Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1880-11-10
Doctoring the Apple Tree.
THE CHRONICLE OF AHpULBLOZM THE HUs-
BANDMAN.

THE CHRONICLE OF AHPULBLOLM THE HUS' |
BANDMAN.
Now it was in the year of the big apple |
yield in the land, and the heart of the |
farmer rejoiced within him.
For lie said "of verify there is no end
to the apples; | will build me new cider
presses and will sell unto the dishonest
Of the city, the champagne that cometh
from abroad that he may label it to suit
himself and sell it to the unwary, that we
may take great profit from the unrighteous
young man who weareth Alaska diamonds
and conceaeth his hands in much cuff,
and affecteth cheap champagne"
For it is written; Ye shall play it low
down on the pagans of the city, and ye
shall spoil the young man whose head is
| lighter than his pocket book"
| And his heart was glad, and he said he
was joyful within him, and he picked up
his big basket and made joyful noise with
his mouth as he got him unto his favorite
apple tree.
And when he was come unto it, the
voice Of his singing was hushed and his
heart was tailed with woe, and he was cast
| down and did, even as a dog which asketh
for a bone and receiveth brick.
For it was so that where there was one
| apple on the fruitful branches of his favor.
lite tree, there were three boys; and they
were town boys, and they were outside Of
all the apples there were, and were looking
for more.
And it was so that when they beheld the
farmer they descended from the tree, and
got over the fence in great haste.
And they Knocked the husbandman and
smote their palms together and danced up
and down the road before him, and they
cast stones at his dog, and smote it inso
much that the voice Of its bowling was
heard even unto old Noah KinsleF's, as
thou goest down by Cy. Haukse's black
smith shop.
And the husbandman was wroth, and he
cried aloud, Would that had ye in my
hands that might neck vel
And the lads laughed him to scorn and
called aloud unto him, and Knocked, and
said one to another, ooh, amt he got the
gaul?" And they entreated him that be
would go into the house and cover himself
up, and that he would walk around the
block and look for Christmas. And with
loud voice they besought him that "he
would lie down and walk over himself"
And Ahpulblozm the husbandman trem.
bled in the fierceness of his rage, insomuch
that he broke his basket on a stump and
he lifted up his voice and conversed in
swear words, so that the lads were not able
to stand before him. And they fed down
the road, but Ahpulblozm the husbandman
pursued not after them, for he was heavy
with much corn bread and fried pork, and
his figure was even as the figure of a sperm
whale, and he was not built to run after
boys, who are light of foot; yea, they are
altogether swifter than arrows and stronger
than onions.
Now then Ahpulblozm went into the
house he held his peace, for this same
thing had happened last year and the veal
before that and the one before that again
And the husbandman said, "Next time
will fix EN-"
And when the Winter was come anC
gone, and the time of the singing birds wal
come again, and the ground was soft, All
pulblozm, the son of Harratuthe the Clod
hopper, said nothing to nobody, but b.
spent much time with his favorite apple
tree, and he pruned it and digged about j
and day by day he watered its roots.
And he compounded the water where
= with he watered it, from the herbs of tn,
apothecary and from the roots of the field
For he stirred into half barrel of vine
gar bitters, ten pounds of quassia, twi
e e quarts of castor oil, half peck of NORWOOD
r a hatful Of quinine, some tincture of rhu
Z barb, one quart of tartar emetic, an armfu
II of dogwood bark, half II dozen "IndiaI
r turnips," can Of concentrated I've, anC
~ ~ three gallons of sod corn whisky, whereo
R if man drink one drink of it he will
u straghtway lie down and have fit.
n And he boiled it all in q great iron kettle
r. and stirred it up with hemlock stick, ant
sprinkled in salt and cayenne pepper. ant
a tub full of grated horse radish.
And he arose early in the morning ant
- watered his favorite apple tree with thi
mixture and at the even time he neglected
it not. And the tree grew and fiourishe'
and il blossomed so that the leaves coulC
10 not be seen.
But the bees which sought honey in it
blossoms, after they had tasted, went bacl
no more unto the hive; but went an
lived with the wasps and hornets, and mad
\ no more honey, but passed themselves o.
for yellow jackets and would sting q raj
road tie, If so be- it should look upon then
And Ahpulblozm the husbandman note
a.. these things, but he held his peace.
Only in the silent watches of the nigh
,..f when he lay upon his bed, would he ru
- his palms together aud laugh under th
bedclothes and say softly, Now have g
'em."
nm And his wife answered him, and sal,
Of "0f verify thou hast got 'em, and tho
emit hast got 'em bad, and Of surety unlei
!. thou shalt let up on it and quit drinkiu
thou wilt die with EN-"
$500 But she spake mockingly for she though
he had the jimiams.
4 But no laughed the more, and rebuks
the her and babe her hold her peace. And
said:
4. ! $50 10, daughter of Butterpaddel, Il