davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Stephens City star. (Stephens City, Va.) 1881-1883, 1881-10-08
The Story of a Breakfast Can.

/ knew an instance this summer where
cleverly-worn breakfast cap repaired
what had threatened to prove fatal mis-
chief. A girl of very moderate natural
pretensions to beauty, but mighty artful
in dressing and adorning her hair, was
III love with fine fellow, and was fast
making him love her. She invited him
to spend week with her family in their
seaside cottage, with the perfectly
proper intention of bringing him to the
point of popping the matrimonial ques-
ton. Well, after he had been there
several days, and was we'll nigh capti-
vated, he saw sight that disenchanted
him. The girl had washed her hair and
taken a nap while it dried. While
scooting through hallway, she met
the fellow face to face. Her hair was
damp, matted close to her head and
struggling in thin disorder down her
neck. 1t required a second look to rec
ognize her. Whenever he had seen her
before her hair was puffed, frizzled and
banged in manner that made her head
shapely and attractive. Now the home
liness of her face was unrelieved all
style had departed, and she looked
commonplace to shocking degree.
She realized the disaster Immediately.
and came to my room with tears in her
eyes. "a
"What shall I do?" she whispered.
Finish the breakfast-cap you're
making," I said, "and wear it in your
very ablest manner at breakfast"
She caught the idea and acted on it.
At the breakfast table she appeared in
the most coquettish cap imaginable,
poised at precisely the right angle on
her artfully-dressed hair. The fellow
had said the evening before that he
guessed he would go home next day;
but the breakfast cap restored the spell
of enchantment, which had been tenn
porarily dispelled, and before his visit
was over he was engaged. Idon't know
what the effect will be when, as a hus-
band, he sees the girl with her hair down
as his wife. I simply describe, as
chronicler of the fashions, the potency
Of q nice breakfast cap. p.-New York
Letter.
Stephens City star. (Stephens City, Va.) 1881-1883, 1881-10-08
Reason i'm Birds.

several years ago pair of my canaries
built; while the hen was setting the
weather became intensely hot. She
dropped, and I began to fear that she
would not be strong enough to hatch
the eggs. I watched the birds closely
and soon found that the cock was de-
voted nurse. He bathed in the fresh
cold wates I supplied every morning,
then went to the edge of the nest, and
the hen buried her head in his breast
and was refreshed. Without hands and
without sponge what more could we
have done? The following spring the
same bird was hanging in window with
three other canaries, each in separate
cage. l was sitting in the room and
heard my little favorite give a peculiar
cry. l looked up and saw all the birds
crouching on their perches, paralyzed
with fright. On going to the window
to ascertain the cause of their terror, I
saw large balloon passing over the
end of the street. The birds did not
move till it was out of sight, when all
gave chirp of relief. The balloon was
only in sight of the bird who gave the
alarm, and have no doubt he mistook
it for bird of prey. I have a green
and yellow canary hanging side by
side. They are treated exactly alike
and are warm friends. One has often
refused to partake of some delicacy till
the other was supplied with it. One
day I had five blossoms of dandelion !; I
gave three to the green bird, two to the
yellow one. The latter few about his
cage singing in shrill voice, and show.
ing unmistakable signs of anger. Guess
ing the cause. I took away one of the
three flowers, when both birds settled
down quietly to enjoy their FEAST
Spectator.
Stephens City star. (Stephens City, Va.) 1881-1883, 1881-10-08
Imperfect Handling Of Cotton.

Until the last census, ginning, pres.
sing, and baling have been classed with
the production" of cotton, and it's
manufacture held to consist solely of
spinning and weaving. Yet there is
not process to which the lint is SUBJ
mitted after it is thrown from the ne
gro's ''pocket" that does not act direct
ly on the quality of the cloth that
is finally produced, and on the cheap
ness and efficiency with which the cloth
is made. The separation of the fibre
from the seed, the disposition made oi
fluffy lint before it is compressed, the
compression itself, and the baling of
the compressed cotton-these are deli
cate operations, involving the integrity
OF the fibre, the cost of getting it ready
for the spindle, and the ease with which
it may be spun. Indeed Mr.. Hammond,
of South Carolina, a most accomplished
writer, contends that the gin.house'' is
the pivotal point around which the
whole manufacture of cotton revolves.
There is no question that with one
tenth of the money invested in i'm
proved gins, cleaners, and presses that
would be required !. for factories, and
with incomparably less risk, the South
could make one-half the profit, pound
for pound, that is made in the mills of
New England. Mr.. F. G. Morehead,
already alluded to in this article, says
"a farmer who produces 500 bales of
cotton-200,000 pounds-can, by the
expenditure of $500 on improved gins
and cleaners, add one cent per pound to
to the value of his crop, or $4,000. If he
added only one-half of one cent, he
would get in the first year over fifty per
cent. return of his outlay" Mr.. Ed
ward Atkinson-to close this list of au-
thorities that the cotton crop is
deteriorated ten per cent. at least by
being improperly handled from the
field to the factory. 1t is, of course,
equally true that reform in this de-
partment of the manufacture of cotton
would add ten per cent. to the value of
the crop-say $4,000, ,OOO-and that,
too, without cost to the consumer.
Much of the work now done in the
mills of New England is occasioned by
the errors committed in ginning and
packing. Not only would the great
part of the dust, sand, and grit that get
into the cotton from careless handling
about the gin-house be kept out, if it
were properly protected, but, that which
is in the fibre naturally could be clean
ed out more efficiently and with one
third the labor and cost. if twere taken
before it has been compressed and baled.
Beyond this the excessive beating and
tearing of the fibre necessary to clean it
after the sand has been packed in
weaken and impair it, and the sand
INJURIES the costly and delicate machin-
cry of the lls.-Ha,pSrs Maqazine for
)CtObey
Stephens City star. (Stephens City, Va.) 1881-1883, 1881-10-08
The Sorrow of the Nations.

Inere'5 darkness over every land,
The hearts of men are failing:
Man takes his fellow by the hand,
In nearer brotherhood they stand,
For all the earth is wailing.
There's sorrow in the hut and hall
The bells of death are tolling:
The sun is hidden by pail
In whelming billows, over all
The tide of grief is rolling.
Loved Britian's queen of grace and worth =
The proudest thrones of power
The millions high or low in birth
Yea, all the peoples of the earth
Are one in sorrows hour.
'Tis not that bloody handed war
nations strength has broken;
No pestilence has swept the shore,
Nor famine left in any door
Its grim and deathly token.
4 cruel, vile, accursed blow
The worlds great soul has smitten
1t laid the man heroic low,
And lines of deep and bitter woe
On countless hearts are written,
Up to the Majesty on high
Unceasing prayer assembled;
And kneeling millions wonder why
A righteous God should let him die
For whom their prayers contended.
Ills true serpent strikes the heel,
And man sinks down to perish;
And swift diseases from us steal
The loved and loving, till we feel
This life has naught to cherish.
Yet, world of weeping question not
Whatever God ordainest;
He cannot err, no matter what
The seeming strangeness of the lot
The LORD JEHOVAH reignest
-Phitadelphia Times
Stephens City star. (Stephens City, Va.) 1881-1883, 1881-10-08

~
your old master, and you could do
something, too, in your day; but not
much longer-not very much longer.
We're old now; they can do without
u.s."
A tear dropped upon the finger board,
and the old man wiped it carefully off
with his coat-sleeve.
eyes, old FRIEND" he continued,
gazing affectionately Oh his battered
companion of wood and strings, "we've
been friends for long, but we're coming
to our last engagement"
Whilst the snow fakes fell thicker
against the window, softly and noise
lessly, the old man drew his bow across
the strings of the violoncello in q half
unconscious way, bending down his
head to the instrument just as he always
did. Though his ears were deaf to
aught else, they never failed to drink
in the tones which sprang from those
vibrating chords. Slowly, weirdly, pa.
thetically the music rose and fell in
gentle ripples around the room, so
hushed and low that it awakened no
echoes in the silent house. Only in
that poor chamber would it wander:
only around that poor old couple, in
strument and player, would it's sweet
melody float. As he played, the old
mans eyes gently closed, and from his
face the lines of settled despair gradu
ally cleared away, till only a happy
smile was left beaming around wrinkles.
The players thoughts were far away
to him the cold room and the snowy
window were become as nought. Back
In the little garden of fifty years ago, in
the arbor scented by the pinks and
roses, with the dark velvet pansies
the little plot at his feet
he was listening again to that same old
tune as he heard it first, when his wife,
ong dead, sang the words and he
played the air upon that well. remem-
bered violin. He could hear her voice
he could smell the roses perfume.
Surely it was that same violin he was
playing now! From his closed eyes,
down the white cheeks, tears dropped
warm and fast upon the strings of the
vloloncello. He needed them not; his
thoughts were far away.
So the tune rose and fell, and the
snow gathered thicker and thicker on
The window-panes, till the candle on
The little table fickered out. Yet the
arm in the rusty sleeve did not weary
n its slow, regular motion the cold
ingers still pressed the strings the
player did not awake to the darkness of
;he room.
"We're old now, !" he murmured they
ion't want us any longer"
His eyes were still shut, but the tune
Vaxed slower and slower, till it died
altogether. The bow slipped from the
I'D mans fingers; the gray head sank
lpon the table the violoncello rested
oundless against the breast of the rusty
black coat.
***x *xx* xx*x xxxx
When the morning came and bright
un-rays struggled through the snow
blocked window panes, they shone upon
tiny table, square white bed, a fire.
ess CRATE, patched and dingy old vio-
onoello. But the bow had fallen upon
he floor. and the players nerveless fin
,ers hung white and stiffened upon the
trings.
Old violoncello had gone to his last
Stephens City star. (Stephens City, Va.) 1881-1883, 1881-10-08
HIS NEXT ENGAGEMENT,

The glories of the entertainment
have faded, down goes gas, out scram-
BILE audience. 1t is the last night of the
season, and the band, sorrowfully,
gloomily every one, from the big drum
down to the piccolo, are playing the
National Anthem over said seasons
grave to give it decent burial. Even
the first fiddle feels out of sorts. The
bassoon has tear drop trembling on
his left, ,eyelash, and let's it hang there,
unsupicious of the fact that all the
while it glistens visibly in tiny ray
from the foot-light. As for the violon-
cello next him, that cliff -browed, set
faced, hoary-headed veteran of score
or two OF pantomines, surely this par
tlcular pantomine's death grieves him
but little. Why should it-whilst he
can twine his bony left arm around
that old violoncello's neck as if it lived
and loved him VIXEN he can bend his
gray head to its strings and hear the
sweet pathos of their tones when he
can pass his long, skinny musicians
fingers fondly over them to draw forth
rich, Soothing, swelling, falling, beauti-
full melody? Why should there be
quavering lip and trembling eyelash
when the last chord comes?
The chord is struck and over. Out
OF the orchestra, and already on his way
home, is the first violin, the cornet
has brought up in the rear with Ca
denza morando; the big drum has
closed his last roll the second violin
has packed up his fddle-case bassoon
and violoncello remain alone with the
dying light in the hall.
"Dick !" said the bassoon, quitely.
Poor old white-faced violoncello
never needed. The left arm in it's rusty
sleevestill clasped the Instruments neck
in that loving way; the old gray head
bent down over the strings, with the
eyes closed.
"Poor old chap" observed the bas-
soon, pityingly, as he turned up his
coat-collar and tucked his instrument
case under his arm. "Blowed if he,
amt playing nowr
"Dick-Dick |" he repeated, tapping
the old violoncello good naturedly on
the shoulder. The old man opened
his eyes and awoke to the silence.
Halo, Tom Hornby What--all
gone? l thought he looked around
him in disappointed inquiry, and he
spoke in tone of sadness thought
he repeated that second strain. Well,
well How deaf I'm getting. to be
sure" The rusty black coat heaved
with sigh as it's wearer rose and shut
his music.
"All gone but you, Tom ?' he said,
sorrowfully. "Well, 1 won't deny I
thought they might ha' wished me
Goodnight or 'Good-by,' or some-
thing of the sort, for the last night
but I won't grumble. An old fellow
who's as deaf as post and has nobody
to mind him amt no place in an or
chestra. He'd better get out of the
road as quick as he can, and make no
fuss about it. Friends amt in his
line."
"Now come, Dick, old man," ex-
postulated the bassoon, "don't go for
to speak like that. You knows there's
one chap as is sorry for you-dash my
Stephens City star. (Stephens City, Va.) 1881-1883, 1881-10-08

A Wall street broker, who was caught
in a corner, acknowledges a loss OF some
1913, 900, and adds "I al-l-lways
p-p-prefer to ack-k-k-knowledge loss
than g-g-gain, for it d-d-discourages
p-p-people from t-t-trying to b-b-borrow
m-m-money from me-"
Stephens City star. (Stephens City, Va.) 1881-1883, 1881-10-08

The President is widower, but that's
aot saying he will always remain one,
Osage Valley banner., 1881-05-12
HUMOROUS.

No matter how highly educated
man is, when he is sick he is an ill
literate. --Bostoa Transcript.
Every man has his foliies, and
ofttimes they are the most interesting
things he has got. -J-St billings.
"A poor excuse is better than none,
and the same may be said of poor
dinner. AeU Hareh register.
THAT puts a different face on it, "
said the swindler when he raised a
check from $50 to $500. Aeriden Re
cOrder.
Why is a green pe-snmon like a
girl lips when sh' bids her loyer good
by at the gate? Because they both
pucker. - WheeiiHg JourHal
Speech is silver aud silence golden.
That is where II costs more TO make u
man hold his tongue than it does to let
him talk. N O. PicdGURe,
Prof Swing says "the coming man
will be temperate, chaste, merciful, Just,
generous, charitable, large-hearted,
sweet-tempered; Christian; good
neighbor and faithful citizen Com
ing! Why, dorm yer pelt, we've arrived.
Boston Post.
Italy has surplus of $4,000, 900
lires. - binqnciat Chroaicle. That un-
lucky, they're such a drug in the market
just now The Western papers are all
supplied, we understand, and there
won't be any important political cam
paign for some time to come. e.-N y
Graphic.
lit was their first night aboard the
steamer. " Al last, he said tenderIy,
1--WE are all alone, out upon the deep
waters of the dark blue sea, and your
heart win always beat for me as it has
beat in the pastPn - My he trt's all
right" she answered, languidly, "but,
ChrOntcle
Osage Valley banner., 1881-05-12
M 80 nRowNscHooL.noNsE.

IN mpmrrY's hail haura tho picture.
AMI yrurs uf Fhd care are between.
Hnnn+. with n bcruutnl gliding.
Ana vol dn lpVc a. ! wccn
" sioinl un % blnak ruuntrf corner,
but bnYhpol yUl 90 honri ~ tiC u warm:
n llowrl Ia tho mnshlue ot sum ncri
Twas rheerful in wiuiefan storm.
-, gny We te the sports uf the nDontitc,
when aSiutrr wiuds tr0lickcd with snow
We laughed az titH ficak4 OF IN, stntm-king
And shouted him IN, Hll HllOW.
Mcdl-h he'd ~ hls bcauiifuI sctipturo.
ictardi ~ of ad iis ARRAY.
W. plunged in the fcnihcrg snuw-drifts
Aud spnttd the wiatcr away.
We sat on the nid-fnshlourl hcuohrs
iir~uisc with QUE pmCil aul slate;
We thpu.hf OF tho upeunig future,
Aud dreamed nf our iuanhuui's lintO.
q, dtNs uf NV bpyhaod ! bless yo.
Wiiic lnukinf uoW lifiif hu4f primc.
Ia srrfusit Us nrf' lingering with ne
gWthrtcf iu iifc rirlY time
q, SIN 10 that bleak country cOruNr
Turns "a hcHrt, loo wenrinuss yet.
Who're. leading my Hrnte young sisters
With yuuthlui companions ! met
| east fuud rbuCc o.pt the meadow;
The hills lusi behind Il see.
Awiy in the chhtnt %; the distance,
Old schuulhOuscl "A hlcsslng on thoe!
far. btrgh llNinHs.
Osage Valley banner., 1881-05-12
Personal AND LITERARY.

"A Berlin butcher has written a i've
act comedy that is about TO be pre-.
sented in one Of the theaters OF that
city.
MARY Clemmer, so long known as
q Washington correspondent, has aban-
doned her letter writing and now de
votes herself almost entirely TO less
ephemeral literature.
Gambetta is the most rapid talker
and writer among European statesmen;
in public'speeches he has at times de-
livered one hundred and eighty words
q minute, aud when no puts pen to pa
peFz~@h @htea is rarely he writes at the
tttoe q forty tEntds fnisttth sfaasses
raphers find It no easy matter to keep
up with him.
Miss Abigail B. Judson. OF Plym-
outh, Mass, lately passed her ninetieth
birthday. She is sister of the late
Adoniram Judson, the famous mission
AIRY 20 Burmah, and lives alone in the
house once occupied by him. Its front
door has never been opened since his
body was carried through, and Miss
Judson orders that il shall remain
shut until her own funeral takes place.
-Bernhardt, Salvini and Buffalo Bill
appeared at three Philadelphia theaters
on the same evening. Bernhardt' $
audience was small, aud Salvini's of
moderate size, while Buffalo Bill had n
crowded house. 81 did feel a little
anxious" said the latter, playing
againstsuch strong rivalry. but it turned
out all right. Oh, the public knows a
good thing when it sees it.
The big magazines, Hqrper's, Serb
ner'S and the atlantic, receive enough
manuscripts every day to make up an
entire number. This fact may help
some disappointed people to under
stand why it is that so many really good
articles have to be rejected, and It may
afford them means of guessing why 1t
is that the editor of magazine cannot
send detailed letter of explanation
with each rejected contribution.
Osage Valley banner., 1881-05-12
Collie.

With view of removing the cause
give first dose of physic, composed OF
an ounce each of aloes and carbonate OF
soda, dissolved in q pint of hot water,
and add to this solution an ounce OF
tincture Of ginger. Apply brisk friction
to the Hanks and the abdomen by means
of straw wisps, and repeat this at short
intervals. Lead the horse beside
another in a gentle trot. ten minutes at
time, every half hour, but not ia
gallop. If no other stimulant Is at
hand, give every half-hour, three
ounces of whisky in a pint Of water;
otherwise give half an ounce each Of
fluid extract of belladonna and aromatic
spirits OF ammonia and an ounce OF
laudanum, in pint OF cold water. Give
as often blood-warm injections OF soap
suds, one TO two quarts at a time. In
case there should be much iatulency
or bloating. give besides the above
mentioned laxative. dose composed OF
three drains Of aqua ammonia in pint
of cold water, every half hour, besides
abdominal friction, injections, and
walking exercise. When the symptoms
lessen In severity give every hour, until
all symptoms have disappeared, dose
of half an ounce each Of sweet spirits Of
inter, tincture of gentian, and tinotnre
or ginger in pint of water. After an
attack of collie the horse should not be
used for work that day or the following
twentY-four hours, and he should be fed
lightly on easily-digested food Feeding
the horse continually whole winter on
dry food, is wrong. On such feeding a
horse should have bran mash at least
twice week. and salt should be con
stantly placed within easy reach.--
National Live Stock JoHr7sai
Osage Valley banner., 1881-05-12
Worry

II you find yourself disposed 10 give
way to that mind-weakening happiness
destroying disease Of worry, try 10 re-
cuperate your nervous system, Go to
bed aud sleep your imaginary troubles
away If you cannot sleep, it is sign
that your blood is sluggish; your nerv-
Gus system is used up; your muscular
system has had little or no employment.
Then do something to tire the muscles
and start the blood. Do not fall into
the delusive snare of "gentle exercise,
that is admissible only for inyalids.
Whatsoever you do. do il with all your
might. Take q tramp on the hills; saw
wood; ride horseback; give fifteen min
utes 10 an Indian club or pair OF not
too heavy dumb-bellsi run; jump; any
thing TO exert your body and stop the
exertion OF your mind, TO set your mus
oles into exercise and give your nerves
a rest. Get into a glow and perspira-
tion, and make yourself feel thorough
ly, healthily tired. Then take bath,
get on clean clothes, eat a light meal
with a good appetite. and 60 TO bed;
and, ten chances to one, you will 60 TO
sleep and wake in the morning cheerful
and hopeful prepared 10 laugh at your
former melancholy.
The lives Of hogs are insured in
Prussia