davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-09-13

some limbs of tress or corn stalks.
Throw on few spades full of soil, and
then carefully fill the cavities at the
root of the tree with earth or well pull
verified manure In this situation the
tree rests until about the first of April.
Remove the covering with care and
the loose earth about the roots. Lift
the tree to an upright position, and
with a cord fasten to a stake driven
firmly in the ground. Put paper pad
ding around the tree under the cord to
prevent corroSion.
A good workman in this way viii
secure twenty trees q day-enough for
the use of a family. Last fall l laid
down six. Two of them were too
young to produce fruit, four are bear
ing, and three heavily loaded. have
passed my seyenty-iifth winter, and can
still secure ten trees in a day.
The peach is one of our best, most
delicious and health-giying fruits. The
tree aside from its bloom and fruit is
not desirable one.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-09-13
The Bluebird's Ancestry.

In line with these is another observa-
ton which | made two summers ago,
and was enabled to confirm last sum-
mer Our bluebird is no doubt mod
flied thrush; that is, it's ancestor, in
the remote past was doubtless of the
thrush family. One evidence of this
is the fact that the young of the blue
bird has a speckled breast like the
thrush; and Darwin established the
principle that peculiar markings or
traits confined to the youth of any
species are an inheritance from early
progenitors. In addition to this, L
have noted in the song of the female
bluebird-one of a pair that for two
seasons have built near me-a distinct
note of the thrush. Whenever | hear
the voice of this bird it reminds me of
that of a certain thrush-the olive
backed.-John burroughs, IN st. NicIao-
las
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-09-13
Dust-Sifters of Picking.

Gold, silver, and other metals. etc.,
are often found in the most unlikely
places. Last year l noticed persons
digging in the stream that flows in the
moat close to the Chen Men, in search
of gold. The situation was explained
by the continguity of the gold-shops,
as the sweepings of such places are
thrown into the moat. There are in
Peking band of some three hundred
men who follow, during the four win
ter months, business which consists
in brushing up the dry dust of our
streets, sewing or tanning it, and make
a decent living of 20 cents day on an
average. By far the largest quantity
of metal found is, of course, iron, in
the form of dust, pellets, nails, etc.,
which is sold at 4 large Peking cash
per catty.
Next to iron they find copper, silver,
gold, and precious stones. The latter
are almost valueless, being crushed by
the carts. After scraping together and
winnowing three or four small basket
shovels (po-chi) they will secure about
o handful of iron debris. This they
deposit in q bag which they carry
around their waists, and on returning
home they use loadstone to extract
all the iron, and afterward submit the
remainder to washing process, when
the silver. the main article sought, is
at once seen. On the above calcula-
tons there is, therefore, an army of
these etal-gatherers making $50 daily,
and this, multiplied by four months,
gives over $1,000. Here is an almost
unknown trade proving sufficiently lu-
crative. The men are scattered over
all the city-on the cart as we'll as on
the foot-passage thoroughfares.--NortA
China DaiEy NeaUS.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-09-13
He Wanted 1t Strong.

He was an old timer. He had COM
menced in early youth at hard cider,
and had graduated in the liquids up to
straight alcohol. He was in town this
week, and went into drug store and
picked up a bottle and poured out a
full glass of something, swallowed it
down, thinking that it was the spirits
frumenti. The druggist, noticing him
with the empty glass in his hand rushed
back. exclaiming: My God, man,
you have drank aqua fortis!'' "Was
ftp" SAYS he. ''Well, just give me a
little aqua fifty. That last was kinder
good, but l want something a leetle
stronger" The druggist collapsed
Harto0eU (Ga.) Sun.
Country minister Ito little boy fish
ing)-Sonny, do you know that in fish
ing Sunday you are breaking one OF
Gods commandments? Little boy
Yes sir. Remember the Sabbath-Day
an keep it holy" o, I don't go to
6unday-school for nothin'. mister.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-09-13
SNAKES IN CONNECTICUT.
Rattlers are Getting TO be Quite Plentiful
Again in the Hill Towns.

Again in the Hill Towns.
Snake hunters are astonlshed at the
great number of rattlesnakes abroad this
season.. URtil a few years ago rattler
was curiosity In Connecticut, but since
the hill towns began to grow up to brush
they have come in. In the beautiful
town of Farming ton ratSiers are especial
" plentiful. Ten have been killed III
that town since the season opened No
longer ago than Monday Jauson Peters
of Pennington killed the tenth RATHER
just as it was approaching his doorstep
on en- erFand of investigation, apparent
IL, respecting thu interior OF the house.
The serpent was four feet lcne and two
inches in thickness.
But this was small snake com pared
With RATHER that George Foyer killed III
Marlboro on Saturday, and that was
barely an inch shorter than SIX feet and
mad ten rattles. That snake is said to be
The largest one in the recorded history OF
the rattiesnake race in the Stats.
So numerous are the rattl esnakes of
the high wooded towns adjoining Hart
ford that freq uently they are encounter
ed stretched across the travelled road,
near the capitol. On Albany avenue,
eight miles from that city, on Sunday
alters Don, Edward Hills killed d RATHER
that m assured four feet two incnes long.
and six inches IN girth. Hill used his
buggy whip on the reptile.
Stories of recent snake encounters has
stirred the Imagination of Joe Atkinson,
of Waterford, near New London, so thai
he was in the mood to see astonishing
things when he Went forth to hunt the
other day. He had barely reached the
crest of Bolles Hill, qua on shoulder,
when he saw an immense serpent half
cooled in the grass Of docry ara not ten
feet away. Joe gave it both barrels, and
then as tho snake las still, n craw led up
to investigate. He found badly pep
pered sec tioo of garden hose, ten feer
long. It was irretrievably ruined. BE
had TO pay for tour boxes of cigars for
his friends when be returned home.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-09-13
a Matrimonial Catechism.
Datr-iT E-raa D,.a--


He was very particular, and IN order TO
have everything fair and square before
hand he said:
"You know, darling, l promised ny
mother that my wife should be a good
housekeeper and domestic woman. Can
you cook?"
81 cau," she said, swallowing a great
big lump of her throat.
Can you make good bread? That is
the fundamental principle of ell house
keeping"
Eyes; went into a bakery and learned
how to make all kinds Of bread" She
added under her breath maybe"
"And can you do your own dressm ak
ing? am comparatively a poor man,
love and dressmakers' bills would soon
bankrupt me-"
everything 1 wear, especially pattern-bon-
net<'
"You are jewel" he cried with enthu-
siasm; ''come TO my arms"
"Wait minute there's no hurry" she
said coolly. cit is my turn TO ask few
questions. Can you saw wood and carry
in coai?"
"Why, my love, should hire that york
done"
Can you make your coats, pants, vests,
trousers and other wearing apparel"
"Bu5 that isn't to the purpose"
''Can you build house, dig bitches,
weave carpets, and"
81 am not professional"
Neither am /. It has taken the most
OF my life to acquire the education and
accomplishment that attached you to me.
But as soon as l have learned all the pro
fessions you speak Of will send you my
card. Al revoir," and she swept away.
And the disconsolate young man wen
to the nearest drug store and bought q
twofor a quarter cigar, with which ne
speedily solaced himself.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-09-13
FEMININE BREVITY.


u SpOeLhCG ~ - u -1s'A 80 Oiy Noouc
Store.
Chicago News
MAY I leave this letter here?" asked d
woman rushing up to the cashiers desk in
dry goods store.
Certainly"
"My husband will call for it. You'll be
sure to give it to him?"
eyes, madame"
''The letter is very Important, indeed.
It's about Our lost dog, Flossy. If found
her was TO leave word here so that he
needen't advertise"
The cashier YEARLY stamped a ticket
aud handed the change to cash boy.
"My husband is tall, blonde man, with
a sandy mousteche," pursued the woman,
while the cash boy yelled and struggled
around her. ''He IS sort of stout and
middle-aged. you'll be surs not to give
it To the wrong person"
Tbs cashier sig he'd heavily and nodded
absently.
'The reason I'm SO particular about the
letter is because I'm going away to the
country for few days, and I've added a
postscript to tell where hid the silver
the woman continued, breathlessIy. II
hope I haven't troubled you"
The cashier prevaIieated with consum-
mate art.
"Oh, and please tell my husband that
decided to GO by the Northwestern ROAD
because the bus line Is SO convenient.
Well, must hurry or I'll miss the train.
You don't know which is the right bus for
my train, do you:"
The cashier pleaded his ignorance con-
corning omnibus routes and devoutly
prayed that his tormcntor would spend
the remainder of her life in pastoral
scenes. The woman FASTENED away labor
ing under the delusion that she had i'm
pressed one man with q sense of the
feminine ability to be brief aud concise
in business interviews.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-09-13

"The agent could not help but feel as
tonished and s.arte6 ct the curious coir.
cilence, bus the stranger was so talka-
tive and friendly that there was no pos
sible excuse to suspect him. Indeed as
if to prove to his companion that he
meditated no evil, he kept little in ad-
vance for the next half hour. Broason's
distrust had already vanished, when a
turn in the road brought an obstruction
TO view. There was fallen tree across
the highway. This proof that every
point and circumstance in the vision was
being unrolled before mis- eyes, gave the
agent q great shock. He was behind the
stranger, and he pulled his revolver and
dropped his hand beside the horse to con-
ceal it.
"'Well, WELL said the man, as he pulled
up his horse, the tree must have toppled
over this morning. Well have to pass
around to the right
Bronson was on the right. The woods
were clear of underbrush, and naturally
enough he should have been the first to
leave the road, but he waited.
600 ahead, friend said the stranger,
and as if the words had been addressed
to the horse, the animal which the agent
bestrode started up.
Bronson was scarcely out of the road
before he turned in his saddle. The
stranger had a pistol in his right hand.
What followed could not be clearly re-
lated. Bronson slid from the saddle as a
bullet whizzed past him, and a second
later returned the fire. Three or four
shots were rapidly exchanged, and then
the would murderer, uttering yell to
show that he had been hit, wheeled his
horse and gauoped off. He had not gone
ten rods when the beast fell under him,
and ne kicked his feet from the stirrups
and sprang into this woods and was out of
sight in moment. The horse had re
ceived bullet In the throat and was dead
in a fe ~ minutes.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-09-13
Three Great Friends.
HARTFORD Courant.

What wonderful trio they were--the
three Geserals whose names are as insep
arably associated in our thoughts as they
will be for all time to ccme on the page
of history! Unlike in many ways, each of
a distinct, strongly marked individuality,
how they yet supplemented one another,
and how loyal they were in their friend
ship for one another. 1t is pleasant now
to think of that-Ihat our great soldiers
were so free from selfish jealousy and re
ioiced so heartily in one enother's sue
cesses and rewards. There is only one of
them left now, the oldest of the three.
Sheridan-may it be still far distant. ard
may the intervening years be a. full of
peace and happiness as of honor-will
mark the close of the splendid and heroic
chapter of the Nations story.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-09-13
THE BURIAL OF MOSES
AUGUSTINE j. II. DUGANNE.
TDeut. xxxiv., 4, ), g.

TDeut xxxiv., 4, ), 81
By Nebo's lonely mountain,
On this side Jordan's wave,
In a vale in the land of Moab,
There lies lonely grave;
And no man dug that sepulchre,
And no man saw it e'er,
For the angels of God upturned the sod,
Aud lad the dead man there.
That was the grandest funeral
That ever passed on earth;
But no man heard the trampling,
Or saw the rain go forth
NoiselesSly as the daylight
Comes when the night is done,
And the crimson streak on the oceans cheek
Grows into the great sun
Noiselessly as the spring time
Her crown of yerdure weaves,
And all the trees on all the hills
Open their thousand leaves;
So, without sound OF music,
Or voice Of them that wept,
silently down from the mountain crown
The grand procession swept.
Perchance the bald old cage,
On gray Beth-peor's height,
Out OF his rocky eyry
Looked on the wondrous sight;
Perchance the lion stalking
Still shunS that hallowed spot;
Or beast and bird have seen and heard
THAI which man knoweth not.
But when the warrior dieth,
His comrades in the war,
With arms reversed and muffied drum,
Follow the funeral car.
They show the banners taken,
They tell his battles won,
And after him lead his masterlesS Steed
While peals the minutegun
Amid the noblest of the land
Men Law the sage to rest,
And give the bard an honored place
With costly marble dreSt-
In the great minister transept,
Where -hts like glories fall,
And the sweet choir sings, and the organ rings
Along the emblazoned wall.
This was the bravest warrior
That ever buckled sword;
This the most gifted poet
That ever breathed q word;
Aud never earth's philosopher
Traced with this galden pen,
On the death ess page, truths half so sage
AS he wrote down for men.
And had he not high honor?
The hillside for his pail,
To lie in state while angels wait,
With stars for tapers tall,
And tn dark rock Plies ike tossing plumes
Over his bier to wave,
And Gods own hand in that lonely land,
To lay him Ia the grave
In that deep grave without a name,
whence MS uncOilntu cay
Shall break agaln-mOSt WOnd rOuS thought
Before the Judgment-day,
AMI stand, with glory wrapped around,
On the hills he never trOd,
And speak of the strife that won our life,
With the Incarnate Son Of Cod.
o. lonely tomb in Moab's land.-
o, dark beth-peor hill!-
Speak 70 these curious h arts or ours,
And te oh hem to be still;
God ha Ii his III st les Of grace,
Wa, that we cannot tell;
And hides them deep, like the secret sleep.
or Ii m He loved so well
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-09-13
Tea-Drinkjuo I'm Britain.

Whatever may be said about the con
sumption OF alcoholic liquors in Great
Britain, there can be no DOUBT that we
are becoming tea drinkers on an extra
ordinary scale of absorption. In 1910,
1 % pounds of tea was the annual allow
ance of each aReller within these reams
in 1887 the quantity was stated at So
pounds. It is peculiar fact that coffee
has steadily declined in public favor
during the period mentioned. 10 1910,
LOB pounds Of coffee was the quantity
consumed per head of the population;
but Ia 1887 the allowance fell to 81; 8.
material decrease, and one not easily &C
counted for when it Is considered that
coffee is much chea per than tea.
IN the days of the Protector, tea was re-
garded as sort Of specific which might
with great property have been included
among other nostrums Pharmacopoeia
An advertisement in 1858 announces
"rhat excellent, and by ali physicians ap
proved, China drink, called By the Chinese
Teha, by other nstions Tay, alias Tee
ls sold at the Sui.aness Heed Cophee
House, in SFeebing's r Its. by the Royal
exchange, London" Therefore it ap-
pears that 1.-The cup that cheers but not
inebriates," commended itself to the
medical faculty OF that period, as it's
udicious use does to the Galens of our
day.
Gave yel # the pirade, Tim?" "Oi
have that" "Phwat fur?" "OI'ye lust
been toWld as ST.. Patricks Frinchmaa
an the ideo of traipsin' roun' the straits
an carryin' the American flag fur fur
rener Is not to me taste, at all at all.''-
Harper'5 Weekly.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-09-13
The Forces at Gettysburg.


The battle Of Gettysburg was remarkable
not only fer its results, but for the fierce
and stubborn nature of the coafict itself.
The armies On both sides wers large,
though not SO large perhaps as TO make
the baltic pre- eminent or that account.
The figures On this point are interesting.
This given by the CUmte de Paris may
be accepted as obtained by careful inye5-
tigatlon. The Army of the Potomac,
without Frenoh's division, which had re-
manned a5 Frederick, numbered 197, 251
men, but nearly $4,000 were in the hos.
pitfalls, and more than 21000 were on de-
tached service. The number Of men
present with their corps WAS 1i2 986, and
hat Of men und5r arms 99,455. About
5000 men came as TsinfOrcements under
Stannard ana Lockwood, making ii total
of effective forces Of l05 000 men and $50
pieces of artillery. Bat $3.50 troops
we're on duty ct headquarters; the cav
airy, NUN bering 10,500, were not serious
ly engaged; 5000 to 1000 were serving as
additional guards near supply trains,
batteries, etc, and there were probably
1000 to 5000 stregglers. The Com5e de
Paris therefore estimates the UaiOn force
seriously engaged at from $4,000 TO Sd, 900
men. According to official reports the
Union loss was 1884 killed, 13,709
wounded, including 10 generals, and
6,645 prisoners, Or 25,186 in all. But
these figures do not tel! the whole story.
The hospital records show the burial of
1876 Union oOrpesas, and it is estimated
that 1000 or LOO died of their wounds.
1t is estimated that Lee Brought on the
battlefield $4,000 to $4,000 men and 25O
guns. The confedera1es had 2,729 killed,
1859 wounded, Including Is generals,
and Z ,464 missing, or 1928 in all, making
their losses almost exactly the same as
those of tie Union forces, though the lat
ter army was the larger by one fourth.
These losses were enormous, being 81 per
cent. of the Union army and So per cent
Of the Confederate army. They are
proofs OF tbs stubborn bravery of both
the blue and tn. gray, which the survivors
of to-day can recall with pride as well
as with sorrow.-New York Tribune.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-09-13

California has overproduced in wine
but feels an assurance of future compep
sat;on in the fact that the consum p6ior
of wine IN the United States last year in
creased 1000, 600 gallons.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-09-13

had to hide myself to let travellers pass.
I had walked ten miles before I sus pected
that was headed for Columbus. 1 kept
on until midnight, however, hoping 20
come to landmarks, which 1 should have
found long ago on the right road. 1 then
met negro who told me it vas only nine
miles TO Columbus. He had bundle,
aud was, I suspected, runaway. l gave
him my confidence at venture, and it
was my salvation.
Hs had teen sold the year before by
his master al Jackson, Miss, TO man
living near HaWkinsviIie, Ga. Il week be-
fore Iiet him he ran away, planning TO
get to Grants line in Mississippi, and
Just as I encountered him he had been
reiding plantation for provisions. In
ten minutes We knew We could trust each
other.
Up to this time L had carried the Lieu
tenants uniform, thinking TO don it if
the worst came to the WORST, and put On q
bold face. The negro who was called
James advised me to abandon If, which I
did and we entered the woods, cooked
some of his meat and bacon, and lay hid
all next day. When night came we flank
ed Columbus by the left, passed into
was the beginning of q tramp lasting
forty-one nights. During this time we
lay hidden by day in swamps, barns and
thickets, fed by negroes and hunted By
white men, and several times narrowly
escaping capture. We passed to the left
of Montgomery and Selam, right through
Demopolis, and near the Mississippi
State line were hidden thres days and
three nights in a swamp, while hundred
men beat up the neighborhood for US.
when we were finally picked up by q
Federal scouting party, I had walked
nearly 500 miles had not been in bed for
forty-three nights, weighed thirty-seven
pounds less than when 1 started, and was
so sore and lame and full of aches that
the last night of our journey the negro
carried me seven or eight miles on his
back.
Below Selam, as l was trying to get in
to corn house one night, while the ne
gro was after bacon, a white man came
upon me suddenly, gun in hand. I
strnck him with club had in my hand,
and have no doubt that broke his skull.
Again, near Demopolis, we were pursued
by 4 savage bloodhound, and while went
on the negro waited behind g tree on our
trail and killed the dog with single
blow as he came up.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-09-13

The war on dance houses at Ashland is
being vigorously prosecuted under the
state law.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-09-13
Buffalo Cros sing the Missouri.

The buffalo had many forces TO contend
with. In the spring, when they were
weak, they appeared TO have an insane
desire to cross the Missouri river. Ihe
shielding bar of Missouri river bottom
is almost always opposed on the opposite
side of the river by q very high baaB.
The buffalo coming in vast droves to
cross the river would start from the low
bar, swim directly across ard blindly en-
deavor to ascend the perpendicular bank.
The river would be animated with the
struggling, i'm pulse 6rivea animals. The
strongest would crawl to the front, and
" th unreasoning pertinaoty strive to
ascend the directly upright bank. With
an almost catllke climb they
might reacn halfway. then
down they Woud fall on their Struggling
com pan1ons IN the river below. With
added rage AND obstinacy they would re
new the climb again and again, until
after hours Of inhe1ible persistency they
would finally succeed in the SEE ming i'm
possibility of tearing trail up the wall
like bank. Hundreds of the weaker ones
would succuno in this struggle in the
river, and their floating carcasses would
collect in vast numbers in the river ed
dies.