The Highland Weekly News

Harmer's Department.

JANUARY.

" 'Tis then the time from hoarding crib to feed
The ox laborious and the noble steed;
'Tis then the time to tend the bleating fold,
To strew with litter and to fence from cold
The cattle fed, the fuel piled within.
At setting day the blissful hours begin;
'Tis then, sole owner of his little cot,
Thus Farmer feels his independent lot:
Hears, with the crackling blaze that lights the wall,
The voice of gladness and of Nature call;
Beholds his children play, their mother smile,
And tastes with them the fruits of Summer's toil."
Humphrey

Hints about Homesteads.

[It may seem rather late to give such advice as that contained in the article below, but there may be some of the readers of the News (though we hope not many) who have thus far neglected to prepare for the comfort of themselves and their families during the winter. Perhaps because we have as yet had so little cold weather that they have not realized the necessity of such preparations. "Line upon line and precept upon precept," may serve to awaken them to a sense of duty. For "while the lamp holds out to burn, the vilest sinner may return," and it is well said, "he who provideth not for his own household is worse than an infidel."

The merciful man is merciful to his beast-and while thus thoughtful of the brute creation, will not intentionally neglect the comfort of his fellow-creatures, especially that of his family and dependents.

But the man of the house, though not cruel, is often sadly forgetful, perplexed with many cares--and with the best intentions, leaves what ought to be done to-day for what he hopes will be a more propitious to-morrow.

The thoughtfulness of woman, though she has generally enough to think about in her own immediate household duties, may be very useful in reminding her husband, perplexed as above mentioned, about neglected duties around the house or farm-especially now on the approach of stormy or cold weather. Her quick eye and sensitive mind, ever busy with the domestic scenes around her, may, with a few gentle words, (and no true lady will use harsh ones.) increase the esteem of her husband for herself by refreshing his memory in these matters.

One of the chief characteristics of civilization--attention to the comfort of women and children--should be remembered first in all arrangements about the homestead.

WINDOWS, FIRE-PLACES, CHIMNEYS, &C.

The windows and other fixtures about the house should be promptly fixed, and nails driven in clapboards or shingles, where needed. Fire-places, stoves, furnaces, chimneys and fuel, should be arranged without delay, if not already fixed for winter. A smoky chimney is afflicting enough, though luckily it is seldom accompanied in these days with the ancient accompaniment of a scolding wife -though a smoky house is enough to try the temper of a saint.

An hour's work or a dollar's expense may prevent a winter's discomfort.

GOOD KINDLING AND FUEL.

In this connection you should not forget the fuel. Whether you have coal or wood, you should have it convenient for use, and not subject the female help, much less your wife or daughters, to annoyance in finding plentiful supplies of fuel--not forgetting good kindling-wood-during the storms of winter.

DRY PATHS ABOUT THE HOUSE.

Paths around the house, connecting with the barns and other out-houses, should be fixed to prevent the feet from being too badly wet and muddied, when passing about the premises. This requires little cost and labor. Even a range of thick boards or planks will answer the purpose, enabling a single person to keep out of the mud or wet till you make wider and durable walks.

A couple of wagon-loads of lumber thus laid down in paths around the dwelling and out-houses, will be worth more than they cost before next spring in promoting the comfort of your wife and children, saying nothing of yourself and others of the rougher sort of creation.

And then the boards or planks may be used for other purposes, when you "mend your ways" next summer with more enduring materials.

BARNS AND STABLES.

The barns, stables and sheds, may be made more beneficial for the uses of man and beast by a few repairs; which repairs, if left undone, will cost you far more by losses before next spring, besides occasioning discomfort to yourself, and injury to your cattle. You may improve the appearance of your out-houses, and save money by increasing the comfort of your cattle, if you will batten the gaps between boards.— Be sure though that while you thus close the cracks, you leave proper places for light and ventilation, as the domestic animals require light and air, as well as their owners. Horses are murdered in myriads by the ignorance which coops them in dungeon-like stables-dark, damp and dirty.

An English Farmer's Wife.-In an article on English agriculture in the Patent Office Report, the Hon. H. F. French, of New Hampshire, remarks:

In his family an English farmer upon a large farm lives very much in the style of the wealthiest New England land owners. The same fact is observable there as here; that the wife and daughters, by some means, acquire a more finished education than the men, and conduct their household affairs with grace and dignity. *

* * With servants enough to relieve her of the drudgery of hard labor, the farmer's wife gives careful and personal attention to her household, and has leisure to entertain handsomely the friends and guests of the family.