The Firm of
Girdlestone [
A C O N A N DOYLE
^ c - m
- s v 3*'
C H A P T E tt I.
The approach to the offlca of Olrdlo
•tone A Co. was not a very iliirmtied one
A narrow doorway opens into a Ion#
white-washed passage. <>n one side of
this is a b r a « plate with the inarription.
“ Girdlestone A Co., African Merchants."
and above it a curious hieroglyphic sup
posed to represent a human 'land in the
act of pointing. Following the guidano
of this emblem, the wayfarer flrds him
self in a small square yard surrounded
by doors, upon one of which the name
of the firm reappear« in large white let
ters, with the word “ push” printed be
neath it. I f he follows this laconic invi
tation he will make his way iuro a long
low apartment, which is fhe counting
bouse of the African traders.
On the afternoon of which we speak
things were quiet at the office«. Misty
Isoudon light shone hasily through th*
glazed windows and cast dark shadow« in
the corners.
On a high perch in the
background a weary-faced, elderly man.
with muttering lips and tapping fingers,
cast up endless lines of figures. Beneath
him, in front of two long shining mahog
any desks, half a score of young men ap
peared to be riding furiously, neck and
neck, in the race of life. Any habitue of
a London office might have deduced from
their relentle«a energy and incorruptible
diligence that they were under the eyea
« f some member of the firm.
TYie member in question leaned sgain't
the marble mantelpiece, turning over the
pages of an almanac, and taking from
time to tíme a stealthy peep over the top
of it at the toilers around him.
Com
mand was imprinted in every line of his
strong, square-set face and erect, pow
erful frame. There was something class
ical in tbs regular olive-tlnred features
and black, crisp, curiiug hair fitting tight
ly to the well-rounded head. Yet, though
classical, there wa« an absence of spirit-
nality. It was rather the profile of one
of those Homan emperors, splendid in its
animal strength, but lacking those subt'c
softnesses of eye and mouth which speak
of an inner life. Such was Ezra, the
only child of John Girdlestone. and the
heir to the whole of his vast business.
The junior partner was aiimt, and thrt
clerks were working uneasily.
Their
fears wer« terminated by the sharp sound
of a table-gong and the appearance of
a boy with the announcement that Mr
Girdlestone would like a momenta conver
•atlon with Mr. Ezra.
The sanctum of Mr. John Girdlestone
was approached by two doors, one of oak
with groundless panels, and the other
covered with green baize. The room itself
was small, but lofty, and the walls were
ornamented by numerous sections of ships
•tuck upon long flat boards, very much
as the remains of fossil fish are exhibited
In museums. There were also several pho
tographs of the various v'wsel« belonging
to the firm, together with maps, char's
and lists of sailings inuiunerab'e. Abov*»
ths fireplace was a large water-color
painting of the barque Belinda as she
appeared when on a reef to the north of
Cape Palmas.
An inscription beneabn
this work of art announced that it hA(l
been painted by the second officer an i
presented by him to the head of the firm.
It was generally rumored that rhe raer
chants had lost heavily over this disas
ter, and there were some who quoted if
as an instance of Girdlestone's habitual
strength of mind that he should decorate
hia wall with so melancholy a eou venir.
John Girdlestone, as he tat at h s
square office table waiting for his sou.
was undeniably a remarkaole looking
man.
For good or for evil no weak
character lay beneath that hard angular
face, with the etrongly marked features
and deep-set eyes.
He was known to be a fanatic in r»
1 lgioo, a purist in morals, and a man of
the strictest commercial integrity.
Yet
there were some few who looked askance
at him, and none, s^ve one, who could ap
ply the word friend to him.
He ro«» and stood with his back to the
fir« as his son entered. He was so tall
that he towered above the younger man,
but the latter’s square and compact frame
made him, apart from the difference of
age, the stronger man.
"There's news of the Black Eagle,” he
•aid.
“ She is reported from Madeira."
“ Ah !" cried the junior partner eagerly.
“ What luckT
“ She is full, or nearly so, according to
Captain Hamilton Miggs report.
" I wonder Miggs was abls to send s
report at all, end I wonder still more
that you should put any faith in It,” his
son M id impatiently.
“ The fellow is
«ever sober."
“ Miggs is a good seaman, and popular
on ths coast. He may indulge at times
but we all have our fallings. Here is the
list vouched for by our agent. ‘ Six hun
dred barrel# of palm oil’----- •*
“ Oil is down to-day," ths ocher inter
rupted.
“ It will rise before the Blact Ragle
•rrlvea," the merchant rejoined confident
ly. “Then he baa palm nuta in balk, gum
•bony, skins, cochineal, and Ivory. Ivory
Is at a fancy figure
We are sorely in
need o f a few good voyage#, for thing«
have been very alack of late. It It not
upon this matter that I wanted to speak
to you,” Girdlestona continued. " I t has,
however, always been my practice to pre
fer matters of bualneoa to private affair«,
however pressing John Harston Is «aid
to be dying, and ha haa sent a meonage to
me saving Chat ha wishes to ee« ms.
It Is inconvenient for me to leave the
office just now, but I feel that It Is my
Christian duty to obey such a summon«
I wish you. therefore, to look after things
until I return."
“ I can hardly believe that tee newe to
true,'* Ears said, la astonishment. T W e
must be some mistake. Why, I spoke to will uae It so well. Those are the term
him on 'Change last Monday."
of the will. But you will guard her and
“ It la very ■uddeu." his father an care for her, a« I would myaelf. She la
swered, taking his broad-brimmed hat a tender plant. John, toe weak to grow
from a peg. “ There ia no doubt about alone. Promise me that you will do right
tha fact, however. The doctor says that by her— promise It?"
thera is very little hope that he will sur
“ I do promise it," John G'rillestone an '
vive until evening. It ia a case of malig- ■wered in a deep voice. He was standing
naut typhoid fever."
up now, and leaning over to catch the
“ You are yery old friends?" Ezra re words o f the dying man.
marked, looking thoughtfully at his fath
Tha sick man's head fell back exhaust
er.
ed upon his pillow.
"Thank heaven."
“ I have known him since we were boys he muttered, "now I can die in peace."
together,” the other replied. *xour moth
“ Turn your mind away from tha vani
er, Ezra, died upon the very day that ties and dross of thia world,” John Girdle
Harstou's wife gave birth to this daugh
stone Mid sternly, “ and fix it upon that
ter of his seventeen years ego
Mrs. which is eternal, and can never die."
Harston only survived a few day»."
“ Are you going?" the luvalid aaked
“ How will the money go if the doctors sadly, for he had taken up hit and stick.
are right?" Ezra asked keenly.
"Yea, I must go l I have an appoint
“ Every penny to the girl," the mer ment in the cky at six, which 1 must not
chant answered. “ She will be an heiress. miss. I shall send up the nurse aa I go
There are no other relatives that I know down,” Girdlestone Mid. "Good-bye !**
of, except Che IHmsdale«, and they have a
“ Good-by ! Heaven bleaa you, John."
fair fortune of their own. But I must
The firm, strong hand of the hale man
S tum p P u lit a * D evio «.
go."
enclosed for a moment tha ferble burning
Itere la a sketch o f a device which
The African merchant hailed a hansom one of the sufferer. Then John Girdle-
and drove out to hia friend’s bouse at atone plodded hrevliy down the atair. an.! w111 do
wurk ln *he wtt* o f re;
It can be operated
Fulham. He and Harston bad been char rheM friends of forty years’ standing had moving »tumps.
ity school boys together, had roughed it ■aid their last adieu.
| by a man and a boy If stump» do not
together, risen together, and prospered
TTie African merchant kept hi» appoint exceed »lx or eight Inches ln diameter,
together. Harston, by incesmnt attention meet In the city, but long before he reach- For lurger stumps tw o men and a boy
to business and extreme parsimony, had ed It John Harston had gone also to may be employed. The boy can change
succeeded in founding an export trading keep that last terrible appointment of the hook at each awing o f the pole. In
concern. In this he had followed the ex which Che messenger ie death.
, h), (n it r a t io n two short chain« (No.
ample of hia friend. There was no fear
1 and 2) are shown attached to the
of their intereata ever coming into coi-
n i lu’ ,
»Tirv
p °le* These are each four feet long
lision, aa his operations were confined to
“ Oome n. M id Mr. Girdlestone. Why, r 14.
. . .
.
•.
.
. a
.«a .«.a Ka»k
with a common grab hook on one end
the Mediterranean. The firm grew and captain.
I am glad to sm yon back M fe
. f
.
. ..
_
prospered, until Harston began to be look and well "
i aut* * roun<* hook or ring at the other
's! upon a« a warm man in the City cir
"Glad to see ye, air— glad to see ye.”
end- The longer chains are fixed to
cles. His only child was Ka*e, a girl of
The voice was thick and husky, ana the stumps, one o f them reaching to
.seventeen.
There were no other near there wan an Indecision about hi« gait aa the pole, the other to the grab hooks,
relatives, save Dr. Dimsdaie, a prosper though he had been drinking heavily. " I The pole requires to be 15 or 16 feet
ous West End physician.
came in sort o’ cautious,” tha owner con
Girdlestone pushed open the iron gate tinued, “ ’cause I didn’t know who might
and strode down the gravel walk which be shout. When you and me speaks to
led to his friend's house. A bright sum gether we likes to speak alone, >ou bat "
mer sun shining out of a cloudless heaven
The merchant raised his burtiy eye
bathed the green lawn and the uuany-col- brows a little, as though he aid not relish
ored flower beds in its golden light. The the idea of mutual confidences sugg^lted
a!r, the leaves, the birds, all spoke of life, by hia companion’a remark. “ Hadn’ t yo«i
it was hard to think that death was better take a seat?” he Mid. “ I must
closing its grip upon him who owned them congratulate you on your cargo, and wish
ail. A plump little gentlean-in in black you the same luck for yonr next voyage,"
was just descending the steps.
the merchant continued.
"W ell, doctor," the merchant asked,
"Ivory, an’ gold dust, an' skins, hn'
“ how ia your patient?"
resin, an’ cochineal, an’ gums, an’ cfcony,
“ You’ ve not come with the intention of
“ ■
long and 5 or 6 Inches In diameter at
seeing him, have you?" the doctor asked,
n buIk. I f there » a better cargo about
”
, . . „
glancing up with some curiosity at the I-d like to aee it.” the sailor .aid d^l- “ >• butt- T o operate, put chain No. 4
grey face and overhanging eyebrows of antly. "Say, now, weren’ t you eurprlaed on the biggest stump and have the
the merchant. “ It is a most virulent case to see ua coma back— eh? Straight now. other end fixed to the pole about 18 or
of typhoid. : He may die in an hour or between man and man?”
I 20 inches from the end. Take chain
he may live until nightfall. Dut nothing
‘T h e old ship hangs together well, and No. 1 and place It 6 inches nearer the
can Have him. He will hardly recognize haa lots of work in her yet," the mer- , end ftnd chain No. 2 »lx Inches on the
you. I fear, and you can do him no good. chant answered.
| other side. Now place chain No. 3 on
It is most infectious, and you are incur
"Lots of w ork!
I thought she was the stump that Is to be pulled and
ring a needles« danger. I should strong
gone in the bay ! We’d a dirty night with 8Wjng the pole aa fa r aa possible; at-
ly recommend you not to go."
"W hy, you’ ve only just come down a gale from the west-sou wg*tv an had tach the grab hook from No. 1 to No. 3
been goin’ by dead reckonm for three
r
untI1
from him yourself, doctor," John Girdle-
days, so we weren’t over and above sure
’ . , ®
.
.. . ' v
'
Q
stone remarked.
,
.
e.
mtwj, - a ,
: No. 2 chain can be attached to No. 3.
o ourselves. She wasn t much or a se*-
« _ ..
.
“ Ah, I ’m there in the way of dnfy.”
going craft when we left England, but the K <*P swinging back and forth, Chang-
“ So am I,’’ said the visitor decisively, •un had fried all the pitch out o’ her Ing hoop« at every awing until »tump
and passing up the stone step« of the en scams, and you might ha’ put your fin- la up. For heavier atumplng a horse
trance strode into the hall. There was a
ger through some of them. Tw o days rig on a sim ilar principle may be used,
large sitting room upon the ground floor,
an* a night we were at the pump«, for 0nly the chain requires to be heavier
through the open door of which the v !s-
she leaked like a sieve. We lost the foie and stronger. Make the hooka on No.
itor saw a sight which arrested him for
topsail, blown clean out o’ the ringbolts. 1 and 2 with Just turn enough to hold
a moment. A young girl was sitting in
I never thought to aee Lunnoa again."
mi the link o f No. 3.
a recess near the window, with her little,
“ I f she could weather a gale Pke thai
supple figure bent forward, and her hands
she
could
m
ake
another
voyage.”
P ro te e tlw * F o w l, on R o o d .
clasped at the back of her head, while
"She could .tart on another, the «alloc
N atu raliy the fow ls catch cold more
the elbows rested upon a small table in
|y af Q|ght when „ „
roo8t
front of her.
Her superb brown hair « i d gloomily, - ta t a . like a. not * e d
fell in a thick wave on either side over ne” w
com.0 y L ’re not quits youraelf than during the day. when they are
her white round arms. The doctor had this morning, Miggs.
We value you aa moving around freely ao that protec-
just broken his sad tidings to her, and
a dashing, fearle«« fellow— let me fill your tlon should alw ays be given them If
she was still in the first paroxynn of he*-
gla»a again—who doesn’t fear a little risk there 1» danger in this respect or if the
grief—a grief too acute, as was evident
where there’» something to be gained. 1 nights are very cold and It Is desired
even to the unsentimental miud of
keep an the heat possible among the
merchant, to allow of any attempt at con You'll lose your good name f you go
j birds.
Place the rooets so that the
solation.
The merchant paused irreso on like that.”
“ She's in a terrible bad way,” the cap- 5 acka w ill rest against the w all o f the
lutely for a moment, and then ascending
have to do some pouitry house, then, on the ro o t o f the
the broad staircase he pushed open the tain insisted. ‘ ‘You'll
thing before she can go,
door of Iiarston's room and entered.
building a tew Inches farther from the
“
What
shall
we
have
to
do?"
The blinds were drawn down and the
w all than
the low er roost, erect a
“
Dry
dock
her
and
give
her
a
thorough
chamber was very dark. A pungent whiff
of disinfectants issued from it, mingled overhaul. She might sink before she got
with the dank, heavy smell of disease. out o’ the Channel if she went aa ahe is
The bed was in a far corner. Without just now.”
(T o be continued.)
seeing him, Girdlestone could bear the
fast labored breathing of the invalid. A
trimly dressed nurse who had been sitting
R e flp e d C r u e l t y o f m B o y .
by the bedside rose, and, recognizing the
"F o r genuine cruelty the average
visitor, whispered a few words to him 5-year-old boy has got a Hottentot can
and left the room. He pulled the cord of nibal licked to a frazzle,” said the
the Venetian bAind so as to admit a few
proud father o f a young hopeful the
rays of daylight.
The great chamber
looked dreary and bare, as carpets and other day to a Philadelphia Record
hangings had been removed to leasen the m aa “ The latest trick o f my kid Is a
chance of future infection. J.rbn Girdle winner, but was sort o f rough on the fram e to which a curtain can be at
stone stepped softly across to the bedside, victim, which was our pet cat. About
tached made o f any deelred material,
and sat down by his dying friend. The three weeks ago we noticed that pussy
unbleached
muslin,
burlap and old
latter turned his restless head round, suddenly stopped eating and drinking.
and a gleam of recognition and gratitude A ll the choice bits o f meat and dishes carpet being good materials, so that
when It Is let down It w ill fall to the
came into hia eyea.
o f milk were le ft untouched.
ground directly In front o f the lower
“ I knew you would come," he said.
"F
o
r
several
days
we
explained
It
by
roost. By the use o f a strap and a
“ Yes, l cam« the moment i got your
supposing that the cat was getting more hook at o th e r end a simple plan Is had
message."
“ I am glad that you are here,” the than the ordinary number o f mice and Qf fa fte n lllg the curtaln ln p,ace whell
sufferer continued with a sign of relief. eating them to the exclusion o f our |t
not ln n8e
The dotted line ln
“ I wish to speak to you.
I am very offerings, but we soon noticed
that she the m u,tratlon shows where the cur-
weak. I have been making my will,
wae becoming tliln and gaunt and did j a |n w [p f a]] when dropped and the
John. Stoop your head and you w :ll
not seem Inclined to move about and I entlre plan „ e M lIy seen from the cut
hear me better. 1 have less than fifty
purr as she used to. One day, after an(j (,an ^ readily worked out at small
thousand. I should have done better had
two weeks o f this, I picked up the now -oat.
1 retired years ago."
" I told you so,” the other broke In skeleton cat and began to stroke Its
P lo w in g M a n o r « Under.
neck.
gruffly.
When coarse stable manure ia plow-
“ You did— you did. Bnt 1 acted for
W hat do you think I found? A thin
the best. Forty thouMnd I leave to my rubber band' stretched tightly around
“ nder and tbere is moisture enough
daughter Kate."
the throat, concealed by the long fur. | *n
and manure to cause Its
A look of interest came over Girdle- It Just permitted the cat to breathe, b u t, fermentation. It Immediately begins to
stone’s face. “ How about the balance?’’ she could not eat. I removed It and furnish food for crops.
It does this
he aaked.
“ I leave that to be equally divided now she Is getting along all rig h t i al1 the better ln ear,y 8P rln* ’ aB ^
among the various Ix>ndon institutions When I asked the boy about it he said ' manure under the fnrrow holds It up
from
above,
for educating the poor. We were both he Just wanted to see If kitty would i and admits warm air
poor boys ourselves, John, and we know strangle. I f It had been anything else ' whlch la Just what '■ required to cause
bnt a cat It would have been dead In actlve fermentation.
The release o f
the value of such schools.”
ammonia aa the manure ferments en
Girdlestone looked perhaps a trifle dis no time."
riches all the soil above it, as the con
appointed. The sick man «eu t on very
H o ld « »o th ln g .
slowly and painfully :
stant tendency to warm s ir Is to rise.
“ My (laughter will have forty thousand
“ A spendthrift," remarked the horn» Hence there Is good reason fo r apply-
pounds. But it is so tied up that she grown philosopher, "le a good deal like |ng manure as top dressing during the
can neither touch it herself nor enable a tub w ith the bottom knocked o u t”
| w in ter on land that Is to be plowed or
anyone else to do so until she is of age
"W h a t’s the answer?" queried the hoid f or crops ln the spring.
She haa no fnends, John, xnd no rala-
very young man.
I
------------
tions, save only my cousin. Dr. George
-H e takes «11 that comes, but Is able A m o u n t 0 « S ee d R e p a i r e d P v t A t t t .
Dimsdaie. Never waa a girl left more
T
h
e
amount
o f seeds required to an
lonely and unprotected. Take her, I beg to hold nothing.” explained the philoso-
acre Is esttm atM as fo llo w s: Oats,
of yon, and bring her up an.1er your phy dispenser.
8 bushels; barley, 2 bushels; timothy, 6
own eye. Treat her aa thougn ahe were
H » Took Ik . B in «».
2
your child. Guard her above all from
M u ggin s-B eh old lu m . « sslf-m .d . duarta:
2 ° " n° "
?
thoae who would wreck her young life *n
1 bushels; red clover, 8 qu arts; redtop, 1
man.
1
order to share her fortune. l>o thia, old
to 2 pecks: millet, one-qnarter bushel;
Plggln s— I congratulate you because
friend, and make me happy on my daath
orchard grass, 2 quarts ; white clover, 4
o f your charitableness.
bed"
quarts ; buckwheat, one-half bushel ;
Muggins— I beg pardon?
Tb# merchant made no answer. H'e
corn, broadcast 4 bushels; potatoes, 10
Higgins— You are certainly chartts
heavy eyebrows were drawn down, and
to 15 bushels; ruta-bagas, three-fourths
his forehead all puckered with thought.
bis in taking ths blame on yourself.
pound ; mixed lawn grass, one-half
“ You are the one man.” continued tha
1« 9 t*«k .
bushel : corn. In bills, 4 to 9 quarts ;
enfferer, “ whom I know to be iust and up
Customer (In book s to re )— B a re yoe corn. In drills. 2 to 8 bushels; rye,
right. Give me the water, for my mouth
la dry. Should my dear girl perish be the Century Magasine?
I 1 H to 2 bushel«; w h e a t 1 Vi to 2
New Clerk— No. s ir; we ha to
fore she marries, then, old frieno, her fer
tune reverts to yea, far there is xsna whs Ing hut monthly megs sines
j
PACIFIC FISH INDUSTRY.
I
r w e u l r T h o u ia u d P o u n d » Sold U a l l f
In l.o . A u n c le s M a r k . l t ,
I The fish Industry, extending from
, Vancouver ou the north to Sail Diego
ou the south, la oue o f great Importance
on the Pacific coast, says the Los An
geles Herald. Locally many thousands
of dollars are Invested In the business
, and the product o f the Ben finds quick
sales lu Los Angeles and neighboring
j cities.
Ir a p r o « I n s C o r n .
Realizing that the Improvement o f I Halibut la regarded as the standard
corn Is a matter o f concern to every Osh, rangltig In weight from one to
agricultural praetloner, because o f the forty pounds and can he had the year
wide adaptability and general cultiva round, except during the months o f Oc
tion o f the cereal, tlie Virginia Agricu l tober, November and December.
tural Experiment Station haa publish | Barracuda la next ln popularity. This
ed ln a bulletin o f nearly 100 pages product la caught every mouth ln the
the results o f experiments ln that field. year from San Pedro to Sna Diego.
In a general Introduction the bulletin Nets and troll Hues are used fo r catch
ing barracuda and when both methods
says:
“ Investigations show very clearly ure adopted the local market becomes
that the corn plant Is quickly affected glutted with tbe product. The average
by the environment ln which
It Is weight la five pounds.
placed and yields readily to selection, | Sea bass are caught from Santa Bar
so that the way fo r Improvement Is bara to San Diego. This fish la one o f
open to all who w ill make a systematic tbe best products o f tbe’ sea. W eight
study o f this important crop. The fact from four to fifty pouuds.
that corn crosses so easily has resulted 1 T h e rid snapper or rock cod la ln ac
In the development o f numberless so- tive demand ln tbe winter season. T b s
called varieties or strains, and It Is fish la caught around Catalina or oa
m anlfcstely impossible to effect perma “ the banka” known to tbe fishermen.
nent Improvement In any o f these with W eight one-half to ten pounds. Sar
out first understanding their Individual dines are used for bait.
peculiarities and the good and bad I Bonita and yellow tall are .fine table
points possessed by each.
fish that are caught ln nets and set
“ Observation leans to the belief that lines.
Bonita, four to eight pounds;
the Indiscriminate crossing o f plants yellowtall, alx to th irty pounds. Albi-
without first studying them csrefu lly core Is an oily fish popular with epi
and elim inating the hundreds o f unde cures.
sirable varieties and the thousands o f | Rock bass Is n choice fish caught in
useless individuals la a waste o f time, the kelp; weight one-half to six pounds.
and that more permanent good can be | W hat Is known as horse and Am eri
effected by making a basic study of va can mackerel Is ln tbe market during
rieties, rejecting all those that do not tbe spring montba
Mackerel run ln
reach a definite standard, and then pro •chools; are caught with hook aud lin e;
ceeding
to system atically Improve » e ig h t one-half to three pounds.
those that seem worthy o f extended
T h e smelt season Is from Sept. 1 to
consideration."
Jan .1, seines being used most success,
fully. Surf fish, or suckers, croakers
T h . R ed S p i d e r .
}r kluflsb and perch are among tbe surf
In dealing with that troublesome lit fish. The saudab la caught with hook
tie pest, the red spider, a really suc and line along the coa st; herring la
cessful remedy Is found ln some o f the caught at Sau Pedro, San Diego and
liquid tobacco or nicotine extracts, Santa Barbara from January to March.
now fa irly numerous on the market. H erring Is fine bait fur the professional
They may be used either by vaporiza fisherman.
tion overheat, directly with steam
T b e pompano is a delicious fish that
pressure, or by spraying cold dilutions retails at 40 cents to |1 a pound. I t
In water. T h ey are rather costly and Is one o f the choice articles o f the
must be handled with care, as they menu cards In first-class restaurants.
are particularly deadly Internal poison The prong Is equally popular.
to humans as well as animals, but are
Codfish, sculplua and other fish are
effective when used according to d ire c
brought to the market.
tions and little harm ful to even the
Lobsters .ire ln the market from
most delicate plants, states Rural New
Sept. 15 to April 1.
Yorker. T h is remedy Is o f course e f
Tuna Is a fish caught by sportsmen
fective ou less resistant Insects, such
at Catalina. It Is not marketable. The
as aphids, tbrlps and scales.
I t does
lewflsh are among the heavyweight den
not promise much as regards white fly
izens o f tbe deep at Catalina. B ig do
or outdoor scales, but we have good
ings always follow the catch o f a 300
remedies for these pests In hydrocyanic
or 400-pound Jew fish.
gas and soluble oils.
Turtles o f heavy weight come from
the Mexican waters.
H a w k » a n d P ou ltry.
Professional
fishermen make big
A w rite r ln the Scientific American,
declares that be effectually put an end money If they have good luck. T h e ir
to the depredation of hawks ln his losses are chiefly due to damage to
poultry yard by fastening an old scythe, ueta and seines by sharks and seals.
ground to a razor edge, with the sharp
end down, on a blgh pole set ln the
edge o f a field near his yards. The
hawks, as Is their habit, lit on the
scythe, grasping It with their claws,
with the result that their feet were
badly cut. This angered them and they
attacked the scythe, litera lly tooth and
toenail, and o f course got the worst o f
It. E very hawk that came along met
with a like reception, and within a
short time they were either killed or
driven away.
S L A V E S IN M ASSACH U SE TTS.
R a r lf Church I)l»c u »«lo n on S laver»
— D a n d ia rd S r g r o W a lter,
I
T h e colored “ mammy,” devoted, loy
al and autocratic, one thinks o f as be
longing to tbe South and the days be
fore the war, but ln the far-aw ay tim e
of slavery In New England she was
known there also, says the Youth's
Companion.
j One such mammy, happy and belov-
! ed, but despotic, was Violet, the slave
of the Rev. Moses Parsons o f Byfleld,
M o laan ea C a k e f o r C uttle.
but the real ruler o f the household and
The molasses cake used In France as
his lively brood o f boys. H er husband.
food for cattle consists In the boiling
Primus, belonged to their neighbor.
o f molasses and working It briskly with
mixture o f corn flour and bran, w'hen It Deacon Noyes.
Is pressed Into the ordinary form o f a I T h e revolution was scarcely over, but
cake and packed ln bags fo r sale. T h e even then ln that quiet corner o f Mas
proportions used are one-third molasses, sachusetts the anti-slavery spirit was
one-third flour, one-third bran.
The stirring and Its first result was to pre
suburban dairymen claimed that ln the cipitate a violent church quarrel. Dea
use o f this molasses cake there are ex con Column had scruples against slav
tra yield o f milk and an Increase In ery and he expressed them with vigor
proportion o f butter fat. The proper and not always with entire respect fo r
quantity In feeding should be 8 to 10 his slave-owning pastor. He was sus
pounds dally, which Is not Intended as pended ; there were meetings, discus
a basis o f food, but as a condiment, sions. appeals and denunciations and
only at the death o f Mr. Parsons was
and to assist digestion.
be so fa r softened as to ndmit, while
yet maintaining his principles, that he
( l u l u In F e r t l l l a l n a I k e Soil.
The soil Is the farm er’s capital, and had urged them with “ undue vehe
he can only keep that capital unimpair mence and asperity.” He was then re
ed by adding fertility to It. As the stored to the church and his office o f
fertility decreases, his capital decreases deacon.
In the neighboring town o f Newbtiry-
and becomes Impaired. Plants and ani
mals are his stock in trade by having port were a number o f slaves and freed
the best plants and animals. He can slaves, concerning some o f whom anec
only beat the other fellow In the com dotes have been handed down to the
petition o f trade by having a better ' present day. One negro man, hoeing
stock ln trade and something that peo barefoot In the field», struck suddenly
ple want and are w illin g to pay a good with his hoe at what he took to be a
price for, because It Is a good article. I large toad ln Impertinently close com
The more fertile bis soli, the cheaper pany with him. It was his own naked
he can produce the articles which the big toe, as he learned painfully when
| he had neatly sliced the top off with
people want.
I tbe blow.
S t llla to r D f i a t a r H
A lco h o l.
Another colored man o f much higher
The French use small stills fo r tbs
station and more complete and elegant
manufacture of perfumes and brandies
attire was a dandy w aiter employed Id
snd an article In Popular Mechanics tha old W o lfe tavern. Noting an es
describing the stills, suggests their roe
pecially fine pair o f boots owned by
for the manufacture o f denatured alco
one o f the patrons, a local magnate,
hol on a small scale. Some o f these
F.benezer Moseley, he went to the shoe
distilling ontflta cost only 820; some are
maker to order a pair o f the same sort.
portnble ( hsnd-pnshed or horse-drawn),
"L e t ’em be Jes’ like Squire Mose
and various fuels are used ln the sev
ley’s," he commanded, magnificently,
eral styles o f machines
“ only a qnarter-dollar b etter!”
Dees
P lo w ln e.
The a ir penetrates as deep as we
plow. The deeper we plow the more
plant food le prepared by the action o f
the air and more moisture le carried ln
the soli to withstand droughts Deep
fall plow ing then la a great aid In
breaking up the compounds o f the soil,
la preparing plant food. In storing m o l»
tnre and ln warming the noil for early
Dlaattns.
i
M r«te r1 *«
of
9 ««z t.
T h e mysteries o f scent w ill probably
never be solved, and It Is a m atter o f
everyday observation that, w hile the
trained shooting dog w ill pass a sit
ting partridge, a terrier or a fox w ill
find the nest.— London Times.
When a man does try to get a little
ahead In this world by saving h i*
money, people toy be le “ tight.”