davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1886-01-14
WHICH WILL YOU TAKE2

A Few Thoughts for tho Now Year--Ths
Upward and the Downward Path.
Again you stand at the parting Of
the ways, and again you must choose
which road you will take. You can
not stay where you are; nothing stands
still in the whole range of Gods uni
verse; Sun, moon and stars move on
ward; earth, with its winds and tides,
moves; the days, years, centuries move
on; the generations are carried IRE
sistibly forward, and every individual
life is borne on by the mighty inpul-
sion which guides all to some Supreme
contamination. In this universal sweep
your life is bound up, and, struggle as
you may, you can not escape from it;
indeed, to separate from it would be to
separate yourself from God and to be-
come solitary in darkness which no
sun would ever tighten again. 1t is
only for you to choose which path you
will take; you may be born on to larger,
nobler, diviner life, or you may be
swept onward to ever-increasing weak
ness, failure and decline. In every
experience there is two-fOld posi-
bility; it must leave you stronger or
weaker; it can not leave you as it found
you. God forces no man to become
good or evil, wise or foolish, strong or
weak. He presents to every man, in
every hour, the choice between the
two. A moral purpose is cut into the
very heart of the universe, and written
inetfaccbly on every minute of time;
every day is charged with power to
make or to destroy character, and you
can no more escape the hourly test
than you can resist the ravages of
time, or hide yourself from the search
of death. If you refuse opportunity,
neglect duty. waste the gifts of life,
you must grow weaker, smaller, more
and more unhappy. by the operation
of a law as memorable as that which
holds the planets in their spheres; if,
on the other hand, you take hold of
life rcsolutely, spring to its tasks with
strenuous and joyous energy, pour
yourself into its opportunities, meet
its duties valiantly, match your strength
and purpose against its trials. tempta-
tons and losses, then the same ire
sistible power that laid the foundations
of the universe will build you up into
strength, beauty and usefulness. You
will be borne onward to an unfolding
life of peace, rest and Joy. The door
stands open again; which way will you
Christian Union.
Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1886-01-14
Natures Agr;1ultur.sts.

Prof. Henry Drummond remarks that
there can be no succession of crops
without the most thorough agriculture,
and that where man is not doing this
work nature employs other agents.
Darwin has shown how the soil of
England is titled by earth worms to
an extent of having ten tons of dry
earth per acre annually transferred
from below to the surface, by passing
through their bodies and being depos-
tied as their casts. But in the hard
baked soil of tropical climates the
worms are unable to operate, and
other agencies are demanded, an eff
fective one being, Prof. Drumnond
finds, the termite, or ''white ant"
This creature lives upon dead vegeta-
sle matter, and its tunnelings, like the
action of the earth worms. constantly
bring fresh layers of soil to the surface.
Unlike the Garth worms, however, it is
very destructive to mans works, and
in spite of its subsoil blowing is rather
a dreaded foe than a valued friend
arkansas Traveller.
Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1886-01-14
THE SENSE OF PAIN.

How Sir Humphry Davy Learned TO BY
lieve in tho Injnry of Pain.
Sir Humphry Davy. when boy, did
not believe in the injury of pain, but he
was not long in that belief, for one day
when he was in the water crab saw
agely took hold of his big toe and so
earnestly bit it as to make him cry out
from pain. This proof of. pain made
him guard against it from other causes,
for when he was experimenting with
carburetted hydrogen and other gases
injurious to life, on feeling oppression
on his chest and sense of suffiOcatiOn
he was thereby warned to desist or risk
his life by going any further in the pro-
cess. Lord Kames advises parents to
slightly cut their chiidren's fingers to
make them sensible to pain, and to
teach them to avoid whiting sticks, for
fear of pain, by cutting the finger. The
skin is ADVANCE guard and sentinel
against any injury and violence be-
meath it, and is the seat of sensibility.
Sir. Charles Bell says that the surgeon
who makes use of the knife informs his
patient that the worst is over when the
skin is passed, and if in the
progress of an operation it IS
found necessary to extend the outer
incisiOn, the return to the skin proves
more trying than the original cut. the
tendons, muscles and I;gamen.s which
hold together the joints and the carti-
lagos feel neither cuts or bruises. Paley
describes the contrivances by which
everything we eat and drink glides over
the entrance to the windpipe on its road
to the gullet without falling into the
windpipe The slit at the top of the wind
pipe. which never closes while we
breathe, is endued with an acute sem
sibility to the slightest particle of mat
ter, so that the least thing which touches
the margin of the aperture causes its
sides to come firmly together, and the
intruding body is stopped at the inlet.
The conSulsive coughing we have when
choking is the energetic effort of nature
to drive off whatever has evaded the
epiglottis. Oculists have observed that
if the eve be touched even so lightly as
with q feather the muscles are thrown
into uncomfortable spasms. but that 1t
can bear considerable pressure between
the eyelids upon the eye itself with but lit
tie sensation and without any suffering:
If the eye had not been endowed with
the properties which excite constant
winking we would be stone blind
Christian Union.
Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1886-01-14
RELIGIOUS READING.
A NEW YEAR.

know not what the year may bring,
Nor know / what the year may take.
But take or bring whate'e it may,
know that there can come no day
In which may not trust and sing:
The Lord, my soul, will not fOrsake."
His promise stands forever sure:
Mid changing scenes unchanging, lie;
Whatever else may pass away,
Upon His word my faith i'll stay;
His mercy must for aye endure.
And that is Joy enough for me.
Should care be mine or loss of health,
Or poverty, or loss OF friends,
Since the dear Lord of all is mine,
My soul shall never more ieptne:
For happiness comes not of wcaltn,
Nor JOY on earthly source dependA
With G od's forgiveness for the past,
And with His graccfOr DAYS in store.
Though short or long those days may Ees
The future hath no dread for me:
He will be with me To the last,
His love be mine for evermOre.
Come bane or bless ng. good or i'll.
All Things are unacr His control:
The boundess universe His Gaze,
none the less His mercy share,
And ali things serve TO work Ills VIII
For the Lest eftre OF my soul.
30 will starr the year with song,
r nd bless but maine f.Om DAY TO Gay:
Sing when the SKY i; c'CaI aud bright,
sing mid the DARK ness OF 'Iic n gut:
Through all " II /! IS praise iro!opg.
And pra Siur pass from EARN aaay.
II: - OyDJd, Ia &. L. Lboes'rer.
Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1886-01-14

doctrines of CHRIST makes MN better
or worse. It obedience attends cOnvlc-
ton, he is better man; If not, ne IS
the worse for his conviction. The
servant who knew his Lords will and
did it not was considered worthy OF
many stripes. Every truth of the
Gospel bears on human character and
destiny. and no man who is conscious
Nv a pilgrim to eternity can be lndlt-
ferent to that truth. A cOlorless mimi
in relation to it is impossible. All Pr'-
fcssed or apparent indifference. unless
in utterly hardened souls, is feigned-
The Gospel appeals to, and iinds an
unfailing sanction in, the primary in
stincts, feelings and moral sense which
arc the universal heritage of men. In
their heart of hearts they feel that it is
true, and that they ought to obey it.
They can not refuse to obey 1t without
doing violence to their moral nature;
and obedience is always involved in
evangelical faith. The moral basis OF
faith is the purpose of righteousness,
which leads to obedience to the truth
as fast as il becomes known.
In the light of these facts we are able
to see the error of those who make log
zeal demonstration and intellectual
comprehension necessary precedents to
faith. The source of gertrude in re-
spcct to religious truth does not lie in
the understanding. but in the relations
of that truth to the needs of the soul.
Very few men have ever been argued
into religion, and for the reason that
the argument was addressed to the in
teilect alone, and left the heart, which
''belcveth unto righteousness I'M
touched. The understanding, if left to
itself, is blind and false guide. 1t is
to the conscience and the heart that
the Gospel comes home with power.
Besides the intuitive perception which
men have of the excellence of the Cos
pei in its adaptation to their wants they
also have the influences OF the Spirit to
convince them of its truth. The Spirit
does not use syllogisms to convict men
of sin, of righteousness and of judy
ment to come. He speaks directly to
the conscience.
The Bible teaches that the indispen-
sable condition of faith is conformity to
the truth; and paradoxical rs it may
seem the Divine order is, first, the be-
lief. and then the understanding of the
truth. II believe that l may under
stand" said Anselm; and Christ said:
elf any man will do Gods WILL" has
the spirit of obedience which is essen
tial to faith, che shall know of the doc
trine. IN ". Christian advocate.
Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1886-01-14
GEMS OF THOUGHT.

The word of the Lord is suited to
each individual as if he were the soli-
tary occupant of the universe.-N. Y.
Observer.
God sometimes washes the eyes of
His children with tears, in order that
they may read Alright His providence
and His commandments Cuyler.
Last year Buddhist priest of very
high rank ate with Mrs. Ingalls,, Il
Baptist missionary. A few years ago
a priest would not even speak to wO-
man. This is striking illustration of
the indirect and mighty leveling in
tiuence of the Christian religion.-Cen-
trdi Baptist.
"A certain strain of nobility of char
acter is needed to enable one to see
without envy the better fortune of his
neighbor, even though that neighbor is
also his friend. 1t sounds absurd to
declare that success is not sinful in it
self; but it is a truth that RAINY never
learn, or if they believe, never practice.
Baptist Weekly.
There are some Sunday-schOOl
classes in Boston, composed chiefly of
young people from wealthy and cul-
tured families. whose teachers make it
a condition of membership that each
scholar shall choose some person in sick
ness or need, for whom he or she
agrees to spend some part of the time
each week. One young lady reads
aloud to poor boy confined by an ac-
cident in the hospital. Another is
teaching 3 servant to resd. Another
makes garments for some poor chill
dren.
Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1886-01-14
THE BASIS OF TRUE FAITH.
Conformity to the Truth the Indispensable
Condition of Religious Belief.


Condition of Religious Belief.
The vital truths of Christianity are
neither difficult to ascertain nor to be-
lieve. They are not hidden, as by a
malign power, in order to make access
to them arduous and doubtful They
are already revealed-lie. rs it were, on
the surface of the inspired Book, and
are easily apprehended and believed by
minds unprecedented against them and
unbiased by the love of sin; but the I'M
biased search for truth is the exception
rather than the rule. Most men, hav-
ing the alternative whether to admit
something to be true which is opposed
to their own inclination, or instead to
recognize that which is false to be true
because it suits them better, will slight
the guidance of conscience and right
reason and obey the impulses of the
lower nature. To put plainly. in the
presence of religious truth and obliga-
lions which involve purity, Self-denial,
self-sacriiicing, heroic endeavor, they
skulk and give in to the appetites and
dodge and sneak away from the eter-
nal harmony of truth and duty. They
edo not obey the truth. but obey un-
righteousness" This is why they find
it difficult to understand and accept
the simple, practical truths of the
Gospel. A deal of sympathy is wasted
on men who pose as martyrs to their
doubts, and think it bespeaks SUI
perior intellect to be skeptical and
question commonly received beliefs.
Religious truth is vitality related to
the will, conscience, affections and
life. Our moral nature must be en-
listed in any complete persuasion Of
that truth, and our moral character
must be shaped thereby. Belief of the
Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1886-01-14
MOUNTAIN TROUT.
How The Beautiful Fish Climbs Steep i

How The Beautiful Fish Climbs Steep Hills.
Not long since I followed one of these
dashing trout-streams from the valley
up the mountain. Nature seemed to
have done her best to protect the little
fishes that lived in the dark deep pools
and eddies. The higher l climbed up
the mountain, the more fish l found;
the stream became q succession of falls.
some of which were three feet or more
in height-the brook in its track form.
ing steps down the mountain-and l
began to wonder how the fish came to
be up there.
In the village, CHANGED to mention
the subject to friend who owned q
mill on the same stream; and he told
me that the fishes ascent was a puzzle
to him, until one day his boy called him
out to the dam, where the riddle was
solved. The dam was nearly four feet
high, and to relieve the stream, several
aHger-holes had been bored in it, allow
ing a small stream of water to jet fOrci-
bly, out and 60 splashing down into the
clear pool below. As my friend APP
preached the spot, and looked through
the bushes, several large-sized trout
were seen moving about under the
mimic fall. evidently in great excite
ment, and darling into it as if enjoying
the splash and roar of the water.
Suddenly, one of the fish made a
quick rush that sent it up the falling
stream. so that it almost gained the top;
but by an unlucky turn it was caught
and thrown back into the pool, where it
darted away, evidently much startled
Soon another made the attempt, dart
ing at it like the first, and then rapidly
swimming up the fail, but only to meet
the fate of its predecessor. This was
tried number of times, until finally, a
trout larger than the others made
dash, mounted the stream, and entered
the round hole. The observers were
almost ready TO clap their hands, but it
was not successful yet. As the water
stopped flowing for moment, they saw
that though the athletic trout had sur
mounted the fall, the hole was too small
for it to pass through, and there the
poor fish was lodged. The lookers-on
fastened to relieve it, and found that its
side or pectoral fins were caught in the
wood, but by pushing the fish ahead,
which you may be sure they did. they
liberated it. and it darted away into the
upper pond.
Here, then, was the explanation. The
trout climbed the mountain by swimming
up the falls, darting up the foaming
masses, and adopting every expedient
to accomplish their journey. For these
fish deposit their eggs high up stream.
30 that the young fry, when Matched,
may not be disturbed by predatory fish
and other foes living in the lower waters.
&C r. Holder, in st. Nicholas.
Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1886-01-14
THE "UNKNOHABlE."

The Scientists Strange and Incredible
Conc;usion--God's manifestation of Him
self.
1t is peculiarly suggestive fact that
scientists, who are so largely disciples
of the positive philosophy. keep run
ming against evidences of the super
natural, as a blind man will run
against obstacles in his course. ''Somc-
thing that makes for Righteousness"
they say; the ultimate; the cum
movable They can not see it, nor
define it nor comprehend it, but there
is great Something back of this infin-
lite maze of phenomena. And now the
evolutionists are feeling after SUBJ
ordinate truth. One of them inquiries:
''What is ahead? If there is nothing
higher, is degeneration to follow? Is
Maudsley right? Is Hartmann with
the pessimists correct? Are We to
expect constant physical wonders
and no psychical? Are we to
pass steadily into the instructive, auto
matte state of the life forms that pre-
cede us? If not, what limits are there
to our spirit powers? As moral beings,
are in nutrition and reflex action? l
believe the optimists are right?" Very
well. Now suppose that the positive
philosophers and scientists should sue
coed after another century, or ten of
them, in getting some kind of a defini
ton of that influence which is every
where making for righteousness; in as
pertaining somethin" positive in re-
gard to its modes of manifestation; in
discovering in it some clear evidence
of consciousness and purpose, thus
demonstrating its personality, would it
not seem strange to them that such
personality should leave us to grOpe
after Him in darkness. crying like lost
children for their Father, and not once
stretch out hand of help and assur-
ance? 1t would be passing strange.
nay, incredible. care we to expect
constant physical wonders and no psy-
chical?" Such would certainly be an
unreasonable expectation. Christians
ought to be more devoutly thankful for
this than for anything else, that we are
not left alone and without God in the
world; that Christ has come in the
darkness bearing aloft the light of i'm
morality. my Father! My Brother"
a child would cry with rapture when
torch was thus brought to it when lost
and in the darkness, and struggle with
sore feet and benumbed limbs to rush
forward. Thus indeed do all upon
whom God lifts up the light of His
countenance.-Inter
Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1886-01-14
Look in and see.

-V0nt tOFketkhat
without teeth, and must b.
with sand and gravel in order
on the work Of grading the food.A
dianapolis JourNal.
When food is to be fried have the
pan very hot before the fat is put in,
and have the fat hot before beginning
to fry. Then the minimum amount Of
fat will be absorbed.-M. 7. CONNER
ciGl Adcertiser.
I'm using cold dips for the scab and
other diseases of sheep, unless che Dip
ping is done in q thorough manner the
solution will not penetrate close. COM
pact wool and reach all the parasites ON
the skin, owing to the dirt and other
matter in the wool.-Troy Times.
"A good way to roast spare rib is
to crack tn. bones in the middle, fold
over aud stuff with regular turkey
dressing; sew it up with a stout thread,
put into the dripping pan and put in a
colfeecup of water; sprinkle pepper and
salt over the meat, and let it cook UNI
til tender and brown. Then it is so
that each side will be equally brown
Chicago Times.
Milk Soup: Four large potatoes,
two onions. two ounces of butter, one
pint of milk, three teaspoonfGlls of
tapioca, salt and pepper to taste; boil
the vegetables slowly with two quarts
of water several hours, then strain
through the colander and add the milk
and tapioca; boil slowly and stir con-
stantly for about fifteen minutes, then
serve.-1He Household.
To use cold turkey pick the meat
not too small, add dressing and pieces
of light biscuit cut up fine. mix togeth-
err and put in a dripping-pan. Pour
over it any gravy that is left, add water
to thoroughly moisten, but not enough
to make it sloppy; place in hot oven
for twenty minutes, and when eaten all
will agree that the turkey is better this
time than it was at first.-Ihe Caterer.
-Mince Meat for Pies: Three pounds
of boiled beef, one pound of suet,
three pounds of brown sugar. One-half
peck of apples. two pounds Of raisins.
one and one-half pounds of currsnts,
one pound of citron. one nutmeg graf
ed, INACTIVE cents worth of pow
uCICu stllbplCcs duu W SuAt
the taste. Chop the meat. suet and APP
pies fine. Then put them together
with seasoning. Slice the citron fine.
Pour on sweet cider to make a thick
batter of it, and warm it thoroughly.
1t is seasoned through so much better.
-Western Rnr0l.
"A writer advises ridging tho gar
den in the fall. Good idea. 1t is the
highest land that dries and warns first
in the spring. If you will take the
trouble to observe how much sooner q
door-yard in town or city, that is raised
above the level, becomes green in
spring you will see what high land docs
for vegetation. A garden that is ridged
will be ready for planting much sooner
than one that is not, and whether we
want vegetables simply for our own
use or for market purposes it will pay
us to ridge. Don't be afraid of getting
the ridges too high. The higher the
better. The burrows serve rs drains
Prairie FarDacr.
Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1886-01-14
MULCHlNG FOR PLANTS.
A Winter Protection Which Should Not
BE Neglected.

BE Neglected.
There arc many plants and trees that
need some protection to carry them
safely through the winter. 1t is not the
river cold that, rs a rule, does the mis-
chief, but rather the frequent sudden
changes. freezing one day and thaw-
ing the next; small plants especially
are injured in this way; and often en-
tirely killed. unless afforded some pro-
lection by mulching. The strawberry
in exposed positions is very often in
jured if left uncovered; but the straw
berry is a plant that requires much
more care in covering than most OF
garden plants, because. being partial
evergreen, it is not safe to cover it to
any great depth, or to cover it with
any material which will settle down SO
close rs to shut out the air; coarse hay
is really one of the best coverings that
can be given the strawberry; but corn
stalks, or even evergreen bOnghs,
make very good covering. Raspberry
plants may be laid down and covered
with earth, because there are no leaves
to preserve.
Young, and even old, trees are very
much improved by heavy mulching;
but if anything is used to mulch with
that will make good shelter for mice
care must be taken to protect each tree
with mound of earth to reach above
the mulching. The material to be
used for mulching the orchard must be
governed by the condition of the soil;
if the soil be moist. heavy soil few
inches in depth Of sand makes an ex-
cellent mulch, and will very much inn
prove the orchard if it be spread over
the whole land; but if the soil be some
what light and dry the soil from an old
swamp is an excellent material, and a
covering of two or three inches over the
whole surface will make lasting i'm
prOvement. The practice of spreading
on such material for a mulch, and COW
ering only small space around each
tree, Is very poor one. Before APP
plying sand or leaf mulch to an orchard,
the land should receive good dressing
of manure. An orchard that has been
in grass few years will be greatly
benefited if covered late in the autumn
with a mulching of leaf-mould deep
enough to another the grass to a de-
gree sufficient to kill ont a portion of
the roots. This benefits an orchard
more than it does to pillow it, and if the
material is near. it costs but little. if
any more.
Plants, the tops of which die out
every year and send up new shoots
every spring, and are only half hardy.
can easily be protected by covering
with some material that will settle
down close and shut out the air. One
of the best materials for this purpose is
moist leaves; but, to keep them in place
after they have been packed down
closely. they must be covered with
boards or q slight covering of earth.
Currant bushes always do better
when well mulched; the best material
for this purpose is good stable manure,
the more tue better. if not deep enough
to heat. There are few plants that
grow which take so kindly to stable
manure as the currant, and few that il
will pay to feed 80 literally. Massa-
ehuseHs PloNgt0Mn.
Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1886-01-14

i'm sowing timothy with wheat and
other grains the best results are OBJ
tained by having the ground dragged
and rolled first.-N. +. Farmer.
Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1886-01-14

California produced a pear, this
year. that measured II 5-8 inches from
end to end and IA "a inches around tie
thickest part
Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1886-01-14

Mrs. Frank Gilman, ct Hollis, N.
H., has made quilt containing 1874
pieces.