davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1884-12-25
The English Laborer.

"The lot of the English laborer is a
hard one," says writer in an English
journal. "His wages do not average
more than II shillings week. He
rises before daybreal. breakfasts upon
his cup of tea and piece of bread and
lard, and sallies forth TO plow, crust
and slice of bacon for outdoor dinner
rolled in his great red handkerchief
He returns, tired and exhausted, at
dusk, and thus his daily bread is gain
ed by monotony of toll only to be
compared with lifelong telling of a
rosary of millstones. If he faint by
the way, or get toward old age, his
wages are often reduced, and in some
instances he must fall back upon the
poor rate. His wife's attention is
mainly occupied by home duties-in
mending garments. tending the garden.
and preparing meals. These latter
consist of vegetables and bacon, bread,
lard and cheese.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1884-12-25
The President of Mexico.

Porfrio Diaz. the new President OF
Mexico, was born in Oaxaca, capital of
the state Of the same name, in Se2tem-
Der IA, 1880. Educated in the public
schools and legal colleges of Oaxaca,
Diaz graduated with honors in 1S49,
when but nineteen years of age. At
this crisis in his life the struggle be-
tween the Church party and Liberals
broke out in open hostilities, the strug-
gle being known in Mexican history as
the "War of Reform" Young Diaz
was one of the first to take part in the
contest, joining the Liberal forces
under Commontort and Alvarez, and
fighting bravely throughout that bitter
contest.
In 1862 Diaz was created Brlgadier-
General. He marched towards Vera
Cruz, fighting with and harassing the
French. at Puebla Diaz made de-
termined stand. On May 5, 1862. he
defeated the French. This victory
gained for Diaz the gratitude of the
republic. For his gallant conduct on
that glorious day he was specially
commended to the notice of the Presi-
dent and of congress, and the Fifth of
May" is now the Mexican Fourth of
July. Diaz was made COMMANDMENTS
chief of the Mexican army, and with
renewed energy he assumed the often.
sive and wrested his native state Of
Oaxaca from the French. He was
opposed by Marshal Bazaine. upon
whom rests the ignominy of violating
one of the great principles of modern
warfare. He caused the arrest of
Diaz while the latter was holding a
conference with him, under cover of a
flag of truce, and sent him prisoner
Of war to The city of Mexico. He es-
capped from prison and joined his army
again. He competed for the Presiden-
cy in 1866, 1871 and was finally elect
ed in 1877 after an insurrection in
which he expelled his rival from the
country. He is the most popular man
in Mexico.-New York Graphic.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1884-12-25
Pc;rifet' Wood,

The petrifed wood which is so alum
dant in the United States Territories
of Arizona, Wyoming, and Rocky
Mountain regions is rapidly becoming
utilized by the practical American. In
San Francisco there is now a factory
for cutting and polishing these petri-
factions into manIeipieces. tiles, tab
lets, and other architectural parts for
which marble CT slate is commonly
usel. Petrified wool is said to be sus-
ceptible of aiiner polish than marble,
or even onyx, the latter of which it is
driving from the market. The raw
material employed comes mostly from
the forests of petrilied wood along the
line of the Atlantic and Pacific Rail-
way. Several other companies have
also been formed to obtain concessions
of different portions of these forests.
Biologists will regret the destruction
of such interesting primeval remains,
and some steps ought TO he taken to
preserve certain tracts in their original
state. -~EqgiReeFing.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1884-12-25
Grades OF Rank in New York.

1t is found that even after social am
btion in New York has been gratified
by Fifth avenue establishment. there
is still an unrest. High life has its pc
culiar grades, and the Fifth avenue is
anything but level. The man who
hires his house is not on par with the
man that owns his dwelling, and the
latter, by the same rule, is inferior to
the man who owns a dozen houses
Wealth being the standard, there is a
perpetual looking down ON those Of low
crank and a looking up to those who
are richer, and this struggle leads to a
rivalry which sometimes becomes ruin
Gus, for though a mans income may
cease his disbursements continue.
Hermit, in New York letter to the
Troy Times, says the pressure felt by
these snowy families often reaches an
intense degree, for the credit system
is extensively prevalent, and as con-
sequence there is an incessant dun
ming. The professional COLLECTOR may
already be seen on his rounds, trying
to collect bills contracted before the
summer hegira took place. The col
lector must be well dressed, and a
combination of meekness and persis-
tence is his best capital. He may con-
ceal his vocation by appearing to be a
Government man taking the census,
or even as a mechanic whose business
is repairs; but whatever be the show,
his object is money, and he is sure to
inNict his presence at the most annoy
ing hour in the day.
Then comes the appeal to the money
lender, whose loans require a chattel
mortgage. 1t is surprising how many
snowy families are thus encountered.
| The struggle to preserve appearances
may be prolonged some time after the
| income has ceas ed, but at last comes
the explosion, amid which the unlucky
family sinks out of sight. and finds its
level in some lower strata To these
exigencies are to be ascribed many of
those defalcations which so often
shock the social and financial world,
Hence, the great cry in the fashionable
world: "Wanted, an income"
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1884-12-25
How China got its Name.

Upwards of 100 years before Christ
the Chinese were a people ruled by a
dynasty of kings, of whom, like the
Pharaohs of old, there is no clear his
tory, and not until the "Chow" dynas-
ty, B. c. 1125, is there any clear histo-
ry of the main Chinese states. The
Chinese take their history back to the
time of Noah. This very ancient
empire has borne in its time many
names, for it was q custom when a
new dynasty ascended the throne 10 rC-
name the empire, as Hai-que, Cham-que,
Han-que, etc., according to the name
of the ruling monarch. The true
name is said to be Chum-que ''the CEN
ter kingdom of the world" This term
was by usage corrupted to Chin que
and from this word the Portuguese
gave it the anne of China. China
proper consists of eighteen provinces,
containing 250,o00,00O of people.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1884-12-25
A Sheet of Paper May Move A Ton
One Mile.

The modern cargo steamer has now
become wonderfully economical
freight-carrier, especially as regards
consumption Of fuel. A freight tram
run under the most favorable condition
seems wasteful in comparison. The
Burgos, a modern steamer especially
built to carry cargo cheaply at a slow
speed, lately left England for China
with cargo weighing 100000
pounds. During the first part of the
voyage from Plymouth to Alexandria,
the consumption of coal was 202,240
pounds, the distance being 1880 miles.
The consump tion per mile was there
fore only 63.5 pounds, and the con-
sumption portion of cargo per mile
OOPS pound. In other words, half an
ounce of coal propelled one ton of car
90 one mile. Assuming that paper is
as efficient fuel as coal, we have, says
the Roilroad Gazette, only to burn
letter on board this steamer to gener-
ate and utilize enough energy to trans
port one ton of freight one mile. 1t
is difficult to realize that such trifing
act as burning letter involves such
waste of useful energy, or can have
any reference to the energy sufficient
to perform feat which, under less
favorable circumstances, requires a
couple of horses and teamster for
about half an hour.
The best locomotive performance in
this country of which we can find anv
authenic record gives consumption
of about two ounces of coal per ton of
freight hauled one mile at the rate of
13 miles an hour including stoppages.
On lines having grades of from 50 to
20 feet per mile, the consumption
often rises to five or more ounces OF
Coal per ton of freight hauled one
mile
The engines of the Burgos are on
what is termed the triple compound
system, the steam being expanded in
three cylinders in succession. The
boiler pressure is leo pounds per
square inch. The avera--e speed at sea
in all weather is yer. lly ten miles
an hour.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1884-12-25
THE FAMILY PHYSICIAN.

Hot, dry flannels applied as hot as
possible for neuralgia.
For cold in the head nothing is bet
ter than powdered borax shifted up
the nostrils
Whooping-cough paroxysms are re-
lieved by breathing the fumes of tur-
pentine or carbolic acid.
For stomach cramps, ginger ale or q
teaspoonful of the tincture of ginger
in a half glass of water in which half
a teaspoonful Of soda has been dis
solved.
Astrong solution of bicarbonate OF
soda (baking so'a), taken frequently,
is a reliable remedy for diarrheal
troubles, particularly those arising
from acidlty of the stomach.
One of the best remedies for rough
or chafed hands is the following: One
ounce of glycerine, one ounce of rose
water, six drops of carbollc acid. In
cold weather, whenever it is necessary
to wash the hands, apply few drops
while they are moist, and rub well
into the skin. 1t may also be used
for the face.
When an artery is cut the red blood
spurts out at each pulsation. Press
the thumb firmly over the artery, near
the wound, and on the side towards
the heart. Press hard enough to stop
the bleeding, and wait till a physician
comes. The wounded person is often
able to do this himself, if he has the
requisite knowledge.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1884-12-25
KITTY'S FARM.

"Come in!'
This was the gruff answer that
Judge Butler made 10 timid knock
at his Office door, in New Lexington,
the struggling capital of the now IA
nous mining county of Perry.
The door softly opened and timid
bit of girl entered. She might have
been fifteen and she might have been
twenty. as matter Of fact Kitty Fan
Shave was just eighteen and her own
mistress in the eyes of the law.
"Well, Miss Kitty" began the judge
in his brusque business way, Il Sc
cured decree in court this morning
which entities you to the possession
Of your farm in Saitlick township.
"Oh, am so happy, Mr.. Butler! l
am so happy that have got my old
home back, and that papa's will has
not been broken"
"Tut, tut, little grill You ought to
be sorry. You couldn't sell the entire
eighty acres of land for enough money
to pay the costs of the court"
"Oh. dear! you frighten me. What
do the costs amount TO, Mr.. Butler?"
"Your proportion of the court costs
is s165 and my fee is s50-total s215.
"Then l can never pay it, and will
have to give up after all. 1 have
been able to save but s35 out of my
wages during the whole year, and l
had hoped that that would pay all ex-
penses."
And Kitty Fanshawe indulged in a
violent fit of weeping.
"Dry your tears, little one" and
Judge Buffers voice grew tremulous
don't cry any more. won't make
any charge for my services; so there's
$50 of it paid off at once"
"And 1 will pay the costs Of court
and the young lady can reimburse mt
when she is able" spoke up a young
man who had been an interested lis
tener.
miss Fanshawe, this is Fenton Bar
clay, student of mine. l though
you were acquainted"
The young people bowed to eacf
other.
"Will MIR. Rolfe, your guardian, ad
vance You the MONEY to discharge tn,
clerks costs and have the decree regu
arly recorded?' asked Judge Butler.
IL do not think he will"
"Then accept Mr.. Barclays Offer
He is not wealthy. but he has tn
money and can spare it for a year o
two until you are able to repay him" ;"
But l doubt the propriety of takin
it."
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1884-12-25
Treatment of Baiky Horses.

A society for the prevention of
cruelty to animals, recommends the
following rules for the treatment of
balky horses: l. Pat the horse upon
the neck, examine the harness care
fully, first on one side then on the
other, speak encouraging'y while do.
ing so, then jump into the wagon and
give the word go-generally he will
obey. 2. A teamster in Maine says
he can start the worst ballly horse by
taking him out of the shafts and max
ing him go round in circle. If the
first dance does not cure him, the
second will be sure to do it. 3. To
cure balky horse, simply place your
hand over the horses nose and shut
off the wind till he wants to move !;
then let him 60. 4. The brains of
horses seem to entertain but one idea
at time; thus continued whipping
only confirms his stubborn resolve.
If you can by any means give him a
new subject to think of you will have
no trouble in starting him. A simple
remedy is to take q couple of turns of
stout twine around the fore leg, just
below the knee, and tie in a bow knot
At the first check he will go dancing
off, and after going short distance
you can get out and remove the string
to prevent Injury in your further
drive.
That's it, exactly. Give him new
idea-a new subject to think of. But
Just there is where the trouble come:
in. A thoroughbred balky horse viii
stick to his hobby as pertinaciously a!
a modern politician, and it cannot bt
gotten out of him long enough to star
him. AT his own sweet will AM
pleasure he will go, and not before.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1884-12-25
PRICE THREE CENTS.
We Are Not Old.

We arc not old. though years have rolled
Like shadows from our path away,
Since first to me thou didst unfold
Thy love-oh! happy, happy day.
We are not old.
Thy cheeks are f,irer than the rose,
Thy lips are sweeter than the dew
Thy hand is whittier than tho SHOWS
And as the heavens thine eyes are piuc'
We are not old.
Timo dealcth gently with us hero,
No change our hearts have ever KNOWN
ourjoy increases year by year,
For sweet eontennent is oar own
We are not old.
As IA, the past mag we girde IN,
All gently down the stream Of lie;
And when we reach our journeys end,
May We together rest, my wife
We aye not old
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1884-12-25
SCIENTIFIC SCRAPS.

A medical authority gives the time
s-'cen by the blood Of dog in making
tho entire circuit of the body as l7a
seconds. during which the heart makes
5la pulsations.
Paper is made in France from the
hop vine, and it is claimed that the
fiber secured is the best substitute for
rags yet obtained. as it possesses great
iangth, strength, flexibility and delica.
cy.e
; rainbow about twenty-five min.
Al fter sunset was recently wit
messed in Ireland. 1t was evidently
caused by the light reelected upon the
clouds from the glowing western
sky.
A fine lioness in the Dublin Zoologi
cal Gardens has shown curious appe-
tite by commencing to devour herself
She ate twelve inches Of her tail al
one repast and has since nearly finished
that appendage, and has partially de-
voured one of her fore paws.
The Importance of acquiring bet.
ter knowledge Of earthquakes has be.
come so well recognized in Japan that
the authorities of Toxic University
have instructed one of their officers to
devote himself wholly to earthquake
phenomena.
An important discovery in aeronau
tics is reported from Germany. BY
the aid of compressed carbonic acid
the gas in balloons is condensed or
expanded at pleasure, causing the bal.
loon to ascend or descend at the aero.
nauts will.
M. Dubois, of Paris, finds that chic
roform acts with extraordinary rapid.
ty on criminals after the introduction
of alcohol into the system, and ter
inmates in death with startling abb
ruptness. This discovery may form a
clew to the fatality Of chloroform in
some cases.
A possible source of danger to mar
ners is suggested by report that
during the night Of August 23rd. 1884
the lantern of Cuban lighthouse was
surrounded by such cloud Of red in.
sects that the light. as seen from
distance, was changed to decidedly
red color.
An epidemic Of consumption, in q
village near Weimar, Germany, has
been traced to the food supply. A
iiocls Of chickens had access to the
matter expectorated by consumptive
1 patient and became diseased, impart
ing the affection to several person:
eating the flesh.
The power of regenerating lost part!
! is greatest where the organization i!
least, and while the animal is in tn,
young or larval state. 1t is really
process of budding. Certain worm
may be cut into several pieces, ant
each part will regain what is needet
to complete the mangled organism
The star fish can reproduce its arm.
the snail its tentacles, the lobster it
claws, the fish its fins, the spider it
legs and the lizard its tail.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1884-12-25
Mans Eight Elements.
An OLD Irish Poem Now First Eng-
liShed,

An Old Irish Poem Now First Eng
lished.
Thus sang tho sages Of the Gael
A thousand years ago well nigh: Il,
"Hearken how tho Lord on high
Wrought man to breathe and laugh and vail
10 hunt and war, to plow and SAIL r
To love and teach, to pray and diel"
Then said the sagos Of the GaoI;
"of parcels eight was Adam built
The first was earth, the second sea, Z
The third and fourth were sun and cloud, 2
The fifth was wind, the sixth was stone, \
The seventh was tho Holy Ghost, "
The last was light which lighteth God"
Then sang the snges of tho Gael: 4
"Man's body, first was built of Garth
To lodge living soul from birth, 4
And oarthward home again to go f.
When Time and Death have spoken so. "
Then of the sea his blood was dight
10 bound in love and flow in fisht
Next, ofthe sun, to see tho skies,
His face was framed with shining eyes.
From hurryng hosts OF cloud was wrought
His roaming, rapid, change.nl thought.
Then Of the wind was mr4de his breath
To como and go from lIlrth to death.
And then OF earth-suL Ltaining stone
Was built his flesh. ..upholdins bono.
The Holy Ghost, like soaring famo,
The substance. OF his soul became.
Of Light W Atch lightcth God was made
Mans Conscience, so that unfraid
His seal thi oush haunts of night and sin
My pass and keep all clean within.
Now, if the earthiness rebound,
He lags through life slothful hound,
But, if it be the sea that sways,
| In wild unrest he wastes his days,
When'er the sun is sovran, there
The heart is light, tho face is fair.
| If clouds prevail, ho lives in dreams,
| A deedless life Of gloom and CLEANS,
! And when the wind has won command
His word is harder than his hand.
| If stone bear rule, he masters mon,
! And ruthless is their ransom then.
The Holy Ghost, if lie prevail,
Man lives, exempt from lasting bale,
| And gazing with the eyes Of God,
| Of all he secs at home, abroad,
| Dscelns the inmost heart and then
, Reveals it to his fellow-men,
And they are truer gentler, moro
Heroic than they were before.
But he on whom the Light Divine
Is lavished bears the sacred sign,
And men draw nigh in field Or mart
To hear the wisdom of his heart.
| For he is calm and clear of face,
And upperplexed he runs his raoe,
Because his mind is always bent
Or Right, regardless of event.
Of each of those eight things dccreed,
To make and mold the human breed
| Let more OR less in man and man
Be set as God has framed his plan.
But still there is ninth in store
(God grant it now and evermoreD
Our Free dom, wanting which, VIC read,
The bulk of earth, the strength of stone,
The bounding life O the sea, the speed.
Of clouds, the splendor OF the sun,
The never tagging flight OF wind,
The iervor of the Holy Ghost,
The Light before the angels host,
Though al. be in ourirame combined,
Grow tainted, yea, Of no avail"
So sang the sages Of the Gael
Whitley Stofes in London academy.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1884-12-25
so. LONDONDERRY VT, THURSDAY, DECEMBER
"Norsense. nonsense, little one.

is simply business transaction"
Miss Kitty tried in vain to prote.
further, but the gruff judge wouIl
have none of it, and in half an houI iie
had her signature to an agreement to
pay Mr.. Fsnton Barclay S165 in four
semi-ar.nual payments of S4l.25 each.
witt. interest at per cent.
After Miss Fanshawe had again and
again thanked her young benefactor,
with smiles and bushes contending
for the mastery. she withdrew.
OF course the story Of Fen q Bar
clay's generosity toward the friena'9sS
girl got out in the village. and it didn't
take the gossips long to decide that he
and Kitty were to be married. Sooth
to say, the decision reached by the
gossips was not very displeasing to
either of them. and almost before they
knew it Fenton Barclay AID Kitty
Fanshawe were engaged. Almost
simultaneous with Mr.. Barclays ad-
mission to the bar they were married.
When the young barrister visited the
farm he saw how valueless his real es-
tate security was, and laughingly said
that he ought to have accepted the
semi-annual payments, which he had
refused to do. He made what he re-
garded as good bargain when ne
found aman who would pay the taxes
on the farm for the privilege of occu-
pying it. Fenton Barclay had a
young lawyers experience for several
years at trying to make a living in a
country town, and hard struggle it
was very frequently. But in the
meantime some wonderful changes had
taken place in Perry county. The
Hooking Valley railroad had penetrat-
! ed its southern border, and the town
of New Straitsville sprang into exis-
tence. Mrs. Barclays farm adjoined
the new town, and it was not long un-
til it was discovered that it contained
the most valuable coal mines in all
that portion of the Monday creek val
ley. A long story Of negotiation can
be told very briefly. A mining CON-
pany purchased the eighty-acre tract
from Mrs. Barclay at the price of S425
per acre. To the young couple $34, ,00C
was an immense fortune. To-day Mr.
Fen on Barclay is a prosperous attor'
ney in Gotham, and occasionally tells
his intimate friends how he came tt
marry a fortune cleU,ta'sd Pe-sns
| Press,
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1884-12-25
Playing with Fire.

"These firemen must be frivolous
set." said Mr.. Spilkins, who was read
ing a paper.
"Why SOP"
~ read in the paper that after the
fire was under control the firemen
played all night on the ruins. Why
didn't they go home and go to bed lik.
sensible men instead of romping about
like children T'-Detrcit Free Press.