davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1896-11-05

The Missing Check.

Here is a story, told by the n. Y
Herald, that illustrates two facts
the foolishness of persons making
bogus presents, pretentious gifts
and second, that no matter how care
fully you may invite your guests tc
your marriage, it is we'll to watch
them, for people in good society will
steal.
AS far back as 1855, in small
Hudson River town, a young woman
was married to her fathers conf
Dental clerk. In addition to win
ming his bride, the young man Sc.
cured partnership in his father-in.
laws concern, and on the day of the
wedding there were displayed, as
was the custom in those days, the
presents. Among them was check
for ten thousand dollars from the
BRIDES father.
The couple lived happily together
for nearly thirty years, when the
husband died. At intervals the
wife visited her old home, met and
conversed with her old friends,
reared her children in the fear of the
Lord, and was In every way a good
member of society. a few years
after the death of her husband her
rather, then venerable old man,
died. When his estate was settled,
the daughter and widow found her
self charged in the will with ten
thousand dollars, to be deducted
from her portion Of the estate.
Rnt ~ chn cold fn Tho
81 never received this money. And
IL is not fair to deduct it from my
portion of the estate. 1 don't care
to contest the will, but think there
must be some mistake about it. /
recollect the check among my we'd
ding presents, but 1 never saw it af-
terward. / supposed my husband
took it, and if he did it was all right,
but L have no proof of it either
way"
The executors were in quandary,
and in some way the news of the
missing check became known i'm onr
village. Then surprising thing
happened. One of the most re-
spected citizens of the town, a promi-
nent member of the church, came
forward, and, after much hesitation,
drew from his pocket a faded slip
of paper.
"See what my wife found i'm an
old suit of Clothes" said he. "I-
l-I-don't know how 1t came there,
but ! thought it might be Of some
service to you"
1t was the ten thousand dollar
check. Whether in Jest or with the
intention of stealing it, the respecta-
BILE citizen had put 1t in his pocket.
Having it once in his possession, he
found it an awkward instrument
He was equally afraid to use it or
mention the fact of his having it,
until thirty years later, when the
discussion regarding the will made
it possible.
Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1896-11-05
Economy not Stinginess.

{" He was close man; many
called him stingy." This remark
was made concerning an old farmer
who recently closed his labors on
earth. But we knew the man bet
ter. He was not stingy. He was
industrious, provident and frugal
He wasted nothing that he could
save. He had been hard working
man all his life. He began with no
capital but his strong arms and de-
termination to make a good, honest
living and lay up enough for the
coming "rainy day" He began in
the woods. He cleared up his own
farm. During all those early years
of struggle and privation he was en-
yironed by conditions that abso-
lutely compelled habits of the strict
est economy, and these habits natu-
rally clung to him through life. But
he was not stingy. Thrifty, provi-
dent people are often termed so by
their improvident and less success
full neighbors-and less successful
because improvident.
We know that there are many
stingy people, but very often the
term is a libel upon commeudable
frugality, as 1t was in the case above
referred to. This man was always
liberal provider for his family. He
was a regular contributor to charita-
BILE, benevolent objects. His wife
and children always were decently
and comfortably clad. His home
was supplied with books and period
icals. His children were fairly edu-
Gated. His farm was a model of
thrift and careful attention. He
was religious, and his character was
above reproach. He was strictly
honest. His word was as good as his
note, and his note was as good as the
gold wherever he was known. If
we had nation of such men there
would be no assignments, no broken
banks, no sheriff's sales, no business
failures. They may be sneered at
and called miserly, but it is such
men that maintain the credit and
business of the country.
Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1896-11-05

AN EFFECTIVE RUsE.-A friend
of the Timely One of the Worcester
Gazette tells him of a remedy for
sleepiessness, recently tried, which
works like charm. The specific
was discovered, or at any rate adj
ministered, by woman. Her hus.
band related the story as follows:
don't know what caused it, hut
about a fortnight ago there were a
number Of nights that / could get
no sleep until just before it was
time to get up in the morning. Then
L would fall asleep, and then it was
one of the hardest things in the
world to wake me. Well, this sort
of thing continued for several nights
and / was getting big black circles
under my eyes, and had a temper
like meat-axe. My friends ad.
vised all sorts of remedies, but my
wife set her wits to work and found
the right one.
The next night fell into a light
doze soon after got into bed, but in
less than twenty minutes / was as
wide awake as ever, pitching and
tossing, and unable to close my eyes
Well, my wife got up, struck q
match and pretended to look at her
watch. Then she said:
Il wouldn't try to go to sleeI
again, dear, as it will soon be time
for you to get up now
That settled it. In three minutes
! was asleep, and slept like a log
This was repeated once or twice,
and now get my regular sleep every
night. The best Of it was that
didn't know for number of days
the little ruse that had been en-
ployed to send me to Sleep"
Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1896-11-05

SQUARING ACCOUNTs.-Ag gentle
man connected with the United
States Lake Survey in Wisconsin,
several years ago, was engaged one
day on the skirt of wood in Indi-
ana. Near him, sleeping lazily in
the sun, lay his faithful dog, Tiger
Thinking to have some fun with the
dog, he gave shout and a jump
into the thiCket, as if all the game
ever protected by game laws from
marauding hunters was thrashing
through the bushes. AS he expected, ,
Tiger came bounding and barking to
the fray, and soon detected the trick
that was played upon him, sneaked
back to his lair and lay down again
The surveyor resumed his duties,
and was hard at work for two or
hours, when, all at once, the dog
rose from his sleep, set his eyes and
ears in direction of the wood, gave a
bark, and made rush to the forest
depths. The surveyor followed the
noble brute to tree up which he
was sending canine congratulations
to the prey. But when the surveyor
came and began anxiously to scan
the boughs for the hiding game, I'll.
ger gave satisfied "Ah, wooh p'
bestowed glance Of contempt al
the surveyor, and, striking a digni.
fed gait, stalked back to his couch
with the appearance Of a dog thai
had squared up all accounts with thu
Lake Survey. .. .........
Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1896-11-05
COltOn's Advice.

The other day, as / was clinging
to the strap of Lexington Avenue
car, says a writer in the Christian.
AdU0cdte, two ladies sat near me,
and as one opened her portmonnaie
to pay her fare, scrap of paper
pasted to the leather was disclosed.
els that yonr shopping list ?n
asked the other; cit doesn't look
like a long one"
No." was the reply cit is not
the list, but it is what keeps the list
from being long one," and she
read:
He who buys what he does not need !,
Will soon need what he cannot buy.
What capital guardian of your
capital! You must let me copy that
for my leaky purse. Who wrote it ?"
"l don't know, but | wish I did,
for he has saved many a dollar from
lightly rolling from my hands since
put it there"
| was intensely interested in the
conversation, for at that very mo-
ment there lay in my notebook a
scrap which / would have brought
forth but for the fact that my corner
was reached.
publish it, for, if the truth which
1T contains were assimilated, many a
pocket-book would remain a pocket
book:
We are ruined not by what we re-
ally want, but by what we think we
do; therefore, never go abroad in
search of your wants. If they be
real wants, they will come home in
search of you, for he that buys what
he does not want will soon want
what he cannot buy.
Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1896-11-05

He could not understand where il
had gone, but when he appeared in
court, there that ghost of a rod-pole
met his astonished view. How it
came there none but Calvin knew,
and he was silent. The case was
soon tried, and a verdict of guilty
was rendered, with nominal damage
| ana cost Of court. This, with the
advantage of his enemy, and the
witheriDg rebuke Of the lawyers,
was terrible retribution for poor
John.
But more was yet in store. Red
man saw, by the evidence at court,
that he had been cheated out of one
hundred feet of ditch actually dug,
so he commenced suit against John.
Again came the sheriff, again he
vent to court, and again he received
the cold cuts Of the attorneys and
the sneers of the people, with the
verdict of guilty, and the order of
full pay to Redmau and the costs of
court.
And yet more was in store for
him. The long rod-pole was still
NOPS hNL ohothCl uOSt TIC "OISI vi
all, for now the church, of which
John had been, to all outward ap-
pearances, an exemplary member,
took the case in hand, and expelled
him from their communion and fell
lowship.
Thus did the bitter get git. Thus
swiftly did the retributive justice of
God overtake the poor cheat who Sc
cretly tried to rob poor honest man
of the fruit of his toll. The wretched
John never heard the last of the
long rod-pole. 1t was the standing
joke for a generation, and although
nearly all the actors have long since
settled their accounts with that Be-
ing who measures all things justly,
the lesson still remains, and should
teach us that in all our dealings with
our brother man, God will only
prosper us when we deal honestly
and Justly. When tempted to do
otherwise, let us remember the
story of John who made his rod
pole too long.
Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1896-11-05
Mr.. POppleduke's Adventure.

Mr.. Poppleduke and Major Simms
are two worthy bachelors inhabiting
the same boarding-house. Each is
happy in the possession of many "A
good friend, and not having to get
up early in the morning, they some
times stay out late at night, 1t
must be admitted that Major Simms
sometimes has trouble in making
port, especially after a dinner. Not
so in the case of Mr.. Poppleduke.-
No matter how late the dinner or
joyous the occasion, his fine instinct
never deserts him. Naturally, he
has often girded the Major at his
weakness.
Why" he added, "you have
trouble In getting home after supper,
and never can do it without help af-
ter dinner. Major, I could come
home all right after breakfast 20
But Mr.. Poppleduke's hour of
humiliation arrived. 1t was after a
glorious dinner to friend who had
been appointed consul to an impor-
tant post. Mr.. Poppleduke came
home in cab. He never faltered as
he went up the front steps, and his
hand had the precision of a coniur-
er's as he sought the keyhole. In
side he deposited his hat and coat
and started up the stairs, walking
with preternatural stiffness, and dis
dalning to touch the banisters or the
wall. Now it happened that SER
want, after doing some cleaning in
the second story, had very careless
ly left step-ladder at the head of
and facing the stairs. or course
Mr.. Poppleduke went up the STEP
ladder. "Shteepesh shtairs ever
sheen," he was heard to observe
when about halfway up. Then he
went on, and reaching the top
stepped off. The back of the step.
ladder broke his fall, and he only
shot to the floor like a very rapid to.
boggan, and sat there with his feet
thrust straight out in front of him.
He hitched his shoulders up into po-
sition, and after giving the subject
the thought which so remarkable a
phenomenon deserved, said, " Mosht
extraordinary 'currence ever knew.
Came up front shtairs. Front shtairs
extraordinarily shteep. Fell down
back shtairs. Back shtairs shteep.
erin front shtairs." "a long pause
during which he spied his own door
directly in front of him. mo
that washn't it. Girl left piesh wei
shoap OH shtairs. Shtepped on wet
shoap. Fell off; then fell down.
Won't tip girl nex' Chrishmash !"-
He reached up, turned the knob anC
crept into his room on his hands anC
knees, not daring again to trust him
self on his feet. The next mornin,
1t was Major Simms' turn to GRID
But he refused to acknowledge tina
he had placed the step-ladder wher,
it was found.
Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1896-11-05
Omens Ill and Good.
WHAT BRIDES AND wOULD-BE
BRIDES SHOULD DO OR BE-
WARE OF DOING.

The girl who wishes to get married
should never whistle at the table,
Every time she does she drives 6
lover further away from her.
If many children you would have
hops instead of rice should be sprin.
kled upon the heads Of the young
couple just married.
10 allow another girl to wear your
engagement ring not only signifies
that you are extremely foolish, but
1t also means that you will lose the
one you love best and who has prom.
ised to lead you TO the altar.
The bride who would be rich
should slip gold dollar into each
shoe or slipper just before she enters
the church.
TO receive proposal of marriage
in a horse-car or in any other public
place means that your married life
Will be attended by unpleasant noto-
riety.
The rustic lover who sees O snake
when on his way to propose to his
sweetheart should turn back and pro.
pose some other time; for lot him
know that snake is an omen of ex-
ceeding ill import.
No bridal souple should at once
venture from land. Stay on terra
TRINA for at least q week. You will
not regret it.
All brides should remember that
If the couple about to be welded do
not stand close together evil spirits
Will creep between them and cast an
ugly spell over their future fortunes.
The bride who dreams of fairies
the night before her marriage will be
thrice blessed.
Ship marriages are considered any,
thing but lucky. Get married on
land, or don't get married at all.
II the groom carry miniature
horseshoe in his pocket he Will al
ways have good luck. This is good
thing to remember.
Don't wear an opal In getting mar
ried. Some people declare that opals
are lucky. History proves the con-
trary.
The bride who finds spider on her
wedding dress may consider herself
blessed.
Kiss a bride right after the cere-
mony, and before the newly-made
husband has had change to do so,
and you will have excellent luck
throughout the year.
No bride or groom should be given
a telegram while on the way to
church. 1t is positively a sign of
evil.
Maidens eager to wed should give
dish-water heated to the boiling
point a wide berth. 1t means that
they will not marry for long time,
if they attempt to cleanse dishes in
water so hot.
Upon retiring, the bride should
place her stockings under her pillow.
This will certainly insure good luck,
If you can possibly avoid it, don't
postpone your wedding. Better he
welded on sick bed than defer the
ceremony. Love and Hymen cure
many ills.
Night weddings are better than
none, yet they are by no means the
best. The bride whom the sunshine
cannot fall upon is sure to expert
ence troublous times. If she have
children they will die young.
Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1896-11-05

1T DIDN'T TAKE.-During re-
cent discussion on the subject Of
vaccination, when its supporters and
opponents had fairly exhausted their
arguments, one of the company,
who had not hitherto spoken, vOlun-
teered his opinion that, far from be-
ing benefit to the human race, the
precaution was both dangerous and
unnecessary.
81 will give you proof" he said, ,
"The son of friend of mine, as
healthy little fellow as you wish
to see, was vaccinated by the advice
of an idiotic medical man who at
tended the family, and what was the
consequence? He died two days af-
ter the operation"
Here the speaker paused for q mo-
ment, evidently gratified by the i'm
preston he had made on his hearers.
Yes, gentleman" he continued,
" the poor lad, who was as active as
squirrel, was In the act of climbing
tree, when, a branch giving way,
he lost his hold and was killed by
the fall. Don't you talk to me OF
vaccination after that"
Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1896-11-05
Notice.

I HAVE returned home to remain
L this fall and winter. Ihaye located
IN DR.. 5, III. Austin's office. on Main
street, to work at my trade. Work
guaranteed to give perfect satisfaction.
Also still continue my oculist business.
viii call on any parties who desire
Glasses, if they will let me know.
have also added to my line Of busi-
ness repairing of all kinds Of Sewing
Machines. Also all kinds OF material
for them on hand. ALI work guaran-
teed. Bring on your machines.
.. - Very respectfully,
.......,..... .' J. A. LOWE,
Oct. 24-tf. Jeweler q Opticlan.
Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1896-11-05

ONCE, at Liberty Hall, General
Toombs made a statement that was
here and there punctuated with mild
profanity. Turning to Alexander
H. Stephens, he concluded thus {:
" Don't you agree with me, Mr.. Ste-
phens?" The old commoner piped
out shrilly, "All but the damn,
General-all but the damn.n
Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1896-11-05

THE umbrella of a Catholic peni-
tent was stolen while she was at con-
fession. She won't with the story to
Cardinal Wiseman, hoping probably
to obtain compensation. The only
consolation she got from the Cardinal
was this: "My child, ] am sorry
for you; but the Scripture tells us
to watch as well as to pray"
Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1896-11-05

AN Irishman, having been ar
raigned and convicted upon full and
unmistakable evidence Of some fla
grant misdemeanor, being asked by
the judge if he had anything to say
for himself, replied, with the char
acteristic humor of his country,
" Never a single word, your Honor /!
And its my raal opinion there's been
a..great deal too much said as it is.n
Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1896-11-05
POETRY.
ONE HOUR AT REST.

Here sweep these foolish leaves awav
l VIII not crush my brains to-day
Look are the southern curtains drawn;
fetch me fan, and so begone!
Not that-the palm tree s rustling leaf
Drought from q parching coral reef
LIS breath is heated-I would swing
Inc broad gray plumes-the eagle +
wing.
| hate these roses feyerish bloodI
tluck me half-blown lily bud,
a iong-stemmed lily from the lake.
Cold rs coiling water snake.
Rain me sweet odOrs on the air,
ANA wheel me up my Indian chair,
And spread some book not oyerwise
Fiat out before my sleepy eyes.
Who knows it not this dead recoil
~ weary iibres stretched with toll,
1ne pulse that tlutters faint and low
when summers seething breezes blow
y, Nature! bare thy loying breast,
ANA give thy child one hour of rest,
One little hour to lie unseen
Beneath that scarf of leafy green
So, curtained by singing pine;
lts murmuring voice shall blend with
mine.
I'LL, lost in dreams, my faltering Law
In Sweeter music dies away.
Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1896-11-05

ONLY seventy years have elapsed
since the first railway in the world
was finished. During that compar-
atively brief period four hundred
thousand miles have been constructed
the British Empire accounting for
about one-siXth.
Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1896-11-05

"A CERTAIN English baronet who
lived near the spot where one Of the
most celebrated battles of the War
OF the Roses had been fought, was
presented to George III. at leyee.
An ignorant man, no knew little of
the history of the country, and was
nonplussed when the King remarked,
graciously, "You come from the
scene of celebrated battle, under
stand, Sir William" Well, your
Majesty" was the answer, Il did
have round or two with the black
smith, but am very much surprised
that your Majesty should have heard
Of it,"
Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1896-11-05

A GIRLS taste differs according to
her age. says a cynic. AT sixteen
she wants a dude with tooth pick
shoes and microscopic mustache; at
twenty a chief justice and a pile of
tin !; at twenty-five she'll be satisfied
with a member of Congress at
thirty country doctor or q preacher
Will do; and at thirty-five anything
in the male line, from an editor
down.
Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1896-11-05

CLERK-I am to be married
shortly. Could you not manage to
increase my salary little? En-.
ployer-Couldn't really. But I'll
tell you what I'll do for you, my
boy. I'll shorten your hours during
the first three months so that you
can spend your evenings at home,
and after that I'll lengthen them
again, so that you will have an ex.
cuse to stay away.
Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1896-11-05

81 NEVER knew fellow with
more powerful pair of lungs. He
can yell loud enough to be heard a
mile, and then he is such an expert
at fisticuffs, collar and elbow wrest-
ling, and all that sort of thing -
Il" What college did you say he be.
longed tor"
Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1896-11-05

TEACHER-What does the word
celibacy" mean? Class-The state
or condition of being single. "Cor-
rect. Now, if you wanted to ex-
press the opposite of celibacy, or
singleness, what word would you
use ?' " Pleurisy.n
Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1896-11-05

A PARsoN was preaching to lot
of sailors who had just come homo
from years. cruise. He gave out
his text as follows: "And who will
go up with me into Ramoth Gilead ?''
One sailor got rather excited. The
parson gave it out second time.
Sailor still wavering. But at third
time 1t came out, and then the sailor
stood up in his pew, and said, " Well,
If no one else will accompany the
gentleman, Pm hanged If l don't"
Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1896-11-05

A LITTLE boy was taken down to
the harbor by his father, and saw for
the fist time large steamer towed
by putting little tug, with an i'm
mense hawser connecting the two.
"Oh, papa, papa !" he shouted, in
excitement. "See! The big boat
has the little one by the tail and
he's a.squealin'"
Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1896-11-05

FUssY people are rarely effective
people. The greatest executive
force goes with a certain calmness
and absence of hurry, and it is sig
nificant fact that the people who
have accomplished the most always
seem to have leisure. The habit of
working without waste is fortu-
nately one which can be cultivated,
and which, after once being con-
sciously adopted, becomes the natu-
raj method of work.
Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1896-11-05

" A CASE of unrequited love-"
said the mosquito, as he lodged a
slap. 81 have real fondness for
this man, and see how he scorns my
love. However, Pm not going to
give him up without another trial.n
Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1896-11-05

MoHAMMEDAN depositors in the
postoffice savings banks are enrich
ing the British government, as their
religion forbids them to receive in
terest. They insist ON taking out no
more than they have put in.
Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1896-11-05

CHINESE writer's claim that the
cultivation of wheat was introduced
into the Celestial Empire by the
Emperor Shinnung twenty seven
hundred years before Christ.
Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1896-11-05

THAT the only passenger saved
from the unfortunate Drummond
Castle should have been the occu-
pant of stateroom No. 13 is a COM
forting fact for the superstitious.