davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-12-20
The Ashantee War-FOur Villages De-
strOyed.

Late English newspapers publish dis
patches from Sir Garnet J. Wolseley,
the General in command of the forces
on the Gold Coast. From them it ap-
pears that he led detachment of
troops from Elmina against some hos
tile villages. The advancing column
consisted of $50 fighting men, and
about 800 carriers. The blue jackets
contributed 27 officers and men, and
the marines 1853 officers and men. The
Second West India Regiment furnished
205 officers and men.
The enemy was encountered IN a
dense bush short distance from the
village of Essaman, about a quarter
past 7 o'clock in the morning, after the
column had marched along track at
times through swamp knee deep, and at
others through high bush. The enemy,
after short action, gave way, and were
then dislodged from the village by the
use of shells and rockets. Essaman
was captured and burned. A large
quantity of powder and many guns
were found. A few dead bodies were
seen, but the nature of the bush rem
dered all estimate either of the enemy's
number or losses purely conjectural.
Col. McNeill, the chief staff officer, and
Capt. Fremantle, the senior naval offi-
Ger on the station, were wounded.
The deserted village of Amquana was
reached about noon, and was destroyed.
Akimfoo, another deserted place, was
shelled and destroyed later in the day.
While the soldiers were burning Am
pence, some eight hundred yards furth-
er to the westward, the Ashantees fired
on them, wounding Houssa. one OF
the native police. AS the troops were
returning, quite number of Ashantees
moving through the bush got to the
eastward of them and opened fire. 1t
was returned with great execution, and
the Ashantees were driven back.
The men reached Elmina about eight
o'clock in the evening, after a tramp OF
twenty-one miles, we'll satisfied with
their days work. The casualties
amounted to only twenty-five wounded
officers and men, but two Houssas have
since died. The Ashantee loss was con-
siderable.
The English officers were not partic-
ularly pleased with their native allies,
as they showed a wild propensity to
fire in the air or at imaginary foes in
the bush.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-12-20
COurtiug.

Justice, though blind, is always beau
tiful. So is Justice of the Peace
when his head is perfectly horizontal
and his heart is tender. Such is that
mild-minded magistrate of Guthrie
county, la. who has just made q decis-
ion in the case of a parent who sued
his daughters wooer for kicking him
out of his own parlor. 1t was held by
the Court that courting is a necessity,
and must not be interrupted; that pa
rent has no legal right in a room where
counting is going on. This, however,
leaves open the question whether q
father in the exercise of proper parental
authority may order his daughter, still
domiciled in his house, to go to bed at
nine o'clock; and whether he is bound
to find fire and light for the convent.
enee Of the enamored,
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-12-20
Thoughts for Saturday Night.

Adversely often leads to prosperity.
Employment is Natures physician,
and is essential to human happiness.
Account him thy real friend who de-
sires thy good, rather than thy good
will.
Whoever makes the truth appear un-
pleasant, commits high treason against
virtue.
He who reforms himself has done
more towards reforming the public
than a crowd of noisy, impotent patri-
OTIS.
Sorrow comes soon enough without
dependency it does a man no good
to carry lightning rod to attract
trouble.
Small means often accomplish great
things. Each of us may do something
to others, and true sympathy and loving
ministry are never lost.
No doctrine is good for anything that
does not leave behind it an ethereal fur
row, ready for the planting of seed
which shall bear abundant harvest.
There never did and never will exist
anything permanently noble and excel
lent in character which was stranger
to the exercise of resolute self denial.
There is much more to be said in
favor of most men and creatures than
we generally think. The trouble is
that we care too little about finding out
the good things.
We must not hope to be mowers,
And to gather the ripe, gold ears,
Until we have first been sewers
And watered the ground with tears.
If you hate your enemies you will
contract such vicious habit of mind as
by degrees will break out upon those
who are your friends or those who are
Indifferent to you.
Look not mournfully into the past.
1t comes not back again. Wisely i'm
prove the present. 1t is thine. Go
forth to meet the shadowy future with
out fear, and with manly heart.
1t is not what people read, but what
they remember, that makes them learn
ed. 1t is not what they profess, but
what they practice, that makes them
righteous. "Be ye also righteous.
1t is perhaps well for us that we do
not count up in early life the number
of steps, many of them weary ones, we
shall have to take in treading the long
road that reaches from the cradle to the
grave.
The world is a looking-glass, and
gives back every man the reflection OF
his own face. Frown at it, and it will
turn and look sourly upon you laugh
at it and with it, and it is a jolly, kind
companion.
Each change in your inward expert
ence or eternal condition is a new trust
by which to try your faith and love,
and will be help toward perfecting
your soul, if you receive it with love
and submission.
Habits influence the character pretty
much as under currents influence ves-
sci, and whether they speed us on the
way of our wishes or retard our pro-
gress, their power is not the less impor-
tant because imperceptible.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-12-20
fastening the Ripenlng of Fruit.

Acting upon the principal that re-
newell of the earth Immediately sur
rounding the roots increases their
activity, and accelerates the maturing
of all parts of the plant, including the
fruit. Mr.. Stall removed the earth
about an early pear tree, eight weeks
before the normal period of ripening,
for a space of thirteen to fifteen feet in
diameter, and to such an extent as to
leave depth of earth over the roots of
only about Pa inches, which could
be thoroughly warmed by the sun. He
was surprised not only by the ripening
of the fruit in the middle of July, but
also by it's superior iuiciness and flavor.
In another experiment, the removal of
the earth from the north side Of the
tree, alone, caused the fruit on that
side to ripen several days earlier than
on the south side. Frequent watering
was of course necessary in the above
experiment.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-12-20
Till Death.

We met amid the yellow sheaves,
When both we're young and both were fair
We plucked the scarlet poppy leaves,
And cast their petals to the air.
We had no thought Of all the woes
The morrow's sun might haply bring;
The perfume of youths heyday rose
Was to our senses ravishing.
The glamour of lifes early love
Was on our souls and in our eyes;
We turned no passing glance above
To look for storms or darkened skies
All me long garnered are the sheaves,
The poppy flowers are sere and dead
And withered have the summer leaves
And clouds are gathering overhead.
Yet still our trust is firm and true,
Still each leans on the others arm
The sky is black that once was blue,
But we have still loves golden charm.
What be life's ills if they be shared
By one true heart we kno,c our own?
If true Love ne'er the rough ways dared.
He never would ascend throne.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-12-20

but food and medicines we have so far
been able to send through slaves, who
have more pity for these beings than
they who once shared the bounty and
hospitality of those they now persecute.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-12-20

SINGULAR SUIT. An action against a
dentist for pulling the wrong teeth
came before Keene On. H. Court the
other day. The plaintiff, Mrs. Alice
Lowell, being unavoidably absent by
reason of having died, her interests
were represented by her husband, who
asserted that his wife gave the dentist,
DR.. 1. w. Russell, special directions
to pull certain teeth and not to molest
certain other teeth, but he made clean
sweep of one jaw, and was rapidly har-
vesting the crop in the other, when Mrs.
Lowell recovered from the an@sthetic
and shut her mouth. The suit was for
$5, 900 damages, but the jury, consld-
ering that it might have been mere
misunderstanding on the dentists part,
and that the plaintiff was dead, thought
$40 about right
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-12-20

A week afterwards I read in the
that Sophia had become
Mrs. Jenkins-Sic transit gloria Dllndi.
N. B.-I still have that fatal ticket,
but will willingly part with it for a
triAe
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-12-20

The valuation of property in the cities
of Massachusetts, has increased over
$50, 900, 900 in year,
American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-11-01

Youths Department.
LEiRNING TO PRAY.

knecling fair in the twilight gray,
beautiful child was trying to pray;
His cheek or his mothers knee,
His bare little feet half hidden,
His smile still comes uubidden,
And his heart brim full of glee.
II want TO laugh: Is it naughty say;
Oh mamma; I've had such fun to-day,
l hardly can say my prayers;
l don't feel just like praying.
want to be ont doors playing.
And run all undressed down stairs.
II can see the flowers in the garden bed,
Shining pretty. and sweet and red;
And sammy Is swinging. guess;
Oh, everything Is fine OUT there,
l want to put it all in my prayer.
do you mean can do II by 'lesC
- When say Now lay me- word for word,
Ii seems 10 me a. if nobody heard;
Would Thank you, dear God be rights
He gave me my mamma,
My papa and sammy
Oh, mamma, you nodded might
Clasping his hand and hiding his face.
Unconsciously yearning for help and grace,
The little one now began;
His mothers nod and sanction sweet
Had led him close to the d. ad Lords feet,
And his words like music ran:
:. Thank You for making this home so nice.
The flowers, and folks and my two white mice
Il wish could keep right on,
l thank you, too, for every day,
Only I'm most too glad to pray;
Dear God, think am done.
: Now. mamma, rock me, just minute,
And sing the hymn with darling in il,
wish cOutd say my prayers:
When get big know can,
oh. won't il be nice TO be q man,
And stay all night down stairs.'
The mother. singing. clasped him tight,
Kissing and cooIng her fond Good night"
And treasured his every word:
For well she knew that the artess joy
And love of her precious. innocent boy.
Were prayers that her Lord had heard
American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-11-01
Miscellany.


The problem of devising cheap
method of producing hydrogen from
water has at length been solved in En-
gland. The machine is in successful
operation at the gas-works of the old
Cathedral City of Chichester, and that
city is now being lighted with the new
product The Scientific american thus
dec cribes the process:
THE elements are water, coke, iron
and spirit. The water is converted into
steam, which is passed through a super
heater, and then through a set of retorts
containing coke and iron, the charge for
each retort being n cwt. of coke, and 1
cwt- of iron. One ton of coke put in
and worked off, plus the steam, produces
$1,000 cubic feet of gas, and to effect this,
two tons of coke are used in the furnace.
The gas thus produced is passed through a
condenser and a washer similar to COT
fey's still, and afterwards through puri-
Tier containing oxide of iron. From the
purifier it is conducted to the satuator,
where it passes through rectified petro-
leum spirit, which increases the bulk of
the gas about twenty-five per cent, SO that
$4,000 feet becomes 10000 feet, the cost
of which is stated to be forty cents per
thousand cubic feet. In carrying out the
manufacture of water gas at Chichester,
the gas works have been only partially
altered, SO that the manufacture of coal
gas Is still cazEied on; the public in fact
being supplied with mixture of the two
gases. This, it would appear, is the
most economical method of applying the
water gas, inasmuch as the coke from the
coal gas can be utilized, and the latter
gas can be made from cheap coal, as the
former is found to be a very rich gas
Hence gas companies will probably find
the water gas process useful as a supple
Enentary manufacture while and when
ever coal is dear, for it is not intended
that it shall supercede the ordinary man.
ufacture. AT any rate, present experience
at Chichester goes to place this beyond
a doubt, for there a pure and brilliant
combined gas is produced, having an
illuminating power of 1850 candles The
city and envirOns of Chichester have for
some six or seven weeks past been lighted
by mixture of the two gases in proper
lions varying from one-third to two
thirds, the present proportions being
equal parts. The stability of the gas has
been proved by keeping it for six months,
at the end of which time no separation or
condensation had taken place Its travel
ing capacity is shown by the fact that it
has been delivered by itself, and is now
delivered in combination with coal gas
to lights two and half miles from the
works, and burns freely''
American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-11-01
Babies.

In behalf of the rising generation, we
imp lore the medical profession to let
the babies alone. And as we deprecate
the slaughter of the innocents," we
hope our medical brethren will write no
more books, and speak no more lectures
concerning what infantile humanity
shall eat, drink, or put on. 1t is bad
enough for the dear little things to suffer
of the ignorance of mothers, the care
lessness of nurses, and the meddlesome-
ness of friends and ncighbors. But when
to these are added the doses of the
drug shop, supplemented with the poi
son of the dram shop, we respectfully
protest. We have long been Oft opin-
ion that, if mothers and nurses were left
to their own common-sense and common
instincts, with no instructions of any
kind from medical men, and no medical
books of any kind to refer to, it would be
vastly better for their offspring than it is
under the existing order OF things. True,
many blunders would occur in the bust
ness of feeding well babies, and in the
management of sick ones, but fewer
would be killed, or manned and crippled
for liie-ScieHce Of Heaih.
American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-11-01
Smoking Plants.

IT Is quite practicable to smoke plants,
both indoors and out, by using light
frame covered with glazed cloth, or other
reasonably smoke-prOof material This is
made large enough to put bodily over the
bush. The nozzle of the smoke-bellows
may then be introduced through suita-
bic aperture, and in a few minutes, or sec
onds, the smoke inside will be almost
thick enough to cut with knife. In con-
nection with this subject we notice that a
Floridan planter claims to have discov-
cred that violent conclusion caused by the
explosion of gunpowder or otherwise, is a
perfect annihilator of insect life-the
smaller species at least-within a certain
range, and that this agency can be so
utilized as 10 completely rid our orchards
OF curculios, and our fields and gardens of
other pests; and what is more wonderful
still that the same agency promotes vege-
tation to such an extent as to throw all
our fertilizers into the shade May we
rot, then, expect to see the time when the
farmer will, besides his portable steam
engine, keep battery of light artillery
which Will serve at once to destroy and
create? 1t is at least satisfactory to re-
fleet that when that time comes cannon
Of all sorts will be chsap.-Christsdn
Union,
American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-11-01
A Surprise.

An old lady not a hundred miles from
Boston was DESTROYS of having rebellious
tooth extracted, but was restrained by the
fear of stalking the gas" At last, one
day, she thought she would try what eff
feet ga little gas'' would have, by way of
test. So she went to an experienced den
fist and stated her case, pointing out the
tooth, but warning him not to touch it
then, as she only wanted to see how ga
little gas'' would affect her. The dentist
placed the tube in her mouth, and told her
to take two or three long breaths She did
so, and in a moment became unconscious.
The dentist quickly removed her tooth.
Presently she recovered consciousness,
and exclaimed
"Why, doctor, if that's all it is, l think
l shall come tomorrow and have my-la,
what's this?" and she became aware
that something was wrong inside of her
mouth.
why, doctor, you don't mean to say
the tooth is out.'
There it is, ma'am," said the doc
tor, showing her the stump in his for
ceps:
"Why, law sakes! If that is not the
most wonderful thing that ever happened
in all my born days !'
But this tooth story reminds us of an
other. A certain old gentleman had a
tooth extracted, which was of such un-
usual proportions that it surprised both
the dentist and the owner, who had it put
in a box to be exhibited to his friends
He had, besides this wonderful tooth,
wild scamp of a nephew; and one day this
lad, anticipating a dinner-party which
was soon to be given by his uncle, and
knowing that the old man would take the
opportunity of showing up ''the TOOTH"
picked up horses tooth, and put it in
the place of his uncle's in the box. The
dinner came off, and during the repast the
turned upon teeth.
"Well, gentlemen" said the old man,
you talk about teeth; now l can show
you tooth that came out of my head that
will astonish you. George, bring down
my TOOTH
The box was handed him. Said he,
tapping the cover, "NOw perhaps you'll
not believe this ever came out of my jaw;
but l give you my assurance it did"
Here he opened the box, and, taking out
the enormous equine grinder, looked in
perfect establishment at it himself. Then,
holding it up to the bewildered gaze of
the party, he exclaimed
well, it always did seem large, but
never so prodigious as !''-YOuth's
Companion.
American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-11-01


Like sunbeam anu invested
Livery feeling of my bosom with the warmth Of love
and truth;
And beneath The starbeam-' gistcn
Win no ear but Gods TO listen,
Loves molly vows We plighted, in that primrose
morn Of youth.
But her smile in death soon faded.
Ana deep grief then pervaded
I'efS ieeihS OF Fly nature, rs that smile had done
before;
When We laid her meath the willow,
r- "he re 4 rock breaks off the biiluw,
mat WOO "a moan her grave around. on the oceans
lonely shore.
And now, since she has vanished,
And my souls last hope IL banished,
must wander broken hearted. in a wilderness of
gloom:
For no smile. by beauty blighted,
Can relieve > heart benightcd.
Or revive the love that sumbe-- in the midnight of
her tomb.
Now. from her home supernal.
Near the throne of the Eternal.
where the angels plead forgiveness for the sins of
MORALS here;
Prays she ever 10 her Maker,
That my soul may be partaker
vi the Joys that bloom unfading in the courts of
glory there.
Ger my heart that prayer comes stealing,
Like spirit-voice. revealing
All the glories that shall greet me, when earths
heeting scenes Ger:
And when life shall reach its even,
May she bear my soul Heaven
"here the vows OF love here plighied shall be
sealed sorevermore.
American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-11-01
Threading the Needle.

"Where is Lucy all this while?' asked
Mrs Ludlow of Anna, the maid.
Il left her five minutes ago, trying to
thread a needle" replied Anna.
"She is long while about it," said Mrs.
Ludlow. ''Send her to me-"
When Lucy entered the room, her
mother asked her what she had been
teaching myself to thread a needle"
''But you have been long time about
it." said her mother
81 will tell you why" continued Lucy.
"When l went to walk with papa yester-
day he saw me get over stone wall,
which did rather clumsily; so he said,
"A thing that is worth doing at all is
worth doing well. Let me teach you
how to get over wall quickly and grace
fully''
$50 he gave you lesson in getting over
walls, did hep
Eyes, mother: he kept me at it at least
half an hour; and now 1 can get over
wall as quickly and well as any boy"
but what has getting over walls to do
with threading a needle?'
''Only this: l thought l would apply
papa's rule, and learn to do well what L
was trying to do. So l have been thread
ing and unthreading the needle, till now
l can thread it easily"
"You have done well to heed your
fathers advice" said Mrs. Ludlow. 'If
you do not see the importance of il now,
you will see it often in your life as you
grow older"
1t was not many months before Lucy
cOmprehended how wise her father had
been in training his little girl. She was
gathering violets in Il field one day when
She heard trampling sound, and, look
ing round, saw fierce bull plunging and
twisting himself about and all the time
drawing nearer and nearer to her. Sud
denly he made a rush towards her in IA
straight line.
Not far off was high stone-wall. 1t
would once have seemed to Lucy hope
less attempt to try to get over it before
the bull could reach her; but now she
felt confident she could do it; and she
did it bravely. Confidence in her ability
to do it kept off all fear; and she did not
even tremble.
The bull came up, and roarcd Justify
when he found she had escaped, and was
on the other side of the wall. But Lucy
turned to him, and said Keep your tenn
per, old fellow! This child's father
taugbt her how to get over IA stone-wall in
double Quick time. You must learn to
scale wall yourself, if You hope to
catch her"
boo oo-oo," roared the bull, prancing
UP and down, but not knowing how to
get over.
"Why, what sweet humor you are III
to-day, sirl'' said Lucy, walking away,
and arranging her bunch of violets for
Cousin Susan as she went.-1he Nursery.
American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-11-01

to lose her again. and she turned and trot-
TED toward the COWS. Several times she
stopped in the same way, and we had to
shout and drive her along / remember
that Alex said, Nan, what doe. all that
heifer? seems to me she acts queer,
When we came to the cleared land, the
heifer stopped again. and when we tried
to drive her farther, she groioled at us, and,
turning suddenly. climbed right over the
top of high rail fence, and we heard her
run, growing, off into the woOdsi
Its bearn exclaimed Alex; let's
run" and run are did. We raced the
cows home at such a rate that the jung
ling bell brought mother out of the house
to wonder what in the world those chill
dren were racing the COWS for; it would
Just ruin the butter But telling our adj
venture soon cut short her reproofs; she
hurried us into the house and fastened the
door and windows as soon as father and
Uncle John had started off with guns and
lantern to see if it really had been bear
Sure enough, by the light of the lantern
they found bear tracks just where we told
them to look, and they tracked it a couple
Oh miles into the woods, then, losing the
track, they came home. A few days after
we heard that a neigh Dor, who lived sew
eral miles away, had shot young black
bear, and we alwas felt sure it was the one
Alex and tried to drive home with the
cows"
Grandma paused, but the Children said,
ooh, don't stop, do tell another story; tell
about the rattlesnake that Uncle Alex
killed" But grandma said, mo; no
more this time. Good night
But Jason was not to be dismissed in
such summary manner. "Was that a
true story, grandma ?" he said
Certainly it was true" grandma an
swered; 'it happened right here on this
farm, more than fifty years ago, when l
was little girl" and grandma sighed
again and wiped her spectacles thought
fully, remembering that she was the only
living member of the family who began
pioneer life in Western New York;
Union