davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Middletown transcript., 1877-02-17
Trailing Arbutus,

This is one of the most beautiful anC
highly fragrant of the early wild flowers
of our hills. 1t is sought after every
spring; by the young folks of our town,
and. if transplanted to our gardens,
would make one Of the most desirable
acquisitions to any collection. Many
attempts have been made to transplant
the arbutus, but we have heard of no
one who has been successful. We there
fore clip from the New York Herald
the following directions for transplant
ing it. and heps some of our lady friends
will preserve the same until spring,
give it fair trial, and report the re-
suit:
"A writer whose name was not fur
nished says:-"I prepared border Of
ground on the north side of my wood
house, one foot in depth and composed
of one-third leaf mould from the woods.
1t is so placed as to receive at the bot
tom a portion of the drip from the caves
of the shed 1 then procured from two
of my friends. in different parts of the
country, boxes of plants taken up with
a good supply of earth adhering to the
roots and carefully packed in moss
Along with these packages of plants l
also procured boxes of the earth in
which these plants originally grew :
This soil was spread over the surface of
the border and the roots of the new
plants were carefully imbedded in it
The border was well vatered, and after
ward mulched with leaves and moss
A few of these plants died in the course
of summer, but the most of them lived
and Aourished. as though they had not
been transplanted. The following spring
found them in good condition, and dur
ing the first half of May they furnished
a fine display of blossoms The arbutus
requires partial shade, degree of
moisture at the roots, soil free from
clay and composed largely of sand and
leaf mould. To make the matter doubly
sure the plants should have fair start
in the soil to which they are indigea-
Gus. In the winter they should have
a light covering of leaves and evergreen
boughs."
Middletown transcript., 1877-02-17
A shrevd Clergyman.

A popular minister had just finished
an exhortation, strongly recommending
the support of very meritorious insti.
tuition. The congregation was numer.
Gus snd the chapel was crowded to ex-
cess. The discourse being finished, the
plate was about being handed around to
the respective psvs, when the preacher
made this short address to the awaiting
congregation: From the sympathy /
have witnessed in your countenances,
and from the strict attention you have
houored me with, there is one thing
that l am afraid of-that some of you
may be inclined to give too much :
Now, it is my duty to inform you, that
justice though not SO pleasant, should
always be prior virtue to generosity
Therefore, as yeu will all be immedi-
ately waited upon in your respective
peWs, | wish to have it thoroughly un-
derstood that no person shall think of
putting anything into the plate who
cannot pay his debts" We need not
add that this produced an everAOwing
collection.
Middletown transcript., 1877-02-17
The Power of Fore,veness.


In garrison town in England, where
one Of the finest regiments in the SER
vice was stationed, soldier bad been
placed in confinement by the officer oi
the guard for misdemeanor, and his
name sent in to the commandaht.
What! y said the colonel, sis Now
bray up again !? What has he bsen
doing now r.
"Tipsy and disorderly, as usual, sir, "
returned the officer VINO had reported.
ain mercy's name what shall do
with him l believe have tried
everything in his case which can be
done without cOurt-martial. /"
At this point the chaplain of the reg
iment, kind-hearted man. spoke;
at was Mowbray who captured that
Russian standard 2"
Yes"
He is brave soldier. and true ?"
Yes
"Well, colonel, if you will permit
me, l think l can mention one thing
WHICH you nave u0t lEi6u
"Ah. chaplain, what is that 2"
"'He has never yet been forgiven. "
Forgiven !" repeated the colonel, in
surprise.
"Aye-he has not yet been brought
before you. Suppose you try it, just
once"
The colonel reflected little while,
and then directed that the culprit should
be brought before him. The man was
presented-a soldier, every inch Of him,
attle-burned and SCARED.
"Well, Mowbray." said the COM
mander. "you know Why you are here. .
Eyes, sir"
What have yeu to say for YOURSELF"
Nothing. colonel. only that I'm sor-
~ | don't think meant to do wrong
The colonel gave the soldier a stern
lecture on the sin and disgrace of
drunkenness. and finally when the poor
fellow was expecting nothing less than
the ball-and-chain for a month, he
wound up as follows:
And now, MoWbray, am gong
this once to try new incentive to
manly behavior in your case. l am
going to forgive you this time. You
may return to duty, and let Us see how
long you'll honor it. "
The soldier stood for a moment like
a man frightened. 1t took him some
little time to fully comprehend the stu
alton, but he saw, at length, and burst
into tears.
He found voice enough to thank his
and then be retired but
be made no verbal promise.
Two years longer that regiment re-
maiued in. that town during that time
had not a charge brought
against him; be not only trOd the path
Of strict duty himself, but he prevented
many of bis comrades from going astray
The last application-Forgiv
proved a power to win and save him.
Middletown transcript., 1877-02-17
The .odd Come shortly"

"Odd come shortlies never do well, y
said an old lady to me one day
"Will you please tell me what odd
come shortlies are ?" l asked.
"Well," said the old lady, II mean
aay odd acquaintance that you pick up
in an irregular manner-haven's been
properly introduced-an know moth
ing about their antecedeRts. They
never turn out we'll Did you ever
know them to do SO ? Think my dear. "
thought. I had at first dashed at
the conclusion that the old lady was
wrong. but to the question replied
laconically. mo, ma'am, they do not. +"
Yet to whom does the con6diug heart
of woman turn as to an "0dd come
shortly 2" You travel in the car with
her and she borrows your magazine
and lends you her travelling cup, and
you confide to each other that it does
not make you i'll to ride backward, and
liking the color Of her eyes. you cement
a friendship, because Of the surprising
coincidence that her little boy is the
same age as your little daughter, and
that they both like cream cakes Why
is she more likely to turn out badly
than if she were your second cousins
daughter? | can't tell you | don't
know; but she will After she has
called on you, and borrowed your water
proof and your silk umbrella, and beg
ged a letter of introduction to the pas
tor. and hopes you will call to see her,
and wondered that such congenial souls
never met before. strange things will
happen; your waterproof and silk um-
brella will be that were TO you. and you
will miss the little verde antique from
the etagere. and never see the purse
that was lying Oh the table again.
These people do not always vanish
so mysteriously. 1t is the mission of
many of them to become bores-to
come. on the strength of the fancy"
they have taken to you, to breakfast
and to stay to lunch and afterwari to
tea-to look over your shoulder while
you write or read and to ply you with
questions until you could shriek-to be
always communicative without having
anything to communicate" and to be-
come as unbesrable in the end as was
SiDbad's Old Man of the Sea.
know her p cries some long suffer-
ing friend. "How | pity you How did
she get introduced 2" Then you re
member she was not introduced at all
She called one morning to hope thai
"her canary did not trouble you by
singing SO much, because if it did. she
would send it away, much as she loved
it"
So sweet of her. you know. Yebto-
day. when you look at her, you repeat
the old lady's Yankeeism and say,
"Odd come shortlies never turn out
vel" .-Erchange.
Middletown transcript., 1877-02-17

To BE LOVED There is nothing SO
sweet as to be loved By love, We mean.
Of course, the true, pure love which is
not thing of the senses but of the soul
love that is the outgrowth of good
ness. What will net one risk, or dare,
or forsake for it? Is any journey long
that has love-kiss at the end of it p
any duty hard that csments the bonds
between two hearts To be truly loved
is the great reward life has to offer
And any one who has heart and doesn't
mind showing it, who can put aside sell
6shness and be true to others, can win
love To have people temporarily in
love with you needs only beauty To
be 6eloUed. one must have truth, ten
derness. constancy, and responsiveness
Be good and do good. and despite all
that is said about this worlds ingrati-
tude, some one will love you.
Middletown transcript., 1877-02-17

MOTHER AND SoN.-Thers is no tie
in the world more beautiful than that
which binds a mother aud a son grown
old enough to be her protector A
daughter loves her mother, indeed but
she sees all her defects, as one woman
always does sec those of another. No
doubt, with the unconscious arrogance
af youth. she exaggerates them But
the son loves the mother with an ideal
love-he sees her as a man sees a wo-
man that is to say. through certain
halo of mystery Reverence is in his
feelings for her, and at the same time
a sense of her need Of his care-he is
at once her knight and her son. He is
proud of her and fond of her at the same
time. Her image is sacred in his mind.
She may not be better than other wo-
men; but she seems so to him
Middletown transcript., 1877-02-17
Judge Not.

We have no right to judge others
until we know all of the circumstances
that influence their conduct. In many
cases we might initiate those we con-
demn, under like circumstances.
A young man employed in a print
ing office in one of our large cities, in
Cured the ridicule of the other com-
positors, on account of his poor clothes.
and unsocial behavior. On several oc-
easions, subscription papers we're pre-
sented to him for various objects, but
he refused to give bis money.
One day compositor asked him to
contribute for a picnic party. but was
politely refused. "You are the most
niggardly man ever employed in this
Office. said the compOsitor, angrily-
Stop" said the young man, choking
with feeling, you have iusulted me !"
The other compositors gathered around
the excited man. The young man look
ed at them for a few minutes with a
famished look, and a strange fire in his
eyes. "You little know" he said.
chow unjustly you have been treating
me. For more than year, l have been
starving myself to save money enough
to send my poor blind sister to Paris,
to be treated by physician who has
treated many cases of blindness, similar
to hers. | have always done my duty
here in this Office, and have minded my
own business. l am sacrificing every
thing in life for another. Would either
of you do as much Could any one do
more 2" He had been judged without
a knowledge of circumstances Be slow
to ceusure and condemn. We cannot
read the hearts of others, and. in many
cases, to know all is to judge all
Judge not that ye be not judged"
Middletown transcript., 1877-02-17

| Often think of my birth home,
And often | wish TO be there;
How plain can see the old corner room
Where first breathed Gods pure air,
The village of Newark, oh how does it look
/ For the time left it so long
There spent my days, in childish plays,
would make it the pith of my song.
The house know is standing there still,
| And to Albert G. Lewis belongs,
| On the road from Newark toward lronhill,
The garden. as well as the lawn,
And lombardy poplars, are they standing yet
Or are they by time cut down,
How Oft played meath their cooling shade
With associates long since gone.
The pretty thorn hedge is it still kept trimmed,
That blossomed so white in the Spring,
Where the mocking bird warbled its notes
And the robin in the morning did sing.
Full ffty-six years have passed and gone
Since left my infantle home
And gone through the world to buffet its
storms.
1t seems great while thus to roam;
Yet many dear scenes loom up to my view,
As thus on life's journey strobe,
But may they lead liie's journey through,
To trust alone upon God.
oh lead me once more 10 the place,
That at the age Of twelve knew,
But would there trace, times onward pace,
Now, once lov'd face there to view.
Middletown transcript., 1877-02-17

FAvoRs If you want to be happy,
never ask a favor GtUe as many as
you can, and if any are freely offered
it is not necessary to be too proud to
take them but never ask or stand wait
ing for any. Whoever asked favor
at the right time To be refused is a
woeful stab to ones pride. 1t is even
worse to have a favor granted hesita-
tingly. We suppose that out of a hun
dred who petition for the least thing
if it be even an hour of time-ninety-
nine wish, with burning. cheeks aud
aching hearts, that they bad not dono
so. Don't ask favors of your nearest
friends. Do everything for yourself,
until you drop. and then if any one
picks you up, let it be because of his
free choice. not from any groan you
utter. But while you can stand, be a
soldier Eat your own crust, rather
than feast on another's dainty meals I;
drink cold water rather than anotbsr's
wine The world is full of people ask
ing favors, and people tired of granting
them. Love or tenderness should never
be put aside, when its full hands are
stretched towards you; but SO few love,
so few are tender. that favor asked is
apt to be cruel milestone around your
neck, even if you gain the thing you
want BY the asking. As you cast your
bread On the water, and it returns, so
will the favor you ask. if unwillingly
granted, come back to you when you
least expect or desire Favors conce-
ded on solicitation are never repaid.
They are more costly in the end than
an overdue usurer's bill.
Middletown transcript., 1877-02-17
Fonr ReroIntlons Innpnn.

Four Revolutions in a Day.
The Mexlcans, like all their Spanish
American brethren, are skilled in get
ting up revolutions Some politica
leader fails of an election. He straight,
way issues pronunciamento, ,-Spanist
for proclamation, gathers hundred
or two Of ragged. half-starved loafers
lot of rusty muskets and bayonets,
and a worm eaten cannon. He marches
to the public square, deprives the citi.
zens of nights rest, and in the morn.
ing there is to be revolution. The
lighting is generally carried on in the
night, so that the brave men may not
hurt each other
During the summer of 1868, South
ern gentleman happened to be 10 Mata-
moras, the capital Of the State Of Ta-
maulipas, Republic Of Mexico
One morning bis black servant failed
to put in an appearance until two hours
after bis usual time.
What's the matter, Ben 2" exclaim-
ed the master, as the negro. in great
excitement, came running in.
Don't know, maSsa. Spec dar's a
revolution going on. Pss been in de
calaboose desc two hours"
Going out to get his breakfast, the
gentleman saw Gov. Ruiz making ex-
cellent time down the street, barehead-
ed. and pursued by file Of soldiers
Knowing that the first act in Mexican
revolution was to lock up all persons
found out, the gentleman retired to his
room After waiting two hours, he
ventured out, and was told that since
the previous night, Matamoras had two
chief magistrates, and that the third,
one Serna, was new to be inaugurated
Having a slight acquaintance with
Serna. the gentleman went to his office
to obtain passport, that be might leave
Masamoras before The dawn Of another
revolution He reached the Office to
find the officials engaged ia a vigorous
discussion as to what one was Secretary
Of State It was summarily decided BY
the one having the worst of the argu-
ment being marched off to prison with
two bayonets
The gentleman obtained his passport.
aud if be had left at once, all would
haze been well But going back to the
hotel for his horses and buggy, and
baggage, brought him in contact with
another revolution.
Driving TO the suburbs, he met a
party Of cavalry. and at once showed
his passport. The officer began its at
tentive reading. upside down. As the
operation seemed likely to last for some
time, the gentleman remarked that it
was all right, as Gov Serna himself
had granted it
With lowering brow, the officer re-
piled that the passport was useless, as
Serna was no longer governor of Ia
but Cortina was.
Here was pretty fx.-the passports
signature scarcely dry. and the man who
wrote it deposed At this rate, two or
three revolutions would occur before the
horses could trot out of Matamoras
A bright thought came to the gentle
mans aid.
he drew out Eve bright Mexican
dollars
The brow of the officer relaxed but
be held on to the passport.
Tire gentleman drew out five dollars
sore The officers brow was clear,
md with cordial smile of farewell, be
gracefully handed back the passport,
aging, with a Mexican's politeness,
: Buealo. adios senior"
No grass grew under those horses
eet until they had crossed the Rio
3rande and got into Texas.
Middletown transcript., 1877-02-17
Why are travelling sniritnnlists Liz

Why are travelling Spiritualists like
pile of greenbacks? Because they are
circulating mediums
Time works wonders" as the wo.
man said when she got married after
thirteen years courtship.
Il is so cold on the Red river at Lake
Winnepeg that hens roost in the smoke
stacks of the sawmills to keep from
freezing to death.
Call the next child Elaine, after Ten
nyson's heroine Then when she is
cross, call her the Madeleine.
Never despise an old maid. She may
have $4,000 hidden away in one Of
her old stockings.
John asked doctor of the apothe-
cary's boy. Did Mrs. Green get the
medicine l ordered ? I guess 50, re-
piled John, for l saw Grape on the door
knob this morning'
Middletown transcript., 1877-02-17

LOUD TAKERS IN PUBLIo.-Mr. Geo.
W. Curtis, talking of railway manners,
tells this story: "A young woman sud
denly hounces 10 her seat and throws
uU her arms, and exclaims to her fell
low-travelers through companion,
Did you ever know anything so hot {?
I'm sitting. Can't you open this win
dow? WheW whew! o, dearl it's
dreadful, isn't it? It's always SO in
these cars. My! it's awful" On one
occasion. when this kind of remark had
been made at some length for the edif-
cation of the company, voice was
heard from the other end of the car,
'Yes'm, it's awful. But let's try to
bear up. 'Tain't nothin' to the suffer
ms of the early Christiansp' A gen.
eral laugh followed, and nothing fur
ther was heard from that young woman.
Middletown transcript., 1877-02-17
Texan sports.

Sportsmen fnd an agreeable abiding
place in Texas. On the prairies almost
every kind of wild animals abound. In
the north west are the wild horse or
mustang and the fierce buffalo The
dear and the antelope, tne moose and
the mountain goat, are plentiful, not to
mention the jaguars, the wild cats,
black bears, ocelots, wolves and foxes,
and such smaller game as pecearies.
opossums, haros, rabbits and squirrels
A special feature of wild life is the
prairie dog or mormot, dwelling 10
holes burrowed in the ground. Their
numbers are SO great that the traveller
may journey for days together without
losing sight of them. The feathered
tribes are also abundant, including
birds of prey and birds of sport. There
is the bald headed eagle and the Mexi-
can eagle, vultures, owls, hawks, wild
turkeys. wild geese, prairie hens, can
vas back and other ducks, teal, brant,
pheasants, quails, grouse, woodcock.
pigeon, partridges, snipe, plover, red
birds and turtle doves. By the waters
are also found the crane, the swan, the
pelican, the water turkey and the king
fisher The smaller birds are uumer
Gus, and among them many of the most
brilliant plumage, as the oriole, the
paroquet. the cardinal, the Whippoor-
will, and the sweet toned mocking bird.
Black birds abound, and woodpeckers,
blue jays, startling. martins, and wrens
In the rivers aud bays there are all the
varieties of water life, from alligators to
perch, pike, trout, green turtle and
oysters.
Middletown transcript., 1877-02-17
HERBS, sc.

Herbs may be planted out from seed
beds. or after dividing the roots. Some
onion sets may be planted-shalIots,
&c. Sow also a small bed of parsley.
1t is long coming up. and must be soWn
as early as possible to have it in time to
garnish spring Lamb, and to season fried
chicken and early peas.
We look upon this month as the be-
ginning of the gardeners, busy months,
and no time ought to be lost in favor
able or proper weather, to plant and
SOW, with a view to forwardness of the
plants, and to save time, when more
pressing time comes in spring. In
most cases it is likely that success will
attend the early bird, but if our efertn
fail, we must MT despair or greive, but
not minding the trifing loss, commence
again, and do our best to repair any
losses we may have sustained. Energy,
activity, and being a little ahead Of
time, and our neigbbcgs never yes
brought distress on any man, provided
he does not succumb under an accidental
failure. If the work now done fails,
renew yeur efforts with double energy.
Middletown transcript., 1877-02-17

pledge again II took him some time
to recover his place in the church, but
| have had the pleasure of seeing him
restored. He is now. more than ever,
a devoted worker in the church. and
the cause Of temperance is pleaded on
all occasion. Can you wonder, then,
that never order strong drink for a
patieDt now
Middletown transcript., 1877-02-17

ONLY A PoEr-Mr. Tennyson lodg-
ed for few days in little island inn
of the Hebrides, along with other tour
lists. On his departure young sports
man said to the inpkeeper. "Do you
know whom you have had in the
house ?" NO." replied the inukeeper.
That gentleman is the poet laureate +"
THE poet laureate!" echoed Donald
WAS it for poet that l kept the best
bed-a bard, a sennachie p aud be
marched of, apparently quite indignant
at himself for his undersigned politeness
to so humble or doubtful character as
a poet.
Middletown transcript., 1877-02-17

An eminent judge used to say that,
in his opinion, the very best thing ever
said by a witness to counsel was the
reply given to Missing, the barrister,
at the time leader Of his circuit He
was defending a prisoner charged with
stealing donkey. The prosecutor had
left the animal tied to a gate, and.
when he returned, it was gone. Miss
ing was very severe in his examination
of the witness. "Do you mean to say,
witness the donkey was stolen from that
gate 2" 81 mean to say. sir, giving
the judge and jury sly look, at the
same time pointing to the counsel, "the
ass was Missing
Middletown transcript., 1877-02-17
Garden work for February.

As soon as the ground gets in good
condition for work-and it will be sure
to do SO. during this month. if our ad-
vice was followed as to spading, manur-
ing and trenching. &C., last autumn
you may SOW peas 4 inches deep let
tuce aud radish and cabbage seeds in
beds we'll protected. Also SOW onions,
parsnip. beet, carrot and spinach seeds,
one inch deep. Compress the soil with
roller, the foot or putting with spade or
hoe.
Middletown transcript., 1877-02-17

Robert Burns once observed that be
could not pour out bis whole soul with
out reserve to any human being with
out one day repenting the confidence
This peril of betrayal is one that is in
separable from earthly friendship. But
there is one Friend into whose ear the
whole heart may be poured, and the
secret of the soul is safe.
Middletown transcript., 1877-02-17
POTATOES.

Be sure to plant early potatoes
plant a quantity for they are in great
demand Notwithstanding the enormous
amount received from Cuba, and our
Southern States Early potatoes if good
are always profitable if sold, and always
a luxuary for the family. Be sure to
plant deep, aud in bed of course ma
nure. sprinkled with ashes and lime,
and on top when they peet out with
plaster. and SCOT or salt. This process
will cause heat that will force 7egeta-
ton, and give nutrimeut to the grow
ing plant, as well as sustain it in form
ing large succulent tubers.