THE POET.
Throwing his pen aside,
"If I knew life," he cried,
"Then could I write."
But when with knowledge wide,
Stained by life's purple fruit.
Taking hie pen one night
l,o, he was mute!
Aroiiu Trebor, in Appleton's Magazine.
! 1
I "I"! A. AS
Circumstances
By HORACE WYNDHAM.
There are moments when Phylil
da's thirst for information would not
be satisfied with the entire contents
cf an encyclopedia. It has sometimes
occurred to me, during a cross-exam-
ina'tion at her hands, that nature in-
tended her for a K. C. At the Chan
cery bar she would have been In her
element.
It was half-past 3 when I reached
the Curzon street house, and I had
shamefully prolonged my call until a
quarter to 0. As, however, I had not
seen Phyllida for nearly two weeks,
we naturally had a great deal to talk
About.
You mustn't dream of going yet,"
she said, when at last I arose.
"I'm afraid my train will, though."
"Never mind," she returned, with
generous Impartiality. "You can take
the next. I want you to tell me all
about your visit to Trouvllle."
"All!"
Phyllida shot a swift I believe the
technical term is "withering" glance
at me, but I bore It unflinchingly.
"Yes, all. Begin at the beginning,
please. What did you do when you
arrived?"
"Before or after I had got over the
first shock of leaving you?"
Phyllida sighed plaintively.
"You seem to be fond of silly re
marks; so please listen to me."
I put my watch back In my pocket,
and metaphorically entered the wit
ness box. A leading question came at
once.
"Did you have a good time?"
"Yes."
A triumphant gleam Illuminated
my inquisitor's face.
"Then you must have got Into mis
chief. What was she like? Was she
fair or dark?"
"That question requires notice," I
returned, diplomatically.
The protest was waved aside.
"No, It doesn't. It only requires a
plain answer."
"I'll try and think of one, then."
"Please don't. I shall have to tell
you what It was myself. Still, I don't
suppose I shall get the truth out of
you."
The Insinuation seemed unworthy.
Besides It wounded what the best
novelists unanimously call amour pro
pre. "This is not the best way to Invite
confidence," I returned with, I hope,
gentle dignity. "A moment ago ajid
I was more than ready to reveal th
Inmost workings of my soul. As it Is,
however, well"
Phyllida seated herself on the arm
cf my chair, and our eyes met. Re
garded from the standpoint of strict
propriety, I do not defend the next
step she took. Still, it was distinctly
soothing and, then, wa were
alone.
"Now you're nice again," she ex
claimed. "You can't think what an
alteration it makes in your appear
ance. You're quite a different man
when you smile."
i "Flatterer!"
! Phyllida shook her head.
"Of course, I don't really mean it.
That is, what I do mean Is, you're just
tb.3 same stupid, annoying, old dear
whafcever expression you put on."
"You have removed a weight from
my mind."
"I think," went on my companion,
eyeing me critically, "there are mo
ments when I like you nearly as much
as well, George Henderson."
"But he doesn't like me at all."
"Don't be stupid! You know per
fectly well that what I mean ts that I
like you nearly as much as I like
George Henderson. You needn't
sneer at him Just because he's a Colo
nial. Some of the best people have
.gone to the colonies."
- "Certainly, and some of the best
Judges have sent them there."
Phyllida looked at me sharply.
"Judges of what?"
Before I could think of r. suitable
reply, however, she had remembered
the original matter under discussion.
"I wish you wouldn't stray from
the subject, like this," she observed
plaintively. "What I want to know
la how you behaved yourself in Trou
vllle. You can begin by describing
all the girla you fell In love with
while you were away from me."
"Allot them?"
' "Certainly."
-l "I'm afraid I shall have to ko In
ten minutes." I
Phyllida went through the procesB
.known as "bridling."
: "So it would take longer than that
to exhaust the list, would It?" she
exclaimed. "I'm disappointed in you,
especially after all your solemn prom
ises. Still, I'm glad to have found
you out, though."
"Far be it from me to deprive you
of any Innocent pleasure," I returned,
"but, really, you wrong me in think
ing" Phylilda's face changed swiftly.
Then you didn't r oh, you
know with anybody ?
' "Certainly not."
" Oh, I, am so glad! Yo didn't
mind my asking, though, did you?
Not bit."
Soma then are so stupid. They'll
aavgr be candid with a woman. Now,
' I'va only one mora question. You
mast answsr it truthfully. Opes con
fesslon Is good tor the er soul, yon
know." v
Phyllida generally misquoted plati
tudes. Still, she seldom damages the
sentiments.
"What is the question, please?"
"It's this: Did you see any girl you
liked very much? Please be perfectly
candid."
"Only one."
Phyllida raised her eyebrows.
"Oh, Indeed. So you liked her
very much, did you?"
"Very much, indeed."
An ominous expression swept across
my companion's brow.
"You seem to be perfectly callous."
Let us, rather, call it candid."
Let us call things by their proper
name," she retoroted stiffly. "Upon
my word, you can't be trusted out of
my sight for a moment. By the way,
you didn't go the length of proposing
matrimony to this minx, did you?"
"Certainly not. Besides, I fancy
her mother had other designs for her
future."
But Phyllida refused to be placated
so easily.
"Was there anything at all between
you?" she demanded.
"Nothing more than a haBty kiss or
two. You see, I only saw her once."
"What!" she gasped. "You you
kissed her?"
"Yes, but only In a brotherly way."
Brotherly fiddlesticks! Oh, how
could you?" -
"It was quite easy."
Phyllida sprang up at the reply.
What! You actually boast of It!
Why, you must be brazen!"
It was high time to assert myself.
"Do you condemn me unheard?
You don't know all the circumstances
yet!"
"What other things are there,
pray?"
"The extenuating ones."
"I don't want to hear them. I
don't believe there were any. What
were they?"
"Well, to begin with, the lady
didn't object."
"Then she was brazen, too. I knew
it!"
In the Interest of common Justice I
felt bound to protest.
"Pray do not asperse the character
of a lady who is not present to defend
herself. I am prepared to accept the
entire responsibility for what hap
pened." Phyllida softened obviously.
"I expected you to say that. But,
then, It's because you're a man."
"It is merely the truth. However,
even apart from this consideration, I
could not permit myself to stand by
and hear a woman's character as
sailed especially In her absence
without a word of protest." Phyllida
laughs scornfully.
"Heroics don't suit you. As for this
girl, she's a designing minx a cat,
too. So there! I dare say, though,
if the truth were only known, she
found out how weak you were and
led you on."
"Well," I admitted reflectively,
"her behavior might certainly have
been considered as er encourag
ing." A new light crept into Phylilda's
eyes.
"It's just what I expected," she de
clared, "only worse. Tell me all that
happened. I'll try to bear it."
"I don't think I ought to betray a
confidence."
Phyllida sighed. Then Bhe made
another attempt.
"Did she put her arms around your
neck and kiss you like this?"
"Perhaps a little more warmly. But
don't condemn her unheard. Remem
ber, she was really very young."
Phyllida shook her head with deci
sion.
"Quite old enough to know better,
I'm sure."
"Not in my opinion."
Well, how old was Bhe?"
I didn't ask her. It's not consid
ered polite to do so at any rate, In
the best circles."
"Considering the intimate terms on
which you appear .to have got, it's cu
rious that you let a little formality
like that stand In your way."
"But I didn't ask her mother."
"That was something, then," ad
mitted Phyllida. "And did she tell
you?"
"Yes."
Well, what did she say?"
"I don't think you ought to Inquire.
Consider, how would you like It if "
Phylilda's hand touched mine.
But I want to know, please."
How much?"
"Very much. Indeed."
And It's not out of a spirit of mere
curlbslty?"
"Of course not. Don't be so ag
gravating. It you still care for me at
all, and want me to try and forgive
you, just tell me at once how old that
horrid girl was when she made you
kiss her."
"Put your head a little nearer,
then."
A little pink ear was Inclined to a
suitable proximity. .
"Now."
"Just twoyears." New York Jour
nal. Karma.
Karma means action, or sequence.
In Buddhistic teaching Karma is the
law of cause and effect, according to
which every deed receives its Inevit
able reward in kind. It Is nothing
more nor less than the Paulian doc
trine: "Be not deceived, God la not
mocked, for whatsoever a man sow
eth that shall he also reap."
Turkey Bailing on an Island.
The Buyers Island farm, located
In the Susquehanna River below Bun
berry has been rented and will ba
used and conducted as a farm for tha
raising of turkeys. Tha farm has
already bean stocked with 100 tur
keys. Philadelphia Record. -
CHILDREN'S
KEEP OFF THE ICE.
Small boy Sidney Saltonstall Sackett,
Forbid on the pond to elide.
Stood listening to the gay racket
Of the boys on the opposite side.
"I don't believe father would care; be
Must know the ice would bear me;
Oh, grown-up foiks are so scarey!
And to cross the pond he tried.
Small boy Sidney Saltonstall Sackett,
Though the ice was but cat-ice and thin,
With the heel of his boot did hack it,
And with him the pond caved inj
The water was shallow; still he
Was soaked through and through and
most chilly,
And the water froze on him until he
Was iced from his heels to his chin.
Small boy Sidney Saltonstall Snckett,
Called for help at the top of his voice;
Some great big coys heard the racket
And pulled dim out in a trice.
They laughed till the welkin, cracked,
At poor shivering Sidney 8. Sackett,
But father warmed his jacket
And repented, "Keep of! the ice."
Kate Hudson, in Christian Register.
PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED
STATES.
1. George Washington, Virginia,
April 30, 1789-1797.
2. John Adams, Massachusetts,
March 4, 1797-1801.
3. Thomas Jefferson, Virginia,
March 4, 1801-1809.
4. James Madison, Virginia, March
4, 1809-1817.
5. James Monroe, Virginia, March
4, 1817-1825.
6. John Q. Adams, Massachusetts,
March 4, 1825-1829.
7. Andrew Jackson, Tennessee,
March 4, 1829-1837.
8. Martin Van Buren, New York,
March 4, 1837-1841.
9. Wm. H. Harrison, Ohio, March
4, 1841-1841.
10. John Tyler, Virginia, April 6,
1841-1845.
11. James' K. Polk, Tennessee,
March 4, 1845-1849.
12. Zachary Taylor, Louisiana,
March 4, 1849-1850.
13. Millard Fillmore, New York,
July 10, 1850-1853.
14. Franklin Pierce, New Hamp
shire, March 4, 1853-1857.
15. James Buchanan, Pennsyl
vania, March 4, 1857-1861.
16. Abraham Lincoln, Illinois,
March 4, 1861-1865.
17. Andrew Johnson, Tennessee,
April 15, 1865-1869.
18. U. S. Grant, Illinois, March 4,
1869-1877.
19. R. B. Hayes, Ohio, March 4,
1877-1881.
20. James A. Garfield, Ohio,
March 4, 1881-1881.
21. Chester A. Arthur, New York,
September 20, 1881-1835.
22. Grover Cleveland, New York,
March 4, 1885-1889. .
23. Benjamin Harrison, Indiana,
March 4, 1889-1893.
2 4. Grover Cleveland, New York,
March 4, 1893-1897.
25. William McKlnley. Ohio,
March 4, 1897-1901.
26. Theodore Roosevelt, New
York, September 24, 1901-1909.
27. William H. Taft, Ohio, March
4, 1909.
BRUTUS, THE VEGETARIAN.
Twelve years is a long time for a
cat to live unappreciated, but Brutus
never seemed to mind. The tenor
of his life had run smoothly In spite
of constant gibes and jeers from the
man of the house, who had no liking
for a cat that loved asparagus above
all things, and refused to show the
least interest In a live mouse.
"If you will insist on calling him
'brute,' I shall have to name him
'Brutus,' " the gentle mistress had
remarked to her husband one day,
while the peace loving cat was still
a kitten. So Brutus he was from
that hour, a queer, big, unoffending
creature, that not only declined to
catch mice, but utterly disdained
meat of all kinds, dining contentedly
every noontime on a plain boiled po
tato, with perhaps a bit of lettuce,
or on special feaBt days a dish of as
paragus. For years he was a neighborhood
Joke, a harmless, amusing oddity, un
til one morning a terrible commotion
called the mistress of the house to
her kitchen window. It seemed that
the small kitchen belonging to the
neighbor on the north had scaled
her fence, and the fierce little bull
dog belonging to the neighbor on the
south had crept under his,, and now
the two were met In unequal combat
In the back yard where Brutus had
so long held peaceful sway. .
"Call your dog off! ' Get him away
quick!" the neighbor behind the
north fence was demanding excitedly,
while the neighbor behind the south
fence was wringing her hands and
protesting that her dog would not
mind, and Ue would surely kill the
kitten, Shd what In the world could
they do!
- Just at this point twelve-year-old
vegetarian . Brutus, the cat without
spirit, roused from a peaceful snoose
on top of a barrel, and, giving a
mighty leap Into the midst of the
fray, furnished that bulldog with sur
prise. It was a snarling, clawing, merci
less surprise. It shed blood that
caused, howls of pain, but It was
thoroughly affective, tor In leas than
two minutes it sent tha bulldog
whipped, sllnkjng home to his own
back 7ard, while Brutus calmly
picked up. tha frightened kitten by
DEPARTMENTS
the nape of the neck and carried It
straight to Us mistress.
This done, he resumed the barrel
top, an appreciated cat, and since
that moment no silken cushion In the
neighborhood has been too fine to
hold Brutus, the hero. From the
Christian Register.
A DISINHERITED PRINCE.
There was once a disinherited
prince named Hector, who lived In a
forest with the birds and beasts. The
only way he could gain his father's
throne was by some heroic deed. In
the jungle near where he lived was a
monster. His head was a bull's head
and his body that of a man. Every
year he would come Into the village
and devour twelve youths and twelve
maidens. He lived In a Jungle which
was Impenetrable save for one small
path, which led right to the monster's
den, but strange to say every one
who went In could never get back be.
cause this little path was so much
confused with other paths. The king
proclaimed that whoever shouud kill
thtft maneater should succeed to bis
throne and marry the most beautiful
woman In the kingdom.
Hector resolved to try and kill this
monster. When the people heard It
they draped the village in mourning,
for they loved the young prince, and
they knew that he would be devoured
In the eame manner as the thousands
who tried before him. Nevertheless,
nothing daunted him. He stayed
awake every night thinking of how
he should get out after he had killed
the maneater. At last he hit upon a
plan. He would fill his pockets with
stones and drop them along the path.
At last the day broke on which he
was to go. He girded on one sword
which his great-grandfather had left
him. This sword had a magic power.
Whoever fought with this sword was
sure to win. The birds were chirping
and the sun was shining brightly.
Everybody In the woods was happy,
but the people In the village were
sad; why shouldn't he be happy? To
be sure he was, for he had full confi
dence In his sword.
He started out and soon reached
the edge at the Jungle. After a long
search he found the path. He walked
briskly, dropping the little pebbles
along the way. He knew when ha
was nearlng the den by the fierce roar
of the animal. At last he confronted
the animal. With a leap the monster
dashed toward him, but Hector was
quick. A fierce battle ensued, in
which the monster was wounded by a
blow from Hector's sword. He thea
left the maneater to die and started
for the path, which he found readily
by the pebbles. He reached the vil
lage the next day. where there was
great rejoicing. The feeble old king,
being on his death bed, summoned
Hector to his bedroom. On seeing
Hector luV gave a shriek of joy and
died. Hector was crowned then and
there. Hector married a poor but
very beautiful peasant girl and they
lived happy ever after. New Haven
Register.
A DESTRUCTIVE KITTEN.
Perhaps you would like to heal
about our pussy and our three birds.
We Lad two canaries and one Italian
goldfinch. Our kitty was very play
ful and also very destructive. The
goldfinch and two canaries were put
into a large cage. They got along
very nicely, but the goldfinch was
boss. If he wanted to cat first he
chased the others away. Now, our
kitty often sat on a chair looking
at the birds, and whenever we saw
him do this we scolded him. Then
he would run in a corner. At night
he would sleep In the kitchen whera
the birds were. One night he Jumped
on the gas raoge.thinklng he would
get at the birds, but the cage hung
too high. In the morning I smelt gas,
for the kitten must have turned on
the gas valve in jumping off the
range. Of course the kitten was
alive, for he had run Into another
room, but when I looked into the
cage I found the three birdies dead
at the bottom of it. Next day we
gave pussy away and never heard
anything of him. Elvira Calleson,
in the New York Tribune.
ASK THE PRICE.
A lesson had been given on tha
composition of minerals of different
kinds, and, after it was finished the
schoolmaster put a tew questions to
the class, to test how tar they had
followed his teachings.
"Now, children," he said, "can
any of you tell me what a diamond
la?" '
"Carbon," was the prompt reply
that Issued from every throat In the
class. ... -
"Yes," the teacher explained, "a
diamond ; is pure carbon; but yon
must reiaember that coal is also car
bon. That Was taught In our lesson,
wasn't It?"
"Yes, sir." .
Well,' thea, how could you he sara
to tell the. difference between tha two
kinds of carbon ?"
"Ask the price!" lustily piped .a
little fellow In tha front seat, who
will most likely make his mark In
buOtess soma day! Christian Register.
POUL'
CULTU
IVHBER OF. HENS IX A FLOCK.
The Subject Discussed From the Sin
gle Point of Utility.
By M. Ray Dawley.
There Is considerable controversy
over the subject of the size of the
flock. In the Australian laying con
test six bens are kept together. Some
breeders even keep hens In individual
pens. Laying aside the matter of
breeding and considering only the
utility points, we want to know what
size a flock should- be to make the
most profit. Sometimes thirty hens
will lay as many eggs as fifty hens In
the same pen. The reason for this is
that, with fifty in the flock they were
too crowded. By reducing the num
ber we better the conditions. Sup
posing a house eight by ten feet to
be large enough for twenty hens, we
give each hen the privilege of eighty
square feet of floor space, while If
the house were built sixteen by twen
ty feet, each hen would have 329
square feet to roam over, or four
times the room. The latter house
should be large enough tor eighty
hens. The former house would cost
about $25 and the latter one some
$80. That Is to say, it costs $1.25 to
house a hen in the small flocks, while
In the large flocks $1 pays tor the
house.
So we have a double advantage for
the hen by building the house large.
Moreover, the sunlight and ventila
tion In the large house are better;
hence, it Is easier to keep dry and
healthy.
A factor of as much Importance as
the above is the amount of labor re
quired. In having only one water
pan to fill, one place to feed, one
place to gather eggs and one roost to
clean, Instead of four roosts, the
work can be done In much less time,
and therefore the profits are more
and the cost of equipment less.
On the other hand, a large house
cannot be drawn about like a colony
house. It has to stay in one place.
The hens have to come out on the
same ground, and so find less green
food and forage than the hens scat
tered about In small flocks. Diseases
are very contagious, and so the risk
Is greater in the large house.
I have had splendid results keep
ing two hundred hens In one flock In
a house sixteen by fifty feet with a
yard 100 by 300 feet. Part of the
yard is In sod and part Is plowed and
sowed to oats or wheat twice each
season.
The Best Water Vessel.
The poultry-man has some trouble
to get a drinking vessel to fill the
bill.
Here Is our favorite. You can see
how handy it Is. It Is made of galva
nized Iron, and three gallons is about
the proper size, though suit yourself
on that. Our first one cost $1.50.
Fig. I. To Carry and Fill. Fig. II.
In Position For Service.
Tha home tinner made us one dozen
for $6 $12 saved.
Advantages. Need not fill every
day; easily filled and carried; holds
large quantity water; does not slop
out; keeps clean and sweet; cannot
burst from freezing; chickens ca:i
not drown In it; water runs into
trough only as used and does cot
freeze so quickly.
Caution. Do not use acid prepar
ations in metal vessels. Serve them
In earthenware. Clean and disinfect
with one of the many coal tar prepar
ations. Weekly Witness.
Poultry Yard Notes.
Chareoal is essential to the good
health of tha chickens.
Plow at least part of tha chicken
yard up, spread a little lima over it
and sow thickly with clover seed.
Tha balk of poultry comes from the
farm and not tha fancier, but tha best
poultry usually comes from the fan
cier or small farmer.
A house 8x12 is a very convenient
slxe lor a small flock of fowls. It a
large flock Is to ba housed two or
TRY
RE.
MARKETING CHICKEN FEATHERS
Dry Pick and Save tha Feathers Until
Ton Have Enough to Sell.
Tons of feathers are probably lost
each yea in small amounts becausa
farmers and poultrymen do not think
It worth while to save the few ounces
plucked from birds nsed at home and
for local market. Another reason
probably Is that the prices are
thought to be too small to make sav
ing these few feathers seem worth
while.
If a few minutes be taken when
plucking Is done to separate the vari
ous grades and to practice the best
methods of curing them, there Is no
reason why a nice little sum could
not be saved in each case, and the ag
gregate make a considerable advanca
In the annual returns from poultry.
Chicken and duck, as well as goose
feathers, are always In demand, and
should be saved, but ought to be kept
separate, and the larger feathers
placed by themselves. In no case
should chicken and turkey feathers
be scalded, because the hot water re
moves the animal oil and reduces the
grade very greatly. Such feathers
scalded command only a fraction of
the price paid for dry picked ones.
Another good point is to keep the
white separate from thecolored feath.
era, because white stock brings a
higher price than dark. After pluck
ing, the feathers should be spread out
until the moisture is thoroughly dried
out. During this time they should
be turned daily if they are spread at
all thickly. Turkey body feathers,
while too large as they come from the
bird, are often chopped and used in
cheap pillows.
A, leading dealer writes that hen
and turkey body feathers have only
saving value when dry picked, says
the Orange Judd Farmer. They
should be laid out on the floor and
forked over dally, and Bhould be in a
marketable condition in three days,
when they can be shipped In burlap
bags. Ttese grades are worth in
mid-autumn between four and five
cents a pound. Chicken quills should
be thrown away, never mixed with
softer body feathers, because they
spoil the grade. Turkey quills should
be graded; the long tails placed in
one box, those from the first two
Joints of the wings in another, those
from the last Joint in a third. The
shorter quills and those from the
rump, ranging from five to eight
inches, placed in a burlap bag. After
a thorough airing they may be packed
for shipment. Moisture allowed to
remain in them rots the quills quick
ly and thus reduces the grade.
Coop and Scratching Shed.
This form of chicken house is used
a good deal in the South, but is well
adapted to the North, particularly If
the lower part of the scratching shed
be made of glass. No nests should
be placed In a house of this kind, as
it Is useful mainly for confining
fowls in bad weather.
Feeding For Eggs.
To produce a number of eggs In
winter I feed the fowls at daylight a
light feed of mixed grains, about four
quarts to each 100 fowls. As soon as
they have their first meal the vessels
are filled with warm water, and these
vessels should be kept free from ice
by adding boiling water when neces
sary during the coldest weather.
At 9 In the morning the fowls
should be given all they will eat of a
warm mash that has been steamed
over night in a covered mixing box.
The last feed should be given them at
3 o'clock in the afternoon, and made
up of mixed grain thrown In the lit
ter. To Increase the egg production
a cut of raw fresh bone and meat
should be given the fowls twice a
week during cold weather. A. C.
Hawkins, Worcester County, Mass.,
in Cultivator.
Set Eight at Time.
It is best to set at least eight hens
at a time. Start them on china eggs,
and if they settle down well put in
good eggs the next night. When sup
plying the eggs dust the hens and
eggs with Insect powder and apply
the powder twice again before hatch
ing. Test the eggs about the eighth
dav. nut the Rood eggs under fewer
hens, and reset the other hens. Do
'I
not be discouraged If some of the
bona Wva tha eees manv hours at a
time. The eggs will hatch, although
a little later than If they bad not been
neglected. Sometimes eggs will
luff wltlinnt tha hen for
thirty-six hours if the weather isf
warm, r meen cmcneuu u. u
that one hen should care for. More
than that will not do so well. Mrs.
W. H. Marsh, Tolland County, Conn.j
In American Cultivator.
I more small ones would be better than
very large houses.
i One rooster Is sufficient for ten or
twelve hens or pullets.
If you force your utility hens to
moult earlv. you will be sure of a
good supply of eggs In the winter
! when prices are high.
The Incubator Is always on the Job,
never has to leave the eggs for teed
or water, and requires less time and
care than tha average busy old sit
ting hen.