davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1886-04-08
A Strikers Lament.
HOW HE LIVES ON SMALL PAY AND
WORKS 16 HOURS A DAY.

The human side of a strike is the
strikers, says the Boston Record The
hardships of man who cannot feed his
family decently though he toll ever so
hard always appeals to us; the hard
ships of a dollar that cannot earn its
interest by the utmost sweat of its
metallic brow do not touch our sympa-
thies. A Boston man, who has just re-
turned from New York, was deeply af-
fected by simple sort of average story
that street-car striker in that city told
him. 81 was born in Vermont" said
the striker, "and came to New York
IA years ago. l soon got situation as
driver on one of the lines at 50. so a
day. By prudence I saved up $780,
With this furnished suite of rooms
and then married sewing girl. My
wife did the housework and we got
along nicely and lived comfortably. We
have several children now, and while
our expenses have been increasing, my
wages have been cut down, until at last
they reached $175 day. During my
fourteen years in New York l have
never drunk a glass of intoxicating
liquor, nor a glass of beer; nor have
smoked a cigar nor chewed tobacco; and
to-day have not money enough to sup
port my family month. For days I
don't see my children. l am obliged
to report at the stable at o'clock in
the morning, or lose my car for the day.
We have but seven minutes in which to
eat our dinners, and as the company
provides no place for our dinner-pails,
har 10 fol fha,,, oil
our car. Many day this cold winter
have l eaten frozen dinner. We work
sixteen hours a day on an average, and
often an hour or two extra on account
of losing trip by delays. Can you
blame us for strik ng, sir 2" The Bos-
ton man who heard this story kept
thinking about it, and the first thing
that he did when he reached home was
to raise the pay of his men, of whom
he employs large number.
News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1886-04-08
Uncle Stead's Poor Woman.

The Lewiston (Me.) Journal says ::
s'Uncle Stead'' is what they called a
shrewd old gentleman who used to live
in Winthrop. One of his fellow-citi-
zens was man named Lovejoy. Uncle
Stead met Lovejoy in the village one
day, and he said to him: "Lovejoy,
there's poor woman lives out on the
edge of the town that needs some pro-
visions. I'm willing to supply her, but
I've sold my horse and have no means of
getting the stuff to her. Now, I'll buy
her barrel of flour and ham and
some other supplies if you'll carry
them out to her with your team"
Lovejoy said certainly, he'd be very
glad to do it. Accordingly, Uncle
Stead bought barrel of flour, a ham,
q bucket of sugar, ETC., and, telling
Loveioy where the woman lived, sent
him off on the errand of charity with
the good things in his pung.
Lovejoy easily found the house where
the woman lived. He unloaded the
goods, putting like a grampus as he
rolled the barrel of flour in, and said to
the woman ''AIr Steadman sent you
the provisions. He's mighty kind
hearted man to send you all these
things"
"Well, don't know why he should
not send them to mem exclaimed the
woman in surprised accents, 'He's my
husband
News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1886-04-08
Willing to be Her Sister.

A singular story comes from the prov
ince of Limburg, on the Dutch from
tier. The owner of large manufac-
tory, who had married young, and was
left widower, had an only daughter,
to whom all the most desirable young
men IN the neighborhood were paying
attention. Her father noticed that she
treated them IT. Indifference, and
showed marked preference for young
clerk of his, an orphan, with no means
but his salary. AS he had always given
the greatest satisfaction in the perform
ance of his duties, and was exceedingly
we'll conducted, the father, persuaded
that he would never venture to raise his
eyes to his daughter, who evidently was
sincerely attached to him, made up his
mind to broach the matter to him.
What was his surprise when the young
clerk, after much hesitation, told him
that he would only be too happy to re.
gard the young lady as a sister, but he
could not marry her, because he was not
a man, but young woman in disguise
"a disguise she had adopted when left
an orphan, in order to get more lucra-
tive situation. The conclusion of the
story is that instead of marrying the
daughter, she is now the wife Of the
father.-LOnd0n Globe.
News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1886-04-08

but you will prize de sentfmens whicn
acktuated de givers. De ole woman kin
use it to grind coffee of popcorn, an
de children kin play hoss wild it an hurt
nobody's feelin's. 1t am allus wound
up. 1t am prepar'd fur ebery change of
weather. 1t nebber needs tunin, an de
bellows nebber gifts outer order. Take
it, Brudder Smith. an may luck an
prosperity attend YOU"
The Judge attempted to voice his
feelings, but it was failure. His chin
quivered, lump gathered in his throat,
and scalding tears fell into the hopper
of the mill.
Samuel Shin asked permission to read
letter which he had received from
colored widow in Tennessee. She
stated that her husband was on his way
to the post office to mail an application
for membership when he fell over cliff
and was killed. She lad been advised
to bring suit against the club for $10,-
600 damages, but after due reflection
had decided to compromise on enough
cash to buy mule and mourning bon
net, and gave minute directions as to
how the money was to be sent. Sam
uel observed that his sympathies had
been deeply touched, and he would
move that the sum of $125 be immedi-
ately forwarded.
''Brudder Shin, how much cash am
YOU willin' to contribute from your own
pocket2" asked the President.
81 doan' reckon kin put up muffin,
sah.n
''Dat's de way / reckoned. Brudder
Shin, sympathy am mighty consolin' in
a case of whoopin'-cough, but it won't
buy chicken soup. Dis claim am too
fur-fetched, an will be resisted morally
an legally. Drap down, Samuel, an
de mex time your feelins am deeply
touched hunt aroun' your pockets for
nickel to back 'em."
News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1886-04-08
Negroes in the Teche Country.

In 1880 more than half the popula-
tion of the Teche country were negroes,
who were much pleased with the change
from cotton to sugar. True, during the
harvest or rolling season it was more
laborious, with its wood -cording and
night watches, which they called ''tow-
to January. But even this was better
than the cold morning baths of cotton
picking, which often lasted from August
to February, the most continuous labor
of all the field crops. Moreover, there
were pleasures for the negroes about
sugar-houss unknown to cotton planta-
tions. There is sugar-cane to begin
with, and no shifty negro would be
without stalk in his mouth pretty
much all the time he had to spare, and
most of them did not wait for spare
time. Then there was hot juice to be
drunk, with now and then a chance at
the strike-box and rough candy, with
taffy and molasses dd Lbituna. AS to
working half the night, they lost but
little sleep by that; for in his cabin the
average negro slept only two or three
hours before daylight. Then, again, there
was something inspiring about the cane
yard at night, all Illuminated, that kept
them in merry mood, and the we'll
cared for negro seemed to be In his
native element in scenes like this. His
jokes and loud-ringing laugh kept time
with the rattle of the cane as he dashed
in on the carrier and wheeled to get an
other turn. All this was varied now
and then with some wild melody far
superior to the Ethiopian minstrelsy of
commerce. A leader gave it out line by
line, often his own improvised words,
when all-men, women and children
would join in the chorus that fairly
made the old cane-shed shake. 1t was
long time ago, but we hear it still:
Dat little dog his name was venter,
o juranzo, no
And he could run de coolest scenter,
o juranzo, ho !
Possum good wild SOP and tater,
o juranzo, no !
Pretty gal, but can't get at her,
o juranzo, hol
This short metre corn-song would
hardly die away in the Silly night when
another would be started up, perhaps
on the dirge order, the negro's speciality,
and then another and another-so with
jests and laughter and songs the night
would pass away. Southern Bi0ouac.
News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1886-04-08

A HANCOCK farmer once asked David
Dickson what ''time in the moon" he
planted corn, and elected the following
answer: 81 don't plant corn in the
moon. When l get ready to plant
plant it in the ground.
AT Lynn church one Sunday only
the clergyman and sexton appeared, on
account of the severe weather. The sex
ton'was complaining at the lack of at
tendance, when the clergyman re-
marked: "You and are the only sal
aried men in the church, and were it
not for that fact probably we should
not have ventured out"
Nor over one woman in one thousand
in China can read or write A married
man in that country can, therefore,
leave in his inside coat pocket, when he
hands tho garment to his wife to sew on
a button, sweet-scented note begin
ming, "Darling Bung-Lung," and end
ing, ''Your own Yingie," with only one
chance In a thousand of being found
out.
MAMMA-When poor Christian was
walking through this valley he met a
horrible monster with great glaring eyes
like Goals of fire, and the monster had a
voice like rolling thunder, and he
breathed smoke and flame from his ter.
rible nostrils. Who was it2 Irma
(who spent last summer in the
country)-Oh, mamma, I know. A
cowi
News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1886-04-08

There were flowers everywhere. They
overfowed the mantels, rippled along
the walls, breaking the lines of the par
allelogram, and made deep bays of green
cry, islanded with color, in every win
| dow.
The decorations of these dinners are
usually indicative of the profession of
the guests. For instance, at the diplo-
matte dinner, the principal floral orna-
ment consisted of an immense ball, rep
resenting the globe, formed of blossoms.
Sea and land, countries and islands were
made of different flowers. The whole
was not less than four feet in diameter,
and was suspended from the pillars over
the dining table. In that given to the
justices, the scales of justice were formed
out of red and white carnations with
dove resting on the beam.
1t is striking scene; the amber, gold
and white of the East room CLEANS like
sunlight under sparkles of crystal, re-
flected from eight enormous mirrors; the
long corridor, fully lighted, from whose
walls the Successive Presidents look sol
emnly down on this evanescent splendor;
the multitude of fragran and dewy bios
SONS; the group of men who WELD so
much civic power in this republic; the
superb dresses of the women, of every
soft hue, cleaning with magnificent
Jewels, velvet beneath swept by the long
trains of velvet above, all make up a
picture, the value of which is heightened
by the associations clustering about
every adjunct of the scene.
The President and his lady step through
the door into the corridor, and, at
tbo in,
the vestibule, break into an inspiring
strain from the ''Mikado." The stately
cortege defiles down the corridor, and
passing into the dining-room through
either door, all readily find their places.
They remain standing until the President
seats himself.
The dinner of thirteen courses passes
like othe dinners among well-bred peo-
ple Two colored walters stand behind
the President and the lady at his right,
and two in corresponding positions on
the other side of the table. Each waiter
has six persons under his charge. The
bills of fare during the present admins
tratio are not to be made public. The
dinner occupies about an hour and half.
After escorting the ladies to the East
room, the gentlemen return for the inevi-
table post -prandial cigar and informal
conversation. Even the gods unbend, at
times, upon Olympus. AT about IL
o'clock the guests take their leave. The
next morning portion of the ten or
twelve domestics employed in the build
ing are removing the last traces or the
the feast, so that the earliest visitors may
not see the debris of the "banquet hall
deserted" The flowers are kept in place
as long as possible to be enjoyed by
visitors. - Good HousekeeDer.
News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1886-04-08
THE LIME-KILN CLUB.
Advice Given to a Departing Brother-Too
Far Fetched.
from the Detroit Free Press.1

"WiH Judge Consecutive Smith please
step dis way?" asked Brother Gardner
as the meeting opened with sixteen
kerosene lamps shedding their radiance
over the hall.
The Judge advanced in two-four
time, and the President continued:
Judge Smith, you am about to leave
us an take up your home in a distant
State. You will not only carry wild you
de bes' wishes of ebery member of dis
society, but you will still preserve your
membership wild US. In gwine off
among strangers dar' am some rules an
maxlms dat it would be well to OBJ
sarve:
''While it am fashnabul to eat wild a
fork, doan' let good piece of Dacon
slip away fur want of usin' yer knife.
'tWhen you has foun' butcher who
will give you credit, you has found an
enemy.
'It amt de amount of wages you
airn, but it am de number of days you
am idle.
'Honest an industrious men needn't
worry about the number of patent Jail
locks.
''De man who lights two candle to
think by are suah' to want fur light to
work by.
''De time spent in buildin' air castles
would purvide de world wild taters at a
cent a bushel.
Honesty am good policy, but it am
wise to wait an see what de odder fel-
Ter am intendin' to do.
''You can't cotch pork in dice-box,
nor pay your taxes wild lottery tickets
dat didn't draw.
News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1886-04-08
He Talked Too Much.

"These building associations may be
good things" said a man loahng about
the station, "and they may teach man
to save his money, and enable him to
get something ahead, and to build a
house of his own, but don't need any
building association in mine A year
ago last August took my present posi-
ton. l hadn't a dollar in my name,
then. Now have nice house and lot,
all paid for, and money in the bank,
and | haven't been very economical
either.n
"And what position do you hold9"
inquired solid-looking man.
''My position3 Oh, I'm conductor lon
this road. You say you're in the rail-
road business too, eh2 Conductor2"
'tNo"
''Engineer2"
'No."
"What then2"
ooh, Pm one of the directors of this
company. Your name, please. "-Pecb's
Sun.
News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1886-04-08
CAUSE FIR MUTUAL REGRETS.


'Ah, the first Mrs. Byrne was a
charming woman" said Byrne to his
second wife few days ago. Then see
ing an ugly look on her face, he
fastened to say: "You must excuse me-
my dear! but then it's only natural
should mourn for her at times"
"Oh, don't apologize, said Mrs
Byrne No. in her most pointed way
81 assure you no one can regret her
death more than l do. y Chicago Ram
BIER.
The crowning ''bull" of Johns school
days was his rendering of the sentence:
''The poor boy was often misled by his
companions" He came stumbling
along through the paragraph, knocking
the words right and left. On he goes
''The poor boy-was often-mizzled-
by his companions" That set the
whole school a-roaring, and poor John
was sadly ''mizzled" by his companions
for many days thereafter Boston
Record.
A FINE OPENING.
Two short-legged, rotund, thick
necked, red-faced men, extensively
dressed, were putting up Third avenue
day or two ago.
Suddenly one of them stopped and
said:
"Mein Gott, Meester Bocheimer, dot
vas Something's strange"
"Vot vas Something's strange, Meester
Hocksteimer?n
'Dere vas no beer saloon on dis plock.
We must fix dot right away"
They were a brewer and his partner.
~ Y. San.
THIFTY YOUNG WOMAN.
Miss Clara-Oh, Ethel, expect to
have the loveliest spring hat, and all it
will cost will be the price | shall have to
pay for the ribbon. shall trim 1t my
self.
Miss Ethel-Have you the frame3
Miss Clara Oh, yes. was rummag-
ing in the store-room this morning, and
what do you think 1 found9
Miss Ethel have no idea
Miss Clara-One of last years peach
baskets.
SHOPPING.
First Lady-Where have you been,
dear2
Second Ditto-rve been shopping,
and I'm all tired out"
First Lady-You look tired; what
have you bought9
Second Lady-Oh, nothing; I've just
been shopping.-Neao HaUen Neaos.
WHY THE WORLD MOVES.
Little Boy-Pa, why does the world
Pa thinking of something else)--Be-
cause it finds it cheaper than to pay
rent.
DOTS AND DAsHEs.
MARS was the god of war, but he
couldn't compare in this respect with
mars-in-law.
JUDGING from the great number of
strikers, it would seem that somebody
supposes the iron to be hot.
AN exchange demands: Chow shall
we prevent cider from working2" You
might get it Government position.
DURING the recent freeze in Florida
the washing froze stiff on the lines in
some places. Negroes declared that
oO SOOd IOlI all LIS ClOlucS
for us in de night"
EVERYBODY is glad that Mr.. Edison
is married. They want him to invent
method whereby the baby's midnight
shrieks will be carried off on a wire to
frighten away the cats on the roof.
JOHN W. MAcKAY, the bonanza mil
lionaire, declares that ''money is an ac-
cident." Perhaps it is. Still, it is an
accident which man can insure HIM
self against by entering journalism.
Two MORMON women met on a street
in Salt Lake City the other day. "Say,"
said one of them, lis it true that Bro.
Smith has married a second wife2n
''Yes, it is true" was the answer.
elbow do you know7" asked No. 1. 'T
can see it in his first wife's face" said
No. 2.
News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1886-04-08
WEST AND EAST.

In olden days, when Dives dined in state,
The poor lay starving at his palace gate;
And hungry wretches barred their blains and
sores
Within yard of his frequented doors
Yet, though reminded hourly of his death,
The man of wealth was able to forget
The claims of want on those who never feel
The grinding tread Of fortunes iron heel.
And If with want beneath his very eyes,
A man could shut his heart to hunger's cries
How easy for the Dives of to-day
To fail to hear the groans of far away.
Small need of music at Mayfair feast
To drown the clamor OF the distant East,
For Lazarus no longer dares infest
The swept and garnished pavements Of the
West
Crouched In his sordid room, on diIty straw,
He champs the bones that dogs disdain to
gnaw,
And shivers, fireless, while the frozen blast
Through paneless windows whistles sharply
past
Empty and naked, comfortless and faint,
He means, and no one hears his woful plant :;
The busy world knows nothing Of his sigh,
And Lazarus is left aloLe to die.
Five miles away, the streets are full Of life,
And Dives drives in furs beside his wife;
The bracelet that her small white wrist sur
rounds
Has cost her lord trifing thousand poun DIS
Then home to dinner, where the fires are
bright
And stores of plate reflect the dancing light.
The times are bad, no doubt but might be
worse,
And Dives still retains portly purse.
Shall the old tragedy be played again,
With Dives in the hideous part of Cain,
Indignantly demanding "Why should
Be held responsible when others die ?'
Or will the West search out the hungry East
Ere the dull cry for succor shall have ceased,
Aud give what help loyal brother can
To him who is, at least, fellow man?
Too seldom, nowadays, the gulf is spanned
That ever wider yawns across the land
But, while we live, the bonds of love may link
The nearer border with the further brink.
'Tis Death alone that makes the gulf SO wide
That none may travel to the other side
To offer there the long withholden dole
A cup of water to q Thirsty soul.
London Daily Neaos.
News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1886-04-08

My Calf Skin Business is absorbing my capital time and
attention. and having decided to close out all of my other
branches of business well my miscellaneous personal
property and real estate offer for sale all the land own
except that occupied in my business and my dwelling and will
dispose of very low figures and on easy terms OF
payment
News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1886-04-08

to see the rescued men helped aboard.
Meanwhile down the cabin gangway
fled Milly, and burst in upon the aston
ished ladies there, with the cry:
"Mamma, mamma what do you think
They've saved them, andmy red comfor-
ter was the flag
emily, my child !" cried, her mother,
springing to her feet. "Good heavens
has this excitement driven her mad9"
But, persisting that she was still sane,
Milly dragged her mother backward to
see for herself. Yes, there was no mis-
taking it-there, in its vivid warmth of
color, futtered the comforter, a little
sea-sta1ned to be sure, but Enthusiastically
| the same.
"Oh! mamma, see it ALL" cried
Milly, suddenly. Il see it ALL see it
all The boy said his brother was a sailor
that boy in the best must have been
he; do, do go and as1 the Captain if he
is alive, and if we GSsaay see him."
eyes, yes, dear Ken papa comes.
Now you must sit 5wn, for you are
trembling all over
In less than an hour word was brought
by the steward that oil the rescued men
were conscious, and the ladies might
talk with them, if they chose; so, ac-
companied by Mr.. Wentworth, they
went below.
"They've had dreadful time, poor
fellows" explained the steward, as he
guided them into hitherto unknown
depths-"out four days in that leaky
little boat. Their vessel foundered
during the gale Monday night, and
they took to the boats with what little
provisions and water they could snatch;
but the wind and sea drove them apart,
and when daylight came, the fog was so
heavy they couldn't take their bearings
Their provisions-what weren't spoiled
by salt water-gave out Wednesday
morning, and they've lived on faith ever
since 1t nearly finished the poor boy;
he isn't overly strong, 1 CUES, and pretty
young for such service mot over twenty,
Tll wager. This way, ladies!" and they
stood beside bunk, where lay ghastly
young fellow, with great blue eyes, so
like Jimmy's that Milly could no longer
doubt the relationship, had she not
been already convinced.
"He's the one, papa-he's Toni" she
whispered, excitedly. "Speak to him.
He answered their questions in weak,
languid tones but when it became clear
that Milly was the young girl who had
given his little brother the scarf, he rose
eagerly upon his elbow, while a big tear
rolled down his face.
'Oh! miss, it's brought blessing
that comforter!" he said eagerly. "The
dear lad slipped it unbeknownst to me,
into my chist, and l was a-wearin' 1t
the night we foundered; and when we
was lookin' about for signal to hoist,
l rugged that up, and, bless God! it's
brought US safe here"
So the comforter had not belied it's
name, but, started on its journey of love,
had brought only warmth and life In Its
train. And now, faded, worn, and sea-
stained, it bears an honorable place
among Milly's treasures, for her father
bought it of Tom before the latter re-
shipped for America, and paid for it
enough to place Tom and Jimmy above
want until fortunes tide turned in their
favor and made them prosperous, re-
soected men