davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1886-03-04
A WONDERFUL CAT.
The Service 1t Rendered Birdie, sn0
Which She VIII Never Forget.

The Service 1t Rendered Birdie. snu
Which She VIII Never Forget.
One day poor, half-froZen kitten
came to Birdie Changers house.
Birdie had no brothers or sisters to play
with. SO she took the starred little gray
cat in and made it welcome. She
warmed 1t, and fed and gave it a good
bed to sleep in. Under snch kind care,
the stranger grew fat and sleek. BY
the time it was grown. it became Il
most wonderful cat. Birdie named her
pet Marble, because it purred SO loud.
Marble and Birdie became insep.
arabic friends.
The cat followed Birdie everywhere
1t was very large and strong-as big
as a small dog. For cat. it was as
tonishing how intelligent Marble was.
1t had many cunning ways, and
BRIDES papa taught it to- perform
tricks like u dog. Papa would clasp
his hands and put his arms out in front
of the cat as it stood upon the rug.
Then he would say: Jump, Warble!'
And Marble would jump through his
arms and out over his hands as if it
understood just what was meant,
which. to be sure, it did. If Marble
was watching for mouse at a hole
and any body came near, it was accus-
toned to raise its paw as sign to the
person to keep back and not make a
noise.
One day Marble did Birdie service
which she will never forget as long as
she lives.
1t was summer morning, and Birdie
took pusS's dish of milk out beside the
garden wall, as usual. She called War
BILE, and heard low NEW just beside a
crevice in the stones. Marble was
watching for something's mouse,
Birdie thought. He lifted his paw to
warn his little mistress to keep back,
but she went ON and SAID:
Come, Marble, this rich new milk
is better than mouse. Come and lap
it"
Suddenly Marbles eyes cleaned like
two balls of fire. He waved his tail
back and forth in fury. He looked
like tiger about to spring. He raised
his paw again to warn Birdie off. But
she was determined to see what was
disturbing her cat so, and took several
steps forward. She heard rattling in
the grass. Marble leaped into the air
at the same moment, and came down
upon the spot where she heard the rat
Ting. There was more rafting, and a
tremendous Kissing and flashing and
noise. The girl was frightened, and
screamed aloud.
Her mother and grandmother ran to
her in an instant. They saw, with hor-
ror, the cat dragging rattlesnake
out of the grass. The child had been
almost upon it. Marble had set his
strong. sharp teeth into the back of tho
reptile neck and broken its spine. -
N. Y. Examiner.
Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1886-03-04
FOR OUR YOUNG READERS.
ALBERT'S AUTOGRAPH ALBUM.

Young Archibald Albert, an orderly boy,
Once had to his very great pleasure and JOY,
An autograph album presented to him.
Its pages were neat and It's covers were trim.
Within its gay bindings OF super1ne leather
He promptly endeayored to gather together
The names Of his every relat on and fr end,
TIL the book should be filed from beginning
to end.
But soon he perceived. with surprise and dis
may
And disapprobation the very strange way
In VIII Oh people wrote in his eiegias book
He 70 Ind t distressing to give It look.
Some autographs proved such . tan2ie and
You scarce could determine their letters at
ali:
While others were crooked, and some seemed
to stray
To the edge of the page. as if running away.
Some looked as if caught in terrible gale:
His grandfathers trembied: grandmOtbers
was pale;
His fathers was blotty and struggled awry;
His mother wrote nicely-he begged her to
try.
He pondered the matter. then purchased
another
Fine album, as bright and complete as the
And carefully copied the names every one.
AS neatly and ia rly rs it could be done.
With every angle and every line
Drawn out like copy correctly and fine.
With every and with everyt
Neatly dotted and crossed as they needed to
be-
His letters we're regular. even and NICE
His capitals stately, exact and precise.
Breathed sign OF relief from his orderly
soul,
And exclaimed to himself: at is better by
Than letting each one write his own auto
graph"
Sydney Ddyre. in st. Nicholas.
Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1886-03-04
QUAKER MARRIAGES,
a Class of People Among Whom Divorces
Are Virtually Unknown.

a Class of People Among Whom Divorces
Are Virtually Unknown.
Divorces are actually unknown among
the Quakers, and this absence is ac-
counted for by the extraordinary pre-
caution employed when two young per-
sons desire to be united in marriage.
The parties place their proposals of
marriage in a written form. which is
referred to the society of which they
are members, and is acted upon at Il
preparation meeting" thereof. If all
the attendant circumstances are in
every respect in accordance with the
views OF those present the proposal is
approved. and is then introduced at
the monthly meeting" when it is
again passed upon committee of in
vestigation into the characters, habits
twain is appointed. These committees
always consist of two members of each
sex. The committee, after a most thor
Ough examination and investigation,
make its reports generally at the sue
ceeding monthly" meeting. This
ends the preliminary arrangements,
and the twain are at liberty to proceed
in the accomplishment of their marriage,
a committee of two of each sex being
appointed by the meeting to see it or
derby conducted and the marriage GER
titicate delivered to the recorder. As
"a rule the impressive ceremonies are
generally conducted at the home of the
bride. and occasionally in the ''meet-
ing-house." At the nuptial ceremonies
the certificate is given to the couple,
which. after receiving their own sigma
lures. is in turn signed by every person
present, and frequently contains hum
dred names. Engagement or wedding
rings are rarely given.-Interior.
Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1886-03-04
HUMOROUS.

-'IIello. old man. How did YOU
come to fall down?' Huh! Couldn'
fall in any other direction, could I?''-
Philadelphia Press.
"A young lady should not allow her
head to be turned by flattery, b.t if s
new bonnet passes her on the street
she may turn it little.-N. q. Pic
dyuac.
-AnIrrican-.'W do the letters
II. r. II. mean when applied to the
Prince of Wales?" Englishman-
"Such bloomink hignorance! is Royal
Ighness, IL We see?'-N. Y. Sun.
-Puritanism has so permeated some
of our rural communities that "a gentle
man was recently invited to leave a
town on the Manitoba road on account
of his winning ways" He was a
gambler. PauL Herald.
In speaking of the high price of
eggs, Boston paper sagely says,
eggs are eggs" This takes great
load from our manly breast, for we sup
posed all along that they were beans. =
Bloomington Eye.
Time to Leave-"Why are YOU so
very shy?" he asked. tenderly; 'ssurely
you are not afraid 20 look me in the
face?' mo, George she replied, I'm.
easily, as Ominous sounds came from
the room above, "but just now am
looking the clock in the face. "-Puck.
"A Smart Girl .Esmeralda Long
coffin-''I believe, Mr.. McGinnis. that
you think / am a stupid creature. !"
Hostetter McGinnis-'.Oh. no. nothing
of the kind. Nobody can be called
stupid who can so accurately divine the
thoughts of another as you have done
mine. "-Ieras SJtings.
Young Mrs. Vassarline: "You are
sure this is real English breakfast tea,
Mr.. Groser??" '.Oh. yes, we warrant
it, swell. I'll take pound if you
are sure. Our visitors are from Lon
don, and ] should be dreadfully morti-
fled to give them Japan tea by mis-
take. Chicago Tribune.
1t does one good to see the jolly
fat man sneeze. He throws back his
massive shoulders. opens his cavernOus
mouth to its fullest capacity, shuts
both eyes and fairly raises the dead
with his ..ah-schoo. ah-schoo. ah-scheo!
whoope! woosh-ah-schooooo-wagh hoo
physchooo!" 1Id-Bits.
Little Johnny Ito Merritt -"Won't
you take me fishing with you some
day?" Merit (surprised)-"Why,
never go fishing" Little Johnny Gas
though he had got HIM colD -.'Oh, yes.
you do. Cora told me the other day
that you were always fishing for COM
pliments. The Judge.
Two gentlemen were recently dis
putting over the correct pronunciation
of the word '.either." One was positive
that it was ee-ther. while the other was
equally positive that it was i-ther. 1t
was agreed to refer it to a man close
by, and he COMPOUNDED them both by
saying, ''Bedad, it's nayther, for it's
ayther. ~. Y. Ledger.
One of the brethren, who had a
habit of moaning out "O-h, y-e-sr' at
regular intervals during the service,
was rather broken up on Sunday night.
He had just wakened up when the
preacher asked the solemn question:
'.Erother, do you intend to spend
eternity in help" .'O-h y-e-sr' sang
out the devoted brother.-Hanorcr Pos.
Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1886-03-04
PERSONAL AND LITERARY.

Michael Gordon, 3 widower Of
forty, was married to Annie Hawley, .
girl of twelve, in New York recently.
DIR. Harvey Lindsly. president of
the Princeton Alumni Association Of
Washington, is eighty-three years Of
age, and the only survivor of the class
Of 1920.
William Mitchell. of Milford, Pa,
has Just discovered that an old package
of Mexican bonds which have served
as piaythings for hi, children for years
are worth over one hundred thousand
dollars. Pittsburgh Post.
Joel Chandler Harris (''Uncle
Rcmus'O is himself actually an African
By birth, for he was born at Joel, on
she northeast coast of Africa. while his
parents were engaged in missionary
labor in that country.-Chicago Irib-
une.
Mime. Patti at Vienna received on
the stage gift in the form of tree.
the branches of which were interlaced
with golden chain, each link of which
bore in diamonds the name of an opera
in which the prima donna had APP
peared.
Ceremonies and stately rs she has
become in later life, Queen Victoria re-
tains the fondness for children that was
such a marked feature of her early
years, and she keeps record of the
bright sayings and doings of the little
ones that come to her notice.
Leonard J. Thoma. O. Salisbury
Cove, in the town of Eden, Me, being
over eighty years old. is probably the
oldest postmaster in the United States.
He has held the office almost continual
ly for nearly half a century, under the
different Administrations and has new
er changed his politics, being an old
fashioned Democrat.-Boston Post.
There is not 4 schooiboy or a
schoolgirl who does not feel that BoS-
ton is better city to dwell in be-
cause DR.. Oliver H. Holmes lives in it,
and the semi-publicity of his later days
gives something of the radiance of his
old age to the atmosphere of a city
which is proud to call him its oldest, if
not its only poet.-Boston Herald.
=" Huxley and Tyndall," says tie
VI " htSioiN NhAiSs&t's VII
never write any thing for publication
unless they have something to say.
have tried them many time. and with
good offers of money, too, but always
unsuccessfully. They care too much
for their fame. But when they have
any thing to say they are ready to say
it, and to charge for it. too"
Tom Ochiltree says: ''Of all the
wealthy men l ever knew, John w.
Mackay. the Bonanza king, is the
best diner. Every day while here in
New York he has six plates spread in
private dining-room in the Hoffman
House, and friends who drop in are in
vited to partake of that which does
their hearts good. l suppose Mr.. Mac
kay spends from sixty to one hundred
dollars every day for his evening
meal. and it is as fine as can be pro-
cured. Next to him comes Robert
Garrett. He knows how to eat and
can order as fine meal for rs reason
able price us any man | ever knew"
Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1886-03-04

moro zealously or with so willing a
hand and SO light heart or so little
idea of fatigue as he who wiel0ed the
hammer instead of the scepter. And
all this was because he was working
with his whole heart, and soul. too.
He was not mere animal In quest OF
food, but he had a pure and noble pur-
pose in his mind, a strong will. giving
courage and vigor to his heart.
sit was the will within him, lad,
said Uncle Benjamin., as he concluded
the story. ''that made that labOrer
King do his work with so little effort
That kept him day by day. and month
by month. without any rest, though he
could have had it any day. making his
humble mechanics home happier than
palace, and his simple mechanic S fare
daintier than royal banquet. So re-
member. my boy. that of all ways to
make labor pleasant and valuable there
is nothing like noble purpose backed
by strong noble will. History will
record to you what Peter of Russia
accomplished by this immense sacri-
fee"
Young Ben was so impressed with
this lesson. that after the evening hymn
was chanted in his uncle's family he
was found in his little room upon his
knees asking of God strength to use his
will in the right direction, and it is
said that this one lesson, though he was
taught many another, went far towards
forming the character of the great and
good Benjamin Franklin.
Would that every boy who reads the
teaching may profit by it. as he did, and
determine to use his God-given. will for
the right in every event of his life, and
His blessing will as surely rest upon it.
N. \. Observer.
Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1886-03-04
The Nutritious Banana.

A pound of bananas. it is said, con-
tains more nutriment than three pounds
of meat or as many pounds Of potatoes,
while as food it is in every sense sup
erinr to the best wheaton bread. AL
though it grows spontaneously through
on; the tropics, when cultivated its
yield is prodigious, for al acre of
gr;und planted with bananas will re-
turn as much food material as thirty
three acres of wheat. or over one hun
dred acres of potatoes. t is not gen.
orally understood that bananas fried
baked or roasted are very appetizing,
and that sliced and placed in a dish.
with alternate slices of orange. they
make a most delicious dessert. Boston
Budget.
Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1886-03-04
SCrOfuIa Of Lungs.

lam 40 years old and have suffered for the last
fifteen years with lung trouble. have spent thou.
sands Of dollars to the march Of this disease;
but temporary relief was all that obtained. was
unit for any manual labor for several years. friend
strongly recommended the of Swift's Specific Is
8. 81, claiming that he himself had been greatly
benefited by its in some lung troubles. resolved
totry It. The results remarkable. My cough has
left me- my strength has returned. and weigh sixty
pounds more than did In my life. 1t has been
three years since s. )pped the of the medicine.
but have had of the disease, and there arc
no pains or weakness felt In my lungs do the hard
est kind of work. T.J HOLT.
Montgomery, Ala, June o, 1885.
Swifts Specific Is entirely vegetable. Treatise on
Blood and Skin Diseases mailed free.
The SWIFT SPECIFIC Co.. Drawer 8 Atlanta, c.. q
IL w. sd Street, N. Y.
Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1886-03-04
mir. Jones objects to his doc for

Mr.. Jones objects to his dog form
ing new acquaintances. SO he fastens
two very sharp needles to his nose,
leaving the ends projecting about an
inch. When strange dog PUSHES up
to ''shaks poses" with him. he gets a
thrust that sends him off bowling. and
the effect is such that Mr.. Jones
dog csn not get within gunshot OF any
other that knows how the trick works
Boston Transcript.
Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1886-03-04
HOW TO USE
CREAM BALM

Place a particle ofthe
Balm Into each nostril
and draw strong
reaths through the
nose. It will be alb
sorbed and begin Its
work of cleansing and
healing the diseased
membrane. 1t ailays
Inflammation and pre-
vents fresh Colds In the
Head
Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1886-03-04

.-.Bothering a rich man by boasting
OF set OF malachite studs he had just
bought, fop asked if he did not add
mlre them. .'Oh. YES" replied the
man of wealth. Every much indeed;
I've got mantlepiece ike them st
home. ~. I. Herull
Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1886-03-04

~, sQid 70 De II their pedigrtes are not
recorded they should be valued only as grades will
sell All imported stock at grade prices when canned
furnish With the animal sold pedigree verified BY the
Original french certificate OF its and record In
the Percheron Stud Book of France IO0.pare Iiiua-
trafed Catalogue sent free Wayne Ills Is IS milcn
west OF Chicago, on tho Chicago s. North Western Ry
Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1886-03-04

Frozen potatoes can be cured by
soaking them in water three days be-
fore cookng.-M y. Telegram.
The Somerset reporter., 1886-12-22

Flatheads anil Their relations have per
haps no equals on earth. Raised a they
are from childhood almost on a pony 5
back, so to speak. il is no wonder they
become superior equestrians.
When preparing for race the Young
bucks skin themselves of their elothiy :
so as 10 present as little resistance To the
air rs possible. \ Flathead jockey
mounted for business Is dressed in Moth
ing more than a hrech clout and perhaps
thin cotton shirt. which floats in the
breeze but offers no impc lment To rider
or horse Leaning forward on their hardy
little cayuses they dash down the race
course like the wind. jumping bitches
and dodging trees with precision AMI
skill truly marvellous The white man 5
race course is HAT. level stretch Of
ground rolled smooth. over which the
animal simply runs while the rider has
nothing much to do except hold his seat
On the other hand, an Indian viii race
over any kind of ground. among timber
or swimming steams. combining with the
simple speed of his animal individual skill
and Judgment in surrounding score Of
obstacles and always coming under the
wire ahead A white man seldom wins Il
race from an Indian. and there Is no
wonder for it.-New York Commercial
Advertiser.
The Somerset reporter., 1886-12-22
A Maine Woman's Litigations.

An interesting story is told of the
shrewd management of 4 Maine woman
Mrs Chas. W. Richardson, wife of the
late Mayor of Alpena, Michigan. MIR
Richardson came to Pttsfield from the
Provinces many years ago. lie was af-
forwards employed as lead man in the
woods for Enoch X Lombard, NJ. D..
Howard ard others, ann worked in How
ards mill at Basin Mills for few years
He had an interest in Mr.. Howard lum-
bering operations, and when in 1859 or
80, he decided to remove west, he was
paid for this interest 50, 1000. Besides
this, he had earned perhaps $1,000. In
Michigan he invested his money in 100
and 320-acre lots of wild land making
money from time to time from stumpage
and continuing to invest. He made his
home at Alpena and at the time of his
death was Mayor of that city. He also
owned land in Wisconsin.
few months ago, he died very sud-
denly at Pittstleld, Me, while on trip
east which he hoped would restore his
health He left between S9000O0 and
81 ,000,0 900 in property, all of which he
wlled to his wife, formerly Miss Diana
Morse of FoXcroft But three of Mr.
Richardson's brothers endeavored to
break the will, and. having engaged
heavy legal talent, started for big fight.
Mrs. Richardson, determined to hold her
ground, also secured good talent and an
nounced that she proposed to hold every
thing.
Finally, however, she became tired of
the opposition and gave the three broth
ers 100000, to cease proceedings which
terms they accepted. Mrs. Richardson
had dropped the lawyers when she decid-
ed on this move, and the lawyers, for
their services, put in bills respectively of
S2O, 900, $4,000 and $4,000. Mrs. Rich
ardson declined to pay such charges and
the lawyers sued She had Sl62 600 l
the bank after paying the brothers, and
with that she went to Detroit, and is now
as authorities say, sleeping with Sl62,t0
under her pillow.
The Somerset reporter., 1886-12-22
Indian Gamblers and Jockeys.

All Ind ans after while become expert
card players, and the FlathcaaS are no
exception to the rule. These latter gentry
are no. afraid to try their skill and ncrN {
with the sportive frontiersmen of the
northwest, with whom they frequently
have long sicCes of draw To these ex
perienccd gamblers the local fry are ms
children. Many young buck with no
inheritance to speak of has enriched him
self ama2nCly ut the expense of wayfarcrs
who have fallen by the wayside. Some
OF these youngsters v no draw the right
card at the right time have fine large
herds of ponies to their credit in conse.
Quepce thereof AS jockey riders the
The Somerset reporter., 1886-12-22
The Famous Albert Lea Route

= lie direct fayorite line hytgee Chicago an Mime
aits and st Paul. ONertAs route selii Fast Express
Trans daily TO the svuHvr rvsOrts. y. :4ft>le
alitirs Ant hunt ana hang grounds q a an
Minnesota. The rlrA wheat fields and grazing lltl q
Interior Dakota reached va " atertuwn. sAart
t.sra,e route via Seneca aud lrG kr, Of IS - ~
r. Inducements yHtrs b.tNv,n Cincinnati IN
l.A1aa Ills, LAFAYETTE ami Council j 10. - ~cEh.
Af5hl-an, 1eavenNorth Kansas tstN Minneapolis. 81
raa aaf late rul.diafe points, AL Glasses Of patrons.
,ts,eA!y faIailits, Iats ard r.3G-a. r7r-iTe f-au
n -las IND emplo YES " r., Island Trains protection!
p. f.--tfll courtesy and kindly treatment.
FrtIrAets, Maps fuid-rst tls AZ 8i' principal
at tfi',s In The ntt,a States ard Caa.-.4-E any
de- .rti lU' 1rmht4uu. ad3-s~.
q P. CABtE :. ST J0Ht { E0t590ot.
Fr,sis .E.Mtf - a. "a. AZ
The Somerset reporter., 1886-12-22

fraran-aes Speed, Comfort and safety 70 T. SO who
= oyerit Its roa4 bg i tn .Liy !lA-t,. Is
Is Of heavy steel Its hrI.sts solid
stone and iron. T. rollns s'qek i r-;si "a human
XII make it II has all tie safety aVV ane- that
huHical genius has invented nii. rene. ~ 81
sA4aaha lis practical operation i clnservatEs and
-Ihrdc Ats discipline s'tIt and eIAytiac It lT
7-y 4 iis passenger accommodaton Is uHrlra.v4 IL
The West-unsurpassed in the u Crii.
Al Express Trains between CAicago and the Miss ORD
4yrr c6nsist Of Conf ortAba Day coaches. uttt ,e.
Pullman Palace Par!or and Sleeping Car, elegant
Ilnlna Cars providing excellent meals. Ent-tet7s1
chicago st iseph. Atchlsun and Kansas .iy-gus-f
The Somerset reporter., 1886-12-22

HE lf1NO ABhfNI SON Al HIS hDIHEk .
FEKT.
The little tailor, Mr. PEBBLES, was then
called upon 10 tell his story. We'll, IL /
must, ! must be said, but I'm afraid it
will make the missus bit vain when | tell
the company that my happiest moment was
that night when we was 'scrouging' to see the
'lnminations,' and she said she'd sooner
deal have me TO take care Of her than Steve
Jackson; for Steve was well TO do in the
world-set up for himself, with a horse and
cart and all complete, in the green grocery
line, master man He was IA better figure
of man to look at, too for its no Use m
trying to make believe as was ever 50 ham
some she thought me-
Mrs PEBBLES was next asked to speak.
Just then Sally beckoned Honor out Of the
room, and when She re entered, which she
did before Mrs. PEBBLES began TO talk, there
was a look on her face telling that something
unusual had happened. She put her hand on
the back of chair, as If TO steady herself and
said Mrs PEBBLES, i think there is somebody
here who can tell your story for YOU
The Somerset reporter., 1886-12-22
S TATE NEW S.


The Ea>t Somerset Agricultural Society
held IL annual meeting At Agricultural
Hall. Hartaud. Nov. 2uth, and elected the
following officers President. Charles Ma
son Ice Presidents Howard Estes Ho-
ratio Morrill, Secretary, Phillip II. lay-
lor' Collector and Treasurer. Gilman
Burle Ih; Trustees. : l.. Mayo. VI by
er, \ FROST. Fred Richards, George W
Patten
manly the name Of + Stain lately
went To South Norridxewoek and opened
The Somerset reporter., 1886-12-22

GOV. Robbie has appointed John \.
Hinckley of Gorham trustee OF state nor
NAL school, vice Stephen Hinckley re
signed.
The Somerset reporter., 1886-12-22

Waldo is the county of counties for
Good Templar work. The organization
there has membership of more than
1900.
The Somerset reporter., 1886-12-22

ulnr work, 10 there was no call 10 wait"
Everybody congratulated Sally, and Aunt
Margaret said that he ought 10 have b.s.l
invited, at which, amidst a merry laugh from
ALL Sally, with very rcd face said. sHe
Isn't 20 fur off as he couldn't he found by
supper time, II you please, na'am He said
something about being somewhere handy, 10
BEE II he could be u any uae in bringing up
the trays and such like