davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Huntington argus. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1872-1905, 1883-03-08
HOw The B ,ys E'DO.cd t.Ie Widow
k'eh1iriSa.

The Widow Penfeld was a very
cross old woman; everybody, even
the minister's wife. said she was
All the boys in Scodack were afraid
of her black eyes, her irown, and her
sharp tongue, for she always called
them 'horrid boys" a generalization
none Of them liked.
1t was said she had seen better
days. she owned a tiny bit Of land
On the confines Of the village, and
had built for herself tiny house, in
which there were three tiny rooms -
that is if ysu counted the wood-shed.
There was one window in the bed
room. In the front room there were
two, one looking on the dusty road
sad one at old Jabez Babbett's barn
and the little garden, and each one
was shaded by thick green curtain,
on wAich was painted a white and
yellow willow tree, standing by a
blue and white river. A csoking
stove about the size of an old-tash-
ioncd handbook, small homemade
lounge, a Boston rocking chair, and a
little table were in tae front ROOM
There was q bed and bureau in the
bed room and tub and a wash bencO
in the wood-shed. 4 few bits Of car.
pet, q few dishes a silver candlestick,
IN eight day clock, that kept re-
markable time, 4 tall looking-glass, in
the upper part Of which was the pic
ture Of reac,ck, and a sampler,
framedin adusty leather-work wreath,
completed the furnishings, Perhaps
I ought to mention the trap-door,
which occupied nearly all the space
in the front room and which, when
opened, was a little trig.ttul. The
minister's wife dreaded to call on the
Widow, because she always opened
that door and disappeared in what
seemed an abyss, and brought up a
bottle Of very sour elderberry wine,
for her visitor to take a sip Of. In
the swamp, that extended nearly a
mile south Of the house, grew gold
thread, and sweettern, and on the
high ground beyond it grew sassatras
and sarsaparilla. These the Widow
gathered and sold to the village drug
gists. She went out nursing, when
she had an opportunity, and did
plain sewing. She kept q great
flock Of chickens, and raised few
vegetables, and swamp furnished her
with plenty Of eowslip greens, a lit
tie dead-wood, and few elderberries,
which she dried, or made wine Of, if
she had any sugar. She was known
to be very poor; but, as she never
complained or asked any favors, she
was supposed to get aleng comfOrta-
by.
Girls she rarely noticed; but, for
some reason unknown in Scodack,
she was always cross to boys. If a:
wlucky Kite was caught in the
branches Of the great oak that tow
cred in front Of her tiny house, it
WAS left there, and tie boys WHO
The Huntington argus. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1872-1905, 1883-03-08

shoes beneath it; and the geueral-air
the place had of having plenty down
cellar and plenty in the pantry, poor
as it was, ID was comfortable and
cosy house. Even the smoke wairl-
ing out Of the chimney looked com
Portable.
Tom Layton wanted to pin 10 tho
back of the Boston rocking chair
large white card, on which he had
printed in blae ink the following:
IAN April fool
From the high school
OF ScOdack."
But Achs. h Merwin, one Of The old
er girls, said No. 1t was curious,
but Achsah always had her way, and
when she said, softly, "Don't let's
spoil good action by calling it an
unpleasant name,' Tom tore th.
card in two and threw il in ihe fire.
Suppose, went on Acasah, you
write note, something Ike thiS:
"An April present from tae boys Of
Scodack, with their love" Write it
on note paper aud put it, with tia
money chat has been given, here BIZ
this pot of geranium ON the table
"But You girls have done as mach
as we have expostula;ed half a
dozen boys.
YES; but you began it, PERSISTED
Achsah, with the peculiar aicAering
glow in her deep blue eyes DO ono
could long resist. ia VII! do Mrs.
Penfeid more good to think It Is from
the boys" The girls seconded Acasah;
but the boys said it WAS not far, add
Tom wrote the following sote, which
he declared should no. be altered.
s'Dear Mrs. Psnfali;
"The boys of Scodack hope YOU
will accept their April presents vita
their respects.
p. S.-We couldn't a-done any
thing without the girls. They helped
splendid"
"Do you believe" said The Widow
Penfell., abruptly, TO DR.. Layton.
that night, as they wenc speeding
down the swamp road, behind tie
light-footed grays.
Eyes, said the Doctor, reverea;y,
knowing what the unfinished sentences
meant.y
What Mrs. PenGeld said to her
self that night, when she went about
the little house, DO enc bat he vino
looks into every heart and home can
tel; but when the minister Rad tho
little note, in which she tried to ihanh
the boys and girls, the next sunday,
every throat III the meeting house
suddenly felt a lump IL it.
There were few people in Scodack.
but after that memorable first Of
April they found it easier to I've
There seemed to be more for them to
do. The Widow Pcn6eld was a.
ways silent woman; but a change
came over her, anu by degrees the
boys and girls began to think it q
privilege and the best Of fun to 60
and see Eer.
Aren't folks IN this town kind,
exclaimed the ministers wife, one day
when she was at the little house and
was trying to swallow drop Of the
sour wine.
eyes, Ma'am, said the Widow,
simply, but with Gears in her keen,
dark eyes. They have been ever
since the blessed children set them q
thinking about it.
AEiiiIe Is ~ I'rmOi;ition.
The Huntington argus. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1872-1905, 1883-03-08

quaint, rambling house, paih'eo leu'
and standing away from the road,
amongst lilac and SNOWFALL bushes
Now she was the happybride. New
she was the proud mother of bright
curly-haired bsy. SomethingterrI6le
had snatched both husband and son
from her, but nerciful blank was
in her memory-she could not tell
what had become of them. The doc
tor had told her she must 60 out In
the country to live, and she had gone
to Scodack. Il could not have been
quite right in my head then, she
unused. "There ought to have been
money enough to have cared for me
all these years. Some one must have
taken it, after l lost them. =
When night came, she put the last
knot on the fire, and sat down before
1t. She was too cold to go TO bed
Perhaps some one would want her to
work in the morning. 1t would be
better if she we're dressed.
The morning Of the first Of April
dawned clear and bright. The jack
o-lantern and the pole, rugged in a
scarecrow suit of clothes were all
ready, and, directly after breakfast,
Tom Layton started down the swamp
road, to take good look at the lit
tie house. The nights were dark,
and he did not want the scare to be
Il failure, for about twelve boys were
now in the secret. The Babbitt barn
obstructed the view; SO, without
thinking be would be seen by the
Widow, he went up to the gate
There was no smoke futtering from
the lew chimney; the curtains were
drawn; and the hen-house, from
which he had always heard lively
CHATTER was empty and silent, an /,
thou lh the door stood wide open, not
a chicken was in sight. Deep down
in every human heart is a sacred in
,tinct Of helpfullness. Tom disliked
the Widow Penield, or thought he
he did; bot he did not remember it
just then. Something told him there
was trouble in the little house; for
the Widow was an early riser, and
now the place was as still us the great
swamp that stretched dazziingly white
beyond it. He slowly tiptoed into
the little yard and went to the low
window. The green curtain hid
everything; bat he heard low voice,
$, strangely gentle he did not at first
recognize it. Lord" pleaded the
voice, "work-send-work-l'm so
hungry, Lord-send-work"
Tom sped swiftly down the road,
stopping at Frank Dlloway's, only
because he passed the house. He
found his friend in the barn, giving
few finishing touches to the JACKIE
lantern. Il say" he painted, Mrs.
Penfells sick-and hungry"
"What?"
Il say she's sick and hungry, and
dan't 90 this scare business cents
worth. | went down there right at
ter breakfast, to look round, and
and"
Frank suspended his work en- his
pumpkin, and listened.
Aud she was a praying went
on Tom, in an odd voice. 81 hap
pened to listen by the window, and
shedidn't knowit. she spike straight
at-Him-dilierent from most folks
as if lie was alive-you know,
and she prayed for work and
yictuals.'
Frank sprang up wrecking the
pumpkin past repair. Gracious!
7, think Of anybody in ScodacN need
ins victuals."
"Well, now, interrupted Tom, I'm
going to tell mother all about it, and
| know she'll have Mrs. Penisld at
our house to-day, anyhow; and if she
,L;,,L. hast II moan Mothnr-What
The Huntington argus. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1872-1905, 1883-03-08

ASVVA bAVuS NV Va SVOPfaA5 az Iva SaIC
to ask for a drink of water.
One day, early in March, T ON Lay
tm vent flying down Bat eman Hill
en- his aew sled, The trustees had
forbidden the boys to coast on this
particular bill and Tens father was
president OF the village; but the hill
was glare Of ice and no one was in
sight, Flow was Tom to know that
the w idow Penfeld was coming
dowp. Cherry Street, that crossed the
hID fifty feet from the top of it? And
h ow was he to know that, instead of
getting out Of his way, she would
stand directly in itS Happily, when
the big sled struck her, she fell upon
Tom, and he carried her safely to
the bottom of the hill. But when
she rose, instead of excusing herself
or thanking him, she dealt him Il
smart box ON the ear. Take that, "
she cried, fiercely, you're breaking
the law, and more shame to you as
you are the presidents son"
About two weeks afterward, as he
was chasing his Chum, Frank DillO-
way, round a corner, he dashed into
Mrs. Penfeld, who was going slowly
home, with a little bag Of chicken
feed, and she scowled at him so, he
kicked the fence with sudden anger,
and said to Frank, who had come
ta3k, to see why he was not pursued:
I'D just like to give it to Widow
Penfeld! She the crossest cid woman
| ever did see!l" I'D like to scare her
old gizzard out of her." said Frank,
who had lost a fine kite up in the
top of the monster oak, and had sew
eral other small grudses against the
Widow. WHATS she dsne to
you?"
"Ohl she looked at me just now as
if she'd like to eat me; and while
ago she batted me over the head for
running into her on Bateman Hill
said Tom, cooling off little. GOT
course, | had no right to be there;
but why need she stand plum in the
middle of the road?"
Cause shes just 50 contrary"
cried Frank. 81 tell you what, let's
scare her for an April fool. She'san
awful fraid cat"
"Sle isn't?"
yes, she is fraid after dark, " said
Frank, wagsing his head, Let's
make jack o'laniern out Of a big
punkin, and g, at night. We can
scare the daylights out of her"
"Whoop!" cried Tom. "And we
can set it on pole and dress the
pole. She'll think something's after
her"
The last week of March the Widow
PenfelTs chickens were sick. The
Winter had been terribly cold and
the snow deep, AID, unable to get in
the swamp, she had been forced to
wood. Oae by one the chickens had
been sold or eaten, till only six were
left, and now some distenper had
seized them. After standing abaut a
few days on one leg, with ruflled
feathers and half;clased eyes, they
tumLlcd over dead. 1t was an cpl
demic, Jabez Babbitt said; but the
Widow thought it was because she
could not give them enough to
eat.
Northern New York is bleak place
in Winter, and, though it was 50
late in the season the snow lay two
feet on level about Sccdlc&. There
Was going to be thaw, and a cold,
white fog hid everything like a vail
the thirty first day of March; bat
that was not the reason the Widow
sat from morning till night bent II?
over the FIRE. Tne hens were dead,
and nowhere in that little house was
there Il morsel Of food or a penAy to
IL D
The daily gazette., 1883-07-02
LOCAL LAUONICS.

Delaware Lodge No. $40, D. O. H., has
elected the following officers: o B. c.,
Conrad Yeit; u. B., Paul Sh0y; Secretary,
Edward seidenburg; Treasurer, George
Sharp.
Third grand annual picnic of the Ancient
Order of Hibernians, Division No. /, at
Sehuet1Sn Park, July 4. The committee in
charge are determined to make this the most
enjoyable occasion of thu season.
At meeting of Lafayette Lodge No. 2,
K of P, held Saturday night, the following
officers were elected; c. G., Edward c. An-
derson; V. c., George B. Meredith; NJ. at
A, William A. Proehnow; Prelate, Harry
7. Fiuuey
The wharf at Front and Church streets
has been rented tine owners of the steamer
Wilmington and will be fillei up for the
accommodation of the steamer A slip will,
be erected Immediately end freight house
and waiting room will also be built.
The First Regiment Band will attend the flu,
neral of Julius hrauspe who died on Satur
day. this afternoon. The deceased was ,
melher of the old band, but has not bee
identified with the band since its reorganza
tion, owing to his declining health.
The Parnell Branch of the Irish Natiola 4
League met yesterday afternoon. six ncp
members were elected and committee 1.
five, with D. w. Mullin as chairman WA
appointed to arrange Tor mass meeting al
| the Opera House sometime in September.
The daily gazette., 1883-07-02
FIGaTING HICKEY.

UnAuccessful Republican Caucus Over
Clerk of the Market-Hickey's Chance.
Saturday night eleven of the thirteen Repu
blican members of City Council held eau
Gus for the purpose ofelecting candidate for
Clerk of the Market, the term of the present
incumbent, William Hickey, expiring to-
night. The session was stormy
one and lasted until nearly IL O'Clock with
out any choice being made. Messers. john
soE and Smith were the absentees.
Clerk Hickey, who is candidate for re-
election, occupies the position OF having in-
Cured the enmity of great many people
simply by perfoI ming his duty In con,
scientious manner. He has cut up shorl
weight butter, contiscated light weights ano !,
spring measures and rigidly enforced all
the regulations and ordinances ap-
plicable to the street market. Every dis
honest dealer is dead against him, but many
of the reputable farmers have united In
petition for his retention.
OF course, political considerations haV'
entered into the contest, as 1t is not to bt
presumed that the members whC
are opposed to Hickey's re-elec
tion are In favor of dishonest.
| In the markets. The other applicants haV
their friends In Council who think them a
| worthy and well-qualifled as Mr.. Hickey
| and hence the contest.
Hickey's opponents are Cornelius Fipps
who held the position several years age
| Deputy United States Marshal AL Ainscow
Edward j. White and ex-Coroner Weldin
| Ainscow, however, Is the most formidabl
competitor, as Councilmen Pickles an
Eastburn are making determined fight fo
him. Thei, opposition to Hickey is SO dc
termined that 1t is currently reported tina
they will bolt the caucus and refuse to SUI
port him in the event of his nomination.
At Saturday nights meeting, It'll reported
Hickey received four votes, Ainscow -four
and Weldin, Fipps and White one each
Seven votes are required to nominate, bu
during the evening there was
deviation from the first ballot An &C
Iournment was made until tn
evening, previous to the assembling
the Council meeting at which the eiectio
will be made. Hickey is hopeful that
will eventually pull through.
The Democratic members have nominate
ex.Clerk Henry D. Brown as their cand
date for the position.
The daily gazette., 1883-07-02
> - -
SUDDEN DEATHS.
Carried Under Boat by the Tide and
Drowned-Death from Cholera MOrbus.

Carried Under a Boat by the Tide and
Drowned-Death from Cholera MOrbus.
Yesterday morning. about 11.30 O'Clock,
Lewis Fischer, young man about 20 years
of age, and son of Barbara Fischer, OF 113
Shipley street, was accidentally drowned at
Shipley street wharf, while in bathing. He
had been swimming but short time when
he attempted to "skin the cat, while hold
ing on to the yawl of the sloop Sand Snipe,
lying close to the wharf His head went
under water when he let go and he was
swept by the current beneath the sloop Sarah
and Mary which was lying above
the Snipe. An alarm was given and several
men came to render assistance but were un-
able to do anything as Fischer did not rise
again. Coroner Smith was notified and
charles w. Sparks and John McManus
dragged for the body, which was recovered
about $50 O'Clock and taken to the morgue,
where an inquest was held at @ o'clock, the
jury rendering verdict of accidental
drowning
Yesterday abautnoon Marion Paradowski,
a native of Poland, aged 80 years. died sud
denly at his residence, 635 Christiana street.
Deceased had been In this country some two
or three weeks and was employed at the
Harlan Il Hollingsworth Company for about
10 days. Yesterday morning he was suffer-
ing from cramps or cholera morbus and DR..
Kirchner was sent for and arrived about
IL 80 and found the man in such condi,
tion of prostration that medicines were OF
no avail. Coroner Smith was notified and
with his physician investigated the case and
gave a certificate of death from natural
pau6e6.
The daily gazette., 1883-07-02
RAGING with . Train.

A fire engine on which seven men were
seated yesterday went to IRE In Brooklyn,
its route 9eing across the Brighton Beach
railroad track. AS It neared the crossing a
train was approaching rapidly, and the
driver, who had paid no attention to the
danger flag, seeing that he could not stop
his horses nor cross in time to avoid
collision turned and drove down the trae X
In front of the train SO swiftly that he was
not overtaken until he had reached station
short distance below where the train had
to stop. Witnesses OF the affair were 80 in,
dlgnant at the engineer of the train for moi
making any effort to avoid collision thai
the police were obliged to protect him.
The daily gazette., 1883-07-02
WHAT sARroRIs SAYS.
General Grants SON in-Law Explains II 10
Relations with Mrs. Bush

CHICAGO, July 1.-The Sartoris- Bush SEN
sation is agitating not only Chicago and
Milwaukee, but Green Bay, Wisconsin, and
st. Louis. Young Greene, the alleged bro
ther of the pretty Mrs. Bush, suddenly left
Green Bay yesterday, without notifying his
landlord A well-known gentleman in ST.
Louis, DIR. Stevens, who occupies
the house rented by the fascinat-
ing lady, says, to-day, that she
is none other than Blanche Melbourne, the
beautiful daughter OF Major Melbourne,
once of the regular army. She is regarded
as rather fast. Mr.. Sartoris, General Grants
son-in-law, was seen at the Grand Pacific
Hotel to-day, and was furious at the pub
licity given the matter in the papers. He
said the whole thing was ridiculous and
false.
He declared that he was determined to
stay in Chicago until people are through
talking about his intimacy with Mrs. Bush,
and that there were never any improper re-
lations between him and that lady. He said
that he was we'll acquainted with her, and
had helped her out of financial difficulties.
There was no misunderstanding or Ill feeling
between them. 1t is said that Mr.. SartOris
has loaned the husband and his pretty wife
| Sc 200.
The daily gazette., 1883-07-02
SIX MEN KILLED.
Fearful Result of . Railroad Accident in
Pennsylvania.

BRADFORD, Pa, July 1.-At 3 O'Clock
this morning terrible accident occurred OF
the Rochester and Pittsburg railI DAD, neal
Rasselas, about twenty-five miles southeast
of this city. A coal train running from
Dubois Cleartield county, to Rochester, was
divided into four sections, to the first SEC
tion Of which was attached passenger car
containing a dozen passengers, the con-
ductor and two brakemen. When moving
up long and steep grade near Rasselas the
last eight cars OF the section broke loose
from the train and started back down the
grade, the broken section being again divided
before resching the bottom.
The detached portion OF the train rushed
down the steep grade at a terrific speed, and
struck the second section with fearful force.
The passenger coach was smashed to pieces,
and not one of its occupants escaped death
or injury, four being killed outright and two
dying shortly after the accident. There
was but one lady on the train, Mrs. w. II
McCurdy, a resident OF this city, who was
accompanied by her little boy, four year;
old, and singular to state the lady sacceSs1c1
in extricating herself and child from the
wreck before the second part of the detached
portion came along and almost literally
ground the passenger coach to powder, but
few Of the heavier timbers being left. She
was badly cut and bruised, but the child
was almost uDhurt
SIX MEN KILLED.
Conductor s. N. Toles was instantly
killed, as were Robert A. Clement, George
Quinn and Adamo Angelo, while Michael
Downs and s. /. Mckee have since died
The remainder of the occupants of the pas
senger car were all seriously and it is feared
some of chem fatally injured.
Those who are seriously injured are:
James O'Connell of Alton, hurt on the
head, scslded and injured internally; j..
Casmillo, leg broken; his brother, R. Cas-
milo, had his ribs broken ON the left side
and shoulder hurt, and is in very bad con-
dition; W. L. Davis of Olean, N. Y, suffer-
ing with bad scalp wound; David
Ford, brakeman, both legs broken,
badly wounded in the head and internally.
John Collins of Limestone, badly hurt in
the head. j. Bosway, an Italian, ribs
crushed aud otherwise seriously injured. j.
Ravelle of Alton, hands anC face badly
scalded. Pat Downs, engineer of engine on
the second train, which was run into, is
slightly injured.
A relief train was sent from this city
with doctors and nurses and the dead and
wounded brought here, where everything
possible is being done for them. The coro-
ner has gone to the scene TO hold an inquest.
1t is stated that everybody on the passenger
car, including all the railroad men, were
fast asleep at the time of the accident, or 1t
might have been averted.
The daily gazette., 1883-07-02
TIE NEW ORIG STORE.
a Formal Opening to Take Place ON this
Fourth of duly.


The handsome new drug store of Messrs.
Fem q Co. at Nos. 215 and 217 West
Eighth street is now about completed and
will be ready for business on the Fourth of
July, on which date n will be opened for
the first time to the public, Its style of inter-
or arrangement is somewhat different from
those usually found in establishments of its
kind the walls on either side being fitted
with handsome walnut cabinets of the book
case pattern instead of the ordinary shelves
The object of Messrs. Fem Il Co.
is To establish thoroughly leliable
prescription and family drug store
n part of the city where it Is being much
0eeded. fine large sofia fountain has been
put in and will be In full ilast on the Fourth
O the delight, no doubt, ri the large
number oil friends oi the lirnl mud othcrs
who are cordially invited u enll and inspect
The new est lhlishmept, A Telephone was
put into the store yesterday and we are au-
thoriHed To say thai il is at all ineS at the
service ofthe patrons aud friends of The Arm.
Messrs Fem " Co, d. s,'rve ssrcaL praise
ilr their enterprise and have no doubt
t ley will reap an abundant reward In the
Ghape of q substantial Dusiness success.
The daily gazette., 1883-07-02
CHICAGO BANK LOANS.
A Vast Sum of Money Advanced on Grain
and Provisions.

CHICAGO, July 1.-The total loans of the
banks of this city maturing tomorrow, the
first business day of the months ,on the Board
of Trade collaterals, amount to Sl2 900, 900
This large sum has been advanced on grain
and provisions, principally the latter and
largely lard and pork, In ordinary times
of business prosperity this would create
no comment, but as the market has
been in the throes of panic,
with depreciation in values of these
products, sudden and unprecedented, the
the settlement Of this vast volume of loans
is 10 5ked forward to with no small degree oi
alarm. yesterday showed that nearly the
entire amount had been defaulted, thus
throwing the collateral on the banks, who
will dump it upon the market to morrow.
1t is not believed the banks will be dlsas-
trously affected, for they have nearly 30 per
cent. of liabilities as reserves, but the market
may be seriously demoralized