davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-02-11
JACKDAWS.

Jackdaws are well-known wherever
there are escarpments or ruins. No one
can be familiar with the South coast
without recalling it's jackdaws. In the
spring have seen them quarreling and
building amongst the yellow wall flow
ers and valerian on the lodges of the
white cliffs; sweeping out IN clamorous
schools at every real or fancied danger
the measured tread of coastguard above
or the shadow of gliding kestral cross
ing their nursery floors; and in summer
they curvet with their young over their
breezy downs, or descend upon the cliff
crofters' potato plots, but no harm is
committed there or elsewhere by them.
With infinite disgust have met town
gunners turning out of an afternoon to-
harry this cheerful and harmless little
birds amongst his breeding places in the
ruins, and in particular one such party be-
comes especially prominent to my mem-
DRY. I was walking down "Tweedside"
and passed under the ruins of Drochil
Castle, once owned, it is ssid, when Scot
land was an independent monarchy, by
noble baron who turned his restless gem
ius to the invention Of The guillotine,
and subsequently, under the direction
of his sovereign illustrated the working Of
the affair on bis own person with the assis-
lance of afew regal retainersl This strong.
hold was overgrown with ivy, and abound
ed in jackdaws who cswed and chivied one
another through easement or portfolios
adding life and interest to the scene.
sat down and thought how we'll their
presence befitted quiet. Surely no voice
In Nature was ever more suggestive of
long undisturbed repose, more signif-
cant of the statelier forms of peace, or
more in harmony with old baronial pos
sessions than the pleasant clamor of the
iackdaws up amongst the chimneys and
turrets." Not only do they enhance the
tranquility of the ancient castle, but
they add solemnity to the minister; the
poets are quite wrong when they say the
''steeple-loving iackdaw's note is dis
NAL" Down the stratb, when I had left
the birds, with my heart full of friendli-
ness to them, met three or four towns
man armed with cheap breechloaders,
about whose errand L speculated for a
time. 1t was only when retrscing my
steps the same evening up the glen the
wretched mystery was explained. Those
gentlemen of cloth-yard and scales had
had field day amonget the birds, the
castle was silent and deserted, and along
both sides of the approach were some
sixty or seventy jackdsws, dead, and inn
psled in restless mockery on the points
of hurdle fence at distances of ten yards
apart, most melancholy avenue under
the rays of a rising moon. 1t is hard TO
draw hard and fast distinction between
what is cruelty to animals and what is
not; but their ought to be no difficulty
in morally defining wanton slaughter or
distinguishing it from legitimate sport.
From "Bird Life" by DR.. Arnold.
The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-02-11

One year had passed and full moon,
after a pink sunset was silvering Elo-
rious Christmas night.
Great puffs of smoke had issued all
day from the Millington chimneys, and
all the Belcher household from Grandma
Reed to Sylvy's youngest hopeful were
celebrating there. Guests, too, were
thronging in and the beloved minister
in gown and bands had solemnly greeted
the young couple who stood before him
about to be united in holy matrimony.
Farmer Millington and his wife sat
fearful and passive as the words were
spoken, that gave the light and life of
their home into another's keeping. JOY
GUS congratulations followed, and the
happy groom declared that his joy and
happiness was all the result of the way
Electa bore disappointment Hort
ford Coarant.
The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-02-11
A PRECIOUS EGG.

At the National History Museum, Gen.
trail Park. in the pathological collection.
is a fine specimen of the great aux,
which was purchased by the late Mr.. r.
l.. Stewart in London, and presented to
the Museum. There are said to be about
seventy specimens of this bird which
has quite recently become extinct.
With this specimen, as with many
of the others, there is an egg of
the bird, the value of which appears
to be extraordinary, judging from the
following item in a recent issue of the
London Times. Very few birds have
laid an egg that can be sold for eight
hundred dollars. "At Mr.. J. O. Stevens
auction rooms in King street, Covent
Garden, this week, large number Of Or
Dithologists assembled to witness the
sale of an egg of the great aux. Before
offering the lot Mr.. Stevens remarked
that in 1880 two eggs OF this bird, both
OF which had been broken, were sold by
him, and that they fetched 100 and 102
guiness, respectively. OF the recorded
eggs twenty five were in eighteen muse
ums, and forty-one in nineteen private
The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-02-11
SIR WALTER SCOTT AND THE
bride OF LAMMERMOOR."


The mood in which Walter Scott wrote
the bride OF Lammermoor," was one
of heroic resolution combating against
acute physical suffering, which seemed
SO serious as to threaten life itself, while
it was 30 severe and painful that but few
men would have had determination
enough to carry on through it magma
tive literary work. He was compelled
to employ the services of amanuenses;
and William Laidlaw and John Ballan-
tyne wrote at Scott's dictation. Some.
times Lsidlaw begged Scott to stop,
while the poets audible suffering filed
every pause. "Nay, Willie" said the af-
ficted author from his sofa of pain;
"only see that the doors are fast. I
would fain keep all the cry as well as all
the wool to ourselves; but as to giving
over work, that can only be when am in
WOODEN" Scott often turned upon the pill
low with groan of anguish, but usually
continued the sentence in the same
breath. When dialogue of peculiar ami
nation was being dictated, he sometimes
got up walked up and down the room, as
it were acting the parts. Such were the
feelings and the pains of the man while
the heroic author composed the "Bride
Of Lammermoor;" and Scott assured
Ballantyne that when the book was put
into his hands in complete shape he
did not recollect one single incident,
character, or conversation that it contain
ID
The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-02-11
SONGS WE USED TO SING,

How many of the popular songs Of
twenty years ago can the old boys of to-
day recall? How many of the old E1elo-
dies that thrilled them in the days Of
their hot youth have found an abiding
place in their memory? The evolution Of
the popular song presents striking ill
ustratiou of the survival of the unfittest.
The great sentimental success of the
antewar period was undoubtedly "Ben
Bolt" The untimely death of something
lovable and beautiful was the usual
theme of the sentimental song of that
period, though it varied occasionally in
order to picture the heart havoc caused
by the separation of slave lovers. "Ben,
Bolt" was splendid illustration of the
prevailing theme. 1t was hummed,
whistled, sung, and played on musical
instruments for more than decade. 1t
was immensely popular with the young.
ladies, many Of whom are now grand
mothers Sweet Alice" was shrined in,
every sentimental female heart, and the
question of the day was:
Don't you remember Sweet Alice, Ben Boltf
Sweet Alice, with hair so brown?
She wept with delight when you gave her a.
smile,
And trembled with fear at your frown.
Sharing "Bsn Bolts" popularity dur.
ing the same period we're two songs wide
ly sung by Dan Emmett, Dan Bryant and
other min strels. These we're "Nellie Gray
and 40, Susannahl' both depicting the
sufferings of slave lovers. "Nellie Gray
swept the country like cyclone:
My charming Nellie Gray,
They have taken you away.
And I'll never see my darling any more
80, dear Susannah" was built more in
the comic way, and the request "Don't
you cry for me" was based on the consol-
ing fact that I'm going to Alabama with
the banjo on my knee"
The pessimistic strain in which the fate
of certain "old Niger" popularity
known as "Uncle Ned" was bemoaned was
well known before "Nelie Gray or "Su-
sannah" appeared. Dan Emmett "s'Dixie'
and Fosters "Swanee River" have
proven the most prominent of the ante
war melodies. A sentimental ballad called
"Lorena" was great favorite in the COS,
and for thirty years previous the appear
snce and philosophy of sold Rosin the
Beau" was known to every one Chica-
go Herald.
The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-02-11
CHAPTER II.

CHAPTER Ill.
It was after shutdown of another night,
cold snd clear, and lights already twin
killed. from the windows of the Belcher
house. A walk had been made to the
front door and the great door-yard gate
swung wide in expectant hospitality.
The gnsrled apple trees in the front
yard stood like sentinels guarding the
quiet scene. The plum tree by tine
kitchen window looked in upon the
warmth and brightness, and the bucket
attached to the we'll sweep creaked Jelly
as it waved to and fro in the frosty air.
Within, the family was sgog with OK.
pectation. The Widow Belcher moved
about her kitchen, brisk, CHEEKY and pur-
poseful. She was short, plump woman
with fresh complexion and iron gray
hair which was combed smoothly back
and twisted into a, hard incorporating
knot at the back Of her head. Thrift
and faculty were written on her Inca
ments and Swallowed forth in all the ap,
pointments of her house. The yellow
painted floor was generously covered
with braided mats, the tall clock stood
in the corner by the bedroom door; the
wooden settle was under the windows op-
posite the fire, and the dresser shining
with pewter and tin, frightened the
south side of the room. In one chimney
corner was the invalid's half couch, her
stand OF papers, books and knitting
work; while in the other corner, over
which the squashes and red peppers hung,
Grandma Reed held undisputed sway.
The spotlessly neat pantry was laden
with a store of wholesome and delicious
viands which foretold coming feast, the
final additions to which were now being
made by the consignment Of the frosted
cake and mince pies to the accustomed
niche for this delectable dessert.
'1ts gwine to be rixious, doxious
cold night" said Mrs. Belcher returning
from the pantry with the blue china
cups and saucers which she ranged on
the tea tray 81 won't let the kitchen
fire down, and Urish must get in big
ger back log and some fore sticks for the
best room"
"Lecty, pull the fire dogs we'll out
fust," piped Grandma Reed. "They'd
snap like pipe stems if Urier hove logs
onto them"
Electa stood in the best room, which
was open 70 the kitchen, dust cloth
again in hand, peering everywhere to
find another particle of dust. Her ex.
quisitely clean but faded homespun frock
in which her mornings work had been
done, had been replaced by a cinnamon
brown wooden dress with linen collar
and black silk pinafore. She drew
finger Of investigation across the mantel.
1t was dustless, 50 was the sideboard,
The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-02-11
Thf Hume Rage.
OUR OWN POETS.
For The UNIvERsALIsT.
BIRTHDAY THOUGHTS.
BY CoRIE DAVIS.

Some new and untried sadness
Each year feel;
Some old and pleasant gladness
From me does steal.
Some friend / fondly cherished
Each year has fed;
Some trusted love has perished-
Lies with the dead.
Some greater, sterner duty
Each year l face;
Each year from out life's beauty
There fades some grace.
Some trust 10 man has vanished,
Each year that flies:
Some dream of hope is banished
From dream-land skies.
June roses lose their sweetness,
Each year that goes;
Summer with greater fieetness
Moves to its close.
Spring, too, has less of brightness,
Winds blow more cold;
Shows lose their sanity Wilderness,
As time grows old.
Ali but our lives are better
For pains control;
Sorrow shall loose sins fetter
Binding the soul.
Though empty are life's measures
OF precious stores;
Ours are immortal treasures,
On fairer shores.
3drGboO, Wts.
The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-02-11

hat this year with humming birds on it
unpatriotic and unprogressive and I'M
christian and unartistic."
81 told Grace she was SHINING in the
light to wear her new bonnet, but she
said she thought it would be wrong to.
throw it away, just as you think about
your old one.''
"Well, that's so; it's q dreadful prob
lem," and the girl with the five birds on,
her head sighed heavily. Record
The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-02-11
For THE UNIvERsALIST.
NEGOTIATIONS.
BY LEE FAIRCHILD.

I.
Lol Now deep silence truly speaks
What human lips can never tell,
As from those grand majestic peaks
Comes pressing down mighty spell:
While round their heights the sunb cams
lie
Serenely DER the stormy way,
Where fondly bends the tranquil sky
As fingers long the parting day!-
More wondrous still the power divine
That floods the awe enraptured soul,
AS man beholds the stormy shrine
When DER his head the heavens roll;
While in the hush of deepest calm.
By gentle music comes the spheres,
He hears Creation chant her psalm
Unto tn : Ancient of the yearsl
III.
OF these eternal mysteries
Revealed unto the minds of men,
But tell them of intinities
Stretched far beyond all mortal ken.
".
But what is man who apprehends
The great stupendous, starlit dome,
To Him, whose Being comprehends
A million worlds-His boundless homel
V.
And thus is man by self defined
A trembling creature of the sod,
Who by the power of his mind
Can measure, all-all things but God.
vi.
But once again my soul to earth;
One little worlds enough for thee
Until by that strange mystic birth
From earthly mornings thou art free.
VII,
Then, Spirit, thou shalt long no more.
When Seraph's pinions give thee flight,
For eagles wings that daily soar
To fold as oft IN shades of night,
sWfst0n, Idaho.
The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-02-11

When Thomas Mast was in Kansas
City recently he was annoyed by the
rudeness of the elevator boys, and said as
much. On later visit the boy was all
politeness, and asked Mr.. Mast for his
unique autograph. Mr.. Mast drew him
a hasty pen and ink sketch of himself
bowling deterentislly to the elevator boy,
and wrote under the drawing: "Those who
elevate others must be polite themselves"
The boy learned lesson.
The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-02-11

with clothes pin, and bury ing her face
in pillow cried long and heartily.
"You must go home" said desire. ats
shame for you to have to give up every
thing-it is cruel;" while loving kindness
said "You would not leave the children,
grandma, and Cousin Betsey? Besides,
who would take care Of the school master,
cook the meals and strain and skim the
milk?" 1t was as plain as day to her
that she must stay and do it.
Drying her eyes she went downstairs
just as Amariah was inquiring for her in
the kitchen. She shook her head coura
geously and tried to smile as she said 81
can't go, Ammy; I've got to stay here for
Aunt Hepssy. Don't tease me, and don't
pity me, for can't stand it,"
With loving messages for her parents
she sew him drive out of the yard and
then bravely Diminishing the laet regret,
she went into the house quite content
and almost happy.
"Blind mans buff" "button," "hunt
the slipper" and "puss in the corner"
were all worn thresdbare before the
children gave up and were ready for bed
Little Jim had succumbed to sleep in
the midst of the racket and, as Electa
lifted him tenderly from the settle and
carried him upstairs, she noticed little
plump thumb still tenderly held in the
quicker of his pink lips.
All safely tucked away, Cousin Betsey
and Grandma Reed visited in their bed
room, and Electa's time at last was her
own. How nicely the young schoolmas-
ter had helped amuse the children, and
how kindly he bad regarded her, as
though he knew she was bearing some
thing. He was off now attending de-
batting club. Well, she certainly thought
him very nice.
She sat musing at the window, and lol
in the saffron-hued sky great lambert
stars were twinkling as two thousand
years ago they had shone over distant
Bethlehem. How fair and sweet the
birth night in that far off land and how
beautiful and true the religion Christ
had brought. How sweet to live for
othe rs, how grand to forget ones self.
How the theme of peace on earth and
good will to man revealed itself to an un-
selfish heart; how che lopged for the holi-
ness in her own soul. How thankful she
really was for this hour OF meditation and
conservation, and how glad she felt that
she had given up all her will to-day, and
now and here she covenanted that she
would give it up forever. She would
live more for others and less for herself.
For four days Mrs. Belcher was absent
and Electa's deft and affectioDate man
agement OF every thing filled Cousin
Betsey and Grandma Reed with delight
and establishment. Her cooking was so
nice, her care of the children beautiful;
and the little household dwelt literally
in love and unity. Then the children
returned to their convalescent and happy
mother. Mrs Belcher came home, and a
week from the night on which Electa
came, she sat warming her feet prepare
tory to driving home Uriah had brought
the old mare to the door, but somehow,
just how il happened he didn't know, he
didn't drive. The schoolmaster The
told his wife afterwsrd-"was willin' to
go for him."
The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-02-11

Sidney Smith compared his writing to
the heiroglyphics of a swarm of ants es-
Gaping from an ink bottle and walking
over a sheet of paper without wiping
their legs. When his wife enclosed to
him an illegible passage from one of his
letters, and asked an explanation, he sim
ply returned it with the remark that he
must decline even reading his own hand
writing four and twenty hours after he
had written it.
The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-02-11
ELECTA MILLINGTON'S DIS
APPOINTMENT.

A PICTURE OF OLD TIME NEW ENGLAND
LIFE.
, 1888-09-14
Search for Old watches.

There are a great many funny things
attending the rise Of the "Jenkinses."
mean those people who have advanced in
material wealth without adding a whit to
their literary or social position. They are
Dragging of an ancestry they never had
and are at a loss to establish themselves
as members of the old families. Justnow
there is a search for old gold watches,
which will be paraded as family heirlooms,
handed down by this or that distinguished
Roundhead, or Mayhower pilgrim. The
old Johnson watches, made on Church
street, Liverpool, are among those most
eagerly sought by the man who wants to
trade money for lineage. Few of them
are left, and in Baltimore an especial mar
ket has been established, and large sums
are paid for them. Money is a great deal
plentier than blue blood. and the exchange
is willingly made by those who have
lately acquired the Observation-Disclosures
in Globe-D Democrat.
, 1888-09-14
Tho Sopranos New Blue Dress.

In a certain prominent church choir not
far from Boston the soprano was a woman Of
dashing and stylish appear nee, whose toilets
were almost as much a mater of considera-
ton with her as her voice, and with whom
the preparation of a new dress sometimes
caused the preparation of Al aria to suffer
sadly. The contralto, on the contrary, was
aperson who gave not much thought TO her
dress, but who had, Of course, to be sufficiently
%scrupulous about 1t to keep up a fair ap-
p~earance in tho conspicuous place, within
the chancel, where the choir was stationed.
Sh finally made up her mind to get a new
silk gown, and chose lavender for the color.
She conided her plans to the soprano, as a
connoisseur, and the soprano gave her much
advice about the dress in a patronizing
way. The getting up of the contralto's
new lavender gown was a rather slow
matter, and the soprano kept herself
posted as to its progress. When would
it be ready to wearl The oontralto said it
couldn't be ready before two weeks from the
next Sunday. And it wasn't, but the very
next Sunday tho soprano came ont in a new
and beautiful blu silk, which she announced
her intention to wear right along, and which
the contralto saw, to her CONSERVATION, would
utterly destroy her lRvender and make it i'm
possible to wear it. So, with some natural
tears, the contralto put away her new gown
until such a time as the soprano should tire
Of wearing her blue; and the next Sunday
the soprano, coming in blue again, and see
ing the contralto still in sober black, asked
with sweet, ingenious surprise:
why, where is your new gownT'
81 decided not to wear it,n said the con-
tralto, sadly, with a glance at the blue silk.
Weeks after that the ladies in the congre-
cation were exclaiming: What a long time
| Mrs SeeSharD is wearing that hluel I neyer
knew her to wear one dress so long before"
Boston Transcript Listener"
, 1888-09-14

The report that Barrett will build a new
theatre in New York has more ground than
most rumors of this nature have. Barrett
was a year planning his tour with Booth.
Before he obtained Booths consent, certain
friends of Barrett's in New York who have
the utmost confidence in his Judgment, de-
sired to place him at the head of a theatre
They asked him how much money he would
require, intimating that a million was at his
service. "a million will not be enough
said the tragedian. "Would a million and a
half dol We will raise that for you.n
"Nol' said the actor. at would require
possibly three times that amount"
Whereupon one asked him if he wanted the
earth.
mo, gentlemen" Barrett replied coolly,
81 want such a squaren-mentioning the
locality.
you could not buy it for less than seven
millions" the friend replied.
81 know it. But If you will give ne that
piece of property, 1 will guarantee to put up
q theatre in the heart of it, give you the out
side 'front.', and you will get your money
back in rents Of the portion of the ground 1
will leave you. TIL course pursued in this
city of building theatres fronting on streets
is suicidal, monumental, Illogical"
The friends admired the force of this re-
mark at once, and endeavored to purchase
the block referred to, but a large property
owner stood in the way, so the deal was off,
and Barrett then perfected his arrangements
with Booth The result of this is so well
known that it is unnecessary to refer to it.
The facts are only recited now because they
Uay give our readers an idea of the methods
Barrett will pursue in case his friends pro
vide the amount he deems necessary for the
construction OF q new theatre in New York,
and intrust him with the sole direction
P,ussturG Bulletin
, 1888-09-14
In n Mormon Sunday School.

1t is easy to see how largely the foreign
element prevails here among the Nor
mons. There were in Utah in 1880 about
1900 foreigners to 100, 600 natives, and
since then there have been about 10, 900
Mormon immigrants. These immigrants
are chiefly English and Scandinavians,
and you may see Swedish faces every
where. In the Sunday school which l
visited there was u Swedish class which
was taught in the Swedish language.
This Sunday school is worthy of men.
ton. After the administration of the
sacrament the school divided up into
classes, n in these classes the sexes
were always separated. During my visit
one of the teachers kept constantly with
me as | went from class to class, and it
seemed to me that the teaching was
largely for the benefit of the visitors rather
than for the scholars. | was offered
the Book Of Mormon" and asked to read
with the pupils in turn as the reading
went around the class. After reading a
chapter a young man explained it much
as we Gentiles do in one of our Christian
prayer meetings, and he told US how a
branch of the Israelites canc to the
again appeared upon the earth and chose
his apostles here. He told how the rec
ord Of his teachings in America among
the aboriginal tribes was Transcribed upon
the golden plates of the Book of Nor
mon," and how these were found in the
state of New York. 1t was interecting az
a romance, but / grew tired before he was
through and left.-Salt Lake Letter.