Weekly commercial herald., May 28, 1886, Image 3

About Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??

Image provided by: Mississippi Department of Archives and History

                
TIIE SXOW BLOCKADE.
In the fall of 1884 I was at St. Paul.
My friend, John Hall, conductor, had
persuaded me to go with him over the
Northern Paciiic road to San Francisco.
It was late in the season, and I feared a
blockade. However, I provided myself
with a basket of provisions, for use in
case my fears were realized, and started
on my journey.
When I reached the depot, I found a
gentleman and lady seated in my sleeper.
I had scarcely time to take a good look at
the hitter and in fact I could not make
much out of my inspection, for she was
heavily veiled when Hall entered, and
passing me with a hasty "good-morning,''
went up to the lady's companion.
I was busy storing away my numerout
traps, and did not hear what was said,
until, as it was getting near the time to
. start, Hall observed that he must go and
see all clear. Then I caught these
words:
"Look well after Mrs. Forsyth, Hall,
and when you give up the train, speak
to the next conductor about her."
"I will do my best for the lady, sir,"
said Hall, who a moment after left the
car.
"You'll have the drawing-ioom to your
self." continued Mrs. Forsyth's escort,
"and need not be bothered with any
one."
My back was toward the speaker, and in
a little side mirror between the windows
I saw that he cast a suspicious and sig
nificant glance in my direction as he
spoke the last words.
In a moment more he was gone, and
we were started on our long journey.
My solitary companion retieated to her
room, and I was left a r 'her desolate
master of the situation.
With the help of newsapers, books and
an occasional word with Hall as he
passed through the car, the morning
passed quickly enough. We were to
carry a dining-car the first day or day
and a half a fact that also added to my
sense of general satisfaction.
When the first call for dinner was
made, I was not long in answering it, but
quick as I was, many others had been
before me, and I was fortunate in secur
ing the last table. Scarcely had I com
fortably seated myself and settled on the
details of my dinner, when Hall entered,
piloting the lady who had been spoken of
as Mrs. Forsyth. Seeing that all the ta
bles had one or more occupants, he
brought her over to the one at which I
sat. He introduced me, placed her op
posite, and to say that I was charmed
with her face would be to give only a
a Tery faint indication of my feelings.
She appeared to be about 23 or 24 years
of age, and was dressed in mourning,
though not of a sufficiently distinctive
character to tell whether or not she was
a widow. I must confess, however, thai
even at the moment the question oc
curred to me, I wished that it might bo
decided in the afflinative.
The meal passed off delightfully, at
least to me, and I managed to ascertain
that I should have Mrs. Forsyth's com
pany for the greater portion of the
journey, her destination being Seattle.
I took her back to our car, when she
again withdrew into the drawing-room,
and I resolved to smoke the soothing
cigar. In search of company and a chat,
I sought the smoker of the next car,
which was occupied exclusively by men,
who after a time dropped one or two
quiet hints about the enviableness of my
position, and their desire to exchange
berths. By-and-bye a little game of
poker was proposed, and would have
doubtless helped to pass a good deal of
time, but a clergyman read us such a
lecture on the sin of gambling that no
one felt quite disposed to materialize as
one of his "terrible examples." So, after
a while, I went back to my own car and
my books. At supper time, as Mrs.
Forsyth's door was open, I ventured to
ask her if I might have the pleasure of
taking her to the table, and was rewarded
with a gracious smile and a prompt
acquiescence. Although I tried, without
seeming to be inquisitive, to skirt round
the subject, I did not succeed in gaining
any information as to her matrimonial
condition. The next day, however, I
was fortunate enough to discover that I
' had two or three times met Mrs. Forsyth's
single sister, when she had been visiting
some mutual acquaintances in San Fran
cisco. This fact served as a far better
introduction than Hall's had been, and
in the more intimate conversation that
followed I at last learned with delight
that Mrs. Forsyth was a widow of over a
year's standing, and that she was intend
ing to make her future home with her
sister.
We lost our dining-car, much to our re
gret, on the second day. The third day
saw snow incessantly descending, and
Mrs. Forsvth began to prophesy all kinds
of disasters, and even suggested the ad
visability of her lying over at the next
station of any size. From following this
course she was, however, dissuaded by
the joint eloquence of Hall and myself.
Each hour that I spent in her society ad
ded to the charm that was rapidly steal
ing over me, by discovering new similar
ities in tastes or ideas, and even by an
occasional warmly contested argument
on slight points of difference.
When I awoke on the fourth morning
the windows were thickly crusted with
ice, and though I could not scrape a
plaice through which to observe our rate
of progress, I felt sure from the motion
that we were making little headway. I
began to feel a sensible yearning to reach
the breakfast station, and was meditat
ing getting a cracker from my basket,
when Hall came in, and expressed some
surprise at seeing me up and dressed.
"I think it was hunger roused me out,"
I answed. "That supper last, night was
pretty queer. Are we near the break
fast station '!"
"The Forks are about fifteen miles
ahead."
"And how long will it take to get
there?"
"I don't think we'll get much further
yet awhile."
"Do you mean, we're going . to get
tuck?"
"Guess so," replied Hall with a calm;
nw which under the circumstances wa
a little aggravating.
"Well, if we can't get ahead, can't we
go back T
"Afraid not. We put on an extra
er.gine and a plow last night. There's
no switch near, and Cie cuts have filled
up behind us."
"Then what are you going touor" l
asked, a little iiotly.
"Stay till we're dug out. I've got tele
graph instruments on board. When we
do stick won't be long now I'll cut a
wire and ask for a .relief party."
"What about food?"
"Oh! they'll manage to send some from
the Forks, by men on snow-shoes. ' They
did last year."
I silently thanked Providence for my
well-stocked basket.
"Don't say anything," whispered Hall,
as he heard the door of the drawing
room open. "Let me break it; I'm used
to letting 'em down gently." Then turn
ing to Mrs. Forsyth, who by that time
had come out, said, cheerily: "Good
morning, ma'am; hope you didn't find it
too cold to sleep?"
"Oh no, thank you," she replied; then,
after saying "good-morning" to me, she
again addressed Hall. "We seem to be
going very slowly, and the windows are
so frosted I can't see how deep the
snow is."
"We're pushing ahead first rate," said
the unmoved and unblushing conductor.
"You don't feel the motion because the
snow deadens the vibration."
Hall looked at me with a certain trem
ulousness about his left upper eyelid.
"Shall we have breakfast soon.'" was
Mrs. Forsyth's next question.
"Well, it may be some little time," aa
swered Hall.
"Oh, dear!" she gasped, in the pret
tiest way imaginable, "and I feel quite
faint."
I dived for my basket. "I have some
things here. We might r lanage to make
a picnic breakfast.
"No. no: I won't tro able you. I'd
rather wait till I can get some tea."
"I think you had better accept Mr,
Austin's offer," suggested Hall. "We
may be a little late getting to the regu
lar breakfast station.
"Please let me be your host," I urged.
"I can even give you tea or coffee. Here's
a spirit-lamp and a little saucepan, and I
have let me see cold beef, curried
chicken, foie gras, ox tongue, anchovy
paste, a pot of marmalade, lots of crack
ers, sugar, condensed milk, and all the
ot-cceterus."
"Quite a larder, I declare." uaid Mrs.
Forsyth, laughingly, as I finished check
ing off the contents of my basket. "How
stupid of me not to bring anything ex
cept some fruit, and one can't live on
fruit out of Eden."
"I'll fix up a table," observed Hall, los
ing no time in putting his intention into
action. "The porter's tired out; we kept
him up last night. Now you're all com
fortable, I'll see how the others are get
ting on."
"What shall I open for you?" I asked,
as I stood, can-opener in hand.
"Oli, I don't know; anything you like."
"I like them all. Suppose we have a
feast ?" and I began to make a reckless
assault on the curried chicken.
"No.no!" she exclaimed: "one meat
will be plenty."
"Will you be kind enough to make the
tea?" I asked, as I banded the necessary
implements and material.
"Certainly. What a dear little lamp
and sauce-pan! I am sure they'll make
delicious tea !"
"I have no doubt of it, with your help.
I'm sorry to say I haven't any butter.
Didn't think it would keep."
"No matter; I like crackers soaked in
my tea."
Infatuated as I was, I could not ex
press my agreement with that essentially
feminine predilection. I dished out the
chicken as gracefilly as I could, and we
began our repast while the tea was draw
ing. Presently Mrs. Forsyth looked at me
and laughed. "This is funny, isn't it?"
"I think it's very jolly."
"Oh ! I don't mean the breakfast, but
my sitting down as your gust, when,
three days ago, I had never seen you."
"I assure you," 1 said, "I'm an emi
nently respectable and proper person
that is, for a lawyer. The conductor
can vouch for me. He has known me
for years."
"Yes, he gave you a good character."
"Then you inquired?" I asked eagerly.
"Oh, no," she answered, with a shade
of mischief in her tone; "he volunteered
the information."
"How good this tea is!" I observed,
tasting some that Ehe had handed me.
"I never could have made it so well my
self." "It certainly is nice, but it's not due to
my skill, but to the quality of the tea."
I, of course, dissented from this view,
and took several cups or at least glasses,
for I had no cups of that tea, which I
was willing to swear was the most de
licious beverage ever prepared,
We were just finishing when Hall came
back and said, "Glad to see you getting
on so comfortably."
"Yes, remarked Mrs. Forsyth; "the
road is so smooth we could eat without
any inconvenience."
"You give the road too much credit,
oia'am. The fact is, we haven't moved
the last thirty minutes."
"You 'don't mean to say we're at the
station already?"
"No, ma'am; we're stuck."
"Stuck!" repeated Mrs. Forsyth.
"Yes in the snow. Can't budge an
inch. I've telegraphed for relief."
"Oh, dear me ! When shall we get
out?"
"I hope to-morrow," answered Hall,
who assuredly disregarded truth in his
desire to make things as pleasant as pos
sible. "Can't you back down?" asked the
lady, after a brief pause, evidently spent
in an inward struggle.
"No, ma'am."
"What shall we do?"
"We can only wait, ma'am. They'll
try to send up some provisions from the
Forks by this evening." ,
"And in the meantime there .is my
basket," I observed, in as cheerful a tone
as I could command. I had been yearn
ing to offer my sympathy during Hall'
explanation, but thought it bent not to
interfere with the process which he calhnl
"letting 'em down easy."
"I was so anxious to get quickly to
Seattle!" said Mrs. Forsyth. "I think
I'll go and He down for a little whik.
Perhaps I'll be able to get some sleep.
She took it better than 1 expecteo,
observed Hall, as the door hid her ,'im
our sight.
She's a regular brick!" I exclaimed,
with an amount of enthusiasm that
would have done credit to a more fitting
and tender designation.
"For all that, she's gone to have a gpoa
cry. Best thing for her; will uo ner low
of good. Come and have a smoke."
I thought Hall was an unfeeling brute,
and I didn't consider I should be much
better if I smoked while she was crjing.
Still, I went, and as I puffed at my igar
I regretted that Mrs. Forsyth could not
know the consolation of tobacco,
' II.
In the afternoon Mrs. Forsyth resumed
her usual cheerful demeanor, and even
ventured out for a few minutes on the
platform to look at the walls of snow by
which we were overshadowed. We had
recourse to the friendly basket for din
ner, and in the late afternoon w had
soms little excitement attendant on the
arrival of the snow-shoe party, bringing
up some cold meat and stale bread, which
we considered vastly inferior to our tin
ned supplies. The novelty of the situa
tion and the discussion of the chances of
speedy extrication whiled away the day,
which to me, at any rate, did not seem a
long one. When I got up the next morn
ing affairs did not seem to have changed,
there was no sign of Mrs. Forsyth's stir
ring, so I went forward to find Hall and
hear is there was any news. Unfortu
nately there was not, and after a brief
talk I returned, and was agreeably sur
prised to find my fair fellow-passenger
uitting in the car, with an expression on
her face which I flattered myself indi
cated wonder as to what had become of
.ne.
"Good-morning, Mrs. Forsyth. Were
you pondering as to what hau become of
me?"
"Not at all," she answered, coolly; "I
am scarcely awake enough to think
about anything."
"Well, now for breakfast, I said, en
deavoring to hide my chagrin by wrest
ling with the basket. "What is it to be
this morning ? you know, the menu."
"But I can't go on living on your pro
visions. Supiose we should have to stay
here another clay or two. Why, they
would he all gone."
"You have no choice, unless it is the
tough salt beef and very stale bread the
snow-shoers brought. The only things
worth their bringing were the beer and
whisky."
"Tiiat's just like a man."
"I wouldn't liko to be like anything j
else. What uo you say to some ox
tongue? I'll open the tin while you make
some tea." Then, as she gracefully be
gan the necessary preparations, I ven
tured to add: "Upon my word, it begins
to seem quite natural having you sit at
my table and make my tea."
"Does it? Well, I sincerely hope I
shan't have to do it much longer. What's
the prospect of our getting out?"
"Not very brilliant. The snow is packed
tight in the cut for two miles solid."
"How awful ! Wouldn't it be possibl i
to get to the next, station over the
snow ?"
"Only on snow-shoes. There is
frozen crust that will bear anything. The
relief party had the greatest trouble in
getting there."
"How stupid of me to venture at this
time of the year! But Fanny urged me
so ! She's been expecting me ever since
I finally arranged my poor husband's af
fairs." The widow's handkerchief went up to"
her eyes. I silently anathematized tin.
deceased, and wished she wouldn't refer
to him, especially at meal times.
III.
By the aid of cards, talk, a very Kttle
reading, and two more assaults on the
basket, we got through the second day
of our imprisonment. Each passing
hour saw my subjugation grow more and
more complete, and I had to keep care
ful guard over my tongue for fear I
should prematurely betray my feelings,
and perhaps, through my impetuosity,
lose all hope. It was true that Mrs.
Forsyth grew more friendly and confi
dential, but she possessed a quiet though
very effective way of checking any at
tempts to digress into tenderness.
The third morning again showed no
apparent change in the outside situation.
When Hall came in he, however, ap
peared unusually cheerful.
"You look as if we were going to get
out," I remarked.
"Not yet awhile. But that frost last
night was splendid, I've got a message
this morning that the Forks Snow-shoe
club will come down early this afternoon,
with extra snow-shoes, and that any of
the men who think they can manage it
may try to get to the Forks, I suppose
you've been on shoes often ?"
"Yes; but to tell you the truth, I'm not
particularly anxious to get away."
Hall broke into a quiet laugh. "I
thought I saw wlrich way the wind was
blowing."
Idid'ntquite relish his amusement, and
was about to remonstrate and explain,
when suddenly a brilliant idea struck
me."
"Hall," I exclaimed, "I want you to do
something for me, and I'll be grateful all
my life."
"What is itf
"When Mm. Forsyth and I are at
breakfast, I vant you to" At this mo
ment the latch of her door clicked. I
stopped, and pulling him along, said:
'Come outside; I can tell you in a min
ute or two, but she musn't hear."
On the platform I confided to him my
scheme. What it was, and how it
worked, the reader will soon learn.
On my return I lighted the lamp, pu
on the water, and soon had the simple
breakfast ready. Mrs. Forsyth, did not
keep me long waiting. When Bhe came
in she took her usual seat, and did not
make her customary protestations about
deplenishing my stock. I took this to be
a good sign, ajid my spirits rose accord-
i ?'y. fi.e c t iin; "-.-. 1 g n .
iireMiRLtioUH. arid said: "You re k
to be quite a domestic man. Suppimo I
hurt tv.n kIiii nn hira with HiKj'tT.-eiiljIa '
people, and with scarcely anything fit to
eat. I really don't know what I should
have done without you."
"Don't you?" I cried; "pleasee say that
again.
"You musn't spoil your palate with too
many sweet things. Any news this
morning".
"Hall is expecting some every moment.
He was going to the wire when I left
him."
"I wish he could send us through by
wire."
"I am not in any hurry."
"But I am. Think of my sister.
"I prefer to think of her sister."
At this moment Hall came in. His
preternaturally solemn expression caught
Mrs. Forsyth's eyes, and I believe spared
me a rebuke.
"Why, conductor, what a long faceyou
wear this morning! Surely things can't
be wore than yesterday."
"I am afraid you won't like it, ma'am.
.The fact is, the difficulty of getting food
here is so great, the company has or
dered that all the single men among the
passengers are to try to push through
to the Forks this afternoon."
"I am sure," I exclaimed, "I could
never manage it on those awkward show
shoes." "Very sorry, sir," said Hall, with well
assumed imperiousness.
The full meaning now seemed to dawn
in Mrs. Forsyth. She began to weep.
"Do you mean to say," she. expostu
lated, "that I am to be left here all alone?
It's an outrage !"
"I shall be here, ma'am," Baid Hall,
consolingly, "and there's an old clergy
man in the next car."
"I don't want any old clergymen," she
exclaimed from behind her handker
chief.
I made a sign to Hall, and he disap
peared. As the door closed on him, Mrs,
Forsyth took down her handkerchief
and asked, "Has that brutal conductor
cone.
"Yes. dear Mrs. Forsyth. But it is
really not his fault. He has no discre
tion in the matter."
"Oh, I suppose you're glad to get
away."
"Indeed no. I'd much rather 6tay."
"Then stay."
"They won't let me."
"What is to become of me ?"
"Hall will take good care of you."
"I don't want to be taken care of at
least not by him. Can't I go too?"
"Impossible ! It's even a great risk for
me."
"It's disgraceful 1" she ' exclaimed,
igain having recourse to the handker
chief. "They've no business to start
trains in this weather. I know I shall
i die here, with nobody to care a bit."
My time had come, and I made a head
long plunge.
"Dear Mrs. Forsyth, there is a way
ty which I might stay.
"In Heaven's name, what is it?"
"I hardly dare to tell you. That order
applies only to single men, or men with
out their wives.
"Well?"
'if if you would only well, it's no
use, Kate yes, I know your name saw
it on one of your books. Kate, I love
you. Don't say anything, but hear me
out. It is true I have only known you a
few days"
Her face was hidden by the wretched
handkerchief, but from behind it she
eobbed, "Only f-f-five."
"Excuse me nearly six; but we have
leen so much of each other that it seems
we have been acquainted for months
you said so yourself yesterday."
"No; it was you who said so."
"You didn't contradict me. And then
I've met your sister."
"Yes, that is true," she assented, as she
again permitted her face to be seen.
"I know enough of you," I continued,
"to feel sure of my love for you. Can
not you care for me a little ? There is a
clergyman on the train; he can marry
us at once, and then I can remain with
you, not only here, but all my life."
"What!" she cried, in dismay;
"be married all in a hurry, with
out any warning, and to you,
whom I And then I have no trous-
sou. No, it's impossible! Leave me,
xd let me die."
i don't know what form of consolation
I should have tried as she sank back"
weeping, but at this juncture Hall
tame in.
"Mr. Austin," said he, "you'd better be
packing up the trifles you want to take
with you." Then turning to her: "It's
no use crying, ma'am; we have to make
the best of it."
"Have you ever been snowed up be
fore?" "Yes, ma'am, last year twenty-two
days." And with that tremulous eyelid
again noticeable, he went out.
"Twenty-two days alone," ejaculated
Mrs. Forsyth, "in a snowy tomb, with a
conductor and an old clergyman 1"
"Kate, dear Kate, won't you listen to
me ? Together the time will not be half
so long, for we will share it. Think, too,
of what you may save me from. I am
not used to show-shoes, rfind may perish
on the way."
"I would not keep you here for selfish
reasons," she said, after a brief pause;
"but to save your life, I might be
tempted--"
"Then you consent?" I cried.
"Are you very sure you love me?"
"As certain as that I breathe."
"Then, Robert yes, I know your name
that nice conductor told me you you
may ask the clergyman if he will. But
oh! it's awful to be married without a
wedding dress."
"You shall have the handsomest that
is to be got when we reach the coast."
"That won't be like being married in
it. Remember, if you ever repent this,
that I only marry you to save your life,"
"I shall never repent. I love you too
much." I Btarted toward the door to see
the clergyman.
. She culled me back, and as I held her
in my arms she whispered, "Robert, I
think I am a little selfish, after all."
Adapted from Julian Magnus in Harper's
Bazar.' '
One of the tinny llumbiii;.
Henry Combs, of Creston, la., think hog
cholera is caused by an unnatural growth of
little black teeth in the bog's mo-jtn. causing
fever, and if the teeth are pulled the box will
get well. He thinks it so strongly that he
performs the operation at twenty-live cents
e head. He claims that he never fails. The
editor of The Homestead strikes at Combs
and bis tooth pulling ncnuense like this: "Of
course tbey will find black teeth, it their
own stomachs are bsdly out of order their
teeth will be black. This gentleman is doing
a thriving business pulling hogs' teeth out at
twenty-five cents per bead. He or tome
other benevolent chap offered to pull the
teeth out of our hogs last summer for fifteen
cents per head. The hog dentist bas raised
his price ten cents. He pulled the teeth ut
of one of our neighbor's hogs at that figure.
Ihey all died.
"Why do we notice such foolishness as
this! Simply because the state is chuck
full and runnine over with Just such ut er
bosh and nonsense. Half the farmers in ine
state think that if they will drive their hogs
when they have the cholera they will get
welL Others believe they will get well if
fed salt and ashes, others lime, others cop
peras, carbolic acid, wulnut hulls, or walnut
bark tea, sulphuric acid, nitric acid, etc
One of these remedies for cholera is just as
good as another. Except the teeth pulling
business tbey are all good if your hogs don't
have the cholera Jut it they have the
genuine cholera, and you can tell that by
opening them, the best cure is a club on all
pigs under six months. With proper diet
and food about half the old sows will gel
well, Country Home.
Geraniums.
The usual custom is to set the plants in the
open ground in spring, and on the approach
of frost take up and pot in the most approved
manner. In the course of a few days the
leaves turn yellow and die, leaving your
plant with long, leafless branches, if they
do not die outright Those that survive in
the course of time begin to grow from the
end of branches, and very few flowers are
produced.
My flower loving friends, if you would
have nice, symmetrical plants and plenty of
bloom, follow the advice given, and begin
operations now. Take cuttings of all
varieties Intended for winter Dowering at
once. Pot as soon as rooted in small florist's
pots, and repot as soon as the roots become
matted around the ball of earth within the
pot Care muBt be taken to stop the hole in
the bottom of the pot As soon as the dan
ger from frost is over plunge the pots in the
open ground and repot as often as necessary.
Remove the flower buds as often as ttiey ap
pear until the middle of August, and when
cool weather approaches remove to the win
dow and your plants will receive no check
and plenty of bloom will reward you for
your trouble. If from any cause you desire
to save any of those planted out in the open
ground the plants must be pruned back
severely. Water once thoroughly and then
sparingly until growth begins. Also keep
in a cool dace.
This treatment, given for geraniums, is
suitable for rotes, chrysanthemums, helio
trope, etc. In fact, It is almost impossible
to lift he'iorrope and keep alive.
You will also need some soil for next
winter's use, and now is the proper time to
begin its preparation. Take rich sods from
some old pasture or roadside, pile up and
mix with 6ome manure, and give the heap the
benefit of your soap suds on wash days, and
if turned occasionally you will have a soil
suitable for all kinds of plants.
The following are excellent varieties of
the double geraniums: Asa Oray, color
salmon; Mrs. E. G. Hill, white tinted pink;
Remarkable, violet crimson, very fine;
Richard Brett, orange scarlet; Zenobia,
cherry, and Gen. Grant, immense truss of
light scarlet Orange County Farmer.
Fancy roultry.
Our farm constituency will of course like
to be informed about fancy breeds of domes
tic stock of all kinds. They will want to
know, you know.
This week we present some of thr orna
mental fowls. '
SILVER-SPANGLED HAMBCRG8.
There are several varieties ot the Ham
burgs. They sre among the showiest of
chickens. They have flat rose combs, set on
horizontally Instead of up and down. The
Silver-spangled breed are in color partly
white and partly black spangled with white.
They are good layers and hardy, but they
are not of large enough size to be profitable
for market
BROWN-RED GAMES.
Here we have the most useless of all varie
ties of poultry flesh, the Game, good only for
fighting. The cock is as plucky as a Duu
dog, and will fight as long as there is a piece
of him left He will allow no other rooster In
the yard along with him. The hen lays only a
moderate number of eggs, which are ricniy
flavored, and the cock's temper is very bad.
The Games have been bred till there is not
much meat left on them. Their long, sharp
legs and beaks are very prominent
Inoculating for Hog Cholera.
The Oskaloosa Herald savs: Dr. Schermer-
horn, of Jefferson, la., a very worthy man
and one who is constantly experimenting in
a practical way, thinks that he has dis
covered a cure for hog cholera, He has
followed out PastJur's theory as applied to
hydrophobia and other diseases, and pre-
vente the disease from spreading by inocula
tion. It is said that out of a herd of 100
which had been exposed, fifty were treated
by inoculation and fifty were not so treated.
Of the former but one dud, while in the
latter the cholera ran its course.
lintnbagas No Good.
A farmer of Michigan tells bow he found
out that rutabagas were worth but little as
fattening food. He says he' was feeding two
oxen and two pasture milking cows for ths
purpose of fattening. , For two months ho
fed good hay, corn meal, middlings and on
ti.l l'..,:.f.l f.'-UT B.'i.i i
ai i I . u i. n. J i i
rr i a a 1 1 ' i ' i '
of pcun-is of corn iiin V'
bufcineHH; uootit two .'em,ss -i '
would be.
This reminds us of the remark ot
dry old jokr, Charley R. Beach, ot V
cousin, who, when atked if he alv - .
feeding cows rutabagas as mn-h es li !
in former years, replied: "No; I bav
wind mill now, and it answers the .
purpose." American Dairyman.
The Profits.
Bsoflt in farming consists In devoting most
of your land to grass and stock; In maiirr
large quantities of manure, and applying ft,
to a small portion of cultivated land, giving
high cultivation. In this way more grain,
roots, etc., will be raised one year with an
other than can be raised on the whole forsm
by the usual skimming and half cultivating
process. Here is success in a nutsnen; your
farm and pocket will grow fat; no mistake
about it!
Profit in stock raising comes from giving
thp best care and shelter with full feed frota
the beginning. In breeding use only thor
oughbred males; half-hretls produce only
mongrels and scrubs. One pound of sulphur
to twenty of salt will prevent disease, anS
keep your animals healthy. Always salt tho
hay lit the mow. One is apt to neglect giv
ing salt in winter. Add sulphur, as it pre
vent hay from molding and keeps it sweet
They Always Come.
The manner of calling swine is as varied at
the number of states. The Pennsylvania
requests the presence of fcU herd with "Pig
pig, P1. ple-gle. rdft-gio-" The North Caro
linian halloos, "Pig-i, pig-i," dwelline on tW
"i" each time. The Hoosier calls, " Whoo-ee,
whoo-ee," and his pigs come on the jump
froia every direction. A Buckeye farmer
reawins with bis big, easy-going, weu-M
porker, and eoaxingly cries, "Soo, soo soo.
soo, soo. The Kentucky farmer causes ine
hills to reverberate with his heavy bass voice,
"Foohe, poohe." A Dakotian brings his pigs
with a shrill whistle. And thus each star
has its own peculiar manner of calling tie
swine.
How to Jiang Grindstone.
To bans- a erlndstone on tta axle and to
keep It from wabbling from side to side re
quires great skilL The hole should be at
least three-eighths or one-hair lncn larger
than the axle, and both axle and hole square;
then make double wedges for each of the four
sides of the square, all alike, and thin enough
so that one wedge from each side will reach
clear through the hole. Drive the wedges
from each side. If thehole through the stone
is true, the wedges will tighten the stone
true; if the hole Is not at right angles to th
plane of the stone, it must be made so, or tho
wedge must be correspondingly altered 'la
the taper to meet the irregularity of the hols.
Hoven.
The Toronto Mail says: Hoven, the result
of eating too much green clover in pasture,
is easily prevented. Have a good straw stack
accessible to cattle, and they will always eat
sufficient of the dry stuff to neutralize the
evil effect of clover. If one bas no stack
then give a small ration of dry hay or straw ,
each day. If the trouble appears, admin
ister to the affected animal, as soon as dis
covered, five or six tablespoonfuls of spirits
of turpentine. Unless the subject is too far
gone to stand, this will give relief.
Qneen Bee.
It it a well-known fact that a colony carni
long exist without a queen, and she must be
such a one as has met a drone and become
fertilized in-order to lay eggs that will pro
duce working bees; these are essential to the
welfare of the whole colony. The queen, if
prolific, is capable of laying 2,000 or 8,009
eggs daily during the honey harvest Just
in the same ratio as the eggs are deposited in
the cell by the queen, so they will hatch out
and become full-grown bees In twenty-one
days.
Betsy and the Babies. 1
After all the good wife and the boys and
girls are the best things on the farm. Don't
forget this when you find yourself given up
night and day to thinking aDout ana caring
for those pies ana calves, ii tne pig or can
goes wrong it can1 be replaced with money,
but not so with a helpmate wrecked with
overwork, or a boy or a girl gone astray.
The best type of a farmer is the one wk
thinks of hi family first; not that he thinks
less of his farm and its belongings, but more
of Betsy and the babies. Indicator.
Commercial Fertilizers.
All mineral manures should be left on or
very near the surrace. iney are never
bulky, and to plow them In is to bury them
where roots of crops wiu nna them so rate
as to receive little benefit therefrom. The
decomposition of barnyard manure under
the furrow gives both warmth and fertility
to the roots. But potash or phosphates
buried so deeply are either soon washed aw.y
or become insoluble and of no value to crops.
Especially is this the case in soils having Ut
tie vegetable mold.
Destroying Mar Bugs.
The burning of rubbish heaps, which always
occurs after spring cleaning, should be done
at night, and when warm weather has ea
ticed the May bugs to venture out Many
of these will be attracted by the light au
destroyed. Few like the May bug in any
state, but before he assumed his present
active condition he was one of the difl oreiit
families of white and black grubs so de
structive to strawberries, corn and cabbaga.
Making Changes.
Every change that is proposed on the farm
should, it possible, be aco mpli!hed with
deliberation. Especially should this be the
case when it is determined to make a radical
change in the management of the dairy, '
such as changing from summer to wintor
butter making, from pasturing to soiling.
Begin the change slowly, and try to leara.
the hard places as you go along.
Things to Do and to Know.
Kerosene oil put upon the heads and under
the wings ot chickens will kill them.
Do not try to fatten very old cows
sheep. It will not py. You can't mukm
them fat i
Have oatmeal porridge and cream for
breakfast The oatmeal makes bone, braia
and muscle.
Fall pigs will thrive handsomely if a patch,
of rye has been planted to furnish them greea
food during the fail and winter.
Never plant a pea for home use that fciiit
wrinkled. The buckBhot varieties may b
had a few hours earlier, but they are only
fit to s lL (
In setting out trees let them lean townr A
the south. This prevents Sun scalding at
first The tree will gradually pull itself,
back upright '
If you have grape vines weak, feeble ct
nearly dead cut them off near ths groumi,
and lot new sprouts Rpring up from ths rouLa
but do not let over two of them grow.