davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1881-04-14
Mrs. sprague in the Senate.

The Cincinnati Gazette's account
of the Malone speaking says: In
the Senator's gallery there were two
long benches reserved. One OF
these is generally set apart for the
family Of the President. The pur-
pose for wIJlch the other was re-
served did not appear, but soon.
through the doors which were closed
to others, Mrs. Kate Chase Sprague
entered, with considerable family
retInue, and occupied portion Of
seat reserved by the colored messen-
ger in attendance. She was scarce
" less the centre of attraction be-
fore the hour of twelve than after
ward was the little giant from Vir
ginia himself. Care does not sit
lightly upon Mrs. Sprague. The
harassings publicity given to3her do
mestic affairs is beginning to leave
its mark upon her. Her face il
thinner, and there are lines Of pair
and sadness upon it. Her eyes
once so wonderful for their bright
aesa, have lost something Of theil
lustre, and there was a srbdued anc
quiet air, which was not witnessed
in her more fortunate days. Yet
the face and form and carriage
which have marked her among the
most noted of Washington society
ladies for years make her still s
central figure, an object of grea'
interest in the galleries, and a per-
son to whom hundreds of curious
eyes were turned.
The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1881-04-14
Lhe 1irsside.
A Star in the Crown.

A young lady was preparing for
a party and standing before large
mirror, placed a hight crown, orna-
mented with silver stars upon her
head. While thus standing, a little
fairheaded sister climbed in a chair
and put up her tiny fingers to ex-
anime the beautiful head-dress, and
said, II was looking at that and
thinking of something else"
"Pray, tell me what you are
thinking about--you, q little child"
81 was remembering that my
Sabbath school teacher said, that If
we save sinners by our influence We
should win stars to our crown in
Heaven; and when / saw those
stars in your crown, l wished l
could save some souls"
The elder sister went to the par
ty, but in solemn meditation; the
words of the innocent child found q
lodging in her heart, and she could
not enjoy the association OF her
friends. At a reasonable hour she
left and returned to her home; and
going to her chamber, where her
dear little sister was sleeping, i'm
printed a kiss upon her soft cheek
and said: Precious sister, you
have won one star for your CROWN"
then kneeling at the bed side, offer
ed a fervent prayer to God for
mercy.
The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1881-04-14
Pearls Of Thought.

Youth looks at the possible; age
at the probable.
Charms strike the sight, but mer-
it wins the soul.
Virtue itself otfends when COUP
led with forbidding manners.
There is but one kind Of love, but
there are thousand copies Of it.
One may ruin himself by frank
ness, but one surely dishonors him
self by duplici.y.
There are two hundred and sew
enty Sunday schools In this State.
Nothing can constitute good
breeding that has not good nature
for its foundation.
1t is more honorable to acknowl-
edge our faults than to boast of our
merits.
1t is easier to. suppress the first
desire than to satisfy all that follow
it.
Much charity which begins at
home is too feeble to get out of doors
and much that begins outdoors
never gets into the home circle.
The failure of one man is the Op.
portunity of another.
Men with missions do not dissp-
pear until they have fulfilled them.
A mans character is like fence
it cannot be strengthened by white
wash.
The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1881-04-14
Growth.

Growth is gladdening. He who
grows in holiness grows in joy.
Spiritual strength brings gladness.
1t is a poor, half hearted religion
not spiritual power, but the want Of
it-that breeds gloom. The con.
sciousness that a man is becoming
stronger in his faith, clearer In his
convictions, warmer in his love,
must, from its very nature, be q
glad consciousness. And the hope
of greater strength yet to be attain
tanned, of loftier heights, yet to be
reached, is more joyous still. A
story is told Of Thorwaldsen, the
sculptor, that on one occasion when
he was adding a few finishing
touches to one Of bis masterpieces
q statue of Christ-a friend called
upon him in a veryidepressed and
desponding mood. On inquiring
the cause of this unusual and ap-
parently untimely depression, the
sculptor gave this singular answer;
pointing to his work, he said, 81
can see no fault in it; my genius is
decaying; it is the first of my works
that 1 have felt satisfied with"
The suspicion that his genius had
reached the utmost matur-
ity of its power, might well sadden
a man who was enthusiastically de.
voted to his art.
The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1881-04-14
Proverbs.

The idle are dead to all Of life's
real uses.
No man is wise or safe but he
that is honest.
Strength with men is insensibili-
ty; greatness is pride, and calmness
indifference.
How independent of money peace
of conscience is, and how much hap
piness can be condensed in the hum
blest home!
He who is false to present duty
breaks a thread in the loom and
will find a flaw when he may have
forgotten its cause.
One Of the most effectual ways OF
pleasing and making ones self low
ed, Is to be cheerful; JOY softeps
more hearts than tears.
What do "talents" amount to in
man who is devoid of moral prin-
ciples? He is just that much more
like the devil, and just that much
more to be avoided.
81 forget q great many things
which happened last year." said q
little girl, the tears running down
her cheeks; "but l cannot forget
the angry words I spoke to my dear
mother, who is now dead" NY
dear children let your prayer be.
"Set a watch, o Lord, before my
mouth; keep the door of my lips" "
The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1881-04-14
A Good Word for a Brave Man.

Gen. Hancock's arrival in the
Capitol at five o'clock yesterday
afternoon created considerable more
sensation and enthusiasm among a
certain class of the population than
the advent of his victorious oppo-
nent. Fully fifteen thousand peo-
pie met him at the depot, took the
horses from his carriage after he
entered it, and drew him up Penn
sylvania avenue in triumph. The
crush and cheering were both ter
rifle, and the General must have
enjoyed the thing hugely, to see
that the popular tumult proclaimed
him something more than a defeat
ed candidate. He looked almost a
victor as he was drawn along, men,
boys and women yelling them
selves hoarse, and soldiers throwing
their caps in the air with vocifierous
shouts of "Hurrah for Hancock
1t was the most enthusiastic demon
stration, taking all in all, that has
been accorded a public man in
Washington for many a day. Ot
course no disrepect was intended
toward the President elect, but he
could not help feeling that he could
not have evoked the same amount
of enthusiasm, arriving under simi-
lar circumstances.
The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1881-04-14
A Magnificent Future for the South.

The magnificent future in store
for the South by virtue of her i'm
mense advantage both of soil and
climate is just dawning upon the
Southern mind in a practical way
AS result there appears general
disposition to ignore the old stale
ideas that have been like an i'm
movable burden upon all its indus
tries and welcome capital and labor
upon the same terms and with the
same cordiality accorded them in
the former free States. When this
is done, an impetus to development
will be given that vast territory,
now so sparsely settled by agricul-
turist and small planters in home.
spun garments, that will bring hel
almost at one stride abreast of her
most favored northern sisters and
fill two continents with amazement
In agricultural and mineral resours
ces she exceeds Great Britain and
France combined; no finer climate
than hers is found in the same lati
tude in either hemisphere and hel
native adoption of soil to the growth
of cotton, rice, and sugar mark hel
for an unrivalled productiveness
Her manufacturing industries which
are just coming into notice, will find
an inexhaustible store of raw mate
rial to supply their operations and
n sure return for the labor expend
ed that will rapidly multiply theil
capacity. With liberal Ideas of the
worth and wealth of labor and ar
honest acceptance of the fact thai
with her, old things have forever
passed away, the South will have
no limit to her productiveness bu
the energy of her people, no bounds
to her manufacturing industries bu
the possibilitie 8 of profitable.
The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1881-04-14
Slang.

Dear girls; you do not chew to-
baceo or drink whisky; you are not
beset with these temptations. But
are you temperate in all things!
Are you temperate in your speechi
Do you never use extravagant
words or slang phrases? Don't do
it. They are not modest; they are
not lady-like. They cultivate a
want of reverence for the truth-a
want of respect to parents--a light
estimation of true greatness, fash
ionable profanity. They are one Of
the modern improvements for en-
snaring the young, patented by the
Evil One. They seem harmless at
first, but by and by they eat into
the soul-poisoning it with trlaing
thoughts Of Gods word, death and
eternity. These develop doubt and
unbelief.
The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1881-04-14
Value Of Soup.

There ARE hundreds of families
who are ignorant of the nutritious
value of soup, and of the ease and
|cheapness with which it may be
prepared.
It can be made of almost any
thing, and a pot of water placed on
the stove may be the recipient Of
divers odds and ends Of meat and
vegetables to excellent advantage
After these have been boiled a few
hours, there will be found in the pot
q very good soup, wholesome, nour-
ishing, appetizing, and its cost will
be nominal.
If the experiment were tried,
many families would be surprised
and pleased at the result. They
would have much better dinner
| for almost nothing than they have
hitherto had any idea Of, and once
accustomed to soup, they could no,
be persuaded to relinquish II. a
simple soup benefits at once health
appetite and the purse.
The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1881-04-14
Mrs. johnston Rem arks.

The Washington correspondent of
the Alexandria Gazette tells the
following characteristic story of
Mrs. Senator John p. Johnston, of
Virginia:
The wife of Senator Johnston oc-
cupied seat in the reserved gal
lery of the Senate yesterday during
the delivery of her husbands
speech, While attentively listen
ing to what he was saying, she
heard a man sitting behind her
make remark to a friend to the
effect that. though Mr.. Johnston
professed TO be such an ultra Dem
ocrat now, he had been an Old
Line Wing and Know-Nothing.
She instantly turned toward him,
and addressing him said loud
enough for those sitting near to
hear: "You are entirely mistaken
Mr.. Johnston was born Democrat,
raised a Democrat, is Democrat
now, and will die d Democrat. This
| / ought to know, because l am his
wife,
The individual she addressed
begged her pardon, but soon lost all
interest IN the proceedings and lef,
the gallery, or at least that part
lot it,
The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1881-04-14
Cotton Crop Prospects.

A correspondent of the New York
Commercial Bulletin addresses the
following letter to that paper from
Spartansburg, S. c., under date of
March 81:
1t is about time that persons who
have much at stake in cotton should
begin to take practical view of the
coming crop. am now, and have
been all my life, engaged in plant
ling cotton, and will give my views
for what they are worth. In the
first place, l think the coming crop
will be month later than last
years crop, owing to the difference
IN the temperature of the soil. The
winter of last year was mild and
open throughout, and the warm,
spring soil caused the early planted
seed to come up right.. away, with q
good stand and grow off rank and
lnxuriant, giving assurance Of an
early crop and promise of good
yield, which last was in part thwar-
ted by the bad weather in the fall
picking season. Snow, sleet and
rain having alternated throughout
the whole Of the winter, with al
times heavy freezes of the soil, all
of which also prevented much pre-
paration, as blowing, clearing and
manuring for the next crop; so diff
erent from last year! The peacf
trees were in bloom here by the first
of March, 1880. This the twenty
first day Of March, 1881, finds these
just ready to bloom, and yet there
was a heavy frost this morning
Other vegetation shows the like diff
ference. Besides, the land and
streams are full Of water, and wher
the fields, particularly in the Low
lands, will be dry and warm enough
to give a stand OF cotton, am una
BILE to say. But / do say that
look for a late planted crop Of cot
ton this spring, bad stands, sor'
shin, more grass than labor, ant
wet low lands, if not DESTRUCTIVE
freshets, all of which will make tn,
crop much later. The yield, how
ever, will be more fully determined
by the weather OF aext summer ant
fall.
The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1881-04-14
Chained Himself.
Dallas, Texas letter says:


A tragic death has just occurred
in our neighboring county Of Hill,
worth relating and worty of Virgin
ius or any other Roman father. One
year ago George Arnold came to
Texas on private business, and
while walking the streets was bit
ten by worthless cur which was
frothing at the mouth and showing
other symptoms Of hydrophobia.
Mr.. Arnold became alarmed, and
very much excited when convinced
in his own mind. He went to a
physician and had the wound Sc
verely cauterized. Then, going
home, he was still very uneasy, and
dreaded hydrophobia SO much that
he hunted up a maidstone and had
it applied for several weeks, off an
on. He took every other precau-
tion which was suggested, resting
all the time under mortal dread
that the virus had gone into his
system and would sooner or later
kill him. He had a wife and sever
al small children living on a rather
isolated farm, and the thought that
he might suddenly lose his reason
and harm his little babes, Mortified
him. The other day he began to
experience strange feelings, and at
once concluded his time had come.
He then procured a twelve-foot
trace chain and strong lock, and
went to the woods. After writing
his wife calm letter, in which he
told her what was about to happen,
giving directions as to his wishes
after death, and pouring out vol
ume of love for her and her chill
dren, he ran the chain around a
tree, drew it through the large ring
at the end. and then wound the 9th
er end around his ankle so tight
that it would not slip the foot, lock-
ed it with the lock and threw the
key far beyond his reach. The
body was found two days after still
chained to the tree. There was all
the evidence necessary to show the
horrible death from hydrophobia
The ground was torn up to the full
length of the chain, the nails Of the
fingers wrenched off and all bis
front teeth out in scratching and
biting the tree, and every thread OF
clothing off his body.
The body was dreadfully lacera-
ted with these, the only weapons the
mad man could use He had judg-
ed rightly what would have been
the consequence had he remained
at home, and knowing that there
was no human skill that could have
cured him, preferred death alone,
and in that way to doing harm to
those so near and dear to him as a
wife and child.
Arnold was originally from Talla-
dega, Ala, where he married. and
where his widow has many friends
and relatives.
The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1881-04-14
Keep Outside Railings.

Gentlemen having business td
transact in place of business al
ways keep outside of ratings in an
office. Some persons are so igno
rant that when they see a railing
put up by men to keep people away
from their desks, that they are moi
happy unless they can crowd IL
where they are not wanted ano
where they have no business. X
crowd into retired place, squat
with one leg on a desk, smoke stink
ing tobacco, and begin to tell slang
stories, bother clerks, disarrange
papers and stand about to listen t
what is said, marks loafer rathel
than business man. One great rea.
son why so:many business men fail..t'
that they permit their offices to be
come resorts for loafers.
The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1881-04-14
HAD BEEN con lMsED.

hAD onsN ~SN I'M ~.
proceeded with them (I being
one of the guard) only few hun
dred yards. when we we've ordered
To halt and await further orders,
and in few moments freshly
mounted squad Of fifteen men.
commanded by a Lientenant and
equipped for a raid, approached US
with orders from Colonel Mosby
that we should be relieved from
care of the prisoners. Among the
number of the relief guard was an
intimate friend of mine, to whom /
related the circumstances in con-
nection with the Lieutenant, and
also informed him that he was a
Freemason. Being anxious toslearn
their destination, | questioned him
about the recent order, and he in
formed me that t,ev4had been COM
manded to take the prisoners across
the mountains.and as near to Sheir-
idan's headquarters as possible,
and there to hang them. He
promised me that he would do
all that he could consistently
with duty in behalf of the con-
demned officer. They then pro-
ceeded on their way, and several
days elapsed before heard any
thing of their movements. On
meeting with my friend he gave me
the following particulars. They
reached Paris on the same night
after leaving, and were met there by
Captain Mountjoy, who was return
ing from the valley with
BATCH OF PRISONERS.
Being a friend of Mountjoy's, be
took the first opportunity of inform
| ing him of the situation of the
Lieutenant, and also informed him
that he was a Freemason, and re-
quested him to save him. Upon
hearing this, Mountjoy requested
an interview with the officer, and
Immediately afterward he crossed
the street to where he kept his own
prisoners, and returned with two of
them. These he presented to the
officer in charge of the prisoners as
two of Clusters men, whom he wish
ed to substitute for the Lieutenant.
After some hesitation, and with the
condition that Mountjoy should as
sumo all responsibility, the ex-
change was made. The officer, af-
ter returning earnest thanks for his
life, was hastily transferred to a
batch of prisoners under the care
of a sergeant, who was told to make
all possible haste to Gordonville,
and specially to get out of 'Mosby's
dominions' before the break Of day.
The Others met their fate"
The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1881-04-14
Senator Edmunds ran afoul Of

Senator Edmunds ran afOul Of a
News and Courier reporter in
Charleston, S. G., and assured his
interviewer that the people of the
North have no dislike Of the South
"They simply have distrust. The
only way to overcome that distrust
and induce an influx of capital and
class Of intelligent laborers, is to
give every man the right to have
and exercise his own opinion and
even to undergo the inconvenience
OF allowing every man one yote.'
The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1881-04-14

A woman,s Question.

\ Woman's Question.
Do you know that you have asked for the
costliest thing
Ever made by the Hand above
A woman's heart and woman's life,
And woman's wonderful love.
Do you know that you have asked for this
priceless thing
As child might ask for toy?
Demanding what others have died to win
With the reckless dash Of boy.
You have written my lesson OF duty out,
Man like, you have questioned me
Now stand at the bar OF my woman's soul
Until l shall question thee.
You require your mutton shall always b,
hot,
Your shirts and your socks shall b.
| whole;
I require your heart shall be true as God
| stars,
And pure as heaven your soul.
| Yon require cook for your mutton ant
beef;
| j require q lar Dettef thlng..
A seamstress you're wanting for stocking
and shirts,
] look for man and king.
A king for beautiful realm called home
And man that the maker, God,
Shall look upon as he did the first,
And say 'it is very good"
I am fair and young but the rose will fad,
From my soft, young cheek. one day;
| Win you love me then, mid the tallin.
| leaves,
| As you did mid the bloom of May?
| Is your heart an ocean so strong and deeI
may launch my all on its tide2
A loving woman finds heaven or hell
On the day she is made bride.
/ require all things that are grand and
All things that man should be;
If you give this all, would stake my lift
10 be all you demand OF me.
II you cannot do this, alaundress and cool
You can hire, with little to pay;
But woman's heart and woman's life
Are not to be won that way.
The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1881-04-14
How Two Buffalo Girls Saw
| Rernhardt.

A curious incident occurred this
evening at the Academy of Music.
The appearance of Sarah Bernhardt
in "Camille' for the one evening
only had caused the price of the Or
binary reserved seats on the ground
floor to be raised from 81 to SO,
while the charge for admission to
the second gallery was but 81. Two
young women of good families here,
one sixteen and the other eighteen
years old, were very anxious to see
the Bernhardt, but could not afford
to pay the price Of admission to
any part of the house except the
upper gallery, in which their pride
or fear of recognition would not
permit them to appear an propria
persona. So they blackened their
faces, concealed their features as
much as possible with their wraps,
and undertook to pass themselvesOf,
for one evening only, as negresses.
They occupied front seats in the
gallery, and in spite Of their efforts
the ruse was speedily seen through
by every one who glanced at them.
Their associates, the gods" be-
hayed we'll enough during the pro-
gress of the play, but between the
acts became so hilarious and dem
onstrative as to attrack the atten-
tion of the entire audience, and the
house rang with laughter and ap-
plause. AT length, at the close of
the third act, attachee of the theatre
went to the girls and offered them
seats in the balcony below. They
preferred, however, to leave the
theatre. 1.-THE door they were ar
| rested-on what charge is not very
clear-but at The station house they
told their story, proved their re-
spectabllity and were discharged
| " y. WO5I3
The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1881-04-14
1--WE Knew.


If we knew the cares and crosses,
Crowding round our neighbors way
Ii we knew the little losses,
Sorely grievous day by day.
Would we then so often chide him
For the lack Of thrift and gain,
Leaving on his heart shadow,
Leaving on his heart stain?
If we knew the clouds above US,
Held by gentle blessings there,
Would we turn away, all trembling,
In our blind and weak despair?
Would we shrink from little shadows
Lying on the dewy grass,
While It's only birds Of Eden,
Just In mercy flying past?
Let lis reach into our bosoms
For the key to other lives,
And with love toward the erring,
Cherish good that still survives;
So that when our disrobed spirits,
Soar to realms Of light again,
Neaaay say, "Dear Father, judge us,
As we judge our fellow-men."
The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1881-04-14

Man was not created for some
dazzling end; but for culture, con-
tinual steady moral power. The at
tainment of our destiny is not
reached by any particular formoflife
but by continual development and
unwearied use. We were not made
for such or such a good, but for
perpetual culture.
The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1881-04-14

The setting Of great hope is
like the setting of the sun. The
brightness of our life is gone, shad-
ows of the evening fall behind us,
and the world seems but dim refiec-
ton itself-a broader shadow. We
look forward into the lonely night;
and soul withdraws itself. Then
stars arise. and the night is holy.
The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1881-04-14

We should often have reason to
be ashamed of our brilliant actions
if the world could see the motives
from which they spring.
The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1881-04-14

We appreciate no pleasure unless
we are occasionally deprived of
them. Restraint il the golden rule
|of enjoyment.