davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1882-11-03

Mrs. Kemble vouchcs for the fact that
Thackeray, on the occasion of his first
delivery of lectures on "rhe -Four Geor-
ges, was, despite his great reputation
and undoubted genius, absolutely nm
manned by fear of his audience. This
accomplished lady happened to look i'll
fixed for Thackeray's reading, and to her
surprise she found the eminent satrist
standing, like forlorn, disconsolate
giant, in the middle of the room, staring
about him. "He held my hand like II
scared child" writes Mrs. Fanny KEN
BILE, 'crying, oh, don't leave me I'm
sick at my stomach with fright ~ But,
said !, 'Thackeray, You mustn't stand
here. Your audience are beginning to
come in :" and so saying Mrs. kemble
kindly led him out into the retiring room
adjoining the lecture hall.
The novelist had left the manuscript of
his lecture on the reading desk, and Mrs.
Kemble volunteered to recover it for him,
and in so doing scattered the leaves all
about the floor. In the greatest confu-
sion and distress she took the wreck of
his manuscript back to Thackeray,
thinking she had done some lrreparable
injury. The real kindness of heart of
"Mr. Titmarsh" showed itself at once.
MY dear SOUL" he said, 'you couldn't
have done better for me- have Just a
quarter of an hour to wait here, and it
will take me about that time to page this
again, and it's the best thing in the world
that could have happened. so ! left
him, adds the daughter of Charles KEN.
BILE, 'to give the first Of that brilliant
course Of literary historical essays with
which he enchanted and instructed count,
less audiences in England and America.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1882-11-03
AGypsy wedding.
From the san Francisco Bulleunl

1t WAS not at all like anything that has
ever been described i'll romance-not at all
like any thing that has evea, been told ''in
tale or history There was nothing of
the weird or vagabond about 1t. 1t was
II new departure Ill which the picturesque
gave miserably away to the commonplace.
1t was II wiping ont of one Of the color
iugs of the Middle Ages that has thus
far survived the heat and moisture of ever
advancing modern days Heretofore the
gypsies have held themselves aloof from
anything partakiug of civilization re-
naming separated from all other people,
and lespising Christianity, with an abid-
ing confidence ia astrologv. Leading II
uomadic life, nobody knows whence they
originally came. Centuries ago they
were found in India, long before they
reached Europe::; but how did they get
into India, and from what part of the
globe? 1t is II question that is constant
ly puzzling students of ethnology and
philology. They speak of language
not merely dialect-peculiar 10 them
selves they have no literature, and they
profess n knowledge of the hidden Sc
crets of the future. 1t is this mystery as
to their origin that gives them influence
with the credulous. 1t is this mystery
that has made them fascinating though
uuattractlve. characters IN modern ro-
munccs. They have been sung by poets
and been represented on the stage, and
they have among the most worthless OF
the human creation. This country has
known very little, If Indeed really any
thing, of them, but where they ARE known
they are a thievng, lying race uf beings
who live by prowling about and caioling
the ignorant. 1t is not pleasant picture
of them, although they look picturesque
on the brilliantly hued canvas of paint
ers.
There was wedding of two of these
strange people recently i'll Christian
Church in England. Al All encampmeut
of the Bohemians at n Fair held Mt Red
ditch, two of the "(iltanos" went to st.
Stephens and were married The bridal
party were conveyed to the portals. i'll
open carriages in the presence of an i'm
mense concourse of spectators. The
bride wasI Ilressed (of course this must be
described) in robe Of scarlet cashmere,
with a white bonnet and veil. The brides
maids were similarly attirei, with the
addition of white "Gainsborough" hats
and white feathers, She was attended
with two little four-year-old girls in
white, decorated with blue and red rib
bon. II is not stated how the bride
groom WAS attired, whether in regulation
or variegated costume; but at the con-
clusion Of the interesting ceremony the
bells rang merry peal, and both bride
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1882-11-03
The MILK Thistle.

The seeds are numerous, blackish and
shining, each being crowned with n tuft
Of stiffish down. They contain certain
quantity of OIL and have, therefore, been
sometimes used Ill rural medicine, but
their principal service, after the necessity
of obtaining supply Of the plant, seems
to be to provide welcome repast for the
goldfinch and several other seed and
grain-eating birds. Besides the use of
the seeds in emulsions, and the beauty of
the plant when transferred to the garden,
we are told that it may be eaten when
young as II salad, though this is q state
ment that we should rather demur to, as
even in their youngest seeding state they
have an aggressive and well-armed look
that would send one off to the lettuces in
preference. We are also given to under
stand that the young stalks, peeled and
soaked to take off little bitterness that
cannot quite be ignored, are excellent,
either boiled us table vegetable, or
baked in pies like rlpbarb stalks. This
may be 80, but it brings at once to our
mind similar statement rs to the culi-
nary virtues of the common stinging net
tie. We had read that stinging-
leaves made an excellent table vegetable,
so we one day determined to try them,
as any quantity of them were spring up
around our orchard. They were duly
prepared, and everybody said the kindest
things they could for them but-we new
er had them again. The subject wns
tacitly dropped, and we returned in all
true allegiance to our kitchen garden.
Pliny tells us, at is not thought worth
while to boil it, the cooking of it being SO
exceedingly troublesome, it is said. - This
leaves lis in very vague state of mind as
to whether the people who disliked the
trouble Of cooking it discarded it in con-
sequence or ate it raw. If we may at all
judge their feelings by our own they pro-
badly adopted the former course. Cul-
pepper says of the milk thistle, at
clcanscth the blood exceedingly and in
Spring, if you please to boil the tender
plant (but cut off the prickles unless you
have mind to choke yourself), it will
change your blood rs the season changeth,
and that is the way to be safe" West
macoti, too. writing in the year 1894, thus
sings its praises and laments "the good
old times at is Friend to the Liver
and Blood the Prickles cut off, they
were formerly used to be boiled i'll the
Spring and eaten with other herbs but
MS the World decays, so doth the Use of
good old things, and others more delicate
and less virtuous brought in. EdD,i'jM
WA EVauers
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1882-11-03

An observation OF Mr.. Bates, IN hi,
Naturalist ON the AmaZons, clearly shows
the purpose served of the "stridnlaton'
AS the faculty OF producing sound is
named in insects. A maze iield-cricket,
like some gay troubalour, has been seen
to take up his position nt the entrance of
his bulrow in the twilight. Loud and
clear sound his notes. until, ON the ap
proach of Il partner, lis song becomes
more subdued, softer and nll.expresslvr
IN its nature, and as the captivated and
charmed one approaches the singer She Is
duly caressed and stroked with his an
tenne as if by way OF commenlation for
her ready response to his love-notes
Thus insect courtship progresses much
ns III higher life, although, indeed, the
siren-nutes belong IN the present case to
the sterner SEX, and thus reverse the or.
der OF things III higher existence,
The esound-producing apparatusin these
insects consists OF II peculiar modification
of the wings, wiug.covers, and legs.
Thus the grass-hopper's song is due to
the friction produced by the first Joint of
the hind leg Tor thigh against the wing
covers or first pair of wiugs-a kind OF
mechanism which has been aptly com-
pared to il species Of vlulin-playing. On
the inner side OF the thigh II row OF very
tine-pointed teeth, numbering from eighty
TO ninety or more, Is found When the
wiug-covers or first wings are in turn in.
spected, their ribs or "nervures" are seen
to be very sharp and of projecting mt
ture, and these latter constitute the
strings" ss$o speak, of the violin.
Both "hddles" are not played upon sim
ultaneously the insect first uses one and
then the other-thus practising that ply.
siological economy which is so frequently
illustrated by the naturalists studies.
Some authorities, in addition, inform lis
that the base of the tail in these insects
is followed so ms to constitute veritable
sounding board, adapted to increase the
resonance Of the song. And this latter
faculty is still more plainly exemplfied
i'll certain exotic instincts allied to the
grasshoppers these foreign relations
having the bodies of the males distenled
with air for the purpose of increasing
and intensifying the sound. Again, while,
rs already remarked, it is the gentlemen.
insects which produce the sounds, there
exist few cases in which the ladv-in-
sects appear to emulate the violin play
ing instincts of their mates. -Belgrdria,
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1882-11-03
Maiden Meditation.

1lc dim September afternoon
| saw a maiden sweet and fair,
A. through the gathering twilight gloom.
In lDpscncd robe and iiOwlng hair,
She watched the ever-changing clouds
To fancy's castles rise and fall
And knew her thoughts were far away,
To Love, who on one summer day
Took an apple in his hand,
\ / threw II lightly to and FRO;
Thrn SAID. III II could understand
how you and had watched II grow.
WpuIi for us a secret tell,
Would II for Us the charm obey,
Il .vra to rs who love so well
Mhpa comes the happy wedding day"'
Then he sought the apples heart
with eager fingers found the seed.
''Nnw, sweetest. do not blush and start,
There are hui ilve-just 1--WE indeed!
These fve seeds mean i've days, my dear.
For IT'S an oracle that speaks
An. love She answered, ''li j. clear
The oracle intends 1t weeks.
Thr lest tu tender earnest grew;
They spoke OF marriage hopes and rares
Sure never hours 50 swiftly nrw,
Illppy tn, heart that with Love shares
The doubtful dreams of future days,
The trouble and the joy OF llfe'
Happy the IN Id TO whom Love says,
Come, bc a well beloved wife
And thus the Happy summer hours
She thinks oi, all alone, alone
For CLINT of gems and wedding bells
pom the AIR Will soon ne thrown,
AMI At the glah Than ksgivlng-ti1e
a happy wIie. not maid, she'll he.
For .luly's apple oracle
Five months. not weeks. has proved to be-
-HUpcr's Ba-d.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1882-11-03

FROM tue New ork sun.
A gray horse used by the st. Louis
Transfer Company in one of its teams is
an habitunl tobacco chewer.
A terrier dog at Americus, Ga. has for
saken his home and taken up his lot with
n herd Of goats, refusing to associate with
other CANNES.
Jealousy recently induced n large Ber-
lin dog to attack five-ycar-old boy. The
boy was pettng new lap dog when the
big dog jumped upon him and threw him
down. The lap dog going to the boys
assistance, was killed.
A novel fight occurred in stable in
Council Bluffs between stallion and Il
bull dog. The fight lasted more than an
hour and was 30 furious that no one
dared enter to interfere. After fatally
brusing the dog the horse threw it out
side the stall with its feet.
W. b. W. Daniels, Of Dublin, Ga.
was deer hunting recently. His dog
caught fawn. Daniels attempted to Sc
cure it,and the doe came to the rescue. He
dropped the fawn to catch the mother, but
after n desperate struggle she slipped from
his grasp and got away.
A lady at Branchville, n. j., one day
fed common brook turtle that had ap-
preached her door. Thereafter the turtle
paid frequent visits. This season the
animal brought mate with it, and the
hronL ," ,n ,,a a9, f"nn Nhtn;, s i'o''' ''''
W 'n' '' W o''"'n ioou'
A hght between toad and large
PACK SPIDER was recently, witnessed ut
Merrick, IL. L. Aiter each round the
TOAD hopped TO pialntaln leaf, bit OIL n
piece, ana then returned to the fray.
hiter TINS iiau occurred several tunes the
ie'i was taken away, and the toad, failing
u ma the leai, soon rolled over and
dieI'
Ihe distastefnl odor OF asaf1tida that
Virginia lady had placed under the
caves OF the porch ms disinfectant drove
away wren that had Just gone to the
housekeeping. For some days the bird
and her mate were observed to be very
busy, and 1t was soon discovered that
they had moved their nest twig by twig
to the opposite side of the portico.
AT wayside inn Ill the south of France
is roasting jack moved by animal power.
Two dogs turn the machine, working al
'eInn'eiy; one uay the aoe whose pro
PEI tuin ~ mas peinB absent, ihe o'Iei
Gus,,'' Gus Iuus,' ,sf,' aHo pu. On 'he "neei. II,
,i.. ,in;,iis. 'ei"s, :, .I.' no"e,oi' W woiA, niiu
arni,,ao1 oI Gnt snl' iroi ''las.ise'Ieh.f i
bio,'"ueu iho ',;aa; n"1 eneo.' aver some uelay
.no '''Ssinb uoe was iounu anu set 10 tht
t'sh' AiVoi ne ha', nearly competed tht
!op; he was ieiehseu anu ,he hrst trie,
usaih' ou tnu 'ne aniliai animals. 30 lately reGnsah'
n1m ,2i Jaeied no oPPosi'lon, ana maue the
VI, Mmeui ,ho 'soo,.e , VIA hearty gooo "heel
w irhn t,e ,, rnnst was h'.isheu.
,,,aah; he ;ay uiu. I"y is the ooiues. anu mos
nisnrrroas ,;iIe To'm i, VI wi,n pirus. Near hn9h
,nnu, ie, te;ueniy' .;y one was seen 70 ny
nu,,pe, ..et y, ';,hes 70 lleli picket renee
@ 10 n.'r"Gr T Pa,r ., o. h,!.ehs % piaying on the
,a tamn, al Il ne ., hl.'ei's inaiiy nouhtea lhe
renee anu peS"n ,Gaau'iousapproach IRON
to within s;ghteer ;ncbes than honnof
oyer ho,woan tho tvn Tho sacand I;t,a,
i ] -N NN''' ''''s.i
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1882-11-03
Origin Of Names,

The Baxters belong to the same class
as the Masons, the Carpenters, the Tny-
lors, the Smiths, the GARDENERS, and the
Fullers. In fact, the surnames derived
from trades or occupations are more nu-
merous than those of any other class.
except patronymics and place-names,
Some of them belong to existing trades,
like those quoted above while Others
represent obsolete trades, or at least oh
solete trade terminology, like the Fletch-
ers, or arrow makers, the Arblasters, who
manufactured cross-bows or arblasts (ar-
cubalistp), and the fuckers, who worked
IN the tucking-m mills where cloth was pre-
pared for market. Those who wish for
further information upon these subjects
cannot do better than turn to Mr.. Bards-
ley's excellent and Systematic work on
English surnames. A man who bakes il
called Baker but i'll earlier times a wo.
man who baked was called Bakester,
or Baxter. So n man who brews is Il
Brewer, while II woman who brews is q
Brewster. In medieyal English the ter.
mination "ster' was n feminine one and
it still survives with its primitive signif.
cation in spinster A huckster was orgi
nally q marketwoman, but the word has
now come to mean anybody, male or fe'
male, who hawks goods in the public
streets. The same change has come ovei
maltster, throwster, and II any other anal
ogous words. But sundry surnames viii
show us the two forms side by side, as il
Webber and Webster. Hence we may
conclude that the ancestor of all the Bax
ters WAS woman who kept n bake house
Why her descendants should take theil
name from her, rather than from theil
father, is easy enough to understand oi
number of natural hypotheses. Joal
Baxter may in one place have been II wild
ow woman, whose children would, o
course, be called after her in another
place she might be person of some char
acter, while her husband was field labor
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1882-11-03
The thiid IN u Printing Office

Who is the Man that is Looking So
hard at the Piece Of Paper? He is an
Intelligent CumpositOr Why does he
hold the Paper SO close to his Eyes
Because the Correspondent that wrote il
makes Hen tracks. What is he saving
He is saving 81 can't make ont this
stun. And who is the Other Man going
TO the Case? That is the Furious Fore
man. What does he Want? He is au
ing to Help the Intelligent Composite,
dcciphcr the hen Tracks DO yon Think
he Can do it? don't know he can uu
most Anything, but Guess that will be
Too Much for him. Now see an Other
man Coming. What is he going to do
That is the Precise Proof Reader He i.
gong to Cast his eagle Eye over the Hen
Tracks to See where they Lead to- Do
You think He can Find out? No. not
without Guide or Calcium light.
Now, here comes Another man-whp is
the Man? That Is the Able Editor.
Where did he come from? From lis
Den. Now all the Men are close togctl.
cr-see their Heads most touch-ani
they are Looking every One OF them at
the Piece Of Paper. What do they ,lu
That for? Because they Are Cnucrl-
trating their Giant Intellccts upon the
piece OF Paper to see What the hen Track
Correspondent means by his Hicroriy-
phics. Have they found ont? No they
are stumped. Now they are going Away
from the Case. Yes. And one Of the
Men has chucked the piece of Paper into
the Stove. Why does he do That? Be.
cause he cant read the hen Tracks. Who
Is the Small Boy that hns Grin on his
Face, and his Hat turned up in Front
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1882-11-03
lBy the Author of "Dsro'hy."

lBy the Author OF "DsrOihy.'
on the grave AMI gloomy quiet at the closing OF the
dly
When ihe sun has long gone down,
Not IN spleniors Of his own, -
i.u behind veil oi yapOr vaguely vanishing away
With Il wrath Of ilmy cloud,
creased and wrnkled, to enshroud
\ the glow that he should give us at the Closing OF
the day.
ul, the stern and solid quiet at the closing OF the
diy!
When the purple furrows gleam
cola and stcely, and the team
lptcrs hOmcwafd, and the hawthorn blooms III
hlnoddrOps not In May
When the harvest months are done,
And the autumn rains begun,
Ahd The black earth rceks Win Odors at the CLOSING
ol the day.
on the dim and solemn quiet at the closing of the
day
When the leaves are dropping slow,
And the wet birds come and go
ThrOuph the hedges and white winter is already
on lis way:
When the smoke OF smoulderlng tates,
Loosely borne on tagging airs,
Frets the nosrils with its SAVIOR at the closing OF
the LAY.
Oh the grim and glostly quiet at the closing of the
daN'
When the cattle cease 10 move.
And the trees stand close above,
AMI the mounds about The churchSard lie unshad-
owed ia the gray
When the soul that dwCls aiOne
Finds sadness like its own
IN the heart OF Mother Nature at the closing OF the
day.
--.Ithr MpnJy.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1882-11-03

and bridegroom were covered with rice.
regardless Of quantity or expense. No
old Shoe however, was thrown after
them. But they had bountiful wedding
DINNER at convenient inn, at which beer
was free to ali who applied for it, Connie
songs were sung hand organs ground
out Mrs from grand masters, the cncamp-
ment broke mp, and tine happy couple
with their numerous friends, started of
on bridal tuur.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1882-11-03
4 Joint snake seen In Florida.

II IVIII TTIT Is7Ik7 IsT1II7 bFIIII- 7 TIITIV'I
glass snake, or "iointer," was killed
near our. door yesterday morning. The
snake appears to be very brittle, and as
tonishes one with the facility with which
it breaks short off when hit. When cut
up into pieces Of three or four inches
each piece shows the greatest activity for
a long time, altogether unlike that OF
any other reptile IT is said that the
pieces will come together and the snake
resume its normal condition, but we did
not zee this
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1882-11-03

er or a neer-do-well, and in another,
again, there might be two Piers Gard
ners or two Wat Carriers in the same vii
lage, 30 that it might be more convenient
to describe the youngsters by their moth
er's calling than by their father's-forn-
hW Magazine.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1882-11-03
The counsel for the railroad company ha,

The counsel for the railroad company has
been settling with the widows of two guards
who had been killed in the company's SER
vice. "Oh, sir said the widow. at
seems to me that you could allow me more
than that !" "Wc can not, madame Your
husband was guard, like the other, and he
came to his death under similar circumstances
--thoy were both run over and killed instant
ly,""I know, but he was killed by the light
ming express, and the other man was run over
by a way freight"
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1882-11-03

the public roads should be taken care of
and appear better than amy private
grounds. II this care has not been al
ready extended, it is not vet too late to
begin. .-CDuntIy Gcnticb,an.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1882-11-03

Mr.. Wilkinson has preserved, OF rath-
er brought to light, IN the notes OF his
forthcoming poem on Daniel Webster,
the following characteristic letter al
dressed to his farmer, John Taylor. The
poet adduces the letter i'll illustration Of
the noble, simple ways" of Webster.
When YOU consider that it was written ia
the last year of Wchst,r's life. amid the
public cares and distractions OF his office
at Washington, it acquires added inter-
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1882-11-03


JOHN Taylor am glad TO hear from
you again, and to learn that You are all
well, and that yuur teams and tools are
ready fur Springs work, whenever the
weather will allow Won to begin. | some
times read books on farming, and | re-
member that very old author advises
farmers ITO plough naked, and to SOW
naked. BY this he means that there Is
no Use in beginning Springs work till
the weather is warm, that farmer NAV
throw aside his winter clothes, and roll
mp his sleeves. Yet he SAYS we ought To-
begin as early i'll the year as possible
lie wrote some very pretty verses On the
subject, which, as far as remember. run
thus
|While vet me sprng i Young Earth unhnl-
Her frozen bosom to the western winds:
While III uutalu SHOWS Dissolve Agal = the sun
ind streams, yet new, from prccipccs run
E''n IN thls early dawnlng Of the year
Produce the plough and yoke the sturdy steer,
Ana gnai HIM, til he smoke beneath his toll
And the bright share j. buried IN the soil
John Taylor, when Won read those
lines, doyou not see the snow melting,
and the little streams beginning to run
down the southern slopes Of your Punch
Brook pasture, and the new grass start
ing and growing in the trickliug water.
all green and bright and beautiful? And
do You not see your Durham oxen smok-
ing from heat and perspiraiion, us they
draw along your great brcaklug-up
plough, cutting and turning over tile
tough sward in your meadow, in the
great field?
The name OF this sensible author j,
Virgil, and he gives farmers much other
advice, some of which you have been
following all this winter, without ever
knowing that he had given it.