146 



THEFARMER'S M ONT H L Y VI S F TO R. 



Octohpr, 1842. 



the eiiith. Like everv other powerful, concen- 

 trated iiiiiniire, a Httk loo much destroys vegetation 

 for a time. — Farmer's Gazette. 



Indian Corn. 



Some of the ndvocates of the Corn Laws in 

 England and in this country are turning their nt- 

 tentioii to the iniroduction of (Jorn, or as it is 

 called ill that country, Maize, as an article ol' 

 food for the lahoring classes. A letter was re- 

 cently puhlished at "the Albion office, helieved to 

 be from the pen of Dr. Bartlett, addressed to 

 Lord Ashhurton, on the importance of the Corn 

 an<l Flour trade with Great Britain via the St. 

 Lawrence, and particularly on the advantages of 

 introducing Indian Corn. The writer is of the 

 opinion that this description of grain ought to he 

 admitted into Britain, via the St. Lawrence, free; 

 that it could be shipped at an average of fifty 

 cents and be laid down there so as tr) stand ill 

 less than SI a bushel, one penny sterling per 

 pound. So far as the export of" the article is 

 concerned, if it could be direct fi-om the States, it 

 would he of immense importance and advantage 

 to both countries; and indeed, by the way of tiie 

 St. Lawrence it might be sent very cheap. The 

 Ohio Corn, which is most abundant, might be 

 shipped through the channel, to co.st in Enghaid 

 a much lower'sum than the writer of the letter 

 has named. That it would be the cheapest and 

 most nutritious food, there can be no question ; 

 for it is ascertained that one pound of Indian 

 Meal, properly cooked, will furnish a breakfast 

 for four persons; and if we add milk, sugar, or 

 butter, the breakfast will cost one half |)enny 

 each meal for finnilies and children. It is a little 

 singular how little is known in England of this 

 most valuable grain which is so extensively raised 

 and used throughout ihiscountry. There wheat 

 bread is a luxury. The common people subsist 

 principally on oat meal and potatoes. To show 

 how little is known of Indian Corn, the import 

 for cnnsiunplion into the kingdom from July, 

 1828, to December, 1841, 1.3d years, was 1,188,332 

 bushels, while of wheat there was one hundred 

 times that quantity, and of oats about tweiitv-five 

 times during that period. If the merits of'indi 

 an Corn could be once known, and could be bu 

 partaken of by the common people of Englani 

 for a short time, we have no doubt it would com- 

 mand a consumption that would be most benefi- 

 cial to this country. 



In the United States the quantity of Maize 

 consumed is immense, and in the proportion of 

 about four and a half bushels to one of Wheat. 



The following are the returns of Indian corn 

 produced in each State in 1839, by the United 

 States Census. 



ejaculated the friend in 



By this table it will be seen that more than 

 two-thirds of the crop of Indian Corn is raised 

 in the slave holding States — and of this quantity 

 but a very small portion is exported. It is the 

 great staple for the food of all classes, but partic- 

 ularly for the blacks, and also for animals. In- 

 deed, in many of the Southern States, scarcely 

 any other de.xcription of Grain is grown. Plant- 

 ers there say that Indian Corn at twenty-five 

 cents, is better than cotton at eight cents. 



The above table is a curiosity ; it will be seen 

 that New York is behind fourteen States in the 

 culture of Corn — very considerably behinri Mis- 

 sissippi. The New England States stand very 

 low in the scale— Massachusetts is even behind 

 the little State of Delaware. Tennessee is the 

 banner State. The production of that State ex- 

 ceeds that of sixteen other States besides. The 

 aggregate yield is over three hundred and seven- 

 ty-seven millions of bushels which, at half a dol- 

 lar a bushel, would amount to over one hundred 

 and eighty-eight inillinns, sufficient to pay all the 

 mdwlj»i«dBws o{ tfie Smtts,— .v; Y. Baiprtm. 



From the Lady's Book for October, 

 Marrying a merchant. 



BY T. S. ARTHUR. 



" What do you think of Mr. Bradford ?" asked 

 a young lady, of her friend Josephine Allison. 



" 1 think he's nothing but a clerk," was the coii- 

 temptnons response, accompanied by a peculiar 

 toss of the head. 



"Nothing hut a clerk 

 surprise. 



•' Yes, nothing hut a clerk !" 



"I am sure I cannot see anything to sneer at 

 in the condition of a clerk," continued Josephine's 

 companion. 



" They are all well enough in their (dace," was 

 the reply. '• But I want to have none of these 

 iiM(h'i>n;i|iprr,'5 running after me." 



"Well, tlieic's Mr. Hamhlelon. He's not a 

 clerk. What do you think of him .'" 



" I think he's a mechanic, and that's a thoii.sand 

 limes worse! Marry a mechanic ! I'll bear my 

 maiden name to the grave first 1" 



"If he is a mechanic, he is doing a good busi- 

 ness, and is an intelligent man." 



" I don't care if he i,s. He needn't come after 

 me, I can tell him. I'm not going to lower my- 

 self by any such connection." 



" In what class do you expect to marry ?" asked 

 the friend. 



" Why, I expect to marry a merchant." 



" Wouldn't a young doctor do ?" 



"No." 



" Why not .'" 



"Because young doctors, unless they inherit 

 fortunes, generally have to cut their garments out 

 of very scant patterns." 



" You look (or the money, then !" 



"I look to he well taken care of, and to be sus- 

 tained in good society, when I marry." 



" Why not take a lawyer then ?" 



" Because, they're ditto." 



" Or a minister.'" 



"Ditto. I've no notion of being compelled to 

 cut and carve in order to make a small income 

 last through the year. I'm not one that can sit 

 <lown and make my own dresses this y 

 next year alter them to suit the fashioti — liuying 

 a new liody to an old skirt in the spring, and new 

 sleeves tor that in the fall. No, no — I'lii not an 

 economi.st, Mary, and would advise all young fel- 

 lows who expect an economical wife, to steer 

 clear of Josephine Allison." 



" You are trifling, Josephine," replied Mary 

 Grant, the young lady-friend with whom she was 

 conversing. 



'■ It may spem to you like trifling," was the re- 

 sponse, "but I am in sober earnest. It's my opin- 

 ion, that no man ought to many, who is not fully 

 able to support a wife handsomely. There are 

 men who thus regard the marriage relation, atul 

 one of such 1 will have, or none. You'll never 

 catch me marrying to become a drud 

 slave." 



"Would you not he willing to share any lot in 

 life with the man you really loved 



"No, I would not. When poverty comes in at 

 the door, love, you know, flies out of the window." 



" I do not know any such thing, Josephine. — 

 In my opinion, no change in external circumstan- 

 ces can aflect the love of a married pair, if that 

 love he truly founded." 



" Why, really, Mary, I did not siisi)ect yon of 

 a tendency to romance." 



"I fear you have a tendency to something much 

 worse than romance," Mary Grant rejilied, in a 

 serious tone. 



" What do you mean ?" 



" 1 mean that you have n tendency towards a 

 confirmation of liilse views of marriage, which 

 will certainly result in unhappiness." 



Don't give yourself any uneasiness on that]"""' 

 score. I shall do well enough," was Josephine's 

 laughing remark. 



Josephine Allison was tbe daughter of a halter 

 who had managed, by close attention to husines.", 

 to raise a large family ; and have a few thousands 

 of dollars left— say twenty thousand. This sum 

 divided amongst eight children, would not, ot 

 course, leave either of them very wealthy. But, 

 as Mr. Allison was reputed to be a rich man, his 

 daughters had plenty of beaux. And as thev, 

 like their beaux, had no very correct idea of the 

 extent of their father's wealth, they, very natural- 

 ly, over-estimated it, and, as naturallv, over-esti- 

 mated themselves in CT)n8«juet>ce. Hence arose 



Josephine's high opinion of herself, and her con- 

 tempt of clerks and mechanics. For these false 

 views, her lather and mother were, of course, in 

 some degree responsible. It would be almost an 

 anomaly to find a young lady, who had been i)rop- 

 eily instrucleil, riuining off' into such notions. — 

 Whenever entcrtiiined, and acted upon, it is an 

 indication that, either parents or guardians have 

 been sadly at fault somewhere. 



Mr. Bradtbrd, the young man who had been 

 alluded to by Josephine in a tone of contempt, 

 was chief clerk in a large mercantile house. He 

 was a man of sound principle.s, and more than 

 ordinary intelligence. Those who knew him best, 

 valued him most. Occupying the important po- 

 sition that he did, his salary was liberal, and his 

 pmspecis flattering. Having met Miss Allison 

 frequently in company, for notwithstanding her 

 horror of clerks and mechanics, she found it im- 

 possible, owing, as she alleged, to the loose morals 

 of .society, to avoid coming into unpleasant con- 

 tact with them, Bradford felt himself a good deal 

 drawn towards her. lie, therefore, sought her 

 company, and endeavored to conciliate her favor. 

 But her manner towards him was cold and re- 

 served. This he at first thought might be natural 

 to her, but, after a while, he observed, that she 

 could be courteous and affable, even on a first in- 

 troduction, to some, and as cold as an icicle to 

 others. The reason of this, he was unable to de- 

 fine; but he very soon made up his mind, that he 

 at least would not attempt to cultivate the fi'iend- 

 ship of one who seemed so evidently disinclined 

 to receive him in the right spirit. 



So soon as his eyes ceased to be dazzled by the 

 stronger light, he was enabled to see that which 

 was tin- more interesting and attractive in the 

 gentle, amiable and accomplished Mary Grant. — 

 An affection deeper, purer, calmer and far more 

 rational took possession of his mind — an affection 

 that found a return in the gentle bosom of Mary. 

 In the meantime, a Mr. Erskine, who had just 

 opened a retail dry goods store, became acquaint- 

 ed with Josephine, and forthwith made a bold as- 

 sault upon the citadel of her heart. He was a 

 merchant, and, of course, all was right in that re- 

 spect. His manners were free and imposing, and 

 and these, of course, were taken as the true expo- 

 nents of a generous spirit. 



Josephine's fiither had seen a little of the world, 

 and was, therefore, not so much disposed tojudge 

 altogether by first appearances. But he was over- 

 ruled by Mrs. Allison, who wanted to be mother- 

 in-law to "a merchant," as much as Josephine 

 wished to be the wife of a like distinguished in- 

 dividual. 



" I don't know any thing about this Mr. Ers- 

 kine," he said, when he found that matters and 

 things were approaching a crisis. 



" Why, how stange yon talk !" Mrs. Allison re- 

 plied, in tones of surprise. "Iain sure, if you 

 don't know any thing about him, every body else 



does. Isn't he a merchant on street .'" 



Tliat — " Isn't he a merchant .'" was a strong ar- 

 gument, and Mr. Allison felt himself almost pow- 

 erless to oppose it, especially as the word " mer- 

 chant" conveyed something very respectable, sub- 

 stantial and imposing, to his ear. 



" Do you really think that he's a suitable person 

 for our Josephine ?" he asked. 



"Certainly I do. It's the best offer she or any 

 of the girls have yet had. All I'm afraid of is, 

 that she will get, after awhile, to holding her head 

 above lis all." 



'O, as to that, she may hold her head as high 

 she pleases, if she have plenty to support her 

 rnity," was the paternal suggestion. 

 In due time, Mr. Erskine made his offer for the 

 hand of Josephine Allison, and was accepted 

 without any unnecessary delay. Two months 

 re passed, and then they were married. 

 So Josephine's married," said one of Mrs. 

 Allison's friends, meeting her in the street, a fcvi 

 days after the announcement of the wedding. 



"O yes," replied Mrs. Allison, with a broad 

 smile of satisfaction. 

 " To a Mr. Erskine, I believe the name is?" 



Ji Wel'l, who is he, Mrs. Allison ?" 



" Why, don't you know ! He's a merchant on 

 street." 



" Indeed ! Really, I am glad to hear that she 

 has done so well. Have they gone to housekeeji- 

 ingyet?" 



" O yes. He hadeverything ready, so that they 



