davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Clayton herald. (Clayton, Del.) 1867-1870, 1868-01-11

some naughty little trick, which should
not have been noticed. But mother,
ever strict, slightly slapped her on the
cheek. Lucy folded her arms on the
table, laid her head on her arms and
cried aloud. Presently, half laughing,
half crying. she looked up at mother
it was the gaze of spirit-and said
Never mind, mother, you will be sorry
for slapping me So" 1t was the last
time she ever sat at the old table. She
pined, and died, and was buried, and
mother was sorry for slapping her so.
But all of those loved forms and bright
faces are vanished. Large are the will
lows, and long are the branches, that
grow on their graves, and alone am left
OF th't once happy little throng. Now
1 am old, solitary and desolate among
men, verging the dark river, beyond
whose dreary waters and unseen shores,
lie the land of promise and the home of
my friends. Who, then, is there to CON-
denim me Or sneer. when say that these
are the things that endear unto me the
old walnut table, which stands in the
psrlor of uncle Randolph Grangerf
Clayton herald. (Clayton, Del.) 1867-1870, 1868-01-11

shattered tablet Of my memory, the re-
collection of sad hcidents and pleasant
"reminiscences CON ected with the old
table and my ownather's family, while
he owned it, as 4 in the parlor on the
Fourth of July, lai5. . aes
How vixidly sw the nut-brown tur-
key on Thanksgiving day, fresh roasted
from the spit lying in state in the CEN
tire of the table, safory vapors steaming
upfrom it, and filing the room withde
licious odors, supported on every side
by regiments of hrts and jams of every
rank, while bait sllions of curds were
held at reserve to sweep the field Of ap.
petite. How sharply defined were the
Fourth of July dinners, with sirloin
roast and boiled ham; and as the apex
of the feast, '.jolly good wine and old" !"
bearing on its purple bosom both bead
and bubble, and its rubicund currents
glittering with the grandeur ofthe grand
old day.
There, at the drawer end of the table
used to sit my mother. whom can just
remember-grave, dignified and precise
in the pith of middle age. So she sal
at her meals, until time had run many
little while lines in her hair, scanned ane
ribbed down her cheeks, bent her body
and cramped and palsied her dear ole
hands.
There, at the opposite end of the table
was my fathers place. Father, evel
Clayton herald. (Clayton, Del.) 1867-1870, 1868-01-11
Picture of an Editor.

An editors qualifications are various.
1t is to work harder, more hours in the
day, with less recreation, or less sleep
and poorer pay than any of your fellow
mortals. 1t is TO be busy when your
neighbors were idle, buster when they
sleep, and busiest when they are enjoy
ing good time. 1t is always to be in q
hurry, always under press of business,
always setting up when others are lying
down, and always charitably distribut-
ing the results of their daily labor. 1t
always to have your opinions put to
proof, and seldom into practice. 1t is to
advertise other peoples wants, wishes
and wares; to announce facilities for
pleasure, to herald the approach of dis
eases and the invention of cures for them;
to make known who has been robbed,
how much, where, who is the robber, his
personal history, his trial, sentence, and
its execution. 1t is to receive nice fruit
and notice it, to be shown natural carl
ositles and describe them, to be every
where and at all times, and to be able to
answer all questions on all subjects. 1t
ia to mn h1ieh tno fn,lah cor, III m ant for rx,o
Clayton herald. (Clayton, Del.) 1867-1870, 1868-01-11
How old is He D.

1t became necessary, last week, In the
Criminal Court at Newport, KY, in Or
der to render boy witness competent,
to prove that be had reached the age OF
ten years, and his mother, an Irish We
man, was called for that purpose.
"How old is your son Johnf" quoth
the lawyer.
"Indade, sir, dunno, but think he's
not tin yit," was the reply.
"Did you make no record Of his
birth?"
"The praste dad, in the ould country
where he was born" aT
"How long after your marriage was
that?" ae
-" About year; maybe liss." q
"When were you married?'
"Dade, sir, Dunno"
"Did you not bring certificate o
your marriage with you from the ole
eountry2"
Hey, sir7 and what should I mad
wild a certifikit whin had the ould MOI
himself along wild me?"
No further questions were asked.
Clayton herald. (Clayton, Del.) 1867-1870, 1868-01-11

romance have invented to crafty the
imagination, have no connection with
the true motives that excite 20 action.
and control the interests of society, or
with the disappointments invariably at
tendant upon human affairs. A poor
girl, full of the tender and the marvel
lous, which have charmed her in the pe-
rusal of such works, is astonished not to
find in the world real characters resem-
bling those heroes. She would wish to
live like those imaginary princesses,
who, in the fictions of romance, are al
ways charming, always adored, always
placed beyond the reach of necessary
duties. What must be her disgust hen
compelled to descend from the flights of
fancy to the humble details of domestic
life.
Clayton herald. (Clayton, Del.) 1867-1870, 1868-01-11

Gregory was foiled, he was too good
swords-nAn not toremember what blow
would iollow. He therefore carried his
sword to head guard, but Andy whirled
his, and sent it at Gregory by right
downward cut, propelled by the power
of his arm and swing of his body. In
its descent, GregoWs sword, ill pojsed. .
glanced backward knder the prodigious
weight and crushhg force of Andy's
long curved sword and Gregorv's head
was nearly severeA from his bodv-
Just as Andy swukg his BODY to swell
the force of his blsw. the door bebind
him burst open with a crash and tbrea
rorob sold;ars al4a,,d
Clayton herald. (Clayton, Del.) 1867-1870, 1868-01-11
FeneIon's Opinion,

Uninstructed girls are always possess
ed of an erratic imagination. For want
of solid nourishment, all the ardor of
their curiosity is directed towards vain
and dangerous objects. Those who are
not without talent, often devote them
selves entirely to the perusal of books
which tend TO cherish vanity; they have
passionate fondness for novels, plays,
narratives of romantic adventures, in
which licentious love occupies promi-
nent place ;--in fine, by habituating
themselves to the high-fiown language
Clayton herald. (Clayton, Del.) 1867-1870, 1868-01-11

plimentary tickets to everything, and
pay for them in complimentary notices.
1t is hard to be bored by friends suggest
ing how you should carry on your bust.
ness, and bullied by those whom you
have hit in vulnerable spots. 1t is life
of mingled good and i'll, trial and tri-
umph, never ending toll and never be-
ginning felicity, wherein yosA work out
your allotted time with the "devil" all
ways at your elbow, calling for sole end
in this life-a little more copy.
Clayton herald. (Clayton, Del.) 1867-1870, 1868-01-11
z ai%ed hu4P, bos W as868al
i, I H. IT, % u sll| 'is Y
s isud l u n


dignation, replied;
"'The abuse it has pleased you to give
the rebel cause, as you term it, only in
creases my love for that cause. And so
far as your predictions is worth answer,
1 offset with another. see just as clearly
as see your face, and feel just as keenly
in every tissue of my being, as have
felt the intense cold of this dreadful
winter, that friends will rise up to help
us; that the God of hosts and of battles
will renerve the arms of our people, and
freshen with deeper inspiration the zeal
of their hearts; that my country will
yet rise up and shake off, as dust from
her garments, the vast armies that now
tread her down, and establish herself
proud mistress of a hemisphere. Then
will freedom be lodged at every hearth
stone, and enshrined all over the land,
will be liberty as unrestrained as the
breathing of the gods.'
"'Ha ha ha Quite an orator, Andy:
all the mere shadowy illusions of insan-
ity. Now, the health of my King, and
I'm off,
$50 saying, he filled his glass.
"'Not here, if you please, Gregory
at will-by heavens, I willp
"'Neither here nor ever in my pres
ence.'
"'Egad will, or die.'
"Gregory took the glass in his left hand
and arose quickly to his feet drew his
Clayton herald. (Clayton, Del.) 1867-1870, 1868-01-11
sDAH MORNING, JANUARY Il, 1868.

hopeful and cheerful, was religious from
instinct and devotional from habit.
Here perpetually, as the coming of the
meal, he invited down the blessing OF
heaven on the food prepared.
Over at the corner that wears the scar,
was little Lucy's station. Lucy, the
youngest, and the pet and darling Of us
all. Disease in silence and stealth had
Clayton herald. (Clayton, Del.) 1867-1870, 1868-01-11

"a 4 = = lls.s = s.
weggiah editor says that
streets Of the Western cities are to be
lighted with lreadheaded girls. Wed
like to hug the lamp posts.
"A man in st. Louis drinks so much
whiskey that several mosquitoes, who
have bitten him, have died of delirium
tremens.
Why is man ascending Vesuvius
like an IrishmaD trying to kiss pretty
girl?-Because he wants to get at ths
crater's mouth.
a French bishop said lately In SER
mon, 'Let woman remember, while put
ing on profuse and expensive attire
how narrow are the gates Of paradise"
AN old lady announced in court at
Atlanta, Ga, that she chad no COUNSEL"
that "God was her lawyer" "My dear
madam, he does not practice in this
court" replied the judge.
-A cruz old bachelor, not liking
the way his landlady's daughter had OF
appropriating his hair oil, filled the bot
tie with liquid gluethe day before ball,
to which the girl was invited. She stayed
at home in consequence.
Mrs. Brown, they say your nus
bandfoilows very crooked ways "welI,
Mrs. Smith, that is not strange. for when
he was boy he got so much in the
habit of chasing snakes, that he never
could get over it."
tan unloved wife," who ought to
know of that of which she speaks, be-
cause she has had SO much experience,
says that the reason that ladies' look SO
much to money in the matter of niarri-
age is, that nowadays they SO seldom
find anything else ina man worth hay-
ing.
--At Printers picnic in Augusta,
Clayton herald. (Clayton, Del.) 1867-1870, 1868-01-11
sword and broulbt it to prepare on

sword and broulbt it to prepare on
guard.
Here's to Ge1lge'--
sandy sprang his feet and with the
spring drew sIsword. Gregory, in
stead of finishing the toast, hurled the
glass at Andy's Ice. Andy lodged it.
Coarse voices SOUP ed without the house.
Gregory knew tH ip to be the voices of
friends. Andy blgfd them not, too in
Clayton herald. (Clayton, Del.) 1867-1870, 1868-01-11

memorable struggle, although the par
ties belonged to opposing armies. Their
meeting was in the winter. The snow
lay deep and heavy upon the ground.
The victorious army of Sir Henry Clin-
ton had just carried its banners in tri-
umph to Independence Hall, and they
waved in defiance over the very spot
where separation from England was first
proclaimed. Itwas the winter ofgloom.
Clayton herald. (Clayton, Del.) 1867-1870, 1868-01-11

darkness; the heavens above it gave no
light, and the earth beneath its feet was
black with dependency. Its only army
beaten, broken and driven back, was
hetntned in at Valley Forge. The'e
lank jawed hunger gnawed at the heart
strings of the soldiery. Mutiny stalked
at broac daylight in the tents of the d.
ficers, and held carnival in the hats of the
rank and file. Hope had no altars, seve
in the stout hearts of few undismayed
men, and of these was Andrew Gwyin.
"Gregory Jermyn and Andrew Gwynn
were seated at the east side of the table,
as it now stands, Gregory was dressed
in full British uniform, new, rich and
dazzling. His military coat was thrown
negligently over the back of his chair.
At his side hung a broadsword in its
scabbard; the hilt and guard were ef So
lid silver, and silk cord Terminating in
tassels, looped in bow-knot, swn nng
suspended from his belt down across the
scabbard, giving flashy and dashing
appearance to Gregory Jermyn.
"Andrew Gwynn sat toward the south
end of the table. His garments were Of
homespun blue, old, threadbare and
torn. They were the best he had. There
were holes at his elbows, through which
his red flannel shirt slightly protruded
Rents were on his coat and his pants
rents made by servicein scenes of blood
From rude belt at his waist hung g
! still ruder sword--a sword made by q
neighbor blacksmith from portion of q
whip-saw. It's blade was thick, wide
long and heavy, and curved tremend
ously. The hilt and guard were o.
wrought iron, having no other finish
than the rough filings of coarse rasI
L onIald nj 10
Clayton herald. (Clayton, Del.) 1867-1870, 1868-01-11

II Incidentally mentioned while
ago." continued uncle Randolph, 'the
name of Gregory Jermyn, and that he
fell when killed so as to displace the old
table from its situation on the floor. On
the east side of the table as it now sits,
and about foot from the northeast cor
ner, there is deep cash on the edge of
the lid; also, on the same side and lit
tie toward the middle OF the table from
the gash, there are stain spots and
speckles of brownish color, united by
delicate lines OF the same color, The
story of the death of Gregory Jermyn
contains the history OF that cash and
those stain spDts.
"Gregory Jermyn was o remote rela-
tive of my grandmother, and held a COM
mission in the British army. He was
very stout man, about thirty years of
age, little above the average height and
fearless of danger. He was gentleman
in his department at all times, except
when under the influence of strong
drink; then he almost always talked and
acted very indiscreetly.
"Andrew Gwynn was the only son of
my oply aunt, and was an officer in the
Continental army. He was only u little
over twenty-one, ofsmall stature, 1.-the,
active, and of an effeminate appearance.
"These two young men, by arrange
ments conducted by others, were once
at my grandfatner's. Such meetings be-
tween relatives often took place in that
Clayton herald. (Clayton, Del.) 1867-1870, 1868-01-11

And over all the landscape broods
A tender sense of something lost,

A lender sense Of something lost,
Last year when ripened was the wheat,
And copse and field with song were gay,
When soft and low, the wind blew sweet
With scent of clover and OF hay.
Here, where of old my feet were used
To linger in the years before,
In silent thought sat and unused
On all the future had in store.
To-day turn my searching gaze
Back through the vista Of those years,
And seen as through slender haze
The shadowy past once more appears.
All round me are the leafiess woods
BY many a silent pathway crossed
And in my secret heart there broods
A tender sense of something lost.
Clayton herald. (Clayton, Del.) 1867-1870, 1868-01-11
@it amo @lisOon..

BUMPS Of curiosity -Chignons.
"A gentleman in Kansas undertook
to eat small clam without taking the
shell or he is now troubled with dys-
Clayton herald. (Clayton, Del.) 1867-1870, 1868-01-11
There's Light Beyond.1

"When in Madeira" writes traveller,
81 set out one morning to reach the sum-
NIT of a mountain, to gaze upon the dis
tant scenes and enjoy the balmy air. /
had guide with me, and we had with
difficulty assembled some two thousand
feet, when thiS ok mist was seen descend
ing upon us, quite obscuring the whole
face Of the heaYens. I thought had no
hope left but at once to retrace our stems
or be lost; but rs the cloud came nearer.
and darkness overshadowed me. NV
guide ran onIbefore me, penetrating the
mist, and calling to me ever and anon
saying, "Press on, master, press on.
there is light beyondr' 1 did press On
In a few mir 1utes the mist was passed
and gazed Upon scene of Transparent
beauty, All was bright and cloudless
above, and beneath was the almost level
Clayton herald. (Clayton, Del.) 1867-1870, 1868-01-11


like many(of bis countrymen, had won
high rank among men of science, vet
denied the God who is the author of all
science, was crossing the Great Sahara
in company with an Arab guide. He
noticed witt sneer that at certain times
his guide, whatever obstacles might
arise, put item all aside, and kneeling
on the burning sand, called on his God.
Day after iay passed, and the Arab
never failed till at last one evening.
the philosoper, when he arose from his
knees, askednm, with contemptuous
smile; "HoS do you know there is a
Godf" The pide fixed his burning eve
ON the scofferor moment in wonder.
and then ssl* solemnly; "How do I
know there iSSbdf How did T know
Clayton herald. (Clayton, Del.) 1867-1870, 1868-01-11

soon to separate. Gregory's horse was
already hitched at the stile, when he put
this very rude and unmanly question to
Andy:
candy, we are about to part, and per-
haps we shall never meet again in So
cial way, now tell me candidly your
honest opinion of the military situation,
and the prospects of your cause
"'Don't let us talk on this subject,
here, Gregory, if you please
"'Getting ashamed of your sinking
cause, are you? Glad of it-hope soon
to greet you as a fellow-soldier in the
army of your rightful sovereign
"'No; not ashamed of the sinking
cause, as you have seen fit to say, and as
to greeting me as a soldier in the army
of George the Third, that you will never
do, unless lose my senses
"'Why not talk about it, then?
"'Excuse me, this seems to me not to
be the proper time nor place for such
discussion. Besides, permit me to say,
that such conversation is not agreeable
to me-
"'You and all your family deserve to
feel disagreeable for espousing so mean
a cause. I'll give my opinion of this
matter, anyhow
Sand he went on for some time, abus-
ing the efforts of the patriots to maintain
colonial separation and independence,
and finished with this prediction;
"When Spring opens up and the roads
become suitable for military movements,
our grand army will sweep your county
surveyor and his vagabond stragglers
from the face of the earth.'
"At the words 'vagabond stragglers'
the veins in Andv,s neck swelled nearly
Clayton herald. (Clayton, Del.) 1867-1870, 1868-01-11

reproach, that eFdears to us all the
old walnut table VI Itch stands in uncle
Randolph Granger1 parlor.
Sweet sad memofSs are clustered at
its verge, and joyshver springing from
the dear departed ak garlanded above
its out-spread lid. 1hree generations of
our Iineal ancestorthave sat around it.
and eaten their ''dfly bread" Some
times the chairs wire all full. Father
and mother, brothFs and sisters, were
all there. Then he merry laugh of
childhood rang out bonn merrier hearts,
and father and m9ier gazed in enrap-
tured fondness oneherub little faces,
twinkling with deltht. Then glad eyes
sparkling with Low, glanced across at
other eyes, beamiE back responsive
looks freighted witt affection. Obi the
bliss of an unbrohn family with the
chairs all full. hut one by one the
chairs became vadnt. Now a child
with rosy cheeks, laughing eyes and
shining ringlets of hir, was taken away.
Then aching heart throbbing temples
and fearful eyes sur uHOunded the old table.
The chair was thfe, but the treasured
form was gone forder. Now pillar of
the family temple Jas removed, and the
temple was broke if rifted by thun-
derbolt. 1t crum4ed away piecemeal
"a family was ren} }ved and generation
was gone.
Another succeetd it, but was soon
pressed out to Civ room for its success
sors. So nature, il unending routine of
life and DEATH, nd gathered and dis
persed three gener lions of our kindred,
and their bodies Ire under the green
sward of the vallets; but the table re-
mains cherished monument of them
Clayton herald. (Clayton, Del.) 1867-1870, 1868-01-11
Welsh Boy and his Bible.

AS was travelling, not long since, on
the mountain of Conway, there passed
on the road a little boy with big book
under his arm. asked him what book
he had got, but he could not understand
me. He was little Welsh boy, and the
book was Welsh Bible. He passed on
out of sight. Our party proceeded along
the mountain side, and shortly after
stopped to sketch. A small voice from
distance above us, caught our ear.
said to my friend, a Welsh pastor,
who accompanied us, climb up those
rocks little, and see who it is.' He did
so. 1t was that little boy on the noun
tain top, praying to the God who made
the mountain. His Bible was open be-
fore him. He read and prayed; he was
asking God to bless the town of Conway,
and that on the morrow (it was Saturday
afternoon many sinners might be con-
verted, and that God would bless His
servants everywhere. as they preached
His word. I felt strengthened in my
work the next day, and often since that,
AS have thought that many such pre-
Clayton herald. (Clayton, Del.) 1867-1870, 1868-01-11

slfsnesnrough the soul. She didn't bring
In saucer-she brought in bully bowl.
-Four kinds, with raspberry on the top.
And swallowed up the whole.
l took her by the fingers, as at her my
glances went. ''How many pence is the
recompenseY" and says she, ''to touch a
gent 1 always give double sassers full and
never charge cent"
The shadows were slowly falling as our
meaning glances met. / put myself on
the sofa and down on my knees she set.
while l whispered, "Do you love ne9 ~
and she answered, "Beloved-you bet y
Clayton herald. (Clayton, Del.) 1867-1870, 1868-01-11

which stands this heirloom of our f4m-
ily-relic of the past. Uncle Randolph
trembled as he sat under the burden of
years. A tear stole out at the corner of
his eye, but he did not brush it away,
and it hid itself in a wrinkle on his
cheek.
The silence was broken finally by un
Gle Randolph, who said:
II have something to say about that
old table which mar y Of you have never
Clayton herald. (Clayton, Del.) 1867-1870, 1868-01-11

just arrived from England, at my grand
fathers home.
swell, when the revolutionary war
broke out, my grandfather still owned
the old table. One night, the night of
the day of Burgoyne's surrender, late in
the night, my grandfather awoke, and
heard strange noise in the room. He
turned his feet out of the bed, and sat
upright On its side. The noise contin
ued- He yawned, stretched himself,
and rubbed his eyes to be sure he was
awake. The noise grew louder and
clearer. Although my grandfather was
extremely old, yet he was brave man,
He listened intently. The noise contin-
ued, louder and clearer still. The
noise was like the united sound of jing-
fling toy-bells, the thud Of lead bullet
dropped on naked floor, and the far off
beat Of a drum. II occurred by regular
beats, and the duration of tho interval
between them was as uniform as the
ticking of clock, but about four seconds
long
nc hoppieu W 'ne Hae Piace, oo.aiheo
pine splinter, and with it lighted a
candle. The noise was the same as be.
fore, only little sharper. After due
search, he found the noise proceeded
iron tne taoie. on closer examination
ne discovered onat tne taoie was an no-
tion' see-sawlng trom ana 10 corners "a
agonaily opposite. ne sat tne candle on
tne taole' ana placed ms hanos nrmly
on the Top ine vibrations ceased, ana
the table stood as solldiy upon its four
legs as table could possibly stand. lie
removed his hands, and the motion of
the table and the noise were renewed.
l. yaH2e paake u khe
:! -. 4 = Il n + H. III y,
sss4 q
I ~ w . =
s'SAss - Fe'sSs sssssE Y
iamiiy 10 witness tne very curious sight
anu souhus' anu many were Che eAcla-
nations made ana opinions ABOUT them
advanced NY granonno,herk knew them
TO be tokens that great psttie had been
1ought, Ior one haa long peeh impend-
ing, and that my iather ana my brother,
who were with General Morgan's COM
nnand, mad ceen killed. Grandiather
secuted this notion. and referred the
strange Phenomena 20 the returned spirit
ofGregory Jermyn, British ofhcer who
had been killed IN the room, ana whose
body IN falling mad dlspiaced the table
from Its position on the noor'
But the table needed mott, not the discus
sion % and continued an ed to. to vnrate "Sa, and JAR
until hVe O'Clock IN the morning. when
it stopped its motions and suspended its
sounds; and it is remarkable fact, that
from this time to the close OF the war, ON
every night succeeding a victory to the