family monthly magazine
TRANSCRIPT
WORBLY’S FAMILY MONTHLY MAGAZINE
SEPTEMBER, 1866
WORBLY’S
On August 20,
President Andrew Johnson formally
declared our country’s war over.
Our prayer is that our country
continues to heal.
May God give us peace as our
country reunites.
May homes and families grow
stronger in love.
May we all look to God above to
guide and direct our lives.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
A Father’s Gift to His Son…......2
Husbands……..............................8
Politness………………………...8
Nurse and Spy…….……….........8
Powers of Mothers…………….13
Vice……………………………14
Pithy and Pointed…....………...14
A Great Attainment……….......14
Cousin Lucy’s Conversations...15
Domestic Economy….....……...20
A Daughter’s Love………..…...27
Vermin………………………...27
Dogs and Rats………………...28
Being A Boy, part two………...29
The Little Vessel………………32
The Light On The Deck………32
Christie, Where The Tree Fell...32
Manners Matter……………….40
Curing Meat…………………...41
Woman………………………..46
Letters to the Editor…………...47
Advertisements……...……...…48
WORBLY’S FAMILY MONTHLY MAGAZINE September, 1866
2
In an effort to remember and honor the men
who helped establish our country, we
present a work of one our Founding Fathers.
A FATHER’S GIFT TO HIS SON ON HIS
BECOMING AN APPRENTICE
By Benjamin Franklin
Published by Samuel Wood & Sons, 1821
FRANKLIN'S
WAY TO WEALTH;
OR
POOR RICHARD IMPROVED
INTRODUCTION.
This little treatise is much and justly
admired, as well as its celebrated and
ingenious author; in short, it is to be
doubted, whether any other work of the kind
equal to it has ever appeared. It has been
repeatedly published, in different sizes; and
made its appearance on both sides of the
Atlantic. The London copy from which this
is printed, contains the following introduc-
tion:
"Dr. Franklin, wishing to collect into one
piece, all the sayings upon the following
subjects, which he had dropped in the course
of publishing the Almanac, called "Poor
Richard," introduces Father Abraham for
this purpose. Hence it is, that Poor Richard
is so often quoted, and that, in the present
title, he is said to be improved.—
Notwithstanding the stroke of humour in the
concluding paragraph of this address, Poor
Richard (Saunders) and Father Abraham
have proved, in America, that they are no
common preachers. And shall we, brother
Englishmen, refuse good sense and saving
knowledge, because it comes from the other
side of the water?"
The Way to Wealth.
COURTEOUS READER,
I have heard that nothing gives an author so
much pleasure, as to find his works
respectfully quoted by others. Judge, then,
how much I must have been gratified by an
incident I am going to relate to you. I
stopped my horse, lately, where a great
number of people were collected at an
auction of merchants' goods. The hour of the
sale not being come, they were conversing
on the badness of the times; and one of the
company called to a plain, clean, old man,
with white locks, "Pray, Father Abraham,
what think you of the times? Will not those
heavy taxes quite ruin the country? How
shall we ever be able to pay, them? What
would you advise us to?" Father Abraham
stood up, and replied, "If you would have
my advice, I will give it you in short, 'for a
word to the wise is enough,' as Poor Richard
says." They joined in desiring him to speak
WORBLY’S FAMILY MONTHLY MAGAZINE September, 1866
3
his mind, and, gathering around him, he
proceeded as follows:
"Friends," says he, "the taxes are indeed
very heavy; and if those laid on by the
government were the only ones we had to
pay, we might more easily discharge them;
but we have many others, and much more
grievous to some of us. We are taxed twice
as much by our idleness, three times as
much by our pride, and four times as much
by our folly; and from these taxes the
commissioners cannot ease or deliver us by
allowing an abatement. However, let us
hearken to good advice, and something may
be done for us; 'God helps them that help
themselves ;' as poor Richard says.
"I. It would be thought a hard government
that should tax its people one-tenth part of
their time to be employed in its service: but
idleness taxes many of us much more; sloth
by bringing on diseases, absolutely shortens
life.
"Sloth, like rust, consumes faster than labour
wears, while the used key is always bright,'
as Poor Richard says---"But, dost thou love
life?, then do not squander time, for that is
the stuff life is made of," as Poor Richard
says.—How much more than is necessary do
we spend in sleep! forgetting, that, the
sleeping fox catches no poultry, and that
there will be sleeping enough in the grave,"
as Poor Richard says.
"If time be of all things the most precious,
wasting time must be," as Poor Richard
says, 'the greatest prodigality!' since, as he
elsewhere tells us, 'Lost time is never found
again; and what we call time enough always
proves little enough.' Let us, then, up and be
doing, and doing to the purpose: so by
diligence shall we do more with less
perplexity. "Sloth makes all things difficult,
but industry all easy; and he that riseth late,
must trot all day, and shall scarce overtake
his business at night: while laziness travels
so slowly, that poverty soon overtakes him.
Drive thy business, let not that drive thee;
and early to bed, and early to rise, makes a
man healthy, wealthy and wise," as Poor
Richard says.
"So what signify wishing and hoping for
better times? We may make these times
better, if we bestir ourselves. "Industry need
not wish: and he that lives upon hope will
die fasting. There are no gains without
pains; then help hands, for I have no lands;'
or, if I have, they are smartly taxed. 'He that
hath a trade, hath an estate; and he that hath
a calling, hath an office of profit and
honour,' as Poor Richard says; but then the
trade must be worked at, and the calling well
followed, or neither the estate nor the office
will enable us to pay our taxes. If we are
industrious, we shall never starve; for at the
working man's house, hunger looks in, but
dares not enter.' Nor will the bailiff or
constable enter; for, 'industry pays debts,
while despair increaseth them.' What,
though you have found no treasure, nor has
any rich relation left you a legacy,
'Diligence is the mother of good luck, and
God gives all things to industry. Then
plough deep, while sluggards sleep, and you
shall have corn to sell and to keep." Work
while it is called today, for you know not
how much you may be hindered to-morrow.
'One to-day is worth two to-morrows,' as
WORBLY’S FAMILY MONTHLY MAGAZINE September, 1866
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Poor Richard says; and farther, "Never leave
that till to-morrow, which you can do to-
day." If you were a servant, would you not
he ashamed that a good master should catch
you idle? Are you then your own master? Be
ashamed to catch yourself idle, when there is
so much to be done for your self, your,
family, your country, and your king. Handle
your tools without mittens: remember, that,
'The cat in gloves catches no mice,' as Poor
Richard says. It is true, there is much to be
done, and, perhaps, you are weak handed;
but stick to it steadily, and you will see great
effects: for, "constant dropping wears away
stone; and by diligence and patience the
mouse ate in two the cable; and little strokes
fell great oaks.'
"Methinks I hear some of you say, 'Must a
man afford himself no leisure?" I will tell
thee, my friend, what Poor Richard says:
Employ thy time well, if thou meanest to
gain leisure; and, since thou art not sure of a
minute, throw not away an hour." Leisure is
time for doing something useful: this leisure
the diligent man will obtain, but the lazy
man never; for, "A life of leisure, and a life
of laziness are two things. Many without
labour, would live by their wits only, but
they break for want of stock;" whereas,
industry gives comfort, and plenty and
respect. 'Fly pleasures, and they will follow
you. The diligent spinner has a large shift;
and now I have a sheep and a cow, every
body bids me good morrow."
"II. But with our industry we must likewise
be steady, settled, and careful, and oversee
our own affairs with our own eyes, and not
trust too much to others: for, as Poor
Richard says,
"I never saw an oft-removed tree,
Nor yet an oft removed family,
That throve so well as those that settled be."
And again, "Three removes are as bad as a
fire:" and again, "Keep thy shop, and thy
shop will keep thee:" and again, "If you
would have your business done, go; if not,
send." And again,
"He that by the plough would thrive,
Himself must either hold or drive."
And again, 'The eye of the master will do
more work than both his hands and again,',
'Want of care does us more damage than
want of knowledge:' and again, 'Not to over-
see workmen, is to leave them your purse
open.'
"Trusting too much to other's care is the ruin
of many; for, 'In the affairs of this world,
men are saved, not by faith, but by the want
of it:" but a man's own care is profitable; for
if you would have a faithful servant, and one
that you like—serve yourself. A little
neglect may breed great mischief; for want
of a nail the shoe was lost; for want of a
shoe the horse was lost; and for want of a
horse the rider was lost;' being overtaken
and slain by the enemy; all for want of a
little care about a horse shoe nail.
"III. So much for industry, my friends, and
attention to one's own business: but to these
we must add frugality, if we would make
our industry more certainly successful. A
man may, if he know not how to save as he
gets, keep his nose all his life to the
grindstone, and die not worth a groat at last.
A fat kitchen makes a lean will;' and,
WORBLY’S FAMILY MONTHLY MAGAZINE September, 1866
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"Many estates are spent in getting,
Since women for tea forsook spinning and
knitting, And men for punch forsook hewing
and splitting."
'If you would be wealthy, think of saving as
well as of getting. The Indies have not made
Spain rich, because her outgoes are greater
than her incomes.'
"Away then with your expensive follies and
you will not then have so much cause to
complain of hard times, heavy taxes, and
chargeable families; for,
"Women and wine, game and deceit,
Make the wealth small, and the want great."
And farther; 'What maintains one vice,
would bring up two children.' You may
think, perhaps, that a little tea, or a little
punch now and then, diet a little more
costly, clothes a little finer, and a little
entertainment now and then, can be no great
matter; but remember, 'Many a little makes
a mickle.' Beware of little expenses; A small
leak will sink a great ship,' as Poor Richard
says: and again, 'Who dainties love, shall
beggars prove;' and moreover, 'Fools make
feasts, and wise men eat them.' Here you are
all got together to this sale of fineries and
knickknacks. You call them goods; but if
you do not take care, they will prove evils to
some of you. You expect they will be sold
cheap, and, perhaps, they may for less than
they cost: but if you have no occasion for
them, they may be dear to you. Remember
what Poor Richard says, 'Buy what thou hast
no need of, and ere long thou shalt sell thy
necessaries,' And again, 'At a great penny-
worth pause a while;' he means, that perhaps
the cheapness is apparent only, and not real;
or the bargain, by straitening thee in thy bu-
siness, may do thee more harm than good.
For in another place he says, 'Many have
been ruined by buying good penny-worths.'
Again, It is foolish to lay out money in a
purchase of repentance;' and yet this folly is
practised every day at auctions, for want of
minding the almanac. Many a one, for the
sake of finery on the back, has gone with a
hungry belly, and half starved their
families; 'Silks and satins, scarlet and
velvets, put out the kitchen fire,' as Poor
Richard says. These are not the necessaries
of life: they can scarcely be called the
conveniences: and yet, only because they
look pretty, how many want to have them!
By these, and other extravagancies, the
genteel are reduced to poverty, and forced to
borrow of those whom they formerly
despised, but who, through industry and
frugality have maintained their standing; in
which case it appears plainly, that, 'A
ploughman on his legs, is higher than a
gentleman on his knees,' as Poor Richard
says. Perhaps they have had a small estate
left them, which they knew not the getting
of; they think it is day and will never be
night:' that a little to be spent out of so much
is not worth minding; but, 'Always taking
out of the meal-tub, and never putting in,
soon comes to the bottom,' as Poor Richard
says: and then, 'When the well is dry, they
know the worth of water.' But this they
might have known before, if they had taken
his advice. 'If you would know the value of
money, go and try to borrow some; for he
that goes a borrowing, goes a sorrowing,' as
Poor Richard says; and, indeed, so does he
WORBLY’S FAMILY MONTHLY MAGAZINE September, 1866
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that lends to such people, when he goes to
get it in again. Poor Dick farther advises,
and says,
"Fond pride of dress is sure a very curse,
Ere fancy you consult, consult your purse."
And again, 'Pride is as loud a beggar as
Want, and a great deal more saucy.' When
you have bought one fine thing, you must
buy ten more, that your appearance may be
all of a piece; but Poor Dick says, 'It is ea-
sier to suppress the first desire, than to
satisfy all that follow it. And it is as truly
folly for the poor to ape the rich, as for the
frog to swell, in order to equal the ox.
"Vessels large may venture more,
But little boats should keep near shore."
It is however, a folly soon punished: for as
Poor Richard says, 'Pride that dines on
vanity, sups on contempt; Pride breakfasted
with Plenty, dined with Poverty, and supped
with Infamy.' And, after all, of what use is
this pride of appearance, for which so much
is risked, so much is suffered? It cannot
promote health, nor ease pain; it makes no
increase of merit in the person—it creates
envy, it hastens misfortune.
"But what madness it must be to run in debt
for these superfluities!
We are offered, by the terms of this sale, six
months credit; and that perhaps, has induced
some of us to attend it, because we cannot
spare the ready money, and hope now to be
fine without it. But, ah! think what you do
when you run in debt; you give to another
power over you liberty. If you cannot pay at
the time, you will be ashamed to see your
creditor; you will be in fear when you speak
to him; you will make poor, pitiful, sneaking
excuses, and, by degrees, come to lose your
veracity, and sink into base downright lying;
for, The second vice is lying, the first is
running in debt,' as Poor Richard says; and
again to the same purpose, Lying rides upon
Debt's back;' whereas, a free-born man
ought not to be ashamed nor afraid to see or
speak to any man living. But poverty often
deprives a man of all spirit and virtue. 'It is
hard for an empty bag to stand upright.'
What would you think of that prince or of
that government, who should issue an edict
forbidding you to dress like a gentleman or
gentlewoman, on pain of imprisonment or
servitude? Would you not say you were free,
have a right to dress as you please, and that
such an edict would be a breach of your
privileges, and such a government
tyrannical? And yet, you are about to put
yourself under that tyranny, when you run in
debt for such dress! Your creditor has
authority, at his pleasure, to deprive you of
your liberty, by confining you in gaol for
life, or by selling you for a servant, if you
should not be able to pay him. When you
have got your bargain, you may, perhaps,
think little of payment; but as Poor Richard
says, 'Creditors have better memories than
debtors; creditors are a superstitious sect,
great observers of set days and times.' The
day comes round before you are aware, and
the demand is made before you are prepared
to satisfy it; or, if you bear your debt in
mind, the term, which at first seemed so
long, will, as it lessens, appear extremely
short: time will seem to have added wings to
his heels as well as his shoulders.—'Those
have a short Lent, who owe money to be
WORBLY’S FAMILY MONTHLY MAGAZINE September, 1866
7
paid at Easter.' At present, perhaps, you may
think yourselves in thriving circumstances,
and that you can bear a little extravagance
without injury; but,
"For age and want save while you may, No
morning sun lasts a whole day."
"Gain may be temporary and uncertain; but
ever, while you live expense is constant and
certain; and It is easier to build two
chimneys, than to keep one in fuel,' as Poor
Richard says: so, 'Rather go to bed
supperless, than rise in debt.'
Get what you can and what you get hold,
'Tie the stone that will turn your lead into
gold.
And when you have got the philosopher's
stone, sure you will no longer complain of
bad times, or of the difficulty of paying
taxes?
"IV. This doctrine, my friends, is reason and
wisdom: but after all, do not depend too
much upon your own industry, and frugality,
and prudence, though excellent things; for
they may all be blasted without the blessing
of Heaven: and, therefore, ask that blessing
humbly, and be not uncharitable to those
that at present seem to want it, but comfort
and help them. Remember, Job, suffered,
and was afterwards prosperous.
"And now, to conclude, 'Experience keeps a
dear school, but fools will learn in no other,'
as Poor Richard says, and scarce in that; for
it is true, 'We may give advice, but we
cannot give conduct.' However, remember
this, 'They that will not be counselled cannot
be helped;' and farther, that, 'If you will not
hear Reason, she will surely rap your
knuckles,' as Poor Richard says."
Thus the old gentleman ended his harangue.
The people heard it, and approved the
doctrine, and immediately practised the
contrary, just as if it had been a common
sermon; for the auction opened, and they
began to buy extravagantly. I found the good
man had thoroughly studied my Almanac,
and digested all I had dropped on those
topics during the course of twenty-five
years. The frequent mention he made of me
must have tired any one else; but my vanity
was wonderfully delighted with it, though I
was conscious that not a tenth part of the
wisdom was my own, which he ascribed to
me; but rather the gleanings that I had made
of the sense of all ages and nations. How-
ever, I resolved to be the better for the echo
of it; and though I had at first determined to
buy stuff for a new coat, I went away,
resolved to wear my old one a little longer.
Reader, if thou wilt do the same, thy profit
will be as great as pine. I am, as ever, thine
to serve thee,
RICHARD SAUNDERS.
Benjamin Franklin
WORBLY’S FAMILY MONTHLY MAGAZINE September, 1866
8
HUSBANDS
The etymology of this word may not be
generally known. The head of a family is
called husband from the fact that he is, or
ought to be, the band which unites the
house together—or the bond of union
among the family. It is to be regretted that
all husbands are not house bands in reality,
as well as in name.
(Courtesy of Illustrated Family Monthly
Almanac)
POLITENESS. - Great men and
distinguished women can afford to be
polite; but many pretenders to social
distinction, and young people aspiring to
notice, think it becomes them to show a
conscious superiority to those in a lower
grade of life. The following paragraph
from an exchange, is in point:
When the Duke of Wellington was sick,
the last thing he took was a little tea. On
his servant's handing it to him in a saucer,
and asking if he would have it, the Duke
replied, "Yes, if you please." These were
his last words. How much kindness and
courtesy is expressed by them. He who had
commanded the greatest armies in Europe,
and was long accustomed to the tone of
authority, did not despise or overlook the
small courtesies of life. Ah, how many
boys do! What a rude tone of command
they often use to their little brothers and
sisters, and sometimes to their mothers.
They order so. This is ill-bred and
unchristian, and shows a coarse nature and
hard heart. In all your home talk remember
"If you please." Among your playmates
don't forget, "If you please." To all who
wait upon or serve you, believe that "if you
please" will make you better served than
all the cross or ordering words in the whole
dictionary. Don't forget three little words
—"If you please."
(Courtesy of Student and Classmate)
NURSE AND SPY FOR THE
UNION ARMY
By S. EMMA. E. EDMONDS
(Published by W. S. Williams & Co., 1865)
CHAPTER XIV
RENEWAL OF THE BATTLE-VICTORY
FOR THE FEDERAL ARMS-ADDRESS
TO THE ARMY-MORE DISPATCHES-
MY BATTLE TROPHY-PONY REB’S
PERFORMANCES-THE HOSPITAL
TREE-TOUCHING SCENES-BISHOP
SIMPSON-THE CROSS AND THE FLAG-
AFTER THE BATTLE-DELAYS BY
STORMS, FLOODS AND MUD-MC
CUELLAN'S CALL FOR MORE MEN-IN
READINESS TO MARCH-PROMISED
REINFORCEMENTS.
NIGHT brought a cessation of hostilities to
the weary troops, but to neither side a
decided victory or defeat. Both armies
bivonaced on the bloody field, within a few
rods of each other. There they lay waiting
WORBLY’S FAMILY MONTHLY MAGAZINE September, 1866
9
for the morning light to decide the contest.
The excitement and din of battle had ceased;
those brief hours of darkness proved a sweet
respite from the fierce struggle of the day,
and in the holy calm of that midnight hour,
when silence brooded over the blood-
washed plain, many brave soldiers lay down
on that gory field—
The weary to sleep, and the wounded to die.
Sunday, the first of June, dawned
beautifully, a day of hallowed rest and
promise to the millions who rose to their
devotions, ere the bell called them to the
house of prayer, but not of rest to the weary,
broken armies the drum-beat called from
their wet and muddy beds to renew the
contest. At a quarter-past seven o'clock the
battle again commenced, and raged fiercely
until about noon. Both armies fought with
determination and heroic bravery until the
rebels were compelled to yield, and victory
once more perched upon the banners of the
National troops.
I came on the field about ten o'clock, and re-
mained until the close of the battle, but
could do little more than look upon the
terrible scene. General McClellan was on
the field when I arrived. I saw him ride
along the entire battle-front, and if I had not
seen him, I could not have long remained in
ignorance of his presence—for the cheers
from all parts of the Federal lines told as
plainly as words could express that their
beloved commander was with them, amid
that desperate struggle for victory. It was a
terrible slaughter—more than fifteen
thousand lay upon the field. It was enough
to make angels weep, to look down upon
that field of carnage. The dead and wounded
of the enemy fell into the hands of the
Unionists, which added fearfully to the
labors of that exhausted, battle-worn army.
On the evening of the third of June, General
McClellan issued the following address to
his troops, which was read on dress parade,
and was received with tremendous cheering:
"Soldiers of the Army of the Potomac! I
have fulfilled at least a part of my promise
to you. You are now face to face with the
rebels, who are held at bay in front of their
capital. The final and decisive battle is at
hand. Unless you belie your past history, the
result cannot be for a moment doubtful. If
the troops who labored so faithfully at
Yorktown, and fought so bravely, and won
the hard fights at Williamsburg, West Point,
Hanover Court-house and Fair Oaks, now
prove themselves worthy of their
antecedents, the victory is surely ours. The
events of every day prove your superiority;
wherever you have met the enemy, you have
beaten him; wherever you have used the
bayonet, he has given way in panic and
disorder.
"I ask of you, now, one last crowning effort.
The enemy has staked his all on the issue of
the coming battle. Let us meet him, crush
him here, in the very centre of the rebellion.
Soldiers! I will be with you in this battle,
and share its dangers with you. Our
confidence in each other is now founded
upon the past. Let us strike the blow which
is to restore peace and union to this
distracted land. Upon your valor, discipline
and mutual confidence, the result depends."
WORBLY’S FAMILY MONTHLY MAGAZINE September, 1866
10
Every battle fought on the Peninsula
fearfully reduced the strength of the Army
of the Potomac, and proved to a
demonstration that the enemy far
outnumbered the Union forces. Still there
were no reinforcements, notwithstanding
McClellan's daily urgent despatches to the
President and Secretary of War, and the
great impending battle in front of the rebel
Capital so near at hand.
The next day McClellan sent another
despatch, as follows:
"Please inform me at once what
reinforements, if any, I can count upon
having at Fortress Monroe or White House,
within the next three days, and when each
regiment may be expected to arrive. It is of
the utmost importance that I should know
this immediately. The losses in the battle of
the thirty-first and first will amount to seven
thousand. Regard this as confidential for the
present. After the losses in our last battle, I
trust that I shall no longer be regarded as an
alarmist. I believe we have at least one more
desperate battle to fight."
The day after the battle of Fair Oaks, a
splendid sword was presented to me. It had
been struck from the hand of a rebel colonel,
while in the act of raising it to strike one of
our officers after he had fallen from his
horse. Oh, how proud I felt of that beautiful
silver-mounted trophy, from the bloody field
of Fair Oaks, which had so recently been
wielded by a powerful arm, but powerless
now, for he lay in the agonies of death,
while his splendid sword had passed into my
feeble hands. I presume if he had known
this, it would have added another pang to his
already agonized spirit. The sword was
presented by General K., to whom I gave my
rebel pony, with the comforting assurante
that he was only intended for ornament, and
not for use; for generals were too scarce on
the Peninsula to risk their precious lives by
coming in contact with him. The General
was delighted with him, and without paying
the slightest attention to my suggestion
deliberately walked up to the pony and
commenced patting him and handling his
limbs as if he were the most quiet creature in
the world, while "Reb" stood eyeing his new
master with apparent satisfaction, and
seemed to rejoice that he had passed from
my insignificant hands, and was henceforth
to be the honored bearer of shoulder-straps.
After thoroughly examining him he said:
"He is certainly a splendid horse, and worth
three hundred dollars of any man's money;
all he requires is kind treatment, and he will
be as gentle as any one could desire."
But " Reb " very soon gave him to
understand decidedly that he was overrating
his good qualities; for no sooner had the
General turned his back toward him than he
struck him between the shoulders with both
hind feet, sending him his full length upon
the ground; and as soon as he attempted to
rise he repeated the same performance until
he had knocked him down four or five times
in succession. By that time the General was
pretty thoroughly convinced that " Reb's"
social qualities were somewhat deficient, his
bump of combativeness largely developed,
and his gymnastics quite impressive.
On the evening of the same day in which the
victory was won I visited what was then,
WORBLY’S FAMILY MONTHLY MAGAZINE September, 1866
11
and is still called, the "hospital tree," near
Fair Oaks. It was an immense tree under
whose shady, extended branches the
wounded were carried and laid down to
await the stimulant, the opiate, or the
amputating knife, as the case might require.
The ground around that tree for several acres
in extent was literally-drenched with human
blood, and the men were laid so close
together that there was no such thing as
passing between them; but each one was
removed in their turn as the surgeons could
attend to them. I witnessed there some of the
most heart-rending sights it is possible for
the human mind to conceive. Read what a
Massachusetts chaplain writes concerning it:
"There is a large tree near the battle-ground
of Fair Oaks, the top of which was used as
an observatory during the fight, which
stands as a memento of untold, and perhaps
never to be told, suffering and sorrow. Many
of the wounded and dying were laid beneath
its branches after the battle, in order to
receive surgical help, or to breathe their last
more quietly. What heart-rending scenes did
I witness in that place, so full of saddened
memories to me and to others. Brave,
uncomplaining men were brought thither out
of the woodland, the crimson tide of whose
life was ebbing away in the arms of those
who carried them. Almost all who died met
death like heroes, with scarcely a groan.
Those wounded, but not mortally—how
nobly they bore the necessary probings and
needed amputations! Two instances of this
heroic fortitude deserve to be specially
mentioned. One of them is that of William
C. Bentley, of the Second Rhode Island
regiment, both of whose legs were broken
by a bomb-shell, whose wrist and breast
were mangled, and who yet was as calm as
if he suffered no pain. He refused any
opiate-or stimulant that might dim his
consciousness. He asked only that we should
pray for him, that he. might be patient and
submissive, and dictated a letter to be sent to
his mother. Then, and not till then, opiates
were given him, and he fell gently asleep,
and for the last time.
"The other case was that of Francis
Sweetzer, of Company E, of the Sixteenth
Massachusetts Regiment, who witnessed in
death, as he had uniformly done in life, a
good confession of Christ. 'Thank God,' he
said, 'that I am permitted to die for my
country. Thank God more yet that I am pre-
pared to die;' and then after a moment's
thought he modestly added, at least I hope I
am.' When he died he was in the act of
prayer, and in that position his limbs grew
rigid, and so remained after the spirit bad
left his body."
Oh, who that has witnessed such triumphant
deaths on the battle-field will presume to
doubt that the spirit of that patriot who falls
amid the terrible clash of arms and the fierce
surge of battle, is prepared to go from that
scene of blood and strife, and to enter into
that rest that God has prepared for them that
love Him? Yes, the noble men who have
gone from under the sheltering wings of the
different evangelical churches throughout
the land, have gone in the strength of God,
and with the full assurance that if they
should fall fighting for the God-given rights
of humanity, there, amid the shock of battle,
WORBLY’S FAMILY MONTHLY MAGAZINE September, 1866
12
the still, small voice of Jesus would be heard
speaking peace to the departing soul, and
that their triumphant spirits would go home
rejoicing to be forever with the Lord! When
I see a man first lay himself upon the altar of
God, and then upon the altar of his country,
I have no fear for that man's happiness in
time or in eternity.
Good Bishop Simpson, of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, soon after the outbreak of
the great rebellion, delivered a sermon on
the National crisis, at Chicago. It is
represented as one of the ablest efforts of
this clergyman, so distinguished for his
power in the pulpit. As it was one of the
anniversaries of the denomination,
thousands were present to hear the
discourse. Suddenly, at one point in the
sermon, and as the fitting close of a most
impassioned paragraph, he gave utterance to
the following noble sentiment: "We will
take our glorious flag, the flag of our
country, and nail it just below the cross!
That is high enough. There let it wave as it
waved of old. Around it let us gather: first
Christ's; then our country's." Oh, that the
sentiments of the following beautiful lines
were the sentiments of every heart in the
United States:
0 Lord of Hosts! Almighty King!
Behold the sacrifice we bring!
To every arm thy strength impart,
Tby spirit shed through every heart!
Wake in our breasts the living fires,
The holy faith that warmed our sires;
Thy hand lath made our nation free;
To die for her is serving Thee.
Be Thou a pillar’d flame to show
The midnight snare, the silent foe,
And when the battle thunders loud,
Still guide us in its moving cloud.
God of all nations I sovereign Lord!
In thy dread name we draw the sword,
We lift the starry flag on high
That fills with light our stormy sky.
No mere its flaming emblems wave
To bar from hope the trembling slave;
No more its radiant glories shine
To blast with woe one child of Thine!
From treason's rent, from murderer's stain,
Guard Thou its folds till peace shall reign,
Till fort and field, till shore and sea,
Join our loud anthem, Praise to Thee!
I cannot better describe the state of affairs
after the battle of Fair Oaks than by giving
the following despatch from McClellan,
dated June 7th:
"In reply to your despatch of 2 p. m. to-day,
I have the honor to state that the
Chickahominy river has risen so as to flood
the entire bottoms to the depth of three or
four feet; I am pushing forward the bridges
in spite of this, and the men are working
night and day, up to their waists in water, to
complete them. The whole face of the
country is a perfect bog, entirely impassable
for artillery, or even cavalry, except directly
in the narrow roads, which renders any
general movement, either of this or the rebel
army, entirely out of the question until we
have more favorable weather. I am glad to
learn that you are pressing forward rein-
forcements so vigorously. I shall be in
perfect readiness to move forward and take
Richmond the moment McCall reaches here
WORBLY’S FAMILY MONTHLY MAGAZINE September, 1866
13
and the ground will admit the passage of
artillery. I have advanced my pickets about a
mile to-day, driving off the rebel pickets and
securing a very advantageous position. The
rebels have several batteries established,
commanding the debouches from two of our
bridges, and fire upon our working parties
continually; but as yet they have killed but
few of our men."
Again, June 10th, he says: "I am completely
checked by the weather. The roads and
fields are literally impassable for artillery—
almost so for infantry. The Chickahominy is
in a dreadful state. We have another rain
storm on our hands. I wish to be distinctly
understood that whenever the weather
permits I will attack with whatever force I
may have, although a larger force would
enable me to gain much more decisive
results. I would be glad to have McCall's
infantry sent forward by water at once,
without waiting for his artillery and
cavalry."
The next day the Secretary of War replied:
"Your despatch of 3.30 p. m. yesterday has
been received. I am fully impressed with the
difficulties mentioned, and which no art or
skill can avoid, but only endure. Be assured,
General, that there never has been a moment
when my desire has been otherwise than to
aid you with my whole heart, mind and
strength, since the hour we first met; and
whatever others may say for their own
purposes, you never have had, and never can
have, any one more truly your friend, or
more anxious to support you, or more joyful
than I shall be at the success which I have no
doubt will soon be achieved by your arms."
The above despatch has the appearance of
the genuine article—but I am inclined to
think it a clever counterfeit. While
McClellan's requests were cheerfully
complied with, as far as promises were
concerned, little was done to strengthen his
weakened forces in view of the coming
struggle with an overwhelming force in
front, and the flooded Chickahominy in the
rear. By unreliable promises he was filled
with delusive hopes, and lead on to more
certain destruction—to disaster and failure,
at least.
(This story will continue next month with
Chapter Fifteen.)
POWER OF MOTHERS.—On one
occasion, out of one hundred and twenty
candidates for the ministry, gathered
together under one roof, more than one
hundred had been borne by a mother's
prayers, and directed by a mother's counsels
to the Saviour. The pious watchfulness and
earnest prayers of parents may seem for a
time to be fruitless; but, in the education of
children, experience usually verifies that
"whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also
reap." The holy impressions made in
childhood are seldom erased in manhood.
(Courtesy of Illustrated Family Christian
Almanac)
WORBLY’S FAMILY MONTHLY MAGAZINE September, 1866
14
VICE
He who yields himself to vice must inevita-
bly suffer. If the human law does not convict
and punish him, the moral law, which will
have obedience, will follow him to his
doom. Every crime is committed for a
purpose, with some idea of future personal
pleasure; and just so sure as God governs the
universe, so surely does a crime, although
concealed, destroy the happiness for the
future. No matter how deeply laid have been
the plans of the criminal, or how desperately
executed, detection pursues him like a
bloodhound, and tracks him to his fate.
( Courtesy of Ballou’s Monthly Magazine)
Pithy and Pointed.
....Difficulties develop mental capacity.
....Never employ yourself to discover the
faults of others - look to your own.
....Associate with the wise, and their
wisdom will cling to thee.
....A great many drop a tear at the door of
poverty, when they should rather drop a
sixpence.
....The higher you rise, the wider is your
horizon; so the more you know, the more
you: will see to be known.
....Mourn not that you are weak and
humble. The gentle breeze is better than
the hurricane, the cheerful fire of the
hearthstone than the conflagration.
....We should so live and labor that what
came to us as seed, may go to the next
generation as blossoms, and what came to
us as blossoms may go to them as fruit.
....He is happy whose circumstances suit
his temper; but he is more excellent who
can suit his temper to any circumstances.
....We double all the cares of life by
pondering over them. We increase our
troubles by grieving over them.
.... Good habits are maintained and bad
ones avoided only by constant effort.
....Never turn a blessing round to see if it
has a dark side to it.
.... Good manners should begin at home.
Politeness is not an article to be worn in
full dress only, to be put on when we pay
or receive a complimentary visit.
....The religion of many is only dis-
coverable from their lips.
..If you would become a conqueror begin
with victories over yourself.
....The vanity of human life is like a river,
constantly passing away, and yet
constantly coming on.
....The smallest children are nearest God as
the smallest stars are nearest the sun.
....He who sets up a carriage at the
suggestion of his vanity, generally sets it
down at the suggestion of his creditors.
(Courtesy of Student and Schoolmate)
A GREAT ATTAINMENT.
How difficult it is to be of a meek and for-
giving spirit when despitefully used! To love
an enemy, and forgive an evil speaker, is a
higher attainment than is commonly
believed. It is easy to talk of Christian
WORBLY’S FAMILY MONTHLY MAGAZINE September, 1866
15
forbearance among neighbors, but to
practise it ourselves, proves us to be
Christians indeed. The surmises of a few
credulous persons need not trouble that man
who knows his cause is soon to be tried in
court, and he to be openly acquitted. So the
evil language of the times need not disturb
me, since "my judgment shall be brought
forth as the noonday."—MTheyae.
COUSIN LUCY'S
CONVERSATIONS.
By Jacob Abbott
(Published 1850 by Derby and Miller)
CONVERSATION VII.
JOANNA.
The next morning, when Lucy waked up,
she found that it was very light. The curtains
of the room were up, and she could see the
sun shining brightly upon the trees and
buildings out of doors, so that she supposed
that it was pretty late. Besides, she saw that
Miss Anne was not in the room; and she
supposed that she had got up and gone out to
breakfast.
Lucy thought that she would get up too. But
then she recollected that she had been sick
the night before, and that, perhaps, her
mother would not be willing to have her get
up.
Her next idea was, that she would call out
for Miss Anna, or for her mother; but this,
on reflection, she thought would make a
great disturbance; for it was some distance
from the room which she was in to the
parlor, where she supposed they were taking
breakfast.
She concluded, on the whole, to wait
patiently until somebody should come; and
having nothing else to do, she began to sing
a little song, which Miss Anne had taught
her. She knew only one verse, but she sang
this verse two or three times over, louder
and louder each time, and her voice
resounded merrily through all that part of
the house.
Some children cry when they wake up and
find themselves alone; some call out aloud
for somebody to come; and others sing.
Thus there are three ways; and the singing is
the best of all the three; — except, indeed,
for very little children, who are not old
enough to sing or to call, and who, therefore,
cannot do anything but cry.
They heard Lucy's singing in the parlor, and
Miss Anne came immediately to see her.
She gave her a picture-book to amuse
herself with for a time, and went away
again; but in about a quarter of an hour she
came back, and helped her to get up and
dress herself.
Her mother told her that she must not go out
of doors that day, but that she might play
about in any of the rooms, just as she
pleased.
"But what shall I do for my breakfast?" said
Lucy.
"0, I will give you some breakfast," said
Miss Anne. "How should you like to have it
by yourself, upon your little table, in the
kitchen?"
WORBLY’S FAMILY MONTHLY MAGAZINE September, 1866
16
"Well," said Lucy, "if you will let me have
my own cups and sauces."
"Your cups won't hold enough for you to
drink, – will they?"
"0, I can fill them up two or three times."
Miss Anne said she had no objection to this
plan; and she told Lucy to go and get her
table ready. So Lucy went and got her little
table. It was just high enough for her to sit
at. Her father had made it for her, by taking
a small table in the house, which had been
intended for a sort of a light-stand, and
sawing off the legs, so as to make it just
high enough for her.
Lucy brought this little table, and also her
chair; and then Miss Anne handed her a
napkin for a table-cloth, and told her that she
might set her table, — and that, when it was
all set, she would bring her something for
breakfast; and so she left Lucy, for a time, to
herself.
Lucy spread the napkin upon her table, and
then went and got some of her cups and sau-
cers, and put upon it. Joanna was ironing at
the great kitchen table, and Lucy went to ask
her how many cups and saucers she had bet-
ter set.
I should think it would take the whole set,"
said Joanna, "to hold one good cup of tea."
"But I am going to fill up my cup three
times, Joanna; and if that isn't enough, I
shall fill it up four times."
"0, then," said Joanna, "I would not have but
one cup, — or at most two. I think I would
have two, because you may possibly have
some company."
"I wish you would come and be my
company, Joanna."
"No, I must attend to my ironing."
"Well," said Lucy, as she went back to her
table, "I will have two cups, at any rate, for
may have some company."
She accordingly put on two cups and a tea-
pot; also a sugar-bowl and creamer. She
placed them in various ways upon the table;
first trying one plan of arrangement, and
then another; and when at last they were
placed in the best way, she went and called
Miss Anne, to tell her that she was ready for
her breakfast.
Miss Anne came out, according to her
promise, to give her what she was to have to
eat. First, she put a little sugar in her sugar-
bowl; then some milk in her cream-pitcher;
then some water, pretty hot, in her tea-pot.
"Could not you let me have a little real tea?"
said Lucy.
"0, this will taste just as well," said Miss
Anne.
"I know it will taste just as well; but it will
not look just right. Real tea is not white, like
Water."
"Water is not white," said Miss Anne; "milk
is white; water is very difference in
appearance from milk."
"What color is water, then?" said Lucy.
"It is not of any color," said Miss Anne. "It
is what we call colorless. Now, you want to
have something in your tea-pot which is
colored a little, like tea, — not perfectly
Colorless, like water."
Lucy said yes, that that was exactly what she
wanted. So Miss Anne took her tea-pet up,
and went into the closet with it, and
presently came out with it again, and put it
upon the table. The reason why she took all
WORBLY’S FAMILY MONTHLY MAGAZINE September, 1866
17
this pains to please Lucy was, because she
was so gentle and pleasant; and, although
she often asked for things, she was not
vexed or ill-humored when they could not
be given to her.
Miss Anne then cut some thin slices of
bread, and divided them into square pieces,
so small that they could go on a small plate,
which she brought from the closet. She also
gave her a toasting-fork with a long handle,
and told her that she might toast her own
bread, and then spread it with butter. She
gave her a little butter upon another plate.
When all these things were arranged, Miss
Anne went away, telling Lucy that she had
better make her breakfast last as long as she
could, for she must remember that she could
not go out at all that day; and that she must
therefore economize her amusements
"Economize? What do you mean by that,
Miss Anne? "said Lucy.
"Why, use them, carefully, and make them
last as long as you can."
Lucy followed Miss Anne's advice in
making the amusement of sitting at her own
breakfast table last as long as possible. She
toasted her little slices of bread with the
toasting-fork, and poured out the tea from
her tea-pot. She found that it had a slight
tinge of the color of tea, which Miss Anne
had given it by sweetening it a little, with
brown sugar. Lucy enjoyed her breakfast
very much.
While she was eating it, Joanna, who was
much pleased with her for being so still, and
so careful not to make her any trouble, asked
her if she should not like a roasted apple.
"Yes," said Lucy, "very much indeed."
"I will give you one," said Joanna, ",and
show you how to roast it, if you will go and
ask your mother, if she thinks it, will not
hurt you."
Lucy accordingly went and asked her
mother. She said it would not hurt her at all,
and that she should be very glad to have
Joanna get her an apple.
Joanna accordingly brought a large, rosy
apple, with a stout, stem. She tied a long
string to the stem, and then held the apple up
before the fire a minute, by means of the
stem. Then she got a flat-iron, and tied the
other end of the string to the flat-iron. The
flat-iron she then placed upon the mantle
shelf, and the string was just long enough to
let the apple hang down exactly before the
fire.
When it was all arranged in this way, she
took up the apple, and twisted the string for
some time; and then, when , she let the apple
down again gently to its place, the weight of
it began to untwist the string, and this made
the apple itself turn round quite swiftly
before the fire.
Joanna also put a plate under the apple, to
catch any of the juice or pulp which might
fall down, and then left Lucy to watch it
while it was roasting.
Lucy watched its revolutions for some time
in silence. She observed that the apple
would whirl very swiftly for a time, and then
it walk' go slower', and slower, and slower,
until, at length, she said, " Jeanne, Joanna, it
is going to stop."
But, instead of this, it happened that, just in
the very instant when Lucy thought it was
going to stop, all at once it began to tun! the
WORBLY’S FAMILY MONTHLY MAGAZINE September, 1866
18
other way; and, instead of going slower and
!bower, it went faster and faster, until, at
length, it was revolving as fast as it did
before: '
'0 not said she to Joanna; it has got a go-
again."
It was indeed revolving very swiftly; but
pretty soon it begat to slacken its speed
again; — and again Lucy thought that it was
certainly going to stop. But at this time she
witnessed the same phenomenon as before.
It had nearly lest all its motion, and was
turning around very slowly indeed, and just
upon the point of stopping; and in fact it did
'seem to stop for an instant; but immediately
it began to move in an opposite direction,
very slowly at first, but afterwards faster and
faster, until it was, at length, spinning
around before the hot coals, as fast as ever
before. Pretty soon, also, the apple began to
sing; and Lucy concluded that it would
never stop, — at least not before it would
have time to be well roasted.
"It goes like Royal's top," said Lucy.
"Has Royal got a top?" said Joanna.
"Yes," said Lucy, "a large humming-top.
There is a hole, in it. It spins very fast, only
it does not go first one way and then the
other, like this apple."
"I never saw a top," said Joanna.
"Never saw one!" exclaimed Lucy. "Did not
the boys have tops when you were little?"
"No boys that I ever knew," answered
Joanna. "Did you have a tea-set when you
were a little girl?" asked Lucy.
"No," said Joanna, "I never saw any such a
tea-set, until I saw yours."
"What kind of playthings did you have, then,
when you were a little girl?"
"No playthings at all," said Joanna; "I was a
farmer's daughter."
"And don't the farmers' daughters ever have
any playthings?"
"I never did, at any rate."
"What did you do, then, for play?"
"0, I had plenty of play. When I was about
as big as you, I used to build fires in the
stumps."
"What stumps?" said Lucy.
"Why, the stumps in the field, pretty near
my father's house. I used to pick up chips
and sticks, and build fires in the hollow
places in the stumps, and call them my
ovens. Then, when they were all heated, I
used to put a potato in and cover it up with
sand, and let it roast."
"I wish I had some stumps to build fires in,"
said Lucy. "I should like to go to your house
and see them."
"0, they are all gone now," said Joanna.
"They have gradually got burnt up, and
rotted out; and now it is all a smooth, green
field."
"0, what a pity!" said Lucy. "And an't there
any more stumps anywhere?"
"Yes, in the woods, and upon the new fields.
You see, when they cut down trees, they
leave the stumps in the ground; and pretty
soon they begin to rot; and they rot more
and more, until, at last, they tumble all to
pieces; and then they pile up the pieces in
heaps, and burn them. Then the ground is all
smooth and clear. So I used to build fires in
the stumps as long as they lasted. One day
my hen laid her eggs in a stump."
WORBLY’S FAMILY MONTHLY MAGAZINE September, 1866
19
"Your hen?" said Lucy; "did you have a
hen?" Yes," replied Joanna; "when I was a
little older than you are, my father gave me a
little yellow chicken, that was peeping, with
the rest, about the yard. I used to feed her,
every day, with crumbs. After a time, she
grew up to be a large hen, and laid eggs. My
father said that I might have all the eggs too.
I used to sell them, and save the money."
"How much money did you get?" asked
Lucy.
"0, considerable. After a time, you see, I let
my hen sit, and hatch some chickens."
"Sit?" said Lucy.
"Yes; you see, after hens have laid a good
many eggs, they sit upon them, to keep them
warm, for two or three weeks; and, while
they keep them warm, a little chicken begins
to grow in every egg, and at length, after
they grow strong enough, they break
through the eggs and come out. So I got
eleven chickens from my hen, after a time."
"Eleven?" repeated Lucy; "were there just
eleven?"
"There were twelve, but one died," replied
Joanna. "And all these chickens were
hatched in a stump."
"How did that happen?" asked Lucy.
"Why, the hens generally used to lay their
eggs in the barn, and I used to go in, every
day, to get the eggs. I carried a little basket,
and I used to climb about upon the hay, and
feel in the cribs; and I generally knew where
all the nests were. But once I could not find
my hen's nest for several days; and at last I
thought I would watch her, and see where
she went. I did watch her, and I saw her go
into a hollow place in a great black stump, in
the corner of the yard. After she came out, I
went and looked there, and I found four
eggs."
"What did you do then?" said Lucy.
"Why, I concluded, on the whole, to let them
stay, and let my hen hatch her eggs there, if
she would. And I told my brother, that, if he
would make a coop for me, around that
stump, I would give him one of the
chickens."
"A coop? What is a coop?"
"0, a small house for hens to live in. My
brother made me a coop. He made it
immediately after the hen had hatched her
chickens. I will tell you how he made it. He
drove stakes down all around the stump, and
then put some short boards over the top, so
as to cover it over. My hen staid there until
her chickens got pretty well grown, and then
we let her run about the yard."
"That is pretty much the way that Royal
made his turtle-pen," said Lucy; "but I
should rather have a hen-coop, because of
the chickens."
"Yes, I had eleven. I gave my brother one,
and then I had ten. These all grew up, and
laid more eggs; and at last I got money
enough from
my eggs and poultry to buy me a new
gown."
''I wish I was a farmer's daughter," said
Lucy.
"Farmers' daughters have a very good time,"
said Joanna, "I think myself."
(We will continue next month with
Conversation VIII, BUILDING.)
WORBLY’S FAMILY MONTHLY MAGAZINE September, 1866
20
Curious and Amusing.
.... 'Don't want you any longer,' said an
employer to a very tall clerk.
....It is to be supposed that a soldier will be
raw till he is exposed to fire.
....At Waterloo, the allied armies of
Wellington and Blucher lost 21,503 men,
killed, wounded, and missing, and about one
thousand officers. The French loss was
never exactly known, or with any approach
to exactness, but it is generally stated at one-
half their whole army, which would make it
about 36,000.
...."Don't cry, little boy. Did he hit you on
purpose?" "No sir, he hit me on the head."
....He who promises rashly, will break his
promise with the same ease as he made it.
....John Randolph was one of the most
sarcastic men that ever lived. One time, a
young man attempted to make his ac-
quaintance. He obtained an introduction, and
among other remarks said, "I passed by your
house, lately, Mr. Randolph." "Did you?
Well, I hope you always will," was the
unmistakable reply.
(Courtesy of Student and Schoolmate)
The following is from a most delightful
book about the economical running of a
household.
HOW TO LIVE:
SAVING AND WASTING,
OR.
DOMESTIC ECONOMY ILLUSTRATED
By Solon Robinson
(Published by Fowler and Wells, 1860)
CHAPTER XI.
ECONOMY IN FOOD—WHAT SHALL
WE EAT?
[Published in The Tribune, Nov 14, 1855.]
Economy in Food—Remedy for Hunger—
Abuses of our Market System—Economy in
Buying—Fashionable Beef —Nutrition in
Food—What shall we Buy?—Cheap Food
—Incontrovertible Facts—How to Cook
Hominy—Hominy Recipes—A Corn Meal
Loaf—What shall we Eat? Etc.
WITH the present prices of rent, fuel, meat
bread, flour, meal, sugar, potatoes, and other
staple articles of supply for a family in New
York, it only requires but a slight insight
into the condition of all the laboring class to
see that the cry frequently raised for an
increase of wages is only the disguised cry
of the hungry for food. Daily wages are
daily consumed; and often the only means of
support for a week is the weekly credit of
the butcher, baker; and grocer. This is never
given except at an increased profit, and a
little too often at a profit obtained by palpa-
ble swindling in light weights and measures,
of which the victims dare not complain, for
fear of losing the "accommodation," as the
credit is called. While work lasts the laborer
can live; when it fails, he has nothing in
WORBLY’S FAMILY MONTHLY MAGAZINE September, 1866
21
store to fall back upon, Whoever, then, will
make known to this class how to economize
in their food, so as to increase the supply
without an increase of expenditure, will he
doing them a greater benefit than he would
in a life-long harangue on politics, either
Hard Shell, Soft Shell, or no shell.
We need not repeat here how hard it is for
those dependent upon daily employment to
furnish their families with suitable food; at a
time when, from sickness or other cause,
they are not in receipt of wages.
Too often, at such times, there is deep suf-
fering; and sometimes actual starvation.
Will it be any better next winter, now so
rapidly approaching, that it sends a shudder
through many a family circle who remember
what scenes they have passed through in
January, February, and March?
There has been, there is now, there will be
much suffering for food in this city, notwith-
standing our receipts of tens of thousands,
weekly, of butchers' animals, and our mil-
lions of bushels of corn, and wheat, and rye,
and oats, and barley, and buckwheat, and
beans, and peas, and rice, for breadstuffs,
and daily ship-loads of potatoes of both
kinds, and untold piles of other edible roots
and vegetables, and great storehouses full of
flour, butter, cheese, fish, fruit, eggs,
poultry, and salted meats, and a thousand
unnamed articles of food; yet the mass are
not full fed, and why? Because they do not
know how to eat. Not that they lack the
animal function of consuming; but in
providing, both in the purchase of kind and
quality, and in the preparation, there is a
lamentable want of judgment, and utter want
of economy. The want of food among the
poor is a great evil. It breeds discontent,
dissipation, crime, and ruin to any civilized
society.
There is a remedy.
It would be greater charity to teach that
remedy than to establish soup-houses.
The first step would be to change our
fashion of food; to abandon such articles as
are excessively dear in the raw state, for
others equally good and more nutritious, and
to adopt a different and more rational plan of
cooking. This would not only promote
economy, but health; both of which would
add vastly to our stock of enjoyment.
Without exception, both rich and poor in
America eat extravagantly of animal food,
cooked in the most extravagant and wasteful
manner; by frying, baking, roasting, or
boiling, and throwing away half of the
nutritious matter in burned gravy, or gelatine
dissolved in the pot liquor.
Again, we consume vast quantities of the
meanest and most innutritions vegetables,
costly at first, and cooked in the most fool-
ishly wasteful manner. The fashion of ex-
travagance in living is set by the rich, and
they are aped in their folly by the poor. The
consequence is, that there are want and
suffering whenever work and wages fail.
There is a remedy. The only question is,
how it shall be applied? Better than charity
would be organizations, not to provide food
for the poor, but to teach them what to buy,
and how to use it; how to economize their
money.
The very first step toward this blessed state
of things should be taken by our city
WORBLY’S FAMILY MONTHLY MAGAZINE September, 1866
22
government, if indeed we have such a thing
left to us, by removing all restrictions upon
the producer, by which he is kept away from
the consumer. We pay now an average of
thirty-three per cent. advance upon every
thing that is eaten in New York, over and
above what we should pay if these restric-
tions were removed.
Let every one who has bought a head of
cabbage this fall, think what he paid. Six,
ten, or twelve cents each, while the producer
has not received an average of two cents
each. The turnip-eaters are paying every day
at the rate of one to two dollars a bushel.
The producer is receiving an average of less
than twenty cents. We pay for many things
in the same proportion, owing to our absurd
and wicked market regulations.
The producer is kept away from the
consumer. He is not permitted to come into
the city and enjoy the advantages of "free
trade" in his own produce. Why? The city
fathers say we have no room—nowhere for
him to stand his wagon, where the poor man
or the poor woman may come with her
market basket upon her arm, and get it filled
at first prices.
Under the present market regulations, all the
country wagons are huddled into the
cramped space around Washington Market,
where none but stout men, or a class of mar-
ket bullies can get to them; for, in addition
to the crowding, the wagons are driven out
at seven o'clock in the morning. The city
fathers say they can not amend this error,
because they have nowhere else to put the
wagons. Give producers a chance to sell to
consumers, and it will cheapen family mar-
keting in this city to a very large class of
consumers, full twenty-five per cent. Make a
market-place for country wagons, and there
let them stand and sell their stuff from sun-
rise till ten o'clock, at retail, with no privi-
lege, until after that hour, of selling at
wholesale, or leaving the stand, unless their
load is all sold out.
This is a measure of relief to the poor, easily
brought about; one that would produce real
economy in food.
Our city makes paupers, first by thwarting
the laborer in his facilities to get cheap food,
and then by the soup-house system of
feeding those who are unable, through mis-
fortune, to obtain a supply.
But this is foreign to our main subject—
economy in kind and quality of food for the
industrious poor.
They do not study economy in their pur-
chases. All kinds of fresh meat cost from ten
to twenty cents a pound, and very few
Americans are willing to take low price
meats; and generally those who can least
afford it, call for a rib roast, or a loin steak
of beef, or a leg of lamb or mutton, or a loin
of veal or pork; and rarely for the most eco-
nomical pieces. A rib roast of six pounds for
a dollar, in a poor man's family, is slightly
extravagant; the cooking more so. The Jews'
religion in eating meat is founded on true
economy. They eat only the fore quarters,
and sell the more expensive, and less
valuable hind quarters, to the Gentiles. The
fore quarter will not cut steaks and roasts
equal to the hind quarter, but it is more
economical for soups, stews, pot-pies, or
cooking in any form with vegetables and
WORBLY’S FAMILY MONTHLY MAGAZINE September, 1866
23
gravy. The following exhibit will show
those who will have nothing but choice cuts
of beef why they have to pay so high for
them—it is because nobody will buy any
thing but choice cuts. It is the universal
complaint of all the first-class butchers that
they can not sell their coarse meat, and
"plates and navels" are a drug upon the
packer's hands at six cents a pound. Now a
good bullock, whose quarters will weigh
800 pounds, will cut up and sell at about the
following figures:
. Weight Price per
lb.
Amoun
t. Ribs 130 13c. 816 90 Hips and loins 130 13 16 90
Chucks 140 6 8 40
Buttocks, rump, and socket
130 9 11 70
Plates and navel 90 6 5 40
Shoulders, clods, and trisket
100 6 6 00
Tops of sirloin and fat 40 9 3 60
Legs and shins. 46 3 1 06
Total 800 869 96
Weight. Price per lb. Amount. Hide ................................. 85 5 $4 25
Fat .................................... 90 8 7 20
tongue, 50c. ; feet, 25c. .................................... 75
the bullock, at 10c. per lb., costs $80—sells for... $83 15
Now it is a fact that a great portion of
the above, rated at six, eight, and nine
cents, is equally good, and would be
more economical, at the same price per
pound, than that rated at thirteen cents;
but fashion dictates, and folly buys ribs
and loins, and for this the butcher must-
charge high, because he can not get any
body to buy the other parts at cost. And
so fashion and folly keep up the price of
beef. The man or woman with scanty
means, to fill the market basket, not
only buys dear meats, but crude,
innutritious vegetables, such as
cabbage, turnips, and potatoes; for,
notwithstanding so many persons think
potatoes a necessary article of food,
they are not an economical one; and all
the cruder substances of vegetable food,
though necessary and healthful, should
not be sought after because cheap, to
save money.
The most economical mode of
preparing food is a due mixture of
meat and vegetable substance in the
form of soups; but no man should live
upon soup alone, any more than he
should upon meat or fine flour bread.
Health, as well as appetite, requires
variety. It happens, now that
breadstuffs, notwithstanding the high
price of bread and flour, are the
cheapest of all human food; and it also
happens that by our slavery of fashion
we do not use the cheapest kinds of
this kind of cheap food.
The following are the retail prices of
some of the principal articles of food
in New York, Oct., 1855:
Flour, per bbl ............ $12 00 Sago ......................... Farina ....................... Bread ........................
per lb., 61/4c.
" " 8 to 9c. " " 12 to 15c. Corn meal, per cwt ... 2 75 to
$3 00 " " 31/2c.
Buckwheat meal, per cwt.
3 00 to $3
50 " " 31/2 to 4c. Barley meal, per cwt 3 00 " " 31/2 to 4c. Oatmeal, per cwt ...... 4 00 to
$4 50 " " 5 to 6 l/2
c. Rye flour, per bbl. ... 7 00 " " "
4 to 4 ½ c. Hominy, per cwt ...... 4 00 " " 5c. Cracked wheat, per cwt ...........................
5 50 " " 6c. Split peas, per bushel .................................
2 25 " " 4 1/2
Whole peas, per bushel ........................
2 50 " "
"
""
"
5c. White beans, per bushel .......................
2 00 " " 41/2 to 5c. Dried sweet corn, per bus.
4 50 " " 10 to 121/2 Rice, per cwt. .......... 6 00 " " 6 to 7c.
Potatoes, per bbl., $1 50 to $1 75; per
bushel, 76 cents; per lb.,
WORBLY’S FAMILY MONTHLY MAGAZINE September, 1866
24
Macaroni and vermicelli, 11 to 12 cents per
lb.
Sugar, 8 to 11 cents per lb.
Butter, per lb , averages 28 cents. Cheese, 12
to 14 cents.
Apples, per bbl., $2 to $3 60; per bushel, $1
average.
All kinds of meat, salt and fresh, and all sorts
of fish, will average 12 1/2 cents a pound to the
buyer of small quantities.
Eggs are worth 25 cents per dozen, which is
about 18 cents per lb. A dozen eggs, average
size, will weigh one pound six ounces.
Turnips, per bushel, 25 cents; carrots, 50
cents; beets, 50 cents; onions, 75 cents;
cabbage, about 2 cents a pound.
Dried fruits, per lb.—Apples, 7 to 8 cents ;
pears, 15 to 20 cents; plums, 8 to 14 cents;
cherries, 15 to 20 cents; peaches, 16 to 18
cents; raisins, 8 to 121/2 cents.
The following is the proportion of nutritious matter and water in each of the following substances:
Lbs.
Substances
.
Lbs. nut. mat. Lbs.
water. 100 Wheat
flour
90 10
100 Corn meal
91 9
100 Rice 86 14
100 Barley
meal
88 12
100 Rye flour
79 21
100 Oatmeal
75 25
100 Potatoes
221/2 771/2
100 White
beans
95 5
100 Carrots 10 90
100 Turnips.
41/2 951/2
100 Cabbage 71/2 921/2
100 Beets 15 85
100 Strawberries
S
Strawberri
es
10 90
100 Pears 16 84
100 Apples. 16 84
100 Cherries 25 75
100 Plums 29 71
100 Apricots 26 74
100 Peaches. 20 80
100 Grapes 27 78
100Melons 3 97
100 Cucumbers ..................... 21/2 .......... 971/2
Meats, generally, are about three fourths
water, and milk, as it comes from the
cow, over ninety per cent. How is it as it
comes from the milkmen?
It is true that this chemical analysis does
not give us the exact comparative value
of food, but with that, and the prices of
the various articles, it can not be a hard
matter to determine what is the cheapest
or most economical kind of food for us
to use.
Perhaps of all the articles named,
taking into account the price and
nutritious qualities, oatmeal will give
the greatest amount of nutriment for
the least money. But where will you
find it in use? Not one family in a
thousand ever saw the article; not one
in a hundred ever heard of it, and many
who have heard of it have a vague
impression that none but starving
Scotch or Irish ever used it; and, in
short, that oats, in America, are only fit
food for pigs and horses.
It is a great mistake. Oatmeal is excel-
lent in porridge, and all sorts of
cooking of that sort, and oatmeal cakes
are sweet, nutritious, and an antidote
for dyspepsia. Just now, we believe
oats are the cheapest of any grain in
market, and it is a settled fact that oats
WORBLY’S FAMILY MONTHLY MAGAZINE September, 1866
25
give the greatest amount of power of
any grain consumed by man or beast.
This cheap food only needs to be
fashionable, to be extremely popular
among all laborers, all of whom, to say
nothing of other classes, eat too much
fine flour bread.
Cracked wheat and loaf bread cost the
same price, or perhaps a less price for
the wheat by the pound. A pound of the
wheat, properly cooked, is worth more
than four pounds of bread.
Hominy, samp, hulled corn, we have so
often recommended and urged upon the
attention of all, both rich and poor, as
cheap, wholesome, nutritious food, that
we have induced many to try it, who
would not give it up now under any
consideration. We reiterate all that we
have ever said in its favor. Thirty
years' experience in its use only serves
to confirm us in the opinion that it is
such excellent and economical food,
that too much can not be said in its
favor. The only thing necessary in its
cooking, is to cook it enough —it can
not be cooked too much.
Every family should eat beans and
peas, because of all articles they afford
the most nutriment for the least money.
One pound of cheap meat, say at ten:
cents, and one pound of split peas, say
five cents, will give a fuller dinner to a
family than a dollar expended for
beefsteak and white bread. This is a
kind of economy that should be known,
and rigidly practiced.
One bushel of white beans will feed
more laboring men than eight bushels
of potatoes. The beans will cost two
dollars, potatoes six.
A single quart of beans costs nine
cents; a half pound of salt pork, six
cents; a pound of hominy, five cents;
and that will give a meal to a larger
family than a dollar's worth of roast
beef, white bread, potatoes, and other
vegetables.
We would not confine the laborer or
the poorest family to this cheap food;
but we do insist that it is their duty to
substitute such food, occasionally, in
place of that which is more expensive,
and thus, by saving, lay up a few
dollars in the savings bank to save
themselves from the mere life-saving
contrivance, the soup-house.
We hope never to see another of these
pauper-making establishments in
operation again in this city. Let men
think twice before they open another
one.
But let every one think of the economy
of making a soup-house at home. We
spoke of pea-soup. Is there any living
witness of that good old Yankee dish
of cheap food, called bean porridge?
Let it be revived in every family—
among the rich as a luxury, and among
the poor as an article of economy.
There is another Yankee dish besides
bean soup and baked beans that we
should like to see revived, and that is
the baked Indian-meal pudding; and
this brings us to Indian bread, a
WORBLY’S FAMILY MONTHLY MAGAZINE September, 1866
26
mixture of two thirds corn meal and
one third rye meal, not rye flour, which
makes most delicious bread at less than
one half the cost of wheat flour.
We could go on a long time pointing
out the errors of living, in which
economy is lost sight of, if we thought
the wished-for effect would be
produced. We urge all to think of what
we have said, and that one of the best
things that can be done for the poor is
to teach them practical economy in
everyday life.
No charitable societies have ever done
so much good to the poor by the
distribution of food as they could do by
printing and putting into the hands of
every family a little tract containing
practical lessons of economy in the art
of living well and living cheap—an art
that would prevent the waste of food,
and lessen the expense of first
purchases, and increase the nutritious
qualities, while it added immensely to
the table enjoyment of every family.
In a great majority of cases it may be
set down as an incontrovertible fact
that want comes of waste, and waste
comes of want of knowledge of the
properties of different articles of food,
and how to combine them so as to
produce the most beneficial effect.
It may be set down as another
incontrovertible fact, that no class of
people can want food and remain
virtuous. Their degeneracy, both
physically and morally, is certain. It is
our religious duty, then, to study and
teach economy in food, and the art of
living better and cheaper; more in ac-
cordance with the principles that
promote health, vigor, intellectual
capacity, comfort, happiness, and
morality of the human family.
How much good would come of it if we
should practice upon the text that
forms the title of this article! Let those
who read and think first set the
example; the unthinking will follow,
and their children will rise up and call
them blessed.
(Next month we will continue Chapter
Eleven which is about ECONOMY IN
FOOD—WHAT SHALL WE EAT?,
originally printed in the Tribune in 1855.)
WORBLY’S FAMILY MONTHLY MAGAZINE September, 1866
27
A DAUGHTER’S LOVE
"I can never do enough for my mother," said
a beautiful girl, whose chief duty and delight
seemed to be to watch at the bedside of her
declining parent. Not only did her needle
supply the delicacies needed in a sick-room,
but her hand smoothed the pillow and
afforded all those little attentions by night
and by day which alleviate the restlessness
of pain. She never needed to be told or asked
to do ; her quick eye comprehended every
unspoken want, and her sympathizing love
smiled consolation and strength to the poor
sufferer.
"You are tasking yourself too much," said
she.
"No, dearest mother, I can never return to
you what you have done for me in my
helpless infancy and childhood—nights of
watching, days of anxiety, months and years
of care."
"But it was a pleasure to me, my daughter."
"Yes, mother, and no less do I prize the
opportunity to repay it, poorly as I am able;"
and kissing her mother's cheek, their tears of
tender love flowed out and kissed each other
also.
From The Christian Family Almanac
The following is from
THE READ ADVISOR AND
FAMILY GUIDE
By Isaac Shinn
(Published by Church and Goodman, 1866)
VERMIN
Destruction to House Bugs.—The French
Academy of Science is assured, by Baron
Thenard, that boiling soap and water,
consisting of 2 parts of common soap, and
100 parts of water by weight, infallibly
destroys bugs and their eggs. It is enough to
wash walls, wood-work, etc., with the
boiling solution, to be entirely relieved from
this horrid pest.
Camphor a Remedy for Mice.—Any one
desirous of keeping seeds from the
depradations of mice, can do so by mixing
pieces of camphor gum in with the seeds,
Camphor placed in drawers or trunks will
prevent mice from doing them injury. This
little animal objects to the odor, and keeps a
good distance from it.
A writer in the "Scientific American" says:
"A good plan to destroy roaches, without the
danger of using poison, is, to fill a basin or a
similar vessel about two-thirds full of water
sweetened with molasses, and set in a corner
where they most frequent at night, and
where they can get on the vessel; you will
find in the morning as many as the liquid
will drown. I have rid my house of them in
this way, destroying hundreds in a night.
Salt for Bed Bugs.—An exchange says: "By
washing bedsteads with salt water, and
filling the cracks where bed bugs frequent,
with salt, those troublesome vermin can be
speedily and cheaply got rid of. The salt is
said to be inimical to them and they will not
trail through it. It is certainly worth a trial."
To Destroy Red Ants.—Place a dish of
cracked shagbarks (of which they are more
fond than of anything else); they will gather
WORBLY’S FAMILY MONTHLY MAGAZINE September, 1866
28
upon it iii troops; put some corrosive
sublimate in a cup; take the dish containing
the shagbarks and ants and throw them into
the fire, and with a feather, sweep those that
may be left, into the cup, and wet all the
cracks from whence they came with the
corrosive sublimate. When this has been
repeated four or five times the house will be
effectually cleared.
To get rid of Bed and other Bugs.—Gather a
handful of smartweed, boil in a pint of
water, and when cold rub the liquid where
they frequent, and they will soon disappear.
To preserve Houses from Vermin:—Put half
a drachm of corrosive sublimate, with a
quarter of an ounce of spirits of salts, into
one quart of spirits of turpentine. Shake
well; with this wash the places where bugs
resort —a sure exterminator. It is an active
poison.
Cedar Chests are best to keep flannels, for
cloth moths are never found in them. Red
cedar chips and gum camphor are good to
keep in drawers, wardrobes, closets, trunks,
etc., to keep out moths.
In laying up furs for summer, lay a tallow
candle in or near them, and danger from
worms will be obviated.
To Remove Flies from .Rooms.—Take half a
teaspoonful of black pepper in powder, one
teaspoonful of brown sugar, and one
tablespoonful of cream—mix them well
together, and place them in the room, on a
plate, where the flies are troublesome. They
will soon disappear.
THE RATS AND THE DOGS— A
gentleman was in the habit of placing the
food for his dogs in a long trough, as they
were fed in the kennels. One day, after
feeding them, he looked into a kennel
through a hole in the door, and was
somewhat astonished to see a number of rats
in the trough quietly and fearlessly partaking
of the bread and milk with the dogs, who
seemed to pay no attention to them! The rats
were at once doomed to destruction; so the
next day the trough was placed in such a
position that a gun pointed through the hole
would rake it from one end to the other. At
the usual hour the food was placed, the dogs
being kept out. The rats, however, would not
take the bait; the heads of several sagacious
old ones were seen peering out from their
holes, as if they "smelled a rat;" they had
their suspicions, and would not leave their
retreats. Having waited for half an hour, the
dogs were let in, and in a few minutes dogs
and rats were feeding peaceably together.
The little creatures seemed to be aware that
they were safe only when the dogs were
present.
THE CHILDREN’S CORNER
The following is courtesy of
Student and Schoolmate
WORBLY’S FAMILY MONTHLY MAGAZINE September, 1866
29
Magazine, 1863
BEING A BOY.
(Concluded.)
BY GAIL HAMILTON.
ATOSSING, tumbling, chattering, saucy,
helter-skelter, head-foremost little brook—
never still, never tired — though Harry's
little feet began to feel as if they would be
tired one of these days, but her Spartan soul
gave no sign. "Why do n't you catch some
fishes here?" she asked with a sidewise view
to resting.
"No fishes to catch," answered Nathan. "Got
to go along to where its stiller. Fish can't
live in
a cataract." And the little feet plodded
patiently on. "Ship ahoy!" roared Nathan,
suddenly to Betty, who was furtively
inserting her fingers into the luncheon-
basket.
"I do n't care, I am as hungry as a bear." And
a big slice of bread and butter began to
appear and disappear at one and the same
moment. "So be I," echoed Harry. "Let 'a
have dinner now."
"Dinner now — before we 've begun. That's
always the way with girls." But notice. Deep
into the basket went Nathan's fist, and quick
down his throat went quite as big a slice of
bread and butter, as Betty's, and they all lay
around on the grass, chatting and resting.
"Let 's not fish. Let's call it a pic-nic,"
suggested Harry, "and have a good time."
"Yes, we shall fish," exclaimed Betty,
severely. "It's just the day for it. A pic-nic is
nothing. Have you got a hook and line for
me, Nat?"
"Yes, but we shan't catch many fish. It is n't
a good day. Too bright. Fish won't come out
when the sun burns 'em."
"Ought to have a cloudy day," said Joshua,
anxious to display his small stock of
piscatorial wisdom.
"There's clouds now," said Retty, blinking
up into the sky.
"A mackerel sky that 's nothing."
"What's a mackeral sky?" queried Harry.
"A sky to catch mackerel under," answered
Nathan.
"A sky that looks like a mackerel's scales,"
said Joshua. "A spotted sky."
"Derived from the Latin macula, a spot,"
continued Nathan. Betty began to look
bewildered.
"I should n't like to catch a whale," broke in
Harry, at right angles, as usual.
"You won't be likely. Do n't be afraid," said
Nathan soothingly. "This brook is n't large
enough. You can't find whales short of
Mills' creek."
"But Simple Simon found 'em in his
mother's pail," persisted Harry, who had
implicit faith in Mother Goose.
"Oh! what a query girls are!" roared Nathan.
"But she's such a little girl," interposed
Retty, agonized for the reputation of her sex.
"Ho, you get out, a boy no bigger 'n a walnut
would know better than that. Come, come
along all of you. Here take your lines. Now
you look out when we get to a place. And do
n't you talk. You keep still. Bimeby the fish
'll come — trout, and roach, and all of 'em."
WORBLY’S FAMILY MONTHLY MAGAZINE September, 1866
30
"0 how shall I know? I want to know what I
catch," asked Retty eagerly.
"You 'll know fast enough when you catch
'em, I guess. There 'a roach, they 're shy.
They'll come up and smell, and smell, and
bite the back of the hook. Trout are all red,
and blue, and mottled — there 'll be lots of
them — there's a place where the stream
runs along under the bank, and it 's all black,
and the old fellow likes that. He back-bites
furiously. You look out now. He's a game
fish. And there 's suckers—kind of long, and
narrow, and lazy. Oh! well you catch most
any kind. A polywog's better than nothing."
And so they tramped on, and on, and on —
dropping their lines into the water now and
then, but pulling them out when Nathan
gave the word of command, and rambling
farther down the stream—through thickets
and underbrush, across rich loamy fields —
over moist meadow lands — now ankle
deep in muck and moss — then scrambling
as well as possible among thorns and briars
leaping from green slimy rocks to green
slimy bogs whew! what a-tramp! "You 've
teared your dress a little," panted Harry, in a
breathing-hole. "You 've teared yours about
off, hush up!" responded Retty. Both hats
had fallen off, and hung on their necks, and
with very hot cheeks, and very red faces,
they pressed on. Nathan had caught tetee
suckers, and that was the amount of the
whole party's success. Occasionally Harry
would scream "Oh! I've catched a trout, I
know I have!" But her trouts and her suckers
generally turned into an old branch, or a
mass of dead matted weeds. Then she began
to be so wholly tired, that she forgot her
vassalage, and grew cross, and it was "0, I've
got a rock in my shoe!" and all hands came
to a halt, till the forlorn little shoe was
righted. "0 my line is snapped in a tree," and
Nathan took it for her, giving her in
exchange, the empty luncheon basket.
Finally, in sheer despair, she hit the nail on
the head, by bursting into a violent "crying
spell," and roaring out in a very rage of
fatigue, "0 I want to go home! I 'm so hot,
and it burns me and sticks to me! I want to
go home!"
Now Harry was generally so plastic and
passive, that when she did set up for herself,
every body knew that something must be
done about it. So nobody scolded her, but
the two boys gave up their."traps" to Retty
and made a "lady's chair," to carry Harry a
little way and rest her. But Retty was almost
as tired as her sister, and with their fishing
poles, a basket and a box, she was fast
finding life a burden. More than once she
stumbled over the fishing-rods, and once she
scratched her arm with a hook. Presently
they reached a place where the fence came
quite down to the water's edge, and' indeed
half-way across the brook. The bank was
rocky and uneven. The boys got safely over
with Harry, and Nathan told Retty to stand
stock still till he came back to take the rods.
But Retty had no idea of standing still. She
tilted her rods against the fence, stepped
cautiously along the rock, and to the top of
the fence. The fence was rather crazy. Her
weight staggered it, and the rods slid down
against her. Not knowing what was going to
happen, she gave a spring, forgetting that
she might just as well tumble into the water
WORBLY’S FAMILY MONTHLY MAGAZINE September, 1866
31
as jump in. She did indeed land on the rock
she aimed at, but with such force, that she
bounced from it, head foremost into the
brook. Joshua stared, Nathan laughed, and
Harry yelled, "0! she's drownded!" But she
was not "drownded" in the least. Could n't if
she had tried. She scrambled up, thoroughly
wet, and scrambled out thoroughly
disgusted.
"It was all you! You did it! " she screamed
furiously to Nathan.
"How'd I do it, for pity's sake?" cried
Nathan, rolling on the grass, in a most
exasperating fit of laughter.
"Because you — because — because you
made me lug all the things."
"Well, the things did n't get you in, did they?
You just plumped in yourself. 0 you frog!
Come here, and let 's wring you out. Oh!
dear! who but a girl would ever think of
jumping head first into a trout brook?"
But Retty was not to be wrung out. She was
too thoroughly drenched for that, and there
was nothing for it, but to turn about and
march home, which they did — Joshua, to
his credit be it said, sympathizing with Retty
too much to laugh at her, though too
cowardly to stand up for her like a man, and
therefore somewhat silent. Nathan joking
and laughing very provokingly, but
swinging Harry now on his back, now in his
arms, and now coaxing her to trot along by
his side — and Retty either silent or savage.
The worst of it was, that for days afterward
their two faces were the most dreadful little
faces you ever saw — sunburnt, red, sore,
and swollen so that you would hardly know
them.
Continued application of cold cream, after
awhile restored them to their natural shape
and color, but for a long while, Retty's face
had a way of turning marvelously red
whenever Nathan chose— and that was mis-
chievously often — to ask her how she liked
being a boy.
Now I am almost sorry I have told you this
story, because I am afraid you will think I do
n't like to have girls roam about with boys;
but in fact I do. I want girls to go trouting,
and rambling, and frolicking just as much as
boys. Retty made her experiment under
disadvantages, and she tried too much for
the first time, but after all, I do n't know that
it did her a speck of harm. It is better to be
sun-burnt than shadow-paled, and so I
advise you all to tie your hat close upon
your heads, put on your rubber-boots, or
your stout leather ones, and strike straight
into the woods.
The following is from
THE BOOK WITH ONE HUNDRED
PICTURES
(Published 1861, American Sunday School
Union)
WORBLY’S FAMILY MONTHLY MAGAZINE September, 1866
32
THE LITTLE VESSEL.
A BIG ship makes a fine show and is strong
enough to buffet the waves and storms of the
ocean, but there is a great deal of important
work done by little vessels that hug the
shore and are never upon the high seas.
Often little vessels help to save big ships,
and the people on them from being drowned.
They are like little useful children; always
busy, and busy about things which they are
old enough and strong enough to do. Let
them be content, and remember that
Larger ships may venture more,
But little boats should keep near shore.
THE LIGHT ON DECK.
JACK FRENCH was as bold and nimble a
sailor as ever had hold of a rope. He loved
the ship and the sea, and was always ready
for duty. But his mouth was never dirtied
with tobacco, nor heated with strong drink,
nor defiled with profane oaths.
How was this? Why he never fell into such
habits when a boy ; and now he tries to do
good to others and to persuade them to be
sober, righteous, and godly. Is not such an
one a light on the deck?
===============================
CHRISTIE;
WHERE THE TREE FELL.
(Published 1864 by Carlton & Porter)
CHAPTER VII.
INDIRECT INFLUENCES.
ALTHOUGH Tom's father was not so
much of a sailor as Captain Lee, still
he was quite a noted fisherman, and
often commanded a small fishing
smack, which he took up to the
mackerel fisheries around St. John.
When he went in a favorable season
of the year he often allowed his older
WORBLY’S FAMILY MONTHLY MAGAZINE September, 1866
33
boys, John and Tom, to go with him,
and a very great pleasure it was to
them, the pleasantest thing
throughout the whole year.
Soon after Captain Lee's story about
the sea, the boys saw that their father
was making arrangements for a
voyage, and they were all on the alert
to know who would be selected to go
with him. Sam had some ambitious
hopes that, as John had been at sea
with his uncle, he should be allowed
to take his place on board the vessel,
and John be obliged to remain at
home doing the double work which
devolved on him during the absence
of the others.
Now any honest-hearted boy would
have asked his father to let him go,
but that was not Sam's habit. He tried
to come at his point by a great many
roundabout ways, every one of
which, if he had but known it,
defeated his purpose. He employed
Christie, as he said, to sound the
waters for him: that is, to ask his
father first where he was going; then,
how long he was to be gone; and,
finally, who was going with him. All
this was bad, you can see, for Chris-
tie. He was in Sam's confidence, and
knew the point to be gained. So the
indirect influence was to make him
tricky. It is these indirect influences,
my young readers, to which I wish
specially in this chapter to direct
your attention, for very often they
are of more importance than what is
plainly seen to affect us in the
formation of our characters. Never at
any one time did Sam say a thing
which would lead another to think he
was deceitful and a humbug. The
worst part of the whole was, he
wanted every one to think he was so
good and upright; while all the time
he was, as Nancy said of him,
"serving the devil his own way." The
danger to Christie was that, as he
liked Sam, he would learn these
ways; that is, that Sam's indirect
influence over Christie was toward
falsehood and deceit.
It was, however, in this case very
soon decided that Sam was not to go;
indeed, his father never for a moment
thought of taking him. John and Tom
were worth four of him for real help
when any was needed, and there were
many such times seen on a fishing
voyage.
The bustle of preparation was felt all
over the island. The children's
customary tasks were set aside, and
they were allowed to help in the
lading of the vessel. The smack was
anchored as near the island as possi -
ble, and the raft acted a very im-
portant part in carrying out stores
and in giving trips to expectant
children.
Mr. Cady, though a silent and rather
a stern man, was kind to the little
folks; he never seemed to find them
in his way, and if he did not praise,
he seldom blamed them. Take it
WORBLY’S FAMILY MONTHLY MAGAZINE September, 1866
34
altogether, the happiest affair of the
season was the outfit of the Dolphin,
and it was a sad day to all that were
to be left at home when she was
ready, and they knew that in an hour
or two she would spread her sails and
fly away.
She was to be gone only two weeks,
but that seemed like two years if
Tom was to be away, so dependent
had they all become upon him. Mrs.
M'Lain had wisely kept Effie at
home, knowing how noisy she would
be in her grief if she found Tom was
actually going; but no one suspected
that Jamie would take the thing any
more to heart than the others. Indeed,
no one knew how feeble and
dependent the boy felt, and how
much more necessary Tom's kindness
was to him than to Effie. To be sure,
it had been shown in a very different
way. Tom had lifted Effie gently
from the ground and carried her
tenderly in his arms, while he had
caught Jamie by one arm and leg and
swung him on to his back as if he had
been only a bag of meal. But this
rougher treatment was pleasant to his
boy nature. It made play of
dependence, and changed feebleness
into a frolic. He had watched all
these preparations with a throbbing
heart, and tears would come into his
eyes, shutting out the ship, rocking
there like a great cradle on the
waves, and the busy group of
children on the shore. The only thing
he saw, even after he had wiped them
away, was Tom looking so happy and
so proud, and he was going away.
His face at last attracted Captain
Lee's attention. There was always
something in sorrow which he saw
before any one else; and taking Jamie
up, he said in joke to him,
"What is it, my little man? Do you
want to go fishing with Tom?"
The question was just the one thing
too much. Jamie's pent up sorrow
overflowed very quickly and,
wonderful for him, very noisily. He
cried and sobbed and choked as only
nervous and weakly children can, and
the good captain, as he held him, felt
how his little frame was shaken by
his grief.
"Well done, Jamie," he said, put ting
his great arms around him and
soothing him very gently; "you do
love the boys, don't you? It's too bad
to have them go away and leave the
little fellow when he wants to go so
much, isn't it? Boys," he said, calling
out cheerily, "see how you've made
this boy love you; he is breaking his
heart over your going. Don't you
want to take a passenger on board?
I'll pay his fare."
"Let him go, Uncle William," said
John, who had hurried up to them to
see what the matter was when he
heard Jamie's cries. "Tom and I will
take the best care in the world of
him; and if there comes a spell of
cold weather, he can stay down in the
WORBLY’S FAMILY MONTHLY MAGAZINE September, 1866
35
cabin as snug as a mouse in a trap.
Come, now, father wont care if we
want him. I'll bet a sixpence he'll say
yes."
"Go and ask him, and ask Tom if he
wants the bother of little folks
aboard?"
"Tom, halloo there," shouted John
without moving, for Jamie's hand
was clinging fast to him, "can't we
stow this young one aboard some-
where? he wants to go real bad. Ask
father. Hurry up, now."
"Yes, I don't care," drawled Tom
back; "let him come; father wont care
a cent."
"Ask him, though. Tell him Uncle
William says he will pay his fare as
passenger."
In a minute Tom returned, and
shouted back, "He says he don't care,
only he will want warm clothes."
All this time the group on shore had
been in a state of most anxious
expectation. Every one had aban-
doned whatever they were doing, and
stood looking toward the smack, as if
the answer that came back was to
decide their fate. Every pair of lips
were ready to ask, "May I go too?
Please do, do take me," when they
heard the consent; and, for a mo-
ment, it was such a bedlam of voices
that John declared he could not hear
himself think. The whole thing had
passed so quickly that Captain Lee
had not time to think into what a
predicament his proposal would
bring him, until he found himself
besieged by all the other petitioners.
"Look here," he said, putting Jamie
down, "let us settle this matter at
once. Not another child is to go but
Jamie, so no more teasing. See the
little fellow. Don't he look as if he
needed something to bring some
color to those cheeks and flesh to
those bones? Why you all look as
ruddy as roses by the side of him.
Now stop and think a moment all of
you, and then answer me. Suppose,
by keeping Jamie at home, any one
of you could take his place, is there
one of you who would do it? Don't be
in any hurry. Look well at him, and
then say."
He placed Jamie in their midst, his
pale cheeks still stained with tears,
and trembling so that they all could
see him as they looked at him.
No one spoke.
"Say, Ernest," said his father, "how
is it with you? Don't be afraid to
speak the truth, my boy."
"I had rather he would go a hundred
times;" and no one who looked in
Ernest's pitying face would have
doubted that he spoke the truth.
"That's a man;" and the captain,
reaching his long arm out over the
group, patted the boy's head
approvingly. "What does Sam say?"
"I want to go too."
"Not so bad but that you can wait;"
and Sam felt that his uncle was not
quite pleased.
WORBLY’S FAMILY MONTHLY MAGAZINE September, 1866
36
"For you girls, of course you would
rather Jamie would go, as Ernest
says, a hundred times over; and I’ll
tell you how you can show it. Run
home, Alice, tell your mother about
it, and ask her what she has there
that- is nice and warm for Jamie to
take to sea with him. I will go and
talk with his mother myself. You,
Rachel, run home to your mother.
She always knows just what is
wanted, and will have something, I
know; and don't forget to tell Nancy
all about it. Now be nimble, every
one of you. Time and tide wait for no
man."
What indirect influence had Captain
Lee brought so suddenly to bear upon
these children. It was an influence
that would incline them to do a
generous, unselfish action promptly.
This was the direction toward which
he was inclining their different trees,
but neither he nor they thought of
that now. Still it is true, that every
step which they took, happily and
freely, on their different errands, was
a step in the right direction.
Remember this, when you are doing
what your conscience tells you is
proper, it is not only that one act,
inclining your tree toward the north
one step, but a step through the trial -
world toward the beautiful land of
the great King.
Mrs. M'Lain had been more troubled
by the slow progress which Jamie
had made toward health than by
anything else since she came upon
the island. She knew better than any
one the trials through which the child
had passed; the many half-meals
which their poverty had obliged him
to make; the hungry hours, when he
had tried to sleep away the
consciousness of his pain, and had
lain and moaned so piteously. She
had seen him shiver through the cold
day from want of clothing and fire,
and perhaps, most wasting upon the
springs of his young life, she knew
with what a premature feeling of care
he had watched over her and the need
of the family.
As she saw those weeks pass by in
which, under the most favorable cir-
cumstances, he seemed to gain so
slowly, she began to fear that he
would never recover, never be
healthy and strong like the others.
Therefore she listened with a feeling
of deep gratitude to Captain Lee's
pleasant proposal that Jamie should
try a few weeks at sea, and bring
home from the voyage red cheeks
and stronger nerves. The trouble
which instantly presented itself to
her was the want of warm and stout
clothing. While she was wondering
what she could do, Ernest and Alice
came running in with an overcoat
which Eddy had outgrown, and
stockings, mittens, fur cap, and
comforter, which Ernest had used on
the previous winter. Nor was this all;
Tom's mother made her appearance
WORBLY’S FAMILY MONTHLY MAGAZINE September, 1866
37
very soon with various well -patched
pairs of pants which had come down
from one of her boys to another until
Eddie even had laid them aside.
Before an hour was over the only
trouble was to select proper clothes
from the large bundle that lay before
her. Nor is it to be supposed that
Nancy was to be long away from a
scene of doing good.
In she came, panting away from the
haste she had made, with the very
same basket which had gone with the
children on so many pleasure trips,
and putting it down with some noise
upon the table, she began to unpack
it, as if Jamie's passage had been
taken on board a steamer whose bell
was already ringing at the dock.
"Just to haul up over," she said as
she took out first two pairs of men's
socks. "I thought they would come
above his knees like the Canada
gaiters, over boots and all, and keep
his feet as warm as toast. To be sure
they are a little long;" and catching
up Jamie, who was standing confused
by all that was doing for him, she
quickly tried one on.
Of course it was "a mile too large,"
and dangled down to a length-quite
sufficient for another pair; but to cut
it off and sew it up again was only
the work of a minute, and Jamie
walked around this warm summer
day in his new socks as proud as a
king.
The other contents of Nancy's basket
were about as appropriate; but it did
not matter. A use was soon found for
almost all of them, and those that
were not wanted now were put away
by Nancy in Mrs. M'Lain's closet to
wait their proper time.
Captain Lee said when he came back
for Jamie that he was fitted out for a
voyage around the world; but in his
heart the good man was delighted at
the prompt kindness which every one
had shown. As for the children, once
started on the right track, there was
no end to what they were willing to
do. Rachel went through her usual
battle with herself about giving her
canaries, and came to the common
result of bringing laid instead, an
offering which Tom a second time
refused, in a tone which sounded a
little to Rachel as if he resented it.
Every one had expected when Jamie
came to the point of leaving his
mother his heart would fail him and
he would beg to stay at home. In-
deed, Captain Lee had been wonder-
ing whether in that case it would not
be best to force him to go, trusting to
his fondness for the boys and their
kindness to him to reconcile him
very soon to what he knew would do
him so much good; but he was saved
all this, and never was seen a happier
child's face than Jamie's, standing
between John and Tom with his
hands in theirs, after the vessel had
WORBLY’S FAMILY MONTHLY MAGAZINE September, 1866
38
weighed anchor and was moving so
slowly and gracefully away.
Mrs. M'Lain saw it many times
during his absence in her dreams, and
in her waking hours did not forget to
thank God for his kindness to her
little orphan boy.
The whole day after the Dolphin had
sailed Sam wandered around in a
very disconsolate way. He was al-
most angry to think that Jamie, little
child as he was, should have been
taken and he left at home, and that,
too, with so much extra work on his
hands. He made all kinds of plans for
avoiding it, for shirking it off on to
Eddy or his mother, while he went
away to do many things that he never
ventured to attempt when the absent
members of his family were at home
to watch him.
Since his adventures upon the raft he
had been more quiet. The truth was,
he had become so frightened by the
actual peril he was in, and by the
punishment he received afterward,
that he had made up his mind to
confine his secret exploits to the land
for the future, and had done so. Er-
nest was now fully aware of his true
character, and would never for a mo-
ment be a party with him in any kind
of deception. So since Christie had
come to live upon the island he often
took him with him, and as no harm
bad ever come to them, and Christie
had always told his mother where he
had been and with whom, Sam grew
bolder in his projects, and to-day,
toward night, hit upon one which he
thought promised a great deal of fun.
About half a mile from the place
where Christie was accustomed to
gather his moss there was a high
rock, the end of the island that jutted
out far into the sea. This rock could
be reached only by taking a boat for
a short distance, but still the water
ran up over the land, and it was not
quite safe for a boy, unless he was
large and strong like Tom and John.
The younger ones had been expressly
forbidden ever to attempt it alone,
and so far in Sam's life it had been
the one coveted thing which he dare
not do. From this rock was the best
fishing on the island. Such cod and
bass as John pulled up whenever he
went, why they seemed to the little
boys almost as large as the whales
they read about in the books. Now
WORBLY’S FAMILY MONTHLY MAGAZINE September, 1866
39
Sam was a born fisher, and if he had
had no older brothers he would have
been considered quite a prodigy in
that line. He never thought he had
fair play. The best spot was always
taken possession of by some one
else, while he was pushed aside "as
little trash." Now he would go; he
would have that best seat on the very
furthest projection of the rock, and
Christie should go with him. "What
glorious fun!"
There was one thing which Sam
forgot when he was so happy in his
chance of disobeying, and that was
the most important reason why the
young children were not allowed to
go there. When the tide was high the
entire rock was covered by the water,
and the only way to make the trip
with safety was to go at low tide, and
to return before it came up over the
rock. Sam had never been taken at
any other time; and though he had
often seen the rock lost to sight when
the tide was in, he forgot it now.
As usual, he did not ask Christie
directly to go with him; that might be
dangerous. Christie might tell some
one, so he resolved to wait until he
went to his afternoon work, then he
would join him, help him a few
minutes, as if that was the object of
his visit, and then propose fishing
from the rock, as if he had only just
thought of it. It is strange how much
trouble Sam would take to do things
in this underhand way; how he had
walked all the way here to hide the
two poles and the fishing-tackle, and
had made up his mind to tell
Christie, when he asked how they
came in such a queer place, that that
was just the way Tom always did, hid
his tackle along shore to have it
handy. Only notice how one deceit
makes way for another and a worse
one.
Well, Sam carried this all out. He
came to Christie, talked with him
pleasantly, helped him along enough
to make Christie feel that he was not
very disobedient, as Sam's time
would count for his, and then the two
boys went to the rock.
This was a peculiarly shaped rock. It
was long and narrow on the top, with
sides which went down slantingly
into the water, and there were
hollows in the front face that looked
toward the ocean. It was known by
every one who frequented this part of
the coast as the "Old Woman's
Nose," and it was much esteemed as
a tide mark.
Christie had heard the boys speak of
it very often, and was in high spirits
at the idea of seeing it himself. He
did not expect to catch many fish,
but it was sport enough for him to be
there, with the, spray and the waves
dashing on him, and without a
shadow of fear, he waded in after
Sam to the old scow that was tied to
a stake out in the water, and the boys
WORBLY’S FAMILY MONTHLY MAGAZINE September, 1866
40
pushed off; with loud laughter and
fun, toward the "Old Woman's Nose."
Let us close this chapter by a glance
at Sam's indirect influence over
Christie. He did not say to Christie,
"You and I have just as good a right
to this fun as any one else; come,
now, it 's no matter if we are
disobedient, no one will find us out,
and if they do, all we shall have to
say will be to tell a falsehood and
declare we have been gathering
moss, but it was so poor we threw it
all away." But Christie knew that he
should keep to his work until it was
all done; he knew, too, that his moth-
er had often expressed a wish to him
that he should not go into a boat
without an older person with him;
and the indirect influence of Sam in
enticing him was perhaps greater, in
so far that, had the whole been
brought as plainly before Christie's
mind as it would have been by the
bare propositions, he was too good
and conscientious not to have seen
the danger, and fled away from the
temptation.
It is not only the great tempests
which blow over the trees, and the
whirlwinds, but it is the gentle, soft
breezes, which rustle among the
leaves day after day and year after
year, that bend them to the north or
to the south. The birds may be sing-
ing in their pretty nests, hardly con-
scious of the zephyr which rocks
them to and fro. Yet this same zephyr
is bending the twigs, turning the
leaves, and as it bends them, when
the tree falleth there it shall be. So
these indirect influences are the soft
gentle breezes, the zephyrs which we
do not feel, but which shall one day
decide for us the greatest of all ques-
tions, Where shall we be?
But in the Dolphin, at this very
moment, Jamie is the gentle breeze
who is bending the stout heart of the
big boys to the north. Dear little
Jamie! he seems almost too frail to
be the great God's agent for good.
(In next month’s edition , we will see
“THE OLD WOMAN’S NOSE” in
Chapter VIII.)
MANNERS MATTER
My dear Misses Worbly,
I have a situation that has become a problem
concerning my spinster aunt. She has a
passable singing voice which she prizes
quite highly. At every opportunity during
any social occasion she attends, she
connives to receive an invitation to sing.
Once she starts singing, she refuses to allow
other women the opportunity to entertain
those present. Because of this situation, the
number of invitations we normally receive
has been reduced considerably. I have
WORBLY’S FAMILY MONTHLY MAGAZINE September, 1866
41
spoken to her about this repeatedly, but she
ignores my requests to allow other women
to sing.
She reads your magazine every month and
often quotes parts of it to me. Is it possible
to address this situation? I know she will
take you advice to heart.
Sincerely,
Miss Harriet C.
My dear Miss C.,
I understand your concern and desire to help
your aunt not to offend others.
Once again let me share a passage from
Martine’s Hand Book of Etiquette:
A lady in company should never exhibit
any anxiety to sing or play; but if she
intends to do so, she should not affect to
refuse when asked, but obligingly accede
at once. If you cannot sing, or do not
choose to, say so with seriousness and
gravity, and put an end to the expectation
promptly. After singing once or twice,
cease and give place to others. There is an
old saying, that a singer can with the
greatest difficulty be set agoing, and when
agoing, cannot be stopped.
My greatest desire is that your aunt
understands this bit of etiquette as it will be
most helpful at any get-together she attends.
J. S. Worbly
FOR THE HOMEMAKERS
The following instructions is courtesy of
DOMESTIC COOKERY, USEFUL
RECEIPTS, AND HINTS TO YOUNG
HOUSEKEEPERS.
By ELIZABETH E. LEA
(Published by Cushing and Baily., 1859)
TO CURE BACON, BEEF, PORK,
SAUSAGE, &c.
To Cure Bacon.
To one thousand weight of pork, put one
bushel of fine salt, one pound and a half of
saltpetre rolled fine and mixed with the salt;
rub this on the meat and pack it away in a
tight hogshead; let it lay for six weeks, then
hang it up and smoke it with hickory wood,
every day for two weeks, and afterwards two
or three times a week for a month; then take
it down and rub it all over with hickory
ashes, which is an effectual remedy against
the fly or skipper. When the weather is un-
usually warm at the time of salting your
pork, more care is requisite to preserve it
from taint. When it is cut up, if it seems
warm, lay it on boards, or on the bare
ground, till it is sufficiently cool for salting;
examine the meat tubs or casks frequently,
and if there is an appearance of mould, strew
salt over; if the weather has been very warm
after packing, and on examining, you should
find evidence of its spoiling, lose no time in
unpacking the meat; for a hogshead of hams
and shoulders that are in this state, have six
pounds of brown sugar, three pounds of
saleratus, mixed with half a bushel of. salt;
rub each piece with this, and as you pack it
in the hogshead, (which should be well
washed and cleaned,) sprinkle a little coarse
salt over each layer of pork, and also on the
WORBLY’S FAMILY MONTHLY MAGAZINE September, 1866
42
bottom of the hogshead. I have known this
plan to save a large quantity of pork, that
would have been unfit for use, if it had not
been discovered and attended to in time.
Some persons use crushed charcoal to purify
their meat. Shoulders are more easily
affected than hams, and if the weather is
warm the ribs should be cut out of the
shoulders. Jowls also require particular care;
black pepper, about a pound to a hogshead,
sprinkled on the meat before it is hung up to
smoke, is valuable as a preventive where
flies are troublesome; have a large pepper-
box kept for the purpose, and dust every part
that is exposed; pepper is also good to put
on beef before it is hung up to dry; wash it
off before cooking, and it does not injure the
flavor.
To Pickle Pork.
Take out all the ribs, and cut it in pieces of
about three pounds each; pack it in a tight
barrel, and salt it well with coarse salt; boil a
very strong pickle made of coarse salt, and
when it .is cold pour it over the meat, and
put a weight on the top; if you wish pork to
keep, do not put saltpetre in, as it injures the
flavor.
To Cure Hams and Shoulders.
To cure five hundred weight of hams and
shoulders, take fifteen quarts of common
salt, one pound and a half of saltpetre rolled
fine, half a pound of red pepper pods
chopped fine, and four quarts of molasses;
mix them all together and rub the meat well;
pack it down, cover it close, and let it
remain six weeks; then hang it up and smoke
it with green hickory wood for three weeks.
If there is a damp spell of weather, it is best
to make a fire in your meat-house
occasionally through the summer, to keep
the meat from moulding.
To Make a Pickle for Chines.
Rub the chines with fine salt, and pack them
in a tight barrel; make a pickle of coarse salt,
strong enough to bear an egg; boil and skim
it, and when nearly cold pour it on; let there
be enough to cover them, and put a weight
on the top. Chines are good smoked.
It is best to make a separate pickle for the
heads; wash and scrape them, cut off the
ears and noses, and take out the eyes. The
jowls may be packed and smoked with the
bacon.
Sausage Meat, &c.
Separate the tender parts of the meat from
the rough and bony pieces, and chop each
sort separately; to twenty-two pounds of
meat have half a pound of salt, three heaped
table-spoonsful of sage, three of pepper, and
two of thyme. If you have a box large
enough to hold this quantity, sprinkle it over
the meat before it is chopped, and it will be
thoroughly mixed by the time it is done. It is
best to have a small piece fried to taste, and
if it is not seasoned right, it can be altered;
you should have some pieces of fat, chopped
in with the meat.
The sage and thyme should be carefully
dried, but not heated too much, neither
should it be hung up too near the fire, as it
would spoil the flavor; rub it through a wire
sifter, and if that should not make it fine
enough, pound it in a mortar or grind it in
your pepper mill. The pepper should be
ground and ready some days before it is
needed, as the pork season in the country is
WORBLY’S FAMILY MONTHLY MAGAZINE September, 1866
43
(while it lasts) one of the busiest in the year;
every thing should be prepared before hand
that you possibly can. It is a good plan to
have plenty of bread and pies baked, and a
quantity of apples stewed, vegetables
washed and ready to cook, so that every
member of the family, that is able, may
devote herself to the work of putting away
the meat which is of so much importance for
the coming year; while some are cutting up
the fat to render into lard, others may be
employed in assorting the sausage meat, and
cutting it into small pieces for the chopping
machine, by trimming off every part that can
be spared. You can have one hundred
pounds of sausage from twelve hundred
weight of pork, and since the introduction of
sausage choppers, a great deal more sausage
is made, than formerly, by the old method.
Clean a few of the maws, and soak them in
salt and water, and fill them with sausage
meat; sew them close; let them lay in pickle
for two weeks; then hang them up, and when
your meat is smoked, let them have a few
days smoke. In this way sausage will keep
all summer, and is very nice when boiled
slowly for several hours, and eaten cold. The
best fat to chop in with sausage is taken
from the chines or back bones. To keep
sausage for present use, put it in small stone
pans, aid pour melted lard over the top; for
later in the season, make muslin bags that
will hold about three pounds, with a loop
sewed on to hang them up by; fill them with
meat, tie them tight, and hang them in a cool
airy place; they will keep in this way till
August; when you want to fry them, rip pan
of the seam, cut out as many slices as you
want, tie up the bag and hang it up again. If
you have a large quantity, a sausage chopper
is a great convenience.
Liver Sausage.
Take four livers, with the lights and hearts;
have two heads cleaned, and boil them with
any scraps, or skinny pieces you have; skim
the pot; take out the livers when they are
done, and let the heads boil longer; when
they are done, pick out the bones, and chop
all together; season with sage,-thyme, sweet
marjoram, salt and pepper; put it in pans,
and fry it as sausage.
Bologna Sausage.
Chop ten pounds of beef, with two pounds
and a half of the fat of fresh pork; pound one
ounce of mace, and one of cloves, and mix
in; let it stand a day, then stuff it in large
skins; let them lay in brine ten days, then
hang them up to smoke a few days; they can
be put in the same brine with beef or
tongues.
Hogs' Head Cheese.
Take off the ears and noses of four heads,
and pick out the eyes, and lay them in salt
and water all night; then wash and put them
on to boil; take out the bones carefully, chop
and season them well, and pack it in bowls;
they will turn out whole, and may be eaten
cold with vinegar, or fried as sausage.
Pigs' Feet:
Pigs' feet should be well cleaned by dipping
them in scalding water, and scraping off the
hairs; leave them in weak salt and water two
days, changing it each day; if you wish to
boil them for souse, they are now ready; but
if the weather is cold they will keep in this a
month. They should be kept in a cold place,
WORBLY’S FAMILY MONTHLY MAGAZINE September, 1866
44
and if they are frozen there is no danger of
their spoiling; but if there comes on a thaw,
change the salt and water; soak them in fresh
water all night before you boil them. In this
way they are good to eat with pep; per and
vinegar while hot, or may be dipped in
batter and fried after they are cold.
To make Souse.
Boil the feet till the bones come out easily,
and pick out all the large bones; pack them
in a stone pan with pepper and salt, and
cover it with vinegar; they may be eaten
cold, or dipped in flour and fried. Another
way is to pick out all the bones, season them
with salt, pepper and sage, and warm them
up as you want to use them.
Pigs' feet, after being boiled, are very nice
stewed as terrapins; make the gravy with
butter and water; they are nourishing food
for delicate persons.
Vessels for salting meat should be cleaned
well after the meat is hung up, and set on
boards in the cellar; if they do not smell
sweet, they should be washed and soaked
before meat is packed in them again. You
should see that the hoops are sound, and
have covers made to fit them. If taken care
of in this way, they will last a number of
years.
Scrapple.
Take eight pounds of scraps of pork, that
will not do for sausage; boil it in four
gallons of water; when tender, chop it fine,
strain the liquor and pour it back into the
pot; put in the meat; season it with sage,
summer savory, salt and pepper to taste; stir
in a quart of corn meal; after simmering a
few minutes, thicken it with buckwheat flour
very thick; it requires very little cooking
after it is thickened, but must be stirred
constantly.
Dried Beef.
An experienced housekeeper has furnished
the following method for curing and drying
beef, which will keep good for two years,
without being injured by must or fly, and is
much admired. Have the rounds divided,
leaving a piece of the sinew to hang up by;
lay the pieces in a tub of cold water for an
hour; then rub each piece of beef that will
weigh fifteen or twenty pounds, with a
handful of brown sugar and a table-spoonful
of saltpetre, pulverized, and a pint of fine
salt; sprinkle fine salt in the bottom of a
clean tight barrel, and lay the pieces in,
strewing a little coarse salt between each
piece; let it lay two days; then make the
brine in a clean tub, with cold water and
ground alum salt—stir it well; it must be
strong enough to bear an egg half up; put in
half a pound of best brown sugar and a
table-spoonful of saltpetre to each gallon of
the salt and water; pour it over the beef; put
a clean large stone on the top of the meat to
keep it under the pickle, (which is very
important;) put a cover on the barrel;
examine it occasionally to see that the pickle
does not leak,—and if it should need more,
add of the same strength; let it stand six
weeks, when hang it up in the smoke-house,
and after it has drained, smoke it moderately
for ten days; it should then hang in a dry
place; before cooking, let it soak for twenty-
four hours: a piece that weighs fifteen or
twenty pounds should boil two hours—one
half the size, one hour, and a small piece
WORBLY’S FAMILY MONTHLY MAGAZINE September, 1866
45
should soak six or twelve hours, according
to size. Beef cured in this way will make a
nice relish, when thinly sliced and eaten
cold, for breakfast or tea, or put between
slices of bread and, butter for lunch; it will
keep for several weeks,—and persons of
delicate stomachs can sometimes relish a
thin slice, eaten cold, when they cannot
retain hot or rich food.
This receipt will answer for all parts of the
beef, to be boiled for the dinner table
through the summer.
To Cure Beef.
Make a pickle of six quarts of salt, six
gallons of water, half a pound of saltpetre,
and three of sugar, or half a gallon of
molasses; pack the beef in a barrel, with fine
and coarse salt mixed; when the pickle is
cold, pour it over, and put a weight on the
top; let it stay two weeks, when you can
hang it up and smoke it, to boil through the
summer; or boil the pickle over again, and
leave it in till you want to use it: this is for
two hundred pounds.
A New Method of Curing Beef.
Take six gallons of water, nine pounds of
salt, (fine and coarse mixed,) three pounds
of sugar, one quart of molasses, three ounces
of saltpetre, and one ounce of pearl-ash or
saleratus; boil and skim it well, and let it
stand till entirely cold, when pour it on beef
that has been sprinkled with salt for several
days. You can boil of this beef from the
brine all winter, or hang it up, and smoke it
with your bacon.
To Cure a Dozen Tongues.
Soak the tongues an hour in a tub of cold
water to extract the blood, and cut off most
of the root; mix together a quarter of a
pound of saltpetre, finely powdered, one
pound of brown sugar, and a pint of salt; rub
the tongues with this, and put them in a tight
barrel; then make a pickle that will bear an
egg, which pour over them; turn them every
three days, and let them stay in the pickle
two weeks; then smoke them two days, and
hang them up in a dry place; boil and skim
the pickle that the tongues have been in, and
it will do for a round of beef.
Pickle for Two Rounds of Beef.
Cut the rounds in a suitable shape for
drying; mix together two pints of salt, one of
molasses, or a pound of sugar, and half a
pound of saltpetre; rub them with this, and
pack them in a tight vessel; make pickle that
will bear an egg, and pour it over; put a
weight on the top, and let it lay for ten days,
when take it out, and smoke it two days;
hang it up in a dry place; it will be fit to slice
and broil in a week; or cut it very thin, and
stew or fry it with butter and cream. Legs of
mutton may be salted as rounds of beef, and
will resemble venison, when dried and
chipped.
In preparing pickle for any kind of meat,
observe that one gallon of water will hold, in
solution, a quart of salt and two ounces of
saltpetre.
To Corn Beef, Pork or Mutton.
Rub the meat well with salt, and pack it in a
tub. If the weather is warm, it will require a
good deal of salt, but no saltpetre.
To Restore Meat that has been kept too long.
When meat has been kept too long in
summer, it may be improved by putting it in
sour milk for several hours, or washing it in
WORBLY’S FAMILY MONTHLY MAGAZINE September, 1866
46
vinegar is good, some hours before it is
cooked; you must wash it well in cold water
several times; if it lays all night in sour milk,
or salt and vinegar, it should be put in soak
early in the morning in cold water. In very
hot weather, when you have fresh meat,
fowls, or fish left at dinner, sprinkle them
with strong vinegar, salt and pepper; warm
this up the next day, either as a fry or stew;
the vinegar will evaporate, and not injure the
taste. Cold rock fish is good, seasoned with
salt, pepper and vinegar, to use as a relish
for breakfast or tea.
To Keep Meat Fresh.
Where persons live a distance from market,
and have no fresh meat but what they kill, it
is important to know how to keep it fresh. In
winter, if it is hung up in an out-house, it
will keep very well for six weeks, or more;
when it has once frozen, it is safe till a thaw
comes on, when rub it with salt. In the
summer, if you have an ice-house, you can
keep it without trouble. If rubbed with salt,
and pinned in a cloth, it will keep in the
cellar two days; or by lowering it down your
well, attached to a rope, and changing the
cloth every other day, it will keep good a
week in hot weather.
To Put up Herring and Shad.
Those that put up their own fish should be
careful to have the barrels tight and well
cleaned; if the pickle leaks from them, they
are liable to spoil. Scale the fish and wash
them, as it will save much time; when you
prepare them for cooking, take out the gills,
but leave on the heads of herrings.
The heads should be taken off the shad, and
split them down the back; put a layer of fish,
then a layer of ground alum salt,—and after
they are packed, put-on a weight to keep
them down. If herring are well cured, they
will be good at the end of two years.
To Put up Herring,
According to the Harford Mode.
First put the herring into the brine left from
curing bacon; or, if you have none of that
description, make a brine that will bear an
egg, and let them remain in it thirty" or forty
hours; then, if for pickled herring, change
them into new brine, which must also bear
an egg, and head them up to keep. If for red
herring, hang them up, and smoke them
thoroughly. A little saltpetre, added to the
brine, is an improvement. It is better to take
out the roe.
WOMAN
Woman, woman! truly thou art a miracle.
Place her among flowers, foster her as a ten-
der plant, and she is a thing of fancy. way-
wardness, and sometimes folly—annoyed by
a dewdrop, fretted by the touch of a
butterfly's wings, and ready to faint at the
rustle of a beetle; the zephyrs are too rough,
the showers too heavy, and she is
overpowered by the perfume of a rosebud.
But let real calamity come—rouse her
affections—enkindle the fires of her heart—
and mark her then; how her heart
strengthens itself—how strong is her
purpose. Place her in the heat of battle—
give her a child, a bird, anything she loves
or pities, to protect—and see her, as in a
relative instance, raising her white arms as a
WORBLY’S FAMILY MONTHLY MAGAZINE September, 1866
47
shield, as her own blood crimsons her
upturned forehead, praying for life to protect
the helpless. Transplant her in the dark
places of the earth —awaken her energies to
action, and her breath becomes a healing—
her presence a blessing. She disputes inch by
inch the stride of the stalking pestilence,
when man, the strong and brave, shrinks
away pale and affrighted. Misfortune daunts
her not; she wears away a life of silent
endurance, and goes forward with less
timidity than to her bridal. In prosperity, she
is a bud full of imprisoned odors, waiting
but for the winds of adversity to scatter them
abroad—pure gold, valuable, but united In
tile furnace. In short, woman is a miracle—a
Mystery, the centre from which radiates the
great charm of existence.—Mrs. Ann S.
Stephens.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Dear Madam Editor,
As others have written and you have
graciously published their letters regarding
the way in which you handle the publishing
of your magazine, I wish to have my voice
heard also.
For many years, my dearly departed mother
read your excellent magazine, either to my
father or to her children. We gained great
wisdom from the words printed in Worbly’s
Magazine.
But unlike some of your other readers, I
wish to congratulate you on the excellent job
you and your sisters are doing. While your
father did a good job, I believe you have far
excelled him. I like the pictures you have
added, as well as the delight borders. I have
often tried to reproduce some of them to as
drawing practices. I also believe you have
added a depth of understanding that shows a
woman’s hand and heart were involved.
Thank you and please keep the magazine the
same.
Mrs. Henry M.
Dear Mrs. M.,
Thank you for your kind words. My sisters
and I appreciate them. Knowing that many
times the mother of the home is the one
reading to the family, we have tried to add
features that will be helpful to her.
Sincerely,
L.B. Worbly ==================================
Worbly’s Family Monthly
Magazine
Editor
L. B. Worbly
Typesetter and Columnist
J. S. Worbly
Advertising
M. E. Worbly
All correspondence should be
directed to
Worbly’s Family Monthly Magazine
213 Worbly Street
St. Louis, Missouri
WORBLY’S FAMILY MONTHLY MAGAZINE September, 1866
48
THE
UNIVERSAL CLOTHES WRINGER
WITH COG WHEELS.
PRICES REDUCED.
Prices --- No. 1 $10.00; No. 2, $8.50
THE BEST IS THE CHEAPEST
THIS is the first Wringer I have found that would
stand the service required of it"—[J. P. Huggins,
Lovejoy's Hotel.
"In the laundry of my house there is a perpetual
thanksgiving on Mondays for the invention of your
excellent Wringer."--[Rev. Theo. L. Cuyier.
"We think the Machine much more than pays for
itself every year in the saving of garments. We think
it important the Wringer should be fitted with
COGS."—[O. Judd, American Agriculturist.
"The Inventor of this Machine may have the
satisfaction of knowing that he has changed one of
the most toilsome parts of woman's work Into a most
attractive amusement," [Mrs. Henry Ward Beecher.
"I heartily commend it to economists of time, money
and contentment."—[Rev. Dr. Bellows.
On receipt of price from any part of the country
where we have no canvasers, we send the Wringer
free of freight charges.
A good canvasser wanted in every township.
Send for Illustrated Price Circular.
R. C. BROWNING, 317 Broadway, N.Y.
___________________________________
STEAM ENGINES CHAUNCY, HILLIBRAND, & CO.
MANUFACTURERS OF
STEAM ENGINES AND BOILERS,
ROCHESTER, N.Y.
Our engines are built expressly for Oil Purposes and
are far Superior to others on the market.
Descriptive Catalogues are available upon request.
Flax We buy good fall rotted FLAX STRAW, either
loose or straight, in bundles delivered In large
quantities at Railroad stations, or at our Chicago
Flax Mill, in any quantity.
On application, we send by mall our circular
directions for flax culture and the management
of flax straw, with our contract prices for the
crop of 1865.
WALWORTH, HUBBARD A CO.,
225 Lake Street, Chicago.
______________________________________
GOLDEN BITTERS
THIS celebrated tonic is now coming into universal
use—every one uses it. We have tried it ourselves,
and can vouch for its invigorating influence on our
system, after hours of toll and exhaustion. Persons
troubled with loss of appetite or dyspepsia, should
not be without it. It acts equally with old and young.
The Central Depot is at the American Express
Building, New York.—Constitutional Union,
Washington, D. C.
----------------------------------------------------------
ARTIFICAL LEGS C, STAFFORD,
Sole Proprietor and Manufacturer of
DR. WILCOX'S PATENT ARTIFICAL LEG
Has been approved and adopted by the United
States Government, which has appointed him to
supply them to disabled soldiers FREE. It is
lighter and easier than any other, receives its
motion from a PATENT RUBBER CORD,
which possesses every advantage over the spiral
spring used in every other leg. There is no
danger of rusting and getting out of order, but
will last unimpaired for years. Orders addressed
to C. STAFFORD. No. 136 South Clark street,
Chicago, will receive immediate attention.
Post Office Box, 206
----------------------------------------------------------------
WORBLY’S FAMILY MONTHLY MAGAZINE September, 1866
49
INFORMATION URGENTLY NEEDED Information is wanted of Sargent Casper Jackson Co.
F, 87th
N.C. Regt, Lane’s Brigade, who was wounded
in one of the last battles near Petersburg. Any
information will be thankfully received by his wife
Mrs. C. A. Jackson, Chapel Hill N. C.
------------------------------------------------------ THE BATTLE FOUGHT
— AND THE —
VICTORY WON ! A Successful Substitute for the Plow at
Last Produced.
COMSTOCK'S
R O T A R Y S P A D E R , A S imple and Durable Implement .
WORKING three feet in width and six to eight inches
deep, in preparing corn or other grain stubble for the
seed. Spading an acre to every two and three quarter
miles travel of the team.
Mr. J. B. Barnes of Corneille, LaSalle county,
spaded seven acres in seven hours, with four
horses, with no more labor to the team than
working in pairs before the plow—making a garden
bed of the grain field at half the expense of
plowing. Any man, boy or girl that can ride on an
easy seat and drive four horses, works it with ease.
Every farmer on the prairie that plows 80 acres or
more will want one sooner than they can get one
when its merits are known. Price $200,
As long is the cost of materials and labor will admit. Address C. COMSTOCK, Milwaukee, Wis.
------------------------------------------------------
HOMESTEAD LAND AVAILABLE
FREE
WONDERFUL RANCH LAND
PLENTIFUL WATER
Contact Charles Lofton
General Delivery, Denver, Colorado
Territory
HURRY FOR BEST LAND
____________________________________
Lloyd Richards & Son
Goldsmiths, Watchmakers, and Opticians,
Jacobsville, Colorado Territory
A Large Stock of Watches, Silver and Gold Jewelry,
High Class Plate Clocks, Spectacles, Eyeglasses, and
other Optical Goods at the lowest prices, consistent
with Good Quality
Discount allowed for cash purchases.
Gold dust and nuggets welcomed for trade.
----------------------------------------------------
TEACHER NEEDED Must have teaching certificate.
Room and Board Provided by
Various Families
Only men or single women need apply.
Contact Stanley Green, Pine Creek, Kansas
----------------------------------------------------------------
FARM FOR SALE
GREAT BARGIN FOR SOMEBODY
This Farm contains 300 acres Prairie and 15
acres Timber adjoining. A living stream runs
through it. Three miles new Fence. 220 acres
under cultivation. 80 acres of which is new
broke for wheat this Fall. Beautifully situated
3.4 miles from Rosamond. Shown cheerfully,
and no fault found if you don't buy.
Also for sale, 900 head choice MERINO SHEEP
and Lambs. Enquire of A. C.
VANDERWATER, Real Estate Agent.
Rosemond, Ills.
N. B.—Possession given this Fall
WORBLY’S FAMILY MONTHLY MAGAZINE September, 1866
50
SLATE GLOBES! For Families and Schools.
These Globes have a plain black slate surface,
upon which the slate-pencil may: be used for
Map-Drawing and GEOGRAPHICAL
ILLUSTRATIONS. In
Families and Schools they
supply a want long felt.
Slate Blackboards, of any size,
with a real stone slate surface:
may be used with chalk, talc,
or the common slate-pencil.
Patent Adamantine Slates,
light, noiseless, and
indestructible. These slates are
made of wood, with a real stone surface, are very
light, and it is almost impossible to break them.
LEAF SLATES, which go between the leaves of a
book. PORTFOLIOS and BOOK-FORM
SLATES. POCKET MEMORANDUMS AND
SLATES in every form and variety. Parents and
School-Committees will do well to examine.
C. H. WHEELER & CO., 5 and 7 Essex street,
Boston,
Manufacturers' Agents. Descriptive book sent on
application.
______________________________________
VICK'S ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUE OF
SEEDS AND
GUIDE TO THE FLOWER—GARDEN, FOR
1866.
MY NEW CATALOGUE AND FLORAL GUIDE
is now published and ready to send out. It
contains saturate descriptions of the leading
Floral Treasures of the world, with FULL and
plain directions for SOWING SEED,
TRANSPLANTING, and GENERAL CULTURE.
Also, a list of Choice Seeds for the VEGETABLE
GARDEN, with necessary instructions for
Planting and Culture.
MY New CATALOGUE and FLORAL GUIDE is
a beautiful work of fifty large pages, illustrated
with twenty-Jive fine engravings and one splendid
CLORED PLATE of the Double Zinnia. It will be
sent, postage paid, to all who apply inclosing ten
cents.
Address JAMES VICE., Rochester, N. V.
SOMETHING NEW!
THE CRAIG MICROSCOPE. Magnifies 100 Diameters; or 10,000 Times.
The Microscope Simplified, and adapted to
Popular Use.
This beautiful instrument, although of a High
Magnifying Power, is so simple that a child can
use it; for it requires no focal adjustment,
therefore it neither fatigues the eye nor wearies
the patience, like other Microscopes.
It reveals the unseen things of creation, and shows
the smallest insect to be fearfully and wonderfully
made. It is an endless source of amusement, and at
the same time imparts the most valuable
information.
As a gift, or present, it is UNSURPASSED, being
elegant, amusing, and instructive.
PRICE $2.OO
Sent by mail, post-paid, for $2.25, or with six
beautiful objects, $3.00. MOUNTED OBJECTS at
the rate of $1.50 per dozen.
C. H. WHEELER & C0., 5 & 7 Essex street,
Boston,
AGENTS FOR THE PATENTEE.
_________________________________________
Book Agents Wanted,
TO SELL THE BEST AND MOST
POPULAR Illustrated History of the Great Rebellion
YET PUBLISHED. VOLUME ONE NOW
READY.
Also several other beautifully illustrated and
rapid selling works. For Circulars address
HENRY HOWE
111 Main Street, Cincinnati, Ohio.
________________________________________
WORBLY’S FAMILY MONTHLY MAGAZINE September, 1866
51
THE BACK COVER PAGE WAS TOO
DAMAGED TO REPRINT SO WE ARE
SUBSTITUTING COVERS OF BOOKS
WRITTEN IN TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY
ABOUT PEOPLE IN THE NINETEENTH
CENTURY (AND FOR THIS MONTH, A
FEW FROM ANOTHER CENTURY).
The following books are by Lena Nelson
Dooley:
This book is in print, Ebook, and audio.
This book is in Ebook and audio.
This book is available as an Ebook.
This book is in print and Ebook.
This book is available as an Ebook, now and
as an audio book in October
This book is available as an Ebook.