davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1893-09-20
Sweet ViOlets.

From the middle of October until Easter
thousands of dollars worth of violets are
brought into New York from Long Island,
New Jersey and Westchester county. The
forcing of violets for autumn, winter and
early spring has grown steadily for the past
25 years, and scarce even tHe rose is more
generally in demand than the violet. A
large part of the violet crop is grown by
small gardeners, who carry their product
to market in baskets. You may see re-
spectacle looking Scotchmen and Germans
coming into town every morning by all the
various lines, each bearing upon his arm
such n basket.
There is a steady sale for the violet, be-
cause convention prescribes it as the only
flower that may be worn by persons in
mourning. Besides, violets are used in pro-
fusion at funerals. Sometimes from 5000
to 5000 violets are heaped upon a coffin.
As they wholesale at from so to $50 a thou
sand and retail at double the wholesale
price, v%iolets cut a considerable figure in
many an undertaker's bill.
All the growers of violets in this region
nave been troubled of late years with a
mysterious pest hat ravages the plants.
The favorite double purple violets suffer
most, the double white somewhat less, II
the single almost not at all. 1t happens at
times that all the viOlets in one greenhouse
will be attacked while those in another
close beside it will escape. 1t attacks even
violets growing in cold frames, though on
the whole these are harder than dollhouse
plants. The violet is a lover of cool air,
and in this climate blooms all winter long
and under glass without artificial heat, and
the blossoms are seldom killed by frost if
the frame is covered at night. But the fore
ing process swells the crop for market, and
perhaps more violets are raised i'll hot
houses han in cold frames. The native
wild violet frequently retains its leaves
through the winter and seems TO feel the
earliest pulse of spring.
Violets are c~ostlier at the Christmas holl'
days and at Easter thar at any other sea-
son. The white violets, though less popu-
lar Than the purple, usually fetch quite as
much, since they are raised in smaller
quantities. The single violet fetches n
smaller price than either. TIL bunch of
violets that the young man sends to his
girl seldom costs less than half a dollar
and may cost three times as much.
The c~Ostliest form which the violet takes
is in candy. 1t isnot necessary for the pur-
pose of the confectioner that his violets be
of the freshest, and the proportion of cheap
sugar to costly violets in a pound of the
candied blossoms is large, but if you buy
this dainty at a fashionable shop you'll pay
at least 81 for a half pound box. Properly
brought up young women who have been
taught hat they should discourage young
men from making costly presents, even C:
such trines, pretend to regard the candied
violet, save in very small quantities, as an
ostentatious extravaganza, but no girl ever
really resents a gift Of this confection. no
matter how large the box.-New York Sun.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1893-09-20

The Trianons at Versailles are more close
ly associated with Marie Antoinette than
the boudoirs of Fontaincblcau. 1t was at
Versailles, among her milkmaids and shep
herdesses, that she struck the first blow in
the cauSe of liberty, equality and frater
nity' by a%bolishing the tabouret, n privi
lege of being seated in the presence of the
king and queen
1t was there also that she developed her
passion for gambling, for lavishing eXtrava
giant gifts on her favorites, for introducing
outrageous fashions and headdresses, like
the 'ques-a-cos, " or neurological edifices
But rs n Skillful horsewoman she delight
ed in the forest Of Fontainebleau, and in
the graceful refinement of the boudoir ut
the palace the artistic skill of the age is
well displayed. Upon its decoration the
genius of Rousseau and Barthelemy was
employed
In the center of the parquet floor appear
from the midst of asun the letters M. A."
which formed the monogram of the i'll
fated queen. Tradition attributes the iron
work of one Of the windows of the BEDROOM
to the blacks'mith's skill of Louis XVI. In
the adjoining bedroom her bed is preserved
hung with tapestry designed by a pupil of
Boucher. The .hangings were ordered at
Lyons, and they were still unfinished when
the revolution broke out More than 20
years later they were presented by the city
of Lyons to Marie Louise on her marriage
with the Emperor Napoleon /.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1893-09-20

A sallow faced, unhappy looking man
came to DR.. BIS Office one day when the
writer Glanced TO be present. lie wanted
some medicine for dyspepsia.
Among other questions, the doctor asked,
Wow long a time do YOU usually spend at
dinucrs'
~ dunno exactly" replied the patient,
40 or15 minutes, | guess."
Does your food taste ooodYn DIR. b
asked.
''Ihat it does" was the reply, "but half
an hour after I've eaten I'm near dying
with Distress
DO you drink much wish you food
tea, coffee or waters
"A pretty considerable amount" an
swercd the man.
yours is a grave case" said the doctor,
but | can help you if you'll follow my
directions.'
DR.. b gave the man a dark colored
mixture in a bottle and said: Nov, ii is
of the Utmost importance that this medi-
cine be taken properly. Put a teaspoonful
into your cup of tea or coffee at each meal;
stir it in thoroughly, and with each mouth
full of food take IA very small sip, and then
chew, chew, chew, in order to mix it com
pletely with the food. Do this and report
to me in "A week"
Two weeks later / saw this dyspeptic
again, but l scarcely recognized him, he was
so much improved in looks.
''Tha medicine of ours works like a
charm he said to the doctor. 1--WE about
forgotten that | have II stomach"
That's good responded DR.. b.
Continue taking it in the same way Tor
three months, ai.j you'll be "A well man.
Then, as the man went out, DR.. b
said to me:
''The whole story Of that mans cure is in
the word mastication. 1t Is merely what !
said to him-chew, chew, chew. But he
wouldn't have believed it without the
medicine, which was the simplest. The
man was boiling his food, and stopped it.
-YOuth'S Communion.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1893-09-20
A Baby at the North Pole.

When Lieutenant and Mrs. Peary
left for the north pole some time ago,
they took with them, besides good
things to eat and plenty of fur robes, a
little tin bathtub and a baby's cradle.
Besides these, there were ever 50 many
baby's dresses and some little knitted
shoes, which looked as if they would fit
a little boy very much smaller than you
are. A baby's wardrobe and a cradle
are queer things to take to the north
pole, are they not? And what do you
suppose that they are for? Why, for a
baby, to be sure! Suppose, way up at
the north pole, where nobody has ever
been, that Mrs. Peary should find a
baby! Aud suppose that the baby had
no clothes and no n to take care of it'll
Think what a sad thing it would be!
Now, if Mrs. Peary finds such a baby
at the north pole, she can dress it in
nice little dresses and can rock it to
sleep in a little cradle. And when she
returns to this country, two years from
now, she will bring the baby along, ard
then you will say, How very fortunate
that those clothes and that cradle went
along!'-NeW York Ledger.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1893-09-20
Ways to Entertain Children.

Five sheets of different colored pin wheel
papers, which they can convert into wheels,
fancy boxes, etc, also a penny clay pipe for
soap bubbles, comes in handy as a last re
source. Many mothers may remember the
interest they took in their spool knitting.
Their own little darlings will surely be
just as delighted with it. Put a leaf from
your table across two chairs, put on it IA
few blocks of wood and cut up a few
potatoes, but be sur not to forget the most
important articles-that is, the paper for
wrapping and money. Then let them be
storekeepers while you do your sewing and
give orders to the j.. Y erland boy. Keep
your darning cotton for rainy days, and
they will only be too eager to wrap it off
the card on to an empty spool for greater
comfort for you later on. Read pleasant
stories to children before retiring, and they
will sleep and dream pleasantly. Above
all things interest yourself in your child's
amusements, and you will be none the less
loved for your trouble.
AS ! have a few resources for the amuse-
ment of little ones on stormy days, | take
pleasure in writing about them. Take a
cloth or sheet and fasten it to the wall,
then hunt up all your old colored fashion
plates, give the children scissors and "A pa
per of pins and let them cut them out and
arrange them on the sheet with the pins.
If large enough, let them pop some pop
corn themselves and make their own pitch
er of lemonade. This simple party" gives
lots of amusement.-NeU York Recorder.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1893-09-20
Kept After School.

Roberts teacher had kept him after
school to learn a lesson. Robert was
10 Lave gone TO the woods TO play, aud
his companions could not wait for him
the snow was melting so fast. He did
not try TO study, but just put his head
down and cried. Suddenly a sweet
voice said: "Poor fellow I'm so sorry
for you" "Why, Ruthie, l thought
you had gone" said Robert. "Whatl
when you can't go? No indeed" ooh,
Rutbie, it's too mean of teacher to
keep me in, when this was a half-holi-
day" SIN sorry for teacher, too. He
wanted to go 10 town to hear a great
man lecture, but he says he can't go
now, because it is his duty to make you
learn your lesson, Robert" 80, l didn'l
know he felt that way. | wouder if |
could learn it before the train time!n
"Try, Robert, and I'll help you"
The lesson was soon learned, and the
teacher caught the train. As the chill
dren reached home, their father called:
almost too late! We were just go
ing" AS the children went along,
Ruth cried, gleefully, "Ohl aren't you
glad you studied fast, so that teacher
could go? In being kind to him, you
help yourself without knowing IT,"
Eyes, indeed" Robert answered CRATE
fully, "but all three of us would have
lost our good times if it hadn't been for
you. l wish all boys had such kind
little sisters" u Young Reaper.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1893-09-20
Contra! Vermont Railread,
Commencing July l6, 1898.

Trains Going South and East WiN Leaue Mont
pelier as foiOl0s.
OF A. NJ. MAIL for Fitchburg, Boston, Spring
field. New London and New York.
I2: 2 . p. NJ. FAST TRAIN, for Boston via Low
ell and New York via Springfield.
1880 =: M. MIXED. for North6eld and Roxbury.
5:65 =. NJ. PASSENGER, for White Rive,
Junction and Windsor.
sIe:4O A. NJ. EXPRESS, for Boston via Lowell
and all points in New England, New York and South.
Trains Going North and West:
.2:5 so A. NJ. EXPRESS, for Montreal. ogdens.
burg and the West.
6:3O A. Nj. ACCOMMODATION, to St. Albana,
Burlington and Rutland, Troy and New York.
1000 A. NJ. for Burlington, 81
Adams, Richford and Ogdensburg, mar ing connec.
tons for Troy, Albany and New York.
$3.50 y. NJ. PASSENGER, fer Burlington, ST
$3.50 T., NJ. WHITE MOUNTAIN PASSENGER.
for Burlington, connecting with Champlai Trans
portation Company's boats.
5:55 i. Nj. FAST Pullman Sleep
ing Car to Chicago.
Through tickets to Chicago and all points West fo-
sale at the principal stations
Suburban Train Service.
Leave Montpelier at t3:l5. sec, Pl5, lO:l5. A. ".
2:O5, 4:05, 6:25, $3.50 p. NJ. Arrive at PARE twenty
five minutes after leaving time.
Leave Barre at t3;i5, 1905 A. NJ, 9:4G ls;.Cs3 Y
4:40, 1920, 800, p. NJ. Arrive at Montpelier, twonty
five minutes after leaving time.
A train leaves for Williamstown at 4 :05 p. NJ.
sDaily, Sundays included. I Sundays only.
All passenger trains will stop at the Pioneer Works
to take or leave passengers when signalled.
i. W. THOMPSON, Agent.
f. W. BALDWIN, General Superintendent.
S. W CUMMINGS, General Passenger Agent.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1893-09-20
HOme-Made PantaiOOns.

Late IN the afternoon of one of the last
days of May, in the year 1876, when | was a
few months short of 10 years old, notice
came to Townsend, Mass, where my father
used to live, hat 10 soldiers We're wanted.
The training band was instantly called
out, and my brother, who was next older
than |, was one that was selected. He did
not return till late at night, when we We're
all in bed. When | rose in the morning |
found my mother in tears, and she informed
me that my brother John was to march
next day after tomorrow morning at sun
rise. My father was in Boston, in the Mas
sachusetts assembly.
Mother said that though John was sup
Piled with summer, clothes he must suffer
for winter garments. There were at this
time 10 stores and no articles to be had,
except such as each family could make it
self. The sight of mothers tears always
brought all the hidden strength of body
and mind into action. | instantly asked
what garment was needed. She replied
'pantaloons." "Oh, if that is all, " said |,
1--WE will spin and weave him a pair before
he goes" But" said mother, "the wool
is on the sleeps back, and the sheep are in
the pasture"
Immediately turned to a younger broth
err and babe him take the salt dish and call
them to the yard.
Mother replied, Poor child, there are
no sheep shears within three miles and n
half"
II have some small shears at the LOOM"
said |,
"But you can't spin and weave it in so
short "A time"
II am certain we cam, mother"
"How can you weave itY There is a long
web of linen in the loom"
BY this time the sound of the sheep made
me quicken my steps toward the yard. |
requested my sister to bring the wheel and
cards while ! went for the wool. | went to
the yard with my brother and secured a
white sheep, from which | sheared with my
loom shears half enough for a web. We
then let her go with the rest of her fleece.
] sent the wool in with my little sister, and
Luther ran for "A black sheep and held her
while | cut wool off for my filling and half
the warp, and then we allowed her to go
with the remaining coarse part of the
fleece,
The rest of the narrative the writer would
abridge by saying that the wool thus OBJ
tanned was duly carded, spun, washed, sized
and dried. A loom was found a few doors
off, the web got in" and was wove, the
cloth prepared, cut and made two or three
hours before the brothers departure that
Is to say, in 40 hours from the commence
ment, without help from any modern inn
proyement.- Mrs. r.. L. Richards, III Green
! field Gazette.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1893-09-20
Gauthier's Memory.

some OF the feats of memory which Sir
George Trevelyan ascribes to Lord Macau
lay have been accounted rather tall as
the Americans say, but in Theophile eau
tier, it seems, Macaulay might have found
his match. His thirst for reading was in
satiable, and he consumed grammars, pros
pectuses, cookery books and almanacs AS
greedily as works of science and magma
ton. Whatever he read he remembered,
and his friends, when in doubt on any
point, used to say, I'VE have only got to
turn over the leaves of Theo."
On the evening of the day o which a
new volume of Victor Hugo had been pub
lished he was dining with some friends
In his clear voice, without Infection
monochord, so to speak-his eyes gazing
steadfastly, as though he were reading
from afar a book visible to himself alone,
he recited the l5S verses of Les Lions
not repeating himself once, never hesitat-
ing and not mistaking a single syllable.
We were astonished and said TO him,
you nave learned it by heart, theni' To
which he replied, mo, | read it this morn
ing while | was breakfasting."
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1893-09-20
Speech and the Power of Work.

Any one who observes the movements of
his tongue in speaking will find that there
occur no cases in which the adjustments
must have ar eXactness corresponding to
the extreme power of discrimination which
the tip Possesses. For speech this endow-
ment is useless. Even were it useful it
could not be shown that it has been devel-
oped by survival of the fittest, for though
perfect articulation is useful yet imperfect
articulation has rarely such an effect AS to
impede a man in the maintenance of his
life. If he is IA good workman, a Germans
interchanges of BIS and p's do not disad
vantage him.
A Frenchman who in place of the sound
tn always makes the sound of y succeeds
as a teacher of music and dancing no less
than if he achieved the English p%ronuncia-
ton. Nay, even such an imperfection of
speech as that which arises from cleft pal
ate does not prevent a man from getting
on if he is capable. True, it may go against
him as a candidate for parliament or as an
''orator" of the unemployed. But in the
struggle for life he is not hindered by the
effect to the extent of being less able than
others to maintain himself and his off
spring.-Contempordry RerieaC.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1893-09-20
Bell Ringing in 1909.

Here is an extract from IA journal of the
year 1909: On arriving in London we heard
a great ringing of bells in almost all the
churches going on very late in the evening.
We were informed that the young people
do that for the sake of exercise and amuse-
ment, and sometimes they pay considera-
bic sums as a wager who will pull "a bell
the longest and ring it in the most ap.
proved fashion. Parishes spend much
money in tremendously sounding bells,
that one being preferred which has the best
bells. The old queen is said to nave been
pleased very much by this exercise, con
sidering it as a sign of the health of the
people. They do not ring the bells for the
dead. When a person lies in agony, the
bells of the parish he belongs to are touched
with the %clappers until he either dies or re.
covers again. As soon as this sign is given
everybody in the street as we'll as in the
houses falls on his knees offering prayer
for the sick person.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1893-09-20
COlOring Butter.

The most universally colorcd article is
butter, and it may with great confidence be
asserted that there is hardly "A pound of
butter sold Mt the present time in this
country which has not been doctorcd, most
ly by the aid of n harmless coloring matter
-annatto-in order to impart to such but
ter a rich golden color. Butter naturally
varies much in color, according to the sea-
son, the breed of the cow and mainly its
food, and it is but rarely the natural butter
possesses the color to which the public is
now accustomed. The desire of those who
introduced this admiXture was obviously
to make their produce appear richer and
more enticing to the eye than nature had
intended. One after the other the rest of
the butter merchants had to follow suit
Food, DrUgS ami Drink.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1893-09-20
Bunny's Blunder.

Bunny is the cutest little snow white
rabbit you ever saw. He is quite tame,
and he blinks at you very wisely with
his queer pink eyes. He is very fond
of his little mistress, she is 80 good to
him. He always wants to be with her,
and he will follow her every opportu-
nifty he gets. One morning little Mis-.
tress Mary and her mamma we're going
to ride to town in the street cars to do
some shopping. Mary said goodby to
Bunny and left him, as she thought,
securely shut up in his little house, but
Just as she and her ann were
seated in the car who do you suppose
Jumped in after them? Why, Mr..
Bunny, to be sure! And he was as
alarmed as his mistress was surprised,
for when the car began to move Mr..
Bunny wanted to get off. He had
never been in a car before, and the
motion frightened him. He ran up
and down the car, and no one could
catch him. There was a great deal OF
laughing and talking al the sight of
him, and the conductor had to stop the
car aud let Mistress Mary and her
mamma get off and take their m~ischiev-
Gus pet back home. This they did,
and | can assure you hat when they
left the house again MI. Bunny was
shut up SC securely that he had no
chance of getting out and trying TO
steal a ride to town.-IHe Nursery.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1893-09-20
A Wonderful Little Boy.

There is a four-year-old boy at Cadiz,
o., who has somewhat staggered his
elders and the wise men of that section.
The lad has never attended school, nor
has he ever learned TO read. Still, he
can name and point out on the map all
the countries and states, giving their
capitals, their situation, the principal
cities in each section, railroads, rivers,
straits, lakes, mountains and other
geographical points. In fact, he has
the worlds atlas firmly impressed on
his wonderful mind. His kuowledge is
thorough, as be gives the population of
the cities, the source and curse of esch
river, the terminal of the railroads and
the cities through which they pass.
There is absolutely nothing in the geo
graphical way that he does not know or
understand in the fullest degree. The
boy wonder is the son OF w. II. BOyles,
a well-known citizen of Cadiz.-Detroit
Free Press.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1893-09-20
An Enormous Kite.

The largest kite ever made in the United
States is that produced in Durham, Greene
county. The frame consists of two main
sticks 2S feet long, weighing each 100
pounds, and two cross sticks u feet long
and weighing - pounds each. All the
sticks were 2 by q inches in dimensions.
Over the framework was stretched Il great
sheet of white duck, % by IS feet, which
weighed 80 pounds. The tail of the kite
alone weighed 80 pounds and contained lj5
yards of muslin. Twenty-Five hundred feet
of one half inch rope served as kite strings.
The plaything cost 500, and when it is
mounted into the air it eXerts IA lifting
power of 500 pounds. Six men once per
mitted it to ascend 1000 feet.-AiboRy az. y,
ErnrnSS-
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1893-09-20
Saving a Maniac from Death.

At the asylum in Livingston county, n.
Y, some years ago Il young lady from the
village obtained n position as attendant in
the female ward.
In this way she aided a widowed mother
and family dependent upon her for support.
One day an inmate, with the cunning
characteristic of the disease, stole away,
and finding "A door unguarded crept up
stairs into the attic, unfastened the trap
door and went out.
The young nurse soon missed her charge,
and finding the door ajar FASTENED after
her.
She found her dancing with satanic glee
on the very edge of the root, four stories
above ground.
The nurse, unperceiyed, grappled her
from behind, and after "A hard struggle
drew her to the door, where she was re
lieved by men who had FASTENED TO the
rescue.
The young lady returned to her work,
seemingly unconscious Of the heroism she
had displayed in saving her charge from a
terrible death.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1893-09-20
About the Tongue.

" The homeless tongue, so small and weak,
Can crush and kill" declared the Greek.
The tongue destroys a greater horde,
The Turk asserts, Ethan does the sword"
The Persian problem wisely saith,
' A lengthy %tongue-an earthly DEATH
Or sometimes takes this form instead.
" Don't let your tongue cut off your head"
@ The tongue can peak a word whose speed
Say the Chinese, " o~utstrips the steed."
While Arab sages this impar',
" The tongues great storehouse ia the heart"
From Hebrew wit the maxim sprung.
Though feet should slip. ne'er let the tongue.
The sacred writer crowns the whole,
" Who keeps his tongue doth keep his SOUL
mirror and Farmer.