davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1869-12-03
Josh Billings ON Hchs.

The best time tew sett q hen is
when the hen is ready. l kant tell
YOU what the best breed IL, but the
Shanghigh IL the meanest. 1t kos's
as much to board one az it duz a
stage Aoss, and you might rs well
undertake to fat tanning mill run
ming oats thru it. There amt no
profit in keeping a hen for his eggs,
if he laze less than one day. Hens
are long lived if they don't kontract
the threat disease. I kant tell eggs
actly how to pick out a good hen,
but az a general thing the long-eared
ones, kno. are the least apt to
scratch up the garden. Eggs pack
cd in equal parts of salt and lime.
water. with the other end down, will
keep from so to 40 years, if they are
not disturbed. Fresh becfsteak is
good for hens; I suppose or 6
pounds day would be awl a hen
would need, at fust along. | shall be
happce to advise with you at any
tine on tho hen question and take
pay for my advice in eggs.
Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1869-12-03
Wonderful Appearances.

Since the recent solar eclipse, they
have on the summit of the Rocky
Mountain chain what the inhabi-
tants call a "second twilight" SO
brilliant with colors of mist, shade
and fire lights as to pain the eye in
its steady gaze upon them, and to
leave an impression on the mind that
will never be obliterated.
Just as the sun is about to set, a
heavy mist gathers on the mountain,
and growing dense and denser, it
shuts out entirely the last expiring
rays of that luminous body; then
all is darkness or nearly SO, for al
most thirty minutes; when all at
once the heavens become lit up from
the horizon all around, far up to
small circle in the centre, with livid
glare of the most dazzling chromatic
colors, seeming as though tremen-
dous bonfire was ablaze below, throw
ing its glare in clear and steady
flames above. This gorgeous and
fearfully beautiful scene lasts for
nearly an hour, then steals quietly
away; and the moon, before dimmed
by its fiery lustre, regains its ascen-
dancy and lights up the balance Of
the-s1ight in pale shadows, as it is
wont to do in other climes.
Now, what causes these chromatic
colors? They were never before
witnessed by any of the oldest
mcuntaineers. l was in that Sec
ton at this season last year, and l
have never seen SO grand and so
thrilling twilights, and these have
only occurred since the great solar
eclipse of August 7lh, What does
it portend? How does it originate :?
Old Sarshay-the learned Ute
clief-stands in silence each night
gazing at this wonderful phenome
non, and when asked what he thinks
about it, replies sadly and slowly !:
"Ugh! the Great Spirit is mad! He
blows fire! His wigwam is in trou-
be! White man and red man bet
ter feel 'traid fo1 the Great Spirit is
mad-he is heap angry"
French Pete. the old trapper end
miner, says: 1t is now twenty-three
years since have seen the States.
have been eleven years in these
mountains; and l have never seen
such fiery nights. The winds are
damper; they blow milder and the
air grows heavier. l don't know
how to account for it. 1t has all
happened since the eclipse of the
sun. There will be big fire one Of
these doys that the entire waters OF
the earth cannot drown out, and
these days are coming soon."
II it be true as one of the profes-
sors Of the Cincinnati observatory
says, that immense volumes Of ny
drogen gas was thrown out from the
centre of the sun to the surface, du-
ring the recent solar eclipse, how
long will it be before the oxygen will
be thrown out and the ruling and de.
stroying element.
l give these particulars by request,
and there are numbers of the people
in this city who. on last Sabbath and
Monday nights, witnessed with me
this wonderful phenomenon on the
summit OF the Rocky Mountain chain,
se62 feet above the level Of the sea.
The Cheyenne and Laramie papers
will indorse this description.
Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1869-12-03
A Very Slow Procession.

When the city Of Lawrence, Kan, was
first laid out, the sidewalks were quite mar
row, and the citizens, with their New Eng
land taste, and for the sake of the shade
planted trees along the borders. In pro
cess of time, convinced of the inconve
nience of this arrangement, the authorize:
widened the walks, but did not remove the
trees, so that they occupied row in the
middle.
Now it happened that an individual who
had remained out until late hour, and had
imbibed so freely that in attempting to re
turn home he lurched to and fro like shir
in gale, was brought up standing by one
of tho trees, which be mistook for way
farer, when he thus expressed himself
"[Hic! Il Beg pardon, sir hicl I; assure
you, sir, uninten hicl ltional." But soon he
ran against another supposed individual,
when the same apology was repeated, and
ere long another. He then betook himsel
to the fence, and supported himselfby hold
ing on to the top rail. In this position he
was overtaken by an acquaintance, who in
ouired what lie was standing there for a
such time of night. I" Hic] ,cas trait
ing" said he, for that id procession Il
pass.
Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1869-12-03

The drill instructor of an old British
regiment of the line-one of the old stamp
Of martinez sergeants-who was the terror
of every recruit, and the remorseless tyrant
of the awkward squad, was putting firing
party through the funeral exercise. Hav.
ing opened the ranks, so as to admit the
passage of the supposed cortegc between
them, the instructor ordered them to rest
on their arms reversed. Then. by way Of
practical explanation, he walked slowly
down the land formed by the two ranks,
saying, as he moved, "Now, l am the
corpse. Pay attention" Having reached
the end of the party, turned round, regard
ing them steadily with scrutinizing eye
for moment or two, and then remarked in
the most solemn tone Of voice: Your 'snds
is right, and your 'eads is right, but you
'av'nt got that lock ofregret you ought to
ave"
Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1869-12-03
A POLITE JUDGE,

In the early history Of this State, justice
was administered without much pomp Or
parade, aud the Judges did not assume that
excellent gravity so much commended by
Lord Coke. 81,
A certain Judge presided at a court in
which man by the name OF Green was
convicted of murder, and it became his un-
pleasant duty to pronounce sentence of
death on the culprit. He called the prison
er before him and said to him: "Mr. Green,
the jury, in their verdict, say you are guilty
of murder, and the law says you are to be
hung. Now want you and all your friends
down on Indian Creek to know that il is not
who condemns you, but it is the Jury and
the law, Mr.. Green. The law allows you
time for preparation, and so the court wants
to know what time you would like to be
hung"
To this the prisoner replied: 'May it
please the court, am ready at any time.
Those who kill the body have no power to
kill the soul. My preparation is made, and
! am ready to suffer at any time the court
may appoint"
The Judge then said: "Mr. Green, you
must know that it is a very serious matter
to be hung it can't happen to man more
than once in his life, and you had better
take all the time you can get. The court
will give you until this day four weeks. Mr..
Clerk, look at the almanac and see whether
this day four weeks comes on Sunday" The
clerk looked at the almanac, as directed,
and replied 'that day four weeks came on
Thursday" The Judge then said "Mr.
Green, the court then gives you until this
day four weeks, at which time you are to be
hung"
The case was prosecuted by James Tur.
ney, ESQ.,, the Attorney General of the State,
who here interposed and said: "May it
please the court, on solemn occasions like
the present, when the life Of a human being
is to be sentenced away for crime by an
earthly tribunal, it is usual and proper for
courts to pronounce formal sentence, in
which the leading features of the crime shall
be brought to the recollection of the prison
er, sense Of his guilt impressed on his con-
science, and in which the prisoner should
be duly exhorted to repentance, and warned
against the judgment in the world to come"
To this the Judge replied: "Oh, Mr..
Turney, Mr.. Green understands the whole
matter as well as though had preached to
him month. He knows that he has got
to be hung this day four weeks. You un-
derstand it in this way, don't you, Mr..
Green p "Yes," said the prisoner, upon
which the Judge remanded him to Jail, and
the court adjourned. Western Monthly
for November.
Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1869-12-03
FANM-YAK D SONG.


Ia ESx5A IA
Over the hill the farm-boy goes,
His shadow lengthens along the land,
A giant staff in giant hand;
In the poplar tree, above the spring, 7i''.'
Tho katydid begins to sing;
The early dews are falling;
Into the stone-heap darts the mink;
The swallows skim the rivers brink;
And home to the woodland fly tho crews,
Whom over the hill the farm boy goes,
Cheerily calling,
"Co', boss! co, boss Co! CO. co."
Farther, farther over tho hill, A- K.
Family calling, calling still,
"Co', boss I! CO., boss CO.! COZ"
Into the yard the farmer goes,
With grateful heart at the close of day;
Harness and chain are hung away;
In the wagon-shcd stand yoke and plow;
The straw's in the stack, tho hay in the NOW,
The cooling dcws are falling;
The friendly sheep his welcome bleat,
The pigs como granting to his feet,
The whinnying mare her master knows,
When into the yard the farmer goes,
His cattle calling,
ace, boss ! CO., boss! CO CO.! CO.."
While still the cowboy, far away,
Goes seeking those that have gone astrny,
eco, boss Co, boss co..! !co'" ~
Now to her task the milkmaid goes,
Tho cattle come crowding through the gate,
Lowing, pushing. little and great; p 8551
About the trough, by the farm-yard pump,
The frolicsomc yearlings frisk and jump,
While the pleasant dews are falling
The new mich heifer is quick and shy,
But the old COW waits with tranquil eye;
And the white stream into the bright pail flows,
When to her task the nilkmaid goes,
Soothingly cal ing
$50, boss so, boss 80 so so ="
The cheerful mikmaid takes her stool,
And sits and milks in the twilight cool,
Saying, $50! SO, boss SO SOL"
To supp or at last the farmer goes,
The apples are pared, the paper read,
The stories are told, then all to bed.
Without the cricket's ceaseless song.
Makes shril the silence all night long;
The heavy dews are falling.
The housewives hand has turned the lock;
Drowsily ticks the kitchen clock;
The household sinks to deep repose;
But still in sleep the farm-boy goes
Singing, calling
"Co', boss co boss CO.! CO.! CO."
And oft the milkmaid in her dreams,
Drums in the pail with the flashing streams,
Murmuring, $50, boss SO! =
-AHantic almanac for 1870.
Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1869-12-03
A MOVING SER MON.

We have the subjoined discourse, de.
livered by Southern divine, who had re-
moved to a new field of labor. To his new
flock, on the first day OF his ministration
he gave some "reminiscences of his former
charge, as follows:
"My beloved brethering, before l take
my text, must tell you about my parting
with my old congregation. On the morn
ing of last Sabbath | went into the meet
ing house to preach my farewell discourse.
Just in front of me sot the old fathers and
mothers in Israel the tears coursed down
their furrowed cheeks their tottering
forms and quivering lips breathed out a
sad fare yc melk, Brother Watkins-ah i!
Behind them sot the middle.aged men and
matrons health snd vigor beamed from
every countenance and as they looked up
l could see in their dreamy eves-.fare ye
rell, Brother Watkins-aA! Behind them
sot the boys and girls that I had baptized
and gathered into the Sabbath School.
Many times had they been rude and bois-
ferrous, but now their merry laugh was
hushed, and in the silence | could hear
fare ye pezl, Brother Watkins-dh! When
| had finished my discourse and shaken
hands with the brethering-ah passed
out to take last look at the old church
ah The broken steps, the Hopping blinds,
and moss-covered roof suggested only
fare ye mell, Brother Watkias-ah! l
mounted my old gray mare, with all my
earthly possessions in my saddle-bags, and
as | passed down the street the servant
girls stood in the doors, and with their
brooms waved me a fare ye acell, Brother
Watkins-ah! AS passed out of the vii
lage the low wind blew softly through the
waving branches of the trees, and moaned
fare ne pell, Brother Watkins-ah! /
came down to the creek, and as the mare
stopped to drink could hear the water
ripping over the pebbles a fare ye meN,
Brother Uatkins-dA! And even the IT.
lie fishes, as their bright fms glistened in
the sunlight, l thought, gathered around to
saw. as best they could-.tare ye aceu,
BROTHER Vatkins--ah l was slowly pass
ing up the hill, meditating upon the sad vi
cissitudes and mutations of life, when sud
denly out bounded big hog from fence
corner. with aLoo F.! aboo! and l came to
the ground with my saddlc-bags by my
side. AS lay in the dust of the road my
old gray mare run up the hill, and as she
turned the top she ,oared her tail back at
me, seemingly to say-.tarc ye ,cell, Brother
w Wathies-oh! tell you, my bre,hering,
it is affecting times to part with congre-
CATION you have been with for thirty years
Drawer, IN Hnper's
Magazine for Norcmber.
Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1869-12-03
---------~ - . ~-----------
The QuasquctOn school,

The winter term of this school eommen.
ced on the 18th inst. under the direction Of
Miss 0. NJ. Capwell, assisted by Miss Julia
Capwell and Miss NJ. NJ. Gageby. This is
one of the largest, and cnce enjoyed the dis
tir ction OF being one of the best schools in
the county but for several terms past, ow-
| ing to the crowded condition of the rooms
and frequent change of teachers, it has hard.
ly kept pace with the educational progress
of the county. The district is unfor.uaats
in having school building which while it
cannot be made to accommodate the grow.
ing wants Of the school, is yet too good q
building TO throw away. A few years ago
this was by far the most pretensious school
house in The county; il being two-story
brick building with three rooms, and pleas
antly located in the central part Of the vii.
lage. To-day there are many school build
ings in the county superior to this in all the
essentials of convenience and attractisenessf
noticed in the primary room the long seats
so common in all school rooms thirty years
ago. A few short seats occupy the central
part of the room, but no desks-in fact
none Of the conveniences of a modern school
room. The seats and desks in the other
rooms are better, but all the rooms are des.
titute of blackboard-at least saw notl.
ing that deserves the name In either Of
them. Two hundred and Fifty school child
rem demand better accommodations, while
it would seem that enlightened sel6shness
should prompt the good people OF Quasqut-
ton to take immediate steps for the erection
Of tirst-class school building, as the bes.
Of pecuniary investments.
But It was of the school ard not of the
house that designed to write and here the
signs are more encouraging. The present
Board of Directors with an intelligent az.
probation of the wants of the school, deci.
ded upon a radical reform, and Quasqueton
now has graded 81 hool. Monday and
Tuesday were spent by the Board and teacL.
ers in examining the pupils and determin-
ing their standing. Some little time must
elapse before the new machinery can be
made to work without friction, but the
movement is a good one and will soon be
popular with the patrons Of the school. I
am truly glad TO chronicle this progressive
movement, and confidently predict for the
school brighter future more rapid, uni
form and systematic progress; greater econ
omy of time and money more prompt and
regular attendance aud increased interest in
all the departments.
We now have three graded schools IN this
county-Independence, Winthrop aid Quav.
oueton. We have one hundred ard eight.
cen that ought to be graded-~verily. 1.heavy
bodies move SLOW but let vs. be thankful
that they move at all.
BY the way, Mr.. Editor, wa. not the an.
thor Of LEARN to labc; and 10 wui,r =
schoolmaster. y
s. G.P.
I
Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1869-12-03

IMPORTANT TO LUMBER DEALEHs.-As
sistaut Assessor Alexander received the
following letter from Commissioner Della
no:
S,n:-You state in your letter of the
l4th inst, that there are several lumber
dealers IL your district who hire lumber
planed and made into flooring, ETC., and
sell the same, and heretofore have paid n
tax on such Is dealers. You inquire
whether they should be required to pay a
tn on such sales as manufacturers. ] re-
Div that, where lumber dealer has plan
ing mill, and dresses and sells lumber, he
;s liable to tax on such sales under Section
4. Act Of Match ?lst, 1868, and the deal
Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1869-12-03

Wendell Phillips once went to Milford,
N. IT,, to lecture by invitation Nothing
had been written to him of the wishes OF
his audience. lie arrived just in time to 60
to the lecture room, church. 1t was filled.
He was ushered into the pulpit, where sat
tic president of the lyceum, venerable
country squire. Nothing was said. "Pres
cntly." said Mr.. Phillips, II said to the
SQUIRE 4 am to give you Street Life in
Europe' tonight" ;" "Sir," said the Squire,
Saint YOU going to lecter on slavery p
"Nothing was said to me in the invitation
about the subject" was the reply. "De
you mean to say as how you was not INV
tod to lcctcr on slavery ~ do," replied
Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1869-12-03
~ love you, dear Mary"

DRoLL SCENE At NEGRO CAMP PRAYER
| MEETING.-Oue of the droll scenes of the
war, and one, on the whole, which tsas
| rather Jolly in the monotonies OF camp life,
was the meetiugs-half dance, half prayer
| meeting-of the negroes. One of these
little gatherings has been deity sketched by
| Colonel Higginson, down at Beaufort, in
December, 1862:
This evening, after working themselves
Up to the highest pitch, a party suddenly
rushed off, got barrel, and mounted some
man upon it, who said, "Gib anoder song,
boys, and Use glib you speech!' After
some hesitation. and sundry shouts of" Rise
| de sing, somebody and "Stan' up for
Jesus, brudder !" irreverently put in by the
juveniles, they soon got upon the John
Brown song, always favorite, adding a
iubilant verse which had never before
heard "Well beat Beauregard on de clare
battlefield" Then came the promised
| speech; and then seven other speeches, by
as many men, on variety Of barrels. The
most eloquent, perhaps, was BY Corporal
Lambkin, Just arrived from Fernandina,
who evidently had previous reputation
among them. His historical references were
very interesting. He reminded them that
he had predicted this war ever since Ere
mont's time, to which some Of the crowd
assen,ed he then gave very intelligent
account of that Presidential campaign and
then described most impressively the secret
| anxiety of the slaves in Florida to know all
about President Lincoln's election, and
told how they all refused to work on the 4th
of March, expecting their freedom to date
from that day. He finally brought out one
of the very few really impressive appeals
for the American flag that I have ever
heard: sour mas'rs dey hab. lib under de
flag, dey got dere wealth under it, and ebery
ting beautiful for dere chil'en. Under it
dey hab grind US up, and put us in dere
pocket for money. But de fus' minute dey
iink dat ole flag mean freedom for we colored
people dey pull il right down. and run up
de rag OBJ dere own" Immense applause J
But we'll neber desert de ole flag, boys
neber we hnb lib under it for eighteen
hundred and sirty-t,ro gears, and we'll die
for it now !" With which over powering
discharge of chronology-at-long- range this
most effective of stump.speeches closed.
--EpIToR's DRAWER, in Harper's Magazine
e.. noeomhor
Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1869-12-03

In estimating hay by measurement,
allow four hundred and fifty cubic
feet for a ton ton in the upper halt
NOV. and four hundred cubic feet in
the lower half.
Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1869-12-03
er who hires the lumber planed and sell. the

same, is equally liable to the same tax.
A dealer in lumber who furnishes lumber
to a planning mill to have itplaned, tongued,
grooved, sided, or otherwise dressed, or pre-
pared, and sells the same when dressed, and
who also sells undressed lumber, should be
required to make quarterly returns of his
sales of dressed lumber and pay thereon
the tax imposed by the Section above re.
ferred to, and should also be held liable for
special tax as dealer, wholesale or retail, as
the case may be, for his sales Of undressed
lumber.
G. DELASo, Commissioner.
f- Davenport Gazette.
Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1869-12-03

PuScTuATIoS.-Any ed tor Of literary
paper or magazine, with single years ex-
Perience, is a competent witness to prove
that not more than four. out of every forty
who scribble for bread or notoriety have
any more correct ideas of punctuation than
a Patagonian has of Paradise. One pro.
found thinker, leaving out the h, drives on
over three pages Of foolscap without sin
gle dot of punctuation. Another perpe-
trates one line periods, bringing US
"down brakes" at the end of every line, as
abruptly as if we had checked up against a
dead wall at thirty -mi!es-an-hour speed
Number three keeps up continuous string
of exclam .tion polnts-eternally screaming
at something that requires no screaming a,
whatever. A good many affect the dashing
style of punctuatioiSS slipping in one-m,
two, three, and half.line dashes indiscrimin.
ately-dashiag paragraphs into spasmodic
nonsense.