davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-05-13

With some, scolding
is cronic. Life is one long fret.
The flesh is feverish, the nerves un-
strung, the spirit perturbed and in d
state of unrest. The physical con-
dition and the material surroundings
may have strong tendency to dis
turb our equanimity and to exasper-
ate our feelings hut are apt to bear
in mind that the scoiding never did
anybody any good, and, withal,
grows to be very uncom Portable to
the party who INDUCES in it.
Inappropriate to anybody, scolding
appears most hateful in parents and
ministers. Sent to be dispensers of
kindness and love to thUse with
whom they are most especially associ-
ated, it is horrible to see gall dis
titled instead of charity that blesses
both parties. Scolding turns a
household into pandemonium, and
a church into an inquishion. Bear in
mind that kindness and gentle speech
are great deal easier to practice than
their opposites. Why practice the
worse thing when hardest! Arrest
yourself in the indulgence of this
bad habit right here. Begin now,
and put yourself under bonds to be
good-natured.
Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-05-13

A SOUR mind is great evil. 1t is
so to him who has it. 1t embitters
his life. 1t turns the light of life
into darkness, its joys into sorrows.
1t is evil in it's effects on the happi-
ness of others-breeds dissatisfaction
and fault-finding with every person
and everything. 1t croaks of evil,
not to remove or remedy it, but be-
cause it loves to croak. 1t pulls
down, but never builds up. In the
family, in the social circle, in the
church, it is always complaining,
detracting, destroying usefulness and
happiness. 1t Is difficult to conceive
of misery and worthlessness more
pitiable than than that of man pos
sessed Of such spirit.
Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-05-13

HE RECOVERED.-A Philadelphia
physician tells this story of tenn
perance crank: A couple of weeks
ago he fancied himself sick, and
sent for me. told him that nothing
really allied him. "What you need, +"
/ said, "is a stimulant-a little
whiskey now and then will get you
outdoors in day or two"
Whiskey !" he gasped; .good
heavens, doctor, the folks wouldn't
stand that. Why Pm a prohibit
ZIONIST !"
"Oh, that's all right" l said :;
"Tll send you around a jug of good
stuff, and you must take it in hot
water, say three to six times a day"
But if | send for hot water" he
said, they'd suspect. l mean my
family and the servants"
| thought a minute, and then
said:
You shave, don't you? Just
send down your shaving mug and
get the hot water in that"
This was on Saturday. On Mon
day l called again. Everybody in
the house appeared to be greatly
excited:
What's the row ?" 1 inquired
how's the patient ?"
The whole family answered in
chorus:
"Oh, he's all right physically
doctor, but he's out of his mind com.
pletely. He's been shaving once
every seven minutes all day and al
night" He recovered.
Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-05-13

BE SHoRT.-Long visits, long
stories, long exhOrtatiOns and long
prayers seldom profit any who have
to do with them. Life is short.
Time is short. Moments are pre-
cious. Learn to condense, abridge
and intensity. We can bear things
that are dull if they are only short.
We can endure many an ache and ill
if 1t Is over soon, while even pleasure
grows insipid and pain intolerable if
they are protracted beyond the limits
OF reason and convenience. Learn
to be short. Lop off branches stick
to the main fact in your case. If
you pray ask for what you think
you will receive, and get through !;
if you speak tell your message and
hold your peace boil down two sem
tences into one, and three into two.
Always, when practicable, avoid
lengthiness-learn to be short.
Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-05-13
NUMBER 81.

AN APPROPRIATE TEXT.-John
Quincy Adams and John Hancock,
ct the signer," married two sisters,
the daughters of noted Methodist
divine, in Connecticut. John Quincy
was favorite with the old people,
and Mary's choice was approved by
them. SO when the banns were
published the pastor said: Mary,
il you will furnish the text l will
preach you wedding Sermon"
She was equal to the task, and gave
the text: Mary hath chosen the
good part, which shall not be taken
from her." Needless to say that
justice was done to the occasion and
the text. Not SO with Margaret,
who In the meanwhile was receiving
the attentions of her John in very
inexpensive way, as far as her parents
were concerned, for it is said that
"he never crossed his legs under
their festive board" So when the
banns were published she said to
her father: Father, you preached
wedding sermon for Mary; cannot
not you preach one for me?" He
at first demurred, but at last con-
sented and called for the text, when
Margaret, who was equal to the oc-
casion, said: /" And John came, nei-
ther eating nor drinking, and ye say
he hath devil"
Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-05-13
POETRY.
GLOW-WORM.

Two sisters-Grief ahd Pain
W Wrenched at the leaden chain
Linked to my heart.
nwlnned in the womb of woo
1"lns by my path they 90
Never apart.
Narrow that pathway worn
racing from night to morn
- Athwart my cell.
len PAGES south and north
Len PAGES back and forth
Lorn sentinel
Never the light of day
Cheerily comes that way
Nor the sunshine
into the pent, dim shaft.
"here spiders ply their craft.
Dawn sends no sign.
Rays or the grimy lamp,
Under the arches damn.
Sombre and black,
GFaintly drop down and play
Oh the wan face, but may
NoI llgnt my track.
once-not so long ago
n glow-worm,s S light pulsed slow
And dim hereby.
0niy a glow.worm's light,
But 1t was strong and bright
To the prisoned eye.
Reckless, then. of pain.
Needless Of lettering chain,
Lurcd by that spark.
knelt to the Insects glow
Hoped-almost living-when lol
All, all was dark.
Twin sisters-Grief and Pain
Take up the links again
Here in my cell,
len PAGES, as before,
Hoping to hope no more
SO-all is well
Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-05-13


One grows weary of travel. He
must part suddenly with loved ones
and make haste, or miss his train.
AT the station his talk with q
friend is cut short by the conductors
cry, "All aboard !" The engine
whistles, the bell rings, and then the
disagreeable jostling, rattling and
roar Of the train begins. The morn
ing is chilly; the girl of seventeen
in front can't see through the glass,
and up goes window and in pours
the cold draft.
Later, the sun is bright and warm,
windows and doors are open, and
cinders and dust fill the car, spoil,
clothes, irritate the eyes and offend
the nOstrils.
You fall to nodding, but ever and
anon you are startled by the brake
man calling cut the name of a sta
tion which you can no more under
stand than you can catch the words
of song sung by a church choir.
AT nine or some other unseasona-
bic hour, he cries, "Twenty min
utes for breakfast I" If the train
has lost time it must he made up,
and you gulp down your food in ten
minutes. 1t is Fred Harvey eat
ing house - you pay six bits and
wish for more time for the regal
repast.
All day long you roll along the
trembling earth annoyed by jar,
noise and dirt.
You read the morning daily,
watch strangers come and go, see the
idle crowd at the station gazing with
vacant stare at the passing train
Your one relief is feast of the eyes
on the perpetually changing land
scape.
We pity those who travelled valley
and mountain in the stage-coach.-
Other generations will pity US who
have to endure the disagreeable fea-
lures of the railway car.
The stage-coaches have rotted, and
the rich companies that managed
them are no more remembered than
the companies that made illuminat-
ing oil from camel coal, or the ven-
dors of kerosene under the name of
" Rock Oip'-.a sure cure for con-
sumption"
Your grandchild, Mr.. Editor, may
see steam power superseded, engines
rusted away and cars fallen into de-
cay, and the mighty syndicates that
proudly call them their own as sell
dom mentioned as Butterwortb, who
ran the pony post and express across
the plains.
So thought runs on as we look ont
over the waving fields Of wheat and
oats on the level prairies of southern
Kansas on the way from Winfield to
the town of Pan Handle, in Texas.
Leaving Kiowa, Kansas, we enter
western Oklahoma in the famous
Cherokee strip. A part of it is good
grazing land, part, as we get
nearer the plains of northwest Texas,
is land of terror. Here many OF
the people live in sod houses and dug
outs. There is sage. brush, and the
short grass is full OF sharp sand
burrs. The grade is heavy as the
train climbs toward the plains. The
wind gives the engine a sharp tussle
and threatens OF upset the cars.
The country is nondescript. 1t IL
not mountainous or hilly land 1t II
neither prairie nor plain. There arr
grim apologies for canyons. There
are lofty buttes and precipices
pullies and washes. The soil is al
ugly red, and the sand a dirty white
The streams are upside down-th
sand on top dry as dust, the waite
flowing beneath.
It reminds one Of the bad LANDS 9
Dakota with features of Wyoming
Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-05-13

WHAT'S the matter with your
electric cars ?" asked my companion,
the lawyer, of one of the loungers
of small southern town.
Tiled up in litigation. Amt
running any more"
"And the electric lights ?"
"They're shut down. COmpany's
suing the city and the case is in the
courts"
Is that big manufacturing busi-
ness closed? ?"
Yes; one partner has sued the
other for damages"
$50 nearly everything's at stand
still? 1 presume you are all as poor
as Jobs turkey?"
Not all of us. We have some
very rich men,"
Who are they ?"
"The lawyers"
Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-05-13

THE bankruptcy courts can boast
some delightfully."- native rejoinders.
" How, sir, is it possible," angrily
inquired the opposing counsel to the
bankrupt, Ito live in the luxurious
style you have effected OH two thou
sand dollars year ?" The witness
replied, with an air of justifiable
pride, that that was a problem to
which he had devoted considerable
time in the interest of social
economy, and the results of his hum
bic efforts were now before the
court"
Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-05-13

ALL experience teaches us that we
become that which we make our
selves. We strive against the in
clination to do wrong, we strive for
the inclination to do right, and little
by little We become that for which
we strive. Every days effort makes
the struggle easier.
Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-05-13

A Western farmer wrote to his
lawyer as follows: Will you
please tell me where you learned to
write? l have boy / wish to send
to school, and / am afraid / may
hit upon the same school that you
went tor
Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-05-13

FIRST CHICAGO MAXWELL, I've
spent every cent of my wifs's
money.
Second Chicago Man-What are
you going to do about?
F. G. MI suppose 1 shall have
to get married again.
Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-05-13

My DEAR" Mrs. Chatt's husband
finally dared to remark, "there
seem to be but one end to your con-
versation, and that is the begin
ning.O
Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-05-13

"THOMAs, the square of the by.
pothenuse of right-angled triangle
is equal to the sum Of the squares Of
the other two sides. Do l make my
self plain that way? 81 guess So
ma says too much eddication is
what makes you so homely."
Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-05-13

"DID you come out we'll on your
examinations "Didn't I, though /?
All the professors wanted me for
a son-in-law right away
Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-05-13

EVERY time woman returns
from a visit her husband learns new
ways in which man may be good
to his wife.
Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-05-13

cit Is said we shall all pass away
as a tale that is told" "That
sounds all right but tales that are
told don't pass away; they are for
ever being told over again."
Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-05-13

COLD WEATHER.-A gentleman,
who was yesterday driving up An.
tome Street, came upon an aged
colored man who was loading him
self with boards he had just pulled
Off fence surrounding vacant lot.
Do you own that lot ?" shouted
the citizen, he drew rein.
"'Deed, doan', sab; Pze only
leased sheer of dis fence It'll de
wedder brokes away an Gums
warmer"
"Are you going to burn those
boards for firewood?"
81 liz, boss. De fab in de house
am dun gone clean out, an de ole
woman am slappin' dc chill'en to
keep dar ears foom bein' frost-bit
It's powerful wedder, boss"
Eyes, it'spretty cold; but what were
you doin' last summer? Why didn't
you get your wood all ready for
winter ?n
Wasn't dar an ole shanty nex'
doah to me, and wasn't l gwine to
gradually cause de buildin' to dis.
appear dis winter? an jist as de
fust snow cum, didn't de owner of
de place drop down an gin de hut
to family to live in, rent free, till
spring? 'Taint my fault, boss, dat
we has got chilblains all ober de
house an frozen 'taters under de
bed, but de owner of dat shanty am
de pusson who orter be talked to.
IT you happen to meet him, boss,
tole him jist what you tink Oh such
conduct -
Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-05-13

The fear that our kind acts may
be received with ingratitude should
never deter us from performing
them.
Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-05-13
Information About Greece.
t has a population of 2,1S7,2OS,

1t has population of 2,1S7,2O8.
1t Is called Hellas" by its people.
The mean temperature of Greece
is 81 degrees Fahrenheit.
No part Of Greece is forty miles
from the sea or ten miles from the
hills.
About one-half of the population
are agriculturists and shepherds.
1t has an area of 24,977 square
miles.
1T is the only country in the world
whose armies are provided with the
Gras guns and paper-covered car
tridges.
The Greek flag is a white cross on
blue ground-the Bavarian colors
and the Greek cross.
Greece is more thickly populated
than any other country in Europe,
with the exception of Sweden and
Prussia,
1t has few rivers and many hills.
None of the former is navigable, and
many OF the latter are fortified.
Its present boundary limits were
determined by an arrangement
among Great Britain, France, Rus
Sla ana turkey concluded at Con-
stantinople on July 81, 1882.
Only about 10000 Of the inhabi.
tants speak any language other than
Greek, and only about O,OOO profess
any religion other than the orthodox.
The chief characteristics of the
average Greek are his inquisitive-
ness, fondness for excitement, love
of discussion, desire for knowledge,
an aptitudge for learning and aggres-
sive patriotism.
The climate has two striking pecu-
liarities-the heat in summer and
the cold in winter are far more in
tense than those of any other coun-
try in tho world lying in the some
latitude. Cell once remarked that
in travelling through the Morea in
March he found summer in Messenia,
spring in Laconia and winter in Ar
cadia, without having moved beyond
radius of fifteen miles.
Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-05-13

To he able to say no at the right
time is better than to be able to speak
half dozen languages.
Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-05-13

A Low VOICE IN WoMEN.-Yes,
we agree with that old poet who said
that low, soft voice was an +" excel
lent thing in woman" Indeed, we
feel inclined to go much farther than
he has on the subject, and call it one
of her crowning charms. No matter
what other attractions she may have I;
she may be as fair as the Trojan
Helen, and as learned as the famous
Hypatia of ancient times she NAV
have all the accomplishments consid.
cred requisite of the present, and
every advantage that wealth can pro-
cure, and yet if she lacks a low,
sweet voice, she can never be really
fascinating. How often the spell of
beauty is marred by course, loud
talking! How often you are ire
sistible drawn to a plain, unassuming
woman, whose soft, silvery tones
render her positively attractive.
Besides, we fancy we can Judge of
the character by the voice the bland,
smooth, fawning tones seem to be-
token deceit and hypocrisy as in
variably as the musical, subdued
voice indicates genuine refinement.
In the social circle how pleasant it is
to hear woman talk in that low key
which always characterizes the true
lady. In the sanctuary at home how
such voice soothes fretful child
and cheers the weary husband. How
sweetly it's cadence floats through
the sick chamber and around the
dying bed; with what solemn
melody do thew braatha q prayar for
the departing soul! All, yes, a low,
soft voice is certainly an excellent
thing in women"
Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-05-13
MISCELLANEOUS.
Another Letter from Choctaw.

BosTwICK, NEBRASKA. J
April 26M, 1897. !
Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-05-13


A STORY OF LINCOLN.-One day
Lincoln and a certain Judge, who was
an intimate friend of his, were ban
tering each other about horses, fa-
vorite topic of theirs. Finally Lin
coin said:
"Well, look here, judge, I'll tell you
what I'll do. I'll make horse trade
with yon, only it must be on these
stipulations Neither party shall
see the others horse until it is pro-
duced here in the court yard of the
hotel, and both parties must trade
horses. If either party backs out of
the agreement, he does so under a
forfeiture of twenty-five dollars"
" Agreed" cried the judge, and
both he and Lincoln went in quest of
their respective animals.
A crowd gathered, anticipating
some fun, and when the Judge re-
turned first. the laugh was uproari-
Gus. He led, or rather dragged at
the end of rope, the meanest,
boniest, ribstaring quadruped-b blind
in both eyes-that ever pressed turf.
But presently Lincoln came along
carrying over his shoulder a carpen-
ter's horse. Then the mirth of the
crowd grew furious. Lincoln SOL
emply set his horse down, and ST.
lently surveyed the judges animal
with comical look of infinite dis.
gust.
"Well, Judge" he finally said,
"this is the first time I ever got the
worst of it in horse trade"
A RAILWAY INCIDENTAL GER
tain young barrister was journeyine
to an English cathedral town on {
circuit. AS he approached his des
tination, the only other occupant o.
his compartment in the train ad
dressed him thus:
| 81 am a lone woman, and yol
have tried to kiss me. Uuless yo,
give me five pounds shall have yo,
arrested at the next station"
| The barrister came TO swift de
cision, and drew forth a banknot
from his pocket. Pretending [,
tantalize the highwaywoman, h
toyed with it, although at the sam
time he was learning it's number b,
heart. AS the train drew up at tn
station he handed it to her. TIL
guard. recognizing him, opened tn
door.
81 give this woman in charge, :,
said the barrister. She has stole
a fiye.pound note from me-here |
the number on my cuff"
1t happened to be his native town
and he had the satisfaction subse
quently of knowing that the fill
buster was sentenced to lie in ia
for considerable period, in const
quence of her artless attempt 8
blackmail.
Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-05-13

AN CTIOUS LAUGH
"There's nothing in tho world more
contagious than good hearty laugh
ter" declared the manager who had
q rough h-and-tumble time of il in his
earlier days, but is now en- the warm
and sunny side of " Easy Street."
says the Free Press.
Zone time, down in Southern
Ohio, | struck a town that was
really virgin soil for the theatrical
missionary. There wasn't minute
of daylight that our posters were not
surrounded by crowd with mouths
and eyes wide open. When night
came the hall was jammed, but it
couldn't have been less responsive
audience if the penalty for laughing
had been solitary imprisonment for
lie. The show wasn't half bad, and
yet we couldn't get hand nor even
q smile.
While the people on the stage
were guying the crowd and talking
about the comforts of the Arctic
climate, who should appear at the
window of the box office but big
BilP Meeker, that used to know
at home. He was travelling man,
and with him was Shorty Tomp-
kins, just as big and just as jolly.
For Heavens sake, 'Bin,' I
broke out, get right in there, YOU
and your friend. Set that laugh of
yours to going. Cut loose for all
you're worth, and see if you can't
prove an ice crusher.' No sooner
were they seated than 'Bin' caught
joke, opened mouth big enough
to catch baseballs, and let forth a
a roar thet dropped icicles from the
caves trough. Shorty joined in,
and the players couldn't escape the
Pretty soon some of the
old farmers broke into cackle, and
inside of three minutes it was sim.
ply pandemonIum. People laughed
till they were sick. Every act was
encored. 1t was one O'Clock before
we could get the curtain down, and
we had over three hundred invita-
tiOns to return"