davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1845-08-29
A Widow Hscwitchcd.

Lieut.. Wilkes describes an amusing
scene which he Witnessed at Astoria, Ore
gon, where, among crowd Of Indians,
were several squaws, all dressed in the
best attire. The principal among them
was a widow, whose time Of mourning for
the death of her husband had just expi-
red. Her object was, according 10 the
custom Of the Chinooks, TO notify her
friends that she was ready 10 receive the
addresses of any one who was in want Of
a wife.
The widow was of masculine make
and what we would call buxom dame
She was attended by seven others, small
stature in comparison, who were heI
maids, and all evidently accompanied her
to do honor to the occasion. Every half
hour they would arrange themselves in {
row, and the widow, at their head, allec
ting modest down-cast look, would com
mence a chaunt, informing The by-stan
ders that her period Of mourning was out
that she had forgotten her deceased hus
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1845-08-29
pcculinrifics nc ritishurcl,.

The Cincinnati Atlas has the following
fair hit at our smoky city:
How 10 find Children in PITTSBURGH.
We always knew Pittsburgh to be
smoky place, but we little dreamed that
parents, on that account, found il difficult
to recognize their little ones in the street !
If we may believe correspondent Of the
Chicago News, it was told him as a
fact, by grave people, than when a moth
er wishes TO find child which she allows
to run in the street, she goes out, picks
up and washes the dirt from the faces of
perhaps dozen of her neighbours chill
dren, before she is fortunate enough TO
find her own There is something very
'ancient and Gsh-like,' however, in this
story.
We admonish the editor not TO give
tongue to his doubts, for however "lish-
like" the story, it is one of daily occur
rence-all but the waShing. Parents find
their children nowadays by sticking
some bright colorcd patch on a conspicu-
Gus part Of the dress of the dirty little
dears, and when you see troop oil young
ones playing in a sand.pilc about new
building, 1--WE are always building in
Pitisburgh,) they look for all 'he world
like soo,y butterflies, each having here
and there, his one bright spot. If you
ever see little bandy-legged boy wear
. ing grey cassne,s with a particularly blue
. square patch grinning from the most pro-
. mincnt point of his rear-mnn, don't ina
gino Tie mother stitched il there because
= she had no apiece 10 match She't
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1845-08-29
From Parley's August Magazine.
John SchnIken's Three Wishes.
A DUTCH FABLE


At a small fishing village in Dutch
Flanders, there is still shown the site Of
hut. which was an object of much al
traction while it stood, on account of a
singular legend that relates TO its first in
habitant-a kind-hearted fellow who de-
pended upon his boat for subsistence; and
his own happy disposition for cheerful
ness, during every hardship and priva-
ton. Thus the story goes:
One dark and stormy night in winter, as
Jan Schalken was sitting with his good
na.ured wife by the fire, he was awaken
ed from transient doze by knocking at
the door of his hut. Ha started up, drew
back the bolt, and stranger entered.
He was a tall man; but little. could be
distinguished of either his face or figure,
as he wore large dark cloak, which he
had conlrived TO pull over his head, after
the fashion of a cowl. Il am poor ira
veller,' said the stranger, 'and want a
nights lodging +; will you grant it to me ?
'Ay, to be sure replied Schalken: 'bui
/ am afraid your cheer will be sorry.
Had you come sooner, you might have
= Jared better. Sit down and cat what is
left
The traveller took him al his word, and
in short time afterwards retired to his
humble sleeping place. In the morning
as he was about to depart, he advanced
rIs Go nlt nit
hand, thus addressed him: 1T it needles:
for my good friend to know what am
but of this be assured, tha, can and viii
be grateful for when the rich and pow
erful turned me last night from their in
hospitable gates, you welcomed me as
man should welcome man, and locke,
with an eye of pity upon the desoatc ira
weller in the storm. | grant you tire,
wishes, be they what they may, thos,
wishes shall be gratiied.
Now Schalken certainly did not pu
much faith in these promises, but still h
thought it the safest plan 10 make trial o
them, and accordingly began TO conside
how he should fix his wishes. Jan wa
a man who had few or no ambition
views, and was contented, with the wa
OF life in which he had been brought uT
In fact, he was was so well satisfied wit
his situation, that he had not the least in
.clicaiion to lose single day Of his labc
rious existence; bu. on the contrary, ha
a very sincere wish to add few years
those which he was destined to live. Til
gave rise 10 wish the first. let my vii
and myself he said live fifty years lol
ger than nature has designed 1T sha
be DONE cried the stranger.
While Schalken was puzzling h
brains for a second wish, he bethougl
him that pear-tree, which was in h
little garden, had been frequently dcspo
cd Of its fruit, TO the no small dcrime
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1845-08-29

boat. Suffer me TO finish what | have
begun, and | shall cheerfully follow
wherever you may lead. Pray sit down.
and in few minutes my task will be
ended
Death, thus appealed to, could resis
no longer, and seated himself in chair
from which he found it as difficult to rise
as he had formerly done to descend the
pear-tree. His liberation was brought al
the expense of an additional fifty years
at the end of which period, and exactly
on their birth day, Jan 'Schalken and his
wifo died quietly in their bed, in the little
village, where they had lived long enough
to be considered the father and mother Of
all the inhabitants.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1845-08-29

UeSfern ChesterfeM.--lIang your hat
on the harp, and lay your stick on the
piano.
Rub your boots of well upon the hearth
rug, and be sure 10 take possession of the
old lady's arm chair.
A good way to display ease and ele-
gance is to pull ont your penknilc and
trim your finger nails.
If lady sings, hum the music along
with her she, as well as every body
else present, will be aStonished at your
knowledge of harmony.
If you should conclude 10 make the
sacrifice of not chewing while in the room,
you can step 10 the front window, draw
aside the curtains, throw up the sash, and
fling your quid into the street.
Stroll about the apartment and handle
The ornaments. If you can't reach pic
ture get upon chair and take j: down:
After six unsuccessful efforts TO put it up
again, you may leave it standing upon the
1oer leaning against the wall.
You must consider that every lady
present is DESTROYS of your attentions, and
anxious 10 engage your interest. This
establishes self-confdence, and you may
then. be as bland and condeseending as
you please.
An oil-hand manner finds favor with
the ladies' so that good way to win
success with them will be to maintain
your department of the bar and billiard
rooms merely retaining from splitting
upon muslin gown, treading on tender
toe, or slapping your hostess on the back
too roughlys
If you discover small knot discussing
a scientific subject, break in upon them
and relate all you know about it. You
will observe Immediately, by the silence
of every body, how delighted they are to
listen 10 you.
Pull out your watch often. and then de-
clare that an engagement compels your
absence. Ifyou have well observed these
rules, you will find that you can pass!
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1845-08-29
VOL. VINO. 10.

a Wedding ia the Wiiierness.-Ari
Oregon emigrant writes the Kalida Ven-
ture, from the company's camp on "Fish
creek" away west somewhere, that on
the 20lh May, the dizziness of their tramp
was enlivened with marriage ceremony.
The writer says: 'Now you need not
stare, yes, a wedding here beyond where
dwellings, laws or LICENSES are to be found,
or any of the various "Gxins" which
such an occasion generally calls forth in
your country. The lucky couple are
Mr.. Meek, our pilot, and Miss Shoon-
over, an emigrant. They had three or
four days acquaintance, during which
they concluded upon getting up this no.
vclty. The ceremony was done up by
preacher who is in company. When the
hour arrived, the trumpet was sounded,
and we all left our vacations and gathered
around them, in front of the camp fire.
We were strange looking assembly
standing around with hats on, long boards,
dirty shirts, here and there rent breeches,
deer-skin moccasins, belts, pouches, &C.,
TO witness for the first time the knot tied
in the wilderness. Well, soon the cere-
mony was over, and each one went about
his own business"
To which the Independence Expositor
adds; That's nothing for Oregon emf
grants 10 do; there were five marriages
in the company Of last year, and one in
DR.. Whites company the year previous,
between this place and Fort Habit is
becoming all every day occurrence on the
prairie, and is conducted 1--WE know, for
we have been at several, with as much
solemnity as any we ever witnessed else
where.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1845-08-29
The I.itilc Girl and the Rain.

ny Mrs. l.. H. sTGoURSEY.
Mother, it rams said little girl, who
was looking out at the window. Il am
so sorry not 10 go and make that visit to
Emma. She invited me twice before,
but it rained; and now il is raining hard
again.
Il hope you will not be unhappy, my
DEAR said her mother. Il think | sec
tears upon your cheeks. will not say
il is little thing; for the troubles OF chill
dren seem great TO them; but trust you
will be patient, and wait pleasantly fol
good weather.
Mother, you have told me that God
knows every thing, and that he is always
good. Then he certainly must know that
there is but one Saturday afternoon in the
week, and that is all the time | have TO
play with my little friends. He mus!
know that it has rained now these three
holidays, when | wished so much TO 90
abroad. And can he not make sunshine
whenever he peases
I'VE cannot understand all the ways OF
God, my child but the Bible tells us he
is wise and good. Lonk out into your
little garden, and see how happy the rose
buds are to catch the soft rain in their
bosoms, and how the violets lift up their
sweet faces 10 meet it, and as the drops
fall into the quiet stream, how it dimplcs
with gladness and gratitude. The cattle
will drink at the stream, and be refreshed.
Should 1t be dried up, they would he
troubled, and were the green grass TO
grow brown and die, they woulc be troub-
led still more, and some of them nigh,
perish for want of food
Then the good mother told her daugh
ter of the sandy deserts in the East, ant
of the camel, who patiently bears thirs
for many days; and how the laintint
traveller watched for the rain cloud, snt
blessed God when ho found the water
And she showed her pictures of the cam
ell and Of the caravan, and told her how
they were sometimes buried under thu
sands of the desert. And she told her ;
story of the mother who wandered in thu
wilderness with her son, and when til,
water was spent in the bottle, she laid hin
under the shades to die, and went ant
prayed in her anguish 10 God; then, how
an angel brought the water from Heaven
and her son lived. She told her of ano,h
er story from the Bible, how there fell NJ
rain in Israel for more than three years
and the grass dried up, and the brooks
wasted away, and the cattle died; ant
how the good prophet prayed earnestly
TO God, and the skies sent their blesso,
rain, and the earth gave forth her fruit
Many other things this good mother salt
TO her child, TO teach and entertain her
Then they sang together sweet hym,
or two, and the little girl was surprise,
10 find the afternoon so swiftly spent, 70
the time passed pleasantly.
SO she thanked her kind mother 70
the stories she had told, and the picture
she had shown her. And she smiled
and said, What God plcases is best
Her mother kissed her, and said, Ca,
~ this sweet spirit with you, my daugl
/. ter, and you will have gathered NOR
, wisdom from the storm than from the SUI
shine
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1845-08-29
BY HISE g. OSMAN.
From the New York Mirror.
THE DESERTED HOMESTEAD ID.

There is lonely homestead,
In green and quiet vale,
With its tall trees signing mournlully
To every passing gale;
There are many ruins round it
In the sunlight cleaning fair,
But moss grown is that silver cot,
Its walls are gray and bare.
Where once glad voices sounded,
Of children in their mirh,
No whisper breaks Tie solitude
OF that deserted hearth.
The swallow from its dwelling
To the low caves hath flown,
And all night long the whip-poor-wlll
Sings by the threshold stone.
No hand above the lattice,
Ties up the trailing vines,
And through the broken easement pancs
The moon at midnight shines;
And many a solemn shadow
Seems standing mid the gloom,
Like forms of long departed ones,
Popping that dim old room.
Oh, where are they whose voices
Rang out DER hill and dale?
Gone and their mournful memories
Seem but an oi,.told tale.
Some 10 the quiet churchyard,
And some beyond the sea,
To meet no more, as once they met,
Beneath that old roof tree.
Fame and ambition lured them
From that green vale to roam,
But as their dazzling dreams depart,
Regretiu memories come,
OF the valley and the homestead,
OF their childhood pure and free,
Till each worn weary split yearns
That home once more to sec.
Oh! blcst are they who lingcr
Mid old familiar things,
Where every object round the heart
Its halowed influence filings.
Though won are wealth and honors,
Though reached fame's lofty dome,
There are no joys like those which spring
Within our childhood's home.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1845-08-29

"A Persian Hus6and.-We thus pro-
ceeded, by order Of the king, 10 Jesman-
Doc. Muhammed Taxi, the astrologer
from Heraut, who came with Abbass
X Gull Khan from Persia, for the purpose
of getting, by the Shah's influence with
the Ameer, his wife, who had been made
slave by the Turkomauns, both Ieco-
vered her, and besides this, received one
hundred ducats from the Amcer. When
he came TO the garden of Jesman-Doo,
withou his wife, Abass Koul Khan asked
him Where is your wife, He replied,
Il have looked in the streets two or three
nights successfully and seen one star
with black tail, from which perceived
that misery is entailed upon her; and
therefore | have resold her for forty du-
cats and a beautiful hIgh.bosomed slave.
girl, only seventeen never saw in
my life man SO nccnscd as Abbas
Kouli Khan. lie rose from the ground,
cast away his galyoon with such violence
that it broke to pieces, and said, God
burn you and your stars |! You rascal,
YOU did not look on the stars, but on the
money and the beautysof The young girl.
| spit in your beard. DR.. UoV'S 10
! B0kdrd.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1845-08-29
A BEAUTY.

Oh her hair is as bright as the stormy cloud,
That hangs DER the distant hill
And her eyes are as black as the midnight wave,
And her face-oh It's blacker still
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1845-08-29

scorn the impu,aion. She has a clear
perception of the useful, and takes care
while she mends her boy to mark him.
-Pits5urgh Commercial
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1845-08-29


Good influence Of Birds.-BIrds that
come around our houses should be pro
tected. Their influence is good on us
and our children. Their hymns 60 up
when we are silent; they never forge. the
song of praise and thanksgiving. 1t is
well for us to listen TO them, and be hui
manized by the kindly lessons they teach
US. Let us not grudgc them the little
they take from us, but spare them for the
sake of those we love best.-The child
who has watched for the coming Of the
birds, and has heard the notes of the rob-
in near his chamber window, will feel
their influence in after life as holy re-
membercd thing. No tone of music shall
ever fall on his ear like that thrilling song
in the dim twilight, of early morning. 1t
may strike on his memory when he will
need il most, and the scenes and inno-
ccnce IF childhood will come to him again
TO bear him up. Encourage this love for
these things of nature, yc who would
bring up yonr children in purity and
peace. No after-ieachings can give such
holy feelings, and the impressions they
make shall nevss be forgotten.
The spring has come, and the robin il
back again. lie has looked at his wealth
er beaten nest on the apple tree, and fin
ding that few repairs will make it good
is now pouring out his song TO his ole
friends; and, although he took rattle
more than his fair share Of our cherries
he feels that we arc glad to see him, ant
were satisfied 10 take our pay in singing
-------------------
.Sentime,,t.-"Behold, my Flora, how
glorious Nature looks in her bloom 'Th
,recs are filed with blossoms, tho WOO
is dressed in its green livery, and til
plain is carpetcd with grass and flowers.
"Yes, Charles, | was thinking Of III
same thing. These flowers are dandel
ons, and when they are gathered and PIT
into pot, with piece OF good fat Pork
they make the best greens III the world
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1845-08-29

Interchange Of prisoners.--By re-
cent arrangement between this country and
the governments of the United States and
France, we are able 10 exchange crimir-
ais, but by some flaw in the treaty, we
have not been able TO get our criminals
back again. A bill has just been brought
in TO rcc,ify this error, and we would
sugges, the addition ola schedule, giving
a sort of rate Of exchange, or table of the
comparative value of criminals. 10 the
style of our old friend Bonnycas,le. Thus
we might say, in
american measure.
20 Pickpockcts make Swndler, rupt,
6 Swindlers | Fraudulent bank
10 Fraudulent Bankr. Felon,
Feons Burglar, ator.
so Burglars AmericanRepudi-
and so on through the whole OF the Grim
inal catalogue. We might also have
a criminal city article, with the Cul'
prits' Exchange Intelligence, giving the
different valNe Of the numerous securities,
from handcuf', which might be quoted at
2 premium, down TO bail, at discount, or
police surveillance at par, with shade or
two in favor ofthe French markets. We
presume that for good Jumping Ameri-
can thief England would be expected 10
give lot of small change in the shape OF
a quantity of petty larceners. One coun-
try might draw bills on the other for fifty
felons, payable at sight, or circular notes
might be given, enlilling the holder TO
take up certain quantity of criminals al
various points of the continent. The idea
is altogether very rich one, but il il is to
be carried TO perfection, few Of our hints
should be acted on as speedily as possible.
Punch.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1845-08-29
THE PRINrEIs,s KISS.

Print on my lips another kiss,
The picture Of thy growing passion;
Ney. this won't donor this--nor this
But now-ay! Mc'voa "proof impression"
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1845-08-29

Of the said tree, and grievious disappoin,-
ment of its owner. For my second wish,
grant that whoever climbs my pear-tree
shall not have power to leave it until my
permission be given This was also as
snntel To-
The New York herald., 1845-04-11

Iutons on any conditions, they were so uncon-
stintional," )" and yet directly after voted 10 give
the President the power to choose and act under
those very Identical resolutions, without the alera-
non OF letter, This same gentleman also was SO
"consclentious' that ne must needs abuse, in the
most foul mouihed manner, and with the coarsest
situp-rauon, all the reporters and letter writer's
nse4u5 one OF them happe ned to make a mistake.
Aua mr. Arthur p. Bagby is also so " conscen-
Nous that ne has not single compunctious scru
PIE about taking $3.50 of the peoples money tor
IaVeiiing, which he never performed, and which
ne never could perform, and for which he has as
nlucn right to be paid, as have for journey to
feelings al sitting at the head OF the Committee of
claims OF the Senate, while at the same time he
publicly advertised himself As willing % take
charge OF claims against the United States. Oh!
TO lend TO Arthur p Bagby, United States Senator,
from the sovereign State OF Alabama2
ExMuA
The New York herald., 1845-04-11
WASHINGTON, April 8, 1916
Oxn,siiIn1 Gnfhsya1,,a


The removals for Baltimore having been made
yesterday, and the charter election for your city
being now past, you may expect some trimming
and pruning in your Custom House and Post Office
before long. But the cabinet are diatory, dscon-
certed, and exceedingly timid in the business of
rotation. The Virginia elections once over, and
we shall know what 10 do. The hght is there Tor
an annexation United States Senator, and from
some observation, We think the democrats will
have passabe majority in the Legislature on Joint
ballot. lhe wings are contending tor the re-elec.
uon OF Rives, otherwise they would be apt to sui
ter the elections to go by defaultas it Is they will
fight hard for their legislative candidates Election
two weeks hence
The Globe goes into possession and control of it's
new editors on the first of May, and is to be chan
and Ewqnire, from the Union, at Nashville, and
Mr. knchie's universally known Richmond Em-
quuT Nashville and Richmond-lLis is what we
eau making both ends meet. The cost OF the
Gto6e s estabshment 6 entire would not fall short
Blair ofthe Globe says, in speaking Of the trans
Ter OF The Nddis0nidn from John Jones to the Rev.
Ineophus Fisk, and ]. +. Dow, that the d1ddiso.
niar mas been mesmerised. Blair is determined
TO have the last kick. We suppose John Jones
goes down TO Williamsburg as Captain Tyler's
overseer.
Hon. Zadock Pratt is in town again He comes
TO lock how the appropriation tor the White House
Is being expended. Capt. w. H Polk continues in
the cry. lie s perhaps waiting tor some pubic
shIo bound for the Mediterranean.
The Misses Macomber, at their concert last
night, had respe cable house. They sing well,
and are fine buxon young girls.
Gen. Duff Green, of late, has been visitor 10
the State Department. Does the General de-
sire to go to Texas again? No, sir Having failed
al every other point, his only chance now is the
cumberland coal mines, or the salmon fisheries Of
Oregon
| The auctloneers are busy selling out the furni-
| ture oi exploded boarding houses and the city is
| becoming insuferably dull
Some OF the warm friends Of Henry Clay, give
him an anniversary masquerade ball on Monday
evening next, In this c,Is. Il is expected to be
/ brilliant affair. W.