davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1893-07-29
Lessons in Self Reliance.

As soon as a child is old enough to
understand the value of money, it
should be taught to keep a small cash
account, if only to show what use is
made of the funds placed at its dispo-
sal If the family is living in the
country it is an excellent plan for the
boys and girls to have a vegetable gar
den of their own, and sell the vegeta-
bles to the family, as it is said to bo
the custom very frequently in good
English families. This should not be
a mere matter of play. The vegetables
should be purchased on their merits
alone, and at the prevailing market
prices, inferior ones being thrown back
upon the young gardener in order to
teach him practical methods of bust.
ness. Such simple vegetables as
radshes and lettuce may be easily
raised by a boy, or girl either, for
that matter. 1t teaches children self
reliance to earn their own spending
money. 1t is just as necessary that a
girl should learn this as that her
brother should. An important matter
to teach her is the value of her sigma.
lure. IL Inc naDlI Is once formed OF
attaching her full name to every letter
she writes, with her address, it may save
a great deal of trouble in future times,
should her letters be lost by mail. She
should be taught the responsibility
which she assumes in thus signing her
name, and she is not likely then to
write silly and foolish letters, which
she would gladly recall. She should
also learn that she must not atlix her
name to any list of individuals. any
society, or any document without
knowing fully what responsibility she
is assuming. The matter may seem
trivial, but she should give time to
thought in all matters where her name
is asked for, and not trust even to her
dearest friend against her own judg-
ment.
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1893-07-29

From the Cairo side of the riyer
rising above the groves and acaci ls
and date palms, are seen the pyramids
These astonishing monuments of power
and energy were old when they awal..
ened the wonder of Abraham, JOSEPH:
and Moses Their description is in every
language, living or dead, and children
ut school know them from the pictures
in their text books, and can tell their
height and area, so that the traveller
views them standing apparently jus.
beyond the trees though really five
miles away, as familiar friends.
Twenty years ago there was a marrow
path by a ferry, over which you rode
on donkey to the most imposing
monuments in the world now you can
take carriage, cross the bridge, and
proceed by an excellent road COM
pletely shaded and thoroughly watered.
On each side of the road are seen tho
evidences of the creative power of
Father Nile" in the splendid gardens
and green fields. Camels and oxen are
plowing with such plows as are repro
sented in ancient scriptures, and doing
admirable work in the soft soil, har-
rowing, dragging and working with
heavy hoes. The sun is not hot the
air is bracing, and the people move
rapidly and work we'll from day ybreak
to sunset. This road is the favorite
English drive four horse drag runs
every day with passengers; dog carts
with natty grooms, fine imported
horses. and strong wiry Arabians rid
den by mon and ladies are always to be
seen. Arriving at the desert the pyra-
mids are found to be an elevation of
natural rock about which the sand of
the Libyan desert drifts like fine snow.
A very nice new hotel, simply and
properly finished and furnished, is at
the foot of the hill, and carriages stop
under the trees. A visit to Egypt, the
land OF the Pharaohs, the sphinx and
the pyramids, is great treat-to many
it has been an inspiration.
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1893-07-29
RICHARD OWENS GHOST STORY.
In Which He WAS Mistaken for tho Devil
by Man with a Guilty Conscience.

In Which He Was Mistaken for tho Devil
by - Man with a Guilty Conscience.
S'ir Richard Owen used to relate re.
markabl' ghost story, says a correspon
dent of the London Daily Ners In
his early days, when he held the pos:
OF surgeon to the prison of Lancaster
Il negro died in the jail and post NOR
tenn as well as an inquest was necessary.
After the inquest the young surgeo
saw the body put in the coffin and the
lid screwed down, to be ready for IL"
funeral next day. Owen had at the time
been already attracted to the study o
comparative anatomy, and the negroes
heads were not plentiful, SO he made up
his mind that this one should not be
lost to the cause of science.
In the evening he returned to tho
prison with black bag containing
brick; from his official position he had
no difficulty in getting admittance to
the mortuary, whore the coffin lid was
unscrewed and screwed down again.
During this process the brick and tho
negro's head changed places.
The ground outside the principal en-
trance to the jail has o considerable de.
scent and the time being Winter with
snow and frost, Owen had scarcely pass
ed out when he slipped and fell all his
length; the bag went from his hand and
the head tumbled out and rolled down
the paved way.
He jumped up, caught the bag, and,
following the head, clutched it lust as
it finished its career in q small shop
where tobacco was sold. Pushing it in
to the bag again he vanished out of the
shop with all the speed he was capable
of. Next morning when Owen was do,
ing his usual duties at the prison he
was called in by the woman in the shop
where the accident had occurred the
previous evening. She wished him to
see her husband who was very ill.
He had had, she said, a fright the
night before that caused him to look
wild and dazed like. The man. it turn
ed out, was retired sea captain, who
had been in many adventures among
the West India Islands, when many
deeds were done that did not at the
time require to be accounted for.
Among these had been the killing of
negro, in which he had hand, and the
transaction had left touch of trouble
on his conscience.
After giving these details the old
captain told Of the horrible event that
took place the night before. He was
sitting in his shop, all was quiet, and it
so CHANGED that he had been thinking
of the negro, when suddenly he saw his
very head roll into the shop in front of
the counter, and it was followed by the
devil, all in black, with black bag in
his hand.
The devil snatched up the head and
both disappeared through the earth
like flash of lightning The descrip-
ton was perhaps not quite compliment
tary to the young anatomist, but it was
satisfactory so far that it showed that
his identity had not been recognized.
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1893-07-29
Queer Facts About Money,

There are 100000 old copper pen
MES somewhere. Nobody knows what
has become of them, except that once
in while single specimen turns up
In change. A few years ago 100000
bronze two-cent pieces were set ahoat
Three millions Of them are still out
standing. Three million three-cent
nickel pieces are scattered over the
United States, but 1t Is very rarely that
one Is seen.
OF 100000 half cents, which CORE
spond in value to English farthings.
not one has been returned to the Gov
ernment for recoinage or is held by the
Treasury. Congress appropriates from
100000 to $1bO,O00 yearly for reeoin-
ing the uncurrent silver coins DOW IL
possession Of the Treasury. These are
mostly half dollars, and are not cir
culated, because there is no demand
for them.
Not long ago the stock of them
amounted to $26,000,00O, but it is only
about half that now. The money set
aside for recoining is not intended to
pay for the cost Of minting, but is re-
Quired to reimburse the Treasurer of
the United States on account of the
loss of weight which silver pieces have
suffered by abrasion. This loss amounts
to $50 on every $1,000, and it has to
be made good in order to set the
Treasurer's accounts Standardization
Transcript.
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1893-07-29
The Tiger Shark,

The tiger shark is considered equally
as fierce, powerful and voracious as tho
leopard species, and is carefully
avoided by the crews of sponging, turf
ling and fishing vessels. 1t is not
nearly so handsome in outline as the
leopard shark, and looks as rough as if
it had been forged into shape under the
blows of q steam trip hammer. The
size of its mouth and the roughness of
its form are the first features about it
to attract the attention of strangers.
But those who know something con-
corning it are chiefly attracted by the
tiger like stripes, which have given it
the name it bears, and the indications
of most extraordinary strength in its
deep full body, powerful tail and
heavy fins. Is is, in all probability,
the strongest member of its genus in
Florida waters, and is swift enough to
overtake q dolphin; yet it has the
habit of lying in wait near beaches
and swallowing thousands of little
turtles, not larger than silver dollars.
1t is reported to attain length vary
ing from twenty five to thirty feet, but
lue laTSeSt eNer saw HeuSufett only
sixteen feet. 1t is rarely seen in the
shallow bays on the western coast, pre-
ferring to keep to the open waters of
the Gulf of Mexico, where abundance
of food and a safe haven during
tempest may always be found.
A tiger shark, captured on hook on
one of the Bahama Islands, actually
pulled out by the roots large cedar
tree to which the hook was fastened by
an inch rope, and dragged it about for
an hour. The captors, knowing that
it could not pull the heavy load, which
foated at right angles with the line of
flight for any great length of time, re-
mained ashore and watched the in
furiated sea-tiger rush hither and
thither and make frantic efforts to get
rid of its drag. They say it acted like
amaniac, biting at everything it met,
from bunch of seaweed to the tree it.
self. At the end of an hour it showed
signs of extreme exhaustion, and the
men thinking this an opportune time
for capturing it, seized the rope and
hauled the captive high up on the
beach without much trouble.
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1893-07-29
ImnrOYing the Onnnrtunity.

The woman of forty who clngs to
the airs and graces which made her
charming at twenty, and still expects
society to take an active part in
amusing her, makes sad mistake. SO.
ciety is gay, delightful-to many, even
fascinating; but it is eminently selfish
1t cares only for the man or wom-
an who has something to give it,
The maiden of eighteen charms by her
beauty and freshness; when these
pleasant gifts have faded, if she be
wise she offers something else in their
place or something more enduring and
enchanting than mere surface graces.
Forty is not twenty, says Baza7., neither
ought it to wish to be. At forty a wom-
ans sources OF enjoyment should DO
double what they are at twenty. At
twenty, she is selfish; at forty, she
should have learned some lessons of
self-sacrifice and their rewards, and
these lessons should make her-indeed,
they cannot fail to make her-a moro
agreeable friend, q more valuable COM
panion. But in the uncertain period.
woman too often falls victim to GER
tain other temptations. She is tempted
by hobbies. Ten years ago, her little
opinions were listened to with gay
raillery or tender seriousness and re-
spect. Now, if she is at all strenuous
in advocating or persistent in intro
ducing these same themes to which sho
has given mature thought, her conver-
satior becomes wearisome She must
avoid hobbies, in society at least, par
ticularly if they run counter to fixed
opinions. But the single woman may
successfully cultivate a certain bright
ness of appearance which results from
being genuinely interested in the great
world and all its happenings. Reading
will do much for one, but reading alone
is not sufficient. Interchange of thought,
the ready expression of opinion, GER
tain flavor of keeping in touch with all
bright and pleasant things, will serve
the older maiden in good stead when
the little day of youth goes by. There
is no assumption in this. Her happi-
ness comes from the cultivation of this
spirit, and a happy woman is sure to
have friends. Cheerfulness wins it's
way anywhere. A cultivated and
avowed talent almost invariably wins a
place in society for its possessor, and
age has little to do with it's enjoyment
A lady who can and will render fine
musical selection on the piano, harp,
Or guitar, or whose sweet voice can and
will lend its power for song for the
pleasure of others, finds herself appre-
ciated and sought after. A pleasant
story teller, who has the discretion to
tell short stories and adapt them with
tact to her audience, is a winning
companion. The grand thing to re-
member is this: If you wish to be still
beloved in society and to find your in
vitations still numerous, you must have
something to give in return for social
favors. Some people have good looks,
an honored name, long purse, tai
ent for being agreeable, or a distin-
guished grandfather; but tact AMI
kindness are fair rivals for the distin-
guished grandfather, and often win in
the race for social popularity.
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1893-07-29
Natures ChOirs.

Musical fishes constitute phenome.
non of considerable interest to man.
kind at large, for the reason, presum.
ably, that vocal talents are not proper
ly included among piscine attributes.
There is no doubt, though, that the
popular idea on this point is an erroue-
GUS one, for the body of evidence ad.
duced by the most famous and vera
cious travellers in all parts of the world
is simply incontrovertible. Humboldt
heard their music in the South Seas in
1903, and twenty years later Lieutenant
White of the United States Navy heard
it at the mouth of a river in Cambo-
dia. To this last individual the sounds
which spread around the bottom o.
the ship suggested the mixture of the
bass of an organ, the music of the bells,
the gutteral cries of a large frog, and
the tones which Imagination might at
tribute to an enormous harp-a very
queer combination. Tenant tells us
of visit he once paid to lake at Bat
ticaloa to investigate report concern
ing some musical sounds peculiar, sc
far as he knew, to the place. He also
found in them distinct resemblance to
the notes of an Holian harp, and he
adds that "they came up from the
water like the gentle trills of a musical
chord-not one sustained sound, but 6
multitude of tiny sounds, each clear
and distinct in itself" A correspon-
dent of Nature writing from Greytown
in May, 1870, said the concert began
around his ship punctually at mid,
night. and invariably continued for the
same period-two hours. The sound,
according to him, was musical, metal,
lie, with certain cadence, and a one,
two, three time tendency of beat II
could not be fixed at any one place, but
always appeared to recede from the
listener. The story of Ulysses and the
sirens is very interesting one, but we
are afraid it is not a record of fact, and
that the ravishing sea maids were moth
ing more than musical fishes.
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1893-07-29
Slang,

Girls use more slang-especially If
they are grown up-than boys do Girls
talk much more than boys, so that
their stock of uncouth words is in
more frequent use. 1t is also larger.
If boy were a mine Of slang his
taciturnity would keep 1t concealed
from all but a few of his chums. His
inventions are confined to small cir
Gle, and his opportunities of borrowing
are correspondingly diminished. Not
so with the girl. The loquacity of her
associates, aided by her own, spreads
and multiplies slang with the greatest
rapidity. She is more sociable.
At school she is thick with dozen
and gathers in all the dozen know
And besides, says the same authority,
girls are so reckless in the use of Ian
guage that they give slangy character
to good English. With the girl at the
period of gigglehood every good thing
Is perfectly so. She never does this
and she always does that. She some
times feels hateful, but it is oftener
some one else who is perfectly horrid.
Nearly everything is awful. Such are
some of the charges this abominable
person brings against the sweet young
creatures.
Another authority fatty contradicts
them all and says the boy is the sum
Of all villainies. The words he prefers,
it is asserted, are so tinged with pro-
family that he cannot use them at
home, and it is thus only that he gets
his reputation for freedom from slang.
Who can settle the dispute? We are
of opinion that injustice is done to the
girls. We are confident, also, that few
boys are as bad as represented. 1t is
possible that the so-called Authority"
has been judging the whole world from
his few unfortunate associates.-Balti-
more Sun.
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1893-07-29

The man in the case had an idea that
he wanted to marry the girl, but before
he proceeded to business he concluded
that it might be best to give himself
boost by asking the mothers consent to
address the daughter SO he interviewed
madam and she flung the pride of the
family at him in way that paralyzed
him.
Did 1 understand you, sir, to say
that before you went West you worked
at a trade ?'
Yes, madam" he replied, with q
twinkle in his tone.
May I inquire what kind of trade
it was + she asked with an effort.
"A very good one, madam.
mo trade at all, sir, is good enough
for the man who is to marry my daugh-
ter"
You might think differently if you
permitted me to explain, madam" he
ventured.
No, sir; my mind is fixed, and I
hope you will withdraw your suit anl
give up any hope you may have had OF
marrying my daughter"
Very well, madam. And may Inow
explain the nature of my trade ?" lie
said, not in a grief stricken voice.
Il am not interested at all, but if
you wish you may explain, and 1 viii!
listen"
He rose from his chair with his hat
in his hand.
Ten years ago. he said, "mg
father, who was a judge and man of
wealth and position, as his father was
before him, save me piece of prop
erty in New York city. A friend OF
mine owned some mountain land in Col
orado which he wanted to get rid Of r
wanted him to exchange it for my
city property, but he was not disposed
to do so. My mind was set ON going
West, though, and for six months /
worked at that trade"
The naughty lady caught on.
Il beg your pardon" she inter-
rupted.
Pray let me finish, he said For
six months [ worked at that trade and
at last got the land. Before the year
was out discovered silver on it, and it
has been paying me one hundred AMI
fifty thousand dollars year since.
Now my dear madam, wouldn't you
say that was almost a good enough
trade for the man who would marry
your daughter Good morning mad
am p
And before she could pull him in he
had departed thence.
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1893-07-29
ANNOYING pC.!TENESS,
a Traveller Forced to Eat a Most Tn
savory Mess


savory Mess
Genuine politeness is always the out
como of kind heart, and travellers
usually appreciate any thoughtful at
tention from their fellow passengers
but the author of Two Years in
Jungle once found it rather difficult
to receive courtesy from companion
on railroad journey. In the com
partment with me were three old Hin
doc merchants, gray bearded, diguified
and respectable, who evidently were
natives of the better sort.
Breakfast time came. We were still
many hot and dusty miles from re-
freshment station, and from the depths
of some Of their bundles the old gen.
tlemen, who had evidently travelled
before, evolved supply of cooked
food. 1t consisted simply of large
bowl of "dai," like stiff pea soup, and
pile of "chapathes," small, leathery
unleaveued pancakes made of flour.
With my usual indifference to the
wants of my inner man, had neglect
ell to provide myself with luncheon
aid while | was thinking OF the nico
breakfast | should have in two OF three
hours one of the old gentlemen sud
denly thrust his fingers into the bowl
of cooked "dai' they had no spoons,
forks or knives-scooped up q gener-
ous handful, plastered it over little
pile of "chapathes, and with benev-
oent beam over his spectacles, handed
it to me. [ was completely taken
aback for an instant, for the old gen
tleman's hands were as grimy as possi-
BILE; but l accepted the food with my
politest bow, and ate it with every ap-
pearance of gratitude. L would have
eaten it had it been ten times as dirty
as it was. The act was as friendly as
any man could perform, and l was
pleased with its pure charity and be-
neyolence, if not with the food.
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1893-07-29
FROsTBURG, Md. SATURDAY, JULY 20, 1893

speak, but sobs choked her. Beside
herself with emotion, she fell heavily
upon her knees. She pointed with
finger, still black with earth at the
newly made mound.
Father John did not understand. His
anger had completely faded away be-
fore the child's great grief. He forgot
his indignation against her, raised her
in his arms, pressed her gently against
his breast, and warmed her face In his
large hands, whispering into her ear,
See, little one, 1 will do you no harm
Don't cry any more. Just tell me why
you took the flowers from the other
lots to bring them here?'
Then the child In q broken voice.
told her story: my mamma loved flow
ers so much, sir" A sob almost in
terrupted her, but she summoned all
her force and cried: "She is dead-my
mamma! They brought her here. l
came to get her flowers"
But thy father?' asked the gar
dener. The child looked at him with
an innocent, astonished air.
II do not know. / know only my
mamma, my pretty mamma. All, sir,
let me get her f1owersP'
houSHly Tue OlQ uldu IOuQleQ ueT ana
wept in his turn. Her head instinc-
lively nestled In the warm shelter.
"Ah! thy mother loved flowers! Well,
but thou must not steal them! Come
with me. My garden is full of them.
We will go and pick some, and we will
bring them to your mamma"
Truly? Truly? Is it true?" cried
the little one quickly comforted. Her
small arms clung more closely around
the old mans neck, and, giving him Il
warm caress, she said, with infantilc
tenderness: ooh! how 1 love you.'
Then, resuming a serious air, she slid
to the ground, and kneeling and look
ing upward, she said aloud: "Our
Father, which art in heaven"-
Then the gardener, standing near
her, murmured: Poor little thief!
though l have caught you, your busi-
ness is so good that you shall hench-
forth be my child"
Crhis touching ngsketchappeared anony-
mously in LIE Francais, and has been
translated for Romance by H. L. B.
Porter)
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1893-07-29
Short and Sharp.

A hat-rack Headache.-Truth.
When man starts for the front it
moves away.-Atchison Globe
The lawyers charge is usually hcav-
Ter than the judge s.-Truth.
Did you see that shocking straw hat
De Slips is wearing?' Yes: another
Panama scandal"
Love brings flutter to the heart and
f1atter to the tongue.-Puck.
The war cloud has gone, but the pen
siOners know that it had silver lining
Puck.
The navy Is beautiful and formid-
able fighting machine that spills more
champagne than blood.-Puck.
One difference between the Optimist
and the pessimist is this: The latter
eats oatmeal cruel and has dyspepsia; ;
the former, mince pie and thrives.--
Truth.
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1893-07-29
Evolution of Names.

Many names are radically changed
by the omission or introduction OF
one or two letters. From the German
Bauor to the English Bowers, and from
the French Boulanger to the English
Bullinger, is but step, as it were.
But there are no people who are oftener
more humorously accused of altering
their names than the Irish. Thus.
Dillon has become Dyllyn; Diver, De-
we're and Devyr; McCarty, Mackartes
and Makart; Slattery, Slater and Slat-
erlee; O'Brien, Obrion and Breen; Nc
Ginness, Guinness and Inness; Reilly,
Relyea; Duffy, Dufay; McGutfin, Ma.
Coffin; Quinn, Queen; Fogarty, Fou.
CERT; Haggerty, Haggart; Sully, Soule
The English singer, Braham, merely
dropped letter when he went on tho
stage He was Hebrew, and his real
name was Abraham,