Milk River Valley news. [volume], November 09, 1904, Image 7

About Milk River Valley news. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1904-1908

Image provided by: Montana Historical Society; Helena, MT

                
A PRETTY GOOD WORLD,,
lt’t a pretty good sort of a world, fak
lowa,
A pretty good world, I say.
Id spite of what people are growling
about.
And kicking against every day,
There’s jxlenty of sunshine,
And plenty of blue,
Away in the skies
Beaming down upon you.
It’s a pretty good sort of a world, old
man,
A pretty good world, I say.
It’s a pretty good kind of a world, fel
lows,
A pretty good world, I say,
Jn spite of the cynics and knockers and
such
Who’re throwing the rocks In your
way,
She wags right along
With a smile and a song,
In spite of the right
And in spite of the wrong.
It’s a pretty good sort of a world, old
man,
A pretty good world, I say.
It’s a pretty good kind of a world, fel
lows,
A pretty good world, I say,
In spite of the tears and in spite of the
fears.
That harass us on the way,
There’s glory enough
In the green of the hills,
The blossoms that bloom
Near the moss-covered rills.
It’s a pretty bright sort of a world, old
man,
A pretty bright world, I say.
It’s a pretty good sort of a world, old
man,
A pretty good world, I say.
-And better and better it grows, if we
speed
Love’s message along the way;
And brighter and brighter
It grows all the while,
kt lightened with songs
And a glad, cheery smile.
It’s a pretty good sort of a world, old
man,
A pretty good world, I say.
—American Cultivator.
■ ■ The Journey’s End. ::
+ >»
YAH? SKINNER paused upon
JhYnl the step and looked at the boy
who was advancing.
“Well, what do you want?” she de
^■manded.
“Can I do some chores to pay for
tny supper and a place to sleep to
night?”
“Oh! You're a tramp, are you?
Tretty young to start out that way.”
“I asked for a chance to work for
all you let me have.” .
•“I don't know as I’m going to let
•you have anything.” She took anoth
er step and scowled with pain. “If
you can find the old hen-turkey, over
there in the meadow, and drive her
and her little turks Into the barn, may
foe I'll give you a bite. She ought to
'.have eleven little ones; if you don’t get
every one I won’t give you a mouth
ful. Hyper along now; there's a big
thunder shower coming.”
“If it wasn’t for this rheumatism, I
•wouldn't waste a supper on that boy,
Just for getting those turkeys In,” she
muttered; “but I’ll make him work it
out”
So soon as the turkeys were under
■cover she set the boy at work in the
woodshed splitting wood until supper
■was ready.
After they had flnlslWd their sup
pers Mrs. Skinner asked the boy:
“What's your name?”
•“Frank Withee.” He wanted to ask
her name In return, but she looked so
angrily at him that he did not dare.
“Where did you come from?”
“From Clockvllle, New York.”
“How did you get here?”
"’Walked the most of the way; once
In a while I got a ride.”
“It's a long ways from New York to
New Hampshire. Whatever possessed
you to start on such a tramp—run
away?” asked Mr. Skinner.
"No, sir; I haven't anybody to run
away from. I’ve come to take my
grandmother out of the poorhouse.”
His face Hushed, and he added quick
ly: "It isn’t her fault that she’s there.
She had a good farm and home, and
all the children she had was my fath
er and his sister—l suppose she's my
Aunt Susan, but I'll never call her
'aunt.' "
Mr. Skinner moved his chair to the
window and looked out Into the black,
rainy night.
"The farm was going to be fath
er’s," Frank explained, "but he said
he’d give up his slinre to his sister if
she’d take care of grandmother as
long as she lived, nnd.she promised to.
Then last year she put grandmother
Into the poorhouse. I'm going to see
her and tell hqr what I think of such
mean business.” He clenched his lists
and squared his shoulders, as though
In anticipation of the meeting.
"Whatever put It Into your head to
come such an amazing distance just to
take care of her?” asked Mr. Skinner.
“1 promised father than I would. Ho
was sick a long time, and we had to
use the money he had saved to come
and get her; then he worried about her
until I promised that I’d come here
and take care of her.”
"How old are you?” asked Mrs.
Skinner, looking sharply at the boy.
"Most 12; I’m small for my age, but
there’s lots of things I can do. I’ve
got S2O that I earn<sl myself, and fath
er said grandmother is great mana
ger, so I guess we’ll keep ott the
towu.”
“I guess you’ll find that S2O won’t
go far toward keeping two people; you
better keep your money and take care
of yourself, or there’ll be two of you
on the town Instead of one.”
“Why. I must tike care of her!”
mM Frank, resolutely. “She’s my own
grandmother; she belongs to me.”
“It's time for you to go to bed; you’ll
have to be moving early in the morn
ing and get to work. If you're going to
do such big things," said Mr a. Skinner
sharply, as she- took a lamp and led
the Way to a small bedroom.
■When she returned she took a seat
at another window and studied the
darkness outside. After a while Mr.
Skinner said:
“I don’t know as I care what that
little squint of a boy says; never heard
anything so foolish! Thinks he can
take care of himself and her, too!”
There was a few moments' silence,
then he continued:
“I don't see as It was my fault, any
how. 'Twns all your doings.”
There was a longer silence; then:
“You snld you wanted her room, so
you could have a nice spare,room like
other folks, and you said she'd be
more comfortable over there, this
house is so cold and It costs too much
to keep a fire In her room.”
He moved about uneasily, studying
her face Intently. Then, with long
pauses between his sentences:
"Anybody can see that he's used to
work. He took care of the turkeys
and shut them up just as careful as
you could. You’re getting pretty
rheumatic. He’d about pay their keep,
now, and, by and by, more. I need
some help just now, too."
Again he waited for her to speak,
but she didn’t
“Why don’t you say something, Su
san?” he demanded. Irritably. “You
always talk when I don't want to
hear you, and keep still when you
ought to have something to say.”
“I’m seeing things."
“Sit there and look at them, Bien;
I'm going to bed," was his angry re
ply.
In the night he was awakehed by
'the regular tap-tap of a hammer.
“What In all possessed Is she do
ing?” he asked himself.
He listened a few moments, then
got up, dressed and went to the spare
room. His wife was on her knees,
tacking a rag carpet upon the floor,
“What are yog doing? We had to
get along without butter and eggs, and
you skimped us on everything you
could, to get that store carpet and lace
custalns, and new furniture. And now
you’re putting the old things back.”
His wife did not answer, perhaps be
cause her mouth was full of tacks;
when the last one was in place she
rose to her feet, saying:
“Now help me set up the bed."
The old wooden bedstead with four
posts capped by round polished balls
$
Ik
o
"YOXl'nE A TRAMP, ABE YOU?”
was put up, the cord woven in and a
straw tick and fat feather bed placed
upon it.
“I’ll get breakfast while you do the
chores; the boy will want to go ear
ly." h
“Do you want ?” But she had
gone Into the pdntry.
When breakfast was over, Frank
said:
“If you think I’ve done enough to
pay for what I’ve bad I’ll go; I’m in a
hurry to see grandmother."
“I’m—l’m —that is, I thought I’d go
over that way this morning; you can
ride over—lt’s ten miles or more.”
He looked at his wife, but It was
one of the times when she ought to
speak and would not, so he nnd Frank
went to the barn to harness the horse.
When they were ready to go Frank
went Into the house. “Good-by, Mrs.
She did not tell him her name.
“Thank you for your kindness; I’ll tell
grandmother how good you’ve been.”
Before they were out of sight of the
house she was at work In the spare
room. She put a blue and white coun
terpane upon the bed, and tacked n
valance around it. Old-fashioned cop
perplate curtains replaced the Ince
ones; an old spindle-backed rocker and
other old furniture were brought It,
and she stepped back and surveyed the
room. ' -
-There! Everything Is just ns she
left It.”
Then she went into the kitchen, sat
down by the window, and waited. Iler
hands, unaccustomed to Idleness, were
nervously locked together. When the
wagon came In sight she rose, trem
bling "She's there; so is Frank,” she
whispered. •
They stopped by the gate at the foot
of the path. Frank sprang out and
looked toward the house. Mrs. Skin
ner drew back and covered her face.
"I can’t meet her," she groaned.
Frank helped an old lady out of the
wagon and led her up the walk; she
was so small. and her back so bent,
that her head scarcely came above
him. As sho reached a bush of south
ernwood she stooped to pick a sprig.
“I remember Just as well the day I
planted that bush—'twas Susan’s sec
o*id birthday." Farther on she picked
a leaf of Sweet Mary and crushed it
to make It give out Its aromatic per
fume. “Your father liked Sweet Mary
leaves.” ,
Very gently and carefully Frank
helped her up the steps and into the
house. Mrs. Skinner tool; a step to
ward her. and her lips friimed the
word "Mother,” but not a sound came
from them. The three stood In em
barrassed silence until Frank said:
“Uade Rufus says I may stay here
nnd work for grandmother, if you are
willing. I didn't know your name last
night, or I wouldn't have spoken so; I
am. sorry”—he hesitated a little; then,
.shyly, “Aunt Susan."
She stooped and awkwardly kissed
his cheek. Then, In tones a little hard
er than usual, as if to make amends
for such weakness:
“Well, then, why don't you go and
help him ungear his horse,’ Instead of
standing there? Come, mother” —the
harsh voice grew tender—“your room
is ready for you; I haven’t had a bap-i
py day since you left It"—Classmate.
SALMON IN THE FAR NORTH.
Aleutian Islands Waters Swarming
with the Fish.
Reports of the Manning expedition
to the western Aleutian islands last
summer, the full contents of which
have never been made public, give
glowing accounts of the prospects of
salmon tishing in that part of Alaska,
says the Sitka Alaskan. Capt Mc-
Clellan, who commanded the cutter,
found the streams of Attu island and
other Islands of the archipelago crowd
ed with salmon, and he believes there
is an excellent chance for the estab
lishment of canneries there.
It has been known for a long time
that salmon are almost as plentiful in
Northern Alaska waters, where there
are no canneries, as they are in South
eastern Alaska, where the cannery
business Is most prosperous. It has
been quite natural, however, that the
business should be established first in
the places nearest a market, and the
most read!!}’ accessible early in the
season. The climate of the Aleutians
is entirely favorable, and it is believed
that capital will soon be Invested there
to develop the fisheries.
It has already been demonstrated
that sheep and cattle can be success
fully grazed In the Aleutian chain, and
the general public is beginning to ap
preciate the fact that most of these
Islands are no farther north than a
point midway between London and Ed
inburgh. It is claimed by some and
disputed by others that what the gulf
stream does for Northern England and
Scotland the Japan current does for
the Aleutian islands. At any rate,
there are many signs of a great com
mercial development in the western is
lands of Alaska.
A circular has been issued by the
Department of Commerce republishing
UulUlw governing Alaska salmon fish
eries and giving the new regulations
under that law. With one exception,
these regulations are about the same
as those in force last year. The change
which was ordered some weeks ago.
however, was of the highest Impor
tance, for It removed the restriction
which made it Illegal to take salmon
in Southeastern Alaska waters before
the Ist of July of each year.
It is expected, as a result of the
modified regulations, that the catch
of salmon in Southeastern Alaska will
be greatly Increased this season.
The lust section of these regulations
providing for propagation of salmon
by cannerymen is, of course, almost
impossible to comply with, and this
fact Is appreciated by the fishery ex
perts. The true view of the matter
was taken by the Jordan commission,
and it was recommended that govern
ment hatcheries be established. It was
declared that the cannerymen were un
able to plant the required number of
fry In eat* case or to maintain the
requisite number of hatcheries. Con
gress gave no relief at the last session,
however, and this section of the regu
lations will therefore be allowed to re
main in force for the present.
Medical Value of Spices.
In tropical countries, between lati
tudes twenty-three degrees south aud
twenty-three degrees north of the
equatqr, the Inhabitants use spices
with their food as we use pepper. A
certain beneficial effect is caused to
tile digestion; namely, stimulant and
carminative, says the Journal of Trop
ical Medicine, But there is a second
ary effect, which is perhaps oven more
beneficial, seen In th? fact that the
volatile oil passes out from the body,
mostly unchanged, through various
channels, but chiefly through the
lungs and skin, so that In the tropics,
nature has provided antiseptics which
In passing out by the lungs and skin
kill the hurtful microbes which might
be breathed in and also prevent to a
great extent the attack of mosquitoes.
It is a well-known fact that insects,
including mosquitoes, dislike volatile
oils, and will probably not attack an
Individual using splcee as a food ad
junct. It Is Interesting to note that
spices grow where there Is a high rain
fall combined with much heat—condi
tions under which malarial Influences
prevail. The author quotes various
authorities in regard to the antiseptic,
antipyretic and other properties of aro
matics.
When It Hogan to Hurt.
“But, mamma, he called me a pie-'
face."
“That didn't hurt you, did It?"
“It didn't, mamma, until he began
to mash the crust with, his knuckles.”
—Cleveland Plain Dealer.
The bachelor who never growls
about the weather would make an ex
cellent husband of the meek and lowly
variety.
A blooming idiot isn’t necessarily the
dower of the family.
HUMOR OF THE WEEK
V
STORIES TOLD BY FUNNY MEN
OF THE PRESS.
Odd, Carlon, and Laughable Phase,
of Human Nature Graphically Por
trayed by Eminent Word Artiat. of
Our Own Day—A Hud get of Fnn.
"Here," shouted the suddenly rich
man from the West to a waiter in the
highest-priced hotel on the beach,
“bring me another knife.”
"Yes, sah."
"Understand that after this that I
never eat mashed potatoes and boiled
cabbage with the same knift” —De-
troit Free Press.
Handy.
“That man says he Is a sailor dur
ing the summer, and In winter time
he works for a retail carpet store,"
"A very logical change of occupa
tion, I should say. At least he does
plenty of tacking In either case. ’
The Connoisseur.
Miss Elderton (to eminent painter)—
Row singular It is that you should
have been so much more successful
with Helen Radiant’s portrait than
with mine.
o Queer.
“He’s out of a job now. He had a
good opportunity, but he didn’t take
tSe trouble to improve IL”
“Yes, it’s a funny thing about trou
ble. isn't it? If you don't tike it you’ll
have it”—Philadelphia Press.
Good Material.
' Captain, how did you manage after
you lost your anchor?"
“Made one by tying a bunch of
those old life preservers together.
Held like a rock.”
More to Her Liking.
Mrs. Neighbors—l see you have a
new physician.
Mrs. Illlngton—Yes, I thought it best
to make a change.
Mrs.Neighbors—And do you find the
new one more satisfactory?
Mrs. Illlngton—Yes, Indeed. He ac
tually tries to make me think he thinks
there is something the matter with me.
Not Quite Bo Warm.
“A hundred years hence,” remarked
the boarder who had been reading the
scientific page of a patent medicine
almanac, “the battle of the world will
be fought under water.”
“That," rejoined the cheerful Idiot,
“will be better than fighting them un
der fire, as at the present writing.”
Wasted Opportunities.
Slowboy—Am I to understand that
you regard me only In the light of a
friend, Miss Swift?
Miss Swift—Well, It isn't my fault
If you—er —don't know enough to turn
down the light.
Family Pride.
"What’s old Rooster crowing to
about?"
"Why, he’s all stuck up! He’s Jlst
heard his wife's eggs are worth 25
cents a dozen!"
Absent-Minded Man.
“Been In a fight?” asked the Inquis
itive person.
“Not exactly," replied the absent
minded man. "While shaving myself
this morning I tried to lather my face
with the razor.
> Putting Him Wise.
“Is your business tin art or a
trade?" asked the inquisitive party.
“Both,” answered the joke carpenter.
“Writing jokes is an art, but exchang
ing them for real money Is a trade
thut La anything but easy."
Old Axiom Goev Wrong.
“Yes," said he of the care-worn look,
“I married in haste."
"And repented at leisure, eh?" quer
iad the other party to the utalogue.
"Not me." replied the other. “I
haven't any leisure since A batted Into
Che matrimonial game."
Squirming Out.
“Oh, George!” she exclaimed, bitter
ly, “I beard you tell your friend that
you didn’t love me any more. 800,
boo!”
“Don’t cry, dear," he whispered ten
derly, “I mean it as a compliment Of
course I couldn't love you any more
than I do now.”’
All Her Faults.
“My client,” said the counsel for the
plaintiff in a breach-of-promise case,
“Informs me that you frequently put
your arm around her waist."
“Sure I did.” admitted the defend
ant, “but it was always at her request
and 1 am too good-natured to decline
a pressing invitation."
Touching Story.
Charlie—Whew, but it was close in
that church festival!
Tom—Did you feel relieved when
you got outside?
Charlie—l should say so. My pock
etA were clean.
PainleM.
“Do you believe in the old maxim,
‘No pains, no gains?’ ”
“Hardly. With me it’s ‘Any pain,
no gain. y
“Indeed! What business are you
at?”
“Oh, I’m a dentist"
Joya of Wedlock.
“We may as well come to an under
standing right now,” said the angry
husband. “It may be hard for you to
bear the truth from me, but ”
“Indeed It la," interrupted the patient
wife, “I hear it so seldom from you.”
Those Loving Girls.
Phyllis—l do wish young Softlelgh
wouldn’t stare at me so every time we
meet. It’s dreadfully embarrassing.
Sibyl—Yes, poor fellow, I feel sorry
for him. He nev^r did have much
sense.
The Foundation.
“That's the new mansion of one of
our wealthy sugar refiners.”
“Ah! Another house built upon
sand.”
“No; ratber upon the rock he made
out of sand.”—Philadelphia Ledger.
Comparisons.
“My white folks is goln’ to de sea
sho’,” said one colored girl.
“Dat ain’t much,” was the answer.
“Mine is got bathin’ suits an’ is goln’
all de way In.”—Washington Star.
The Difference.
Miss Gasoline to Miss Benzoin—Oh,
you’re not so much!
Miss Benzoin—l’m better than you
are, anyway. I’m more refined.—De
troit Free Press.
Long Walk.
Prospective Purchaser—How far is
this place from the railroad station?
Real Estate Agent—l've made It In
eight minutes.
Prospective Purchaser—Which was
chasing you—a bull or dog?
Might Be Worse.
“George, dear," she murmured as she
toyed with her new engagement ring,
“I have a secret to tell you.”
George shuddered.
“Well, come on with It,” be said Ln
tones that indicated he was hoping
against hope.
“I—l graduated from a c-cooklng
school last month," stammered the fair
orange blossom candidate.
George shuddered again.
“Woll,” he said, “It might be worse.
Fortunately you have enough money to
enable us to board."
Much the Some.
Hykem—Did you ever Invest In oil
or mining stocks?
Piker—No; but I married the only
daughter of a man who was supposed
to be good for half a million, and two
weeks later he made an assignment
Compuriaoa.
He—What would you think It I were
to steal just one little kiss?
She —What would you think of a
burglar who ,had a chance to Swipe a
hundred dollars, and only took a dime?
Between Friend..
Miss Elderleigh—l see by the papers
that the craze for the antique Is dying
out.
Miss Young—Yes, dear; but I hope,
for your sake, that It will last through
leap year, at least
PuMthuistlc View.
Little WiUle—Say, pa, what's the
good of war, anyway?
Pa —It takes a lot of brass bands to
the front, my son.
In After Years.
“Beauty," remarked the poetic
youth, “may draw us with a single
hair."
"Sho may," admitted the prosalo
man. “but after marriage she Is more
likely to grab a handful."
Chip Off the Old Block.
"Johnny,” said the editor to his
young hopeful, 'are you In the first
class at school?" ,
"No, pa,” replied the son of his fa
ther, "I'm like your paper—entered as
second class matter."
Proof Positive.
Husky Henry—Wot did de perllce
man do when youae called him a lob
ater?
Windy William—Proved dat I wua
tollin’ de truth by pluckin' ma.
Canning Hints.
Equal parts of currant juice ami su
gar gives a delirious flavor to canned
black raspberries.
The gummed flaps of unused en
velopes furnish handy strips to mark
jelly. Jam. etc., plainly.
Don’t risk spoiling a can of choice
fruit for the cost of a new rubber band
for the top of the fruit Jar.
If In canning fruit old rubbers must
be used on the Jars, try using two nt
a time to keep the contents of the Jnr
airtight
Should the Jelly threaten to boll over
while cooking blow bard on the foam
ing liquid and It will at once subside.
To prevent Jam .ticking to the kettle
when cooking, pour a few drops of
olive oil in the kettle and rub It over
the bottom with a bit of clean tissue
paper.
In cooklrg gooseberries a piece of
baking soda tile size of a pea. used
with a quart of the tart fruit, will
materially reduce the amount of sugar
required to sweeten.
Savory Steak.
Take one pouud or more of beef
steak. according to your requirements.
Dredge thickly with flour and sprinkle
with pepper and salt. Grease a pie
dish, scatter chopped onion over, and
then lay In the steak, cover with slices
of onion and tie down with a greased
paper. Let this bake very slowly for
three-quarters of an hour. Mix togeth
er one teaspoonful of curry powder
and one teaspoonful of pea flour, a cup
ful of stock and the Juice of half a
lemon. Pour this over the beef and
then tie tt down again and let it bake
slowly for one hour and a half, or until
tender. To serve, place the meat on a
dish with the onion on top, thicken and
flavor the gravy and pour it round.
Garnish with smaU—heeps of boiled
vegetables, cut Into fancy shapes.
Custard Souffle.
For custard souffle make a white
sauce, using three tablespoonfuls of
butter, six tablespoonfuls of flour, one
pint of hot milk and three tablespoon
fuls of sugar to sweeten. Stir in the
well-beaten yolks of six eggs and set
away to cool. Then fold tn the stif
fened whites nnd bake In cups or paper
cases for half au hour Ln a moderate
oven. 'Serve with creamy sauce, which
Is made < ’ follows: Beat three table
spoonfuls of butter and six tablespoon
fuls of sugar to a cream. Add two
tablespoonfuls of wine and two table
spoonfuls of cream, beating vigorously.
Juot before serving warm the mixture
over hot water.
Wild Grape Marmalade.
Take the wild green grapes, dut open
with a small knife and remove the
seeds. Allow s pound of sugar to each
pound of fruit Put the grapes In the
preserving kettle with a Little water
end boll twenty minutes. Add the su
gar and cook until a drop poured In
a cold saucer will hold its shape. Re
move at once and pour Ln cups or glass
es. In putting up the winter store of
Jellies it is always a good plan to fill
some small cheese pots or egg cups for
use In the children’s lunch baskets.
Pickled Apple*.
Make a syrup after thia rule: Two
pounds of sugar to one quart of vin
egar, one teaspoonful cloves, two tea
spoonfuls cinnamon, one grated nut
meg. Drop In large apples peeled,
cored and cut In quarters, or whole
crab apples, taking care that the syrup
cover fruit. 801 l until tender but not
broken, then place in cans or Jars;
boll vinegar twenty minutes longer and
pour over fruit Poaches, pears, grapes
and other fruit may be pickled after
this recipe.
Strawberry Cream.
Place an ounce of gelatine—two ta
blespoonfuls—ln a granite saucepan,
with cold water enough to cover, two
tablespoonfuls of powdered sugar and
the juice of a lemon; let dissolve, then
mix over a gentle heat. Press a pint
of berries through a sieve, strain the
gelatine in and set away to cool; when
cold add a pint of whipped cream and
stir the whole lightly. Set on Ice until
firm.
How to Make Tea.
Heat the teapot by rinsing with hot
water. Put half on ounce of tea in the
teapot for each quart to be made.
Pour boiling water on the tea.
Set on back of stove where It will
keep hot. but not boll, for five minutes
—not more.
Then serve at Once.
Short Sugucstions.
To avoid that flat taste, boiled water
should l>e poured ba^k and forth sev
eral times from one iilteher to another
after It has cooled
When washing knives be careful not
to put the handles in the water, as if
this Is done after a time the blades
will become loose and the handles dls
tolored.
If your window glass Is lacking in
brlllhtney clean It with liquid paste
made of Mcoliol and whiting. A little
of this mixture will remove specks and
Impart a high lustortto the glass.
A simple cement Is the white lead
that 1« used in painting In oils. This
mends china so well that dishes treated
so can be freely washed without dan
ger of rebreaking. 'Hie lead can be
bought at any shop where art paint*
are sold.