Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1851-05-01
BURLINGTON. IOWA. MAY |, 1851.


asked Peter on arriving at the office. He
almost held his breath with suspense.
Heres newspaper for you,' replied
the post master.-'No letter p said Peter
while his heart sunk heavily.
'Are you sure?' Won't you look again?
Another search was made. The post.
master shook his head.-sHow much is to
pay on this p asked Peter.-'Nolhing
the postage is paid .' .............,. -.
Poor Peter Miller, whose feelings had
undergone sudden and painful revulsion,
returned slowly homeward.-'Have you
been to the pos:-office?' p asked Hannah
l'Yes.' .~s
The gloom on Peters countenance fell
like shadow on her heart. There was
no need Of further question. Hannah fel!
this, yet she said: -. .........u.- .......
WAS there nothing for US ?'-'No: yes. !
And Peter drew the newspaper from
his pocket.
Here's a newspaper, but dear knows
where it came from. Oh! Yes!'-He
now saw name written on the margin.
Benjamin Hicks ..'
'Humph! What DO l want with his
old newspapers And tossed the unopen-
ed paper into the fire place.-'Peter = ex-
claimed Hannah, snatching the paper,
what are you doing?' a. om. .a.1a an.
ITO Hannah's mind had come the quick
suggestion, that letter, containing money,
might be enclosed. Hutriedly, she un-
folded it, but there was nothing beyond
the large and we'll filed newspaper. n sa
That's an insult which I'll never for
give said Peter.-'Don't be too hasty,
Peter; wait little while; Uncle Ben is
incapable of deliberately insulting any
one.-'He has clearly insulled me: and
he did it deliberately.-'No, no. Don't
think so. Uncle Ben spoke very kindly
of you to me. He means well, but acts
strangely sometimes =
Strange enough! l don't like such
well-meaning men, And so saying, he
left the room. As soon as he was gone
Henry seized upon the newspaper, and
opened it with a feeling of delight. |,
was the weekly Cincinnati Gazette, which
he commenced reading to his mother and
Ellen. About half an hour atterward.
Peter returned. He saw the paper oper
in Henry's hands, while his wife and Ell.
len were listening with much interest.
Peter felt too great a contempt for the
newspaper, TO join his family. So he
went into the adjoining room. The com.
municating door stood ajsr, and as Peter
sat down, he heard Henry as he read. A,
first he tried not to listen; but soon, ir
spite of himself, he became deeply inter.
es,ed. Henry was reading story of do
mes,ic trial, in which profound trust ir
Providence sustained the parties, ever
when their sky was far darker than his
had yet been; and when he saw help
come to them, in tn, ir most painful ex'
tremity, and from point least expected
he could not keep the tears from his eyes
After the story was completed Henry ,eat
for an hour longer, all OF which time Pc
ter sat listening intently. a.sn..s ...,...
An dinner time, Henry and Ellen talk
ed about what had been read in the Ga
zette. They did not know that their ia
ther had been so much interested. He re.
mained silent. During the afternoon, he
picked up the newspaper which lay
,eInp;ingly near him; he felt differently
towards it, since he had listened to Henry
reading from its broad pages, and let his
eye glance over it, from column TO column
Gypsum? eypsum?' said he a, length
speaking half to himself, yet looking to.
wards Hannah. What is gypsum p I'm
sure l don't know replied Hannah.
Isn't there dictionary up stairs ? Il
believe there is, but I've moi seen it these
five years. lie, me see,' said Hannah,
thong ghtfully, where is it? Yes-yes;
think know And laying down her
mending, went up stairs. She returned
with the book, and as she entered, said,
Gypsum is plaster of Paris
Indeed! 0, well, that is simple enough.
them
what is simple enough?' asked Ham
nah.
You know that we lost nearly our
whole crop of grapes last year, by kind
Of mildew or rot, said Peter. calcua.
ted certainly on getting $3.50 from that
acre Of vineyard; and got nothing worth
sending to market. Now, here man
says that he lost his grapes, year before
last, in just the same way; aud that after
| StuuS ii'S aoout Hs uc ttiouSHt hc Wouiu
gatherthe leaves in autumn and put them
around the roots ol the vine, adding lit
tie gypsum. Last year every vine thus
treated had an abundance Of healthy fruit ;
while on the others, the grapes, just as
they were about ripening, decayed as be-
fore.
is it possible! Id do the same
Indeed will. As soon as the snow
clears off, III go through the entire vine
yard. Ii that will save hundred or two
dollars worth of grapes, it is well worth
the trying. Ii had only known this last,
year. A week went by, and another Ga.
zet;e came. When Peter brought it, Hen
ry opened it with delighted eagerness
which his father could not help observing.
He commenced reading aloud for his moth
er. Peter listened, and became interest
ed. After supper, Peter took up the pa
per, the very sight Of it producing desire
to know more. He was reading TO him
self, when he paused and said thoughtful
ly, Can that really be SOP
Can what be SOP asked Hannah.
If what is said in this paper be true,
can pay off my mortgage in two years. -
What does it say?' 1T says that swamp
muck. treated in n certain way. makes n