davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1893-02-25

kets, when your own flesh and blood
stands in need Of country air as much
as any of en-"
Mrs. Crane fell to securing her bright
milk pans, while her husband stared
out of the window and thought hard.
Summer after summer this good
farmer had entertained poor children,
often two at time, and usually those
in bad health; and all the time his con-
science would persist in asking:
'Wheae's Marthy's boy?"
Martha had been the farmers pretty
sister once, but she had willfully mar
ried worthless fellow against her
parents wishes, and had long since
reaped thksreward of her disobedicncc.
Aver few years of misery she died,
leaving behind her little boy called
~1rsexander.
Shortly afterward his father also
died, and now Alec was living some
where in New York with the fathers
family.
1t was generally believed that they
were poor and shiftless, and that Alec's
wits were acquiring a nimbleness far
from desirable. At least, such were
the rumors that occasionally reached
the farm. by reason of Alec's unfortu-
nate reputation, Gopher Crane had
been unable to make up his mind
to welcome his nephew to the
farm. He felt sure that if Alec once
set foot on the farm it would be for
life.
eyes, / mean Marthy's boy" said
Mrs. Crane, presently. HE may be
worthless as all git-out, but duty's
duty. Besides, Deacon Beazely's wife,
who went down to York in the spring,
found out considerable about the fam
lily for me. She said that maybe he
was ruther sharp and antic like, but it
was her opinion that Alec stood dread
full in need o. homin'. Come, Gopher.
let's take him on faith"
Good Mrs. Crane turned her soft eyes
full of entreaty on her husband.
you're good woman, Phebe," said
he, finally. swell, send for Alec. He
can be our fresh air for spell, If
you like"
Martha's boy was really trifle more
''antic" than was thoroughly comfort
= able for others, but, according to his
lights, he was not really bad boy.
True. he had reputation for sharp
ness that rejoiced his soul. He was at
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1893-02-25
HALFWAY.

The years that steal our youth away
Come drifting on--come drifting on,
Like snowflakcs that endure day
And then are gone.
Upon the hearth is blazing bright
An open fre--I sit and dream,
And think how far into the night
And storm its ruddy glow doth stream.
And then. within my heart tonight
The fame of youth flares up once more,
To shed q CLEAN Of fiickerfng light
Through all the dark that lies before.
And all the lost come back once more
And all the dead things live again,
And footsteps echo on the floor
And faces press against the pane.
And now try so hard to catch
whisper from the forms that pass,
To touch the hand that lifts the latch
The lips that tremble on the glass.
And seek to check the rising tears
For sweet dead joys and loved ones gone,
For memories that like the years
Come drifting on-come drifting on.
Ny fire burns low, but through the gloom
Comes stealing in the gray Of dawn,
The shadows scurry from the room
TIL all are gone.
And morn Is hcre-the storm Is past,
The room is filed with ruddy day;
But on my head is drifting fast
The snow that never melts away.
kate Fields Washington.
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1893-02-25


the cows, .'this oil business is mighty
queer, and if you didn't take it, if you
truly didn't take it-let's creep out to
the shop tonight after the folks are in
bed. and watch out for the scamp who
did. What dye say?"
Alec welcomed the scheme eagerly,
and the two boys arranged their plan
OF action. When it was nearly mid
night, che pair softly descended the
stairs and let themselves out OF the
kitchen door.
A big moon shone in through the low
window of the shop, lighting the fat
stone bottle. newly filed with oil, that
stood on the wide shelf beneath.
The boys heard a noise almost as
soon as they had entered. and quickly
crouched behind some barrels. Here
they had good view of the shelf.
At that moment the moon hid her
face behind a. cloud. All was dark.
Mysterious sounds were heard by the
young listeners Joe thought it might
be rats, but to Alec's excited mind even
Indians or pirates were possible, and
his teeth chartered. But his desire to
have vengeance on the thief overcame
his fears, and he held his ground
More scuff1ing was heard presently,
and then it became evident that some
thing was reaching up to the shelf.
When the moon once more kindly threw
her light in the little shop, behold
four large rats were seated complacent-
| ly on a box on the broad window ledge,
the top of the box being just even with
the neck of the bottle.
Alec and Joe leaned over the barrels
almost to the extent of falling in order
| to see the performance One rat de-
liberately turned around and let his
tail down the neck of the oil bottle,
and then, carefully withdrawing the
dripping member, he gracefully sub
| mitted IL to his three rat companions,
who licked off all the adhering oil.
| Then another rat took his turn at
thrusting his tail into the bottles and
| in this way all were served. By and
| by all four rats scampered off.
The mystery Of the oil bottle was
solved at last!
81 swan to g-acious!" CIRCULATED
Uncle Gopher, when the next morning
the boys laid the result of their mid
night researches before the family.
"The KNOWN crittersv'
s.Well, sonny" said Uncle Gopher to
Alec, 'sI'm sorry enough that I sus-
pected you Of bein' what you want;
but you see, your reputation was agin
you. Maybe you amt ever heerd it,
hut a good name is wuth more than
great riches. If you think You see
through it clear enough to try to build
up q better sort of reputation than
what you brought here, you needn't &c
away"
Alec thought he saw through it He
| had found out that sharp tricks did not
pay, and he resolved thenceforth "a
| live SO honorably that his word should
be as good as Joe's or Albert's- Jose
tphine Gates, in Yonth's Companion.
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1893-02-25
SOUTH SEA ARMOR.
Coats OF Mall Made of Cocoa Fiber and
Human Hair.

Coats OF Mall Made of Cocoa Fiber and
Human Hair.
The academy of sciences has added to
the treasures of the museum complete
suit of ancient armor from the Gilbert
islands. Also some odd pieces of war
like paraphernalia used or worn by the
dusky warriors. All of these articles
are believed to be at least one hundred
years old.
The coat of mail and helmet, all in
one piece, looks when off the wearer
like big wicker chair. When on, the
back of the chair apparently rises
above the wearer's head, which passes
up through the seat of the chair. The
low arms, which are really straps, pass
over his shoulders. The solid portion
of the lower part is the corselet, fasten-
ing around the body.
This curious garment is made of CO.
coanut fiber, twisted around and
around over thick cords, making a
dense fabric stiff and stout as board.
In color it resembles unbleached linen.
The material is woven by hand. after
which it is EN- broidered in regular pat.
tern suggesting grotesque human fig
ures. This curious needlework is exc
cuted with cords made of twisted hu.
man hair.
With the singular garment just de
scrihed are worn yoke and a pair Of
sleeves, also IN one piece. Also. pail
of leggings with short skirt at the tor
The skirt, leggings, sleeves and yoke
are made of brown cocoanui
fiber, braided and knotted, unit
it looks very much like ths
common cocoa mating. The thick
ness Of these garments is something
surprising. 1t would seem that arrows
or spears could not penetrate this fab
ric. The coat of mail keeps all por
lions of the costume in place. Thu
chair-like projection above the head i
intended to ward of arrows.
The work Of making this costume
must have been incredibly tedious
judging by the hnenees and regularity
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1893-02-25
barn. where he did his repairs on rainy

days.
It was his firm and fond conviction
that if it had not been his lot to be a
farmer he would have made q very cx.
cellent mechanic. The big grindstone
and all the little whetstones and glue
pots and carpenters tools Of various
kinds were the joy of Uncle Zopher's
heart. Hitherto no one had been bold
enough to NEEDLE with them.
Among the treasures of the shop was
stone bottle, without stopper, filled
with sweet oil. 1t stood on a broad
shelf beneath the window. One morn
ing this bottle was found to be empty.
Only the night before it. had been new
ly filed. AS the shop door was always
kept locked, and the key to it cieverly
concealed behind the kitchen door, it
was clear that some one of the house,
hold was the offender.
Somebody's been tamperin' with my
ile," announced Uncle Gopher, looking
severely over the tops of his spectacles
straight at Alec.
Alec anxiously undertook to clear
himself of this awful charge.
There, lad, CAREFUL" said Uncle
Gopher; my boys didn't take it, know,
for they've said so, ana what they say
is sure to be true; but you'll don't
know about you"
Alec made the most frenzied protes-
tations of innocence. Perhaps no one
believed him, but, for the time being,
the matter was dropped.
Alas! the contents of the fat stone
bottle in the shop disappeared again.
and Uncle Zopher's face grew stern.
''If you'd only tell the truth. Alec
dearr entreated Aunt Phebe, with
tears in her eyes. "Come, now, just
for mischief, didn't you do it?"
"Noper' maintained Alec, stoutiy.
No confession could be wrung from
him.
Meantime the oil continued to disap-
pear, until finally Uncle Gopher de-
clared that Alec certainly must be the
thief, and that unless within three
days a full confession was made he
should ''ship him off," and that he
.'need never show hide nor hair on the
place again"
Alec was in despair. He had never
known the delights of home before.
TO go away from the farm now would
break his heart. He was miserably
convinced now that if his reputation
had been for honesty and truth, instead
of trickery and sharpness, he would not
have been suspected.
| "Say, now" drawled Joe, his cousin,
as the two were moodily driving HON q
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1893-02-25

the bottom OF nearly every bit of mis-
chief that happened in his neighbor-
hood
In due time he came to the farm. He
helped Uncle Gopher and his two boys,
Joe and Albert, about the place, and
on occasion he rendered assistance IN
the kitchen, where doughnuts and the
snappiest kind Of gingersnaps were sure
70 be found ut any hour.
Alec declared that life on the farm
was dandy fun" He played few
pranks now and then. but ns rule ne
kept well within bounds the sharpness
FOR which he was famed In his little
circle In the city. He seemed to know
when he was well OF.
Uncle Gopher was an casy-going soul
on every point but ono, and that was
his shop--a little shanty bnilt on the
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1893-02-25
A THUNDER STORM.
All Nature Let Loose In Her Fury Among
the Andes.

All Nature Let Loose In Her Fury Among
the Andes.
"The people of this country do not
know what thunder storm is, assert
ed Juan Segarez, native of Peru.
lyon must go to the mountains of the
tropics if you want to see the bolts of
Olympian Jove and hear his thunders
roll.
There is no sight on earth so grand
as a midnight thunder storm in the
Andes. Byron describes night storm
in the Alps, and it appears inexpressi-
bly, grand to those who have never felt
the solid earth rock beneath the terrific
electric discharges and seen the forked
bolts rend gigantic rocks from noun
tam peaks and send them crashing
down into well-nigh bottomless chasms.
II spent night in the Andes in the
summer of 'SS. Our party was encamped
in basin, walled in by three snow
capped peaks. Shortly after midnight
sudden thunder storm came up, anc
those three peaks seemed to be encir-
cled with fiery blue serpents. that coiled
and famed and darted their fen
tongues across the triangular spa6
each other for an hour, while the pe9Ia
of thunder followed in such quick sue.
cession that it seemed one continual
crash-like an endless crack of doom.
"Bowlders larger than any building
ever erected by man were torn from the
crags and hurled into the valleys, while
the rain came down like a second deluge
swelling in a few minutes every tiny
rivulet to torrents that roared Ike
Niagara. The storm ceased as suddenly
as It began, the torrents disappeared
the stars shone out and silence liks
the grave succeeded the awful pande
monium. st Louis Globe Democrat
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1893-02-25
ALEC'S REPUTATION.
How He Found That Sharp Tricks
Didn't Pay.

ORE fresh air
children com
inf" said Mrs.
Crane. LAND
o. love! Gopher.
I'm tired of 'em.
We've had 'em
lame, halt and
blind. and I'd
like q change.
Not that I've a
t h / n & a g i n
fire S h air g.
Far from it; it's
a noble charity.
But don't seem
hardly fair to
keep on enter
tainin' tn g S e
sf,rauUe vo,lu-
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1893-02-25
40 Yearned Tor Che uaAtta lnabIe.


Sarah Bernhardt loves to tell the fol-
lowing story about Olivier, famous
French actor. The latter, it seems,
possessed Incredible power of mimicry.
He could assume the voice, gestures
and facial expression Of any person he
CHANGED TO meet One day he called on
his tailor to ask him for little more
time on an account which had been
running on for three years At that
moment he saw customer enter the
shop and pay for several articles OF
clothing, which were Immediately de-
l:vered. Then the actor heaved deep
sigh of pain.
what is the matter with you?" In
quired the tailor.
"Alasi' replied Olivier, "therc Is .
man shall never be able to imitateg'
Music and Drama
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1893-02-25

81 am afraid you do not love music.
Mr.. Keenear." she said, as she finished
. selection at the piano.
''Oh, do" he said, eagerly.
II thought you looked bored" slas
said.
II may have looked bored" he an
swered, "but love music for all that
Boston Globe.
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1893-02-25

She-Did you have apleasant evening
ct the Tollivers?
He--Yes- As soon as put my right
arm around Daisy's waist she put both
hers around mine. Then she screamed.
let go, but she hung on Her father
came in and read the statutes referring
TO breach Of promise -and-yes, ! had .
very nice time.-N. Y. Herald.
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1893-02-25
He Didn't win.

Willis = What makes You 80 blue,
Wallace?
Wallace-Why shouldn't ! be blue?
A fellow offered one hundred dollars
Tor a case Of catarrh he couldn't cure,
and let him try his hand on me.
"Well, what of it?"
"Why, he cured me. confound It,
Brooklyn Life.
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1893-02-25

She (gushingly) There are days when
we seem more in unison with nature
than at other times; when our hearts
seem to beat in accord with the sublime
harmony of the universe Have you
never noticed?
He-Indeed have. 1t Is always that
way with me on pay day.-N. \. Her.
Aid.
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1893-02-25

On Level
Dorothy Jagged three. to her older
sister)-I'm as tall as you.
Marjorie-No. you're not. Stand up
and see. There, you only come to my
mouth.
Dorothy-Wcll, don't care I'm as
tall the other way; my feet go down as
Tar as yours!-D cmorcst's Magazine.
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1893-02-25
Couldn't Affect Him.

Bright-She's man-hater.
Cholly-Aw--er--is that so? I'm
sorry to heah it. for was going to twy
to make up to her, dontcherknow.
BIO, well, you're all right. The
fact that she's a man-hater doesn't bar
Won from her favor.-N. Y. Herald
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1893-02-25

They were discussing the labor ques
ton.
~ believe in shorter hours" said Mr..
Linger.
80 do l." replied Miss Keedick,
earnestly. 81 think an hour and half
is plenty long enough for an evening
call"
As the young man had been there
three hours, he began to look for his
hat-Jury.
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1893-02-25

Husband Did you drive all these
nails yourself?
Wi6e-Yes. did.
ssLet me see your hands"
"Here they are-not hurt q bit.
"Humi Who held the nailsY'-N. z.
Weekly.
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1893-02-25
Had heard It i3efure.

He-How charming you look, dear,
IN that drcssi It becomes you adj
-mirably.
She-Oh, yesi That's an old story.
When the season is changing You al
ways discover how charming am IN
my old clothesl- Demorest's Magazine.
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1893-02-25

Trivvet- Dicer. wish you would
lend me twenty-five dollars.
Dicer-This is an unreasonable time
to try to borrow money.
Trivvet-How SO?
Dicer-The days are getting 20 short,
end time Is money, yoli know. Truth
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1893-02-25

DIR. Squills-sI never had patient
yet who would go back on me-" DR.
Pills-'sNo, because you are discreet
enough to send them all to that bourne
whence nobody goes back. !"
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1893-02-25
A True PhilantlAropist.

Mr.. Goodmann-You should tell our
doctor to call on the washerwoman's
family.
Mrs. G.-Dear mel What's the matter
there?
"Inhuenza, I think"
"Who told you?"
"No one, but notice that only two
of my handkerchiefs came back this
week. IN. Y. Weekly.
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1893-02-25
Cherity.,

Charity.
Farmer (emerging from shadow Of
hen house)-Hold on. there, you old
rascal saw you coming, an / jest
thought you wouldn't be able to 60 by
that pullet.
'Rastus-Go by dat pullet? No. sab
reckon not, sahi Use got some hui
manity in me, sab Yo' didn't s'pose
cud see po' chicken roost out frecz-
in night laik dis, did yo'?-Judge.
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1893-02-25
"A Request Ungratined.

Kitty-If I should marry you, Frank.
You must give up your practice as q ply
stefan.
Frank-That would be impossible.
Kitty-Why SO?
Frank-I never had any. -Des Moines
Register.
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1893-02-25

BATTLES are thoughts insisted upon
RAMS Horn.
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1893-02-25

Coogan (below)-Say. Murphy?
Murphy (above) -Phwat do yez wants
Coogan-.Jist t'row down bhrick till
OF 6ll up me hod.-Judge-
The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1893-08-17

every day; an easy going, devil-may-
care sort of fellow, who is glad he is
living and who is contented as long as
there is plenty to eat and the rosy, las
he POLITICALLY calls GIN, flows freely.
This love of the rosy is Dicks greatest
fault, for it leads him into all kinds of
mistakes, to use no stronger term, un-
til we find him plotting the unhappi-
ness of Little Nell. But he is finally
brought to himself after a protracted
illness, which was no doubt brought on
by indulging too freely in that same
"rosy." Recovering, he marries, settles
down, and leads happy life. But the
Dick Swiveller's of the present day
need something stronger than fit of
illness to, bring them to their senses.
They will be jolly good fellows and all
that, cost what it may. They, too, will
indulge in the "rosy" until it causes
them to make a far greater mistake
than did the aforesaid Richard. Many
of them have time to think the matter
over while they serve the state for a
number of years. l have no doubt that
many Of the "boys" the writer among
them-were brought here through just
such qualities, and that most of them
have the good, deep in their hearts, if
some one will dig it up. YON.
The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1893-08-17
U. S. N.

Our navy of to-day is something that
we as a people can justly be proud of.
We know that the ships that the gov
ernment is building in these days are
to fight, not to run away 1 think we
soon will be able to cope with the ma
vies of the world, and | am proud as an
ex-man-o of wars man that the seamen of
foreign powers cannot now throw it in
our face that we who boast of so much
wealth cannot build a navy, but have
to trust to few old wooden ships.
Even John Chinaman could formerly
say that America only had two ships,
the Hartford and PalOs. 1t was very
humiliating from sailors point of
view; but nevertheless those old wood
en- ships served their purpose well, and
for cool, solid comfort in warm eli
mate, they took the prize; and the sail
ors of '6S to 'SS will keep them in fond
recollection. l hope that if our new
navy is called upon, they will leave as
good record. SINBAD.
The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1893-08-17
SOME MOTHERS CHILD.

At home or away in the alley or street,
Whenever l chance in this wide world to meet.
A girl that is thOughtlesS, or boy that is wild,
My heart echoes sadly "'Tis some mothers
child!''
And when 1 see those Ger whom long years have
rolled,
Whose hearts have grown hardened whose
spirits are cold
Be it woman all fallen, or man all defiled,
A voice whispers sadly, "Ah some mothers
child!'
No matter how far from the right she hath
strayed;
No matter what inrOadS diShonOr hath made;
No matter what element cankered the heart
Though tarniShed and Sulled, she's some moth
er'S girl
No matter how wayward his footsteps have been;
No matter how deep he is Sunken in sin;
No matter how low is his standard of joy
Though guilty and lOathSome, he's some moth
er's boy.
That head hath been pillowed on tenderest
breast;
That form hath been wept DER, those lips have
been pressed;
That soul hath been prayed for in tones sweet
and mild;
For her sake deal gently with "some mothers
child.''
Selected.
The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1893-08-17
Plus Ultra.

By studying carefully the lives of
great men we learn that there is in man
feeling of ambition to discover that
which is beyond their present reach.
1t matters not what we see, know, or
possess, something seems to whisper in
our ear "there is more beyond" 1t was
this fancy that pictured to Columbus
passage to India over the Atlantic and
thereby gained for him a name that
will resOund through the annals of
time as the discoverer of America. The
attainmentS made in science seem
wonderfully perfect to many of us, yet
there are men to-day who burn the
midnight oil simply because fancy
sings to them in prophetic voice there's
more beyond" AS we sit in our little
bed-chamber when our days work is
over we often sigh for our freedom, and
it seems to us if freedom we only had
we could enjoy life as others do.
Though dressed in convict attire we
are human beings and, as such, we are
prone to listen when fancy reminds us
of the fact that the earth enclosed
within these rOck-WallS is not the only
place on the globe but that "theres
more beyond" Nor is this earth the
only place for us to live, "there's more
beyond the river of death-the land
from whose bourn no traveller re-
turneth." Lives of Columbus and other
great men all remind us that "'Tis not
all of life to live, nor all of death to
die." Oh, then, let us not live like the
beast of burden caring only to live and
nothing more, but let us listen carefully
and thoughtfully to the voice that tells
us "there's more beyond" and so live
that when our bodies lie mouldering in
the grave our souls can enter that hap
py land where jails and penitentiaries
are unknown. A. H. C.