davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-12-16
POETRY.
ST. MICHAEL THE WEIGHER
JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL.

STOOD the tall archangel weighing
Al man s dreaming, doing, saving,
All the failure and the pain.
All the triumph and the gain.
In the unlmagined years,
full OF hopes, more full of tears.
since old Adam g conscious ewes
backward searched for Paradise
And, instead the flame-blade saw
OF inexorable law.
In dream marked him there,
with his fire gold, tlickering hair.
In his binding armor stand,
And the scales were in his hand
Mighty were they, and full well
They could poise both heaven and hell.
Angel, asked humblv then.
w Weighest thou the souls of men?
That thine office is, l know"
" Nay" he answered me, not so,
But | weigh the hope of man
Since the power Of choice began
In the world of good or ILL.,.
Then L waited and was still.
In one scale | saw him place
All the glories of our race,
Cups that lit Belshazzar's s feast,
Gems, the wonder of the East,
Kublai's scepter, Caesars sword,
Many poets golden word,
Many a skill of science. vain
TO make men as gods again.
In the other scale he threw
Things regardless, outcast, few,
Martyr ash, arena sand,
Or st. Francis cord a strand,
Beechen cups of men whose need
Tasted that the poor might feed,
Disillusions and despairs
or young saints with grief-grayed hairs,
Broken hearts that brake for man,
Marvel through my pulses ran
Seeing then the beam divine
Swiftly on this hand decline,
While Earth's splendor and rem own
Mounted light as thistie.down.
Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-12-16
POETRY
For the Grecnbricr independent.
REST AWHILE,

Heart Of mine-but wait awhile
Take the time to rest and smile
Long the road and rough, as well,
And the sadness of farewell
llngcrs round so much of it
Take the time to rest Il bit,
Rest and see the flowers bloom,
Though they blossom Der the tomb
Say they are, and sweet Of scent
Look Behold the blue sky bent
Up above us. List the birds
In their music without words.
Lie down where the grass is green,
See the sunlight slip between
Those great branches o cr us spread
In Il green roof overhead.
Heart of mine, but wait awhile
Rest thyself III Nat s smile.
Rose Osborne Sell.
Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-12-16

NREAT WALL OF CHINA.-The
'reat wall of China, on the north
ern frontier of old China, or China
proper, is the most gigantic work of
defense ever erected by man. Ii was
begun about 2l5 years before Christ,
ana completed in about ten years,
It's purpose being to protect the Chi
nesc against the Tartars. The wall
as 1t can be seen now, begins at a
coast town known as Shanghai
k'wan, west Of Korea, and runs
along the shore for several miles.
terminating near II long reef. From
this point its course is west, trending
little to the north until it strikes
the lloang l1O, or Yellow river
This is the best built part of the wall.
Beyond, it goes nearly due west un-
til it strikes the Yellow river again.
Then 1t goes in a northwesterly di-
rectlon to its termination near Krava
k'wan. The entire length Of the
wall in straight line is ,25j miles,
but its turnings and doublings in
crease the length to fully 300 miles.
The eastern part is built Of earth and
pebbles, faced with large bricks,
weighing from 10 to 60 pounds each,
supported on coping Of stone. The
wall is here 20 feet thick at the base
and - feet thick on top, varying
from - to 30 feet in height. There
are brick towers at intervals, some
of them TO feet high but these are
not built on the wall; they are sepa.
rat" structures. West of the Vel
low river the wall is mostly an en-
hankment Of earth and gravel, with
occasional towers of brick or gate
ways Of stone. Parts Of it are made
of prophyry and other stones piled
up in pyramidal form between the
brick towers. The wall is most Wis
tied at Nan-kan, in the Kuyung
Pass, remarkable defile fifteen
miles in length, which leads from the
plain at Picking up to the first terrace
of highlands above it. At one time
this detile was guarded by FIVE add.
tional walls and gates, now all i'm
ruins.
Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-12-16

THE HOT-WATER CURE.-Land-
ladies are not proverbially gener-
Gus class of persons, but an exception
may be found in this one, who or
dered her servents to give the board
ers all they wanted OF the hot water
cure.
Boarding House Keeper-A glass
of hot water! What can the man
want with a glass of hot water? He
doesn't shave.
Cook-He wants ter drink it.
"'To drink it? Well, | never -
"Oh, all the boarders is sending fur
hot water now three times day"
Goodness me! What for?n
Fur to drink. They calls it the
hot-water cure. 1t beats all new.
tangled notions what comes up"
What does it cure 2"
"Oh, they say it do cure everything
just splendid"
Thanks fortune, it's cheap
Give 'em all the hot water they
want, Maria"
YeS'm."
/" So hot water is great cure, is
it? Well, | sha'n't let any of my
boarders get sick for want of medi
cine. Just pnt another gallon Of hot
water in that oyster soup, Maria, anG
| think you'd better take out the
oyster now-it might get too rich.'
Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-12-16

SOME of the best sayings of our
great humorists have been made i'm
the heat of the moment, and then
forgotten. The late Miner Griswold
was once thrown into company with
a woman noted for her bitter tongue.
She had dissected and abused three of
his friends, and began upon a fourth
with the query, " l suppose you know
him ?" GriswOld nodded his head In
a very dignified way, and responded,
Yes, madam; we spent ten
happy years together as prisoners in
the same penitentiary." The conver-
satiOn came to a sudden end.
Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-12-16

REMARK of severe parent to
blooming daughter, upon discover
ing that one of the legs Of the big
chair in the parlor had been broken
the Sunday evening previous: 81
wish you to understand, Sarah, that
this chair was constructed with a
view to the accommodation of one
person at time, and has not the
strength and scarcely the capacity
for tWO.D
Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-12-16

How dear to our hearts is the old
yellow pumpkin, when orchards are
barren of stuffing for pies; when
peaches and apples have both been a
failure, and berries of no kind have
greeted our eyes. How fondly we
turn to the fruit of the corntield-
the fruit that our children are taught
to despise-the old yellow pumpkin
the mud-covered pumpkin, the big
bellied pumpkin that makes such
good pies
Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-12-16

A NEW SUBsCRIBER.-"Sa Say, kerr
ne!," he said, as he walked into the
Atlanta Constitution EDITORS Office
and stamped about forty pounds of
mud off his boots against the legs of
the stove, sorter thought I'd take
your paper ef you'd do the square
thing"
Why, Of course; we are always
glad to accommodate our subscrib-
ers."
"Well, here's little obituary of
Aunt Kaline-hit's jes' ten pages o.
foolscap, am won't make much,
reckon"
Well print it,"
cam you'll send forty copies of
the paper to this 'ere list % relatives,
won't you?"
eyes"
cam next week my daughter Se-
reilly is goin' to get married. /
reckon you'll print II hull lot about
that ?"
"Of course that's news"
AM say, I've got one of the fin
est young shotes you ever saw. |
want you TO come out some day and
write hit up"
Z" shall be glad to do So"
You hain't got dozen or two
old magazines whut you's done read
a-layin' Ground handy, hev you? ?"
Yes; here's three or four"
Thanky. Jes' put me down fur
three months, am I'll hand you the
quarter long this fall some time"
Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-12-16
All Quiet on the Potomac.

There is an idea prevalent that the
words of this pathetic little poem
were found in the coat-pocket of a
loyal wearer of the gray who was
killed on the hard-fought field of
Bull Run, but ii is mistaken one.
Tho true author is Col. Lamar FOn-
taine, who now resides at Lyons,
Miss. The story he tells Of its ori-
gin is sad, indeed. He had as his
companion a very near and dear
friend. They were usually on picket
duty together, and he had often
showed his cOmrade the picture OF
his little children far away in the lit
tie cottage on the mountains, and
read him extracts from the letters of
his wife. While on duty one day
the Colonel heard the Yankee picket
calling. He was on one side of the
river, the picket on the other. On
being asked what he wished, the
picket responded that he desired to
swap newspapers, and that they
would meet in the middle of the
river. They both undresSed, waded
in and exchanged papers. The picket
invited the Colonel to go over with
him, and he did so, and was provided
with a big blue overcoat, which he
wrapped around himself. While at
dinner they all agreed that it did no
good for the picketS to be constantly
shooting at each other, and entered
into solemn agreement to discon-
tinue the practice.
The next day Col. Fontaine gave
them tobacco in exchange for uui-
nine, and at 6 O'Clock went on guard
and stayed on until midnight. He
had built a big fire, and promptly at
midnight he called his comrade,
Moore, who stepped out in front of
the camp fire, half asleep, and while
yawning and stretching one of the
Yankee pickets blazed away. The
Colonel saw the flash of the gun
His cOmrade fell dead at his feet, his
fast-ebbing life-blOOd crimSoning the
newspaper that had been given him
and colOring the headlines, "AllI
Quiet Along the Potomac"
1t was one of those beautiful moon
light nights that touch a sympathetic
chord in the heart of every soldier
and bring to mind the faces Of loved
ones left behind and the incident
was so impressed upon the old sol
dier's mind that he sat by the dead
body of his beloved friend and wrote
the first verse. He afterward added
several more-all bitter and sarcas-
tic. Later he changed them to the
form in which we have them to-day,
but the first verse remains as it was
composed.
At the reunion Of the United Con-
tederate Veterans in Nashville last
Col. FOntaine rccited the
poem, and in manner so touching
that the tears sprang unbidden to
the eyes of the grizzled old veterans
who fought in defense of our Sunny
South!and.-I The GeOryetonidn.
Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-12-16

EMOTIONAIIsM is commonly in
terpreted as feeling. But the eye
may moisten, the lip culver, the
voice tremble, while the heart re.
mains unmoved. Discovered nerves
are no sign of active benevolence.
Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-12-16

a sCHOOL-TEACHER, who had been
telling the story of David, ended
with, And all this happened over
three thousand years ago" A little
cherub, its blue eyes open ing wide
with wonder, said, after a moments
thought, " Oh, dear, what memory
you have got -
Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-12-16

"YOUR daughter has remarkable
pretty foot, Mrs. Snaggs," said Mrs.
Bloomfield to her friend. "Indeed
she has," replied the grateful
mother, "and l have decided to let
some sculptor make bust of it,
Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-12-16

AN English SChoOlmaster once said
to his boys that he would give crown
to any one of them who would
PROFOUND riddle he could not an
wer. Well" said one of them,"
why am | like the Prince of
Wales ?" The master puzzled his
brains for some minutes for an an
swer, but could not guess the cor
rect one. A last he exclaimed, 81
am sure / don't know" Why"
replied the poy, "because Pm wait
ing for the crown"
Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-12-16

EMPLOYER-You put that note
where it will be sure to attract Mr..
Smiths attention when he comes in,
didn't you? Office -Boy-Yes, sir;
stuck a pin through it, and put it in
his chair,
Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-12-16

n FULL APOLOGY.-Ro Roland Hill
was always annoyed when there hap
pened any noise to divert the atten-
tion of his hearers from what he was
saying. On one occasion, some days
before his death, he was preaching
to one of the largest congregations
that ever assembled to hear him. In
the middle of his discourse he OBJ
served commOtion in the gallery.
For some time he took no notice of
it, but finding il increasing, he paused
in his sermon, and looking in the di-
rection in which the confusion pre-
vailed, he exclaimed:
What's the matter there? The
devil seems to be among you"
a plain, country-looking man i'm.
mediately started to his feet, and adj
dressing Hill in reply, said:
No, sir; it aren't the devil as is
doing it ; it's fat lady wot's tainted,
and she is very fat 'un, sir, as don't
seem likely TO come to again in a
hurry"
"Oh, that's it, is it?" observed
Mr.. Hill, drawing hand across his
chin; "then | beg the lady's par.
don-and the devil's, too"
Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-12-16

n TRULY INDEPENDENT MAN
n printer does not rush to the doc
tor when he is out of "sOrts :" nor
to the baker when he is out Of "pie -
nor to hell when he wants the
"dovil :" nor to the Bible when he
wants a good "rule :" nor to the
gunshop when he wants a" shooting
stick )" nor to a cabinetshop when he
wants "furniture :" nor to the bank
when he wants "qouins :" nor to a
girl when he wants "press :" nor
to lawyer when he has "dirty
case )" nor to butcher when he
wants "phat;" nor to pump when
he is dry-and has 10 cents i'm his
pocket.
Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-12-16

ONE of the most remarkable
things, says an exchange, about con-
science is the perfect Indifference it
exhibits in the matter of umbrellas.
Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-12-16

EDWARD r.. HALE once said to
friend, "never bear more than one
kind oftrouble at time" and added
" Some people bear three kinds
all they have had, all they have now,
and all they expect to have"
Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-12-16

Its poor way to get people
into the church to throw cold water
on 'em," as the baby said to himself
when he was christened.
Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-12-16
u JAMES A. LOWE,
Matchmaker, 'eV'ls' and 9ptisisa,
LEWISBURG, WEST VA.

SINCE the fire have moved into the
~ building one door east of the IN
DEPENDENT Office, known as the
Mayors Office, where will be glad to
see my friends and customers. Repair
ing of all kinds of Watches and Jew
elry done neatly, permanently and
promptly, on reasonable terms. A full
supply of Spectacles and lenses fitted
TO suit the eye. Examination free of
charge. Satisfaction guaranteed.
Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-12-16

You will discover what number
of things you can do without when
you have no money to get them.
Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-12-16

UPHELD HIS REPUTATIoN.-W
generally find that a person who
brags is usually coward, but in this
case the old man upheld his reputa-
| ton.
An old cobbler in Amity Street,
who was largely patronized by the
young bloods, once boasted that
nothing was capable of frightening
him. Two young men once deter
mined to put his courage to the test. .
One of them pretended to be dead.
while the other went to the cobbler
and asked him to sit up all night
with the corpse The old man, who
had some pressing work in hand
which had to be delivered next
morning, took his leather and tools
with him, set down near the sup
posed dead body, and set about his
task. AT midnight they brought
him cup of cafe noir to keep him
awake, which he gratefully partook
OF, and then Immediately resumed
his work. The coffee, however, put
him into such happy frame of
mind that, entirely forgetting the
presence of the corpse, he struck up
a lively song, beating time all the
while with his hammer on the lap.
stone. Suddenly the Imaginary
corpse raised itself into a sitting pos
ture, and exclaimed, in a hollow
voice
&" People ought not to sing when
keeping watch oyer a deathbed."
The cobbler shook his head, gave
the young man smart rap, and
said:
" People shouldn't talk when
they are dead"
This was the last time anybody
tried to frighten the old cobbler.
Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-12-16

CONFIDENCE is good thing to
have, but ii is best not to share it
with too many persons.
Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-12-16

THE spare moments of life have
been the opportunities for the great.
est achievements.
Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-12-16

81 WILL just send in my bill for
board," said the woodpecker, as he
work.
Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-12-16

THERE are a great many men of
note who have no ready cash.
Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-12-16

some men who start out to set the
world on fire give up at the fsrt
thunderclap.
Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-12-16

GIVE the devil one resounding
jackass, and he can break up a big
church with him.
Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-12-16

THE DEACON'S PRAYER FOR
RAIN.-Their fields were parched.
Unless rain came soon their crops
would be ruined. They were not
rainmakers in those days, says the
Chicago Netcs, and still depended
upon Heaven. In this extremity a
prayer meeting was appointed and
the little congregation gathered to
pray for rain. The restless teams
were hitched in the sheds about the
little chnrch, and every now and
then lOng-drawn screech from a
cramped vehicle came into the quiet
of the meeting. The oil lamps
smoked and added their odor to the
sitting air. They prayed for rain.
The tall, spare form Of Deacon Rogers
rose. He pushed his steel bowed
glasses up onto his forehead, clasped
his hands behind his back and raised
his white head appealingly to heaven.
He trusted Providence implicitly,
and yet it was vital that this should
be the right kind of storm. No
slight shower could relieve the con-
dition of things. 1t must be sort
ofsmall lingering deluge. So: Oh,
Lord" suggested Deacon Rogers, in
plaintive tones, "Oh, Lord, don't let
1T come down with a slash an then
all run off ag'n. But" with in
creasing feryor, I" let it come, oh
Lord, jes' siz-zIe, driZ-z.zle, daz. z-zle.
Oh, Lo.d, you know howl"
Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-12-16

JoNEs-How much do you pay
your typewriter?
Brown-Sh! / used to paw her
fifteen dollars a week.
Jones-But what do you pay her
now?
BroWn-Sh She allows me fif-
teen dollars a week, now-we're
married.
Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-12-16

THERE is remedy for every
wrong and a satisfaction for every
soul.
Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-12-16

If poverty is crime, wealth must
be capital offence.
Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-12-16

THOUGHTS are the ailments upon
which the mind feeds. If they arc
kept pure, and i'm constant exercise,
they impart health and vigor, and
are like fertilizing currents running
through the soul. There is one view
respecting them which should
awaken the greatest anxiety To have
them under proper control. \
simple thought, whether good or
evil, will introduce other trains Ofre-
Election of kindred nature
Thoughts love company, and will
gather round them others of con-
genial character, and it is, therefore,
OF the highest Importance that we
should convene within the chamber
of the mind those of an ennObling
and purifying nature.
Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-12-16
An Indignant LanlOr,I.


a short time ago one Of our citi.
Zens, who loves his joke as well as
folks generally do, had occasion to
visit one of the small towns i'm tho
interior, and knowing that he would
have considerable walking over mud.
dy roads, he took with him pair OF
long rubber boots.
He arrived at his destination about
nine O'Clock in the evening, and upon
inquiry found that the only tavern
In the place was a half mile from
the station. No conveyance was to
be had, and the road was muddy in
the extreme. Congratulating him
self on having his long boots, he set
of, and found the mud in some places
so deep that his boots were barely
long enough. He reached tho hotel
at last, looking very soiled about his
feet. After supper, he inquired the
charge for the lodging.
We usually CHARGE" said the
landlord, who also had some fun in
his composition, "two shiilingS but
II man goes to bed with such boots
as them on (pointing to his custo.
mer's feet,) we charge him four
shillings."
"A very good idea, | should
think" returned the traveller.
After about half an hours conver-
satiOn, the landlord showed him to
his room, and they parted for the
night, mutually pleased with each
other.
The next morning our friend arose
late, and, inquiring for the landlord,
learned that he had gone from home
TO attend some business. After
breakfast he handed eight shillings
to the landlords wife, saying:
"Thero is four shillings for my
supper and breakfast, and four shill-
ings for my lodging"
1.-TWO shillings is all we charge for
lodging" said the laudlady.
" Yes" returned the stranger,
under ordinary circumstances but
IN this case four is not too much"
The stranger departed, and the
landlady was deep in conjecture AS
to what could be the circumstances
which required il man 30 pay double
husband returned, he asked:
Has the man who slept in the
front room come down YETI"
YES" answered the wife, land
he has gone away. He paid four
shillings for his lodging, and said,
under the circumstances, il was ell
right"
The landlord rushed upstairs. His
wife followed TO learn the meaning
of such strange proceedings, and
found her husband with the bed.
clothes turned down and her test bed
looking more fit to plant potatoes in
than it did for any human being to
sleep in.
You saw that man when he came
here last night?"
"Yes.n
You saw his boots, didn't you?'
eyes"
"Well," said the landlord, the
scamp slept in 'em !"
A few days after the traveller, on
his way home, put up at the same
tavern.
Neither himself nor the landlord
said anything about the boots, which
were in about the same condition IA,
on the previous occasion, hut the
landlady looked daggers at him and
eyed his boots with much anxiety
About ten O'Clock he would retire.
"And, by the way, landlord," he
said, with a merry twinkle in his
eye, "what do you usually charge
for lodging ?"
"We CHARGE" answered the land
lord, with tremendous emphasis
"two shillings, and we don't allow
folks to sleep in bed with their boot,
on"
"Tm glad to hear it. Show mt
to my room." And the travelei
went to bed.
Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-12-16

COOL During the Pen
insular War, two English soldiers
were standing together when their
attention was suddenly arrested by a
bombshell thrown near then from the
enemy's camp, says the Weekly TEL
egraph. This was moment to show
"cool courage" One therefore
knocked the ashes from his pipe, re-
filled it, and exclaimed:
"Jack, I'll bet thee ration light
my pipe at that fuse," pointing at
the same time to the shell, the fuse
Of which was evidently far spent.
"Done" cried the other. "I,U
bet thee"
The challenger accordingly walked
up to the shell, lighted his pipe, and
then deliberately stamped his foot
upon the fuse to eXtinguish it. His
comrade, who was close at his elbow,
now burst into an amazing fit OF
passion, blaming him by all the
saints in the calendar not for win.
ming the wager, but for putting out
the fuse before he had lighted his
own pipe.