smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1874

1t is somewhere related that poor soldier
having had his skull fractured, was told by
the doctor that his brain was visible. "Do
write and tell father of it for he always said
| had no brains" he replied. How many
fathers and mothers tell their children this,
and how often does such remark contribute
not little to prevent any development of
the brain? A grown-up person tells child
he is brainless, foolish or blockhead, or
that he is deficient in some mental or moral
faculty, and in nine cases out of ten the
statement is believed, and the thought that
it may partially be so, acts like an incubus
to repress the confidence and energies of
that child.


Let any person look back to childhood's
days and he can doubtless recall many words
and expressions which exerted such a dis
couraging or encouraging influence over HIM
as to tell upon his whole future course of
life. / once knew an ambitious boy, who,
at the age of ten years, had become so de-
pressed with fault-fnding and reproof, not
duly mingled with encouraging words, that
he longed for death to take him out of the
world, in which he conceived he had no abil-
ity to rise. But while all thus appeared so
dark around him and he had been so often
told of his faults and deficiencies that he
seemed to himself the dulest and worst of
boys, and while none of his good qualities
and capabilities had been mentioned and he
believed he had none, a single word of praise
and appreciation carelessly dropped in his
hearing changed his whole course of thought.
l have often heard him say, "that word
saved him." The moment he thought he
could do well, he resolved that he would,
and he has done well.


U. G. bowler.


BarnSton, p. Q.
Year: 1874

We soon found to our dismay that II was
not the intention of the captain to 60 out
again that day, but as good luck would have
it there came little party from Lowell to
60 out in the afternoon boat. There we're
seven in their party and six in ours, making
thirteen in all. The next thing was to in.
terview the captain. We found in Capt
Fogg q genial, kind hearted man, and he
agreed to take us out for ride for just
about the usual price without seeming to
want to practice any Of that extortion SO
common on such occasions to strangers.


cannot attempt to describe the scenery
on the shores of the lake without making
my story too long, but certainly it was very
beautiful and as some of our party said it
seemed almost like fairy land About eight
cen miles down the lake we came opposite
the splendid villa of Sir Hugh Allan, siuat-
ed on the shore of the lake 10 the Queens
dominion. With its beautifully laid out
grounds, its boat house aud other appur-
tenances, it certainly seems a delightful sum
mer residence We landed in Canada for a
little while and were shown all the points of
interest on shore and on board, and returned
to Newport about sunset, having spent one
Of the pleasantest afternoons in our lives.
And here let me recommend all that go that
way not to fail to spend day with Capt.
FOgg on the lake.


Coming home by way of Irasburgh we
passed by the residence Of one of the FARM
ER's pleasantest correspondents, Mr.. u. 4.
Jameson, and judging by the general ap-
pearauce of thrift should say he knew how
to farm as well as write.


From there to West Albany down the
wild Branch to North Wolcott, to Norris
vile, and home, bringing with us very
good impression of that part of our state.


G.. ii. CRANDALL.


D1tr5ury, Oct. 1.
Year: 1874

Perhaps many of your readers have never
visited that section of our state, and as it
chanced to be my good fortune with small
party Of friends to spend week in that vi
cinity, | propose to give them a little sketch
of our trip:


We left home Monday, September oath.
The weather was perfect all the week which
added much to our enjoyment. We went by
way of Stowe and M0rrisvilIe, calling at the
Malvern Farms to take a look at Mr.. Girls
wold's fine herd of Shorthorns, and finer
lot of herd book cattle are hard to find. One
bull calf in particular was the finest ever
saw.


After spending the night with old friends
in Morrisville, and noticing the thrift and
enterprise everywhere apparent in that
handsome village, the home of Ex-Governor
and Congressman Hendee, we started on our
journey via Hydepark, Eden, Lowell, West
field, and Troy, to Coventry. As we went
north from Eden we saw plain difference
in the lateness of the crops Farmers were
almost everywhere harvesting their grain.
Some fields of oats we passed that were
scarcely out of the milk. We saw no fields
of corn OF any magnitude, the farmers there
by showing their wisdom as the season has
proved


As visit to Lake Memphremagog was
ono of the principal features of the occasion
we set apart Thursday for that delightful
pastime, and upon arriving at Lake Bridge
in Newport we found to our chagrin that the
boat had gone out with party of excursions
lists and would not be in until l p, M. So
we made the best of our time before dinner
looking over tho town, and judging by ap.
pearances should think it was one Of the
most flourishing towns in Northern Vermont.


At O'Clock, however, the beautiful little
steamer Lady of the Lake came steaming ia
and now for our chances for a boat ride
Year: 1874

French Cream.-One and one-half pints
of milk boiled add the sweetened yolks Of
three eggs beaten in little cold milk. Let
all boil once place it in a dish and throw
gradually in the stifiy beaten whites.


A Delicious Omelet.-Beat the yolks and
whites of the eggs separately, add table.
spoonful of new milk for each egg stir all
together quickly, turn into a buttered pan
and bake in a hot oven. BE ready to eat it
when it is done, and season it at the table.


Indian Pudding.-One quart sweet
skinned milk, let it come to a boil, then
stir in one cup Indian meal and one handful
of -four, pour into a baking pan and add
two-thrds of cup of molasses, teaspoonful
Of salt, and one cup of cold milk. Bake
four hours. slice in two or three apples
when we have them.


Fried Oyters.-Drain and thoroughly
dry the oysters on a soft linen cloth. Beat
up two or three eggs with an equal bulk Of
cream and heaping saltspoon Of salt. Dip
the oysters in it, one by one, roll in finely
sifted bread crumbs, prepared by rubbing
the heart of stale loaf in towel and pass
ing it through a sieve, gently press them, not
fattening but keeping them as short, thick
and plump as possible, and lay aside for half
an hour in a cool place; dip again, roll in
crumbs, and cool for another half hour.
Then fry quickly in deep pan full of very
hot lard to deep yellow color, but do not
brown them or they will be tough and
greasy. Remove them quickly with skim
mer, drain carefully and serve on white
napkin, with sprigs of parsley and bits of
lemon. An excellent accompanying relish
is finely cut cold slaw
Year: 1874

L am going to say something more in re-
gard to those Awkward Boys" although in
SO doing l must almost relinqush my right
to the title Of awkward Boy" Do un-
derstand the invitation of "Advanee" aright2


As far as my observation goes a boys
awkwardness is not caused by sleeping in
the garret, or by the overnice snobbishness
Of his sister, 1t is caused in many cases by
the absence of COED society," good society at
home as well as abroad. The boys parents
may appear politely and even elegantly
away, and be perfect Doors at home. You
may think this rather highly colored, but it's
true. The first language the boy hears is
the common everyday vulgarties of his pa
rents and associates. 1t becomes his native
tongue. The boy may have been naturally
a gentleman. If SO how his awkward ways
and expressions mortify him OF course he
is afraid to 60 into society," lest ne should
make some bunder which he would be
ashamed Of By constant intercourse with
refined people this will wear off, but how
much might have been saved if his parents
had only taken little pains to begin with.
l would not attach great blame to this boys
parents he may have been possessed of ev-
erything that would tend to comfort but
still be denied of what would cost so little
but be worth so much.


do not intend to class myself with those
whom | have mentioned, or with those whom
"a Farmers Daughter" has described.


Advance" advises the young lady who is
ashamed Of her parents to Ego west" Al
though it would be a great advantage no
doubt to all concerned if she would, am
afraid she would have too much regard for
her home and the slavish attentions of her
parents to favor them with the removal Of
her presence.


If"A Farmers Daughter" does not notice
our solicitation and tell us the whereabouts
of the family she describes, 1 am afraid we
shall be forced to disbeieve some of her nu-
merous statements,--or at least l SHALL


AWKWARD Boy.


DurJury, Sept. %.
Year: 1874

shrank still worse. l then went back to
sowed corn, and after few days they did
better and are now giving good messes."
Exactly the same in my case. We had a
lot of second crop clover just wilted, when
rain storm was in hailing distance, and we
put it in the barn, and fed the cows with it
through the storm and after, as long as it
lasted, and our COWS dried up as long as we
fed it, but after going back to corn few
days they gave out again. This docs not
agree with DR.. Loring, or that eminent dai-
ryman, Hon. Harris Lewis, that sowed
corn is worthless for feeding milch cows. In
my experience l find sowed corn to be very
valuable as feed for milch COWS, both while
green and when dried. Good, early cut,
well cured clover hay, find to be the best
of all for mich COWS in winter, and general
ly second crop clover or rowen is considered
one of the best feeds Another neighbor
has fed his cows fresh cut clover all the fall,
and he says his COWS do not do we'll
that they dry up fast, and keep drying up.
1t is claimed that fodder corn to be worth
much should ear some. My fodder corn
never ears any, and is generally late sown.
Neighbor b. put in two acres, and he used
our drill to SOW it with. The rows eight
inches apart, corn covered two inches, three
bushels of seed per acre, ON inverted sod
with good coat Of manure narrowed in.
White Southern corn was the variety. His
crop is big one, and is still growing 1t
was sown about the 25th Of June Mine was
the same kind of seed and planted on in.
verted sod, rows three feet apart. Drill
opened with Pettengll horse hoe, and
manured with light dressing Of compost
made up of a little manure, eached ashes
plaster, lime and muck. Seed dropped by
hand and covered with a Thomas harrow.
Sowed june Sd, and used three bushels Of
seed per acre. Horse.hoed three times
The crop was cut Sept 3, hayed few days,
then bound and shocked, and after a short
time put in the barn. A part of the piece
was turned and hayed, then pitched into
cocks, and after few days in the sun put
into the barn. The cows eat and clean it
up full as well as they did when we fed it
fresh cut, and they now give nearly as much
milk and butter as they did in July and
August. We had II acres and began to
cut Aug. 10. The crop is now just about
half fed out, and with the waste from our
cabbages will carry the cows till the middle
or last of November. Why Nor.


Pittstfeld, Mass, Sept. 80.
Year: 1874

quired to hold the roots and allow them to
lie out in their natural position, and some
rich, fertile earth or we'll decomposed COM
post placed in the bottom of the hole and
rich fine soil worked in among the roots with
the hands and tho earth pressed solidly down
as it is filed in, and then three stones placed
around the tree to keep tho earth well in
contact with the roots and steady the tree so
no stakes are needed. If the soil is rather
dry half pail Of water poured in among
the roots when about half the dirt is in is
often beneficial, but have seen hundreds Of
young trees that were set out without the
use OF water, potatoes, oats, or lifting up
and down, and grew nicely. Have the earth
closely around the roots, and the roots in
about their natural position, and the tree is
likely to grow if Of hardy variety that
will stand the seventies of the climate.


". Il. j.
Year: 1874

1t has been my privilege to talk with
many persons about the management of
young trees, and find very diverse opinions
in regard to the subject. 1t is probably true
that the young tree is tender aud very sus-
ceptible of injury, and its hardness increases
every year Of its life.


While its hardness increases it is also
true that one winter or one summer may SO
far exceed all previous ones that excessive
wind, storms, cold, or heat may kill tree
that has withstood the previous seasons.
While the heat and dryness of some sum-
mers kills trees, far greater number are
killed by severe winters. Indeed it would
almost seem wisdom to follow the practice
Of gardeners who have charge of the embel-
lishments around the houses of rich citizens.
They in the fall take up from the open
ground various bushes, shrubs, and plants,
and store them away in hot houses, green
houses, pits, or cellars, as the case may re.
quire, and keep what the winter would 9TH
erwise surely destroy. When the mild days
of spring come these plants are gradually
brought into favorable growth and in sum-
mer are seen in all their glory of foliage
flower, and fruit, suffering naught from
tranSplantlng but rather gaining.


So if the farmer or nurseryman would
give the best of care to young apple trees it
would not be an unwise thing to winter them
in cellar every winter until they were four
or FIVE years old and after that protect the
trunks by wrappings of straw or embank-
ments of earth.


But many farmers receive in fall or in
spring bundle of trees ordered from some
nursery. Some are not ready to set them
out, so leave them under the shed, in the
cellar, or in pool of water, for few days.
A better way would be to sprinkle them
well with water, then dig hole in the mel
low garden soil large enough to receive the
roots, and then cover the roots and well up
the trunks with this damp soil, aud have it
well in among the roots. Here they can rest
few days in safety.


In regard to setting trees several persons
have told me they always put few potatoes
in among the roots the potatoes in rotting,
or Gf in spnng) growing, keep the roots
moist and the trees do well. Others say
put about quart of oats in each hole among
the roots, and it is more certain to live
Another in setting few trees put several
shOvelfulS Of manure from the privy under
each tree.


Another said the agent told him to cut all
the roots off and he did 80, trimming the
root as straight as q carrot, but his trees all
died and not more than half of them leaved
out. If the agent told him so his meaning
doubtless was to cut off the ragged ends oI
all those roots that were roughly cut with
the spade is raising the tree. Other persons
say that as they fll in around the roots they
take hold Of the tree and lift it up anC
down to work the dirt in among the roots
This up and down notion is Objectionable as
it draws the small roots out from their hori
zontal position and when the tree is pressed
down the roots are crooked and cramped, al
they cannot thrust themselves out again in
to the earth from which they have beer
drawn.


Excellent results follow in many cases i
the hole is dug considerably larger than re
Year: 1874

Dear Patrons In this discourse shall
endeavor not to tread on any ones corns !;
If l do please accept my apology, for such
is not my intention. My text is as follows,
which you may find if you search for it !:
"Seest thou man diligent in his business e?
he shall stand before kings; he shall not
stand before mean men,"


Hold, Solomon The most industrious
men that | have seen are the poorest, and
they that do the most hard work have the
least success hows that "If the iron be
blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then
must he put to the more strength, but wis
dom is profitable to direct" A little use of
the brains will pay. Yes, l see. Diligence
directed by wisdom is profitable, but | think
that among all the trades and callings there
is the greatest lack of this among farmers.
Now when you see farmer draw his ma
nure a mile to put on land that is in better
condition than that about his buildings, do
you ever think, " If the iron be blunt" &c. ?
When you see farmer build a new board
fence beside an old stone wall that needs re-
laying, do you ever think, " If the iron be
blunt" &c.2 When you see farmer dill
gent on some trialng affair, while he has
small boy milk his COWS, do you ever think,
IF the iron be blunt" &c,2 When l see
farmer turn his cattle into the lot for his
wife to watch and keep from the corn field,
always think and sometimes say, " If the
iron be blunt" &c? And when l SEQ
farmers wife chopPing fire wood or putting
up fence, always think and sometimes say,
If the iron be blunt" &c.2


But our text says, Seest thou man 2"
Well, look at him in the garden of Eden.
No; with nothing to do but to dress it and
keep it, he was not success at gardening.
Then look at the farmer of the 10Th centu-
~. Some are u success and some are not ;
what makes the difference Well, 60 with
me and look at the farm his father gave
him perhaps, and see it all grown up to
brush, barn doors missing, and windows with
out glass, and we will inquire for the farmer
lie is running for Office, or if he is not his
horse is and all too diigent for the good OI
either. Now do you suppose he shall stand
before kings, or shall he stand before mean
men, perchance be one of them Though he
be ever so diligent in his business, yet have
known his cattle to starve and his family
pinehed by want but fortunately we have
none Of this class among US. But to you
that with Inc are trying to obey the injuuc'
tion to till the ground from whence We were
Year: 1874

l am New Hampshire farmer, aud it
seems to me there is no subject about which
there is more need of information among
farmers than those embraced under the gen.
eral name, political economy" 1t treats Of
money aud its uses of tariffs and free
trade; of banking and its effects in short
Of all subjects intimately connected with the
interests Of the toiling millions. And the
worst feature Of it is, the workers themselves
have come to the conclusion that these are
subjects beyond their reach; that they can
not understand them; and they have left
them to knavish politicians and selfish cap
italists, and the result is, interested parties
have done all their thinking for them, and
they have accepted as true political gospel
the preaching of blind or cunning leaders.


To demonstrate this, let us take the COM
mon idea entertained by all political econo-
mists, and never doubted to my knowledge,
by anybody, that " money is the measure Of
value" Now value is an abstract idea, and
cannot be measured by material substance.
You might as well measure the different de-
grees of vice with a yardstick or a gallon
measure. The idea that money is a meas
ure of value, is the first great iallacy that
has been used to blind the toiing millions,
and keep them grinding iu the house Of the
Philistnes. They have made us believe
are trying hard now as they have done for
centuries, to make us believe that nothing
but gold and silver can be used as such
measure,


The leading men in both the great politi-
cai parties in this country are idlers, or men
who are faring sumptuously" on the labor
Of others by the simple exercise of their
wits, and if they can make us believe that
"specie payments" as they call them, are
the only cure for all financial ills, so much
better will it be for such of them as are
bondholders, and for all the rest Of them
who are the bOndholders' humble servants.


call on farmers everywhere to spit on
all platforms that have the "specie payment"
plank in them. The object is to contract
the paper currency to such degree that the
prices Of our produce will fal! extremely
low, while the debts we have to pay, and
for reason of which most Of our taxes are
levied, remain the same They intend ia
exact the full tale of bricks after taking
away the straw.


The truth is, gold and silver are simple
articles of merchandise like corn or wheat.
They follow the conditions of merchandise
When scarce they are dear, and cheap when
plenty. 1t is said Solomon made silver SC
plenty in Jerusalem that it was Of no ac'
count and became as stones" A pretty
measure of value Wasn't it2 In order to
get rid of the " Old Man of the Mountain,
who is riding US, we must first get rid Of the
notion that it is for our interest to carry
him. 5. f.


Lyme, NJ H., 1874
Year: 1874

FARM MAonINEs.-Knowledge of ma
chinery is becoming one OF the most impor-
tant requisites in a farmer or a farmers
help. No machine should go upon any farm
without the farmer comprehends it in all its
parts, the requirement and relation of each
part to the other, how to adjust and care for
it, how to remedy difficulties that may arise,
and keep the whole machine in proper
working condition without the aid of ma
chinist, unless in exceptional circumstances.
1t should be the first duty of the hired help
to learn the same lesson, if he is to be en-
trusted with the machines use. This is
urged as a matter of economy. 1t is fire.
quenty the case that non-observant farmer
loses the time of his men and his own, be-
sides making bill at the blacksmith's or
Year: 1874

taken, let me say our success does not de-
pend so much upon tho amount of labor we
perform as the way we do il, and l hope we
shall use the proper care with our dill
gence SO as to lay up treasure on the earth
sufficient TO make us comfortable while we
stay, and if we allow wisdom to direct we
shall manage to have right to the tree of
life and au inheritance in the better land in
the future life.
Year: 1874

Mr.. BROWN AND HIS UMBRELLA.-Brown
stood for over an hour on a street corner the
last rainy day, holding gigantic umbrella
over him. When any of his acquaintance
not similarly provided-who the day before
would scarcely condescend to give him nod
of recognition happened to see him they
would smilingly salute him, inquire how he
felt, were the family all we'll, etc., winding up
by asking him if he was going up or down. as
the case might be- eyes, directly" Brown
would say, "wait moment" After waiting
some time, and repeated nudges having failed
to bring him, the friend who was so very solic-
itous about Browns health would attempt to
emerge from the shelter of the umbrella, when
Brown would importune him to wait mo-
ment longer, asking him (after he had already
waited FIVE to ten minutes) what was his par:
ticular hurry. At last the friend who could
not perceive any thing so very funny IN the
neighborhood that should produce such
broad grin on Brown-with a look on bis face
as though he had just discovered that he had
cashed a bogus check, would dive from under
the umbrella and walk off as if he was mad
at something.
Year: 1874

Darkness had gathered over the IlttIe VII
lage which was Elsie Deane's birthplace,
when weary and footsore woman entered it.,
walking slowly and painfully she was wrap
ped in large shawl, and carried bundle in
her haul. With uncertain steps she passed
along the silent street, keeping in the shadow
of the trees and houses, for the moon shone
clear and bright, and she feared recognition
from any chance passer-by. She met no one
however; the quiet community had retired to
rest, and only the occasional bark of dog,
or cry of an owl from a neighboring wood,
broke the profound stiffness of the night.


On she went, with footsteps that seemed to
falter more and more as she neared her goal