1863. 



NEW EXGLAXD FAmiER. 



359 



see with what a rush we go in for getting rich on 

 other men's sins. 



Like slavery, tobacco must have room. The best 

 ground upon the farm must be taken. All the 

 manure upon the place, and as much as can be 

 purcliasc'd is collected; as if to secure a con<jlom- 

 eratiou of filth that would make a grateful offer- 

 ing to Cloacina herself. Then from early s])ring till 

 frosts come the tobacco crop is the pet child. .It 

 must be cared for, nursed, dressed and caressed, 

 at the expense of every other crop. The next 

 thiuii: is to h'in<j\t. After fondling and dandiingit, 

 all sunnner, the j)roducer turns hangman and looks 

 about for a gallows. The ordinary barns and 

 sheds of tlie farmer will not answer. A tobacco 

 shed must be erected. What grows upon an acre 

 and a half will require as much ground as is cov- 

 ered l)y an average-sized Xew England barn. In 

 providing tiiese sheds there must be no delay, so 

 great has been the demand for shelter in this re- 

 gion, that the whole working population has been 

 in a state of fever for the last two months, grow- 

 ing out of tobacco. All the lumber yards have 

 been stript and every lumber mill, within reach, 

 has been put to the top of its speed to produce 

 the needful for building siieds. Every laboring 

 man whom money could induce to work has been 

 detailed to cut, haul and hang tobacco. 



Ask a laborer to assist yi/u in gathering your 

 corn or hay, — "Don't talk to me about such tame 

 business as that till the tobacco season is over." 



Thus you see, we, wliose convictions have not 

 yet been entirely obfuscated by tobacco fumes, are 

 made to suffer by the prosperity of our neighbors. 

 As the frogs said to the boys who were pelting 

 them, ''It may be fun for you, but to us 'tis death." 



Hampshire, Sejit 20, 1863. U. B. II. 



DIVORCE AJSTD BEVENG-B AMONG BIRDS. 



The Shields (England) G'ro'Ke has the follow- 

 inj» curious story of animal life: "In the interior 

 of the Tyno Dock wagon shops the attention of 

 the workmen was, aijout a week ago, attracted to 

 the movements of two sparrows engaged in con- 

 structing a nest in a hollow where two girders met 

 for the support of the iron roof. For several days 

 they l.ibored most assiduously in preparing their 

 abode, when, by some sudden freak, the progress 

 of the tiny fabric was suspended. A few morn- 

 in;rs afterward the ears of the workmen were sa- 

 luted by loud chirruping and liuttering of wings, 

 and from what transpired subsequently it was evi- 

 dent that the female bird had severed the connu- 

 bial bond, and enlisted the affections of another, 

 who now vigorously contended with the rejected 

 bird for the possession of the nest. For several 

 hours the conflict continued, until the usurper 

 proved the strongest. The rejected bird shortly 

 afterward returned and hovered about the spot, 

 apparently watching an opportunity for revenge. 

 This speedily occurred, for in the course of a short 

 time the newly-joined pair left for a brief period. 

 In their absence the defeated sparrow approached 

 the nest, and placing his back beneath the feath- 

 ery mass, raised it from its resting place and sent 

 it to the ground. The surprise of the other birds 

 on their return, at beholding the demolition .of 

 their dwellin.;;, appeared to be great, and was 

 amusing to observe. Notwithstandin;^ this disas- 

 ter, however, they commenced to build a second 

 nest in the same place, the rejected mate watch- 



ing their proceedings with apparent interest. Af- 

 ter two days of incessant labor they again left for 

 a short time, and taking advantage of their ab- 

 sence, the disappointed bird again demolished 

 their feathery residence. 



A BATTLE SONG. 



The effect of a stirring song or tune is oflten 

 electrical. The western armies have one of this 

 character called "The l^attle Cry of Freedom," 

 which is described in one of our exchanges as of 

 most potent effect : 



"In either Grant's or Rosecrans' army it only 

 needs to be started to be cauglit up from camp to 

 camp, till it spreads for miles over the wliolc army. 

 Dy order of a general commanding one division 

 of tlie Army of the Cumberland, the "colonel of each 

 regiment is directed to start the 'Battle Cry' when- 

 ever the army goes into action, and the effect of 

 thousands of voices united upon the chorus : 



'Tlic I'nion forever, hurrah ! boys, hurrah 1 



Hown with llio traitor, up with the star, 

 While wc rally round the (lag, boys, rally once again, 

 Shoutins; the I3at!le Cry of Freedom I ' 



is described as awakening a frenzied enthusiasm 

 perfectly indescribable. 



It is evident from its effect that this is one of 

 the few songs not written 'to order,' but written 

 because the author cotdd not help it. The great 

 number of thrilling circumstances under which 

 this song has been sung in tlie army, added to its 

 popularity. When Gen. Blair's Brigade, that led 

 the assault upon Vicksburg last fall, after being 

 hialed again and again upon the enemy's fortifica- 

 tions only to see each time a ghastly proportion 

 of their numbers go down in death, were at last 

 ordered to retire, the brave fellows closed up their 

 shattered battalions, and came out of the smoke 

 of that terrible carnage singing : 



' Yes, wf'II rally round the flag, boys, we'll rally once again, 

 Shouting the Battle fry of Freedom ! ' 



We are not surprised that the remembrance of 

 that scene drew tears from the officer who des- 

 cribed it to us. And when, after months of hard- 

 ship, assault and battle, these same troops ran up 

 the Stars and Stripes over this same rebel strong- 

 hold. Gen. McPherson and staff, on the cupola of 

 the Court House, fittingly started the same song, 

 and we can iinagine with what a will it was sung 

 by Grant's entire army." 



Tuep: Planting. — It was stated in an article 

 lately published in one of our daily papers that 

 the French government encourages the owners of 

 mountain land to jdant forest trees, and that ac- 

 cording to official returns nearly 30,000 acres were 

 planted last year. The government have six houses 

 for drying seeds of forest trees. In 1861 it had 

 473 nurseries, and 359 were added to them in 

 1862, capable of producing -10,000,000 plants. As 

 an encouragement to further efforts, one instance 

 is mentioned of a tract of 150 acres being offered for 

 sale in 1844 at 7000f , but no buyer could be 

 found at that price. It was then planted with the 

 Scotch fir, and is now valued at more than 70,- 

 OUOf. 



Opportunities, like eggs, must be hatched when 

 they are fresh. 



