davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Osceola times., 1881-11-26
Our Poll.

He is really a beautiful Poll; and he
thinks so himself, for he will stand on
tre outside of his cage and say, 81 am
pretty Poll, | am pretty Poll !" over
and over again.
In The warm weather he is only al
lowed TO have meat once week, and
we always give it to him on sunday.
But one Sunday his little mistress, Nina,
vas away from home, and her aunt for
got Poll until dinner was sent down
stairs; so she said to herself, "Ncvvr
mind. will give Polly some cracker to-
day"
When the cracker was offered to him,
Poll looked at il, took 1t in his beak, and
threw it away. Then we tried to tempt
him with cake; but he turned his back
upon it, and walked sulkily out OF his
cage. Did Poll remember that Sunday
was his meat day? It seemed so, for he
would eat nothing until we gave him Il
bit of beef, though on the very next day
he was perfectly satisfied with his
cracker.
One morning, when he was first given
to Nina, he coughed terribly, SO long
and so hoarsely that we were alarmed
about him. We were standing around
his cage: looking at him and pitying
him, when, all of a sudden,be bur7t into
peal Of laughter, which he repeated
over and over again, until every one in
the house laughed with him. lie never
could worry US with his cough after
that.
Last summer his cage was hung ont Of
doors on the piazza, not far from which
our three cows were pasturcd. Every
evening the man came to call them, Civ
ing a long whistle, and saying, Come,
boss: come, boss; come, boss W
one afternoon, although it was much
too early for milking, we heard the mans
call; and the cows came hurrying aloHg
Nina went out and watched, and found
that Polly was calling the cows in a vci"e
30 like the mans, that we were all ic-
ccived by ii.
A lady was calling on Nina's mamma
lately. when Poll cried out, What w.ll
you take to drink. boys2" in a clear, loud
voice. The lady started from her seat,
saving "Oh, what was that2' Her sur
prise made us all laugh, and we took her
out on the piazza 10 see Poll.
The Osceola times., 1881-11-26
ACornfieid Protected by Rattlesnakes.

An ociogenarial of Dresden has bee n
troubled, during complaining time, by
the crows stealing the corn planted.
The usual resort TO scirecTows was a fall-
ure even, and nothing seemed to keep
them away. One day, old R ibe Davis,
the late famous rattlesnaKe man Of Lake
George, was making visit TO the Dress
denlte. The latter was telling CID Rube
Of his trouble with the crows, when the
rlttlesnake mln asked what the Dres-
deniie would give him if he would frr-
nish protection to his corr.
A SUM wrs named, which old Rube ac-
cepted and took his departure, pIom-
ising TO be on hand the next corn plants
ing time. Nothing was thought of il IN
Ill the next season when old Rube put
in an appearance.
He took from his pocket six live rat
tlesEakes which he handled with as much
freedom as if they had been kittens.
The old fellow then asLel whon corn
WAS to be planted, and being informed
that the job would be finished that
very day, he repaired to the corniield.
Then he made six little houses or dens,
covering them with fiat stones. These
dens were situated in different parts of
The coInfeld. The cawing of the crow ;
could be heard, the birds seeming TO be
on the watch for the mems departure.
Old Rube then plat ed snake IN each
little den, and uttering words to the rep
tiles, which he always sand they could
understand, the maR left the field.
They had scarcely passed through the
opening in the stump fence before the
air was filed with crows, oil bound on O
ioraeing expedition. The men watched
the result at a distance, Down went the
crows into the cornfield when the work
OF slaughter began. The snakes left the
dens and cautiously approaching the un-
suspecting birds, they were soon enabled
10 Wind their horrible folds about the
crows necks, when the work of killing
them was almost instantaneous. Some
times crow would raise few feet from
the ground, with the snake tightly bound
about ,s neck, when it would soon tum-
BILE TO the earth dead.
The work of destruction went on how
ever, and before the sun set that night
The snakes killed seyenty>three crows
We defy any body to tell a more re-
marksble snake story than this. Snake
stories are very thick nowadays, but we
are sorry TO say that most Of them are
very thin.
The Osceola times., 1881-11-26
The Baby.

The baby doas not belong 10 the ani-
nal kingdom; the animal kingdom be-
longs to him. lie is king. In fact, he
is always aching.
Some have classed him In the ycgeta
BILE kingdom. But these are dis.dotato-
tus people. Such persons are not apt to
be correct, excepting in in-i-salad.ated
cases.
However, a baby is ofteA spoken of as
"this wheat creature" which is why
they cradle him. You can't shock HIM.
He is not exactly acreature comfort.
The baby cannot speak. He is an I'M
speakable blessing.
But he can scream You see the dis
screamina,ion. His cream is what he
screams for generally.
Not always. lie sometimes screams
for the stomach ache. Cake is not good
for his stomach.
Babies have but one stomach ard two
eyes. To wise persons this is apparent.
Don't think, however, that a parent al.
ways has reason). The reason is that it
requires two eyes to do the crying that
cne stomach eneenders.
A baby cannot walk, but makes every-
body about him walk.
A baby Is sometimes called an infant,
in fanciful allusion to infantry, which
he is thought 30 resemble because he is
generally found with arms around him.
The principal business Of the baby is
cutting teeth. He inserts teeth free OF
charge.
The baby is sometimes twins. In this
case il twins sympathy for its faiher,who
often wishes the baby was farther.
The baby sticks to his neither, who
reciprocates the affection by a stick to
him.
The baby cries when he wants any
thing, but a cry tear on his eye is no
criterion, for he cries when he doesn't
want anything, just the same.
Wind i'm the stomach causes him to
cry. 1t is a spanking breeze.
The baby gets in towering passion
about . A. NJ. This is the tower OF
babe-ll.
Soothing syrup is the principal article
of the baby's diet; nut do not blame the
baby. He is made to take it syrup-titi-
ously. 1t Is not wholesome diet. He
may die yet, If you continue its use.
The baby has two legs. He is tore~
armed in the love he brings into the
world with him,
He is handy with bis feet, and per
forms great feats with hands.
His toes are on his feet; frequently,
however. he is tow-headed. also.
When teething, the baby cares very
little for food, and passes most of his
time chewing sore-gum.
When a girl baby is born, her rapa
cries, lass When boy baby, there
is lad din.
A boy baby is pue creature.
II is a siony-hearted mother who will
rock her baby. True, she builds his lite
work on rock foundation.
Sleeping cars sometimes give berth 10
babies. The sleeping-car is sort Of
step-mother.
When baby's mother sues for di-
yorce, she is a mother'in-law.
When a girl baby is born 1t sea she IS
naughty gal baby.
Bless the baby,
The Osceola times., 1881-11-26
a Sayant's Theory.

A French savant has recently publish
ed an article on the intellectual position
of woman that will not be received with
favor by the persons who believe that
woman is mentally the equal of man.
lie states that in the lowest forms Of
animal life the female is often, II not
generally, superior Of the male, but as
the scale is ascended the superiority Of
the male becomes more marked. Among
the lowest OF the human races the wo-
man is generally the equal of the man.
Such is also the case among the most
illiterate OF the higher races. Among
savage people especially those Of tropical
countries women are not regarded as
mentally inferior TO men; though they
are Acknowledged to he physically in
ferior. Among the seTis Of Russia in
telectual equality is generally acknowl-
edged between the sexes. Among the
lowest classes of miners and field labor
ers in most parts of Europe to-day, men
claim no mental superiority over women,
and observers discover none. II is only
as we ascend TO the higher races that the
mental differences between the sexes
become strongly marked, and il is only
in the highest social scale that the
differences become striking. Among
The Osceola times., 1881-11-26
FOR THE LITTLE ONES.
little wiIIie's Letter Our PolI, and What
lie Did.


When Willie's cousin George went to
New York to live, he saw great many
things which he wanted 20 tell Willie
about So he wrote a letter, and sent it
to the post-ofIice, with Willie's name nice.
ly written on the outside.
The next day, when the postman
came, he brought Georges letter TO
Willie. But the little boy did not know
how To read, and bis mamma had 10
read his letter to him. Willie then put
it in his pocket, and walked about, feel
ing very grand because he had a real
letter with a stamp on 1t, which came
through the pcst-oiiice.
But still Willie would have felt great
deal better If he colld have read the
letter himself so he asked his nam ma
10 let him 20 to school and learn 10 read.
His mamma was willing, ana the next
Monday he went. l. took good many
weeks, but at last he could read print
ed story very well.
But rs he could not read writing, he
could not yet read Georges letter. So
he said Nov will learn to write,
and tnen | can not oaly read Georges
letter, but / can write one myself
lie began with D.. aud, when he could
make ali the letters in writing, be asked
his mamma for sheet OF paper, aud
said he was going to write his cousin
George a letter.
"llow shall / begin, mamma?" said
he.
"You must first put the date on the
top line" said his mamma. "rhen
begin little further down on the left
hand side, and write, Dear Cousin
George
Willie was busy few minutes with
his pen; then he ran TO his mother, and
said, "See mamma, is that right ,"
"Oh, deat me p smd mamma, laughs
ing.
"What are you laughing at, mamma ?'
asked Willie.
"At your spelling" said mamma. "All
the words are spelled wrong"
"Do folks have to learn to spell before
they can write letters,' said Willie.
ayes indeed" sail his mother. at is
not of much use to know how TO make
the letters with a pen, if you do not
know what letters 10 make. You must
know how TO sDell all the words"
pi, hpN HluNi i't'plt hdNt ~ hlibN
before they can write q letter !" said
Willie. "Now | shall ask ny teacher 10
let me write a spelHng.lesson on my
slate every day"
So the next day Willie began to write
words on his slate, and at last he got so
that he could write letter, and spell
all the words right.
There was only one word that puzzled
him and that was "bippodrome." But
be did not want 10 ask anybody to tell
him anything he could find out himself
so he looked at handbill, and found
the word "hip-po-drome,"
Then be finished his letter and sealed
it up, put it in the letter-box, and it
went to New York; and, when Cousin
George answered it, Willie was able TO
read Georges letter without any body's
help,
The Osceola times., 1881-11-26
THE HOUSEHOLD
The Claims Of Men of Different Nations
Upon Society.

The Claims OF Men of Different Nations
Upon Society.
Whatever adversely may have over
taken him, or whatever unfortunate
habit may have fastened upon him, no
one is too old 10 take fresh start, and
again make a man Of himself To all
such as are deferred from making fur
ther efforts against fate, by the feeling
that they are too far advanced in life
We wond recommend perusal OF Sans
ue Smiles writings, as a proof OF what
will and determination can accomplish
at any AGE of life. Benz. franklin was
fifty before he fully entered upon the
study of natural philosophy. Dryden
and Scott were not known as sulhoIs
until each was in his fttieth year. DIR.
Arnold learned German at an adyanc-
ed age, for the purpose Of reading Me
buhr in the original. Handel was forty.
eitht before he published any of his
great works Alfiere was forly-sx years
old before he began the study of Greek
James Watt, when between forty and
fifty, while working at his trade of an
instrument maker, in Glasgow, learned
French, German and Italian, TO enable
him to peruse tue valuable works on
mechanical philosophy, which existed
in those languages. In his old age
Robert Hail became desirous OF accurate
ly judging the parallel drawn by Macau'
lay between Milton and Dante. He ac-
cordinely proceeded 10 learn the Italian
language.
The Osceola times., 1881-11-26
A Wonnn's Whims

The Empress Josephine had 5000
francs for her personal expenses, but
this sum was not sufficient, and her
debts increased to an appalling degree
Notwithstanding the position of her
husband, she could never submit to
either order or etiquett in her private
life. She rose at 9o'clock. Her toilet
consumed much time, and she lavished
unwaried efforts on the preservation
and establishment of her person. She
changed her linen three times a day,
and never wore a pair Of stockings that
were not new. Huge baskets were
brought to her containing different
dresses, shawls and hats. From these
she selected her costume for the day.
She possessed between three and four
hundred shawls, and always wore one
in the morning, which she draped about
her shoulders with unequalled grace.
She purchased all that were brought to
her, no matter at what price. The
evening toilet was as careful as that Of
the morning. Then she appeared with
flowers, pearls or precious stones in her
hair. The smallest reception or assem-
bly was always an occasion for her
to order new costume, in spite of the
boards Of dresses in the various palaces.
Bonaparte was irritated by these expen-
diluros. He would fly into passion,
and his wife would weep and promise to
be more prudent, after which she would
go ON in the same way. 1t is almost in
credible that this passion for dress
should never have exhausted itself.
After the divorce she arrayed herself
with the same care, even when she saw
no ene. She died covered with ribbons
and pale rose eolored satin.
The Osceola times., 1881-11-26
A Mosquito Bite,

An ethereal creature, whose shell-pnk
Indian cashmere | was admirlng on ac-
count of the grace Of its shirred drapery,
.ays Il watering-place correspondent,
stopped short in Il waltz, pursed up her
little mouth and lowered her delicate
brows in an expression Of gentle disgust,
and stood still for the estimated space of
nine seconds. Then she smoothed her
arettv face, smiled bewitchingly into
the eyes OF her partner and resumed the
dance. | surmised that something Sbout
her underskirts had come undone, and
when she stopped in the same manner
again, | looked down TO see what would
fall. Only one foot was visible be,ow
her short skirt. That was nice one, in
a sandal and q stocking of q pink to
match the dress; but where was the
other2 1t presently came down to the
floor. after giving evidence of being en-
gagged in some mysterious employment
up there ont OF sight, and of she went
to renew the waltz.
"In goodness name" asked of my
female companion, what was she do
ing?'
Scratching a mosquito bite" was the
instructive reply.
She had stopped to relieve, with the
toe of one sandal, an itchiug somewhere
near the opposite knee. saw in the
course Of further observations that
scratching mosquito bites, no matter
where they were situated was not
deemed impolite in this company, which
was OF a good average in general culture
and behavior. The most circumspect OF
the girls would dig themselves, COW
fashion, against the corner of doorway.
How could they hclp III
The Osceola times., 1881-11-26
Fighting witches in Prussia.

The London Telegraph says: Prussia
is no doubt highly>ciyiiized country,
but her northern and northwestern re-
eions do not appear to be Just now the
most desirable places of residence for
persons of the Jewish race or old women
lf retiring habits and prepossessing ap-
pClrsucg. To torture tt repnted witch is
seemingly, n pursuit almost as csngenial
TO the agricultural Borussian a. is the
persecution Of Jews to the Pomoranan
operative. The latest achievement in
the former line is reported from S'ran-
cenwad in the columns Of the Daazicer
Ieiiung. A potato hawker, returning
from the Danzig market to her village
with lame horse, was driving past the
cottage Of an aged female, believed
throughout the country to be in league
with the powers Of darkness, when the
tired animal came to dead halt, and
declined to proceed any farther. This
not unnatural result of fatigue and lame
ness was forthwith ascribed TO q spell,
cast upon the horse be the venerable
dame inhabiting the cottage; and at a
late hour of the same evening the indig-
nant potatoe- hswker's husband and
mother-in>law proceeded to haul the
sorccress out Of her bed and .nfict the
most barbarous tormeuts upon her with
view toward compelling her to exer-
else the demon of which she had obvi-
ously caused the horse to be possessed.
They hacked her fingers with knives,
sicked her, trod upon her face, and beat
her most unmercifuly. Her screams
aroused the noighborhood, and between
forty aud fifty peasants were soon assem-
bled in lie poor old womsn's dwelling.
where they gave all imaginable encour-
a2ement to her cruel tormentors. One
burly bumkin volunteered to fetch n
razor wherewith to sever the arteries OF
her wrists. Another produced rope
and was adjusting clumsily-tied moose
round her neck, with the avowed iuten
ton Of hanging her, when she was res
cued from his clutches by the district
physician from Carthaus, who happened
10 be visiting a patient in Strangenwslde
and was attracted 10 the scene of the
outrage by tbs shreks off the victim.
The Osceola times., 1881-11-26
A Modest Request.
Detroit Free Press


Darling, wake up and stop sn orinr,'
said Detroit woman TO her husband.
"Eh? Whazn matter now2' he asked
as he half raised up in bed.
won't YOU please stop snoring? If
you only knew how homesick it made
I'm sure YOU would"
"Humesickl How the deuce can my
innocent snorc make you homesick?"
"Why, you know, darling, that the
home on the coast from which you took
me joyous bride, was only half mile
from a government fog horn, and every
time YOU snore it reminds me so Of home
that Just can't stand it. Please lay on
your tide and have some little respect
for my feelings"
And then the brute spread himself out
on bis back and in five minutes had her
bathed in tears as visions OF the old
home crept upon her.
The Osceola times., 1881-11-26

and every fair day she seats herself on
the grass beneath my window, and we
play keep house," she makes be
iieve" she is my little girl come to visit
me: | make believe" she is, but it's a
sad play for me.
To-day she has been telling me that
Pinkey (her doll is very sick-teeth
bother her-but it's September now;
when it gets to be Octember Mary
Pinkey will be well again, and then ]
must come down and swing, and that
will be, oh, so nice. promise TO be
there; che laughs, thinking | am max
ing believe We both laugh, there is
music in her laughter-a tear in mine,
but, when it is erected, will be there
and swing. EDWARD EARL.
The Osceola times., 1881-11-26

TnE rapidity with which weeds multi
ply is marvellous. A single plant of
Purslane viii when fully grown, mature
nearly million seeds; the roadside
Millein, 600, 900; the Oxeye Daisy, 1880;
the Canada Thistle, about 10000; the
Mayweed, $4,000, and the Burdock, 26,-
600. In view Of these facts we should
let no noxious weed escape. This should
be the war cry, especially during the
months Of July and August Plow them
mp, dig them up, or cut them down. Not
one should mature its seeds. Let us
ever keep up the fight, remembering
that eternal vigilance is not only the
price Of liberty" but the price Of clean
land also.
The Osceola times., 1881-11-26
An Anectinr MeetIne.

The way Mr.. Hayes and Hon. john
sherman met the gentleman, now prcsis
dent of the United States, whom, with
every circumstance Of ignominy, they
turned out Of the New York custom
house. is thus described bya correspond.
cut. "Neariy all those assembled mad
taken the presidential hand, when ex-
President Hayes. evidently laboring
under some embarrassment, advanced
with hand extended. President Arthur
took it. The shake seemed to be cold,
even if it was not. When the ex-presi'
dent was making the salutation, Senator
Sherman was gazing intently upon the
scene. For the instant he was study.
What would he do? A moment, though,
settled it. lie advanced with a cat-like
tread, extended his hand, received a
shake and passed away That was all.
The Osceola times., 1881-11-26

young children there is little difference
between the mental ability of the two
sexes. Most teachers state that during
the age that children are in the primary
grades III public schools the girls are
intellectually superior to the boys.
After that time, however, the difference
in favor Of the boys is more apparent
every wear.
The Osceola times., 1881-11-26
Paper Blankets.

BY recent invention the domain in
which paper plays its part in the general
economy of things has been materially
widened. To a Manchester firm of the
name of Henry 4 Leigh Slater, says the
British Trade Journal, belongs the credit
of utilizing paper in this especially serv-
iceable direction, At once cheap. clean
ly, warm, light and easily manipulated,
paper seems expressly designed for the
purpose for which it is now for the first
time successfully applied. OF late years
various attempts have been made to turn
it TO account in the manner described
but, owing to the cracking nature of the
paper and the impossibility of securing
free ventilation beneath paper coverings
the idea was abandoned again and
again. In the production of the "Char
taline" blankets, as the new invention
is called, these defects have been over.
come IN most satisfactory manner
Ventilation is obtained as full, free and
perfect as takes place beneath an ordi-
nary woolen blanket. The new bed
covering is made of two sheets of paper
between which n layer Of waddinc,
chemically prepared, is inserted in such
a way that it cannot gather together ia
Jumps. The edges are strongly whipped
so that there is no possibility OF a sepa.
ration of the two pieces taking place.
The paper is manufactured from the
strongest fibre known, which, being
softened by a special process, is free
from the Objectionable cracking and
rustling sound that, as a rule, accompa.
nies the manipulation of paper. Ii is
true there IS slight crisp feeling when
new, but this soon wears off and the
coveriet becomes soft and limp. At the
same time the strength Of the "Charta.
line" blanket is much greater than might
be imagined, having regard To the mate
rial from which i is manufactured. A,
fsy e lcels 50, the new blanket has i'm
The Osceola times., 1881-11-26

appearance Of wooden one, while
the warmth it affords exceeds that pos
sessed by its predecessor when the size
and weight Of the two are brought into
comparison. The trfling cost at which
these serviceable articles may be OBJ
tanned constitutes however, when all is
told, the chief advantage Of the inyen-
tiop
The Osceola times., 1881-11-26

A COMMISSION is now visiting in Paris
81 take evidence regarding the best
modes of enlarging the national library.
The increase in the number of visitors
and the constant additions to the colec-
ton are embarrassing, and some anxiety
about the possibility of fire seems to be
felt. Il is probable that five lofty
houses; closely adjoining, will he pulled
down TO afford new space and isolate the
library.
The Osceola times., 1881-11-26
One of the saddest Letters Ever Written
Utica Observer.


A child Of Mrs. Courtney, who keeps
house in the Jail, interested Edward
Earl, the condemned wife murder, and
inspired him TO write the following a
day or two before his execution:
"As sit at my window and look ont
on the beautiful earth, things seemed
changed diflerent from what they We're
a month ago; the people seem more
kind; the sky looks more beautiful and
blue; the sun shines brighter; every
mouihfnl of fresh air tastes sweeter, aud
is breathed with thankfulness | never
felt before. Mott Is not that have
changed; those leaves, month ago,
were green. Now they are falling TO the
earth, and know that before the last
one drops, /, too, will fall and lie lower
than they.
That little year-old playing opposite
my window il changed-a month ago
she would not speak 10 me; now she is
using all her little arts to attract my at
tention, and will cry when we are sepa.
rated. She lives In Che heu:s @!tk sze,