davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1859-12-14
Big Brindic.

In NasnVilieI many yeaTd oSo' tneFe resi-
ded gentleman Of great hospitality, large
fortune, and though uneduc,ted, possessed OF
hard.not sense. Col. w. lad been elected
t, the legislature, and had also been Judge
OF the County Court.
The elevation, however, made him some.
" hat pompous, and he becl me very fond Of
using big words. On his farm he had a
large mischievous OK, called "Big Briude
Ok" which frequently trcke down his
neighbors fences, and committed other dep
redations, much to tho ColopeI's annoyance.
One morning, after breakfast, in presence
Of some large gentlemen who had stad with
him over night, and were now on their way
I to t,wn, he called his ovtneer and said to
| him
"a lien, I desire you to impound Big Brin'
die, in order that may hesr no more Of the
animudversions on his eternal depredations.
Allen bowed and walked cut sorely puz.
z'rd to know what the Colonel meant.
So utter Col w. lett for town he went to
bis wife and asked her what the Col. meant
by telling him to lmponnd the OK.
"Why." said she, she meant to tell you
to put him in pen."
Allen lett to perform the feat, which was
no inconsiderable one, ss the animal was
very wild and vicious, and after great deal
of trouble and vex1ton, he succeeded.
"Well," said he, wipiDg the Precipitation
from his brow, solilcquizing. "thnl is i'm
pounding is it! Now I'm dead sure the old
Colonel will ask me if | have impounded
Big Brinde and III puzzle him as bad os he
did me-"
The next doy the Colonel gave dinner
party, and as he was not aristocratic, Allen
the overseer, sat down with the company
After the st cond or third lass had been dis
cussed, the Colonel, turned to the overseel
ard said
"Eh, Mr.. Allen, did you impound Big
Brndle !"
Allen Strengthened himself, and looking
around at the company said
eyes, / did; but old Brindle uanscended
the impunnel Of the impound, and scattleo'
phsticated all over the equanimity Of the
Forest"
The company burst into an immodeTate
Gt of laughter, while the Colone's face red
dened with discontinue.
"What do you mean by that, sir? said he
"Why mean Colonel" said Allen, "tha
old Brindle being prognosticated with ar
idea OF cholera. ripped and tared, snortet
and paved dirt, jumped the fence-tuck t'
the woods, and wouldn't be impounded no
how"
This wac too much; the company roore'
again, in which the Colonel was forced t
Join, and in the midst Of the laughter, Alle
lett the table, sayiBs~so himself, as he went
: l reckon the Colonel won't ask me to i'm
pound any more oxen."
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1859-12-14
AnecdOte OF Washington Irving

Says Porter's SpirH:--"A friend Of ours,
who occupies lordly mansion in Twenty.
ninth street, near Fifth avenue, was whiom
contractor for building that section of the
Croton Aqueduct which passed through Tar.
rytown. Soon after he had erected rude
building for the reception of the tools and oil
the workmen, and to afford himself tempo.
rary shelter, while engaged in his response
Bile duties, an old gentleman, plainly dressed
and of exceedingly unpretending manners,
presented himself one day and commenced
conversation with our friend. A great many
questions were asked, naturally suggested by
the new enterprise of supplying New York
city with water, and after a visit OF on hour
or so, the old gentleman quietly departed
few days afterwards, accompanied by two
ladies', he again visited the headquarters Of
our friend, and entered into q more detailed
conversation, seemingly intent upon fndng
out all that was to be learned about the pro
posed aqueduct.
These visits tinally became a regular af.
lair, and were continued twice a week, for 6
period OF six months. The conversation:
were always confined to local subjects, anc
not remark csc ,ped from the visitor which
was calculated TO inspire curiosity, or sug
gest that he was other than some plain, good
natured person, with plenty OF time on biz
hands, who desired to while away an hour OF
two in commonplace chit chat. In course
of time our friend finished his abors at Tar
rytown, but occasionally met his old frient
on the little steamers that serve to connec
our suburbs with the heart OF the city. One
day, while travelling along the Hudson, ant
busiIy engaged in conversation with the OLE
gentleman, the steamer suddenly commcnc
ed pealing its bell, and made such racke
that our friend left his place, and hunting
up the captain, asked him what all the nois
was about
"Why," replied that functionary, eve ar
opposite Sunnyside, and having Washngto
AI'IhS ou OOH'AS " tuIH Al III hiS oSIVuu
J. will be able to meet him at his landing wit
q curriage."
Our friend, in great enthusiasm, excaim
ed /: "Washington Irving! he on board
why, point him out 10 me there is no ma
living whom would more like TO see."
At this demonstration, the captain locke
quite surprised, and remarked, "Why, siI
You just left Washington Irving's company
and from the number Of times have see
, you in familiar conversation with him on th
/ boat, supposed you were one Of his mo-
intimate friends"
! The astonlshmen. OF our friend may t
family imagined when he discovered that it
3 more than half year, twice a week, he ha
) long conversation with Washington Er'
ing, person TO whom, more than any ma
living, he desired personal Introduction.
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1859-12-14
The River Jordan.

A correspondent of the Utica Herald thus
describes the river Jordan:
"a line of green, low forest trees betrayed
The course of the sacred river through the
plain. So deep is its channel ana SO thick
is the forest that skirts it's banks. that rode
within twenty yards OF it before caught the
first CLEAN OF its waters. l was ngreeably
Disappointed. had heard the Jordan de.
scribeG as an insipid muddy stream. Wheth.
er it was the contrast with the desolalion
around. or my fancy that made its green
banks so beautiful, know not, but it did not
seem at the moment OF its revs la,on to my
longing eyes the perfection OF calm and lone.
illness. 1t is hardly as wide as the MUhlwk
OF Utica, but far more rapid and impassioued
in its flow. Indeed, of all the rivers have
ever seen, the Jordan has tho tiarcest cur
rent. Its water is by no means clear, but it
as little deserves the name of muddy. At
the place where | first saw it tradition as
signs the baptism Of our Saviour, and also the
miraculous crossing Of the children OF Israel
on their entrance into the promised land.
Like true pilgrim, ba,hed i'm it's waters
and picked a few pebbles from it's banks as
tokens of remembrance of the most familiar
river in the world. Three miles below the
spot where now stand, the noble river-it.
self the very emblem OF ife,-suddenly
throws itself on the putrid bosom Of the Dead
| Sen"
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1859-12-14
RAVENNA, WEDNESDAY. DECEMBER IA, 1885,

had been the sin of his life. He sank upon
his knees enfolding his daughter aud her
child, and his old wife crept to bis side, and
knelt beside him, while from bis lips Mrs.
Marsh heard as she closed the door, and left
the now united family to themselves, this
prayer:
"Futher forgive US our respasSes, as we
forgive those who trespsss against u.s."
Judge Howard had not uttered it before for
ten years.
After that night the Judges mansion was
not only the stOteIiest, but the happiest home
in Ashdale. Caroline HuntIey had borne as
long as she could the burden of her fslher's
unlorgiven anger, and when the weight on
her heart had grown too heavy to be endured
she started with her child home. The stag,
had set them down that stormy night in hel
native village, and the forgiveness for which
che scarcely dared hope had expanded into 4
welcome.
The old people could not again spare ,heil
daughter, and they summoned Richard Hunt
ley home. A son he proved of whom any
father might be proud, and IN after years nj
shadow brooded over the peaceful dwelling
where once more ehldreI's feet dsnce,
around the hearth.ire, and thileren's Iancie
built castles in the embers; no shadow unit
the last darkness came whit th should be tn
mighty above which should rise the cain
morning of eternity.
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1859-12-14
ClccpaGra's Needle ia IA bitch.

In ditch at atAlexandra there in lying one
of the greatest curiosities in the world II
10 the property of the British nation ; but
the British nation 10 general does not seem
10 care about it. The case is different,
however, with some sections OF the British
public who pass through Egypt. in their p's'
sage to or from India or Australia; the M
jority bring away a portion Of this curiosity,
it being nothing more nor less than Gle
opatra's Needle. There it lies in ditch,
the butt end of the shaft EMBEDDED in the
earth. The last time the writer saw it, (not
very long ago) Briton was sitting upon it,
knocking of enough Of the inscribed stone
for himself and fellow travellers, with ham.
mer. The writer expostulated with his
brother Briton, and reminded him that that
wonderful relic of byeone days did not be
long to him, but had been handsomely pre-
sented to the British nation, and therefore
belonged to it. swell, know it does," be
answered, "and as one Of the British nation
| mean to have my share." An officer o
the Bengal engineers, who was coming
home on sick leave, protested that the re
moval OF the Needle to England was not
only feasible, but comparatively, an easy
task. "CaPtain (now AdmiraD w. H. Smith
of the royal navy" he added, "one OF the
most scientific officers in the service, who
was out here for many years surveying, on
his return to England represented to the
British government that the Needle might
be easily removed and at comparatively
small cost" Mahomet Ali gave to the Brit
ish this Needle and to the French the OBJ
eIisk now in Paris. The letter was then
upwards Of 500 miles from Alexandria
The French at once set to work to remove
their gifts, and great as the difficulty was,
they accomplished their task gallantly, aud
set the obelisk up in their beautiful city Of
Paris, where it adorns the Place de Ia Con.
corde.-Dickens' All tie ysSr RsS"j.
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1859-12-14
Who the NIOors Are.


Tho inhabitshts Of Morocco, with whom
the SpaniardS are going to war, are Mooss,
the same race, who, q Thousand years ago,
conquered Spain and tdied II for centuries.
They penetrated. into France snd subdued
portions OF 1t. Their terrible defeat BY tho
Franks, under Charles Martel, In the eighth
century, arrested their advance and saved
Europe from being overcome by the MussuI-
man hordes. The Spaniurds rallied and
kept at war with the Moors for seven or
eight centuries, and II was not until about
the year 1900 that they reconquered thcir
country. The Moors held possession Of
Spain for as many centuries as have elapsed
since the Normans conquered England st the
battle Of Hastings !! After being in the pos.
session of the country so long, 1t is singular,
indeed, that they were expelled from il.
The Moore, in the ages that they resided
in Spain, were a more civilized race by far
| than the Spaniards. This is evident from
the most cursory perusal Of the chronicles OF
those times. Who has not fingered with
wrapt fascination over the pages Of Wash.
ington Irving and Prescott, In which they
describe the eIories Of the Alhambra and
other indications OF Moorish refinement and
greatness 1t was not until the reign Of
Philip III, in the seventeenth century, that
the Moors, by an arbitrary and foolish edct
OF the weak King, were expelled and bqnish.
pd frnm Snain Ru bot Snoin Last hnn
dreds OF thousands OF her most useful and In.
dustrious cltiz,ns. They very generally took
refuge in that portion OF Nortaern Africa
called Morocco. The Moors carried with
them into The ancient home o. their race in
Africa the civil cation and much OF the wealth
which they had acquired in the Pennsula.-
They Carried with them an implacabIe ha.
tred OF the Spanish race-a hatred which
was for century longer almost sustained II
not augmented, by the cruel treatme mt OF the
. Moors, Christians and Mohummedins, who
were desirous of remaining ia Spin, but
who were ultimately driven across the
Straits of GLbralter.
The MoIrs are a mixed race, of various
'igin-NumidiAn aud Mauritac c:an, Roman;
Vandal, and Suracen or Arabian. They
are better-lookng people than is common.
ly supposed. In the interior Of Morocco
there ore some races of wild negroes, ath.
letic, and lerocious enough. They may be-
seen at TOngiers occasionally, in companies
Of ten or fifteen men, going from house to
: house, to amuse the people by dancing to the
music Of "bones" for castanets, small drums;
: and strings Of little bells around their an.
kies
u As The population of Morocco is not half
% that Of Spain. and as it has not quarter Of
Q its military resources, there can be no doubt
: es to the issue Of the contest between the
= two nations.
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1859-12-14
Brother Jonathan,

The origin of this term, as applied to the
United States is as follows: When Gene
raj Washington. after being appointed com
munder of the army Of the Revolutionary
war, found q great want of ammunition anc
other means of defense, and on one occa
sion it seemed that no means could be devils
ed for the necessary safety. Jonathan
Trumbull, the elder, was then governor OIL
the State of Connecticut; and the General
placing the greatest reliance on bis excel
lency's judgment, remarked, "We mus
consult Brother Jonathan on the subject
The General did so, and the Governor wai
successful in supplying many of the wants
of the army; and thenceforward when diff
ficultes arose, and the army was spread oveI
the country, it became q by phrase, awe
must consult Brother Jonathan;" and the
name has now become designation for the
whole county, as John Bull has for Eng
land. .. ... .. ... ......
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1859-12-14
"E'H Rest when 1 Get EROme e :"

While was walking through "a street in
the city Of -, a few days ago, passed
d man whose head was h,ened and body
bowed by tho hordships of not less than
sixty years. His limbs trembled under
their heavy burden, and with mnch appar.
ent effort he advanced but slowly. / over
heard him talking in low and subdued
voice, evidently mourning over his weari.
ness and poverty. Suddenly his tone
changed and his step quickened as he ex.
claimed, "I'll rest when get home"
Even the thought of rest filled him with
new lie SO that he pursued with energy bis
weary way. To me it was a lesson. II the
thought of the refreshing rest of home en-.
courages the care-worn laborer go that, al.
most unmindful OF fatigue and burdens, he
quickens his step homeward, surely the
Christian, journeying heavenward, in view
of such rest, should press onward with
renewed vigor.
This little incident often comes to mind
enid the perplexing Iabors of the day, and
stimuIa;esme to more constant and earnest
effort. Each aborer toiling in his Masters
vineyard, bearing the heat and burden o.
the day, cun say, "PI rest when Iset home.'
Here let US be diigent in the service o! OUT
Lord, rememberin! that our rest 10 ABOVE
Fellow traveller, are your burdens grievou,
to be borne, so that you are reudy to fain
in the way! Jesus says, "Come unto me
oil yet that labor and are heavy.loden, ant
I will give you rest" To rest from toll il
sweet to rest from sin is Heaven Chris
tian Miscellany.
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1859-12-14
Old Noah BIS Question.

Old Noah B. was, IN his old age, given
when in his cups, to religion. One day hi'
Gold woman" sent him out TO split wood
but coming across brandy bottle, he re-
turned home very much "obfusticated'" hi'
errand unaccomp plished. Taking seat he
commenced with -
"Wife-wife, do you think the Lord, ir
his goodness (hic) kin send US all into fire
everlastin' -
No answer from his wife, who was highly
incensed to find her liege lord in such con
dtion.
"Wife, kin the Lord intend to burn Us al
in fire everlastin' 2"
Mrs. B. by this time was boiling over with
indy ynation, but still no answer.
"Wife, (hic) do you think the Lord means
(hic) to burn US all (hic) in fire everlastin' =
This was more than humsn patience coult
endure, and she could not hold her tongue
any longer she'd speak out II she died fol
il. #-
"No you old fool, you not II he waits fOr
you to split the wood!''
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1859-12-14
The Chess Board.


1t is related Of the inventor of the game
Of chess that on being promised by the
king whom he first taught the game, that
he should have any reward he might
ask for, meekly replied that he would be
content if the king would give him one
kernel Of wheat on the first square, two
on the second, four on the third, eight
on the fourth, and 80 on doubling up
to the sixty fouth square. The king gladly
Acceded to this seemingly modest request;
and ordered his attendants to bring 10 the
wheat, which they began to debut, to the
astonishment of the monarch it was found
that there was not wheat enough, and never
had been enough, in his dominionsi to pay
of the crafty inventor. A correspondent
who has been Figuring on it," says that, to
! fulfill the kings promise. it would take thirty
tri!ions, twenty.seven billions. ninety seven
millions. one hundred and eighty. four thou.
sand, four hundred and eighty-fv bushels Of
wheat-aIowing 600 900 kern.ls to the
bu,hel. This wouid cover the States Of
New York, New Jersey, Penn,Jlv4,ia and
Delaware all over to the depth OF mile and
quarter. Were the kernels laid together,
end to end, thy would reach two billions,
three hundred and twenty seven millions:
eight hundred aud ten thou and, three hun.
dr. and ninety two times around the earth.
Here is the exact number OF kernels the
| chess inventor asked for-9, 9,627, ,26S. 1885,:
934775, 1856!
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1859-12-14
Parental Sympathy.

Parents express too little sympathy for
their children; the effect Of this lamenta.
BILE.
"How your children love you / IwouId
give the world to have my children so de.
voted to me ~ said mother to one who did
not regard the time given to her children ss
so much capital wasted. Parents err fatally
when they grudge the time necessary for
their children's amusement and instruction (;
for no investment brings go sure and 60 rich
returns.
The chid'S love is holy aud il the parent
does not fix that love himself, he deserves
TO lose it, and in after. life to bewail bis pov.
erty Of heart.
The child's heart is full of love, and 1t
must eush out toward somebody or some.
thing. II the parent is worthy Of it, and pos.
sesses it, he is blest and the child is safe.
When the child loves worthy persons, and
receives their sympathy, he is less liable to
be Influenced BY the undeserviug |; for in his
oooi ulO VI S4CcIlcuCc, WIN WHICH
he compares others.
Any parent can descend from his chilling
dignity, and freely answer the chiId's ques
tions, talking familiary and tenderly witt
him; aud when the little one wishes help
the parent should come out of his abstrac
tiuns and cheeriully help him. Then biz
mind will return to his speculutions elastic
and it will act with force. All parents car
find few minutes occasionally, during thu
days to read little stories to the children
, and to illustrate the respective tendencies o
good and bad feelings. They can talk t
Them about flowers, birds, trees, about all
gels, Ond about God.
They can show interest in their sports
determining the character of them. Wha
is surer way than this of binding the chill
to the heart of the parent! When yo
have made friend offs child you may Con
gratulate yourself you have friend for life
Life Illustrated
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1859-12-14

OF An Irish gentleman, remarkable fot
his devotion to the fair sex, once remarked:
Never be critical on the ladies. Take it
Cor granted th,t they are all handsome aud
good. A true gentleman will never look on
the faults of pretty woman without shut.
ting his eyes,
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1859-12-14

GTA colored cook expected company OF
her own kind, and was at loss how 70 en-
tertain her friends. Her mistress said -
"Chloe, you must make an apology" "Aa:
missus, how can make il? Il got no sPs
Piles, no eggs, no butter. no nuaa 70 makst
i, wid.''
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1859-12-14

or 1t is said by some Yankee to be aa
excellent plan always to measure 9 meme
length before you kick him, for it is better
to bear an insult than to make an uusuccess.
full attempt at thrashing fellow, and get
your teeth knocked out.
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1859-12-14

or Spare moments are the gold dust Of
time. or all portions the most truthful
in good and evil are spare moments
They are the gap throughwhich temptations
find the earliest access to the soul. Improve
the spars moments! .
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1859-12-14
4uetitaI.
A Sunday Hymn.
IRox TIE ATLANTIC MONTHLY.

Lord Of all being throned afar,
Thy glory. flames from sun and star;
e Centre and soul Of every sphere,
Yet to each loving heart how near!
snn Of our life, thy. Weakening ray
e Sheds on our path the glow Of day;
Star OF our hope, thy softened light
Cheers the long watches Of the night.
Our midnight is thy smile withdrawn;
Our noontide is thy gracious dawni
Our rainbow arch thy mercy's sign;
All, save the clouds Of sin, are thlnel
Lord or all life, below, above,
Whose light IL truth, whose warmth 10 love,
Before thy evef-blaEing throne
We ask no lustre OF our own.
Grant US thy truth to make us free,
And kindling hearts thst burn for thee,
Till all thy living affairs claim
One holy light, one heavenly flannel
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1859-12-14

0srWhy are poets like children's toys
They are given to muse (amuse) and in.
dulge in fancy tinfsttcyJ.
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1859-12-14

o. When you have occasion 10 utter -
rebuke, let your words be soft and your ar
guments hard.
The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1859-12-14

0eTIt ID shabby iugratitade-- e--msn q,
drunk, and then lay the fault on .bs Wise