davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
West Virginia freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1881-1886, 1883-01-31
Children's Books.

How much do children under
stand, queries the Spectator, of the
fanciful and often beautiful books
that are written for their delecta-
ton at the present time? To what
extent do they appreciate them ?
These are questions which our own
experience cannot help us to an
swer, for besides that the remem-
brance of ones childhood is rarely
vivid in these respects, there were
no such books in those far, past days.
After Robinson Crusoe," and
few immortal stories, such as "Jack
the Giant Killer" "Red Riding
Hood" "Puss in Books" and some
others which we can all remem-
Der. literature for children was
poor stuff, mostly consisting of
dreadful little moral tales. of the
Tommy-and-Harry order, relieved
only by the syer-glorious exception
of "Peter Parley's Annual" That
was book to make one rebel
against the ordinance of nature
which decreed that Christmas
should only come once year.
What treat it was, and how we
loved it! But even Peter Farley
did not appea, to and cultivate
the imagination of the children as
the writers of the present day do.
Peter Farley gave only stories of
sea and land, OF sharks and whales,
of deserts and their denizens, of
fights and victories, of pleasant
school days and the peaceful pur-
suits of home. "P. F." was great
in puzzles, and the farther one was
from guessing them the nicer they
were; but in the purely imagine
tive he did not deal. Then there
was "Gammer Grethel," book for
which the world can never be too
grateful; but though it was fanci-
full, inasm uch as itdealt with dwarfs
and sprites, wood-goblins, kinds,
queens and princesses, it was real
istic, too, in the matter of fact Ger
man way, aad put upon the minds
of its young readers none of the
strain of high sentiment and inge-
NOUS allegory. What a gulf d.
vides the days of "Gammer Greth-
ell" and even those of the "Story
Without an End" always, we fan
cy, over the heads of children, un-
less they were the specialized sages
of German nurseries), and those of
"Lilliput Levee" and "Alice in
Wonderland" AS, however, in
that gulf lie buried our own child
hood and youth, we ask.-Do the
children of this generation appre-
ciate the books that are written for
them? If they do, what long
way ahead of US they must be at
their very first start in reading and
thinking life.
West Virginia freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1881-1886, 1883-01-31
Grows Not Old.

Nothing ever grows old in mem
ory the little boy that died SO long
ago, is an eternal child; and even
as he crept over the threshold of
God, at the reckoning of the Lord,
so ever in heart his parting look,
with heaven shining full upon his
brow the beauty that the heart
grew warm belolding, in life's fore
noon, when dews were on the
world, remains untouched by time,
even as the unrent sky that lets
the Wandefer unsolicited.
West Virginia freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1881-1886, 1883-01-31
Looking for Accidents.

Our Jack pays pretty close heed
to papa when he reads the morn
ing paper, and this is one thing
that came Of it: A friend made
Jack gift of a whole railroad,
track, stations and all, done up in
big box. Jack in haste drew
out the engine and cars and all,
but still kept looking and poking
into the box. This is ALL" said
mamma, "what more are you look
ing for?' "For the accidents
replies Jack, what papa says they
ALWAYS have on the railroads"
West Virginia freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1881-1886, 1883-01-31

ends only with our lives, with
which it began. We often mis-
take grievously in trying to mend
up our bodies by means of drugs
and tonics and stimulants, when
we should use foods and rest and
sleep instead.
Doubtless there are few of us all
but might mend our ways with
profit to ourselves and our fellows.
West Virginia freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1881-1886, 1883-01-31
MelldIng.

Mending is one of those homely
occupations that, like sweeping,
busting and washing dishes, fills
up great deal of time and leaves
very little to show for itself. But
if it isn't done, then it shows a
great deal If garments were made
as the zone boss shay" was made,
if the thread was as good as the
cloth, and the work as good as the
thread, and the fastenings were
sure, and the Innings matched
all the rest, and the wear
was even and uniform throughout,
there would be little mending to
be done. The worn garment
would "dissolve" SO to speak, and
leave nothing behind, nothing
even for rag carpets, but such
alas is not the case. The cloth
grows thin at the elbows and
knees (of boys, the buttons come
off, the button-holes stretch and
grow fuzzy, the seams rip, the
edges fray, the fabric is torn by
sharp points that Turk unseen and
part the threads without giving
notice, and, little by little, gar
ments go to pieces, unless the con-
slant stitch in time" is taken.
There are those who can afford
to lay aside their clothing as fast
as it becomes soiled or worn and at
tire themselves in new, but these
are not the majority. The most of
men and women are glad if they
can keep themselves neat and tidy
by the device of mending, and oft
en- of patching, and rich people
who are not spendthrifts are slow
to throw away a well-ftting and
handsome garment because it needs
mending. This occupation, there
fore, is quite universal, and, in
fact, is carried on more deliberately
and Systematically by the well-to-
do than by those who live from
hand to mouth.
The same line of remark applies
as well to houses and equipages as
to clothing. Our houses, the best
of them, are continually getting
out of repair and need mending
Hinges break and get loose, plaster
ing crumbIes and falls, doors set
tie and become hard to open and
shut, cracks open in the walls,
leaks start in the roof, window
panes are broken, paint grows rus
ty, pickets drop from the fences,
and, unless constant and careful
repairs are made, a look of decay
and deterioration creeps over the
premises. ITO keep up" a place,
as the phrase goes, requires con-
slant expenditure of time, labor,
and money.
Our bodies, no less than our
houses, need frequent repairs. In
visible enemies in the shape of
germs, bacteria, and the like, are
always at work undermining our
health our dead selves are always
at war with our living selves, and
the fight against dirt and disease
West Virginia freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1881-1886, 1883-01-31

DON'T FORGET. Don't forget,
friends, that the best way to spread
md deepen temperance sentiment,
Z to circulate temperance facts.
5end in names for the FRKSkAS.
West Virginia freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1881-1886, 1883-01-31
THE USE OF TOBACCO.

THE USE OF TOBACCO.
an a report to the Medico-c CHR
urgioal Society of Liege, by DR..
Lebon, the following conclusions
are presented:
1st. For every 100 grains Of to-
bacco used, at least lilo of grain.
of nicotine is absorbed.
I'd. The diurnal quantity of to-
bacco consumed by an ordinary
smoker is about 800 grains.
3D. The effects of tobacco smoke
are the same as those following the
administration of nicotine.
4th. The resinous liquid which
condenses in pipe is almost as
poisonous as pure nicotine, and
destroys the lives of animals rap
idly.
5th. The liquid condensed from
the smoke in the mouth and lungs,
contains ammonia, nicotine, fats,
resins and coloring matters. One
drop of this speedily produces par
alysis and death in young ami
mails.
9Th. In men, small doses of to-
bacco smoke excites the intellectu-
al faculties repeated doses produce
palpitations, disordered vision and
decrease of memory"
Add to the above the following
from the Daily Tribune, of May
81, 1882:
"Dr. Willard Parker, Jr., ofNo.-
Al East Twelfth street, sent GER
tificate to the Bureau of Vital Stat
istics, yesterday, stating that James
j. Sullivan had died at No. 10
Henry street, from poisoning Of
the system by tobacco Sullivan
was only twenty-six years old He.
had been employed as book-keep-
er, and he had used tobacco so CON
stantly that his system had be-
come impregnateo with nicotine"
We expect that many will sheer
at these facts, and light fresh
cigar, to quiet the touch of ner-
vousness, which will involuntarily
come to them, while for moment
they fear that "there is something
in it," 1t is indeed sad fact
this growing evil must strew its
pathway with physical death be-
fore men will heed the facts, and
science, and the pleadings of re-
form. Outlook, ~ Y.
West Virginia freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1881-1886, 1883-01-31
The OwI-Critic.
ALEssoN TO FAULT-FINDERs..

ALEsSON TO FAULT-FINDERs..
.Who stuffed that white owls" No one spoke
in the shop;
THE barber was busy and he couldn't stop;
The customers, waiting their turns, were all
reading
The Daily, the Herald, the Post, little heed
ing
The young man who blurted out such
blunt question;
Not one raised a head or even made sug-
gestion;
And the barber kept on shaving
..non't YOU see. Mister Brown"
Said the youth with frown,
allow wrong the whole thing is,
How preposterous each wing is,
How fiatteped the head is, how jammed
down the neck is
IN short, the whole owl, what an ignorant
wreck it's!
I make no apology;
I've learned owl-eology.
i've passed days and nights in hundred
collections,
And can not be blinded to any defections
Arising from unskillful fingers that fall
70 stuff a bird right from his beak TO his tail.
Mister Brown! Mister Brown!
Do take that bird down,
Or You'll soon be the 1augh1ng-stock all over
town."
And the barber kept on shaving.
1--WE studied owls,
And other night fowls,
And tell you
What know to be true;
An owl can not roost
With his limbs so Embossed;
No owl in this world
Ever had his claws curled,
Ever had his legs santed,
Ever had his bill canted,
Ever had his neck screwed
Into that attitude.
He can't 90 it, because
Tis against all bird laws.
Anatomy teaches,
ORTHODOXY breaches,
An owl has a toe
That can't turn out so!
I've made the white owl my study for years,
And to see such job almost moves me to
tears!
Mister Brown, I'm amazed
You should be SO gone crazed
As to put up bird
In that posture absurd!
TO look at that owl really brings on dizzi-
ness;
The man who stuffed him don't half know
his business!"
And the barber kept on shaving.
Examine those eyes,
I'm filled with surprise
Taxidermists should pass
OFF on you such poor glass;
So unnatural they seem
They'd make Audubon scream,
And John Burroughs laugh
To encounter such chaff.
Do take that bird down;
Have him stuffed again, Brown!"
And the barber kept on shaving.
with some sawdust and bark
i could stuff in the dark
An owl better than that.
q could make an old hat
Look more like a.: owl
That, that horrid fowl
j Stuck up there SO stiff like a side of coarse
leather.
In fact, about him there's not one natural
feather"
Just then, with a wink and sly normal
lurch,
a The owl, very graveiy, got down from his
perch,
Walked around, and regarded his fauIt-fnd-
ing critic
who thought he was stuffed) with glance
analytic,
And then fairly hooted, if he should say
M'four learning's, at fault this time, any way
Don't waste it again on live bird, pray,
I'm an owl; you're another. Sir Critic, good
dayw
And the barber kept on shaving.
West Virginia freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1881-1886, 1883-01-31
Truth About Tobacco.

Thos. B. Stillman, of New York,
a practical chemist, quotes the fol-
lowing as group Of established
scientific facts:
West Virginia freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1881-1886, 1883-01-31

AN HONOR TO HIS MOTHER
John" inquired a dominic of
hopeful pupil, what is nailer?"
"a man who makes nails" said
John.
Every good. What is tallor?"
Zone who makes tails"
"Oh, you stupid fellow" said the
dominic, biting his lips, "a man
who makes tails?"
Eyes MASTER" returned John, "if
the tailor did not put tails to the
coats he made, they would be all
jackets !" a
"Sit down, John, you're an honor
to your maternal parent"
Mud pies! How dear to the heart of child
hood. This is the song Of them, as Mrs NJ.
f. sangster gives it in Harpe1's Young People:
Sweetened with sugar, and sprinkled With
spice,
But make believe pies are great deal more
When little folks bake them out here in the
sun.
With soft, coaxing touches they mix up the
Brown -four is said to be wholesome yoe
And if little fingers shall gather a stain,
Why, water and soap will soon wash them
again. lH.r
And after the wonderful baking is done
The droll, jolly baking out here in the sun
The sweet little cooks will be happy to take.
If somebody give IL, good slice Of cake.
The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1883-11-01
Indian Students Returning Home.

Those Interested in Indian industrial
schools located among white people.
where the Indian children are removed
from the daily contact of Indian society,
have felt an unusual interest in the event
Of the children being returned to their
people after having been for several
years entirely separated from them.
Not long ago twalye Indian children
were returned to Dallas, Ore, for va
cation visit, where they met their
friends and relatives from Warm Spring
agency, having been separated from
them for three years. while attending
the United States Indian training
school at Forest Grove, tire. An eye
witness thus describes tho meeting of
some OF the parents AMI children: One
old man. who had parted with his boy
of ID three years before, with many in
functions to work hard aud study hard
and be good boy, was there to meet
the lad. He looked all around and
asked for his boy, while at the same
time the latter was looking around for
his father; neither knew the other. So
we'll had the boy obeyed his fathers in
inianctiens that he had risen to the
position of first sergeant among the
boys. He was tall and straight, and
his hair cut short and neatly parted.
His Mell-iitting new sui. Of clothes al
together quite transformed him from
the half-grown lad Of three years ago
in his dirty blanket, with long un-
combel hair coming down over his
forehead, and cut off square Just above
his eyes. On the other hand, his father,
in expectation of meeting his son, who
he fondly hoped was now almost like a
white man, and not wanting his boy
10 feel ashamed Of his old Indian father,
had cut of his own long hair and
bought himself u new suit Of clothes
and his appearance, too, was changed
almost as much MS that Of the boy.
Only the hole in his nose and the holes
III his ears told Of tho old supcrstitions
and barbarous habits. All else spoke
of III awakening to realization Of a
newer life, nobler aims and better pnr-
poses. When told by the lady in
charge which was his boy, his only IL.
sponse was the tears streaming down
his dusky cheeks rs he took tho lads
hand. One widow, who had sent her
little s-year-old girl. could hardly
realize the change in her child, and
seemed never to tire of fondling her,
stroking her hair, and minutely exam
lining every article Of her wearing ap-
parel. Three covered carriages owned
by the Indians were in waiting to con-
yey them to their homes, and they in.
formed us that every camping place on
the road homeward has been arranged
with especial reference To the comfort
OF the children.
The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1883-11-01
A Giant or the Plains.

We rode up to the campfire Of old
Strike-Axe, near the head of the shed
and closest to the waters of the creek,
our advent apparently exciting very
little surprise or comment among the
group that We passed. The Chief rose
to receive MS, exhibiting his full stat
ure and formidable proportions. A
we dismountcl to take his hand we
were made aware Of our comparatively
pigmy size, and our hands were like
those of infants in his brawny palm.
Strike-Axe is one of the largest Of the
giant race, nearly, if not quite, seven
feet in height and massive in proper
ton. He was in gala costume, his
broad chest decorated with rows Of
white pipe-stem beads, that gave the
effect of the trimming of hussar
jacket, his face painted in streaks OF
red and yellow ochre, and his cocks.
comb of hair decorated with turkey.
feathers. He wore his red blanket with
the grace of a toga. and his manner
had the grave dignity of Roman
Senator. His face is of the prevailing
Usage Indian type, whose regularity
and universally indicate the strength
of blood and nnmixed purity of the
race. Its east is that which is regard.
ed us that of the typical North Ameri.
can Indian-the high cheek-bones and
aquiline nose and the high and retreat.
ing forehead being displayed in almost
exaggerated outline, and the color Of
the skin showing the bright, coppers
bronze, also accepted rs the hue Of the
race, although really less prevalent
than a darker tinge. The eyes were
grave and penetrating, although small,
and the mouth firm, without being
cruel. Old Strike-ANe's children, who
are now men and women with families
of their own, were not mt his campfire.
and his only wife, sanaw of as massive
proportions as himself, sat silently and
stolidly by the fire, apparently regard,
ing the visitors with disdainful con,
tempt. AS the red glow of tho dying
blaze illuminated her heavy features,
her huge bust and brawny arms, she
looked like u representative Of the giant
race before the flood, and Us though
she could
| Have taken Achilles by the hair aud bent his
| Or with finger stayed lxion' $ wheel.
FoR long eyenirgs-Good books anc
DuDers
The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1883-11-01
GROWTH OF THE SOUTH.
Wonderful Progress in the Last
Four Years.
Figures Gathered from Into rvieWs
with Twelve Governors
from the New Orleans Times Democrat.

from the New orleans Times -Demoera,.l
The iantS-i.maf amt presents this morning
Il complete review af all tho South, from the
Potomac aul ohio IL the Gulf AMI Rio Grtn,ic.
af tn States of Virginia. North ami South
Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Missis-
Sspai. Louisiana, TEXAS, kentucky. lcnnes-
se4 ard Arkansas. The assessment rolls hase
Just h,rn competed ia mos Of the States,
which enahi, III IL show ia undisputeA tig-
ar,sS la dollars ana een,S, the exact growth
III the south since tie census was taken.
This showing Is far more ia .cring than W.
i'm 1 iati Il few weeks aga: Is alihu>t s'ari-
llns III the wonderful efanth oi wealth.
The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1883-11-01
Tot ..........saa. 81, ,a3i.a7i
Toni

This II an iterease III Saiu, .u..n.s In four
years. an average 81 Slan, -. Il year.
How rapid is tie growth ot tias South is
evidenced lay the iaet that the Increased rs,
s.,ssnents over ie>2 amount to S.aS.t "a. .tMss-
nearly the Na!ue of tiie eatton crop.
In every respect the South has imtsasea.
hut il none more - than railroads, fully
s:inn, GOO 600 being invested in the canstrtse-
tinn at ncw railroads. During the last four
wears, four southern staie~-Ar Arkansas, Elar-
lila, Louisiana and TEXAS have doubled their
railroad mileage, IL tho following table will
show.
The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1883-11-01
"GlvE ME THE BABY"
Dr JAMES wHITcoMB RILEY.

Give me the baby to hold, my dear
To hold and to hug, and to love and kiss
An he will come to me. never fear
Come to the nest OF a breast like this,
AZ warm for him AZ his face with cheer.
Give me the baby to hold. my dear!
Trustfnlly yield him to my caress.
:. BOTHER YOU say? what! "a bother to mc?. =
To I'LL up my soul with such happiness
AZ the love Of a baby that laughs tn be
Snuggled away where my heart can hear.
Give me the baby TO hold, my dear!
All. but his hands are soiled. you say!
Ana ,,t would dirty my laces and clutch my
Well, what would pleasure me more, pray,
Than the torch and tug OF the wee hands
there?-
The wee hands there, and the warm face here
Give me the baby to hold. my dearl
Give me the baby! (Oh, won't you see?
Somewhere, out where the green OF
the lawn
Is turning to gray, Afid the maple tree
Is weeping It's leaves OF gold upon
little mound. with 4 dead rose near y.
Give me the baby TO hold, my dear!
The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1883-11-01
from Carl Prctzcl's Wcekly.l

BREAD-MAKERs are not loafers.
ALMOST every parlor in the land is q
courtroom.
A "pRAw game" The cart horses.
MAN born of woman is of few days
and full Of hay fever.
LOTTERY men are square. They want
every man to have chance.
IN always troubled with lack of
nerve when think about going to the
dentists, said Smitherkins; "but when
get in the chair and he commences to
bore around in my tooth with his drill,
| find have altogether too much Of it. !"
IT i, an old saying that to make a
goose nature requires considerable time
and Il large number of quilts. Just SO
with man. He can make goose of
himself with one quill III short time.
WHEN negro is poor and worthless
we are content to call him negro; when
he is respectable and we'll to-do he is
an African: and when he amounts to
something he is colored gentleman.
The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1883-11-01
Mileage NJ La.

This is IN inereaee in three years ot asa
miles -0nc-auartef af the ncipa,c fer the
whole country,
The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1883-11-01

FoR long evenirgs-Good books ane
papers,
The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1883-11-01
Tl.MON.
From Texas Siftings.

FROM Texas Stftings.l
AN exchange says that Vanderbilt
grows gross. His father used to grow
cabbages.
A YOUNG girl in Missouri, crazed by
religion, imagines herself an angel.
Her case is not quite SO bad as that Of
the young Austin dude, who. crazed by
the girls, imagines himself q devil Of a
fellow.
A TEXAS local reporter described n
young lady's costume, worn at an
evening party, as "rose- colored dress.
Tho paper appeared the next morning
calling it "nose-colored dress" and
the young laly's admirers are now
anxiously inquiring who's nose?'
"Aw. CAS- you sell me, NV, bluo
necktie to match my eyes. you know
inquired m Austin dude in gentle
mans furnishing store. Don't know
rs can, exactly" replied the salesman,
but think can fit You with soft hat
to match your head" Then the dude
withdrew from the store, crushed
strawberry hue suff'using his cffeminate
features.
"GoIsd to visit Germany this winter,
! hear, said Mr. plimsoll to old Uriah
Pettigrew, whose reputation for stingi-
ness was almost sublime. "Yes, I
thought l would go over in about two
weeks Don't believe they will let
You go ashore observed Plimsoll
"Why won't they let me go ashore %
anxiously inquired Pettigrew "Why,
You know Bismarck has declared
against the importation Of American
hogs.
from peck's SUM-
TIE contribution-box at least well
comes liberalism in the churches.
IT's suggested that Private Dalzell
be put in command of the next Arctic
expedition. Well, rs he is an Ohio
man there is fair prospect of his get
ting THAR by all means make out the
commission to Dalzell. Let no Ohio
man escape.
The strike that generally results in
good to all parties concerned is that
made by the mothers on the bosom Of
the boys pants. The boy don't like it
any more than wealthy corporations,
but it does him good in the end.
\ HEALTH journal SAYS: "Tco thick
undcrclothing causes unnatural redness
in the face and nose Ii person buys
his underclothing by tho gallon, and
puts tumbler-full into his vital parts
too thick, it probably does have that
effect. Beware of underclothing that
comes in jugs.
\ TELEGRAPH dispatch conveys the
intelligence that Young man in Texas
who had been missing for several days
"was found dead under tree with a
rope around his neck The dispatch
don't give any particulars rs to how the
rope came there, but as it happened in
Texas it's surmised that its an ordi-
nary attack Of the committee on stran-
gulat;on. A common disease in that
State.
They are getting awful nice down in
Vermont. An editor in quoting from
one of Byron's poems, in which the
words "Oh, gods!" occurred, changed
them to "Oh, gosh" According to the
Vermont idea, Mars, Jupiter and the
rest of them were goshes.