davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1855-12-26
Evidence of Ill-breeding.

There is no greater breach of good
manners-or, rather, no better evidence
Of ill-breeding-than that of interrupting
another in conversation while speaking
or commencing remark before another
has fully closed. No well-bred person
ever does it, or continues a conversation
long with any person that does. The lat
ter often finds an interesting conversation
abruptly waived, closed or declined by
the former. without even suspecting the
cause. 1t is criterion which never fails
to show the breeding of the individual.
A well-bred person will not even inter
rupt one who is in all respects greatly his
inferior. If you wish to judge the good
breeding of person with whom you are
but. slightly acquainted, mark such per-
sons strictly in this respect, aud you will
assuredly not be deceived. However in
telligent, fluent, easy, or even graceful a
person may appear, for short time, you
lind him or her soon prove uninteresting
and insipid.
Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1855-12-26
The Little Street Singers.

IE quiet, old German city on the river
Rhine, dwelt an old woman named Mad.
chen and her two grandchildren, Frantz
and Wilhelm.
Fratz had a fine contralto voice, and
Wilhelm stong bass one; and so they
went about the streets singing songs, in
order to support their aged grandparent.
One day among their hearers was the
mayor of the city, tall, dark man, with
a coat embroidered with gold and sill
yer.
When the little singers had finished
their ballads, he tossed them bright
kreutzer each, of about the value Of FIVE
dollars, and said:
There; go and buy you some candy"
ooh, no" said Frantz, after the mayor
had gone; let's go to the pawnbroker's
and get that ring grandma cried so much
about. You know she said twas her
wedding-ring, and grandpa gave it to
her."
Yes, let's gop said Wilhelm; and
they quickly wendell their way to the
pawnbroker's shop, where they bought the
ring their grandmother had been obliged
to pawn on account of their extreme
poverty.
And when they gave her the ring at
night, she raised her hands, and said:
God bless you, my children r
And the little street singers were hap
py; for they had done good action
They had practiced selfdenial.-Lite II.
Illustrated.
Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1855-12-26
Tho Basin of the Atlantic.

Modern science has made many discov-
cries in relation to the ocean, its depths,
and its beds, or basins. According to Mr..
Charles B. Webb, who recently made a
tour through the United States and Can
ada, the vast weed meadows of the Allan
tic, which covers space several times as
large as France, teens with life, and deep
sea-sounding Which reveal the sea-foor of
the greatest depths, show that the bottom
of the ocean is frequently paved with cal
careous and silicious shells. The Allan
tic basin is vast trough, bounded on one
side by America, and on the other by AT
RIGA, and rising out Of this trough are
mountains higher than the loftiest Hama
layahs, from peak to peak Of which
huge whales hold their course with the
same precision with which eagles pass
from crag to crag; valleys deeper than
any trodden by the foot OF man, within
whose oozy folds the great waters lie in
perpetual repose. Depths have been SCUM
ded in the Atlantic, greater than any
mountain above the elevation of its sur
face.
Another modern writer, speaking of
this great basin says, that could its waters
be drawn off, SO as to expose this great
chasm which separates continents, and ex-
tends from the Arctic to the Antarctic, it
would present scene rugged and grand
beyond description. The very ribs of the
solid earth would be brought to light, and
we should behold at one view, in the nigh
ty cradle of the ocean, the sad remains of
a thousand fearful wrecks, their countless
human skulls buried in heaps of pearl and
inestimable stones, which lie concealed
forever upon the bottom Of the deep
From the top of tho Chimborazo to the
bottom of the Atlantic, at the deepest
place yet reached by the plummet in a
vertical line, is nine miles. The deepest
part of the North Atlantic, is probably
somewhere between the Bermndas and
Grand Rapids. The waters Of the Gulf
of Mexico are held in the basin whose
greatest depth is about mile.
Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1855-12-26
First Step to Ruin.

My first step to ruin" exclaimed a
wretched youth, as he tossed from side to
side on his bed, on ote corner of his pris.
on-house, was going fishing on the Sab
bath. | knew it was wrong. My mother
taught me better; my sister taught me
better; my Bible taught me better; but
needed none Of them. | did not think it
would come to this! | am undone!
am lost y
What warning is in the above lines
to Sabbath breakers. The wanton desc
Grafton Of that holy day may be looked
upon as a light thing by thoughtless and
frivolous young man; but it is not So
God, in his word and in his providence,
makes it serious matter Its more cor
rupting to the human heart than many
suppose. 1t seems to lead directly away
from God. and. consequently, to crime
with strange facility just watch the
course of the habitual Sabbath scorner,
and you will most likely see him come to
some bad end. Perhaps he becomes. an
infdel, and says in his heart, There is
no God!" Beware Of the first step to
rnin-
Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1855-12-26
SELF RELIANCE.

As the culture, especially Of young men
and women, depends mainly on them
selves, of course how thrifty their growth
or dwarfed their stature depends mainly
upon their own exertions. If, then, at
forty, you occupy a low or poor place, the
fault is mainly your own. But circum-
stances prevented and kept me down.
See this trouble and that drawback. .
But yonder prominent man had still grca-
ter in the start. The difference was, he
dashed through his, you succumbed to
yours. His difficulties only accelerated
his progress by stimulating his energies to
overcome them, while you allowed yours
to crush your spirit, and thereby palsy eff
fort. Away with sniveling! Pining
gains nothing, but loses all. Courage
energy-these are the grand instrument
talities to success. The same winds which
blow down weak trees, only drive the sap
along up strong ones. Then turn these
very adversities to account.
Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1855-12-26
American Naval Officers.

The Newport Mercury thus answers the
absurd fling at this country, as being des-
titute of naval talent.
In an article in late number Of the
Liverpool Journal, eulogistic of America,
and Americas success upon the seas and
lakes, after the highest commendation we
could look for from such source, the
writer accounts in the following manner
for our extraordinary achievements:
a" 1t is worthy Of observation that the
greatest of the American naval captains
were natives Of Ireland. In the field, the
Americans had varied success, and they
triumphed at last at New Orleans"
This building up pile only to throw
stones at it. That our success in the field
was varied, we believe is generally adj
mitted, but we have yet to learn that our
greatest naval officers were natives of any
land save that for which they fought and
freely shed their blood. Esek Hopkins,
the first commander OF an American fleet.
was Rhode Islander, as were also two
Of his captains and three Of his lieuten-
ants. Captain Barry, who in the Lexing-
ton, captured the Edward, in 1777, the
first vessel taken by an American cruiser,
regularly worked his way to command
in the American merchant service; and
was enrolled on the regular list the year
before that important event. And if we
come down to the conquests that taught
England she was not supreme upon the
seas, we have cambridge, born in New
Jersey; Lawrence, native of the same
State: Decatur, from Maryland; Perry,
from Rhode Island; Talbot, from Massa-
chusetts-but these with Hull, McDo-
nough, Biddle, Chauncy Stewart, and
many others whose names will occur to
every one, were all Irishmen, if the above
extract be true, and fought against their
own countrymen. In the whole list, SO
far as we could call to mind, there is but
one-John Paul Jones-who was not
born on this side of the ocean, and he was
a native of Scotland.
Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1855-12-26
The Loss Of a Wife.


In comparison with the loss OF wife,
all other bereayements are trifilng Inc
wife she who busted herself SO unweari-
edly for him who was the light OF her
eye, the pride of her heart; and for whom
the souls pure affections flowed IN unre-
strained exuberance. Bitter is the tear
that falls upon her cold clay. We stand
beside the coffin and think of the past.
1t seems an amber colored pathway, where
the sun shone upon beautiful flowers, OF
thestars gli.tered overhead. Fain would
the soul linger there. No thorns are re-
membered, save any our hands may un-
willingly have planted. Her noble, ten
der heart is open to our inmost sight
We think Of her now as all gentleness,
all beauty, all purity. But she is dead
The dear head that laid upon our bosom
rests in the still darkness, upon pillow
of clay! The hands that have ministered
SO untiringly are folded white and cold
beneath the gloomy portal. The heart
whose every beat measured an eternity of
love, lies chill and WITHHOLDING under
foot. The flowers she bent over with
smiles, bent now above her in tears, sha-
king the dew from their petals that the
yerdure around her may keep green and
beautiful.
There is so strange a hush in every
room. No light footsteps passing round.
No smile to greet as at the dark nightfall.
And the clock on the mantel ticks, strikes
and ticks: it was music when she could
hear it, but now it seems a knell on the
hours through which we watched the
shadow of death gathering upon her
lovely face. And every day the clock
repeats that old story. Many another
tale it telleth too, of these beautiful, soul
inspiring words" Meet me in Heaven, =
and pointing to the skies, of how her an
gelic spirit passed from the troubles of
earth to the glories of Gods paradise for
ever. And we think Of the solemn VOW
registered in Heaven, to try and meet her
there-and the hope, and faith, and con-
fdence of the Gospel sheds q radiance
round the tomb, assuring us that the grave
cannot keep her there-she is in Heaven.
Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1855-12-26
John Chinaman Astonished.

ooas 9doe "a SnI e 70 os'.a' are apt TO
Enn;ro eme oaS y lne oeles.laa
lamI ia ,et Lo ouu, ana supremacy rloicu-
, .o ,a anu N.Y. tno pios'nclal On,neSe az Can
ao ~, anu ;.a' naeao pay pack tals sentiment
" IN III interest," . us very amusing to hear
slen ssIoa1sio seli'aI M On tiie appearance
y ;l'S us.l.s = ang Iese taer u!Ier as
.o !. az Tue slgns OF their tlght'tit
Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1855-12-26
Anecdote of Prentiss.

The new Life of Prentiss contains this
pretty story respecting his second duel
with Gen. Foote:
1.-THE meeting took place on the right
hank of the Mississippi River, opposite
Vicksburg, and at the fire Mr.. Prentiss'
pistol snapped, while Gen. Foote missed,
shooting over him. This increased the
eagerness Of the large crowd assembled to
witness the affair to such degree that
they pressed up on each side of the line
until there was left quite narrow space,
scarcely room enough for the passage of
the balls. After the parties had resumed
their positions, pistolin hand and triggers
set, awaiting the word for a second fire,
every thing being as still as death, Mr.
Prentiss observed little boy, who, anx-
ious to witness the fun was climbing a
sappling in his rear, and said to him.
" My son, you had better take care; Gen.
Foote is shooting rather Wild The good
humored tone in which the remark was
made, the solicitude it implied for the
safety of the child, the GOODNESS and for
getfulness Of self in situation SO trying,
elected a round Of applause, which made.
the forest ring"
Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1855-12-26
Eaton, Gilbert, & Co.

Every body who has travelled much on
our Northern railroads, must have no1
ticed that in many of the cars the name
of the makers, Eaton, Gilbert, and CO."
is conspicuously posted. Not long since,
in one of these cars, a passenger by the
name of Gilbert was travelling with a cons
pany OF friends, and seeing another sign
over the above to the effect that spassen<
gers arc requested not to crack nuts iii
the cars" his innate love of fun was awas
kened. At the first stopping-place he fill
ed bis pockets with peanuts, and distribs
uting them among his friends, they were
all soon busily engaged in eating them,
and strewing the aoOr with the Shells
The conductor in passing, gently intima-
ted that it was against the rules, and
pointed to the printed notice.
"Oh yes. " said Gilbert. .fSlE see that
but you see by your own ruleS& re are
privileged
The conductor, thinking that they would
soon stop without any further trouble,
passed on. On his next rounds he found
the same party still at the nuts, and ma
king great display Of she'll on the floor.
Out of patience he now spoke up quite
sharply, and said to Mr.. Gilbert
+" You must comply with the rules of
the company if you travel in these cars"
: Certainly, certainly, we will, but you
do not seem to be aware that | and nv
company are excepted from the rule you
refer to-
mo, do not know of any thing of the
sort, nor you either, and there is no use,
OF having any words about it; you must
stop or quit the cars"
" Be quiet minute" repliedsMr. Gill
bert, . and | will convince you. To be-
sure it says, Passengers are forbid to-
crack nuts in the cars, but right under
meath is written, EAT on, Gilbert and
Co. Now my name is Gilbert, and this
is my company. and we are doing as We
are told"
The conductor gave it up.
Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1855-12-26
&c w g B u i, * n gR a Z, ID.

great number Of pears, which he threw
down to old Schalkea and his wife. At
length, he determined to descend, but to
his surprise, and apparent CONSERVATION,
he discovered that he was immovable;
nor would Jan allow him to leave the tree
until he had given them promise of
living another half century.
They logged on in the old way for fifty
years more, and then Death came again.
He was by no means so polite as he had
formerly been, for the trick that Schalken
had put upon him had offended his digni-
ty, and hurt his pride not little. Come,
jar" said he, you used me i'll the other
day, death thinks but little Of fifty years J
and am now determined to lose no time:
comet"
Jan was sitting at his little table, busily
employed in writing, when Death entered.
He raised his head sorrowfully, and the
pen trembled in his hand as he thus ad-
dressed him. confess that my former
conduct towards you merits blame; but /
have done with such knavcries now, and
have learned to know that life is of little
worth, and that have seen enough Of it
Still, before [ quit this world, should
like to do all the good can; and was
engaged, when you arrived, in making a
will, that poor lad, who has always
been kind to me, may receive this hut
and my boat. Suffer me but to finish
what have begun, and | shall cheerfully
follow wherever you may lead. Pray sit
down, and in q few minutes my task will
be ended"
Death, being thus appealed to, could
resist no longer, and seated himself in a
chair, from which he found it as difficult
to rise as he had formerly done to descend
from the pear-tree His Liberation was
bought at the expense of an additional
Fifty years; at the end Of which period,
and exactly on their birthday, Jan Schal-
ken and his wife 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.
Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1855-12-26
A Beautiful Picture.

The man who stands upon his own soil,
who feels that by law of civilized nations
he is the rightful and exclusive owner
OF the land which he tills, is by the con-
stltutlon OF our nature, under whole
some influence not easily imbibed from
any other source. He feels-other things
beng equal-nore strongly than another
the character of a man as the lord of an
inanimate world. OF this great and won
derful sphere, fastened by the hand of
God, and upheld by his power, is rolling
through the heavens, a part Of his-from
the center to the sky 1t is the space on
which the generation before moved in its
round OF duties and feels himself connec-
ted by link with those who follow them,
and to whom he is to transmit home
Perhaps his farm has come down to him
from his father. They have gone to their
last home but he can trace their foot.
steps over the scenes Of his daily Iabors.
The roof which shelters him, was rear
ed by those to whom he owes his being
Some interesting domestic tradition is con
nected with every enclosure. The favor
ite fruit tree was planted by his fathers
hand. He sported in boyhood beside ths
brook, which still winds through the mead
ow. Through the field lies the path tt
the village school of earlier days. Hc
still hears from the window the voice O
the Sabbath bell which called his father
to the house of God; and near at hand il
the spot where his parents laid down tt
rest, and when his time has come, he shall
be laid down by his children; these ar,
the feelings of the owner Of the SOIL
Words cannot paint them. They flow
out of the deepest fountains of the heart
they are the life spring of fresh health,
and generous national character.
Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1855-12-26
Model Bar Appeal.

Judge, your time | know is precious,
as must be the case with so valued MEM
Der of society. This case is so perfectly
clear, and / know your learning and lu--
cid intelligence. For me to argue would
be not only waste of time, but an insult
to your penetration. Much might be said
but nothing is needed. Before any other
Judge | would lay down the rules of the
law, but here know they have been deep
ly studied, and wisely understood. Hook
ed around me and behold an humble house
of logs, yet see tefore me the spirit of
truth the unpurchased distributor of law.
and the old tenement rises before my men.
tai vision proud and beautiful as males.
tic temple to justice. Judge, | lave "a
bottle of prime Monongahela in my peck
ct; for the respect bear your character.
allow me to make you a present of it.p
Verdict for the defendant" said the
Judge Immediately.
Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1855-12-26
CITY LIFE

There is an idea quite prevalent il, coun-
try villages and small towns, among
young men, that the city is very desira
BILE place to reside-that, indeed, if they
would ever become eminent in the world
they must procure situation in New
York, or some Of the Atlantic Cities
This is the case particularly with clerks
and young men connected with village
stores, hotels, etc.
Now, we have no desire to say anything
that would tend to crush laudible ambi-
ton; but at the same time, we must be
permitted to warn the class Of whom I'VE
are speaking, against the fallacy of the
notion which they so eagerly imbibe-
against, in short, rushing to the cities
reeklessly; and without making any pre-
vious preparation with reference to OBJ
tanning a situation when they do come
And even the hazard is more than our
young men generally imagine. When
they arrive here, they almost invariably
find their ardent and enthusiastic antici-
pations nothing more or less that castles
in the air. There are several thousand
young men in the city Of New York at
the present time out of employment,
young men, too, who are anxious to OBJ
tain work. Lately we had occasion to
advertise for lad to run of errands, and
Notwithstanding we took the precaution to
state in our advertisement that none need
apply after 10 A. NJ" we were visited by
scores of boys during the day-each one
more anxious to get something
to do. We pitied the little fellows as we
reluctantly informed them that we had al
ready engaged a boy. And who so hard
hearted as not to sympathise with them.
We have always looked upon man who
was willing to work, but who could not
obtain it, with heartfelt pity; and we can
not do otherwise now But we are di-
crossing.
A little sober reflection will convince
our country readers. that living i'll the
city is not the paradise of bliss they imag-
inc it to be. We knew.of many business
men who would gladly leave the city, il
they could only locate themselves in some
country place where they might obtain by
their industry and toll, the necessaries Of
life.
There is altogether an erroneous view
of city life entertained by the residents
of the interior. They imagine that it is
a very easy matter to amasS wealth here
that the opportunities for making mon
ey are so great that man of ordinary
shrewdness and business tact, cannot do
otherwise than pile up the needful." -
They forget that there is an immense num-
Der, of sharpers" here-that there are al
so thousands of keen business men, who
do Legitimate" business; but who are
too cute and too anxious too
make money, to give verdant gentleman
an opportunity to come off first best"
in trade or speculation with them.
Still, Notwithstanding all that we have
said, we are Of opinion that some young
men in the country would do we'll by com
ing to the city; but they are very few in
and great deal of discrimina-
ton should be used by parents and guar
dams, before they allow young persons
under their care, to enter upon SO hazard
Gus an undertaking.
Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1855-12-26

EhOM LIFE ILLUSTRATED.
My cousins large, my cousins small,
Most heartily wish you all
A merry Christmas.
May stockings filled from top to toe,
By Santa Claus, make you to know
'Tis merry Christmas.
Oh, would see you skip about.
Whom from your beds you first hop out,
On merry Christmas.
Who, who could count the stockings then
They always come by dozens, when
IT'S merry Christmas.
Ha, ha, what sparklings of your eyes,
As you draw out each sugar prize,
On merry Christmas.
While dancing heart and ringing shout
Tell fullest joy, beyond doubt,
On merry Christmas.
Yes, toss your mad-caps on this day
Ten knots an hour whirl off your play,
On merry Christmas.
Let house-walls hardly hold you then
Let each one make the noise of ten,
On merry Christmas.
And would you these kind friends requite
For giving you so much delight
On merry Christmas
Chen mind We all they say to you
And SO, for them, this day shall, too,
Be merry Christmas
Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1855-12-26
Death

Reath, father, death is comfortless and cold !
Aye mel when maiden dies the smiling MORN.
The Wild birds singing on the twinkling spray,
Wake her no more; the summer wind breathes sol
Waving the fresh grass Ger her narrow bed,
Gladdening all but her Sense.ess and cold
She lies; while all she loved, unheard, unseen,
Mouza Saund her,
Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1855-12-26
Our Strap 8ook,
Wilt Thou Love Me.


Wilt thou love me, gentle maiden,
When the hours Of youth have fed,
When the hoary locks Of winter
Thinly cluster round nay head
When the form now firm and stately,
Shall be bowed by age and care,
And my voice has lost its softness,
Wilt thou love me, maiden fairl
Wilt thou greet me with a welcome,
When the busy day is DER,
When the parting rays Of sunlight
Cast their shadows on the moor?
When our youthful years are over,
When no power can us divide,
Wilt thou still look fondly on me,
And walk softly by my side
Yes, thou'lt love me WREN the present
With its halcyon days are passed,
When our bark is gently gliding,
AS on times dark waves we're cast;
When each joyous dream has vanished,
When my heart is sad aud chill,
And the shades Of death hang DER me,
Thou wilt love me, maiden, still.