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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Advocate, 1896-11-26, Page 2CHAPTER L—"THE HOUR AND THE MAN, "Hark!" A tempest of summer rain had been sweeping hill, valley and dale. 4,`ben the sun had come out, bursting from the: fleecy clouds like a bright, joyous being bent on a race across blue meadows. From every tree . and busb a million glittering drops of rain hung, swaying, <sointillating, flashing like pendant dia- monds. And now, from the abetter he had sought atrrnng a clump of elders, a man stepped into view, the only human being visible on this grand alternating pano- rama of nature. In face, build and attire be was so oompletely in harmony with the sun- jetteled landscape, that, as he stood sur- veying its beautlee with the eyes of a dreamer. he seemed a sentient part of it His garb was that of a tourist or artist bent on an outing, for which he had selected attire comfortable, appropriate, yet neat. It fitted his athletic loran till the well- built muscles showed swelling and rounded with health and vitality. The light cap surruounted a brow broad, intellectual, yet bronzed with exposure: to the summer sun. Beneath it flashed eyes poetio, earnest, yet aotive, subdued to tenderness as they took in the dreamy glories of nature, yet susceptible of expressing vivid emo- tion when the heart was deeply stirred. The abin was narrow. yet set., the mouth, sympathetio, yet firm, and, alto- gether, the striking combination of gravity and gentleness, resolution and tenderness, calculation and purity, method and dreaminess, evinced that their poesesser was a remarkable man. His light tennis -alines showed prepara- tion for tedious tramp., and were travel - worn and dusty. Aert;s his shoulder ran a strap secured to an oblong ease, Ranging to it, too, was what resembled a small portable photographic camera. He had paused as be stepped from shelter to enjoy rnomeutarily the glories of hill, field and v+alley spread before him like a painter's canvas, and to drink in. the deep, exhilaratin:; draught of the freely cool air, when, with a start, he bent his ear, and, :a rapt expression on. his fine tact', he uttered the quiet, in- voluntary ware— "Hark!" If hie eye bad before shown the ardor of a tree :artist in hie surrey "f the smiling lent:sral;r. It now glowed with the eager npprt'eiatien of a. true Inti iatan. For the divine trinity of pure pleasure 'was completed, gales -n light, glowing nature, and now ser:aplaie melody. Birds mere singing, brit it was not their sweet notes, ele'ar and resonant as silver bead:; drdpped into it crystal dish, that entranced. him. A. near waterfall trickled over the rocks with a swinging. murmur of har- mony, the soft zephyrs swayed the pines to the rhythm of .Aeolian melody, but these sounds were drowned in a full, glorious buret of maguiflcent song. Like one held in the thrall of the most exquisite pleasure, the young man listened enrapt. "Help Nome soul its strength renew, As the journey we pursue, Ohl the good we all may do, While the days are going by!" The words rang out clear and echoing, every quivering leaf seemed to vibrate with them—the golden, lute -like voice that pronounced them seemed to be too seraphic to be human. Well might he listen! Wall might the scintillating rain- drops throb and jar in consonance with the noble song that filled air, heart and senses as if thrillea from the lips of a famous divot "Is tho wood enchanted?" The stranger asked himself the question in a subdued tone, as if fearful of break- ing a. spell of magic. Then, with wistful eyes and eager steps, he Stole ala.g the path leading to a copse, from whence or beyond which bad certainly emanated that full, clear burst of glorious melody. He penetrated the little belt of timber. The forest nymph was nowhere in sight. -Approaching its other edge, however, he drew back suddenly, warily The fair one stood revealed. If the song had enchanted the traveler, the singer held heart. interest and glance under a new spell of witchery. Where some wild vines formed a kind of canopy, she lingered, as if there she bad. taken temporary refuge front the passing shower. Dreamy influences about her, pure emotions awakened by the happy voices of nature, ber soul bad found expression for its thoughts, ambitions and aspira- tions in that song of praise and hope. Her face was perfect, her form rounded to the symmetry of a Niobe. Only the eyes, half veiled with dewy sadness, told that she was other than some happy maiden, content to wander forever amid the budding beauties of field and forest. "What a picture!" The stranger breathed the words soft and low. If his eyes expressed admira- tion dmirestion of the lovely face, that ardor was tempered with the quick, artistic sense that proclaimed him to be a true poet end dreamer. "I must catch that face—the scene, its surroundings," he went on, eagerly. "Nature, beauty, art—if . she will only keep that pose for.annther moment!" Bis eyes fixed intently upon her, the stranger deftly slipped the small box from the strap across lits shoulder. Leaning it against a gnarled, stout vine, he got a perfect foes on the bower, the girl and her immediate sur• roundings. The back of the case came into view as he did so. Across the black surface, in plain white letters, was painted a name —his name—for identification of the camera, to protect it from loss or theft. It read: JERA LE BRITTA, Photographer.: should open the shutter and time the exposure, the artist started With slight excitement he peered at tbe girl and beyond her, a little. gasp 01 alarm escaping bis lips. For something unexpeoted had hap- pened, that, in later moments of his life, be was to realize, trivial as it was, should change the current of many oareers,and render this a most portentous hour in his young destiny. The hour was a potent one—he was to know that soon—yes, fate had precipi- tated a strange climax on that smiling landscape, and "the hour and the man" had arrived! Startled, as has been said, by a some- what unexpected and remarkable ocour- rence, the artist was still intent on securing a picture of the fair scene and the fair being who filled it, at all haz- ards. His deft fingers touched the button of the camera. Click! His finger ready to snap thecatchthat CHAPTER ]Z—FALCON AND DOVE. Click The work was done! The little shutter lifted, hung suspended for a flashing moment of time, and then shot back into place, holding its precious secret safe on the sensitive plate within the slide. A stroke of rnt'rvelous art- had caught the scene in a stash, had chronicled its every outline, and the picture of the fair girl was the reward of the dexterity of the artist. Something besides, tool—the exoited artist knew that—and instantly his mind recurred to the extraordinary and unexpected occurrence that had disturbed him. For, just as that ominous click sound- ed a baleful presence had appeared to mar - the fair scene. From the dense shrubbery at the side of the bower of vines a human face had come suddenly, startlingly into view. The artist bad seen it; he realized its disturbing effect upon an otherwise placid scene, but, fearful that the voting girl gazing at the beautiful landscape night observe it tno,and change her pose, he shut the shutter at once. To the intruder, Jt'ra Le Britta .now transferred his attention. There was sarnt'thiug sinister in the actions of the newe,l.turr. His faee was teat of a plan rnaliguant, hate -filled, venon"uus. i)reeseel like a tramp, there was some- thing in his glittering eyes and hand- some though evil hue, that proclaimed his garb to be a di guise. He wore a green, broad shade over one eye, and this disfigured, almost concealed his fettturee. Ile had lifted it to bestow one quick searel;ing glance on the girl, but lowered it instantly afterward. The girl had not moved She was all unconscious of the proximity of the artist, of the sinister cynosure of the tramp. The latter, never taking his glance from her face, slowly and cautiously ex- tricated himself from the entangling vines that formed a barrier between him- self and the bower. The artist drew nearer to the edge of the wood. There wag much in the ap- pearance of the intruder that suggested she slimy serpent bent on decoying and charming the shy, innocent dove. Le Britta's suspicious instincts were aroused, bis keenest sense of chivalry, ton, and he determined to watoh and await the out- come of the scene, that held in its very incipiency all the elements of a strange and weird plot. What had guided his steps hither? Fate! The girl probably resided in some of the pretty villas that lined the green slopes half a mile distant. The man might be a thieving tramp, but his actions indicated some deep motive in studying the girl ere he approached bet The artist observed him steal noise- lessly toward her. Had the glittering gold bracelet on tbe girl's arm aroused the cupidity of his thieving instincts? No; a few feet distant from the object of his interest, the tramp came to an abrupt halt. He had stepped on a dry twig, and its crackling had startled the girl. Rapid as a flash she turned. Quick as lightning the tramp dropped to an attitude of the most abject servility, with bent face and extended hand, assuming the pose and bearing of a professional mendicant. Tho girl was startled, more„ fright- ened. rightened. She uttered a little cry of alarm, shrank back, gazed. wildly about be; as if bent on speeding precipitately from the spot, and then, quivering with timidity and dread, she gasped incoherently:— "Who are you? What do you'want?" The man whined out some unintelligi- ble words. The girl, her hands crossed nervously over her palpitating heart, seemed to strive to regain her composure. Jere Le Britta, a spellbound spectator of the scene, saw the tramp's shaded eyes glow from beneath the impromptu mask he wore like those of a baleful basilisk. "Ohl is it alms?" murmured the fair maiden in a gentle, pitying tone. "You look Poor, hungry, tired. Hero, I have not muoh. You are welcorne to that." She drew forth a tiny, jeweled purse. Her fingers trembled as she extended the few coins that it contained. The tramp edged nearer. His great rougb hand closed over the coins and her dainty fingers as well. She shuddered and drew back, for it was evident that theaman had inade slow work of securing the money, in order to take' a keen, sweeping survey of her features. "Thanks!" he grated forth, hoarsely. "Tell me, lady, though, your name?" "My name?" repeated the girl, flush- ing indignantly. "Why should I do that?" "So I can remember my kind benefac- tress." So palpable a sneer was manifest in the accents, that the girl started with suspicious dislike and positive.alarnt. With quiet dignity, however, she be- stowed a cold look on her pensioner, and said:— "My name cannot be of any interest, to you, and I do not care to publish a trifling charity." "But I want to know!" Of a' sudden the tramp's bearing changed. He arose from his oreaohlng attitude of mock servility. Aggressive, insolent, threatening, he blocked .her wey, as she uttered a ory of alarm. "And I will know!" he blustered. "Charity? Bahl Take back sour gold, scatter it to. the pauper brats down at the almshouse. Keep it, andmay it sink you and all about .you, but you tell me what I want to know before I leave this spot, or you either, my proud lady l" With a scornful swing of his hand, the tramp had fluug the money in his grasp disdainfully on the ground at the feet of his astounded almoner. Now, coming nearer to her, he hissed:— "I'd know that face from a pioture I saw. I've watched youand saw you come from Hawthorne villa, You are Gladys Vernon," The girl grew pale. Her eyes told that the man had made a eorreet conjecture. "If I am," she faltered, "what is that to you?" "You shall see. If you are Gladys Ver- non, you are the niece of old. Gideon Vernon. It's not you I care to know about. I can guess that you have been luolty enough to be adopted as the favor- ite of that crotchety old miser, bat there's some questions about him I'm going to ask, and you're going .to an- swer." The girl's face had grown steadily whiter: Defiance, fear, played alternately across her colorless features. Le Britta, about to spring forward and relieve her from the presence and dis- tressing importunities of the insolent in- truder, restrained himself, as some in- tuitive instinct told him that the man's later actions might reveal his motive in. thus interrogating her, and afford her friends a clue to his designs. "First," announced the man, "I want to know if old Vernon is not pretty near used up." "My uncle is quite i11," spoke the girl, icily. • "Good! He'd ought to die!" was the heartless rejoinder. "Now then, has he altered bis will lately?" The tramp fairly hissed the words. So intense was his malignity of expression, that Miss Gladys Vernon recoiled with a cry of terror. "I will not tell you. You are some villain seeking to learn bis secrets, to do him harm. Release me! helpl help! help l" For the villain had seized her white, shapely wrists in his brutal grasp. "You shall tell mei" he glowered, fiercely. "Quick! Has ho ohanged his will? Speak! I will know!" "You scoundrel, lie there!" Smack! The man who could paint pictures,and write poetry, and dream over sunny landscapes, could fight, as well. All the chivalry of his energetic na- ture aroused, Sera Le Britta had sprung forward. His good right arm shot out like a piston rod. His sinewy fist landed squarely betwen the eyes of tho insolent boor before him. And the next moment, as the fair young girl clung frantically to the photographer's free arm for support, the trarrrpish knave who had insulted her, measured his Iength on the ground at her feet. CHAPTER III. -A STARTLING RECOCNITION. Jera Le Britta was a practical man, and had led a prosaic life. That is, only sentiment and a love for the artistic bad been the main diversity in his existence from plodding; everyday routine. The bour for action had arrived, how- ever, and he was not found lacking. A gentleman, a friend to distress wherever found, his hearthad responded likemagio to the call of beauty unprotected. The tableau that ensued to bis speedy interference in the scene at the wild - vine bower, was a dramatic one. His fine face aglow with indignation and resolve, be formed a fitting companion for the innocent girl,who trustingly recognized him as a valued protector, and a strik- ing contrast to the enraged and discomfited boor at his feet "Leave!" be ordered, making a second advance toward the prostrate ruffian, but Miss Vernon interposed a restraining hand. "Yon have punished him enough," she faltered, tremulously "Let him depart in peace" "Pence!" snorted the tramp, strug- gling to his feet and scowling frigbtfully "I'll show you, my haughty lady. You, too,you insolent interferer. "Go, if if you are wise!" ordered Le Britta, warningly. With a malevolent scowl, the subdued knave shrank from the spot. "Do not tremble so, you are safe now," spoke the photographer tohis companion. "He frightened me!" quavered the girl, apprehensively "He hinted at such dreadful things about uncle! He bas threatened even you!" Le Britta smiled confidently. "He will do wisely to keep out of my path in the future," he said. "And now, Miss Vernon"— "What! You know my name?" said the girl. with surprise. "I was a witness to your interview with that malignant scoundrel," explained the artist "From his lips I learned your name. You reside near here?" She pointed across the valley, to a pretentious mansion gleaming white and massive among the trees on the other slope. "I live with my uncle," she mur- mured, "and. I must hasten home. He will be anxious about roe. I had been to the village on an errand, was caught in the shutter, and sought shelter here." "And joined the birds in singing a bright welnome to tho returning sun- shine?" remarked Lo Britta. The young girl flushed with embarras- sment "You heard ane," she faltered. "That songled me to you," replied the photographer. "One moment,. Miss Vernon, till I secure my traps, and.I will accompany you on your way." "Ohl I could not think .oi troubling you," she said. (TO 13E CONTINUED.) -;.{i �lrx o3yrsi.EN.:s. «'a.. T GPICU LTU R[ SIMPLE GREENHOUSE. tfulgae in Its Arrangement of stenches and Lousily Constructed Tho illustration shows a Dross section of an easily oonstructed and very service- able greenhouse. It is unique in its ar- rangement ofbenches. these being on the ground, thus retaining heat and mois- tura muoh better than a thin layer of earth upon a raised wooden bench. The walk is a trenoh dug out between the benches, cemented and having a line of tile beneath it to secure perfect drain- age. The sides of the walk oan be bricked up or boarded, as preferred, the latter method,of course, not being as per- manent as where brink is used. The walls of this greenhouse arevery low, just Allowing the eaves to clear the ground satisfactorily, so that snow will CROSS siso'i•ION OF GRENNctODSD. not lie upon the glass. Pipes are indioat- ed in the solid benches for use in sub - irrigation, if this plan of watering is de- sired. The heating pipes are suspended over the benches as in the ordinary greenhouse. The same construction could be used in a three•bench green- house In which case two walks world have to bo dug leaving a solid bed be- tween them. In this ease the two roofs would have to be supported by a purlin plate and uprights. One can work out the 'tetails to suit bis own oircumstan- oes, Where cedar pmts are used as a foundation it would be necessary to heavily mulch the ground just outside the walls to keep the frost nut of the ground adjacent to the solid benches, as frost there would render the maintaining of heat in the benches much more diffi- cult. A solid foundation is of course pre- feratle,—Webb Donnell, in Orange Judd Farmer. A. Child's Party. For a children's party have a "Jack Horner pie." Place a large round box in the center of the table; cover it with smilax or similar greens, and fill it with simple toys, attaching a ribbon to each article, and extend the ribbon to the place to be '• oconpied by ' the 'guest for when: the gift is intended. The children will think theribbons are simply decora tive until the end of the feast, when eachcbild can be Instructed to gently. pull the ribbon attached to bis plaoe,and will be delighted to find a gift at the other end. SELECTING SEED CORN. A Task Whose Importance is Not Realized by Some Fanners. Selection of seed corn and its erre after- wards are of muoh more importance than many realize until bitter disappointment facts there, with perhaps one-third of a stand, and then it is too late- to recover for the year. And still farmers go right on and do the some thing another year. While I always go into the field and se- lect early at least a part of my seed, I do not plant such selection unless I have failed at husking time to gather such as I desire, I can select just the size and shape that seems best to my mind at that time and I cure it in the chamber over the kitchen stove and leave it there. until wanted in the ear. I would not shell any I did not use for the year, and during my entire life I have never so saved corn that 1)8 per cent. would not grow, and salaam ever any foils oven at three years old. While the early ripening will always grow and will make very early corn, after a number of years of such saving I am satisfied the variety grows small by so doing. I prefer to plant and sow the largest and best of its kind. At busking time, either from stalk or shook, one can make the selec- tion. Leave enough husk on the ear and throw to one side of the wagon, and in this way the corn oan be seleofed with little or no hindrauoa, and unless there has been very hard freezing with cern damp there is very little danger of 158 not growing, if properly oared for atter picking.—Cor. Live Stook Indicator. Wheat Crop and the Poultry Industry. Great stress is placed on our enormous wheat crop, which amounts to about 500,000,000 bushels per year. Wo have a borne market for about 400,000,000 bush- els (as food and tor seed), leaving about 100,000.000 bushels to sell, which would bring, at the high price of 75 cents per bushel, $75,000,000 from abroad. But for our enormous crop all of our wheat wnu]d be consumed in thiscountry. This shows what a great home market we have in the United States. Now, this enormous wheat Drop, which is extolled in every journal in the country, and which excites the admiration of the world, is equaled by the value of the poultry and eggs produced in the United States,the eggs and poultry finding hums .markets. At 60 oents a hnshel the total value .of our wheat crop is about $300,- 000,000 per year. The census in 1880 (16 years ago) showed the value of poultry and eggs to be $200,000,000, and yetit is dnabtful if the census enumerators were able to get the full number or value. To- day it is known that the poultry indus- try Is at least one-third larger, and that the value of the poultry and eggs pro- duced in this country is fully $300,000,- 000, which places it on a par with wheat. Facts for Farmers. Every hog feeder should know at what weight to sell. Ewes should always he in a thrifty condition when bred. Every feeder should know the ration that is best for his animals. Kind treatment generally begets a gentle disposition in a horse. Plenty of salt and water will help to maintain gond health with hogs. On many farms during the fail months is one of the best times to drain. ' The corn shucking should be pushed now. Get it all under sheltet as soon. as possible. It is poor economy to feed wet fodder to stook by scattering on the ground on a rainy day. There should be a sufficient growth of grass ]eft on the meadows to properly mulch the plants.—Farmers' Union. THE CARE OF SWINE. Mate About Winter reeding sad Work in the l'cn. The cheapest winter food for swine is:. roots. They may not have so rauob nutri- ment in themselves, but they eause the hog to get more out of his: other food, just as good clover pasture causes the hog to get more out of grain. Turnips and ruta bagas may be grown en the land from which early potatoes or swept porn has been removed, ora piece of clover sod may be broken up after the hay is harvested. Don't lean over the fenoe to pour the slop in the pigs' trough, says the Farm. Journal, The fighting pigs will cause you to spill a good part of the slop and resting your weight on your abdomen, supported by a rail, is not healthful ex- erolse. ' Pass a trough through the pen into the other trough. And if you nail a board over the top of the Brat trough the pigs cannot stop it with their noses and waste the slop when it is poured in. The old-fashioned way is to dip the buckets into the slop barrel, lift them out with a hard lift, all dripping and overflowing with the greasy stuff, and so carry them Of course the 'man that does that gets greasy, dirty clothes. The new way is to set the barrels upon blocks and dish out a place for the buc- ket to set, and theu put a big faucet in the barrel; This way there is no hard lifting, no bunkets greasy on the out- side, no drip or overflow. A little pains to sun scald the troughs if they gat sour under cover will pay. If it be damp and cloudy, soald them nut with boiling water and feed a few hand- fuls of powdered charcoal to correct acid- ity cidity of the hog's stomach. EXCELLENT ICE HOUSE. It Has allot and Broad Itoof With an Air Chamber Between. The engraving shows an ice house that is so arranged as to ward off from its most vulnerable point the heat of summer. It is the roof of an ioe house that receives the greater part of the sun's heat, and not the sides, concerning which the most core Is usually given. In the ice house shown herewith, a flat roof is first Ducks and Pigs. Roast pork and roast pig are favorite dishes, and the tamer' never misses the pork from his table even when other. meats are lacking. He can just as easily and oheaply . have roast dnok as roast pork, In ,proportion to food consumed the duck will coat no more than the pork, and a four -pound, duck can be put on the table in eight weeks from the day it is hatched. The farmer who raises 100 decks can have >a :roast duck twice a week nearly every week • in the year, and he does not have to _pickle tbe meat to keep it. ;The duck can be raised on any kind of food that the hog will con- sume, and the farmer can have a market for his duets at borne, leaving bin the, pork to oe1L • CIIISAP ICE IIOUSL. built, and above this is a broad, over- hanging roof, with plenty of spnoe for the air to circulate beneath it. Where ono can build beneath the shelter of a great tree, snob a construction is not needed, but most Ins houses must be ex- poses to the sun's rays. In which cage a double -decked roof of this sort will prove exceedingly advantageous.—Orange Judd Farmer. Storing Potatoes. Formers have come to understand that stn ed potatoes lose weight in the course of the winter and that they shrink in volume so that a class of potatnes lit for the market in the fell are of too small a size in the spring. The Michigan experi- ment station bus tested the loss of weight of potatoes in order to ascertain the in- creased price that must be secured in the eprine to balance this loss. One hundred and eighty pounds of potatoes stored in a barrel in September weighed March 2Sth, 179 days from storing, 171% pounds, They hod lost about 6 per cent., or when potatoes are 40 cents per bushel, 2 Dents on the bushel. On May 1st the shrink- age from September had reached 11'e per cent. After this date they 'shrank rapidly and became soft and flabby, and the reonrd was not kept. A shrinkage of 11X per cent would mean in round numbers a loss of a little less than 5 Dents on a bushel. To this loss must be added interest, risk. rotting, and the de- creased proportion that will bo able to enter the market. It will be safe to say that the increase of price will have to be In the neighborhood of 20 per cent. to bridge the loss due to storing and above 20 per Hent if any gain is to accrue from storing. At this rate potatoes worth 40 centsein the fall would have to sell for 50 cents in the spring to balance the no - count. A credit would occur in the value of the small potatoes for stook.food and the decreased cost of drawing to market, together terming a small gain that wonld make the 50 -cent sale a fair one In a comparative sense. The Farmer's Harpy Home. A recent letter from the superintendent of farmers' institutes in the state of Pennsylvania states "that at every two days' institute bald in the state during the coming winter the evening session of the first day is to be set apart to the ladies, and the topic is to be 'Country Homes.' All topics relating to home life in the country will be included, such as the construction of homes, the heating, lighting, ventilating and sanitary ar- rangements for country homes; the water supply, sewage and plumbing for houses in the country; the cooking of food, the care of the sick, the care of the children; flower gardening, klithen gardening, house decoration, and all that relates in any way to comfort, conveni- ence, health and enjoyment id a country home." FOR SMOKING MEATS. Bow to Improvise a Suitable Souse is a Few moments. The approach of the season when meats are usually preserved: by smoking,' calls up suggestions in regard to this subject. One plan is illustrated here- with. Where one has but a few pieces oe meat to 'smoke; n smokehouse may' be improvised in a few anomonts by taking two empty barrels and arranging thein in the manner shown in the eut. In the side of the lower barrel is cut an opera lag, in which an old kettle is eat filled with smoldering ohips or corncobs.' The upper barrel has either hooks In its bore Comparison of Beef and Milk. Beef and milk foods for poultry are valued for their: protein (nitrogenous ale - men ts,) lements,) and as there are many who desire to use milk in place of beef,a comparison of their value may be of service. There. are about 20 pounds of protein in the neck meat of beef (edible portion) and about 334 pomade of protein in 1,00 pounds of skim -milk. About 6 pounds of milk may be said, therefore, to equal one pound of beef used for the protein contained. The beef is more concentrated, and also more reeadily consumed, as the fowls may not bo capable of drinking enough milk to supply them.: A ration of both milk and beef should he preferred. one Cent an Egg. Tho cost of an egg in the eastern states. is estimated at one cent, but this depends on the prices of grain. If meat;mllk;out bone, chopped clover, 'cooked potatoes, are given, the cost will be less, not be- cause the meat: can be purchased at less ,than the grain but because the feeding of a 'variety and a balanced ration will induce the hens to lay more eggs. "Phe greater the number of eggs laid the lower the cost proportionately,and it is possible to produce eggs at a Dost of only ball a cent each. • IMPROVLSaD SMOKE HOLM. tom or sides—the bottom of the barrel now acting uppermost—or has rods pass- ing through the sides, an which to hang the meat. A salon hole can be bored In the barrel's bottom, to give a slight draft, if needed, while the opening in front of the kettle can be closed it the draft proves too strong. A simple little arrangement of this sort will often do as much good work as one on which numb money and labor have been spent. The same plan is suggested for nee In fumigating attioles, or for bleaching articles with burning sulphur. For such purposes, a tighter chamber is required than is needed for smoking meat. This tightness can be secured by wrapping cloth about the point of union of the two barrels, while no opening need be made at. the hate of the lower barrel.—Country Gentlemen. .Farmers' 13oVs and Poultry. We know of no batter plan for ednoet- ing the boys to remain on the farm than to interest them In a flock of pure bred fowls. The boy that owns his flock, and is Induced to take an active interest In the birds, will soon have sufficient pride to be desirous of winning some of the prizes OS shows, and be will in a short). ?" time, not only have a knowledge of the, chnrantoristles of the breed but will also` know every member of the flock. He will then have arrived at a,stago of pro- gress In whinh he will he interested in. the pedigrees of animals oleo, and know the families to whioh they belong. He will also have been edncated to real en- joyment on the farm and will be success- ful because he bas learnt that the sorub on the farm is the curse that has de- stroyed hundreds of hopes. AU who have lived on farms oan remember the plea. sures of watching the progress of the young colts, calves, lambs, pigs and chinks, for if there were no young ani- mals on a farm one-half of the real plea- sure of form life would be missed. The beet starting point for the boy on the farm is with poultry. Give him a few pure bred fowls, let him own them, and he will manage for himself. Live Stock Notes. If a Dalt is half fed when young it will never be tha most profitable animal to keep In nearly all cases, whenever a boar has proved a good breeder he should be kept as long as possible. A veteran Shorthorn breeder in Ben - tacky says that there Is a marked im-' prevenient in demand and price for young Shorthorn bjills that personally he cannot till. His orders are at double the price of a few years agar. There is quite a task imposed on hens to get lime for theegg shells. Wheat and corn contain but very little limo, and when such foods are given daily; with no variety, the lane for the shells may be lacking. Oyster shells may be allowed,but it Is unsettled as to whether the shells will supply lime except for a short time, owing to their insolubility. The lime In grains and grasses is in a condition more favornhle. Bantam chickens were never kept for utility, because there is nothing prate Meal about them. They are pets only and nothing more; the ladles and children like them because they are so cunning and self-important. Tate, for instance, the Black Breasted Red Game Bantam cock or hen and you have a very saucy and as its ovine -implies. a "game" little chicken. On the lawn they are diminutive beauties, very showy and attractive. Bantams are never hatched out before .Taly and August; if batched. earlier they grow coarse and lose the pigmy dimensions that are essential to them and which add to their value. When: young they are very small, lint' are .quite hardy, growing very fast when properly cared for. The White Polish and Cochin bantams are extremely pretty and valuable; many of our Asiatic and . Am- erican breeds of poultry aro found in these diminutive fowls in perfect count- erpart,. Using the Weeds. There is no better food for ducks and geese than some of the well known weeds. .Plantain, purslane,, ragweed and pigweed are only a few of the deiieaoles for the aquatic birds,, and they will 're- quire no .other food. Both ducks and geese prefer to forage on green food rather then to subsist on grain and this fact should encourage the keeping of a flock ofducks or geese in order to utilize the foods that would be of no service but for their aid in consuming them. 1 For Ray Fever. Hay fever may be treated by inhaling the vapors of a pint of hot water to which ten drops ofcreosote have been added. The nostrils may be sprayed with a solution of quinine (two grains to the ounce of water), while some persons find relief byinserting a tabloid of cocaine into the nostrils and letting it dissolve, and exert its action on the nose men: brans e.