Running a Farm.
When I was young at farming ,
I'd watch the turnip tops ,
And quickly go to wishing
For good , big , rousing crops.
I wished for mammoth pumpkins
All others to outweigh ;
In short. I took to nothing
Hut wishing all the day.
A solace sweet and soothing
In every wish would lurk ,
Till dreaming speculation
Seemed surer than hard work.
I wished my cellar full of
Tola toes with a will ;
1 wished the granary groaning
With corn to go to mill.
While other farmers wished for
A good supply of rain ,
I thought it as sound logic
To wish for fruit and graiiu
And so L went on wishing ,
< 'onionJed with my lot.
In autumn no potatoes
\Vero boiling in my pot.
I Jell you I'd discovered
Thai wishing only breeds
Keen disappointment : wishing
Won't pull up choking weeds ;
It won't hoe corn in summer ,
< > r husk it in the fall ;
1 Jell you. boys , that wishing
Won't run a farm at all.
That winter my potatoes
I had to go and buy
High I from my smiling neighbors ,
Who had a good supply.
They'd slyly nudge their elbows ,
And lairat me with a laugh.
That labor's wheat that's golden ,
And speculation chaff.
I lea mod this goodly lesson
And in my heart it seems
One day of honest labor
Is worth ten years of dreams.
An < l now iu idly wishing ,
My duly ne'er I shirk ;
lm ! just roll up my shirt sleeves ,
And like a beaver work.
A Fruit Pick in v : Box.
A cMiiiiiributor to the New York Tno-
, ! in - oflVrs t.he following suggestions :
? l'h * ' ordinary basket is not a convenient
a'ccoptuclo into which to pick fruit from
si ladder. Too little of the opening is
pr-'srnted between the rounds , owing
so the round form of the basket's top.
Tin * round form also keeps the basket
i"n jii being stable , as it is constantly
about on the one hook sup-
- \ \
CMC UIM. P.OX.
i'jr it. A fruit-gathering box is
tsl ' > wu in the cut which obviates both
41 > 'sr dofeds. H.S handle is made from
a flat hoe [ MWike-d in water and bent
i ! ! the proper -itape. This handle can
b.Mii pi > rttil I y two hooks , keeping the
li v very lirm. With a box the full
oifciiiit ! ; from one side to the other is
iilVnrdod for putting in fruit. If the
1) ) * \ i otirofully lined with a double
li'-eknoss of f > urhij > there will be lo s
li.H5Juntd of brtilsiuir Iho fruit , in the
KnrrclMit ; A | j Icft und Pears.
iti barreling.tuples it is unite safe to
pj'c the : ii pks us mucli as 'two inches
a ! t vo wltc.ro tbo bond will lit in the
Ci'inr. If pre.sHtHl down evenly there is
el'iMiHiy enough iu Iho apple skin to
aj'iw snHi couipTt'ssioii without bruis-
dna it. If Hie apples aix not thus press
ed Mown they will shrink so as to be
Iv.iso in the barrel , and will thus bruise
'ii- handling the ba Tol.wor < o than
tly Avould if in'OSM'd down. Pears
c.MH t bo Uuis pw sotl down. They are
I > \st p.'jckofl vvirtt : i paper around each.
A\Micb v/iU kofi' i1 fn m touching it' ;
n. 'g
faii I' ! < wlnj ; to Cvill
* iio of Uio bout'Uts of fall plowing
/tint more Uuui compenf-alo-s its disad-
vsiilago is wasfitig the surface soil by
bf wing : ad washing , is that it dc-
< roy.s millions oC destructive insects.
Iu orchards o.si > ocially. many of the ,
1 u'vaelluit are injurious are hidd&u and -
d MI I cay/wov&U ) nes , whore they will be
* ] K rtIy prolt'Ctod ffcun wet , and will
' ' amount of freezing
luortj oiului'o any dry
ing without injury. I'-ut turning the
s31 over to the depth of five or six
iuches disLur ? > these insect arrange-
i.-.oni-i. ftlolslure ineuus that the larva
. must hfgin to 'prepare for emerging
from its cocoon , or if already an Insect
it may be tempted to move to escape it.j
Any such movement before there is set
tled warm weather is death to it.
Cutting Corn.
Corn fodder , if secured when it is In
its best condition , is almost as good as
hay for cattle and sheep ; and for milch
cows there is no other feed that I have
over tested equal to it. Jus I as soon as
the corn is well in the dough it is ripe
enough to cut. Some farmers let their
corn stand till the stalks get dead ripe
before cutting. Corn thus cared for
may bo a little heavier after it is husk
ed ( at least it is so claimed by some ) ,
but the waste iu fodder more than con
sumes the extra grain in we'ght of corn.
The average day laborer will , if cut
ting by the shock , cut seventy shocks
containing sixty-four hills in each
shock , per day. An expert worker will ,
in medium corn , cut from 100 to 125
shocks in the same length of time , and
of equal size. Twisted rye straw or
marsh hay is good to use , although the
best thing that is being used is a No. 1)
wire , out about : > ' / > feet long , Avith a
hook bent on each end , so that they
can be quickly fastened or unfastened.
These wire bands can be saved and
used year after year.
Hoofs Like Horns.
Here's the picture of a freak cow
owned by a Massachusetts farmer. The
abnormal hoofs are apparently of reg
ular horn .substance , and further than
to seriously impede the animal's loco
motion do not otherwise seem to inter
fere with the performance of her ordi
nary functions. Th ' < o hoofs , or horns ,
as they might bo called , when trimmed
COW WITH ABXOIIMAT , HOOFS.
oft soon grow again to the size and
shape shown in the illustration.
Fait Seeding of Corn Ground.
A crop of corn may bi succeeded the
following year with grass for pasturing
or hay if the land is fitted right. A
light plowing , or rather cultivating seas
as to pull down the corn butts , and
then following them with the roller to
press them into the surface will be all
that is needed. Then run over the lev
eled surface with the smoothing har
row , which will roughen it and sow the
seed. If a permanent pasture is desir
ed sow some Juno grass seeds with the
timothy , and in the spring sow some
clover seed. All will grow , and the
first year each will help the other , as
the more grass or clover growth can be
got on the land the earlier it will dry
out when spring comos. Most attempts
to seed without , grain fail because nor
onouiih seed is sown.
Thres > hiiiir Buckwheat.
Owing to the great amount of sap HM
thick stalk contain ? , buckwheat cannot
well be piled up in sacks or put in
mows. We have known it to bo thresh
ed by machine , but it took so much
power to thresh the buckwheat by
threshing machine that the experiment
was not profitable. It is extremely easy
with a little beating of the head to dis
lodge every grain of buckwheat. But
when stalks and all are put in il has
fo be done very slowly , else the green
buckwheat stalks would clog the cylin
ders and stop the machine. It takes
much more coal to thresh buckwheat
with a steam thresher than it does to
thresh grain whoso straw is dry.
American Cultivator.
-Blanketing : Horses.
Horses thai are exposed to rains
should bo blanketed while out of doors ,
and the blanket , or rather a dry one ,
should cover Iho horse after ho is under
shelter. Under the blanket Iho boat
gathers from Iho internal neat of the
body , and as there is thus a double pro
tection bonvoou the skin and the otitot
air the skin does not chill. Carefulness
in blanketing a horse has at all seasons
more to do with his condition than
feeding grain. If a cold is developed in
the early winter it is extremely likely
to last until spring , and may then de
velop into much wors disease than an
ordinary cold.
Poultry ! Notes < .
Filthy quarters produce sickness , and
sick hoiLswill not produce eggs.
Cull out Ihe poor layers and give the
prolific hens more room towork. .
After the second year the hen's value
as a winter egg-producer lessens.
Green rye is the best form for feed
ing ; as a grain it is a poor poultry food ,
Make ihe hens work. Exercise helps
digestion. Feed all they will oat up
clean.
Keep the fowls indoors while there is
snow on the ground or the air cold and
raw.
raw.When
When the weather is ; old scald Ihe
morning mash and feed while in a
warm state.
Hens and pullets may lay as well
without the attention of a male bird
is with it.
Corn should not be fed exclusively ,
It should be only a night food in very
cold weather.
Ten cents a pound is about the aver-
ige price for hens in market for the
whole year.
Boiled buckwheat fed once or twice
i week to the hens makes a good alter
nate food for egg-production.
Ten cents .should feed a chick , and ij
r-houhl then weigh ten pounds , iC highlj
fed , 30 cents covering the greatest
ibumlancc of food.
I MUSICAL CRIES OF DEPOT CALLERS.
o
*
& Chants of Chicago's Railway Station Guards While An =
* + nouncing the Various Trains.
*
tiie impressarios who
WHEN the great opera
companies are out of sing
ers and are looking for a few choice
tenors and baritones to stop Ihe gaps
In their troupes they might do worse
than gather in some of the men who
make a living by calling trains in the
various railroad depots of Chicago ,
snys the Sunday Chronicle. These have
voices of strength and power and pene
tration , and although they are prob
ably unconscious of the fact their an
nouncement' ? of trains are musioal tea
a degree.
The train caller has a peculiar posi
tion , and he is a necessary adjunct ro
the railroad business only in a city like
Chicago , which is the initial point of
the trips of all trains. That is. no train
arrives at this city and continues on its
journey. This is the end of the road for
nil of them , ami passengers wishing to
go further in any direction must
change car ? . This usually necessitates
a wait of more or less duration either
In the depot at which the passenger ar
rives or at one in some other part of
is no need of a caller , lint it is to the
tired traveler who is going across the
country , the woman with half a dozen
children , tiie tourist who never before
took a , journey of over ten mites that
the caller comes as a boon and a bless
ing. After sitting perhaps for hours in
a big depot , watching with wide opan |
eyes the hurried coming and going of i
the crowds of people , the -starting of j
dozens of suburban trains , fearful that <
each one is the train that he should ,
take , the man who never saw Chicago ,
before and haply never wants to again '
after bis tiresome experiences on the j
road , sees a man in uniform stroll into ,
the waiting-room , lift up his voice , and j
in slow resonant tones begin to call out ;
an announcement about the next
through train that is to leave.
Every word be utters is eagerly list
ened to by the tourist , who anticipates
hearing the name of the road over
which he is to travel or the city to
which he is bound. If he does not hear
them he sinks back in his seat satis
fied. That is not his train. He is all
right thus far. In half an hour or so
fear /en - 00ID
yl J _ _ ! i' ' l i i a r p-
Pe/7 syS-/an-ya fra/trs reae/-y
r Li
s - se.7 - erj-fortt0 Soutf and for Z
fart Yorfr a/-//-more Qvtf Was/i-'n-fcn Tram
dbiV/2' s/a/rs
N DEPOT.
town to which he is hurried in an om
nibus.
When a. man or woman has been
traveling a day or two across the coun
try and is dumped in a big noisy depot
in Chicago , hustled into a bus with a
lot of other tourists and rattled across
town to another depot equally large
and noisy and confusing , with clanging
bells and arriving and departing trains ,
it is a bit difficult to know just what is
going on. The tourist is likely to be
come confused and not remember over
what road the remainder of the jour
ney is to be taken. The time the train
Is to leave is also a pir/x.liug point , and i
to guard against mistakes and the missing - i
'
ing of trains by inexperienced travelers
the train caller is employed to an
nounce every train half an hour or so
before it leaves.
When a Chicago man is going on a
perhaps the caller walks leisurely into
the big echoing room again , and he is
watched and listened to by every one
as he begins his slow chant. It is the
train of another road this time , and as
he announces the uamo of the road the
people who have tickets for that line
begin to gather up their effects ,
straighten out their children and put
on their coats. As he concludes with
the welcome news that "the train is
ready' ' a small procession hurries out
the door toward the train shed and the
disappointed ones settle back in their
seats to wait the glad moment when
their trains shall thus be announced.
Develops a Chuiil.
Ill the course of tine naturally the
announcer develops a chant or song to
which he fits the announcements. It
comes easier than a plain recitation of
'he name of the road and the principal
: irtz3 :
" "g- r yj-
i
/ 7 - rev 7/- < y ,7 - Zkj ra TV//S
dt
J3os fan a//
Cfit - ca
D-EARBOUX STATION.
journey lie. of course , knows what road stations at which the train will stop. '
he is going over and what hour and lie is obliged to speak loudly ami clear
minute the train loaves , and times him ly enough to be heard in even' part of
self to arrive at the depot a few min the waiting-room , and to accomplish
utes before train time. For him there this end he causes his voice to rise and
fall'In regular cadence , and doing this
day'rifter day it becomes as natural for
him to sing the calls as if he were
chanting a popular ditry of the hour.
It is largely unconscious music on the
part of the caller. Ho does not stop to
think about the tune he is chanting , the
kej * in which he sings or the pitch of
his voice. His business is to let people
know about the trains and not to be
guile their weary moments with song.
But he is a picturesque and welcome
feature of a very prosaic and humdrum
place , the big depot in a big city. j
"Chicago and Grand Trunk train go
Ing cast. All aboard. "
IIo does not vary Ihe thomr pirtieu-
Inrly. and while bis rendition may lie
lacking in color it certainly is full of
atmosphere. His voice is rotund , andi
what might bo called , for want of : t
better term , comfortable. IIo soeras at ;
peace with all the world , except prob
ably the farmer who insists on smok
ing a villainous pipe in the Indies * wait
ing-room , and for him there is short
shrift. The officer says that the num
ber of duties he is called upon to pc-r-
jfi for tf/e ffcc/f fs- fad
KOCK ISLAND DEPOT.
The man who does most of the call
ing at the Union denot is young and
good-looking and possesses a splendid
voice. His name is Tom Kennedy , and
he seems to be as happy as is possible
amid the depressing surroundings of
tired passengers , crying babies , mis-
sent baggage and late trains which
serve to make life miserable for most
of the employes around a railroad sta
tion , lie has four big railroads to keep
tab on the Burlington , Alton , Milwau
kee , and Pennsylvania and they man-
: ige to send out a good many trains ev-
c > ry day and evening. This gives Ken
nedy little opportunity to make money
> u the side or tell funny stories to the
bus drivers , for he is kept fairly busy
watching the clock and remembering
what train is next on the list to lie an
nounced. Shortly after .Slock every
iveniug he enters the Iu..s"waiting -
oem of the depot , and in a sonorous
noaotone ho chants this melody : J
"Panhandle. Pennsylvania train is i
cady. Passengers going south and
? ast for Logansport. Kokomo , Ilich-
nond , Cincinnati. Indianapolis. Louis-
.Mile , Columbus , Pittsburg , Ilarrisburg.
. 'hiladelphia , New York. Baltimore and
A'ashington. Train loaves down-stairs
rate No. 4. "
His voice rinirs through Iho lofty
oem and is echoed from the vaulted
: oiling , and as he rests after enunciat-
ng the name of each city there is no
> pportunity of mistaking what he
: ays. The latter portion of the nn-
louncement , referring to the train leav-
ng downstairs , is delivered a minor
-9-
and O - Ao
C6tca /anefin
/ ferme cafe
/ ? - me - - po/nfe
Train /eases fracftn/ne in ffjr-fees/nin - uPes
ClIANI ) CKNTHAL STATION.
ihird lower than the other part in a
< ad , heart-rending way , as if Tom
Kennedy deeply regretted the neces
sity of having that train go out.
In direct contradistinction to Kon-
icdy , at least as shown by the tone of
lis voice in calling , is tiie fat. jolly po-
iceman who makes the announcements
it rhe Dearborn Station on Polk street.
iVhile the Union depot man sings in a
ninor the policeman pitchps his voice
n a major which seems to express
! ully the content with which he views
he world , and even in his position as
irbiter of all troubles that come to tin *
raveling public. His job is even more
: rying than that of the man in the
L'nion depot , for he has more roads to
ook after. The Erie , Grand Trunk.
Santa Fe. Eastern Illinois. Wabash
ind Monon Iloads are under his care.
; o far as announcing the trains is con
cerned , but he manages to keep plump
iml good-natured , and it is reflected in
lis voice.
He has manifold duties , for he i <
lepot policeman in adidtion to being
allcr. and when he is not telling poo-
do what train to take IIP is stopping
'otncbody ' from smoking in the wait-
ug-rooms or directing some luckless
Granger to a hotel or a theater. He
icons an eye on the clock , however ,
md never misses his turn at announc-
ng the approach of the time for the de-
> arlure of a. train. When the minute
land reaches the proper hour iu the
vening he walks to the center of the
vaiting-room , and , without striking a
lose or putting on any grand opera
jrs , he chants the following : I
"Chicago and Erie train going east ,
luntington. Marion. Columbus , Niag-
ra Falls , New York , Boston and all
loints cast. "
At another time he makes this simple
.unotincemcnt :
form as depot policeman ami ollicial
train announcer hardly leaves time for
such a rendition of the train and sta
tion obligations as might be wished ,
but he does tlse best ho can. There are-
five waiting-moms , and wore a. man to
go to oacli one and rentier a longwinded
ed call ho would not be half through
with the last room before a train would ,
bo ready on some other road , and therefore -
fore ho has to cut them short at times.
But the star caller of the city is an
the Grand Central Station. Harrison-
street and Fifth avenue. His name : ?
George Gimberling. and he has a voioo
like that of Campanari. The station has
probably the loftiest coiling in the
waiting-room of any in the city , and an
ordinary voice would soon got lost
among the marble pillars and tiling up
there. But not so with Gimbcding's.
Ho knows just how to modulate' it and
throw it and use it so that every ow in
the depot will know what is going ! >
happen out on the tracks. Ho ha > - a
number of roacN or , h : hands , too ( ho
P.altimore and Ohio. Gro.-it Wostorh
and Wisconsin Central - and the b > k\ \
wiating-room is generally tilled w ifh
passengers waiting tin.- calling of their
trains. When George gos through no
body lias to ask the college graduate
policeman what the caller said. They
all hoar him. Ho takes his post no.-u-
ihe center of the big room ami begins
like this :
"Baltimore and Ohio train now ready
for Garrelt , Chicago Junction. Mau- -
Jiold. Wheeling. Bella iro. Graftoii.
Washington , Baltimore. Philadelphia.
New York and intermediate poit-- ; .
Train leaves track y in fifteen minutes
utes/ '
All this is delivered in a true ,
baritone voice , which he * *
Every word is pronounced clearly and
distinctly , and after the name ofWer\
city ho rests long cncuirn for the ment.-i ;
impression produced by the enuncia
tion of the name to sink into the minil *
of the listeners. The voice is full of
melody and 5 < under complete control
> f the caller. Wore Gin.berling to take
up music fora while bo would not ha\e
to call trains any nioiv.
At the Hock Island and Lake. Shore
depot the caller docs not pay much a'-
tnntioii to the musical part of his work.
Ho calls the trains in a jerky wav.
using one theme , which he makes fit al
announcements , regardless of what h *
says. He does not chant , but rather
speaks , and his voice is not musical. Jt
needs cultivation to bring it up to tin-
standard of Kennedy and Gimborlin- :
and the big policeman at the Dearborn
station. The theme bo uses might well
be employed for a waltz melody when
ho makes this announcement :
"Passengers going on the I took I i-
and and Pacific train. Rock Island and
Pacific all aboard. "
IIo does not call loudly and revorbor
antly , filling the waiting-room with his
voice- , but prefers to walk to different
parts of the room and make thoni
nouncomeut in rather a low tone , which
fits well with the subdued bum of
voices in the waiting-room.
Altogether the callers at the depots
form an interesting study of voice cul
ture. or rather lack of culture. Each of
them chants in a different key and u
a different themt from the o'thers. arid
probably none of them ever stopped to
think thayUe was really singing
he said.