davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-07-15
The Fox and the Swan.

A Fox who Desired to Show his
Friendship for a Swan Invited him to
Walk in the Forest. The Swan left his
Pond and Complied, but in a short time
the Difficulties Of the Way Overcame
him, and he was Loud in his Complaints.
"How Foolish in me TO leave the Pond
for the Forest"
"And how Silly In ME to have Invited
youl" retorted the Fox
'rll never speak to you again I"
"You'll never have the chance!"
Thus they lnveighed Against each
other until they met Hare, who heard
their Complaints and made Answer:
Had the Fox Stuck to the Forest and
the Swan to the Pond you might have
been Friends to the End of your Days"
MoRAL-Don't Invite Sailor to ride
Horseback with you.-Detroit Free Press.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-07-15
Wished So Too.

'Maude, 1 wish you and 1 were in
paradise; l wish we could fly away into
the remotest empyrean and there, nest
ling in the sky like twinkling stars, could
remain wrapped in affcctionate embrace
forever"
Thus calculated a romantic college
youth few evenings ago, as he fondly
caressed our blooming little table girls
coyly extended hand.
81 wish you were STAR" she replied
in sweet, modulated tones, while his eyes
fairy danced with rapture; "for then
you could shine on Freddie and me when
we come home from chapel tomorrow
night to commence housekeeping"
He stalked away sadly into the gloam.
ing.-Rambler.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-07-15
A CIergyman's Device.

A clergyman in Scotland who had ap-
pointed day for the catechising Of some
of his congregation happened to receive
an invitation to dinner for the same day,
and, having forgotten his previous en-
gagement, he accepted it. Just as he
was mounting his gig to depart he per-
ceived the first of his class entering tho
garden and the remainder coming over
the hill, and at once became aware of
the mistake he had made. Here was
fix. But the minister's ready wit soon
came to his assistance. "What havo
ye come for, John?" he asked, address
ing the first conner. ''On dee ye no re-
member, sir, ye babe us come to be
casecheesed" Soy, aye; weel, no to
keep ye going further, John, was it a
horned COO or a hummel coo that Noah
took into the ark?" 'Deed, sir, l Gamma
tell. "Weel, turn back and ask the
ithcr folk the same question, and if they
Gamma answer it bid them go home and
find oot
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-07-15
The Eagle and the Tortoise.

An eagle once seized tortoise, carried
it to great height in the air, and was
about to let it fall. But the tortoise,
taking in the situation and seizing the
eagles thigh with his mouth, quietly
remarked: "You are such a delightful
companion that couldn't think of part
ing with you yet. Now, if were a bet
ting man, Pd wager two dollars that
you will take me to the ground and set
me down gently. By the way, what do
you think of vivisection. ?" When the
eagle had deposited his burden with
loving gentleness on the grass he scared
away, sorer but wiser bird
Moral: This fable teaches how foolish
it is for conductor totry to put pas
senger off train when he has a free pass.
Life
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-07-15
COuldn't Help 1t,

A Dakota judge in the course of his
charge to the jury recently, touched on
an important point. He said:
although the prosecution has estab-
lished the fact that the defendants
father was once a member of the Legis
lature, this should have no influence with
you in bringing in your verdict. The
unfortunate affair in the life of his father
might, of course, make US look with
suspicion on the family, but at the same
time it really proves nothing against
the defendant, as he may as deeply de-
plore the conduct of his paternal relative
as snv of us. ."-Estellins. (Dak.l Bell
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-07-15
PRICE THREE CENTS.
The Rise Of the Cigarette.

1t was in 1871; only fifteen years ago,
says New York letter to the Chicago
Herald, that two brothers began making
the then peculiar things that are
now so familiar to every one in this
country. The elder of the brothers, a
young man then, and only middle aged
now, kept lintle shop in West Broad
way. The only cigarettes in use here
then were the Honadez, Cabanas and
one or two other brands of tobacco loose
ly rolled or packed in coarse thick pa
per and imported from Havana. He
was Yankee philosopher. He reasoned
out the fact that there would be a for
tune in cigarettes that had none of the
many defects of the little Havana torches.
He argued that there were many persons
who would like short smoke, a Whit
before dinner, or between the acts
at the theatre, but who could not
smoke cigarettes, because they had not
the knack of unrolling and rerolling the
Havana smokers; that many who had
the knack did not like the strong tobac-
co and coarse wrapping paper in use in
those cigarettes, and that still others,
who would like to smoke cigarettes,
could not afford to do so with imported
goods upon which high tariff had been
placed. Out of this reasoning grew the
little cheap, mild, neatly and finely
rolled cigarette of rice paper and gold
en-hued tobacco. The inventor made
few, and people ran across them formed,
even with the first ones, that habit that
is said to be stronger than any other
form of tobacco slavery, and went about
town asking for American
cigarettes, unconsciously advertis.
ing them until everybody in the
business sold them. In the meantime
the little West Broadway shop grow %
be factory floor, then building, then
two buildings, and, finally, few years
ago, it disappeared from West Broadway,
and reappeared uptown in the shape of
great and costly establishment, one of
the institutions of the metropolis. And
the brothers, what of them7 Why, moth
ing much, as things go in this country.
The last heard of them one brother had
magnificent mansion uptown, a splen-
did country house on Long Island, and
2,5OO-acre park and game preserve at
Butler, on the Oswego Midland Road,
with gamekeepers and servants in livery,
and everything elegant and as English as
possible. Ten millions is, think, the
figure he is set down for, but don't
state that as fact.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-07-15

A Boston newspaper man named Nc
Nally, although only 81 years old, has
rescued from death by drowning between
thirty-fve and forty persons, some ol
them under circumstances of the utmost
danger and difficulty. Recently he re
ceived from the Massachusetts, Humane
Society very handsome medal. Mr.
McNally began his career as rescuer at
the age of seven years, and has been ar
expert swimmer since his fifth year. Hi
playmates dubbed him ''water dog, )
and from the number of hours he spends
in the water at time and the distances
he will swim it is rather difficult to be-
lieve that nature really intended him fol-
land animal.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-07-15
A Trains Fast Trip.

Lew Silence Is one OF tho veteran pas-
senger conductors on the New York d.
vision Of the Pennsylvania railroad. He
runs the 7.30 o'clock train from Phila-
delphia to New York every morning.
The other day he pulled little note
book out of his pocket and, turning to
June IS, said:
made that memorandum six years
ago. That was the fastest run ever made
on the New York division of tho Penn
sylvania railroad from Philadelphia to
New York-ninety-two miles in ninety
three minutes. The train made three
stops and seven slow-ups. There was
only one car and an engine. The car
was filled with passengers from the West,
and l ran the train. There had been a
storm up in the State the night before,
and on the middle division of the main
line, between Harrisburg and Altoona, a
big tree blew across the track. I think
it was in the Lewiston narrows. The fast
line, as the train was called, was four
hours and thirty-one minutes late when
it got to Philadelphia. Igot orders to
take those passengers to New York as
quick as an engine could pull car. The
whole road was cleared for my train. We
went so fast that telegraph poles looked
like toothpicks and houses like soap
boxes. One mile was made in forty six
seconds, another mile in forty-seven Sec
onds and third mile in forty-nine Sec
onds. When we went down the hill at
Menlo Park, we travelled three miles at
the rate of seventy eight miles an hour
around curves and on the straight track.
If man had put his head out of win
dow he would have lost his breath.
That's the history of the fastest run ever
made on the New York division. I've
been on some pretty fast trains, but that
beats them all. often see stories in the
newspapers about fast runs made on
Western roads, but when you come to
ride ninety-two miles in ninety three min
utes, through thickly settled country
like that between this city and New York,
why, it's fast riding, because an enginee,
has to slow up going through every big
town. Still, we went through Elizabeth
that day running fifty-eight miles ar
hour,
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-07-15
According to sdyiccs from Port To,

According to sdviccs from Port Town
send, Or, the Port Discovery Mill at
that place has received an order from
Japan for railroad ties, aggregating 12O,,
900, 900 feet of sawed timber An ade
quate conception Of tho size Of this order
may be had from our authority, who
says this mill has nevcr cut more than
$4,000, 900 feet in one year, hence il
would take four years of steady work to
fill the japanese order. Moreover, it is
claimed that if tios can be produced at
that point more cheaply than at other
places, the same must be true of large
timber, and further extensive orders
may be accepted. Such an order must
create better times on Puget Sound and
lend better feeling to business gener-
ally. Such an order must have its effect
upon the value Of lumber at all shipping
points, not only by reason of the amount
absorbed in this single order, but as in
dicating future large markets for Ameri,
can lumber.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-07-15
Keeping Abreast Of the Market.

PosslbIe Customer-WHa nat uoes Hrst'
class funeral cot, Mr.. Layemout7
Mr.. Layemout (undertakeD = Why,
none of your family are dead, are theyi
P. C.-No, not yet; but the old lady
has bought kerosene stove, Johnny's
got new bicycle, and my oldest
daughter is keeping company with /,
Pittsburg dude who carries hair-triggel
pistol. It's well enough to keep abreast
of the market,
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-07-15

In one of the graphic novels the eide
Dumas describes the stratagems of two
rivals cutthroats who have to pass the
night in the same cabin, and vie in the
enunciation of pious sentiments, while
under cover OF the blankets each whets a
sixteen-inch dirk knife. The govern
ments Of France and Prussia says Dr..
Oswald have played similar game fol
the last eighteen months. They
strengthen their frontier posts, improve
theirl breechloaders, subsidizo an army
Of spies, and strain every nerve to pre-
pare for the more and moro deadly, in.
evitablc scrimmage, and yet all the
while intricate one another with smil,
ing assurances Of mutual good will and
respect.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-07-15


Joseph Howard, in the New York
World, thus lets loose the vials of sar.
casm upon one of the fashionable follie,
of the day "Come with me to Central
park, where everything is bright and
beautiful and where even sad imvalids
sitting on the benches draw funny pic
lures in the dirt with their canes or para
soils, and little children lame from their
births emulate the gambols of their
sturdier companions. Come to Central
park, where the birds sing and the cows
low, and the monkeys chatter and the
sheep wiggle-wagglo their little tails,
while the robbins jump red-broasted
here and there, and squirrels and chip
munks and wild cats, startled from their
resting places, leap across the path,
skirting the carriageway, burying them.
selves in the grass or mounting with
lightning speed the bark of some mag
nifcent tree. Come, say, and see to
what extreme idiotic degree fashion
tempts its votarie,. Standing near the
mall, my attention was attracted by .
pair Of spanking bays sturdily coming
down the road, drawing a superb Ian,
dau in which sat two ladies-oh, how
black, how sombre, how dismal, from
the onyx tip Of their black lace parasols
through hot, thick veil and heavy mourn
ing costume! The coachman and the
footman on the box; my eyes! but they
are a sight, wide mourning bands upon
their hats, black gloves upon their hand,
and the wide tops of their professional
boots absolutely covered with Grape,
while on the long tapering handle Of the
whip stood forth an invitation to the
gaping crowd to see how bad the
mourners felt, . huge black rosette,
whose long, heavy ends fluttered in the
breeze as the horses champed their bits
and waved their tails and darted down
the drive. OF all the idiotic displays,
of all temptations to redicule, of all pro-
vocatives to what our reportorial friends
call "derisive laughter" that picture
caps the climax"
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-07-15
STORY OF SILENT JOE

In the year 1867 a young man named
Charles Miller left Hartford, Conn, for
the west. At Buffalo he fell in with a
man calling himself Henry Dawson, and
the two travelled to Chicago together.
Miller had about $500 in cash with him,
while Dawson had only few shillings
left when they reached Chicago The
former intended going to Colorado,
while the latter, who said he was a
butcher, decided to remain in Chicago
and work at his trade for time. They
took quarters together in cheap hotel,
and, to further reduce expenses, they oc-
cupied one bed.
On the night before Miller was to leave
for the far west, and as they were about
ready to go to bed, he took out and
counted his money. He had $500. so,
and, knowing that his companion had
but dollar or two, he handed him $40
bill.
II won't take it from you except as a
loan," said Dawson.
'That's all right" replied Miller. 81
shall write you, and whenever you can
spare it you may send it along"
''But you don't know me; we have
been together only few days"
~ can tell square man on sight. Put
this in your wallet"
While Miller was rolling up his money
Dawson got up and passed behind him.
All of sudden Miller lost consciousness.
In the summer of 1859 the writer was
one of the inhabitants of mining camp
on the Purgatory River in southern
Colorado. One day tenderfoot reached
our camp. He was a veritable scarecrow
in general appearance. He hadn't 9
1 shilling in money nor an ounce of outfit,
and when we came to question him it
was discovered that he was only "halt
baked" He gave his name as Joe, but
he had nothing else to tell. When asked
what his other name was, where he came
from, how he reached us, &C., he looked
from face to face in vacant way and
shook his head. We were not the kind
of men to turn chap like that loose tc
be scalped by the Indians or to perish
of starvation. We made him wash up,
put on the garments we contributed, and
after he had got square meal he looked
and acted like different man.
One of my two terminates was an old
surgeon from Ohio, and, as we had roomy
quarters, he suggested that we take Joe
in. The suggestion was adopted, and
he was installed as cook and laundry
man. He was very willing hand, and
when his work at the house was finished
he stood ready to help us at the mine.
So far as speech went, we got no more
out of him after a month than on thu
first day. He called every meal supper
He called every article of wash shirt
Every day in the week was wednesday
to him. could say to him, "Here, Joe
fetch pail of water" and he would take
the pail and hurry away, but if ! said,
"Now. Joe, what State do you hal
from n he would stand and stare at m,
with open mouth. The miners playet
many joke on him, and some of then
were pretty rough ones, but no one evel
saw him get angry. When we fount
that he would not answer questions pu
to him verbally, we tried him in writing
II, for instance, we wrote the query
"Where do you live9" he would take tn,
pencil, as if about to reply, but before h,
could make mark the idea would sliI
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-07-15
Knew the Climate.

lie was brought into the Police Court
Monday morning and arraigned on charge
of disorderly conduct. 1t was the hot
test morning of the summer. Judge and
clerk and prisoners and spectators mop
ped their brows and gasped for breath.
"Well, Daniel 2" queried his Honor.
"Well, sir, suppose did it."
"You can't expect me to let you oil
this time. You were here only two
weeks ago."
'tNo, sir, l can't. But hope you will
do me favor all the same"
"What's that, Daniel Z"
"Send me to Siberia for three months,
sir"-Free Press.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-07-15

The ancient city of Tarsus, where the
Apostle Paul was born, has railroad.
British capitalists are constructing it.
The first section from Mersena to Tarsus,
has just been officially inaugurated, The
opening was made the occasion of a
grand jubilee. A dozen sheep were
sacrificed, there were religious benedic-
tions, speeches and then free excursion
to the notabilities,
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-07-15
The Highway Cow.

Tho hue Of her hide was dusky brown,
He body was lean and her neck was slim,
One horn was turned up and the other turned
down,
She was keen Of vision and long Of limb.
With Roman nose and a short stump tail,
And ribs like the hoops Of homemade pail
Many mark did her body bear;
She had been target fof all things known.
On many a scar the dusky hair
Would grow no more where 1t once had
grown;
Many passionate, parting shot
Had left on her lasting spot.
Many and many well-aimed stone.
Many brickbat of good size,
And many a cudgel swiftly thrown
Had brought the tears to her loving eyes,
Or had bounded Off from her bony back
With noise like the sound Of rife crack.
Many q day had she passed in the pound
For helping herself to her neighbors corn;
Many a cowardly cur and hound
Had been transfxed on her crumpled horn
Many teapot and old tin pail
Had the farmer boys tied to her timeworn
tail
Old Deacon Gray was very good old man,
Though somewhat tempted to be profane
When many a weary mile he ran
To drive her out of the growing grain;
Sharp were the pranks she used to play
To get her fill and get away.
She knew when the deacon went to town;
She watched him wisely as he went by;
He never passed her without a frown
And an angry gleam in each angry eye;
He would crack his whip in surly way,
And drive along in his one-hoss shay.
Then at his homestead she loved to call,
Lifting his bars with crumpled horn,
Nimbly scaling the garden wall.
Helping herself to his standing corn,
Eating his cabbages one by one,
Hurrying home when her work was done.
His human passions were quick to rise,
And striding forth with savage cry,
With fury blazing from both his eyes,
As lightnings flash from the summer sky;
Redder and redder his face would grow,
And after the creature he would go.
Over the garden, round and round,
Breaking his pear and apple trees,
Trampling his melons into the ground,
Overturning his hive of bees,
Leaving him angry and badly stung,
Wishing the old cows neck was wrung.
The moses grew on the garden wall,
The years went by with their work and
play,
The boys in the village grew strong and tall
And the gray-haired farmers passed away
One by one as the red leaves fall;
But the highway COW outlived them all.
Chicago Ledger,
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-07-15

Cocoanut growing in Florida seems to
be a success. In the region of Lake
Worth there are 10000 trees growing,
and a part of them are fruiting. In 1875
vessel loaded with these nuts was
wrecked on the Dade coast and foated
ashore near Lake Worth, most of which
were gathered and planted. The nut
begins to bear in about seven years from
planting, and the crop averages from 100
to 200 nuts per tree. Very many more
are being planted,
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-07-15
A Test of Strength,

Physician Ito convalescen0-You feel
stronger, do you notl
Convalescent-Oh, yes, doctor; very
much stronger. I'm strong enough now
for almost anything.
Physician-Then ! will send in my
bill.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-07-15

An nti-tobacco reformcr has found
that Of tho seventy-six United States
Senators fourteen chew tobacco and
tifty-eight use it in one form or another,
while of tho s25 members of the House
only few abstain wholly from tobacco.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-07-15

1t is estimated that when the Lick
telescope shall be finished and set in
position it will have cost $164, $50. The
observatory dome will cost $50, $780, the
mounting $42, 900, the visual objective
s5S, 900, and the cost of the Photographic
objective will be &13. 900.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-07-15

A Utica N. Y, genius has invented
farm harness that weighs less than fifteen
pounds, and does awny with whifflle-
trees, traces, and many Of tho cumber.
some straps and buckles. Moreover, il
IA chepp.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-07-15

A black or blue pencil mark oppo-
site this paragraph indicates that your
subscription has expired, while a red
mark shows that your subscription or
renewal has been received.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-07-15

An observant writer says that few men
know what to do with their hands. They
should offer them to some nice girl.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-07-15

&-Entered at the Post.ofice at South
Londonderry, Us sccond.class matter.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-07-15
Advertising RateI

Advertising Rates
furnished on application. Births, Marriages
and Deaths published free. Obituary notiosu
cards of thanks, etc., 8 cents line.
Address SITTER OFFICE, South London.
derry, VT.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-07-15
THE LONDONDERRY SITTER.
Issued Every Thursday EVENING from
SITTER once.
So. Londonderry, VT.
TERMS.

To subscribers in Wndham County and
elsewhere where bundles are sent, only oNI
DOLLAR year. Outside Of Windham County.
in single wrappers, One DOLLAR AND Ten
GENTS.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-07-15
. So LONDONDERRY, VT. THURSDAY, JULY 15 1885,

away from him, and he would sadly
shake shis head aud turn away. Ono
day, whom he had been with us about
six weeks, entered the tent and saw the
surgeon cutting Joe's hair, which was
very long and unkempt.
"say, I'm right about this fellow
announced the surgeon.