WILLAMETTE FARMER: PORTLAND, OREGON, NOVEMBER 25, 8B1
3
ftif lnm trr!ij,
Edited by Mr llnrrlot T. Unrhc
COUSIN JANE.
What do peoplo think of Iter
Our Cousin Jano?
With a sillow, Bunken cheek ;
Ilair with many a silver streak ;
Features never made for show ;
Eyes that faded long ago ;
Brow no longer smooth and fair ;
Form bent o'er with pain and caie ;
Slighted Cousin Jane !
What do wo all think of her,
Our Cousin Jane ?
Quieting the children's uoiss ;
Mending all the broken toys ;
Doing doftly, ono by one,
Duties others Ieavo undone ;
Gliding rouud the sick one's bed,
With a noisoloss foot and tread,
Who like her can sooth in pain
Useful Cousin Jauo ?
What do angels think of her,
Our Cousin Jane ?
Bearing calmly every cross,
Finding gain through seeming loss,
And beauty ever bright.
In the ridgid line of right :
lili Self-forgetting, free from art,
J With a loving. Christian heart ;
uviug aye tor others gain
Saintly Cousin Jane i
Would that thinking oft of her
Our Cousin Jane
Hight our inward vision clear,
Totehold the "unseen" near.
And in forms of dullest hue,
Heaven's own beauty shining through.
Keached that land of purest day ;
Passed misjudging earth away ;
What radiance will she then attain
Star-crowned Cousin Jane f
Adm Mattik gives us a rather lively ac
count of "those chickens of ours," and jet it
teems as if it was a little one sided wo rath
er think if a farmer wore to take up any other
industry pertaining to farming, and "charge
up" expenses, he would find himself in the
same boat with' "those chickens of ours."
Chickens are expected to help themselves to a
good extent; to forago for themselves, taking
what is ' necossarily scattered, and would bo
wastod if not picked up by fowls. The horses
waste oats about the bar. More or less grain
is scattered in haudling it, and during har
vest tlioso chickens will do quite well if they
have a field to run in, so that it seems as if
it was overdoing it a little to charge them
with grain they would do well on the screen
ings from tho fanning mill. A sort of stuff
is not good for the cow or pigs.
There are many reasons why fowls are a
nuisance, as Aunt Mattie says, about the
porches aud door yards; but our theory is that
they should bo raised near tho barn, and not
allowed to be near the house. Then it seems
as if fifty cents were a good deal to have to
pay for bens in tho country that is what we
pay in city markets, and it looks as if Aunt
Mattie had sharp traders for neighbors. The
very fact that chickens and eggs am so high
would ' indicate it as a profitable business.
Yet we know, too, that there are tho draw
backs of "varmints" and hawks; then, too,
diseases will carry off many. Our weather is
bad, too, leaving only a few months in tho
year when it is safe to have a brood como oil.
Now, we aro not talking theory, for wo have
raised njAny and know all about it ty experi
ence; and, as far as that goes, wo have found
it profitable, besides giviug tho family the
luxuries of fresh eggs and tender chickens,
that cannot bo put in tho account of debt and
redit. Tjiero can bo nothing more vexing
than a lot of hens in a garden, and it's sur
prising tho amount of scratching one liou can
do in fivo minutes.
One must be fixed for it to raise chickens
with satisfaction, but it Beeins as if those fix
tures ought not to bo put down as expendi
tures any mora than in reckoning up the price
of the pen for tho pig or tho barn for the
horses ; they aro improvements that are as
necossary as any other. One can keep twenty
five hens on a good farm and not cost a bushel
of w heat, and each of these hens are good for
twelve dozen eggs during tho year, which
would leave some three hundred dozen. Wo
don't know how many eggs wo use unless we
notice them. We keep an account of groceries,
and so ono diy w e looked to seo tho average
that wo used a month, and w ere astonished to
find that wo had bought five or six dozen
overy month, and had thought wo hid been
saving, too. This is for a family of six. Now,
if this many are used in a city where they are
bought, how much more freely aro they used
on a farm, where they can bo used without
counting? We wish some ono else would
give an experience in the matter, and thank
Auut Mattie for her excellent contribution.
How to Place the Bed.
Baron Reichenhach, who has devoted many
years of deep study to tho art of bed-making,
maintains that you must not always ho on
your bed as it is made, under penalty of
abridging your life by a great number of years.
If, says the Baron, a mere magnet exercises
an influence on sensitive persons, the eaith'a
magnetism must certainly make itself felt on
a nervous life of man. Uence, he awaits
on the effects of the inhabitant) of tho north
ern hemisphere lying with their heads to the
north, and those of the southern, with their
heads to the south. For travelers with short
memories, we may put the rule in general
terms: In whatever nomisphere you may be,
always sleep with your feet to the equator,
sod let your body lie "true as a needle to tho
pole." In giving this rule, the Baron has
simply told us how to live a hundred years;
for the polar direction of the body is, it ap
pears of the utmost importance for the proper
circulation of the blood, and we have Baron
Reichenbach'a authority for stating that many
disturbances in the human organisms are sim?
ply placing the bolster at the different point
of the compass from that it had occupied be
fore. Let such as have hitherto been in the
habit of sleeping ith thair beads where their
feet ought to be, take to heart the example ot
the late Dr. Fischweiter, of Magdeburg, who
died recently at the age of 109 years, and al
way attributed hit long life to his faithful
observance of the pole to position of sleeping.
The most unhealthy position, we are told, is
when the body lies due east and west- Some
observers assure us that to sleep in such a pos
ture. U tantamount to committing slow sui
cide, and that diseases are often aggravated
by deviations from the polar posture.
THOSE CHICKENS OF OURS.
Editor Home Circle:
"Now," said Mrs. droy, 'Tnevcr could
seo the profit in koepiug chickens. Kvery
paper ono picks up now-a-daya seems to have
chicken on the brain."
" Why, how can you say so. I like chick
ens, they are such a help to a farm in many
wajs," I replied.
"Well, I just wish you would tell mo how
or in what way they help," smiled my neigh
bor. " I soo you hav e no hens now."
"Why nothing easier," I returned. "Let
me got my account book; I always kept a
record of everything when we had hens. The
reason wo havo uono now is bocauso my hus
band got tired of them, said they were a
nuisance, tore his garden up when running
loose, and ate their heads off when kept in
runs. I like chickens, but what can you ex
pect of a mm ? Thero never was one yet who
could see an inch ahead of his nose."
"Oh you are provoked about losing your
hons.now," laughed my friend.
"Let mo see," said I, as I began turning
over my book, "perhaps tho best way will bo
to tell you all about it. We bought 30 hens
and S rooters, at 50 cents each, which
amounted to 817 50. Then tho hen house and
work upon it cost 810, and the hired man
built a chicken run of pickets, which cost 810
more, m all amounting to $37 50. This sur
prised me, but then I thought of eggs and nico
chickens to oat, and took heart again. We
let them run out for a while, but my husband
threatened to annihilato the whole band bo
cause they destroyed quarter of an aero of
corn, leaving not a grain oven for next year's
seed. The corn was a quarter of a milo from
the hen houso, and they were giain fed, too.
Then they began on the cabbage, and ruined
a great quantity before we discovered what
they were about. During this time we did
not get many eggs ; true, our chickens were
only ordinary onos, Spanish, Cochin and barn
yard mixed. Still they had good care, and I
thought they should havo done better. Even
what eggs they did produce wore very few of
them layed in tho hen house, but we hunted
all over the barn for them. Wo had hatched
out many broods of chickens, but tho hawks
wcro quite bad then and got most of them.
Wo found it cost 81 to feed a chicken at all
decently for a year ; additional cost, $40
Those hens layed 290 eggs that year, averag
ing 25 cents a dozen. We w ere far behind
that year on chickens, but I said I knew I
could do better if I had good stock. Mrs.
Brown had somo Hamburg thickens, which
were not pure by any means, but I considered
them better than common fowls. She let me
take four hens and a rooster to keep through
the Summer if I returned her five fowls and
gave her half of what I raised from them. I
brought them homo and turned them in a
run. We had a half Hamburg rooster, which
had just been given rae, and he and Mrs.
Brown's, rooster fought through tho fence
continually. One day our rooster flew over
the dividing fenco and h d beaten tho other
fearfully, when we discovered them. That
would never do, so wo took that chicken
home, turning our Hamburg rooster in tho
run with the four hens. These have layed 128
egs, aud from these-1 raised 40 chickens.
I returned the four hens and 23 young half
grown chickons, and my noighbor, as she
turned them out of the box, remarked,
" They are not true to color." It would havo
been more of a miracle if they had been true
to anything. Perhaps, if I had picked out six
chickons and sent them as the entire half of
my raising, it might hav e been satisfactory,
I believe that is tho usual plan for such things
to bo w orked upon. I never was so sorry in
my life over anything as I was in being honest
over that transaction. "
"Oh Fiddlestick," laughed Mrs Groy,
"nobody notices what Mrs. Brown sajs ; she
must talk about something, jou know."
Well, to return to those chickens. We sold
830 worth of them ; then I had thirteen left,
of w bich one w as a rooster. Wo kept these
another year, costing 813, These began lay
ing Feb 8, 18S0, and quit Sept. 24, laying
022 eggs. This was quite good, I thought, for
I must confess I was getting discouraged. I
set a number of hens, and took great care of
them and tho ) ouug chicks, too. In fact my
husband and I were actual slaves to those
chicken runs. We could not go any where of
an afternoon without hurrying home before it
grew ccol to houe tho thicks. A coyote broke
open one coop, ate the mother Inn and her
til teen little ones. The hawks disposed of
many more, in spite of our watchfulness. A
dozen times I have sttn my husband running
at breakneck speed from tho other end of tho
ranch because a hawk was after tho fowls.
He would get the gun, and after sneaking
about for about half an hour, may bo would
get the hawk, and may be he wouldn't. We
clipped one w ing of eaeh thicken every little
while, still thero was not a day that from
three to a dozen did not got out. I have
watched them, and they litcrallyclimbed out.
Sometimes ono would get its head hung be
tween two pickets, and tho children, hailing
it with shouts of glee, would poke it out with
sticks. I think ooys are born cruel. At tho
end of this year we had just two dozen chick
ens, which we sold for $10. Now ray husband
says, 'The first chicken that crosses tho
boundary line into this ranch dies 1' "
By this time Mrs. Grey was laughing so at
my lugubrious face that it was some time be
fore she could speak. At last she said, "I
told you how it would be. Just add up your
several accounts for fun; you may have
gained moro than you think."
I took my pencil, and after a few calcula
tions, slowly read to my visitor the following:
" Whole expense for the year, (90 50)
whole returns, $58; so we were out just
(32 50. Perhaps if we had kept them ou ten
years they might have caught up aud bgan to
pay. Now we feed all our table scraps to our
eow, and she reptyt me with an increase of
milk ; anything not suitable for her oar three
good cats dispose of readily, I have gained
some expenence, I own, still I think a few
hens on a place n decided advantage ; just
enough of them to prevent tho egctablcs
from taking too rank a growth."
" You havo no tomatoes put up, I believo!"
said Mrs. Grey, to change tho subject I sup
pose, for sho saw I felt w ounded.
"No," said I, hesitatingly, "tho truth is
this : One Spring day I took pity on thoso
chickens ; thought it such a cruel shamo to
keep them shut up all tho time, oven if wo
did givo them frosh grass everyday. So 1
opened tho gate that afternoon, and out they
all came. It was a warm day, and tho lid of
tho hot-bod was off, so our old rooster and five
hens toro it up from one end to the other and
ate all tho seeds they could find. We had
no tomatoes or melons cither, and my hus
band's tobacco plants wcro ruined also Thou
that husband of mine amnsod himself all the
afternoon throwing stones at my hens. I
don't know whether the missiles or his arm
gave out first."
"It does seem wonderful how much they
will destroy," said my friend. "I have
know u dozens of people w ho would get angry
in a miuuto if we said their chickens did not
pay. Even when they keop an estimate of
tho cost of feed, tbey never think of putting
into that account the value of anv thing they
dcstioy, or of the trouble they aro. Neither
do they thiuk of tho colds and sore throats
they got running out in tie rain unci wot to
feod and care for them. They havo to bo
housed and fastened up every night just at
supper time when all the little ones are fret
ting for mother's care. They have to bo let
out in tho morning, of course, when tho chil
dten are clamoring to be diessed and fed.
Then all day long they are more or less trou
ble. Farmers' wives, as a rule, hive more
than enough work to do as it is, without tak
ing so many uunecessary steps after the
clu'ckins. Thin of all troublesome times that
of getting young chickens to roost in the hen
house is tho worst of all. I have tried the
newspaper plans, but they don't work as well
as ono might suppose. Night after night I
havo carried them in baskets and in my apron
to tho hen bouse till I felt nioro like wringing
their seeks than trying it again. Of all stupid
things the chicken loads tho list. I am de
cidedly ot your husband's opinion. I use corn
starch instead of egs in cooking, and you
have no idea how nicely it works. I havo a
horror of chickons. Peoplo talk of pigs being
dirty and not fit food to be eaten. If they
can find me anything genorally used as food
that is less dainty about what it oats than a
chicken, I shall be willing to confess myself
in the wrong. A pig is a dainty animal com
pared with a chicken. How many farms one
visits where the hens are permitted to range
at their own sweet wills. They sun themselves
on the well curb, on tho porches, and if not
closely watched are in the kitchen, evon upon
tho tables. I have been positively disgusted,
and w ould not have eaten a meal in such a
house for anything. The yards were full of
unsightly pitfalls made by the hens dusting
themselves bah, why continue tho doleful
strain, night will soon bo here, and I must
hurry homo,"
She departed as the shadows fell, and left
me musing over our conversation,
Au.NT AlATTIE.
Hood River, Oregon.
OUR HOUSE.
We found a littlo mouso in our room the
other day. Wo found him several days be
fore, or rather he found us, for ho got ac
quainted with the premises and made himself
perfectly at homo without any invitation. Ho
gnawed his way into a large closet, and there
he must have set up housekeeping. In that
closet there were boxes of dried prunes and
plums, and Master Mouse had good living, for
our plums are choice eating and ho kept
warm there, because he had all our Winter
clothes to fall back on. When ho grew lone
some aud wanted society, he watched for tho
closet door to open, and slid out quietly, and
took a glide around tho corners of the room.
There was tho caniry bird for company and
for music, for canary sings "like a night
ingale." Mouse soon scraped acquaintance
with tho paper bag in which canary seed is
kept, and it was wonderful to see how ho
would worm around after it, and discover
when we put it to get it out of his way. Our
room is warm and comfortable, and Mouse
grew to liko it and not to bo afraid of us in
the least. Ho amused us by tlimbing up auy
place in tho room, ami, no doubt, with a little
encouragement, would have made a nice pet,
but mice are not always nice; and while one
might bo tolerated, we found thero would be
a lot mora waiting his report to come in, and
possess tho clobot, and eat our plums aud
piuncs. So one evening Aunt Hetty put her
hand on the seed bag when Master Mouse was
lunching there, and had linn prisoner. Now
Aunt Hetty is wonderfully fond of pet, and
wu watched to see if her sympathies would
prevail in tho little chap's favor. But the
good damo happens not to like the smell of
mice, and she can "smell a mouso" out in no
time; so while she held tho prisoner waiting,
she revolved the matter, and concluded to
dispense with the further attention of our lit
tlo friend, and took him down stairs, and let
him carefully out iu the front yard. You see
she didn't want to sentence him to capital
punishment, after tasting of our hospitality as
it were, for hadn't he slept In the pocket of
her Winter coat J and hadn't he lived royally
on canary seed and petite prunes? Of course,
we couldn t murder the little chap, but after
all, it was rather rough on him to turn him
loose on all Portland's outdoors of a cold,
rainy November night, aud tell him to hunt
bod and board. I think he will look back on
the few, halcyon days spent with us, as long as
be lives u the ne jjm ultra of existence the
best thing he ever knew. I confess to feeling
a little sorry for Mouse, and I certainly with
him well, bat then, you know, Aunt Hetty
can't abide the smell of mice, and so the little
fellow had to go and be went out in the cold,
I hope, with pleasant recollections,
Yocu Uxclx.
4r,I M fWWll?
THE BEST THAT I CAN.
"I cmnot do much," said a little star,
"To mike tho dark world bright I
My silv ery beams cannot struggle far,
inrougn tlio routing gloom ot night I
it I'm only part of God's great plan,
nd I'll cheerfully do the best that I canl"
But!
And
"What is tho uso," said a floecy cloud,
"Of those few drops that I hold !
Thny will hirdly bend tho lily proud,
Though caught in her cup of gold 1
Yet I am part of God's great plan,
So my treasures I'll give as well as I can !"
A child went menly forth to play,
But a thought, like a silver thread,
Kept winding in and out all day,
1 hrough the happy golden head ;
Mother siid : "Darling, do all jou can 1
For you aro a part of God's great plan I"
Sho knew no more, than the gleaming star,
Nor the cloud with its chalice full I
How, why, and for what, all strango things
were?
She was only a child at school I
But she thought, "It is part of God's great
plan,
That even I should do all that I can I"
So she helped a younger child along,
When the road was rough to the feet,
And she sang from the heart a little song,
That wo all thought passing sweet ;
And her father, a w cary, toil-w orn man,
Said I, "I, too, will do the best that I can."
Our bestl Ah I children, the best of us,
Must hide our faces away,
When the Lord of the vineyard comes to look
At our task at the close of day I
But for strength from above, 'tis tho Master's
plan,
We'll pray, and we'll do the best that we can.
OUR LETTER BOX.
Wo have spoken of it before that we teemed
to hav o so many littlo friends in Washington
Territory; what can be the reason ? We must
say that thero ate a groat many bright boys
and girls in our sister across the Columbia,
and the first letter that comes to hand is from
two "neighbor girls" away over in Spokan
county. They speak of tho spelling school
which they havo two evenings in a week.
This letter shows the benefit of such a school,
for ov ery word is correctly spelled, and the
wiiting shows practice and care.
Tho greater part of the letters which come
to tho Home Circlo aro to be criticized in this
way, showing incorrect spelling, sometimes of
very short and common words. It would bo
well for cv cry one who sends letters to keep a
copy at homo, and thon when the letter is
printed, compare the two. Wo know that it
is not always the children's fault if they do
not spell well, but the fault of teachers and of
the directors of schools, who do not seo that
attention is paid to this most important study.
In country neighborhoods where there are but
few amusements for young people, a spelling
club would be a capital thing a good plea for
getting young folks together. Spending an
hour or so in chosing Bides and "spelling
down." After that there are plenty of ways
of getting througli the rest of the evening in
a happy way.
Young folks have light, happy heart, full
of lifo and action, and thero should bo care
taken by older onos that they shall havo in.
uocent amusements furnished them. Some
old poople aro apt to forget how they felt when
they were young, and wonder why young
folks aro so giddy now-a days, expecting to
seo old heads ou young shoulders.
Throo letters, all come from Pleasant Home,
it must bo rightly named, as the spirit of the
letters go to show a happy family, aud three
Iivo boys in it will surely grow up to be lion
orablo men.
Eben answers Daisy's question. Wo are
glad some ono did so, for it is a nice idea to
have something of this sort to givo a kind of
a text to write about. Many who would like
to write for Circlo hardly know what to say,
and a question would draw out the timid ones.
Coley is six years old, and S. E. must take
good care of her pet cat to bco how many years
sho can keep her.
Edwin writes from Pleasant Home too. Wi
wonder if there aro many places of that name,
Wo hear of many who liko to read this letter
column. Ono lady writes to us that sho read
last week's letters to her littlo boy, not quite
three years old, and that sho was surprised to
see that ho understood and sce-inid perfectly
delighted to have them read to him. So you
all must see what god you are doing, and you
must try and write interesting letters, and
taking care to do it just as well as you know
how. Some may say, "what shall I write
about?" Why write just as if you were talk.
,ng to your sister or friend about things that
happen every day. Tell the smart things
jour dog tan do. Any observing boy or girl
will notice intelligence of all domestic animals,
and could tell stories about them. We once,
when a little girl, standing under a bird cac'c,
feeliug sorry for the liitle prisoner, when tho
canary flew down from his perch, and with his
bill pioked up a piece of tho paper that was on
the bottom of his cage, dropping it out from
between the bars. Curiosity caused mo to
look to seo wha was on the scrap, aud this
is all that was ou it : "I am to wretched."
Now was not that strange to happen so. Who
will tell the next stor ?
Kah Portland, Nov. 14, 1881.
Editor Home Circle :
I have not written for a long time, so
I thought I would write and answer Dattey's
bible question, " Who was his father's favor
ite, and had coat of many colors, and his
brothers pnt him in a pit.') If you will look
in the book of Geaesii, the ,19th chapter, you
will find it was Joseph whose father gave hun
the coat, and his brothers put him in a pit,
when there came by some Itlunaelites, who
drew him up and sold him for twenty pieces
of silver, when be was taken into Egypt. I
hope yon will all take the trouble of finding
it, for it U quite an interesting story. I think
it is a very good plan to atk such question!,
as perhaps tome of us will be able to answer
them, which will also help us to remember
them. Where I attend Sunday school there
aro catechisms for children as soon as they can
read, then higher ones until they aro able to
read the bible Daisy says she goes to school
every Sunday ; that is right. I hopo she has
t pleisant teacher, and likes her as well as I
do mine. Wo have an excellent school at
Mount Tabor this Winter. Our teachers'
names aro Mr. and Mrs. Humphry. I like
them very much. I should like to hear from
Miss Maud and Gracio Burford again I will
close, wishing tho Farm kr success..
Eddik Price.
Pleasant Home, Nov. 12, 1881.
Editor Home Circlo:
As I have never written to any paper, I am
quite at a loss to know what to say. As most
of tho boys and girls tell of their pots, 1 will
tell of mine. I hav c a dog that chases tho
cows and hogs away. I used to havo more
when I lived at home. I am going to school.
I tike the teacher very much. I like to go to
school iu tho country better than in town
where I used to live. lam living T.ith my
brother at Pleasant Home, Oregon. Ho has
gono to Hn Francisco on business? Ho keeps
a store here. My uncle keeps tho post-oificc.
My father is iu the medicine business, I took
a trip up tho valley and saw all the little
towns and large fields of wheat and oats.
Well, I w ill close, and I hope my letter will
not go in the waste basket. I will write
again, Edwin C. Mcrray.
Grand Mound, Nov. 6, 1881.
Editor Home Circlo :
Ab IJiavenever written to your paper, I
will write now. I am going to school this
Winter. I love to go to school. I have two
miles to walk. My brother killed four ducks
yesterday, I have three brothers and five
sisters. Our aunt and cousins aro hero on a
visit. I havo been away from homo two
mouths thjs Summer ; I camo homo threo
weeks ago. My sister Clara is staying with
my aunt Emma. They aro both coming over
here in about tw o w eeks. Wo live ou a farm
0 miles from Centrovillo. We lovo to 'cad the
letters from the young folks, and ask them all
to write often. I havo a pet cat; her name is
Coley; she is six years old I will close.
Yours affectionately, S. E. Uoiikutm.
Svavule, Spokane Co,, W. T., Nov. 6.
Editor Home Circle:
We aro two girls, and livo about six or
seven miles from the littlo village of Spangle.
We don't see many letters from tho counties
of Polk and Lane in the Homk Circle; wo
would like to hear from there. We have
spelling school twice a week, on Tuesday and
Friday nights, and expect tt continue all
Winter. Wo haven't any day school. Wo
milk two cows each and cook, wash dishes,
make beds, sweep tho floors and do all kinds
of chores. We had quite a snow storm, and
it hailed and rained this evening. Wo thought
Winter had. como. If this bo printed wo will
wnta again. Hoping to hear from Emma of
Hoscburg, Katie S. and Mollio Bond, we will
sign our names as two neighbor girls,
11. and V.
Pleasant Home, Or., Nov. 8, 1881.
Editor Home Circle:
As many boys and girls seud you letters
every week, I thought I would send you one
also. I am a littlo boy nearly 10 years old. I
go to school aud study five different lessons.
I have a good teacher, and like to go to
school, I havo four brsthers and ono littlo
sister not two mouths old ; she is the most
cunning little baby I ever saw. Iliad a pet
lamb, but sold it to a drover last week. My
brother and I each had pet lambs, but we sold
them because uncle Charlie sold his band to
a drover. Next Spring we boys are going to
have a yoko of oxen ; then we can help father
clear land. Our place is iu the timber and is
hard to clear. My uuclo Jiles is Prcsidput of
the Literary Society, and our teacher is Vice
President. I wish the Far. Mk.it success From
an Oregon boy, W. A, Siinienh.
Pleasant Homk, Or, Nov. 1, 1881.
Editor Home Circlo;
I thought I would send you ft lctier. I am
7 years old and go to school, I rend in tho
Third Utadcr and study arithmetic and Kpell
ing. I livo 18 miles from Portland. I nee-
largo bands of cattle pass our houso about"
every week. I have ono largu yellow lit ji, a
real pet; sho is three years old, and is so
tame I can catch her any time I want ty; sho
rained ten clucks thin Summer, and they are
mine. My big brother has a trap pet for
quails, but he has not caught any yet. This is
my first i tter, Iliad better not wrtu any
moro Good by, Mr. Elitor. Your little
friend, .C, W, 8TtinrM.
Pikahant Home, Or, Nov. 10, 1881.
Editor Home Circle:
This is the first time I ever wrote jou ft
letter. I like to read the lctttrs from the lit
tle boys and girls. My uuclo takes the
Farmer, and my father tent a club for your
paper. .Sometimes my father keeps the Kjt
illice. We live over in the valley 18 miles,
near the foot hills. I go to school aud study
geography, arithmetic, writing, spelling ami
reading. Our teacher went to Sandy to fish
one Saturday, aud my brother and I thought
it would be hue sport to go with him and get
a nice mess of trout, so hooks and lines were
soon found, and olf wo started to spend the
day ou Sandy, When wo got to the river we
boys stayed at one place to fish, and our
teacher wnut a little ways below us. But wo
were sadly disappointed, for wo never even
got a bite. To our great surpriso we saw largo
bear tracks iu the Band in the trail we went to
the river. We all concluded we were not ou
a bear chase, for we Lad nothing with us but
a pocket-knife, aud the safest place for young
fishermen was at home; so we started up the
bluff lu a hurry, well satisfied with our day's
ramble, Jf my letter don't find the waste
basket, I will write again some time. I am a
friend to the Kahmku. J. B. S.
The Peruvian Syrup has cured thousands
who were suffering from dyspepsia, debility,
liver corntjlaints. etc. Pamnblets free to anv
addrun, Seth W, Fowles & Sons, iioaton.
Aunt Louisa's Pudding.
"Ono two three four fire I O, what
beiutiest Which biddy do jou think laid
'n! I'm almost certain sure it was dear old
Fluffy, Bless her hoart I Isn't sno just the
darbngest "
"Whew! Milly. You quite take my breath
away. But have a carol Those eggs ate not
cobble stones."
Tho warning camo too late. Crah!went
the eggs gathered in Nellie's white apron. Sho
had, without thinking, leaned against tho bar
rel that held the nest, in her effort to discov er
additions to her store.
"O Lenny I Do you think Aunt Sice will
scold awful?" cxclaiinod Milly, looking rueful
ly down at her apron. The yellow lluiel was
already oozing through the pretty barred mus
lin. "I dare say you'll catch it," Lenny replied.
There was not n sp.uk of sjnipathy in his
tones, jet Lenny was not a bad boy.
Milly did not quite understand what her
cousin meant w lion he said she would catch it,
but she felt that it was something to bo
dreaded. Two great rouud tears gathered in
her eyes.
"I wish papa would come and fetch mo
home," sho cried. "Who would ever think
tho unstj' eggs could smash so easy! 0 dearl
what shall I do?"
Just then tho pleasant voice of Aunt Louisa
was heard at the kitchen door, calling,
"Como, dear, bo quick I I'm waiting for tho
egg9. Tho pudding will be spoiled if jou don't
make haste."
"And I do so love Aunt Sice's pudding!"
cried littlo Milly. Choking back n sob, sho
answered, "I can't come, Aunt Sico! I'm
awful!"
She had dropped her apron, and its sticky
contents wero streaming down to her very
toes. The soft laugh that greeted her as Aunt
Louisa discovered the w of ul plight she was in
at once reassured her and put her at her case.
"Am I not a funny pudding, Aunt Sico? I
hope you w on't get Irightencd and givo mo to
tho beggar man, liko Mrs. Tom Tmiirtb did,
you know !"
"Run, Lenny," her aunt cried playfully,
"and see if thero happens to be n beggar pass
ing!" Then she caught Milly up in her big calico
apron and ran with her to the houso. There
alio was soon inado as clean and svv cet as ever.
Lenny found a new nest of eggs and Aunt
Louisa's pudding turned out a famous one.
Our Liitle Ones.
Tho Indian Scholars' Exhibit.
Tho Forest Grovo training school for In
dians lnailo a crcditablo exhibit of tho work
manship of its Indian students, both girls and
bojs, at tho Mechanics' Fair iu Portland last
week. Coarso leather shoes of first class work
manship, tho work of boys from 14 to 20 years
of age, aro show n. Tho names of tho shoe
makers whoso work is on exhibition aro Bcnj.
Miller, Frank Mcncham and Sammy Ashue.
Alongsido their work n pair of native moc
casins are displayed. A set of jack stiaws,
which are miniature) oors, knives, forks, lad
ders, etc., are displayed, being tho Vtorkof
Bcnj Sliattuck.au Alaska boy 12ycaisold,
w ith a jack knifo. A wash stand of Oregon
fir is shown by Augustus Kant 7, and a hand
some toy bureau. Niigcn Kautz, nged 10, ex
hibits a bureau mado by himself of Oregon fir,
which is really a good picco of workmanship.
Although held together by nails, not one is
visible. Tho IfaiuTlis aro clear imitation's of
clam shells, and tho whole is prettily or
namented with scroll work. Other exhibits
aio: A neatly darned sock, by Kato James, a .
complete dress by the girls of tho sewing
class, a patchwork quilt mailc tiy two opokan
girls and a variety of toys and small articles,
all showing taste and skill An exhibit of ar
ticles from the blacksmith shop at tho train
ing school will be added to this interesting
collection this wick. In the absence of Capt.
M. C. Wilkinson, last week the exhibit was
brought down from Forest Grov o nml arranged
by Mrs. Wilkinson. On 8a tin day 75 children
of the school tamo down to visit tho fair, and
wcro in attendance in tho afternoon and even
ing. They were tho guests of the various
.Sunday schools of the city. 'Die girls weie
housed in tho hascment of tho Couicgatinnal
church, the bojs in tho Prtsbjttrinn church,
and they took their meals together nt tho
Methodist church. Their pn seiieo was an in
teresting feature of the fair Satmdaj' evening.
lltlUoloi o Imhjiemleiit,
Autumn Sown Flower Seeds
Movt peoplu havo observed, no doubt, that
self-sown seeds, that is, Heeds that havo drop
ped fiom tho growing plants of tho previous
season, sometimes proelucu the strongest and
most healthy plants that bloom the moat free
ly, 'I his is true of tc.vci.il kinds, and particu
larly of those that sillier uudci exposure to
our midsummer suns. Tho reas n is that eelf
sown seeds got a very healthy growth in tho
.Spring, vegetating na soon us frost is gone,
and aro good sized plants nt the time wu
usually put tctels in tho ground, ev n if they
do not Htart in the Fall. They thus mature
and (lower during tho cool wiather of Spring.
Thu claikus, and iicinophil.is, and annual
larkspurs aro noted examples. '1 heiu aio also
Fcvcral varieties of haiely annuals that do
well with Spring sowing, that will bear Ail
tuiuii vowing iu tho open ground and reward
us with only Spiing llmvcis. hunt uIjkhuiii
and white candytuft w ill giv a lis nbuuilaneu of
white for early cutting if Kovyi in Autumn. In
n shady soil thu puittilatos may he sown us
Autumn with good tuciess. Seeds of bien
in lis and perennials, if nowii tally enough to
Sroducu strong littlo phutH will flower next
uinincr) pausing ami Chinese) pinks, though
they bloom thu first Siiliiiuci if sown in thu
Spiing, will niako iiiueh stiougti plants and
flower inoie fret ly and earlier if young plinU
aio grown in the Autumn. All lnnly plants
the picomaa, hollyhocks, delphiniums, per
ennial phlox, day lily, iliccuti.i, and plants of
a similar uhaiacter, ludicd, all that will en
dure our Winters, should lu planted iu tho
Autumn, if possible, us they thin git a good
Htart iu the Spring.- JumtH I nil
Ferrets
Ihu full grown ferret is about fourteen
inches long, uuel is noted for its great strength
and bolduess. J'errvts are bred quite exten
sively in Europo for hunting rabbits, rats and
mice. Though regarded as a domesticated
animal, tho ferret is far from docile, aud
never shows an affectum for those that care
for it. Thu natural instinct of thu annual
is so strong that it does not need to be
trained to attack its prey, though practice im
proves tho animal hi its work, thu chief gain
being lit allowing tbenieiejves to be moro
readily caught. Tho ferret isulwajs uiuuled
to prevent it from killing its prey ; if this
precaution is not takeu, it will suck tho blood
of its victim, and fall into a sleep from whlc
it will not arouto until the food is digesd.
When sent out muzltd the ferret will -luru
after the hunt to receive food. It " '"to
burrows of the ralbts, for w hicb r""l the
ferret teems to have a natural eomlty, ami
drives the tiiniil creatures on' '",f "'"y are
caught iu nets and snare -' 'or "," I"""l'o.
A farut will t,u rii', bouseof rats anJ
mice; and it it for this pur f l" "
that the animal ' " "' '