The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1893-02-04
Africa's PrickIy Pear.

Africa's PrlckIy Pear.
In Home Life on an Ostrich Farm"
the author thus describes the prickly
pear of Africa, which is so tenacious of
life that leaf, or even small por-
ton of leaf, if thrown on the ground,
strikes ont roots almost immediately
and becomes the parent of a fast-grow.
ing plant:
Mischievous though the priclSly pear
Is, it is not without its good qualities.
Its juicy fruit, though rather deficient
in flavor, is delightfully."- cool and re-
freshing in the dry heat of summer,
and kind of treacle is made from it.
Great caution is needed in peeling
the prickly pear, the proper way being
TO impale the fruit on fork or stick
while you cut it open and remove the
skin; and woe betide the fingers of the
unwary "new chum" who plucks the
treacherous fruit.
My first sad experience of the
priclSly pear was gained on visit to
the market place of Algiers. The fruit
was handed to us, politely peeled, by
the Arab dealer. and thus as we made
acquaintance with its delightful cool
ness no suspicion of its evil qualities
ever entered our mind.
A few days later, adding the excite
ment of little trespassing to the more
legitimate pleasures of country ram
BILE, we came upon a well laden group
of pricklv pear bushes, and could not
resist the temptation to help ourselves
TO some of the fruit. The result was
roeful
Concentrated essence of singing
ettlc seemed all at once to be assail-
ig hands, lips and TONGUE; and our
kin, wherever it had come in contact
with the ill-natured fruit, was covered
with n thick crop of minute, bristly
hair. apparently growing from it, and
venomous and irritating to the last
degree.
Our silk gloves, transformed sudden
ly into miniature robes of Nessus, had
to be thrown away. perfectly unwear-
able, and the inadvertent use of our
pocket handkerchiefs before we had
fully realized the extent of our mis-
fortune caused fresh agonies in which
nose as well as lips participated. For
q ody uiu tht TCtTtDuttOu VI bndJ
theft haunt us in the form of myriads
of tiny stings.
In dry weather at the Cape these
spiteful little stings do not even wait
for the newly arrived victim, but fly
about, light as thistledown, ready to
settle on any one who has not learned
by experience to gixe the prickly-pear
bushes'a wide berth
Not Prepared for Guests.
"Familiarity breeds contempt" is
saying often true in regard to articles
of food which have lost their flavor of
excellence because they are too readily
obtained. Western farmers usually
have enough and to spare of plainp pro-
vision for man and beast, and are
noted for their hospitality. The only
hesitation is when they fear that the
stranger may be dissatisfied with such
fare'as they can offer.
On one occasion an Eastern gentle
man during horseback journey
snowstorm, and, seeing a comfortable
looking double log cabin, resolved to
seek shelter there.
IAN stop mere tonight, madam?
he asked of u woman who came to the
door.
Well" she said, hesitating, cit
don't seem like body should turn a
stranger from the door on night like
this, but we amt fixed to keep travel
We amt got no meat in the
ise.''
be snow was drifting, and the cold
wing severe.
Have you bread and tea?" asked
- traveller.
mo tea, but coffee, and plenty OF
bread and butter, and eggs, fof
course"
II don't want better fare than
that said the weary man, preparing
TO dismount
As he entered the house. after put
ting his horse in comfortable stable,
the woman renewed her apologies
II most wish I hadn't let you stay.
! know we hain't nothing to give you
like what you've been used TO n
bewc.''