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KNITTED ARTIFICIAL FLOWERS.

HEART'S-EASE.

This flower requires five petals to form it, two violet and three yellow; one of the latter must be larger than the rest, and of a deeper color. All the wool must be split.

For the violet petals, cast on ten stitches on two needles, five on each; fold the two needles so as to bring the last stitch behind the first, and double knit a piece of rather more than half an inch in length, taking one stitch from one needle, and one from the other throughout each row. When you take the needles out, run the wool through them with a rug needle, and pass a piece of double wire through the little bag which the knitting has formed, catch it at the top and sides to keep it in form, draw up the other end, and twist the wires together after having shaped the wire to the form of the petal. The yellow petals are knitted in the same way, the largest requires twelve stitches, and the last four or six rows must be done with violet wool, to form the dark spot at the top. The two smaller yellow petals only require eight stitches, with two or four rows of violet at the top; twist the wires of the five petals together, and cover the stem with green wool; a cross stitch, like herring-bone, should be made with green wool, where the petals join in the middle of the flower.

FOR THE CALYX,

Thread a needle with whole green wool, fasten this on the stem, at the back of the flower, and take a herring stitch at the back of each petal, making the stitch rather long, and leaving the wool loose. The bud is formed by making a little tuft of yellow, violet, and green wool, mixed together; fix it on a piece of wire by crossing the wool over, and twisting the wire very tight, turn the ends of the wool down the wire, and fasten them at about a quarter of an inch down, by twisting some green split wool round, with which the little stem must be also covered.

LEAVES.

Cast on three stitches.

Knit one row, purl one row, then

1st row. Make one, knit one throughout the row. 2d.-Make one, purl the row.

3d.-Make one, knit three, make one, knit one, make one, knit two.

4th. Make one, purl the row.

5th.-Make one, knit five, make one, knit one, make one, knit six.

6th. Make one, purl the row.

7th.-Cast off, or fasten off, three stitches, knit three, make one, knit one.

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25th.-Cast off three stitches, knit remainder. 26th.-Cast off three stitches, purl remainder. 27th.-Knit row plain.

28th.-Purl the row plain.

29th.-Knit row plain.

30th.-Purl row plain.

31st.-Cast off two, knit remainder.
32d.-Cast off two, purl remainder.
33d.-Knit row plain.
34th.-Purl row.
35th.-Knit row plain.
36th.-Purl row plain.
37th.-Cast off two, knit remainder.
38th.-Cast off two, purl remainder.
Fasten off the two last stitches.

It is on this principle that all kinds of indented leaves are made; by knitting more rows with increase between the castings off, they are made broader; by working more rows between the castings off, they are made longer; and by casting off more stitches at a time, the indentations are made deeper; so that the endless variety of natural leaves may be copied without difficulty.

Having completed the leaves, some wire must be sewn neatly round, following the turnings of the leaf exactly; and for the larger ones, it will be better to sew a double wire in the centre of the leaf at the back, which will conceal the openings left by the increase of stitches.

One or two flowers, with a bud, and two or three leaves, are sufficient for a small branch.

FUCHSIA.

Ir knitted in good size China silk, it does well to ornament caps or bonnets.

CALYX.

Four calyx are required for each flower; cast on eight stitches with crimson split wool.

1st row.-Knit plain. 2d.-Purl. 3d.-Knit plain. 4th.-Purl.

5th. Make one, knit two; repeat to the end of

row.

6th.-Purl. 7th.-Knit plain. 8th.-Purl. 9th.-Knit plain.

10th.-Purl. 11th.-Knit plain.

12th.-Purl.

13th.-Make one, knit three; repeat to the end

of row.

14th.-Purl.

15th. Make one, knit four; repeat. 16th.-Purl.

17th. Make one, knit five to the end of row. 18th.-Knit six stitches, turn back and purl the same (leaving the rest of the stitches on the needle). Continue knitting and purling the six stitches until you have six small rows; then decrease one stitch, knit four; next row, decrease one, purl three, knit a row plain; then decrease one, purl two; lastly slip one, knit two together, turn the slipped stitch over, fasten the wool by putting it through the last stitch. This completes one division of the calyx. Break off the wool, leaving about a yard on the work, in order neatly to carry down the wool to the stitches, which are still on the needle. Then, with the same wool, knit six more stitches, which must be done especially as the first, forming the second division, and with the same wool knit the third and fourth, which finishes the calyx.

Sew a bit of fine wire (with the same split wool) round the end of each division, and the ends of the wire must be sown two by two on the inside of the flower before it is sown up.

COROLLA.

The corolla is small in the Fuchsia, and less apparent than the calyx. The color of the wool must be either purple or dark puce.

Cast on eight stitches.

1st row.-Knit plain.

2d.-Purl.

3d.-Make one, knit two; repeat throughout the

row.

4th.-Purl.

5th.-Knit plain.

6th.-Purl.

7th.-Make one, knit three; throughout the row. 8th.-Purl.

9th.-Knit plain.

10th.-Purl.

11th.-Knit four stitches, turn back, decrease one, purl two, and finish by slipping one, knitting two together, turning the slipped stitch over, and putting the wool through the loop; bring the wool down the edge in the same way as for the calyx, and knit the second, third, and fourth divisions like the first. Sew a bit of wire round the edge, following the sinuosities of the work, and sew the two edges together.

The pistil and stamen can be made like the lily, but very much finer and smaller; but a simpler and easier method is, to stiffen some pale green, or white sewing cotton, with gum, and cut eight pieces of it, of about five or six inches long, for the stamen, and one bit rather longer for the pistil; tie them together, and dip the longest in gum, and then in some green powder, or wool cut as fine as powder, and the rest, first in gum, and then immediately in yellow powder, or wool cut as fine, which will answer quite as well for the purpose. Mount your flower, by placing the stamens and pistil inside the corolla, and that too within the calyx, sufficiently low to show the corolla slightly; sew the open side of the calyx, and twist all the stalks together, covering the little stem with green wool.

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Cast on three stitches, knit, and purl alternate rows, increasing one stitch at the beginning of each row until the leaf is of the breadth desired (about seven stitches for the smallest, and fourteen or sixteen stitches for the largest); then knit and purl four rows without increase, and begin to decrease in every row, until you have but three stitches left, which knit as one, and fasten off. Sew a fine wire round the leaves, leaving a small bit at the end as a stalk, and also a fine wire doubled, at the back of the leaf, in the centre, which will keep it in shape.

Several shades and sizes of leaves are required, as also several buds and flowers, to form a handsome branch.

EDITORS' TABLE.

"Festivals, when duly observed, attach men to the civil and religious institutions of their country; it is an evil, therefore, when they fall into disuse. Who is there who does not recollect their effect upon himself in early life?"— SOUTHEY.

THE American people have two peculiar festivals, each connected with their history, and therefore of great importance in giving power and distinctness to their nationality.

THE FOURTH OF JULY is the exponent of independence and civil freedom. THANKSGIVING DAY is the national pledge of Christian faith in God, acknowledging him as the dispenser of blessings. These two festivals should be joyfully and universally observed throughout our whole country, and thus incorporated in our habits of thought as inseparable from American life.

Our Independence Day is thus celebrated. Wherever an American is found, the Fourth of July is a festival; and those nations who sit in chains and darkness feel that there is hope even for them, when the American flag is raised in the triumph of freedom. Would not the light of liberty be dimmed were this observance to cease?

Thanksgiving Day is a festival of ancient date in New England, being established there soon after the settlement of Boston. The observance has been gradually extending; and, for a few years past, efforts have been made to have a fixed day, which shall be universally observed throughout our whole country. The "Lady's Book" was the pioneer in this endeavor to give unity to the idea of Thanksgiving Day, and thus make it a national observance.

The last Thursday in November was selected as the day, on the whole, most appropriate. Last year, twenty-nine States, and all the Territories, united in the festival. This year, we trust that Virginia and Vermont will come into this arrangement, and that the Governors of each and all the States and Territories will appoint Thursday, the 25th of November, as the Day of Thanksgiving.

The year 1852 would thus be an era from which to date the establishment of this national festival; and henceforth, wherever an American is found, the last Thursday in November would be the Thanksgiving Day. Families may be separated so widely that personal reunion would be impossible; still this festival, like the Fourth of July, will bring every American heart into harmony with his home and his country. The influence of such an American festival on foreigners would also be salutary, by showing them that our people acknowledge the Lord as our God. In our own wide land, from the St. John's to the Rio Grande, and from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean, every heart would, on one day in each year, beat in unison of enjoyment and thankfulness.

Therefore, we hope to witness this year the first of these national festivals.

DELUSIONS.-It is a mortifying fact that people love to be deceived. Many choose to live in darkness when the light is all around them: it would seem impossible they should be thus blind, did we not have the evidence of their folly before us. How any sane person can put faith in spirit rappings, and the manifestations made by the cunning speculators in this new way of divination, is a greater mar

vel than any the mediums have pretended to set forth. But there is one consolation. The folly and wickedness of these delusions are harmless and weak compared with those that resulted from the witchcraft mania of 1692.

During that sad year, the delusion had its beginning and ending, so far as the tragic drama was enacted. It opened in the following manner: Near the close of the month of February, 1692, two little girls in the family of the Rev. Mr. Parris, Elizabeth, his daughter, aged nine, and Abigail Williams, his niece, about twelve years of age, together with a young girl of the neighborhood, named Ann Putnam, began to act in a strange and unaccountable manner. They would creep into holes, and under benches and chairs, and put themselves into odd postures, make antic gestures. and utter loud outcries, and ridiculous, incoherent, and unintelligible expressions. The attention of the family was arrested. No account or explanation of the conduct of the children could be given, and so physicians were called in and consulted. One of these sapient men gave it as his opinion that the children were bewitched! From this encouragement, the delusion went on gathering strength and power in its frightful course, till the lives of twenty inno cent persons, accused of witchcraft, had been sacrificed, a number of others condemned, and over three hundred had suffered, more or less severely, from imprisonment, or by fleeing from their homes.

Such scenes cannot be re-enacted. The rappers may take money from their dupes; they cannot touch those who refuse to be deluded by their mummeries. Thus we find our people have made sensible progress during the last one hundred and sixty years. Still the tendency of mind. which puts faith in marvels of human invention, while rejecting God's Word as the only rule of moral and spiritual enlightenment, is still witnessed; and the selfishness which uses this weakness for its own wicked purposes of gaining power and money is now manifested in a most disgusting form. The following is taken from the "Boston Courier," a paper of high repute in that city:

"A CONVENTION OF SPIRITUALISTS.'-A convention of professed believers in 'spiritual manifestations'-men and women-assembled in Washingtonian Hall, Bromfield Street, yesterday morning (August 6th). It was a singular collection of dupes and fanatics, resembling more a congregation of lunatics than a company of rational creatures. In fact, we have never seen the like outside the walls of a mad-house."

We cannot enter into the details of this revolting spee tacle, where men and women seemed striving to outdo each other in fanatical fooleries. But though the rappings, like the witchcraft delusion, were originated by females, we find the deception encouraged and systemstized by men for their own advantage, in a far greater de gree than by our sex. The officers and chief actors in this "Spiritualists' Convention" were men.

Our readers have no sympathy with these insane more ments, and our only reason for noticing the subject is that, when our "Book," a century hence, is referred to as a specimen of the literature of the nineteenth century, it may be apparent we did not, even by silence, assent to the humbug-to use a vulgar, but for this folly a most appropriate name of "spirit rappers."

WOMEN NEED EMPLOYMENT.-Yes, women need a wider sphere of employments for their tastes, talents, and the affections. Then they would not invent delusions. Give them something to do which men consider important, and, if the education of the women has been at all judicious, see if their work be not well done. The Institution of Kaiserswerth, on the Rhine, has been alluded to in our pages both by Mrs. Hill and Miss Bremer. We have now before us a pamphlet, published in London, giving a full description of the manner in which the good Pastor Fliedner has succeeded in training female students to take charge of the sick and the poor, and superintend hospitals, infant and industrial schools, and, in short, to be the educators and preservers of humanity. He gives to those he sends out the title of Deaconesses. The English writer thus urges the revival of that order of women in every Protestant country:

"The want of necessary occupation among English girls must have struck every one. How usual it is to see families of five or six daughters at home, in the higher ranks, with no other occupation in life but a class in a Sunday school. And what is that? A chapter of the Bible is opened at random, and the spiritual doctor, with no more idea of her patient's spiritual anatomy than she has plan for improving it, explains at random.

"In the middle classes, how many there are who feel themselves burdensome to their fathers, or brothers, but who, not finding husbands, and not having the education to be governesses, do not know what to do with themselves. "Intellectual education is, however, as before said, not what we want to supply. Is intellect enough for the being who was sent here, like her great Master, to finish' her Father's work? There was a woman once, who said that she was the 'handmaid of the Lord.' She was not the first, nor will she be the last, who has felt that this was really woman's only business on earth.

"If, then, there are many women who live unmarried, and many more who pass the third of the usual term of life unmarried, and if intellectual occupation is not meant to be their end in life, what are they to do with that thirst for action, useful action. which every woman feels who is not diseased in mind or body? God planted it there. God, who has created nothing in vain. What were His intentions with regard to unmarried women and widows? How did He mean to employ them, to satisfy them?

In

"For every want we can always find a divine supply. And accordingly, we see, in the very first times of Christianity, an apostolical institution for the employment of woman's powers directly in the service of God. We find them engaged as servants of the Church.' We read, in the Epistle to the Romans, of a 'Deaconess,' as in the Acts of the Apostles, of Deacons.' Not only men were employed in the service of the sick and poor, but also women. the fourth century, St. Chrysostom speaks of forty Deaconesses at Constantinople. We find them in the Western Church as late as the eighth, in the Eastern, as the twelfth century. When the Waldenses, and the Bohemian and Moravian brothers began to arise out of the night of the Middle Ages, we find in these communities, formed after the model of the apostolical institutions, the office of Deaconesses, who were called Presbyteræ, established in 1457. Many chose,' it is said, 'the single state, not because they expected thereby to reach a supereminent degree of holiness, but that they might be the better able to care for the sick and the young.'

"Luther complains how few, in his neighborhood, are found to fill the office of Deacons, saying that he must wait 'till our Lord God makes Christians,' and further adds, that women have especial grace to alleviate woe, and the VOL. XLV.-34

389

words of women move the human being more than those
of men.' In the sixteenth century, it is well known how
Robert von der Mark, Prince of Sedan in the Netherlands,
revived the institution of Protestant Sisters of Charity,
and, instead of appropriating the revenues of the sup-
pressed monasteries in his domains, devoted them to this
purpose. In the first General Synod of the Evangelical
Church of the Lower Rhine and the Netherlands, at Wesel,
1568, we find the office of Deaconesses recommended, and,
in the Classical Synod, of 1580, expressly established. In
England, they were not wanting. Among the Non-Con-
formists, under Elizabeth, 1576, Deaconesses were instituted
during divine service, and received amidst the general
prayer of the community. The Pilgrim Fathers of 1602-
1625, who were driven first to Amsterdam and Leyden,
then to North America, carried their Deaconesses with
them. In Amsterdam, we read how the Deaconess sat in
her place at church with a little birchen rod in her hand,
to correct the children,' and 'how she called upon the
young maidens for their services, when there were sick,'
and how she was obeyed like a mother in Israel.'

"It thus appears that, long previous to the establishment of the Order of Sisters of Mercy, by S. Vincent de Paule, in 1633, the importance of the office of Deaconess had been recognized by all divisions of Christians; and they accordingly existed.

"We see, therefore, that God has not implanted an impulse in the hearts of women, without preparing a way for them to obey it.

"Why did not the institution spread and flourish further? Perhaps this may be sufficiently explained by the preparatory fact that there were no nursery-grounds schools for Deaconesses, so that fitness for their office was, so to speak, accidental. This want is now supplied. "In Prussia, the system for the practical training of Deaconesses has spread in all directions.

"In Paris, Strasburg, Echallens (in Switzerland), Utrecht, and England, the institution exists. Whether the blessing be greater to the class from which the laborers are taken, or to that among which they labor, it is hard to say."

In our next number, we will give the history of the Institution of Kaiserswerth.

TO CORRESPONDENTS.-The following articles are accepted: "To my Mother," "The, Zephyr's Message," and "The Periwinkle."

Not accepted: "The Tide of Life."

We have a mass of manuscripts on hand not yet read. The warm weather has induced the editress to take a trip. Upon her return, she will give immediate attention to the contributions.

"Lines to Mrs. Hale" have been received. They are gratefully acknowledged by the publisher, and will be submitted with the manuscripts.

In answer to our correspondent from Cleveland, Ohio, we do not know a writer by that name.

"Mary," Salem, Mass., is informed that she must make a new mesh for the instep. We have a work on knitting for the nursery. We will also give instructions for knitting several other kinds of fruit.

"Anna." We have destroyed the MSS. agreeably to your request. We published, in the August number, for 1850, under the title of " A Gleam of Moonshine," an article very similar.

Persons asking advice, or writing upon business of their own, where an answer is required, must inclose a post-office stamp, or we shall neglect paying postage on the answer.

Literary Notices.

From LIPPINCOTT, GRAMBO & Co. (successors to Grigg & Elliot), No. 14 North Fourth Street, Philadelphia:

TALES OF MY LANDLORD. Second Series. "The Heart of Mid-Lothian" and "The Bride of Lammermoor." Vols. 3 and 4. We would appear somewhat ridiculous in the eyes of our readers, were we, at this late day, to attempt to eulogize the "Waverley Novels." But we may be permitted, in all truthfulness, to call their attention to the Leautiful edition now in progress through the press of Lippincott, Grambo & Co., of this city. This edition embraces the author's latest corrections, notes, &c. It is printed upon fine paper, new and beautiful type, with illustrations, and neatly bound in cloth, for twelve dollars; or. if taken in parts, in paper, fifty cents a volume. It will be comprised in twelve volumes, each volume, or part, to contain a complete novel. The best edition now publishing.

THE MORMONS, OR LATTER-DAY SAINTS, in the Valley of the Great Salt Lake. A History of their Rise and Progress, Peculiar Doctrines, Present Condition, and Prospects, derived from Personal Observation, during a Residence among them. By Lieutenant J. Gunnison, of the Topographical Engineers. As this politico-religious sect is daily growing in numbers and importance, in a moral as well as in a national view, we conceive that the author of this work has performed a high public duty in presenting us with an impartial account of their faith and its tendencies. His object has not been to ridicule the folly or the glaring absurdities of their faith, but merely to state what it is, leaving his readers to infer, from the facts stated, its irrational and unscriptural pretensions. He tells us that their priests are the civil officers, and they go so far as to say that our Saviour had three wives, Mary and Martha, and the other Mary, whom Jesus loved, all married at the wedding in Canaan of Galilee. That a people, formed into a State under such a civil and religious code, can be tolerated even under the liberal constitution of the United States, is a question which remains to be decided. It is one which involves the existence and the force, not only of our country's nationality, but of those principles of the common law which have heretofore been considered of universal application.

From A. HART (late Carey & Hart), corner of Fourth and Chestnut Street, Philadelphia:

The third and fourth volumes of Hart's cheap edition of the WAVERLEY NOVELS. Embracing the ". "Antiquary" and "Rob Roy," each complete in one volume. Price 25 cents. This is a very beautiful edition of the favorite author's works.

LECTURES ON THE RESULTS OF THE EXHIBITION, Delivered before the Society of Arts, and Manufactures, and Commerce, at the suggestion of H. R. H. Prince Albert, President of the Society. These lectures are twelve in number, and embrace every branch of the sciences and arts, manufactures and mechanics, specimens of which were produced at the late exhibition of art and industry in London. A most desirable set of books.

From HARPER & BROTHERS, New York, through LINDSAY & BLAKISTON, Philadelphia:

PIERRE; OR, THE AMBIGUITIES. By Herman Melville. We really have nothing to add to the severity of the critical notices which have already appeared in respect to this elegantly printed volume; for, in all truth, all the notices which we have seen have been severe enough to satisfy the author, as well as the public, that he has

strangely mistaken his own powers and the patience of his friends in presuming to leave his native element, the ocean, and his original business of harpooning whales, for the mysteries and "ambiguities" of metaphysics, love, and romance. It may be, however, that the heretofore intelligible and popular author has merely assumed his present transcendental metamorphosis, in order that he may have range and scope enough to satirize the ridiculous pretensions of some of our modern literati. Under the supposition that such has been his intention, we submit the following notice of his book, as the very best off-hand effort we could make in imitation of his style: Melodiously breathing an inane mysteriousness, into the impalpable airiness of our unsearchable sanctum, this wonderful creation of its ineffable author's sublime-winging imagination has been fluttering its snow-like-invested pinions upon our multitudinous table. Mysteriously breathing an inane melody, it has been beautifying the innermost recesses of our visual organs with the luscious purpleness and superb goldness of its exterior adornment. We have listened to its outbreathing of sweet-swarming sounds, and their melodious, mournful, wonderful, and unintelligible melodiousness has "dropped like pendulous, glittering icicles," with soft-ringing silveriness, upon our never-to-be-delighted-sufficiently organs of hearing; and, in the insignificant significancies of that deftly-stealing and wonderfully-serpentining melodiousness, we have found an infinite, unbounded, inexpressible mysteriousness of nothingness.

MYSTERIES, AND GLIMPSES OF THE SUPERNATURAL: containing Accounts of the Salem Witchcraft, the Cocklane Ghost, the Rochester Rappings, the Stratford Mysteries, Oracles, Astrology, Dreams, Demons, Ghosts, Spectres, etc. etc. By Charles Wyllys Elliott. The author of this book deserves great credit for the pains he has taken to arm the credulous with arguments and facts against the impositions which are continually practised upon them by impious pretenders to divine and supernatural powers. If there are any features in the mental developments of the present age which lead us to doubt its superiority over the past, it is the evidences which are daily brought under our consideration of the ready submission paid to a class of pretenders, such as would not have been tolerated even in the dark ages. To enlighten the ignorant, and to sustain the weak-minded, who are now, as they were in former periods, the unresisting dupes of knaves and hypocrites, is a work of humanity which deserves the approbation and encouragement of every member of society. And this approbation, without endorsing all his sentiments, we willingly extend to the author of "Mysteries," for his efforts in behalf of truth, and in opposition to superstition, falsehood, and folly.

THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AME RICA, from the Adoption of the Federal Constitution to the end of the Sixteenth Congress. By Richard Hildreth. Volume 3. Madison and Monroe. We have favorably noticed the preceding volumes of this able national work. We are aware that there is much in the volume before us, as happened to be the case in the two former volumes, which will not prove to be entirely palatable, either in regard to men or measures, to the surviving party politicians of either of the two "old schools." It will probably be conceded, however, even by the old partisans, that their views in respect to the men and measures of the exciting period to which the volume before us particularly refers, have long since undergone a radical change of sentiment. And, by the younger class of readers and politicians, who have assumed the places of the former, it will perhaps be acknowledged that the work is susceptible of furnishing facts, and of establishing views of political events, and of the actors who participated in those events, very different

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