davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Connecticut western news., 1872-05-31
Facts and FancieS.

It is estimated that the actual cost of producing wool in California is less than ten cents pound.
 The highest office in the gift of the nation is said to be that of surveyor on Mount Washington.
 Most persons have heard of a dead wall, but a correspondent writes to say that he has actually got living room in his house.
 A hotel thief got about $100 in the Sherman House, Indianapolis, the other night, and left behind, in his room, jew elry worth $125.
 What is the difference between the en- trance to barn and loafer in print ing office ? One is barn door and the other is darn bore.
 A young lady, seeking situation, was interested in an advertisement for some one to do light housekeeping. So she wrote to the advertiser asking where the lighthouse was, and if there was any way of getting to shore on Sundays.
 Smoking out may be very effective way of getting rid of rabbits, but it ap- pears to be expensive sometimes. A Missouri farmer tried it short time ago. He caught the rabbit, but burnt up half mile of fence and over hum dred apple trees in the process.
 A nice young man whose fine manners and clothes had created decidedly fa- vorable impression on the marriageable women of an Iowa town, was shamefully neglected when it became known that he had received despatch "to come home immediately, as the baby was very sick"
 The fashion of throwing an old slip per after the carriage of newly married couple is supposed to mean that the chances of matrimony are very slippery. The newest style of boquet for 8 bride to carry on her wedding-day, is very small and round, composed of buds and small flowers.
 Fuller, in his description of good wife, says : "She commandcth her hus- band in equal matters by constantly obeying him. She never crosseth her husband in the spring-tide of his anger, but stays till it be ebbing water. Her clothes are rather comedy than costly, and she makes plain cloth to be velvet by her husbands wearing it. In her husbands sickness she feels more grief than she shows"
Connecticut western news., 1872-05-31

in her arms, and with her loving words in bis dying ears. And all the long winter Colonel Trevelyan had been with us as a brother, and we leaned on him in this hour of trial. Mamma treated him as an heir son, and to her he confided the whole his tory of his love for me, of my refusal to accept that love, and lastly of the cause of that refusal. How could leave my poor Mary, with her widowed heart, even though the love offered me realized all my youthful dreams, all my widest hopes. No, would marry when Mary did, not till then.
 Two years later.-Gcorge, dear old cous- in George, has asked Mary an old question, and she has answered yes. Some one else, presuming on this, reminds me of prom ise, and complains to dear mamma of my obstinacy on two points. I will receive neither ring nor kiss as a seal of that prom ise, and he cannot or will not understand why.
 My dear boy," mamma says; My opin- ion is that it is useless to try to under stand girls whims and fancies, although in this instance there is reason for Ma bel's objections. Remember what the ring and kiss cost Mabel"
Connecticut western news., 1872-05-31
A MULE DEvoURING SHEET. P.-The

A MULE DEVOURING SHFEP.-Ine Ner- sailles (Mo.) Gazette says: MT. Fred. Jones, residing some eight miles South east of this place, is the owner of a thrifty, four-yea--old mule. One of his neighbors, it appears, has been gradually missing his sheep, and supposed that the dogs or wolves were devouring them not in the least placing suspicion on the mule, it, as a matter. of course, was not watched. This work went on until one day last week the children were return ing from school and beheld the mule ; he was engaged in making meal on sheep and grass alternately-that is, a bite of mutton" and then a nip of grass. Our informant states that on hearing the sheep bleat, this mule will leave its kindred and go in search of it's prey. This, of course, will be denied by great many as being reliable; but our informant further states that the mule has been watched by its owner and others, and find facts as above stated. This "queer" member of the animal kingdom has been placed in Q lot in or der to prevent it's further destruction of sheep. -'.a .-f
Connecticut western news., 1872-05-31
The Cook of the Period.

The looks of yer, ma'am rather suits me- The wages ye ofer'n do; But thin can't inter yer survis
 Without condishun or two, And now, to begin, is the kitchen
 Commodgeous, with plenty of light, And fit, ye know, fur entertainin'
 Such frinds as I'm like to invite? And mkt, are yous reglar at male times Bekase, 'taint convaynant, ye see, To wait, and if behaves punkshul,
 It's no moro than yous ought to be. And thin is your gurrels good-natured The rayson lift my last place, The French nuss was such high lady, sint dish-cloth at her face. And have yer the taste of objiction
 To min droppin' in whin they choosep I've got some elivin fust cousins
 That frayquintly brings me the noos. I must have thim trayted powlitely;
 give you fair warnin' ma'am now, If the alley gate be closed agin them, You'll find me commencin' a row. These matthers agrayed on between us, I'd try yer a wake. so wud, (She looks like the kind can manage, A thin thing without any bludD But mind, if comes for wake, ma'am, comes for that time and no liss; And 50, thin, pruviain' ye'd want me,
 JuBht give me yer name and addriss.
Connecticut western news., 1872-05-31

NEGLECTED OPPoRrUNI1Es,-Wit al the characteristic energy of the people of this country, it is remarkable and la mentable fact that the children of those who have raised themselves to social position and influence by their personal efforts, almost invariably waste what their parents accumulated. With supe- rior advantages and bright prospect before them to occupy higher place than their prudent, persevering fathers, they fall by vice and dissipation into neglect and absolute nothingness. Neg lected opportunities is the sin of those who imagine themselves something when at the end ofa useless life, they discover themselves to be melodies. It is natural for parents to hope, pray, and labor for their children, with an ambition to leave them useful and prominent among men. But necessity alone develops power, and honest devotion in the steady pursuit of a reputation above reproach, secures what those who waste their opportuni- ties never obtain-a good name.
Connecticut western news., 1872-05-31

CoURTING IN SIBERIA. When once the young beau among the Koraks be- comes infatuated, he makes known his passion to the father of his affinity, and expresses hls desire to strive for her hand. A kind of contract is immediately entered into, by which the young man binds him. self to the father as servant for term of years, at the expiration of which time he can have the pleasure of learning whether the daughter will have him or not. In this manner, If the father be the happy possessor of beautiful daughter, he may have half dozen men ready to do his bidding at one time. When the larger youths is selected, and all the old women of the place, armed with sticks and pieces of seal thongs, are stationed in thepologs suspended around the room. The daughter then appears, thickly clad in skin garments, followed by her lover, when race ensues around the inclosure, the contestants dodging about among the pologs. To win his bride, he must overtake her and leave the print of his nail upon her person before she can be rescued by the old women, who, during the race, impede the lover as much as possible by beating him with sticks, and tripping him by seizing his legs as he rushes by them. The advantage IS all with the girl, and if she does not wish to become the wife of her pursuer, she can avoid him without difficulty. On the contrary, if she likes him, she manages to stumble, or makes known her wishes to the old women, who then only make show of impeding her pursuer. Some times the lover is so desperately smitten that, just after being foiled, he returns to the father and binds himself for an
 other term of years for the privilege O making another trial
Connecticut western news., 1872-05-31

THE PRICE OF Woo1-The price of on the 1st of May was, in 1861, 32 cents per pound 1862, 42 cents {; in 1863, 70 cents in 1864, 70 cents in 1865, 65 cents in 1866, 65 cents i; in 1867, AS cents in 1868, 45 cents 1; in 1869, 45 cents in 1870, A cents in 1871, AS cents. and in 1872, 70 cents. Other grades of wool have fuctuated in pro- portion during these years,
Connecticut western news., 1872-05-31

A NEW CATTLE DIsEAsE.-The Hudson N. Y., Register says that fatal disease has appeared among the cattle in Renssel- aer county, N. Y. The nature of the disease is not known, but twelve COWS belonging to one man died in one day from it's effects.
Connecticut western news., 1872-05-31

WHERE HE WAS GoNa.-When Philip Henry, the father of the commentator on the Bible, sought the hand of the only daughter of MT. Matthew in mar riage, and objection was made by her father, who admitted that he was a gentleman, scholar, and an excellent preacher; but he was a stranger, l" and they did not even know where he came from" "True," said the daughter, who had we'll weighed the excellent qualities and graces of the stranger, but | know where he is going, and should like to go with him." And they walked ife's pilgrimage together. -'>'
Connecticut western news., 1872-05-31
The Eruption of Vesuvius.

The sight of the monstrous furnace, says letter writer, is something stupen- dous, even to those who see it only from Naples. The cloud, which has now risen and covers part of the sky, resembles that which is described by Pliny the younger in his description of the erup- tions that buried Pompeii-som etimes white, and sometimes dark and spotted, as If with earth and stones or ashes. We can count each "expiration of the mountain; it is like the puffs of smoke from the mouth of a cannon. In Naples many houses have been felt to tremble, and in some cracks have appeared in the walls, while all day long from the terra ces and Tn the interior of the houses could be heard formidable growlings or rum- blings, as of locomotive passing near. A great crowd is still before the Hospital des Pelerins, watching the dead and wounded as they are brought in. Here is one, burned from head to foot, and wrapped in a sheet. He utters heart rending shrieks. Another is just expir- ing, and, although his garments are un- touched, he is of the color of 8 lobster, and seems to have come out of 0 caldron of boiling water. At Resina, at San Giovanna, at Torre del Greco, at all the villages strewn about the foot of Vesuvius, the terror is indescribable. The awful thunderings from the mountain, the ap- proach of the lava, the thick smoke that ever increases, the trembling of the ground, all continue to augment the ter. TOT. Rich and poor abandon their houses and fv-some weeping, some shrieking, some praying, and many blaspheming All rush towards Naples for refuge, and the thick cloud that at this moment spreads over the sky seems to precede and announce their coming. Att o'clock many dEeadful rumors were afoat. Two hundred and even three hundred deac were spoken of. It was said that many foreigners were missing from the hotels l (Naples was full of English and Ameri cans). More than twenty persons were said to be surrounded by the lava and GU off from help. At 2 P. M. the Prefect who has shown'th most laudible activit, under these deplorable circumstances sent the following telegram ".Vesuviu: vomits fire from a great number O mouths. For the moment the direction of the lava cannot be determined. Poin most threatened, San Sebastiano. Tn wounded sent to Hospital des Pelerins 12;>3 dead. A large number of person swallowed up by the lava." The train and numerous vehicles which arrive iron the scene of the disaster present heart rending spectacle. Men, women an' children fly, carrying in their arms fev things snatched up in haste. The rail way transports all without charge, and tn trains succeed each other necessarily His Majesty Victor Emanuel has sent hi aides-de-camp to the spot with money t. distribute to the most destitute of tn sufferers.
Connecticut western news., 1872-05-31

STRANGE FoRaETFuLNEss. The follow ing story of sorrow and absence of mind is told as fact by the Portland Adrer- tiser: A short time ago little babe be- longing in this city died, and, as is some- times the case, was laid away in bureau drawer till the funeral. The day ot the funeral came, and the bereaved mother was convulsed with grief over the little casket, and, sobbing, laid it away in the cold ground. On her return home, she thought she would go to the drawer and gaze once more at the place which would henceforth be consecrated to 1t, when what should meet her eyes, when the drawer was opened, but the hfeless corpse of the child, that had been entire ly forgotten in preparing for the funeral.
Connecticut western news., 1872-05-31
,neciol Notioes 50 per cent. in advance of the

Special Notices, 50 per cent. in advance of the above rates.
 One inch space constitutes a square.
 Cards in Business Directory, occupying five lines or less, $500 per year; over five lines, $1.00 per line.
 Regular advertisers to pay quarterly. Tran sient advertisements neusS be paid for In ad- vance.
 Notices of Marriages and Deaths free of charge. All additions to ordinary announce ments 10 cents per line.
Connecticut western news., 1872-05-31

ANEopoTE OF WESLEY. and Bradburn often used to itinerate togeth- CT. On one occasion they had some difference, and the contention was so strong that Bradburn said they must part. It was like Paul and Barnabas parting. Next morning Wesley asked Bradburn if he was in the same mind. " Yes," said Bradburn {; {" it will be bet ter for both of us." "Well," said Wes- ley, |" it must be so, except you beg my pardon" CT won't" said Bradburn. "Then I will beg your pardon, Sam. !" Bradburn burst into tears, and the two evangelists loved each other more than ] ever.
Connecticut western news., 1872-05-31

STEADY. -Fewspersons realize how lit tie feeling of mdtion is experienced by balloonists. M. Flammarion mentions a balloon journey of one hundred and twen- ty miles, during which the eronauts felt no motion at all, To illustrate the ab- sence of the jolts and shakings insepera- ble from rapid terrestrial locomotion, sn interesting experiment was tried. A tum- bier was filled brimfull of water, so that it would not hold a drop more, and al. though the speed of the balloon equalled that of q railway express train, while il also rose and fell hundreds of feet as il swept along, not particle of water was spilled from the glass.
Connecticut western news., 1872-05-31

A SALUTARY LESSON.-On6 great gOOu of great public school is the way in which the moral pruning-knife is yielded there. do not mean by the masters, but by the republic of boys. Many Q lad of rank and fortune, in whom the evil shoots of arrogance, self-conceit, contempt, for his fellow-creatures, and a notion that he himself is the mightiest of mortals, has been fostered at home by the adulation of servants and cottagers and tenantry, has these evil shoots effec
 tually shred away. You have heard, of course, how the Duke of Middlesex and Southwark came to his title as baby and grew up under the care of obse- quious tutors and governors till he had attained the age to go to school. The first time he was there he was stand
 ing at corner of the playground with supercilious air, surveying the sports that were proceeding. A boy about his own size preceived him, and, running up, said with some curiosity" Who are you2" "The Duke of Middlesex and Southwark" was the reply. "Oh, J said the other boy, with awakened in terest, "there's one kick for the Duke of Middlesex and another for the Duke of fSouthwick," and having thus delivered himself, he ran away. O., what sharp pair of shears in that moment pruned of certain shoots which had been growing in that young peer's nature ever since the dawn of intelligence The awful yet salutary truth was impressed, by a single lesson, that there were places 1T this world where nobody cared for the Duke of Middlesex and Southwark. And perhaps that painful pruning was the beginning of the discipline which made the Duke, as long as he lived, the most unpretending, admirable, and truly noble of men.-A Country Person
Connecticut western news., 1872-05-31
A Poet on Ministers.

The ministers come next in point of talent to lawyers, says Oliver Wendell Holmes. They are far more curious and widely interested outside of their own calling than the other professions. l like to talk with 'em. They are interest ing men, full of good feelings, hard workers, always foremost in good deeds, and on the whole the most efficient civi- lizing class, working downwards from knowledge to ignorance, that is,-now and then upwards, also,-that we have. The trouble is, that so many of 'em work in harness, and it is pretty sure to chafe somewhere. They too often as- sume principles which would cripple our instincts and reason and give us a crutch of doctrine. I have talked with a great many of 'em of all sorts of belief, and don't think they have fixed every thing in their own minds, or are as dog matic in their habits of thought as one would think to hear 'em lay down the law in the pulpit. They used to lead the intelligence of their parishes now they do pretty well if they keep up with it, and they are very apt to lag behind 1t. Then they must have colleague. The old minister thinks he can hold to his old course, sailing right into the winds eye of human nature, as straight as that famous old skipper John Bunyan; the young minister falls off three or foul points and catches the breeze that Jeff the old mans sails all shivering. B, and by the congregation will get ahead of him, and then it. must have another new skipper. The priest holds his owr pretty well i; the minister is coming dowr every generation nearer and nearer te the common level of the useful citizen, no oracle at all, but man of more thar average moral instincts, who, if he knowf anything, knows how little he knows
 The ministers are good takers, only tht struggle between nature and grace make
 some of 'em little awkward occasion
 ally. The women do their best to spoi 'em, as they do the poets; you find i
 very pleasant to be spoiled, no doubt
 so do they. Now and then one of 'en goes over the dam j; no wonder, they'r, alway in the rapids. .,,-. -
Connecticut western news., 1872-05-31

A HORRIBLE MAssAcRE.-A few days since, says the San Antonio Herald, while encamped at the Howard Springs, on the El Paso road, train of wagons and about fifteen persons were attacked by sixty redskins, six or eight deserters, negro soldiers and seven Mexicans It was about 12 NJ. Some of the men were cooking, some lolling in the pleasant shade, others attending to tue various duties, and all in state of lazy careless ness, when like thunderbolt the fiend- ish yell of the savages deadened every heart with terror. Before the panic stricken teamsters could collect their scattered thoughts and arms, the Indians had ridden amongst them and secured all but two. After having thus secured the now despairing teamsters they pro- ceeded to pillage the contents of the wagons. They, to their great delight, found a quantity of United States arms and ammunition, which they appropria:: ted to their use. They took a few arti- cles of merchandise, with which the wag- ons were principally loaded, for the use of their recruits and Mexicans. They then rolled the wagons together, careful ly tied their victims under the wagons, piled wood around and set fire to the pile. They remained with diabolical stolidity till the death throes of the tortured teamsters ceased to greet their ears, then they deliberately collected their mules and spells with tho dignifed air of con- | uuerOrs."
Connecticut western news., 1872-05-31

A MYSTERY SoLvED.-About once in four or five years the question, "Was Morgan murdered by the Freemasons 2" comes up in the newspapers, and is dis cussed with as much fervor as if the trans action it refers to was a matter of yester- day. It will sadden those who delight in mystery to know, on so good authori- ty as that of Morgan's son, that the SUD- posed victim of the brethren of the mys- tic tie was neither tied to stone and sunk, had his throat cut, nor was torn asunder, according to the general custom in such cases. On the contrary, he lived until nearly thirty years after his abduction, finally ending his days in corpulence and contentment at Hobartown, Van Die- mans Land, where he for some time pub- lished 8 newspaper, the AdUertiser, which son referred to, Morgan was released on ever. He was accompanied to Quebec, placed on ship which left soon after for England. Later he accompanied a gov ernment vessel to Australia, and his pc take up his residence ip that quarter of bu0 WOIIOs Ill6 SUI IS I0Slu6uC O1 Nuu Francisco, and is responsible for the statements here given.-Boston Globe.
 A CLUE" Tommy, my son, what are you going to do with the club ?" "Send it to the editor, of course." "But what are you gong to send it to the editor for ?" "Cause he says if anybody will send him club, he will send them a copy of his paper" The mother came pretty near fainting, but retained con sciousness enough to ask "But, Tom my, dear, what do you suppose he wants with club p "Well, I don't know, ' replied the hopeful urchin, "unless it is to knock down subscribers as don't pay for their papers,"
Connecticut western news., 1872-05-31
Serious Forest Fires.

Each year immense quantities of valu- able timber are burned in the United States and Canada. Last year the losses in this direction were frightful and this year the fires start in much earlier than then, with indications of equally as serious results. Already fires have ragged in many portions of New York and Pennsylvania, destroying the fine forests by the square mile, and the people of the vicinity powerless to help them selves. In all cases the inhabitants abandoned their business to do battle with the fire, but they seem to have made little headway. In some cases such was the intense heat of the air that workers were forced, at times, to throw themselves on their faces to avoid suffo- cation. The cattle ran believing about mad with terror. Flakes of fire poured constantly from above, as if from vol cano in eruption. Long lines of fence disappeared almost in flash, like the quick rush and flight of so many fiery serpents. The women in the houses packed up their treasures, and gathered together their little ones, prepared at any moment to flee for their lives. It is certain that many of these fires are the result of sheer carelessness on the part of hunters and others, but 1t is as certain that those who are made to suffer through this carelessness should unite in Q system of cooperation, so that the people of neighboring towns might turn out en n1asse to help each other in case of need, would be Judicious. Those who have had experience know that in prairie fires the only really dependable plan of procedure is to get well to leeward, and either burn or cut down and remove the grass and stubble in the path of the com ing flames. If the fire cannot leap the swathe or gap thus made, it's race is run It might be very difficult, or perhaps impossible, to do this in burning wood, because of the size and weight of the trees. Perhaps, however, it might be done beforehand. The towns, that IS to say, might provide for clearing space at assigned intervals in all forest lands, SC that when the fires did break out there would be some chance of keeping theN within circumscribed limits. The sub, iect is one worthy of grave attention and now that these fresh confagrations have come so swiftly on the heels of the destructive ones of last Fall, it is to be hoped that more active and effectua. measures will be provided against similar disasters for the future than have yet been applied.