davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1890-03-22
Freedom Items.

Fine weather and rough roads.
The young folks had a party at A. n.
fuckers last week. 1t was attended by a
large crowd. All had good time
The Good Templars of Freedom entertained
a rorton of the members of the Leland Lodge
last Tuesday evening. a pleasant evening
was enjoyed by all. They had good supper
entertainment, and good-looking crowd in
general.
Miss Meyer will teach the Harding school
the coming term.
Scott Inkson has returned from Tazewell
county where he has been visiting friends.
The recovery of Peter Rasmussen the town
constable, is doubtful.
Miss Louise Warren is on the sick list.
Wallace Bye, Of Ottawa, visited his folks in
Freedom on Sunday last.
viii Tucker has new driving horse. we
don't think he will ever come below three
minutes, II he does have long running gears.
VIII Thompson has been suffering from an
attack of grippe.
Willis Martin and Samcel Lawry have gone
to Chicago to purchase their spring stock OF
goods.
Miss Leonard and Miss milford, of Serena,
have been visiting friends in Freedom
w. II. Chapman and wife spent Wednesday
and Thursday in Ottawa at Geo. Groves on
the east side.
Joe Heron Is going to rebuild the fence
around his farm opposite the grave yard. He
intends to have one that the school boys can't
tear down
Tire crotch and cane man that resides on
cayenne pepper street, still sells that ar
salye." LONE JACK.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1890-03-22

INSURANCE .n %rii mas, IN Ps iSs a cS@
panles AT current rates Our lire insurance companies
among the largest aud strongest In the world. our
accident company the best in the U s., and the grand
old Mutual Life Of N. haf no equal on the face VI the
globe. DIR. j. o. HARRIS q SON.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1890-03-22
South Freedom Notes.

SOUTH FREEDOM, March 22.-Weather is
fine and roads improving, and farmers are
getting ready for spring work.
A y. Porter made his old friends call last
week.
7. J. Collins was calling on friends the fore
part Of the week.
G. Simons and A. Flory made, Weston
visit few days ago.
NJ. Christie Is able to be out, minus his
moustache. Too bad, NJ.
The Social at the West Serena church last
week was success.
Miss Nellie Jacobs has been sick with sore
throat, but is better ut present writing.
Mr. and Mrs, Matthiesson nee Hattie
Thompson, will start for their future home,
South Dakota, this week. Our good wishes
90 with them to their new home. The bride
will be greatly missed by her numerous
friends in Freedom.
Nose Bradshaw thinks the plank road is
the best in town for he travels south quite
often. wonder what the attraction isl
Edman PAGER Weston was given quite
surprise last week by the good people of Sc
rena. The roads being rough and stormy
night some were disappointed
lawsuit is in progress in the village Of
Serena to-day.
Mr.. l.. Whitmore's smiling countenance
wos seen at church Sunday.
Miss Burke's school closed March 9TH. An
the scholars that were 100 in department got
a prize, Misses Anna Arentsen, Pauline Parr,
Title and Cora Tucker carrying away the
honors. DAISY.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1890-03-22
From Miller.

Miss Olive Brumbach arrived home last
Saturday from Morris, where she has been at
tending school. She will teach the spring
term Of the Loring school.
Grant Conard arrived home from Serena
township where he has been teaching this
winter. He will attend the Ottawa Business
University this spring,
Marselles. Although Walt voted for protec-
ton he says that farming does not pay now u
days.
Martin Van Buren,, of Grand Rapids was in
this vicinity last week buying up stock cattle
Miss Rosa Gallaher arrived home Wednes-
day. She has been teaching In the Grove dis
trct.
Miss Laura COnard closed her school in the
Brumbach district two weeks ago.
la 1t MOI about time to commence our Sab
bath school again?
Any one wishing to learn how to make but
ter should inquire OF +. +. Nichol.
The North Prairie Literary and Debating
Society held their last meeting for the season
last Wednesday evening, and in spite of mud.
dy roads there was quite large crowd The
question for discussion was Resolved, that
capital punishment should be abolished The
speakers on the affirmative were, A. +. Nichol.
Calvin Spencer, and Ira Brumbach; on the
negative, Richard Miller, Forrest Makeever,
Grant Conard, and Stephen Evatts. The
question was decided in favor Of the negative
The meeting then adjourned till the second
Wednesday in December, 1890.
The winter term of the Loring school closed
Saturday, Mr.. Forrest Makeever, of Brook
field, as teacher Mr.. Makeever has been very
successful as teacher and under his skilful
guidance, much progress has been made.
Mr.. Makeevcr, although young, seems to
possess many of those qualities which go to
make successful teacher, and parents and
n. a.. II.
teachers that the school has ever had. On
Saturday evening the school gave an enter
tanment, and in spite of the rough roads a
large number were present to enjoy the excel
lent programme. Below we give IL in full
Defamation, There's no Time Like the
Present." Maggie Loring; reading, "A Poem
for Boys" Bert Butterfeld; defamation,
The Fairy Seeker, Flora Krause; defamation,
II We're Man, Clarence Collier; reading
The Boys, Mary Bosworth; defamation Ny
Trundlebed, Roy Butterfleld cornet solo,
Benny Makeever: reading, Drop and Be
Hanged, Willie krsuse; defamation, The
Watermillion, Elmer Collier; reading, The
Farmers Wives, Ada Butterfeld; defamation,
Taking Toll, Ralph Bosworth; defamation,
When the Frost is on the Pumpkin, Jessie
Miller; reading, Pyramus and Thisbe, Ray
Bosworth; music, Ray aud Mary Bosworth
defamation, Sitting on Grandps's Knee, Ray
Butterfeld; reading, The Little Boot, Maggie
Loring; defamation, Campaign Speech, Jas
Gallaher; defamation, A Wonderful Baby,
Flora Krause; dialogue, Who on Airth Is He {?
Jessie Miller, Ada Butterfeld, and Mary Bos
worth reading, The Deck Hand and Mule,
Roy Butterfeld; cornet solo, Bennie Makeever;
defamation, What Do You Know Elmer
Collier; defamation, The Lips that Touch
Liquor Shall Never Touch Mine, Ada Butter.
field; reading, How he Broke the Sabbath,
Jessie Miller; defamation, Teddie's Lament
Ray Loring; defamation, The Blscksmiths
The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1890-06-15

The sun climbed over Shaggy Peak
and peeped down upon tear washed Red
rock next oiorning, flooding the SPAR
lors and shedding a general air Of sylvan
eheerfulness about the quiet neighbour
hood Al the hotel folks were early
astir. The new arrival and her daugh-
tiers we're served with capital breakfast
in their rooms, thanks to the forethought
Of the hospitable major, and the widow
soon found herself surprised at the many
comforts and conveniences that were to
be found in such an outof the way place.
my dears," she remarked to the girls,
there are some advantages here after
all, although it is really dreadful place
for two young women like yourselves to
be secluded In. Now, Millie, that my
head ls little better and begin 10 feel
The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1890-06-15
CHAPTER III.


During the week preceding the arrival
of the sisters the settlement was in d fe-
yer Of excitement. All the trouble
over the letter had been apparently lost
sight Of in the pleasure of the anticipated
visit. The monentous event was dis
cussed everywhere. Jack found himself
compelled to answer endless inquiries
about the two young ladies' al of them
tending to show less of the ordinary in
quisitiveness than Of a burning desire to
individually and collectively testify to
Redrock's appreciation of the compIi-
ment Finally the excitement reached
climax when the major one evening
stopped game in the s'parlors,r right
in the middle, and, clearing his throat,
addressed Browning, who had just en-
tered:
Mister Browning and gentlemen he
said, 1T hez been taken as the sense of
the male poperlasIun Of this settlement,
as our numbers is shortly about to be in
creased by the two elegant young ladies
who is now on their ways here, that we
should show our preciashun of theevent
by quittin' work at the mines for twenty
four hours. All in favor o that say
AYE"
& deep and sonorous Aye came from
all sides of the room. and Jacks vigor-
Gus exclamation of protest passed I'M
needed.
s'The ayes hev it, yer see, Mr.. Brown
ing" said the major, with smile. 1--WE
KANT to do this thing up in our own way,
in a style to reAeck credit on the settle
ment. And, moreover, we hopes to have
you and Mr.. Lispenafd with us to help
us out.
There was nothing for it but to sub
NIT. The next few days it seemed as
though the Springs had gone crazy.
Something deeply mysterious was going
on in the s'parlors,p to which only the
major, Sim and a special committee
were now admitted. It was clear that
something quite unusual was about to
happen.
The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1890-06-15
ABSg1g Z gEEgs9 PgyE2E:

During tile afternoon both Lispenard
and Browning were besieged by at least
dozen of ReGrocIs leading citizens"
for introductions to the girls. Ii began
to be a bore, and although Jack smiled
as he referred to it, Lispenard took q
more serious view of the case.
See. said he, tsthese fellows are ac-
tually going to get up a serenade. The
settlement is wild. I'm afraid the girls
viii be horribly worried before it's all
through.
That night before they slept the sis
tiers wrote to Mrs. Browning at San
Francisco. telling all about their journey
and the wonderful reception at Bedrock
and how gallant the major had been to
Miliie and how impressively attentive
the young English superintendent was to
EN-. Indeed, they good humosedly hint
ed that both gentlemen had been SO cor
dial that had it not been for the fact that
Bedrock recognized no conventional
forms, and that its society was little
chaotic, the writers would have been
justified in regarding their attentions
as too pointed. All this and much more
to the same pleasant and trivial effect
they wrote. And, woman like, they did
NOS omit TO mention iii a postscript that
Jack was alive and we'll.
When the widow received the letters
week later she was indignant.
ssHow selfsht' she exclaimed. ssTo
think of nothing but Irritation, when
their poor brother might have been cold
in his grave. They must be brought
home at once. And as they seem to be
SO forgetful Of their duty and the pro-
prieties, think it best to so and fetch
them myself"
a few days after reaching this deter
mination Mrs. Browning went by rail
to Prescott, where she took the stage for
Bedrock Springs.
The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1890-06-15

"ssr. Browning" said the major i'm
pressively, 'swhen yer lady mother writ
that there letter she writ it after she
seen a rascal. Leastways so it would
seem. Eff Crenshaw were here now, or
knowed your folks in Frisco, it wouldn't
be hard to guess who lied to her and told
her you he'd lifted yer last pick and
swung yer cradle.
That afternoon the news Of the majors
remarkable letter spread all over the set
Element. Many were the surmises as to
the cause Of the strange communication;
but all agreed that one good thing seemed
The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1890-06-15

HE NOT ONLY LJBBERED HE beloved.
The weeks slipped away at the
Springs. En- and Mile, under the
agreeable guidance OF Cy Whipple, Lis
penard and Jack, had surveyed almost
the entire region, and seen all there was
to be seen on this side the MogolIons.
Mining was to them no longer a mystery,
and they showed surprising interest
and aptitude in everything that related
to sluices, placers, pans, gravel, dredges
and all the other paraphernalia that COM
pose miners equipment Cy was, Of
course, All indispensable party in these
little excursions, and the girls saw much
of the tawny mustached Englishman.
The major, too, had his rig constantly
at their service, and allowed no one else
to hand the ladies in or help them out.
Still when young Whipple would come
around the major would obiigingiy
yield him seat by either lady. 1t was
clear, thought Cy, that the gallant vet
eran, while he might have been in
frame of mind to lose his heart, was not
yet quite decided to which charner it
ought to go, and was letting things take
their course.
One perfect afternoon in early July,
just after the midday meal which the
| Springs had not yet begun to dignity
with the name of lunch, the stage was
seen wheeling around the curve, just
east of Chino Gap, and on the top OF the
rise. Long before the dust covered and
thirsty driver had pulled up in front of
| the hotel piazza considerable group Of
miners had gathered. The major, as
usual, stepped forward and opened the
door of the coach, while Sile held col
loquy from his box with the barkeeper.
| ''Only one passenger tlsis trip, Sim,"
said he. g Mother lady. 1 tell We, Red
rocks a-looking up. At this rate wen
soon hear Of you folks bein' Incorporated
| into city and runnin' the major for
guv'nor Of the territory" he added, with
| chuckie.
A pretty scream from the window Of
"the parlors," a wild hutter of dresses
and a responsive screeeh from the in
terror of the stage interrupted Sile and
made everybody look The major had
but half opened the door when the occu-
pant of the coach Topped out and into
/ Inc dIul5 VI N4lkilcs L4ll was pttutluR
close behind.
''Oh, mamma! Goodnessi Who ever
thought of seeing you here? However
did you come, and all alone, toor' cried
the girls together in breath. S.Jackw
called En-, as that youth appeared on the
piazza, there's mammal
/ The widow Browning, who had been
hugging the girls for minute, raised
her eyes. She reached forward without
speaking and gasped, as if about to faint.
Jack sprang to her and clasped her in his
strong arms.
'.They said you were dead, my son.
It's you. Jack, isn't it? Thank God,
Thank God for his goodness. But oh,
Jack, it was cruell How could they say
it?n
And she sobbed quietly on her sons
shoulder, with her head modestly averted
from the crowded piazza.
Hush, mother; calm yourself. I'm
all right, as you see, and SO are the girls. :
! But the fountains Of long repressed
grief, once opened, were not SO readily
| stemmed. En- and Mile added their
tears to hers, and Jack found himself in
q somewhat embarrassing position. Here
he WIS, with three weeping women, sob
The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1890-06-15
A MATRIMODT AL BOOM.
Realism and Sentiment Blended in a Wild
Western Romance
ny 9. II. sANDISON.
Copyright, $500

father, let alone about chap who had
found him ont as you did. But its get
tin late, an If the boys don't objec' l
guess III call the game and get ter my
bunk
A half hour later Bedrock was asleep.
The thin wedge Of the crescent moon
crept over the northern mountain and
looked across into the quiet valley, like
a sentinel IN the sky.
The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1890-06-15

likely TO come out Of it at all events:
Bedrock was to have two charming visit
ors. And it would be strange indeed If
the scstlement, which had never before
had sach an experience. did not rise no
bly, and CALAMITY to the occasion.
The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1890-06-15
20l2 KrARNEY SrRrrr,

SAN fR4Scisco, June II, 49,
DEAR Sal have just learned Of the fate of
my unfortunate boy. John Browning and write
to ask you to keep the body till his sisters arrive
at Bedrock. They will come by The cars TO Pres
colt and viii reach the Springs by the stage on
Wednesday next.
Do this for the sake Of his sorrow stricken
mother SopHRoSIA BRowNINe.
When be had read the letter through
the major laid it down again and gIared
at Sim.
Whats it means" he almost gasped
why, / saw young Jack and his mate
only last night. And she talks about him
bein' dead, and all that. Sim, there's
trouble ahead"
Somebody's been a-playin' it on the
old lady to pay off grudge, pears to
me, major" suggested Sim. "Anyhow,
it can't do the young Teller much hurt.
He's big enough to look out fer himself.
An meantime the two gals is a-comin'
over. Well, it's goin' ter be interestin'. +"
1.-TWO ladies, Sim. I don't doubt as
now they're high quality folks, fer that
Jack does hold himself up wonderful like,
and SO does his mate, that Lispenard.
'Spose you send Bill over to the mine
and jest tell Browning ter come across
here by noon"
The sun was Lighting up both sides of
Shaggy Peak when Browning entered
the hotel. Without word, the major
took the letter and handed it to him,
smoking vigorously while Browning per-
used it. Jacks brows knit and he shook
the paper as if trying by that act to get
at it's secret.
"Well:D inquired the major.
It's mothers writing" muttered
Browning, "but who in heavens name
could have been SO cruel as to impose
upon her with such o story? There's
some deviltry here. What does it meant
The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1890-06-15
CHAPTER Il

THE MAIL BRINGS STARTLING NEWS.
Something like three weeks had passed
and the departure Of Crenshaw had been
almost forgotten, when, one afternoon,
the mail brought letter addressed to
the Chief of Police of Redrock Springs"
superscription which greatly puzzled
the major.
s'Sim, he called to his bartender, to
whom he mainly confided his troubles,
81 don't half like the looks O. that letter.
Seems I sort o. reckonise the handwrite,
Sim.n
aNothin like findin' out when yer in
do;abt, said Sim. laconically. "Ther's
no law agin' openin' it. s'posea''
'sTrue enough, Sim; but Their amt no
chief o. police here, an don't know as
have the right to open it.
s.stuffr' piped Sim. "Ain't yer the
magistrate and the jedge all in one?
When the boys hev a spat, don't they
come to you fer settlement an to de-
cideit2 Who is the chief eff faint you,
I'd like ter known
The major drew a long breath. He
turned the letter over and over and then
held it up to the light. His open feat
tires, on which his so years had left hard
ly the trace of wrinkle, were all pulled
together in the mighty effort to pene-
trate the mysterious envelope and gather
an inkling of its contents. He drew
long breath, stroked his whiskers softly,
and laid the letter on the counter before
him.
ssSim, I've bin five years at Bedrock,
an no man ever said as Jonas Black
took liberties with what didn't belong to
him. But as there don't appear to be
nobody here what kin lay claim to this
letter, and seem as how I'm postmaster
and sort O. gin'raI survant to the town
actin like, We know, Sim, till we get
kinder organized as it were--I feel as If
fnort venturea'-
Sim smiled and began to move toward
the major, who had taken up the letter
again. The latter weighed it gently
across his forefnger. and then, with a
sudden resolution, tore it open at one
end and let the inclosure drop ON the
counter. He stared at it hard for min
ute while he wiped his spectacies.
tts IfOul frisco, SIM, Gn1t s what IL
is. might a-knowed By the handwrite.
An it's from woman--a lady, I jedge,
by the style Of penmanship," and he
took it up carefully, Sim meanwhile
scanning the paper over his shoulder.
Snakes and b'arsl What can she
mean2 Jest lis'en to what she says"
And the major began to read. slowly
and carefully. pondering every syllable.
This was the letter:
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-02-06
WAS tr iNcsNDsARY7
Some Things which M lake IL Appear
That IL Was.

Browns wharf has been regarded as bad
place for fire by insurance men, on the sup
position that blaze was likely to start in
the coopeIage establishments there. The
imflammable material used In this industry
naturally made such fear a reasonable
one. But the Messrs. Hlmlen have used
every precaution, employing all the devices
known in their business to prevent fire and
exercising great care in the conduct OF their
place. They have been successful In pre-
venting fire inside their establishment which
was destroyed last night by fire from the
outside. And this fire caught In or around
building used simply for the purpose OF
store house, in which was no stove and which
was locked up securely at night. The blaze
last night originated In the structure used
by Mr. Emery for the storage of hogshead
heads. There is nothing about such stock
which of itself is likely to cause fire
Neither is it probable that lighted match
accidentally dropped in the building could
have caused it, and the same may be said Of
a cigar. So 1t was natural that there should
be suspicious that the blaze was the work Of
an incendiary. 1t happened in a locality
which bids fair to become famous for fires.
At the head of the wharf still stands what
the fire left of the big wooden building
burned several weeks ago, and 1t Is only a
short distance from the factory Of Knight &
Co., In which lively blaze occurred little
later.
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-02-06
a TERRI8LE SIGHT.
How IL Looked When The TWO
Wharves Were all AbIaze.

A reporter for the PRESS took a stand at
first at the head of Browns wharf on Com
mercial street, where he commanded fine
prospect of the fire and its surroundings.
Both wharves, Browns and the old Berlin
wharf, were then wrapped in flames for at
least 500 feet on the east side and 400 feet ON
the west side of Browns wharf. and 352 feet
on Berlin wharf. The great billows Of fire
rolled and foated over the huge wooden
buildings in every direction, millions Of
tongues Of fame stretched out, striving
against the strong northwest wind that was
blowing to enfold the tall buildings on Mer-
chants and Boston & Maine wharves in
their embrace. AS foreground to the
furnace Of flame stood the tall spars of tho
three-masted schooner Prescott Haseltine,
lying at Browns wharf, sharply outlined
against the blue sky, the serpent-like coils of
flame writhing and twisting up the rigging.
III the background, on Commercial street.
from the windows and tops Of buildings
gazedthousands OF people and from the edges
of adjoining wharves. Roofs of warehouses
were covered with men using pump streams,
buckets of water, anything that could be
utilized to wet them down. Steam engines
were putting and sending up showers Of
sparks Out in the harbor great masses of
burling lumber tioated. and above all sailed
in silent majesty the full orbed moon. The
great clouds of smoke which, ordinarily,
would have obscured and blinded the spec
tators, wefe waited seaward, so that moth
ing interfered with the view Of the terrible
spec sacle. About o'clock there was shift
Of wind more to the southwark, and great
fears arose that Merchants wharf would go,
but the firemen fought the flames well, and
about $50 O'Clock mad the fire under control,
although the fire ragged fiercely for long
time afterwards.