davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1878-02-09
A Perllohs Position.
Virginia CIV INe,l Ent,tptl.e.

virginia NtN New Enterprise
About as tight place as ever got
into, said Comstock miner, was some
years ago at the old Empire shaft, Gold
Hill. Myself aud another man were
down in the shaft for the purpose of
trimming II up, as the swelling ground
was squeezing in the sides and IL was Il
good deal out of shape.
We were not on n cage, but simply on
n platform of planks with ropes going up
from the corners 90 the main cable, which
was Of hemp. When we reached a tight
place in the shaft we stopped and
trimmed out the guides, then went on
till another such place was reached, At
one point, having given the signal To
lower, we went down some distance,
when we finally struck. We reached for
the bcll-rope in order to give the signal
TO stop, but we had found that il wound
round nail some distance above and
we could not use it. The engineer
knew nothing of our trouble and con-
tinued 10 lower away. There was no
station near, and on all sides rose the
smooth walls of the shaft, leaving us sus-
pended over the horrible chasm.
Down upon US came the heavy cable.
We feared every moment that the plat
pressed through the tight place and drop
from under MS All we could do was 10
get hold of the cable aud keep the coils
Of IL under our feet IA it came down
Should the platform turn over or drop
ffpm under us we might be able to save
oof lives by hanging on the cable. We
'Ehouted up the shaft till we were
hoarse, but no one heard our cries, and
steadily down came the cable, causing us
great trouble to keep on top of it's coils.
We felt that the great weight must soon
start the platform, when both would
most likely be hurled TO the bottom of
the shaft
Finally, to our great relief, the cable
ceased TO descend For a long time we
waited in suspense, not knowing what
would be the next move OF those above.
At last, however, we heard The voice Of
man shouting down 10 us from the
nearest station above. We explained
our perilous position in few words, and
at length the great cable began 10 crawl
slowly up the shaft again. Still being
afraid the platform would give way, we
were obliged TO keep hold OF the rope
and dance about on the coils IA they UNI
wound.
IL WAS tedious business, and was all
the time a matter of the toss of penny
whether we got out alive or went 10 the
bottom, but att last the platform frightened
up under us and we began TO ascend
Our work was over then and we felt
safe.
] may have been in more dangerous
places inlthe mines, but was never in n
place where the danger lasted so long
and all the time up 90 fever heat. II
was too long time for any mans hair
to stand on end.
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1878-02-09
No Politics in His.
breakfast Table

l don't take no stock in polertics, {"
said one bootblack TO another at the post
office corner, the other evening.
How's thatg What's the music
now qneried the other, pulling n
handful OF cigar stubbs from his pocket,
and picking out thelongest one.
What's the sense in polertics, any
way demanded the FIRST speaker.
Dunno. Got paatchg'' H.
Well, now see here, Chummy, I'll
show you what polertics IL. You see
this match, that's office, and them old
sogers in your pocket We'll s'pose is per-
letical influence. One amt no GOOD
without -tother. I'm the governments
we III imagine. You want ofiice-which
Is the match-but TO git il you've got 10
come down wfthyour influence. wfrfch is
the stubbs. Spread 'em out till I take
my pick, TherAethats the best, / guess.
Now Tor YOU. ,sitEise you the match
which is office, e,'member-but saw that
you must scratch il so and 40, and hold
IL 40 and 40, while YOU use il. Do Won
foller meG @. X, we'll drive on.
Well, If you hold it just as tell you,
what's the upshot2 You burn your
fingers. Kerect. But il you don't do
1t, then what9a Why 1.-The govern.
ment, mind-blow il out, and there YOU
are In the cold again. You'll be an
other feller now, and well try it again.
Come down with some more influence.
That's it. Now git ready to draw.
This time we'll git somebody To help
you. Now, I'll roll up this piece of pa
per-that We'll s'pose stands for your
friends With their help you've now
got the office where you want il, but
they've got scorched by helpin' you.
They most allus does"
!" But where's the polerticsT' said
Billy.
!" oh, that's the smoke, and the beauty
of il is, YOU notice, that no matter how
hard you draw ON the office, polertics
gifts the proceeds. When / git TO be n
man I'll wear long hair ike Buffalo Bill,
and drive hack, but smash my box If
I'll ever mix up in polertics".
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1878-02-09
The Kak0pO.
Igoiden Ham.

. " y
/ The largest of all the parrot tribe.
being Hpward of two feet in length, is
the kakopo. The small face is very owl
like, and IL is the only parrot which,
like the owls, has a facial disk Of feath-
ers. 1t is strictly nocturnal in its
habits, and its beautifully notified green
plumage 80 perfectly harmonizes with
the green MOSES on which il feeds that,
if il should be accidentally surprised
outside the hollow trees or burrows in
which during the day it secretes itself,
it is impossible to detect it. A colonist
relates that on one occasion, In the early
morning, he heard the note of the
kakopo, and marked the spot. He care-
fully guartered the ground with his eve.
for he was certain the bird could not
have escaped from the little plot of moss.
He stood watching for half an hour, but
could not detect IL, until at length il
incautiously winked its eve, and he
found the bid had been all the while
within two yards OF his feet. Even
then, he said, had he taken hiseyes off il
for a moment, he should have lost trace
of it. The kakopo, like many other
birds of New Zealand, has no power of
flight, but has fully developed and we'll
formed wings, with good pinion feathers
How should IL have wings which il can
not useY On. examining the muscles,
AZ has been found that, though fully
developed, they are mere masses Of fat,
without any strength or power Here
we haye.a clear instance OF long con-
tinued disuae o. an unnecessary organ
ending ist fnabiiitE 70 ,use it.
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1878-02-09
Grains Of Gold.

AS you cannot avoid your own COM
pany make II as good as possible. %
As riches and favor forsake man, we
discover him 10 be a fool bat no body
could hndit out in his prosperity. 80
Trust him little who snflingly praises
all alike, hf1p less who speeringfy cen
sures allalike, him least who Is eoldlg
Indifferent 20 all alike. 81 "a. ~ sh.s
We should learn, by reflection on the
midoftunes which have attended Others,
that there IS nothing singutpi IN those
which befall ourselves u, II - f..fs
A more glorious victory can hot be
gained over auothef man .than this. that
when the injury .begins on his parf. the
Kindness should begin on OuTsg n ~
Zoo much Teproach ssoiorleapy itself
and fails on tothers side.,S fPrieked an
tOo.sharply, the delinqbert, like q euadtd
buh, grows sulien and savage, and the
persecution constituting, ends In rushing
madly ON the spear that wounds him.
The motives Of the best actions VIII
not bear too STRICT, an inquiry. LIS
allowed that the cause VI most actions,
good OF bad, may. be resolved into Che
love Of ourselves but tie self5love o.
some men inclines then % .piease Others
andsthe self-love IL wholly employed IN
pleasing ourselves. This makes Elre
great distinction between virtue and
vice -
Don'ttob your neigEb6r u his rood
opinion Of himself Crush 4 woman 4
self-esteen, and you make her cross
grained and snappisb. Do the Eame
Win MAI and yen 0nly make Aim
morO6e. You may mean - create a sweet
humble creature, but yoa'E DeverflO It.
ThetpeOple who think best Of them
selvte arc apt u De the bes4. Women
grow pretty 10 bsbeYinf tl,ey are &, and
fine qpahies often creep oat after one
has been told oRe has fthem. n only
gratifes your own mOmenfary spite to
force your own uDlav0laBle opinion Of
him deep INTO anOtlefb mind. II never
never did any good. .Ah, n this world
full 6f ugiy people I'D awkward people.
of silly people and raia peOpic. Knew
its ewn deficiencies, what q sitting in
ackcioth and sshes we should have
The greatest Of al things that A man
can possessis q satisfactory identity. If
that which he caiis y, pleases BIN, It IL
we'll with him otherwise be is utterly
wretched. Ietyour fellow beings alone /:
hold no truthful mirror before their
eyes unless With a pure intention 70 op-
root SIN. 80 may a mirror WitbOut
hnw Be prepared Tor youl
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1878-02-09
VOLUME /.

ArRuE INcInEN-

Two little children ave wears old
Marie the gentle Charlie the hold:
Sweet and bright aud qtaintly- wtse.
Angels both, Ia their mothers eyes.
siut you. n you follow inysxerse. shall see Il,
titss they were as human a. human can be.
A nd had not yet learned the utaaurer art
Of hiding the self " VI fhe. inlie heart
One day they found In their romp and play
Two little rabbits stdt and gray
soft andSray. and 1nst-of a size 80
As Ike each other a. your two eyes.
All day long the shildrsd mnieloye - - T
10 the dear little pets--thcir treasure-trove;
They hsed and kuagsl Them until tho night . l.
Drought 10 the COMES glad respite.
Too much fondIipg doesil' l. agree <.
With the nboh nature, as we shall s,.e, Ie
tor ere the light OF another day ftM
hnn chased the shadows ot might away -ia
One ltttle pet had gone 10 the shadts -.-s
ia tet us hope, 10 perennial glades
brl6hter and softer than any below
A heaven where good little rabbits 20.
The living and dead Law side by side
And stiil alike As before one died;
Aud chSnced that the children came sinRIv TO view
The pets. 'sy had dreamed Of all the night through
FIRST came Charlie, and, with-sad surprise.
sehe d the dead with streaming ewes,
Hove'er, eonsolingly, he said
Poor httle Marie = he rabbh's deadPi
Later came Marie, and stood aghaSt:
one Kissed aud caresSed H. hut az last
round voice % say, while her young heart hled
Il IN 40 sorry for Charlie-hfs rdlli"s oeaf - ! Il
-. -bdHof's Dnlirer IN ITO Per's Ma0arfse.
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1878-02-09
Pass It Along.

Harness makers can collar most any
thing. ~ Detroit Free Press. Yes, and can
trace most anything. - 4lbony ArguS
Now, who will saddle this paragraph
with another un.---H,Ntson Repsbiicdn,
They are very essential to the bride en-
gagements.-7Bew York Graphic. Nov,
haIter-gather, lets tighten these reins.--
Y0nkerS Gazette. We are stripped, aud
can't buckle into this Wen stirrup
some one else, though, if possible
Fulton Times. Not n bit OF it, Camden
Post. Oh, cheek up on this PefoluBio
ArgpS You'd cinche it,--SdB Rafael
Herald. Blanket il and lets re-cuper-
ate.--iSqn Jose Pioneer. That's hard
tug. Give us another line. San Jose
Mercury. Wewill hold-back this time
Napa Register. We're treed Snap your
lines and let 'em rum Red BIab' { Cdl)
ISe0pte's Cdusk. sEi - .1ftt esag rer
There is something wrong in a man 4
upper story when Attic wit fails To reach
him Mei0 Orleans PicaylUae Yea
such K man ought TO be garrotted. ~
Boston AdUertisef. No; let some pfacti-
cal joker getup sell, and perhaps he'll
appreciate the seller, as it were.-- 7fdg-
eaer. The Traveller is not tip TOP.
Hereafter stick TO one story .A-NeaD or.
leans Picdyune II he hadn't the rooma-
tism 80 bad, Ned take the floor Neic
York Star We rafter the chimney cor
per and a pan Of apples, Detroit IRE
I'resa Come come, boys, you shouldn't
make light OF mansardest efforts this
way.--Gtelph (OHk) Htfrh
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1878-02-09
Late Hours.

All animals. except those that pfowl
st night, retire ~ rest soon after the sun
goes down, from which we may conclude
that Nature jntended fhat The hpman
species should follow theif example. II
j., from the early. hours Of sleep, which
are the most sweet and refreshing, that
the INSTRUMENTATION Of muscular energy
and bodily strength takes place, NJ well
of that due exeitability OF the brain in
dispensable 10 the exertion Of our walk
ing hours. Sleep has been called the
chief nOurishef in life's feast" but
how few find il SUCH In order that
sleep may be refreshing, IL isnecessary
70 take sufficient exercise II n the OMEN
air during the day, to cat lightsupper.
or none at all, avoiding tea or coffee late
in the evening, t. sleep on a hair mat
tress with a light covering. Of bed
clothes, in q room freely ventilated. II
is well known that the Duke Of Yelling
ton al hale Old man, was aecustouieI
to sleep on y narrow hard pallet and
we believe the couch Of her Majesty is
also Of the simplest possible cOnstruo-
ton. It's reported that the Duke inst-
hedthe narrOwness Of his resting place on
the plea that when y man wishes to turn.
II b then high time 10 turn out. We
seldom hear the lab0rious peasant com.
plain Of restless niehta. The INDECENT
pamPered epicuye, or the man who over
tasks his brain and denies himself bodily
exercise, Is liable 70 sleeoLessDea
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1878-02-09
He Came Back.


nn Governor Duvsd +. Of Florida, was the
son Of poer Virginian, stern, strong,
taciturn nans The hoy was a huge
youth OF fifteen. At the cabin fire, at
bed time, according 10 the custom OF
putting on n backlog, the old man said.
between the ylIfJs Of his silent pipe;
Tab, 60 out and bring in that gum
backlog, and put IL on the fire."
Tab went out and surveyed the log.
He knew it was OF no use explaining
that itNFas too heavy, nor prudent for
him 70 return without having it on his
sboulder.2 His1 tile sister passing, was
not sappfised that lie fequested her To
bring out the gpn and powder horn, a.
r. possufn or coon might have passed, or
|the, brother might have seen bear signs
she brought the gun and Pab started.
lie found the way through the woods
into kentucky in 1891. After an ab-
isence of eighteen years he was elected
~ Congress- a man Of immense size
and strength, he started for Washington,
going by the wayof his old home. 10 see
the folks who had long since given him
up for dead. Entering the little cabin
door near bed time, he saw the identical
gum log. He shouIdered II, pulled the
latch string. and with his load stood Be
fore the old inan, pipe In mouth, as quiet
as usual. -
-" Here il the gum backlog, father"
Well, you've been n long time get
ting it--putjt II ~ the Gre and 20 70 bed, -
was the reply.
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1878-02-09

built house In my youthful dreams.
In n sunny and pleasant nook,
where might listen, the whole day long.
To the voice of a gursling brook
A cottage with wide and airy rooms,
And broad and rhining floors
A house with the hidden charm OF home
Aud the freedom OF out~pf-dcors
Fair morning gloriea climb and b,oots
AZ will 10y the eastern caves,
Aud ON the doorstep and window-silI
The roses shake their leaves,
And fair old-fashioncd lilacs toss
Their purple plumRgc high,
While honey sucklcs drop their sweots
On every passcr-by.
Down at tho end Of pleasant path
Ia group OF evergreen trees
Pine and henlock, and spruce and hr
With their spicy fragrancea;
And, swcctes, picture Of calm content
That mortal ever saw, t"
Under a low-boughed apple tree,
IL n beehive made of straw.
There is room In the garden for all the flower.
ever loved or knew
Dear common blossoms and road side ftends.
And the florists darlings,. too;
There IA room iorthickets and beds OF moes.
For dells 81 deepest shade,
Where ell the birds Of the summertime
May warhlc unafraid.
How sweet to ait IN the fragrant shade
In the hush Of summer noon,
To watch the bees nc their happy task,
And listen their pleasant tune;
A,rcsinona smell In the resonant air,
IRON tho gloom where the Or boughs meet.
And tho rippling wnfbc OF feariess birds
To make the atillness sweet
have pictured Il all hundred times
I shah ho'ff 4 hundred more,
But nevereball own the pleasant home
With the roses over the door.
Never dream OF mine came trpei
II Is fnte's unbending law
never shall SEQ the apple tree,
Nor the beehive madc Of straw.
have pictured a all u hundred times
i shall do IA again and again,
But nuyor shall see my roses press
Their checks 10 the dowy pane;
Nor smell the creamy HyTnga flowers,
The odor OF swcet-hrer leaves,
Nor hear the swallows which ehirp and bull
Under my friendly caves.
But yet I'm the airy realm OF dreams,
Where all my riches be,
I enter into the heritage
Which is else denied 10 me-
I have butt close my eyes, 20 hnd
My Eden without flaw
The home, the garden, the apple troe,
Aud the beehive made OF straw.
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1878-02-09

T A STEAMER plying between San Fran.
cisco and Stockton keeps an eccentric
and useful sheep on board. The sheep
- trained togo out ON a gangplank at a
landing when a flock is to be loaded, 10
show that the approach IS sac, and 70
act asa pilot.
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1878-02-09
A Tough Yarn.

There Is a place i'm Maine 20 rocky,
that when the down casters plant corn
they lock for crevices i'm the rocks, and
shoot the grains in witha musket; they
can't raise ducks there no how, for the
stones arc 30 thick the ducks can't ret
their bills between them TO pick mp the
grasehOppers, and the only way the
sheep can get at the sprigs Of grass, is by
grinding their noses on q grind-stOne.
But that amt circumstance to a
place on the Eastern Shore; there The
land b. 80 poor, that IL takes two kil-
deafs ~ say % kildear,p and on n cieat
day you can see the graashoppers climb
up n nTUllen stock and look with toars
IA theircyes over fifty acre field and
the humble-bees have 70 90 down on
their knees to get at the grass all the
nlpsquitOes died Of starvation, and tur-
Key bUzzards had 20 emigrate.
But there Is a county in Vfrpdnia
which can beat that; here the Land is
~ sterile that when the wind Il at the
northwest, they have % ere their child
rem tokeep them from being blown away /;
there Y takes six frogs to see n man, and
when the dogs bark, they have u lean
against the fences; the horses ate 80
thiu that it takes twelve of them 70
make q shadow, and when they kin n
beef they have b hold him up TO knock
bin down r
SoNE three or four hundred thousand
blackbirds arc annually exported from
the island Of COrscia. They flock there
IN vast numbers every winter 70 feed on
the berries Of the myrtle and arb0tus,
with which toe mountains are covered
Here they become very fat, and their
flavor and perfume as food cause them
- be much esteemed by the gourmoaas oI
Paris
STATISTICS show that the number ol
suicides in al civilized countries /,
yearly on the Increase The wear and
tear Of life is also increasing
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1878-02-09
A Court Scene.

There isa point beyond which human
forbearance cannot go, and the most
even Of tempers will become rufIled at
times. At the Assizes held during the
past year at Lincoln in England, both
judge and counsel had much trouble 10
make the timid witnesses upon a trial
speak sufficiently loud TO be heard by the
jury, and it Is possible the temper OF the
counsel may have been thereby turned
aside from The even tenor Of its. way,
and the more likely perhaps owing to
his feeling himself 70 be = man Of con-
siderable Importance since he had
married dowager duchess After this
gentleman had gone through the various
stages Of bar pleading, and had coaxed,
threatened, and even bullied witnesses,
there was one called into the box, a
young ostler, who appeared 70 he sim
plicity personifed.
Now, sir, said the above named coun-
sel ina tone which atany other timewOul
have been denounced az vulgarly loud.
81 hope we viii have no difficulty in
making you speak up" ~ hope not,
air, was shouted, or rather beloved
outb by the witness, in tones which almost
shook the building, and would have
certainly alarmed any timid or nervous
lady
How dare you speak In that way,
irF said the counsel s
*Rlease, zur, / cant speak no louder,
zni,p said the astoBiehed witness, at
tempting 70, shout lOH6er than before,
evidently thinking tlis fault 20 be in
speaking too 3Ow.f ~ gf
'ePfaN have YOU ben drinking this
morningT shouted The counsel, who
had not thoroughly lot the last remnant
OF his temper.
Yes, ziIr," was the reply.
And what have you been drinking %
"C0rfee, zurP "
And what did you have In your
coffee, sirP' shouted the exaspetated
counsel
spune, zur," was the answer. in
noceutly spoken, amid the r6ars Of the
whole court, excepting only the now
thoroughly wild counsel who fang
down his brief, and rushed out OF the
courtroom. tHk
wHss Field-Marshal Won MoItke was
a simple colonel, he astOnished the mem
bers Of his mess BY regularly taking ten
Frederick d'ors out Of hts p0cketa at din
ner and lying them beside his plate.
Always after dinner he pocketed the
gold, buttoned up his coat, looking
sourly around, and disappeared 1t was
resolved 20 ask him the meaning of his
strange behavior " Well" he said, " /
have noticed from the time i altered
this regiment that the conversation at
table has always turned on women, on
cards, or hOrse-racing, and have deter
mined to make present Of ten pieces Of
gold 70 the first man who should start o
sensible subject No one has yet earned
them" l
s---f -e---s-----e--r
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1878-02-09

A MONTANA justice of the peace
doesn't splurge any when he marries q
couple. He says: "Arisel Grab hands,
Hitched Six dOilarsp And that II all
there is 10 e.
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1878-02-09


Ar the Pans Exposition the exhibi-
cgeeptiouall2 aII Thsir eltinated
weight is FIVE hundred tons. A pyr-
amid twenty feet square st the base and
nearly seventy feet high will represent
the seven millions of cbbic inches Of
gold which have been produced on the
Pacific coast This mass would be
equivalent to 2 s6lid piece " gold a.
large - a room sixteen feet square and
nearly sixteen feet in height. Around
thi& pyramid .ffty plate-SBiss slow. eases
will be arranged Va which the mineral
wealth Of the country will be shown.
" Life under rfroupd" on 0le Comstock
lode will be exhibited By diagrams. and
the Sutro tunnel win be fully repre-
A Curious fashion anected by gentle
men this winter and brought from Eng
land, consists Of the absence Of gloves
from evening toilettes. A great deal Of
cafe Is exercised IN proper glowing In the
merniug for visiting, lor the street or
dfiVing veal. But the white hand of
gentleman is considered much more
indicative of thorough breeding than a
glove which soon soils, may be ill-ftting
and Is Liable 70 disaster
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1878-02-09

STATISTICS show that the number of
suicides IN all civilized countries is
yearly on The ipcrease The wear and
tear Of life is also increasing.
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1878-02-09

As for Sally Case, she had very quietly
slipped away.
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1878-05-10

HOLD ON BoYs.--Hold on to your
tongue when you are just ready to swear,
lie, or speak harshly.
Hold on to your hand when you are
about to punch, scratch, steal, or do any
improper act.
Hold on to your foot when you are on
the point of kicking, running off from
study, or pursuing the path of error, shame
or crime.
Hold on to your temper when you are
angry, excited or imposed upon, or others
are angry with you.
Hold on to your heart when evil associ-
ates seek your company and invite you to
join In their mirth, games, and revelry.
Hold on to your good name at all times;
for it is OF more value than gold, high
places, or fashionable attire.
Hold on to truth, for it will serve you
well and do you good throughout eternity.
Hold on to virtue; it is above all price to
you at all times and places.
Hold on to your good character, for it is
and ever will be your best wealth.