davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1879-08-23
wedding GIFTS.

In the weddings Of the poorer classes
i'm Ireland this levying contributions
on guests never takes place; but how
ever poor Paddy may be, his pride re-
volts from the appearance of poverty
on such an occasion. There is col
lection, however to raise a sum for lib-
orally compensatingt the clerical gentle
man who "has tied the knot. " aud i'm
the house of rich farmer, this swells
up TO good round sum. In Wales
among the small farmers and traders,
the custom prevails TO this day of "bid-
ding not single guests but whole
families To wedding. That such an
advent Is TO come of, with the where
and when, is duly advertised I'm the
local newspapers with request that
all persons who in times past, have
been similarly Obliged I'm that manner,
Will attend, bringing presents for the
bride and bridegroom. Besides this.
particular and almost peremptory i'm
vitations I'm writing, are sent TO each
household or whom the to-be-weddcd
folks may have some special claim for
former generosity under like circum-
stances. Presents of all sorts-food.
hour, fuel, table, and chamber linen.
even sheep, lambs, calves, goats and
ponies. are among the gifts. In Ger
many there is the pay wedding" at
which the bride receives her guests
with basin before her. each person
depositing a jewel, silver spoon, or a
piece of money, at the same time apol-
ogizlng for the donation being so far
below value compared with the dam
sels deserts. In some parts of Ger
many the rule Is that the expenses of
the marriage feast shall be met hy each
guest paying for what he eats and
drlnks-just as If he were I'm "A hotel.
but not at fair hotel prices. Thus the
entertainment sometimes extends over
several days, and the young people Of
ten realize sum out Of the profits suf-
hcient TO start them fairly in life.
From one TO three hundred guests are
often present throughout these fes-
tivals. Sometimes the flow of pres
ents takes very different course. In
Poland "A lady Is not regarded as ellgl-
BILE for double blessedness until she
wrought with her own hand, cloth and
garments for each of her future lords
friends (grOOmsmen) ACCOMMODATING
him to the altar. I'm Norway, the cler-
gymen has to be propitiated with two
or three bladders of mince meat, made
by the hand of the bride, and bottle
or two Of brandy. In that country
most presents made on wedding occa-
sions take the tangible form Of larder
supplies-at least among the peasantry
and artisans. In most countries, at the
present time, wedding presents may
be said to abound. This system of In
viting people to wedding reception
and expecting them TO make "A valuable
present has become serious tax, ana
though much money is thus expended,
the result II generally not quite salts
factory.
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1879-08-23
A NonRl Lawyer.

An irish lawyer, named Grady, had wit
and intellect, but neither manners nor con
science The following anecdotes reveal
his character He had been elected one of
the members for Limerick i'm the Irish
House OF Commons and soon became one
OF the Governments staunCh supporters
When demonstrated with ON going against
the wishes of his constituents who were op-
posed TO the Union, he very rcsQlutely de-
clared his ideas TO be strongly in favor Of
that project, and hintcd the Government
had made il worth his while TO vote for that
measure
"What !" cried his indignant rcmonstra-
tor, edo you mean 10 sell your country ~
"Ihank God, cried this pure patriot,
''that have a country TO sell
lie was very coarse i'm his expressions.
and when reminded that he owed his posi-
ton TO his constituents, he said
81 care nothing for my constituents |
get nothing good from them. Sure, if /
only shake hands with them, they give me
the itch. "
Grady exercised much influence in court
by what he termed his 'Jury eye
His right eye was constantly used in
winking at the jury when he wished them
TO note some particular answer from an adj
vc'se witness
Appearing in court one morning i'm his
oppressed spirits which, for one Of rather
usual joyous temperament, was very un-
usual, a sympathizing friend said
Harry, are you unwcll You are not
as lively as usual "
Glow can be, my dear fellow ~ hc an
swcrcd.
whats the matter with youK'
'MY jurY eye is mt NJ ordcr,n was
the reply.
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1879-08-23

An incident interesting 90 students Of
natural history occurred few days ago AZ
a residence in Rochester y. s. ln front
Of The house small tree is growing. Boo
which an oriole some time ago took up its
abode, building % nest and cvideucing an
intention 10 raise q family Tho owner Of
the house has a spaniel, over which hc has
shot innumcrabic game birds within "a few
years past From The time the orolc began
20 build its nest 30 exhibited marked an
tipathy to The dog flying at him boldly
whenever he came in front Of the house.
and pecking him until be retired from the
field This occurred several times. the bird
always coming of victorious of late the
oriO'e has shown moro objection than
common 10 the dog, perhaps because there
are now some young ones iu thcncst Re
Gently the unhappy spaniel came out 90 De
on The front steps, bat was not allowed
10 enjoy HE rect unbrokm, for the
orioic swept down ON him, pcckcd bis back,
tapped his wings in bis eyes, and made it
ao uncomfortable for him that thc dog ran
into the house But his trouble did not
end there for The bird went into the house
after HIM. beating him continually
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1879-08-23
The First Pair OF Pants.

When the eventful time arrives i'm
which the pants are finished. the earth
Is hardly large enough to contain our
embryo young man.
How his eyes shine, and how his
cheeks glow and he struts like a pea
cock with all sail set, and thrusts his
arms TO the elbows into the capacious
pockets, which Will, I'm short time.
be filled with a miscellaneous collec-
ton of twine. fish hooks, old buttons.
nails, jack knives, whistles, angle
worms, spruce gum, bullets, hard-shell-
ed bugs, fragments of stolen cookies.
and other articles usually found I'm
boys pockets.
All the aunts i'm the house must adj
mire him I'm hs new toggery. All of
them must kiss him and shake him. and
tell him he looks like man.
He will tuck the legs of his new
pants into his stockings by the time he
has them on an hour, to make believe
the stockings are boots and the streets
are muddy. He will sit cross legged
like papa, and tip over backward In the
vain attempt TO put his heels on the
table, like Uncle Jack does when hc is
reading and smoking.
If you want to make him your NOR
tai enemy for life, insinuate that he Is
too small for pants and call him the
baby
How his blood will boil and how all
the revengeful elements i'm his boyish
heart will come TO the front, and he
will tell Tommy Jones you are a nasty
old thing and he wishes you'd fall i'm
well as Tower did
Among his young companions, the
boy with his first pair of pants is a gen
eral-in-chief. lie issues orders which
are obeyed. The mud-pie-makingb bus
mess goes agreeably to his commads.
lie bosses" the playing horse and
tag proceeding, and puts down the
other boys unmercltully with the cry :
Don't mind them! They're only
girls In petticoats aud gowns!"
To all the callers at his house, he saws
nc once:
'See my new pants!" and then
he shows the pockets and stretches out
his dumpy little legs, and feels proud
and happy In manner that will mover
come to him again.
He wants To climb trees and ride
horses, and stand on his mead, like the
other boys; and if the new pants con-
tinue intact for week, under the strain
inflicted upon them, then the cloth was
genuine, and the tailor was loyal to his
profession.
Never laugh OF ridiculc the boy with
his first pair of pants
If there is anything in this world as
unalloyed enjoyment, do not meddle
with it. Let no scornful smile come
over your face when you see the exulta-
tion of the boy In his first pair of
pants The man who would willingly
mar such state of felicity would
steal the cents of the eyes of dead
mOther-in-law.
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1879-08-23
Eastern aud Western story Telling.

lts no use Tor an eastern man 10 try
10 tel big story when there Is a west
erh man about. When / wasa young
man, SAID Colonel B., I'VE lived IN
lIIlhols' Ihc iarm had been we'll
wooded, ana the stumps were pretty
IhIcA' buV we put the corn In among
1ne'n ana managed TO raise fair crop.
ne next season dld my share OF the
pIouSh'hg' we mad 'sulky' plough,
ana sat III Iho scat ana managed the
'hoTscs, iour as handsome bays as ever
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1879-08-23
TIE PRINCE IMPERIAL.

On LOngwood's shore the exile stands,
Despair upon his naughty face;
Behind him clasped his US, less hands
That fSin would rule the human race.
Victor OF many hostile lands
He falls in peace-tO hum disgrace.
The iron girdle round Sedan
Grows nArro yer yet no man can tiy
lie fights for death. that broken man,
Capitulstes, and dOSs not die.
Not then-while yet the eagle floats
Above a cause worth IL ht,ng for
But cast out by his peoples votes.
lie fades, like his great ancestor.
Al Chiselhurst an Empress weeps;
Half-mast the flags II England wave &.
While far away our soldiers sleeps
Securely in a soldiers grave.
WhAt'er the name he might have won.
No grander this in vietory's breath
" lie Of bis race achieved alone
Tue glorious end-a hero's death.
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1879-08-23

The imperturbability and extreme eau
ton Of the average pawnbrOker are pro
verbal, The other day young man Of an
experimental and facctious turn Of mind
resolved 20 astonish a pawnbrOker or die i'm
the attempt. So, entering Che secret shrine.
hc gave the officiating pOntih a $40 gold
piece and said Well, old man how
nuchil you advance me on that The
pawnbrOkcr tested, rang and weighed the
coin, dropped a little aquafortis upon it,
and replied "I can lct you have 81 ON IL g"
" -Four Erobuscs cried the young man
"why, it's worth more Well, yea, 80
answered the pawnbrokrr; the gold is
good, evidently. But it's very fash.
ionod-it WIS made i'm ls31-lud isn't
worth any more than it's weight in old
metal. Besides, there is such huctuatiou
in gold and silver I've seen gold up to
2S5, and silver down tO s. How do
know but that silver may g0 mp 10 21j. and
gold down 90 $40 ] can't take any risks
in my business like that, you know But
Ill tell you what lll do. seeing it is vou.
don't mind letting you have 81 ON it But
don't let the boss know, for hc has the heart
disease and the shock might Kin him ''
Gimme 81 and lll take it!' said the
impeiuous youth but the pawnbrobcr
shook his head so stcrnly that be knew it
was no go; and So, picking up his $40
piece, he departed IIc returned three
minutes aftcrward, and throwing down The
same piece said To- the pawnbrokcr "Sayi
can you give me two 80 gconbacks for
this Certainly, sir said the pawn
broker calmly, and produced ihe notes.
" You sweet scented old idiot said the
young man az he pocketcd the bills. "that's g
tho same $40 piece that you wouldn't lend
me 81 on at interest a minute ago. tI
know it my friend said the pawnbrokrr.
"That was business that was business "
There is said 20 bc a man ln Allen
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1879-08-23

You are more sure Of success Zoo the
end " You regard yourself as a man Of
ordinary talent, with plenty Of hard
work before you, than if you think
yourself man Of genius. and spend
too much time in watching your hair
grow long, that yOu may convince peo-
pie that you are not like other folk,
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1879-08-23

There Is said TO bc a man in Allen
town, Pa. who has 1000 parrots for sals
The Princeton union., 1879-02-26
Ruined by a Spider.

Spiders crawling more abundantly and
cor spicuously than usual upon the in
door walls of our houses foretell the near
approach of rain; but the following an
ecdote indicates that some Of their habits
clearly foretell frost being at hand ::
Quartermaster Disjonval, seeking to 'be-
guile the tedium of his prison hours at
Utretch, had studied attentively the hab-
it's of the spider; and eight years of i'm
prisonment had given him leisure to be
we'll versed in lis ways. In December of
1894, the French army, on whose success
his restoration to liberty depended, was
i'll Holland, and victory seemed certain,
if the frost, then of unprecedented sevel
ity, continued. The Dutch envoy had
failed to negotiate peace, and Holland
was despairins, when the frost suddenly
broke. The Dutch were now exulting,
and the French generals prepared to re-
treat, but the spider forewarned Disjon-
val that the tnaw would be of short du-
ration, and he knew that this weather
monitor never deceived. He contrived
to communicate with the army of bis
countrymen, and it's generals, who duly
estimated his character, relied upon his
assurance that within a few days the
waters would again be passable by troops
They delayed their retreat; within twelve
days the frost had returned-the French
army triumphed. Disjonval was liberated
and epider had brought down ruin OF
the Dutch nation.
The Princeton union., 1879-02-26
The Ne'er-dO- w ellis of Washington.

There is always an inevitable token
that you have arrived in Washington.
Your bosom friend may not know of
your coming, but the ne'er-do- ell has
found it out. There are more ne'er-do.
wells to an acre in Washington than you
can find in the same space in any other
city in this continent. Here they muster
and concentrate. tits not strange. Here
only are the great graneries of the gov
ernment, at whose everhowing cribs they
hope to have chance to feed. The peo-
pie who have nearly but never quite sue
ceeded, and who hope for the one more
final chance; the people who have failed
utterly, and are seeking last cover; the
people whose feathery brains quiver
with mighty schemes, which, in their
judgement, need nothing but 'infuenco'
and "an appropriation" to set them afloat
for the whole worlds benefit, they come
here, and sooner or later they will come
to you. At the end of six months you
suddenly ask your befogged brain what
is the matter. Is it tired with study,
with taking in mental trasures2 with
giving out intellectual stores to replenist
mankinda Nothing of the sort. You
have not added one iota to the worldi
riches, nor are you likely to till you cal
breathe in clearer and brighter atmos
The Princeton union., 1879-02-26
For Brides Only.

From Frank Leslie's Lady's journal.
The materials for bridal robes this season
are remarkably elegant. Extremists in fash
ion select brocades-satin brocade for brides
over 20 years of age, and silk brocade for
younger brides-though plain satin, by con-
ventional consent the one material always in
vogue for the bridal robe-is clamored for
by some; while plain gros grain silk has its
votaries, and India null, swiss null, and
French organdy muslin dresses are sent out
for youthful rustic brides, who do not feel
willing to afford the expense of dress more
costly. 4'a
The silks and gauzes which are shown for
bridal robes are in several distinct tints of
white, and several distinct shades Of these
tints. In cream white, for instance, there is
the dark rich, yellowlsh ehade of the Alderney
cream, twenty-four old; and according to
the age of the cream, paler shades, till the
faintest "off-color" is visible. In pearl white
we are shown a tint that almost approaches
the snloke pearl in shade; another, that has
u suspicion of rose in tint; another, with the
faintest suspicion of lilacs-this being quite
perceptlble on the wrong side Of plain satin
or satin brocade; and from these scarcely
perceptible hints Of color in the silk fabrics
displayed there are fainter and fainter shades
till the existence of q colored ray is distin'
The Princeton union., 1879-02-26
Sermon from a Pair Of Boots,

There lived, forty years ago, in Berlin.
a shoemaker who had a habit of speaking
ha1shly OF all his neighbors who did not
feel exactly as he did about religion. The
old pastor of the parish in which the
shoemaker lived beard of this, and felt
that he must give him lesson.
He did 1t in his way. He sent for the
shoemaker one morning, and when he
come in said to him:
"Master, take my measure for pair of
boots''
"Nith pleasure, your reverence" an
swered the shoemaker; "please take off
your boot"
The clergyman did so, and the shoe
maker measured his foot from toe to heel
and over the lnstep, noted all down in
his pocket-book, and then prepared to
leave the room. But, as he was putting
up the measure, the pastor said to him:
':Master, my son also requires pair of
boots"
II will make them with pleasure, your
reverence. Can I take the young mans
measured"
1T is not necessary" said the pastor
"the lad is fourteen, but you can make
my boots aud his from the same last.''
"Your reverence, that will never do.'
said the shoemaker, with smile of sur
prise.
II tell you, sir, to make my sons on
the same last"
mo, your reverence, I cannot do it."
ut must be-on the same last"
"But your reverence, it is not possible,
if the boots are to ft," said the shoe
maker, thinking to himself that the old
pastors wits we're leaving him.
'Ah then, master shoemaker" said the
clergyman, "eyery pal; of boots must be
made on their own last, if they are to fit
and yet you think that God is to form all
Christians exactly according to your own
last,-of the same measure and growth
in religion as yourself. That will not
do, either"
The shoemaker was abashed. Then he
said:
II thank your reverence for this ser:
mon, and will try to remember it, ano
to judge my neighbors less harshly
| the FUTURE
The Princeton union., 1879-02-26
An.Old Story

They stood alone in the light of the West.
He said that he loved her well
He loved her well, but she loved the best
There were none but the birds to tell.
"Sweet day." sang they
"Sweet, sweet daY!"
The bluebells were nodding in the green glen
The waters were laughing song,
The birds were telling the deeds OF men
When the world knew nevera wrong;
"Sweet day." sang they
"Sweet, sweet day!"
He whispered in her willing ear,
"Thou art dearer than life to me-"
There were none but the laughing waters
to hear,
And none but the birds to see,
Sweet day." sang they
"Sweet, sweet dayw .
The bluebells laid their fair heads to rest,
The birds flew over the wave;
The heart of the woman who loved the best
Lay mute in silent grave!
For the love OF the man who loved her we'll
Lived but the life OF fair bluebell!
The Princeton union., 1879-02-26
Mental Lite Below the Human.

Autenrieth, the celebrated German natural
ist, has described for US the metamorphoses
through which pass the individuals of species
of butterfly named by him Nachtpfa,enauge.
It's grub-life, like all of the same genus, is one
of unbrOken mOnOtOny and dullness. The
sum-total of its experiences consist in gorg-
ing on leaf-pulp, crawling under cover when
it rains, and now and then caating its skim
It has no home-life, its parents having died
before it began to live. It has no companion
ship, it seeks none. This sluggish, solitary,
gormandizing, creeping worm is at certain
thrill Of some new strange life. 1t stops cat
ing, and under mysterious, prophetic i'm
pulse, commences to weave about its body,
out of delicate threads that issue from it a
silken palace Of double.roof, so ingeniously
braced by innumerable supports that it both
yields to the almost spirit touch from wi hin
of that most fragile offairies which, out Of the
homely and prone body of the grub, rises
erewhile, on brilliantly tinted wings, to futtel
and float like stray bit of sunset on Sum
mer's evening zephyr. By this unique con
hand from outside violence, an on the othel
from the sad fate of self burial. Is it conceiv
able that this worm possesses such intimate
acquaintance with the occult laws of mechan
les as this piece Of work presupposes, that il
has acquired, by its own exertions. this mas
terful skill IN arcnltecture, or that 1t really
discerns with clear prophetic vision approach
ing changes in it's form, its capacities, it
needs and it's destiny? 1t has no instructor
no personal experience, no working model
This is it's first a tempt, yet it bares the staml
of absolute perfection. The butterflies of 9th
.er species, when the hour is ripe for them II
issue from their cocoous, secrete fluid tha
acts on the silks as solvent. This grub, a
if CONSCIOUS from the first that such powe
viii never be given it, constructs it case o!
widely different principles. To affirm that
inherits this knowledge, skill, and prescicnc
dees not, in the least, clear up the mystery;
only carries the inquiry farther back, for tn
Similar cocoon on first trial, or it never coul
have developed into a butterfly and betom
the progentior of species.-The Penn Aont'
M
The Princeton union., 1879-02-26
A Tender Husband.

From the DanDury NeWs
When the news of the Adelphi's ex-
plosion reached Danbury, citizen, whose
wife had saileed from New York that
morning by way of the boat, took the
first train for Norwalk. They never had at
the best been very loving couple, but
they are eminently respectable. He had
pursued his way and she had gone hers,
each finding pleasure in characteristic
channels. But now with the presence of
her death upon him, the old tenderness
with which he had won her came back to
him, and during the long and dreary ride
to the seaside his thoughts were busy
with the past. He could recall with
painful distinctness every help he had re-
fused her, every cross word he had given
her, every coldness he had shown her.
All the little acts governed by petty self
ishness Of which he had been guilty, and
which had passed from his memory in
the doing, now rose up before him as
his heart sank trembling away.
As the last tram reached Nolwalk, he
hurried out on his wretched search, ask
ing here and there for intelligence of her,
his white lips and trembling frame testi-
tying most eloquently to his anxiety. At
last his search was rewarded and he found
her. Not dead and mutilated, but alive,
unharmed. 1t was a happy meeting,-
not demonstrative, because both were sore
lv out of practice in that, but he was re-
lieved of terrible weight on finding her
as he did.
$50 you are all right?" he said.
"Yes," she answered; II amt hurt a
bit, but was terribly frightened.''
"You must have been,-horribly So
1t was terribly narrow escape. Where s
your satchel?"
81 don't know. think it must nave
blown overheard"
'sDin't you have it with yOu2"
'No; left it on bench, and had gone
to the front of the boat to look out on the
water when the explosion came"
THAT was dreadfully careless. don't
see what you could have been thinking
of to have gone off and left your satche
like that"
''Why I never had thought the boa1
was going to blow up, did II"
'sIt don't make any difference" he per
sisted. Some one would have stolen it
as likely as not if the boat hadn't blewr
up. There was no sense in it anyway
and it was foolish thing to do. dom
suppose there's any use to go looking fo1
it now"
II know there aint," she answered
''because I was sitting right where tn
boat blowed out, because it was warn
there"
swell, it can't be helped, I suppose
but it is too bad. The next time you g
away you'll show more sense, hope
than to go gallivanting all over boa
without your satchel."