davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Omaha daily bee., 1896-03-29

them aud marched toward Restdaie.
"Silencel" commanded Captain Harris In
a whisper az he bent toward his company.
THE shrubbery in front OF the house VIII
conceal us from its inmates. and II we find
that the garrison Of the fort is well rep
resented, why, wen march quietly back
and bide our time"
The boys marched away IN single hle,
each one with his senses on tho alert, and
in a short time they came TO the old fash
toned double gate at the stone wall.
IN MIDST OF FESTIvITY.
"Harkvs said Tom; they're at Il; we're
just in time for the party"
Sure enough, from some point almost
straight ahead came to their ears the sounds
Of merry music, interspersed with childish
laughter, TO ali Of which the six patriot
boys listened while they exchanged looks
accompanied with smiles.
mo doubt they've got Crippled Dan I'D
ding for them" whispered enc Of the party.
Hes played for Judge Dale before"
"Silence!' interrupted Tom. This is a
military expedition and we must be soldiers
The gate was found unlocked for once
and the little party filed into the yard.
How about the dogs?' was spoken In a
low whisper.
THE peddler said that the two dogs be-
longing to Hiram Dale died last week, evil
IDENTIFY poisoned by some REBEL answered
Tom as he Strengthened once more. 1--WE
need not look for our four-footed enemies,
but rather for those in the kings uniform"
The nearer the boys approached to the ele-
giant old mansion, whose light the little COM
pany could see through the trees, the palmer
became the music and laughter.
The old house seemed filled with guests
while the fiddle, presumably the one played
by Cripple Dan, a youthful celebrity of the
island, sSnt its merry notes far out on the
night air.
The boys dropped to the ground and crept
toward the mansion and in a short time were
concealed among the shrubbery in the front
yard.
They had reached that point in their expe-
dition without accident, but the ticklish part
OF 1t was still to come.
The tory's house was well lit up and
seemed full of young folks; the windows
which looked out upon the porch were open
Omaha daily bee., 1896-03-29
SOME THINGS ABOUT coRNs.
4 Boys Essay on Various Kinds
what He Knows bout"

4 boys Essay on Various Kinds
what He Knows bou
There are several kinds OF corns, what I
know about. but the corns I know most
about is popcorn and pas corns. There Is
another kind of corn what l hear a good
deal about. and that's cand corn. Pas corn
growed without planting. and he makes more
fuss over that one corn than l would over
a whole corn field. We read in a paper the
sure cure for corns was to wear shoes with
out heels. Pa thought that IL he went bare
foot 1t would do just as well, and he was
gettin' ON famous tin he stepped on a tack:
then he said he would rather have a whole
corn field than that kind of a cure.
Then l read in a almanac that the most
profit in corn was to feed 1t to tho hogs. I
told pa l had a secret and that 1t was q
dead sure euro for corns. I thought IA
profit by 1t, too. and l told pa l couldn't
divulge 1t less an a quarter. Pa was tickled
most to death, an said l was a bright boy
for bein' so interested In him, an after he
gave me the quarter and l showed him the
piece in the almanac. Pa got real mad and
said something, and l suppose If he hadn't
belonged to the church-well, l suppose I
must have been mistaken.
Mas got u receipt book that tells how
jelly cake and fiapjacks are made, and we
read in that that lemons was good for corns.
but it didn't tell how to do it. l got Interested
in it at once an l told pa 1t would take
a whole barrel of lemonade to cure his. Ma
said she didn't see how sittin' on the porch
in the shade, tanning yourself, with your
foot on a stool, drinkin' lemonade, would
cure a corn. Pa said that's all she knew
about it. an II she had suffered as much
as he had she'd be glad to try anything.
Nothing disappeared but the lemonade-the
corn is still there.
It's curious how when there is a corn in
the house everybody gets on to It. II any
thing falls it's surn 10 fall nm that corn Our
baby can hit pas corn three times out OF
five. The other kind Of corn is that which
you make johnnycake, corn plasters an fried
mush out Of. There is several other ways
which you can use corn, one of the ways
of it is to grind 1t up and get the whisky
out Of it. That's a new receipt what I
haven't told pa about yet. III let you l-now
about it when / do. o. S.
Omaha daily bee., 1896-03-29
BY Joel Chandter Harris

to the pictures on the wall. One Of these
pictures was the portrait OF a little boy, pale
and wan, and the top Of a crutch peeped from
behind his shoulder. On this portrait the
eyes Of the soldier fingered, and he turned to
1t with a quick gesture. The children's
grandfather stood watching him. The old
gentleman's attitude was stiff and formal,
and there was an expression OF resentment
on his face, for he recognized that the com
mander, the general Of the army of invasion,
stood before him.
As for the soldier, his stiff red beard
bristled. the lines in his weather-beaten face
deepened and his eyes sparkled. II he had
noticed the attitude or expression OF the
other he ignored 1t.
THAT is Little Crochett," he said,
brusquely. Where is he?"
The face of the children's grandfather
softened, and his whole attitude changed.
Little Crochet Is not here now he
replied. He turned and walked to the win
dow, which seemed to be blurred by the
mist and the rain blown against 1t by the
east wind.
The commander took a quick step forward
and placed his hand gently on the grand
fathers shoulder.
~ am sorry" he added. 81 have a
message for Little Crochet"
"If my son had lived" remarked the
children's grandfather, by way Of explanation,
"he would be a grown man. AS 1t is, he is
still "a little boy.
THAT is curious, too said the com
mander. "Since | heard Of him / have al
ways thought Of him as a little bit of q
chap. Something like that" He turned to
the portrait on the wall almost impatiently
II am forgetting myself" said the child
ren's grandfather, holding cut his
hand, which the soldier seized
and pressed in his quick, nerv-
Gus way. 'Sit in this rocking chair near
the hearth aud dry yourself. You and l are
old acQuaintances. Years ago you passed
through this part Of the country on horse
back and stopped here over night"
THAT is So" replied the commander. 81
was Just beginning the business Of life. Yo,
had already begun It,"
"To some extent l was ahead of you then
Just us you have now outstripped me in the
Omaha daily bee., 1896-03-29
TR ZEE HOUSES.
Frc:.iItcs Obliged to Use Ladders to
Climb Up to Their Beds.

Frc:.iItcs Obliged to Use Ladders to
Climb Up to Their Beds.
The natives of New Guinea climb like mon
keys and travel for long distances from one
tree to another, without descending to the
ground. In this country. where birds build
little fairy-like cabins en- the ground, the
people construct their houses in the top Of
the tallest forest trees. First, a native hav-
ing climbed the great trunk of the teak, or
cedar or oak tree he has selected, begins by
cutting off some of the branches the right
length to support a platform of bamboo, on
which his house is to rest. You would Won
der how he could do anything with the tools
he uses if you should see them. He has no
saw or steel-edged axe, but only a sort Of
tomahawk made of stone and knives of bone
or hard wood. When, however, he has in
some way managed to get the limbs of his
tree so cut and fashioned as to support his
house, his hardest work is done.
Tho house itself is soon built and is made
Of bamboo strips and matched with palm
leaves. All parts are firmly dashed together
with strips Of rattan palm, a very tough vine
used by the natives in place Of ropes. 1t
is not a large house, though 1t sometimes
contains several rooms, but 1t is a safe and
secure retreat for the women and children
in cas-, of sudden attack by hostile tribes.
Duk 90 eho ahhAS "a SNpNS'
his wife and little children, to say nothing
of his pet pigs, of which these people gen.
orally keep one or more with them in the
house, to climb the tree, he. has to provide
some way of getting them from the ground
to the house. This he does, by making d
long ladder Of vines, reaching from the
earth to the platform upon which his house
10 built. If enemies appear, the ladder is
Of course drawn UP, and those above resi-
securely, far out of reach of any weapon
known to the wild men Of New Guinea
These tree houses also serve for lookouts
from which to see coming friends or enc
mics in time to prepare a suitable recep'
tion for either.
There are several good reasons for build
ing houses so far above the ground, besides
those already given; one is that they are
not reached by the low-lying bad air that
in this country causes fevers and sickness
another, that they are free from ants and
mosquitoes, two terrible plaques throughout
New Guinea; and still another is that the
breeze that gently rocks the house, like q
birds nest, in the tree tops is much pleas
anter and more refreshing than the sultry
heats below.
If you should climb the long ladder and
peep in at the door, you would find the fam.
lily, perhaps, all asleep or sitting about or
the floor eating yams, cocoanuts or bananas
and sharing them with their pet pigs, par
rots, or poultry. You would find there nc
pictures, toys, or playthings, such as even
the poorest children amongst us possess: nc
music and no books; no furniture in the
Omaha daily bee., 1896-03-29

shadow Of the house saluicd the Drlton's
ears and his checks blanehed as he faced
about.
In another moment the boys and their
prisoner were away from the house and
were moving upon the gate at the stcne fence
with a good deal OF celebrity.
The astoundcd major was enclrclcd with
bayonets and he felt that his life depended
on silence.
CAPTURED.
II was no longer a trick IN the sense he
had first taken It, and when he saw the
Nancy Bell taken fiom its concealment his
Indignation knew no bounds.
Captured by rebel bratsl" he exclaimed.
This is simply Infamous. I'll see that
your homes are lcveled 20 the ground"
You will wait till you're exchanged for
Major Harris, my father said Tom.
OH I sect cried the Brlton, as II tho
whole scheme had suddenly unrayeled itself
He cast a longing glance toward the loyal
lists mansion from which the strains OF
music stll came to their ears, and then
stepped doggedly into the whale boat.
His hands were tied for safety and In a
little while the Nancy Bell was gliding across
the sound.
you'll all pay for this" said the major.
"I'll not forget one of you, and you, Master
Harris-you seem to be the head rebel Of the
lot"
I'm captain" answered Tom proudly.
you can find me at any time In dear old
Peg harbor, in the little red house at the end
of the street"
In due time the boys prisoner was marched
up the main street of sleepy cid Peg Harbor
and handed over to the authorities. who saw
that he was transferred TO the nearest pa
triot encampment.
In less than a fortnight after the voyage
Of the Nancy Bell Major Harris came back
to his little family, having been exchanged
for Major Perley. and he soon afterward
| left home to again take his place in the
ranks Of the continental army.
Judge Dale was indignant over the In
vasion of his grounds and the forcible abb
| duction of his guest, for whom he hunted
high and low when he returned to the IL
brary. and Cripple Dan narrated the con-
sternation at the mansion In spicy Language
to the six little rebels OF Peg Harbor.
1t was an exploit which made all the
young participants famous. and the Nancy
Bell was never broken up, but was per
mitted to decay gradually on account OF
the part she had taken in ono of the most
exciting episodes in the history of the revo-
lutionary struggle on the sound.
Major Perley did not carry out his threat,
though to the end of the war Captain Tom
Harris waited for his enemy in 1.-THE little
red house at the end of the street" ready
at any time to fight It out with his one
time prisoner, the major of the Royal
Guards.
Omaha daily bee., 1896-03-29

though he seemed too frail to live long-a
youngster known as Little Crochet. Say to
him that l shall love him tenderly while life
lasts. l hope you will also find there the
kindly gentleman to whose patience and
courtesy l owe many a pleasant hour. l
hope, too, you will find Aaron there-Aaron,
the fugitive, who was and who remains a
mystery.
For the sake Of these people and for
the sake Of old times, l venture to ask
you to surround the place with such pro-
lection as may be consistent with duties
which at this distance l can only have a
vague conception OF.
Meanwhile the few OF us who have
had hints of the adventure you are about
to undertake are trembling with fear and
hope. We conide in your genius. but we
should be happier IL we had already heard
from you at the end Of your journey.
Faithfully yours,
The children's grandfather gazed steadily
In the fire without moving, The commander
placed the letter in his pocket, and rose
fiom his chair, pushing it away from him
impatiently.
"And this is Aaron?" he asked.
Yes, SIR replied Aaron.
well, Aaron, l want to shake your hand
again"
Aaron took the proffered hand and bowed
his head over 1t, as IL giving silent utter
ance to a prayer. The commander gave
his hand to the White-Haired Master, passed
out upon the veranda, and so to where he
had left his orderlies. He leaned into the
saddle. turned and waved an adieu, and
then the small cavalcade went Gathering up
the avenue.
Somewhere in the distance Buster John
and Sweetest Susan heard a band playing
a sweet tune, and so war passed out of theiT
sight. Passed out of their sight, let us
hope forever. But 1t should be recorded
here that the spectacle of these slow-mov'
H. NJ - --.x.-I 49, Iii, 4, ,rA4As-t1
of cavalry and artillery, with all their lum'
bering accomplishments, was far more amaz'
ing to these children than anything they
had seen and heard in Mr.. Thimblefnger's
queer country, or than any Of their expert
ences with the Son of Ben Ali.
ll,na End 4
Omaha daily bee., 1896-03-29
Copyright. 1896, by joel Chandler Harris,

Copyright. 1896, by joel Chandler Hartis)
CHAPTER XII.
II was not long before the children saw an
other sight on that plantation. They forgot
all about Mr.. Thimblehnger and Mrs. Mead.
ows and Mr.. Rabbit. They forgot to talk
to the animals. The war had been under way
for some time, and one rainy day in No
vember word came that two soldiers in blue
had been seen riding along the road at a
gallop. That was early In the morning.
BY noon the plantation fairly swarmed with
the ~foragers in blue. The union army was
on its way from Atlanta to the sea.
Standing at the window and looking
through the mist and rain, Buster John and
Sweetest Susan could see the ~foraging part
les running about collecting the cows and
calves, the horses and the mules, and pres
emily they saw the same men In blue driv-
ing the stock through the avenue and into
the public road. Sweetest Susan cried when
she saw the old gray pony ambling along
with the rest, but Buster John never
thought about the pony at all. He was
watching to see the black stallion pass by,
and wondering how the men would manage
him.
The children also saw many of the negroes
following the soldiers off. They saw Aaron
dressed in his Sunday best, and they won
dered whether he was going with the rest.
But after a while they heard Aaron talking
to their grandfather in the next room. They
heard him say that he had tried to hide
the horses and mules in the swamp, but
some of the negroes had carried the foragers
In blue to the hiding place. They heard
Aaron say that he had carried Timoleon to
another part of the plantation, and that the
old horse was not likely to be found. They
heard their grandfather tell Aaron that he
was now free to go where he mlght-that
he was no longer a slave. To which Aarou
replied that IL he were free to go or stay he
would stay.
A little later the children, still standing
at the window, or near 1t, heard a great
clatter of hoofs in the avenue, mingled with
Omaha daily bee., 1896-03-29
t death and destruc-

business Of dealing out death and destruc-
ton"
The commander rose from his chair quick
as a fash, and placed his hand on the old
gentleman's shoulder.
my dear sir" he said, this is war, and
war is the most serious business that men
ever engage in"
He resumed his seat as suddenly as he had
left 1t, throwing one leg across the other
with an easy familiarity that was not at all
displeasing to the elder man.
you would think war was my business
remarked the commander, after a pause,
during which his keen, restless eyes tried to
solve the mysteries of the glowing Goals.
But it is not. l am a school teacher. !
had rather be yonder in Mississippi, training
my college boys than to be leading this
army. But war is the price of union and
peace, and here l am. Where is Aaron?"
"Aaron?" the question was so sudden and
unexpected that the children's grandfather
was taken by surprise.
Wasn't that the name of some queer
negro you owned?"
Certainly. I will call him." replied the
grandfather.
At that moment there was a rap at the
door. and Aaron opened 1t. He bowed as he
saw the uniformed and booted stranger, and
then proceeded to make his report. He told
his master that all the horses, mules, and
cattle had been brought back and some more
besides. He stood, half smiling, in an easy
and yet an expectant attitude.
This is Aaron said the commander. II
must shake him by the hand" He stepped
across the floor with arm extended and
clasped Aaron's hand in his. you are a
good man. Aaron" he remarked, "a good
man. l want to read you something
The commander fumbled In the breast
pocket Of his coat and drew forth a huge
morocco memorandum book. From this he
took a letter.
This he said. was sent to me In cipher
from the War department at Washington.
you remember a man named Hudspeth?"
Perfectly" said the old gentleman.
mighty WE'LL" said Aaron.
"Well, this man Richard Hudspeth is one
Of the most influential members OF congress.
He Is on the military committee of the
house. Here is what he says:
Dear General: AS a member of the
committee on military affairs, it has come 10
my ears that you will before long swing loose
from Atlanta and march across Georgia,
either to Savannah or Augusta. Should my
information be correct. i have a favor to ask
OF you. 1t is this. that. SO far as Is con-
sistent with your duties as a soldier. you
Will protect the lives and property OF the
people whom you may find on the Abercrom-
bic place in middle Georgia. You cannot
miss the place. Whether you go to Savannah
or Augusta, it will be In your line Of march.
II is in the very heart OF Georgia, and is
known far and wide.
81 am not sure that the people ! knew
are living there now, but / am very sure that
l spent some very happy and some very
miserable days there. 1t was In the days OF
the years Of my youth. and / should have
been more miserable still but for the kind
ness Of the people on that place
4" More than that. ! owe them my life.
which at one time was on the point Of los
Ing at the hands OF some Of the neighbor-
hood HUMANS. Some day when we meet In
you shall have the particulars.
"'You will ind on that place. ] trust
Omaha daily bee., 1896-03-29
THE EASTER BONNET.

Philip V. Michels in st. Louis Republic.
Sing, no, the Easter bonnet
With a lot of things upon 1t
New and bright
n the venue parade
OF the maiden all arrayed
For the sight.
For sweet and Easter faces
hat brighten up the places
Where they go;
With their nodding n their smiling,
And our mannish hearts beguiling-
AS they know.
Not a man but likes the showing
OF the bonnetS in their going
Up the street;
And our admiration rightly
Do we give-the sig hit is slightly,
And a treat.
So let's hang the bills for dollars,
That are stiff enough for collars
Yea n high;
And pray for decent weather
For the witching maiden's feather,
So say l.. a.-,@H5 So
For I owe an Easter bonnet
With n lot of things upon it,
Bright and gay.
For the face that's just below 1t,
And i care not If you know 1t @
Right away.
Omaha daily bee., 1896-03-29

Copyright, 1895, by T. c. Harbaugh.)
There was one thing which troubled Tom
Harris and his mother more than anything
else and this was the fact that the husband,
as brave a man as ever enlisted in the cause
Of liberty, was still in the hands Of the
enemy and that the Americans had no Off
Ger of equal rank to exchange for him.
Major Harris had been captured in one
Of the battles in New Jersey and had been
three months in New York, guarded by
British soldiers. The family was much
alarmed over his long absence for American
prisoners Of late had not been very kindly
treated by their foes, and Major Harris evil
IDENTIFY pinned for the society of his little
household.
The Harris home stood on the shores of
Long Island sound, across which Tom could
Omaha daily bee., 1896-03-29
THE ONLY
ABOUT A WATCH

is in the marvellous instruments of precision
used in its construction. Pocket
timepieces arc not called upon to produce
anything, like looms and sewing machines,
or furnish or transmit power, like steam
engines or dynamos. All that is asked of
them is to run their allotted number of
hours with extreme regularity, measuring
the last hour of the twenty-four with
exactly the same number of minutes and
seconds as the first, through all changes
of temperature or varying positions.
The secret of success here is SIM
plicity and absolute accuracy. These
have been made possible by the Waltham
model, the wonderful machinery at
Waltham and the skilled American
mechanics there. Such a combination
of a perfect watch and a reasonable
price has never before been possible in
the history of matchmaking.
Ask to see the name "RsveyYlae"
or "RoyaI" engraved On the plates,
and always "WaAham."
They are fully warranted by the american
WakAam Waheh Co., of Waltham, Mass,
the pioneer American Company.
For sale BY all retail jewelers..
For SALE BY ALL RETAIL JEWELLERS.
Omaha daily bee., 1896-03-29
THINK OF MA. LITTLE GInL.
Nfemnhis Appeal.

Memphis Appeal.
Thou art nearing the time all to fest.
little girl,
When womanly yearnings shall wake;
May the. tailsman, hope, liuger we'll to
the last.
And shield thee from te,rs arb heart
breakl 4,
Though thy dreams to the least be en-
tirely fulfilled,
And thy ~burgcoing faith-buds he never
once chilled
sim, turn from the path which the violets
purl,
And think Of me once in a while, little
girl.
Womanhood's coming apace, little girl,
With promise OF visions so sweet:
And love that is tender will seek thy cm-
brace,
And his glances thy pure ones will greet.
One lonely old bosom Will oftentimes ache,
Yet I'll show thee but smiles for thy dear
little sake:
stlll, turn from thy dreams In the pleasure
full whirl,
To think of me once In a while. little girl.