davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Smyrna times., 1879-01-22
For the Smyrna Times
ursTORY OF THE BIG OAK UP
b n TO l776,

.,,sh musty records in search of hidden
" Easa Egaa the history of this tree back to its early
yoggI9N Man first enjoyed its shade and found
le Elysium there, ,,,,s ond braves be knev no
carkllg slTdy Tiyv Stem he'd hide to watch coming
S5 GS; stone dart battle axe he'd lay his victim
' low, OT;:,ires. doomd to torture, were firmly to it
SSq1a So19or hrstins for their blood were yelling
all ar, arouNee We're very common around this sturdy
such scenes "'''
m eS, length the pale face came from lands beyond
the ,gs sSay the Red ian from this tree of great
,7snS enSSYn Won Hoopcrsniper said here we will build
sd9i.b st9Ebb General Christensen came on them una
=. ,,oTe the Dutchmen OF the ground ana Spold
tneiT ibe eT English came along and saw the giant
oaH osa'raa they'd have it-right or wrOng-for thus
thelr they took tie tree, and drove away the
' Swede; e-.,,,,,. ,-oo- +bor ,,o+ b,t,or
They held II mus 'o' '-'"' '''~''
deeam d.los we'll protected by a legislative act;
he ,ing through AL ancient book, met this start
linz Sii this very tree for fully twenty years.
Ihs'@ @ Van Wrinkle took his nap, as by this book
aPPSftih e this clear entry-and you cannot put it
dtsoISn5ant doSn5 are family quite numerous in this
vSxt IoSni in order. William Penn, must come and
We DsS to t De La War; and said, gave it not to
,tn5N.yran:a t5ee i; must go, and there it shall re-
maui ,nS tree as this is seen in all my vast domain
~ TTonJ ~" WiIliam SAID Lord De La War;. 10 this
D., v5sn fr ySl wish pleasant shade why and
,,a William i Penn said verify, but thines the better
.,o e a will meet and in this shade refresh the inner
And Tby IS history silent here, when right beneath
~,oss cbieains met from year to year in peace and
And NEXT % came Englands George the Third with all
s,5 ~ Lord North OH this is fine, well never leave
s,sd. So done, they settled down to rest beneath
5 saT ont invitations for the folks to come to tea
iar,e crowds assembled on the ground to sup with
king and COur,
and all seemed joyous as the day, and III for fun and
Till y5rth spoke up and said Good folks, your man
And for the future on your tea you'll have to pay
This caused great commotion. and the people ripped
and tore.
Ania was dire confusion where joy had reigned be-
fore.
They ali declared with one accord they'd pay no tax
on tea.
But dumped it in the Delaware and 50 it went to
They kicked old George and all his court from under
meath this oak.
And George found dearly to his cost they wouldn't
stand the joke,
The king and court made haste away across the briny
sea.
B. George could never more be coaxed to sit beneath
tree.
The king at once sent fifty men to bring those rebs tc
book,
But they were gobbled up by sharks, on nearing
Bombay Hook.
Our big old oak still foursheS, in proof of all I've
said,
And many years may yet pass by before its roots are
dead. $. Z. c.
SMYRNA, January Is. 1872
Smyrna times., 1879-01-22
From Wealth to Poverty,

How tickle is wealth and how changing are the for
tunes of men. Sussex county has case in point
VIM. huntington Cannon, of Seaford, few years ago
was one of the solid men of old Sussex He owned at
one time about 1900 of land good and valuable
property, valued at s350OO In addition to this his
personal property estimated at $4,000. lie en-
gagged i'll Specul0tionsi fell INTO the hands of the
money Shavers paid heavy bonuses; sometimes as
much as % per cent This brought on financial en-
Garrassments; he fell into the hands of the officers
his property was forced into the market and sacrificed
Last week he was diSpOssessed of the last remaining
piece of property, carried by the Constable to Sea
ford hotel, where he was left without the means OF
subsistence, depending solely upon the charity OF
friends. is believed that his move will be to
the poor house. Mr.. Cannon is man of tremendous
propOrtOns and will tip the beam at near 400 pounds
Smyrna times., 1879-01-22
Old New England Meeting Houses,
BY WILLIAM r. BLISS.

The law of Reading, Mass, in 1862, said:
Every dog that comes to the meeting
either Of Lords day or lecture day, except
it be their dogs that pays for dog-whip-
per, tie owner of those dogs shall pay six
pence for every time they come to the
meeting that doth not pay the dog whip.
per" Twenty.six men wrote their names,
or made their marks, in the Reading
records, agreeing to ''pay the dog-whipper"
to whip other peoples dogs out of meeting,
while their dogs remained and were re-
cOgnizqd as members of the congregation
in regular standingl
Dogs were a necessity in the New Eng
land towns, because the woods were full Of
wolves and other animals that preyed
upon the sheep. Owners of large estates
were required by the town laws to keep "a
sufficient massive dog" and owners of
smaller estates to keep "a hound or bea-
gle for 1.-THE better fraying away wolves
from the town." Bounties were paid for
Wild animals hunted by the dogs.
Apalr of wild-cat ears, if duly certified
as fresh, drew five shillings from the town
treasury. This il the manner in which the
ceFtIdcation was made: "John Pierce
brought wildcats head before the town
ana bis ears were cut off by the constable
IN the presence of two select-men" Reno.
ooIh records, 1881. A sixpence was the
owns price to redeem ian inch and q
laIl OF the end of rattlesnake's tail with
me rattle" Dedham records, l7l9).
roxes heads were worth "three shillings
LOT old ones, and one shilling for young
ones puppled this year" (Wareham re-
cords, 1861.
All these things had an intimate relation
" The Westinghouse. At Ipswich the
"olcatcher must "bring the heads to the
uieeunghouse and there nayle them and
i've hots thereof to the constable" Al
hampton, y. H., the VOLTS head was to bC
nayled to a little red Oke tree at the
Ipofeast end Of the meeting house" A
t0ftsmouth, it must be nailed "upon thu
Ieeting-hOuse door"
I'm! Inc Office of tything-man Yves created il
O'o and 1871. The original business o
cue OF these creatures was to inspect tel
Ssuillies, acquaint himself with the habit
VI each person, enforce the Sabbath laws
prosecute for all transgressiOns in his tyth
.ns OF district, and see that no person wa
asy from home after nine o'clock a
mgnt In fact, the tything- man was a
Ollous spy, peeping in at all the window
anu keyholes of domestic life. In tn
eSsrse OF hundred years he rose to tn
OuSe OF policeman in the meeting hous,
sna became the terror of children and tn
natural enemy of dogs.
II may be imagined that he had h
naIos full when the boys and girls laughe
~ uerlslon because he found it impossib
S,IV - urlVs out fifty or hundred dogs thi
aS aSu come to meeting, and were snufir
SUOut IN search of their masters seat
%a! skulked under the benches and rusht
II ana down the gallery stairs, yelping ar
lowing when the whip-lash fell upon the
"aC "acksi At Sandwich, Mass, in l767, tv
sJehg women petitioned the town "to
;;oieVed t. from fine imposed for laughii
".heeung" on such an occasion, wh'
,srlOusness ,.r was impossible.-New. York {
Smyrna times., 1879-01-22
Slightly Mixed Uu,

The Philadelphia Times of last Thursday, says;
Two born ripe-roarers the Wilmington E,cyy Euen-
ing and the Salem Standard have got to recocheting
shot across the Delaware at another. Yesterdays
Standard says: "A constituency that will tolerate
shameless drunkard in the United States Senate as
in the case of Eli Salisbury of Delaware has no sort
of right to make mouths at or cast any insults at the
constituency of George NJ Robeson.' The Standard
has mixed Eli up with willard Eli, the present
Senator practices total abstinence and is temperate
III all of his habits. Willard, who was Senator good
while ago, used to be intemperate. but now makes
sober and steady Chancellor"
This quarrel between the papers began by the Ercry
EUcnig calling the Jersey people names for electng
exSccretary Of the Navy Robson to Congress- charg
ing him with being mixed up with fraud. The
Standard replied with some bitterness very naturally
holding up for the Every Ercnng to look at some.
thing at home The latter hit back and the above is
the re0inder. The Standard got mixed in names but
1t goes to show that a scar once made on man q
family endures as long as life.
Smyrna times., 1879-01-22
Legislative Items.
THE MILITIA BILL.

The mmensity of the above bill may be gathered
from the following account of its introduction into
the House by the correspondent of the Republican:
At $50 p. NJ. the Clerk of the House with fists en-
circing great mass of foOlscap in his position
with a well affected look of resignation upon his
cOuntenance. Every member was in his seat and
with eyes off wandering in the direction of the regu
latOr, sat in anticipating early adjournment The
clerk procured glass water and sat it before him.
He cast gaze around and noticing the expressions
of the legislative vsages look of pity spread
his features.
lie elevated his voice and the cumbersome title Of
the militia bill came forth. The faces of the mem
bers fell. The reading began at four O'Clock and the
scene that presented itself was quite different from
that of half an hour previous.
Half of the member were scratching away indcting
family letters, number were off in different corners
"caucusing," and the reading went on.
At 420 the clerk had given out and Representative
Cochran took his place. The members were then
getting restless.
AT AS Mr.. Cochran had given out and the clerk
resumed the reading The speakers head began to
bob behind his old fashioned Steel-rimmed glasses
One-haf the members had left the chamber and Rep
resentave Laws with his shoes off and his stockinged
feet hanging over the opposite side of his desk was
the only member who appeared to be listening to the
reading. At five o'clock the clerk had again run dry
and Mr., Cochran again prepared to wrestle with the
mass before him. Before he could be got under way
Mr.. Houston came in and moved to adjourn. Mr.
Ware Gllured the members with the assertion that il
was nearly over" and the motion was lost
After several other rounds between MeSsrs Cochran
and Salisbury the bill at last finished and Rep
resentatiye Lewis awOke from the nap into which h,
had fallen moved his legs carefully around the angles
of his desk just the Speaker at $50 announced the
reading of the bill.
| INVESTIGATING FEES CHARGED BY COUNTY OFFICERS.
Mr. Dean last week offered a resolution to investi
gate the amount of money received by county officer
for New Castle county charging that they had taksr
more than legal fees.
Mr.. Cochran opposed the investigation. saying thu
emoluments of these officers have been cut down b!
reason of the falling off of the business at least SO
cent. Five years ago the gross amount of the fees
the recorders oficewas about 5000. 1t is not nov
more than $500. If we begin here we cannot stol
short of Sussex county.
Mr.. Dean said he had not proposed to cut down th
emoluments of the officers. The resolution only pro
posed to discover If the receipts were too large h
and the people wanted to know it, He wanted to Sc
II there was any thing wrong Ihas been charged tina
the officers Of New Castle county had not always re
Smyrna times., 1879-01-22
Robbing the Dying,

That grim spectre, Death, was expected
in cOnsumptive's chamber in Philadelphia
on Wednesday night, but troop of
burglars came skylarking in his place.
Day and night his family had watched by
his bedside lest the invalid should be
smOthered in one of the terrible spasms of
coughing to which he was subject On
that night he had Il most exhausting hour
of coughing, and as soon rs he fell asleep
his faithful wife, worn out with fatigue,
stole into an adjoining room and threw
herself upon the bed to snatch a few
moments OF rest. 1t was during her alb.
sence from his side that the sick man saw
the burly forms of two men on a shed out
side the window. Sickness had rendered
him completely helpless and his voice could
not be raised above a whisper. Presently
he saw the window raised, the two men
stealthily entered his room. Then they
crept to his bedside, and one of them
dealt heavy blow upon his forehead.
They bound his feet with cords, and shackled
his bony arms with ropes that cut deep into
his skin. Fearing that he might cry out,
they covered his head with towel. Then
they began their work of plumber. Selling
one of the pillows they ripped open the
ticking and emptied the feathers upon the
floor. Having thus secured sack, they
searched the house and collected large
piece of satin. roll of black cashmere
and a piece Of silk. These articles they
placed in the pillowcase and then made
their escape. The invalid's wife rushed in
to find the sick man stretched upon the
floor, speechess and helpless, half en-
veloped in his bed-clothing among the
scattered feathers and the pIunder of the
thieves. To render the effect still more
ghastly, the invalid was an undertaken, anC
his wife was carrying on the business at tn,
old stand and the silk, satin and cash
mere which the thieves had collected ii
the sick-rOom were materials for coffin
Innings and trimmings.
Smyrna times., 1879-01-22
Growth Of NTiddletown.

The Middetown Transcript furnishes brief history
Of that town from which it appears that it laid
out. on paper early 1915 but up to 1916 ranked
only little above crossroads. The remains of an
old brewery and two three annerics are adverted
to as relics of that dim and distant past About 1916
the town began to grow, and in 1880 boasted popula-
ton Of 3G9, which had increased to 523 in 1860. III
1870 the United States census showed population
9l3 and another census, taken by residents of the
town, lois. The present population is estimated al
near 1000 St. Annes Episcopal Church. about one
mile south of Middletown is spoken of as a building
the date of whose erection goes lack too far for the
memory of man.
Smyrna times., 1879-01-22
DIVORCE case.
ChoWder.

Chicago girls wear uisters on their ears
to keep them from freezing.
Paniers are only the forerunners of
hoops, which are coming to stay.-Boston
Post.
King Humtert is threatened with ossifi-
cation Of the liver. This is sign of
high liver.
This sidewalks handy, but not sandy
as | wish it was, said the man who reach
ed his length on an icy pavement
Many man who prays not to be led
into temptation would he awfully disap.
pointed if his prayers were granted.
Physicians say that the almost universal
practice Of wearing wells over the face and
eyes is OF great injury to the latter delicate
organs.
When Gen. Butler was capsized he was
riding in a green back sleigh Benjamin
wasn't hurt, but the sleigh is pronounced
irredeemable.
Blow your own trumpet, if anybody will
listen to you, but don't tempt Providence
by blowing down lamp chimney when it
is at a white heat.
On dit, that one Of the sweetest things in
life is to sleigh ride in Boston with pretty
girl. Even the snow is just like brown
sugar.--B0Ston Post.
William II. Vanderbilt is said to be buy.
ing $4,000 worth of paintings yearly and
has filled his private picture gallery and
drawing-rOoms to overflowing
A lady's elegant dress is like summer
| savory mainly because it is soup herb
| Rome Seminal. Sometimes it is like the
farmers summer song-groS grain.-Syrd
case Sunday Times
Philadelphia county is the smallest
county in Pennsylvania, but when a buni0n
on a Philadelphia lady's foot gets its full
growth there isn't any bunion in the back
counties that will take so much shoe leather
to cover it.-Andre10'S Bazaar.
The day before Turkish girl is married
she is taken to the bath by her lady friends
and Jumps of sugar are broken over heI
head as a forecast of the sweets of matri
mOny. A year or so afterward her hus
band breaks the whole sugar-bowl over hel
head.
When a woman combs her back hair into
two ropes, holds one in her mouth unit
she winds the other upon her tuck comb
and then finds that she has lost her last
hair pin, she feels that the sex needs two
mouths-one to hold the hair and tn,
other to make remarks with.
A lady taking tea at small company
being very fond Of hot rolls, was asked tt
have another. Really, l cannot" she
modestly replied; 81 don't know how
many have eaten already" az do," un
expcctedly cried juvenile upstart whose
mother had allowed him a seat at the
table You've eaten eight; I've beer
countin'i"
Smyrna times., 1879-01-22
C0mnlY ami STATE Items.

Rev. Mr.. Bristor at New Castle gives notice that
only ministers and those having official relations to
the Conference will be provided with homes at the
approaching session of Conference, March 18th.
Camden Circuit has been visited by remarkable
ofreyval. Protraced meetings have been held
at six appointments and the number of conversions
number 3i6 and the meeting at Magnolia still con-
tinues.
There ought not of right to be any favored class in
a proGessedly Democratic State yet there is. The
landlord is favored above the butcher grocer any
other class of creditors in Delaware Is it JUST
Norman Herald
Smyrna times., 1879-01-22

TRIALS OF PASSENGER CONDUcToRs.-Fe
people have an idea of the almost constant
annoyance to which the wde-awake,
oblging conductor of passenger train is
subjected by fussy and inconsiderate people
while he is faithfully attending to his
duties. The other day one of the most
popular train Captains" in the employ of
the Pennsylvania Railroad, while going
westward, was accosted at Lancaster with :
"Ts this Tyrone?' "No Sir, Lancaster"
was the courteous reply. The same ques-
ton was asked by the same passenger at
Harrisburg and at several stations west of
that point. At last the conductor informed
the troublesome passenger that he would
inform him when the train reached Tyrone,
and the passenger composed himself to
sleep. At Tyrone the conductor. reused
him and told him to hurry up and get of
the train. He coolly kept his seat and
swallowed homeopathic powder that he
carried in his pocket, saying that he had
no watch and was to take the medicine at
6 o'clock, which was the hour the train was
due at Tyrone. "Blast your powder! ~ wa:
the exclamation Of the conductor.
Smyrna times., 1879-01-22

gardcd the lawful fee list and that improper and ic-
gal charges had been made for work done in the
offices. The opposition to the resolution surprise him.
he did not see. why anybody could object to finding
out what the facts Ifthcre is nothing wrong why
should they object toan investigation? Lctit be seen
what the facts are and then if nothing is wrong the
county officers will be vindicacd.
Mr. Ware was opposed to special legislation, and
said that the resolution should include Sussex and
vote for the resolution.
Mr.. Cochran said that he did not think it would be
rghto investigate of officers without nvestiga-
ton into the others The work of setting on foot
many investigations would cost good deal of money
probably more than the saving in regulating the
present emoluments Of the officers.
Mr.. Houston said that he thought the law fixed the
fees and that every officer was bound to give bill of
costs and there could be 10 Overcharge without the
knowledge Of the public He would oppose the
bringing of slch investigation intO Sussex on the
ground that there was no necessity nor any reason
Tor such action in regard to the Sussex officers He
thought that the law suicientto protect the pub
lie from ovcrcharges, and he doubted the wisdom of
the investigations
Mr.. Dean said that he knew that the men who get
those Offices received by a very large per cent
IN public office than they made in private bust
ness. If they are not overpaid why should they op-
pose an investigation? If l was in their place and |
knew that everything right. would court an in
vestgation; would say, Come on am ready for
all the light that can be thrown upon the matter No
Sirs, think that these officers are getting more money
than is an adequate and fair compensation"
After much discussion the resolution was finally
laid on the table by vote of IA to l. This vote indi
Gates it will fail The New Castle county members
are opposed to an investigation unless it applies tu
Kent and sussex as well and the members from the
lower counties do not favor it.
STATE TREASURER's REPORT.
The Joint committee appointed To examine the ac
counts of the State Treasurer and Trustees of the
man, that they had examined the accounts and found
them correct showing Sl33lIG3 general fund, S19.
46242 oyster fund.- SlI ISL 2l school fund Balance in
hand, S47, ,IJ3.2G.
DIVORCE case
Last Thursday considerable talk was created among
the members by the appearance in the Senate chamber
OF an old man of u Years who seeking after a
divorce. He said his name Isaac Jester and thai
he lived in Harrington. Gladly and sadly he unfold
ed his tale. He had been married twice and had
lived with his present wife-who is 60 years old-fol
% years Lately She had deserted him and he desire(
the divorce to prevent all possibility of her reurnin,
to him and claiming his property at his DEATH Th
Old man IS still hale and hearty and worked US q full
! hand in the bayfield, all last harvest
For additional County and State Items. see sccon
] maze.
Smyrna times., 1879-01-22

MINOR RELIGIOUS ITEMs.-The once
crowded church of DR.. Cumming, the Lon.
don Millenarian, is now almost deserted.
......ln Virginia there are only three Con.
gregational churches, and one of them
belongs to colored people. Episcopal
Church in Utah has 239 communicates,
thirty-nine Sunday-school teachers, and AGO
scholars; church property is valued at
24,600......In Scotland during six years
the Established Church Extension Com
mittee have aided in the erection of eighty.
nine churches, the total cost of which was
81 0,O00.......There is announced in Lon
don religious organization with the title
of "The Halleluiah, or Salvation Army;" it
IS composed of lay Nearly
$4,000 has been subscribed for new
cathedral church in Omaha. but the building
will not be begun until sufficient funds are
at hand no debt will be incurred. -Four
colorpd students have entered the Episco.
pal Divinity School at West Philadelphia
all of whom expect to engage in missionary
work in Africa.
Smyrna times., 1879-01-22
Old Legislaturemen.

The most venerable member of our General Assem-
bly, is Hon Sheppard p. Houston Representative from
Lewes and Rehoboth Hundred, Sussex county, who is
now serving his sixth term having always represent
ed the same hundred. Including himself there are
but three members now living who were in the Legs-
ture when he served his first term. Mr. Ayres Stockly
of smyrna who was a member of the House of Repre-
sentative and Rev. l. T. Cooper, D. D.. of Camden.
who was then Clerk of the same body.
Mr.. Houston Is &c years of age, and is hale and
hearty,
Smyrna times., 1879-01-22

MY LITTLE COUNTRY COUSIN.

My little country cousin
Is really worth dozen
vi the city girls you meet you stroll along Broad
way:
shes ever SO much neater.
She's ever much Sweeter,
Just modest little flower not intended for display
Pure as the sky above her.
None knew her but to love her,
The very birds for her repeat their most delicious
songs:
So bright she is and SO merry
You would not think it very
strange that the troubled heart for such O cheery
spirit longs.
So pretty and so youthful,
So roguiSh yet so truthful
MY little country cousin, with her sweet attractive
ways,
My favorite is, clearly:
Indeed love her dearly,
ana nd that language is too poor i'll which to speak
her praise.
My love need not sthe,
With Inc She does not trile,
VI in the deep Lethcan wave my Inspirations drown
Ah, no. my precious jewel
Would never be SO cruel
FOR my little country cousin is the sweetest wife in
town.