THE FARMERS' ALLIANCE: LINCOLN, NEB., SATURDAY, JAN. 11, 1890.
HOW IT HAPPENED.
X got. .to tliinkin' of her, both her parent!
Ifiii(l and jrone,
Ami ail hfr married off, and nouo but
but her wnd John
A-livin' all alone there in that lonesome eort
of vrny,
And him a blamed old bachelor confirmder
every il.-iy.
I'd known V-n all from children, and their dad
dy from the time
He settled in the neighborhood end hadn't
ary a dime
Er dollar, w hen he married, for to start
housekeepin' on;
So I got to thinkin' of her, both her parent
dead and gone!
I eot to thinkin' of her and o-wondern what
she done
That all her sisters kep' a gittin married one
- by one,
And her without no chances, and the best
pirl of the i iu-k.
Ad old maid, with l-.or hands, you might say,
tied behind her buck!
And mother, too, beiore she died, she used to
jes' take on
When none of 'em was left, you know, bit
Evaline and John,
And jes' dec!nre to goodness 'at the young
men must be bline
To Bee what a wife they'd git if they got
Evaline.
I got to thinkin' of her; in my great affliction
- nhe
"Was Rich a comfort to us, and bo kind and
neighborly;
Bhe'd come nnd leave her housework fer to
he'p out little Jane,
And talk of her own mother 'at she'd never
pee ogaiu:
May be sometimes cry together, though, for
the most part, he
Would have the child, so reconciled, and hap
py like, 'nt we
Felt lonesomer'n ever; she'd put her bonnet
on
And say fdie'd railly haf to be a-gittin back
to John!
I got to thinkin of her, as I say; and mere
and more
I'd think of her dependence, and the burdens
't she bore;
Her parent both abein' dead, and all her
sisters gone
And married off, and her a livin' there alone
with John;
lou might say jes' a toilin' and a-flavin' out
her H e
For a man 'at hadn't pride enough :o get
hisnelf a wife,
'Less some one married Evaline and packed
her off some day;
Bo I got to thinkin' of her. and it happened
that a.-way.
James Whit-comb Riley.
---az
HIS STEPMOTHER.
t
"Ilush, Doras! is that rain? It
ounds as if gome genii were dashing
pails of water against the casements."
"It's rain, Guy. The equinoctial
storm, you know."
"And that dreary moaning down
the chimney is it wind?"
The boy shivered a little, and drew
the bedclothes up around his chin.
The red flames from the blazing log
on the hearth danced up and down
like a magic lantern; the shaded lamp
burned steadily on the table. Dorcas
Wynter stitched quietly aw ay at her
sewing without looking up.
"It must be an awful tempest,
Dorcas," uttered the lad, as a fresh
gust of wind seemed to shake the
octagonal tower to its very founda
tions. "It is, Guy. I heard old Capt Lake
ay that the tide had not been so
high since the year the Royal Victoria
was wrecked off Paine Point."
"It is better to be here, even with a
broken leg," said Guy Paley, slightly
lifting his eyebrows, "than out ret sea
In such a blow as this!"
"A good deal better, Guy."
"Not that lama coward, Dorcas!"
cried the boy. "There are worse
things than a storm at sea, and I
have an instinct that I shall be a
sailor yet; Hat this sickness has
taught me, this sickness and you,
Dorcas, that it's better to go for a
thing in an honest, straightforward
way, than to try to reach it by sneak
ing. Put I always supposed it was a
fine thing to run away to sea, or else
I shouldn't ha ve tried the get-out of-the-window
by-midnight dodge, and
broken my leg. I'm wiser now !"
Dorcas smiled at him with melting
hazel eyes and rose-red lips, revealing
a line of pearls.
"Poor Guy !" said she. "It was a
hard lesson, wasn't it?"
"I think I need it, Dorcas. If ever
there was a thorough-paced youftg
ruffian it wTas I!" groaned the boy.
"But, you see, nobody ever talked
to me. Scoldings without end I got,
X grant you, but no one tolhed common-sense
to me before. You a re the
only one who seemed to think me
worth reasoning with; and you shall
see, Dorcas that, I am worth the
trouble. Once I'm up from thi3
scrape I'll tackle my lessons in real
arnest, and try to do something
better. And I say, Dorcas. "
"Yes, Guy?"
"You're the prettiest girl I ever
aw."
"Nonsense, Guy."
"Oh, but you are! and the sweetest
and most sensible. I can't think how
you ever came to be a housemaid in
a. place like this."
Dorcas colored a little.
"Shall I tell you, Guy? I came as
governess to the primary depart
ment, but I had no discipline, they
told me. The younger boys did ex
actly as they pleased. I've always
thought that Mrs. Vail, who suc
ceeded to the position, had some
thing to do about the bad reports ol
my management that reached Dr.
Delfer's ears. But that can't be
proved, neither can it be helped. I
was alone here and friendless, and
was glad to accept a vacant position
under the housekeeper to mend linen,
care for occasional cases in the in
firmary, and make myself generally
useful."
"I knew you were a lady!" exul
tantly cried the boy. "I could see it
In your face."
"I would rather you would call me
a true woman, Guy, than a lady,"
eaid Dorcas, moving the lamp a few
inches farther back, so that the light
would not shine in Guy's eyes.
"But I say, Dorcas, how old are
you?"
"Rather young, I am afraid, Guy
only nineteen."
"And I am fourteen, Dorcas. Will
you wait seven years for me?"
"Guy!" "
"I shall be twenty-one then, and
my own master," eagerly added the
boy; "and I'll work like a slave to
get a good profession, and if you will
marry me, Dorcas, I'll make the best
husband that ever was to you, for
I'm desperately in love with yon,
that I am."
Dorcas burst into laughter.
"Guy," she said, "what a child you
are."
"But you do love me, don't you?"
"Yes, of course I love you; but not
a bit more than I do Cecil Parker or
little Frankie Gaines."
"DorcasI"
"Well, a trifle more perhaps, be
cause I've had all the care of you
these four weeks, and you've really
behaved very decently, but "
"I won't, Guy."
"We're engaged, all the same,"
said Guy, with a deep sigh of relief;
"It's a bargain. And now you may
get me my gruel."
"Yes, Mr. Paley," said Dr. Delfer,
with a nod ot his spectacled brows,
"that wild boy of yours is a different.
And the infirmary nurse has done it
all. Not to mention the credit the
doctor gives her for keeping down
the fever and managing the trouble
some splints. He was the worst boy
in the school. I don't mind admit
ting to you now that I was contem
plating expelling him from our mem
bers." "Guy always was a wild sort of
chap," admitted Mr. Paley. "But
his aunts spoiled him. He never had
any bringing up to speak of."
"But this illness seems to have
exerted a wonderful influence over his
moral nature." added Dr. Delfer.
"And I really think Dorcas has done
it all. Her influence has been won
derful." "She deserves a greae deal of credit
.. am sure, said Mr. Paley. "I should
like to see her and thank her. I've
brought a few presents for her a
warm shawl, a silver snuff-box and a
black stuff gown."
Dr. Delfer gasped a little.
"She I don't think she cakes
snuff!" said he feebly.
"All these nurses do."
"Yes but there she is now."
The door opened and Dorcas Wyn
ter came in, carrying a student-lamp,
which she had just filled and trimmed
anew.
Dr. Paley dropped the silver snuff
box in astonishment.
"I beg your pardon, I am sure!"
stammered he.
And when the doctor suggested
that the nurse had better accompany
young Guy on the journey home she
assented without remonstrance.
"Nurse, indeed!" said Miss Sophro
nia Paley, a guant high-featured
damsel of fifty. "As if a pretty sim
pering chit of a thing like that could
understand anvthing abo.it nurs
ing
"She does, though," said Guy.
"She's a brick, Aunt Soph. And I
don't believe I should be alive now if
it wasn't for her."
"You are quite well enough by this
time to dispense with services," said
Miss Sophronia. "A boy that eats
the quantity of muffins and plum-jam
that you did at tea la st night cannot
call himself an invalid any longer.
She has been here a month, and "
"But she's not to go away for all
that, Aunt Soph," said Guy, who
was devouring roasted chestnuts like
a dragon. "Ask papa. She's to be
Mrs. Paley one of these days and "
"Mrs. Paley!" Aunt Sophronia
turned green and yellow. "It's come
to that, then, has it? Well I've sus
pected it this some time. And all
I've got to saj is "
"Seven years from now," said Guy,
with his mouth full of chestnuts, "I
shall be twenty-one, and she will be
twenty-six. Not enough difference
to signify. And," he uttered with a
grin, as his aunt flounced wrathfully
out of the room, "you'll get your
walking ticket, old lady, when I'm
married! I'd as soon have a death's
head and bones around the place any
time."
He was sitting curled up in the
easiest chair in the library, reading a
book, half an hour afterwards, when
the door opened, and his father came
in.
Something in the paternal glance
and movement struck the boy.
"I never saw father look so young
and bright before," he thought.
"Something must have pleased him
very raucii. rYTiiaps unat oph .is
going to marry some old fogy or
other, and the coast will be clear."
"So you knew about it, Guy?" said
Mr. Pa lev laughing.
"About what, sir?" "
"About my engagement."
The book fell with a crash to the
floor.
"Your what, father?"
"At least you told Aunt Sophronia
about it. Well, I'm glad you are
pleased, my boy, and Dorcas says
she will always love you as if you
were her own son. As a general
thing, I don't approve of stepmoth
ers, but you and Dorcas love each
other so dearly that Why, Guy,
what is the matter?" for the boy had
rushed out of the room with an odd
suffocating sensation in his throat.
He met Dorcas coming up the gar
den path with a bunch of scarlet hol
ly-berries in her hand.
"Dorcas," he cried, "Dorcas, you
are as false as the serpent woman!
You beau "
She comprehended him in an in
stant, though his voice was choked
into silence.
She flung away the scarlet cluster
and put her arms tenderly about
him.
"Dear Guy," she whispered, "I love
him; but if you are unwilling if it
takes away any of the home feeling
for you, it only remains for you to
say so, and ',
Her voice died away, her head
dropped on his shoulder.
There was an instant's silence, and
Guy said bravely:
"Well, so let it be. My father is a
trump, and you are the only woman
alive who is worthy of him. And I
suppose people would say six years
wras too much difference in our ages,
although how they're to get over the
fifteen years between you and father
I don't know" he added, with a forced
laugh. And then and thee Guy
Paley learned his first lesson in self
abnegation. Dorcas picked up her holly berries
and went into the library, where her
promised husband stood.
"I have just seen Guv," she said.
"Isn't he pleased?" "
"Yes, I think he is," hesitated
Dorcas. "Guy is a strange boy a
noble nature. I am not sure, Horace,1 '
she added, with a dimness in her
eves "that T uould have married
you if I could not always have had
Guy with me."
"And my true wife will be Guy's
true mother!" said Mr. Paley, draw
ing Dorcas tenderly to his side.
He Tries Their Courage.
Professor Cook, of Harvard Col
lege, is one of the most popular in
structors in the university. Every
freshman has a course in- chemistry
under the venerable scientist. But
if the course were not prescribed it is
likely that his class would be fully as
large as they now are. An hour in
his experiment room is like "at
tending an entertainment. Hemakes
things livelv in the most approved
"college celebration" fashion with
his explosions,- burning chemicals
and other fireworks experiments.
The professor has spent a good
many years over his crucibles, retorts
and receivers, and his hand trembles
visibly when he picks up any one of his
apparatus or instruments. One of his
lectures is devoted to dangerous ex
plosives, and a stir always goes over
the room when he picks up a bottle la
beled nitro-glycerine. Hissmileisas
innocent as a child's and it reveals
the most genial and sympathetic na
ture in Harvard College. When he
picks up the bottle and holds it up,
the yellow liquid stirring with the
shaking of his hand, he always says
something like this: "Now, gentle
men, it is commonly beheved that if
I were to' drop this little bottle we
should all be blown to the skies (his
hand trembles a little more, and
timid freshmen look longingly at the
door), but if this compound is pure,
perfectly pure, mind you, I can light
a match -with perfect safety and
thrust it downtheneck ofthe bottle."
Here he feels for a match. "But,"
he instantly adds, "I am free to con
fess that I have not enough confi
dence in its purity to try the experi
ment." (Many sighs of relief and
one of the Professor's divine smiles.)
A Chimpanzee's Joke.
In a recent lecture M. Romanes is
reported as having strongly denied
the existence ofevenatrace of any
feeling of the ludicrous in the renowned
chimpanzee "Sally." It may be worth
while to record a small fact observed
by me lately, te!idinr. I think, to fa
vor an opposite view.
Being alone with a friend in Sally's
house, we tried to get her to obey the
commands usually given, by the keep
er. The animal came to the bars of
the cage to look at us. and, adopt
ing the keeper's usual formula,
I said: "Give me two straws,
Sally." At first she appeared
to take no notice; although she
had been eying us rather eagerly be
fore. I repeated the request with no
further result; but on a second or
third repetition she suddenly took
up a large bundle of straw lrom the
floor and thrust it through the bars
at us, and then sat down with her
back to us. Our request was perhaps
unreasonable, seeing that we had no
choice morsels of banana with which
to reward her. She did not, however,
seem ill tempered at our presump
tion, and the next instant was as
lively as ever. It seems to me that
her action on this occasion certainly
came very near to an expression of
humor. Rather sarcastic humor per
haps it was, but she certainly ap
peared ottake pleasure in the .specta
cle of something incongruous, and
this surely lies at the base of all sense
o.1 the ludicrous. Nature.
A Spot That Is Wetter Than
This.
The weeping tree is situated about
one mile east of this place, in a
cow lot owned by Rube Harroid.
Mr. Harroid stated to the
Newrs reporter that this phe
nomenon commenced three years
ago, and it has been actually raining
under this tree incessantly ever since.
In cloudy weal her there is always a
heavy mist falling iroin the tree, but
in hot. dry, sunshiny weather large
drops come down, which would soon
come down, whirl) would soon wet
one's clothing through and through.
The tree has always been a promse
bearer of leaves until this spring,
when it did not bud out at all, and
now has every appearance of being
dead, although the rain, or whatev
er one may please to call it, contin
ues to tail from the dead branches
as usual. Howe (Tex.) Cor. Galves
ton News.
Condition of London Ceme
tries. The recent official return on the
condition ofthe London cemeteries is
unsavory readingenough. In Bromp-
ton cemetery, with an area of 28
acres, there have been buried within
less than fi ty years. 155, ()(4 bodies,
while in the Tower Hamlets cemetery,
.with twelve acres less, in about the
same time thj number is 2-17,000.
When it is remembered that these
masses of subterranean corruption
are accumulated in llie midst of pop
ulous districts; that the soil is pe-ul-iarly
unfited for the purpose, and that
in adition, every artificial means is
adopted for prolonging the natural
process of decomposition, surely it is
clear that the time has come lor a
practit al efiort to be made topnfore
a reform ot the svstem. London
Truth.
Prosperity and Honesty. ,
Joaquin Miiler says that in Spo
kane Falls, at the Grand hotel, Isaw
a little box with a lew dollars o
change in it on the end ofthe counter
in the midst of a dozen or two ofthe
daily papers from various places. No
one, solar sleversaw. wnsin charge
ot either the papers or the money.
Any man who wanted a paper took
it, tossed the m on ?y into the box, and
took whafr-ver change was his. I set
this down as an incontestable sign of
prosperity and let us admit ns we
bow our heads in humility to the need
of that portion of the Lord's prayer
which says 'lead us not into tempta
tion' of honesty, which is the first
born of prosperity."
THE HOUSEHOLD.
IHnN for the Home.
Pulverized soapstone is beneficial
to chafed feet.
When traveling a good precaution
is to have your written address about
you, to serve in case of accident.
Those whose dislike to see the
arms uncovered when evening dress
es are worn, will be glad to know
that sleeves are again a feature of
full dress toilet.
English ladies wear broad veils,
about a yard in length. The centre
ofthe veils are of spotted net.andthe
borders of real lace in beautiful pat
erns. Brass and copper article. can be
given a coat of lacquer at a foundry,
after which no polishing will be need
ed, but dusting only like any bric-a-brac.
All the girls in Philadelphia's upper
tendom are now wearing silk stock
ings with their monograms worked
on the instep, where, with low slippers
and dainty raised skirts, they are
made to show to advantage. A two
letter monogram costs $2.
The woman who, six months ago,
was wild to have a garden, is now
crazy to have her husband bury a
small pile purchasing a green flower
stand and a lot of Roman hyacinths,
to freeze as stiff as the kitchen boiler
during the next cold snap.
A reader's position should be such
that the light may fall on the page,
not on the eyes. Reading by insu fficent
light, whether natural or artificial, is
very damaging to the sight. The
best wash for inflamed eyelids is a
weak solution of salt and water.
Half long sleeves of black or white
lace are trimmed with ribbon
epaulettes, bands of velvet laid upon
the sleeves diagonally, arrangements
which give the effect of inserted puff
ings of lace, and embroidered flaps
with pendent bead fringes.
Not only lamp chimneys but glass
dishes will be much toughened by
boiling. Place in a kettle, with a
folded towel to keep them from con
tact with it. fill with cold water .and
heat to boiling, let cool before re
moving the ware.
Factors in Colds.
In every case there are two factors,
an irritant and a susceptibility of
the system. Among the irritants are
microscopic germs taken in without,
as in influenza, and certain poisons
which are developed from nutrition
or imperfect assimilation within the
body, and which it is the office of the
liver to destroy. Indeed, the effects
of the two ca uses are essentially the
-same, for the germs act by generat
ing certain violent poisons, which ir
ritate the mucous membrane of the
nostrils, pharynx, lungs, stomach
or bowels. Yauth's Companion.
Cocoa Mid CliocoUte.
Cocoa and chocolate are both de
licious and nourishing drinks which
the average housekeeper rarely
makes well. The trouble in many
cases is that there are not enough of
the material used? and it simply
makes the milk taste sickly. Choco
late requires more care in making,
and is rather more expensive than co
coa. It is really no trouble to make
the latter, as put up by a well-known
English firm, and it is an excellent
thing for the children's breakfast
during the winter. It must also be
most highly recommended to nursing
mothers, providing additional nutri
ment for the extra strain on the sys
tem. And impotant to lean and ang
ular girls, it is a great thing for
rounding out curves and giving a
generous covering of flesh.
The "Old Baby's" Grief.
What a curious thing it is to think
that that wonderful new baby will
turn into a common-place old baby
in a year or two that with the ad
vent of number two his reign is over.
A little girl, though she is only two
years old, takes an interest in that
new baby, feels that she must help
take care of it, goes about maternally
airing its garments and holding the
pin cushion for nurse, delights in its
baths, and boasts about her baby
brother before she can talk plain. But
the boy that is another matter. He
scowls when that wrinkled piece of
humanity is presented to him and he
reluses to kiss it. He wants none of
it. Why should it have his place on
mamma's shoulder? Why should
he be told to go away? He
thinks as ill of it as his limited
knowledge of mundane affairs will
)ermit him to think of anything. He
ins been known to request that it
might be "frowed away," and to call
it "nassy sing," and indeed, his trials
are very great. Life has altered
signally for him. He feels it to . his
heart's core, if he is made ofsensitive
stuff.
It is all very well for Bridget to
take him into the kitchen and tell
him to "be a nice lad an' she'll make
him a cake.'' He wants his mother.
He was never turned out of mother's
room before. His heart is full. Well
tor him at this time if he has a grand
mother ready to make him her idol,
a little jealous for him as the first
born. Then , indeed , his ways shortly
become the wayscf pleasantness, and
life assumes a holiday, cake, candy,
gingerbread and toy aspect. But in
any event that old baby has a very
unhappy day or two before it, a sea
son when knowledge of the bitterness
of life comes to him prematurely, and
he understands the feelings of a de
posed emperor.
. Red and Hoard.
Table-mats are again in fashion,
and this is sensible, as they protect
the table-cloth. Crocheted mats are
the most. useful, easily washed and
durable. Hemstitching on both
table and bed linen is universal.
With the former the housekeeper can
choose be.ween pla'.n hemstitching,
drawn work, and fringed borders.
Tray cloths, napkins and square
and centerpieces lor the table
are finished to match the
cloth. Some linen sheets are
hemstitched at both ends, and
the piilow and bolster cases match
them. An upper sheet for the guest
chamber, besides hemstitching at the
end which is to fold over, has open
work and fine embroidery extending
nearly half a yard from the hem.
The shams aredonein the same pat
t rn. A bolster sham is less trouble
than the embroidered sheet, as it can
beeasily removedwhen the bedisabout
to be occupied. When the same
pillows are to be. used, plain cases
are first put on.and the embroidered
ones are taken off for the night.
Jnst a Trifle Forgetful,
From the Brunswick Breeze.
Elliot Dunn gave the Breeze the
details of quite an amusing incident
that happened on board the train
while on his way to Atlanta.
Shortly after the train pulled out
of Brunswick he no ticed a Sa vanah
man on board with an unusually
happy smile on his face.
The man seemed wrapped in silent
meditation on some pieasing subject,
as he would occasionally chuckle to
himself, and Mr. Dunn was quite
amused at watching him.
Presently, much to the surprise of
Mr. Dunn, he sprang suddenly to his
feet with the exclamation: "Great
Scott! I've forgotten to get a health
certificate and won't be admitted in
to Savannah without it."
The 'conductor coming through,
the man explained his dilemma to
him, and the urbane official intro
duced him to Mr. Dunn, who regret
ted his inability to furnish him with
the desired certificate as he had neith
er blanks nor pen and ink.
"Butmv dear sir." said the Sa van
nah man, "I'm on my way to get
married, and if I'm detained I shall
be ruined."
"If you get me pen and ink I'll
write vou a certificate," said Mr.
Dunn.
The conductor said there was none
on board, and that it would be im
possible to detain the train until it
could be obtained at Jcsup.
"But, My dear gu-I, the preacher
and the guests will all be waiting
and wondering why I do not put in
an appearance," said the man.
"Telegraph her," suggested Mr.
Dunn.
"I can't! Shelive.3 some miles from
Cavi.nnah, where there is no tele
graph slation," he replied.
Finnally Mr. Dunn gave him his
own certificate and told him to see if
he could pass on it.
This morning Mr. Dunn received a
letterstating that the certificate had
passed him all right, and after get
ting married he had added the words
"andwi.e" to it, so that read, "Elliot
Dunn and wife," under which alias
the happy couple had gone on their
bridal toiir.
TI:c Rot-Water Cure.
Hot water is by all means a pre
ferable drink for some persons suffer
ing from dyspepsia, gastric catarrh,
inflamed stomach, etc. And this is
the condition represented by the
great mass of invalids who have
stomach derangements. Hot wafer
is soothing to the mucous membrane.
It cleanses it also, and promotes ac
tivity of the secreting vessels. Its
influence upon the stomach is not.
however, more beneficial than upon
t he general system. The stomach is
the great organ of sympathy, and
whenever it is warmed theWhoV
body sympathizes, and so by warm
ing the stomach we promote circula
tion and nutrition, and fhe develop
ment of power. Cold water is con
traindicated in a'l cases of invnlid-L-vai,
ur.le.s-; it be in aev. fevers. In
saying this we do not prohibit it.
use, but only give preference to warm
water wherever there is a debilitated
condition of the stomach without
real fever. Invalids should heguided,
however, somewhat by their sensa
tions. If the use of cold wafer warms
and comforts them, there is no rea
son why it may not be used moder
ately. Iced water is always injurious
and frequently dangerous. But
drinking at or soon after meals either
of hot or cold water is bad pract'ee.
We should do our drinkingsometime
before eating; but alter digestion has
begun, abstinence from drinks should
he maintained for three or four
hours. If patients will refrain from
free use of common salt, water-drinking
will not be so necessary, and wa
ter is the only proper drink. Who
ever would have good health would
do well to avoid all other forms o
beverage. Milk is food, not drink,
and may be eaten with other food,
but should never ba drunk. The
Laws of Health.
aailiOM
A Man Whom l!aisdcu!fs Cannot Holsf.
A young man named Miller step
ped into the a(e ofthe Casino New
York, and engaged in conversation
with Detective Heidelberg. Purine
the chat he incidentally remarked
that he had yet to find the pair of
handcuffs which could hold him. In
an instant .Heidelhergerexhibited the
pair he used recently while playing
gendarme in Belgium. They were
iormidable-looking objects, and. once
placed on a man s wrists, could ho'd
him securely, whether he had his
hands before or behind his back.
Miller put his hands behind his back,
the handcuffs were drawn tight, and
the detective demanded an illustra
tion. Even while he was talking
Miller exposed his wrists, free ofthe
irons. Heidelberg was amazed but
not convinced. Miller then crossed
his wrists in front and the "derbys"
were fastened so tightly that it
seemed as though they woufd cut
through the skin. Slowly th flesh
seemed to shrivel and then quick a
a flash the braclets were removed.
The wonder then explained that
when he is ready to have the irons
placed he clinches his hands and the
wrists expand. New York Sur.
THE FARM.
Short Notes.
A late estimate places the average
yield of wheat per acre in France the
past year at 14 bushels, against an
average of 16& bushels for ten years.
Last year 10,000,000 bushels' of
peanuts were imported into Mar
seilles, France, to be pressed for oil,
very little of which was sold under
its proper name, most of it beingput
on the market as olive oil. The re
sidual pomace is employed in adul
terating chocolate.
Indian corn, says ProfessorHunt,
of the Illinois College Farm, is the
most economical pork-producing ma
terial during the Winter months in
regions where it isextensivelygrown.
Undoubtedly, but better pork is
made with at least an admixture of
other grains. The tns.e for solid fat
is passing away.
Good butter cows will make a
pound of butter to every 14 or Hi
pounds of milk. "General purpose
cows" want lrom 22 to 31 pounds,
and some cows would require 50
pounds of milk to make a pound of
butter. Average dairies require
somewhere about 25 pounds of milk
to make a pound of butter. Mirror
and Farmer.
Subsoiling should be done in a
manner so as not to turn under the
top soil. It is simply to follow the
plow and loosen the hard pan, in or
der to permit the roots to extend
lower. Subsoiling should be accom
panied with thoroug draining, which
permits the a ir to enter, thereby hart
ening chemical action, as well as to
carry off excessive moisture and in
crease warmth of soil."
A correspondent of the Country
Gentlemen says as a weed-killer no
crop surpasses Hungarian grass or
milet, and that no crop except lu
cerne will surpass it for soiling or hay.
But it must be cut for hay while the
heads are green, just before the seeds
forms; a crop of both hay and seed
cannot be secured from the same
straw. Grown for one purpose, on
prop.?r soil in a drv season, Hunga
rian grass is profitable.
Care of See;l Pctatnes.
'If seed potatoes are in the cellar, or
where they can be readily seen, it will
pay to watch them closely to prevent
sprouting. If possible, they should
be spread thinly, and exposed to
light and air at a temperature only
a little above freezing. If put into a
tight barrel the potatoes will almost
certainly be too warm. Empty them
upon the floor. The more they dry
out in alight, cool place, the more
vigorously the eyes will push when
the seed is placed in right condition
for growing.
Frosted Bits.
No horseman who regards kind
ness to his charge as a virtue will
use bcire iron bits in cold weather.
It is very easy to cover them with
leather,' thus preventing ulcerated
mouths and sore tongues from con
tact with frosted iron. It is always
a protection to warm the bit before
putting the iron into the mouth. In
driving during the severest weather
the iron be omes chilled outside the
mouth, and sometimes will make
sore the flesh whh h it touches where
the breath does not warm it.
Lime lit Cellars.
Lime is a good disinfectant. It ?s
especially valuable to place in cellars
where vegetables ha ve been stored, es
pecially such as have been put in wet
or showed signs of decay. The past
Fall has been so wet that more than
usual attention must be given to eel
lars to prevent losses. Bvabsorbin-
superfluous moisture the lime pre-
eats tne rising or loul odors that
dampness with warmth is sure to
generate. Most vegetables in cellars
sire better if covered with earth and
the lime sprinkled over the top of the
neap.
Suffolk Kreed of Tigs.
The breed had great popularity
thirty or more .years ago. It wases-
pecially a favorite in England where
Prince Albert introduced it, which
was a sufficient recommendation to
loyal subjects of the queen. The
nreeu is to some extent still popular
in England, whose climate favors it
The Suffolk pig has short, thin hair'
as far removed as possible from the
bristles of the wild type of hog. But
the pigs scald in our hot Sumifier
suns, and freeze unless give especial
care in Winter. Hogs for American
use must have more hair than the
Suffolk. .
Pure Bred ( altle.
There are 50,000,000 cattle of all
kinds in this country, and but 200,
000 of the pure breeds. The latter
have done good service in not im
proving the common stock by the in
fusion of pure blood; but as the
Weekly Times suggests, it should not
be thought a waste ot time and la
bor to improve the common stock
within itself as far as possible, be
cause the better this can be made,
the more valuable it becomes as a
foundation for improvement by pure
breeds. It has been cleaily demon
strated that the same care which is
given to valuable pure breeds will
very greatly improve tin quality of
the native cattle, both the yield and
richness ofthe milk befing largely in
creased. Good Advice.
The -Farm, Field ind Stockman
says: Now that the "long days" of
work are about over for a season,
the farmer besides reading for his
own benefit, and planing for his next
year's work in the field, should give
his attention to the teaching of his
l)'.ys. This is the most important
work for nil concerned, and fihouhl',
be entered upon without fail. When
fully occupied with the active dutie.-
ofthe busy season on the farm, the
family was more or less neglected,
but from now until spring, around
the cheerful fire, or com fort able Ktove,',
the family circle should nightly gath
er, and an hour or two be profitably
spent in social conversation, study
and reading. There is something
very attractive about winter even
ings thus spent, and every farmer
should look forward to the coming'
of such occcasions with pleasure, and
a determination that they shall ho
made profitable to himself and each
member of his family circle.
How Xot to Hate "Cholera. -
In his report on the swine plague.
Frank S. Billings lays down those
rules: 1. Don't leave a well hog in n
place where a sick one is or has Uvu
a moment longer than can Lehelp,i.
2. Pon't fail to examine sm h ej
nrated well hogs twice a day, and to
remove any that may become ill.
ii. Don't allow the same person tc
take care of the a flee ted and well
hogs.
4. Don't alio .v any intercourse of
men, dogs, or hens between the pons
of either lot ot hogs.
5. Don't put anew lot of healthy
hogs in a pen or upon land where
swine plauge ha a been for less than
three years, unless the same has teen
thoroughly cleansed of all ret.ise.
plowed or dug up several times, and
exposed to the air for an entire sum
mer season.
. (5. Don't forget tlint closed pons,
sheds, straw stacks, and aeenmu
lated litter are more dangerous than
open country, when swine plague has
prevailed in suc h places.
7.
Don't water hogs from rur.nii!
streams.
8. Don't plae your hog pens, or
runs, so that they can drain inn
running streams.
0. Don't forget that all su li
places should be well drained and
kept as dry as possible.
10. Don't bury dead hogs when
you can burn them up.
11. Don't buy or h ell sick hogs.
12: Don't visit your neighbor s
hogs when sick or allow him to viit
yours if well.
13. Don't forget that watchful
ness, carefulness, and diligence will
do more to prevent swine plague
than all medicines.
14. . Don't forget that without
these things being adhered to the
most practical vaccine will ever
prove next to useless.
15. Don't forget to keep to these
rules.
Surprise-Party.
The accounts given in rural pajK'rsf
of village and country merrymakers,
carry many a city man back to t he
days f his own youth on the farm,
with its freedom from many oft he
things that vex and fret him now. A
correspondent of a rural paper
ofone of these merrymakings:
A surprise-party at I'ncle Peter
Pilgrim's was the social event of the
week in the neighborhood. At about
8 o'clock in the evening some thirty-
five or forty of the friends and neigh-
bors of Uncle Peter and Aunt Can
dace slyly drew near the house, and
when the door was opened, in re-,
yponse to a thundering knock, pour
ed into the house.
The affair had been so carefully
planned that it was a complete sur
prise to Uncle Peter ami his lmmmI
wife, who soon recovered therufelve!
sufficiently to play the part of host
ami hostess in their usual hospitality
stvle.
After a couple of hours hpent by
the young people in plaving game,
such' as "The Woevily Wheat, ' "Ol.l
Quebec," and "Sister Phn'be," and
by the older ones chatting in cuev
corners, Uncle Peter set a husuei
basket of Ids famous Bellellower ap
ples in the center of the room, with
an invitation to all to lK!p them
selves. Aunt Candanco put a pot of
molasses on to boil for taffy, while "
the young people were set to work
popping corn.
This was followed by ( ping, in
which all joined, after whicU Miss
Betty Biennis favored the company
with a solo, "The Old K!m-Tm."and
Mrs. Nancy Prky sang "Young"
Charlotte." Henry Pilgrim then fa
vored the company with some violin
music, accompanied by his Ki'stei
Harriet on the accordion, which was.
highly enjoyed by all.
All went home at the reasonable
hour of halt-past ten, with a cordial
invitation from Uncle Peter to "siu
prise him again." The affair was it
genuine success in every particular-
A War Shin Sent fcr a TrnnU.
From the London Truth.
When the Duke and Purhoss of
Edinburg went recently to (irveve it
was discovered, on arriving at . t hens,
that a trunk, containing certain in
disiienstiblearticlosofattirobolonginy to the Duchess, had bivn left I-hitui
at Malta. A telegram ordering Un
said trunk to be sent by the net
day's steamer would have been tin
cheapest ami readiest way of obtain
ing it, but the Duke of Edinburg act
ually dispatched one ofthe vessels of
squadron all th way to Malta t
bring back the trunk ami its con
tents, thereby saving him about ;t
sovereign for telegrams and carriage
by steamer. The trip of her Majes
tv's ship must have involved a cost
to the tax-payers of some hundreds-
of pound3. The transaction is alto
gether a Kcamlelous one. What ist
the use, I should like to know, of the
pudding economies in the dock yards,
when a royal admiral is .sufferetk
wantonly to wa te a large sum of
money in this idiotic fashion?
An Absurd Theory.
The idea, of the Chicago poliei that
theexplosion at the Snufehlt distillery
was the work of anarchists is absunl.
Nobody else would suspect anarch
ists of tn ing to blow sip anvthir." to
drink. -JlUwaukeo J ournal.