davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1889-12-28
A NEBRASKA IDYL.
The story Of n New Years Conspiracy In
the Town of Bubble.
By Kate 81. Cleary.

Bubble was booming and il was the
eve OF the New Year ia Bubble. The
certainty of the former a|ccentuated the
pleasure of the latter fact. Crops had
been good, and the past week of fes-
Invites had demonstrated that it had
been a year of abundance and therefore
of comparative content. So the farm
ers who logged ia on or jolted behind
their beayy-hoofed horses admitted the
leading statement with a supremely
satisfied conviction that other towns
were not booming as was Bubble and
an absolute indifference 10 the proba-
bility of its being New Years Eve else
where. A delicious day il was. too,
although not the typical winter one
which Imagination invariably assoc
ciate5 with New Years day. There
was no snow; the air was crisp. keen.
in its frosty sweetness %exhilarating as
wine; by a sky of subdued vet intense
blue was the billowing prairie domed
aud bounded; against that serene aud
perfect background fields of rifed but
unriven corr flung out their tattered.
tawny banners; the winding, browpish
roads rang like steel to every passing
sound; along those desolate country
ways the sumac shrank in blasted
beauty, and skeleton sunfiowcrs reared
aloft the bare, brown hearts from
which had fallen long ago the disks of
gold. But the old man, who. mounted
on The front seat Of a %ponderous. creak-
ing farm wagon, drove over the hill
and down the one new, ugly. busting
street which boaStcd the business, the
barter, and the commercial enterprise
OF Bubble, thought not at al of his sur
roundingS, not even of the day. lie
did not stop at either general store. at
the tinshop, the saloon, or the drug
store. With an occasional nod To
familiar faces he stcered his team
straight down the street, past the pre-
tentious hotel, the gaping livery barn,
the big, bleak undergrad, aud drew
up beside the platform of the railroad
depot.
"Whoa-ab, thar! r in most due,
Tom? Hope It's. Or n sort of a
niece aboard-mc cousin Moike's child.
Did We know that?n
The station agents assistant smiled
back AT him. Did he know that? Who
did not know that old Rafferty, had
some months ago sent money to Ire
land to bring out a young relative Of
his. A queer character, old Rafferty,.
Seventeen wears of his life had been
Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1889-12-28
The young desaverr"
Hes engaged to her."
Inn rs

The young desaverr'
Hes engaged to her."
"Hhdtr'
Hes a-goin' TO so home next sum
nssr an marry her."
''Ncver,i'
Od Rafferty, leaped to his feet. his
wife sank weakly into n chair.
A queer, hard look caInc into the
girls face. The did not hesitate.
thougk, She put her hand in her
pocket and drew out a letter.
Sarah Sheohy gev nae this TO give
William she said.
Hand il here!' roarcd old Rafferty,.
He was faAly furious, stamping. foam
ing. "A III desSindint she of Tim
Sheehy--thryin' to inyeiyhIe my son
into marryin, her. Hand It here!"
lie snatchcd the lester from he's She
sat there white indeed. with painting
breast and giisteuing eyes while OLD
Rafferty, and Isis wife pcrusC4.t the brief
but loving erastlc. when they had
finished they tnned to- Hanna. Both
were trembling with ezc.temont-act~
Wally speechlesa But suddealy old
Rafferty, jumped'up and Sent spinning
around the kitchen like cne possessed.
II have it!' 10 roareh. 20. Rller
Janc, O. I have iti weH make him
marry Hasna-faish we wal!n
The blood came back with a rush TO
the girls face. She half roY.
"O. 30, sor; O, re-"
'Hs must stilk keeping up his
frantic dance Of dssight. "Ye mast
make him, Hanna. Yen have tAe
farm ope.nf these drys. an yen live
bere with tine old wonan an me, an
we'll shaw the Shcehy > they caa't come
any of their thricks ovsr the Raffertys
not by George Washington an the
hanshee Of the U'Rourlssl Wen show
EN- HannAE
The day sitter New Years Oh Raj.
fcrty told his son he must marry Han
ma. In vainthe young Sellow protest
ed. entreatedI refused. But his spp0-
sition added aIsl TO the fame. II he
wouldn't he Eaust starve, Ne disinlacrit-
cd-and the farm WAS worth s. O00i
But finally. tile father sScecedod in
NrinCing from him a most reluctant
consent. A blizzard blew up. The
roads were blocked. almost impassa-
bic. bnt no xcuss would avail old Raj.
ferty. Go to Hebron they must. ARd
80 .nry unaiIy Ct1. Douu %srprnt, posG
pale. both evide::dy in utt,r proteR
the world. the Ratfesty's. ana
each other. The sixteen miles betwee
Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1889-12-28


Bubble and the couuty seat were
trarcrsed. They were married. They
drove home. AT the kitchen door taey
WERE welcomed by bright lights, she
congratulations of inysed n~eighboxs,
ths-steam OF roasting tuESey, and odor
of pumpkin pies. More than all by sid
Rafferty,. He was positively Wild with
pleasure He was cape sing around the
room. laughing. shouting, explaining
now putting his head baek to roar he
better; now bending double TO slap las
leg and writhe in ecstatie and speech
less contortions.
Now, William, nowi Wen let he
Sheehys. see - now! Thinkin' thsy
could thrap my son.. Pm proud of w,
Willumt Shake! Good girrul, Han
azl Och. but the Shsehys can't COMA
any of their thricks over euld Rafferty,.
He's,toe smart for thcm- The fight is
still ON Whatll theK saye o. Han
ma, this is a happy day! You amt
changed yer name though you are
married"
20. yes, she has!n
Wills voice had a peculiar ring. A.
silence fell on the gay clamor. Blaaks
ly old Rafferty, regarded his son and
heir. Was that the dismal and frown-
ing young fellow who had driyen.oI
this morning, THAI erect laughing.
glowfng-cheeked yrung mani Aud
was that forlorn and frightened and
protesting Hanna? That lovely. smiling,
crying. blushing, altogether happy and
winsome little creature.
AM L. ITtll..-. ~.
20, Jest that she did change her
rame-thst' G ALI Sh was Sar,k Shee-
now she's Sarah Raiertyin
.'Willum!"
"What!"
But Will put l;s aim around bisspret-
ty wife and br.vely stood his ground.
I'VE fell In love with each, other
when ! was on that trip 70 ireland. 1
knew you w0uldn't hear Of my marry
ing her. so we planned I'd get moth0r
to send home for Uncle Mikes Hanna.
and she. WAC wa a great friend Of Sa-
rah's. would let Sarah como in her
| place. Aud we thought we'dl wait till
Won and mother had learned TO love
her and then tell You the truth ana asE
you to bless our marriage But" with
u burst Of ~irrepressible laughter, ZOO
wouldn't let MS wait"
BUS. Willuu." family and bewil-
deredly broke in his mother, 'you said
-an' she heara-an' she said-
Risgingly ne laughed again. .Oi
course we did. Thai was the plan.
Fasher!" He held ont his hand.
.But-bus." he faltered. .she Is Tim
Sheehy's choild. an'TisA he went an
married Sarah Cosnslly--"
Well y cried shArpv Mrs Rafferty,
senior. SO Sharply Die hauelry Jumpeo.
what difference did that make to you
--ehpn
20. nene--none at an. Ellen LAuer'
Fiercely he grasped his sons hand,
fsrvestly no shook IL I'll hardly
knew SarsA CoARolly-tust W yight
Ellea Jaue-no. An made mo- differ
inee at at all-O my. nor
And then he kissed the bride, and
laughed. and wiped his eyeA and tolc
the ueighbors 10 draw pn 20 Fspper
and insistsd On hugging ellen Jane Oh
she sly till she smiled kAck at him.
sMaybc." she said u him when thel
Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1889-12-28

passed as sailor. lie claimed to DC one
of the survivors of the battle bc-weer
the Merrimac and the Cumberland,
and that ii wa he who fred the last
shot on board the latter vessel, when
il. with colors still bEavelv flying, sunk
beneath the waves. Dearly did he love
to tell of the affair, particularly OF the
part that concerned himself, of the
three hours spent under the water be-
fore rescue was effect. AT the close of
the war he took up - claim" in Ne
braska. and by slow degrees, in loneli-
ness and privation, had accumulated
not a little wealth. Out of perilous-
ness he had seen peace come. A friend
ly and familiar figure was he to all.
Somehow people always smiled at old
Ratferty-cordially, too. There was a
comical kind OF fascination in the face
visible between the shabby felt hat and
the huge comforter" of purple, red.
and yellow yarn = shrewd, sallow old
face with grizzled beaIu, hnshy brows,
and youthfully alert, bright eyes. Then
his accent was delightful, his "
broad and hearty brogue being favor
ed with Western infections wholly for
eign to il.
'On time, sir"
A whistle-another. A puff of smoke;
a distant a a vibration of the rails;
a shriel. of steam; a glare of light
:ncn the train was laundering up-hae
paused, painting. snorti ~, disgorging.
A girl stepped out and down on the
platform.
''hl. tharI" called old Rafferty,. She
turned at the sound of his voice, and
went towards him.
You're HANNAH
''Iis, sor."
Without alighting he stopped over
the side of the Wagon and extended a
| big blue-mittened hand.
''Glad to see We. Willum's comm
down to a dance tonight. He'll fetch
yer box. jump up"
The train trembled. screamed. pulled
out, and went swinging westward,
and old Rafferty,, with Hanna perchcd
up beside him, headed the horses for
home.
IAN how did We lave all the frinds
in Coolathogle. HANNAH Is Father
O'Flynn still parish priestp Dead! An
| Tom Grady y noice little bye Tom wa'
must be most a man now. What
| married-an' ten childther! Bless me,
Hanna! An the MurIhys-how's the
Murphy's. HANNAH"
They were beyond the crush of conn
try vehicles. The horses were slowly
pounding their way up the hill, which
might be the boundary line of thu
world. the jumping OFT space for al
save sky she could see over its sweep
ing curve. A rabbit scudded across
rbe road and away through the shor
dun grass. From the creek below
came the cheerful chirp of a quail.
.Ali well. sor-the Murphys. the Nor
ans, tho Sheeiys-
HANNAH
Something Of shrinking came into
Hanna's fresh young face, but she
turned TO him eyes wholly questioning
and innocent.
'sSorp'
Hanna" and HIS voices was appall-
mgiy stern. almost threatening. ''niveI
ht me hear ,c mention them iudivid
Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1889-12-28

'riscill n cot the spinning -wheel a-whir'ing and
a-whir,iuC.
And SAT- beside II rs sweet and neat rs any
mad might be,
Tho smoke FROM OUT the log fire would be cir
ciug round aud curling
About n picture any Young mans heart
miFht long 10 G.
mo good fnlk came from miles around. though
SNOW were swiftly falling.
To grasp strong hands In welcome warm in
thrOS" Old DAVIS Of yorc,
Cor then where was significance in all the New
le rs calling:
Priscilla never hung a basket on the cabin
door.
Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1889-12-28

were a moment alone, maybe you
didn't bear that mar a grudge On ac-
count of that Connolly cir. and maybe
you only knowed her by sight; but sin't
it kind o'queer that Wills wife is "a like
your cousin Mike as a young cotton
wood is like an old cottonwoodP"
Old Rafferty, looked at her: Then no
scratched his head. He looked at her
again, and cogitated awhile. Then he
chuckled and smiled-and smiled.
''Begorra!n he said.
Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1889-12-28
New Years Calling. Old and New.

Two centuries or 80 ago, each Puritan Pris-
ella
A5o~e ~ the dawn and quoth: ~ faith ma-
thinks. the ear is new"
and then abou the log house that was city
hOme and vi ia
Soc udiod al in La. or of the sombcr neighbor
crew
IN extra log upo tho fire, a polish to the
dishes.
A snartncSs 10 her b2dice and a smoot hness
{ her hair
These were but meet 20 greet the folk who
came 10 pFOifer wishes
1hat Al IN" coming new year might be pros
porous and AR
Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1889-12-28
Someshfng New.

With the compliments Of the season. va
fnc ON orr table q very attractive little
volume which contains very many. useful
items OF Information, besides. the novelty
Of a large collection Of autographs of prom
fnent men, and a1so humor aud rhyme well
illustrated. A special attraction ,is its Offer
Of Free Musicr which offer Is set forth
therein- The astie book ia the annuI So.
Jacobs on Calendar for is5s-9j, which Il
In this line, and 10 gotten cHtdn the inter
eat Of the Great Remedy for Pain. Sc.
Jacobs Oil, AID the other paluable specifies
for the cure of diseases which TnE ClIARLrs
A. v~osELER.Co, Baltimore, Nd, publish-
err and pesprietors, ave placed ON the
market. these great remedies are by re-
putatlon standards In trade. The boor
10 70 be fcnnd at drnggsts and dealers, for
free d~istrieutfon, or. " can ~ had nv
sending Atwo-cent stamp to fhspublishers.
Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1889-12-28

Nov, Ethel sad Mr.. Yosnglove to
lis wife yho leaned fondly ever hin.
and put on ysnr hat anu. furs ard
go down town and get presents for az
the faruiIy-in-law, aud buy a nice lot Of
things for the boys; but don't spen(s
more than n hundretdollars. Ne must
live within Our income"
Why. George" replied the lzdy, in
an aggTicved tone, "gou told nc we
had two bandred dollays this mHdl-
YOU know You did"
, And Mr.. Younglove Only sighed
Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1889-12-28

An cutlery has lately been raised In
EnglaId agsinsta few Adies who, sOl-
lswing the example Of their liege lords.
have gone out shooting The Wouan,s
Penny Paper, Of Lon lon, comuenta
upon this i~nfsstioe as follows: ssWa
hold consistsntly and absolutely {ha
doctrine that there ID oae. and only one.
moral law for man and women. The
sentimental rubbish which Ia writer
against the sporting ladies. wAieh trtea
to show that their cruelty "a more helm
than that of men, Is DANGEROUS and
delusive. There II no differences 81
standard In cruelty any more than there
~ In theft Tho mna and tho woman
~ho ste&l are condemod alike ana "a
ere ths man and'wonsA who KIN
Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1889-12-28

GALS ag~ain-niver! The Sheehys air
the natheral born enemies of our FAM
bly,. Me grandmother told me the
GOODNESS began at the battle Of Clon-
tart. Our ancestors were rival Kin gs,
] believe. However, the feud grew
downwards. Tim Sheehy's fathers
bull thrampled down roy fathers
wheat, an my father had hetrespasser
fined at the Assizcs. Then there was
Tim an me. | beat Tim at hurlin' an
whativer does he do but go an marry
Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1889-12-28

"A society has juss been. Incorporated
In New York for "fusehering tho pre,ervar
ton and elevation Of German literature
and art In America"
Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1889-12-28

Mr.. Dudelet-(Who has not been In
nodueed. leaning over the pew)-"May
Z have the pieasuS,M Miss Vestal. of see
ing yea homep
Miss Vestal-'fhanks, but my fatkar
aud four hrotheTs, who ara home fer
the holidays. ars all hera CTo her
Hfriead,1 Some more greenstaken dawn,
Nellie"
Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1889-12-28

And ma 50 by good fellowship and heari-
meas and cheer,
Has been 80 sadly influenced by fashion that
at resent
-7is never unconventional and never quite
sincere.
Belinda sis with kindred nymphs in sybaritic
spicndor.
With clap rons complacent who with grim
Dess ri e and reign,
while outlis OF her acquaintance oil come
formally { tender
Their meaningless good wishes and their COM
SJiIyaentS inane.
= fbe vapid swells collect their very shallow wits
10 either
Ind utter oommonplaces always old yet never
new.
They interchange opinions relating to the
weather Il.
And c~ritiUise creation from a social point Of
view.
Faeu when anon they find the conversation
somewhat | gging-
when h becomes 4 burden to attempt TO talk
or think
b. Atune leon quite elaborate arouses spirits flag
ping,
And AL the callers eat and-more particularly
---drink.
Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1889-12-28
.Oh. yes. she hos" said WI.

'0h. yes. she has" said WI.
His father told him IL he spoke TO
one Of them he'd leave this farm, which
we homesteaded before the Indians
were oat of Nebraska, to some q
else"
Should she tella HoU he had spoken
Of her! Why note
lie wasn't eve away HON younR
Sarah Shechy while he was In Coohr
uaogle!~ she answered Deliberately
rAh, now!"
Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1889-12-28
The Morning after.

Mrst- Clarke TO Nora, whorwas tho
belle stithe Mieky Duggan Christmas
Eve, soirce the previous evening.)
Come, breakfast is all ready 1 doRt
believe your last mistress ever did that
much fsryouP
Nora-She did. Mum, un' mo,e
She brought me breakfast APP TO le
lksht Christmas marn'in."
Grandtna had taught u Two-yea r
ctd to answer a great many Bible qua s.
tioas, and was fond of showing hi N
off," Ga. one Of these occasions 81 &c
aked himi.
Who was pat in the lions den?"
'Danisi.h was The prompt.answer.
did the lions cat Danielpr
No."
Why's The answer Should has Q
bssn Because God shut thet r
muuths. y but the little fellow reflects /
a yainute aud then said:
Il dess Daniel wasn't doodt to eat."--
Detroit Tribune
Morning journal and courier., 1889-06-18
The Mexican Mule.

Lieutenant Schwatka in Boston Transcript
 The Mexican mule is sort of a cross be- tween a mountain goat and flying squir- rel, with the distinct differ ence that it's sur plus electricity flows off from the negative pole instead of the positive, as with the goat. It is in it's meanderings on the mountain trails that it shines resplenden t, but with lustre wholly it's own, that can no more be compared with any other than can the fash of the diamond be compared with the fire of the opal. would like to place it alongside of the American mule for comparison in the ssdeadly double column" of the newspaper, but the Mexican beast would kick out the intervening rule and 'pi" the type before enough was up to form an opinion. On the mountain trail this distinct species of mule was never known to fall, although he has an exasperating and blood curdling way of stumbling along over 1t that would raise the hair on end of bald-headed man. Many & time I have watched the mule was com- pelled to ride with view of discovering his methods of trying to scare me to death, as
 payment for past injuries. Oftentimes the trail would lead past dizzy heights or cliffs, where one could look sheer down far enough to be dead before he reached the bottom should he tall, and every few feet along the ! trail of foot to foot and half in width ii l would have tumbled in foot or so and again take up the original inclination of the 1 mountain, or about that of the leaning tower | or Pisa. Here the mule would always be sure to stick one foot and stumble little bit but always regain it's equilibrium at the next step, having clearly done 1t intention | ally, and for no other purpose than pure cussedness. One can imagine the cool Al l pine zephyr that is waited up the dorsal l vertebrae with sufficient force to blow the hair straight up op end.
Morning journal and courier., 1889-06-18
The Ssrasbourg Incident.

The Paris correspondent of the London Times, writing, on the 18th of May, of the excitement in Paris over the proposed visit of the Emperor William and King Humbert to Strasbourg, says:
 "Foreign nations naturally cannot judge of the feeling which prevails here. Even the Emperor William. who at the time of the war of 1870 was only child, and who looks on Alsace as always having been German, not easily realize the susceptibility of French men at King Humbert's proposed visit. .albei- the Italians do not acknowledge parallel between Lombardy and Venetia, so thort oughly Italian, and Alsace- Lorraine, which the Germans have always represented ss German. In the case of lost or conquered countries reasoning is useless and sentiment is everything. Hence the feeling excited here by the talked of visit was so strong that the slightest delay in an indispensable contradiction was dangerous. It seems clear that the idea was not altogether imaginary, as Siguor Crispi would have it be believed.
 GA letter from Berlin, which have just seen, gives particulars but for which the af- fair would seem incomprehensible. It states that on Friday the Emperor suddenly said tc 1 the King, You ought to accompany me te being saluted by the garrison. The King replied, T do not say mo- Here 1t should ! be remembered that in the Emperor's eyes { | visit by King Humbert to Strasboure was { | simple continuation of 8 journey in Ger many, and that King Humbert is Savoy | prince, whose impulse is always to go ahead second thoughts alone being circumspect The Emperor accordingly ordered @ tele gram to be sent to Strasbourg, so that ar
 engagements might be made. The King in
 formed Signor Crispi of what had passed
 and Signor Crispi offered no objection, al
 though perhaps he felt embarrassed; but h.
 immediately apprised Prince Bismarck. Tn ! latter at once pointed out to the Empero the consequences of the idea, and by his ad
 vice it was given up and contradicted. Tn
 writer of the letter is likely to have been vel
 informed, and this version explains an sf
 fair which has happily been speedily dis posed of."
Morning journal and courier., 1889-06-18
IN GEN ERAL.

If General Greeley has e monument erect- ed to him it ought to be astatue-wet.-Wash- ington Critic.
 As the commencement season is almost here it wouldn't be bad idea for the ther- mometer to take few degrees. Haute Express.
 They say the Eiffel tower is very small affair compared with the steepness of board and lodging in Paris.-Pittsburg Chronicle Telegraph.
 It is said that man fs judged by the com parry he keeps, but more frequently he Is judged by the company he does not keep D Boston Transcript We believe it was member of the Chicago literary aggregation who on being asked if he could read Greek, modestly replied '1 don't know; I never tried. Post.
 Moses Day, Connecticut seventh son, ! floods. But what does he Noah bout it? It ! is Shem te- encourage such frauds.-Nor- \ ristown Herald.
 The Cat lon the outside of the milk can)- ! "You seem to be enjoying yourself in | there" The Fish-"Yes, after fashion. But what makes the water this whitish ! color?"-Life.
 | 5,0G0, ,G00 pounds of work each day. The man | who made the discovery was probably on the sunny side of his wedding dsy.-Yonk- CTS Statesman.
 Miss Gotham-sI adore travelling. Were you ever in Greece, Miss Liona" Miss Lion | of Cincinnati-"No, never was; but papa ! was in that lard trust, you know."-Min- \ neapolis Tribune.
 From His Point of View.-Actor-"Well, \ Scalp, hear you were in front at our first \ night, yesterday. How did 1t gof" Scalp ! (wigmaksr) Splendid, siri Couldn't see a ! single join. .'"-Judge. | Wife-'Tom, must have some money to ! pay what owe at the hair store. I owe for | a skeleton bank, and switch, and a--" Husband-"Clara, spair me the hairrowing details "-Texas Siftings. | Physicians tell us that children of near relatives are apt to be foolish, or at least un- derwitted. This would seem to account fo1 I the fact that there are so many fools in the 1 world. Adam and Eve were blood relations I if ever any two persons were.-Boston Tran. script.
 Last week the State geologist received by
 express peculiar stone, in general forma tion rather porous, but harder than anything in the museum. It was cut open by 6 skill ful lspidary and subjected to various tests,
 when it was discovered to be one of those sponge tips to 8 muoilage bottle, warranted to keep perfectly soft and moist and always
 ready for use. I sent it to the geologist
 "ourself." They are handy things. When
 them-which is on the morning of the third day-you can use them to cut glass with.
 And if you stick 8 hickory handle in them
 before they petrify they make the best stone
 hammers you ever hit boulder with.-Bur- | dette