davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Middletown transcript., 1875-08-21
Recollections Of Boyhood.

When / was boy, my father on on'
occasion sent me to the mill for grist
On arriving there, I saw some young.
sters in an adjoining field playing ball
After tying my horse to a tree. went
over and joined in the game Of ball.
When it was over, l returned to the
mill. which, to my astonishment, was
closed for the night. My horse, to add
to my annoyance, had broken loose and
wandered homeward. l was two miles
from home, and had to foot it. On
nearing our house, l saw my father
step from behind tree; but unaware
Of his motive, I boldly marched toward
him, full Of excuses As I reached the
tree, be stepped from behind it, and,
swinging stout hickory switch, he laid
it on me vigorously, yelling at every
stroke:
Are you going home, sir?
Yes, SIR I replied, jumping around
quite lively, and he striking me at every
jump. Of course we made quick time
home.
A few days after. while the old man
was feeding the sheep, and in the act of
STOPPING, GROSS ram in the flock struck
him head-foremost in the rear, and sent
him sprawling on the ground. As be
got up on all-fours, the ram charged
again, striking him in the same place.
They repeated this performance half q
dozen times, while 1 lay behind the
fence, yelling: Are you getting home,
sirp The old man, although pious
elder Of the church, after alighting on
all-fours on the other side Of the fence,
began rubbing the injured part Of his
body, and said: D. that ram
Middletown transcript., 1875-08-21
CHURCHES.

FOREST PRksBYrER1AN.-Rev John Patton,
D. D., Pastor. Divine service every Sunday
at 10 80 q. m. and 7.30 m. Sunday School
at m. Lecture on Wednesdays at 30 p.
m. Sunday School in the Chapel at Arm
strongs every Sunday at 2.30 p. m.
Sr. ANNss PROTESTANT EpscoPAL.-hev
VIM. c. Butler, Rector. Service on Sundays
at lO. 90 a. m and q. go p. m. Sunday School
AZ 9. 90 a. m. Lecture on Fridays at p. m.
MRrHoDIsr EPISCOPAL, Rev. L. O. Matlack,
D. D.. Pastor. Service every Sunday at 10. 80
q. m. and I. 80 D. m. Sunday School at $50
a. m. and $50 p. m. Prayer Meeting on
Thursdays at 7.30 p. m.
CoLoRrp METHODIST Rev. ]. W. Brown,
Pastor. Service every other Sunday at 80
a. M; and p. m. Sunday School every
Sunday at p. m.
Middletown transcript., 1875-08-21
Fishing for Mermaidsi

The rude sarcastic frontiersman o
the Houston (Texas) Age takes occa
sion to satirize the eastern young mai
who travels for his health and can't licl
nothin' by telling the following story
A delicate. but self-satisfed youth o
great Gotham, recently found himsel
in one of our New Mexican coaches
In leaving the towns Of Los Cruces, The
shoddy exquisite placed himself care.
fully upon the back seat by the side Of
a miniature rifle and fishing tackle,
which be carried as part of his bag
gage As the coach drove over the
Acequi bridge the youth saw a picture
which caused his heart to dance with
delight. In the shade of the tall cot
tonwood trees which lined the banks,
gamboled group Of Mexican girls by
the limped waves Of the Acequia.
For Gods sake, Mr.. Driver, what
are those beautiful animals p
Them are mermaids,' answered the
stageman, suppressing a twinkle in both
eyes.
'Oh, hold on just one minute = and
out went the exquisite with line and
rod, while he threw the hook toward
the laughing group Nth gesture Of
beseeching agony:
The gay throng gradually closed on
the fascinated fisherman, as he sat upon
the bank drinking in the rapturous
scene before him, but paying but little
attention to his line or bait. Suddenly
black-eyed Peri Of about fifteen caught
the end Of his pole, and, with dexter
GUS movement, landed the fisherman
into the middle Of the Acequia. Every
mermaid Of the batch Immediately took
lively interest in irrigating their cap
tive, who only succeeded in crawling
up the Acequia bank after a desperate
struggle, and very much ip the condi-
ton Of a Norway rat. aa'
A washtrwoman at the next station
declared she never saw so much Rio
Grande mud on one suit of clothes in
her life, and the young man was heard
to mutter often to himself, 'D-d hard
fish to catch, those Mexican mermaids.'
Middletown transcript., 1875-08-21

AN IMPRESSIVE SlaHr. There were
nineteen Of them-exactly nineteen,
and they marched down the school.
house lane in double file-all but one,
He marched alone at the head Of the
column. They we're noble young men.
They had high foreheads and intelli.
gent faces, and there was . stern, de-
tsrmined look on each face--a look
which said that they would die st their
country's call. We're they going to
the rescue Of some kind sentiment
which the wicked world was trying to
blot from the hearts Of meni Were
they going to the succor Of the anfor-
tunate and distressed No. not cents
worth they we're going out 10 play
base ball. II was an imposing sight to
zee them march, each form erect, each
step in time. each face bearing that look
which warriors wear whom the roar Of
battle is loudsst. II every one Of the
nineteen had been on their way to the
woodpile or the corn6eld. the sight
sould not have been more grand and
Ehrilling.
Middletown transcript., 1875-08-21
A Sharp Lawyer.

The Melbourne (Austrailia) Argus
tells the following story:
IA gentleman Of the legal profession,
at one Of the great mining centres hav-
ing spent gaudy evening at leading
hotel, found the evening air too much
for him. Instead of reaching the bosom
Of his family he gravitated to the lock-
up, with the much needed assistance of
q servant Of the Queen in full uniform.
The lookup keeper didn't know him.
and cense quently couldn't send for his
friends to bail him out. as is frequently
done by those tender-hearted officers Of
Justice. So he was allowed to sleep
until ! in the morning, when he was
aroused and asked his name, which he
promptly said was Johnson He OBJ
tanned soap. water and clothes brush.
He was refreshed BY cup Of tea. He
then proposed to the lookup keeper
that the officials should walk beside
him to the Police Court. When the
time came this was done, and, by keep
ing the officer in earnest converse, it
appeared as though the lawyer was en-
gagged upon some business before the
Court. and when the name Of johnson
was called, he calmly rose, and said,
I appear for the prisoner. your Wor-
ship what = said the Police Magis-
trate. do you deny that he was drunk?'
'Oh, no. he replied, he was very
drunk, but he is very sorry for it,
Five shillings Or six hours imprison-
ment. said the Police Magistrate. I
will pay his fne myself said the ready
witted gentleman. who in this instance
showed that the man who is his own
lawyer hasn't always fool for client"
Middletown transcript., 1875-08-21

NEARLY STRANaLsD BY A SNAKE
The Utica Observer Of a few days since
relates this story: "A girl. IA years
old, in the emyloy Of jerome Brock
way. has been spending few days in
the wilds Of Pike county, Pa, and had
q narrow escape from being strangled
to death by black snake. She was
sent by her mistress out into the woods
to pick whortleberries. She crossed
the lake in small row boat, and, &C.
companied by q small Newfoundland
dog, walked about three-fourths Of a
mile into the woods, where the berries
were plenty. After filing her basket
she sat down ON log and ate hef
lunch. As she was about to start for
home q large black snake sprang about
her neck and began choking her. The
afrighted girl screamed at the top Of
her voice for assistance. but there was
no one near enough to hear her cries.
At length. when she vas 50 exhausted
that she was unable to cry out, the
snake twisted its head around 30 that
the girl could reach it. At Grst she
was afraid to touch the monster. Then
realizing that she must do something
or parish. she caught the snake about
the neck and choked il until it relaxed
its hold and fell 70 the ground. The
girl then threw il against 1 rock and
succeeded in killing il. She tied .
small hickory vithe around the snakes
neck and draggsd il home, It measured
nix feet and eleven inches.
Middletown transcript., 1875-08-21

Common sense is an element in which
many persons are sadly wanting. Com
nonsense implies sound perception,
correct reason. mental capacity and
good understanding. It is not to be
acquired entirely by education it is a
sort Of instinct. It may be polished
and made more acute by experience.
There is great deal Of sound philoso-
ply in little common sense sometimes,
and the exercise Of it upon certain occa-
sions would save many men from mach
subsequent humiliation.
Middletown transcript., 1875-08-21
"Owe No Man Anything =

IL do not owe . dollar IN the
world" was the remark Of subscriber
last week, as he handed us his sub
scription for the present year. He was
a man little past the meridian of life,
hale. hearty and strong. He is the pos
SCISSOR Of landed estate and owns =
goodly share Of worldly possessions.
He is one Of the best farmers in our
county and his homestead and surround-
ings is a picture Of neatness and a model
for less thrifty farmers.
This gentlcman has history and
being acquainted with his early strug-
giles, as given to rs by those who know
him more intimately than We. we pro-
pose to revert to the true secret of his
success believing it may tend to en-
courage the sons Of toll who are strug-
Cling with poverty and striving to climb
the sleeps Of Independence and lay up
for themselves competency for old age.
Like the most men of the present day,
who have become the solid men of this
age, this gentleman began life poor and
without the aid of those possessing the
means to assist him, battled with the
world and by dint of energy, incessant
labor, frugality, abstemious habits, step
by step. fought his way through ad-
verse circumstances, surmounting OBJ
stacles and overcoming difficulties, until
he reached the solid ground Of inde-
pendence. To accomplish this there
must have been great self-denial. The
great secret Of his success has been in
the true theory "nover spend the dollar
before it is earned" GA dollar saved
is dollar made" is trite old adage,
and is as truthful now as In years gone
by, and those who thus carry out liter
ally this axiom. cannot fail to succeed
in life.
But the reversing Of this rule has
bankrupt thousands. There is an army
Of young men in the land who despise
labor and are continually at their wits
end to know how to provide for their
physical wants. They depend upon
their parents or friends to furnish them
with food and raiment. They are drones
in the great busy hive of life. They
are living upon the labor Of others and
eating out the very substance Of the
land. They are paupers upon the char
ity of their friends and are as useless as
the potato beetle.
Instead of not owing any man, they
owe everybody and are not the least
concerned about the pay. By such a
course of conduct they cripple the
energies Of our business men; destroy
confidence, become dishonest, careless,
worthless and finally suffer want and
misery.
To all such thriftless prodigals, vast
ing their time in inert idleness, We
would say initiate the example Of the
gentlemen alluded to. Work, labor to
be useful to yourself and the community. |
Avoid the extravagances Of the times.
Limit yourself to your real wants and
let the imaginary and foolish ideas con-
ceived and nutured from the false no
tions of others be abandoned. Be
frugal, honest, industrious and sober.
Avoid debt. "Owe no man anything"
.Denton Union.
Middletown transcript., 1875-08-21
Bart was paralysed.
Your daughter 2


And my money, as promised =
Nellie and I heard your conversation
and determined to test you. We did
SO, and Nellie insisted on your being
tried
You have taken the deceit out Of
me-
But, though rich, be did not leave
his profession and enter into his care
less idle life again he steadily pushed
his way up, and is now one Of the most
influential men of the times-which he
always AYERS is more due to Nellie's
stratagem than. Marrying Fortune
Middletown transcript., 1875-08-21
Drunk"

l ~~~>
Of this article is now very freauentl,
seen in our newspapers and police re
ports. It has but five letters, and ye
to what varied and painful reflections
does it give rise. 1t is a short word
and yet what awful consequences have
followed in its train. In the papers WI
read: "John Jones' Drunk and dis
orderly. Fined ten dollars, or SEN
sixty days to the work-housc.
Disorderly, sure enough. The whole
man, when drunk. becomes disordered
from head to foot, and he walks. thinks
and acts disorderly if be does at all
Now what is the cause Of this disorder
and disarrangement Of things which
takes man from his home, his bust
ness, and his family. and shuts him ur
in the lookup all night and the next
morning carts him off to prison? What
has come over this man that he should
permit the police to lay violent hands
upon his person and be compelled to
submit to the most degrading punish
ment? What was it that took away bis
liberty, bis self-respect and his money
needed by his family, and earned por-
haps by the most severe physical labor!
We answer, it was ardent spirits that
brought him SO low and humbled him
in the dust. He had drank too much.
No, will not use this term, because it
implies that man may drink with mod
Grafton. l will then say be had been
drinking, was drunk, and therefore dis
orderly as matter Of course. He could
net be orderly in such state any more
than water could be made to run up
hill.
A large number Of words are coined
from the use Of ardent spirits, drunk
drunkenness. degradation. dissipation,
disorder, delirium; to say nothing Of
deviltry. damnation, and death. And
just leok at the words beginning with
P. If you drink you have poverty.
privation, palsy and pain, as we'll as the
prison and the poor-house staring you
in the face. So, young man, if you
wish to save your credit and character.
don't drink. If you do, you permit
others TO have power over either your
person or your purse. two things over
which man should have the most ab-
solute control.
!, In passing through life you will be
many times invited to take social
glass, and perhaps in case Of refusal at
tempts will be made to drag you to the
bar but say resist If It breaks friend
ship, and tears the coat from your back.
Let no man or woman tempt you to
drink. The moment man drinks,
treats or is treated he ceases to be inde-
pendent and responsible. and by these
acts places himself in the power Of
others, and is on the road to ruin and
death.
Middletown transcript., 1875-08-21

A WILD Boy CAUGHT. gentle
man arrived from Marcos yesterday
and brought the news Of the capture o
wild boy few miles from that place
The boy was first discovered wallowine
in pond Of shallow water, and wher
approached he broke like a quarte,
horse, running about mile before he
could be overtaken by men on ponies.
Riding up near, the boy was lassooed,
whena fierce contest ensued, the strange
being striking, kicking, and lunging
about in the most fearful manner, and
apparently being frightened almost to
death. Finally he was overpowered,
tied. and taken to the house of the man
who first discovered him. His body
was discovered with hair about 4 inches
long. and from size and appearance he
is supposed to be about 12 years old.
He is unable to talk, but possesses rea-
soning power, and now follows his cap
tor about like . dog.-Austin Tezas)
&atesna0n. t.
Middletown transcript., 1875-08-21
Shepherd Dogs.

In Southern California you may set
on the plains and hills thousands o.
sheep, but not man to watch them.
Around each flock or band Of, say q
thousand sheep, are half dozen dogs,
whose progenitors were imported from
the pastures of the old world. These
dogs take the entire care of the sheep
drive them to pasture in the morning,
and bring them home at night. These
dogs have inherited . talent for keeping
sheep; but the shepherds do not depend
wholly on that. They cultivate it in
this way: When lamb is born it is
taken from its mother sheep before she
has seen it, and puppy put in its
place. When the puppy grows old
enough to eat meat, it is fed in the
morning and sent out with the sheep.
It stays with them because it is accus-
toned to be with its mother, but it can
not feed with them. As they get full
the dog gets hungry. At length, i'm
patient to return where it hopes to get
another piece Of meat, it begins to tease
and worry its mother, and finally starts
her home the other sheep follow, and
thus the whole flock is brought in. If
the dog brings the sheep home too soon.
or comes home without them he gets no
supper, or is punished in some way.
Hence be soon learns when to come,
and sees to it that none of his charge
are left behind. These animals are
trained BY taking advantage Of their
instincts and appetite.
Middletown transcript., 1875-08-21
RJJIIDING AND .LOA]

MIppLrrowH B. 4 L. ASSOCIATION. Samuel
Pennington, Pres; A. G. Cox, Secretary. Meets
on the 6rst Thursday Of every month at 8
O'Clock, p. m. 'as.i 1tsa Ai''
Mutual LOAN ASSOCIATION OF MIDDLErowE.
jas. H. Scowdrick, Pres; A. G. Cox, Sec
rotary. Meets ON the third Tuesday of every
month at 8 O'Clock, Pm
Middletown transcript., 1875-08-21
MASONIC.

ADoNmAx CnArrsA No. 5, R.A. u. Meets
in Masonic Hall on the second and fourth FRI
days Of every month At 8 o'clock, p. m.
UsIox LoDaE No. 8, A. F. A. N. Meets on
tho first and third Tuesdays Of every month
at o. clock, D. m. Masonic Hall.
Middletown transcript., 1875-08-21
FURNITURE. asa
49, UNDERTAKING. ~,
UPHOLsTERING
FURNITURE.

The Undersigned respectfully. announces to
the citizens Of Mfddletown and vicinity that
he has on hand . large and well selected
stock Of handsome and durable
Walnut and Other Furniture,
which he will sell very cheap for cash. Buy
ing at Wholesale cash rates be feels assured
that he can sell a. low a. the same goods can
be bought elsewhere. By buying Of him pur-
ehasers will be saved the freight on their
goods from the city.
He is also prepared to attend to
- Undertaklng work
at short notice, and in q manner excelled
by none. Persons wishing Metallic or Wood
en- Caskets or Gases will find it to their ad-
vantage to call on him. He has, also,
TAYLOR 4 SONS
Celebrated Corpse Preserver,
The Corpse may be dressed in the finest fab
rics and not be soiled, land can be seen at al
imes) ~ nothing but dry cold air enters the
Casket.
GEORGE ". WILSON,
Practical Cabinet Maker and Undertaken,
Fsbi-lan Hiddlstovn Dsl.
Middletown transcript., 1875-08-21
DIAMOND STATE BRASS BAND.
Meets for practice every Monday evening at
o'clock.
POST OFFICE.

OFFICE HOURs.-Opens at 6 80 m and
closes at 9 p m every day except Sunday
Mails for the North close at 6.45 m, and
800 m. a.l .sytg4 bue sa + ssJi
Mail for the South closes at 10 q m.
Mails for Odessa close at l0.l5 m and 7.30
pm. 9--sss' -.-. "..-
Mails for Warwick, Sassairas and Cecilton
close at 10. LIZ am.
Middletown transcript., 1875-08-21

The colored Hoosiers talk Of taking
the question Of their civil right to marry
white women up to the United States
Supreme Court. This isn't the right
kind Of : "oourt" to settle such ques-
tions.
Middletown transcript., 1875-08-21
@. o. F.

Coon SAMARITAN LoDas, No Q. Meets every
Thursday evening at o'clock. Lcdge Room
in Cochran Hall, No. Q, Cochran Square. q
Middletown transcript., 1875-08-21
STAGE LINES.

Stage for Odessa, with o. s. Mail, leaves
shortly after arrival Of the 1923 m and 7.56
D m mail trains. ssas
Stages for Warwick, Sassafras and Cecilton
leave shortly after arrival of the 1923 m
train. s4a3fH 9f5A .efs A- @te51 93a4l
Middletown transcript., 1875-08-21
Yliddlftas's''''r 4lrtlftern.
CORPORATION OFFICERS.

Town COMMISSIONERS W. Lockwood,
President; ]. R. Hall, Secretary; L. 2. Nc
Dowell, ]. H. Walker, L. G. Vandegrift.
ASSESSOR &C. e. Anderson.
TRRAsURER.- Hanson.
JUSTICE OF THE PEAcE.-DeW. @. Walker.
CONSTABLE AND PoLlCEHAN.--R. H. Foster.
LAMpLIaHrRR.-F.C G. Schreitz.
Middletown transcript., 1875-08-21
20 sliett asstra.
LEONE.


If had known, oh, friend so loved
That ere another autumn came,
Painting the hills with glories rare,
Setting the naples sll aflame.
49, s44=. ir,-4-a- 0a4a -s- at-
That when the dreamy, purple light
Lay calm and still DER all the land,
That in the autumn peace and hush
Alone and lonely should stand
should have come to you, q levei
In the fair summers vanished calm,
Nor waited, dreaming that to You
The weeks would bring healing balm.
had not blindly failed to know
The Masters tender. loving voice
Was calling you've could not hear
The tones that made your heart rejoice.
How could dream that when / came
Your loving words and smiles to crave,
should be led in silent tears
To stand beside new made grave2
Oh, friend SO loved whose name is linked
With all life's holiest memories, M
Be near me still, and let me feel
The blessed angel ministries.
Still let communion sweet be ours,
Sweeter than life could ever bring;
Cy. r A
An angel round me hovering.
And when, at last, our Fathers voice
Shall call us to fairer home, w
His messenger-our guide-shall be
An angel whom we call Leone.
Middletown transcript., 1875-08-21
OFFICERS OF CITIZENS NATL
RANK

1 D,aiddsxoiss u Hsafyl Clayton, b. Gibbs, B.
T. Biggs, John A. Reynolds, james Culbert-
son, e. G. Fenimore, N. E. Walker, J. B.
Oazisr, Joseph Biggs.
PREslpEMr.-Henry Clayton,
CAsHIER.-J. r. Hall.
TRLLRR.-John s. Crouch.
Middletown transcript., 1875-08-21
MIDDLETOWN LIBRARY AND
READfNG-RO J

EW.. Lockwood, Pres; J. T. Budd, Sec'y ;
Rooms in TRANSCRIPT Building. Reading
Room open, every day until 10 O'Clock, P m.
Library open on Wednesdays and Saturdays
from 8 o'clock to 5 p m.
Middletown transcript., 1875-08-21
PEACH BASKETS!

loo, 900 Wordea Stavs Peach Baskets. ao..
600 Hand-nA1s White Oak aplint Peach Bas.
kets, for sals chap, ifapplisd lbe soon, BY
W. NJ. T6CHUDY, ~
may i6-3n Smyrna. pel.
Middletown transcript., 1875-08-21
DIRECTORS oFsTOWN HALL co

JIM. Cox, Pres; Samuel Pennington, Sec;
J. R. Hall, Treas; R. A. Cochran, Jas. Gull
bertson, Jas. H. Scowdrick, VIM. H. Barr.
Middletown transcript., 1875-08-21

- a PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY.
PEAoH BLOSSOM GaAsaE, No. 8. Meets every
Tuesday evening at clock. Grange Room
with Knights of Pythias.
Middletown transcript., 1875-08-21

There are from so . 100 per cent.
proit On sewing machines.
Middletown transcript., 1875-08-21
KNIGHTS or PYTHIAS.

DAxos LoDas, No...12 Meets every Friday
evening at 8 o'clock. Lodge room in the
Town Hall.
Middletown transcript., 1875-08-21
DELAWARE RAILROAD.

Passenger trains going North leave at 7.04
M and 3:l4 p m. going South at l0.S m
and 7.55,p.m. Freight trains with passenger
ear attached, going North, leave at 7.45 p IN ;
going South, at 6. % q m.
Middletown transcript., 1875-08-21
AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION.

PsSINs. AGRIouLruRAL AND PokoL0GICAL As
ssoIArIon Charles Beasten, President; ]. T.
Budd, Secretary VIM. R. Cochran, Chairman
Of Board Of Managers. Annual Meeting third
Saturday in January. Fair Of 1875, October
8, 8, Tand 9. Aa'
Middletown transcript., 1875-08-21
NOTARY PUBLIC.
TRIJSTEES OF THE ACADEMY.

Hon John P. Cochran, Pres. Henry Davis,
Treas. Samuel Pennington, Secretary James
Kanely, B. Gibbs, R. 7. Cochran, n. Williams.
PRIHofPAL OF ACADExY.-L. B. Jones.
Middletown transcript., 1875-08-21

Ten States elect Governors this fall.
Middletown transcript., 1875-08-21

If had known, oh, friend so loved I!
That ere another autumn came,
Painting the hills with glories rare,
Setting the naples sll aflame.
Middletown transcript., 1875-08-21

WuSs uVes u Woau -
IT means that you have married my
daughter, sir responded the happy
parent, and We have been decsiving
you al the while. Lucille i ny mai
den, sister