Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1871-05-06
THE PAPERLESS MAN.
BY SYLVANUS COBB, JR.

pers."
So spoke Titus Closely, in answer to a
man who had called to see if he would like
to subscribe for a newspaper. Said man
kept store in the ncighboring village,
and was also the postmaster; and he had
made arrangements to add to his business
by establishing a newspaper agency.
Il can furnish you with any paper you
may like" he explained to Mr.. Closely"
land | can furnish it cheaper than you
can get it in any other way, because by
buying of me you will save the postage. l
shall have papers devoted to the interests
of the family; papers for the Farmers /;
papers for the Mechanic; aud papers for
both young and old and, in short, l may
assure you that any one Of them would be
worth far more to you than propose to
ask. Ask your wife what she thinks.
You have no idea what vast amount of
valuable information you will find.
Nancy Closely wanted paper; but her
husband said
90, bother! l don't want it, tell ye.
I've got as much as can do to look arter
my farm; and, if Nancy and the children
want to read, they can get tracts of the
minister"
Your .neighbor, Deepwater, has sub
scrbed for two papers" said the agent.
He will take pleasant, high toned lite
rary paper for his family, aud paper devo-
ted to Art, Science, aud Agriculture for
himself"
"The more fool he " cried Titus Closely,
contemptuously. "John Deepwater can t
afford it no morn can. My farm s big.
ger an bcttcr'n his is and tell yc. fiat an
square, at han't got no three dollars to
throw away for newspaper"
But-Titus-"
"Shut up, Nancy! I tell ye don't
want it,"
And Nancy closed her lips, and the agent
went his way; aud Titus Closely went forth
to plow his ground with the great old wood
en- plow which his father and grandfather
! had used before him.
And time passed on. The newspaper
agency was established at the village post
office but Titus did not patronizc it lie
felt that he had principle at stake. He
had said he wouldn't! But in one thing
he was consistent; he would not allow his
wife or children to borrow papers of his
neiahbor Deepwatcr if he knew it.
One evening Titus Closely and his wife
took tea, by invitation, with neishbor Deep
water.
Il declare, Nancy" said Titus, on their
way home, g Prudence Decpwa,er beats all
creation for cooking, don't she? I'd no
idea she was such hand at it. wonder
where she got them fresh strawberries"
"Shc preserved them herself" answer
ed Nancy.
"O-git eout. Them wasn't preserved
they was fresh as new.picked"
"1t is the way they were fixed, Titus"
" Eth .! can you do it :?
81 could if had her paper"
" Her paper?"
"Yes. She found the recipe in the
newspaper. And that's where she learned
how to do most all of her nice cooking"
Titus changed the subject of conversa-
ton.
Autumn came and the Agricultural
Fair was held in adjoining town. Titus
went over with what he considered very
fine oxen; but he found, when the exhibi
tion came off, that he was very far behind
the times. New breeds, of which he had
known nothing, had been introduced, and
his own animals were not deemed worthy
of notice.
Wheww whistled Titus, as he sat in
his kitchen, with a crumpled report of the
Awarding Committee in his hand A
friend had given him the printed docu.
ment. "John Deepwater has got the pre-.
MUM for sheep. by hockey! III bet clip
more wooFn he does next season."
" Because you've got more Sheep" sug.
gested Nancy. But wait and see. The
new breed which he has procured is very
valuable one"
"Bah Think what what it cost him
fifty dollars for pair on 'em!'
"And," added Nancy, he sold two OF
spring lambs to Mr.. Thompson for eighty
dollars"
"Git coutw
"Prudence told me so. John Deep.
water saw so many fattcring accounts Of
sheep in his paper that he knew it would
be safe to invest"
Titus referred again to the report.
Hello F.! I'm blessed if Polly Downer
hasn't got tho first premium for cheese
five dollars %
eyes" said Nancy. "She was telling
me about her cheeses. She found out how
to make them in her paper. l tell ye
Titus, it's good thing to have good
newspaper. wish you'd
Bah! Don't talk to me I" And Titus
threw down the Report, and retired from
the kitchen in disgust
The winter passed; and the springs
work was done and the time for sheep.
shearing came. Titus Closely sheared one
hundred and fifty sheep, and obtained