davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-12-26
a TAME eLuEJAy.
How He Amuses Himself and Gives
Amusement to His Owner.

hoW he Amuses Himself and Gives
Amusement to His owner.
Among the birds which my children
raised this year is one which gives us
moro pleasure than I ever expected.
says correspondent of Forest and
Stream. 1t is u bluejay, and he is the
most cunning-plumcd fellow you can
think of. hifd to clip his wings be.
cause he would not stay in n cage, but
liked to hop and futtcr around the
house. He is not afraid of the dogs,
Will hop around and about them, sit OH
the head of big bloodhound and yell
Mt the top of his voice just for mischief.
lie defics all the chickens if they try to
take some feed away from him. / sus-
pect his terrible war cry scares them
lie will sit on our shoulders and
hands and beg for food, but
as soon as his appetite is salts
fled he takes what more is offered
him and hides it away in some nook.
Sometimes he will put it down in nv
vest pocket or under the collar of nv
outing shirt. Water he likes exceed
inGly well, and shows signs of disgust
If without his regular bath; and 10,
how he will jump in when the dishpan
is filled with the fresh, cool liquid
drink, dive, splattcr and yell for JOY.
Then out he goes to the sunny lawn
and lies down on the one side first,
spreading the opposite wing; then he
turns over to spread and dry the other
one. He will also take dry sun baths
in the same manner. If nobody is
around he will perch on chair on the
porch and sing; and he can sing right
well in low voice, initiating other
birds. His efforts to talk are also re-
marlSablc.. Everybody in the house
loves him, but we have to keep out of
his reach everything that glitters and
is not too heavy for his strength. This,
of course, is the inherited vice of the
corvine tribe, and the only complaint
can raise against him. But taking it
all round, can highly recommend to
lovers of pet birds to raise and tame Il
young bluejay, as it will certainly be n
source of great pleasure to them.
The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-12-26
THE SEcKsL PEAR.
It Grew for Moro Than FIFTY Years With.
out Having Boon Tasted.

It Grew for Moro Than FIFTY Years With.
out Having Boon Tasted.
HE who discovers new dish con-
fers q greater benefit on mankind than
nc who discovers n new STAR" says n
famous writer, and the majority of per-
sons would bc willing to accept the
statement without dissent, says the
Youths Companion. Five miles from
Philadelphia, at the confluence Of the
Delaware and Schuyll1ill rivers, there is
q fine old place, once known us the
Lawrence Sccllel estate, afterward the
property of Stephen Girard. In the
time of the Seckels the abundance and
variety of its fruit, especially it's fine
pears, made the place famous. Not
many years ago there was still stand
ing in corner of the grounds an old
pear trce-a very patriarch among the
trees, and the most celebrated of them
I'LL. For more than half n century the
fruit of this tree was not tasted. No
one thought of eating the insignificant
pcars-not much larger than. marbles
and the tree was condemned as worth
less, while it's fruit rotted on the
ground or was eaten by cows or goats.
MIR. Scckel, Lawrcnce's father, threat
ened many times to cut down the tree,
but years passed and it stood, biding
its time. How it came there or who
planted it no one knew. Lawrence
SeclSel came into possession of the es-
tate, and the pear tree, being in n sense
an ancient landmark, was allowed to
stand, although the owner had it in
mind to cut it down some time. One
afternoon in early fall Mr.. Scckcl was
returning from long walk and
CHANGED to pass beneath the worthless
tree. He stood for minute resting in
its shade. Suddenly a pear dropped,
struck him upon the head, from which
he had removed his hat, and rolled into
his open palm. Half automatically he
fumblcd the fruit between his fingers,
and was in the act of throwing it away
when it occurred to linn to bite it.
"Ah, the flavor of that pear" Mr..
Seckcl used to say, in telling the Incl
dent; III had thought myself con-
noisscur in pears, but I had never
tasted the equal of that aforetime de-
spiscd little fruit" Thus was the
Secllel pear discovered. That year the
pears were not left to rot on the ground
or to feed cows and goats. They be-
came the favorite on Mr. Sockets table.
Scions from the tree were soon in de-
mand, and the Sccliel pear has now be-
come n favorite
The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-12-26
CAN'T UNDERSTAND AMERICA.
Novelist Howcll's Amusing Experience
with an OMlcinl In Venice.

Novelist TIowclrs Amusing Experience
with an Omcinl In Venice.
The ways of English and Americans
are still appalling to the moro INDECENT
and less clcanly southern nations,
which have had for many decades large
opportunities for studying these race
pcculiaritics, and yet have never ceased
to wonder, says Youths Companion.
When w. ID. Howclls was consul at
Venice an attempted burglary in the
palace occupied by him gave occasion
for the following suggestive incident:
In my account of this affair to the
commissary of police l said that the
burglary occurred one morning about
daylight, when l saw the head of the
burglar pccring above the window sill,
and his hand extended to prey upon nv
wardrobe.
Excuse me, Signor Console" inter-
rupted the commissary, show could you
see him?"
why, there was nothing in the world
to prevent me. The window was
open"
The window was opcn!" gasped the
commissary. do you, mean that you
sleep with your windows open?"
Most certainly
Pardon" said the commissary, sus-
piciously, do all Americans sleep with
their windows opcn?"
~ may venture to say they all do in
summer" answered. AT least, it is
the general custom"
Such thing as this indulgence in
fresh air seemed altogether foreign to
the commissary's experience, and but
for my official dignity am sure should
have been effectually browbcatcn by
him. AS it was, he threw himself back
in his armchair and stared at me fixed
ly for some moments. Then he rccov-
cred himself with another "Pardon!"
and. turning to his clerk, said:
Write down that, according to the
American custom, they were sleeping
with their windows Open"
But know that for all his politencss
he considered this habit relic of the
time when we Americans abode in wig
vans.
The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-12-26
NEWS FROM HOME.

1t Proved Slightly Embarrassing to n
Young Lady In the City.
a bevy of fashionably dressed young
ladies boarded Il Park avenue car, saws
the Rochester Herald, and were fol-
lowed by lady of advanced years, who
wore II dress of the Samantha Allen
style and bonnet that bore evidence
of having been trimmed by Mother
Ewes millincr. The girls giggled con-
siderably till the lady before mentioned
happened to recognize one of them and
addressed her with: why, Sissy! How
nice you DC dressed since You came to
the city. If You haven't got on the
same gown that your Aunt Sophronia
used to wear, but it is made over SO
good that shouldn't hardly know it,
The young lady blushed, but the
speaker kept on: "Your pa has got his
potatoes most dug, and he says that
when he gets through with them he is
going to drive out and take you home
for few days. lie has got top buggy
that he bought at Bill Smiths auction.
lie says he couldn't afford to have it,
but it was going SO cheap that he took
it," Here the car stopped and the
young lady got off, saying something
about having to stop in and sec her
aunt. When last seen she was calming
her agitated nerves as she gazed at the
placid surface of the brick pavement.
The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-12-26

ny VIRTUE OF a DEED OF TRUST EXE-
- cuted to me by +. NJ. Brownlce. dated No
vemDer Let, lSO, and or record In the Office OF
inc clerk or the corporation court OF the city OF
hoanoke, In deed book No. 63 page S2o, to secure
to NJ. e. Tnrnbull the payment OF the sum or
four hundred and eighty dollars and thirty-eight
cchts, evidenced by three certain interest bear
ing negotiable notcs, dated November lst $50
executed by +. NJ. Brownlce and payable to NJ
u Turnbull, the hrst for one hundred dollars and
payanic ninety days after date ut the National.
exchange Bank, or Roanoke, Va, the others for
one hundred and ninety dollars and nineteen.
cents each, payable in one and two years from
uatc, respectively, Mt the National Exchange
Bank, or Roanoke. Va, and default having been.
made IN the payment OF the first OF the two.
nineteen cents. and the interest thereon and
being directed so to do by The holder OF the said
note, Will sell at public auction, to the highest
Diddcr, In front OF the courthouse OF Roanbke
city, on FRIDAY, JANUARY 18TH 1872 AI'
TWELVE NJ, one certain house and lot In tho
city OF Roanoke, Va bounded and described ma
follows, to-wit: beginning at point on the eass
side of Franklin street 55 feet north OF Kim,
street; thence with FranRlin road north to de-
grces cast I'll fee, to an alley; thence with said
alley north So degrees east Is feet 10 u point;
thence south 20 degrees east III feet to point;
thence, south IS degrees west rs feet TO the.
place OF beginning.
TERMS OF SALE: Cash sunicieu, to paw.
costs or sale and To pay the sum OF one hundred
and ninety dollars and nineteen cents. with In
from The LIST day OF November, Is 10, will be re-
quired, the balance payable rs follows:
The sum OF one hundred and ninety dollars
and nineteen cents with like interest from Tho
lst day OF November 1880. will be payable on.
the lat day OF November. 1892 and ~ to tho resj-
due, II any, the terms viii he announced ON day,
OF sale. HENRY II. PARRISH TrustcS
decl5tds.
The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-12-26
TRUSTEES. SALES.
RY. ylaT y, Of {. a DEED OF TRUST rx <

RY VIRTUE OF A DEED OF TRUST Rx
1S,o ard e. record II the clerks Office OF the
deed DOCK 62. page SO, to secure ID. H. Matson thnr
payment of the sum OF 81 33i in two annual
Instruments, as evidenced by two ncgotiablr,
notes OF the sum OF SG6667 bearing interest alter
deed deed, AND default having heen made in the pay
mcnt OF the first note, and being requested to do.
so so 1y me heneiciaryI viii sell at public auction,
10 TIE highest bidder; in front OF the courthouse
IN inc city OF Roanoke, Va, on SATURDAY.
JANUARY Q, 1Ssa, AT 1a NJ all that certain lot or
Parcei OF ianu situated in the city OF Roanoke.
va, described as follows: to wit:
:, BEGINNING at point on the south side or BuI-
ntt street and $50 feet cast from Wheat street:
tncncc with Bullitt street south 50 degrees efsst
HW 0 rect 10 point; thence south 10 degrees west
l4o ieet 70 an alley; thence with the said alley
nortn ~ ucSrces west 100 feet to point; thence
noItn l0 degrees cast 40 feet to the bcpinninv
anu designated on the Park Land and IinDroyc,
tion ~ ~ Avs "nu u IN Eco
ssfa E II Is, Cash sufficient to pay the sum OF
f-se'5 win interest to date OF sale and includ-
lhs trustees commissions and costs OF sale mr.
Snhsce 70 assume the rcmaing note of 1854; 81 dino
May. ~ lss2; deferred payment to bear interest,"
anu TO DC secured by deed of trust on tic
p'5IpGn ~ j. Is. WALKER,
Trustee.
The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-12-26
Tho Lnmb-Goarei OF sanara.

In n book called 1.-The Duke of Hol-
STEMS Travels Into Persia and Mus
covy," published in 1896. there is an ac-
count Of a curious vine product called
the "lamb-gourd," which runs as fol-
lows: "In the ncighborhood of Samara.
Russia, there grows a gourd which
closely resembles a lamb in all it's
members. 1t changes place in growing
as far as the stalk will reach, and
whercsoever it turns the grass withers
and dies. This change of the gourd-
plant the Muscovites call 'feeding;' they
further say that when it ripcns the stalk
withers, and that the outward rind of
the gourd is then covered with n sort of
wool, which they use instead of fur"
Scaliger also makes mention of the
lamb-gourd, and says that it grows
until the grass fails and that it then
dies for want Of nourishment. He also
said that the wolf is the only animal
that will feed upon it.
The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-12-26

TRUSTEES SALE-BY VIRTUE OLA DEED
Il OF trust executed to mo by Thomas j. r.
iiayslip. dated October B. $50 aud recorded in
me clerks Office OF the uusting's Court OF tho
city OF Koanoke TO secure to q. Z. Flanagan nnt.
W: l.: Andrews the payment OF the sum OF
sal as evidenced by two certain interest
bearing negotiable notes OF even date with saii
dced, one Tor $50, payable In sixty days from
date, and the other for Sili.S5, payable in ono
year from date, each or said notes executed by
the satd iiayslip and payable to the said Fanarn0
ana Andrews, with interest, and default hayinrr
oeen maze In the payment Of the last mentioned
note, ana being requested 40 to do by tho bcpcn-
carries III said decd of trust, 4 shall, on FRIDAY
JANUARY ID, 1872, AT L. O'CLOCK ~ OF
mat day, In front OF the courthouse building in
tue city OF Roanoke, oner for sale at public
auction all OF that certain lot parcel OF land in,
said city, bounded and described M follows:
beginning ut point on the north side OF Gil
mcr street 2O feet east of Houston street; thence
with Gilcr street III an eastcrly direction 80 feet
10 Il point thence In northcrly direction l:n feet
to an alley; thence with said alley In a westerly
sontherly direction 100 feet To the place OF begin
ming. and known NJ part OF lot Iii, section r or
map OF Rogers, Fairfax and Houston Addition to.
the city OF Roanoke, Va
TERMS Cash sualcicnt to pay the cost OF exc
cutting this trust, including trustees commits
sions, ana to pay the sum OF 35 with interest
from 3rd day OF October 1870, till paid, and tho
purchaser To assume n note OF $23333, PAYABLE,
10TH May, lSs2, with interest from 10Th Nav ISM
The balance, IL any, on such terms ~ will he an
nonnccd on day of sale.
HENRY II. PARRISH,
uccio Jus Trustee.
The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-12-26
a THIEF CAPTURED.
Citizens Phelps and Angel Do Some Clever
Detective work.

Detective work.
Thursday, some time during tho dav
Ben Murrell, negro who was emnloved
at Landerkin & Michael's furnitpre
store on Salem avenue. stole about ss4
from the house and proceeded to invest
quite extensively in a suit of clothes
whisky for Christmas and other holiday
goods. But the pleasure purchased WITH
his ill-gotten gains was short lived
and through the very successful deteo'
tive work of Messrs. Mao Phelps and R
III. Angel the thief was caught and will
be brought to Justice.
Phelps and Angel disguised them.
selves with false boards, put on old
SLOUGH hats and both wore spectacles.
They followed Murrell for three hours.
but he failed to detect them and spent
some of the money while they were
looking on. At last he was followed to
his home. and while one stayed to guard
him the other went for an officer, who
came and arrested the negro. About
half OF the money was found on his per.
son, and after denying it for a long
time he finally owned taking tAe money,
and also that he had taken some twice
before. The whole amount recovered
was S55,
The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-12-26
Snake Diet for Catfish.

A few days ago n fisherman by the
name of Thompson, living near Swallow
Rock, on the Big Muddy river, caught n
catfish weighing siXty-two pounds.
When lie hung the fish up to clean he
noticed n snake stick its head out of the
fsh's mouth and then dart inside again.
When the fish was cut open the snake
was found comfortably coilcd up in its
stomach and seemed to have made this
its permanent home for some time The
snake was n water moccasin and meas
urcd twenty-seven inches in length.
lis snakeship did not like the idea OF
giving up his comfortable quarters and
showed disposition to fight, whercupon
he was quickly dispatched.
The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-12-26

TRUSTEE'S SALE-BY VIRTUE OF a
e., aoed OF trnst executed to me by Robt Z.
day OF September, 1880, and recorded in liz
clerks Office OF the Husting's court for tho citv
Hoanoke, virginia, In trust to to the
NoaIokc Land and Improvement Company the
payment OF the sum OF 81 $50. payable in three
equal annual installmcnts OF SitU each, with in.
lSW, ut the rate OF six per cent. per anntlm nav
,ha annually; and default having been made IL
inc interest payable as aforesaid, and havinss
oeen required by the Roanoke Land and Inn
highest biad G0mP pa SO to DO win cell to 1.-The
rIE s!sT DAY S oF 6EoE NIB n
parcel OF land lying aud being In tho civ ne
I ows -, VA. and bounded and described az fol-
siue OF spruce street eighty feet cast of Ror,icr
olnns anu nr corner TO lot sold r. l.. Terry; thence
ono minute east one hundred and twcnt " Siebs
. .nu siN-tcnths feet to corner; thence Win
dnoro West ,, side Of Spruce street south sixty
uegrces thirty minutes cast one hundred and
nincty'ninc and ninc.tcnths feet to- an a,icv.
.ncncc win same south seventy.onc degrees onee
minute west two hundred and sixty and ak
tenths feet to point thence lorth eighteen lie.
gtecs htty mine minutes west one hundrcd nnta
ntty icct to the beginning, containing twenty
nine thousand QUO hundred and ninc1v snna5yo
Iect,morc or lcss and known as lots - a5 ri nnfb
n 1 section on plan OF Roanoke Land and I'm
win the improvements and appurcnanccs there
to belonging.
'siS' ChSu as 10 30 nluCn AZ may he
sary to pay all costs and charges ATTENDING tn,
execution OF this trust, and to pay or and dis
Snaaree the nrst OF said instalmcnts, amounting to
Si50 now due, and the interest PAYABLE nnnualiS
rs aforesaid, and n trustees commission OF ay5,
per centum; the balance to he made PAYABLE NJ
such time or times as the said remaining install.
mcnts and the utcrcst as aforesaid shall become
uue, 10 nc properly secured by deed OF trnst
upon tnc premises; and tho residue Il any, to DO
made MAD. payable In two equal annual instalmcnts.
Win interest after the rate OF six per cent por
annun' In one and two years respectively from
uutc OF sale, to be scCnrCl ny nf
the promises. JOS / DuPNN p"'E
"0eA''ur Trustee.
The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-12-26
Health is W ealth
BRAIN

DR.. E. G. VESTS NERVE AND BRAIN
TREATMENT, 6 guaranteed specific for
Hysteria, Dizziness, Conditions, Fits,
Nervous Neuralgia, Headache, Nervous
Prostitution caused by the use OF alchol
or tobacco, Wakefu,uess, Mental De-
preston, Softening OF the Brain result
ing in insanity and leading to misery,
decay and death, Prematr-e Old Age,
Barrenness, Loss of Power in either
sex, Involuntary Losses and Spermat
orrtea caused by over-exertioA- of the
brain, self-abnse or over-indulgence.
Each box contains one months treat
ment. S1.00 a box, or six boxes for S.. 90,
sent by mail prepaid on receipt of price.
WE GUARANTEE SIX BOXES
TO cure any case. With each order re-
ceived by US for six boxes, accompanied
with $500, we will send the purchaser
our written guarantee to refunnd the
money II the treatment does not effect
scure Guarantees issued only by Roam
oke Drug Co., sole agents, "a Campbell
street, Roanoke. Va. jan25-eo1y
The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-12-26

RY VIRTUE OF y DEED OF TRUST EXR-
- cuted TO me by A. NJ. shepherd and Mary g.
Shepherd, dated November 30, ISIS, and recorded
in the clerks Office OF the Hastings Court or hon.
noke city, Va in deed book Is page 1T to secure
20 N Partee the sum OF $50. with int rest IL he
lug part OF the purchase money, as evidenced
by four certain negotiable notes OF the parties
executing this trust, each In the sum OF $500 and
payable respectively In one. two three and four
wears. Default having been made In the three
year note aud beti requested so 10 do by the
beneficiary, will ofrcr at public auction IN front
OF the courthouse door In the city OF Roanoke
Vas ON WEDNESDAY, THE 20TIf DAY OF
JANUARY, 1872. AT IL O'CLOCK NJ. tho FOL
lowing described parcel OF land situated and living
In the city OF Roanoke, Va, bounded and de-
scribed a. follows, TO wit: ~ "'
Beginning at point on the south side OF John
street 10 feet east from Lewis street; thence in
sontherly direction lO5 feet TO an allcy thence In
an easterly direction with said alley 10 sfet TO n
point; thence in northerly direction los feet 10
John street; thence In westerly direction with
John 30 feet to place OF beginning, with all the
appnrtenances thereto belonging.
TERMS: Cash sufficient to dcfray the EXPENSE
OF executing this trust and trustees commission
OF per cent and the past due note, $aU, with
interest. and the assumption OF $2ctl being the
last note due under this deed bearing even date
with said deed; r. sldae, II any. viii be made
known on day OF saie. r. II. GRAY.
oec%ntor Trustec.
The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-12-26
How He WooedHer.

A PRETTY and inspiring sight was
witnessed through the window of a
handsome residence of the city few
evenings since. A stalwart man was
kneeling in front of beautiful girl re-
Ginning upon sofa. Words leaped
from his mouth in rapid succession
and bushes mantled her checks. He
held in his hand circlet Of gold, pure
gold, with diamond in the center. AS
his words ceased she extended her lily-
white hand. He took it. pressed kiss
upon it and slipped the ring upon the
engagement finger. 1t was settled then
and there that in the early spring, when
the feathered songsters begin to MARBLE
their notes of 10y among the branches
OF the trees, she would give him her
hand. The ring came from Solomon's.
the Salem avenue jeweler. who carries
large stock of all kinds of iewelry,
solid and plated silverware, etc.
The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-12-26

sALE-BY VIRTUE OF A DEED
L OF trust executed to the undersigned trustee
by A: Z. Rodrick and j E. S. Wagner, dated
May H. ISM and recorded in the clerks office OF the
Hastings Court or the city OF Roanoke, decd
book ~, page 1911, to secure to the Wet End
Land Company fifteen hundred dollars in equal
annual payments with interest from uatc, as
evidenced by two negotiable notes OF even date
herewith, payable In one and two years after
date, with interest Mt The Roanoke Trust, Loan
and Safe deposit Company, aud whereas default
mas been made In the payment OF the first ma.
turing note, and at the request OF the beneficiary
SO to DO will OFFER for sale at public auction, in
At l2 O'CLOCK ON MONDAY, TIE 2Sl III
DAY OF DECEMBER, 1891, the following de-
fcIihed property. to-wit:
All OF those certain lots or parcels OF land in
the city OF Roanoke, and known ae lots o, 10 and
H. In block IL, as shown by the map OF the West
End Land Company "
TERMS: Cash sufficient to pay costs OF sale
and pay on past due note OF $3.50 with Interest
from the l4th day OF May, 1890, the purchaser to
assume one note OF $3.50 due May II, 1892 with In.
terest from the 18th day OF May, 1880 Balance
II any, on such terms as may be made known on
day of sale. III. S. TROiiF
ov24.3taw-tds Trnstcc