davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1917-12-22

II leave the money sacks ana the
women alone in the house for US to
handle"
Boston" interrupted Whistling
Dick, rising to his feet, "t'anks for de
grub yous fellers hes given me, but III
be movin' on now. Burglary is no
good. I'll say good night and many
tanks fer"
Whistling Dick had moved away a
few steps as he spoke. but he stopped
very suddenly. Boston had covered
him with a short revolver OF roomy
caliber.
"Take your seat" said the tramp
leader "Td feel mighty proud Of my
self If / let you go and spoil the game.
You'll stick right in this camp until
we finish the job. The end Of that
brick pile is your limit. You 60 two
inches beyond that and I'll have to
shoot. Better take it easy, now"
Its my way Of doin'," said Whts-
Ting Dick. Easy goes. You can de-
press de muzzle Of dat twelve incher
and run 'er back on de trucks. re-
mains"
"All right said Boston, lowering his
piece, as the other returned and took
his seat again on projecting plank in
a pile Of timber. Il don't want to hurt
anybody specially, but this thousand
dollars I'm going to get will fix me for
fair. Tn going to drop the road and
start saloon in little town l know
about. I'm tired Of being kicked
around"
Boston Harry took from his pocket a
cheap silver watch and held 1t near
the fire.
TITS quarter to nine," he said.
"Pete, you and Blinky start. Go down
the road past the house and fire the
cane in dozen places. Then strike for
the levee and come back on 1t instead
I Of the road, so you won't meet any
body. BY the time you get back the
men will all be striking out for the fire.
and we'll break for the house and col
lar the dollars. Everybody cough up
what matches he's got"
! OF the three remaining vagrats, two,
Goggles and Indiana Tom, reclined
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1917-12-22

lazily upon convenient lumber and re-
garded Whistling Dick with undis.
guised disfavor.
IBIS planter chap" Dick said, CIV
makes yer t'ink he's got de tin IL
house wi 'm?"
I'm advised OF the facts l.
case," said Boston. HE drove $50
Orleans and got 1t, say, today ant
to change your mind now an,. ,olne
in?''
NAV, was just askin'. Wot kind
O. team lid de boss driver
"Pair Of grays."
Double surrey?"
"yep."
"Women folks alOng?"
"Wife and kid. Say, what morning
paper are you trying to pump news
for?''
Il was just conversin' to pass de time
away. l guess dat team passed me In
de road dis evenin'. OATS ALL
Dinner, two hours late, was being
served In the Bellemeade plantation
dining room.
The talk of the diners was too desul-
tory, too evanescent to follow, but at
last they came to the subject Of the
tramp nuisance, one that had Of late
vexed the plantations for many miles
around The planter seized the occa-
sion to direct his good-natured fire Of
raillery at the mistress, accusing her
81 encouraging the plague.
Il don't believe they are all bad"
she said. 1--WE passed one this evening
as we were driving home who had a
face as good as 1t was incompetent.
He was whistling the intermezzo FROM
'Cayalleria' and blowing the spirit NJ
Mascagni himself into It"
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1917-12-22

A br1ght-eyed young girl who sat at
the left Of the mistress leaned over
and said In a confidential undertone:
II wonder, mamma, II that tramp we
passed on the road found my stocking.
And do you think he will hang 1t up
tonight"
The words Of the young girl were
interrupted by a startling thing.
Like the wrath Of some burned-out
shooting star, black streak came
crashing through the windowpane and
upon the table, where 1t shivered into
fragments a dozen pieces Of crystal
and china ware.
The woman screamed In many keys,
and the men sprang to their feet.
The planter was the first to act. He
sprang to the intruding missile and
held 1t up to view. Its loaded" he
announced.
As he spoke he reversed long, black
stocking, holding it by the toe. and
down from it dropped rOundish stone
wrapped about by piece Of yellowish
paper. "Now for the first interstellar
message of the century " he cried, and,
nodding to the company, who had
crowded about him, he adjusted his
glasses with provoking elaboration
and examined it closely. When he
finished he had changed from the jolly
host to the practical, decisive man Of
business. He Immediately struck q
bell and said to the silent-fOoted Mu-
latto man who responded: go and tell
Mr.. Wesley to get Reeves and Maurice
and about ten stout hands they can
rely upon and come to the hall door
at once. Tell him to have the men
arm themselves and bring plenty Of
ropes and plow lines. Tell him to
hurry" And then he read aloud from
the paper these words:
To de Gent Of de Hous:
T Dere Is five tuR hoboes kept meself IN
de vaken lot near de road war de old brick
! piles IL. Dey got me stuck up Wild . gun
see and I taken dis means OF commune
katen. 2 of der lads Is gone down to set
| dre to dc cain field below de hous ana
when yous fellers goes to turn Dc hoes on
| II de hole gang 10 goin to rob do hous OF
de money 700 gotto pay OF Wit say ct .
move on We say de kid dropt dis sock In
der rode tel her merry crismus Dc same -
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1917-12-22
.Whisding Dicks
Christmas Stocking
By o. HENRY
Copyright By Doubleday. Psss . %.


TT was with much caution that
Whistling Dick slid back the door
Of the box car. for article SIZE. city
ordinances, authorized (perhaps un-
constitutionally) arrest on suspicion.
He saw no change since his last visit
to this big almsgiving, long-sufferlng
city Of the South, the cold weather
paradise Of the tramps. Whistling
Dicks red head popped suddenly back
into the car. A sight too imposing and
magnificent for his gaze had been add
ed to the scene. A vast, Incompatible
policeman rounded pile Of rice sacks
and stood within 20 yards Of the car.
Whistling Dick, professional tramp,
possessed half friendly acquaintance
with this officer. They had met sew
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1917-12-22

eral times before on the levee at night,
for the officer, himself lover Of mu-
sic, had been attracted by the exQui-
site whistling Of the shiftless vaga-
bond. Still he did not care under the
present circumstances to renew the &C
quaintance. So Dick waited, and be-
fore long Big Fritz" disappeared.
Whistling Dick waited as long as his
judgment advised and then slid swiftly
to the ground. As he picked his way
where night still fingered among the
big, reeking, musty warehouses he
gave way to the habit that had won
for him his title. Subdued, yet clear,
with each note as true and liquid as a
bobolink's, his whistle tinkled about
the dim, cold mountains Of brick like
drops Of rain falling into hidden pool.
Rounding a corner, the whistler col
lided with big Fritz"
80" observed the mountain calmly.
you are already pack. Und dere Will
not pc frost before two weeks vet. Und
you hat forgotten how to vistle. Dere
was a yalse note in dot last bar"
Big Fritz's heavy mustac''a rounded
into Il circle, and from its depths came
sound deep and mellow as that from
flute. He repeated few bars OF the
air the tramp had been whistling.
dot p is p natural. und not p vlat.
~ der way, you peter pc glad meet
you. Won hour later, und would half
to put you in a gage to vistle NIT der
chail pirds. Der orders are to bull all
der pums after sunrise. Goot pye."
After the big policeman had depart
ed Whistling Dick stood for an irreso-
lutte minute, feeling all the outraged
indignation of a delinquent tenant who
Is ordered to vacate his premises. He
had pictured to himself a day of
dreamful ease, but here was stern
order to exile and one that he knew
must be obeyed. So, with wary eye
open for the CLEAN Of brass buttons, he
began his retreat toward a rural
refuge. A few days In the country
need not necessarily prove disastrous.
However, 1t was with q depressed
shirt that Whistllng Dick passed the
old French market on his chosen route
down the river. For safety's sake he
still presented to the world his por'
trayal Of the part Of the worthy artis-
an on his way to labor. A stall keeper
in the market, undeceived, hailed him
| by the generic name Of his ilk. and
"Jack" halted, taken by surprise. The
vender, melted by this proof Of his
own acuteness, bestowed foot OF
frankfurter and half loaf, and thus
| the problem Of breakfast was solved.
BY noon he had reached the country
Of the plantations, the great. sad. 81.
! lent levels bordering the mighty river
He overlooked fields of sugar cane 81
| vast that their farthest limits melted
into the sky. The sugar-making season
1 was well advanced, and the cutters
were ut work.
At certain point Whistlhg DICKS
unerring nose caught the scent Of fry
ing fish. Like a pointer to quail. he
made his way down the levee side
straight to the camp Of 4 credulous
and ancient fisherman, whom b
charmed with song and story, 10 that
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1917-12-22

this, for a terror urged him such az
lifts the gazelle over the thorn bush
when the lion pursues. A crash through
the dew drenched weeds on the road
side, a clutching, slippery rush up the
grassy side of the levee to the foot
path at the summit, and he was free!
A small, ruhled, brown-breasted bird
sitting upon dogwood sapling began
q soft, throaty, tender little piping in
praise Of the dew which entices foolish
worms from their holes, but suddenly
1t stopped and sat with its head turned
sidewise, listening. And the little
brown bird sat with Its head on one
side until the sound Of whistling died
away.
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1917-12-22

tarts?' And there was Miss Beth
Granger with a plate Of mince tarts.
"Oh. thank your gasped Amy as she
took one.
"Wait a moment and Annie viii
wrap 1t in paper napkin so you can
carry 1t home," said Miss Beth as she
pressed button for the maid. But
when Annie came with the paper nap
kin, which was all gay with holly and
Christmas bells, Miss Ruth put all the
mince tarts in it anG gave it to Amy.
ooh, thank you so much!" repeated
Amy, thinking how her mother would
enjoy the tarts. .Mother sent the
Dress"
my sister is trying 1t on" said Miss
Beth. "Wait a moment, Amy. and !
will get the money for you"
She had just disappeared when Miss
Lucy Granger came busting through
the hall. II wonder If you would mail
these little packages for me, Amy"
she said. II am SO provoked because
have used up my Christmas SEALS"
"Of course l will mail the packages.
Miss Lucy" said Amy; then she added
shyIy, IL have some Christmas seals
II you would like them"
"You have? How very fortunateI"
Amy told her about the seals and
how she had been unable to sell even
one Of them. To her great Joy Miss
Lucy bought the whole twenty-five and
put the money In Amy's pocketbook.
together with bright silver quarter
for herself. II hope you win have q
very happy Christmas, DEAR" Miss
Lucy said.
The next day Amy took the Req
Cross money to her teacher, and Miss
Smith told her she had done very well.
Early Christmas morning the Gran
ger auto car stopped before the Wells
door. and the chauffeur brought in
great basket for Mrs. Wells. There
was new dress for Amy, with warm
cloak for her mother, besides cunning
doll The bottom of the basket was
| filed with good things to eat.
my Christmas week began with
tears" laughed Amy as bright drops
fell on her round cheeks, "and 1t u
ending In tears tool"
"Tears Of happiness, darling" said
her mother.
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1917-12-22

before Christ
mas, and little
Amy Wells was so
happy. The teach
err had given her
some Red Cross
seals to sell, and
when Miss Smith
had distributed
the red and white
and green seals
among her schOl-
ars she had ex-
planned to them
all about the pur-
pose of the Red
Cross society and
how the money
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1917-12-22
Christmas Seals
By CLARiSSA MACKIE

L was only few days
before Christ
Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1917-03-02

billiard lonely
servitOrs
the chair that had been
O i a
ivory when woofI
had snatched 1t.
Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1917-03-02
SPREAD BARN MANURE DAILY
Under Best of Circumstances Some
Loss Is Sure to Occur-Work
Into Soil by Disking.

Much loss of plant food occurs every
year from loss of manure. Those who
feed in pastures of course lose much
of the manure from their animals, I'M
less 1t is possible to bring the pasture
into cultivation. Manure that Is piled
is likely to deteriOrate rapidly unless
special care is taken in handling it.
Even under the best of circum-
stances some loss Is sure to occur, but
II should be reduced as low as pos
sible. This may be done by feeding
under cover or on earth floor or still
better upon a cement floor.
Probably one other method excels
this and that is one which allows the
droppings to be deposited in the field
where they are so scattered that no
heating or fermentation can take place,
and all plant food which is leached out
goes directly into the soil. Much of
the advantage Of this method is lost
in case Of steep hillsides. In case of
dairy cows, hauling the manure to the
field daily with spreader, where this
can be done. allows of very little loss.
After the manure has been scattered
evenly and thinly by the spreader or
by hand care should be taken to see
that it is worked into the soil by disk
ing or plowing under soon enough SO
that it will decay. Undecayed straw In
the manure may help to prevent loss
by soil washing, but in dry seasons
unless plowed under early. it may leave
the soil SO open that it will dry too
rapidly, to the detriment of the crop.
Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1917-03-02
MAKING REPAIRS IN WINTER
Build and Equip-PIace to Work
During Severe Weather.

While the weather Is cool and other
wise disagreeable try to find work to
do under shelter. Usually there will
be stalls at the barn to clean; manure
may have accumulated so it should be
piled to be hauled as soon as the
weather is suitable. The harness may
need Oiling or mending; implements
may need slight repairs.
Those who have farm shops have a
place to work in bad weather when the
hands cannot work I'm the fields. 1t
does not cost much to build and equip
small shop where repairs may be
made and they are worth much to the
farm.
Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1917-03-02
MANS GREATEST BENEFAcToR-THE COW.

made, the charge is S1.5O month for
each COW, and in addition the board
of the tester for one day each month.
With feed, labor, and live stock so
high, 1t certainly is imperative to
eliminate every unnecessary expense
like the "bOarder" or ''rObber" cow
that fails to pay for even her feed.
In the big room at the dairy show
where the cows were sanctioned were
several hundred comfortable seats.
Here several times each day we'll
known dairymen from various parts or
the country talked to the large audi
ences on dairy problems, illustrating
their remarks with the cows OF the
demonstration herd. Especial empha-
sis was laid upon the value of rec
Ords in economical management.
Bull Associations.
Cooperative bull associations were
carefully described and their many
advantages explained. That it was
possible to have high-class bulls of the
finest breeding for the use of dairy
man with only a few cows seemed to
many farmers as too good to be true,
especially when the cost was even
less than in the case of scrub bulls.
In this connection the charts that IL
Illustrated the conditions at Roland, Ia,
before and after the organization Of
bull association, elected much inter-
est. At that place, for yearly in
vestment of $3.50 each. the members
have the use of five $40 bulls for ten
years.
On the walls of the demonstration
room were pictures of famous dairy
animals, charts showing results Of
record keeping, etc. Adjoining were
sides only partially finished, to show
the construction; also model of
dairy barn and of q silo. In the milk
houses was dairy equipment, and a
man in charge answered questions on
dairying and explained the construc-
ton of these and all other kinds Of
dairy buildings.
At regular periods demonstrations
in the sterilization Of milk utensils
were given with the inexpensive farm
sterilizer described in Farmers Bull
letin 748; these demonstrations were
well attended.
There was also keen interest in
every part of the demonstrations, as
may be judged from the fact that
about 5000 people listened to lectures
and fully $4,000 viewed the exhibits.
Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1917-03-02

class were Nos. and 9. Many expert
enced sOtckmen selected No. 9 as the
better of the two, but the records
showed that for the last year No. 8
gave S,445 pounds of milk and 346 Of
fat compared with 4,279 pounds Of
milk and 1913 of fat for No. o. This
served as an object lesson to the hun
dreds of people who daily viewed the
demonstration that good dairy type is
not always associated with large pro-
duction and that poor dairy type does
not indicate lack of large yield.
Cost Of Records.
"What does 1T cost to keep records p
was a common question Of the dairy
men. In cOw-testing associations,
where the abOve-quOted records were
Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1917-03-02

similar then
which himself without counsel
o a
because Fifth
humb He said that he didn't know he speaking the
he refused the traffic Also he rather navey
individual
apology permitted him
go q
authority conduct preliminary
a decision which
bench
Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1917-03-02

The South American bird-eating spi-
der is as big as mouse, and
its furred feet are so formed that it
can walk up glass with practically no
difficulty.
Bohemian brewers have perfected a
process that natures beer and makes
it ready for use in from to u days,
instead Of the usual three months.
A Minneapolis restaurant robbed
the other night, was found next day
to have suffered only in the bean sup
ply, due probably to that commodity
high price.
Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1917-03-02

From the United States Department of
Agriculture)
That the appearance of dairy cow
cannot be depended on to indicate her
production of milk is illustrated by a
demonstration conducted under the
auspices of the dairy divis' / Of the
department with a herd of nine cows
at the National Dairy Show held re-
Gently at Springfield, Mass.
A years record Of milk and butter
fat already had been made for all the
cows of the herd. During the show
complete records of production and
feed consumption were kept and in
every case the previous records were
duplicated Some of the cows were
of poor dairy type, yet were good pro-
ducers; others were of good dairy
type, yet were poor producers: still
others of similar appearance had great
ly different records. OF the last-named
Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1917-03-02

40 chest
normal 3 expanded 3s nches thigh % hes calf 10 nches bcep
16 and waist 81 inches
be feared
unusual his
mail, following this revelation
Ledke offers few suggestions
to physical perfection
s advises:
plenty outdoor exercise
Go to sleep rise early
jumping punching
boxing and handbalL
Swimming that otherwise called
Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1917-03-02
TAKEN FROM EXCHANGES

Sheep that are used as beasts OF
burden in northern India carry loads
Of 20 pounds.
There is enough salt In the oceans
to cover the United States to depth
Of $500 feet.
A complete bed for infants has been
invented that can be folded fiat for
easy carrying.
A German colliery has installed a
canteen 500 feet below ground to save
its miners time.
Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1917-03-02
Beware of Wobblirc.

If you decided yesterday. after sane.
unprecedented thinking. that it was bet
ter for your boy or girl not to do a
certain thing, stick to it! Do not
decide hastily; give the children the
benefit of every doubt; don't expect
them 10 look upon life from your point
Of view, but, when you have carefully
considered and have decided what is
best for the child, don't wObble! There
is no Job in the world which requires
such decision, such sustained effort as
being q mother.
Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1917-03-02
APPLY LIME AFTER FLOWING
This Should Be Done Three or Four
Weeks Before Seeding Alfalfa to
Work Il Into Soil.

Lime should be applied after plow-
ing, and preferably three or four
weeks before seeding alfalfa, In order
that it may become from frequent har-
rOwings thoroughly Incorporated with
the SOIL
1t is often practicable, especially
when using ground limestone, to apply
the lime to the crop preceding, in or
der that there may be time for 1t to
become thoroughly available for the
alfalfa.
Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1917-03-02
Up-to-Date DamseI.

at is no use trying To get away from
the solemn fact that the woman of to-
day is a most practical and resource
full creature" said the man who has
known n few.
'What makes you think SOT' a
friend asked.
1.-The unsentimental attitude of girl
know. told her that shehad inspired
some of my best poems. She didn't say
a word about the poems, but she wrote
to my publishers for a percentage of
the royalties"
Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1917-03-02

OF per1ectIOn TOT OtnerS OF MS SEX.
Alfred r. Liedtke, twenty years
old, $50 Keefe avenue, is the possess
sor Of the physique perfect. His claims
to physical perfection are not made by
himself, for he is rather backward
about things Of so personal nature.
But c. S. Minter, physical director
for the Y. NJ. G. A., Is authority for
the declaration that the masculine
perfect thirty-six" is personified by
the Keefe avenue youth.
Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1917-03-02
MILLIONS TO HELP FARMERS
Agricultural Colleges and Experiment
Stations Devoted to Development
Of Agriculture.

Sixty-seven state agricultural col
leges and experiment stations are de-
voted to the development of agricul-
ture. Their endowment. plant and
equipment amount to S160.0OO.OOO.
They have an income of more than
100000, with $500 teachers and
q resident student body of over 1900.
Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1917-03-02
KEEP HARNESS IN CONDITION
Oil Protects Leather From Water
All Kinds of Weather and Make
II More PIiabIe.

To keep harness in the best possible
condition apply oil frequently. Oil
protects the harness from water and
all kinds of weather, and makes IL
more pliable. The farmer puts oil on
harness for the same reason that he
puts it on his boots. 1t sOftens the
leather, making it wear longer, pre-
vents water from rotting 1t, and keeps
the leather from getting hard and
cracking.
Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1917-03-02
Cautious Elimination

Father" said the small boy, "what
is freebooter"
Il don't know exactly, my son. But
l will say that with leather costing
what 1t does, you want to get your
mind away from any idea that a free
booter is man who sells shoes for
nothing"
Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1917-03-02
SANITARY WORK IN ORCHARD
Much May Be Done During Winter to
Get Rid of Insect Pests and Many
Other Crop Troubles.

If proper sanitary measures are TAX
en- during the winter, much may be
done to rid the orchard of diseases. in
sect enemies and other troubles, which
will go far toward securing better suh.
sequent crops.
Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1917-03-02
PREPARE FOR COLD WEATHER
Wintry Winds Must Be Prevented
From Entering Poultry House,
Pig Pens and Barns.

Preparation is necessary for every
season, but winter more particularly
than any other. Wintry winds must
be prevented from entering the poul-
try house, the pig pen, the horse and
cow stable and the dwelling house
itself.
Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1917-03-02
Educational.

Australia has placed an embargo on
parchment, which is made of sheep
skin. A lot of our meritorious students
are not going to be able to graduate
next year on account of the high price
of diplOmas.-Cleveland Plain Dealer.