davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-03-22
ACTION.

IT'S the part OF the coward to brood
What though the hearts roses ashes and dusti
What though the sou's music be fed!
Still from the blue heavens o'erhead
Comes voice OF an angel who from out Of his
soul
Cries, ION with the armor, press on to the goalP'
What though the lost hopes of thy youth
Seem burden too heavy to beari
What life can reboom on the desolate waste
or remorse and a wthered despair?
Away with the letters of fear
In the strength and the glory of manhood arise,
With the hope that fears not and the Will that de-
fes.
Oh say not 100 late" in Gods infinite world.
1 But bravely press through LIES nethermost
fires.
" Too late' is phantom that flies at the dawn.
For the soul who repents and aspires
If pure thou hast made thy desires.
There's no height the strong wings of mortals may
gain
Which, in striving to reach, thou shalt strive for in
vain.
Then up to the contest with fate
Unbound by the past which is dead
What though the hearts ashes and dust
What though the soul's music be fed!
Bright shine the fair heavens o'erheadi
And sublime as the seraph who rules in the sun
Beams the promise OF Joy when the victory iswon!
RUTH WARD KAHN.
LedduiHe, Colo, March, 1891.
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-03-22

tached another hook to my leader, about
twelve inches above the first and to it
fixed three and half-inch sinner that |
had just caught, hooking it through both
lips. | argued with my friend that this
would do no harm, and it might be an ad-
vantage, as it would keep the wOrm-bait
moving. The water was about twelve feet
deep, and as the bats slowly sank / could
feel the milnow playing. l judged it had
reached within a few feet of the bottom,
when in strong, steady, business-like
manner it started away from the boat. At
first supposed il was the minnow at work,
but after playing out foot after foot of line
fish than the minnow that was now at the
other end of my line. About the same time
/ realized the fact that only very large
trout would tackle so large a minnow, and
my excitement grew apace. About thirty
feet of line ran out steadily, and then
stopped. was aware that the bait would
have to be swallowed before the hook could
get in its deadly work. and Immediately
thought of the way pickerel will stop in
order tn turn bait in his mouth SO as to
swallow it head first. and waited for like
maneuver from my trout. l was not, how
ever, quite prepared for what happened
Suddenly the rod was almost jerked from
my grasp. The line cut the water with
Zip and the reel buzZed furiously. Then |
struck, and struck so hard that nothing in
the world saved the rod but the length of
line that was between it and the trout. 1t
was like striking the bottom of the lake.
The fish started straight for the boat at such
rate of speed that my multipler was in
adequate, and was obliged to take in line
hand over hand. In spite of my utmost en-
beavers, under the boat he went; then with
unabated strength took course astern of
us, quickly using up the unreeled line that
had accumulated in the bottom Of the boat.
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-03-22
LIE MONDE s'AMUSE.

Into his labor, loving, but no less
A labor of tired will and nerve and brain,
Dark with suffering he could not repress,
OF striving and OF failing TO attain,
Into his theme the poet wove at length
All that he felt most earnest was. most true
or his best self Finished, 1t was the strength
OF half his LIES thought; and he felt-more-
knew
His heart could speak no Drawer though 1t bled,
those high truths his pen had sought to phrase.
But the great world was silent when 1t read,
Or, worse than silence, spoke but to dispraise.
Dazed with self scorn, he scarcely felt the whip
OF public censure hot sense of wrong
Lay seal OF silence en- his whitening lip;
But once his Idle fingers traced In song
feeting, chance-born fancy of his brain;
So simple that he wrote and straight forgot;
Forgot and turned him to his shame again.
Not long. and that same careless rhyme was
caught
Upon thousand tongues; and in that hour
There shrlll praises of the writer's art,
His matchiess patience and his noble poweri
Far as the portals of his grevlng heart
With mighty growth, the tide of incense swept;
Yet when his fame pulsed maddest through the
land
He, weary, turned away his face and wept
1t was too hard, too cruel to understand.
March, 1891 MARION HILL
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-03-22
TRIED TO Be A
GOOD NEIGHBOR.
Farmer Hopkins Experiments With a
Heightened Community.
The Society of Bacillusville, L. l., Objected to
His Industrious Habits, and Finally
Froze Him Out.

Society in Bacillusville, L. l., is so ex-
elusive that only the malaria can get into
it. The old residents of the town have no
place among the aristocracy, and the rela-
tions between the two classes remind one OF
those tender sentiments which bind the
North American Indian to this Government.
The common herd is kept within its ''reSer-
vation."
1t was by "fluke," therefore, that
rusty old codger like Farmer AlphonsO
Hopkins secured the magnificent residence
and corner lot which Broker Lemuel Skin
ner had lacked the time to dispose of pre-
vious to taking the fast mail for Canada.
Skinner had been one of the brightest Orna-
ments of Greenlawn avenue, and his de-
parture was the more regretted because not
even extraditiOn proceedings could bring
him back.
When the golden windfall came Mr.. and
Mrs. hopkins decided that it was time their
two daughters left off washing dishes and
learned to play on the piano. Mrs. Hop
klns favored moving to Fifth avenue, be-
cause New York society was gay and the
girls were of an age when they naturally
liked going into company. But AlphOnso
objected. He said that the moral atmos-
phere OF New York was impure, and, more
over, the Fifth-avenue houses had almost no
grounds around them. He did not want TO
every morning for fear of carrying away his
entire front-yard.
Bacillusville was the result of COM
promise. The Hnpkinses took their new
neighbors by surprise, and the first intma-
ton OF the true state of the case was derived
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-03-22
POETIC THOUGHTS.
Written for The SUNDAY CALL
WHEN I AM FIFTY.

-REN am fifty will bind my hair
EHIa Straight back, L think, and in the
W. rudy bands
Perhaps. find threa DIS of silver here and
there.
And sigh to think how Times relentless hands
Are shaking out the sands within the glass
To think how swiftly do the seasons pass.
When 1 am fifty I, OF course, W Ill dress
In black, or Quaker colors, but I'll wear
Soft bits of lace to tone its soberness
And may be- one small jewel in my hair.
VIII be wise ana not compress my feet,
But yet my slippers shall be fine and neat
When am fifty you'll be hfty-four;
How odd you'll look, with glasses on your nose!
You will be versed in every kind of lore
judge or else 4 deacon, suppose;
And will watch you going down the street.
With grand, benIgnant bows for all you meet.
And Will our greetings be the very same,
wonder will the same old feelings stir,
Or Will you say .Good afternoon madam"
And will bow, aud calmly call you "Sir."
And will we turn and go our separate ways.
Without sigh or smile for old-time days
wonder if, perchance, we'll watch the moon
Sail high in he tven's blue and amethyst,
And wander down the lane when merry June
Keeps with the world the same old summer-tryst,
And view the stars, and say how bright they seem,
And that the world Is all lovely dream?
Or II we both will feel a bit too stiff.
And fear the dampness of the failing dew;
And when the nights cool wonder If
Well choose the fire before the grandest view
II we will care for moonlight walks no more
When am fifty and you hfty-tour
ST LOUIS, No., March, 1884, HATTIE WHITNEY.
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-03-22

the back and front yellow and the two
sides brown. Then Alphonso mixed his
paints on the lawn, slung his ladders and
prepared for work.
This frghtful project broke the armed
neutrality which had been observed hitherto
by his new neighbOrs. Mr.. Roche-Jones
ventured to call with remonstrance. he
said: 'Mr. Hopkins, up to this time we
have not troubled you with any
"Bless my soul" cried Alphonso, $50 that
was why you hung back. Afraid of troublin'
me. WAL now, | swan. Eve done you an
injustice. Mother"-he called to Mrs.
Hopkins, who apt cared in the front hall at
this moment-'here's Mr.. Jones come over
to see us and explain why he amt been more
neighborly. Seems that he thought we'd be
busy, havin' jest moved in, so he didn't
want to trouble u.s."
mo trouble at all, Mr.. Jones. Pm sure"
said Mrs. Hopkins, wiping her right hand
on her apron as she advanced. wed
a-been glad to see you or Mrs. Jones any
day. Tell her to come. over and bring her
SEWN work whenever she feels like 1t"
Mother" said Farmer Hopkins, u know
that if we showed our bringia' up by be-
havin' right to these folks we could win EN-
round. Pm sorry | forgot to tell Neighbor
Jones that / expect to have enough this
red paint left over to touch up his house
little if so be as he should feel the need OF a
change"
Hopkins finished his house-painting with
out further interruption. He fingered over
it, knowing how badly he would feel when
it was done, and lie was forced to be idle
again. The work gave him opportunities
for reflection, and he got an idea which
promised a little steady occupation. lie re-
solved 10 keep a COW. He could raise almost
enough hay on the lawn to feed her, and no
doubt his neighbors would be glad to take
little of the milk.
Mrs. Hopkins approved, and the COW was
purchased. Ii the unusual hue of the Hop
kins' residence had not already made it the
most conspicuous on the avenue, the sight
of the COW roaming amid the tall grass on
the lawn would have been sufficient. Hop
kins was famous.
ODD jobs helped him out little. He
helped his wife to make soft soap in the
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-03-22

her in the back yard. This led to call
from Mr.. Van Anime.
''Mr. Hopkins" said he, 81 want to speak
of that unusual spectacle on your premises
this morning"
YES" said Hopkins, calmly, ''how much
do you think the critter weished?"
81 have no desire to know, but"
Sho; | was in hopes L could sell you a
quarter Down our way when a man kills
critter his neighbors most always take some
OF it Off his hands"
Mr., Van Alpine lost his temper He
threatened legal proceedings, and when
they failed to terrify Hopkins he limited at
illegal proceedings by a vigilance commit
tee
+" Mother" said Mr.. Hopkins. in reporting
this interview to his wife, II don't think we
can live among such heathens any longer.
So0n's l collect our milk bills and salt down
that beef l believe We'll pull up stakes"
The milk bills met with an almost unani-
nous reputation. Mr.. Van Alpine said
he'd take the case to the Supreme Court be-
fore he'd pay the 96 cents which Hopkins
claimed. Two Of his late customers got
ruined on Wall street. aud another moved
away without leaving his address.
Eve tried to be good Neighbour" said
Hopkins addressing the family circle on the
last day before his departure. but it want
no use This is my last experiment with
heightened community"
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-03-22

1t. There was a tower at one end of
it in which a political prisoner had been
immured more than 300 years before.
Au owl now occupies the gloomy chamber
in which he used to languish. Bats there
were also in abundance, and several times.
as | lay on the tiled roof up alOft | have
heard my name called in the air, just over
the parapet. There was clean drop there
of seventy feet to the ground.
In the body OF the edltce there was sort
of cell, massively constructed of stone.
This was the special abiding place of the
ghost One night my sister, having occasion
u 60 there. set the candle on the mantel-
piece. As she was STOPPING over a chest in
the corner she noticed her shadow glide
along the wall. Turning. she saw that the
candle had been placed On the table,
several yards from its former position.
But no one except herself was in that part
of the house.
An immense place it was with upward of
forty large rooms. My bedroom was at the
end of the west wing; five rooms opening
into one another. Often l have walked up
AMI heard some one pacing to and fro in
these rooms and the rustic of long skirt
sweeping on the bare wooden floors. |
used to suppose 1t was my mother; and 1t
was not until some years later that dis
covered that it was either my Imagination or
something else.
However, TO so back to that hand that
moved the lamp. 1t was a white, we'll
SNAPPED, woman manu-, WIFI long, SlENueT
fingers, and a turquoise ring on one finger.
1t was the hand Of a fair, young American
lady who, years afterward, leaped or fell
from a steamboat in Long Island Sound,
and so vanished from this world. But at
the time / write of she was woman of
happy disposition d singular intelligence,
and was a graduate of a famous Western
college Either her education or a natural
bias of mind once rendered her rather skep-
teal in her views; nowadays she might
have been called an agnostic. Nevertheless
she possessed (though she herself ridiculed
~ that still unexplained power that we
call mediumistic. She was writing me-
dunn"
SpirtuaIism has not lost its novelty. Sci
ence has delivered no verdict, and nobody
knows whether to believe or not. But
there was an English lady living near Us
who was a believer, and often discoursed
with earnestness on the subject, and one
day she said, IF we only had a mediumW
WhereupOn this American girl graduate in-
timated that she believed she had some
little faculty in that way but that
she could not, herself, place the least Gre
dence in the supernatural origin Of the
phenomena.
To make a long story short our medium
consented to an experiment, and for a cOu-
pie of weeks thereafter, while seven or
eight of US sat round the table in the great
Italian hall, the pencil in her white hand
would be driven along the paper, she re-
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-03-22
1T STOPPED THE METER.
A Spiders Web Does Good Turn for


A Spiders Web Does Good Turn for a
Business Man.
The Superb ntendent of an electric light
station gives strange instance of the stop
ping Of meter and the explanation Of the
trouble
On examining the meter, which was of
twerty-light capacity. after lapse of a
month, in order to determine the quantity
of current to be charged for, he found that
the consumer, in the pressure Of business,
had placed number of small boxes around
the meter, cOncealing it from view.
As it was desirable not to disturb them, it
was suggested and agreed to that the meter
be allowed to run another month. At the
end of the second month, the coast being
clear. the meter was examined, and it was
found that it recorded only five hours since
the time of last examination.
This looked suspicious, but there was no
ground to believe that the meter had been
tempered with.
A very close inspection revealed the fact
that spider had spun its web around the
fans so that they could not rotate under the
action of the current.
1t appears that the screws which held the
cover to the top OF the instrument had not
been put in, and that the spider had taken
advantage of the opening and established
himself in the cosy quarters. - Chicago
Times
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-03-22

two-pounder More disguised men than we
were would have been hard TO find. For we
ad faithfully fshed that very pool not more
than five minutes before with the above
given result. But it suggests an idea; 1
selected fly that, so far as L could Judge,
was a fac-simile of the victim of this
tragedy, and substituting it for the one L
had been using as stretcher, and after
waiting a few moments to let everything
get quiet again. l made long cast dropping
the flies away down near the lower end OF
the pool, and drawing them carefully up
toward the place where the trout had just
broke" water. They reached this spot,
but passed over it without interference, and
l was about TO make another cast, when
above them in nid-air appeared the grace
followed by splash as he reached
the water, mighty tug at my
line and that peculiar tingling of the nerves
familiar 10 every fsiIerm1n. L struck with
a force that caused my seven-onnce split a
bamboo to snap ominously. But it stood
the strain. 1t must have both surprised
and hurt the trout for it raised to the sur
face again and went straight up in the air
some two feet. And then the music OF the
reel commenced. 1t was a great tight-deli-
cate tackle matched against rage and cum
ning-and it was good ten minutes before
he was sufficiently tanned to be brought
within netting distance. His weight was
trihe over two pounds and nall, ana IN
his honor L must say tDat nave TAKEN
MANY a larger trout with considerably less
trouble. My friend attached similar flies to
his leader. and from then until dark we had
lively sport, making catch OF thirty-four
trout in something less than three hours.
Speaking of big catches reminds me OF an
experience had in the fall of 1899 in the
Adirondacks. We had been fishing for
week or so in the waters of Cranberry Lake,
and with very indifferent success, owing to
the high water caused by recent rains. On
complaining to our guide of the sport he
had given us, he replied that If we were not
afraid of some hard work in the way of
making two long mountain carries he would
take us to pond some eight miles distant
that was noted for its large trout and whose
waters would be in right condition for sue
ceSsful fishing. We answered we were
game for anything short OF death tnat
would insure us one good days sport. The
following day, about two hours befure
dusk, found us seated in canoe wetting our
lines in this pond. Our guide Informed us
that q pecIliarity of the pond was that the
tout would not rise to fly. After casting
for an hour or so we believed his lam
guage," and in the place of flies tried
worms. The change brought US fairly good
success, as about every half hour one of US
would take quarter or a half-pounder
But it was irksOme fun, this ansleworm
fishing, as our hooks we're continually being
barred by sinners.
Just before dark, more out of revenge
than any hope of lettering my luck, at
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-03-22

81 fash Of 0listeIng sftuer and UermtoH Struck the
air."
that the rod was so plant that 1t gave the
fish no more resistance than he had antici-
pated from the obstinacy of so large min
now. And after he had nicely stored it
away in his stomach it tried his temper to
feel the minnow swimming out of him and
most likely scraping his insides in highly
disagreeab!e manner.
The big sinner had distended the jaws OF
the trout to such an extent that the point OF
the small hook failed to reach him.
Next day weRept our guide busy catching
minnows, and between sunrise and sunset
We took sixty-three trout that weighed fifty
pounds. 1t was the handsomest average of
brook trout that [ have ever seen. We
would undoubtedly have added third more
to this catch had our bait been smaller or
our hooks larger.
The following suggestions may be of serv-
ice to the amateur angler. When possible
face the sun, otherwise long before the
hook reaches the water Your shadow will
have dispersed the fish. Ii the banks of the
stream are DOGGY, be careful not TO Jar the
ground, which would have the same disas-
trous effect. Likewise see that overhauging
bushes are not disturbed. If using bait, the
leoder should be but twelve inches long, for
in order to reach some pools difficult of ae-
cess the line must be reeled in to that
length. The most attractive bait is a red
angle-worm, not too large, and looped on
the hook in such way as to leave plenty of
weighing ends.
The fly-leader is nine feet long, single
smell, and composed of three sections. After
attaching the stretcher or tail-fy. slip apart
the loops that join the first two sections.
counting from the stretcher and place
through them the loop on the smell of your
fly. After pulling the leader loops together,
it will be found that the knot on the fly
smell will prevent it from slipping Neither
will there be any danger of cracking the dry
smell. When wading a stream, light
der by rubber band of sufficient length to
allow the net to hang on the right hip.
Here it is convenient to the hand, and will
easily stretch TO the water and return to its
former position on being released.
To really enjoy trout fishing a man must
have strong but delicate tackle. Unless his
rod is light and sprngy, and his line runs
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-03-22
STANZAS.

Thy hands shall lay in mine,
My eyes shall LOOK in thIne-
Some day.
Far near, l know not, dear;
But know it will be so
Content wait the hour OF fate,
And have 10 fear.
Serene watch the shifting skies,
Some day I'll look into thy eyes;
Some day-some daY.
know not where twill be,
Here, love, or cross the sea-
do not care.
l long to see thy face,
What matters It the place,
SO thou art there?
know twill be enough for me,
And SO L pray
With heart that never doubts, but knows,
Sure as a river seaward flows,
Wen meet some day.
know not how; ali! who can know?
But we shall meet again below.
How? 1t may be IN death,
Or hope of years to be;
But something like voice angelic saith,
This side the great eternity,
Her face thOu'lt see.
When, where, or how?
God knows, and so bow.
He speaks now.
Yet abide, knowing Pm not denied;
But by the watch and waiting sanctihed
alameda, Cal, March u, 1891. ANELEH.
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-03-22

from the sight Of AlphOnso in a suit of faded
blue overals sitting on the front steps OF his
residence loading clay pipe with plug to-
bacco. The gentle ZephyrS of early May
waited the smoke to the aristocratic nostrils
OF Mrs. ROche-Jones, mistress OF the man
sion on Alphonso'S left, as she was prepar-
ing to enter her carriage Tor an afternoon
drive. She turned and looked at AlphOns0
with horror: he nodded pleasantly and
called good day, ma am, in voice which
made the cultured air OF Greenlawn avenue
shuddeT.
Pm afeard them folks below us amt
goin' to be neighborly." he said to Mrs.
Hopkins, when she appeared on the porch
shortly afterwaTd.
''0b, would not borry no trouble about
it, father replied Mrs. Hopkins. The
women folks can most generally fix those
things up quickest. Pll kind o make an
errand over there in the mornin', maxim
out as if | wanted to berry tlatron CT little
yeast. | can alters get acquainted with
woman best in her own kitchen.
Mrs. Hopkins did not tind Mrs. Roche
Jones in her own kitchen, which may ac
count for the failure of her pacific mission.
Neither did similar visit to the residence
OF Mrs. Van Alpine, their neighbor on the
right, result in the establishment Of social
relations. Then AlphonsO tried the expert
ment of smoking his after-Supper pipe sit
ting on the little orname nted fence which
separated his grounds from those OF the
RIGHTEOUSNESS. He assumed an easy atti-
tude, calculated to draw Mr.. Roche-J Jones
into friendly discussion of politics or the
weather but that gentleman only glanced
out Of the parlor window and scGwed. The
pipe of peace was equally pOwerless on the
other side OF the house, and Farmer Hop
kins began to feel sighted.
They shan't say't l amt dom my duty
as a good neighbour" he said; and he con-
tinued to bow cordially to eyerybod who
came within range.
Thus he whiled away few days. but be-
fore long ennui attacked him again as VIC
lently as if he had known the society name
for it,
Then he painted his house When the
idea of doing this occurred to him he accepted
it as an inspiration. He occupied two days
very pleasantly discussing with his wife the
question whsther to paint the house a red
dish brown to remind them Of the old home
stead, or a yellowsh hue in memory of their
late barn. 1t was finally decided to paint