davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1869-09-24
The RaccOOn.
BY JOSH Killings.

THE Raccoon IL resident ov the United
States ov America; he emigrated tew this
country soon after its discovery by Colum-
bus, without cent, and nothing but hiz
claws tew git living with.
He IL one ov them kind ov persons
whsze hide IL worth more than all the rest
ov him.
He resides among the heavy timber, and
cultivates the cornfields and nabring gar
den sass for sustenance, and understands
hiz bizzness
Hiz family consists oV wife and three
children, who liv with him on the inside
ov tree.
He can alwus be found at home during
the day, reddy tew receive calls, but
hiz nights are devoted to looking after hiz
own affairs.
He dresses in soft fur, and hiz tail, which
IL round, haz rings on it.
Theze rings are ov the same material
that the tail IL, and are worn upon all oc-
casions
During the winter he ties himself up
into hard not and lays down by hiz fire.
side.
When spring opens, he opens, and goes
out tew see how the chickens hay wintered.
Hiz life is az free from labor az a new
penny, and if it wasn't for the dogs and
the rest ov mankind, the raccoon would
find what everybody else haz lost-a
heaven upon earth.
But the dogs tree him and the men skin
him, and what there is left oY him amt
worth cuss.
He is not natural Vagabond like the
hedgehog and the alligator, but luYs to be
civilized and liy among folks but he ha2
one vice that the smartest missionary on
earth kant redeem, and that IL the art Nv
stealing.
He is seckond only tew the crow in petit
larceny, and win steal what he kant cal
nor hide.
lie will tip over barrel ov apple sass
just for the fun ov mauling the sass with
his feet, and will pull out the plug oY the
mOllassis, not bekause he luvs sugar eIhhy
better than he duz young duck, but jisi
teW see If the mollassis haz got good
daub TO II.
hev studded animal deviltry for eigh
teen years, bekause the more deviltry In an
animal, the more human he IL.
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1869-09-24
Comets.

II is needless to dwell here upon the nu-
merous varieties and peculiariLies in the
lengths and positions of the tails of differ.
ent comets; it will suffice to say that in a
general way the telescope aspect is that of
Il quantity of vapor escaping from the nu
Cleus toward the sun, and then carried d.
rectly behind the comet as If by repul-
sivc force emanating from the sun, some
times for distance of myriads of leagues,
thus forming the tail. Hence, in whatever
direction the comet is moving, the tall
turned away from him, the furthest end
being curved backwards, just as flexible
rod or feather would be if whirled rapidly
round one extremity. Now, the great dif-
ficulty lies in conceiving the possible con-
stitution of body which can deport It,
self in the way we have been describing.
We should imagine that it must sweep
away planets in its wild gyrations We
hardly regard it as ridiculous that Whis-
ton should have gravely maintained that
it was by whisk of one of these tails that
the deluge was brought about, and calcu-
lated the particular comet which caused
that catastrophe. However, everything
goes to prove that these comets are huge
imposters-head and tail alike-and are
the most vapory, windy bodies conceiv-
able; SO much so that il is no eXagger-
alton to say that the tail, with all its
millions and billions of miles, might, If
properly packed up and slowed away,
travel by continental passenger
train, and cost nothing in the way
Of extra luggage. This has been long
known, and Sir John Herschel sees no diff
ticulty in cOnceiving that the tail of great
comet, as, for instance, that of 1880, with
its twenty-million of leagues, might weigh
only few pounds, or even ounces. This
tenuity of constitution is proved in many
ways partly by the disturbances and de-
YiatiOns caused In comets motion by the
approach to any other body and partly
again, by the fact that stars have been seen
to shine with undiminished lustre, alike
through their heads and tails-stars which
would be utterly Obscured by few feet of
ordinary terrestrial mist But, granting
any amount of tenuity, 1t is hard to con-
ceive such am extended mass whirled half
round in two hours, and retaining its con-
tinuity. Sir John IIersehel, therefore,
ventured upon conception involving the
total absence of matter altogether-sug-
gesting the hypothesis of negative
shadow and an original thinker, specu-
lating upon the last big comet of 1858, an
nOunced the discovery in the papers that
comets were worlds on fire. most probably
suffering the punishment of their wicked
ness and that the light proceeding from
| the confagration was invisible where the
suns rays penetrated, but was seen in the
shadow cast by the head, thus producing
| the tail-an Idea involving, among other
absurdities, the necessity of all the planets
appearing with black tails behind them.-
Chambers Journal.
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1869-09-24
$O,e3,@9 90
IIerOisn.

Albert G. Drecker is the bridge tender
at the Passaic river drawbridge, on the
Newark 81 New York Railroad On Fri
day afternoon, just previous to the time
for passenger train t0 reach the bridge,
the draw was open. Mr.. Drecker knew
that the train was coming. He began to
turn the bridge, 50 as TO close the draw
before its arrival.
At this moment he saw his little son,
who was only ten years old, and who was
not far from him, fall from the bridge into
the river below. He saw the train coming
swiftly toward the bridge, and knew that
to do his utmost there was barely time to
close the drew. In the water below him
his boy was struggling for life. A leap
into the stream at this moment, and he
could save his child. But the train came
laundering down, and he knew ii he left
his post for even u single instant hun
dred lives might be sacrificed lie staid.
Slowly the bridge was swung into posi-
ton, and the train passed safely over; and
none of the passengers knew what their
safety had cost the poor workman who
sprang into the river only 10 take ffom
thence the liieless body OF his boy.
Is there any story of heroism 70 surpass
thisY Think, ii you can, Of the terrible
alternatives of duty that were presented
to this man. There was no time To delib-
crate. His son was dying. He could easi-
ly rescue him by leaping into the river be-
meath. But that leap must have cost many
other precious lives-perhaps hundreds
and had he right to imperil theseY The
agony of lifetime of suffering must have
been compressed into that moment of
doubt. With sublime and heroic fortitude,
this noble father resolved TO do his highest
duty and TO thai duty his son was sacri-
feed. How many of us would have done
the same g-Nes0 York San.
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1869-09-24


Of the poor girls effects showed her to
have died in extreme poverty. She might
have been wealthy In former times but
her reeklessnoss, and sad 'eNtravagance had
long since passed Into u provefb among
those who knew her best
That evening, while watching in the
dim twilight of the room wherein she lay,
a tall figure of woman, shroudcd to the
temples glided noiselessly beside me.
Without q word felt a purse pressed into
my hand, and In an instant after the myS-
terry vanished rs noisclcss as shadow
into the echoes of the darkencd corridor.
A slip Of paper was twisted about IT. on
which was written, In tremulous hand
writing simply; "Iu Masses Signor, for
her soul"
1t needed not the further glance given
by me in my cagerncss into the hurried
eyes of the donor as she tondercd Il. The
delicate nobility of the action spoke with
its own power akin to the many other
noble deeds which graced the lie of Hen
rietta Suntag. 0rlrU seu.".
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1869-09-24
RaiIroAd travelling in 1898.

In the recently published Diary of
Henry Crabbe Robinson, a literary char
actor who died in 1867 at the age of 0e,
there is the following description of the
authors first ride over u railroad
"UNcrpooD At twelve l got upon an
omnibus and was driven up steep hill to
the place where the steam carriages start
We, Travelled in the second class of car
riages There were five carriages linked
together, in each of which were placed
open seats for the traveller four and four
facing each other, but all were not full;
and besides, there was close carriage,
and also machine for luggage, The fare
was Is for the thirty-oIe miles. Every
thing went on so rapidly that had scarce.
ly the power of observation. The road
begins at an excavation through rock, and
Is, to II certain extent, insulated from the
adjacent country. 1t is occasionally
placed on bridges, and frequently inter
sccted by ordinary roads. Not quite n
perfect level is preserved. On setting oil
there isa slight Jolt, arising from the chain
catching each carriage, but once in motion,
we proceed as smoothly as possible For
Il minute or two the pace is gentle, and Is
constantly varying. Themachinc produces
little smoke or steam. First in order is the
tall chimney; then the boiler, barrel-liko
vessel then an oblong reservoir of
water; then vehicle for GOALS; and then
comes, of length infinitely cNtendible,
the train of carriages. If all the seats had
been filled, our train would have carried
100 passengers but. n gentleman assured
me at Chester that he went with 900 per
sons to Newton Fair There must have
been two engines then. | have heard
sncc that 5000 persons and more went to
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1869-09-24
Honesty.

ONE day the Duke of Buccleuth, o.
Scotch nobleman, bought cow in the
neigborhood of Dalkeith, where he lived.
The cow was to be sent home the next
morning. Early in the morning the Duke
was taking walk in a very common dress
As he went along, he saw boy trying in
vain to drive COW to his residence. The
COW was very unruly, and the poor boy
could not get on with heE at all. The boy,
not knowing the Duke, bawled out to him
in broad Scotch accent:
"Aie, nun, come here, an gle han wi
this beast"
The Duke went slowly on, not seeming
to notice the boy who still kept calling
for his help At last, finding he could not
get on with the cow, he cried out in dis
tress, sH.f
"Come here, nun, an as sure as ony
thing Pse gle ye half GET.
The Duke went and lent helping
hand.
"And now" said the Duke, as they
trudged along after the COW, how much
do you think you will get for the iobyp
~ dinna KEN" said the boy, "but I'm
sure o. something, for the folks at the big
house are guild to a. bodies"
As they came to o lane near the house
the Duke slipped away from the boy and
entered by different way. Calling the
butler, he put sovereign into his hand,
saying,
"Give that to the boy who brought the
cow" ,p
He then returned to the end of the lane,
where he had parted from the boy, SO as to
meet him on his way back.
"Well, how much did you gets" asked
the Duke.
"A shilling" said the boy, :" and there's
half o it to ye."
"But surely you had more thar shil-
Ing" said the Duke.
"No," said the boy" sure that's a goti
and dye no think it plenty?" .....
al do not" said the Duke: there must
be some mistake and as am acquainted
with the Duke, if you will return think
| I'll get you more.'
They went back. The Duke rang the
bell and ordered all the servants 10 be as
/ sembled.
"Now," said the Duke to the boy,
"point out the person who gave you the
shilling" :,
alt was that chap there wi the apron" /"
said he, pointing to the butler. d,
The butler fell on his knees, confessed
his fault, and begged to be forgiven but
the Duke indignantly ordered him TO give
the boy the sovereign and quit his service
Immediately.
"You have lost" eaid the Duke, your
money, your situation, and your character,
by your deceitiulness; learn tor ti.S future
that honesty is the best policy
The boy now found out himself who II
was that helped him to drive the COW and
| the Duke was so pleased with the manll-
ness and honesty of the boy that he sen
| him to school, and provided for him at his
own expense Ohildreas Friend.
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1869-09-24

can't find, by searching the passenger
list, THAT Noah had a coon on bosrti, but I
am willing tew bet 10 pound ov mutton
sassage that mister coon and hiz wife
commuted, by stealing ride. --v ,.
never knu q raccoon tow want emmy.
thing long that he could steal quick,
Ennybody, who han ever looked coon
right square in the face, will bet yu q dol
lar that he is dead beat, or under five
hundred dollar bonds, not tew go into biz.
ness for the next ninety days 1Tr IT,,
hev had tame coons by the dozen,
they are az eazy tew tame az a child, IL yu
take them young enuf, but kant advise
ennybody to cultivate coons they want az
mutch looking after az blind mule on n
tow path, and thare amt enny-morc profit
in them than thar IL ina stock dividend ON
the Erie Rail road.
i never wuz outoy pet animal since
ken remember, till now, but hey gone
out ov the trade forever; lately discovered
that Il wuz good deal like making a
| whissell cut ov kats tale, running q com.
Portable tale, and reaping u kursid mean
whissel.
Raccoons liv tcw be 90 years old, If they
miss the sosicty ov men and dogs enuti
but tharc aiu't but few ov thcm die ov ole
age the northwestern fur company are
the great undertakerS of the coon family
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1869-09-24
" Couldn't See the Need.'


THE worthy gentleman who rules the
rising generation of boys IN a certain
town in Tennessee had occasion, recently,
to correct little boy named Johnny
Now, Johnny had what is called SUBJ
because he was whipped, and IN order 10
convince him that he was justly ana heees-
sarily punished, his teacher hac recourse
TO the following argument; ~ .-..
"Well. Johnny, suppose you We're rid
ing big horse TO water, and had q Keen
switch IN your hand, and I'll at onee The
horse were TO stop and refuse to - 4uI-
ther, what would you doYA iasps -
Johnny stified up his sohs for'a mornelf
and looking up through his tears inno-
Gently replied; I'd chuck 10 him, Sir
But Johnny, suppose he wouldn't go
for your clucking, what then| a,
"Td get down and lead him, Sir.
"And what If he were obstinate, ana
wouldn't let YOU lead him ?"
"Why I'd take of his bride and turn
him loose, and walk home, Sir
"You may 60 and take your seat John-
NV Johnny could not be made to see
tLe necessity for using the switch.
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1869-09-24
POETRY.
LONGING
NJ IASs RUssrL rOwEtL

nj JAMS Russell LowELt-
Or All the myriad moods Of mind
That through the soul come thrQnging.
Which one was e'er 80 dear, 20 kind, ~.
SO beautiful, ~ longing
The thing we long for. that we are, .l
For one transcendeut moment:
Before the Present. poor and bare,
Can make It's sneering comment
stHl through our paltry etir and strife,
.. Grows down oar wished Ideal;
And longing mOlds In clay what llfs
itl Caryce In the marble Real:
To let the new life in we know, "A 4
Desire must ope the portal; p
Perhaps the longing tobe so
Helps make the soul immortal.
Longing is Gods fresh heavenward viii,
With our poor earthward striving;
We quench u that we may be still
Content with merely livings
But. would VIC learn the hearts full scope,
Which we are hourly wroneing. 1
Our lives must climb from hope 10 hope
And realize our longing. .~I1
F. Ahi let ne hope that 20 our praise
Good God not only reckOns ...
The moments when we tread His WAYS,
But when the spirit .beckons;
That some slight goods also wrought
Beyond self-satisfaction,
When we are simply good in thought,
Howe 'er we TAIL In action.
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1869-09-24

A PLUCKY CONDUCTOR. A few days
asoa fight occurred on tho construction train that
runs betw ween AIing ton aud Humboldt, the south
Pacific Railroad. The conductor turned 10 grass
four gentlemen who refasod to pay fare. They
foFeilby suUeFed tho car again just aa the train
started and The conductor, true to obedience 10
orders war again ejectmg them, when the snperin-
tendent of tho road who happened to be present In
idea OF being thwartsd in this way 80 enTaged the
conductor that ha knocked the superintendent OF
the car backed the Train 20 the starting point and
resigned.-ia. Joseph GGzettc.
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1869-09-24

THEME are at the present time In Lon
don and its suburbs about ninety Roman
Catholic churches and chapels. AT the
beginning Of this century there were only
thirteen.
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1869-09-24

1T is estimated that six million baskets
of tomatoes will be used for canning this
fall by the canning factories of Phila-
delphia, Camden, Burlington, M0orestown,
Vineland, Bridgeton and Salem.
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1869-09-24

"A drunken mother in St. Louis threw
her baby out Of the window The other gay,
and an old woman, passing, caught II N
her apron.
Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1869-05-14

you would never deny me anything" !"
"And 1 will keep Try word, Mary y
said the lovirs husband, with an af.
fcctionafe kiss. en- write the fel.
low a note this very evening. 1 be-
lieve I've got his address somewhere
about me-"
An hour or two later, when Bobby
aud Frank and little Minnie were
tucked snugly up I'm he'd In the spa
cious nursery abovt.stairs, Mrs. Aud
ley told her husband why she was
interested In the fate OF mau whose
face she had not seen In twenty long
years.
"Thats right, my little wife, said
her husband, folding her fondly to
his breast, when the simple tale wns
concluded, "ncver forget one who
has been kind to you In tho days
when you needed kindness most.r
Ralph Moore was sitting the self.
same night In his poor lodgings, be-
side his ailing wife's sick bed, when
a livcried servant brought note,
from that rich and prosperous bank
director. Charles Audlcy.
"Good news, Bertha!' he exclalm-
cd, joyously, as he read the brief
words, 1--WE shall not starve; Mr..
Audley promises me the vacant situ-
ation!" . .. .... ..-... .........
"You have dropped something
from the note, Ralph" said Mrs.
Moore, pointing to slip Of paper
that lay on the floor.
Moore stopped to recover the astray.
1t was . fifty dollar bill, neatly fold.
ed In piece of paper, on which was
written:
"In grateful remembrance Of the
silver quarter that a kind stranger
bestowed on the little chestnut girl
twenty years ago.
Ralph Moore had thrown his NOR
sci of bread on the waters of life, and
after uiaiiy years II had returned to
| him ...
Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1869-05-14

Twice In fuy life, have fallen In
love Mt first sight. The fret time
was In book store In Boston, In the
street named after the Father of his
country. 1 was fresh fsom New
York, where my afternoon walk Ia
usually up the Fifth aveHue, n street
In which the MahomctGn doctrine
just mentioned does not seem very
irrational. This fret love of mine
was girl of about scveitern, with a
lovely bloom on her checks, and she
wore q dress Of blue something
mot silk with white spots In Il. IL
was when ] found out what that
sweet girl had come tu tfre store To
buy that l gave way to- the weak
ness alluded TO above. She was love.
ly I'm herself, but great heavens I she
was there buying n Gasctteert Here
was a young lady, aged seventeen.
who took Interest enough I'm the
world she inhabited TO desire cata-
iogue OF Its contents! Amazing!
Long she hesitated, anxious to choosa
the best. Shall 1t DO hpplncott ?
shall IL be Harper? I? She made up
her mind mt last, paid for the book,
and completed the conqtsest by car
ryihg u nome herself. 1 never saw
i'er more 4 Know not her name;
out love her still, and often have n
aissracting vision OF her when | see
those otoers, In the avenue which
Us number Five. 1t Is only because
l am not Dr. Holmes or Mr.. Lowell,
s'iat nave not written out my Lines
oa foung Lady I'm Blue-spotted
Dress tnet silk) Whom ] saw buy
ing o oazetteer In q Boston Bookstore
Inc other time was OH the long pi-
ann OF q seaside hotel, also In New
England. she was married lady,
mother, and a writer OF charming
verse anu prose. 1t had been her
singular good fortune To be reared ON
.""' feek-oouhu coast In such way
'hat her growth Ind never been
checKeu oy excessive school, nor her
freedom OF movement hampered by
irrationai dress, or by falre Ideas Of
propristy. Her father being a land
ioru, q fisherman, lighthouse keep.
er, aud man OF sense and informa-
Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1869-05-14
tSlis ffos.sobond

From the Ladies' Repository.
Honor the hard and sunburpt nand,
That tolls from day to day
To chase nom out the humble home
The demon Want sway;
That spreads q sheitering egis
Where wife aud children dwell,
And cissps them In its iron strength,
With loving no words can tell.
o, the husband is the houscbond
That keeps the house together;
The genial sun. the kindly shower,
The calm OF household weather.
Honor the mind that plods and plans
Porplcasure or for peit,
And yet thorough all the strain and strife
Thinks never Of itselfi
But OF the group that gathers -r s.-
About the homcly hearth,
That place by loves enchantment made
The brightest spot on earthl
o, the husband is the houscboad
That binds the house together;
The genial sky, the sun, the shower,
Tho calm Of household weather
Honor the heart that warms and ewcils
with manhood's holicst thrill.
And yet In its capacious depths
Is all unselish stiIl
But while the hands are toiling,
And the mind Ia vexed with care,
Bears the sours burden TO It's God
In deep, though voIceless prayer!
Yes, the husband 10 the honsebond
That links the house together;
The pleased sun, the grateful shower,
The calm Of household weather.
Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1869-05-14

were iamenting as one dead. +
Thanked Heaven on my knees befors
thenr all. II ~ not mucr Of a story !,
neighbors, but l think OF II often In
the night, and wonder how could
bear to live now IL had not stopped
When ! heard tirc cry for help upon
the road, the little baby cry hardly
louder than squirrels chirp.
That's Dolly yonicr with her
mother In the meadow, a girl worth
saving, II tlsink ttrst then, Pm her
father, md rrrtfui. nnay b-)--the
prettiest and sweetest thing fhis side
Of Tire Mlssisslppi.
Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1869-05-14

|NOOLII MILLS
Are now ready for Custom
Work. They will manufacture
Wool into almost any variety
of Cloth, Blankets, or Ysrn,
with neatness and dispatch.
VIII exchange Cloth for Wool,
so that customers can take
home with themselves the value
of their Wool the same day, in
such goods as they may select
from the largest variety OF
Woolen Goods kept by any one
house in the West.
1t is surprising to see'such
Fine and Durable Goods made
in Cedar Falls. The Company
have now in store Ladies Cloth,
hard to beat. Also, Delicate
Patterns for Children's Cloth.
ing. Also, Heavy Double and
Twist Goods, for Farmers
wear. In fact, it would be
difficult to describe the quality
and kind of goods that crowd
their store. All are cordially
invited to examine before pur.
chasing elsewhere.
Cedar Fails woetsn Mills.
Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1869-05-14

CAMERON a. SNYDER OFFER FOR
~ Sale a large amount Of Prairie Land ON Reas-
purchsses made Titles Examined, Taxes Paid and
al Land Business Transacted. An effort win be
made 10 ascertain the owner OF any lands not on
our list, which may be desired. Parties from a
distance write Us In relation to any lands in
.h- portion Of Iowa. Address, CAMERON Il
3NTDER, Cedar Falls. Iowa. 9-g