davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-07-18
A Lost Novel.

A good many years ago historical
novel by Mr. Hoffman was announced as
soon to apper under the title of 1.-THE Red
Spur of Ramapo." But the book never
was published, and the cause of It's non
appearance may well be set down among
the calamities which bcfall authors
Mr.. Hoffman had been employed more
than six months upon his romance He
had taken unusual care in its compost
tion, and an eminent book publisher had
contracted with him for tho copyright
The novel was nearly completed the pub
lilo was talking about it and romance read
ers were anticipating u treat The au-
thor, as he wrote it, placed the manu-
script sheets In largo portfolio by the
side Of his writing table, so that none of
them should be lost One day, on looking
into his literary subtreasury, he discovered
to his establishment and dismay that only
a few sheets of THE Red Spur of Ramapo"
were to be found.
Not many men could have acted SO
calmly as did the author of "Greyslaer"
on this occasion and as the great Newton
is reported to have done on a similar one
He called the chambermaid who had
been intrusted with the care of his room
and said:
Mary, have you ever taken any papers
from this placer"
Sure, it's mesilf that has, sorr," she
replied with perfect frankness
For what purpose did you take them?"
inquired the author, with sinking heart.
Sure, sorr, to kindle the foire, - re-
piled the guileless Mary, IAN many's the
tonne DIVE thought how good ye was to
put 'em there for me"
And how long have you been in the
habit of taking papers from this place."
groaned the poor author.
"Oi couldn't say list how long, SOFT,
returned Mary, seeing at last that some
thing was amiss, "but OF niver mis-
thrusted there was any good to 'em, for
they was all scrubbed over, sorr."
And with sobs and wild protestations of
sorrow the destroyer of THE Red Spur of
Ramapo" fled from the room, leaving the
afflicted author to console himself for his
loss as best he might Youths Companion.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-07-18
IN GENERAL.
One Less at Home.

One less at homel
Chill as the earth born mist the thought would ris
And wrap our footsteps round, and dim our eyes;
But the bright sunbeam starteth from the skies
One more in heaveni
One more at homei
This Is not home where, cramped In earthly mold
Our sight OF Christ is dim, our love is cold;
But there, where face to face we shall behold,
Is home and heaveni
One less on earth
Its PAIN Its sorrow, and its toll to share;
One less the pilgrims daily cross to bear
One more the crown of ransomed saints to wear,
AT home in heavenl
One more in heaveni
Another thought to brighten cloudy days,
Another theme of thankfulness and praise,
Another link on high our souls to raise
To home and heaven
One more at homel
hat home where separations cannot be;
That home where none are missed eternally,
Lord Jesus, grant us all place with thee,
At home in heavenl
Anonymous.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-07-18
A Soldiers Estimate of Bravery.

1t was at soldiers meeting, and the
subject was what constituted brave
soldier. One of the veterans present
recited case of what he considered
true heroism. He said his regiment
was encamped near the river bank, and
was called into action about nine
O'Clock on the morning of April 6.
AS the regiment was marching along
the road to the front to take position
he could not shake off the idea that he
was going to be shot in the battle. He
called to the side of him a slim boy
who at that time ranked as sergeant, by
the name of Fred Marsh, to whom he
had become very much attached. He
related to him his belief that he was
going to be shot, and requested him in
that event to take command of the
company. That young boy, with true
modesty, cheered him up with his
words, but said this; " Captain, I can
not take command of the company.
The second lieutenant is here and the
first sergeant; both good soldiers. They
will be all right" The regiment was
formed in line of battle, the regiments
in our front were driven back, and
soon we were trying to check the ad-
vance of the confederates. We did so,
but were finally driven back with ter
rible loss. AS the regiment was fall
ing back to reform the cries of our
wounded were terrible. Sergeant Fred
could not stand it. Hating he turned
around and saw Lieutenant Haight, of
Company 1, MORALLY wounded and beg
ging not to be left in the hands of the
confederates. That slim boy, under a
murderous fire, got down, took hold of
Lieutenant Haight and carried him to
a ravine, placed him near big black
oak tree, where be died, and then re-
joined his command. The captain con-
tinued: d" I was shot in that battle, and
the second lieutenant and first SER
geant we're wounded. AT the same
time was wounded, and thought NOR
tally. Sergeant Fred Marsh was at the
left of the company-the regiment was
lying down at the time - and firing.
The minute 1 was wounded 1 called
upon Fred to take command of the
company. l shall never forget him to
my dying day. The confederates were
advancing, flushed with victory, and
were pouring into our ranks murder
GUS fire of shot and shell, and at the
sound of my voice Gas / was close to
him) he walked to the right of the COM
pany, never flinching, and encouraging
the boys by his bravery to stand fast. -"
Chicago Inter- Ocean.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-07-18
Made Grant Pay Toll.

A new story of General Grant was
told the Pittsburg Dispatch the other
day by resident of Washington county,
Pa: "I'll never forget how old Bile
Oliver, who kept the tollgate at Wash
ton, on the old Wheeling pike, held up
General Grant for toll" he said. "Bije
was annoyed a great deal by college
boys who drove over the pike. They
worked upon his credulity, promising
to pay toll on their way back. Many a
nickel has been lost to the old toll
keeper, as he was kind-hearted fellow,
and often in the face of better judg-
ment RENTED the toll until they re-
turned. But the boys, like that letter,
never came; they took another route
home, thus eluding old Bile. Upon
one of Grants visits to Washington
during his administration, young Mr..
Smith, who was then in college, took
him out one day for a drive. AS they
came near the tollgate on the Wheel
ing pike old Bile caught sight of them.
He went out of his house, took hold of
the rope and pulled the pole down, oh
structing the road. Smith greeted Bile
in familiar way and said: Look
here, Bic, we want to go on. You see
I've General Grant with me here
Bile looked up with a sardonic smile.
He had just begun to see through the
tricks of the college boys, and was not
going to allow himself to be gulled any
longer. So he replied: Il don't care
if you have General Grant with you
you'll have to pay toll or you can't gel
along here Then he added, in most
| sarcastic waV with a lear. Genera
Grant, You must take me for fool.
Really persisted young Smith, this
is General Grant But Bile got angry
at his apparent impudence and said an
grily: Grant or no Grant, you pay toll.
Seeing that he was adamant Genera
Grant put his hand down into hi
pocket, and, after tossing him coin
drove on, laughing at the incident. HI
often related the incident afterwards
and it seemed to amuse him greatly"
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-07-18
A Girls HerOism.

A correspondent gives the following
story: The Hamildie Kurds fell on
Herfey, an Armenian village, and asked
that the beautiful daughter of the priest
be delivered to them. The girl, hearing
that the villagers really intended to de-
liver her to them, in order to get rid of
their barbarities, hid herself and at
night succeeded in making her way,
with her brother, toward Russian terri
tory. When the Kurds heard of this
escape, they followed them and over.
took them in the mountains. The
brother and sister defended themselves
from behind rock until they had fred
all their cartridges but two. The sister
then threw herself into the arms of her
brother and begged him to shoot her
with one of the cartridges, 80 that she
might not fall into the hands of the
Kurds, nor see the death of her brother,
and that with the second he should de-
liver himself also from the hands of the
Kurds. This was done. The sister
was killed, but the brother was taken
half dead and delivered to the Turkish
authorities and is now in prison. LON.
don Ne,DS.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-07-18

had been standing was plowed by the
immense mass. That was very good
shooting on one side and close esti-
mating on the other, and another story
of fine Workmanship is equally utter
esting.. Two single gun batteries were
having an extended duel, until finally
one of the gunners got annoyed. They
were some distance apart, and only the
ugly black muzzles of the guns could be
seen when they came to shoot. Lieu
tenant" cried the sggrieved gunner at
length, "I'll settle that fellow if you'll
stand on this platform with your glass
and inform me of their movements"
SO the lieutenant took his glass and
noted. They're ramming herl" he
cried, after moment. Nov they are
running her out; the gunner has taken
his stand; he has hold of the lanyard;
he is about to" Bangl went the
cannon at his side, and the lieutenant
almost fell from his perch, but recov-
cred his balance in time to see the
other gun knocked over and over by
the well-directed ball. The next day
the lieutenant and his soldiers were in
possession of the enemy's camp and
looked up the disabled cannon. 1t had
been knocked endways, for just as the
gunner had pulled the lanyard the ball
from the lieutenant's gun had struck
the cannon squarely in the muzzle and
wedged itself there, causing the gun to
burst by its own explosion. 1t was
really most wonderful shot.-Hdrper'S
Young People.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-07-18
The Toilet of the Fly.

The toilet of the fly is as carefully
attended to as that of the most frivo-
lous of human beings. With a con-
tempt for the looking-glass, he brushes
himself up and wabbles his little round
head, brimful of vanity, wherever he
happens to be. Sometimes, after
long day of dissipation and flirting,
with his six small legs and little round
body all soiled with syrup and butter
and cream, he passes out of the dining
room and wings his way to the clean,
white cord along which the morning
glories climb, and in this retired spot,
needless of the crafty spider who is
practicing gymnastics a few feet above
him, he proceeds to purify and swesten
himself for the refreshing repose and
soft dreams of the balmy summer night,
so necessary to one who is expected to
be early at breakfast. 1t is wonder
full toilet. Resting himself on his front
and middle legs, he throws his hind
legs rapidly over his body, bending
down his frail wings for an instant with
the pressure, then raking them over
with backward motion, which he re-
peats until they are bright and clean.
Then he pushes the two legs along his
body under the wings, giving that
queer structure a thorough currying,
every now and then throwing the legs
out and rubbing them together, to re-
move what he has collected from his
bodily surface. Next he goes to work
on his van. Resting upon his hind and|
middle legs, he raises his two forelegs|
and begins vigorous scraping of head
and shoulders, using his proboscis|
every little while to push the accumu-
lations from his limbs. AT times he isl
so energetic that it seems as if he were
trying to pull his head off; but no fly
ever committed suicide. Some of his
motions very much resemble pussy a
her toilet. 1t is plain, even to the
naked eye, that he does his work thor
oughly, for when it is finished he look
like new fly, so clean and neat has hi
made himself within a few minutes
The white cord is defiled, but Flopp]
is himself again, and he bids the morn
ing glories very good evening.-S4
lected.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-07-18
The Toad Undressed.

My uncle and sister and l were out in
the garden one day watching a little
toad, and my uncle took twig and very,
very gently scratched first one side of
the toad and then the other. The
toad evidently enjoyed it, for be would
roll slowly from side to side and blink
very expressively. I was so interested
that when they went in took the twig
and did as my uncle had done. If,
thought l, he rolls from side to side as 1
touch him, what would he do if ran
the twig down his back? l did so, and
what do you think happened? His skin,
which was thin and dirty, parted in
neat little seam, showing bright new
coat below, and then my quiet little
toad showed his knowledge, for he
gently and carefully pulled off his outer
skin, taking it off the body and legs
first, and then blinking it over his eyes,
till-where had it gone? He had rolled
it in ball and swallowed it!-Philadel-
phia Press.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-07-18
Measure of Value.

An old confederate army chaplain,
Rev. J. H. McNeilly, tells story which
he thinks may be especially appreciated
in these times of financial stringency.
In January, 1864, he was in camp at
Dalton, Ga. He had just been paid off
in deprecated confederate currency,
and much of it was in one dollar bills
red-backed pieces of paper six or eight
inches long and about three inches
wide. "When soldier is paid, he
wants to buy something to eat; so as l
had heard of man who was selling
ginger cakes in camp about mile
away, went at once. l resolved to
spend a whole dollar in gingerbread.
My memory recalled with delight the
generous square that used to buy for
five cents from the old cake woman
when was boy. l found my man.
He had constructed an oven on hill
side, and he baked gingerbread in one
cake about three feet square. l i'm
agined that my dollar would buy about
whole square. Probably it would ex-
haust his stock. So, with an air .of
riches, / handed him my redback, and
said: 'Give me the worth of that He
wasn't disconnected in the least. He
took my dollar, laid it on his square of
cake, cut out the exact size of the paper
and handed it to me. knew then why
money is sometimes called measure
of value. ~ Youths Companion.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-07-18
A Boy Again.

The director of one of our large cor
porations was in the habit of prowling
around the office. One morning he
happened to come across the dinner
pail of the Office boy, His curiosity led
him to take off the cover. A slice of
homemade bread, two doughnuts, and
a piece of apple pie, tempted the mill
ionaire's appetite. He became boy
again, and the dinner pail seemed to be
the one he carried sixty years ago. Just
then the office boy came in and sur
prised the old man eating the pie-he
had finished the bread and doughnuts.
"That's my dinner you're eatingl"
said the boy. i" Yes, sonny, 1 suspect
it may be, but it's irst-rate one for
all that. I've not eaten so good one
for sixty years" "There," he added,
as he finished the pie, "take that and
go out and buy yourself dinner, but
you won't get so good one," and he
handed the boy five dollar bill. -
Exchange.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-07-18
Mortality Among Veterans.

Much interest is felt as to the exact
rate of mortality among the veterans,
and number of able actuaries are try
ing to arrive at some data which will
furnish reliable facts for calculations.
The difficulty is in estimating accurately
the effect upon them of their hardships
and stIai 8. This has been calculated
as adding all the way from five to
twelve years to their ages. The report
of the New Jersey Soldiers Home for
last year affords some materials for this
calculation. The home registered $40
veterans last year. OF these, 40 died,
and their average age was 6276 years.
The death of 40 in $40 is about one in
II, or nearly six per cent. Still closer,
it is little over So in every 1000. Esti-
mating that there were 100000
veterans alive January l, 1894, by Jan
uary l, 1895, IS, 262 will be dead. This
would mean that 562, 500 will be dead
in ten years. Really there will be 9
much larger number, since the death
rate increases very rapidly with each
year now. This gives some idea of the
enormity of the crime of torturing these
poor men with delays in settling theil
pension claims; of holding over 100000
claims unsettled in the pension bureau
and of resorting to all manner of pre-
texts to deprive those who are already
on the roll of their meager allowances
Troy Times.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-07-18
Central Vermont Railroad.
Commencing July !, 1894.

Trains Going South and East ioiH Leave Mont.
pelier as follOi0S!
900 A. NJ. MAIL, for Fitchburg, Boston, Spring
held New London and New York.
1928 Il. NJ. FAST TRAIN, for Boston via Low.
ell, and New York via Springfield
600 T.. M. PASSENGER, for White River
sI2:4O A. NJ. EXPRESS, for Boston via Lowell
and all points in New England, New York and South
Trains Going North and West:
$3.50 A. NJ. EXPRESS, for Montreal, ogdens-
burg and the West,
IO;I5A A. M. PASSENGER. for Burlington, st
Adams, st. Johns, Rchtord and Ogdensburg, max
ing cOnnet tons for Troy, Albany and New York.
q 80 T.. NJ PASSENGER, fer Burlington, St
Adams, Montreal Ogdensburg and the West
3:b5 Il. Nj. PASSENGER, for Burlington con
Meeting with steamer for MISUNDERSTANDING al
8 100 p. NJ. FAST EXPRESS Pullman Sleep
ing Car to Chicago,
Through tickets to Chicago and all points West TO
sale at the principal stations.
Suburban Train Service,
Leave Montpelier at 7;l5. q'l5 1880, A. N. 2;O5
$3.50. 1900 p. NJ. Arrive at Barre twenty minutes
after leaving tine.
Leave Barre at ;O5 80 A. NJ l2i 90 NJ, $500. 30
$3.50, p. NJ. Arrive at Montpelier. twenty min
utes after leaving time.
Trains leave for williamstown at lO;l5 A. NJ, and
ASS up. M.
Daily Sundays included Sundays only.
All passenger trains will stop at the Pioneer Works
to take or leave passengers when slgnaled.
V. w. THOMPSON, Agent.
+. w. BALDWIN, General SUPERINTENDENT
b, W. CUMMINGS, General Passenger Agent
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-07-18
Soldiers Homes.

About 81 100000 is paid out annu-
ally by the United States to support
the homes for disabled volunteers.
There are now seven national homes
and twenty state homes, which twenty
northern states support. The national
homes are as follows: The Central, at
Dayton; the Northwestern, near Mil.
waukee, Wis; the Eastern, at Togus,
Me-; the Southern, at Hampton, Va. /;
the Western, at Leavenworth, Kan. 4;
the Pacific, at Santa Monica, CAL, and
the Marion Branch, near Marion, Grant
county, Ind. Since the war 1865 vet
Grams have been received at the homes.
The Dayton branch is by far the larg-
est and most elaborate of all the homes.
Troy Times.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-07-18
Two Good Shots,

During the war chaplain in Vir-
GINA regiment stood upon slight knoll
watching the operations of the enemy's
batteries beyond. Several men were
about him, lying on the grass and I'M
der the trees, also watching the firing.
The great balls could be seen in the air
as they rose and fell, and the soldiers
about estimated very closely where
they would light, and gave that spot a
wide berth. Suddenly, as a gun doomed
and tiny black spot appeared in mid
air, the men moved hurriedly. " Par
son." shouted one, that's meant for
you-better look outl" And acting on
the suggestion the chaplain stood aside
Just in time, too, it WAS, for as he
moved away, the knoll upon which he
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-07-18
SOLDIERS BUDGET.
Night Before the Battle of Gettysburg.

The sun has set behind yon western hill,
The scattering clouds are fringed with scarlet hue
The evening air seems laden with chill
OF something more than early evening dew.
Far In the distance, on the turnpike gray,
A moving army winds around the hill,
And up the valley comes the dread array
OF marching columns, solemn, slow and STILL
out on the hills the white tents to the right
Like specters look, In evening twilight gray,
As hating columns bivouac for the night
In sullen silence, waiting for the fray.
Beyond the tents the fields of waving grain
Are ready for the reaper's busy hand;
But oh. the bloody harvest of the slain
That waits the specter reapers stern command.
Far Ger the mountain, echoing through the vale,
boom of cannon vibrates through the air
That signals hope, and right shall yet prevail
Though great the carnage in this valley fair.
The twilight deepens; darkness, like PAIL
Envelops village, hill and warrior gray.
Tho day has closed, and silence over all;
The calm before the storm of coming day.
National Tribune.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-07-18
From the Chaplain-in- Chief.

Chaplain-in- Chief A. V. Kendrick,
in a circular recently issued by him,
appeals to the 5000 chaplains of the
Grand Army of the Republic to "mag.
nifty your office " and "stir yourselves
to diligent performance of duty" He
says: :" AS age come on apace the
6 old boys are looking more and more
to the camping ground beyond, and this
makes the Office of chaplain one of Pc
culiar responsibility. While our de-
meanor before the post should be in
keeping with our sacred office, yet ii
should be free from cant and over
seriousness; but, on the contrary, the
chaplain should scatter sunshine by his
CHEEKY, happy way in the pathway of
the comrades. "-Troy Times.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-07-18

~ SIAIEOf VERMONT, Washington District, IS.
In Probate Court, held at Montpelier, in and for
said District, on the 5th day of July, A. ID. 1894:
An instrument purportng to be the last VIII and
Testament of Susan q. Kimball late of Cabot,
In said District, deceased, being presented to the
Court for Probate: 1t Is ordered by said Court,
that all persons concerned therein be notified to APP
pear at "A session of said Court to he held at the
Probate Office, In said Montpelier. the Sd day of
August, A. D. 1894, and show cause, If any they
may have, against the probates of said instru-
that notice of this order be published three weeks
successively in the Vermont Waterman d State Jour-
nal, a newspaper printed at Montpelier, in this
state previous to said time appointed for hearing.
BY the COurt.-Attest,
OiO6 HIRAM CARLETON Judge
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-07-18
(LEMENTINE TAPLIN'S ESTATE,

" STATE OF VERMONT, Washington District SO.
In Probate Court, held at Montpelier in and for
said District, on the I'd day of July, A. ID. 1894
An instrument purporting to be the last will and
testament of Clementine Tapln, late of Montpelier,
in said District, deceased being presented to the
Court for Probate 1t is ordered by said Court that all
persons concerned therein be notified to appear at
session of said Court, to be held at the Probate Of
fee, in saidi Montpelier, the 9th day of July,
A d. 1894 and show cause, If any they may have,
against the Probate of said instrument for which
purpose Ii Is further ordered that notice of this
order be published three weeks successfully in the
Vermont WdtchmdR e. State Journal, newspaper
printed at Montpelier in this state previous to said
time appointed for hearing.
BY the Court-Attest,
OaO5 HIRAM CARLETON, Judge.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-07-18
CARLOS sARGENT,s ESTATE.

Y STATEUF VERNON T, WashlnRtOn DlstriCt, 81.
In Probate Court held at Montpelier, in and for
said District, on the 10th day of Ju1y,.A. d. 1894
An instrument purporting to be the last VIII and
Testament of Carlos Sargent, late of Warren, in
said District deceased being presented to the Court
for Probate 1t Is ordered by said Court that all per-
sons concerned therein be notified to appear at a
session session Of said Court, TO be held ct the Probate
gust. A. ID. 1894, and show cause, If any they
may have, against the Probate of said instrument
for which purpose 1t is further ordered that notice
Of this order be published three weeks excessively
In the Vermont Hdtchmdn & State Journal, a news
paper printed at Montpelier in this State previous
w said time appointed for hearing.
0i06 HIRAM CARLETON Judge