davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1881-05-11

A man with some Iwit-i' and q very
long nose met a neighbor one frosty
morning, who sarg out: ':,''"AN
"Hello. Smith ! met The end of
your hose a few minutes before you
yourself appeared and saw! it COM
pletely frozen" '0ni1"qc'i na
mo fault Of mihe, 'said the undis.
turbed Smith, Il rubbed il as far as I
could reach" ..,...
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1881-05-11

The robber of 900 pounds Of trout
in tank Lelonging'to w. L. Prince
Of West Cumberland, Me-, proves to
be miuk.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1881-05-11

Iinin1ent.

ANA The most Powerful,
Penetrating and Pain-relieving
remedy ever devised by man. It.
soothes Pain, it allays inflammation,
it heals Wounds, and it cures
RHEUMATISM,
Sciatica, LumbagO, Scalds,
Burns, Stiff Joints, Cuts, Swell.
ings, Frost bites, Quinsey, Salt
Rhcum, Itch, Sprains, Calls, and
Lamcness from any cause. Suf.
ferers from
PAIN IN THE BACK,
Fever Sores, Eruptions, Broken
Breasts, contracted Cords, Neu.
ralgia, Palsy or dislOcated limbs;
and owners of horses, planters, me.
chanics, merchants and professional
men everywhere, unite in saying, that
CENTAUR IMMINENT
brings relief when all other Lini.
ments. Oils, Extracts and Embroca.
tons have failed.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1881-05-11

The greatest pleasure ] know is to
do n good action by stealth, and to
have it found out by accident
GCharles Lamb.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1881-05-11

You can tell a mercifal ofarmer as
soon as he stops his team at posi-.
He takes the blanket off his wife's
lap and spreadsli .!yITput oysr ,he poor
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1881-05-11


cannot think but that Il would taralsl
your laurels to 6aht a duel with him. /"
"TLere Won are mistaken, Judge,
replled Colonel Morton. at woul:
be- no dlsorace for even Colonel Nor
ian inn 10 fall in an encounter with him.
.You know him. then ,"'"
~ do" "'''' ''' ''"
aWbo IL he Colonel "''
"Deaf Smith" "' ''..'
aoh no +" ,on,lea ,ho JoJoe. dea
Smith fall q, ,be Almo,
"The,o vo,',e m;s,akco aoain,
.Jodoc /" rs,iiod Morton. uhat was
,riof of Uous,oo 70 shield hi, f,yori,,
from ,ho vonosoce of a .scoro Of Tex.
an do.ner,doe.wbo waved 10 have hi,
~ ~. ,sho ,,,o. o,,o,o ,,,,,,,od"
owl, ,ho0 colonol" ,o,,;od ,he
I,a,,o ,.,( uo,,. o0 90, soy Il ,oave,
%, !, no halter nreaicament Deaf
sm;,h ,,.0 ,.vor t,own 10 miss hi.
mai "
m,s so,,lca." ren,isd Colonel Nor,
,on, "I,', no DISGRACE to iall BY hi,
hnll., while ;fI tnT him I shall feel
.o,,S =, h,,,,,, c,uoa ,ho h.st 0ho,
=, M. oo,,,;non, .,a now ooo,,o
'',, -, a I -, 49,. T h..o
80. 80. M .,; .,,o., 80 ,,., ,,.v
- 80 o1 7" ,o,,o ~ moo,
wv -, a..
-, ~ ..,,.' 49, Aa;o, y
,f, r.," ,.-.,'...~.r A.
~ IT, WITT ,r,.s ,al
80 - Ill.,, .Lo .,,,,..ao -
Nv % yrr i,.,., IA. :, .,1o,,.
,v. :, .s s.,a.a .h.n, ,ho
~" ~. = Vs. .n ~, ,,,, rS,ono,
go - Wv .'.IyD ,e,,
"o''o" a"' '"' '''""S'' "''' W "s"'
"ae' ~ '""s''' ", ."s'' wa" 60 go
eN'' ~ w r.
'"P' ~
WV" "s T
" ''' ,.s , " , g .IS
D" .o - 'o,,;,aa ,S",, ,o,,,d ~, love-
S :: 49,. . .sn. q, a.
on~;o,, g., ,ho oo;,, dow, ot ,ho
49,. -. -. 49,: ..I
as;,.do ~ ,ho tren,;o, rta Tha ann
r , a.. o,.a., h..;u,n ,,hon
~ ,a.; .a 49,. =. ,ho h.a,. -,
.ho CrIo.odn .,a ,h..o v,os Cnlono,
Mor,on .,;,h . o.,,,n - cr;ands o,,r
ooo, ond oho.,, with , hoovv r;ao IN
ii, hand ~ ,ho mo.t orrroved NO.
t.nr IT, ,,a, 90 o,oos;ona, .,onoo ..
tha aool;n;nr o,h of dov ,rd aIono ,ho
os, 49,. e,.;.,.1 ,,o .;,. I.,S. :;
S.. oe o.,.h;no. o,;,,..,, of H..
:. TI ,
,.o,.,s'. A, ,ho s,,,,,, ,a,,o- ,;.,,S
.s.,.s 49, ,.o,,or to. ,ha.o
s..o. h.., ,L. ,,o.a, - ho,,
~ " " ~
:: ' ,, Wv .: "
M n, -. c.,, ,t
.n
~ ~ -, M Wv"
49,: 1"' s":s c ''.% pos w Wv ~. ".
n'S s' 49, ,,,';.,, w." ' ..s..s .% ] ~
p.pe ~ "o" "N' ~ '"' p
pu ~. , y
""' NV" p"''e' "'' ~ '
o'oH W ""'"' pe',c" "ppo'":eu ""'
~ o'oP '"""e''"''' ~ ""'o" '
''' wv" p''"''p"'' "e'0 " wan
S''a'ss"' '"em.S'"'0 m t'0eS' '"',' 'lou''o
a"o "'e' !"e stranger "ouue' "'s
assent ~ .''S arrangement anu "e aI''
I'll. .me o''onu' were = p'A'eo o'0N - o'0H'
Inc hanokelc"'e' was "roPPeo' oo'I
tue PF'nc'pa's soe''oera'e s.ePpeu o.i
'ne'r t"e"'y-n'e Paoes' lucy oo'u
were rather long In taking alm' so
Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1881-09-08
CHAPTER II.

"Theory and sentiment are very e-e.
waiting, my DEAR" said Mrs. Jones, as
she stood on the doorstep and searched
in her hand-painted satin reticule for
the night-latch key; "but o my, just to
think
Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1881-09-08
The Belief Of Great Men in
WitChcraft.
Frazer's Magazine.l J

Ludicrous as the powers appear to us
at the present day with which witch
craft in former times was credited such
powers seem never to have been denied
or disputed by the great minds of the
past A witch was all that was abomi-
nable, and to be held in the strongest
loathng; yet few had the wisdom or
courage to contradict the possibility of
her exercising the arts she pretended to.
The judge, rs he passed sentence upon
the condemned woman, trembling lest
her fell gaze should bring upon him and
his household sorrow or death The yell
ling crowd, as it half-stripped her, to un
iergo the water ordeal, shuddered as it
saw upon her exposed bosom the marks
which, it was supposed, proved that she
allowed her familiar to draw upon heI
life's blood. The villagers, who went
miles out of their way TO avoid her
haunts, never for one moment believed
that the object of their fear was power
less to work them evil, and was either a
haIf-mad woman the victim of a hide
Gus deIusion, or else the actress of a
knavish part to suit her own vile ends.
To all, the old crone, with her tall hat,
crutch stick, and black cat nesting on
her shoulder. WAS one who had dealings
with the Devil, and who, through the
might of Satanic aid, could scatter the
seeds of misery broadcast wherever she
listed. She had sold herself body and
soul, to hell, and, until death claimed
her, her power to effect evil, it was
claimed, was unlimited.
The great man is he who rises superior
to the prejudices of his age; but before
the end of the seventeenth century
with the exception of Bodin, Erastus,
Reginald Scott, John Wagstaffe and Dr.
Webster-there were none who had the
boldness or the knowledge to brand
witchcraft as base and palpable super
stition.
We find Lord Bacon gravely pre-
scribing "henbane, hemlock, mandrake,
moonshade, tobacco, opium, and other
soporiferous medicines" as the best in
gradients of witch's ointment. From
the pages of his History of the World'
we see that the gifted and practical Sir
Walter Raleigh was firm believer in
this childish form Of superstition. The
learned Selden, in his Table Talk
while pleasantly discoursing on the sub
iect of witches, shows that he also held
the same faith Sir Thomas Browne,
the kindliest of physicians, Sir Mat
thew Hale, one of the most acute and
spotless of judges, Hobbs the skeptic,
''the eminent DIR. More, of Cambridge"
and the patient and thoughtful Boyle,
all were of opinion that witchcraft was
an evil capable of solid proof, and that
its disciples merited sharp and swift
punishment. 1t was not until the dawn
of the eighteenth century that men came
to the conclusion that the devices of
"witches and witchmongers' were only
so many tricks and fables, and utterly
unworthy of credence.
Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1881-09-08
About Water..A Summary Of the
Results of Scientific Investi.
RAtiOn.

Water is composed of two gases, oxy-
gen and hydrogen, united in two proper
tions of one meaure of the former to two
measures of the latter; it exists in na-
ture in three forms, dependent upon the
quantity of heat. The point of greatest
density of water is 1915 deg. F. Water
boils at 212 deg. F. when the baromet-
trio pressure is 1892 inches.
When we ascend mountains this pres
sure is less, and water boils at lower
temperature than PIP deg. F. This
fact has been utilized in measuring
attitudes. Both liquid and solid forms
of water are volatile. A certain guam
tity of water can be suspended in the
atmosphere, dependent upon tempera-
ture; thus: one cubic yard of air at so
deg. F. becomes saturated, that is, when
it can not hold any more when J cubic
inch of water is diffused throughout it;
at rs deg. F., one cubic inch; at 100
deg. F., two cubic inches.
When cloud saturated with moisture
at temperature of Is deg. F. is sud-
denly cooled to so deg. F., its capacity
IoI WdtSl uliulilIsuSu C"udtl, anu
this comes down as rain, hail or snow.
Steam is hotter than boiling water, al
though thermometer marks PIP deg.
in both. The heat which holds the
atoms of steam apart is latent, and is
equivalent to 534 thermal units. Wa
ter cooled below 39.5 deg. F. expands;
one quart of water at 39.5 deg. F. be-
comes, when frozen, 1.09022 quarts of
ice Fishes and other inhabitants of
lakes and rivers do not die, because the
temperature of the deeper waters does
not fall below 395 deg. F., and this de-
gree of cold is not incompatible with
life.
No matter how cold it may be, deep
lakes and rivers are never frozen their
entire depth; the cold water being light
er rises to the surface and forms still
lighter crust of ice, which can not sink.
This expansion of water when frozen
provokes great changes in nature.
Snow, which is composed of crystals
with six radii and of innumerable varie-
ties of designs, acts as cloak to young
vegetable life.
Seven-eights of the weight of man is
composed of water. Pure water can
only be obtained from the ice caverns of
the Alps or the laboratory of the chemist.
Arctic explorers never want for drinka-
BILE water; they melt ice, which dissolv-
ed, is free from most impurities. Frost
crystaizes free from impurities and
salts. The various natural mineral wa
ters are solutions of chemical substances
prepared in the ground by the phar-
macy of Nature"
Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1881-09-08

In old monastic days good eating was
under ban. 1t was imagined that the
brain could best be kept clear and vigor-
Gus on low diet. ~.
Romantic young ladies in our time
love to think of their favorite authors
as fed on divine ambrosia. It brings
them down to a common level to associ-
ate them with roast beef and mutton.
Poor Charlotte Bronte was once Olsen.
chanted Of her hero-worship. Thackeray
was her favorite author, and in her
lonely home on the moors, her imagin-
alton invested him with all ideal
graces. :.
On visit to London she was lifted
to the summit of happiness by an
invitation to dinner where Thackeny
was to be one Of the guests. She was
introduced to the great man, and sat
next to him. 1t was red-letter day
in her life, and memory, was on the
alert to retain all his bright sayings,
and report them to her sisters.
Thackeray, however did little talking,
but much eating. He had recently 10
covered from severe attack of typhoid
fever, which left him with ravenous
appetite, while the dinner was excep-
tionaAy good. Charlotte looked on in
wonder at his feats, and the surprise
gradually changed to disgust. One
more idol had turned to clay. If she
had known the modern law Of the con-
servation of forces, her charity might
not have failed her.
Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1881-09-08
Preserving Meat.

There is no good reason why farmers
and their families should eat SO much
salt pork, leaving all the fresh meat to
the inhabitants of cities and villages,
when the following method will keep meat
fresh for weeks even in the warmest
weather. / have tried it for several
years.
As soon as the animal heat is out of
the meat, slice it up for cooking. Pre-
pare large jar by scalding it well with
hot water and salt. Mix salt and pull
verized saltpetre. Cover the bottom of
the jar with a sprinkle of salt and pep
per. Put down layer of meat, sprinkle
with salt and pepper the same as if it
was just going to the table, and con-
tinue in this manner until the jar is full.
Fold a cloth or towel, and wet it in
strong salt and water in which little of
the saltpetre is dissolved. Press the
cloth closely over the meat and set in a
cool place. Be sure and press the cloth
in tightly as each layer is removed, and
your meat will keep for months.
1t is good plan to let the meat re-
main over night, after it is sliced, before
packing. Then drain off the blood that
oozes from it. 1t will be necessary to
change the cloth occasionally, or take it
off and wash it first in cold water, then
scald in salt and water as at first. In
this way farmers can have fresh meat all
the year round. l have kept beef that
was killed on the eleventh of February
till the twenty-first of June.
Then I packed large jar Of veal in
tie same way during dog-days, and it
kept six weeks This recipe alone is
worth the price of any newspaper in the
land.
Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1881-09-08
Drinking Impure Water.

Set pitcher of ice-water in room
inhabited, and in few hours it will
have absorbed from the room much of
the respired and perspired gases, and
the air of the room will have become
purer, but the water will be utterly
filthy
This depends on the fact that the
water has the faculty of condensing,
and thereby absorbing all the gases,
which it does without increasing its
own bulk. The colder the water is,
the greater its capacity to contain these
gases.
At ordinary temperature a pint of
water will contain pint of carbonic
acid gas, and several pints of ammonia.
This capacity is nearly doubled by
reducing the temperature to that of ice.
Hence, water kept in the room awhile
is always unfit for use, and should often
be renewed whether it has become warm
or not. And for the same reason, the
water in a pump-stock should all be
pumped out in the morning before any
is used.
That which has stood in the pitcher
over night is not fit for cooking pur-
poses in the morning. Impure water
is quite as injurious to the health az
impure air, and every person should
provide the means of obtaining fresh,
pure water for all domestic uses.
Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1881-09-08

The longest dream lastsless than three
minutes. A man fell asleep as the clock
tolled the first stroke of twelve. He
awakened ere the echo of the twelfth
stroke had died away, having in the in
terval dreamed that he committed a
crime, was detected after five years, tried
and condemned. The shock of finding
the halter about his neck, aroused him to
consciousness when he discovered that
all these events had happened in an in.
finitessimal fragrant of time.
Mohamed, wishing to illustrate the
wonders of sleep, told how certain man,
being Sheik, found himself, for his
pride, made a poor fisherman; that he
lived as one for sixty years, bringing up
q family and working hard; and, upon
waking up from this long dream, SO short
a time had he been asleep that the mar
row-necked gourd bottle filled with wa
ter-which he knew he overturned as he
fell asleep-had not time in which to
empty ITSELF"
Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1881-09-08

A correspondent writes: ut IS an
error to suppose, as many do, that it Is
only the upper ten among the daughters
of China that indulge in the luxury of
golden lilies, as the Chinese lady calls
her compressed and distorted feet, as it
is extremely common among every class,
even the very poorest-notably the poor
sewing women one sees in every Chinese
city and town, who can barely manage
to hobble from house to house seeking
work. The pain endured while under
the operation is so severe and continuous
that the poor girls never sleep for long
periods without the aid of strong narcot
les, and then only but fitfully; and it is
from this constant suffering that the
peculiar suilen or stolid look SO often
seen Oh women's faces is derived
The process by which the foot is re-
duced in size is related by Miss Nor
wood, an American missionary resident
at Swatown, and is substantially as fol
lows:
The binding of the feet is not begun
until the child has learned to walk.
The bandages are specially manufac-
SuIGu, dku dIC AUout WV "Auc
and two yards long for the first year,
five yards long for the subsequent years.
The end of the strip is laid on the inside
of the instep, then carried over the toes,
under the foot and round the heel, the
toes being thus drawn toward and over
the sole, while bulge is produced on
the instep and deep indentation i'll the
sole.
Successive layers of bandages are used
until the strip is all used, and the end is
then sewed tightly down. The foot is so
squeezed upward that in walking only
the ball of the great toe touches the
ground.
After month the foot is put in hot
water to soak some time; then the ban.
dage is carefully unwound, much dead
cuticle coming off with it. Frequently,
too, one or two toes may drop Oft, in
which case the woman feels repaid by
having smaller or more delicate feet.
Each time the bandage is taken off
the foot is kneaded to make the joints
more flexible, and is then bound up
again as quickly as possible with fresh
bandage, which is drawn up more tight
ly.
During the first year the pain is so in
tense that the sufferer can do nothing,
and for about two years the foot aches
continually, and is the seat of a pain
which is like the pricking of sharp
needles. With continued rigorous bind
ing the foot in two years becomes dead
and ceases to ache, and the whole leg,
from the knee downward, becomes
shrunk, so as to be little more than skin
and bone. The origin of this strange
fashion is complete mystery, at least to
Western civilization.
Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1881-09-08
MEXICO MO, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1881.
gurgling mezzo-scprano sound, as though
were on the point of explo-

gurgllng meZZO-sopranO sOun0, as tnougn
something were on the point of explo.
sion.
As both ladies stood motionless, with
bated breath, on the hall rug, the explo-
sion came. A piercing treble shrek of
rage and pain, followed instantaneously
by the roar of a male voice equally in
dicative of rage and despair.
II must see what this MEANS" said
Mrs. Jones, with dignity, and she opened
the parlor door. In the center of the
room stood Mr.. Appleby, with dishevel-
ed hair, blood-shot eyes and spotted
shirt front, and in his arms, kicking and
roaring, was Katharine's chickabiddy.
In its frantic efforts to pull itself up to
the top of Mr.. Appleby's head it had
nearly twisted itself out of its gown,
which, streaked with treacle and wrap
ped around two madly dancing feet, was
closely pressed against his shoulder
Chubby arms were gesticulating wildly,
and two round eyes streaming with tears
were turned toward the newcomers, ex
pressive of rage, fright and entreaty.
simultaneously with the appearances
of the aghast ladies, Katharine appeared
at the back door.
"Mercy's sakes!' she cried, raising in
horror two brawny bare arms. "Who'd
thought, to be sure, they'd bin home
fust. Eve been down the strate, Mrs.
Jones, to see me blisid avid mother, and
Mr.. Appleby he begged me for to low
him to hold the child spell. Me poor
ovid mother, poor ovid woman what has
the rheumatic SO bad. hope she hasn't
bothered you any, Mr.. Appleby, the
blissid little angel"
at is a practical illustration, man.
ma" whispered Floy, as the angel was
transferred from Mr.. AS embrace to the
maternal bosom.
There are some glorious women who
are peculiarly adapted by nature to
come to mans relief in moments like
this; moments more trying than those
at the cannons mouth. A woman of
this description was Mrs Jones' and a
very eligible young man was MIR. Ap-
pleby. She knew that if he effected an
abrupt exit at the present moment his
| shadow would never again be cast upon
| the Intel of the Jones mansion, and 50
she was prompt and irresistible.
"Come straight with me, my young
FRIEND" she said, slipping her arm with
in his, and she marched him directly up
to Tommy's dressing room where COM
plete wardrobe and toilet articles for
all emergencies were to be found. Nor
| did she cease to hover about until he
emerged from there with all his elegance
restored.
Then again to have confronted Floy,
the Floy of his acquaintance, in the
drawing-room would have been insup-
portable, so he was ushered into the sit
ting room and introduced to Floy he
had not known before, a frank, home
spun kind of young lady with a white
apron ON and her darned. netting in her
fingers, with an open fire before her and
dog nodding in its glow. Then, and
not till then, did they all venture to in
dulge in laugh and it dawned upon the
guest that instead of victim he had
been hero. 1t was all women's tact
and finesse of course, but those are their
weapons, the best they have, and it is
right that they shall use them.
Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1881-09-08
FRED,S LETTER,

Slowly the gray clouds gathered,
Softly the snow came down,
And like a benediction fell
A hush upon the town.
Without, the seff, white silence
Within. a curtained room,
And eager eyes outpeering
Into the deepening gloom.
Dark eyes that look and wonder
In ever new surprise,
Lips that make haste to challenge
The earth, and air, and skies!
Thanksgiving Day tomorrow
And what is that?" he said;
"Is it Christmas Day, or New Years.
Or is somebody dead?"
Listen" his mother answered:
"Thanksgiving,-Givin thanks.
And the swift glad thought swept DER him
As flood the river banks.
"Qh, now | know he cried out;
at is giving thanks to God!''
And with red cheeks growing redder,
He gave an eager nod.
at is thanking God for all things!
And l know what | would do.
If tomorrow. when the sun shines
Down from the sky so blue,
could call a holy angell-
Can you guess it mamma dears"
And she shook her head, but listened
With smiling lips to hear.
al would print little lettehee
And the angel, white and fair.
Would take it up to heaven,
Flying swiftly through the air.
l would say, Dear God, thank you
For everything, you know
But most Of all for sending us
This year our baby Joe!' i
-tYouth's Companion.
Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1881-09-08

AZ AVA PsAAsSA otAeihA ASsAS~AS ava
the night-latch key; "but 0 my, just to
think
How peoples creeds
Are contradieted by peoples deeds
l always leave the last meeting of the
philanthropical society in such de-
pressed frame of mind"
"But DR.. Di Montraville did say such
beautiful things, and he has such pleas
ant, persuasive voice." said Floy, with
her face in a glow of enthusiasm.
eyes, but when he told us Mrs. Di
MOntraville could not come because all
the children had the measles, and the
girl left this morning, 1 could not help
thinking there was call for his persua-
sive powers at home. l prefer practical
illustration in small things to gigantic
schemes of humanity"
Scattering seeds of Kindness, is
what our Katharine says when she feeds
the chickens"
"What strange voices!" she added, as
they crossed the threshold. "Who
upon earth can be in the parlor"
zone of the boys is trying to strum
the piano out of tune again." said Mrs.
Jones.
''That is not one of the boys" replied
Floy. But what it was seemed difficult
to determine.
There were indeed strange, uncertain
sounds proceeding from the treble of the
piano, accompanied by a high shrill
whistle Of Pinafore, and peculiar,
Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1881-09-08
Benson's apcine Porous Plaster.

No Remedy more Widely or Favorably
known. 1t is rapia in relieving, quick in
curing. For Lame Back, Rheumatism,
Kidney Affection, and aches and pains
generally, It ls the unrival1ed remedy.
TEACHERS onsb MANER sIsaav s5 o.l e s5S
and summer /; tor particulars address
J, G. McCURDY b CO. Philadelphla, Pa.