davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-03-01

i
"a letter-a long, big letter."
now! The porch fosr was creaking,
but the vibrations of the porch floor
were caused by a heavier football than
Miss Malvina's.
1t was Jimmy Martin, who was
mending the bean arbor that day. He
carefully wiped the garden soil off his
clumsy feet before advancing farther
into the neat sitting room. 1t was his
second invasion since Miss Malvina's
departure. Mother Spillman greet
ed him tartly.
"How much work are you likely to
get done prancing in here every min
ute or two? hired you to mend the
bean arbor, not to nurse me, James
Martin"
This is only twicet, missis, and my
words out. was to look in on you
occasional. I've found something out
yander that maybe you have lost.
That's what brought me. this time"
what is it?'
"a letter-a long. big letter Mighty
mussed up it is, though. I'm thinkin
the old sow must have snuted 1t under
the fence when she was maxim up her
bed. l saw bit Of white gleamin
when Went to nail on q new base
board to the fence"
Mrs. Spillman put out withered
hand eagerly.
Whats written on the back of it,
James Martin? My eyes are not what
they used to be"
"Nothin as can make out for the
dur-rt. It's just long. big, thick,
durty envelope, and it may have been
there months from the looks of It,"
81 know. It's mine. Give it to me.
And, James"-the old lady fumbled III
the long pocket of her wrapper here's
half dollar. pay you that for bring
ing me this paper and for holding your
tongue about it. Do you understand? 2"
"But, NUM-
| ST pay you to hold your tongue,
James Martin. One word about this
envelope, and never another hours
work from me will you have. Now get
back to the bean arbor." And James,
knowing the minister's widow to be a
| woman Of her word pocketed his half
| dollar and shuffled back to the bean ar
| Dor.
Long before Miss Malvina got home,
walking this time, with her brown
serge held carefully above her dusty
shoe tops, her mother had mastered
the contents of the soiled envelope and
secreted it between the back of her
chair and its chintz slip cover. where,
she declared, with triumphant
chuckle, it should stay, Matthews or no
Matthews, Malvina or no Malvina, I'M
til she had decided for herself whether
it was for Tom Broxton's good to have
it found or lost
(To be continually
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-03-01
EDUCATION BY CORRESPONDENTS.

EDUCATION BY CORRESPONDENTS
A few years ago a school of instruc-
ton in mining was opened by q gentle
man in Pennsylvania. the tuition to be
carried on wholly by correspondence
From this small beginning the school
so started has grown and widened out
until it now includes 60 different
courses of study and 10000 students
scattered all over the country and is
proving one of the greatest education
al successes of the time. This idea is
now being discussed with relation to
its use by our agricultural colleges and
the extension of their work by CORE
spondence to the thousands of boys,
and older men, too, on the farms, thus
securing for them course of study in
practical agriculture, horticulture. ami
NAL husbandry, soil physics and 9th
er branches pertaining to their bust
ness. We believe the suggestion is en-
tirely practical and would be glad to
see it taken up by our agricultural col.
leges.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-03-01
LUCK ON THE FARM.

| There is not very much of what is
termed luck on the farm. Bad luck,
nine times out of ten. is the legitimate
| fruit Of bad management and igno-;
rance, and good luck is the equally
logical result of forethought, intelli-
gence and industry. If a good horse
gets ruined in barbed wire fence,
lit simply means that good horses
should not be turned into a pasture
thus fenced. If there is a poor stand
of corn, 1t means lack of care as to the
ut a very busy time, it means that it
was not properly overhauled before
commencing work. II the steers break
into the corntield, it means that the
fence should have been seen to. If
diphtheria and typhoid fever come to
the home, it means that there is
dirty cellar or u well Of impure water.
If your wife is sick and worn out, like
enough you make her carry the wood
and the water, milk the cows, feed
the pigs, look after the garden, do the
family washing, cook your meals and
do it without any modern conven-
iences-all that you may make few
more dollars, SO that you can buy a
little more land to make still more
work. If your boy runs off the first
good opportunity he has, the chances
are that you have driven him away.
If you have poor neighbors, more than
likely you do not follow the golden
rule and do to them as you would be
done by. But if you should have the
cholera strike the hogs you may call
that bad luck, for neither care nor
foresight can stave it off when it gets
ready to come. If you should have
twin boys at your home, that's good
luck, for twins can neither be antici-
1 pated nor prevented, and if you should
get elected to some office, what you
would call good luck would probably
prove to be bad luck instead. We do
not go much on luck anyway. If you
desire given results, go at it in a bust
nesslike way to secure them, and if
you would avoid bad luck use reason
able means to prevent it.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-03-01

Dairy, form has more to do with the
good milk cow than dairy breeding.
The lacteal function is very largely
an individual one, and, while more
good mixers are to be found in some
breeds than in others, good mixers
are to be found in all breeds. The sue
cessful dairyman will do well to keep
this fact in mind and so pay more at
tention to dairy form than to dairy
pedigree. With Shorthorn cows, Poll
ed Angus cows and just common scrub
cows showing up records Of over 300
pounds Of butter, it is very evident
that the so called dairy breeds have no
monopoly of the milking function.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-03-01

A good many years ago, when the
country was new and sugar worth 10
cents pound, the pioneer settler was
compelled to make his own sweets or
60 without, and SO some maple sugar
was made in the spring and barrel Of
sorghum later on in the fall. One year
we had large crop Of fine watermel-
ons for which there was no sale, and
by scooping out the cores of these mel
ons and boiling down the juice we
made lot Of very palatable sweeten-
, ing for the winter.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-03-01
(To be continued.
a Natural Cross.

One of the most beautiful natural
rock carvings in the world is the South
ern Cross, on the island of Grand Ma
nan, in the bay Of Fundy. 1t stands at
the head Of ledge of rocks jutting in
to the bay from the foot of one Of the
immense cliffs at the southern end of
the Grand Manan. Its shape is that Of
an almost perfect cross.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-03-01

was already fighting the Afghans as a
lieutenant Of the Bengal Horse artil-
lery. Before he was five and twenty
he had had five horses shot under him
in battle, had been twice wounded, re-
peatedly mentioned In the dispatches
and had won the Victoria cross. which
constitutes the climax OF every Eng
lishman's ambition.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-03-01

A man whom we know had five pup
pies, water spaniels, all black and all
looking just exactly alike. -Four Of
these puppies grew up to be just COM
mon dogs. One was taken by a dog
trainer and educated. The four pups
which just grew up were never worth
over SIS apiece, if as much as that, be-
cause they did not know anything and
could not do anything except wag their
tails and bark at the moon. The pup
which was carefully trained by the
dog fancier became worth $1,000, and
that sum was refused for him because
he knew something and could do some
thing. Let us call the five puppies FIVE
boys, and how does the proposition
look to you? 1t is easier to train a boy
than a dog. If you have boys, study
this problem over.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-03-01
! Love FINDS A WAY.
Continued from Page o.

But the word submission" was
written on one of the unturned leaves
in Olivia Matthews book Of life. 1t
meant nothing as yet. They drove the
short remaining distance in depressed
silence-through the shadow of the
valley of deatll-the gay little equi-
page and the vivid girl.
Mother" Spillman, having emptied
her bowl of cold tea, was computing
the passage of time by her craving
for food Surely Malvina could not
be away much longer. There she was
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-03-01
Professional JeaIousy,

"You are nothing but an imitator,"
said the bluejay, full Of wrath ut hear
ing it's cry so accurately mimickeds
"All that ails you" airily retorted
the hooking bird, sis that you are en-
vious because can sing your song SO
much better than you can."-C Chicago
Tribune.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-03-01

The knowledge and ability which en-
able. one to promptly and accurately
estimate the market value of a beef
animal are something which commands
salary larger than that paid to a
Emitted States senator.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-03-01
Did Moi Dfspute It.

"Your honor" protested the burglar,
81 am as honest as the day is long"
81 don't doubt" replied the magis-
trate. 81 understand you fellows trans
act all your business at night."-Phi
delphia Record.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-03-01

The men who have made study Of
the scientific side Of agriculture-the
men conducting the experiment sta
tons and the professors in the agri-
cultural colleges-are very much more
kindly listened to nowadays than they
used to be. The old prejudice against
book farming, as it used to be termed,
is fast passing away, and the intelli-
gent farmer of today is only too glad
to avail himself of the information
touching his crops and stock which is
only to be obtainable as result of la
borious and painstaking scientific in
vestigati0n.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-03-01

the Beers only those who have recently
arrived have succeeded in preserving
the regulations which they took with
them to the lower end of the dark con-
tinent. When General Sir Redvers
Butler was sent to take command,
great things We're expected of him,
and, If he has been reported correctly,
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-03-01

The new agriculture of the south Him.
Its the production Of cotton and en-
courages the planter to diversity his
crops, produce his own corn forage,
Hairy products and meats. 1t is also
hoing much TO foster the manufacture
bf the raw cotton into print cloths and
sheeting In the locality where the lint
Is produced.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-03-01

We would Favor a forced state IN
spection and test Of all dairy herds
the milk of which was sold to the pub
lie, the state to pay one-half of the
value of animals condemned and
slaughtered as a result of such test. 1t
would probably be a protection to the
public and would be good thing for
the dairyman, as the public would then
have confidence in the purity of his
milk.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-03-01

The delicate mauve and drab tints Of
the plumage of the sea gull have re-
suited in its almost entire extinction Oh
all the Atlantic coast line. The ladies
must have these feathers FOR their
hats, and, there being. SO many more
women than birds, the birds have all
been killed.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-03-01

Boer. He served there against the
Kaftirs and as member of the Royal
engineers surveyed the new boundaries
of Grtqualand West when that terri
tory was taken from the Orange Free
State.
Such are the leaders who are con-
Quoting the campaign against the
Beers.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-03-01

i No single farm product has felt the
benefit Of the improved industrial and
commercial conditions to a greater ex-
tent than has wool. Merino and other
Zine woods have advanced over 60 per
bent In price and other grades from 80
10 40 per cent. The man who stuck to
his flock of sheep is now getting his
reward.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-03-01

The principal reason why more cattle
10 not die of tuberculosis is that they
are killed and eaten by us before the
disease has runs its course The steer
seldom sees four years Of life and the
cow seldom more than IL.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-03-01

The officers who are now leading the
British force in South Africa against
the Beers are the pick of the army
list. 1t is quite true that the first divi-
sions sent out We're commanded by
men who were better known as war
Office pets" than as fighting leaders.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-03-01

There is nothing in a small way-and
1t is not so very small either-which is
of more interest to northwestern farm
ers just now than the possibilities con-
nected with the introduction of the
Turkestan alfalfa, a legume which
finds a congenial home under droughty
conditions and which appears to be
perfectly hardy north of latitude 40.
Such legume must prove to be of al
most inestimable value when once in
troduced.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-03-01

Burma has over 100000 tons of
rice available for export, and there are
100000 people in Hinduism who
are on famine rations. Modern bust
ness enterprise and Christian philan-
thropy should get this rice and these
deryishes together somehow.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-03-01
GENERAL MErHuEN.

For the space Of three weeks this ex-
petition disappeared entirely from hui
man ken. At length it emerged from
the trackless and, for the most part,
wateriess regions between Kabul and
Kandahar and under the walls of the
latter city fought battle and won a
brilliant victory. inflicting crushing
defeat upon the Afghans.
This is not the first time that Lord
Roberts has been ordered out to South
Africa. He was assigned to the chief
command there after Majuba Hill, but
on reaching the Cape found that the
Gladstone government had in the
meantime concluded peace with the
Beers.
In many ways the direct antithesis
Of Lord Roberts is General Horatio
Herbert Kitchener, lord Of Khartum,
who is second in command. He is
more than six feet in height for one
thing. His reputation has been won
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-03-01

All over the west the feeder is pay
Ing more for corn than it is worth in
the great cereal markets Of the coun-
try. This difference is from to 4
cents bushel, according to locality.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-03-01

We want once more to emphasize the
folly of breeding the heavy draft horse
with the small native mare. The prod
net is usually a monstrosity. Nature
resents such violent crosses.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-03-01

"Hog KILN" time is as much of a
farm event in the south as ever, while
{, In most Of the north this disagreeable
and bloody business has been transfer
red to the local butcher or the packing
houses.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-03-01

]. A. Smith, of Dubuque, brake
man on the Chicago Great Western,
was struck onthe fact with coal pick
smashing his, nose and otherwise dam
aging his face.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-03-01
PAPER srocrx WANTED.

1t looks as though some substitute
will have to be found for wood pulp
out Of which to make the print paper
of the country. Great difficulty is
found in supplying the demand for
paper, and the price has reached a
point where paper is one Of the most
serious items of expense with every
publisher. Most Of the paper used for
the newspapers is made Of spruce
wood. Cornstalks, fax straw and even
oat and wheat straw are being expert
mented with to see If disable grade Of
news print paper can be made from
these practically waste byproducts OF
the farm.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-03-01

The old fashioned Texas steer has al
most entirely disappeared from the
Chicago beef market. Texas is now
sending as finely bred cattle to market
as any state in the Union.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-03-01

The wise men now tell us that there
rs no harm i'll using the milk from a
ttuberculous COW unless the disease af-
fleets directly the cows udder.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-03-01

& The pulp Of the sugar beet after the
sugar is extracted is worth for food
Tor stock Just half as much as corn
silage, ton for ton.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-03-01

When it costs the tax dodger more to
hide his property than 1T does to pay
the taxes upon it, he will pay the taxes
lust like the rest Of us.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-03-01

It is all in accord with a natural law
that when a mans whole life is devot-
ed to the accumulation of money his
boys, because of his neglect, will be
Just the sort to scatter his pile for him
\ after he is gone.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-03-01

Z The mutton end Of the sheep is a
money maker now as well as the wool
end, sheep being 70 cents and lambs
$1.5O higher than one year ago
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-03-01

Plant q grove Of oak, elm, ash, but
ternut, blackberry and black walnut,
and at the end of 80 years the walnut
will be the king tree of the grove, over
topping and SO stunting all the other
Varieties.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-03-01

A lake vessel over 500 feet in length
and Of proportionate width was lately
launched at Cleveland. Such carriers
mean lower and still lower freight
rates.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-03-01

White turkeys, because further re-
moved from the wild type, are very
much more domestic in their habits
than are the bronze birds. They will
not wander and steal their nests as
do the bronze birds.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-03-01

Miss Mary. Bowen, of Centerville, has
been elected professor of English lit
erature for the fifth consecutive year
in Wellesley Female college.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-03-01

/ Denmark sells all her bacon and but
ter to England and then turns round
and imports bacon and butter from
this country to supply her own people.
products and gets her own price and
then buys our goods at cheaper rates.
Why? We'll, what is the use of asking
the question? Have we not sense
enough to make goods which England
would take Of us? But we have not.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-03-01

The courts of the several states are
generally affirming the constitutional
tty Of the Inheritance tax laws.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-03-01

Farm mutual insurance companies
are very generally successful and af-
ford insurance protection at lower
rates than the regular old line compa-
MES
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-03-01

One of the most successful co-opera-
tive farmers organizations in the en-
tire country is at Rockwell, Ia, where
grain, lumber and fuel business Of
over 100000 was done in the year
1880 at cost of less than per cent.
While this organization has been a
most complete success, hundreds of
other similar organizations have failed,
and always because, while cooperative
enterprises, the members did not CO.
operate.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-03-01
BY j. S. TR1GG.

4 bee has to make about 100000
visits to flower blossom to gather
pne pound Of honey.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-03-01

Among every 1000 bachelors there
are 3S criminals. Among married men
the ratio is only IS per thousand.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-03-01

Forcemeat is corruption of farce
meat, from the French farce, stuf1nS-
/, e., meat for stufiing.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-03-01
GENERAL KELLY-KENNY..

commanded a cavalry force which he
organized himself and which was
known as Methuen's Light horse.
General William Forbes Gatacre,
who met his Waterloo at Stormberg,
has seen service in India. He also
served under Kitchener in the Sudan.
General Gatacre was born in 1913
and entered the army when he was 10.
From 1875 to 1879 he was instructor in
surveying at the Royal Military col
lege, Sandhurst; quartermaster general
at Aldershot during the following year,
and military secretary to the COM
mander in chief at Bombay in 1881.
General Kelly Kenny, in command Of
the Sixth division, is having his first
experience in South Africa. He served
in China and in Abyssinia.
General Sir Charles Warren, whose
name will henceforth be associated
with the disaster at Spion kop, was ex-
pected to be an Invaluable assistant to
Butler, for he had the reputation Of
knowing South Africa as well as any
: 3