davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1884-02-13
A Cruel Mistake.

knew a sludious father. whse boy
had a most dogged temper. He was
6dgety and unruly. / have seen him
turn, like an animal at bay, upon bis
father, when punished for poor lessons.
The child was nut only dull, but Of
most vicious aud singular obstinacy. I
think he had but one soft spot in his
uature-a love for flowers. When he
was a little fellow L could draw him
from the worse it of angry by showing
him terminating seed, or snap-drag'
on's mouth. The distorted features
would clam into the countenance OF an
angel, when lie bent bis yellow curls
over the cup Of a mornins-glory. The
questions thai would pour forth, the
animation of The kindling eve. the pa
thetic interest made him another cres'
ture, His father dispIsed flowers, SEN
,iment-he called them. He punished
the lad for looking at weeds instead VI
getting lessons 1 could not convince
nv friend that flowers were bis boys
good angels. Give him little garden.
lie, him work 10 it after study hours
'Nonsence, be answered, No boy OF
lis should 60 looling over weeds that
way said one day, 'Jammie,lry your
best nov, tor If Yor get six in spelling
[ have big bunch Of flowers IN my
70 ON Tor you.' He came to my door
with his little slate bearing A. L
trled,' be saId,' and please let me have
lust one smell OF them. Please save
them,' said The honest little wan, ili.-
lns his nose from the bouquet. Ma, be
tomorrow l wlll.' Next day the
scamperiug feet up The stairs announced
six before be un.olded his slate. Tue
preat bunch OF roses was his own. he
vas a city boy in home devoid oE
NONSENSE He pu: the stems separ-
ately and With carefulness into vase Of
fresh water. For ouce he was supreme
ly happy. His father dlding the fi)Sers
on the libary table where his books
should be. threw them out aud refused
TO listen to the boys recital Of how be
earned them, Oh, the hardest griefs
are those Of childhood. Time brlngs
enough rebufs and life dlsappclnt@ent
that educate, bat harshness 10 child.s
infancy is useless and 3 cruel thing.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1884-02-13
With Frozen Hands.

The author Of A Ride to Khiya'
gives this account of bic sufrerings dur
ing his terrible winter journey across
the plains of Asiatlc Russia, when care-
lessly neglecing 10 protect his hands
10 his great mittens. he fell asleep aud
awoke to find them frozen. His SER
want chafed them with snow, but could
not restore the circulation.
Ii is no good he said, looking sor-
rowfully at me. we must get on as
fast as possible to the station. how far
off is 1t p be inquired Of the driver.
Seven miles, was the answer.
GO as fast as you can y cried. The
pain, which by that time bad ascended
10 the glands under my arms. had be-
come acute than anything l had hither-
10 experienced. Apparently extreme
cold acts 10 two ways on the nervous
system sometimes, and more merci-
fully, by bringing on slumber from
which the victim never awakes 4; and at
others by consuming him, as it were,
over a slow fire, and limb By limb. In
my suffering each mile Of the way to
the station seemed league, and each
league days journey.
AT last we arrived. Hurrying to the
waiting room, met three Cossacks, to
whom l showed my bands. The SOL
dlers led ne into an outer room, and
having taken of my coat and barred my
arms, they plunged them up to the
shoulder 10 a tub of ice and water.
However, there was no sensation what
ever, and the limbs, which were Of II
blue color, foated painlessly In the
water.
The elder of the Cossacks shook bis
read, and said, Brother, it is bad job;
you will lose your hands.'
They will drop off, remarked anoth
er, if ne cannot get back the circula-
iIon.'
Have you any spirit with you? adj
ded third.
Nazar. the servant on hearing this,
ran out, and brought in a lin bottle,
con tanning naplha. for cooking purpo'
ses, upon which the COssacks, taxing
my arms out of the ice water, pro-
ceeded tv rub them with the strong
spirit.
Rub, rub, rub the skin peeled under
their horny hands, and the 'pirit irri'
tailed the membrane below. At last,
faint sensation like tickling prevadej
the elbow joinls, and slightly finch
ed.
Does it url p asked the elder Cos
sack.
A liltle.'
Capital, brothers !! he continued.
Rub as hard as you can y and after CO.
ing on with the friction until the flesh
was almost nayed, they suddenly pluna
ed my arms again Into the ice water.
had not felt anything before, but this
time the pain was acute.
'Good!' SAID the COssacas. The
more il hurts, the better chance YOU
have of saving your bands And al
ter short time they let me take them
out Of the tub.
You are fortunate. little father,
said the Oldest Cossack. II It had not
been for The spirit, your hands would
have dropped off, If You had not lost
our arms as WE'LL
1t MAS several weeks before | thor
ough recovered from the Effects OF my
carelessness.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1884-02-13
LineOln's Perception.

The following anecdote OF President
Lincoln is published 10 the "Blue and
Gray :"
Jack Williams was a brave sergeant
of a regiment which, undrilled and no.
disciplined, had joined the army of the
Potomac, just as the terrible campaign
of 1864 began.
Before the army reached Petersburg.
Jack commanded his company, the
captain and lieutenants having been
killed. His gallantry was so conspicu.
GUS that he was recommended for a
cap.aincy 10 the regular armv.
Ordered before an examining board
at Washington, Jack presented himself
dressed 10 soiled, torn uniform, with
bronzed face aud uncut beard.
The trim, dapper officers composing
the board had never been under FIRE nor
roughed 1t in the field, but they were
posted 10 tactics aud in the theory Of
war.
Though shocked at jocks unsoldier.
iy appearance, they asked him all sorts
OF questions about engineering, matbe
malics, ordnance and campaigns. Not
single question could Jack answer.
What is an echelou p asked one of
the board.
'Dou't know answered Jack.
What is an abatis p
Never saw one.'
"A redan p
You fellows have got ne again.
said Jack.
We'll. what is hollow square. sir p
Never heard OF one before guess
they don't have them down at The front,
do they p
What would you do sir, if you were
in command of company, aud caval-
ry should charge on you = asked lisp
ing fellow, 10 white kids.
DO, you fool q thundered Jack Il
would give them Hail Columbi that's
what I'd do!'
This ended the examination, and the
report Of questions aud answers with
the adverse judgment of the board, were
sent 10 President Lincoln.
His private secretary read the report
to him, and when he came to the only
answer Jack had given tie President
said Z:
Stop! read that over again.
That's Just the sort Of men our army
wants! = said The President, taking the
report and dipping bis pen in the ink
stand. % the back OF The paper be
wrote in a clear hand
'Give this man a captains commls-
sion. A. LINCOLN
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1884-02-13
How to Starye Lawyers.

People complain, says the Western
Plowmau, and very Justly too, Of the
extortions OF lawyers, but they must
remember that one way to keep out ol
their clutches IS to do business 10 so
straight and snug a manner that there
will be no necessity for bringing suits,
or defending suits brought by others.
1t is the loose manner in which many
people DO business which creates mis-
understandings and disputes, the fore
rsnners OF litigation. If you don It like
TO pay doctors bills, don't get sick. To
avoid sickness. live temperately. get
plenty of sleep, sunshine and air, and
obey Natur's simple laws. The sama
good rules apply TO business. Do what
you have 10 do we'll aud carefully. Take
no bigger bite 10 q business venture
lhau you oan chew. Tie up carefully
the en3s OF everv transaction. Keep
Your books of record carefully and sys-
tematieally. Make only such promises
as you are suSe yeu can keep. Let all
your dealings be on the principle ol
honor bright. DOn'i aspire 10 more
than one wife at time. Keep out ol
The reach of The lawyers best ally,
whiskey, and you are not likely to need
the help OF the limbs of the law to pull
you out cf the pit to which deviation
from the straight path invariably leads.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1884-02-13
A S1S2,OOO Game Of Poker.

at WAS on my trip to Pittsburg, up
the Ohio, that played my last game Of
cards." said Col Dan Rice. at was in
40. on board the steamer Revolution,
and have never turned a card for pleas
ure or profit since. | don'tthink L ever
told this circumstance before. l used to
be terribly fond of poker. 1t was a
great game in the old days, and is yet,
[ guess. had about $4,000 with me
in money and property, and ! owned the
steamboat on which we were travelling.
Ny ringnaster, Canada Bill, the famous
gambler who died in Reading, Pa, a
couple of years ago, a young blood from
Wheeling aud myself constituted the
party at poker that night. When we
quit l was S182,000 ahead"
You must have held some remark
able hands during the game, Colonel, "
suggested the reporter. .
"No, sir; it wasn't that so much as 1t
was had more money than they. They
put up their watches and diamonds, and
nv wife was nearly crazy, for she never
knew PLAYED cards. / gave them their
jewelry back, but kept the cash. Can
ada Bill lost about $780, 900 and the
Wheeling chap about $50, 900. Canada
BIZ was a notorious gambler and played
high, but that was the biggest game he
ever played, l guess. Pettybone, the
poker king, as they called him, taught
me how to play cards. From that night
on that boat to this day have never
played a game of cards"
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1884-02-13
THE Harvard Advocate gives this as a

The Harvard advocate gives this as
specimen of the conversation Of Fitz Abb
batross Van Ambrosial, "an unmatricu-
lated student in Harvard College for one
year." "Miss Tank said as / bowed,
Are you a materialist or an Mealist?'
yes, rather, 1 replied. Il so glad, she
rejoined. 'Aw, too much pleasure, as
sure you, 1 Icontinued. Don't you think
Daisy Miller is too overdrawn to be the
typical representation of the best ethetic
production of Boston culture, or do you
prefer the ideas Of Joseph Cooke she
ventured further. yes, James is quite
too awfully clever, yes, indeed, | added.
DO attend the summer school Of philos-
ophy at Concord?' she murmured conf
IDENTIFY. No, not to-day, no, L suffered,
getting little furried. 'Oh, I see, You
are one of those interesting atheists, she
continued. yes, will get you some, 1
uttered as 1 slid away"
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1884-02-13
Last Thoughts.

A veteran physician speaking on this
subject recently said : Judging Of the
thoughts of nen by their words just
previous to death, ! should say it often
happens that a dying person gives no
indication Of thought upon a subject
that has been fsvorite topic of life
time. l have known active business
men, with important affairs unattended
To-, who died with words upon their lips
that indicated absorption in some inG-
dent OF the moment, generally relating
to personal comfort 1t was that sort Oh
q death that Washington Irving died,
saying: We'll 1 must arrange my pill
lows for another weary night; if this
could only end Long suffering under
the Affections Of . painful disease will
serve to divert the mind of the strong
est. Even the philosopher, Ben Frank
lin, was forced 10 say, with his last
breath, "A dying nan can do nothing
easy It is Q very common thing for q
dying person to express sympathy with
attendants Who have bssa fstigued In
attending them. Among -he last words
Of Sir Walter Scott were Poor souls, /
know you were up all night"
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1884-02-13
Thrice Sold.

A philadelphia book agent impor-
tuned James Watson, a rich New York
man. living out at Elizabeth, until be
bought a book-the Early Christian
Martyrs.' Mr.. Watson didn't want the
book, lat be bought it TO get rid OF The
agent; then taking it under his arm, he
started for the tram which takes him 10
his New York office.
Mr.. Watson hadn't been gone long
before Mrs. Watson came home from a
neighbours. The bovk agent cav her,
and went in and persuaded the wife TO
buy another copy Of the same book.
She was ignorant Of the fact that her
husband had bought the same book IN
the morning. When Mr.. Watson came
home from New York at night Mrs.
Watson showed him the book.
Il don't want 10 see it,, said Watson
irowning terribly.
Why, husband p asked bis wife.
Because that rascally book agent
sold me the same book this morning.
New we've got two copies OF the same
book two copies Of the Fairly Chris
tian Martyrs and
But, husband, we can
No we can't either y interrupted
Mr.. Watson. The man is off On the
tain before this. l could kill the fel.
low
why, there he goes to the depot
now said Mrs. Watson, pointing oul
of the window at the retreating form oil
the book agent making for the train.
But iI's too late to eaten him, and
I'm MOI dressed. I've taken off my
boots, and -
Just lhen Mr. Stephens, a nelgbbol
of Mr., Watson, drove by, when Wat.
sen pounded on the window pane 10 4
frantic manner, almost frightening the
horse.
Here, Stevens he shouted. you're
hit ched up; won't you run your hors,
down TO Il c train and hold that bool
agent till conc ? Ruu Catch bin
now J!
All right said Mr.. Stevens, whip
ping up bis horse and tearing down The
road.
Mr.. Stevens reached The tralo 1us
as the conductor shouted all aboardr
Book agent = lie yelled, as the bool
agent stepped on the tiain. 'BooI
agent hold Oh AIr. Walsoa wants
10 see you.'
Watson Vat, on wants to see me?
repeated the seemingly puzzled bool
agent. 'Oh.I know v bat be wants; h,
wants to buy one of my books ; but
can't mis- The train 10 sel it 10 him.
IF that is all lie wants, can pay fo
1t and lake 1t back 10 him. How mdcl
is it@
Two dollars, for the Early Chris
Martyrs said the book agent, as b.
reached for The money and passed IT,
book out through The car window.
Just then Mr.. Watson arrived, pt fin
and blow ing, in bis shirt sleeves. A
he saw The train pull out be was TO,
foil Tor ut erance.
We'll, | cot ii for you,' said Stevens
just got it aud that's ALI
Got what p yelled Watson.
'Why,I got the book-Early Chrislial
Martyrs, and
'Bi-ine -greai-.uns = mOane
Watson, as he placed bis hand TO hi
brow aud sw oontd right ip The mlddl
Of the street.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1884-02-13

A GRAsPING WoMAM.-T don't
like philos optical woman. l don't
like a woman who is always reaching
out after the infoite.' 'Ah! returned
his companion. If my wife wouldn't
reach out after anything but the iohn.
ite might be happy And the unfof'
tunate man rubbed the bald place on bis
head while his countenance fell beneath
the weight of his memories.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1884-02-13
A YANKEE farmers MAxIMs.-

A YANKEE farmers MAxIMs.-
Take an agricultural paper.
Take pleasure 10 your work.
Subscribe for your home paper.
Thiuk small things important.
Don't let fowls roost 10 trees.
Have your stock well sheltered.
Keep up with the improvements.
Don't lee fences sag and fall down.
Never 60 to town without business.
Don't ruin stock by low fencing and
bad fencing,
Don't hang harness 10 the dust, nor
forget to oil axles.
Don't leaye wagons, tools and farm
implements exposed TO the weather.
Don't be stIngy and penurious, prac-
tice old fashioned, homes. aud hoaora.
BILE economy.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1884-02-13

'Dust-Mud with The jlice squeezed
out.
'Fan-A thing 10 brush warm OF
with.
'Ice-Water that stsid out IN the cold
and went to sleep.
'Monkey-A very small boy with o
tail.
'Pig-A hogs little boy.
'Salt-What makes your potatoes
taste bad when YOU DONE put any on.
'Snoripg-Letting off sleep.
'Wakelulness- Eyes all the time
coming unbuttoned.'
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1884-02-13
A Battle with Whales.

About a week ago Mr.. Peter Warner
the well-known contractor, and q
veteran fisherman, started out on a fish
ing excursion in small boat. They
carried with them a Winchester rifle
and shotgun, in order possibly to bag
some of the game that abounds in the
laguna, which extends some three miles
inland from the shore. They had
rowed out but a few miles, when two
whales, of the to.t,e-nose species, were
espied short distance from the boat
Mr.. Warner Immediately grasped his
rifle, fired, AMI apparently wounded
one of them. Infur ated. the monsters
lashed the wafer into foam. and made
desperate efforts to reach them After
a second and til rd Slot, vital spot in
one of them was rca he'd, and only one
was left to combat with. They then
began firing at the remaining one, but,
though woUnding it several times, it
seemed utterly impossible to seriously
disable it. 1t made the most furious at
tacks upon item, and with d'stcnded
laws il seemed at times rs if out to
ingulf boat and all Twelve shots were
fired into il, and i'll cont nucd its on
slaught. 1t splashed and loaned.
spreading heavy spray in all directions,
and nothing but the most skillsul man.
agement kept the boat at a safe dis
tance from is fury. Now and then il
would plunge under the water, en-
deavoring TO get under the boat and
send it skyward, but the steady "old
salt" managed each time to whrl the
boat beyond its reach. The situation
was growing serious, as the cartridges
in the rifle were exhausted. and il
seemed well-nigh impossible to reload
while the monster was making such
furious attacks. While att mpting 1t
sudden onslaught of the whale made it
necessary to use the shotgun. and Mr..
Warner fired hastily, discharg'ng both
loads right into its face. 1t was most
fortunate shot. as il took effect in the
eyes of the whale, and must have totally
blinded it. The pain served to increase
its ferocity but its efforts were now
| futile. and il was an easy matter 10 row
safe distance, when The rifle was re-
loaded and the monster killed at leisure.
The two whales were then towed in
shore, and quite large quantity OF oil
has been since tried Out-LOs A1'geIes
(CdL.) Tines.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1884-02-13
A Living Woman Photographed In Her
Coffin.

A Young woman of intelligence and
culture, residing in Boston having a
great dislike to the heathenish custom OF
inviting the motley mob at funeral to
view the corpse, expressed the wish that
when her funeral took place no one
should be allowed to look at her. One
of Miss BIS family, in order to turn the
dismal subject into joke remarked that
her friends would be very much grieved
if they could not see such a beautiful
corpse. "Oh, 1 may be old and ugly
then" she said, and sighed. 1t seemed
so ludicrous that young girl shoul d
wish to die before she was old 80 as to
make handsome corpse and yetnot wish
to be seen, that her father said: "l ou
had better rent coffin, have made be-
coming shroud and have your photograph
taken, when you can decide whether
or not you care to be gazed upon.
The idea so tickled this maiden fair, who
was aching for something novel, that she
proposed at once to carry ont the p Ian
The horror of the photographer but
made Miss B. more desirous OF seeing
herself resting on satin cushions, clad III
a snow-white robe, bordered with swan
down-a lily clasped in her hands
When the startling photograph reached
a friend tear trembled for one moment
in his heart, but did not rise to his eye
ere he thought, as lovely in death as IL
life, no wonder her afflicted family wished
to preserve the likeness of such corpse
Then, turning the card over to see wher'
the perfect work of art was taken, whet
was his astonishment to read, N Miss
B. s own handwriting: "Please do not
ask to see me after L am dead. This Is
better than the reality"
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1884-02-13

HEADwoRK. man lately entered a
tavern in France looking dreadfully
wearied, and with face as long as a
crescent moon. He seated himself
anguidly at table where a previous
customer was taking glass of aA,silitAe.
Sir, said the latter, sympathetieally,
"you appear much fatigued.' Yes, y
.eplied the other; "headwork, sir, head
sorkr Dramatic writer, possibly"
"No, sir, I'm hair dresser, and to-day
ihaved twenty stubby boards and cut the
lair Of ten heads"
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1884-02-13
DIR, Hollands Last Verses.

The following verses appeared in the
Youths Companion, over DR.. Hollands
signature, and they have peculiar in
terest, in view of the fact they were the
last he ever wrote
II life awake and will never cease
On the futures distant shore,
And the rose Of love and the lily OF peacs
Shall bloom there for evermore-
Let the world 20 round and round
Aud the sun sink into the sea;
For whether I'm or under the ground,
Oh, what will 1t matter 10 mel
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1884-02-13

A family of Madison, Ohio, nineteen
wears ago purchased paper Of pms.
When a pm was needed 1t was taken
from the paper, and after 1t bad served
its purpose. was replaced. If pin
was lost. general search was made an
Ill II was found. In this way the one pa
per Of pIos has kept the family supplied
fox nlnsteep years.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1884-02-13

Are you going to have a hard wia-
ter 2, asked an exchange. Well IL
depends great deal on circumstances.
If yosr credit is bad with local coal
dealers, and your wife has traded away
your only overcoat for a chrome oil .
midsummer Reverie, the outlook ior
YOU IS pretty frosty.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1884-02-13

Mother said an aspiring youth, Il
wish that l lived in South Africa
why do you wish that your home was
10 South Africa, my son9' why the
mammas down there don't have any
hickory switches, you know Yes.
my son, but you must also remember
that the little boys 10 South Africa
don't wesr any jackets ether 'Tha2s
so,' said Johnnie; us queer l never
thought ANYTHING about that
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1884-02-13

Even among de animals a kind act
is reccollected longer den mean one,'
says Uncle Nose. "A dog may iorglt
place where somebody kicked biz but
be neber forgits de place whar soms
body gev him piece of meat
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1884-02-13
Ecstatic Deathbed Visions.

"Have you ever observed the visions
and ecstasc delights that are often Spo
ken of by religious writers? WIS ask",'
DR.. L. l.. Seaman, one Of New York b
leading physicians.
Certainly. They are quite common,
and not at all coniind to religious per
sons. Experienced physicians testify
that most persons die in astate Of trance
Although they are apparently conscious,
they pass away in state of dreaming.
Often they seem to be listening to musl
cal sounds. Sometimes they E, EN- to be
beckoned to by angels"
sand do you regard such exhibitions
as purely physicalY'
"Just as much 80 as a dream. They
are controlled by the oidl ary thoughts
and feelings, the everyday hfe aid s'du-
cation aid imagination of the suble III
precisely the same way as dream is so
controlled. Generally dream is a re
production of a waking thought. The
curious iumble of subjects in drrem is
the result OF the absence of vol'tion
There is a suspension Of the functio IL OF
the median tract OF the brain. The same
thing occurs in the mesmerc trance
The suspension may be tempor ry, AMI
then the person may not only return TO
consciousness, but tremember some Of the
curious things seen in the vision. Some
thing Of the same nature occurs III taking
opium. In the earlier stages of opium
eating the subject appears to have two
mental operations going oD at once. One
is fantastic and odd, the other normal
and regular. In such a case one is able
TO keep up running comment on the
visions passing before his eyes,
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1884-02-13

Copductor-Isn't this boy over s
wears. madam p Bows mother (hesisat-
ipqly)-No sir-that is, he's only y,
sir.' Boy (yigorously)-'Why I'm
most 10. You're always forgetting nv
age when we 60 traVeling.'