HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1917-11-22, Page 7pyo
1,.1.
arm (r�
`t�Str.N�pr-7+,+�sa KAwxw mrv;.•'w
rV l� ��
ueries.4,
A DailyTreat-
Always_Acceptable ar,d Delicious,
Coeidueted by Professor Wary G. Bell
The vice ofh
ourl ect f farmrea�derrs deartment s the adviceof place
nacknowledged
authority on all subjects pertalnin9 to coils and crops,
Addrosa ail questions to Professor Henry G, Ben, In
care of The Wilson Publishing Company, Limited, Toronto,
and answers will appear In this column In the order In
which they are received, As space is limited It is advis..
able where Immediate reply Is necessary that a stamped
and addressed envelope be enclosed with tho.,questIon,
when the answer will be mailed direot Henry G. Bon
R.13.: -I have field of timothy sod
I am ploughing and was intending
sewing spring wheat on h. The epi
is clay loam. Does spring whoa
yield well on timothy sod or would
you advise me to sow oats? How much
spring.wheatshould I sow per acre?
Would you advise sowing fertilizer?
Answer: -I see no reason why you
should not get good results from
spring wheat following timothy. In
the Connecticut Valley, timothy is
grown as a source of organic matter
in preparing soils for tobacco crops.
Excellent results are reported. If
the timothy sod has been fall plowed,
it should be a comparatively easy
matter to prepay a satisfactory seed-
bed for wheat in The spring. In seed-
ing spring whsat at least a bushel and
a half of good seed per acre should be
sown, You'ivill find it highly pro-
fitable to drill in from 200 to 300 lbs.
of fertilizer per acre at the time you
are seeding the wheat. If your seed
drill does not have a fertilizer drop-
ping attachment, the fertilizer cart be
broadcasted the same as' lime, just
before the last (Asking. The disking
and harrowing of the land will work it
in so that the available plant -food will
invigorate the young growing wheat.
On your soil I would advise your us-
ing a fertilizer carrying 2 to 4 per
cent. ammonia, and approximately 8
to 12 per cant. available phosphoric
acid.
seeded a twelve acre field
in the spring of 1916 with seed clover
for pasture. Will it make good pas-
ture next summer or would you advise
plowing and seeding in wheat next
spring? The pasture was excellent. .
Answer: -Your clove,r• seeding
should yield you good pasture in the
spring of 1918, Whether or not you
should plow it up will depend upon
how muchlivestock you have on hand
and how much pasture they will need
next summer. If you can spare any
of the pasture for growing wheat,.
clover sod plowed under will make
an excellent seed -bed for spring
wheat.
14I.C.: I have a field in the former
bed of a creek. The water is now
- confined to a ditch and the field is tile
drained. The fine silt of this field
does not produce as good crops as
neighboring clay land. What will im-
prove the soil?.
Answer: -The possibee trouble with
the soil in question is that it is too
compact. Fine dile is packed togeth-
er so closely that air does not circul-
ate sufficiently within the area of the
soil, where the crop roots seek their
food, I would advise you to get a
stand of. clover on the field as soon
`aa possible, and theft plow under the
second, crop. 1f you have on hand
strawy manure, it will greatly bene-
fit the soil if you will fall -plow the
aoii, spread the manure in the spring
and work it in by disking and harrow-
ing, If you are planning -to seed the
field to wheat or other grain, and
clovev next spring, you will do well
to add 200 to 300 pounds of fertilizer
to the acre. This will give both the
wheat and the clover a vigorous start.
The analysis of fertilizer mentioned
The Crows' Signal.
All the woodland people had things
to fear in the winter time and there
}vete hunters who never tired of de
vising ways to catch them by means
of traps or of shooting them when
they least suspected it.
What were they to do?
Underneath some inviting leaves or
fallen branches might be concealed
some trap laid for the unsuspecting.
In fact, many of the woodland people
were caught every 'week. .And then,
when the hunters came to leek at the
traps they were always ready to take
,a shot at some passing bird.,
What were they to do? 0
Father Duck called a meeting of all
the woodland people who wee in con"
state dread of hunters and great was
his surprise at the many who came.
Even Mr. Beaver found Hewett) elm
from his new hone beside the beaver
dam which he was building.
Johnnie Muskrat and several of the
Woodchuck family • came, too, as. did
Simon Rabbit, with itis long ears, and.
David Crow, while last of all came
mischievous Mister Jay Bird.
It was a grand mass -mooting.
This is what they decided to doe
They divided tate woodland into sec-
tions, giving the large birds'thc duty
of. giving the warnings Auto the tree-
tops whenever danger vas near on
land; .the ducks and wain people wore
to Wnteh the river' and the niarahee.
The rabbits and squirrels had the
task of watching carefully for the hid-
in answer to 10 B. should give good
results under your condition.
W.G.:-1. Will orchard grass do
well on low, wet land? 2. What is
the best crop to, follow beans? Soil
is net very strong.
Answer; --1, Orchard grass thrives
on a variety of soils. If the ground
is not too wet, you can look for fair
crops from this. grass. As a rule
Red -top grass does best" on extremely!
wet soils. 2. Grain crops seeded to
clover are valuable as follow-up crops
where beans are grown. If yousin-
tend to glow wheat efollowing the
beans, it will pay you to fertilize the
ground as in answer to R. B.
111.1e.: -What is' the feeding value of
clover silage and how dies it compare
with,corn silage?
Answer: -Henry gives the follow-
ing comparisons of corn silage and
red clover silage:
Digestible nutrients In 100 lbs.
Total dry ln' Crude. Car@o- - Rats.
1001hs. Proleln Irydratca
lbs, lbs, lbs. lbs.
Corn 26.4 1.4 14.2 0.?
Red
clover 28.0 1.6 0.2 0.6
The Canadian Experimental Farms
have tested clover silage, versus corn
silage to: some extent at Agassiz,
British Columbia. They report favor-
ably on the results obtained from the
clover silage,
Ohio Experiment Station reports
that clover silage stored satisfactor-
ily and was eaten readily by the live-
stock.
P.R.: What is your opinion of the
value of basic slag?
Answer: -Basic slag is a carrier of
a small amount of soluble phosphoric
acid. It is phosphoric acid that
causes the corn pl.nt to ripen, and
has considerable to do with the filling
out of the kernels, both of corn and
small grain. In phosphate rock, the
phosphoric acid is almost insoluble.
In basic slag it is slightly soluble,
some running about 12 per cent. avail-
able -phosphoric acid. In acid phos-
phate the phosphoric, acid is most
mailable running usually about 16•
per cent One of the arguments used
in favor of basic slag is that it carries'
a considerable amount of lime. Direc- s
for Thorne of Ohio has' recently sand,1
concerning this Iatter point: -
The Tea of all Teas. B152
Black, Green Get a package an4 enjoy
i i to
a Mixed u i
a e o Tea "In Perfection".
PC oil
Train Your Child Early in "Faith Thon hts"
By Dr, Lena K. Sadler.
A. little child is the most imitative and nervous the child is impatient an
creature in 'the world. Long before irritable, An older child reasons
he is out of his little pinafores he en-, It out this way ono day: "When I'm
leavers to talk and act just as he seecross it's temper and mamma whip
the older members of the family do. me for it, but when mamma is cross
Itis because of this inherent tendency she says it's 'nerves,'"
to say and do those very things which It is indeed a pity that at this very
he hears others say and do, that, if time of a child's life, when we can
faith -thoughts are early and constant- influence him the most, that so many
ly suggested to the unfoldlng mind of thoughtless parents 1111 the child's
the child,' they will assist greatly in
evolving a character of joy, confidence
and courage.
On the other hand, if fear -thoughts
are continuously sown in the young
mind, they will eventually distort the
emotions, deform the conceptions and
wholly demoralize the health and life
activities of the growing child. Within
the limitations of the possibilities of
hereditary endowment, and in view of
this wonderful imitative nature we
are able to make a child almost any-
thing 'we desire; not "an, angel," in
the ordinary acceptation of thee� erm,
but a child who knows his placeeend.
possesses the ,rower of normal self-
control,.
It is daring the very early years-
froni 2 to 6 -when the imagination is
most plastic and vivid, when the
child's imitative instinct is so uncon-
sciously automatic that the initiation
of good habits will find the best op-
portunity for healthy growth and de-
velopment..
Happiness Contagious
If the parent will make sure that
self-control is established and that
,(;) /UP
n A/0 rf)-
.44
[a du0tiad etr" .%lira•%fe(ein -Sur
Mothers and daughters of all Ages are cordielly invited to write to this
department. initials only will be published with each queetion and its answer
sea meant' of 'identification, but full name end adrenal) must be given in each
letter. Write on one side of paper only. Answers will be mailed direct if
stamped and addressed envelope Is enclosed.
Address all correspondence for this department to Mrs. Helen Law, 235
Woodbine Ave„ Toronto,
Mrs, G. J.: -To make beads, mix
1 cup salt and 1 tablespoon corn-
starch, Heat in oven and mold with
the fingers into beads. A very little
water or perfume added will furnish
ail the moisture required, Pierce house some afternoon when the boxes
with hatpin or darning -needle and may be made at slight cost. Provide
pasteboard boxes of all sites and des-
criptions, tubes of library paste, rolls
of crepe paper, white, red, and of
performing introductions should be holly and poinsettia design, scarlet
s governed largely by circumstances, and holly ribbon, and Christmas "stick -
but there are certain set rules which ars" or seals. Pictures cut from
' are observed more or less closely by magazines can be utilized, also small -
well -bred people everywhere. Study patterned wall -paper. Best wishes
these until you are familiar with them for success,
and you will not be at a loss as to Mrs. W. P. P.: -There i a pretty
what to say. Always present the man custom in Norse countries that soothes
to the woman. The younger woman the impatient children who continual -
is always presented to the older one, ly ask the question: "When is Christ -
and a younger man to an older man, mas coming?" On the first day of
1 As a general thing an unmarried wo- December an ordinary wooden hoop is
man is presented to a married woman, gayly dressed in evergreen, and to it
In making introductions be particular at regular intervals twenty-four can-
" to pronounce names distinctly. It is 'dies are attached. It is put away in
not enough to say, "My aunt,' or "My a room by itself, and at dusk one
sister." The name ae well as rela- candle is lighted.
tionship must be stated. Shakinghands That night when the restless ques-
is not often practised at a first meet- i tion is asked, the mother with much
ing, unless the two have heard much! mystery Ieads the little ones into the
of each other and wish to express room where stands the evergreen
special cordiality. Beyond the fact that candelabrum with its one lighted cant
youth always rises for age, and orcin- dle. Then she answers the question.
ary folk to meet the greatly dis- "Not until all the candles are light-
tinguished, it is not necessary to rise; ed will Christmas be here," she says.
for introductions, A woman never i The children gaze in awestruck sil-
rises to greet a man unless she is the • encs. The next morning there is in -
hostess, or wishes to pay ;rim a j deed something new to talk about.
special compliment for his age or tris- I And when that day in its turn rolls
tinction. A newcomer is never in-! round to dusk again, the same cere-
troduced wholesale to all the guestsmollyis repeated. Only this time,
assembled. She is presented to one or I wonder of wonders, two candles in -
two at a time, as opportunity offers.' stead of one are pointing their cheery
A pleasant form of introduetion is in; fingers upward.
the form of a question, as "Mrs,So evening by evening do the chil-
Blank, may I present Mr. Smith?" Or, dren receive their message. And joy
"Miss Blank, I wish to present Miss' increases as .angle after candle adds
Jones." Or, "Mrs, Brown, let me in-' its blaze.
traduce Mrs. Smith." 2. Sew the i This Yuletide calendar is a source,
metal clasps from old stocking sup- of never -failing delight to little;
iporters on to your pot -holders. They Danish and Norwegian children, ands
lean then be hung on a hook behind the beautiful emblem might well be
1 the stove. transplanted to Canada.
Willing Worker: -How would you
like the idea of a "box" table at the
Red Cross bazaar? The boxes to be
Taney ones for the holding of Christ-
mas gifts, Have a "party" at your
bake in hot oven until dry: The beads
d may be colored with ink;
d Perplexed: --1. What one says when
mind with the unhealthful fear_
thought. "The bogie man'il get you
if you don't mind mamma," or "I'1
get the black man to cut your ears
off," or "the policeman is around the
corner to get bad little boys," are fa
miliar threats which are so frequent-
ly made to little people.
Fear Distorts,the Mind.
These efforts' to terrorize the young
child into obedience never fail to dis
tort the mind, warp the affections
and, more or less permanently, de
range the entire nervous system. The
arousal of fear -thoughts and fearful
emotions in tho mind of the growing
child is very often such a psychologic
and physiologic shock to the child that
the results are sometimes not wholly
eradicated in an entire lifetime.
Just see how far we carry this un-
wholesome introduction of fear -
thoughts even to the Almighty.
Thousands of us remember being told
as a child that "God doesn't Iike
naughty children," or "God will send
the bad man to get you if you don't
be good." Thus, early in life, an un -
the little child has learned that a fit wholesome fear of the Great Father,
of "angered crying" gets him abs°- the Being whose character is love,
sympathy and compassion, is sown in
the mind of the child, and, as time
lutely nothing, then may that self-
same parent expect to see develop
upon :hat foundation a strong and
noble character.
"Baby's skies are mamma's eyes"
is just as true as it is pretty and
poetical. Be it far. from
me to criti-
cise a tired, worn-out mother exhaust-
ed by an avalanche of household cares
and catastrophes, for her occasional
irritability; but,'nevertheless, her lit-
tle 2 or 3 year old child will encon-
ciously partake of her selfsame spirit.
When mamma is happy the little dill -
ren are happy. When mother is sick
"That basic slag cannot take the
place of lime for correcting soil acid-
ity is shown by long-time tests at the
Ohio Agricultural Experiment Station.
Economy and effectiveness have been
in favor of lime.
"Yields of clover and timothy hay
in a 5 -year rotation of corn, oats,
wheat, clover and timothy at Wooster
have been increased as a 12 -year aver-
age 1,237 pounds to the acre by the ..-..
addition of 2 tons of finely ground) Lesson VIII. A Psalm of Thanks:
limestone to a plot receiving complete 103. Golden
fertilizer with phosphorus in basic
giving -Psalm
slag. Corn has yielded 3.4 bushels Text, Pselnt 103. 2.
more to the acre on the limed than on Verses 1, 2. The psalmist summons
the unlined part of this plot, al- all his faculties to praise Jehovah.
though oats and wheat have not been Soul -The entire personality. Similar -
benefited by�tiie application of lime ly, "all that is within me," refers to
M this case. Increased erop yields the whole being. .Holy name -See
have returned far more than the cost eonmtent ou Neh 1. 11. in lesson for
of liming, at present market prices, No. 1.1. The psalmist is thinking of
on this plot where lime is used alongJehovah reveelisa himself as a holy
with basic sla. ' God. For the sake of emphasis the
g. summons is repeated in verse 2. For-
get not -Forgetfulness is the secret
passes end the child becomes a man,
these fears and distorted beliefs grow
and come so to possess the mind
that they often mold the character
and the a
p t e religious beliefs of the
individual. To the child who has
been reared to dread God, who has
conte to look upon the Creator as an
ever present "threat," it requires well-
nigh the supernatural to convey
the beautiful teaching of the father-
hood of God and the brotherhood of
man.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON
NOVEMBER 25.
den traps and give warning as to
their right location,
A system of signals was decided.
upon.
It was part "wig -wag" and part
telegraphing by means of cries. Mr.
Crow was to_ raise his wings twice
and then once in quick succession at
the first sign of danger, while the rale,
bits and squirrels were to give two
long cries and a short one for the
alarm.
The hunters were greatly djsap,
pointed that winter to find so many
traps empty and so many birds in
sight, but so few near enough for a
shot.
What had happened?
Father Duok by spring had begun
to think his trouble 080 s over and to
breathe easier -he almost forgot the
danger signals.
One day he was started by the shrill
screeching of David Crow, "The
wanting signet!" he exclaimed.
.Running quickly to his wife he
shouted: "There must be danger for
its! Keep perfectly quiet and stay
right here with the children. You
must be ready to leave at a moment's'
notice. I will run ,and find out what
the trouble may be."
And With that he disappeared.
Presently he returned and said that
elle danger was past. David
Crowe signal had saved their lives
HIGHEST PRICES PAID
For POULTRY, GAME,
EGGS et l`hATHEFI8
Pion tvrite•-r'or particulars.
P. PO0 L*N ai 00„
50 Elouadeours Marko*, Montrear
of much ingratitude. Benefits -Or,
"kind dealings," as set forth in the
succeeding verses; they include for
givnese, healing redemption, pro-
viMon for the psahmist's needs, etc.
8-5. These verses emphasize the
characteristic activities of Jehovah.
Forgiveth-The greatest of divine
blessings, which Jehovah had to be-
stow throughout the history of Israel
(Excel. 34. 7). Ilealeth-Afflictions
of body and spirit. If the psalmist is
thinking of the nation tine verse re=
fens primarily to the judgments which
have come as punishment for national
sin. (See Deut. 29. 21.) Redeemeth
-destruction-'fhe noun, bet-
ter translated "pit," denotes Sheol,
the place of the departed. The ex-
pression is often used figuratively of
deep distress; in the life of the nation,
of the exile; if so here, the redemption
would be the deliverance from exile.
Life i; The same as "thee" or "thy-
self" (compare verse 1). Crowneth
---"He makes ti`s children kings and
weaves their crown out of his own
glorious attributes of lovingkindness
and tender mercies." Desire -A word
of uncertain meaning. Jehovah gives
to his children always and in abun-
dance that which is good for theme
6-10. Je)tovah's gracious dealings
with Israel. Righteous acts --Acts
revealing Jehovales righteousness, in
the special sense of loyalty to the
covenant relation between himself and
Israel; here, acts of deliverance.
euclgments-Acts of judgments,
against Israel's enemies, the oppress-
ed being the nation. Ways
doings ---ills inethocls were revealed
in the days of Moses in the deliverance
oe Israel and the destruction of the
Egyptians; but Jehovah was also ac-
tive throughout the enth'o history of
Israel, Chide --Or, "contend," Thole
aro times When it seems a0 if Jehovah
were angry and quarreling with his
people, but this cannot °ndtme. The
salniist is fully aware Out the bless -
1 egs o7lumet'ated have -come to the
people not because they were merited,
but solely because of the divine lov-
ingkindness.
11-14. The psalmist thvells at
greater length on the greatness and
tenderness of Jehovah's love, Fear -
See comment on Neh. 1. 11 in lesson
for Nov, 11. The figure in verse 12
denotes the completeness of -the re-
moval of sin. Back of the pardoning
grace is the divine compassion.
Pitlsth-Or, "has compassion," Back
of the compassion is the divine know-
ledge of man's weakness. Dust -Man
being of the earth earthy, he has of
course low, carnal elements in his
make-up. Jehovah knowing this
sympathizes with him,
15-18. Though man is frail and
transitory, the lovingkindness of God
endureth forever. Wind -The east
winds of Palestine are "dry.and parch-
ing,
the coven-
ant leads Jehovah to bestow blessings
even when punishments are merited.
19-22. Since Jehovah is universal
king, alt creation is summoned to
finite in his praise. Heaven -Calls!
attention to the transcendence of God
(see comment on Nell, 1. 4 on lesson!
for Nov,. 11), as also Cb the perman-
ency of his rule; his abode is free
from the disturbances that overthrow
kings and governments, Angels
They form his court; as Jehovah's
warriors they must be mighty in
,strength; they obediently do his bid-
ding. Hostsministers
Celestial beings subordinate to the an-
gels, In verse 23 the whole realm
of nature is-surnnioned to join in the
praise -song of the angels.
Kerosene Helps.
The uses of kerosene are many, and
all housewives are familiar with some
of them. The best is worth saving.
A cup of kerosene to a pail of water
will put a gloss on your windows, oil-
cloeh and linolounr. It will take
grease from woodwork,
A rag wet in kerosene will clean the
bathtub and wash -begin, It will take
the smoke from granite kettles and
cleat paint where soiled fingers have
smudged around the door -knob. It
will take off the must from the kitchen
stove.
If your serving machine runs stiffly,
saturate the parts with kerosene and
leave it on over night. In the morn-
ing wipe dry, then oil with a high-
grade machine oil, and the machine
will run like e breeze.
Cut the grease from your drains
and sink by using kerosene on a brush,
Put some kerosene in your starch
and see what an easy ironing day you
will have. If your irons are rough
Wet a cloth e lilt kerosone, and while
the irons are very riot, rub thein' on
the cloth vigorously.
'O Y
OPodirli
Litter For the Poultry House.
During cold weather litter is a very
important factor in egg production
because on its use the activity and ap-
petite of the birds largely depend. The
busy bird is a hungry bird and the
hungry bird is usually profitable.
There are really three reasons for us-
ing litter.
1. Litter is thought of principally
as a means of hiding scratch grain or
any other feed which may be thrown
down for the purpose of encouraging
exercise. From this standpoint alone
a hard fibrous litter such as coarse
straw or corn fodder will wear well
and prove very satisfactory.
2. Hens require a•Iarge quautity of
bulk in their ration. During the sum-
mer this is picked up on the range,
but during the winter it must be taken
largely from the litter unless a very
abundant supply of green food is kept
before them. Litter which contains a
large amount of succulent green
leaves or blades such as clover hay
or rowen not only promotes exercise
bat also provides a very good sub-
stitute for summer green food.
3. During changeable weather
houses are very apt to got damp and
it is an advantage to use litter with
some moisture absorbing qualities so
that frequent changing may remove
dampness. From this standpoint a
very dry, fine cut, fibrous litter is most
5utisfectory.
It is impossible to get any one kind
of material that will have all the
above qualities. A combination such
as straw and clover or cut corn fodder
and clover are very satisfactory, The
addition of a little clover hay every
few days will improve almost any
kind of litter. Wheat, oats or buck-
wheat straw, wntlu•eshed, provide both
grain and litter in a very desirable)
font.
Litter must be changed frequently
and kept sweet and clean if hens are;
expected to work in it and give best
results. While many poultrymen!
who add litter occasionally and clean
out houses only once or twice te year
seem to be getting satisfactory re-
sults,nnuoh better results could be had
by raking out all the litter and put-
ting in new every three or four weeks.
Changing this often may require a lit-
tle more labor, but the amount used is
not so melt greater and the effect on
the birds will more than make up the
difference. I0 is advisable to shake
out the litter frequently or take it
forward if it has been scratrhed„bitek
under the drop boards or in the cote
tiers,
Clean, dry litter with an occasional
forkful of clover means beey,content-
ed tan, and gold egg production.
Fish Chowder: -2 caps potatoes
(slieed), 1 cup 0(:1011 (sliced), 1 cup
fish. Cook seperniely potatoes,
onion and fish, Campine, Semon and
reheat with white sauce,
•
The King's Uniforms.
The King is by no means a dandy,
and prefers the well-eut lounge suit
and soft hat in which he receives his
intimates during his rare leisure at
Sandringham. The numerous uniforms
in which he has to appear on many
State occasions are under the charge
of the head valet, and are kept in spe-
cial rooms at Buckingham Palace,
with a duplicate set at Windsor. At
the beginning of each week the valet
receives a list of the King's engage-
ments with the teniform (each has its
special number) to be worn, as well as
the time when it must be ready.
OUR ADVICE
Ship to us at once and Reap
Benefits of High Prices
now prevailing.
Price List and Shipping Tnga FREE
hrn- and Afaxande,WlNNlPE3 Canada
Etak,30 ProHtuFs'°lyFurs
b #1 ipips n tD t"!o
Udo (0e 08;1 Owlt Ql o
tfa Vl 10 mmr u
e�se 5yaea t nal, rhe
¢aap��1p,�pio�a; m o�y'rynp4��,t. rYr�e.
Leo., tR•poR, n 0,85 r0l000 nE ,, ether0Ydo
W5 Aar tn0p,f a�0 5012 00, 6 mover lama °liar
00 as .tve r,hlpaI50 .
WRITS il'0ft P81Bfd 1400(
"anwPC„veNA:0 dn �n�co
re
1$ ISnMGo0r50-a lm0il
eci iaab, kis.
W. R. ADAMS q0 p0p
�d GAa
FREMONT, NEB., U.S.A.
Pays The Highest Prices
For RAW FURS
P
R
H
'tel
Ship your furs to Ads.ms by ex-
press or parrel8 post.
Oailaruilirsourarnened letold
we are paying blg for them.
Write for Price Llst 110,
W. E. ADAMS CO„
Stew tut Mora/WOO
1.11aMONT, VIM, U. 6, .4.
tiolossanfacanxrnrr.
0
s
}
WHEN ALL OUR
GEESE ARESWANS1
By Emily Calvin 131nke,
When we aro young' our geese aro
nearly always swans,
But we lose that fine are of vision.
as we grow older.
So I was glad the: other day to die, -
cover an old lacy of 79 whohad pre-
served through all the 'years her
capacity for idealizing.
She was drying corn in the sun
when I came upon her, over in a big
meadow just south of where I live.
This was strange in itself, `for
nearly every one I know does things in
the approved way. Most of us dray
corn in our little back yards, where
we are secure from prying eyes and
perhaps neighborly gossip.
But here was this little old lady way
out in the open, a dozen huge plates
before her, turning and turning with
a fork and fanning and fanning with
a newspaper those parts she hadn't
covered with white screening.
As I walked by her with a little nod
she said, very pleasantly: "IloW much
earn have you dried this August?"
I stopped and answered, promptly:
"A hundred. and eighty-five ears,"
"Very good, very good," she ap-
plauded, though 1 knew her corn pile
represented several hundred ears.
"You must hairo a very lenge
famjly," I suggested,
"0f blood kin, not one," she answer-
ed, vigorously fanning and turning.
"But down there near Richard's
creamery thero's two families o1 ehi(-
dren'll enjoy dried corn this winter."
She said this very simply.
"Know those families?" she asked.
"The 16 -year-old girl, Maybelle, has
washed dishes for me," I said.
The old lady looked around. "Nice
girl, isn't she?" she asked.
Now, I didn't think Maybelle was
distinctive in any way, except perhaps
she was more sulky occasionally than
any human being I'd known. I re-
member she washed dishes after a
luncheon one entire afternoon with a
black frown on her brow and a heavy
hand that threatened havoc to all my
china.
"Maybelle came to my house one
day," my companion continued; "it
was a rainy, downcast sort of day, but
little Gaylord Prindiville had been left
with me to take care of while his
mother went shopping. You know
Gaylord."
"I don't know him," I said.
"Well, you're missing a lot" she
said, with a shake el her head. "He's
the most fascinating curly headed 4-
year-old ever sent this side of heaven."
Which was enthusiastic enough, sure-
ly. "Well," she continued, "May -
belle came over, and she started to
out up with Gaylord, and in a minute
my old house was just ringing out
with their laughter. I came in front
the kitchen, and I declare I never want
to see a prettier sight in this world
than Ivlaybelle. Hee hair had become
loosened and its little ends wero curly,
and her eyes were all sparkling, like
blue agate, if you could find a piece."
She gamed. "I always knew there
was something deep and kind of fine
to Maybelle. I was more than sure
when I saw her playing with a little
lad."
Some way or other I wanted to
stay in that field watching that thin,
blue -veined hand stirring the corn, so
that two families of child2en might
have enough to eat next winter; I felt
she'd see that they had 100r0 than
corn if necessary. And as 1 watched
I listened to a running commentary
on all the people of our town; some 3
knew and some I didn't. And each
and every one, man, woman and child,
had some quality to distinguish him;
some revealing trait that shall make
him stand out in my memory.
And at last I ventured to remark
that when I was a little girt nearly
every one I knew (particularly of
older people) was wondereul in one
way or another. She stopped tend-
ing her corn and turned to me.
"I remember 'twas so with me when
I was a ming one," she said, "But
I carried ),t awful far. My geese
were swans with a vengeance, let me
tell you, I once slapped my little els-
ter good because she insisted that my
teacher ate and drank like an ordinary
mortal,"
"When did you get over it?" I in-
quired,
nquired, as I might have asked her how
long the measles lasted,
"And she answered with a little
smile: "I don't knower ever I got
over it. I think Was because my'
father added something to niy seeing
people. `Never look at a person
Mending alone,' he told me.
"And so," she continued, "I'm al-
ways on the lookout for backgrounds,
as good a word as I can devise. Opine
to see a body 'with his background you
don't think he's mean."
She looked at me with a little know- ,
ing shine, Mid said quickly: "I did
think Maybelle was the most particul-
arty sulky little girt I had ever
known," 1
' "But you didn't know," she said,
"that her mother Inas chronic stomach
trouble and is fond, poor soul, of re-
peating her symptoms. And you
didn't know that Maybelle sometimes
Dees her mother's life out for the
things outer girls have and the hasn't,
You, .see, she's not been trio enough
yet to have a protecting philosophy
like some of the rest of us."
"Well, I like your philosophy," I
said,
"Jealousy .18 a secret avowal of in,
eriority,"•w,Iltassillort ,