davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Osceola times., 1881-12-17
ALLIGATOR ADVENTURES.
A ''TaiI-Bold' That Didn't Hoid--A Marrow
Escape.
tAlachua Advocated ]

Ed. Howell, who carries the mail be-
tween this place and Newnansville, had
very narrow escape from being caught
by an alligator lately. While passing
through dense swamp, and near
small creek, he saw an alli-
gator stretched across the road,
apparently dead, but he was only taking
his morning nap, Mr.. Howell thought
he would stir him up so that he could
pass. The alligator, on being aroused
from his peaceful slumber, made hasty
retreat for the little branch, closely pur-
sued by Mr.. Howell who was armed with
half of fence rail, and soon over
took and commenced to attack
him with the rail. Saurian, not liking
his treatment, showed fight, and at
tackled MI. Howell with deadly intent.
The fight, he states, lasted several MIN
utes, and he would have retreated, but
was unable to do so on account o. the
thickness of the bushes. But the first
opportunity presenting itself was taken
by Mr.. Howell, who was closely pursued
by the alligator. In the retreat he
stumbled and fell, and only kept the al
ligator off by vigorous kicking. He
states that he kicked him away the Sec
ond time, thereby making good his es.'
cape with no more injuries than several
bruises and being pretty badly scratched
This wa6, indeed, narrow escape.
A few DAYS ago a party OF citizens Wis.,
tied the Alapaha in search of fish which
abound in great numbers in that stream
and are easily caught at this season. The
party stirred up hole with hoes and
poles, and seined hundreds. In churr-
ing up the water huge alligator was dis
turbed in his quiet repose beneath the
still waters, and he began to make trou-
BILE for the fishermen. The fishermen
were determined to 'clean out" the hole
and have fish or fight. Several OF the
party, led by Jim Paul and commanded
by Lawson Smith (who sat on the bank
al safe distance), went into the water
to run the alligator out. Sew ara' of them
seized the gator, some by the head and
some by the body, and some got "tail
hold" and right out of the water they
came with the amphibious creature,
which seemed as much surprised as dis
gusted at his own weakness and the
strength of his antagonists. Out on the
land they came, but in an instant the
gator made grand effort, and, with one
stroke of his powerful tail, knocked one
of the men back headlong into the
water. At this juncture of affairs several
of the fishermen jumped on the back Of
the gator and held it down until the
others killed it with their hoes and axes.
The gator measured nine feet in length.
After this adventure the fishing went on
and the party caught 446.-Hawkinsville
Dispatch.
The Osceola times., 1881-12-17
Industrial Education.
Kansas City Times.

There are two views honestly enter
tanned by the more thoughtful people of
this country in regard TO what an educa-
ton provided by the state should be.
One party contends that all instruction
should be purely of literary or intel
lectual character, while the other party
as strenuously advocates q combination
of the literary and industrial culture
that is, that the children should be
taught the trades and occupations Of life
as well as geography, arithmetic and
grammar They think the school chill
d-en ought TO know how to work as well
as how to read; that a girls knowing
how TO sew, knit, cook, take care Of the
sick, is equally important as spelling,
writing and singing.
Those who object to manual labor
coupled with the public schools contend
that such things should be left to the par
ents or guar lians of children, or till
later in life when the child is old enough
to make his own choice of an occupa-
ton. There seems to be another reason,
which is perhaps one of the strongest
that may be urged in favor of technical
departments to the public schools of this
country, and that is, the health of the
pupils demands proportionate share OF
physical exercise each day. 1t is claimed,
and very justly, too, that the boy who
works half the time will lsarr more rap
idly than If he trled TO study all the time.
Rest, as well as exercise, is a law of
health and of intellectual progress. The
old theory of sound body for a sound
mind is good one, and can not be i'm
proved upon. 1t embodies the highest
philosophy, and is confirmed by the ex-
perience Of more than thirty centuries.
OF course this border line between tie
two contending parties is not fixed one,
and doubtless there is much truth in
both positions, and yet no authority, we
presume, can say that either is wholly
true, or that either is wholly false. x
sharp conflict will bring the truth to
light, and, in the end, both positions will
be modified so as TO suit the demands OF
the age. Theory and practice must 90
hand in hand, and under proper restric-
tions they mutually assist and strength
en- each other. We need more practical
methods in our school, more develop
ment Of skill for attacking the difficult
ties of life-a sterner development of in
tellect and more robust physique.
The Osceola times., 1881-12-17
SHE WENT TO THE BALL.
How q Pretty Girl Attacked the Heart OF
One Of the French Officers.

lCincinnati Commercially
7 saw one striking example of the sell
assurance of the American girl who this
morning is the envy of all her fair COM
panions of this hotel. She was bright
and handsome girl from some neighbor.
ing city, and sat with some friends in
the parlor OF the Exchange hotel, where
the officers were lettering about for an
hour or more previous to their departure
for the ball room. Miss Columbia, with
all the ambition of her sex, saw the
handsome figures and elttering cos.
tunes of the French officers and longed
TO know something more of them. "Oh
my, how handsome" she exclaimed, as
one by one the officers entered the par
lors. ''How sorry am not to
be able TO 90 to the ball" And she gave
her walking suit little twist. as though
like Cinderalla, she could transform II
into ball room costume. The little
'godmother" OF the story book did not
appeai, however, but in her stead the
magnificent form of Colonel lIippolyte
William Bossap, of the Twentieth Ora
goons, gentleman whose resemblance
to General Hancock has been so often
remarked since his arrival. The colonel
bowed to the journalist and stopped inn
mediately before him. Nothing was left
but to present Miss Columbia, who could
speak no word of French, TO the supeil
Frenchmau, who spoke no English. The
young lady, by no means abashed, al
once muttered her regrets at not beinl
able to attend the festivities, and The
Frenchman, through an interpreter
begged the young lady to &C with him
The color flew to her cheeks, her eye
sparkled with delight, she hesitated q
moment and then, being an American
girl, she went, How her lady compan
ions we're terrified. "Will she go with
the fellow?" they exclaimed in chorus
as the girl took the arm of her escort
who was delighted at the prospect of 81
beautiful companion "She WILL" sale
the journalist, "and if | could | woul,
ike to supply you all with handsom,
French escorts" saw them later, arm
in arm, as silent as twin spbinxes. They
danced early and of.en, however, anC
despite the multeriug OF disapprobatior
that are being whispered about tn,
ladies' parlors this morning Miss Colum
bia is the happiest girl in Richmond.
The Osceola times., 1881-12-17

but can easily do so. will bring my
son here in the afternoon, and il you
will keep him an hour | will bring the
physicians with the authority"
Then the lady entered her carriage
and drove 10 iewelry score. Their.
she selected $4,000 worth of jewelry,
which she said was intended for the
trousseau of her daughter, about to be
married. She gave the name of q
wealthy family recently arrived in Gin
cinnati, and said to the proprietor: "If
you will let one OF your clerks step into
the carriage with me, will go TO my
husbands store and give him the money
for the goods"
The proprietor consented, and the
clerk, with the goods in box, entered
the carriage with the lady, who said she
wished to stop on the way and show the
purchase TO friend. They drove to the
asylum and We're shown to the parlor.
The superintendent entered. and the
lady said quite calmly TO the clerk: "Just
open the box and show this gentleman"
The clerk unsuspectiDgly complied.
Carelessly drawing near, the lady seized
the box and was walking out of the
room with it, when the astonished clerk
cried
"Hold on, madam, must not let
those goods go out of my sight until |
get the money"
The lady did not deign TO notice the
clerk, but turning to the superintendent
of the asylum, said
"rhis is the young man spoke to you
about. He is getting a little violent.
You had better secure him."
II was in vain that the clerk protested
that a robbery was being committed.
The superintendent was inexorable. He
called his assistants and secured the
clerk, while the lady walked to her car
riage with the $4,000 worth of jewelry.
The Osceola times., 1881-12-17
Was Pole-CaW

Two lovers were out for a morning
walk in the leafy aisles of New Jersey
forest. The birds sang blhhely upon
the boughs, the early sunshine qusffed
the dew from grass and petals, and all
nature seemed TO rejoice like bride on
her wedding day. The maiden gather
ed violets, arbutus and cowslips, while
he gathered what he supposed to be a
white kitten that had taken refuge in
the hollow stump Of a longsdeparted
tree. Miserable fatel Strange catastro.
phyl Unhappy mani Referring to the
incident alerward in letter TO friend,
the maiden wrote: .'lf George we're
boiled for thousand years in the hot
springs of Iceland, don't believe he'd
ever smell sweet again.
The Osceola times., 1881-12-17
A Salufary Law.

The laws of Denmark contain, among
in other wise provisions, one which IT
in would probably be as difficult to find
the criminal code OF other nations as our
own common law, or any statute amend
ing the same. 1t provides a pnnish-
ment for that especially revolving form
of cruelty which consists in allowing
fellow creature to perish without extend
ing to him helping hand. A mere act
"Whoever has refused says the Danish
law, to help another person in mortal
danger, when he could have done 50
without peril TO his own life, and that
person has perished in consequence, is
liable to either imprisonment or fine.'
The Osceola times., 1881-12-17
SHOOTING A TRAMP.
How a Game Little Mississippi Girl Re.
ceived an Impudent Beggar.
Memphis Avalanche

ceived an Impudent beggar.
Memphis Avalanche.
In one of the Mississippi towns, not
very far from Memphis, on the line OF
Mississippi and Tennessee railroad,
little lady, aged Is years, shot and Sc
verely wounded an impudent white
tramp, who attempted to enter the house
after being ordered not TO do SO. The
lady. who il small but game, and crack
shot with pistol, was the only white
person in tho house when the burly
tramp approached. "We have nothing
for Won: YOU needn't come inp' said she
10 the tramp. "But will come in," he
answered. "You had better not, or you
will get what you do not want" quietly
responded the lady, as she laid down her
knitting, picked a six-shooter from her
work basket and approached the door.
"You 90 back in your room, or I'll pitch
Won out of the window" exclaimed the
ruffianlv tramp, as he walked inside the
door. Bang. went the pistol, and the
tramp staggered back on the porch shot
through the arm and breast. She raised
the pistol again, but the tramp fled. A
neighbor rushed around the house and
asked the little lady, who was sitting
down and engaged in knitting, with her
pistol in her work basket, whats the
natter" She exclaimed che is gone"
He then asked, "Did YOU shoot himG"
"Yes," she replied, "and if he had kept
on coming, would be shooting until
now" The tramp was found to be
bleeding profusely and il was with diff
cnlty that the flow of blood could be
stopped. lie left the town a sadder and
a wiser man, having been taught les
son in manners that he will not soon
forget. That game little woman is worth
her weight in gold dollars.
The Osceola times., 1881-12-17

man of 90 years, and yet he has not
reached three score years and ten. He
was graduate Of West Point, but did
not remain in the army. Those who re-
member him just after his graduation
speak of him as splendid looking
young man, with almost perfect mill
tary air and carriage. To-day his droop-
ing shoulders, long gray beard, flowing
white bair and powerful staffupon which
he leans for support, give him an ap-
pearance not unlike Joe Jefferson's rep
resentation of Rip Van Wrinkle; yet they
tell me he presents much the same ap-
pearance as when he was Lieutenant
General in the Confederate army, riding
at the head of the I'd Army Corps, which
he commanded. That he is still vigorous,
Notwithstanding his appearance, and is
Of fire, fight and vindictiveness, is evil
dent
The Osceola times., 1881-12-17
The Organists DiIem ma.

A good story is told by one of tn,
southern d. DIS. He was pastor o
The - Church in the City Of c.. Th,
organ loft and choir gallery were i'm
mediately in the rear Of the pulpit, and
4 little elevated above ii. The organisi
vas German, who, thought fine
performer, was not remarkable Tor gre al
presence Of mind and was easily discon.
certed. The hour for afternoon service
bad arrived, and, though the organisi
was in his place, the choir had not ar.
rived. BY some mishap, also, the key
of the organ bad been misplaced The
minister, not knowing these facts, slow
ly and solemnly rose, aud, after an.
nouRcing hymn and reading II through
took his seat. There was no response
from the organ or choir. Silence reign,
ed supreme. Time passed on. The
minister and congregation were becom
ing uneasy. All eyes were turned Ia
The organ lof. At length the orgauisi
with a fidgety manner and face as red
as beet, came to the railing in front oi
The loft, and in tone evidently intend.
ed as a whisper, but which was distinct
ly heard by all, made the following
startling announcement: mister breech
er, mister breecher, We Won't have no
singing dis afternoon. De key not COON
ed, and de lady vat sings de sobrano
bees not coomed, and the rest of the
peoples vat sings be not coomed, and de
organ bees not obened, and We Won't
have no singing dis afternoon, mister
breecher, dats So" The effect may be
readily imagined.
The Osceola times., 1881-12-17
Old Jubal Early.
Virginia Correspondence Philadelphia Press

NngimA correspondence fniauelpnla fress.
i saw old Jubal Early the other day,
and among all the queer characters you
meet in Virginia he is, perhaps, the
queerest He was Union man before
the war, and fought secession with bit
terness in keeping with his intense traits
of character. When the ordinance pass
ed, in spite of his protest, he went home
and raised company for the war, and
he has never yet learned that the con-
flict is ended. He seems to live entirely
in the past, and to find happiness only
in personal conflicts and revival of the
animosities of the war. saw him at his
home in Lynchburg, where he earns his
living by practicing law. should Judge
his life is not a pleasant one. He rooms
by himself, unsurrounded by the COM
forts of a home and family, and boards
at hotel. He ID bent and bowed like q
The Osceola times., 1881-12-17
Not n Place of prayer,

Speaking of Westminster abbey and
the public, a good story well known TO
the dean and chapter occurs 10 me. A
gentleman passing through the abbey
observed an apparently devout person
on his knees. Ii Is rue, no service was
going on, but the occupation was u least
a quiet and harmless one. A verger
soon took note of the irreenIiriiy, and,
marchinp mp, touched thc kn,eler on
the shoulder, informing him that pray
ing was against lie rule. why. sir"
eGclaimed the verser with a genuine
Iii gus, to o bystander, "if lei 'cm we
should soon have 'cin praying all ever
;hr placew
The Osceola times., 1881-12-17
A Romantic Girls Experiment.

A few weeks ago, says the Middletown
Press, a young lady aged Is yeas, with
brown hair and hazel eyes, who does
not live many miles from Middletown,
end who had been reading the story Of
the message written on an egg, con-
ceived the idea Of doing something sim
liar, She is the daughter of a farmer,
but as the product Of eggs was not very
large and the home demand was brisk
she could not get her message. to market
in that way. An opportunity offered
itself one day about two weeks since.
She overheard her father say that he
must pick part of his early apples and
get them TO Middletown, as there were
more than the family needed. The ap~
pies were accordingly picked and were
laid in the wagon-house over night, to
be marketed in the morning. The ro-
mantle girl wrote on little piece Of
muslin, in indelible ink, her name "a
fictitious one), her address, and the two
words. write me- She then rolled it
up in very small roll, cut out little
piece of an apple near the stem, put in
the roll and closed it up, and then put
the apple in with the lot for market.
In about week she heard from her
message. The letter was written to the
address named, and was evidently from
some tramp or vagabond, who had per-
haps stolen the apple from some grocers
stand. Almost every word was spelled
wrongly, and the tone of the letter was
coarse. The young lady never replied
to it, and it is safe to say that she will
not make any more experiments in that
direction
The Osceola times., 1881-12-17

ACNE of politeness-De politest man |
ebber seed Yves at a railroad Depot. A
fellow with a lot oh trunks on a long
thing wheelin' aroun' as though he were
tryin' ter run ober everybody. Finally
a mae steps up an seq; Il see yer has
siderabls trouble runnin' agin people.
To oblige yer, I'll stan in front of yer
machine.n
The Osceola times., 1881-12-17

A NURSE was telling about man who
had become SO terribly worn out by dis
sipation that he oould not keep any food
on his stomach, when Que Of her listen
ers asked What does he live on
theDYp "0n his relations, ma'am,",
answered the nurse.
The Osceola times., 1881-12-17

A GILDEp youth, who had met with
misfortunes, entered fourth-class res
taurant. He there encountered waiter
whom he had formerly seen in luxuri-
Gus establishments which he himself
had frequented. "WhatmIssid the wait
er, do you dine here7" "Well," re-
turned the other. eloomily, you wait
here, don't your" 'It is true, sir,' re-
piled the waiter, with conscious digni-
ty; "but do not eat here"
The Osceola times., 1881-12-17

The possessOr Of accumulated wealth,
when furnished with the ueceSsaries and
pleasures of life, has 10 other method 10
employ the superfiuity of his fortune,
but in purchasing power.
The Osceola times., 1881-12-17

TuE consultations of philosophy are
very amusing, but often fallacious. 1t
tells us that lifc is filled with comforts if
we will but enjoy them; and on the other
hand, that though we unavoidably have
miseries here, life ia short and they will
coon he over.
The Osceola times., 1881-12-17
The Modern Primer.
Eugene Field in Denver Tribune.

The Cat is Asleep on the Rug. Step on
her Tail and see il she will Wake up.
Oh, no; She will not awaken. She is
heavy Sleeper. Perhaps ifyou were to
Saw her Tail off with the Carving-knife
you might Attract her attention. Sup
pose you try.
The Well is very Dark and Deep.
There is Nice Cool Water in the Well.
If Won Lean wsy over the Side. maybe
Won will Fall in the Well and go down
in the Dear Water. We will give you
some candy ifyou will Try. There is a
Sweet Little Birdie in the Bottom of the
Well. Your mamma would be surprised
to find you in the Well, would she not?
Poor little Mousel He got into the
Flour Barrel, and Made Himself Dead.
The Cook baked him in Loaf of Bread,
and here he lies on the Table cut into by
the sharp bread Knife. But we will not
Eat poor Mousie. We will Eat the Bread,
but we will Take the Mouse and Put him
in the Cistern.
The Boy is Sitting Down eating Jam.
His Mamma is coming through the Door.
The Boy will stand up the Next bowl
of Jam he Eats.
Here we have Game Of Croquet.
Henry has Just Hit Nellie with ballet,
and Nellie is calling Henry naughty
Names. Their Mother is not much OF
Croquet player, but in minute she will
| Come out and Beat them Both
This is Gun. Is the Gun loaded?
Really, do not Know. Let us Find out
Put the Gun on the table and you Susie,
blow down one Barrel, while you,
Charlie. blow Down the other. Bang!
Yes, it was Loaded. Run quick, Jennie,
and pick Up Sssie's head and Charles
lower Jaw before the Nasty Blood gets
all over the New Carpet.
VII.
The Girl has pretty Eyes and Red
| Lips. She is Going TO Take a Walk in
the Star Lit Glen where the Cricket
chirps in the Hedge and the Jiggers play
| in the Grass. William is Going to Walk
| in the Glen, too. He will meet the Girl
and they will Talk about the Weather
We wouldn't Give a Cent for that Piece
of Court Plaster on the Girls chin by
the Time the Girl gets Back home.
VIII.
Oh, how nice and Black the Coal Hod
is Run, children, Run Quick and put
your Little, Fat hands in it. Mercy me,
your Hands are as Black as the Coal Hod
now Hark, Mamma is Coming. She
will Spank you when she Finds your
Hands so Dirty. Better go and Rub the
Black Dirt off on the Wall Paper before
she comes.
Here il Statesman. He makes
Speeches about the poor Tax Payer and
| Drinks Whisky. His Pants are too Short
for him. lie must have stood in a Pud-
die of Water when he got measured for
them. He picks his Teeth with Fork
and Wipes his Nose on the Bottom OF
Sofas and Chairs. If you Neglect your
Education and Learn TO Chew plug To-
bacco maybe you will Be a Statesman
some time. Some Statesman go to Con-
gress and some go to Jail But It is the
Same Thing after all.
How nice Papa looks sitting by the
Fire reading the Police Gazette. lie is
very fond Of Literature. See how ab-
sorbed he is. There is Torpedo on the
Mantle-piece. Take it Down and Throw
it at Papa's bald Head. That is right.
seems to be Hunting for Strap.
The Osceola times., 1881-12-17

The Cat is Asleep on the Rug. Step on
her Tail and see il she will Wake up.
Oh, no; She will not awaken. She is a
heavy Sleeper Perhaps ifyou were to
Saw her Tail off with the Carving-knife
you might Attract her attention. Sup
pose you try.
The Osceola times., 1881-12-17

SxALI-rox has broken out in Boston,
hut she trusts TO her intellect. as in 9th
or emergencies.
The Osceola times., 1881-12-17

The Well is very Dark and Deep.
There is Nice Cool Water in the Well.
If YOU Lean way over the Side. maybe
YOU will Fall in the Well and go down
in the Dear Water. We will give you
some candy you will Try. There is a
Sweet Little Birdie in the Bottom of the
Well. Your mamma would be surprised
TO find you in the Well, would she not?
The Osceola times., 1881-12-17

Poor little Mousel He got into the
Flour Barrel, and Made Himself Dead.
The Cook baked him in Loaf of Bread,
and here he lies on the Table cut into by
the Sharp bread Knife. But we will not
Eat poor Mousie. We will Eat the Bread,
but we will Take the Mouse and Put him
in the Cistern.
The Osceola times., 1881-12-17

Oh, how nice and Black the Coal IIod
is Run, children, Run Quick and put
your Little, Fat hands in it. Mercy me,
your Hands are as Black as the Coal Hod
now! Hark, Mamma is Coming She
will Spank you when she Finds your
Hands so Dirty. Better go and Rub the
Black Dirt off on the Wall Paper before
she comes
The Osceola times., 1881-12-17

The Boy is Sitting Down eating Jam.
His Mamma is coming through the Door.
The Boy will stand up the Next bowl
of Jam he Eats
The Osceola times., 1881-12-17

Here we have a Game Of Croquet.
Henry has Just Hit Nellie with ballet,
and Nellie is calling Henry naughty
Names. Their Mother is not much of a
Croquet player, but in a minute she will
Come out and Beat them Both.
The Osceola times., 1881-12-17

How nice Papa looks sitting by the
Fire reading the Police Gazette. lie is
very fond Of Literature. See how ab-
sorbed he is There is Torpedo on the
Mantle-piece. Take it Down and Throw
it at Papa's bald Head. That is right.
Papa is not as Absorbed as he was. He
seems to be Hunting for Strap,
The Osceola times., 1881-12-17

This is Gun. Is the Gun loaded?
Really, do not Know. Let us Find out
Put the Gun on the table and you, Susie,
blow down one Barrel, while you,
Charlie, blow Down the other Bang
Yes, it was Loaded. Run quick, Jennie,
and pick Up Susie's head and Charles
lower Jaw before the Nasty Blood gets
all over the New Carpet.