Presbyterian banner. (Pittsburgh, Pa.) 1860-1898, September 07, 1864, Image 4
lirtsiVt Xtealnitg. Maggie, the Covenanter. Nearly a hundred years ago, there stood on the south shore of the Bay of Cromer ty, a mill; and close by, the miller's cottage. The miller, "Johnie o' the shore," lived in the cottage alone with his sister ; attending to his mill for business, and wri ting verses for recreation; and when he died, and the mill was torn down and re built in another place, " Maggie of the shore ". remained in the little cottage by herself. • " She was as poor," says one, " as. it is possible for a contented person to become ;" for great gain, you know, comes with con tentment and godliness, and Maggie had both. She was as neat, as clean, as hospi table as could be; and the inside of her poor ;cottage had even a sort of tasteful arrange ment. You might think that she would be afraid to live there alone--but no; she was never afraid. Even though she believed in ghosts and witches and a great many such things, as people did in those old times •°""th - caused her eiuse no fear. " I have been taught," she said, " that G-od is nearer to than ,any other spirit can be; and so have learned not to be afraid." The wild est storm that came howling among the &Ss ; the loudest thunder of the waves upon the beach,never disturbed her. And it was worth while to take a long walk to Maggie's cottage, for she could talk won derfully about those heavenly things that kept her in peace. A gentleman came from Cremarty one day, at noon and in the pleasure of her words 'and *moiety he sat talking till even ing. Then as he got up to go away, Maggie hesitated a little, but asked -him if he would not eat with her. "It was the feast of the promise," she :said— " 'Thy bread shall be given thee, and thy water shall be sure ;' ", for all she had to set before him was a pitcher of water and half a cake of bread. Yet Maggie said perhaps it was better for her to be poorer than she used to be : for now when she had finished one meal, she could not forget that the Lord .hini pledged himself to give her the next. . Maggie was a real old Covenanter, and % thought that no new thing should be brought into the " kirk" service, and no thought of the world's business into the kirk itself. To her feeling it was the high est desecration to read even an Act of Par liament in church; for both " the gold, and the.temple that sanctifieth the gold," were eacrei in her eyes. What she would have thought to see concerts and lectures and speeches permitted in the house of God, I cannot even guess. But one Sabbath, it chanced that her own favorite minister came down from the pulpit after his ser mon and began to read " ct " concern ing some merely public business. Perhaps if she had esteemed the minister less, Mag gie would have been quiet; but as it was, she jumped up, caught the paper from his hand, and tramped it under her feet. Of course the town authorities would not per mit such doings, and Maggie was sent to prison for three days ; but as all the best people in the country, as 'well as the minis ter himself, came there to visit her, I fancy they did not think Maggie's zeal was much out of the way. Maggie lived to be very, very old. One day a friend on a journey called in to see her. The little cottage, and her own dress, were as neat and in order as possible, but Maggie looked pale. "Are you unwell, Maggie ?" said her friend. "Perhaps I am not quite well," she an swered, "but I shall be very soon. You must take breakfast with me." The gentleman did not refuse, for well he knew what a charm it was to, sit at Mag gie's table; but this morning she did not talk much, nor eat. When the meal was over, she put away what was left, saying: "God has been so good to me ! There has been no one but himself to provide for me, but I have never wanted a meal since my brother died. Are you coming back this way, sir, this evening ?" And her friend said, " Yes." "Then stop Mid see . me," said Maggie. "'I am not well'now, but I feel—yes, I am sure—that you will find me quite well then. Will you come 7" Her friend promised, and went away. It was already twilight when_ he came back, ' and lifting the latch of Maggie's door, he went in. The fire was dying out on the hearth, the room was le ery silent. Maggie sat by the window that looked out to the west, and the last evening light shone on her calm face, which was looking up, and showed the peace and joy that rest ed there. Before her lay au open Bible. "I am come, Maggie," said her friend. But Maggie did not speak. " I have come back," he repeated—but Maggie was gone —gone to see Him, " whom not having seen, she loved." " Say ye unto the righteous , ::it shall be Well with him !"--Little American. Sorrow and Consolation. What lack the valleys and mountains That once were green and gay? What lack the babbling fountains? Their voice is sad to-day. Only the sound of a voice Tender, and sweet, and low, That made the earth, rejoice A year ago. What lack the tender flowers A shadow is on the sun. What lack the merry hours' That I long that they were done ? Only two smiling eyes That told of joy and mirth; They are shining in the skies, I mourn on earth! Speaking. but Onee.-11 Story for Boys. Two gentlemen were riding together in a. hack, the other day, when the name of a young lawyer of good talents and promise was, mentioned, upon which the elderly gentleman said : "That is one of my boys." " Yes," was the reply, " I have understood BO." The elderly gentleman resumed: "Some twenty years ago, I was visiting my broth er in Worcester County, and just as I was about returning ,home, he said to me 'Dinh you want a boy?' " Yes, ' I said, 'lf I can get a good one.' I ell,' said my brother, 'l've got one, if there ever NM one. I've got a boy that does n't need speaking to but once.' "I took the boy; and after he had been with me three months attending school I asked him how he should like to come and live with me. lie said he should like it well. asked him if any one had any claim upon him—for he was an orphan. He replied 'No.' Finding afterwards that a gentleman in 'Worcester County pretended to have such a claim, I told the boy that he had better go and see him, and have it all set tled. He went, and matters were all ar ringed, and husoon returned to live with me. if cone day, at the examination of the school in our district, the Committee came to me with the inquiry, What I was going to do with that boy ?' Oh,'-said sup pose he, will learn .:some trade! He obghtn't do That,' said 'the Committee. ' He'll nok l be. - contented. He loves his books; too well.' "I"hese few .woi set me to thinking, and I finally said to { Johnnie : Would n't you like, to fit for eollegel If you would, Twill Vein' You!. Jillinnie said he would Hke'lt:i , errmuch, but - he had no Means, after being fitted, to take him through. Well,' said I, 'lf you do not wish to study, you had better learn some trade.' Johnnie selected a trade, and I found him a good master in L---, with whom he served his time. " Finding that he kept at his books at the close of his apprenticeship, I said to his master,' If you will take hold with me, we will send that boy through College.' My proposition was agreed to. After a year or two in the High School, Johnnie was admitted to College, and, in due time, graduated, with credit to himself and his friends, and I am not ashamed to call him my boy." Boys, I have written these few lines so that this fact may not be lost; that at least one boy has become an educated, highly re spected and promising young lawyer, be cause he was known as a boy who did n't need speaking to but 'once ! Will you try and be like him ?-Congregationalist. A young popish Canadia.n, named Carlos, became a Protestant, and wished to get an education. A few ladies offered to bear his expenses while he went to school a year —each to keep him a certain number of weeks in her own family. One of these, who was deeply interested in him ' was the wife of a poor laboring man; hut she would not be denied the, privilege of aiding in the work. At first; Carlos objected to accept i3g her Lberality, saying, " You, like my solf, are poor; and my Master asks not so great things of you. - When the worthy woman insisted on bearing her share of the burden he replied, " when next I come to your 'Luse, go _you to the well and draw water, and give. to me. one cup. I will drink it, and be no more thirsty, and God, my Father will say to 'you, That is all I ask of you, my child?" But *hen she would not be denied, Carlos took his little earpet-hag and went thither. The eve nings at that time were very lovely—al most as light as day; but he, whose wont it was to be first and last at the social prayer-meeting, was missing there through the whole month. One day his pastor, meeting him, asked him why he had nei ther been to his house, nor yet to the con ference meeting. "0, sir," replied Carlos, "my heart every day with you; every night with God's children ; but when my school time out, I have work to do; work to make myself happy, and to please my Father in heaven." " Work I what do you find to do, Carlos Y" asked the gentleman. " 0, sir," be replied, "I go to Mrs. L's house. She work very hard for her many children—cook, wash, sew, take care of baby, and every thing. Her husband, too, lift great stones, and make wall and cellar, and get money to buy bread for wife and children—not for great strong boy like Me. Then I look at him and say to myself, Shame Carlos, with strong arm, to eat this children's bread 1' I look at the river, and see it full of driftwood come down for miles, and belong to nobody; no when school out I go to river with long pole and hook, and I draw in slab and broken board. I pile it up till Saturday come, and then I take wheelbarrow and wheel it all into wood-house. Now three cords of Summer wood there; and I can *at my bread and it not choke me. would give bread to poor man's child, but not eat up the bread his father earns.—Sto riet for the Little Ones. I speculate much on the existence of un married and never-to-be-married women,' now-a-days; and I have already got to the point of considering that there is no more respectable character on this earth than an unmarried woman, who makes' her way through life quietly, perseveringly, without support of husband or brother; and having attained the age of forty-five or upwards, retains in her possession a well-regulated mind, a disposition to enjoy simple pleas ures, and fortitude to support inevitable pains, sympathy with the sufferings of oth ers, and willingness to relievE want as far as her means extend.---Charlotte Bronte. A brief Sketch of the fate .Madame de Lamartine has just been published in Paris, which tells the world something of her domestic life. It appears that she copied with her own hand all of M. de Lamartine's works, except "'Les Giron dens." All of the "coy" supplied to the printer is in her hand; she kept the, poet's own manuseripts as a precious treasure, which she knew potterity would value as highly as she did. He wrote the poem "Jocelyn" in a large album which he used for an account book. The obverse face of the leaves contained the accounts of the laborers in his vineyards, the revel's° was covered with poetry. After the poem was completed, and negotiations with a pub ' lisher were carried to a successful issue, Lamartine, pointing to the album as he mounted his horse to make one of-his usual long excursions, asked his wife to send it to the printer. She opened it, and, seeing at first nothing but the accounts of the la borers in the vineyard, thought there must be some mistake. She examined further, 'and found the reverse of every leaf con tained " Jocelyn." She laughed, -took the album to her secretary, and resolutely set to ,work to copy the poem. M. de Lamar tine thought his work in the publisher's hands till a week afterward, when, as they were sitting clown to breakfast, she gave hint the album and the unblotted manu script of "Jocelyn." The poet was so deeply touched that he took a pen and wrote the three dedicatory strophes to Maria Anna Eliza., which are to be found on the first page of that work She copied all of M. de Lamartine's correspondence. She leaves a great many letters scattered in the hands of friends, which M. Dar gaud, it is said, is collecting with a view to publication. They - are represented as written with great talent. A still greater service was performed, by the wife of Sir William Napier in the com position of his great work on the " History of the Peninsular War." In the " Life" of Sir William, recently published in Lon don, we find an interesting allusion to her admirable zeal and ability : " When the immense mass of King Joseph's corres pondence taken at Vittoria was placed in my hands, I was dismayed at finding it to be a huge collection of letters, without or der, and in three languages, one of which I did not understand. Many, also, were in very crabbed and illegible characters, espe cially those of Joseph's own writing, which is nearly as difficult to read as Napoleon's. The most important documents were in ci pher, and there was no key. Despairing of any profitable examination of these valuable materials, the thought crossed me of giving up the work, when my wife undertook, first, to arrange the letters by dates and subjects, next to make a table of reference, translating and epitomizing the contents of each ; and this, without neglecting for an instant the care and education of a very large family, she effected in such a simple and comprehensive manner, that 'it was easy to ascertain the contents of any letter, and lay hands on the original document in a few moments. She also undertook to de; cipher the secret correspondence, and not only succeeded,, but formed- a key to the whole, deteeting even the nulls and stops,. —Miss Proctor. Commendable Example. Enmarried Women, 1,1 istellant,oits. Ladies with Literary Husbands. PRESB YTEMAN BA IN NE A , SEPTEMBER 7. I.(liclzt and so accurately, that when, in course of time, the orLinal key was placed in my hands, there was nothing to learn. Hav ing mentioned this to the Duke of Wel lington, he seemed at first incredulous, ob serving that I must mean .that she had made out the contents of some letters. Several persons had done this for him, he said, but none had ever made out the nulls or formed a key, adding, 'l' would have given £20,000 to any person who would have done that for me in the Peninsula.'" The °loads are returning after the rain, All the long morning they steadily sweep From the blue North-west, cfer the upper main, In a peaceful flight to their Eastern sleep. With sails that the codt wind fills or furls, And shadows that darken the billowy grass, Freighted with amber or piled with pearls, Fleets of fair argosies rise and pass. The earth smiles back to the.smiling throng From greening patiture and blooming field, For the earth that had sickened with thirst so long Has been touched by the hand of the Rain, and• healed. The old man. sits !neath the tall elm-trees, And watches the pageant with dreamy eye; While his white locks stir to the same cool hreete That scatters the silver along the skies. The old man's eyelids are wet with tears— Tears of sweet pleasure and sweeter pain= For his thoughts are driving hack over the years In beautiful clouds after life's long rain. Sorrows that:drowned all the springs of hie life, Trials that crushed him with pitiless beat, Storms of temptation and tempests of strife, Float o'er his memory tranquil and•sweet. And the old man's spirit, made soft aml bright I3y the long, long rain that had bent him. low, Sees a vision of angels on wings of .white, In the trooping clouds as they come and go. The conquests of Russia within the last sixty years are equal to to all that she pos sessed in Europe before that period; her acquisitions from Sweden are as large as all that remains of that kingdom; the ter ritory taken from the Tartars is equal in extent to Turkey in Europe, with Greece, Italy, and Spain; the portion of Turkey in Europe annexed to Russia is as extensive as Prussia without the Rhenish provinces; her conquests in Asiatic Turkey comprise as much territory, as is contained in all the smaller German States; from Persia she has taken a country as large as England; and her portion of Poland is equal to the whole of the empire of A.ustria. On examining the composition of her population, it will be found to consist of 2,000,000 of Caucasian tribes; 4,000,000 of Cossacks, Kirghs, and Georgians; 5,- 000,000 of Turks, Mon g ols, and Tartars; 6,000,000 Swedes, Finlanders, and Urn liana; 20,000,000 Muscovites of the Greek Church; and 23,000,000 Poles of either the Catholic or Russian national reli gions: in all, 60,000,000. The popu lation of Poland forms two fifths of the whole number, and is contained on one eighth of the entire territory. These dif ferent populations have, during the last century, been Undergoing a 'denationaliza tion which, we repeat, if it could be real ized, would be one of the most considera ble conquests ever made by any nation. The above refers to the past. Sup posing, for the future, that Russia would be satisfied with completing the union of, the &lave populations, which she has par tinily conquered, with the Tartari nations,' of which she possesses a portion, and the population of the Greek Church, the pro tection of which on the Danube and in the Ottoman empire she claims, her increase would be as follows : In addition to the 60,000,000 souls above enumerated, she would have the. Belays populations of the Austrian empire, 15,000,000; the Have populations of Prussia, 2,000,000; the Roumain and Servian nations of the Greek Church, 7,000,000; and, lastly, the peoples of Turkish and Tartar origin and others, 20,000,000. The whole would form a pop ulation of more than 100,000,000 inhab itants, which she would, hold at her dispo sal, supposing, we repeat, that she should think fit to limit herself to completing the conquests commenced—that is toeay, those •of the &lave, Greek and Tartar elements. France, in 1853, by throwing herself between Nicholas L and the pretended• gf dying man," who still lives, efficaciously delayed the completion of the conquest of the Greek and Tartar nations. By:these preient events in Poland, the Sclave ele 'trent is, however, more and more compro mised. Let Russia succeed in amalgama ting the 23,000,000 Poles above mentioned,' and there is no doubt that the Selave popu lations of Austria and Prussia will soon be united, to the victorious race, which will employ against them a religious- propa gandism and the sword, as has been done in Poland.— Siecle. Peaches—Where Grown, How Sent to Market, One of The Tribune reporters has been among the peach men, and visiting all the railroad depots and steamboats bringing peaches to New York and Jersey City op posite, also most of the large Wholesale dealers and receivers of the fruit. He has collected many statistics and items_ of inter est and value to those living outside of that city, and who have faint conceptions of the magnitude of the trade. They would. receive considerable enlightenment by visiting Jersey City about noon any day except Sunday, and witnesing the ar rival of the Delaware peach train of twenty to thirty cars, completely filled with peaches, each ear containing about five hundred baskets or their equivalent in crates. We will here remark that the'peach crop of Maryland, Delaware and New Jersey is larger than at any former year since 1857, ranch the largest portion of which is sent to the New York market, though large quantities are sold •in Philadelphia,and smaller amounts in Baltimore and Vash ington. About 44,500 baskets are now coming to New York daily, viz: 13,500 by the Dela,: ware peach train over the New, Jersey It R. Transportation Co.'s road, landing at Jersey City ,(15,500 on one day); 10,000 by Adams' Express and the Milhton train, landing at the same place; 17,000 over the Camden and Amboy road, landing at Pier 1 North River, New York; 1,500 by the Raritan and Delaware Bay R. R. (some days 2,500); 1,000 by the Keyport steam er; 500 by the. Morris and Essex R. R. landing at Hoboken op?osite the cur t and just beginning to br tug peaches from that section of N. J.; New Jersey Central R. R. and sundry steamers from the Jersey shores 1,000 baskets. The majority of those al ready sent in were from Delaware, where the yield is not only very large, but 'th.; fruit also of very fine quality. About one -half the crop of that State is now in, and South Jersey is sending freely while those from the Central portion of the State are just beginning to arrive. The Jersey yield is generally good, though the drought ma terially lessened the crop in some localities. The railroads passing through the peach regions run special trains during the fruit season, made up wholly of peaches. Freight cars, and in some cases cattle cars, are fitted up with shelves for carrying four tiers of baskets, and they are pressed in so closely that there is butvery little'motion to them. Th'e baskets are generally uncovereil, though , a few have- cloth covers tied on. Some extensive growers use slat-orates in stead of baskets ; a portion Of them holding Returning Clouds, BY J. G. HOLLAND Conquests of Russia, Quantity; etc. two peach ba4kets, or one bushel each, with a partition througn the middle to relieve the pressure, others holding a single basket of fruit. These crates are very convenient for reshipping the peaches further North, and are gaining favor among dealers. A ear can be packed full of crates without reference to shelves, the fruit can be in spected from all sidles, and pilfering boys who throng about the trains upon their ar rival cannot purloin the peaches. As already remarked, the railroad com panies drop these cars along the route, where growers fill them, and at the appoint ed time, generally late in the afternoon or at night, they are picked up and taken to the city, intending to reach there early in the morning. There is a great deal of com plaint regarding transportation this season. The crop is so large, and the railroad so taxed with passengers and freight, that thousands of baskets are not unfrequently left behind to rot, or they are subsequently sent forward in a damaged condition. Be sides this, the trains have been seriously detained bf late, especially on the •Philadel phia and Wilmington, and Camden and Amboy line, cars due at four o'clock in the morning, being frequently detained until one or two o'clock in the afternoon, when the fruit cannot be sold until the next day, and when peaches once begin to soften they soon,decay. Feather Beds. The sanitary effects of the various mate rials usel for beds is a subject which has been too little considered. The old-estab lished institution, the feather bed, has its cemforts,>and,,with those who have beea long accustomed to it, it has become an actual necessity. In the Anglo-Saxon days warm beds were a desideratum in every well-arranged household'; and since then, through the Modimval Ages up to the present time, beds, bedsteads, and bed furniture have been matters of importance in'connection with every household. The unwholesome curtains have -now nearly gone out of use—a change in, fashion which is conducive to health; with those of the rising generation, the feather bed is decidedly going out of favor; and, gener ally, the medical profession do not speak in its praise, and before long it is likely that feather beds will be .disused in the holpitals. By some good housewives the cases of the feather beds are changed, at the least, once a year; the feathers, which' have massed together in lumps, are sepa rated, aired, and then placed in a clean covering. This is a wholesome methsi, but it is by no means an uncommon custom to leave the feathers in the same ease un opened for- many years together—a prac tice which is very reprehensible. Besides the ill effects which may arise in this way, there is now an opinion strongly expressed that very soft and yielding couches are not good for health or proper muscular devel-. opment, and are, therefore, improper for use in schools, and places in which the youth of both sexes are reared. Up to the end of his life the Duke of Wellington slept on a hard, narrow mattress; and others might be mentioned who have lived to an advanced <age who repudiated soft beds. A variety of materials is used for . the ffi stung of beds. There are the sweetly scented heather beds in - Highland cottages, which, when carefully and frequently re newed, afford a pleasant resting-place-for the weary traveler. In some parts various species of the fern are employed for the same purpose. In some of the English regimens the soldiers fill the bed-ticks with clean dry straw; this, when neatly put in regular layers, is said to make a com fortable and wholesome bed. The straw is changed once in a fortnight; and what has been put aside from the barrack-room can be used in the cavalry stables. Horse-hair and spring mattresses have, in many in stances, been substituted for feather beds, and some have carried the liking of hard beds to such a degree as to sleep on fiat boards; thiS, however, will not generally come up to the idea we have of a bed of roses. As regards beds, in a sanitary point of view, there can be no doubt that the use of feathers in excessive quantities is not bene ficial to health, and that the materials used for stuffing should be frequently 'changed. —London Builder. Boston in 1781. Some of our readers may be interested in reading a description of Boston eighty years ago, as it appeared to the Abbe Robin, a chaplain in Count Rochambeau's army. He was a genuine Frenchman, having no sympathy with the earnest religious views of, New-England: In the roadstead, studded with pleasant islands, we saw, over the trees on the 'west,. the housesrisin. b amphitheatre like, and formin t ,c , along the hill.sides a semicircle of nearly-half a league; this was the town of Boston. • The high, regular buildings, intermin gled with steeples, appeared to us more like a long established town of the conti nent than that of a recent Colony. The view of its interior did not dissipate the. opinion which was formed at first sight. A flue mole or pier projects into the harbor' about two thousand feet, and shops and: warehouses line its entire length. It oem municates at right angles with the princi pal street of the town, which is long and' wide, curving round toward the water; on this street are many fine houses of two and three stories. The appearance of the buildings seems strange to European eyes;' being built entirely of woo 3, they have not: the dull and heavy appearance which be longs to those of our continental cities; they are regular and well-lighted, with' frames well joined, and the outside covered with slight, thinly-planed boards, over lapping each other somewhat like the tiles" upon our roofs. The exterior is generally painted of a grayish color, which gives an agreeable aspect to the view. The furniture is simple; sometimes of costly wood, after the English fashion; the rich covering their floors with woollen ear-, pets or rude mattings, and others with fine ' sand. The 'town contains about six thousand houses, or nearly thirty thousand inhabitant s ; with nineteen churches of all denominations. Some of the churches are very fine espe cially those of the Presbyterian and Epts copal societies. They are generally oblong, ornamented with galleries and furnished with pews throughout, so that the- poor as well as the rich may hear the Gospel *ith much comfort. The Sabbath is here observed with much rigor. All kinds of business, however im portant, cease; and even the zno3t, innocent pleasures are not allowed The town, so full of life and bustle, during the week days, becomes silent like a desert, on that day. If one walks the streets, he scarcely meets a person; and if perchance he does, he will hardly dare to stop and speak. A countryman of mine, stopping at the same inn with me, took it into his head one Sunday to play a little upon his flute; but- the neighborhood became so incensed that our landlord was obliged to acquaint him with their.uneasiness. If you enter a house, you will generally find each member of the household en gaged in reading the Bible, and it is a very interesting and touching sight, to see a parent, surrounded• by his family, reading and explaining the sublime truths of the sacred volume. If you enter a temple of worship, you find a perfect stillness reigns, and an order and behavior which are not`found generally in our Catholie ohurehes. - The singing of the psalms is slow and soleinn, and the words of the hymn being in their native tongue, serves to increase the interest and engage the attention of the worshippers. The churches are without ornament of any kind; nothing there speaks to the mind or heart; nothing to re call to man why he comes there, or what shall be his hope of the future. Sculpture and painting trace no sacred events there, 'to remind him of his duties or awaken his gratitude. The Income . Tax in England,—A parlia mentary paper shows that the number of persons assessed under schedule D (trades and professions) in Great Britain increased in the year ending April 5, 1863, from 285,459 to 493,468; the amount paid from £3,222,033 to £3,376,405; the incomes on which the tax was charged from X89,013,- 493 to X 93,322,864. The number of per sons with less than £lOO a year had l in . c cased from 18,761 to 18 4 790;. between £lOO and £l5O, frpta 135,262 to 139,297; and so on till the highest class, those with incomes of £50,000 a. year and upwards, who were 67 in 1862 and 80 in 1863. In Ireland the number of persons charged had fallen off from 17,602 to 17,438; the amount paid from' £168,132 to £167,834 ; .and the incomes assessed from £4,677,568 to Z 4,673,743. The number paying on incomes of less than £lOO a year had di minished ,from 1 . 264 to 1,224, but the number with £50,000 a year and upwards had risen from two to three. t r arm t liiarbtut For the Presbyterian Banner. Those Pestiferous Ants--An Infallible Rex edy. MESSRS- EDITORS have noticed with interest the various remedies against the encroachments of Ants, proposed in the Banner—all of which, I perceive, were given - as certain cures, for the evil. Wheth er the " afflicted housekeeper " has found in any of them the much desired relief, - has not yet appeared. With your permis sion I propose laying before your readers— especially the "'afflicted one "—the follow ing remedy, the efficiency of which I am sure every one will admit, at first glance, to be all that it claims to be. Some years since, the house which we occupied was most intolerably infested with ants--so much so that nothing could be placed beyond their reach. My wife one day, on my return home, said she had thought of a plan which" might prove ef fectual, and asked for four tin cups. The cups were procured, filled with water, and put one under each table leg. Upon the table were placed all the articles of pro vision on which the ants were moat prone to prey. This was enough—the thing was accomplished—and we had no more trouble with the ants. The little army of red reb els might deploy, make feint attacks and finally rush forward in a general charge, but when they arrived at the impassable water gulf, it was all fg no go "—and no -6trategy could possibly gratify their de sires. _ Let the " aftlicted..housekeeper" try this plan, and my word for it, she will find it of more real value than all the other rem edies which have been or may be propOsed for her relief. The same plan is also equally effective in guarding against the encroachments of roaches. Also in the APiary, to prevent the ants from entering the bee-hives, which they have often been known to do, to the great detriment of the apiarist, even so far as to drive every bee from the hive. N. ALP. N. 13.—1 t might be proper to remark, that in a location where ants are likely to be troublesome in the future, a table of proper shape and size might be prepared for the pantry, and a nest of drawers or shelves placed thereon, and permanently fastened down upon its top by means of nails or screws, in and upon which every article the ants delight to prey upon, might be placed, with the utmost security. The Grape. The culture of the grape vine and the manufacture of the delicious wine which is already extensively known throughout this country, and even in some parts of Europe, have been carried to a high degree of perfec tion in California. The number of grape vines in California in 1861 was 10,592,688, of which Los An gelos had 2,570,000 and Sonoma 1,701,661. All European varieties of the grape, as also those ofthe Atlantic States, grow well in this state. This fact is significant of the wonderful adaptation of its climate and soil fo the culture of the grape, and indicates - that California will become the 'greatest wine country of the world. Mr; Hittell, in summing up its sirPeriority, says "California vineyards produce ordinarily twice as much as the vineyards of illy other grape district, if general report be true. The grape crop never fails, as it does in every other country._ Vineyards in every other country require , more labor ) for here the vine is not trained to a stake, but stands alone." Lessons from the Drottth. in reviewing : his own, agricultural expe rience the writer is confident that he has learned more salutary lessons from dronths, 'and cold wet spells, from mistakes and blunders of his own and of others, than from the greatest success. So not only may these dry seasons be productive of good in destroying insect life, and favora bly changing the character of the soil, to a certain eitent, giving aopportunities to drain, etc., but we may all take lessons• in deep plowing and working of the soil. Not one single really deeply worked' field or plot of ground have we seen which was suffering at all fria'm drouth. , The earn _stands, dark green, strong and thrifty, next to, fields of poor, little, yellow, shrivelled, earley-leaved specimens, which do not now look as if they would return the seed. `Grain, clover, and fields of other crops look abed the same. Well enriched soil, underdrained and plowed 10 inches deep Will stand almost any droutla. About Bread. Molly Greenfield writes to the American •Agriculturist. Many farmers' wives make milk or salt rising bread, and if well made it is excellent; but it is not always as con venient to make in summer as hop-yeast bread. Hop-yeast may be kept some time in a eciol cellar, and is very handy for bis cuit, rolls, cake, and rusk as well as for bread. One is not obliged to keep a fire half a day for the "emptyings" to rice, with the risk of failure from earelesst in allowing them to become , too eons. or scalded. Here is a reccipt.for yeast which is good, something nearly like which I - found in an agricultural paper a good while ago. Steep a handful of hops in a large basin of water, mix with the hop water three or.four good sized potatoes boiled and -mashed; also a table spoonful of flour, half a tablespoonful of salt, and half a teacap of sugar. When cool, add a cup of brewer's yeast. Domestic yeast and molasses may be used instead of brewer's yeast and sugar. If you wish moist bread, pour boiling water on half or Vlore of your , flour, when you sponge your bread. But about Grabain bread—do you , ever make that? If made it is :truly- excellent;and wholesome. Here are two. good 'ways`preparing it. 1. Mix wheat meal with sweet milk, roll about a- of an inch thick, and bake in a quick oven. 2. Mix the meal with licit buttermilk or thin sour cream, use soda and salt, drop on buttered tins in, small cakes, and bake quickly. Shelter for Sheep at Pasture.—We find a suggestion in one of our exchanLea and uncredited, in which there is wis dom., It seems it has been the practice of Solomon Green, of Massachusetts, to give his sheep the shelter of small dark build ings put in their pastures, and into which they may go at pleasure. The result is that during the heat of the day they retire into them and remain till about 4 o'clock iv the evening. The houses - are small and on runners so that by shifting them often the land is thoroughly and evenly manur ed. This is a good idea for breeders of valuable sheep, who think no labor lost which contributes to their welfare. To Boil a Ilailt.—Soak, according 'to its age, twelve to twenty-four hours. Have it more than covered with cold" water, and let it simmer two or three hours, and then boil an hour and a half. or -two hours; skim it carefully. ,When done, take it up and skin it neatly; dress it with cloves and spots of pepper laid on accurately. You may cut writing or tissue paper in fringe, and twist around the shank bone if you like. It should be cut past the centre, nearest the hock, in very thin slices. To Polish Patent Leather about Carriages, ete.—W. C. Hart, Orange Co., N. Y., writes to the American Agriculturist as fellows " The dash' and bodies of wagons covered with patent leather,- and parts 'of harness of the same, as blinders, saddle, ete., may be polished •by taking sweet oil• and apply ing it with a soft piece of muslin; after well oiling let it remain for a few hours, then take a piece of muslin that is soft and pliable, and polish by rubbing. It will look as well as new, and 'well repay the trouble. V§imiaiwal IN FAVOR OF PSffi GROVER & BAKER SEWING IVIACHtig-ES "I take pleasure in recommending it as every is ay Rev. Dr. LEAVITT, Editor Now.-York independent. "I confess myself delighted with your Sewing Machine Rev. Dr. STRICKLAND, Editor New• York Christian Advocate. "I have used Grover & Baker for two years. Garments have been worn out without the giving of a stitch." Rev. GEO. WHIPPLE, New-York. "For several months we hive need Grover lit Baker's Sew ing Machine, and with pleasure testify to its beautiful and elastic sowing, and its simplicity." GEO. P. MOILRIS, Bditor Home Journal. "hly family leas teen most eaccessml. In Ite we from the first. It in a family blessing." JAS. POLLOCK,. Ea-Governor of Penosylvanla Office, No. 18 FIFTH STREET, Pittsburgh. A. F..CHATONEY, I=lM NEW AND VALUABLE BOOKS FOB, BATA AT THE PRESBYTERIAN BOOK ROOMS nv RENSHAW'S NEW BUILDINGS NO. 57 HAND STREET, PITTSBURGH, PA.: . Tho Board of eolportage respectfully invite their friend& to call at their Rooms, awl examine their large assortment of religious books, among which are the following new issues: The Prophet of Piro. By McDuff $1.50. Bible Illu.trations. By Rev. IL Newton 1.35 The Sabbath. By Gi 1.25 The Syroptthy of Christ with Man ' 1.25 The Imitation of Christ. By Kemple - 1.25 The Post of Honor. By the author of " Doing and Suffering," - 1.00 The Improvement of Time. By P05ter....... . . .......... . 1.00 ,Sermons by Res. Robertson 1.00 Thi Old Flag..„ 1.00 Pfitty Stsel. By the author of “Irlsh Amy," Hand Summers, the Sightless Anna; or, A Daughter at Home To G i , n d Starr's Legacy ; or, Trust in a Covenant-keeping o Rana - a Sabbath Schools Hart on Prayer The True Penitent Portrayed. By 8.0. Nine 5........... Heavenly Hymns for Heavy Heart 5.......„ The Coins of the Bible Bible Lessons on Palestine Binte to Patients in Hospitals All,the Issues of the Board of Publication ands large sup- ply of Sabbath School boas, always on hand. JOHN CULBERTSON, eb 5-6 DENTISTRY. -DR. C. SILL N 0.246 PENN STREET, Pittsburgh, attends to branches of. the Denial prnfAssierri. THE MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW-YORIt FREDERICK S. WINSTON, President. 'ASSETS, ',TWAY IST, isst.. • $11;000,000 ANNUAL INCOME, OVER 2,000,000 PAID CLAIM'S BY DEATH, (20 Years) OVER 5,000,000 EVRPIIIS DIVIDEND DURING PM YILSIIB-1858-"62—TBRIE MILLIONS OP. DOLLARS, IJSINO ABOUT SEVENTY PER CENT. ON PARTICIPATING PREK;UMS. References in Pittsburgh : HON. THOMAS EL HOWE, ISAAC EL pEmirOOR,. - JAMES B. LYON, ,ISAAC IL EI3BERT, GEORGE R. WHITE, WILLIAM W. WARD, -JAM33,9 A. HUTCHISON, F. H. EATON, FLORENCE KRAM EP.R JOHN D. WOOED, JOHN D. SCULLY, WILLIAM E. SCHMERTZ, THOMAS H. LANE, WILLIAM M. SHINN, WILLIS BOOTHE. WILLIAM VANICIRK, B. L. FAHNESTOOR, M. WHITMORN. W. A. lIALLoOK, Miniem. EXAMINEIL GEORGE M. BLACKSTOCK, Agent, No. 37 Fifth 3treet, Pittsburgh. jyl3. ' MASON Sr. HAMLIN'S • CPAIPENZRZ 031{' CtIAVIRe • CAUTION TO PURCHASERS. The wide demand for our CABINET ORGANS has in duced dealers in some cases to advertise quite different in struments as CABINET ORGANS, and in others to repre [ 'sent to purcbaeera that Eiartrioniums and other reed organs are the same thing. Tins is NOT mos. The excellences of the CABINET ORGANS which have given them their high reputation, arise not merely from the superiority of their workmanship,lint also, in large measure from 1188.ENTIAL DIFFESENOM3 IN CONSTRUO 170N, which being patented. By ye, cannot be imitated by other makers. Prom these arise their better quality-and volume of tone, and capacity far expression. Every CABI NET GROAN has upon its name board in full, the words, "MASON & BANLIN CABINET ORGAN." When a dealer represents any other instrument as a Cold inet Organ, it is usually a mere attempt to sell 'in inferior instrument on which he can make's larger profit. Prices of . CABINET ORGANS; 595 to PM Warerooms: No. 214 Washington Street, Bos ton, MASON & HAMLIN. No. 7 Mercer Street, New-York,' MASON BROTHERS. No: 81 Wood Street, .Pittsburgh, CHAS. C. AIIILLOR. Jy2o-v THE il t ERON WORKS, 'Nos. 07,19, 40, 41 and 42 Penn Street, PITTSMIRGE, PA. FOSTER AND COMPANY, MACHINISTS.STEANI.ENDINS. ERS AND IRON FOUNDERS. Areprepared to manufacture, to order on abort notice, and on the most favorable tonne, All Kinds of Steam Engines. d having just completed a Sret-class FOUNDRY, are ready to fill all order. , for CASTINGS of any she or pattern. ro/17-• SOLDIERS' 'GLAD' AGENCY. . J. & HALL PATTERSON, - SOLICITORS OF CLAIMS AND PENSIONS, No. 144 Fourth St, Pittsburgh, 'Pa. Jai- Pensions, Bounties, Back Pay and BoldMrs' Claims or all kinds, promptly collected, IY6-A NEW TRIMMING AND FURNISH... IRO 11013 SE. Our stock will be found the most complete in the city embracing all-the newest styles of TRIMMINGS in Chenille, Silk, Gimps; Bead and Bugle Trimmings; Bead and Rosette Buttons; Hosiery, Gloves; Pine Embroideries; White Goods; Bonnet and Trimming Ribbons; Scotch Plaid Velvet and Silkßibbons; troop Skirts, Balmoral Skirts ; Morocco Belts ; Silk and Scotch Plaid Belt -Lace Ifandkorchiefk; Ribbons; Point Lace Collars; Valencia. Collars; Maltese Collars and Cuffs; Lace Sleeves; Ladies' and Gents' Furnishing Goods, MOORHEAD, DENNISON' 416' CO., • spB4 81 M A RK E T WIMPS; PITISBIIRGIL, KLNABEIS.P.I.A.NOS,ARE Now sidered the best Pianoi , „r. the moil] 1.. , and warranted for eight years. As - the relatire %nab° Pianos, we would refer to the ten:neat., in our possession from Thalberg, str,„if Satter, and IL Vieuptempe. A call is respectfulh before purchasing . elsewhere. Persos at a please send for a circular. For sale atriactory HAINES BROS. PIANOS are the best Piewe try at the price. GROVESTEEN CO.'s piA N ,,. esti l . octave rosewood, fully warranted, for Vim x Ap Ailsli • MAVEN'S Parlor Gem PIANOS for f 221. MELODEONS, the best made. Prices from $5 5 CHARLOTTB BLUME, 48 Fifth St., pltt s b ur ; i : nov2s-A Sole Agent for above I.___eltrererrtt, JOHN A. RENSHAW, Corner of Liberty and Hand Shutt, Pittsburgh, Pa, Would incite the attention of the public to his tate4,. and varied assortment of CHOICE FAMILY GROCERIES, TEAS. Sugar-Cured Hams, Dried Seer, Fish, G4en Fri. and Doinestio Erato, Sickles and Sauces, Hay ku . 12. !" Fresh Fruits and Vegebibles, &0., besides a large sterCZEll' H OUSEKEEPI N G. UTENSILsi . Snell as Wood and Willow Were, Japanned HOtteekeeping Hardware, An., • Ti r , w. ro, WHOLESALE AND la.r.dri Air, elm& carferdly packed and delivered free of for cartage at any of the Railroad Depots or Landings. Catalogues containing an extended llet g sent by mail if desired, and all orders from a dietanc e receive our prompt and'caretal attention. IRS T NATIONAL RANI( OF ALLE'GHENY, PA. DESIGNATED DEPOSITORY AND FINANCIAL AGENT OP THE "O*I"ItIsM3D ST-AMES. L ilt_si 411 4D z lei AL Ali • This Bank hes been authorized and is now preparel t re calve Subscriptions to the NEW GOVERNMENT LOAN. This Ito to, issued under authority of an act f f Congreat approved March 3,1864, provides for the issue of Two lira tired Millions of Rollers ($800,000,000) United State. Boor, redeemable after ten years, and payable forty years it. date, IN COIN, dated March 1,1864; bearing interest at tie rate of 5 PER CENT. per Annum IN COIN, paytd,i, semi-annually on all Bonds over $lOO, and on Benue of tie.) and less, annually. Subscribers wig receive either Registered or (10,,p q , Bonds, as they may prefer. Registered Bonds will be issued of the denomination s or fifty dollars, ($80,) one bnndrrd dollars, file hut, dred dollars, ($500,) one thousand dollars, (E1,4)09,1 5 ,„ thousand dollars, ($5,000,) and ten Moment] &So.. ($10,000); and Coupon Bonds of the denominates of lift: dollars; ($50,) one hundred dollars, ($100,) tars, ($500,) and one thousand dollars, 01,0004 T. H. NEVIN, PEZ3ISINT. KRAMER, Cashier. apmA UITTSEURGEE •AL FEMALE COLLEGE. . . RE*. .L O. PERSHING, D.A., PRESIDENT'. Best Sustained College in the Stec, Twenty Teachers. Superb buildinge t to which •mprari. manta have just been Made at a cent of $2.0,000. theiir• passed facilities in the Ornamental branches. Thoroogl sin extensive course of study. 4850.00 per term (14 weeks) pays all expense s In Ole boarding department, except washing and fuel. N at t rlc will continence August 30th. Send to President Pore de g for a Catalogue. M. SIMPSON, Pres't Trustees. A NEW AND CHOICE SELECTION OF Spring and Summer BOOTS, SHOES, RUBBERS, &c,, For Sale et the NEW SOOT AND SEM MUSS or SEATER & SOUTH, il t4 Market Street, 2d door from Third, mar3o-3 PITTSBURGH, PA =I VALUABLE BOOKS SMITH, ENGLISH & CO.: Farrar's Silence hi Theology $l.OO Religions Catlett of Conscience The Young Parson I Pletning's Vmatalitry of Philosophy. Edited by C. P. Krantb, D.D Bible Illustrations Dr. Seise' Last Tunes, and Great Cons Do. Parable of the Ten Virgins. Theluck on the Gospel of Do. • Do. Sermon on the Mount :Pairbairres Efermeneulical Manua1........... Winer's Grammar of the New Testament.... Colon on add% Sovereignty Ife'pe for the Pulpit • Pulpit Themes Harts'e Cnurch History. 2 vols..— Hengstenherg on Ecclesiastea ' 'DQcllvaino'e Evidences of Christianity Luther on Galatians Saluauchere Popular Theology. Nil Al) our Publications, can be had of Booksellers ge erally, or will be sent by mail, poatage paid, upon receipt° prices ailvertSkeil, by the Publishera, SMITH, .ENGLISH Si, CO., 2t North Sixth Street, Philadelphia 81131162 M. ReMAIMSR M 9 .I4AStER & • GAZZAIII, arros:zr.tl s- s AT LAW, 98. Grant . Street, Pittsburgh. Soldiers Claims .tor Pewdona, Bounty and Back Pay pktimptly copected. ap27-a JOHN D. INITORD JAMBS S. M'CuilD litilt'VtioXig3ll34' tie com-, ILLATIIRACTURERS .AND DEALERS IN Hata, Caps, and Sttaw GoOda' WHOLEBALE AND RETAIL, 111 Wood -6-1-reet, Pittsbur . . are now on hand for 6pr114 eslea t 'is large and tompittes 'aeadatnnint.ofTGonde na can be found in any of she consiatin.g of Silk, and Wool Hats, of every style and quality; CAPS of every quality awl latet fashions; Palm Leaf, Straw, Leghorn, and Panama HATS Straw, and Silk SONNETS, etc etc. Persons wilhieg t pnrchaseeither by Wholesale or liken, win Cad it to 0.4: N .Ew Baoßs - The Presbyterian Board of Publication, `HEAVENLY HY SINS FOR HEAVY HEARTS. Ono ' piled for the Board of Publication. 12mo. pp. 216. Pike 65 cents. A collection of poetry from various sources, and contain ing many gems. THE* TRUE PENITENT PORTRAYED. in a Practical Expoeiticu of the Pifty-first Psalm To which is added THE DOCTRINE OF REPENTANCE.', as declared in Act+ tacit: 30. By E. C. Wines, D.A., nutter of "A Treatise on lie generation." " Adam and Christ," An. Small 12mo, pp -119. Price 50 cents. A lucid and impreseixe exhibition of repentance, prisent^ ed in the simple and interesting form of expositions. HINTS FOR PATIENTS IN HOSPITALS. By O. Res. Th-luas Scott, ILD., author of a •' Commentary on the Bible," Ac. 32m0, pp. 22. - Price 2 ants- TEE COINS OF TIIE BIBLE, ANA In MONEY TERMS. By James Ross Snowden, A.M. lihno, pp. 72. Price IA and 25 cents. The author of this work. Colonel Snowden, was for naitlY years Director of the DniWd States Mint, and perfectly familiar with the sabject upon which ho writes. BIBLE LESSONF. ON PALESTINE. By the Rev. Wm. P. Breed, D.D. 18mo, pp. 132. Price 20 cents. A valuable Question Book for the Me of Bible Classes. Please address orders to -feb2l B . L. EL DABBS, RJR(IVO ZA E 46 and 48 St. Clair St WATER-COLOR MINIAT LIFE-SIZE PHOTOCRA IN 4YON, OIL, INDIA INK, Photographs with Landscape and Backgrounds. PHOTOGRAPHIC ALBUMS, GILT FRAMES, •ND FAA my 84 'IIIDiE., OIL AND LE AT D. KIRKPATRICK No. 31 South Third 11iresz1(Pellaarf elm CIIiSTNIIT 871 Rave far Sal BPANDAL AND GREEN Lit.[3ll'. TA AND PATNA EIPB, TANN. THE LOWEST PRICES TUB BEST TER air Ant:lnds of Loather in the the highest market price will La t exchange for }hues. Leather et on commhaion. Tama tier Miaow made to Gs JOHN A. RP,NSHAw, QM sepB-6 821' Chestnut "Street, Philadelphia. WINTHROP SARGENT, Brudnees Correspondent ..411_1MICX PITTSBURGIL Cartes de Visettes. IVORY TYPE S. Adapted to the PHOTOGRAPHIC BUSIN PIIBLISRED HY . . . I.L. ation « 2.a0 9.60 9.i.0 MOE