Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-03-29


took eur chances and braved them all, but
we were very much scared when we found
the familiar scene changed as we climbed
over big table rock to slip by vines down
its sheer side into the path beyond it that
skirted the creek.
CAS- we were ready'to 'hand-over-hand' as
quick as you can down the grapevine. we
saw the path was gone in sink hole, through
which the creek rushed with black refec-
tions on its very swift waters, and where
the creek had been was q cavern, whose
mouth was filled with rocks and sticks, an
old, loug-drowned wagon Just held in shape
by lily tubes and roots of reeds and water
plaLts that were cringing and dropping in
the sunshine.
Sliding to . Treasure.
"We found another path to our cave,
which was entered by steep funnel shaped
opening, hundred yards across and about
IS from the top edge to the floor. Here the
cold air aud dampness made an opal tinted
vapor that made distances very deceptive to
me, but my companions fairly scooted liken
squulls' (squirrels).
Between the steepness and the slippery
BLACK loan covered with more slippery dead
leaves that conspired to hide little trickling
tongues of water, and deceptive tree roots
that offered firm footing for my uncertain
feet that no sooner felt my weight than they
shed their outer bark-between them all I
was greatly discouraged, and. truth to tell,
1 felt like crying when 1 looked at the
treasures so far below me, but, then, one of
the children gave me firm, forcible push
and down slid, sitting. as quick as if I
were on third story banister; down went
with skirts trailing behind me and never
stopped till reached the pool below that
was formed by the stream that fell over the
edge of the funnel.
Resembled an Umbrella.
All the company shrIeked and laughed
and then came down and squeezed my skirts
dry and propped them out with switches as
the washerwoman sometimes used to spread
out old-fashioned petticoats with broom
handles and fishing poles So, looking like
an umbrella mashed fat. had my first ex-
perience and gathered the polished green
lambs tongue with its yellow blossoms, and
fern and wild violets.
ave found what they called Adams
apple, which is very white onion-looking
bulb that tastes very sweet and pleasant.
They knew of the wild plant that looks
like sweet William in height and shape of
leaves which We used to call devil in the
bush.' The puffy green leaves are full of
green juice which can easily be squeezed
juice with clear water and, if possible, with
dew collected in the morning, and then
wash our faces in the greenisb, soapY look
ing water; and, although this Juice smells
like catalpa beans, we left it on our faces
over night, knowing the tan would be gone
in the morning and our skins would look
fresh and white. There is no telling how
lovely we might have become had we done
this regularly. but we took turn about one
of us squeezing perfume from an atomizer
on the poor. ill-smelling face that had been
'deviled;' as 1t was, we had fair, rosy faces,
although we romped in the woods like wild
things and never wore our sun bonnets.
A Priceless soapy Green.
"But all that was when we were little
chaps at school, and now when compilations
are showing wear we would be glad enough
to use this ill-smelling but potent weed
without requiring our husbands to force
perfume into the air we breathed till sleep
comes. To think how alive we were to the
mysteries of chemistry when we went to bed
little walnut stained darkles and gazed out
on the autumn stars that twinkled in time
with the fragrant pufings and knew that
when we rose by the light of those same stars
in the morning we would be clean again,
makes US all eager to grub again in the
woods for that soapy green thatno florist or
druggist knows by its familiar name.
81 had only meant to tell you the little I
had learned about cooking weeds and how
full the woods are of such things, and how
these people use the sheep sorrel as we do
the rhubarb or pie plant for pies and fruit |
sauces, but the memory of that delightful |
free and easy time in the hills led me on to
such length as had not intended in note |
to busy woman. So now I can only send |
this long letter, or else rewrite (which l |
have not time to do-else abandon my pur- |
pose. By the way, was hunting prophecy |
and came upon this:
"'He ordered that they should Law a lump |
of figs as plaster on the wound aud that it |
would be healed. Isaiah xviii, q. 1 |
wonder if that would not be nicer than the |
old bread poultice for boils and ails of that |
kind2 "K."
An Early World Prescription.
OF course Figs split and heated or roasted |
are standard applications for bruises and
boils In the old pharmacopoeis practice
brought from the Saracen wars and wise
Arab physicians, doubtless one of the ear
liest prescriptions in the world after the
clay plaster, which was probably the first.
Here is an item of interest to our colored
sisters:
81 once knew a woman, q mulatto, whose
hair was remarkably long and thick. You
know colored women have short, crinkly
hair. She had been o missionary in Africa
for 20 years. She was full grown when she
lett this country and her hair was about a
foot long. She attributed the growth and
luxuriance of her hair to the use of pure
palm oil.
"Have you ever noticed the tendency of
eyelashes to straighten out and lose the
rd of
folks are full grown? 1 know a lady well |
past 20 whose eyelashes are still as prettily
curved as they were 30 years ago, and this
her having had st various
times since her childhood eyelids and eyes
SO badly infamed as to incapacitate her for
any kind of work.
Training Up the Eyelashes.
"In washing she bathes her eyes long and |
thoroughly, and at the last runs her wet |
forefnger along the upper lid, turning the |
lashes up. I have never known anyone to |
do this but her. My observation of others |
has shown me'that people wipe the lid down |
and straighten out the lashes.
81 know, too, woman who has pas sed |
we'll into 40 who has escaped wrinkles and |
is still young looking, and this in spite of |
delicate health and life full of care nd |
anxiety for those dependent on her. In her
youth she was beautifully plump, with
round cheeks that are thin now but un-
wrinkled. Whe she saw that she was losing |
flesh she expected wrinkles, but they never
came. I don't think they ever will. She
has way peculiarly her own of washing |
her face. Instead of taking q cloth or a
sponge, great bunch, a hand full, and |
making half dozen big sweeps OF the face,
as anyone else does. she takes a soft cloth |
e.