davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-05-03
Made Him What lie Was.

A few weeks ago a saloon keeper in Dover,
Delaware, who patronized his own bar very
literally. stepped into back room, where
men We're at work about a pump in well.
The covering had been removed, and he APP
preached to look down, but, being very
drunk, he pitched in head foremost. lie
had become so much of bloat by the use OF
strong drink that it was impossible to extri-
cate him in time to save him.
There was great excitement in town.
Men and women who had never been inside
of his saloon before were the first to rush 10
his rescue, and 10 offer sympathy to the be-
reaved family. As he was being dragged
from the well and stretched ont dead upon
the saloon floor, a wholesale liquor dealer
from Philadelphia stepped in. After the
first shock at thus finding one of his good
customers dead, he turned to q prominent
lady, crusader, and said, pointing 10 the
wrecked victim, made that man what he
was. | lent him his first dollar, and set him
up with his first stock of liquors, and he's
now worth $4,000 or $4,000"
Looking him full in the face, she re
sponded
"You made him what he was-a drunk
ard, a bloat, stencil in the nostris of soci
eNNf bllu hfuN Nun iilN' hliN
to a drunkard's hell What is money
weighed against a lost soul, a wasted life, q
wife, widow and children orphans 2"
He turned deadly pale, and without wore
left the house.
And so we ask What is all the business
and all the revenue 10 the millions who's,
homes are despoiled, whose children are beg
CARED, and whose loved ones are sent head
long to a drunkard's grave and n drunkard Z
hell Put yourself in the place of tha
mother whose son is pursued day and nigh
by this demon, till the hairs of his head be
come serpents, and live Goals burn into hi
flesh TO the very bone, and, fighting devils
he leaps out into eternity; and then ask
" Are my hands clean DO love my neigh
Dor as myself Am | doing all | can t.
stay the tide that is bearing so many down
and may yet bear me down 20 CBrisfia,
lF.rnuu
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-05-03

In a dark wood, where wild beasts lived,
there once lay mans boot, How it came
there, | cannot say, for no man had been
there's at least the wild beasts had not seen
one In all their lives But there the boot
was and when the beasts saw IL, they came
round 10 find out what IL was. Such
thing was quite new 10 them; but they were
not much at loss, for all that.
"Well, there is no doubt rs 10 what il is.
say" said the bear
"Oh, Of course not" said the wolf, and
the goat, and all the beasts aud birds, in
one breath.
"Of COURSE" said the bear, d" it is The riud
Of some kind Of fruit OFF a tree, the fruit Of
the cork, should say This is cork, it is
plain 30 see - and he showed the sole of the
boot.
"Oh, just hear him just hear him !" cried
all the beasts and birds.
ITS not that at all, said the wolf with o.
glance Of scorn at the bear. "Of course, IT.
is some kind of nest. Look Here is a hole
for the bird to go in at, and here is the deep
part, for the eggs and young ones to be safe.
No doubt at all; of course not "
ooh, oh cried the bear, and the goat,
and all the birds and beast, "Just hear what
he says. II is not that at ALL"
Il should think not, said the goat. at
is quite plain case. Look at this long
root and he showed the string at the side
Of the boot. 1t is the root Of 4 plant, Of
course"
" Not a bit OF it. cried the wolf and the
bear. mot a bit Of it A root How can
YOU say so It is not that, we can all see. "
"lf might speak" said an old owl, who
sat in tree near, " think ! can tell yon
. T.. f., .F1
there are more of such things than you
could count--it is a mans boot"
a what ~ cried all the beasts and birds
"What is a man and what is a bootY
\ man. said the owl, is thing with
two legs, that can walk and eat and talk,
| like ms but he can do much moro than we
can"
"Pooh, pooh !" cried they all.
"That can't be true" said the beasts.
How can thing with two legs do more
than we can, who have four Il is false,
OF course"
"Of course II is if they have no wings"
said the birds
"Well," went on the owl, they have no
wings and yet it is true. Aud theycan make
things like this and they call them boots,
and put them on their feet"
ooh, oh " cried all the beasts and birds
at once. How can youY For shame
Fie on you That is not true, of course
1t cannot be
"a likely story" said the bear
Can do more than We can said the
wolf,
Wear things ON their feet " said Tia,
goat.
"Not true, not truel" cried they all
con the face of it, your story is not true
We know that such things are not worn OF
the feet. How could they be "
"Of course they could not, said the bear
" 1t is false
1t must be false cried all the birds anC
beasts " You must leave the wood thel
said to the owl. What YOU say cannot b
true. You are not TT to live with us loi
have said what you know to befalse. Itmus
be, of course"
And they chased the poor owl out of thu
wood, and would not let him come back.
1t is true for all that, said the owl.
And so it The Nursery.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-05-03
Composition Day.

Elsie Vernon dreaded the weekly compo-
sition day The subject might be ever so
simple and familiar, yet the moment 1t was
named she felt that She knew nothing about
it. She would write at the top of her sheet,
"The Pleasures Of Winter" and then stare
at the words, as though in her ten winters
she had never experienced a single pleasure.
Yet the twenty-four lines must be ground out
somehow, fairly copied, with exactly two
inches left for margin on the left hand side
of the paper, and Elsie Vernon signed at
the conclusion.
Anything more stilted, MECHANICAL, and
lacking In originality than Elsie's compost
tions, | cannot imagine. At last she decided
to give up in despair, and be known as the
scholar who could not write. Her teachers
felt in their hearts that il was the best thing
she could do, but they did not like to admit
that they had failed TO show her how in the
proper way. A good, plain, matter of fact
auntie looked over Elsies shoulder one af-
tenoon, when she was puckering her fore
head and biting her pencil in despair. She
saw that Elsie had been one-half hour eyolv-
ing this sentence on courage, 1t is very
noble quality TO have courage, and all great
men possess it"
"Why not write some of Your own
InouBhtS pH Noulab'' i'lHi' ""'NiN ~
| quired.
90, haven't any !"
Did you ever see any one show it p
Yes" said Elsie, quickly, thought
brother Joe did last summer when he plunged
into the lake and saved Frank Lords life,
Just when he was sinking for the last time. y
Well, write in your own words descrp-
ton Of that incident, and then say, That
was my idea Of true courage
All but that would not be real compo-
stion aunte 1t would be Just story
"My dear child, auntie replied, with rare
wisdom, the best compositions, from Homer
to Shakespeare, have been just stories. Try to
tell what you have seen in simple language,
and you will succeed. II is by trying to use
a style which is not your own, and 10y writ
ing about what you do not comprehend, that
you have got into so much trouble, Now, |
will give you one or two plain rules
Frd-Never write until you know what
the subject means. Ask father, look into
the dictionary, try any and every way, but
find that out first,
" .Second-Then say Just what you would
about il il you were talking to friend.
" THrd-Stop the instant your ideas do,
whether you have written four lines or forty.
FoWh-It is good plan TO read any
thing yon can find that tells you about your
theme hro days beforehand. - Christian al
Horl
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-05-03
Dog Stories.

Everybody thinks his own dog the smart
est, and of course | thought mine So lie
was a little fellow with long silky ears, and
did. as we thought, some wonderful things.
He was very fond Of chicken bones so, one
day, all the debris of pair of tricaseed
chickens were collected and given to the lit
tie fellow for his dinner. lie commenced
eating yoraciousy. and then thought
seemed to strike him, which was probably
this can't possibly eat all these bones,
so may as well pick out just those which !
like" which he accordingly did, till all the
little ones had disappeared, and doggle had
evidently had quite enough. Still all the big
bones remained. What was 10 be done with
them lie was evidently considering Sud
denly he retired, and some one was Just
about to remove the dish, when the patter-
ing Of eight feet was heard on the stairs, and
soon the little white dog appeared, followed
by large black one, whom he led directly
to the dish, and then lay down, complacently
watching his invited guest while he ate his
dinner
The following remarkable instance on the
sagacity of colley dogs was related TO the
writer by Charles Hancock, Esq, the cele-
brated animal painter. Mr. Hancock said
al was once STAYING with Lord kinnard at
his seat in Scotland, when his lordship ex'
pressed a wish that should see some of his
| prize sheep fetched up as quickly as he could
| The shepherd whistled, when fine old sheer
| dog appeared before him, and, seated on his
| headquarters, evidently awaited orders
| What passed between the shepherd and the
dog, know not, but the faithful creature
manifestly understood his instructions.
60 DO You believe that the dog will brnl
the sheep to us out Of your flock 2 | asked.
"'Wait awhile, and you will see said hi
lordship.
The dog now darted off towards tn
sheep, at the same time giving signiican
bark, which Immediately called forth tw'
younger sheep dogs TO Join in the mission
Accustomed as | was to the remarkabl
sagacity of colley dogs, was amazed at VIVA
now took place. On one side of the hill wa
river, on the other side a dense forest
One of the younger dogs, on arriving at tn
foot of the hill, turned TO the left, while tn
other darted off to the right hand. III
former stationed himself between the shee
and the river, while the latter stood betwee
the sheep and the forest. The old dog no'
darted into the middle Of the flock, when Tia
sheep scampered right aud left, but wer
kept at bay by the two watchers. The oil
dog speedily singled ont the particular shee
desired, and in a few minutes the three dog
were quietly driving them toward US.
within about an hour OF receiving tn
! instructions, the dogs brought the sheep II
, to the door OF the mansion
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-05-03
The Worst Fire!

q" Stop that retail liquor rddc iHcldmg Jeer,
during The crisis was the short, crisp order
of Chief of Police Savage, Of Boston, No
vember 18th. 1872, when that city was sui
fering the horrors of conhagration. But Why
this order Just now when the energies OF
thousands were taxed 10 their utmost when
men were struggling and faintng to save
their homes and property from the raging
flames II would seem that If liquor were
over necessary, II 10 was the unfailing and
universal friend that many pretend, it would
be unwise and oppressive TO deny the prof
fered aid TO furnished, overworked men at
this perious hour No, the city government
knew, and all thoughtful persons know, that
q deadly enemy, an internal, maddeuing
drink like ferocious beast, roams UNI
chained through every street and home,
All rush to the front, leaving their iresides
and property aud untold treasures scattered
aud exposed for days to rum thieves and
rum maniacs. And the result of that order
which lasted ten days. proves its wisdom.
Mr. Savage, chief of Boston police says in
his report that the number of arrests for ten
days previous to the fire, from November 2d
to the llth, was one thousand one hundred
and sixty-nine For ten days after the fire,
| from November 18th 10 22d, was six hundred
! dlll SIM N-NHNfli, lltdllN NMltt ~ iNtlN Nih'i
! rum rule as under prohibition.
| Why q why not bless our towns and
state by keeping the tiger chained. that our
youth may remain orderly and temperate,
and the people prosperous and happy
Again we hear. "Shut up your shops
stop the sale Of liquors at this crisis" Such
was the order substantially Of our town au-
thorty, a short time ago. What's up now
We imagine we hear these watchful guard
ians of the public veal reply We have a
horse trot on hand, and if these sources OF
disorder and crime 20 ON, hundreds OF roughs
rowdies and thieves, inspired and maddened
by drink, will riot in our streets by day and
make the night hideous with Bacchanalian
orgies. disorders aud outrages, fights and
murders. The responsibility we have already
assumed as the sworn and trusted couserya
tors of the public peace in suffering so re
voting and destructive a business to 60 on
to this hour in defiance of law and right
must sutfce-it is fearful. The frowns Of
heaven and the Just indignation Of a virtu
Gus and suffering people are upon us. No
no, gentlemen, shut up your bars, put on
your rum fires at this crisis. May we will
all Difference inquire, do these officials re
fleet that by the issuing of an order for
day that they thereby (and it is doubles
so understood by them) virtually say t
these men go on, deal out your drink. "
will not disturb You, and when anothe
emergency shall come we will give you du
: notice
I What, then is the lesson Of the hour
\ We may all learn the startling, telling truth
/ that our officials are fully alive to the fac
/. that the traffic in intoxicating drinks is a d
rect cause Of weakness, disorder and crime
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-05-03
4 Wonderful Work.

A work is going forward in the temper
ancc cause in various parts of New England
which is in some Of its aspects and results
marvellous and full Of promise. II embraces
two classes of organizations, working harmo-
niously for the same ends. The one is
+" Woman's Temperance Unions" and the
other is Reform Clubs" II is Of these lat
ter | would say few words. DIR. Rev
nolds, a physician in Bangor, Me-, had be-
come a slave TO intemperance. BY the help
Of God, he believes, he was able 10 stop short
in his downward course, and become a thor
oughly reformed man. Rejoicing in his
new life, his recovered manhood, he thought
with pity born Of experience of the thou
sands who were in the same bondage from
which he had escaped. lie was deeply
moved, and Immediately began his efforts TO
reclaim others. A club of the reformed
was organized, This was followed by 9TH
ers, till now in the state Of Maine alone
clubs numbering twenty thousand mem
beers have been formed, every one of whom is
solemnly pledged to total abstinence. And
these clubs are constantly multiplying and
increasing, Every member is a new worker.
Saved himself, his impulse is to save others
But stop, reader, and let these twenty thou
sand reformed men pass in procession, two
by two, before you. Look at each one in
the face. Mark his manly gait lie little
while since wretched slave, is now free
man, restored to his manhood, become a val
liable citizen, kind husband and father
and ii may be, useful member of the
church of Christ What am addition TO the
best forces aud influences of society are
twenty thousand reclaimed men Who can
estimate il ? But this is believed TO be but
the beginning Of what is to be. These
twenty thousand are TO grow into millions
the +" clubs multiplying until every town
in the land shall have one or more. The
work is already in progress in some portion
of Massachusetts,, especially in Essex county
The Lord bless it, and move His ministers
and His churches 10 give II their counte
nance and support.--Rer. DR.. hanson
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-05-03
temperance
nAs rArnnR nnrN nERE 2

arioasc Mister Bafkccper. has father been here7
iie's not boon at home for The days
Iii now almost midnight, and mothers n inf
some accident keeps him away
80, no, little stranrr=or yes, he's been hcfei
some Officers TOOK him away.
iie'. gone 10 the lock.up-rm souy. my dciri
ile. done something awful, they say"
Chorus OH ta. not IN, father who dd The bal deci
Twas drinking That mnddcncd Ms brain;
uhi iet him go homo tn dear mother. plead
iin sure he'll not touch 10 again.
pm sure. I'm sure I'm sure hen NOT touch tagain"
.pls,.e. Mister Policeman. my father b. lu.t
man says you TOOK him away
oh can't he go home, sir, and what viii uo'oi
II mother will send you The PAVE"
.,ohf no. little ploador. your father can't gni
We pui him In PRISON to-day
aohomc io Your mother and quck LET hoI Know
What's keeping your father away"
chofH,--" Oh twas not m, father" etc.
Please. cir. Mister Jaior please let me soiu
The, say That my fathers inadei
scarcely can ten how unhappy we've been
We could AQl ifal wgse had he died
Please sir Il was drinking that made him d1 "fonf'
I'm sure sir, De will drink mo- morci
or lust few mnutcs-a minutes not lona
Buino one would open the door.
clorHf-" on twas not my father ,ic.
Vi day tho Young watcher stood fast O., icaoor
in,ain with Dos father TO speah
% crake,i ul great hinges twice fon uu.- o. Hore,
s. prison doors only can crcnk.
Then speeding through darkness 90 homo sd as in 90.
promise most solemn De bore.
Dear mother. I1l shunit a. long o. I've nr,lu
900 taste %. ani touch 10 no more"
rlarrt-" oh twas NOT my iiihor ci'.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-05-03
Correspondence.


(Which way do you regard as the best to
feed meal TO milch cows-dry, or scalded? have
not seen the subject argued much, and would
like to hear from some Of your readers on this
point s. Warren, VI
viii some of our dairy friends who have
been feeding meal give us their views 1t
is certainly important to get all the good out
of our. feed that can be got. The question
is, whether cooking or scalding meal en-
ables cows to extract more milk from it than
when it is fed raw. But who has tried the
experiment with sufficient care to be able to
tell ? Do we need an experimental farm in
this state to settle such questions Would
it pay the farmers to establish aud support
such a farm?
nEDGis.
al would like TO inquire through your columns,
II there have been any hedges set out for fences in
this state that have proved successful aud cheap.
DO you know the cost Of growing the barberry
| for n fence? Il 1t the best and how is it cult
waited AM.c.'
Some time last year we printed an article
on this subject, giving the result OF our
own experience and Of our observations in
various parts OF the state. We have, our
self, about eight hundred feet of bucktlorn
hedge, five years from seed (two years in
nursery and three years set in the row, that
will, we think, turn stock in another year,
and is otherwise perfectly satisfactory. This
plant is a free grower, yet naturally shruhby,
and requires little trimming. 1t is hardy,
healthy, does not run or sucker, and is not
attacked by insects or browsed by stock
The barberry we have also tried, but find
it too slow grower, and also too slim and
light to become either "pig-tight, "bull-
strong" or horse-high.'
The arboryitae, or white cedar, will make
a good fence in soils that suit it, but it is
subject to die suddenly, and without appar
ent cause, in some places.
Willow will make reliable fence in wet
land, if managed rightly; but being natur
ally trees, they need polardng, and are
liable to gaps that allow the passage Of pig.
and sheep.
We invite any reader who has expert
HenNcu III HtublnSi W Selu III us VAl'iiVHNV
In regard to raising hedge, if from seed
they should be sown in the fall orvery early il
the spring, about as you would SOW beet seed
! The land ought to be rich, and kept clear Of
weeds in, as well as between, the rows. Il
the land aud tilage is all right, the young
I plants will be large enough, after two seasons
= growth, to be transplanted into the hedge
These plants should be assorted, and TN
smaller ones either thrown away, or set b,
themselves in a separate hedge. The line o
the hedge should have been well plowed an,
, enriched the previous season. Set the plant
in single row, six inches apart, packing tn
! fine dirt well around the roots. Before set
E ting, cut the tops back 50 as to leave abou
5 six inches of stem above the roots. Cult
t vate well, and keep entirely free from weed
for the first two years, at least, after setting
4 Neither buckthom nor barberry require mucl
e trimming, being naturally shrubby.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-05-03
Honesty the Best Policy.

One day the Duke of Buccleuch, Scotch
nobleman, bought COW in the neighbor-
hood of Dalkeith, where he lived. The COW
was 10 be send home the next day. Early
in the morning as the duke was taking a
walk in very common dress, he saw a boy
irving in vain TO drive the COW to his resi-
dence. The COW was very nruly, and the
poor boy could not get on with her at all.
The boy, not knowing the duke, bawled out
TO him in broad Scotch accent
HE, nun, come here, and gie's a hand
wi this beast"
The duke walked slowly on not seeming
to notice the boy, who still kept calling for
his help. At last. finding that he could not
get on with the COW, he cried out in distress,
" Come here, nun, and help ms, and as sure
as anything III gre ye half get"
The duke went and lent a helping hand.
And now" said the duke as they trudged
along after the COW, how much do you think
you will get for the job ?"
81 dinna KEN" said the boy, "but I'm
sure o. something, for the folks at the big
house are guild to bodies"
As they came to a lane near the house
the duke slipped away from the boy, aud en-
tered by different way. Calling his butler
he put sovereign in his hand, saying
"Give that to the boy who has brought the
cow"
lie then returned TO the end of the lane
where he had parted from the hoy, so AS Il
meet him on his way back.
"Well, how much did you get p asked
the duke.
"A shilling" said the boy, "and there
the half O. il 10 We"
But surely you had more than a shil
ling 2" said the duke.
No." said the boy, "sure that's a got
and dye no think it's plenty 2"
81 do not, said the duke; +" there mus
be some mistake, and as | am acquainte,
with the duke if you return, think III &c
you more"
They went back, the duke rang the bell
and ordered all the servants 10 be assembled
"Now," said the duke to the boy, "poin
me out theperson who gave you the shilling.
at was that chap there with the apron,
said the boy, pointing TO the butler.
The butler fell on his knees, confessed hi
fault, and begged to be forgiyeni but III
duke ordered him 10 give the boy the SOY
ereign, and quit his service Immediately
"You have lost" said he, "your money
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-05-03
Look Out, Young Man.

When it is said of youth, " lie drinks, 80
and 1t can be proven, what store wants him
for a clerk 2 What church wants him for a
member Who will trust him What dy-
ing man will appoint him as his executor ?
lie may have been forty years in building
his reputation-it goes down. Letters of
recommendation, the backing of business
firms brilliant ancestry, cannot save him.
The world SHES off. Why 1t whispered
all through the community, He drinks
he drinks" That blasts him. When a
young man loses his reputation for sobriety
he might as well be at the bottom of the sea.
There are young men who have their good
name as their only capital. Your father has
started you out to city life. lie could only
give you an education. lie gave you nc
means. lie started YOU however, under
Christian influences. You have come to the
city. You are now achieving your own for
tune, under God, by your own right arm
Now, look out, young man, that there is NO
doubt of your sobriety, DO not create any
suspicious by going in and out of liquor es
adjustments, or by any odor of your breath
or by any glare of your eyes, or by any un.
natural flush of your cheek You cannot af.
ford to do it, for your good name is your only
capital, and when that is blasted by the rep
utation of taking strong drink, all is gone
forever