davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1891-05-06
PaWky Davie.

Davie Bell was an old fellow, well on
in the seventies, who resided in small
cottage on the outskirts of Lanark, with
his invalid wife, few years ago. He
was noted for his extreme selfishness
and greed, and, according to local Cos
sip, was not over kind to his invalid
helpmeet. The wife of the local laird
was very benevolent lady, and Davies
wife, owing to her illness, was in regular
receipt of various delicaces from the
"big house," which were very accept
able to Davie, at least, for, according to
the neighbors, he had the lions share
of them. One day the lady met Davie
on the road and enquired how his wife
was getting on. Muckle ABBOTT her
ordinar', mem, muckle ABBOTT her or
dinar," replied Davie, as he stood obse-
quiously, with his cap in his hands.
Did she get those little things all
right that l sent her Yesterday" the
lady further inquired. "Oh, yes, mem,
they cam a. rcht," he answered; "but,
men," he went on, eff it's a. the same
to you, l wad rather that we wad ma
send her ony mair jam; jelly wad be
faur better.0 why, David, doesn't
your wife like jam?" was the lady's
next query. "Ou, ay, men," returned
that worthy, unthinkingly, "she likes
it weel ENOUGH, but l dinna." Ever
afterward the fOotman who was sent
with the delicacies was instructed to
wait until at least the major part of
them was consumed by the invalid
| Selected
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1891-05-06
How One Woman Cuts and Pastes.

l have hung paper many years and
the first thing that | do is to make the
size or paste. Many use. starch, but /
use flour as it is very much cheaper
and it is just as good; stir cup of -four
smoothly in little water and pour it
into four quarts of boiling water. Let it
just boil, then take off the stove and
cool. Trim the paper on the right side
edge, then measure the length or height
of the room and notch the figure. Cut
up in lengths; one roll usually makes
six lengths for country houses. Then
lay one strip above the other, right side
down. Paste the first strip, then double
the bottom up on the same strip and
take the top in your hands and get up
as high as you can and place the trim
med side TO the edge where you want
to begin then get down and carefully
turn the end doubled up, down and
stick that to the right edge. Now take
common brush-broom and brush
across from right to left and the paper
is on. The next strip will be more
difficult, as you must match figure and
then brush, and sometimes there will be
air in spots; to remove these take pin
and prick small hole then brush again.
Don't try to paper close to the top of
the room, as the border will cover the
edge. The corners are the hardest to
do well. | always spread paste with a
whitewash brush, it holds paste so well
and does the work so quickly. A long
board is also needed the length and q
little wider Than the paper if possible.
l always do my own painting as il costs
90 much IN hire evervthinu done Pre-,
pared paint will need little more oil
usually, and after painting a good coat
of varnish helps wonderfully and makes
cleaning easy. The floor of common.
sized room can be painted three coats
for dollar and in three days be al
right for use. AS boards for laying
paper are not always handy, l have
sometimes taken two tables and placed
them close together and found them 6
good substitute for board. Exchange
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1891-05-06
The Great Deserts.

There was once a gentleman who
spent day in Verona, and it rained all
that day. Five years afterward the
gentleman spent another day in that
fair city, and it rained all that day.
And the gentleman afterward wrote a
book, and, on the ground of his ex-
periences, asserted that it always rained
in Verona! AS with Verona, so it has
been with the deserts of the globe.
The great Australian desert shrinks
every year it is better known. On the
presumed desert land of lifetime ago
the finest sheep in the world are now
raised. The desert was mapped on
hasty congratulations on insufficient
samples. So it was with the American
deserts; so it is with the Asiatic deserts !;
so it is with the African deserts.
Thirty years ago the map of the Sahara
showed an unbroken stretch of sand
The map of to-day shows tract of
country with patches of sand, but di-
versified with hills and water-courses,
and even in places consisting of light,
airy park land, with widespread grassy
tracts interspersed with forest.-Ne,o
York Ledger.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1891-05-06
Human Longevity.

Appropriate to the new census, some
student of vital statistics has figured
out the physical fortune of any given
million human beings on the march
from the cradle to the grave. To begin
with, the million is made up of 511 ,745
males and 4SS ,255 females. More than
one-fourth of e-children-will die
before they are five years old; in ex-
act numbers, al ,4S7 boys and 121, 795
girls. This very nearly corrects the
dsproportion at birth of the sexes and
almost equalizes them. The next five
years will prove much less fatal. From
the age of ten to fifteen years the NOR
tally will be still further reduced. In
deed, for both sexes this is the most
healthy period of life; the death-rate,
however, is lower for boys than girls.
There will be some advance in the
deaths in the next five years, and still
more in the next ten to follow. About
643,045 will certainly enter on the
twenty-sixth year. Before the succeed
ing ten years are at an end, two thirds
of the women will have married. The
deaths during the period will be 90 ,052,
and of these no fewer thau p, 134 will
be caused by consumption. Between
thirty-fve and forty-fve years of age
still larger death-rate occurs. Hardly
more than half the original number
say 500 ,912-will enter on the forty
sixth year. Each succeeding decade,
up to seventy.ive, will now become
more fatal. At seventy-fve only 161, 124
will remain, and of these 122, $50 will
have persisted by the eighty-tifth year
of the march The 70 565 that remain
will soon lay down their burdens. Only
2,l53 of them will struggle on to ninety
five, and 293 to be 100 years old. Fin
ally, on the one hundredth eighth year,
the last life will flicker out. Such is
the average lot of million human be-
ings of both sexes.-Baltimor Sun.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1891-05-06
When Bagpipes Had No Charms.

An amusing episode, recorded of the
Peninsular war, seems to prove that
even the charms of our beautiful ma
tional bagpipes fail to soothe the saw
age wolf. 1t happened that, while one
OF the Highland regiments was march
ing across desolate part of Spain, one
of the pipers, for some inexplicable
reason, found himself separated from
his comrades. Hating on lonely
plain, he sat down to eat his breakfast,
when, to his horror, he saw wolves APP
preaching. When they came very
near, he flung them all the food he had
with him, fully conscious, however,
that this meager meal would not stay
their advance for many seconds. With
the calmness of desperation, he then
said, " As ye've had the meat, yen haze
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1891-05-06

the music, too" and thereupon he pro-
ceeded to " blow up his chanter." No
sooner did his unwelcome guests hear
the first "skirl" of the pipes, than
they turned in wild terror and fed as
fast as their long legs would carry
them. "De'il haze yel" said the piper.
I" Had thocht ye were so fond o. the
music, we wad haze gotten it afore meat
instead o. afterl" Then, hungrily, he
went his way, not forgetting from time
to time to blow blast so wild and
shrill as might effectually scare any
prowling foes.-1emple Bar.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1891-05-06
The Evil Eve.

The Corsicans are not the only people
IN the world who believe in the evil
eye, for the Turk is so affected by it
that he thinks it extends its influence
to whatever animals belong to him.
Strings of coral are sold on the streets
and said to be preventive against the
evil 1t is very curious to see the dom
keys, crowds of which are found in the
streets, with strings of coral twisted in
their tails. When he gets in violent
rage the very worst thing that Turk
ish gentleman can threaten his donkey
with is the taking away the jewels which
protect him from the evil eye, for in
this way he will give him over to all
kinds of cruelty and the possession of
the demon. In the markets bits of
coral are laid among the purple grapes
or green vegetables with the hope that
good luck will come to them and they
will bring a higher price. Funnily
enough, an Egyptian connects woman
with any suffering that may come to his
eyes. If they ache or hurt, he looks
out for blonde woman named Fatima,
begs from her bit of bread and in
formation as to where he will find six
more Fatimas, that he may ask the
same favor OF each. Fortunately for
him, they do not all have to be blondes,
and wise Egyptian father, seeing the
value of the name, is apt to give it to
one of his daughters, so there are
plenty of Fatimas. Whether the Eng
disappearing maiden makes eyes suffer
or not, who can say? Very often she
delights them and very often she de-
ceives them-so probably she does her
duty.-Ne,o York Sun.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1891-05-06
3tlisteilanp.
The old Church on the Hill.

BYJ.F.H
There, like sentinel with folded hands,
Upon lofty hill an old church stands;
Year after year with silence gazing down
Through shades and shadows on the dear old town.
In purple splendor blending with the sky,
on every side hills and mountains le
And fertile valleys greet the travellers view
with welltilled fields and slow streams winding
through.
Nestled low, amid surrounding green,
Here and there cosy house is seen.
The old town hall stands Just across the way,
With shattered glass Just going to decay.
No glad young voices sound within its walls,
No more at night and morn the old bell calls
The noisy scholars shouting from their play;
But in the crumbling belfry, day by day,
Keeps silent watch, while meath its shadow rings
The merry song, the blacksmith's anvil rings.
About the battered door cling memories fair,
For health and youth and bright dreams entered
there.
Halfway down the hill, meath plying skies,
Hidden amOngthe trees the churchyard liesi
And many valiant hearts that fought and bled
To save their country sleep here with the dead
The wandering wild rose casts her petals sweet
With dcwy fragrance at the soldiers feet.
The marble shafts seem touched with spectral light
Whispering winds mourn through the starry night
What cherished hopes and fancles linger near,
For love and youth and age lie buried here.
The scenes remain unchanged we know we'll
The parsonage, the store the old hotel,
The pleasant homes along the winding street,
| The common by the church, where four roads meet.
| Here tranquil day is wrapped in dreamy night,
| While down the valley, with the morning light,
| Like silent shadow, moves the railway train
| by river banks, through fields OF waving grain,
From hill to hill, and echoed softly through
The woodlands, sounds the cowboys faint haoo.
Along the avenue Of coming years,
Through life and death and Joy and mrth and tears
| When sorrows hand shall touch the lonely heart,
And kindred ties and home seem far apart
Then tender thoughts will fill the waking dreams,
Ana mingling with the sound of mountain streams
A blessed vision, in tine twilight still
A dusty road, high and ck.bound hill;
| The suns last rays touch with rosy fire,
| The grassy hillside and the old church spire
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1891-05-06
A Good Suggestion.

Professor c., a Green Mountain
boy, who stood six feet six inches in
his stocking-feet, desiring to take pas
sage for London, went to New York
for that purpose. While standing on
the dock, he got into conversation with
a stranger, asking him by what route
he had better 90 on his contemplated
voyage. Well" was the reply, :" if l
were you, would put a loaf of bread
on top of my head, and wade p'-Edi-
tors DrUcer, IN Harper's Magazine.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1891-05-06

should be even in color, and will not
crack if the oven is right. If the oven
is too hot, the cake will bake too rap
idly at the edges, and as it must rise
somewhere, will burst in the middle,
and pour over the already baked edges.
Bread should never bake too rapidly at
first. Too much heat prevents rising,
and the bread will be soggy, even
though it is well done. Great care
must be taken that neither cake nor
bread is dropped or Jared, as this is al
most certain to cause heavy streak
through the loaf To tell if the cake is
done, thrust clean broom straw into
the middle. If it comes out dry and
clean, the cake is done. 1t is, however,
best to leave it for a moment to become
thoroughly done. Nothing is more un-
wholesome than half-baked cake. Many
cooks test cake by wetting the finger
and tapping the bottom of the pan. If
the metal Kisses, the cake or bread is
supposed to be done. Some cooks
take bread or cake from the pan at
once; others leave it for moment to
steam, when it will come out much
more easily. 1t may be covered with
a cloth and left to cool. If cake is to
be frosted, it is well to have the FROST
ing done at once. The most manage
able frosting is made by breaking the
whites of two eggs in dish with cup
of powdered or confectioner's sugar.
Beat the sugar and eggs together, and
add sugar as long as it will be taken up
by the egg. Put it upon the cake at
once. This is the easiest and simplest
way of making frosting, and one that
the inexperienced will do well to
adopt.-Ne,o York Ledger.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1891-05-06
Warmth in American Houses.

Mrs. Rider Haggard has been heard
TO complain that American women kept
their houses too warm. This complaint
can not be made of English women. If
there is an uncomfortable spot in all
Christendom it is the average English
house in cold weather. The average
English house is demonstrated; it is
damp and draughty; it is provided with
very few comforts. This may account
for that domestic infelicity which jeop-
ards the family in England. English
husbands are VIGOROUSLY bad husbands /,
they might be- much better if their
homes were comfortable. When man
shivers he pines for warmth, and he
will get it. If he doesn't find it at
home, he will find it at the groggeries or
at other infamous resorts. The home
instinct has been pretty nearly all
chilled out of the Englishman. He is
a famous wanderer; but mark you, he
never wanders northward! He heads
southwark; he is cold; he has been
frozen all his life. AS soon as he can
get away from his damp, draughty and
cherries home he makes his way where
he is assured of the warmth which his
shivering body demands. The Ameri-
can women know, fortunately. that the
surest way to keep their husbands at
home and to attach their children to
home is to make the home comfortable,
bright, cheerful. 1t is the pursuance
of these tactics that has insured to
American women the most loyal hus-
bands and children, who regard no
human sentiment more tender,y sacred
than that which attaches to home, with
its myriad of sweet, persuasive, holy in
fuences. Chicago Neps.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1891-05-06
Nine WAYS Of Serving Eggs.

BAKED EGGs.-Butter a tin thor
oughly, break your eggs in it carefully
so as to keep the yolks whole, put in a
hot oven and bake five minutes or
more.
SHIRRED EGGs.-Shirred eggs are
made by putting butter, pepper and
salt in the egg without beating and
baking. A little white sauce or little
grated cheese or ham over it will ac-
ceptably vary the dish.
DREAMED EGGs-Heat one teacup-
full of sweet cream, boiling hot, in
shallow earthen or agate dish, season it
with salt and break in it six eggs; do
not stir it, but cover closely and bake
eight or ten minutes in a moderately hot
oven.
PoACHED EGGs.-Partly fill stew
pan with boiling water, add pinch of
salt and tablespoonful of vinegar;
break the eggs separately in cup,
pour them carefully into the boi ing
water and cook about three minutes !;
drain for a minute and serve on but
tered toast.
SCRAMBLED EGGS WITH PEAS
Heat three spoonfuls of milk and a
spoonful of butter in a frying pan
break six eggs into this and stir until
they thicken. Having cooked the peas
drain off the liquor and stir them into
the eggs, season, and serve hot.
MASHED POTATOES WITH EGG.-Be-
fore removing mashed potatoes from
the stove, beat the white of an egg with
pinch of salt until very light. After
| hn tot toll irt n no oh
smooth them over and spread the beaten
egg on them, and hold very hot shovel
over them for a few seconds or until
the egg turns slightly yellow.
EGG SALAD.-This is made by slicing
hard boiled eggs on bed of fresh let
tuce placed in salad dish, and pouring
over 1t cream dressing which is pre-
pared as follows: To three-fOurths of a
teacupful of sweet cream add one tea
spoonful each of salt and sugar, one
fourth of teaspoonful of dry mustard
and little black pepper. Rub these
ingredients smoothly into the cream,
beating it thoroughly until it is light
then by degrees add three-fourths of a
teacupful of vinegar. Half of this
quantity will be sufficient for six eggs.
A DELICIOUS OMELET. Beat the
yolks of six and the whites of three
eggs until they are light; take one cup
of cream or milk and mix with it one
small spoonful of flour, and add salt and
pepper to taste. Heat a spider and
melt in it large spoonful of butter;
when the butter is hot, pour the eggs
and cream in and set it in a hot oven
AS soon as it sets pour over the top the
whites of three eggs beaten to stiff
froth. Leave it in the oven until it is &
delicate brown, then slip it carefully
out on hot platter and serve i'm
mediately.
EGGS WITH BECHAMEL, SAUCE
Poach or shirr eight eggs, and while
these are cooking, cut thin slice o
either bold ham or tongue and heat i
in the oven by placing between TIVE
plates with piece of butter. Hav'
ready also neat piece of buttere(
toast for each egg and pour sauc,
around made in this manner: Heat
tablespoonful of butter in saucepan
, stir in smoothly teaspoonful of -four
, and when turning rather yellow ado
/ gradually pint of veal or CHECKER
broth, brought to the boiling; stir un
until smoothly thickened.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1891-05-06
What an Inch of Rain Means.

Few people can form a definite idea
of what is involved in the expression,
&" An inch of rain" 1t may aid such
to follow this curious calculation: An
acre is equal to 6,272, $40 square inches
an inch deep of water on this area will
be as many cubic inches of water,
which, at 227 to the gallon, is $4,000
gallons. This immense quantity of
water will weigh 1000 pounds, or 10C
tons. One-hundredth of an inch (0.01)
alone is equal to one ton of water to the
acre.-ISt. Louis Republic.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1891-05-06
The Kitchen Range.

The management of the kitchen
range is one of the housewives accom-
plishments. The first necessity is
cleanliness. A range clogged with
ashes will never bake satisfactorily
neither can a clear, bright fire be kept
up in it. The CRATES must be clear of
cinders and ashes, and the fuel must be
put in with some regard for uniformity.
Do not pile the coal or wood all in one
end, but place it evenly, 80 as to dis
tribute the fire over the CRATE. Open
the hampers until the fire is well un-
der way. No time is gained by trying
to save a fire at the outset. Let it
come up briskly, and as soon as it is
clear and bright close the hampers and
take care of it. In baking cake the
proper temperature will brown the
cake as soon as it has risen. The top
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1891-05-06

THE FIRST STEP. Perhaps you are
run down, can't eat, can't sleep, can't
think, can't do anything to your salts
faction, and you wonder what ails you.
You should heed the warning, you are
taking the first step into nervous pros
tration. You need nerve tonic and
in Electric Bitters you will find the ex-
act remedy for restoring your nervous
system to its normal, healthy condition.
Surprising results follow the use of
this great nerve tonic and Alternative.
Your appetite returns, good digestion
is restored and the liver and kidneys
resume a healthy action. Try bottle.
Price fifty cents at c. Blakely's, Mont
pelier, VT.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1891-05-06
Gbs 4ouseboIo.
Father Love.

Just a coming home at evening,
When the busy day was done,
And father gayly entered
Smiling on his little one.
He was tall, erect, broad.shouldered
Manliness stamped ON his brow,
Love from out his kind eyes beaming
For the one who claimed 1t now.
And he raised his waiting laddie,
Rugged him tightly to his breast,
There the wee rogue calmly nestled
For moment of sweet rest
All day long he had been Jumping,
Pounding, running here and there,
Never wholly still second
Climbing over couch and chair.
Chubby hands all soiled and grlmy,
Little face not overclean,
Lashes wet with recent sorrow,
Blue eyes now so bright and keen,
Red lips with sob in quicker
Little dress all stained and torn,
Shoes and stockings all down dangling,
just a manikin forlornl
But the kind and loving father
Did not heed his darling's plight,
For he only clasped him closer,
COmforted the luckless wight,
Whispered tender words of greeting,
Perched him gayly on his knee,
And he soon was proud and happy
As a laddie e'er can be.
And I thought: Perhaps our Father,
When he comes to life's great close,
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1891-05-06

NAPKIN HOLDERS for q children's
party are made of a clothes-pin gilded
or silvered, plain, or with few small
flowers or initials painted upon them,
and little bow of ribbon tied at the
base. The napkin is slipped into the
pin, which makes pretty souvenir as
well
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1891-05-06

WHAT it costs must be carefully con-
sidered by the great majority of people
in buying even necessities of life.
Hoods Sarsaparila commends itself
with special force to the great middle
classes, because it combines positive
economy with great medicinal power
1t is the only medicine of which can
truly be said 100 doses one dollar
and bottle taken according to direc.
tons will average to last month.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1891-05-06

To make photograph easel, cover a
piece of wood seven and one-half inches
long and two inches wide with velvet or
wooden goods. Fasten a clothes-pin at
each end and in the center, so that they
will stand upright, and gild or silver
the pins. This will hold two cabinet
photographs, as the inner edges of both
rest in the central pin.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1891-05-06

LITTLE EDITH: Mamma, what's
a poorhouse2" Mamma: "a poor
house, Edith, is an imaginary place of
papa's, where he intends residing next
week"
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1891-05-06

CIT is more blessed to give than to
receive" "What is?" "Nedicine.