davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1894-07-04

youngsters who can only partially sat
isfy their desire for the swapping red
and yellow paper cylinders, and men
who were once such boys and have not
forgotten the days when they We're
young,
know several such boys who under
stand the subject perfectly, but of all
my grownup acquaintance there is but
one man who has ever shown thorough
knowledge thereof This man is past
middle age now. He owns mills and
railroads and landed estates. He is, in
fact rich enough to buy shiploads of
firecrackers if he should SO desire. His
standing in business and society is of
the best, and for 81 weeks of every year
his face wears an expression of such
gravity that you would never suspect
him of being frivolous enough to own to
weakness for flrecrackers am not
sure that it is proper to use the word
weakness in referring to his fondness
for the Chinese noise and smoke max
ers Certainly his passion for them
while 1t lasts is as strong as any other
of his visible characteristics. 1t begins
to manifest itself about week before
Uncle Sans birthday, increases with
every "a hours till the dawning of the
glorious Fourth and then dissipates it.
self in fusillade of crackers lasting all
day and half the night, at the end of
which my friend is tired, sleepy, grimy
and almost invariably with little holes
burned in his clothes where stray sparks
have found Judgment. But he does not
mind his WEAKNESS. his blackened APP
pearance or the holes i'll his clothes. He
is always in q satisfied, not to say &C.
static, state of mind when at last he
gets to bed on the night of the glorious
Fourth.
According to the neighbors, the worst
of the business is that there is absolute
ly no stopping in the noise even at meal
times from shortly after daylight till
10 or II o'clock at night.
Even boys get hungry and tired, but
when my friend is celebrating the
Fourth of July he arranges his juvenile
The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1894-07-04

plosion that | would never again see so
gorgeous sight or hear such ravish-
ing noise. jumped up and down with
firecrackers herself, sat by, happy i'll the
popping and the blaze for my sake.
I'VE waited five minutes before the
next firecracker was shot off, and then
with my own hands struck the match
and lighted the fuse of the next one,
and again l was electrified with joy.
As the five minutes interval was pre-
served until the whole 10 of my fire
crackers had been exploded, I had just
so minutes of unalloyed delight.
Nov, / have never got over my
pleasure in firecrackers, but ! am salts
fed that if / had to shoot them without
a lot of boys to help me on the Fourth
of July there wouldn't be the slightest
fun in it, know that nine boys in ten
like them rs well as | do, whether they
will continue to do so after they are
grown up or not. OF course prefer for
helpers boys who can't have firecrack-
ers if they have to buy them themselves,
That's why Sim Smiths boys and Tom
Dooley's and all the rest of the crowd
down ON the side street near my house
are always invited to celebrate the
Fourth with me l don't allow myself
great deal of recreation during the
year. My business is too eXaeting. But
get enough fun out of the firecrackers
and the boys ON the Fourth to last me
till Thanksgiving day. There is one
thing about firecrackers that is in their
favor, unless You buy the big giant and
cannon firecrackers, which l never do,
and that is that they are much less dan
gerous than guns or toy pistols, and
they make more noise and fame and
smoke for the money than any other
sort of fireworks that l know anything
about I think, " he added, turning to
the salesman, THAT you may make my
order an even five dozen boxes instead
of so. propose to rather Guido myself
this year
Ny friend lives ON the same street
that do, and have accepted his invi-
tation to be present with him and the
other boys this year and help burn mp
his 60 boxes full II firecrackers.
l. d. MARSHALL.
The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1894-07-04

Next day was the Fourth Of July, and
early in the morning the boom Of Pay
Dirt's cannon resounded through the
mountains. Molly liked the distant
sounds of celebration as she went about
the little cabin picking up Ben's few
belongings, preparing for the home
ward journey, but Tribble had no use
for gunpowder nor independence days.
he stated, reiterating his grievances
against a country existing mainly for
"goldbugs'' and tho east.
In the afternoon Ben went into the
tunnel with Molly to show her where
he had worked for years. Womanlike,
she was full of curiosity and began polk
ing and prying about, picking up speci-
mems and bits Of rock here and there
When she came out, her checked ging-
ham apron was filled with her treasures,
which she looked over and carefully ad-
mired
"This is pretty one, Ben," she said.
holding it up to him.
He took it, stared blindly at it for a
moment, turned white and faltered,
"Goldp'
The two gazed stupidity at each other.
Molly" he said, speaking like one
in dream. Molly, let me look at the
others. T"
She handed up one after another. He
examined them mechanically. "GoldP
he repeated over and over.
Suddenly tremendous roar Of artil-
lery swept up the canyon. 1t was the
sunset salute to great nations birth
day.
Ben seemed to rouse from his dream.
''She's all rightP' he shouted.
"Who, Benz" cried Molly
''The mine, Molly; the country
everythingl I've struck it at lastl We're
rich, Molly, we're richl Why in thun-
der hain't got some fireworks or gun
powder or somethin?"
He broke off and ran like deer into
the cabin, and presently emerged with
his rife in his hands.
Brace up now, Betsy" he yelled.
"Show some respect to your country
the country ye fit ter save" And then,
as the dying salute of Pay Dirt camp
reerashed up the mountain side, Ben
Tribble raised Betsy to his shoulder and
answered it.
EDITH SESSIONS UPPER.
The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1894-07-04
"Hellol" modify from Ben.

"Hellol" modify from Ben.
Thought I'd pay ye visit, f" said
Jerry, dropping down upon the ground
beside Tribble. 81 tell ye, pard, ye're
too lonesum up here. Why don't ye
come down ter the campP The boys
low ter hey a celebrashun on the Fourth.
Ye'd orter ter come down. They We sent
to Silverton fer fireworks an powder an
cannon. Lord, but they'll whoop
things upl Ye'd orter come down"
To Joyful Jerry's pressing invitation
Tribble returned no answer, but sud-
denly and curtly asked, eye didn't see
nuthin of that thar ornery yaller dorg
Of mine, did ye, ON your way up2"
II seed Jonah cuttin down the can
yon like all possessed" returned Jerry,
''Now what on airth's gone an took
that thar crittur?"
Hell knowsl" said Tribble savagely.
After Joyful Jerry had taken his de-
parture with a farewell adjuration to
Ben to be ON hand for the ceremonies
and rites of the glorious Fourth, Trib-
BILE rose, went into his lonely cabin and
sat down on the edge of his bed.
Fourth of Julyl' he muttered. "Cel-
ebrashunsl Humphl I'd like ter know
why should celebrate? Orter be patri-
otto, reclzin. Patriotic over what? A
country | done my level best fer fit fer
her, tra,nped through snow, rain an
hail; slept on the ground; let pork an
hard tack; faced death over an over fer
her, an now she's a-doin her best to let
me starve. A ID fine eountryl It's
only country fer tho east an goldbugs
an Wall street-curse emil I'm played
out--old, poor, forsal1en by everybody,
even my dog. I'll cash i'll now All let
the game go on without me. Come here,
Betsy, old gal, " taking down his batter
ed, rusty rife. II didn't think when
we wuz marchin through Georgy I'd
ever come ter ye ter help me out of life,
but that's what, old gal I'm tired out
done fer-busted. Ye're my last
friend Give me a proof of your friend
ship now
With his rifle in hand, he stepped to
the door Of his cabin to take his last
look Of earth The sun was just setting.
The dying rays were flooding the noun
tains with lurid light White and cold,
their glittering peaks shone amid the
scarlet and sulphur hues of sunset like
purified souls emerging from furnace
of fire. The great solemn pines swayed
and bent in the evening wind. Mystic
rious and vague whispers seemed to float
from the depths of the forest. The lone
ly, weary, desolate watcher was strange
ly moved by the solemnity and har-
mony Of the scene "Oh, it's purity" he
murmured brokenly, 'it's purity. allus
wanted Molly ter see them mountings,
but she never will. Who'll find me- /
wonder, and send her world
He started. Sharp and clear ON the
soft night air, up from the canyon, rose
the bark Of dog.
why, thar's Jonah" Ben cried.
"He'a a-comin back. That thar ornery
why, thar's voices-who's with him?"
Through the opening, between the
cedars, past the tunnel, came two figures
"a woman and dog. The dog-not
handsome animal by any means, but
The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1894-07-04
A COMEDY OF ERRORS.

Stupidity Mixed with Carelessness That
Brought Modification to n Lovely Woman.
''Talk of Comedy of Errorsp said
q woman of society the other day. II
had an experience lately that might
have been called by that name, although
1t was anything but comedy to poor
me. You know that am rather an old
fashioned housekeeper and pride myself
on my cake, which / make myself from
time to time, and Of which, when 1t
turns out particularly well, l like to
send q specimen to some friend. So the
other day, when l had very good luck
looking cake, all daintily frosted, in q
cardboard box, and telling my maid to
bid the ocachman take it to Mrs. g.,
with my card, / went out to do some
shopping.
"'Did you send tho cake?' asked on
my return. oh, ma am, exclaimed the
Abigail, James made such mistakel
/ told him to take the box in the hall,
and when came down stairs found
he had taken the big case that you
brought home yesterday.
stupidity, but / did not really mind, for
the case contained fine copy Of an aii-
tique flying Victory and as Mrs. s. Is
woman of rare appreciation l felt
really pleased that she should have 1t,
and that I, for my part, should have the
credit of remembering her tastes and
making what / knew would be an ac-
ceptable present. But was not so we'll
pleased when Mary, the overzealous,
continued, so, as soon Us found out.
ma am, what he had done, told him
to go straight back and say that 1t was
mistake and that You would like the
case back, ma'amv
"You may imagine how / feltl 1t
was then too late to do anything. but
all night the affair weighed ON my mind
like an incubus, and the very next
morning / wrote Mrs. s. long explain
atory note, apologizing for the double
mistake of man and maid and trying to
explain how the confusion had arisen.
1t sounded awl1wardly enough, but 1t
was the best / could do so sent 1t off
with the cake, which in the meanwhile
had been left waiting in the hall. When
the man came back, ! asked him what
he had done with the case. What caseT
he said stupidity. why, the case Mary
told you to fetch back from Mrs s. s.
'Shure an I niver got it back at all,
was his most unexpected answer, which
put the finishing touch to the altogether
trying situation, for il had never writ
ten my note Of explanation it would
have been all right. When. that after
noon, the expressman brought back the
unfortunate Victory. together with q
polite but puzzled note from Mrs. 8. re-
turning the unlucky present (Which
afterward learned through a mutual
friend had been received with much
pleasure and given conspicuous place
in the library, my modification was
complete. OF course there was nothing
else to be done about it, but l could not
bear the sight of the unlucky statuette
and sent it to distant relative, hoping
never to see or hear of it again. New
York Tribune
The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1894-07-04
"oprN THE pAcK," SAID HE.

assistants in relays, so that while por-
ton of them are eating or resting the
others are firing away just the same,
and as for him that is the one day in
the year ON which he appears to be alb
solutely fatigue proof, and if he eats at
all on the Fourth it cannot be more
than sandwich hastily devoured now
and then.
met my friend the other day when
he was buying firecracl1ers for himself
and more pretentious fireworks for his
boys and no told mo the story Of his
first Fourth of July. After hearing it /
have some idea of the reason for his ex-
traordinary fondness for firecracsers If
not for boys.
81 liked firecrackers from the first
time ever saw them," he said "My
father was n young man then, and he
had not yet succeeded in making much
money. There were only three Of us
my father my mother and myself--in
the family, and we lived in little
house on the bank OF a stream that wound
between low hills and was known as
Pipe creek. A mile or two away was
hamlet consisting of store, black
smiths shop, church, shoemaker
shop and three or four houses. A few
days before the first Fourth Of July, l
remember, my father and mother con-
sidered the financial condition earnest
ly and agreed that, although the times
were hard with them, the boy should
have frecrackers that year. They cost
25 cents pack, and 20 cents was good
deal in that house just then, but they
thought it would be money well expend-
ed if it were used to buy firecrackers for
me.
"Now, it SO happened that the impor-
tant purchase was put Off until the
morning Of the great day, and my IA
Their and walked down the road to the
store to exchange the quarter for the
crackers. A man named John Strait
kept that store, and used to think he
must be the richest man in the world,
and the wisest and best, too, barring
my father Straits face fell when we
made known our desire for firecrackers.
Then he looked at me, and suppose he
saw that / was greatly wrought up on
the subject.
Well, he said, I've sold out all
my firecrackers, but l have one pack
saved for my own boy promised him
that he should have that pack, no matter
what happened, but If he's willing
we'll divide the pack between the two
boys.
$50 young Strait was called in and
questioned, my fears that he would not
be willing rising every instant. Before
the questioning was finished several
other belated would BIO purchasers OF
firecrackers appeared, and finally the
Strait boy made shrewd suggestion
that showed him to have good bust
ness head.
"'Open the pack, he said, and count
me out 10. Then I'll sell the rest OF the
flrecrackers at cent apiece.
'Ten little rolls of concentrated joy
for boys fell to my share. My father
paid over the 10 cents and put the fire.
crackers in his pocket with great care.
] We went home together full of delight
The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1894-07-04

one with an almost human anxiety on
his ugly face-bounded forward to
Ben's feet, yelping and fawning with
delight.
The woman came on slowly and tim
idly. She was plainly dressed, elderly;
her scanty brown hair was thickly
strewn with gray; her sad face bore the
marks Of many a fearful vigil; her un-
gloved hands showed signs of labor, but
the soul that shown from her patient
eyes was noble and steadfast; the smile
that lighted up her thin face had all
the sweetness of the long ago. Love-
youth, life itself, came with her as she
advanced. holding out faithful, yearn-
ing arms to the poor, rough, disappoint-
ed old miner standing there, his hand
on the trigger Of his gun.
"Benjaminp' She breathed rather
than spoke his name.
The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1894-07-04
n. j., WEDNESDAY, JULY 4, 1894.
A HAPPY CHOICE.


Great Declaration, am glad
Our fathers kept you in their trunk
Until July. 'Twould have been sad
Had April showers wet our punk;
Had Maytime blossoms on the trees,
Or roses sweet that June reveals,
Been burned by matches and fusees
Or scorched by fiery spinning wheels;
Had Augustus heat, September's cool,
October's crisp, November's Joys
Or drear December's time of yule
Been ruined or enhanced by noisei
Had January's blizzard blast
Or February's slush and thaw
A gloom on independence cast;
Had winds in March, so piercing raw,
Fer had the chance to wreak their woe,
And eggs of discomfort thus hatch,
By bringing up their fearsome blow,
Distinguishing both torch and match.
Right we'll we chose, We signers great,
From east and west, from south and
north.
Had We preferred some other date
We'd ne'er have had our July Fourth.
The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1894-07-04

full anticipations for the evening, for
they were to be kept until nightfall,
that might not lose single scintillat-
ing flash Of brightness
my anticipations were fully met by
the blazing, popping reality. The even
ing came off moonless and dark, and
not match was put to fuse until the
very last CLEAN of light had disappeared
from the western sky. Then my father
took the first of the frecrackers, lighted
it carefully and laid it on the big, fat
stone that served as doorstep to our
house. 1t seemed to me when the sizz-
ing of the fuse was followed by the ex-
The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1894-07-04
A Great Strain.

Won Blumer-Haven't you a private
Waterman looking out for your house
while you are away at the seashore?
Van Winkle-Yes. Aud he is going
20 charge me double rates over the
Fourth Of July.
Won Blumer-What for?
Van Winkle--He says the fireworks
will keep him awake
The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1894-07-04

T is my opinion
that the true val
ne, the overpow-
ering splendor,
so to speak, of the
firecracker is not
usually appreci-
ated and compre-
hended. 1t is al
most a sealed
mystery to the
boys 1t is, in
fact, known to
none but those
The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1894-07-04
THE GOOD OLD DAYS.
WHEN FlREcRAcKERS WERE A LUX
URY AND COST A CENT EACH.

How a Bunch Was Divided at the Country
store--The Man Who still Keeps Up the
Old Time Celebration of the Fourth From
Early Morn Until Night.
The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1894-07-04

Three degrees of mining speculation
positive, mine; comparative, mineri
snperlative, minus.
The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1894-07-04

Then, like one who has seen q ghost,
Ben Tribble fell face downward at the
feet of his wife.
The stars were shining when he open.
ed his eyes and looked up into Molly's
face. The kettle was singing ON the
stove. supper was smoking on the table,
Jonah was stretched before the fire, and
Betsy was standing in the corner
II know all about it, dear Ben, "
he heard her murmur II know how
you We worked for years, hoping against
hope and all for nothing. know how
you've been disappointed and how your
hearts most broke alone here In the
mountains When your letters stop
ped -
my letters?" weakly repeated Ben.
mo; I wrote, but yours-Molly?"
Eyes, my dear, know. Something
went wrong. We won't try to figure it
out now. All we care for is that we are
together again. My poor old man, I
shall take you back with me- The boy
has got ON first rate, Ben. We won't
starve. Jonah must have known / was
coming, for when got off the train
something tugged at my dress, and l
looked down, and there he was, waiting
to bring me up to you.
can l thought he, too, had fersaken
me. I thought everybody an every
thing had gone back ON me. oh, Mol
lyp' and the sobs pent up for years in
that worn old heart, burst forth. The
two-the husband and the wife-wept
together. Jonah crept to their feet and
grieved with them in his sympathetic,
dumb fashion. And then, when the
storm had past, Ben had cup of Mol
ly's tea and hot biscuit, while Jonah
reveled with bone. Contentment spread
her wings above the little cabin, and
peace brooded at the humble fireside
"What Eye think of them mountings,
Molly?' asked Ben as they stood at the
door looking out at the snowy range
stretching before them like the portals
of paradise.
Ben, all can think Of when look
at them is that verse in the Bible, AS
the mountains are round about Jerusa-
lem, SO the Lord is round about his peo-
pie. ,"
The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1894-07-04
Dauchy's Advertisements.

WEAhfA in money also other valuable pre-
XEvENBh miums TO good guessers BASE
pDAVVV BALL Enthusiasts, this Is your
opportunity. See Offer HOME
AND COUNTRY MAGAZINE Price 25c. All
Newsdeaers or So East 10th Street, New York.
The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1894-07-04
DIR. EUGENE C. BATTEN,
VETERINARY SURGEON,

Graduate of the University of Pennsylvania).
so YORK STREET,
LAMBERTvILLE, n.
Office Hours; Until A. M; to 2; and 7 to s
P. NJ. March 81, 1894.
The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1894-07-04

copyright, 1891, by American Press Associa-
toni
"Whar did that crittur go?'
The words broke the absolute silence
of the forest Around and above as far
as the eye could reach stretched the
awful majesty of the San Juan range.
Towering peaks, sublime domes, yawn-
ing chasms, narrow defiles and pines
pines everywhere, through the branches
of which stole the soft, murmuring
breezes of a drowsy, delicious July aft
ernoon. The scene was one to profound
ly move the onlooler. Every move of
man might find here an answering echo,
for in the heart of the Rocky mountains
The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1894-07-04
NEAR TIMBER LINE.
A FOURTH OF JULY STORY.

copyright, 1924. by American Press Associa-
toni
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1894-10-03
Gander Against Bear.

An Alameda -4lOOn-keeper has a
black bear cub about foot and half
high when he stands on hi hind ls-g-
and reaches for strangers o1Si-tails-
He i full Ofmi~chief or fight, - Octzl-
sion may require, but withal very Dis
Greet He knows he i no. big enough
10 whip the grocer'- dog, but he dOzSn' I
hesitate to intim late the candy man :
cat
Yesterday n big gander marched
gravely up the street The bear sized
him up, and, and said 10 himself:
Hes my meat"
He advanced on the gander, who
marched slowly and steadily on till the
growing cub barnt-d his way. Then he
extended his wings, stretched ont his
neck and tried tO make the cub a>hanI-
ed OF himself The bear made two or
three vicious, but Intellectual cuffs al
the gander and then stopped 10 see
what he had accomplished
Just at this juncture the gander took a
firm hold on the cubs ear and commenc-
ed pounding hiIs over the head with
his wings The cub was a quitter and
started 10 beat "a PERCEPTIONS retreat but
the gander wouldn't let 90. lie just
hung on and thumPed away.
When the dust and feathers -ejtieSl
the gander was trying 10 find the ten
der portion Of what appeared 10 be a
piece Of the hears eslr--Saa FrdaeiSoO
POSt.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1894-10-03
Al Important Point.

Judge Noonan, of san Antonio, put
the usual questions t. a man who had
been found guilty q munler.
DO YOU know Of any rea-on why
sentence should not he pronounced upon
you according "a law -
The doomed man reflected for a few
moments and then said;
"Ye>, Judge. ! know Of very good
reason Ny lawyer didn't have any
thing u say about the most mitigating
circumstances in my ca>--n
TO what mitigating circumstances
DO You refer - asked the Judge.
You ~ee he didn't tell the jury that
the mercury on the day l shot that man
Wa al loo in the shade
What + there mitigating about
that asked the judge.
you know very well. Judge. thar
when 8 murder l. committed in the
heat of the moment il ! only maE-
slaughter. and when I shot that man Il
was in the hottest part Of the day, -
vou - IL couldn't be a cold, Deliberate
murder
Judge Nconan then passed sentence
on the man, but his attorney l. going
70 have the cl-e reversed by the Court
of Appeals T.rgts .>iffi3fGs-