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approved pattern. If you ask what
they raise in their gardens, then, we
answer, everything that can be raised
in a garden. Most prominent in ap-
pearance was the cabbage. Some of
the readers of THE GUARDIAN
may
think that they have seen fine beds of
cabbage, for instance in Lancaster Co.,
and so have we-but when we saw
these cabbage fields, we almost had to
confess that we never saw cabbage be-
fore. The same may be said of all
other kinds of vegetables. They claim
that they ship their sauer kraut east,
west, north and south. But the sur-
prising thing about these vegetable
farms, to us was, their neatness.
rows are as straight as a line. Not a
weed can be seen anywhere. Pennsyl-
vania farmers used to be troubled with
what they called fall-grass. In Iowa it
is vulgarly called fox-tail, and every
Iowa farmer knows how utterly impos-
sible it is to keep it out of the corn and
potato fields. But amidst this wilder-

The

among the very best we have seen in the west, and on either side are beautiful shade trees. The villages are built on rising ground and generally contain several streets. We were told that the five villages now contain about 1700 people. While everything about them is very plain, it is very neat and clean. Each .community seems to be complete within itself as it possesses everything necessary to carry on its affairs. While agriculture may be regarded as the chief pursuit, it is yet not the only one by any means. They have among them two woolen mills, two saw mills, two grist mills and a tannery. These, we were told, run on full time with a full set of hands-and even then the orders cannot be filled at times. The people in appearance are robust and strong. You have no trouble to guess their nationality as they carry with them the characteristic features of the Teutonic race. When you see the dress of one man and one woman you have a sample dress of all-ness of vegetables we did not notice a both young and old. The men wear pants and blouse of blue denims, while the women wear a blue print. Every mau, woman and child that we saw in these villages was arrayed in bluewhile the men wore straw hats of their own make and the women had a kerchief tied about the head. This is their dress for summer, while in the winter they wear gray woolen cloth of their own manufacture. The dress seems plain enough but scrupulously clean. Among them all we saw not one who was slovenly or careless in dress. Their mills and factories are roomy and well built. The barns are very large and are all situated on the outskirts of the village. The dwellinghouses are nearly all built of wooda few brick. They are generally large and comfortable, and are all unpainted. Paint they claim is an evidence of pride and a worldly feeling. The sides of some of the houses are nearly covered with creeping vines of various kinds. The fences about their yards are of the most primitive style. The house yards are generally small and well filled with fruit trees and grape vines. Their gardens are something almost wonderful. These are of immense size and arranged into beds and lands of the most

single stalk. In every garden you can see men and women at work hoeing and raking the ground. But I never saw men and women in the same garden, as the sexes are not allowed to associate even while at work. In every garden or field you will notice a large tank which is kept filled with water-drawn hither by ox teams-and thus it matters not how dry the season, these gardens will not suffer as long as there is water in the Iowa river.

Farming is done on a large scale. The older men seem to do the work about the villages, barns and gardens, while the younger ones labor in the fields. As an illustration of how the work is pushed forward by mere force of numbers, we will give an instance. On Thursday we passed by an immense wheat field covered as thickly with shocks of grain as any field we ever saw. On Tuesday following we passed by the same field and found it plowed again for next year's crop. Likely fifteen or twenty teams did the work, or perhaps even more. They have fine orchards and raise all kinds of fruit that can be raised in this latitude, though they do not seem to make fruit culture so much of an object, probably because it does not pay so well.

They thresh their grain by attaching of goods, especially for the winter. We supposed of course that the people came here because they could buy cheaper-while at the same time the quality of the goods was superior. While their manufactures are superior in quality, we found that we could buy as cheaply nearer home, and indeed buy their own goods at that. It is wonderful how soon foreigners fall into our Yankee ways on coming into this country. These people have long since learned to rate their goods by the traffic of the outside world. But that they are perfectly honest in all their dealings we have no doubt whatever, and that is much in their favor, in this age of hurry to get rich at any price.

their separators to the engines of their factories and grist mills. Thus you may perhaps see a dozen teams hauling the wheat and oats to the separators and as many more hauling away the straw and stacking it near the barns. Others again are hauling away the grain. We saw three such separators at work and they presented a lively scene indeed. Every one appears to be doing something, yet no one seems to be in a hurry. As they have all things in common, one does not seem anxious to do more than another. At one of the villages we noticed a number of wagons hauling the straw to a barn where it was to be stacked. Here it was thrown on a one-horse power strawcarrier, by which it is carried to the top of the stack, and there on the stack were eight men, strong and hearty, stacking that straw, whereas three men would ordinarily be considered sufficient. Between two of the villages they have constructed an artificial lake covering many acres of land. This is certainly a beautiful body of water, along the banks of which the road leads from one village to the other. On this lake they have a steamer which seems to carry on a regular traffic between the towns. They use ox and horse teams. Their horses are large and heavy such as a person sees on an old-fashioned Pennsylvania farm. The oxen are among the largest we ever saw in this land of large cattle. It seems to us that these people are the only ones suited to drive ox teams here in the west, because it requires not a little patience to do so, and as these people are never in a hurry, they are above all others calculated to work with this slow, lazy and, sometimes, stubborn animal.

We would like to tell the readers of THE GUARDIAN something about the religious beliefs and customs of this interesting people, but at this point we find ourselves utterly unable to give the desired information. They are deeply religious in their profession at least. They are somewhat ascetic in their tendencies, as they seem to think it a great virtue to withdraw from the world as much as possible. They claim to depend entirely on Inspiration for their knowledge as to what is to be done among them. There is one who stands at the head and through this person, they claim, God communicates His will to them. Below this chief are elders who take part in the government, but they are subordinate, all the while, to the Chief Ruler, who is also supposed to be inspired. Thus by the Inspired Prophet they claim to receive the will of Christ. They hold service every day and have prayers in the evening where the faithful are expected to be present unless they have a good excuse for absence. These prayer services are held in their meeting houses. They do not go to law among themselves or with outsiders, but if there happens to be any dispute between any of the members, which the elders cannot settle, then it is settled by the Inspired Pro

We were in their stores. As they are up with the times in agriculture and manufactures, one might suppose that they would be the same in their stores. But they are not by any means. Their stores are about like the Pennsyl-phet who receives his knowledge of the vania village stores of twenty-five years ago. What they contain is principally what they manufacture, except such things as they are compelled to ship in. Often had we heard people speak about going to the colonies to lay in a stock

matter from above. They have a catechism which they use in the instruction of their children. This is part of the instruction which the children receive in the day schools. Marriage is not considered as a thing particularly honora

ble. Celibacy is far more honorable. still a heathen, and Christians were The young people-boys and girls- surprised that the beautiful lady of Bindo not associate with each other. That gen should elect to be "unequally is considered a dangerous thing. The yoked together" with an unbeliever. men eat at a table by themselves and He had, however, promised to become the women do likewise. Yet the young a Christian, and his personal appearance manage these matters as among other completed the conquest. After all, such people, only that no young man can unions are not unusual. It is thus that marry until he is twenty-four. They the tender vine clings to the giant oak. have many curious sayings among them which would take too much space to mention here. They claim that they must not remain longer than one hundred years at any one place and when the hundred years are up they must seek out another home. But our letter is already too long and we must stop here with a story that has been interesting to us, and we hope will be to the readers of THE GUARDIAN.

BLESSED RUPERT: A LEGEND OF
BINGEN.

BY THE EDITOR.

Duke Robolaus soon forgot his promises, and treated his bride with great cruelty. He forbade her to mention the name of Christ, and required her to live in an obscure castle. Here she bore a son, who became her great comfort in all her sorrows.

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In a warlike expedition Duke Robolaus was slain, and his widow returned with her boy to her home at Bingen. She now devoted herself entirely to the education of her son, and was gratified to see him growing up in the admonition of the Lord. He had his father's beauty and his mother's gentle, loving heart. The children all loved him, for he always sought to make them pleaOnce he brought a company of

sure.

The old town of Bingen, on the hungry boys to his mother and said: Rhine, is celebrated in legend and song." Mother, feed these hungry boys. ReWho has not heard the tale of the member, they are also your children!" wicked bishop, Hatto, of Bingen, who When his mother proposed to build a was devoured by mice as a judgment magnificent castle, he said: "Let us for his cruelty to the poor? And what first feed the hungry and clothe the lover of poetry does not remember the naked, for they are our brethren." On beautiful ballad of the dying soldier another occasion, when he saw a begwho "was born at Bingen-at Bingen gar-boy shivering in the cold, he took on the Rhine." We remember, how-off his mantle of state and cast it around ever, a legend of Bingen which is less the shoulders of the sufferer. romantic, but has the merit of having, in part at least, an historic foundation. It is the story of a young nobleman, who, for his tender piety in a wicked age, is still venerated as the Blessed Rupert.

On a beautiful spring morning Rupert once took a long walk along the bank of the Rhine. Growing weary he took a seat under a spreading oak and fell asleep. Then he had a dream which was not like the ordinary fleeting A thousand years ago there dwelt in visions of the night. He saw an aged the castle of Bingen, a maiden, who, man, dressed in a long robe, standing for her beauty and piety, was celebrated on the bank of the river. A company in all the land. Her father was known of happy boys were playing around as the Duke of the Rhine, which meant, him, and one by one he took them and in those days, that he was commander- dipped them in the flood, from which in-chief of the emperor's forces in all they rose more beautiful than before. that region. From all parts of Ger- At the same time an island appeared to many there came suitors for the hand rise in the river, charming as a scene of the beautiful Lady of Bingen, but in Paradise, covered with trees full of she chose at last to wed Duke Robolaus, luscious fruits, and enlivened by the of Saxony, a celebrated warrior, but, songs of innumerable feathered warbalas! a harsh and brutal man. Like lers. To this island the old man led most of the Saxons of that age, he was the boys and arrayed them in garments

old man.

THE NOBLEST ART.

In the days of the pious Frederick of the Palatinate the country was seriously threatened by its enemies. One day at table, the prince inquired of his nobles: "My lords, if you should lose your pro

as white as snow. Full of strange longings, Rupert ran to the reverend man and asked him whether he might not join the company of boys and live on the beautiful island. "Nay!" said the "This is no place for thee. Thy faith and works have rendered thee worthy of enjoying the higher delights of heaven and of beholding the coun-perty and be driven into exile, what tenance of God's glorified saints." And, behold! at the words there appeared a rainbow on the beautiful island, and looking upward, Rupert saw a company of angels, with golden pinions, surrounding the Christ-child who shone in indescribable glory. Two angels came forward holding between them a mantle, which Rupert recognized as the one which he himself had given to the beggar-boy, and reverently laid it on the shoulders of the Christ-child, who said: "Rupert, thou hast clothed the naked and fed the hungry; therefore thou shalt receive an abundant reward in my celestial kingdom." Full of delight Rupert extended his arms towards the Christ-child, but the charming vision vanished, and he awoke.

Men then

From this moment Rupert appeared to belong no longer to this world. He determined to visit the Holy Land, to worship at the places most sacred to Christians; but it was not to be. Af ter becoming the founder of an institution for the relief of the poor he died, in the arms of his mother, before he had attained his twentieth year. began to call him "Blessed Rupert." Many stories were related concerning his sanctity, and in due time his name was entered on the calendar of the church. The mantle which he had given to a beggar, and which he thought he saw in his dream, was recovered by his mother, and is said to be still preserved at Eubingen. The legend is simple but it illustrates the truth that earthly fame is worthless compared with heavenly favor. "And the world passeth away and the lust thereof; but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever."

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would you do to make a living?" Then soldier." Another said, "I can carve one said, "I can fight and I will be a the intention of becoming a minstrel, in wood;" and still another expressed because he could sing and play the lute. But the pious knight, Otto von Gruenrad, said modestly: "I can pray; and from this moment I will devote myself to the practice of this art, so that we may not need the others." "Sir knight,” said the elector, "Your art is the noblest

of them all."

TEACHING AT HOME.

A German author has well said: "The world is governed from its nurhome sinks deeper into the memory and series." The instruction received at exerts a more profound influence on the life of the scholar than all the learning of the schools. The boys and girls who have been well instructed at home are easily recognized in Sunday-School.

They are the scholars who are most

ready to answer questions, and who in every way cause their teachers the most pleasure. Let fathers and mothers gather their children around them and teach them the facts of Scripture hisThey can give them no greater treasure tory and the doctrines of the faith. than gems from the heavenly treasury.

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A BRAVE GIRL.

"Oh, Daddy!" called a clear, girlish voice.

"Yes, Lindy; what's wanted?" "Ma wants to know how long it 'll be 'fore you're ready."

chickens were "peeping" loudly, and she remembered that they were still without their dinner.

As she passed around the corner of the house with a dish of corn in her hands, the wind almost lifted her from the ground. It was certainly blowing with greater violence than during the morning.

"Oh, tell her I'll be at the door by the time she gets her things on. Be sure you have the butter and eggs all Great tumble weeds went flying by, ready to put into the wagon. We're turning over and over with almost lightmakin' too late a start to town." ning-rapidity; then pausing for an inButter and eggs, indeed! As if stant's rest, were caught by another Lindy needed a reminder other than gust and carried along, mile after mile, the new dress for which they were to be till some fence or other obstacle was exchanged. reached, where they could pile up in great drifts, and wait till a brisk wind from an opposite direction should send them rolling and tumbling all the way "Yes, Lindy; I hope so," was the back. But Lindy did not notice the reply. "But don't bother me now; tumble-weeds. The dish of corn had your Pa is coming already, and I have fallen from her hands, and she stood not my shawl on yet. Yes, Wilbur; looking straight ahead with wide-open, I'm here. Just put this butter in, Lin- terrified eyes. dy; I'll carry the eggs in my lap. Now, Lindy, don't let Elmer play with the fire or run away."

"Elmer and I can go to town next time, can't we, Ma?" she asked, entering the house.

And in a moment more the heavy lumber wagon rattled away from the door, and the children stood gazing after it for awhile in a half-forlorn manner. Then Lindy went to do her work, Elmer resumed his play, and Boon everything was moving along as cheerfully as ever.

What was the sight that frightened

her?

Only a line of fire below the horizon. Only a line of fire, with forked flames darting high into the air and a cloud of smoke drifting away from them. A beautiful relief, this bright, changing spectacle, from the brown monotony of the prairie.

But the scene was without beauty for Lindy. Her heart had given one great After dinner, Elmer went to sleep, bound when she first saw the red line, and Lindy, feeling rather lonely again, and then it seemed to cease beating. went out-of-doors for a change. It She had seen many prairie fires; had was a warm autumnal day, almost the seen her father and other men fight perfect counterpart of a dozen or more them, and she knew at once the danger which had preceded it. The sun shone her home was in. What could she, a brightly, and the hot winds that swept little girl, do to save it, and perhaps through the tall grass made that and all herself and her little brother, from the else so dry that the prairie seemed like destroyer which the south wind was a vast tinder-box. Though her parents bringing straight towards them? had but lately moved to this place, Lindy was accustomed to the prairies. She had been born on them, and her eyes were familiar with nothing else; yet, as she stood to-day with that brown, unbroken expanse rolling away before her until it reached the pale bluish-gray of the sky, the indescribable feeling of awe and terrible solitude which such a scene often inspires in one not familiar only hope; but a strong, inexperienced with it stole gradually over her. But man would have shrunk from starting Lindy was far too practical to remain a back fire in such a wind.

Only for a moment Lindy stood, white and motionless; then with a bound she was at the well. Her course was decided upon. If only time and strength were given her! Drawing two pails of water, she laid a large bag in each, and then, getting some matches, hurried out beyond the stable. She must fight fire with fire. That was her

long under such an influence. The She fully realized the danger, but it

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