davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1897-02-04
The cocoanut Crab.

The cocoanut crab is one of the oldest
specimens of the whole crab family. He
lives in the South Islands, and makes
a diet of cocoanuts. This species has a
pair of front legs terminated with a
strong pair Of pinchers, and 1t Is with
these that he husks the nuts and breaks
through the weakest portion of the
shell. The crab begins by tearing the
husk, fiber by fiber, and always at the
end where the eyeholes of the nut are
situated, that being the weakest place
In the shell. When the husk has been
removed the crab commences hammer
ing the shell with his heavy claws,
and soon makes an opening, through
which he extracts the meat Of the nut.
Mr.. Darwin. writing of this crab, says;
II think this Is as curious a case Of
instinct as l ever heard Of, especially
in structures so remote from each other
in the scheme Of nature as a cocoanu'
and n crab"
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1897-02-04
THE YOUNG FOLKS.


SCHOOL Girls AoRosTIo.
George Washington was iron willed.
Earnestness was one OF his qualities.
On every battlefield he took his own part.
Round in judgments was this brave man.
Great was he that never was wounded.
Eager for the best was he at all times.
Washington never despaired.
All his victories show bravery.
Silent was he when his advice was not
asked.
He was always ready to fight for a just
cause.
Innexible in justice was he during bis
whole life.
Napoleon. in our mindc, did not equal
him.
Grand besides great was he when in uni
form.
The world remembers him and his vic
tories.
Only him do we call The Father OF Our
Country"
Nothing by him was half-done or done in
ahurried or slovenly manner.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1897-02-04
FALL or TIE LEAVES.

Our house stands in the midst OF lot
of grand old forest trees and sometimes
when l am sitting quietly beneath them
| hear what the, are saying to each other,
writes G. f.; Bennett
One late autumn day the breeze swept
through the branches of the big soft
maple at the bottom of the hill. and she
shivered and said, Dear me, children,
the winter Is coming soon this year: Jack
FROST paid us chilly visit last night"
Then the leaves flu,tered and danced,
saying. Never mind, mother dear. we
will gather closer around you and keep
YOU warm. And see how bright and
golden we are growing. yellow Is so much
more becoming than rusty green" But
the mother tree answered. my darlings,
do not think OF me. Ihave seen many
winters and am not afraid OF Jack Frost
or his brother, the Storm King. / do not
mind the cold, II can only keep my feet
warm, but you are tender and must go
down into your little trundle bed, out of
| the way OF the blasts that sweep the
nights. You must begin to get ready
very soon; yes, some OF you must go
ahead to day to make preparations for the
| Others" and then with every breeze the
| tree kissed some of her leaves goodbye,
and they floated down to the soft grass
at her feet and with every gust OF wind
they raced and flew around. not bein ,
bound to anything, for the first time in
their lives. and thought 1t fine fun to be
| out in the world.
| Shortly after, one night. there was a
very sharp frost and the next day there
was a great 'lcavc taking" and the leaves
dropped down all day long in showers
and fiocks. and covered the ground with
yellow and brown carpet. while the
poor old trees bones began TO show very
plainly, In fact, she looked quite like a
skeleton. 81
Then the Hard Maple whispered TO the
Oak aud Beech. "What a hurry Sister
Soft Maple Is in to get all those children
Of hers packed away. DO you think thai
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1897-02-04
4 TREE .sroRf oe A HORSE.

My great grandfather always attended
church. 1t was serious thing, indeed,
that could keep him at home. As he
lived long distance from the meetln :
house he used to take his family in big
wagon drawn by certain pair of horses
named Jap and Gyp. Why he sold Jap
/ do not know, but he did sell him to a
neighbor. a farmer who lived not far
away. This man never attended divine
service.
One Sunday, shortly after the sale, my
great grandfather started for church.
driving 6yp alone. As he passed his
neighbours house he saw Jap feeding in
pasture adjoining the road. Jap was not
behind his old master in the use OF his
eyes. lie caught sight of Gyp an gal
Looping across the field he leaped the fence.
and with glad whinny he took his place
beside his old mate, trotting along in the
most demure fashion. Into the church
shed with Gyp went Jap. and there lie re.
manned during the long service. Of
course, this little incident did not go I'M
talked Of, and ii was not strange that it
soon reached the ears of laps owner.
IF my horse goes to church. ! guess 1t Is
time l went" was his comment on the
affair. And he did so.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1897-02-04
eirsproof PAPER.

A new fireproof paper, made in Ber-
lin by l.. Frobeen, is reported to he
capable Of resisting even the direct
influence of flame, while 1t may be
placed In a white heat without harm.
1t consists Of ninety-five parts of the
best asbestos fiber, which is washed in
solution Of permanganate of calcium
and then treated with sulphurlc acid,
and five parts of ground wood pulp,
the entire mass being placed in the
agitating box. with the addition Of
some lime water and borax. After
thorough mixing the material Is pump
ed into regulating box and allowed TO
flow out Of a gate into an endless wire
cloth. where 1t enters the usual papc,'
making machinery.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1897-02-04

To smoke In Japan Is 10 perform q
function. A smiling maiden fetched
a box Of sand as II she were about to
clean the knives, and Lit a sulphur
match which smelled as Wiley as II II
were made in Maine. This she allowed
to glow as 1t Stood ON end in the sand.
she brought pipe whose stem was OF
bamboo, metal-t1pped, and the bowl
thereof a dodlmaker's thimble. Into
this she pressed pea of finest to-
bacco, and lighting 1t against the glow
ing match, inhaled one long draugnt.
With soft laughter she wiped the
mouthpiece and passed the pipe over.
A few puffs exhausted it, but another
was ready. In this way one can spenil
a rainy day very pleasantly. Outing.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1897-02-04
LEAD AND ITS USES.

The uses of lead are numerous; II Is
employed in the making of fine glass, en-
abling them to bear til, sudden chan 5es
of heat and cold better also to give glass
a proper degree of weight and render it
more easy to be cut without breaking.
Lead gives 20 glass greater power OF re.
fracting rays Of light, and conferS
upon it higher polish.
A mixture of lead with tin forms pew
ter, anil the same metals in different pro-
portions make that useful article to plumb.
ers and others, soft solder.
You have often seen the thin sheet lead
with which boxes Of tea imported from
china are lined The. manufacture OF
this by the Chinese Is very simple. The
lead plates are not rolled. as from their
extreme thinness might be supposed; nor
even hammered, as the appearance OF the
surface might indicate, but actually cast
at once in the state in which We see them.
Two men are employed. One OF them
seated on the floor, with large Hat stone
before him and with movable Hat stone
stand at his side. His fellow workman
stands beside him with n crucible filled
with melted lead; and having poured a
sufficient quantity on the slab the other
lifts the movable stone and placing II
suddenly on the fluid lead presses it on'
into fat and thin plate which he in.
stantly removes from the stone. A
second quantity Of lead is poured on in
similar manner and like plate formed,
the process being carried on with singular
rapidity. The rough edges Of the plates
are then cut off, and they are afterward
soldere together for use.
Large quantities of lead are used fol-
the manufacture Of shot and bullets
The smaller k nds of shot are made by
pouring the metal from a considerable
hight in consequence Of which it separate;
into globular masses OF different sizes
which cool during their descent and il
the water into which they fall
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1897-02-04
A PITIFUL PROCESSION.
Moving Scene After Massacre OF Az.
menians in Constantinople.


From "A Bystander's Notes Of 4
Massacre" by WAN Troshine, in Serb
ner's, we quote the following:
Two spectacles upon this Friday aad
the succeeding Saturday greatly moved
the hearts of Europeans in Constant
nople. One was the families of pill
LACED Armenians, coming for shelter
from Hasskeuy and Samatia, where
the looting had included the utmost
shred of their household possessions.
They came in numbers to the Galata
Bridge, on their way to take refuge
with relatives in other parts of the
city. Pitiful, broken-hearted groups
they were; weeping widows budding
their orphaned children together; old
men, feeble with the weight Of years.
yet trying to hold themselves erect as
becomes a man suddenly placed in the
office of protector to a younger brood;
and here and there n young man who
had escaped the mob by some miracle
of agility. All were in their nigat-
clothes; the women and girls covered
with some faded shawl or some pitifnl
fragment Of quilt, as with downcast
eyes and flushed cheeks they FASTENED
to the steamers, where they might hide
themselves from the curious gaze OF
the public. A dressing gown or rat
tered work day coat formed the outer
garment of the men, and both men AID
women had only slippers upon their
bare feet. These people stood before
us just as they had escaped from their
houses when the bludgeon-men broke
in the doors; and they wore all that re-
NAMED to them from the furnishings
and comforts of their homes.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1897-02-04
GOLD FROM CLAY.
An important Discovery in Working
Placer Property.

An Important Discovery in Working
Placer Property.
For more than twenty-five years the
great deposits Of clay, breccia and c.
ment, carrying gold values and lying to
the south and southwest Of Denver,
have attracted the attention Of min
ing men resident In this city, and ex-
perlments have frequently been made
with the view to discovering some
method of treatment that would save
the values. 1T has generally been as
sumed by the Investigators that the
goldS carried In these substances was
the source Of supply for the free god
known to exist in the sands Of Cherry
creek, but up to the present time al
efforts 10 extract values in paying
quantities have failed. These deposits
have been traced from as far east as
Akron, along the divide between the
Platte and Cherry creek, between Sc
dalia and Acequia on the Rio Cradle.
into the foothills west of Castle Iiock,
and recently In the new camp OF Wood
land Park. In some places it Is a firm
ly cemented breccia, in others II Is q
clay more or less solidified, and in still
others 1t is hard blue cement; hut in
all cases gold has been found generally
in such small quantities that 1t would
not pay for the cost of treatment,
while at the same time sufficiently pay
able TO excite interest and more or less
expensive investigation.
The ordinary fire assays have seldom
returned more than trace to ", Dill
failure seems only to have stimulated
inquiry, and within the past year OF
two n very decided effort has been
made in the direction of chemical an
alysls, with results which, while moi
entirely satisfactory, are so much bet
ter than anything heretofore obtained
that several enterprises are now on
foot for a thorough test.
The Garnett Gold Mining and Milling
Company has been diligently expert
mentng with deposit of gold-beariiia
clay for nearly year. and Colone
John ID. Fredd and J. NJ. Watt, stock
holders Of the companyi now clain
that they have found method whicl
will save the values at so trifiing an eX
pense for treatment that ore running
as low as So per ton will yield hand
some profit. Colonel Fredd said tina
lie would guarantee that any single
ton of the clay taken from any part OF
their property would yield So per toi
at a cost for treatment Of not 10 eX
coed 50 ton. The process by which
| this result Is obtained is the patent %
julius Jean, who has erected a smtl
plant at Globevile, and proposes t.
make sample test of five tons some
day soon.
The process is said to be n combina
ton Of amalgamatlon and magnetism
and the principle upon which Mr.. Jeai
bases his discovery is the crushing D
the ore into particles as fine as IN
gold contained therein.
The location of the clay deposit froI
which the test will be made Is II
Douglas county, about five miles south
east of Acequia. The Garnet MILLING
| Company has acquired title to 2,.V
acres of land upon which there Is
stratum of auriferous clay ten Zee
in depth.-Denver Republican.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1897-02-04

an inject he filings himself at It. ami
rarely misses his mark. Thanks to the
spreading TANKS OF his skin, the air
upholds him. he alIghts gently on a
lower branch and Is ready TO renew
the chase indefinitely. In prehistoric
days flying reptiles were very numrr-
Gus. II Is only necessary to mention
the dragon and the psychozoic iona
gigantic flying onorthosaurus, which
has completely disappeared of the face
Of the earth.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1897-02-04
R,bblt Hunting with a Hose.

Men who hunt rabbits have got a
new way of driving them from their
holes. The new method Is to, take a
six foot fire or rubber hose and worm.
1t down into the hole and to fix net
over the rabbit hole. When This Is
done, the man yells into the hose as
loudly as he can. Any one who has
ever heard a yell in a cave can imagine
how 1t sounds to the rabbit. The rab-
bit leaps for safety and lands in the
net
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1897-02-04
A Great Engineering Feat.

The London Times of a recent date
descrmIbe in lntereting piece of rapid
structural engineering work which
was accomplished recently on the
Great Eastern Railway system. The
railway bridge over the River Ouse,
on the London and Norwich main line,
near Ely, was completely removed md
n new wrought iron bridge Of one span.
OF somc 800 tons Of dead weight and
40 feet long, erected In It's place. The
night was extremely dark, and the
work was rendered somewhat difficult
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1897-02-04

Between the months Of July and Sep
tember the excess Of births over deaths
In England was upwards of 100000.
The population of the United Kingdom
is now estimated at little short of
40,OOO,OOO
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1897-02-04

DR.. Nansen will lecture In London,
Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee. Aber
deem, Newcastle, Liverpool, Manches-
ter. birmingham, Belfast, Dublin and
Swansea.
Connecticut western news., 1897-12-23

Then pater took hold of her arm, and said so quietly that no one else heard: "Fa- ther Christmas wants to give you present, my dear" So Aunt Aggie rose and let him lead her up to their guest. Just as she came to Father Christmas, however, grandpa and grandma made two funny mistakes. Grand pa accidentally turned the gas right out; and grandma, feeling too warm, it must be pre- sumed, pushed the screen suddenly in front of the fire. It took pater quite a couple of minutes to find the matches (which were in his pocket, after alD; and that couldn't make grandma understand about the screen you see, she is getting rather old-and so nobody saw exactly what happened. Mater has an idea that she heard something about "dear little Aggie!" and "dear old Toml" though she hasn't told anyone, and one and all declare that that naughty old scamp of a Father Christmas was heard to kiss auntie. Probably his bashfulness returned after this, for when the lights were lit again he had dis appeared (grandma seemed to have been handing his clothes round the door, some said).
 And the present which he had left for Aunt Aggie (how she did smile!) was there, you'd never guess itI-Uncle Tom.
 After that, everyone must believe in Fla ther Christmas. Perhaps, if they are very good, some of my readers may get Aunt Ag- gies and Uncle Toms for their presents; but
Connecticut western news., 1897-12-23

cry, and once. I think, grandma and mater wiped their eyes, and grandpa and Aunt Aggie looked very hard into the fire. There was something about peace on earth and good will toward men" and something about remembering those whom they would not for all the world forget, and forgetting little grudges and quarrels that no one wanted to remember. There was something, too, about the happiness of all in receiving. and the greater happiness in giving, and last of all there was something about what it all meant-I think he said kindness and re- membrance and love"-but he faltered so here that one had to guess at the words. Such, he said, were the gifts which their visitor brought, and such were the gifts which all would wish to render in return.
 Then grandpa received pipe, and pater a box of cigars; grandma, wonderful ar engagement to hold up book to read, and mamma pretty stand Che must have heard her say that she wanted something to go in the little window!). The children had dolls, and engines, and books, and boxes, and bon bons--there seemed no end to them. Every one had something, till at last only Auntie Aggie was left: and she seemed to feel this, for she kept clasping and unclasping her hand over her handkerchief, which she had rolled into ball, and looked quite uncom- fortable.
 Then grandpa said, very knowingly: "Fa- ther Christmas, is anyone forgotten?" But Father Christmas became bashful again at this point, and his voice sounded so funny when he began to reply that he couldn't go or. And Aggie trembled so when the chil- dren whispered audibly in her ear: "Say me- auntie," that everyone began to feel uneasy for the moment.
Connecticut western news., 1897-12-23
VsSM SMAyMM& &sMgsxEs1g1E

and followed by wonderful old gentleman in marvellous attire, who, even by the light of the low gas jets and the fickering fire, was easily recognized as Father Christmas him. self.
 Truly he was a remarkable sight. He had jolly red old face, and such twinkling, merry eyes! He wore long white beard, which almost covered his broad, crimson waistcoat. His ample white hair was sur mounted by a crown of holly loaded with berries, and toys peeped out from every pocket of his long green coat. He carried in his right hand a stout staff covered with thick ivy. He laughed all round as he sat down, until everyone laughed again, and he said: "A Merry Christmas and Happy New Yeari" in such a big, hearty voice that they shouted: 'The same to you, Father Christmas!" with one accord. He beckoned the servants to place the parcels on the table in front of him, and, pressing some thing in their hands which made them say: "A Merry Christmas to you, sir!" motioned them out.
 Then he hesitated and began to mop his face with big silk handkerchief, as if he hardly knew how to begin. There could be no doubt that, as pater and grandpa said, he was somewhat diffident and nervous. So pater got up and made another little speech such as no one else could make. Some of it made them laugh, and some of it made them
Connecticut western news., 1897-12-23

in the street became so interesting that he took prolonged look out of the window, whilst pater sketched an elaborate diagram upon his plotting pad.
 However, pater must have cheered Tom up a good deal in the course of the day, for they left the office together in high spirits. They made mysterious and prolonged visit to fancy-dress emporium and one or two other places, and then they stuck big cigars in their mouths, and actually went of and played a couple of hundred at billiards pater's annual dissipation, as he called it. After this they went to the booking office at St. Pauls station to collect half 8 van load of parcels; and finally dispersed at Dulwich with cabful apiece. It was noticeable that Tom had grown very cheer full since the morning, and batter arrived home so full of jokes and merriment that even Aunt Aggie had to smile.
 Then the real business of the day began. There were the nieces and nephews to visit, with presents; there were the Christmas boxes to the servants, the parcel-bringers, and all sorts and conditions of men and women-for pater didn't believe in waiting till boxing day. There was the final stirring of the Christmas pudding, solemn annual rite, under the superintendence of cook, at which each member of the household was ex- pected to be present. After this the chil- dren went to bed, and the onerous functions
Connecticut western news., 1897-12-23

woke at five, and filled the house with yells of rapturous excitement when they saw the array of toys in and around their bloated stockings. But wise nurse had lit the gas stove in the nursery, so that they could play there during the small hours without dis turbing everyone else; and excepting that Roy took header of the new rocking horse, and Dot warmed wax dolls nose triie too much at the fire, no harm was done. Pater was, as usual on such occasions, a fourth child, and the youngsters were in high glee all the morning.
 Then grandpa and grandma came, bring ing presents for all the older ones-it being understood that they had been somehow in league with Santa Claus as regards the children. And everyone had present for them, even the little ones, whose pennies had been remarkably productive in pater's hands.
 The dinner was Al, the pudding in par ticular being such success that cook was called in for special compliment, and nearly fell over chair lowing herself out. Every thing was so jolly that it really did seem strange for Aunt Aggie to look so grave, un- less, suggested little Molly to Dot, she was looking for present from Uncle" Tom which hadn't come.
 After dinner pater made little speech which excited the curiosity of everyone, and announced an event which made that Christ
Connecticut western news., 1897-12-23
New Year Greeting.

 My wee. sweet one, with the clustering
 curls,
 And the eyes so darkly blue, With the ruby lips and the two white pearls That ever are peeping through, l send you kiss, where'er you may be, And a greeting full of cheer, May the angels comfort and care for thee And grant thee glad New Year. My bonny youth, with noble brow, And the full, untroubled eye, Whose only song is of pleasure now, And joy in the by-and-by, I send my message across the sea, Hope on with never a fear, Both long and gay may thy journey be, wish thee a glad New Year. My aged one, with the snowy hair, And the feeble step and slow, Thy voice that joined in the midnight
 prayer
 Was strangely faint and low. I greet thee now, but look to see If the Boatmans draweth near, And speak no word, since know for
 thee
 God bringeth Glad New Year.
 -Lalia Mitchell, in Ladies' World.