davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1876-02-10
Wood A shes,

Ii is a good plan for ever farmer to save
all the wood ashes he can produce on the
farm and to use them wisely. They are
worth at least thirty cents bushel or
more, and we would not sell them from
the tarm tor less than forty cents. A bush
el OF good hard wood ashes contains four
pounds OF potash, in addition some soda
and considerable amount of soluble silica
and phosphate of lime. The real money
value of these constituents is fully forty
cents a bushel,
1t is good plan to mix the ashes with
ground bone in a sort ot compost. letting
it lie till the whole becomes homogene
Gus mass In mixing ashes with bone,
you get all the essentials of plant food.
You get the gelatine in the bone, together
with nitrogen, potash and soda; what
more can you have? We have tor sew
eral wears recommended that mixture, and
some have told us that it did not succeed
very well upon corn; but we found that
they did not use Judgment in It's applica-
ton. They would drop the seed upon the
fertilizer, and in that way destroy the ger
minal principle A considerable quantity
Of earth should be put upon the compost
before the seed is dropped. Hall a hand
tul in hill brings the corn up quickly,
and makes magnificent growth. 1t is a
very profitable fertilizer to use. The more
ashes we can use the better. We would
apply at least twenty-five bushels of dry
ashes to the acre, and if we could get fifty
we would prefer to use that amount, and
that would perhaps be about the limit to
which it would be wise to go.
As to leached ashes, though many farm
ers think AS highly OF them as of unleach
ed, they are far less valuable for most pur-
poses, and their money value is less than
halt that of unleached. OF course, when
Il soap boiler teaches ashes, he teaches out
everything that is soluble in hot water,
and OF course he removes very large por-
ton of the soluble potash and soluble soda,
and those are the two important elements
that he removes. He leaves the phos-
phoric acid, he leaves certain amount OF
soluble silica, - that is, it IS soluble to
plants, and he leaves the lime; and,
upon the whole. he leaves a considerable
amount of fertilizng substances in his
leached ashes. Now, as regards the value
of leached ashes, we regard them as
worth from fourteen to seventeen cents a
busheI but cannot state the precise value,
because some soap-makers will rob them
more than others. You cannot find two
specimens exactly alike. Some soap max
ers VIII manipulate them longer and ex-
haust them more thoroughly; but leached
ashes are a cheap fertilizer at about one
halt the price of dry ashes
Let every farmer, therefore, and every
housekeeper be careful to save the wood
ashes, and apply them to the land in spring.
1t is better to use them at home than to
sell them to the soap-maker at any price
that he will be likely to give. Plough
1naY
The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1876-02-10

December term.-Counsel agreed that
Court might visit the premises in dispute.
Judge refused to 90. but said TIC Jury
might do so, provided that nobody went
with them to explain and confuse Next
morning a heavy snow fell and the bound
aries were covered. Case continued
1874, September term - Motion to
postpone, on the ground that the defend
ants attorney wished to be absent. hunt
ing. for few days. Motion prevailed.
demonstrated but my counsel said, the
lawyers were very accommodating gen
tlemen; and the courtesies of the bar re-
quired it.
1875, March term-One OF the jurors
taken sick Motion to so on with the
trial with eleven jurors Defendants
counsel objected with great stength OF
voice. and demanded Il full jury, pure and
simple | think he called it the 'Palla-
dunn of our liberties Case postponed.
September term-Received bill for re-
tainers, term tees, clerks fees and eXpens-
es. One item was for the amount of Il re-
tainer which my lawyer had declined
from the defendant Offered him the farm
provided | gained the case. He said this
would not be deemed honorable practice,
but he would take it and give me credit
as far as it went.
Took the cars for the west, coming
mostly on freight trains and after night
fall.
Mem-Don't forget inscription for my
tombstone: Here lies one tcho diet Of q
laaosatat bequeatbed by his tWher" Hart
ford Courant.
The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1876-02-10
A Piece of Quaker Strategy.

In Scribner for February, in his "New
York in the Revolution" Mr. John +.
Mines gives the following account of the
way Putnam escaped from Howe when the
British captured the city in 76:-" Nei-
ther soldier nor fugitive knew how narrow
had been the escape of Putnam's army
that day. When Sir William Howe, ac-
companied by Clinton and Tyron, had
landed at kip's Bay with the main body Of
the British army, they struck across to
the Middle Road, intending to make their
camp on the heights of lnclcnburg, mid
way between New York and Harlem
They reached the road at point Just OPP
posite to where Putnam was stealing along
under cover of the woods that skrted the
Hudson to rejoin Washington. There was
house near by, from whose upper win
dows they might easily have discovered
the dust created by the rapid march of the
rebels and from its cupola the CLEAN Of
bayonets would have been plainly visible
The Americans were not distant. indeed,
but there was another and more insidious
foe near at hand. Close to the Middle
Road at point now designated by the
Corporation as Fifth Avenue and Thirty
Seventh Street, stood the unpretending
but exceedingly comfortable mansion of
Robert Murray, a Quaker merchant of ap-
proved loyalty to the Crown. as well as of
large wealth. Fortunately the shrewd
merchant could not control the feelings of
his household, and his wife and daughters
were ardent patriots. When Lord Howe
and his staff reached the edge of the Qua
ker's gardens they were enraptured to find
Mrs. Murray and her beautiful daughters
ready to greet them with warm well
come. The parties had once met in more
peaceful days.
William, said the fair Quaker matron
wilt thee alight and refresh thyself at our
house {?
Il thank you Mrs. Murray said the
pleasure loving commander, but | must
first catch that rascally Yankee, Putnam.
The Yankee General was not to be
caught this time if woman's wits could
save him, even if the truth must be tortur-
ed into shape that should deceive in Or
der to save life. Very demurely the lady
rcjoined, in that plain language of her
sect which always carries with il such an
emphasis of truth
gone? 1t is too late to try to catch him.
Thee had better come in and dine
The invitation was seconded by the
brightest smiles of the daughters, and
Howe wavered. Promising to pursue the
hated Yankees after he had dined, the
British commander alighted and entered
the house, where the fascinations of his
charming hostesses made him forget for
hours the object Of his expedition. Putnam
meanwhile was flying up the Blooming
dale road, never daring to draw breath
until he caught sight of Washington's
tents. Thacher, in his Military Journal,
writes that it became common saying
among the American officers that Mrs.
Murray had saved Putnam's division"
The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1876-02-10

A CURIOUS FACT. Charles Francis
Adams, in an article in the November At
lantic on "Some Railroad Accidents
which, by the way, he considers blessings
in disguise, since they lead to a greater
care in the running of trains-states a fact
curlously illustrating how rapidly the
most severe shock expands its force. On
an intensely dark and stormy night two
trains, running at full speed, had come in
to collision. The shock was heard through
all the neighboring village. One locomo-
tive rushed on top of the other, the for
ward cars were piled up on both, until
mound was formed which the descending
torrents alone hindered from becoming a
funeral pyre. Twenty-Five persons were
killed and fifty injured. and yet it is said
that two gentlemen in the last carriage of
one of the trains, finding themselves sud-
denly stopped close to their destination,
supposed it was for some unimportant
cause, and concluded at once to take ad-
vantage of such happy chance by getting
out and walking to their homes, which
they did, and learned only the next morn
ing of the catastrophe in which they had
been unconscious participants.
The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1876-02-10
CHAPTER II.

Business prospered with the young
men. BY prudent and careful manage
ment each had not only made a living,
but had been able to pay small portion
Of the mortgage on the stock at the end
of the first year.
Joseph had the advantage of his friend
in possessing better location, and though
his rent was somewhat higher, the differ
ence was more than compensated by the
increased facilities it afforded him. The
prospect was decidedly bright to him. If
his business increased as it had done, he
would be enabled to clear himself Of debt
in another year.
Under this encouraging aspect he ven
tured to expend hundred dollars in ad-
dition to his furniture, which his wife in
sisted was absolutely necessary for their
comfort and happiness The house had
been furnished altogether too plain tor
this progressive age, in ner estimation.
She was behind some of her friends, who,
she was sure, was doing no better than
her husband.
Joseph was little obstinate at first;
but then there was something SO decided
ly comfortable in set OF stuffed chairs
and a lounge, that he did not hold out in
his opposition. He was doing we'll, and
the expenditure would not seriously en-
barass him.
With a nice new Brussels carpet and
the new furniture, Mrs Weston's little
parlor looked exceedingly pleasant and
comfortable. Besides, it looked as though
her husband was prospering in his bust
ness.
1t was SO very nice that the young wife
could not bear the idea of having the par
lor shut up, so that no one should see it
till the furniture had grown rusty, conse-
quently she made up her mind that they
must have a party.
Their friends had parties; why should
MT they? 1t looked stingy not to have
one. Mrs. Weston was an eloquent de-
batter, and she gained the day in this
matter. 1t is true the party was not a
very extravagant affair; but it cost Joe
$50. In the meantime Benjamin had
paid quite as much for advertising as his
The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1876-02-10

but the investment had been vastly more
profitable, inasmuch as, taken in connec-
tion with the careful management of his
business and his economical manner of
living, it had laid the foundation of his fu-
ture fortune. 1t had given him a good
start in business, and a good beginning is
half the battle
Joe Weston failed. and paid only twen-
ty cents on a dollar. His fine furniture
was sold, and he was obliged to board out.
But in his extremity Ben was his true
friend. He received him into his house,
and when his business was settled up, took
him into partnership.
The firm is now one of the most respect
able and prosperous in the city. Joe, ever
since he was bang up believes in adver-
tising, and any one who opens the Jour-
nal, or, indeed, any of the daily papers,
cannot fail to notice the conspicuous ad-
vertisement OF Weston & Co. [Oliver
Optic.
The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1876-02-10
The Diary of an Exhausted Litigant.

A tattered memorandum book was re-
Gently found on the steps of 4 very hum
BILE dwelling "out west" Some OF the en-
tries are as follows:- g
"My father had slight misunderstand-
ing with a neighbor, about a division
fence, which he had inherited from my
grandfather. After several disputes, he
consulted lawyer who had a good many
children, and but little practice. This
was fatal. A suit was commenced.
Several years ago my lawyer said l
must get ready for the trial. l did so,
and went to court every term. But it was
postponed upon every pretence which hu-
man ingenuity could prevent.
1870 March term-Counsel for defend
ant moved continuance, because he was
engaged in the court of common pleas.
Court granted the motion, but lntimated,
with great dignity, that such an excuse
would never avail with him again.
September term-Counsel trying case
in an adjoining county. Judge hesitated
but yielded.
December term-Defendan ill., Prov
ed by the certificate OF respectable ply
sician.
1872. March term-Counsel had made
an engagement to meet client from New
York, who could not conveniently leave
his business again. Continued, the Judge
suggesting that New York clients might
find counsel nearer home.
1878. September term-Carried the
title deeds to my lawyer. Surveyor ex-
amined the premises, said the defendant
had encroached on me. But another sur
veyor, (partner and pupil of the first one,) }
said that my deed spoke OF hackmatack
stump IN the line of the fence, foot in
diameter; whereas, the only tree any
where near the fence was pepperidge
tree, not more than seven inches and a
half across; case postponed, to employ
other surveyors
The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1876-02-10
Farm, Garden and Household.
Farmers Club Meeting.

The Searsport and Swanville Farmers
Club met at school house No. Z, in Sears
port, Jan. 9th, according to adjournment.
This club now numbers about 20 members,
all interested in farming and stock rails
ing. The subject General Farming was
ably discussed. VIM. ID. Smart gave an
interesting account Of his method of max
ing butter, and taking care OF milk to
make sweet butter n. p. Staples read
an able paper on raising corn fodder and
vegetables for milch cows. The subject of
garget in COWS was taken up, and several
antdotes suggested, and decided that the
garget root is the best. Remarks made by
j. NJ. Savery and others on the intrinsic
value OF vegetables for stock and particu-
larly miIch cows. j. Ii. kNEELAND, Sec.
The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1876-02-10

MODEL STUDENT. The Rev. DR..
Ritchie, of Edinburgh, though very clev-
er man, once met with his match. When
examining student as to the classes he
had attended he said: "And you attended
the class for mathematics ?" .'Yes'' GLOW
many sides has circle?" ''Two," said
the student. "What are they P" What a
laugh in the court the students answer
produced when he said "An inside and an
outside !" The Doctor next inquired, "And
you attended the moral philosophy class,
also P" Yes" "Well, you would hear
lectures on various subjects. Did you ev-
er hear one on cause and effect?" ..Yes."
'Does an effect ever 60 before cause !"
Eyes" "Give me an instance" "a man
wheeling barrow" The doctor then sat
down and proposed no more questions
The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1876-02-10
Insect Statistics.

In 11S2 the caterpillarS OF the brown
tail moth were SO numerous as to detoli-
ate the trees OF very large part OF the
South of England. The alarm was so
great that public prayers We're offered in
The churches that the calamity might be
stayed The poor were paid one shilling
per bushel tor collecting caterpillars' webs
to be burned under the inspection of the
overseer of the parish; and four score
bushels were collected daily in some par
ishes But on the other hand, the benefits
derived from the labor of some insects
should not be overlooked; some species
teed only on noXious weeds, and others
prey on still more noxious insects. One
OF the greatest friends of the agriculturist
is the family of ichneumon flies. which
lay their eggs in the bodies of living cat
erpillars. in which they are Matched, thus
destroying them; although the caterpillar,
after being ''ichneumoned," has still vo-
racious appetite. The caterpillars which
feed on the cabbage eat twice their weight
in day the larvae OF some of the flies eat
much larger proportion than this. The
productive powers of insects vary very
much. Some lay only two eggs; others,
such as the white ant, 40, 900, 900, laying
them at the rate OF sixty minute The
queen of the beehive is capable of laying
10000 in a season; the female wasp, 80
GOO The majority OF insects. however,
lay about one hundred; in general, the
larger the insect the fewer eggs it lays.
Most insects have two generations in a
year; some have twenty; others take sew
en- years from the time the egg is laid un-
til their death III perfect state. But prob
ably not above five per cent of the eggs
laid become perfect insects Our insectiv-
orous birds are diligent in destroying the
Larvae Of insects, but they will not do all
that is required; hand labor is also need
ed. TLondon Times.
The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1876-02-10

friend had for new furniture and the par
ty. Joseph laughed at him. and finally
came to believe that he was insane, and
would certainly come to ruin in another
year.
Mrs. Ben Weston, too, felt decidedly
unpleasant about the improvements which
had been going on in her sisters house
why can't we have a rosewood table
and Il set of stuffed chairs, Benjamin p
asked she, pouting her pretty lips into
very unamiable position.
Simply, my dear, because | cannot af-
ford it, replied the philosophical mer-
chant.
How can Joe afford it p
i presume he knows his own business
best
He has put over hundred dollars into
his house
Ben wbisted ''Tother side of Jordan,
and made no reply.
DO, Ben, buy some new chairs
Can't afford it,
Yes, you can
No, | can't
You can afford it as we'll as joe
Perhaps | can
DO buy some.'
Il should be very glad 10 CRAFTY you,
but cannot take the money from my bus
mess. A year hence, if business prospers
with me, you shall have them
a year hence pouted the wife.
must spend a hundred dollars in ad-
vel tising the next quarter.
How foolish
Very foolish, my dear; but it must be
done
That's the way you throw your money
away. You don't catch Joe to do such a
thing AS that
True but though he has the advantage
of having corner store. paid three hun
dred dollars more on my mortgage note
than he did
Then you can afford the table and chairs
Nay, my dear, | will not spend dol
lar tor superfluities while am in debt
Mrs. Ben Weston felt very bad about it,
her husband was firm. and shs was forced
to content herself with plain furniture
Mrs. Joe Weston enjoyed her nice par
lor till the novelty wore away, and then
she discovered that there We're great
many other articles wanted to make things
look uniform. The two windows must
have drapery curtains, a pier glass was
needed, and some pictures We're wanted to
relieve the walls. Her husband. who had
once exceeded the limits OF his means,
found no great difficulty in doing so again,
and the things were bought.
But Joe had some scruples about it, His
notes began to be troublesome, and every
day he was in the street borrowing money
His business, too, had not met his expec-
tations. Instead of increasing in the ratio
of the first years experience 1t hardly held
its own, and the poor fellow began to have
serious misgivings about the future.
Before the year had halt expired, he was
obliged to introduce a rigid system of re-
trenchment into his family and business
affairs, in order to keep his expenses with
in his means
The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1876-02-10
Under the Snow.

Do you know, sweetheart, that under the snow
A million roses lie?
That over the clouds which hang below,
The stars arc in the sky?
That a rainbow shone ere the day was gone
Over the darkest place?
That the fair new moon goes rounding ON
To the fullness of her face?
That our garden brook, so small and slow,
Is widening toward the river?
That under the ice its faithful flow
Makes music sweet as ever!
That the naked trees are all a-throb
With the sweet blood in their veins.
That blindly reaching they yearn and sob
For the blessed April rains?
That the precious seeds of life are pressed
Under the frozen sod,
Till the great earth warns thro' her fruitful
breath
With the spirit of her God?
The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1876-02-10

The Lewiston Journal recomends put
ting spoonful OF sulphur in the nest
of each setting hen. Every louise will be
killed. and if the chickens when Matched
are kept from other hens they will not be
troubled from vermin and will thrive
much better.
The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1876-02-10

TO PREVENT FRUIT TREES FROM SPLIT
TING. 1t frequently happens, in very fer
tile regions, that trees split limb from limb
through sheer weight of fruit. We saw
many instances of this wherever small
garden had been planted in the foothills of
the Sierras in California The common
mode ofprevention is to prop up weighty
branches with piece Of shingle. Isaac
Lewis, of Hopkinsville, KY, gives in the
Prairie Farmer another plan :-"When
find a forked tree that is likely to split, |
look tor small limb on each fork, and
clean them of leaves and lateral branches
for most of their length | then carefully
bring them together and wind them round
each other, from one main branch to the
other. In twelve months they will have
united, and in two years the ends can be
cut off. The brace will grow as fast as
any other part of the tree, and is perfect
security from splitting. l have them now
of all sizes, and scarcely ever knew one
to fail to grow.
The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1876-02-10

Children said a country minister, address,
ing Sunday school, "Why are we like flowers?
What do we have that flowers haveW And
small boy in the infant class, whose breath
smelled of vermifuge, rose up and made reply,
D." Worms" and the minister crept under the
pulpit chair to hide his emotion.
The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1876-02-10

A boy in Foxcroft, named Bartlett, set a
small trap for rabbits. The next morning it
was gone. He set larger one, and visiting it
the next day found in the trap large owl, firm
ly secured, and having attached to him the
missing trap. The owl measured five feet from
tip to tip.
The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1876-02-10
Have we Another Farm Under Our
Old One?

Mr. McIntire, of York county, Me,
writes as follows to the editor of the Ger
mantown Telegraph
Some four years ago the Boston and
Maine Railroad to Portland was built
through and followed the northeast boun-
dairy of my farm on its entrance to this
city. For sixty rods a rut was exc waited
twenty feet deep, the earth of which was
carted out on one side and covered four
acres of moving land from six to ten feet
deep. This dump was composed OF loam
sand, gravel, clay and rocks and it was
was ruined, and obtained damages for
en- with other work, | allowed the dump
to remain unmolested for two years to
warm and dry. Being an eye-sore and
scab on the farm, l determined to abate it
as soon as possible.
first hauled off all the stones and put
them into good wall making piece
some forty rods long; then plowed the
ground and leveled it with scraper for
the moving machine; plowed again and
carted on light dressing Of manure, and
all was leveled, narrowed thoroughly and
sowed to grass seed in August, 1874. Last
summer, to my own surprise and that of
every one, | cut the heaviest crop of hay
l ever saw grow-fully two and half
tons to the acre
Now this goes to convince me that the
earth is composed OF vegetable substances
all the way through, and is only waiting
for the plow to bring it to the surface to
warm and dry in order to produce bounti-
full crops.
Anyone having an old worn-out farm of
which he has become sick, has only to
procure one of our modern steel plows
and gauge it to twice the depth he has
been accustomed to plow, break up that
hard pan underneath and bring it to the
surface, and thus at once secure drainage,
heat and moisture. By doubling the
depth OF your p!owing you double the Ca
pacity of your soil to produce crops, and
perchance turn up new farm which may
please you better than the old one. 1t is
cheaper than to emigrate, and better
every way.