davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Van Buren press., 1897-07-24

"Oncst upon a time-seven years ago
this summer-Andy made his first pass
at me for horse trade, and | didn't
do a blessed thing but stand there with
my finger in my mouth and let him
swap the very socks ofen me, as 1T were.
lie was ridin of a big high-hcaded sor-
rel horse and | had a good plug of a
mule, both of which had shed their
baby teeth many years before. ! didn't
have but precious little to say about the
mule from the simple fact that She
hadn't been looliin to me for her corn
and fodder but a few days and didn' t
know much to tell.
There's the mule, Andy, and il we
trade YOU must take her like the HAIR
stands says |.
But from the way Andy talked a
stranger couldn't tell but what he had
raised the sorrel from colt. Natural
ly had to put little salt on his ram
bin remarks, but he looked me so iull
and straight in the face till thought
he mought by mere accident tell me
the truth somewheres along the line.
But in less than three days it come to
pass that Andy hadn't told me blame
thing about the horse which was so.
didn't ask him no questions and he
didn't have to tell me no lies. He had
done it from the force of habit or a
freak of nature and l can't say which.
Amongst other things Andy told me
and lowed he would kiss the Bible on
it-that the big sorrel was the bulliest
pillow horse that ever peeped through a
collar, and that he had been pullin
22-inch.Alabama sweep for three weeks
hand runnin-which in the ftllness of
time that turned out 10 be the 22-inch
Alabama lie.
That was along in the last days of
June and l was in a scandalous big
push to serape through my corn for the
last time. Well, the big sorrel was now
foragin in my lot, and | lowed he
mought as well be lCokin through set
of pillow gear for me. So consequential
ly | hooked him up and swung him in
the next mornin. lie helt out till about
noon and then turned up with a roarin
bad case Of the thuups. From that he
went slap to pieces ard was dead on his
legs for two weeks.
"What did do? What could | do, but
stand still and take my medicine like
a man? But from then on / didn't do a
continental thing TO the big sorrel but
feed him on green stuE and pile up soft
fat Oh his bones. In the main time
The Van Buren press., 1897-07-24

was settin for Andy and every time he
would ask me aboat the big sorrel re-
sponded back that the big sorrel want
gene nowheres.
"Along in the tfst cool days of Sep
TENDER | went to town one Saturday.
Tie big sorrel waE lookin to be in fine
fix, and the minut Andy clapped eyes
on him | could see that my time had
come to win out even. | let on like l
didn't have my tradin stock with ,ns
that day, but Andy wanted the Sig
sorrel. He followed me around town
and then followed me half way home.
At last he got my horse and / got toll
cradle good plug mule and six dollars
twas all he had-to boot. Andy then
lit out to make a three-days' trip over
in the hill country, and when he re-
turned back home the big sorrel was
thin in flesh and dead on his legs oncst
more. In the next place Andy had to
sell him to poor travelin preacher for
$40 on credit, and in less than month
he was us dead as they ever make 'em,
Anyhow, RUFF, l am even now. In
fact, | ruther think | am ahead of the
game. And | do hope and trust by
this time Andy Lucas has got forgive
ness for that 22-inch Alabama lie
The Van Buren press., 1897-07-24
Col. Shaw's Sister.

The dedication of the Shaw monu-
ment at Boston has recalled an anec-
dote published many years ago about
Mrs Minturn, one of Col. Shaw's sisters.
In the days just after the war she was
riding in q street car, and among the
passengers there happened to be rich
addressed woman whose bearing was
marked by n somewhat trying air OF
self-appreciation The car stopped for
another passenger, who proved to be a
colored woman, clad in calico and hum
bic responsibility. The only vacant
seat was one next to the impressive per-
sonage in silk, and this, after mo-
ment's hesitation, the newcomer took.
The fashionably-dres woman edged
away as far as she could, with open
looks of contempt and disgust. Pres
emily n passenger seated by Mrs. Min
turn left the car. The fashionably-
dressed woman rose with an air, swept
her skirts away from the colored wom-
an, crossed the aisle, and sat down by
Mrs. Minturn. Immediately Mrs. Min
turn arose, with an exactly similar air,
s,vept her own skirts aside, crossed the
aisle, and sat down by the colored wom-
an. Thus was the affront to the latter
avenged in a manner at once effective
and delightfully."- feminine, quite worthy
of a sister of the man under whose lead
ership negroes had so well demonstrate
ed their right to respect.-N. \. Ilmes'
The Van Buren press., 1897-07-24
= Lesson of seIf-ControI.

An eminent Scotch divine was in his
youth regarded by the villagers where
he was brought up as 'gay, wild lad"
One day he jumped into an old woman's
garden and commenced to pluck the
berries off the bushes. The old wom-
an gave chase, whereupon he leaped
the dyke, and was soon scudding up the
road, the old woman yelling after him:
"Ye lang-legged deevill I'll sort ye for
this yet" Years after he took the de-
gree of Ii. D., and, preaching in his ma
tive village, he observed the old lady in
the congregation. At the close of the
service he sent the beadle to say he de-
sired to speak to her. After some talk
she inquired the meaning OF the IL.
d." after his name. oh said he, with
a waggish look in his eye, do you not
remember clubbing me that yourself ON
the day plundered your garden| The
words came back to the old womar's
mind. and with CLEAN Of horror ON
her face, she retired, eNclaiming; wei,
| never" and mentally resolved she
would be more guarded with her tongue
in the future.-London Telegraph.
The Van Buren press., 1897-07-24

and that weighs 10000 pounds, TLen
there is the Louisville g. Nashville. and
the Plant system, and the Seaboard Air
Line that the wondering visitor will not
fail to see.
Well, now, of course, everybody knows
that every man and corporation and
state will show up the very best they
have got for that is just human. Any
good old country woman will put the
cleanest eggs and the finest apples Oh
top of the basket when she goes to town.
But if the average products OF cur ln-
dustry and resources are nearly as
good as those exhibits there, we have
a wonderful country. Let stranger
look from a car window as he rides
along, and he will not be surprised
when he gets to Nashville, for just now
it is harvest time, and the scenery is as
pretty as a picture. | remember that
| doubted the propriety of the Atlanta
exposition, but it proved itself wise ed
ucational measure, and now the Ten
nessee centennial is already grand
success and will grow into greater inn
portance as the weeks roll on. Soon
the farmers will have more leisure, and
at the low rates of travel will avail
themselves of this great priyilege-this
kindergarten for their wives and chill
dren. And my faith is that of all classes,
the farmer is the best able to go, and
will reap the greatest profit from his
visit. Just think what is thrown in
free to delight the senses-what beau
tiful grounds and shady walks: what
beauty of architecture, what wonderful
paintings and works of the sculptor's
art. and what grand fireworks by night,
and what delicious music by day!
Where else can we hear Sousa and lnnes
with their orchestra without going 1000
miles-and where that sweetest of all
music, the piano, when it is touched BY
a masters hand? Away back in the
4o's | thought my wife could charm
even the angels when she touched the
chords of her old-fashioned piano, and
subdued men to her will and wish with
the power of music. But ] was des-
perately in love with her then, and l
reckon would have married her anyhow,
music or no music-that is, If she would
have had me, and / reckon she would.
Honors were easy. But music hath
charms to soothe the savage breast
and she soothed mine. "Oh, music!
what is it and where does it dwell?" My
wife still plays when feeling sad, and
cant tell why. One of our daughters
has recently bought a baby grand, and
my wife plays on it a good deal, for
her fingers, though not as angelic as
they used to be, have not lost their
magic touch, and she declares that il
she had one like that in the house it
would renew her youth.
Well, it is comforting to feel MS
sured that after all our troubles and APP
prehensions, the south is again on top;
As my friend Col. Killebrew says: "She
is on top--and if there is any higher
pinnacle, she will be on top of that"
Bill Arp, in Atlanta Constitution.
The Van Buren press., 1897-07-24

Jest between us gals, as it were,
Rufe, there are but blame few things
in this world which / know for GER
tain. But il / have to tell it on my
own trifin SELF l do know most
hellatious plenty about two or three
things-men and horses amongst the
rest. Now l would love for some of
these durn literary fellefs that have
went off to school and picked up a lit
tie smatterin of everything, to tell me
why it is that man like Andy Lucas
can stick to the cold facts all along the
line till it comes to horses, and then
couldn't tell the truth with dead
rest.
"The hands and the stock bein tre-
mendius busy layin by corn, had cut
me a fast threeyear-old walkin stick
and lit out and went over to spend the
day with my old friend and fellow sery~
ant, Bunk Weatherford. And when he
branched off on the freaks of human
nature | told him he would have to
come at me with somethin a little more
easier.
You must recollect, Rufe, that I was
swappin horses often and on, more or
less, before Andy Lucas was ever
horned and brung forth into this world.
Horse tradin amt my reglar business,
you understand, and | don't make no
sulfurious big brags about what l can
do in those regards. But it gives me a
comm appetite to spit when see man
like Andy, which makes it his bust
ness to trade, and trade for the stuff
he can squeeze out of it, tryin to throw
sand in my eyes and do the swappin
for both of us. l may have all the
marks and experiments of native
born idiot, and | may have my lucid
intervals, as the doctors call EN-, but
I'll be dadburned if l have ever yet saw
the day when l was fool enough to let
Andy Lucas swap my horse for his,
without my knowledge or consent, and
me not even lookin on when he made
the trade.
The Van Buren press., 1897-07-24
scream, and see the blood squirt and
the fur flV

scream, and see the blood squirt and
the fur fly.
Before midnight l do reckon | had
went through with everything in the
way of mortal pain and sufferin, from
cold sweat to buck ager, and from a
nightmare to dead faint. And then
felt like | couldn't stand it no longer.
Under the painful circumference of the
awful surroundins, ] couldn't think of
anything better for me to do than to
take rale bad case of the earache.
had Travelled the road before and
knowed good and well that nothin
would touch Aunt Liza's heart so quick
and deep as the means and groans of a
sufferiA boy. She will strike a light,
says | to myself, and come and work
with me and wait on me till the spell
passes off.
And so she did. When she heard my
means and groans and sobs and signs,
she struck light and here she comes.
With laudanum and warm water, and
sperits of turpentine and hot fannels,
she doctored me through the dark and
weary hours of the night. But l
didn't have any serious notion of stay
in out there in that shed room by my
lone self, and so instid of the usual
speedy recovery, gradually by degrees
| got worse and worse. When at last
daylight come SO Aunt Liza could go
out and find live Betsy bug, pull its
head off and let the onlyest drop of
blood fall in my ear, my sufferin yield
ed to the treatment and got well.
Now then, so fur as I know, old Misses
Stoudenmire's ring streaked and
striped cat is dead till yet. My old dog
Mack lived on through many years, a
holy terror to every wild varmint that
ranged the woods. But as for me and
him, one house cat was a large and
gracious plenty.
The Van Buren press., 1897-07-24
Through a Cold Sweat.

With the wild aud hayward nature
of boy, nothin would do then but l
must clam that tree and make the cat
jump out and let my dog Mack put the
final fixments of death upon him. No
body couldn't see us, and nobody
wouldn't never know it. There was
only jest us two-Mack and me-and
Mack couldn't tell no stories out of
school if he wanted to.
By this time me and my dog to-
gether had caught and killed most
everything that ranged the woods
except a ring-streaked and striped
house cat. In the main time the old
people had told me more than oncst
that a cat had nine lives, which of
course l only believed my pro rata share
of that.
So consequentially l cut me des-
perate and warlike hickory stick and
up that tree 1 went. outraged and
crowded the cat till presently she
punched her feet and made dark
streak through the native air. When
she hit the ground old Mack he was
right there with her. The committee on
credentials had made their report and
the convention was now ready for bust
ness. l hurriedly backed down out of
the tree so as to get in on the ground
floor and witness the proceedins.
Well, old Mack and the cat they had
it-up and down and over and under
whilst the blood spurted and the fur
few like dust and dead leaves in a
whirlwind. For a little while it was
hard to tell for certain who would and
who wouldn't-who could and who
couldn't. Sometimes it seems to me
rs if the cat would take the chips, and
sometimes it would look like old Mack
held four aces, with fushes barred.
AS time wore off and the fight went
on fast and furious l got monstrous
sick and tired of the job. l was raley
sorry then that me and Mack had ever
opened the pot, but bein as we had got
into the game | felt like we must win
out, or die. Oncst in awhile, from all
the general signs and experiments of
the ease, | would think old Mack had
killed the cat But, dadblame her, she
wouldn't stay dead. She would catch
her [Dreath and come again, and every
time she riz squallin and fightin to
beat six bits. ] thought in my soul it
must be true about cat havin nine
lives, and maybe more than that.
Boy like and fool like | wept and
prayed in fear and tremblin-which
| do reckon l prayed the most out
prayinest prayer that white boy ever
sent up to the throne of grace-prayin
the good Lord to help old Mack and
let him whip that fight and kill the
cat, if He thought that would be fair,
or at any rates not to help the cat any
TO speak of. But i still had my doubts
as to 40 would take the gate money,
and So finally at last | thought about
my warlike stick-which l took that
and waded into the fight. By-and-by
me and Mack win out ahead and put
the cold and everlastin fiXments on the
cat.
In the general scrap and scrimmage
old Mack had lost one eye, whilst he
cot a swallow fork in his right ear and
an under bit in his left-which the same
had to explain when l returned back
home. But to a boy of my general
shape and talents explanations come as
natural and easy as fallin off of wet
leg. All had to do was to make ire
mendius big nanny coon out OF old
Misses Stoudenmire's house cat, and
oncst more all was lovely at the con-
nuence of the streams.
The Van Buren press., 1897-07-24

old dog Mack he was a great and furi-
GUS hunter He was good for possum
and coon and other wild varmints, and
particular rough on cats.
One Saturday eyenin along in the fall
of the year me and Mack put out, we
did, and went off down the old spring
branch for rabbit hunt. We didn't go
so very far before heard the dog squall
and then go off ON a red-hot trail. fol
lowed the music as fast as | could and
| was right clost in behind the chase
when Mack put his meat up tree. But
it want a rabbit, it want possum and
it want no coon. 1t was a eat-a big
ring-streaked and striped scoundrel
beast-but only plain house cat. And
that want all. 1t was the old lady
Stoudemire's pet cat, and she was liv-
in then jest over the creek mile and
a half, or maybe little better, from
our house.
The Van Buren press., 1897-07-24
Settlement News,

julie Majors and his wife have got
one of the onlyest boys in the settle
ment-which they call his name Dan.
Somebody told Dan if he would swal-
low few fish bladders it wouldn't be
no trouble for him to swim. julie
he went fishing the other day and
caught fine string and perch and
suckers-and Dan didn't do blame
thing but sail in and swallow Is fish
badders, fresh and raw.
They sent for the doctor that night.
julie thinks his boy Dan will recover
in health, though he is still feeble in
mind. Dan says if he ever gets up
from there he will tackle the biggest
and deepest wash hole on the creek.
ruther hope he will. Then fish blad-
ders wouldn't save him from a watery
grave.
n A
The Van Buren press., 1897-07-24
counon-sense beauty List.

An authority on physical training for
women. gives the following directions
for securing the best results, which
naturally must be modified by indi-
vidual characteristics and circum-
stances: "Sleep nine hours out of the
"a. battle in cold water, exercise five
minutes daily with light dumhbells.
drink a cup of hot liquid before break
fast, spend half an hour every day in
outdoor exercise. make the best OF bad
bargains, and always keep your fem
per-"
The Van Buren press., 1897-07-24
A NIrhf of Terrors.

That night was my regular time TO
co over the creek and see Aunt Liza
Raiborn. As usual when bedtime
come she took me out in the little shed
room which she kept for us boys and
tucked me away for the night. But
to save my life couldn't sleep marry
blessed lick for thinkin about old
Misses Stoudenmire's ring-streaked and
striped cat, which me and Mack had
left for dead down in the spring
branch. l knowed tremendous well
that me and the dog together had
whipped the fight and killed the cat
but | didn't know for certain that she
would stay dead and remain there.
[ had some monstrous serious and
chilly doubts in regards to that. Every
time / shet my eyes could hear car
The Van Buren press., 1897-07-24

famous fine dog
which | called his
name Mack. He
was about one
third hound and
one-third cur, and
then so fur as 1
know, and as Tony
Stringer were al
ways wont to say,
the other third was
"iest dog " And my
The Van Buren press., 1897-07-24

Your minister doesn't jump at his
conclusions"
"No. he just yells and the eongrega-
ton jumps Y. Truth,
The Van Buren press., 1897-07-24
OLD MACK AND ME.
The Sage of Rocky Creek and His
Varmint Dog.
Furious Fight I'm the Old Spring
Branch Do Cnts Have Nine
Livess-An Alabama
Lie,

When l was only what you mought
call shirt waist boy used to have a
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-04-23
SEVEN THAT ARE LEFT
VIII Garry Lester Mabon's Corpse to
the Grave.

The funeral of Lester NJ. Mabon,
whose sudden death was chronicled in
yesterdays G o be, will be held to-
morrow afternoon at 2:30, the pallbear-
ers being selected from the famous
eight in which he rOwed more than
once to victory.
Lester Mabon was one of the strong
est and pluclxiest of the famous Min
nesota eight which won so many sig
nal victories on Minnetonka and else
where a few years ago. Three months
ago or more he first became i'll, and
complications. undermined the splendid
physical build of the young man and
left him but a shadow Of his former
self Appendicitis was the cause of
death.
Seven months ago he was united in
marriage to Miss Mattocks, an esti-
mable young lady Of Faribault.
He was twenty-five years of age, and
the son of the late James w. Mabon
and Sarah Mabon, who resided with
him at 50 West Central avenue.
Young MabOn was a participant in all
the exciting struggles of the famous
old Minnesota eight, and it was only
four years ago that he was in his
prime. At Saratoga, when the eight
went down to honorable defeat, Mabon
was in the boat, although he was over
trained and out of condition. He held
his own pluckily throughout the race,
but never since then has he been as
strong as formerly. The entertaining
was something from which his system
never fully recovered.
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-04-23
WILL NEVER DROP IT
e. A. YOUNG SAYS A CERTAIN DU-
LUTH CASE WILL BE
PUSHED
THOUGH 1T WAS DISMISSED.
EFFORT WILL NOW BE MADE TO
INDICT A WITNESS WHO DIS
APPEARED.
Think They Were PurpOseIy Thrown
Down and VIII Push the Matter
to the End.

Word comes from Duluth, of the dis
missal, on the motion of Acting County
Attorney Charles o. Baldwin. of the
conspiracy case against Moses Cook,
w. M. Abrahamson, Isaac Abraham
son and Hymen Cohen, in which an
Indictment was returned by the special
grand jury in st. Louis county at the
January term of the district court
Mr. Baldwin, who was specially ap-
pointed to serve by Gov Clough, stated
that this action did not in any wise
indicate that the case against the men
named would be dropped. He stated
that it would be taken up at the next
term with new indictments, which will
seek to include Louis Pavian, the
principal witness for the state in the
old case.
1t appears that Pavian, who has at
times been a resident Of St. Paul, de-
serted Mr.. Baldwin and was in hiding
so that the case could not be pro-
ceeded with at this time. With the
choice of a continuation of the old
case or a dismissal the defense pre-
ferred the latter, and Judge Cant, be-
fore whom the case was to be tried. dis
missed the action. The rather sensa-
tional statement is made that the boy
Pavian's father offered to Mr.. Young,
of Finch Van Slyck, Young & Co..
proposition to produce the boy if paid
the sum of $3.50 This Mr.. Young in
dignantly declined to listen to, and
Mr.. Baldwin is authority for the state
ment that he will seek to have the
iVd cY1ir a Gta nH
above His affidavit in the case is in
the possession of the lawyer, and will
be used against him. In this Pavian
sets forth that Cook came to him and
told him that he was thinking of fall
ing, and would do 50 if he could make
S., 900 or $4,000 out Of it. His plan was
to buy all the goods he could and sell
them to others at so cents on the dol
lar. The stuff was to be purchased on
thirty days time, and before the time
had expired he intended to leave for
other parts. The allegation is that
Pavian. who is only about eighteen
years old, is a relative Of old man
Moses, and has been in cahoOts with
the others mentioned in obtaining
merchandise from Finch, Van Slyck,
Young & Co. and other well known
St. Paul firms The statement is made
and that steps will be taken to bring
him to book.
e. A. Young, of the firm named.
seen yesterday, made the following
statement:
&C. o. Baldwin, who has had charge
of this case for some time, undoubted-
" knew what he was doing when he
allowed this case to be dismissed. So
far as the actual dismissal is con-
cerned, it was not so much on account
of the absence Of the witness Pavian
as because the state would be forced
to show it's hand at the present time
in disclosing graver facts that con-
spiracy existed. This was not deemed
advisable at this time. I have not,
nor have the ST Louis county officials,
the slightest doubt of the position TAX
en- and we can easily afford to wait
few months, if necessary, but let
it not be understood that the case has,
by any means, been dropped"