davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1896-03-31
A DREADFUL DAY.
The 0uick-Tempered Father and III.
Darling Little Boy.

The 0uick-Tempered Father and M.
Darling Little Boy.
The father had been out late tbo
night before, working on the books AZ
the Office" you know, and when he sat
down to breakfast with his wife and
Willie, rosy-cheeked, mischievous. and
lovable Willie. their only child, he was
not in good humor.
He found fault because the coffee
had cooled (while breakfast was wait
Ing for him), he grumbled because his
eggs were too hard boiled, and he made
his wife and child as miserable as he
himself was.
The climax of his ugliness was
reached when for some fancied sin on
Willie's part he rushed the boy into
the parlor and gave him a sound
thrashing.
When breakfast was resumed 1t was
eaten in silence except for the child's
half-choked sobs.
The father was sorry for what he had
done. He had a nervous temperament.
He did not stop to smoke his usual
morning pipe. but hurried away. As
he reached the door Willie came I'D to
him with upturned face and said:
willie wants to kiss papa. Willie
loves papa"
The fathers heart was touched and
he regretted his actions. Riding down.
town in the train he read in his morn
ing paper of the death of little boy
by being run over while at play by a
passing truck. He imagined the scene,
and 1t was impressed upon his mind.
Then his mind ran on with strange i'm
aginings. What IL his boy should be
killed. What IL when he arrived home
at night Willie should be dead-dead
before he could tell his boy how much
he loved him, and how sorry he was for
his cruel conduct.
OF course there was not one chance in
a million of his losing his child; but
then! there was that one chance. The
idea soon developed into presentiment
that haunted him all day. He per-
formed his duties in mechanical man
ner. while picturing white casket,
and chubby little face cold in death.
BY night he had worked himself into a
terrible mental condition. He left the
IL" train and walked with nervous
steps toward home.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1896-03-31
Why Gen. Crook Quit.

When Crook started after Geroni-
mo in the '70s, he took only a small
force OF soldiers. but large force of In
dian scouts. When he got down to So
nora, Mexico, to where Geronimo had
retreated, these scouts turned trait
ors. They threw away the provisions
filled up all the water holes they camo
across, and in other ways heightened the
hardships of the campaign. On account
OF all this, when the men finally over
took Geronimo they were half starved
and nearly famished. Crook saw tb,s
and so did Geronimo. for the sconts
had told him. It's all right TO curse &C.
ronimo, but no man who knows any
thing about him will deny that he was
a shrewd, clever scoundrel. He was
quick to take in the situation. and aft.
er surrounding Crooks small force
told the general he would either have
to make terms or be annibilated
Crook, under those circumstances do
cided to make terms. and, according to
the dictation of Geronimo, promised. as
a United States soldier and a gentle
man, not to make war upon the In
dians any more. Crook, thinking of
his men, and not of himself. for Crook
was not the man to think of himself
very much. made the promise, and was
allowed to escape. When he came back
he was retired at his own request, and
Gen. Nelson A. Miles succeeded him
Phoenix (Ariz) Gazette.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1896-03-31
The Firing Ceased

You can't tell how far cat can
Jump by the curl of its tail" said an
Old regular army officer at the Ebb;t,
last Saturday night to a Wasbin ptor
Star reporter, and you can't Judge nj
mans bravery by looking at his face !"
Inc remark was called out by a story
that had just been told of sailors ac-
lions during fight at one of our south.
ern seaport towns in the late war
We had a German named Plan 4,
my regiment along at the first of the
war, continued the speaker "wbosa
usually pale face would turn to an ash
en- hue at the firing of musket. vet no
had more cool bravery about him than
is often found even in born soldiers
The boys used to fire jokes at him on
account OF his nervousness at first. but
after standing up beside him i'm one mr.
two engagements they dropped the fun
ny business and 1t wasn't long before
the entire regiment got so they swore
by 'Dutchy.
During the seven days fight one of
our little drummer boys, who was hit
with piece of shell. was lying on a
high, exposed point on the field, when
the regiment fell back a little. Pretty
soon there was cross fire of light ar
tillery from the rebels at our right and
left and the little raised spot of ground
where Johnny was lying was right in
the center of the cross. Johnny was
great favorite in his company and
many sigh went up from the boys as
they looked over the field at that spot
and realized his danger. But there
seemed to be no way to help the little
fellow and the only thing to be done
was to pray that the iron ard leadea
hail might not touch him.
Then a ten-pounder shell plowed
through the dirt on the inoll, bound
ing over toward our left and burst
among the DIST Pennsylvania volun-
teers. A groan went through our
ranks as the men saw the dirt flying
on the knoll, for the drummer was up
there and just then 'Dutchy' dropped
his musket and made a break across
the open field for the little summit, zig
tagging right toward the rebel lines.
There was a moments lull in the rat
Sing or musGetry, An iastaIt's ceSSa-
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1896-03-31

ton of the cannonading and 'Dutchy'
was seen to stagger and partially fall
once or twice, but he reached the knoll
and when he picked that little young
ster up in his arms it seemed as though
the whole gray-coat line jumped up and
waved their hats and cheered him.
Those fellows knew what bravery was
as we'll as we did and as Pau stag
gered back TO our lines with the little
wounded drummer in his arms there
wasn't shot fired.
"'Poys, here's Shonny again. he
said, as he laid the moaning little fell
low in the arms of big sergeant; then
he fell in faint, weak from loss of
blood. When the doctors got him into
the hospital and had taken OIL his
clothing it was found that he had nine
bullet wounds, some pretty severe, but
none fatal. The poor fellow died a
few months after that of swamp fever
and was buried just out of camp with
more military honors than are usually
paid to an enlisted man."
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1896-03-31
A Good One on Mr.. Blank.

The best April-fool joke of recent
times was played on Chicago commits
sion merchant few years ago. Chi
cago commission merchants are not al
ways good natured and Mr.. Blank was
no exception to the rule. In fact, he
was unusually gruff, and was never
known to take joke as such. That Is
probably the reason that he was a fav-
orite mark for the practical joker. On
March 81 one Of his friends caused the
following ad to appear in the columns
of Chicago paper the following morn
ing:
Wanted-Fifty Maltese cats at once.
Highest prices paid. Bring them along.
Blank, Commission Merchant, S. Wa
ter street.
When Mr.. Blank arrived at his store
he was surprised to see line of boys
in front of his store each with a cat
under his arm. When he learned what
1t was all about he became veritabls
mailman. 1t was many weeks before
he recovered his composure.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1896-03-31
Gen. Hancock's Burial Place.

a dispatch from Washington to the
effect that Gen. Winfield Scott Han
cocks remains will be removed in May
1896, from this place to Arlington GEM
etery, Virginia, is received with much
doubt and disfavor, says the Norris
town (Pa.) Post. Not only are individ-
uals protesting against it but societies,
including the Montgomery County His
torical society, Daughters of the Amer
lean Revolution, and the Valley Forge
Memorial association, oppose such &C
ton, which would be regarded as an
outrage against the expressed wishes OF
the hero of Gettysburg.
Gen. Hancock's body was inferred in
Montgomery cemetery here in Feb
ruary, 1886, in vault built by himself,
and in which his only daughter had
been previously laid to rest The To-
cation of the tomb was an undesirable
one, and this, joined to the character
OF the material of which it was con-
structed, has assisted in Fastening its
disintegration. For long time it has
been in such condition as to be source
d sorrow to the surviving friends of
the distinguished soldier, and this fact
led to the movement for the transfer of
the remains to Arlington
The tomb is located on a knoll over
looking Norristown in the east, Bridge
port in the south. historic Valley Forge
In the west, and to the north is the
stone Hancock homestead and near by
the spring house, where he loved to be
in his boyhood. In the same cemetery
in close proximity 10 his remains are
the dust and ashes of Ex-Governor John
f. Hartranft. Gen. Adam Slemmer, Col.
Edwin Schall and other local heroes of
the rebellion. who, while not military
men by training. by their military
prowess and ability won Hancock's ap-
probation.
The generals wife is buried at St.
Louis and neither OF his two children
is surviving. Two brothers, Hillary
and John. daughter-in-la and two
grandchildren comprise the relatives
or the deceased soldier. These have
frequently been conferred with during
the last year by officers of the Associa-
citation of the Second Army Corps and
all have given their cordial consent to
the projected removal, with the excep-
ton of one brother, Hillary Hancock.
Louis W. Reed, surgeon-general of
the national guard of Pennsylvania and
an intimate friend of the late Gen. Han
cock, as well as being a member of the
Loyal Legion, recently awarded a con.
tract for S4S5 to have the front of the
Hancock vault rebuilt.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1896-03-31
CHART OF CHRIsTs MINISTRY.

prepared the way before Jesus came, and
preached at the same time with Jesus for
more than a year, till the way was fully
prepared for the gospel TO take effect
among the people.
Much has been said about the ignorance
of the common facts about the life of
Christ in our Sunday schools. 1t is well
frequently to test the knowledge of the
children, and by testing to call attention
to the principal facts. Write on the black
board the following questions, or similar
ones. and give each scholar a sheet of
paper, on which to write the answers.
numbering them according to the numbers
of the questions Or, better still. have
the questions printed with spaces for an
swers and distribute the papers among
the scholars at the session of the school.
without any previous knowledge on their
part for special preparation. No names
are to be signed. Fifteen minutes can well
be spent in this exercise, and at the close
of the sessl on a summary of the results
can be read.
/. Where was Jesus born?
2. Give the date of his birth Cor how
long ago).
3. What was his mothers name?
4. In what town did he spend most Of
his childhood and youth?
S. What trade did he learn?
s. How old was he when he began to
preach?
Z. Who prepared the way before him?
s. How many years did he preach?
8. In what country?
10. Naple some of the miracles he
wrought.
II. How many apostles did he choose?
II. Name as many of them as you can.
13. WI ere was he crucified?
IA. What became of him after that?
Is. Where is he now?
Mathematical Review.-Multiply the age
OF jesus when ne began to preach
by the lumber of NeatitudeS { }, divide
}, divide by Il .umDer of our Lords
temptations in the lderness { }, null
tiply by the length of the Sea of Gslilee
in miles }, add the number of broth
ers of Mary and Martha { }, divide
by the number who appeared in glory on
the Mount of TRANSPORTATION ( }, null
tiply BY the number of petitions In the
Lords prayer }, add one },
subtract the number of chapters in Luke
{ }, divide by the number of words in
the shortest verse in the bible },
multiply by the number Of gospels },
subtract the age of Jesus when ha first
went up to the temple }, divide by
the number of apostles { }, and you
will have the number of miracles OF Jesus
described in the gospeis.-(not counting
the many of which it is merely said that
he healed the multitudes, etc..
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1896-03-31
Boer Grit,

From the Feuille Hebdomadaire
Hollandaise: On Dec. q, when the
news came to Pretoria of Jameson's ad-
vance, the IIollanders and Germans i'm
mediately assembled to form a corps OF
volunteers. Guns and ammunition
which they needed were given them
from the government magazines. One
hundred and fifty Germans were au-
thorized officially to requisition horses.
They formed squadron, with Neu-
mann for their chief. and Messrs.
Krantz and Wygel for lieutenants, who,
assisted by some Hollanders, under
took the duty of keeping order in Pre-
toria and the reighborhood.
On the next day, early in the morn
ing, column of Beers appeared, num-
bering few hundred, commanded by
Frichard. They had travelled for ten
hours upon their little horses without
quitting the saddles. What solid fell
lows these Beers are! Among them
there were men of 70 years, who were
determined to show their sons that
there was still plenty of fight in them.
One of them forgot his coat. II only
had time enough" he said, "to grab my
vest and my trousers and recite pater
with my wife and my children" Hans
Botha, who in 1881 was wounded by
nine English bullets, was also one of
the party, and he accounted for his
presence to Gen. Joubert by saying to
him with good-humored smile: 81
have room enough between the scars
for another ball or two"
After short rest the column gallop-
ed toward Krugersdorp, where there
were about 900 Beers. Three hundred
of them watched the rear of Jameson's
raiders, while the rest drew him to-
ward the defile of Krugersdorp. On
Dec. 81, at 4 o'clock in the afternoon,
Jameson column met the first patrols
OF the Beers, but it continued its march
up to the defile of Krugersdorp. There
1t would have been easy to annihilate
the entire column with artillery, but
the artillery of Joubert had not yet
arrived. AT precisely o'clock the first
shot came from Jameson's troops in his
attack upon the Beers, who had posted
themselves behind the rocks. A we'll
sustained fire burst forth and the first
Beer wounded was Botha, the man with
the nine bullets. He was fortunate,
however, and was hurt but slightly.
mat makes ten." he said. The
number is even now"
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1896-03-31
SHE DID 1T.
What He Was Sent For, Though NOT
What He Expected.

What He Was Sent For, Though Not
What He Expected.
He was young and enthusiastic, and
he loved her to distraction.
"If I could but serve you,' he said
to the object of his alteration, Il would
indeed be the happiest of mortals. Com
man6 me-"
And the damsel blushed and said
she would.
"Stay here a moment and l will give
you a note to take to friend. You
will bring back package" and she
smiled, oh. so sweetly, as she glided
from the room.
She returned in few moments and
handed him the precious message.
Away he flew. Distance was no OBJ
ject to him. He reached his destination.
The letter was opened and returned
with the remark that the package he
part of the town.
He few there, only to be referred to
the sergeant of police, at the nearest
station. The sergeant read the mes
sage and directed him to another
official. who in his turn sent the young
man four miles out of the city. But the
elusive package was not to be found.
One sent him to Brooklyn, another
to Jersey City, until at length weary,
footsore and unable to go further, he
sank upon doorstep and tearing open
the missive read these words:
Send the fool further"
The dawn Of April 2 was breaking
New York Journal.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1896-03-31
THE THREE MISS BROWNS.
Their Wonderful Present and What
Came of 1t.

Their Wonderful Present and What
Came Of 1t.
Bang! bang. went the door bell. 1t
rang fearfully.
Betty" said the boarding house
mistress, ''go out and see who that
giant is that is trying to break the
door bell"
The door bell jingled and ratified
and rang! Betty tripped downstairs
apd opened the door,
A district messenger, three feet
high, stood on the doorstep, smoking
a powerful cigarette. Now and again
a cloud of smoke hid him from view.
The small messenger held his cigar
ette lightly and gracefully in the air
and said:
Here's box for Miss Brown. There
is % cents due on it,
Betty paid the money and took the
box.
Then he shot down the steps like a
meteor and actually ran to a cigar
store on the corner after another pack
age OF cigarettes.
Miss Brown called Betty from the
hallway, here is box for your
Three pretty young ladies answered
t1e call, for it happened there were
three Miss Browns in the boarding
house.
Which Miss Brown" asked each
In chorus.
There is no first name" said Betty;
"only Miss Brown"
The three fair Miss Browns looked
at the box in a brown study. It was
certainly meant for a Miss Brown i'm
their clearinghouse, for the number
had been written in large numbers on
the box lid.
The Miss Browns agreed that they
would open the box and If there was
nothing in it to indicate which of
them the box was intended for they
would divide its contents.
The three Miss Browns opened the
box with gleeful faces and great ex-
pectations.
There was nothing in It but a brick
The day was April 1.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1896-03-31

Willie was not playing in front OF
the house as usual. The father missed
the usual kiss and Hello, papa! I'm
glad you've come"
He assembled the steps. He saw
white Grape on the door bell. He reeled
and gasped for breath, and saw nothing
but mist. Then recovering himself, he
opened the door, and with moist eyes
entered the house.
What was it he saw? Was it Willie?
Yes, it was his little son who merrily
shouted:
april Fool, papa; April Fool" And
papa didn't do thing to Willie.-S. X.
Egor in New York World.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1896-03-31
Folly am L;

Folly am /;
This is my day.
The old, the young.
The grave, the gay,
Abide awhile with me to cheer
The worlds dull humdrum way.
The richest man,
The proudest girl:
The polished wit,
The heavy churl
Are caught off guard and jostled much
In folly's merry whirl,
No harm is meant:
Ais but for funs
And when the day
Its course has run,
Whoever's done the mischief gay
Have all themselves been dome
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1896-03-31
RELIGION AND REFORM.

Rev. MIR. Slick of Atwood 10 said to
be one of the most smooth-tongued
preachers in Kansas.
The Spiritualistic societies Of tt'
country number 1874. They own 50
churches. and in addition use 307 halls
for their services. They claim a mem
bership OF 5000.
Rev. DR.. ID. o. Meers, pastor of CAL
vary Presbyterian church, Cleveland.
has been called to the pastorate Of the
Fourth Presbyterian church Of Albany.
N. Y.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1896-03-31
Recipe for Picked Oysters.

,cald the oysters in their own liquid,
with little water added, till they arc
plump. Skim them out and drop them
into bowl of cold water; rinse well and
put them in glass jars. Scald an equal
quantity Of the liquid and vinegar with
whole peppers, mace and salt, and when
perfectly cold fill the jars up with it.
These oysters will keep two or three
weeks.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1896-03-31

snow In connection the three great min
istries as designated by the province which
Jesus made the center of his work, though
in each case he made excursions into the
neighboring regions and visits into the
other provinces.
Note the long period of preparation and
the slow progress at first.
Take note of the life of John in it's con-
nection with the life of Christ,-how he
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1896-03-31
Harder to Get At.

II suppose that it would take grea,
deal of observation and experience to
enable man to pick the fastest horse
entered for race" she remarked.
EYES," replied the man Of mournful
experience: ''Dut that isn't what you are
trying to do. What you want Is to pich
the horse that is going to w!n."-
Washington Star.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1896-03-31
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON XIII, MARCH 29-A RE-
VIEW OF EVENTS.
Golden Text: "whOsoeyer Shall Confess
We Before Me, Him Shall the Son OF
Mau Confess BEFORE the Angels of
GOd"-Luke, 1913.
HERE should be a

HERE should be q
concise. definite, but
brief review of the
life of Christ through
the third year OF
his ministry. The
scholars should be
drilled thoroughly in
the dates, periods and
chief events, as given
on the chart printed
herewith.
Note the charac-
teristics of each year
of the public minis
FRY
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1896-03-31
ours Sc il the

Z o ur 5 e IL the
trouble came along,
When once they did begin it,
We'd all join in the battle song
And mighty soon be in it!
Can often l run past one),
/ know the ones that's wantin' war
Was never in the last one,
Atlanta Constitution.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1896-03-31
WHY tho Gators Were Not There.

An American naval officer, wishing
to battle in Ceylon river, asked a ma
tive to show him place where there
were no alligators. The native took
him to pool close to the estuary. The
officer enjoyed his dip: while drying
himself he asked to his guide why there
were never any alligators in that pool.
because, sah," the Cingalese replied.
s'they plenty 'fraid of shark"
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1896-03-31

before his atten-
ton was attracted
by huge box on top of which was a
board sign, which read as follows:
LOOK OUT FOR THE BEAR.
OF course Mr.. Oatcake could not re-
sist the temptation of taking a squint
at bruin, so he ambled up to the box
rather nervously and peeped through
the bars that had been nailed
across the top to keep Mr.. Bear
safe. Finding that the box was
entirely empty Mr.. Oatcake be-
gan to scratch his head. How had the
bear got out? Then someone yelled
April fool. Mr.. Oatcake allowed that it
was good one.
Later in the day Mr. Oatcake took in
the dime museum. He interviewed the
fat girl, talked populism with the
bearded lady, visited the chamber of
horrors, and had enjoyed himself gen.
orally when he saw the following sign:
SEE THE GREAT
RED BAT.
Draw Back the Curtain.
ZIG uicW UdCh Tue CuTtdlU. linen ne
saw big red brick and turned double
somersault in his haste to get away.
He hadn't counted on being April
fooled twice in one day.
After leaving the museum Mr.. Oat-
cake thought he would take drink or
two. and at once proceeded to con-
venient liquor dispensary. "I'll take a
beer" he said. putting a nickel on the
bar; "been April-fooled twice and have
concluded to drown my feelings" He
was just the individual that the bar
tender with the decoy beer glass was
looking for. 1t was produced in short
order, and Mr.. Oatcake showed himself
to be rather an adept at the art of blow
ing off the foam Then he expanded his
capacious NAV, preparatory to taking
gulp. But it wouldn't gulp worth cent
1t was only an artificially colored glass
with real foam. Farmer Oatcake con-
Guided that he had better hitch up and
start home. Nearing railway grade
crossing within the city limits he saw
. man frantically waving red flag
and telling him to stop.
"No yer don't, yer gol darned flannel
mouthed son-of-a-gun; I've been fooled
three times already" and he piled the
whip with effect. In another instant
Mr.. Oatcake and his outfit were taking
Q ride On the cowcatcher OF the engine.