davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-04-30
The Profit in Il.

Hoard's Dairyman tells story which
aptly illustrates the profit to be made by
judicious advertising. One of its sub
scribers had some yearling heifers he
wanted to sell. Neighbors offered him
$l5 apiece for them but he doubted
whether this was sufficient price and
wrote the paper for advice. The an
swer was to advertise for larger and
better market, if the animals were really
fine ones and in good condition. He did
so; paid 90 for the advertisement and
got $3.50 more for the heifers than his
neighbors offered him. he found that
there was large and profitable market
waiting for bis product and that all be
had to do to dispose of his stock to ad.
vantage was to giveit publicity.
Many and many farmer in New Eng.
land might benefit by the example OF
this western breeder. They light their
candle all right but they set it under
bushel and the world is in 'nowise en-
lightened thereby.
A man has done only half bis duty to
himself and the world when he raises
surplus of good stock, grain, hay OF
other farm produce without letting the
world know what he has produced.
Strangely enough, too, 1t is the half OF
his duty which insures profit to himself
and guards him against loss that he
neglects.
is this because he has never consider.
ed the advertising question as one oi
profit to himself? Yet that Is what II
most largely is.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-04-30
New Light on Killing the Mites

About a year ago the Farmer called
its readers attention to new remedy
for the determination of the red mites
in poultry houses. As the season for
the development of the mites is ap-
preaching, and as we have q largely in
creased subscription list, We again re-
new the subject which is of inestimable
importance to every poultryman. To
exterminate these pests 1t is necessary to
understand their habits of breeding,
which consist in their seeking the deep
est cracks obtainablef for depositing their
eggs, and as but little of such remedies
as kerosene, carbolic acid, etc., pene-
trate SO deeply, many of the eggs are
untouched, and soon hatch, keeping up
an incessant supply of mites to suck the
life blood from the fowls all through the
night, for the increase of these pests is
something Incredible.
Two or three years ago the Rockland
Lime Co. began the manufacture OF a
slime -four" for making Bordeaux mix
ture. We found by experimenting that
about three pounds of this lime, costing
three -fourths cent per h., would make
four gallons of whitewash. A heavier
coat gives better coating of lime, and
makes the house look whittier, but sew
eral coats are preferable. Now the &C
ton of the lime in killing by contact Is
lust as favorable as kerosene, which
costs about fifteen times as much, but
the other and greater advantage is, the
whitewash hardens, covers the cracks
which contain the eggs, making it inn
possible for the mites to escape, con-
sequently few thorough sprayings will
absolutely exterminate the pest.
1t is so cheap it can be used lavishly.
If applied as soon as prepared it will
not clog the spray nozzle in the slight
est degree. In fact, it is for cheapness
and effectiveness, perfect remedy for
this, the worst poultry pest In the
Northern States. Of course the drop
ping boards must be cleaned before
spraying.-Maine Farmer.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-04-30
Whers the Credit Was Due.

Levi p. 'Torton once established a
dry goods house in New York and
failed. but his creditors he gave all
he posscsse settling for 30 cents on
the dollar Years afterward he made
a great success rs n banker. AMI then
he again z; e thought to those whom
he had not rid in full as merchant.
One day ! his former creditors re-
ceived inv tions TO banquet. II I;
guests took lcir seats at the table a.
as each opened his napkin found Il
check for tn full amount Of his claim.
with intere
"G2nt!emcn." said Mr.. Morton. 'the
one who d, ;ervcs the credit for the
shall we ;-favors of the evening
Is not your host. but the mother WHO
by her early influence has guided him
through life. My fathers salary rs the
village parson was not sufficient for ali
the household expenses. so went ,
clerking in the village store for few
dollars a month When ! brought my
wages to my mother she SAID:
Levi, do you owe any of this mon
ey to anybody? Yes? Then go ut once
and pay II II It takes every dollar. lr
you owe money you are not free boy
my emancipation tonight, gentle
men, is the direct result of that moth.
er's early counsel"
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-04-30

sky. W,ll'n DllZel blbh!ed about his
impossible lynx. and they stalked the
mountain side like chamois hunters
although no noise of bird or beast
broke the stiffness Of the hills. Below
them Whilomville was spread out
somewhat like the cheap green and
black lithograph of the time-"A
Birdseye View of Whilomville, N. Y"
In the en1 the boys reached the top
of the mountain and secuted off among
wild and desolate ridges. They were
burning with the desire to slay large
animals. They thought continually of
elephants, lions, tigers, crocodiles. They
discoursed upon their immaculate con-
duct in case such monsters confronted
them, and they all lied carefully about
their courage.
of sweet fern. The pines and hemlocks
sighed as they waved their branches.
In the hollows the leaves of the laurels
were lacquered where the sunlight
found them. No matter the weather, 1t
would be impossible to long continue
an expedition Of this kind without q
fire, and presently they built one, snap
ping down for fuel the brittle under
branches Of the pines. About this fire
they were willed to conduct sort of
play, the Dalzel boy taking the part
of u bandit chief and the other boys
being his trusty lieutenants. They
stalked to and fro, long strided, stern
yet devil-may-care, three terrible little
frNre;
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-04-30


Old Henry Fleming, the owner Of the
farm, strobe across the pasture toward
them. He had in his hand most
cruel whip This whip he hourished
At his approach the boys suffered tle
agOnies of the fire regions. And yet
anybody with half an eye could see
that the whip in his hand was mere
accident and that he was kind old
man-When he cared.
When he had come near he spoke
crisply. What you boys been dom to
my cowT The tone had deep threat
in It, They all answered by saying
that none of them had shot the cow
Their denials were fearful and clamor.
GUS, and they crawled knee by knee
The vision of it waG like three mar
tyrs being dragged toward the stake,
Old Fleming stood there. grim, tight
Tipped. After time he said, (which
boy done it?'
There was sorlc confusion. and then
Jimmie spoke. ~ done it. mister"
Fleming looked at him. then he ask.
ed, "Well, what did you shoot 'er fer?'
Jimmie thought. hesitated, decided
faltered and then formulated this, 81
thought she was lynx"
Old Fleming and his Swede ut once
lay down in the grass and laughed
themselves helpless.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-04-30
The Shafts of a Hanson.

The group in the all night r. taurant
had been discussing the odd things no.
ticed on city street. and several in
tercating subjects had been brought
up and satisfactorily explained. But
one who hll not joined much in the
conversation suddenly propoJnded a
lrcS,ion witch set them all sIesSing
aud many were the haphaZard eXpla-
nations offered. why are the shafts
on a hanson cab curved downward for
Il foot or more at the forward endW
he asked. \ cab driver seated near by
listened with an amused smile to the
arguments and finally, eXcuSing him
self f5r intruding in the conversation,
offered the following explanation:
"WEen hansom cab Is empty practi.
cally the entire weight is forward Of
the wheels. When horse falls the
shafts, with all this weight. g down,
too, and If the shafts were Str.:!ght Sc
rious injury could be done to the horse
from the pressure while it was strug.
CLING So the shafts are curved. and
when the horse falls the curved ends
rest on the ground and keep the weight
of the cab off the animal. .'-Philadel-
phia Record.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-04-30
A Steady Price.

The Rev. Simon Turpie was an elo-
quent speaker, but he seemed to have
a lis. of sermons which when once be-
gan he went right through to the end
and then started at the first sermon
again, and so on.
A young man In the congregation
was about to leave for South Africa,
but the Sunday before he departed he
attended the church service.
In the course of his lecture the min
lster used an illustration in which were
the words. "A man can easily pur-
chase two sparrows for threepence."
The young man, after being absent
for about three years, returned. and on
the first opportunity attended divine
service Strange to say, he heard the
same narrative by the same minister,
the phrase striking him most being
about the 1.-TWO sparrows for three
pence"
At the close OF the service the min
Ser. In his courtesy came ald shook
'andS with the youth and. welcoming
lin back TO his home. asked him II he
,oticed any changes about the place.
The young man, evidently quite un-
concerned. replied in pawky tone:
AYE man. there's twa or three
changes. but there's yin thing can
-ee. Tie price o sparrows is aye at
the >alhe auld figgcr." Bits.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-04-30
Sheep are Good Property.

The outlook for sheep was never bet
ter than at present. The demand for
all kinds of sheep-mutton, wool pro-
ducers and lambs-is greater than the
means of supply, and prices are high
and advancing, says an exchange. A
flock Is profitable over and above re-
ceipts for wool and mutton In the in
crease of lambs.
The time Is at hand when every farm
or should have as many sheep as he is
prepared to provide for. Farmers are
now coming to the point when they can
fence and cross-fence their farms with
woven wire, thus enabling them to feed
the sheep over the whole farm instead of
moving them to permanent pasture.
The permanent pasture very soon be-
comes sheep-sick, and the farmer be-
comes discouraged. However, with
sheep-tight fences he can use his sheep
on the stubble fields or on the aftermath
of the meadows, and he can fatten his
lambs in the cornield to the benefit
both of the lambs and cornfield.
There is more profit for the amount
invested in sheep than in any other kind
of live stock. They are high now, but
there is no reasonable probability they
will be lower, at least for many years to
come. Our farmers can never expect to
have clean farms until they introduce
sheep raising more extensively. With
the exception of thistles, MULLEN and
cockleburs in their mature stage, sheep
will eat every kind of weed that grows
on the farm, and profit by the eating.
A properly fenced farm with hundred
sheep will never be badly infested with
weeds.
1t is an advantage to have hurdles
made of light material and so construct
ed as to form small pens, in which to
place the ewes having two lambs for
few hours after parturition. 1t is a
good practice, when it is known that
this period is about at hand, to place the
eve in one of these pens, keeping her
from being disturbed by the older lambs.
1t is good practice to separate those
having twins from those having single
lambs, keeping each in flock by them
selves. The single lambs are likely to
grow more rapidly and be the stronger,
and more able to crowd out the twins
when old enough to be fed alone.
Sheep-shearing machines are a great
improvement over hand work, both in
cleanliness of clipping and in the time
required for each animal. 1t requires
some skill to keep clippers sharp. Up
on this much of the success and ease
with which these machines are handled
depends. 1t Is necessary to know how
to handle sheep while clipping 1t.
A man who has had considerable ex-
perience in shearing sheep by hand will
understand this part of the work and
can usually handle q machine clipper
with great ease. One man and a boy
with a machine can handle about twice
as many sheep in day as is customary
when they are hand-sheared.
Sheep are very efficient aids in making
clean pastures by keeping down many
kinds of weeds. Oats and bran make
an excellent ration for ewes with lamb.
Maine Farmer.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-04-30
NUMBER 10.
Poetry In Machinery.

Th, modern engines. the short neck
ed, pin headed. large limbed, silent
ones, plunging with smooth and splen-
did leaps down their aisles Of space
engines without any faces. blind. grim,
conquering, lifting the world-are more
poetic to some of us than old engines
were for the very reason that they
are not so poetic looking. They are
less snowy, more furtiye, suggestive,
modern and perfect.
In proportion a; Il machine Is modern
II hides its face Ii refuses to look as
poetic as II t.. and II 1t makes sound
1t is almost always sound that Is too
small for It or one that belongs to
some one else
The trolley wire, lifting whole city
home to supper. IS giant with a fal-
setto voice. The large sornLiag. the
poetic sounding. Is not Characteristic
Of the modern spirit. In so far as 1t
exists at all In the modern age. either
In its machinery or its poetry II exists
because II Is accidental or left over.
There was a deep bass steamer on
the Mississippi once with very small
head of steam which any one would
have admitted had poetry In it-old
fashioned ctry. Every time 1t whis-
tied it SIC. )ed.-Gerald Stanley Lee,
Author of "The Voice Of the Machines"
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-04-30

lynx hunters looked at each other out
Of blanched faces. Jimmie had hit the
COW. The first evidence Of his com
r:eha.9i7a OF this fact was in the ee.
lerity with which he returned the dis.
charged gun to Willie Dalzel.
They turned to fee. The land was
black, as IL it had been overshadowed
suddenly with thick storm clouds, and
even as they fed In their horror q 81.
gantic Swedish farm hand came from
the heavens and fell upon them, shrek.
Ing In eerie triumph. In q twinkle they
were clouted PROSTATE. The Swede
was elate and ferocious in a foreign
and fulsOme way. He continued to
beat them and yell.
From the ground they raised their
dismal appeal. "Oh, please, mister. we
didn't do it. He did it! didn't do it
We didn't do it. We didn't mean to dc
it! Oh, please, mister"
In these moments Of childish terror
little lads go half blind, and it is posi-.
BILE that few moments of their after
life made them suffer as they did when
tie Swede flung them over the fence
and marched them toward the farm
house. They begged like towards on
the scaffold. and each one was for him
self. "Oh, please let me 60, mister!.
didn't do 1t, mister! He did it! Oh.
please let me 60, mister!'
The boyish view belongs to boys
alone, and II this tall and knotted Ia
borer was needlessly without charity,
none Of the three lads questioned it.
Usually when they were punished they
decided that they deserved it, and the
more they were punished the more
they were convinced that they were
criminals of Il most subterranean type.
As to the hitting of the COW being Il
pure accident and therefore not of lie
cesslty a criminal matter, such reading
never entered their heads When things
happened and they were caught, they
commonly paid dire consequences, and
they were accustomed to measure the
probabilities Of woe utterly by the dam
age done and not in any way by the
culpability. The shooting of the COW
was plainly heinous, and undoubtedly
their dungeons would be knee deep in
water.
HE did It, mister" This was u gcn-
eral outcry. Jimmie used it as often
as did the others. AS for them, 1t is
certain that they had no direct thought
Of betraying their comrade for their
own salvation. They thought them
selves guilty because they We're caught.
When boys were not caught they might
possibly be innocent. But captured
boys were guilty. When they cried OFT
that Jimmie was the culprit, it was
principally simple expression of ter.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-04-30

Oh his abdomen, addressed them In his
own tongue II was Jimmie's shot
Adjured by he others, he took the
gun. His fa.e was stiff with appre'
hension. The Dalzel boy was giving
forth fine words: go ahead. Aw,
don't be afraid. It's nothin' to do
Why, I've done 1t million times
Don't shut both your eyes, now. Jus
keep one open and shut the other one
He'll get away If you don't watch out
Now you're all right. Why don't you
let 'er go? Go ahead"
Jimmie. with his legs braced apart
was In the center Of the path. His
back was greatly bent, owing to the
mechanics of supporting the heavy
gun. His companions were screechine
In the rear. There was wait.
Then he pulled trigger. TO him there
was frightful roar. his check and his
shoulder took Il stunning blow, his face
felt hot flush of fire, and, opening
his two eyes, he found that he was
still alive. Ee was not too dazed tC
instantly adopt becoming egotism. II
had been the first shot Of his life.
But directly after the well hammered
celebration OF this victory certain
cow which had been grazing IN the
line of ire was seen to break wildly
across the pasture, believing ant
buc'. ing TIE three smrggiers ant
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-04-30
Color of Butter of Different Breeds.

The natural method color measure
ments made possible some interesting
studies along this line, which may be
added. In the middle west, the native
or Durham mixed COWS run up in June
to about the same color as did the pure
bred Jerseys at Burchard Farm. Shade
three or three and one-half, 70 to IS
cubic centimeters per cwt. of white.
The same cows in winter go lower than
do the Jerseys. Guernsey cows butter
runs as high naturally as No. 8, and is
often too highly colored to be accepted
by the buyer as without artificial color.
Guernsey butter color is of a different
quality also, it is old gold rather than
orange, with suggestions of lemon and
olive. No breed can compete with them
in rich colored cream and milk. This
difference continues throughout the
year, as natural color gradually declin-
ing during the fall and winter, those
cows that give the highest color In sum-
mer keep their lead all the year. The
color gets to its lowest point just before
another pasture season.-C. L. Fitch,
Greeley, Conn.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-04-30

Jimmie had an uncle who made game
Of him whenever he caught him In this
kind of play, and often this uncle quot
ed derisively the following classic:
"Once aboard the lugger, Bill, and the
girl is mine. Now to burn the chateau
and destroy all evidence Of our crime.
But, hark'e. Bill, no violence" Wheel,
ing abruptly, he addressed these dra,
matte words to his comrades. They
were impressed; they decided at once
to be smugglers, and in the most ribald
fashion they talked about carrying of
young women.
At last they continued their march
through the woods. The smuggling
motif was now grated fantastically
upon the original lynx idea, which VIII
lie Dalzel refused to abandon at any
price.
Once they came upon an innocent
bird who happened to be looking an
other way at the time. After a great
deal of maneuverin% and bic words
Willie Dalzel reared his fowling piece
and blew this poor thing into mere
rag of wet feathers, of which he was
proud.
Afterward the other big boy had a
turn at another bird. Then II was
plainly Jimmie's chance. The two 9th
ers had, of course, some thought OF
cheating him out of this chance, but OF
truth he was timid to explode such d
thunderous weapon. and as soon as
they detected this fear they simply
sverbore him and made it clearly un
derstood that If he refused to shoot
he would lose his caste, his scalp lock
his girdle, his honor.
They had reached the old death col
ored snake fence which marked the
limits Of the upper pasture of the
Fleming farm. Under some hickory
trees the path ran parallel to the fence
Behold, small priestly chipmunk
came to a rail and. folding his hands
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-04-30
Queer Nesting Places.

Birds seek queer places In which to
build their nests. The robin often be-
gins nesting operations In February.
Any old pot, basket or can which is
lying in a corner Of garden seems to
be taken possession Of by robins. They
even build their nests In fowerpots, on
chairs, In bags and tins, old kettles
and variety of other odd places. But
perhaps the most remarkable place Of
all where a robin built its nest was In
or on cows tail. The tail was hang
Ing on the wall Of butchers slaugh-
ter house In England. and the robin
built coy nest among the long hafr
at the end Of the appendage.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-04-30
VARIETY and Expense.

A variety of food is cheaper than to
use only corn or wheat, for the reason
that variety promotes growth, laying
and thrift. Because . variety of food
is recommended it Is not necessary
that the expense should be increased.
IL costs more to feed the hens on one
kind of food than on variety, because
a variety satisfies their wants sooner.
A hen may eat large amount of grain,
but II she is producing eggs she will
require something else. II given va
riety she will utilize less grain and sat
isfy herself with food that Is cheaper
because better results are Obtained
Farm and Fireside.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-04-30

Even the little girl was retarded b.,
the voice. bIt, without being unlawful
she man. gci soon to shy through the
door and out upon the playground,
yelling. "Ch, Jimmie Trescott's been
writing TO lis girl"'
The unhappy Jimmie was following
as closely as he was allowed by his
knowledge OF the decencies to be pre-
served under the eye of the teacher.
Jimmie himself was mainly response.
bic for the scene which ensued on the
playground. 1t Is possible that the lit
tie girl might have run, shrieking his
infamy. without exciting more than a
general but unmilitant interest These
barbarians We're excited only by the
actual appearance Of human woe. In
that event they cheered and danced.
Jimmie made the strategic mistake OF
pursuing little Rose, and thus exposed
his thin skin to the whole school. He
had in his covering mind a vision of n
hundred children turning from their
play under the maple trees and speed
ing toward him over the gravel with
sudden wild taunts. Upon him drove
a yclping. Gemoniac mob. to which his
wor,s were futile. lie saw in this
mob boys that he dimly knew, and his
deadly enemies and his retaincrs and
his most intimate friends. The viru-
lence of his deadly enemy was no
greater than TIE virulence Of his inti-
mate friend. From the outskirts the
little informer could be heard still
screaming the news, like toy parrot
with clock work inside of it. 1t broke
up all sorts of games, not so much be-
cause of the mere fact Of the letter
writing as because the children knew
that some sufferer was ut the last
point, and, like little blood fanged
wolves, they thronged to the scene Of
his destruction. They galloped about
him shrilly chanting insults. He turn
ed from one to another, only to meet
with howls. He was baited.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-04-30
A Bad Place to Stroll.

An evening stroll around Ballarat,
Bendigo or any other Australian gold
en- center is said to have an excitement
peculiar to itself. The visitor never
can tell when he may drop down an
abandoned shaft into the bowels OF
the earth. During the fifties and six
ties. the period Of the great 'rushes."
thousands Of these shafts were SUNK,
varying in depth from so to 800 feet
Some Of them have been filled up, but
the great majority still yawn for un-
wary pedestrians. Accidents Of this
sort are seldom fatal. The accumu-
lated mud and water at the bottom Of
the shaft break the fall.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-04-30

Charles Farrar, the Holden, Mass,
weather prophet, who predicted thirty
six snowstorms for last winter, warns
farmers not to wet their hay in July,
or If they do it will never get dry that
month, for he says that July will be q
rainy month. He tells them to wait un-
til August for their hay and 1t will dry
] In fine shape for them.