davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-06-10
Irritated Days.

There are times when everything seems
to 60 wrong. From seven O'Clock 4. NJ,
till ten P. NJ, affairs are in a twist You
rise in the morning and the room is cold
and button is off, and the breakfast is
tough, and the stove smokes, and the pipes
burst, and you start down the street nettled
from head to foot. All day long things
are adverse destinations, petty losses,
meanness on the part Of customers. The
ink bottle upsets and spoils the carpet.
Some one gives wrong turn to the damper
and the gas escapes An agent comes in
determined to insure your life when it is
already insured for more than it is worth,
and you are afraid some one will knock
you on the head to get the price of your
policy; but he sticks to you showing you
pictures of old Time and the hour glass,
and deaths scythe and a skeleton, making
it quite certain that you will die before
your time, unless you take out papers in
his company. Besides this you have a cold
in your head, and grain of dirt in your
eye, and you are a walking uneasiness.
The day is out Of joint and no surgeon can
set it.
The probability is that if you would look
at the weather-vane, you would find that
the wind is northeast, and you might re-
member that you had lost much sleep lately.
1t might happen to be that you are out of
joint instead of the day. BE careful and
not write many letters while you are in that
irritated mood. You will pen some things
that you will be sorry for afterward.
Let us remember that these spiked net
ties of life are part of our discipline. Life
would get nauseating if it were all honey.
The table would be poorly set had it on it
nothing but treacle. We need a little vim
egar, mustard, pepper, and horseradish that
brings the tears even when we do not feel
pathetic. If this world were all smooth
ness, we would never be ready to emigrate
to higher and better. clustering March
and weeping April prepare us for shining
May. This world is a poor hitching.post
Instead of tying fast on the cold mountains,
we had better whip up and hasten on to-
ward the warm inn, where our good friends
are looking out Of the windows watching
to soc US come up.-ChriStian al Work.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-06-10
For the watohman
WOmens' "lIead.Gear."


ny A, MS. ..... d
Did the reader ovot 60 to concert, or
lecture, 20 late as 10 be Obliged to take a
back seat, and then devote the time to oh.
serving what those in front had on, instead
Of attending TO the performance Ifso, the
value received was well worth the pay, no
doubt, aud it might be well for woman TO
take such au observation occasionally. She
might by seeing the mistakes and folly Of
others, be able to avoid such herself.
Womens' heads are learlully and won.
derfully" got up, now days The Gow-
ing, crimpy locks look very innocent but
mingling with their flow is something that
looks odd, and it is not what it pretends to
beand we find that even the young girls
wear sham heads Of hair The heads Of
young matrons, and old ones, too, are
loaded with braids, and curls, and tags, and
nobody knows what but everybody knows
it is not hair aud how any lady can wear
such greasy, Glthy-ooking things as are
those Mohair braids, is mystery. Not one
in a dozen is the color Of the hair, and they
are both hot and heavy Let US throw
them away
Why should all women dress alike, with
no regard to individual size, height etc.
The tall woman is made a giant by piling
up braids, comb. and curls, on the top Of
her head. Her spare figure, however, is
improved by the loops and puffs Of over
skirt and abundant trimmings; aud SO
straightway the short woman puds and
loops, and trims her skirts, and only grows
more dumpy thereby but she partly
makes it up by the high head-dress The
square, dark face is made to look like
brigand's by the frizz and curls above it,
leaving only an inch Of forehead; while
the long, thin face, with hair drawn back,
is made to look old and forlorn. No one
with large eye.lids should ever brush the
hair upwards from the forehead The
large white lids were once considered as be-
longing to the very highest type Of beauty,
and too much forehead detracts from their
claims.
Coors, too, are to be chosen according to
the style aud complexion Of the wearer
aud thus dressing well becomes an art. A
French woman, even Of the lower class, is
always well dressed and why2 Because
she chooses her dress, and her ribbons, and
everything she wears, with regard to her
personal peculiarities.
Surely, our country is old enough, and
rich enough, to have fashions Of her own
aud if few leaders Of society would bring
out new styles, peculiarly adapted to our
country women, they would be adopted, and
we might yet send abroad cur American
fashions" Why not
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-06-10

When friend dies and is buried, there 5
an end Of him. We miss him for q space
out Of our daily existence we mourn for
him by degrees that become mercfully less;
we cling to the blessed hope that we shall
be reunited in some more perfect sphere
but, so far as this earth is concerned, there's
an end Of him. However near and dear he
was, the time arrives when he does not form
a part Of our daily thought; he ceases to
be even an abstraction. We 60 no more
with flowers and tears into the quiet GENE.
terry; only the rain and the snow-hakes fall
there we leave it for the fingers Of spring
to deck the neglected mound. But when
our friend vanishes unaccountably in the
midst Of crowded city, or goes off on a
sea voyage, and is never heard of again,
his memory has singular tenacity. He
may be to all intents and purposes dead to
us, but we have not lost him. The ring of
the door.bell, at midnight, may be his ring;
the approaching foot.step may be his foot
step the unexpected letter with foreign
postmarks may be from his hand Hehaunts
us as the dead never can. The woman
whose husband died last night may marry
again within lustre Of months. DO you
suppose a week passes by when the woman
whose husband disappeared mysteriously
ten years ago does not think Of him ? There
are moments when the opening Of door
must startle her.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-06-10

tened on she arrived within hearing Of
their words. Fool I" she heard in Wbar.
tons voice, take your doom your blood
be on your own head There was a short
silence, then the report Of two fowlinp
pieces, and all again was still. She was
soon on the spot. The moon was shining
bright as day on little clearing in the
woods, whore Richard Hyde lay weterinp
in his blood Wharton, pale as death. was
bending over him. Sitting on the mossy
turf, she took the head Of her only love 10
her arms. He was dead. He had died in.
stantly.
go He would have it 80, Esther said
Wharton, in accents Of terror. / told him
was a dead shot, and for your sake, at
first, would have spared him. But he
was determined, and you had exasperated
me so.
Esther extended an arm slowly toward
tie South
"' Yes, | will 60. But with this curse
upon me, must | also take the abhorrenoe
Of the woman | truly love?
Esther's finger still pointed to the South.
Her heart lay like cold lead in her bosom,
aud she had no tongue for speech. Whar-
ton covered his head, and with a smothered
groan went his way.
Until broad day took possession of the
woods, Esther sat alone with her dead.
Then she sought the nearest house, and
led its inmates to the little clearing. Tue
guns Of the two young men, laying where
they bad dropped, told the tale. She Had
found him dead She said this, and nothing
more"
The patchwork had long ago dropped
from aunt Janets hands, and there were
beaded drops standing on her forehead.
The little fingers of her auditors had also
ceased their labor. On their minds, this
story would certainly leave a vivid impress
sion Of quilting frolics and the early days
Of the settlement
"What became of this Wharton ?" inter.
rogated one Of them, at length.
He became a minister Of the Gospel
And did he ever see Esther again2"
lie wrote her long letter (it was sew
eral years after this and soon after the let
ter reached her he came to visit her. He
had changed greatly. Hi. sorrow had
worked him good"
There was still inquiry on the faces of
her yonng friends, and Aunt Janet stiled
her reticence, not without pang, to graf
lily them-tor she was telling them, reader,
passage in her own life history, as they
well knew.
He came to ask Esther to marry him.
But, dear girls, she could not for, though
she blamed him less than she did herself,
yet it was his hand that had taken the life
of Richard Hyde"
The fire sparkled and snapped on the
hearth. Tortoise shell purred softly on the
rug hard by. 1t was too cosy picture of
comfort to retain long dreary impression.
" 1t is nice and cheerful in this pleasant
room, aunty and the shadows Of your early
days shall not steal in and make us gloomy"
said one of the group. Aunt Janet re-
turned her a cheerful smile, and they all
resumed their patchwork and their pleas
ant conversation.-Rural Netc Yorker.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-06-10
Flowers for the Sick.

In an upper room in poor tenement
house lay sick child, wasted with fe-
YER and the prostration which followed.
II had seemed impossible to rouse him, or
excite the slightest interest in anything.
The young lady who had carried her how-
er-basket to the room, selected bunch Of
shining golden buttercups, and held them
up before the child. The dull, lauguid eye
frightened, the tiny, emaciated hand opened
to receive them ! too feeble for a spoken
word the smile that fitted across the wee
white face was eloquence enough. The fin
gers closed tightly over the simple flowers
that were like yellow sunshine to the little
sufferer. When second visit, with fresh
flowers was made, the boys mother said,
Jimmy would not lay the flowers out of
his hand while he was awake; only when
be slept could put them in water to
ireshen bit, for he must have them in his
hand again as soon as he walked" Sure
enough, the little fellow still held bis
withered treasure, which had been more to
him than doctors visits or prescriptions
Fresh flowers from the basket brought n
smile and look Of grateful recognition to his
face; the long weary hours of GONZALES
cence were lightened and frightened for
one little sufferer by the Flower Mission.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-06-10
D. W. RAMsDELL, OF CHELSEA, VI,
CTATE or VERNON
OFFlcE or SECRETARY oF STATE,
NORrnTlELD, Juno 1874,

Sealed proposals are hereby invited for printing the
following state Documents to wit Reports OF the
Auditor of Accounts, Adiutant and Inspector General
QuartermasterO General, Sergeantat.Arms, Railroad
Commissioner, Commissioner Of the Insane, Directors
Superintendent and Chaplain OF the state Prison,
Trustees of the Vermont Reform School, and Trustees
Of the University Of Vermont and state Agricultural
College in the general form and style Of the Laws Of
Vermont ls12, t0 he hound In one volume and deliv-
cred at tho office Of the Secretary OF state, In Mont
peler, before tho first Monday in October next.
Also the Report Of the Board Of Education In the
same form and style, bound In single volume and
to be delivered at the same time and place
Also, the Report Of the Vermont state Board Of Ag-
riculture Manufactures and Mining, in the same form
and style, bound IN single volume, and TO bo deliy
erod at the same time and place.
Also, the Biennial Session Laws Of 1874 In the same
style bound In single volume and 10 he ready for
distribution on OF before the 10Th day Of January 1875
Also, tho Senate and House Journals In the same
general form and style Of those Of S to be bound in
separate volumes aud ready for distribution on or be-
iOro the first day Of April, 1875.
Details of contracts will bo governed in all partcu.
lars by tho provisions Of No. 6l Of the Acts Of 1867
10 which parties Interested are respectfully referred
Proposals will he received for any portion Of the
work separately, for which blanks Will be furnished at
once 10 parties desiring To enter into contract for the
same. No proposals will be received after the 10th
day OF July next.
The right TO reject all any proposals, as may be
deemed for the interest OF the State Ia hereby reserved
293l GEORGE NICHOLS, see'y Of State.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-06-10
How many now are dead to me,
Who live 10 others YETI

Who live to others yet"
and to Squire Gray, kind and good as he
was TO Isadore, the names Of his two
younger children were as forbidden words.
One, the wild yet not vicious youth, full
of frolic and fun, had attended village
merry-making at the risk Of his fathers
displeasure, and stung TO the heart by his
fathers stern reproofs, had left home as he
thought, forever.
The youngest child, beautiful Mabel, had
loved penniless artist, and gone forth
with him to seek the reward so tardily
won by youthful talent. They were both
disowned and disinherited by the stern old
man, who could have sooner forgiven an Of.
fense against God than against his own
authority.
A carefully executed will, duly signed
aud sealed, was placed with the legal au.
thorities, that no fraud or force might de.
privo the young Isadore of his large estate
in the event Of his death. Yet was life to
her, like that of her pet bird, one long cap
tivity, none the less irksome because she
loved the one who supplied her every want
and humored her every whim.
She had long corresponded with her Aunt
Mabel, who was in Italy with her artist
husband, and had learned TO love her cousin
Nellie from her picture received by mail,
and the interchange of thought through the
same means. Through the kindness Of the
village postmaster, who thought il no harm
to honorably keep an honorable secret, she
was enabled to do this unknown TO her
grand father, although | think the dear old
grandma was party to the conspiracy. II
any one blames her, it is not 10 a mothers
heart to do so.
This was lsadores almost mad.cap plan.
Grandpa had given her leave to have a
birthday party on the morrow, and invite
what guests she pleased. Just then came
Aunt Mabel's letter. They had arrived in
New York, aud were about to visit her bus.
bands friends in Illinois. Could lsadore
not meet them at the railroad station in
NJ, that they might talk " face to
face if only for few minutes, and could
she not arrange for them to see dear mother2
OF course, fathers relenting was thing no
longer hoped, as during nearly twenty years
he had refused TO hear her name or receive
her letters.
Now Isadore had determined to bring
Aunt Mabel home, ,---she should see Grandma,
who was too feeble to 60 to the station
she should once more enter the home of her
childhood-and if her aunt and cousins
were sent into the world again, she would
never touch the wealth which was right
fully theirs.
1t was not plan which worldly wisdom
would approve, but the young girl followed
the dictates Of her own heart, and God
blessed the execution Of her scheme. BY
help OF the servants, who were only too
glad TO aid their beloved mistress, she had
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-06-10
Ones Life.


The question is often asked whether any
man would choose TO live his life over again.
A plausible reply Of Burke is reported by
Boswell 1t was plain, he argued, that
every man would wish to live his past life
again, because almost everybody, even at
an advanced age, is willing to 90 on liv.
ing, Now, man, say of sixty or seventy,
cannot expect to have as much enjoyment
in the future as he has had in the past. If,
therefore, we are all anxious to drink the
lees Of life, it cannot be doubted that we
should all be willing to take the first fresh
draughts q second time. The argument is,
perhaps, satisfactory as regards the imme.
date question at issue. No doubt, if an
angel could appear to any Of US, and offer
us fresh start, we should accept his offer
thankfully. The reason for hesitation is,
that We do not generally answer the ques-
tion quite fairly. We look back with q
certain weariness upon the long, devious
track Of our past existence, and fancy our
selves starting again, with the knowledge
Of what is to come, or at least with the
shadow Of our actual experience cast back
upon our earlier past. The real question
is, of course, whether we would live again
with the old hopes and the old freshness,
and not whether we would 60 through the
same performance with the spirit jaded by
the weary journey Of later years. Admit
ting, however, that Burke's reply is as true
as it is ingenious, it does not answer the
underlying doubt which prompted the qucs.
ton. That we should choose to live again
is probable enough; but would our choice
be wiser Have most men, on the whole,
enjoyed surplus of pleasure? If before
accepting an offer of repetition of life,
they were calmly to consider that problem,
they might return different answer.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-06-10
Early Days Of Congress.
JonS QUINCY ADAMS AS DEPICTED ny AN "oLD
srAGER.n

As he proceeded in his remarks, says an
old stager." in speaking of John Quincy
Adams, he warmed with his subject, and his
high, broad forehead began to change in
color, streaks Of crimson creeping up, one
after another, reminding one Of a milk
white cloud illumined by lightning, until
the whole surface Of the head looked as if
tinged with blood. When the transforma.
tion became complete, his face suffused and
his eyes flashing, he seemed to increase in
size, his tones grew louder and more i'm
pressive, his sentences, vituperative and de-
nunciatory, were delivered like round shot,
hot and heavy, and those to whom he ap-
piled the lash were always to be commiser-
ated. lie never forgot an injury, and
rarely forgave those who wantony assailed
him. | remember terrible excoriation
which he gave Charles Jared Ingersoll, q
member of Congress from Philadelphia.
Mr.. lngersoll had held the office of District
Attorney by the appointment of Mr.. Ad-
ans, and he turned against him in the
campaign Of 1923, not only supporting
General jackson with great zeal and earn.
estness. but abusing Mr.. Adams in spirit
of yindictive ferocity.
They got into controversy in the House,
which led to sharp personal alteration.
Mr.. Adams closed the discussion with
few sentences so charged with pungent sar-
casm and just indignation that his victim
made no rejoinder, nor ever aiterward re.
newed the attack or attempted any viudica.
tion. 1.-THE gentleman from Philadelphia
knows" said Mr.. Adams, who appointed
him to a responsible and lucrative office
against the best wishes and best Judgment of
the best friends of the administration. lie
knows to whose favor he owed that ap.
pointment, when there were many able and
distinguished competing candidates. He
knows the office was given him out Of per-
sonal regard, and he knows how he repaid
his benefactor.n
There was painful scene on the floor
short time afterward, in which Mr.. Adams
came in conflict with Mr.. Wise, Cost John.
son, and several other fire-eaters, who pro-
voked the old gentleman past bearing The
galleries Of the House were crowded, Mrs.
Wise, an amiable, accomplished, and charm.
ing woman, being among the spectators,
aud her father, the venerable John Ser
geant' occupying q seat near Mr.: Adams
Inc SUBJECT OF duenng came up accidentally,
ana Mr, ADAMS improved the occasion to
lasn WIN characteristic severity everybody
VINO progressed 70 be governed by the code.
Referring to the duel in which Ciley lost
MS l'ie, Mr. ADAMS said Wise stood there
WIN ciots OF blood drawn from the mur-
uered man. on MS own brow. johnson in'
tefPosed win an explanatory observation.
ia another duelist| J. said Mr.. Adams.
wise had said that the tone oil the House
mad got to be dlsgraeeialiy lowered, that
opprobrlous language and insulting epithets
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-06-10
The Home Circle.
spINNING.

II was 10 tho leafhung days Of Spring
That my spinning fret begun
The birds ilew by on balanced wing
Like other spinnors In the sun.
The land with sun and song was bright
My spinning wheel turned 1.-THE and light
A. drew out the glistoning thread
True e9uieuf De rose true lovers red
Through all the long, bright April days.
Through May time, blossOming fresh and sweet
mused wrapped In q golden haze,
While Love sat, smiling, at my feet
His tender voice and w00ing words
blended with sVeeter s0ags Of birds
As drew out strong, fair and huo,
Those precious thteads--my loves and mine.
Midsummer days came, sad and stll.
The grcon fields all we're parchcd 10 brown
My tired hands moved with feeble WILL
My spinning wheel turned slowly round
Ny heart hung heavy with is fears
Ny work was wet with many tears
As spun out. thread aftor thread,
The sacred memories Of the dead.
And now, in Ago's gray Winter land,
! sit 10 silence, AL alouei
My threads drop from my trembling hand,
My eyes with 1lm are overgrOwn.
oh l0nnly work 10 slt aud spin,
And weave Whole liie's mom0fica 10
Love, hope and health y heart Of miuo
Thread after thread Of dreams divine.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-06-10
miscellaneous.
THE WAY or THE WORLD.

There are beautiful songs that we never sing,
And names that are never spoken,
There are trcasures guarded with jealous care
And kept a. sacred token,
There are ftded flowers, and letters dim
With tears that have rainod above them,
For the ilckle words and the faithless hearts
That taught vs. how TO love them.
There are Eghs that come In our Joyous hours
To chasten our dreams Of gladnesa,
And tears that spring 10 our aching eyes
In hour Of thoughtful sadness
For the 9llthest bird that sings In spring
VIII 1t in the waning summer,
And lips that we kissed In fondest love
VIII sfnile on the ifst new conner
Over the breast whore lilies rest
In white hands stllled forever,
The roses Of June will nod and blow,
lnhceding the heaftsthat sever
And lips that quver In silent grief
All words Of hope refusing.
vii lightly turn 10 the heeting Joys
That perish with the using.
Summer Blossoms, and winter SHOWS,
Love and IT, sweet olysian,
Hope, like a siren dim and fair
Mickening our iainting vision
Dropping spirit and falling pulse
When untold memories hover,
Efoiids touched with the seal Of death,
Aud the htiul dream is over.