davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1881-09-15

was in each case Immediately paid
in spite of the adyices, entreaties
and reproaches of Miss Parnell.
Her interference caused so much de-
lay and excitement that at lengh
she was "put away from the door
Of one Michael Haggety, whom she
was exhorting to hold out and keep
the rent. Upon this she at once
wrote and handed to Mr.. Eaton,
the magistrate commanding the ex-
pedition, a protest in which she said
she was commissioned by ''socie-
ty" to attend ain the interest of the
eyictcd tenants and demanded lib
erty to do So" Mr. Eaton answered
that he would not allow Her Males
try's writ to be obstructed. This
episode over the column resumed its
march npon the house of one Will
liam Roche. Let the local reporter
speak; at was amusing to see the
race that was made between the
Sheriff, the police and Miss Parnell
to see who would reach Mr.. Roche's
house first. Miss Parnell skipped
over the long grass, the bitches and
even forded a small stream, but was
beaten by few yards, and when
she arrived she was put out by a
policeman. 1t was further record
cd that she 'journeyed across fields
and bitches, and ran and walked
and jumped for nearly apur hours"
That race between the Irish Annie
and the sub-sherif must have been
almost as well worth seeing as the
classic "sprint" between the Area
dian Atalanta and Melanion.
The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1881-09-15
The 9iresih,
A Good Mothers Plan.

A lady gave us a rule not Ions
since, by which she had succeeded
in interesting her lively, fun-lovins
boys, so that they preferred to re
main at home evenings, instead o
seeking amusement elsewhere. She
said:
II remember that children are
children, and must have amuse-
ments. / fear that the adherence
with which some good parents re-
gard any play for children, is the
reason why children go away for
pleasure. Husband and | used to
read history, and at the end of each
chapter ask some questions, requir-
ing the answer to be looked up if
not given correctly. We follow a
a similar plan with the children ;
sometimes we play one game and
sometimes another, always planning
with books, stories, plays, or treats
of some kind, to make the evenings
at home more attractive than they
can be made abroad. | should dis
like to think that any one could
make my children happier than |
can, so | always try to be at leisure
in the evening, and to arrange some
thing entertaining.
"When there is a good concert,
lecture, or entertainment, we all go
together to enjoy it; for whatever is
worth the price of admission to old
er people is equally valuable to the
children; and we let them see that
we spare no expense, where it is to
their advantage to be out of an
evening,
But the greater number of our
evenings are spent quietly at home.
Sometimes it requires quite an effort
to sit quietly, talking and playing
with them, when my work basket is
filled with unfinished work, and
books and papers lie unread on the
table; but as the years go by, and !
see my boys and girls growing into
home loving, modest young men and
maldens, am glad that l made it
my rule to give the best of myself
to my family"
The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1881-09-15
Diving Nations.

Why do nations die? Cultivated
Greece, and alI-conquering Rome:
Vandal, and Goth, and Hun, and
Moor, and Pole, and Turk, all dead
or dying. Why? Murdered by ma
tions more powerful? Swallowed by
earthquakes? Swept away by pes
thence or plague, or starved by
pitiless famine? Not by any OF
these Not by the lightning and
thunder; not by the tempest and
storm; not by the poisoned air, ol
volcanic fires did they die! They
perished by moral degradation, the
legitimate result of gluttony, intem
perance and etieminacy.
When nation becomes rich, ther
there is leisure and the means Of
indulgence in the appetites and
passions of our nature, which veal
the body and wreck the mind. AS
with nations so with families.
Wealth takes away the wholesome
stimulus of effort, idleness opens
the flood d-gates of passionate indul
gence, and the heir of millions dies
heirless and poor. and both name
and memory ingloriously rot.
If, then, there is any truth and
force in argument, each man owes
it to himself, to his country, and,
more than all, to his Maker, to live
a life of temperance, industry and
self-denial as to every animal graft
tication; and with these having an
eye to the glory of God, this nation
of ours will live with increasing
prosperity and renown until, with
one foot on land and another on the
sea, the angel of eternity proclaims
time no longer.
The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1881-09-15
Southern ProSpectS.

Capitalists, it appears, begin to
understand what a big bonanza the
South is, and are spending some OF
their odd millions in making it ac-
cessible by lines of railroads. The
South with its population of more
than twenty millions, looks to the
eye Of Il traveller like q thlnly set
tied wilderness. 1t has fertile sol
enough to support the population OF
North America, and sends besides 8
few barrels of -four to exc out q bad
harvest in Europe. The excellence
of the climate is proved by the
magnificent men that are reared
there, and the remarkable average
of longevity enjoyed by families oI
virtuous habits. Whisky and to-
bacco will destroy men at the South
as well as at the North; and proba-
bly, the warmth of the climate rem
ders those poisons more rapidly de
structive at the South than in more
temperate climates. But there are
no finer specimens of our race to be
found in the world than in portions
of the South where the people are
generally temperate and moral. Ac-
customed to the saddle and gun
from boyhood, many of them at
tain a blended vigor and grace o1
manhood that are nowhere excelled
For the Southern States the long
night of adversely, we believe has
passed. The dawn of better anc
brighter day than they have evel
known has come.-N. Y. Ledger.
The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1881-09-15
Pleasure for a chlld

Douglas Jerrold wrote thus pleasants
" of child life: Blessed be the hand
that prepares a pleasure for child, for
there is no sewing when and where ID
may again bloom forth. Does not al
most everybody remember some kind
hearted man who showed him a kinds
ness in the days of childhoodf The wri>
ter of this recollects himself, ct this
moment, as bare>footed lad, standing
at the wooden fence OF poor little gar
den in his native village, where. with
longing eyes, he gazed on the flowers
which we're blooming there quietly in
'he brightness of Sunday morning.
The possessor came forth from his lit-
lie cottage He was woodcutter by
trade. end spent the whole day at work
in the woods. H- had come into the
Garden to gather flowers to stick In his
roat when he went to church.. He saw
.he hov. and bresking offtbe most bear,r
tifnl of his carpation. which was streak
al with red and white, he gave it TO
him. Neither the giver or receiver said
. word, and with bounding steps the
hoy ran home. And now. here at 9
Hstance from that home, after so many
vents of 80 many years, the feeling OF
gratitude which agitated the breast OF
that boy expresses itself on paper. The
rarnation has since withered, but nov
t blooms afresh.
The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1881-09-15
Fish for Farmers.

During the last four years there
has been much interest taken in
the cultivation of fish as an article
of food. Through the labors of the
National and State Commissioners
much light has been thrown on the
subject of their cultivation. Among
other things it has been demonstra-
ted that at a very slight expense
the farmers may have at hand con-
stantly a fresh supply of meat food
that will in some degree take the
place of animal food. Prof. Baird,
United States Fish Commissioner,
declares the carp to be, of all others,
the best adapted to the want of
farmers and calls it the farmers 5
fish" While trout and bass require
not onl y very pure but cool water,
and an abundance of it, and most of
the inferior varieties Of fish require
water at least moderately cool, clear
and abundant the carp is in its
element in watc: moderately
warm and requires but little of it.
1t prefers, the Professor says, pond
whose bottom and banks are com
posed Of mud. the mud atfordi1g it
q shelter in cold weather, and pro-
ducing plants which it relishes as
food. The carp is not a dainty
feeder. 1t will eat anything that pigs
and fowls relish, and will devour
insects, small reptiles, and meats Of
all kinds. 1t also eats all kinds Of
green vegetable, fruits and garbage
1t can be fattened on grain as easily
as pigs and turkeys are, and the
young are especially fond of sweet
curd and liver. The carp possesses
a number of good qualities that rem
der it valuable fish. Itis thor
oughly domesticated. 1t can be
transported easier and will live lon
ger out of water than any other
scale fish. 1t is exceedingly prolific,
a large one often yielding as many
100000 eggs. No Matching house is
needed. The eggs hatch in a few
days, and the young, when not dis
turbed, grow rapidly. 1t is possible
that the future farmers may raise
carp as they now raise beef and
pork for table use and for market.
The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1881-09-15
Sleep as a Farm Cron.

"Well Doctor" inquired Mrs. Bunk
er. "the railroads are built; the folks
keep coming-what are you going to do
about it?"
"Do the best we can, Mrs. Bunker.
There is SO much in society and in our
artificial habits, that sleep will no lon>
ger grow, as wild plant, and take care
of itself. We must cultivate il as we do
corn and potatoes. There is no health
without sound sleep; and thrift on the
farm, as everywhere else, depends
largely upon physical vigor. Sleep is
powerful medicine. which helps TO cure
irritability of temper, peevishness, un-
easiness OF any kind, like nervous dysS
pepsia. 1t is good for broken spirit.
We might change the hymn little,
without damage, and sing, Earth has
no sorrow that sleep cannot cure.'
Sleep, to be perfect and profound and
restorative, should be so prepared for
that not single discomfort should in
terrupt it. We should get ready for it
Just as we prepare for days work
have the tools all ready and every hin.
drance removed"
"Well, how are you going to get it
when it don't Gomez" inquired Mrs.
Bunker.
at will come. if you get ready for ii,
like any other welcomed guest. The
sleeping room, if possible, should be in
The most quiet part of the house, above
the first story. we'll summed and ventila-
ted. with as little furniture as possible
in it-consecrated to sleep. Put away
vonr feather beds and comfortables, as
unfriendly aids TO sleep. and wood beds
steads ahd bed cords, with their un-
t,mely squeaking. Have solid iron bed~
steods with sheets and blankets that
will take care of the perspiration, or
rather. prevent it, and keep the body at
the most comfortable temperature. Rule
vnur own house and have set time for
going to bed, the sooner after nine
o'clock the better. when every member
If the household shall be ready for the
main business of the night, no matter
what is going on at the lodge, the hall,
The hall. the temperance discussion or
the rraver meeting
"Wbat is to become Of our duties to
aocietv?' inauired Mr.. Spooner.
ga mans first duty to society is to
take care of his body responded The
Doctor "Thou shalt not kill. is part
Of the decalogue, and neither man nor
woman owes any duty to society that is
not compatible with souud mind in
sound body. Sleep 10 the one thing
needful. if we.would have either. What
10 man worth to society with shatter~
cd health? Cultivate sleep. and be
worth something while you are awake"
"I am glad you are 80 orthodox on
sleep" interrupted Deacon Smith.
"Bnt I am afraid. Doctor, il Hooker
town adopted your views, you would
soon he without patients. / have fol-
lowed yonr theory for thirty years, and
hardly had doctor in my house."
The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1881-09-15
Dickens and His Careful Writing.

A distinguished artist once said
OF n1m: When | was painting a
portrait of Dickens, it was arranged
that ! should sit in his room while
he was at work. He was a most
painstaking, industrious and meth
odical man, and nothing would di-
vert, him from the regularity of his
habits. | was there for hours, and
he wrote, as it seemed to me almost
with anguish. | looked in his face
and watched the anxiety and the
care. l saw the blotting and the
rewriting of the work, and was as
tonlshed to find how much he owed
| to his indomitable perseverance.
Those who saw his manuscripts will
recollect what elaborate notes and
comments and plans (some adopted,
many rejected J went to form the ba-
sis of his works. TO see those
manuscripts would cure anybody OF
the idle and presumptious notion
that men of genius require no fore
thought or preparation for their
greatest efforts. but that they are
dashed of by the aid of a myster-
ious something which is compre-
hended in the word genius. 1t was
one of Mr.. Dickens theories, and
believe true one, that men differ
hardly in anything so much as
their power of attention"
The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1881-09-15
Cultivate It.

1t is fortunate that courtesy in
word and manner is thing which
admits of cultivation. There is a
true art in manners, and it can be
developed and perfected as we'll as
any other art. But it should new
er be forgotten that etiquette and
social ceremonial, if they would
reach their best estate, must spring
from the cultivation of something
deeper and more individual. Nc
amount of training can make a gen
tleman or gentlewoman unless the
gentle spirit be within. A recent
writer has well said that the root oil
manners springs from the soil oi
the heart. "Politeness may be q
social virtue" he adds, ''but it can
only be true and sincere when
springing from refinement of mind
Kindliness of heart will cause its
influence to be felt in a gentle bear.
ing towards all; and the secret oI
art in manners may be found by ac-
ting on the principle of making ev-
cry one as happy as lies in oui
power"
The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1881-09-15
How to be Handsome.

To be beautiful in person we
must not only conform to the laws
of physical health, and by gymnas-
tic art and artificial appliances de
velop the elements of physical be-
ing in symmetry and completeness,
but we must do more-we must
cultivate the mind, and develop the
affections to the highest possible de
gree.
To be beautiful we must feed the
spark of intellectual fire by reading
and meditation until it burns in
steady flame, irradiating the face by
its brilliancy, and sutfusing the
countenance with calm and holy
light; also, we must fill the brain
with sublime thoughts, and live sur
rounded, as it were, by an atmos
phere of ideas.
To be beautiful we must put
great organizing and enncbline
purpose into the will, and concen-
trate our thoughts and affection:
upon the accomplishment of it, un
til enthusiasm wells up in the heart
suffusing the countenance and re
building the body on its own divine
plan.
To be beautiful we must cherish
every kind impulse and generous
disposition, making love the ruling
affection of the heart--the ordering
principle and inspiring motive o
life; the more kindness, the NOR
beauty: the more love, the NOR
loveliness.
The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1881-09-15
Beautiful Sentiment

One sometimes finds a gem among
the castaways Of forgotten years The
following congratulatory Litter to O
young lady on the eve Of marriage is
venerable but good:
am holding some pasteboard in my
hands-three stately pluckings from tho
bush OF ceremony. / am gazing upon
card, and upon name; name with
which your gentle life began, O name
with which your throbbing heart was
lost. There's nothing strange about
that card. The maiden sign still looks
up from it, calm and customary, as il
looks on many friendly visit, as il lies
in many formal basket.
| am gazing, too upon a card where
the nearer parent tells the world she
will be "At Home" one day; and that
is nothing new. But there is another
card whose mingling there put tongue
of fire into its speechless pasteb0ard. It
tells us that these cards are but the
pale heralds of coming crisis when O
hand that has pressed friends hands,
and plucked flowers, shall close down
on one to whom she will be flower and
friend ever after h
I send you few flowers TO adorn the
dying moments OF your single life.
They are the gentlest type Of q delicate,
durable friendship. They spring up by
our side when others have deserted il,
and will be found watching over our
graves when those who should have
been there have forgotten us.
1t seems meet that past so calm and
pure as yours, should expire with kin
dred sweetness about it; that flowers
and music, kind friends, and earnest
words should consecrate the hour. when
a sentiment is passing, into a sacras
ment.
The three great stages of our being
are birth, the bridal. and the burial,
To the first we bring only weakness,
for the last we have nothing but dust.
But here at the altar where life Joins
life, the pair come throbbing up to the
holy man, whispering the deep promise
that arms each with the others heart to
help on in the life sstruggle of care and
duty.
The beautiful will be there, borrow.
ing new beauty from the scene-the gay
duu tNe lElVOlOuS Will look solemn Tor
once, and youth will come to gaze on all
that its sacred thoughts pant for-and
age will totter up to hear the old words
repeated over again, that to their own
lives have given the charm. Some will
weep over 1t as if it was tomb; some
will laugh as if it were a joke; but two
stand by it, for it is fate, not fun-this
everlasting lock of their lives.
And now can you. who have queened
1t over so many bended forms, can you
come down at last to the frugal diet OF
II single heart?
Hitherto you have been a clock, Civ
ing your time to all the world. Now
you are watch. buried in Que particu.
lar bosom, marking only hours, and
ticking only to the beat Of his heart,
where time and feeling shall be in mi,
son until these lower ties are lost in
that higher wedlock, where all hearts
are united around the Central Heart"
of ALL
The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1881-09-15

An Ohio Girls Foot.

An Albany shoe factory has re-
ceived a diagram of foot from a
trustworty correspondent OF San.
dusky, O. The girl placed her bare
foot upon a sheet of paper, and a
peaciimark was drawn close around
the outline. This foot as shown by
the diagram is exactly seventeen
inches long, seven and three-cighth,
inches wide at the widest part, and
could take a No. twenty-nine boot,
though a number thirty would be
Just the thing. The ball of the foot
is nineteen inches around, instep
eighteen one.half inches, and the
heel measures twenty two inches.
The ankle measures sixteen one-nali
inches. This immense pedal adorns
the person of MISS Mary Wells, Of
Sandusky. O., whose weight is l6t
pounds, and she is but seventeen
years old.
The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1881-09-15
Iiferaru.
reflections on a skull.

The following poem is the produc
tion of Captain Howe, of Alabama
a Confederate officer of the lat
war. and published Immediately al
ter the surrender:
And this was man--imperial man,
Who laughed, defied and scorned;
And this the chamber where the mind
Bright vision once adorned
And this the socket where the eye
Bespoke his immortality.
And here the mouth, the Aeshless mouth,
| Where music issued forth;
And there the shapless nose that once
Inhaled the scents Of earth;
And htse the ear, where joyful sounds
Once made the happy heart rebound.
And this the Uranium where reigned
The passions of the soul
Yea burning eloquence and thought,
| Too great for earth's control.
Twas here that Reason poised her wings
Der PASSIONS sleepless lightnings.
Yea, from this summit conscience sent
The thunders of its law,
And radiant thoughts like lightning CLEAN
| Grail they felt and saw;
Here glowing hopes once kindled bright
LikeS'rosty crystals in moonlight.
! Here realms of fancy rose and fell
| Like rainbows in cloud;
| / rr,,,,l ,Jan,nnc
With God-like power endowed;
Here Love and Hate and Hope and Ire
lmpaled the soul with wall of fire.
Twas here that science lit the mind
| To track the solar light
| 70 measure words and systems vast
And comets in their flight.
Yea darkly brooding eyermore
On laws, phenomena and lore.
Twas here where subtle falsehoods chaine,
The spirit TO the earth,
In cankers, rags and filthy dross,
\ thing of little worth
The Truth, uprising, burst the bond,
And pointed to the lar beyond.
w IICIt HoN, luou iolic, utSSltSu NSil,
Which once was Reasons throne
Tell me, if echo's voice can tell,
Where is thy monarch flown?
What silent? Fen thy ghastly grin
Derides and mocks me from within.
No tongue has thou thy tale OF love
In anguish to relate.
10 utter threatenIngs on the bard
Who wantons with thy fate.
Thou need'st no voice; thy orbless eye
Speaks more than tongue or poetry.
do not like thy lipless grin;
Thou mockery OF death.
1t indicates what | shall be
When | have lost my breath.
O Death. thou monitor, | see
Pride's hollow pomp and pageantry.
Still would live-endure the pain
Which racks the human frame;
When sheer old age has lost its sweets
To which my youth lays claim,
I'd live; and yet | know not why
dread thy touch, Mortality.
Grim spectacle, good night My lamp
Burns dimly in this midnight hour;
And thy cold, hollow grin doth mock
Ambition, fame and human power
Since Death permits the worm to crawl
And reyel in proud Reasons hall.
The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1881-09-15

Children sometimes preach effec.
tive sermons without knowing it
Little Freddie was talking to hi.
grandma, who was something of ,
sceptic. "Grandma, do you belons
to the Presbyterian churchy' "No.'
ITO the Baptist" no" "To an,
church," "No." swell, grandma
don't you think it's about time yo'
got in somewhere."