davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-12-29
The Worth of Life.

Life Is no common place matter. It
NAV seem 20 when We are disappointed,
when we are wearied with labor, or are
lisgusted with meanness, and then We
may say with the preacher. Vanity Of
vanities. all Is vanity But for myself.
often in more cheerful moments, and at
those thoughtful seasons. when ny a.
wakened faculties have made me most
truly man, have ! been awe-struck and
breathless. while the great mystery 0f
life has occurred to mind in sudden vivid
ness. In such moments what a miracle
have I felt myself Excepting God him
self. what i there more wOndrous than
this birth Of feeling, thinking and active
life in our bosoms, which a short time
since were inanimate. insensate dust ?
What a thought Is there more wondrous
than this. that We are all living souls.
aboard and active on the face Of a world
which was once without form and void
Well might the Son Of God shout JOY
when the tir@t man Of our race stood up
erect amid the trees Of Ellen Ii Was
the birth Of a rational spirit, and that
P.,radisal wonder Is repeated in the
growth Of every infant and throughout
the life Of every man.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-12-29
On the Coast Of Alaska.

In this weird REGION Of bOtt0mless
depths there are no sand beaches or grav-
civ shores. All margins mainland and
Islands drop down plump into the inky
fathoms Of water, and the fall Of the tide
only exposes the rank yellow weeds
which cling to the damp crags and slip
perv rocks and the muscles and barua-
cIes which rrackle and hiss when the
lapving waves rece,le. When the tide
sets in great RATS OF algse, with stems
tftv feet long. career along the surface
millions Of ielly-fsh and anemoues.
crowded A. closely o. the stars in the
armament great air-bulbs with >trea mers
floating ike the long hair Of female cor
pses schools Of pOrpoises and fin-baek
whales rolling and piunging headiong
through the boiling foam all sorts Of
marine fauna pour in a ce.i-eless surge
ike an irresistible army. hosts Of gIlis
scream overhead or vhiteu in the ledges
where they squat content or run about
feeding ducks and saudpeeps, eagles o--
preys, fish. crows, and-king-tshers the
leaping salmon. and the spoutins whales
ill up the foreground with animated
life IEqHoct's itrskg.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-12-29
Living on the Sea.

The kind of food used at sea at the pre-
sent day is much improved on what it
was formerly. Not so much reliance is
placed on salt provisions Canned meat
and vegetables are mere largely used.
The quantity Is abundant, and the cook
ing, while perhaps not always calculated
to agree with sea-sick person, is usually
quite good, except the bread, which for
some reason or other, is rarely good at
sea. The coffee is not improved by being
carried the long distance from the gal
a. 10 the after-house. Still, there are
some things that are nearly always excel
lent If vou want 70 know what really
good pea or bean soup Is, you will have
to 20 to sea for it. Though seafaring men,
as rule. are pretty large eaters, but little
tine Is spent at the table. About fifteen
minutes for each meal would be about the
average. The captain, mate, and the
captains wife and family, if they are on
board, and the passengers, if any, eat at
the first table. and are waited on by the
steward and cabin boy. The second
mate and carpenter, and on most ships
the third mate and boatswain, eat at the
second. The sailors take their food from
the galley into the forecastle and eat it
there The water on these long voyages
i usually allowanced-a necessary pre-
caution-the quantity being about gal
Ion day per man, although this Is not
always strictly adhered to, for washing
purposes. and also for cooking and drink
ing. Ifthe water in the tank should run
short, they depend almost entirely upon
rain water, which ut times, especially on
the equator, is caught in immense guam
titles, the tops Of all the deck-houses be
ing arranged with le,lges and spouts to
run the water into casks. The rain-falls
are at times something wonderful, and
when they occur in calm and the yes
sci Is standing up pstraight the quantity Of
water that can be collected is very large.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-12-29
A Sensational Duel.

That was a sensational duel fought in
Paris in 1915. between the B0napartist
Colonel Barbier-DufaI and a young Cap
tain of the ROYAL Guard The two adver-
saries were put into a coach and bound
tog, ther - that only the right arm Of
each vas left free. and in each right hand
was placed a long. keen dagger. Then
the doors Of the coach were closed, and
before being opened again II was, accord
ing TO the terms Of the duel, driven delib-
erately three times around the Palace
CarrouseI. The seconds sat on the box, in
the coaehman's place When the doors
were opened the young Captain Was
found dead. pierced by many deep
wounds. Colonel Dufal was in little bet
ter plight, having received three terrible
thrusts in the breast, and his whole left
cheek having been torn off by the teeth
Of his adversary. Nevertheless. the
tough old Colonel got well, and even be-
fore he was quite cured, fought two more
duels. one with Colonel de St M0rys and
the other with General Montlegier, in
each case graveiy wounding his man and
himself escaping unharmed-
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-12-29
Boston Manners

Two visitors one morning were DOING
the Public Garden. They had paused
before the statue near the Commonwealth
avenue entrance. and failing 90 recognize
its b1onzsn features, they resolved 70
question the first passerby. Tnis proved
to be dignifed old gentleman with
zold-rimne,i spectaeles.
Pardon me. sir. said the spokesman,
d. can YOU tell me whose statue this Is
The old gentleman only gave them cold
stare in reply. and marched on. The
next passerby. a stylish dressed Young
lady. was appealed to with q ike rgsu.t-
Polite people, these Bostonians, said
No ?.
Then a very dudy man with an UNI
brelIa passed. through ths gite-way, and
to him the question was put the only
response voucil-safed being q slight eleva-
ton Of the nose skywrad, and vigorous
Use of the umbrella 70 quicken his foot
steps. It was strange treatment, t. say
the least. but finally, a laborer aP-
peared upon the scene, with KIT Of
tools slung over his shoulder, they resol-
we'd 10 make one more effort
Good moning. SIT. said tho spoSes-
man. with bland smile. viii you kind
" tell me the name Of the person this
statue Il intended 70 represent? ??
A yery coutemptuos glance, and then
a. the man trodden On eieorge Wash
;,,-.,-, ,--,, A -f,of 90
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-12-29
Happiness in the Home.

These words of Rev. DIR. John Hall sug-
gests wondrous possibilities Of happiness
in the home have peeped into the
quiet q parlors where the carpet Is clean
and not old, and the furniture polished
and bright into rooms where the
chairs are neat and the floor Carpe.less /;
into q kitchens where the famiiy live
and the meals are cooked and eaten, and
the boys and girls are as blithe as the
sparrows in the thatch overhead, and
see that it is not 50 much wealth and
learning, nor clothing, nor servants, nor
toll, nor idleness, nor town, nor country,
nor station, as temper that render homes
happy or wretched And see, too, that
in town or country good sense and Gods
grace make home life what teachers or
accom- plishments or mean of society can
make 1.-THE opening stave of an ever
lasting psalm the fair beginning Of an
endless existence the gOodly, modest,
well proportioned vestibule to a temple
of Gods building that shall never decay,
wax old, or vanish away"
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-12-29
A Rash Enterprise.

One Of the rssshest enterprises in this
city, writes a New York correspondent
to the indianapolis Nssrs. is a soloon on
Beekman street 1t is big, impressive
building, and has front window unsur-
passed for elegance if not for real beauty.
Everything indicates gooa Ii .uor, polite
service, and generous free lunch. But
laek-a-day. the saloon has no bar.
Sounds queer, doesn't it? Why not a
theatre without 4 stage, city hall with
ont rogues, or comic opera without
chestnuts? Its attractive exterior leads
the prospective patron TO enter. He feels
a mild surprise when once within the
doorway, and inks that possibly he has
mistaken the entrance. There is a large
side board at the left and buffet at the
right. A very gentlemanly person in an
ordinary business suit is looking al the
side-board. The prospective patron
might withdraw apologetically were it
not for the sight of a cigar counter in ad-
joining room, just seen between the ricl
brown portieres that hang opposite the
street door. Aha thinks the patron
this Is simply pleasant little ente-room
yonder is the bar. And accordingly he
steps confidential forward to the porter
les, and comes plump against mirror.
It's an old delusion, and the effect is dis
couragin1. He turns about awkwardiy,
but the gentlemanly person does not
laugh. He bows politely and inquiries if
he can serve the gentleman. This is re-
assuring and the customer nominates.
The gentleiuanly person quietly places
glass of water on the sideboard, i pitcher
of the same near by. and neatly folded
napkin by the glass, and then decants the
required liquor, and places that within
reach, too. Even now the customer can
not feel at ease he has his liquor before
him with several luxurious accompani-
ments that under ordinary circumstances
would not embarrass him. But what Is
he to do? Where is the polished brass
rail to rest his feet on ? Shall he lean his
elbow upon the sideboard or lounge
against it in the good old familiar way
Even while he muses. disconcertedIy on
this annoying question, up comes his left
foot inquisitiveIy, and sways and wab-
bles about in the air, vainly seeking that
brass rail The customer realizes the sit
uation and puts the wandering foot lOwn
with something very ike blush The
liquor disposed of, the gentlemanly per-
son lit comes hard to call him bartend
erl presents check. which the old New
Yorker knows by experience must be
handed to 4 cashier, and he takes II to the
cigar counter near the window, the re-
Election of which had deceived him.
Another gentlemanly person aecommo-
dates him with the change and he with
draws in a nervous perspiration, halfcon-
vinced that be has outrlgeously misbe-
haved himself He cannot remember
whether the liquor was good or not. and
he longs for the plebeian association of i
brass rail, black walnut bar, and pine
table The little Beekman street saloon
has rome Of these, nora walters apron.
nor chair. 1t is rash enterprise
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-12-29
Arousing His Ambition.

The boy Is all right. said the doctor.
d. but you want 10 talk 10 hin and rouse
his ambition promise that sou vii take
BIN somewhere when he reeoYers sufii-
cientlv enough t0 20 out talk 70 him
abouf playing tag with the boys there
are lots Of ways in which you can inter
est him. Then the Doctor addressed the
boy. who WAS Just recovering from f.
YER. saying Come. Mickey, cheer up.
my boy wouldn't you ike % 20 and
play tag with yoUr sehoo.mstes \
faint smile stole over the boys aee, bat
that was all. Stop, sir, said the fIther;
S. III rouse him: see here Mickey, he
asked. addressing the BOY. wOuldn't
yez ike 70 % ont and trOw a rock
throu n Chineymsn's windy The
boy Immediately sat up in bed and asked
for his parts. thought that I'd fetch
I'm. said the father. with proud smile
% he's all right; doctor dear
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-12-29
An Argument.

'You look very much excited dear" he
said, when she entered the plrlor where
he was waiting for her.
Well, should think | ought 70 look
excited" she answere |. I've just had
the most awful argument with ma And
she began to weep Historically. Why
what Is the matter. ms darling?' he in
duired. as he slid his arm around her
waist and endeayored 70 s0Othe her;
s. what WAS the argument - "Oh- how
can | tell you? She said you were only
trifiing with me, and that you would
never pop the question and told her
she did you a great injustice, for / be-
Iieved that YOU would pop the question
tonight. She said you woulin't and |
said YOU would, and We had it hot
and heavy. Dear George, you will not
let ma triumph over me. will you|'
e Wh-hy, certainly not answered
George. Il knew it my darling" the
dear girl exclaimed come let u 90 to
ma and tell her how much mistaken she
wasr And they did, and ma didn't
seem to be 30 very much broken down
over the affair
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-12-29
Amusement at Home.

Keep the boys at nome in the evening
and amuse them.
Never mind if they do scatter books
and pictures. coats hats and boots
Never mind if they 10 make a noise
around with their whistIing and hur-
rahing
We would stand aghast if We had &
vision Of the young men gone to utter de-
struction for the very reason that, having
cold. disagreeabIe, stiff firesides at home,
they sought enjoyment elsewhere
Don't let them wander beyond the
reach Of mothers influence yet aShile-
The time will come before you think,
when You would give the world to have
your house tumbled by the dear hands
Of those very boys when your heart
shall long for their noisy steps IN the hall,
and their ruddy cheeks laid up to yours
when YOU would rather have their Jolly
whsle than the music Of all the operas
when you would gladly see dirty carpets
ay. live without carpets at all-but to
have their bright, strong forms beside
YOU once more.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-12-29
WHOLE NO. 1850.
A Genuine Madstone.

An 4alsTicw reporter was shown a
real7 maidstone, which came to this city
a few days ago, and which it Is claimed,
has been instrumental n saving hun
dre,ls OF people from the tortures and
terrible consequences Of hydrophobia.
The stone was originally brought from
England to North Carolina, and from
there about SIX years ago 10 Texas. where
it was owned by Mr. Burnpas, Of Fran
ersville. " ere people for miles around
when bitten by dogs or snakes. went To
have the wonderful little rock applied,
and it proved as etficdcious in the latter
ease OF bites a well As the former. In
cisions the size Of the stone are made
whore the wound i, and the magic heal
er after II has been soaked well in warm
water bound to the place. In case there Is
no poison il does not stick. but ifthere IL It
holds on ike a Ieech till every bit is out.
and by then soaking it in warm milk
the poison, a greenish color, which it has
absorbed. comes out in milk
The stone isofa bllck OF greenish black
color, about inch and half long and
three quarters Of an inch wide and very
light 1t WAS sent 20 Mr. Rodney Wrth-
erby BIZ his hr 'ther-in-law, Mr.. Bumpas
for the use Of Dr. Hallowell in the hos
pitaL Mr. Wetherby sIys in every ease
in which it has been applied complete
cures have followed He has seer it work
several times himself and mentioned
one instance where three men had been
attacked and bitten BY a very rabid dog
two had the maidstone applied and never
were given any trouble, but the other,
who used the ordinary method, had the
hydrophobia and died.-NastrUs 4aisri-
osfF
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-12-29
Not Built That Way.

j little girl and her mamma occupied
seats IN the pariOr car on a Northwestern
train On board was a reverend gentle
man-a very Eat, sleek man-attired in
black coat, buttoned stifly in front, and
a white choker. Of course, he had to
strike up a conversation with mamma
interesting sort Of woman by the way
BY means of the little girl. OF missy he
in, ,uired If she attended Sunsiay-school
and " hat lessons she remembered, and
% on In this way he learned that she
had some curiosity concerning the aseen-
sion ofthe patriarch in chariot ofelouds.
And now, my little gil" he inquired.
" Why Couldn't be taken bodily 70 heaven
in a cloud as Elijah was2" Because
the little one rejoined. with her big eyes
looking over the round and vel fe,I form
of her questioner; becz1se yoG zrs not
built tass ~sy'-C1su2o HsG-d
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-12-29

having estates left TO YOU every day, that
you dispose of them 50 resIdily7"
don't think that quite understand
thee, Friend Johnson said Decker
But Leah's face frightened like rose.
Il see / see she cried. Father,
Friend Anastasia has done right, late
though it be. She has willed the Len
nox farm to thee,r
And Leah spoke truly The dead wo-
man had wrought tlrdy reparation in
her last day, and friend Decker and his
daughter had at last legal possession of
what should long ago have been their
own
No amount of reasoning or remon-
STRANGE hadayailed wit Miss Akerly but
one of those sudden touches striking
the electric chain wherewith we'r dark
" bound which sways the soul with
disproportionate force had induced her
to perform an act of justice at last.
And the jar of wild piums, with its
train of associations, had been the most
eloquent special pleading o. all
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-12-29
The German-American Reg
jSterS.

His German accent wss unieniabl-
and As he fioase5 into the register oiiios
the bors al stood around 70 hear the fnn-
Name and residenee asket the
clerS in a peremtery si25a-month tone
Of voice.
Il live in dot sane slsce= wasr :
live for tewaly yeSrs
Well. where Is that
Don't you e,nnd Ist IN joze gesi
rachister
What i y0ur narne. anyhow
Yarrom Won ak 20 many inkiVis'.
kuestions; ant dot name nit the gre''d
rechister Ike the odder, en- p
But unless YOU giFe me your name
and residence you cannot register
Wy rand rechister2 | haf been a
citizen fourteen years. ind my name =
Ludwig Auerhausen. don't It -
~Oh. Lu,lwir Auerhtusen. Well, Nr.
Lauerhausen. where do you reside p
Der teufel Don't I alneady haf told
you dot dree dim >? / Won't talk some
more. GONE pack here asUn und IA <
mi, your employer. Fos ~ you imou-
dent nit me- Ii you some to my house
sometimes I don't tread you ike dot,
Where J. your house
.'On Lombard street, between Mason
and Powell, of course. I hat always nv
Ell dere.
An right, here VOC are. Thirty fourth
district. T4se Jhls sip and % over %
that counter and give is 70 thai clerk.
-Sos / 70 oter der for. don't l -ilusi
haf gone away from dot dot blaze I von Z
rechister some more at all. OOer TIL bat
Won discharged init iRcomDetencs. shuss
- soon a. gan - and he went OF IN
rage, neither turning around nor stopping
al the registration countsr.--SIa FfgIs-is-
~ Easf
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-12-29
Didn't Call That Walking At All.

Jahe Nathins. Of the Thirteenth Geor.
gia, was q good soldier, but one day when
the Coufederates were retreatiug from the
CORY field Of Gettysburg, ''Jabe threw his
musket on the ground, seated himself by
the roadside and exclaimed with much
vehenence
III be dashed If walk another step.
Tm broke down, ] can't do IT," and
Jabe Was the picture Of despair
Git up, man" exclaimed the captain.
don't you know the Yankees ara fol-
lowing Us? They'll get you sure.
Cant help it, said Jabe. Tn done
for; I'll not walk another step
The Confederates passed along over
the crest Of a Hill and lost sight Of poor
detected Jabe.
In moment there was fresh rattle
Of musketry and a renewed crash OF
shells. Suddenly Jabe appeared on the
crest Of the hill, moving Ike hurricane
and followed by a cloud Of dust. As he
dashed past his captain that officer said
Hello, Jabe thought you wasn't 90
ing ts. walk any more
ThunIer7 replied Jabe, a. he hit
the dust vita renewed vigor; you don;
call this walking, do you ?''-sSieaBaoh
Ngrs
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-12-29
Calamity.

Old Mr.. Sncoks is an inveterate wag.
He lives at large boarding house on
West Fourteenth street. In the same
house live a couple of young dry-goods
clerks. They are both of the genus dude,
and affect an air of extreme and feminine
languor which Mr. Snooks declares makes
him SICK at the stomach
The other morning, just after M
Snooks had taken his seat at the break
fast table, the two young exquisits loiled
into the room and sunk into their chairs.
Geawge." drawled o.ie Of them to the
waiter, wait on Us Immediately
But" said the waiter. Mr. Snoeks
was in ahead of you, sir; I'm waiting on
him."
Weah in huhwy, Geawge, and must
be waited on
Indespair, George turned to Mr.. Snooks.
q W hat shall / do, sir?
George said snooks, severely and
audibly, always wait on the ladies
first
The dudes now express the opinion
that Mr. Snooks is coarse, brutal man
sells potatoes on Chambahs street.
VI 'knowr-Life.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-12-29
THE GATES AJAR.


Ole niEiii as old Saint Peter slept.
He leif the dporof Heaven ajar
When throGgl4 a little angel crcpt
And came down with a falling star.
ONE Summer as the blessed beams
0fmouru approached. my blilshin= brid
Awakened from some pleasing dreams
and found that angel BY her side
God grant but this. ask no more.
That when he leaves this world Of SIN
Hell wing his way 10 tina, bright shore
Aud find the door ct Heaven again.
SAINT PErERs REPLY.
For eighteen hundred years and more
I've keqt my door securely tyIed.
There has 10 little angel Strayed-
NJ one been missing all the while
! did NOT sleep. as you have said.
Nor Leave the door of b eaven ajar.
Nor has q little angel sirayed
Nor -ne down with falling star
Go ass that bluziling bride ami see
lfshe don't frankly own and say
That when she found that angel babe
She found il in the good old way
God grant this I ask Ho more,
That should your family still enlarge.
You viii not do as heretofore
And las ie to o.d Peter. charge.
fg9s
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-12-29
A Cure for BaShfuIness,

Barhelor Uncle All, my dear. vol
look as pretty as picture; don't won
der George thinks so much of you; has
the rascal proposed yet ?"
Pretty niece No, uncle. he hasn't
/ really believe he's afraid To-"
Why eiont you encourage him little,
my dears"
. | do, uncle; but You know it wouldn't
be modest TO do too much encouraging
No, suppose; I'll tell you what TO do,
though"
What is ii, you de,r old thing?r
Just wait till Christmas and present
him with one Of those notices, God
Bless Our Home; if that doesn't fix hinl
nothing will
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-12-29
Iarid Progress.

It Is less taBn tao wears --Tce Wei Re Lesseps
norman Balsu4a She great French Remedy was
Srst introduced ir flIis country and yet there Is
scarcely au Intelligent person Who has mot heard
II its wonderful power of curing consumption
ots11g1- colis asthma Group lfar~enes>. and al
ruInauary diseases. lhoasanls have tried it and
tafd taeir friends about y business men use it ;
tte CLERGY 1eraIlmeud il Physicians endorse H.
and ris press -r,,a~ i0adiy lu its praise all Of
which arCaunts fa- is vas1 reputation &n3 ropu-
Iariry Bay a battsg and D. convinced % IT. mer
it, Sold on 4 positive guarantee by c. y. Boyd