Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1940-05-18

peony, Sweet Williams. purple gladi-
olas, Chinese rose peony, Chinese
peony harnei, fennel leaf peony, single
white peony, several varieties of phlox
several varieties Of gladiolas. double
buttercups, Japanese globe flowers
several varieties Of iris, half dozen
varieties OF lily and numerous other
varieties. The Siberian crab, the flow
ering almond, the golden beauty crab,
yucca, Towering almond grape vine,
apple, cherry, SNOWFALL. gooseberries,
barberry dwarf pear, rose honeysuckle
and others, all TO decorate the private
garden OF small farmer on the edge
OF small town. Apparently the people
OF lie Roy. N. Y. took their flower
gardening seriously back In 1912
Amongst the gossip items come a
statement that "the pathmaster, Mr.
Stanley, Is building a nice plank walk
past our place and when IL Is finished
we can get down town without getting
muddy or wet" The stage passed
through lie Roy at a. m. every
morning" and Amin states that ne
makes i nightly practice to meet
the coach.
And now comes sour note, from
the writer's standpoint. I'VE had an
other skunk visit few nights ago" he
says. Dave drove him In the back
yard IN the belief that he had a cat
IN tow Just as he reached TO pick up
the little animal the skunk lifted his
bushy tail and disclosed his first line
OF defense. Dave discovered his error
about the creatures identity and made
grand rush for the house. He brought
with MIN an odor such as we never
Smelled before and hope we shall never
smell again. had heard people talk
about skunk soup 1t may be all right,
but our family wouldn't relish it.
In 1846 Amin was writing his broth
erS on embossed paper-a floral de-
sign along the borders of the sheets.
He refers to the fact that he Is better
OF than many Of his neighbors and
adds that his conception OF wealth Is
comfort-"but II riches are to rob one
OF the pleasure Of working, OF labor"
ne states, Il want none of It," The
early American evidently valued the
privilege Of earning more than he did
the possession of wealth. But they did
not believe in waste. Look at a half
dollar twice before you spend It," he
advises.
Perseverance and economy" ne
states, ARE essential TO success. But
the desire TO succeed must not blind
us TO our obligations to society.
I say TO you as so often say to
myself: BE honest as you CO."
Amin had been urged by his neigh
bors TO sell the offspring OF the tulip
bulbs his brothers had sent him four
years before, but he does not take
kindly TO the idea. his letter indicates
Il think 1t Is not yet the time 10 do
this" he said. Il should wait until I
have built up large stock before
start to sell; otherwise those TO whom
sell now would be in competition
with me, later on, should decide to
make a business out Of It," But wheth-
er he sells or not, he says, his flowers
more than repay him for his labor
and expenditures
Intellectual entertainment Is con-
fined to "the daily papers and the
preaching Of the gospel" in lie Roy, he
states. He has no books "for orna-
mental purposes" and thinks that q
good book unless read and digested
Is worse than useless" This letter, like
the earlier ones, carries no postage
10 paid" the address
and a stamp showing the time and
ficials.
These ancient letters are the prop
erty Of w. B. Amin Of Columbus.
The chief points Of interest about
my fathers letters, as see It," he
states "are their age, the absence Of
postage stamps, the absence Of enve-
lOpes and the blobs of sealing wax with
which they sealed their letters" His
father. he states, was born In 1919 and
died in 1900. He was an expert with
vegetables, fruits and flowers: w. B.
Amin was born In New York, came
10 Montana and located at Livingston
IN 1900. He has since Lived IN various
parts Of the state, voted for every
president since 1882 which was the
first presidential election following the
creation of the state Of Montana" Els
brother, j. b. Amin, was state senator
lrom saltwater county. he died in 1918.