davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1898-12-22

lonely, who listened 10 his suit at last.
because the other man was gone-the
obstacle removed. chance bullet bad
done 1t; even as that thought came to
him, he raised his revolver and took
swift aim and fired and shot the other
In the back. He saw him reel and fall
out OF the saddle; and then, with the
deed done, all the horror Of 1t swept
over him. There was no longer any
woman in the mental landscape; this
man alone filled it--this man who was
his friend, and whom he had traitor
ously slain. With an oath of despair
he set spurs to his horse, and flung his
sword aloft and rode through them and
fought his way to where the man lay.
He got him out; how, the dispatches
attempted to show afterward; with q
wondrous valor, he fought his way
single-handed, bearing the other man,
and brought him to safety. But the
aim had been sure, after all; the man
never recovered consciousness and
died within an hour.
Thereafter this history hurries at
speed to its ending. A grateful coun-
try hung on the murderer's breast the
Victoria Cross for valor in bringing
out his wounded comrade under fire;
a grateful woman, with tears in her
eyes, tried to thank him for the splen-
dor of that devotion which had risked
SO much In the endeavor to save his
friend; in all tenderness, and purity.
and admiration, she offered him tho
love she had before denied. And the
man stood before her, and wept the
bitterest tears that surely ever man
wept yet.
The world has never ceased to Won
der at two circumstances-why this
gallant officer refused to wear his V.
c., and why he shot himself through
the heart in his dressing room on the
morning of his wedding day.-Pick-
Me-Up.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1898-12-22
Go Live on a Farm.

The person who does not love Ifs
in the country has lost the best part
Of his nature by being cast out of the
garden of Eden at an early period OF
his life, to be artificially reared on the
sights, sounds and smells Of the streets,
alleys and sewers OF some city. He
knows nothing of real home life-cities
have very little-as a rule, only num-
Der so and So such a street; he has
very little sense of home joys and af-
fections; the pure air and water Of the
country; its holy quietudes; its gentle
appeals to all the senses; its solitudes.
where turmoil and mob never intrude;
its delightful woods. it's sports and
pleasures; its loves and friendships, I'M
defiled by the dust and CRIME Of crowd
ed tenements and tnronged thorough
fares; its sacred privacies and seclu-
sions; it's leisure, its freedom and inde-
pendence from the intrusions and de-
mands OF hurrying urban life and its
sacred exemptions from the gross con-
facts and associations of the busting
and shouldering streets-all these, and
more akin to them, make the rural ex-
istence a perpetual delight, undefiled by
the conditions that attend the con-
slant pressure OF mixed and crowded
population.
The farm is not a bonanza, but it
feeds the world. To one accustomed.
It's labors are easy and healthy; its in
cidents interesting, its rests. changes
and relaxations, with exchanges of WIS.,
its, always full of recreation; its crops
engage continual care and attention.
with daily vicissitudes weather that
never destroy hope and even cheer
with promise Of fruition, and at the
last, with garnered crops, it affords you
plenty, with roaring fire under your
own roof-happy in being monarch Of
all you survey, despite the struggles
for bread in the cities, and the never.
ending exertions and woes inseparable
from style and its silly rivalries.
Go back to the country, young man.
Go home to the farm. Seize the plow
and become an independent and happy
man, though you may miss wealth.
fashion and luxury.-Norfolk Pilot.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1898-12-22


Welt till ye gets to Cherry en- den y
are in Middle alley"
They followed this itinerary, Tommy
running ahead to point out the way.
They entered the alley between two
enormous brick tenements, through a
big iron gate, and after a wearisone
climb up crooked stairways arrived It
the O'Dowd residence. Tommy wet
into the room, and as Thomas lingerd
on the threshold he heard a stridelt
voice say:
$50 that's you, you little scut! Sue
you had the heart o. me ar bruk WIS
that freckened! All. good evenin' o
we, sir" as Thomas stepped insid.
Come in, sir. It's little we have, bit
ye're welkim as IL 'twace a palace, sr.
Tommy. We amodhoun, you, get tie
gintleman a chair"
"I hope you will excuse me, Mn.
O'Dowd," said Thomas, "but saw yo,r
little boy looking In toy store viii
dow and thinking he might be lost
came home with him"
Now, amt that kind o. you, sir"
exclaimed Mrs. ODowd. "Sure it's net
many would do the same. so there"
"But We needn't be freckened abou
that little blaggard. Faith. he'd firi
his way from Harlem to the Batther,
50 he would"
In such genial converse the tine
passed, while Tommy and his mothr
supped on mackerel and potatoes. An
when Tommy had been tucked AVA
for the night in his mothers bed undr
the mantel, on which stood a plastr
cast OF the Virgin. with hands ou-
spread in benediction, Thomas had a
whispered talk with Mrs. O'Dowd. A.
terrupted at frequent intervals by sub
EXPLANATIONS as, ooh, dear, may yo,r
shadow never grow less!" MAY yo,r
wife never attend your funeral" etc.
At 9 o'clock Thomas was walking 1,
Roosevelt street with eager footstep
He stopped at grocery store and mac
a purchase, then hurried up into Pafs
Row again. The toy store man w.
putting up his shutters, but Thoms
prevailed on him to go inside. and I
10 o'clock he was back in Middle ALA,
again. Tears Of delight filled Nh
O'Dowd's eyes as she met him at tle
entrance to the alley and led him N
the labyrinthine staircase. There VS.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1898-12-22
present yourself. Z"
HIa Personal APPEARANCE.

We are left entirely to conjecture as
to the personal appearance Of Jesus
the boy, and We have no means Of
knowing how He looked as He wan
dered over plain and by seashore, ov-
erturning the world by His words.
There is, however, story descriptive
OF Him as a man which comes from
the fourteenth century. He was ex-
ceedingly fair to behold. His stature
was full seven spans. His hair was
light and not very thick, slightly tend
ing to curl. His eyebrows were dark
and arched. His eyes were bright, with
a dash of yellow. His beard was blond
and not long. He wore His hair down
his shoulders, for 1t had never been
cut. He stopped slightly. very slight
ly. at the shoulders, never walking
wholly erect. His complexion was Of
the color of ripe wheat, golden hue. and
His face was not round nor yet long.
but oval like His mothers, and II had
Just tlnge of ruddiness. AS one look
ed at him he was strangely impressed
by the intelligence, the gentleness, the
freedom from all passions therein ex-
pressed.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1898-12-22
THE LIGHTHOUSE.

rhe plunging storm flies fierce against
the pane,
And jars our cottage with redoubled
shocks,
The chimney mutters and the rafters
strain;
Without, the breakers roar along the
rocks.
See. from our fire and taper-lighted
room,
How savage, pitiless and uncon-
trolled
The grim horizon shows its tossing
gloom
or waves from unknown angry CULTS
uprolled;
Where, underneath that black, porten-
tous lid,
A long pale space between the night
and sea.
Cleans awful; while In deepest dark
ness hid
All other things in our despair agree.
But 10, what star amid the thickest
dark
A soft and unexpected dawn has
made?
o welcome lighthouse, thy unrufiied
spark
Pierces the turmoil and the deathly
shade.
BY such a glimpse DER the distracted
wave
Full many a soul tonight is re-
possest,
OF courage and of order, strong to
save;
And like effect it works within my
breast.
Three faithful men have set themselves
to stand
Against all storms that from the sky
can blow,
Where peril must expect no aiding
hand,
And tedium no relief may hope to
know.
Nor shout they, passing brothers to in
form
What WEAKNESS they feel, or what
alright;
But TRANQUILITY in solitude and storm
Abide from month to month-and
show their light.
William Allingham.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1898-12-22
SIS per week,

but because of TN, sevailing hard
times his income had been re-
duced to s12. This sum, with
some little change, comprised his
cash capital. AS he buttoned his coat
about his neck he reflected ruefully
that this was very small sum with
which to meet his expenses and to buy
Christmas presents. The wind blew
briskly down Park place as he walked
toward Broadway. thinking Of the COM
Ing rent day. the empty coal bin. and
the new dress he had promised his
wife. His thoughts were saddsned ss
- sSI1SInOcreu JndJ his llttle DOy
would have been nearly five years old
had he lived until Christmas. There
was a sense OF construction In his
throat as he thought OF last years
Christmas tree. bright with spangles,
irradiated with light and whitened with
popcorn balls. Then against the walls
OF memory stood out clear and distinct
the figure of his little boy standing in
his white nightgown In the gay dawn
Of Christmas day, with flushed cheeks
and eyes dancing with delight, looking
at the marvellous Christmas tree.
On Park row, near the corner of
Chambers street, there was toy store
Of most wonderful variety. AS Thorn
as came down the street, his mind in
tent on his own misery. his gaze fell
upon one Of the most pathetic figures
he had ever seen. Before the window
OF the toy store stood a little boy,
whose nose was fattened against the
pane. His body shivered with the cold,
but his soul was aflame with desire,
which was expressed in his hungry
eyes, Thomas estimated his age at S
years. He wore an old coat, which had
evidently been made for boy twice
his age. Pins usurped the place of
buttons on the garment. His feet were
thrust into pair of yellow CATERS, as
siduous wear affording excellent but
cruel ventilation. His trousers, held
Up by pieces OF string, were fpsyed and
Widowed In a manner suggestive OF
the fact that the boy had been handled
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1898-12-22

lot o. money, amt 1t? Hully gee
Look at de dinky little tin sojer! Ain!
he corker! Mister, is your little boy
goin' to hav' a Krismus tree?"
"Pm afraid not this year sonny"
Thomas replied. my little boy is in
Heaven"
where's dat? Across de river?"
Eyes, it is across the river" replied
Thomas, gravely. putting the little fell
low down upon the sidewalk. What
is your name?" he continued.
Tommy O'Dowd," replied the boy,
"and l live in Middle alley"
well, Tommy" said Thomas, you
go with me to the telegraph Office and
then I'll go home with you"
And so, hand in hand, the strangely
assorted pair went to the telegraph Of
flee and Thomas sent this dispatch to
his wife in Harlem:
Dear Mollie: Detained down town
by important business. Will be home
at IL o'clock"
do you know the way homer" asked
Thomas as they came out of the tele-
graph Office on Park Row again.
eyes," said Tommy. scornfully. II
know all de streets. Ye goes down
New Chambers street till we comes to
Roosevelt, den we goes down Roose-
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1898-12-22
A Strange Hero.

Except in melodrama, 1t does not
often happen that a man has the OPP
portunity neatly, and without fear Of
after consequences-of removing from
his path any human creature who may
chance to stand in the way of his per-
sonal happiness or ambition. And
even where the opportunity is given,
and seized, it may happen that the vic
tim springs up guv5,r--sv- ----i .-~--.in q
with a power greater than it WELD
ed in the flesh.
The two men who figure in this brief
history were officers In the same cav
airy regiment; they were further link
ed-or divided-by the fact that both
were in love with the same woman
Let It be said at once that she was a
woman worthy of alteration; that no
worship men could give her could be
too great or too absorbing. AS may,
perhaps, be anticipated, however, she
gave her love, wholly and completely,
to the one man; to the other she ex-
pressed-with all gentleness-her sor-
row, and her pity for his disappoint-
ment. In a mad desire to heal his
wound, she tore it little wider by Of
fering him her friendship.
The unsuccessful lover took the mat
ter badly; in all his dreams there had
been but one woman in the wide earth
for him, and he felt he was now but
a sorry wretch, struggling alone in out
er darkness. Despite the fact that an
other man held her heart, and was to
marry her on a date that had been
actually fixed, 1t is safe to assert that
he never gave up the hope OF possess
ing her-never abandoned his love as
a really impossible thing.
The projected marriage was post
poned by an unexpected circumstance;
the regiment was ordered to the front,
and both men had to go. Ostensibly
they went as friends; the one smoth-
cred his feelings as best he might
when the troopship sailed. and the
woman waved handkerchief to the
other, and shed tears which were FOR
love OF that other also.
II is unnecessary to describe the
campaign; 1t was hot work. and deadly,
and weary. The happy lover seemed
to bear a charmed life through 1t all:
perhaps the thought OF the woman
who awaited his return nerved his
arm. In more than one fierce and aw-
full moment the two men rode side by
side. with their lives literally In their
hands.
Once, the unhappy man heard the
lover murmur the woman's name-it
might have been a talisman-while he
rode In the thick OF the fight. And
then at last one day the devil rode at
his elbow, plucking his very sleeve,
and pointing out the way that is Of
fered us all. at some time or other,
IL we will but take 1t, and itifie con-
science.
It was one OF the hottest Ashts they
had known-mere hand-to-haad work.
with men springing up, yelling and fir
ing. all about them. Blades were flash
ing. bullets whizzing in every Erection:
in the dust and smoke II was scarcely
possible to distinguish fried from
foe. The rejected one saw his brothef
officer. cheering on his men, aid fight
ing splendidly, scarce a dom yards
away. And there, even in tie act OF
warding off a blow, and cuttig down
a dusky figure, he saw his way clearly
and shuddered for a moment, nd took
It.
He had had a vision OF awoma2
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1898-12-22

I. At the age Of one hundred and
'i'leven years the oldest man in vi
:, .nna" is described as hale and hearty,
10 nd able to enjoy a joke and other
1 God things of life. He was six years
> :, Id when Louis XVI. of France was be-
!; teaded, eighteen when Trafalgar was
fought, and fifty when Queen Victoria
stlegan the longest reign in British his
o,ory. And this is his philosophy OF
"a lie: II never worried and l never
,pTieved. l worked until l was tired,
q ind slept in unbroken rest until It
vas time to work again. 1t is those
swho sit brooding over their misfor-
Blunes who grow old before their time,
wind whole nights sorrowing has
lrnevI.' put copper into any mans
. ,ocket or made misfortune lighter to
toDear." Concerning his personal ha-
bits, he says, II got drunk twice in my
ife-once through my own fault and
s'Snce through the fault of others; and
- was so dreadfully i'll afterward that
ut was not difficult to keep sober with
y. hat remembrance on my mind" There
ire profound truths in his philosophy
gnich, II adopted, would physically
. benefit every human life.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1898-12-22

est The announcement that the silk
manufacturers of the United States are
poeapidly increasing the expectation of
re 1eir products adds interest to some
'ssccently compiled statements by the
= r-easury bureau of statistics regard
nisig the silk manufactures and impor-
Fqations and expectations Of this coun-
es@'y during the past few years. These
pogures show that the manufacture OF
milk in this country has increased
ge Enormously, that the imports of man
pa featured silk have meantime been
Preatly reduced, and the expectations
.'f silk manufactures are now increas-
VIg very rapidly, the total exports for
1s be present calendar year being more
- han so per cent in excess of the cor
responding months of last year, and for
=, he full year will be six times as much
us in 1890.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1898-12-22

IN Nicola Tesla promises miracles. He
Fill telegraph without wires, and OPP
terate ship at sea by magnetic waves
gerom the shore, which will con-
'ohol the machinery and guide the ship
Quite as well as if there were officers
~ !. nd crew aboard. There will therefore
re no commerce that will give poor
,ack employment; and as for fighting
sea there will be total absence OF
-, with nobody to work the guns or
, 10 the killing and the dying.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1898-12-22

| iDre mysterious whispering. Then
Ms. O'Dowd flew downstairs again to
&c bundle OF kindling wood. II was
WILL that Tommy was sound sleeper,
az the fieeting forms of shadowy fig
ues and the rustic OF papers would
have disturbed him.
1t was 11:30 when Thomas arrived
a. home and greeted his anxious wife.
When they retired Thomas said:
| Molly. set the alarm for o'clock
pmorrow, and get your wraps ready.
for intend to take you along TO help
play joke on Tommy O'Dowd."
She piled him with questions. ne
gave her evasive replies. At O'Clock
Thomas and his wife arrived at Middle
alley.
us he awaken" he asked anxiously
| Of Mrs. O'Dowd, who met them at the
| door.
mo; the saints be praised, he's sleep
IN like the dead. Come here at the
ture and watch"
The door had been thrown wide
open, but Mrs O'Dowd had hung her
Sunday shawl over the opening. Be-
hind the folds OF this garment the
three persons watched and waited. the
blinds had been carefully closed, SO
that not a ray OF sunlight came into
the room. Three kerosene lamps were
blazing with light to their utmost ca
pacity. 1t was painfully still In the
room, and by listening intently Ihom-
as thought he could hear the gentle
breathing of the little boy AS the
minutes licked slowly away the suS-
pense was almost unbearable. A move
ment in the bed caught the ears Oh Inc
listeners. Then the bed clothes were
thrown aside and the little fellow sat
upright, apparently paralyzed Win
amazement. Upon a little table De-
tween the windows stood a Christmas
tree two feet tall stuck into the mluuie
OF bundle of wood. The light "ds
reflected from a hundred pieces OF reu
paper tied to the scrawny oonghs'
dozen red and white popcorn pails
hung like apples on the limbs. Lltlte
candles twnkled through the scant loi-
iage, while barber-pole candy, TIN
soldier and jumping jack were prom
inently displayed. 1t was an Aiaddln-
like scene. And before this radiant
vision, like a saint before shrine,
with hands clasped in adoring admira-
ton, stood little Tommy, while his
mother was weeping tears of JOY with
her face hidden in the shawl.
Thomas and his wife stole quietly
out and left them.
George, stop" said Mrs. Thomas
when they reached the corner OF
Roosevelt and Cherry streets. Uplift-
ing her face, which was convulsively
working with tender emotion, she said:
What did 1t cost to play that little
joke on Tommy"
Just II cents, sweetheart" he re-
piled.
They walked on for another block.
But Mrs. Thomas was bubbling over
with excitement, and she stopped her
husband again and exclaimed:
But yUu na,0n-S-.---y-~ .-
present yourself"
Nonsense, Molly, haven't"
He was interrupted by two soft arms
around his neck and a kiss. Then
Molly began to cry. But George quick
ly soothed her, and as they sat in the
elevated car flying toward Herlem he
said:
Molly, thought l was very much
abused man last night, but I've chang
ed my mind. l think l could walk
from the Battery to Harlem on soap
bubbles and never burst a bubble to-
40,
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1898-12-22
Proof Positive.

did Fisher have a good time on his
little outing?"
Yes, indeed. only saw him for q
minute and had no time to ask any
questions, but 1 could see that the
skin was peeling from his nose, his
neck was so sore from sunburns that
he could not wear collar; his hands
were blistered so that he could hardly
use them, and he complained that he
had rowed the boat until his arms
were so lame that he couldn't hold
pen. oh, he must have had a magni-
ficent time, and l understand he got
three or four fish, too."-Chicago Post.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1898-12-22

How few there are who, after hear
rhe1g lecture or sermon, can report it
N nth fair degree of correctness, even
lbs nough it may have greatly interested
thehem! A poor memory is pleaded;
tioIut the memory itself Is largely de-
M. endent upon the caraf--A- aud str'r'
--on1TOn or the listener IL 1t were
Isnly for the sake of the pleasure and
|natenefit which would ensue from the
Is nide dissemination of the thoughts
nhich can be given only to small audi
tathcss, it would seem well worth while
ne cultivate assiduously the power of
estening attentively and hearing cor
essectly.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1898-12-22

"Wall, Doc" said the old man, per
haps I'd orter not ha' called you. I
guess the OIL woman's right 'nough
dead, but wanted to make sure Of the
thing"
To this day the poor old man can
not understand why the doctor de-
clined his further advances.-Chicago
Tribune.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1898-12-22
The Old Hunks.

Mrs. hugwater-Josiah, did you
ever notice how common 1t is for girls
to look like their fathers?
Mr.. Chugwater-Of course I have.
Most of them look like their fathers.
That's why so many girls faces are
their fortunes.-Chicago Tribune.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1898-12-22
A Better Reason.

Mack-Is IL true that Bulhon's
daughter eloped with his coachman?
Wyld-Yes.
Mack-I suppose Bullion is furious.
Wyld-I should say so. He says he
can never get another coachman that
will suit him as well.-Brooklyn Life.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1898-12-22

SAY, MISTER. LIF' ME UP"
upon poverty's knee. Thomas took In
all these details as he stopped beside
the boy and watched him. The in
durated expression in the little face.
the plnched nostrils, the blue circles
under the eyes, and the wolfish look
on the wan fea0ures faded away as the
child turned to Thomas and said:
Say, mister, lif' me up so / kin see
de candy cigarettes"
Thomas lifted the boy in his strong
arms so that HIS range OF vision in
cluded all the Tantalus delights Of the
bazaar.
II wisht me mudder was goin' Z hav'
a Krismus tree, but she says she can't
have none dS year, cause she amt
got no dust. She scrubs IL de Morse
huildin' en- gets 81 week. Say. dat's
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1898-12-22

A correspondent OF the Rochester
d4erald thinks that Colonel Roosevelt
aever was sincere, and that he went to
var for political purposes. Prejudice
frequently warps good judgment, but
nut seldom twists II entirely out OF
o1hape. However, II we had an army
IF insincere soldiers of that kind It
,ould whip the universe.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1898-12-22

There was considerable smoke and
Confusion at Santiago but Admiral
Cervera has very fair idea of just
What happened to his fleet and who was
responsible.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1898-12-22

1t is rather discouraging to a man
Seo have to wait until after he is dead
an order for the world to find out how
heood he was.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1898-12-22

A woman never laughs at love unless
vac Is afraid OF II.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1898-12-22
Tommy
ODowd's
Christmas.

HE S b a d o W S Of
Christmas eve were
I a in g over the
city as G eorg e
Thomas, a N e W
York city mechanic,
stepped d o W n on
the s i d e W a / k in
Park place on his
way homeward. His
aa- ng capacity
Gl8 per week,
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1898-12-22
Ar Aftertboupbt.

Little Boy Ito his mother, after pa
ternal discipline)-Ma, I'm afraid we
made a great mistake in marrying pa.
-Tit-Bits.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1898-12-22

rims An authority states that a ton Of
diamond is worth s95,000000 Re-
Birember this, and don't pay cent
lkaore.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1898-12-22

IS Who can subdue his own anger is
5olore than strong; who can allay an
5hther's is more than wise. Hold fast
him who can do both.