shall be restored in all its integrity—that at whatever cost of blood and treasure, "These States shall be, One nation, sovereign, independent, free " The people comprehend the great issue, and are prepared to meet it. We have able generals, who know how to fight battles and follow up victories; men who have no fears whatever of hurting the rebels, or destroying their property, when necessary. We have brav eand veteran troops, who, instead of being employed in guarding rebel orchards and hen-roosts, are marching in serried ranks to those great victories and achievements which are to decide the fate of their country. By the will and fiat of a mighty people the war cannot end, or even relax,, until all who once formed the American nation shall be re-united under one government, in one great and glorious destiny. Ulysses S. Grant. Most uncomplaining, with eye, heart-paining, Sharp scorn salutes thee, coarse malice shoots thee, Mock thee like stars in the jeweled sky. Mocking thy dolor, and downcast eye. Oh, why strive longer; the blast grows stronger; Thy bread is growing in the winter night. White snow-spreads gleaming from hill to hill; The eve fire faded, the star-glance shaded, And the sad wind streaming; and never still; The summer vanished, her sweet airs famished, No bird of hope on bare trees to sing; But the strong wind whirling, dull clouds unfurling, The ravage and scar of the storm to bring. So rapid has been the growth of notoriety Yet the earth sleeps sound, in her trance profound; for so many persons thrust forward by the fortuities of war, that it is scarcely safe, at so early a period, to predict to whom the future will leave the meed of an envied reputation, or to what distinguished few the history of the times will accord true great ness. But in looking back, over the forty-three years since the child of obscure parents was born to poverty and toil, upon the banks of the Ohio, up to the height of national honors, in the person of our Lieutenant General, we seem to see one whose name the future will not soon let die. Every step in the humble life or public career of this soldier of the Republic stamps him as a man worthy of the trust of this great people, and destined to be a star in their coming glories. The last bolt hurled against rebellion, in the fall of Fort Fisher, is but one in a chain of evidence that he is the right man in his place-a man of deeds rather than words. May he live as long as he is the best man the nation can find for the place he so well No storm or shadow a germ shall blight; But the stars calm sparkle, and moon glides slow. What mocking glitter-a shade were fit er Than that regal Nature should smile on my woe; But keener, colder, than wind dart bolder, Is the wonted glare of the world's clear eye With cool smile, turning from my mad heart's burning, When the pain wrings from me a gasping cry. Thy soul shall know, and what grace shall win. Rich guerdons and treasure off heights of strife. Crowned over comer, thy soul all summer, Its inner flame giving the glow to life. As, the year's tides turning, and spring's flood burning, Earth moves, now radiant with light and bloom, fills, and die crowned with the benedictions The swift months load her with fruit and wine odor, of a great and grateful people. TRUTH is mighty, and shall prevail. Seas silver dashing, and blue eves flashing, Glory leads glory, as seasons come. Read in old history-read life's mystery, (No comfortless counsel this, " Fighting, to wait;"") Shall we let our Children Dance? MR. EDITOR:-There exists a strong prejudice against dancing among many of our people. Believing that either mentally or physically that exercise is far more beneficial than hurtful, and that it ought to be encouraged within reasonable limits, I thought I would send you a few words in its favor. When you reason with those who oppose dancing and denounce it, and ask upon what grounds their objections are founded, they answer, in vague and general terms, that its tendencies are toward immorality and dissipation, and that many churches prohibit dancing upon those grounds. house, at a time when all are confined to it more closely than is good for either body or mind. Our opponents say that it is a very silly thing for people to be hopping opposite one another. Perhaps it is. If moving in time to the exciting strains of the violin; if trying to look well and to please and be pleased; if social enjoyment and gayety; if enjoying the bodily exercise required by nature, in the pleasantest possible way, are silly things, then there is an end to all social gatherings and amusements, for they are all more or less liable to the same objections, I say that we have no right to call silly or unprofitable a pastime which seems to be naturally so popular with all. It seems to satisfy a natural requirement of our natures, just as food satisfies the cravings of appetite. Such games as checkers, backgammon, chess, etc., which train the mind, and might be called more rational, are liable to this objection, that they are more unsociable, and afford no exercise to the body. As for cards, they are generally (excuse the pun,) discarded by those who discard dancing. It will be admitted that most of the young folks are eventually to be married. Is it not, therefore, desirable that they be brought in contact frequently, in a more unguarded way than upon the occasions of formal vis its, so that they may be able, from actual observation, to form a true estimate of the character of those who may eventually become their partners in life? Better, far, that moral or physical defects should become known before marriage than afterwards. Social gatherings, with dancing, afford, per We are living upon a new continent, and in an enlightened age, where antiquated prejudices may be brought to the bar and have a new trial. Should we find the verdict of ther countries and past ages to have been wrong, we will reverse it. We are no more bound to respect prejudice and bigotry, even though hoary with the age of centuries, than to travel on foot or on horseback because our fathers so traveled in old times, when we have the railroad car. Let the opponents of dancing show and prove that it is immoral, and I will not say another word in its favor. But they cannot do it. Dancing is, confessedly, per se, a grace-haps, the best opportunities for observation ful amusement teaching the young better than all precepts, how to move gracefully. instead of awkwardly. Is not this desirable? It learns them how to stand, how to bow, how to walk, and what to do with their arms and hands, which so few people know what to do with, unless they stick them in their pockets, clear out of sight. People are not apt to do this who have, as they should, gloves on. Dancing is eminently healthy, affording exercise, as well as pleasure, within the and comparison; they are, moreover, the occasion of teaching our daughters the art of house-keeping, and of doing the honors of home better than all their mothers' precepts or example could do it without. See how busy they are for a few days previous to a party, in compounding dainty refreshments, cakes, etc. With what alacrity they fly about the house, cleaning and putting everything in order for the reception of guests; what pride they take in making everybody comfortable and happy, scattering in every direction their smiles, and gathering a full day the foul air of the court-room; but if, harvest of them in return! when released from his day's labor, he turns to sunshine, and apple orchards, and womanly grace, smamp-land and bad air have not hurt him. But if a man find rest in mere eating and drinking, in spending for gross pleasures, or in hoarding, his character will every day lower, however high his occupation. Life itself is higher than any of the arts of life, and in living, few men rise above the women who are nearest them. Is it rightly or wrongly that the French have been said to be the most polished and graceful as well as the gayest people on earth? I do not know, but certainly it has been said that they are the most fond of dancing. If so, I conclude that the gracefulness flows as naturally from the dancing as the brook flows down the hillside. And let me remark: I am well pleased to see that Americans will soon be,-GAIL HAMILTON. if they are not already, the most formidable rivals of the French in this respect. As a general thing, I find few among persons opposed to dancing who see anything wrong in what is called the innocent games, otherwisepretty aptly termed "kissing bees," where girls are romped with, pushed and tumbled by rude boys, in a way more becoming a savage than a refined people. I prefer dancing, a thousand times. In conclusion, let us bear in mind that the young must and will have amusement and relaxation; if they cannot get them within the home circle, they will seek them in the billiard room, the saloon, the grog. gery, or the gambling hell. Parents, would you have your children keep in the straight path after they are released by age from your control or guidance, introduce all social games and amusements within your homes. Make your children feel that there is more truth than poetry in the song, "There is no place like home. G. DE NEVEU. House and Home. The hands which have the ordering of home have a large share in the ordering of character. The man who provides the house does an important part, but she who makes it into a home is the real artist and builder. He furnishes and she fashions the material out of which are to come the convenience, the comfort, and the grace of the family. It is not money-getting, but money-spending that brings happiness, and influences character. A man may work to his knees in swamp-mud, or breathe all up The Best. What's the best thing in the world? Love, when so you're loved again. MRS. BROWNING. DOMESTIC ECONOMY. What shall we Eat? MR. EDITOR:-I presume all the house keeping readers of the FARMER have been interested in Mrs. Jones' article, "What shall we eat," as well as the farmer's wife, whom she addresses; and we all feel grateful for any assistance rendered in solving the puzzling enigma of "What shall we cook?" I have tried some of her receipts, and find them very wholesome, and quite convenient; yet I have no doubt it would require a very patient spirit to appease the appetites of sixteen or even six stalwart working men, on fruit and "gems." I would, therefore, advise the farmer's wife, unless she possess more patience than usu ally falls to the lot of housekeepers, to keep on in the good old way of bread-making, and sometimes give them pork for dinner. There is no doubt that fruit is the essential requisite of a good table, and all efforts at reform which ignore this will be, to a great extent, failures. Until our farmers turn their attention more to fruit raising, which they can easily do if they choose, and until they come to consider a fruit garden a necessity instead of a luxury, reform in this matter will be for their wives an up-hill business. This turns the matter almost wholly over to the farmer instead of his wife; and as hard-working farmers are seldom troubled with dyspepsia, and laugh to scorn such things as gems," what is to be done? Perhaps Mrs. Jones would say, "Farmer's wives need out-door exercise. Let them turn their attention to raising small fruits." Exactly the thing if we could only make it work, but the morning hours of every housekeeper are fully occupied, unless she have competent help, which is seldom the case, and the heat of mid-day or afternoon is not just the time for healthful out-door exercise. Still, something can be done, although, in this climate, we are not always sure of eating the fruits of our labor. Three years ago, I planted three large beds with strawberry vines Wilson's, Early Scarlet, and Hooker's. By working during the cloudy weather, and in the early part of the evenings, I kept them weeded, and picked a few scattering berries the first year. By working faithfully, 1 kept them in order the second year, although my husband claimed all the credit, as he worked in them a few hours. The blossoms were cut off by an untimely frost. They yielded one quart. The third year, the beds looked finely in the spring, and were white with blossoms; but, alas! for human expectation, the drouth came on. The gar The den is some distance from the well. well is forty feet deep, with no very convenient method of getting water up, to say nothing of conveying it to the garden. So it came about that our third picking was very small indeed. Yet, I am not going to give up my strawberries so, but mean to have a bed near the well, another year. Currants and gooseberries can be grown with a little trouble, yet the increased size and larger quantity of fruit obtained well repays more thorough cultivation than any but a man can give. Raspberries and blackberries require thorough cultivation and winter protection, about which most women would need assistance. After duly considering all hindering causes, I fear, if we are obliged to depend upon our own resources for obtaining fruit, "the heads of our pork-barrels and beef-tubs will have to remain unnailed," and that we shall be obliged to continue "digging our graves with our teeth," unless some one should succeed in setting this matter before the eyes of our husbands and brothers, in so strong a light as to set them to work in earnest in their, now much neglected fruit gardens. MRS. G. ADAMS. DANVILLE, January, 1865. YOUTH'S CORNER. The Color-Bearer. BY J. F. TROWBRIDGE. Oh, his color was the first, Through the hurrying cloud he burst, With the standard to the battle forward slanted! Through the belching, blinding breath Of the flaming jaws of Death, 'Till his banner on the bastion he had planted! By the screaming shot that fell, And the yell of the shell, Nothing daunted. Right against the bulwark dashing, 'Mid the plunging volleys thundering ever louder, Oh, was ever bero handsomer or prouder? Of the powder ! Through the abatis they broke, Through the surging cannon-smoke, And they drove the foe before like frightened cattle! Oh, but never wound was his, For in other wars than this, Where the volleys of Life's conflict roar and rattle, Such shall guide the van of Truth ! Be her fearless, be her peerless Color-Bearer! Like a banner brave and ampie, Our Young Folks. Enigmas, &c. [Several new enigmas, puzzles, &c., are reluctantly omitted, for want of room.] For Vice Presidents, Oliver H. Crowl, of H ANSWERS TO ENIGMAS, ETC., IN LAST NUMBER No. 1.-Money. Answered by Mary E. Lowell, George Baker, of Hustisford, and No. 2.-Rab.-Richmond and Boston. E. Cole. PUZZLE.-Begin on the side of the board, four inches from the corner, cutting into the board three inches; then four inches lengthwise of the board; then three inches across the board; then four inches lengthwise, and three inches across again, which cuts the board in two pieces, the saw coming out four inches from the opposite corner from which it entered. Answered by Ed. Atchinson, Egbert Florence, and Fred. Isham. NEWS SUMMARY. STATE AFFAIRS. For Secretary, John C. Halliger, of Oak For Treasurer, O. F. Jones, of Oak Grove. JOHN C. HALLIGER, Secretary. JUNEAU, Dec. 17, 1864. NATIONAL AFFAIRS. Political. Congress is discussing the Constitutional amendment, the duty on printing paper, finances, &c. Missouri has passed her Free Constitution, and a Bill of Rights to corres. pond. In the Legislatures of the States, thus far assembled, things look well. Military. The great event of the month is the taking of Fort Fisher, on the 17th Official accounts say, "All the works south of the Legislature assembled on the 11th, and organized without delay, by re-electing Fort are, also, in our possession, and we Speaker Field, and a substantially good have not less than 1,200 prisoners, includcorps of officers The Governor's Message ing Gen. Whitney, and Col. Lamb, the com-an able and widely approved document-mander of the Fort." No attack of our aris already in the hands of our readers. Time, thus far, mainly occupied in organizing committees, and getting to work, generally, though so e important measures are indicated by bills already introduced: To exempt sheep, wool, and woolen manufactories from taxation, which, in the present status of the dog community, seems to be no more than just; amending the law granting aid to soldiers' fami ies, by making its provisions more definite; memorials to Congress for the location of a Naval Depot at Milwaukee, and for a reduction of duty on foreign printing paper; also, a resolution adopted not to act on any business that can be legally transacted by county boards or courts. my upon rebel forces, has more ably dem- Miscellaneous. Hon. Edward Everett died of apoplexy, at his home, in Boston, on the 16th, at the age of 71. A man illustrious in genius, profound in learning, and eminent in public service. Of such, our country has, yet, but few. County Agricultural Society. MR. EDITOR:-At the annual meeting of the Dodge County Agricultural Society, held on the 5th of December, 1864, the following named officers were elected, viz: Mr. Foote, lately resigned Senator of C. For President, Harvey C. Crandall, of S. A., was captured by his constituents, in Emmett. a late attempt to escape within our lines. |