davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1900-02-20
TEACHING BY

A mother | know had need n ven
ing to pass between the light and her
ii, tie son. Wish sweet, grave courtesy
she ssid: "WIlI you excuse me, dear
if I pass between you and tho light9"
He looked up and said: What made
you ask me that, mammal" And she
answered: Because, dear, it would
be rude to do it without speaking l
would not think OF not speaking if it
had teen Mr.. f (she minister) and
surely l would not be rudes to my own
dear boy"
Tue boy thought a moment, aud
then saij: Nam ma, what ought l TO
say backi' His mamma replied, "Wnat
do you think would be mic e. he
studied over it @ while, for he was such
a wee laddie. and then said, would 1t
be nice to say, Sure, you can9" Tnia
vas mama's time to say: That would
be nice, but how would you like to say,
just as Mr.. T. would, Certainly 2 1t
means the same thing, you know"
That little lad, now a young man in
college, is remarked for his never-fsil-
ing courtesy. A friend said of him the
other day, "It's second nature to "
to be polite" and the mother smiled as
she thanked Gld in her heart for the
grace that had helped her to be un-
failiDgly courteous to her boy.-Chris-
tian Work.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1900-02-20
OPPOR IUNITY

DEAR AUNT JENNIE Please weIEaQ
an old ChaUterer. 1 think our Old
has improved a great deal sIUce l haI
been away, for you have GOOD ~ritai
only. I have read each letter wit.
much interest.
I think opportunity is qIICe an ID
teresting, as we'll as important suOpd
for consideration. How many o.: d
realize the opportunities we have2
I fear that many realize them ata
it is too late, and oh, what a sad though
this is! We should learn to be though
ful. so that we may always have t5I
right words, acts, and thoughts IN 55
right place and at the right time. All
80 we must get our edu3ati1n while VI
are young, and be ready ia the majN1
TO eeiz3 every opportunity.
/ am another Oook worm Therei
nothing I enjoy more than good llta.
allure. I think reading Is one OF y
best things We can dc-that ls, god
reading 1t expands ana enlIghteDs %
minds, and causes us to LhlDk tbs
which we would not have shous hi;
know that which we would not nav
known, and, therefore, to do what Il
would not have done, had 1t not bed
for the Influences of reading
But to speak Of opportunity agaI.
God has put us here ard ne has give
US someshsng to do, and he s GIVE,
US opportunitit s OF doing il. Then !
US ask him to help US to realize and
seiz9 these opportunities. I fear tbS
many of US have many an oppoFH
nifty which we do not use; mao
a blessing which we do not coz
prehend and many a re ward of7F8
fered which which We i'll not az
cps. Let US spend all our m0m71l
10 usefulness for JOey are going co pa1
In some way. Each one has a be8'
within his bosom that is VI kn0Cb
idS the moments away; il will ng
stop for them 20 pass, OuE will knOD
on ard on unCii it's task is over, Wna
ii will stop not to rest for awnile onll
but forever. / guess most ~ you u
memter the last words OF QIeen Bp
ROeth: "All my possession FIR Il 10Y
men Of time" Sne has dub less hs
opportunities which she would not y
cept, thinking that she bad tiD
enough. But 1t is very rue ChaE 'glg
enough enough always proves It'
enough" WI h love to all,
Gates Co. N. q. PLUM
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1900-02-20
A PLEASANT EXPRESSION.

II women only realized tho value of
a pleasant expression how much j%0ilier
this dull old world would be. Many
esGEmaOle ladies, perhaps with a hIgn
ideal If duty, mar what would other
wise be a most attractive face by a
peevish expression. 'She 10 KS cross
enough to bile the head eff a nail," a
little girl recently said of her mothers
oest friend, who is really a very inter
esting woman out has an unfortunate
expression Did you eve stop to TANK
that expression really ref3cGa aarac-
teri If you look peevlsa, I am very
much afraid that, perhaps, you a-e
not quite as patient as you might b..
"A mans lips may lie, but Nature can
not lie" The face reveals the soul
within. The woman whose counte-
nance is like a ray of sunliIghT reflects
the s%unniness of ner character IN ner
words and actions, and throughout all
the details of lei every day nfe. And
the facG is plainly written on her face,
and fills it with beauty Of the highest,
most soul-sati styling type.-McCAll's
Magazine.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1900-02-20
The Meaninu Of Business is Business, "

business should be exempt from the
Otherwise universal code of morale ;
why this one thing has only to declare
itself as business in order to be re
leased by the consent of all mankind
from the duty Of chGritableness and
kindness, and often ven Of justice.
It is pertinent to ask whether society
can Gf1rd to tolerate the claims of
such a peculiar thing a. business, which
absorbs the attention, energy, and
often the very soul, Of such q vast
pr portion of our men Of enterprise and
ability. Perhaps the precepts and
practices OF business are not low in
the scale Of morals though nobody
has ever asserted they are high, and
Herbert Spencer has distinctly charged
the reverse. That, however, is not
the question. If they ars not low, it
is by ACCIDENTS Is merely bt cause
low morals happen not to be prof15a-
BILE to business. The serious, the
unique thing, is that, because business
Is business, it has an uuchallenged
right to any sort OF morals that ere
most profitable, or no morals at all.
the world is charitable enough,
perhaps. These same men who exalt
business give generously to benevolent
enter prises, not always to protect
themselves and society from the con
sCq FENCES OF neglected poverty, but
Also from human impulses. There are
men who are implaca0le in ~exacting
he pound Of flesh, yet use much of
their accommodations which represent
tears and hearts blood of the poor, for
uOcle charities. But mankind de-
m4nds j~uatice as well as charity, and
re may challenge the justice of some
Of the fundamental principles Of bust
ness.
The recognition Of business as busi
ness has probably done more to dull
the human conscience over wrong
doing, owe inbumanity, over oppres-
zion, and all seji ,hneFs than any other
thing IN the world. It il most mems
excuse, to the world and their own
3on~scieDces, for hardheartedness that
would be condemned as hideous out.
side Of business. Why hos society
agreed to set up businefs as superior
even to the laws Of G1dY-The North
American.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1900-02-20
MANS VS.. woMAN's DRESS.

To assert that men dress better than
women is probably to most persons q
very nnorthodox claim. Their dress
is more rational. more in harmony
wi h the outlines of the body, and more
IN allegiance to it's Importance and
needs When a man is dressed We
never lose sight of the fact that his
body ia more than his dress, while the
woman dresses as it she held her bo1y
to be q form upon which to display
dry -goods and the milliner'4 art, and
her head a roost for murdered birds
and stores of C lrios purlOlned from all
che kingdoms Of the earth. II would
be i'm poeslble to find on a savage in the
full glory of warpsint and feathers
more absurd and bar0arIc toggery
than on the woman Of to day, from
the housemaid to the daughter of the
millionaire. She is truly a ''stunner"-
as much so as the gaily batIzened and
~placarded walking advertisement.
When women look b9st in the street
they have gone to man for their clothes
his plain felt hat, his Goa and vest
his ha1erdssherg, and often his foot
wear-she boy g walking shoe, with it's
low, broad heel. broad projecting sole
and general look of snugness and COM
fort. Mems feet are always better
dressed than women's because for one
thing they are more in evidence, and
they are far less distorted in shape be
CAUSE their shoes more nearly conform
to the natural shape of the foot.
The tailor, it is true, often builds up
his man, but it is in the direction Of
symmetery, of good proportion, while
the dressmaker, as a rule, hasn'G an
eyelash for anything more than fash
ion, which, TO her mind, Is ''etyle," and
nothing is too hideous, too insrtistIc,
to be worn il it only be ''fasniOnabie.'
To kaow what to leave eff instead OF
what Il put on is half the secret OF
good dressing. A Philadelphia lady
who was always exceptionally well
said that she had TO pay her
milliner a good round price for what.
she left of. Mary Fisher in Womans
q, me Companion.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1900-02-20

the s'literery trash" with which the
country is Fl ,oded Theseb Doks crafty
the romantic nature; and the dellc7tely
yelled immortality, as we'll as it's other
injurious qualities, are overlooked.
They are not really overlooked they
are only absorbed, and will come to the
surface sooner or later in the form OF
laziness, irritabilitY and false ideas OF
life. This, If not checked must 1Oally
result in ruin il not moral ruin, GER
tainIy in the partial destruction OF
those q lalities which when trained
along the right lines, make US what
G ID intended we should be min
istering angels.
I am only q young girl. but I ask
you mothers, in the name OF hum 4nlty,
if for no other cauPe, to rescue your
daughters from such an error. Keep
temptation frow them give them only
the best books to read, and when they
have acquired a taste for good lItera-
ture anything else will only disgust,
and trash" will have lost it's power.
shall never forget the first novel l
ever read. 1t was David Coppe'fald,
and I read it with my father was
only a child, but I shall never forget
the . easure it gave US both. l have
always been devoted to literary pur-
suits Ny father was a great reader, and
from my earliest recollections I nave
heard au 6hors and their book, familiar
ly discussed
Iguess I have already said too much
for my first letter but ! hope the men,
bers will overlook my failings. aud re-
ceive me kindly. Sincerely,
LITERATURE.
Halifax County, N. Q.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1900-02-20
Yancey Co., N. Q.
SWEEPING; CARD PLAYING.

DEAR AUNT JENNIE:-When it came
to sweeping the f-ors once a week /
had to speak. II ours were not swept
every day we would not be able to get
in. We have five children and, as
Mrs. J. L. D. says, we must let them
play in doors or out; and I, for one,
would much rather have them play in
the house than to have them sick.
Aunt jennie. I am 90 glad you spoke
about card playing. 1 am going to
speak my mind, as I think we ali have
a right to do, in regard to cards, wnis-
key and all other evils that threaten
our children's welfare.
First, I don't think ladies or gentle
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1900-02-20
GIFTS TO

DEAR AUNT JENNIE:-L have b.
reading your columns with great
terest ever since Christmas, es9acs
your letters. / think iC is 80 mic.
the editor Of this PAGER to give ud
corner to write in. l see 80 many
our writer's like reading l thinkR
one OF the greatest pleasures in !
world to have a lot OF good book,I
read. I don't think parents cI
give their children any nicer Gresss
than good books to read. / see I'd
Ohatterers r coming in every wed
Among those last week we're two d
lege boys; also "Anti-Trust and An.
Whiskey." The latter takes cid
with Backwcodsman. Well I could
expect any thing else, for he is to
the same county. He thinks the gil
of Nj. Duke have done more to v
down the church in the country th
anything else. I would Ike 10 kno
what Nj. Dukes gift g have to 90 wi
the church in the cCuBtry. He sew
large portion of the members r9lu
to pay their assessments Oe3au53
the wrangle pct Ween K lgD an0 Olat
I don't see what that mas to do wi
schools receiving mOnty from ii
men. In fact, if they viii not d
their assessments, because OF d
wrangle bet ween Ktgo and Ulat
they will not am0unG to much in d
churchill they lee that keep TIE
Oack.
Iknow this mucl about toe colleg9
most Of them are kep5 up by rich mel
The question is, Have Chey done gou
and are they doing good or hsru
Yes, they have and are doing god
and history will tell you so
With best wishes to WI and =
Chatterers, SCHOOL. Boy
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1900-02-20

men gamble. In fact, I dor,. \
believe they play cards at ali, ~
that play are only just PLAIN M @
women. Second, I don't be- iap \
giving children games of anv b
is something that grows on q :
and il it is no harm it ma, Ivy
harm and children can be j lst a.. =
py without them And | ba, '
mothers, not to lead your chId,.N
gamble by giving them games "
they are young. :
l wish the sisters would send q
favorite recipes for making cake :
also other good recipes. :
''Inquirer," dissolve saltpete,
water and yet the mole several Il,
every day.
Dear Auntie, I am afraid shis l.,
will never see the light, bu5 if it 4,
maybe I will write again sometins
Your loving niece,
Beaufort Co., N. O. LUc,
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1900-02-20
EVILS OF TRASHY LITERATURE

DEAR AUNT JENNIE:-I have read the
letter, OF the OhaEGerers with much in
terest, aid would like to become one of
you, al though l am afraid I will not be
an interesting addition. Ny homo is
IN the country near a email village. I
wish to talk to girls similarly placed
about cultivatlng a taste for good
literature.
Il ls a great temptation for girls who
have only light household duties and
almost unlimited time at their dis
posal, to form the pernicious habit Of
'devouring" everything. it they have
a Taste for literature. Most girls are
romantic, have ideals, and are fond of
building air castles.
l am not speaking OF the working
girl, unless she is very young, for hard
work and contact with the world will
very sCOa dlesspate romance, and teach
US life is real, and the struggle earnest.
Work is never degrading, and often
times ennobiir g; but there is a wide
dlf4rence between the working girl
n the one shut in and protected by
nom9-ties AID loved ones.
O-ten times the home may be a very
happy one, and still there may be
lacking that perfect confidence between
mother and daughter which ie so
precious to the one, and so helpful for
the other. IT sucn a confidence exists
there is little danger of a girl Guilt
waiting bad habits, or evan enjoying
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1900-02-20

WHILR THE HEART BEATS YoUNa.

While the heart beats younZ-oh, the sOlendor of the spring,
With all her dewey j9WeIs On, is nos q D fair a thinRl
Thu farest. Fsrest On corning nj the bl lsSnm- time OF May
Ia not so weet a season as the season of today,
While Youths diviner climate folds and holds US, close Caress9d,
Oar bare feat in The meadows aud UT fancies up among
The airy clouds of mornng-white 5Ee heart beats young.
While the he art beats young aud our pulses leap and dance,
With every d4V a holiday and life glad romance,
We hear the birds with wonder, and with wonder watch their fight,
Standing still the more enchanted both of hearing and of eight,
Wna1 they have vanished wlouy, TO- 10 fancy, wing 80 wiug
We fly to heaven With Shemi and. returning, still we sing
Tne praise Of this over hea ven with treless voice and tongue,
Even as the Master sanctions-whie the heart beats young.
While the heart beats youugl While TIA heart beats young!
Ga, green and gold cid sarth of ours, with azure overhung
And Iooped Wit raiuOoWs grant u g vet this grassy lap of thine;
We would be still Ih7 children. through the showers and the shIneI
SO pray We. lispjDg. Whispering in childish love and trust,
Win our beseachinR hands aud faces lifted from the dust,
By farVnF o. tha poem, all un written ard unsuDg,
Thou giyest US al answer, while che heart beats young
james WhitcOm6 Riley.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1900-02-20
Our Social Chat,
E6OrrED BY AUNT JENNIE RALEIGH, N. O.

AS CONTRIBUTORS to this department of
The Progressive Farmer, we have some or Inc
most vide wake and progressive young 'ad.es
and young men al d some of the mnsG entertain
ing writer's nmOU g the oder people of this ana
other states the ages of the members ranging
from siXtee a to NOR tn IN sixty.
YOU r REQUESTED D to join by send1ng
us 4 letter on some subject of general Interest,"
and writing thereafter as often as possible
WHEN WIRING, give flu ! name and post
office address for Aunt Jenn1e's INF 1rmatlon.
If you do not wish your real name to appear in
print. give name by which you wish to be KnoWn
TWO Weeks OR MORE must, as a rule,
eIapse between the time a letter is written and
the date of its publication.
all letters to Aunt Jennie, care
of The Progressive Farmer, Raleigh, n. q.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1900-02-20
THE K ND THAT GO TO HEAVEN.

ard what is the happy land4"
asked the Sunday school superintend
ent The small boys on the front seat
clicked each other surreptitiousIy and
vIcIously, but nobody spoke until little
George said, with a tone midway be
wGen a sniff and q gurgle: Heaven :"
"Ah, that's il; that's it'll" said the
superintendent, Little George knew
L. 1t is heaven. and we all want to
20 there. And now, children, cen you
ell me what kind OF little boys go
GnereI" George was emholdened by
praise. His head was Dizzy with sue
'ess. He rose in his place. 'D3ad
Ones," he baWled.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1900-02-20
Halifax County, N. @.
ON COURTSHIP.
LITERATURE.

DEAR AUNT JENNIE:-Perhaps the
con lnuous agltaGlon of love theories is
becoming monotonous to the Chatter
ers and dry and unlnEereetIng to read
ers of the Social Chat. However. as
much as has been said upon tt g
phases of love and youthful pleasures,
[ do rot deem lG out of way to c1nfne
IN brief discussion the general trend
of youth in its contentious and up
heavals in c0urtship. The many topics
whion interest the Chatterers are all
appertaining to those appropriate IN
der tn 8 head.
Courtship, in it's universal coDceP-
ton, m4yks the m 1st brilliant time in
all the bfalrs Of life. It is the goal to
ward which youth strives, Am OiElous
to share in lts reputed enjoyment. L.
is the resort OF age, left lonely in IS
8 1cietions Though not filed with
scenes conducive to side splitting
laughter, it is the chain which con
meets society with supreme pleasure
ID uu' 44kIou bhSuuouJ5
The fields of It's contests are alive
with hurrying hosts, and it's council
fires are shad d with crowds OF eager
youkhs. The hours of it's .reconoCis
ance are filed with g~irlish tears over
broken vows, and signs of c~restfall9n
males over love lost and promises ois
regarded. While it is fun in the fire
IF strife it is death TO every hope and
Is the the path to the bachelors fate.
Yesterday, while fancy f8 ?, court.
ship was life. Hope glistened her
beams in the vagery Of urfixed love,
and life frightened as every prospect.
To-day, when fancy has matured 10
love, the brilliancy Of Ii els breadth
has faded to the mario wness of realz4
ton. The impossiOlity of reapinR che
j 'ys Of a love thus cherished blights
the prospects that once gave life It's
SAVIOR. Night drops over former
pleasure INC hides every hope.
Courtshio has been said to ''embalm
life with sweetness which grows 10
age" Whether sweetness thus wends
itself through life as a product of
courtship is neutrality-suspicious. and a
youth-concern of all whosearch court
ship for the real, not for what it seems
Here / add two verses which, I think,
are excellent in porGraying the dangers
OF courtship:
IT'S not the plays of jolIity,I
That pleasant courGship make;
For high beyond frivoli5y
"are acts which lie bliss take.
Needless love and pride bringgall,
And haste a life regret;
In age the pains of follies fall,
In choice Is life bliss set.
The Chatterers may be weary of my
part this time in the Social Chat, an0,
as l do not with to sopardize myself az
a Ohatterer, / close.
ALVIN HORTON.
Va~ao- M AT ~
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1900-02-20
AUNT JENNIR's LETTER.

Literature, I N DsE gladly extend to
you the hsnd Of welcome and will you
permit me to say that I am delighted
to have a young lady possessing such
decided talent as a writer bin us9 Your
letter is full of good sound sense and
when you refer to the girls making
conf1dants OF their mothers, | Din i"
the hope that all the girls OF our Circle
cell mother everything. No girl can
eford to do less, for mother loves you
so much more than any q else. Your
best interest is always nearest her
heart. She knows what life is, there
tore trust her to guide you. No girl is
safe unlfs she do9s this. Nor can too
much be said as to the p]ernicious liz
fuence of trashy literature. It is utter
~ impossible to wade through the mire
even a short distance and receive no
siains. Come again, Literature, your
letters will be beneficial to other girls.
ALVIN, you tax we'll Of courtship and
its pleasures; but I would impress you
all with the idea that things are not
always what they seem and that life is
indeed a reality
It always aft )rds US much pleasure
{ welcome q truant Chatterer. Plum,
your letter is an endorsement OF tnat
~rlCten by Literature IN this issue
r aiding often causes US TO think and
acE off realty, therefore be careful to
read elevatIng books and stories. Pro
crastlnation is in reality the thief Of
zine Opportunities appear for a brief
season and then vanish forever. Please
come oftener, Plum; we have missed
you
Lucille, we are glad to have you join
us and trust that we will prove equally
helpful to eacn other, as this Circle
was inaugurated for mutual helpful
NESS. I hope all will read The Girl
and Her Lover" for I think it one of
the very best articles l ever read on
this all important subj 9ct. L 3arn to
labor and TO wait" o., yes, many
labor but few can walc, and in then
lm patience garner the harvest before
&c ripens.
School Boy is right as to good books
being nice presents. / think if much
of the money spent for frivolous things
we're invested Ia good books 1t would
De better for all concerned. A good
is a life long testimony of friend
ship
Mrs J S M, we are glad to have
you with US and to know that Oh
nave been a reader of The Progressive
Farmer for so many years, There are,
course, Innocent games that can be-
come very harmful il betting is in
ia, or prIz % awarded the wiz
VIZ hope you will come often.
Who can answer 81 II II g inquiry9
We have this week an interesting |
letter from L ICY. who writes from
B 9aufort couoGy. l hope the lady
members of che Circle wall heed her
suggesTion in regard to ak
change of te sred cooking recipes. Many
for the nj Wer to Inquirer.
Altogether our Chat this week lie
unusually valuable and entertaining.
AUNT JENNIE
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1900-02-20

Selfehness is a vice; self love is a
virtue. So fsapess is the root of all
vice; then vice increases Ge3fshness
and selfshness IN turn leads on to more
and greater vice. Selfishness and Elm
act and react one upon the other.
Seif-love, On the contrary, ia q virtue
and the foundation of ell virtue of all
religion, OF ali acknowledgements
Standard.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1900-02-20
AN U

DEAR AUNT JENNIE:-Can any C1s.
terer a swer n q4-stion: WHAT y
came Of the hoy saints that sFV5
from the dead at the cru Itixlon
Christi II. Il. D.
Wake Co., N. @.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1900-02-20

After all, our worst miefortunes
never happen, and the most miseries
lie in enticipRticn.-BAlzac
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1900-02-20

Tommy-'Tm going to begin com
common fractions to day. ma.
Mothe:-"You shall do nothing of
the kind, Tommy. You snail study
the very best fractions they have in
,coool.-Crypt.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1900-02-20
ALLE FUN.
ROUGH ON HIM

He-"Were you ever In love before
you met met"
She o., yes; but never SINCE
H4rper's Bszar.