davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Bent County register., 1888-09-15

Goods at half-pr1ce,n said the sign.
rHow much is that teapot ?" asked an old
lady who had been attracted by the an
nouncement- FIFTY cents, num- u gness
I'll take it, then,n she said, throwing down
a quarter. The dealer let her have the tea
pot, but took in his sign before another
customer could come in.
Bent County register., 1888-09-15

Child of seven, before being brought into
the drawing-roona. Row heard outside
room. Scream from child. Child In alto !:
ATonpauy [companyl or no torapany, l
won't have my face washed with spit"
Bent County register., 1888-09-15
M. E. Church Directory.

Services will be held at the Hall regularly
on Sunday as follows. Sunday School at 10
O'Clock a. IN. Preaching at IL O'Clock a. IN
q nd at 7:30 p. N. A cordial Invitation is ex-
tended to all. Rev. II. NJ. Law. Pastor.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-08-30
Conversation


It was Sydney Smith who said: Talk
as many half minutes as you can get, but
never talk more than half g minute with
out pausing and giving others an oppor-
tunity to join"
If the most brilliant talker OF his age
could thus advise, it is good for common
place people 30 follow. The pedantic
Maculey, who was only second to his
witty friend, showed less tact than he.
The mOnologues OF the great historian
werer apt to be so tedious and continual
that Sydney Smith spoke of a great i'm
prCvement when ''brilliant flashes of ST.
lence made mis- conversation perfectly de-
lightful."
To talk well presupposes alert intelli-
gence upon the subject under discussion
''Can you emit sparks?" said the cat to
the ugly duckling in Anderson's fairy
tale. The latter vas forced TO confess
his Inability on that point. But throw
the cat into the native element of the
duck which then would be at home?
That minnie ball of wit that hits the
heart of the subject attacked is the gift
of few; the least effort and the shot
misses. The wise Will never strive to
force what must be sent unheralded if at
all. It is a special dispsnsation. The
buoolio prebendary of ST. Paul's, who
loved his jest as he did his dinner, one
day saw Mrs. Grote enter the drawing
room wearing turban OF red velvet. l
never knew the meaning of the word
'grotesque' BEFORE" he exclaimed to
friend. Only the good hunor of the
speaker kept the saying from harshness
which is the temptation of the converse
tIonalist.
Yet there are those who may be said to
make conversation profession. The i'm
parting of what mind and heart have
stored becomes necessity. Who would
not go far and fare simply, in order to
listen TO the Corinne-like eloquence of
Madame de Stael Ia her Par1s-saloon? Or,
to hear the subtle, incisive, stimulating
mOnolOgues of Margaret Fuller, who with
half-shut eye and rapt face poured forth
the treasures Of her heaE5 in order TO bring
out those in others?
There is 9 tingling, electric fire in the
impassiOned human voice which affects
Us like nothing else. Its undulations
starting from one soul without circum-
locution reach another. The tongue may
utter falsehoods, the voice can not. It
paints mental pictures throbbing with
life and love such as the artists brush
can never make. Instinct with the keen
est melody or janjling in harmony it
brings US into vital relation with the
speaker. If we have will and strong mag
netic powers, we are persuaded against
our wish.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-08-30
Strawharrv Plants.

Now that the strawberry crop has
been taken off, the success Of next year
largely depends on the treatment given
the vines from now until the winter
comes on, says the Philadelphia Record.
There are two modes of cultivation,
the first being the removal of all vines
except on a space, which is known as
the ''single-stooP' plan, and the other
is the close mating OF the vines in
rows, the rows being about one foot
wide, with room between the rows for
cultivation. The advocates of the
close or matted system claim that the
dense foliage resulting from a number
of plants growing very closely together
is protection in warm, dry weather,
serving ~ a mulch, and preventing the
effects of late frosts in the spring and
''scaldingn of the berries later on, and
that the cultivation of the spaces be-
tween the rows is sufficient. This is
true to q certain extent, but it depends
on the soil and the season. The stool
system is that which allows but one
plant on q space, the runners being
kept off and the plants being given
ample room for growth. BY the stool
system each plant can be cultivated
close to the main stem and the fertilizer
applied direct to the roots. Weeds
can be easily kept down and the life of
the plants extended. The largest and
the best berries are grown under the
stool system and the crop is more
easily harvested in the spring. The
strawberry propagates itself in two
ways-by runners and by seed. If the
runners be kept from roofing, the vine
will make an effort to reproduce itself
from seed in the spring, and some hor-
ticulturists have given it as their opin-
ion that if the vines be not allowed to
throw out runners in the summer there
will be no loss of vitality by the old
plants, and the matter intended to be
converted into runners will be stored
in the plants and be converted into
fruit when the proper time arrives.
The first thingto do nOwis to thorough
" clean between the rows and pull out
the leaves between the plants III the
rows, so as to give the bed the benefit
of the hoe rs much as possible. Mos
ture is always beneficial to strawberry
plants. and the ground should be
worked deep at first and then kept
loose on the surface until late IN the
fall. when the vines may be mulched
with advantage. It is becoming a
custom to burn tho entire bed after the
plants die down and the leaves are
withered. This, it is claimed. viii en-
able the plant to begin anew in the
spring, old plants thereby being invig-
grated, the ashes providing potash,
and the seeds of the weeds destroyed;
but it is best to experiment with only
a row for the first trial. Manure may
be placed over the plants before winter
sets in. to remain as mulch until early
in the spring, when it should be worked
into the soil and clean mulch SUBSTITUTE
ed. Ashes and ground bone make an
excellent fertilizer for 4 spring appli-
cation.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-08-30
Feeding Too Much and Too Often.

There can be g great saving made by
reducing the amount Of concentrated
food fed and increasing the degrees of
comfort and care of animals.
We do too many things without thought.
We pile up the food before our animals
and do not take heed how they eat, or
how much or what the effects are. One
man will shove the meal into the man
gers of his fattening animals without
stopping to consider whether they re-
ouire the half Of it, and another will feed
ali alike-although some OF them may be
in securing condition-and Their won
dering who this or that animal should be
so, when they were all fed alike.
This Is the trouble; the one with the
loose bowels has a weaker digestion and
should have less food, and little tonic
perhaps. A man can tell by the excre-
ment of animals in regard TO their health
fulnesf, and also whether they are fed
too much. An inspection of this will
show me undigested food. and then the
lesson is plain,-to feed less. Or TO give
food which will admit of complete di
gestion. 1t is absurd that COW or ordi
nary steer can take anything more than
four quarts of corn meal into it, stomnch
at one time, and hav. it's pass into
chyle. And this is what the n,eal is given
for, and not to make chime. The waste
in the hay-the woody fber-should sup
ply this part of the bodily demand. 1t
is a common thing for an ordinary sized
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-08-30
Sewing BY Lamp Light.

It's working on dark colored goods
by lamp light that is spelling my eyes, .
you and I have said, poking our head
a little further under the lamp shade,
trying to squint tooth-whittled ends of
black thread through needle eyes that
suddenly seem to become blanks.
4 killed my eyes sewing evenings on
heavy, dark cloth for mems wear"
an old tailorIess recently said to me,
wiping tears from her sightless,
cataract-dimmed eyes.
But sew we must, we keepers
and care-takers of growing, active
children; sew by sunlight and sew by
lamplight, mend and make for our
dear ones and those not so dear, till
sight blurs and fades. But in the
average family, with its mixed sew
ing, by forethought, she who sets. the
stitches can so plan and sort her work,
that much of this sewing on dark
colored goods by lamplight can be
avoided. I have seen the seamst1ess of
a home select from her heaped basket
white work, under garments, print
aprons, napery, etc, with which to
occupy her busy hands through asunny
afternoon, and then, when evening
fell, bring into the glare of her lamp,
a pile of dark socks or an old black
vest or coat to mend with strained,
aching eyes.
[ have learned to sort each weeks
sewing work that do, or intend do
ing. setting aside for evening work
that requiring the least strain Of eye
sight. and that always means stitches
on white goods and letter writing. l
look over my mending and put the
dark and light colored garments in
two piles, one for afternoon and one
for evening work.
Sometimes jackets and panties and
leggings are dropped into ones lap or
flung from the head of the stairs at
somebody's bedtime, that must be
patched between sunset and sunrise,
while their owner sleeps the sleep of a
tired, romping, racing little boy, or a
tear comes in aschooI coat or dress that
must be mended before next mornings
school bell rings, but see that these
stitches by lamplight on somber hued
goods are exceptions, not the rule, in
your home. Good Housekeeping.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-08-30

tack with every little breeze wore away
the zinc until the label dropped from
the tack; or else the growth of the tree
covered the tack and destroyed the
label.
We have used for several years the
style Of label that has been so frequent
" recommended by the horticultural
press, consisting Of a strip of zinc about
seven or eight inches long and one inch
wide at one end, tapering to a point at
the other. This is attached to a tree
by coiling the narrow end around q
small limb. Very many of these labels
become detached from the trees during
the season from various causes and re-
quire to be replaced.
Considerable time is also consumed
in finding the label on each tree. That
Of course is of little consequence to the
ordinary fruit-grower, but it becomes
an item of considerable Importance
when taking frequent notes upon sew
eraI hundred trees.
A label to meet the requirements Of
our work is one that is always in plain
sight, so that no time viii be occupied
in finding it, and it should be attached
in such manner that the growth Of
the tree will not interfere with it. I
have spent some time in trying to de-
wise label that will prove satisfactory
for our use. 1t consists OF strip Of
zine inches long by Il inches wide,
and a piece Of No. 10 galvanized wire
from u to is inches long, the wire
varying in length according to the
size of the tree to be labeled. The
wire is bent to nearly the shape Of the
bail of pail; the ends for about an
inch are bent inward at an angle so
that they can be driven into the trunk
of the tree. The zinc is fastened upon
the center Of the wire. The name can
be written upon the zinc with a pencil
if desired. We print the name on with
a small camel's-hair brush, using what
is called Nubian black enamel for the
purpose. The material for these labels
will not cost more than 80 to so cents
per hundred at the most, and the Gx-
pense Of making viii be but little.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-08-30
How ThistIes Propagate.

Anyone who has been in the habit of
observing the plants OF any rural district
through which be has been passing, or in
which it may have been his lot TO live,
will scarcely have failed to notice not
only how very numerous the thistles are
everywhere, but also how considerable is
the variety of form that may be noticed
amongst them. Sheir commences arises
from the fact that each of the very num-
erous fOTer-heads they bear produces an
enormous number of seeds, and these, like
those of the daDdelion Or grourdsel, are
furnished with means that enable them to
float through the air for long distances.
Every passing breeze liberates them in
scores, and bears them far and wide. 1t
is therefore a most difficult class of plant
to keep in check; and it is unfortunately
not only the careless agriculturist him
self who suffers through the choking of
his crops by the vigorous growth of these
usurpers, but his apathy Ipfict5 no less
serious damage on bis iuckless neig hkors.
All such plants should be carefully cut
down and removed before the seeds de-
veiop. In old times many severe laws
were passed requiring all such things to
be vigorously extirpated, and it would
surely even now be no less an advantage
to more painstaking and careful landhold-
ers if some similar checks were put in
force.
There is in some country districts an
old proverb, often quoted, "One years
seeding makes seven years of wedding; )"
and we call to mind az this present time
as we write. small plot of ground near
to US, that in the hands of a careless far
mer has been allowed to produce vast
crop of hurtful plants that will make
their influence felt all round the district
for years to come. Thorns and thistles
are by many good people regarded as a
necessary curse, associated with the first
fall from primeval Innocence, but there
is certainly no warrant for any listless
folding of the hands. Undoubtedly they
contribute their share to the necessity of
labor, but good wholesome work is very
far from being curse, and there is no
law against removing the thorns and
pests about the farm any more than in
the social world. Our lives and paths are
what We make them.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-08-30
FARM NOTES.

Experiments show that cabbage and
lettuce when the leaves are brought to-
gether and tied, head earlier than when
left open.
Now that the turnip crop is growing,
the young plants must be kept clean and
the soil loose. The crab grass will quick
ly destroy the crop allowed to root
among the young turnip plants.
Lime, in a fine condition, sprinkled on
the vines and around them, will greatly
assist in protecting cucumber and squash
from bugs. Saltpeter "a teaspoonful dis
solved in quart of water) is also pro
lection.
The use of a small evaporation will save
many bushels of fruit. On some farms
apples are allowed to fall and remain on
the ground. little labor would evap-
crate them and make them available for
winter use.
The warmer the weather the more rap
IDLY lice and all other kinds of vernin
multiply. At this season il often happens
that an animal or bird is apparently sick
when 1t is really suffering from the at
tacks of Vermin.
This is an, excellent time to use land
plaster ON grass. The plaster has an in
finity for moisture, and attracts st from
the atmos phere. It also supplies lime in
a soluble form (sulphate of Jime). 1t is
also claimed for it that it attracts and re.
tains amonia from the atmosphere.
The practice of allowing the weeds 30
grow up until nearly ready so seed and
then cut them down is a waste. The
proper mode is to pillow them under, as
they provide the best kind of green
manure. Many weeds are rich il nitro
gen and become valuable if turned under
vhen in the green and growing condition.
On heavy soils tnat bake easily a crust
forms on the surface after every rain,
This should be broken IN order TO pre-
vent loss Of water from the next shower,
and also 20 admit air and warmth TO the
roots. No plants thrive when the sun
bakes in hard crust around them unless
cultivation is given as often as it may be
necessary.
The matted row system for straw berries
Is preferred, as the plants are thereby
better protected in winter, but the stool
system is better for securing Large Der
ries and for enabling the fr0it growers,
to cultivate the plants and keep down
weeds. The matted rows require hand
pulling OF weeds, and the grass also takes
possession. Something depends on the
kind of soil, however, and the two systems
should be tried together by experiment.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-08-30
THE RIGHTS OF OTHERS.
Don't Be Poking Your Nose into Other PeO-
pies Affairs.
Daughters of America.

The person of even average moral COM
mon sense has a general understanding
of the fact that his neighbours house,
trees and material goods are objects
toward which he should show respect, by
the simple process OF letting alone. The
right to alter the color of his house, to
order the pruning of his trees, etc., are
recognized to be matters solely under
control of their owner.
Persons who would resent being called
discourteous, persons who in the main
are kind of heart and even generous with
their monsy, are often sadly wanting in
charitable judgement of their neighbours
opinion and proper sense Of their pc
cuiiarities.
A man may hold with all the ferver of
heart and strength Of mind of which he is
capable, the principles of Protestantismy
but that is no reason why he should as
sail the belief Of els Catholic neighbor.
Indeed it is an excellant reason why he
should not do so, but, instead, shoule ex-
tend the liberation supposed to be part
of his religion.
SO in politics. the spending of money,
in social life, in dress and education, each
one seould scrupulously avoid acting as a
censor of others VINO may differ from
himself.
Least of all is one privileged while a
guest, to attack the opinion of the family
whose hospitality he enjoys. When, for,
any reason, he cannot acquiese in the
family regulations, let him depart, and
not try to reform the family to his sense
of propriety.
By calm personal argument or by the
force of example, one may try to convin-
&c another that MS way is the better, but
a true courtesy requires that he shall not
unasked, present his opinions, where to
do so would wound and MT alter in the
slightest degree the course of his OPP
ponent.
Nor let anyone fatter himself because
a man is loud OF voice and blunt in speech
ever ready with cruel judgement of others
and free with advice or all matters, will
pleasantly accept such advice from others
for he is quite as likely to resent inter
ference with his affairs, as the man Of
gentler speech and greater charity.
It is so easy to form the habit of
and to persuade ones
self into tee belief that ope's mission is
20 be a private investigator and public
adviser, that one is apt TO forget that In
the regulation of ones own conduct, life
presents enough perplexing problems
without trespassing On the rights of
others in mistaken zeal to convert them
to better way,
Ii short, let no one be so intent Upop
the mote in the eye of his ne1ghbor that
he will forget the beam in his own.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-08-30
Health OF the Farm.

The editor of the Indiana Farmer
has noticed that even farmers who
take the best care of their soil, their
fences, their crops, and their stock,
are often careless of that which is more
value than all elSe-their health. The
season of ardent heat is upon US and
in the usual press of outdoor work it
is too common to so forget ones self
as to violate the very plainest sanitary
laws. As rule intelligent farmers
NAV not have less regard for their
health than others have. LII failure,
we had almost said crime, common
to every class, condition, and occupa-
ton of men. and, perhaps, 1t Is more
common with those who have no occu-
patton than others, How far this vice
may have been encouraged by the adj
yertisement of cheap nostrums that
will cure all the ills that flesh is heir
TO and eface at once the effect OF every
lmprudence, no stop is made to IN
quire. A few timely hints to the read
er, specially applicable at this particu-
lar time. is all that the writer has in
view.
In the matter of fragrant violation of
sanitary laws there has been much
general Improvement within the past
few wears. The writer distinctly re-
members when the reapers went to
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-08-30
THE FARM AND HOME
No LIFE WITHOUT STRIFE.
JosEpHSE POLLARD.

We may talk as we please about living at ease
And free from corroding care.
And exult that our back Is relieved Of the pack
That We have been wont TO bear:
We may point with pride TO the gems at our side
Rich treasures that wealth can give,
And say, as we clasp these joys IN cur grasp,
That we've just begun to live.
But alas! very soon there's a changeI to the tune
We tire Of the gilded nest,
OF the comforts around, the goods that abound,
The beautiful things possessed,
And sigh for the Joy of the girl or the boy,
When roiling till set of the sun;
For the ca gerneSS and zeal to possess
The prize that at laStwas won.
For the rest means rust and the soldier must
Have ever a foe to fight;
And the pilgrim soul march towards its goal,
Sustained by the distant light;
For when all is at peace and conflicts cease,
And duty neglectS TO call,
We may take to our bed and call ourselves dead
For we are not living at all.
For in plairest prose there is no repOse,
No rest this side of the grave.
For those who would win q triumph FER sin,
For those who are true and brave,
We may talk as we please about living at ease
Until we have spent our breath,
But there's no real life without some sort Of
strife,
And the end of it all is death
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-08-30

cow TO be fed six quarts of clear corn
meal at a feeding, and an OK perhaps g
peck. Some farmers are so wild that
they feed at this rate three times q day.
1t has been custom with farmers, in
herited from their fathers, to give their
animals three meals a day, no matter
when they get the first. the dinner Is in
evitable.
I shall not undertake TO tell how much
meal has been wasted by adhering to 4his
old custom, but it is immense. It would
be good plan for farmers TO try an ex-
pertinent, each one for himself, and see
if they cannot get as much gain for their
stock By feeding only in the morning
and at night The dinner causes q sur
felt, and crowds out the food before it is
fully digested, or 1t produces an irritated
condition OF the stomach and bowels, and
& great deal OF hatulenoy, which is always
oeleterous to a good piges ion and as
similRtion Of food. 4 keen appetite is
never had with the three meal regime,
aud a keen appetite IS he basis of good
digestion and yitalized blood.
Horses do not do veil, and the o & ner
gives them more grain, when the truth is
they often want less. The stomach has
been Oyertasked, and should have less.
When a horse is running down and will
not gain, my remedy is TO shorten the
supply of oats and add some wheat bran,
and TO use the animal moderately, A
little ginger is a simple and most ex-
cellent tonic, and oil meat is most ex-
couent. When cattle are put up for fat
tening, tbs beginning of grain feeding
should be small, and they should always
have salt within reach. The same is true
with horses, and when they have salt
every day they will seldom have worms,
and always have brighter coats, Fully
one-third of the meal is wasted, as the
animals cannot use this excessive mass of
food except as excrets.- f. D. Curtis, in
Country gentleman