davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1877-09-06

your yard, seizes half-grown chicken,
and clapping Its throat latch with its sharp
teeth, throws the palpitating corpse over
his shoulders and gallops back to his den
to wallow in warm gore. These huge
rats can be seen in large numbers gallop-
ing about the stores, along the street at
night 1t is almost impossible to raise
poultry anywhere in the city. The rats
kin young chickens and ducks with the
greatest ease, and during last winter, on
one occasion, entered one chicken-coop,
and pulled from its roost and destroyed
full-grown hen. They kill grown pigeons
frequently. They do not contine them
selves to the city, but are spreading into
the country. They move in troops of a
score or so, carrying destruction to the
barnyards and granaries, and cOnsterna-
ton to the sleek, and non-combatant
rats of the rural districts. They will at
tack man when they are pressed in a
corner On such occasions, when flight
is impossible, they will fly at their pur-
suer in blind rage, and generally succeed
in closing their teeth through his flesh
somehow. The bite of this little animal
is actually poisonous. Captain. f. NJ.
Roberts was bitten by one, and his hand
is now shriveled all around the bite. Mr..
Harwell was bitten, and it was feared his
arm would have to be amputated. Mr..
Dickson was bitten, and was sick for
weeks. The poison instilled is virulent
and obstinate.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1877-09-06
Heine's Love, ApOstasy and Agony.

FROM BIackwood's Magazine.
Amalie Heine was hardly younger than
Heine. for it was boy aud girl courtship;
ne was but nieneteen, she was eighteen
wears old. He left her in order to achieve
literary distinction at the universities
during his absence his promised bride
became another mans wife. From the
consequences of this cruel shock Heine
never recovered; the treachery of her he
loved and trusted wounded him MORALLY.
He lived, but bearing within his breast
a poisoned and ranking wound that never
healed. A later source of bitterness
swelling up in poor Heine's bosom was
not from without, but from within-one
springing from the ever-acting thoughts
that result from wrong done consciously.
He was a renegade and an apostate. for a
miserable mess of pottage, which In the
end was not even awarded him In poor
recompense of his self-scorn and con-
tempt. He sold his birthrighti Yes,
Heine, the earnest champion OF the rights
of his people, the ardent member OF the
Jewish We're in-Heine, so full of the
great Z" Jew anguish" was untrue to the
faith of his fathers, and stained his man
hood by accepting Christian baptism,
while loathing it, in the wretched hope of
earning an Independent position for which
his soul sickened-a position which the
narrow minded intolerance of the Prus-
sian government left no hope of, unless
as the price of his conversion. His scorn
of himself for this lamentable error is
eoualed only By bis hatred of the bigotry
that extorted from him his shameful con-
cession. Hence his cruel cynicism that
disigures his writings on religious topics
hence the biting scourge with which
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1877-09-06
A Pet Owl.

The Arctic white owl called the
snowy owlr)is a curiosity always in de
mand with -naturalists, and such as find
themselves able to own and take care of
one. no doubt find the creature very
amusing companion A professor thus
writes of white owl brought to his lee
ture-room by pupil who had shot the
bird while on its winter visit to Maine:
1t was fine fellow, but was badly hurt
by the shot. 1t was given in charge OF a
Young friend, who, as bird artist, knew
the worth of his prize. He kept it in bis
room, which served for studio and sleep.
The bird had the freedom of the room,
and became quite gentle, permitting
itself to be fOndled.
One night he persisted in getting on
his masters bed. This the jealousy of the
hunting-dog could not stand, and every
time the bird flew on the bed the dog
Jumped on and fought it off. At last the
Young man told the dog TO keep quiet,
when the bird came again, and, squatting
by the side of its owner, kept still the
whole night.
II was a great feeder. weasel which
the youth had meant to mount was stolen
and devoured by the bird. Muskrats,
rabbits and birds all went the same way
and to see him dine was droll sight.
He would open wide his great brassy
optics, then insert his beal. into his prey,
then, shutting his eyes e&cIdciatiDgly
tight. would lift his head high, and gulp
down whatever he had detached-all OF
which would be executed in the most
grotesque batrachian style; for who ever
saw frog swallow an insect but that he
went it blind.
Occasionally ii was let out upon the
snow. This was indeed luxury, it was
so like home; and the bird would swal-
low the snow in mouthfuls. a fine owl Is
this Arctic bird, 1t will smite ducks
and grouse on the wing, like falcon will
swoop upon hare on the ground, and
dart at a fish in the shadows; and it does
most of its hunting by day.-Pop'ftor
Science Monthly.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1877-09-06
Bitten BY a TarantuIas

Sacramento Cali Record Union.
A party of SacramentOans returned
home last evening from a trip to the
mountains, bringing with them two deer
skins, one wildcat skin and a few other
trophies, including two tarantulas-dead
ones. They had little incident attend
ing the transportation of these specimens
which occasioned considerable alarm. 1t
occurred in Cache Creek Canon, on
Wednesday, as they were returning home.
The tarantulas, for lack of better recep-
tacle, were inclosed in a cigar-box when
caught, about ten days ago, and this box,
carefully lied up, was deposited beneath
the seat of the vehicle. While they were
1olting through the canon the seat slipped
and the two men occupying 1t found
themselves dropped suddenly into the
bottom of the wagon. One of them
struck the cigar-box, crushed it and i'm
mediately felt that something had hurt
him. A glance showed him that he was
resting on the tarantulas, and with yell
of "I'm stung! I'm stung" he jumped
from the wagon, and, dashing his hands
behind him, as though DESTROYS OF lifting
himself out of his boots, he bounced wild
ly along the road, then turned and made
Tor the wagon, shouting 10 ms amazed
and greatly-alarmed companions.
whisky? Quick I'm dying! Why don't
you hurryl' The other three men-there
were four in the party-reached simultan-
eousiy for the demijohn, broke off the
cork in their haste to pull it out, and in
an effort to knock off the neck of the
demijohn. to save time. broke the entire
concern, and nearly all of the contents
were lost About a pint of the liquid
was saved, however, and without saying
as much as "Here's luck" the party that
was bitten swallowed it. Soon he began
to feel better, and eventually felt so re-
markably well that it was evident the
poison had been forced to succumb.
Then the work of Strengthening up the
contents of the wagon was commenced,
and the tarantula box was carefully lifted
out and examined, when behold the
bugs were found perfectly lifeless, and
so dry and stiff that it was evident that
they had been dead more than twenty
four hours, while couple Of tacks in the
broken cover of the box conveyed very
good hint as to the nature of the injury
which the bold hunter had declared to be
tarantuIa bites.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1877-09-06
COOley's Boy and His Dog.

Cooley's boy had dog, which he had,
upon several occasions, made the subject
of very interesting and instructive exper-
iments. Originally the dogs tail curled
over his back; but Cooley's boy was pref
udiced in favor of tails that hung down
behind, so, after amputating the dog S
tail with ahatchet, he spent whole morn
ing in trying to graft skate strap on the
stump. 1t was not a courageous dog. 1t
would bark all night when nobody was
about, but if tramp came near the house
in the daytime, the dog would put the
skate strap between his legs, and go in
and lie down behind the stove. Cooley
view was that he would prefer fighting
dog, and one day he read in paper that
a timid dog could be made brave by fill
ing his meat with gun powder, and red
pepper. Accordingly he put about a
quarter Of pound of pepper and little
powder into some meat, rolled it up in a
kind of a ball, and then tossed it to the
dog. The dog swallowed it as quick as a
flash.
For few moments the animal seemed
contented. But presently he gave little
start, and then paused and looked around
to see if anything had happened. Then
he gave another jump and began to as
suIae a very solemn appearance. All OF
sudden he uttered a sharp howl, and
began to circulate around the garden.
He went faster and faster, and Cooley is
willing to swear to at least four hundred
revolutions minute Over the gooseber-
nv bushes, through the asparagus bed,
across the fences, among the bean poles
he flew with fury, swapping at Cooley as
he passed him, soaring the chickens and
setting them to cackling, and smashing
the vegetation into ruin. The louder
Cooley called to him to stop, the raster
he went, and at last Cooley got his gun
and tried to shoot him. He shot fifteen
times. and blew holes into his smoke-house
door. killed four chickens, and put half a
pound of quail shot into his Durham cow
but the dog still revolved, and went so
fast that he looked like a single streak of
dog reaching all the way around the gar
den.
At last the animal ran against the
pump, and, being switched off his course,
he dashed through the kitchen door,
knocked down the& stovepipe, whirled
into the dining-room, across the table,
smashing two dollars worth of crockery,
burst through the open door to the parlor
and brought up against the mirror, which
he shivered to atoms. Then he fell on
the Brussels carpet, had spasms around
over the floor for an hour or two, and final
ly expired with his hind legs in the
CRATE. and his head on forty dollar rug,
which was covered with beef and red pep
per. They buried him at the roots of the
Isabella grape vine, and Cooley's boy,
after recovering from the thrashing that
his father gave him with fence paling,
finally came to the conclusion that as a
matter of practical fact, red pepper and
gunpowder will not make a dog anxious
for war
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1877-09-06
Wellington at Waterloo.

All who have read on the subject are
aware of the vast amount of discussion
which has taken place with regard to
We.Iington's true place as military cap
tain. and many there are who are unwil-
ling to grant anything of genius to his
character Though his brilliant PENN
sular campaign affords plenty OF incl
dents upon which to judge him, yet the
critics generally bring him. for final dis
position, to the field of Waterloo, where,
saw the carping ones. accident, rather than
any proconcerted plan of action, gave TO
the allies the victory. The French crit
les thought to show wherein Wellington
had been weak, and among other things
they declare that he had fought the bat
tie in position full of danger, because
he had no practical way of retreat, and,
but for the fortunate coming OF the Prus-
slams to the rescue, he must have been
overwhelmed.
John Wilson Croker, the Irish states
man, orator and author, and warm per-
sonal friend of the great duke, has left on
record a report which thoroughly dis
poses of the whole matter. Seldom could
Wellington be induced to speak of his
crewning victory, but on certain ocea-
sion. in the midst Of select company,
when some of the French criticisms had
| been reported to him:
No way to retreat" said the duke,
sweeping his hand across the table before
him. AT all events they failed to put it
to the test. The road to Brussels was,
however, practicable, every yard of it for
such a purpose. | knew every foot of
/ the plain beyond the forest and through
1 ii. The forest on either side OF the open
road was clear enough for infantry and
cavalry, and l had noted the open spaces
plenty of them where artillery might
pass, and it was all defensible. Had
retreated through the forest, could they
have followed me! The Prusslans were
on their flank, and would have thus been
in their rear Was the coming of
Butcher, with his Prussian host, an ac-
cidentl His cooperation was a part OF
my plan; had counted upon it from the
first; / knew my man and | was not de-
ceived.
:. But | never contemplated a retreat
on Brussels. Had / been forced from
nv position | should have retreated to
nv right, toward the coast, the shipping
and NV resources / had placed my
!
have rendered me important assistance IL
many contingencies, and that might have
been one. Some have wondered why
stationed Hill, withshis grand division, "a
| did. You know now. And f | haC
retreated on my right, again, would Ma
poleon have ventured to follow me! The
! Prussians, as before, already on his flank
, would have been in his rear.
But, gentlemen, neither was that an!
part of my plan. My plan was to hole
my ground till the Prussians appeared
and then TO attack the French position
with all the force at my command, an'
with all my might And | executed m,
plan"
On quitting the room, Croker, who wa
, probably the most intimate and truste'
of the dukes friends present, declare,
that never before had he heard Sir Arthu
say so much upon tie subject Of Water
. loo
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1877-09-06

in my ways. an dat keeps one o. us on de
outside oj de house mos de tilne.n
swell, what started this fuss yester-
dayln
hIze comm to dat right away, Jedge.
De ole lady wanted to go on steamboat
scursion an leave me home to keep house.
/ wanted TO go on dat same steamboat
scursion, an leave her home to keep
house. Dat was de sitoation, sah We
was boat on de ragged aige, you see, an
de upshot was dat we boat started for the
'seursion an left de house TO run itself.
On de way down we boat got mad, an
when dat oman, who had sworn to love
an purtect me to de end, hit me on de
knee wild fence-picket, why, l rose
s'perior to de occasion, an cuifed her ears
till she fought all de fre-bells were
soundin' gineral alarm. Oats de hull
case in hogshead, ledge"
Brother Gardner was talked TO in a
fatherly way, and on his promise TO make
every reasonable effort to WOO the doves
of peace TO his cabin, he was allowed 10
depart
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1877-09-06
Worse Than His Doses.

The doctors of Detroit don't take ajoke
as kindly as they might. The other
evening citizen of Woodward Avenue
went a block out of his way to put his
head into doctors office ard call out:
"Man at the corner of Woodward
Avenue and Elizabeth Street got a bad
ftir
The doctor put ON his hat and FASTENED
to the corner indicated, hoping that he
might not be too late to save human life.
There was no crowd and no excitement,
and as the NJ. ID. leaned against the lamp
post to catch his breath, he saw man
sitting on the curbstone bathing his foot
with cold water The boot which he had
drawn off stood beside him and the man
was saving:
"Blast that shoemaker; blast that boot
-ah- res, blast EN- -
1t was a bad fit. After two or three
minutes the doctor saw that it was.
What his thoughts were noone will ever
know, but as a boy came near, running
vclocipede against him. he growled out:
About ten thousand men in this town
ought 10 be taken out and shotm
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1877-09-06

His ringlets of silken black hair, his
flashing eyes, his effeminate and lisping
voice, his dress-coat of black velvet, lined
with white satin; his white kid gloves,
with his wrist surrounded by long
hanging fringe of black silk; and his
ivory cane, ofwhich the handle, inlaid
with gold, was relieved by more black
silk in the shape of tassel. Everyone
laughed at him for being affected; but
the women declared that he was an af-
fectation of the best style, and they felt
that his personal vanity was in fiattering
homage to their most notorious weakness.
Such was the plumed boy-exquisite who
forced his way into the salons of peeress-
es. Men held him in light esteem, but
observant women, who, as a rule, are
more discerning judges of young men
than themselves, prophesied she would
live to be a great man. That was Dis
raeli, after he had created intense sensa-
ton by his novel, "Vivian Grey, writ
ten and published when he was little
more than twenty years of age.
And this is his appearance now: There
hangs from the crown of the head SIN
gle curl of black hair, "a curl which you
cannot look at without feeling touch oil
pathes in your Utmost heart, for 1t is the
only thing about the worn and silent
man reminding you OF the brilliant youth
of "Vivian GREY" The face below this
solitary lock is deeply marked with fur
rows left by cares plowshare; the line
dark ewes look downward, the mouth IS
closed with frmness that says more for
this mans tenacity of will than pages OF
eulogy would do; but what strikes you
more than anything else is the utter lack
of expression upon the countenance. No
one looking at the face, though but for a
moment, could fall into the error of sup
posing that expression and intelligence
are not there; they are there, but IN con
cealment.'. The face is clean shaver and
an utter blank-the face of a sphinx
~the most remarkable face in England
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1877-09-06
The Rats that Sherman Left Behind
i'm His March to the Sea.
From the Atlanta Constitution

From the Atlanta Constitution.
Atlanta has become so thoroughly in
tested with rats that their destruction
has become matter of very serious i'm
portance. The ruthless invader of our
state-rooms, granaries and coops, is the
regular wharf Tat-or Norway rat as it Is
called. Is an importation and not a ma
tive production. 1t is said that ii came
with Sherman's army to Atlanta. being
brought hither in the forage for the horses
that was shipped out from New York.
He is a perfect monster, Is as large as a
small kitten, has huge thighs and fore
shoulders, possesses enormous strength,
is combative and plucky, and his cruel.
rapacious facets ornamented with pair of
flowing moustaches. He has bred with
incredible rapidity since his introduction
here. and has literally devoured or driven
off the modest, lnoffensive and old-fash-
toned little gay rat, that innocent, easily
satisfied vegetarian, that may be termed
1.-THE rat of our fathers" A more harm
less little rodent than our little rat of
ante-belIum times can hardly be mag
med. He was accepted without muir
muir, and really taken as sort of pleas
ure joke. IHe figures in history as de-
cent, gentlemanly rat, that cracked an oc-
casional grain of corn, or licked syrup,
once in a while, from its tail that it had
dropped into some sweet jug. He figures
in history in such pleasant episodes as
the visit of the country rat to the city,
and in poetry as the rat that eat the mat
that Law in the house that Jack built. He
did no harm, and was liked and tolerated
on all hands. But this new rat, born in
the tllroes of revolution, and growing
amid the fierce turbulence of this latter
dav, is a blood-thirsty and abnormal
scoundrel. He despises the mild and
musty corn, or the tranquil jam upon
which the rat Of our fathers fed, and
when he wants a lunch he rushes out into
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1877-09-06
Judge Pitman's Pet Lamb.

Max AdeIer in the Philadelphia Bulletin.
Judge Pitman short time ago bought
a pet lamb for his little children to play
with. 1t was pretty good sized lamb,
and strong and vigorous, but the Judge
said he preferred that kind, because the
children would be less likely to hurt it.
On the day thatit came home they turned
it into the front yard, where it strayed
about nibbling the grass, while the Judge
tied up his geraRiums. Mrs. Pitman had
the children in the house, and she was
reading to them from a book a descrip-
ton of the characteristics of lambs. The
account said: "The lamb is one of the
most playful and innocent of animals. So
kind and meek is it that its name has for
centuries been the synonym of gentle
ness and sweetness of disposition. 1t new
er Injuries any one, and when it is attack
ed it always suffers humbly and In sill
ence. There is something so beautiful
about the gentle little animal that
Just at this point, Mrs. Pitman was in
terrupted by the voice Of the Judge COM
ing from the front yard. 1t sounded as
if he were ia distress of some kind. The
whole family flew out upon the porch,and
there they saw that pet lamb, whose name
was the synonym of gentleness. engaged
in butting the Judge. 1t would butt him
in the rear and knock him over, and then
it would butt him on the legs and batter
him on the ribs, and plunge its head in
to his stomach; and jam its skull against
his chest. When he rose it butted his
shins, and when he stopped over to rub
them it butted his head. Then it butted
him generally wherever a chance presen-
ted itself, and when it had doubled the
Judge all up under the Norway maple IT
butted down three rose bushes, butted a
plaster garden vase to fragments, butted
| two palings off of the fence, and danced
off down the street, butting at the tree
boxes, the hitching-posts, and the north
west wind.
Mr.. Potter finally knocked it on the
head with club and brought it home to
the Judge, and subsequently, when they
| had the bind leg for dinner, the Judge
observed to Mrs. Pitman that from the
manner in which that lamb cut he should
believe that it was born during the war
of 1916 and that it was, IN fact terrific
/ old ram. Then he said he should go
down and see the man who sold it to him
/ for a lamb and bang him with club.
4