davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1883-01-12
The Moon Running Away.

The little occurrence mentioned here
In the girlhood Of Mary Somerville. the
celebrated astronomer and mathemati-
clan, may not have determined her ca
reer, but it is interesting: One of her
first recollections was Of an evening
when, as her little brother Samuel lay
playing upon the floor, no suddenly
jumped up, crying, 20. mamma, there's
the moon running away!' while every
one fastened to the door to watch the
fiery course of the celebrated meteor in
1888. She always remembered the
wondering exclamation, how fright
ened people were. and how they said
that this trailing light was sent a. q
warning that something dreadful was
about to happen.
Some Scotch people are very super
stitious, and in those days few under
stood the laws governing the heavens,
and it was left for timid little Mary to
grow up and teach the world many.
many things. which they never could
have learned for themselves, about the
iuinsss OF the hssvsns aud bis ssfsa.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1883-01-12
The Self Helping Baby.

An English gentleman. who passed
many months hunting among the Rocky
Mountains. says his first genuine i'm
preston of the West came while he was
riding over an arid plain and from q
squealing baby. 1t revealed to him the
ingenuity with which Western woman
adapts herself to circumstances, and
makes the most Of her limited resources.
There was nothing" he says, Every
peculiar about the appearance Of this
baby that I saw just ahead Of me. It
was not over-burdened with garments.
and was strapped, in Indian fashion, to
board about two feet long and one
foot broad.
THE board and the baby were lean.
ing against the log wall OF . frontier
shanty on its shady side. There was
nobody near. The baby seemed very
happy. Its little arms were free and
kept up constant movement.
''As my horse came nearer, I saw
that some strings were dangling about
the baby's neck. and that one was tied
to the big toe of its rosy little feet.
II was puzzled. Dismounting. I had
the curiosity to examine the tape ar.
rangement. The child was sucking at
a bit of raw pork, about the size Of
large walnut This was tied to one end
of the string. while the other end was
fastened to the child's foot. A second
piece Of Irvine, knotted to the board
over its head, prevented the pork from
falling to the ground. should the child
drop It.
suddenly the baby grew very red in
the face. Then its eyes filed with tears.
and its little arms beat the air with
frantic energy. At that moment the
mother made her appearance.
cried.
No. he amt. and he can't she re-
piled, tersely.
''At this instant the infantile legs be-
gan to work. One kick, two kicks, and
there on the bib lay the piece of pork.
jerked from the baby's throat by the
string tied to the big toe.
'Ant you ever seen this afore. mis-
terr asked the mother. observing the
Englishman's surprised looks.
'No-o-o.' he answered, slowly.
"'Then kind o. remembrance It.
Mayhaps yer wife won't 60 back on it.
Several years have passed sinco that
day. ] have seen that baby In q hum
dred different guises. From sheer habit
It has become with me sort Of stand
ard wherewith to gauge novel instances
of the three qualities Of Western mem
and women-self help, self-confidence
and adaptability."
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1883-01-12
An Odd Fight.

A traveller in South Africa witnessed
O singular combat. He was musing.
with his eyes on the ground. when he
noticed q caterpillar crawling rapidly
along. Pursuing him was host of small
ants. The ants would catch up with
the caterpillar, and one would mount
his back and bite him. Pausing, the
caterpillar would turn his head and bite
and kill his tormentor. After slaughter
ing a number of his prosecutors, the
caterpillar showed signs of fatigue. The
ants made q combined attack. Betak-
ing himself to a stalk of grass, the cat
erpillar climbed up tail first, followed
by the ants. As soon as one approach
ed he seized it in his jaw and threw it
off the stalk. The ants. seeing that the
caterpillar had too strong a position for
them to overcome, resorted to strategy.
They began saving through the grass
stalk. In few minutes the stalk fell,
and hundreds of ants pounced upon the
caterpillar. He was killed at once, and
the victors marched of in triumph, leav-
ing the foes body on the field.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1883-01-12
A Short Reckoning.

The position of teacher who takes
charge of bad school where every
predecessor has failed is critical one.
He will hardly be equal to it unless he
il ready and able to punish insolence
and INSTRUMENTATION promptly and with
a rough hand.
A tolerably athletic young man took
certain school to teach years ago in
western New York after number of
pedagogues had tried it and given it
up in despair. The "big boys" had
driven the teacher away invariably, and
the encouragement was so complete
the first day that they never undertook
a second edition.
The young man took hold with full
knowledge of the difficulty. and with
hope that he could succeed. He was
mild-mannered, and he opened the
school the first day with pleading
smile on his lips that made even the
small boys reckless. He was taking
the names of the children, and pro-
crossed without difficulty till he came
to John TarboX, the ring-leader of the
unruly ones, and the boy who always
gave the signal for troubling the "mas-
ter"
The new teacher approached him
with Q sweet smile on his face, and
said,-
''Now. will you tell me your name.
please?"
The boy leaned back in his seat, put
his feet over the top of the desk, and
looked cross-eyed at the new teacher,
while all the school roared.
PLEASE tell me your name," repeated
the teacher. pleadingly. and without no.
ticing this rudeness.
"Wall," drawled the fellow, "soms-
times they call me Bob. and sometimes
they call me Pete, and sometimes they
call me somethin' else; but you better
not call me anything"
The mild-looking teacher had been
expecting all this; there he had the adj
vantage. He had prepared himself for
a fight. not fight for minute. but for
an hour or day, if need be; he had
been in a manner trained for it, and so
just as the last words were out of the
boys mouth he dealt the big lubber a
blow between the eyes that stunned
him, and then, grasping him by the col
lar dragged him headlong over the
seats. stood him up on the floor with q
jam, and Numbered out, What's your
nameP'
John Tarbox," exclaimed the boy,
promptly. and with his eyes fairly
bullying from his head.
Every WE'LL" said the teacher. Take
your seat, John" And John took it.
There was no more difficulty, and at
the end of the season that school was
said to be the best in the country
Erchan0e
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1883-01-12
A vexed Clergyman.

Even the patience of Job would be.
come exhausted were he u preacher and
endeavoring to interest his audience
while they were keeping up an inces-
SAINT coughing, making it impossible
for him To be heard. Yet how very
easy can all this he avoided by simply
using DR.. Kings New Discovery for
Copsumption, Coughs and Colds. Trial
bottles given awsy 1t ], A. 6ambcn,
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1883-01-12
Postal tam.

"Is dis heah letter all right bossr'
asked an Austin darkey. handing the
clerk q letter be wanted to send Of In
the mail. The clerk weighed the letter
and returned 1t, saying:
"You want TO put another stamp On
1t. It weighs too much"
LEI / puts anoder stamp on dc letter.
dat won't make bit no lighter. OATS
gwine to make It weigh more"
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1883-01-12
How Western Cities Grow.

A western man has been telling some
Philadelphians how western cities grow.
He says he went of into the mountains
hunting, and, night coming on, he went
to sleep in q tree to be out of reach Of
the wolves. He was awakened early
the next morning by some workmen,
who told him to get down and finish his
nap on the courthouse steps. as they
wanted to turn that tree into a flag
pole for tho hotel across the way. He
got down. and, while rubbing his eyes
was nearly run over by a street-car, and
got his feet sufangled in an electric
kght wire. Htiladelphia Nea6s
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1883-01-12

Mime. G. called at friends house on
. wet day, and, her feet being damp.
she said to her friend:-''My dear. will
you let your maid bring me pair of
your slippersp" my love-" replied her
friend there were several people in the
room-''do you think my slippers will
fit your" "Oh, think so, my darling, II
you will tell her to put a cork sole inside
Of them.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1883-01-12

There is said to be q man In Newark,
N. j., SO close that when he attends
church he occupies the pew farthest
from the pulpit, to save the interest on
his money while the collectors are pass
ing the plate for contributions.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1883-01-12

A Houston. Tex, niiser named Mike
Hallerend. was found dead in his house,
nude and emaciated. He died of expo.
sure and starvation. at the same time
having over 81, 1000 in cash In the house
he called home.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1883-01-12

"No," he said, Il can't be around to
meet the boys tonight. You must ex-
cuse me. have q more pressing en-
gagement, you sea" Hs Ne goiag %
10 waltsing party. /.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1883-01-12

tee week in your own town. Terms and es
eOV OUTFIT free. Address II. Hai.LErT & Co.,
Portland Maine
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1883-02-02
An Electrical Discharge,

A traveler--a civil enginser-while
travelling across the divide separating
Idaho Springs from Central City. ex-
perienced curious electrical phenome-
non. Daily. at certain seasons of the
year. he says, clouds cover the SUBMITS
OF the range about two o'clock. and
heavy showers fall These are accom-
panied by thunder and lightning and
usually last about half an hour. when
the sky clears again a. suddenly as II
clouded, but the rain extends only q
very little way from the hill-tops.
1t was raining but without lightning
as we neared the divide. when I felt a
tickling sensation on the back Of nv
hands like what one experiences when
standing on glass stool. or in connec-
ton with the conductor Of an electrical
machine.
Judging that q discharge was taking
place from our persons, i tried to in
crease its intensity BY holding one OF
the wet umbrellas point upwards above
tho wagon. That ut once produced a
distinct sensation in the hand aud arm.
and on mentioning the matter 10 the
driver be exclaimed
Il guessed you felt it when saw you
looking ut your hands. It's common
enough here. though many don't know
what 1t Is, and others don't notice il"
This man was very nervous about
crossing the divide while it was thun-
dering. aud plainly said that If there
was lightning, he must wait for fair
weather.
He declared that the ridge is con.
stsnuy struck and very unsafe during
thnnder-storms, moving horse or bug
gy being very liable to accident, while
once in the sulch. no matter how little
below the summit, there is no danger.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1883-02-02
Saved by His Scissors.

The editor carries q beautiful slip Of
paper when he travels. He shows it to
the suave conductors and they all ad-
mire it. 1t has the editors name on 1t.
written in his very best Sunday-go-to
meetin' style. That is what the con-
ductOrs particularly like to see. and they
like II SO much that they want him to
write it again In exactly the same fine
style.
The other day the editor exhibited the
beautiful chirography. and the con-
ductor as usual requested him to dupli-
cate it In another place.
Don't correspond" he muttered.
BEST can do" said the editor. DO
YOU suppose can dash of 500 pages
per day and keep up the Peircerian
style Of penmanship? Do you suppose
] can write like that with these cars Of
yours banging away at my elbow"
Don't correspond" repeated the
conductor, ominously.
do you imagine I'm not the editor
Of this papery' asked the editor, draw
ing out glit-edged card and copy Of
the NeWs.
May be SUBJ" suggested the con-
ductor.
DO 1 look like sub?n inquired tho
editor, Indignantly. pointing TO his dol
lar diamond shirt studs and finger ring.
But can prove my Identify" he
added with q chucklc of satisfaction.
He whipped out bright pair OF scis-
sors and commenced slashing up that
newspaper into articles at such q rate
that in TWO seconds the whole paper
would have boon converted into copy,
stop! That will do" exclaimed the
conductor, smilingiy. There isn't the
slightest doubt in my mind You can
travel on this line rs long as l am con-
ductor and there's rail and piece Of
the engine left. "--Reokuk NeVs.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1883-02-02
To Cure Gold Peet.

People who write or sew all day. or
rather those who take but little exercise
may warm their cold feet without 60
ing to the fire, says the Philadelphia
Ledger. All that Is necessary is to
stand erect and very gradually to lift
ones self upon the tips Of the toes, so as
to put oil the tendons of the foot at full
strain. This is not to jump up and
down. but simply to rise-the slower the
better-upon tiptoe. and remain stand
ing on the points Of the toes as long as
possible. then gradually coming to the
natural position. Repeat this several
times, and BY the amount Of work the
tips of the toes are made to do in sus.
tanning the body's weight sufficient
and lively circulation is set up. Even
the half-frozen car driver can carry this
plan out. 1t Is one rule Of the "Swed.
ish movement" system; and, as motion
warmth Is much better than fre-warm.
Ing. persons who suffer with cold feet at
night can try this plan just before rstir-
Ing to rest.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1883-02-02
What Tina Wa It2n

Four clerks in Boston wholesale dry
goods store were lounging about after
lunch one day not long ago when bus
mess was dull. They got to telling
stories.
"1'hc other day." said one, "a New
York business man started from here In
q hurry TO 70 to the Providence depot.
He wasn't sure Of the way, and when
he got to the corner ofW ashington street
be asked boy. The boy directed him,
and got 10 cents for his trouble. At the
corner of fremont and Boylston streets
he got stuck again. aud asked another
boy which way to 60. The boy told
him. and the New York man gave him
10 cents also. Arrived in the depot all
out of breath he asked third boy what
time the next train started for Provi-
dence. The boy told him. and the.
man gave him cents. What time was
Two and a half" said one of the
three attentive clerks.
"A quarter past" suggested the Sec
ond.
"a quarter to thresy' exclaimed the
third. triumphantly,
"Keerscty said the 6end who perpe.
trated the yarn,
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1883-02-02
How to Cook a Canvas Back Duck.

To roast a canvas.back duck: Pluck
the duck. except wings and head. Cut
Of the wings. Draw tho whole inside
aud windpipe. Put alcohol in small fat
pan; set fire to it, and hold the duck
over the flame one minute. Clean the
duck by rubbing with dry cloth. Cut
OF the neck and head. Take the skin
of the head. and remove the eyes. Put
the head inside the duck. with the end
Of the bill just sticking out; season in
side with salt and pepper. and truss in
the ordinary fashion. The web feet are
not cut of. Roast on the spit for about
fifteen minutes. few minutes more or
less, according to size.
To broil canvas-back duck: Clean
a. for roasting. Split tho duck on the
back. season. and anoint with sweet oil.
Put tho duck in double gridiron with
hinge. Cook over q very brisk fire for
about twelve minutes. When placed on
dish pour over it melted butter. with
lemon juice. salt. pepper and chopped
parsley.
To serve canvas-back: Canvas
backs should be served on hot plates,
and eaten rs soon rs taken of the fire.
Serve with them ourrant jelly, fried
hominy in round or oblong shapes, and
celery salad.--Spirit Of tie Times.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1883-02-02
Epeoe In tho Universe,

vho nearest OF the hx0d stars 10 twenty
trllions CO. 000. 000. 900. 000) Of miles
diStant from us. The next In distance
Il four times farther removed. II we
attempt TO fix an average distance for
the surrounding group of fixed stars
nearest our system. we could not safely
give Il radius Of less than four hun
dred trillions OF miles. Yet what does
this involvea Light which reaches us
from the sun in eight and half min
utes, would take seventy years in its
journey. across this vast domain Of
space. II the volume Of space included
within our solar system were occupied
With one huge sphere Of $500. 000. 900
miles diameter, even such mighty
mass would b. but as floating feather
In the marvellous spread Of empty space
Surrounding. This space would contain
twenay-seyen hundred trillious OF such
spheres, and would contain the material
contents Of our solar system q number
OF times indicated by the figure s with
'tweaty-two ciphers annexed. Pnii0-
dSf2Aia american.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1883-02-02
Bird Anhifa0ta

Doves. In the construction Of their
nests, display q great apparent careless
ness or want Of skill. The coarse sticks
that compose their nests are so loosely
thrown together that one would hardly
believe they could bold the eggs. This
b evidently provision Of Nature to Sc
cure the young from vermin, like the
practice Of woodpeckers Of laying their
e9gs on the bare wood. A similar i'm
perfection OF structure marks the nests
Of some Of the larger birds. But why
should certain species be endowed with
this conservative instinct while in others
Il = entirely wantinge By careful OBJ.
ssrvatiou we may find Q reason for bare
wood that vermin may not ind harbor
In the materials Of q nest; but when Q
wren or o chicksdee takes possession Of
one Of these vacated hollows 1t fills 1t
with materials that are lifted to harbor
swarms Of vermin. .but each Of these
birds feeds on the minntest crawling in
scots and with its microscopic vision can
easily destroy all that enter its abode.
--WiIs0S FtAgg.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1883-02-02
A Curious Disease,

One OF the most curious and battling
Of nervous diseases Is aphasia, which
consists in the loss of power ia the SUBJ
ject of it to recall certain words, and
which In serious cases destroys all power
Of expression.
An eminent French Judge who suffer-
ed from it would say to his wife, ''Give
me my-dear me! my-yOu know" and
he would point 10 his head.
: your hat?''
''Oh yes, my hat"
Sometimes. again, be would ring the
bell before going out. and say to his
servant, ''Give me my m-um-um-
brei."
"Your uinbrellap"
Yes. my umbrella"
At this time he exhibited no other
symptom of diminished intelligence, but
was ia the habit Of discussing the most
intricate points Of law. Another invalid
would substitute the word he desired to
use with periphrase. Ms, for instance.
when he wanted to mention his '.aunt."
he would say. 1.-THE nearest relative by
the mothers side"
While in tho simpler forms of the dis
ease, only few words are lost by the
sufferer. In more complicated cases his
vocabulary is limited TO perhaps not
moro than half-a-dozen words. In one
instance the total vocabulary of an
aphasic patient consisted of tive words
'.yes." mo-" "three." always" and
''helo." He answered alliDquiries with
ono of these, and though when question
ed concerning number he would inva-
riably say three. he would give the ac-
curate number BY exhibiting his fingers.
The greatest sufferers are unable TO
express themselves by writing as by
speech. They take up the pen eagerly
In their hands and either scrnwl few
unintelligib'" hieroglyphics. or write
some word wholly different from the one
they intend.
No positive cure for this strange aber-
ration is known, though the patients
sometimes recover. and the most curl
GUS feature Of it is. no general weaken
ing Of the intellect accompanies it.
Y0tstA's Companion.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1883-02-02
My Husband.


Who took me from my ehidhood's homo
And said he'd love me all alone,
Aud for my sacrifice atonef
My husband
Who grumbled at the poor beefsteak
And babe me better coffee make.
Aud told me greater care TO takef
My husband.
Who swore because the baby cried,
Aud TO the spare room quickly hied-
While i 70 quiet vainiy triedl
My husband.
Who tears the buttons OF his shirt. :
And said could those lis avert
II was more on the alertf
My husband.
Who bade me rise the IRE to make.
While he another nap should take,
Although I'D been all night swakef
Ny husband.
Who. when asked for half crown,
kuits up bis brows into = frvwn
And asks ME "where's the other Roner'
My husband.
And when see my mother dear,
Who tries my lonely lot to choer-
Who says she's dreadful, dreadful QueorS
My husband.
Who stays away I'LL late at night,
And then comes home 80 very tight
Ny husband.
Who breaks the china. slams the door.
Leaves oil his clothes upon the uoor.
My husband.
And who do I. for his dear sake,
Or every sacrifice partake
Lest bis confidence should shaker
Nv htsshanA
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1883-02-02
China Town, San Francisco.

A visit to the section of the city held
by the Chinese will con vince the most
skeptical Of the power OF Chinese civil.
lzation to change an American city. A
few steps across the street, aud you
have passed through the earth. and are
upon tho opposite side A section,
eight blocks by three, has been complete.
ly Chinaized. The sidewalks are lined
with strange wares. the house-fronts
decorated with curious flags and signs.
balconies lean out from the walls; the
streets arc thronged with silent-stepping
mute-mouthed. yellow-masked men
who Hit to and fro like shadows. No
CLEAN Of recognition, no frown OF dis
pleasure. brightens or darkens the faces;
no word of salutation parts the lips;
busily and silently as ants they swarm
in and out the shops, stores and houses.
One seems in the land of dreams, the
home OF tho nightmare; the air is op.
pressivs; the whole effect grotesque.
The houses in the Chinese quarters
have been literally honeycombed, from
the bottom OF the second story under
ground. TO the roof; the lodging houses
are subdivided into small rooms, hardly
larger than the hall bedroom of the
average clearinghouse, wherein lodges
the needy clerk. In place Of the half
bed. pair Of chairs. small bureau, and
washstand, we find shelves running
around three sides of the room. midway
between the floor and ceiling; the store
room Is underneath the shelves. On
the shelves men sleep, IS closely as
they can be well put in. Without venti-
lation. in Q room thick with tobacco and
opium smoke. five or six sleep and
dream. A sectional view of Chinese
slseping-room must closely resemble Q
sapd-bank perforated with swallow
holes.
In the heather temples superstition
bows down before dumb idols, and Of.
fers incense to senscless wood. The
stores are filed with wares from the
Orient. The markets and groceries are
stocked with flesh. fish aud vegetables
from beyond the Pacific. In style Of
dress, mode Of worship, manner Of life.
the Chinese. as Q rule, are unchanged
BY contact with American civilization.
REV. @. 4. Clifford.