davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1891-02-05
SOMEBODY'S BABY.

Somebody's baby has fallen asleep
Over there mid the city's din;
Over there where they toll and spin
And sell and barter and lose and win;
Spite OF the clamor and strife they keep,
Somebody's baby has fallen asleep.
Somebody's baby has fallen asleep;
flushed il lies in the darlsened room,
Tear watched all through this long day.
gloom.
Flower bedeclSed for this tiny tomb.
Kissed and kissed where the wee pearls peep,
omebody's baby has fallen asleep.
Somebody's baby has fallen asleep;
Somebody's precious, peerless pet
Loye.roclled erst, in its robe tear-wet
Here win lie ere the sun has set;
Here poor eyes will weep and weep
For somebody's baby fallen asleep.
Somebody's baby has fallen asleep;
Woe for us il the end were herel
Woe for us if we know no cheer
Past the mystery past the bierl
Woe II for aye were the slumber deep
OF somebody's baby fallen asleep.
Somebody's baby has fallen asleep;
Thou, 0 Christ who for aye and aye
Rolled the stone from the grave away,
Speak 10 the grief.swept hearts to-day;
Whisper TO them that Thy strong arms keep
Somebody's baby just fallen asleep.
m. A. Maitland, In Household Monthly.
Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1891-02-05

could follow the lines and fill it with
bristling knives Then difficulty APP
pearcd. for Pat knew that his perform
ance would be of no interest unless he
had a living man to stand before the
target and run the risk of being killed,
and he could find no one in the troupe
willing to play the part One day. after
considerable coax:2g, one Of the host
lers agreed TO go into practice with Pat.
and took his position with his back
against the target. Pat made ready to
show how very close he could fix the
knife without injuring the man. but
just as the knife left Pats hand his as
sistant jumped away from abe target,
and nothing could induce him 70 return.
Then the advertisement was pub
lishcd, and several weeks passed with
out any thing being heard from It. One
day while we were in Western Illinois
It was answered in person by one of the
oddest-loolxing men ever saw-a tall,
pale, sunker-cheeked. brigat-eyed.
nervous man, who said that his name
was J1an- He at once accepted the Of
fer Of our manager, and appeared enx-
Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1891-02-05

some girl, but at the age of twelve she
was stricken with terrible malady
which left her partially paralyzed.
Often during the summer that followed
her prostration she lay with longing
heart and wistful eyes, looking after
her younger brothers and sisters who
romped about the yard or scampered
off to the orchard where apples lay in
delicious heaps on the ground. Yet no
word of complaint escaped her. and
only now and then a tear stole down
her pinched checks.
As the months passed the anxious
parents noted with sorrow that Hannah
grew no better and a great fear pos
sessed them lest she should always be
cripple. They refrained from express
ing their thoughts in her hearing, but
they knew from the look of patient res
ignation, which grew to be fixed ex-
preston of her countenance, that she
fully understood their feelings and had
resolved to submit TO the inevitable.
Though there was no hope of her re-
covery she was not miserable. She
longed for the sunshine and freedom of
NOAllis Jul hAlG
through which she had passed had de-
veloped in her a spirit of patient endur-
ance that made her nothing less than
heroine and philosopher.
II have the use of my hands
an eyes yet" she one day said
to her mother, IAN that's heap
TO be thankful for. I'd rather be lame,
than to be blind like little Nell Black,
an besides Nell has no kind father an
mother to care for her, an have"
Tim powerful glad to hear you talk
that way" replied Mrs. Gray. I've
been afraid you might think your lot
harder than anybody's, but now you
can think OF somebody who is worse off
than you your lot won't seem so bad"
There's lots O. things / can do to
help you. nam" Hannah continued
shortly, IF ANT able to walk. know
how to knit an can knit all the gloves
this winter for pap an the boys. |
know enough about SEWN, too, SO can
make the dresses an aprons for the lit
tie 'uns. I've already pieced three
quilts, you know"
Eyes, of course you're great help to
me, Ham," said Mrs. Gray, consolingly,
IAN don't see how I'd git along 'thout
Won. Because you cant run around it
Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1891-02-05

If she had the strength you have she d
do twice as much, I'll be bound"
The truth of this remark nettled
Steve, and, scowling at his sister, he
stall1ed sullenly out of the room.
All that afternoon Hannah lay on her
| little cot, her delicate fingers keeping
| time to the clicking needles, while her
face wore a look of unusual anxiety
and interest. Evidently she was devils
| ing plan to make herself less depend
ent. 1t was great affection to be
cripple, but to be tainted with her help
lessness was more than her sensitive nat
ure could bear.
pap" she said that evening, don't
you think could walk if | had
crutches? could help mann SO much II
could only go about, an it don't seem
like lSnittin an SEWN an plaitin' straw
for the boys hats is much work. Any
how, Steve don't think it is"
Don't pay no attention to Steve,
Ham" Mr. Gray said. I'VE all know
how peart you air, an so does Steve
He's Jest teasin' of you. I'll make you
pair o light crutches tomorrow an
you can try 'em. If you could walk
with 'em they'd be power of enjoy
ment TO you; an it nd do my old heart
good to see you goin' about agin.
The crutches, or sticks" as Hannah
called them. were duly presented to her,
and she surveyed them critically, her
black eyes swapping with happy antiei-
patton. At first she used her new sup
ports very awkwardly and was able to
take only a few steps at time. Though
she had long since learned the value OF
patience, never before had she felt more
in need of that virtue. Her whole soul
was crying out for freedom, yet how
slowly her strength returned and how
heavy were those cum bersome limbs.
But Hannah struggled bravely on, and
if any rebcllious thoughts came TO her,
she sternly dismissed them, happy in
the knowledge that she was less unfort-
innate than many others and much i'm
proved over her former condition.
'It's better than lynn helpless in
bed" she said TO sympathizing friend
on one occasion. II know it amt as If
could walk an run as other children
do. but it's better than not wallkiD' at
all I'm learnin' 10 do so many things
that nam thought ! couldn't 20, an
can help in so many ways" she con-
tinued, cheerfully, that | don't feel as
though I've any right TO be sad about
my condition"
Indeed Han had grown TO be so help
full and so unmindful of her own disad-
vantages, that her Affections, though
never decreasing, seemed less noticeable;
and she went about her duties in such
cheerful, self-confident spirit that she
carried strength and courage TO those
with whom she came in contact.
II do b'lieve. Jeems," said Mrs. Gray,
shat Han'll make smart woman.
She's the particularist ereetur' bout her
work | ever see, an she don't slight
nothin'. She done nearly the whole
weeks ironin'. an had ever thing in its
place long afore dinner"
"Why, didn't low she could stand
long enough to do the ironin'," replied
the father.
"Oh, she didn't stand. She set in her
easy cheer an the children carried the
Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1891-02-05

ious to begin to play the part Of a
human target.
81 was present at the first trial, and
never saw a man look so happy as Juan
did when he stood before the target ana
faced Pat, who had his hands full of the
Misunderstanding knives. When the
first steel blade went whizzing through
the air Juan smiled slightly, but other
wise did not move a muscle. The blade
struck just over his head, and carried
some of his hair with it into the board
Then came two more knives, one strik-
ing on each side of his neck, so close
that light could not be seen between him
and the steel. Knife after knife PAT
threw until Juan was literally fenced in
with them and could not move until
they were withdrawn.
Then Pat Lancy became Palanci.
the great Roman knife-thrower, and
was billed to appear for the first time
in America at Peoria. He did appear
proud and delighted, but no more so
than Juan, who stood looking him in
the face as each shining blade glittered
in the air, and entered the board within
a hair -breadth of the human mark.
Though the audience was perceptibly
affected as each knife was making its
Journey, Juan never WINGED This
would have been remarkable in any
one, but was particularly so in man
who appeared nervous at all other times.
Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1891-02-05

"Jedgin' FIN tn racket hit made last
night that gators fifteen foot long
not an inch less, said old Fluker, who
had been born slave on the place and
was won't to officiate as oraele-in-chief
to the younger generation of dusl1y
Georgians. More than one of the gang
had mourned the loss of favorite dog
that was believed to have gone down
the red gullet of this particular gator,
and the thirst for vengeance gave zest
to the hunt A drought of unusual
duration had made the water in the
pond very low, and it was found pos
sible to approach within reaching dis
lance of the gators hole by wading
few rods through swamp mud.
Young Tom set his teeth, took firm
grip of the long pole, and in few mo-
ments was prodding vigorously in the
cave. The maddened reptile snapped at
the hook, it fastened itself in his jaws.
and the next instant Tom was jerlsed
PROSTATE in the mud. He held to the
pole. however, and several of the boys
seized the rope attached to the handle.
They pulled, and the alligator, an enor-
nous one, charged on his enemies, lash
ing his wicked tail and kissing most
horribly Young Tom dropped every
thing and made for dry land, barely es-
Gaping a vicious blow from the gators
tail. The attack was renewed again
and again with the same result. The
boys had the beast hooked, but could
not land him.
Like flash of inspiration the thought
of Old Bawley presented itself to young
Toms mind.
Fetch the muller he shouted.
A dozen youngsters obeyed the order.
In five minutes Old Bawley was hitched
securely to the rope. Bogus Jackson,
daring young 'coon" who had ridden
him in many a scrub-race, was perched
on his back and instructed to yank the
gator out. He gave the mule one blow
only one-on the ribs with a light
wood knot, and with wild below Old
Bawley sprang to his work. At the
first jump the alligator was jerl1ed out
on the bank, kissing, disappearing and
thrashing its awful tail Old Bawley
looked back for an instant and saw the
hideous creature. No need for Bogus
Jaclxson's club now. AS that coffee
colored lad rolled off into the gallberry
bushes the mule, snorting with terror,
his ears thrown back, his tail straight
out, and every muscle strained to its
utmost, tore through the woods with
the speed of an express train. And
ever as he looked back and caught a
lightning glimpse of his frightful pur-
suer humping horribly at his heels he
redoubled his efforts and roared with
all the energy of his being. Bawlcy
had done some fast running in his day,
but his best previous record wasn't a
circumstance to the time he was max
ing now. On through the dense woods,
on through the pine stumps, palmetto
plants, and stunted gallberry bushes
Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1891-02-05

Young Tom, lad who was lively and
industrious enough, but much given to
fishing, 'possum hunting and above all
to alligator-catching. And right here
the plot of this story begins to thiclcn.
One night, soon after Young Toms
father had made his will, an alligator
in an adjacent swamp disturbed the
slumbcrs of the Krandalls by most
unearthly following. Early next morn
ing Young Tom, assisted by a swarm of
Afro-Americans aged from three to fif-
teen years, repaired to the swamp with
the tackle customarily used in eaptur-
ing gators. the chief implement being
a hook of peculiar construction fastened
in stout wooden handle. It had
pulled many an ugly saurian from his
cave IN the swamps- A great deal of
interest was felt in this hunt, as the al
Igator was believed to be an unusually
large one.
Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1891-02-05

NOW on THE GROUND, NOW IN THE AIR. O
few the frenzied old mule, and on flew,
close to his heels, limp and soggy al
ligator, bouncing, banging and zigzag-
ging wildly, now in the air, now
on the ground, now rebounding
from some decayed stump on one side
and bringing up with a muifled
crunch against tree on the other, but
keeping all the time in the general di-
rection pursued by Old Bawley. On
past the Westinghouse where Parson
Wheeler's Mortified congregation, just
dismissed from funeral service, stood
gazing at the fleeing caravan in petrified
establishment, on through Nanny
Briggs yard, pulling down the weeks
washing for the Krandall household. on
through the premises of Scrub Jones,
upsetting a barrel of soft soap, demol-
ishing a hencoop in the rear of Alb
Gantling's house, and carrying desola-
ton TO limbo Hunters melon patch,
whizzed the ill-assorsed pair with I'M
abated speed.
But all things have an end. AT the
turning of long lane stood the school
house where Bessie Krandall was teach
ing the young Georgia idea its first les
sons in projectiles. Old Bawley, clearing
fence without variation in the swing
of his stretching gallop and dragging
the gator through its decayed timbers
without feeling the obstruction, tore
down this lane. At the point where the
road took a sudden turn he let it turn
and crashed through the gate of the
school-yard, then through the door of
the little school-house, the stout tim
bers flying into splinters as he struck it,
and with last despairing enort Old
Bawley fell to the floor amid a pile of
overturned benches and yielded up the
ghost, while two score Reconstruction
children screechcd requiem over his
lifeless remains.-Chicago Tribune.
Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1891-02-05

amt no sign you don't do no work. I
know some that has good use o. their
limbs that don't use EN- much for any
good purpose, an don't see but that
them as has got the viii amt lots
more account than them that hain't
nothin' but strength
Hans brothers and sisters, however,
were not SO considcrate of her feelings,
and often they made remarks in her
presence that hurt her sensitive heart
sorely. One day Steve. her elder
brother, shambled rudely into the room.
saying:
Han, it pears like you ort to be
doin' somethin' asides lynn abed all the
time. The rest of US has to work from
rnornin' till night; an | don't see no use
o. so much gruntin' nohow."
Steve, cried his mother, you ortn't
to talk to Han that way. She's Jest as
useful in her way es you are in yourn.
Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1891-02-05

acres of pine woods and swamp land
near the great Okefnolkee swamp, and
Old Tom religiously believed his mule
TO be the most sagacious, Industrious
and trustworthy beast that ever chewed
hay.
II taken that animal when hit weren't
no bigger'n pint o. huclleberries, an
tn can't nobody tell me hit amt the
smartest an best mule in Georgy 'thout
bein' called liar, an flghtin' liar, {
boot. When hit comes to q mule at
knows more'n half the school-teacher
dooz and S willin' t work, too, I'll put
Old Bawley agin any mule at walks on
four laigs."
The people of the neighborhood en-
tertained much the same opinion of Old
Bawley. Any stranger that wanted a
fight on his hands had only to stroll
into that region and cast slurs on Old
Tom Krandall's mule. Indeed, it was
currently reported that young dude
from brownsville. who had ''partiel1-
Ter hankerin' after Miss Georgia Kran-
dali, spoke once upon n time incau-
tiously of Old Bawley in her presence
as IAN onhan' some beast" and when
last seen he was running through mile
of swamp that lay between the Kran-
dall's and Townsville, and he was only
a short distance ahead of bulldog the
spirited girl had unclaimed for his sole
and exclusive benefit.
The numerous negroes on the place
believed Old Bawley understood every
thing he heard anybody say, and were
careful how they talked when he was
within hearing distance. Old Tom
Krandall had no sort of doubt the ami
NAL would outlive him, and in making
his viii he bequeathed him. in the most
solemn and binding English Squire
T'higgs could muster, to his only son,
Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1891-02-05

" DO Won mind the Widow Martins quiitlnF
Her daughter Sue was Tightly thingi
ALWAYS Iaughin' an firtin' an liltin'
An wearin' this n an t'others ring.
She's dead this twenty year, poor crecter
She haa soft blue eyes an head o curls
Seems like the maids an the flowers were
When we were girls.
HOW IL showed that day though twas just
November
Was the quilt Log Cabin or irish ChalnF
have forgot. But we'll remember
The Widows nephew from down in Maine.
When we shook the cat. he set her yellin',
An bounced her out in about three whirls
They had many ways o. fortunetelhn
When we were girls.
"Don't you remember the spellin battle
Twas summer then, and the weather inc
When Polly jerks spelt 'c-atl, cattle
An Temperance Trimble 'v-i-g-n, vineF
But what did il matter, word or letter.
They had cheeks like roses, teeth like
pearls.
Men were the same-no worse no better
When we were girls.
",Twas the master himself that Polly married.
Why, Jane, what ails YET What makes ye
sighS
You could not wed while the grandsire
tarried;
So youth. an roses an love went by.
They tell me Polly is fine an naughty
In boughton roses an boughten pearls,
An the master, Just the same that taught ye
When We were girls.
oh. tho winter-time, full O. rides and dances;
The summer days when VIC sang an spun;
The neetin' house, an the stolen glances
Across the aisle when the prayer was done
Fifty years since VIC two were twenty;
But It all comes back as the smoke up
curls-
The 10y an hope, an love, an plenty
When we were girls"
-Hnrpcr's Bazaar.
Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1891-02-05

why he had preserved the advertise
ment, he told the story which | am
about to repeat
pat Laney was a jolly freshman,
employed by the first circus that ! be-
longed TO. and his business was to SUI
perintend the erection and removal of
the seats. But Pat was ambitious to
become performer, and several times
went into training, but succeeded only
in making his companions laugh at his
repeated failures. He began too late
in life to train his muscles for the ac-
complishment Of difficult feats, and,
though he tried tumbling, riding, leap
ing, turning, and almost every thing
that he could think OF, the result was
only lameness, which occasionally kept
him idle for a few days After many
disappointments Pat had n bright
idea, and, providing himself with
dozen daggcr-lSe knives, he
busted himself in throwing them
at wooden target about twenty feet
distant. Tie had discovered his talent
at last. for the success that followed his
practice was really remarkable. and as
tonished even himself. After he was
able TO plant the knives in his wooden
target at about the points he desired to
hit, he drew the form of man on it,
and took delight in seeing how near he
could come to the human outline with
out touching it. For several months he
kept up the practice, and at length
Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1891-02-05


The lrnife-throwing act was n novelty
then, and proved to be a good card for
the show. Pat continued to improve in
skill. and Juan was always perfectly
willing that he should attempt any new
feat, no matter how dangerous it might
be. In fact, the more dangerous the
better Juan appeared to enjoy it. He
was always anxious for a performance,
and the only time that he ever looked
sad was when one had closed.
after the lnife-throwing act had
been going ON for a couple of weeks,
and we had crossed the river into Iowa,
Juan came to me and said: DO you
know that Pat will kill me some day?'
~ hardly knew what to answer, for
had been fearing that terrible acci-
dent might happen; yet did not want
to frighten Juan. So evaded direct
answer by saying: As Pat has not
harmed you yet. and seems so sure Of
his aim. there may be no great danger
"'Will you take my place the day
that we perform in Mount Pleasant? he
asked.
Il have my own work. answered.
and would rather not interfere with
the parts of other performers.
"He gave me a queer look, as he said:
Now you have answered my first ques-
ton.
THAT was the only time that Juan
ever spoke to me on the subject, and
then feared that he would not perform
again; but he did. and twice each day
was ready and APPARENTLY anxious to
play his part. Yet | noticed a great
change in him, and an extreme restless
ness that left him only when he was in
the ring and Pat was planting the
knives around him.
"When we reached the little city Of
Mount Pleasant Juan was quite sick
and did not leave the tent, and we
feared that he would not be able to per-
form in the afternoon. In the morning
a few of us took walk about the town,
and also visited the insane asylum.
where the physician in charge kindly
received US and showed us through the
institution. In the afternoon Juan was
out of bed and ready for his perform
anee, looking pleased. as he always did
at such times, and impatient TO begin.
After the performance he entered the
dressing tent where | was sitting aud
prepared TO change his clothing. In
few minutes the superintendent of the
asylum entered with our manager
That is the man. said the doctor,
pointing at Juan.
Juan appeared to recognize him, and
asked: Must 90 with your
Yes answered the doctor, and
turning to our manager, he continued:
1T is a strange case, for that man you
call Juan is intelligent and harmless,
and has been confined only on account
of his belief that when he dies he will
certainly be lost, unless some one be-
sides himself kills him with knife.
and he is continually besceching his
friends to stab him to the heart. Abous
two months ago he escaped from the
asylum. and we could learn nothing OF
him, until saw him in the circus ring
few minutes ago. making target OF
himself in the evident hope that che OF
the knives would kill him.
''Juan went back to the asylum.
where he died natural death soon af-
terward. "-H. C. Fulton. in Chicago
Daily News
Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1891-02-05
BAWLEY'S LAST RUN.
Interesting Story Of Georgia
Mule end q Swamp Gator.

HEprincipal per-
S o n ag c C o n
cerned in this
authentic n ar
ra iv e W a S
k n o w n a / l
through the big
woods of South
eastern Georgia
a S old L o IN
Krandall's one
G y C d m u ! e
"Bawley." Old
Bawley and his
IN n s tic r dwelt
IN N fhnn,cnnd
Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1891-02-05
THE HUMAN TARGET.
An Old Showrnans Story of a
Man of Nerve.

l. / X L TO ex-
anime the old
S h o w m a ms
scrap-book, for
it contain S
many curious
clippings. Here
is one of them:
"wanted-Aman
OF nerve. to stand
as q target for an
expert knife
thrower. X bin
sons Circus. "
When | asked
NV old friap1
Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1891-02-05

She-Papa thought he was smart put
ting a receiptcd gas bill among the pres
ents. didn't he?
He-Yes; especially when you always
turned the gas almost out when called.
Jury.
Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1891-02-05
signs of Greatness.

Mrs Hopeful-Is my boy improving
any?
Professor of Penmanship-He is get
ting worse. His writing is now SO bad
no living soul can read it.
''How lovelyl The darling! He'll be
great author some days,H'-Good News.