davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-11-06

swered Mrs. Flinders, "but for all that
It's a wldower he'll find 'lsself with
rope round is neck sooner or later"
Men Emily thought we card some
think as though you was 'aylng lit
tie falling out" was Mrs. Wlcks's dell
cate way OF putting IT,
Faliih'!-'tWasn't faiiin'. twas
chuckln' 1t at me he was, an mercy
is aim wasn't so stlddy as 1t might
be, or It's In my coffin I'd be at this
very mint, stead o. sitting 'ere!"
Mrs, Wicks expressed her sense OF the
seriousness OF the situation by clicking
her tongue against the roof OF her
mouth prior to lnqulrIng:
WAS It the poker this tlme,or what"
That's what's breakin' my art, let
alone my cad" responded Mrs. Film
ders, riyulets OF grief irrlgating the
soil of her oountenance ITO think o.
the trouble ! took, an the way wore
myself out, goin' round the parish get
tin letters o. reckymendaton to the
sussicty as supplies wooden legs an
glass eyes an slch like post free. cos
is old one was done for, bein' broken
In two places; an proud / was fust time
] walked out with i'm In the moo 'un.
Little did I think as in less'n fort
night he'd be flingin the old leg at my
'ead an knockin' my brains out as near
as ever was. Sich wife as I've bin 20
I'm an ALL"
"Ah" commented Mrs, Wlcks, as the
visitor paused to take breath; III we
only knowed what we was laying up
for ourselves, there's a many of usd
turn back at the church door an say,
Much obliged, but I'll change my mind
an not my name."
"You may well say that" sighed the
other. when / married Flinders he
was in the brlcklayin' line, till the side
of 'ouse fel on i'm an crushed Is
leg like It 'ad bin made O. wax, an
thought 1t fine thing when they give
I'm the planny-orgin an donkey 10
drore It, by way o. compensation.
Though times an times I've said since,
as I'd rather ave I'm as he were, 'stead
O. with leg as unstraps an stands in
a corner at night. an gets SHE'D at you
permlsc'ous when the drinks in I'm or
things not Jest to Us likin' But there"
drying her tears on convenient cor
ner of the towel, I'm keeping you from
yer tea, only some'ow / felt as / must
relieve my mind to somebody, an you
bein' a nelghbor. let alone avtn' seen
trouble"
"Ah, you're right, there! Wlcks were
'andful In lis time, though wouldn't
wish to be casting II up agen i'm now
he's gone, an it's always been a COM
fort to me to know as done my duty
by i'm with three Grape tucks round my
skirt. when many'd a-said two was
plenty"
well, l don't say I wouldn't do as
much for Flinders, come to that. but
then we women's that forgivln'. Any'ow
I'll get i'm bit o. fried fish or a save
10y for lis supper"
Mrs. Flinders oozed out OF the room,
encountering Miss wicks on the
threshold, who gave her a cool salu-
tatlon and eyed the towel with distinct
dlsapproVal.
ewing, Emily" was her mothers
The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-11-06

1t nights well be q 'undred, only there
Ills. am more'n one night I've lay awake
thinking on Il. Once dremp I'd got the
money someow an bought the business,
an was doing wonderful. / don't say
nothink to Emily cos she amt one for the
country--not being born an bred there
and wouldn't Understand, But there,
Won wouldn't believe 'ow the Thought o
that nice little business, an the cottage,
an the goodwill an fixtures seem to
reg'ler aunt me-"
Mrs. MIdgetts clicked her tongue in
sympathy. ..,,
got the money ready to yer and IKE,
may be you wouldn't Jest be knowing
what TO do with It, an because you amt
,ere's eomethlnk as would suit you every
way. II do seem ard. but this ere's
hprd world. Bless you, I know what
Ma TO look forrard to a thing an never
rlt Il after oil! I'VE told you bout Aunt
Martha, 'er what promised TO leave me
blto' money!"
Mrs. Weeks nodded, and leaned back In
her chair in manner that invited the
other 10 tell the story once again,
"Twcnty pounds II were, Jest the very
h,dentlchi sum YOU were speaking Of, an
1 made that sure of II, got looking on II
came as though II was my own;
"And she never left you nothink after
all?" &,
"Nothlnlt but the Bible there, pointing
to bulky volume which. together wit.,
tea tray. two wine glasses, ana emma
poodle, composed trophy that was
much admired by her intlmates'
mot as I'm one for running down the
Bible. specially one With slch large
print, only--well, l must say I'VE never
thought the came Of Aunt Martha since
AS I'm not surprised at" remarked
Mrs. Weeks, AN that REMINDS me ~
that was the very thing | come ABOUT
You said you'd he pleased to lend y 70 me pay,
any time an Ms to-morrera me uistrl ,,.
vlsilor'a day. thought IT'S be nice for 'er
~ road n chapter outer. For you may
oov whnt YOU like. but It's q Bible 70 do
any one credit, don't keer VINO theS
are"
"Tnke IL nm clcomc, Mrs Wlcka. ]
don't mood 10 tell you 10 DO careful OF
i, Tor I know what you IRE; and ~ for
ibat cottage an nxtcrR what's worrying
Won. wouldn't think OF II more'n j
could 'olp."
taking The Bible carefully IN her nrmH
ilko n baby. "Any'ow, I'm glad found
you In. IT'S wunncrful ow n little chat
| llyCng one up"
"Weli, look In ngcn soon" Gnld Mrs
Mldgctts Hospitality; "nnd a. for the III
bic. you can keep II Jest ~ long ~ ever
you've mind
"WCll, I'm sure ltB uncommon Kind
. 81. gyftft INN "a {4ii44
The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-11-06

greeting, what time you've bin, amt
"Well, I wasn't goln' to be put off
with ard roes, not II picked over the
whole stock. But I've got two beau
ties"
Halt an hour later, nothing remained
but the skeletons OF the feast.
"Tm thlnkin'," said Mrs. WIcks as
she set down her empty saucer, "as III
lest 20 up to Mrs NUGGETS an arst 'er
FOR the loan of 'er big Bible, The dis
trick vIsItor'll be round, to-morrer, and
she was accomplishing last time as the
print In Ourn was too small pelhs
near-sighted, and she do read so beau
tiful it's treat as i don't IKE 70 miss.
an Mrs. NUGGETS an mes the pest o
friends, an she'll be only too pleased
20 lend It,"
"I'ye nothing TO say against Mrs
Mldgetts," answered her daughter;
she's one as keeps 'erself to 'erself an,
'er place like new pin. III wash up,
she added, BracioHsly and II you've a
| mind 20 stop and ave chat, you can
Having put herself into visiting trim
by the simple means OF turning down
her sleeves, and twisting her apron
around her waist, Mrs. Wlcks set out
| She had only to turn to the right along
a dark stone passage, ascend flight oil
stairs, turn to the left down another
passage, and knock at door at The
Verg end--a drab- colOred door when
lorded Itself over It's neighbors on the
strength Of n little iron knocker and n
Silt for letters. which last innovation
somewhat stank in the nostrlis OF the
other inhabitants OF Barkers Buildings,
who were content to have their mis-
slyes poked under the door. The knock
or, as tending to lessen the wear and
tear OF knuckes was regarded with
| comparative favor.
Mrs. wicks's progress, however was
not 80 rapid as 1t reads, In consequence
OF her having 90 pass the time OF day
and rcgpond to the various salutntlons
OF those she encountered en- route,
! Moreover at one point the way was
| blocked bv Mrs, prlgglns, the prlma
vlrago aasolutn OF the Buildings, VINO
Unopened to be In particularly good
form g.,
Elizabeth Ham, II appeared. had
been guilty Of calling Names 0tler =
| noighbor'a child, nnd had thereupoh
been Threatened with bodily chastlsc-
mcnt by an Indignant parent Thm
reached Mrs Prlggln'n enrs' VINO, nc
ouslomcd ns she was to beat her on
gprIng black ana blue, and any num-
bor Of intermediate tlnts, herself, nat
urnliy resented any oncrouchnont ON
her maternal provocative She, accord.
lngly, took advantage Of an Incidental
meeting on the stairs to make n plain
| abatement of whnt would be her plan OF
cnmpalgn-wlth respect to aundry eyes
and limbB-lf any outsider no much m
laid the weight ~ her little nhUor on
tho aald Elizabeth Ham,
So II was with n Sigh ~ rcllef, md q
sense NJ having fenched n haven NJ re-.
| fupe, that Mrs. Wlrks found herself
confronting the drhb doof with Tho III.
ilo iron tnockcr \ mild application ~
this last waa productive OF an Invitation
~ "cumc IN
nor, Mrs wlclp, that your why
you are rtt1ngcr, nm what day ~
bin 10 be sure I've bin out nswuBhng
an don't mind over To o.foll the 'cal
10 before"
AZ flr m oulWntd appearance went
| Mrs. Mldgstlg might have been Mra
The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-11-06

one who had always professed to find life
a hard struggle should all the while
have been the possessor Of boarded
wealth.
A short time afterwards Emily, re-
turning from taking home some mang-
ling, found her mother sitting down, do
ing absolutely nothing, while the Kettle
protested and boiled over unheeded.
'I.or', mother, whatever's the mat
ter?" not knowing what to make of such
unusual symptoms
Mrs. wicks regarded her for moment
without speaking, Then-"Well. ain't
TEST feeling myself, and that's the
truth" she admitted.
There was sort OF dazed look about
her that gave confirmation to the words.
"I'll make you a cup Of tea" said her
daughter, "thatll brace you up. Got
anything the matter with your 'and?"
This casual inquiry appeared to excite
almost n panic.
"why, no; there nint nothing the mat
ter with Il. Whatever made you ursk
SIGH n thfng?"
II thought you might by the way
you've got II doubled up, as you might
ave 'urt II.
mo, no; It amt that. It's something
lnnarder like"
May be the pickles you 'ad ut dinner"
After this. seeing that instead OF brisk
ing To her mother continued 10 feel like
somebody else, Emily promptly ordered
her off to bed.
TITS the weather that'sh what 1t Is
that and the pickles"
So Mrs. Weeks meeltly obeyed the
mandate. and retired to n state of un-
rest, with her right hand still clenched.
III only Emily knowed." she murmured
TO herself, "ehe'd feel like dfsownins of
me. But then she didn't know what
orful temptation tho thought o. that cot
tage with the goodwill an flxterB Is,
'Tlsnt az though Mrs. Mldgette d miss
tho money, seeing as she nln't aware on
Il, an most like mover would ave found
Il at all hut for me. Seems like l was
meant to ave It, an might make It up
to 'er some day."
SO she turned and tossed and suffered
the tortures OF guilty conscience
through tho long, oppressive hours of
an endless night, until dsquictlng
dreams took the place Of dlsquictlng
thoughts, and the grCntcst temptation
che had ever known pursued her even In
Biecp.
"IIow you was carrying on last night,
mother" remarked Mise Wlckp, az they
gnt down NJ breakfast, "gruntlng and
grooming, an calling out bout some.
body o. tho name o. Daniel, though who
you could a-mcant can't think, And
thla morning you look like dunno 'ow,
ANA no more appetite than nothing"
Then, with the lnudnblc intention VI
cheering her parent M by tho admin.
islrnllon Of q fllllp In the shape Of a
piece Of news, "Whpt dye think | card
lcst now when I run ont for the milk
why, Mrs Prlgglnas Elizabeth llann's
been aud stole tupponcc from Mrs.
lcllndern'a Bella. She was going TO fotch
tho Guppor bccr HiaHgoF that young
'ugsg, and puts down tho Iug aud the
money FOR arr q mlnnll while she Ties
he's hoot.lhco, ana when Hho comes TO
torn round the luppcncG wasn't to be
seen, no more was Lznboih Ham, ana
do ear Mrs. lcllndorH 'nvo threatened
'cr with the pcrllco llnrkofH liulldlngh
wnp low 'nough bof0rci but whuu Bnr-
iIera uuttdtugB tuhag 20 tdbtfhg eaeh
The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-11-06

careless fingers In spite Of which shq
nearly slipped up on an empty pea pod
which lurked about midway.
Il never see the like OF Barker'a
Buildings for strewln' things round"
she muttered, as she stopped TO remove
| II. Then, with the pod in her hand, her
mind suddenly switched Itself away
from its present unsavory squalId sur
Toundings TO the unattainable paradise
OF the washerwoman's cottage at Whit
tlebTidge.
Il reckon I'd soon be growing my own
peas once was down there, she added
under her breath, IAN yegetubble mar
rers, too"
The district visitor for BarkeTs Build
ings was an elderly lady, who fulfilled
her self-appolnted task with a thor
oughncss and regularity deserving Of
more gratitude than II commonly in
splred. Mrs Weeks, however, by reason
of her responsibility and exemplary be-
/, haYor, was q prime favorlte
That's fine Bible Of yours Mrs,
Wicks," she observed In the course OF
her next parochial visitation. II don't
remember to have seen 1t before"
"Well, no." was the nnswer--there be-
/ ing no very pressing reason for pro-
claiming the fact that II was only bor-
rowed; but thought maybe you'd find
the print easier TO read"
Yes must allow my eyes are moi
what they were. What would you lilsd
me 10 read this timer
'S'pose we as bit o. the Old Testy-
mint? There's Samule in the den o.
lions, ! wouldn't mind earring bout
I'm. I've always 'ad real Ugh opinion
o. Samule ever since the circus come 70
Whittlebrldge, a matter o fve-an'+
thirty year ago, an see the way them
beasts ramped round an took on when
they was stirred up with pole"
Daniel, you mean," was the correc'
ton.
Daniel, to be sure, What could I bin
thinking bout? Course, Samule was
the little boy as always got up no mat
ter 'ow early he was called"
"Then we will take chapter six OF the
book of Daniel"
So she read on until, going to turn the
page, she found II stuck fast; took Oft
her glove, blew IL, and finally was
Obliged to follow Mrs. Wicks's advice
and molsten her finger and thumb,
Strange that these two leaves should
be stuck together SO tightly almost as
though they were gummed. Why,
what's this?"
Only square OF fllmsy dlscolored paA
per that cracked at the touch,
"Why, Mrs. WiclSs, you've been max
Ing savings bank of the Bible. had no
idea you were so rich, You had better
take care OF this while finish my read
Ing"
And she handed her the nGte
Mrs. Weeks stretched out her hand me-
chanIcally, and her fingers closed over 1t
tightly. The reading went on At least
there was a buzZing sound, but whether
1t was inside her head or out she couldn't
have told. Finally, having delivered
Daniel from the lions, and made few
appropriate and improving remarks. the
district visitor took her leave-a little
huffed, to tell the truth, at the idea that
The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-11-06
CAaToIlIA..

. ~: ..:al:$:GI1NZzz51 NJ! w
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1897-08-05
EARL w. PEABODY.
The Amateur King Of tho West.)

o. .f "u ... ."
The maker will be glad TO see that time
also, since Va Of the peculiar phases
OF the cycle trade has been that all club
members, racing men, and a long list
OF people with pulls" have systemat.
ically worked" the makers for bicycles
for nothing or at cost price.
1t is generally conceded among the
trade that the price of high-grade
chain bicycles will be only SIS next
year, and that a number of chajuless
wheels will be put on the market at
500. A chainlcss machine Is a deli.
cate and rather impractical piece of
mechanism, however, and II remains TO
be seen whether or not it will retain
popularity more than a season or two.
Arthur Gardeners victory a, Chicago
July 8 over the best field of crackaiacks
that has faced the starter at any race
meet this year seems not to have sur
prised any of the well-posted racing en-. |
'husiasts very much. They are well
aware that the Chicago ladShad the re-
speed ID, beat the best man Of
the track, but assert that he lacks the
to run p hotlycontested race.
He would rather tack into pdtnebody,s
wheel and Ahishs second than 90
'ut and fight for first. He is d beautiful
;ider and can follow the fastest pace in
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1897-08-05

Pert had proved 10 the president that
he was the right man and in the right
place. Subsequently the president had
him appointed to a place in the treas
ury.
There was a death in the white house
during Gen. Taylor's term. The only
colored person about the house was the
valet who had been with him in Mexico.
and whom he had brought from the
plantation. The valet did not seem TO
be at home, and had a desire to return
TO the plantation. He died rather sud-
denly and the general had a post NOR
tenn held, that suspicious of foul play
might be set at rest, for the colored
man was not very popular with the
other attaches of the mansion.
while the executive mansion was &C.
cupied by President Pierce (they
called him Frank purse), there was a
constant round of courtly pleasure.
President Pierce had no princely prede-
cessor as a bon v~ivant, and only one
successor, and that was Mr.. Arthur.
Vein, Webb und Gesang were al
ways in the mansion, and Pierce en-
tertained most royalty. The day recep-
tons were on Tuesdays, and dinners
on Thursdays, and the levees on Fri
day evenings. The presidents steward
was q Mr.. Snow, from New Hampshire,
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1897-08-05

Famous French Middle Distance Rlder.)
be for a purse Of $4,000 put up by the
management, and a side bet Of $3.50,
making $500 in all. The event will
be paced with multicycles, and the dis
tance will be set at SO miles, in order
that the hour record of the world,
which now stands at 32H miles, made by
j. W. Stocks in England recently, may
be broken. Unless some accident oc-
ours 1t Is confidently expected that
the American record of 27s miles 1890
yards, held by Michael, will be beaten,
since both contestants are recognized
leaders at middle distance work be-
hind big machines. The date for the
match has not been settled, but will
probably be set for some time in early
August, US Lesna pronounced Lenna)
needs some weeks for training and
conditioning after nearly two months
Of travelling.
Lesna cannot speak n word OF Eng
fish, but his manager, NJ. Pognon, sport
ing manager of the Gladiator company
OF Paris, talks very entertainingIy OF
their experiences in Australia, which
country neither of them likes very
much. Management Of raciug league
there is very poor and visiting
racing men are not treated with much
courtesy. NJ. Pognon considers Les
mas victory in the Australian cycle
derby his best performance in the An
In that race he defeated Mar
tin, the American; Megson, the Aus
traIian champion; Green, 'of England,
and Nalne and Porte, two Of the fastest
riders. Another victory
the defeat Of a picked team chang.
ing every mile, while Lesna rode the
distance of % miles alone, COW
itin 44:321-5, considerably under
.wo minutes 10. the mile. Ia his rec
)rd trials he cut the figures for 100
niles to 3:5f:5i, which is much under
he existing American record.
... -#.#sE .-a.I|kE w pfpRy |
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1897-08-05
To Save an Ex-Confederate.

Letters from the different governors
of southern states. also from senator
Chiffon and Congressman Joseph d.
Sayers, Of Texas, have been Sent to
President Maz of Mexico, begging ex-
ecutive clemency for an old ex-confed-
crate soldier. Mac Stewart, now under
sentence OF death by shooting for kill
ing a Mexican policeman (Torres) on
May 81, 1879. Ex-Gov. Hogg of Texas
VIII accompany DIR. X. b. Ligoski to in
tercede with President Diaz to pardon
TINS unfortunate man. They will leave
september !, or just SO soon as Gen.
John b. Gordon, commander.in-chief
of the United Confederate veterans,
Will issue the appeal to the camp for
funds sufficient to defray expenses for
same. n
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1897-08-05
SOUTHERN ~GlEANINGS,


Peach Tree street, the fashionable
thoroughfore of Atlanta, Ca. is in sus-
pense over the threat that Mrs. W. II.
Smythe will rent her residence to
Henry Rucker, the eolored man recent
ly appointed revenue collector for
Georgia Maj. Smythe wished to col
lect revenue under President Mckin-
ley, but was turned down in favor
of Fucker. 1t was then de-
veloped that Ruckcr had as in
dorsers nearly all Of Maj.
smythe's fashionable neighbors. This
is what has angered Mrs, Smythe, and
b writes from her summer home In
Virginia that she is thinking about
renting her Peach Tree street home to
Henry .Rucker, as some of the neigh
bor seem to prefer him as collector TO
the major, and she wants % see wheth-
err they will appreciate as highly as a
neighbor the mar they Endorsed for
Office.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1897-08-05

had some years before been appointed
charge d~'aifaires at Naples. When the
Mexican war was in progress some of
the opposition papers referred to Will
ham Polk being in a place of safety in
stead of being at the front. Some of
these papers were marked and sent to
him. He at once resigned and anne
home, raised a company of cavalry in
tennessee, and announced that the OBJ
Ject OF the company was to capture
Santa Anna. He went into the Mexican
war. and his company almost succeeded
In capturing the Mexican general, his
wooden leg and chest being seized by
Maj. Folks troopers, and the general
making a narrow escape. Mr.. Polk
served in congress from 1851 TO 1853,
and was a man of much more than ordi-
nary ability.
There were no children at the white
house during the Taylor. Pierce and Blu
chanan administrations. but Lincoln's
family was boisterous and permeated
the entire atmosphere of Washington.
by the way" he said, in a reflective
manner, "let me tell you o story about
Zen. Taylor. He was a good man, and
prided himself upon being a good judge
OF human nature. It happened that a
steward was wanted at the white house,
and he asked the oldest attendant to
get him a good man. One of the force
OF Wizards hotel, a German, was sug-
gesteC by the attendant. and he xvas
sent up. The old general, on looking
him over, did not form a favorable
opinion Of him, but concluded to give
him a trial.
The attendant was called up and
asked sharply: Is that the smart man
yon sent for? m .4
Yes, sir was the reply.
He deceivcs mi If he is said the
president; but he ID entitled 10 a trial,
md III give him one,
~ lfss than : week Ignatius Rup- i