davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-01-27
Rats and Mice,

! Dogs, cats and owls are the natural enc.
mics OF rats and mice. Perhaps the greatest
enemy the rat ha' Is his own species They
devour each other in innumcrable numbers,
especially If driven by hunger; for with rats.
as with men, hunger knows no law" If
every rat brought into the would alive were
To live to full age, famine would ehsue.
They begin to breed when four months old,
and have from four to six filters year. Mr.
Shaw, an English writer on the rat, says:
My little dog Tiny has destroyed $685. rats,
which, had they been permitted TO live,
would, at the end of three years, have produc-
cd 1858, 10000 living rats Put several
rats in cage, and then introduce a wounded
one; h0 will soon be devoured by the others,
and then 0f food is kept from them one after
another is devoured except the conQueror
now turn him loose and farewell to every
rat he meets unless he encounters one strong
or than himself.
Rats and nice are generally considered
| filthy in their habits. Nothing could be far
ther from the truth. 1t is true they often 60
among unclean objects, seeking for food, but
they are careful not to soil their fur and,
when done eating, always wash their face and
paws, sitting on their hind feet like a SPUR
rel. When rats or mice drink, they lap the
water like a cat, and when done go through
the necessary ablution.
Every one has noticed the long tail of
these ANIMALS. 1t is more than fifth foot to
them; being prehensile to large extent 1t
assists the animal IN leaplng to greater
height, acting like spring. Rats are good
scavengers, and there is no telling how much
they destroy of the seeds OF loathsOme fevers
and other diseases.
When / was q boy a rat was caught in q
singular trap Foraging in the cellar, he
went over pile of clans, one of which had
It's shell partly open The rats tail fell into
the open shell, which closed tightly. Away
went the rat to his hole, large enough for his
body, but too small for the clam. l drew
HIM forth, and slew him then and there.
Twice l have caught them in a steel trap,
from which they escaped by eating Oft the
leg; this they frequently do when caught be-
tween the foot and knee. A friend of mine
caught one, not long since, nearly white; it
belonged to the gray species
Not long ago, found field.muuse in her
nest at the wood-pile, nursing her young.
et), brought her to the house, the little ones
still clnging to her, and deposited the whole
family In a trap-a breakfast for our cat. A
newspaper article recently stated that Brah-
ma hen would eat mice. l saw a hen-not
Brahma-swallow one after another, whole
litter of field mice, picking them up like
grains of corn. About two miles from my
house is large brick residence, which is the
home of a colony of Albinos These mice
are perfectly white, with pink eyes The
first were caught fifteen years ago. several
were entrapped last year.
One more line and | am done. The best
way to kill rat or mouse Is to catch HIM
first. AsHwooD.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-01-27

ute that it would close up. II must have
been ten minutes before Calcott came back,
He had the lamp in hand vet, and Frost saw
that he was as white rs IA sheet All he sad
was, Come dowG--l,'s no CO.
When they got to the bottom, the shutters
separated and disappeared, and the men
walked out. "Where's the plunder'' asks
Frost 81 havh't got it," says Charley Il
tell you it's no usc-the man is hurglarproof.
# you don't believe IT. go back and try il
yourself I'm Off,
With this cock and bull story hey got
back to their rendezvous. And 1t was never
known, | don't believe TIL interviewed Cal
leo Charley up there at the prison, that he
had met his own father th9t night. Accord.
ing 10 Charlevs story to me--the old man
said he was awaiting for him And so struck
was the son with remorse that he lost all his
pluck and GOODNESS Whether he ever went
back to the old man after he got rid OF his
pals never heard. But the gang had two no.
tons, one was that the place was under spec
ial charge of the devil, and the other was that
Calico Charley grabbed lot of the plumber
and then got up the story to stop the mouths
of the rest of 'em.
But the devil had nothing to do with the
place. 1t was all fixed by the old mans In
genuity. The house was all wires from one
end to tother He could turn crank up in
his bed room and shut the whole house up as
tight as a drum Then he'd slip down into
his cellar, turn half ton of charcoal into his
furnace and kill everybody in the place, I'm.
less everybody crswled out Of the one exit.
and then the old fellow had them at his mer-
cy, one by one.
The last time heard from Charley the
Warden said he had invented new catch
lock for the cells that could not be opened by
any one but the keeper without Its ringing
the alarm bell.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-01-27
McInnes-Steel brake.

A Berlin correspondent writes under date
of December 6: "Iwo days ago the directors
of a government railway in Prussia (Ostbahn)
dispatched train from Berlin TO neighbor-
ing station To make experme nts with the ap-
paraus known as the McInnes-Steel brake.
The machinery, common brake worked by
compressed air, was found 10 be as effective
as it is simple. While going at the rate OF
one German mile per seven minutes the train
was several times stopped, the process occu-
plying from thirty-two to thirty five seconds.
Another feat was that of separating the tram
into two parts while at full speed, the front
portion proceeding onward and the other
coming to staudstlll IL twenty-three seconds,
This was accomplished on plane showing
an incline of in 2DO. The experiments were
partly conducted by Mr. Steel, partly by gov
eminent engineers working the apparatus
from various compartments, and causing the
englne-driver TO be stopped by danger signals.
The trial trip was pronounced perfect sue
cess by the government engineers and the rep
resentatives of the Berlin railway companies
present Considering the immense impor-
lance of an effectual brake in preventing ac-
cidents, the minister of commerce has given or
ders to draw up report upon the expectancy
of adopting the McInnes-Steel apparatus on
the government lines generally. II appears
from the reports IN the Berlin press that some
private lines likewise contemplate the intro
duciion of the ingenious invention
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-01-27
The Missing Link.

Some years ago traveller came BACK
from Africa with marvellous story OF re-
giOn inhabited Dy men with tails. From
quite another quarter of the world the report
now reaches us that tie halfare hall man Is
no myth The Rev. George Brown, who has
recently visited the New Britain and New
Ireland group of islands TO the east OF New
Guinea, writes that the natives at Blanche
positively affirm" the existence oil race OF
men with tails at place called halili.
When il was suggested tina: the supposed
men might be gorlllas they indignantly re-
scented the imputation upon their intelligence,
and asked whether apes fought with spears,
planted vans and built houses. minute
description was given of the cuuously form
ed savages. and from this II would appear
that nature has been somewhat considerable
IN her design Of the appendage. The tail,
natives say, rs hard and inhexible-so much
SO that they have to dig hole IN the sand
before they can sit down, as th.y die at once
If the appendage is broken" The people
provided with this dangerous ornament are
however, represented as rather proud Of IL
ANY child born without II Is destroyed, Tor
tear il should be Tidiculed when il grows
up" Iii. perhaps needless to remark that
the missionary never had al opportunity ot
testing the value of thl s.ory.-ksnahssfer
Gvsrsian.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-01-27
THE CRACKSMAN'S DEFEAT,
Or Old John Calcott's Successful Challenge.
A Protection not Dreamed OF in the Challenger's
Philosophy.
From the New York World.


don't suppose you feel much interest in
burglars, nor are their habits very choice
theme IN polite literature; but that occur.
renee at Glen Spring was really an eXtraor-
binary affair. You see, the way came to get
wind of it was through calico Charley" as
they called him. | was on the force then as
a sergeant That was when Acton and Ken
needy made 1t too hot for both the politicians
and the thieves. We used to boast al that
time that we had the best police force in the
world Well, calico Charley" went up tor
ten years for helping 10 crack old Open
heimer's place there in the Bowery. IL was
an unlucky job for him all through, and as
was one of the specials that "piped" and took
him, and as had known him off and on for
long time before that, it was just like me
one day, when | was up at Sing Sing To &c
over 10 the stone quarry and get the keeper
,Olet me have u talk with him. | got his
whole history from him. He wasn't one al
your common craftsmen. Not bit OF II
He was too smar, by a long shot for that sor
Of thing. Don't you run away with notion
that burglars are such awful smart chaps
That's a queer idea that people get out OF thu
story papers Let me tell you that I've hac
nigh onto fifteen years chance TO find out, and
Eve never seen one that wouldn't run hi'
mead into slipnoose the minute he had IN,
least luck. o, no. | heard the chaplain say
once, over TO the island, that a man who's,
mind ard body were all right wouldn't be I
thief no mOre'D healthy fellOw'd be a pau
Der. There's always something the matter
with 'em 4 twist is in EN- somewhere tina
knocks 'em Hat when a sound man gets ate
'em,
Calico Charley, us was going TO say, wa
pretty much of an exception. He was brough
40 well His father was one of the best ma
chlnists in the couRtry, and he took NOR,
pains TO make a man Of his boy than the fel
low deserved. The old man had a little plac,
down there in Maiden Lane when l was
shaver recollect il well. twas kind o
machine-shop, where he made and sold tire,
or four tricks he'd invented himself. lie Ia,
the boy Charley with him-s bright, smar
chap he was then. When he was twenty-on
ne got to be pretty lively about town, for III
old man had saved up handsome propert
and les Charley nave more money than wa
good for him. Then they go, up new SAT
lock, and II made big stir, and / belieI
they went into that sort Of thing pretty heav
Any way Charley went over with the lock
the frsi worlds fair in London There
90, tripped up. | never heard exactly no
q was They put up wicked Job on HIM
eam. kind. and got him mixed up with
n,.Its had London "mob" The story tn
re heard WAS that he picked q safe lock for
party that shouldn't have been picked. An
~, he got lie with the wrong crowd m
they wouldn't let 60 OF Lin lie stayed oy'
there about Eve years and got 70 oe q reguli
frsi class sneak; and worked hsf dore
lob in the mos, scientific manner. We 9
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-01-27
Curious Spider.

correspondent of the american Naturalist
says:
Just before the late war | was Mt Col. Oak
lev Bynum spring in Lawrence county, Ala,
near the town OF CORTLAND, where saw a
school of minnows playing in the sunshine
near the edge of the water. All at once spi-
der as large as the end of my finger dropped
down among them from tree hanging over
the spring. The spider seized one of the min.
nows near the head. The fish thus seized was
sbout three inches long. AS soon as IL was
seized by Its captor It swan around swiftly IN
the water. and frequently Owed 10 the bottom
vel the spider held on TO it. FlHally 1t came
10 the top, turned upon its back and died. II
seemed TO have been bitten or wounded on
the hack of the neck, near where the head
IONS. When the fish was dead the spider
moved off with il To the shore. The limb oil
the tree from which the spider must have tai
len was between ten and fifteen feet above the
water. Its success showed that il had the
Judgment If a practical engineer.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-01-27
SONG.

To dream and then to sleep
Until the morning return.
An hour OF watch to keep,
A little lamp to burn.
To weave but make no end,
To sing and lose the song,
Where busy footsteps wend
Among the worlds gay throng.
To know that day is here,
To see that spring has gone,
And summers death is near
And still the hours roll on.
We fail, we fade. we die,
Yet once 'twiXt death and birth
To know Loves kiss, Loves sigh,
Is light OF heaven on earth.
Nv God! thy sun is sweet,
II, ere the twilight come,
Love walk with sacred feet
Across our naked room.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-01-27

(From Murat Halsteads Cincinnati Commercially
The year 1877 is likely to do more than the
astroogers find promised in Its two lucky
figure sevens; it will probably witness the
birth of several new nations. They may be
born amid the pangs Of war, though today
the signs are more auspicous; but they will
be born. Not only will one, more probably
two, constitutional and materially protected
nations be born without the limits of Otto.
man suzerainty, but Egypt will be remade by
England. The new scheme of widening the
Suez Canal really means the colonizing OF
Egypt with many of the ablest Engli5hmen
and the renovation of the Khedives Govern,
ment. The keen instinct Of the Jews has
forefelt what is coming. l wrote you some
time ago that a remarkable migration to
Palestine was going on among that people,
anG that the signs of ii were observable in
manv closed jewish homes in London. A
traveller who has just returned here writes IN
tGdav's Times that he found the whole region
from Dan to Beersheba crowded with immi-
grant Jews from all parts Of the world. What.
ever may have caused the gathering OF Jews
TO Palestine, the fact IS certain. And the
traveller who has remarked the hope he
found among them in his intimation that
England might well assist in the restoration
of Jerusalem and the foundation there of a
Jewish republic, or other liberal Govern.
ment. The proposition is one likely to spread
like wild-ire. The average orthodox Chris
tian world will at once recognize the Divine
hand stretched forth to fulfil prophecy, and
any amount of money could be raised here
for such purpose. When Egypt and Syria
are taken IN hand 1t will become at once nee.
essary to reduce Arabia to order. The world
has been so absorbed in nearer Turkish az
fairs as hardly 10 have noticed that Arabia is
at present the arena of civil war.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-01-27
FIND A WAY, OR MAKE 1T.
BY MARY L. LAMBERT.

BY MARY L. LAMBERT.
Ambition sleeps, lad, in your brain,
Bright hopes may soon awake 1t 90
You see the goal, but neer path,
Then find way, or make 1t.
TO get the cocoanut's rich meat,
The shell is hard-you break it.;
The fragrant leaf its odor holds
Until you brusc or shake it it.
Untroddcn is the path you choose
You may be wise to take it;
But look ahead, all danger see,
And then you may cscapeit.
"A mountain. far too steep to climb.
Well, then, don't try and do it.
You may be able to 20 round,
Or patiently dig through it.
fence, you say, but ne'cr gate!
What can you doy you wonder.
Just scale the wall; mount, if you can,
And if you can't, crawl under.
Your way is muddy? Wait while
Let winds and sunshine dry 1t.
Still, wait not for another rain
To see some comradc try it,
a river deep, you cannot swim?
No steamer there, you know it,
Well, If there is no other way,
Duin your own boat ana Iuw IL.
Nay, lad, we know the way is hard
Down hill and up steep mountain,
And oft you'll drink from muddy stream
For want of some clear fountain.
TO down, and you'll have many kick;
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-01-27

The heavy TALL Of snow on the plains "i
Western Nebraska. which are usually avaiis'
ble for grazing purposes throughout the en-
tire winter season, seriously threatens 10 re
duce to starvation the vast herds oi ca'ue
that roam that region. Ordinarily the snow
drifts as IT falls, leaves bare large areas Of
The nutritious dried grass, but this tine the
ground was covered evenly, and sudden
lowering of the temperature caused crust TO
form and prevent the customary drifting.
Tine cattle men are therefore awaiting vita
anxiety the period Of mllder weather that
shall thaw the snow and avert the serious
loss that now thresiens them.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-01-27
ruE FIRST FIRE OF THE SEASON
ny MARGARET L. sAYGsTER

How IL leaps, in dance excited,
U0w il sleeps, ia trance delighted,
How il looms in liquid shining,
How IL glooms in wan declining,
While around the hearth we gather,
One and all,
IN the bleak and windy weather
OF the fall,
Hark! Without the storm. is raging,
Fierce the rout the day engaging;
Tramp the rains in steady column,
Timed TO strains of music solemn:
But within, the house Is cherry;
There belong
Accents gentle, laughter merry,
Book and song.
Whence art thou, oh rare magician,
Weaving now in swift transition
Spells of peaceful incarnation
Ger our easeful soquestration
Here at home. The world behind us;
Cares forgot;
Closer while the moments bind us;
Bcst our lot
Friendly fame! Remote Chaldean
Seers of name eflaced, Sabean
Shepherds in the elder ages,
Persian bards in mystic pages,
Thee adored, for so divincly
Streamed thy light;
dalf we follow, and enshrine thee,
Spirit bright!
For thy genial incandesccncc
Owns no mental mingled essence,
Thou vert born Of happy seasons,
Child of morn and dew. The reasons
or our love 90 back to summers
Long ago,
And our thoughts, like festive corners,
Round thee flow.
Dear the friends each heart remembers,
AZ in cheer we stir the embers,
Bid the ash renew its beauty,
Sparkle, fash, and glow, till duty,
Through the comfort of the hour,
Woos our soul,
And we deem its sterncst dover
Life's best goal,
so we dream not, visionary,
When we deem thee missionary,
Household fire, once more delighted,
Blazing higher, the while united
Round the hearth of home we gather,
One and all,
IA the bleak and winter weather
OF the fall
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-01-27

Catholic Prayer Book. in all styles a, osnan
d Hspensns.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-01-27
}protssa!gaal Cards.
Alto e " e Z o .

n McDOUGA ALL, Successor TO Cameron d
~. MCDougall,) Attorney and Counselor AZ Law Office
In Glover Cooks Block, Ottawa Ills. Also U. Com
missioner. decg16
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-01-27

| IL. DRULI"r, Attorney and Counselor at
Law Otaws. Iii. Office No % La sale street, over
fhlps Bros. grocery store VIII attend promptly TO all
business entrusted to his Special attention paid to
corrections. aug2y.6mos
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-01-27

- IA. DAVIS, Counselor at Law. Rooms 1t
opera Hall Building, La sale, ILL., Special care given
10 insurance Cases. June l0-ly.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-01-27

RUSH ~ ELL. ~ GILMAN, Attorneys at
Iior law; ohce IN Bushneils building west OF the .our
house, ottawa,H Ill. y2I16 ly'
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-01-27

nR. @. HARD, Physician and Surgeon, over N o
~ lls Main street. Metropolitan Block, Ottawa, Illinois
June 18th, 1871.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-01-27

III NJ. IfASCCM. Nj. d., Physician and Sur
geoD, ottawa, ILL., Office I'd door north Of post office
Residence. Washington ST. north of the convent junl3
The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1877-04-26
Adjourned,

MINERvA.-Monday last week rumors were that
the store of J. sh@ffer & Son, of Waynesburgh, had
been burglarzed and Robt, Rea received tele.
gram enquiring for party who had been seen
with one of his horses and buggy, Mr.. Rea re-
ceived a second telegram directing him to hold
the party on suspicion of burglary. The party
returned the horse and buggy and went up street.
leaving his overcoat, and on examination of the
pockets it was found to contain new cambric
handkerchief which had never been unfolded,
and other things went to point strongly as TO his
connection with the reported robbery. When
the party returned to the livery stable Mr. Rea
detained him. He took him up street for some
purpose when the young man gave Robert the
slip around sharp corner and took leg bail thro
some back lots followed by Mr.. Rea, who called
to some parties TO "stop that man." Some one
took this for a cry of fire, when Jacob Unger's
bell commenced to ring that peculiar alarm
which has become as familiar to all our citizens
as q FIRE alarm, then the fire bell commenced.
Immediately there was a rush, every body going
towards the town hall, following In the wake Of
the hremen who always make for" the engine
when an alarm is sounded. However, before the
engine was pulled out OF its house, 1t was found
to be false alarm. People returned to their
work and the man having been captured, did
not get chance TO try his little game again for
Mr.. R. held him by the arm and walked him
down towards the train, which was just coming
in from the southwest. Mr.. shaffer, and Mr..
Leeper from near Cannonsburgh, got Off the
train and coming to the man Mr., s. said that he
was "the man." and looking at the clothing he
had on said "those are the pants too." They i'm
mediately went to the Mayors office, when an
examination was had. 1t turned out that the re-
port that Shaffers store was robbed was not true
but that this party had sold to Mrs. some smoked
hams which 1t afterwards was learned had been
stolen from Mr.. Leeper, he taking part trade and
part cash for them. The man did not deny sell
ing the hams, and his story was that he did not
know where the meat come from. That in ac-
cordance with an arrangement made by certain
party he went to a specified place and found 1t
there. He took The hams and sold them and was
to divide the proceeds with this party. This man
had worked for Mr. Leeper. Mayor Leyde had
the party placed under charge OF Marshall Muir
ray, and locked up-LCommercial
The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1877-04-26
TEN REASONS WHY

you should buy your meat at Beard Gotshalls,
Empire Block
Flrst--Because both partners are practical and
experienced butchers, having been IN the bust
ness al their life time.
second--Because they oversee, personally, all
that Is done in connection with their business.
\ Third--Becausc they employ none but expert
enced and reliable men,
Fourth--Because their facilities enable them to
give the people greater variety than any market
in the county.
Fifth Because In the last five years they have
spared neither time, expeuse or labor, in making
complete arrangements TO benefit their custo'
mers.
sxth-Because II is an advantage for oon5u
mers to buy meat where large amounts are sold,
as they thus secure FRESH MEAT daily
seventh-Because they deliver meat free of
charge each morning to all parts Of the city. Or
ders left the day or evening before will be filled
TO the letter.
Elghth-BeCause all their different meats are
the very best as they have an experienced man
especially 10 select stock
Nlnth--Because their meats are sold as cheap
as the same kinds of meat can be bought any
place.
Tenth Because their market is the largest,
most thoroughly fitted and best arranged in the
CITY,
The following is a list of meats for the present
season.
Fresh Beef, Veal, Mutton and Pork Smoked
Ham, Sugar Cured Shoulders and sides Dried
Beef Bologna Sausage, Pudding, Corned Beef,
Picked Pork, Lard, to which we would call
especial attention, being frstclass article; also,
Fresh Fish, Poultry, dressed and undressed in
season.