The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1874-05-28
Dangerous Door Yards:

iuSS vi many Iarm- houses, We cannot con
tradict this statement.
just look into ueighbor B. 5 backward
see the chunks and logs of wood which lie
here and there, and the decaying chips
and sawdust, relies Of the winters wood
pile for many year, which have entirely
DESTROYED the grass, but the ugly weeds,
plantains, dock and '.beggars' lice" thrust
up their course leaves and bury seeds
through all the rubbish Then see the
rusty old iron hoops and tin pans. pals
and the like, which are scattered every
where. Perhaps we fud the ground
soak Jed with the kitchen slops which have
been thrown out this many a day. and
vegetable parings, egg shells, etc, litter
ing up the yard, where here and there
are little spots where the water stands
until it becomes horrid to the nostrils
When We mount the doorsteps, we find
them half rotted away, jagged, and uu
sale for childred's feet. Then enter the
house, and look at the woman's pale
cheeks and black ustre eyes, aud hear
the cough, when she attempts to sup
press, as she greets our entrance Desease
has entered before us-perhaps death has
also been there, aud borne away the fair
est of the fock-the lamb of the greatest
promise. The afiiction is ascribed to
''dispensation OF Providence" e"-instead of
a disPeDsation Of ignorance
Surely it is enough to give one dip
liberia only to look at such places, and
they are also excellent nurseries for ty-
phoid fever, spotted fever, and that terri
bic Asiatic plague. cholera This last
disease is said to be marching westward,
slowly and surely. Born in the rice
fields of Asia, it continues its deadly work
even throughout this continent, it was
locked for last season, and is feared for
this. Therefore it behsoves all of us to
clean up over our premises more careful
ly than ever-to rake up the chips and
sawbust in cur hack yards, aud deposit
the rubbish in the manure heaps, where
it will be of some use, and repay US for
our labors
1t stands u. in hand to gather up all
the bits of old iron which are useful on
the forge of the blacksmith, aud to throw
away, far out of sight, all the battered,
bruised and useless old tin pals, pans
and basins, and pick up the old boots and
shoes, and bury them under the grape
vines or raspberry bushes.
Make bonfire of all the worthless bar
rel hoops, slaves and rubbish which have
accumulated it the farther corner of the
yard. Overhaul every part of the yard
and barn, and dispose ofeverything which
cumbers the ground, and is worse than
useless, because its decay may produce
mephitic exhalations which will poison
the very air you breathe, and stretch you
upon your couch, racked with ceaseless
pain, and wasted with foul disease. 1t
will surely pay you to give some little at
tention to the appearance of things im
y about your house. Has it ever
entered your mind how bare are its sur
roundings; and how puch more attrac,
tive, pleasant and homelike it would ap
pear if you would expend little more
thought and labor upon them Your
Deighbor. A has planted vines to run
over her side porch, aud her kitchen
piazza. You do not possess either porch
or piazz yet a little money and labor
would procure them both for you. and
your daughters would gladly plant the
vines and tend them. 1t does seem strange
that men who are good farmers-who
plant and raise fue crops-keep a good
horse, perhaps two-are proud Of their
fine stock. and make the farm pay we'll
can be content with such untidy surround
ings-cau allow their back yards to be-
come such uuinvitiug, and even most foul
places.
When, however, such farmers desire
to sell their farms, they discover their
then they learn that neat and
beautiful setting is most desirable re
in the disposition of
homestead They have forgotten all this
while occupied with their labors but are
forcibly reminded of it, if circumstances
Iorce them to fnd customer for it.
Friends, remember that if a little Of
your time and labor-yes, even money
is given to increase the beautiful, they
are not expended 10 vain. Plant an or
,hard, set out an abundance OF small
fruits cultivate a kithen garden make
. flower garden and fence 10 neat lawn
while you also attend to the surround
ngs of the back yard aud barns-and you
will find them more profitable Investments
han bonds and mortgages for IT their
dividends are not paid in gold, they are
payable ia health, comfort and pleasure,
y hich will profit man far more than
loarded health.
Don't forget the beautiful with the use
'ul, but combine them, so that one VIII
end added grace to the other.
Two Milesians were standing at the