davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1874-08-10
A MATHEMATICAL MARVEL.

We have quite marvel of a man In
our community natural mathemati-
clan. His name is Reuben Fields
Having heard of him frequently through
farmers and others, who get him to do
their counting. l determined short
time ago to make him visit and ascer-
tain for myself if the remarkable stories
told of him were true.
Proceeding to Fayetteville, johnson
county, No., the small village in which
he lives. inquired for '.Reub, and was
told that he was in town and was shown
his residence, toward which I made my
way. When nearly there met young
man, apparently about 25 years of age,
walking a little lame and who seemed
to be leisurely and vacantly gazing
about, and accosted him with, "Does
Reuben Fields live in that house yon-
der ?''
..Yes, SIR
"Well, I've heard that Reub was a
great calculator, and I must go and see
him. and I started forward, when he
stopped me with ..I'm him.
sWell, Reub," said I, Il have a few
questions l would like to have you an
swer and will make it worth your while
to do So"
Gazing around he answered: s.That's
all right" and remarked that he could
count anything that he could understand.
/ may here remark that he cannot
read or write letter or a figure; he
says if he could he should lose his gift.
He cannot explain anything, but says
he has numeration table away OH ..be-
yond the books" He remarked: sYou
commence at the bottom and work up
l commence at the top and work down :;
it is easier falling out of a tree than
climbing one. :" He frequently observes ];
IF could read and write, | shouldn't
know any more than you do" It is
said he never makes mistakes. In all
the questions / gave him he made but
one. and he corrected that on recounting.
The following are some of the questions
asked him:
If to the time past noon there be add
ed Its 1-2 1-3, and % the sum will be
equal l-6 of the time to midnight; what
is the hour?
Divide sll-50 between two persons
SO that one shall have 70 cents more
than the other
A tree 136 feet long fell and was
broken into two pieces; % of the long
er piece equals 3-4 of the length of the
shorter. What is the length of each
piece
What is the interest of one cent for
one day at SIX per cent. per annum?
What is the exact length of one side
Of square acre?
These questions were all correctly an
swered, his answer to the last being, 1T
can't be told"
Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1874-08-10

Love love somebody elsel What
does a young girl like you know about
love, Martha?'
Il know" said Martha, '.that it is BY
far the sweetest and best of all blessings
vouchsafed us, and that whatever else
our earthly lives may gain, if they gain
not this, they are miserable" !"
True, true child. said Stephen, soft
ly. while shade passed over his fea-
lures. Your experience has been bet
ter than mine. Who taught you this
old, old story, Martha?"
Jacob, your confidential clerk.
$50 Jacob had seen and won before |
found time to win. Well, Martha, if it
is Jacob, cannot blame you, for love
Jacob too
..Listen. child, years and years ago I
knew what love meant, and later, what
the bitterness of love meant Jacobs
mother taught me both. She was pledg-
ed to me, but married an old man for
his money, and when, by fortunes
changes, she died friendless and desti-
tute, | took Jacob and reared him. He
is as dear to me as if he was my very
own. But, Martha, if you won't come
as my wife, will you and your mother
come and live in my house and be house
keepers ? l should like to know the
comforts of home before l die
And Martha, from that great pity
which is ever akin to love, answered.
IF mother will go. l viii go"
Sand you and Jacob will not marry
while 1 live ?'
'.If Jacob will wait, l will wait
BLESS you, child, and it won't be a
long time you will have to wait
So Mrs Grandson and Martha went
to live in the grand house, and many
professed to look down on the daughter
of Stephen Dingby's house-keeper who
would have looked up at Stephen Ding
by's wife.
But it was not long time the rich
man knew the comforts of a home that
was home indeed One day a sudden
illness overpowered him, and as he lay
almost helpless upon his bed, he called
Jacob and Martha to his side, and join
ing their hands together he said. 81 now
give you to each other, and all have
is yours. for I am going home.
In time Martha and Jacob were mar
ried, and so it happened after all that
she for whom the great house had been
! built became its mistress, and as Steph-
en- Dinghy had desired she was the fin
est lady in town, and not only that, but
the poor people said she was the rich
est, grandest and best.
Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1874-08-10

/ then said. ..Reub, / hear that you
can tell what day of the week any given
date was, or viii be; is that so ?" "Yes.
sir. ..What was July l, 1862"
Wednesday" Correct What was the
I'D Of January, lS4S? Sunday. "What
day viii the Fourth of July come on
this year p Saturday" .'New Year p
Friday" ..All right 1 have also
heard, Reub, that you can tell the hour
at any time of the day or night; is that
so ?" ..Yes, SIR" What time is it now /?
at is IL minutes past two o'clock,
railroad time; sun time Is minutes
slower We walked around town, and
he gave me the hour several times, cor
rectly each time, within two or three
minutes. Several times he called on
citizens of the place to attest the truth
of his statements, which they did. One
of the lead ing citizens of the place told
me he had tried "Reub," on the time
question on both clear and cloudy days,
and also on dark nights. and he always
gave the correct time. Reuben asked
the gentleman we were talking with to
write down column of figures, which
he did; they were then read to him !;
thirteen numbers, two figures in each
number, and ne at once gave their sum,
and then could repeat the numbers in
the order in which they were written,
either forward or backward.
Sometimes witty person will try and
make little fun at Reub's expense.
One asked him what he would do if the
doctors should catch him and take out
his brains to see in what respect they
varied from others. $50 round without
any brains like you" was the ready re-
ply-Cor. st LOUIS Republican.
Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1874-08-10

LIVELY BUTTER-There is an old
goat owned in Detroit which has received
a great deal of training from the boys.
Last Fourth of July they discovered that
if they stuck fre-cracker in the end of
a cane and held it at William, he would
lower his head and 90 for them; and
they have pract1ced the trick so much
that the goat viii tackle any human be-
ing who points stick at him. A few
days ago he was loafng near the corner
OF Third and Lewis Streets, when a cor
pulent citizen came up and stopped to
talk with a friend They happened to
speak of sidewalks, when the corpulent
citizen pointed his cane just to the left
of the goat, and said
That's the worst piece of sidewalk
in town"
The goat had been cycling the cane.
and the moment it came up he lowered
his head. made six or eight jumps. and
his head struck the corpulent citizen
just on "the belt. :" The man went over
into mass of old tin. dilapidated butter
kegs and abandoned hoop skirts, and the
goat turned somersault the other way,
while slim citizen threw stones at boy
seated on doorstep, who was laughing
tears as big as chestnuts, and crying
out,-
| HOh IFS 'nuff IN kill fallar -
Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1874-08-10

FIFTY YEARS PAUPER.-The Troy
(N. " Press relates the following In
the mid-winter, some forty-eight years
ago, man by the name of Loomis died
in Pawlet. Vt, after long sickness,
leaving a wife and two children. Ex-
penses of sickness, and the loss Of wages
for daily labor, made inroads upon the
scanty stock Of money and provisions,
and the widow was compelled to ask
temporary assistance Of the town. The
high official refused her request. took her
little all, and threw her and her children
upon the town as paupers. In those days
they were bid off by citizens to the
highest bidder. but they now have
town-house. Mrs. LooInis. with bro
ken heart, and worn out BY attending 10
her husband during his long sickness,
gave up long-cherished wishes, and re-
marked that the town Of Pawlet should
not want for a pauper for ifty years.
She is now 81 or s. years Of age, and
on her last birthday made her annual
visit from the town-house to Pawlet,
Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1874-08-10

distance Of one and half miles, on foot,
to visit her old friends and neighbors,
and she laughingly remarkes that she
viii make good her word. having to live
only two moro years to do it Her chill
dren became respectable and good house.
keepers, and oft times offered her a home,
but she utterly refused to accept their
assistance. She had many offers of
marriage. but refused them all, saying
that she would not swap off the town of
Pawlet for any living man. On making
the remark that the town of Pawlet
would not be without pauper for fifty
years, she said she belonged to family
who never died short of 100 years. and
the majority lived years beyond that,
Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1874-08-10
OLD GRANDPA's soLILoQUY.

1t wasn't so when 1 was young
We used plain language then;
We didn't speak of ''them galoots"
When meanin boys and men.
When speakin' of the nice hantl-write
OF Joe, or Tom, or Bill,
We did it plaiT-we didn't say
''He slings nasty quill"
An when We seen gal we liked,
Who never failed to please,
We called her pretty, neat and good,
But not about the cheese"
Well, when we met a good old friend
We hadn't lately seen
We greeted him but didn't say,
''Hello, you old sardine r'
The boys sometime got mad and fit,
We spoke OF kicks and blows;
But now they "whaek him on the snoot.p
Or paste him on the nose''
Once, when youth was turned away
By her he held most dear,
He walked upon his feet-but now
He walks off on his ear"
We used to dance when was young.
And used to call it so,
But now they don't-they only sling
The light, fantastic toen
OF death we spoke in language plain,
That no one did perplex;
But in these days one doesn't die
He ''passes in his checks"
We praised the man Of common sense;
''His judgments good,' we said;
But now they say, ''Well, that old plum
Has got level head p
It's rather sad, the children now
Are learnin all sich talk;
They've learned to ''ehin' instead of chat
An waltz instead of walk
To little Harry, yesterday
My grandehild, aged two
said, ''You love grandpa % Said he,
''YOu bet your boots do F'
The children bowed to strangers once:
1t is no longer So
The little girls, as well as boys
Now greet YOU with 'sHelloF'
Oh, give me back the good old days,
When both the old and young
Conversed in plain, old-fashioned words,
And slang was never ''slung"
Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1874-08-10
THE MATRIMONIAL QUESTION.
By J. AFFORD.

Pray leave me just while to think,
You put me in furry
1t is not well TO answer all
Such questions in hurry.
The subject is serious one,
Yet knew it's nothing new;
But if prematurely answered,
1t may cause ones heart to rue
Don't surmise that am thinking
You've a false, or tickle heart:
For, if that were my opinion,
at once would from you part.
You will therefore please excuse me,
If ask little time,
Just to think the matter over,
Which of course can be no crime.
l must ask myself this question
Most essential to this life;
Shall I still continue happy
If l should become your wife
Some young folks are very needless
OF the afterelaps in life;
But my aim is to live happy
Free from all domestic strife.
have said do not doubt you,
Though deem it well to pause,
And hope that my decision
May accord with natures laws.
Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1874-08-10

Bailey writes from London TO the
Danbury News: "The English eat break
fast at s o'clock. or later. lunch at
o'clock and have dinner at 6 or Z o'clock.
The breakfast is light, the luncheon
similar, and the dinner is quite hearty.
One English dinner in the inexperienced
American stomach viii produce that
nights bears with calico tails, Ii
giants with illuminated heads, / awful
dog with twelve legs. and II bow-legged
rufhans chased By host Of piratical
caulifowers, mounted on saddles Of beer
roasted ANY respectable chemist will
corroborate this statement.
Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1874-08-10
"Oh. it's huff to kill a feller !"

A Practical JokE.-A letter from
Dubuque, Iowa, mentions the arrival of
stranger from the country in that town
q few days ago. and describes the result
of his innocent inquiry for direction to
the Marshal's office. He was directed
to that officers head quarters, and told
that if he did not find that gentleman
in, to step into the next room, and he
would see rope; to pull that and the
Marshal would respond He followed
instructions to the letter, and, not find
ing the officer in the Office, the citizens
were soon alarmed by the ringing of the
fre-bell. Engine and hose turned out
as quickly as possible. and posted to
headquarters to ascertain where the fire
was located, and found the stranger
there. The fireman wanted to know
where the fire was, and, on his answer
ing that he knew Of no fire but wanted
to see the Marshal, one of the fremen
was SO irate that he pitched into the
stranger and gave him sound thrash
ing. The stranger at once proceeded to
Justices office to take out warrant for
the assault, but was told if he did the
fremen would bring suit for giving a
false alarm which is liable to $50 fine,
so he decided not to sue, and when last
heard from was hunting for the man who
told him how to find the Marshal
Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1874-08-10
HOW PATTY SAID eyes,

One long summer afternoon there came
to Mr.. Davidson's the most curious spec
linen of an old bachelor the world ever
heard of. He was old, gray, wrinkled
and odd. He and Aunt Patty had it
hot whenever chance threw them togeth-
er; yet still he came. and it was noticed
that Aunt Patty took unusual pains with
her dress whenever he was expected.
One day the contest waged unusually
strong, and Aunt Patty left in disgust
and went out into the garden.
''That bearl" she muttered to herself,
as she stopped to gather flower which
attracted her attention.
"What did you run for? ?" said gruff
voice behind her.
ITO get rid Of you"
"You didn't do it, did you?"
"No; you are worse than burdock
burr"
"You won't get rid of me, either"
81 won't. eh ?"
''only in one way"
"And that?"
Marry me-"
"What! us two fools get married
What would people say?"
That's nOthin' to us. Come, say yes
or no; I'm in hurry"
well, no, then
Very well; good bye, 1 shan't come
again.
"Stop bIt-what a pucker you're
in"
"Yes or no r.
81 must consult"
"All right; I thought you were of
age. Good bye"
'Jabez Andrews, don't be a fool Come
back, l say. Why, 1 believe the critter
has taken me for earnest. Jabez An
drews, I'll consider"
81 don't want any considering; I'm
going. Becky Hastings is waiting for
me. | thought I'd give you the first
chance, Patty. .All right; good bye"
"Jabez Jabez That stuck up Beck
Hastings shan't have him Jabez. yes
Do you hear-y-e.sp
Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1874-08-10
I W SCOTT.

d "
ORALER IN HARNESSES. RIDING BRIDLES.
~ Collars and Horse Clothing, Blankets, &c. All
ABS Of tTimming-Rubber and Leather Covered.
1-el, Timed, Japanned and Gold Plate. Repairing
Huptly attended to.
Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1874-08-10
ATLANTIC CABLES.

Eight years ago, the New World be-
gan to communicate with the Old by tel
egraph. No triumph of scientific skill
had ever been deemed equal to this, but
since that time, other cables have been
laid and now there are four. 1t is hop
eG that the charges for sending messages
will now be more reasonable. Up to
the present, they have been outrageous
ly high. When the first cable was sue
cessfully operated, Cyrus Field said EGO,
about 500. was the least that would be
charged for any message not exceeding
ten words. This would, of course, have
cut off poor people or even those having
moderate means. TIE charges now are
not that much of course. but they are
still far too high; no man can send
any kind of message from London to
New York, for less than ten or twelve
dollars, in gold. This is an outrage.
and we sincerely hope the new ''Direct
Cable" may break up the monopolles
that have so long existed. In these
days, when large numbers of our people
go to Europe, the telegraphic communi
cation between the two worlds becomes
almost matter of necessity and if the
rates are cheapened. it will be a great
and general blessing.
Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1874-08-10

DEALER IN DRY GOODS. CLOTHING. HATS.
y Caps and General Merchandise. The celebrated
silicon Water on hand and for sale.
Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1874-08-10

n. NJ. SCOTT,
DROPRIETOR GLOVER FIGURING MILLS.
l Best brands Family Flour always on hand. Also
rn and other feed N B. Particular attention paid
" Custom Grinding. o3-6
Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1874-08-10
i, E. DWINELL.

NJ NANUFACTURER and dealer in Furniture of ali
u kinds and descriptions, Carpets, Room Paper
ans and fixtures also Cofins and Caskets, Picture
~+-s, Spring Beds &c. Glover Vt
Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1874-08-10

A writer on the New York Tribune
speaks of "women cackling over their
babies" Such remarks as this are
calculated to destroy the very bulwarks
of society.
Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1874-08-10

The letters b. B. are becoming fanil-
lar. In Washington. they stand for Ben
Butler 10 New York, for Barnum's Bal
loon; 10 St. Louis, for Big Bridge.
Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1874-08-10

P r. KENDALL.
4 TIORNEY. BARTON LANDING, VERMONT.
Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1874-08-10
NIISCELLANEOUS,


(EPOT STORE. SUCCESSORS TO GRANDY.
Y Skinner & Parker Dealers in Flour Corn. Gro
i5s Hardware, Paints and Oils Barton Landing, Vt.
OASIEL SKINNER. ala c. S. SKINNER
Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1874-08-10

w. ". 1TILES,
A TIORNEY AT LAW
- - North CTaftshnrY Vt
Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1874-08-10
MADISON COMLFS.

(TILL KEEP CONSTANTLY ON HAND ALL
w the latest styles OF ready-made Collins Caskets.
"a Robes and Trimmings of every description
'7lis reasonable. West Albany, Vt.
Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1874-08-10
u 7. nWTNrTT.

DROPRIETOR UNION HOUSE. STAGE LEAVES
l i1r Montpelier Mondays. Wednesdays, and Fri
lays, and for Barton twice a day.
Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1874-08-10

Boys, think of this as you 60 stubbing
your bare toes over the stones in the
garden of your young life. The richest
man in La. Crosse, Wisconsin, is a dry
goods merchant named Mons Anderson.
He is the largest tax payer in the city.
He was born in Norway and made his
home in La Crosse about twenty years
ago, when he was but poor lad. We
never heard of his whining or spending
time or money in dissipation. He went
to work as clerk in q store. He was
there early and late, always earnest, po-
lite and cheerful Little by little he
gained foothold When he had saved
few dollars, he bought little tail end
of grocery store and set up for him
self. In few years he had many friends
and some money ahead. He enlarged
his business and began to advertise. In
dull times or good times he advertised
largely, kept his name before the public
kept his store filed with goods and
customers, Joined church, not for effect
but because he felt that was the right
thing to do. and won the respect of per-
sons of other beliefs and nationality.
Honest, liberal, truthful and sound to
the heart as a gold dollar. he has worked
his way up the hill till now Mons An
derson, the once poor little Norwegian
boy who was homeless and penniless, is
to-day not only the leading merchant in
La Crosse, but in all the northwestern
part of Wisconsin. In religion he is a
Baptist In politics he is a republican.
In all that makes man he is above re-
proach. Such men are the north stars
for boys-the souls of the nation. Who
of our readers-of the boys and young
men who read this paragraph-will be
like him ? All honor and abundant
happiness to such men as Mons Ander-
son, the merchant prince-the honest
man of La Crosse.
Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1874-08-10

How 1T PAID THE CzAR TO PLAY THE
DEvIL.-Nicholas /. was very fond Of
masquerade balls. and, one night, APP
peared at one in the character of the
devil, with grinning face, horns and
tail, and appeared to enjoy bis charac-
ter very much. About o'clock in the
morning be went out; and, throwing
over him some fnrs, be called COACH
man and ordered him to take him to the
Quay Anglais. AS it was very cold he
fell asleep, and when be found that the
man had taken him in the wrong direc-
tion, for the Quay Anglais is one Of The
most elegant portions Of st. Petersburg,
while before him were only some miser-
able houses, Nicholas began 70 remon-
strate. The eoachman paid no heed to
him, and presently, passing through
stone gateway, brought him to GENE
terry. and taking large knife from his
girdle, and pointing it at his employer
throat. said: "Give me your money and
your furs. or viii kill you" "And
do you give me your soul. !" exclaimed
Nicholas. as he through of his furs. and
disclosed his personiGeation Of the devil.
The Russians are very superstitious. AID
the coachman was 50 terrified that be
fell senseless on the ground, and the
emperor drove himself back 10 the palace.
Dr. Bronson Of Michigan writes "My
remedy for garget is one teaspoonful Of
saltpetre every other day for three days.
then skip few days, and feed again if
cure is not effected. | think three
doses viii heal the most obstinate case.
BY the way, any person keeps cows,
should feed to each the above dose Of
saltpetre, once in two weeks through
the milking season. and there viii be
no complaint Of garget.
A single strong brigade Of cavalry. or
even infantry on Indian ponies, making
rapid and unexpected marches through
the Indian country, would do more 70
keep the Indians in awe than five times
the same force, scattered, as it nov Is,
over the whole Of the plains.-Aruy
and Nary Joaeuui
-
The letters b. B. are becoming famil-
lar. In Washington. they stand for Ben
Butler 10 New York, for Barnum' Bal
len Ia Il In.1is- for Big BRIDGE
Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1874-08-10
GLOVER.
L. E. FOSTER

c. L. FRENCH, VI. D.,
DHYsICIAN AND SURGEON.