davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1880-05-06
Colorado Stories.

II was nearly a year ago when Leadville
Tas first showing what there was in her.
There were several newly. made bonanza
kings about Denver then, and among them
was a man who had probably never had
$40 In his pockets at one time previous TO
his strike. To him the possession Of a
watch was the natural evidence of the pos
session OF competence, and as he had
made more than a competence, he felt that
the fact should be indicated by the pur-
hase of several watches. These he had
deposited IN the Grand Central Hotel safe.
One night he came into the office very
much the worse for liquor, lurched up to
the desk and hlccoughed out TO the clerk:
"Gimme watch!" A timepiece was
passed TO his unsteady hands, but in en-
deavoring TO thrust it into his trousers
pockets he let it slip and tall upon the
floor. Without casting a glance at the
fallen watch he lurched TO the counter
again, reached out his shaking hand, mus
tered all his faculties to the task of speak
ing, and then bIurted out "Gimme
'nuther!n ~ Can the indifference of atfiuence
go beyond this?
He was evidently "tenderfoot," but as
he stopped before an old miner and held
out piece Of micaceous granite for his in
spection he made strong effort to look as
If he had been born with a contempt for
civilization, and that the feeling had been
steadily growing on him ever since "What
do you make this out 10 be?" he asked, in
dicating the specimen with nod.
"Humphn was the expressive answer.
''Gold quartz or carbOnatesI" The
''honest miner turned il over in his hand
indfferently, took out his knife and picked
at it for while, and then asked: ''Got
much of ii 7" Thousands Of TONS" an
swered the other eagerly. ''How much
do you suppose she'll run ~ Cant tell
nuthin' without an assay" ''But you can
guess, can't you; you can guess 7" "Oh
yes" answered the barnacle, anybody
kin guess; but a guess is liable to be ex-
travagant. Now, l shall say-but mind
ye, | may go over the mark should
s-a-a-a-y, (turning the specimens over again
and holding it up 10 the light). | should
s'a-a-a-Y that if you could save the gold in
this and catch the silver and not waste the
lead, that it might run about-well, about
81 to the county"
sis this my train I" asked traveller at
the Kansas Pacific depot of lounger II
don't know, but | guess not" was the
doubtful reply. 81 see it's got the name
of a railroad company on the side, and |
expect it belongs to them. Have you lost
u train anywhere ~
''DO you like your champagne dry3"
asked A. of b., who didn't know how he
liked his champagne, because he had only
made his strike the day previous and had
never before seen any champagne to which
he felt justified In applying pronoun in
the possessive case, 81 dunno. replied b.,
''but | guess you'd better gimme some
that's wet. Pm sort o. thirsty"
1t was about Belford that the remark
was made: 'Jim has some right good
points" it ran, ''but the great trouble with
him is that he is always about six lengths
aheadof everybody's judgment, and gaining
at every jump"
Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1880-05-06
AS Strange ns Fiction.

All old Texans and the student of the
history of Texas are familiar with the i'll
starred Mier expedition, VIII ch left Texas
in the fall of lS4l for the purpose of in
vading Mexico The expedition started
out under command of General Somervill,
and on the 18Th of December, when in the
vicinity of the Rio GraBde, was ordered
back. After the return of General Somer-
will and a portion of the command some
300 men who were left determined ON hos
tile demonstrations and elected William s.
Fisher as commander. The expedition
then advanced on the town Of Mier, in
Mexico. A detachment arriving there on
the 2ls. and demanding provisions took
the alcane of the town with them as q
hostage and returned 10 where the main
body was camped TO wait the arrival of the
articles demanded. While the Texans re-
manned in camp Mier was occupied by
General Ampudia, of the Mexican army,
with 2, 200 men. On the afternoon of the
25th of December the Texas forces started
for the town and encountered the forces of
Ampudia, in its vicinity, and fight ensued
IN which the Mexicans were driven through
the town, but still fighting. After several
parleys the representation of the overwhelm-
ing numbers opposed to them, and prom
ises OF generous terms the Texans were in
duced to surrender The prisoners were
then started for the City of Mexico, num-
Der being killed en- route, and on arriving
at Salado, on the 25th of March, an order
was received from Santa Anna, directing
that every tenth man be shot. Accordingly
one hundred and tifty-nine white and sew
enteen black beans, representing the num-
Der of Texans LETT, were placed in box
and each man drew, the ones drawing the
black b. ans being taken out and shot. In
"Thrall's History of Texas" occurs the fol-
lowing paragraph: First Amdudia and
then Santa Anna took a fancy to a mere
lad by the name OF Hill, and young Hills
father and brother were released, and the
young man sent TO the best college in Mex
leo. He adopted the profession of min
ing engineer, and is still a citizen of
Mexico" Mr.. Hill, who has never been
to Texas since the time he started on the
expedition, left Vera Cruz some days since
by the Alexandra line of steamers for New
Orleans, at which place he has already ar
rived, and will be in Galveston on the ar
rival of the Morgan line steamer this morn
ing He is a brother in-law of General w.
G. Webb, of Houston, and will be well
comed in Galveston by many old Texans,
who remembered his father on his return
from Mexico In 1874, when the prisoners
were released. The changes wrought in
Texas since the departure of Mr.. Hill,
when a mere lad, thirty-nine years ago,
have been of such magnitude that it would
require more space than is allotted this
paragraph, for but the bare enumeration of
fhnnn
Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1880-05-06
"Leonidus, Foller Me-"

Before the train left Bay City few days
ago for Detroit, woman nearly six feet
tall and having complexion like fresh
burned brick, entered the depot followed by
dog almost as big as a yearling calf.
Having purchased a ticket. the woman
stood beside the train until the conductor
came along, when she led off with:
"Eou have been pointed out to me as the
boss of this train"
"Yes'm," was his modest roply.
"Well, I'm going to Detroit for the old
man"
Yes"
And this dog is going along with me.
He goes where | so every time in the
year
eyes, he can go down on the baggage
car"
''Not any he can't! That's what stop
ped you for. This ere dog is going long
In this ere car and nowhere else!"
'The rules of the road
"Rules hanged. My old man can be
banged around by everybody, and he never
demands his rights; but Lucinda hain't
Thomas-not. by a jug-full!"
MADAM, let me-"
81 don't want no clawing Off" she inter
rupted, as she peeled pair of black nit
tens off her big red hands. 'I'm going
and the dogs gong, and what l want to
know is whether you want to raise row
on the cars or have it right now and here!"
The conductor looked the dog over and
was about to shake his head when the
woman began untying her bonnet and quiet
ly remarked:
81 s'pose, being as l am a woman, it
would be no more than fair for the dog to
sail in with me. Come here, Leonidus."
Madam" replied the conductor as he
felt shiver 60 up his legs, ''take your dog
and get aboard"
"Honest lnjuns"
."Yes."
mo row after the cars start p
"No."
'"Then that settles that, and Pm much
obleeged, though you did kinder hang off
at first. Leonidus, foller me and behave
yourselt!"
Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1880-05-06

receipts that the enterprise was abandoned.
More recently another attempt was made,
this time with greater success. The ship
was found 10 be in condition which in
volved the efforts of the divers in great
trouble. The upper deck was off and the
second deck had fallen through, destroying
much of the china. There was an i'm
mense quantity Of clay in the hold of the
vessel and the divers had to dig through
seven or eight feet of it in order TO reach
the china Fragments of china inter
spersed through the clay made digging
difficult and cut the divers hands. After
many interruptions and long delay about
two hundred dozen unbroken articles of
china were taken out. Among these were
many articles which seem TO have been in
tended for the Royal family, as they were
found TO he marked with the kingly mono
gram. There were punch bowls of curious
design and singular workmanship, plates
and cups such as have been seldom seen in
this country, some of the cups being almost
as thin as egg-shells and Of vitreous trans
parency. The fact that much of this curl
GUS china was stored in the keel gives rise
TO the suspicion that there was an attempt
to smuggle it. Ii is said that the whole
store Of china has been recovered from the
wreck. Most of it was taken to London,
and number of fine specimens were
brought TO New York. The value of these
specimens is, of course. chiefly TO collec-
tors of antique and the lovers of ceramic
art. the style of decoration is altogether
different FROM anything that has been in
ordinary use. The porcelain is Of a quality
seldom handled here, even by experienced
collectors.
Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1880-05-06
What the Thumb Does.

Have you noticed that when you want
to take hold of anything, bit of bread.
we will say, that it is always the thumb
who puts himself forward, and that he is
always on the one side by himself, while
the rest of the fingers are on the other 2
If the thumb is not helping nothing
stops in your hand, and you don't know
what to do with it. Try, by way of ex
pertinent, to carry a spoon to you
mouth without putting your thumb to it,
and you will see how long it will take you
to get through poor little plateful Of broth.
The thumb is placed in such manner
on your hand that it can face each of the
other fingers. one after another, or all to-
gether as you please and by this we are
enabled to grasp, as if with pair of pin
chers, all objects, whether large or small.
The hands owe their perfection of USE
fulness to this happy arrangement, Which
has been bestowed on no other animal ex-
cept the monkey, mans nearest neighbor.
Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1880-05-06
A Safe Plan.

A gentleman whose face had a look any
thing but pleasant, purchased postal card
at the postotfice, In Detroit. and took up
pen and wrote for about two minutes with
determined hand. Then, as he blotted
the card, he asked the stamp clerk:
sis it against postal rules to call "a man
a liar on a postal card ?"
The clerk thought it was, and the man
tore up the card, bought another, and after
writing few lines inquired:
cit can't be against the rules to call him
villain, can lt?"
The clerk again decided it was, and
third card was purchased. This time the
man pondered over his lines, signed his
name and said:
81 have written here that he ought to be
in Jail for his conduct. Is that against the
postal rules2"
The clerk said he wouldn't dare run the
risk himself and the indignant citizen tore
the card into dozen pieces and exclaim-
ed:
''Go to Halifax with your old postoff1ce
won't send any card at all but I'll way
lay the fellow and knock the top of his
head off"
Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1880-05-06
Old China.

The present rage for antique china ware
sometimes finds gratitica ion from the lNpst
extraordinary sources. Not only are The
old houses of ancient families ransacked
for curious specimens, but in many in
stances buried deposits have been exhumed.
Even the sea has been made to give up its
treasures of rare wares. Perhaps the most
remarkable instance of this is in connec-
ton with the wreck of the bark Goteborg,
which took place one hundred and thirty
years ago, not far from Gothenburg,
Sweden. This vessel belonged to the East
India Company, of Gothenburg, and was
on a homeward voyage from China, laden
with silks, tin, teas, porcelains and other
valuable merchandise. From time to time
various attempts were made by wreckers to
get at the cargo. None of these attempts
were at all successful until about ten years
ago, when the divers succeeded in obtain
ing samples enough to show that the rest
of the treasures were well worth the effort
involved in trying to bring them up.
Blasting was necessary in order to get out
the heavy blocks of tin, and the effects of
this was to play havoc with the china. The
expenses proved so much greater than the
Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1880-05-06
LABOR Is HONOR.

Labor is hard Gods spirit hath spoken:
This is the song that His universe sings,
Through the vast hills of creation unbroken,
Loudly and clearly the universe rings.
Up from the hills and the green valleys steal
ing,
Seeking the light of the bright stars above,
Rises the song to the blue heavens pealng,
Labor is honor, and labor Is love-"
All the grand deeds that are grand1st in story
Living through centuries treasured aud
bright;
All the great lives that are dearest to glory,
Filling the world with flashes of light;
Words from whose utterances ag's are dated,
Thoughts that have held the whole world in
control,
Names on whose echoes the proudest have
waited
Are but the offspring OF labor and toll.
Not to the eye that glanceth there lightly
Doth the bright look OF the heaven unfold
But to the spirit that turneth there rightly
Are all its wonders and mysteries told
And at each step to the soul upward springing
Cometh new radiance, new light from above,
While in the heart is an angel-voce singing
Labor is honor, and labor is love"
Not on her brow doth the earth lear all brig ht-
ness,
Deep in her breast do the rich diamonds
shine,
Down in the wave is the pearls soft whteness,
Hiding the gold in the dust Of the mine.
Beauty and power, and riches and pleasure
Safe in her bosom lie hidden to-day;
Toll is the key that will open her treasure,
And at each touch she will give them away.
Light to the mind that in darkness was
clouded,
Strength to tie spirit that weakness had
touched
JOY to the soul that in sorrow was hrouded;
Life to the heart when its Gfe-string was
touched
Truth as their foothold who seek it sin erely,
Skill to the hand when 1t tolleth to live,
Eyes that can look up to heavens light
clearly
These are the honors that labor can give!
Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1880-05-06
Count MaSsena.

A son of Massena, a Field Marshal of
France, under Napoleon, died in the aims
house at Salem, Oregon, recently. This
scion of Massena occupied a high position
in Europe in different capacities, but when
the "child of victory" as Napoleon sur
named his father, lost favor with the SOW
ereign on account of his rapacity and cru
city, the family lost its high position in the
old world and Massena, who was but yet
q boy, was compelled to make his own fu-
ture. He received a thorough education
and entered a monastery. Becoming dis
satisfied with Roman Catholicism, he left
the Church and started on lecturing tour
through England, where he met his wife.
He is described as being in that land one of
the most fastidious of men. Coming to
America, a series of disasters befell him,
which soured his tempter to such an ex-
tent that he became cruel in the extreme,
and the FreemasOns were compelled TO re-
fuse him recognition and to extend an aid
ing hand to his wife. His stay in this
country has been one of misery, and 80 low
did his circumstances become that he was
compelled to beg and finally seek refuge in
poor house, where he died of dropsy.
He seems to have inherited all the instincts
of his illustrious father, of whom it has
been said: ellis private character was
stained by imputations of meanness anc
rapacity, which took definite form in &
series of charges brought against hin
by the inhabitants of Marseilles. Napoleon
called him a robber and offered him {
present of !, 200, 900 francs if he would dis
continue his peculations. He paid LITTLE
attention to the discipline or comfort O
his troops, by whom he was cordially dis
liked. "
Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1880-05-06
In the Wilds OF Guina.

After passing the Rapon Rapids we saw
our first cayman, particularly stolid fellow
some fifteen feet ia length. He kept swim
ming on his course without taking the
slightest notice of us. At Aportiere, the
junction of the Essequibo and Rumpununi,
the old chief, Joseph, keeps perfect me-
nagerie of parrots, macaws, toucans, trum-
pet-birds, maa, sea-gulls, monkeys, dogs,
accouri, turtles, sloths, ducks and fowls, all
apparently quite tame, and roaming about
as though they had ne wish to leave the
spot. here purchased seven ripe bananas
for a fish-hook. COboorows, a kind of
sandfly, and mosquitoes troubled us griev-
ously in cur course up the Rupununi. The
former bit viciously during the day, ana
u o mosquitoes had tbeir innii 6 at night.
| gave q shirt to each of my Indians for
their protection against the blood,Slcking
and blistering coboorow, but their legs were
still exposed. For myself, was compelled
to put on a pair of trousers. This was an
exceptional proceeding on my part, for till
we came to the Rupununi | had been able
to revel in the comfort of being free from
these and sundry other articles of conven-
tonal attire Of our second night of being
Ou Tic IGupuuuuI d lew lOui6 dIlOL Atbu
retired 70 rest an immense tree close by us
broke and fell, causing a most APPALLING
crash in the stiffness of the night. My In
dians imagined that an evil spirit had done
it to annoy them, and called out to the per
secutor to leave them alone. They ayerred
that they were carrying white man into
their country, and that if the spirit did not
behave himself better the white man would
take dire revenge. This species of super
stitlous regard for the white mans prowess
is so much for the convenience of travellers
that confess l should be sorry to see it
dispelled. The evil spirit, if such there
was, obediently left us, and quietness came
back. 1t was lovely, balmy morning, a
soft breeze just stirring, and if it had not
been for the mosquitoes, existence just then
would have been most placid and delight
full; without question ''life would have
been worth living"
Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1880-05-06
FOOD FOR THOUGHT.

The longer we live and the more we
think, the higher value we learn TO put
on the friendship and tenderness OF
parents and friends.
Whenever we have to establish new
rela ions with anv one, let us make an
ample provision for pardon, or indul-
gence and of kindness.
Those who can themselves do good
service are but as one to thousand
compared with those WHO can see faults
In the labors of others.
We should round every day Of stirr-
ing action with an evening of thought.
We are taught nothing by experience
unless we muse upon it.
Be substantially greatin thyself, and
more than thou appearest unto others !;
and let the world be deceived in thee
as they are in the lights of heaven.
If man does not make new acqualn-
tance as he advances through life, he
will soon find himself alone. A man
should keep his friendships in constant
repair.
Good nature is the beauty of the
mind, and, like personal beauty, wins,
almost without anything else-some-
times, indeed, in spite of positive de-
ficiencies.
The happiness of man depends on no
creed and no book; it depends on the
dominion of truth, which is the Re
deemer and Savior, the Messiah and
the King Of Glory.
Mems happiness springs mainly from
moderate troubles, which afford the
mind a healthful stimulus. and are fol-
lowed bv reaction which produces a
cheerful flow of spirits.
o, glorious laughter. thou n-loV'
ing spirit, that for a time doth take
the burden from the weary back, tha'
doth lay salve to the weary feet, Druls'
ed and cut by flints and shardS.
1t is hard to personate and act par
long; for where truth is not at the DOT
tom, nature will always be endeaYor-
ing TO return, and will peep out ana
betray herself one time Or another.
There are eras in our spirits exist
ence. as there are eras in our fortunes
eras, when the fate of the character
hangs suspended upon some act of voli'
tion- some deter mination of the will.
AnambitioD TO excel in pretty thingi
obstruets tho progress to noble aims.
The aspiring spirit, like the winged
eagle, should keep its gaze steadily
Axed on the sun towards which it sears
Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1880-05-06
A Mountain takes the Place of a Lake.

In the latter part of December 1879, the
earthquake movements were particularly
marked, in San Salvador, and accompanied
by horrible rumbling sound beneath the
earth, which, more than its tremblings
and oscillations, spread terror through the
already alarmed population. One night
no fewer than $50 distinct shocks were felt,
and the people abandoned their houses in
dsmay. During the succeeding days of the
month the movements continued, and on
the night that a tremendous subterranean
detonation was heard, like the discharge of
heavy cannon, succeeded by three successive
shocks of great violence, which were felt
throughout the entire republic, and, in the
immediate theater of their action finished
the ruin their predecessors had begun. In
the vicinity of the lake rainstorm follow
od, of such violence as has not been expert
enced for years, the rush of waters carrying
to the lake vegetation, so |, trees, and
everything in their way, making huge gull
lies, rendering useless some valuable lands
on the margin of the lake. The waters of
the lake, instead of appearing to he IN
creased by this large addition to their
volume, actually diminished. AS the water
retired conical- shaped peaks or hills ap-
peared in the center of the lake, while the
water surrounding them was in state of
commotion as though it were boiling, and
on examination it was found that its tenn
perature had materially increased. From
the highest of these peaks, which are con-
stantly increasing in size, smoke, vapor,
and flame issued, the column rising as high
as that which issues from the Izalco, and
may be seen from the capital, distance of
several leagues.
Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1880-05-06
A BootbIacks Gives Points ON Stocks.

A bootblack tackled New York citizen
in broadway not long ago, and said the
streets were slushy, almost everybody
wore overshoes, business was bad, and
asked him for quarter to get nights
lodging, saying, "If you'll give it to me
I'll give you APPOINT on stocks. " The citizen
gave him quarter and the bootblack said,
"Now, when you go down to Wall street
in the morning you buy Iron Mountain;
buy lots of 1t; it's going up" ''Why do
you know anything about Iron Mountain9"
asked the man. The boy mentioned the
name of a well-known Wall street operator
and said: II BACKED his boots to-day and
while was dom it he said to a friend as
was with him, Iron Mountains goin' to
boom, says he. That's how l know it. "
The man took his point to the street, bought
the stock and made 20 per cent. on his in-
vestment, for iron Mountain had a boom,
sure enough.
Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1880-05-06

Impoliteness is derived from two
sources-lndiference to the divine and
contempt for the human.
Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1880-05-06

Be noble-n Anded. Our own heart
and no other mems opinions Of US,
forms our true honor,
Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1880-05-06

When one Is tagged, hungry AMI de-
pressed, the worst seems most proDa-
BILE.