davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1863-12-03

The MILLER's PoRrRAIr.-A worthy mil.
Ter, wishing for a portrait of himself applied
to painter to have it accomplished.
"But," said he, +" am very industrious 8
,nan. want to be painted as looking out
of my mill window. But when any one
looks at me wish to pop my head in, so as
not to be thought lazy, or as spending too
much time at the window
"Very well." said the painter" 1t shall
be done soi'
He painted the mill and the mill window.
The miller looked at it.
VERY WELL" said ke," but where is my
self looking out -
Oh" said the painter, +" whenever any
one looks at the mill, you know you pop
your head in, Of course, to preserve your
credit for industry"
"That's right, ssii the miller. rm con-
tent-just so. I'm in the mill now, Amt !
Just so that will do. !"
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1863-12-03

The WALLED LAKE The wonderful
walled Lake is situated in the central part
Of Wright county, Iowa. The shape of the
lake is oval tits about two miles in length
and one mile vide in the widest part. com
prising an area Of some two thousand acres.
The wall inclosing this lake is over six miles
in length, and is built or composed of stones
varying size from boulders of two tons
weight down to small pebbles, and is inter.
mixed with earth. The top Of the wall is
uniforn in height above the water in all
parts, which makes its height to vary on
the Landslide according to the unevenness of
the country, from two to twelve feet in
height. In the highest part, the wall meas
ures from ten to twelve feet thick at the
base, and from four to six at the top. inclin-
ing each way-outward and inward. There
is no outlet, but the water frequently rises
and flows over the top of the wall. The
lake at the deepest part is about ten feet in
depth, and abounds with large and fine fish
such as plckere', pike, bass, perch, &c The
water is as clear as crystal, and there is no
bubbling or agitation to indicate any large
springs OF feeders. Wild fowl Of all kinds
are plenty upon its bosom, At the North
end are two small groves Of about ten acres
each, no timber being near. 1t has the ap-
pearapce Of having been walled up by hu.
man hands. and looks like huge fortress,
yet there are no rocks ip that vicinity for
miles around. There are no visible signs
of the lake being the result of volcanic ac-
ticn. the bel being perfectly smooth and the
border Of regular form. The lake is seven-
teen miles from Boon river on the west.
eight miles from Iowa on the east, and abou /
one hundred miles from Cedar Rapids. II
is one of the greatest wonders of the West,
and has already been visited by hundred of
curiosity seekers.
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1863-12-03
beat 'cm All

The Rev. Solomon Stoddard, of North
ampton, the ancestor Of all the Stoddards--
and troop they are of worthy sons of a
worthy sire-had a black boy in his employ
who was like the most of black boys, full Of
fun and mischief, and up to joke, no matter
at whose expense. He went with The par
sons horse every morning to drive the cows
to pasture. twas on peace Of table land
some little distance from the village; and
here, out of sight, the neighbours boys were
wont to meet him and '.race horses" on
Sunday morning. Parson Stoddard heared
of it, and resolved to catch them at it and
put an end to the sport. Next Sunday
morning he told Bill he would ride the mare
to pasture with the cows. and he (BilD
might stay at home. Bill knew what was
in the wind, and taking short cut across
the lots, was up in the pasture away ahead
Of the parson. The boys were there With
thei: horses, only waiting for Bill and his
masters mare. He told the boys to beready
and as the old gentleman arrived to give the
word. "Go." Bill hid himselfat the other
end of the field, where the race always
ended The parsop came jogging along
up, and the boys sat dsmlrely on their
steed, as if waiting for service to begin"
But as the good old man rode into line they
cried "Gor' and away went the mare with
the reverend riding sticking fast, like John
Gilpin, but there was no stop to her or TO
him. Away ahead Of all the rest he went
like the wind and at the other end of the
field Bill jumped up from under the fence,
and sung out,
II know'd you'e beat, masss! know'd
you'd beatr'
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1863-12-03

~ ~ =
IRELAND COMING TO AMERICA. The Lon
don. Times thus discoursss on the migra-
tory spirit of the people Of Ireland. If,t
speaks truth it win not be long before the
most difficult place in the world to hnd an
Irishman will be Ireland itself:
"There never was feeling so univer.
sal. so deep-seated. so prevailing over con-
siderations usually supposed to be alI-power
ful, rs that which has turned the face ofev.
cry Irish man, woman and child towards
America. There is MT one who viii not 20
if he can. They are only waiting on for
tune, or thei turn in the ''lst' of some now
American relative, be it first, fifth. tenth, or
twentieth in that .ist. This is fact which
overrides every other Irish question. The
current in every town and village, every
breast, has set IN, and It isbeyond the pow
er government, oflaws, Of priests. or poliii-
clans to do more than just lash and disturb,
the great tide Of emigration" .''
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1863-12-03
The De.,iuiios n. ERicIImera.

:
II she na,obs and srissocrats OF Richmond
bad been told at the opening Of this wal
that only q short time wosld ehPse befor,
they would have to suffer the deprivation.
of many of the commonest DesceSsaries o
life, and realize the sufferings endured BY Z
people when compelled to live upon insuf
6cieHt and unwholesome food, they would
have scornfuTly derided the author Of such
an assertion. He would have been looked
upon by these chivalric gentlemen as mar
entirely destitute Of reason and good sense
The pictures presented now by the Rich.
mond papers. Of the suferings endured by
:he people to carry out the mad ambition Of
their rulers, is sufficient evidence that even
the wealthiest among them must at present
be feeling the inconvenience usually ex.
perenced by those pinched with want
Their wealth may enable them to obtain food
enough to live upon, but when, as is stated
by Richmond paper, '',be supplies OF meat
at the market totally give out, and many
families are forced to dine ON Grahamite din.
ners," it cannot be denied that no matter
how wealthy and proud, they must submit
to the force Of circumstances
Che destitution among the poorer classes
in Richmond has often been represented as
very severe, but never more distressing than
at present have their sufferings been describ.
ed by the Richmond press and other South.
ern papers. The spectators are accused OF
being, masters of the situation in regard to
-four barrel of which it is impossible to
obtain The same IS said of beef Is il
strange, then, that we should occasionally
hear of bread riots" and "hungry mobs, -
when starvation, with its glaring eye and
pallid cheek. stares people 10 the face -
With the patriotic editor of the Louisville
Journal. we may well exclaim: -:what a
terrible retribution is in store for those who
have brought all this misery upon once
happy people. 1t is lamentable to think
that the innocent have to suffer, wh;ii-- 10
guilty plotters are filling high places, seizing
everything they want to eat and wear, and
paying for it in their deprecated paper mon
ey. In the name Of humanity, let US strain
every energy to crush the military power of
the rebels and give the union sentiment in
this Coneederacy the opportunity to thro~ "
off the rebel yoke. Tighten the blockade
and compress the girdling arms of the re-
public around the centre seat of treason. and
it will be starved into respectful submis-
sion to the laws and tne authority of the
govern nent. I"
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1863-12-03

1t is the nature ofthe hnman disposition
to hate him whom you have injured!
The muscles which close the hand are
more powerful than those that openit.
FIVE still love those we lose We cannot
altogether lose those we love.
1t is easy to say grace, but not half SO
easy to possess it. u, "a
What do the Sailors do with the knots
the ship makes in a day !? 4,..3r toa
A pretty female artist can draw the men
equally with brush and blush
"Look out for paint" as the girl said
when fellow went to kiss her.
The nightcap would be the cap Of liberty
If it were not for curtain lectures.
Don't fret on account Of your bankruptcy
Your creditors viii do it for you.
The young lady who took the gentlem an s
fancy has returned it with thanks
A service rendered in time, was Il even
little can cause great offence to be soreot-
ten. '
A smile may be brigh. when the heart is
sad. The rainbow may be beautiful in the
air, while beneath is the moaning Of the sea.
Flattery is often traffic of mutual mean.
ness, where, although both parties intend
deception, neither are deceived. ihj
True glory takes root, and even spreads;
all false pretences, like flowers, fall TO the
ground nor can counterfeit last long
Caught in her own net," as the man said
when he saw one Of the fair sex hitched in
her crinoine.
He muse be person of very Insignificant
standing who is always standing upon his
dignity. @ , 5. mana
A farmer likes cold WI ather at the proper
season but an early frost in Autumn goes
against his grain .4ii,t
Philosophers tell us that nature never
errs. They certainly cannot mean human
nature.
The Portland Pessrecommends that pork
be made the standard Of value, now that
gold has become myth. A capital repre-.
sentative Of the ready rhino.
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1863-12-03
Treatment Of Kick ing Cows.

}. O., Of Norfolk, Connecticut, says, in q
letter to the Agriculturist:-
"fhe following treatment, which I have
tried for some years, has neuer failed to stop
the evil. Put a strap round the COW just in
front of the bag, and buckle it rather tight.
If the cow tries to kick, draw the strap
little tighter. She will never get used to it,
and it never does any injury. She will keep
on eating as usual, but has no inclination to
lift her feet, even. to walk about"
This may answer the purpose; the expe-
riment is easily tried.
''In witness whereof, we hereby testify to
having tried the above, successfully, years
ago, upon three-year old heifer. II is 8
sure pop every time. ~ H. journal OF
agriculture.
1--WE tried it this fall upon two year
old heifer. and it worked like CHARM
Massachusetts Pleughmdn.
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1863-12-03

Nearly eighteen hundred men are employ
&C at the Portsmouth, On. II. Navy Yard !.
Among the vessels building is an IRON clad
steamer named the Agamenticas, which is
1854 tons, 242 feet long, 50 feet wide ana
l5 feet deep.
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1863-12-03

Said an Irishman to the telegraph opera.
tor, "Do you ever charge anybody for the
address in = MESSAGE" "No," replied the
operator. "And do ys charge for signing
his name. sir ?" said the customer. mo,
sir" "Well, then, will ye please send this.
l just want my brother to know ann here'
banding the following: ITO John M'Flinn
---at New York--(signed) )-Patrick
M'Flinn." It was sent IS tribute to Patricks
shrewdness.
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1863-12-03

Moss a46 htA Wonderful Deg.
During the summer Of 1880, a gentle-
man by the name Of "Old Moss" !" who was
considerably rag, was travelling on y
s,eambost up the Mississippi River. He had
with him an ugly csr that he called "Ma-
Ior." Old Moss was seated With number
Of men in the cabin, and as was usual with
him, was Boosting of what he could do.
The captain, who was standingy near, re-
marked that what he said might be true,
but he did not believe it. Moss replied that
he world bet him treats for all the gentle
men present that be would make his dog do
three things, be telling him to do them,
The captain took the bet.
Old Moss then opened the door and went
out on the guarls, followed by the captain
and gentlemen present, who were quite anx
ious to see the sport. Moss seized hi, dog
by the nape of the neck aud tossed him
over board. As soon as he touched the wa :
ter, Moss yelled out 1@E
Swim. Major, swimr' f
The dog swan, Of course. Moss kept his
eyes on the dog. As soon as no perceived
that the dog could touch the grornd, he
yelled out
"Wade. Major, wade p @
Major waded till he landed on the ground !,
when Moss shouted out eaT
"Shake yourself, Major, shake yourselfr'
Major shook himself. Moss turned to the
captain, who, with the gentle,nea present,
were convnlsed with laughter. and said
''There have wor the bet"
I. Is useless, perhaps, to say that the cap
tain paid the treats.
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1863-12-03

PorATo RoLLs.--Boil 2 lbs. potatoes.
pass through = colander, or m ash them well
add or butter. and pint of milk little
salt, l gill Of yesst, and as much -four as
will make soft aough; set them to rise !;
when light cut them on cakes; lot them rise
I hour. and bake Srsst; potatoes mike
beautiful BISCUIT, mixed as abeye.
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1863-12-03

FREScH Rolls - Boil pint Of milk cut
up OF butter into it, add little salt when
tepid. sift In 10. flour, l egg beaten. ta-
BILE spoonful yeast beat these well togather,
when risen, form into rslls. with at little
handling Is possible. Bake OH tines.
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1863-12-03

guns aimed ct him, and, finally, to meet and
satisfy the anxious, ,keeneyed. heart search.
ing rebel officers as we'll as our own, was a
mental as well as physical demand that
could not long be sustained. While pro-
ceeding upon his last expedition, the author
met the narneless one upon by-road. We
halted our horses, drew near, and convers-
ed few seconds in private, while our atten-
dants and companions moved on. He was
greatly exhausted and soiled in appearance,
his clothing having been rained upon and
splashed by muddy water, caused by hard
riding, and which had dried upon him. He
said he was about TO try it once more, and,
though he had been so often and successful
ly, yet he feared detection and its sure re-
sult--the bullet or the halter. He had been
unable, amid the hurry and excitement, to
make some final disposition Of his affairs
He gave US . last message to send to his
wife and children in case it became neces-
sary and he also desired promise-uiost
freely given--that we would attend to the
settlement of his account with our general
for services recently rendered. Thus con-
cluding, he wrung our hand most earnestly,
and, putting spurs to his fresh and spirited
animal, dashed of upon his mission. Twen-
ty hours afterward We were relived Of our
anxious foreboding by his safe and success
full return. We have stated the price paid
him for his labors (five thousand doflars);
it wa. well earned, and 70 our cause was
most profitable nvestment.-" annals Of
the Army of the Cumberland"
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1863-12-03

UNroRruNArEs-There is a couple in Gin.
cinnati who have been engaged to be mar
ried for the past five years. but 40 time has
occurred within that period whe they were
both out of prison at the same tipe.
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1863-12-03

There are At present in the hospitals at
Keokuk 1851 patients, Of whom $50 are
from Iowa. In Quincy there are 100 Iowa
soldiers, and at st. LOUIS soo Payments to
these sick soldiers are to be made soon.
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1863-12-03

We know good natured bachelor so
geAsrous that, poor fellow, he would give
even his heart away, ifhe could only find
an interesting object TO take il.
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1863-12-03

The lassis That "dropped his eyes to the
ground, last week, by the assistance of a
derrick has had them raised their proper
position
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1863-12-03

oh, look not on the dark.side,
Life has enough Of care
To weave into Its tissues,
Enough black threads are there;
But turn thee to the sunlight.
Or II o'ercast the sky,
IA Remember clouds win be diapeiied
ss BY sunshine by-andbye.
Look not upon the dark side,
But count thy blessings DER,
And thou wilt start In wonder
At the iargeness Of thy store;
Or IL thy naughty neighbor hath
&re Ofweaith the liens share,
Oh, think he lscketh thy home rest,
4sf y And thou hath mol his care.
Think Of thy boarded treasures, 3ssg
Thy stores ofprincely wealth,
t*.t Thy innocent true pleasures,
And Lifes best blessing, health.
gG9 Stand forth In ermined garments
that virtues hand hath given,
Bearing upon thy manhoods brow
The signet seal Of Heaven,
Go to thy life work bravely,
II Toll in thy labor's yoke,
And light shall be the bondage,
And harmless fall the stro We
While plough and loom and ledger,
And workshop. forge and held,
Send forth their u tied noblemen,
Truths sceptre proud to WELD.
fa
Aye! thou art ofthe noblast,
Thou standest In the van;
For the best Of Gods creation
IL an honest toiing man;
One who with hrm en- 'eavor
Does battle for the right.
And keeps the lamp Of Virtue
WelLtrimmed and burning bright.
s.. Then look not on the dark side,
Thou mists may hang between
.t-stt The world-hfe Of the present,
And the far, dim Unseen;
Yet soon those clouds ofError,
Dispersed shall roll away,
And thou shalt see the dawning
ofa new and glorious day
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1863-12-03

A manufacturing establishment in Win
sted, Conn.,, makes about four thousand
pins per minute through tw i've hours OF
every day.
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1863-12-03

It is said that every man is made for the
world. We may say of some men that We
wouldn't have any more made like them
for the world.
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1863-12-03

Tas R,s,i,ns it is said, ara making gi.
gantic Preparations for war.
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1863-12-03

The quota of the 4th Congressional DIS.
trict Of Iowa, under the Presidents last
call, is 1903 men. The quota for. each
county is as follows.
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1863-12-03


Sears, reports some more achievements of
the Knights of the Golden Circle in Frc-
mont county:
SIDNEY. Fremont Co.. IowA,l
November IL, 1868.
NJ B. Baker, Adjl. Gen. Of Iowa:
DEAR SR:-Althoush perhaps not by
way of an official report, deem IT my duty
TO lay before you events ss they have trans
pired IN this county since the killing Of the
Provost Marshal, of which you have official
notice. This happened on the S1st of Octo-
Der. and undoubtedly perpetrated by guer-
rillas or by bushwhackers. Believing from
what thought reliable representations that
other persons of the same class had been in
different parts of the county, and it being
the general impression that they were spies
for the purpose of ascertaining wher . sue
cessful raid might be made, felt it my du-
ty to detail Capt Hoyt with ten men to pa
troll the county (too small force) with di-
rections to throw out pickets at night on
the principal roads. On the night of the 7th
inst. Saturday night the pickets on the
west of the town were attacked by FIVE or
six men, the night being dark, and fired on.
The firing was rapid. The rickets return
ed the fire and gave the alarm. The ene-
my retreated. pursued for about half a mile
and took shelter in thicket of brush in the
west of the town and escaped. They were
at loss to know whether the attack was
made by guerrillas or evil minded men in
the county. In either case It shows an un-
happy state Of affairs On the 10th, yester-
day, two horses were reported stolen wi thin
sight OF town, and on the night before that
me1 were seen skulking in the bushes, but
not repor ted in time to secure them. Last
night before nine o'clock, the splendid
Court House which cost the county thirty
six thousand dollars. and the best building
this side of Des Moines was blown up with
pow der placed in the hall. The building is
total wreck. I at once directed Capt.
Hoyt to send his men, in connection with
the civil authorities, to search out and se-
cure the gritty parties, and to guard the
House until the public property. records,
&C., could be sesured. Again do not
krow whether this act was done to plunder
the Treasurer's safe or TO destroy the re-
cords for some private benefit, O. to destroy
the town, for had 1t taken fire nothing could
have saved the entire business part of the
town from destruction. The Treasurer's
safe is found undisturbed. The people
ask for detail Of more men for duty, but
rs yet have but ten on duty desiring the
citizens to depend more on themselves. I
would like your views or instructions. Is to
keeping men, and how many on duty, under
circumstances as they exist in this place.
Unless the state of thing imperatively de-
mand my presence here, will start on
Monday next for tour through my District
for the inspection of arms, under Order
127, kYours, respectfully,
E. H. SEARS, 1t. COL,
A. D. @. to Governor.
Adpt Gen. Baker replied by instruc.ing
Lieut.. Col. Sears to act promptly and with
decision against the rebel depredations, and
authorizing him, il necessary, to detail all
the So uthern Border Brigade, and to call
<~,,S A.. .,~:i:x:~ a. 100000 A.
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1863-12-03
D. II. SEARS, 1t. COL,
A. D. @. to Governor.

Adpt Gen. Baker replied by instruc.ing
Lieut.. Col Sears to act promptly and with
decision against the rebel depredations, and
authorizing him, If necessary. to detail all
the So uthern Border Brigade, and to cal
out the militia to protect the citizens
Gen. Baker isl using other measures te
b ing the scoundrsIs to justice. We trus,
that an example will be made of these Cop.
perhead guerri;:as that will be . warning to
their associates, throughout the State. lie,
them be hunted down and exterminated.
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1863-12-03

The quota for each Township in Wape.lo
County is as follows. ~ ssR r.T
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1863-12-03

The Portland Pssrecommends that pork
be made the standard Of value, now that
gold has become myth. A capital repre-.
sentative Of the ready rhino.
The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1863-12-03
Rebel Outrages in SOuth.wes-
tern IOwa-The Court House
at sidney Blown UP.

The followieg dispatch from Lieut.. Col.
Sears, reports some more achievements of
the Knights of the Golden Circle in Fre-
mont county:
The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1863-01-23
THE INDEPENDENT

This weekly Religious, Literary and
Family Journal. edited by Rev. Henry
Ward Beecber. Rev. Joshua Leayiti, DID,
and Theodore Tillou, having circulation,
il is stated. more than double that OF any
similar newspaper In the world, gives no
tice 10 it's issue OF the frst Of January,,hal
its subscription price viii not be increas
ed, nor ils size diminished--lhat the same
terms, viz: Two Dollars per Annun. will
be continued, notwithstanding lhe great
advance ia while parer, The same array
Of distinguished contributors, including
Harriet Beecher Stowe, Rev. Messrs.Hat'
Geld and CuyIer. Horace Greeley, Whit
aer the Poet. and others, also Ser
mou by Mr.. Beecher, will continue TO en-
rich ks columns.