davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-07-20
Caught In q WoIf.Trap.

The favorite trap employed for wolves
in Burgundy Is the tTaquerard. This is
most dangerous even to man, the strongest
that is made requiring two men to set it.
1t has sp1ngs OF formidable power and
delicacy, and when these arc touched the
jaws of tho trap, armed with rows of teeth,
shut one within tho other. In spite Of all
precaution, however, very sad occurrences
will often happen In these forests. Some
years ago trap was placed near deserted
footway, and the usual warning precautions
taken. The same day a young man, anx-
ious to present to his .Rancee some turtle
doves and pigeons with rosy bcaks, with
whose whereabouts he was acquainted, loft
his home a little before sunset to surprise
the birds on their nest. He was late. The
night closed in rapidly, and, with the inten-
tion of shortening the road, he took his
way across tho forest. Without in the
least needing the bramblcs and bushes
which caught his legs, or the bitches or
streams he was obliged to cross, he pressed
on, and, after continued battle with tho
thorns, the stumps and roots and tho long
clinging tendrils Of the wild roses, came
The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-07-20
a reau's Duel.

The following story is told Of fighting
Fitzgerald, celebrated beau, gambler,
horscman and duelist After his return
from Ireland, an old gentleman declared
his intention of trying to cure Fitzgerald of
his love of duclling, and one day provoked
him to contest. His friends tried in vain
to persuade him not to 60 out. "Lcave me
alonc," he said, "l'll settle him, havo got
the choice Of arms. Each of us shall be
mounted, each shall choose his own wca-
pom, space shall be marked out, and
whoever first crosses tho boundary shall be
declared vsnqushcd. Fitzgerald being
informed OF these strange proposals did not
like to refuse, and confident In Ills admira-
bio horsemanship and skill with oil wca-
pons, accepted. He appeared on the
ground superbly mounted on fiery stccd
and armed with pistols. TO the surprise
and mirth of all, the old gentleman lrottcd
up on donkey carrying bladder with
dried peas inside, and scarlet cloak In his
hand. Waving the cloak and shaking the
rattle, he rode into space; or started the
fiery courser, and before Fitzgerald knew
where he was, he had crossed tho bounda.
ry, and lost the duel The rldicule was
too much tor him, and he never "went
out" again.
The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-07-20
Variations in Ifirtls' Nests.

This year we have noticed three curious
instances of departure from tho usual
habits of birds in building their nests,
which seem worth recording. The song
thrush lines her nest with COW dung and
clay; and 1t is usually considered by ornl-
biologists that, as she builds very early in
the spring and frequently in exposed situa-
tions, the mud lining protects the eggs and
the young brood from tho fierce March
winds. EARLY in March wo found q thrush's
nest in our garden, containing four eggs !;
but the nest had not veslge of the usual
mud lining. UnfortuL ately we found the
nest destroyed one morning before the bird
he'd time to hatch, 80 it was impossible to
note whether the inclcment weather had
any effect Oh the eggs. We have at this
moment blackbird sitting upon six eggs,
four of which are her own and the other
two those Of song-thrush. When first
the nest was found it contained two of each
kind, thrush having laid in the blackbird's g
nest. Although sparrows will sometimes
appropriate swallows nests to build In, and
though several birds will build now neat
on al old foundation, il is, think, very
unusual Tor one species-the cuckoo, Of
course, excepted-to make uso Of a nest
built by another species. The third curlos,
ity of nest building is the nest of q chafflnch,
placed in the fork of al elder bush near
our house. Usually the chatllnch assllni-
lates the color of her nest to the situation
Ia which she places it; If she builds on q
hedge she generally covers 1t with green
moss; but If sho builds, ~ she often does,
on the bare branch of an old apple tree, she
uses the gray lischens, which are usually
near at hand, and covers her nest with
them 80 skillfully that though quite open
and exposed it becomes hidden Gy its re-
semblance to knob or excresscenco of the
tree itself. In this case, however, though
the bird has recognized the necessity Of
covering her nest with something, she has
rendered 1t most conspicuous by sticking
little bits of white dccayed wood all over
It. The wood Is 50 white that tho nest
looks almost like SNOWFALL in the branches.
Possibly this bird may be color blind or
she may be just little bit "wanting in her
instructive faculties, as human beings are
occasionally in their reasoning powers.
Why not2
The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-07-20
The Sea Unicorn.

A Sea Unicorn who recently exhibited at
San Francisco. The body Is of the size of
small deer and covered with scales about
an inch In diameter, with tufts of reddish
brown hair grown quite plentifully between
the scales. Its legs are quito slender, and
have long hair about the hoois, which re-
semblc those Of deer Or goat. The tail is
straight and tuffed, like that of COW,
while the snout Is enlarged at tho end like
that of swine, and the mouth shows for
midable tusks protruding on either slde
From the centre of the face projects
single horn, not more than six inches In
length and less than an inch in diameter,
which curves upward slightly. In add-
tion, there arc two long fcolers, or tenta-
cles, one on each side of the mouth. The
hair upon the neck Is longer than elsewhere,
Of tho same reddish color, and has the ap-
pcarance of short name. Tho fishermen
related that this animal was sometimes seen
upon the shore OF tho island, and that no
made musical noise, which gave him the
name OF tho singing unicorn, and some Of
the more credulous islanders had taken his
notes, heard family In the distance, tor
those Of mermaids.
The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-07-20
why There Is no Rain In Peru,

In Peru, South America, rain is un-
known. The coast of Peru ia within the
region OF perpetual southwest trade winds,
and though the Peruvian shores are on the
verge of the great southeast boiler, yet it
never rains there. The southeast trade
winds in the Atlantic ocean first strike the
water on the coast of Africa Travelling
to the northeast they blow obliqucly across
the ocean until they reach the coast of
Brazil BY this time they are laden with
vapor, which they continue to boar along
across the continent, depositlngit as they
90, supplying with 1t the sources of the Rio
dc Ia Plata and other tributaries of the
Amazon. Finally they reach the snow
capped Andes; here is wrung from them
the last particle of moisture that very
low temperature can attract. Reaching the
summit Of that range they now tumble
down as cool and dry winds on the Pacific
slope beyond. Meeting with no evaporat-
Ing surface, and no temperature colder
than that TO which thoy were subjected on
the mountain tops, they reach the ocean,
Thus we see how the tops Of the Andes be-
came the reservoir from which are supplied
the rivers Of Chilli and Peru.
The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-07-20
"l'R and Ma are Married"

A man in Toledo, with a wife and three
children, became enamored Of an intrig-
ulng woman and procured divorce in an
obscure town In Indiana. He did not say
WORD about 1t at home. One day his cld-
est daughter received a parcel Of patterns
from lady In Indianapolis. In It was an
old copy OF country newspaper. An ad-
Vertiscment attracted her attention; it was
an application for divorce for her father
from her mother. Tho young lady desired
to visit her friend III Indianapolis, and to
make an excursion to the town where the
divorce had been granted. She returned
with ample evidence that her mother was
living with divorced man. She showed
her father copy Of the advertisement, and
told him that she had found out all about
him. Hc walked the floor for a minute,
and then turned to his daughter. 81 have
been a very bad and guilty man," he said;
but it is not too late to make amends.
VIII 60 to her and confess all, and undo
what have DONE" "Confess first to me-"
SAID the girl. ut is Miss--who Is the
woman in the case, is 1t nol7" cit is''
thought rs much. Are you to marry herr"
II was to have married her." "You
must not go to mamma yet. She must be
your wife again before she knows the fear
full TRUTH The young lady was equal to
tho emergency. Tho twentieth anniver-
sary of her parents marriage was close at
hand. She invited sll their friends and
had them married again by the same min
lister who performed the ceremony twenty
years before. She took pains to have her
mothers rival present, and remarked to
hcr In corner: ''Papa and mamma arc
married again as fast as the law can do it,.
Whether tho truth is ever known depends
upon you. Papa will never tell it, am
sure, and for mammals sake never shall.
But 1t does seem to ME dear, that some
other climate would suit your constitution
better than this.
The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-07-20
lness. Previous engagements, however

illness. Previous engagements, however
important, must be Cancelled when an inyi.
tation to dine with tho President is received,
Once during the last session a member of
Congress and his vito, who gave very Gle
giant dinners, invited most Of the foreign
ministers and their wives to dine with tn en-
on certain day. All accepted, and tho
dinner was in process of preparation, when
loI President Grant, who had been delay.
ing his annual diplomatic dinner, thinking
tho Grand Duke Alexis would come, finding
out that that Russian scion of the Emperor did
not intend to accept his hospitality, issued
invitations to tho diplomats to dine with
him. Etiquette compelled them to accept,
30 all had to excuse themselves from their
first engagement aud the III. G. and his wife
were compelled to ask other guests But
all is for the best. With the Representa-
tive and his family the one dinner served
as substantial compliment to two sets of
guests, those who ate it and those who had
the honor of declining to do SO. But din.
ing In state is not an unmitIgated pleasure
by any means. The dinners begin at 7 p.
NJ. and are protracted until ten o'clock or
after. Then again there is no elbow.room;
the guests are 80 crowded around tho ma
hogany that it is difficult for those on the
same side of the table to lift their arms at
the same moment to carry food 10 their
mouths. Hence 1t Is sometimes the case
that couples seated next each other agree
that each shall partake of tho courses by
turns, ono eating while the other keeps the
arms down, and vice versa.
The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-07-20
bubbles Learned Cat,

Mr.. Bubble was woll.to do old gent,
and II he had any particular weakness it
was for training birds and animals. His
greatly to the disgust of Mrs. Bubble, who
hated everything of the kind. Ho had q
learned pig, precocious rooster, q trick
dog, comprehending COW, marvellous
horse, al educated rat. and the Lord knows
how many other things But as yet he had
no learned cat, and his heart yearned for
one, lie had tried to train two or threo
different ones, but his trick dog had trick
of worrying them out of existence, or out
of the neighborhood, and so Bubble was
still under cloud. If he only had learned
cat he folt that his cup Of happiness would
be complete.
Finally he obtained fine large specimen,
one quite large enough to take his own part,
80 far as the dog was concerned, and he at
once set about educating him. Contrary to
his former experience, he found his new
delight quite tractivc, and In few weeks
he had "Tommy" so we'll developed that
he would perform several tricks wonder
fully well, and one afternoon, while enter
tanning company Of friends to dinner,
Bubble had to tell them about his latest
animal wonder.
"You would be surprised" said he, stto
see what genius there is IN that cat Tom
my.
Some one suggested that tho wonderful
feline be summoned into the presence Of the
company, and accordingly Tommy was
sent for.
Nov, my friends, as tho preliminary
overture to his performance, propose to
show you how nicely he can walk over this
table without disturbing tho least thing, or
Offering to cat whatever may be in his
reach"
Mrs Bubble protested, but ho would
have his own way, and Tommy was order
CD to leap upon the table and walk over it
carefully.
But learned cats are quite as unreliable
as any other, and Tommy didn't appear to
be ambitious for fame on that occasion.
The first thing he did was to turn around
and put his hind foot in the butter. Then
he started forward little and in trying to
get at tAat buttered lnstcp he knocked over
the cream pitcher, the sugar bowl, and be-
coming more, and more demoralizcd he put
one of his fore paws into cup of hot tea.
Then lie gave growl of pain and made a
dive to get aawy, knocking the tea pot over
into Mrs. Bubbles lap, and receiving cuff
which started him in another direction, and
caused him to overset dish of gravy. Into
this he stepped, and then jumped upon the
head of an old follow without any hair, and
producing q stampede which tipped over
the table and produced regular hurrah.
bible was al the while cull q: "Come
here, Tommy, poor Tommy" but his calls
were disregardcd by that educated cat, and
Mrs. B. seized stool and sent it flying af-
ter poor Tom. The stool and Tommy
went through the window together, carry
ing away the sash and all at one fell swoop.
After comparative quiet had been restor-
cd, Bubble tried to convince the company
that the cat was little out Of training, but
on account of subsequent conversation
held between him and his wife, it is safe to
say that he will not exhibit his learned cat
again right away.
The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-07-20
Tho 1Icroisln OF WashinptOn:

A careful study Of the history Of Valley
Forge Cannot be too earnestly recommend
cd to all who would fully comprehend the
greatness OF the character of Washington.
AT no other period Of tho war does it seem
80 purely heroic, and at no time does the
patriot cause appear to have been in equal
danger of ruin. 10 this day It seems a
miracle that the little army was kept to-
gother at all. Hc gave forty five years to
the service of his country, but in what year
OF them oil did he do so much to save and
establish it2 Superior to evil fortune,
stronger than the elements, and visor than
all the delegated wisdom of the colonies,
hardly knowing Ill whom he might confide
or what profcssed friend might prove a
vlrulent foe, his military genius underval-
ned and maligned by men unworthy to hold
his stirrup, he seems never to have lost
either his equanlmily or his hope. Contrast
Washington at Valley Forge his naked it,
TIC band shivcring around him, with Napo.
leon scIflshly flying from the wreck of the
most magnificent army which over trod tho
plains Of Europe. We feel, as we
contemplate the spectacle, that Washington
was "all in all to the cause" Any other
man might have destroyed 1t Ivy presump.
tuous ambition, by an ovcrcstiDlate of his
own ability, or on the other hand, by a
natural incapacity to manage tho peculiar
resources confided to him. 1t may be truly
said that no historical character has so
grown In tho estimation of mankind. There
are other revolutionary pcrsonagcs who
are still remembered freshly, In whom wo
see faults and even weaknesses. From
these, Washington was not utterly free for he
was human; but can another be found who
erred 30 seldom, who discovered and
repaire his error 30 promptly, who
was SO wlse and yet so simple, who
was 80 utterly incapable Of sub.
mitting to defeat while even adceperate
chance of success remained, or who did
the work which his hands found to do,
despite innumerablc distractions and
difficulties, so persistently and SO thorough
ly2
The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-07-20
President Madison ana Wife.

The character of Madison's wife for social
ability, warmth Of disposition, and what IL
called spirit, will probably give her prece-
dencc over any mistress of the White
House. Hor husband was cold, snarlish,
exp rt, capable for public business, tractable
to his superiors; but he made no impression
on the public A portrait of Mrs Madison
reveals tho secret Of her strength. She was
large, with brilliant eyes, with trace Of
mischief In them; her arms are bare and
show full health; there Is an Oriental turn
TO her nose, which otherwise Is rather vul-
gar; She wears lace turban, and her hair
fans in ringlets around her forehead She
was native OF North Carolina and was
brought up strict Quaker In Philadelphia.
She was christened plain Dolly Payne.
While quite young she married Mr. Todd,
Philadelphia lawyer. He kept her rather
out Of society, but she was known before
his death to be strikingly handsome. He
died while she was almost q girl, leaving
her with one son; her father was also dead,
and IL is the tradition that shc and her
mother kept boarding house in Philadel-
phia, to which came several members Of
Congress seeking board. Madison was one
Of the richest. His disposition was too
cold for matrlmony, and he married no
doubt, because the Widow Todd supreme
ly fascinated him. lie was at the time
forty-three years old. Our constitution
had then been In existence about five years,
and Madison was regarded as one of the
most useful men under It, AT the time he
married, Madison already had one of the
most distinguished regulations In the coun-
try. She stepped at once out of a plain
Quaker family into the control Of great
Virginia mansion. When tho capitol was
removed to Washington city, which was
mere wilderness filled with brambles and
alders, Mrs. Madison at once demonstrated
her capacity to take hold OF society and
give II form. Her husband went regularly
to his office, and took very little interest IN
society doings, but he gave her the fullest
freedom,
The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-07-20
''GONE."

Scene in q London railway station--depar-
ture Of emtgrants for Liverpool.
Ay! mark ye we'll the anguish of tho parting !:
That cry Of 'Gone!"
1s wrung from hearts through which florce
pain is darting,
All hopo withdrawn
The souls Of women and OF children sms. ting
While life drags OH.
Childleas but not through heavens divine
shliotion,
10 helpless age;
And husbandless l-oh sorrow beyond flot on,
Words cannot gaugei
And fatberless where lies tho benediotlon
That can assuage.
Speak not to them. The words OF consolation
No help reveal.
Within that hour Of awful separation
Think what they feel,
Bearing the pain'with lowly resignation,
That gold might heal
Their lips are dumb. The instincts Of mpres
sion,
They know it not.
10 boar the woes that fal in quick succession
Is all their lot;
They form no scheme that leads them towards
redressicn.
While tears fall hot.
Then gaze with coldness OH their yooeless
wailng,
Ay you can;
Think OF the wanderer Oh the ocean sailing;
Thou richer man!
Could'st thou not bear his anguish without
quailing2
Then find some plan.
suoh misery is not OF heavens sending,
For gold can curse;
The sorrows that are not beyond earth 3 mend-
ing
Let none endure.
"With you," cries One in clouds Of light as
cendng,
IL leave My poor ~
The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-07-20
A Paris bohemian,

| some days ago one Of the most seedy
ana disrcputable men who ever appeared
about a newspaper office, turned up in the
| editorial rooms of the Paris FIGARO. The
paper In question is pr0verbially reckless In
the matter OF truth, and as long as SEN
satlon was on hand, made no question of
the veracity of the man who provided It.
In this case, however, the editor was liter
ally stricken dumb.
care you the editor ?" demanded tho
visitor, brushing a frightful hat with q roll
of manuscript.
Il believe 20, responded the representa-
tive Of NJ. Villsmesfant.
"Ihen have got something to sell you."
"What Is 1t 2'
ga murder"
ioa."
"But this Is murder with q mysterv"
We don't want any mysteries."
"But this Is not only mystery but n
scandal"
Our scandal columns are full"
"But this Ia murderous mystery not
only with scandal but with q moral to
it," w
My friend" said the editor, rising,
we do.ft want any murders, mysteries,
scandals, or morals; assure you we don't.
VIII you not take my word for it2''
The seedy man measured him with h,s
garIng eye for momont Then he said:
''No SIR"
"You will not2"
'Not for moment. l demand that
this manuscript of mine shall be printed"
''But why 7"
"Because represent the press"
"rhe pross What press 2"
"rhe press of Paris"
The editor paused. Even in his long ca
reer in Parisian journalism, lie had met
with nothing like this AT last ho said.
family:
$50 you demand that we shall print your
article2"
Yes, " was the reply.
but l assure you we don't want any,
thing but editorial articles"
"Thero, sir, said the seedy man, LAYING
his band upon his threadbare breast 81
will sacrifice my story to the mercenary
character of your paper. l, sir, will make
an editorial Of my story. Which desk shall
take2"
The editor stared-glared- gave the
intruder seat. Tho editorial was written.
printed and paid for, and next day the
Figaro told the story we have given above
upon itself.
The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-07-20

business ont, on returning. AS tho weeks
went by he came to know of her calling
there at other times, and once, on coming
home earlier than usual, he met Knowles at
his gate coming out. At heart he had per-
feet faith in his wife, but fortune had be-
gun to rack him on her wheel and matter
that he would have thought little of few
weeks before, now had the power to tortu @
him.
He was grieved to see his wife's manner
toward him, was changed. 1t was not
trouble; she never spoke Of their approach
Ing loss, and he often found her singing,
merry as lark, but there was no longer
perfect confidence between them. There
vas something she was keeping hid, he
thought And Margery did have secret,
and kept 1.-THE old adage notwithstand-
ing.
Finally the day arrived On which the
date of the mortgage expired. Harry 8
face had set look. Always in the way he
thought, when around the house, watching
Margcry while dcftly clearing up things
EVERYTHING she touched yielded like magic.
This morning she was unusually skilful, and
not trace of regret was there in that spark
ling face Of hers.
Harry was woefully cast down. His
clouded face seemed reproach to her. He
had not raised the money, and could not he
said. The squire offered hun an extension
OF time; he would not have it.
sit is Of no use, said he, "and wo may
as well be over with 1t at once. The little
place is not worth more than the money
you loaned ME. l will make you deed of
it, and you may write that the mortgage is
satisfied"
tic produced pen and ink, looking all
the time like man about to sign his own
death warrant. Then baby was hustled
unceremonlously into his cradle, and Marg-
cry unlocked little drawer III her hus-
bands desk, producing package, and
placing it before the Squire, asked him to
count It's contents. 1t was found to cover
the whole amount for which her husband
had given the mortgage.
''It was left to me by my uncle Heth, {"
explained Margaret. "Lawyer Knowles
was in need OF all his shrewdness to straight
en- the matter out, but paid him a round
sum for his services"
Harry called himself slow man, and it
did take him some time to get the better of
his amazcment. 1Ie had barely succeeded
In comprchcnding the whole, as his wife
turned from the door, from which the
squire had made his exit. Then, for the
first time, til little woman broke down
She threw herself INTO the strong arms that
were ready 70 receive her.
"Oh, Harry! how could you--how could
you be jealous of mea"
He answered not at all, but held her as
if In one of his own iron vises. Presently
he fell to kissing her hair, forehead, cheeks
and lips; and looking up, she saw what
she had never seen before; on the checks of
her Vulcan were two round, big tears.
Harry did pot 60 to the shop that day,
and the baby was sadly neglected.
1t was several years ago that this event
occurred, and Harry's bird nest Is now
called ''The Dove Cot' by the observing
neighbors.