davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1876-01-01

Another formed his mouth so that James
read the word "prison;" and another held
| up his fist to show what he would do if
James told. But the boy could not tell a
lie. He felt at that moment that he would
be less afraid to go to prison than he was
to tell an untruth.
Now, then," said the policeman, "did
you put the stones on the liner
81 am afraid did" said James.
ooh, are you? Then / am very glad 10
have caught you"
81 did not mean to leave them on the
line" said James, &C and indeed 1 am not
quite sure that / put them there; but
think it is very likely, for was playing
on the spot"
"Then you must come with me-"
every we'll"
''But first tell me if you did all the mis-
chief yourself, or if any of these boys
helped your
But if James told the truth about him.
self he was not going to tell tales on his
playmates, and so he declined to answer
the policeman's question.
"Never mind" said the man; " one of
you will be enough to serve as an exam
ple," and he walked away, taking James
with him.
boys. "He will be taken before the.
magistrates and sent to prison, and very
likely whipped"
But James had not lost his own self
respect, and though he wondered what
would be done to him, and though it must
be confessed that he was little afraid,
still he felt he had done right, and he was
not as miserable as one might have ex-
expected.
Was he not brave boy?
And he had brave boys reward, for
the gentleman to whom the policeman
took him complimented him upon his
love of truth, and after cautioning HIM
never to play near the line again, he let
him go home.-AdUocote.
American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1876-01-01
UNCLE GRUM.

THERE lived once on a time certain
great, stout, disagreeable gentleman,
whose name was Mr.. Grum. You know
there are some people who make them
selves provoking in everything that they
do and this Mr.. Grum was one of these
people. He wore great thick, creaking
boots, that nobody liked to hear coming
up their steps. He had a way of blowing
his nose that you would have disliked
very much if you could have heard him.
He hated children; and having said that,
! don't think there is any need of adding
another word to this description but that
we can just go on with the story, setting
him down as grumbling, growing,
rusty, fusty, ill-mannered, stony hearted,
grim old Grum.
1t happened then one day that little
frankie Mitchell, having nothing else to
do, and being very daring boy for his
story Uncle Grum did not believe in
fairies, of course; but by the way of pun
ishing frankie for daring to beg story
of him he told the poor boy such dread
full story of giant who did nothing all
day but eat boy sandwiches that frankie
dare not go to bed alone for week after,
and started up screaming rs often as he
fell asleep. 1t fell out, however, that the
Dreamman, who was bringing pleasant
dreams for frankie, heard every word of
Uncle Grum's story standing behind
Frankie's crib; and telling it in fairy
land there was great indignation.
Well teach him to brighten little
boysr' said all the elves.
So, that night, as Uncle Grum was
sound asleep, dreaming of boxing little
girls ears, something hit him smart tap
on the shoulder; but, jumping up, he
saw nothing-only that his shoes were on
the bed. He was surprised at that and
threw them off the clean, white coverlet
quickly. Hardly had they touched the
carpet, however, when up they popped
again on the bed, and ''Put us on"'
growled one of the shoes, hearsely.
Good gracious men' cried Uncle
(trum.
American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1876-01-01
Did he fight with thieves ?

be called brave! DlQ ne nunt lion or
bear?
No.
Did he fight with thieves?
No.
Did he have pitched battle with boy
bigger and stronger than himself?
Oh, no.
What did he do, then?
He told the truth.
Perhaps you think that did not require
much courage; but indeed it did, and
only brave boy could have told it under
the circumstances.
But who was the boy?
Well, his name was James Peters, and
he was the son of a man and woman who
children to do the same, and they had
taught James that it was cowardly thing
to tell lie. He believed that so entirely
that do not think anything would have
influenced him to tell an untruth.
One day he and some other boys were
playing in field through which the rail
way ran. They played at marbles and
whipping their tops and several other
things. Among the rest they got some
stones together and made heap of them,
but what game it was that they played
with them really do not know.
1t happened, however, that a sharp and
sudden shower came on and the boys ran
off for shelter. No one noticed at the time
that the heap of stones was simply kicked
down and not properly cleared away, and
certainly no one saw that couple OF
large ones lay across the rail.
They, however, remembered it after
ward for while they were in their place
of shelter they saw an empty luggage
train come along, and noticed that it
was going very slowly, and at last
stopped. :.
terror. g we forgot to put the stones away.
Look! man has just taken one up in his
hand. We ought not to have left them
there. should not wonder if the train
had been coming quickly, instead OF
creeping along, there might have been an
accident
The boys all looked very frightened.
1--WE ought not TO have played so near
the line," said James.
ave ought to have cleared the stones
"Never mind; no real harm has been
DONE" said third.
but if we were found out we might
expect to be well punished" said an
other.
"But then we are not going to be found
out, and that is one comfort"
As they were going home, however,
they were afraid it might not be as they
had hoped, for policeman came toward
them.
Now, take care" said one boy, with a
white face; don't know anything about
it, for whoever is found out will have to
go to prison."
There was no time for more, for the po-
liceman stood in front of them.
Now, tell the truth. Which of you
bows put these stones on the liner he
asked, and his voice was dreadfully
stern.
81 did not" said one.
!" Neither did l." said another.
81 am sure it was none of my dolngs,
said third.
"What do you say about it, youngsterE"
inquired the policeman, looking 1ull al
James His friends gave him warning
glance, and one boy held up his finger
American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1876-01-01

less he has met with other and equally
strange races of men. The stories of
tribes of African dwarfs and of savages
| with tails have been scoffed at by anthro-
biologists ever since people became suf-
f1ciently civilized to decline to believe
anything contrary to their personal ex-
perience But we now know that the
story of the dwarf nation was true, and it
is not absolutely impossible that Cameron
may have found that the story of the peo-
pie with tails has some foundation in
fact.
The field of African exploration which
twenty-five years ago was SO vast and
alluring is now reduced to narrow limits.
There are but two problems left for solu-
ton. We have yet to know whether Tan
ganyika connects with the Albert Lake,
and to discover the mouth of Schwein,
furth's Welle. The unexplained fullness
OF water in Albert Lake. and the steady
set of the current northward in Tangan-
yfkn are two facts which it is exceedingly
difficult to explain, except on the suppo-
sitlou that the latter lake discharges into
the former. That part of the waters of
Tanganyika flow through the Lukuga, not
the Lualaba, does not render it absolutely
certain that the lake has mouths and its
principal outlet at the north. Cameron
found the current in the Lukuga so slight
as to be hardly perceptible, and it may be
that Tanganyika only finds an outlet in
that direction at high water-just as Lake
Itasca, the real outlet of which is the
Mississippi, flows over into the Red River
of the North during the spring fresh
cts. This question has, probably,
before this time, been finally set at
rest by Stanley, and, in case the
latter hears of the success of Cameron
before he undertakes-as was his original
purpose-to descend the Lualaba, it is
more than probable that he will turn his
attention to the Welle and finish the final
task of African exploration by descend
ing that mysterious river to its mouth. II
he does so, we venture to predict that the
Welle williprove to be not the Shary, as
Schweinfurth imagfnes, but the Ogowai,
and it is earnestly to- be hoped that Stan.
ley's efforts will be turned IN that direc-
ton in time TO save him from the now use
less risk of following the path that Came
ron has explored.
Owing to various circumstances, Cam
eron undertook his journey down the
Lualaba without the support either of the
English Government or of the Royal Geo.
graphical Society. When he reaches
home there Is no doubt that this apparent
but unintentional neglect of the gallant
explorer will be more than atoned for.
The reception given to Spoke and Grant
will be eclipsed by the reception which
Cameron has SO richly deserved, and, if
he does not receive the title which was
SO worthily bestowed upon Baker he
will be known in history as the Ney of
African explorers-the bravest of the
Y. Times.
American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1876-01-01
@ur Bops ard girls.
A CHRISTMAS MEDLEY.

KEEN, cold night the sky foretells,
Suffused with sunsets crimson glow;
Then faster drive and cang the bells,
For Christmas Eve draws near, you know.
The goseips sip their tea, and chat,
And tell the tales Of long ago,
And time flies fast-whO cares for that?
For Christmas comes tonight, you know.
Fresh voices shout within the hall,
And feet come stamping off the snow;
And thine welcome waits them all
For Christmas comes to- night, you know.
Around the pond the skaters glide
In widening circles to and fro,
Each lad a rosy lass beside,
For Christmas comes tonight, you know.
hear the chore- boys song of glee,
And from the wooded vale below
The hOmereturning sportsmen see,
For Christmas comes tonight, you know.
From out the dim and dusky pines
The trapper's camp-fres fit and glow,
And in their light the far lake shines,
The shades of night draw near, You know.
Some are not here we used to greet
In happy pastimes long ago.
The memory of their love Ie sweet:
Such memories do not fade, you know,
Now flock the children to the fun,
And gather in the hreside's glow.
Hang up your stockings, everyone.
Tonight comes Santa Claus, you know.
youths Companion.
American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1876-01-01
Selected sHisreHs,,g.
THE NIGHT AFTER OHREsTMAs.

Twas the night after Christmas, when all through
TSe.s ssoctia Se late sae So miesoI.s eaTs.
WerD emptfed Of an that wAs eatnble there.
The dariings had duly been tucked in thei
With very full stomachs and pains in their heads
doing ...y IN my NEW eesso1 sap
When out In the narssry aTosc such ciatter, =
sprHng from my sleep. crying: What is the
few to each bedside-still half in q doze-
While the light OF the taper served clearly to
The pitsoas plight q those objects below;
But the little, pale fsce OF each sick Httle dear,
For each pet that had eranned itself nun - q
knsw in no.snt now felt like oidNick.
Their pul.~ were rspid. their bs.sEi.ks the
What thsir stomachs rejected Pm mention BY
Now turkey, now stunning, pIum-puddins; OF
And ensssTds. and crullers, and er.pberry-s.uce,
before Outraged n.ssas Al Ts ;n to che w "a,
Liks pellets which urchins from pop,guns let Ay,
Went hgs. nuts and raisins, jam, Jelly md pie,
10 the shame Of mamma ana Santa Cis1r, too !
turned from the sight. % my bedroom stepped
And brought ont vial marked !. Pulv. Ipecac, ;,
When my Nancy exciaimed-for their sufBerings
: DO.t yCa think you had better, love. run for
! ran-snd was scarcely back under my roof
When heard the sharp clstter Of old Jalap's
1 might asp'; az that hardly had turned myself
When 90 doctor came info the noon with a
He w:s e.Tssd WIKI mad frsa hi head to hi.
And The ssis he had on Yves his very worst suit;
He had hardly had time t. Pat that on his hec5
And he looked IKE FalstaH half fuddled With
His eyes, how they twinkledi Had the doctor ~
His cheeks locked like port and his breath suSltl
He hsdn't ben shaved for q fortnixhtorso.
And the beard ON his chin WASH white as the
But inspecting their tongues in despite Of their
And drawing his watch from his wsistcoat be-
He felt Of each pulse-s.ying: q Each little belly
Must Get nd-here he laughed" Of the rest Of
! eazed on sssh chubby, plump. dick little elf,
And groaned when he said so-in spite Of myself;
But sink Of his eye when he physiclned our
soon gave me to know had nothing to dread.
He dids't Prsscdbs-sut went ssrsishrwsy to
And dosed an the rest-gsye his trousers jerk.
He butt, ned his coat-from his chair he aross,
Then jumped In his gig-gsve old Jalap
And ysi.p dsshsa on .. IL priehed by thistle.
Bat the doctor exclaimed, sRe he drove out Of
~rhsyH Be we'll by to-nerrow-sood- night,
Joncs-good-nightf
American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1876-01-01
Tr uly Brave.

WHAT did he do, then, that he should
be called brave? Did he hunt a lion or a
hearS
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-09-27
Disappearance of Large California
Lake.

While in this city, says the Virginia
City Chronicle, Lieut. Wheeler called on
|. b. James, the well known civil and
mining engineer. In the course of the
conversation that ensued between the
two gentlemen, Lieut.. Wheeler referred
to a section of Lower California where
Mr.. James made surveys in 1873, for q
certain purpose. In making these sur
veys Mr.. James mapped large area of
country. Lieut.. Wheeler had one of
James maps with him while in that
section this simmer. On the map was
marked d large lake-a lake $50 so uare
miles in extent. All that Lieut.. Wheel
er found of this lake was small pond.
The Indications are that in one or two
years this will have disappeared. The
lake that is thus rapidly becoming ex-
tinct is situated between Signal Noun
tain (Coopah Range) and the Coast
Range Mountains Mr.. James found
the lake very shallow about the shores,
it being not more than a foot deep 100
feet from shore. Mr., James filed q
canteen Of water from, the lake and
brought it home with him. He found
it to be saturated solution of salt. In
drying up the waters of the lake left a
large deposit Of salt.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-09-27
PetticOat Pencil Showers.

The New Century for Women properly
resents the structures which have been
passed upon women correspondents as
the pests of journalism. 1t says: SIT
is not sex that marks the dividing line
between the good and bad journalist,
but high principle and good breeding.
To repeat private conversations. to peep
through crevices and listen at keyholes;
to blazen abroad family matters which
do not concern the public;s to retail
twaddle and small talk about the dress
and manners of men and women who
are placed by accident in CONSPICUOUS
positions; to indulge in jests and stories
whose point is an indicate innuendo,
or fippancy that will wound some one,
impossible to gentlemen, and equally SO
to ladies'" The original Jenkins was
undoubtedly man, and has many sons
as well as g. large family of daughters.
In England public affairs airs discussed
in the parlor and dining-room as we'll
as in the clubhouse aad smoking-room,
women know what is going on in Servia,
in Parliament, and even in the law
courts. American women as a rule
know little and care less about puolic
affairs, and naturally when they write
for the newspapers run to gossip and
dress materials. Happily there are ex-.
ceptions. Some of the best work in
American journalism is done by intelll-.
gent, conscientious, and noble women.
Place aux DANES
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-09-27

A PACKAGE was lately deposited to the
archives of the National Library, at
Paris, by the heirs of the late Madame
Cornu, that is supposed to DE Of great
historicle interests. 1t contains I'll the
letters of Napoleon LII. to her, begin
ming when he was but ten years old and
ending with oneWritten but two months
before his death. She was his foster
sister and lifelong friend. In her will
she directed that this package should
be SO disposed of that the seals should
not be broken in ten years.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-09-27
The Apothecary's Squirrel.

An apothecary had tame squirrel,
which he was In the frequent habit of
regal1ng with nuts, and which he used
to keep IN his own private room adjoin-
ing his shop. The little fellow was al
lowed plenty of liberty, for the door of
cage was Frequently left open, and
he used to climb up doors and windows,
and spring thence upon his masters
hand. On one occasion he jumped
upon the broad-brimmed hat of a Qua
ker who came into the shop. He made
friends with all his masters acquaint-
ances, but if anybody leased him ne
could show that he knew how to bite.
AS the winter came on, he was in the
habit of building himself nest of any
tow he might find about, and used to
choose for his residence the pocket of
his masters coat. When, in the even
ing, the coat was taken off and hung
upon nail, the little squirrel would
climb up the door on which the nail
stood, run down the coat, and take up
his quarters in the pocket, carrying al
ways in his mouth good supply of the
tow, which, he had prepared and rolled
together beforehand, and with which
he contrived to make in the pocket the
cosiest nights lodging in the world.
Great results followed from this
habit of the squirrels, as you shall
hear. A housebreaker, watching his
opportunity, selected an especially
dark night for getting in through the
window of the apothecary's little back
room behind the shop, with, as you
may imagine, no good end in view.
He knew that the apothecary kept no
dog; he could easily guess where his
coat was likely to be hanging up.
He soon found the pocket, and was
just about to tighten it of purse, peck
et-book, and keys, when misfortune
totally unexpected befen him. In
rumaging for keys and purse he had
struck the sleeping squirrel, of whose
strange habits with regard to his bed
room he had not been aware. Not
liking to be thus suddenly disturbed,
the little animal gave the thief so sharp
bite on his thumb that he could not
forbear yelling with pain, and the mas
ter Of the house, alarmed at the un-
usual sound, came into the room,
armed with the poker, just as the thief
was escaping through the window. The
Waterman happening to be passing,
the unwelPme guest was given into
custody, and as the geese at Rome had
saved the capital by their cackling, SO
the little squirrel had saved his masters
property by lodging in his coat pocket.
No creature is too small sooner or
later to be of use-Faona the German OF
agnes Stein.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-09-27
How to Read.

Do not lay out in detail a course Of
reading" Probably you would not fol-
low it, and the moral effect of m king
a plan and giving it up is injurious. But
there is another reason for my advice.
When you become interested in a sub
ject, then is the time to follow it up, and
read everything you can get hold Of
about it. What you read when you are
thus keenly interested you will remem-
Der and make your own, and that is the
secret of acquiring knowledge: to study
a thing when your mind is awake and
eager for it. No matter if it leads you
away from the book with which you set
out; and if it sends you to another sub
ject, so that you never again open the
original book, so much the better; you
are eager, you are learning, and the OBJ
ject of reading is to learn, not to get
through a certain number of books.
"What we read with inclination"
said wise old DR.. Johnson, "makes a
strong impression. What we read as a
task is of little use."
When you read book that interests
you, you naturally wish to know more
of it's author. That is the time to make
his acquaintance. Read his life, or an
account of him in an encyclopedia;
look over his other writings, and be-
come familiar with him. Then you
have really added something to your
knowledge. If you fettered yourself
with a course you could not do this,
and before you finished a book you
would have forgotten the special points
which interested you SIS you went
through.
You think that history is dull read
ing, perhaps. Pm afraid that is be-
cause you have a dull way of reading
it, not realizing that it is a series of
true and wonderful stories OF mems
lives, beyond comparison more mar
velous and interesting than the ficti-
tious lives we read in novels. The first
pages are usually dry, I admit, and |
advise you not to look at them till you
feel desire to do SO; but select some
person, and follow out the story of his
life, Or some event, and read about
that, and l assure you, you will find a
new life in the old books.
After getting, in this way, a frag-
mentary acquaintance with a nation,
it's prominent men and striking events,
you will doubtless feel anxious to know
its whole story, and then, reading it
with interest, you will remember what
you read.
But there are other subjects in which
you may be interested. You wish first
to know about the few great books and
authors generally regarded and referred
to as the fountain-heads of the worlds
literature. 1t is impossible, in a little
talk" like this, to give definite direc-
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-09-27
FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS.
The Origin.


BY G. E. D.
The field-mouse long had wished for wings:
The raven wanted legs; ps
Of Fortune each, with clamorings, ~
The trifing favor begs.
"My reasons" quoth the mouse, "you know
Are weighty and at hand;
But what has moved this rascal crow
cannot understand.
You wish to walk like othersl you.
Who make in trees your housed"
The raven in q fury flew,
And swallowed up the mouse.
The mouse, with many bite and kick,
His way to freedom cleared,
Till through the ravens feathers thick
Four struggling feet appeared.
"See," Fortune cried, "what folly brings!
No further shall We stir.
You, mouse, have now pair of wings:
You, raven, feet and fur.
Go, flutter in the twilight drear;
By stealth your living seek:
Let all who wait upon me here
Declare if well l speak,"
The beasts approved the sentence all,
From elephant to cat;
And slowly from the judgment-han
Went futtering the bat.
Christian Union.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-09-27

A KENTUcKIAN. becoming incensed at
the boastfulness Of sn Englishman as
to the superiority of British Inventions,
exclaimed, NPshaw! They are Of no
account. Why, house painter In
my neighborhood grained a door SO ex-
actly in imitation of oak, that last year
it put forth leaves, and grew an excels
lent crop of acorns; and another fei
low up in Iowa has just taught ducks
to swim in hot water, and with such
success that they lay boiled eggs! -
The Englishman from that time forth
exhibited a modest and subdued air.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-09-27
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 81, 1876.
By the Sea.

Dy TIC SOst.
o thou tumultuous sea,
Pouring perpetually
Thy tireless tides;
Breaking in languid might
Or shaking as by right
The old earth's sides
Never the same art thou;
Yelling in mist thy brcw
Quiet and dim,-
It's but mask to hide
Vengeance, and mounting pride,
From rim to rim.
Fearful and tickle sea,
Type of Inconsistency,
Cruel and cold
Yet delight in thee,
Vision of mystery,
By heaven unrolled
I love the boundless sea,
Full of mystery
It cannot tell;
Its soft kiss for the shore,
It's loud and angry roar,
It's dying swell.
Strangely it moves my heart
With its deep solemn part
Inthe worlds strain;
Full is its magic voice
OF Joy, when we rejoice,
OF grief or pain!
And yet thou lowest not me,
0 great and lonely sea,
Proud in thy might
Take but this aching heart,
Make it of thine q part,
Or still it quite