Walkerton Independent, Volume 29, Number 36, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 19 March 1904 — Page 2

Z.* ^♦^♦♦*#**^*»****g' I lestelle! B , ... <..>« - “The •»<«• -“• Shamrock." Me.

ril XPTER IL-—(Continued.) Meanwhile, the brother and sister had , । ♦Vurht of a splcu'l^’ followed the zigzag th„ht < a

hattertlv till they found theiusii't The sloping sides of the dechMD " 'hh’klv overgrown with the w tot »errv. and there they came upon a lone V child busily engaged in Itllmg a can with the ripest of the berries. eu ami Ida sat down on some moss, and Watched her. . .. . | ••What berries is she pickn - • latter inquired of her brother. -tc < j<xird to eat? ’ f Percy, with all the consequence of a spoiled boy, beckoned to the girl. " ” paused in her labors, and was shjlj •watching them. .. “Hi’, come here, young one How much do you want for your thing-em Lbobs?” . - She put the can behind her; but pwkin« up some tine branches that laj beipot tike coming iri’'contket°V, iug . ' enl WW ft XVOT*O 11 <vl X’ As ill « »».-1 Irk T

who were ugly or ill-dressed, and, in her fastidious eyes, this girl was both. Efer hair was cropped close to her head; seer skin was freckled and tanned; her Crock had evidentlj - been made for her out of one of Mrs. Price’s large-flowered &lac prints, and was repaired with pieces of a different pattern. More ‘“different to appearances than his sister, Percy stepped forward to receiv« her gift. A frolicsome retriever puppy. Writ had escaped from' his captivity in a wood-shed, and followed the children across the moor, trotted at his Raster’s heels till they were close to the <?h'L when he began to leap upon her, half in play, half in earnest, seized her skirt.in his teeth. At first she tried •to control her terror, and calling him “Bad dog.” and “Spiteful thing,” strove ' shake him off; but the creature clung •t» his hold; the can of whortleberries was upset in the struggle; the print frock sadly rent, and the worried child Jost, tier temper. “You are a wicked boy. and your dog • ought to be killed! I’ll ask Owen to - {shoot him!” she tearfully panted, as, farmed with a branch of furze, she stood •-at ’.hay. ' ■'But I won’t have him shot! Let Owen or any one: else dare attempt it, aod see what I’ll do to them!” retorted Percy. "You’re not hurt a bit!” She pointed to the torn frock. \ “Bah!” said the young aristocrat, con- • temptuously. “What matters about that old thing? It wasn’t worth sixpence.” “-And it’s horribly ugly,” added his sister, —“as ugly as you are!” The girl’s face flushed at the taunt, ■and she drew herself up. “If 1 had your tine silk dress and long curls, I should be prettidr than you!” and snatching up Iter can, she began refilling it. By this time Percy had found fresh amusement. He was flinging stones ;»to the pond, and inciting the puppy h> fetch them out. his sister joinring gleefully in the sport. Presently a cry of distress from both chil- — 'drSn made the girl start up. The bottwm of the shallow pond was covered by a deposit of clayey mud; and twice. Rover, in obeying his master’s commands, had plunged into the thickest of this, and waded out with difficulty. The third time the poor creature could not extri- • cate himself. In vain did the boy call {ind coax. Rover yelped and struggled, 1 but only to flounder deeper into the i tsticky soil. He was getting exhausted, «heu the cries of his repentant master "brought the girl Essie to the spot. ? AWhat shall I do? Rover will be "drowned, and through me!” the boy exclaimed. Kssie ran round to the side of the pond u^here the water was shallowest, and, ‘■slapping off her shoes, began to wade to'Ward the sinking Rover. It was a dan- ; gerous undertaking, for her own feet sank deeper and deeper at every step; but she fearlessly proceeded till she could grasp the curly coat of the animal, and draw him toward her. In another five minutes they were both safe on the bank. With the selfishness of pampered cb-ild--1 hood, Percy busied himself about his favorite. and forgot the girl altogether. She had quickly fetched her can, and taken the nearest way back to the farm, where she was so unfortunate as to encounter Mrs. Price, before she could change her bespattered and dripping garments. In the midst of the dame’s tempestuous wrath. General Glenaughton chanced to come downstairs from his nephew’s chamber, and Mrs. Price dragged the culprit toward him. "There, sir—there—that’s Essie's • child! And. now you’ve seen her, you’ll not wonder that I rue the day I adopted Jier. I sends her to pick a few berries, and ’stead of doing as she was bid, she’s been romping on the moor, and I may wash her and mend her’. Ain’t it enough to sicken anybody of being good-na- _ ■ tured?” »- The General cast one swift glance at

' the dirty, ragged figure before him, and i implied in disgust. “This Essie’s chid! Good heavens'.” ' With quickened step, he passed on, -and Mrs. Price hauled her adopted away, assisting her progress with slaps and cuffs, to which the broken-spirited girl Attempted no resistance. CHAPTER 111. Before the close of another week the ambassador and his lady had departed; JWiss Hill had returned to her friends, cheered a lifttie by a whispered assuranee from Wyett that she should hear from him; and Darcy Lesmere was left fa solitary possession of Mrs. Price's apartments. To one fresh from a public school it was terribly monotonous to be pent up la a secluded farm-house. Neither was Mr. Haynes the most cheerful of companions for an invalid. He wouid declaim Latin verse, or construe Greek, for an hour at a time, but these were subjects his pupil could not enjoy in his weak state. However, Darcy had a fund • of amusement in his own active mind. He read a great deal, thought as much; -«wd when he grew tired of both, con■trived to draw out of an excellent con■certina music enough to astonish the rustics. He was lying on his sofa in the twiught one evening, when the air was so t balmy that a half-glass door leading to •tise garden stood open, playing at intervals snatches of plaintive old Scotch ballads till Wyett came in. The man had snade himself so useful that Darcy, who always nourished a secret dislike of , r 3ua uncle’s obsequious attendant, was

v * - - learning to feel ashamed of his cause^ASX Darcy? I thought Mn Haynes was hero, or 1 would not have

inn ” »»•» I r dull ” was the good humored reply, been evoking the oddest echoes you ever heard. Are you superstitious, The valet looked perplexed. Not par ticularly so. Why do you ask? । ••Because this place is haunted by a fairy with the sweetest voice imagmable ’’ Darcv laughingly responded. Don t you believe me? Then listen, and judge for yourself." Verv slowly ho played the first eight bars of "The Birks of Abertmdy; then enjoining silence upon his companion, he laid down the instrument. In the coni, of a minute or two the air was repeated, softly, hesitatingly—as if the MM ' memory were sometimes al famt ways in tones replete with a s ness as rare as it was charming. Darcy looked triumphantly at ttie 1 ^Did I not tell you so? Who cani it be’ This is not the first time 1 have rJ’- ; K... J -am- de-

i tain for you whether your echo is aerial . or mortal,” Wyett whispered, as he ; noiselessly stepped to the door. Darcy obeyed, then paused as before. • The first few bars of the tune were I taken up—then there was a terrified cry. i a slight scuffle, and Wyett. who had crept out into the garden, returned, bear- . ing in his arms the diminutive figure of • Essie. Darcy laughed uncontrollably at the ■ drpll appearance of the girt, whose closei ly cropped head peered out of an old red cloak in which she had wrapped her- ■ self. His mirth, however, soon gave place to compassion, for Essie sank on the floor as soon as she was released, her teeth chattering, and her eyes dilated with terror. “Poor little mite! Don't frighten her any more. Wyett.” “I didn’t mean no harm,” she panted. “I was only listening. Don’t tell her, and I’ll never do it no more.” “Tell who? Mrs. Price? Os course I’ll not,” answered Darcy, extending his hand to her. “Come here, you elf, and sit on this stool beside me.” She made a gesture of dissent, and seemed to be meditating a flight through the window, but this Wyett prevented by closing it. and Darcy renewed his efforts to soothe her. “So you came here to listen? Then you are fond of music? I wish we had not disturbed you. Let me make amends by playing the tunes you like best.” Her bright dark eyes began to lose their wild expression, and glance curiously at the concertina. Amused with this queer instance of the divine power of melody. Darcy struck some chords. Her hurried breathing was subdued, the color came back to her face, and pres.ently she ventured a step nearer to his sofa. He pointed to a stool. "Sit there, you funny child, and I’ll play for you as long as you like. It’s quite flattering to have such an atteut ive auditor,” he added to the valet. With her elbows on her knees, nnd her chiiv supported on her hands. the_girl „ sat motionless till the player gre.7 " and paused. Then the glow faded from her cheek, and she said entreatingly, “Please let me go.” "Not till you have sung for me.” Darcy interposed. “Who taught you to warble so sweetly?” Again the small features brightened, and she asked timidly, "Do I sing well? Would people give me money if I went about the country, and saug at their doors?” “Why, you’d never do such a wild thing as that, you little foolish creature!" he exclaimed. "What made you think of it?” She made no reply, and he went on questioning her. “You are Essie, aren't you—the young girl I heard my cousin Percy talking about? You saved his dog. didn’t you? And only fancy, Wyett, by his own confession, the little rascal scarcely thanked her for her pains. I must give you something in his name, Essie,” he added, kindly. “What shall it be—a book?” The girl’s face crimsoned. “I can't read. Nobody never taught me.” “That’s a pity. Shall it be a new frock, then. And pray where is your own?” asked the amused youth. "Do you generally wander about the garden without one?” Essie drew the old scarlet cloak more closelj’ around her. “I didn’t dare get out o’ window with it on. for fear of tearing it.” “Then you actually crept out at your lattice to gratify your love of harmony!" the laughing Darcy commented. “Yon queer child. I’ll ask Mrs. Price to let you come here sometimes.” Instead of thanking him, Essie began to exclaim, in terror, "No, no; she’d be so dreadful angry. Don't tell her, and I’ll promise never to listen no more!" Wyett leaned forward and examined the thin arm she had extended. There were livid marks upon it. “Mrs. Price beats you, doesn’t she?" Essie made no answer, but began to

I sidle toward vi*** door. Darcy would have recalled her but for the valet's interposition. "You don’t mean to say that she illuses that fragile little creature?” he cried, indignantly. "We ought not to permit it. You must speak to her about it.” “I will, sir—l'll talk to her to-mor-row; and now you had better let me assist you to bed.” Wyett kept his word so far, that the first time he found the dame in a placable mood he questioned her concerning Essie’s parentage; and received the same account —that she had given to General Glenaughton. He let her exhaust her complaints of her own troubles in connection with the affair before he made any comment upon it. “It seems strange that you gained no clue to the real name of the artist who took Essie’s mother away. Were there no letters, no papers found after the death?” “Why, where should they be found? Did not I tell you she came back with nothing but what she stood upright in? There were a little black card-case in her pocket when she died; but there were nothing in it but a couple of trashy loveletters with no name to them, and a few lines in her own handwriting that my master couldn’t make nothing out on. Writ in a foreign tongue he said they were.” “Will you show me the contents of this card-case?” asked Wyett. “1 would relieve you from a great burden if the father of this girl could be found; and there might be a clue to him in these letters.” .

“I’ve got ’em still." she veplled. "They j were a knocking about in the ^‘l”^ iu my room till I got sick o seeing <m. If 1 can come upon the case, JOU shall Se ßnt"some dais elapsed, and still Mrs^ , Price had not found time to tulfi • promise, ami Darcy I.esmere was pronounced sufficiently convalescent to p eeed to a watering place, there to re< nut his strength before crossing the sea. I As a matter of eour-w. Mr. Hajne. was to accompany him; but yet .m» the morning fixed for the young gen departure, with many -of regret, resigned his berth m the l.m । ev al’s family. A brother to whom he '• was strongly attached was dead, and e a- 1

rest of the family lom;e. io •urange them; ami he had already imtten to General Glenaughton. exp aiumg - t he reason he was compelled to dtstmss liiinsvlt* so nl)rnptK' • , . • i t | Dany was sorry, and he frank ysa d s 0 Wvett had been very attenti hhn. and he was still too w. as no o H ih '' ;<t was no help lor K, ano .my thanking him. Darcy leaned back in the ,>asv carriage provided for Ins joint ey | ami. with Mr. Haynes by his side, was । rlV cn awav from the old farm house ! Wvett stood ii the porch, tmgci mg his wateii-chain. and brooding over Ins own . thoughts. Then he turned, and sought ' ^ ll "And'now. my good friend." he said. " compUnntly. “1 must make my own preparations for leaving you B “Be ve gong to nay. -" l - , , . . Mrs. Price asked, indifferently. "4 thinks t ! ought to ha’ made a charge fm e e wear and tear of tins carpet. E,"" 113 ” ‘‘r three platan th m

• rnu. n X.. . VVn ul ,„bhv ’’ - •• give it to the general when I see him.” Wyett replied. ill ye now? Then 1’1! do it at once. People as can pay ought to be made to pay. oughtn't they?” She was bustling away, when he stopped her. “That card case. Mrs. Price. If you will fetch it. I’ll write down your claims the while.” Conscious that her own caligraphy was none of the best, she agreed to this, and went upstairs. After a long interval, during which she could be heard opening nnd shutting doors and drawers, she returned in an angry mood. “It’s gone, though I'll take my Bible oath I see it on the shelf only this morning!” "But W ; ho could have taken it?" asked Wyett. his brow as black as her own. “Why, Essie has; the thieving, artful little cat! I see her loitering about when I were talking to you the other day. She’s equal to anything; and she has been and helped herself. I'll teach her to touch my things without leave!" . She flounced out of the room, and Wyett threw himself into a chair. Ten minutes—twenty elapsed. '1 he highpitched voice of Mrs. Price was audible both within and without the house, and her subordinates were heard si uttlhig to and fro nt her bidding, as if sent in various directions. Her face wore a strangely seared expressiiKi when she came back. “'rhe girl’s gone. Mr. Wyett. There’s no sign of her. far nor near Ha’ she been wicked enough to drown he, seif in' the pool, d’ye think? I’ll have erory <m« crying out that 1 drove her to it! What’U i I do?” (To tie continited., HOW RADIUM WAS DISCOVERED, Experiment* with Becqnerel RnyGav* Radium to tin- W art The investigations which resulted in the detection of Becquerel rays began fSoon after the tlisrovcr.v < »t the x mys, and We™ 'inTltim o-t'v n>uuen,*e v ‘’h it. In the early days of the Roentgen rays, there were ninny facts which suggested that phosphoreseeiue had something to do with the production of these rays. It occurred to several French jihysielsts that X rays m.ght be protlucetl if phosphorus, ent snl>stanees were exposed to sunlight Instead of to the eleetrieal action of a Crookes tub<>. Prof. Henri Becquerel of the UniviTsity of Paris undertook experiments to test this stipposition as early as istui. only a tew months alter X rays had been di-mn cred. Among the substances used in these experiments was one containing the metal uranium. This was placed upon a photographic plate, which had first been wrapped in black paper in order to • protect it from the light. After the plate had stood in the br ght sun ght for several hours, it wa.. removed from its paper covering and developed. A slight trace of photographic action was found at those parts of tin* plate <ll- - beneath the uranium, just as Becquerel had expecu-d. It was .-'.ear that rays of some kind were being produced that were capable of passing through black paper. Sine the X ray were the only ones then known to possess this power, it seemed as though the problem of producing X rays by sunlight was solved. Then came the fortunate accident. After several plates had been prepared for exposure to sunlight, a storm came . up. and the experiments had to be । postponed for several days. When the work was resumed, the plates had been lying in the dark room so long that they might easily have deterio- i rated in some way, so that it seemed ; hardly safe to use them. But, instead 1 <TT StTlipiy Thrrm-ing- rii.- away, . Becquerel fortmrately develop d them, thinking that some action might possi- ! bly have taken place in Ilie datk. The ; result was that he obtained better ' pictures than ever liefore. The exposure to sunlight, which had been regarded as essential to the success of the former experiments, had really had nothing at all to do with the matter. The essential thing was the presence of uranium: and the photographic effects were not due to X rays, but to Becquerel rays. There were many long and difficult steps to take before even our present incomplete knowledge of the subject could be reached; but this fortunate accident w -i s the beginning of the long series of experiments which have already led to the discovery of the now element radium, and which bid fair to revolutionize some of the most fundamental conceptions of physics and chemistry.-—Century. Conclusive. She —M’hat makes you think his advice is good? —Because he never gives it unless it’s asked for. Coffee a Foe of Microbes. Coffee is a very strong antiseptic. There are many diseases the microbes of which are destroyed by it. The heart gets weary but never gets . ©ld.—Shakespeare.

• ImklSni 'fcsLi A cy rS L <■ Automatic Ml Ikinu Device. The buxom dairj' maid will soon be ; a thing of the past ! if a now invention which has succCssfully undergone

— s R L’&» L I Wr I N AN ‘gé fie q/ WYY AR AR N L ) SRR

|nhierous tests conies ip general use. 'The iflenuity of man has (Vised a scheme to acqnplish her downfall a a necessity in the rrieultural districts. It' h e inve nll on, Jown as the Law- \ nee - Kennedy cow \ Jker. is described by jl.oiilU'tt' corresDond-

) 5 ' g/b:) /! 1 “f\>

goTmer Ocenn. ft can be operated, its inventors claim, by any motive poweß-steam, water, gas, oil. or electricity. Pictures showing itis method of op- ation have the following explanation: “Connected by pipes with a vacuum continuing-tank is the tube a. The other end of the tube Is connected with the pulsator G, which rests upon the cone-shaped pail placed between the cows. From the pulsator two rubber tubes (RR branch out right and left, one to each cow, and each tube is attached to four rubber cups C. which are fastened to the cow. M hen the vacuum cock is turned on the pulsator commences to work ami causes the cups to collapse ami expand and thus extract the milk. The milk on its way to the pail can be seen passing through a glass trap or indicator D. which is protected by a wire cage. The dumber of pulsations per minute can be regulated by screws which give adjustability to the characteristics of eac^ cqw.” Lime in Asrlcnltnre. The use of lime on land has not been largely encouraged by scientists in the past, though it has been used to a considerable extent |n Isalated localities. It was at first (considered from the standpoint of plant food, and as such of courseiJt wouij not remove a very enthuslastie^BUpUßrt from men that had found out Hv x: rems that . there was nlreaWy in the soil more lime than the phihts could Use. When the soils of the [various States came to be examined fL r acid, it was found i that many of tliem were so strongly acid that some of our most important plants would noir grow on them satis factorily. In tl£ soil surveys carried <>n during the pj.t three years in IlliItois M iiHM been’found that one-third of the soils of ti ^tatc are so strongly acid that they d* B not crow red clover am! other legume© successfully until treated with lime Os the other twothirds of the St^te s^me of the soils nr slightly acif and would be improved by an ajidlcution of lime. rnnitr4 Lea Band. The lllustratiou shows a neat and durable leg band, which is easily put on. and one whrh will be m, Ineon venh nee to the few!. It is made from a J inch strip of ^n pointe,! at one end, and a hole inndr through the larger ‘nd. If it is d«4irisl to have a num- । Ist nr letter on’the band, cover the c I>^_J - pot I Tin LEG UAXD. larger end with grease, in which carefully write the itumber or letter with some pointed ins Innqent. Then apple muriatic acid, w m b will cut into the surface of the tin where grease lias been removed. After the hand has been put around the leg of the bird insert the pointed end through the hole ; in larger end a:id bend point down fla t. Straw on Filature I.and. A Dakota farmer writes as follows: Five or six years ago we tried a heavy coat of strawy horse manure on the high ground of our pasture where ; tae grass was quite short. At first the i grass was almost smothered out, but j within the last year or two a sort of i second growth grass h;is Mom.; iTk-im 1 I the feed on tbC^?aanu<Gi spots seems i at least "0 per cent better than it was ' before manuring. We shall try some ! more of this work next year on land not convenient to plow. Where worn out pastures are suited for plowing, a good plan would be to first seed an old jflow field with Brome grass for a pasture and then break up the old pasture, thus starting a system of rotation thst should eventually take in the whole farm. Once started. Brome grass as a pasture grass is the best thing I (have found. But I hardly think it vould be very profitable to try to start it on unbroken prairie. Good Jersey Cow Record. Will give you the record of our 14 Jersey cows for*the year Butter sold. 4,8.85 pounds $1,322 07 Cream and buttemiilk 73 10 Total ¥ $1,395 17 This does not welude cream and butter used by the family of six. Neither does it include calves or skim milk. — Ralph Brenner, Mercer County, Pennsylvania. Co-Operation Among Granges. Co-operative buying and selling among farmers ^oans money saving for them. The 5, ichigan State Grange ! reports the pur hase by Patrons of > Husbandry last season )f 450 tons of binder twine, 1,- IX) tons of iwud phosd

phate, and woven wire fencing In the largest contract ever entered into. Ohio is about to establish a central bureau of information to provide for the disposal of crops, purchase of farm supplies and to keep patrons generally posted on markets and other matters t to their interest. The Fnrmer's Reverie. Th’ nights is gittiu’ shorter an’ th' days is giftin’ long. An’ yest’day, i-jing, I heer’d a robin redbreast's song; Jes’ let me say in passin' when a robin starts tew sing Thet it’s a shore-nuff sign we hain’t so fur away from spring. I calkilate th’ grass is sproutin’ iome beneath th’ snow; Th’ sap is sort o’ thawin' an’ a-tryin' hard to flow; Th’ crow looks down an’ sasses ez he flies past on th' wing. An’, somehow, things begin tew sort o' smell tew me like spring. ’Fore long I'l] be a traipsin' on th’ hill behind the plow— Inste'd o' sett in’ ’fore th’ fire like I'm n-doih’ now— ■ A-lis’nin’ in th’ furrow fer th’ dinner bell tew ring— A-cussiu’ Jeff and Kate an’ kind o’ happy cus it's spring. Some folks prefers the winter time an’ sum prefers th’ fall, While sqmmer time suits others, yit it, sumhow. don't suit all. Es fur es I'm consarned, es I could hev my choice, i-jing, I reckon I would hev th’ hull endurin’ J ear jes’ spring. Spraying Fruit Trees. Spraying fruit trees for the purpose of destroying insects and fungus in UDOU—H fad, but is recognized as being an absolute essential where the best results in fruit growing are expected. In the matter of spraying the average farther who has but a small orchard has much to learn from the specialist. Many thousand carloads of fruit are sold annually in the corn belt that have been raised in other States, under conditions that are no more favorable for fruit growing than those of the corn belt, providing the same care could be exercised in handling the fruit trees. Spraying is an operation that should not be performed in a haphazard manner, and should only be taken up after obtaining specfic advice pertaining to it. In this regard the experiment stations of the corn belt stand ready to furnish individuals with formulas and directions for this work. —lowa Homestead. Potato Dijr^er. S. A. Bollock, of Cass county, lowa, writes: “I have never found much i use for any tool to scratch out pota- j toes after a digger of any kind save i my fingers, but I know so many are i averse to this habit that I have devised a tool whereby they can scratch out potatoes without using the fingers P< i AT<> DIOGO. - for the work. It Is made in the shape of a rake, but instead of using teeth. : pieces of heavy wire lient as observed j in the illustration and riveted in the I head will bo found very useful. The i wires will let all the loose dirt jSass , through nnd being close together will bring out all tubers that are not small enough to pass through between the wires."— Exchange. What Doe* the Pork Cost? It is periods of depression in values that put the hog grower to the crucial i te>t. W. A. Henry, the Wisconsin expert on porcine matters, insists that the corn belt hog grower has not yet j got down to the basis of making pork ’ at a minimum cost. When corn is worth 25 cents a bushel it can be thrown to swine ad libitum, but with grain worth 4o cents, the horse assumes a different hue. Growers unite in declaring that they cannot make pork profitably nt four cents. G. J. Maggenheimer. of Hamlet, Ind., a sue- i cessftfi grower on a large scale, told the writer only recently that $4.10 was the cost of his hogs at the shipping point. ( onscquently. thousands of growers are taking the easy horn of j tue dilemma and shipping the stock to market lacking maturity. The problem at prosent before the grower is whether or not ho can fur- | nlsh his hog crop and market it at heavy weights profitably. Feeding either hogs or cattle for recreation is not desirable. Many feeders did both last year, hence the indisposition to repeat s he performance.—Live Stock World. Lime for Sheep Sorrel. Where sheep sorrel is a nuisance in hayfields, liming of the soil is an effective remedy. From experiments noted by the Department of Agriculture it is lielieved that the appearance of sorrel is due to acidity of the soil, utrnllzes s-o’> acid eoi^iitmn^ The Rhode Island experiment station has for some years been experimenting with lime applications, in connection with other fertilizers. In all eases where tried on grass lands the liming increased the total yield to a very marked extent, in many instances to over three times that of the unlimed lands, otherwise similar in character. The effect of liming on timothy and clover fields was highly beneficial. To Fatten a Horse Quickly. To fatten a horse quickly in ord r to improve its appearance before sale, feed liberally of corn meal, steamed oats and clover hay, adding a little linseed meal to the grain ration. Exerl cise but little, and give purging salts once a week. Feed at least three times -a day and supply plenty of water. A j horse not too wild will often gain several pounds a day for a fortnight un- ! der this plan. Good Bonds and Social Life. f The advent of good roads will pro- ’ mote attendance at school and the ' church; facilitate social gatherings, literary societies, dramatic entertainments. and make club and lodge meetl , lugs possible to the farmer's family in I ' the winter and spring months. Give • । the bright young men and women of ’ ; rural districts these privileges and : i there will be a smaller tendency of - | their drifting to die city.

FANCY TASKS IN SCHOOLS. Mnch of the I’upils’ Time Is Occupied in Learning Useless Diitma. The fathers and mother.; of New York are beginning to waken to the tact that there is altogetlicr too mu -a ‘fancy teaching in the public schools and not enough of the solid essentials; that the children are drilled in the fancy branches and do not know how to read and speli. That a common school education has become som<q]jing uncommon, indeed. A committee acting in behalf of Comptroller Grout has been looking into the matter. Their report is full of meat. "Teachers and pupils," they | say, "are called upon to do not too much, perhaps, but too many things to ! permit their doing anything well or thoroughly.” "Lt will luirdly be contended." again they say. "that pupils graduated from the elementary public school of this or any other < ity are as well grounded ami as proficient tn the common school j branches of study as could be desired. । or as the time and money ostensihlv , appropriated to that end would seem to warrant.” Some other comments made by the committee are as follows; "A common s<'hool education—to provide which is universally acknowledged to be the primary object of the public or common school system.” "A. close examination of the courses will lead to the conclusion that the ordinary child between the age of G and 14 years cannot begin to digest the profuse abundance of ostensibly mentai pabulum so rigidly prescribed for And here, say the fathers and mothers, is the meat of the whole matter: "The conclusion seems to be inevitable that a sound economy iu public school administration demands the doing away in elementary schools with so much at least of instruction in special blanches as may be required in order to afford pupils and teachers time and opportunity for efficient prosecution of the ordinary school course of study.” Children who attended the common schools in the early days were taught to read and spell, the elements of mathematics, tlie geography of the earth on which they dwell, the elements of grammar, how to write. , These are old-fashioned things, in Hie opinion of the professional educators of New York. The children must draw, even if they do not know how to spell: they are taught construction work- nnd cooking, when no man can swear that they know how to road: are drilled in music, physical training and hygiene, even if impressed with the belief that seven times eight | make forty-two: are drilled in "natural studies,” while perhaps believing that Brooklyn Is the capital of New York State. These are the things, say the parent, that are a cause of weariness and vexation of spirit. Too many frills. Too much gingerbread. Not enough solidity. Children who are sent into tne world with a smattering of many things and i. >t much solidity of any tiling.—Cleveland Blain nealer. GIVING UP TOO SOON. ■ - I Help Needed Most in the Hour of V acil latino. ; From 'hose to whom we have tried lo render service o£_ inspiration o £_ guidance, those in whom we have enleavored to rouse a recognition of the higher rewards of honor and noble emulation, we are too quick to turn away as soon as weakness or dissembling lack of principle prove them "unworthy." Fnworthy of what? Does ;e weakness of the wail show that it needs no prop? Doos the Imperfection >f a fabric tell us to cease to repair its frail spots? Does the pitiable evidence that a man cannot stand up- ‘ right alone convince us that we should, because of his infirmity, desert him and leave him to swerve entirely out >f the line of his duty, and pass beyond the reach of human hope? Never can a fellow being so truly need our hel^i as in the hour when he has proved himself to be unable to keep within the paths of rectitude. Never can he so deeply want the faithI ful adherence of a friend as when he has shown that he can be tempted by sin or falsehood. By nothing can a wavering or de- ■ scending soul be so moved as by the I reminder of his better self which reaches him through the unfaltering l fidelity of one who has trusted him when he was himself false. Reproach or coldness or revengeful discipline may leave a falling man unrepentant and even harden him in wrong-doing; but ( a continued hopeful kindness, fraul; enough not to disguise or condone a wrong, but true enough to hold on and expect restoration, is like a bulwark to self-respect. It gives to the spirit of man or woman, struggling to renew its better life, a firm foundation on which to again find its footing and reach the path of safety.—New York Evening Bost. Brown —4 bad a*“letter “rom Smitf this morning, and I bet you a cooky you don't guess in half a dozen guesses how the ignorant beggar spelled cat Jones —I bet I do. Brown All right, then; fire away. Jones —C-a-t-t. Brown—No. Jones —C-a-t-t-e. Brown—No. J ones—K-a-t. Brown —No. Jones —K-a-t-t. Brown —No. J ones—K-a-t-t-e. Brown —No. .Jones —C-a-g-h-t. Brown —No. Jones —M ell. how did he spell it? Brown —G-a-t. Jones (angrily)—But you said h( was an ignorant beggar. Brown —So 1 did; but it is not likely that he would be so ignorant as not to bo able to spell cat. —Woman's Home Companion. Vacancies in Army. Vacancies in the grade of second lieutenant in the army exist to the extent of seventy in the infantry, nineteen in the cavalry and twenty-six in the artillery corps. These things that are cooked in a chafing dish late at night taste terribly like crepe on the door.

! rtOgib Sweet Potato Pone. Grate a pint of raw potato, add to it two beaten eggs, a cupful of sugar, a cupful of sweet mil!,, a tablcspoonful of butter, and half a cupful of cream. Add spices in generous proportions—cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and any oth- • er that one may fancy. This is usuI ally baked at the open fireplace, if one be convenient. Butter a pan. pour in tlie mixture and bake very slowly for two hours. Serve cold. Botato pies are sometimes made the same wav, except that more milk is | used, the spices are left out, and the I custard is flavored with lemon and । baked in deep, flaky crusts, with pretty twisted slips across tlie top. Canning Pumpkin, I read in my last Ohio Farmer paper some very good recipes for pumpkin pie, but the writer advised us not to try to can pumpkin for summer pies. I disagree with her. Here is my recipe for canning pumpkin: Use a granite or earthenware kettle. I’eel and cut up the pumpkin into small squares, add just a little water to start the cooking. Stew over a slow fire and stir often, cooking the pumpkin until well done; then u.e water which I -u-b‘XU ilavd j-iio.uld base all st<ai away. Seal airtight in gl" I'ro? I have canned pumpkin in this wa three years and never had a can plode yet.—Caroline M. Steffens, Fulton County, Ohio. Maple Stisjar Taffy. Let maple molasses boil until it will stiffen when dropped into cold water; then take from the stov? and set tlie dish or kettle where it will cool as rapidly as possible. Do not stir the syrup until it has become quite a thick wax, and then witli a paddle or stout spoon stir until white and hard. An addition of hickory-nut meats to the wax before stirring greatly improves it for some people. The success in nice taffy lies in preventing it becoming grainy. To ' accomplish this do not stir the molasses any until it is sufficiently boiled and then cooled. If an inch in deptli around the top of the pan is buttered the syrup wi., not boil over. — Cocoanut Snow Puddintx. Cover a half box of gelatin with a half cup of cold water to soak for half an hour, then add the juice of two lemons, one pint of boiling water, two-thirds of a cup of sugar; stir until the gelatin and sugar are dissolved, and strain into a bowl. Stand this in a pan of ice-water or cracked ice, and add one-half a pint of graded or shredded cocoanut. When this begins to ] thicken beat rapidly with an egg beater until light like the white of egg, then fold in carefully the well beaten whites of three eggs; turn at once into a mould and stand aside to harden. Serve plain or witli cream. Brown Betty. Feel and chop juicy apples. In the bottom of a buttered pudding dish put a layer of the chopped apple, sprinkle wtrti —sugar, m Ttrne cinnamon, crumbs ami bits of butter, put in m apples, more sugar, spice, crumbs : butter and proceed in this way ui tlie dish is full, having the top layer buttered crumbs. Bake covered for halt or three-quarters of an hour. Uncover ’ and brown. Serve with a hard sauce. Mock Cherry Pic. Cut rhubarb into lengths as for pies and stew, putting in the water in • i which it is stewed a few cherry leaves . j and shoots from the budding trees, i .» hen the rhubarb is put in tlie pies : ' pour in a little of this liquid and it I I will give tlie dish the flavor of a cheri iy Pie. Corn Bread. “ One cup of flour; two cups of sifted 1 cornmeal; two eggs; one tablespoonful ■ of salt; two teaspoonfuls of baking powder; three tablespoonfuls of melted ' shortening: water or milk to make it the right consistency for cornbread. Bake in good oven. , Short Snsruestionn. ( The shells of pineapple cheeses make . pretty dishes for the serving of cheese ’ dishes, such as cheese fondu. i When the fat for fir-op frying looks ; j muddy while very hot. a handful of 1 crushed egg shells would clarify it. l I But sugar iu the water used for i basting meats of ail kinds; it gives a i good flavor, to veal more especially. 1 For making sandwiches broad baked ‘ in large-size baking powder cans will t be just the right size ..nd free from ' crusts. Cedar oil applied to the crevices of trunks and chests is a far better , c ventive against moths and eer' h loss disagreeable than moth ball- I - ■ I china or glass dishes, rinse with || ‘ water before pouring into then.-, hot liquid. ° The resistance of glass jars tl^lO' I fuse to open can be overcome lg ■ i ting them, top downward, in a; ■ ' or two of hot water. To have celery very crisp hut ’ soggy wash it thoroughly eight or ton hours before using; do not dry but roll in a towel and put on ice till time to serve. Cranberries are more tempting if strained before sweetened, made into a jelly and cut into cubes when cold, than in the ordinarily used form of sauce. Farm Laborers in the United States. A bulletin of th- Agricultural De- [ partment says tlie number of farm laborers in this country in 1902 was 4.- ; 410,910, of which 2.3(56,149 are mem- . bers of the families of farmers ami s; 2,044,761 were hired. The number of I farms in the country was 5,737.372. of j which (14.7 per cent were operated by | owners. 13.1 per cent by cash tenants 1 ’ .-.nd 22.2 per cent by share tenants. The hours of farm laborers range fron 9.1 per day to 12.3 in the busy season. 1 There tire 661.103 female farm laborers. The average wages per month i without board for farm laborers was f $22.14 in 1902. $20.23 in 1901. $17.(59 In 1893, $16.42 In 1879 and $26.87 in IbLA