davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-03-24

PUNISHED BY KINDNESS "A Quaker
having been disturbed one night by foot.
steps arounl his dwelling arose from his
bed and cautiously opened II back door to
reconnoitre. Close by WAS an outhouse,
and under it n cellar. near II window OF
which was man busily engaged in re.
ceiying the contents of his pork barrel
from another within the cellar. The
Quaker approached, and the man outside
fed. He stepped up to the cellar window
and received the pieces of pork from the
thief within, who, after Il little while,
asked his supposed accomplice, in n whs
per. Shall we take it ALP" The owner
of the pork said softly. :" Yes, take it all )"
and the thief handed up the balance
through the window, and then came up
himself Imagine his CONSERVATION when,
instead Of greeting his companion in
crime, he confronted the Quaker! Both
were astonshed; for the thief proved to
be near neighbor, Of whom none would
have suspected such conduct. He plead
for merc1, begged not to be exposed,
spoke of the necessities of poverty, and
promised faithfully never to steal again.
elf tlou hadst asked me for meat" "
said the Quaker, /" it would have been
given tlee. pity thy poverty, and thy
weakness, and esteem thy family. Thou
art forgiven"
The thief was greatly rejoiced, and was
aboutt TO depart, when the Quaker said:
Take the pork, neighbor."
mo, no." said the thief, IL don't want
the pork"
Thy necessity was 50 great that it led
theeto steal. One-half Of the pork thou
mus take with thee"
Tie thief insisted that he could never
eat amorsel of it. The thought of the
crims would make it choke him. He
begged the privilege of letting it alone.
But the Quaker was inlleXible, and fur
nishbg the man with bag, had half the
porkput therein, and laying it upon his
back sent him home with it. He met his
neiglbor daily for several years aiterward,
and heir families visited together, but the
mater was kept secret; and though in
afteryears the circumstance was mention
ed, tie name of the man was never made
known. The punishment was severe and
effecual. 1t was probably his iirst-it was
certainly his last attempt to steal.
Had the man been arraigned before =
court of justice and imprisoned for the
petty theft, how different might have been
the esult His family disgraced, their
peac, destroyed, the mans character
ruind and his spirit broken. Revenge,
not penitence, would have swayed his
hearI; the scorn of the world would have
blaclened his future, and in all probability
he would have commenced course Of
crime at which, when his first offence was
committed, his soul would have shuddered.
Andwhat would the owner of the pork
have gained? Absolutely nothing. Kind
nesswas the best punishment, for it saved
whie it punished.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-03-24

The more man sees of the world, and
the more he mingles with others, the
smaller space is he inclined to claim for
himself among his fellows. lie sees that
in the pushing struggle of life, other peo-
pies rights must be considered, and he
must not take more ground than Just
enough TO stand on. This is very marked
in all public places and conveyances. The
man or woman who is best versed in sOci-
ETY. makes smallest demands and occupies
least space. The persons who take more
room than belongs to them are those who
have been least in company, least accus-
toned to adapt themselves to the needs of
those about them. If you want to be
thought well bred, travelled, cosmopolitan,
keep your elbows in crowd, and sit close
in street car. If you want to be thought
boorish and uncultivated, and to be recog-
nized as one who was never much in good
company push both sides of you as well
rs in front and rear, in crowd, and
spread yourself out in a public hall 1t is
by such indications rs these that the
demands of Christian regard for the
rights and feelings of others secure the
best results of good breeding. To be II
we'll grounded Christian man includes the
highest eraces of true gentility.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-03-24
very insuflicently the business they were
imported TO do

very insuflicently the business they were
imported to do
(2) They harass, fight against, dispos-
sess. drive away and sometimes actually
kill various of our native birds which are
much more insectivorous by nature than
themselves. and which might do us better
service if equally encouraged.
(3) They commit great depredations in
the kitchen garden, orchard and grain
field"
Beside the above, other lesser crimes
are charged upon the sparrows, and their
tendency to unlimited increase pointed out.
1t is to be noted that the above charges are
preferred by ono who has a hearty love for
birds, and constant and enthusiastic stu-
dent of their habits, and hence one not
likely to condemn any bird without reason.
do not advocate wholesale slaughter
of the birds at present, but it certainly
seems to be time to be on our guard
against them and to cease encouraging
their increase and extension over the
country. G.. IL. PERKINS.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-03-24

A HIGHLAND GHOST SroRY.-Mrs.
Grant, of Laggan, records the following
incident on the authority of the minister
who related it to her. He was accustomed,
she informs us, " to go forth and mediate
at even; and this solitary walk he alw ays
directed to his churchyard, which was
situated in a shaded spot on the banks of
river. There, in Il dusky October evening,
he took his wonted path, and fingered,
leaning on the churchyard wall, till it
became twilight, when he saw two small
lights rise from spot within, where there
was no stone nor memorial of any kind.
He observed the course these lights took,
and saw them cross the river and stop at
an opposite hamlet. Presently they re.
turned, accompanied by n larger light,
which moved on between them till they
arrived at the place from which the two
set out, when all three seemed to sink into
the earth together. The good man went
into the churchyard and threw n few
stones on the spot where the light disap-
peared. Next morning he walked out
early, called for the sexton, and showed
him the place, asking if he remembered
who was buried there. The man said that,
many years ago he remembered burying
in that spot two young children, belonging
to blacksmith on the opposite side of the
river, who was now very old man. The
pastor returned, and was scarce sat down
to breakfast when message came to
hurry him to come over to pray with the
smith, who had been suddenly taken i'll,
and died the next day"
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-03-24

Cork AND IT'S VALUE.-The constantly
increasing demand for cork for bottling
and other purposes. together with the fact
that the cultivation of the tree is sadly
neglected, threatens to cause serious
dearth of the article. Yet no other sub
stance had been discovered that will serve
rs substitute for cork in many of the
uses to which it is applied. Cork is worth
eleven times what it was century ago.
and its market value is continually in.
creasing, The American commissioner of
agriculture has satisfied himself that the
cork trees can be successfully cultivated in
various parts of the United States, and
recommends that the government offers
premiums TO those who within reasona-
BILE specified time, shall have ohtained the
best results in cork culture. In Sicily
Sardinia and the kingdom of Italy great
plantations of cork trees have been de.
stroyed to obtain the tannin from the bark
After having been stripped of their bark
the trees were burned, in order that the car
Donate of soda might be extracted from
their ashes In 1929 the French govern
ment began to nurture this important in
terest. France now has about 500, 900
acres of cork plantations in Algiers. The
trees grow as high as sixty-tve feet with
a diameter of from three to five feet, an(
will live and yield cork from $50 to 2O(
years.
In a dry, sandy, slicious soil, at an al
titude of from 1,GOO to 5000 feet and no
further north than the forty fifth degree OF
latitude, cork plantations will flourish
The tree does not, however, yield valuable
cork until it is toward fifteen years old.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-03-24

SAVE Your MoNEY.-The earl of Der
by, one of the foremost statesmen of
England, on recent public occasion,
made the following remark
"You will sometimes hear people talk
young people especially-as if there was
something mean and poor about the habit
of frugality, and MS if squandering were
the habit of generous nature. If ever
that fallacy is uttered in your hearing,
Just put your foot upon it and trample it
out"
There is world of wisdom in this brief
remark, of which all young men should
take heed. Every young man who saves
a part of his income, whatever the amount
of his income may be, is more respected
for so doing. 1t shows habit of self
denial which strengthens his whole char
acter and makes it more manly, bolder
and more elevated.
In spending what you do spend, and
ought to spend, says the Ledger, spend it
freely and generously-not all for your
self. Never show mean and mserly
spirit, and the way not to show it is not to
possess it. But on the other hand, let no
temptation to squander ever interfere with
the habit and the rule-which should be
inflexible-to lay aside something.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-03-24

KNOW TIE MEANING OF WoRDS.-It
should be remembered that the success of
the student in any department of intellec-
tual labor must. of necessity, depend
largely upon the clearness and accuracy
of his comprehension of the meaning of
the language employed to express the
truths and principles underlying the sub,
ject under consideration, by the thorough
mastery of which mental growth and
strength are promoted and erudition Sc
cured. Important, then, is it, that from
the outset of his educational career the
student should appreciate the necessity of
Il complete mastery of the language used
BY this we mean that the student should
not only be able to spell accurately and
write correctly, but also to understand
every word that occurs in the text book,
or is in any way employed to illustrate or
explain the subject under consideration.
We believe that the great defect in prima-
ry instruction, especially in most of the
schools, is the permitting children, term
after term, to read page after page, to pass
from branch to branch, with little or no
understanding of many of the words en-
ployed; and the misfortune is the greater
that the words least understood are usual
ly those which furnish a key to the knowl-
edge of the subject.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-03-24
Good Advice for Everybody.

l. Never under any circumstances, as
sumo responsibility that you can avoid
consistently with your duty to yourself
and others.
2. Base all your actions on u principle
VI right; preserve your integrity of char
acter, and in doing this never reckon on
the cost. gsETN
3. Remember that self-interest is much
more likely to warp your Judgment than
all other circumstances combined; there
fore look well to your duty when your
interest is concerned.
4 Never make money It the expense
of your reputation.
D. Be neither lavish nor niggardlv
OF the two avoid the latter A mean man
is universally despised, but public favor is
a stepping stone to preferment; therefore
generous feelings should be cultivated.
6. Say but little; think much and do
more.
Z. Let your expenses be such rs to
leave balance in your pocket. Ready
money is a friend in need.
s. Avoid borrowing and lending.
0. Wine drinking and cigar smoking
are bad habits; they impair the health
and pocket, and lead to waste of time.
10. Never relate our misfortunes, and
never grieve over what you cannot pre-
vent.
IL. Cultivate promptnsss in deciding
upon matters that come before you; there
are few objects more disagreeabe than an
undecided, vacillating man. Consider
thonghtfnlly, but decide promptly.
-. Never break business engage
ment of any kind, if it is possible to meet
it. Let nothing cause you to become
careless of business etiquette, integrity
and promptitude.
l3, Let truth and an unwavering faith
in God underlie all your motives and
actions.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-03-24

A most wonderful clock is that described
by u Hindeo raiah, as belonging to native
prince of upper India, and jealousy
guarded us the rarest treasure of his luxu-
rious palace. In front of the clocks disk
was Il gong, swung upon poles, and near
it was pile of artificial human limbs.
The pile was made up of the full number
of parts for twelve perfect bodies, but all
lay heaped together in seeming confusion
Whenever the hpnds of the clock indicated
the hour of one, out from the pile crawled
Just the number Of parts needed to form
the frame of one man, part joining itself
to part with quick, metallic click; and,
when completed, the figure sprang up
seized mallet, and walking up to the
gong, struck one blow that sent the sound
pealing through every room and corridor
of that stately castle. This done, he re-
turned to the pile and fell to pieces again.
When o'clock came, two men arose and
did likewise; and SO through all the hours
of the day, the number of figures being
the same as the number Of the hour, till
at noon and midnight. the entire heap
eprang up, and marching to the gong,
struck, one after another, each his blow,
making twelve in all, and then fell to
piCccs.-I. Nicholas.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-03-24

am indebted to Sir Walter Scott for
the following anccdote: The wisest dog
| ever had was what is called the bull dog
terrier. | taught him to understand "A
great many words. Insomuch that l am
positive that the communication betwixt
the canine species and ourselves might be
greatly enlarged. Camp once bit the
baker who was bringing bread to the
family. beat him and explained the
enormty OF his offence. after which, to
the last moment of his life, he never heard
the least allusion to the story. in whatever
voice or tone it was mentioned, without
getting up and retiring into the darkest
corner of the room, with great appearance
of distress. Then if you said, the baker
was not hurt after all, Camp came forth
from his hiding place, capt red and barked
and rcjoiced. When he was unable, to-
ward the end of his life, to attend me when
on horseback, he used to watch for my
return, and the servant used to tell him
his master was coming down the hill, or
through the moor, and although he did not
use any gesture to explain his meaning,
Camp was never known to mistake him,
but either went out ut the front to 90 up
the hill, or at the back to get down to the
moor side.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-03-24

No WHISPERING" Well, what arc
you going to do3' some old teachers may
inquire. I'VE cant allow whispering in
our schools My answer is, Did you
ever try itP Did You ever erase those
despised words and allow your scholars
to whisper rs much AS they wished9 II
you have not, the writer has, and after
many days spent in the school room rs
instructor, it Is and always was, success
Our school was not noisy by any means,
but on the contrary was more quiet than
many schools where the scholars were not
allowed TO communicate.
Many times a scholar needs IL pencil OIL
n slate, and if not allowed to ask another
for it, will have 10 bother the teacher by
raising his hand or waiting until class is
through II recitation. thereby losing valu,
able time both to teacher and scholar
No, let scholars whisper as much as they
please, and you will see much less of il
than you would suppose. Forbidden fruit
always tastes sweeter Talk to your Older
scholars when alone with them, giving
them TO understand how much you depend
on them for keeping good order. Try it
teachers, and my word for 1t, you viii
enjoy the freedom rs much rs the scholar
"A Ieucher, IN Western Rural.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-03-24

FIGHT FOR LIFE.-Valentine White
an old farmer of Clermont, Bradford
county, Pa, went to his barn the other
moning to feed his stock, when he heard
an Unusual commotion inside. Thinking
the cattle were loose he did not open the
door but entered by a hole where q board
had been removed. He found in the mid.
die of the barn floor u heifer which had
broken from the stanchions, having brok-
en- one horn in the act, and clinging to
herr muzzle was large gray wolf, and
another with his jaws fastened to her hind
legs. The heifer shook the wolf like a rag
and pounded the sides of the stable with
it, but in vain.
Mr.. Whites anger overpowered his pru-
dence, and seizng pitchtork, he began
an attack upon tho wolves. As soon as
they perceived him they left their game
and attacked him. AS one of the infuriat-
ed animals sprang toward the old man, he
dealt it II mighty blow with the fork, send
ing it into Il corner. But the other animal
caught its teeth in the old mans right coat
sleeve, and in such close quarters that the
wc,pou was of no avail.
After kicking uselessly at the animal, he
gras ped its throat with his left hand, and
choked the wolf until it let 90. Then seiz
ing again the pitchfork, he dealt well di-
reCted blow, and broke the leg of one OF
the animals, which then lodged through
the hole behind him, and limped off, howl.
ing dismally. The other wolf held its
ground. and whenever opportunity was
offered sprang ut the old man, now and
then fastening its teeth into his arm.
Though bleeding profusely, White continu.
ed The fight and finally with well direct.
ed thrust of the ptchfork, sent the tines
Though the animals heart, killing it al
most Instantly. The dead wolf was Of
large size, gaunt with hunger, and with Il
shaggy coat of light gray. Whites clothes
were torn into shreds, and his face, neck
and breast were SCARED deeply by the
claws of the animal.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-03-24

A RICH JoURNALIST.-A few days ago
the real estate records showed the sale of q
large house in Forty-seventh street, close
by Fifth Avenue, to Chas. A. Dana for
sixty-three thousand dollars. He is one of
the few working journalists in New York,
who have been able to purchase Il house
for that or any approximate price. Work
ing journalism, as all within the profession
well know, is not a means of winning
gold. But ever since Dana's friends
bought the Beach Sun for one hundred and
seventy-fve thousand dollars, twelve years
ago, he has grown steadily rich. Then
his property would hardly have reached
thirty thousand dollars all told; and now
he probably has an annual income of at
least seventy thousand dollars. His pres
ent financial position must be a pleasing
contrast to his position when he began as
foreign editor on the Tribune for the
munilicent salary Of twelve dollars week.
1t is doubtless comfort to be engaged in
q newspaper enterprise which is hand
semely remunerative. The Sun is, |
think, the only journal out of which Dana
has made any money, although his ven
lures have been varied. The American
Cyclopedia is probably the only other
source of his present fortune, and out of it
he is reported to have made from one
hundred thousand to one hundred apd fifty
thousand dollars clear. The first issue Of
the cyclopedia sold very largely because
there was such need of it; and the second
issue has also sold very largely for the
same reason. A better conjunction Of
editors than Geo. Ripley and Chas. A.
Dana it would be hard for publishers to
obtain; Ripley's elegant literary attain
ments and literary taste being we'll sup
plemented by Dana's worldly wisdom and
knowledge of affairs. And they have
certainly reaped the fruit of their oppor-
| tunity.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-03-24

JACK OF ALL TRADES.-To be Jack oil
all trades, rather than master of one, is
now a common aim, so we are not ut all
astonshcd at the versatile Anna Aguker
announcing that she attends as sick
nurse, watches dead bodies. repairs straw
chairs, applies leeches, and makes paster.
les, deserts and delicacies." Equally
anxious to turn penny in one way or
another is the denizen Of London back
street, whose modest cards run: " Goods
removed. messages taken, carpets beaten,
ard poetry composed on any subject
But this inglorious Milton must yield the
palm to Burness & Son. on whose sign
board, put up some sixty years ago, was
to be read, Blacksmith's and barber,
work done here; horse shoeing and shay
ing, locks mended and hair curled. bleed
ing, tceth-drawing, and all other farrcry
work; all sorts of spirates Ticker akording
to the late commerce treaty. Tax notiS
my wife keeps skool and lerns falks as yu
shall teches reading and rting and al
other hngurtches, and has assistants i
required, to teach horritory, sowing, the
mathematics, and all other fashionable
diversions. .-Chtmbc6 s Journal.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-03-24

THEIR AGEs,-It is stated that Blaine
touched 80 on the last of January Gran
was 81 last April. Sherman was Sc las
May. Washburne was 73 in September
Conkling was 80 in October. Garfield il
in his 10th year. Edmunds is 81. Bayart
was 81 years of age in October. Thurman
reached his Goth birthday in November
Hendricks was 60 in September. Tilder
was &C in February, and in the same
month General Hancock was 50. Sey
mour will be 70 in May. Washington
was in his 9th year when he was first
elected, Jefferson 81 and just entered hi.
Goth year when he left office. JOIN
Adams was 81 when he was elected, Mad
ison in his 5Sth year, Monroe his 59th, anc
John Quincy Adams in his 58th. jackson
was 6l when he was chosen the first time
and therefore Go when reelected, while
he had reached his 10th year when he
quilted office. Van Buren, was 81, and
Harrison 67 when they were elected, while
Tyler when he took office had Just passec
his 51st birthday. Polk was elected OF
almost precisely his 49Jh birthday. Taylol
was not quite 5S when elected, and Fill
more was in his 6lst year when he sue
ceeded him. Pierce had not yet completed
his 4Sth year when he was elected, ant
was the junior of all who have taken the
presidential chair, except Grant. Mr.
Buchanan was elected in his Goth year
Lincoln in his 52d and 56th, while johnson
succeeded in his 57th.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-03-24

1t may not be generally known that we
have in the nickel five.cent piece of our
coinage, II key to the tables Of linear
measures and of weights. The diameter
of this coin is 3 centimeters and its weight
is 5 grammes. Five of them placed in Il
row will, of course, give the length of the
decimeter; and two of them will weigh a
decagramme. As the kiloliter is a cubic
meter, the key to the measure of length
is also the key to the measures of capacity.
Any person, therefore, who is fortunate
enough to own II iive-cent nickel, may
carry in his pocket the entire metric sys-
tenn of weights and measures.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-03-24


NEEDLE-WoRK IN GERMAN Schools
In the elementary schools six hours a
week are given to needle-work and knit
ting. Knitting only is taught in the two
lower, but even that is done by rule. In
the fourth, from March to the end of Au-
gust, plain knitting backward and for
ward. At the beginning of September IL
stocking is begun. In the third. only
stocking knitting. Sometimes the children
knit quietly by themselves, but they must
frequently do it together, stitch by stitch,
while the teacher very slowly counts or
beats time. Painfully monotonous it must
be for child who has well mastered the
work. At one the needle is put in two,
tho cotton goes over; three, the stitch is
made, md ut four taken off the needle. In
the second class, ages nine to ten, needle
work is begun. The children are provided
with squares of canvas and red cotton, and
the teacher has large frame in stand,
on which coarse netting is stretched that