davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1890-11-21
Novel Meat Chopper.

A new meat chopper for domestic
use is distinguished by the fact tlat
the meat is cut by an action like that
of pair of scissors and is not torn
apart; neither is it ground into a
greasy pulp. The forcing screw feeds
the meat up TO a knife with eight
radial blades, revolving between a
fixed two-bladcd knife and a cutting
plate of novel construction. The plate
has number of grooves converging
towards a central aperture, the ribs
between the grooves having sharp cut
ting edges The work is well and
rapidly done. A medium-sized ma
chine will produce four pounds of
filled sausages per minute. - New
York Commercial Advertiser
Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1890-11-21

bright toy he had found at the Wall
Street Ferry fell out. 1t was magnif-
cent diamond pendant, and was handed
to the lady of the house, who was greatly
surprised, as she thought she recognized
it as her own. 1t resembled one she had
sent to her diamond cleaner in Maiden
lane-was identical in every particular.
1t was strange. Perhaps, then, the lad
was thief, somebody said, but Mrs.
Vanderpoel insisted upon the utmost at
tention being given him. He might be
thief, but it was Thanksgiving day.
Meantime there had been sad scenes in
the home of the Desmond girl. When
she reached the tenement in Dean street
she felt none of the incoaveniences of the
journey She W. ~ .ss s,.ea s.v. s,t ~, .ne
little surprise she had in store for her
mother made her forgetful of herself.
Ten minutes nearly were spent in looking
at the present and commenting upon it.
Then Jennie retired to change her wet
clothing. Once in her room her first
thought was of Mrs. Vanderpoel's gem.
She put her hand about her neck to draw
it up, when, to her horror, she found
that it was gone. She could not realize
it at first She examined her apparel,
but as article after article was searched
and no trace of the pendant was had, her
alarm became intense She hurried back
to the ferry over the way she came,
through the same streets and up to the
very door of the store of her employer.
Still she could find no trace. She made
anxious inquiries at the ferry house il
anything" had been found by the en-
ployes, but received a negative answer.
She did not dare tell them what it was
she had lost. Up and down the street,
far into the night, she walked, her eyes
peering in vain search for the gem.
All night she lay awake, and her
mother shared her sorrow. The situa-
ton was one of grave moment for both.
They were poor. The pendant was
worth many thousands of dollars. These
two facts, with the aid of the imagination
of prosecuting attorney, were all-suffi-
cient for a conviction. The morning
broke heavily for them She did not
dare tell her employer until her last re-
source was gone. Finally she resolved
to tell the owner of the pendant and
throw herself upon her mercy. Pale and
trembling, she came to this city and ap-
preached the rich home. More than once
she faltered at the threshold, but finally
rang the bell. She implored permission
to see Mrs. Vanderpoel. 1t was in vain
for the porter to tell her to call again.
She must see her, she said. Her impor-
tunities finally prevailed, and in the par
lor she saw the lady, In a voice broken
with sobs she told the story. and throw
ing herself upon her knees, piteously
begged for mercy. She saw both dis
honor and possibly the prison staring her
in the face.
Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1890-11-21
A Diamond Earring in Her Shoe.

One of the most singular happen.
ings occurred in this city on Monday
evening last. A lady of East Main
street, while walking home. was dis.
turbed by an article in her shoe, which
she thought at first to be a cinder
winch had gotten in while walking
along. She went limping home, and
on removing her shoe found diamond
earring. Her dress skirt ha9 appar.
emily caught it up in some manner and
dropped it into her shoe. The lady is
at loss to know who lost the valuable
ana cannot tell where she found it
Lexington (Ky.) Press.
Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1890-11-21
Washing the ImDerial Elephants,

The Emperor of China having COM
manded the Board of Astronomy to
appoint al auspicious day for the an
nual washing of the Imperial ele-
plants, August II, at the first hour,
was the day appointed, and the officers
of the Board of Ceremonies put up
temporarily mat sheds beautifully dec
Grated on the north side of the creek,
outside the Hsuan Wu Men, Peking,
where the Imperial elephants received
an ovation. Various ceremonies were
performed before they took their an
nual bath.-[St James's Gazette.
Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1890-11-21
THANK SOLVING.

Welcome, thou grand cd Feast-dayi
Again thou russell fields
Lie idle in the soft, gray light,
Shorn Of their splendid yields;
Again the lanes have glimnered
With farewell golden-rod,
And gentian fringes closed above
The tinted olive sod
But thou, o grand old Feast-day,
Thou hast no need of these
To draw us to thee. Though thou bring
Gray skies and leaHess trees
A hundred welcomes to theei
Ye altar-fres at home,
Shine out--and kindred gather
From sea to mountain domei
So hail thee, grand old Feast-dayi
The wind-swept orchard boughs
Have flung their ruddy gold and green
Upon the earth; the mows
Are rich with grain; the burrows
Sleep meath the suns vciled ray
And all the land is glad and greets
A new Thanksgiving Dayl
Helen Chase.
Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1890-11-21
PORT TOBACCO, NOVEMBER N.

in his pocket. What it was he had 10
idea.
Thcnight was bad for Mugsy. He had,
in the parlance Of the street, .been
stuck on his papers. He had not sold
enough Of them to even recoup himself
from loss. To 60 home without a cent
was out Of the question. Mugsy had no
education, but he had been born with a
heart that told him his presence, though
always welcome, would lend an added
gloom to the already darksome home un-
less ne brought money for bread. 1t
would be three hungry instead of two.
so long as he was out there might be
some hope for earning little. So, un-
til nearly midnight he lodged about the
streets, and then when the hour had been
passed he staggered into the office of the
Press, and down in the room where news
boys wait for the paper the lad threw
himself down in a corner to Sleep The
whirring of the press awoke him and he
was soon out. Up town he went to
Fifth avenue to catch a dime from
generous givers on Thanksgiving day.
In front of a window he took his stand
shortly before noon.
The carriages rolled by and the little
urchin, hungry and tired, was more
asleep than awake. He was on the North
Side when services at the Cathedral con
cluded and the crowds came out. He
ran to cross the street to sell his papers
when a carriage came rushing along.
There was cry from some people to the
powdered and liveried driver, but it came
too late. The boy was under the wheels.
The lady, who was the only occupant OF
the carriage, ordered the driver to stop,
and took the newsboy into the carriage,
1t was less than block to her home, and
thither the little fellow was taken. He
was unconscious. The family physician
came, and in removing the poor urchin's
clothing to examine his injuries the
Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1890-11-21
Public Roads.

In Massachusetts, chair has been
recently endowed at the Boston School
of Technology to be known as the
Chair of Public Roads. Mr.. Ripley
saws that he has reason to believe that
not only in Pennsylvania, Massachu-
setts and New York-a society having
recently been formed in this State to
promote the improvement of public
roads-has interest been awakened in
this subject, but that there is hardly
an Eastern or Middle state that has not
taken on new zeal IN the matter of the
Improvement of roads.
Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1890-11-21
NO. 81.
Loves Opportunity.

Two lovers by the old front gate,
So young and all alone!
The village clock tolls: Latel Latel ba'e
Twelve times in solemn tone
"Nol Nov'
A deep voice says aloud,
Sweetheart, don't go
Till the moon goes under a cloud"
The Queen Of Night rides high in space
Serenely bright and fair.
Her kisses gild the young swain iace'
The maiden's glossy hair.
IT'S late,
And all their VOWS are vowed;
why wait, and wait,
Till the moon goes under cloud!
The fair girls lips repeat:
Good night is not good-by.P
But love in youth is very sweet,
And village maids are shy.
Dear one,
With head so sweetly bowed
Don't run, don't run,
Till the moon goes under a cloud.
-[George Horton, in Chicago Herald.
Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1890-11-21
HUMOROUS.


A rustic player-The village hamlet.
A stole is man who never had the
toothache.
The faster a man runs in debt the
less he is apt to get ahead.
A counter-irritant-Thc shopper
who doesn't buy anything.
Some of the ocean razors make o
pretty close shave in crossing.
The waiter in bustling restaurant
always "sets the table" in a roar.
Fame is a glorious thing to achieve,
but small salary is more negotiable.
A thunder storm is said to "come
up" Other rain usually comes down.
'Does your ladyship take in table
boarders?" "Ycs; she took me in
"Why don't you take something for
your coldS" Thanks; don't care if
do"
A man of a fighty disposition
should never be made the cashier of
bank.
Merritt l wonder what makes your
grandmother like to rock so much?
Little Johnnie-'Cause the chair creaks
so.
sDon't you know, prisoner, that it's
very wrong to steal a pig?" 81 don't
know, your Honor. They make such
row.
A man always feels a great dear
seeker when the doctor has called his
disease by a high-sounding and unfa-
miliar Latin name.
'.Did you do any good deed to-day,
my son?" "Yes, mother; gave up
nv seat in the car to an old lady
when got out at my station"
Jones-Thcre is no mistake that
gold is the only key to success in this
world. Smith-You're wrong, old
man. The true key to success is brass.
Cumso-'Brown is using a fish
diet TO benefit his brain" Brown
"Wel, judging from the present con-
dition of his intellect it must be weak
fish he is living on
First Tramp-"What have you been
doing, Jimmy? You look mighty
tired" Second Tramp-"That's just
what | am. I've been looking at the
picture of a man saving wood"
Boss Builder shouting up to brick
layers on scaffold) How many of
yez is up thereH Bricklaycrs Gin
-, .a7.. Three. .Bos7,...Surs. that's
too many; half Of ycz come down at
once.
"My papa is having the family jew
elrv cleanscd," said one little neighbor
girl through the knothole in the fence.
lis he?" responded the other little
girl. eyes; ma says he has it in soak
now"
Mrs. Blossom (to her husband who
has come home with a black eye)-
That's what you get for riding a bicy-
Gle. Mr.. Blossom (mournfullD-No,
my dear, it's what | get for not being
able to ride one.
"Well, remarked an Eastern man,
az the train robbcr covered him with
a revolver, olive pawncd almost all
my possessions at various times, but
this is the first time I've been obliged
to put up my hands"
At a public contest lately held tht
following was the prize conundrum
What is the difference between ten
ant and the son of widow? The
tenant has to pay rents, but the son Of
a widow has not two parents.
Restaurant Keeper-"John, wha
kind of meat did you order to-day?'
Steward-"Veal, sir" "Only veal?'
eyes, sir" Then he sat down anC
wrote on the bill of fare: "Chickel
potpie, chicken salad, roast veal, bee.
a la mode, veal potpie."
Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1890-11-21
The LADY and the Diamond.
A THANKSGIVING STORY.

T was the eve of
Thanksgiving, a dark
eve, too, with the rain
falling in a most dis
agreeable drizzle. Un-
der wraps and UNI
brellas people whom
business called out
hurried home. Some
of them were laden
with presents and
Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1890-11-21

accident. Through the afternoon she
sat furnishing up the diamonds, and
they cleaned all the more brightly at
the ball in the evening from the romance
connected with them.-New York Press.
Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1890-11-21

good cheer for the feast. All were glad.
Even those whose attire bespoke pinohed
conditions and only too little Of the
things that go to make life worth the
living fondled closely to them some lit
tie parcel with which they would glad
den their humble hnmee
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1890-07-02
Peeping Frogs.

Can you tell me-" asked one of my
neighbors, the other morning, what it
is that makes all this peeping in the
meadows at this time of the year,"
" Yes" answered; g it is Hylo Pick
eringii-Pickering's hyla." This did
not much enlighten him, as | knew it
would not, so | went on to say that the
"peepers are called hylas in the
books, but are more generally known
as frogs-very small tree-frogs. Though
every one hears them, comparatively
few people ever see them; or, rather,
when they do see them in the woods
or along the roadside later in the
season, they take them from their tiny
size to be young frogs of the common
sort. If they would pick one of them
up, however, they would find each of its
toes furnished with small disk at the
end, by means of which the creature is
enabled to climb trees. NV neighbor
seemed glad to learn these facts. Some
old man had assured him that the
"peeper" was bug He knew all
about it-had gone into the meadow
and caught it. This piece of natural
history reminded me of an excellent
SCuOOl-lCdCIOl. w NJ OuCt
tried to convince me that all this peep
ing of the early spring was the work of
turtles. expressed my disbelief, and
even went so far as to say that
doubted whether turtles had any voice
On this point she was fully prepared.
But it says in the Bible, The voice
of tbs turtle is heard in the land :"
she answered, and when l suggested
that the writer of Solomon's Song prob
ably meant the turtle dove, she was al
most indignant. My questioner of the
other morning told me that he had
often tried to see one of the "peepers I"
in the act, but had never succeeded.
1t is not the easiest thing in the world,
as the common saying is, but it can be
done, with moderate expenditure of
patience. You must be ready to stand
still long time. The cry will perhaps
come up from your very feet, and yet
no frog be anywhere in sight. If so,
you must turn over the fallen leaves
one by one, and sooner or later you will
uncover the musician. The little fell
low puffs out his throat, as toads and
most of the larger frogs do while sing
ing, and certainly makes good deal of
noise for creature of his size. He is
fully absorbed, and evidently enjoys
his own music. And well he may.
Spring would hardly be spring if the
hylas did not -Congregationalst.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1890-07-02

An old lady who belonged to the
times when courtesy was more elabo-
rate than it is now administered, rather
neatly, a rebuke to a lad who did not
come up to her ideas. She had known
the boys father when he was in Har-
ward, as now was the son, and as the
latter could scarcely remember his par
ents, who died in his infancy, he was
always eager to learn all he could about
them. The youth met the old lady at
a country place one summer day, and
had an interview with her upon the
wide veranda, where she was sitting
when he arrived. He lifted his hat,
and then, replacing it on his head, went
to talking with the old dame, who re-
garded him with looks of disapproval.
" Do | look like my father?" the young
man asked, at length. " l can not tell !"
the old lady replied, dryly; " l never
saw him with his hat on when he talked
with lady."-E Exchange.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1890-07-02
Character in the Family Circle.

Home life is the sure test of character.
Let husband be cross and surly and
the wife grows cold and unamiable.
The children grow up saucy and savage
as young bears. The father becomes
callous, peevish and hard. The wife
bristles in self-defence. They develop
an unnatural growth and sharpness of
teeth, and the house is haunted by ugli-
ness and domestic brawls. This is not
what the family circle should be. If
rude to any, let it be to some one he
does not love-not to wife, brother or
parent. Let one of the loved ones be
taken away, and memory recalls a
thousand sayings to regret. Death
quickens recollection painfully. The
grave can not hide the white faces of
those who sleep. The coffin and green
ground are cruel magnets. They draw
us farther than we would go. They
force us to remember. A man never
sees so far into human life as when he
looks over wife's or mothers grave.
His eyes get wondrous clear then, and
he sees as never before what it is to
love and be loved; what it is to injure
the feelings of the loved. 1t is pitt
able picture of human weakness when
those we love best are treated worst.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1890-07-02
Material for Roller Towels.

The best thing of which to make
roller towels is Russian crash. l am
told it is woven by hand by Russian
peasants. AT any rate, the best and
medium qualities are more satisfactory
for roller towels than any other crash
know, and are least Objectionable when
new. Just here comes in word as to
when to begin using new towels. Let
it be in the summertime, when skins
are not chapped or sensitive, and when
laundry work is so much easier that
the conscience feels less conjunction
at putting slightly-soiled towels into the
wash for frequent laundering One who
has ever supplied towels for group of
growing boys and girls will know that
new towels in winter make sorry work,
Nor is this at variance with the advice
to buy in the winter. Buy and freeze,
and then wait for summer to continue
the necessary softening process Cor,
Good Housekeeping,
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1890-07-02

all caused by his rcspirations, pulsations
and exhalations. Originally the noun
tains rose to the armament, and the
seas covered the mountains to their
tops. AT that time there was, in the
divine body, no life besides the divine
life. Then the waters subsided small
herbs grew, and in the lapse of cycles
developed into shrubs and trees. AS
the body of man, unwashed for years,
breeds vermin, so the mountains, I'M
laved by seas, bred worms and insects,
greater creatures developing out of
lesser. Beetles in the course of ages
became tortoises. earth worms became
serpents, high-hying insects became
birds, some of the turtle doves became
pheasants, egrets became cranes, and
wildcats became tigers. The praying
mantis was by degrees transformed into
an ape, and some of the apes became
hairless. A hairless ape made a fire by
striking crystal upon a rock, and, with
the spark struck out, igniting the dry
grass. With the fire they cooked food i,
and by eating warm victuals they grew
large, strong and knowing, and were
changed into men.-Adele W. Fielde, in
Popular Science MONTHLY.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1890-07-02
1t was Powder.

One Fourth of July, in Plugtown, the
boys who were firing the anvil at inter-
walls ran short of powder, and started
around town to solicit money to buy
some more. When they came to Uncle
Billy Smith, sitting on the drugstore
steps, and telling how his grandfather
helped whip the British in revolution
airy days, the old man broke off his
story and said: Boys, up'ards of two
years ago peddler left keg of sunthin'
in my cooper-shop over thar. 1t may
be 'lasses or vinegar, an it may be gun
powder. | amt any wise sartin what
she is, but you'll find it in the corner
to the right as you enter the back door.
Might knock in the head and see what's
in it," Three or four of the boys
started for the shop, while he went on
with his yarn. Ten minutes had passed
and he was giving the red coats fits at
Lundy's Lane, when there came a
tremble-a Grassland the cooper-shop
seemed to be lifted bodily fifty feet into
the air. All the men on the steps were
rolled off, but Uncle Billy was one of
the first up. Looking across at the
heap of debris, on fire in dozen places,
he waved his hand and exclaimed. "pn
be gosh burned if it wasn't gunpowder
arter alll''--Ne,C York San.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1890-07-02
Get Your Rest.

When you are so tired as to feel
" ready to drop" sit down, comb your
hair and change your shoes. This will
rest the head and feet and give new
strength for the work, which at house
cleaning or moving time refuses to be
postponed. That lying down ten min
utes will restore one much more than
sitting down has to be reiterated often
for the benefit of those ambitious
women who sometimes scorn to rest in
this way during the daytime, and
others who fear that it will be known
to their discredit if they do so indulge
themselves. / once heard Mrs. Lincoln
talk upon this topic, and l wish every
farmers wife might have heard the
woman who has made housekeeping a
study tell how to get rest enough to in
sure health. 1t was the wisdom not of
the theorist, but of one who had so
nearly overworked as to have found it
needful to study means of making good
housekeeping possible without slowly
killing the housewife.-Ne0 England
Farmer.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1890-07-02
A Convenient Plan.

1t is sometimes convenient to have a
cement for India-rubber, by means of
which worn spot in the overshoes or
any rubber article may be repaired
without expense or trouble. To make
small quantity of such a cement, suf-
ficient to keep for emergency, purchase
five cents worth of red rubber from
some dealer in dentists supplies. Cut
it into bits, put it into bottle and
cover it with chloroform. In about
ten minutes it will be dissolved. 1t
should be applied with a brush like a
mucilage brush. Do not leave the bot
tie uncorked for an instant, except
while removing the brush, and apply
the cement as rapidly as possibly, or it
will harden. Where there is large
hole, a piece of what is known as Grub
Der DAM" which may also be purchased
from dealer in dentists supplies, may
be useful. Cut out piece of this of
suitable size, fasten it over the hole
with few stitches, and brush over the
rubber with the cement. Care should
be taken not to inhale any chloroform
nor to leave this cement where children
can get to it.-ETchGnge.