davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1874-12-31

RATS greatly infest ships, and are by
them carried to every part of the world
SO industriously do they make homes fol
themselves in the numerous crannies and
corners in the hull of q ship that it is
almost impossible to get rid of them
Ships take out rats as well as passengers
and cargo every voyage; whether the
former remain in the ship when in por,
is best known to themselves. When the
East Company had ships of their own
they employed ratcatcher, who some
times captured 500 rats in one ship lust
returned from Calcutta. The ship rat il
often the black species. Sometimes
black and brown inhabit the same vessel
and, unless they carry on perpetual hos
tilities, the one party will keep to the
head of the vessel and the other to the
stern. The ship rat is very anxious that
his supply of fresh water shall not fail
he will climb on deck when it rains, and
climb up the wet sails to suck them
Sometimes he mistakes spirit cask for
water cask, and gets drunk. A cap.
tain of an American merchant ship is
credited Tor discredited with an in.
genious bit of sharp practice as q means
Of clearing his ship from rats. Having
discharged cargo at q port in Holland,
he found his ship in juxtaposition to
another which had just taken in cargo
of Dutch cheeses. He laid plank at
night from the one vessel to the other;
the rats, tempted by the odor, trooped
along the plank and began their feast.
He took care that the plank should not
be there to serve them as pathway back
again; and 80 the cheese-laden ship had
. cruel addition to its outward cargo
AU tie Fear Round
The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1874-12-31
An Insect Boxer.

A CORRESPONDENT of the Scientific
american tells of curious insect called
boxer:
The boxer of South America is SO
called by English and American settlers
on account of its pugilistic propensities
1t is of the grasshopper family, light
made, long-limbed and of beautiful
green color, and is an inhabitant of the
south temperate zone. Those which
saw were brought in by gauehers (herds-
mem from the camp Country and given
to the major domo foreman) of the saler-
ado Sailing establishment at Port
Roman, situated on the east side of the
Uruguay River, about forty miles above
Independence, and in about latitude "a
deg. south. They were brought in to
show as curiosities. The major domo,
with whom was well acquainted, placed
one of these little fighters on the table
and said to me:
"Tease him and see what he will do"
So put my forefnger against him and
pushed him lightly back; he was then in
his natural position, on all-fours. He
faced around toward me and moved back
about an inch. l then touched him
lightly again, and he retreated again, as
before; ana we observed sort of ner-
vous movement in the hands, or rather
the lower extremities of the fore legs,
which we will call hands. | followed
him up again, but this time, instead of
retreating he raised himself up, his body
being nearly perpendicular and drew
his feet up, placing himself like Turk
in sitting posture, at the same time
clinching his fists and putting himself on
guard as boxer would do.
l then made pass at him with my
finger, which he turned off as well as
Yankee Sullivan could have done and
as long as l continued teasing him in
this way he warded off and gave blows
as regularly as any pugilist could do
Soon after Leased teasing him he came
down on all-fours again and walked off
leisurely across the table. The major
domo told me that he had seen plenty of
them and that they all showed fight
when teased the same as this one had
done.
The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1874-12-31

burning. The potash Of the ashes and
the silica found in the soil are taken up
by the growing plants, and form coat
ing or liquid glass, which il spread even.
" over the straw and leaves Of the grow
ing grain, as q metallic coat-of-arms
was used In old times to cover the body
of soldier. When the growing straw
Of wheat is inclosed in thin tube of
elastic glass, the innumerable spores,
which frequently fill the entire atmos-
phere like flakes of snow, and which pro
duce rust, do not find q congenial place
for their Judgment and complete devel-
opment. But when the plants do not
have access to generous supply Of silica
and potash, the stems are 80 timber that
they are easily Frustrated by driving
storms, so that the ears of grain will be
developed Only in part. When silica is
available only in small quantities, the
pores from which fungi spring adhere to
the leaves and stems, where they find q
suitable spot for their development, and
thus the productiveness Of the plant is
seriously impaired. The practical value
of silica is further perceived in the yield
of excellent fruit-Annual Record Of
Science and Industry.
The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1874-12-31

furow being left where it isproposed the
fence shall stand. Just before frost
comes the land IL to be turned back, the
dead farrow being filed IN. As soon as
the earth is open plant the slips eight
inches apart, covering them with finely
pulverized earth. Cultivate as corn for
two years, keeping the infant fence en-
tirely clear Of weeds. The following
method will insure q rapid growth
Mulch we'll in the fall after the second
year, placing the mulching as close to
the plants as may be without touching
the stems.
BY following Mr.. Mendenhall's plan
the prairie farmer, with white willow,
will have thrifty fence in the course OF
three or four years. and in six years his
Enclosures will be perfect.-Albany
LedQer.
The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1874-12-31

AROUND the City Hall they have good
joke on one of the School Commissioners
from over the river. The Board of Edu.
cation met last Friday evening, and, hav
ing left his wife at the house Of friend
the member in question attended its
session, intending to cafi for her after
his official duties had been performed.
Upon the adjournment, however, in utter
oblivion of his better-half's whereabouts,
the Commissioner made q Decline for
his domestic Preside, contemplating the
events Of the evening, and congratulate
ing himself upon the cheerful IRE and
loving smile which awaited him. When
he was about half way home the thought
suddenly strack him that he had forgot
ten something. What could it bes He
fel: In his pockets, but nothing was miss
ing there. After profound cogitation
the consciousness gradually dawned
upon him that he had forgotten his wife.
and must 60 back for her. He did.
This true story should be warning to
every young wife not to allow her hus-
band to become . School Commissioners,
for In thst event she may lean upon .
broken reed, 70 far - his memory Of her
\ concerned l7aeNssa Gsardiaa
The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1874-12-31

stranger, well dressed and with per-
tfecf1y Z It home" demeanos, walked into
the coy dining room and seating him.
self at the table began vigorous on
slaught upon the food before him. A
new boarder," said the old ONE to him
self, and he nodded politely to the new
conner, anticipating an Introduction as
soon as the mistress of the house re-
turned to the room, although he reflect
ed that it was strange she should have
taken another boarder, knowing that she
could not well accommodate or serve
more. However, it was none of his bust
ness, and he leaned back and stroked q
blonde mustache with an immaculate
napkin, while he admired the remarkable
good appetite of the stranger. evidenced
by the agility with which he slowed
away the good things.
Presently the landlady entered from
the kitchen bearing dish, the savory
odors of which filed the apartment
She approached the table and still hold
ing the smoking dish halted before the
stranger, while an expression of the
most profound establishment overspread
her features.
"A friend of yours?" to the boarder.
A shake Of the head by the regular in
creased her surprise.
She sat down the dish.
care you not mistaken, sir?" to the
stranger.
ooh, no, madam" he replied, as he
bolted a half cup of steaming Mocha;
/" Oh, no, I'm all right, mad" and he
smothered further explanation with
slice of oyster pie.
Perfect wonder struck the lady dumb
for moment, while the nonchalant in
truder went on with the process of
tightening the table.
But reaction set in, the womanly ma
ture was up in arms very soon, and in
defense of her castle she denounced the
newcomer as a trespasser and appealed
to her boarder to aid in his ejectment.
sob, WE'LL" said the rascally hummer,
eff you're SO blasted particular I'll
leave" and, rising, he seized fresh loaf,
deliberately cut it in two, buttered both
sides, clapped them together and, putting
it under his coat, lifted his hat from the
table and crowned his cheeky caput with
it as he bowed himself out in the coolest
manner imaginable.-Sa Record.
The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1874-12-31
The Debit and Credit Account.

No ONE can pursue business intelli-
gently and profitably without carefully
kept debit and credit accounts. With
these accounts carefully kept the farmer
can, by yearly balances, see just what
he is doing. If the account is too heavy
on the debit side, the farmer can see just
where he is tending and will, by this in
formation, be influenced to take new
tack and recover himself before he has
gone too far.
Now, January will soon be here, and
we advise all who have not done so be-
fore to open an account with the farm
and its operations. Here are the items
that should be charged against the farm ::
Interest on the capital invested, at the
usual rate, 1Op per cent.
The taxes.
The depreciation in value from ex-
haustion
The interest on the capital invested in
implements, farm machinery and the
stock employed to work the farm.
The depreciation in value of these from
use. This item can be estimated by the
average length of time these articles last
by good usage.
The value of manures and seeds, and
of the materials for repairs and improve
ments.
The interest on these until returns are
had On their use.
/ The cost Of all labor, both of the owner
and his hired help, at the rate he pays
for help.
The actual cost of board for his hired
help
All female labor employed in the pro-
duction of butter. cheese, etc.
| Credit the farm with:
All its products, both that sold and
that consumed by the family.
The enhanced market value of the
| farm
Permanent improvements.
The rent of the dwelling house.
We cannot too strongly urge the i'm
portance of a knowledge Of just how our
| affairs are going. Ii the facts which will
be brought out in these accounts each
year show that we are on the down
grade we shall be prompted to call a halt
and TO begin earnest inquiry as to what
we should do. If it should be found by
comparing notes with our neighbors that
exclusive corn-growing was the cause Of
our trouble we should take a new tack.
If it should prove to be an attempt to
grow wheat or any other special crop
that caused the failure we should cast
about to see just what our farms and our
locations to markets require that we
should do.
Friends, we repeat again what we
have often said in the Farmer, informa.
ton about our business and upon kim
dred topics lies at the bottom of success.
Success was never secured without it
except in rare cases of force of circum-
stances. We must above all have reli-
able information about our business af-
fairs, and how can we have it except we
carefully collate it and compare it and
weigh it?
Open you accounts on the 1st of jan
uary; keep the items. 1t will prompt
you to look carefully after the little de-
tails and save much that is now wasted.
Indiana Farmer
The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1874-12-31
The Pig.

THE pig was thus written up by a
Georgia boy, whose composition was
published in his local paper, the Griffin
Neus, and was as follows:
The pig is about as big as sheep,
only pigs wool isn't good for making
stockings of. Why is pig like tree?
Because he roots. That is a conundrum.
A pig washes himself in the mud A pig
has four legs, one under each corner of
his body. They pickle pigs feet, but
not until after the pig has done using
'em. A pig squeals awful when it rains,
also when you pull its tail. A pig has
got first-rate voice for squealing and he
grunts when he feels good. You can't
make whistle of a pigs tail COS it is
crooked. Why is a pig like Tommy
Grant? Cos he's got his nose in every
body's business. This is another c0nun-
drum, which is all know about pig"
The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1874-12-31

TAKE handful Of hops, pour on them
three pints of hot water, and boil half an
hour. Take three tablespoonfuls of
flour, two of brown sugar, two of salt,
one of ginger, and mix them all smooth
ly with cup Of warm water. Strain
the hops and pour the hot liquid over the
mixture, stirring briskly to prevent
Jumping. Set it over the fire until it
boils, stirring often enough to prevent
scorching. When nearly cool add cup
full of lively old yeast and set in a warm
place. In day or two it will ferment,
and be ready to pour off in bottles; a
wide-mouthed glass fruitcan is better,
and should not be quite filled, as there is
pretty sure to be second rising. If
closely corked and put in cool place it
will keep sweet three or four months.
But the bread is not made directly from
this yeast. Take pint or more of
nicely-mashed potato, add spoonful of
brown sugar, a teaspoonful of salt, and
hot water enough to make a finnish
batter. When nearly cool, add four or
five spoonfuls of the stock yeast, and if
kept warm it will soon be light and
ready for use. After fermentation set it
in cool place, and it will keep sweet
several days, and may be renewed and
increased by adding more of the warm
potato batter. For the loaf take quart
OF flour, pint of the potato yeast, and
nearly pint of warm water. Mix thor
oughly, set in warm place, and it will
rise in about two hours. Now stir in
flour until it is quite stiff, but not too
stiff. Transfer the dough to the wide
four-pan or the molding- board, and for
ten or fifteen minutes knead it with the
hands and slash it briskly with case
knife. This slashing makes the loaf
more tender and even-grained, also pre-
vents those large air-holes that are apt
to insinuate themselves in a hastily-made
loaf. At the last the loaf is not stiff
enough to stand alone; put it in deep,
round tin basin, keep it warm until it
rises to the brim, spread over it's surface
a spoonful of melted lard or butter; with
the oven Just right" the heat will pen
citrate the loaf evenly, there will be no
thick, hard crust, and in little less than
an hour it will come out of the oven all
OF pinkish tint, and "every bit good
enough to eat."-Western Rural.
The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1874-12-31

A FINE elm tree. which stood near the
goldfish pond directly before the Capt.
tol, has been cut down, unavoidably, as
it with others INSTRUCTED the view of
the building. At one of the inaugura-
tions Of Mr.. Lincoln-the first one,
believe-a crazy man clambered up into
this tree, and going out on one of the
branches till it swayed with his weight
he began to address the assembled multi
tude at the top Of his voice on slavery.
The officials entreated him to come
down, but he refused, and declared that
if any one attempted to climb up after
him he would jump to the ground, which
would have killed or MANNED him. And
so he continued shouting away, although
1t was almost time for the President
elect to appear on the platform in front
of the Capitol, and there deliver his in
augural. No one could have heard this
had the lunatic continued to yell out his
incoherent and blasphemous sentences
so near him. What was to be done?
Some shouted: "Shoot him!' but there
was general cry of disapprobation.
A mounted army officer conceived q
plan for quieting the noisy fellow. Rid
ing up to the tree on which he was
perched, he said, in commanding tone:
You, sir, up there! Mr.. Lincoln de-
sires to see you few moments to con-
suit you about his inauguralr' Does
Lincoln really want my sublime ideass"
said the interested lunatic. HE is
waiting in the Senate Chamber" replied
the officer. "l1l come right down." an
swered the crazy man, and he descended
with great rapidity, but no sooner had he
touched the ground than half dozen
detectives grabbed him. He struggled
Justify. declaring that the President had
sent for him, but he was carried bodily
to the guard-house, and just as his raw
ings grew faint in the distance NJ. Lin
coin came to the front Of the platform
and delivered his inaugural without In
terruption. I have never since seen the
tree without thinking of this Incident
Washington Cor, Boston Herald.
The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1874-12-31
United at Last.

THERE was somewhat venerable but
very happy couple in the city Saturday,
on their wedding trip, though the casual
observer would hardly have suspected
| the latter fact. They left on the Lansing
train at three o'clock for their home in
Washtenaw County. The incidents which
led to the union Of this couple so late in
life were somewhat extraordinary and
not altogether without halo of romance.
1t seems that the old gent ,man, Deacon
Joseph Place, who is Low upward of
seventy years of age, took it into his
head last fall to 60 on short visit to the
home of his childhood, in New Hamp-
shire. He had been for some years a
widower, and his children have arrived
| at mans and woman's estate, and gone
out to seek their own fortunes in the
| world. AS he had more property than
he was likely to spend in the short rem
nant of his life which remained, and as
he had plenty of leisure on his hands,
nothing was more natural than that he
should break the monotony of his life
with little pleasure trip. So he set out
for New England
As fortune would have it, before he
had quite reached the place Of his desti-
nation, slight accident happened to the
train, by which it was delayed an hour
or 50. The deacon got out Of the car
and looked about, and the hills and
rocks which had been strangers to his
eyes for SO many years almost renewed
his youth. AS the train was liable to be
detained for some little time he wandered
to house near by. Judge of the old
mans surprise to find that the lady of
the house was one whom he knew
in early life. Indeed, when both
were young they had felt regard
for each other differing quite materially
from the regard which they felt for
other people. But the fates, and the
fates only do this cruel work, separated
them, and they had long since lost trace,
and almost recollection, of each other.
However, recognition was mutual, and it
is pretty certain that Deacon Place was
glad,to see the lady, and that the lady
was glad to see the Deacon. Both had
travelled a long way down life's journey
since they had parted, and both had LOST
their consorts. What more natural than
that they should talk over old timess
And speaking of these things, the scenes
and incidents of early life rose wildly
before them; and what more natural
than that there should spring from this
revival the old love, kindled anew, AID
that it should burn into bright flame?
Such was the case. All this did not
transpire at the single visit, but the old
man fingered in the neighborhood, and
it soon became apparent that the lady
was the strong attraction which drew
him thither. The result was that, be-
fore the Deacon returned to his Michigan
home, they plighted their troth anew,
and the old man came back happy as
lark, and thanking Providence for the
railroad accident, which gave him a new
lease of life and life's joys. After few
months he went back to claim his bride,
the happy event was consummated, and
on Saturday the venerable couple passed
through the city on their way home.-
Detroit Post.
The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1874-12-31

THERE Is No DEATH.-If it be true that
Nature abhors vacuum, it is equally
true that the Great Creator abhors death
and glories in life. There is really no
such thing as death-the term is a mis-
homer, used to designate the changes
which occur in life. Life, eternal life,
is created by the laws of Almighty will
power, which are as immutable in. their
application as is the existence of the
Creator himself. When God made life
He made everything necessary to sus-
tain it, but left it for mans progressive
intelligence to discover, convert and
utilize. Good medicine is to the ailing
physique what good fuel is to the expiring
flame; the better the fuel the quicker the
fire-the better the medicine the quicker
comes relief from pain. CALIFORNIA
VINEGAR BITTERs is life's elixir for old
or young Use this medicine properly
and you will live to good old age with
out those physical ailments which make
seventy years a burden. 10
The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1874-12-31

THE erection of board fences on a
prairie farm is an expensive operation.
In Nebraska the law wisely removes the
necessity for the herding of live stock
and in Iowa the needs of practical farm
ing life bring about very much the same
result
But in each the law and the practice
are the things of the day. 1t is an in
stinct in the owner of land to define his
possessions by metes and bounds, obvi.
Gus to the eye, which separate his land
from that of his neighbor. If fences
were not convenience there would be
no fences, therefore; but as fences are q
convenience the improving prairie farmer
sets himself to their creation as soon as
his house is built and his land broken.
Live fences, of course, are the desider-
alum, and there are three plants which
are most in favor for the purpose. The
honey locust, the Usage orange, and the
white willow make good fences. The
two former are impermeable to stock;
and when the latter is well established
the same character may be claimed for
it. The white willow IS also OF rapid
and hardy growth.
Mr.. G. B. Mendenhall, of Marshall
County, Iowa, has used the white willow
extensively. On his farm there are
about thirteen miles of white willow
fencing of from three to seven years
growth, about half Of which will turn
cattle, and portion cut half ! cord Of
wood to the rod. Mr.. Mendenhall has
also grove Of white willow covering
twenty acres, set out six years ago, and
which he considers to be worth $500 per
acre..
As, We doubt not Some of our readers
are even now considering the question Of
moving West to Iowa or Nebraska and
- knowledge ID light burden to carry,
we give MI. Nendenhall's method of
TIE willow slips are to be
eight lnches In lepgth, thrifty sprouts Of
one or two yeaEs' growth. Tho ground
for the hedge-row 10 to be plowed -
dssRy = possible du1ing August, dssd
The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1874-12-31
The Essence Of Cheek.

WE have been told of the sublimity of
cheek, the brass Of assurance of the
fellow who had to sand-paper his coun-
tenance to soften 1t to smile, but the
essence of cheek, double distilled, de-
veloped in this city few days ago. A
well known lady in the upper part of
the city has two boarders, and sets an 1T
tractive table for their enjoyment. A
lew days since one Of the gentlemen
who enjoys the good cheer Of the table
Was successfully and diligently disposing
Of the various reliahable dishes his land
lady set before him for dinner, when !
The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1874-12-31
For All Female Complaints

nothing equals DR.. Pierce's Favorite Prescrip
ton. It is most powerful restorative tonic
also combining the most valuable nervine
properties, especially adapting it to the wants
Of debilitated ladies suffering from weak
or liberation, or from nervousness, or neu
ralgic palms. Mr. G.. w. Seymour, druggist
of Canton, N Y, writes to DIR. Pierce as fol
lows: 1.-THE demand for your Favorite Pre-
scription is wonderful, and one man stated to
me that his wife had not done days work in
five months, when she commenced taking your
Favorite Prescription, took two bottles and is
now on the third bottle, and is able to do her
housework alone and milk fourteen cows
twice day" DR.. Pierces Favorite Prescrip-
ton is sold by all dealers in medicines.