davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Press., 1888-12-20
A CHRISTMAS GIFT.
BY REV. W, c. NEWELL.

Though wintry skies are cold and drear The happiest, merriest time is here, All hearts ere tuned in joyful praise When silver bells chime Christmas lays. Hurrah for the Christmas time is near, Be glad and merry and full of cheer, 'Tis the time for gifts to girls and boys Of books and playthings and jingling toys; 'Tis the time for gifts to the old as we'll Of things as many as tongue can tell. See the costly gifts for the rich and great, Of untold value and bulky weight, Of gold and silver and diamonds rare, And treasures of earth beyond compare. See the humble gifts for the poor of earth, Gifts small and scanty and of little worth, For costly treasures they can only sigh, And gifts of value they cannot buy. But there is gift of value rare,
 A gift with which earth cannot compare, A costly gift for both great and small For Jesus Christ is gift to all.
 stafordville, Conn.,. Dec. 1s, 1888.
The Press., 1888-12-20

The advertisement of Geo. ". Moore & Co, elsewhere in this paper, calls the atten- hon of investors to Seven and Eight per cent
 Farm Mortgages in the West and South. The business of this firm is not confined to any one state or section of the country, but their loans are made in those localities which have been frequently visited by them, and where from careful and constant examinations of the lands they are able to make investments with confidence and safety. One member of their office force is now in Georgia and an- other in Kansas, looking after old as we'll as new business. This personal acquaintance with the securities and borrowers, with their conservative methods of placing loans and their constant care for all mortgages until paid of, has given them such success that no customer has lost dollar of principal or in- terest on any loan negotiated through them. There is no safer investment than first mort gage on good productive farm, with large margin between the amount loaned and the value of the land for ordinary farm purposes. It is this class of securities which are offered by Geo. W. Moore $ Go of Hartford, Conn.
The Press., 1888-12-20

The Equal Rights party came out of the turmoA of the presidential election with, in the whole of the United States, as the official returns show, just three votes in favor of the ticket of Lockwood and Love. The exact ratio of three to eleven millions odd may be left for each reader to deter. mine for himself. The party of Lockwood and Equal Rights need not be cast down, however, by this seemingly untoward re. suit. Let it make vigorous canvass ir 1892 and it's vote may be increased to five or six. It is well within bounds to affirm that neither of the leading political parties will show anything like so great propor. tionate increase.
The Press., 1888-12-20

Various states of the north and west have long insisted upon reasonable de. gree of intelligence as prerequisite to the granting of the franchise. Whether it would be possible, or wise to disfranchise ilhterate voters now possessing and wield- ing the powers of citizenship is grave question. But we fail to see why there should be any question as to either the right or the wisdom of establishing just educational test for the admission of future electors. The question ought not to be considered as party one. Ignorance is dangerous to the republic. Ignorant bal. lots are missiles as apt to be turned against its life as against it's enemies. How to prevent such dangers is a problem for patriotism, not for partisanship. Itshould be met and solved by patriots, not by par tisans.-NoTaVich Bulletin.
The Press., 1888-12-20

Jack-"Say, Dick, why don't you marry that Miss Jones, if you esteem her so high lyp -, .s
 Dick-''There are serious objections to such a step, Jack --.-.-. 7
 Jack-"Objections? I am sure she is pretty enough, ,amiable, intelligent, of good family, and not without worldly inheri- tanee. What possible objection can you have?" ..l =.
 Dick-'T s'poseI can tell you something ii confidence, and you won't repeat it?''
 Jack-"Every time, old boy. What is it?' B.
 -"rhe objections were filed by Miss Jones" -.-
The Press., 1888-12-20

Six prominent democrats of Birming. ham, Ala, are on their way to Indianapo- lis to present to General Harrison au ad- dress signed by nearly hundred demo- cratic manufacturers and business men of their town. Tbey declare their belief ID the protective tariff, and congratulate the general on its triumph in his election. They express hope that his southern ap- pointees will be republicans enjoying the respect and confidence of the community. "We know," they say, t.there are large numbers in this section who think as we do, and are only restrained from public ex- presson and advocacy of their opinion by Q feeling of uncertainty as to what will be the policy adopted in the treatment of the southern problem" This uncertainty once removed, they promise the general . strong protection party in Alabama.
The Press., 1888-12-20

TIE New York reporters ''kick" because the authorities have announced purpose to exclude reporters from executions by electric ity. It is to be hoped that the authorities VIII have backbone enough to adhere to the determination. Condemned murderers should be done away with as 8 candle is snuffed out. The public need not know just when the job is to be done. Let sentences give periods of three days within which the penalty of the law must be carried out Then let it suffice for the world to know that the sentence has been carried out. Our murderers shuttle oh the mortal coil with quite too much eclat.
The Press., 1888-12-20

CHRISTMAS trees and Christmas eve exer- cises are now expressing the minds of Sunday school officers, and the children now and then give casual thought to the same subject.
The Press., 1888-12-20

THE next emi-monthly meeting of the Tol- land County commissioners will be held at Holland the 24th inst, instead of Tuesday, that day being Christmas.
The Press., 1888-12-20
RnHn.

Monson, Nov 24, daughter to Sherman M. stebbins, and granddaughter to John NJ. Fisk of East Longmeadow.
 Rockville, Nov 9sth, daughter to E. Sam uel Evans.
 Rockville, 9th, son to Dr. T. F. Rockwell.
The Press., 1888-12-20

Members of the Legislature in New York, before taking their seats, are repaired to make oath that they did not secure their election by corrupt means. The New York City Reform club has occas1oned disquiet among some of the members-elect by noti- flying them of it's intention to proceed against them for perjury, if they take this oath
The Press., 1888-12-20

Diede Somersville, 7th, J. O'Keefe, IT, .--. Willington, 18th, Bashabe R. Kingsley, "A.
The Press., 1888-12-20

High license has worked so efficiently ill Philadelphia the past year, reducing the saloons from 5000 to 1900, that the au- thorities will try to cut off that odd 300 the coming year.
The Press., 1888-12-20

SOME of the testimony in the Johnson mur- der trial is given on page 1st. The hearing of the case was adjourned on Friday, and re- sumed on Tuesday, the defence having it's in nings. Witnesses examined on Tuesday as to the sanity of the prisoner were Miss Kate G. and Fanny Bliss, the accused having worked in the family of their uncle, in which they lived; E. o. Dimock, c'erk of the su perior court; Chester Kellogg of Stafford, and Dr. Smith, all of whom testified to pe- euliar1ties of the prisoner, especially to her persistent complaints of her husbands flirting with girls, though some of these saw no evil denee of lack of reason except concerning this subject. Dr. E. l.. Smith had prescribed for the prisoner, and at her request, rather than on his own judgment, give her morphia and ohloral. Both sides have summoned ex- pert testimony in the case. The evidences of insanity appear to have taken the form of un- due expressions of religious fervor, and com plaints of infdelity on the part of her hus- band. Those to whom she complained of the latter generally appear to have regarded it as 8 freak of imagination, as she seemed inn pressed by evidence that clearly existed in her imagination solely. Jailor Kurau and some of the prisoners testify that her actions in jail were loony, but thls is little proof of insanity on the part of a prisoner awaiting trial, and with defence outlined on the in- sanity theory. Evidence of insanity on the part of the father of the accused was also given, but was weakened by evidence also that he used opium to excess, besides liquor. DT. H. s. Fuller, of Hartford, an expert wit ness for defence, testified that he had made three examinations of the accused, the first two lasting over an hour each. The witness said that the accused is insane now, and, in his opinion, was also insane April 3, at the time of the shooting. Witness then testi- fed that by the evidence introduced it was his belief that the insanity was hereditary. The witness related the evidence given in re- lation to the insanity of Mrs. Johnson's grandmother, mother, sister, cousin and niece, the attempted suicide of her father, and the strange actions of the accused, stating that all this confirmed his belief that Mrs. Johnson is insane. Other expert testimony will be put in on both sides, and the trial is likely to last for many days yet.
The Press., 1888-12-20

An attempt to wreck an express train near Springfield, Mo-, was frustrated by the fireman of wild engine ahead of the express, who, though his ankle was broken in the wreck of the engine, orawled back more than mile and Jagged the coming rain @
The Press., 1888-12-20

The celebrated Woodbridge oak, seven miles from New Haven, which was over ]. 200 years old, has been cut down on ac- count of it's decayed condition. The trunk was twenty seven feet in circumference, and as it stood on high ground it could be seen for miles in every direction. In 1882 the Qninnipiac Oak Tree Association was formed, and in October of that year cele- bration was held under it's branches, in which 1, 800 people participated, and Yale college professors and prominent public men made speeches. Many people will preserve chips and twigs of the giant tree, which was believed to be the oldest ill Connecticut.
The Press., 1888-12-20

The vicious elephant Chief, which has murdered seven men within the last three years, was strangIed to death Monday in the winter quarters of Forepaugh' 8 menag- erie, in Philadelphia. He was forty years old and had been in this country nine years. Chiefs taking-off was effected by an ingenious method. Withmuch difficulty moose was slipped around his neck, the ends of the rope having been made long enough to enable one end to be tied to Basil and the other to Bismarck, two pow. erful elephants. As chief stood waiting to meet death hew was more heavily chained. Then young Adam Foreaugh gave the word, Basil and Bismarck were prodded with iron hooks and the death line began to grow taut. Another signal and the two elephants pulled with all their mighty strengh in opposite directions. Chief be- gan to totter. In twenty seconds he dropped to the ground, dead. "@
The Press., 1888-12-20

DAYMENT on all accounts due J. M Chaf. \ fee, Stafordville, is requested on or before Jan ISths Run
The Press., 1888-12-20

A fire broke out in Smith & Murrsy's great dty goods house in Springfield last Saturday evening, while hundreds of GUS toners were doing their Christmas shop p1ng on the three or more floors of the es, tablishment. There were some narrow escapes from injury to the panic stricken shoppers, and about $20, ,0O0 damage by fire and water to the stock, the latter being covered by insurance. The insurance loss was adjusted by Monday night, and the store running as usual with new goods in stock or being unpacked to make good the losses
The Press., 1888-12-20

USEFUL HOL1DAY GOODS. ,*n w: have .on immense variety Holiday Novelties .p's Fine Furnishing uinN NowE England QUANTITY QUALITY and Variety Unp.o We today the entire stock You easily examine of make selections and have laid aside pihde 
 Holiday UnbrellaS.
  al In ands special attraction in department ~senl, fsoa~er and Otter Gloves,
 street and Full Dress Gloves, kind found Glove Our Glove
  Holiday Holiday speciality
 Silk and Cashmere Muf1ers, And show an slesAntva variety a popular prices.
  large the stock could before The styles and patterns of the choicest but they must
 FIsk CLARK & ELAcc's
 Elegant NeCkwear The PRorsAN" Ams
 Initial SiIEr HandkerchfefS HANDkRRcHEFs, each, half dozen slss NIGHT ROBES which attention Sanitary Under wear aho mos durable A Sensible and Useful Christmas Present Corduroy the and FINEST stock of FUR CAPS Western New England while stock lasts.
 Leather Goods Department and Toilet Cases, Collar and oun Boxes etc COLE LEATHER rRuMks AND TRAVELLING ourFITs dnd.s descriptions They ars n ourb
 THE VERY FINEST FUR and PLUSH CARRIAGE ROnE1r|. of space in to OUR STOCK IS LARGER THAN USUAL, And THE ). H. BRIGHAM COMPANY, CIothiers, Hatters, Outftters, Springfield, AIaSss.
The Press., 1888-12-20

DEPORT OF THE CONDITION OF THE 1O FIRST NATIONAL BANK of Stafford Springs in the state of Connecticut at the close of busines
 Decernhnr 12. 1888
The Press., 1888-12-20

The story of "15O negroes and dozen white men" of Wahalak, Mississippi. who were slaughtered by telegraph in Monday mornings papers, shrank in the afternoon dispatches to five killed and six wounded, Now the number is reduced to two killed and four wounded. It is Mississippi case of the Three Black Crows. But there seems to be no doubt of the truth of the inevitable sequel-that rife clubs are rally ing from all parts of the state, that the negroes have fled in terror, but that their cabins have been lbravely burned. their stock destroyed and all possible damage them. No punishment can be too severe for negro who presumes to resent a pro- ocation from a white man.
The Press., 1888-12-20

NoTIOE.-My store will be open this even N ing until p. n., and Tuesday, Dec, 18th, unti { p. m. Yourr, o A. ". WALKER.
The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-08-18

weather all the way, comfortable, even elegant, quarters on board, and the tables were richly supplied from the markets of the world.
 The trip up tho Columbia was glo- rious. That river is called the Hud- son of the west, but it as far sarpa.ses the Hudson as the Hudson does Salt river. At the mouth of the William cite, up which stream, twelve miles, lies tho oity of Portland, is the grand est scene my eyes ever bcheld, and, faith, Eve seen "the wonders ot the world abroad" From the deck of the steamer, between the trees and ncro.s the Columbia, lies the picturesque town and fort, Vancouver. Farther on toward the horizon, appearing to be only two or three miles away, but really about sixty, stands Mt. Rsnier, like a great white sentinel, his lofty helmet of snow gleaming in tho set ting sun. To the left, as II another picket, stands snow. bonneted St. llelens, and to tho right Mt. Hood lifts his hoary head above the vast forests, making notch in the purple horizon.
 shortly after dark, having steamed the twelve miles up tho deep and mar row Willamette, sometimes In places where 1t seemed impossible for the vast steamer to turn the bends with out jnbbing one end or tho other in the banks, and where the swells caused by the vessel ran high along the wood margined shores, tho gallant "Colum. bia" reached Portland. In the small hours of the same night took the train for Tacoma, and by breakfast time the next morning was sailing out of Commencement bay, down Puget sound, grand body of water, to the handsome city of Seattle, from which place, on this third day of August, l am sitting at window which looks Gu. upon the hands0mest sheet Of wa ter in the world, and toward the snow covered Olympic range beyond, wish i ing that all the world could be as comfortable as the temperature is here now, and, in fact, nearly always is From here for the next weeks issue oi TnE TaAvELER, 1 will send you dc. scription of Seattle and her resource, and something about Washington ter ritory generality WM pfsscher.
The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-08-18
PRICE, 5 GENTS.

ter aAbe yo'sclbes. Jea' 70 on erway, now, fur I doAn' h1'ebo nothin' dat you says. De po' nigger wnE fotch ter dis place, An' dat's all ho knows erbout 1t. Go on, white man, aln't got no truck fur you. Et de niggcr mus do right, wy, yous got fer Yarn him, dat's all. To talk dat you put ter de ignunt white man Is jes' de same dat Is necessary fur do nlggcr. Dc ldec dat bercanc CT man is white dat ho Is got mo- sense den VIC is, ermounts ter nuthIn'. God gin us de folks dat cries "Merioa all do time; 'Merica fu.t, Sesius test an 'Mcrlca wld do eber lastin' strength."
The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-08-18
SETTLED HIM.

A rich old man, who. having madc fortune in vulgar trade, and who, as he desired to enter society, wanted to become accomplished, advertised for man to read to him. From among the many applicants a young man was se- leotcd. The old millionaire was pleased with his unassuming manners.
 "I want you," hc aald. "Itead to me, and if in tho future can aid you, I will do so."
 The young man read to him. He read history, biography and books of travel.
 One day tho young man said:
 Would you not like, for refresh mcnt, to hear novel;"
 "Yea, certainly. The cultivated man must know something of fiction. Go fetch novel and read 1t to me-"
 The young man brought A book, sat down and began to read. At first tho old man paid but little attention, but after awhile he began to lift his head with extreme interest; and, finally, tears guahed from his eyes. Tho young man when he left the old fellow was filled with strange happiness. Hs went Co h!s room and clasped his hands In eestatic thAnkiulness. He had written the book which had caused the old man to exhibit such strong emotion. It had fallen dead from the press. At last his hour had come. The millionaire would bless him.. He would say, "ScIect your publisher, and he shall bring out your books. He shall advertise them, and they shall become great" Would morning never come1 How the poor reader longed for dayiights giittering promisei "At last" he unused, "shali my sun arise. At last can turn my tack upon people who have scofed st me, and with tender sr.ns embrace the purc-eyed goddess ofendesring Ame."
 The time for tho reading came. The old man sat with his feet on . cushion. The young man entered softly.
 "Mr. Giles." said the young man. "you were pleased with the novel l read you last night, believe"
 "Yes."
 "Mr. Giles, do you know who wrote that book1"
 "No; and, for that mstter, l don't know who wrote any book.e
 "Mr. Giles" said the young man, with a proud swell of emotion, "I wrote that novel"
 "Ths deuce you didp
 "Yes, sir.n
 @w=!!, .Ae., l! reckon ye.'A better move on. A man thst aiB't got no more sense than to read his own book oughtsntsr be encouraged. don't wsnt you any longer"
The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-08-18
"That awful horse- pistol"

"That's no pistol. Its simply a stick. Wy this is one of her favorite games. Kill youl Why she never hurt thing in her life." "How about Patterson's boy2" the preacher asked.
 "He's all right. I seed him this mawnin'."
 "Yes, but she killed old Martin"
 "Did she? l saw him not more than three hours ago. Come, Tidy, go on away"
 She put the crooked stick under her apron, and, without saying a word glided out into the darkness. The preacher lifted his hands and uttered @ fervent prayer.-Opie P. Read.
The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-08-18
SAW SENSE IN IT.

@f am not going to vote for Brom- iey,S said . Mississippisn, addressing . friend.
 "Why5"
 "Bccsuse he lacks kindness of heart" {"
 "In what way7D
 "why, he holds mortgages on . number Of crops throughout the peighborhood.s
 T know that, and, to tell you tho truth, in that lies one of the reasons why l am going to vote for him.
 "l don't ses any ssnse in such . ree- son."
 T do, for. you see, he hes . mort- gage on my crOp.1
The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-08-18
AMERICA ALL THE TIME.

A dog-tax collector stopped at thu house of negro planter. "How many dogs have you hereS'
 "Got ez many here ez l has any. whar," the negro replied.
 "Yes, but how many dogs have you7" "How many does you wgnt?"
 "That is not the question. I arr employed by the state to make an in. vestigation of these matters. You have dogs that you do not care to pay taxes on, haven't you7"
 "All de dogs you sees, sAh, longs tsI de family"
 "Yes, I suppose %, but you know that the state has imposed tax upon dogs. Now, fl you do not pay the tax you must permit your dogs to bt taken away and killed"
 Look ycre, has deze dogs done you any isfms''
 "Oh, mo-"
 "Ken you prove dat deze dogs haa ever bit anybody7"
 "Eo, l don't think we can.n
 "Den why does you wanter kill aeze dogs?"
 "Because the law says so."
 "waIl, femme tell you, I kain't hep whut de law ssys. 4 says dat dese dogs ain't gwine ter die lessen I dies wid 'em. Elf you wsDter go inter dat sort CT game, all right"
 "You must remember that the po- litical--"
 T doan kere whut de perliticsl is. You folks hab been ioolin' me long ernuf. You Dimercrsts an ,Publi. cans ain't no frien's Q mipe. You tole iae how ter ave de nation, an foun' out dat 1t wuz how you wanted
The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-08-18
ON THE SLOPE.

LIN l n E 0AOFEs
 Twenty two dollars for railway ticket, five dollars Pullman car-fare and meal bills on the road, for thirty nine hours, from Portland to San Fran cisco. Now then, will anybody ac- cuse your correspondent of writing a puff for the road "free gratis for nothing?" All the same the ride on the railroad between the points named is one ot the most delightful on the continent. It takes you through green fit Ids, ripening harvests, over and un- der vast mountains, amid mighty for ests, along by turbulent yet crystal streams, and for many miles under the shadow of Shasta, monarch of the mountains. After crossing the Siski- you range, going south, the traveller leaves Oregon and comes into Califor- mia, and here you begin to hear Cali fornia stories. Harmless lying, which is sometimes kindly and politely termed "romancing, seems indigenous to this region. These lies begin on fish and run clear up to stage-coach- ing. grizzlies and Ipjuns. I heard for instance of @ man, who, somewhere about the base of Shasta, took his fa- vorite dog and went a-hunting. In one of the dense forests he found him. self-lost. Day after day he wandered about, with starvation and his dog staring him in the face. Driven by hunger to a last resort, he cut the dogs tail of and roasted 1t. After finishing this meal, he saw with sor- row, that the poor dog was hungry, and he gave him the bone. Truly & merciful man is merciful to his beast. This tail ended the other tale. The meal afforded by the caudal appendage of the dog gave both man and beast sufficient strength to push on and they were soon out of danger.
 From the base of Shasta, at Sisson, to San Francisco, 6 distance of about three hundred and twelve miles, the traveller has no eyes for any thing but the scenery, the grandeur and sublim- ity of which is beyond words. All of the way the Sacramento river sel- dom leaves the view as 1t wends it's way to the sea. Here ia Shasta's great white dome of incsndescent snow and lava, standing silent against the north- ern sky, then the Castle Rocks, with their columns and minarets of steel gray granite, and all the time your tandem team of iron horses plunges along, over trestles, through black canyons, and beside the stream which is now lashing, fuming and fretting among the rocks, and then placidly flowing over little valley. This Sacramento river starts away up on the southwestern front of Shasta, above the clouds, and where there is no timber or vegetation. Here it is So small that your drinking cup, held under one of the miniature cascades, perceptibIy diminishes the stream be- low. But as we follow the modest brook, springing, chamois-like, from crag to crag, it gains in strength and volume at every bound, dances by the bright-hued A@rcodes" in its bed of snow, mirrors the faces of the wild mountain-sheep and the savage griz- zly, as they slake their thirst in its waters. Down, down 1t goes to up- land, meadows, and on, gathering vol