davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The St. Johns herald., 1897-05-29
GODS PUNISHMENT.
At Last the Little White Box Became
 His PrieOu.

At Last the Little White Box Became
 His PrieOu.
 The tailor's wife took her little boy out for walk the day after they moved next door to the undertakers. The little fellow stopped just outside the wide windows and pointed his chubby fore finger at the white coffin within.
 What's that, mOther?" he asked. He had never seen a coffin.
 That's what they put little boys in when they're naughty" said the moth CT. That's the way God punishes."
 The bonny, bOisterous lad was great trial to her sometimes when she was weary with household cares and she resorted to almost any tale to keep him quiet.
 Every day after that the brown-eyed boy stood for many minutes and looked at the tiny collins behind the heavy glass He grew very Obedient, too, but the mother had become so accustomed to fault-fnding that she never noticed how we'll he minded, but continued to scold, just the same. With every re- proof his beautiful, brown eyes would grow dark with a mist of tears, and he would ask, half fearfully:
 twill you put me in the white box for that, mother? Will God punish me now?"
 Months passed. One day the restless feet went astray again, and the moth CT. in the moment of her extreme vexa- ton, punished him more severely than usual.
 Don't put me in that white box, mOther," he pleaded over and over again between his sobS.
 So saying, he fell asleep. When he awOke the fever was on him, and the pattering feet wandered away no more. Another week passed. Then the brown eyes looked up into hers, the pale lips qulvered, and he said feebly:
 Have you got the white box, mother? Has God punished me yet?"
 Two days later the carriages came and bore him away in state. Gods pun; iShment had come.-Chicago Tribune.
The St. Johns herald., 1897-05-29
Confidence the Keynote to Success.

Confidence the Keynote to Success.
 Doubt and unbelief mean destruc- ton to any business, and a man who loses confidence in his own affairs finds failure awaiting him in short time" writes Evangelist Moody to his Bible Glass in the Ladies' Home Journal. "Uncertainty disqualifies for work and usefulness and doubt that caused tie recent state of depression in our busi- ness interests. Financiers and ecOnO- mists differed in their views regarding the political causes of this feeling of insecurity, but they generally agreed in directly attributing the reverses to th3 lack of assurance in business circles. Confidence is essential to success in every pursuit of life. And this self same truth is no less evident in Spirit ual things than it is in temporal affairs. The only Christian life that Is useful to the church of God and to fellowmen is the one which Is assured of its own salvation. Distrust and unbeIief mean sadness and care.to any soul; but joy and rest come with the certain knOwI- edge of forgiveness and favor with God"
The St. Johns herald., 1897-05-29
Finding Water in the Desert

The Western man who got water In the desert by the aid of a reed and a sponge evidently got the idea from the buShmen of the Kalahari desert in Af- rica. These people often live scores of miles from places where water comes to the surface. During certain times of the year sharp storms pass over the Kalahari, covering the apparently arid region with the brightest of verdure and filling for a few short days the water courses with roaring torrents. The bushmen find water by digging in the bottoms of these dried up river beds. They dig a hole three or four feet deep and then tie sponge to a hollow reed. The sponge absorbs the moisture at the bottom of the hole, and the natives draw it up into their mouths through the reed.
The St. Johns herald., 1897-05-29

The gamblers have a maxim on which they base their calculations for their daily bread, that "a sucker is born ev- cry minute sucker in their par lance being a gullible person who de spite repeated warnings stands ready to give up his money 10 the first sharper he meets. In fact, the sharper does not always have to gc to much pains to get the suckers money, as he is ready to deliver 1t on the first plausible op- pOrtunity. Of course, sucker being born every minute, it is always harvest season for the sharpers, but we do not remember of reading an account of so big har' as that recently made by the E. $. Dean Company, of New York, a bucket-ShOp concern that has just con- veniently failed, leaving 6 host of pa- irons 10 mourn their losses. The head and front of this COrcern, the match less contriver of this colossa, fraud, is said to be a woman, and if this is true she most asSuredly hath the voice par excellence" in roping in victims. Oth- CT schemes are but mere patches to hers. Through plauSibly worded ad- Vertisements, pointing out ho easy ii is to get rich, she attracted patronage from half the States, and :, en ready snapped the spring of the trap and got away with a million and half of money. The only ambiguity about her advertisements was that they did not explain w-ich party was to get rich. She knew all the time. IL .se tricks are played every year, but no one ever seems to profit by tfrir exposure A dozen years ago the great fund W" scheme in Chicago was brought to grief, but nobody knows how many fund schemes on the other letters of the alphabet had brought fortunes to the projectors. This was to be their final coup, and 1t failed, but nobody suffer ed much, except the victims. Truly. the gamblers are right, for the crop of suckers seems inexhaustiblc. A fe- weeks ago MT. Hill, of the Chicago Board of Trade, exposed the modes of bucket-shOp Keepers, but they might be exposed every day in the week and there would still be an abundance of flies walk into the bucKet-shop par Tor. The web Is too beautiful and too attrGctive to be resisted. And the game looks so easyi < man can sit down, pencil in hand, W h the reports and statistics of the wheat or stock market before him, and figure up for tune in less than ] time. Let him try it In actual practice and his money van- ishes as if it were fairy money. For while 1t is the maxim of the gambler that a sucker Is born eve~y minute, it Is tie maxim of the buckct-shOp man that the suckers money, when paid, is his and under no circumstances to be pail out, except as bait. This Is the reason why the bucket-shop nan-or woman-can fail and yet grow rich.
The St. Johns herald., 1897-05-29
Where is my wife?" I asked.

"Where is my wife?" I asked.
 "She followed you down the path" said the man.
 But she Is not therer
 Without a word the notary accom- panied me back to the carriage. Nc trace of the girl was to be seen.
 Right and left among the shrubbery I searched; I called aloud her name entreating her to come to me, but no sight of the beautiful face rewarded my efforts.
 I returned to the notary's study filled with vague misgivings.
 Where can she be?' I asked, dis mally.
 "In her grave" was the hoarse an- swer.
 "Monsieur!
 "I told you before that she was dead. Ii is true. You have welded a ghost"
 
 The next morning, in company with the notary, I drove down the road till we came to the brick wall where first saw Amelie de Boursons.
 We entered the gates and walked to the chateau that stood in the neglected grounds. An old woman admitted us, the care taker, and at the notary's re- quest allowed us to visit the gallery.
 The notary threw back the shutters and the sun came In and flooded the portrait of a beautiful girl whose violet eyes regarded me with the same sweet expression l had noted in my bride of the previous evening.
 ''It is Amelie de Boursons," said the notary, in a gentle voice. "I have seen this picture often, and heard the girls pitiful story, and that Is why I knew her last night to be a mere phantom. Her father was a stern, hard man, who insisted upon her marrying person ut terly distasteful to the young girl. She tried to escape, but was captured and brought home to confront her fate. On the wedding morning they found her dead. She had taken her own life. That was forty years ago, monsleurw As We left the room I glanced curi- ously at the ruby that sparkled on my finger.
 It Is the only evidence I have ever possessed of my phantom bride.-St. Louis Globe-Democrat.
The St. Johns herald., 1897-05-29
"YOur residence" "I am an American"

our feSlueuCt!
 q am an American"
 He wrote the answers in his book. Then. glancing toward the arm chair, he continued:
 ''The lady's name" I waited for her to reply. but as she remained silent, I answered:
 "Amelie de BOursOns."
 "WhO?" cried the notary in a loud voice, springing to his feet, while look of fear and consternation spread over his wrinkled face.
 "Amelie de Boursons," 1 repeated, slowly, infected by the mans agitation in spite of myself.
 The notary stared wildly at the muf- fled form of the lady. Then he drew out his handkerchief and wiped the beads of precipitation from his fore head.
 What does this mean, monsieur?" demanded, angrily.
 The man needed me not the slightest, but clutching the edge of the table to steady himself, and extending his long, bony finger toward the girl, he ex- claimed:
 Are you Amelie de Boursonsw
 Slowly, with admirable grace and dignity, the lady drew back her man. tie, and her marvellous beauty was again revealed.
 The notary, with distended eyes fixed upon the vision, sank back in his chair with low moan.
 This must be explained, monsieur" I cried, striding to his side and grasp ing his shoulder. "Is there any reason why I should not marry Mile. de Bour- sonSW
 Mile. de Boursons," returned the no- tary, still regarding her with horror, "has been dead these forty years!'
 "Dead!' 1 echoed, staring first at the notary and then at the girl, while q sense of bewilderment overcame me.
 Mile. de Boursons arose with a charming smile and came to my side.
 See, monsieur" she exclaimed, mockingly, and giving me her hand, do you also think me dead?''
 The halJl was as cold as Ice, but its touch seIt a strange thrill through my body.
 Come, monsieur" 1 said to the no- tary, whj watched the scene in amaze. ment, read the ceremony at once. We are in haste"
 Slowly and with trembling voice the notary obeyed, the girl at my side re- turning the answers in a sweet, collect ed voice that disarmed my fears and calmed to some extent the notary him. self.
 drew a seal ring from my finger and placed it upon her icy hand, and in its place slipped large ruby from her own hand upon mine.
 The ceremony concluded, paid the notary, thanking him briefly for his services, and followed by my bride walked down the path to my carriage The notary stood in the doorway, lighting us with the candle.
 At the carriage turned to hand my wife to her seat, but she had disap- peared. ran back to the doorway.
The St. Johns herald., 1897-05-29
THE HAND WAS AS COLD AS ICE.

behavior of trees during their life ca raer. In ac0rns especially one may note a remarkable difference in their beha- viOr. Some species of acorn will pre- serve their vital power without much difficulty for couple of years, while others can rarely be found with life after a few mont s. Some when put into the earth will remain months be- fore sprouting, while others will sprout before they are fairly ou. of their cups on the trees.
 The acOrns of the live oak of the South often sprout before they fall The process of germinatinS Is among the most remarkable of all American trees. The root pusf 1s out from the acorn to a distance of many inches be- fore it enters the ground, the root then goes into the earth while the bud or plumule aScends to form the incipient tree trunk. The young tree of the live oak will frequently be :. distance of six inches from the acorn. In this respect the behavior of this species of oak cor responds nearly with what is almost universal in monocotyledonous seeds.
 Another early sprouter is the con- mon white oak. These have Tot been known to sprout on the tree, hut they scarcely reach the ground before the little radicile prepares to enter the earth. It does not wait to get to the surface of the earth before doing this. On shelves or boxes where there is some number of them together the whole will be mass of roots before a few weeks after gathering. On the other hand the nut of the burr oak will remain long time before showing any disposition to sprout. It is these vary ing characteristics which make rules for the transportation of seeds difficult each kind has to h.-e a method of It's own. So far as the two oaks are con- cerned, it has beer found better to send young plants long distances than the acorns them elves. Meehan's Monthly.
The St. Johns herald., 1897-05-29
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place in front, gathered up the reins and drove off as swiftly as could in- duce the ancient steed to move.
 Mademoiselle drew her mantle close ly over her head and shoulders. and but once during the long drive did she speak. Then it was to direct me to the TregOnne road.
 With ample time for reflection, my adventure now began to seem rather queer and uncanny, and by the time we discovered the lights of Tregonne twinkling before Us I had come to doubt the perfect wisdom of my pres ent course
 But 1t was too late to draw back now and the girl was very beautiful.
 "This is the notary's," said my com paniOn, in her low, sweet voice, indi- eating by a gesture rambling struc- ture from whose windows gleamed single light.
 l leaped out, found the door at the end of long pathway, and knocked upon 1t loudly.
 A tall, thin man, beyond the middle age, holding tallow candle high above his head, answered my call.
 You are the notary" asked, brief ly. He nodded assent.
 T wish to be married"
 "Marriedw he echoed in surprise, "but when, monsieurT
 "NOW; at once"
 "But the bride, monsieurT'
 T will fetch the bride. She Is wait ing without"
 I thought he intended to protest, so left him abruptly and returned for the lady. She was already coming to- ward the house, and as I met her she motiOned me to go before, while she followed silently up the pathway.
 The notary admitted us without any ceremony, and we entered a small, dimly-lighted room that appeared to be study.
 My companion at once seated herself in an arm chair, but without removing the mufflings from her face.
 The notary snuffed the candle, ar ranged his books, and, turning to me with a penetrating look, said
 ''I must know your name, monsieur"
 Richard Harrington"
The St. Johns herald., 1897-05-29

Chicago Chronicle: 4 word with the advertiser who stuffs the mail boxes full of printed matter. It doesn't pay. It repels trade instead of attracting 1t
 The householder who sees through the glass darkly what appears to be mail letter and opens his box only to find a eulogium of Smiths soap or Jones' bak- ing powder or RobinSon's s pants is absolutely certain to pass Smith, Jones and Robinson by when he is in need of soap or baking powder or pants. He has been fooled, and it is only human nature that he should "get even" If he can. AS for the brigand who not only stuffs his circular into the mail box or hallway, but rings the bell to attract attention to It-retribution is coming
The St. Johns herald., 1897-05-29

Lieutenant Peary has been detached from the Brooklyn navy yard and or dered to report for duty on the Pacific coast, but announces that his plans for reaching the north pole will 20 on all the same. He is at present hoping that some person or persons will give him $l5O,OO0, and he will then start on his trip. The greatest part of the money. he explains. will be needed to maintain colony of ESkimOS at point further north than any previous colony has ever located. There might be some thing that would thrill the world in the accomplishment of this plan, and yet there are practicalminded people who will think that the money asked for could be better used in founding a col ony of poor white people in some lower latitude,
The St. Johns herald., 1897-05-29

his way in seven-league botos. It will take the-form Of a muscular servant girl. goaded into active hostility by fruitless tramps down four flights of stairs in response to q fraudulent post mans ring and armed with broom or a kettle of hot water as an expression of resentment. The mail box adver- tiSer will do well to leave off his ne- farioLs practices He is defeating his own object and Is courting reprisals. The mail box is provocative of enough wOrriment without being made the target for Obtuse persons who don't know enough to advertise in the proper way--that is to say, in the newspapers.
The St. Johns herald., 1897-05-29

The Tennessee Coal, Iron and Rail- road Company, which employs 5000 coal miners. and whose wage scale gov erns that of 10000 miners in Alabama. has asked its miners to accept re- duction of 1212 per cent. beginning June l. The President says that this will enable the company to take several large contracts for export shipment. In other words, if the men will work for one-eighth less than their present wages the company will e able to pocket a lot of money.
The St. Johns herald., 1897-05-29

The aimless In life are to be pitied. They drift with the current. They are of little account to themselves or to so- ciety. A worthy object is essential to bring out the best that is in us. The man of high and useful ideals, intent upon their realization, is full of push and energy. He gets the most out of existence, and gladdens, enriches, in- spires and helps as he has opportunity.
The St. Johns herald., 1897-05-29

All virtue is cumulative. Exception al deeds of moral excellence or heroism are but the richest of the fruits which u noble character is continually yield ing. Our admiration and respect thus called forth should not be confined to them, but should extend far back into the past life which has made such things possible
The St. Johns herald., 1897-05-29

The Buffalo News calls attention to the case of Noah Raby, a Jerseyman, 125 years old, who started to smoke his mothers clay pipe 120 years ago and has smoked ever since, and asks: 'How would it have been if he had smoked cigarettes?" If he had smoked cigarettes he probably wouldn't have been over 75 years old now.
The St. Johns herald., 1897-05-29
Nothing Unusual.

ParSon Prolix-I think we may say that all reforms are intermittent; even In the church fold the aWakenings are periodical.
 Layman-Yes; noticed that was the case this morning when you pro- nounced the benediction.-Boston Cou. rier.
The St. Johns herald., 1897-05-29

A dispatch from Lancaster, Pa, says: that "iGrS. Jake Elliot shot her hus- band three times yesterday and grave fears are entertained for his recovery" If his recovery is feared perhaps Mrs. Elliot would better shoot hin again.
The St. Johns herald., 1897-05-29

4 Boston paper says: Spring is here at last butterfly was caught at the South End yesterday" This may be the proper way to catch a butterfly, but when you grab wasp 1t is better 10 catch 1t about the middle, shifting northwesterly toward the head.
The St. Johns herald., 1897-05-29

A New York paper offered prize for the best definition of news" and a clergyman walked off with 1t for say ing that news is anything that the general public ought to know" The ten commandments, for instance?
The St. Johns herald., 1897-05-29

According to the Globe, an Atchison woman has figured it out that be tween the ages of Is and r her heart was broken eleven times" Court plas- ter does wonders in such cases.
The St. Johns herald., 1897-05-29
VARIATIONS IN ACORNS.

No Two Seeds Nor Even Two Leaves
 Exactly Alike.
 It Is said that in individual trees scarcely two leaves can be found ex- actly alike. What Is true of leaves is true of seeds, and, indeed, of every part of a tree. It Is also true of the
The St. Johns herald., 1897-05-29

The COrOner's jury viewed a body River and returned a verdict that the decedent "came to his death by drown ing from 9 cause unknown" This is fully as clear as the Chicago River it.
The St. Johns herald., 1897-05-29

Philadelphia proposes to unveil monument to Washington next month which was begun in 1911, only eighty six years ago. Why they should be in such a hurry about it no one seems to
The St. Johns herald., 1897-05-29

The New York papers which issued their Easter number several weeks be- fore Easter hope to be able to bring out their Christmas editions this year about the Fourth of July.
The St. Johns herald., 1897-05-29

The best description of that mysteri- ous nocturnal air ship comes from a Kansas City man. who says it looked to him about as big as a beer glass
The St. Johns herald., 1897-05-29

Lieutenant Peary says he can find the north pole for $150.OO0. IL would be about as easy to find one as 10 find the other nowadays
The St. Johns herald., 1897-05-29

A girl in UniontOwn, Pa, shot burg lar the other night But the corre- spendent doesn't explain what she was shooting at when the accident Oc- oF1rrpd
The St. Johns herald., 1897-05-29

Colorado has passed a law admitting women 10 membership in the State militia. It is about time 10 dramatiZe the new woman as a Durlesque.
The St. Johns herald., 1897-05-29

The local headline, Big Circus in Our Midst" is slightly misleading. The ar rival of cucumbers in the market has nothing to do with ii.
The St. Johns herald., 1897-05-29

If Captain Sug Chlgger. of Wyoming. ever enters politics il is a safe bet that he will come right up to the scratch.
The St. Johns herald., 1897-05-29

The inn at l. o u d r e was very disagree able. The OdOr of garlic and cabbage a n d the damDnoSS
The St. Johns herald., 1897-05-29

Grant's Sreatest monument IS not m Riverside Park.
The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1897-06-17

a serious strike in the San Quentin
prison has been inauRurated recently
1t includes 72O convicts. not one O
whom would do any kind of work. o
this number 40 were put in dungeon
and all the strikers were put ON /,
bread and water diet. The striker,
complained of their food, but it wa
pronounced fully up TO the standard by
the officers of the prison.
The Orange county Chamber OF
Commerce is so busy looking after the
interests of the Santa Ana Valley that
IL holds nightly sessions and burns the
midnight oil. A more public-spirited
body Of men than those who compose
the Orange County Chamber Of Com
lnerce is not 70 be found in Southern
California.
The directors Of the Pasadena Y. NJ.
Z. A. have resigned in a body because
OF their inability 10 extricate the as
ISOLATION from its financial straits
Time was when the Pasadena Y. NJ. G.
a. was one of the largest and most
- -tsNANH0 III AllN s1AoNNs lut
ton for large and handsome associa.
ton building was laid, but the enter
prise had to be given up with the col
lapse of the boom.
The new city directory shows that
Los Angeles is we'll supplied with
members of what are known as the
Liberal professions. There are in
the city 4S4 attorneys, 366 real estate
dealers, 1854 doctors (of whom l2 are
Chinese). and 228 music teachers. The
proportion of music teachers Is espe-
cially liberal. Allowing an average of
only six chamber voices" to the
teacher, this would give total of
1868 embryo PATHS who are prepar-
ing TO let themselves loose on an un-
protected public. The idea is almost
as horrifying as the thought of a war
with Japan.
The dairymen of Fresno are plant
ing Bermuda grass to large extent,
ON sub-irrigated land, and with fine re.
suits. Experiments have been made in
dalrying by pasturing ON alfalfa for
fortnight and then on Bermuda grass
by turns, with the result that a marked
difference in quantity and quality of
milk was developed and to the very
decided advantage of Bermuda grass.
1t does not make good hay, however
The Auditing Board of the Com.
missioner of Public Works at Sacra.
mento has agreed to authorize the en-
gineers to have the Newton Shoals in
the Sacramento River, a short distance
above Rio Vista, bored in order to as.
certain the nature and formation of |
this menace to navigation, and they
were also authorized to formulate and |
present at the next meeting, or as soon
as possible, an estimate of the proba.
BILE cost of the proposed work on the
sacramento and San joaquin rivers
and to consult and act in conjunction
with Captain G. Gillette, who has
charge of the Government work on the
river.