davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1884-02-28
7 he Duck Hunters Story.

Speaking of duck shooting on st
Clair Flats" sighed an old citizen, a!
he took Il seat in a gun store yesterday
81 don't think there are as many birds
up there as were ten or fifteen years a.
go. Why sir, the channels used to be
just black with 'em, and they were 81
tame that you. could knock 'em on the
head"
Everybody sighed to think those
good old days and ducks could never
return, and the veteran hunter contin.
ued:
II remember /, was out one day in
April. I'got in among the bipeds, and
how many do you suppose | counted?"
"Three hundred," ventured one of
the audience after,,a long interval
"Three hundred ? Why, | always
killed over a thousand every time j
went out No, sir, counted over six
teen thousand, great, big, fat, plump,
delicious ducks, and then had only
counted those on one side of the boat"
"How long did it take you ?"
81 don't know, sir, had no watch
with me. Time is nothing to a man
counting ducks. | counted aloud, and
when the ducks were small counted
two for one. By and by | got tired Of
counting and got ready for the slaugh-
ter.''
"How many did you kill p
"Well, now, suppose l could lie a.
bout it and say | killed nine out of
ten hundred, but I'm getting too near
the grave for that. No, didn't kill
blasted one, fand that's where the
strange part OF the story comes in.
When began to lift the gur up, those
ducks knew what was up to just as
we'll ds human being, and what did
they do ? Why, sir, about two hundred
Of 'em made sudden dive, swan un-
der the boat, and raised up her port
side at once and upset her Yes, sir,
they did, and there | was in the North
Channel, in ten feet of water, boat up
set, night coming on, aud in my wet
Clothes"
"Well 2"
"Well, l climbed up on the bottom
of the boat, floated five miles, and was
picked up by two Indians. We towed
that unset boat TO an island, and here
another curious thing comes in. Un-
der the boat were two. hundred and SIX
ty-four large, plump, ducks. They had
been caught there when she upset, and
all we had to do was to haul 'em out
and rap 'em on the head"
"Why, why didn't they dive down
and get frOm.under the boat?" asked an
amature duck shooter.
"Why didn't they, sir?-why didn't
they +? Well, sir l might have asked
'em why they didn't ; but it was late, a
cold wind had sprung up, and didn't
feel like talking All know is that l
counted over sixteen thousand ducks.
was upset, captured two hundred and
sixty four, and have afiidavlts here in
my wallet to prove everything l have
stated. Does any man here want to
see the documents ?''
No man did. They all looked out of
the windows and wondered if they
could lie that way when they had pass
ed three score y ears.
Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1884-02-28

A Michigan girl told her young man
that she would never marry him until
he was worth $4,000. So he started
out with brave heart to make it.
"How are you getting on, George?"
she asked at the expiration of a couple
of months. 'Well,' George said hopeful
ly, Il have saved twenty-five dollars
The girl dropped her eye.lashes and
blushingly remarked: reckon
that's near enough, George She was
willing to trust him for the little bal
lance.
Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1884-02-28
HUMOROUS.

A paper announces that at a recent
boiler explosion in the neighborhood,
between three and four men were
killed"
A wealthy bank officer being ap-
piled to for aid by a needy Irishman
answered petulantly, No, no; / can't
help you. i have fifty such applicants
as you every day. Sure, and We
might have hundred without costing
YOU much, was the response.
Jennie said a man at a Cortland
hotel, what is this?' and he held up
an object on the end Of fork That
is a buckwheat cake, sir oh, it is,
eh? / didn't know but it was a new
kind of postage stamp, or an old-fash-
ioned letter wafer Do you use a s.
cent piece for a griddle and bake
dozen at time?'
A ''masher' is said to be composed
of the following ingredients Bi-car-
Donate of cheek, 98O, ,230; essence of gall,
$780, O;'nitrate of stare, $500; tincture of
conceit, $500; oxatate of collar, $50:
acetate of toethpick shoes: .267: sui
plate of smirk, 500; chloride of coat
tail .002;cyanide of brain-doubtful.O0 DOL.
Total. 20, 900.
"No," said man who applied for
pension, 'I must acknowledge that /
WIS never in the army, but | once fell
off a post-and-raIl fence and broke my
leg, while watching militia company
drill. 1t seems to me,a man who watch
es militia company drill for an hour,
to say nothing about breaking his leg,
ought to haye some compensation from
his coantry."
Gentlemen said the professor to
his medical students assembled in clin-
ic, L have often pointed out to you the
remarkable tendency to consumption of
those who played upon wind instru-
ments. In this case now before us, we
have a well marked development of
lung disease, and I was not surprised
to find, on questioning the patient, that
he is member of a brass band Now,
sir continued the professor, addressing
the consumptiYe, will you please tell
the gentlemen what instrument you
play on ? Il blays der drum said
the sick man.
'uow much do you charge for the
pants anyway p asked the rural Gus.
toner. Dot makes some difference off
you wants dem vor Suntay or eferY tay,
replied the vender, studying the sub
iect carefully. If you want sheap
bair yor efery tay. dot bair viii pc two
tollar; bat, if you wants dem bants Yor
Suntay, dey will pc fife tollar und a he'll
luf. Subbose you dakes um vor smtaY,
und ven dey yos a little worn you years
dem vor efery tay. By dot, you safe
two dollar on fife tollar bair of
bants?' Against which argument the
countryman had nothing to offer, and
the transaction was closed.
Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1884-02-28
Chased by Wolves.
A STORY OF THE EARLY SET.
TIERS.
"Tell us a story grandpa. "

"Tell us q story grandpa"
1t was a youngster who spoke, and
as the words fell from bis lips he came
forward with a chair, and seated him
self by the side of little old man, with
a kind expression, whose hair and
beard were of snowy whiteness.
"Oh, yes, grandpa, please do ~ cried
two or three flaxen-haired urchin3, as
they eagerly showed their chairs up be-
fore the hearth. "Tell us about the
bears and wolves, that used to be so
numerous when you and grandma first
moved into the big woods.''
mo, grandpa, tell US about the pan
ther that you shot III the big tree y
put in blackeyed boy of some twelve
years. ~ think that story's just boss"
81 think the story about the old In
dian man is the best, said a kind lit
tie girl of ten summers, as she placed
her hand upon the aged mans knee, ,
aud looked up into his face. "You'll
tell us that one-won't you, grand
pa ?"
The old man arose and placed a
couple of sticks of wood on the fire, in
the good old New EnglBnd Fireplace
and then went to the front window
and gazad forth into the darkness. 1t
was a night of storm and gloom, and
the bowling wind shook the windows
spitetully.
"Well, boys and girls" said he,
coming back and resuming his seat,
"to-night carries my mind back to the
time when we passed such a terrible
hour in the forest"
Little Mary climbed up into the old
mans lap, and with an anxious group
of young listeners about him, he told
the story.
"We had been in the wilderness
nearly three years and we had a good
log house and log barn, and a clearing
Of some twenty acres. One afternoon
in mid-wlnter, my father requested me
and James to go over to B4lcher's and
get quarter of venison that he had
left there the day before. "And mind
you, boys" said he, you must be back
before sunset. This is Imperative -
"We promised obedience, and with
light hearts hurried away.
"The distance to Mr.. Blecher's was
about two miles /; oyer rough, log
rood, and all the way through the
woods. But to hardy, frontier boyt, of
fourteen and sixteen years of age, this
was nothing aud at an early hour we
arrived at Belcher's cabin, where we
were kindly received by the family ;
after which we were soon engaged in
sport with the Belcher boys-riding
down hill, chasing each other across
the stumpy fields, and visiting their
traps and snares.
slime passed rapidly, as it always
does when pleasantly engaged, and IN
the fullness of our joys we thought
not of returning until nearly night ;
when the loud roaring of the wind "a
mong the trees on the hill, and the an
CRY whirling of a few feathery fakes of
snow, warned us of an approaching
squall.
"Hurriedly we repaired to the house,
and, wrapping up the Venison, in a
clean cloth that we had brought with
US, we started homeward,
"Boys," said Mrs. Belcher, coming
to the door, ''you had better stay with
us tonight. It's going to snow like
fury, and the wolves will catch you in
the dark before you get home"
Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1884-02-28

When, asked a superintendent, fix
ing his eyes on the teacher of a young
ladies Bible class, when does man
most keenly realize his own utter
nothingness? p And the young man,
who had led himself to the. altar only
two, short weeks ago, blushed painfully
and said with faltering voice: When
he's being married
Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1884-02-28
MISSING.

MisSlng-So many are missing,
The old as well as the young,
The poor and the rich together,
The weak alike with the strong.
Missing-our loved ones wander.
We never know how or where,
And pass from our sight as surely
AS smoke fades into the air.
MiSSing-a man it may be
A citizen famed and well known,
Who sinks in the human ocean
As sinks in the pool stone.
MiSsing-our care and riches
So vainly are used and spent:
We know that the dear ones left us,
But know not whittier they went.
MiSsing-at day time or night time,
And under the stars and the sun:
They vanish out OF our knoledge
AS sands from an hOur-glaSS run.
Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1884-02-28
Don't Let Mother Do 1t.
Daughter, don't let motser do it!

Daughter, don't let motser do it!
Do not let her slave and toll,
While you sit, a uSelesSidler,
Fearing your soft hands to soil:
Don't You see the heavy burdens;
Daily she Is won't 10 bear,
Bring the lines upon her forehead,
Sprinkle silver iniher hair?
Daughter. don't let mother do Il!
Do not let her bake or broiL
Through the long, bright summer houIH
Share with her the heavy toll,
See, her eye has lost its brightness,
Faded from her cheek the glow;
And the step that once was buoyant
Now is feeble, tired and slow.
Daughter, don't let mother do IL.
She has cared for you so long,
Is it right the weak and feeble
Should be toiling for the Strong9
Waken from your liStleSS languor,
Seek her side 10 cheer and bless,
And your grief will be less bitter
When the SodS above her press.
Daughter, don't let mother do il.
You will never, never know
What were home without a mother,
Till that mother lieth low;
Low beneath the budding daisies,
Free from earthly care and pain;
To the home. so sad without her,
NeHer to return again.
Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1884-02-28

dared to rush down that prccipitouS
bank in tho way did if it had been in
the daytime and | could have seen
where l was going.
Gas we scrambled up the opposite
bank, We heard three or four OF the
savage beasts crossing the creek behind
us, and BY the time we had reached the
top they were upon us.
flames hurriedly dIew off his coat
and threw it down into the gulch.
"My soul What fearful noise en-
sued, as they leaped upon the tattered
garment and tore it into shreds 1t
seemed as though all the fiends in Pam
demOnium were let loose. But it oc-
cupied their attention only for mo-
ment, and then they came on again.
"We threw our hats behiHd us, but
they did not stop for them. n huge
gray wolf, uttering an angry snarl,
leaped over my shoulder, his sharp
teeth swapping close to my ear as he
dashed past. The next moment he
leaped to one side, Swapping saYagely at
my legs ; and, fastening upon my coat,
he tore off the skirts in an instant.
"James screamed with pain as anoth-
or leaped past him, biting his hand as
he went, and at the same instant | re-
celYed shal p bite on my leg. We
were completely surrounded by the
snarling pack, now emboldened to des-
peration, and eager to leap upon our
shoulders an bury their teeth in our
heads and necks.
Suddenly there came a binding
flash, almost directly IN our faces, and
then the stunning report Of the old
Continental musket awoke the echoes
of the gloomy forest.
Father had come to rescue. The
sound of the musket at that moment
was more joyful to our ears than the
sweetest strain of music. The wolves
vanished from before US. as if by mag
ic, and their loud, unearthly yells i'm
mediately ceased.
'Run, boys-run for your lives !"
father cried out, in clear tone of
voice. "They will certainly kill you
if they over take you !"
"Aye we knew it, and we bounded
forward with alacrity. AS we entered
the clearing our courage rose, and we
fitted past the blackened stumps with
the speed of frightened fawns.
1--WE could hear the furious animals
collecting again on the edge of the
clearing, and we knew we could not
trust them. Dashing up to the house,
we excitedly called ont, between our
painting breath
"Open the door for the love of heav-
en- 10
The door swung back on it's wooden
hinges, and we staggered in and sunk
down upon the floor, before the hearth,
bleeding and exhausted.
"Father followed close behind us :;
and, raising us to our feet, kindly in
quired if we were badly hurt. If l
should live to be a hundred years old,
l shall never forget the looks of my
dear mother, as, with streaming eyes,
she clasped US alternately in her aims
and the angels must have been moved
to tears as her fervent prayer of thanks.
giving ascended to heaven.
"Father did not say word to us a
bout our disobedience then ; but the
wolves had taught us bitter lesson,
and one long to be remembered. We
had tasted the retribntiYe fruits of dis
obedience. and from that hour we were
more careful to obey kind fathers
commands"
Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1884-02-28

It's very solemn thing to be mar
ried,' said Aunt Bethany. Yes, but
it's great deal more solemn not to be,
said her niece.
Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1884-02-28
ADYERTIsINa RATES.

One Inch makes square. Administrators
and Executors Notices $3.50. Transient adver
tisements and locals 10 cents per line for frs
insertion and 8 cents per line for each addition
al insertion.
Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1884-02-28

II subscribers order the discrimination O0
newspapers the publishers may continue "a
send Them until all arrearages are paid.
If subscribers refuse or neglect TO take theiN
newspapers from the Office towhich they are SenN
they are held responsible until they have settled
the bills and ordered them discontinued.
III subscribers move To other places without IND
forming the publisher, and the newspapers ar
sent to the former place, they are responsible.
Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1884-02-28

A paper announces that at a recent
boiler explosion in the neighborhood,
between three and four men were
killed"
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1884-01-23

as this n singing doll?" asked she
Of the clerk.
Yes, mademoisel!e."
Glow do you make it sing?"
"Jast as YOU would any other young
lady"
GLOW is that2"
"By pressing it,
"Oa p
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1884-01-23
Hair Quickly Turning White.

That excessive grief or joy does af-
feet some persons in aremarkable man.
ner is beyond doubt. Some persons
will die, others 60 mad, and others turn
grey-headed in "A short space Of time.
Many instances are recorded to estab-
lish the fact that sudden alarm or grief
will, as Sir Walter Scott has said,
"blanch at once the hair" The hair
of Ludwig of Bavaria, who died in
1894, on his learning Of the innocence
Of his wife, whom he had put to death,
became almost suddenly as white as
snow. The same thing happened
to the lIellenst Vanyilliers, in con-
sequence of a terrible dream, and also
the French comedian Blizzard, who,
having fallen into the Rhone, remained
for some time in imminent danger of
his life, clinging to an iron ring in one
of the piles of the bridge a like
change was wrought in the case of
Charles l. in single night when he
attempted to escape from Carisbrook
Castle. Marie Antoinette, the unfor-
tunate queen Of Louis XVI, found her
hair suddenly changed by her distress
es, "whitened by atiliction." The beard
and hair of the Duke of Brunswick
whitened in twenty-four hours on his
learning that his father had been NOR
tally wounded at the battle of Auer-
stadt. Sometimes one night of intense
suffering has been sufficient to turn a
raven head white. We are told of a
soldier in India who for some breach
of his duty was condemned to'pass one
night in the dark cell appointed for
solitary confinement, and who, having
thrown himself upon the ground, pres
emily found large cobra di capello
gliding over his body and forming him
self into a coil upon his chest, attract
ed by the warmth. Knowing that his
only hope of safety consisted in per-
feet quicscence he remained motionless
throughout the fearful night, until the
prison door was unfastened in the
morning, which disturbed his fearful
companion, and the cobra glided away.
The poor soldier left his cell with a
head rs white as snow. AS an instance
of more gradual effect we may cite
President Polk, who entered upon his
official duties with a head of magnili-
cent black hair, and left them at the
end Of four years with one completely
white.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1884-01-23
Inventors CT RcaDers ana Mowers.

Pliny the Elder, the great Roman
naturalist and historian, born A. D. %,
describes reaping machine used by
Lowland Gauls; consisting of wagon
with row of sharp, comb-like teeth
projecting outward from the rear Of the
wagon-boX. This was pushed against
the grain by an OK hitched in the shafts
with its head towards the wheels. A
somewhat similar rude contrivance
was used with little success in England
about 100 years ago. Both these
machines are clumsy headers. The
first English patent for reaping ma
chine was issued to Mr.. Boyce in
1899, and between that time and 1928
at least seven individuals or firms ex-
perimented in this direction, one of the
inventors being the present Prime
Minister of Great Britain, Mr.. Glad
stone, who took out patent in 1906
In America, French & Hawkins took
out a patent in 1903, Mr.. Comfort in
1911, Mr.. Ten Eyck in 1926, and Cope
& Hooper the same year. A Rev.
Patrick Bell, Of Scotland. invented a
rude harvester in 132S-29 so imperfect
that it failed to command public atten-
ton, or gain the confidence of farmers
even of the immediate neighborhood.
Beyond any reasonable question the
FIRST successful moving machines were
those of the Manning patent, 1881,
and the Ketchum patent of a little
later date, and the first successful har-
vesters were those patented by Obeo
IIussey, of Cincinnati, and c. II. Nc.
Cormick, of Chicago. OF these, the
Hussey machine was made in 1888
and The Mccormick in lS34,--Chic0gt
iNter- Ocean
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1884-01-23
her aunt had not asked her to live at
The ChcstnntS.

''S ~''NSehNeS'
81 don't care for myself, mother,
though the hosewing gives me stitch in
the side; but it would be such a good
home for you so many comforts that |
can't get for you Oh, l am so sorry!
And, mother l heard to-day that Melissa
Ruggles told Aunt Re that | couldn't
cook. It's a right-down falsehood-
isn't it2'
"Ycs. You have prepared the dain-
tiest dishes to tempt my capricious ap-
petite for years, and are naturally tho
neatest of housekeepers."
So Aunt Re, to her delight and sur
prise, discovered, and IN her satisfac-
tion took pains to make Sylvia and her
mother feel entirely at home at The
Chestnuts.
Housekeeping agreed with the
former. Her cheeks grew rosy and her
spirits merry; while her mother, re-
lieved from care and surrounded by
comfort, became much improved in
health. And by-and-by, Sylvia, having
added the good fortune of marrying to
suit Aunt Re, became her heiress,
The wedding took place at The
Chestnuts, and it became her permanent
home.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1884-01-23

Some Light is thrown upon tho
question whether OF not hanging is
painful, by the experience Of farnl
iaborer in England several years ago.
A number oC men were one day dis.
cussing an execution which had just
taken place at Liverpool, when one Of
them expressed desire to learn what
hanging was like. His companions
were ready TO crafty him, and he was
soon swinging from beam in the barn
where they hal gathered. But they
left him too long in this situation, and
when at last they let him down he
sank to the floor, to all appearances
stone dead. However, after a long in
terval he began to revive, to their
great Ielief, AID at length he sat up
and stared wildly about him. Then
one of his companions asked: "Well,
Tom, how did thee like hanging?'
Hey, man." answered Tom, with
stutter, "hanging's nothing; it's COM
ing TO life again that's terrible
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1884-01-23

q have often watched NY birds"
said Dr. Clesg, coming h"ma.'
They are up il the air until they look
about rs big as sparows. About a
9umttt Of d u.ila of they set Lheir
wings, and With 4 rush they colAG to
the window, ne cl going foot past it
or evinclns the slightest uncertainty
as to tn locality Of their home. l have
100 pair or 81 uow. All around this
nclghborhood people ara breeding and
llying homing pigeons, Nso mine Of.
ten to send messages home to my fami-
ly. write the message upon tiS5u"
paper and roll it w until | can stick it
in quill. This tic = the leg of the
bird between the fJCt anu the kneo
with yam. l'hread would cut in and
a,opthe circulation. They never seem
10 mind the load, and never pick it Off.
ii you are going to fly a match, q fe-
male bird who wants only two days Of
hatching out her eggs is the quickest.
Fly her before two o'clock and she
tries to get back in time to 60 on her
nest at $3.50 to relieve the male A
'nale bird flies best when the female is
aging her eggs over which operation
he usually exercises the most lofty SUI
perintendence. They are loving, jeAl'
GUS birds, and the attachment to the
spot of their birth and breeding place
S 50 great that they will rather starye
than leave it,"
"IIow can you tell when your pigeon
arrives il a match 2" was asked
"By this electric 5ell," replied DR..
c!egg, stepping to the mantel and
touching tiny striking apparatus. 81
save beard on the entrance to the
window set on 81 ring, The weight
# apigeon that a!ishts on ttpre3sei 1T
down so that it completes the circuit
and rings this bell. The Judges and
liners then score, while go and catch
~y pigeon. Sometimes ] take a
,'hole basketball Of young pigeons up 10
Iiavre de Grace fora little afternoon
airing. They come back th!rty-hye
miles under the hour easilY.'
"What colors are the best"
We'll, the white, silver, ana check
erCd are about the best colog2l birds"
"Why will not comlnon-blue roc;
pigeon DO just US well to train in thi
way" WIS the query.
"They lack the intelligence and in-
s3tinct." was the reply. Baltimore san
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1884-01-23

Since the organization of the reruh-
Lean p .rty it has had seven national
nominating conventions, located and
resulting as follows:
1S5t-Philadelphia-Tremont anl
Dayton.
1866 Chicago Lincoln and Ham,
lin.
observation-disclosures and John
son.
neutrality-suspicious. anil Col
fax.
lS72-Philadelphia Grant and VIII
son.
1876 - Cincinnati - Hayes and
Wheeler.
1880 -Cbicago-Gardcll AMI Az
thur.