davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-03-28
Why cn,istinn characte,. Is So ueah.

The most difficult task for a Chris
tian, and, therefore, the most difficult
for a church (Which is only an aggre-
cation of Christians), is to live in the
world without being of it. No matter
how far he may be moved from the
world in profession, he is in constant
communication with it in practice. Does
he not trade with it-visit it-move in
it--associate with it? Is he not con
sequently exposed to the influence of its
bad examples, and to the false shame of
seeing himself opposed to it in senti-
ment and principle? Is he not exposed
to the fattering bats Of its promises,
to the v%iolences Of its t~hreatenings, to
the delusion of its sophisms, to an inf
mite number of temptations arising from
the world?
This is why Christian character is so
weak. This is why the spiritual power
of the church is so small. There is only
one remedy-more divine power in the
individual and in the church. what
ever amount Of power an organism ex-
ponds in any shape is the correlate and
equivalent of a power that was taken
into it from without This remark
which we quote from Herbert Spencer,
applies equally to religion. A man or
woman or church will put forth just SO
much spiritual energy as he or she or it
has absorbed-no more. Little spiritu-
ality, little power. Great spirituality,
great power. A writer in the Indiana
Baptist uses an old illustration to show
this truth of dependence upon the spirit
God. Suppose We saw an army be-
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-03-28

HO'c to Lice H0ppiiy.

Thomas Jefferson wrote the follow
ing excellent advice. There is a great
deal of human nature and good sense
in it:
Harmony in the married state is the
first thing to be arrived at. Nothing
can preserve the affections uninter-
rupted but a firm resolution never to
differ in will, and a determination in
each other to consider the love of the
other OF more value than any object
whatever on which the wish had been
fixed. How light, in fact, is the sacri-
flee of any other wish when weighed
against the affections Of one with whom
we are to pass II whole life. And no
opposition in a single instance will
hardly in itself produce alienation, vet
every one has a pouch into which all
these little oppositions are put, and
while that is filling, the alienation is
insensibly going on, and when filled it
is complete. 1t would puzzle either to
say why, because NJ one difference of
opinion has been marked enough to
produce a serious effect by itself. But
he OF she finds his or her affections
wearied out by a constant stream of
little checks and obstacles. Other
sources Of discomfort very common,
indeed, are the little cross purposes of
husband and wife in common conversa-
ton; a disposition either to criticise
and question whatever the other says; q
desire always to demonstrate and make
him feel himself in the wrong, especially
in sympathy. Nothing is so goading on
the part Of either. Much better, there
fore, if our companion views a thing in
a light different from what we do, to
leave him in quiet possession of his
view. What is the use of rectifying
him if the thing be unimportant? and
if important, let it pass for the present
and wait for a softer moment and more
conciliatory occasion Of revising the
subject together.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-03-28
~-1FRICINS.

In the country at the back OF Lukolela
there are some powerful but peaceable
tribes, at the head of whom is a CHIEF
who has rather q unique superstition,
which is that he must not see the river
Congo. He is now an old man, close on
to seventy years; but neither himself
nor his father before him has ever seer
the river. He has the impression that
the day he sees the river will decide the
date of his funeral. He will go down
within a few miles of it, but never run
the slightest risk Of catching a glimpse
Among these people there is a GUS
tom that a big chief in a district, on
having proved to the satisfaction OF the
assembled chiefs that he is the wealth
lest, and, physically speaking, Inc
strongest, is invested with the order o.
the Tall Hat. This resembles very
much the stove-pipe hatof civilized me-
only with the brim at the top ana Is
made of plated tiber.-Herbert H@F@'
IN Scribner.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-03-28

sieging a walled city. "We PROPOSE.
says the General, "to batter dow. those
walls" We inquire how? He points
to a cannon-ball. But we answer. there
is no power in that. It is heavy, but if
every man in the army should throw it,
each in turn, it would make no impress
sion. NO." assents the General, "but
here is the cannon Well, but there
is no power in that, we say. sAh," re-
forts the General, "but here is the
powder" Well, what is powder? A
child may spill it and a sparrow peck at
it. "True," assents the General. aBut
1 put this powerless cannon-ball in this
powerless cannon. / ram in this power
less powder; and now look, but hold
your ears; for 1 apply this spark of fire
and in the twinkling Of an eye that
powder is a flash of lightning and that
cannon-ball is a thunderbolt, which
smites like its brother from the sky.n
So with character and so with the
church. Add the spirit of God and
either is mighty to the pulling down Of
strongholds.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-03-28
no ENSURE ~rRoMP1yEss.

There is nothing like careful atten.
ton to an employers wishes on the part
OF a servant.
Bridget's mistress gave her two let
ters to mail at the letter box on the
corner.
Did you put those letters in the
box % asked her mistress, a little time
aiterwara.
Och, sure, ma'am, SO I did, said
Bridget, IAN seem as you've often tould
me that I've not been careful, I TUX
pains to put in the box first ay the two
the letter that ye marked 'Immay-
%iiate!'"
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-03-28

"THE WOM-dN 4ND THE TIGER.n
Hanging in front of A. w. Wright's
meat-market is a monster cougar which
was brought in recently from the
North Arm by Albert Evans, on whose
premises it was found in q trap at an
early hour. Mrs. Evans heard the
wailings of the animal, whose right
foreleg was in the trap. The enraged
animal made great efforts to be released
from the trap-jaws, which held it
prisoner much against its will. On see
ing Mrs. Evans the fury of the animal
knew no bounds. 1t Missed, crouched
and sprang as far as it's chain would
let it reach, but all to no avail. Mrs.
Evans fearing trouble if the enraged
monster got away from the death-g grip
in which it was held. ran to the house
and got a rifle, which was loaded al
ready with a cartridge.
With the weapon raised to her shout
der and a bead" taken on the animals
right ear, when within a distance OF
twenty feet Of it she drew the trigger,
when the animal fell a quivering mass
in the agonies Of death. The drop
was so complete that in a second or SC
life was extinct. This, indeed, is the
act of a courageous woman, determined
to protect her own life, that of hel
family and their live stock. The dead
brute weighs about $50 pounds, and il
close upon seven feet from the tip o.
his tail to the mouth, in which is to be
observed a mass of huge teeth. 1t was
in fine condition, having evidently Jared
well on the fatlings of the best focks O.
that section. Mr.. Evans had killed
a young calf, and it is supposed
the smell of the gore attracted the
cougar to the spot. It is not known
whether the Government offers a reward
for the capture OF this, the most Zero
cious of all the wild animals which
prowl through forests and live OF
stock whenever they approach where
there are settlements. If not, a liberia
reward should be given, for it is a very
destructive animal Tancouper (B. C..
Times.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-03-28
4xAHcnY IN BOSTON SCHOOLS.

The report Of the subcommittee of
the Boston School Board, bv which
corporal punishment i'll the common
schools is sustained against the protest
Of the Superintendent Of public schools,
is a remarkable document. One is first
impressed by the extraordinary-we
may say the appalling-state Of affairs
which it represents as existing in the
public schools Of Boston. Here is one
example Of this. The committee, speak
ing through its chairman, says:
LET me give an illustration Of one
school district, and it is not one of the
worst ones by any means, for I can take
you to at least three other sections that,
in the judgment OF the police, are
worse. In this school within a short
time a dozen boys have been arrested
for stealing; one boy struck his teacher
a very heavy blow and nearly killed
her; another drew a loaded bludgeon
two feet long, and tried to strike three
teachers, calling on the other boys to
help him, and threatening to 'swipe out
all the teachers Three boys within a
month have tried to kick the lady
teacher. Recently a boy in a primary
school drew a revolver upon his teacher.
AT the present time eight boys in one
primary school belong to a Band of
Forty Thieves who meet regularly,
read dime novels and plan stealing ex.
peditions. OF course this is an extreme
case, and can apply to only a very few
districts, although into many Of Jul
schools a few boys OF this sort are sure
to enter. "-BostOn Herald.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-03-28
A "EULOGIZED" R4T Trap.

A correspondent writes: In order to
outwit the willy rodent. here is a trap
which my grandfather used to eulogize
as being highly successful in clearing
his store" of rats many years ago in
New Zealand. 1t vas composed of q
half barrel three parts filled with water,
in which q brick set up on end reached
to within an inch or so of the surface;
over the top Of the barrel stretch tightly
a sheet of stout cartridge paper, maxi
ing a cross cut, some nine inches in
length, across the center; owe this cut
hang by means Of string some slavery
morsel, and set a sloping board fortherat
to climb up. Number one comes along,
and just as he is nosing tine bait his
t%reacherous footing gives way, and he
goes souse into the water, finds the
brick, and sits upon it. The stiff paper
having closed up again Immediately, he
cannot jump out. Number two arrives
and goes throughthe ame performance,
except that he having no brick to sit
upon, thereupon tries to evict number
one. Now the mischief begins, for
their squeaking brings all Of their kin
and kind to see what the row is about,
and the result is that not a rat is left to
tell the tale.-NeW York Herald.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-03-28
III WERE A NAN.
~ CLARA AUGUSTA

now what would ] do?
Vr Tuoulda't do anything nahh'sn' "0o'o
w. model in masculine clothes,
be a sun. r5,y commo.ion should stir my re-
pose.
.,is life easy-',is useless to fret,
Fafe love gone right along, they continue tic
EeS ,o,,,d d O and what ! would say,
WIN. in n somewhat negative way.
o me root if Il button came of,
ro' 5 .ar 9 doctor if / happened to cough
SEM ,oye n fit if my steak should be
a';ack show signs twas not properly
.ulned.
be emitting the sidewalk to death
oar 20, have foul whisky smells in my
~. f;r. much with my neighbours young
'.15,4 smoke out halt the days of my
life.
,,.. ce-cn fire if my mother-in-law came
U+''- . visi.-Id take the old dame
F"s ,er1 necessity--welcome her i'll,
Pc ,ar oh, where would her daughter
ave been?
ol.o swearing when stove-pipe de-
EipdYed stove-pipe, and 1 wouldn't
+co,oe home at night, the keyhole at
| ,,yselt in ,he gutter as tight as could
he.
,he and snore when the baby acclaimed
49, .,a co1ie a, ~midnight-the baby l named
~@o1annidcn aunt, who, with thousands
in store,
l., Good arip on life at nine and fourscore,
-. snlk and pout DER a dressmaker's bill,
No, have Mysteries at taking a pill;
va. howl with rage, when my finger I'd
,,o door I'd little bit spittully slammed,
~. he n fool and gamble away
q .inle's hard earnings and work in a day;
',rs, mn inst horses to knock me clean out
In .ravins, and r%ingbone, and CHAMBERS, and
govt.
.~s.,;sis tie sketch that 1 make in the
rough,
: nm . wouan't seems easy enough,
Il strongly suspect that, in spite Of my
plan,
! were q mani should DO like a mani
postaa Herald.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-03-28
PRITAYE APPEAL TO
LINCOLN.

LINCOLN.
The Great President Could Not, IN HIS
Kindness of Heart, Refuse the Request.
The Indianapolis Journal of a re-
cent date, mentions the death of Chris
tian d. Zimmerman, and has this in
teryiew with Col. Oran Perry, of that
city:
Zimmerman" said Col. Oran Perry,
volunteered in Company E, Sixty
ninth Indiana. He left behind him a
wife and several c~hildren-half a dozen
at least. The well-to-do neighbors all
said, as was usual ct that time, that his
family would be we'll cared for, and he
went to the front. Zimmerman was an
excellent soldier, and served faithfully
for about a year, when he began to re-
ceive letters from his wife, telling him
Of the struggle she was having to keep
her children together and provide daily
bread for them. The neighbors were
doing as we'll as they could, but she
feared the children would have to be
scattered. Chris was in good health
all the time, never shirked a duty, and
there was no ground upon which he
could be given a furlough. 1t seems,
however, that one day, with his trouble
weighing heavily upon him, he sat
down and wrote q !etter-a simple re-
cital OF his woes-and sent it to Abra-
ham Lincoln. He gave his history
while with the regiment; that he had
never shirked a duty; and if he were
allowed to return home for a time to
prevent the breaking up of his family
he would, if the war continued, enlist
again.
"One day while in camp near Yer
m%ilionville, in the TIE, he country Of
Western Louisiana, q great bundle of
papers came to regimental headquarters.
That was in September or October,
1863. The bundle looked like a rail-
road tracer after lost goods. There
was the letter of Zimmerman to the
President and attached to it a letter
from the President to Secretary STAN
ton bidding him inquire into the state
ments contained in the soldiers letter,
and if found to be true to give him a
discharge at once. The various paper
showed the tracer had come through
corps, division, brigade, regiment down
to his Captain, Joseph R. Jackson, now
of Union City. The Captain certified
to the facts, and Zimmerman went home
rejoicing. He kept his word to the
President. After getting his family in
good shape and provided for, he en-
listed in the regiment commanded by
Col. Thomas J. Brady, and was soon
afterward made q sergeant. Such a
thing could not happen in any other
country under the stars. Think OF
Abraham Lincoln, in the midst of a
war fraught with the greatest con-
. sequences the world has ever known,
taking upon himself to inquire into the
sorrows Of a far-away private soldier,
| and ordering his discharge to restore
) him to his family. But this is only one
OF a thousand little incidents of it's
J, kind, and the tenderest spot in the
hearts of the people of this Nation will
long be filled with the memory of
Abraham Lincoln"
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-03-28
BEHEADING A BOK.
1 Journalist Tells OF a Parisian Guillo.
tiNinO.

4ettS VI u IN1kSt0l G3ttf(O.
timing.
That man has recently witnessed a
rare and infrequent sight," said q we'll
known man about town on Broadway
recently, pointing to a foreign-looking
man who was just going into the Fifth
Avenue Hotel.
The reporter approached the gentle
man who gave his name as George Her
billion, a well-known Partisan Journal
lst. He left Paris about ten days ago.
Yes; l have witnessed q strange
sight, and n I don't care about seeing
again" he said, with a strong foreign
accent.
He then related the incident. He had
seen the guillotining about two weeks
ago. at Paris, Of the youngest person
who had fallen a victim to the grim AK
in Paris since the French Revolution.
1t was a boy of Is who had suffered
the awful punishment. His name was
George Henri Kaps. He had murdered
his sweetheart in May last. At the
trial for this crime it was shown that
young, beardless Kaps, at the age Of IA,
had assassinated an old man in a dark
side street.
When arrested for this last murder,
boy though he was, he threatened his
guards with murder.
Il have seen many persons de-" said
NJ. Herbillion. Il was in the Commune
IN II and at the executions after it, but
lnever saw anything so distressing as
the end Of this young murderer.
He was only a boy, fit still for a
mothers ca~ressing," went on NJ. Her.
billion, "but he displayed the most re.
markable nerve during the trial and
greeted the sentence of death with a
smile.'
When the officials came into the pris.
on to announce that his hour had come,
he showed no fear, though till that mo.
ment he had expected a Communication
of sentence.
He dressed himself without assist.
ance When a priest approached he
motioned him to leave with a waive O.
his little hands.
Afterward he gayly skipped to hi
place in the sad procession to the guillo
tine.
When he arrived at the "Place of tn,
Ak he glance curiously at the few spec
tators. Catching sight Of the deat
wagon that was soon to carry his life
less body he smile visibly.
Standing beneath the glittering knit
the priest extended the crucifx to tn
boys lips, but he turned aside his head
The victims manner was so naive tina
a movement Of pity made a murmur il
the little throng as the executions
forced him back and laid his neck i
the fatal groove.
"As he lay for a second before til
blade dropped" said NJ. Herbillion, 6
caught sight of a smile upon his lips.
Then 1 turned away lie said, IAN
the sound Of the falling knife wa
heard. The boy died more like m,
idea Of a Christian martyr than any on
I ever SAY die.'-NeaO York Journal
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-03-28
BROKEN HEART.
BY A RICHMOND.

She was a wan little woman, with
les .all of unshed tears and lips that
embed. She was not a courageous
lie woman either, and it took Il vast
Mount OF spirit on her part to apply to
e matron of a large foundlings' home
one Of the great Western cities.
Yes, to the matron's questions, she
hle.srood the are of babies, for her
M had been her whole care for the
st lev years.
The matron glanced sharply at her,
she wrote in a large book before her.
Married. she inquired briskly. The
d eyes filed a little, and the weary
Hoe said again: "Oh, yes, five years
3D.
".Awidow?' the matron next interro-
htel.
This time an accent of pain fitted
lrOlgh the tone as the still weary
Foiee replied. No"
And the name?'
Mar Schneider"
The eyes OF the little woman did not
oQh al the matron, who drew her own
fonc!usions, but her questions being
Fllshed, she gave Nurse Mary the key
p a small room she was to call her
Months went by, and Nurse Mary be-
aMe the iavorite OF all little ones left
her care. But the weary, heart
ending look neyer.left her eyes. The
flsk matson remarked, with a sage
laAe Of her head, to her assistant:
Mark my words, Nurse Mary has "a
[olT, and if any mortal was ever dying
heart disease it is She"
fooh". CALCULATED her less senti-
e2,sl friend. It's nothing but dyspep
T., and so the subject was dropped.
let the matron's interest in this par
GUAR nurse lia not flag, and as spring
preached she noticed an increased
Ae1or IN Mary's actions, arousing
INN Ter breast grave fears for the
V'1snss health. And it was not many
r. before Nurse Mary could not leave
|, Yea. Then a doctor was called in,
10 sfaTely felt her pulse, pulled her
As0e, prescribed tonic, hemmed and
1"ea, and walked out. But the
~" "ad not work, and Nurse Mary
t." worse as the pleasant days of Nay
N"Nced' The kind-hearted matron
up all her spare time to the pa
~ S1@o never complained, but lay
-S out OF her window at the blue
",slI OF Sky. visible beyond.
last one day as the matron was
10 leave the room Mary called
~ 9"SA, and said feebly, but with a
~ N afraid I'm going to die.
w 'less you, no." replied the
4,, .Yl heartily, although her inmost
FW6, was bleeding for the poor girl.
@"' would the babies 90 without
i0a must get well again, for we
f. s'-"s to have a trip into the coun-
he,s 70 a far brighter country,
kr,e1 !, Mere are no Mormons," MUIR
Ii -iatfon thought her wandering,
kcs,o oo''lea her with gentle acqui-
bed y But Mary suddenly bright
~yo up va and said quite cheerily:
oeen very kind to me, and
orr.a can lesve you is my sad, sad
ougg, S y dropped heavily, as
s,sn She We're failing asleep, and the
- SEATING herself On the little
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-03-28

LAwIEE-Did You give Mr.. Skintint
your note for the amount, as L advised
Won to? Young Widow (weeping)-
Yes, ] did. wrote him the sweetest
little note that ever was and the very
next day he came and carted of my
furniture. =
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-03-28
WAy7ED no JOIN THE FAMILY.

10 JOIN THE FAMILY.
The Chicago Tribune tells this story:
Toward the close OF the war;" said a
member Of the G. A. r. whose mind is
we'll stocked with "reminiscences, at a
recent meeting OF his post, IT was
visiting a Southern hospital, and while
passing through one OF the wards my at
tention was attracted by a young fellow
who lay on his bed with eyes closed and
his face SO white and still that I Thought
he must be dead. While I stood look
ing at him a door near at hand opened
and a young girl, beautiful as Southern
girls sometimes are, entered. The
wounded man opened his eyes, and, suf-
fering u spasm Of pain as he turned his
head to look at her, exclaimed:
90, Lord.!!"
why do you speak my Fathers
name?" asked the girl, advancing to his
side. 81 am a daughter of the Lord.
Is there anything you would like to
have me ask Him for you?"
YES" came the answer in slow, suf-
fering tone, while the poor wretch de-
voured her with his eyes. Eyes; ask
him if he'll take me for a son-in-law."
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-03-28

A FARMER Of Upshur County, west
Virginia, who owns q number OF guinea
hens. found a nest where they haa Deen
layipg containing 1897 eggs.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-03-28
WIIIf OWE yICKEL.

A stout man handed a dime to the
conductor who, before returning the
change, collected q nickel froma female
passenger, evidently a washerwoman,
and handed the nickel to the stout man.
Turning to a passenger, a friend, evil
IDENTIFY, and who had got on before the
stout man, the later handed him the
nickel, remarking with a laugh at the
same time: There, Bob, I owe you
five cents, and that squares u.s."
Bob" took the coin with a smile,
and, leaning across the isle, said to an
acquaintance with whom he had been
talking, and who was accompanied by a
lady, evidently his wife:
"That's the five cents I bet you on
Boyer's majority"
The acquaintance tipped the coin
from his right to his left hand, apd
handed it to his female companion with
the remark:
"There's the five cents I borrowed for
that cigar this morning"
Smiling sweetly, the lady accepted
the coin. and, reaching over, dropped
it into the washerwoman's hand, say
ing:
"There's the five cents I you,
ana that just makes us square"
It was all done SO quickly and in such
an off-hand way that it was not until
the coin was in the hands Of its first
possessor that the passengers whose
ownership it had passed realized what a
number Of debts the small piece had
paid, passing in turn through the wash
erwoman, the conductor, the stout man,
the stout mans friend, the stout mans
friends acquaintance, the stout mans
friends acquaintance's wife, and the
stout mans friends acquaintance's
wife's washerwoman, in all paying
seven debts and coming back to the
original possessor.
1t sent all hands into a brown stildy,
and the story is true, toe. -PhAG1le!-
pAiG Inquirer.