davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-04-25

When the confedrate amy was on its short
est rations General Lee demonstrated one day
with a straggler for eating green persimmons,
and asked him if he did not know that they
were unfit for food. "Tm not eating them
for food, general" replied the man, 'but for
the sake of drawing my stomach up to tt my
rations."
A bashful young man could defer the mo-
mentous question no longer, so he stammer-
ed: Martha lido you-you must have
are you aware that the good Book says-er,
says that it is not g-g-good that m-man should
be alone ?" Then hadn't you better run
home to your mother ?" Martha coolly sug
gested.
gentleman speaking of friend who was
prostrated by illness remarked that ''he could
hardly recover, since his constitution was all
gone" 'If his constitution is all gone"
said bystander 81 do not see how he lives
at all" "Oh," resumed the gentleman, "he
lives ON the bylaws"
There is a good old story-given in the
Graphic-about the aged lady ON her death
bed, who was in a penitential mood. She
said, 81 have been great sinner more than
eighty years, and didn't know it," An old
colored woman, who had lived with her a long
time exclaimed, 'Lors mowed il all the
time"
''Have you ever been in prison Z" asked
lawyer of a witness, whom he was disposed to
badger and bully, as the profession are apt to
do. HYes, sir. !" "When?" "In 1868" i" "Where.l"
''In Andersonville" There was a momentary
pause for breath, and then a round OF ap-
plause that shook the courtroom.
Mrs Dunshudder fed tramp yesterday be-
cause he wore an old army coat Of faded blue.
''You went through the war 2" said the sym.
pathetic soul. "Yes m was drummer,
and when the fellow reached the sidewalk he
concluded the sentence, 'for hardware store
in Chicago. "-Utiea Observer.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-04-25
TnIDeath Did Them Part.

Walter Watson shot Ezra Compton at New
port, Ind, in January, because of a slight er-
ror in an account, and Watson's recent eYecu-
ton was probably never surpassed for trag-
ical pathos. Watsons young wife, with her
babe in her arms, yainly appealed to the gov
ernor for mercy, and when the murderer was
prepared for execution she combed his hair,
and having added the last loving touch, re-
marked: "Now you are ready, Walter, and
will go with you" She had announced her
determination the day before to accompany
her husband on the scaffold, but no one
dreamed that she meant to carry it out. All
the attendants demonstrated with her. One
of the ministers said, softly, Mrs. Watson
this win never do" Quick as a flash she
turned ON him. replying, II should not have
expected this from minister When | was
married promised to cleave TO my husband
for better or for worse promised this to a
minister, and am going to keep my word as
far as God will let me-. Precisely at twelve
o'clock Sheriff Dallas led the way to the Jail
yard. About 100 witnesses were assembled.
Holding her husbands hand, the little woman
ascended the scaffold. Two chairs were
placed over the fatal trap. One was assigned
to Watson, the other to his wife. She ten
derly took his hand, caressed it, and then fell
sobbing on his shoulder. The Rev. Mr..
Wainscott began to read a carefully prepared
prayer from manuscript, and, on closing the
prayer, said, Brother Watson, be calm and
trust in God" Meanwhile the culprit sat in
his chair unmOved. heart-broken wife
was sobbing on his bosom. strong men sob
bed, but the man about to hanged seemed an
uninterested spectator Of the absorbing scene
of which he was the central figure. For full
ly five minutes he sat there without the least
perceptible twitch of a muscle. There was
no bravado in this composure it was rather
the oalmness of resignation. Then the sher-
i'll said Stand up, Walter Watson" Mrs.
Watson arose with her husband. She threw
herself ON his breast, and said "Good-by,
Walter" kissed him passionately ON his lips,
turned her white face full of bitterness and
reproach, on the multitude, stepped back,
and fell into the arms of good Christian wo-
men who stood near to receive her, and was led
away. In the sheriffs residence the widow,
who had been weeping bitterly, suddenly
dried her eyes, and, approaching the coffin
with firm step, looking longingly at the
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-04-25

INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITIONS are growing in
popularity. Australia announces that plans
are in preparation for a Worlds Fair to be
held at Melbourne in 1880. Australia has al
ways been well represented in all great exhi-
bitions, and latterly has made rapid progress
in productive industry and commercial rela-
tions-in fact, that country now ranks the
third among the export markets of the king
dom of Great Britain and may well be re-
garded by other nations not only as a worthy
competitor, but good customer. The Exhi-
bition at Melbourne will open October l, 1880,
and close March 81, 1881. Suitable buildings
will be erected in central position OF the
city, and a certain amount of steam and wa
ter power will be supplied free. The general
reception of articles will begin June l, 1880,
and continue until August 81, Reports and
awards will be based upon inherent and COM
parative merit, and the jurors will be experts
in the departments TO which they are especial.
ly assigned. Melbourne, which is the capital
of Victoria is readily accessible from all the
settled portions of Australia, and there is con-
slant steam communication with New zea-
land, Tasmania, and the South-sea Islands.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-04-25

'Can a man belong to a brass band and
be Christian 2" asks an exchange. We see
no impediment in the way. But if he is Civ
en- to practicing at home, it is an utter impos-
sibility for the man living next door to be a
Christian.
'Oh, heavens, save my wife !" shouted a
man whose wife had fallen overheard in the
Hudson River recently. He succeeded in res
cuing her, saying my dear, if you'd been
drowned what should have done amt
going to let you carry the pocketbook again. "
'In choosing a wife, says the Phrenologi-
cal journal, "be governed by her chin"
Many men are governed by their wife's chin
after marriage, and they're generally the men
who think there is another and a happier
world.
A certain lawyer was compelled to apollo
gize to the Court. With stately dignity he
rose in his place and said "Your Honor is
right and 1 am wrong, as your Honor general
ly is" There was dazed look in the Judges
eve, and he hardly knew whether to feel hap
by or fine the lawyer for contempt of court
At Springfield, ILL.,, the other day, one of
the members of the Legislature was complain
ing of his room at the hotel, and saying how
barren it was of the ordinary eonyeniences of
life "Why," said he, with indignation,
there isn't even Bible to whet your razor
on!"
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-04-25

African races. They have successfully been
brought under the influence of Carthaginian,
Roman, Egyptian, and Mohammedan civili-
zation. They have formed themselves into
independent states, and possess numerous
walled towns of commercial Importance.
They have established laws and education,
and stamped out many of the worst forms of
pagan superstition. They cultivate the soil,
and carry on several branches of manufacture
with remarkable success. The people of
Soudan receive their supply Of European
merchandise across the Sahara from the ports
of Morocco, Algeria, Tunis, and Tripoli-a
system of communication with the outer
world which has existed for thousands of
years. Caravans proceeding by any of these
routes can only make one journey year,
traversing about 2000 miles of mountainous
and difficult country before the nearest mar
ket of Soudan is reached. These paths, for
mery used by the merchants of antiquity,
now serve the Arab caravans Notwithstand-
ing all these difficulties, the annual value of
the trade between the northern ports and
Soudan amounts to about $4,000 600 An
easier mode of transit would evidently lead to
a large development of this trade.
The distance from Cape JUDY to Timbuctoo,
on the Upper Niger, is about 800 miles of al
most level country, thus being 1900 miles
shorter than the present routes On the line
proposed by Mr.. Mackenzie there are no less
than forty-two stations with plenty of water.
He thinks that caravans could make three
journeys year by it with greater ease than
one by the present roads. Therefore, with
out any outlay whatever for roads, an annual
trade of Sl2, 900, 600 would soon be establish
ed. To attain this object all that is necessary
is to form commercial station at Port st.
Bartholomew, Cape JUDY, whore the climate
is equal to that of MADEIRA and Canary, OBJ
tain the protection of the Berber chiefs of
Western Sahara (under whose protection the
present trade is carried ON, and place agents
in the principal towns on the road to Tim
buctoo. The road to Central Africa would
then be practically opened to commerce
through n healthy country, and from point
within nine days sail of European shores.
With the Sahara flooded direct navigation
with Europe would be established. And thus
will also be opened more extensive market
for American goods. We have heard of the
desert being made ito blossom as the rose :"
it is certainly fascinating idea that vast
and arid waste is to be covered by portion
of the waters of the mighty Atlantic. And if
this opening up Of the interior of Africa to
civilization and commerce is to abolish the
African slave-trade, with all its attendant hor-
rors, then do we most earnestly wish it a
hearty godspeed. -Hdrpe,'s Weekly.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-04-25
Miscellany.


Along the vale and DER the hill
I see blue and smoky haze;
The afternoons are warm and still,
And presage longer, warmer days.
The bluejay on the Humach bow
Is screaming with discordant note;
The phRbe-bird arouses now
The longing heart with trembling throat.
The hills are peeping through the snow,
And buried fences greet the view
On bare, brown knolls squaw berries glow,
Or tiny snow-fowers fiaunt in blue.
The fresh, new earth now scents the gale,
As, rising from her sepulchre,
She casts aside her snowy vail
And greets her train who wait for her.
The gathered odors Of the flowers
That lurk within the naples veins,
The golden light Of summer hours,
The boarded wealth Of summer rains,
The garnered sweetness Of the years
That pulses through the mighty trees,
Await a wound to flow In tears
Sweet as the hoard Of shining bees.
Now stands the drowsy team asleep
Before the bucket-laden sleigh,
While sinks the cruel steel full deep
To draw the crystal sap away.
The steady drip from wooden lip
Makes music in the soft spring air,
And soon the laden buckets tip
And waste the nectar rich and rare.
Anon the pungent smoke-wreaths rise
Around the kettles tossing SERGE
Hale youths attend the sacrifice,
And high the flames with faggots urge.
All, transmutation wondrous sweet!
That steals the blood Of bare, brown trees,
And in the cracking flames and heat
Has power those golden grains to seize!
o vanished youth! . balmy days!
The odors rise Of early flowers;
see again through smoky haze
The pictures Of those heeting hours;
hear again the wild halloo
OF boys long silent In the tomb;
The fitful campfire brings 10 view
Glad faces from the outer gloom.
They tell Of an eternal spring
Forever bright with springing flowers,
Where morning is an endless ring,
Existence knows not passing hours.
II may be that the flames Of strife
Have stored for MS some sweets away,
Or frozen drifts OF earthly life
May yield for us brighter day.
4. T.. UOrdcH, IN Ificd ObScrr,
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-04-25

The PRINCETON REvIEw.-The Christian
Register has the following comprehensive
and Justly appreciative notice of this notable
feature of our periodical literature, which un-
der its present management is conceded to be
the most scholarly and thoughtful of the re-
views:
'The Princeton is published six times a
year. and each number is thick book of two
hundred and thirty pages yet the subscrip-
ton price is only two dollars Still more re-
markable is the breadth and power of this
Recieic, which once was considered merely
representative and champion of q school of
theology but has now committed itself to the
task of presenting to the largest number of
readers articles entirely original, of the high
est order and timeliness, from the best minds
of this country and Europe, treating of the
most interesting phases of thought in theOlo-
gy philosophy, politics, science, literature,
and art" How well it is keeping itself to this
brave purpose may be judged from the fact
that its list of contributors during 1878 in
cluded the representatives of more than twen-
ty leading colleges and universities of Ameri-
ca, England, Holland, and Germany, with a
fine array also of the theological scholars of
different churches, while significant topics
have been treated by such men as De Pres
sense of Paris, James Anthony Froude and
Arthur Arnolds of London, Balfour Stewart
of Manchester, Canon Rawlinson of Oxford,
and Edward A. Freeman, the historian.
Many of the articles have borne directly on
the harmony between faith and science,
among which may be named one by DIR. A. p.
Peabody in the May number. Social ques-
tions have also been largely treated and DIR.
Draper has spoken from this high Presbyteri-
an pulpit on the Political Effect of the De-
cline of Faith in Europe" And for a sam
pie take the table of contents for March
''Religion and the State" by the late Prof.
Taylor Lewis, Union College; ''The Genesis
and Migration of Plants, by Principal Daw-
son, Montreal; "The Pulpit and Popular
Skepticism," by Rev. Phillips Brooks Sen
timental and Practical Politics." by Edward
A. Freeman, England "Thiers," by f. De
Pressense, France; "FinAl Cause" by Presi-
dent McCosh, Princeton continental Paint
ing at Paris in 1878, by Philip Gilbert Ham
erton; Premillenarianism," by Rev. DIR.
Patterson, Philadelphia; THE Islands of the
Pacific" by Sir julius Vogel, New Zealand.
Address Princeton ReUielo, 81 Park Row, N. Y.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-04-25

SHAKsPEARE's EARLY MARRIED LIFE-The
Hathaways had lived in Shottery for forty
years prior to Shakspenre's marriage The
poet then wholly undistinguished, had Just
turned eighteen, while his bride was nearly
twenty and it is often said now that she
did very wrong to wed this boy-lover. They
were married in November, 1852, and their
first child, Susanna, came in the following
May. Anne Hathaway must have been a
wonderfully fascinating woman, or Shaks-
peare would not so have loved her and she
must have loved him dearly-as what woman,
indeed, could help it!-or she would not thus
have yielded to his passion. There is direct
testimony to the beauty of his person and
in the light afforded by his writings it requires
no extraordinary penetration to conjecture
that his brilliant mind, sparkling humor, ten
der fancy, and impetuous spirit must have
made him in his youth the very paragon of
enchanters. 1t is not known where they liv-
ed during the first years after their marriage.
Perhaps in this cottage at Shottery. Perhaps
with Hamnet and Judith Sadler, for whom
their twins, born in 1885, were named Ham,
net and Judith. Her fathers house assured
ly would have been chosen for Anne's refuge,
when presently, in 1856, Shakespeare was
obliged to leave his wife and children, and go
away to London to seek his fortune. He did
not buy New Place till 1897, but it is known
that in the mean time he came to his native
country once every year. 1t was in Stratford
that his son Hamnet died, in 1896. Anne and
her children probably had never left the
town. They show her bedstead and other bits
of her furniture, together with certain home
spun sheets of everlasting linen, that are kept
as heirlooms to this day, in the garret of the
Shottery cottage. Here is the room that must
often have welcomed the poet when he came
home from his labors in the great city. 1t is
a very homely and humble place, but the
sight of it makes the heart thrill with a
strange and incommunicable awe. You can
not wish to speak when you are standing
there. You are scarcely conscious of the low
rustling of the leaves outside, the far-off,
sleepy murmuring of the brook, or the faint
fragrance of woodbine and maiden's- blush
that is waited in at the open easement, and
that swathes in natures incense a memory
sweeter than itself William Winter Har-
per's for May.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-04-25
The RobIns Rack Again.

There's call upon the housetop, an answer from the
plain;
There's warbe in the sunshine twitter in the rain
And through my heart at sound Of these there comes
nAmeless thrill,
As sweet as odor to the rose or verdure to the hills
And all these Joyous mornings my heart pours forth
this strain:
'God bless the dear old robins that have come back
agsinw
For they bring thought Of summer, Of dreamy, lus-
cious days,
OF kingcups in the meadow making golden hare;
longing for the clover blooms for roses all agow,
For fragrant blossoms where the bees with droning
murmurs 60;
dream Of all the beauties OF summers golden reign,
And sing "God keep the robins that have come back
again"
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-04-25
NO. H..
Content.

Beyond the hills that shut me in
heard the sounds OF labor.
Worlds work and pain aud sorrow too
Seemed struggling with its neighbor.
And love seemed dead, and peace had fed
Far of 10 helds elysiar,
And might was right, and strength was law;
Such was the earthly vision.
My soul was stirred prayed, "Let me
DO some great work so purely,
To right life's wrongs, that shall know
That have loved Thee surely"
My lips sent forth the eager cry,
The while my heart beat faster,
"For some great deed TO prove my love,
Send me, send me-my MasterW
But every road was hedeed with thorus,
My hands were torn and bleeding;
Each gate was barred, and hope ill-slarred
Was in my heart receding.
Night came; within the valleys rim
The sounds Of pain and sorrow
Grew faint; with idly folded bands
waited for the morrow.
From out the silence came a voice
Saying, "If God thou fearest
Rise up aud do, thy whole life through,
The duty that lies nearest.
The friendly word the kindly deed,
Though small the act in seeming,
Shall, in the end unto thy soul
Prove mightier than thy dreaming.
1.-THE cup Of water to the faint,
The rest unto the weary,
The light thou giyest anOther'a life
Shall make thine own less dreary;
And boundless realms Of faith and love
win wait for thy possessing.
Not creeds, but Deeds IL thou wouldst win
Unto thy soul blessing"
And so I wait with peaceful heart
Content to do His pleasure;
Not caring If the world shall mock
At smallness Of the measure
OF thoughts or deeds or daily life.
He knows the true eudeavOr
To do His will, to seek His face,
And He will fail me never.
Sarah 4. Gibbs, Ia Christian at ITort.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-04-25

face, kissed the lips, eyes and brow, arranged
the hair and neck-tie with tender hand, and
then said very quietly; Now please close
the coffin and let none see my Walter again" "
Her request was complied with. She turned
away with look of woe, and said, in a voice
full Of strange meaning; 81 can cry no more.
l have no more tears. God have mercy on
mo and my little baby"
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-04-25
Private School for Boys and
Girls.

MRS. EMMA j. JIyFS............... Principal.
MISS S. A. @. THOMAS, s,...........,....P Preoepress
Mrs. Ives, having leased the Tyler residence on
North Main street. will open, May lst, day senoo
for boys aud girls. Parents who desire careful and
thorough teaching for their children earnestly re-
quested 10 pdtTORize. Miss Thomas has taught many
years in leading schools and leaves large and -four
shinS one Of her own In Canada. in coming 20 Brat
ueboro. ulS
The daily gazette., 1879-06-14
enale Athletes.

From TIE N. Y. sun.
One hundred and fifty women are reg
ularly enrolled and active members of a
Staten Island athletic club. The organi-
zation has tastily laid out the grounds,
and there the ladies join in tennis, GRO
quet, and archery. The latter amuse-
ment is having a run of popularity
among them, as indeed it is with men
hereabouts. There is also on Staten Is
land an archery club composed of per-
sons of both sexes, who spend much time
in bow shooting. Indeed, women are
engaging much more in outdoor exercises
than they did few years ago. A hun
dred or more of th1m may be seen play
ing croquet in Prospect Park on any fine
afternoon. Members of the Coaching
Club rarely take spin through Central
Park without two or three lady compan-
ions on the top of the coach with them.
In the Queens county hunts women rode
fleet steeds, while at the summer resorts
many of them are seen pulling an oar in
light skif1s. The bellies of the Shrews-
bury River are so proficient in rowing
that they have public races forprizes. In
walking matches women have attracted
nearly as much attention as have men.
Te engage in most of the recreations
named argues no lack of womanly de-
corum. Properly practised, they are
healthful as well as entertaining.
The daily gazette., 1879-06-14
The Rise In silver.

One of the main causes of the rise In
silver was the publication of letter to
the Under Secretary Of State for India
giving the views of Lord Odo Russell,
the British Ambassador to Berlin, in re-
gard to Germsny's coinage policy.
The letter confirms the announcement
of the German Governments determi-
nation not to sell any more silver at pres
ent. The letter further states that the
German Government has 10000, 900 in
silver on hand, which will increase dur
ing the suspension of sales and it is add
ed on the authority of Lord Odo Russell
that il is generally believed by financial
men i'm Germany that the Government
Is preparing to introduce and adopt the
double standard as in France. This
news may be quite correct for the eco
nomic vas aries of the German Govern
ment in all directions are unknown guam
titles, aud we may be prepared to accept
tie preparation of any folly after what
the past few years have revealed.
Still it would be we'll to receive the
news with caution, for more reasons than
one. The belief of financial men IN
Germany is hardly sufficient ground on
which to come to the conclns on that sill
yer will be remDnetized forthwith. As
a whole, however, the tendency of the
extracts contained in the parliamentary
paper where this letter appears is to show
that recovery in the value of silver is
quite probable.
That Germany will case to sell till
the price lises again is also very likely,
for the loss so far has been rather severe.
She is b. sides behiudhand with her sill
YER coinage, quite apart from any ques-
ton of double standard, aud in the end
may not have much more to sell. The
production of silver, moreover, has been
far less in the proportion to gold than is
popularity supposed and its consumption
is greater than those who advocate the
adoption of bi-metaism for England
have allowed for. All this fully justifies
the opinion that the depreciation of sill
yer has been unduly great, but it by nc
means follows that an immediate and
great rise is to take pace.