The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1847-03-27

90, anu Tie YOUNGEST ~ years Ot0s-
They are all heads Of families, and most
Of them swung the scythe with their
sons and their grandsons last summer.
The editor ofthe Massachusetts Plough
man boasts that he has three subscr-
bers, all of whom are over IS years Of
age, and who do not feel too old to
learn, by reading something new about
farming.
A GOOD STORY FOR THE TIMES
The following from the New Hamp.
shire Courier,is a good hit at the extra
VACANT accounts that have lately gone
the rounds, respecting electricity, gu
ano, &c.
A MAN GRowN BY GUANo AND ELEc-
rRIcITY.-A citizen of this place, while
recently on tour in the State Of New
York, was induced to make one of the
audience of an itinerant lecturer who
was holding forth upon the efficacy Of
electricity as applied to vegetable pro-
ductions.
In the course Of his harrangue, guano
was incidsntly alluded to as powerful
agent in quickening the growth Of
plants, and the effects of both were
displayed in such glowing language
that the auditory soon imagined them.
selves standing in the midst of field
and endeavoring to measure the height
of the grain, before it was out of reach.
The whole assembly were in fine state
of enthusiasm, and swallowing down
the wonders revealed to them with
open mouths and staring eyes, when a
plain looking farmer arose, and, with
apparently much diffidence, begged
leave TO confirm the lecturers state
ments, by the relation of an incident
which he recently witnessed, and to
which he was party.
81 have," said he, ga very bad boy
named Tommy; he's given us good
deal of trouble, and having tried various
methods to reform him without success,
| told my wife that it would be best to
try something that was new, and rather
more severe. Accordingly we agreed
to shut him up at night in the barn.
This answered very well for while,
but he grew worse again, till finally |
was obliged to shut him up in the barn
every night by sundown.
"Well, one night while Tommy was
roosting with the cattle, and | was in
my bed, there came on a tremendous
thunder storm. 1t lightened sharp
enough to put out mans eyes, and
thundered so loud that it made the
house rattle like snare drum. Feel
ing rather uneasy about the boy, | got
up early in the morning, and went out
to see how he had Jared. AS was
going TO the barn met a man about
eight feet high coming towards me. |
never had seen such tall critter in all
my life before, and began to feel sort
er scarible at having him about my pre-
mises.
"Hallo, says I, as soon as could
speak, who are you, and what are you
doing in my barn yard?
"Ihe strange looking animal answer
ed in little squeaking chIld's voice,
6 'why father, it's me, don't you know
Tommy?'
"You, says /, why, Tom, how on
earth did you get stretched out so long
in one night?-why you've grown as
tall as all out doors, don't you know it?
"Why, yes, father says he, dispose
| have, for last night 1 slept on them
bags Of guano you put in The barn, and
that and the lightning together just did
the business"
The effect Of this story upon the au-
dience was indeed electric. Peal upon
peal of laughter followed, the people
went off every way, and the next day
the lecturer upon electricity and guano
was among the missing.