davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
St. Landry democrat., 1882-11-25
What He Ought to DO.

The following question is put to us by
a lad of this city:
8 If young boy should find on his desk at
business a ten-dollar bill, and. afr having
asked about it, found that it belonged TO no
one, would it be stealing ii he kept the mon
ey2 What would it be his duty t9 !. do G,,,,,,n.
Because you find something, that does
not make it your property, Robert. 1t
belongs to the person who lost it. and
your duty is to discover the real owner,
if you can.
Do not try to humble your conscience
by making a mere pretense OF searching
for the owner. OF course you want to
have the ten dollars for yourself. It is
a very handsome sum of money for a
boy. Therefore, we shall not ask you
to be particularly jolly if you find the
owner. You would not be human If
you were. The truth is, you do not
want to find him. s5E3 s5.,. Is.
Y Yet you want to be honest, at the
same time hoping that the owner will
not turn up and carry off the bill. Your
temptations to be less thorough 'niiyour
search for him than your. conscience
bids you to be are. therefore, great
But you can't really humbug Your con-
science. 1t will trouble you, and trouble
you the more the better boy you are. II
you keep that money without making 9
thoroughly honest attempt to find the
owner Of the ten dollars. You will be
afraid Of his dropping upon You some
day and demanding his money. You
will almost feel as. if you had stolen
something. To keep what you have
found when you have failed to discover
the loser is not stealing by any means.
but keeping the property without max
inc due search for him is dishonesty.
We advise YOU, for the sake OF your
peace of mind and your love OF what is
fair and honest, to act about the ten
dollar bill you picked up on your desk
as you would have another boy act il
YOU had lost the money yourself.
Think how you would want him to do,
and then you will know what you
ought to do yourself.
It is very dangerous thing for boys,
or grown people either, for that matter,
to tamper with their innate perceptions
of right and wrong--to hunt for defen-
ses for any departure from the strictest
line of rectitude.
Stick to. the truth, Robert. Always
be square and above board. Avoid ev-
erything crooked and tricky And ncy-
er confuse your ideas of what is due to
truth and honesty by arguing about
what you might be tempted or forced to
do untter extreme circumstances. 1t is
enough that the law is the law OF truth.
Every man and every boy knows that
| in his own heart. IN 7. Sun.
St. Landry democrat., 1882-11-25
Bill Apps Baby Talk.

The poet hath said that "a baby in
the house is well-spring of pleasure. "
There is a bran new one here now, the
first in eight years, and it has raised
powerful commot.on. It's not our
baby, exactly, but it is in the line OF
descent, and Mrs. Arp takes on over it
all the same as she used to when she
was regularly in the business. / thought
maybe she had forgot how to nurse EN-
and talk to EN-, but she is singing the
same old familiar songs that have sweet
ened the dreams of half q score, and
she blesses the little eyes and sweet
little mouth, and uses the same imam
tile language that nobody but babies
understand. For she says .'tum here
to its danmudder,' and s.bess its little
heart, and talks about its sweet little
footsy -tootsies, and holds it up to the
windows to see the wagons 60 by and
the wheels going rouny-pouny, and
now my liberty is curtailed, for as 60
stamping around with my heavy farm
shoes she shakes her ominous finger at
me just as she used to do, and says
don't you see the baby is asleep. and SO
( have to tip-toe around, and ever and
anon she wants little fire, or some hot
water. or little catnip. for the baby is
a-crying and surely has got the collie.
The doors have to be kept shut now for
fear Of draft OF air on the baby, and
little hole in the windoW-pane about
as big as dime had to be patched, and
have to hunt up a passed. OF kin'lings
every night and put EN- where they
will be handy, and they have sent me
off to another room where the baby
can't hear me snore. and all things con-
sidered the baby is running the ma
chine, and the well-spring Of pleasure
is the center of space.
A grandmother is O wonderful help,
and great comfort at such a time as
this, for what does a young motherwit
her first child know about collie, and
thrash, and hives, and hiccups, and it
takes good deal of faith to dose 'em
with suet tea, and eatnip, and lime water,
and paregoric, and soothing strip, and
sometimes with all OF these the child
gets worse, and if it gets better I've al
ways had a curiosity to know which
remedy iG was that did the work. Chill
| dren born of healthy parents can stand
a power of medicine and get over it. for
after the cry comes the sleep, and sleep
is a wonderful restorer.
Rock 'enl awhile in the cradle, and
then take EN- up and jolt EN- little
on the knee, and then turn EN- over and
jolt 'em on the other side, and then
give 'em some sugar in a rag, and after
awhile they will 60 to sleep and let the
poor mother rest. There is no patent
on this business, no way of raising EN-
! all the same way, but It is trouble,
trouble from the start. and nobody but
ia mother knows how much trouble ii
lis. A man ought to be a mighty good
man just for his mothers sake, if moth
ling else, for there is no toll or trouble
like nursing and caring for a little
child, and there is no grief SO great as
4 a mother, !. il all her care and anxiety
ARE wasted on an ungrateful child. --Att'
| tQaat0 Constitution
St. Landry democrat., 1882-11-25
Our Young Readers.
MoLLY,s TROUBLE.

Beneath the old tree near the well
Wee Molly. Dolly, Polly Gray
A lovely red-cheeked apple found
One beautiful October day.
She looked at it with longing eyes
moment, then she gave sigh.
And sitting down upon the ground
StraightWay began to cry.
With hurried steps her mother came,
- What is the matter, ehild?" to say.
sob dear! this apple is SO big,
Sobbed Molly, Dolly, Polly Gray;
sAnd faster fell her tears, as though
Hers was the saddest OF all phghts-
$. My mouf' $ so small I've got to take
Such y-little-bites.
Margaret EDtin1e, IN Edrper's Young People.
St. Landry democrat., 1882-11-25
4 woman Of Charlestown, Mass,

A woman Of Charlestown, Mass.
while nursing her dying father, beg n
to abuse the five other children, anu
vowed that they should never have
cent Of the old mans estate, as she
would control him in making will.
He bequeathed all his property TO her.
as she had said, but her own words
have been accepted in court as proof
that she unduly influenced his en-
feebled mind, and the will has been set
aside. BOSTON Post
Connecticut western news., 1882-09-13
Grain and Stock SpeculatOrs.

If 8 perfect stranger were to propose to person that the latter should send him a sum of money to use as he might see fit and return or not, as he pleased, the person receiving the proposal would be very unlikely to accede to it. Yet persons calling themselves commission merchants, in our large cities, send out thousands of circulars asking that money be intrusted to them-entire strangers which they may use in "grain deals , or speeulations, or in stock deals of the same kind. Sums of $25 and upward are asked for for this purpose. It is having too great and altogether unwar- ranted faith in human nature to believe that professional gambler would deal honestly with such foolish persons as might fall into his net. No person would entertain the idea of giving his money to strangers for any safe business, and how much less should he do 1t for the most unsafe and uncertain specula- tions. That a great many people are swindled in this palpable way makes one sure that ''the fool-killer" has work yet undone.
Connecticut western news., 1882-09-13
He Wanted Full Value.

A few days ago farmer on the line of the New York Central lost a COW by a collision with train. and started i'm 7. mediately for the managers office to effect settlement.
 CT understand that she was thin and sick," said the manager after the old man had explained his business.
 Makes no difference" replied the farmer doggedly. "She was COW, and I want pay for her."
 "How much ?" asked the manager, laconically.
 "Two hundred dollars l" returned the farmer.
 "Now, look here, {" said the manager, kindly, "how much did the COW weigh ?"
 'About 400, I suppose" answered the farmer.
 ''And we'll say that beef is worth ten cents 8 pound on the hoof."
 ''It's worth heap more than that on the COW catcher p retorted the old man. "But we'll call it that, what then ?" P,
 ''That makes $40," said the manage, quietly. ''shall give you check fo, $4O2"
 ''I tell you I want $2OO," persisted the old man.
 "But how do you make the differ ence p inquired the manager politely "I'm willing to pay full value, $40 How do you make the $160?"
 "Well, sir, replied the old man, ris ing in wrath, ''I want this dod burned railroad to understand that I'm going to have something for the good will O that COW P
Connecticut western news., 1882-09-13
Salt Water Etiquette.

Most every one in Washington knows Judge Pat Hawes, of Nebraska. The judge is genial, pleasant xfellow, and, though having worn for years the judi cial ermine, is not whit like the aver- age jurist-stern, stolld and indifferent. On the contrary he is, to use a common phrase, "one of the boys" One day last week the judge, by way of escaping the heat of the city, hied him to Ocean City, where he indulged in saltwater baths to his hearts content.
 The second day after his arrival he put on his handsome spsngled bathing suit, and was the object of admiration of all the other bathers. He cavorted around in the water with the agility ot 8 cat, and many complimentary re- marks were made about the judges ex- cellent swimming qualities. Two or three gentlemen whom the judge knew were "ducked by him, and all took it good naturedly. Bye-and-bye, the judge espied handsome lady who would balance the scales at 19O. Going gently up behind her he caught the lady around the waist, and with a tremen- dous effort threw her half 8 somersault.
 The lady remained under the water about half minute. When she came up and had wiped the water from her eyes she turned toward the judge and poured torrent of abuse upon him. The judge apologized the best he could and walked away. He had gone over near his male friends, who had stood off for some distance witnessing the circus business between the fat lady and the Judge, when another gentleman came up, and tapping the eminent jurist on the shoulder, said:
 "sir, you ducked that lady over there."
 "Yes, sir," said Judge Hawes, "I did"
 "But," said the gentleman, edo you know her ?''
 ''No, indeed, never saw her in my life, '" responded Judge Hawes.
 "Don't you think you assumed 8 great deal in catching hold of lady whom you never saw ?"
 sIt never occurred to me that I had committed an indiscretion. I saw the other fellows ducking the girls, and thought would follow suit" quickly spoke up the man whose judicial ermine had never been spoiled.
 "Sir." excitedlv said the gentleman. "you own that lady an apology.
 "I just apologized to her" said the judge, "but she wouldn't accept it. |"
 "Then you owe me an apology"
 "Au right, " said the judge, |" I most humbly ask the pardon of both you and your lady friend, but I'm Westerner and I'll be hanged if I knew anything about your salt water etiquette" saying which the party broke up, all hands be- ing apparently satisfied. Washingto Critic.
Connecticut western news., 1882-09-13
The MOther-in.Law's Kiss,

Speaking of different kinds of kissing good-by, Nashville correspondent of the Louisville Courter-JournGl says :: ''But we had all other kinds, from the lather. .gagging and lolly popping be- tween the country pumpkin and his gal, to that most delicate and refined oscu- lation which merely sips honey drop from the lip of his faithless fair one, and blushes and jumps aboard with wave of the hand. Then came the mother-in-law's kiss. This comes at rare intervals, of course 80 rare that a sight, to say nothing of @ taste eff there be any taste to it), is worth remember ing. saw him kiss his beautiful wife (for all wives are beautifully, and his sister, and then drew near his mother in-law like 8 martyr made ready to hand. She approached her affectionate son Ca son according to the statutes in such cases made and provided), and as she did so, she bowed her scrawny neck, twisted her mouth as far around to the right side of her head as she could get it, puckered her lips, put on the agony of one who is about to have 8 tooth pulled, turned the off side of her head to the always dutiful son-in-law, who planted something between & snap and snarl just behind her left ear. This is literal description of the mother-in-law kiss. If she had been doomed to burn at the stake, or bite 8 caterpillar in two, she couldn't have made an uglier face. Such is life among the semi-civilized."
Connecticut western news., 1882-09-13
A Singular Biunder.

It is customary in newspaper offices, says an exchange, when various tele- graphic or other news comes in, to write directions for the competitors as to the disposition to be made of it. For instance, dispatch from the seat of war late at night, will be written, "Add War in Egypt" meaning that this is to be included with the previous dispatches on that subject. The compositor sets up this direction for the convenience of the foreman in "making up," who, be- fore putting the item into the "form," !" ietaches the direction. But sometimes he misses it, as he did in the New York Tribune office the other night, which next morning announced @ vacancy in Congress in the following fashion l: "Neither of them was in the least hurt, but Dram died of heart disease after some little spArring had been done. Add Congressional Nomination" It was singular blunder for such news paper as the New York Tribune to make.
Connecticut western news., 1882-09-13

ambush and the marks in the potato field and up against the ditch, where marks of slipping are visible, corrobor- ated in a most wonderful manner the tale they had previously told, aa did also the marks and tracks found on the route which they had described as hay ing been followed by the Wurderers.
 The feeling displayed by the people, as nave said, was most cordial. They shook hands with the witnesses, said "God bless you,'' and in the strongest terms expressed their gratitude and re- joioing that this murderous gang, which had so long been the terror of the district, had at last been run to earth. understand that in the cdkrse of the investigation the prisonssst iee- quently put questions in form which only helped to make the evidence against them more conclusive.
Connecticut western news., 1882-09-13
SAM sLIoK's WISE SAWS.

Yrs the early bird that gets the worm.
 Iris better to be cheated than chafed.
 DUTY makes pleasure doubly sweet by contrast.
 WHEN the ponds dry up, the pokes get the polly-wogs.
 HE who taketh away parent is able and willing to send friends.
 WHEN man is wrong, and won't ad- init it, he always gets angry.
 WHEN grasshoppers are so plenty as to make the pastures poor, gobblers grew fat
 CoNvERsATIoN is more than halt the time refuge from thought or blind to conceal it.
 THUNDRRN' long words ain't wisdom. and stoppin' critters mouth is more apt to improve his wind than his onder- standin'.
 NEITHER labor nor idleness has ayoad that leads to happiness, one has So room for the heart, and the other cos> rupts it.
 WHEN pleasure is the business of life, 1t ceases to be pleasure; and when it's all labor and no play, work, like an on- stuffed saddle outs into the very bone. A MAN is never astonished or ashamed that he don't know what another does but he is surprised at the gross igno- rance of the other in not knoWin' what he does.
Connecticut western news., 1882-09-13
Millions of Swallows Congregattng,

Westerly, R. l., and it's neighborhood are overrun by millions of swallows that congregate nightly. The Provi- dencs Press says: "Few people have an approximate conception of the vast company of swallows which nightly col. lect at Westerly, unless their own eyes have seen the sight; and only those who have visited the place Yill believe the statement that the birds number in millions. But by the mildest and most conservative estimate which the reporter could make, after talking with several who observed the birds daily, and could best judge of their numbers, he was forced to admit that there were at least 3,000,000 of them. To say that the cubic space occupied by the birds iu this nightly flying to and fro, after nearly all have gathered, does not ex- ceed 500 feet dimensions each way; and to believe that, compressed into this space in their closer flight, the birds would not exceed 25 in each 1, ,OOO cubic feet of space 10 feet each way), is to make estimates which all who have seen the birds will say are altogether too ia, within bounds. And yet this estimate would give at least 3,125, ,OOO birds. The writer has searched several volumes or the habits of swallows, and has found but one case similar to that in Westerly It occurred near Rotherham, England many years ago, and was made the sub ject of pamphlet by clergyman il that neighborhood.
Connecticut western news., 1882-09-13
Beryl's Sudden Change.
FROM DEsPoNDENoY TO JOY IN THE FRAo-
 TON OF A SECOND.
's Why are you sad Beryl ?"

Why are you sad, Beryl ?"
 The girl turned her head slightly as these words were spoken. and as her issome figure with it's rounded curves and beautiful flesh tints stood sharply outlined. clear and perfect as a cameo in the moonbeams that were falling in 8 silver spray through the branches of the linden trees, the sight was indeed pret- ty one. George W. Simpson looked at her earnestly 8 moment and saw that tears were yelling mp in the dusky brown eyes, and sobs that could not be restrained oorvulsing the girlish form.
 "Why should I not be sad ?" she said. " The sweet summer is dying. There are hollows in her ralr cheeks; pathet- ic droop about the ripe red lips, dark shadows beneath the lovely eyes. And already across the hazy hills autumn peers, berry stains on her brown slim fingers, purple vines trailing about her, scarlet buds and golden.rod for the cor onal and 8 broken reed for her sceptre. Already the hollows are brimmed with amber haze and the hilltops crowned with blue smoke. The sun looks Ian guidly through dream clouds ; 8 yellow leaf falls here and there, and some pru- dent birds fly southward ere yet the first frost makes the fruit ruddy andripens the hazel nuts in the hedges, ere yet the sumac catches some blood drops from the heart wounds of fainting summer and the aster looks with blue and wistful eyes from the woodland path,"
 cit is indeed time fraught with sug- gestions that are mournful, "said George, " but surely there is one gleam of hope, one little ray of golden sunshine amid all the mists and clouds" and, bending over the girl in loving fashion, he whispered @ word in her ear.
 A smile chased away the Respondent look, and the tears that dimmed her star ry eyes were quickly dashed away. Put ting her arms around Georges neck. Beryl murmured softly and with look of perfect trust: "You are right, sweet heart; I had forgotten the oysters. "- Chicago Tribune.
Connecticut western news., 1882-09-13
WIT AND WISDOM.


 A MICHIGAN applicant for teachers certificate defined man as |" Maskaline noun."
 "THERE," she said, waving her mar riage certificate in the air, "there is the flag of our union l'
 VENNoR said this would be @ cold, wet summer. The weather has caused everything but Vennor te dry up.- LotoeU Courier.
 A LAW just passed in Denmark pro- vides that all drunken persons shall be taken home in carriages at the expense of the landlord who sold them the last glass. Now, that is civiization.-NeW HdOen Register.
 Ar Trouville- Mme. de O. to her hus- band, who comes home at four o'clock in the morning: "At what time did you get m this morningP" "About mid night, dearest, about midnight-a few minutes after, perhaps" "Yes, 24O minutes atter-I counted them
 A PAPER published up in Western Congressman's district tells story that is good deal at his expense. When young man he was proprietor of livery. stable, and had 8 big sign painted rep resenting himself holding mule by the bridle. Is that good likeness of me?" he asked an admiring friend. "Yes; it is perfect picture of you. But who is the fellow holding you by the bridle ?"
 AT Montreal thief went into the hall of hotel while the boarders were ct supper and gathered up all the hats. He was making his way out when boarder, little behind time, came in and asked him what he was about. "Oh," says the thief, "I'm taking the gentlemen's hats around to Leary's to get smoothed." "Well," replied the boarded, "take my hat, too." "Cer- tainly, sir," said the accommodating thief, and vanished.
Connecticut western news., 1882-09-13
EBBLNG AND FLOWING.

The tide went out Shining pebbles and shells that lay On the shore, at the beck of the white-armed
 Went out with the tide.
 The tide vent out And hundred ships asleep on the strand Sprang up, and away from the hateful land
 Went out with the tide.
 The tide went out And life as sweet as & life might be, Drifting away to the unknown sea,
 Went out with the tide.
 The tide came in The pebbles and shells, with ths waves disdain Flung from their arms to the shore again,
 Came in with the tide.
 The tlde came in The weary ships from their voyaging, Laden with many precious thing,
 Came in with the tide.
 The tide came in But the life, as sweet as life might be, Came not back from the unknown sea
 Came not in with the tide.
Connecticut western news., 1882-09-13
WESTERN WIT.


 IT seems singular that no paper has yet, in alluding to the draw poker game by which doctor beat Smith Weed ont of $50, 900 at Newburg, N. r., remarked that the doctor was obeying the injunc- tion, Physician, heel myself"
 THE announcement is made that Tug Wilson and crowd of Eastern sports will come West. They will find splen- did field here, and there is going to be big demand for harvest hands. Oscar Wilde missed it in going back so soon.
 THERE is good deal of talk because one of the Wisconsin Congressmen has had fountain put in his front yard, to sprinkle his lawn, and his enemies charge that there is where part of the river and harbor appropriation is going.
 THE Diamond Match Company has raised the price of matches. As this company owns over one-half the factories in the country it can regulate the price. Any young couple who contemplate making match will find that they come high now.
 GEORGE W. PECK has resigned his position in the militia. You needn't. have done it, George: it's all humbug about our being involved in war. r.-Er. Yes, we thought it was all humbug about our being involved in a war twen- ty years ago, and before we knew it the woods were full of war. You let us alone for keeping away from wars from this out.
 Two MORE deaths occurred this week from pointing unloaded firearms ct folks. It is better to be careful about such things and have the gun or pistol. as the case may be, loaded before point ing it at anyone; Persons who contem- plate pointing fire arms at others should look down the muzzle of the weapon first and see if it is loaded. They may be somewhat shocked at first at the re- suit, but it is just as well to have them experience tue shock as anyone else. Mit,Uaukee Sun.
Connecticut western news., 1882-09-13

A DEVOTED WIFE. - MT. Plimson, whose persistent efforts to have British ships made seaworthy long since earned him the title of "the Sailors Friend" has lately lost his wife. She had been for many years Sin the fullest sense her husbands helpmate." English news papers say that she carried his toilet articles to the House of. Commons one night, when he intended to demand Q hearing, in the expectation that he would be confined in the Tower, and that she overwhelmed the reporters with printed copies of his address, that the country, if not the House, might hear his pro- ; test.