davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1877-03-12
BEAUTIFY YOUR HOMES.

1t is astonishing to see the lack of
taste around many village and farm
houses, and their owners seem to think
that it is money thrown away, to beau
tify their houses but let them offer
their places for sale, and then they will
realize the difference between house
without paint or with one coat in a life
time. with no blinds, no pleasant door
yard, no tasty fences around the house,
no shade trees, no beds of flowers, no
climbing vines up the porches, no gar
den worthy of the name, no snug, we'll
painted outhouses, no nicely graveled
walks; but in their places We often find
a dwelling out of repair, outhouses in a
state of decay, fences in poor condition,
and the general appearance of the place
repugnant to our feelings. We see the
old sign; "This place for sale,'; hang
ing on an old tree, with barely leaf
upon it. Here it has hung for many
years, and there it will continue to
hang, probably, till the owner goes into
his grave. Nobody wants to buy such
forlern looking 'home;" and people
in search of a country place pass on till
they see another sign: "This place for
sale;" and here they find order, taste
and neatness prevailing-a beautiful
cottage, or other style of house, out
buildings in perfect repair, fences neat,
and in good order, shade trees abundant,
fruit trees loaded with apples, pears,
peaches, plums and cherries. In the
we'll planned garden, they find an
abundance of strawberries, raspberries,
currents, ounces and grapes; and the
place suits them, and they purchase 1t.
Now, this place cost but little more
than the one they passed, in regard to
its adornments What was done to beau
tify it, was done by degrees, and the
expense was never felt as amounting to
much. and so it always is with people
who commence to lay out their homes in
the right manner.
Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1877-03-12
READ THE NEWSPAPERS.

Henry Ward Reecher, in lecture to
young men, regarding what to read,
among other things. said:
"Nowhere else can you find so mis-
cellaneous, so various an amount of
knowledge, as is contained in wisely
and ably conducted newspaper. Form
the habit of deriving your necessary
pleasure, from reading. Let your read
ing be SO comprehensive that it will take
in something of all that is going on
upon the globe in the time in which you
live. Read hooks of travel and history
of which more by and By. Ordinari-
ly, for the living news, for news of the ac-
tual processes that are going on, read the
newspapers. But in all you read, avoid
vulgarity. A thing is not proper be-
cause it has been put in type. Avoid
all that which is without moral sensi-
bility, and without any pretense of rec
titude, which is adaEeSSfSd4t daaEVeSfd that t " which is
unmanly in your reading. You would
not associate with a man who is mean
IN all his intercourse with the compan-
ion, the party, or the neighborhood
yet, this mans newspaper may be just
as mean as he; and why should you as
sociate with that? You would not asso-
ciate, for moment, with a man who
went about as tell-tale, reporting
everything that befell each member of a
party; you would spew him forth with
lcathing; but if he prints all the vile,
prurient stuff that he can collect, with
M rnnrnnse of good, but only with the
purpose of filling his avaricious pocKeu,
why should you not vomit out his paper
also? Keep yourself free from sensa-
tional reading. Abhor morbid news.
The things that are useful, that make
you sweet-minded, that would be becom-
ing in your fathers house and in your
mothers presence; the things that a
philosopher would cherish and that a
patriot would admire; in short, the
things that a plain, truth loving. justice
loving man would like-those things
read day by day. So reading, you will
discipline your moral sense, and aug
ment your knowledge. Maintain that
vital curiosity which shall make the
world perpetually bring material to you.
to fill up your vacant hours continue
that habit while you are yonng, and
through life; and then it will not for
sake you when you are old; and when
business falls from your listless hands,
and your years bring to you no more
sweet sounds, you shall not sit in the
chimney corner with no source of en-
joyment and of knowledge. So long as
his higher faculties do not fail, the man
who has trained himself to reading has,
in youth, in middle age and in old age,
----iiAf from lonelinets, and an unfail-
! ing source of Ioy.-
Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1877-03-12

Hurrah for Hayes and honest ways,
says the Boston Journal.
Some people never pay debt unless
when they owe grudge.
An ungrammatical sheriff says: "I
knows good thing when seize it."
TO what length may the widow go
when she desires new parent for her
children She may 60 one step. father.
On a masquerade night the Duke of
Norfolk of his time. asked Foote what
character he should appear in. Don't
60 disguised" said Foote, "but assume
new character-go sober"
A lady who assumes to know how
boys ought to be trained, writes as fol-
lows "Oh, mothers hunt out the soft,
tender, genial side of your boys nature"
Mothers often do it with an old shoe.
1t won't be long before some long hair
ed poet will break into impassioned song
about gentle spring. The public is
hereby cautioned against any act of vio-
lence; treat him gently, but firmly.
Grandma, do you know why l can
see up in the sky so far ?" asked Charlie,
a little four-year-old, of the venerable
lady who sat on the garden seat, knit
ting. mo. my dear; why is it?"
Because there is nothing in the way"
replied the young philosopher, resuming
his astronomical search, and grandma
her knitting.
A romanclng traveller told Garrick
that he had seen a church in Spain a
mile and a half long. "Bless me, said
Garrick, 'how broad was to" about
ten yards" was the reply. This is,
you will observe, gentlemen" said Gar.
rick to the company, mot round lie
but differs from his other stories, which
are generally as broad as they are long.
He sat alone in her fathers parlor
waiting for the fair ones appearance
the other evening, when her little brother
came cautiously into the room, and glid
ing up to the young mans side, helC
out a handful of something, and ear
nestly inquired. Il say, Mister, what
them ?" "Those?" replied the younI
man. solemnly. taking up one in his fin
gers, "those are beans" There !
. shouted the boy, turning to his sister
n who was just coming in, 81 knew yo
II lied. You said he didn't know beans
and he does, too p The young man
> stay was not what you call prolonge
one that evening.
Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1877-03-12

How PETROLEUM IS FoRMED.-The
formation of petroleum has been explain
ed by Mr.. H. Byasson upon experiment
al grounds, as follows: If mixture of
vapor of water, carbonic acid and sui
phureted hydrogen be made to act upon
iron heated to white heat in an iron
tube. certain quantity of liquid car
burets will be formed. This mixture of
carburets is comparable to petroleum.
The formation of petroleum can thus be
naturally explained by the action of
chemical forces. The water of the sea,
penetrating into the cavities of the ter
restial crust, carries with it numerous
materials, and especially marine lime
stone. If the subterranean cavity per-
mits these new products to penetrate to
a depth where the temperature is suffi-
GENTLY high, in contact with metallic
substances, such as iron or its sulphur
cts, we have formation of carburets.
These bodies will form part of the gases
whose expansive force causes earth
quakes, volcanic eruptions, etc. Petrole-
um is always found in the neighborhood
of volcanic regions or long mountain
chain. In general it will be modified in
its properties by causes acting after its
formation, such as partial distillation
etc. Petroleum deposits will always be
accompanied by salt water or rock salt
Often, and especially where the deposit
is among hard and compact rocks, il
will be accompanied by gas, such as by.
drogen, sulphureted hydrogen, carboniC
acid, etc.
Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1877-03-12

sum. The practical use of the instru-
ment may be understood when it is said
that it is so accurate in its results that
recently two Japanese students made
experiments at the rooms Of Prof Bell
through artificial resistance, and found
that the sounds comprehended in their
language can be transmitted by means
of the telephone with complete accuracy.
Boston Post.
Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1877-03-12
is 1T WORTH wHILEq
BY JOAQUIN MILLER.

BY JOAQUIN MILLER.
Is II worth while that we jostle brother,
Bearing his load on the rough road OF life?
Is it worth while that we jeer at each other
In blackness Of heart?-that we war to the knife
God pity us all in our ptiful strife.
God pity us all as we jostle each other;
God pity us all for the triumphs we feel
When fellow goes down meath his load on the
heather,
Pierced to the heart-words are keener than steel,
And mightier far for OF for veal.
Were 1t not well in this brief little journey
On over the isthmus, down into the tide,
We give him a fish instead Of q serpent,
Ere folding his hands TO be and abide
Forever and aye in the dust at his side?
Look at the roses saluting each other;
Look at the herds in all peace on the plain.
Man, and man only, makes on his brother,
And laughs in his heart at his peril and pain,
shamed by the beasts that go down on the plain.
Is II worth while hat we battle to humble
Some poor feow-solder down into the dust?
God pity us all Time eftsoon will tumble
All Of us together. like leaves in a gust
Humbled indeed down into the dust.
Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1877-03-12
GRANDMOTHER GRAY.

Faded and fair, in her old arm chair, -
Sunset gliding her thin white hair,
Silently knitting. sits GrapSS--,,"e. o'"''
While l on my elbows ,~'iue nei i'an
Ard ,o,, r.. at wonderful things mean
rr--aave, and to do, II l can, some day.
You can talk so to Grandmother Gray;
She doesn't laugh, nor send you away.
I see. as look from the window seat
A house there yonder, across the street.
With fine French roof and frescoed hall;
The deep bay windows are full of flowers;
They've a clock of bronze that chimes the hours,
And fountain--I hear 1t tinkle and fall
When the doors are open: II mean," say.
"TO live in house like that some day"
money will buy it." says Grandmother Gray
There's low barouche, all green and gold,
And pair Of horses as black as jet,
I've seen drive by-and before I'm old
A turnout like that hope to get
How they prance and shine in their harnesses gay
What fun 'twould be if they ran away!''
"Money will buy them," says Grandmother Gray.
Tomorrow, know. great ship sails
Out Of the port, and across the sea;
Oh to feel In my face the ocean gales.
And the salt waves dancing under mel
In the old far lands Of legend and Law
1 long to roam-and shall, some day."
"Money will do it," says Grandmother Gray.
"And when, like me, you are DID," says she,
"And getting and going are done with, DEAR
What then, do you think, will the one thing be
You may wish and need, to content you here?"
"Oh, when in my chair have to stay,
Love, you see, will content me-" say.
THAT money won't buy" says Grandmother Gray.
"And, sure enough, II there's nothing worth
| All your care, when the years are past,
| But love in heaven, and love earth,
Why not begin where you'll end at last?
| Begin to lay up treasure to-day,
Treasure that nothing can take away"
"Bless the Lord !" says Grandmsther Gray.
Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1877-03-12
of pledge that she would be all that she
had ever seemed to be.

had ever seemed to be.
On the following day the husband and
wife took the stage for home, and when
the former crossed his own threshold
again, he felt like new man. On the
next day he went to his place of bust
ness, and the evening he spent at home
with his wife. And so the week passed
away. When Sunday came, he reflected
upon the turn he had taken. He felt
better in body, better in mind and bet
ter in soul and then he had money in
his pocket
And so the winter wore away, and
when the spring time came, and the
blossoms put forth, and the green ver-
dure adorned the earth, the husband and
wife went once more to the Old home
stead. Claudius Brown was now man
in every sense.
81 have little old wine in the house,
Claudius-would you like some ?" asked
Peter.
The young man started, and a flush
came to his face, but he answered,
quickly:
"No, sir. My mouth is closed forev-
er against such stuff p
"God bless you, my son |" cried the
old man, while the tears started to his
eyes. Forgive me-forgive me"
80, have nothing to forgive. You
meant we'll enough"
"Meant we'll enough in what %
'1n asking me to drink .ro4
"Ha. ha.ssA- ~
But here comes Hannah and Sarah. We
will have it all explained now. Here,
Hannah, did you ever tell your husband
why you didn't come down to see him
when he first came here last fall ?"
NO." answered the wife, looking up
in surprise at the oddity of such ques-
tion now.
"But why was it ?"
"Why-I fell asleep, and Sarah would
not wake me m An"la-1 - = =
II at the tim.."
"And what made you sleep ?"
"Why-I was sleepy, l suppose"
"No-a-yes, you were sleepy, but it
was who made you so. That glass of
sweet, innocent grape juice, which you
took from my hands, contained power
full sleeping potion, which | got of the
doctor on purpose and when you were
asleep, Sarah bedaubed your face and
matted your hair. In that shape your
husband saw you. Don't ask me any
questions, but you and Claudius may
solve the enigma now at your leisure.
Come, Sarah. l want your assistance in
the garden a while"
So Sarah and her father left the room
and the husband and wife were left
alone.
"What does oil this mean ?'' inquired
the husband.
.'I'm sure 1 can't tell. What does it ~
returned the wife.
Then Claudius went on and told what
he knew; and then Hannah told what
she knew and ere long it was all plair
as day. They now saw through the
whole plan, and when Hannah began tt
weep, and ask her husband to forgive
her for having sought her fathers as
sistance, he drew her upon his bosom
and blessed her.
By and by, when Peter came in, h'
found his children happy and smiling
and he knew how his plan had worked
1t had worked we'll, and so it continued
to work and the warm breath of sum
mer and the chill blast of winter, founC
sunshine alike in the saved mans house
for the warmth and light of his lif
was in his own soul, and no outward
storm could chill or extinguish it.
Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1877-03-12

Intelligent housemaid-"Oh, please,
miss, there was young gentleman call
ed when you were out. He didn't leave
no card. miss. but | can show you who
he is, cause there's three of his photo
graphs in your album.
Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1877-03-12
BLISS LAST HYMN.

[The last verses written by the evangelist who per
ished at the Ashtabua bridge
know not what awaits me,
God kindly wells mine eyes.
And DER each step on my onward way
He makes new scenes arise;
And every JOY he sends me comes
sweet aud glad surprise.
Chorus-Where he may lead I'll follow
My trust in him repose,
And every hour in perfect peace
III sing. "He knows, He knows"
One step see before me,
'Tis all need to see,
The light Of heaven more brightly shines
When earth's illusions fee;
And sweetly through the silence came
His loving Follow mel"
o blissfu lack of wisdomi
'Tis blessed not to know;
He holds me with his own right hand,
Aud will not let me 60,
And lulls my troubled soul to rest
In Him who loves me so.
So on go, not knowing;
would not If l might.
I'd rather walk in the dark with God
Than 60 alone in the light;
I'd rather walk by faith with Him
Than so alone by sight.
Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1877-03-12

A glass blower has recently died at
the age of lIo years. His great age is
another proof of the truth of the blew
glass theory.
The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1877-06-30
+" WI.ny's Dat Iron ?"

A Spring6eld Republican correspondent
writes from Charlestown, S. c.: DIR.
Shepard pointed out to me the position
of General Gilmore's "swamp angel "
battery, and said that only the other day
his workmen dug up one of the unex-
ploded shot in the Medical College yard.
1t was rather large for war souvenir,
and about as dangerous as rattlesnake.
The cap was perfect, all ready for the
light tap that would explode it. No
soaking would ruin the powder filling,
and 80 after looking it over he had it
carefully and deeply reburied, he hopes,
beyond resurrection. Anegro some time
ago found one of them, and thought he
would break it up and sell it for old iron.
He got sledge hammer and struck it on
the point. 1t exploded, blew the roof Of
the house of, and dealt destruction in
every direction, but strangely Sambo was
not injured beyond being stunned by the
conclusion. He reused himself, looked
wildly around and exclaimed: "Lordy
massy, whar's dat iron p
The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1877-06-30
Earth History Of Gas.

About the beginning of the seven
tenth century, Van Helmont noticed
that when animal or vegetable substances
were heated in close vessels, vapors or
spirits were obtained which burned with
bright flame. Some time previous to
1891, Doctor John Clayton prepared gas
from the bituminous coal of Wigan,
collected it in bladders, and burned it
for the amusement of his friends. In
1926 Doctor Stephen Hales made similar
experiments with Newcastle coal. The
Bishop of Llandaff showed in 1857 how gas
evolved from coal might be conveyed in
tubes, and in 1886 Doctor Pickel, pro-
fessor of chemistry at Wurzburg, lighted
his laboratory with gas obtained by the
dry distillation of bone. In 1887 Lord
Dundonald, of Cuicoss Abbey, in Scot
land, took out a patent for making coal
tar and erected ovens for the purpose.
The coal gas produced was burned at
the Abbey as curiosity. The real in
ventor of practical gaslighting was
William Murdoch, who, in 1892, lighted
his house and Office at Redruth, in Corn
wall, with gas made from coal, and aston
ished his neighbors still more by adapt
ing the new light to small steam car
riage in which he rode to end from the
mines. He soon removed to Scotland,
and in 1897 lighted his premises at Old
Cumnock, in Ayrshire, with coal gas.
The manufacture of gas was first
attempted in the United States, at Balti
more, without success, in 1911. 1t was
introduced in Boston in 1921, and in
1928 the New York Gas Light Company
was started, though it was not in success
full operation until 1927.
There are now probably from seven to
eight hundred companies in the United
States, with an aggregate capital of
seventy million dollars or more.
The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1877-06-30
The story of "a Mummy.
Nashville American. |

For seventeen years the most curious
object in the Museum of the Tennessee
Historical Society has been the Egyptian
mummy. 1t has very singular history,
In 1860, Colonel Jeremiah George Harris
was y purser on United States man-of
war in the Egyptian waters. He went
on shore and WAS at once ushered into
the august presence of the Khedive and
his numerous household. He was walk
ing out one day with member of the
Khedive's staff, when tie latter was set
upon by ruflians. Colonel Harris, who is
a man of great strength, interposed, and
the rogues were vanquished.
"What can do asked the Egyptian
officer, TO show adequate appreciation of
the services you have rendered me p
"Give me mummy" laughingly sug-
gested Colonel Harris.
"A mummy" repeated the officer,
holding his breath and bordering. "Did
you not know, sir, that our laws prohibit
the removal of mummies under penalty
of death9 But never mind; your request
shall be fulfilled. Just before your ves-
sci leaves the harbor, boat will Gene
alongside. 1t will contain that for which
you have asked"
Colonel Harris had dismissed the cub
ject from his mind, but just before the
hour for the departure of the ship three
natives we're seen pulling toward the ves-
sci. The boat contained bundle
| directed to Colonel Harris. This bundle
was not opened until the arrival of the
ship at Boston, when it was discovered
that there were six mummies instead of
one. They were nnwrapped, and the
best one forwarded to the Tennessee
Historical Society, of which Colonel
Harris, was then and is still member.
When Professor Huxley was here he
examined the mummy with great deal
of interest, and he said that he believed
it to be the best preserved specimen either
in America or in Europe.
The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1877-06-30

New YORK Sun: Two daughters OF
farmer in st. Lawrence County, New
York, desired to pay the debt on their
homestead, but they preferred not to do
it by hard work. They hit upon an idea
that suited their purpose, and have made
enough money to remove the debt. They
had large quantity of porous stone
sawed into small pieces and thoroughly
soaked in an odorous preparation, which
impaired to them a durable scent. These
they peddled through the state, at twen-
ty-fve cents each, representing that they
were cut from the rock of wonderful
perfumed cave in South America. The
girls are so demure and pretty, and tell
their lie with such an appearance Of
simplicity, that the sales are very large.
They have put fresh lot of stone in
soak, preparatory to an extended West
ern tour.
The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1877-06-30
EDif0Dhs.

Near San Diego, California, tomb.
stone inscription thus reads:
"This yere is sakrid to the memory OF
William Henry Skaraken, who cain te
his deth by bein shot by Colts revolver
one of the old kind, bras mounted, and
of sutch is the kingdom of heaven"
A stone.cutter once received, from a
German, the following epitaph, to be
engraved on the tombstone of his de-
ceased wife
"My wife Susan is dead if she'd had
lif till next Friday, she'd been dead
hust two weeks. As tree falls so she
must stand. All thingsis impossible NIT
God"
From tombstone in Cornwall ENG
lanO:
Father and mother and
Lie buried here asunder
Father and mother lie buried here,
And / lie buried off yunder.
A tombstone at Saratoga bears the fol-
lowing:
emma, daWr Of Abraham and Ma
tilda O., and wife of Thomas g, died
August 10, 1868, E twenty-six yrs,
leaves five children married too young
against her fathers will. Single women
take warning"
In the churchyard at Childwald eng
land), is this stanza:
Here lies the body OF John Smith,
Buried In the cloisters
II he don't jump at the last trump
Call "Oysters ~
Another in the same cemetery reads !:
Here lies the remains Of Thomas Woodhen,
The most amiable Of husbands, and excellent OF
men.
N. B. His real name was Thomas Woodcock, but 1t
would not come In rhyme His widow
On tombstone in South Carolina:
Here lies the body Of Robert Gordin,
Mouth almighty and teeth accordin';
Stranger eead lightly over this wonder;
II he opens his mouth you're gone, by thunder
The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1877-06-30

The loveliest valley has muddy
swamp, the noblest mountain piercing
blast, and the prettiest face some ugly
feature. The fairest is most subject to
f.sckles; and the handsomest girl is apt
to be proud the most sentimental lady
loves cold pork, and the gayest mother
lets her children 60 ragged. The kindest
wife will sometimes overlook All absent
shirt button, and the husband forget to
kiss his wife every time he steps outside
the gate, and the best dispositioned chill
dren in the world get angry and aquall
and the smartest scholar will miss a les
son, and the wittiest essayist write some
nonsense; and starr will fall, and the
moon sufiSs eclipse, and the men won't
BIZ angels, nor earth heaven.