« 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
isei 
i8i 
»Lott Snow’s Peculiar Flock. 
It was on the occasion of the celebra¬ 
tion of the fiftieth anniversary of the 
wedding of Giles and Hannah Baker that 
Sile Andrews told about the poultry ex¬ 
perience of his city cousin, ’L.on Snow. 
The “women folks” were visiting with 
sweet old Mrs. Baker in the south par¬ 
lor and the men were an assembled 
with Giles in the north parlor before 
a good old-fashioned open fire, for it 
was a frosty November night. The 
talk had fallen on the knack that some 
people have with hens, while others, try 
as they may, never seem to be able to do 
anything with them. 
“I never bothered with ’em myself,” 
said Giles. “Mother’s had ’em an’ got 
tired of ’em, an’ had ’em ag’in, but never 
seemed to me as if they was wuth their 
keep. When eggs are high they won’t 
“That’s the trouble ’Lon Snow had,” 
said Sile Andrews, throwing the core of 
an apple he had been eating into the 
fire. “Never hear ’bout my cousin 
’Lon?” said he, turning to me. 
I was glad to be able to say I had not, 
for it meant a new story from Mr. An¬ 
drews, and I knew from experience that 
he had what the critics call a “good 
sense of selection.” 
He leaned forward and rested his chin 
on his hand and said: 
“Well, ’Lon Snow was born an’ 
brought up in the city, which was a mis¬ 
fortune to start with, an’ besides that he 
hadn’t no more sense of humor ’an a 
hen-” 
“An’ he was all-fired pig-headed, too,” 
put in Sam Barlow. 
“Well, I’m cornin’ to that. When he 
got ’bout 40 years old the doctor told 
him he’d got to stop workin’ in an office 
an’ go into the country to live or he’d 
peg aout in a short time. So he wrote 
to ask ef he could visit us fer a spell an’ 
I wrote back ‘Come on,’ an’ he came. 
“When he got to the haouse he was 
the whites,’ mos’ pindlin’ lookin’ man I 
ever see. Looked as if he’d slump into 
himself ef the wind changed sudden. He 
moped araound the haouse a few days 
an’ talked crops ter me at meal times 
an’ in the evenin’ until I wlsht I’d never 
took up farmin’. Gosht, it was awful ter 
hear his views. Finally he said that the 
idleness was killin’ him an’ he wanted 
to take up farmin’. I choked daown my 
feelin’ an’ said he warn’t built fer heavy 
farmin’, but mebbe he might do a little 
hen business. Then Mis’ Andrews, she 
got talkin’ to him. I kep’ my maouth 
shet fer I knew he couldn’t I’arn from 
me, but Ma filled him up good on the 
proper food an’ he nodded his head, very 
wise, ’sif he knew it all but was glad to 
have her freshen up his memory. He 
wanted to go right aout an’ buy some 
hens that night. Thought a hundred 
would do fer a starter. But Ma tol’ him 
that 15 or 20 was all he could manage at 
the start an’ he finally agreed. ‘What 
sort’ll you keep, Plymouth Rocks or 
Braown Legg’ns?’ says she, an’ I could 
see by the way he hesitated an’ at last 
said ‘Braown Leggmj 7 «,’ very distinct, 
that he didn’t know anything whatever 
’bout hens. 
“Nex’ mornin’ we went over to Deacon 
Poster’s to buy the hens. He had purt’ 
near 600 walkin’ ’raound his farm on 
Redtop. They did look mighty slick an’ 
’Lon was tickled to death with ’em. He 
asks the old deacon haow much he’d 
charge apiece and the deacon says, 
‘Seventy-five cents.’ ‘That’s reasonable,’ 
said ’Lon, though he didn’t know if it 
was or not. Then he looked ’raound 
with a critterkal eye an’ he says: 
■ ‘By the way, I on’y want the ones 
with fine feathers. I never cared fer the 
little sober ones.’ 
“ ‘What do you mean?’ said the dea¬ 
con. 
“ ‘I mean,’ says ’Lon with all the dig¬ 
nity that a city man could git on to him, 
‘that I want the big vari ty, the ones 
with the large combs and the big tail 
feathers; not those sober ones with no 
tails at all. I’m go’n’ abaout this thing 
the right way an’ I might as well have 
good hens as poor ones.’ 
“Well, the deacon, he stepped behind 
the barn door to conceal his feelin’s, 
which was paowerful at the time, an’ 
when he comes aout he was as sober 
lookin’ as ’Lon. ‘All right,’ says he, 
‘but I’ll tell you honest, it’s the little 
ones ’at’ll lay the most eggs.’ 
“But ’Lon couldn’t be changed. He 
was go’n’ in fer looks, he said, an’ any¬ 
how he guessed he’d make ’em lay if 
any one could. ‘I don’t daoubt it,’ says 
the deacon with a cheerful smile, ‘but 
ef you’re go’n’ to take the pick of the 
fiock I’ll hev to charge ye r. dollar 
apiece.’ ’Lon warn’t no way small, an’ 
he agreed to the terms an’ arranged to 
come at night an’ git ’em.” 
MOTHERS.—sure to u8e“Mrs.Wlns- 
low’s Soothing Syrup” for your children 
while Teething. It is the Best.—lie. 
“I remember ’em,” said Barlow. “As 
purty a fiock as I ever see with their 
high steppin’ ways. I used to go up an’ 
tell your cousin that he ought to ex¬ 
hibit ’em at Merwinton Fair an’ he said 
he guessed he would. On’y fault he 
found with ’em was they was quar’l- 
some an’ slow to get to layin’. I says: 
‘Ef the redness of the comb is any sign 
you oughter hev eggs purty soon.’ ” 
“Well,” resumed Sile, “he never sus¬ 
pected nothin’, but went to feedin’ ’em 
fer eggs accordin’ as Ma had told him 
the fust night. She said it was a shame 
not to tell him what kind of hens they 
was, but I argied that it kep’ him busy 
aout er doors an’ that’s what he needed. 
He didn’t need eggs any more’n a hen 
needs teeth.’ 
“Didn’t he ever find out?” I asked, 
seeing that there was a move in the 
other room that suggested a breaking 
up of the gathering. 
“Well, matters went on fer ’baout 
three or four weeks, an’ then one morn¬ 
in’ in May, when eggs was so plentiful 
that they was usin’ ’em to stone cats 
with, he comes into the barn where I was 
sharpenin’ my ax on the grin-stun an’ 
he says: ‘Funny my hens don’t ever go 
near their nests. An’ they’re quar’lin all 
the time.’ 
Then I says: “ ’Lon,’ says I, ‘some 
folks never can Tarn anythin’ arter 
they’re growed up, an’ you’re one of ’em. 
You was dead set on gittin’ that breed 
although the deacon told ye the small 
ones was the best fer eggs. Naqw the 
city’s a good place ter live In fer a few 
things but you don’t Tarn everything 
ther’. Some country folks hev one 
rooster to a flock an’ some don’t hev 
any, but your city notion of hevin’ 
every one a rooster ain’t conducive to 
eggs!”—Charles Battell Loomis, in Sat¬ 
urday Evening Post. 
Staining Floors. 
In a recent issue was an article on 
stained floors. Some of your readers 
might like to try what has been found 
very satisfactory to me. Take the bark 
of either Black walnut, or butternut 
trees, or even the nuts; put in an old 
kettle, cover well with water and stew 
till water is very dark. Stain the floor, 
being very careful to have the dye 
spread evenly; when thoroughly dry oil 
over with either crude petroleum or half 
each of raw linseed oil and kerosene, ii 
raw oil is used alone it should be heated, 
which makes it more penetrating and 
dries more quickly. Oil also brings out 
the effect of the stain. I have found this 
much more durable for hard service than 
any stain I buy, or even the burnt um¬ 
ber. H. T. p. 
With the Procession. 
He llveth long who llveth well; 
All else Is life but flung away; 
He llveth longest who can tell 
Of true things truly done each day. 
H. Bonar. 
The rose and the thorn and sorrow 
and gladness are linked together.—Saadi. 
When saluted with a salutation, sa¬ 
lute the person with a better salutation, 
or at least return the same, for God 
taketh account of all things.—Koran. 
To be worth anything, character must 
be capable of standing firm upon its feet 
in the world of daily work, temptation 
and trial and able to bear the wear and 
tear of actual life. Cloistered virtues 
do not count for much.—S. Smiles. 
Now the basest thought possible con¬ 
cerning man is that he has no spiritual 
nature; and the foolishest misunder¬ 
standing of him possible is that he has, 
or should have, no animal nature. For 
his nature is nobly animal, nobly spirit¬ 
ual—coherently and irrevocably so; 
neither part of it may, but at its peril, 
expel, despise or defy the other.—Rus- 
kin. 
We Pay Freight. 
In real colors, our new 
Lithographed book shows 
Carpets, Rugs, Art 
Squares, Draperies, Bed 
Sets, Wall Paper, 
Blankets, Comforts, 
Framed Pictures, Sew¬ 
ing Machines and 
Specialties in Upholster¬ 
ed Furniture, so that by 
looking at these colored 
f dates, you can tell exact- 
y how the real goods 
appear. WE SEW CAR¬ 
PETS FREE, FURNISH 
WADDED LINING WITH¬ 
OUT CHARGE AND PRE¬ 
PAY FREIGHT ON ALL 
v’ V r p • , ..r IHE above. 
Trade-mark Registered. jbere is absolutely noth¬ 
ing you buy that we do not sell. We save you from 
to 75^ on Everything. Address this way ; 
JULIUS HINES & SON, BALTIMORE, MD. Dept. 320 
I AniCO'’K”«™rWasliijgMes? 
I U 111 r 1^ Olsh-Diier will saye you 
b n I# I k \9 half the time and labor. Sent by 
express for $1. Your money back If dissatisfied. Send 
for circular. 8. B. Divine & Son, Locb Sheldrake. N.Y. 
ABMSTBONO & McEELW 
Pittsburgh. 
BETMEB-BATTHAM 
Pittsburgh. 
DAVIS-CHAMBEBS 
Pittsburgh. 
FAHNESTOCK 
Pittsburgh. 
ANCHOB ) 
> Cincinnati. 
ECKSTEIN ) 
ATLANTIC 
BRADLEY 
BROOKLYN 
JEWETT 
ULSTER 
UNION 
SOUTHERN 
SHIPMAN 
COLLIER 
MISSOURI ' 
RED SEAL 
SOUTHERN 
New York. 
I Chii 
Chicago 
iSt. Louis. 
JOHN T. LEWIS * BROS CO 
Philadelphia. 
MOBLEY 
Cleveland. 
SALEM 
Salem, Mass. 
CORNELL 
Buffalo. 
KENTUCKY 
Louisville. 
T 
HE cost by the pound or gallon is 
not the true measure of paint 
economy. Considering the cost of 
material and labor necessary to paint a 
house, Pure **old Dutch process'" White Lead 
is the cheapest and, durability considered, 
by far the most economical, and is the only 
paint that will give permanent satisfaction. 
The brands named in the margin are 
genuine. 
By using National Lead Co.’s Pure White Lead Tinting Colors, 
any desired shade is readily obtained. Pamphlet giving valuable 
information and card showing samples of colors mailed FREE to 
all applicants. 
National Lead Co., too William Street, New York. 
Artificial Arms and Legs. 
MARKS’ Improved Rubber Hands and Feet are 
Natural In Action, Noiseless in Motion, and the Most 
Durable in Construction. 
E;lt Is not unusual to see a farmer working in the 
fields with an artificial leg, or an engineer, con¬ 
ductor, brakeman, carpenter, mason, miner, in fact, 
men of every vocation, wearing one or two artificial 
legs, of MARKS Patents, performing as much as men 
in possession of all their natural members, and ex¬ 
periencing little or no inconvenience. 
Over 24,000 in use, scattered in all parts of the 
world. Eminent surgeons and competent judges 
commend the Rubber Foot a^ d Hand for their many 
advantages. 
At the Paris Exposition they received the highest 
award. They are endorsed and purchased by tbe 
United States and foreign Governments. A Treatise 
containing 500 pages, with 800 illustrations, sent 
PKKK. also a formula for taking Measurements by 
which limbs can be made and sent to all parts of tbe 
world with fit guaranteed. Address 
A. A. MARKS. 701 Broadway, New York City 
Established 48 years. 
TEACHING OVER 
280,000 STUDENTS 
By Mail 
The Interna¬ 
tional Corres¬ 
pondence 
Schools, Scran¬ 
ton, Pa., has stu¬ 
dents in every 
civilized country. 
Write for our cir¬ 
cular entitled 
Salaried 
Positions for 
I.earners 
mechanical. Electri¬ 
cal, Steam and Ciril 
En^cinecrlng; Archl- 
tectnre; Drawing; 
Chcmlatry; Teleg¬ 
raphy; Teaching; Stenography; Book-keeping; Engllah 
Branches. When writing state subject In which interested. 
International Correapondenoe Schools, 
Box 1410 , Scranton, I’a. 
Established 1^1. Capital $1,500,000. 
Giant Pansies, Sweet Peas, Mayflower. 
Did you ever see 7 straight or circular rows of Pansies 
or Sweet Peas side by side, each a different color! If so, 
you know that the effect is charming. Did you ever see 
Childs’ Giant Pansies and Sweet Peas, marvels in beauty 
and true to color! If not, you have not seen the best. 
A« a. Trial Offer we will mall for 30c., 
14 Pkts. Giant Pansies and Sw’t Peas as follows; 
Send Me Five 2-Cent Stamps for 3 
Packets of Your Favorite Asters. 
Comet Aster, 
- - Deep Scarlet.6c 
White.6c 
Blue.6c 
rwT a Perfection Aster, 
Crimson Ball.4e 
Snow White.4e 
Blue.4e 
Aster, 
Fire King.6e 
Snow Ball.6e 
Victoria Blue. .6e 
• ■ , 1,1 Nine Packets, value.4'2e 
Anierion s I loneer Q„]y q,. any three 
Scedswomun. Packets for lOe. 
Will alsoinclude my free book, “FlorieiiUnre,” which 
explains how niiyonc can successfully grow all kinds of 
flowers from seeds. Money back if not satisfied. My 
Ninth Aiiiiiial Ciitnlogiie of Flower Seeds exelu.sively, 
sent free for two names of flower loving friends. It 
i.s daintier and more complete than ever, and full of 
bargains of Flower Seeds Hint are sure to grow. 
This offer is to Introduce my Astei's to new customers. 
mi.SS €. 11. LllTIXCOTT, JIU Sixth St. S., Minneapolis, Minn. 
THE ANGLE LAMP 
“The Light That Never Fails.” 
brings more genuine comfort into a 
house and cuts out more nuisance than 
any other single article on earth. While 
more brilliant than gas or electricity It 
never smokes, smells or gets out of 
order, is safe and burns a quart of or¬ 
dinary ol 1 for sixteen hours. It is a pos 
tlve revelation to anyone who uses the 
usual dirty. 111-smelling thing called a 
lamp. Our catalogue N.N. shows all 
styles from $1.80 up an^ is sent on 
request. Send for It and lea n more 
about this truly wonderful 118'“'. 
THE ANGLE I'AMP CO., 
76 Park PI., N. Y. 
Sweet Pea—Navy Blue. 
“ “ Black Knight 
“ “ Gol’n Yellow 
“ “ Orange Pink. 
“ “ Cream. 
“ “ Scarlet. 
“ “ Pure White. 
Pansy Giant—Snow White 
“ “ Coal Black. 
“ “ Cardinal. 
“ “ Yellow. 
“ “ Azure Blue. 
“ “ Violet. 
“ “ Striped. 
One Packet of each, The Mayflower Magazine until 
1902, (devoted to Flowers and Gardening, Elegant Cuts 
and Colored plates), and our Great Catalogue, all for 30c. 
Our Catuloffiie for lOOl.—New Century Edi¬ 
tion-Greatest Book of Flower and Vegetable Seeds, 
Bulbs, Plants and New Fruits, 152 pages, 600 Illustra¬ 
tions, 12 colored plates, will be mailed free to any who 
anticipate purchasing. Scores of Great Novelties. 
Joliu Lewis Childs, Floral Park, N. Y. 
LET US START YOU! 
'i8ao to S40 Weekly and expenses, 
91 en and Women — at home or 
p traveling:. Our agents and salesmen 
.made over 8600,000.00 last 
jyear supplying enormous de- 
jmand forour famous Quaker 
Bath Cabinet and appoint- 
jing agents. Wonderful seller. 
iNo Scheme or Fake Methods. 
_IWKITE toda.v for rnrC' 
NEW PROPOSITION, PI.ANS. ETC.. rKtC 
World 9irgr- Co.. 6 World B’ld’g, Cincinnati, O. 
[ IVe recommend above firm as reliable. — Editor.\ 
Rider Agents Wanted 
One in each town to ride and exhibit 
.sample 1901 Bicycle. BEST MAKES 
1901 Models, $10 to $18 
’99 & '00 Models, tiish irade, $7 to $12. 
BOO Socond-hand ¥/haola 
ail makes and models, good as new, 
$8 to $8. Great Factory Clearing 
Hale at half factory cost. We ship 
anywhere on approval and ten days 
trial without a centln advance. 
EARM A BICrCLE 
ing Catalogues for us. We have a 
wonderful proposition to Agents for 
1901. Write at once for our Bargain 
List and Special Offer. Address Dept. ,aon 
MEAD OYOLE GO., Chic^ 
LIFE SIZE DOLL 
EnFF “Baby’s clothes will 
rilCk now fit Dollie.” 
Girls can get this beautiful Life Suiu 
Doll absolutely Free for selling only 
four boxes of our Great Cold & Head¬ 
ache Tablets at 25 cents a box. W rite 
today and we will send the tablets by 
mail postpaid; when sold send us the 
money ($1.00) and we will send you 
this Life Size Doll which is 2J4 feet 
high and can wear baby’s clothea Dol¬ 
lie has an Indestructible Head,Golden 
Hair, Rosy Cheeks, Brown Eyes, Kid 
Colored Body, a Gold Plated Beauty 
Pin, Ile<i Stocldngs,Black Shoes,* will 
stand alone. Tills doll is an exact re¬ 
production of the finest hand painted 
French Doll, and will live in a child’s 
memory long after childhood days 
have passed. Address. 
NATIONAL MEDICINE CO., 
Doll Dept 250 B New Haven. Conn. 
