davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1876-03-06

Nate-No; We got the men ont, took
them into cabOosc and gave them n
little refreshment, and in n couple OF
hours started on ngain. Some folks
would have given that mp MS Il bad JOB,
but mono of the boys there ever thought
OF giving up. We stuck to it all that
day and all night, and the next morning
got up to Cisco oil right.
Reporter-That was fair snow expo.
ricncei
Nate-Fair, but nothing extra. 1
was caught along there another time,
and found the snow worse than We ex'
pected. We bucked and bucked for
hours with seven engines, but couldn't !
seem 10 make m impression on it. l
made up my mind that we had got to
stand a siege. So started n man on
snow shoes up to Cisco for grub and
kept ut the work. Pretty soon, with the
help Of shovels, We began to make head
way, and when I least expected it we
were through tho worst obstruction:
Then We started onat full speed, 80 ms not
to get stalled again. All Of asuddon the
brakes were whistled down. Wepickedup
the messenger and tossed him clean over
the Telegraph wires. Luckily hc struck
on his feet and stood there buried in the
snow up to his whist, but not bit hurt;
He motioned us to go on, and we dld
so, aud got through to Cisco all right,
leaving 4 clean tracking for the passen'
ger trains to follow.
Reporter-What is the deepest snow
you ever encountered in those noun
tairs I
Nate-That's bard to tell. I've seen
II thirty feet often. Once l had to blast
it out. I sunk shaft thirty feet deep
and ran little drift along parallel with
the track and against the side Of tho
mountain, and then put in half dozen
kegs Of powder. That was funny! How
the snow flew But it did the business
for that place.
Reporter-Did you often meet as much
snow rs that on the track1
Nate-In some spots it would always
fill up; then again there would be places
where we never had any serious trouble.
I run snow plow one timerght through
ono Of those big snowbanks, making as
nice tunnel rs you ever saw.
Reporter-How long was It'll
Nate-Not very long, OF course; may
be five hundred feet. Twas Just making
for that bank with eight engines and all
the steam we could put on. When we
struck it tho snow began to fly, and for q
little ways We made n nice cut in it.
But then the bank got higher than the
plow, and pretty soon we wereall buried;
The engines wcrc putting their best and
kept at it. We had good headway to
start in on, and the boys took care not to
lose moro than we could help. And so
they kept headwuy on her until We
burst through on the other side Of tho
bank. The snow just formed 4 sort Of
m arch over us, and We left the pretticst
kind Of n tunnel behind us just big
enough for train to pass through.
The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1876-03-06
Getting Their Dinner,

The Green Bay Wis., STATE Ga=ettc
relates tho following fable A large
dog belonging to one of our citizens, and
who usually accompanies his master to
market in the capacity OF porter, was in
trusted with fine steak, securely wrap.
ped in paper, to carry home. The aui.
nal graspcd tho parcel between his teeth
aud trottrd homeward beside his master.
A short distance from tho butchers the
gentleman entered another store, leaving
the dog with the parcel standing on the
sidewalk. Shortly two vagabond look
ing ours arrived on tho spot and began
snufIlng about. Finally, the larger Of
the two ours began growing aud bark
ing at tho guardian Of the steak, who
stood this sort OF thing for some time, in
a calm and dignified manner, till, finally,
his bullying tormcntors, probably hav'
ing applied some opproblious epithet tc
him, he opened his mouth to reply, and
Of course, dropped tho steak to the
ground. The vagabond cur retreated
and the eother dog, now fully exasperatcd,
set of in pursuit OF him. In M instant
vagabond cur No. Q, who had beer
standing of short distance, apparently
silent spectator Of the scene, spranl
forward and seized the stcakin his mouth
and put of i'll m opposite direction
Not long after, aud in IN alley not fal
from the scene Of this little episode, were
two ours holding high festival over 1
rich, juicy steak, and those two cnr'
were tho Identical ones engaged in the
transaction previously related.
The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1876-03-06
/" An Ak 10 Grind"

We owe more OF our common sayings
and pithy proverbs 10 DR.. Franklin
than many of lis think or know. We sny
Of ono who hatters or serves us for the
snke of some secrets, selfish gain or
favor: "He has IN ax to grind" In
the doctors "Memoirs $" is tho follow
ing story (much after the manner OF the
"whistlc" story, which explains the
origin OF tho phrase:
franklin s2-s: When I was n little
boy, I remember, one cold winters
morning, l was accostGd ly q smiling
man, with IN ax on his shoulder.
"My pretty boy" said he, "has your
father grindstonef
ayes, SIR" said I.
"You are fine little fellow" said he.
"Will you let NE grind an ax on it ?"
Pleased with the compliment OF "a
fine littlo fellow" "Oh, yes, sir" l
answered ait is down in the shop"
"And will you, my man." said he,
pattipg me on my head, "get me n
little hot waterl"
How could I refuse? I ran and soon
brought q kGttleIul.
"How old nre you, and what's you're
namel" continued he, without waiting
for reply. "l'm suro you're ono Of
tho iluest lads that ever I have seen.
Will You Just turn few minutes for
me v"
Tickled with the flattery, like fool l
went to work, and bitterly did rue the
day. It was ne a1, and l toiled and
tugged till I was almost tired to death.
Tho schoOlbeL rang, and could not
get away. My han:s were blistercd,
and it was not half ground. At length,
however, the ax was slarpened, and the
man turned to ne with
"Now, you little rascal, you've played
the tr,lant; scud to school, or you'll
get it,"
Alas! thought |, it was hard enough
to turn n grindstonc this cold day, but
now to be called n little rascal, WIS too
much. 1t sunk deep in my mind, and
often have I thought of it since.
When SEQ merchant over polite to
his customers, begging them to take n
little brandy, and throwing his goods
on the counter, thinks I, that man has
m ax to grind.
When see man 1attering the peo'
pie, making great professions Of attach
ment to liberty, who is i'll private life a
tyrant, methinks, look out, good people,
that fellow would set you turning grind
stones.
When see man hoisted into Office
by party spirit, without siuge quail
tication 10 render him either respectable
or useful, alas methinks deludel peo'
pie, you are doomed for n season tC
turn the grindstonc.
The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1876-03-06
The Cedar Mines Of New Jersey.

Among tho strange productions OF
Cape Mny arc tho cedar miucs-swanps
of dark, miry stuff, in which are buried
immense trees OF the white cednr.
These consist OF enormous trees buried
to n depth OF from six to ten feet. The
logs lie one across another, and there is
abundant evidence that they are the
growth of different successive forests.
Indeed, in these very swamps forests of
the very same trees are now growing.
The miners become very skillful at
their work. An iron rod is thrust into
the soft mud, over which often tho
water lies. In striking n buried
tree the workman will by several sound
ings at last tell how ii lies, which is its
root end, and how thick it is. He then
manages to get chip OF the tIeo aud
by its smell determines at once whether
it is worth the labor Of mining that is,
the workman will tell unerringly whether
tho treo be wiudiall or n breakdown.
II breakdown, it was so because it was
decayed when standing il windfall,
the trco fell while sound, and has been
preserved ever since by tho antiseptic
nature Of the peat marsh in which it was
buried. The soft earth is then removed.
This makes pit in tho swamp. Into
this tho water soon flows and fills it up.
This is rather M advantage. The
saw is now introduced, aud at regular
intervals cut is made through the tree,
when the log floats to the surface. 1t is
curious thatn log OF n sound tree will be
sure to turn over when it floats up, the
lower sides thus becoming uppermost.
Trees in this way nre sometimes OBJ
tanned which will yield 10000 shingles,
worth $40 per thousand thus one tree
will yield 5000.
The agc OF such tree, as the season
rings have been counted, has been madc
ont to be from ten to twelve hundred
years aud even moro. A lnyer Of such
trees is found covered by another layer,
and these again BY another, and even 4
third, while living trees may still be
growing over all. 1t is evident, indeed,
that New Jersey has experienced what
the geologists call oscillations" Cape
May con'ains abundant evidence OF hnv.
ing been lifted outof modern sea. The
recent oyster aud clam are found in
natural beds, just rs they died in the
ocean, hut now in positions many feet
higher than the contiguous oyster bed ;
while buried trees exist at depths lower
than the beds OF living molusks.
The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1876-03-06

til it was over. Then returning to their
young charges, they saw n tall, gaunt
woman, with horror-stricken face,
gathering the whole group in her arms.
1t was the mother.
81 don't know who you be, young
men, but I thank you from the bottom
Of my heart" she said. "Ycs, 1 thank
you from the bottom Of my heHrt-aud,
obi I thank God, too" And she burst
into tears.
Arthur, ut loss what else to say, re-
marked :: 4" Your wagon is all smashed. "
"I don't care-don't care," said the
woman, hysterically rocking herself to
and fro where she sat with her children
clasped to her bosom. "So's the
young ones are safe, the rest may go to
wrack."
As she spoke, couple OF horsemen
came madly galloping down tho valley,
far in the wake Of tho flying herd. They
paused, thunderstruck, at the fragments
Of their wagon trampled in tho torn
soil. Thcu, seeing tho group on the
rock, they hastencd on, dismounted, and
climbed the little eminence.
"Great powers above, Jemimy We
stampeded the buifaloes !" said the elder
Of the pair Of hunters.
Arty expected to hear her say that sl.o
was thankful SO long as they were oil
alive.
" Yes, and a nice mess you've made
OF it." This was all her comment.
Whar's tho cattle, Zephl" asked
tho father of this flock.
"Gone off with the buffaloes, I
reckon, dad," was the response OF his
son Zephauiah.
The man looked up and down the val
10y with n bewildered air. His wagon
had been mashed and crushed into the
ground. His cattle were swept out into
space by tho resistless food, and werc
nowhere in sight. He found words at
last:
"Wcll, this is porfeckly rediclus. -
81. Nicholas for March.
The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1876-03-06

The custom Of kissing tho bride ut Il
wedding is Of great antiquity, and while
among the most refined classes it has
fallen into disusc, it is still insisted on
by many people with great rigor. A
very amusing story is told of n kentucky
backwoodsman who had, after long
and ardent courtship Of the bello of ono
OF tho Kentucky cities. won her for n
bride. She had for long timo wavered
in her choice, undecided whether to
take him or q gentleman OF wealth md
position in the city, but finally choosing
the humber lot in obedience to her
heart. The wedding was celebrated i'll
great style, and the manly groom was
almost as much admired for his colossal
proportions and athletic symmetry MS
was the bride for her exceeding lowell.
ness. Among tho guests was the unsuc'
cessful suitor, who was well llawarc Of the
jealousy with which the groom had re-
gardcd him, but who had overcome his
chagrin at his failure and was sincerely
anxious to congratulate tue bride. One
by ono the guests offered their good
wishes and their hearty kisses, while the
groom looked on with approval and lie.
light. At length among the rest came
the rejected lover. The young groom
watched him kConly, hut without the
least animosity in his expression. The
unfortunate rival felt the dclica:y OF
his position, and not caring to provoke
the husbands ire ho did not proiIer Z
salute which was customary. As lie was
giving place to others after wishing thu
newly married pair we'll, the groom
grasped his arm with hia iron fingers,
and in n low tone said: "She's my wife
now, and I propose to see that she is
treated as well as my wife should be
treated. II you don't kiss her I'll break
every bone in your body" Rather thar
quarrel tho gentleman kissed the not un
willing bride. and the groom was salts
fed.
The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1876-03-06

A Clergyman was ono evening sum
moned to his parlor, and found there Il
couple who wished to be married. No
objection appearing on tho questioning
OF the minister, tho couple stood up TO-
gcther and the service was begun. The
first part OF it went off smoothly, but
when it came time for the bride to re.
ply to the question: "Wilt thou take
this man," etc., she replied: "No, l
won't" There was sIdden pause,
some hurried questioning and expostu-
latiou by tho astonished groom. which
effected nothing more than rciteration
OF tho brides refusal, and the outraged
clergyman, in dignitied and severe
words, delivered a scathing rebuke and
showed the party to the door. A half
hour elapsed when the bell rang again,
and tho same couple pcared. Tho
groom, no way abashed, explained to
tho clergyman that ho had mndc up the
quarrel between himself aud the lady,
after considerable coaxing, aud had pre-
vailed on her to return aud be married.
The clergyman hesitated, but at length
consented, and the service was again
begun.
When the groom was asked: "Wilt
thou take this woman" etc, he replied,
most emphatically: "No, won't; it's
my turn now." The bride burst into
tears at this unexpected sign OF pluck in
the man she had fondly hoped to rule,
and the clergyman, fairly iucensed,
surucd them out OF the house with scant
ceremony. An hour later they returned
and the groom again explained that he
Ind made up with the lady, aud they
had finally determined to bo married,
and have no more nonsense about it.
The Clergyman consented this time with
alacrity, and tho groom responded to
the questions asked with satisfactory
promptness, and tho lady performed her
part with dignity and ease. When he
came to the last part Of the ceremony,
however, the clergyman said: "ltsmy
turn row. l will not pronounce you
man and wife. You may go somewhere
else to get married" And tho ficklC
couple, after the third attempt, were
turned away still single.
The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1876-03-06
MartellO Towers.

Martcllo towers are solidly built,
circular, bomb.proof, towers for coast
defense, about forty feet high, usually
situated on or near n beach. The base
contains the magazine, above which are
quarters for the garrison md over
these is fiat roof, upon which is gun
mounted 80 as it may DO fired in any
direction. The name is derived from
similar buildings that were erected on
tho COASTS OF Sicily and Sardinia during
the period that piracy was common III
tho Mediterranean, for the purpose OF
keeping watch, ana giving warning il d
piratical vessel was seen approaching
this warning being by striking on bel
with hammer-and hence the name
Tori da Martello." Those at Quebec
are q portion OF the general plan OF the
fortitication OF that city, and We believe
are not directly connected with "Tht
Citadel" There are number in the
United States as, Tor instance, that or
Tybee island.
The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1876-03-06

A pretty anecdote is told OF Queen
Victoria and Mendelssohn. A short
time before his death the great composer
visited the queen. He sat down at the
piano, aud played accompaniments
while she sang some Of his songs.
When MeudelsSrhn rose to go, Victoria
warmly thanked him for tie pleasure he
had given her, aud said: "Now what
can / do to give You somc pleasure p
expecting him to mention some gift Of
honor she could confer upon him.
Mendelssohn at first declined to mention
anything, but when her majesty insisted,
he frankly told her that he was a lover
Of little children, and that he desired to
SEQ the royal children in their nurseries.
The queen mother was much pleased,
and kindly led him through tho nurse
ries, md they spent n pleasant hour
talking in q friendly way about Their
children.
The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1876-03-06
How Meats are Kept.

It may interest our readers TO know
how meats are kept fresh for tho Eng
lish market during voyage across the
Atlantic. The process is protected by
letters patent on both sides OF the ocean,
and tho proprictors have shown desire
to hayo the public generally acquainted
with it. A traveller who crossed the At.
lantic last winter in the steamer on which
the first experiment WIS mnde, writes as
follows: A New York business man, in.
tcrestod III the compHny and intru1tcd
with the management Of this first VEN
tire, was ono Of the passengers. Flo
no. only made no "trado secret Of the
enterprise lie was engaged in, but took
those OF his fellow passengers who
seemed interested in tho subject (myself
among them) to tho plrt OF tho steamer
where tho refrigerator was placed. open
ing tho door aud explaining every point
in principle and practical working rs
clearly ms possible. Tho principle is ex-
tremcly simple, and it involves no
chemical process or application Of any
kind. To keep fresh meat sound and
sweet during tho ten or twelve days
needed to cross tho ocean it is necessary
merely to keep it dry and cool, without
freezing it. This was tho entire problem
before the inventor, and ho has solved it
by purely mechanical means. Tho meat
being in one part of the refrigerator and
the leo in another, n fan, worked day nnd
nirht Inv n small engine, keeps constant
stream Of mir passing over the meat and
the leo alternately. This is tho whole
process, and there is no "secrct back
Of it. OF course tho air from the ice
keeps tho meat cool, but not as low as
the freezing point. II in passing through
the meat chamber the air takes up the
slightest moisture this is necessarily con
teused into water as soon as it reaches
the leo again, and it flows away in run
ways at the bottom OF the ice chamber
when collected in sufficient quantity.
The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1876-03-06
The Young Lawyer.

Tho tie which bound n certain Detroit
youth to lawyers office was severed
yesterday, and his parents were happy.
They wanted the boy to make great
lawyer, but he wHs getting along too
fast. He pursued his studies with MI
ardor which cast n judicial shadow DER
the household and created considerable
neighborloOd talk. He got trusted for
candy and rcpudiatcd the bill on the
grounds TINT he was n minor. He
bought dog and went into bankruptcy.
He borl owed n pair Of skates and defied
tho owner to get ont wait OF replevin.
He borrowed fifty cents and then made
the lender his assignee.
But tho worst OF 1t was in tho family.
He had n legal name for almost every
thing, and his desire was to prove to
his parents that he wns just absorbing
lead.loads OF law. II he wanted potato
Mt the dinner table he would remark:
"Fathor, file my claim against that
baked potato and Ill prove the indebt'
edness this afternoon"
II he wanted bread he said: "Moth'
or, get me out writ Of attachment for
n piece Of bread"
It was expected of him that he would
build tho morning fires, but no sooner
had he gained an insight into law than
he said to his father :
"I'm going to move for change of
venue unless come other arrangement is
made"
He moved for o stay Of proceedings
when asked to go the grocery, and il
chidcd for being out nights he replied
"File your declaration and give me a
chance for jury trial"
When he was in good humor he would
sit and rega!e his mother with stories
about how CID Chancery was going up
town one night and met Old Equity and
asked him how Decree was getting along.
Old Pleading and Expectations came
along Just then, md there wls n big
eight, and the young lawyer would slap
his leg ard add:
"If Indictment had only been there
he'd have whaled tho whole crowd !"
The other day the long.sufrering
father severed the tic. He was trying
to bear up, hoping for reform, but rs he
sat down to the tea table his son bright
ened up and remarked:
"The defendant will now take the
stand and be sworn. Now, sir, did you
or did you not come out of Gnswold
street saloon at eleven o'clock this morn
ing, wiping your mouth on tho back Of
your hand Tell the Jury all about it,
sir!"
1t was little too much, and the boy
doesn't study law any more. he plays
with n woodpile in tho back yard.
The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1876-03-06
The Spring Fashions.

Cashmere associated with silk, a fnsh-
ion journal tells us, will continue a IA
vorite combination for spring costumes,
cashmere having lost none Of its old
favor. Black will be the most popular
color for these suits, as it conforms to
the accessories Of the toilet, whetever
colors they may introduce, and is there
fore both convenient and economical.
Tho most fashionable costumes, how
ever, will be OF dark shades OF other
colors, as blue, green, etc. knife
plating, still SO much used, promises to
remain, ut least through tho season, ono
Of the varieties OF trimming. Cashmere
suits for the street are to be completed
by small mantelet, held in to tho waist
with belt fastened underneath.
Polonaises are constantly growing i'll
favor, especially those cut after the
princc,se model. Basques and over
skirts are also coming out in new pat
terms, though modistes insist that they
must soon give way to a new order OF
things. The Lutetia overskirt is among
the latest. This describes on the right
side rounded apron, while the left falls
in n deep point reaching almost to the
bottom Of tho underskirt, and is crossed
tiiagonally over the right side, giving
the effect OF double apron. The back
shows two scant puffs, supplemented by
deep hounce, and the left side is or.
namented by ono OF the long parasol
pockets. A long tightftting basque,
in cuirasse shape, known as the Aspasla,
is designed for two materials, one for
the sleeves and the rest described in the
front, and another for the remainder Of
the garment. The roma sleeve gives a
coat sleeve Of graceful design; it llts
closely at tho waist, and is ornnmented
with very deep puffed cuff. This pat
tern is especially appropriate for cash.
mere and thin goods.
Side plating, still much used, re-
quires a length three times repeated,
and shirring only half or one third more
than the single length, according to the
fullness desired. One-third more is
enough for the fullness which is gathered
up at the sides in shirred overdresses,
the front breadths Of walking skirts, OR
for velvet founces. Shirring, which
many ladies' imagine is difficult trim
ming to make, is really quite simple,
merely gathering repeated at regular
intervals.
The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1876-03-06
A Good Year for Them.

II is n great year for the old man.
GrandfatllCrs who havo been neglected
and male to feel that they wcrO in tho
wny, nnd wished thnt they were dead,
who have long been thrust away in tho
kitchen and left to humble to them
selves in tho chimney corner, aro aston
iShed by being brushed up OF an even
ing and brought into tho purlor, where
they are shown of to tho company MS
centeuuia! relics. "Graudfather, you
knew Washington, didn't you?" screams
II granddaughter in his ear, for he is
very doa'. "Yes, yes," says grand.
father, "thc gin'rcl borrcr'd n chaw tor.
baccer of mo many and many timo ~
The old man is going to Philadelphia,
sure.
The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1876-03-06
Rest at Last.

After tho shower, tho tranquil sun;
Silvor stars whom tho day Is done.
After tho snow, tho emerald leaves;
After tho harvest, golden sheaves.
After tho clouds, tho violet sky;
Quict woods when tho wind goes by.
After tho tempest, tho lull Of waves !;
After the battle peaceful graves.
After tho knoll, the wedding bells;
joyful greetings from sad iGrewClls.
After the bud, tho radiant rose;
After our weeping, sweet ropoSe.
Attor tho burden, tho blisSiul need !;
After tho furrow, tho waking scci.
After tho flight, tho downy nest;
Over tho ehadowy rivcr-rCst.