davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1879-04-19
DIamond sLeaIIng,

"BegInning here i'm st. Louis, for in
stance" said dealer, II remember q
case that, while not strictly speaking Il
robbery, had remarkable features. /
sold solitaire ring for $500 TO "a lady
living in Lucas Place. About year
afterward "A man walked into my place,
and throwing down "A ring, asked me
what 1t was worth. / at once rec
ognized IL AZ the one had sold, aud
questioned the man very closely. lie
claimed 20 have come By II honestly.
talked for a long time, and at last told
my clerk to 90 and get policeman.
Before the clerk got out Of the store
the man let down completely, and told
me that he was a plumber; that three
months before he had been called 20 a
house In Lucas place 10 fix u water
pipe, which was stopped up. lie found
the ring in the pipe, said nothing
Of it, and waited three months TO give
the loss time to blow over. Strange
that he should come TO my place, the
only one in the city where the ring
would be- recognized lie saw that he
was fonnd out, made the best Of the
Job, returned the ring and secured a re-
ward of $2OO.'
one day respectable looking gentle
man with young lady, to all appear
ancc his wire, came into the diamond
dcaler's and spent several hours look
ing at diamonds. one cross and ear
rings. valued az $1,000, seemed to strike
the young wiie's eye. The husband
demurred At the price. "Well, well, /
will think about it, said he, as they
departed without buying. The next
DAY the woman drove up in q coupe,
and said my husband desires to see
those diamonds again. think be viii
buy. lie is sick in bed will you 90 10
the Southern with me or viii you send
a clerk. Warned by q previous bitter
experience involving the loss Of 81 900,
the dea .cr did not send a clerk, but
went himself The couple had suite
Of parlors on the second floor. The
young lady vas quite engaging. Her
husband was sleeping. Would the
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1879-04-19

middle Of the room, aud sang ont I'm
stentorian voice; "Choose your part
ners.' The strangely made up orchcs-
ira struck up The Mississippi sawyer,
wild Ethiopian air, and the dancing
began. As the music went on, the mu-
sicians and dancers grew Wild and
wilder, until they shouted and sang AS
though possessed by the devil. Such
eNclamatiOns as II could die dis mo-
ment "Oh, Lord, how happy isu'
aud the like were heard, especially
from the women. Atabout O'Clock
Lucinda Macon, an old Nouduu negress
suddenly made her appearance i'm the
barn. The musicians and dancers
stopped In terror. The old hag slipp-
ed into the middle of the room, and
then began series of strange incanta-
ton scenes. The "trick" doctress was
dressed In an old blue and white check
dress and had i'm her hSnd large bun
die tied up in n red handkerchief. She
opened IL, and after muttering lot of
gibberiSh in what the negroes say there
WAS An African dialect, she said She
had the rope with which the men were
hanged, and that after she had touched
any bit of IL, that piece would secure
the poSsessor against the evil designs
of any person who trICkcd them or poi
soned them. She cut 1t up I'm small
bits, and over each bit she muttered aud
sprinkled something from an old jug,
and then she sold il for fifty cents. The
rush tor these pieces of rope was great
The men fought for them. This cerc-
mony was kept up until $50 A. NJ.
The rope did not go around, and when
this became known, those who did not
get piece ac,cd like tiends, and begged
the hag for "A tire, only. She told
them that nothing else would effect the
charm except small particles OF the
clothing in which the men were buried
y large party then started of to the
grave underneath the gallows, for the
purpose of disintering the bodies and
bringing back the garments. They
soon returned In horror To- the aall
room, swearing that they had seen the
two men VINO were hanged walking
around the grave. The hag added to
the excitement by declaring, at the top
of her voice, sing out the words, that
Smith and Christian had not died be-
cause she had given then charm. The
secret is that the visit of the dancers TO
the grave frightened oil two rcsurec-
tionists who were after the bodies for
the doctors. The dancing aud singing
was kept up till five O'Clock. 1t was
announced by NOudOu doctress that ali
who danced at the gallows ball would
be able to dance as long as they lived, no
matter if they lived to be ninety -one.
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1879-04-19
a Legend About Lnco.

There is II legend regarding the in
PRODUCTION of lace into Flanders. A
poverty y-strcken, but Plus young girl
was dying of love for young man.
whose wealth prccludcd all hopes of
marriage. One night as she sat weep
ing Mt her sad fate, beautiful lady en-
tered the cottage aud without saying II
word, placed ON her knee u green cloth
cushion, with its bobbins filled with
the fine thread, aud which on
Autumn evenings floats in the aiI ,
and which the people call 'ils de la
Vicrge The lady though of romantic
bearing was a practical manufacturer.
She sat down in silence and with her
nimble fingers taught the unhappy
maiden how To make all sorts of pat
terms and complicated stitches. As
daylight approached the maiden had
learned her art, and the mysterious Wis
itor hat disappeared. The price OF the
lace soon made the poor girl rich. She
married the man other choice, and sur
rounded by family, lived happy and
rich, for she kept the secret for herself
One evening when the little folks were
praying round her knee by the llreside,
and the husband sat watching the
happy group, the lady suddenly APP
peared among them. Her bearing was
distant; she seemed stern and sad, ana
this time addressed her protcge in
"A trembling voice :"Ilerc," she said,
'you enjoy peace and abundance while
without are famine and trouble.
helped you; you have not helped your
ncighbOrs. The angels weep for you
and turn away their faces" so the
next day the woman arose, aud going
forth with her green cushion aud the
bobbins in her hands, went from cot
tagc to cottage Offering TO all who would
be taught to instruct them i'm the art
she had herself miraculously learned.
50 they also became rich, and Belgium
became famous for TN is manufacture.
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1879-04-19
Moving Day.

Moving day with all its attendant
horrors, will soon be here, " said James
"and don't sec how am ever to get
through with it. 1t brings nothing
but work, work, work"
"Why, ycs," replied Grandfather
Lickshingle, lit is terrible day for Us
poor men folks, and no mistake See
in as how this dre'ful day has rolled
around aud battered me over the bald
an bcetling pate upward of II hundred
times, | ought TO know little some
thin'abOut it.. Work well, should say so
Git mp in the mOrnin' before breakfast
sit around ill its ready, then eat anon
down town after wagon. And right
here ] want to say that the standin'
premium of a million dollars I'm gold
offered by the United States Govern
ment to the man that finds wagon
when he wants il has never been claim
ed. No mortal man ever finds a wag-
on without hoofn' round whole
square, an jest this kind of work is
knockin' years and years Of usefulness
out OF some of our best young men.
Well, after the dOggoned wagon II
found, YOU must give the driver your
old as well rs your new address, as the
newspapers say, and that's enough to
break an ordinary mans back. BY the
time you're pretty we'll tagged out, an
you send the wagon TO the house while
you 90 on down town about your bust
ness, an your wife finishes up what
ever little odds an ends there may be
10 do about the moyin.' Oh it's dre'-
ful, dre'ful an 1t raises the blisters on
my hands to think Of it," and grand
father bowel his aged head on his cane
and grOaned.
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1879-04-19

gentleman wait a few momentsl lie
would. The lady was unusually inter-
esting, and susceptible to charms of
woman, the time passed agreeably TO
the diamond dealer. The young lady
got mp and entered the inner apart
ment, bnt returned Immediately with
the announcement that her husband
was awake. with the sweetest affection
of enthusiasm she picked up the case of
jewels. and with Let me show them
To nay husband" disappeared within.
Tie door seemed accidentally To blow
shut. The diamond merchant jumped
up, and as he did So he heard key
turn In the lock. lie at once reCog-
nizcd what was up, and sprang To the
door opening into the hall. lie found
1t locked. lie was u prisoner. The
solid door Knocked him. lie was desper-
ate, In All instant he drew his revol-
yer, placed IL To the lock, fired, IL was
shattered and the door swung open to
his touch. Like IA madman he tore
along the halls down the stairs, through
the rotunda, and around To the lady's
entrance, Just as lady I'm IA carriage
gave the order "Relay Depot, East ST.
Louis" lie leaned into the win
dow of the carriage and said, "Win
your husband take the diamonds,
madame2" She gave him one long,
searching look, quietly said, 'The price
Is too large, aud then they are such
hard things TO keep" produced the
case from the recess of her nun and
handed IL to him, saying, 81 should
have been quicker" spyer looked at
the diamonds, saw that they were all
right, babe the woman good day
Within the hour she and her confeder-
ate had left the hotel
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1879-04-19
KNGWooD PRESTON 10

had melted all the ice Of that numbed heart
Being now no longer embarrassed with u
secret, the little hunchback could give great
er efficacy TO his good offices. Toinette be-
came 10 him a sister, for whose wants he
had a right TO provide. Ii was the first
time since the death Of his mother that he
had been able TO share his life with another.
The young woman received his attentions
with feeling, but with reserve. All Mau-
rice's efforts Were insufficient TO dispel her
gloom. She seemed touched by his kind
ness, and sometimes expressed her sense of
II with warmth; but there she stopped
Her heart was a closed book, which the lit
tie hunchback might bend over but could
not read In truth, he cared little to do SO;
he gave himself up To the happiness of be
ing NO longer alone and took Toinette as
her long trials had made her he loved her
as she was, and wished for nothing else but
still TO enjoy her company.
This thought insensibly took possession
Of his mind, TO the exclusion of every thing
else The poor girl was as forlorn as him
self she had become accustomed To the de
formity of the hunchback, and she seemed
To look on him with AN aiIectionate sympa-
thy. What more could he wish for I'm
Ill then, the hopes Of making himself ac-
ceptable TO "A helpmate had been repelled 10y
Maurice rs a dream; but chance seemed
willing TO make it reality.
After much hesitation he took courage,
and decided to speak to her.
Ii was evening; the little hmchback. i'm
much agitation, directed his steps toward
the workwoman's garrett Just as hc was
about to enter, he thought he heard "A strange
voice pronouncing the maiden's name. He
quickly pushed open the door, and perceived
Toinette weeping and leaning on the shoul-
der of a young man in the dress of "A sailor
AT the sight of my uncle she disengaged
herself quickly, and ran To him, crying out,
''Ah come Income in 1t is he that
thought was dead ii is Julien it is my be
trothed ~
Maurice tottcred, and drew back \ sin
gle word had told him all
Ii seemed TO him as if the ground shook
and his heart was going to break but the
same voice that he had heard by his moth
er's death-bed again sounded in his ears.
and he soon recovered himself God was
still his friend
lie himself accompanied the newly mar
ried pair on the road when they went away,
and, after having wished them all the hap
piness which was denied To him, hc returned
with resignation 10 the old house i'm the sub
urb.
1t was there that he ended his life, for
sallcn 10y men, but not as he said by the
Father which is in heaven He felt his
presence everywhere; it was To- him in the
place of all else. When he died, it was with
a smile, and like an exile setting out for his
own country. He who had consoled him i'm
poverty and i'll health, when he was suffer
ing from Injustice and fOTSakcn by all had
made death gain and blessing To him
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1879-04-19
VOL. III.
LIES WEST WINDOW.

We staDd at life's west window.
And think OF the days that are gone
Remembering the coming sunset
We too must remember the morn;
But the sun will set, the day will close,
And an end will come to ali our woes.
As we watch from the western cRsoments.
Reviewing our happy youth.
We mourn for its vanished promise,
OF honor. ambition and truth.
But hopes will fall and pride decay.
When We think how soon we must away.
We stand at lfe's west windows,
And turn not sadly away.
To watch our children's faces
The noonude of sparkling day.
But our sun must set, our lips grow dumb,
Aud TO look from our windows our children
eeme.
Still looking from life's west windows.
And we know we would not again
Look forth from the eastern lattice
And live over all lifes pain.
Though life sunlight be brilliant, its sunse;
is sweet
siDoe 1t brings longed-fOr rest to our weary
feet
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1879-04-19
rho Dan or the ornow..

a short time ago two negroes were
hung az New Kent Court House. Vir-
giuia. After the hanging the crowds
of whites went away, but the negroes
hung about the field and around the
shallow graves Of the fclons until dark.
They had determined to have a ball but
according to some superstition among
them 10 could not begin until after the
midnight hour. a large barn near the
field was swept clean b. hundreds Of
willing hands. At II o'clock it was
crowded. on a small stage in q corner
the stand for the musicians were placed
ed, which was occupied by four banjo
players aud one fiddler. ln the mid
die Of the room was another stand, upon
on which the man who called out the
figures stood. II was a weired scene.
Boys stood I'm the corners Of the room
with pine knot torches, which filed the
place with black smoke, and made n
murky light At 1918 the festivities
began Peter Johnson, burly tobac-
60 band occupied the stand Ia the
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1879-04-19
rnnnlnr nrnst.

one of INC largest and most forocious ami
mails in South America, Is the Jaguar 20
terrible native tiger Besides being large
and immensely strong, it practices cxtraor-
dinary stragctic schemes in procuring food
which indicate something above mere boz.
stinct, because circumstances are constantly
requiring some variation in their fDragine
expeditions for prey lIumboldtslys when
they find a turtle they adroitIy turn IL over
ON its back 10 is then helpless and totally
unable % offer Resistance in That condition
With the most cruel manifestation of feline
character the Jaguar then leisurcly knaws
ont the quivcring flesh between the shell
and carapacc. Another Of the Joouar'
reasoning manwuvcrs is 20 quietly follow
the margin OF streams AZ sight of q fish
near enough 90 be approached with quick
dash of its paw thc game ia thrown high
and dry above the bank Fortunately foi
the country the Jaguar has a match in the
great scrpcnts that infcst tropical America
In a twinkling Of ON eye one Of these mon
stcrs winds himself round his body, and
brushes out life and cracks the bones Into
fragments at the same moment
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1879-04-19
odor of Spices.

An interesting archaeological Obser-
walton has recently been made quite ac-
cidentaly. IT is well known that the
urns found in Roman burial-grounds
and containing the bone remains of
crcmated bodies are often covered with
clay cups or dishes. The object Of
these dishes was supposed TO have been
10 contain spices, which sent forth
agreeable odOrs during the progress OF
cremation. Herr Dahlem, "A well known
German ologist, was able TO verify
this view in the following manner: He
had obtained a dish Of this kind which
was broken, aud after cementing it had
placed IL upon stove for the purpose OF
drying the cement. Shortly afterw8Td
ne noticed q strong and by no means
unpleasant OdOr proceeding from the
heated dish. II seems, therefore, that
the ingredients burned In the dish some
fifteen centuries ago had left traces be-
hind, which announced thcir presence
upon becoming heated. Herr Dahlem
remarks that the odor was not unlike
that Of stOrax.
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1879-04-19
Green CIoth Itomance.

The Asiatic gambler is the most reckless
il seems 10 be his second nature, and he
will not scruple 10 stake his wife. children.
or, as q last venture, ono Of his own limbs.
his life or liberty, becoming thus the slave
Of his antagonist And here ann reminded
Of q fine point Of law once cxtant among
fhc ancient IIndoos, and touching upon
this very question. a warrior stalking his
last fauhing on chance finally put up his
liberty, uponlosing which hc bcthought him
Of his beautiful wife Luck being Nin
against him, she was summoned as slave
before her husband antagonist and escaped
the life Of scrfdOm 10y the adroitucss of her
first query. 'Did my husband lose me or
himself irsy For If hc played away him
self first hc could not stake me There is
% story Of p similar case as having occurred
I'm an English speaking country. 10 was
during thcpIaguc in England that young
captain OF the kings body guard pledged
the key Of IBIS house against an the winnings
Of his adversary and lost The wifc's honor
was saved through the medium Of "a terrible
avengor, the plague, one spot Of which
having appeared upon her throat frightened
away the winner Of the key. The story is
long one. there was q duel: the husband
was killed. the wlfc died Of the plague. and
the cause ~ all this woe, the lucky game.
acr, was only cursed by the wicrd plague.
prophet $50 perish boz everlasting FIRE
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1879-04-19
The AdmiraPs Duck story.

When Admiral lIoratiO Binnacle, the
venerable retired sea-serpcnt, who lives on
West Seventy seventh street, saw roast duck
on the bill of fare recently, his always
pleasant face took on an added ray of
cheerfulness, but those who sat near him
observed that after he had eaten his portion
his brow was corrugated Later, as he
stood before the parlor fire, the Admiral
said
81 lived once, gentlemen, in a house
which the boarders left in body. We had
one night for SUPPER roast duck 1t was
served in rough, jagged pieces, but we
thought nothing of that perhaps the cary
ing axe was dull. II was rough That
was to be expected. Tasteless2 OF course.
But when we had nearly finished it, old
Commodore Zelotes Finnerty held up a
piece ON the end Of fork, and said
admiral -
Commodore.
"Nails ~
''And sure enough, gentlemen, ~ the
Commodore turned that piece Of duck on
his fork ! saw sticking through it the points
of three nails. II was wooden decoy
duck that we had eaten, served by the
landady because it was cheaper than the
ducks that are sold in the poultry marketl
She was safe in her assumption that we
would not discover in the taste any differ
ence between that and many other ducks
we had eaten from the same table; but
unfortunately she forgot to pull out the
nails.
cit was too much for the old Commo-
dore. He went to his room, got out the
old-fashioned, alligator-mouthed carpet-bag
that he always carried, and began TO stow
his dunnagc. His example was infectious
Within half an hour every bit Of baggage,
from trunk TO grip-sack, was out of the
house, and the boarders were seeking other
feeding grounds.
mo, don't mean 20 say, gentlemen,
that the duck we had for dinner tonight
was a wooden duck understand me, saw
no nails hui-lN
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1879-04-19
Pront $1,000

"Io sum II up, six long years Of bed
ridden sickness, costing 500 per year,
total 81 200 ali Of this expense was
stopped by three bottles Of Hop Bitters
taken by my wife. She has done her
own homework for year since, With
out the loss Of day, and want every
body 70 know II, for their benefit"
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1879-04-19
Colorado Agates.

Agatcs arc found in profusion in the
Middle Park, Colorado. They occur in
large patches, scattered over the surface in
chips and larger fragments, and occurring,
also, in massive ledges. Only a very small
percentage of them, however, contain the
curious and delicate capitalization OF iron
known ~ moss. The great agate field is
south Of the Grand and west Of Williams
rivers, ON high sage plain. II is six or
eight miles in length, and nearly as great in
width, though agates are not found all over
this area II has been cullcd and picked
over by hundreds Of people There is an
agate patch-or several of them, small I'm
extont-Ou the divide between Troublesome
river and Corral creek, north Of the Grand
I'm all these localities the 'moss" is black OF
dark brown the usual color Near Grand
river, on the north side, and about three
miles west Of Hot Sulphur Springs is a
small area where red moss agates arc found
that is, the ''moss' is red, or reddish
brown, instead of black. Red moss agatcs
are rare and curious No search has ever
been made in any Of these places beneath
the natural surface Of the ground The
agatcs gathered have been picked up ON the
surface, generally in broken fragments that
showed the moss naturally
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1879-04-19

Is rEACE there's nothing so becomes
2 man ~ modest stiffness and humility.
unless he is engaged in the life iusur-
anco or some analogous business.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-07-14
Wailing and Cries for Help from
the Greenbackers.

On all sides there is tho sound of wall
ing in the greenback camp. Some of the
organs are out of tune and make fearful
discord, which fusion brethren exert them
selves in vain to stop. Mr.. Rust is down
ON his knees in last weeks Belfast Age,
begging with tears in his eyes for the com
bination ticket. Scion Chase is trying to
make the steer combination team work
but can't do it, The organ in this city,
the National Tribune. is brimful Of trou-
BILE. In the last issue it makes the follow
ing touching plea for money or old clothes
or victuals TO help matters along in the
distressed greenback family.
The Greenback party of Maine is poor.
Many of our speakers are obliged to stop speak
ing and work out BY the day to get something
for themselves and their families to subsist
upon. We cannot hire speakers; we would
if we had the means. No one. unless he has
been here. knows the earnestness and deter
mination of our men.
For the next sixty days, we have got to
contend with not only the whole Republican
rirg of the United States, but also the whole
monicd power of the country. We need all
the help possible whether in speakers or
money A greenback victory in Maine will
add tens of thousands of vote to the party in
other States.
SO early in the campaign too, for such
waling and begging. Pass around the
hat. do,
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-07-14
Political.

We spoke of our correspondent Delegate
as belonging to Wayne, but it should have
been Fayette. The Tribune and Standard
will hear from delegate" again before the
campaign closes.
IAN unsavory record" the Maine Standard
calls that Of Daniel 4. Davis. 1t Is the rec
ord of Union soldier who fought manfullv.
Perhaps the Standards idea of savory rec
ord is that Of a Confederate soldier or an anti
draft roter Press.
Congressman Young, of Ohio, places Fos-
ter's majority as high as 10000, and talks
about it going AS high as $4,000. He says
Ewing will lose more hard money democratic
votes, and that the Germans will vote solidly
against him.
Congressman Weaver has got back to Iowa,
and says he will not support Trimble, the
Democratic candidate for Governor. He
predicts that the Greenbackers of the South
will not fuse with the Democrats The Dem
ocrats, in return, threaten that Weaver shall
never 90 to Congress again.