davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1874-01-15
4 Boat Sicercd by Ia Corpse

Says the Detroit Free Press "On
Sunday morning two farmers and
their families who were driving to
Maiden to attend church, when about
eight miles below, or east of the town,
saw a ships yawl on the lake heading
toward the beach and about half a
mile away. They could plainly make
out a man in the stern sheets steering
the boat with an oar, and, although
there were no vessels in sight, the
morning was so pleasant and the sea
so smooth that it was supposed the
man had put out from the shore to
pick up something, and but little at
tention was paid to the yawl. Pass
ing the same spot on their return, the
men found the yawl hard on the
beach, the man sitting stiff and mo-
tioncss in her stern. lifeless, and
frozen as hard as rock. He sat bolt
upright on the seat, the oar out behind
and both hands clasping the handle,
and it required hard work ,to wrench
it from his death grip. There was
about foot of water in the boat, but
the craft did not show bad usage. -
The mans legs were almost covered
with ice as far up as his knees, and the
spray had dashed over his back and
shoulders and frozen there. There
was no name on the boat, and the
person who brought the information
to Windsor yesterday could not say
that anything was found on the per
son Of the man to reveal his identity
or to show how he had been cast
adrift. He must have been dead at
least three days or more. There was
neither sail nor mast to the boat. and
nothing in it but the one oar, showing
that the poor fellow had not intended
long trip anywhere, and that he
must have been blown off the shore.
He had used his oar to keep before
the wind, and had frozen to death on
y - l. ...o- - G"~,l, hold
by the ice that it had to be broken
with a stone before he could be pull
ed off
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1874-01-15
The POrkupine.
By JOSH BILLINGS.

The porkupine IL kind ov thorny
wook chuck.
They are bigger than rat, and
smaller than a calf
They liv in..the ground, and are az
prickly all over az chestnut burr, or
a case ov the hives.
1t IL sed that they have the power
ov throwing their pickers like a jave-
lin, but this IL a smart falsehood.
An old dog wont touch porkupine
emmy quicker than he would a phire
brand, but young dogs pitch into them
like urchins into a sugar hogshead.
The konsequentz ov this az they
git their mouths philled with prickers
which are bearded, and kant bak out.
A porkupine's quill when it enters
goes klean thru and Gums out on the
other side ov things. This IL way
they hav got.
The porkupine IL not bad vittles,
their meat tastes like pork and beans
with the beans left out
They have cute way ov stealing
apples known only to aphew.
have seen them run under an ap-
pie tree, and rolling over on the fruit
which had fallen from the tree, carry
oph on their pickers dozen ov them.
have often told this story to peo-
pie, but never got emmy tew belive it
yet.
Porkupines have got disteny tew
phil, it may be onlya hole in the
ground, but they kan phil that az
phull az it will hold.-N, y Weekly.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1874-01-15
SagaCity of a Mare.

A remarkable instance of the sagaci
ty Gs it not reason)? of q horse, has
come to our notice. Mr. John F'letch-
er OF Norwegian, OWNS III unurUhen
cayuse mare which runs in a pasture
adjoining his house, The mare, which
is very wild, has young colt at her
side. A few nights since, after Mr..
Fletcher had'retired, he was aronsed
by the mare coming to the window of
his house, and by paving, neighing,
and in every way possible trying to
get his attention. This continuing
for some time he got up and went out
and drove her away, and returned
again to bed but she Immediately
returned, and if possible increased her
demonstrations; he again went out,
VIXEN the mare came up to him and
rubbed her nose against him, although
always before she had been very shy
of allowing any one to come within
reach Of her, then ran on few yards
before him continuing her neigh'ng
then, as he did not follow her, she
returned to him rubbing against him
in the most demonstrative manner
He attempted to drive her off, struck
her with stick, and followed her a
few yards to triehten her away. As
soon, however, as he turned toward
the house, she returned and tried in
every way to prevent him from doing
so. He then remarked that her colt
was not with her, fact that he had
not noticed before as it was quite
dark. 1t occurred to him then to fol-
low her, which he did. SO soon as
she saw he was doing so she ran Oft
before him, stopping every few yards,
turning around to see that he was still
following, then again running on
keeping up her calling, until she
reached distant part of the field !;
where she stopped at an old prospect
hole On coming up with her she
again commenced rubbing against
him, and drew his attention to the
hole, where he soon discovered the
colt. 1t appears it had slipped into it
and was unable to get out. and the
mare had taken this method to obtain
assistance. Being unable to get it
out alone. Mr.. Fletcher went for
some of his neighbors, and with them
returned. While they were taking
the little fellow out the mare mani
tested the most intense delight, and
seemed almost beside herself with joy;
and afterward, when the men had got
out of the hole, she up to Mr.. F., and
placing her nose, on his shoulder gave
every sign of gratitude that human
mother might under simular circum-
stances. Who will say the horse does
not reason?
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1874-01-15
rs PUBLISHED EVERY THUR9DAY,
BY WILLIAM ID. McMASTER.
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Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1874-01-15
WOODSTOCK VT. THURSDAY JAM 10, 1874.
"NIine Gott! You charge me for
my Wife's talking?"

my Wlfes talking!
"Only what she said ina professions
al way, | assure you. That item you
will find correct take the next. To
writing prescription for Mrs. NJ,
$500. That's where the heavy work
came in, you know"
every reasonable for the amount OF
care gave the subject, as you will
see when you think i; over. Item
again-To call the next day, with
copy Of prescription book with me,
$500"
swell, dat was all you got, amt
it," You was told my wife was all
tight and that was $500. Where
you make your $l3.75?'
"You are mistaken about that be-
ing all, Mr.. Milchman? No, sir, |
could not let the matter drop here
Pray allow me to proceed. TO study
ing over the case in my Office, 81"
ooh you studied over him here?"
"Certanly | did. Next-to riding
around by your house, ON my way
home, and looking attentively aboul
the premises, 81, To meeting child
and asking how her mother was, 81.
To making bill, postage, &C., fifteen
cents. These, sir, are all the items,
and very reasonable, too, upon my
honor
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1874-01-15
Beyond the Jordan.
BY JOAQUIN MILLER.

BY JOAQUIN MILLER
And they came to him, mothers of Judah,
Dark-eyed and in splendor of hair,
Bearing down over shoulders of beauty,
And bosoms half hidden, half bare
And they brought him their babes and besought
him,
Half kneeling, with suppliant air.
To bless the brown cheruLs they brought him,
With holy hands laid in their hair.
Then reaching his hands, he said, lowly,
"Of such is My Kingdom !" and then
Took the little brown hands in the holy
White hands of the Saviour of men;
Held them close to his heart and caressed
them,
Put his face down to theirs as in prayer,
Put their hands to his neck, and 80 blessed
them,
With baby hands hid in his hair.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1874-01-15

4 SPECIMEN BRICK.-In the good
days when tlogging was considered as
a means of grace, and anniversary pro-
cessions, picnics, and Christmas trees
were in the very distant future, a boy
was asked one day by his Sunday
school teacher. "John how many
Gods are there ?" 1.-Two" (Sternly)
"How many Gods are there o.
"Three, sir" "How many?" "Four,
sir.' At five the hoggins commenc-
ed and continued, while John rose
rapidly, and by regular progression to
ten. Beyond ten he refused to go,
and was finally sent home. AS he
"dragged his slow length along" he
met a boy on his way to the same
school. "Going to that Sunday
school?' Yes" "You are, are you?
Well, how many Gods are there o.
"One," stoutly answered the boy,
zone !" "One," chuckled John: ''go
on, my boy, 90 on up there with your
one God, and good time you will
have of it. had ten, and they fog
ged me nearly to DEATH
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1874-01-15
WHOLE NO. l642

blessed point-like a COW that has
given a good bucket Of milk only to
put her foot in ito be entirely
ruined! There are kind of spiritual
Jummers that run around to prayer
meetings.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1874-01-15

CAREFULNEss IN OLD AGE.--An old mau Is
like an old wagon; with light loading and care
iul usage it will last for years; but ono heavy
load or sudden strain will break it and ruin it
forever. So many people reach the age of tif-
ty or sixty, Or even seventy. measurably free
from most of the pains and infrmities OF age,
cherry in heart and sound In health, ripe in
wisdom and experience, with sympathies mel
lowed by age. and with reasonable prospects
and opportunities for continued usefulness in
the world for considerable time. Let such
persons be thankful but let them also be caro-
full. An old constitution is like an old bone
broken with ease, mended with difficulty. A
young tree bends to the gale, an old onelsnaps
and falls before the blast. A single hard lift,
an hour of heating work, an evening exposure
to rain, severe chill, an excess Of food, the
unusual indulgence of an appetite or passion,
a sudden fit of anger, an improper dose of
medicine, any of these, or other similar things
may cut off valuable life in an hour, and
leave the fair hopes of usefulness and enjoy
ment but shapeless wreck.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1874-01-15
DisseCting a Doctors Bill.

About tmee months ago Jacol
Milchman's wife, in Detroit, wa.
somewhat i'll, and thought a doctor
ought to be sent to her; so he called
at Detroit street Office and requested
the physician to 90 out to his house
The call was made, prescription was
left with Mrs. Milchman, and either
the medicine was very effective OF
Mrs. Michman was not very sick, fol
when he called he next day she in
formed him that she was all cured.
and he need not come any more.
Last Monday Jacob received by mail
a bill from DR.. Y. due for medical
services, Sl3,75."
Jacob studied a long time over that
bill, and showed it to his wife, and
studied over it with her; but the
more he looked at it the more it seem
ed to him that there must be a mis-
take. The next morning he called at
the doctors Office, bill in hand, and
found the proprietor sitting there, wait
ing to hear some one suffering from
green corn or one Of the other pre-.
valent diseases.
Mr.. Milchman laid his hat down
carefully, handed the bill to DR.. H.,
saying.
"You was DR.. T., l suppose?"
"Yes, yes, certainly, Mr.. Mich
man; sit down. How's your wife?"
"Oh, my wife's all right; she's ali
right. You doctored her, eh?"
81 gave her some medicine that
seemed to work like magic
"Yes, so it did. That was your
bill, eh?"
"That was right, was it-$1375?"
"Let me see; yes, that's the amount,
Mr.. Milchman but no hurry about
paying it, you know"
"Thirteen dollars and seventy-fve
cents for one visit That was pretty
tam, dear, don't you think so?'
Here the doctor smiled all over in
the most forgiving way, saying, "My
dear Mr.. Milchman, you are far out of
the way. For one visit? My dear
sir, that is the way with the unpro-
fessional mind. assure you when
you see the items you will agree with
me that the amount is low, sir, very
low"
"Oh !" said Jacob, "there was items.
was there; well, where those items
are? ?"
"In my memorandum book, sir.
You shall have them, certainly, if
you wish. You want the items, do
you?"
"That was just what | WANT said
Jacob, and apparently much to the
doctors annoyance. He hesitated a
moment and then drew small me-
morandum bonk from his breast pocket,
opened it, looked at Jacob, and be
gan:
May l5-Use of horse and buggy
TO call on Mrs, Milchman, $3.50"
''Stop little,' said Jacob, "till l
write him down" and he proceeded to
write the items down. "Don't you
got no horse ?" he asked, when he
had finished writing.
"Ye-es," said the doctor unwilling
ly; "but of course / have to charge
for use, the same as if he was a hired
horse. Don't you see?"
"Oh, yes, he was your horse, but
you charge yourself for him?'
"Yes, that's it. Now item No. 2.
To looking at the tongue of Mrs.
Milchman, fifty cents"
"Oh, you look at my wife's tongue,
eh 2"
"Certainly. I had to, you know
Item No. 3-To feeling pulse of Mrs.
Milchman, sixty cents"
'Dat was cheap enough
81 knew you would think So" ex-
claimed the doctor, now satisfied that
he was all right "Item No 4. To
hearino Mrs. Ms renort of her case.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1874-01-15

MODEST. 1t is told of a young
gentleman whom almaiden liked but
the father didn't, that at reasonable
Q) hour the old gent intimated that
the time for retiring had arrived.
Il think you are correct, my dear sir"
answered the nineteenth century,
modestly; 1--WE have been waiting
over an hour for you to put yourself
in your little bed" Father retired
thoughtfully.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1874-01-15
HartIand Business Cards.

y. G | l. B f r II,
Manufacturer of and Dealer in
PlOws, CuItiyators, Cottage and
Box Stoves, CauldrOn Kettles,
SINKS, HOLLOW WARE, ROLL BAKERS,
Door Rollers, Door Roller Tack, Corn
Shelters, Sugar Arch Mouths, Crates and
Bars, Sap Pans, Arch Tops, Mouths end
Rimmers, Slide Yoke Irons, Boot Jacks.
Registers, Door Scrapers, Empire Stove Black,
Guards and Doors, Bedstead Castings, Gas
Castings, Birdsnest Tuyer Irons, Sleigh ana
Sled Shoes, chilled and common, Cart and
Wagon Boxes, Gr.mes's improved Smut Mills,
Howe's Standard Scales, Gibbs Cylinder Plow
Shares, Harrows, &c.
o. Orders solicited.
Hartland. VT, May |, 1871. 1884
New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-01-01
The PARK TAX.

Our contemporaries who advise the city
to reopen the controversy in regard to
the park tax seem to have forgotten seven
things.
l. That the tax has been levied and
collected by the city for some four years,
and that III some twenty thousand suits
she has successfully asserted its validity
in the courts. 1t would be very refresh
ing for her, now, with some 100000 of
its proceeds in her pockets, to 60 into the
same courts and say that the tax was not
valid.
2. That the Supreme Court last spring
| in the case Of New Orleans vs.. The Cres-
cent Mutual Insurance Company, enforced
| this tax.
3. That in some hundreds of suits de-
cided last winter by the Superior District
Court the tax was declared valid in the
tax resisting cases. where the same points
were made against it which were suggested
yesterday by the Times and Picoyeene.
1. That in the recent case of Booth the
same questions were re-argued at great
length, and the tax again declared valid.
3. hat the same questions were fully
argued more than quarter OF / century
ago in the case of Duncan, 3 Annual, 1872,
and decided by the Supreme Court (Eustis
c. j. against the views of the Times and
Picayure, and that the same doctrine was
laid down by the ''Merrick Court in the
drainage cases, in IL Annual, Spoford
being the principal organ of the court.
G. That the present Supreme Court last
month, in the drainage case, at the request
Of the city, reaffirmed this doctrine. viz:
That the Legislature has the right to
cause local tax to be levied for a local
improvement, and that the provisions of
the constitution in regard to the equality
of taxation throughout the State apply in
the very nature of things to State taxes
for general purposes.
Z. That every &her tax now levied By
the city is liable to the same legal objec-
tons as those urged against the park tax.
They are all levied by order of the Legis-
lat1lre, and none of them are equal and |
uniform throughout the State. They are |
the school tax (act of 1879, the interest
tax for city debt (act of 1872 the tax for |
current expenses (act of 1872 and the |
Police tax
Here we modestly suggest that if the
city and the city fathers wish to commit
official suicide, they had better adopt the
Trojan horse advice of our contempo-
raries, and begin py resisting the park
tax. When they have destroyed that, the
rest will fall with it, and We shall have
neither city taxes-nor any city govern
nent at ali.
New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-01-01
A TRUCE TO ACRIMONIOUS CRITICISM

1t is to US no less gratifying than sur
prising to note the gradual falling into
line, and adoption Of our ideas and prin-
ciples by those lately protesting bitter
hostility to the Republican party and
the REPUBLICAN newspaper. We stand
to-day without an ayowed opponent in
any important particular involving the
affirmation of principle, or combating
palpable wrong. The only other English
dailies have virtually abandoned Dem
ocracy, Fusion, the last ditch, and all the
other clap-trap isms by which certain ring
leaders have for years hoped to ride over
the necks of the people into offices for
which they are not fitted either by qualifi-
cation or desert.
Not the least remarkable of these
changes is that which is shown by the
sudden change of front in reference to
Judge Durell. Less than one year ago.
the enemies of this distinguished jurist
were actively suggesting the most extrava-
giant charges about him. and their jour-
nails called in frantic terms for his i'm
parchment. Their cries reached as far as
Washington, and attracted the attention
New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-01-01
SPANISH DIPLOMACY.

The massacre of the Virginius prisoner
seems fair to pass away without frrthe
international complications.
l. The surviving prisoners have beer
liberated, but seem still imprisoned with
out habeas corpus on the vessel which
brought them to the United States
2. The Virginius has gone to the bot
tom, and becomes a lawsuit to decide the
right of property in the civil courts.
3. The right of the virginius to have
borne the American flag has been formally
surrendered with the insignificant repara-
ton of salute to the United States. This
last was about equal to tipping your hat
to fellow after you have shot him through
the body.
4. General Burriel has been recalled,
because of alleged disrespect to the home
government contained in his ''proclama-
ton" A document, not impossibly ut
tered to order of the Spanish government.
5. The resignation of Minister Sickles
has been accepted. He is charged by the
Spanish press with having inteffered in
the insurrectionary troubles of Spain, and
with having given pain to the susceptible
ties of that super-sensitive republic.
6. A new treaty is promised, with addi-
tional negotiations for the liberation of
the slaves of Cuba.
Thus far the prisoners seem alone to
have experienced inconvenience from the
negotiations. Why such of them as are
American citizens were not free as soon as
they reached the soil of an American
ship we can not tell.
The question of the right to carry the
American flag on the Virginius becomes
merely incidental to the questions who
shall pay for Or lose her? An issue Of
national honor is degraded to question
of damages. The recall of the monster
who ordered the massacre is an obvious
trick of the diplomatist. The otfense
against the laws of humanity and treaty
with friendly power were certainly para
AAoohe w any puUilo COIAiueut Oh q re-
publican O. administration. Yet nolle
prosequi seems to have been entered on
the indictment for murder, to file an in
formation for disrespect to political su-
periors, and for an expression of free
speech under republican" govern
ment
In this contest Of the diplomatists |
Spain appears to have gained substantial
advantages them the right to a
money reclamation for taking away her
property, captured on the high seas, be-
longing to nobody; sort of treasure
trove which belonged to the finder.
In the meantime the slaves of Cuba
seem somewhat in the situation of the
nick Rothschild, for attending on whom
he physicians receive five hundred dol
airs each visit. 1t is said he will get
veil sin a fer years" With the profits of
prolonged bondage and the delays of di-
'lomacy, slave ought to be worth now
bout as much money in Cuba as he ever
vas.
The condition of the patriots in Cuba,
Tho have proclaimed emancipation, and