davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Centre Hall reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1868-1871, 1871-03-17
The Ancient FenIans.

In the early history of Scotland and
Ireland, n tribe Of Celtic warriors stand
forth pre.eminent by their bold adyen-
lures aud Warlike deeds The scenes Of
their exploits received names still perpet-
uated IN the topography Of both eoun-
tries, and the exploits themselves became
the theme Of many poems, and romaneea.
Finn Mac Cumhail pronounced Coole)
was one Of these warriors, aud their most
famous commander. According 10 Irish
annals, he lived aud died in the third
century Of the Christian era So great
was his renown that these Gaelic war
riors, who had previously been designated
by various names, harharous % our Eng
hsh ears, were henceforth known as
Reinne HnnA, or fenians and such
were celebrated in the legendary history
Of Scotland and Ireland They seem
eventually 10 have constituted kind Of
established militia, whose duty IL was in
the words Of an old historian, Ia de-
fend the country against foreign and
domestic enemies, 30 support the right
and succession Of their kings, and 10 be
ready upon the shortest notice for any
surprise or emergency OF the state.
These meagre historical details give
one little idea of the amount Of Fenian
literature which still exists in ancient
Gaelic manuscripts. One Of IFS most
accurate and learned students has COM
puted that, were all the Fenian poems
and legends published, they would ill
three Thousand closely printed large
quarto pages,
To enter the ancient Fenian order,
every soldier must swear that without
regard TO fortune he would choose a wife
for her virtue, her courtesy, and her
good manners that he woald never offer
violence 90 woman that as far as he
could he would relieve the poor and
that he would not refuse 10 fight nine
men of any other nation. Every soldier
must be well acquainted with twelve
books OF poetry, and be able 10 compose
verses. He must also run well, and de-
fend himself when in flight To try his
activity, he was made 10 run through
wood, having trees breadth, and the
whole Of the Fenians pursuing him il
he was oyertaken or wounded in the
wood he. was refused. as too sluggish and
unskillful 20 fight with honor among such
valiant troops.
I" He must be so swift and light OF foot
as not 20 break rotten stick by standing
ON il able also 10 leap over a tree as
high as his forehead. aud 10 stoop under
tree that was lower than his knees.
Without stopping or lessening his speed,
he must be able 60 draw thorn out OF
his foot Finally, he must take an oath
of fidelity
These are some Of the qualifications
given 90 us by an ancient historian, who
naivcly adds 80 long as these forms
of admission were exactly insisted upon,
the militia Of Ireland were an invincible
defence to their country, and terror to
rebels nj home and enemies abroad. "
What would become Of our modern
Fenians were such qualifications now re-
quired -- PrqE Sco,yc, ~ SrijHrr's
MoRdly for MdroA.
Centre Hall reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1868-1871, 1871-03-17
Over the War.

There's nice little woman lives over the way,
who sits by the window the nfcat OF the cay;
And never before knew q maid or wife
who led such an easy and indolent life.
WHO ia she What Is she ?" often have said T;
s'NTho gives her her clothes, and who gives her
breadf
PRAY what kind Of food docs she slowly devour
From The book she ie gazing al hour after
hourY"
N one srom her duty In ready to shirk,
There's always another quite willing 60 work
And this have found IL the rule of the day
In that quiet establishment over the way.
He goes 70 the store Cor butter and brad,
He kindles the Ere and makes mp the bed,
He washes the dishes, aud seta thom away,
And works hike beaver the whole OF the day.
Oh, better than any invention I've seen
IL this beautiful, iuttfal household machine
That is never disturbed by tear OF trown,
And is never wound up, since itneycr runs down
She sits by the window, the fair little wife,
And seems 10 enjoy all the good things OF life I;
And if any one asked me, / surely shonld saw
That womans Rights woman lived over the
WAy
Centre Hall reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1868-1871, 1871-03-17

boys aud 20 TO the house Of God, whateyei
she says, and be a real man-At the head
of your own house aud family
"lt's rather late 20 begin" said Cults
shaking his head In way that would have
warned Others from the trap Ia which hl'
feet We're fast.
"You see the purse Is her" he added
"and that has been crueller fetter than
her will % me- Bat | will try 20 begin
anew, for her good and the chidrcn's,"
The boy was sent with the message, but
the boy wasn't sharp enough, Madam
Cuts discovered the whereabouts Of her
lord, tackled ap, and went after him.
All the way home, aud far into the
night, she used her eloluence, both ~
pleadings and threatenings, TO find out the
mysterious errand Of that hateful town ma
bob that had come into the country 20 sep
arate happy families,
But Cuts yielded himselfup 10 "dumb
spirit for the night, and no measures
could induce him To talk ON any subject,
lest she should pry the mighty secret out
Of him.
About midnight she wore herself out,
and went 10 sleep; but at daybreak she
began again. lie then yenturcd ta say
"As soon as breakfast is over, I'll break
the news 90 YOU
You'll never eat morsel IN my house,
can tell you,n cried Xsntippe, It'll you
have told me what the man wanted OF
YOU
Then you'll wait a good while to hear
il, y said Cults, for have vowed I'd never
tell il till had first eaten my breakfast, /"
and with these words he went out.
Ma'am Cuts endured the torture as
long as possible, and then got breakfast,
She called 20 the door 60 no one la partic-
ular, Come
But Cults didn't come. A0er awhile
she went out to the barn, and found him
seated ON an upturned half-bnshel measure,
calmly peeling and eating raw turnip-
''It does seem rs il this here man had
possessed you Your breakfast is eoolin' ;
do come inn
Here was point gained.
Cuts went in as required, and ate his
breakfast. When that was over, madam
settled herself back in her chair, with her
face full Of eager expectation, and said:
Now begin. What did that ere man
want r.
"He wanted some cedar posts, replied
Cults, calmly, without looking mp; sand
that was allh
II an arrow had struck Ma'am Cuts, she
could rot have manifested more surprise
and shame.
II am the laughing stock Of this town, -
added Cults, ''and from this hour turn
over new leaf I'm henccforth the head
Of my family aud unless this house Is
made mine. shall finish of room in the
barn-which is mine-and YOU win DC
welcome 20 share IL with me. lfnot. I'll
live there with my boys, and you will find
ME a civil neighbor.n
Ma'am Cuts power was broken. Since
then the farm has been called "John Cuts
place and he's the head OF the house.
Centre Hall reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1868-1871, 1871-03-17

f&lIle feet, . pity lie
NemAmr hoofa nhumld nni lMemAe gna n
AhmmMRw hMmAMs hhim MmfmRAmmA Mamvam
HAuUid w. happy tu emlFuee yun
But know 10 Art that e8uid
Make Jour eYta A diamond brighter,
Make your AipM rmmm mAnNm rmas
Make yOuf neck "a HHuw nMAa whittier.
Straight and strong, with gliding gait
tClumHY i1outA, hmia ynm mn
Every EnnFHHaM pmmwmM MhW,
Rain nF shine, 0r wind CIV SNOW
One small hand parcel clasra
(0l1roihaM. hmpgAiy f0F mai;
T'0ghar llfAa fhH Hhmhh# Mr#mms
showing vaguely wiAA might be
sc-ahe'n gone the fainter click
or haF h0at~haalm imada ma nn
and follow hrF lm Thought
And wonder wfserp she'4 gone.
Not The very hrcnScst Nd
That illulninna Beacon street
Crnid mD inHn mn with Ahm cMllr
Could 40 make my patiaHA befl.
Ia Aha walking atm, no awili
RliEl the nmat brown FmFuel MHAed
UnrunpunEirr gah, tn think
TO lbe urrnnce nfbef bruHai9
Or has aIlf reached her goal,
And pui oH h8F rusty hnt
Arid thn nhapely hand 4 wonder
Haa miie gone % work with that
Simple nlaopsifii though yoar boota
Shabby IT, and rRnFRe your df@hHs
THii gnnr lOt, and prMmt your layH,
Rare kind murd, and rare careaa
Yet ! aoe that ia your eFea
That nui2hlnan AM eastward mAa0M
That mmknM poverty numfemt,
Aud that- makea me love y1n api
Centre Hall reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1868-1871, 1871-03-17

THE DANGER OF wearing false hair il
illustrated in a new and forcible way by
the recent experience Of Massachusetts,
dame. Fancying that her natural charms
required enhancement. she innocenuy
purchased one OF those mysterious and
iail-like appendaees for the female head
known, we believe. by the technical
name Of switches. II was a switch, y
equally beautiful and becoming. and for
brief space MI was hair and happiness
But presently Madam began to feel an
unpleasant sensation about the throat
every tame she assumed the foreign locks
in point of fact, choke. She would.
in her own striking and piscatorial Ian
guage, "get as red rs n boiled lobster,
and gasp like n porpoise" dreadful
symptoms which disappeared as soon as
the switch" was removed What was
this mystery no mortal could explain,
Madam, being q true Boston woman,
called " medium, and the " medium"
called a spirit from the vaSty deep. Then
did that spirit unfold long and excur-
sive tale which, CONDENSED. was 10 the
effect that - she was the woman from
whose head the hair had been cut. Just
after she was-hung g''-and that a choke
would always attend the wearing Of that
particular switch. Furthermore, this in
structive spirit observed that all false
hair retained more or less Of the person
atty Of its original owner, and that this
was the cauSe Of much insanity aud many
criminal idiosyncracies in women. -
Which is an explanation rather more
startling than lucid.
Centre Hall reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1868-1871, 1871-03-17
The Old Chlmney.Place.

stack az stones, dingy wall.
Ger which the hramhles cling and creep,
A path ON which no shadows fan,
A doorstep where long dock.lcayes sleep.
A broken raftoT IN the grass,
sunken heArth-stone, stained and cold,
Naught len hnt these, fair home alas
And the dear memories Of Old.
Around this hearth, this sacred place,
All humble household virtues grCw,-
The grandsire's love, the maiiens grace,
The matron' instincts deep and true,
Here first sweet MorSis were hsped here broke
LIES morning dream, and Yet more dear,
The love thai hsc's hest impnlse woke,
Grew warmer, gcntler, year hN year,
How cheerful. while the storm without
&ufled the earth and iccd the night,
The rssddy glow gushed laughing out
On merry groups and faces bright;
How ehimed the cracking, frVakisA flansc,
With resy mirth or thoughtful case,
Or, may be, syllahled the name,
Of one rocked o'er the Shivcriug Seas.
What fairer scenes. What golden lands.
What pageants az romantic pEide,
In the wc8rd deep " glowing brands
Saw the fair hoy, the dreamy-eyed,
Till, mRSing hers, his spirit drew
Strong inspiration. aud his years,
Ry Beauty's subtle nurture, knew
The paths ofNaiugo's inner spheres
Here a. the sweoning enhegs sent
A faint flush through the quiet gloom,
In the warm hash have she lovers hlent
The fragrance Of their hearts frcsh hloom
And, vcihng in soft GrOCping eyes
Her tremuloUs joy, here hlashed the bride
Here, DER pale forms ia funeral gulsc,
Farewells from broken hearts werc sighed.
This spo; the pilgrim, meath strange skies,
Saw in his way-side dream here stood
Old friends with giadness I'm their eyes
Here grew tho beautiful and good
Sweet frfendships-fAith serene and sure-
MsnhoOd's stlong purpose, warm and bold
COURAGE 90 labor and endure,
And honsehold feelings never cold.
Hers, leAning in the twilight dim,
Al round me seems a haunted air
i hear the old familiar hymn,
Nv heart goes upward in the prayer
That made the night 80 fnll Of peace;
Kind bps are ON my brow-my ear
HUNS with sweet sounds-they fAint-they
cease,
And night oer all brosds calm and clear.
Centre Hall reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1868-1871, 1871-03-17
The struggle for Pood.

One calm day, an we were lying at
anchor of the shore Of Florida, long, de.
vious band Of rippies was observed con.
/ trasting sensibly with the still water OF
the Gulf Eventually ID approached,
aud proved 30 consist 81 myriads Of small
{ iishes-young "sardines." Here was a
wonderful illustration OF the maxim,
Z" Eat aud be- eaten" First, the spawn
Of these small fishes Is hatched upon the
surface 0i the sea, aud forthwith aeres Of
forms live, move, and have their being
gregariously, and almost as one mass of
animation. So uniform aud Eimultan-
eous are their movements, they seem like
the result Of one impulse. Large fishes,
the Jacks, No called, make vigorous on
slanghts among them, and carry many
raptiye. The dash and uniform stimuli
taneous movement OF n squad Of Jacks
a. they make raid upon these solid
columns Of sandman infantry are inter
esting t0 witness. The sardines are con-
tinnAlly leaping out Of the water 10 escape
their enemies, presenting In the sunlight
their sparkling silver sides, and attract
ing the attention Of the watchfnl sea-fowl.
This vast animated patch soon became a
scene Of the greatest interest As the
" streaky fingers OF the morn" began 10
fade. and the sun rays 10 giisten on the
si.very wings Of the flying fish, and gl0w
in irideseence on the rppling masses
the brown pelieans drop from their roost
and come Tapping heavily toward the
scene Flattering for an instant over
the prey, down he plunges, with open,
dip-net bill, resting on the water 70
adjust the game In his eapaeions pouch
The laughing gull-ingloriou bird ! -
with eager and accustomed eye, hovering
near. essays 10 help himself, and, noleRs
r0hHs, settles on poor Pelec's hehd-a
head, albeit, none Of the smallest, but
one amply rotand and roomy. Now Is
the moment of his discomfort. As the
fish is tossed 10 bring ID right end down,
the gull adroitly snaps il away, laughing
his derisive hG, Ia! as he goes. The
pelican seems 30 submit 10 il as an inevi-
table operation. and makes no resistance,
but flaps heavily mp again 10 renew his
search Meantime the lazy gull il
brought DO grief, even in the midst Of
his hilarity. The war-hawk is on his
track. Listening and ogling from the
neigliboring shore, he spies when he can
leave his roost 10 profitable purpose. /
The exultant laughter of the gull soon
gives place 10 shrili cries Of alarm. The
war bird, conscious OF has power, bears
a weary eve; cautions, and sure OF his
mark The weaker darts fitfnily in zig /
zag lines, striving with all his power %
escape. Fatigue cnd fear prevail, and
losing faith. he lets the choice morsel
drop Down darts the hawk clntching /
the prey ere il reaches the sea. he soars
straightway TO the nearest roost so the |
struggle for existence goes on
Centre Hall reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1868-1871, 1871-03-17

A deceitful man is more hurtful than
open war.
A fox should not be ON the jury at d
goose's trial
Justice viii not condemn even. the
devil wrongfnlly.
A great fortune is q great slavery.
A nod from a lord is breakfast Tor a
fool.
A good word for o bad one II worth
much and costs little.
An old dog cannot alter his way Of
barking.
An idle brain is the devils workshop.
A penny worth Of mirfh is worth a
pound Of sorrow.
Avarice increases wealth.
A small leak will sink great ship.
Bacchus has drowned mogre men than
Neptune.
Expect nothing from him who prom
ises great deal.
Draw not thy bow before thy arrow be
fixed.
Grieving for misfortune is adding gall
10 wormwood.
Good bargains are pickpockets.
Give neither counsel nor salt till You
are asked for IT,
Have not the cloak 10 make when il
begins 10 rain.
He who would catch fish must not
mind getting wet
He i idle that might be better en-
ployed.
He who would stop every mans month
must have n great deal OF meal.
NJ skns ,,Nnknm hsvraalf mn nus ssrawt
not take il i'll If men ride him.
He that knows not when 10 be silent
knows not when 10 speak.
He that fears you present viii hate You
absent
II an ass goes q travelling he'll not
come home horse.
II better were within, better come out.
II is more easy to praise poverty than
to bear IT,
II is hard for an empty bag to stand
upright
II Is n pity that those who taught MS
to talk did not also teach us to hold our
tongues.
Centre Hall reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1868-1871, 1871-03-17

People are inquiring how long cotton
will keep. Columbus, Ga, asserts that
no change is noticeable in the appear
ance of the staple in bales, which have
been in its warehouse since 1866, and
Augusta Georgia, rejoins, that bale was
sold there the other day which, having
been in the warehouse eleven years,
looked somewhat oily, and it brought
MS much money as new cottons OF similar
grades
Centre Hall reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1868-1871, 1871-03-17

DoN PIArT writes about an auction OF
the contents OF dead letters "As the
rude auctioneer held each article in the
dim light, and coarsely cried it of, /
could not help to think of the fingers
that had worked, and the heart that had
throbbed over the token of affection, and
remembered that it had failed of its des-
tination, and was being sold for filthy
lucre to this motley crowd. Two-thirds
of these evidences of remembering love
came from women. The fact is, during
my stay, did not see one that could
positively be ascribed to man. To a
woman's busy fingers, and to a women's
heart could the work be attributed, and
also TO a woman's ignorance or careless
ness, probably, in addressing, is due the
fact that the work miscarried."
TI,ha sa v0,r- r1, GAI
Centre Hall reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1868-1871, 1871-03-17

How GIRLS OUGHT TO WALK. How any
of you who desire 10 appear well, to
make fine impression, can consent to
crawl about, poking your chins out,
shoulder blades sticking ont and wiggling
yourself along in that stubby, stumbling
way, amazes me.
Why, girls, if you were to give one
twentieth part as much time 10 learning
70 walk as you give to the piano, Iyou
would add immensely to your attraction.
Everybody plays the piano. 1t really is
refreshing to meet one who says, "Inev-
er learned TO play" Why not a few of
you, instead of sitting four hours day
on piano stools, weakening and distort-
ing your spines; why not just few OF
you, by way of variety, cultivate this
beautiful, elastic, queenly manner of
walking? You have no idea how, to use
a Yankee phrase, ." il would pay" as
an attraction.
Centre Hall reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1868-1871, 1871-03-17

SERvED HIM RIGHT. "A Boston gentle
man, who could not waltz, offered a
young lady hundred dollars if she
would let him hug her as much aa the
man did who had just waltzed with her.
1t was a good offer, and showed that
money was no object to him but they
put him out OF the house 70 hard that
his eve was quite black.
Centre Hall reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1868-1871, 1871-03-17

A MAN of unblemished character was n
candidate for a large constituency, and
the following means were used 10 get rid
of him. At large public meeting, an
elector got up and said
Il demand the exercise of my right
10 ask that candidate question. viii
he answer me by direct yes or no, like
an honest man ?"
Undoubtedly will,
A most incautious promise, as the
reader will say.
"Well, thep, said the elector, 81 ask
that gentleman ,cho killed his ,rasher-
trom1n p'
What was the poor man 10 say What
yes or no could answer the question He
hesitated, he stammered-th meeting
was against him he was hustled out Of
the room, and 10 this day he labors un-
der the grave imputation, In many peo-
ple's minds, Of having feloniously accel-
Grated the death Of some unfortunate and
perhaps ill-uscd washerwoman.
Centre Hall reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1868-1871, 1871-03-17

North Carolina is the fourteenth State
in the Union in point of population.
She is one of the sixteen that have over
one million inhabitants.
Centre Hall reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1868-1871, 1871-03-17

How 1T n DoNE.-The following incl
dent is related 20 show how some things
may be done, and il is said to have actu-
ally occurred in New York city - A
builder OF furnaces was called upon re-
Gently to name price for heating large
structure in that city. He offered to put
put in his apparatus for $50, 600. After
repeated conversations with sundry per-
sons interested in the contracts, he was
told that the man that secured the job
would be obliged 10 pay percentage to
them-in this case amounting TO $1,000
the bill, of course, to be rendered in
such form as TO make him party to
the fraud upon the owners OF the build
ing. He told them he wanted the job,
but that ms he also had desire to 60 to
heaven when he died, he should be
obliged 10 decline their conditions. He
also suggested that he should like to bid
for the job with others, and was informed
that not single contract on the build
ing was given TO the lowest bidder. Then
he was politely bowed out of the pres
ence OF the gentlemen who could not
use him. He went home, and as an ex-
pertinent, sent them proposal to put
in his apparatus for $4,000. From
this he never heard and some man with
more convenient conscience, got the
contract and gave the percentage.
Centre Hall reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1868-1871, 1871-03-17

Our brains are seyenty-year clocks.
The angel Of life winds them up once for
all. then closes the case, and gives the
kew into the hand OF the Angel Of
Resurrection. Tic-tac ! tic-tac ! 60 the
wheels Of thought our viii cannot stand
them, madness makes them 60 faster I;
death alone can break into the case, and
Seizing the ever-swinging pendulum,
which we call the heart, silence at last
the clinking Of the terrible escapement
we have carried SO long beneath our
wrinkled forehead II we can only get
at them, as we lie on our pillows and
count the dead beats Of thought after
thought and image after image iarring
through the oyertired organ. VIII no-
body block those wheels, uncouple that
pinion, cut the strings thai hold the
weights, blow up the internal machine
with gunpowler. What passion comes
over us sometimes for silence and rest,
that this dreadful mechanism unwinding
the endless tapestry Of time, embroidered
with spectral figures Of life and death,
could have but one brief holiday. Who
can wonder that men swing themselves
of from beams in hcmpen lassos, that
they jump of from parapets into the
swift and gurgling waters beneath. that
they take counsel Of the grim fiend who
has to utter but his one peremptory
monosyllable, and the restless machine
IN shivered as n vnse that is dashed upon
marble floor. Under that building
which we pass every day there are strong
dungeons where neither hook, nor bar,
NOR halcnrI unv drink insy xgsHnia from
which n sharp fragment may bc shhtter-
ed. shall be seen. There is nothing for
it, when the brain is on fire with the
whirling of its wheels, but 10 spring
against the stone wall and silence them
with one crash. All, they remember
that - the kind city fathers - and the
walls are nicely padded, so that one can
take exercise as he likes without damag-
ing himself. IL anybody would really
contriye some kind Of lever that one
could thrust among the works Of this
horrid automaton, and check them or
alter the rate of going, what would the
world give for the discovery. Men are
very apt to try to get at the machine 10y
some indirect system or other. They
clap on the brakes by means OF opium,
they change the mnddening monotony
of the rhythm by means Of fermented
liquors. Ii is because the brain is locked
up and we cannot touch its movements
directly, that we thrust these coarse tools
in through any crevice by which they
may reach the interior, after its rate Of
going for a while, and at last spoil the
machine-Eechaage.
Centre Hall reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1868-1871, 1871-03-17

Two Chattanooga men went hunting,
were gone two days, and killed 3S5 quail,
ii turkeys, Ito squirrels, and deer.
Centre Hall reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1868-1871, 1871-03-17

An Indiana paper announces that
Hon. w. H. Holman is to be the next
Democratic candidate for Governor Of
his State, and Hon. ID. w. voorhees, for
the Senate, while Hon. Thos. a. Hen
bricks will have the entire Indiana dele
CATION in his favor for President, in the
next Democratic National Convention.
Centre Hall reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1868-1871, 1871-03-17

AN enraged father in Michigan caught
his little boy by the eaF, and WhiEled
him around with such force as to wrench
that organ from his head.