davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-05-23
Spring Cleaning.

Twas only faded letter, yellow and dim with age,
That had lodged way back in the chimney, toll
worn, printed page;
But my heart cried out in its longing, longing in
tense as pain,
As I gazed on the letter to Santa, with its printed
words, again.
Aud l saw, as in a vsion a cherub with golden hair,
Struggling hard with the letter he wrote on nursery
chair;
And the rosy face puckercd, the lips we'll as
the hand,
Formed the letters that made the missve to send to
that far-on land:
"And want, dear Santa, ladder-one that painted
red;
And rocking with great long tail, about as
high as my head.
And Phi too wants ladder, striped one, painted
red;
But he's most baby, dear Santa aud I'd send him
steps instead"
And then IT put up the chimney, and lodged with
the greatest care;
And day after day came the children to If the let
ter was there,
Till at last, one day it was missing and shout from
them both broke forth,
For Santa had taken the mssiyo away TO his home in
the north.
Aud to-day on the letter. with its crooked lines,
again,
And hear the children shouting, though look for
stretch my arms for my cherubs, my boys with the
golden hair,
Who sent the letter to Santa that found in the chim-
ney there.
The ladders are worn and battered, and the that
was "steps instead"
Has lost part Of its bearings though both st hold to
the red;
And see, as wake from my vision, and glance about
Two darE-haired manly fellows, with lips of bearded
4. H. q. IN BOSTON Transcript
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-05-23

The SouTHEAsrERN RAILWAY. - Bradley
Barlow, president of the Southeastern Rail
way, has purchased the entire Bacoe interest
in that corporation amounting to S5l4 900 in
bonds, and also other paper making the sum
total about $3.50, 900. Over 800 tons of steel
rails have been purchased in England, and
will be put down on the main line and work
trains are employed on both ends of the road,
laying new ties, GO, 600 of which will probably
be laid this season. As the road was not able
to make any satisfactory arrangement with
the Grand Trunk monopoly to cross the Vic
toria bridge at Montreal, other means of cross
ing the st. Lawrence have been devised A
company has been formed with the purpose in
view of building bridge from Longeuil to
ST. Helens island, and from the latter place
to the metropolis the current is strong and
the river never freezes, so that ferry boats
can be run all the year round The company
for the construction of the bridge and ferry
has been organized and $50, 900, ten per cent
of the amount required, has been paid in
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-05-23
Miscellany.



In an old city under Eastern skies
There lived Ben Azim, whom men called the Wise,
And all sweet youths on noble deeds intent
For golden counsel to Ben Aim went.
Thus in the silver silence of the night
Tho sage behcld Brahmin, strong and bright
And young as Neptune when his lover hand
Caught back the waves from the cnamorcd land,
Standing within the tent "Niaster" he said,
"The way il long to seek the wiser dead;
"Thercfore come to thee Ten me, pray,
What best sufnceth for lt,s htful day?
"What dreams are whitest when the day Is spent,
Aud memory and moonlight MI the tent?'
Thcu rare Ben Aim, loving wider brow
And broader gaze than puny ,pirits know,
Made answer: "Comc, o Prince; the moon is high /;
Beneath its shining thou zLalt mud reply
He led him onward where gli,t-uiug pile
or marble makes the solemn muuu-hiue SMILE
And willing winds may draw the curtaiu's spld,
Aud fair and rayshing the scene they hold.
Beneath hundred prsoned moons swung low
In alabasttr vases glow on glow,
One lay in sllkcu ease. and smiled to see
The happy dancers in their graceful giec,
And sighed little with tho sipling Tyre,
whose lullng seems diyincr than desire;
And smiled again because his Nourmahal
Answered with lifted, lighted eyes, his call.
"No tumult save the yiul'z enters here,
Where cyclamcu and musk are atmosphere.
y
where to be careless IL the only care.
"And age shall wither, and the dead leaves fall.
And still some amorous, fawn-eyed Nourmabal
"will feed his heart Roses and maideus die,
But love and bloom aud fragrance are Tor aye"
The Brahmin faced the teacher, with surprise
And swift rtproachos IN his eager eyes.
ar this be Hfe I comprehend" be said
"The smile upon the faces Of the dead"
Ben Azim's glance grew fond 81 do not say
Brahma hath left Us no more royal way;
"But they who choose 1t walk with unshud feet
As one know walks yonder stricken street,
"where dying children, feeling his cares,
Take it for their dead mothers tenderness:
"And men the plague had crushed are men again,
His courage being stronger than their pain.
"Poorer than lean parials, mono may leave
A gift twOuld make him rich0r 10 receive
because the treasures Of the gods are theirs
Whose empty hands fall free Of selfish cares;
And he who only prays for other men
Is nearest Him who gives nor asks upaiu;
"a ruler in a world which has uos,ay
OF lifes 80 rich they give themselves away.
1.-THE choice is thine, o Prince; this purple state,
Or that high loneliness the night grows late
yet stay, my MASTER" sad the proud young voice
Life Is too lavish for this Larruw choice.
"she gives her poets bay, her conquerors palm,
And power TO princes, and TO sages calm.
"ls there no loon u all she holds more fair7"
It was sage who heard and answered there:
pleasure will feed the tody love, the soul
Nor flesh nor spirit crave meauCr dole.
"Crusus has all Of earth; the pure have heaven:
Is there a midland unto murtAls given ?"
Fa"tir Il. Roti"soa in HarIsr's Magazine.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-05-23

The Coon THAT Is IN THE WORLD. The
chief reason why evil often seems so much
commoner than good in the world is that evil
is noisy and always advertised, while good is
quiet and passes without notice. The daily
press chronicles and emphasizes crime, but
seldom makes record of the manifold virtues,
which are to vice as fifty to one. In these
days of excessive publication, what we do not
read of we are inclined to believe docs not ex-
list. Occasionally, however, instances of
modest unassertive herosm get into print,
and it is pleasant and encouraging to notice
them. Here are two Peter Rapp, aged %,
died in Cincinnati few days ago. Nobody
had known or even heard of him, for he was
only a driver of a street-car, earning a wretch
ed pittance. Still, with this pttauce he had
for years supported his father and mother,
both invalids and unable to work, and having
provided for them, he had actually nothing
for himself. Last winter he could buy neith-
err undergarments nor overcoat, and he was
obliged to walk daily from his poor house and
back, nine miles, because the street-car COM
panies, as generous as here, would not allow
their employees, when off duty, to ride free.
His suffering from cold. with IL hours of daily
hard work. added to anxiety and privation,
destroyed his health. and he died of rapid
onsumption-died, literally, that his parents
might live. Mary Ann, or Grand
ma, Wilson, as she is called is n vendor of
peanuts in New Orleans, an industrious, cheer
full, withered old woman, who has piled her
humble calling in st. Charles street for more
than 30 years. She is the most famous yell
low fever nurse in the South-a fact which
one would never learn from her own lips.
She took excellent care of patients during the
prevalence of the scourge there in 1887, and
again in 1853 she was faithfully at her post.
Two years later, when the fever ragged at Nor
folk, she went there and rendered efficient
service. She went at other seasons to Sa-
vannah and Memphis, and did her utmost to
relieve those who had been attacked by the
pestilence. Last summer found her at Grenada,
where for 3S days and nights she battled with
the disease ministerng to the sick and dy-
ing with a tenderness and devotion not to be
exceeded. She has. done n world of good,
but she never speaks of it, perhaps never
thinks of it. She, noble, simple soul, is once
more in St. Charles street selling peanuts, ap-
parently unconscious that she has done any
thing more than her plain duty. The world
is better than we think it.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-05-23

MISSING SHIPs.-There have been many
more appalling shipwrecks than usual during
the past year At present there are no It'd
ings of sixteen missing vessels, which, loaded
with valuable cargoes, have within few
months gone down in the Atlantic with all on
board. Upon the list are seven steamers,
viz. five British, one German and one
American. Four of these vessels were from
New York one from Boston, one from Phila-
delphia and one from England bound to Mon
treal. Six of these were loaded with miscel-
laneous cargoes, principally grain, and it is
suggested that the manner III which it was
slowed may have had something to do with
their loss. Peculiar features in the loss of
these vessels are that none of them carried
passengers that they We're, with one eXcep-
tion, English built steamships, with water
tight compartments and comparatively new,
and that they were all of less than 1900 tons
in carrying capacity. The loss of property
caused by these disasters is estimated at 81,
500, 600. The sailing vessels, more than
dozen in number which engaged in the same
traffic during the year, and are now missing,
were all of wood, with the exception Of the
Rivadeo, which was Of iron, and built in
1896.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-05-23

SHE HAD HAD ENOUGH OF IT.--It seems
that young man and woman of Bucksport,
Me-, were not so much marriedns they thought
they were a short time ago They met and
were each charmed by the others qualities.
4 mutual friendship grew up, which in a few
days ripened into love. 1t was agreed
that they should be married, and after brief
lapse of time they visited a well known JUS
tice of the peace in that town and were mar
ried, or supposed that they were. Two weeks
passed ON and the discovery was made by the
supposed justice of the peace, that his term
of office had expired prior to the marriage
ceremony and the couple We're not legally
married. The surprise of the man and his
affianced when the state of the case was told
them can hardly be imagined They had liv-
ed together as man and wife for two weeks,
and the announcement of the fact that they
were not married created quite q little sonsa-
ton. But the sequel is even stranger than
what went before. The would-be husband
said to his intended wife that they would go
and see some one who was really justice of
the peace, and get legally married She said
she believed she did not care TO, that she had
had enough of married life for the present,
and persisting in that opinion she left town
the next day for Boston.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-05-23

How THE BATTLE GEouND OF IHE WILDER
MSS LooRs.--I went over the Wilderness
route, writes correspondent of the Cincin-
matt Enquirer, in sight almost all the way Of
the leading roads on which Lees army had
moved out from behind the RaIidan to strike
Grant IN the line of march for Richmond. At
that time no railroad existed through the
Wilderness \ narrow gunge railroad Of very
rough quality, Hbout thirty nine miles long,
now reaches the whole distance from Orange
to fredericksburg passing within sight of
Chancellorsville within short distance of
the Wilderness tavern, and crossing Mine
Run, where Meade lost much time on a
high frail trestle the railroad also crosses
the lines of march of Grant after he left his
camps around Culpepper and crossed the
Rapidun TO Raccoon and Germania fords
The Wilderness at the present day has on
ly changed as far as building small station
houses and incipi,nt towns along the railroad
goes. 1t Is one of the poorest pieces of coun-
try in Virginia, originally dug over to find
surface iron ore; these ore pits have been
changed 10y the rains into gullies. which fig
ured in the battles thereabout All the trees
in sight are either sickly oak or a stunted
pine. There are few creeks Of any kind run
ming from the wilderness proper until you
come to the sources of the Mattapony. where
the country grows more fertile.
The Wilderness people are generally a low
order of white, rather better order of ne
groes. and once or twice We encountered
in sunbonnets some quite pretty Virginia
girls. This region is a sort of hill land be-
tween the sources of various rivers, whose
original soil Of clay mould was washed of
by the heavy rains, and has long ago dsap-
peared into the river bottoms.
They were getting out railroad ties at about
Al. L.
also hoop staves-the former to 20 to Eu-
rope. All the bodies on Wilderness and
Charlottesville battletelds have been dug up
and removed to the cemeteries at Spotsylva-
mia and Fredericksburg-t those beautiful Gem
eteries where almost all the dead are un-
known, but which alone embellish this evil
country, the deadly mud-hole of the world
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-05-23

A careful estimate respecting the circula-
ton of the Bible during the past century
places the total at the enormous number of
nearly $50, 600, 600 copies. The British and
Foreign Society is in advance of any other
institution of the kind as regards the number
of copies issued 1t was founded in 1904,
and has circulated upward of SO, 900, 600 cop
les. The American Society, founded thir-
teen years later, has caused circulation of
80, 900, 600. These two organizations are far
in advance of all others Next in respect of
copies circulated are the German societies,
which together have issued 8, 500,O 600. Then
comes the National Society of Scotland with
nearly 4, ,7GS, 900, then the Hibernian with
4,ls9, 900, the Swiss with nearly 1000, 900,
and the French with 100000 The Ma
tional Society of Scotland has circulated its
4, ,76s, 900 copies since 1861, the year in
which it was founded.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-05-23
Agricultural implements.

G. +. THOMPSON 4 CO., willisou's Stone Block
WOOD X MARSHALL, Exchange Block Main st.
BOOLseIIers and statIOhers.
CHENEY Il CLAPP, G Crosby Block.
f. Z. EDWARDS, door south Tripp's jewelry store.
Carpets.
C. l.. BROWN, Marshall Esterbrooks block, Main ST.
o. ]. PRATT, Grauite Block
!. RErTING SON, High ST., next Brooks House.
Cement Drain Pipe.
WM. A. PELLETC, manf'r and contractor for laying
Chamber Sets.
q. l.. BROWN, Marshall n Eserbrook' g block Main ST
j. EETTING son, High St., next Brooks Housr
CIOthiers.
PRATT, WRIGHT n co. Granite Row, Main 81.
+. A. WHITNEY, No. Granite Row.
Coal.
F. X. BAERows, opposite Brooks House.
A. }. GLEASON, office ut Greenes drug store.
COffinE aud CaskeTs.
q. l.. BROWN, Marshall N EsterbrOok's block Main ~
Contractors and Builders.
j. A. CHURCH, Flat st.
CrOckery and Glass ware.
FRANK G. HOWE, door north Main st. bridge.
NJ. T. VAN DOORN son, Crosby Block.
DentinIry.
DIR. @. S. CLAkK over Pratt, Wright Co.'s store.
Dining Rooms.
H. l.. COOPER door south o. J. Pratts store.
Doors, Sash and Blinds.
c. +. THOMPSON K co.. williston's Stone Block
DruggiHIA.
GEO. +. GREENE, No. 3 Union Block.
j. W. GREGG, Main Street, opposite High.
1. y. THORN CO., Crosby Block.
IL. e. WILLARD CO., Brooks House
Dry Goods.
+. X. BARROwS, Main St., opposite Brooks House.
Fertilizers.
c. F. THOMPSON \ CO., wilistons Stone Block
Furniture.
G. L. BROWN, Marshall Esterbrooks block Main St.
j. RErTING son, High ST., next Brooks House
Groceries.
A. c. DAVENPORT, 3 Crosby Block.
l. W, fROSI x CO., 3 Crosby Block,
FRANK q. HOWE, door north Main St. bridge.
A. J. SIMONDS, Exchange Block, Main St.
MARTIN SCOTT SON, Thompson 4 Rangers Bl'k.
q. THOMPSON CO., Williston's stone Block.
Hardware, Iron and steel.
c. +. THOMPSON CO., williston's Stone Block.
Harness Makers.
HEUsTIS BURNAP, Main St.
Hats, Caps and FurH.
u. n. CHAMBERLAIN, No. Brooks Block.
Ice Cream Rooms.
Il. l.. COOPER, door south o. j. Pratt's store.
Insurance AgenGs.
ALBERT BALDWIN, Thompson Rangers Block,
CUDwORrH CHILDs, Room No. 10 Crosby Block
SHERMAN SJENNE, Thompson Rangers Block
MOODY K HOWE, Savings Bank Block.
Jewellers.
c. S. PROUTY, Ryther's Arcade.
RANGER THOMPSON, Granite Row.
Job Printing.
d. LEONARD, Harmony Block, rear Crosby Block.
GEO. Il, SRLLECK, over Browns Furniture Store.
Meat Markets.
CHAs. Z. ALEXANDER, Ryther's Arcade
W. +. RICHARDSON, Market Block, Elliot St.
Millinery.
MARSH BALLARD, over ]. steen's store.
Paints and Oils.
c. F. THOMPSON Il CO.. winiston's Stone Block.
Paper IIangings and window Shadss.
NJ. T. VAN DoORN & son, Crosby Block.
Photographers.
c. L. HOWE, Union Block.
Piano FOrtes and Cottage Organs.
EDWARD CLARF, No. Oak st.
Undertakers.
O. l.. BROWN. Marshall Esterbrook's Block, Main 81
UphOlHtererH.
g. l.. BROWN, Marshall Esterbrooks Block, MainS st
a. b. KIRwAN, s. Main ST., opp Brat'leboro House.
J. RETTING SON, High ST., next Brooks House.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-05-23
Little story about the zulu..

\ missionary some years ago preached to
the Iulus about hell, and told them how hot
it was and how surely they would go there il
they did not change their courses. Zulu
chief, having heard him, invited him to din
uer. The meal ended, the chief says n South
African newspaper, turned sharply round to
the missionary and said; "What was that
you said this morning about putting the great
Zulu people in great ftc after they were
dead? Come this way, aud will show you
what the Zulus are; you don't know them,
can see lie took him 10 II pile Of wood.
which was Of tremendous proportions as big
as Bay store-an had it set fire to all round.
When it was properly in blaze, and gave
out so much heat that no one could come
near it, the chief summoned the two regj-
ments who had listened to the sermon and
ordered them to charge in the burning pile
and extinguish it. Naked as they were, with
out shoes or any covering at all, they rushed
into the burning mass like madmen, mying
and yelling, and did not stop till hardly YES
tgc of the fire remained. The chief then
said to the missionary You have seen that
That is what we will do with your hell. The
Zulu won't play with your fires and you had
better clear out of this country mt once. or |
will have a little fire made for You to put
out" The missionary took the hint, and left
the kranl the same evening. Is it any won
der, ask the people, after this, that Gating
guns and rocket batteries have no terror for
the Zulus and it is certain they have none.
The Zulus, when ordered to attack attack :
and though they may be mown down by
thousands still come on, until they conquer
or die
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-05-23
There is nothing that makes life sweetor,

There is nothing that makes life sweeter,
nothing that gives one more encouragement
in the midst of hard work than loyal friend
ship. 1t is this that makes it a meanness un-
speakably base 10 put on the disguise of
friendship in order the better to serve person.
al ends.
Some Philadelphia women have organ
lied club called the Economic" club,
whose object is to promote the knowledge of
the members as to ways and means of saving
the largest possible margin on limited in
comes, and, by comparing notes, learn the
best housekeeping methods.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-05-23

The CELEBRATED LAKE CHAMrLAIS SEA-
SERPENT has again made its appearance. The
ST. Albans Messenger says that on Friday af
ternoon Charles II. Harvey, /. NJ. Downing
and W. VI. DowinG, while fishing in row
boat west Of St. Adams shore, heard n great
agitation Of the water at a distance, and on
looking towards Buffers Island, some two
miles away, they discovered that the water
was dashed into foam. A dead calm was
prevailing. there being not so much as rip
pie on the water anywhere else. At first
they thought this might have been caused by
a school of fish coming to the surface. but
this rational supposition was soon dispelled.
The agitation incro ased and in moment the
water was thrown to the estimated height OF
thirty or forty feet. In the midst of 1t they
discovered Il dark object of considerable
bulk which would rise to the height of ten
or fifteen feet for minute or two and then
20 down and come up again. They pulled
for the spot as fast as they could, but before
they got near enough to get any distinct out
line of the object, it dove out of sight and the
water soon became placid. The appearance,
however had continued for some ten min
utes and it impressed each beholder alike.
What it was they do not pretend to say, but
that it was something one or two feet in di-
ameter and at least ten or twelve feet long,
and alive and active and powerful, they posi-
lively know.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-05-23

General Grant is the happy owner of two
Arabian horses Of the purest blood-a gift
from the Sultan of Turkey. One is of a dap
pie gray color and called Djeytan (the pan
ther), and the other is magnificent black
fellow with white star on his forehead, and
named Missiri. They are ON board steam
er on the way from Constantinople to New
Haven. They are housed ON deck and treat
cd like saloon passengers.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-05-23

ny? There's one thing though don't be-
lieyo the English, or any other people, were
ever treated to finer course of lectures than
these are. only wish everybody in the States
could have heard them.
SAI11r Joy WmTE
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-05-23

''Pinafore" is responsible fora great amount
of ill-timed levity. In a church in this city
yesterday, a clergyman earnestly enforcing
the truth of a gospel promise exclaimed with
emphasis, For He himself hath said it," and
about nine -tenths of that congregation looked
at its minister and snickered. - Hartford
C,OardAt
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-05-23
BRADFORD ACADEMY,

For Young Ladies'
building unsurpassed in arrangements for comfort
and health Of pupils. Twenty-Five acres Of ground,
twelve In Woodot laid out in pleasant walks the re-
maiuder adorned with shruhbery and trees. Definite
classical aud general course Of study. Also prepara
tory department Provision made for optional course.
Full corps of competent teachers. Year commences
Sept ., 1879. For circulars aud admission apply 70
MISS ANHIE II. JOHNSON,
May I, 1879. us-26) Bradford. Mass.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-05-23
BRATTLEBORO
Business Directory.

CUDWORTII ~ CIIILDS,
General Insurance ana RedL Es-
tdte 1Oehts.
representing the FARMERS and UNION MUTU A.
as well as many Of the largest STOCK COMPANIES
together with the largest and strongest LIFE INSUK
ANCE COMPANY in the world, and the most ecouum-
ical ACCIDENT INSURANCE COMPANY.
DEALERS IN BANK STOCK.
10 Crosby Block, Brattleboro, VI.