davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-07-27
The Soil . Fundamental Asset.

In presenting the 1914 annual report
of the progress of the Wisconsin Agri-
cultural Experiment Station, Dean H.
L. Russell draws attention first to the
study of the foundation Of all agricul-
ture, the soil, in the following words:
The soil Is the great fundamental as
set in our national wealth. Out OF 1t
come life and sustenance for the Whole
world of nature and mankind. Former
ly 1t was customary to look upon 1t
merely as a mass of inert particles, but
we know that 1t Is composed OF the most
complex materials and in place OF being
dead and inert, it is pulsing with myriad
forms of life. These living organisms
act and react, not only on each other,
but on the complex soil particles with
which they come in contact.
The processes of soil formation are
continually In the making. Weathering
is slowly but constantly releasing new
plant food, while at the same time the
processes of depletion, erosion, teaching,
and waste are lessening the value OF this
asset.
To conserve this bank account and to
transmit it unimpaired to future genera
tions, is a duty which the human race
owes to posterity, but as with nearly all
of our natural resources, man has wasted
more than be has used. In earlier years
when knowledge did not exist, or was
imperfectly appreciated, wanton prso-
tices led to rapid depletion or exhaus-
tion. Every virgin area that has been
opened up for settlement by man has
had it's pioneer generation of soil-miners,
but II future human life is to receive
adequate support from the soil, sooner
or later the soil-tiller must quit robbing
the land and feed his soil as he feeds his
f1ocks.
The last decade or two has brought
the American farmer to more complete
than he has ever before
known, of the duty that lies before him.
The lessons that China and Japan learn.
ed thousand years ago or more made
their way slowly toward the occidental
world. Even the teachings Of old Eng
land and the plains of continental Eu-
rope fell Needless on American ears. To
our fathers the so-called inexhaustible
fertility of the magnificent Mississippi
valley could never be used up, but the
declining crop yields of section wheth-
er it is wheat, corn, or cotton, spell les
sening profit and Impairment Of capital.
Science has now shown in no unmis-
taxable terms that as the chain is no
stronger than its weakest link, so the
soil is no richer than its content OF its
most indispensable element. II depict
ed of its potash or phosphorus, whether
by age-long teaching, or more rapid rob-
berry by careless crop production, mat
'ers little. The effect is the same.
Therefore, the fundamental problem is
10 know how to manage our soils so that
not only will they bear fruit, but while
loing so they will also retain their origi-
nal fertility.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-07-27

Hs PropsIIsd Himself Into the Chute
and Shot Down.
were trying to look troubled Mn.
SchoHsld wore a similar expression.
30 did Mr.. Schoaeld 30 did Mr.. VII
liams-
what did she say when she called
you upr' Mrs. Schofed inquired breath
lessly Of Mrs. Williams.
"She could hardly speak at first, and
then when she did talk she talked 30
fast I couldn't understand most Of It,
and
ut was Just the same when she tried
to talk to me-" said Mrs. schohed,
nodding.
81 never did hear any one In such q
state before" continued Mrs. Williams.
$50 furious
"Quite justly, Of course" said Mrs.
Schofield.
"Of course. And she said Penrod
and Sam had enticed Roderick away
from home-usually he's not allowed to
20 outside the yard except with his
tutor or q servant-and had told him
to say that horrible creature was MS
aunt
"How in the world do you suppose
Sam and Penrod ever thought OF such
q thing as that?" exclaimed Mrs. Scho-
field. ut must have been made up just
for their show Della says there were
Just streams going in and out all day.
OF course 1t wouldn't have happened,
but this was the day Margaret and
spend every month In the country
with Aunt Sarah. and didn't dream
"she said one thing thought rather
tactless," interrupted Mrs. Williams.
"Of course we must allow for her be-
ing dreadfully excited and wrought up,
but I do think 1t wasn't quite delicate
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-07-27

htude Of friendnness. OF course, too,
she was curious about the accordion.
It would be dastarily to hint that she
had noticed a paper bag which bulged
the pocket Of Penrod's coat and yst
this bag was undeniably conspicuous
and children are very like grown peo-
pie sometimesw
Penrod brought forth the bag, pur.
chased on the way at drug store
and till this moment unopened, which
expresses in a word the depth Of his
sentiment for Marjorie. It contained
an abundant Is cents worth Of lemon
drops, jawbreakers. hcorice sticks, cin-
samon drops and shopwoen chocolate
creams.
Take all you want" he said, with
offhand generosity.
"why, Penrod Schoheld," exclaimed
the wholly thawed damsel you nice
boyw
"Oh, that's nothin'," he returned
airily. II got a good deal Of money
nowadays"
where from"
"Oh, just aroundw With q cautious
gesture he offered jaw breaker to
Mitchy-AIitch, who snatched It indig.
nantly and set about its absorption
without delay.
"Can you play on that" asked Mar
jorie, with some difficulty, her cheeks
being rather too billy for conversation.
want to hear me"
She nodded, her eyes sweet with an
ticipatiOn.
This was what he had come for. he
threw back his head, lifted his eyes
dreamily, as he had seen real mu-
sicians lift theirs. and distended the
accordion preparing to produce the
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-07-27

Remember that egg feed and growing
feed for very young birds are very simi'
lar. Maintenance feed (that is feed suth'
cient to keep the fowls alive and replace
waste) requires less protein and carbo'
Lydrates but more ash and water In pro-
portion to total amount. Fattenlng ra'
tions must have an excess Of oarbohy.
drates, tie cheapest feed We furnish
birds which makes 1t the more surpris
ing that farmer will sell chickens hap
hazard as gathered though he would be
considered insane II he sold hogs OF
steers without proper fattening.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-07-27

In her, and she's usually the very soul
Of delicacy. She said that ROderick
had never been allowed to associate
with-with common boys"-
Meaning Sam and Penrod," said
Mrs. schofeld. "Yes, she said that to
me too"
"she said that the most awful thing
about It," Mrs. Williams went on.
"was that, though she's going to prose
cute the newspapers, many people
would always believe the story. and
"Yes, imagine they WILL" said Mrs.
schofleld musingly. "Of course you
and and everybody who really knows
the Bits and Magsworth families un-
derstand the perfect absurdity Of It
But 1 suppose there are ever so many
who'll believe 1t, no matter what the
Bittses and Magsworths say"
Hundreds and hundreds! said Mrs.
Williams. "I'm afraid 1t will be a
great comedown for them"
"I'm afraid so," said Mrs. Schof1eld
gently. "a very great one-yes, very,
very great one."
"Well," observed Mrs. Williams after
a thoughtful pause, there's only one
thing to be done, and suppose It had
better be done right away"
She glanced toward the two gentle
men.
Certainly" Mr.. schofleld agreed.
But where are they?"
"Have you looked in the stabler'
asked his wife.
II searched 1t. They've probably
started for the far west"
did you look In the sawdust boxr'
"No, I didn't"
Then that's where they are"
Thus In the early twilight the now
historic stable was approached by two
fathers charged to do the only thing to
be done. They entered the storeroom.
"Penrodw said Mr.. Schofeld.
"sam" said Mr. Williams.
Nothing disturbed the twilight hush.
But by means Of ladder brought
from the carriage house Mr.. schofield
mounted to the top Of the sawdust
box. He looked within and discerned
the dim outlines Of three quiet figures,
the third being that Of small dog.
The two boys rose upon command,
descended the ladder after Mr.. Scho-
field, bringing Duke with them, and
stood before the authors Of their be-
ing, who bent upon them sinister and
threatening brows With hanging heads
and respondent countenances, each still
brnamented with q mustache and an
imperial, Penrod and Sam awaited
sentence.
This is a boys lot: Anything he does,
anything whatever, may afterwan
turn out to have been q crime-he new
er knows.
And punishment and clemency are
alike inexpncable.
Mr.. Williams took his son by the ear.
"You march bomer' he commanded.
sam marched, not looking back, and
bis father followed the small figure
lmplacably.
"You goin' to whip me2" Quavered
Penrod, alone with justice.
wash your face at that hydrant," i"
said bis father sternly.
About fifteen minutes later Penrod.
hurriedly entering the corner drug
store, two blocks distant, was aston
lshed to perceive a familiar form at
the soda counter.
"Yay, Penrod," said Sam Williams,
"want some sody? Come on. BE
didn't lick me. He didn't do anything
to me at all. He gave me quarter"
"SO'd mine, said Penrod.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-07-27

In nfe-for a boy. The last
term Of the school year Is
made of decades, not OF weeks,
and living through them Is like wait
Ing for the millennium. But they DO
pass somehow, and at last there came
a day when Penrod was one OF group
that capered out from the graveled
yard of ward school No. 7, carroling
leavetaking Of the institution, OF their
instructress and not even forgetting
Mr.. Capps, the Janitor.
Goodbye, teacher! Goodbye, school!
Goodbye. Cappsie, dern old foolf'
Penrod sang the loudest For every
boy there Is an age when he "hnds his
voice" Penrod's had not changed
but he had found It Inevitably that
thing had come upon his family and
the neighbors, and his father, some
what dyspeptic man, quoted frequently
the expressive words Of the Lady OF
shalott," but there were others whose
sufrerings were as poignant
Vacation time warmed the young OF
the world to pleasant languor, and q
morning came that was like brightly
colored picture in a child's fairy story.
Miss Margaret Schofield, reclining In
hammock upon the front porch, was
beautiful III the eyes Of newly made
senior, we'll favored and In fair raj
ment, beside her. A guitar rested light
ly upon his knee, and he was trying to
play, a matter Of some difficulty, as the
floor Of the porch also seemed inclined
to be musical. From directly under his
feet came a voice Of song, shrill, loud,
Incredibly piercing and incredibly fat
dwelling upon each syllable with In
comprehensible reluctance to leave It,
1T have lands and earthly pow-wur.
I'd give all for q now-wur.
whilst setting at my-y-y dear old moth
ers knee-ee,
5000 rem-mem-bur whilst you're
young
Miss schofield stamped heartily upon
the musical floor.
"It's Penrod," she explained. "The
lattice at the end Of the porch is loose,
and he crawls under and comes out all
bugs. He's been having a dreadful
singing fit lately-running away to pic
ture shows and vaudeville. I suppose
Mr.. Robert Williams looked upon her
yearningly. He touched u thrilling
chord on his guitar and leaned nearer.
"But you said you have missed me-"
he began. "1"-
The voice Of Penrod drowned all 9TH
er sounds.
5000 rem-mem-bur, whi-i-ilst you're
young.
That the da-a-ys to you will come
When you're o-o-old and only in the way.
Do not scoff at them bee-cause'-
"Penrodw Miss schofeld stamped
again. =.
"You did say you'd missed me-" said
Mr.. Robert Williams, seizing hurried
" upon the silence. Didn't you say
A livelier tune rose upward.
"oh, you talk about your fascinating
OF YOUR -zsils, your bellies.
Rnt the littil dame met while In the
city,
She's par excellaws the queen Of all
the swells.
She's sweeter far
Margaret rose and jumped up and
down repeatedly in well calculated
area, whereupon the voice OF Penroo
cried chokedly, "Quit that" and there
were subterranean coughings ana
sneezings.
"You want to choke a person to
death7" he inquired severely, appear
ing at the end Of the porch, cobweb
upon his brow. And, continuing, ne
put into practice a newly acquired
phrase, you better learn to be more
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-07-27

In warm climates, or as summer feed
In colder regions, good mash for young
fowls consists of FIVE parts wheat bran,
eight parts clover or alfalfa (simply
chopped If green, steamed II dry), two
parts ground oats, one part corn meal,
one teaspoopful salt to each half gallon.
Two and a-half parts liquid to one part
of the dry mixture. 1t 10 preferable
that the water be hot and mixture cover.
cd, to permit steamlng and swelling for
few hours.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-07-27

NOTICE.
In the District Court Of the United States for
the District Of Maine. In Bankruptcy.
In the matter of
of Rumford, Bankrupt.
To the creditors of r. D. Walker Co. In the
County of Oxford and district aforesaid:
Notice Is hereby given that on the 10th day oi
July A. ID. 1918, the said +. D. Walker Co
WAS duly adjudicated bankrupt, and that the first
meeting Of its creditors will be held at the Office
OF the Referee, No. 8 Market Square, South
Paris, Maine, on the 4th day Of Aug, A. d. 1915
at 10 O'Clock In the forenoon. at which time thu
ssid creditors may attend. prove their claims
appoint a trustee, examine the bankrupt. anc
transact such other business a. may properly
come before said meeting.
South Paris, July 10, 1915.
WALTER L. GRAY,
sssO Referee In Bankruptcy.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-07-27

The man who is continually changing
his ideas in the management Of his poul-
try, not sticking to one system, and
working that for all that 1t is worth,
never satisfied with the breed, but con-
tinually changing, is the man who never
succeeds. The late Francis A. Mortimer
once said that II man will take up q
single breed and use every effort to per-
feet 1t and get the most good out oft, be
will spend q whole lifetime. Therefore,
the man who continually changeu, who is
led by every new breed Invention, is the
man who is always In the back seat.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-07-27

wonderful calhike noise which was
the instruments great charm. But the
distentiOn evoked long wall which
was at once drowned in another one.
low! Owowaoh. WowOhah! Waow'
wow! shrieked Mitchy Mitch and the
accordion together.
Mitchy- Mitch, to emphasize bis dis
approval Of the accordion, opening bis
mouth still wider, lost therefrom the
Jaw breaker, which rolled In the dust.
Weeping, he stopped to retrieve It, and
Marjorie, to prevent him, hastily set
her foot upon 1T. Penrod offered an
other jaw breaker, but Mitchy-Mitch
struck 1t from his hand, desiring the
former, which had convinced him OF
its sweetness.
Marjorie moved inadvertently. where
upon Mitchy- Mitch pounced upon the
remains of his jaw breaker and restor'
ed them, with accretions, to his mouth.
His sister, uttering q cry Of horror,
sprang to the rescue, assisted by zen.
rod. whom she prevailed upon to hold
Mitchy.M .Mitch's mouth open while she
excavated.
This delicate operation being COM
pleted and Penrod's right thumb So
verely bitten, Mitchy.Mitch closed nus
eyes tightly, stamped, squealed, below
ed wrung his hands and then, unex'
pectedly, kicked Penrod again.
Penrod put hand In bis pocket ana
drew forth u copper two cent piece.
large, roulld and fairly bright.
He gave it to Mitchy-Mitch.
Mitchy- Mitch Immediately stopped
crying and gazed upon his benefactof
with the eyes Of q dog.
This world!
Thereafter did Penrod-with COM
plete approval from Mitchy -Mtch-piay
the accordion for his lady to bis hearts
content, and hers. Never had he 30
won upon her. Never had she let him
feel so close to her before. They stIo..'
ed up and down upon the sidewalk,
eating, one thought between them, ana
soon she had learned to play the ae-
Gordon almost as well as he. 30 pass
ed happy hour, which the Good King
Rene of Anjou would have envied
them, while Mitchy Mitch made friends
with Duke, romped about his sister
and her swain, and clung to the hand
of the latter, at intervals. with fondest
affection and trust.
The noon whistles failed to disturb
this little Already. Only the sound OF
Mrs. Jones voice-for the third time
summoning Marjorie and Mitchy.Mitch
to lunch-sent Penrod on his homsward
way.
"1 could come back this afternoon"
he said in parting.
"Tm not goin' to be here. I'm goin'
to Baby Rennsdale's party"
Penrod looked blank. as she INTENDED
he should. Having thus satisfied her
self, she added:
.There aren't goin' to b any boys
thOe."
He was instantly radiant again.
! MargOrle-
"HumT
"Do you wish I was goin' to be
thereT
She looked shy and turned away hea
head.
Marjorie Jones!' This was q voice
from home)
"How many more times shall I have
70 call your
Marjorie moved away, her facs stu
hidden from Penrod.
do your he urged.
At the gate she turned quickly 10.
ward him and said over her shoulder,
all in a breath: "Yes; come again to.
morrow morning and I'll be on the cor.
ner. Bring your 'cordionr'
And she ran into the house, Mitchy.
Mitch waving loving hand to the boy
on the sidewalk until the front door
closed.
(To be Contihued.)
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-07-27

The question is often asked: "What
does it cost to feed fowl yearP" The
writer we'll remembers when he could
feed flock at cost Of not more than
one dollar per head. Then as feed In.
creased In price, It became impossible to
keep hen for less than 10 cents q
month, or s1.20 per year. At the pres
mt time, carefully kept accounts show
that Is cents per month or $3.50 per
year, ID the cost.-Ex.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-07-27

Every egg-laying contest is worthy the
farmers attention., II 10 this testing OF
utility qualifications which gives tho
wisdom to make poultry better paying
Investment on the farm - elsewhere.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-07-27
HUNG

Megaphones were constructed out OF
heavy wrapping paper, and Penrod,
Sam and Herman set out In different
directions, delivering vocally the in
flammatory proclamation Of the poster
to a large section Of the residential
quarter and leaving Roderick Mags-
worth Bits, Jr., with verman In the
loft, shielded from all deadhead eyes.
Upon the return Of the heralds the
schofield & Williams military band
played deafeningly, and an awakened
public once more thronged to Ill the
Golfers OF the nrm.
Prosperity smiled again. The very
first audience after the acquisition OF
Roderick was larger than the largest
sf the morning. Master Btts, the only
exhibit placed upon box. was Q super
curio. All eyes fastened upon him and
remained, hungrily feasting. through
out Penrod's luminous oratiou.
But the glory Of one Light must ever
be the dimming Of another. We dwell
In q vale Of seesaws, and cobwebs spin
fastest upon laurel. verman, the tat
tooed wild boy, speaking only In his
native foreign languages, verman the
gay, Verman the caperer, capered no
more, he chuckled no more, he beck
oned no more nor tapped his chest nor
wreathed his idolatrous face In smiles.
Gone, all gone, were his little artifces
for attracting the general attention to
himself. Gone was every engaging
mannerlsm which had endeared him to
the mercurial public. He squatted
against the wall and glowered at the
new sensation. It was the old story
the old, old story-of too much temper
ament. Verman was suffering from
artistic jealousy.
The second audience contained cash
paying adult, a spectacled young man
whose poignant attention was very
.fattering. He remained after the lee
ture and put few questions to Rod
dy, which were answered rather con-
fusedly upon promptings from Penrod.
The young man went away without
having stated the object Of his interro-
cations, but 1t became quito plain later
in the day. This same object caused
the spectacled young man to make
several brief but stimulating calls d.
rectly after leaving the Schoheld &
Williams Big Show, and the conse-
Quences thereof loltered not by the
wayside.
The Big Show was at high tide. Not
only was the auditorium filed and
throbbing; there was an immense line,
by no means wholly Juvenile, waiting
for admission to the next pu6ormance.
! A group stood in the street examining
the poster earnestly a. It glowed In
the long, slantins rays Of the west.
ward sun, and people In automobiles
and other vehicles had halted wheel IN
the street to read the messags %
paquantly given to the world. These
Ysgs ~ eqpdttaoqs wAR . ezegf1d
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-07-27

Tim says that It 10 all right to dream
noble deeds all day long, but don't let 1t
keep you from doing the chores.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-07-27
Watch Your Children

Often children do not let parents know
they are constipated. They fear some:
thing distasteful. They will like Rexail
Orderlies-a mild laxative that tastes
Ike sugas. Sold only by u. 10 cepta
chss. n, Howard c..
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-07-27

Don't take 1t for granted that because
the hens are out around the farm they
can get all the grit they need.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-07-27
Desirable Residence
For Sale
in Buckfield Village.

Known as the late Kimball Prince
Homestead. Contains Is acres in
tillage and pasture, large house and
stable. Fine location. Price and
terms very reasonable. For particu-
lars inquire of Geo H. Hersey, own
er, St. Albans, Vermont. Property
will be shown by Fred A. Taylor,
Buck6eld, Maine.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-07-27
AMONG THE FARMERS.
"sPEED THE PLow."

Correspondence on practical agricultural topic,
is solicited. Address all communications In
tended for this department to HENRY ID.
HAMMOND, Agricultural Editor Oxford Dem
ocrat. Paris. He.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-07-27
CHAPTER X.

Retiring From the Show Business.
- ILENCE followed. Sam and Pen
rod, spellbound, gazed upon
~ ROderick Magsworth Bits, Jr.
So did Herman and Verman.
Roddy's staggering lie had changed
the face Of things utterly. No one
questioned 1t; no one realized that It
was much too good to be true.
"Roddy," said Penrod In voice
tremulous with hope. "Roddy, will you
Join our shown
Roddy Joined.
Even he could see that the offer I'm
piled his being starred as the para
mount attraction Of new order Of
things. 1t was obvious that he had
swelled out suddenly, In the estimation
Of the other boys, to that Importance
which he had been taught to believe
his native gift and natural right. The
sensation was pleasant He had often
been treated with enusion by grownup
callers and by acQuaintances Of his
mother and sisters. He had heard Ia
dies speak of him as charming" and
''that delightful child" and little girls
had sometimes shown him Difference,
but until this moment no boy had ever
allowed him for one moment to pre-
sumo even to equality. Now, In a trice
he was not only admitted to comrade-
ship. but patiently valued as something
rare and sacred, to be acclaimed and
pedestaled. In fact the very first
thing that Schoneld & Williams did
was to find a box for him to stand
upon.
The misgivings reused in Roderick's
bosom by the subsequent activities Of
the firm were not bothersome enough
to make him forego his prominence as
Exhibit A. He was not quick
minded" boy, and 1t was long and
much happened before he thoroughly
comprehended the causes Of his new
celebrity. He had shadowy feeling
that If the affair came to be heard Of
at home 1t might not be liked, but, In
toxicated by the glamour and hustle
which surround a public character, he
made no protest. On the contrary, he
entered whole heartedly into the prep
arations for the new show. Assuming,
with Sans assistance. blue mustache
and "sideburns," he helped In the
painting Of new poster, which. sup
planting the old one on the wall Of the
stable facing the cross street, screamed
bloody murder at the passeps In that
rather populous thorOughfare:
SCIoFiELD & WILLIAMS
NEW BIG SHOW
RODERiCK MAGSWORTH BITS JR
ONLY LIVING NEPHEW