davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Irish standard., 1890-12-27
CHAPTER XIV.


Now and then letters were received
under flag of truce, and those were oc-
casions never to he forgotten. Soon
after reaching Libby l wrote number
of letters to my parents and friends and
one to Carrie Brent in which | explained
my situation. AS our letters could not
exceed page in length, and were all
read over by the prison authorities, l
was in despair Of hearing from Carrie,
when to my great delight-and this on
the eve of our exodus from Libby-l re-
ceived an answer from her.
The part vital to my story l here
transcribe:
HOME, Feb. 4, 1864.
.sMY DEAR CAPTAIN WATTS: While all
my sympathies in this cruel war are on
the side of the Sunny South, still must
confess / am deeply panied to learn OF
the misfortune that has be<allen you.
For brave man to be deprived OF his
liberty is trying, no matter how kind
his treatment; but as the Confederate
authorities can not properly feed nor
'clothe their own brave men in the field,
it stands to reason that the prisoners OF
war in their hands must suffer dearly
for LIES necessities
.sYour mother has sent you through
two boxes Of provisions and clothing,
and have tried to show my esteem in
the same way. Read all the books l
send Yc- Bible among the rest. and
The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1890-12-25

A vii Ter b n$t. AMI the window old
Blew In. and the storm fierce and cold
Lik. Il sl,"sted spectre with icy breath,
Rushed in the room with threat of death.
1t seized he hlaG ket, and whirlei the sheet
And smOte the child with its palms of sleet;
And she fled with speed sloth could
boat
"Oh, save me. save from the Christmas ghost {"
In her nurses a. Ms she Id her tale
With streal.Iing eyes and penitent wall
Oar now, poor lam, you shouldn't mind,
It's only de storm and de noisy wind;
An Dinah was jokin, don't have no fear,
For good old Santa Claus soon'll be here.
Just sit up here and your poor feet toast
Oar never was no Christmas ghost"
Pragmatic papa explored the matter.
For all the house had heard the clatter,-
The broken window, the drifted sleet,
Told the tale Of the storms wild feat;
And Elsie slept in her nurses arms,
Safe and serene from the nights alarms;
But twas told next day, DER the turkey roast,
How the fierce north wind played Christmas
ghost.
The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1890-12-25

proper thing In all the histor :cll cris
of which she had real petitions III
played the cl:itf part
Bessie therefore Dire " up petition:
To FARMER HICKS:
My mamma Is starving, and there amt u
thing In the house to eat. am hungry, blu
mamma Is worse off than l am, Gauss she l.
sick abed. In view of these facts ] respect
fully petition for such aid as your generosity
will afford. BESSIE
Bessie used large words, because she
had both heard and read them Sic
gave her petition much thought, wrot
it out with great are on a. foolsc"l
sheet, folded it neatly, and the
marched with it to Farmer Hicks stor,
house. which she evidently conceive
was the proper point of attacS.
1t was not - long walk, and Bessi,,
found the storeh,use open, for Farmer
Hicks had just left it for moment;
Bessie was ell pleased with the prospec.
of well filled bins of apples, potatoes,
and grain. of barrels and tubs. and she
sat down to await Developments
Farmer Hicks was astonished as wei.
as amused when he returned and dis:
covered bessie, DuC MS saSEOnlSu meHi
was turned to laughter and finally to
something like tears when Bessie aros,
with dignity and proceeded TO read he;
petition.
well. well, he said. "This do bea
all. Howsomever. it won't do to let til
poor creetur starve. Wonder if she pu!
that notion into that childs head? She
a.lus was smart. No matter, I'll Il,
what's right
People talked again when Bessie an
her mother moved up to old Farm!
Hicks, but nothing came of it, except
that Bessie and l.er mother had a good
home, and Farmer Hicks, often made
his cronies roar. when he felt in !.
specially good humor, by relating t 4
story of Brssie's Petition.
The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1890-12-25
BESSlE'S PETITION.
BY JULIUS PENSTAFF.

Bessie was queer child. Every body
who knew her said that
1t was not only her big head and her
big round eyes, and her little dumpish
body, but it was her queer ways and
her brightly odd sayings, that caused
everybody to notice her.
Bessie had been taught to read at an
early age. And why not? Her father
had been the village pedagogue for ever
ST. long, and teaching reading was one
of his specialties. 1t was said lie had
taught several generations to read.
Anyhow, he was supposed to be entirely
al sorbed in the pursuit of knowledge;
and when, at the age of so or there
aLouts, he went and married pretty lit
tie Miss Padgett, who had been brought
in from way back in the country to
work at Farmer Hicks, every body was
very properly astonished, and there
was more talk in the village of Hicks
vile than was ever known beforehand
that is saying great deal
OF course, Farmer Hicks was very
angry. He was a great man, the de-
scendant Of Grandfather Hicks, who
had once owned all the ground on which
Hicksville was built Then he was an
old childless widOwer, and people said
that he wanted to marry little Miss
Padgett himself.
Bessie grew up a very happy child.
for her sweet young mother and her
kindly gray haired father dotted upon
her and thought she was the most won
derful child ever born.
1t was said that she could read the
primer when she was four years old. and
she was miracle of learning when she
was only six.
That is the result of having a peda-
gogue for a father-or used to be So
for I believe the race Of pedagogues has
disappeared from the earth
1t was not Bessie's fault that her
father died. and that her poor timid
mother was left to struggle alone with
the world But she grew older acting
and odder in every way from trying te
think how such cruel things could be in
a world of wiiicl, she had read SUCH won
derfn! t!i1g
Al h. en- II -. Bessie had left VIZ.
to read She read al her fathers boo.; :.
Queer books they were, too-histur.e.
and biographies aud polemical writing
which gave the poor c.,ild the idea of ,
world made up wholly Of wars. contr.
| versi.s. debates, petitions. and othe:
queer doings of men
Poor Bess;e. In the lonely little hou~
half mile out OF the village, with ani
her patient little mother. who grew tl.i,
ner and a!er day by day, for a com
i'm, and u i'll, her rfEthe.,s books alo,:c II
The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1890-12-25

A republican caucus has voted TO
change the rules of thu Senate in Or
der to push the Force bill through.
The programme is to debate the bill
the rest of this week, then to take
up the new Silver bill approved by
the same caucus, and pass it in its
present condition, if the wicked
Democrats do not succeed in substi-
tuting free coinage therefor; after
wards the change of rules is to be
adopted. If enough Republicans can
be persuaded to vote for it.
The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1890-12-25
h r reading. what was she b. know ol

n r realing. what was she b. know ol
..ie va, 5 o. the great world?
S.n formed her own ilras Of Il an
things. AMI whea her mother { Z ,
an I could MT L &; out Of the Led t..'
..Orning. Bessis sol i.e. Cslck wits
w"rA meet the er.siS
There was Farmer Hicks She kne
he had plenty, for SHE hid often heard - q.
S..c als, knew taa: her poor mother "
weak AM sics from lack of food. f.
size had heard her say, when shf
tli u.ht her lid MAS not listening
%. l., think II. there is plenty mp II
Mr.. Hicks store!sp.sse. and am perl-i.
ing for lacs # oil
hi. condition of affairs cerlaiml,
called for action, SO Bessie, with he'
large knowt.dge of the ways of tlr
". rlI. dc del that u petit on" WAS tl.
The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1890-12-25
THE EDITORS CHAIR.
HOW THINGS LOOK FROM
OUR STAND POINT.
The Opinion OF The Editor and the
Opinion Of Others which we
Can Endorse on the Various
Topics Of the Day.

We extend our sympathy, not to
Senator Hampton, but to those
North Carolina papers that are so
terribly distressed over his defeat. |
Their lamentations me an that they
are sorry to see the will Of the yeo-
manry of South Carolina freely ex-
pressed; that they think our sister
State is incapable of self-gOvernment
except when controlled by half q
dozen aristOcratic families. But
they say Hampton is a hero, he was
gallant soldier in the war and in
the dark hOurs of 1875 came to the
rescue aud saved South Carolina
from negr" Iule. Yes, this is SO,
and there are thOus ,nds who show
cd ~ much courage and patriotism,
to-day sleeping in nameless graves,
or, who living, are in p .verty and
Obscurity, neither receiving nor ask
ing reward. But Hampton did not
do this for reward. Grant it, but
he has been rewarded with the high
est gifts and trusts of his people
Governor Of his State and for twelve
years United States Senator. And
during this time has he shown any
special ability as legislator or any
special interest in the welfare Of the
tOiling masses? Has he formed and
advocated II single measure to check
the ever growing and relentless
tyranny Of money and to give jus,
lice to the millions who ielve for
bread? He has been in his seat
(most OF the time) preserved his
reputation as a chivalrOus. high
toned gentleman and draws his pay.
And with this record the people of
South Carolina would have again
hOuored Hampton, the hero. simply
because he was such; but crisis
comes between the few aristocratic
farmers and the people.
The people nominated their
choice for Governor, the few aristO-
cratic families kick-belt, ,and in mass
meeting put out their man and call
upon the negroes to help them to
defeat the will of the people rs for
merly expressed. On which side of
this fight shall we find the hero of
1876, the man who "saved South
Carolina from negro rule -. If he
was sincere then and his principles
now are what they were then, he
would have been on the peoples
side and for Tilleman for Governor.
But no! The autoc ratio ring could
not give up the public tit. Judge
Haskell, Hampton'S kinsman, and
by his consent, is the bOlter's candi-
date who pleads for negro votes t.,
defeat the will of the yeomenry Of
the State. Therefore the lamentation
does no credit to the lamentatOrs.
Irby may not be blameless and he
may not be Solomon, but in this
connection 1t should be remembered
that Hampton was never accused of
being the ablest han in the United
States Senate. 1t is a grand thing
TO be a hero. but what does it avail
when men are fighting for bread ?
1t Is the duty of the people TO elect
a man who will represent and advo.
cate their wishes. w, suppose they
have done this. AT least they are
better judges In the matter than we.
The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1890-12-25

Representative Mills has intro
duced resolution providing for a
recess from December 22nd to 1anu-
ary 5th, and it has bsen referred to
to the committee on Ways and
Means. 1t Is not believed that the
Republicans will agree to such q
lengthy recess, in fact Senatorial
caucus said there would be none.
The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1890-12-25

Christmas Eve with its mystery came.
Pat no fear the hoyd"n child could tame.
It'll at lat he heard the sum mons dread.
" Naughty Elsie must go to bed"
She climbed the ,ta:rs and sought her room;
The light blow. out. soon all was gloom;
hi ihen weird fancIes thronged q host,
And E'-i thought Of the Christmas ghost.
The night n wild, the north wind blew;
TIE biz trees GU :i,ed and the snow 1t few;
The windows ratt ed. the rafters creaked,
The low roof rumble.l. the chimneys shrieked;
md t. Elsie shivering alone in bed,
The very air seemed filled with dread
She sta ted Graz with fear almost,
And cried. IN afraid It's the Christmas
ghost
Louder AMI louder grew the storm.
And fearful noises around did swarm
For Shu,l'l-rny wall and moan went by,
Aid fendish laughter and doleful sigh:
And Elsie peered W ere the window pane
L." keai '!imly out on the winding lane,
And "a. whe o ;otterei the old gate post,
Sac saw ii arise Christ mas ghost.
The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1890-12-25

Representative Pierce of rennes
see, a member or the Farmers Alli-
ance, has introduced in the House a
resolution instrueting tho commit
tee OH Ways and Means to report
the Sub-Treas ury bill not later than
Monday, January 5th, and fixing tie
illowing Monday for its considera-
ton.
The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1890-12-25
THE CHRISTMAS GHOST.


r J.. had been a very b,d gIr.:
:, Il IsH ls-d her hair all out af curl:
!A pihriiei her brotier aud worried The cat.
~ ~iih sister May hal many spat,
CniIl n.d Dinsb. the ealored nur4e.
Mai eT. a.: Now. ehiis. yoa's geitin' worse,
~ Cnri>' nns ronia'-it's here a'Inost:
You just lo.k cut for d. Chris mus ghost"
Ellie grew worse from day To day.
And mskia2 mischief seemed all h-r play:
sh. worried her ma NINA into tears,
And seorned oi Dinah's gru-snme fears:
:" Now. chil.. Lok out: Use toP you true.
Dar wont no santa Claus COME TO GU;
An. see out dar By de ''P gate pat
Dar's a hole ~ har hides de Chrii' mus ghost. y
The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1890-12-25

"A joint Congressional committee
will undertake next week to make
some of the gentlemen concerned
tell something about tie buying Of
American industries by foreign sym
dicates. If they'd tel, what they
know it would he interesting.
The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1890-12-25
JEWELRY And CLOCK S!


have just received large lot OF
Elegant Jewelry. This | will guarah-
tee to the purchaser to be just as rep
resented. sell no cheap, fire guilt"
goods but carry a STANDARD LINE OF
GOLD FRONT GOODS. The attention of
the ladies is called to the late't styles
of BREAST PiNs-thev are things Of
beauty "'
The old reliable and standard SETH
THOMAS CLOCKS always in stock
in various styles and sizes.
ieS- Repairing of Watches and Clocks
sul mending Jewelry is a specia'y.
Al,work dc is guaranteed to give en-
tine satisfaction.
Respectfully.
.ep5-tf q. L. RAWLS.
The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1890-12-25
SCRAPED TOGETHER.

Twenty million acres of the land Of
the United States are held by foreigners.
There are 10.s6s school districts, 81, 372
teachers, and 2, 800, 900 school children in
Japan.
Provo, Utah, has red hot anarchist
His wife supports him by taking in
washing.
An Englishman proposes laying deep
sea electric cables by means of subma-
rine boats.
There are over 7,OOO,O 900 pores in the
human body, and yet we are surprised
because some men are sponges.
The American Congregational churches
have resolved to give $4,000 annually
for evangelical work in France.
Sixteen barbecues have been given in
Wilkes county, Georgia, this year. Two
hundred and thirty eight carcasses were
consumed.
The goyernorof Chinese Turkestan has
resigned his post in order that he may
attend on his aged grandmother the rest
of her life.
A New York money prince has re-
CeQCly OrOeFeO SET OF DraSS moor regis.
ters plated with gold in an exceedingly
ornate design. The registers will be
placed in the owners palace.
The pumps in the Gold Hill mine at
Grasg Valley, Cal. were uncovered re-
Gently after lying nine years underwater:
They were put to work and lifted water
as well as the first day they were down.
Among the best customers for Swiss
watches is the United States, although
the industry is largely developed in Amer
lea Germany takes about 1900, ,O0C
francs worth of Swiss watches annually,
Great Britain s13, ,0o0, 900 worth. and
France 6, 500, 900 worth.
A large vein of;pure white sand, suit
able for making glass, has been found
near Pittsburg, Pa. The discovery will
save the glass manufacturers of that
city thousands of dollars annually, as
they have hitherto been. Obliged Ito send
across the Allegheny Mountains for their
sand.
The other day the large barn on ". A.
Fry barger's farm in Moscow township,
Muscatine county, Iowa, was destroyed
by fire. A small boy chased rat into
a hole under the building and, being un'
able to get the rodent out, stuffed the
hole full of straw and applied macf
with the above result.
! : 2 q
The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1890-12-25
Tn. Population of. Africa.

Under the name Of the Independent
State OF Congo. its government was or
ganized after the NEST approved methods
of Belgian administration; and itentered
fully equipped into the family of nations.
There is within its area, which is thirty
three times that of Belgium, popula-
ton of 40 whites, about one-half state
officials and employees, and the estimated
number of natives within its borders is
a, 900, 600; and in the whole Congo basin
is estimated at about so, 600, 900. Africa
is about three times the area of Europe,
or 1900, 900 square miles, and some
writers estimate it to contain about an
equal population 81, ,000, 900 souls.
forum.
The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1890-12-25
DUNRAVEN RANCH
A Story of American Frontier
Life.
By Cap. CHARLES KING. 0. 9. A.,
Author of"7he Coloners Daughter" !" From
the RanLs. "Ths Dssertsr," Ec

Copyrighted 1888 by ] 7, LppincoSt Company.
Philadelphia, and pcbllshed by special arrange
ment through the American Press Association
The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1890-05-15
A pouonfna TALE.


A Fable for OLD Ohildren on Our Boz
Called Ways and Means COMMITTEE
In partially eleemosynary inatltu'
tion-which, fear, 10 q large WORD for
you, my ohiIdran-th there II committee
of ways and meana,and various devices
for securing aims 70 incapaeltated man
ufaeturera, On any day there 10 10 be
seen a sight which cannot bat draw
tears from wellTegulated laohrymal
gland For men appear before this
committee with pltlful yarns ana
draw rhetorical pictures OF labofera
kicking their heels In tho daiaieH--of
clouds raining uninterrupted showers,
of cold, and food, and deyastlng panic,
And they all OF them ask for high duty
with large aud refreshing cheek, They
have things 10 hell and they tell the
committee that they represent 90 many
thousands OF men engaged in such ana
such an induatryl and they got prom
lae that something shall be donet for
them, nfter which they depart for thelr
homes 10 devise means whereby they
may reduce wageh,
On certain Gay there came before
this committee member OF an indus
Try not before represented. lle was
humber than those who had preceded
him. lie was little aud insignificant,
and his back was bowed aa OF one ac'
customed TO the carrying OF great bur
dens, lie stood little IN the back
ground, as became oae In unregarded
position OF life. He advanced with q
modest aud pleasing air, aud tile Ma
polean of the committee said 10 him
sternly,-for no was less robust than his
fellow beggarG, and had not that eona'
dent attitude which distinguishes the
aims seeker when addreaaing the COM
mlttee "Well, sir, what do you repre-
aentW
81, sir" said the man, while q faint
CLEAN of pride not yet crushed out OF
him, lighted his weak and watery eye,
represent sixty.aye million Of people,
yet my constituency has not been heard
In the sessions OF this committee. i
have hastened here from everywhere,
beaet by winter winds, against which
the sixty five per cent duty on wool
WAS no projections; my head which has
become bald In attempts 10 reconcile
the statements OF tho men who come
here, was sheltered by u hat on which
there Is a good deal Of protection; but
II was the hat and not the high duty
which afforded me comfort"
slave done this babble," interrupted
the Napoleon angrily "What do you
wantY'
"Protectlon," said the weak ne,wear'
lily,
"And who are.you2" said Nap, much
perplexed
~, sir" said this person, In voice OF
intense melancholy, "am The Man who
Buys Things"
JOSEPH DANA MILLER,
Jersey City,
The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1890-05-15

JOHH l. nLAIh, the millionaire owner oi
nlairayille, n, D., and also the owner oF
one half ihe railroads In Iowa, a man eall'
mated 10 he worth from fl0O0O,OOl 70 tlOO,'
10000, was ia Chicago tho other day and,
II d related by the Tribune OF that city,
changed hia linen Ia the wash room OF inc
Grand Pacific Hotel 10 save Tie expense
Of paying for ROOM
"CnILpnoop' DAY,na poem by Mas
silon poet, will appear In tho PoeVH Cor
ner next Saturday,
WoRRIEGMEE, do you hear the voice OF
VIM, u, Gladstone, known around the
world as the leading statesman ana hu'
manitarian OF his age Hear what he sAlu
yesterday Since the adoption OF FREQ
trade In England wages have Increased %
per cent
PoLIToAL matters are brisk In tle lll'
Ito capital Of Kentucky now, There are
several very fine thorouGhbreda entered
for the race, and II 10 hard 10 pick the
winner to-day,
VIII the Rep, give ual candid opinion
Of Ben Rutierworth 40 debaier Print
II In your open-iaeed BREWER type
A TERRIFIC cyclone aweptoyer the north
part Of Harrison county Saturday night
The cyclone swept every thing clean 200
yards Wide for about o mlles, No lives
we're lost,
IT has Just been discovered why Senator
Ingalls,, Of Kansas, IL In favor Of n high
tariff. lie isa director OF the Southern
Kansas mortgage company, which just
now Ia busy foreeloslnR mortgages on
farms, A Protective tariff helps his bus'
leas Immensely,
The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1890-05-15
THE oBJnor OF LIFE.

Two uroat Mon Interviewed by tho Mot
ropolitan Reporter.
Reporter--Your 5Scellency, would
you mind stating for publication what
II is you regard as the object Of lifeP
President Harrlson-To encourage
the propagation of grandsons, keeping
In mind always that the hats Of the
fathers are visited upon the children
unto the third generations.
Reporter-Mr. Foraker, would you
mind stating for publication what 1t is
you regard as the object Of lifeD
Mr.. Foraker-Trayel incognito.
Reporter-And do you Intend pull
ing the hole In after youY
The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1890-05-15
GrN. GnosyENon was humlllated

GEN. GRosvENoR was humiliated
yesterday in the House Of his friends
He charged that the Democratic mem.
bers of the Ways and Means Com.
mittee Of the last Congress were in.
iluenced by improper motives in the
sugar schedule. lie was called down
very promptly by Mr.. Mills Of Texas,
and afterwards Major Mckinley arose
and said: "And / do not believe that
any member Of the majority Of the
committee on Ways and Means Of the
last House was improperly approach.
ed" This statement from the leader
on the Republican side left Gen. Gros-
yenor In q very bad way.