davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-08-03
Consider.

When small boy, was carrying not
very large ladder, when there was crash.
An unlucky movement had brought the
rear end of my ladder against window
Instead of scolding me, my father made me
stop, and said very quietly; Z" Look here,
my son, there is one thing wish you to re-
member that is every ladder has two ends"
never have forgotten it, though many years
have passed. Dont we carry things besides
ladders that have two ends When see
a young man getting fast " habits, think
he only sees one end of the ladder, the one
pointed toward pleasure, and that he does
not know that the other is wounding his
parents hearts. Many young girl carries
a ladder in the shape of love for dress and
fnery she only sees the qualification OF
foolish pride at the forward end of that lad
der, while the end that she does not see is
crushing modesty and friendship as she goes
along thoughtlessly among the crowd, Ali
yes, every ladder has two ends, and it is a
thing TO be remembered in more ways
than one.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-08-03
Folding Sheep on Clover, Etc.

George Gardner, an Englshman who has
had experince in farming on both sides of
the Atlantic writes to the Country Gentle
man in advocacy of the practice of folding
sheep upon clover instead Of plowing it
down for the improvement of the soil He
says truly that you get the manure both
liquid and solid, just where you want it,
and the growth of the sheep is nearly clear
gain. If, in addition to the green feed,
cotton seed or linseed meal, or other grain
feed is given to the sheep, the land is still
more enriched. This "folding" is effected
by "hurdles, es,"-temporary movable fences
made to enclose a small area, and moved
along by taking away from one end of the
enclosure and extending into the grass at
the other. Mr.. Gardner says: "The drop
pings being on the ground, there is no hand
ling and hauling of manure, no carting Of
herbage to the barns, and no waste of urine
or expense in saving it. This growing Of
green crops for the purpose of conversio N
into manure has been practiced in Engl gland
to great extent. At the present time, it
is this income from wool and mutton, made
by sheep eating the crops which others plow
under, that saves the tenant farmers from
utter destitution. One reason for landlords
insisting on renting their land to men with
capital is that they may be able to possess
numerous hocks to carry out the system
and it is no exaggeration to say that, take
away from the tenant farmers of arabic
land the ability TO own great number OF
Sheep to pen off the green crops of rye,
vetches, clover, ETC., in summer, and the tur'
nip crop for fall and winter, and they would
be bankrupt in three or four years." lie adds
I" / do not wish to be considered as criticising
the practice of plowing under green crops
but as thinking it would be long step in
advance to use crops for the purpose OF
manuring by supporting flock of animals
which would give great return in fleeces
and carcasses. The oil-cake rejected by the
farmers in America is shipped to England
and the poor farmers who rent their farms
there, buy it and feed it to their fattenine
animals, understanding that by giving it te
help out their crops, and help also the fat
tening stock, they make sure of as good &
return as those who, in days of yore, threw
bread on the waters for the remuneration
in after days"
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-08-03
VOL. 76.-39O3. NO. 43.

years later the great discovery was an
nounced to the world by Florentine,
Americus Vespucius, who gave name to
the western continent About this time the
Cabots planted on the shore of North Amer
ica the banners of England and of st. Mark
of Venice. The early voyagers found that
the Indians of North America carried for
standard pole, well-covered with the wing
feathers of eagles. The red cross of st.
George floated from the mast of the May
foDer, 1920, when the Pilgrims landed on
Plymouth Rock. For century and half,
during the colonial and provincial periods,
the use of the English flag continued in
North America, with the addition of many
devices and notices. Some flags we're all
red, white, blue or yellow. Others were
red, with white horizontal stripes, or red and
blue stripes. Upon these were the pine or
Liberty Tree" and the words, " An Ap-
peal to Heaven;" also stars, the crescent,
anchor, beaver and serpent. Under the
latter, Don't tread on me-" A flag at the
battle of White Plains bore the words,
Liberty or Death" On January ., 1776,
at Cambridge, Massachusetts,, was first
hoisted the "Grand Union flag of the
crosses of st. George and st. Andrew, and
the thirteen alternate red and white stripes,
emblematical of the union of the thirteen
colonies against the oppressive acts of Brit
ish tyranny. This was the flag in use when
the Declaration of Independence was read
by the committee of safety at Philadelphia,
in the presence of Washington in New York,
and from the balcony of the state house in
Boston. On the 14th of August, 1776, con-
gress resolved that the flag of the United
States be thirteen stripes, alternately red
and white, and that the union be thir-
teen stars, white in blue field, representing
a new constellation" Once the stripes were
increased to fifteen, but in ISIS they were
changed back permanently to thirteen, per-
petuatfng the original thirteen states of the
Union, and it was decreed. that for every
new state coming into the Union a star
should be added. The stars have five points ;
those on our coins six. They were first ar
ranged in circle, afterwards in the form of
a large star, and now in parallel lines.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-08-03
The Wagon Load of Bread.

party of soldiers, during the late civil
war, found themselves one night on bat
tle-feld, in charge of great many wounded
soldiers who, by reason of the sudden
retreat OF the army, were left wholly with
out shelter or supplies. Having done their
best for the poor fellows-bringing them
water from distant brook and searching
the haversacks of the dead for rations-
they began to say to themselves, and to one
another "These weak and wounded men
must have food, or they will die The army
is out of reach, and there is no village for
many miles; what are we to do 7" "Pray to
God to send us bread" said one. That
night, in the midst of the dead and dying,
they held little prayer-meeting, telling the
Lord all about the case, and begging him to
send them bread imm sdately though from
whence it could come they had not the most
remote idea. All night long they piled their
work OF mercy. With the first ray of dawn
the sound of an approaching wagon caught
their ears; and presently, through the mists
OF the morning, appeared great Dutch farm
wagon, piled to the very top with loaves of
bread. On their asking the driver where
he came from, and who sent him, he replied;
"When | went to bed last night | knew
that the army was gone, and | could not
sleep for thinking of the poor fellows who
always have to stay behind. Something
seemed TO say to me What will the poor
fellows do for something to eat p 1t came
to me SO stroug that | walked up my old
wife, and told her what was the matter. We
had only little bread in the house and
while my wife was making some more
took my team and went around TO all my
neighbors, making them get up and give
me all the bread they had in their houses,
telling them it was for the wounded soldiers
on the battlefield. When got home my
wagon was full my wife piled her baking
on the top, and | started off to bring the
bread to the boys, feeling just as if the Lord
himself were sending me-" Aud the his
tory of every child of God abounds with in.
stances proving that faithful, fervent prayer
availeth much. If the special answer
sought is not given, yet the promise is full
filled The peace OF God, which passeth
all understanding, shall keep your hearts
and minds, through Christ Jesus."-Kind
Words
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-08-03
Early Days.

o the enchantment of early days As we
recede from them, they brighten more and
more till they glow, especially if we look
back to them through darkened life, like
the planets which we have so watched all
winter. What forbearance is due to one
who has no happy childhood, no beloved
mother to remember Aud if he enters the
ways of vice, how much more hopeless is his
reform than if from blessed past dear ones
were ever calling to him Return return !"
The memory of MOTHER" even if only on
her dying bed, has in it a power for good
stronger than almost any other. There lay
friend-the one friend of earth-who,
while the breath was in her, could not help
being true to us and fond of us and the
white shadow turns to lowering angel
which continually beckons us along the
starry pathway whittier she has gone. De-
graded, indeed, must he be who can always
resist the gentle drawings of departed
mothers love. Standing by her grave, how
natural are prayers and good resolutions !
How sad that they should ever be broken
: She is not here she has risen," we say.
But still we feel that she is here her true
heart makes part OF this sacred dust. "The
bosom where our head was lain has nour-
shed the life of the tree that shadows us.
In sense different from that which can ap
ply 10 any other spot of earth, mother is
here. Aud does not her ransomed spirit
know that we are here What means this
solemn tenderness, this loving awe? Let
none say that we are never visited by those
who are Z" as the angels" and "equal unto
them How do we know that our very own
beloved ones are not commissioned TO guard
aud guide us, il we will be led by them,
until we too arrive at home Seated by the
grave of father or of mother, how near TO
us draw the days when we were with them
in our home How its freight shines How
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-08-03
Does the World Miss Any One.

Not long. The best aud most useful of
US will soon be forgotten. Those who to-day
are filling large place in the worlds re-
gard will pass away from the remembrance
of man in fsw months, or at farthest, in
few years after the grave has closed upon
their remains. We are shedding tears above
a new made grave and wildly crying out in
our grief that our loss is irreparable, yet, in
a short time the tendrils OF love have en-
twined around other supports, and we no
longer miss the one who has gone. So
passes the world. But there are those TO
whom loss is beyond repair. There are
men from whose memories no woman's
smile can chase recollections of the sweet
face that has given up all its beauty at
deaths icy touch. There are women whose
plighted faith extends beyond the grave,
and drives away as profane those who would
entice them from worship of their buried
lovers. Such loyalty, however, is hidden
away from the public gaze. The world
sweeps on beside and around them and
cares not to look in upon this unobtruding
grief. 1t carves line aud rears stone
over the dead and hastens away to offer
homage to the living
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-08-03
Much Speaking.

/ have sometimes been afraid that there
was coming into our talk sort of religious
irreverence, reckless freedom of pious
speech which mingled faith and frivolty,
alluded to the Lord in much the same tone
that might be used in speaking of the presi-
dent or any man in authority, and which by
its unintentional and thoughtless lack of
veneration lowered the tone OF piety. And
as the bloom is easily brushed from the
cluster, the freshness easily rubbed from the
peach, it has sometimes seemed to me that
it is not well to talk too much or too fuently
of the love which is dearest of all to our in-
most sonls. No delicate-minded man or
woman parades an earthly love in the ef-
ilorescence OF speech. OF the closest and
most hallowed earthly friendships We do not
care to talk to every one. They are sheltered
behind our reticence. Just where and how
to draw the line between the silence that is
cowardly and the speech that is winsome
and earnest is the problem that we all have
to solve. We must beware OF wounding
our Master by unwise talking, as well as by
too guarded reserve. The religion that ef-
fervesces in mere talk is not worth much,
To do justly, to love mercy, and to walk
humbly with God are better than many sa-
critices, or praises loudly chanted in public
places. Living in Christlike way is bet
ter than talking about it.-Christian In
ielliqencer.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-08-03

1893 lbs makes 1000 ibs costing $3.50
containing 5S Ala pounds ammonia at twenty
cents per pound, Sll6G, and 23S pounds soluble
phosphoric acid at l2l cents per pound, 2975, odi-
ned at S4i,41, as "Un approximate Udiue," so we
are told. 1t is not surprising that the manufactu-
rers could afford to sell $50 fertilizers for S35
il it were not necessary to employ agents and pay
commissions and wait for our pay, when it costs
less than $50 per ton to manufacture a better ar
tcle than they usually sell.
Phosphate of lime can be rendered soluble by
sulphuric acid, or by fermentation with an or
ganic substance like manure or peat, and the
former has both the manure and the peat, as a
general thing. To make the phosphate of lime
soluble, take one and one-fourth cords peat as dug,
which will weigh about II ,225 pounds, and well
dried will lose three quarters in bulk and weigh
about 900 pounds. To this add 100 pounds
muriate of potash go per cent potash) and 200
pounds of lime, first Stacking the lime with the
brine made by dissolving the muriate in water
sufficient to make stiff paste with the lime,
which will not be quite sufficient to dissolve all
the potash. The lime and potash should be well
mixed and left to lay in a heap about ten days,
and then mixed with the cord of peat as dug (or
its equivalent, dry at the same time mixing
through it 1900 pounds of bone black, its
equivalent in some other phosphate of lime. AZ
ter all the ingredients are well mixed together,
the mixture needs to be left in heap to ferment
and to accomplish this the heap will require to be
larger in cold than in warm weather, land if dry
peat has been used will require to be made some
what moist) After lying in a heap for about
six weeks it will have fermented, and should be
shovelled over and is fit for use. By exposure
and evaporation the original weight, II peat is
used as dug ont, will be reduced to about ,OOC
pounds consisting of
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-08-03
The Widow Garfield.

Nearly eighty years ago, in the wilds OF
New Hampshire, Eliza Ballou was born.
She was left fatherless at the early age of
eight years, and then took her first lesson in
true womauly devotion from heroic mother.
At thirteen years Of age she found herself
in a new home in a western wilderness.
Five years later she became wife, and after
having shared with her husband the trials
and privations of frontier life for eleven
years. she was left widow with four chill
dren to care for. This was the supreme
moment for her. She gathered her children
about her in the little log cabin which her
husband had erected, and began the battle
for existence. While there was a strong
arm to provide, bread was won only by tough
work and hard knocks, but now that the
brawny form Of the pioneer was at rest in
the little clearing, how were food aud cloth
ing to be had When this question was
suggested to her neighbors, her case seemed
hopeless to them. Not so to her. Her
mothers example was before her, and she
went resoutely to work to care for her
family. She did much of the labor of the
farm, even to the splitting of rails. She
was good seamstress, and kept her children
in shoes by making the garments which the
shoemaker's wife needed for her family. As
tne cnlluren grew up lucy WeIe tauSuI w
work and instructed in those things pertain
ing to their moral and spiritual welfare.
No duty was neglected by this self-sacrific-
ing and devoted woman. Her youngest son,
who was but eighteen months old when his
father died, now lies struggling for life in
the White House. We would not detract
one iota from the honor due Ms. Garfield,
the noble wife who presdes over the White
House, but we would place upon the same
high pedestal the widow Garfield, who shaped
the destiny of the four little saplings," she
was left to rear in the cabin of the wilder
ness. God placed men and women in this
world to make it better. 1t has always been
| by such women as these. Let those who are
among the great and the renowned OF the
land initiate the example of the devoted
wife, and let those struggling against ad-
verse circumstances initiate the heroic for
titude of the sef-sacrifcing widow. 1t is
well to remember, too, that the wo:ld hears
too much of the heroism of the great, and
too little-quite too little-of the greater
self-levotion of the humble and the obsure.
| -Putsbtr0h G1sstte.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-08-03
The Baby.

Don't measure the baby. There is an old
superstition that if you do it will die before
the year is out, and it is always best to be
on the safe side. Do you see that name
written in lead pencil on the door casing
Well, that's where we measured the baby.
If you get down on your knees you will be
able to read, "Jim; just so high" 1t
wasn't year ago that we all came out here,
father, mother, and the girls, and got down
on the grass and stood him up there. He
was a sight to look at-all pink and white,
with the soft rings of hair, and eyes like
violets in the spring, and he'd laugh and
tumble down and we would all laugh and
cheer him up again. Jenny laid the pen
Gil fiat on his head, and notched the wall,
and we wrote that to mark the spot, but I've
wished many time since I'd never had it
done. You see we had been reading about
that very thing, and it Just fitted to our
baby exactly in the beginning;
"We measured the riotous baby,
Against the cottage wall,
A lily grew on the threshold,
And the boy was just as tall.
That was so like our baby that cut that
verse out and pasted it on the blank leaf in
the big Bible. Then Jennie said there were
more verses that suited him, but after get
ting the full drift of the poetry, | most
wished we hadn't seen it, but l took two
more verses and let them go with the others /;
here they are;
His eyes were wide as blue bells,
That's little Jim exactlyO
His mouth like a flower unbown
(Thats him again.
Two little bare feet like funny white MICE
Peeped out from his snowy gown.
And we thought with thrill of rapture
That we had touch Of pain,
When June rolls round with her roses
Wen measure the boy again.
Now, If it had stopped there, as expected
it would, I've nothing to say, and there'd be
another mark on the door casing, $50 much
higher" r,"-but-but-well, what's the use OF
beating about the bush in this way. You
see there's no mark there, and it wasn't any
superstition after ALL | went to-day into
the room where he lay all white and peace
full like, and 80 still that it was sin to cry
and disturbed his sleep, and | added the
rest of the poetry, that Jennie had kept
without knowing why, to the old Bible;
"We measured the sleeping baby,
With ribbons white as snow,
For the shining rosewood casket
That waited him below.
And out of the darkened chamber
We went with a childless moan;
To the height Of the sinless angels
Our little one had grown"
That tells the story of little Jim better
than could tell it that is why there's a
hush all over the house, and the sun is too
bright, and the birds have stopped singing,
and we can never again measure the baby,
for he has gone so high that we can only
reach him by the golden ladder of death.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-08-03

ciliation to God through the death of his
Son. The homely sermon took effect and
from that moment the gospel welded all
the powers of his brilliant mind. During his
illness, Augustus Toplady seemed to lie in
the vestibule of glory. To friends inquiry,
he answered with sparkling eye "Oh,
my dear sir, cannot tell the comforts feel
in my SOUL they are past expression. The
consultations of God are so abundant that he
leaves me nothing to pray for. My prayers
are all converted into praise. enjoy a
heaven already within my soul" And,
within an hour of dying, he called his
friends and asked if they could give him
up; and when they replied in the afIirma-
tive, tears of JOY ran down his cheeks as he
added "Oh, what blessing that you are
made willing to give me over into the hands
of my Redeemer and part with me for no
mortal can live after seeing the glory which
God has manifested to my soul ~ Aud
thus died the writer of that beautiful hymn,
"Rock of Ages, cleft for me-"
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-08-03

SOMETIME. SOMEWHERE.

Unanswered yet9 The prayer your lips have pleaded
In agony Of heart these many years.
Does faith begin to fail Ia hope departing,
And think you all in vain those falling tears?
Say not the father hath not heard your prayer;
You shall have your desire sometime, some where
Unanswered yet though when you nrst presented
This one petition at the Fathers throne,
II seemed you could not wait the time Of asking,
So urgent was your heart to mske II known.
Though years have passed since then, do not despair
The Lord will answer you sometime, somewhere.
Unanswered yet2 Nay. do not say ungrantedi
Perhaps your part is not wholly done.
The work began when hrst your prayer was uttered,
And God will finish what he has begun.
II you will keep the incense burning there
Ills glory you shall see, sometime, somewhere.
Unanswered YETI Faith cannot be unanswered,
Her feet were firmly planted on the Rock
Amid the widest storms she stands undaunted,
Nor quails before the loudest thunder shock,
She knows omnlpotence has heard her prayer,
And cries, " II shall be done" sometime, somewhere
robert Bropning
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-08-03
The American Flag.

The first European banners unfurled upon
the shores of the New World, OF which we
have any authentic account, are those of
Columbus, who landed on the small island
of San Salvador October II, 1892. Doubt
less his ideas of new world TO the west
ward came from Iceland, which he visited
in the spring of l477. His son writes that
Columbus, dressed in scarlet, stepped ashore
and planted the royal standard of Spain,
emblazoned with the arms of CASTLE and
Leon. A white flag with a green cross, was
its companion. In li99 the eastern coast of
South America was explored, and eight
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-08-03
Gods Musbandry.

Error in the human heart like seed in the
ground has its growth according to certain
fixed laws. Like certain kinds of seed,
error is selfsown. 1t quite often grows
most luxuriantly when most neglected. If
God were to let men alone in their natural
state, as some wish that he would, we should
soon witness in our world such harvest of
sin and error as would make all the wretch
edness and misery expressed by the word
hell in its most intense meaning. But he
graciously curbs the depravity Of men, and
thus life in this world is made endurable.
Nay more, he is gradually restoring our
fallen race to love and practice of righteous
ness, and has purposed that in the end every
knee shall bow and every tongue confess to
Herald.