davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1871-11-29
A Wild Family in Pennsylvania.

The editor of the Pittston wyoming
county, Pa.) Comet gives the following
particulars of visit to a nomadic
family, living but thirteen miles from
Pittston:
A rude hut, not a mouthful in it to
eat, nothing to cook with or eat from
no beds, chairs, nor stools the old man
was found digging hole in the ground
half clad, his daughter, twenty three
years of age, a well-formed young
woman, stark naked, not a stitch on to
hide her shame the boy half starved
and emaciated to deaths door, and
what makes the matter more
inexplicable, the father described
as man of extraordinary mental at
tributes, in reality a walking biblical
encyclopedia, being enabled to refer,
with promptness, to any text in the
Testament, and recite the major por-
ton of the Bible without hesitation or
prompting. This mans name is Wells
Parkes. The girls name is ''Melvina"
and the boys "Billy" When the
party arrived on the scene, the girl was
on the hill side among the thistles.
picking from them the soft downy
blows. There was not avestige of any
thing upon her naked form to cover
her shame, or protect her from the
weather, thorns, and briers of the wood
Her father calling her, she started
for the house as obediently as dog
would answer the whistle of it's master.
As she approached, she seemed utterly
regardless of the thorns and stones that
lay in her path. Neither of the child
rem have ever spoken a word. Melvina's
hair is of chestnut color, and although
it has never been cut, it does not hang
down in the neck, but is faizzled and
matted together. The boys hair is
some lighter, and about the same
length and matted in curls. The girl
is well-formed, and with the exception of
of a slight inclination to lean forward.
IS model Of symmetry in form and
feature.
Her skin is darkly tanned, and from
the soles of her feet to her waist it bears
the appearance OF being burned. and
the SKIN is wrinlkled and looks thick.
The boy is not SO much given to roam
ing in the woods as the girl, and is not
as fieshy or well f rmed. His temper
is aU nfSU Saffulous, but he will ap
proach strangers after much persua-
sion. The girl is more timid. She
would not allow us to shake hands
with her, as her brother And her
father only seemed to be able to ap-
proach without arousing her fears and
screams. When told to lie down be-
side her brother under the blanket, she
would not do SO until he had turned
his back to her.
Parker is fifty years old, and was
married twenty-five years ago to a girl
named Brown. She lived about six
miles above Tt1nkhannocl1, near spring
vile. His wife is still living, but she
had left HIM about sap time last spring,
and has not been back since. She is
now near Maltoy, nursing sick wo-
man. By her he had nine children
these two, Billy and Melvina, being
the eldest. The rest are healthy and
bright children.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1871-11-29
Singular Freak of Eccentricity.

A singular incident occurred on the
steamer Bristol one evening last week
as she was going through Hellgate on
her passage from New York. A
well dressed gentleman of about 35
years of age wrs standing with other
passengers ON the upper deck. Hail
ing a tug boat which was close at hand,
he enquire6 of the captain If he would
pick him up if he should jump over
board. Receiving an affirmative reply,
greatly to the surprise of the passeng-
els, who supposed hewas joking, he did
jump overheard going down feet fore
most as skillfully as if he were the or
iginal Sam Patch come to life again.
There was much screaming and some
fainting among the ladies who saw the
feat, and it was SO long before he came
to the surface, far in the rear of the
vessel, that the cooler ones looking for
his reappearance feared he had struck
some of the sunken rocks in the chan
mel. Finally he came up, swan after
and picked up his hat, which was float
ing away, and was then taken aboard
the tug. His reason for this apparent
ly fool hardy act is a mystery.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1871-11-29
A Plantation Negroes Prescription.

A gentleman in Alabama, in exerting
himself one day felt a sudden pain, and
fearing his internal machinery had been
thrown out of order, sent for negro
of his plantation, who made some pref
entions to medical skill, to prescribe
for him. The negro, having investi-
gased the cause, prepared and admin
iatered dose to his patient with the
utmost confidence of speedy cure No
relief being experienced, however, the
gentleman sent for physician, who, on
arriving, inquired of the negro what
medicine he had given his master. Bob
promptly responded
"Rosin and alum, sab. p"
"What did you give them for" con-
tinued the doctor,
"Why,;' replied Bob, de alum to
draw the parts togedder, and the rosin
to solder um'
The patient eventually recovered.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1871-11-29
Concerning s. Drinks. "

1t is not always that a theory can be
most clearly elucidated by a practical
demonstration. A few days since, a
party of gentlemen in a Troy (N. "
saloon were disputing over the question
whether the American system of treat
ing, or the European system of not
treating, was preferable. A prolonged
argument only proved that the matter
could not be settled by talking, and so
a practical test was resorted to. First,
each man took drink by himself. =
Then each man invited a single friend
to drink After that each single friend
returned the compliment. And finally
each man in the party-there were six
of them-asked all the rest to drink
Singularly enough, says alocal journal,
the result of this apparently fair and
impartial test was that not one of the
party could tell where the discussion
originated or what it was about.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1871-11-29
A Subterranean Lake in Illinois.

The St. Louis Democrat gives pub
licity to the following:
Mr.. McGinness, living near the
village Of I ,oami, in Sangamon county,
H., IN sinking a well recently, came to
body of water which appears like a
subterranean lake. A most remarkable
feature about this strange body of wa
ter is that, almost ice cold, it is stirred
by some hidden force, and boils and
bubbles up to the height of several
feet al owe the level when at rest, and
that this commotlon Of the water oc-
ours at regular intervals-an hour of
rest, succeeded by .an hour of the
bubbling, and so on alternating
from calm to troubled waters A gen
tleman who reached here to-day from
Loami, says that g It's boiling and
swelling make noises like the roar of
the ocean or the Gulf of Mexico-and
its pulsatiions, which accu1 every other
hour, sound like the beat of a tenor drum,
and the vibrations, or the boiling wa
ter, shake the ground near by like the
trembling of an earthquake. ltappears
to be never-failing lake of water, and
furnishes splendid opportunity for
meditation and scientific investigation
rarely met with in this country"
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1871-11-29
VOL. XII.
The Squirrels Bargain.

BY REV. THERON BROWN.
Tom Blink was thrifty squirrel,
Who laid up nuts by the pound,
With stock in his bank he feasted and drank,
And chattered the whole year round.
ouoth Tom "I am fat and wealthy,
And the poor shall work for me
To add this fall to the heap in the wall
And my store in the hollow tree.
So he told his plan to his neighbors:
"Ho. squirrels, striped and red,
Ten walnuts day to each I'llpay
To DO my work, " he said.
And the squirrels laughed when they heard 1t,
And cantered over by dozens
Chigger and Tip, and Flicker and Snip,
Frisk Whisk, and all their cousins.
Oh. rnerriIly went the harvest
From forest and field and grovei
And grinned Tom Blink with a knowing wink
To see how his treasure trove.
Fruit of the oak and hazel,
Shag-ba and chestnut brown,
And the kerneled gold of the husky void
Into his chest dropped down.
Till once on morning windy
Came chipnunk, as pert as squire,
With a notice, to wit, his pickers would quit,
Or he must double their hirei
" "Cnit chat,'' quoth Tom, "here's breakfast
A right merry rogue's receipt!
Such bullying bribe fran hackneyed tribe
Is sauce without any meat.
'E Eight hours and double their wages!
They'll take it in waiting, guess.
III give them more-the whole twenty-four,
And say goodbye to the mess"
Sc he sent and paid off the strikers,
And loI ere the day gone,
To the door of Blink came-what do you think?
The tawny rat, Longtail John.
Hire me ?'' says the rat to the squirrel.
So What terms 2" says squirrel to him.
80, every morn give me three grains Of corn,
And I'll sdit you to whim."
Twas bargain John worked like beaver,
And boarded himself in the wall,
And got for his pains his daily three grains,
While the shirks got nothing at all
Then the little striped and red loafers
Began to look very blue.
Twas a shame they said giving squirrels bread
To the chap with that ugly cue.
What right had that squint-eyed pagan
To sf Stop! Tell We what Wen do
Of labor's so cheap let's make our heapD
Wen hire John Longtail tool"
Done by the nutters in council,
And the rat was fam to agree
But ah very quick he stole their trick,
And called for double fee.
Tom Blink looked on, and he chuckled
As he gat thered his crops alone.
'E All work has its price, but they spend it twice
Who sneak from doing their own."
John drudged for Frisk and for Wiggle,
John drudged for lazy old Gray,
And still, as they shirked, he worked and worked,
And struck for plentier pay.
Till bold in their bad example,
He claimed half the nuts on their shelves,
And baked of their gain, quoth they, "'Tis plain
We muzt make our living ourselves"
So all went back to their picking,
Each one for his hole and tree,
And folk may learn, what they have they must ear
Yankee or John Chinee.
For work and pay find their level,
Get wages never so high;
Your grain is trash, for dollar in cash
Is worth only what it'll buy.
The rat must live by his nibble;
For his meat the squirrel must gnaw-
Mans wit may stretch what his hand can fetch,
But work or starve is the law.
-E1amiHer and Chronicle.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1871-11-29
Needle Making.

There is needle factory in New Ha-
ven where the whole process is done by
a single machine, without the manual
labor of any person. A coil of steel
wre is put in; the machine cut it off
at the required lengths it cuts the
steel pieces consecutively, punches the
eye-holes, counter-sinks the eyes, and
grinds the points-and in fact, poes
everything until the needles drop out
completely formed Another machine
picks them up and arranges then heads
and points together, and third piece
of mechanism put them into paper
One of these machines occupies no more
spaces than an ordinary table, and each
of them turns out from 80, 900 to 40, 0,000
needles a day. Most of the needles
were imported from England, until a
few years past.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1871-11-29
Another Beautiful Girl Abducted.

West Livingston, N. J., is excited
by the mysterious disappearance of
Miss Mary H. V. Powell, beautiful
girl of twenty, daughter of well-to-do
and respectable parents. On Wednes
day last she started to get some medi-
cine for sick sister. She was seen in
Madison, where she purchased ticket,
but for what point is not known. Since
that time she has not been seen. She
always bore an excellent reputation. 1t
is feared that she has been drugged and
abducted.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1871-11-29

AN Oswego brakesman went to sleep
in church, and electrified the deacon
who took up the collection, by remark
ing, drowsiiy, "That's all right; work
on this road
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1871-11-29
A Singular Discovery.
From the New York News.

While some men at the Torpedo
Station were at work inside old Fort
Wolcott, last Friday, the wheel of their
cart sank deep into the ground. Re-
moving some of the earth to find a
cause for this, one of the men struck
his spade against what seemed to be an
iron plate. This excited the curiosity
of all, and they set to work with will
to dig away the earth above the
plate. Soon their efforts were re-
warded by the sight of an iron
door fastened with a rusty bolt. On
breaking this open, they came upon a
fight of winding stairs, which they de-
scended, and arriving at the foot they
found themselves in dungeon whose
gloom was made more marked by the
raw of dim light which solitary loop
hole at the top admitted. Striking a
light to dispel the darkness of the dun
geon, they found upon the floor few
Withered bones, skull, and lantern,
The lantern is of such an old-fashloned
construction and shape that it must
have been made over SO years ago.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1871-11-29
Gems.

Yet courage, soul! nor hold thy strength in vain,
In nope o'ercome the sleeps God set for thee:
For past the Alpine submits of great pain
Lieth thy Italy.
Rose Terry.
-
Better to weave in the web of life
A bright and delicate filing,
And to do Gods will with a ready heart.
And hands that are swift and willing
Than to snap the minute, delicate threads
OF our curious lives asunder,
And then blame heaven for the tangled ends
And sit and grieve and wonder.
Take heart. The waster builds again
o charmed life old goodness hath;
The tares may perish, but the grain
Is not for death.
y. G.. Whittier.
From graves that hold buried past,
Dim sepulchres by rock made made fast,
The Lazarus of our despair
Walks forth, our beings future heir.
Anon.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1871-11-29

A SooTCH minister in a strange par
ish, wishing to know what his people
thought of his preaching questioned
the sexton.
" What do they say of -"
(his predecessor.
ooh, - said the sexton, L" they say ne
is not sound !"
" What do they say of the New min
lister p (himseH1
con replied the sexton, " they say
he's all sound"
RossEL, the young army officer and
ex-Communist, who has been condemn
ed to death, in his day has fought two
duels. In both cases he killed his man,
and as he would not fight except with
the pistol, the cOtichcDa0rd or small
sword duelling fraternity of France
avoided giving him offence,
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-09-13
THE,GAZETTE.
WEDNEsDAYEvENING, sEPTEMBEEls.

e a GOLD ISLAND IN THE WEST INDIES
From the Paterson IN. j. Guardian, Sep;
tember 5:l-Some three months since small
island in the Caribbean sea- known as the
Bimita, and about eight hundred miles south
Of Trinidad, while being explored under the
direction Of Agassiz, was found to contain gold.
Therockisuuartose, and quietly few individuals
obtained possession of the island, and these in
,lividuals--all Americans will not dispose of
any interest, although last week several offers
from English capitalists in London were. re-
ceiyed, information having reached them
through the Custom house, as is supposed,
althoug gu every arrangement had been made to
keep the matter as quiet as possible: The gold
is free and easily amalgamated, and in purity
in veins in the quartz. Forty different veins
have been discovered on the: island, and i've
are now being worked, and the ore is being
received from ships at the Centrevlle Works,
in Greenyille, in Hudson county. The works
are running night and day: The orc. is now,
with very imperfect machinery, yielding sixty
dollars per ton, and they are only getting one
third Of the gold, but the ''tailings are being
saved, with the view Of running them through
the improved machine being contracted for.
Allthe gold ore seen by ourreporter, who test
ed the specimens just as dumped out on the
wharf, will yield $3.50 per ton. This great dis
covery is believed to be likely to build up very
important enterprise in Hudson county. The
ore is as rich as the richest ores of California
and Venezuela.
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-09-13

The EQUESTRIAN TROUPE, composed of
over one hundred Of the acknowledged star
riders of the world foremost among whom are
LeJeune Burt, the Champion Bareback Rider !;
Don Marquesse, the Daring Brazilian Rider;
Adolph Bernardo the celebrated tia ian Rider
Ashton, the Double Su,Imersautist; sam.
Long, Clown and Comic Vocalist; Mr. Walter
Waterman, Equestrian Director; Mss Jennie
St. Clair, from the Royal Hippodrome, Paris !;
Charles Conrad and his two sons Charles and
Henry; Lazele and Millson, Comiques and
Trapeze Performers; Mr.. Nathans, in his great
Four-Hor Act; Messrs Myers and Mcintosh,
Tumblers and Vaultists; William Aymar, Il
man of Wit and lIumor; Miss Jennette Wat
son, English Equcstrienne, from Astley's, Lon
don; Miss Rogers, from the Anglo-American
Circus; Misses Sheldon, McLane and Lazelle,
with Il large number of other accomplished ar
lists, who will appear at each performance, to-
gcther with the Trained Animals, the Horses,
Ponies and the Trick Mules introduced by Mr..
Waterman and also his beautiful Trick-Horse,
"Canary.i'
~. SMITH, NATHANS & CO., Props.
+. j. NATHANS, Manager and Director
Admission so cents. Children under 10 years
% cents.
R.e-At WASHINGTON CITY. commencing
TUESDAY, September II.
sop l3--W, $, M, WE
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-09-13
1877 .sU1 sPGU ILEs. lSI Z.

lS7l.s U feFq I I e. 1872:
The subscribers are now in receipt Of, and vii!
have per steamers, railroad and express thcl!
s sHat I5j! s BGDPTKS AND SCHOOL STATION
They are prepared to supply most Of the books
used in the Public Schools ut the contract price
to the State Board Of Education.
They have n priced Catalogue of all 7cho"1
Books now published, and will forward copy
by mail, free of postage, to any address,
sold by them at publishers and manufacturers
lowest prices.
The usual discount to country merchants and
school teachers Cash orders solicited.
Blank Books Of all sizes. Also they have then
manufactured to any required pattern of the bc'
materials, and at the lowest prices.
Foolscap, Letter and Note Papers in great VA
ricty, at unusually low prices.
New styles Initial Boxes at reduced Pr'c"5;'
This article is specially, and they can furnish
il to order to suit ul tastes, and Of any required
pattern Mailed free Oh receipt Of their IlN'
prices.
market for the money. Five qulr"s for 70 cent.
Mailed on receipt of 3Oc.
Constantly receiving new Books. Juvenile ana
Toy Books in great variety, at lowest prices.
Card Photographs, Frames and Photograph
Albums always on hand I'm
A large supply Of Envelopes in stock OF A.!
Sizes white and buff ut manufacturers listpricc''
Their facilities for ordering Books and Station
ery are such as to enable them to supply any
thing in their line at short notice, and Without
additional cost. r ,,
We respectfully solicit the custom Of our
friends and fellow-citizens;
J. & w. J. ENTWISLE,
Booksellers and Stationers,
1,c. 100 King street.
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-09-13

The Circus that created so much excitement
in Paris during the great exposition; endorsed
by the press and public everywhere as unques-
tionably the most complete in all its appoint
ments and the best Circus that ever travelled.
he gAseat Maser Conrad
DID, Yl the pet Of the public; Master chas Conrad
the wonderful Boy Gymnast and Pony Rider
The performing Lions, the most magnificent
specimens in the world At each performance
Mr.. Pierce, the justly world-renowncd Lion
King, will enter the den and feed the lions with
raw meat from his naked hands The wonder
full troupe of Performing Dogs introduced by
Mr.. Chas Conrad
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-09-13
T1O BUILDERS.
PROPOSALS FOR ERECTING bull
DINGS ON TIL MARK FL SQUARE,
ALEXANDRIA, VA.

Proposals will be received by the undersigned
until TUESDAY, September IA, 1871, at three
o'clock p m, for furnishing material and per
forming the work required in the erection Of
Market House. Court House, Offices, &C., &c,
authorized by an act of the City Council, APP
proved June 20 1871, and in ACCORDANCE sn VIII
plans and specifications Of Adolph Cluss, Arehi-
tect, which can be seen at the Auditors office,
on and after Monday, August 9th
The proposals will be opened and considered
by tho Commissioners of tho Sinking Fund, and
the award mado as soon rs practicable.
The Commissioners reserve the right to reject
any or all bids if be deemed for the interest of
the city to do SO.
No proposal will be entertained from any per-
son who is not known to be practical builder.
The proposals must be made by filing out the
blanks, to be obtained at the Auditors office,
and they should be enclosed in a scaled envel..
ope, endorsed proposals for the erection of
buildings on tho Market square, Alexandra,
Va" and addressed to ROBERT S. ASHBY,
Secretary of Commissioners of Sinking Fund.
HUGH LATHAM, Mayor.
GEO. R. SHINN, Prest. c. G.
ROBERT S. ASHBY, Auditor.
W. D. CORSE, Treasurer.
aug 25-td Comm'rs. Sinking Fund.
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-09-13
ORANGE, ALEXANDRIA AND MAN
~ ASSAso RAILROAD.
Is as N EE
DOUBLE DAILY TRAINS.

On and after SATURDAY, July |, 1871, w.
daily passenger trains will run between WASH
INGTON and LYNCHBURG, cfecting doub!o
daily connections through between NE YORK
and NEW ORLEANS. At Gordonsvlle con
nection is made by mail train with the Chcsn
peake and Ohio Railroa,. daily, Sunday except
ed, to Richmond, Stnunton and the RGlElA
SPRINGS; at Lynchburg with Atlantic, Mi.
sssipp and Ohio Railroad for the West "n'
Southwest, and at Washington for III" NsrlL
and Northwest.
Leave Washington daily at $50 4. N. and 80
y. M, and Alexandria at 8 Il. III. and $50 p. IN.
arriving at Lynchburg at j.0j p. IN. and ! Il. u
Leave Lynchburg Mt Q Il. M. and 10 p IN, Mt
rive ~ Alexandria at 5. % =. IN. and 6::}' H. III ,
and at Washington a: G.l5 p. m. and T.:h =. N.
For MANASSAS DIVISION leave Wa'hingt"a
daily excepting Sunday with main line train,
Leave Manassas Junction at $50 Il. m; pas
Strasburg ut l2:45 p. H., and arrive at HARRISON
burg at $40 T. m., connecting with Harmon
Cos. Stage Lines tn Staunton, Rawlry Spring..
Sc, Sc
Eastward, lcavc Harrisonburg at 945 II, III.
pass Strasburg ut l2:45 =. H., arrive at Manassas
Junction ut 400 p m, connecting with man.
line through 10 Washington and the North ahl
West.
Good connections, by comfortable coaches, nr"
made to Fairfax Court House from Fairfax at"
ton to Middleburg from Plsins; and t" Upper
vile from Piedmont.
Both the Eastward and Westward boun; .t"ih'
mako close connection ut Strashurg Win (
Winchester and Strasburg Railroad to VIA. :
ter, Harper's Ferry, Capon Springs, &c,
Elegant sleeping cars arc run daily betwe"
New York and Lynchburg, without change
Also, cars through between Baltimore and
Lynchburg, avoiding the Inconvenience oftFHnd
fer in Washington.
Through tickets and baggage checked to Nj
prominent points
mfs- Excursion tickets ut reduced rates good
to lst October. to all the principal Summer r"
sorts of Virginia.
j. ~ BROADUS,
ie29-tf General Ticket i.gc"!.
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-09-13
CABINET FFrR.N.ETETRE.
VITN7. III. DcEAUGEaAN.

CABlN EFT NJ A Il T. L.
And Dealer III
NEW AND SECONDHAND FURNITURE,
No. 119 King street,
Next door 10 Brcngle's Confectionery store, }
ALEXANDRIA, VA.
Has on hand and is constantly Increasing a
large and varied assortment Of FURNITURE,
which he is offering ut q very small profit.
cluth) Marble-top Tables What Note, Walnut
Rocking, Side and Reception Chairs, Lounges,
Bcdsteads, Warlrobcs, Hair and Cottop-top
Mattresses Wash Stands. Centre, Breakfast and
Dining Tables, Office, Dining, Rocking, Side
and Chldren's Chairs, will bear m inspection,
and will be sold Quality considcrcO as low rs
they can be bought in this or any other market.
sep 8--3m