The Rural New-Yorker is designed to be unsurpassed in Value, Purity and Variety of Contents, and unique and beautiful in Appearance. Its Conductor devotes his personal attention to the supervision of its various departments, and earnestly labors to render the Rural an eminently Reliable Guide on all the important Practical, Scientific and other Subjects intimately connected with the business of those whose interests it zealously advocates. As a Family Journal it is eminently Instructive and Entertaining - being so conducted that it can be safely taken to the Homes of people of intelligence, taste and discrimination. It embraces more Agricultural, Horticultural, Scientific, Educational, Literary and News Matter, interspersed with appropriate Engravings, than any other journal, - rendering it the most complete Agricultural, Literary and Family Newspaper in America.

Rural Notes.
(from page 62)

The Weather of the past week has been seasonable – with sufficient snow to make good sleighing in this area. Just as the snow was going, a heavy storm occurred on Thursday week (12^th,) extending over most of the State. We have had good sleighing and lively times for nearly two weeks, but at this writing (noon of the 17^th) the snow is melting fast under a bright sun, and some wheeled vehicles are already “out.”

The News Condenser.
(from page 66)

The Seventh Pennsylvania Cavalry regiment, which entered the field with twelve hundred men, is now reduced to less than one hundred.

The plan of arming the Negroes and making soldiers of them is rapidly gaining favor among soldiers and civilians in the West.

The Common Council of Syracuse, N.Y., have appropriated $20,000 for the benefit of families of volunteers.

Classifieds.
(from page 67)

A Really Valuable Microscope. One that a child can use, sent free, by mail on receipt of 38 cts.
Address    S. WOODWARD. P.O. Box 3273, Boston, Mass.

“Carte de Visite Portraits,” of Tom Thumb and wife, 25¢; do. of Bridal Party on one card 50¢. The above taken immediately after the ceremony by Brady.
Send orders to    FRED PARSELLS & BRO, Box 2085 P.O.N.Y. City

Sabbath Musings.
(from page 64)

Trouble is often the levers in God’s hands to raise us up to Heaven.

The Traveler.
(from page 65)

About Feet – The French foot is meager, narrow and bony. The Spanish foot is small and elegantly curved, thanks to its Moorish blood corresponding with the Castilian pride, - “high in the in step.” The Arab foot is proverbial for its high arch; “a stream can run under the hollow of his foot,” is a description of its form. The foot of the Scotch is large and thick. The foot of the Irish is flat and square. The English foot is short and fleshy. The American foot is apt to be disproportionately small

The News Department.
(from page 66)

The Army in Virginia – Army letters say a deserter states that Jackson is in command opposite Fredericksburg, Lee having gone toward Charleston.

Movements in the West and South-West – Tennessee:  Our forces entered Lebanon, Tenn., on the 8^th. They captured some 600 rebels, most of them being of Morgan’s command. Many field officers were taken. Among the prisoners was Hall Anderson, a violent rebel, and a member of the State Legislature of 1860 and 1862. He was an original Secesh, and one of the early advocates for the Confederate States.

Wit and Humor.
(from page 68)

Joking in Camp – During its “peninsular campaign,” the bread had become inhabited by a very lively species of insect of a brown color and amiable disposition. Various stories are told of these crackers in camp, some of which I think are malicious fabrications. One was that the “insects were purposely put in the bread to save mule transportation, and that when the commissary wished to transport the bread, he simply whistled and it came itself. Another was that four of these crackers were seen on battalion drill one evening going through the evolutions with great precision. One of the boys had a lot of bread so thickly settled as to be untenable, and brought it down to the commissary to be exchanged. He was told to lay it down and take others, when he very honestly asked, “Hadn’t I better hitch ‘em?”