davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-05-26
Tommy and the Snake.

Did you ever see O squirrels nest.
built in high tree? A large rough nest.
made Of sticks and leaves, with shells of
nuts and acorns, and all sorts of things
inside that have been bitten through by
little sharp teeth.
There was one of these nests in q tall
pine on the creek side, near log cabin.
where little black boy lived. He had
watched the squirrels q long time, and
wanted to take out the little ones when
they were big enough for him to raise
them. Little Tommy was always hunt
ing for nests OF birds or squirrels, or any
other nests he could find.
He never wore any shoes or hat, and
his clothes were very ragged, but he
could climb any tree, clinging on with
hands and knees.
One day Alfred, white boy, showed
him silver quarter.
.I will give you this, )" he said, ''if you
will bring me live squirrel for pet"
'Yes, I WILL" said Tommy. 'T know
n nest up de pine tree ON do creek side.
will take de old one out by de neck,
and bring you q young quirl."
Tommy could not say squirrel" and
20 he called it "quirl," and he did not
talk as little boys and girls ought to talk.
He said "de" instead of "the," and q
great many other wrong words.
He climbed up the tall, straight tree.
When he reached the branch where the
nest was, he swung himself. mp, and
leaned over TO see whether the old
squirrel was there. He knew how the
sharp teeth could bite. Though his
hands were hard and rough, he would
not put them into the nest without look
ing. What do you think his eager black
eyes saw, instead of the soft young
squirrels? -
A long black snake raised it's head and
glided out Of the nest. Tommy did NOT
wait TO look again, but slid down the
tree so fast that he nearly fell to the
ground. He was so frightened that he
lay quite still for several minutes.
When he looked up he saw that the
snake had only stretched itself out on
the branch, and did not want to move
either. Tommy ran away as fast as he
could, and told his father what he had
seen. I am afraid Alfred will never get
his pet squirrel, for Tommy says he will
not climb another tree to look for one.
He did not know before that snakes
swallow squirrels when they can fine
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-05-26
The Ear.

The internal ear is an exceedingly del
icate and complicated organ, and is
therefore specially susceptible to dis
turbing influences. Hence earaches;
assesses of the ear; thickening of the
drum, rendering one hard of hearing;
bursting of the drum, causing deafness;
and gatherings within the ear of solid
plugs of wax. The close connection of
the ear with the brain very often results
in an extension Of an Inflammation from
the former to the latter.
Ear troubles begin early. The child
is inclined to put small things into it
such as beans, coffee-kernels, pebbles,
etc. These, if they have been unno-
ticed, irritate and infla1ne, and may be-
come sources of most serious mischief.
Older persons are hardly wiser who pick
their ears with pins.
The ear-wax should be let alone-ex-
cept in cases when removed by an expert
physician. It is needed where it is, to
prevent the ingress of small insects and
dust. 1t commonly takes care of itself.
The bather too often does himself Sc
rious mischief by allowing water to enter
the ear. Thousands of bad cases occur
yearly from this cause. The trouble is
increased if the water is salt, as it's alb
sorption leaves hard, irritating crystals
behind. One should never dive; and the
onset of the surf should always be re-
ceived at the back.
In winter, the steady blowing of a
strong current Of air upon the ear is
dangerous. The cold air penetrates to
the blood-warm interior, congesting and
inhaming it. It is not always easy to
avoid such current, and it would be
well, when likely to be exposed, to wear
in the external ear pledget of cotton.
A little care may save from excruciating
pain and permanent harm. - Youths
Companion.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-05-26
FOREIGNERS in America.

The proportion of foreign-born citi-
zens in this country is not SO great as is
commonly supposed. In 1880, the
whole number was only 6,677, 1850, out
of population of more than so, 900, 900.
This is about 49, per cent. Out Of
every 1000 persons, therefore, in the
United States about 133 are not ma
tives.
The proportion differs very widely in
different States. In California more
than one-third of the people are foreign
born, the number being 292, $50 out of a
population of 1854, ,6S6. In North Caro-
lima, which has population of 1, ,400,-
600, there are but 3,679 foreigners. In
fact, there are not twice as many for
eigners in the whole South as there are
In the State of California.
The largest colonies of foreigners are
in the East. This seems surprising in
view of the fact of the enormous emigra-
ton of Germans, Swedes, Irish and ma
Out of the six and two thirds millions of
immigrants, New England has more than
800, 900; New York, 1900, 900; Pennsyl-
vania nearly 600, 900; and New Jersey,
100000. These States, therefore, have
ABOUT 4A per cent. OF the enIlre foreign
population of the country.
1t is a matter of congratulation that
the foreign-born population is, and must
henceforth be, decreasing proportion
of the whole citizenship of the country.
No probable amount of immigration can
make the proportion grow larger.
Assuming that the six and two-thirds
millions Of foreigners settled in this
country are of average age, the number
of deaths from natural causes among
them will be about 200, 900 a year. Twc
hundred thousand immigrants, there.
fore, must arrive and settle in the United
States every year simply to keep the
present number of resident foreigners
good.
The natural increase of $4,000, ,OO(
people is not less than 1850, 900 year,
and, in order to keep the present pro.
portion of foreign settlers good, there
must be an additional immigration ot
about 10000 more. This being the
case, the arrival of immigrants mus
average ], 900 day throughout the year
and every year, to maintain the proper
ton of 13t per cent. of foreign-born citi
zens.-Yo1tRs Companion.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-05-26
Poet.Laureates OF England.

The custom of crowning poet with
laurel originated among the Greeks, and
was adopted by the Romans, who bor-
rowed this, as many other things, from
their more cultured neighbors of the
East. The poets who received the crown
were the ones who succeeded in the con-
tests. In the twelfth century the GUS
tom was revived in Germany by the EN-
peror, who invented the title of poet
laureate. Petrarch was crowned In 134l
ut the Roman capital, which event at
tached new interest to the title. The
early history of the laureateship in Eng
land is traditional. The story runs that
Edward III, in 1867, emulating the
coronation of Petrarch, granted the office
to Chaucer, with yearly pension of 100
marks and a tierce Of Malvoisie wine.
Ben, rare old Ben Jonson, mentions Henry
Scogan as the laureate of Henry Nv.
John Kav, or G. n, was court-poet under
Edward ", and Andrew Bernard held
the same Office under Henry VII and
Henry VIII. John Shelton received
from OxfGrd, and subsequently from
Cambridge, the title of poet-laureate;
and Spenser is spoken of as the laureate
of Queen Elizabeth, because of his hav-
ing received a pension Of e1O year
when he presented her the first books OF
the "Faerie Queen" In 1919 tho
"order' was formally established by
James I, who granted Ben Jonson, by
patent. an annuity for life of 100 marks,
and thus secured his services. In 1880
the laureateship was made patent
Office in the gift of the Lord Chamberlain.
The salary was increased from 100
marks to f1O0, and tierce of Canary
wine was added, which was commuted in
Southey's time for EFT year. There
was from that period a regular succession
of laureates. The performance OF the
annual odes was suspended after the
final arrangement of George Ill in lS1O.
The poet-laureate from the time of
Southey has written what he chose and
and when he chose. Wordsworth wrote
nothing in return for the distinction, and
Tennyson has written very little. The
following is the list of the laureates from
,Jonson's day To date.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-05-26
Down With the Children!

In the ewes of certain old gentlemen,
who evidently were born into the world
in grown-up condition, playing child
is nuisance fit only for abolition To
them a park is consecrated to the
monotony of perpetual silence. The walks
are either to be trodden by the feet of
adults or else to be let alone. Shrub
and tree and bush and fern are to be
contemplated from a distance and by
people who comprehend the full import
of the terrifying legend, '.Hands off"
Children, if they view the works of
nature or art grouped in a green en-
closure, are to be tied fast to high chairs
and seated at windows whence they may
survey the prohibited territory without
stepping upon it. The world was made
for old folks who never picked a flower,
pulled q leaf or twisted a twig or made
misstep or put anything out of place or
did that which they ought not to have
done, Staid and correct in their de-
meanor and exact In their purposes these
adults may pursue their undertaking way
through life, regretting that all the roads
are not laid out at right angles and that
all the footways are not paved with brick
or concrete or hag-stones.'
The child should not play marbles, for
one of the spherical instruments Of
amusement may chance to lie In the way
of the iuiceless adult who disbeieves in
children. No kites must be sent up If
air, lest dried-out old gentlemen trip on
the hte-strings. No velocipedes may
speed along the park walks, for some old
person who never bestrode one may be
alarmed at the possibilities of the flying
they must be taken out two by two in
charge of nurse. They must be made
to walk along in a comely manner, turn
ing neither to the right nor the left.
When they see anything particularly
not cry "Hi, hi!'' but must pucker up
their little mouths and gently whisper
"Oh, my!''
1t is maintained by the ignorant per-
sons who are idiotic enough to believe
that little boys and girls have rights, that
childhood needs sport. This is held by
some of the grave old gentlemen to be a
fundamental error. They themselves
have got along through a heightened and
dreary experience without day of holi-
day or afternoon of play. They are one
with that old person of whom it is
recorded that when he saw a young
knitten merrily playing with its tail he
procured hatchet and chopped the tail
off, thus stopping the animals fun.
There is one method of sport frequent
ly resorted to by young persons when all
others are cut off. That is the making
of grimaces. Most of our young people
are adopts at it. They can stand at win
dows on opposite sides of the street and
makes faces at each other all the after
noon. This does not hurt the parks
There are many children in this city
to-day who would like to make ugly faces
at the grim old gentlemen who woult
forbid their sport. Let these children
be unrestrained in any distortions o
countenance it may be their pleasure t.
! make. Philadelphia Times.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-05-26
The SonthArn Xnldfar.

In the winter of 1868 the First regi-
ment of Virginia Artillery was IN winter
quarters at Frederick Hall, Va. The
Second company of Richmond Howitz-
ers was camping ON the grounds of DIR.
Pendleton. Here an incident occurred
which illustrates how little regard the
volunteer had for army regulations.
Lieut.. c., of the Salem Artillery, was
graduate of the Virginia Military Insti-
tute at Lexington. He made himself
quite obnoxious to the boys by his
strict military discipline, whether in the
field or camp, or in the winter quarters.
1t was his great delight to be officer of
the day, on which occasion he would do
all he could to impress the men with
the idea that he was au faat in army
regulations.
One night he rode up to the place
where the Second Howitzers were
parked and yelled oat in a very loud
voice,
"Where is the sentinel on this post p
The sentinel was sitting on ruptured
bag of corn, engaged in parching q
quantity of the grain, more for the pur-
pose of passing the time away (of course)
than with any intention Of satiating his
appetite (for all good soldiers will re-
member that an appetite was an imple-
ment not marked down In the catalogue
of q Confederate soldiers accouter-
ments), and he replied;
cit amt post it's sack of corn"
"Where's your corporal 2"
"Sleep, reckon"
"Why don't you walk your post p.
"Didn't tell you 'twa mt post ?"
"Who's corporal of this guard ?"
"Billy Mccarthy, Second Howitzers !;
sleeps in second cabin at head of line on
left side" replied the sentry, all during
the conversation keeping his eye on his
| frying pan, which he continued to shake
to keep his corn from burning.
"Young man," said Lieut. c., "you
don't seem to know the first duty of a
soldier. Hew long have you been in
the army?" ...
Three years, one month, ten days and
eighteen hours, when the relief comes
round. I always keep it to the notch, !"
replied the sentry, singing few snatch
es from the popular song of those days:
| "when the cruel war is over"
"Why did ounot rise, salute me and
walk your beat when l came up?
shall report you to headquarters in the
morning for neglect Of duty"
Saying which the Lieutenant departed
and soon disappeared in the darkness.
After giving him sufficient time to get
off some distance, the sentinel mounted
the pile Of corn and yelled out:
"Hello there, mister !"
"What'n you have ?" was the reply.
"Who are you, anyhow"
The Lieutenant answered: "I am
Lieut., c.. officer of the day."
"Oh! shucks," replied the sentry
"blame my hide if 1 didn't think you
was Gen. Lee"
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-05-26
A Lesson in Debt Paving.

A pretty good thing on debt paying
was got off by minstrel company in
this city recently. One dollar is made to
pay a debt of six dollars, by the follow
ing manner: End man No. 1 owes the
middle man So, but says he can pay him
but 81, and crossing the stage hands him
dollar. The middle man owes end
man No. q 80, but as the dollar he has
Just received from end man No. l is all
that he has, he hands that to him. End
man No. 2 owes end man No l So, and
hands the dollar he has just received to
him and pays the half he owes. Three
dollars in debts have been paid, and end
man No. has his dollar back. Then,
as he owes the dollar to the middle man,
he passes it over, and the middle man in
turn pays his dues to end man No. 2,
who in turn squares himself by passing
it back to end man No. l. Thus debt
aggregating $6 is paid off by 81, and the
first man has his money back. There is
a good lesson in this Charlottesville
Journal.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-05-26
H0HEysUcxIE NALL.

Little Pattie was eight years old She
lived in the Sunny South" Her father
was a planter, as all great farmers are
called South. He lived in o village
where there were great many good and
kind people.
A poor man who lived near Patty lost
his life on the railroad. He had three
little children. Patty used to play with
Mary, the oldest child Mary's mamma
was not strong, and could not earn
money enough to feed and clothe her
little ones. IVY
One day Patty found her little friend,
Mary, crying. Mary was hungry. She
had had no breakfast or dinner. Her
mother was sick abed- Patty cried, too,
when Mary told her what the matter
was.
But she did something more than cry.
She went home and told her mother
about il. Then she carried ever so much
food to the poor woman and her hungry
children.
Patty wanted TO do still more. She
called together five Of her little friends
to help her. 1t was in the early spring,
and the wood were full Of honeysuckle
all in blossom.
Patty's two big brothers helped her.
Before night they had covered the in
side of an old shop, near the house, with
honeysuckle vines and blossoms. They
borrowed pictures and other pretty
things TO put in the shop.
But the honeysuckle was the prettiest
thing there, except Patty; and they
called the shop "Honeysuckle Hall.
Then the little ones asked the good peo-
pie TO come and see it. They charged
five cents to go in; and before night
nearly all the people in the village had
been into Honeysuckle Hall.
Ole Of the big brothers stood at the
door and took the money. The six girls
"did the honors" inside the hall. Most
of the people who went in wanted to
give more than five cents. Many of
them put dollar into Patty's little hand.
At night they had taken over fifty dol
lars. Every cent of it was given to
Mary's poor mother.
Patty was happy all day long. Her
great black eyes seemed to speak hel
pleasure. Her face was all a smile. Al
she stood by window, with honeysuckle
in her hands and all around her, Mr..
Moser made picture of her.
Do you want to know why she looked
SO happy? 1t is because she was doing
good deed. The poor woman and hei
three little ones were hungry no more.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-05-26
THE MARKETS.

CINCINNATI.-F FLOUR r. Fancy, IS 4o@s 90;
TS sRs s. g5ss Ss e sRIng fa% g ,ss s.
tanean, 81 1s@l "A. Corn-No. ; mixed, 475sci
NS NSiie wass eoFn % R1sSo
81 25@l g. Barley-.-Extra No. s: 81 0s; spring
barley, 92@93c. for No. 8; Hay-Prime to choice
EOO@11i; double-dressed, 991oc per lb. Hogs
Choice light and medium weights, SIS 5o@6 90. Ma
pie syrup, in small kegs, sogs5e per gallon. Pro-
rRY-Chickens, 50 5o@s IS; turkeys, 7c. per h.;
spring chickens, SO oo@3. 70 per doz VEGETABLES
AND prime to choice 10 IN - -
90 per bri PoiatoesrPeachbiows, 6ogs5c per
bush .. New potatoes g oog7 90 per bri g green
bush. Cabbage, 81 OO@5 90 per cIate. Tomatoes
Bermuda, oc.@s1 90 per peck crate; cucunbers,
50@S0 per doz.
quoted at 10c. Flour-Extra, S3 00@3 %; extra
family, So 1894 25; A No. !, IS oOa5 Is; choice
sns a 's S. G. rss 51c and NO.
mixed, 471zc Oats-No. 2 white, 4111ac.; No 2
mixed 4oAe Rye,No.2, 81 Is; HayaIs in fair
Mess pork-Is steady and quoted at SIT so. Bulk
Meats-Shoulders, 55sc. clear rib sides, s1ac; clear
sides SOC s Bacon Is strong shoulders S7oc
Sugar-cured hams are quoted at 10s4@1114c.
Whisky-Is steady and quoted at 81 04. Live Hogs
Are steady and prices range from $6 10 to IS so.
NEW YoRK.-Co Cotton-Middling uplands, 1ossc. !;
middling Orleans 107sc Flour-Good to choice
Western and State, s. 00@6 IS; Ohio extra family,
81 75@6 rs. Grain - Wheat = Ungraded spring,
81 13@1 II; ungraded winter red, 81 15@l 275z;
No winter red, 81 24(s1 26; No. / winter red,
81 2s24@1 80; ungraded white, 81 161z@l %; No.
white, 81 22(91 2212. Corn-Ungraded, 50a5SIc. |;
No 2, 579571ac; No, white, 6lHg6214c. Oats
Western mixed, 43(a45c. white 46a53c. Groceries
.Gofee.Rio, in cargoes, quoted at s1a@ilHc; ;
7 7-16@7ssc. Mess Pork-Old, SIC 90; new, SIG 7b.
Lard-Prime steam, 11.O5@11.071ac.
BALTIMORE.-Flour-W Western family, IS 500
6 50. Wheat-No. winter red, 81 25a4@l 257s.
Com Western mixed, 69la959t4c. Oats : White
Western, 5l@52c.; mixed, 6oa5lc. Rye, 81 lag
Ole, SIT so; new, SIS %.
INDIANAPOLIS.-Whea red, 81 091a(9
TO- Corn, 449441ac Oats-New white, 3s@40c.
LIVE STOCK.
CINCINNATI.-CATTLE-C 81 1903 T5;
fair to medium 81 50@4 75 good to choice butchers
grades IS O095 IS; common to fair shippers, SIS 00@
40; common to fair oxen, 50 6044 20; feeding
grades, s5 5o95 30; fair to good light, 85 66@6 00
stock hogs 81 50ag5 80. SHEEP-Common to fail
clipped, - 50@3 80; good to choice, 81 00@6 90;
fair to good wool sheep, 81 O0@5 so. Spring lambs
S. 50@7 80 per 100 lbs. gross.
1012@i111c. per 10. Dressed beef. 7l1oslac Sheer
kentucky and Virginia spring lambs, 50 00@9 50
per head; fair 10 choice clipped Ohio Sheep IS STAG
IS 20 per 100 lbs, live weight; choice clipped year
! lings, " rs. Hogs-Lye, s5@6 15 per 100 lbs
| City dressed, 81 769S 10 per 100 lbs.
| INDIANAPOLIS.-Hogs Best shippers, SIS 75a
| 10 per 100 lbs. Cattle-The market Ia steady and
| drm common to prime shippers, 81 50g6 30: butch
ers' SO 0095 25; stockers and feeders, 81 6094 75
EAST LIBERTY, PA.-Hogs - Philadelphias
sc 30a6 40 per 100 lbs; Workers, SIS 90@6 10
shsep-Clipped sheep, u 6o05 80 per 100 lbs.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-05-26
REACUED FROM DEATH,

William ]. Coughlin, OF SomervIIe, Mass, says I'm
the fall 1876 taken with bleedings of the lungs,
followed by a severe cough. lost my appetite and
flesh, and confined to my bed. In 1877 was ad-
mitted to the hospital The doctors said had hole in
my lung as big half dollar. At time report
went around that dead. gave up hope, but a
friend told me of DR.. WILLIAM HALLS BALsAM
LUNGS. got a bottle, when, to my surprise, COM
menced feel better, and to-day feel better than for
three years past. write this hoping afflicted
with diseased lungs will take Dr. WILLIAM HALL's BAL
sAM and be convinced that CONSUMPTION CURED.
can positively say il has done good than all tn
other medicines have taken since my sckness.'
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-05-26
Frugal Fare.

The Puritan farmers were remarkably
frugal in their diet. They had pease-
porridge for breakfast bread, cheese
and beer or cider forluncheon a "boiled
dish" or "black BROTH" or salt fish, or
boiled pork, or baked beans for dinner !;
hasty pudding and milk for supper, and
a constant succession of fruit or berry
pies at every meal when the housewife
had time to make them in addition to
her other cooking, her dairy, washing,
mending, carding, spinning, weaving
and knitting. Swedish turnips were the
staple vegetables. The bread was gen.
orally made Of corn, barley or rye meal
and, if the diet was rather farinaceous
than animal, there was less demand for
medicine, and a larger, longer growth
of men and women than in these de-
generate days Of luxury and progress. "
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-05-26
OUR YOUNG FOLKS.
A FACE.


"Coms hithsE, you madcap darlingi"
I said 10 my fonr-yeu-old-
"Przy what shall be done to the bad, bad girl
Who viii not do N she's told?
loo well you love your own wee way,
While little you love to mind
But mamma knows what 10 bcst for you;
Aud isn't she always kind 2"
So told hsr Of "Cisabianca,"
And the fearful burning ship.
" Do you think," said ], 81 such child ~ that
His mother would have TO whipf"
And my heart went out with the story sad
OF this boy 20 nobly brave,
Who would not dare 10 disobey,
Even his life to save
Then her eyes grsw bright as the morning,
And they seemed 70 look me through.
"Ah7 ah" thought ], you understand
The lesson I have In view"
"Now, what do you think OF this lad my lovef
Tell all that IL In your heart"
"I think" she said, he was dredul good,
But he wasn't the least bit smart"
-Yorfh's Comp1nfon.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-05-26

In very full report recently published
in the Philadelphia Ledger, reference is
made to the case of Mr.. George I. Gra-
ham, a prominent politician and active
journalist, CONNECTED with the Philadel-
phia Sunday Mirror, who, by using the
great German remedy, st. Jacobs Oil,
was cured of a troublesome case of
Rheumatism, contracted during the war.
He closes his statement with-t'to those
who are afflicted with that complaint, it
is worth its weight in gold. ."-St. Louis
Globe Democrat,
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-05-26

"LEoNoRA sends us a poem, begin
ming: 81 ask but one small share in
that great heart of thine" You had
better emigrate to Utah, Leonora, where
they keep such material in job lots.
We do strictly wholesale business.-
Quiucu Modern ArQO.