davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-03-30

In the whole vast area OF Illinois except
ing river and lake beds and banks, which
it "tickled by the hoe" will not laugh
into harvest" Our farmers have at
last met with severe competition from
such vast regions as Argentina. the pro-
ducts OF which the immense steam ships
can pour upon any shore like a golden
deluge, The regions around the Black
Sea in Europe have been rescued from
the fierce raiders who plundered the
farmers year by year, and now they are
developing the possibilities of the soil.
More than all that. 5000 miles of rail
from st. Petersburg to Vladivostock will,
when it is completed. be river of GER
Gals pouring into Europe. But as we
have before said, American enterprise
and brains has always been too much
flor the mixed breeds of Spaniards and
Indians, and of Muscovites and Kali
mucks, and always will be-but nothing
else than educated minds guiding busy
hands will coz tinue our superiority.
This is why education in agriculture
has come to be absolutely essential to
our people-and $4,000 would be we'll
spent in such institutional work in our
State. Our farmers must adapt them
selves to the new conditions of COMPETE
ton. knowing not only how to raise, but
what to raise, to know where the de-
mand will be, and how to meet it, 1t is
we'll known that now a scarcity 10 given
article one year will bring out an over
supply the next, 80 that both ears foot
up, if not loss. profit too small This
is but one of many such things that
need to be considered. The farmer is
more than farmer. He is a merchant
as well. and he needs to observe COM
mercial principles.
To be made practically and ornament.
ly useful, there should be printed rec
ord of the oceedipgs of each session
kept. This Wisconsin and Minnesota
does. After trial of eight years both of
these States are inclined to raise rather
than to reduce the appropriation. The
concerted work of the Institutes in Wis
consin has made that State one of the
foremost in the West, notwithstanding
its extreme northern position. An ap-
preparation of $4,000 would allow an in
stitute of two days duration print so,
600 copies of well edited digest of each
meeting, and possibly aid toward the or
ganization of a second institute in such
counties as might wish to undertake it.
The Interior.
The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-03-30
STOCK.

Orchard grass is excellent for perma-
nent pasture; timothy lasts but for a
few years, and clover less. A good mix
ture is five pounds red clover, four
pounds timothy. fourteen pounds Ken
lucky blue grass and five pounds or
chard grass. The first two make the
good pasture in tie start.
Lambs, to grow rapidly, must be fur
nished with good variety of food. and
kept constantly gaining. One reason for
the English supremacy in mutton grow.
ing is that there the lambs and sheep
are fed always upon the best the land
affords, and are not confined to short
pastures and stubble fields.
Like the Indian and the buffalo, the
vest cattle ranges of the West are almos
thing of the past, and, in consequence,
the smaller stock farmer can breathe
easier. With the constant encroach-
ments of the homesteader and bis farm,
the almost boundless range and the day
OF vast herds are surely numbered.
For the dairy. for work, for breeding
and even for fattening. the quiet docile
animal is always worth more than the
fractions one. The latter is not only
more troublesome to handle, but it is a
disturbing element among others. and
is often an expensive animal to keep
within bounds.
An Ohio farmer says that his 10C
stands of bees pay him more than all
the rest of his 60 acre farm, and do mol
require half so much labor. Wherever
alfalfa is grown bees should follow; and
even for the sake of bees it may pay tc
raise alfalfa, if it will grow in your lat
linda
The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-03-30
FARMERS INSTITUTES.

A bill is before the legislature OF Hi.
nois appropriating $1,000 per annum for
two years to defray the expenses of hold
ing institutes for the instruction of citi-
zens of this State in the various branches
of agriculture. We have heard of the
wonderful agricultural development of
the country lying east of the Niagara
river and south Of Lake Ontario. 1t is
said to be veritable garden Of Eden
and that wealth has come to the farmers
hand in hand with the beautifying OF
their landscapes and the perfection OF
their fields. While the State of New
York has been liberal in supporting such
farmers institutes as the bill above re.
ferred to provides for. appropriating Sl5,-
600 per annum for their maintenance
yet it must be said that the great garden
which slopes to Lake Ontario. is due
principally to the farmers clubs. which
have long been in active existence in
that region. The institutes supported
by the State are extending the same
ambition and spirit to the farmers OF
their whole empire
Illinois is behind even our other old
Northwestern States. Wisconsin APP
propriates sl20O0an Minnesota $4,000
annually to these purposes. The legis-
lature should not fall behind those en-
lightened commonwealth in this partic-
ular. There is scarcely square yard
The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-03-30
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The look in his face was like the
glow in a smoldering furnace. Mary
hesitated.
"Mother"-she began.
cit has come to this" interrupted
John, firmly, "that you must choose
between your mother and your hus-
band. It's take me or leave me-
today"
"Maryw
1t was the grandmother who spoke,
her voice quivering and high pitched,
but earnest and still sweet in it's
cadence.
MARY, John has the right of it.
Put your bonnet on and go with him.
never approved of this putting him
off, myself, and l wish he hadn't
stood it so long. It's been a sacri-
flee that nobody's ever appreciated,
the whole oft"
And Mary went. What fullness of
blessing may still be for her and for
John remains to be seen, but this is
evident they have lost the first
beautiful springtime of their days,
they have known the taste of hope
deferred, they have done, in haste
and without dignity, that which
should have been worthily and ap-
propriately done years ago. The
beautiful bridal, the gradual adapta
ton of the two young hearts to one
another, the place of the new family
in the community, were sacrificed,
one and all, to maternal capr ce and
avuncular avarice.
Long engagements are often inevi-
table. On the one hand the prospec-
tive husband may have kindred de-
pendent upon him, or an inheritance
of debts which much be paid, or his
way to make in the world The fut-
ure wife may not throw aside duty
to an ailing mother, or to children,
youns er brothers and sisters whom
she must educate. Circumstances
are sometimes relentless. As rule,
however, long engagements are
great mistake, and when due to the
feminine disposition to indulge in
needless sacrifice, they are almost
acknowledgement E. Songster, in
Congregotionolist.
The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-03-30
USEFUL GIFTS FOR INvALIDs.

A revolving bookcase forms capital
present for an invalid; it turns at the
slightest touch, bringing the favorite
book or magazine within reach. Little
odds and ends can repose conveniently
on it's shelves, and the steady square top
forms an excellent resting place for a
lamp. A tapestry or brocade cover,
caught in tightly at the four corners and
edged with narrow fringe, much en-
hances the appearance, and prevents
any articles on it from slipping. A book
case naturally suggests books. and some
bright, readable volume will be doubly
welcome if it has also the merit of
clear print and lightness of weight. A
reading lamp is an offering not to be de.
spised. and there are many excellent
varieties, some to be purchased quite in
extensively. Instead of dark -gl cen
glass shade, one of turquoise blue may
be chosen as being prettier and quite as
restful to the eyes. A useful make of
basket chair. with side receptacle for
papers, would be appreciated by many
an elderly gentleman, and a down quilt
in some soft coloring or feecy Austri-
an blanket could hardly come amiss to
an invalid not blessed with this worlds
goods.
The various colored photographs of
Swiss and Italian scenery might serve
to recall pleasant memories of travel in
days gone by. For those who are clever
with their needle. and prefer making
their presents, plenty of scope is to be
found in portiers. bed spreads, and sofa
rugs. all offering much opportunity for
designers. Some simpler gifts of the
same kind would be towel-horse tidy,
capacious wall pocket. or set OF
fringed tray cloths with embroidered
monogram. Wood carvers or shipwork.
ers might ornament the ever useful cor
ner or medicine cupboard with some
bold simple design. Cushions of all
sorts are sure to be welcome gifts,
whether cased in rich brocade, silk or
the humber but exquieitely soft flower
ed sateen. which has the merit of wash.
ing perfectly. A couple of frilled loose
covers to fit of some favorite pillow
would be acceptable to dainty minded
invalids who like things prettily ar
ranged about them. For relatives our
gifts may take more personal form,
such as smart cap or a set Of lawn
handkerchief. Then, at the silver
smiths, endless little contrivances may
be found for adding comfort and ele.
gance to the breakfast or dinner tray,
and who would not rejoice at becoming
the owner Of Worcester or Crown
Derby cup and saucer or soup bowl?
Flowers arr generally an acceptable Of.
fering; where scented blossoms are not
liked, we may fall back on some grace
full species of fern in a rush basket Of
some delicate tint. A bottle OF eau de
colonge or lavender tint, gayly tied with
ribbons, makes pretty little present.
or charming bonbonniere. containing
chocolates. Any article which supplies
a want, and yet has some novel feature
to interest, is the ideal present for the
invalid member Of our circle.-London
Queen.
The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-03-30
POULTRY.

Keep the breed of fowls you like best
and that best fills your requirements,
and then do not inbred too closely;
carefully select the very best for breed
ing purposes each year.
The best ends are attained when the
hens are kept in &c cd, thriving condi.
ton. In such condition they will best
resist disease, and all ailments are best
warded off by removing II Q fowls to
good, warm quarters in cold weather.
Fowls which are overfed are not heal
thy, neither will they lay eggs regularly.
1t is good time to set hen-and, yes,
to sell a hen-when the hen is ready.
Part with them as soon as a price can
be obtained which will give fair return
of profit. 1t is often wise to let them
60 when two-thirds grown, and it seldom,
indeed, pays to keep them after they
have reached maturity.
If you have failed to get eggs the past
month, something is wrong with your
egg machinery. Perhaps you alone are
at fault. II you have not little time to
devote to the hens. how can you expect
them to devote much of their energies
to you?
Eggs of the early season make strong
chicks. Let the layers and the mothers
have quiet time of it, and remember
that sufficient number of cocks in
flock is enough; too many are nuis-
ance and dear possession.
Do not let the ducks have the run Of
filthy quarters; they are fond Of clean
bed and dry straw. Feed them at their
own house. and nowhere else, and al
ways shut them up at night.
The feathers from the duck are no
small part of the profit. if the fowls are
not sold until late in the season. In any
event. it pays TO get the ducks to laying
early, where one wishes to market the
young chicks for broilers, or to keep
them until the holiday trade.
1t pays to grow turkeys. although they
require much care. With the warm
days they love to go foraging to the
woodlands or the me adow, and this may
be cause of disaster. because they may
not return at night, and the early days
are hard upon the young fowls; but
these tender turkey poults become the
hardest of birds when mature.
A good Langshan hen will lay about
13 dozen eggs in season, of which about
eight will weigh a pound This means
nearly 20 pounds of solid meat.
The balancing up the pro6t and loss
sides in the poultry yards depends alto
gether upon the summing up of the
little things. Look after the small econ
omies in poultry keeping.
The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-03-30
OUR COUNTRY.
BY JULIA WARD HOWE.

On primal rocks she wrote her name;
The towns were reared ON holy graves;
The golden seed that bore her came
Swift-wiDged with prayer Ger ocean wave
The Forest bowed his solemn crest
And open flung his sylvan doors;
Fresh rivers led the appointed guests
To clasp the wide embracing shores.
Till, fold by fold. the broidered land,
To swell her virgin vestments grew,
While sages, strong in heart and hand,
Her virtues fiery girdle drew.
o exile of the wrath of kingsl
o pilgrim ark of libertyl
The refuge of divinest things.
Their record must abide in thee.
First in the glories of thy front
Let the crown jewel. truth. be found;
Thy right hand fling with generous wont
Loves happy chain to farthest bound.
Let Justice with the faultless scales
Ho fast the worship of thy sons;
Thy commerce spread her shini' G sails
Where no dark tide of rapiDe runs.
So link thy ways to those of God,
SO follow firm the heavenly laws,
That stars may greet the warrior-browed,
And storm-sped angels hail thy cause.
o land-the measure of our prayers.
Hope of the world in grief and wrong
On thine the blessing OF the year.
The gift of faith, the crown of song.
The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-03-30

and every now and then comes year
when a crop of fruit is worth very
handsome sum.
The best varieties of plums are very
profitable, aud fruit growers are of the
unanimous opinion that the curculio is
thlng now not much to be dreaded;
where plums are planted in large quaint
tiles it's ravages are hardly felt. 1t il
the isolated tree which suffers
A kentuckian, who has about 200
chestnut trees and 300 butternuts and
walnuts, says his income from them is
more than from any 300 acres of land.
The fruits and the oils both have mar
ket, and every year many dollars worth
OF valuable timber can be sold. Fur
Their South the pecan grove is gold
mine.
Trees cannot usurp the place of
broader agriculture, but can often be
worked in conjunction with it. That
farmer is but casting an anchor to
windward" who plants an orchard. a
vineyard, nut grove. or tract of tim
Der. Ii he cannot live to enjoy it to the
full, his children may.
Nothing in the garden is so uniformly
mistreated as the currant bushes. IL
proftlese, give them little heroic treat
ment. Prune the tops and roots thor
oughly, encouraging the growth of five
or six canes. These will bring large
clusters and large berries, worth more
than all the struggling clusters hereto
fore produced. Manure them we'll.
The greatest enemy with which the
peach grower has to contend is that
obscure disease of the tree known as the
"yellows." A liberal feeding with pot
ash is the best preventive known. Gull
tivate hard wood ashes in about the
roots of the trees. This feeds the tree
and the fruit. and neutralizes the con-
ditions which develop the foregoing dis
ease
1t pays especially to thin fruits when
crops are heaviest, for then is the great
or difference in values between firsts and
seconds. The inferior fruit will go beg
ging always. while finer qualities rarely
go begging at any price Those who
make fruit bearing pay must be ready
to offer the best.
Among the remedies tried for root
knot" in vegetables and young trees a
mixture Of tobacco dust and caustic
lime worked into the soil about them
seems best. This also induces vigor-
Gus growth, which of itself enables them
to resist disease.
The scotsman who makes the growing
OF seeds the bushes. of his life employs
s1ch soil and such methods of cultiva-
tion as will tend continually not only to
prevent reversior, but to develop and
fix higher type. 1t is not to accident
that we owe the discovery of the finest
vegetables we now grow in our gardens.
In cellar which is dry. cool and we'll
ventilated apples may be kept until the
middle of the following summer They
should be kept from touching one an
other either by spacing. by wrapping in
paper or by packing in sand. The
latter method is the better one if the
cellar is not quite dry. for the dried sand
will absorb the moisture.
The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-03-30
HOUSE DECORATION.

She was an ingenious little woman,
with good deal of practical common
sense. She had been ''school marin"
before she married John, rather
briefess barrister, and took upon
herself the responsibility of home
making. But they had both lived in
boarding houses SO long-in fact, that
was where her big brown eyes first
attracted his attention-that the very
name of "home" had CHEEKY, COM
forting sound to them, even if it was
to be conducted in very modest
fashion on slender income.
The house was very pretty Queen
Anne affair on the outskirts of the
city, for which they paid the sum of
$40 month-not such great ex-
travagance when you consider the
little garden, the few shrubs and
fruit trees, that went with it. But
there was the furnishing of it! Even
the necessary tables and chairs, cook
ing utensils and china, had a pecu-
liar way of adding up the price list,
until the luxuIies of brio -brac and
etchings were hardly to be dreamed
of. But they could come later on
when John ceased to be struggling
young attorney-for of course every
bride looks forward to day of pecun-
larry success; and meantime the home
should be made as inviting and pref
ty as possible without the luxuries.
But when the little bride received
one letter after another announcing
the intention of Johns sister, Johns
aunt, and her own cousin, to make
little visit, Dora, my dear; John
writes you are so pleasantly situated"
she was rather overwhelmed for
moment. OF course they would come
at separate and stated periods, but
there was the spare bed chamber
wholly unfinished for the reception
of guests save for the "set," which
had been rather an encumbrance on
Johns hands after the furnishings of
the old homestead had been divided
among the children. 1t was anti
quated in design and finish, but John
hated to part with it, for the sake of
"auld lang syne;" SO it was placed in
the spare chamber.
Well, that certainly was a founda-
ton, though not such a one as the
little bride might have wished; and
so with large amount of ingenuity
and few dollars, she set out to make
her guest chamber habitable. The
set had been painted a bilious yellow,
ornamented with roses of magenta
hue, but can of reddy-mixed cream
colored paint and ten cents worth of
gliding transformed the common fur
niture into dainty set of white and
gold.
The walls were then papered with
plain paper of a faint olive tint at fit
cen cents a roll. Instead of expensive
bordering, wall paper with delicate
blue and pink figures on ground
that harmonized perfectly with the
paper, was used,
The floor came next in the order of
revolution. Half enough mating to
The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-03-30

The intensity of our poultry interests
is hardly understood. Though all farm
ers keep fowls, there is very little sys.
tematic work. Were we to take away
from our agriculture the sum total of
our yearly product of the poultry yard,
we would take away one of our great
items of revenue.
1t will pay just as well, proportionate-
ly. to look as carefully after the fowls as
we do after the cattle. To be profitable
they should be fed not merely for exist
ence, but for growth and eggs, They
should be fed for the purpose of increas
ing the value OF the product.
The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-03-30


and they amount in the end only in
heart4che and disappointment, hav-
ing done nothing by way of good to
anybody concerned. | sometimes
think that we women need to be
warned over and over against our
constitutional tendency to unneces-
sary and uncalled for sacrifice. Not
long ago I heard case in point. It
is only one of many, but as an Illus
tration it will serve my purpose here.
Away in Western village, on the
edge OF a prairie, sweet girl lived in
the home she and her mother shared
with her two bachelor nncles and her
grandmother. The family we're we'll
to. do, with ample fields and we'll
stocked barns. Every one was in
perfect health, there was no cloud of
any sort on the domestic horizon,
when, ole bright day, the thing that
happens in many young lives hap
pened in Mary's. A young man,
suitable in age, social position and
Christian character, fell in love with
her. courted her assiduously, and re-
ceived her promise to be his wife.
Thus far no obstacle had interviewed
to prevent the two lives which had
apparently grown up from childhood
to complement each other from unit
ing and fulfilling their destiny. An
unexpected one was presently raised
in the opposition of the mother and
one of the uncles to the wedding
an opposition as unreasonable as it
was surprising.
"There is no occasion for Mary to
ma ry for several years. said the
m other. "She is we'll situated as
she is, and her life is SO easy and so
sheltered that | cannot consent to
her undertaking one which will prob
ably be harder"
"She is the only young creature
about the house." added Uncle Ben,
land we cannot spare her. Besides,
her marriage would entail a good
deal of extra expense. Luella her
mother would have to keep hired
help if Mary went away, while Mary
and she get ON smoothly together.
The thing is not to be thought of for
a long time. OF course the young
people may be engaged if they
choose"
Selfish as these special pleadings
were, they sufficed to induce the de-
lay of Mary's marriage to John for
twelve long years. Each remained
faithful to the other, but Mary's old
people steadily grew older and more
'set" in their ways. Mary herself
lost much of her girlish charm. John
gradually hardened and became cyni-
cal and morose, and the freshness
and spontaneity of the early love
were dissipated in the long strain of
the slow and disappointing course of
foolishly protracted betrothal.
1t came to pass that one day last
summer John tied his horse to the
gate-post and walked up the path to
the side door with the step of man
who had arrived at resolution not
to be trihed with. Mary was, as
usual, busy about her work. The
old grandmother sat at the window
knitting as she had been knitting.
probably, when Johns first wooing
began. | don't know where the
m ,ther was, nor the uncles, at the
moment, but John wasted no words.
Take me or leave me, Mary" he
said. Either step into that phaeton,
drive to the minister's with me and
marry me this morning, or give me
up forever"
The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-03-30
HORTICNLTERE.

1t is not bad plan for any farmer to
have some specially aside from his regu-
lar crops, il he is not too short of help.
Among the things to be suggested, n
small area in some one fruit would be
within the reach of all. This would
afford profit in the majority of seasons.
The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-03-30
NEEDLESS SACRIFICES.

HERE are sacrifi C e S
enough in this world,
sacrifices which must be
made and which, involve
what suffering they may,
yet bring in their sweet
following "afterward' a
recompense of reward.
But, also, there are sacri-
fices-some larger, some
smaller which women
oEfor ON variOl1s altars