davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-04-30

ATTACKING A TARANTULA.-The tar
antua of Texas is the desperate of the
spider family. He frequently attains the
size of the hand, and, with its great, glar-
ing black eyes and frightful claws. seldom
fails to present an appearance so formida-
BILE that IA sensitive lady, even if used to
seeing it, will scream at the sight. The
taranIula is really huge spider, and
usually makes his home in the open prai-
rie. dwelling with his family in Il nest
concealed by the tall grass. If you tackle
him in his retreat, you will very soon re-
pent your temerity, for he springs ut you
like tiger, jumping to an astonishing
height-Sometimes three or four feet. He
is one of the most poisonous of the family
of the arachne, and his bite is said to be
more fatal than that of the rattlesnnke.
In settlement called Grapevine Prai
rie, near Fort Worth, not long since, the
son of farmer named Featherstone was
one day engaged gathering stones by the
roadside. Upon overturning large flat
stone, he was suddenly confronted by a
large tarantula, the size Of II mans hand,
snugly ensconced in his nest along with a
number of young. he large one was
yellow and black striped, and displayed
the same inimitable colors that nature be-
slows upon the " beautiful snake" Seiz-
ing good. sized stick, Master Feather.
stone attacked the enemy in his strong.
hold, and was net with an unexpected re-
sistancc. He succeeded in breaking ono
leg, or rather claw, of this land devil-fsh
but the tarantula, enraged, sprang upon
him, and, quick us thought, with its great
black eyes gItterng with liendish ferocily
fastened itself on the boys hand and arm.
Before it could be dislodged, it had in.
flicted two probably fatal bites on the
hand and arm, both of which subsequently
swelled to three times their natural size
SO viruent is the poison of this desperate
of the prairies. The boy, however, sue
cecded in dispatching the tarantula.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-04-30

SHETLAND WOMEN.-Peat takes the
place of wood. and in every poor man s
hut in Shetland il will be found burning
brightly and giving out thin blue smoke
To prepare peat for the market, great
deal of labor is performed. First come the
diggers-men, women and children. En-
tering upon the deep, miry bog, they cut
the soil up into cakes IL foot long and few
inches thick; and these they place in high
places TO dry. After few weeks they
come again and carry the cured fuel away
to the town. 1t is while carrying these
loads that the Shetanders present "A pecn-
liar spectacle. The men are often very old,
intirm and poorly clothed; and the women
are dressed in short skirted. home-spun
gowns, beyond which may be seen very
red and very broad feet On their heads
they usually have white caps, nicely iron
ed. with II huted rufflc around the edge.
Passing across the breast and over either
shoulder are two long straps, and these
support an immense basket hanging
against the back. Thus equipped. the
brave stout women. their baskets piled
with peat, tramp off to Lerwick, two
miles away to sell their loads for a few
pennies each. They make many trips a
day. always smiling, chatting and appar
emily contented. Often long line may
be seen stepping along over the rough
roads, stopping nov and then to rest.
But there is something peat woman of
Shetland is continually doing that we
have not yet noticed. All have no doubt
heard of Shetland hosiery; of the fine
warm shawls and hoods and delicate wells
that come from these far northern islands
Now all the while. the poor, bare legged
woman is carrying her heavy burden of
peat. her hands are never idle. She is
shifting, knitting away as fast rs her nim-
BILE fingers will allow. In her pocket is
The ball of yarn, and as her needles fly
back and forth she weaves fabrics of such
ineneSs that the royal ladies of England
wear them; and no traveller visits the
island without loading his trunks with
shawls, miltens, stockings and other FEM
mime Etnces. Not to know how TO knit
in Shetland is like not knowing how to
read at home. A little girl is taught the
,rt before she can read; and. as Il result,
ut every cottage will be found the spin
ming wheel and the needles, while the
feminine hands are never idle. 1t is one
great means of support; and on Regent
street in London will be seen Windows full
Of soft, white goods marked "Shetland
hosiery" Who first instructed these far
northern people in this delicate art is not
known. On Fair Isle, one of The Shetland
group, the art is first said to have been
discovered, very many years ago. On
hat lonely isle, even now. every woman,
girl and child knits while working at any
of her various duties. The yarn with
which the Shetland goods is made is spun
from the wool of the sheep we see roam
ing about the fields In almost every cot
age may be seen the veritable old-fashion
eel wheel; and the busy girl at the treadlc
ends the great wheel flying, and spins
ont the long skeins, which serve 10 make
haby II pretty hood or grandma warm
shawl.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-04-30

He STAYED MEsMERIZED Recently IL
York street family entertained II number Of
friends, and among the guests was II
Nicholas street young man with mischief
in his eye, and who has penchant for
practical joking. There was also in the
party n Sussex street merchant, who
boasted during the evening of being able
10 put the strongest mind in the room
under the influence of mesmerism. 1t
occurred to the Nicholas street young man
at that moment that he could have a jolly
time, and his eye twinkled. and smile
beamed over his flce rs he announced
himself ready for the sacrifice. The mer-
chant commenced the operation, and in
less than two minutes concluded that he
had the Nicholas street man under con-
troll. He was allowed to think SO. for his
subject performed all sorts OF odd tricks
at his suggestion, much 10 the amusement
of the company. Half an hour later the
merchant considered that it was time to
restore the young man to his senses but
he soon discovered that he was powerlcss
to perform the act, and, 10 all appear
ances, had lost control of his subject.
When he had been under the influence an
hour the merchant began to get scared,
and so did the company, who looked upon
the affair as a genuine transaction. Finally
a docter was sent for, but before he arriy-
ed the young man had kissed all the
young ladies in the room and scattered the
company about in every direction. When
the doctor reached the house he had fully
recovered and it was not until few days
ago that tho cat was let out of tho Bag
OttaVG Citizen.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-04-30

SPRING FASHION IIINTs.-Old age is
generally much worn everywhere.
Ewes walking suit in Eden was even
much lighter than those worn ut Gilmore'S
garden.
Uneasy lie the heads wearing crowns in
Europe, especially in Germany and Russia.
Purses should be worn full on the body.
Suits of China material are rather hard
ware for this changeabe climate.
Pies, this spring, are cut qnartering and
diamond-pointed.
The principal style in gentlemen's spring
hats, is TO pay for them in advance.
Handouts are much worn By tourists to
Sing Sing.
Impecnnious acquaintances and poor
relatives may be cut very short.
Slippers are less common since the ice
has melted from the pavements.
Furs are often used to hide unhealthy
skins.
Mahogony and rosewood suits appropri-
ate for people who persist in dyeing may
be had at the underlakers.
Clocks are becoming to stockings but
more useful in steepes.
The fashionable color for boiled Holsters
this season is red.
Large rents are now common in expens-
i've suits of rooms.
John Kelly wears smile of doubt and
defiance.
Everybody's trousers are wearing out
From the NeO York. Graphic.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-04-30

The Russians fell before our sabres as
corn falls before the reaper. They seemed
10 have no power of resistance. And
here was no lack of material TO work
upon. They closed in upon us and sur
rounded Us ON every side. but we hewed
pur way through them as men hew their
way through virgin forest, and only stop
ped when we reached the bank of the
Tehernaya river.
Wheeling here. we proceeded to cut our
way back again. On the return ride |
was assailed by "a gigantic Russian trooper
who made II strike at me with his sabre.
| partially guarded it. but not wholly
and the next moment felt IL singing pain
in my neck. 1t passed in II moment, how
ever, and was about 10 make short work
of thu trooper, when | heard my brother
cry:
All! you would, would you? and the
Russian fell cleft 10 the chin.
We cut our way through and once more
entered the fatal valley. When half way
back to our starting point II cannon ball
struck my brother and beheaded him.
Tom, ah, thank you!
The color-sergeant drained another
glass.
When we formed upon arriving at our
starting pint, Lord Cardigan, with the
tears streaming from his eN es. said:
1t was not my fault, my men.
And the men replied with one voice:
We are ready TO 60 in again, my lord,
if you will lead US.
Just then | became dizzy. NY scalp
had been lifted by the stroke of the Rus
slams sabre, the skin of my check cleft
across my upper lip, and | tainted for loss
of blood.
When my time expired in the cavalry l
re enlisted in this regiment, am always
proud to hear my eff called one of the six
hundred, but-poor Jack! ill that glass
again, Tom.
Thus ended the sergeant's story of the
famous charge.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-04-30

TREES AND SHRUBS FOR THE LAWN
There must be catholic taste shown in
selecting plants, if the lawn is to be prop.
erly laid out. The tendency to follow
mere fancies, or to use only particular and
favorite plants, must be kept in strict
abeyance. Many and various plants should
oe employed inlelligeutly. Hardy decid-
uous trees, shrubs, evergreens, hel baceous
and bedding plants-in short, everything
that conduces to the beauty Of the lawn,
must be united into one harmonious
whole. Doubtless there are occasions
when Il mass of color, obtained by using
many plants of one kind, is desirable, but
generally IL variety CT plants and methods
of combination is more desirable. The
eye thus never becomes sated, and is ever
renewing its pleasure. But what is the
actual condition of lawn planting as prac
liced to-day on myriads of small places
throughout the country,-places, more
over, that belong to intelligent people? ?
rhe en- ire collection consists frequently OF
few fruit trees in the background. an
elm, "a Norway spruce, IN arbor vitae
hedge with II bed Of the glowing coleus.
All these plants, be il noticed, are of the
most pronounced and coarsest type. They
may be and are valuable in suitable posi-
tions or in other combinations, but Are
decidedly ill-litted for the interior of n
small place, both from the character of
their beauty and their habit of excessive
growth. We intend no disrespect for
either of these varieties, many of their
qualities being, in their own way, most
admirable; but we do say that if other and
good selections were made after studying
parks and nurseries, fewer poor lawns
would exist Were this the general prac-
tice. the ubiquitous tree dealer, with his
wonderful plates of impossible plants,
would he forced to seek for pastures new,
and leave the field open for intelligent
lawn planting. Landscape gardening Cor
lawn planting. which in IL sense is Il synon-
ymous term, although the latter treats
specially of planting, while the former in
cludes also drainage, road making, etc }
seems very difficult to some, and is prac-
tically considered IL myth by others. To
one class we can only say, practice il
yourself and difficulties will soon sap
pear; it has no arcana into which you can
not pierce. To the other we answer, lawn
planting exists, and has its aesthetic laws
just us taste in general has definite laws.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-04-30

TIE TEACHERS FUNCTIoN.-I protest
against the superficial and insulting opin-
ion that in the education of children there
is no room for the loitiest intellectual en-
terprise, and no contact with divine and
inexpressble wonders. Any teacher that
so judges his vocation by its details belit-
ties it. The schoo-room, no less than the
labratory, the studio or the church itself,
opens upward into Gods boundess
heaven. Each of the sciencies has moral
relations. and terminates in spiritual mys-
teIy. And when you awaken feeling
of that great truth in your pupil by the
veneration, the earnestness. and the mag
netic devotion of your own mind, you
have done him service no less essential
to the completeness OF his education than
when you have informed his understanding
of certain scientific facts.
And the government of your pupils
what is it but the faint and erring en-
deavor to transfer into that little kingdom
you administer the justice and the living
which are the everlasting attributes of the
Almighty himself, applying them even
here to immortal souls? Let us not wrong
the dignity of such an employment by
denying its connection with things un-
speakable.-BiShop HuntingtoD.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-04-30
CONQUERED ATIAsT.

The following poem is the best among seventy
seven sent to the Mobile (Ala.) ews in compeli-
ton for prize offered for the one most expressive
OF the gratitu'e of the South to the North lor its
noble succor during the ravages of the yellow
fever pcstence. Miss Maria L. Eve, of Augusta,
Ca, is the author.
You came 10 us once, o brothers, in wrath,
And rude desoaton followed your patti.
You conquered us then, but only in part,
For stu Obom thing is the human heart.
So the mad wind blows in his might and main,
And the forest bends to his breath like grain,
Their heads In the dust and their branches broke
But how shall he soften their hearts of oak?
You swept DER our land like the whrlwnds wing
But the human heart is a stubborn thing.
We laid down our arms, we yielded our viii,
But our heart of hearts was unconquered still.
" We are vanquished," we said, " but our wounds
must hea;"
We gave you our swords, but our hearts were
steel.
" We are conquered" we said, but our hearts were
sore,
And woe to the conquered on every door.
But the spoiler came, and he would not spare,
The angel that walketh in darkness was there;
He walked thro' the valley, walked thro' the street,
And he left the print of his fiery feet
In the dead, dead, dead that were everywhere,
And buried away with never prayer.
From the desolate land, from its very heart,
There went forth cry to the uttermost part.
You hear 1t o brothersl With never a measure
You opened your hearts and poured out your
treasure.
sisters of Mercy you gave above these,
For you helped, we know, on your bended knees.
Your pity was human, but oh it was more
When you shared our cross and our burdens bore.
Your lives in your hands, you stood by our side
Your lives for our lives you Ia id down, and died
And no greater love hath man to give
Than the gift of his life that others may live.
You poured IN our wounds the oil and wine
That you brought to us from HIND divine.
You conquered us, brothers-our swords we gave
We yield now our hearts-they are all we have.
Our last ditch was there, and it held out long;
1t is yours, o friends, AMI you'l lind 1t strong.
Your love had magic diviner than art,
And " Conquerel by kindness " Wen write on our
heart
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-04-30

UNAPPRECIATED.-It may be, friend.
you are a very good sort of man, judged
by the commercial standard. by The
standard of the club. and even by the
standard of the church. We don doubt
but tnat you are II pretty good sort OF II
man measured by your own standard; but
- hope the compositors will place a
long dash after that word but. for there
was great deal of thinking that came
after it. What was thinning about?
Your wife. perhaps; your mother; your
sister, or any one whose kindness and
courtesy and affection ministers to you,
and you don't appreciate the ministry:
The unapprcciative ones, who love us and
serve us; am thinking of them. And rs
| think, faces come out of the air in front
of me, and stand out to sight as if they
were living faces. There is the face of II
mother-a worn face; face that is
wrinkled as years and labor and troubles
wrinkle face; eyes that show a growing
dimness as they gaze at me; HANDS n"
longer plnmp; fingers no longer rounded; ;
hair half gray and half brown. The face
of woman, who has done work-hard
work; done it faithfully, lovingly, heroic
ally, but has never been appreciated for
doing it. Another faceP Certainly. WhoseP
Your wife's. Not old nor young-forty.
perhaps. The face of n woman who does
everything for love; of II woman who has
been busy all the day long that your house
might be u home for you; woman you
left without kiss this moring, and whom
you forgot TO greet us you came in mt
night And yet there were your slippers
by your chair, the evening paper on the
table; the table spread for tea-every
thing clean, orderly, home-likc. And you
scarcely greeted her! BruleP Pretty near
it. What do you think? k?-GOiden Rule.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-04-30
TO A LITTLE DAUGHTER

Could thy life, pleasure-boat,
Ever by the green banks float,
Gliding gently on the stream,
lwould ne'er of danger dream.
But my child, the silent tide
Bears thee 10 the ocean wide;
And when there, oh, who can tell
How the waves may rage and swell
With no anxious parent near,
Who the tossing bark will steer?
Driving fast before the gale,
Who will watch and furl the sail?
Here's the pilot, here's the friend
God has given thy voyage to tend;
Trust it, child. with all thy heart,
Never, never from it part.
This, an angel at the helm,
Thee the waves will not o'erwhelm,
This, an angel at thy side,
Thou the loamiLg surge may ride.
Then will not ask to know
How the tide of years shall flow;
Smooth, I'll pray, and yet if rough,
So God be with thee, it's enough.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-04-30
The Cliff Dwellers-- prehistoric American
Civilization.

Modern scholarship revolutionizing
every old theory, has clearly proven that
America was once inhabited by people
of very nigh civilization, which is mainly
now extinct. Five of these distinct native
civilizations have been more or less clearly
traced out-one in Peru, one Yucatan, one
ia Mexico, one in New Mexico, Arizona.
and Colorado and one which last occupied
the valleys of the Ohio and Mississippi
but which has left traces of existence in
nearly every part of the country, They
worshipped the American eagle and work
ed the copper mines of Lake Superior, at
least thousand and perhaps many thou
sand years before Columbus discovery.
When the whites came to this continent,
though the Incas and Montezumas were
still hourishing, the cliff dwellers of New
Mexico had nearly disappeared, and oc-
cupied dry, elevated and barren country
Astounding in plaleaus and cliffs, where
agriculture, requiring irrigation, could be
carried on only along the borders of the
few and widely separated streams, or
where waters could be stored in roser-
voirs. The region was and is DESERT in
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-04-30

The GROWTH OF CHILDEN.-An English
scientific pIper remarks rs curious
physiological fact that although open air
life is SO favorable to health, yet it has the
apparent effect of stunning growth in early
youth. While the children of well-to,do
parents, carefully housed and tended,
are taller for their age thar the children
of the poor, they are not so strong in after
years THE laborers' children, for in
stance, who play in the lonely country
roads and fields all day. whose parents
lock their cottage doors when leaving for
work in the morning, so that their off
spring shall not gain entrance and do
mischief are almost invariably short for
their age. The children of working farm
ers exhibit the same peculiarity. After
sixteen or eighteen. after years of hesi tn-
tion as it were, the lads shoot up, and
become great hulking, broad fellows
possessed of immense strength. Hence il
would seem that indoor life Iorces growth
at the wrong period and so Injuries" BY
way of comment on this the Scientif,
american says: THE inference is plau>
bl !, but wide Of the mark. The children
OF the well to do are tall not because they
are kept indoors, but because they are
well fed and saved from severe exposure
The children of the poor are stunted no
bN too much sun and air, but because the,
re i'll fed. Give the first class plenty .
ont door play, with their proper diet anc
they will be strong as well as tall; give
TO the laborers' children the food suitable
to their years and no amount of sun ant
wind will STUNT them. On the contrary
they will not have to wait till age bring
capacity to turn strong food to bone am
muscle, and time to overcome the evi
| eff cts of the hard times in early life, bu
will grow from the first steadily and stur.
dily."
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-04-30

RAINING TREEs.-At The cape of Good
Hope, near Table mountain, the clouds
come down very low now and then with
out dropping in rain. At such a time if u
traveller should 60 under tree for shelter
from the threatening storm, he would find
himself in a drenching shower, while out
in the open. away from and tree or shrub.
every thing would be as dry as IL bone
The cloud or mist is rather warmer than
the leaves. you see, and so, when it touches
them, it changes into clinging drops, which
look like dew, fresh drops keep forming; /;
they run together; and, at length, the
water drips off the leaves like rain. And
this process goes on until the clouds lift
and the sun comes out again. .-Jack in The
Pulpit, 81. Nicholas for May.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-04-30

A BATH IN TIE DEAD SEA.-A CORE.
spon lent of the " ashington Star. who has
had II bath in the Dead sea, describes his
experience as follows:
The water which is quite clear. and
nearly the color of the Niagara river below
the falls, seemed to me little more bitter
and salt than that of Salt lake, although
brighter and more attractive to the ey,
when seen close at hand. Its supporting
power struck me AS a little greater. also
than that of Salt lake, as the difficulty o
swimming was greater on account of the
inability to keep ones feet under water
So larg" quantity of salt is held in solu
lion hat the water has what is called, Il
"ropy' appearance, much like plate o.
we'll made tapioca soup. observed, how.
ever, that when we came out of the watel
there was not so large deposit of sail
crystals on the body as after bath in Sal
luke, and the feeling of the skin, instead o
being dry anu prickIy, as expected. was
rather oily and sticky. Our dinner thai
night was seasoned with salt made from
Dead sea water by solar evaporation. i
was lit lie lighter in color than the bes
article Of brown sugar. Its crystals wert
large and hard, and, though foreign sub
stances were present in considerable quan
tity, it was not unpleasant to the taste.
was told that two quarts of the water will
produce one quart of salt, but this is prob
tby an exaggeration. To complete the
statistics of this remarkable body of water
| may add what many of my readers may
already know that there is no living thing
of any kind in it; that even the driftwoot
brought down by the floods in the Jordan
is speedily cast upon its shore; its length il
about 40 and its greatest width about II
miles; that 1T is over 1900 feet deep at the
deepest place, and the immense quantit,
of fresh water poured into it daily is un
doubtedly taken up by evaporation. as its
great dep h below the basin of the Medter
ranean must preclude the idea of subter
ranean outlet