davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1879-12-20
Natural Bagpipes.

Yesterday morning a Constellation re-
porter, observing quite a crowd around
a negro boy in the car-shed, approached
and inquired the cause of the excite
ment. He discovered that the boy was
natural prodigy ON a very unique
scale. BY placing his right hand over
his right ear and partially opening his
mouth this boy gave the exact imitation
of the musical tones Of the Scottish bag
piper, playing many airs with perfect
accuracy. The music seemed to come
from the inside of the boys head, and
many people were attracted to the spot,
thinking that the bagpipes were giving
forth their rich, mild melody. The boy
was very accommodating, and played
many airs, gliding with ease from the
gay to the grave. For instance, he
played Dixie with great spirit and rapid
ity, and then in the slowest and most
mournful cadences gave "Streams of
Mercy Never Ceasing." His name is
Alonzo Barnes, and he halls from East
man. He is only 10 years of age, and
says that he found out by accident about
three years ago that his head was full Of
bagpipes, and has been practicing upon
them ever since. He said that he could
play any tune that was whistled; where
upon some one in the crowd suggested
that he give something from "Pina-
FORE" He had never heard Of the piece,
he said, but called upon man after man
in the group to whistle for him, but not
one in the crowd seemed equal to the
task. All admitted that they had once
heard it, but so long ago that it was
difficult to recall. The boy holds
nothing whatever in his mouth, but
simply places his right hand over his
right ear and without the slightest eff
fort starts his bagpipes.-Aslansc (Ga.)
Constellation.
The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1879-12-20
WAITING FOR WINTER.

What honey in the years last flowers can
hide,
These little yellow butterflies may know;
With falling leaves they wayer to and FRO,
|Dr on the swinging tops of asters ride.
but am weary of the Summers pride
| And sick September's simulated show;
| WHY do the colder winds delay to blow,
land bring the pleasant hours that we abide
20 curtained alcove and sweet household
talks,
Or swceter silence by our pickering Lars,
Returning late from autumn evening walks
Upon the frosty hills, while reddening Mars
Hangs low between the withered mullen
| stalks
And upward throngs the host OF winter
stars!
Henry A. Beers, In December Scribner.
The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1879-12-20

Shooting wild geese was, in the early
days Of California, quite an important
industry with those men who hunted for
the market, and was very attractive 10
the few amateurs that INDUCED in Tia
sport. In all the counties bordering on
the bay wild geese were unusually pIen-
tiful, and it is no exaggeration TO ssv
that their numbers might be computed
by hundreds of thousands, for hundreds
Of acres of land were covered by them.
They did not, as now, interfere With
cultivation, but they consumed vast
quantities of grass, thus deprivin9 the
cattle of much feed, and were nuisance
to the rancheros, not only on account
of this consumption Of feed, but also be-
cause their deposit burned up the grass
and rendered it unfit for cattle. In
those days goose-shooting was profit
able business for the hunter, and 4 WAS
no uncommon thing for a skillful one to
realize from 800 to $50 . day, even
when he obtained but four or five shots.
"a shot in hunters parlance means Tie
discharge of both barrels.) The system
pursued by the market hunter in shooting
the geese was as follows: A docile and
good-natured OK was generally selected
BY the hunter for his attendant. Than
the geese were found on the large md
open plains, where they fed all through
the day, going to water and returning
morning and evening. The hunlsr
marked flock half or three-quaxtefs q
a mile away from his starting point, and
then put his OK in motion, allowing him
to feed as he went along, in order 70
make the geese feel that it was III square
and above board, and remain uncon-
scious of the lurking figure that moved
on behind the ox's hulk. Old goose
hunters state positively that thess oxen
seem to take perfect delight in aslist-
ing the shooter to work ON to his game.
They would approach the geese b IN
indirect way, never going straight to-
ward them, and apparently feeding -
they went along. Goose-sh0otfng on
this large scale was pursued from 1850
to 1857, in this State, and soma mn
well known in San Francisco to-day got
their first start in life in this businSos.
There were at least half dozen engaged
in it, whose wealth might be computed
from $4O, 900 to $50, 600, altogether Tie
result of goose-shooting. -6oS ks@ecs-
IN R,xIZcfi3
The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1879-12-20
"swessliss" aLswysr.

A millionaire who lived and died in
the vicinity of this city, as he felt bis
last days drawing nigh, summoned :
distinguished neighbor and lawyer, who
since has occupied one Of the highest
position in the gift of representative Of
the people, to prepare his last win and
testament. When the viii was drawn
the dying man said: az propose 10
make you my executor, and I shall =.
quire no bond from you. Write ~
Also" The ex-Judge complied, aftH
thanking his client, and promised b
execute the win to the best Of his ability.
"What is your bill for drawing upmy
willp" asked the millionaire.
"Oh, under the circumstances, q
course, / shall charge you nothing, " Va
the answer.
"But," said the other, "that Is not
my way of doing business. Make out
and receipt bin for your services and !
viii pay you now"
"Well, since you insist, I viii make
out a bill for nominal sum-say 20.
And this member of the Bar, who sd
dom draws breath without charging
some one for the respiration, made out
and receipted for 925 . bill which under
other circumstances would have been
$500.
The good man died and was buried:
When the win was read it was found
that the name of his son had been m
serted in place of that Of the distan-
guished lawyer. The ruling passion Wa
strong in death. The man who kne!
how to accumulate wealth understood
the value of tightly drawn viii and tle
difference between $25 and $500. re
had merely copied the words In me
order they were written by his leeA
friend, and thus had obtained an incffar
gable win at small cost, and an executor
of this own CHOOSING. - Cincinnati Gases's'
The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1879-12-20

Egg Bread: One quart Of botser.
milk, three eggs, three tablespoons noess
lump of butter size Of an egg, ban
spoon soda, corn-meal enough 70 ms
. thin batter.
The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1879-12-20

speed of the light canoe never slack
ened. A turn in the river; pool, where
small stream discharging from the
swamps of the northwest Joined the Ath-
abasca River. Never hesitating, losing
no time in useless consideration of the
probable result of venturing into the un-
known, untrodden swamp, she padded
the canoe into the pool, and began the
ascent of the small stream that slug
gishly pulled its waters through the
swamp.
When the second night was far spent
and the dim mo0nbeams peered through
the underbrush and rank grass that
grows on the breeding grounds of the
wild water fowl, Wakuzza, exhausted
with her long continued work, tied the
canoe to bush with deer sinew, and
after carefully propping it away from
the bank with paddle, SO as to leave
no tell-tale mark, she fell asleep. Awak-
ing to find the sun high above her, she
again bent over her paddle, and the ca
noe sped up the sluggish stream. For
three days Wakuzza worked without
food. Then she rested. Setting snares,
ohO C"uSHe swamp IoOuitS. Vucu sue
had five of these saved as little store
of food she again padded. The stream
became enlarged with the remains of
old beaver dams, and spread out into
shallow marshes of great area. She had
to carry her canoe over the dams, to
wade in the water and mud, and drag
the boat or push it ahead of her. The
water fowl were nesting, and she gath
cred eggs from their nests for food.
For two weeks, with matchless courage,
she pressed on through this marshy
waste of the north to the northwest.
One evening her heart rose with thud
to her throat as she saw the white tops
of the mountains as the sun sank slowly
behind them.
That night she got her foot on dry
land, and the next day she reached the
point under the cliff where the grove of
spruce was. Lost in the wilds of the
north, she gave up the attempt to join
the Dog Ribbed Indians. Free from the
Athabascasy she concluded 70 build .
The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1879-12-20

F~~ f.N~S Va CIV 10 blC lldlIOIU ana
brooch which Archduke Albrecht gave
his niece. They are made of diamonds
set so as to resemble edelweiss. The
present of the Archduchess Marie Req
nier was diadem resembling a laurel
wreath, and composed entirely of dia-
mOnds.
Among the most interesting of the
royal gifts are the fans, of which. in
part, the trousseau will consist. There
Is one made OF silk, and provided with a
delicate ivory handle, which on opening
Is almost transparent. In the center e
superbly executed royal crown and the
coats-Of-arms of the Austrian and Snar-
ish houses. Another fan is made IN the
Spanish style. The upper part ia Of
real black lace, and it has motber-of-
pearl handle. The aforementioned fan
Is present of Queen Isabella: the lat
ter was sent by q Spanish Princess
Archduke William sent the bride q fan
made OF white lace, and adorned with
three pictures, painted on silk, repre-
senting idyls of the rococo period. The
handle is of tortoise she'll. One Of the
most admirable things in the collection
is the toilet set made under the Aroh
duchess's own directions. The brushos
combs, and other necessaries are ali s,,'
perb specimens Of art. ~
There were many presents sent from
all the Governments of Europe, most If
them articles rich and rare and selecteJ
with taste, and all Of them Of great Val 81
ne. One sent by the French Govern
Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-05-25
Women Conspirators in Russia.

LADIES who move in the highest circles
Of Russian society have joined the Mini
list conspirrtors. No fewer than three
young ladies Of high birth took leading
part in the late outbreak at Kief. The
policeman who was killed during the
struggle fell from ball from revolver
aimed at.him which was fired by DIVA
Rafowska. Two preliminary meetings
of Nihilists were held before the ARRAY
one composed exclusively of men, the
other of women At the latter, accord
ing to the same authority, appeared the
daughter of Gen. Gerstfeld, whose faith
er lives in st. Petersburg and belongs to
the highest official class Of the empire,
and also the enthusiastic Countess Panin.
The name of the young countess is in
scribed on the books of the University of
Kieff. She is a Jealous student, and re-
nowned for her singular beauty. Her
mother is dead, but her mother-in-law is
court dame of. the Russian Empress, and
power in ST. Petersburg society. Her
great-grandfather was favorite of the
Empress Catherine, and was the second
Imperial Chancellor of the Russian En-
|pire.
Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-05-25

and my child easy, and that I could leave
q chink of the lid open to let us breathe,
for the overlapping edge would save
my finger from the panther. In second
! had it all clear before me but had the
brute not stopped short at sight Of the
curtain, | should never had chance Of
trying 1t. Luckily for me, the Indian
panther, savage as he is, isa terrible cow
ard, and suspicious as any detective. I've
seen one go round and round a trap for
more than half an hour, before he made
up his mind to spring at the bait. So,
while my friend was puzzling himself
over the curtain, and wondering whether it
was meant for a trap or not, took up
Minnie (who, poor little pet, seemed to
know there was something wrong, and
never uttered a sound) and into the chest
! crept, making as little noise as l could.
u was hardly settled there when.
heard the 'sniff-sniff' of the panther com
ing right up to where I lay, and, through
the chlnk that had left open, the hot
foul breath came streaming in upon my
face, almost making ME sick. 1t seemed
to bring my heart into my mouth when
heard his great claws scraping the edge
of the lid, and trying to lift it up; bu'
happily, the chink was too narrow fol
his paw to enter. But if the paw couldn'
the tongue could; and soon he began t.
lick my fingers, rasping them so that
| hardly knew how to bear it. Still, thu
touch Of Minnie's little arm around NJ,
neck seemed to give me courage.
"But there was far worse than this t
come for the panther suddenly leapee
right on top Of the chest, and his weigh
pressed down the heavy lid upon my fin
gers until the pain was SO terrible that
unable 10 stand it any longer, | screamed
with all my might.
''I,he scream was answered by shout
from just outside, in which recognized
my husbands voice. The panther hear
/ it, too, and it seemed to scare him, for h
made a dash for the window, either fol
getting or not noticing the iron bars; bu
just as he reached it there came the crac
of a rifle, and heard the heavy brute ia
suddenly upon the floor. Then all tn
fright came back upon me at once, and
tainted outright.
II heard afterward that Mr.. r. ha
happened to want some instrument whic
he had left at the house; and, not wishin
to trust in the hands of any of the native
he came back for it himself-luckil,
! just in time, for the bullet from his riff
| killed the panther. But, as you see, m
hand is pretty stiff yet
Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-05-25

you kept your head yesterday, and did
not lean out of the winder. Had you
done SO, missus and meant to have
pitched you out, and taken our chances
after Of getting off,"
81 was not very likely to be SO easily
put off my guard" was my laconic
answer.
SAY, but, master, your danger was not
over then; for missus and had made it
up that she was to pin your arms and
she could a done it easy-whilc was to
smash your head with the 'darbics. We
should then took the key, got off the
bracelets, and heaved you out winder
afore you could come to yourself. That
pistol fairly put us out, for it cowed mis-
sus, and she isn't easily cowcd, l tell ye.'
'But the pistol was not loaded, said l
nothing but a cap and an empty bar
rcl'' i9v
s'All the same, master, I'm glad We
failed. Now I've thought it over, know
Icould not have escaped. 1t was known ]
was left in your charge, and that missus
joined us. When your body was found
we'd been spotted at once
and most likely both or
us would swung for it. I'm main glad
tell you, that you got out o the mess
and l dent bear you no ill-will fo1
having done your dooty as a man and ;
hoficer.'
Never before to my knowledge, had
been in such deadly peril, and trul,
thankful did inwardly feel for the provi
dental escape learned 1 had just made
l was glad to give my murderous- minded
charge over to the care of the officers 0
the Defence; and I am thankful to adj
that never heard more of him, Or wishe'
to do so.
Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-05-25
OLD TINES.

There's Il beautiful song on the slumbcrous air
That drift through the valley of dreams;
1t comes from cline where the roses We're,
And tuncful heart and bright brown hair
That waved in the morning beams.
Soft eyes of azure and eyes of brown,
And snow white forehead are there;
A glimmering cross and a glimmering crown
A thorny bed and couch of down,
Lost hopes and leaflets of prayer.
A breath Of spring in the breezy woods,
Sweet watts from the quivcring pines;
Blue violet eyes beneath green hoods,
A bubble of brooklets, a scent of buds.
Bird warblcrs and clambcring vines.
A rosy wreath and dimpled hand,
A ring and a sighted vow;
Three golden links of q broken band,
A tiny track on the snow-white sand
A tear and a sinless brow.
There's tincture of GRIFFIN the beautiful song
That sobs on the slumbrous air;
And loneliness felt in the festive throng,
Sinks down on the soul us it trembles along
From cline where the roses were
We heard it first at dawn Of day,
And it mingled with matin chimes;
But years have distanced the beautiful lay
And its melody tloweth from far away,
And we call it now Old Times.
Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-05-25
z 777T7 u . 7.sl73-ll
POLLY WOGG.

Within dell With piercing shrek
Where cowslips dwell The maiden meek
A lovelorn frog Leaped from her log
Sat on log. Into the bog.
With signing croak His murder bore
his love ne spoke To distant shore
For Polly Wogg, Her lover dead,
A lady frog. With rivcn head,
She swore that she And skinning him,
Would faithful be- He served each limb
And never wed All boiled on toast
Aught else, she said. To hungry host.
And as she spoke But in that bog
A fatal stroke Upon log
Kertiopped her frog Another frog
From off his log! Loved Polly Wogg.
And such is life
Como death come strife,
Our Polly Wogg
Loves t'other frog!
st. Louis Times journal
Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-05-25
A Poetic Blk.

He walked up to the bar and called for
a cigar. The man in attendance laid out
box, from which he selected one, put it
into his mouth, and laid down five cents.
He was about to light 1t, when the bar
tender leaned over and said:
give cents, please"
II just gave you five cents"
81 know you did," went on the other,
"but that is ten-center."
The young man felt through his clothes,
but he could't find any more money.
~ think you'll have to put that on the
slate.'
1--WE keep none, sir" responded the
bartender.
"Well, now, you can bet I'm square,
and as haven't money enough to pay you
in full, I'll just cut this cigar III halves"
He took out a knife and cut the cigar in
the middle, at the same time offering one
to the man behind the bar.
ssThere's your other five cents.s'
.'That amt business; want money!
You do want money!" queried the other
with emphasis.
eyes, do
sDo you want money more than any
thing else in the world2''
~ do; it's all l work for"
ssWould you be willing to work very
very hard2''
eyes, sir"
well, know where they want several
men to whom they will give commission
Of % per cent
The bartender had by this time forgot
ten all about the unpaid for cigar.
"Do you think you could get me
chance he said.
"Do think so? Of course do! l
know it. My uncle is the proprietor"
"Havc another cigar"
The cigar was promptly accepted and
lighted, after which the bartender went on:
.What are you going to drink2'
"Give me a beer"
He swallowed the beer pretty quickly.
After he laid the glass down he remarked
that he felt rather chilled; that the beer
was little cooler than he at first antici-
pated it would be.
"Wont you take something to warm
you up? Now, how would a hot whisky
go?''
sFirst rate; let's have one"
He swallowed it, wiped his mouth, and
went on:
CHOW about this business. I believe
they guarantee you something like $40
per day, and you have to put in no CAPT
tai except your time and brains. It's nice
easy work; all you have to do is to walk
into parlor, ask to see the lady Of
the house, and tell her you would
like her to buy from you the History of
PATAGONIA, in seven volumes, at $40 per
volume. Then you get one quarter
$3.50. Isn't that good pay for ten min
utes' taIking2"
The bartender didn't reply, but made a
bee line for the man who duped him.
The latter lodged the well-meant kick of
his pursuer, which almost took the knob
off the door.
Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-05-25
LITTLE HARRY's LETTER.

nostman stood with puzzled brow
And in his hands turned DER and DER
4 letter, with address so strange
As he had never seen before.
The writing cramped, the letters small,
And by boys rough hand engraycn.
The words ran thus: "To Jesus Christ"
And underneath inscribed. SIN Heaven;
The postman paused; full we'll he knew
No mail on earth this note could take;
And vet Twas writ in childish faith,
And posted for the dear Lords sake.
With careful hand he broke the seal,
And rcvrently the letter read;
Twas short and very simple too,
For this was all the writer said:
NV Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ,
I've lately lost my father dear,
Mother is very, very poor,
And life to her is sad and drear.
Yet thou hast promised in thy Word
That none can ever ask in vain
For what they need of earthly store,
II only asked in Jcs,ls's name.
And so write You in his name,
To ask that you will kindly send
Some money down; what you can spare
And what is right for us to spend.
want so much to go to school;
While father lived | always went,
But he had little, Lord, to leave,
And what he left is almost spent.
Il do not know how long twill be
Ere this can reach the golden gate;
But will try and patient be,
And for the answer gladly wait"
The tidings reached that far-otf land,
Although the letter did not go,
And straight the King an angel sent
To help the little boy below.
OFT to his mother he would say,
Il knew the Lord would answer make
When he had read my. letter through,
Which 1 had sent for Jesus sake!'
Nh. happy boy, could you but teach
Our heart to trust our Fathers love,
And to believe where aughts denied
It's only done our faith to prove.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-06-07
The Summer Resorts.

washingtonians who are looking out for COM
Portable quarters during the hot season will find
in THE STAR the advertisements of great
variety OF attractive summer resorts, suitable
for every taste, physical need, and condition OF
purse whether the healthful, tranqutlzing
quiet of the country, the bracing air OF the
mountains or the tonic OF salt water, is desired.
AS we make 1t rule to reject the advertise
ments of establishments of dubious pecuniary re-
sponsibility, and which. therefore, are of doubt
full liability to carry out their promises to the pub
lie, our readers may feel entirely safe In chOos-
ing from the list Of summer resorts and coun-
try boarding houses advertised in THE STAR.
That our readers do appreciate the reliable ma
ture of the summer resort announcements In
THE STAR is shown by letter from the proprie
tor Of one Of the largest OF the Virginia Springs
hotels, Ia which he states that he has alre ady
rented two-thirds of his rooms as the result oil
an advertisement In THE STAR. No doubt other
advertisers will reap like satisfactory return
from the judcious use of printers ink
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-06-07
i FOR SUMMER

i FOR SUMMER WEAR
165 pieces of MADRAS ORETONNEB, yard wide,
only 6A cents, (usual price IN
200 pieces of beautiful LAWNS white and fancy
organdiee grounds, yard WIDE. l2H.
LACE STRIPED NAINSOOK. only 12k cents
cents.
VICTORIA LAWNS, 10. 12H, Is. - cents.
MADRAS GINGHAMS large assortment.
BLACK 9RENADINEa, IS, 81, 81, 81 cents.
ALL WOOL BUNTINGS, navy blue, cream,
black etc.
PAKASOLS, plain and fancy handles, from 81 up.
MAT11NGS, CARPETS and OIIOLOTHS.
GEMS TOWSON'S,
je7-tr 636 Pa. aUe., south side, near 7th st NV