Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 January 1904 — Needed a Slope. [ARTICLE]

Needed a Slope.

Among the stories treasured by the older inhabitants of a Massachusetts town is one that relates to a none too scrupulous shopkeeper who flourished over 30 years ago, and a variety of potatoes for which he acted as sponsor. They were khown as “Dover's Seedlings,” and were favorites with the people who succeeded in making them grow. Unfortunately, Eben Rhodes was not one of the few, and helamentcd his failure in public, upon which the shopkeeper remonstrated. “See here, Eben,” he said, firmly, “you’ve got no right to go spoiling sales. Where did you plant those seedlings?” “In as good soli as ever a potato could desire,” said Mr. Rhodes, with dignity. “On level ground?" asked the shopkeeper. “Level and fine," said Ebon. For a moment the shopkeeper was silent- Then he clapped his hand to his forehead. “Come to think of it," he cried, “I believe those you bought were sidehill Dover's, Ebon!”