davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Huntington argus. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1872-1905, 1883-08-23
nc Threshing FlOOr.

I'm growing old. The morning star of life
is going down,
Eut In me1n'ry IN farmer lad, beyond the
busy town.
Tn lust below the mfll dam, Wading far a
bove my knees,
or out before the breakfast call, to catch the
morning breeze.
The laborers of the harvest time are what
they used to seem
when we threshed the wheat and barley with
the Gail and double team,
And the things I best remember, though l
have played stiff and sore, :
When in days i rode the horses first around
the threshing dOOr.
20 thinking Of the shaking forks, OF hiek-
ny aud of oak,
That were kept above the wagoR-l0it, Oeslle
the buckeye yoke.
watch them toss the straw above the Plunp
and yellow wheat,
While M slyly wading through the gram
to cool ny burning feet.
And the old, exact half bushel-l can see
it's image still
As 10 tips the wheat and chat ABOVE the
hopper Of the mill;
While beneath the sieve the char rounds up
ten inches deep or more,
Beyond the mill the wheat rolls out upon
the puncheon fooT.
As time has changed the customs, IL has
changed the methods, too,
And the style of doing work Is changed TO
methods rare and new.
Tie painted threshers of to-day, with en-
gines, fire and steam,
May be a lobor-saying thing for man and
faded team;
Bat I think the recollections of that country
DER the sea,
That will set my voice to hamming up and
down eternity,
VIII come up from oohoing valley that my
ears have heard before,
Waen 1 stood behind the wind mill, on that
busy .hreshIng eoor.
The Huntington argus. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1872-1905, 1883-08-23

A sulry summer day; a landscape
If broad fields and wooded hills,
tropical flowers and luxuriant vege,
tation; here and there, the gray roof
Of a solitary house arising from a
mass of clustering foliage, its many
pointed gables rejecting the glare Of
mid summer's sun; a shallow and
winding river, with high protecting
banks bordered with Overlapping
slrubbery -this was what presented
rself to the eyes of Gerald Guthrie
as, slowly arising from bed of high
grass and weeds, he strOye to recall
i, his beUldered mind the events
preceding a blank period Of uncon-
seriousness.
He remembered that, as a solitary
picket, stationed at s. point overlook
iug the river, he had felt the sharp
sting Of q leaden- bullet in his Shout
der; then a faintness and darkness
overshadowed him; he had faAen,
aud the world had been biotted cut
from his vision.
He had awakened from a torturing
dream Of burning and thirst, to find,
to his dismay, but the sigus Of de-
sartion and desoia,ioa sgegndhim. -
The army was goue-whaher, but
the trampled earth would inform him.
How long he had lain there he knew
not A monday sun was shining
overhead; and he was faint from
hunger and loss of blood. A
wounded shouldered and splintereG
arm called painfully for csre,and at
tautiou. Where should he go to OBJ
tain these2
With difficulty forcing bis be
numbed and stitfened limbs to per-
form their Office, he dragged himself
painfully along the bank, and across
the river on an old wooden bridge,
and made his way slowly to the
beaten thoroughfare. He was in a
hostile country; and his worn, wealth
er.stained uniform would betray him
to his enemies; but he would die if
he received no relief, and he would
test the charity and hospitality Of \
foe.
Before him arose the grey peak Of
a stately Southern mansion; and
tlither he bent his way, often paus-
in- to rest, and grOaning with tor
tuning pain.
Atau upper window of this same
country house young girl stood,
dressed in black robe Of some thin
material and without ornament save
white rose at her throat She was
looking anxiously down upon party
of three horsemen, eladm Confeder-
ale cray, who were at that mement
dismountiug at the door; and her
face bore wistful, saddened ex
preston, painful to see in one 50
young. ,
Size shpuk back farther behind
The Huntington argus. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1872-1905, 1883-08-23
Lord. L kin give de Yankee a mou,fdl

" lOOu.
He devouIed the victaaIsravenous-
ly, much to th9 old negress' satisfac-
ton; and the task completed, she
arese to depart. Use gwine to take
We up to de great house, when dat ar
suns gone down. Denis missus or
dess. Try an put on desc yere odder
close" she said, as she laid out a
roll of Confederate gray by bis rude
couch.
When alone, in spite of sultry
heat, the sense Of danger, or his pain,
the soldier slept long and soundly;
nor did he awaken to hear the light
footfalls. of his preserver, or see her
face as It bent over him that even
ing.
He IS young, and very handsome, y
was her mental comment as she stole
softly away, careful not to break his
slum5er-"much handsomer than
Captain Welby. Such pity he's 4
horrid Yankee"
The great house was still at last,
save for the light footsteps Of the
watchers by the bedside Of the manned
boy: and Vesta had lain down, and
forgotten the problem which was
vexing her, when she vas awakened
by rap at the door Other room.
Hastily adjusting her robe, she
opened It, to find Captain Welby,'
pale and anxious.
"What is the matter" she asked,
while her heart beat loud with
alarm
"Are you prepared? Can you bear
bad news?" he said, buskily
ooh! what is il? Is Edgar"
and her eyes asked the question she
dare not put in words.
Edgar is worse. We fear he is
dying"
Dying" She put out her hand
mechanically, as ifto ward off q
blow. Dying. and she had gone tie
her room, SO hopeful and assured,
but an hour or two beferel
They passed down the stairs side
by side, while through Vesta's nina
ran one narrowing thought-her
brother was dying, and she was har-
boring, perhaps, his murderer.
Silently the Captain led ker to the
bedside of the dying boy. The
change had come, swift and unseen,
while he slept. Already the hand Of
death was upon him; and the ago
nized mother bowed, crushed and
heart-broken, over this second sacri-
fee which she must lay upon the altar
for her country's cause. And Nesta
felt o strange feeling of guilt and OPP
preston, as if in some way she was
responsible for her brothers Death
When all was over, she shrank away
from their sight, while a strange con
aict waged in her bosom. # this
strangers life could bring back her
brother's-but it could not, and she
could not feel it her duy. to betray
him, helpless and at her mercy, to
his enemies.
Under cover Of the darkness,
Aunt Phyllis had conducted the sol
der to an unused apartment over the
where a comfortable bed
awaited him; and now in the same
house were Federal and Confederate,
the Gray and the Blue. A fever
burned in his veins fer several days,
while he lay unconscious Of his sur
rouhdings; and old Phyllis, aided by
her son Pete, nursed him stealthily
and faithfully. MEANWHILE tie young
master Of the house their, .jeyand pride
was carried to his last long home
But death and suffering were therule
in the Southern household, rather
than the exception, during the fratri- 4
cidal war; and their life went on as
before, save the added Paleness and
i
The Huntington argus. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1872-1905, 1883-08-23

youth, d mere wy III aPpedaIaHO
his rale, beardless face and blue eyes
looking wonderfully feminine; and
by his side WON an of middle age
sat, whose worF.,. sad countenance
bore a striking resemblance to the
daughters fres ler, fairer enc.
As his sister entered the room, the
boy reached cut his hand to her, say
ing, They're going to take off my
limb, Vesta, after all"
81 aw $3.50 sorry, Edgar" she
said, brokqnly.
DON don't cry. 1t will be all
right. / can have a wooden one, YOU
know"
ooh, Edgar" she sobbed, while
the mother buried her face IN her
bands and groaned aloud. Her only
son, her idOl-how could she have it
SCI
81 wish mother didn't feel so about
it," continued the boy. "It's-it's
hard, Of course, but | can bear it
| shall feel that I've lost it in a good
cause.
Better your limb than your
precious life, my son. I ought not
to complain when you are 50 brave"
"Have you heard any news from
the army be asked, as Captain
Welby appeared at the door.
'The Yankees are in fall retreat
down the rive,."
"Ah! that is glorious news. l can
bear the trial now" he cried. "They
viii be ready for me before long
and then, while the tears shone in
his eyes, "Kiss me, Vesta, and leave
me now. I want t. talk with mother
The sister bent over him, pressing
her lips to his once, twice, thrice;
then turning from him she glided
softly from the room.
It was a terrible thing, this war
A few short months before, her faith
er had fallen il battle; and new. this
brother, this only son, so noble, SO
Young, SO brave, to be cruelty
manned and crippled for life-it was
awful. There had been an engage
ment across the river some miles be
low there; and Edgar, who had
marched away so proudly in his new
uniform, was brought home pale and
bleeding, to suffer and perhaps die.
Why had the Yankees come to their
very doors to slay their loved Ones2
Thus reflected the sorrowing sisters
while in another room the brave
young boy was undergoing the ordeal
of amputatien.
At length tie suspense was ended.
The surgeon appeared, reporting
the task over and the young man
resting quietly. Thankful and re-
lieved, Vesta stole away to look after
her new charge, the hated Yankee.
CHATTER II.
The wounded Federal had crawled
into the hui and lain down upon a
bed Of dried grass in a corner; but
the pain in his shoulder and arm was
becoming intense and uncomfortable,
when the form Of the old negress
darkened the doorway.
"Is you berry sick, massa" she
said, cautiously, peering into the
apartment.
Use done fetched ye somefng to
eat;" and coming to his side, she
bent over him in tender pity.
Whar is yo' hurt, NASSAU" she
asked again, setting down her bask-
ct.
The man groaned, ond pointed to
his wounded arm. The old pegress
proceeded at once to carefully cut
away his sleeve, battle and and apply
a soothing lotion to his wound, and
then bandage it as carefully and ten
derby as a surgeon, ever and anon
calculating feryentIy, and muttering
The Huntington argus. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1872-1905, 1883-08-23

h0rSemen were turned JOWaru AeI
window; and slight blush sufused
her cheeks. The men we're entering
the house ROW; and she would 60
down to meet them. She turned
back and glanced again out Of her
window ere she did so. Something
attracted her attention. Suddenly
she gave faint cry Of surprise or
alarm.
"a Yankee soldier, and coming
here?" she exclaimed. "He is lost"
A moment of irresolution; then,
as If actuated by sudden and unac-
countable impulse, she caught up
large straw hat from the table, and
fitted down the back stairs and
through the shrubbery, toward the
! fields.
"If I can reach him before he
energies from the hollow" she muir
INJURED, "they may not see him"
The Federal gave atari of sur
prise as, turning bend in the road,
he was suddenly confronted by a
vision in black, with eager, fright
ened eyes and anxious cOuutenance.
"Stop! Turn back, for your life!
There are Confederate soldiers at the
house; and-and-you area Yankee,
are you pOt?" she stammered excited
ly.
'.Yes," looking at her in astonish-
ment; 81 am a Yankee; but who are
you, and why" he hesitated.
why should try to save you?
Because I have seen enough Of blood
shed and suffering. Because would
save the poor fox, when the hounds
are after it, were it in my power"
she replied, earnestly; "but quick,
into one Of these huts, Or you may be
discovered" pointing to the deserted
negro quarters under the hill.
''Y)u are wounded and in pain
she continued, as he dragged, himself
slowly into one Of the cabins. q
must not be missed at the house now;
but I will send help as soon as posi-
bic" And she was gone before the
bewildered soldier had time to thank
her for his deliverance.
A few moments later, Vesta Ham
ilton appeared in the spacious kitchen
Of the great house. u sTa
''Aupt Phyllis" she said, hurried
ly, 81 am in trouble, and want your
assistance"
'CBress ye, honey! Use a,lers
willin' to help you, said the negress.
eyes, know you are; but this re-
quires care and secresy;" and she re-
lated briefly the discovery of the
Yankee soldier, and her wishes in re-
gard to him, adding:
BE sure and keep a close mouth,
Auntie; and take bandages and every
thing needful to dress wound
Don't let any one see you"
''Praise de Lord! dis ole critter
kin do something fur de cause, after
all" CALCULATED Phyllis, as she
hustled about to do her mistress bid
ding
"You give me tardy welcome"
said Captain Welby, coming forward
and taking Miss Hamilton's hand, as
she entered the room shortly after,
and pressing it warmly.
Her face flushed slightly Il was
engaged until this moment" she said,
briefly; "but what does the surgeon
think Of EDGAR"
The officer locked sober He
hopes he may live through 1t; but
his case Is critical.
"There must be amputation them"
"Yes, he must lose his limb,
The girls face blanched, and her
lips closed tightly. "Poor, poor
Edgarl" she murmured. He was
always so proud and ambitious. God
help him TO bear IT."
=
The Huntington argus. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1872-1905, 1883-08-23

. -.
Vestas.blood ran cold, and her
fingers tsembled visibly
81 shouldn't think a spy would be
in Yankee uniform remarked Mrs.
Hamilton.
Hes changed it before ibis In
fact his clothes have been found On
this plantation. As the fellow had
been seen GA this road, Jm Mrpgcr
thought he'd look into the old negro
quarters under the hil.; and tluug
he failed to fnd his man, he found a
Yankee suit Of clothing
Oh horror, What if the nta.,
she had suggested far the nan,
safety should lead 10 his discovery.
thought Yesta, and what If Cap.
Welby should learn her pat in Gho
affair. What if she had been sceh
there the day she went out to war;
him! She was terrified at the mere
possibility.
"Why, Miss Vesta, what Is the
matter" cried Welby, observing tae
pallor Of her face. Have I alarmod
you by talking Of Yankees"
"No-only II she stammesaj
unable to proceed farther.
"Afer what has passed the idea O
dreadful Yankees being near hcro
terrified her | suppose said lie
mother.
'sIIave no fears, said the Captain
smiling. ''If there's Yankee i
the neighborhood we shall find him;
and there's but one fate for spies"
"You men are SO blood thirsty
replied Vesta, striving to regain bon
composure.
1--WE have a reason to dislike our
foes, am sure, said Mhs. Hamilton
sadly.
Don't you think, Miss Yes;a, !.
you should come across this Iau&cs
you would be as ready as any one TO
give him up to his punishment
asked a Confederate Sergeant who
was present.
would it be my duty" asked sae
with increasing palenoss.
81 think there should be noqqc
tbn about that said TIE capmiA
drily.
81 shall verify begin to believe i
M duty to hunt for him il you say
any more Vesta replied, her hear
b. ating with heavy throes OF tCr:or.
CHAPTER III.
"You are better this morning.
said soft voice; and tine soldier
looked up from his reyerie TO see Sir
lady who had been SO much in hi-
thoughts Of late, entering b.
retreat.
Eyes, a great deal better, taan7
to my guardian angel, replied t.
young man, his handsome eyes light
ing with pleasure.
ooh, you must nos say that bat
am glad to see you have improved
50 much. Old Phyllis is a skillful
nurse.
Indeed She is; .butSnov viii you
not tell me to whom | am indebted
for my timely warning and care?'
81 am Vesta Hamilton" she re-
piled, simply
and I am Gerald Guthrie. ]
was wounded at the time Of the Skin
mish across the river atleast Phyllis
tells me there vas an enlightenment.
know little of it myself"
my brother, my only brother, re-
ceived his death wound there, and
died since you came here" she said
quietly.
"He was in the Confederate army"
eyes. My father was Col. Ham
iIton, Of the --Ipfantry"
"Was? Is he too gomez
Yes. lie was killed in battle
Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1883-08-18
ARD-M MEANWHILE TENNEssEE-SATURDAY AUGUST 49, 1884,

swamps or low places, hauled into and
spead over the barnyard, will furnish
excellent absorbent of the urine of
stock or washing out of the solid parts
Of the manure if exposed to rain storms,
and to the extent thus used make
valuable addition to the manure supply.
Abundant material of bedding should
be used for all stock stables, so as to
absorb all liquid parts of the manure.
Of late years, special methods of feed
ing have become prominent, which
seems to promise much for the small
farmer, and to very largely increse the
bookkeeping capacity of his farm. Of
these, ensilage seems to promise most,
though we do not regard its real merits
as having as yet been definitely set
tied. Enough, however, has been
proved to show that ensilage, if not safe
to use as an entire stock food, it is a
cheap and valuable food in connection
with hay or other coarse food, and that
it will greatly increase the stock-keep-
ing capacity of the farm. While we
would not advise every small farmer
to set about building an extensive silo,
we do advise, that he experiment in
small way, which he can usually do at
small cost In some part of his farm, or
even with an earthNpit, care being
taken to exclude the water and pro-
vide for drainage, Soiling instead of
pasturing stock adds also to the stock
keeping capacity of the farm and more
than pays for the additional labor in
volved, though, if all that is claimed
for ensilage should prove true, it is
probable that this will supercede soil.
ing. AT dairy convention in Illinois
few years ago, one of the prominent
Elgin dairymen claimed that by using
the system Of soiling instead of pastur.
ing, he could keep forty COWS through
the year on the product of forty acres.
Fodder corn literally grown, and
either fed green. ensilaged or cured for
winter feeding, yields the largest
amount of food for stock obtainable
from any other way from the same
amount of land, and helps the stock
keeping capacity of the rm.-Far-
mer's Review.
Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1883-08-18
Breed Up.

Do your sheep shear as much wool
and as good wool as anybody else's
sheep? If not, why keep them?
We are supposing,of course, that your
care of the flock is all right. If the
care is defective, it will not matter how
poor the sheep naturally are. But if
you are bestowing good care upon
sheep that shear lightly, or shear in
ferior wool, what is the explanation
for so doing? There need be no more
care if the sheep we're good onesi it
would require no more feed for good
ones, and it would not cost very much
more to geta good sheep than it does
to get poor one. What is wanted is
a sheep of good size, heavy fleece and
good wool. How can it be had =? If
the question were asked how to pro-
duce any other animal, with certain
well defined characteristics, we should
reply: select at least the sire having
these chacteristics, and it would be
better yet if we could get dam having
them. But we certainly should use
rams that are just like what we would
like to have. There is no profit in u.s.
ing poor rams. Sheep husbandry with
inferior rams is a losing business every
time. Nobody ever yet made anything
by the use Of such an animal and no.
body ever will. They are cheaper
than good rams, and they ought to be
for they are dear at any price. There
are plenty of good rams that may be
had at a reasonable price, and no false
idea of economy should prevent us from
getting them. We keep sheep for the
profit of the thing, and why not get all
the profit there is in the business when
properly managed Y-Western Rural.
Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1883-08-18

Smithville Index: Our Baptist
brethren in their association at Lebanon
this week passed strong resolutions in
favor of total prohibition. ...... The
Lebanon and Smithville stage schedule
has been changed so that the stage
leaves Lebanon at 2p. m. each day
and reaches Smithville at 8 p, m. Il
leaves Smithville at 5 a. m. each day,
and arrives in Lebanon at y m. The
time on the Sparta division Of the road
is unchanged.
Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1883-08-18

SOMEBODY put a small mud.turtle,
about the size of a silver dollar, in a
bed at New Jersey hotel and the stran'
ger who was assigned to that room, on
preparing to retire caught sight of it.
He at once resumed his clothes, re.
marking: 81 expected to have a lively
night of it, but if they are as big as
that l don't propose to get in with
EN-"
Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1883-08-18

The London Lancet tells how to
cure bone felon. As soon as it is
felt put directly over the spot fly
blister the size of your thumb nail.
Let it remain for six hours, at the ex-
piration of which time directly under
the surface of the blister may be seen
the felon, which can be instantly taken
out with the point of a needle.
Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1883-08-18

If the fountain is pure the stream
will be pure also. So with the blood.
If that be pure the health is establish
ed. Parsons purgative pills make new
rich blood, and taken one night will
change the blood in the entire system
in three months.
Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1883-08-18

He that has no silver in his purse
should have silver ON his tongue.
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-06-28

We can only reach the foot Of the bluffs
that hem the river in by passing down steep
ly inclined planes in cars propelled by water,
or in the spiral staircases, but we must CON
fess we were disappointed in our expecta-
tions. We looked from the great height
which is certainly there, but which is lost
in the extreme width of the table over which
the waters pour with such terrific force.
mile below is the Railroad Suspension
Bridge, constructed in 1856 by Mr. Roebling,
OF Brooklyn Bridge fame And just at the
foot of the Falls is the carriage Suspension
Bridge which spans the river at the height
of one hundred and ninety feet. Table
Rock, once a striking feature has entirely
disappeared Huge masses of rock are con-
stantiy being detached, and the shores be-
low are lined with the shale tdlus from the
falls above.
Changes are constantly going OF, but trav-
ellers win find the Niagara of tc-1ay that of
years to come. A most complete account of
these falls is given by Sir Charles Lyel in
his 'Fravels in North America" They are
grand, but it is after we have left them that
we realize the impressions one gets of Mag
ara Falls. A half day had sufficed us, and
at ni2htfall we were en- route for Buffalo.
III, NJ. s.
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-06-28

an ancient fort with human remains has
been found at Redfeld, Dakota, which may
on further investigation furnish some new
information concerning the predecessors of
the Indians on this continent. The fort
consisted of entertainments about three feet
high and the same thickness, with an arm
leading off to gulch, which would afford a
beleaguered garrison communication with a
small lake about a quarter of mile distant.
Over $50 skulls have been found in small
trench at one side of the fort, and, strange
TO say, no other bones, nor any Ratchet,
piece of pottery, or anything else that would
lead to the Identification of the race to
which the possessors of the skulls belonged
To add to the mystery there are the greatest
differences in the skulls themselves. Some
have practically no foreheads, while others
are finely shaped Nearly all have NAL
formed teeth in the front of the under jaw.
Some Indians living near the place were
asked concerning this mysterious fn1, but
they could give no tradition which would
throw the least light upon it.
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-06-28

The Maine Central, Portland e. Ogdensburg
Portland Rochester, Boston e. Maine, Grand
Trunk and Eastern Railroads. will all run special
trains at greatly educed rates, and will afford ev
cry facility for those desiring to come TO the city
The steamboat lines viii also make the usual redrc
tions. je2edtd