that is only the selfish part of It comes also as a time to show our peace and good-will to everybody and to make their Christmas as beautiful and happy as our own.—l have made up my mind, therefore,” continued Mrs. Harvey, “to give you a Christmas party. This is the 23d of December. To morrow invitations shall be sent to all your little friends, and papa and I will select some pretty gift for each one of them.” “That’ll be tip-top!” cried Jack, but the next moment a shadow stole over his face and he added: “You said all the children I know, mamma; but I want you to leave out Rannie Mount.” “Why?” inquired Mrs Harvey. “ Because he’s a mean fellow,” Jack answered, indignantly. “He borrowed my new penknife the other day, that nice pearl-handled one papa gave me, and he took it home and brought it back with the best blade broken. Yes! and what’s more, he said he didn’t do it. It’s very likely some one else did it when he had it!” cried Jack, in a tone that showed he believed Rannie had told him an untruth and thereby added insult to injury. “Jack,” said Mrs. Harvey, gently, “it might have been the fault of some one Rannie was too generous to tell upon.” “ Well, he could have had a new blade putin for me, anyway,” replied Jack, doggedly, kicking the table as he spoke, and thrusting oat his under lip something very like a pout. “ Probably he had not the money, my child,” urged Mrs.ttarvev, who seemed determined to defend Rannie. “ The Mounts are hard-working and poor, and, I am sure, not manj pennies find their way into Rannie’s hands. At any rate,” she continued, as Jack fumbled in his pocket for the injured knife, “ it will be an excellent opportunity for you to throw aside the grudge aud show him the peace and good-will which belong to the season.” , Jack made a wry face at the easy manner in which mamma got over his affronts. Little boys are apt to think resentment more manly than forgiveness. She was patient because she was wise enough to know that, if there was to be any real good-will in the matter, Jack’s consent must come from his heart. By and by it aid, for his arms stole round her neck and he whispered something in her ear. 1 think he was ashamed to say the words aloud, although no one was by to listen. Mrs. Harvey looked up with a bright smile, and added .Rannie Mount’s name to the list of invitations she had been making out for Jack’s party. As for Jack, lie seized his cap and ran downstairs, whistling all the way. Every boy’s, and indeed everybody’s, heart feels so light when it rids itself of the burden of any illfeeling. Rannie Mount missed that part of the fun, lor his mother had sent him on an errand, and he did not reach Jack’s house till the little company were in the midst of a lively game. Mr. Harvey had hung a huge paper bag, full of sugar-plums, between the folding doors of the parlor and the children were all blindfolded in turn and given a long stick. Of course whoever was lucky enough to strike it would bring down a rain of sweets and tlje nimblest would be sure of the prettiest. Mrs. Harvey, who had been look-

ing oat for Ranaie, called the little fellow from the corner where lie sat, shyly, as if out of place in his-neat, but rather shabby, dress. Nannie Was duly blind*folded and given the stick, but proved j as unsuccessful as those who had gone i before him. At last Willie Ellis (I wonder if he peeped?) did strike the bag, and then the walls rang with the shouting and the merry scrambling after bonbons and almonds and jelly cakes. When every child had a pocketful they were called to the nursery for the giving of the presents. Of course the hqys were polite enough to let the girls lmve thl first choice. “Now,” said Mr. Harvey, “ Willie Ellis shallliuve the first choice among i the boys, as ne was the first to break the ! bag of sugar-plums.” Willie’s selection [ was a neat box of tools. Then Bertie I Snyder picked out abigred drum. “ And ! now, said Mrs. Harvey, “ Kannie Mount shall choose.”

Kannie stepped out timidly, and with a “Please, ma’am, might I take that?” pointed to Jack’s locomotive, which chanced to lay on the table. “ You’ll just please not!” yelled Jack, as he sprang forward and grabbed his treasure indignantly. Rannie was not present when he had exhibited the toy as his special property. Mrs. Harvey tried to remonstrate against this outburst, but her gentle voice was quite drowned in the louder tones of Willie Ellis and Bertie Snyder, who cried: “Now he’ll lie about not wanting it for himself, just as he did about breaking your knife!” “ Perhaps he meant to give it to me!" sneered Bertie, and then he and Jack laughed rudely. “Silence, boys,” said Mr; Harvey, sternly. His voice drew the general attention from Rannie, who took advantage of the moment to slip out of the house. When the uproar had subsided it was time for the little guests to leave, and Jack was not sorry when the door had shut behind them all. He was thoroughly out of humor. He avoided ~his mother and ran to the nursery. “Itwas just like that stupid Rannie Mount!” he grumbled to himself; “just like him to try and take away my nicest present after he had broken my knife!” and Jack took the locomotive from she table and wound it up. But, somehow, it did not please him as before. There had been a big tear of disappointment in Rannie’s eye when he was refused the toy, and Jack had seen and remeinbered it. Presently softer feelings began to work in his heart. He thought how quickly Rannie had given up instead of fighting aljout the matter, as a ruder boy might have done. How shabby his clothes had looked, too, and then Jack began to wonder if Christmas had brought Rannie any toy at all. Mrs. Harvey was determined to leave Jack to himself till his own conscience convinced him he had not shown Rannie the peace and good-will he had pronrsed. And by and by conscience did tell him so, and, what’s more, it whispered: “You could make Rannie’s Christmas beautitul and happy if you would give up that locomotive to him.” . At first Jack thought conscience asked really too much of him. He had invited Rannie to his Christmas party against his will, and now he must reward him for coming, and that at the cost of his prettiest plaything. But Mrs. Harvey knew where he was going as she saw him run down-stairs in his cap and overcoat, and out into the winter twilight, with a bundle under his arm. Jack returned soon without—that-hundlfr, -and—with—asweet, happy light in his face. “ Oh, mamma!” he cried, “ Rannie was so glad, and it wasn’t for himself he wanted it, but for a little crippled brother, who never goes anywhere, and who never had a Christmas toy before! Mrs. Mount was so pleased she cried. I wound up the locomotive for him half a dozen times, then Rannie half a dozen more. We thought he couldn’t see enough of it. Yes, and, mamma,” added Jack, gravely, “ Rannie didn’t break my knife after all. It was the sick boy did it. He told me so himself, and, only think, he pulled a little box from under his pillow and showed me some pennies in it he was saving to buy me a new blade. Of course I made him promise to keep them for himself.” “You are not sorry that you gave up the locomotive, are you, dear Jack?” asked Mrs. Harvey, tenderly. “No, indeed,” Jack answered stoutly; “ I wouldn’t have believed it, but Tfcel better than when I had it.” v “And you have also the sweet satisfaction,” said Mrs. Harvey, “of having made others’ Christmas as beautiful and happy as yours.” —Young Folks' Rural.

A Letter From Santa Clans.

What do you think I saw as I was going down street this morning, wrapped snugly in my fur-coat, and muffled up to my eyes to keep out the cold? Two little mites of boys, crouched up under the shelter of some rickety old steps that led into a wretched tenement-house. They were shivering with cold, barefoot, hungry, and big tears were rolling down their cheeks. Their mother was dead, and five minutes before their drunken father had kicked them out doors, and told them to go and hunt, up some breakfast if tliev wanted any. As 1 came near I heard one of them say, “ O Jimmy! it’s almost Christmas! How I wish old Santa Claus would come down our chimney* and bring us a big fire, and some shoes and stockings, and oceans and oceans of bread and milk.” “ Why, Bob, ain’t you a greeny now! There ain’t no Santa Claus; it’s all gammon.” Jimmy’s eyes flew wide open. “No Santa Claus!" “ No, it’s all stuff." Jimmy’s head went down like a flash, and he set bp such a perfect howl of disappointment it brought the tears to my own eyes. But I walked straight up to them and said: ? “You’re wrong, Jimmy, Santa is alive and well as ever. You just come along with me and see if. he isn’t!” Then I took the poor, shivering little things into the first warm, bright spot we could find and set a plate of smoking hot soup before each one, and it did my soul good to see them eat. When they had finished I soon put them where they will be kindly cared for and went on my way. But what an idea—no Santa Claus, hey! It is all stuff and gammon about my riding up and down and over people’s houses, and going down chimney to fill the children’s stockings. That story would do for the time when the chimney and fireplace-were half as big as the house, but for these days of narrow flues and air-tight stoves we couldn't think of such a things—And, beside, there are so many children now. I have, had to take in a great many partners or I could never carry bn the business as it should be

done. I have a great army of assistants, who enjoy filling the little red and white and blue and brown sto'ekings full to the brim alter the dear little ones who wear them are fast asleep in their beds. And I have another small army who help wonderfully in another department of the, work. They have warm, loving, tender hearts, and they go about among the poor and suffering ones of earth and report what they see to me, and soon after the very help and comfort which the poor souls needed most comes to them insome unaccountable way. Just take a peep into my note book, Mear children, and see how it reads: * , “ Poor old granny Griggs, not a child or friend to look alter her comfort; sick, lonely and poor. Dear little Molly Brown will run in Christmas morning and hiss her wrinkled cheek, brighten up the poor little room, make her a cup of tea and a bit of toast, and give her a pair of new spectacles, and a Bible with large, plain print.” “Jamie Martin, a little cripple, who has to lie on a hard bed all day long alone, while his mother goes out to wash, shall have a wonderful chair that will just fit his poor crooked back, so he can wheel himself up to the window and see what is going on in the world. And he shall have a nice child’s paper every week for a year.” “ Letty Gray, who works in the factory to support herself and little sister, shall have a great bundle of things, warm stockings and flannels, a new dress and shawl for each.” “ Mike Donovan, who got hurt in the mill, and is laid up for the winter, while his poor wife is trying to support the family, shall have a fifty-dollar greenback to help them along.” “ A minister’s family in a small parish‘away out West’ shall .have a wonderful Christmas-box that will make their hearts sing for joy.” ,

“ There will be a pair of chickens, a fat turkey or a can of oysters left at the door of many a parsonage. Many and many a poor widow will find a cord of wood or a ton of coal dumped down in her back yard on Christmas morning. Many and many a poor souTwho doesn’t know where to turn for work to earn his daily bread will find something to do that will keep the wolf from the door. Little girls that never had a doll before are going to have one now. Boys that never had a pop-gun or whistle will pop and whistle to their heart’s content this Christmas time.” There! you see it isn’t all bosh and gammon about Santa, after all. He is alive and well and busier than ever before. and he wants more help or else somebody may he forgotten. Will you go into partnership with me? The business pays well. Just sit down and put your thinking-cap on and see what you can do to help me. Think what you can do to make some poor, sad soul happier; how you can help some poor ohild to a Merry Christmas day. Look over your old toys and ( books, fix them up as nice as you can and give them to some poor mothers who cannot afford to buy new ones for their children. If there is nothing else you can do give a pleasant word, a kind smile, a little loving sympathy to those who need them, and you will he surprised to see how happy it will make them, and you too. —- If all the rich and happy ones of earth would only take hold of this blessed work in earnest joy and gladness, peace and good-will would fill every heart and home, and the angels would sing as never but once before: “Glory to God in the highest, peace on earth, good-will to men.” — Christian Union. —“ Pa, ” said Mrs. Spllkins, glancing up from a perusal of the thrilling pages of last year’s speeches on the Credit Mobilier, “ what does it mean to put your money ‘ where it will do the most good?’ ” “ Utilize, my dear, utilize,” replied her loving spouse, “that’s what it means. *“1 don’t neither!” screamed; Mrs. S., with tears of rage; “I never told one in my life, you heartless wretch !” and Spilkins just dodged in time to let a volume of “Congressional Debates” graze his os frontis and pass through a front window pane. A man who has been there says that no one but a person who has passed through it can imagine how surprised a husband feels to have his wife die and then return to life just as he is throwing himself on a grand funeral. —“ Corn bread?” said an Irish writer; “we haven’t got it; an’ isn’t it corn base ye mane?” m —lt is believed that California will during the year which will end with Dec. 31 fully 50,000 population. Anna S. Getsinger, of Honesdale, Pa., writes the following: “After suffering for nearly two years from neuralgia in the breast, passing up into the throat, face and head, I was entirely cured and restored to health by using Dr. L. Q. G. Wishart’s Pine Tree Tar Cordial. A protruding toe Is not a sightly thing, say nothing about health and comfort. SILVER TIPPED Shoes never wear out at the toe. For sale by all dealers.

Wishart’s Pine Tree Tar Cordial! % • Nature’s Great Remedy -f' , FOR ALL Throat and Lung . 7 ■ • t Diseases. & y . \ For Sale by All Druggists and Storekeepers.