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For Woman's Work.
AROSE AND A SMILE.
BY LIZZIE A. VORE.
The sunlight struggled through the cloud,
That swathed the mountain peaks;
It sent it s yellow, shimmering light
In golden, glinting streaks,
That lighted up the modest room.
Where the morning meal did wait
For the coming of my castle's lord,
Who tarried long and late.
The children clamored for the food,
Violet, Watt and sweet baby Hoy.
So I tilled the plat< s, and waited still
And waited lor my other pinch loved “boy.”
Ah! said my heart, “he is coming!”
Tho’ not a sound did I hear,
But I knew by the throb of my pulses
My love was somewhere near.
Hark! a step on the gravel outside,
Now, a strong hand on the door;
My husband entered smiling,
That smile had oft charmed me before.
He brought a full blown rose,
And tenderly gave to me;
Mine the rose, and the smile thatwentwith it,
Ah, 'tis sweet, such love to see!
So, into the vague, shadowy future,
I wistfully gaze and wait:
But the memory of the sunshine,
And the dew-wet rose at my plate,
And my husband's smile so tender,
And each baby s innocent face—
Is a picture framed in a halo of light,
That time can never efface.
They were given to me but yester morn,
Now, the rose is withered and gone,
But my dear love’s smile can never die,
It will live till eternity s dawn.
And their memory will brighten the burdens of
life,
The rose and the smile so fond.
And strengthen my steps in the onward march,
Into the dim beyond.
For Woman's Work.
UNSAID WORDS.
‘‘Words fitly spoken are as apples of
gold in pictures of silver.” ‘ Words filly
spoken.” There is a time then when
words should not be left unsaid. “Speech
is silver, but silence is golden. ’ How oil
we hear it reiterated, but, when there are
those who are hungering for our words,
surely we should not withhold the “apples
of gold ” the fruit of our lips for which they
have an intense craving.
How many there are about us who are
yearning tor words of sympathy, ot en
couragement, o love, and yet they go on
their way heart-hungry, because we, for
want of thoughtfulness, do not deal out to
them a sufficient measure of that which
would prove manna to their hungry
hearts.
“lily mother is the sweetest, noblest,
best woman living,” said a fine-looking
boy who was growing well toward mam
hood. Just a fragment of a conversation
between himself and his school-chum as
they separated at the gate of the latter’s
home.
“And do you ever put your arms around
her neck, kiss her, and tell her that.” said
a young man who was passing just in
time to catch the words.
“Well, no, not exactly. I used to
when a child, but as we become older we
put away childish things’ ”
“But my boy, you mistake, if you call
affection, or the outward demonstration of
it, “childish things.” <«o while you may,
and tell your mother some such words as
I heard you use in speaking of her to
your comrade, and see with what joy she
will receive the assurance that she isnppre
ciated. Besides, you will spare yourself
the agonizing regret, should you ever
lose her, that you had left unsaid, words
that would have been “apples of gold,”
to her hungry heart. 1 konw, lor when,
after a long seperation from my mother, 1
turned my steps homeward, resolved that
she should hear from my lips, every day
of my life, words that would assure her of
my affection, I found I had come t o late,
and those unsaid words lie as a burden on
my heart to-day.”
1 have in mind a lady, between whom
and her husband, there was a dearth of ex
pression of endearment, or of even ap
proval. I believed they “loved one anoth
er,” but I think the evidence would not be |
obtainable in any earthly court, for 1 think 1
neither by written line, or “word of mouth,” ;
do they ever put the proof in tangible form, j
At one time she was giving me the details,
of a little affair in which she had been one
of the chief act->rs. When she had finished
1 r« plied, “Yes, your husband told us ot it.
and, 1 farther added, (not for a moment
imagining that I was bearing tidings) “he
was highly pleased with your conduct in
the matter,” and 1 repeated his words.
She looked at me earnestly, then said
“Did he .say that
“Certainly,” said I.
She sat silently for a few moments, then
with tears in her eyes, she said, "I wish he
bad told me that. Oh if only I had known ;
he thought that! It would have spared
me many a heart ache, for I have felt all
the time that he was displeased with my
action, though I could never see how I
could have done otherwise, with a clear
conscience.”
Poor heart. I thought. The “unsaid
| words” might be a feast to your famishing
j soul, if only some good impulse would un-
I seal his lips.
; “Elma!” said little Nellie L— a sweet.
I lovable and loving child oi five years, and
i she crept softly, close to the sideof a young
! lady who was boarding in the family.
I “Elma,” in a voice choked with emotion.
I “Can you tell me why papa never kisses
i and pets me as he does sister Anna? ’
“Why dear,” said Elma as she caught
the little sufferer in her arms, “1 presume
because Anna is the baby.( Less than two
years difference in their ages.)
“But Elma,” and this lime the little
! speaker burst into sobs, “I wish papa would
’ pet us both.”
“And,” said Elma, as she related the
incident to me, “I could not say one word
; to comfort the child, only try to lead her
thoughts into other channels, for I had
often noticed the difference in the father’s
manner toward the two children, and had
witnessed the cause of Nellie's outburst of
grief, in that, their papa, when he passed
j through the hall, on his way out
; for the afternoon, had caught the
I baby in his arms and kissed her. entirely
I oblivious of Nellie’s presence, ar.d forget
i tul that children of five are not too old to
be kissed.”
Fathers! Mothers! Du we notoft-times
j crowd these little ones out, to make room
. for the babies?— not out of our affections,
i truly, but back from our arms, our knees,
our lips and then, when they are older, we
complain that “our children are growing
away from us.” It the babies only are
entitled to our words of endearment and
tokens of effection, let us at once “Resolve”
—“That all our children shall be ‘babies’
(to us) so long as we both shall live.’
If they hunger for bread shall we give
them a stone?
“I wasn’t ashamed of my little sister to
night, I assure you,” said a big brother to
his sister, but little younger than himself,
and they were both near the middle of the
teens. She knew his words meant that he
was proud of her, and she gathered needed
eneouragment from them, for she had
bashful tendencies, and was a trifle sensi
tive, and it had required all the courageshe
could summon to enable her to go through
the ordeal of “acting well her part,” in the
• Society” affair, from which they were just
returning.
How his outspoken words of approval
and encouragement helped her to brave the
lions in her path, in her “first society days,”
she knows if others do not. Ah! If he had
neglected to say them.
Even let the good impulses have tree
play, and find free expression that those
who wait for our words may never say.
• I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat.”
•1 longed for the'apples of gold’and you
with-held them from my famished lips.”
Sylvia Silverthorne.
Muscatine, lowa.
For Woman’s Work.
HOUSEHOLD THRIFT. ,
A truenotion of household thrift involves
more than hard work and careful econo
mies. It is indeed hard work that is often,
most thriftily to beavoided. “Themistress’
eye does more work than both her hands”—
says the old Welsh proverb, and the
French have a similar one. “The masters’
eye fattens the steed.” It is the house
keeper’s best art to make careful supervi
sion, save both time and strength.
There is nothing praiseworthy in that
ambition which impels a woman to do
more work than her neighbors; there is no
economy in doing one’s self what can be
as well done by a person of inferior capaci
ty. True thrilt demands that the higher
faculties be uevoted to the higher
work, and to teach a servant or a child to
do a duty thoroughly and to see to it
' that the duty is done, is a much truer econ
i' oiny, than to do it all one’s self. If the
i house-mother’s plan of life is narrow, her
; purposes falsely centered, then her life runs
| to waste, however saving of odd moments,
of odd pence, or of clothes, she maybe.
The purpose of a woman’s life must reach
beyond to-day, this week, the present sea
son, and embrace the whole future of hus
band and children, the whole sphere in
which she moves. Viewed in this light, so
many things seem trivial which loom up
large to-day. so many things grow grand
which in the present seem insignificant.
Every recreation, every effort at self im
provement. every hour of social intercourse,
every time of anxious care, all work to
i gether to perfect the whole, and make
the home life something great and strong,
and beautiful. For tho element ol beauty
must never be wanting, nor sacrificed to
that of utility.
Beauty makes life by so much the richer,
and true household thrift, will seek for
beauty every-where.
SOME HINTS PI RTAINING TO
RIDING.
There is no more useful, graceful nor
healthful accomplishment than horseback i
riding, at d as mo.-t gills have an ambition !
to learn and excel in the art, a few hints ;
may be u-eful, coming from one who for i
years has been considered quite an adept J
as a rider. In the first place, I would say
by all means learn to ride and learn to ride
well; with a little care you can ride grace
fully, and it will be easier on y< u and
easier on the horse than to ride otherwise.
A riding school is wholly unnecessary if
you can find a horse anywhere else. More
stiff “ woodeny ” figures 1 never saw on
horseback than I saw in Central Park in
New York City, when the graduating class
in a celebrated riding school in that city,
came out for an airing and Practice. The
best practice for a beginner is a gentle old
horse minus a saddle, in a back lot or past
ure. Another good practice is riding the
horses to water, to pasture, after the cows,
anywhere or any way, in no other way
but by constantly being with and handling
horses can they be understo d and con
trolled. A young lady who has thus be
come accu-tomed to horses will need but lit
tle instruction, and 1 propose to give about
all the instruction in this article that is
necessary to become a skillful and graceful
rider.
The best horse for ladies riding is one of
medium size and medium light built. See i
that the withers are high, or the saddle will j
slip too far forward, a <1 cause great annoy- I
ance; see that his shoulders are comparative- j
ly high, or he will have an uncomfortable ;
gait. In color, individual taste, or what !
ever is available is generally considered, I
but a bay or chestnut sorrel is more easily ;
kept looking clean than a black, white or I
cream-colored horse. Ascertain if he is I
gentle, kindly disp >sed, and sagacious ■
These qualities will not interfere with his I
being high spirited. Having chosen one j
for your especial use. handle him all you '
can, feed him, lead him to water, pet him. ■
give him little dainties that he is fond of, ]
use the currycomb and brush on him;
learn to take care of him as thoroughly as
if you had it to do. By so doing you will
have ten times the control over him that
you would have otherwise.
Any sum over eighteen dollars will buy
a good saddle. A cheaper one will not
prove satisfactory; see that it is well made,
thoroughly padded, and of good material;
see that it has three horns and do not let
any dealer talk you into buying any other
kind. It is almost impossible to be unseat
ed from the three horned saddle, for the
knee of the left limb presses up against the
downcurving third horn, while the right
limb presses the upeurving second horn.
There is no more danger of skirts clinging
to the pommel on this kind of saddle than
on any other, an objection sometimes
urged, but I know what I am talk
ing about. Notice the girths, dinches, we
call them. Do not buy or use one with a
buckle fastening on but one with a ring
and straps; they are much safer. A good
stout bridle properly bitted,martingale,etc.,
will complete this part ot the outfit. Un
less the saddle is thoroughly padded, you
will need something beside the two blank
ets commonly used. If jour horse is high
in the withers and a good riding horse
should be so, make or have made,
two pads, of canvass or ticking. Let them
be about six inches wide by sixteen inches
in length, fasten together by three pieces
of leather, so that they wi.l be about one
and one-half inches apart. Put these on
the horse’s back before putting on the
blankets; the fancy blanket is all that is
really necessary now. These pads will
prevent the saddle’s touching the horse’s
back along the parts that are liable to be
come sore from compression.
Learn how to saddle your own horse,
know tho responsibility and possibility of
every strap, ring or btickle, on or about the
saddle.
You will want a habit of some dark ma
terial. Ladies cloth. 1 find to be the most
serviceable; velvet is liked by some, but it is
hard to keep clean, and soon looks shabby.
Make the basque with postillion back, long
or short as the mode dictates, but be sure
to have the front and sides below the waist
line very short, be sure to have it to tit
perfectly, for in no place does an ill fitting
garment look so badly as on horseback.
Let the sleeves fit snugly, put a rather high
collar in ti e neck, and do not decorate
with a superfluity of bright buttons. Line
the skirt throughout with lining material
the same color as the cloth, let it be about
two and one half yards around and come
about six inches below your feet when you
are on the horse. If the skirt is too long I
and wide it will blow back over the horse’s j
hips, flop around his hind legs, look badlv j
tire him, impede bis speed, and perhaps i
frighten him. Many wear pantaloons of
the same material as the habit. It these are i
worn no skirts will be needed, otherwise
have a rather scant skirt like the habit and
about the length of the usual walking
dress; finish with a narrow plaiting. Do
not put on any more skirts if you do not
want to look like Mother Bunch.
If you want the tall silk hat for rid'ng,
get it and wear it. I prefer a cap in the
military or jocky style, made of the same
material as the habit. Let it be rather tall,
and large enough to fit over the head. If
you must trim it, put a little gold or silver
cord where the visor joins the cap. Beware
of leathers, ribbons and even veils, except
ing as a protection from sun or wind.
Remember that the trimmer one looks on
horseback, the better. Wear white linen
collar and cuffs and good heavy gloves,
gauntleted or otherwise as suits the taste.
Get a whip that is useful as well as orna
mental, and if you like, a neat little spur.
But I find that the rowels cut the riding
d ress.
Well, you are all ready for a ride, arrange
your riding skirt so that the folds when
you drop it. will drop straight down, stand
on the left side of your horse, your attend
ant will stand by the horse’s shoulder, he
will kneel.or almost so. on his right knee,
place his right hand, with the elbow of his left
arm in its palm, on bis left knee, extend his
band—you will place your left foot in his
hand, turn your shoulders to almost face
the saddle, place one hand on its back part
and the other on the left pommel; as you
spring up your attendant will rise also—
you find yourself in the saddle. It takes a
little practice for both, so don’t be dis
couraged if all does not work right the first
time. Y’our attendant will place your foot
in the stirrup. Do not raise the um er
edge of the habit but thrust the foot into
the stirrup with a p irtion of the habit
with it.
To mount by yourself, get upon the
mounting block or some slight elevation,
put your hands on the saddle as before de
scribed and spring up. This also takes
practice.
Having mounted in good order, take the
reins in y >ur left hand, your whip‘in the
ri.ht. letting the arm hang easily by your
side, be careful not to let it swing or be
disturbed by the motion of the horse.
Hold the elbow of the left arm well into
the side. Authorities differ as to the man
ner of bolding the reins. I will tell you
how 1 hold them. I pass the little finger
between the reins, close the hand over
them, letting the ends come from between
the thumb and fore finger. They can be
held very tightly this way. Guide the
horse to right or left, moving bridle hand
in the direction desired. Hold the hand
low so that it almost touches the knee.
Now sit exactly in the center of your
horse’s back ; hips as square to the trout as
possible; shoulders square to the front, and'
until you are sure of your seat, keep your
eyes religiously on your horde’s ears. Sit
straight or incline the body a little forward
but throw the shoulders well back, this
will give a bttle inward curve to the back
which is very graceful, sit close to your
horse and do not bounce around in your
saddle. Endeavor to find out your horae’s
ea-iest riding gait and keep him to it.
There are many other things which
will suggest themselves to you as you
become more and more proficient in this
interesting accompli-hment.
I look back now on the time when my
good horse carried me safely over long
miles to and from my school when I was a
school marm, over ditches, fences and
swollen streams; over the gay tournament
Course, and the many prizes we won to
gether, but the good horse enjoys his old
age in pastures green, the saddle and
prizes hang on the wall, and for two years
I have kept house for one of the best
hu-bands in the world, and now a littie
six months old baby boy, interferes with
the horse back riding. But bless his
little heart, I would not give him up to
have all the good times over again.
Would you if he were yours?
Cora V.
Society indeed has its great men and its
little men, as the earth has its mountains
and valleys. But the inequalities ot tho
intellect, like the inequalities of the surface
of our globe bear so small a proportion to
the mass, that, in calculating its great rev
olutions, tiny may safely be neglected.
The sun illuminates the hills while it is
still below the horrizon; the truth is dis
covered by the highest minds a little before
it becomes manifest to the multitude.
1 his is the extent of their superiority.
They are the first to catch and reflect a
light, which without their assistance must,
in a short time, be visible to those who lie
lar beneath them.— Macaulay.
To know one person who is positively to
be trusted, will do more for a man’s moral
nature yes for his spiritual nature—than
ull the sermons he has ever heard or ever
can hear.— George Mac Donald.
Though a good woman may not read
herself clearly; yet she sees what she
lacks and recognizes the complement to
icrself, which she finds in the man whom
she approves.-—J. G. Holland.