davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-08-24

on the water, length about 200 feet,
width from fifty to sixty. A very good
kind of buoys will be found in old nail
kegs, but be sure they are coopered wa
ter tight. Make q hole right through
the bung and continue IL out through the
opposite bilge of the keg; through these
two holes reeve stout rope and wedge
up the holes so that no water can get in
side the keg. Your ground moorings
can be large cobble stones or rocks,
which can be found on most beaches
The depth of water should range from
six to ten feet, and the ground must be
chosen outside of the breaker line IL you
intend to play where there is much surf.
The goal, or rather the buoys, should be
anchored eight feet apart and designated
by flags stuck into the upper portion of
the bilgs of the kegs. It Is not necessary
to buoy out the side lines of your polo
grounds. The umpire and referee should
follow the game in handy little dingy,
and when the ball goes out of prescribed
limits he should pick it up from the boat
and toss it within limits. In starting
the game it is generally customary for
two of the opposing teams to face
for the ball as is done in lacrosse. This
is done IN the center of the grounds.
The object is for the riders of each team
to hit the bali with their paddles and
drive 1t through the kegs representing
the goals at either end of the course. In
a game of water polo everything goes for
fair. That is TO say, players are allowed
to jostle and bump one another in their
attempt to gain possession of the ball,
and if you are unlucky enough to IN
horse an opponent 1t adds materially to
the fun and excitement of the game.
Under these circumstances 1 need hardly
say that all that intend to play polo on
the water should be expert swimmers.
AS { ese games last from half an hour to
a full hour recommend players to wear
thick wooden jerseys. The ordinary
wooden bathing suits, if thick enough,
are just what you will require. A team
that is in the habit of playing together
generally have certain rush, q right
and left field, and a goal keeper. The
art of rushing the ball along is by pass
ing the ball from the left to the right
field player, and vice versa, and so tax
ing IL along in q Zig-zag line. The oen-
ter rush chiefly employs himself by get
ting in the way of the rushers of the op-
posing line.
WATER TOURNAMENT.
This aquatic amusement is played also
on hobby horses. But both ends of the
paddle must be stuffed with large
amount of cotton batting, horse hair,
or any other material that will make a
soft knob on the end of the paddle about
two feet in circumference. Two riders
Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-08-24

makes the fatal leap to straddle and
lands plump on its back. The FESTIVE
steed gives a wild plunge, and Tommy
would be sent headlong into the water,
to rise spluttering and choking, while
the spectators, oonvulsed with laughter,
would chat him into trying again. The
mussuk was an endles source of fun and
amusement to Tommy in his leisure time,
and in India he mas plenty of it.
WATER POLO AND TOURNAMENTS.
The English counterpart of the mus
suk is an empty Kerosene barrel coopered
water tight. From its shape and buoy
ancy, however, you could never ride it
If 1t were not weighted by leaden keel.
Besides this you should fix to each side
of the lead keel a strip of board
about six or eight inches deep. This
will prevent the barrel from rolling
round aud round in the water. Cut a
slot ont on each side where your legs
drop to the water when astride. Take
an inch deal board and carve out
horses head and neck and fix it to one
end of the barrel. Cock a small hand
Tag staff up at the other and on II you
carry your riding colors. You can't
paddle the barrel along with your legs,
so get a light double-bladed paddle.
Now you nave your mount and your
mallet and are equipped for water polo.
The game Is played just like hockey or
shlnney on the ice, the ball being large
bung cork or inflated rubber ball. Buoy
out your ground, or rather your course
Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-08-24

Toppy churned the butter, and Toppy was usu-
ally as willing little drudge as ever worked on
farm. But to-day Miss Toppy was in a state
Of fat rebellion.
She watched the blue tailboard of the wagon
vanish down the road. Then she picked up the
corners of her long brown apron and with speed
in her heels, fire in her eyes, and vigor in her
elbows. she shoced every chicken into the large
winter chicken-coop and shut it up tigh thy.
She returned slowly TO the house and picked
up her gray sock and yarn ball from the place
on the porch seat.
You nasty, horrid thingsi'' said Toppy,
glazing at the dangling leg vindictively. With
sudden energy she gave the needles a toss and
swish, the stocking landed among the grape
leaves OF The arbor. Toppy danced q hare
footed double-shufie on the soft turf.
How'd ye git mp the-si she asked, cycling
the stocking with little swapping, sideways
quirk OF her eye. ''You few up there. sockies
to sis away from being made wuss lookin' than
you are Already
She sauntered down to the gate with a iaunty
air and looked up and down the road.
s'rain't Just time for 'em yet, - she said re-
fectively. "Guess I'll make me q WREATH
She invaded Miss Mehitabel's patch Of mari
Colds.
..They hain't sweet" said Toppy, cul,ing
them profusely, ''but they make Jolly gold
lookin' crown. -
: be pulled them with long stems and wove
wreath very dexte-oRsiy. When she had placed
thir nrmly On her smooth, mouse-coIored hair,
braided into two pigiails which branched out
behind her ears in perpetual defiance, Toppy
was an imposing spectacle
~ wear dahiyers in my button holes. - she
Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-08-24

Awful replied Marthy with mouth full
OF apple. ''Miss MehitGbel is terrible good in
givin' away her vittles.'
Toppy's lips became a thin line. Her eyelids
lowered slowly She pretended she saw a refac-
tory chicken in the hops and made sudden dash
among the poles. But Tom had his suspicious.
He rose from bis pumpkin and followed roppy.
she stood quietly among the vines, looking
flushed Soo and Id uneasy meas Top said Tom' did
Yes said Toppy, compelled by his tone to
a reply, ''but hair't eat as much as l wanted
to fer week SOS to make it fair. And o-night
That's all. But work hard. Tom, and don't
have no fun, nor nothin'. So Pm havin my
lark to-day. Now don't you go tellin' the 9TH
ers.''
"And you'll git a whoppin'G'' said Tom,
I'll eat another mouthful, - and he drew up his
thin frame very proudly.
The revelry in the pumpkin circle increased.
jimmie sang Captain Jinks, Bob recited o
piece learned at Christmas entertainment, and
then Toppy gave them lecture. Afterward
there was q grand promenade through the
garden and barn, into the parlor to have peep
at its somber. horse-haired elegance, and finally
out to the field to see Bsrnie. Barnie was
Miss Mehitabel's three-year-old colt, and a
regular beauty.
"He's wild yet" said Toppy; "only half
broken, and he won't come to nobody SO quick
as me. ~
She armed herself with an enticing ca of yell
low corn and they started for the pasture. II
was long sloping lot covered with clover
could see the whisking of his tail as he stood
with his head across the rails if he had
sought the wood lot cover for the shade.
''That's queer for Barnie to do, said Toppy
in puzzle. You Lin only peek through the
bars. young ones, for that colts 8 kicker
She started across the lot swinging her ear OF
corn by the husks, and singing in a cooling tone,
Here Barnie, Barne. BarnieV'
Blrnie bore out his reputation as 6 kicker by
raising his unshod heels and beating the ground
furieusly as Toppy advanced toward him.
'What ails you?'' cried Toppy in tone OF
superior command. ''You don't think I'm
Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-08-24

was sure it was the red handkerchief, and he
couldn't wait for us to come to make certain.
1.-The red handkerchief" repeated Ned in
surprise.
'sYes, the red handkerchief. of course, see it
waving now. -
And there, true enough. was the red handker-
chief tapping against the perfumed branches of
the honeysuckle ct the DOCTORS window, soaring
the humming birds from their field of sweets.
Ned knew then that miracle had been
wrought. In the dim light of early dawn he had
mistaken the red for the black, and it had re-
stored his father.
''And he talks as well as ever, - rejoiced Hope.
but he has been stan ling there ever since,
Ned. We can't get him to sit down."
"Oh. children began Mr.. Austin; and then
he stopped and choked back some hing, ruling
himself, IS a strong man must. lyon don't
know what it Is to have the of my body
again. It's been hard trial; to feel that was
no good in the world; 10 know was only bur-
den to you."
"A b! rd.n!' repeated Hope, Indignantly,
and the boys rec echoed the cry.
Well, suppose must give up now, ;" said
the father. for his legs we're weak, and he felt
them failing beneath him. "But / warn you 1t
won't be for long. I'm going to take hand in
the fruit-picking next season, and there's a
patch of ground back of the house that vegeta-
BILE garden of YOURS, that you don't half take
care Of I've been aching to hoe it for year. -
CHAPTER 0xIX.-PRovING UP.
Several weeks later pleasant party assembled
under the shade of the trees in the door yard of
Home ranch.
Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-08-24

scared OF your heels, Barnie Lateral, do you?''
But on nearing the fence she saw TO her ms
tense establishment the cause Of Raruie'-
demonstrations. A rope moose had been thrown
over his head and drawn almost TO the choking
point. The rope was fastened hastily to tree
trunk in the wood, and q man rho had been
preparing to take down the fence rails at
Toppy's first hail, stood glsring angrily at her.
he was hashily dressed man. A wood road
led down for a mile through the woods to the
Shawangunk club house. Foppy knew men of
questionable reputation often congregated there
from the city.
Nothing daunted she climbed up the rails al
light and nimbly as a squirrel and addressed
the man.
what you want with Miss Mehitabel's
Barnie. mister?''
"Get off OF that. you kid. and clear out, -
growled the man, pouring string OF oaths out
at her which might wen have frightened mora
carefully reared child.
Who cares for your swearin'9" said Toppy,
winding her supple soles close the old rail
and standing up, With marigold crown skewin1
rakishly over one eye, to survey this very evil
dent horse thief more fully. "You can't steal
my Barnie with me here, tell you thatI"
Barnie whinnied at her shriiI, weII-knos.n
tones, and stood STILL The man made e sud-
den dive for her, but Toppy had half expected
1t. She swayed sideways as his hand came ont,
grasped BARNES name. and with . spring
leaped lightly from the fence to the colts back,
where she settled, stridfng him like boy, with
q look OF triumph at the man.
Now. misterH' she cried, in excitement.
"Barnie has never had no one on his back hut
Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-08-24

Sometimes they hop on one foot, holding
the other at an odd angle as II II were
broken, which gives very comical APP
pearance, the male in the meantime ut
tering low murmuring sound. The fe-
male bird often carries her young be-
tween her feet when flying, and L have
seen the male bird do this. One singular
habit of woodcocks, which l have never
seen noted by ornithologists, is that both
male and female sit upon the nest at the
same time while incubatng, If the
weather is cold and wet. In doing this
they draw very close together, looking
in opposite directions, their heads thrown
back and their bills elevated at an angle
OF forty-five degrees.
The woodcock g bill is covered with a
membranous sheath that has a fine net
work of nerves; this enables The bird to
find its food by boring in soft earth. Its
feedlng-time Is at night or on dark
days, when it may be seen moving about
in quick, nervous manner, touching
the ground with the Zip of its bill and
using its wings and tall as If there were
danger OF tumbliug over. The nervous
covering of the bill is so sensitive that
the bird can distinguish with 1t the
slightest movement of q slug or worm
s6F6Tdl luCueS UclOm IhSS ny 5Ihi-
ply touching the ground. Sometimes in
Doggy places, where the mud will shake,
the woodcock drums the surface lightly
with the forepart of its wings to make
the worms stir, 80 that it can detect
where they are and probe for them.
Another curious habit of this bird Is
that of moving its eggs to an extempor-
ICED nest when it is disturbed while in
ouhatinp was told of this habit nv an
old negro, aud afterward verified it by
experiment. Finding nest near spot
where L was camping L disturbed the
sitting bird two or three times each day,
ana on the third day che moved her
eggs to q new nest about fifty feet away
from the original one. The second nest
appeared to be very rudy and hastily
constructed, and was in a place much
more difficult to reach than the first.
The whip poor-will also has this singular
nest-moving habit.
Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-08-24

said surveying her little shapeless calico jacket
'Dahlyers are dandies fer trimmin'
row Of dahlias forthwith left their parent
stems to adorn her slight figure, and Toppy
skipped nimbly to the we'll. where she leaned
over the curb and surveyed the effect OF such
nnwonted elegance in the mirror OF water be
low 1t was striking enough to satisfy her no.
tions completely
~ do look perky she said, nodding eau
tious.y, with due regard for the equilibrium Of
the wreath. II bet I'd lie zeal GOOD lookin' Il
Miss Mehitabel I'd rig me up"
4 loud ''ahem" sounded from the region Of
Toppy turned around quickly. Her garden
party had arrived in fun force. There we've sx
OF them. TIL y were poorhouse children, the
Safe as Torpy, and beari the stamD OF Their
pauperism plainly upon them. Such elothgs,
such misht hats, such pathetic gowns and
trousers!
.TOppy flung open the gate with magnificent
air of hospitality.
IAN hereF Yes. there's Cracky and Tom,
and jimmie snd Marthy, and Bobby and Little
Pete! You've had hot walk! Didn't nobody
ask You where you was comiu' to, did they? SIT
down on the porch!
Three on a sea-. and no squeezin' Wait
till hook Miss Mehtabel's turkeytail fan. It
gives wind splendid, and you can pass 1t
Toppy whsked into the house. ana returned
with the fam: There now! What ye sniinu
for, Cracky?"
The small towhead of six who responded to
the name OF Or acky stuck out a very small,
dusty, bare foot to Ioppy., with soft sob.
sure enough the poor little sole was all red and
swollen.
'.Graciousi" saic jimmie. And you didn't
boiler, Crack Good for you! Why didn't you
He wanted his Toppy 90 put mud and plan
tains on it, said Toppy coddlihg him. "Scoot
down to the brook, Tom, an pull some big
plantains, while git the mud"
The tiny foot was tenderly bound up, harthys
hair received a good combing at the hands Of
her hostess, little Pete was furnished into
spectability with water and salt-sack towel
and then the party began.
Six yellow pumpkins were placed in 4 circle
out behind the hop poles.
"Thems chairs, ladies and gentlemen, sit
right down, said Toppy. capering gleefully till
the marigolds and dahlias showed signs of tipsy
confusion.
''HuhI'' said Bob, coming down with a
bounce on his pumpkin, which threatened 10
rend that vegetable marrow in two.
This is queer style!''
''Shut right up. Bobby Smith, or go home, -
said Marthy. 'These is the same as them
little stools at the minister's. made out o.
carpet an it, turrible stylish to sit on them!'
Bob was convinced.
Three overturned milk pans served for tables.
There were apples, bread and butter, jug ot
milk, the largest fraction of a molasses cake
and pile of cookies. For dessert there
some half-ripened hazel nuts and some early
ripe, sour grapes.
How the hungry eyes of the children dilated
as Toppy brought the viands on! They began
squeais as luxury cvertopped luruIy, and Pete
put his small teeth into a cookie with snap
that told OF keenest appetite.
Toppy watched them eat with her arms on her
hips and satisfaction in her eyes.
Taste good, Marthy?'
Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-08-24

and swamp grasses, rendering It almost
impossible to see them when they are on
the ground. In the South, however,
especially in the mountainous parts, l
have found them feeding in The COM
paratively open woods, where had little
trouble in seeing them and making note
of their movements.
Early in March the wooicocks arrive
in the mountains of North Georgia, Ala
bama, Tennessee and the Carolinas and
scatter themselves widely in pairs, to
spend the nesting season. The male bird
has the habit of rising spirally in the
early morning light, sometimes higher
than the tree tops, and balancing himself
in the air, uttering a low ,dronlng sound,
which may be heard TO q considerable
distance. This is his call to his mate,
and when he falls the female is sure to
be near the spot. The birds play in a
very droll fashion, running round and
round each other In a small circle on the
ground, their feathers ruffied, their
wings delicately lifted and their long
bills pointing directly upward, their
heads resting upon their backs.
Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-08-24

place themselves fifty feet apart aud
paddle toward each other, and when
they get IN range attempt to push each
other off the barrels by means of the
paddles; no blow should be struck during
this mimic encounter, but you should
simply thrust with each end of your pad
die, holding II in the middle just as you
would a quarter-staff. 1 have known
boys to become so expert IN riding their
kerosene barrel horses. and have their
steeds so nicely weighted and balanced
by their side keels, that they could stand
on their horses and paddle at a consider
able rate. OF course you will readily
see that such an expert has q great ad-
vantage over one who is sitting astride
his barrel.
OBSTACLE AND TUB RACES.
Some very interesting diversions can
be inserted into q programme of SWIM
ming and diving races by having an OBJ
stacle and tub race. A good course for
an obstacle race Is about a quarter of q
mile. The contestants all have a twen-
ty-five yards run on the sand and then
take to the water, wading out, passing
the breakers until they come to the firsr
obstacle which can be two or three long.
heavy spars anchored at right angles to
the course, and at equal distances you
san place other obstacles in the shape of
elk or eight barrels lashed together with
both heads knocked out. They are an
chored IN position and the swimmers are
Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-08-24

ing and a shurt desultory swim get no
further amusement out of their morning
dip. There are number of very divert
ing and clever evolutious that can occu-
py a boy rs attention when in the water,
which, besides exercising his ingenuity
and calling into play his inventive facul-
ties, are a very beneficial addition to the
development of muscles and sinews and
teach him a great many ways of hand
ling himself when suddenly and unex-
pectedly immersed in the water.
MUssUK RIDING.
The most curious exhibition of skillful
pllotage on water l witnessed on one of
the large rivers of India. The native
fishermen in that district do not use the
usual round skin-covered basket boat
known as tokra for their piscatorlal ex-
cursions, but astraddle of large mussuk
skin, with hook and line they work out
into the stream TO try their luck. Now
a mussuk skin is nothing more nor less
than large goat skin stuffed as tight as
a drum with hay and straw and sewn up
at neck, legs and along the stomach so
as to render them perfectly water tight.
These water hobby-horses were ar
ranged along the river bank float
ing on the stream, and the adrot
fisherman to mount his water
steed simply leapt peggy back fash
ion on TO his mpssuk and sat astride
of his charger like a very paladin of old
balancing himself on the round porpoise-
like, bobbing, rolling, black slippery
object with his legs and feet, which were
immersed below the surface half way up
to the thighs. He held his grip by knee
and thigh just as our modern horsemen
do, and steered and propelled himself
along by working the portion OF his legs
and feet that we're under water. He
had his bait and tackle slung around his
neck in basket, and seated as grace
fully as dragon on parade, he glided
unconcernedly down stream handling his
line. He often got bite too. If the
fish was small our centsurIform angler
yanked him in, and pouched him nimbly,
but big mahseer, species OF Indian
salmon, would run him all about stream,
while he held on TO his line like a cow
boy on his bronco holds to steer he has
roped. Often meinheer mahseer sulks
meath a big rock, and piscator is an
chored patiently above him. Then be
makes mad run up stream, and our
Hindoo Isaac has glorious barge pro-
cession. paying out his line cautiously to
ease the strain on the fish's mouth, and
Logging ii for all he is WORTH They are
80 patient, these natives, that they
rarely loose fish, and sooner or later
Mr.. Mahseer is tired out, and the mus
suk rider paddles his steed ashore, and
captures his prize.
II was ludicrous in the extreme to see
our festive Tommy Atkins, of the Euro
pean regiments, attempt to emulate the
mlld-eyed HindOo and mouuk fha
mussuk. The goatskin would be floating
about yard from the bank. Tommy,
Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-08-24
OUR YOUTHS DEPARTMENT.
EDITED BY Francis HoDGsoN BURNETT

open now, blazed with indignant Gre. world
of stern resolve made itself felt in his halting
utterance.
Observation-Disclosures sir.
VERY well, sir. A fine example of profes.
sional courtesy, sir. ! bid you good dav, sir. -
:. A smile. sudden and feeting, played about
the lips Of DR.. John; then a look OF exalted hap
piness swept over his face. He stretched out
his hand:
MARY, my wife,
She fell on her knees beside hila without 9
word or cry, Great joy, like great sorrow is
often speechless.
CHAPTER xxvIu.-THE MIRACLE BLUNDER
WROUGHT.
Ned hed to the hall outside The doctor was
better. The doctor would get we'll. The doc
tors wife and daughter had come to him.
he saw Mike McCrary coming and shou ted
the glad news to him, then ran Of to carry the
happy tidings to the anxious watchers at Home
Ranch.
He had crossed the bridge and was turning
into the garden path when he saw Hope, bare
headed, and with her long work apron tied
about her waist, running towards him.
oh. Ned! Father, father, father!' she cried,
and caught him by the lapes of his coat, Sob
bling as though her heart would break.
Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-08-24

An awful fear came over Ned, rebuking his
glad sense of thanksgiving at DR.. JONAS conva-
lescence.
"Dead!' he exclaimed, in a r-gical voice.
'tCome-come quicip' she Cried catching his
hand excitedly and hurrying him towards the
house.
Not dead, thank heaven. but livingl Upon
the Threshold of new life, with a renewed
lease of health and strength. Standing on the
porch, unassisted but feeble and uncertain a
babe when it first begins to tetter through the
world. On his feet for the first time in five
years; looking at Ned with the old cheerful
smile, and a proud flush on his face.
ut was when you hung out the signal, -
cried Hope. 1--WE had all been watching for it
since daybreak. We could hardly coax him to
eat his breakfast, and when he through we
wheeled him to the window and left him there.
He thought he something bright, but the
branches of the pepper tree hung between. He