St. Joseph County Independent, Volume 16, Number 31, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 7 February 1891 — Page 6

THE TOUCH OF BABY HANDS. BI W. D. LESTER, Ourminister was grave to-day, his measured tones were low; A somethmg tilled my heart the while, and set my soul aglow, And frequently unbidden tears welled up within my eyes. While through my frame a sealing thrilled akin to glad surprise. Was it the touch of unseen hands that wrought my spirit so, “ The tender touch of baby’s hands that left me long ago. Our minister was sad to-day, he spoke of His great love. Unchanging and unchangeable, Who rules the world above; Andwhilohis words of eloquence fell with a measured teat. Methought I heard along the aisles the tread of tiny feet. Was it the echo of his step that set my heart aglow. Or did his blue eyas on me gaze? Ah me, Ido not know. Yet all day long and in the night I listen for the sound Os baby feet to come again, that rest beneath the ground; I Pray again for baby hands to touch my fevered cheek, And baby voice within my cars a tender love to speak. Mayhap some day, when I am hid from all the world apart, These baby hands will come to mo to soothe an aching heart. A ROMAN VALENTINE.

BY F. M. COLBY.

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persecution of the Roman Emperor Claudius, A. D., 270, and after the fashion of his church, was canonized, that is, made a saint. Wheatley says that St. Valentine “was a man of most admirable parts, and so famous for his love and charity that the custom of choosing valentines upon his festival took its rise from thence.” Others have derived the custom from birds being supposed to select their mates on this day, but the prevailing belief is that the custom was taken from the old Roman festival of the Lupercalia. The festival occurred on the 14th of

February (St. Valentine's Day,) which the Romans designated as the day of the Luperci. All kinds of amusements and indulgences were allowed on that day; and among the ceremonies was one of placing the names of girls and young women in a box or urn, from which they were taken by the y ng fellows, according as chance directed. This incurred the necessity of bestov - ing a gift upon the owner of the name each one of them drew; and, if the failone reciprocated by another one or by a written message, he was to consider himself her valentine, as modern usage terms it. The pastors of the early church, finding it impossible to extirpate this pagan ceremony, changed its form and gave it another name. - All through the middle ages, the cus*“test ticedjandthe day was very popular among the young folks. Presents of gloves, feathers, scarfs, and jewelry were common as valentines. So, you see. there is nothing new in the world, in this respect; and when you receive your valentine this year, you will remember that the Roman youths and children honored the same festival in very nearly the same manner as you do. And now, I wish to tell you the story of a valentine far back in those dim old ages, which was sent to a Roman prince named Britanicus. He was a little olive-skinned Italian boy, who lived in Rome about eighteen hundred years ago. Rome was at that time the capital of the civilized world; and in the splendid imperial palace on the Palatine, surrounded by all the emblems of the most exalted sovereignty, another young boy wore the purple of the Emperors. This boy was Nero. He and Britanicus were cousins; and the young Prince was, at the time of which we write, the guest of the boyish Emperor, living with him in the palace of the Caesars, as though they had been brothers. Britanicus was some three years younger than the Emperor, being but fourteen, while Nero was seventeen. This sing l e fact made a good deal of difference in the respective lives of each; for had Britanicus been the older, he would have been the Emperor, and Nero would have been the Prince. As it was, the former would become Emperor if Nero died. But that event was not liable to occur very soon, nor did Britanicus wish it to. He had no wish to be compelled to wear the heavy, embroidered purple mantle —a symbol of imperial ,;rank —and be waited upon by those stern, dark-bearded men, who came every day to see his cousin and talk about sober state affairs, when he wanted

to ride in his new chariot or go to see the gladiators fight in the amphitheater. No, Britanicus thought it was hard enough to be a Prince, without being anything else. Both of these boys were orphans. The father of Britanicus had been the Emperor Claudius, who was now dead, as was also the voung, dark-eyed Roman woman, his mother. Nero’s father had been a brave general, who won many victories for Rome at the head of his legions. When he died, his widow married Claudius, her cousin; and she was still alive. She was a stately, haughtylooking woman, with dark, shining hair, and fierce, black eyes that seemed to look right through any one. Secretly Britanicus did not just like his aunt,

J ’ and stood a little in fear of her sharp 1 eyes and scowling brows. 1 Britanicus stood one morning in the marble atrium, or courtway, of the palace, looking out upon the street. His fine, boyish figure was clothed after the fashion of a princely ’’lonian lad. His olive-colored legs were bare, and his head, with its long dark hair, had no covering. But the tunic of full, rich ailk, belted at the waist and descending

to his knees, and the stola, or cloak, with its purple border and its heavy embroidery and clasps of gold, were all in the newest style, and showed his graceful person to advantage. It was the fourteenth day of February, the Roman Lupercalia; and Britanicus had already been to the forum, and drawn a name from the holy urn. He now held it in his hand—a dainty tablet, with the name of Octavia Julia in Roman characters upon it. A girl by that name was not unknown to him, being no less than a fair cousin, of whom he was very fond, and with whom he had romped more than once in earlier days. He was sagely considering what he should send her for a present, when the clash of the lictors and the shouts of the slaves who usually followed the Emperor sounded in the courtyard, and the young prince t meed out just as Nero wes descending from his golden chariot. Flushed with pleasure and knightly pride, the boy emperor rushed S a yly into the atrium. How handsome he looked, in his purple toga and his embroidered buskins, his long silken hair perfumed with precious unguents and sparkling with gold dust! Little resemblance was there between that happy, boyish face and the cruel, bestial Nero he afterwards became. His quick eye fell on Britanicus.

‘Ha! my cousin, hast thou been to the forum and drawn thy name? Why, thou art lucky!” as he read the tablet. “Octavia is our cousin and very lovely. I congratulate you.” “I know not what to send her,” murmured Britanicus. “Send her a chariot and a span of Phrygian horses, or a Grecian amphora," suggested Nero. Thou knoweat very well, my Cousin Domitius,” (one of Nero’s names) “that I have no gifts like those to bestow upon my friends.” “What! the cousin of an emperor,and as empty of sesterces as a plebian? Then you shall be so no longer. What I named shall be thine. A slave shall be despatched immediately with the span and chariot to our cousin’s palace.” “Nay rather let me choose one of those elegant Green vases in the cabinet,” said Britanicus. “It shall be as you wish, cousin, but use despatch; for I am impatient to learn how the fair Octavia will receive thy gift.” And the emperor walked away humming a gay air that he had learned that very morning from his Corinthian dancing master. So a black Nubian was sent with a beautiful vase of Samian workmanship to the young princess, and Britanicus waited with ill-concealed impatience for the message which should tell him of

>Y general con'sent, St. Valentine’s Day is al1 lowed to be one of the children’s holidays; and it has been observed fromltime immemorial. St. Valentine himself did not live, however, until the third century of our era. He was an early Christian bishop, who was beheaded in the

the (fair girl’s decision. It came at last. Britanicus was dining with the emperor in the great banquet hall amid murmur of fountains and odor of flowers. Brilliant entablatures shone on the walls. A hundred guests, reclining on couches, sat around the board, and throngs of slaves waited the nod of all. The young prince had just quaffed a goblet of spar Ming FalerianJ when the Nubian placed the expected missive in his hands. With a bright flush on his boyish countenance, he eagerly perused its contents. A delicate waxen tablet, with a lordly monogram, and the engraving of a Venus in a car drawn by pigeons, and underneath a few wellchoseu words, signifying her acceptance of his princely gift, and proffered cour--tesies, Th ill, hut it gave joy to i Britanicus. ' he slipped the tablet under his tunic, he caught the stern glance of his aunt. “What have you there, Britanicus?" she sard, reaching her hand forward; and an obedient slave carried the boy's gift to the fierce-eyed empress. She read it w-ith a frown, and retaining it, she called Nero to her, anti they left the room together. What could it all mean ? Britanicus wondered what he had done to make his aunt scowl so savagely, and he felt a little indignant at her treatment of him. He could eat no more; and, rising, he threw the garland from his head and walked out into the atrium. There Nero met him half an hour later. Without any appearance of change in his manner, the Emperor told him that Octavia would be at the palace that night w-ith other company, and that j the evening would be spent in pleasure. Britanicus hardly knew how to wait for the night-coming. He anointed his hair and put on new robes, and when the guests had arrived, made his appearance, as gay and happy a boy as one could wish to see. What a merry company it was! The old palace was bright w-ith light, much sounded, and the laughing voices of the children made a pleasant chorus on the evening air. Games were introduced; and, in one which was called, ‘Who shall be King?” there promised to be much excitement. Nero had been chosen by lot for the king, and the interest of the game depended on the ingenuity of the monarch in commanding such things to be dene by his various subjects as would most amuse the company. When it came the turn of Britanicus to receive orders, Nero directed him to go into the middle of the room and sing a song. Now, in those days, prince? were not

supposed to know much about such things. Singing was not considered a manly accomplisment at all, and slaves j were always hired to sing and play at entertainments. But, notwithstanding the degredation imposed on him, and the severe requirement for one so young, the boy, without any hesitation, stepped forward and began to sing. His theme was about a young prince who loved a beautiful girl, and hoxv a fierce old witch kept him in a dreary palace, away from the light of day, and xvould never let him see his love. The entire assembly listened with profound attention, charmed by the artless simplicity of his । song and the grace and beauty of his person. There was a hush when he closed. He saxv Octavia’s cheek burn-

ing with blushes; and beyond her he saw the dark face of his Aunt Agrippina, regarding him with a glance that made him shiver. When the festivities were over, his aunt approached him, and placed the tablet in his hands that he had received from Octavia. “Doubtless, you would uotlike to lose it,” she said to him,her fiery eyes gleaming on him like a burning flame.

“Therefore keep it, and may thy consii never regret her gift.” And then she went away, and left him puzzled at her. strange speech and fierce looks. Poor little prince! He did not know that in the heart of that cruel woman' his death w-as already planned. But sc? it was. She feared that he would stanch in Nero's way. His beauty and his’ popularity might at any time make him a powerful rival of her son. Moreover the circumstance of the w-axen tablet and his graceful, pathetic scoff showed/ her that his regard for his cousin was an obstacle which could only be removed by his death; for she Innl determined that the royally born Octavia must mate only with her son. That night, the fierce empress paced the marble floor’ of her chamber with the tread of a tigress; while Nero, her son, listened to the murderous schemes that were to make his throne from anv danger, either imaginary or real. In that midnight session he took his first flesson in crime; for, before another morning, he was a murderer in fact, if not in name. In another chamber of that Roman home, within sound or the plash of the fountain in the atrium, lay Brita With one arm thrown above his au and the other resting on the soft ermine of his couch, his dark hair streaming

over his pillow, and the soft yellow light of the southern moon shining 09 his Italian face, he looked too fair to die. Under his pillow was the waxev tablet, aud he had sunk to sleep with the name of Octavia on his now quies lips. He never woke again. When the suf* rose over the Apennines, it shone 0H® 1 cold, dead face in the marble oham^f " ~ —shone on the stiffened form of ftjs young Roman prince, whose valentinb had wrought his doom. The waxen tablet had been poisoned. What Did Mother live Do? “What did Eve do for a nurse girl?” The question came toward the close of a conversation between two young matrons concerning the training of children. One had been dilating on the merits of a book on that subject. “You ought to read it,” she exclaimed enthusiastically. “It is full of thoroughly practical ideas.” “Tells where the nursery should be located, doesn’t it?” inquired the other. “O, yes. It says that the room or rooms set apart for the use of the child should be near its mother’s, so that it can be constantly under her eye.” “Near her boudoir, isn’t it?” “Yes; that’s the wav the book puts i it.”

“Ami the child should be kept away from the reception-room and parlors?” “Os course. Constant attention from visitors will spoil any child.” Matron No. 2 roused herself and with considerable show of interest asked: “Does it tell how all this can be arranged in a seven-room flat ?” “Well— no-o,” replied Matron No. Ik “I don’t know that it does.” “Did you ever see a book that did?’ I “No; I can’t say that I have.” “Then a child can’t be brought t > ' properly outside of a large house ?” j “Well, hardly that. Os course, ifo/ U can’t have a nursery ” * i “If one can’t, one can’t follow the a< ■ vice given. The nurse girl, I support must be trustworthy, amiable,educate*, and fond of children.” “O, yes; all of that The book saws ; that wages should not be considers^ i ( that the aim should be to get a girl who I could gain the confidence of the chill 1 , and who would be competent not oi**y I to carry out the instructions of thia mother but to fill in the details. You ; see, the immediate care of the ebil- : dren is in the handsof the girl." “And the mother trains the girl?” “Yes, that’s about it.” “Suppose she can’t afford to hire a ( nurse-girl?” “Why, I—l—really, I don’t think it gives any advice for that contingency.” “Ever see a book that did?” “No, I don’t believe I have.” “I wonder,” said Matron No. 2 thoughtfully, “how many women there , are in Chicago who can’t afford to em- j ploy an extra servant to take care of the । children.” Matron No. 1 did no. attempt to fig- i nre on the problem, and after a pause Matron No. 2 sighed and put her clos- i ing question: “ What did Eve do for a nurse-girl ?” i Matron No. 1 was staggered, but for i only a moment. “She didn’t have any,” she replied, I “and I guess that is why Cain went ■ wrong?” Bill West’s Head. The remarkable career of old Tom Starr, the notorious Cherokee desperado, which has lately appeared in print, I recalls an incident in his life, the plain- I est statement of which sounds lilfe a romance. Bill West was old Tom’s brother-in-law, and the most powerful man of his day in the Cherokee Nation. A blow from his fist was as deadly as a Winchester bullet. With this formidable weapon he killed several men, and a law was passed declaring Bill’s fist a deadly weapon. Old Tom and Biljhad been close companions, but one flW* they quarrelled over the division ojL es £

spoils of a plundering expedition. MLSgI struck at Starr, but the xvily $ dodged the blow and at the same-jE™ 6 , 1 deftly placed a long, keen knife-hF^ 6 between the former’s ribs. This ^’as the tragic end of Bill West. At this time there xvas a reward of $2,000 offered for West’s head and $5,000 for that Starr. Old Tom was in need of ready cash and determined to run the risk of losing his own head by trying to secure the reward on that of his brother-in-law. So, after killing West, he cut off his head, put it in a gunny-bag and proceeded to Tahlequah, the capital where he presented his gory charge to the Chief, with the proof that it was the right head, and demanded the reward. The Chief and the Treasurer are both t 1

oid men, and they knew Old lorn s reputation. They also knew that the reward on West’s head was only $2,000, while that for Old Tom’s was $5,000. But Starr was there himself, and meant business. At the muzzle of a six-shooter the Treasurer forked over the $2,000, and Old Tom departed with the money, to the delight and astonishment of the people of Tahlequah, without killing a single person.

agricultural topics. ) A FEW POINTS FOR YUUR CONSIDERATION. Something of Interest to the Farmer, Housewife, Hairyman, Ranchman, I*oul- । terer, and the Beekeeper. THE HOUSEHOLD. / Ornamenting Plain Glass.

MODE of ornamenting plain glass, suggested by The Decorator and Furnisher, is to paint the decorative design on silk or linen, and as soon as tho surface has been varnished pressing it downward on the

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glass, after which the back of the linen or silk is gently rubbed, so as to exslude air bubbles. Before using either M these textiles, they must be stretched on a frame, and, if water colors are used, Sized with isinglass, but no sizing is required with oil colors. The gloss of the glass will less interfere with the effect if a judicious selection of colors be made, preference being given to those which ire subdued. Such paintings, well executed, appear to advantage in the shaded recesses of mantels and cabinets. A Tried Cure For Insomnia. Every night, at an early bed-time, take a five-grain pill of asafetida—be careful to take no strong medicine after 3 o’clock in the afternoon; half an hour before getting into bed take a hot footTath. Let the water be as hot as can be borne at first, and add a very little hot water as it cools. Be sure to keep well covered up, and to have the feet in the water for a full half hour. A month of this treatment under the most adverse circumstances completely cured the insomnia of a friend who had run the entire gamut of narcotics, stimulants, eating before retiring, and tiring himself out.— Ladies' Home Journal. Simple Remedies. Wet tobacco will relieve bee or wasp stings. For nausea, lay a little pounded ice on the back of the neck. For neuralgia, bruise horse-radish and apply as a poultice to the wrist. A couple of figs eaten before breakfast is an excellent laxative, especially for children. When suffering from overstrained and tired eyes, bathe them in hot water sev-

eral times a day. !• or a slight cut, bind on a piece of common brown wrapping paper—such as butchers use for wrapping meats. A tea made by pouring boiling water over sweet flag-root will relieve worm sickness in children, and is also good for colic. For a cold on the lungs, lay a cloth on the chest, which has first been wrung out in boiling water ami sprinkled with turpentine. Cold water may bo drank freely in all fevers, except when tile fever is connected with lung troubles, as in such a case it might chill the patient. Another good remedy for bee or wasp stings is common earth mixed to a mudpaste with water. Apply to the afflicted part immediately, covering with a cloth. For rheumatism, take half a glassful of lemon juice for ten nights. Always take it when getting into bgd aL niulu. X. Wear flimne] next u>'’Trn r sKin, and in j cold XvcaiTier TTFFp in warm blankets. A good remedy for sore mouth is one I teaspoonfnl each of powdered borax and alum, one-half teespoonful of soda and one teacupful of sage tea. Mix well and rinse the mouth frequentlyA raw cranberry cut in two and onehalf of it bound over a corn, is said to be a sure cure. Another cure is, applying a poultice of stale bread which has been soaked in strong vinegar. Apply at night. A little powdered borax thrown into the bath makes tin 1 water very soft, and greatly invigorates ami rests the bather. This is particularly beneficial to those who are troubled with nervousness or sleeplessness.— Good lloustkeeplmj. THE FARM. Pulling Stump*. Stumps are ugly things in any lot,and particularly in a plow lot. If there are many, especially large, ugly ones, it will pay to buy an extractor; in the absence of this useful machine, the following simple device will prove effective: Get a straight tree about eighteen inches through of sound oak or other rigid timber, about twenty-live or thirty feet j long. Get also an extremely strong ca- j ble chain—no ordinary ox chain will do. Hitch a strong, steady yoke of cat-HOME-MADE STUMP FULLER. : tie to the small end of the lever and I draw it to the stump. Now pass your | ! big chain around a large root and the । lever at the fam.- Um.-, oboul three feet I n..- butt. I’a-ti 11 tlie chain tightly I and start the team, driving in a circle. 1 A small stump will come out whole, but a large one may split into two or- three sections. The above is the plan adopted by a Prairie Farmer correspondent. Pile up the stumps and when dry burn. THIS STOCK RANCH. Tho Color of Young Colts. The inexperienced breeder is often puzzled to guess what will be the color; of a new-born colt when it attains maturity. There is always a great change, but we believe that tiie final color at full age is nearly always indicated by’ the color of the eyelashes. The rule holds good with many other young animals, including young cliildren. Balking Horses. When a horse has thoroughly learned the habit of balking it is cheaper and better to shoot him on the spot than to try to dispose of him in any other way. A balkly animal usually’ wastes the time of other horses anil of men working him more than the value of his services, besides giving cause for bad temper and profanity, the damage from which cannot easily’ be calculated. Educating Colts and Horses. ' The Hural Guardian gives some very

good ;directioi s for training a colt, from which we extrac* the following: In starting the education of a colt he should be bridle-handled first on one side and then c the other. The traine*’ should put him about in different directions, forward, backward, to the right and leit, and got him to yield to the bit in each of these directions. This should be done both in the stable and yard, and in using the reins for this purpose the trainer should exercise a steady, firm pressure on the bit until the colt yields, when the pressure should be removed at once, in order for him to understand that he has obeyed. When the colt’s head can be handled in every conceivable direction, and the muscles of his neck are suppie and controlled, then handle the forward feet, then the body, and finish with the hind feet and tail, but if you can’t handle him by the head and compel him to do everything you ask, you may be sure you can’t handle his heels. When handling the colt’s feet, teach him not only to allow you to pick them up and rub and rap on them with a hammer, but to hold them up until you get ready to let them go. Take the tail in your hand carefully, and raise it well up over his back, repeating this until he makes no objection. Take a pole about the size of a sled stake, pole him all over his body, and pry in between his legs until he shows no fear of it. Teach him to stand and allow a harness to be tossed on to andaJl about him. Handle umbrellas, robes, papers, etc., about his head and body until lie is utterly indifferent to all of them. Lead and back him into and over an old pair of shafts repeatedly, and when he is standing in them raise them up and rub his legs with them, and finally bring the crossbar against his haunches gently at first, and then more forcibly, until he cares nothing for it. Every colt should be educated to the crossbar, and it is as easy to do that as it is to educate him to the breeching. All these things should be done to the colt before he is harnessed at all. Besides educating him in these respects, it adds to your control each time you get him to go through some new manoeuvre. THE APIARY. Hoes for Farmers. The farmer, above all others, ought to keep a few bees, lie need not keep} enough of them to make it a burden or a part of liis business to care for them, but! enough to supply his own table with j honey—the purest sweet there is. It is J always bandy to have in the house. If j one has never kept bees he will be unwise to go into bee-keeping rashly or extensively. A few hints, that may help 1 some who are thinking of getting bees | this summer, are given by Mrs. L. Har- ■ risen:

It is good policy for beginners to purchase bees in boxes and barrels, as transferring is not tho best kind of work for a novie.e Better buy a good colony or two, not more, of Italians in a movable frame hive. The Lang.-troth frame is to bo preferred, for this reason, two-thirds of the scientific bee-keepers use this frame and bees sell better in hives where this frame is used. Every Live in an apiary should be exactly alike, so that every cover, frame, etc., can be mixed up and al! lit when put. together. Better choose a .live first, and not get a half dozen different ones to see which is preferable. Success in bee-cult lire is attained only i by the faithful performance of many lit- | tie items. Sonic people never have any I ‘‘luck with bees. Why? One year the moths destroyed them, and another season the swarms left while the hives were being made ready, washed with apple-

must study their lessons well, learn the habits of these industrious insects and j their wants, and supply them. Last I year the honey crop was an almost com- ; plete failure, owing to the severe drouth, I and maixy colonies this spring had not a day’s rations ahead. Let there be a long ; continued cold storm, and bees in this I condition must starve. Their owner must know their condition, and this is one of the good things • of the movable-frame hive. Bees consume stores very fast in the. spring because of their rearing so much brood. ‘ Scientists tell us that an insect in its | larva; state consumes more food than | during the remainder of its life. If a ■ colony is short of honey, the best way to supply it is to remove as quietly as possible an empty frame, and insert a full one in its place. Where no frames of honey are obtainable, feed syrup made of any kind of sugar when bees are flying. Little wooden butter dishes make good feeders, as bees cling to their sides and never drown as they do in glass or

earthenware, unless filled with cut straw or shavings. THE FULTRY YARD. Preserving Eggs. ‘ At a late meeting of the London ' ' Society of Arts, Prof. P. L. Simmonds, F. L. G., read a very interesting and instructive paper on this subject. He said there is not much that can be brought forward as to the preservation of eggs, for this questk has been very fully discussed and experimented upon in recent years. Cadet de Vaux suggested the plunging of eggs for twenty-four seconds in boiling water, in order to coagulate that portion of the albumen nearest the shell, and then to pack them in vessels I half tilled with sifted cinders. This pro- | eess—which, by-the-by, has been wellI known in some parts of Scotland for | many years—yields excellent results, but if neglected but for a second or two, the eggs arc Hnßlo to bardon. For Homo consumption the French peasantry have I for ages preserved their eggs in a very I simple fashion. They take a wooden j case or a large barrel, and pack them in | thick layers of sawdust, tine sand, chalk, bran, cinders or coal dust, so that they do not touch each other. In the marintime provinces the peasants use layers of ashes moistened with salt water. The late Dr. F. Grace Calvert found by ex- \ periment the following results in the acI tion of different substances in the preser- । vation of eggs. In dry oxygen gas eggs I are unaffected unless punctured: moist i oxygen decomposes the eggs. In moist j hydrogen or nitrogen, eggs will keep j i three months. Egg pierced or whole are j perfectly preserved in carbonic acid, dry 'or moist. In chlorine water (1 to 500) eggs kept three months in a closed vessel; in solution of dilute chloride of lime, eggs would not keep two days; lime water and sulphate of lime kept them a little longer; carbolic acid (1 to 500) preserved them about six weeks. Eggs immersed in an iodideof calcium solution were, after a month, not to be distinguished by smell or taste from perfectly fresh eggs. M. Durand, a chemist at Blois, steeps them in a solution of silicate of potash. This being very viscous, is kept liquid by adding warm j

water. The eggs are placed in a vessel containing the silicate, and afterwards dried. Then the part upon which the egg rested is covered, because the silicate may have fallen off at this place. When each egg is completely covered all over the eggs are placed in any receptacle, and may be left for a year, if necessary, without any fear of their sailing. Within recent years egopowder lias been produced, not a chemical combination, but the contents of eggs dried or condensed. It is stated that these are for omelettes and other cookin^ purposes, quite equal to new-laid eggs. ° THE BaTky, Prize Essay on Butter Making. The following points are those'made by Mrs. W. E. Bush, of Sparta, Wis., in a prize essay at a Dairymen’s Convention. To make good butter, all having care of cows and milk should work interestedly, conscientiously and harmoniously each determining to “do his best—his very best—and do it every day.” Then having good butter cows, they may adopt the following plans with success: 1. t' co . ws j n clean, warm, ventililted stables in winter. 2. 1 real gently; feed, water, and milk regularly. 3. hood in winter: corn, oats, ground, mix with bran, scald, and salt occasionally, also carrots, pumpkins, good timothy, clover, and cornstalks. Avoid turnips, cabbage, and decaying vegetables. 4. Food in summer: good pasture and fodder-corn. 5. Pure water at all seasons. (5. Scrupulous cleansing of all utensils. 7. Milk rapidly and quietly In pail th a v strains while milking, or cover pail with folds of mosquito netting; re-strain through both wire and cloth into deep cans. 8. Reduce and hold temperature at 50 degrees. 9. Skim sweet. 10. Keep cream at moderate temperature until thickened, which indicates sufficient acidity. 11. Air by frequent stirring. 12. Churn in summer in early morning every other day, Sundays excepted. In winter not less than semi-weekly. Temperature GO degrees. 13. Stop churning when in granular I state, draw buttermilk and and add weak ■ brine Place pure white rather thin I cloth in large seamless pan, half filled > with brine, then remove butter to pan. 1 Gather cloth with hand, repeat until no trace of buttermilk. 14. Butter still in granules, salt (pure | dairy one ounce per pound,) by sifting I evenly, stirring with ladle and turning on cloth. IM 5 l ,

la. Pack immediately in tubs, previously tilled with hot brine, then thor--1 oughly cooled. I 16. Cover neatly with muslin, and set in cool dry place to await shipment. Hairy Notes. Any harsh treatment that excites the cow. lessens the quantity and injures the quality of her milk yield. Take good care of your stock and there will be but a few occasions to injure what is the best medicine for them. While the milk is warmer than the surrounding air, it may be left uncovered, but when colder it may with advantage j be covered. i If you have an unprofitable cow in the ‘ dairy now is the time to begin to get her ready to turn off. Fat her before cold weather. The breed of cattle that was supposed forty years ago to do well enough on become extinct because there is now n

: . a oetter breed , „ ol farmers. —m— One of the uses of giving cows sa ref especially in hot weather, is that it acts as a preservative in the system. Every one accustomed to test milk can tell by its flavor whether the cows have been [ getting their salt. There is no doubt, ■ whatever, that the neglect of “salting I the cows” spoils the butter and injures j the milk for the cheese factory. j As soon as an early crop is off a piece I of land, before the weeds start, plow it iup and sow rye. Here is late pasture i for cows this year and early feed next, j Plow it under next season, if your stock I feeds it past grain-bearing, and put in any crop you choose. The moisture and warmth produced by the decay of green stuff turned under is really wonderful. THE KITCHEN. Currant Fie. Beat together one egg and one cup of sugar; add one cup of currantsand bake with two crusts.

Blackberry Pudding. A pint of flour, a pint of warm ’water, a pinch of salt; mix flour, water and salt thoroughly; add one quart ot blackberries the last thing. Put in pudding bag I well floured and boil one hour Onion Fomadr. Cut some onions into thin slices and ste w them in butter, add a pinch of flour with broth or water, season and stew them again, thicken with the yolks of eggs so as to make a kind of thick sauce. Suet Pudding. Three cups of flour, one of raisins, stoned, one-half cup suet, chopped fine, one-half cup molasses, one-half cup sugar, one-half cup milk, two teaspoons cinnamon,one of cream of tartar,one-hall teaspoon soda; boil one hour and a half. Bread Pudding. Take one pint of bread crumbs soaked in one quart of sweet milk, one-half cup of white sugar, two eggs beaten tbdr--1 ouglily, one cup of rasins if desired, heaping teaspoonful of butter, salt to suit the taste; stir well together and i bake. Excellent Rolls. Take three pints of warm water in which some peeled Irish potatoes have been boiled, strain your water, add a tablespoonful of butter or lard, one teacupful of warm yeast; thicken it with flour to make a dough. Let it stand to rise, then work into rolls. Let it stand to rise fifteen or twenty minutes, then bake about three-quarters of an hour. You can make this into loaves, as it is a I good bread receipe. Chicken Pie. Cut the. chickens in joints; blanch them with boiling water, season with pepper and salt, a mixed tablespoonful of chopped mushrooms, parsley and onions, or a larger quantity of this seasoning can be used; add a few slices of ham or bacon. A layer below and one above the chicken arranged in the pie dish is best. Fill it up with real gravy, seasoned with a few mushrooms; put in also the yolks of six hard-boiled eggs. A little lemon juice may also be added. Cover with puff, paste and bake rather more than an j hour.