Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-12-31

don't plant it. It won't pay; better buy
your molasses at dollar gallon. It will
ruin your land; it is the most exhaustive
crop ever tried. 1t has got the right name,
for if it don't sa,c all the gum out of your
land, then Pm fool.'' Tom is q good
farmer, and there is always gum in what he
says The best farmers are those who ex-
pertinent and observe closely, and reason
upon things. Most farmers do net improve
at all, but follow along in the old ruts and
do as their fathers did. jenkins predicts
rain at every change of the moon, and that
is four times month, and if the rain comes
two or three days before Or after, it is all
the same-the moon did it. If it don't come
at all for month or two months, Jenkins
never goes back on his sign. CODE says
that it is powerful good sign of rain when
the peafowl squalls or the guineas sing
potrack after the sun goes down. When ]
was boy l read story about king and
his courtiers making journey, and as they
travelled along they saw country boy sit
ting on the fence, and he told the king that
he had better stop, for it was going to
rain before they could get to the next house.
| But the king dident believe him and went
on, and sure enough storm came up and
they got terrible wetting. So the king
sent back after the boy and gave him some
money, and asked him how hs knew,Sit was
going to rain. The boy told him thas his
daddy's jackass always prayed about two
hours before rain. So the king bought
the animal, and took him to London and
put him in fine stable and fed him high,
and groomed him, and petted him every
day, and called him his jackometer. tolc
this story to CObe once, and he said he
reckoned that was the reason SO many jack
asses wanted offices nova days.
But like Jenkins. I like the humble
yeomanry of the land--the horny-handee
sons of toll. They make no noise in ths
world and excite no envy, but they are al
last the strength of government, and of law
aud order, and good morals. They don't
know much theology and less statesman
ship, but they do know what is right be
tween man and man, and they dare to main
tain it. They are like the humble, insignif
cant pawns in the game of chess. The
castles and bishops and knights can dash
boldly across the board and make havoc
but the pawns are the best protection of thu
king. AS long as they support and defend
him he is safe. Just SO the humble people
who work the soil are the hope of the coun
try. They are more to be cherished anc
protected than all your Vanderbilts anc
Goulds. lIillionaires have their uses, and
their money helps to do big things, but
had rather depend upon my humble nabort
in time of need than upon the rich. If rob
precincts of my home could blow one blast
and raise hundred men who would pursue
the scoundrels. But the rich love ease and
comfort and freedom from danger.>anG
while they would sympathize and say "itis
"a pity" they would stay at home. It is
astonishing how selfish property make, a
man. He gets to loving it better than he
loves his children---f Knew many men dur
hS Cne Mar~S~no gave up their sons to the
T. r rssrrn and the sacrifice, but refused to lei
their negi oes go out to work OF the forti
fications. When Joe Johnston impressed a
tpt of them around here, it created bigger
bowl than the conscript law. But jenkins
. was there all the time and never complain
ed, and b is not complaining now. l new
er heard him grumble at anything, and il
another war comes before he dies he will
shoulder his musket and try it again. like
Jenkins BILL AHP.