davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1878-12-03
On. Trial OF a Public Lecturer.

remember on one occasion, after inc
lecture was over, that the audience, which
was made up for the most part OF farmers
and their families, seemed disincline ed 10
90. but held their seats, looking up as If
expecting some kind OF an aiterpiece.
This was 80 unlike city audience, who
rush for the door before the last words
are ont of the speakers mouth-thst /
couldn't help remsrking the fact to tho
minister who sat with me in the pulpit.
"Ah, yes" said he, "our people are nos
accustomed 10 lectures, and they are ex-
pscting the do1ology"
Then, by all means, let them have it,
I said. at will do US all good"
"If you, sir" said he, will stand at
the bottom OF the steps, the people will
be glsd TO shake hands with you, If you
please, as they are going out"
Certainly" said, with much pleas
ure.n
The minister stood up and told the
audience, that, after singing the doxology,
any one who pleased might have an OPP
portunity of shaking hands with the lee
turer. Accordingly, | took my position
near the door; and il had been a prize
bulldog. The people couldn't have been
more reluctant to pass me. All stood up,
crowding the aisles and passage-wsys;
but no one moved toward the door. To
facilitate matters seized one old fellow
by the hand and gave it shake and
passed him along. Then came another,
and him l also pump-handled. / held
ont my hand for the next, rather furIl'e
looking youth, with red hair and very
speckled face. He approached me ii
jerk aid deposited fifteen cents on my
extended palm. Before | conld get IN
explanation, he vas out the door ana IF
In the meantime, the rest began 10 move
a little faster; and by snd by aHoihef
fis,-ui # corpers was thrust into my
hand.
GOOD Heavens! do they suppose | am
here 10 take up a collection They 80
actually putting money in my haad" I
said 10 the minister, stepping back upon
the platform.
.Oh nor' said be laughing; these are
only boys who contrived TO get in without
paving, SO they think they must pay
you"
That wss al the Misunderstanding want
ed. so let the good people depart IN
peace; and they did seem very much re-
iieved wheh | got up out of their way.
Ii was money in good many pockets.
expect. Boston Commercial Bulletin.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1878-12-03
FIom the Springfield Republican.
"1ppke Blossoms"
THE BooK OF THE BERKSHIRE CHILD POETS.

.
Apple Blossoms: Verses Of Two Chill
dren,' being the promised poems OF
Elaine and Dora Read Goodsle of SKY
Fam. will be issued now in few days
by G.. Z. Putnam's So s,-who are not
likely, in all the prosperous years which
they deserve ard We anticipate for them,
TO publish another volume so remarkable
in its field. The public through maga-
zines and Newspapers have grown well
acquainted with these poems, and yet we
promise each reader who has recognized
their separate charm fresh surprise and
sense of revelation in their gathered COM
pany. There are hundred and lwenty-
five poems in the two hundred and fifty
pages, besides the verse OF dedication TO
the mother. whose tender aud careful
words of preface tell something OF the
home-life which has shared with Nature
the nourishment OF two poets. These are
but small portion of oil they have writ
ten--a few blooms (to uso the suggestion
OF the books pretty litle) from the copi-
Gus blossoming OF THEN spring. They
are arranged in the order OF time, AS they
should behalf are Elaine's, half Dora's,
representing six years of the elder sisters
life. three years of the younger's; begin
ming in each case at the age OF nine.
There is nothing risked in saying tina.
these verses exceed in the quality of their
poetic gift any that have been written at
corresponding ages, unless We except
those of Chatterton. whose hymn, or
prayer, written at eleven years old, is
nearly as good as anything be wrote, and
who produced his Rowley poems when
he was but fifteen. But even ChatIertOn
did not write at the age OF nine. The
nearest parallel in tina. respect, as we'll
as in the circumstance of their relation
ship, to the Goodalo sisters. is found in
the DaVidsors, who died the one forty,
The other fifty ears ago, and both of
whom wrolo worse from early childhood,
and indeed wers only girls when they
died, the elder being but two years oldor
than Elaine GJodaie now. They were
possessed by au extraordinary sensibility
of mind and body. aud there is tinge
of inVslidism in almost all their verses.
They reflected the sentimental. elegisc
tendency of the Hemans and L. E. L..
school, ,and were fond OF relating legends
of romance. Allowing much for the lit
erary atmosphere of the period, it is Jet
impossible to lit tho gentle rhymes OF
Lucretia and Margaret Davidson to any
rivalry with the strong individual poems
of Elaine and Dora Goodale. These
never, with the exception OF few OF the
latest of Elaine's, 10 which we shall ad-
vert, treat of other emotions than those
natural to childhood. There is no imita-
tion OF old ballads, no telling OF love sto-
ries, no premature anticipation Of wom-
anhood. The principal inspiration of the
young poets has been the beauty OF earth ;
and mex, the home affections. The form
of their thought, the music OF it, at times
shadow and echo their favorite authors
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1878-12-03

"In the hay loft, dark and sweet
With the breath of new mown hay;
There the lights and shadows tall
Weird upon the scanned, SCARED wall,
And the dusky swallows soar
High above The broken door,
Lightly poise on tiny feet,
hufuar dt. anA dart -
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1878-12-03
TAXIDERMY.

.1.o,efs in the most artistic manner Game
biris a speciality. Birds taken In pA{loent o.
work-for example, out OF every SIX Blue osys
sent me Z will return ono hAndsomtiy s'1.e S.S
ar mounted on q stand TO the sender. Cash
Usia from = 20 o. 90 eachl for good specimens
Of Hawks and Owls. ., -
eN-rress Price lists furnished on application.
R. Il. PEARY, Fryeburg, NE
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1878-12-03

and there is sympathy Of tone which ID
never other than grateful, and which ev-
en- makes more emphatic the native health
and unborrowed character OF their song.
Never before were poets so completely
at home with Nature as these Berkshire
girls. This book Is chrohicle of per-
petual delight in the mountain skies and
views, and all the repeating round OF
bloom and fruit and rest. The hsIebell,
the falling snow tue arbutus. dead leaves.
Spring Spring and Spring again; death
of Summer. visions of Autumn; the
humming- birds nest, the swallows, q
summer shower. the maiden'shair fern,
hsy-msking all that the New England
hill country 50 wonderfully varies, they
sing. And it is singing like our home
birds as sweet, as deep. as simple. as
trustful. as unconscious OF self. Nothing
can be more exquisitely musical than
some of these bits Of song, such as this ::
"a sky OF skurrying clouds
That fly on dappled sails.
And with purple oars
To the sunset shores
Are blown by the evening gales.
They reach the golden gate,
They catch the golden glow.
And with purple oars
At the sunset shores
They wait, While the winds breathe low. y
That is Dora's, and there are more such
tiny jewels OF melody among her verses
than among her elder sisters. Elaine's
longer poems, however. possess the same
lovely cantsbilo. as in the greeting to
Spring" published first in The Repub-
ican some months ago. beginning thus:-
"Harki the breezes tremble
With the sighs OF April
Sec her sweeping northward,
Spring. our SPRING
Lingering, still VIC love her,
Still We smile and beckon,
As We hear the rustling
Of her wing"
Or We will quote complete poem calling
attention at the same time TO the singular
beauty OF the close -
"rRAssFIouRRD.
Silently away, away.
Glides the day,
Underneath her misty robes
AL OF gray.
Close her dark mists settle down
Ger the crown
or the mountains, tipped with clear
Golden brown.
All, what ray so glad and bright
Cheers my sightg
Parting, breaking. see tho clouds
Fringed with. Light
SON and clear the sunset air
Fresh AMI fair
Dreamy hues that blush ami single
New and raroi
Robed in purple gldes the day
Still away;
At her feet red roses tremblo
In the gray
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-09-13

RUSSIAN MARRIAGES are generally arranged
through priests. A well-bred bridegroom
must present gift to n monastery and anoth-
er to his parish church the bride, through
her friends, is expected to olothc some statue
OF virgin with gown Of silver brocada en-
riched with more or less jewels, according TO
the pety of the donor; aud in some parts of
southern Russia she adds a gift Of two white
doves to the pope, which looks like a relic of
the worship of Venus. Phe consent of pa
rents is necessary for n marriage until the
age of 80 in the case of men, - in that of
women, but young people can appeal TO
the civil authorities if consent be arbitrarily
withheld In this event the parents are
called upon to show reason for their refusal.
The reason must not be mercenary, unless
one of the young people be heir to a landed
estate then the question is referred to the
marshal of the nobility in the district, whose
decisions are based upon eXped!cncy rather
than upon fixed principles. These appeals
are rare. because the Russians are a marrying
people, and dispose of their children early.
In the middle and lower classes men marry at
20, when not drafted 10y the CONSUMPTION.
In the higher aristOcracy u young man goes
the grand tour" before settling down, but
he is often betrothed before starting to a
young lhul hhl yet OUT OF TIC htuObl-Ebblll.
There is no country that has 80 few old maids
as Russia. When girl has reached the age
of - without finding mate, she generally
sets out on what she calls n pilgrimage if
poor--on u round of travels if rich, and in
either case she turns up some years later rs n
widow. Widows are plentiful as old spin
sters are scarce, and widows whose husbands
We're never seen are more numerous than the
rest. Etiquette forbids any allusiOn to a la
de's dead husband in her presence, and this is
sometimes convenient. When couple are
engaged betrothal feast is held, and the
bride-elect has lock Of her hair cut off in
the presence of witnesses and given to the
bridegroom, who in return presents silver
ring set with n turquoise, an almond cake,
and gift of bread and salt. From this mo-
ment the two are plighted; nor can the rela-
tiyes break the match except with the con-
sent of the parties themselves which is sig
nified by return of the ring and lock of hair
So much importance is attached to the ring
that among poor people who cannot afford
silver and turquoise, tin and bit of blue
stone are substituted These betrothal rings
are kept as heir-loOms, but must not be made
to serve twice-a SON cannot give his bride
the ring which his mother received, for in
stance, though why this should be so is a
mystery which the clergy, who sell the ring,
could best explain. On the wedding-day the
bride comes to church dressed in white but
it is only among the highest classes that the
bridal costume is entirely white and that Il
wreath of orange flower blossoms is worn
Pal Mall Gdzette.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-09-13
VERMONT ITEMS.

The village schools at West Randolph
have been postponed one week on account Of
diphtheria raging in the place.
William Cleveland took l2j pounds Of
honey from one Of the spires ON the Cougrc-
gotional church at Pawlet the other day
A church near West Randolph received
the resignation Of its pastor recently, because
he cuifed his wife's cars for driving out some
chickens which he was feeding with dough in
the diningroom.
Robert j. Williams's house ut Fairlayen
was burned on Saturday night by the explo-
sion of a lamp; loss $1,000, insurance $1,000.
Hon. Frederic Billings of Woodstock Inns
lately imported three Jersey cows, aged >, 3,
and years respectively, at an expense Of
$1,000.
Mr.. Carlisle, former resident Of Que
chez. has lately died in Western State, and
left his old school district the sum of $4,000
John II. French. late secretary OF the
Vermont board Of education, has been ap-
/ pointed principal Of the State Normal school
at Indiana, Pa.
The Rutland county fair, held at Rutand
last week, was the only successful exhibition
for years. The Society cleared 5000 after
paying premiums.
Mrs Thomas Boynton Of East lIard"ck
Wis NtilAN ilNtilN niA'e dilNl NiilNN 'tNNlg ~
George Belmont, while lac was tryingto shoot
a hawk
Judge T. p. Redfe!d opened the Wash
ington county court at Montpelier Tuesday
There are 30 eases on the docket and lO2 are
to be tried
Mrs Nancy IT, Shaw, aged 30, widow Of
the late George b. Shaw Of Burlington, was
fatally hurt AZ Underhill recently by falling
down pair Of cellar stars breaking rib and
having piece Of the bone pierce her lungs.
Spectators are purchasing potatoes in
small quantities ia some sections Of ihe State,
at 30 cents per bushcl. The crop in some To-
| caiitiys is less thau uu average uuv. owing 10
the frosts which killed the vines ia the early
part Of the season. In some cases we notice
reports that some fields viii not be dug, the
bugs having entirely rIined them
One Of the most remarkable sheets of wa
ter in the State is Child-'s Pond situated near
East Thetford and about four rods from the
bank Of the Connecticut, which in this place
is more than 100 feet above the rivers level.
1t covers about nine acres, and is fed by no
stream, nor is there any stream issuing from
il. The pond is very deep and during the
summer season usually falls two or three feet
The rail aud carriage roads pass between it
and the river.
New interest in the murder of Herbert o.
| White ut WCathersficld two or three years ago,
for which Henry Gmyolin is now under SEN
tence of death at the Windsor prison, isarous-
ed by recent anonymous and lliterate letter
to Wcathcrsfeld justice, claiming that
| Guyclin is innocent Of the crime. The writ
or says he killed White himself because the
latter had threatened to kill him. and tells
how he did it. As there seemed to be plenty
of evidence against Gravelin. the letter will
have little influence, but certain mysterious
circumstances connected with the murder
might be mrayeled by somebody's confes-
sion.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-09-13

A REMISIscEN OF soJouRNER TRUTH.
I read in he PHRNIx of Sept s, para
graph relating to Sojourner Truth, the elo-
quent negress, and in other papers l occasion
ally see such paragraphs, which 1 always read
with interest. She once boarded in my faith
er's family nearly two weeks, when we were
living in East Putney. 1 think it was in the
fall of 1850 when Methodist campmeeting
was held in that place. She attended such
meetings in those days, although past seven
ty years of age. She is now more than
hundred years old, and may be rightly called
the oldest lecturer iii the world We learn
from the papers that she still goes about the
country lecturing and selling the book con-
tanning the history of her life. She came in
the stage to East Putney to attend the camp
meeting, relying upon the sale of her book to
meet her expenses. 1t was convenient for
her to stop with us, as we lived near the camp
ground. Ny brothers and were small boys
then, and we were somewhat afraid of the
stranger in our family; but she spoke SO
pleasantly and kindly to us that We were soon
acquainted and glad to have her in our home.
We remember her as tall, pleasant looking
woman and our mother has often said that
Sojourner Truth was the happiest person she
ever saw The books which she sold, copy
of which she left when parting with our fam
lily, relate her remarkable religious expert
ence, which seemed like revelation to her.
She was uneducated. Some literary friends
of hers wrote the book, and we think that
Mrs. Harriet Beecher Stowe assisted. 1t is
certain thai when Mrs. Stowe wrote THE
Sibyl, the model of her thought or concep-
ton was Sojourner Truth. The venerable
negress CAV herself the name she now bears.
1t was after she became devoted Christian.
We remember her saying that Christ was the
Truth, and she wanted to be like Him; hence
the surname Truth. She said that she was
sojourner upon earth and could labor for the
Master only few more years, for she had
then passed the allotted time of life-three-
score years and ten. Hence the Christian
name, Sojouruer, and the full name, Sojourn-
er Truth. We have a printed picture of her
likeness that was cut from Harper's Weekly
few years ago. 1t is good portrait of her.
Fred Laughton lost about fifteen bushels
of potatoes by the late heavy shower. The
field was by tine brookside and the sweeping
waters Jug theh cleah' nc couiu hot hhu
enough for breakfast next morning, although
he tramped down the brook long ways, bas-
ket in hand, hoping to find some scattered
along the banks of the brook.
-Ansel l. Miller returned to Williams Col
lege last week to begin his second years
course of study. Willie d. Miller, son of
VIM. o. Miller, began rs one of the sixty-two
freshmen this term at the same college,
Lewis Lynde is building new house 1t
is two stories high and will make a nice look
ing residence.
The potato bugs have turned tramps.
d. l.. NJ.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-09-13

How thu Bmlisu HousL or Co,tNoSs
TEEArs 4 DRUNKEN MEMBER The House of
Commons had n noisy experience few even
ings ago. An Irish member OF Parliament
got drunk and disgrac.d himself, and had to
be led or ordered ont Of the hall, good deal
like the Virginan in orr Congress a few
months ago lie refused to be pacifod and
roarod like madman The digitaries were
dreadfully Mortified and some notice had to
be taken of the intoxicated Cult The scene
would have inspired Dickens, could he have
witnessed it, The Major Major O'Gorman
had left the night before, Disguised and hui
inflated and the next afternoon he waited
outside the doors, sobcrer if not better
Hbornian. lie was the picture Of penitence.
One of his friends rose and asked that the
honorable and gallant gentleman might be
allowed to come before the House for the
purpose Of explaining his conduct Of last even
ing" Then rose the Chancellor of the EN-
chequer with the remark that he hears that
"the honorable and gallant member viii make
n statement that will be satisfactory to the
House. The Speaker then to the House ::
is it your pleasure that the honorable and
gallant gentleman be called in = The OIL
cial report says: 1T was answered in the af-
trmatiye by the cheers Of the House, and the
honorable and gallant gentleman was called
in" Upon which Major O'Gorman, duly
subdued and shaved, came in, and rose amid
cheering, and said Mr., Speaker, Sir: 1
beg leave to submit myself to you and this
honorable House, and to express my deep
regret at the occurrence which took place last
| night, and hope that you and this honom-
Bile House will accept my apology. Cheers. J
trust that | may be allowed to add that /
acted under the influence of the greatest posi-
ble evaporation. That, however, is not now
the question, and all that l have to do is TO
offer to you and this honorable Houssthe eX-
preston Of my deep regret for what took
place last night" loud cheers.) Then the
| Speaker said that the House had heard the
statement and apology of the honorable and
| gallant member from Waterford and hoped
it would be accepted. Then the Chancellor
of the Exchequer, the Tory leader, rose again
and hoped that the expression of regret,
| which has been so frankly uttered by the
honorable and gallant member, would be sat
isfactory and that further proceedings be
dispensed with. Loud cheers) Then the
Marquis of Huntington, the Liberal leader,
rose and said That nothing could be more
satisfactory and ample than the apology of
the honorable and gallant member from Wa
terford. and he hoped the matter would end
there And so it did, and the honorable and
| gallant member was forgiven and took his
| seat amid loud cheers. - Correspondence ~ N6
| PhkrdtlDhM Press
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-09-13

The annual convention of the Connect
cut River Valley Musical Association is in full
blast here this week and is a huge success in
every way. II is under the direction Of Geo.
w. Foster of Keene assisted by T. p Ryder
of Boston, who also acts in the capacity of
pianist. much larger number are in attend
ance than heretofore and all that can well be
accommodated in the hall both as singers and
listeners. Among the more prominent solo
lists are Mrs A. 7. Kimball of Boston, Miss
Il. NJ Whitney of Fitchburg, Sadie L. Mason
of Bethel, Me, Mrs. Nottingham of Winchen-
don, Mrs. b. #. Alcott of Lancaster, N. H.,
the Simpson sisters of Springfield, Mass.,
DIR. Clark, the noted tenor Of Boston, the
Arian QuGrtet;e of Keene, the Polymnn
Quariette Of keene, and large number of
others well known to the musical world. Four
grand con 'rts are to be givon-tho first,
Thursday aftai1 con. The others follow Thurs
day eyenin, and Friday afternoon and even
ing Sents are well sold, but letters or tele-
grams will secure the best remaining by adj
dressing r. bbi,t Hayes, who have charge Of
the hall n thing has occurred for long
time in III ,cinity in musical circles so sat
isfactory H. cry way as this present conven-
ton.
The NJ block being erected at the foot
of the star IN the site of the old post Office
building, having been decided by the select
men as being. one corner of it, in the high
way, they to' Did the workmen to put it there.
and work was stopped one day last week
but it is now going forward again, either the
plan being lu' diied so as to conform to the
limits of lanl or else decision being arrived
Mt that the or final plan did not place it in the
highway.
An eleEa floral tribute was contributed
by the Sabbath school class of which the late
j. G. TolmGn was the teacher, upon the occa-
sion of his funeral last Thursday afternoon.
Many other similar offerings were made, but
this was the finest of all. The post norton
examination showed that death was caused by
eancerous humor in the stomach which al
most entirely destroyed that organ.
An alarm of fire was caused Wednesday
evening by n kettle of asphaltum which F.
NJ. Taft was heating on his kitchen stove at
his residence on Atkinson street, taking fire
and setting the building in blaze, but it was
promptly extinguished-th smoke was very
dense and considerable damage was done by
that to the building and furniture, but not
much by the fire itself
Lawyers and n number of our citizens
are Mt Newfane this week, the case exciting
the most interest being the assault case of
Lynch upon Mansfield.
The Island House will close for the sea-
son soon-probably next week.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-09-13

The regatta, last week Thursday, was
pretty well attended, despite the unfavorable
weather. Three boats were entered for the
race The first was rowod by Ernest Perry
and Clinton Brooks of Bratteboro the sec
ond by Messrs. Cole and Butterfeld of West
moreland the third by Messrs. Marshall and
Hawley of Brattleboro. The distance rowed
was estimated at p miles, and the race was
won by Messrs. Perry and Brooks in 81 min
utes - seconds.
arrangements have been completed for
holding Il grove meeting on Whites picnic
grounds, commencing Tuesday morning, Sept.
H. and closing Friday evening Sept. 20.
Evangelist Moody will be in attendance, and
will preach Thursday morning and afternoon.
Services will be held twice day, and teams
will be run from Dummerston depot 10 ac-
commodate the crowd