davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1896-11-28

men had gone to the war. Early one
morning the cry started: Sherman is
coming!' 1t increased from a fright
ened whisper TO a shout. The old
negroes who were at home left the field
and gathered in their cabins. People
stood irresolute in the street, not know
ing what to do, or whether to refrain
from doing anything. Even the chick
ems ard cows seemed to understand that
portentous cry that was filling the air
sherman is coming!'
"And later on he came. Soldiers and
horses began to fill the little town, the
houses of the people were entered, and
fear was the prevailing sensation.
81 insisted that my Shetland pony
and my brothers pet rooster must be
saved. My mother equally insisted that
l should stay in the house, for if not the
soldiers would carry me away. 1 was
put in room from a window of which
| saw one of the soldiers go under our
house and catch the rooster and wiring
its neck. was certain my pony would
go next. So I jumped out of the win
dow, ran to the soldier, and doubling up
my fist, cried:
"'You old Yankee, you, if you take
that pony I'll report you to Gen. Sher-
! mani"
He stopped for an instant, and then
continued courteously: General, he did
take my pony, and this is my first op-
portunity to report to you"
He stopped and sat down. His speech
had won the day. AS he took his seat
men cheered him for his clcyerness, and
Gen. Sherman, jumping up, said: "Will
some one present me to the young
rebel ?"-Youth's Companion.
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1896-11-28
WAR "REMINISCENCES.
THE OLD BLUE ARMY COAT.


'Tis only a garment of faded blue,
Faded by sun an rain,
That OIL blue coat, with ats buttons bright,
Belonged to my boy, who was slain.
II hangs on the oil brown wall tonight.
Clos by the fireplace wide,
An 1t minds me now of that las, las day
When he stood by his mothers side.
The rosy OIL sun In the eastern sky
Flooded the worl' with light,
When my boy first put on his army coat,
With its buttons o. brass so bright.
Then. putin cap DER his yellow curls,
He bslted his drum-strap fast,
An kissin' his hand to his mother an me,
Into the lines he passed.
An soon was the signal given to start,
Then It seemed like l was numb,
As those noble boys marched off to death
To the time of fife and drum.
We stood an watched 'em march away,
over the hilltop green.
An that's the las time his mother an me
Our poor boy ever seen.
His ol' blue coat came home to us
A comrade brought 1t back,
An he toll us where in that Southern land
|. Was sleeping our little Jack.
But his OIL blue coat hangs on the wall,
An 1t minds me OF the day
When Jack, at the head of the volunteers
Marched over the hills away.
National Tribune.
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1896-11-28
REPORTED AT LAST.
He Didn't Get a Chance During the
War.


War.
Ready wit is sometimes worth more
than long and careful thought. Mr.. Du
Bignon was a young and rising man
who had been sent to represent Georgia
at a national convention of lawyers that
met in the west some years ago. He
was to reply at banquet to the toast:
''The Young Manhood of the South"
His speech had been carefully prepared.
Gentlemen of the bar" he began,
"I-"
But at this moment every eye wan
dered toward the door, and the toast
master sprang to his feet with the well
coming cry: Gen. Sherman."
Sherman! Sherman!" was echoed all
down the table. and the assembly rose
to greet the great soldier. 1t was long
before the tumult subsidized but when it
did, something else went with it, Mr..
Du Bignon's speech. He rose slowly to
his feet, and stood silent. The silence
was appalling.
At last he began: Gentlemen, am
confounded! The advent of so noted q
warrior as Gen. Sherman has made me
| forget every word of my speech"-here
the men all looked anxious and inter
ested-"but 1 think you can scarcely
wonder at my confusion. Georgians are
so used to having Gen. Sherman follow
them that it is enough to paralyze any
one of them to be asked to follow the
| general"
There was pause for an instant over
| the young mans audacity. and then the
room rang with appreciative applause
of his ready wit. Mr.. Du Bignon was
encouraged to remark that he would
tell story about the young manhood
of the south, the very young manhood,
including some personal impressions in
connection with Gen. Sherman.
81 was only little shaver" he said,
staying at home taking care of my
mother and a younger brother. All the
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1896-11-28

Thanksgivin.' II we can't have a truly
Thahksgivin' let's have play one.
guess mamma won't care If we just play
Thanksgivin' That won't make us
any poorer, will it, Katie?"
"How shall we play Thanksgivin',
Davy?" asked Helen, who was just his
senior.
"Oh, we'll have sermon, an then go
home an have dinner. Katie can fix us
up a nice Thanksgivin' dinner. You can
take some bread an apples, Katie, an
cut 'em up an give 'em some nice names.
An I'll run get one of my little sweet
pumpkins, an wei make turkey of
it. An we'll stuff it, too"
"What will we stuff it with?" asked
Helen.
"oh, anything" returned the fertile
master of ceremonies. Katie can stuff
it with her handkerchief if she can't
find nothin' else"
"Will you preach the sermon, Davy?"
Eyes, I'll preach the sermon. An Ill
try to preach good one, too"
"But, Davy, dere amt nussin' to
preach erbout," said solemn little FIVE
year Susie. Mamma said dere wasn't
nussin' to be sankful for dis year."
"You just wait an see, Susie. I'll bet
a dollar I'll find lots of things to be
thankful for"
Davy had often accompanied his
father to Grange lectures and to church,
and he had heard Thanksgiving sermons.
He early became imbued with oratorical
tendencies, and frequently took the
platform as preacher or lecturer in
their sports.
The little company were soon in act
i've preparation for their imaginary
celebration. A pulpit was formed in
one corner of the room by circle of
chairs, while chair was placed inside
for the speaker to stand on. When the
audience was in readiness a signal was
given, and the young clergyman
emerged from an outer room, dressed in
some of his fathers old work clothes.
A church-like gravity pervaded the con-
gregation, Katie checking baby Roy's
irreverent growing with kisses. The
young preacher walked in with clerical
dignity, and entering the sacred in
closure climbed upon the chair. -
"My frien's," he began, diving at once
into his discourse in unceremorious dis
regard of preliminaries, we're goin'
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1896-11-28

figure and of medium stature, whose
face bore an expression of weariness.
He was carelessly dressed, and his uni
form coat was unbuttoned and thrown
back from his chest. He held lighted
cigar in his mouth, and sat in a stoop-
ing posture, with his head bent slightly
forward. His clothes were wet, and his
trousers and top-boots were spattered
with mud. Gen. Thomas approached
this officer, and, turning to me and
mentioning me by name. said: ~ want
to present you to Gen. Grant" There
upon the officer seated in the chair,
without changing his position, glanced
up, extended his arm to it's full length,
shook hands, and said in q low voice and
speaking slowly: How do you do?''
This was my first meeting with the man
with whom was destined afterward to
spend so many of the most interesting
years of my life.
The strange officers present were
members of Gen. Grants staff Charles.
a. Dana, assistant secretary of war, Who
had been for some time with the army
of the Cumberland, had also entered the
room. The next morning he sent dis
patch to the war department, beginning
with the words: Grant arrived last
night, wet, dirty and we'll. Gen. Hor.
ace Porter, in Century.
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1896-11-28
Daily Life of Abdul Hamid.

Habitually the sultan drinks only
water, brought to the palace in casks
under special precautions. His food is
extremely plain, consisting chiefly of
vegetables. Few monarchs, if any,
work harder than Hamid. He takes but
few hours of sleep, and sometimes
passes the entire night, pen in hand,
signing every document himself, from
the appointment of governor to the
lowest officer at the palace. Like most
orientals he is an early riser. After the
prayers and ablutions enjoined by his
religion, he drinks a cup of coffee, and
then begins smoking cigarettes, which
he continues on and of all day.
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1896-11-28
THE PIANO PLAYED ON.
A Decidedly Clever Trick Exposed
by an Accident.
How a Musical Dog and His Master Fell
Down" mt the Last Important Mo-
ment and Surprised Truly
Pious Audience.

Apropos of the stories now going the
rounds of the press about trained dogs
playing tunes on pianos and other mu-
steal Instruments, Mr.. A. o. Gage, for
merly hotel keeper at Topeka, Kan,
tells another and different kind of
story of piano-playing dog. 1t was
several years ago, when a theatrical
troupe, consisting of n man, q dog and
piano, appeared in Topeka, and the
town was billed from courthouse to subs
urb announcing the dog pianist. The
dog could play any old thing, from
Down Went McGinty" to the overture
from "Tannhauser" or the Twelfth
Hungarian Rhapsodies"-so the bills
said. Three performances were to be
given, the third for the benefit of the
building fund of local church. The
man, dog and piano had started on
tour of Kansas from some point un-
known, and he and the dog created a
sensation everywhere they made one
night stand. Their fame had preced-
ed them. Part of the dog owners du-
ties were to solicit one or two local vo-
calists in each town to help him out in
the making up of an entertainment for
the evening, while he would give
sleight-of-hand performance and the
dog would play.
The first two performances were fair
ly we'll attended, and the professor"
raked in goodly lot of shekels. The
third night-the occasion of the bene-
it for the church-the auditorium was
crowded. Many asked permission to
sit on the stage, but were refused, be-
cause the presence of anyone but the
! professor, who stood beside the piano,
made the dog nervous, and he would
not touchak key. While the vocalists were
doing their part of the performance,
! the professor went to the box office, set
tied all bills and gave the church half
of the net receipts. He then appeared
ON the stage and did "his turn
The dog, says the st. Louis Republic,
closed the evening concert. 1t came
from the wings as demurely as Pader
cwski. and resembled him somewhat in
the dressing of his long, curly hair,
which hung over his eyes. Its neck,
hind paws and tail were decorated
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1896-11-28

thankful for. An it's al our own farm
an It amt nobody else's. An we oil
love it so good we wouldn't want no
other farm in the world, an we kidses
have such nice times here. An we've
got Cousin Myra an her children to be
thankful for. An Cousin Myra is a wild
der an amt got not one turkey. An
'twould be awful nice Il we could have
her an the kids come to Thanksgivin',
so we kids could have some kids to play
with"
Here the orator paused. Katie" he
said, sis there anything else we've got
to be thankful for?"
"Dere's our baby kitties," piped in lit
tile Susie.
"oh, yes, 1 forgot the ktties," re-
turned the informal preacher.
"An Uncle Johns little new baby
suggested Susie.
ayes, forgot the baby, too"
"An' our cellar full of apples an good
things" said Helen.
Yes. Goodnessl 1 ought to q
thought of them. An now what is there
we amt thankful for?"
"Why, Romy an the cow died, you
know" said Katie.
"Yes, but that amt but two things,
an we've got as many as 40 to be thank.
full for. know what's the worst thing
we amt got to be thankful for. That's
cause we ain't goin' to have any really
truly Thanksgivin'. But now we'll
take our play Thanksgivin' dinner over
to Miss Katie Hoven's house."
The minister bounced down from the
chair and the appreciative audience re-
paired to dinner.
The parents had been attracted to the
play from the first, and had listened in
tently to every word of the sermon.
The mother still stood looking out the
window. The father sat by the fire,
and occasionally a broad smile would
pass over his face as the sermon pro-
gressed At it's conclusion he turned to
his wife and said:
MARY, what do you think of that SER
mon?"
"I think" she returned, her face IL
lumined with both laughter and tears,
that it is true "a little child shall lead
them You and have been enveloped
in cloud of late. We've been living in
the morbid delusion that our Affections
are greater than our blessings But
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1896-11-28

to have a Thanksgivin' sermon. We
ought to be thankful for lots O. good
things we've got, say nothin' bout what
we haven't got. The coolest way to be
thankful is to have good dinner an
have comp'ny an have a good time.
But we can't do that this year. We've
got just lots to be thankful for, though,
'thout the dinner. We've got papa, an
we ought to be awful thankful for papa.
An we've got mamma, an we ought to
be awful thankful for mamma. An
we've got grandpa an grandma, an we
ought to be JUS dreadful thankful for
them cause they are SO old. An they're
goin' to spend lonesome Tharksgivin'
all alone, cause nobody don't invite em,
an they're too old to fix up for comp'ny.
An we've got Mr.. Snowdon for neigh
Dor. An Mrs. Snowdon went an died
an lef him all alone an he amt got
nobody to spend Thanksgivin' with.
An we've got us kidses, an we ought
to be so thankful for US kids, cause
amt none of us got the dipthery like
the Green kids. An the Green kids
won't have no Thanksgivin', may be
not mouthful. An we've got three
good horses to be thankful for"
"Davy," interrupted Susie. you mus
member one of de horses died."
"Well, Susie, amt sayn' nothin'
| bout dead horses. It's the live horses
I'm talkin' bout. Three live horses
| is good deal more count than one dead
one. I'm thankful we've got three
good, live horses 'sted of two or one or
not any tall, same's some folks. An
we've got seven milk COWS, an twelve
slick little baby pigs, an twenty-three
| just awful big turkeys"
Here this grateful minister halted in
dead silence for an instant, as If a
change of feeling had suddenly crossed
his spirits. And as he looked out over
his listeners, the benign eXpI ession
that emanates from heart filled with
gratitude fled from his countenance,
and a look of unministerial defiance
came over his face.
"An' tell you, my frien's," he con-
tinued with new animation, II don't
care one cent if half of them turkeys
die of hog cholera, same's Uncle Johns
hogs did. No, don't care cent"
"Why, Davy," cried Kate. "it's dread
full wicked for you to say that Not
care if our turkeys die!"
mo, it amt wicked. Katie. You don't
like turkey goods do, or you wouldn't
think twas wicked. JUS think! We
can't have JUS one turkey. when we've
got 23. An we've got our farm to be
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1896-11-28
reduction of Hours of Labor.

In one of the largest paper mills in
Russia the hours of labor have been re-
duced from twelve to eight, and the
manager writes to an exchange as fol-
lows: Instead of increasing drinking
by the workingmen the only drink
shop in the place had to give up busi-
hess. Between 400 and 500 of the oper-
atives regularly attend lectures, and
orchestral, vocal and reading unions
have been formed. These things were
impossible under the old twelve-hour
system"
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1896-11-28
GRANT AND PORTER.
Tho Lattcr's First Meeting with His Sub
seuuent Chief.

Tho Lattor's First Meeting with His Sub
sequent Chief.
While sitting in my quarters in the
little town of Chattanooga, Tenn, about
an hour after nightfall on the evening of
Friday, October 30, 1868, an orderly
brought me a message from Gen. George
II. Thomas, commander of the army of
the Cumberland, on whose staff was
serving, summoning me to headquar-
ters. a storm had been raging for two
days, and a chilling rain was still fall
ing. a few minutes walk brought me
to the plain wooden, one-story dwelling
occupied by the commander, which was
situated on Walnut street, near Fourth,
and upon my arrival found him in the
front room on the left side of the hall,
with three members of his staff and
several strange officers.
In an armchair facing the fireplace
was seated general officer, slight in
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1896-11-28
An Apt Comparison.

When Gen. Grant became president
of the United States, many people were
apprehensive, knowing how tacitarn
and unaccustomed to civic functions he
was, as to the way he would conduc.
himself in his new and bewildering ex-
alted office, and especially on occasions
which required oratory.
Accordingly one of his friends, who
was not able to attend the Inauguration
ceremonies, hailed with intense curios-
ity another friend who had been pres
ent.
"Well, we'll" said the first, breath
lessly, show did he act?"
"Just as he should
"And wasn't he nervous"
NERVOUS! No, he was just as cool
and collected as if-as if"
"As If he had been on the field ot
battle!" said the generals friend. sup
plying the comparison that the other
was seeking.
"That's it exactly. YOUTHS Com
panion.
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1896-11-28
From Mules to Electrlcity.

After three years hard work and the
expenditure of between $15,oO0,oo0 and
sl6,000,000 New Orleans has finally
completed the great undertaking of
changing it's street railroad motive
power from the old-fashioned mule to
electricity.
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1896-11-28

Prussia has had, including the pres
ent king, who is also German emperor,
seven kings, The royal house of Hohen-
zollern was established by Frederick
William of Brandenburg in 17o1.
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1896-11-28

Dollar was originally tha'er, the
name being applied to lump or bar
Of silver from Joachim's valley in Ger
many.
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1896-11-28

Biscuit once meant simply to bake
twice, sea-bread being prepared for
keeping during long voyages by double
baking.
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1896-11-28


woods are bare,
And tho FIRST white flakes Of the coming
snow
Arc nfioat in the frosty air;
But the sparks fly up from the hickory
log
On the homestead's broad stone hearth
And tho windows shake, and the rafters
ring,
To the lads and lassies' mirth.
Tho farmers face is furrowed and worn,
And his locks are thin and white;
BUT his hand is steady, his voice is clear,
And his eye is blue and bright.
As he turns to look at his sweet old wife,
Who sits in her gown of gray.
with the cobweb 'kerchief, and creamy
frillS
She wore on her wedding day.
He bows his head to the laden board,
And the guests they are silent all.
Thanksgiving, lord, for the sun and rain
And TIE fruit on the orchard wall.
For the silver wheat, and the golden corn,
And the crown of a peaceful life
Tho greatest blessing that Thou canst
give
A true and a loving wifev'
This white-haired lover he bends to kiss
Her hand in its frill OF lace,
And the faded rose on her wrlnkled cheek
with n proud and a courtly grace;
And the snowfakes click on the window.
pane,
And the rafters ring above,
And the angels sing at the gates of GOD
The words of the farmers loye.
Minnie Irving, in N. Y. Independent.
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1896-11-28

Billings, If you've got time drop
in at my house on your way home and
see the incest ten-pound Thanksgiving
turkey that was ever brought to this
market"
"Ruggles. come over TO my house and
I'll show you ten-pound Thanksgiving
baby worth million of it."-Chicag''
Tribune.
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1896-11-28

tR,5sSERMoN'

L WAS the fore
noon of the day
before Thanksgiv-
ing that Mrs. Jack
Hoven stood gaz-
ipr ont of Tho win
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-03-05

. A., ,
Tor that Which they had before shoWeu
me. "nie the p'Sn'u'' ca', lnS w
uos III hiS arms hiouii,tu ms 'n".'
anu went pS tne I.ue 81, MAJ " .',' a,'u -.
-Hn,o'ne, .heS "ui ~ ny -: an'' ,,tn,
an" o!WuSS ~ 'he "Iais ~. al M..ien ,
az 90 ",S -, ,ha
a. ~ ,, ~, ,.an, n,oM,a Of
sso,,, q. ,, ,,as fond
pnopt q. -, .ha. .h,, III ~ do
With nv mn;s"ard shromi. back
Rut ,ha st.w,ard yri,b n thrust of his
Lnaa oyoinst my hin which sbowed
me thai ha had NOT fnryiven nv blow
urped me- FORWARD and from, what
naSsad roupd mo nc w.. nushed throurh
the press. gathered that a score Of
cantured colors had a arrived within the
hour from Flanders. and were being
presented to the queen.
The COURTYARD confirmed this for i'm
the omen part of il, and much pressed
on by the curious who thronged the ar
cades, we found a troop of horse,
plumed and mud stained, fresh from
the Flanders road The officers who
bore the trophies we overlook on the
stairs near the door of the ante cham
ber Burning with rage as l was, and
strung to the last pitch of excitement.
i yet remember that | thought it an odd
time to push in with dog: but mon
Seigneur did not seem to see this.
Whether he took certain pleasure in
belittling the war party, to whom he
was opposed. or merely knew his ground
well. he went ON. thrusting the mill
taires aside with little ceremony; and
as everyone was as quick TO give place
to him as he was to advance. in mo-
ment we Were in the ante-chamber.
| had never been admitted before,
and from the doorway, within which |
paused in Ronnivet's keeping. | viewed
the scene with an interest that for the
time overcame my sense of injustice.
The long room hummed with talk: Il
crowd of churchmen and pages, with Il
sprlnkling of the lesser nobility. many
lawyers and some soldiers filled il from
emu 10 emu. III one corner were group
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-03-05

felt weight fall on my back and the
clutch of long fingers close on my
throat. | screamed. however. felt the
fingers close in deadly grip, cold and
merciless-and then in sheer terror /
swooned
When | recovered my senses / found
myself propped in chair, and for Il
time sat wondering hazily where l was.
In front Of me a great door stood open.
and "a flood Of sunshine that fell even
to my feet. Through the doorway |
looked on grass and trees, and heard
sparrows twitter. and the chirp of il
cricket: and found all so peaceful that
my mind went no farther and 1t was
only after some minutes that | recos-
niZed with sharp return of terror
that shook me to the soul that ] was
still in the hall of the empty house.
That brought back other things, and
with a shudder ! carried my hand to
my throat and tried to rise. A hand
put me back and u dry voice said in
my ear: BE easy, NJ. Prosper. | am
afraid that we put you to some in
convenience"
I looked dizzily at the speaker and
recognized him for one of those I had
seen in the garden. He had the air of a
secretary or-as he stood rubbing his
chin and looking down at me with Il
saturnine smile-of a physician. ! read
in his eyes something cold and not too
human, yet 1t went no farther. His
manner was suave and his voice, when
he spoke again, as well calculated to
reassure as his words were to surprise
me.
You are 10 better now?' he said.
"Yes. Then I have to congratulate
you. Few men. NJ. Prosper. few men.
believe me, We're ever so lucky. You
were. Iltt.Iy / think in the Splyicp nf
monseigneur the bishop of Beauvais,
president. of her majesty's council?"
l fancied that faint note of irony
lurked in his words. ! kept silent.
And yesterday We're dismissed" +"
he continued, easily. disregarding my
astonishment. well today you shall
be reinstated-and rewarded. Your
business here, I believe, was to recover
her majesty's dog"
| remembered that the wretch whose
finger marks were still on my throat
might he within hearing. and l tried
to utter a denial
h- waved it aside politely. Just So"