davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-01-30
The Boy and Girl In the Moon.


Such queer things as the birds do tell
me! You have seen the man in the
moon, and heard his story, perhaps, how
he was banished there for gathering
sticks on the Sabbath day. But Pm
told that in Sweden the peasants chill
dren see, instead of the man, a boy and
girl in the moon, bearing between
then pail of water. This is on ac-
count of an old Scandinavian legend,
which means legend known to Sweden
and Norway in ancient times, when
their name was Scandinavia. Well, the
legend says that Mani, the moon, stole
these two children while they were
drawing water from a well. Their
names were Hjnki and Bill. They were
lifted up to the moon along with the
bucket and the well-pole, and placed
where they could be seen from the earth.
When next you look at the round, full
moon, remember this story, and if you
have Imagination enough, perhaps you
will see Hjnki and Bill with their pail
of water.-From "Jack-in-the- Pulpit" in
81. Nicholas for February.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-01-30

| to cheer the lives near their homes. The
fields were carefully fenced in, probably
to protect them from the pigs, which
seemed to be on friendly terms with the
children. A few dogs and hens were
close by, and we were greeted by several
goats. I saw no oxen, and forgot to in
quire whether any were kept on the is
land. On the slopes half-wild horses
and asses were grazing. Wild goats
might be seen here and there on the
heights. High in the blue sky above
them several birds of prey were circling
in the air, wild pigeons swarmed around
a. we'll as sea birds of various kinds and
sizes.
On a hill behind the settlement we
discovered the remains of forti6cation
whose battery must have completely
commanded the bay. Several old rusty
cannon lay buried here and there,
while the graves of the former con-
victs are the only historical remains
on the island.
Before landing we had perceived some
caves on the slopes, which we naturally
took for the residence of Selkirk, but we
had deceived ourselves, for they were the
simple cellars Of the settlers. These
told us, however, that there were two
caves in which Robinson had lived; one
on the south side of the island, opposite
to St. Clara, the other to the west of
Cumberland Bay, in little valley; be-
side bay called the English Bay. The
distance to the latter was not far by wa
ter, and we determined to visit the spot
in our boat.
After pleasant voyage in the shade
of the dark cliffs, and passing by many
green ravines, we reached a small, mar
row valley among the mountains. We
landed and hastened to-the cave, which
was not far off. It appeared dry and
inhabitable, in its form reminding us of
a bakers oven, about twelve feet high,
fifteen deep, and twenty broad at its en-
trance. On the walls, which were COW
cred with the inscriptions of former Wis.,
itors, cabinets were hanging; but of Rob-
inson's residence here we found no trace.
The neighborhood was marvelously
beautiful. Grass, herbs, many colored
flowers, and thick bushes grew every
where; little babbling brook flowed
from out a wooden glen and rippled
throughout the whole length of the val
ley. Before us lay the blue sea, behind
pices, which, with their green adorn-
ment, gave to the whole charming air
of solitude and retirement. The roaring
of the ocean, which only reached us
with dull and heavy sound and min
gled with the mnrmuring of brooks, did
not disturb the solemn stiffness. Not
even the cry of bird was to be heard.
And here in the solitude had poor
abandoned man longed during many
months and years for the sweet sound OF
a human voice.
The climate of the island is pleasant
and healthy, water is plentiful every
where, and showers of rain fall almost
every morning. The myrtle grows free
ly, and forms dense thickets; various
kinds offruit abound especially delicious
strawberries. Snakes and poisonous rep
tiles are unknown, and the only beasts
of prey are wildcats, who keep up among
the mountains, but, according to the
description given of them, they must be
almost as large as panthers.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-01-30

A MEN CEREAL.-A new cereal has
been grown in Oregon, which has puz-
zled the farmers, as it is unlike any grain
with which they are familiar. From
seven to ten stalks grow from one root to
a height Of about four feet, and these
stalks or straws are thin and hard. The
radicals are tough and spread widely
The heads are six inches in length and
covered with heavy beard, each filament
being five inches long. The grain is
double the length of kernel of wheat,
and, instead of being firm and compact,
Is hollow, the cavity containing glutin-
GUS matter. While the grain bears a
closer resemblance to wheat than to any
thing else, the straw looks more like
that Of rye or barley. Its origin is some.
what peculiar, the first grain having
been taken from the stomach Of wild
goose by a farmer in Tallawook county
nearly three years ago. He was struck
with its appearance, and planted it, and
the succeeding season sowed the pro
duct. He distributed a portion of hi
second crop among a few friends in diff
ferent parts of the State, who, this year
raised small quantities. 1t will requir'
another year to determine the value 0
the grain.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-01-30
A Lesson Learned In Berrien County
Michigan.

From the LaPorte Herald.
Some time ago, Mrs. Buckelby, who
lives over in Berrien CO., directed her son
Samuel, lad of fourteen years, to take
a turn at the churn. Now as Samuel
had set his heart on going fishing
at that very time, he "got his back up"
and fatty refused to agitate the cream.
The curvature was promptly taken out
of his spine by slipper, and with ''tears
in his eyes," he went on duty with the
dasher. In about half an hour, and
during the brief absence of his mother,
his eyes fell upon plate of fly poison,
and bright, smart thought struck him.
Just before Mrs. B. came in Samuel lift
ed the fatal platter to his face, and as
she entered, he put the "poison" from
his lips with the dramatic exclamation:
"There, mother. / guess you won't lick
me no morep Now, what did this
Spartan dame do, then? Did she shrek
for doctor and fall into Mysteries? Not
much. She simply took Samuel by the
nape of the neck, lifted him deftly into
the pantry, beat the white Of six eggs
together, and told him to engulf the
same instanter; he, refusing, she called
the hired girl, and in a twinkling Sam
found himself outside the albumen.-
Then Mrs. B. began preparing a mus
tard emetic. Seeing this, Sans pluck
dissolved, and he commenced begging.
crying, "I was only tryin' to skeer ye."
But the stern mother was not to be soft
ened, and Samuel had to swallow the
mustard He was then forced to take a
dose of Pain Killer, and had his back
rubbed with the "Vigor of Life" and
his stomach with the "Oil of Gladness. +"
Then he vomited up everything but his
boots and socks. This being over, he
took seven Ayers Pills, two spoonfuls
of castor oil, teaspoonful of salts and
n blue pill. And now if you want to
behold the maddest boy in Michigan,
just say "Ay poison" TO Sam Buckley.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-01-30
United in Death.

Years ago 1t was decided by compe-
tent physicians that the Siamese twins
must be united in death as we'll as in
life. In all respects save one they were
separately organized individuals. This
exception was the union of their circu-
latory systems by large artery passing
through the band which connected them.
To sever this artery, or even to tie it SO
as to check the flow of blood, was to so
interrupt the circulation in either twin
eous death. The experiment of tying
this artery was tried, and few moments
stoppage of the blood rendered the twins
insensible. There was no escape from
the conclusion that they could not be
separated while living, and that the
death of one would be the death of the
other.
Nevetherless, as our special despatch
states, the experiment of separation
would probably have been tried imme-
diately after death of Chang had ply
sician been present. 1t so happened,
however, that Chang died quite unex-
pectedly, ,iand two hours later was follow
ed by his brother. 1t is greatly to be
regretted that the experiment, slight as
the chances of its success would have
been, was not tried. 1t is still more to
be regretted that no physician was at
hand to ascertain beyond question the
true cause of Eng's death.
For it must always be in doubt wheth-
er Eng died from fright or because OF
the arterial connection between himself
and his brother. These men must have
lived all their lives in morbid terror OF
the fate which awaited them. Eng was
two hours before his death in perfect
health; but he had always known that
the death of Chang was his own death
sentence. We are told that he became
delirious with nervous excitement when
his brother died, and that he subse;
quently passed from this condition into
one of complete unconsciousness, in
which he died. Was this wild excite.
ment merely the result of the mental
shock with which he recognized that he
stood face to face with the long dreaded
doom, or was it the natural result of the
sudden change in his circulatory sys
tenn? In other words, was Eng frighten
ed to death, or did he die from the cessa
tion Of the heart-beats ,of Chang, which
had SO mysteriously supplemented the
action of his own heart? We shall nevel
precisely know, and there will Away
remain the doubt whether prompt sew
erance of the band that united the deaC
and the living might not have saveC
Eng, and given him the new birth of
separate and individual life Graphic
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-01-30

A prisoner in the Missouri penitentia-
~ too weak to work, andwho had run of
the yard, one day asked the Warden If
he could be allowed to cultivate a small
corner Of the enclosure. "What do you
want to raiser" "Cucumbers, sir" Why
you can't raise them here, the other
prisoners would steal them" "No, sir, "
said the man firmly, "they will not steal
one Of them" "Well, go ahead" said
the Warden, but If any Of your cucum-
bers are stolen don't come to me with
your complaints" "You will never
hear from me on that score, sir" The
cucumbers were planted, watered, trained
and cultivated, and an immense crop
was the result As fast however, as the
fruit ripened, it disappeared, and the
Warden became convinced that the ow-
ner sold il for liquor, produce, or some
other contraband article. He directed
the man to be watched, and finally he
was detected in the act Of carrying hil
cucumbers 10 the hospital and giving
them to the poor fellows who, il
their Sickness, craved them. Not one o
them had been stolen.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-01-30

saw nothing but good temper and hon
est romping, yet was assured that the
most powerful argument against the
old ceremonies is that they lead 70 vicious
displays The lady of the house soon
invited the laborers within doors, and
there feasted them with homemade
cakes, kneaded and baked by Eher daugh
ter's own hands, home-bred beef, home
brewed ale of double strength, and goose
berry wine of home vintage. The mas
ter made a speech of the briefest kind
and of the homeliest language, thanking
his men for their industry. Formality
of strangeness would have spoiled all
As it was, the fellowship of employer
and employe was established in an in
slant, and 1 have no doubt the lusty
cheers which echoed through the house
came from the very depths of their
hearts.
Later in the evening large number
of the people in their masters family
Joined others in worship at the village
church. diminutive vestige of medic
val architecture, the dust and mould of
which were hidden beneath wreaths,
crosses, hearts, anchors, and festoons of
greenery and towers. The dim light Of
the altar candles and the subdued muir
murings of the organ together produced
a finely religious sentiment in the assem-
blage, and as the venerable rector pro-
ceeded with the thanksgiving ritual,
the boisterous merrymakers of half an
hour ago were enwrapped in devotion,
the finale hymn was sung with thrilling
fervor and richness. In the two last
Joined the choir, and want of precision
was more than atoned for by spirit and
zeal:
Praise Him for our Harvest store,
He hath filed the garner floor;
For his mercies still endure,
Ever faithful, ever sure.
"And for richer food than this
Pledge of everlasting bliss;
For His mercies still endure,
Ever faithful, ever sure"
1t is the present side of rural life in
England that have here attempted to
depict All farmers and all farm labor
ers are not such as these. In many
quarters, instead of justice and content
ment they are wrong and vengefulness.
The pretty hedge rows. and curving mead
ows hide want of oppression. Soil is
titled and grain produced while the til
lers and harvestmen starve. But l have
written this sketch to commemorate
some customs and few people passing
away who filled with gratitude 3 page
in a travellers note book.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-01-30

A queer case of somnamhulism oc-
Cured few evenings since at factory
in Westfeld, CT. One of the workmen
being instructed in the evening to carry
into the shop the next morning guam
tity of wood lying outside, was sur
prised when the time came to find it all
carefully piled. The watchman says
that during the night the man did the
work according to his instructions, step
ping carefully over the things on the
floor. The watchman spoke to him sew
eral times, but received no answer, and
as soon as the job was done the somnam'
bulist went home. The night worker
noticed feeling Of lassitude the next
morning, and was unable to work during
the day,
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-01-30

In the sunlight, in the glinting
OF the dewy summer morn,
When the rose opening petals
Flushed TO crimson In the dawn;
When the gray in eastern heaven
Showed but one pale golden thread,
As the lark, sweet tuneful minstrel,
Left his fragrant glover-bsd;
Three sweet maidens, straying. earolled
Gayly on the terraeed walk,
TriIled out love-songs, idly prattled,
Simple, girlish, tezder talk
Nell, q crimson flower places,
Smiling, in her auburn hair;
Jealous Eephyrs seize and bear it
Far away through perfumed air.
Ahl may Heaven grant the omen
Point not to thy hopes decay,
That the blossoms of thy lOve-time
Be not borne by death away.
Laura, half defiant, sca'ters
Roses Ger the terrace wall;
Belle, Ieprpving, IaTns - chide her
Lets her fragile basket fall.
o, sweet, happy, hopeful bloomtide
Now each reckless, loving maid
Sees not in her heaven cioudlet,
Sees not in her sunshine, shade.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-01-30

A lucky fellow in Chicago, who was
City Treasurer some five years ago, has
been drawing the interest of $500, 900
since that time. The money was depos-
with him to bind a bargain between
railroad company and the corporation.
The city authorities decided to sell a
certain property to the rail road comPa-
ny for 100000. A number Of proper
ty holders obtained an injunction re-
stricting the city from disposing of the
land, and the railroad people refused to
receive their advanced 100000. The
new city Treasurer declined to take the
money, because the city has no claim in
the matter, and so this much abused man
has to take care Of that large sum and
pocket the interest.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-01-30

BLIsTERs IN OLD TIMEs.-I remem-
Der, says Rusticus, a correspondent Of
the Medical and Surgical journal, that
when / was very young, they used to
raise blisters with boiled hammers. Old
DIR. Twitchell, of Keen--peace to his
ashes-once wanted to blister some one
in farmhouse, far from home. He
had nothing with him to do it with. He
asked his wife to find him a hammer.
The article was brought out, put in a
teakettle over the fire, and, after the wa
ter steamed and bubbled well, he lifted
it out and gently touched it to his
patient in half-dozen spots over the
seat of pain, with very. positive effect
Boiled hammers were, for many years
used in that ] eighborhood for pleurisyi
and every old lady knew that nothing
was equal to hammer; and there was a
long dispute whether it should be claw.
hammer or not. l think the yeas finally
conquered.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-01-30
BlOOd-COlored Water.

DR.. Joy, in Popular Science Mopthly.
From the remotest antiquity the
bloody color sometimes observed in wa
ter appeared to have attracted attention.
In all ages there have been stories of
rains of blood, and of rivers changed to
blood, and the phenomena have given
rise to the most ludicrous explanations,
and to the most ridiculous apprehen-
sions. In Exodus (vii. q, we read
"All the waters that were in the river
were turned to blood. And there was
blood throughout all the land of Egypt"
Homer speaks of the dews of blood
which preceded the Trojan war, and those
which forboded the death of Sarpedon,
king of the Lycians. Pliny, in his
Natural History" tells of rain of milk
and blood which fell at Rome in the
consulship of M. Acilius and G. Portius
Finally the historian Livy mentions a
rain of blood which fell in the Forum
Boarium. In times much nearer oul
own, phenomena of this kind have beer
observed at various points in Europe
producing ridiculous alarms, and ever
leading to actual seditions.
The cause, or causes rather, of these
so-called rains of blood are now well un
derstood. Every one knows that they
are to be attributed either to minera
particles diffused through the air strats
which are traversed by the rain, or t.
the objections of certain moths in thei
last metamorphosis, or to the remains o
infusoria carried up by the winds. Blu
the ignorant multitude continue still +
believe in rains of blood, and bow dow
blindly before so-called miracles whicl
have no existence save in the wild fan
cies Of those who regard them as arti
cles of faith.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-01-30

Judge Lawrence, Of Ohio, has intro
duced bill in Congress making it the
duty Of the Commissioner to ascertain
the annual amount Of every agricultural
product, including wool and the supplies
of animal food, the probable demand for
each in this and other countries, and the
cost Of shipping the same TO market the
prices realized from consumers, and the
probable profits between producers and
consumers, and the prices in the differ
ent localities where produced. The in
formation thus obtained is to be fur.
nished to State Boards Of Agriculture
and TO some proper officer in each county
in the United States.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-01-30

A Waphington special in the Boston
Advertiser relates the following. "The
President met Susan B. Anthony by ac-
cident on the avenue, yesterday, in COM
pany with another member Of the Suf-
Convention, and quite conyer-
sation took place. At length the Presi-
dent asked Miss Anthony if there was
anything he could do for her. Miss An
thony replied that she thought the re-
xuest came pretty late. She had stumped
New York for the President in the last
election, and then, on trying to vote for
him, some Of his officers had arrested her
and put her in Jail. She was now at
large, without help, and she did not
know what there was left to do; but, if
the President was really in earnest in
desiring to do something for her, he
might please nominate Mrs. Cady Stan
ton for Chief Justice. The President
laughed, said he would think the mat
ter over, and continued his walk"
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-01-30

A recently-invented English life-bOat,
for which much Is claimed, is every like
a whale" Il is built on the cigar prin-
ciple, only very short and fat. Those
desiring to make use Of itare placed in-
side, and the matches are battened down
and then il Is claimed that she can with
stand the highest storm waves or the
heaviest surf that ever ran. People who
are not so fortunate as 70 get an inside
berth on the start will have 10 wait
alongside, hanging ON to chains, until
the time arrives when the matches may
be safely opened.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-01-30
The Best Buckwheat Cakes In the
World.

Some one wants to know how to make
the best buckwheat cakes in the world.
/ think know by experience how to do
it. Take three tablespoonfuls hot yeast,
four teacups buttermilk, one teacup
warm water, little salt, handful Ind
ian meal, about three teacups of pure
buekwheat -four, mix all together in
stone jar, and set by the fire to rise.
When it begins to look like bread
sponge, set it away in a cool place (to
prevent it from souring) it is then ready
for use, and will make cakes that saler-
atus ones can not be compared to, and
more wholesome, too. There is as much
difference between the two kinds as
there is between nice raised bread and
saleratus biscuit If the first named
cakes were used there would be as much
difference between the persons who eat
them and those who eat saleraius ones
as there is between robust, healthy
person and a dyspeptic.-Lady Corres-
pondeat Of Moor's Rural Ney Yorkc.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-01-30

The fat mems ball in New York last
week was an exquisitely funny affair. The
march was led by Samuel McGraw,
weighing 3O4 pounds, and his lady was
of very small build. The largest lady
in the ball room was school teacher,
who weighed 200 pounds avordupois just
previous to entering her carriage 10 go 20
the ball. She was much admired and
floated in the may polka redowa as IL
she we're a gazelle. The supper was q
very solid one-a turkey per fat man
and the only thing light about the enter
tainment was the music.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-01-30

Olympia, Washington Territory, has
an interesting tragedy. On the 18th Of
November last, Dabney G. Jones had a
dispute about wages with his employer,
farmer named Taylor. Jones shot
Taylor, put the body on wheelbarrow,
carried it few hundred yards from the
house, secreted it between two logs, COW
cred them with fern and dry boughs
and then felled a tree on top of it. The
murderer went to Olympia, and preten'
ded to have written authority from Tay-
lor to dispose of the latter's property
He was arrested ON suspicion and con
| fessed.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-01-30


. The Pail Mall Gazette thinks that the
good old-fashioned simpleton is dying
out" but finds one in the hero of the
story now current in Berlin "a certain
young officer returned home late one
evening, and having reason to suppose
that he should find it difficult to rouse
himself in the morning told his servant
to come and call him exactly at six, and
to time himself by the watch which lay
by the bedside. Accordingly, next
morning, at five, the good fellow came
in on tiptoe, looked at the watch, and
went out again. He did not return till
seven, when he woke his master, who up
braided him in no measured terms for
his unpunctuality. But, Lieutenant,
pleaded the worthy lad, there was no
six upon the watch, SO / waited till sew
env-the fact being that the seconds
dial, as usual, trenched on the place OF
the lowest figure Of the hour dial, and
necessiated its omission"