a g is _ 7V “7/ /7/ ///5’/////////’ l DETROIT, LIAY 12, 1885. THE HOUgEHOLD===§tnppllememm SOME CHARACTERISTICS OF NEW ENGLAND LIFE. The former article on this subject made me say modesty, whenImeant to have said industry. While the former was once one of the characteristics, and is now becoming exceedingly rare, yet I desire to call attention to the latter topic. The second prominent characteristic of the New England home is industry. I know this is an old fashioned word, hardly suited to the demands of Young America, but like its mate, economy, only fit to be seen in the dictionary, or used by stingy deacons to suppress the rising star of advancement; but there is an old say- ing, credited I think to Isaac Watts, which if in the Bible would be no more true, “Satan finds some mischief still for idle hands to do.” Masterly inactivityl! how majestic it sounds. How grand in theory, but how ignoble in practice! The curse of the present time is this eternally sitting round waiting, Micawber like, for something to ”turn up.” The desire is for some oc- cupation which does not require any pre- vious preparation, and which presents the greatest amount of compensation for the least amount of labor. A young man once advertised for board in a family where his christian example would be deemed suflicient compensation. A young man so delicately organized should be shielded from all the roughness of real life, and be floated on a lily leaf down the river of time to the haven of—not rest, for how can he rest who was never tired, say the haven of inactivity, Laziness. A busy man is comparatively free from temptations, for when the devil goes about looking for recruits to do his work, he looks among those who are standing idle in the market place. ' The cultivation of industry soon arouées aspirit of manly and womanly independence. Thus early in life the members of the New England family be- came self supporting, and contributed something to the general good. It may be objected to this early assumption of the work and care of mature years, that it curtails the joys of childhood and youth. There will be time enough to meet the de- mands of active life, when these demands are present. But the trouble is that the knowledge of these is postponed so long that distaste comes on, and mature life is reached without the knowledge of the simplest practical duties. A hired girl must do the work which the old mother had always performed with an independ— ent pride. The mother makes the bread and the bed, while the girl has to be in- formed which cow gives the buttermilk. Idleness is a breeder of mischief, and can- not be indulged without injury to the person so indulging. Activity will not cover but prevent a multitude of sins. J. E. DAY. ARMADA . ————«o———— BLUNDERS AND SURPRISES. I am eager to see the “Woman in Poli- tics” and the woman that knows “poli- tical economy ” from a bag of beans ut— tering words of wisdom in these columns —-no danger of her getting a monopoly of them, though, good sisters, she’s too scarce a commodity; but as for me, I’Ve been out in the warm sunshine of this warm April day. The sky looks “alive.” Things gay and green are starting from the cold, gray earth. The air is echoing the songs of happy birds, the gurgle and plash of flowing water, and the “talk” of the tall trees as the wind, in tenderer mood than he has known for many months, bends and banters their yielding boughs and tender buds. It was ten A. M. when I went out to see how many crocuses were " out” this morning. It was eleven o’clock when I came in, and it seemed if 1 had been out not over ten minutes. “ What was I do- ing?” Clearing the litter from my bed of hardy bulbs, for I found my tulips well “started a growing.” The “litter ” was simply dead verbena vines, and the au- tumn leaves that they caught and held in their meshes last fall. These I find have afiorded ample protection for the bulbs, and this brings me to surprise No. 1. Years ago, when I was in and of the “ world,” I saw fragrant verbenas. The peculiar charm of their odor I never for- got. And verbenas were among my favor- ites for the little floral venture of which I have told you. But judge of my disgust when I grew only scentless ones. I ad- dressed a florist on this special point, telling them that I wanted some seed that would grow fragrant flowers. The reply was, “ We do not know of any such. Never saw a fragrant verbena.” Well, I knew that I had; and I hoped I might again. Two years ago I got some verbena seed of Mrs. Fuller, and I of course ex— pected it would produce the regulation scentless blooms. Great therefore was my surprise and delight to find that I was the owner of abed of rank growing, profusely blooming, deliciously. fragrant, allsthat- could-be-asked-for verbenas! Thus, you see, I have it! The breath of a flower that I breathed—let me see—sixteen years ago!‘ Mrs. Fuller said once in these columns; “ Those who are waiting for bulbs for fall planting, please be patient, as the bulbs are under a mass of verbenas that I do not like to disturb just yet,” ac. This gave me a clew to at least one happy hit in the succession of plants in a flower garden. It works like a charm. Igath. ered bouquets of verbenas and chrysan~ themums late in November last. And this brings me to surprise No. 2, (and please note that every “ surprise ” has its attend- ant “blunder.” Three years ago, in my fall supply of plants from Mrs. Fuller, there came a couple of unnamed and un- known slips; one I set “down and out "' for an artemesia, the other for a “ wait and see.” This latter showed for itself the next June that it was a scarlet trum‘ pet vine. Hi made alittle trellis for it, which it quickly outgrew. He made an- other “ towering ” one. It out-grew that, and reached on up toward the shining sky, and then the boys said they'd make an arch over the walk. But this they have not done, and I have my doubts as to whether so ambitious a plant could be in~ duced to climb downward. But there i grows, and blows, and reaches upward. and from June till the snow is flying and the frost biting cold, it hangs out its gay little squads of trumpeters, and the bees and butterflies, and the dainty, darting little humming birds never weary of what the gay little trumpeters have to tell. But the artemesia: It grew well all the next summer; the next it grew better, and last summer the growth was grand. But, alas, the last of August came, and as in previous years, no signs of bud or bloom. Nobody seemed to be quite sure that it was an artemesia, but if anybody knew anything they “ guessed it would be one." Well, Ididn’t care much for artemesias anyway; I’d got tired watching the thing and seeing it so idle, and I took hold of it, resolved to tear it out root and branch, when I saw a sign of a blossom bud. I relented. The signs multiplied and grew amazingly: At last. about the 10th of October, a bud was fully opened. And such a flower! ’Twas a stranger in a strange land, and a very beautiful stran- ger, too. In afew days came Harper's Monthly for November. It contained John Thorp’s article on Chrysanthemums. Many blos- soms were fully out on my strange plant THE EIOUSEHOLD. :now. and in that article I found its name. nature, habits and history. I was the happy possessor of a Japanese Chrysan- themum, in color the most refined and indescribable dainty yellow, and. as John Thorp tells us, one of the “heads ” of the Chrysanthemum family. The amount of blossoms that the plant threw out, and the hardihood with ,which they defied frost and cold, warrant me in saying I have a trea=ure in the plant. I removed the covering from it this forenoon, and found the earth literally alive with grow- ing slips. Will Mrs. Fuller kindly tell me whether it is best to divide these? And can she furnish the red, pink, and the white varieties of this same sort? I would be especially glad to get some of the white ; ones. And here let the “ surprise—blunder” story stop for the present, though there is any amount of material on hand for its continuation. I should have said those first two beds contained each 64 square feet, instead of saying they were 16 feet square and Bob declares that he only made them 10 or 12 inches deep, but I told him to make them 20, and I supposed he did by the way my plants flourished. The soil in these beds has to be renewed every season. I have never had any luck with sweet peas or lilies of any sort. But I shall try again. E. L. NYE. Bonn lN-THE-HXLLS. ———OO.--— HOLD, ENOUGH!! Every week the Household comes to us as a welco ne visitor, and as I peruse its bright and instructive pages, I am amused to see the various opinions expressed on a variety of subjects, but there is one theme of which the members never tire, i. e. rag carpets. When will that already threadbare subject become worn out? The carpets which the good sisters Hwere making when the epidemic lbroke out, must be. well worn by this 'time. If people will or must have the (homely things, let them retire into their 'closets and rip and sew to their hearts’ ‘content, but don’t, please don’t. inflict them upon the entire Household. In grain carpets are good enough for me, andIthink that farmers’ wives can af- ‘ ford them as well as their husbands can afiord the countless articles of machinery which they buy whenever any new in- ‘wention pleases them, no matter if they .already have those which do the work " well. ' . Why will farmers’ wives persist in mak- 'ing slaves of themselves, even after pros- ,perity has placed them beyond the neces- :sity for it? Force of habit, I suppose, ’for they can give no good reason for it. Huldah Perkins thinks farm life in sum- :mer delightful, but sighs for more work :in the winter. If Huldah will come down here where we have always eight in the family, and from twelve to eighteen in summer, I will endeavor to give her a icwpractical hints of what there is to do, saying nothing of the fruit to be cared for, sewing, mending, company to be en- tertained, etc. After she has spent a year in my kitchen, (and my work. is no harder than many of my neighbors) I will guarantee she will never again send forth the cry of “what do farmers’ wives do in winter,” or summer either. Can any of the members tell me how to get rid of the little brown bugs, called bread bugs, which infest the pantry during summer? Any information will be thankfully received, as all my efforts have failed to exterminate the pests. OBSERVER. ————...———.— NEW ORLEANS. Larissa. T0 (Continued). 0n the 25th we passed the Arkansas River; the town at the junction was an old log house. The Arkansas is quite a wide stream, with water that compares favorably with the Mississippi; I think it is no muddier at least. Just before we reached the Arkansas River we were shown the site of Napoleon, once a flourishing town, now engulfed by the treacherous stream. This recalls a story of the town in its prime, when it bore the name of being very smart, but very wick- ed. It seemed a centre among the sur- r )unding towns, and a stranger was ask< ing some directions of a native. ”If I want to go to Monticello, which is the nearest way?" “Go to Napoleon, and take the road south.” “ Well, if I wish to go to Dexter?” “ Go to Napoleon, and take the road west. “If to Laconia?” “ Go to Napoleon, and take the road north.” The stranger stared. “Well, sir, if I want to go to Hades?" The na- tive scratched his head. “Well, sir, I reckon a right smart way would be to take the road to Napoleon.” It is aston- ishing what changes take place in the river channel. Some places are shown where the channel has moved two miles. It will start a bar in one bend, which may soon become an island, then part of the mainland; then perhaps the next flood will turn this all about again, or form a new channel through the center. Saw some sheep on a plantation, the first seen since passing Cairo; also saw cherry and peach trees in bloom. Stopped at Arkansas City, a small town, which has five saloons and one bakery. Easy to see that if bread is the stall of life, whisky is life itself. Greenville is the county seat of Washington County, Miss. The county has a population of 2,300 whites and 20,- 000 colored. A. merchant of the place told one of our party that the “coons” (negroes), know but little of money. If one asked for a dollar’s worth of calico, he would get from six to ten yards, ac- cording to their estimate of his smartness; “enough to cover a wench, anyhow.” “How do the colored people vote?" was asked. “ Wall, we furnish seed and everything for working the land, and things for them to live on, so, generally, when the crop is raised, we own it. Nig- gahs never have much money, so we tell ’em vote so, and we’ll give you some work, or some favor, and generally its all right; but, anyhow, we have the votes to count, and we fix it all right.” The white man manages to live ofl the darkey’s work. Here at Greenville we find more proof of the unsettled Mississippi. It is said Greenville, a few years ago, stood two miles back from the river: now some houses stand on rollers to be moved back as the current wears away the land. One man who owned a 1,400 acre plantation near here a few years ago, has no soil to show for his warranty deed. Along the banks we find government work, quite continuous, that we have seen in patches before. It is a sort of mattress work, formed by layers of small poles or twigs, woven with wire,lald on the sloped bank. A boat which carries an adjustable plat- form at the side is used, this is covered with Ipoles, the wire is interwoven, the boat moves up, leaving the web on the bank, more is adjusted, and thus it is continued for miles. A raised bank, or levee, is constructed for both banks, sometimes near, at other places a mile back, according to the level. The top of this levee is a popular promenade all its distance. The levees need constant re~ pair and renewal every few years. In many places the government has con. structed “slack water sheds,” or open dikes, which consist of piles driven into the sand, in suitable places and quanti- ties, the object being to arrest the wash- ing of the sand, and collect it where it will keep the channel. In the afternoon we passed Milliken’s Bend, Grant’s land- ing place when moving on Vicksburg, and later passed the mouth of the Yazoo river, a rapid, but not large stream At six o’clock we reached Vicksburg, which lies on the steep sides of high bluffs, a very picturesque town of 15,000 inhabitants. We only had thirty minutes here, so no exploring could be done. The points occupied by Grant’s fortifications were pointed out, but it was so nearly dark we could get little satisfaction. But the scenes revived historic associations, and the evening was passed relating war rem- iniscences. A heavy fog came on, and we tied up to a tree on the bank, and re- mained until morning. On the 27th we were again under way, but the fog thickened and we slowly floated, sounding fog signals every minute. About ten o’clock the fog lifted and we proceeded. These fogs sometimes lay boats up for days, often for hours. The pilots run by known landmarks on the banks, and dare not move when they are covered with fog. After leaving Vicks- burg, we see numerous specimens of the gray Spanish moss, covering the trees, its sombre fibres swaying in the air, some- times aforest of trees is covered, some- times single specimens. Men and boys frequent the bank, swinging long-handled scoop nets through the water, but we seldom see them get any fish. A per son on board discovered a cotton gin and asked its use. “ To take seeds out of cotton, eh? What do they want to take ’em out for, and what do they do with ’em, anyway?” So much for north- ern innocence. Another of our party asked the darkey fireman what “horse power” the engine was. “Do’ know, boss, hain’t got no hoss power. Couldn’t :se bosses this am a r‘Vcr boat.” ‘ THE HOUSEHOLD 3 At St. Joseph we learned the history of a plantation. A man named Wormley, from Pennsylvania, purchased a planta- vtion here some years ago, for $25,000, and made $17,000 the first year. The planta- ntion consists of 400 acres, with a handsome house, outbuildings and 65 neat tenant cottages. Plantation houses are mostly one story high, with a cupola, and wide, encircling verandahs. On the 25th we passed the plantation once the home of Zachary Taylor, after. ward the home of Jefferson Davis. The (old buildings are in ruins, but a neat church points its spire heavenward in the near vicinity. At a landing further down was a laughable scene: On a small wood- en platform an old darkey was sawing away for dear life on a dilapidated fiddle, while three more were dancing a planta- tion breakdown, and a fourth patting “juba.” Some of the girls went on shore, and were invited into a plantation house. The owners were absent, but the colored housekeeper showed them every atten- tion. Everything was very neat, no carpets, but floors as white as snow. Bayou Sara, 8. nice little town of 1,500 inhabitants. This'bayou empties through Lakes Pontchartrain andBorgne into the Gulf. We arrived at Port Hudson during a heavy thunder storm. High bluffs, broken with ravines, are the features of this place. It was at this point that Ad- »miral Farragut ran the rebel block- ade soon after the fall of Vicksburg, los- ing the gun boat Mississippi. The river has changed its channel since, and boats can no longer go very near the town. The wharf is all awry and must soon fall. We passed .Baton Rouge in the evening, and could only see that it was located on blufis. At sunrise of the 29th we were at Mt. Thomas. The banks are lined with sugar plantations; large mans10ns,and extensive sugar refineries attest thrift and prosper- ity. Here we saw one hundred or more mules in one field. Plantation landings are only a bank; the steamer throws out a swinging stage, which is worked by a pony engine, a line is carried ashore, the stage dropped, freight thrown in a heap on the ground, and off goes the boat again. There are no warehouses even in many towns, freight is piled up and cov- ered with tarpaulins. We saw a four- yoke ox team at one of these landings, the yoke, a piece of plank, strapped to their horns. It looked " right smart.” Donaldsonville, the next point, was named for a stepson of Gen. Jackson. Here is Bayou La Fouche, which runs in- to Bayou Black. The plantation opposite was owned at one time by Wade Hamp- ton. Next landed at Fureand’s. Darkies of every age and sex, a huge crowd, came trooping to the landing. Soon after we passed the convent of the Sacred Heart, and soon after the college which gives the name of College Point to the landing. Both are beautiful structures, rembowered in trees. A nice little town is situated on the point. At “Gold Mine,” there are miles of level country. with lofty forests in the back ground. showing hills in the distance. It is a strange experience to see a noble river walled in with raised levees, while the country back is lower than the water, yet built up so thickly it seems like a town, while fields green with verdure, or dotted with lines of tender green marking the growing cane, extend back as far as one can see. There are cuts in the levee in many places, guarded by gates, with irrigating ditches leading into the fields. An hour’s voyage, and we came upon the Red Church, the oldest church in the south. It is 25 miles above New Orleans, and its front and modest spire rise from a group of evergreens. It puts on no airs because of antiquity. Saw the first orange grove to-day; also groves of mag- nificent live oak trees, which are planted around the dwellings and grounds in pro- fusion. Arrived at Crescent City docks about seven o’clock in the evening. Most of the people went on shore to church. The Rev. Dr. Palmer, of the First Presbyte- rian Church, is the attraction. I preferred to remain on board, taking in the sights and sounds of the great city. Two United States war vessels were anchored in mid- stream, huge, high bulwarked, iron plated craft, with masts and smoke strck, mark ocean vessels,ababy steam launch flitting from boats to shore, forests of shipping are seen as far as eye can reach, the rum- ble and roar of business fills the ear, and over all a full moon looks down, flooding all things with its silvery radiance. And this is New Orleans. A. L. L. ..._._...____ A GOOD TIME COMIING. I plainly foresee there is to be arevolu- tion in housekeeping. It is always a favorable sign for the incoming of a new kingdom when many are inquiring the way. It is encouraging to see so many desiring to burst from the old thralldom, and by some means fit themselves to take higher ground, and at last hold up their heads in freedom, and learn how much of worth and beauty this world holds for those who will p ‘ e a moment and open their minds to take it in. We have scrupulously and persistently “ cleaned the outside of the platter.” But what is within? Have we not so thoroughly given our 'nds over to preserving clean- liness on 'ur children’s faces and our husband’s clothes; to the distracting whiteness of our kitchen floors and brightness of our dishpans; in fact to the being extremely “careful about many things ” that the children have been forced from home for recreation and instruc- tion, and the husband for companionship? May the day hasten when the good wife shall be more afraid of dust upon her in- tellect than on her pantry shelves, and have a greater horror of cobwebs in her brain than on her parlor walls. Our husbands and fathers have been council- i-ng :or many years to “ let things go and not scrub our lives away.” They claim to have a yearning desire for a little less order and a little more comfort. Now let us take them at their word. Let us bury all fear of the voice of Mrs. Grundy, for when our voices shall rise in unison with the chant of the long suf- fering men, hers will most surely be silenced in the mighty din. SISTER 8L ACK. Paw Paw. .————‘Q.___ HOUSEHOLD SUGGESTIONS. The best paper-holder l have ever used is like a section of pigeon-holes in a post- office; five in width and three in height is a nice size, each pigeon hole to be 6x6 inches, made of half inch stuff, and sus- pended by coarse picture cord. The end pieces are inch stuff, and should project far enough above the upper shelf, or top, to allow of half inch holes being bored, one near the front and one near the back of each end for the cord. It should be about a foot deep, so that papers folded as they ordinarily are will not project far from the front edge. It should be painted the same color as the woodwork of the room in Which it is to hang, or, if made of black walnut, oiled and varnished. Let the names of the periodicals taken be cut out, and each pasted over the box it is to occupy. The mail is brought home and distributed, and when a certain paper is wanted, the few minutes one has for reading need not be spent in looking for the desired paper. Six inches square is about the right size for the pigeon holes, and if a place is desired for a large journal or magazine, leave out the two central divisions on the lower shelf. A handsome drapery could be hung in front, thus making it ornamental as well as useful. Ingenious boy. make one for ' your mother, and see how pleased she will be. I find a clothes pin apron much more convenient than bag or basket. Take two pieces of shirting or gingham, both sides alike, twenty inches long; place them together, round off the lower cor- ners, and slant off the upper corners, as for an apron, then from one of the pieces, cut out two pieces, shaped like a slim capital U, bind these openings with bias strips of the same goods, seam the two parts together around the lower edges, and turn, bringing the seam on the inner side, baste them together smooth- 1y at the top, gather a little, and put on a band long enough to reach around the waist of the largest individual who is ex pected to wear it, for the smaller ones, place buttons at different intervals on the belt, letting one button hole answer for all. A handy ironing board is thus made: Take a pine board or any light wood twenty-two inches in width, and three feet four inches in length; nail a strip on each end to prevent warping or split- ting, then tack the ironing cloth smooth- ly and firmly over the edges, leaving a six inch space at one end of the board bare; on this space, with a nail in each corner, fasten an oyster can, with the opening from you, so if it should sag from fire weight of the irons, they will not slip off on your toes. This flat rest never gets lost, never falls off, and is cheap withal. Last season’s black straw hats that are INTENTIGNAL SECOND EXPOSURE THE HOUSEHOLD. now, and in that articleI found its name, nature, habits and history. I was the happy possessor of a Japanese Chrysan- themum, in color the most refined and indescribable dainty yellow, and, as John ’Thorp tells us, one of the “ heads ” of the Chrysanthemum family. The amount of blossoms that the plant threw out, and the hardihcod with which they defied frostand cold, warrant me in saying I have a treasure in the plant. I removed the covering from it this forenoon, and found the earth literally alive with grow- ing slips. Will Mrs. Fuller kindly tell me whether it is best to divide these? And can she furnish the red, pink, and the white varieties of this same sort? I would be especialiy glad to get some of the white ones And here let the “surpriseblunder” vstory stop for the present, though there is any amount of material on hand for its continuation. I should have said those first two beds contained each 64 square feet, instead of saying they were 16 feet square and Bob declares that he only made them 10 or 12 inches deep, but I told him to make them '20, and I supposed he did by the way my plants flourished. The soil in these beds has to be renewed every season. 1 have never had any luck with sweet peas : lilies of any sort. But I shalltry again E. L. NYE. Home ‘\ 'rw‘ HILLS -————99¢——-— now), escrow: Every Week the llousch ’ald comes to us 3.5 a welcc» ne visitor, and as I peruse its bright and instructive pages, I am amused '20 see the ”various opinions expressed on a variety of subjects, but there is one theme of which the members never tire, 5. e. rag carpets. When will that already threadbare subject become worn out? The carpets which the good sisters 'were making when the epidemic broke out, must be well worn by this time. If people will or must have the homely things, let them retire into their . I closets and rip and sew to their hearts content, but don’t, please don’t. inflict them upon the entire Household. In grain carpets are good enough for me, and Ithink that farmers' wives can af- ford them as well as their husbands can afiord the countless articles of machinery which they buy whenever any new in- vention pleases them, no matter if they already have those which do the work well. Why wili farmers’ wives persist in mak- ;ng slaves of themselves, even after pros- oerity has placed them beyond the neces- sity for it‘.’ Force of habit, I suppose, for they can give no good reason for it. ‘Huldah Perkins thinks farm life in sum- mer delightful, but sighs for more work -_n the winter. If lluldah will Come dowu here where we have alWays eight .1131 the family, and from twelve to eighteen in summer, I will endeavor to give her a few practical hints of what there is to do, saying nothing of the fruit to be cared for, sewing, mending, company to be en- tertained, etc. After she has spent a year in my kitchen, (and my work is no harder than many of my neighbors) I will guarantee she will neVer again send forth the cry of “what do farmers’ wives do in winter,” or summer either. Can any of the members tell me how to get rid of the little brown bugs, called bread bugs, which infest the pantry during summer? Any information will be thankfully received, as all my efforts have failed to exterminate the pests. OBSERVER. .___...____ N E‘V ORLEANS. t Continued). On the 25th we passed the Arkansas River: the town at the junction was an old log house. The Arkansas is quite a wide stream, with water that compares favorably with the Mississippi; I think it is no muddier at least. Just before we reached the Arkansas River we were shown the site of Napoleon, once a flourishing town, now engulfed by the treacherous stream. This recalls a story of the town in its prime, when it bore the name of being very smart, but very wick~ ed. It seemeda centre among the sur- r )unding towns, and a stranger was ask- ing some directions of a native. “If I want to go to Monticello, which is the nearest way?” “G0 to Napoleon, and take the road south.” “Well, if I wish to go to Dexter?“ “ Ho to Napoleon, and Larsen. TO take the road west. “If to Laconia‘r” "(to to Napoleon, and take the road north.” The ~tranger stared. “\Vell, sir, if I want to go to Hades?" The na— tiVe scratched his head. “\Vell, sir, I reckon it right smart Way would be to take the road to Nzipolcui.” It is aston~ ishiug what changes take place in the rchI‘ channel. 5 one places are shown where the ch anncl has mow-d two miles. It will start a bar in one bend. which may soon become an island. then part of the mainland; then perhaps the next flocd will turn this all about again, or form a new channel through the center. Saw some sheep on a plantation, the first seen since passing Cairo; also saw cherry and peach trees in bloom. Stopped at Arkansas City, a small town, which has five saloons and one bakery. Easy to see that if bread is the staff of life, whisky is life itself. Greenville is the county seat of Washington County, Miss. The county has a population of 2,300 whites and 20,- 000 colored. A merchant of the place told one of our party that the “coons” (negroesi, know but little of money. If one asked for a dollar’s worth of calico, he would get from sin to ten yards, ac- cording to their estimate of his smartness; “enough to cover a wcnch, anyhow.” “ How do the colored people Vote?" was asked. “ Wall, we furnish seed and chrything for working the land, and things for them to live on, so, generally, when the crop is raised, we own it. Nig— gahs never have much money, so we tell ’em vote so, and we’ll give you some work, or some favor, and generally its all right; but, anyhow, we have the votes to count, and we fix it all right.” The white man manages to live off the darkey’s work. Here at Greenville we find more proof of the unsettled Mississippi. It is said Greenville, a few years ago, stood two miles back from the river; now some houses stand on rollers to be moved back as the current wears away the land. One man who owned a 1,400 acre plantation near here a few years ago, has no soil to show for his warranty deed. Along the banks we find government work, quite continuous, that we have seen in patches before. It is a sort of mattress work, formed by layers of small poles or twigs, woven with wire,laid on the sloped bank. A boat which carries an adjustable plat- form at the side is used. this is covered with Ipoles, the wire is interwoven, the boat moves up, leaving the web on the bank, more is adjusted, and thus it is continued for miles. A raised bank, or levee, is constructed for both banks. sometimes near, at other places a mile back, according to the level. The top of this levee is a popular promenade all its distance. The levees need constant re- pair and renewal every few years. In many places the government has con. structed “slack water sheds,” or open dikes, which consist of piles driven into the sand, in suitable places and quanti~ ties, the object being to arrest the wash- ingof the sand, and collect it where it will keep the channel. In the afternoon we passed Milliken‘s Band, Grant’s land- ing place when moving on Vicksburg, and later passed the mouth of the Yazoo river, a rapid, but not large stream At 'ix o‘clock we reached Vicksburg, which lies on the steep sides of high bluffs, a very picturesque town of 15,000 inhabitants. We only had thirty minutes here, so no (:XpiOI'illg could be done. The points Occupied by Grant's fortifications were pointed out, but it was so nearly dark we could get little satisfaction But the scenes revived historic associations, and the evening was passed relating war rem- iniscences. A. heavy fog came on, and we tied up to a tree on the bank, and re- mained until morning. On the 27th we were again under way, but the fog thickened and we slowly floated, sounding fog signals every minute. About ten o’clock the fog lifted and we proceeded. These fogs sometimes lay heats up for days, often for hours. The pilots run by known landmarks on the banks, and dare not move when they are covered with fog. After leaving Vicks- burg, we see numerous specimens of the gray Spanish moss, covering the trees, its sombre fibres swayingin the air, some- times a forest of trees is covered, some— times single specimens. Men and boys frequent the bank, swinginglongshandled secop nets through the water, but we seldom see them get any fish. A person on board discowred a cotton gin andaskcd its use. To take seeds out of cotton, ch‘: What do they want to take 'em out for, and what do they do with ’em, anyway?” So much for north- ern innocence. Another of our party asked the darkey fireman what “horse power” the engine was. “Do' know, boss, hain‘t got no hoss power. Couldn’t. Lsc bosses this are a river boat." THE HOUSEHOLD 3 At St. Joseph we learned the history of a plantation. A man named Wormley, from Pennsylvania, purchased a planta— ition here some years ago, for $25,000, and made $17,000 the first year. The planta- tion consists of 400 acres, with a handsome house, outbuildings and 65 neat tenant cottages. Plantation houses are mostly one story high, with a cupola, and wide, encircling verandahs. On the 25th we passed the plantation once the home of Zachary Taylor, after. ward the home of Jefferson Davis. The old buildings are in ruins, but a neat church points its spire heavenward in the near vicinity. At a landing further down was a laughable scene: On a small wood- en platform an old darkey was sawing away for dear life on a dilapidated fiddle, while three more were dancing a planta- tion breakdown, and a fourth patting “jobs.” Some of the girls went on shore, and were invited into a plantation house. The owners were absent, but the colored housekeeper showed them every atten- tion. Everything was very neat, no carpets, but floors as white as snow. Bayou Sara, a nice little town of 1,500 inhabitants. This'bayou empties through Lakes Pontchartrain and Borgne into the ”Gulf. We arrived at Port Hudson during a heavy thunder storm. High bluffs, broken with ravines, are the features of this place. It was at this point that Ad- miral Farragut ran the rebel block- ade soon after the fall of Vicksburg, los- ing the gun boat Mississippi. The river has changed its channel since, and boats can no longer go very near the town. The wharf is all awry and must soon fall. Vie passed Baton llougc in the evening. and could only see that it was located on bluffs. At sunrise of the 20th we were at Mt. Thomas. The banks are lined with sugar plantations; large mansrons,and extensive sugar refineries attest thrift and prosper- ity. Here we saw one hundred or more mules in one field. Plantation landings are only a bank; the steamer throws out a swinging stage, which is worked by a pony engine, a line is carried ashore, the stage dropped, freight thrown in a heap on the ground, and off goes the boat again. There are no warehouses even in many towns, freight is piled up and cov- ered with tarpaulins. We saw a four- yoke ox team at one of these landings, the yoke, a piece of plank, strapped to their horns. It looked “ right smart.” Donaldsonville, the next point, was named for a stepson of Gen. Jackson. Here is Bayou La Fouche, which runs in— to Bayou Black. The plantation opposite was owned at one time by Wade Hamp ton. Nextlanded at Fureand‘s. Darkies of every age and sex, a huge crowd, came trooping to the landing. Soon after we passed the convent of the Sacred Heart, and soon after the college which gives the name of College Point to the landing. Both are beautiful structures, embowered in trees. A nice little town is situated on the point. At “Gold Mine,” there are miles of level country. with lofty forests in the back ground, showing hills in the distance. It is a strange experience to see a noble river walled in with raised levees, while the country back is lower than the water, yet built up so thickly it seems like a town, while fields green with verdure, or dotted with lines of tender green marking the growing cane, extend back as far as one can see. There are cuts in the levee in many places, guarded by gates, with irrigating ditches leading into the fields. An hour’s voyage, and we came upon the Red Church, the oldest church in the south. It is 25 miles above New Orleans, and its front and modest spire rise from a group of evergreens. It puts on no airs because of antiquity. Saw the first orange grove today; also groves of mag- nificent live oak trees, which are planted around the dwellings and grounds in pro- fusion. Arrived at Crescent City docks about seven o’clock in the evening. Most of the people went on shore to church. The Rev. Dr. Palmer, of the First Presbyte rian Church, is the attraction. I preferred to remain on board, taking in the sights and sounds of the great city. Two United States war vessels were anchored in mid- stream, huge, high bulwarked, iron plated craft, with masts and smoke strck, mark ocean vessels,ababy steam launch flitting from boats to shore, forests of shipping are seen as far as eye can reach, the rum ble and roar of business fills the ear, and over all a full moon looks down, flooding all things with its silvery radiance. A ad this is New Orleans. A. L. 1. A GOOD TIME COMING. tion in housekeeping. It is always a favorable sign for the incoming of a new kingdom when many are inquiring the way. It is encouraging to see so many desiring to burst from the old thralldom, and by some means fit themselves to take higher ground, and at last hold up their heads in freedom, and learn how much of worth and beauty this world holds for those who will pause a moment and open their minds to take it in. We have scrupulously and persistently “cleaned the outside of the platter.” But what is within? Have we not so thoroughly given our minds over to preserving clean- liness on our children’s faces and our husband‘s clothes; to the distracting whiteness of our kitchen floors and brightness of our dishpans; in fact to the being extremely “careful about many things” that the children have been forced from home for recreation and instruc tion, and the husband for companionship? May the day hasten when the good wife shall be more afraid of dust upon her in- tellect than on her pantry shelves, and have a greater horror of cobwebs in her brain than on her parlor walls. Our husbinds and fathers have been council- ing Lor many years to “let things go and not scrub our lives away." They claim to have a yearning desire for a little less order and a little more comfort. let us take them at their word. Let us bury all fear of the voice of Mrs. Now Grundy, for when our voices shall rise in unison with the chant of the long suf- fering men, hers will most surely be silenced in the mighty din. SISTER SLACK. PAW Paw. -————§ov—-——— HOUSEHOLD SUGGESTIONS. The best paper-holder l have ever used is like a section of pigeon-holes in a post- officc; five in width and three in height is a nice size, each pigeon hole to be 6x6 inches, made of half inch stuff, and sus- pended by coarse picture cord. The end pieces are inch stuff, and should project far enough above the upper shelf, or top, to allow of half inch holes belng bored, one near the front and one near the back of each end for the cord. It should be about a foot deep. so that papers folded as they ordinarily are will not project far from the front edge. It should be painted the same color as the woodwork of the room in which it is to hang, or, if made of black walnut, oiled and varnished. Let the names of the periodicals taken be cut out, and each pasted over the box it is to occupy. The mail is brought home and distributed, and when a certain paper is wanted, the few minutes one has for reading need not be spent in looking for the desired paper. Six inches Square is about the right size for the pigeon h’liL‘S and if a plaee is desired for a large Journal or irrigayiine. leave out the two eentraldivisions on the lower shelf. A handsome drapery could be hung in front thus making it useful. ornamental as well as Ingenious boy. make one for S your mother. and See how pleased she f Will be. I plainly foresee there is to be a revolir : I find a eio'hes pin apron much more convenient than bag or basket. Take two pieces of shirting or gingham, both sides alike, tWenty inches long: place them together, round off the lower con ners, and slant off the upper corners, as for an apron, then from one of the pieces, cut out two pieces, shaped like a slim capital U, bind these openings with bias strips of the same goods, scam the two parts together around the lower edges, and turn, bringing the seam on the inner side, baste them together smooth- ly at the top, gather a little, and put on a band long enough to reach around the waist of the largest individual who is ex— pected to wear it, for the smaller ones, place buttons at dillerent intervals on the belt, letting one button hole answer for all. A handy ironing board is thus made: Take a pine board or any light wood twenty-two inches in width, and three feet four inches in length: nail a strip on each end to prevent warping or split ting, then tack the ironing cloth smooth- ly and firmly over the edges, leaving a six inch space at one end of the board bare; on this space, with a nail in each corner, fasten an oyster can, with the opening from you, so if it should sag from the weight of the irons, they will not slip off on your toes. This flat rest never gets lost, never falls off, and is cheap withal. Last season’s black straw hats that are 4: THE HOUSEHOLD. faded and rusty, can be made to look bright and new by the application of Button’s Raven Gloss, with the sponge that accompanies the bottle. This gloss applied to trunks and satchels that have grown gray in the service, improves their appearance very much. I think it a nice plan to give each daughter a silver spoon on each recurring birthday. In a few years they are thus supplied with these very useful articles, without feeling the pressure very heavily. I have a cousin. the mother of two girls, who adopted this plan a few years ago, and she, as well as the girls, likes it very much. The boys, too, are putting in a plea for the same treatment. The spoons are unlike, purposely so selected. each has a history of its own, and is engraved with name, or date, or both. *It is con- venient for the mother too, at times, if her own supply is limited. If you want a vine for a porch or pantry window, try Bitter-sweet. It is acleanly vine, and arapid grower. In the fall it can be loosened at the top, rolled up and put down on the ground out of the way. In the spring, unroll. trim and fasten up, and as soon as the leaves, start your shade is there without having to wait for the whole vine to come from the seed. I’d like to ask “Aunt Nell” if it is for convenience, economy, or style that she recommends carpeting bedrooms in patches. I would like to learn the most approved method of taking care of a copper tea kettle. L. H. N. Hunsox. -————+oo—— ROSE CULTURE. There are many people, in fact a ma- jority, who consider the rose the most perfect, the very queen of flowers, but very few who possess them, study their needs or give them the care usually be- stowed upon a hill of beans. After order- ing some fine varieties they set them in some uncultivated corner, let them starve, and then complain because the ever- blooming roses are nearer to never bloom‘ ing. And strange as it would seem, farmers, who realize more than any others can, the importance of culture and fer- tilization to vegetation, and have the material at hand, are the most neglectful in the line of flowers or ornamental shrubbery. I need not stop there, but I will this time. Roses will grow and bloom in good rich garden soil, but the best for them is rich fibrous earth, de- composed sods, and barnyard manure. If it is necessary to plant them where the soil is heavy and wet, the surface should be removed to a depth of two feet or more and a drainage of broken brick, pebbles etc., made, and then filled with suitable soil in which to plant the roots. Sods and manure, composted, prepared six months or a year before using, is the best of ap plications for roses and for many uses about the garden. Fresh manure for bulbs or roses is worse than none as all. As with other flowering plants, the beauty and fragrance of the flowers depend solely upon their growth and vitality. Shade as far as possible should be avoid ed, especially that of trees and large shrubs. Sunlight and air are essential, as is the close pruning away all of dead limbs and unhealthy growth; and after blooming is well over it is better to cut away much of the old wood. Soot from the chimney is a good fertilizer, and good also to prevent the attacks of insects. When roses are planted in shade or moist situations they are liable to mildew, which is a deadly poison to plant life. Stirring the soil and stimulating with ammonia and soot, washing and dusting with flowers of sulphur are, I think, the best known remedies. Potted roses may be treated on the same general plan as those for the garden; as their main requirements are much the same. A rule for pruning them in re- potting is to trim away all unhealthy parts of. roots or branches, and after blooming cut down below the flower stem to within half an inch of the next bud. Here will start the next flower stem. In planting shrubbery or herbaceous plants the roots should never be allowed to become dry while the place for them is being pre' pared, but in some way, by wet moss, or soil, be kept from the air and liberally watered while covering. Shading should never be neglected until well established, in the case of house or garden plants of any description. This article is in answer to one who at the same time Wished to know if I hai Lily-of—the- Valley. I have an abundance and will send at 25c per root separately, but with orders for other roots or plants for less. They do best in a shady situation, en- riched with slops from the wash and lit. ter from the barn, and should be divided and re—set once in two or three years. As I have said before there is no hurry about dahlias, unless seeds are used; those may be sown in May and trans planted later. Such variable weather is not to be trusted too far. If sown earlier they must be transplanted into other boxes. Dahlias if not forced in some way do not sprout very early in spring. There was such an earl and urgent de- mand last season I 8* and got some from a greenhouse, nicely started, and they were planted the latter part of May, and in aweek, on Decoration day, the general complaint was that the dahlias were frozen down. It would b.pleasant to have summer begin in April and frosts at an end, but we do not live in that de- lightful climate, and by watching and keeping a record, I long ago found that tender bulbs cannot be planted out with safety until the 10th of June. Dahlias and gladioli may be planted a lit- tle earlier, say the last of May, as they are planted deep and start slowly. The climbing bulb mentioned in my last was madeira, my own mistake doubtless. I have tuberoses in fine condition at 10 cents each, three for 25 cents; madeira bulbs, four for 15 cents. I have roots of the aubrietia (Mr. Henderson sells this) 20 cents each, the seed 10 cents. I have golden lily, perennial phlox, five best colors, dicentra, day My, scarlet trumpet and Halleana honeysuckle, delphinium, aquilegias, adlumia vine, anemone japonica, and spirea, achillea, pardanthus or blackberry lily and lily of the valley, three of the above plants for 50 cents and seven for one dollar; twelve nice plants for $1 50. I can tell about others for. later planting in my next letter. MRS. M. A. FULLER. FENTONVILLE. ——¢oo-——— ANOTHER INDUSTRY FOR WO‘ MEN—PACKING HAMS. Meeting an acquaintance in town the other day who gave me a new idea of earning money, I will tell the House- hold readers, so they may go and do like- wise if they wish. Her work was the raising of horseradish. She grates and bottles it (with vinegar of course) and leaves it with a friend in town to sell.. She has ten, fifteen, and twenty-five cent bottles. She said the only trouble was to procure the bottles, as it needed wide mouthed bottles. She sold twenty dol- lars’ worth last spring. There is one thing to be gained, there is no trouble with it only onme a year, as it will take. care of itself the rest of the time. I have packed hams in crooks uncooked, with good results. I prefer small crooks, so when you open one you can use it up in a few days. Slice the ham as for coosing, and pack in the crock as tightly as possible until within an inch or two of the top, then pour on melted lard or drippings enough to fill up full, tie a paper over the top, and set in a Cool place until wanted. AUNT NELL. PLAINWELL. IF YOU WANT Profitable Employment. SEND AT ONCE TO THE NEW lAMB KNITTER 00., For Full Information. An ordinary operator can earn from one to Hm. dollars per day' 1n any community in the North“ States on our New Lamb Knitter. 100 Vaneties of Fabric on Same Machine. . You can wholly finish twelve pairs ladies’ NIP shaped stockings or twenty pairs socks or mitten. in a day! Skilled operators can double this g;- duction. Capacity and range of work double of the old Lamb knitting machine. Address The New Lamb Knitter 00., 117 and 119 Main St., west, Jackson, M10]. 8 . :{\'\ AM [5 YLE PERLINE THE BEST THING KNOW FOR In Hard or Soft. Hot or Coii' Water. AVES LABOR, TIMI"; emu SOAP AMAZ- GLY, and gives universal satisfaction. No famil; ., rich or poor, should be Without it. era by all Grocers. BE‘VARE of imitation! well designed to mislead. PEA ALINR INE is tab. )3 LY SAFE labor—saving compound, and II! ways bears the above symbol, and name of JAMES PYLE. NEW YORK.