davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1880-12-02
The Story OF a Pet Rat.

A colOred man whom l shall call
Elias, who serves as cOachman for my
friend Mr.. NJ, says 1.-The PhilOSOpher"
of the Syracuse Herald, was once en-
ployed in a clearinghouse which was
infested with rats. He devised an APP
paratus, consisting of an empty barrel
with an inviting but untrustworthy top,
which he put TO effective use as a trap
for the sleek marauders. The landlady
was delighted and paid him cent for
every rat he caught-and the name of
his victims was legion. Each morning,
after he had counted the spoils of the
night and received his pay he would
take his rats in a bag to the proprietor
of a sporting establishment down town.
who paid him two cents apiece for them
and presumably turned them to profit
able account in his pit. Among his catch
one day was handsome female speci-
men to which Elias took decided fan
CIV and he resolved to tame her. She
responded kindly to his advances, and
became in time so gentle that she would
eat out of his hand and play about his
person, running up and down his
sleeves and so forth. Her affection for
him and her faculty of memory were
once proved in a notable way. Some
body careleSsly let her out of her cage
during her owners absence, and in a
few moments she had found her way
into one of her accustomed holes in the
wall and was glorying in her freedom.
Weeks passed, and, as she did not
appear again, she was given up for
lost. One evening Elias Was smoking Il
quiet pipe in the laundry, when he saw
rat put its head out of a chink in the
wainscot. By way of experiment, but
scarcely hoping for success, he called
softly the name of his old pet 4" jimmy!
Jmnyr' To his surprise the animal
emerged from its hiding-place, ap-
preached him cautiously, and then ran
up his trousers-leg into his lap and COM
posed Itself for his careSses. 1t was in
deed his missing jimmy. She allowed
him to carry her back to her cage, and,
when there, went straight to the saucer
from which she had been accustomed
to eat her food and drink. For a long
time after that master and rat were in
separable; but by and by the former
changed his quarters, and in his new
home had no convenience for keeping
his little companion, so he sold her for
two dollars to retail liquor dealer,
who put her behind his bar for the en-
tertainment of his customers and grew
very much attached to her.
One day Elias was passing the shop,
and its owner called him in. I" l have
lost jimmy" said he, 90 and none of us
can recover her. If you get her for me
l will give you fifty cents" The chal-
lenge was accepted on the spot and the
colored man tried the magic of his
voice. 1t was as efficient as before.
Out Of hole near by trotted jimmy, ap-
parently overjoyed to see her friend
once more, and surrendered herself to
his hands with ingenious confidence.
From that day to this. if 1 recall his
story Alright. he has never seen her.
The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1880-12-02
The Late Robert b. Minturn.

One of the shortest sermons on record
is said TO have been preached by the
witty Dean Swift. A collection for the
poor was to Be taken. and the Dean.
who had been criticised for the length
of his sermon on a similar occasion,
took as his text Prov, 1917, "He that
hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the
Lord IF you like the security, down
with the dust" said the Dean, and that
was all, The collection was unusually
large.
But a much shorter sermon was
preached by the Rev. DIR. Muhlenberg
at the funeral of Robert b. Minturn, a
princely Christian merchant of New
York. The minister gave out as his
text the words of the prophet Micah
(6:8) HE hath showed thee. o man,
what is good; and what doth the Lord
require of thee, but to do justly, and to
love mercy, and to walk humbly with
thy God?'' The sermon consisted OF
three words, uttered with measured
emphasis: $50 did he" Nothing
more
The dead man was worthy of the
eulogy. Throughout the city he had
been known as "the Poor Mans
Friend" Actively engaged in large
business, he was foremost in works OF
benevolence. Munifcent in his chart
ties, he gave, what many liberal men
do not, brains and time, as well as
The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1880-12-02
Farming in France.

The typical Frenchman can hardly be
said to be domestic in his instincts. AS
he has been represented to US in litera-
ture and by tie drama he does not find
his supreme happiness in the home cir
Gle. But when we look farther into the
substance of French society and investi-
gate the causes of French vitality and
stability, the conclusion is forced upon
us that, after all. France is a nation of
homes. The rural life and the city life
of that interesting country present
strong contrast. They may be alike in
thinking that there is no place like
France, but totally unlike in methods
employed by society for making the
most of its opportunities. And it will
probably surprise the casual reader to
learn how much of that country is COM
pretended by rural France. The total
population CT the rural portion is eSti-
mated by a correspondent to be not less
than %, 000,00 and as many as 23,000,-
900 are directly engaged in agriculture.
The number and importance of the
French middle class have been demon
strated to the credit of the Nation, not
once but many times. There are now
100000 distinct estates or properties
in France. Of these it is calculated that
$4,000 average an acreage of 600, while
there are 100000 averaging sixty acres
and the remainder, of over 100000,
represent properties under six acres.
Compare this with the divisions and
the regulation of landed property in
Great Britain, where comparatively
few baronial proprietors own more than
half the land of the whole realm and it
is easy to see the weakness in England'S
armor and why France when seemingly
crushed has within herself the recuper-
alive power to lift her from almost any
disaster upon the solid ground of pros
perity. There are 5000, 900 inhabited
dwellings in France, 100000 uninhabit-
ed and 81, 900 in course of construction,
AS the entire population is about ST.
900, 600 the average of only little over
four to dwelling is not unreasonable
and would ill with contempt and a
horror of such wastefulness of space the
soul of a New York tenement house
proprietor. We are told that "neXt to
the educated English, the uneducated
French love their country more than
any other people in Europe" and it is
certainly more than a blind affection
which they feel for it. The statistics
that we have given show that they are
bIest beyond any other people of their
class in Europe and they instinctively
believe this even though they may not
have education enough to prove it to
themselves by comparison.-BoSton
Post
The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1880-12-02

One member of the family who begins
the day with fretful words and harsh
tones. is generally enough to spoil the
happiness and temper of the whole for
the day. Not all who hear the impa-
tient word give the angry answer, for
MANY choose to suffer in silence; but
every such word makes somebody's
heart ache, and, as a rule, it is some
BODY whom we love and would do al
most anything for, except to keep back
the unkind, sarcastic word.
The life of hurry and oyerwork many
of us live has much to do with our i'm
patience, and if we can do anything to
remove the cause we ought to do it as a
matter of duty. l know there are many
fathers aud mothers upon whom the
burden of life rests so heavily they can
hardly get needed sleep. But many
times the tired housekeeper and mother
might . tighten the ship little.
When God sends trouble and care let
US bear it in His strength, but let us be
very careful about the unnecessary
burdens we take upon our own Shout
ders. Plain, neat hens, with a CHEEKY
hearted mother are infinitely better for
children than a multitude of tucks and
ruffies, with sad. disheartened mother
who has no time to help her family to
be wise and good.
Don't let an ambition 10 outshine cur
neighbors, or even to have the best kept
house and most glittering windows,
blind us to the fact that sunshine and
cheer are good for both body and soul.
Then do not let us make ourselves
miserable by borrowing trouble that
may never come. We sometimes utterly
unfit ourselves for the work of life by
anticipating sorrows God never meant
us to bear.
Don't cross a bridge till you come to it,
Is a proverb old and of excellent wit"
A little time spent judiciously in pre-
venting the causes of sickness in FAM
lily, is better than years of wailing over
% what might have BEEN or what may
be.-ArthUr' Magazine.
The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1880-12-02

heart, to helping forward vast variety
of agencies for the benefit of the poor
and afflicted. Every Sunday ne might
be seen sitting on one of the uncush-
Toned benches of the Church OF the
Holy Communion, whose glory was
that it could truthfully iuscribe over its
doors the words Of the Hebrew proverb-
ia.ist: The rich and poor meet to-
Cether; the Lord is the maker OF them
all"
One of the noblest charities of the
CITY of New York is St. Luke Hospi-
tai. II is Christian institution whose
work illustrates its motto: - Corpus
Sinare, AflinlGpI Sdlrdre.n Go heal
the body, to save the souD. A gift of
ten thousand dollars, priratelu put into
DIR. Muhlenberg's hands by Mr.. Min
turn, started the hospital. The manner
of the Gift showed the merchants idea
of the high and blessed way of giving.
He desired that no names should be
affixed to the donations for the hOspi-
tai One Sunday morning, in the ordi-
nary Otfertory there were found five
bills of one thousand dollars each, la
beled "For st. Luke's Hospital MIR.
Minturn happened to be in the vestry
when the of'ertory was brought in.
LET me hold those bills moment; l
want to touch such money" he said,
overioyed that others sympathized with
his idea of transformations charity.
Not only poor men but afflicted ami
mails shared in Mr.. Minturn's pitiful-
ness. One morning, it was long before
any society looked after suffering ami
mails. he was walking down town, en-
gagged in earnest conversation with q
friend, stop minute" he said, alb
ruptly breaking off,th talk and dashing
into the thronged street, A poor little
calf was staggering between the vehi-
cles in the vain attempt tokeep up with
its mother She was being driven be-
yond her natural gait by cruel driver.
The friend saw the princely merchant
cross to where a job wagon stood. The
calf was gently lifted in. some money
was put into the wagoner's hand, and
he followed after the COW.
One morning, while Bishop Potter
was visiting at Mr.. Minturn's country
house, he read at family prayer the par
able of Dives and Lazarus. Referring
to it, Mr.. Ninturn said it was passage
of Scripture that often alarmed him.
"a very solemn one, indeed" replied
the Bishop, ''but it is not terror to the
rich who give as they should OF their
riches" 'Ah, Bishop, what do any OF
us give but the crrtnlbST rejoined the
merchant who walked humbly with his
God. YOUTHS Companion.
The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1880-12-02
The Latest Thing in Dances.

The latest thing in dances is called
the " raquet," and is neither waltz
nor a polka, though the best parts of
both are preserved. The music strikes
up with a crash, as though a new vol
cano had broken out, and the girl will
cling tightly, as though frightened, if
she understands the dance and the
young man will reassure her by gen.
tie pressure, if he understands the
dance or knows anything at all. At
the second crash they dodge, as though
some one had thrown a blacksmith
shop at them and they start in. They
begin by initiating the struggle for life,
representing person who is drowning
but at each crash of the cymbals and
bass drum they dodge and scoot to one
side. then dart back again, jam each
other sideways and then as the crashes
of music become more terrific and
deafening, they try to drive each other
through the floor by main strength, get
desperate and claw, and tear, and pull,
and all at once they 90 raving mad with
hydrophobia and delirium tremens and
gnash their teeth and rave and suffer
the most terrible agony-and all IS
over. 1t is a short dance as the de-
sign is amusement and not murder
But short as it is. it is said to be very
sweet.-N. T.. World.
.
The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1880-12-02
A Free and Easy Prison.

A Geneva correspondent writes that
the loOsenesS with which the custody of
convicted criminals is administered in
the canton of Schwytz is simply appall-
ing. If the facts were not avOuched by
a trustworthy paper published in the
district, the Frcje Schneider, it would
be difficult to believe that the state of
things it describes could exist in any
European country. The only prison in
Schwytz is an old farmhouse. In it are
confined malefactors of both sexes and
every class. if they can be said to be
confined, for it would seem they only
remain where they are because they
find themselves better off than they
would be at their homes-those of them
who have anv. The care of these crim-
inals is confined to ead-jailer, SER
geant of police and a nun. As, howev-
er, the two men spend nearly all their
evenings and q good part OF their days
at the baths of Seewen, the duties of
the establishment devolve principally
on their lady colleague. The prisoners
are permitted to go out and come in at
their pleasure, and the nun is in the
habit of making occasional pilgrimages
with repentant infanticides to a neigh
boring shrine. Only one man, Great
ure named Maechler, who, eighteen
months ago. was condemned to impris-
onment for life for murder of unspeak-
able brutality, seems to have been kept
under bolt and bar. But little by little
he insnuated himself into his lady jail
er's good graces. persuaded her by pro-
testatiOns of repentance and a show of
religious zeal 10 relax hervigilance. and
in the end she actually allowed him to
work outside the house like the others.
Early one morning, a short time since,
he was sent to fetch water, but walked
quietly in the direction of Seewen.
When he did not return the sergeant OF
police ordered a strong detachment Of
iail-birds to follow and bring him back.
Late in the evening they returned after
an unsuccessful chase. The next day
the head jailer himself, with four pris-
orers, went off on the quest; but they
were not more successful than the 9th
ers, which. if the statement of the
Freic Schneider that they came back far
from sober be true, is, perhaps, not very
surprising. 1t is scarcely necessary to
say that Maechler is still at large.
The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1880-12-02
POl;tenesS at Home.

There is no reason why a man should
put his own wife to the trouble of WHIP
ing up tracks when he takes great pains
to cleanse his feet before crossing his
neighbours threshold; neither is it con-
sistent that we women should be too
severe on our own husbands and sons
for little carelessneSs, while we assure
our caller with the most gracious OF
smiles that lit isn't of the slightest
consequence"
| would not have any one less con-
siderate of those abroad. | hope we all
enjoy seeing our husbands and wives
polite to our neighbOrs, only let us be
sure to practice our good manners at
home.
There are husbands who would hasten
20 assure a neighbOr wife, who had, in
her haste burned her biscuits. that they
greatly enjoyed them where they
were so nice and brown who would
rpever think their own wives needed the
same consideration.
For my part. think the laws OF
politencss are equally binding upon us
at home. no unkind language or thought
less behavior being allowable there that
would not be proper in society. No nan
can be a gentleman, though everSso
RENAL abvOad. who is tvraat or habit
nal fault-fmder at home; and no woman
IS a real lady who is not a Lady at home
in her morning wrapper as well as IN
SILKS in her neiShbor's parl0r.
The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1880-12-02
The Happy.

Happy is the man whom God cor
recteth, for He maketh sore and bind
eth up.
Happy is that people whose God is
the Lord.
Happy is he that hath the God of
Jacob for his help.
Happy is the man that findeth wis
dom, and the man that getteth under
standing.
Happy is the man that feareth Away.
Happy is he that condemneth not
himself in that thing which he alloweth.
He that hath mercy on the poor,
happy is he.
Whose trusteth in the Lord, happy is
he.
He that keepeth the law. happy IS he.
If We suffer for righteousness sake,
happy are We.
II We be reproached for the name of
Christ, happy are ye.
Behold we count them happy which
endure.
If ye know these things, happy are
ye if ye do them.-WeH Sprt5g.
The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1880-12-02
Put Life into Your Work.

A young mans interest and duty
both dictate that he should make him
self indispensable to his employers
He should be so industrious, prompt
and careful that the accident of his
temporary absence should be noticed
by his being missed. A young man
should make his employer his friend,
by doing faithfully and infinitely all
that is intrusted to him. 1t is a great
mistake to be over-nice and fastidious
about work. Pitch in readily, and your
willingness will be appreciated, while
the heightened" young man who
bubbles about what is and what is not
his place to do will get the cold
shoulder. There is story that George
Washington once helped to roll log
that one of his corDOrals would not
handle, and the greatest Emperor OF
Russia worked with shipwright
in England-to learn the business.
That's just what you want to do. Be
energetic, look and act with alacrity,
take an interest in your employers
success, work as though the business
was your own, and let your employer
know that he may place absolute re-
lance on your word and on your act.
Be mindful; have your mind to your
business, because il is that which is
going to help you, not those outside
attractions which some of the .sboys''
are thinking about. Take pleasure in
work; do not 90 about it in listless.
formal manner, but with alacrity and
cheerfulness, and remember that while
working thus for others you are laying
the foundation of your own success in
1sfa
The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1880-12-02
8eEigions.
HYMN OF THANKS.

We praise Thee for the wealth Of golden
For corn fields waving in the mellow li.,ht,
For full-armcd Plenty. piiing Autumn vain.
No locust swarms, no deadening droughts have
come,
To mar our joyous song Of Harvest Homo.
We praise Thee, . our God!
We praise Thee for the dewy mornings fair,
As diamonds glinted over field and void,
When heavens own nectar filed the ambient
air,
And every breath was life and strength uE-
And warhling birds poured out their songs of
And every living thing seemed glad and free;
We praise Thee, D our God!
We praise Thee for the noontide's scorching
As meath its ripening influence swelled the
And the grapes sweetened in the burning rays
While under purple bloom the wine was
The heat was fierce upon the laborer's head,
But twas perfecting grain for daily bread.
We praise Thee, o our God!
We praise Thee for the rwilight's hour of
When the cool breeze of eve refreshed the
flowers.
Winning from them their gift of odOrous
balm.
And all-pervading peace filed the sweet
hours.
Then one by one came out the stars soft light
And all around US settled reStful night.
We praise Thee, o our God!
For Spring. with all her vernal beauty drest.
Her buds of hope. her merry, tuneful voice.
For summer, with eXuberant greenery blest
And smiling fullness, bidding man rejoice,
For Autumns crOwning treasures now COM
plete,
We offer Thee, dear Lord, thanks as is meet;
We bless Thee, o our God!
And when the stormy blast of Winter comes,
And snow wreaths hang their light forms on
the trees,
And well-stored barns and gamers fill our
homes
With plenty, and our hearts with thankful
ease,
Helpus, Christ, to share, at Thy command,
These blessings with Thy poor, with generous
hand,
Thank offerings to our God.
Christian Union.
The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1880-12-02

The scientists say that shutting the
eyes improves the hearing. This is
probably the reason, says the Buffalo
Express, why some men always wink ~
you when YOU talk politics to them.
The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1880-12-02
International Sunday. school Lessons.
FOURTH QUARTER.

I FOURTH VUANIhH
! Dec. 5-Last Days of Jacob. Gen IS: 81
| Dec. l2-The Last Days of Joseph Gen. 50:l4-26
| Dec. l9-Review of the Lessons.
| Dec. 26-Lesson Selected By the School
The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1880-12-02

-Sealskin sacques are worn short. 5
man is also short after ne buys one.
The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1880-12-02

-Parapets-A dog and cat.
The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-06-09
The Field Boom in Kentucky


The Cincinnati Commercial Of Monday
lets the public know that an attempt was
made last Saturday to get up FIELD boom
in Kentucky-the day the delegates to the
Democratic State Convention Were elected.
1t seems that even TLDEN is stronger than
FIELD in Kentucky. The Commercial says :
"Tilden triumphed at the independence
Convention day before yesterday, but his
victory Is not so decisive as many OF his adj
herents at first claimed. Three or four GER
tain, and 1t is even asserted six OF the seven
teen delegates are strongly opposed to him,
and are determined to make themselves felt
10 the State Convention at Lexington. 1t is
undeniable, however, that the old man re-
tains strong hold on the affections OF the
Democratic masses hereabouts, and the OPP
position to him comes mainly from the pro-
fessional politicians and others OF that ilk.
This has Just been signally shown in the
wretched failure Of the attempt to work
up boom for Field. The movement was
in expert hands, Colonel John S. Scott ex-
erting himself with special assiduity, but
the tide was clearly against it, and it has
gone where the woodbine twineth."
The following tells the story as to the rest
OF the State. We are surprised to learn that
Mr.. TILDEN is so popular in Kentucky. We
quote:
LOUISVILLE, June Sat the Democratic
primaries held in all the city wards to-day
the Watterson for Tidenl ticket was every
where elected by overwhelming majorties.
Reports from the counties throughout the
State show universal instructions for Til
den.