davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-07-23

-
you kin lick meY
Johnnie Hedge was cowed, shrinking
affrighted, and the roars Of hundred
boys thundered in his ears, but again he
knew what lie had TO say, Yes" he
gasped in anguish.
"Then," said Jimmie resolutely
"you've got to fight" There was a 10.
Gus clamor by the mob. The beleaguer.
ed lad looked this way and that way
for succor as Willie Dalzel and other
Officlous youngsters policed an Irregular
circle in the crowd. He saw Jimmie
facing him. There was no help for it.
He dropped his books-the old books
which would not do"
Now, 1t was the fashion among tiny
Whilomville belligerents to fight much
In the manner Of little bear cubs. The
boys would rush upon each other, i'm
inediately grapple, and-the best boy
having probably succeeded In getting
the coveted under hold"-there would
presently be crash to the earth OF
the inferior boy. and he would prOba-
bly, e-mOpped around in the dust or
the mud or the snow or whatever the
material happened to be until the en-
gayement was over. Whatever havoc
was dealt out to him was ordinarily
the result Of his wild endeavOrs to
throw Off his opponent and arise. Both
infants wept during the fight as a
common thing, and IL they wept very
hard the fight was harder fight The
result was never very bloody. but the
complete dishevelment of both victor
and vanquished was extraordinary. AS
for the spectacle, 1t more resembled a
collision of boys in fog than it did
the manly art Of hammering another
human being into speechless inability.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-07-23
Sheep Versus Dogs.
CONTROL DOGS AT NIGHT.

In connection with the present agita.
tion of the dog and sheep question, the
accompanying ideas from r. S. Hinman
of Connecticut are interesting. At one
time Mr.. Hinman was large sheep
owner, but dogs cleaned out his flock
and he has never re-stocked his farm
with them. He is also ex-president OF
the Connecticut sheep breeders associa-
ton. His ideas follow:
The only practical solution of the dog
question is that every dog owner, unless
the dog be foxhound or coon dog out
on legitimate business, be required to
care for his dog from sunset to sunrise.
| know it is lot to ask of man that he
shall spend two minutes every night
claiming or shutting up dog that isn't
worth the price of chain. The dog
that kills sheep or poultry almost in
occasionally some fool dog started out
on daylight raid there would be a
chance of getting him or finding his
owner.
The advantage that would result from
the keeping of sheep on Connecticut
farms can hardly be overestimated and
the benefit would be universal. There
are thousands of acres growing up to
brush and valueless for taxation that II
they could be sheep pastures would add
to the grand list and correspondingly
reduce the rates, while the flock master
was more directly benefited.
The dairyman that wants to market
his products in our cities, manufactur.
ing towns and villages would benefit by
less competition, as there are hundreds
of farmers forced into dairying that
would gladly keep sheep if they were let
alone. The competition of this class oi
dairymen, that make milk and butter
because they must, is disastrous in two
ways. Directly. and because the man
that makes butter only because be must
is apt TO make an inferior article, sell il
for what he can get and give consumers
a bad opinion of "dairy butter"
There is still another class, by NO
means small, to be benefited. Connec-
ticut's pastures will grow as fine mutton
and lamb as any connoisseur in these
wholesome meats need ask for, and our
markets might sell such meat if dogs
could be cared for during the night sea-
son. A sensible bill containing such
provision would be indorsed by all own.
ers of valuable dogs. A majority of the
doctors in the general assembly, know.
ing that they are powerless in case OF
rabies, would vote for it. Every lawyer,
realizing that one farmer has as good
right to keep sheep on his farm in Con-
necticut as his neighbor has to keep
dog, and that it is up to the dog owner
not to allow his dog to worry the sheep,
would vote for it. The city merchants,
| manufacturers and professional men,
with an appetite for good mutton, would
vote for it. It would be opposed by
men keeping dogs too worthless to be
cared for, and unfortunately there are
lot of them.-New England Homestead
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-07-23

The Hedges arrived In Whilomville
on n Saturday. and on the following
Monday Johnnie wended his way to
school with note to the principal and
his Jersey city schoolbooks. He knew
perfectly well that he would be told to
buy new aud different books, but In
those days mothers always had an
idea that old books would do" and
they invariably sent boys off to new
school with books which would not
meet the selected and interchangeable
views Of the new administration. The
old books never would do" Then the
boys brought them home to annoyed
mothers and asked for 90 cents or GO
cents or 81 cents or some number Of
cents for another outfit. In the garret
Of every house holding large family
there was q collection Of effete school
books, with mother rebelliOus because
James could not inherit his books from
Paul. who should properly be Peters
heir. while Peter should be Il benefi-
ciary under Henry's will.
But the matter OF the books was not
the measure of Johnnie Hedges IN
happiness. This whole business OF
changing schools was complete tor.
ture. Alone he had to go among new
people, new tribe, and he apprehend.
| ed his serious time. There were only
two fates for him. One meant victory
One meant kind Of serfdom in which
he would subscribe to every word of
Eoue superior boy and support his sv'
cry word. 1t was not anything like
an English system OF tagging. because
boys invariably drifted into the figura.
tive service Of other boys whom they
| devotedly admired, and II they were
obliged to subscribe to everything II
is true that they would have done SO
| freely In any case. One means to sug.
gest that Johnnie Hedge had to find
his place. Willie 'Dalzel was type OF
| the little chieftain, and Willie was q
master, but he was not bully In a
| special physical sense. He did not
drag little boys by the ears until they
cried or make them tearfully fetch
and carry for him. They fetched and
carried, but 1t was because Of their
worship Of his prowess and genius.
And so all through the strata Of boy
life were chieftains and subchieftains
and assistant subchieftains. There was
no question Of little Hedge being tow
ed about by the nose. 1t was, as one
has said. that he had to find his place
| in new school, And this In itself
was a problem which awed his boyish
heart Hc was stranger cast away
upon the moon. None knew him, un'
derstood him. felt for him. He would
be surrounded for this initiative time
by horde Of jackal creatures who
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-07-23

and each scanned the other TO learn
something of his spirit. They were not
angry mt all. They were merely two
little gladiators who were being clam
orously told to hurt each other. Each
displayed hesitation and doubt without
displaying fear. They did not exactly
understand what We're their feelings,
and they moodily kicked the ground
and made low and sullen answers to
Willie Dalzel, who worked like cir
Gus manager.
saw, 20 on, Jim! What's the matter
with you? You amt afraid, are you !!
Well, then, say something" This sen.
timent received more cheering from the
abandoned little wretches who wished
to be entertained, and In this cheering
there could be heard notes Of derlsion
Of Jimmie TrescOtt. The latter had a
position to sustain. He was we'll
known. He often Dragged Of his will
ingness and ability to thrash other
boys. Well. then, here was boy Of
his size who said that he could not
thrash him. What was he going to do
about It? The crowd made these argu-
ments very clear and repeated them
again and again.
Finally Jimmie, driven to aggression,
walked close to the fence and said to
the new boy. The first time l catch
you out of your own yard I'll lam the
head off'n your This was received
with wild plaudIts by the Whilomville
urchns.
But the new boy stepped back from
the fence. He was awed by Jimmie's
formidable mien. But he managed to
get out a semideiant sentence. MAY
be you will. and maybe you won't"
said lie.
However, his short retreat was TAX
en- as practical victory for Jimmie.
and the boys hooted him bitterly. He
remained inside the fence. swinging
one foot and scowlng while Jimmie
was escorted off down the street amid
acclamations. The new boy turned
and walked back toward the house his
face gloomy. lined deep with discour-
agement, Us if he felt that the nav
environments antagOnism and palplblc
cruelty We're sure to prove too much
for him.
The mother of Johnnie Hedge was II
widow, and the chief theory of her lie
was that her boy should be in ScAool
ON the greatest possible nuE be" o.!
days. He him had no sympathy
with this ambition, but she detected
the truth of his diseases with an TN
erring eve. and he was required to be
really i'll before he could win the rich:
to disregard the first bell morning and
noon. The chicken poX and the E'uMpI
had given him neutrality-suspicious. Of
misery. wherein he nearly died be-
tween pain and nursing. But bad colds
in the head did nothing for him. and he
was not able to invent Il satisfactory
hacking cough His mother WAS not
consistently Il tartar. In most th'n.%s
he swayed her to his will. He was al
lowed to have more jam. pickles and
pie than most boys. She respected Ii;
profound bathing of Sunday Sc.:ool.
On summer evenings he could remain
out of doors until $40. but in this mat
ter of school she was inc.Grahlc This
single point in her character was of
steel.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-07-23
innocent (?) white daisy by. rarely
see yellow daisies now, while the white
ones are everywhere present. Was my
early training defective?

The most economical, as we'll as the
certain method of eradicating this, az
we'll as other weeds, is by the keeping
of fair sized flock of sheep on every
farm. With wool around the 30-cents-a.
pound mark, and fat lambs selling at
over 80 hundred weight in carload lots,
there should be no need of argument to
show the benefits of keeping flock OF
sheep, and thus cleaning farm by turn.
ing Objectionable weeds into high priced
wool and mutton.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-07-23
V-OOVO-O-OVCC
: The Fight:
2 BY STEPHEN CRANE.
o Author Of "The Red Badge Of cous.
i ase." Etc.
? Copyright. 1900. bu WILLIAM Ho,rs Crane.
NHOEOEONO=OHOO-OEOHOHONO

"HE child life Of the neighbor-
hood was sometimes moved in
its deeps at the sight Of wagon
4 loads Of furniture arriving in
front OF some house which, with closed
blinds and barred doors, had been for
time mystery or even fear. The
boys often expressed this fear by
stamping bravely and nolsily on the
porch of the house and then suddenly
darting away. with screams Of nerv-
Gus laughter, as If they expected to be
pursued by something uncanny. There
was group who held that the cellar
OF vacant house was certainly the
abode Of robbers, smugglers, assassins,
mysterious masked men In council
about the dim rays of candle and
possessing skulls, emblematic bloody
daggers and owls. Then, near the 1st
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-07-23

If you want to get bountiful second
crop of clover on that field from which
the first cutting has been taken, apply
as soon as the hay is out of the way
two hundred pounds Of nitrate OF soda
to the acre, and watch ont to see the
clover grow. Take much pains to
make the application even on every
part of the ground 30 that every square
foot shall get its share.-Maine Farmer.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-07-23
Realistic.

Bacon-Did you see his picture OF
the snow sh0veler?
Egbert-Yes; very realistic, wasn't 1t ?
Bacon-W'hy. 1t really made me
round shouldered to look at it!-Yon.
kers Statesman.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-07-23

1t seems to me there is no more accu-
rate method of estimating general farm
conditions throughout any section of
country than through keeping ones eyes
and thoughts well occupied while travel
ing by train, for in the final summing up
we will ordinarily be more certain of
right conclusions than il we trust to re-
ports from those most directly interest
ed-the farmers themselves.
There is perhaps much truth in the
oft repeated charge that the farmer is a
chronic grumbler, while in the case of
some We must always reckon with their
habit of boasting over what they claim
| to be doing. But when We see the
growing crops, the orchard, the dairy
cows and other livestock on the farm we
have the truth concerning the whole
matter.
1t must be admitted by all that the
present season is an unusual one, the
mild winter being followed by cold,
backward spring, in which the climax
was reached in a June snowstOrm; but,
unfavorable as weather conditions have
been the present season, they are no
worse than we have experienced in other
years, and still good crops were grown.
When l began business on my own
account I commenced keeping daily
record of transactions and events, in
Guiding weather, and in late years when
things occasionally seemed to me to be
going to the bad l have often found en-
couragement in reading over records of
other seasons where conditions were
found to be still more uufayorable and
yet we were rewarded by abundant har-
vests. Weather conditions seem to be
one of the cases where distance lends
enchantment" and We are too prone to
think the present is more unfavorable
than any other season We have ever ex-
perienced.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-07-23

It is only by labor that thought can
be made healthy, and only by thought
that labor can be made happy.-Rus-
kin.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-07-23

While half blood horses hay do well
enough to work, they should never be
used for breeding purposes.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-07-23
Blood Hunnors

Commonly cause pimples. boils. hives. eczema
or salt rheum. or some other form OF erup'
tion; but sometimes they exist In the system
indicated by feelings Of weakness. languor.
loss Of appetite. or general debility. without
causing any breaking out.
Hoods Sarsapsrilla expels them. renovates,
strengthens and tones the whole system.
This Is the testimony Of thousands annually.
Accept no substitute, but insist on having
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-07-23

The good qualities of horse do no
ell come from the sire.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-07-23
AMONG THE FARMERS.
"sPEED THE PLow."

Correspondence on practical agricultural topics
Is solicited. Address all communications in
tended for this department TO HENRY ID.
HAMMOND, Agricultural Editor oxford Dem
ocrat. Paris, Ne.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-07-23
Seeing Farms from the Train.

A GOOD WAY TO LEARN REAL CON-
DITIoNs AND TO REFLECT ON CAUSES
SOME FARMERS SOMEWHAT INDIE
PENDENT OF THE WEATHER.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-07-23

am surprised that people are SO slow
to appreciate the value of alsike clover.
In several fields l saw from the train
there were low places where the medium
clover had winter killed, and every such
spot is not only cause of loss in the
meadow, but also encourages the growth
of weeds whose seeds are scattered over
other portions of the field to the injury
of future crops. In some fields there
had been sown a mixture Of medium
clover and alsike, and with this mixture
there were no waste places, as the alsike
is naturally at home under conditions in
which medium clover will not thrive;
and with the combination much more
certain growth may be secured. Not
only this, but l think experience in feed
ing the two varieties, mixed, will con-
vince any observing feeder of the greater
value of the mixed clovers.
Evidently our experiment station
bulletins do not find place in every
farmhouse, or else they are not read as
they should be, for never saw better
showing for full crop of wild mustard
than on this trip. 1t almost makes my
back ache now when l think of the days
| spent as a boy in pulling mustard
growing in grain crops. With single
exception, / believe it is the worst weed
we have on the farms; but, thanks to
our station Investigators, backs need not
ache now in Kidding our fields of this
troublesome weed, for good spraying
machine drawn by horse, and solu-
ton of copper sulphste, will entirely de.
stroy the mustard, while it does not in
jure the growing grain.
The esquire" was going to town this
morning, and drove in to finish up the
argument we were having last evening
when he lost his temper. He said it
was impossible to get the help he needs
to work his farm now, and wanted me
to tell him how he could do the extra
work of laying tile drains, spraying po-
tatoes for blight, his growing grain crops
to kill the mustard, and lot of other
newfangled notions farmers are getting
into. He is one of the best neighbors
I've got, and like to argue with him !;
but it's a case of q one hundred acre
man on a two hundred acre farm, and
this combination never works we'll.
It's always safe to be little bigger than
your business.-Frank d. Ward in
Tribune Farmer.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-07-23
A Positive
CURE
Ely's Cream Balm
IS quickly absorbed.
Gives Relief al Once.

uNe1 htllci ~ OnCC.
1t cleanses, soothes
heals and protects
the diseased men,
brane. Il cures Ca
tarrh and drive s
away a Cold in the
Head quickly. Re
stores the Senses OF
fr.a4a a,l Gil L
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-07-23

Taste and Smell. Full size 80 cts, at Drug
gists or by mail; Trial Size 10 cts. by mail.
Ely Brothers, 90 Warren Street. New York
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-07-23

The condition of old meadows is q
strong argument in favor Of short rota-
tion Of crops, as the only fields that now
give promise of even q fair crop are
those newly seeded, and the last week
of June is altogether too late in the
growing season to justify the hope Of
any marked improvement in conditions
of old meadows. In these fields the
weeds have made an excellent growth,
in many cases the weeds constituting
the greater part of the whole, with the
white daisy entirely in the lead. some
fields looking as if this vile weed were
the only thing growing in them. When
was boy 1 spent many long, weary
day In pulling yellow daisies IN the
growing meadows, being told that 1t WAS
Q dangerous weed, and while pulled
ell the yellow ones in sight | passed the
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-07-23

Those best crops | saw from the car
windows recently had not suffered from
excessive moisture. The land had been
in q condition to insure healthy
growth, while other fields were flooded.
The tile drained fields had been in a con-
dition in which cultivation of the grow
ing crops could be carried on and weeds
could be eradicsted, and in this way
such conditions as would tend to
hasten growth and early maturity could
be secured. Not only is the tile drain
of untold benefit in wet seasons, but in
time of extreme drouth the benefit to
the growing crops from thorough sys-
TEN of drainage is greater than is or
dinarily believed, frequently great
enough to repay many times over the in
terest on the original investment. Too
many of us own more land than we can
peoperly care for, and believe that in
future the class of farms that will pay
most satisfactory returns will be the
smaller farms that are cared for in a
better manner.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-07-23
Hoods SarsapariIIa

In usual liquid form or In chocolated tablets
known - oaroatabo. 100 doses ~
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-07-23

Under present unfavorable conditions
there are still many farms where the out
look is good for maximum crops of most
kinds, and, as rule, the results OF the
year in growth of crops will be just
what the man in charge is capable of
making them; and his ability in over
coming adverse conditions will be the
gauge by which the years income will be
measured. So | like to study on the
train, to look over farm after farm as We
ride along, until we hear that pleasant
est of all sounds as the trainman calls
out the name of our own home town.
The squire came over after tea, and
as was talking of our own individual
responsibility in making crops grow un-
der unfavorable conditions, he said he
thought that was unfair, and that a
fellow ought not to be blamed because
corn was yellow and sickly when he was
obliged to plant the second or third time
and when the ground was so wet that
cultivation was impossible. When l
asked him where he found his seed corn
this spring he put on his hat without
any reply and went down to the store to
find more sympathetic company. He
knew | understood all about his having
picked his seed corn from a -neighbor's
crib the day before he planted it. "As
We SOW SO shall ye reap"
On the train recently saw corn ten
inches high, good even stand and we'll
cultivated, while in fields adjoining corn
was small, sickly and there was not
enough standing to justify the use of the
land or the expense of cultivation, and l
saw a score of such varieties. What
made the difference? Figuratvely, it
was the difference in calibre of two
different men, One took things as they
came and cursed the weather; the other
made things as he wanted them, and
grew corn.
The man who carefully selects seed
corn at husking time and hangs the
braided ears in the attic or other dry
place of even temperature through the
winter is rarely obliged to plant second
time. Our latter day habit of depend
ing on the hardware merchant or the
miller for our seed corn is tremendous
handicap. Another thing is impressed
upon me more and more, and that is the
need of tile draining if we are to get best
results from our farms.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-07-23

All have said in regard to the corn
crop will hold as true in the case of
wheat. Some fields promise an abun-
dant harvest, and certain portions Of
other fields make good showing for a
thirty -bushel-an-acre yield, while in
other parts of the same field the amount
harvested will not exceed that of the
seed sown. The expense of cultivation,
fertilizing, seed, interest and other items
of expense in growing the crop were the
same in one case as in the other, while
the difference in income from the vari-
Gus parts of the field would 60 far in
paying all expense of thorough system
of tile drainage, which should be in per-
feet working condition for generations
to come, and during all this time be one
of the most potent factors in insuring
profitable crops of every kind.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-07-23

Western New York has always been
recognized as one of the great bean
growing sections of the country, and
this corp is one of the most profit
able grown here. From present indica-
tions it will be more uniformly good
than any other farm crop this season.
Ordinarily, planting has been done few
weeks later than usual, but favorable
weather for the last two weeks has en-
abled farmers to get their fields into
good condition for planting, and the
growing crop, although planted late, is
uniformly healthy and of vigorous
growth.