£&x % jDowitg. 
THE STORY OF A DISTRICT SCHOOL. 
A COLLEGE BOY’S DIARY. 
{Continued.) 
This was certainly a liberal offer. I waited 
patiently for Alvira to put on her hood, but 
she did not seem to be in any hurry. She sat 
by the side of the fat gentleman who still 
glared savagely at me. At last 1 told her I 
was ready to return, Then the terrible truth 
came upon me that I had been deserted. 
“I’m terrible sorry. He! he! he?”, giggled 
Alvira, “but Mr. Frink, be’s agoiu’ my way 
an 1 you know—He! he! he! I’ll excuse you 
teacher, I ra’iey will!” 
Here Mr. Frink came to the front. He 
pulled his great vest into a warlike appear¬ 
ance and looked fiercely over his spectacles at 
me. Before ho could shout out auy challenge 
to mortal combat, an old man who had been 
watching us, came and spoke in his ear. We 
all heard what he said. 
“Teacher licked Jack Brawn to-day.” 
This distantly cured Mr. Frink of any desire 
he may have had to attack me. His vest 
seemed to recede about three inches aud he 
became a man of peace once more. “Its all 
right, teacher,” he said, with a very liberal 
wave of his hand. “Excuse me, ye know, 
I’m agoin' the same way as this here lady an’ 
I’ll sorter save ye a few steps.” 
Alvira giggled desperately. Several ladies 
whispered “Teacher’s gut cut out”, and the 
old geutlemau who had acted as peacemaker 
beamed benevolently upon us all. I was glad 
to he “cut out,” if the truth must be told. 
The old gentleman followed me out and 
walked along with me. 
“I’low I’ll walk a piece with ye, bein’s yer 
goin’ my way,” he said byway of introduc¬ 
tion. 
We walked along quite briskly until quite a 
distance from Frost’s. The old gentleman’s 
cane tapped over the hard ground. All at 
once be stopped aud assumed a listening atti¬ 
tude. He vvenband looked over the fence and 
thrust his cane behind a tree to make sure 
that no eavesdropper could steal our conversa¬ 
tion. Theu he came back where I stood wait¬ 
ing in the road, put both hands on my shoul¬ 
der, placed his mouth within a few iucbes of 
my ear, aud fairly shouted, “Samuel gut his 
eyes ’nomted! P’raps it wan t Samuel, like 
enough it wuz Jacob—but it don’t make no 
odds—he gut his eyes ’pointed, un’ thought he 
wuz a gonter see terrible sharp like, fer ter 
pay fer it. He went out doors an’ sorter 
pinted Ins eyes an’ found they wuz a heap o’ 
things be couldn’t see yit. Back he come an’ 
gut ’em ’noiuted agin Theu they done fust 
rate an’ he see everything.” 
“Now then fer the pint,” he gave me a se¬ 
vere poke with his stick as he said this— 
“You’re him, you be, Samuel or Jacob, or 
whoever ’twos, You licked Jack Brawn an’ 
gut yer eyes ’nointed. Now then, ye see how 
some things is, but ye don’t see ’em all by a 
long shot. Keep a lookin’. They is a heap o’ 
things fer ter be seen. Them boys Is after ye. 
They’ll lay fer ye ter spellin’ school, I tell ye 
this so’st ye kin git yer eyes ’nointed agin an’ 
see ’em all.” Here a slight noise down the 
road startled him. He gave a jump and at 
once shouted: “Ez I wuz a sayin\ this is a 
terrible nice winter.” Having thus thrown 
all listeners off the track, he ventured to look 
and see who might bo coming. It was only a 
large dog, who at sight of us jumped over the 
fence aud ran away with all speed. The old 
gentleman could not be induced to anoint my 
eyes more thoroughly. As if to convince all 
possible listeners that he was loyal to Bear 
Creek, he proceeded, as we walked along, to 
criticise my method of teaching. 
“I’m afeard ye won’t git them children 
through the book ef ye don’t hold ’em clus’ter 
to it. Them what’s kep track of it, says you 
ask questions u hat ain’t in the book at all an’ 
sorter stop an 1 explain it out serlong that they 
ain’t gittin’over no pages at all. That won’t 
never do no good. Ye wanter rush ’em clean 
through the book. They ain’t gut no time fer 
ter stop an’ tell stories.” 
“But,” 1 ventured to suggest, “is it not bet¬ 
ter to take a little more time over the books 
and thoroughly understand what, we study?” 
“Don’t make no odds ’bout thoroughly 
understandin’ nothin’. Lai n ’em what's in the 
book, sez I. Them things is put thar to be 
lamed. Who bo you to say you know more 
than them folks what, made them books?” 
The old gentleman got so excited that he 
stamped on the ground with his stick. He 
stamped SO wildly that he planted a severe 
blow upon bis foot. This took the fight out 
of him and changed him from a critic into a 
whimperer. He went limping down the road 
while I turned into Mrs. Bell’s yard. 
It took me some little time to satisfy the 
Bell family regarding Adoniram’s sickness. 
Grandma examined all the bottles and pack¬ 
ages, as though she thought she could guage 
his illness by the amount of medicine ho had 
taken. Luckily, Grandpa had fallen asleep 
in his chair, so that. York State memories 
could not mix themselves up with Ydoniram’s 
case. 
Edith was reading aloud from a paper as I 
came in. She stopped and listened respect¬ 
fully while Grandma and I were talking. 
When we all sat down by the stove she began 
again It was a good newspaper. We were 
all glad to learn what was going on out in the 
world. Bear Creek did uot thiuk much of 
newspapers as a rule. It was not often that 
I could find one except at the director’s house. 
Edith read along until she came to a word she 
could not pronounce. She puzzled at it for a 
time ami theu brought it over to me. The 
teacher is always expected to know every¬ 
thing. Luckily I did know this word. It 
was heliotype; quite a new word then. Bear 
Creek had never heard of it, and I guess 
many are still unfamiliar with it. A helio¬ 
type is a picture—really a printed photograph. 
As it happened I had seen them made 
and could tell much about them. Edith 
listened to all I had to say very carefully. 
She studied that word until I knew she under¬ 
stood it pretty well. I did not think at the 
time, how useful this study was going to be. 
Grandpa’s nap came to an end while we 
were talking, aud the whole story had to be 
repeated. He couldn’t remember anything in 
York State that reminded him of a heliotype, 
so he had little to say. 
LETTERS FROM THE COUSINS. 
Dear Uncle Mark: I have not written to 
you for so long I guess you have forgotten me. 
I live one half mile from school. I did uot go 
this winter on account of my mother’s health. 
My father has sowed five acres of oats this 
spring. I have gathered 50 dozen eggs since 
Jauuary, and sent them to market. Those 
flower seeds I received from the Rural last 
year were very pretty. Would you uot like to 
come out aud see my grandmothers’ flowers? 
She has all kinds of them. I have one pet sis¬ 
ter three mouths old, and would be very much 
pleased if you would send me some pretty 
name for her. NANNIE M. DOTSON. 
Delaware Co, Indiana. 
[No; Uncle Mark never forgets his boys and 
girls. I wish I could come and see the flow¬ 
ers. Ou the whole, I thiuk my favorite 
names for girls are Ruth aud Mary. There 
are so many good names, though, that I find 
it hard to decide.—u. m ] 
Dear Uncle Mark: I have a beautiful 
black and white kitten. I named it Clover 
after your eat. One cold night the cat 
brought it in and laid it down by my bed. I 
did not know it, and the next morning I 
rolled the leg of the bed over his foot aud 
crippled it, but it is well now. George is sow¬ 
ing oats to-day (March :35th). Rives is mak¬ 
ing a hot-bed to sow pepper seed. I am read¬ 
ing Robiusou Crusoe. I have read Dickens’s 
History of England this winter. 1 am goiug 
to read the Histories of France and Germany. 
Our Sweet Teas were very pretty last summer. 
We saved cuough to plant agaiu. Our pan¬ 
sies are blooming, aud the borders white witli 
violets. Peach blooms are nearly open. I 
have a sheep that will come to me and eat out 
of my lap. Your niece, 
SALLIE LANCASTER DANIEL. 
Farmville, Va. 
TThe flowers you sent were very pretty in¬ 
deed. Sorry for the cat. I am glad she is 
better now.—u. m.] 
Dear Uncle Mark: I like to read the let¬ 
ters very much. 1 live ou a farm. There uro 
140 acres in it, ami we have II cows and 
calves and two horses and four mules. I have 
two brothers. Mamma plauted the Garden 
Treasures, but they did not all come up. L am 
nine years old. We have 400 bushels of corn. 
We have 533 bales of cotton picked and have 
more that is not picked. Grandpa has been 
taking the Rural NKW-YoRKERagood many 
years. mabel m. bkuck. 
Helena, Arkansas. 
Dear Uncle Mark: I am a girl 15 years 
old. This is my first letter to the Rural, 
My uncle takes the Rural, We planten the 
Garden Treasures you sent us. They came 
Up nicely. I huve two sisters and a brother. 
One of my sisters does not like to wash dishes 
when she can get rid of doing it. 
From your niece, 
Chenango Co., N.Y. bert. a. kcker. 
pijacfllantausi guU'frti£lng. 
SPRAYING FRUIT TREES. 
To destroy injurious Insects Is conceded by all or- 
chardlsts as necessary to secure perfect fruit, for full 
directions audoutm for hand or horse power at bottom 
cash prices address 
F1KLI) FORCE PUMP CO., L«ekporl,N. Y. 
COOLEY CREAMERS. 
E XClOlE-V C AQIH ET CPIAMCR 
VERMONT FARM MACHINE CO., Bellows Falls, Vermont. 
ANEW BUTTES PRESERVATIVE. 
_ Iv CLLO<;<U(-i 
Royal Salt. 
POSITIVELY PREVENTS BUTTER 
FROM EVER BECOMING RANCHI. 
Endorsed by ((corin' It. Douglas, Esq., Ex President 
Mercantile' Exchange: Putnam Conklin, Esq , Manager 
Thurber, Wltyland A Co.'s Uniter Department, Now 
York City; col Win. CroZier, Norlliporl. I, 1., N. V.; 
St. Louis Dairy Co., diaries cabauiu 1 , Gt n’l Manager, 
St. Louis, Mo nml others. Sec American Agriculturist, 
page mil, Angus! number, issii. 
FOR SALE UV -The Western Dairy supply Co,. 88 
ami 90 Lake Street, Chicago, 111.-, Childs k Jolted, 
Utica, N. Y.; John s. Carter, Syracuse, N. Y.: P. .1. 
Kaufman, Tern- Haute, Indiana: W. V. Elliifan, South 
hold, I.. I.; Frank sltaon and c. .1. Vlets, New London, 
Conn ; id A Wagjtaman. Houston. Tex as; li. O Mar- 
cellUB, Selu'ucetad.v. N. V.: Spangler & Rich, Marie!la. 
Pa.: Woodward A Co., Uurtlord, Conn.: II. C. Tanner 
& Co., Saluda, N <’.; K. Stokes Sayre. Talindegn. Ala.; 
Ten Brooch A Went worth, Chatham, N. Y.t John p, 
Lilias, Sit. Jackson. Vu : Charles A. Muller. Heckman. 
N V.-, Homer KiutiMleU Tntte* Up., Newburgh, N. V.j 
J. U. Templenintt. Broadway, Va.; J. C. Leslie. Spring 
Held, Ohio; Hutlcr Preservative Salt Co., N«s»v York 
City, N. Y„ and dealers In dairy supplies generally 
throughout the United Slates. 
Send for I'ireiilnr. 
BUTTER PRESERVATIVE SALT CO.. 
Orncr an'ii Factori. 
Foot Of West Eleventh Street. New York City. N. Y. 
THE “COMMON SENSE” MILK PAIL 
This Is the 
only perfect 
1 iiHi seams iu the 
■ begufofcip 
MlkVWtte i ~ ♦, thorough lg 
Extra stratn- 
I'atestko. ers eau be ob¬ 
tained at any time. 
The Pall Is made from heavy XX tin, and Is In all 
I respects the best in the world. 
Send for special circular. Agents wanted. 
MILKINC TUBES. 
FOR MII.KtN'il I'OWS WITH SORE TEATS. 
This Is the best Tube in the market. Sent, post¬ 
paid to anv address; on receipt of price. One 
Tube, cen»; Five Tubes, »1.0U. Send for spe¬ 
cial circulars to 
BARTLETT & DOW, 
Please mention tills paper. 
1.0WELL, MASS. 
time: 
TESTED 
& 
APPROVED 
Circulars 
Dollar 
U MOWER 
KNIFE 
DER. 
PURE MILK. 
. WARREN 
^MILK BOTTLES 
\ Patented March 23d, 1880. 
1 Adapted for the Delivery 
a Vv of Milk In all t itles 
ami Towns. 
A LONQ-NEEDED WANT 
W 5 AT LAST SUPPLIED, 
A. A . WH1TEMA\, 
,J 72 Murray St., NEW YORK. 
ami poultry. 
POULTRY NETTING 
Cheaper Ilian Ever. 
Witte for prices to 
Wm. Cabbie Excelsior Wire RSTg Co., 
43 FULTON STREET. NEW YORK. 
FOR SALE, 
II ol »tel n - I'Veisian Hull. 
TIIO mu: €KE n 
Its Y II.B.: TI.I 1 .H. Sire REMBRANDT, m F.HB; 
Until HEI.K.IK, 7Ti2 F.K.H. Is four years nhl; lsdlatlnct- 
Iveiy (about equally) marked; Is a sure and true stock 
cctler. and entirely penile: Is In pood t'TvIcc condi¬ 
tion. Having no further use for him, I will sell him 
low. G. W THOMPSON. 
Slid Ion, N. J . 
IMPORTANT TO 
HORSE AND CATTLE OWNERS. 
GERMAN PEAT MOSS 
iSTAIIhii HI DOING.I 
Sunerlor substitute for Straw, dv aper, cleaner, Dis¬ 
infectant and Wholesome. Makes most excellent Ma¬ 
nure. Send for circular. ACiENTs WANTED. 
THU GERMAN l’EAT MOSS l ()„ 
(Loewrtkin & MAROCH.) lit) Nu-.sn u St,. N. Y. 
THE QUEEN OF REGULATORS. 
A very simple apparatus to regulate the heat of in¬ 
cubators. Send two-eent stamp tor circulars. 
II. I). MOULTON, Tuuntou, Mass. 
[MAM.MOTH Brouze Turkey Eggs, g'J..VI per IS; 
P. Ducks. $1 per IS; S. C. R. Leghorns, 1 1 per IB. 
Address D. M. BROWN, 
Prospect. Ohio. 
EXCELSIOR P. ROC 
C HAMPIONS OF THE EAST AND WEST. 
Highest Honors l'Siiand isS7, at Meriden, Conn., and 
Atlanta, Ga. Specialty of Fowl for Farmers Send 
for Catalogue. SCI ODER A TOWNSEND, 
GLEN HEAD. N. Y. 
BROODERS. 
Best In the world Sec last week's advertisement. 
Centennial jl'f’g Box dJO. Rye, N, Y. 
REGARDED PR'ZE SW»NE 
tir •ffre? iN.C.W . R.l Chester Whites; 
Poland Chinns, Fnnru Strains: 
ImmM English Berkshire*, 
"’•teasi.i Recorded Pedigree, Health, Thrift 
and Purity Guaranteed. C. H. WARRINGTON. 
Box :IG, West Chester, Pa. 
WIRE FENCES 
ONE CENT SQUARE FOOT. 
(IMP PtMTPrtwDuryeeJCa. 
UIlL ULIl I 70 Vesey St., N. Y. 
Write for Prfttc List and Discount. 
S TANDARD 
GALVANIZED WIRE NETTING. 
For Poultry Fencing. 
7-S OF OKK CENT FOB 'J INCH MKStl SO. 19 WIRE. 
EVERYTHING FOIL THE POULTRY YARD. 
Hatchers ami Brooders. 
Send for Circular Bruckner cV Evans, 
'.St VFSEY STREET, N. Y- CITY. 
IIALSTKIUS DUPLEX CENTENNIAL 
INCUBATORS. 
First, Foremost, Itrst. r,U Egg Machine, only 820. 
Centennial M’f’sr Co.. Box 8SU, Rv tc, N, Y. 
DORK INGS, Silver Gray—Eggs, $1 for 18. 
POLISH. W. C. Muck-Eggs, SI for 19. 
LANUSI1A NS—Eggs, li for Id. 
FOWLS for Sale. 
JOHN L. RICE. 
Henutseluerville, N. Y. 
CANADIAN UN LEACHED ASHKS.-I am 
prepared to furnish responsible parties with unleach- 
ed Ashes of the best quality ut very reasonable prices. 
Address F, R. Lulor, Lunnvlllc. Ontario, Canada. 
B From Prize Winners; Wyumlottes, Ply mouth 
Rocks, Light Ht'nhmas, Buff Cochins and 
Games. My 8th Annual Circular mailed 
“Free,'" giving parllcuhtrs. C. Harris, 
Uox HU, Columbus, Ohio. 
SPRAY the HEN House, Rose Bushes. Cur¬ 
rants, Plants, etc . and Dlaiufecl Buildings, with tho 
BE 1,1,0 W » A TOM IE E It. price WJ. 
T. VVootliiNon, 7-1 Canal port Ave . Chicago, 111. 
f \[ARE YOU INTERESTED IN POULTRY sjfg 
PORTABLE POULTRY HOUSES 
Practical POULTRY BOOK 
IOO PP-t benutitul colored plate, 
engraving* and drrcrlptionr of nil 
breeds; how Ui caponi/.ii: plans for 
poultry houses; shout iucubnior*; 
undwhrie to buy ICga* and Fow ls. 
Mulled for 15 Cents. 
associated fanciers, 
SI7 South 8th Street, Philadelphia, Pa. 
Ti AM£RICAI 
J F.UHJtY l(H>, I’Of-AMMIUNA, 
< lii'Vlop W liiU\ lit rkxlilrp A York- 
nIiIFv Heft. haillliilon it, ioltnold 
nml Oxford Down Hlirepuiid l.nmt>« 
s.'oirh Vollry BKrphrrd Do(^ mid 
Knur) INiullrj. Kfiitt forCntulojrno 
n ,ai lk>; itt iu*« * tu.rhiiAsP* 
A M *'Jtf UoHptiH *lUrVH*IMDW V 
*(MK«Uid<!%iytVMN.ij>ix.i * (j D Atn?po<1 
-dtqs 'q| *.l()| nexoq qlfloj jo 09 ‘95 SOJOIH fttlJQ 
pun po.}^ 'Aj.i.iojn is p#n <xi oj hOJSvljottd 
•jonoq jiniqtou XtinqvtT irJoaoo jo mHvdd v 
‘puo J° ‘muoAV ’h(>| 0 ;) 'si|Bnon ao,.| bjuo.f 
OS 101 M Pfta UAiiti suppqs 'AV pH oq,|, ‘uo(j 
-ipuoo uj busxoh a;uqy pus jiuHjud jo; 
saiqrriS £t9Art pus Ha;uux;,£ 'spsoj[)S}t ;h98j«| 
0UT^q pesnsj M IXXV ) P«« HHMYIOII -»oj 
Furnished nil eomplele ready for occupancy. These 
houses arc just what poultry breeders want, ns they are 
,>>«(. Prarjtra/ .Nit I'iteap. 
All kinds of portable houses suitable for all climates; 
rain, tcintt and iralrr gi'ao/. Sent to nny part of 
the world, and no carpenter required to put them 
together. 
istntl tor our Circular btfort you ordtr a 
Poultry /touts, 
AMERICAN PATENT PORTAHE HOUSE MANUFAOTURINQCO. 
Corona, Queens Co., N, Y. 
