The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1875-12-23
A BIT OF ROCK YORK.


ner in tho vicinity Of country homes
which might be beautiful with very little
expense-nnrthern exposure, where the
sun seldom shines, and which are left
bleak and bare because grass and flowers
refuse to grow. Any time harness the
old horse and start for the woods to hunt
up suitable material for what our Eng.
lish friends term "a pleasing bit of rock
work." An unusually rough stone, all
over angles and uncouth projections, is a
prize let such form load to begin with.
Next collect supply Of the unctuous
leaf mould which has laid buried
beneath its covering for many years,
until it has become as dark and firm as
the most fastidious plant can require.
These things, with the addition of some
good sharp sand from the creek margin,
supply the ground work for the struc.
ture.
In arranging the stones upon the heap
OF soil do not attempt any mathematical
precision endeavcr to initiate some shelv-
ing mass of rock, such as may be found
in nature; the wilder and more irregular
in outline, the more effective it will
prove. With the advent Of spring, re.
pair to the woods, and, whenever the lit.
tie ferns are just peeping above the
leaves, with the aid of strong trowel,
carefully pry out good ball Of earth,
roots and all and transfer them to their
artificial home.
There are also many other pretty and
modest native plants which will thrive
luxuriantly amid such surroundings !;
watch for these during summer and
mark them so that when the dormant
season arrives they may be removed with
safety. An occasionally trailing vine,
clamber;ng over and festooning the sur.
rounding shrubs, will add a dainty grace
to the hitherto unattractive corner.
THE sToRY-TELLER oUTDoNE.
Those who are in the habit Of telling
prodigious stories ought to have good
memories; but, fortunately their memo
ries are generally short. Richard Brins.
ley Sheridan dealt with these mendacious
pests in manner peculiar to himself. He
would never allow himself to be outdonc
by verbal prodigy Whenever a mon.
strous story was told in his presence, he
would endeavor to Guido it by some Of his
own coinage, and consign the narrator to
falsehood mere glazing than his own.
Once in his hearing q sporting adven-
turer ran thus: II was fishing one day,
say in certain cold spring full Of delicious
trout, and soon caught large mess. But
what was really surprising, not foot
from the cold spring there was one Of
boiling water; so that, when you wanted
to cook your fish. all you had to do, after
hooking them from the cold spring, was
to pop them directly into the boiling"
The company all expressed establishment
and incredulity at this INDUSTRIOUS asser-
ton. with the exception Of Sheridan. II
know, said he, ''of phenomenon yet more
surprising: :" was fishing one day, when
came to place where there were three
springs. The first was cold one stocked
with fish, the second a boiling spring. and
the third natu, al fountain Of melted but.
ter and parsley!" "Melted butter and
parsley!' exclaimed the first story.teller,
''impossiblc!'
There are thirty or forty different kinds
of religion in this country. and it worries
the celestial entry clerk immensely to
have people tumbling into heaven in such
singularly assorted lots.--Brooklyn Ar
gus.