davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1886-12-25

The sales of The Century Magazine have
gone up over 10000 copies In six weeks,
since beginning the life of Lincoln. A
second edition OF December will be issued
on the 18th A veteran New York pub.
Usher predicts that the permanent edition
of the magazine will go beyond 100000
before the completion of the Lincoln his
tory, The January installment, which Is
said by the editors to be of most surprising
interest, occupies thirty pages of the mag
azine, and treats of Mr.. Lincoln's settle
ment In Springfield; his practice OF law
in that city the Harrison campaign; Lin
coins marriage; his friendship for the
speeds of Kentucky; the Shields duel
md the campaign OF 1874 The illus,ra
lions are numerous, including portraits of
Joshua Speed and wife, Of Mrs. Lucy G.
speed, Milton Hay, President Harrison
General Shields, William II. Herndon
(the law partner Of Mr., Lincoln), and Mr.
Lincoln himself, from the photograph pre-.
scented by him 10 Mrs, Lucy c. Spee', in
1861. Pictures are given of the house
where Lincoln was married, also the house
Were he lived after his marriage, etc, etc,
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1886-12-25
TIE CHRISTMAS ROSE.

A little way no one of the RhRtian Alps,
beneath tho shade of an old black piue grew
Christmas roSe.* The summer had passed,
and the short days had come, when the wind
blows and the snow flies, and the hardy little
mountain ross had two buds. "Dear me, "
frstted the rose, II wish l could blossom
when other plants do. There would be some
pleasure in displaying oneself for the dainty
blue gentian or the pretty eyebright, but
with no one to admire me, see no use in
blooming mt all"
$40! ho!' laughed the old pine, waving his
shaggy arms. "Ho! no! what little grum-
bier. The snow and I will admire you. You
are named after the blessed Christ child, and
ought to DO happy and contented. Push up
through the deepening snow, little friend,
and expand your buds into perfect blossoms
We were all made for wise purpose, and we
shall know what it is when the time comes
if"-
Just then the north wind blew SO hard the
old pine was quite out of breath, and for
some reason he never renewed the converse
ton.
"All the world is dead except the pine and
me-" murmured the rose "and perhaps | had
better follow his advice. If was made for
a wise purpose shall not be forgotten" So
she took good care of her beautiful buds, and
the day before Christmas the black pine saw
her blossoms, white and perfect peering up
through the white snow.
Now, the two little children Of Klotz. the
wood cutter, were nearly heartbroken, for
their mother was sick, and that morning the
kind neighbor who had watched by her side
through the night had said Sod pity this
home; l fear your mother will die before
night" Their father sat by the fireplace,
specifies with grief, and answered them
neither by word nor look when they crept up
to him for comfort. SO at last they stole out
of the door, and, hand in hand, wandered a
short way up the mountain side, following
the forester's tracks till they came in sight OF
the old black pine
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1886-12-25
PILLET'S KITE.
of the string

The kite with which Mr.. Pillet has been
experimenting has II superficial area of
81 square yards. The frame weighs $50
pounds and the canvas and cords ~
pounds Two cords unanswered from the
earth and connected with the two extremiticS
Of the vertical line passing through the geo
metric center of the Lite give the proper in
clination, according To the velocity of the
wind. Two assistants prevent a lateral in
clination. With the kite "a weight OF 80
pounds has been lifted 81 feet. Whether any
thing of value is to he ELECTED from these ez-
periments the future can alone discover. SO
far all aerial experiments have failed to en-
able us practically to navigate the air
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1886-12-25
CHRIST MAS.

Hang up the vine and the holly,
Sim the cross over the door,
That Joy coming in with the Christmas,
May go from the place nevermore.
Gather love gifts for the children,
Guard well the mystical way,
Thpt ne Christ child comes at the midnigh,
To Lless with bright fayors the day.
Bring in good cheer and he merry,
Dance and ring out glad song;
The stars OF Bethlehem desert
Looked down on Christ happy throng.
Go yc in howell and highway,
Guests to bring in 10 the feast;
Angels shall unawares greet ye
In those the world counteth as least.
Sound the sweet Christ loving anthem
Echoes will bear it on high
To the ANGELS made joyous forever
BY Christmas of love in the sky.
Bow down and worship the spirit
OF the feast, the invisible King;
10 He cometh in scarlet and purple
To gather worlds Offering
MARIE LIE BARON
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1886-12-25
POPULAR SCIENCE.
A GIGANTIC KITE IAN IMPROVE
MENT IN ToBoGGANS.

Now Weather Signal System-A brazilian
Beetle-The New Severn Tunnel-Facts
OF Interest-Ths Popular Sport Tobog'
gaming.
No sooner do Englishmen give to Americans
an idea than Brother Jonathan, with Yankee
ingenuity, commences to improve upon it.
Tobogganing is fast becoming a national
sport in the northern states The descendants
OF Englshmen in Canada have for years used
the peculiar looking sled without noticing
that it could be improved Their tobosgan
slides with the whole bottom surface on the
snow.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1886-12-25
4 brazilian Beetle.

DR. w. Mueller describes in kosmos the re-
markable habits of the Brazilian long horn
beetle lOncidcrcs), of less than an inch in
length, which gnaws Off branches from one
to two inches in diameter OF the hard wooded
camphor tree for the purpose Of inserting its
eggs into the twigs, which is done after the
branches have fallen TO the ground.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1886-12-25
Tho Now SeNern Tunnel.

On Of the great engineering works Of the
age is the New Severn tunnel, and is especially
remarkable for passing under an arm of the
sea. 1t extends from New Passage to Port
skewet two and half miss under the water
Its entire length, exclusive Of approaches is
about four aud half miles. 1t has taken
thirteen years - build the tunnel.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1886-12-25

UNpERHlLL.-Our good friend, d. II U n
lerhill. of Seneca, was in the city on Wed
nesday week. Ieis recovering from his late
accident, but still has need of u cruich III
getting about the streets.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1886-12-25
OTTAWA, ILLINOIS.

Standard Works Of History,
Biography, Poetry and Juvenile
Books, &C., at less than 0ne-haH
publishers advertised prices.
All books are perfect and no
trash.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1886-12-25

of all the mothers in the world were dying
that hard Old pine would not care" said the
boy, bitterly. LET us go back into the val
ley, sister; there we will find good people,
with kind hearts, while here there is no one
to care for us"
"There is one who cares for us even here, "
cried the sister, spying the Christmas roses,
and in a moment she had scraped away the
snow and plucked them. ave had forgotten
the Christ child, and that tomorrow is His
birthday Let US take the roses to the
church. and there pray that our mothers life
may be spared"
So they FASTENED down the mountain to the
village church, where they found the good
pastor busy trimming the altar for the Christ
mas festival He took the flowers and put
them, with some feathery moss, into a tall
white vase. Then he kneit with the children
and prayed for their mothers life, and the
roses nodding on their stems smiled as though
the gift asked for were already granted
When they returned home their father met
them at the door and exclaimed joyfully,
1The fever has turned and your mother Is
better. Thank God"
The Christmas rose had fulfilled its destiny.
All, me! the black pine was right. We were
all made for wise purpose, and we shall
learn what it is in Gods own good time.
sThe Christmas rose is not a rose, it belongs TO
the family Hellebore, black Hellebore, called
from the color of its roots Its large white
flowers are produced in winter, and it grows only
IN cold climates The flowers are white Or unged
with red
God rest ye, little children; but nothing you as.
fright,
Tor Jesus Christ, your Saviour, was born this
happy night.
Along the hills or Galiee the white nocks sleeping
lay,
When Christ, the child Of Nazareth, was born 90
Christmas day.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1886-12-25

The illustration shows number Of runners
fixed to lift the sled high enough to avoid fric-
ton, and enabling the tobogganer 10 attain
greater speed without increasing the incline,
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1886-12-25

IN the pure SOUL although it sing or pray,
The Christ Is horn anew from day TO day,
The life that knowcth Him shall hide apart
And keep eternal Christmas in the heart
ELIZABETH STUART PHELPs
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1886-12-25
LRHal.
HENRY GUM

Ig0rusg 90 lar.
MOTTO F.-EsrArE or ipWN Il. ~TEtWN. TX, lsN-
~ -E,sEp-Notice i hereby given. fliT Tae y.Llx-
signed, AdmiuistrariN Of the estate uf John >rffA
Jr. late ~ the county of Ia sale aud state ~ -
nuis. deceased. will appear before the Probate usf
ald county the third Monday ,hsHE taa 2lst M
OF February. ls>i the Probate Court EU. ia ~
VA Ia said county. when and where SD persons osy.aI
claims or demands Against said estate ARE noihCl,S
attend and prescott 49, writing for al ustmeHA
Dated this 9Th dAy Of pe,vtnhsr. 4 u. 49,.
HARRIET 1. erRNwS,
decli-Sw Administrative.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-12-05

OF all associated with him is appreciated. At 10
a. m Mr.. Stanton receives reports from the heads
OF departments In person. and any need OF any de
partment is provided for. He then reads his
mail and thereupon follow calls from various
people who have need to see him think they
have. BY 10 80 the director is supposed to he
ready TO watch a rehearsal Then comes his daily
tour of the house and the box-offce has TO be
looked into. The sign ne of checks and vouchers
and various other financial matters next demand
his attention At 5 p. the last report of the day
is received that Of the assistant master machinst.
as 10 the safety Of all under the stage AT p. m.
the director has chance sometimes TO go to his
dinner. returning al 80 for evening perform
mances. When Mr.. Stanton has not his hands
full he has opportunity to turn his mind to i'm
provements and plans.
The work moves on noiselessy, even the white
dressed thirty men who watch the stage at
night going softly around in canvas slippers so
that. in Tristan ind Isolde a pin can be
heard if dropped on the stage.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-12-05

Donald g. Mtchelfs paper on "WashiDgtOn's Farm
Life, IN the December A"ey1eGn Agricultural. contains
unpublished letters OF Washington. In Que he writes:
do IN earnest terms enJoiu upon You u that the
hay used with the greatest economy at the Mansion
House. and particularly 10 guard against Mrs l. Wash
ng0us Charles and her boy In the stables both Of whom
mpudent and self-wed and not how extrava-
ganuy they feed or even waste for have caught the
boy several times tterng his horses with hay Except
blind horse (which he tsDgered running
large sort OF necessity there s for feeding with
either grain hay when they not used any other
horse that is al liberty and able 10 provide itself
! can plainly perceive that, IN little time after
saving what for seed another year,. there
will nothing either for my horses with
out buying. which will neither cOmpor with interest
or inclination. by rtnarts report, ind he sti!l
finues feed horses with instead Of cut
directed What saddle horses those which stand
In the Mansion House report know OF none but the
one Mr. whiting used ride What country gentleman
Of our day his city absences, puts is particularly
and sagacfy into his queries
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-12-05
WHAT 4 0TRL SAID TO DAVIS
Ne,c- Orl>ans L>t,,r 10 The Boston Globe


One morning. said Southern railroad conducfoD
recently ny ira n. which the first one 70 "a
ihr )ugh 70 New Orleans. considerably past Beau
Voir Sau0n aud the engineer tad 10 reverse end 20
ha' X TO pick up couple Of passengers. One Of tbem
was Mr. Davis He boarded the last car and sat down.
10 -eat lehind vonng couple who cot on lust above
Mississippi CITY Thew bad evidently lust heen mar
ned. and we're Yankee to the baokb.ne nailel from
Philadelphia. az ! lcarn~l aftcrvari shc was very
pretty but evidently dlsgustei with the south Tres
emily sat down Just behind Mr. Davis In time 20 hear
the YOUNG lady say: what place WAS that where ws
stopped just now"
''Bcao'oIr believe" answered the young fellow
without looking up from his newspaper.
why. that's where JEFF Davis lives" she excls lined
then in an undertone. "The Id rebel; he ought tn
have been hung"
"Anf pray. miss" said 'ely voice az her elbow,
"whv do ycu a Young. Innocent girl pronounce -uch
a ha sh cODfemnatO on himl"
'Bocaisr he rcrlIed. not recognizing the speaker,
g" au lie e erved il. He tried 10 ruin country.
and caused thousands OF brave men TO die lie made
widows and Orphans-he made ne an ORPHAN and
tears VIC Id into her
odd JEFF Davis 10 al that" asked the man. huskiIy
The girl looked curiously over her shoulder and
said: al believe he was responsible for it,"
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-12-05
pONR RNCK0

Prom The Chicago Hrrdid
Dog being all the Just how will this
one told by Rock Island locomotive engineer do for
Monday morning breakfast some years ago" said the
engineer " running along Joliet. when I saw
a tine big black dog fast under old farm by the
the gate and the hinges being broken had fallen
him He could not get and bowling piufully
that stopped my engine and went 10 his assistance. He
was grateful that he licked my hand and wanted 10
follow into the cab wanted 10 take him with Inc,
but didn't dare After that the dog whom and my fire
man named Rocks used 10 sit beside the track and wag
his tail when went by Tie got so he could tell my
engine a. far he could IL hear my whistle. A
few months running along there behind
time going fast u just at day break. and
was a little surprised Rocks the track ahead Of
rs He was acting strangely. He barked furOusly and
how led and reared npOn his hind feet When we came
up little closer Ia him be started and on the
track and then turned and sat and no wled again He
did this three times until my fireman and felt
sure that he mad.
Finally Rocks fingered too long the track and was
struck by the pilot and drawn under the wheels heard
atey shut OF aud stopped the train Ny fireman
back what had become Of Rocks but he had
been all mashed Opeccs. My fireman and were about
ready 10 cry started up again. but imagine our
when turning curve. little ways ahead,
We obstruction the track, SO placed that II
would surely have derailed train had struck II az
full speed. AS IL was, were hardly In motion, ana
easily stopped before reaching the danger All that
could ever learned about the obstruction that
probably farmer other person having spite
against the had placed IL there. Nobody was ar
rested for IT, but believe that II old Rocks had lived he
could have barked his hercest at the criminal
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-12-05
COSTLY STIT0F CLOTHES.


Hugh T. Inu an OF this city. is wearing $4,000
suit Of clothes The suit only cost him $1,000. but
il now represents a cost or $4,000. The suit Il
neat sat-and-pe Scotch Cashmere. wei mixed
ihree buttOned coat and loose trousers Mr. lnmah i
a mug millionaire, but be don't usually wear $4,000
clothes Here Is how be came TO get this suit:
About two year ago be put $500 into scheme
for bu linr a railroad " Sheffield. projected Own
In North Ala ANA In twelve months he sold bis IN
tetest for -ult OF clothes. The interest s now
worth $4,000 and grows more valuable a. the clothes
ont which suggests some curious polnts IN sDeen
ative towu-buiidIng IN Alabama
10 1883 ". S. and C. Gordon. brothers OF Gov
ernor GOrlon Of this State. found themselves on a
hlur overlooking the 1cuncssee River. below the
Muscle shoals and near Tuscumbia. Thew determined
10 found a town on that bluff In three months they
had bought up the ad lacent lands Organized stock
contrary with 100000 capital. tackled the Of
Sheffield 10 be bluf. and began TO build waterwOrks.
The scheme advertised largely The beauty OF
the site commented II. outlying coal and iron fields
suppor ell II and IN about eight months the hrst
sale Of sheffield city lots was held.
That sale ha- never been eQuaned in sacred or
profaue history The three four houses the site
Of tie projected town were crammed with buyers
wo or t re- sieambOIts that bad found their way
I'd the Tennessee RIVER >warmed with eager purchas-
ers The wOOds w,re full OF them when the sale be-
gan one morning. and lasted three DAYS. AZ tho
en- Of that So, 900 had been realized for the
lots nearly three times the entire capital Less
than fifteen acres we're exhausted tnangu
lar lot 90 by 100. sold for $500. Much of the
land averaged 10000 with but three houses
N sight. COn>erNatve men, elderly men. shrewd
business men would 1T all day on the butt Of water
barrel IN an open field. with not fence In sl-ht
md pay 900 rJnt foot for rows. with asst
year corn alks stln standing them. AT the end
Of the t.ird day the stopped. In the mean
the stock which had cost twenty cents was sell
Ing for $40.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-12-05
Jim LOwFLL's" IGNORANCE


Last week dinner given By the Natural History
Society In honor or Mr. Burgess. Mr. Burgess known
20 the general punic the maker OF Puritan but
natuTasts know that he belongs their guild and that
he secretary OF the society evidently
invited as naturalist and entertained yacht-budcr
Two silver salt cellars shaped like nautilus and ono
like an argOnaut she'll and decorated with nautical en-
bens we're bestowed upon him in the OF the club
and In the OF the evening Colonel T. W. Higgnson,
who presided related apropos Of know what. this
story:
Cambridge man who travelling in the Adiron-
darks went canoeing with ~ the famous guides
OF that famous region. In the OF the trip the
guide reUal ked
You know Jim Lowell, suppose ="
why. no." the visitor replied. supposng some local
celebrity To he referred TO- IL cannot say that do"
what. you don't know Jim LOwelli He belongs down
your way. He writes books you know. He was In Eng
land a spell"
"You don't mean James Russell Lowell. do you 2"
" Yes" the guide assented That's the OF his
name He's an ignorant cuss, amt be :"
The Cambridge replied that such not the
orally received opinion. and inquired upon what the
dweer In the backwOOds founded opinion unusual,
this being before the astounding hawthorne alleged inter-
view people ground for supposng Mr. Lowell must
have taken leave OF his senses.
well was out with him IN the canoe" the guide
planned. and going down stream with the current
and making rsrate ne and lie didn't know any better
than that should 20 the other side Of
the TO get the shade Of the hank OF tho
aud we didn't ger ahead at all Now. call man
that don't know enough take advantage OF the current
In canoe blamed ignoramus."
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-12-05
W. y. HUNT ATA GRAvE.


The late william VI. Hunt is the hero OF nnumerabla
anecdotes which might with effect be compiled into a
biography In the style OF Putarch and among them IA
one told OF his address at the grave OF the unfortunate
artist lie Nasseur lie Vasseur died In utter poverty and
IL was asserted that he lacked the last Oo Of his hurch
because he had no money with which pay the priests
fees Ii Is perhaps probable that Investigation nlhs
disclose another side 70 this story but Mr. Hunt
received as tact that the Church had been ready 20
make bargain but had insisted upon being paid Tor is
services. Mr. Hunt and Others OF the dead mans COM
rades accompanied the body 10 the cemetery aud there
disposed IL Ia the it'll the simplest ceremony ever
seen AT public funeral IN Massachusetts The services
consisted simply and solely in Mr. Hunts saying. with
the most intense feeling
via all due respect for the ceremonies which man
in his limited wisdom has MT establish no
bargain could he made for the usual form OF burial
owing 10 the fact that cOmrade did die in the
manner Laid down by the Church in which he was bap-
tzrda believing that the Power that creates without
a bargain will receive az il gives will lay this body In
the earth.
The effect Of these biting words, delivered as Mr..
Hunt spoke them have been striking and ths
scene both impressive and significant
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-12-05
STORIES ABOUT PEOPLE.
FRED ARCHER AND SIR JAKEs PA0sT.
Prom Ths Pail Mall 0ax<sn


The following story comes TO US from . corr
spondent:
Archer. having been bitten or otherwise Injuries
Dy homo on one occasion. called on Sir Jams
Paget The eminent surgeon having bound up h1s
wound. Archer requested to know how long h vouhA
take TO heal. "Oh." said Sir James. al think u
three or four weeks you viii be all right"
But shall DO ft for the Derby ?" asked Archsr.
Res was the reply. "Oh, yes think zoe
may 70 TO the Derby"
No but you don't quite understand me- Ga
James persisted the Jockey. 81 mean. shall b
at 70 udei ?"
well. J don't know" was the answer "Bsttsr
drive; better drvcl"
Archer. rather taken aback by this very innoosn1
ana unexpected rejoindcr. had 10 explain. ~ A.
AFRAID elr James. You scarcely rralize who I ami"
No" said the surgeon. politely referring TO ne
patents visiting card. Il have the honor Of
receiving Mr. Archer. but"
well" said Archer. Il suppose 7 may say thaA
what you are 10 your profession. Sir James that I
am IN mlne.' and proceeded to tell him what thse
profession was
he famous surgeon. learning the status of bis
Vsor was at once greatly interested. asked him
eagerly many quest ons. among Others what would
ne MS oss supposing he should be unable TO fui1 ths
Derny ongaeement7 to which Archer replied sAbout
I2HOo HIS average annual income he stated M
J mistake mott TO be about 900: upon which slr
James Il said to have remarked: "You may well say
that what am In my profession you are In yours
only wish that my profession half profit
able yOurs~