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HomeMy WebLinkAboutExeter Times, 1906-12-06, Page 114040.40"P0+0+0404 0+ 40+0+0+o+O40+0+040+ 0+0404'0 . • ►. i h "EEVON;" OR, A HOPELESS LOVE. o+040 0♦0♦oiO4.0i0+00+0+0+0♦0+0+0 o+oio♦ CHAPTER X111, "\\'all, now I Think Bill Edwards is right, boys. Nobody in this 'ere part o' the world 'u'd be likely to kill a uiun with a knife. `!'ain't in netur'." 'But look where, Cap'n, how kin you an' Bill Edwards tell what the latest style o' tnurderin' is In this locality, when thar ain't been no niurderin' afore? Even ole Josh Perkins says Dur- kce is the only man ez wuz ever killed here under s'picious circumstances." A bronzed, rugged, weather-beaten group of men were seated upon boxes, barrels and counters of the only club tou,e in Patonket, Edward's store. Smoking, talking, arguing, all but quar- reling, they formed qa picturesque scene in the dim light of the ill -smelling lamps. "But," spoke up sharply Bill Edwards who as postmaster felt that his opinions carries' with thein an otlicial dignify, 'you fellows don't go deep enough into tM wetter. Now look aheret Wuz thar anybody in lhia town as hed a grudge agin Durkee?" "Everybody hnd n grudge agin him 'n he sold the C.lnrion to there city int • ,' growled a sunburnt, unshaven mein 'n reclined against n barrel and Sent f,,,41 clouds of smoke from a pipe, ruledtvi n the vilest tobacco. "1 lief s so, Martin," broke In Captain Gnnincrj "\\'e wuz all annoyed at thet, i grant ye. Durkee didn't do right by us, p•raps; Inst then, agin. he didn't sell nothin' but his own prop'ty, did he? No - Leidy 'u'(1 kill a man for doin' thet. No, toys, i Ieli ye when ye come to look - to' ter a motive for murder ye've got to git pooty deep into Burman natur'." "l bels very true, Cap'n," cried Ed- wards, feeling that upon him and Gard- ner had fallen the task of defending the Patonket community "Anybody ez thinks Isaiah Durkeo wuz killed by any e' his neighbors, is sailin' on the wrong tack. \Vhy. don't it stand to reason, now, thet et any o' us bed wanted to get 'rd o' Durkeo we could a -sent him packin' as we did thet rum -selling Pet- ers two year ago? Now, 1 tell you, friends, murder ain't a Patonket com- modity. Ef Durkee wuz 'sassinated, 'twa'n'g by nobody ez lives hereabouts." "\Val," struck in the benrded man whnrn they called "Martin," "it's nil very well 'o .stick up fer the town, but the Cap'n's right when he says a motive fer murder don't lie on the surface. Now what 'u'd a stranger Lill Durkee • ler- Twa'n't fer money, coz thar w•fi'n'L no robbery committed on his body. Even his watch w•uz found in his poc- ket. Then agin Durkee'd lived here nigh all his life, and hadn't no interests outside the town. 1 tell ye, neighbors." cried Martin excitedly. "we've got n mur- derer amongus, and the Sonnet we 1n out whohe is the better it' fer find n r Ilbe all honest men." Thes ' words silenced the crowd for a moment. The terrible necusntlon made against the village startled them when eenviyed in such uncompromising lam gunge. "\\'a11. l'll be durned of you ain't the most opinernfel man i've ever kntwed, iflur•in Baldwin." remarked Bill Ed- wards niter n time. much provoked at the impression the Inst. cpenker's nrgu- toent seemed to have made. "In spite of all rea,on. you tell them ez lieu been your neighbors fer years !het we've get a murderer among us. when everybody knows thar's not a mon In Pntnnket qs he'd hurt n bunk, r, let alone killin' such a man ez Durkee." "Hold on ihar, Bill, s-nu're enrryin' too munch snil nn This here subject of Palooket virloo." broke in n rnnn whose easing. el.:an-cut (Wilms and twinkling eyes told nf a wall -balanced chnracter, • apieoi with a keen serine of honor. "Let me ask you a few questions, will ye?" "Certainly. Dave. Forge nhead," "Wall. you say Mar's nobody in this town as Wit hurt a fish. But this morn - lis wa'n't the Clarion office found bust• ad open, the presses broke. and vnl'able prof ly destroyed? Answer inc their ...wall, yes, the!': so," admitted Ed- wards. i ether sulkily. "Do you Think 'awns Arrangers ez. done all the!? Ye know Will enough. Cnp'n Gardner and Bill Edwards. thet thnr wuz loin's in This town last night. and !wo'n't strangers ez done it all. Its all very well to slick up fer. Patonket, hit I tell ye, boys. Rinr's been Things done hers ez is worthy of within' but • log n' Western cnwboys, \\'hen mash - en then break into houses and selfish things. its about time we quit pratin' about our vdrtoo, and looked norm ! Ile fled out aches the Jonah in the ship. Ii don't blame Ri11 Edwards for stickin' Trp fer his neighbors, ef lie wants to, but you most 'keovle•.1ge. Bill. that even Ibis righteous commnmily hez its little Stain's." Dnve Bryan gave a peculiar wink, as be ceased speaking. which enlists' a !lenity laugh from the crowd. and mode Bill Edwards Rush angr ily. For i1 vas an open secret That a thirsty. man %he knew hot In close his right eye. twist his moth into n knot. and whistle could nbinin from Edwards something gime bracing Ron ginger -ale or sorsa- paritln. Bryan's shaft, therefore, was a keen one. and for a lime 11 quieted Ike postmas'ter's ready and aggressive tongue, 11u1 Captain Gardner was by no Menne silenced. Il' was an old. 'lieu• malie seaman, sharp -featured, sharp- tung;u.'(L kind-hearted, oris° active gnus hnd leen spent M shipboard when the United Stales had had a merchant Marine of sono pretensions. When wee he hnd formed an opininn on i en subject he would hold that npin- s unehangeii and ur4haken for years. had made tip his mind that his blend, Isaiah Uurkecs bad not been kill- ed by a 11'0w -townsman, and neither the sense!! anal dictum of Marlin Bald- win nur the sarcastic words of Bryan had had the slightest effect upon his ob,linale nature. "Easy, thar, Dave Bryan, "he cried, whin the reon had grown quiet, "and let me show ye whar ye oighter take 11 reef in yer argerntent. Bill and 1 grants ye thet thar wuz sulhin' besides (!yin' gein' on unpleasant in this town lust night. Bait ye don't want to do loo much splicin' when yo talk about these here metiers. The cleonin' out n' the Clarion office ain't got within' to do with Durkee's death. Coz why? Durkee didn't own the paper, did he. Ile didn't hey anything to do with its puttin about, did he? Nobody in Patonket blamed him coz the Clarion went back on the cause. Now look Where, mates, Durkee wa'n't in good health. Thet's the reason he sold out. Another thing," —and tate Caotain lowered his voice al- most to a whisper. and looked around on the faces so intently turned toward his own,—"thet thnr good-lookin' city chap hez been mnkin' up to Mrs. Dur- keo ever sense he bought the paper. 111 tell ye just what I think. Durkee got P. flit o' the blues while he was walk- ing over from Greyport. Ile wuz sick, his wife wiz mnkin' eyes at another man. He didn't have nothin' more to do with the Clarion. and ez he groped along through the darkness and storm he jest mode up his mind he'd •quit, so he stuck n knife Into his innards and died. Thet's all thar is to it, boys. This talk about murderers and Jonahs is all durned nonsense." Thera was silence throughout the room for a moment. The Captain's theory certainly seemed plausible. Dave Bryan was tho first to speak: "Wal, Cap'n, all thet sounds wail 'nough, but then you snake a most seri- ous charge agin Mrs- Durkee. She ain't the kind of a woman as 'u'd worry n man into his grave.. You know, and we all knows. that Mrs. Durkee always seem^d fond o' 'Saiah, and wuz ns gond a wife ns thar Is in this 'ere town. She wuz different from us and wuz a kind er mystery, but nobody never knew any- thing agin her, and thar ain't a poor man or women in Palonki't as don't love her. i don't believe she ever lel Met van Slack worry 'Sainh at nil. But Char's other things as knocks your Ihe'ry into mince -pie. Didn't the ground who!' Durkee's body wiz found show signs of n s'ruggle? There wuz snmehndy's foot -prints thnr besides Durkee's. 'Then, nein. his shitt was tore open nt the neck. Resides all thet, Durkee didn't cnrry n dngre, n"eund with him. even If he heti lest enure from New Ynrk. And it wa'n't a penknife ns killed him." Captain nr ne n G d r had turned red rid mild hardly control himself. "You talk like a boy, Dave. Them foolprents don't prove nothin'. Maybe they wuz made by somehndy ez stumbled over the body and wuz loo skeered to tell nbout 1t. Ez for the torn shirt, any- body'd bo likely to tear his shirt after slickin' a knife Into his heart, wouldn't tic?" "But, f'ap n," 4(latmed Bryan rather v:arniy. "how doee 'cnunt ter the fact thet no knife wiz found anyw•hor near the betty? Ef Durkee slabbed himself. he tEdn't do it with his fingers. did he?" "1 don't know nothin' about it!" roar- ed Gardner. springing up. "I wa'n't Thar, wuz 1? Blast yer eyes! you fel- bnws don't know how to argy. Yer a pack o' Thick-headed ninnies.' The excitable old ea -dog limped nut of lire More. his faro flushed and hes cane shaking in his leather -colored hand. "Well." remarked Bryan, laughing, "the old Cnp'n dies, but never surren- ders. Ile goes down with colors flyin' —ern. neighbors?' Ont of the shadow nt the rear of the room stalked lint Poole, 1110 giant, and settle 1 himself upon the box which Gardner had ju'1 deserted. 111' dark. regular features wore an expression of sullen defiance. Looking steadily al Brunn, he said: "Ye'r all wrong. Dave, and the Cap'n's aeout half right," "\Vhnt do ye tnenn. Poole?" "Well, 1 mean just this. Isaiah Dur- kee wits. jealous o' gleet city chap." "S , are you. ain't ye?" asked Bryan. who was a thoroughly fearless roan. 1'I:e quest'on caused another hearty laugh from the crowd. Poole scowled, 141 did not bluster, as he might have done n week before. at this hard ran. "Thet's neither here nor Thar." he answered sulkily. "Rut 1 tell ye Ihnr's a good deal more in Durkee's death than ye think." "Wal, speak rip, man, What do yr know about iti" "\\'ril. I know van Sleek WAS at Dur- kee s i;ntice night before last." "1' et ain't nothin'." "Aril thet \tr•s. Durkee wuz up lo van Stark's last n glia." "Yee don't say? is !het so? Thetis queer,." "And van Sleek took her home." "Wuz Mss Mehelable Willi iter?" ask- ed some one. "Wal, te.hal nee ye drIvin' ns, then'?" "Van Slack didn't gn home tt itb Met thnr friend o' hls'n, ile look n v. alk in the storm (oynr(LQ Gr,'y'pnrl." Expressions of ostonishnn:•nt broke from the on -lookers. ilryr.n was the only one who kept his head. "\Vhnt were you dotn' out at iliet lime o' night?" Poole turned rel and Then pale. and s coed thoroughly disturbed for the moment, "rhel ain't got nothin' to do with the 't(1kr," he relurned angrily. "1'm tel- l:n' ye the truth nod Ihnr'a no nae ask - in' foolish questions." . l AI v 11110\_ \Va1, a on then. Do ye know thet h met D "No." "Ye're only guessin' at 1t, eh? Wel, 1, fer one, demi take any stock in yore, accusation ogin Mr. van Shack. lie knocked ye down clean us a whistle, and ye hate him fer it. When you by to throw suspicion of murder on' malt ye ought to be very kerful. It's a serious wetter, and ye might get in- Ic trouble. Do yah see?" Poole made a violent effort to con- trol his passion, and then said: "Wal, now, look a -here, Dave Bryan, ye believe thet Durkee wuz murdered, don't ye? Ye don't think he committed suicide?" "Yes, I think he wuz murdered." "\Voll. who do ye think did it?" "1 ain't gone so fur as Met yet. But 1 don't think \1r. van Slack did it. Ile dbm't look like thet kind of a men." "Ye're polity green ef ye go on a mads 1 wks, Dave," remarked Edwards, who had been silent for some tirne, and was glad of a chance to get a shot at Bryan. "it ain't always n homely than as kills a men he finds in his way." "Ye're right, Bill," returned Bryan good-naturedly, "but ye can tell some - Thin' by a Hrn's face, and 1 say ogin, it's not a man ez looks like van Slack ez killed Durkee." "Wel. I've got somethin' more to say about thet,' remarked Poole. "Go ahead, then." - "Van Steck and everybody at his his house went away tu- li,y, exceplin' the little renew with the beet rnurtaele" "Ye don't mean it?" "Yes, thu'g's so,' broke in a man on the outskirts of the group. "I saw 'em as they druv into Greyport, bag and baggage.' Poole's statement received corrobora- tion from variohs sources, and Bryan was puzzled. "Thet's queer, I grant ye," he said re- luctantly. "They intended to stay all sununc didn't they?'' "Yes." "Wonder whnt the little chnp stnyed b: hind fer,'suggested some one. "P'raps he wants to gather up the pieces o' the Clarion," remarked Bryan, looking hard at Poole. "Ile won't find much left, then," re- turned Ponta triumphantly. "Whoever netted the Clarion olliee did a pooly clean job." "And a fool's job, too," remarked Brynn emphatically. "It'll bo a long time afore Patonket gits another news- paper. How the folks over to Greyport will Laugh when They hear the newts! It wa'n't loynity to Patonket ez made anybody smash the only printin' press in this part o' the country. It was ig. norant spite, and 1 don't keer who hears me say so." "Wal, ynu Kin stand more 'n most people, ef you are willin' to hey n cou- ple o' city jackasses try to run this town." This sentiment, expressed in Poole's ugliest manner, apparently met *with approval from ninny of his hearers, for P murmur of assent arose from the group. "No, we don't want no outside inter- ferenee." remarked the man who had seen the van Slneks nt Greyport. It's a good thing thet the whole business is busted. That editnrial wuz enough to make tar-and-fealherin' too good ter the writer." "Now, thet'll do," exclaimed Bryan angrily, "we've had enough lawlessness 'ere town in this ' n n► 1 already.Y Y Ef ,od offers In touch thet plucky little chap ez hez stayed behind at the collage, he'll Iwo to answer to me. Do ye under- stand? Ef the lawful guardians of l'a- tenket is ton weak or skecred 10 prevent nnteder and rowdyism here we'll hey a vig lance committee and take keer 0' doings ourselves. You fellows ez wools trouble night ez well quit right here. Ye've done enough mischief already.' "What d'ye • mean. Dore Bryon?" ask- ed. Poole angrily. "Do ye mean to say as I lied anything to do with Durkee's de rlh or the bustin' of the Clarion?" "I don't mention no names," return- ed Itrycn coolly, "hut I do say ez things must -top right here. Ain't thet so, neighb as?' "You're right, Dave." nnswercd three or four mien who had hitherto remained silent. "An:1 'welter thing." cintinucd the chn,nteon of order, "ef no effort is made to find nut who killed Durkee by them a: is paid fer mnlnlainin' the peace, ill do a little detective work myself. D'ye hear?" "Yell make n fine detective,' com- mented 1'eelo sneeringly. "Ye'd give ynur-self cony talkie' too much afore ye'd gone very du?." There was obundunt evidence that the passionsof I'wo!e and Bryan were teach - beg white Intal. The onlookers were divided about equally in their syrnpa- Ilties. and In a few moments more n lively scritionfigge might have resulted from the quarrel, had not hill Edtvnrds some to the ronrlu=io0 that the wet. fare of his sleek -in -Linde depended up - nn 1r.;lnnt action on his part. Exlingur• ishing one of the lamps. he exclaimed: "Conte. now, mates. it's lime ye rill went home. I'm going to Irick up .Anybody es wants to stny lien, all night kin keep his seal. D'ye understand:'" Fro:n behind n barrel in a remote c-.rner of the room carte skulking forth the small. wiry figure of n shock -heed- ed boy. Dodging behind boxes. again hurrying nntsehessly on. he reached the open do..r unseen. and scurrying off in the darkness made his way toward the von Mack villa Hustled out I. stere by Edwards the excited I'aTonk.'Lons gathered about 1'.xnle and Bryan in the street, but the diversion made by Inc postmaster tied g.ven the aroused passions of the vil- lagers lime to subside to some degree. and in few moments the group hnd di<g.er+ed by twos and threes, and Bry- an and Merlin Bvldwin were left alone, "(;ine me ye're hand. Dave," ex - chimed the taller as they turned home award. "l'e talked square and fair to that black•foeed scoundrel. \Vh,nt'ver ye want to do to petted Patonket ye kin count on ane." ""Thiink'e. ;Marlin. I guess thnr's enoug'n decent men lett among 11s to tike k•'rr o' the Inwn. Ef Bine isn't. we might ez well go to some other place be live." "\\ hn d'ye think killed Durkee, Dnve?" n -kid Ilnldwin, sinking his voice almost to a whisper. 'I can't tell y' I've got an a and see Good -Ilii ter heti) "Hum," thnught Baldwin, as he went on his way alone, "a noun's a queer ent- itle!. Thar's (nave, new, as `ca'n't afraid to talk turkey to Jun Poole, and yet he's sheered to meet his own wifo in the dark." • 1ght. Martin, but out it, and I'll 6.0 Mr, Dare In the mortiiu'. ; I'm expedite to git a lectur' out so late, from Tilde." (To Le Continued.) REVEREND THOMAS LORD NIMEl'Y-EIGIIT PEERS OLD, BUT GOES ON PREACHING. Enjoys a Walk. Ills Memory is Good, His Voice Clear and Ws Sight Serviceable. If not actually the oldest surviving minister of the Gospel in England, die Reverend Thomas Lord is certainly the oldest preacher who still preaches. lie veil be 999 next April and yet on a recent Sunday, he delivered two ser- mons at a church where lie held a pas- torale over 70 years ago. Trim and scrupulously fresh and neat in person —though old-fashioned enough to wear still something in the nature of a stock, Mr. Lord is instinct with old-world courtesy. Ile is almost ns alert in nody as in mind, and he enjoys a brisk walk US much as he does a substanlinl din- ner. His memory is unimpaired, his hearing exoellenl, his voice rich and pleasing and his sight, though not what it used to be, is still serviceable. He was born nt Olney, where his father hod a little shoemaking business. \\'hen he was still n small shaver, his father moved to Northampton where young Tom was brought up ns a shoe- maker and he diligently practiced his craft until his success as a lay prench- er brought with it an inevitable call to the ministry. He has been thrice mar- ried. Ills first wife died after two years, but with his second wife, he lived to 53 y, ars; and he is one of the few peo- ple who have enjoyed a golden wedding WIlh n second wife. His third wife re main d with him seven years. EXTREME OLD AGJ✓. has come to Mr. Lord with none of its usual attendant terrors, save the loss of loved ones. But he hos no secrets to impart by which others might hope tr, attain longevity with equal freedom from mental and physical Infirhnities. He knows of nothing in particular to wh'e'n he attributed his Immunity from most of the heavy burdens of advnnced years. Ile has never been a faddist in the mutter of foods. Ile has never smoked tobacco. Ile used to enjoy n glass of ale, and had no scruples nbout drinking, until he came to the conchr- sion that for the sake of the weaker brethren he ought to become a total ab- stainer. Ile had always worked hard, but never too hard, and has enjoyed hie work. Ile has gone in for moderation in all things. But so in an equal mea- sure have thousands of people nn whom, nevertheless, the infirmities cif old age have lain heavily. Inheritance will hardly account for Mr. Lord's remark- able exemption from the common lot of humanity. In the earlier days of his ministry, he wns far fro►n being ns strong mon, and found preaching such a severe strain that he had frequently to ire down between sermons. Perhaps fibs Mr. Lord's optimism more than anything else, lhnt has rendered the down -hill singe of life such a smooth one for hire. His outlook .n life has always been n cheerful one, mut cheerfulness, the modern doctors say, is THE BEST KiND OF TONIC. Mr. Lord believes that on the whole, the world is growing steadily better in- stead of worse. In his youth. Nnrth- ninpton had n population of 10,0f►ti, its bot and shoe, Indus try was Then car- ried on with 1111sl.infan simplicity, There were no huge factories, no steam whistles, no railways- none of the things Clint etinrnrlcrize. the Northampton of to- day with its population of 100,000. And ye! Mr. Lord declares that the North- ampton of his boyhood was a lower, dirtier, more vieinus pinee from every paint of view than the hustling city of the present. The whole standard of life Was lover, tie says, and the comfort of i' Iuraleulnlly less. The ngriculluril lab - neer of these times. too. he says, despite the outcry cnn'irning the decadence of npriculhu'e and the destruction of rustic sumplicily. Is n great Improvement nn the bumpkin of 70 or 80 years ago. EOt'ND AT LAST. In n certain 110114` which wns hardly of a happy descriphen the husband and the wife recrntiy had a serious quarrel, one result of whack tans That not a word passed between the Iwo for more than n month. and coy indispensable in+er communication wet mode indirectly, through the medium of servants. Iiad it not b, en for n bold stroke on the port of the w ire, it is difficult to know \ihcn ,this stubborn contest would have end- ed. The ether Surdny evening the hus- band, utterly tired of the enforced silence of the day, went to church, and, as the Iwo ti(i mums had gone out, the wife w•ns left tit home in role possession. \\'hs n the hu -bund ((11111' back from ser- vice he found nearly every room in the house In a ;writer litter. Every shelf nn(1 every drover, rind even the lnrge bookcase. :oculist to 1•e emptied of their contents, which Iny about on the tigers, "\Vhnl on earth is the raw here, 1 should like to know?' yelled the lino Void to 11:s wife, os she proceeded to turn otil the linen cupboard. 1 It' wife now heel her nnliripnled op - poi !unity, mint quickly (flailed bo.'i if of it. "Is'," said she. with nppnrent exul- Int on, "1 en' looking fer year longue, w'sieh I have lost ter nearly five weeks, awl now I have found III" The absurdity of the whole Affair so nppealed to the husband Ilhnt the burst into a roar ef laughter, and the feud ods at an end. - 1 Direct From the Gardens The Purest and Cleanest Green Tea on Earth. Delicious and Economi3a1 in use 11 (TALON GREEN TEA. Load packets only. 400. 500 and 50o per lb. At all grocers. M't}' Mf! The arm HORSES FOR FAi3MERS TO RAISE. There may be a quality In a horse for one purpose, and yet it may be useless for another. A horse may be an Ideal draft animal and useless for the carriage or vice versa. Ile may bo good on the road, and good for nothing else. Right here is a nut to crock, and before I crack it, I am going to say that there are just three classes of horses which farmers should strive to breed, writes Mr. 0. Melvold. These aro road, car- riage and draft. Do not understand me to say that there is 110 such thing as a very good combined horse. There are many such animals. 1 do say, however, that such animals come from striving to breed something better, and not from the breeder simply striving to breed that kind of a horse. The breeder's aim should be to produce the ideal of one of the three classes, and if he fail in tho Ideal he will likely get something good, even If this ideal is not realized. The ideal aimed at should be either a first-class carriage horse, a first-class coach horse, or a first-class draft horse. The Horse of speed, or so-called trotting horse, the farmer has no busi- ness trying to breed. That has come to be the business of those who make it a specialty, who have the necessary means la lay out in the business and the time and money to spend in its development after tho colt is raised. Should the farmer in the breeding of the carriage horse, succeed in raising a colt that he thinks is speedy, any advice would be to sell 411m to the first buyer who offers a paying price, and let some other fellow run the chances of developing speed. A good draft or farm horse should not weigh less their 1,500 pounds and have a closely knit frame, a strong loin, stout and quite upright shoulders, good lung power, wide fiat bones of the legs below the hocks and knees. Ilis pas- terns must be quite upright, yet not per- pendicular, and his feet roust be of good form and tough in texture. Ilere ngnin 1 wish to drop a word of cau- tion. No one thing will condemn a horse as quickly in the market as poor feet. Poor feet mean a poor horse all over, and such a thing as a tough wing horse with a weak, shelly foot does not exist. hard tis know this, but i l e True horsemen to convince the fernier of its truthful- ness. ness. ile will learn it shoeld he ever enter the city and offer such a horse for sale. Select the best mares you own to breed from it you want a good colt. WASTE LOT MADE FERTILE. My garden is about 150 feet square and is filled in out of the cetlors in the neighborhood ten years ago, 3 to 4 fee', deep, writes Mr. Frank Shuman. At that time Ns lot did not belong to ere; however, es it Was in the rear of Huy house and spoiled the view, 1 hnd some men level the entire lot off, so it would look a little better. 1 had an idea the weeds would probably cover this lot and make it less unsightly. However, weeds look hold very slowly indeed, and even after four years the ground was still very Lnre, only here and there a few clumps of tweeds. 1 got disgusted with its apenrance, find had it re -parroted, and sowed it in alfalfa. This look very good hold, and in three year.: we had a very fine crop of ullolfn on this lot, and the lot really looked splendid. However, it teas not any properly, and was not fenced. 011(1 501110 grocery people who owned homes mnnaged to :now it so close that the alfalfa was taken off. With the nllulfa the w eds seethed to take hold. r�ncd last year the lot was very green, 1 Then purchased the lot. fenced it in with a wire fence. but ons nut tilde to plow until the middle of Slay, owing to the complicnlions in the deeds. i hnd it plowed with n two -horse WOW. 0nd harrottidl; and h,y about June 1 i hnd a crop of ordinary kitchen vegetables in. It was first manured very heavily with ordinary horse manure, and about hall a Inn of bone dust and phosphates. 1 did this more for amusement than any- thing else, fully realizing that my vege- tables would cost probably two or three tinier what 1 could buy them for. While 1 was doing this work a num- ber of neighbors who hod more or less experience in farming and gardening. gave me all kinds of very discouraging advice. They said nothing could ever be raised successfully on this lot. The first month seemed to bear out their pre- dictions. as the things did not grow very well; but then they seemed to rush right up,and we secured a very good crop of green corn, tomatoes, eggplants. and a most excellent Prop of pumpkins, a great many more of these last than necessary, not realizing their very great bearing power. About three weeks ago 1 had about 2(1 very large pumpkins on the lot, and a number of smaller ones. Among this bunch there was one pump- kin which weighed 83 pounds, and a very large one which weighed 105 pounds. WATER FOR MILCH COWS. Experiments show that a cow, when in full flow of milk, drinks from 1,500 to 2,000 pounds of wafer per month, the average quantity determined by testing n herd being 1,600 per cow. The fact shows the importance of unlimited sup- ply of water at all seasons of the year. lo every one hundred quarts of milk the farmer sells about 88 quarts of water, and when the cow cannot procure water at all times she will fall off in yield. Mitch cows should always have plenty of pure water to drink. The best water comes from a good well with the sur- roundings clean and right. A clear run- ning stream that is not contaminated is all right, but one never knows -for cer- tain about the contamination. Ponds usually become foul and stagnant, and thoroughly unfit for cows to drink from. FEEDING CARRIAGE HORSES. Oats easily lend among the concen- trates. For variety, rolled wheat or barley with bran any form a part of the ration. From ten to twelve pounds of oats, or their equivalent, should suf- fice for the concentrates, divided into three feeds, the evening meal being the largest. Cooked grain has a cooling effect, but should not be given oftener than once or twice n week. A part of the hay may be chaffed and moistened before feeding; the remainder may be fed long, as flee ,cnrriage horse has plenty of time fo"tnasticating his food. from ten 10 twelve pounds of hey should total bringtho in order allowed, be 1 weight of ration within the limit of 20 to 22 pounds. COVE1IING FOR COWS. The practice of blanketing cows has become somewhat popular in certain parts of the country. it is found that a cover of this kind in cold weather helps hold bodily heat and prevents cows from sudden shrinkage of milk during cold spells, the cattle being able to devote their entire attention to the production of milk. Those who have noticed the subject carefully say that the covers make the cows more quiet and contented and that the nervous ones are less troublesome. These rugs are easily made out of old grain bogs or similar material. COOLDNT STAND 1T. "Sir," said the tramp, "1 have tasted food fur sev.n days; another tour of fasting and i must (lief' "Than." exclaimed the philanthropist, 'you shall live. Take this ticket; it will admit you. in my Blend, to stnnphious banquet; course after course, 'vents. wines find dessert—n feast three hems long; glorious contpnny, Mr. Tnikfor- lu.urs, Mr. Toofew, \Ir. Longyarn, ant other eminent men." "\\'ill there be any after-dinner speech- es?" re -ked the slnr.ing one. "Columns of 'eni," said the phllnnlhro- pisl. And the tromp handed bn. k the tick- et and crriwle(1 wearily away into a ►t- lent timber -yard to die. • not halt Nursing baby? It's a heavy strain on mother. Her system is called upon to supply nourishment for two. Soine form of nourishment that will be easily taken up by mother's system is needed. Scof fJ Errttctlrion contains the greatest possible amount of nourish. Invent in easily digested form. Mother and baby are wonderfully helped by its use. AU. DRUGGISTS, Ms. AND MAO FROM BONNIE SCOTLA eisrmimme NOTES OF INTEREST EPOM BED - OINKS AND Masts, What h Going On In the Highlands - and Lowlands of Auld Scotia. The death rata in Inverness for the - past month was only 10 per 1,00 of the population. - The week's drawings of the Glasgow Corporation Tramways reached the r•' curd sura of X18,792. The Stirling and Bridge of Allen tram- ways have been sold to the National ts,iist•ucliai Company for 4:15,G0t1. The death has occurre of Mr. Jas_ Macdonald, who for over - years Bet- e] as rural postman betsKirkpat rick and Ecclefechan. At morning prayers at t o A en Grammar schol...recently, a ha) thanksgiving sere 'q- was held con- nection with the 650th aunivers ry of the school. Mr. R. Mo bre, conductor of Lnngholna Town Band, has been appointed organ. est in the North U. F. church, Lang• holm, in succession to Mr. F. G. Scott who has resigned. The hall of tate 2d. Angus V. B. R. Ii.. Arbroath, which has undergone ex- tensive alterations and lmprovoments, was reopened by Colonel Davidson, of- ficer fficer commanding the battalion. The friends and relatives of ,Master Kenneth J. Macrae, the young Inver- ness vocalist, will be pleased to learn of his last success at Oban, in winning} the second prize for senior singing. The following wills have been proven Jas. Macitosty, ex -provost of Crieff X77,378; Thomas K. Newblgging, seed - mon, Stewarthall, Dumfries, 120,473. Mr. James Coates, jr., Fergusill 'louse, Paisley, has presented for the use of Sptltal public sehoot a very handsome bookcase along with 170 va bauble volumes, several maps and a pcinler. William Currie, who is known as the "human pin -cushion," and was for s limo with Barnum and Bailey's show, was sentenced to 15 days' imprisonment at Kilmarnock for a theft at Hurford. A handsome mural brass .ins been erected in Groquer parish church In the memory of Lieut. Dudgeon, of Car - gen King's Own Scottish Borders, who died in service In the South African war. . The death occurred at his residence Cove Point House, Gourock, of Captain Peter Bell. Captain Bell commanded Mr. Stewart Clark's steam yacht _ Vnr.- duara for more than twenty years. lie was a native of Lochgair, Loshfyneside. Mr. James Moodie, headmaster of Giasgow street school, Maxwelltown, died suddenly from heart failure. ito was a native of Muirkirk, where he was born in 184!, and he had been head- master of Glasgow street school since 1867. The death occurred at his residence on Gairnside, near Ballaster, of Mr. Rudolph Christen, well known in art circles, who has been suffering fcr some lime tfrom a severe illness, !` At the last Nairn Town Council meet- ing a letter was rend fgom Mr. James Stirling, chief constable, intimating his retiral from the °Mee of Bilet Master for the burgh of Nairn. IIARBER'S STRINGENT Rt:Lfr9. German Tonsorial Artists' Too Slriet in line of Cleanliness. In lata years the hygienic meats with reference to barb ops in Germany have been great' increas- ed, and they are constantly ecoruln g; more severe. So far, the authorities have restricted the regulations to rho utensils; but lately the personal clean- liness of the barber has also been made the subject of municipal legislation Recently the following riles have been established by the municipal govern- ment of a large German city: The rut- ting of hair most at core be remove]; the floor nf the shop must be %vaslur,l at least twice per week; cold and het runn;ng wn'cr must be supplied, end the barber must wash his hands with warm writer before attending to a cus- trmer. No cretonne or carpets are per- mitted in barber shops. The head- rests must be covered for each custo- mer with a fresh nnpkin of paper nr linen. 'flue employes must•. Glenn, long upper gnrmen's of ligfi �'►, w' out pockets. The soap used form of powder or small a ►lets. Ili hither hent razors must be removed by means of paper. Instead of sponges, pieces of woolen cloth, or nnpkin, tiny' t t bo used. Alum or mngnesta cnn only be used when kept in a powder - lex. The bowls and shaving brushes must he cleaned retell lirne niter hnving t ren used. Nobody is alk.wed to he staved who Is suffering from n visihM skin dis(xa-e, unless the proprietor u the shop is eonvinced Ihnt it is not en leginus. Spring rs, pnw.tcr•puffs, inn mein end stypbes in Inning, and revel ing brushes are prohibited. Scissor bra -hes and combs, ns well ne the he s. rutting mnehines and razors, most te cleaned with nmmonia or sodn, and e 0nteeeptie solution. As nnliseptics, r line, ;sok and ctdrosol are re••uramen 51 set TOOTHBRI'tii1FS FOR CIIILD German Scholars are lasing Their Mouths Looked after. Within recent years increasing ntten- lion has been bestowed ai•road on the stale of a child's teeth. At Strasburg a dental clinic has opened at the Cut- versily for the treatment of school- children. It consists of a walling room, an operating room, rind a doctor's room. Hither all the schoolchildren are sent, In order, by their teachers. Each child 14 quickly examined, as many ns 81) children being dealt with In en lair, and nearly 300 per day, by a single doc- ter. Teaching gees hand in hand with treatment, The doctor tells the child how to use a tooth brush, sans that ht uses one, and then sends him horn* to practlee with11. The movement !e apreeding. Wtg.sbaden rind MuR,au- sen school tat clinics are to 'I erect• dd.