davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1896-06-06
Some secondhand Cussin."

That makes me think of the time
Newberry went to town together, and
for the first time in my life l heard
some secondhand cussin.
Sam and the Elder went in with their
wagons heavy loaded with cotton, and
had took a seat and went along with
the elder.
Mind you, it was then in the dead OF
winter. The rains had fell heavy and
frequent, and the roads was sloppy and
soft enough to bog the shadow of buzz
zard. 1t was but only ten miles to
town, though at that time it took Il
good team to make it through in a day.
Now Sam Nettles was bad and wick
ed man, and every time his wagon and
team got stabbed and stuck in the mud,
or struck a steep hill he would put in to
cussin the mules and poppin his whip
till he made the air blue and they went
out i'm storm.
Understand me now, don't ayitwas
the cussin that got the wagon through.
and know as well as anybody that 1t
was wicked and wrong for Sam to be
goin on in that reckless way. But some-
how or somehow else he was so handy
and so furious with his whip and his
mouth, and kept up such a roarin big
excitement till the mules jest naturaliy
got skeered and took the wagon and
tore out of there.
Now as TO Elder NewberTy, he was
one of the best and most peaeefulest Of
men in the round created world for
common. He wouldn't carry on very
much talk with his mules, and when he
aid IL was with smooth and gentle
soice. So consequentially we didn't
stay in sight of Sam and his wagon
more than two or three miles. For a
while we could hear him poppin HE
whip and cussin and Foin on with his
mules. but by-and-by he got clean OFT
3f hearin.
Well, me and the elder, we worked
nd worried along as best we could for
ihree or four miles. We had II up and
/ Town, in and out, and over and under
sith them mules and that miserable
rad road. The elder he would tumble
md fiddle and fool around, talkin to the
uules like they were so many babies,
md gal babies az that, tin presently
Ns struck the Travis lane. which ~ss
The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1896-06-06
TELLING OYSTERS AGES.
Teiltale Ridges That Denote Each Year
OF the Biyalve's Existence.

Ieutale ridges 1hat Denote Each Year
OF the BivaIve's Existence.
1t is just as easy to tell the age Of an
Oyster by looking at its shell as il is to
ascertain the age Of horse by examin-
ing his teeth, or tree by Inspecting
the circles revealed by the AK or saw
when it is laid low When the oyster
is six months old it is as big as a dime.
When one year old it will cover half
dollar, and when two years old will be
about the circumference of one of Uncle
Sans deprecated dollars.
The oyster, unlike the crab, is not
Obliged TO seek new quarters or build
"A new house every time he grows APP
Treciably. The biyalve's habitation
grows with him, he furnishing the
building material. The extensions that
he puts on to his house are clearly
marked by a wcll-defned ridge, as APP
pcared from an illustration taken from
life of former denizen of Lynn Haven,
who was almost completing the fifth
year of peaceful existence when ruth
lessly brought into the upper world
by the oysterman's tongs.
Oysters are esteemed to be at the ir
best when between four and five years
of age, and the planters endeayor to
protect the beds for that length of time.
Conscientious oystermen; that is, men
who are not inclined to kill the goose
that lays the golden egg, always re-
turn to the beds oysters that are too
young. but in case Il patriarch is
brought up over whose shell the tides
of eight to twelve winters and sum
mers have ebbed and flowed, he is sent
to market, where he is put at the bot
tom of the heap and sold with his
younger and more luscious companion.
Such an oyster gets into the soup
eventually.-N Y. journal.
The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1896-06-06
FAST DAY IN NEW ENcIann
How the Custom Was Established n.
Pilgrim Fathers

How the Custom Was Established bv
Pilgrim Fathers.
The custom of appointing a sno,,.,
day, known as Fast day, has bear y
vogue in the New England states s,s -
since the landing of the Puritan -.
tiers on the Massachusetts sborss
When the Pilgrim fathers came ova.
from England they brought with tbsa
the old custom of appointing sneois,
days for fasting and prayer. Ii tber.
was any great object for which tbav
were struggling a day was set anar,
that all might join in the prayer TO tba
Almighty for strength and wisdom
The first observance in this eoun.rv
was soon after the Pilgrims landed IN
Salem. On the day set for the festival
ell joined in praise to the Lord. at tha
same time asking for plenty of rain and
abundant crops. These occasions wers
generally appointed by the resident
clergYmen, but as the colonies o..
banded and states We're formed m.
duty gradually fell on the governors q.
the different states. The custom has
been handed down from generation n
generation as a matter of course. Tho
governor prepares an elaborate procla.
nation, which is generally published
in nearly all the newspapers in the
state, and a finely engrossed copv is
sent to all the clergynaen through the
various city and town clerks. to be-
read from their pulpits the Sunday pre-.
y.ous. s
The observance has been almos.
wholly confined to the New England
states, and has now become almost
meaningless. In fact, Massachusetts
woke up to this fact several years ago
and abolished the practice. Henry
Ward Beeher, in Norwood saws.
"The Pilgrims found 1t written: They
that SOW in tears shall reap in JOY. He
that goeth forth and waiteth, bearing
precious seed, shall doubtless coma
again with rejoicing, bringing his
sheaves with him. This beautiful
poetry was translated into the policy
of the Pilgrims by establishing fast
day in March or April and a day OF
thanksgiving in November. Thus, the
whole people were to pass through the
two gates of the year, Tears and Smiles
and observe them as holy days, all other
profane and unsteady festivities
Christmas, New Years and Saints DAYS
without number. being laid aside.
But very few churches now obser,s
the day. The ministers read the proc.
lamation, and that ends it. 1t is ga7
holiday, pure and simple. Not much
Testing is done and less praying. Base.
ball has superseded alteration of the
Deity, and horseback riding gives vast.
" more pleasure to the average man
than xerophagy.
The governor always Gays that Fast
day is day of Humiliation, fasting
and prayer" but no one ever takes thu
manifesto seriously, and, therefore
everybody takes care to enjoy himself
as much as possible on this occasion.
It is evident that the people believe
that day spent in innocent and health.
full amusement is fully as well en-.
| ployed as if it had been passed in vain
| effort at Humiliation on an empty
stomaeh.-N. Y. Times.
The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1896-06-06

ray yonder the wo-st piece OF road On
she trip 70 town. and there we stuck
and stayed for two long and mortal
hours. 1t was the elders wagon and
the elders mules. but told him If l
was a cussin man l would take his place
and carry on that branch of the busi-
ness-at any rates till we got out OF
the lane and over the next hill.
Finally at last it would seem lie The
elder had r4In slap out to the end OF
his rope. and l could see that he was
firm up considerable around the edges.
The next thing I took notice Of he had
went down in his pocket after tWine
string and put a new cracker on his
hip. Then he mounted the otfmule
at the wheel and jest naturally made
his whip talk. .And I am sorry to tell
YOU, that want aIl-not By whole lot.
AS that reckless and wicked Sam
SettIes would say if ne was here, says
the elder. git out of here. dadburn your
lon-yeared, lousy pictures. Goshen
mighty durn @ muddy road and lazy
mule in the wintertime! Pick mp them
feet. dadburn you, and tighten them
traces and pull till the breechin flies
up and somethin freezes over! Remem-
mer where you git your corn and fod'
der. goldarn You, and tare out and g.
to town! Goshermighty durn road full
Of mud and mule name Becki'
Did we git through that lane and
over the next hill? We got through
that lane and over the next hill. Did
we 90 to town that day? We went to
town that very same winter day. And
Sam Nettles want more than a mile
ahead at the finish.
| never did talk it around in the settle
nent, and | don't say now that Elder
Newberry ever cussed any on his own
hook. But | never can forget one time
when a mighty change come over the
general tone of his voice, and he
quoted Sam Nettles at his mules to beat
81. bits
The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1896-06-06

The young physician was tired when
he returned from his evening calls, but
ms he settled back in his easy chair, and
his pretty wife of only month or two
took seat beside him, he asked, af
fcctionately;
"And has my little wife been lonely %
"Oh, no, she said, animatedly; "a.
least, not very. I've found something
TO busy myself with"
Indeed he said. "What is it?"
'0h, I'm organizing a class. A lot
OF young girls and married women
are in it, and we're exchanging expert.
ences and teaching each other how to
cook"
what do you do with the things you
cook ?" he asked, interestedly.
"Oh, we send them TO the neighbors
Just TO show what we can do. There's
one clearinghouse gets most of it. It.
great fun"
"Dear little woman" he said, lean
ing over and kissing her. always
thoughtful of your husbands practice
Always anxious TO extend it, Bangor
Commercial.
The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1896-06-06

A well-known physician tells good
story on himself. lie had just arrived
in town, and, not feeling well, had left
his grip at the hotel and started out
for stroll about nine O'Clock, wear
ing his travelling cap and with his coat
we'll buttoned up. in the shadow stood
a ragged man.
Look here, mister" said he, 81
haven't had anything to eat tonight.
Can't you help a fellow?"
strange" replied the doctor, clap
ping him on the shoulder. 81 haven't
had morsel, either, and do not know
where l will get my supper"
The tone of his voice had such u
pathetic ring that the ragged man was
touched.
"Cheer up, old fellow" he said: stick
to me and will see that you get good.
square meal"
The physician was now touched, and
invited his new-made friend into tho
best restaurant in town, where the two
sat down together and ate a fine sup
per.-Louisville Courier-Journal.
The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1896-06-06
WHEN FEET ARE CROSSED.
Some Observations About Fad That
Seems to lie Popular.

Seems to lie Popular.
There was time when a woman who
had the temerity to cross her feet in
public was considered as quite too bold
to be within the pale of good society,
Fashions kinks have taken another
twist now, and the woman who is in
good society shows it by crossing her
feet audibly. That is, she not only
crosses them in the privacy Of her own
room, and when she seats herself in
her fayorite wide, low chair in the re-
ception-room, but she crosses them IN
the street cars and the herdics, in the
railway stations, and in church! She
does, indeed!
Possibly there il nothing actually
criminal in the habit, though our grand
mothers thought so, nor is it indecent,
as our mothers thought, and would like
TO think yet if they were not bcwildered
by the awful overturning given to their
previously conceived ideas of what Is
right and proper, but it is certainly
inelegant outside of ones own home.
In ones own boudoir, where the frou-
frou of lace rullles and silk plaitlngs,
the amplitude of skirts and abundant
draperies cover all crude outlines, the
crossing of the feet is not exactly un-
graceful. Then, too, it gives oppor-
tunity for the display of wellshod
foot, a daintily turned ankle, half DIS
played and half concealed by the
clouds of trimmings that women pile
on the bottom of their skirts, and quite
suits the abandon of the exquisite tea
gowns and the hour.
But away from ones home! Wen,
that is another story, especially If it IS
told on street car-in psptomime'-
Chicago Inter OCEAN
The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1896-06-06

at me. as feared Ii 5t5itsi, ssizsd about
on the other members
~tGeutlemen.v he said, you have
heard the statement made BY our
worthy how could he ever say that?)
chief. and I cannot lead you IN action
upon the matter. in view of the fact
that I am to be- married myself ten
weeks from next Tuesday
Forest sat down and I sat in gasping
expectation that the root would fall in
upon u.s.
John Temple, next in authority then
took the floor and I could see that For
est was even worse ratified than was
"Fellow citizens" said Temple-he
was q stump speaker in campaign times
II haven't a word to say. I'm to b.
married a month from tomorrow
morning at ten o'clock
Park, King and Organ, who vas the
Youngest of the lot and the most vim
dictive and hardened bachelor I ever
aaw, which was why We called him the
STAR bachelor. seemed to be dazed by
this revelation, added to the two hich
preceded IL, and King was the first TO
rise IN response.
Gentlemen and brothers." ne said
81 might be able to say what I thought
Of the disclosures which have been made
here this evening, but really it would
be unbecoming for me TO say anything.
Ny wedding day is set for Wednesday
two weeks"
As King went down Park came up.
Il can only say, gentlemen he said,
almost in a whisper, that am no worse
than those who have preceded me. /
can offer no eensure, for day after to-
m0rrow I shall be married to the one
woman in the world for me-
This was rubbing it in. We who had
preceded Park felt that it was enough
to have confessed our crime without
eIoryfng in It, and when Arcturus
.o'Ryan arose, almost hoped that he
would seattle Park with scorn.
He stood straight as an arrow. Organ
was the handsomest man in the eoterie,
and looked first at me, then in turn at
each Of the others. felt that the light
nings of his wrath would strike us all
and strike hard, but I had less fear than
il / had had to stand the blow alone.
However, | unconsciously braeed my
self az he began speaking.
mfr. Chief and fellow members of the
eoterie," he said, in that majestic and
5Jyycring manner OF his, Il am
panied beyond all expression at what
have heard here this evening. | had
expected something better of you.
had hoped you would set me, the young
est member OF this coterie, a better ex-
ample. But YOU have failed, failed ut
terly. Our chief is to be married within
three months, think of that, gentlemen,
as you read our beloved resolutions, now
whitening fast away; our vice chief is
to be married within ten weeks. Temple
Is to be married within a month, King
in two weeks. and Park in two days,
while /, gentlemen-I, to whom you
have stood as exemplary, the young
est OF you all. shall not marry"
Organ paused, and We, culprits that
we were, bowed our heads to receive
the blow We felt to be SO well deserved
mo. gentlemen, e he fairly Numbered,
no, | shall not marry. 1t is not neces-
sary for me to marry. | was married
ten days ago. Congratulate me, she's
the finest woman in the world"
And those remarkable resolutions had
heen adopted less than year previous
Is!
Oh, woman, woman!-N. Y. Sun.
The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1896-06-06

] 20 a=gunniag. bat take 10 gun.
fixh without poe.
And ] bag good game and catch sueh FISH
As suit a spOrtsTzass's soul;
Fer the choicest game that the forest
holds,
And me best fisfa o. the brook.
Are never brought down by a rife shot
And never are caught with hook.
I hob for fish by the forest brook.
hunt for game IN the trees.
For bigger birds thar wing the air
Or FISH that swim the seas.
A Foeless Walton Of the brooks.
bioodless sportsman. L
J hunt for the thoughts that ts:Fssg the
woods.
The dreams that haunt the sky.
The woods were made for the hunters Of
The brooks for the fishers OF song
To the hunters who hunt for the gunIesa
game
The streams and the woods belong.
There are thoughts that moan from the
soul Of the pine.
And thoughts IN a flower bell eurIed;
And the thoughts that are blown with The
scent Of the fern
Are as new and as old as the world.
So. awayl for the hunt in the fern-seented
wood
TIL the going down Of the sun
There Is plenty of game stiII left In he
woods
For the hunter who has no gun.
80. away for the fish ~ the moss-bor-
dered brook
That flows through the yelvety sod
There are plenty Of hsh still left IN the
streams
For the angler who has no rod.
Sam w. FOss, In n. Y. Sun.
The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1896-06-06

ali vain and
fteetin worms
ofthe DUST as
Aunt Nancy
Newton is so
wont to say
-nothin more
and nothin less
than human
flesh and blood
AMI bones. and
old man Josiah
Jernigan IS q
right SIN art
The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1896-06-06
Ingenious.

Mr.. Stilby-Really. Miss Chatter
don't see how you find so much to talk
about. | am very glad to have been in
PRODUCED TO you. 1t is pleasure TO
hear an original person talk.
Miss Chatter-Yes, our hostess sad
she thought we would get on nicely to
gether. Think people of opposite char
acteUstics are always likely to be COM
genial, don't you2-Detroit Free Press
"A duh head thinks of no better way
TO show himself wise than by Huspect'
ing everything in his way.-Sr T.
Sidney.
The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1896-06-06

God often lays the sum of his
amazing proyidences in very dismal sf-
Elections; as the Inner FIRST puts on 'hc
dusky colors on which He intends to
draw the portraiture of some illustrous
bcauty.-Charnock.
The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1896-06-06

Mrs. East-And what did you think
of Mr.. Inkwell. the novelist?
Mrs. West-Whv, his clothes are so
very old fashioned And / understood
that ne was celebrated for his STYLE
Brooklyn life.
The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1896-06-06

like the common run of people. lie IS
one Of the deaeons over at Bark Log AMI
stands away up yonder in the church.
but in the main time he IS full-blood
member of the human family.
The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1896-06-06

The great IRE OF New York took
place in 1885. The value OF property
destroyed on this occasion WA $50
CO0O0s.
The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1896-06-06
WITH "ONE GALLUS.n
The Sage of Rocky Greek Still
Tells Ills Stories-
Another Clear Gaze Of aPuzheney"-
some Secondhand Cussin = The
yalue Of a Dead Dog Two
April Fools

Even when you come right down to
plain business and rock bottom we are
The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1896-06-06
Don't Polish Cut Glass Too Much.


Great care should be taken with arti-
Giles OF sut glass, whether for table serv-
ice or toilet use. The greatest mistake
is made in attempting too high polish,
which, as a rule, many persons consider
one of the chief beauties of this ware.
Constant polishing reduces the ex-
quiste finish which makes il appear SO
bright when new. In order to retain
this brilliancy, let the article, when
quickly cleaned, be,allowed to dry alone
after being properly rinsed. A soft
linen towel should be used but little IN
the care of cut glass, and it will be al
ways bright and sparkling. There IS
almost no Russian cut glass brought TO
this country, and it differs greatly from
other makes in being dull and heavy
English and American glass is highly
wrought, and new features are con-
stantly in the market. American man
ufacturers frequently copy Russian
patterns. A beautiful loving cup, rich
ly cut, is among the newer importations
OF English glass.-N. V Herald.
Proof of -Walker-"Your
friend Sagely has a massive head. she
intellectually Drywit 49, Profoundly
So What has he written" "Sev-
eral learned books that nobody reads
~-Detroit Free Prose
The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1896-06-06
Two April Fools.

Two Aprli ooiss
For a common thing a mar would
have to stay out mighty ate and git
mp tremendous soon to come out ahead
of Andy Lucas. But the news has
leaked out at last as TO how VIII Tom
Pickens let the great horse tT9ler cut
the pot, and then beat him at his own
game, with "three cards up his sleeve"
VIII Tom had come up from Panther
Creek the day before and spent the night
at the Lucas place.
Tomorrow is the first day of April"
says Andy to VIII Tom, land | want
stay over long enough to help me turn
a trick on DIR. Honeycut. / will git
sick in the morning-sic abed and sick
unto death it would seem. Then you
can mount your horse and go a splittin
after the doctor. AS TO me, when thl
doctor comes will jump out of the bed.
cut the pigeon wing, drag off few
stanzas of somethin sweet and devilish
on my fiddle, and then saddle my horse
and lope off towards town"
by the seven stars I'm with you,
Andy" says VIII Tom, and then Andy
he jest naturally laid down and laughed
at the very thoughts of what he had in
soak for the doctor.
So. accordin to their plans and
specifications. Andy he went to bed that
mornin, whilst Will Tom he rode off in
a sweepin gallon. But the doctor never
did come. VIII Tom had jist simply
whipped around to the main road and
and went on back home to Panther
Creek.
a Andy he stayed there at home in bed
.rollin and tumblin and carrying on
outrageous, and loolIin for the doctor
every minnit. He stood it as long as he
could, and when finally at last the truth
worked its way through his hair he was
the maddest man that ever played the
fool in this country. AndyAs wife says
he was so furious and foamin mad till
she was skeered he would hit the baby,
and he cursed VIII Tom Pickens for two
mortal hours on o stretch.
RUFUS handlers
The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1896-06-06

If it ever comes 10 pass tHdJ you
moupht want to find out somethin in
regards to the value of dogs, Rocky
Creek is the place and Squire Doogin
S the man.
They had little case up before the
squire last Saturday, which aceordin to
Pony Buriit, the baiiiff, was "sot for
ten o'clock"
From the general circumference Of
the surroundings and the evidence i'll
the case, il turns out that julie NaboTss
had shot and killed a spotted hound
log, which the said dog belonged to a
man by the name of Handy Stribb'dn
It would likewise also seem that in ION
sidertion thereof. the said Handy Strib
bin had got out papers of complainant
agin the said julie Nabors, and putin his
claims for damages TO the tune of ten
dollars.
They had got through with all the
witnesses ON both sides, when finally
at last Squire Doogin called UP Handy
Stribblin, made him kiss the Bible AMI
put him on the stand
"Mister Stribblin," says the squire
lookin wise and solemn as h. could
from the facts and the law in the case
what was your spotted dog worth?i
well, 20 be plum honest, squire, the
dog want raley worth a continental
durn, but since Jule Nabors was Sc
internal mean and so ALFRED smart MS
10 shoot the dog, L want the full value
Of the animal"
Now, if you don't know all the mer
rs well as the facts in the case. YOU
maybe mought not think that Handy
Stribblin got ten dollars for his dead
spotted hound dog. But he did
The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1896-06-06
THE BLooDLEss SPORTSMAN.

Hast thou named al the birds without
gum
Loved the vood-roae and left It on It's
sealk79
Emerson