davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The farmers' vindicator., 1875-05-14
Lafayette County.

MAJOR WALL: AS | have few
minutes leisure, and never having
seen anything from our Grange, in your
valuable paper (Which we are always
pleased to get and read), | concluded
to write you few lines. The first
thing with farmer is his crop. The
weather has been SO very untavorable,
that planting is very backward. Most
of the corn is up, but not much worked
out yet. Farmers are about through
planting cotton; less cotton planted than
usual, and more corn. More wheat
sown than any year since the war,
and it is looking well. Oats have
been sown very extensively, and gen
orally a good stand obtained. The
acreage in millet is far beyond any
thing ever known in this neighborhood.
Hard times which are upon us, has
taught us good lesson, that is to try
and raise what we consume, and we
are trying to use economy with it.
Stock is in only tolerable fix, but as
good as could be expected under the
circumstances which surround us.
We are like the rest Of the children,
we like something sweet on our bread,
nearly all Of us have planted some
sorghum.
Now, Major, I'll tell you little
about our Grange, aud am done.
Our hall is eight miles east of Oxford;
we have only fiftY-fve members who
attend, and appear to take a great in
terest in the Order. for one claim
that our Grange has been great help
to the community in several ways.
However I'll say no more for the pres
ent. If you think this worth a place
in your delightful little paper, publish
it, if not just drop it in the litter box.
Yours fraternally,
A FARMER.
Woodson's RIDGE Anril Goth. 1879.
The farmers' vindicator., 1875-05-14
Carriers Greek, May 3, 1875.

A Charlotte County, (Va.) cores
pondent of the Richmond Wing, April
%, says;
The great question here on Monday
was, I" Have you saved your tobacco
plants?" and the belief at first was
that they had all been destroyed by
the extreme cold Of Saturday and Sun
day, but by Tuesday it was ascertained
that many beds were covered up Sc
curely with straw, and consequently
escaped without material damage, and
that those close on the streams only
suffered partial destruction. If, how
ever, the surmises of the most hopeful
are verified, the supply will be never
theless, a very short one, and all agree
that the tobacco crop will this season
be late. This is the main staple of
Charlotte, and it is not surprising that
the people whose circumstance are
SO dependent upon good yield of it
should become nervous when a total
destruction of plants seems imminent.
The farmers' vindicator., 1875-05-14
Cooper Grange, Lawrence County

MAJOR WALL: AT the last meeting
Of pur Grange there was complaint
by some of the lady members, that
they never see anything in the FARM
ERs VINDIcAToR from our Grange,
while they find in it communications
from almost all other Oranges in the
State. | was surprised to hear COM
plants from those who must have
known that they were better able to
offer good suggestions for the benefit
of our Order than any other members
of our Grange. But, perhaps, they
only want the readers of the V1NDr.
GATOR to know what we are doing if
so, | am still more surprised, for |
think that every member, from the
good old Worthy Master down to the
humble writer of this scroll, should be
ashamed for the brothers and sisters of
our noble Order to know what we are
doing.
Our members, and | think the farm
ers generally throughout the country,
are changing their mode Of farming as
fast as circumstances will allow them.
There was a great deal more oats sown
last fall than any year since the war,
and they are generally very promising.
There was general disposition to SOW
wheat and rye, but seed could not be
obtained in this vicinity. The large
fields that have heretofore been plant
ed in cotton are now planted in corn,
and the small corn fields are now
planted in cotton. think can say
this with safety, for so far as my knowl-
edge extends all are about through
planting corn and cotton.
| think to bring about a change in
our mode of farming is one of the OBJ
jects of our noble Order, and as that
much has been done, or is being done
by Patrons of this vicinity, hold that
they have thus far been benefit to
the Order, but in many other respects
we all fall far short Of our duty as
faithful Patrons of Husbandry. 1
think, however, that this is owing in
part to want of knowledge of that
duty, and of the general objects of the
Order, and l think that if every family |
belonging to the Grange could be in
duced to subscribe for the FARMERS
VINDIcAToR, or some other good agri-
cultural paper, they would be better
posted as to the objects of the Order,
their duty as. Patrons, and what the
Oranges are doing throughout. the
country, generally, and it would be a
means of encouraging many of them
to use all their power and influence TO
advance agriculture, the bone and
sinew of all the world.
But am writing too much, unless
it was better. hope if this reaches
the eyes of the lady members of our
Grange, that it will make them so mad
that they will write something for the
"Fireside" page of the VINDIcAToR.
And now, Mr.. Editor, if this finds
the way into your excellent paper, all
editors may sell their waste baskets,
and invest the proceed in shoes, ETC.;
when all those who are behind with
their subscriptions pay up, our editors
will not be confined to bLackbeTries for
their daily bread.
w. M.
The farmers' vindicator., 1875-05-14
Eureka, Miss, May 1, 1875.
When IL the Best Time to Cut
Timber.

MAJOR WALL: By authority of
Hamilton Grange, l address you this
communication. Some months past,
said Grange appointed a Committee on
Timber, to investigate and ascertain if
possible the proper time to cut timber
from the forest, with view to its
greatest durability and value. Said
committee, after several months con-
sideration, made in substance the follow
ing report, viz: That they know of
white oak posts, now standing in the
ground exposed to all weather, that
have stood in the same place and under
the same conditions, for about thirty
years, that are still firm and apparently
undecayed, while others recently cut
and of the best white oak, rotted off,
and fell to the ground in four to six
years. This great difference in the du.
rability of the same kind of timber,
they believe is owing TO the season or
time of year at which they were re-
spectively cut; but they are not GER
tain Of it, and if so, they are likewise
uncertain as to which or what is the
best time; and as it might require a
lifetime TO ascertain these facts by ex.
periments, they recommend, that the
question of durability of timber, should
be laid before the public, through
the medium of the VISDIcAToR, with
The farmers' vindicator., 1875-05-14
woodson's Ridge, April 9Oth, 1875

The cotton product Of 1874, as esti.
mated by the cotton growers in their
returns to the department Of Agricul-
ture, somewhat exceeds three and hall
millions of bales. The yield per acre
is reported less than in 1873 in most
of the States. The weather for ripen-
ing and gathering the top crop was
very favorable. The reports are near
ly unanimous in stating that the pro.
portion of lint to seed is large.
The farmers' vindicator., 1875-05-14

A Mississippi Grange has offered s25
for the best corn and the largest num-
Der of bushels from one acre of land /;
$1,000 for the largest number of gal
Ions of sorghum from one acre of cane,
and $1,000 for the largest and best hog
raised in the county.
The farmers' vindicator., 1875-05-14

A PLEA FOR AGRICULTURAL JOUR
NALs.-W. g. McAdoo, the accom-
plished literary editor of the Milledge-
vile Union and Recorder, thus truth
fully and forcibly expresses himself as
to the value of agricultural journals;
Well conducted agricultural journals
are of high Importance to the planter.
Agriculture is by far the most impor-
tant of all the branches of productive
industry; and its field is so wide that
ample scope exists for continued and
indefinite improvements Science and
ingenuity are developing new successes
continually in practical agriculture 4;
and the planter nowadays, to succeed
best, must exert practical skill, and keep
pace also with all new discoveries in
agriculture all over the world. He
must take a good agricultural journal
and test theory in the c-ucible of prac-
tice, at times.
The farmers' vindicator., 1875-05-14

When a hog roots in snow bank
its nose knows SHOWS.
The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1875-12-23
THE MysDERER.s DOUBLE.

On the 23d of May, 1882, Mary
Rand, the keeper of a huckster shop
in the village of Houghton, in the
county of Durham, England, arose
early, as she was going to make some
purchases in a ncighboring town.
1t was just daybreak as she opened
the curtains of her bed room and
lokcd forth. Immediately in the
rear of her house was the open
country, and in the field adjoining
her premises she observed a man
digging. As this was no unusual
sight, she paid no particular atten-
ton to it, but dressed and went about
getting her breakfast. AS she was
engaged at the first shadow crossed
the window and she looked up. At
the same moment 4 tall, strongly
built man presented himself at the
doorway. Mrs. Rand started and
gave a shout, the man stepped into
the room and seizing knife which
lay upon the table, he said:
"Curse vou. be still: or I'll make 4
hole in your'
The woman dropped into chair
and smothered her alarm.
"Wherc's your husband?" the man
asked.
"My husband has been dead five
years." was the answer.
@Who is there in the house with
you?' the man inquired.
"Only my two boys, twelve and
fourteen, and they are up stairs, fast
asleep" the woman answered.
"That's lucky for you," said the
man; "come, hustle and get me some
breakfast"
The woman with much fear and
trembling complied, and the man
ate 4 very hearty meal, and drank a
quart of home brewed ale. When he
was through he said:
"You get up early, mistress. But
for the light in your window ! should
have missed a good breakfast. 1
happened to be near by, sol jumped
the fence and called in to see YOU"
The woman then for the first time
identified her visitor as the man
The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1875-12-23
-fIis.is,i'yE DsRECToRy.

kSRsTEyt S-sSerE "a tle..:St
and IN S:lljfutlisdf eick innnth, ,,,anf;ilss
andoyrrins EcF. DE-. Laiir. l'lste=. Sab
lutlr SchnUl cyrty Sanday rio;;l!n" at 90
ssclock. Z. tiihmfrc, Superintendent.
z, poIyZ peasant PRESBYTERIAN CHrRcr.
w. +. Hill, Pastor. Preaching Ist and
"a >abbattiS. mof;ii"g and night. Rihie
Class N thn par$pnag" on Wednesday, cr-
cning. Sabbath Schnol, Sun.iay morning.
Nj. Il. Hale Superintendent.
Pnure>rAST Frs OPAL CarGrI-kcv. I.
II. lacy, Ecr;o.. Services IS follows: At
Christ Chrrrh, Point.r!caSmt, every sun
day morning at 10. O'Clock, except the ID
SUNDAY in cacn month, ral every Saaday
evening, a; & o'cluc.;, except the ii Sun
day in each month. Sunday School at 9
O'Clock. T. Strihlin=, SUp't. Ncstry meet
ing on the cycniug ii I'd Monday in cr-
cry month. Services at Errcc'S CHAPEL on
the "a SrEtlay :. 10! 4. ". Mason City
on the 81 Srr;,ay u >! ?. ". West Col
umb;a the 81 Sulday ii q ?. ".
VI. +. CIjrHu-Scrvirrs nn The lSt and
81 SahhathS of each NORTH, in t!c even.
in:. q. WildiN@, Pastor. S;ibIGih school
ever Sunday morning nj . O'Clock. |.
Pribblc, Superintendent.
VI. L. CHURCH, S,rTu-Scr.;rcS on the
'i;h Sabbath oi each month. l2.v. c. +.
Crooks. Pastor. sabbath School every
sabbath morning. at . O'Clock. Robert :.
EcScl. STrcrintCldc..:.
The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1875-12-23
Origin OF Names CT Seas.

The Black Sea is believed to be
named by the Turks, who being ac-
customed only to sailing among the
islands of their archipelago, looked
upon this larger body of water as
very dangerous to navigate, and call
ed it black, meaning that it was evil.
The White Sea comes from the
great quantities of ice which it con-
tains. Even in Augest the ice-felds
extend thirty miles from the shore.
Why the Red Sea is called cred" is
question which has given rise to a
great deal Of learned discussion, and
therefore it is very difficult matter
to set at rest. It is the opinion of
some that the name was given be-
cause of-the red sandstone mountains
near the sea, other because Of the pur-
plish red tint Of a portion Of therocks
which border it, and still others say
that it comes from the red coral that
is found in the water. The most
probable theory of any that have as
yet been advanced, was contained in
a late number of Little's Laring Age.
It seems that an American diver, who
was under the water for some pur-
pose, noticed the waving shadows
that played about him, change and
disappear. What caused the shad-
ows? The motion Of the water
Don't you know that if you fill a
saucer with water, sot it in the sun
and then jar it slightly, the ripples
on the surface will be shown by the
chasing of lines Of flight and shadow
across the bottom? Probably, in lar
ger bodies of water, motion has the
same effect to certain depth. But,
however that may be, he saw the
shadows change anddisappear, while
the violet hue of the water turned to
a deep purple and everything became
Redeemed by frey glow, Then the
walls and floors of the cavern grew
purple and blood-red, and the water
took the hues Of garnetandopal. On
the surface the effect was quite as
beautiful. The sea became light
red and then a splendid rose color
A desire to know what occaSioned it
caused those who owiInessed the scene
tosubject a small quantity of the wa
ter to . microscopic inspection, and
they found that, although in a bottle
it looked perfectly clear, it was in re-
atty, filed with delicate alga, in
which the glass revealed tiny blood
The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1875-12-23
The Way She Managed 1t.

He was a timid young man, but
she swung upon his arm with the
ease and grace of new gate on greas-
ed hinges. he tried to think of
something to say, for lull in tho
conversation was as painful as pick
ing a boil with dull pin. Finally,
he made the same remark that every
bashful lover since Adam has made
under similar circumstance, to wit:
"Its a nice evening"
She said: "Ycs, it is truly delight
full, but then 1 think the company
one.may chance to be in has great
deal to do with the atmosphere"
He threw his eye up along the ga
Bile end of the new market house and
said he'd bet there would be many
a good steak and soup bone sold in
that buildin'."
She said she had no doubt but there
would be, and went on to remark
that it would be nice thing for new
ly-married people to get their mark
citing at a newfy-fnishcd market
house. Then, after a pause, she told
him of the funniest dream she had
the night previous-she dreamed
somebody had proposed to her! He
replied-that he believed that dreams
were @nearly always caused byeatin'
too much supper" but he hoped
''hern" would come true, providing
that it was himself that did the pro-
posin'. This took her so completely
by surprise that she said he'd have to
give her a weeks time to think
about it. And the young man is now
undergoing all the asonies of sus-
pense, fearing his @forwardness' has
lost him a bride.
The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1875-12-23
TO THE AUTM( (Es OF .sTHE
RAVEN.
<. BY ). p. hcrorx.

~. - -a.
Brigh, spirit Never bageihese eyesbelela
Thine earthly form; yet on my soul thou 'E
Engraved too clear TO beerased; and thro'
The eye.oi thought anon Igaze on thee.
I And as Isee fit DER thyTadiant eye
And. meet the qniyering halo orehe shade
OF wild or s6mbre thoughts thas rush 50
/ like
The lishtning-throus4 thy soul, I ana anna
! zed -
And seem in preseneesof g.spirit too
Angelic for this lowly fSarie Of dust
The magic OF thy voice 4 have not known
Yeti have seen thy, words-o God what
while most Of men, 10 hide Their shallow
| Creep into pompous serbaee, Ike sAsils
/ Into their shells, thy word are Is; Of
- death
Or smiles miles OF love, each vritlips meath its
weight
or thought; and xhen.thus breathing darts
or smiles.
There grizzly hays or angels OF the light
Stand wrought into thy finished glowing
page.
What visions, thoughts and dreams un-
dreamed before
Sport with our awe struck souls. As to the
wind
The aspen waves, so, as thy pen doth list,
We smile or shudder, rage or execrate-
Here ponder and re-rcad the wizard page
As though it were voice not OF this world.
Strange spirit, Through this world thy
course was like
\ star which rising on sullen night
And wheeling through the sky in ziszas
course,
\ moment CLEANS with unearthly CLEAN
Then leaves us in a wilder night. This
earth
Thou didst not love, for it is but the wreck
OF what it should be, and its beauty sin
Hath cursed; yet thou, asfew can ever love,
Didst love some rare and radiant souls
which comes
Betimcs to light this darksome world, like
smiles
From Gods own soul. Bright creatures III
thy mind
Thou didst create and love and pray unto,
And in the hideous night when angry
minds
In conflict strOve, when jagged Lightning
lcaped
From cloud to cloud convulsins Garth her
self,
Thou hast with bosom barred gone forth
and held
Strange converse with the clements, whose
STRIFE
Imaycd so well the wild and flashing
T. thoughts
Which hurried through thy BRAIN. and
when they ceas'd.
Their seriie thy active mind sassrieved 10
Noimage Of itselfins this dull llworld..
Unhappy spirit Thou didst live allie OF
md anguish all unknown to vulgar minds,
And when thou didst assay to soothe thy
s0nl lt-.,..sz - s.fs--.-zs..aass1s>-y<r
i'TnI I.ethean bowl the igroble men,
Whose leader souls could never feel thy
sriefs,
Assailed thee with their bitter scorpion
And vainIy Kissed their venom on thy
name;
Nor did they cease their kissing till thy
death:
But then for age it ceased. And now, per-
hapS
In vain, the true and noble'shcd ior thee
The tear that should have iallenwhilc thou
vast here.
Forsoo;h while thou dost clasp the rare
Lcrore
Unto thy breast, thy bliss is ali complete.
o little maycSt thou rcci that men will hold
Thy name in bright remembrance, when
thy foes
Shall long have passedto vile oblivion.
The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1875-12-23
A corn.shel,ing Match.

The North Carolinian can beat all
creation shelling corn. The other
evening a strolling peddler had a
newly patented corn-sheller hawk
ing it about Raleigh, and was show
ing crowd on the street how fast it
could shell, when an old farmer
from the mountains walked up, dress
ed in blue jeans, and cob pipe in
his mouth, said he to the peddler::
q can beat that thing shclling corn
myself"
"Wel, sir" said the peddler, 'I'n
give You q machine for nothing, if
you'll do it"
Good as wheat said the farmer,
and he searched over the pile for 4
red cob, made a boy take it to a fire
and burn it a little, and then squar-
ing himself on the sidewalk, he seiz-
ed the red cob with regular old plan
tation grip in one hand, while he
held the ear of corn between both
legs with the other, and waited for
the word "go" from a little man in
the crowd, who held the watch to
time them.
aGo!!n cried the fellow, and at it
they went.
But the little fellow got so excited
in the start that his shelter got tchok-
ed, and while he was scufiiing to un-
choke it, the old farmer cody got up
and pitching his halfshellcd ear into
the pile, said be to the peddler:
81 amt got time to Shell against
that thing, mister; it would makeme
slow-motioned for life" and he step
ped away lively, the crowd shouting
and the peddler mad.
The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1875-12-23
al q,

rcd fings. The little that could BE-
put Eintoa siGt did not ;showSthc coz.
Tor to the nakedeye, but,whcns spread
over thessysfiaice Of the they suyc
the brilfiant rn1ease hur from vlizlr.
its name vas; alrobsbly;S IN oldeps
times ,defiyfd fiis alsn is an or
der Of planis which grow mostly in.
water, both salt and fresh; but are
Occasionly foend in moist spotssOn
land, sonlGcyen grow.on.gT7 go.
aoEer-pots, some have s.. :. dis,
Icoydraa On disease niriai organi
tioas. yhey are pf rem tie
tinysp species which 'somstimds color
the Red Sea . nc gigantic sen
weeasDf ha. .Sonthes oceans akaro
alc Isl q scies th nieasures hf-
tssn. lred feet. And 50 xeare to
Understand that the Red Sea takes
its name from ifs.yaters Beiss gtc4
times cOlored by a microscopic sea-
weed.
The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1875-12-23

pf inons Ie pialhed this BY SIS,
aifs tits that he vent go Ho1glisd by
appoin smens met his brother tie
.scfy evening bel6re the murder, and
received from him one hundred
pounds to secure himself a decent
outfit prior to his returning homcsto
lead a new life. This story was.not.
credited and the, squire was Sried
and found guilty; and hanged atBt1l.
ham. .si &
Two years or more alter this the
widow Rand vas at work eafls On a
Monday morning, hanging OUT;
clothes IN her garden. suddeRlS he.
visit q tlia lial i gears before
and tthel al tra gedy that follow
el l.lsli lis ~ 3,
siniHd nd she clianically turned
her eyes toward the spot where -
had first seen the man digging IN
the field. Was She crazy or dream
ing? There in the very place was
the same man, digging as before!
She entered the house, half faint
Ing, and briefly told.tbis story to her
sons, who were now stalwart young
men. They went into the garden,
and there, sure enough, was the man.
In two minutes they had their guns
ready, and one Of them passed round
the hedge to the gate below where
the man was, while the other took
up a position near low stone NsR
which cut off part Of the field from
an open lot. Both showed themselves
at one time, and called out to the
man. He started up and attempted
to fly. In a moment the young men
closed in on him, covering him with
their weapons. When he saw he was
hopelessly entrSped, he dropped to
the ground, and allowed himself to
be captured. As they led him thro'
the street Mrs, Rand confronted him.
He was the double Of the man who
had visited her on the morning after
the squire's murder, ,.and bore strik-
ing resemblance to the late squire,
who had. been hangedas his brothers
assassin, even to The wen which had
made Mrs. Observation-Disclosures fatal.
The authorities were pcrplexed, but
the man admitted that he was the
murderer of Squire Greene, and that
hs. had come back in the hope Of get
ting the money that he had buried.
there the morningaftcr the perpetra-
ton of his crime. He gave his name
as John Sedley. He saved the coun-
ty.the trouble of hanging him by
jumping from the top of the stage
coach while crossing the bridge into
Durham, and fracturing his skull
against an abutment.
The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1875-12-23
COUNTY DIRECTORY.

Jndse Circuit Court-IloS. Jos. SMITH
R,vcnSwood, Jackson County.
Clerk Circuit Court-C. i. WAGGENEE'
Clerk County Court-E kMDEELING.
President County Court-B: J. REDMOND
Prosecuting kttorney-D. W. PoLSLEY.
ShcritI-CoLrMBr SEnoS.
Jailor-J. JEwETT.
Surveyor OF I.anls-Gro. ". PrLttN.
assessor Dist. No. l-IAcoE l:orSr.
Dcputy .iSScssor-D. $. NASMtTEE.
Assessor Dist. No. 2-.IonS {. BUCKLEY.
Su,'t Public Sciiools-CHiS. I. HoGG.
The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1875-12-23

A revengeful youth the other day
gave as his opinion, that the reason
why boy don't love his elder sister
is because every time she expects her
beau she corners him up with a basin
of soap suds and a scrubbins brush,
and goes through him as though he
had no more feeling than an old brass
kettle.
The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1875-12-23
1Imc. nf LoMinn Me CGnftE.

CIrcrr CorRr-FirSt Monday IN Ar1i,
and first Monday in October.
CorxrY Cprgr-Third Monday III Janr-
ars: Third Monday in March; Third Mon,
,i:r III NAY; Third 1ionAay IN Jnly;; Third
Monday in Noycmhcr; Third Monday IN
Dccember.
The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1875-12-23
CITY D..EG"TGRi.

Mayor-IANE>' Il. Corcif .IM
Rctai1er-at Il. Hale.
: ssrrscant-J. IEwsrr.
- GolntiImen--iphn ". English, l}E Y;
. .P.fNralc, Robert lerns, I. stfbllns, and
,-pSl..ti.H T'horf,S. ~
Strcrt Comnissioncr-L. /. Glnls