davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1894-08-11
The TINY oHuPARosA.
Smallest Creature which Ever Sat to Re
Photographed.

Smallest Creature which Ever Sat to Ba
photographed.
In years of wandering through the
remoter corners of the southwest, my
camera and have jolted over hundreds
of thousands of miles, on trains, en-
| gines, hand-cars; in sullSies, buck
boards, farm wagons and clumsy car
retds; on mules, on horses, on burros,
on foot.
We have Caught" the savage dances
of half-known Indians with living rat
tlesnalxes in their hands and mouths;
the crucifixion of fanatic, and the in
conceivable self-tortures of his fagel-
liant brethren; witches and bewitched,
and thousand other remarkable
sights.
After all this. the smallest and pref
tiest object on which we ever focused
our joint attention came to us only the
other day.
We had been revelling for the twelfth
time in the wonders of high-perched
Acoma, the strangest little city in the
world, amid whose peerless cliffs one
never wearies of picture-malking. Com
ing down to it's daughter pueblo Of
Laguna, was passing the evening in
one of the rare oases of New Mexico,
trying to talk Queres to n 5eep-eyed
two-year-old Laguna maiden.
In the midst of our chatter there
came curious buzzing, and my little
Indian friend began 10 clap her hands
at something which was whirring along
the Uigas of the roof.
1t was humming hird-the tiny chup-
arosa, which my aboriginal neighbors
declare has been nearer than any other
creature to the sun. In the mythical
Contest of Wings, the turlSey-buzzard
flew higher that the eagle, but lost the
race because the sly chuparosa had all
the time been perched on the turkey
buzzard's head, and SO had been higher
than hel
This little visitor, who had come by
the open door into the light and laugh
ter so late at night, was female of the
tiniest species of humming bird, not
nearly so large as the two first joints
of my finger. Her exquisite brown
plumage was almost as small as butter
flies feathers; she was notified under
the throat, and iridescent with emerald
on head and neck.
Weary of beating her translucent
wings against the walls, she alighted
upon the top of cupboard. l stole up
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1894-08-11
TWO CENTURIES OLD.
Story of n Turtle Whioh Died Recently on
tho Island of Ceylon.

Story of Turtle Which Died Recently on
tho Island of Ceylon.
There died a few days ago at Colom-
bo, in Ceylon, a famous resident who
had reached the very great age of at
least two hundred years. The figure
is put at two hundred, because nobody
knowns exactly what it is. He him
self was never heard to say word
about it, or indeed about anything else,
but during the whole Of his long life
contented himself with wild hiss now
and then at people and things that did
not suit him. This was rare example
of total abstinence, because he heard
three or four languages spoken nearly
every day of his life. There is, first,
the language of the natives of Ceylon,
who are lxinsmen of the Malays. Then
there are the many Dutch, who live at
Colombo because their ancestors once
ruled in the island for century or
more. Finally there are the English,
who now own Ceylon and pretty nearly
left of this oldest resident. He was al
ready old when the English took Cey-
Ion from the Dutch in l796, and he has
ever since been a sort of pensioner on
the Brisish government.
His silence of two hundred years was
not the only curious thing about this
aged resident of Colombo. His slSele-
ton was on the outside. 1t was stuffed
soon after his death, and is now one of
the principal attractions in the museum
of the city where he was so we'll
known.
AS you have already guessed, this old
fellow was turtle, and his portrait
appears above. He seems to have been
conscious all along of the dignity of
his name, which was Testudo elephan-
to0rtS, the second half of it being given
in honor of the fact that he was an ele-
phant among turtles. His immediate
family is very small-so small that few
of his relatives survive him, and it is
parative short time. Even now the
family lives in only one spot on the globe
-Aldabra island, north of Madagascar.
Formerly there were a great many of
these Testudos, and trading vessels in
the Indian ocean used to lay in stock
of them in order that the crew might
be sure of having fresh meat should
scurvy break out on board.
The turtle that has just died was one
of the largest of his family, and his
shell was four and half feet long, but
when his head and tail We're unfolded
from his shell he was fully six feet
long. 1t was said that he was sent
from Java as present to Dutch gov
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1894-08-11

and put my foreinger under her breast,
lifting very gently. The ruse worked
in a moment she fluttered up lightly
and perched upon my finger.
walked carefully to the lamp at the
other end of the room, and there we all
stood looking at our tiny visitor, our
big faces within a foot of her.
She was perfectly self-possessed.
Cooking her little head to one side, she
returned our stare from an eye so tiny
as to be barely visible, and kept her
strange perch for more than a quarter
of an hour before she decided to explore
the room more fully.
We determined to take her picture.
We got out the camera, marked spot
on the yesO-whitened wall and focused.
Then L gently caught la chuparOsa, who
at once cheerfully resumed her perch
on my finger.
1t was a contrast which struck even
the child-my squat, hard hand, rough
and rope-burned with the breaking of
a savage bronco, upholding that tiniest,
tenderest and loveliest of all the feath-
cred world.
Here was a sitter whose head 1 could
not clamp, and to whom l could not
say: "Now look pleasant" but never
was artist more concerned than I about
a pose.
The flash-lamp refused to work, and
we had to burn the magnesium powder
on paper, with many struggles.
There was strong probability that our
puzzled sitter would fly away, or turn
the back of her head to us, or in some
other way spoil the desired effect. But
just as the flash went off, she was
watching us out of q corner of her eye,
and the magic glass caught the very
image we wished.
In the morning l took our little
guest out into field breast-high with
the purple guaco. She poised an in
slant on my hand, and then flew off as
blithely as if she had been all her life
used to sitting for her Photographic.
f. Lummis, in Youths Companion.
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1894-08-11
An Editor Insultcd.

Editors have to put up with all man
ner of taunts and insults. Not so long
ago, at social gathering, Dallas
lady said to young man who is con-
nected with a local paper:
You ought to belong to church
choir"
But can't sing. What put the
Idea of my belonging to choir into
your head?"
20 nothing, except that was read
ing the other day that San Francisco
church proposes to introduce harp
music into the choir, and there is not
much difference, you know, between
a harp and Tyre, so 1 thought I'd just
make the suggestion. Alex Sweet, in
Texas Siftings.
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1894-08-11

i've belief in some entangling alliance.
That night, as he read and rcread the
words that were intended for Miss
Millicent's eyes alone, his heart grew
heavy, for every line breathed forth
an unmistakable devotion, which,
Judging by the frequent illusions to
future happiness, was not unroquited.
1t was near morning when he com
pleted his deliberations over the letter
and carefully located it in a seldom
used compartment of his desk. The
next day Miss Darrell drove over to
the office with her niece and name
sake, who had accompanied her on her
return to Chelsea station, and inquired
for mail.
At the disappointment "Is that all?'
with which both ladies received the
contents of box No. 49, wave of re-
pentance rolled over the postmaster's
soul and the letter secreted in his pri
vate desk appeared before him like an
accusing angel
During the next few weeks letters
came for Miss Darrell on an average
of once day--letters whose tone
ranged through the various phases of
human passion, from most tender af-
fection to extreme anger at their fail
ure to elicit reply, and each, as it
arrived, was read by Mr.. Gardner with
sort of grim satisfaction and depos-
tied with Its predecessors.
Miss Millicents niece was crying. II
can't understand it," she said to her
elderly relative between sobs. I've
been here five weeks and not a word
have heard from Charles. What can
it mean?"
I'm not at all surprised. It's jast
as l expected" Miss Millicent an
swered, with half-triumphant air.
Didn't l tell you so? Don't you re-
member what said to you the first day
saw him about deceit and rascality
being depicted upon his countenance?
And 1 consider myself pretty good
Judge of human nature. OF course
he's never write to you. He's just been
making fool of you this summer"
In the recesses of her heart Miss
Darrell may have sympathized with
her niece, but she only expressed con-
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1894-08-11

devotion. Through youth and the
first years of his manhood she had
been his star of Bethlehem, as it were,
fully as unapproachable as though
she had in reality occupied position
in world far beyond the sphere
wherein he dwelt.
She may have been aware of the
homage that was hers, but had given
no encouragement to the admirer, who
was too faint-hearted to give express
sion to his regard by word or sign, but
who hopelessly waited for some one
else to win the prize that he so much
valued. But for reasons best known
to herself alone Miss Darrell preferred
a life of single blessedness to one of
double wretchedness, and passed con-
tentedly and comfortably into state
of oldmaidenhood, and the postmaster
settled down into chronic, lovelorn
melancholy, from which comatose con-
dition he was partially aroused now
and then by the thought that she
might yet change her mind and honor
some unfortunate being with her heart
and hand.
So that was the situation when Miss
Darrell went down to the seashore one
summer to visit her brother. Silas
Gardeners heart was filled with mis-.
givings during her absence, lest what
he had long feared should come to
pass. 1t was about a week after her
return, in the autumn, that the carrier
brought the letter, the very appear.
ance of which was sufficient to produce
such agitation in his breast, and pc.
rusal o. which confirmed his instinct
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1894-08-11

tempt for such romantic trust in the
sincerity of a wooer who had been
known but one summer, and the dis
cussion ended there.
Charles Williams was puzzled and
angry, decidedly so. To the best of
his knowledge he had written thirty
five letters to Miss Millicent Darrell,
the younger, in as many days, not one
of which she had deemed worthy of an
answer.
''She's just like the rest of EN-" he
told his best friend when lamenting
the fact.
so innocent and true she seemed,
too. What fool was to believe her.
She's nothing but asnfounded firt.
III think no more aEout her.
Contrary to his declarat ation of forget
fulness, he thought more about her
than ever, and the consequence was
that he went down to Chelsea station
the next day to investigate the case.
The explanations which directly fol-
lowed his arrival Convinced each young
person of the faithfulness of the other,
and Miss Darrell acknowledged her in
ability to interpret ones nature from
the physiognomy.
But there was one question confront
ing them, and that was: Where were
those letters2" Thirty-five epistles,
all heavy-laden with deepest feeling,
could hardly have gone astray The
only possible solution was that some
one must have taken them, but who
could it have been? Miss Darrell left
the lovers discussing the point, and,
putting on her shawl, went quickly
down to the post office. The deacon
was alone.
"Silas Gardiner she said, cody, 81
want my niece's letters"
What do know of Miss Milly's let
ters?" he asked, with assumed care
lessness.
''You know everything about them"
she said, looking at him unhinchingly.
1--WE been wondering about this
thing for weeks. l understand it all
now. They were Milly's love letters,
and you thought they were mine. AS
If an old woman like myself would be
guilty of such nonsense! / suppose
you have hidden them or destroyed
them. For shame, Silas Gardiner, to
resort to such trickery to prevent
some other person from having what
you yourself are too big a Ounce to ask
fort"
He went to his desk, and taking out
the bundle of letters, gave them to
her, saying;
Here they are. pray you not to
expose me. did it because of my
love for you. could not bear"
He said no more. 1t was not neces-
sary. He could not have made more
eloquent plea. A woman will forgive
many grave offense if you will but
tell her it was committed through love
for her. .g "a. st
The culprit was pardoned, and it is
with authority that we state that he
never was guilty of similar trans
gression.
just after Christmas that year Miss
Darrell received the following tele
gram:
Dear Aunt was married yestor
day. MHLr WILLIAMS"
To which the elder lady replied:
"Dear Milly-So was /.
"MILLIcENT GARDINER"
| N. Y. World.
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1894-08-11
FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.
ANSWERED.

. Give us this day our daily bread"
In humble trust we pray;
Then do not idly fold our hands
And with assurance say
- As ravens In the olden time
The hungry prophet fed,
So we shall have our wants suppledt
For 9S6 will give us bread"
Oh mol not so the answer comes
God never willed 1t so;
Tho earth must first receive tho seed
Before the grain can grow;
Then, watered by the rain of heaven
And nurtured by the sun,
The blade springs up; and in that blade
The answer Is begun.
When harvest comes, the ripened grain
In golden sheuves ia bound;
Then gathered In, and threshed and cleaned
And In the mills is ground.
BY busy hands, In myriad homes,
The fresh, brown loaves are nader
This is the bread" and this the day"
For which, long since, we prayed
Mrs. NJ A. Heller, in N. Y. Independents
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1894-08-11

cials of the aforementioned point
was an exception to the rule.
An explanation of that statement
may be given by telling you that not
only was Silas Gardiner the distributor
of the mails, but deacon in the Bap-
tist church as well, so, although that
same conscience was composed of
many of the ingredients that also are
constituent parts of India rubber, and
although 1t ofttimes became so elastic
as to allow of his reading postal cards,
letters not securely sealed and so
forth, we may be sure that never was
he guilty of such an offense without
experiencing many severe twinges of
that troublesome monitor.
One Thursday afternoon there came
an unusually strong temptation. The
four o'clock mail came in, bringing a
letter that sent the blood surging in
crimson waves over Postmaster Gard
iner's face and made his heart beat
against its prison like trip-hammer.
1t was not very important-lool<ing
letter; just small, square white en-
velope addressed in an even business
hand, but it was the name that pro-
duced the postmaster's paroxysm of
curiosity. 1t was no remarkable
thing for Miss NIillicent Darrell to be
the recipient of letters, but never be-
fore had she received one in the free,
dashing hand that graced the envel-
ope that lay before him. He well
knew that, for not missive for Miss
Darrell had passed through the office
that he had not examined the writing
closely.
Through the long hours of the even
ing while the neighbours had congre-
gated in the little room there was a
conflict in the postmaster's mind
Like the Danish prince, he was trying
to solve the question: ITO be or not
to be-" ITO do or not to do" By
twenty minutes to nine the little room
was deserted. Securely fastening the
outer door and the one communicate
ing with the sitting-room of his sisters
family, the postmaster removed the
oil lamp from it's accustomed place on
the bracket on the wall to his desk in
the corner and once more took up Mil
licent's letter.
He held it up to the light; he put it
back in box No. 13; he took it up and
looked at it again, and then carefully
broke the seal and removed the closely
written sheets from their covering
He looked at them few minutes as
they lay there exposed to view as if
wondering how he dared to be so bold.
But the Rubicon was crossed; there
was no retreating, and he pushed cour-
ageously forward and read Miss Milli-
cents letter.
The postmaster's life had always
been very prosaic. There was one
thing in his remembrance that had
ever shed roseate glow over the
commonplace, monotonous expanse of
years he had lived through, and that
was an unavowed affection for Milli-
cent Darrell. He had worshiped her
from afar when they had gone to
school together at the little red brick
house at the foot of the hill. Time had
but served to strengthen this childish
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1894-08-11
AS a Tear-Starter.

"Father," said the sweet girl gradu-
ate, do you think it is right to make
fun of commencement essays?"
II do not, my daughter" replied the
middle-aged parent, hastily showing
hack into the private drawer of his
writing-desl1 faded and time-stained
manuscript tied with blue ribbon.
"The commencement essay, my child,
is thing to weep over and-and-to
swear at."-Chicago Tribune.
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1894-08-11
Wanted Them to Enjoy Life. Too.

Little Mabel lone of family oa
seven) recently went to visit an aunt,
where she evidently had very good
time. The morning after her return
she was unusually silent at breakfast,
and noticing her pre-occupation her
mother inquired: 'Well, Mabel, what
are you thinking about?"
To which the little maid replied with
sigh of deep satisfaction: 'Oh, I'm SO
glad that my children will have plenty
of aunties and uncles"-Judge.
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1894-08-11
How III. Won Her.

Miss Richgirl (of Chicago)-And SO
you kissed the Blarney stone at the
Columbian exposition? Ha! hal 1t was
nothing but a Chicago paving stone.
Mr.. Snartchapp-So heard at the
time, but thought perhaps you might
have walked on it.
Then she married HMM. Y. Weekly.
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1894-08-11

"There's one thing about me that
/ don't understand said Tommy,
thoughtfully, "and that's why it is
that making marks on wall paper is
such lots of fun and making em in
copy books in school is such hard
work. Toronto Mail.
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1894-08-11
An AmInble Example.

AS she took seat in the car she in
advertently deposited her heavy
market basket on the toes of the pas
Benger next to her. He winched but
made no outcry.
Excuse me- she said. II ought to
have looked what was about"
"Oh, it's no matter, madam" he re-
piled. Il don't mind little sociabili-
tY."@Judge.
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1894-08-11
An Exalted Calling.

"Your business is tina. of disrep-
utable cheat" demonstrated the forger.
Maybe it is" replied the profession.
al check raiser, but no one can deny
that it is an elevatihg occupation."-!
Chicago Record
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1894-08-11

Brown-Say, I'll give you a sure
thing on the third race tomorrow.
Play Mudsticker to win.
Green-Thanlss! But why don't you
play 1t yourself?
Brown-I can't. I've already lost all
the money can spare this month
Puck
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1894-08-11
A Now Joy.

Smithers-Aldine says he's just awak-
ened to the true comforts of married
life.
Withers-Yes, his wife left town day
before yesterday Chicago Record
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1894-08-11

Mr.. Hardsense-You have no accom-
plishments, Miss BildingsP
Miss Bildings-No.
Mr.. Hardsense-And you have never
able cooking school?
Miss Bildings-Never.
Mr.. Hardsense with energy)-Wil
you be my wife?-Chicago Record.
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1894-08-11
Accommodating.

Jones' Hul-lo, Handley, old boyl
Haven't seen you for an age! Come
along and have drink.
Total Stranger (turning round)-Un-
fortunately I'm not Handley, but-er-
(wistfully)-might have his drink
Buffalo Express,
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1894-08-11

elderly maid and her best young
man tete-a-tete; enter young brother.)
Miss Sears-Well, Bobby, what do
you want?
Bobby-Crackt this nut for me; I'll do
as much for you when 1 have false
teeth.-N. Y. World.
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1894-08-11

Dude-I wish Iwere mind reader,
Miss Ella.
Ella-Why?
Dude-Because then should know
what you think of me.
Ella-Thank your lucky stars that
you're not thus gifted truth.
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1894-08-11

Mother--Why do you so object to
having your photograph taken?
Little Son-oh, they always pinch
me mp and twist me around until get
mad, and then they tell me to look
pleasant, Good NewA-
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1894-08-11
Tho Height of Courtesy.

Bingo-Is that friend of yours from
Kentucky going TO be here tonight to
see our fireworks?
Mrs. Bingo-I expect him, my dear.
Bingo-Then guess l would better
leave those snakes out of the pro-
gramme.-Life.
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1894-08-11
STOLEN LOVE LETTERS.

HE postmaster
at Chelsea sta
tion had a con-
S C | e n C e, of
course. Every
body has. The
public servants
in to w h o S e
hands the gov
ernment's pos
tai affairs are
in tr usted are
n OF generally
ere dited with
being the pos
SCISSORS of such
an inco nven-
lent article, but
the worthy Off
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1894-08-11
Always Right.

Old NJ. D.-What did your patient
die of?
Young NJ. Don't know what ID
was.
Old NJ. D.-Never confess your ig-
norance. In case of doubt call it heart
failure.-Arkansaw Traveller.
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1894-08-11
Identified.

Van P'lt-You wouldn't marry the
best man living, wonld you?
Miss Sears-Um-now, really, this il
70 -sudden.-.=N. Y. World.
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1894-08-11

First Agent-Failed utterly in Phila-
delphia. Couldn't sell two gross of blot
ters in the whole city.
Second Agent-What's the matter?
Don't they use blotters there?
First Agent-Never. They wait for
the page to dry.-Brooklvn Life.
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1894-08-11
How Prima Donnas Arc Made.

"Miss Twill1ins has gone to Italy to
cultivate her voice"
"Dear me! l didn't know she could
afford it,"
''The neighbors subscribed the
money"-Answers.
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1894-08-11
So His Wife Does It.

In that pretty brown cott;ge across the way
Dwells poor little Anthaly Harden,
Whose health Is SO feeblehe fishes all day,
For he hain't the strengthIhe is sorry to say,
To do any work In tho gaslen.
Chicago Tribune.
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1894-08-11
A ChlcnCo Drawlng-Roon.

"Who is that man to whom Mrs.
Muchwed is speaking? She seems to
know him very we'll. Is he connec-
tion?"
"a distan; one. She was, believe,
his second wife, ,"-Brooklyn Life.
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1894-08-11

Mabel (aged fourteen)-Mr. Doolittle
proposed to me last night.
Florence Same age)-What did you
do?
Mabel-O, merely laughed at him.
The idea of twenty-four-year-old boy
talking about love!-Truth.