davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-06-18

LIGHTNING RoD MEN IN VERMONT
The southern section of Vermont is under
an excitement of the lightning rod busi-
ness. About one year ago Il company
came through this section of the state with
as much pomp and circumstance as a
caravan or circus. Some Of their carriages
carried the rods and other material, some
the workmen and others the proprietors,
and horses, carriages and paraphernalia
were marshalled, decked and arranged in
an imposing manner SO rs to captivate
the verdant Yankees. In Rutland county
the company had with them II we'll known
auctioneer of Rutland, who said he chap
pened along on his own business
but would take occasion to warn the
people to protect themselves from the
lightning of heaven. The company
took negotiable notes, payable iu one
year. but made n verbal promise to wait
ten years for payment. The promise rs
against note would amount to nothing,
and they also warranted the material, and
agreed to readust and repair the rods if
they should get out of place. Many of
them have done SOFAS they were hurriedly
and carelessly put up. This might be II
defense so far as it would o,but the notes
were negotiated before due, and this, as
every lawyer understands, shuts off all
defense, except perhaps fraud or entire
want of consideration. The probability is
that the dupes will have their notes to
pay My own opinoin is, that the rods are
a genuine article, sold for twice of thrice
what they are worth, and that one-half or
two thirds of those who bought them
were in no condition to undergo such an
expenditure. 1t has been estimated that
the company carried away from Vermont
notes to the amount of one hundred thou
sand dollars. This doubtless was guessed
at; it might not have been one.half that
sum. The company operated in the rural
districts, and so far as l know, did no
work in the larger villages. and, what
may seem strange, they put up rods for a
class of men the most parsimonius to be
found. But such men have blind side,
and the lightning rod men found it,
Correspondence OF Troy Times.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-06-18

"GoING A-FIsHING. THE man who
invented the fish hook will some day have
a monument. 1t will be granite column
500 feet high, built by the boys alone. A
boy might possibly get along with mar
bles, tops, stills, balls and kites, yet he
would feel that there was an aching void
somewhere. A kite does we'll enough rs
long as it will outsal all other kites and
the string doesn't break, and pair of stills
are good property until after the first fall !;
but for real solid pleasure the fish hook
can never be beaten. A boy will always
expect more and get less from it than
anything else invented, but he never gets
too discouraged to try again.
The Smith boy was observed trying his
luck yesterday in pond on vacant lot
on Alfred street. AS far back as last
December his mother promised him half a
day out of school as soon as the fish began
to bite, and yesterday was the glorious
day. Where there's water there ought to
be fish, according to everybody's reckoning,
and the youth surrounded" that wee little
pond hole with its barrel of muddy water
with lust as much enthusiasm rs man
would throw line into Lake st. Clair.
lie had ham, sweetcake, potato, dried beef
and boiled egg for bait, and when he had
spit upon the bait and cast in his hook all
the Seth Greens ever born couldn't have
convinced him that he would fail of at
least one good big bite. For two long
hours he fshed for sturgeon and pickerel
and pike changing the bait now and then
and never forgetting to spit on it, and as
he bauled up for the last time he would
simply admit that it wasn't just the right
sort of day to 90 fishing. If he had had a
little one to carry home his triumph would
have been more complete, but yet his eyes
were like two diamonds as he met two
boys on the corner and called out:
"Sayl I've STAYED out of school whole
halliday and been a-fshing. | didn't
catch any fish. COS they were all on their
nests, but you ought to have seen the big
frog which tumbIefoff stone!"-Detrott
Free Press.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-06-18

LIGHTNING BENEFITs.-When board
ed the train at New York yesterday morn
ing man said to me:
Big thing, this telegraph"
" Yes" | said, at was as big as
grape vine"
No joking" he said. II came here
to New York yesterday, one hundred miles
out of my way to see man. When | got
here, went to the st Nicholas, and when
was ready to 90 out and see my man, by
jacks, stranger. had lost his address, and
by George, l couldn't think of his first
name even. And his last name was only
johnson. Easy name to hunt for, Ell? /
was left. You know what it is to find any,
body in New York when you don't know
his address. it is worse than finding an
honest man. Well, this man was new
conner here; name wasn't in the directory.
l asked questions until I made fool of
myself"
Z" Then l said to the telegraph operator
at the St. Nicholas:
It'll keep me here week. I've got
to write clear to st. Louis and get that
mans address,"
Telegraph the operator said.
wen, never thought OF that before.
| wrote dispatch right away.
"'To Gettit & Keepit, brokers, St.
Louis-What is our man Johnson's first
name, and what's his address?''
And in due course the answer came
back:
- James p, St. Nicholas hotel
" What do you think of that. stranger?
| went to the clerk and said:
"' Is Mr.. James p. johnson in his
room?
"'That is Mr.. James p. Johnson said
the clerk.
:" The man, stranger. was standing be-
side me, waiting for me to move, so that
he could speak to the clerk. And l had
just sent one thousand and sixty-four
miles to find where he was. Funny,
stranger, wan t itP'-Net0 York Paper.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-06-18

The secretary of the treasury, on the
18th ult., sent to both Houses of congress
a statement concerning sundry recon-
mendations by the commissioner of inter-
nal revenue, and report of the efforts
made by the government to suppress illicit
whiskey distillation since July l, 1876, to
the present time. 1t appears that 2,63S
stills have been seized, 5,422 persons have
been arrested for Illicit distilling, Sl09, 1855
have been expended for special deputies
for suppressing illicit distillation nineteen
persons haze been bUed, and Mirty-fue
1Uounded while thus engaged! These
operations have been carried on chiefly in
Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky,
South Carolina, North Carolina, and Vir-
ginia.
The commissioner says:
"Since March /, 1877, in several Of the
districts in the southern states, while
operations for the suppression of illicit
distillation were being vigorously prose-
cuted, many of the illicit distillers against
whom warrants had been issued expressed
an earnest desire TO abandon their fraudu-
lent practices and by direction of the
attorney general, with the approval of the
secretary of the treasury, they were per-
mitted to come into court, plead guilty,
and have their sentences suspended during
good behavior. Pleas of guilty, with sus-
pension of sentence. having been taken as
follows: In Georgia, 1872; South Carolina,
37S; North Carolina, $40; Alabama, ia !;
Tennessee, 1926; total, ,0S0."
The commissioner adds. that he believes
the number of pleas of guilty will reach
nearly, if not quite, 1000 in Tennessee.
Secretary Sherman, in his communca-
tion to congress, makes the following very
important and ominous declaration:
1.-The efforts made to suppress the Illicit
manufacture of spirits ana tobacco demon
strate that in many of the districts this
evil has become chronic, and that the laws
cannot be enforced against offenders with
out the presence of an armed force adequate
to overcome and persistently intimidate
persons disposed to violate the law"
Thus it will bo seen that the defiant
hosts of whiskey and tobacco are officially
declared to be in state of chronic REBEL
ion against the national authority. They
represent desperate, unscrupulous power
which, until it be destroyed, will continue
to imperil the peace and perpetuily of the
nation. .-MltionuL Temperance AauOcate.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-06-18
VOL. XXXVI.

BoTH SECTIONS AIIGHr IMPRovE.-I
know of few more striking contrasts
than to come by rail from the languid i'm
poyerished, small cities of the south to
Kansas, with its Leavenworth, its Topeka
and its Wyandotte. The scene so suddenly
shifted! Memphis, whose pavements are
somber with black-veiled women and
orphaned children, whose treasury is
empty, whose public faith is repudiated,
and its city charter revoked-now simply
the taxing district of Memphis in Shelby
county," Topeka with the bloom of youth
in its cheeks, its forehead lightened with
the light of faith, its step brisk, its honor
untarnished. Contrast this city with
Vicksburg, desolated by war, decimated
by fever, assassination rife in her streets,
and a navy revolver on every hip. l can
see no hope for the southern cities till the
pistol is laid aside, till the law is supreme
and impartial to white and black. No,not
until the intense individuality of the south
erner is subordinated 10 civil authority and
social order. Nor can the north afford to
taunt the south with the mote that is in
her eye till the dominant section first ex-
tracts the beam from her own eye. In the
north women and children are daily mur-
dered by brutes. Public sentiment is often
ow-toned in its Judgment of bad men, the
destroyers of children and helpless women.
In the south man murders man in the
street affray or the bar room duel. For my
part, l think the man who stands in deadly
encounter with his fellow-man, willing to
take his chances in the deadly interchange
of shots, is manlier fellow than the fana-
tic who Stays his child, the seducer who
packs his victim in trunk, the husband
who brains the woman he has sworn to
cherish, and thus on through the ghastly
catalogue of northern crime. Christian
charity, in our Judgment of the south, and
u lively remembrance Of our social sins,
will do much to aid the attainment of fair
views Correspondence Boston Herald.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-06-18

SILENT SIRvICE.-An island of the Paci-
fic had history unnoted in its annals.
Silently beneath the wave built the wise
coral. Their own life cemented the work
to which they freely gave their strength.
Dying, the toll was transmitted to their
successors. Thus epoch after epoch has
the sub-marncl and grown upward towards
the light. At length wavc-wash announced
its birth and the stars of heaven claimed
its coming to their shine. The accretion Of
its surface, the growth of its cities, the
progress of its culture, the power of its
kingdom, the pleasure and the profit of its
inhabitants all prc-suppose the unremem-
bered workmen beneath the sea. Not a
plant nor palace, not form of wonder nor
of wealth, not m expression of taste nor Il
tribute to truth can come from the firm
land begirt by the ocean, which does not
praise and honor the ages of silent service.
Surely he is best remembered who lives
in his work and dying makes it his maui
soleum. The days come when we who
have been bound together in this labor
and reproach of years shall be recognized
as building more wisely than we knew.
However insignificant may seem now our
partnership in its progress, not one tiny
effort shall be without its contribution to
the great result So long as the Father is
honored, the Savior magnilied, the Com
forter, made known by our living, let us
be content. Give thanks that ye have
been permitted to fashion the reef, upon
which multitudes in the future shall found
their home Tying.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-06-18

LINCoLN'S TENDERNESs.-A striking in
cident of President Lncoln's official life is
related by Judge Bromwell of Denver,
who visited the White House in March,
1863. Mr.. Seward and several other
gentlemen were present, the president
gradually came to talk on decisions of
life and death. All other matters submit
ted to him, he declared, were nothing in
comparison to these, and he added: l
reckon there never was Il man raised In
the country on farm, where they are al
ways butchering cattle and hogs and think
nothing about it, thai ever grew up with
such an aversion to bloodshed as | have !;
and yet I've had more questions of life and
death to settle in four years than all the
men who ever sat in this chair put to-
gether. But I've managed to get along
and do my duty, believe, and still save
the most of them; and there's no man
that knows the distress of mind. But
there has been some of them | couldn't
save-there are some cases where the law
must be executed. There was that man,
-, who was sentenced for piracy and
slave trading on the high seas. That was
Il case where there must be an example,
and YOU don't know how they followed
and pressed to get him pardoned or his
sentence commuted, but there was no use
of talking. 1t had to be done; | couldn't
help him; and then there was that -,
who was caught spying and recruiting
within Pope's lines in Missouri. That was
another case. They besieged me day and
night, but could not give ways We had
come to point where something must be
done that would stop such work. And
then there was this case of Beal on the
lakes. That was IL case where there must
be an example. They tried me every
way. They wouldn't give up; but | had
to stand firm on that, and | even had to
turn away his poor sister when she came
and begged for his life, and let him be ex-
ccuted; and he was executed, and | can
get the distress out of my mind yet. " AS
the kindly man uttered these words, the
tears ran down his cheeks, and the eyes Ol
the men surrounding him moistened with
sympathy. There was profound silence,
in which they rose to depart. Three
weeks afterwards the president was killed
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-06-18
He Cor Hrs DINNER Rev Mr.

He Cor HIS DINNER.-Rev. Mr.-,
had travelled far to preach to congrega-
tion at. After the sermon he wait.
ed very patiently, evidently expecting
some Of his brethren to invite him to din.
ner. In this he was disappointed. One
after another departed, until the house was
almost as empty as the minister's stomach
Summoning resolution, however, he walk
ed up to an elderly looking gentleman,
and said; win you 60 home to dinner
with me to-day, brother?'
Where do you live?'
"About twenty miles from this, SIR
No." said the man coloring; "but
you must 60 with me-"
Thank you-I will chcerfully."
After that time the minister was NJ
more troubled about his dinner.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-06-18

DR.. Newhall, the former president OF
Delaware College, and II personal friend
of Bishop Haven, was very sick. The
disease filled the poor mans mind with
all sorts of vagaries. For many days he
thought himself immortal, and refused to
eat anything whatever. The bishop hap
pened to visit him during this time, and
tried to prevail upon his sick friend to
take some nourishment. mo, do not
want anything" said he. =" am immor-
tai. | am in Heaven. This is Heaven y
Then pausing for moment and looking
at his visitor with troubled air, he said
" But, Haven, how in the world did you
get hereP You are the last person ex.
pected to see in this place, - Pittsburgh
Chronicle.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-06-18
OH, LITTLE FEET.

Oh, little feet, that such long years
Must wando on through doubts and fears.
Must ache aud bleed beneath Your loadl
/, nearer to the wayside inn
Where toll shall cease and rest begin,
Am weary, thinking of your road.
Oh. little hands, that weak or strong
Have still to serve or rnle so long,
Have still so long to give or ask .
I. who so much, with book and pen,
Have toiled among my fellow
Am weary, thinking of your task.
Oh, little heartst that, throb and beat
With such impatient, feverish heat
Such limitlessa and strong desires!
Mine, that so long has glowed and burned,
With passions into ashes turned,
Now covers aud conoeals its fires.
L0n0yetL0tr
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-06-18
The following was the state of the case

The following was the state of the case:
"Did you go to Mass. this mornings"
mo; did not rise till Tenn" Why
were you Hip" "Oh. no, only as lazy as
a prince of the Ind" "Then you have
your sin of laziness to Conn. over till next
Sunday" Don't La, ,v it on e, too tn thick, or
I'll Fla. you alive" "You feel Ca, don't
youP" Eyes; I had a couple of drinks Of
old R. l. just now, and N. j. (no joke)."
..But you won't Miss. it next Sunday. will
your there's a good fellow. The Text
will have reference to the Ark, and you
can bring along your Penn, and make
some notes for the morning edition, in
stead of flirting with MINI, as you did last
Sunday, because you can believe Me; when
l tell you she's soft on the young Nd. who
cured her father of the fever" o., you
think so! That's too thin. 1t won't Wash.
But her sister Cal. is the handsomer of the
two, Wis.," "No show there, either. l
saw the Col. walking in the Del. with her
yesterday, and they were Vary thick, Or.
I'm Ky-yi."
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-06-18

What building is there in Philadel-
phia dear to the heart of every patriotic
American citizenm asked DIR. Lilienthal,
of a geography class in Cincinnati. This
was poser; the class was troubled, but
made no answer. The doctor repeated
the question. 81 KNOW" said little fel-
low on the back seat, as he stretched up
his arm to its full length. " Tell Us what
it is then. my boy" said the doctor The
MINT" was the confident answer.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-06-18

Spiritualism teaches that there is no
sudden change on entering the spirit
world, but that all persons gravitate to the
exact sphere for which spiritually, NOR
ally and intellectually, they are fitted. and
that the future life is in its first stages, to
a large extent, counterpart of the pres
cnt; that spiritual realities are as tangible
to the inhabitants of the spirit-world as
material bodies are to the inhabitants ofthe
material world, and that the inhabitants of
the spiritual world normally stand in rela-
zion to the material universe as embodied
human beings in their normal condition
stand in relation to objects in the spiritual
world.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-06-18

On HIS DIGNITY.-The later Judge Cad
wallader, of Philadelphia, had wealthy
brother who while the Judge was seated
on the bench one day, appeared, and in
his bluff, fraternal way said: "How are
you, John? have been summoned to
act rs grand juror Said the Judge ::
when am on the bench l am addressed
as judge" Don't be d fool John y
said the business man. 'Fine Mr.. Cad.
wallader oneIhundred dollars" said the
judge--and he was fined.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-06-18

In little town in Missouri lady teach.
er was exercising class of juveniles in
mental arithmetic. She commenced the
question, If you buy a COW for $40"
when up came little hand. =" What is it
Johnnyp" Why, you can't buy no kind
Of COW for $40. Father sold one for $50
the other day. and she was regular old
scrub OF that"
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-06-18

While a man was dashing with all his
might and main down Corlandt street to
catch a train one day last week. gamn
rushed after him and shouted: Hey,
mister, have you got pinP' II have"
replied the man coming to Il sudden halt
and feeling under tho lapel of his vest
"Well then," yelled the boy as he jumped
out of the way you had better fasten your
ears together behind your head so as you
won't smash any swin2in' signs with EN-
The pedestrian passed on unheedful of the
advice given him.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-06-18

An amusing instance of the way in
which Sir Garnet Wolseley throws him
self into his work was given to me by a
commssariat officer. who was invited to
breakfast during the African campaign,
and requested to bring skeleton map
with him to note down the places and
roads for the generals information. He
kept me at work until 2.3O, but l never
heard a word about the breakfast" ."-For-
elan Letter.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-06-18
THE ART OF PATCHING CLoTHES.-I

THE ART OF PATCHING CLoTnES.-1
shall begin with the perhaps original
axiom that a patch must be rectangular.
A rouud or q " crooked one will inevita-
bly, thrust itself into notice, as it is impos-
sible to match the threads. Then patch
should never be " laid on" but always
" set in." To this end cut away carefully
by Il thread all that is in the least worn,
and turn back and baste down an even
seam all around. The corners may be
slashed slightly in diagonal direction, to
keep them square. Then to this opening
fit the patch exactly, with the edges turned
and busted, and sew it in over and over
on the wrong side with thread of the pre-
else shade and very fine. sewing alternate
opposite sides to avoid trouble with the
corners. The extra thickness caused by
the folded corners of the patch itself should
be cut out after sewing. and little fine
darning added to keep them secure. Now
slightly dampen and press on the wrong
side, and you have a neat piece of mend
ing which cannot be seen few feet away
Figures and striped goods must of course
be carefully matched; heavy woolen fab
rcs, such rs men and boys wear, neet
not have seams turned, the clean-cut edge
being strong enough to hold.-N Y. EUen-
ing Post.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-06-18

The Utica Herald is responsible for the
following rat and clam story: "a New
Berliner bought two dozen CLAIMS last
week. took them home, and spread meal
on them. The next morning he found
that thirty two rats, in search Of meal, had
been caught by tails and toes bv twenty
three CLAIMS. The unoccupied clam must
have bossed the job. One clam had three
rats.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-06-18

A WOMAN OF PLUCK.-In q murder
trial in Chicago, q Mrs. Baker routed
the lawyers completely. We learn from
the Inter- Ocean that when the lawyers
began interrupting her, she said: Il am
brought here to tell what know, and |
am going to tell it." And, despite all the
efforts of the lawyers, she did tell her
story in her own way. 70 one of the
lawyers who interrupted her, she said,
" You just keep still, sonny, and don't
interrupt. l shall tell the whole truth"
And another, after trying to stop her flow
Of talk, threw up his hands desparingly
and cried, "lt's no use. l give it up
In fact the lady bull-dozel the court and
utterly cowed the lawyers. Her conduct
must have delighted the witnesses who
had for days been bullyragged by the
lawyers. If there were more Mrs. Bakers
on the witness stand there would be less
impertinence and downright insoence
shown by lawyers in examining witness
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-06-18

Ia making some excavations to widen
the bed of the Tiber, the discovery has
been made, in the garden of the Farnesina
palace, of an extremely elegant chamber
which once formed part of sumptuous
habitaton of the early times of imperial
Rome. The ceiling is of the most beautiful
srucco, with figures and ornaments in re-
relief in an excellent state of preservation
lhe walls ara painted in the Pompeiian
stvlp
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-06-18

The Burlington HaWkeye has overheard
a poor but earnest Iowa tramp say Build
low roosts and put out the moon, and I'll
never bog for another morsel Of food as
long as | live."