davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-10-24

own room. Only the eldest son was
now and then permitted to share his
fathers meal The dinner consisted of
ten courses and at least an hour and
half was consumed by the master OF
the house in making way with 1t. The
two younger sons waited upon him.
running back and forth between the
kitchen and the dining room. When
the Pasha had finished we sat down
to eat. l shall never forget my first
Arabian meal. We gathered around
long table, in the centre of which
was placed a steaming dish of mutton
stew and rice They permitted me to
have plate, a knife and fork. The
others held in their hands a large
slice of the heavy, soggy Egyptian
bread Nine. Pasha dug with both
hands down into the stew and brought
forth pieces of meat, which she dis
tributed among the children. If a
piece was too large, she tore it apart
with her hands. The sauce kept drip
ping on the table and over the gar
ments of that family until it made me
i'll. When the children had finished
what had been given to them they
hands, and you can better imagine the
condition Of their hands and faces
than / can describe it to you Down
the little arms rolled streams OF grease
and sauce, losing themselves in the
folds of the wide sleeves that reached
to the elbow. Two of the youngsters
sat on the table, and the one with his
fathers slippers took them OFF before
climbing dangerously near the dish,
against which his bare feet rested.
There were other courses, but I
could not have eaten them had I
starved to death.
The day was full Of surprises. When
it was time to retire Nine. Pasha con-
Quoted me to the childrens bedroom.
There were two beds, one for me, the
other for the five smallest children, two
girls and three boys. For the first time
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-10-24
w EMBERTON FERRY, Fla, Oc-
EcG tober 23.-Bessie Wickes. the 49,
,raop II 1f q ., ala eat4loy.

Ec1 tober 23.-Bessie Wickes, the 1S-
III year-old daughter of an old settler
on Red Branch, four miles below here,
had an exciting adventure with alli
gators the other day, and the people
round here are congratulating her on
her nerve. She and her younger sis
ter were out on the edge of Mulberry
swamp after berries. While crossing
a small creek she broke her paddle
and the. canoe grounded on sandspit
in the middle of the creek. While the
creek was narrow, it was deep on each
side of this narrow spit and the girls
did not dare wade Bessie had small
Ratchet in the boat and with it began
making rough paddle out Of some
boards in the boat.
Something hit the canoe and, look
ing down, she saw the ugly nose Of a
big alligator at the stern of the boat,
with its mouth wide open. Miss Bes-
sic threw piece of board at it. The
saurian simply moved off a few feet
and then came back, this time coming
UP to where she was and taking posi-
ton close to her. She hit it over the
head with her Ratchet and the reptile
simply grunted and tried to get into
the canoe. Bessie woke up to her
peril and began raining blows upon
the reptiles head and sides with her
weapon. Its rough, horny head resist
ed her efforts and it did not seem to
mind her at all. Finding this of no
avail, she seized one Of the pieces of
board in the canoe. hastily sharpening
the end, and, raising it up. with all
her strength thrust it down the gaping
throat of the big alligator The
saurian grunted with pain and rage
and plunged OF, swimming down the
creek with several of it's kindred after
it,
Just before getting ready to start
out another big saurian came up and
turned the boat over. leaving Bessie
and her sister in two feet of water
with an angry alligator facing them.
The brave girl grasped her Ratchet and
waited the reptiles advance. The
monster came in, believing, with it's
wide-open jaws suggestively displayed.
Just as the alligator came up to her
she thrust board down its gaping
throat and then began an attack on il
with her Ratchet. Getting to one side,
she was fortunate enough to give it a
deep cut, infiicting a mortal wound.
The alligator struggled to get at her,
but the piece Of board kept 1t from
turning. Bessie piled the Ratchet and
soon had the alligator's head nearly
off. She was about exhausted, but had
enough strength to right the boat and
get to shore.
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-10-24
SOME NARROW ESCAPES.
Other Persons Than the Narrator Have
Cause for Gratitude.

Miss Elvira Tobey had reached the
age of 10 without becoming a victim
to matrimony, but according to her own
views she had had some hairbreadth
escapes.
what if I had married old Hi
Skaggs," she said with great sigh OF
relief one day. He's tormented three
wives to death, and what if I'd been
one of 'em,"
Why. were you ever engaged to
him.
Wen. not to say engaged mebbe,
but then it was next door to it. He
beaued me home from speIlin' school
twice 50 years ago, an land only knows
what'd happen if he'd gone home
with me third time. And what il I
had married old Henry Todd As years
ago."
did he ask you to marry him."
well. il was next thing to an out
an ont proposal. He came over to our
house three Sunday nights hand run
ningi If that want mighty nigh a
proposal dunno what could be And
I spOse that if In married joel Baxter
I'd a. been the mother CT al them Bax-
ter children, and net one OF EN- has
turned out well, and how turribly I'd
felt I'm thankful enough that I Is
caDed JoelBaxter.1
did he propose to you- too7'
He came as nigh as | wanted him
to. spr he chose me three times In enc
evening when we were playin' kIssin'
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-10-24
WHO BOAST OF
THEIR TRUTHFULNESS

y OCOA, Fla, October 23.--Jlmmy
q Walker, one of the oldest inhab
" itants here, always has something
new in the way Of good stories to
amuse and instruct the newcomers.
just now it's story of how a big turtle
and snake had bout on the beach some
miles above here the other night.
Il was coming down on the beach to
get the night mail" said Jim to-day.
in telling the story to an interested
crowd. Up near the Twin creeks I
saw something ahead of me that l
couldn't quite make out, and 1t was
creating lot of scrimmaging. too, the
sand flying in all direction. II was
clear moonlight and one could see as
easily as in the daytime.
"The beach here was narrower than
usual and the scrub came down lower.
About ten feet from the scrub edge was
a big stub pine tree stump. A big
black snake was cooled around that
stub and holding on for dear life with
a big 400-pound turtle at its other end,
trying to escape. The big turtle would
strain and pull, getting its fiippers down
into the sand, putting and blowing,
while the snake would only hug the
ground the closer and keen up its hold
on the tree. Once it slipped fold and
the turtle drew forward a few inches,
but it quickly recovered, and then the
turtle in making an extra effort was
thrown forward on its back.
After few minutes the turtle began
checking or clucking, as they do.
Shortly afterward an answering sound
came from the water and another big
turtle came waddling up the beach. The
two turtles nosed together for a few
moments, as If getting the story. The
newcomer did not waste any time, but,
going between the Snake and It's inn
prisoned mate, bit the snake in two
with it's sharp beak The two ends few
apart with the tension and the released
turtle flew toward the water. while the
struggling folds Of the upper part OF
the snake thrashed the ground in its
dying struggles. The new turtle re-
NAMED only TO see its mate free when.
with a grunt 1t was off to the sea with
a satisfied air, as 1T had done a good
work.
"On examining the snake | saw IL
was python kind, one Of those that
escaped from the Schooner Mincto
when she was wrecked here last year
while en- route to Washington with a
cargo Of snakes and animals
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-10-24
American Girl Who Has just Re-
turned From Cairo.

in my life I shuddered, when / became
robe, but sleep in the garments they
have worn all day. Imagine the sur
prise of those children when they saw
me undress. They rushed at once to
their mother to inform her Of this fact.
| heard her pacify them. telling them
Europeans had different customs. A
mosquito bar was thrown over each
bed and this was tucked under the mat
tress after retiring. In the morning
l again disturbed the equilibrium of the
little ones by thoroughly washing with
soap and water, and brushing my teeth.
They only dipped their hands and faces
in water, and forget to wipe them dry.
To make up for this lack of daily clean
illness a general bath day is observed
every week or two. The entire family
is bathed and rubbed down by Tur-
kish servant. Soap. warm water and
the sponge are literally applied then.
and for that day, at least, the members
of the harem are presentable. Water
is not plentiful in that part of Egypt,
and this may account for the sparing
way in which it is handled in the daily
toilet
II soon became accustomed to the
new mode of living. | wore long, airy
gowns. learned to squat on the floor and
ate with appetite what was put before
me-. My duties were very light Par
ents as we'll as children. had little use
for knowledge beyond learning to talk
English and French.
Il don't know how long / might have
remained in that harem but for an pc-
currence that drove me back to my
relatives, and thence to my native land.
Hama Pasha, who was always atten-
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-10-24

answered Mary. Don't you see it?"
she asked, as Tom leaned around in
his chair.
he pushed his trousers down beneath
his shoe tops and rested one arm on
the back of his chair
Il am charmed that it amt cloudy"
continued Mary determined that the
conversation should not drag, because
if the clouds were between us and the
moon we couldn't see it."
Tom didn't say anything.
DO you think we could?" asked
Mary, despairingly
Dunno answered Tom, as he took
his left heel off the chair rung and put
hit right heel on it
off it wasn't for the moon, the
night would be dark" observed the
astronomical Mary.
Tom moved his chair nearer the
edge of the porch. but said nothing.
Don't you think it would be-" asked
Mary.
Reckon, answered the nervous
boy.
Which do you like the best, the
sun, Inc moon, or the stars. asked
Mary, in a commanding voice, show
ing her desperation.
Dunno" said Tom, quickly.
II am charmed with the stars. and
like the sun quite a good DEAL con-
tinued Mary, softly, ..but | imagine
love the moon best-u is such nice
moon-it certainly is"
| thought | could hear Toms heart
beating. 1t may haze been that he
was only moving his feet about, for
be was getting restless.
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-10-24

tive and polite tome. became extraor-
dinarily amiabIe. His amiahility grew
so marked that his wife took exception
to it, and began to let me feel the sting
of her jealousy / feared for my life.
for those who are familiar with harem
practice know that Arabian women do
not hesitate to remove their rivals by
poison. The PaSha sent his wife on a
visit to her parents. Soon after her
departure he dispatched one of the SER
wants to me. and babe me come to his
salon. Fearing the worst, | took one
of the children with me, but he would
not have it 50, and Immediately sent
the little girl away. | resented his
familiarity and declared to him emphat-
ieally that American women expected
to be treated with courtesy.
II left the salon indignantly and
busted myself with the children. In
the afternoon their father went as
usual TO Cairo. 1t was my opportunity
for escape. told the servants that the
master Of the house had ordered me to
follow their mistress TO her parents
home, packed my trunk and rode to
Cairo in donkey chaise. went at
once to the home Of my uncle, who re-
ceived me with open arms. In a few
days the Pasha sent me the salary still
due me. About my sudden departure
he never complained. A week later
started for America, and here / am,
glad to tread once more American soil.
but my life in the Egyptian harem will
always be the most remarkable and
thrilling experience of my existence"
With that Miss Loudon dismissed
the reporter She left that night for
San Francisco, where she has arrived
by this time.
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-10-24
Y EBSTER CITY, Ia, October
II 23.-Since the days when

"a VI ID. OGlOUGF
w 2s otssn eth the days S. when I,
the adoption of ducklinigs by hens has
been a historical fact beyond cavil or
dispute. In fact, that farm yard
which cannot beast of a duck pond, a
misguided hen, and a brood of fuzzy
little ducklings in the pond while the
terrified hen mother does an Omaha
dance on the bank is outclassed en-
tirely. Stories of cats which have ex-
tended protection to befeaved chicks
have been told and vouched for until it
is no longer considered good form to
doubt them. But that wild fowl
should hatch barn yard chicks, adopt
them and fight to preserve them from
cruel man is a freak in nature which
is not thoroughly authenticated-or,
rather, was not until few days ago.
Of all the wild fowl which abound
in Iowa the quail is the most difficult
to domesticate. Yet out on the iarm
of Archie Patterson, a short distance
from this city, there is a female quail
which is ready to dispute the owner
ship of a brood of domestic chickens.
Patterson and Robert Knox, a farm
hand, were crossing recently moved
hay field when a quail and some or
binary chickets sprang out of the stub
BILE. The quail, as is the case when
with its young, ran rapidly a short dis
lance and waited for the little ones.
They were half as large as the mother
bird and still fuzzy. This attracted
the attention of the farmers and they
stopped to investigate
AS soon as the quail got away a
short distanct the chicks began to
peep in the most distressing man
ner. They seemed lost, and ran about
in the wild manner common to chicks.
One of them ran right UP to Mr.. Pat
serson, who stopped and caught it.
He was astonished to see that it was
nothing but a chicken. He was more
astonished to have the quail fly at him
furiously and attack him. The bird
was wild with rage and fear and fol-
lowed the men UP to the house to re-
cover her young. She fingered about
the house all night calling for the little
ones.
1t is supposed by the farmers of the
neighborhood that a hen straying out
in the prairie found the empty quail's
nest and dropped eggs therein, which
the quail Matched.
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-10-24

actions that I have ever known" said
he, the oldest came under the head
of paying the fiddler IL had been
noised abroad that dance was to be
given a little way up the mountain,
and / agreed to 20 along with one OF
the boys and see the fun. After going
through the elaborate preparations Of
backing bis boots and putting on a
collar. / saw my companion go TO the
potato bin and carefully select doze "A
nice potatoes and put them in his pock-
et. No sooner had we arrived at the
music hall than be gracefully surren-
dered his vegetables for an entrance
ticket. But what puzzled me most was
that upon coming out after dancing all
night be Ras given two onions az
change / have been trying to make
up my mind ever since Just what that
dance was worth in the currency OK the
realm
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-10-24
w Y ICHITA, Kas, October 23.-
x|A/ Ever since the hordes Of hos
tile Indians were swept back

Ia J 1S1llI1A IAdo, OCIODCl
VA/ Ever since the hordes of hos
tile Indians were swept back
from the plains of Kansas
and white settlers took up and farm
ed the plains the jack rabbit has been a
source of unending annoyance to the
farmer. He has furnished some sport
likewise, to say nothing of having
proved to be fair article of diet to a
hungry man in land where luXuries
are few. Hunts. rounds ups" and
chases of various kinds have been or
gained to destroy the pests, who eat
everything edible on a farm and null
tiply with more than biblical fervor.
But a new use for them has been dis
covered, which may result in great good
and possible redemption of the land
from the reign of the jack.
1t has been the custom of the hungry
jack to prowl about in the light of the
moon and consume everything which
would sustain life. For some reason
the food properly used by fowls has
been especially palatable to the jack.
Now, the farmers of Sedgwick county
have learned to use the jack to fatten
the fowls. Ii the birds are not to get
the succulent shoots and kernels laid
aside for them in the natural process
then they will get them after having
gone to enrich the blood of the jack
Roast jack, with a plentiful sprinkling
of rank prairie grass, has been found
to be a dainty which barnyard fowls
greatly admire.
Jacks are lawful prey for any man
or boy with gun, dog or snare The
animals are shot or shared for food for
birds by the hundreds. They are then
roasted in peculiar Sedgwick county
way. First the thrifty farmer lays a
layer Of ordinary prairie grass or hay
some five or six inches deep On this
he carefully places the bodies of the
rabbits. Then he piles on more hay
Having prepared his funeral pyre in
this manner he touches it off with a
match and Stands by" to see that the
fire does not burn everything on the
farm. The rabbit is roasted nicely by
this process, his fur removed and the
flesh sprinkled with ashes of an ex-
tremely delicious flavor TO chickens.
1t is said in the country about Wich-
tia that chickens are so fond of jack
rabbit on toast that they will drop a
choice fat kernel of corn and scannper
noisily after the nreat when once they
scent it, At any rate it is noticeable
that the quality of fowls in the local
markets is much improved of late. The
new diet is considered to be the cause.
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-10-24

I've allus felt that I had a mighty mar
row escape from bein' Mrs. Joel Bax-
ter. And, o, If | had married Thomas
knapp"
did you come near marrying him?"
wen, he asked me to go to a pic
mic once and / refused, and a month
later his engagement TO Tryphosa
Jones was announced. and she's he'd
an awful life with him. can tell you
that it hasn't been for lack Of chances
that I never married. an can't be too
thankful for some Of the escapes I've
made Detroit Free Press
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-10-24
TOM HOWE'S
- FIRST CALL

Courie--IoGrnai.
Ny sixteen-year-oid daughter Mary
entertained her first beau in the per-
son of Tom Lowe one night during
the recent harvest moon. You never
get to see the harvest moon.
Love of the moon is hereditary in
the Stages FAMILY. sly grandfather
was very successful moonshiner I'M
til Uncle Sam-not Uncle Sam Stages
forced him to the wall-in between
four walls is what mean. And there
was by father; he always said that he
had studied the harvest moon so close
he could tell every time by looking
et it when wheat would rise to a dol
lar a bushel / wish he had been liv-
ing about six weeks ago. He would
have kept me from selling my crop Of
fifty bushels at sixty Genus.
Ny daughter Mary is as fond of the
moon as / am. I never knew this until
the other night, when Tom Lowe came
TO see her. Tom was late in coming
Il was O'Clock before he arrived
AID my wife and had gone to bed
Cur bed was right BIZ the window over
Looking the front porch, and when
on Loves b1ogan foot stumbled
against the -froht steps woke up.
MARY took a sAst on one edge of the
Xorch and Tom Jon the other edge.
rom began The conversation, eau
kAusly, by tanning himself with his
''1e could Id hear they said,
" tits q Lowell ~ 11Esuch a lovely
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-10-24

moon" ventured Mary, nervously.
Tom didn't say anything.
do you like the moon?" asked
Mary.
''Tolerble," and then he famed him
self faster than ever.
This is the harvest moon," ven
tured Mary again.
'Tis.' answered Tom, as he pulled
his forefnger across his forehead and
Sung the contents to the floor.
4 like the MOON" continued Mary,
''and especially the harvest moon in
September. 1t is such a nice moon
it certainly is-and | always sit out
on the porch quite a good deal to
watch it. Papa loves the moon. too
Does your people love the moon?" she
asked
Dunno" answered Tom, as he
struck as a ,cowbug that paused in
front of his face and began guying
HIM for calling TO see his sweetheart
the first time Then they were silent
for several moments-it seemed an
hour to both of them. Finally Mary
observed:
Maybe your mamma loves the
moon?"
'Nunh," said Tom.
Nor any of your brothers and sis
ters?" asked Mary.
"Nunh,' answered Tom
This was heartblow TO Mary, but
she soon got her breath and began
again:
Il think the moon is perfectly love-
~. Did you ever see the moon? Just
look at tit is so nice
''Wh-where?" asked the excited
Tom.
"Righ3 over the woods out there. !"
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-10-24

ST, Louis Republic
A few days ago there passed through
this city, en- route to her home, in San
Francisco, a young American girl who
came direct from Cairo, where she was
goyerness in an Egyptian harem. With
in recent years teachers of the English
and French languages have beenad-
mitted quite freely to these Orimtal
HOUSEHOLDS, and through them has come
wider knowledge of the family life OF
the Turks and Egyptians than could
formerly be obtained
Miss Maude Loudon, the young teach
Ell referred to, was seen by Republic
reporter at her hotel, and obligingly
gave q detailed account of her life and
occupation in the Egyptian harem.
Miss Loudon was visiting relatives
in Cairo when she received call to
officiate as governess in the household
of a prominent Egyptian government
Official. The young woman had taught
several years in the public schools OF
San Francisco, when i'll health compell-
ed her to retire from that field for at
least a year. A sea voyage was pre-
seribed by her physician and she decid-
ed to visit her uncle. leading physi-
clan of Cairo, in Egypt. Hama Pasha,
the distinguished Egyptian who en-
gagged Miss Loudon as teacher for his
children, was one of the doctors pa
tients, and the appointment came about
through him.
You can imagine how curious | was
to learn all | could about the Pasha
and his family when my uncle told me
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-10-24

Don't you like the moon best?"
asked Mary, in a soft and coaxing
tone
Yes answered Tom, and this con-
fession so unnerved him that he moved
one leg of his chair over the edge of
the porch, and was precipitated to the
ground, several feet below.
Time l was going" he said, as he
sat up. Its gittin' late. Goodbye"
Goodbye" said Mary, Il know you
will have such lovely ride through
the moonlight
Then l said to Ann, my wife: THAT
beats anything | ever heard of.
And Ann said: 1T reminds me very
much of the first night you same to
see me-
l turned over and went to sleep after
that.
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-10-24
SOME QUEER CURRENCY.
Potatoes Given for Debt and Onions
For Change.

Boys in the east sometimes thing
money a scarce enough article, but they
really know nothing about 1t compared
with what some Of their cousins FROM
the far Wet could tell them. There,
says the San Francisco Chronicle. one
often gees for days without without
sight cf even SO much as a nickel. ard
then the people resort to all sorts Of
queer devices to make change"
An Eastern man. who had occasion
TO spend many months IN Montana.
tells Of having seen a man buy box
OF matches with watermelon and
receive az change two nuskmellons.
Another paid for stispenders IN turnips
and got carrot OF TWO back with his
purchase.
But Of all the queer financial trans