smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1875

Years ago, while working at home,
| went one day to tie up my fathers
cows. l opened the stable door, and
the queen Of the yard-old Brindle--
started in, but stopped just inside the
door and would 90 no further. Think
ing it was because the stable was so
dark, l urged her, but to no purpose.
[ kicked, and found that two could
play at that game. Her conduct was
so unusual that l began to investi-
gate, and found that sunbeam came
through Il crack and reached across
the stable just before her, making the
little dancing notes plainly visible,
and looking for all the world like a
bar newly put up, over which she felt
it impossible to crawl. Enjoying her
perplexity, now that its cause was
plain, | waited and laughed to see
her lift her head evidently compar-
ing the height of the supposed OBJ
struction with some fence over which
the mischievous creature had broken
in past days., and then gave it up, as
was plain from the fact that she be-
gan to calculate the chances of crawl
ing under, and shook her head at it.
Explanation was useless, as it is in
sundry like cases in more intelligent
animals, and the fun was too good to
spoil by coercion. At length l went
round and poured the sliced turnips
slowly in the manger. This was too
much. Old Brindle evidently made
up her mind that she must risk every
thing for the mess. SO, with sud
den leap she cleared the obstruction
acithout tomching-though she came
down Just where it would have been,
a feat which evidently astonished her,
and took her place at the manger.
She looked as if she could not see any
reason for the shout that greeted her.
1t was serious business to her.


And ever since, if I see any one
delaying to do plain duty for vari-
Gus reasons which seem real and for
midablc to linn, but are only sun
shine--ormoonshine-to anyone else,
l always think of old Brindle, ani
endeavor to find out what is turnlp
to him, in order to coax him on with
it. But many a man makes as un-
necessary and ludicrous a leap in get
ting clear of imaginary distractions
as old Brindle did.
Year: 1875

Lexington-1775.
No maddening thirst for blood had they,
No battle-jOys were theirs who set
Against the alien bayonet
Their homespun breasts i'll that old day.
Their feet had trodden peaceful ways,
They loved not strife, they dreaded pain;
They saw not what to us is plain.
That God would make mans wrath his praise.
No seers We're they, but simple men;


Its vast results the future hid;


The meaning of the work they did
Was strange and dark and doubtful then.
Swift as the summons came they left


The plow. md-furrow, standing still,
The half ground -grst in the mill,
The spade in earth. the aX in cleft.
They went where duty seemed to call;
They scarcely asked the reason why;
They only knew they could but die,
And death was not the worst of ALL
Of man for man the sacrifice.


Unstained by blood save theirs, they gave.
The flowers that blossomed from their grave
Have sown themselves beneath all skies.
Their death shot shook the feudal tower,
And shattered slayery's chain as well;
On the sky's dome. on a bell.
Its echo struck the worlds Great hour,
That fateful echo is not dumb;


The nations, listening to its sound,
Wait. from a centurys vantage ground,
The holier triumphs yet to COME
The bridal time of Law and Love,


The gladness of the worlds release,
When. war-sick, at the leet of Peace
The hawk shall nestle with the dove


TO-
The golden age of brotherhood,


Unknown to other rivalries


Than of the mild humanites,
And gracious interchange of good.
When closer strand shall lean to strand.
Till meet, beneath saluting flags,
The eagle of our mountain crags,
The lion of our Mother land.
Year: 1875

MAJOR WALL: On the I'd instant.
l had the pleasure of visiting Colonel
Peter G. Quin's farm, which lies
about three miles below Holmesville.
the ancient capital of old Pike. We
should judge from the appearance of
everything about Colonel Quin's
place, that he is one among the best
farmers of our county. | saw on his
plantation the best prospects for good
crop have seen this spring. His oats
are very fine, all headed out as nice as
could be. His corn is excellent, being
much larger than any we have seen.
He has a large potato patch, filled out
with draws from the Kentucky yam.
/ think his garden superior to any in
this vicinity. As to Colonel Quin's
cotton, 1 neither saw nor heard any
thing Of it, only that he had just got
home with bushel of extra fine seed,
with which he is going to try an ex-
pertinent. The Colonel is also trying
his hand with bee culture. He has
several hives, one Of which is glass
house, from which we could see the
little architects working away, regard
less of the Sabbath. Major, if you
could take peep over the fence into
the Coloneps poultry yard, and see the
goslipgs, little chickens, and young
ducks and other poultry, you would
take the Colonels wife to be one of
our best Matrons. Well, Major,
need not tell you that the Colonel and
his wife are both prominent members
of our noble Order, and that they at
tend all the regular meetings of the
Grange, hence their success. May
others follow their example.


Yours fraternally,


GRANGER.


Carriers Greek, May 3, 1875.
Year: 1875

1t seems that no one else will take
up the pen for Panola county, that as
feeble as mine is ] will do the best
that | can with it, but will assure you
that my hand is more skillful at hold.
ing the plow-handles or the ak, or any
other implement Of husbandry than
the pen, but if you can find an idea
in this worth putting in print you are
welcome to it.


The spring has been very backward
and cool up to this time. We had a
frost on the Oath of April. Farmers
as a general thing are about half done
planting cotton, some even has been
worked out but not much of it. 1t
does not look well owing to the cool
weather. Wheat looks well, but am
afraid that it is not as promising as ap-
pearances would seem to indicate. 1t
is now heading out and find great
many vacant or untitled spears on them.
Isend you n few heads that you m,.y
see them and I would be glad to hear
from some Of your correspondents
whether it is similarly affected in other
portions Of the State. | have no oats
but those who.have, tell me that they
are very fine, especially those sown in.
the fall. Irish potatoes and all the
small crops are doing well. There is
some complaint of sweet potatoes rot
ting in the bed.


Grange matters are in fourishing
condition, at least ours is think. The
busy season with our crops is now upon
us, which requires every moment of
the farmers time, but no good Patron
should neglect the meetings of his
Grange. Spend a little less time nap
ping at the middle of the day and
work little later at night, and surely
every industrious Patron can spare a
day in the month to attend his Grange.
And right here, one word, every one
should be very careful about speaking
of the transactions of his Grange in
the presence of outsiders, lest he
should cause trouble.


Yours fraternally,


TYRO.
Year: 1875

MAJOR WALL: Please find enclosed
two dollars, renewal of my subscrip-
ton for the FARMERS VINDICAToR.
Many cheers for the INDICATOR and
a thousand for the great " farmers
movement"


Having lost my sight from sore eyes
19 years ago ] cannot read a word Of
ordinary print, SO my wife does all my
reading, and two of Us get the benefit
of your paper. We have concluded
that there is much profitable reading,
much that is interesting and entertain
ing, many good articles, both original
and selected, but we were both glad
when the fence and stock law discus.
sion closed, for we thought it prema-
ture. We would have to elect alegis-
Iature to pass such law and every
negro in the State would vote against it
and thus afford fine chance for polit-
ical scoundrels to manipulate the negro
again. Such a law, however desirable
lit may be, when stern necessity like a
knock down argument, demands such
a measure, then we may get it.


We have planted more corn and less
cotton, twice as much rice, three times
as many oats, and they look fine too.
We SOW our own broom.corn and have
not bought broom for twenty years,
and never gave lien, or mortgage or
deed of trust on any species of property
in my life and by the grace Of God
neuer ,oiH l never bought but fifty
six pounds of bacon in my life for my
own family. / am sixty.one years old,
born and raised in Mississippi and
never lived out of it three months, nor
never will until enterthe next world.
l have labored since the war harder
than any period of my life before, in
proportion to my physical stength, and
vet / shall only live the longer. And
should not the farmer live longer, on
an average, than other classes of men,
is one Of Gods appointment.


Farmers ought to rule this country,
because they are the handspring Of
all success. Again we say one thou
sand cheers for the Grange organiza-
ton.


Yours Fraternally,


JESSE S. NoRREL.


Rankin Co., Miss.
Year: 1875

the request that any and all who may
have enjoyed opportunities to test the
matter, will report them through the
same medium for the benefit of all
who may be interested. They express
surprise that SO simple a thing as this
and so easily settled, merely by paying
attention to the thousand of expert
ments that are continually being made,
should not long since have been thor.
oughly settled and well understood.
The committee are of opinion that
the proper solution Of this question,
would save to the whole country many
millions of dollars annually, and that
every stick of timber cut for outdoor
uses would last twice or three times as
long, if cut at the best time, as it
would if cut at the worst time, and
they think the prime desideratun con-
sists in knowing exactly the best time
to cut, and they earnestly appeal to
all who may be able Gin view of the
great importance Of the matter to con-
tribute through the VINDrcAToR to
the elucidation Of this subject. Be-
lieving that if our Order did nothing
more than properly settle this question,
it alone would entitle us to the lasting
gratitude of mankind.


Respectfully,


L. S. BRoYLEs.
Monroe County, May 3, 1875.
Year: 1875

MAJOR WALL: AS | have few
minutes leisure, and never having
seen anything from our Grange, in your
valuable paper (Which we are always
pleased to get and read), | concluded
to write you few lines. The first
thing with farmer is his crop. The
weather has been SO very untavorable,
that planting is very backward. Most
of the corn is up, but not much worked
out yet. Farmers are about through
planting cotton; less cotton planted than
usual, and more corn. More wheat
sown than any year since the war,
and it is looking well. Oats have
been sown very extensively, and gen
orally a good stand obtained. The
acreage in millet is far beyond any
thing ever known in this neighborhood.
Hard times which are upon us, has
taught us good lesson, that is to try
and raise what we consume, and we
are trying to use economy with it.
Stock is in only tolerable fix, but as
good as could be expected under the
circumstances which surround us.
We are like the rest Of the children,
we like something sweet on our bread,
nearly all Of us have planted some
sorghum.


Now, Major, I'll tell you little
about our Grange, aud am done.
Our hall is eight miles east of Oxford;
we have only fiftY-fve members who
attend, and appear to take a great in
terest in the Order. for one claim
that our Grange has been great help
to the community in several ways.
However I'll say no more for the pres
ent. If you think this worth a place
in your delightful little paper, publish
it, if not just drop it in the litter box.


Yours fraternally,


A FARMER.
Woodson's RIDGE Anril Goth. 1879.
Year: 1875

MAJOR WALL: AT the last meeting
Of pur Grange there was complaint
by some of the lady members, that
they never see anything in the FARM
ERs VINDIcAToR from our Grange,
while they find in it communications
from almost all other Oranges in the
State. | was surprised to hear COM
plants from those who must have
known that they were better able to
offer good suggestions for the benefit
of our Order than any other members
of our Grange. But, perhaps, they
only want the readers of the V1NDr.
GATOR to know what we are doing if
so, | am still more surprised, for |
think that every member, from the
good old Worthy Master down to the
humble writer of this scroll, should be
ashamed for the brothers and sisters of
our noble Order to know what we are
doing.


Our members, and | think the farm
ers generally throughout the country,
are changing their mode Of farming as
fast as circumstances will allow them.
There was a great deal more oats sown
last fall than any year since the war,
and they are generally very promising.
There was general disposition to SOW
wheat and rye, but seed could not be
obtained in this vicinity. The large
fields that have heretofore been plant
ed in cotton are now planted in corn,
and the small corn fields are now
planted in cotton. think can say
this with safety, for so far as my knowl-
edge extends all are about through
planting corn and cotton.


| think to bring about a change in
our mode of farming is one of the OBJ
jects of our noble Order, and as that
much has been done, or is being done
by Patrons of this vicinity, hold that
they have thus far been benefit to
the Order, but in many other respects
we all fall far short Of our duty as
faithful Patrons of Husbandry. 1
think, however, that this is owing in
part to want of knowledge of that
duty, and of the general objects of the
Order, and l think that if every family |
belonging to the Grange could be in
duced to subscribe for the FARMERS
VINDIcAToR, or some other good agri-
cultural paper, they would be better
posted as to the objects of the Order,
their duty as. Patrons, and what the
Oranges are doing throughout. the
country, generally, and it would be a
means of encouraging many of them
to use all their power and influence TO
advance agriculture, the bone and
sinew of all the world.


But am writing too much, unless
it was better. hope if this reaches
the eyes of the lady members of our
Grange, that it will make them so mad
that they will write something for the
"Fireside" page of the VINDIcAToR.


And now, Mr.. Editor, if this finds
the way into your excellent paper, all
editors may sell their waste baskets,
and invest the proceed in shoes, ETC.;
when all those who are behind with
their subscriptions pay up, our editors
will not be confined to bLackbeTries for
their daily bread.


w. M.
Year: 1875

MAJOR WALL: By authority of
Hamilton Grange, l address you this
communication. Some months past,
said Grange appointed a Committee on
Timber, to investigate and ascertain if
possible the proper time to cut timber
from the forest, with view to its
greatest durability and value. Said
committee, after several months con-
sideration, made in substance the follow
ing report, viz: That they know of
white oak posts, now standing in the
ground exposed to all weather, that
have stood in the same place and under
the same conditions, for about thirty
years, that are still firm and apparently
undecayed, while others recently cut
and of the best white oak, rotted off,
and fell to the ground in four to six
years. This great difference in the du.
rability of the same kind of timber,
they believe is owing TO the season or
time of year at which they were re-
spectively cut; but they are not GER
tain Of it, and if so, they are likewise
uncertain as to which or what is the
best time; and as it might require a
lifetime TO ascertain these facts by ex.
periments, they recommend, that the
question of durability of timber, should
be laid before the public, through
the medium of the VISDIcAToR, with
Year: 1875

A PLEA FOR AGRICULTURAL JOUR
NALs.-W. g. McAdoo, the accom-
plished literary editor of the Milledge-
vile Union and Recorder, thus truth
fully and forcibly expresses himself as
to the value of agricultural journals;


Well conducted agricultural journals
are of high Importance to the planter.
Agriculture is by far the most impor-
tant of all the branches of productive
industry; and its field is so wide that
ample scope exists for continued and
indefinite improvements Science and
ingenuity are developing new successes
continually in practical agriculture 4;
and the planter nowadays, to succeed
best, must exert practical skill, and keep
pace also with all new discoveries in
agriculture all over the world. He
must take a good agricultural journal
and test theory in the c-ucible of prac-
tice, at times.
Year: 1875

The Black Sea is believed to be
named by the Turks, who being ac-
customed only to sailing among the
islands of their archipelago, looked
upon this larger body of water as
very dangerous to navigate, and call
ed it black, meaning that it was evil.


The White Sea comes from the
great quantities of ice which it con-
tains. Even in Augest the ice-felds
extend thirty miles from the shore.


Why the Red Sea is called cred" is
question which has given rise to a
great deal Of learned discussion, and
therefore it is very difficult matter
to set at rest. It is the opinion of
some that the name was given be-
cause of-the red sandstone mountains
near the sea, other because Of the pur-
plish red tint Of a portion Of therocks
which border it, and still others say
that it comes from the red coral that
is found in the water. The most
probable theory of any that have as
yet been advanced, was contained in
a late number of Little's Laring Age.
It seems that an American diver, who
was under the water for some pur-
pose, noticed the waving shadows
that played about him, change and
disappear. What caused the shad-
ows? The motion Of the water
Don't you know that if you fill a
saucer with water, sot it in the sun
and then jar it slightly, the ripples
on the surface will be shown by the
chasing of lines Of flight and shadow
across the bottom? Probably, in lar
ger bodies of water, motion has the
same effect to certain depth. But,
however that may be, he saw the
shadows change anddisappear, while
the violet hue of the water turned to
a deep purple and everything became
Redeemed by frey glow, Then the
walls and floors of the cavern grew
purple and blood-red, and the water
took the hues Of garnetandopal. On
the surface the effect was quite as
beautiful. The sea became light
red and then a splendid rose color
A desire to know what occaSioned it
caused those who owiInessed the scene
tosubject a small quantity of the wa
ter to . microscopic inspection, and
they found that, although in a bottle
it looked perfectly clear, it was in re-
atty, filed with delicate alga, in
which the glass revealed tiny blood
Year: 1875

He was a timid young man, but
she swung upon his arm with the
ease and grace of new gate on greas-
ed hinges. he tried to think of
something to say, for lull in tho
conversation was as painful as pick
ing a boil with dull pin. Finally,
he made the same remark that every
bashful lover since Adam has made
under similar circumstance, to wit:


"Its a nice evening"


She said: "Ycs, it is truly delight
full, but then 1 think the company
one.may chance to be in has great
deal to do with the atmosphere"


He threw his eye up along the ga
Bile end of the new market house and
said he'd bet there would be many
a good steak and soup bone sold in
that buildin'."


She said she had no doubt but there
would be, and went on to remark
that it would be nice thing for new
ly-married people to get their mark
citing at a newfy-fnishcd market
house. Then, after a pause, she told
him of the funniest dream she had
the night previous-she dreamed
somebody had proposed to her! He
replied-that he believed that dreams
were @nearly always caused byeatin'
too much supper" but he hoped
''hern" would come true, providing
that it was himself that did the pro-
posin'. This took her so completely
by surprise that she said he'd have to
give her a weeks time to think
about it. And the young man is now
undergoing all the asonies of sus-
pense, fearing his @forwardness' has
lost him a bride.
Year: 1875

The North Carolinian can beat all
creation shelling corn. The other
evening a strolling peddler had a
newly patented corn-sheller hawk
ing it about Raleigh, and was show
ing crowd on the street how fast it
could shell, when an old farmer
from the mountains walked up, dress
ed in blue jeans, and cob pipe in
his mouth, said he to the peddler::


q can beat that thing shclling corn
myself"


"Wel, sir" said the peddler, 'I'n
give You q machine for nothing, if
you'll do it"


Good as wheat said the farmer,
and he searched over the pile for 4
red cob, made a boy take it to a fire
and burn it a little, and then squar-
ing himself on the sidewalk, he seiz-
ed the red cob with regular old plan
tation grip in one hand, while he
held the ear of corn between both
legs with the other, and waited for
the word "go" from a little man in
the crowd, who held the watch to
time them.


aGo!!n cried the fellow, and at it
they went.


But the little fellow got so excited
in the start that his shelter got tchok-
ed, and while he was scufiiing to un-
choke it, the old farmer cody got up
and pitching his halfshellcd ear into
the pile, said be to the peddler:


81 amt got time to Shell against
that thing, mister; it would makeme
slow-motioned for life" and he step
ped away lively, the crowd shouting
and the peddler mad.
Year: 1875

A revengeful youth the other day
gave as his opinion, that the reason
why boy don't love his elder sister
is because every time she expects her
beau she corners him up with a basin
of soap suds and a scrubbins brush,
and goes through him as though he
had no more feeling than an old brass
kettle.
Year: 1875

BLACK WALNUT.-It is stated that the sup
ply of his wood, of late years so much used for
nice cabinet work and house finishing, is not
more than sufficient for the probable demand
of the next ten years, and within few years
of its value being discovered The wood is almost
extinct. Indiana produces the best specimens
of the wood. Before it came into such gener-
al use it was made to do duty as fence rails in
that state, its durable qualities making it es-
pecially valuable for that purpose. Good wal
nut is found also in Kentucky and Western
Ohio That obtained in other regions is of in
ferior quality. The wood is not used so lavish
ly in present times as 1t was when it first be-
came popular, 1000 feet being made to go as far
again as it did few years ago. Where ve-
neering can be used it is rare that the solid
wood is worked I'D,
Year: 1875

THE KANSAS FANINE.-The Chicago Tri-
bune asserts that the reports of suffering in
Kansas from the grasshopper ravages have
been grossly exaggerated for the purpose of
working upon the sympathies and pockets of
charitable people in the Middle and Eastern as
well as the Western states. The Kansas Legis-
lature, in extra session, authorized all the
county boards to issue and sell bonds for the
relief of the people, so as to enable them to
put in their winter crops and obtain seed for
their spring sowing, but only one county,
Reno, availed itself of this privilege, and that
county, through the Operations of ring of
spectators, had already issued bonds to an
amount exceeding the selling value of the prop
erty in the county. In addition to this, it is a
notorious fact that Kansas is full of cattle,
fodder, grain and fruits of all kinds. It's farm
ers were never better of financially than now.
Notwithstanding this nothing has been done
in the state toward relieving itself