davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-02-11
Taking Toll.

A gentleman Of an autobiographic
tnrn relates how he was instructed in the
custom of taking toll, by a aprightly
widow during a moonlight sleigh ride
with merry party. He says:
The lively widow L. sat In the same
sleigh, under the same buffalo-robe, with
me. .. #-r ..
"Oh! oh! don't! she exclaimed, as we
came to the first bridge, at the same time
catching me by the arm and turning her
veiled face towards me, while her little
eyes twinkled through the moonlight.
Don't whal?" ] asked. Pm not do
ing anything"
"Well, but thought you were going
to take TOLL" replied the widow.
"Toll P' rejoined. whats that?"
"Well, I declared cried the widow,
her clear laugh ringing out above the
music of the bells, lyon pretended you
don't know what toll is!'
Indeed don't, then" sail, laugh
HHkt SAPidAHJ II yOu pIcdSc.
"You never heard, them" said the
widow, most provokingIy-"you never
heard that when we are on a sleigh ride
the gentlemen always,-that is, some
times,--when they cross bridge claim
kiss, and. call it toll. But / never pay
it."
/ said that had never heard of it be-
fore, but when we came to the next
bridge ] claimed the toll, and the wild
ow's struggles to hold the veil over her
face were not enough to tear it. At last
the veil was removed. her round, rosy
face was turned directly toward mine
and in the clear light of q frosty moon
the toll was taken, for the first time in
my experience. Soon we came to a long
bridge, with several arches; the widow
said it was of no use to resist man who
would have his own way. 80 she paid the
toll without q murmnr.
"But you won't take toll for every
arch, Will your" she said, 70 archly that
| could not fail to exact my dues; and
that was the beginning of my courtship.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-02-11
Poisonous Winds in India.

A paper has been read before the
London Meteorological Society on the
poisonous winds Of India. The author
DIR. Cook, remarks that there are Ger.
tain DAYS in which however hard and
violent winds may blow, little or no dust
accompanies it, while at other times
every little puff Of air or current Of air
raises up and carries with it clouds of
dust. and at these times the individual
particles of sand appear to be in such
an electrical condition that they are
even ready TO repel each other. But
the wind most deadly in it's influence IL
the simeon, it, presence being made
manifest in the sudden extinction of life
wherever protection from its infnence
fails 10 be afforded DR.. Cook says Of
this phenomena that il is sudden in its
attack, and is sometimes preceded by
cold current OF air, but occurring in the
hot months. and taking place by night
az we'll as by day; Its course is straight
and defined, and its passage leaves a mar
row, "knife-life" track. it is attended
by well marked suIphuroua odor, and
the current of air in which il passes il
evidently greatly heated-is, in fact,
like the blast Of furnace.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-02-11
1t Got Monotonous.

Six or seven days ago an old man en-
tered the store of Detroit hg rd ware
man, who also deals in seeds. and en-
qnirine for the proprietor, soon stood
face to face with him.
WANT to see me?" asked the dealer
ayes, sir, do! Seven years ago this
coming spring boughta paper of seeds
of yonp
81 presume sop
III swear to it, sir! Seven years ago
sir, and not one of those seed4 came up~
"WeH, that's funny" laughed the
dealer.
lyon may think it was" said the old
man, but I'll make it cost you ten
thousand dollars! When you sold me
those seed, sir, you did not know that
you were dealing with lionw
well, you stop your blowing and get
out of here~
Give me a package of cabbage seeds,
sir?"
81 won'tr' -5... r- q
The old man went away, but in an
hour returned and said in loud voice:
"Seven years ago this coming spring
bought package Of seeds at this store.
Not one those seels arose from the sile!"
He was ordered ont, and he went out
He was there the next morning as soon
as the proprietor was, and he said:
"Seven years ago this coming spring
you sold me a package of seeds. Not
one single seed matured to manhood" .
He was pat ont that time. but he re-
turned in the afternoon, when the store
was full of customers, and exclaimed:
"Seven years ago this spring / was
swindled oy that man there! He sold
me a package of garden seeds, not one
seed of which ever thruvw
When he went ont something hit him
three or four times in the back. He
went down the street for while, and
then returned and stood in front of the
store and said to the people who passed:
Seven years ago ehis coming spring
this store here sold me garden seeds that
never sprouted!" ...#
He repeated the words over and over
until crowd began to gather. when he
was called in and given dozen papers
Of seed and told to forgive and forget.
"Six papers of onion seeds to pay for
the choking" he said as he buttoned up
his ove'eoat. l-..- ...
They were given him, and when stow
ed away he remarked, "Six paper Of Gu
cumber seeds to pay for four kicksl"
After some argument they were hand
Ell him, and as he backed out OF doors
he said: ....--... -. r
"It's all right You've acted like
man about it. and if yon want any veg
-tables next fall I'll make discount TO
youP-[ Detroit Free Press.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-02-11
Educating Horses.

Conld the coming generation Of horses
in this country be kept from their days
of "Olthood to the age of five years in
the hands Of good, careful managers,
says the Indoor and Out, there would he
seen vast difference in the general
character of the noble animal. If a colt
is never allowed to get an advantage, it
will never know that il possesses pow
er that man cannot control, and If made
familiar with strange objects. il will not
be skittish and nervous. If horse Is
made accustomed from its early days to
have objects hit him on the heels, back
and hips, he will pay no attention tn
giving out Of a harness or of a wagon
running against him in an unexpected
moment. We once saw an aged lady
drive a high spirited hor-e, attached to
carriage down steep hill, with no
hold back straps upon the harness, and
she assured us that there was no danger,
for her son accustomed his horses to all
kinds of usages and sights that common
ly drive the animal into frenzy of fear
and excitement. A gun can be fred
from the back of horse, an umbrella
held over his head, buffalo robe
thrown over his neck. railroad engine
pass close bv, bis heels bumped with
sticks, and the animal take it all as
natural condition Of things, If only
taught by careful management that he
will not be injured thereby. There is
great need of improvement in the man
agement of this noble animal; less beat
ing wanted aud more education.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-02-11
A Ainer's Luck.
rom the Anlador (Cal.) Ledger.

From the Anlador (Cal.) Ledger
About four years ago an Austrian,
whose name, we believe, is John Travis,
bid adieu 10 his native Land, emigrated
to America, and finally determined to
court the tickle goddess of Fortune to
the land Of gold. He left wife and
family behind, intending to return for
them as soon "a circumstances would
permit. He fixed upon Amador coun
" as the scene of his toll. Being a man
of industrious and steady habits, he ex-
perienced little difficulty in finding en-
ployment He worked principally in
the Oneida mine. and at the END of four
years, by perseverance and frugality, he
had amassed about 81 800 dollars in
gold. Little writing had passed be
tween the pair during those years Of
separation. Having accumulated this
amount of money, he determined TO re
turn home for his family in Delmatia,
expecting to give them an agreeable
surprise. With the greater portion of
his gold sewed up in belt which he
wore around his waist, he went to New
York, where he took passage on board a
steamer boand Tor Hamburg, think
ing to make the remainder of
the journey by land. At length the
vessel reached her destined port, and
visions of home and a reunion with his
long lost friends danced before him.
But a cruel fate vetoed the realization
of his dreams of bliss. On mooring
alongside of the wharf. planks were
placed from the vessel to the shore to
enable the passengers to land. All ca
ger 10 press the soil of the Fatherland
again, some twenty or thirty stepped
upon the treacherous plank, when it
gave way, precipitating its living freight
into the water. A scene ensned that
beggars description. Five of them per
ished before assistance. could be render
ed. Travis happened to be one of she
number on the plank when it broke, but
being an expert swimmer he struck out
manfully for the landing place. But
the belt of coin around him dragged
him like milestone beneath the wave
He fought hard to save both his life
and his gold. The conviction, however,
soon forced itself upon his mind that he
must part with one or the other. TAX
ing his band of wealth from his body he
cast it into the sea, and lived to tell il
tale. The water WAS some four or five
fathoms deep and the bottom muddy.
He spent three days in diligent search
for the buried treasure, without success.
Sixteen hundred dollars, representing
years of toll, and self-denial, were gone
Counting the slender stock of money
which he had reserved for incidental
expenses, he found that he had just
about enough TO take him home or bring
him back to California Which should
he do? To go home with his tale of
disaster would, be worse than useless
Turning his back upon the friends he
had SO nearly reached, and whom he
longed to see, he took a steerage passage
across the Atlantic, made his way back
TO the Pacific coast. and arrived in this
State few weeks ago We understand
he Is now in Amador county, undaunt-
ed by the sad reverses of the past, but
determined if possible to build mp his
broken fortunes once more.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-02-11
Books and Dinner.

There is still popular belief that it
is less extravaRant to spend SO for din
ner than to spend SO for book. A
festive person out on a holiday will
spend 25 cents for quart of peanuts
which he did not need and which he
eats up in an hour or two Ito his inward
who would never think of buy
ing for the same money some cheap edi-
tion of a standard book which would
furnish him solid enjoyment for many
days, and add materially to the value Of
his life. Such a reluctance is there to
buy books. that whole neighborhood.
eager, perhaps, to read new work by
popular author, (hungry for it, will
wait for months to borrow it, and snatch
the reading of it, rather than spend
half dollar to own it. and satisfy the
intellectual appetite at once. Every
day, in the city, people spend S. and $40
for elaborate lunches which they do not
need, when the money would buy some
Iertain them for a month or two, and
enrich their minds forever. They are
prodigal about eating and drinking.
spending literally for dyspepsia, bnt
trust to chance and borrowing for what
the mind wants. The s"mple room is
more attractive to them than the news
room. and they pass by the bookstore
for the restaurant.-[ Hartford Courant
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-02-11
College for Burglars.


General Chamberlain, Warden Of the
State Prison, in his evidence before the
Prison Committee, Friday, said: know
from my own knowledge that there exists
in the city of Boston regularly organ
lied society Of criminals, with Presi-
dent, Vice President, Secretary and
Treasurer. This .ociety has a regular
form of admitting members. The pris
on he has graduated from, his offense,
with information in regard TO the prison
are all duly recorded The society dis
cusses the most approved plans for bur-
glary. tools, equipments, &c; they also
keep a regular register of the best erin
inal lawyers in the country, and Of the
Judges Of the Courts, and they know at
once what the prospects are for broth
er criminal. If his case comes before
what they call "A hard Judge they raise
the money to secure n postponement OF
the case. They also have fund for
mutual support and protection. and
through this source they are often able
to send deIicacies TO their brethren when
sick in the prison hospital."-[ Boston
Post.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-02-11
sits Our Baby"

T. J. Wolfe is not an old man; he j.
not a young man, but he is a married
man, and has been for several years. He
lives one mile west of Westport, Mo-,
hut no children climb upon his knees
when the day declineth and twist the
cats tail and listen to big steries. Yes
trrday morning he went to the fodder
shock to get provender for his milch
COW, and as he stopped to pull the ears
he suddenly discovered midway in the
shock what he at first took to be horse
blanket. He picked it up and enrolled
it, and discovered two bundles of red
flannel. He unraveled these, and there
lay girl baby, about four or five hours
old. He took it in the house and show
ed it to Mrs. w. She remarked that it
had blue eyes; and then rhe looked into
her husbands eyes to satisfy herself that
she hadn't been mistaken. Wolfe held
up his hand and said he would swear,
but the good wife didn't require it. So
this new foundling was encompassed
about with new linen, and Mrs w. sat
down to make baby clothes, while Wolfe
got out in the floor aud danced and sung
and hit his wife on the back of the head
and "hollored.
"Bully for us. It's our young one,
isn't it, Mrs. Wolfe? and didn't cost a
ceut did IL? Hnrrahw
And then he went Out and hitch 81 mp
yoke of calves, and drove all around
the house. yelling like an indian. The
little stranger has good home. and may
yet be the queen of its realm. Here's
luck to the baby.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-02-11
a Good Reason.


a story told BY Cnptain Malet, of the
British army, in a speech recently de-
livered by him at Stokes, is worth pre-
serving. He said:
"A reefnit, on being asked by his
commanding officer what religion he
profcssed, in order that he might 90 10
his proper place of worship, said:
please, sir, have not made up my
mind He probably thought he would
get off the church parade, but the Off
Ger was equal 10 the occasion. Turning
to the sergeant Of his company, he said:
Sergeant, here Is a man who has not
made up his mind as to what religion
he is. We will give him every oppor-
tunity. Let him he marched 10 the Ro-
manist service At quarter TO 8, 10 ihe
Church Of England parade at quarter
after 9, and the Presbyterian service at
IL until further orders' The man aoon
made mp his mind that he was devout
churchman, probably (said Captain
Maletl because the service was the
shortest; aud it, indeed, conviction may
be dispensed with in the matter, il would
be difficult TO find better ground for
final dicisiou
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-02-11
A Courageous Woman.

Mr.. Moses Fugg wealthy farmer,
lives mile from Gorham Village, Me.
He is a widower, and his housekeeper is
Mrs. Jewett. The other forenoon a
knock was heard at the front door, and
on opening it Mrs. Jewett, who was alone
in the lFouse, saw tramp standing there.
He asked to see the mistress Of the house.
She replied she was the only mistress at
the time. The man then inquired for
the gentlemen of the house, and was told
he was down in the 6eld. He appeared
very anxious to see him, and wanted
Mrs. Jewett TO go down and call him.
She refused. and told the fellow she
conld not talk with him any longer, and
shut the door in his face. While the
lady was talking she thought she heard
some one mp stairs, so she went directly
to her room, and tax ing pistol, stepped
into another room, where sure. enough
she was confronted by large, ngly-
looking man, who was endeavoring TO
seerete himself in a closet. With the
utmost cooIness Mrr. Jewett aimed the
pistol at him and requested him to de-
part. He demurred at fret, when the
lady made another step forward and
cooked the pistol. The fellow then ran
down stairs and up the road. The man
at the front door had al-o disappeared
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-02-11
Joseph and Mrs. POtiphar.
IHOme Journal.l

This famous legend is still found
among The Egyptians of to day, but in
a somewhat different form than that Of
the Biblical narraIive. NJ De Lesseps,
the distinguished engineer and savant,
who has resided much in the East,
gives this as the Egyptian tradition:
Potiphar was not a tend-r-hearted man.
He Imprisoned his wife, as also Joseph.
although the lady and Joseph asserted
their innocence. The Judge ordered an
inquiry, and the wife Of Potiphar, in her
defense, urged that her passion Tor
Joseph had been awakened b. his per-
sonal beauty, which she declared no wo-
man possibly could iesist. Others, she
said, would have done as she had, an as
sertion she was invited to prove. On be-
ing act at liberty she invited number
OF her female friends to meet her at her
house, without informing them of the
purpose for which they were ssembled.
To each gnest an orange and golden
knife were given, and they were request
ed not to cut the oranges until the lady
of the house had given them the signal
so to do, by pronouncing the word
"Now." The ladies, with their orange
in one hand, and their knife in the 9TH
er were gazing with surprise at their
hostess, when Suddenly the door opened
and Joseph made his appearance, stand
ing on the threshold Now, /" cried the
wife of Potiphar, but her guests, cap
tivated by the beauty of the Hebrew,
paid no attention to what they were do
ing, and consequently, cut their fingers.
The party was called before the Judge
on the following morning; every one of
the ladies, save one, hid her wounded
hand in the folds of her garment. while
the one whose hand was unhurt declared
that she had escaped the common fate
by throwing her knife away the moment
she saw Joseph; and, on being further
pressed with questions, declared that
had she not thrown her knife away she
should have stabbed he~elf to the heart
because she could not bear TO look upon
the Hebrew and know that she could
never possess him as husband.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-02-11
Avenged.

Many years ago rich man foreclosed
a mortgage on a poor man, and with
contemptuonr words and gestures turn
ed the poor man into the street. The
poor man went to Chicago and became a
millionaire; the rich man went to St.
Ions and bought newspaper. Time
at last made all things even, and the ST.
Louis journalist came to Chicago last
week with linen duster, and by acci-
dent met his debtor of many years ago.
The latter recognized his heartless cred
itor.
"Smith, let bygones be bygones," he
said. Il will do what can for you.
Take this note TO Mr.. Webb. and he will
find you berth on the Van Buren, street
cars"
And Mr.. Webb did, and Smith froze
nine toes, eight fingers, two thumbs, his
nose and both cheeks that night. His
debtor was avenged.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-02-11
Age and Crime.

Age materially influences the extent
and degree Of crime in both sexes. in
relation to physical and functional de-
velpoment, age exists as a defining force i.
1t appears 10 effect the crimi-
nal careers Of the sexes in two ways;
by permitting such a degree o. bodily
power to be reached AZ 20 render possi-
BILE criminal acts in different degrees;
and the bodily powers remaining the
same. the varying mental conditions
produce changes in the force and direc-
tion of the criminal impulse. Each
period Of life, therefore, is character
ized oy degrees aud qualities of crime
which belong to it. In other words,
certain phases Of crime are perpetrated
at one period Of life in excess Of any
other period. These remarks do not
apply to both sexes equally, for these
periods do not correspond either a. 10
age, or in the nature Of the ofiense, the
excess Of which distinguishes one per-
iod from another.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-02-11
who are CreoIes..


Before I came 10 New Orleans, says
correspondent, thought that creole
was a half-breed Of some race, Cuban or
Spanish or French, + didn't exactly
know which, and J think the Northern
people have the same notion, and will be
grateful IL correct them before they
come down here and show their ignor-
ance, as | did. A creole is native
Louisianian. Any one who il born here
is a creole. just as any one who is born
in Indiana is a-Hoosier, and in Ohio a
Buckeye They don't have dark, pen
sive eyes and romantic hair; they don't
sit on verandas with their fingers against
their cheek, and a shapely arm, bare to
the elbow, resting on the balnslradc;
and they don't look of into the gardens
Of orange trees ard bananas und droop-
ing palms with alligators crawling over
the walk. It is base misrepresenta-
tion this idea; but ] was sorry 70 have
my romance shattered when / found il
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-02-11
A Remarkable Discovery in Florida.
From the PalatEa CFla.) HerAid.l

lFrom the Palatka (Fla) HerAld.l
We learn that the Indian mound on
Mnrphy's Island WAS opened, or rather
entered. by party few days ago. This
mound Is one of the largest on the river
and has excited more than ordinary in
terest among our scientific visitors Bat
Colonel Hart, proprietor Of the island
ipUn which the mound stands. hereto
fore persisted in his refusal to have this
relic Of past ages disturbed On Wed
nesday, however, il was resolved to in
spect thoroughly this monument of
prehistoric age. A party from the Put
nam, with others, took a steamer for the
island, where they arrived in good time.
1t WAS agreed to open the mound at its
base. After making a breach Of thirty
five feet, they discovered hard wall
made of cocquina or shell rock. This
wall was cemente1, and was ornamented
with various fgnres Of warriors, with
bows and arrows, and various reptiles
After much difiicuItya breach was made
in the wall, and by the light Of torch
several Of the party entered; much sur
pcised. they found themselves within. a
vault eight feeI high, with room twelve
by fifteen feet long. with armed warriors
incased in niches, all in n state of petri
fcation. Thiz is certainly most won
derful discovery, and has produced a
profound sensation. In view of this i'm
portant discovery, Colonel Hart has sta
TONED guard, to prevent parties max
ing away with these wonderful objects.
MHrphy's Island will, no Doubt, become
the Mecca of the St Johns River.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-02-11
"WemigratIn'."
: NasbrIIle lrenn.l Amerlean.

nashville klenusj AmeficAus
A little negro decided to migrate from
Columbus, KY, but having no means he
mounted the pilot Of the locomotive at
tached 10 Conductor Latimer's train, az
ter the engineer had oiled round, and
rode into Johnsonville. a distance Of
forty one miles. When the train stop
ped at this point the urchin was hauled
down from his perch and asked what he
was doing there.
"I'se jes wemigraiin'," he whimPered.
"Suppose.a COW or a horse should have
come up there, what would you have
done2"
"Thar wuzn't any hoss or COW gwine 10
come up dar; dey's too big. A sheep
come dar and staid with me a little
while, and den got on again"
The engineer remembered 60 have
struck two sheep short distance back,
but supposed both had been knocked oil
on either side Of the locomotive.