davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1892-12-29
LUCKY AND UNLUCKY.
Some Old Superstitions In Regard to the
Flight of Crows.

Some Old Superstitiops In Regard to the
Flight of Crows.
There are, perhaps few who have not
heard of crows that lone is unluclxy,
two is lucky, three is health, four is
wealth. five sickness and six death"
The unlue kiness of one living crow is
of ancient date. since the Greeks be-
lieved that If such bird appeared at q
wedding breakfast there would be
divorce, to avert which all roared out:
maiden. scare away the crow But of
far greater antiquity was the belief
that if the one crow We're dead the evil
portent also persisted, since, according
to Horus Apollo-Hierog. IL, SIT sig
nified extreme old age. or very long
life, according to what Hesiod tells us,
as quoted by Plutarch in his 'Oracles,"
that the crow lives nine times as long
as a man. The belief that two crows
are a happy omen, and that they
appear to warn men from disaster,
is very ancient Alexander the
Great was thus saved in Egypt
by two crows, and King Alonzo would
assuredly have persisted in 1147 had it
not been for two crows, one of which
perched on the prov and the other on
the stern of his ship, 50 pointing the
prov of the royal barge safely into
port Crows and rocks are very much
alike. It'll said that when rocks desert
a rookery it forebodes the downfall of
the family on whose property it is.
They are also credited with being good
weather representations. When the
weather IS TO be very bad they stay as
near home as possible; but when they
foreknow that it will be set fair they
start off in the morning right away to
a distance, where they have an instinct
that the food they need is plentiful.
Again. if the rocks are seen venturing
into the streets of town or village it
is sure sign of an approaching snow
storm.
To dream Won see a crow signifies ex-
petition of business; if you hear them
croal1ing unpleasantly while they are
flying it is sign of i'll luck. If you see
in your dream the crow flying on to the
head of child it will be in danger of
some misfortune All the Year Round.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1892-12-29

ing afmoss necessarily for some trace
of Sidney. but to no purpose. On New
Years nights his face haunts me: ] see
it as L loolxed when he went cut of the
door. leaving home and friends ana all
that makes life worth living behind
'Ie is not dead--something tells me
So / shall find him yet. ] know. /
only pray il may be soon. have made
a fortune out .. lie money I-stole; it
is all for Sidney, when find him. Do
you-do you think that whe | find him
and he learns what is in store for him
and that back in Ohio the girl he
swore never to see again until he had a
clear name to offer her is still waiting
for him--he will feel like forgiving and
trying to forget?"
/ could not understand the man to
thus unbosom himself to strangers:
and there was an appealing weakness
in his tone, as he finished. that con-
trasted markedly with his strong per-
sonality. looked at him wondering
~, as he sat with his face bowed in his
hands.
The other man rose, and staggered
over to where his guest sat
II know he will kn0u itr' he said.
chokingly. "And / knew you'd come.
scmetime-Harry."
Brown started to his feet with a wild
cry:
sid, Sid!'
And there. in the little miners cabin.
out in the Wilderness, with the storm
bowling outside, the New Year and
witnessed as glad reunion as either
of us ever saw. X l.. kETCHUM
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1892-12-29
stealing a Goat.

IL was once arrested for stealing a
goat, said an ex-railroad official I'm
1879 | was running an accommodation
train between Willis and Galveston,
Tex. Near the track at Willis lived ar
old woman who possessed a villainous
tongue and billy goat that would ca
anything he could swallow. What h,
could not get through his neck he woulo
chew and suck the juice. If the coach
was open for a minute he would be in
side, chiseling desolation into every.
thing in sight. One day we pulled out
while he was aboard lunching on a
linen buster and carried him to Hous.
ton. The old woman followed us on
the passenger and had the whole crew
arrested for stealing her goat The
Judge discharged us and | ran an at
She paid it and thought had the best
of the mill. But it was not fought TO |:
finish. The next day when / reached
Houston, en- route to Willis, the ole
woman boarded my car leading tn,
goat. She put him in a seat and helC
him there. | told her it was agains'
the rules for animals to ride in pas
cts and told me if / could legally col
lect passenger fare for the goat once
could be compelled to accept it again
| was not much of a lawyer and con
cluded that | had best take up Billy's
ticket, and l did. Louis Globe
Democrat
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1892-12-29
DELICIOUS DESSERTS.

SAeo PUDDINc.-Soale one cup of
sage in warm water, pare six sour APP
pies, sprinkle with sugar; pour on sage
and bake till apples are done.-PractI-
cal Farmer.
FRUIT PUDDINa.-One cupful sugar,
half cupful butter, two eggs. one cup
full sour milk, three cupfuls -four, one
cupful chopped raisins, one teaspoont:al
soda, spice TO taste. Steam two hours.
Country Gentleman.
CRANBERRY BLANCMANGE. - To one
quart of berries add one pint of water
and one pound of sugar; cook until
nearl- done, then thicien with -four or
cornstarch (wet in cold water; boil a
few minutes longer, pour out into a
CREASED mold to cool. Serve with
cream.-Housekeepe
MARLBORO PIE.-Marlboro pie is good
also. Rub through a sieve six large
baked or steamed sour apples, and add
to IL one tablespoonful. of butter. Beat
together the yolks of three eggs, one
teacupful of sugar and the rind and
juice of one lemon. Bake in a deep
plate like squash pie.-Prairie Farmer.
BowpoN PUDDING One quart OF
milk; one-thiri of box of gelatine
soalked in the milk one hour; one cup of
sugar; yolks of three eggs beaten to-
gether; add to the cold milk: cook like
soft cu.tard. Beat the whites of tine
eggs and stir into the pudding just a.
you take IL from the stove.-Boston
Budget.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1892-12-29
BOY AND OFFICER.

How a Policeman Was Beautifully Taken
The boy sat on the steps of the house
Is a policeman came around the corner.
The hoy would have run, but the officer
approached too suddenly. just why the
BOY would have run could not be stated
Il seems to be a fact in natural history.
In any event the boy sat still and wait
ed for the policeman to come up. The
policeman stopped and the boy was
.orry he had not obeyed his first inn
pulse. However, it was too late now,
and he set trembling.
rs your father in the house?" in
auired the officer with the air of a man
who knew his business.
An inspiration came to the boy.
''In there?" he asked, jerking his
thumb over his shoulder toward the
loor.
"Of course, in there" said the police
man, sharply.
mo, he amt"
"How do you know?"
"Cause he's some'ere else"
"Come off," said the policeman So
know he is in there. Didn't you tell me
half an hour ago he would be home al
morning?"
Eyes, / did, but he amt in there,
tell you"
well, I'll go in and see for myself, y
and the policeman walked over the boy
and rang the bell.
The boy went out into the middle OF
the street and waited until the door
was opened
Eli. there, copper" he yelled as he
started to run, Pap don't live in that
house You find out where he lives
will you, and let me know" and the
boy scooted, leaving the officer to apol
ogize to the hired girl.-Detroit Free
Prose
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1892-12-29
HOUSEHOLD TRASH.
IL Suddenly Assumes Value When Yot
Take Account of Stock.

It Suddenly Assumes Value when You
Take Account of Stock.
'Tm glad we're going to move" re-
marked Mrs Higbee to her husband the
other morning as they began packing
up their household goods. We've
been living in this house so many years
that we have accumulated stacks upon
stacks of trash | shall be glad to leave
behind us"
That's So" said Mr.. Higbee. We've
got oceans of old clothes and furniture
and stuff that is no more use to US than
balloon would be. Let's give "A lot of
furniture and books and old dishes and
worn clothing to our scrub woman.
They'll come in very handy for her
and her family this Winter, and besides
it is no more than right that we should
do something for the poor. whom we
have always with u.s." and Mr. Higbee's
bosom swelled with the proud con-
seriousness of man who assures him
self that his heart IS large and warm
and is in the right place. There's that
old hair-cloth sofa and those old-stvle
chairs-we don't want those, do we?'
he continued.
ITO be sure we do" replied Mrs. Hig-
bee. 81 shall cover the sofa with some
new cloth and paint the chairs white.
and they'll be real nice. BY the by.
you'll never wear that gray suit of yours
any more. will you?"
~ certainly shall if ! get half a
chance" responded Mr.. Higbee. "A
tailor can clean and press it and make
il about as good as new"
Later on. as Mrs. Higbee was sorting
over her old dresses. she remarked. haif
aloud: This gray I'll have colored
terra Gotta, and this blue can be made
over for a school dress for our Maude,
and this blackwell, it's pretty good
yet, and"
And Mr.. Higbee decided that his old
est suit would be good to wear on fish
ing trips next summer, and the next
oldest would be good to wear about
home when there We're chores to be
done, and when the whole household
appurtenances had been carefully gone
over, and the packing of goods com
pleted, there remained for the scrub
woman pair of superannuated sus-
penders and a broken teacup.
These articles Mr.. Higbee carefully
put aside for her. remarking as he did
so: 1.-The Lord loveth a cheerful giver.
He who giveth to the poor lendeth to
the Lord"
II you care to learn the worth of
household trash just you attempt to
divorce yourself from it.-Chicago
Times
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1892-12-29
what He Wanted.

A confirmed old bachelor of most ex
emplary habits living in his own hous'
in Detroit recently advertised for
hired girl. He received many letters
and finally selecting one. which scenes
to him about right. he invited TIN
writer to call. and a very substantial
woman Of forty responded.
You see, he explained. II want
good, thrifty. careful woman in m.
house"
Il understand" she replied.
"She must cook. wash and iron
clean up the house, attend to m,
clothes. sew on buttons and do repair
ing, do the marketing. attend the door
paw the bills as they come in. an
kindle my fire 10 the morning"
oh" she said. as she arose to de
part. You don't want a hired girl
what you want is vile Good morn
ing" and she very politely and pleas
satly walked out-Detroit Free Press
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1892-12-29

for several years l had confidently
expected TO reach Il without diff
Guilty and surprise my friends-Nho
had always made IL a custom to usher
in the New Year with much jolly cere-
mOuy-by appearing in their midst
late On New Years eve | was. there
fore. much vcNed, when l arose in the
morning to find that heavy snow had
fallen during the night, and that the
weather had turned much colder. with
a heavy wind blowing from the north.
Neverti eless. l was fully resolved to
90. providing could find anyone who
was willing to undertake. the drive
But there was no regular stage line,
and no one seemed willing 10 trust
himself and his team 20 the possible
chances of a hard nor wester,' and,
after trying several places without
success. returned to the MOTEL in a very
disagreeable mood
As l was expressing my disgust to
the landlord. with whom | was well
acquainted. man whom l had noticed
on the train the evening before, and
who was now sitting by the stove read
ing. looked up and remarked:
Il fancy we are in the same fix; ! am
very anxious to get TO H myself.
but there seems 10 be no chance OF
getting away from here"
Perhaps | suggested. intending to
be humorous, perhaps we might buy
= team and 20 anyway"
This brought the stranger to his
feet.
4 don't know whether Won would
be willing or not, or whether we could
get team; but why not try To get one
to 60 with. on the understanding that
we pay for any damage done 10 the
horses or cOnveyance-Or pay a fair
price for the animals in case they
should nos pull through Nlive?'
The very thing / agreed I'VE
can try. anyway
The landlord and others tried 70 dis
suade rs from our purpose, but we
were firm. and the result was that in a
short time we secured team Of horses
and a cutter. leaving with the landlord
a deposit sufficient 10 cover their value
IN case we did not return them in good
condition; and. in half hour or so. we
were on Cur way to III --. well
bundled in robes and furs. and feeling
quite cheerful over the prospect of
reaching ii - after all
The first twelve or thirteen miles of
our route was over good road. and. as
we glided along at a merry pace, had
opportunity 10 take note OF my com
panion's appearance.
He was a tail. large man, well-built
and quite handsome. though not ex-
traordinarily so. What impressed ne
most was his manner. lie had firm.
decided. rather slow way OF speaking.
and his eyes met mine honestly and
fearlesslv whenever l looked at him.
His words carried conviction with them
and his straightforward manner gave
me the impression that my companion.
who had registered as III. A Brown.
New York" was a man Of truth and
honor who meant every word he said
and on " HON one could depend IN an
emergency. Beyond this and the fact
that he was stranger in that part OF
the country. ] learned nothing.
found him weil-informed. gentleman,
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1892-12-29
BALL ROOM CONVERSATIONS.
Dancing Parties Give Little Chance for
| Sensible Talk.

Dancing PARTIES Give Little Chance fol
Sensible Talk.
A young girl who has been out in so
ciety one season made a mental memo
randum of the style of talk dane.
ing pa rty affords IN opportunity to in
duige in. Here as her formula:
On entrance greet hostess: "Ah, my
dear Mss b.. am charmed to see you
You are looking very lovely this even.
ing"
Man number one comes up. "Ah,
good evening, Miss b., / am delighted
to see you. How charming you are
looking. do hope you have not giver
away all your waltzes--No? All
thanks very much"
Number two interrupts with abrupt
'How are you JONES'" to man number
Que, and: This our dance, Miss b,
believe" We then whirl around. after
which man number two remarks
"You are looking remarkably wei
this evening; frightfully hot, isn't it.
People ought never to give a dance il
such a small room" Here he walk
me back to my ehaperon, all the while
hopping his brow and looking boret
to death. Number three, four and fiv,
vary their remarks about my charming
appearance, and one adds that he ha;
not seen me in the park lately. TIL,
second impresses upon me the rare
beauty of a bull-terrier pup he own,
and the third asks me to take an ice
1t is most exhilarating and one comei
home with such delightful sense o:
mental rest Now in novels there al
ways happen the most interesting
things when the heroine goes to a ball
but in these days of stern chaperoni
and no sensible dancing men what car
you expect?-Philadclph Times
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1892-12-29
In the January Wide Awake,

Margaret Sidney's paper on whittier
with the Children" naturally leads all
others in timeliness and interest. 1t is
sympathetic, personal aud delightful,
and shows the good Quaker poet as the
child-lover and with that child-nature
his poems have led us to aseribe to him.
The article is profusely illustrated.
Another leader is Frederick A. Ober's
.The Bridge that Spawned the World. f"
1t deals with the localities made
famous by Columbus in Spain. Kirk
Munroe, the founder of the League of
American Wheelmen, contributes a
pithy article About Bicycles" to the
Wide Awake Athletics, and makes some
sharp criticisms on the present method
of ''jackknifing" in the saddle. The
short stories in this number are es-
pecially bright. Annie Howells
Frechette's bill" is the study of a
small boy that shows the Howells'
realism in a new vein; Mary Kyle Dali
las THE Little Turk" is tale of
pluck and endeavor; Mary P. w. Smith
in Behind the Wardrobe" delights all
those who love or hate arithmetic.
The serial stories by w. o. Stoddard,
Molly Elliot Seawell and Theodore Z.
Jenness are increasingly absorbing
Kate Putnam Osgood's Ballad of the
Bonny Page" is full of strength and
fire; NJ. f. BIS dog poem, "A Morning
CALL" Mrs. M. T. Butts 80 the Snow
Comes Down." and Richard Burton's
Landlord and Tenant" are charming.
The Men and Things department is
full of bright paragraphs. The illus
trations are beautiful Meynelle's ex-
quisite frontispiece of Whittier with
the children, has almost tho softness
and strength of an oil painting, and is
well worth framing.
Price 20 cents a number; s2.4oayear.
On sale at news stands or sent post
paid on receipt of price, by d. Lothrop
Company, Publishers, Boston.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1892-12-29
These are Facts
whi
Housekeepery Should Seriously C0nader.

knowledge and skill attained by over a quarter OF
a century's experience is available in its present
preparation. The consumer IS not expenmented
upon by changes of formula that are constantly
being made in other powders in an effort to get
mixture that will not cake or lose Its strength,
or that follow changes of proprietorship or manu-
facturers. The Royal Baking Powder is always
certain and equal in Its work; teaspoonful does
the same perfect work to-day that it did yesterday,
or last weel. or month, or last year.
While the last teaspoonful in can of Royal is
as good as the first, other powders lose their
strength after being made short time, and par
ticularly after the can is opened.
The exactness with which the active principle
of each ingredient prior to mixing is ascertained
by expert chemists; the actual prohibition enforced
against the receipt into the works of impure IN
gredient; the care with which the materials are
dried, coated and prepared before their combina-
ton, and the precision in packing the powder so
that it shall be delivered to the consumer in the
perfect condition in which it leaves the factory,
are some of the details which go to make the
perfect Royal"
The same means are not employed by other
manufacturers There have been great many
limitations of the Royal, but no equals Pure
materials are not employed. care is not taken IN
their preparation and combination, while in the
great majority of baking powders alum is added TO
give them strength, while cheapening their cost.
The great popularity and general use of the
Royal Baking Powder attest its superiority.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1892-12-29

and an agreeable travelling companion,
and that was sufficient
All went well until early an the after
noon. when we came 10 several miles
of bad road. over which we were com
PEELED to drive with the utmost care,
despite our impotence. To add TO the
discomfort of the situation. il was be-
coming colder. and the wind, into the
teeth of which we were driving, was
blowing at a fearful rate. Both of us
began to feel the cold keeniy, and the
prospect of darkness coming on soon.
and finding rs on strange road, and,
so far as We knew, twenty miles from
anywhere, did not tend TO enliven our
spirits
Mile after mile we urged the tired
horses along, until it seemed as If they
must drop FROM fatigue; colder and
more sercely blew the wind down the
narrow, high-wallei canyon, until
became so chilled that Mr. Brown had
TO take the reins-
Soon dusk began 70 gather. BY this
time I found / adj frosted my face and
hands severely, and was becoming
7umb all over. II required much urg-
AZ AA0AA EBaAA P0hAOh " hNIP III
! from falling into that sleep which in
tense cold superinduces, and which is
nearly always fatal Finally Mr..
Brown drew rein.
These horses can't go another mile.
We shall have To do something" he
said. I'VE cannot keep IN going"
He had hardly spoken when he
added: ''Ohi thank God, there's a
| light
l must have been pretty badly
/ frozen, for. though Mr.. Brown said aft
erwards he talked to me as we passed
on to the house where he saw the
/ light. l Knew no more until several
hours later / found myself on bunk
in a rude. one-room cabin. with Mr..
/ Brown and another man, apparently
] the cabins oWr.er, standing over me.
1 Good said the stranger. Il
thought he wasn't too far gone to pull
through all right" For which l was
duly thankful, and SO expressed my
self.
Later in the evening, as Mr.. Brown
/ and our host sat by the fire. smoking
silently. Law idly watching them. and
was suddenly struck with a certain
similarity in their appearance. They
were about the same size and build.
had the same color of hair and eyes,
and, though our host wore a thick
beard, which Mr.. Brown did not. ! fan
cied detected certain facial resem-
4 biance. Both men, too, had decided,
| positive way of speaking, and wasted
I no words.
Suddenly Mr.. Brown drew out his
watch and looked at it "A quarter of
/ twelve" he remarked, gravely-almost
7 sadly. / thought I noticed our host
cast a quick, keen glance at the others
face. Then Mr.. Brown continued,
I looking dreamily into the roaring
flames in the big open fireplace: Il
don't know why l should become con-
I fidential or communicative; it is not
nv way. But tonight, the eve of the
New Year, is the saddest night of the
/ year. for me: and there has never an
old year died, in the last eleven, that
( has not found me longing for human
companionship and sympathy. If
had neither l should go mad, | think. y
He paused for a few moments, and
seemed lost in painful thought Then
he continued:
Twelve years ago tonight be-
} came 4 criminal and an undeclared
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1892-12-29
HINTS AS TO WINTER READING.
The Proper Thing Is tn Lay Out Course
and Follow ~.


and Follow II.
How best to utilize the opportuni-
ties that winter affords for promotin G
intellectual growth AMI culture is an
important question. An excellent way
is to lay out a course of reading and
follow it Systematically. For general
utility there is no better reading than
history biography and travel. with a
little standard fiction thrown in. For
special purposes scientific works should
take the lead, and where literary Gull
ture is desired the best authors in lead
ing lines of thought are to be preferred.
But whatever style of reading is de-
cided upon there should be steady adj
herence to the plan outlined. By
following this course surprising
progress will be made in master
ing any subject. A half hour
given every evening will carry one
through the longest histories easily and
with great profit. Read in this way all
the leading histories in the world will
become familiar in few winters. His
tory is an unfailing source of sugges-
tive thought. and richly repays the
reader for the time expended upon it.
biography reveals the secret springs of
history and the lives of interesting
characters. 1t is sidelight oftentimes
more interesting than history itself
Books of travel are essential to a cor
rect knowledge of the discoveries of ex-
plorers as well as the condition and
characteristics at the present day of
well-knwn countries. of course some
sood newspapers should De included in
the winters reading Tor information on
current events--Boston Journal.