davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1898-07-02

some jumpers, and then he would take
his fathers place in the section gang
and would support her. Mrs. Duck
worth smiled through her tears, and
vas brave and patient for her boys
sake.
The months passed slowly by, and
two years had gone since Mr.. Duck
worth's death, when my story begins.
Through these years Johnnie had
trudged regularly to the little school
house, which was a long ways off, and
was standing finely in his lessons; and
his mother spent her time missing him
and expecting him, and sewing to sup
port him. Her neighbors used to ask
why she didn't come off the plain and
live among them, more cozy like"
where the trees grew, but both she and
Johnnie felt it a duty to stay where
they could watch the long sweep of
railway track. Johnnie's interest in
everything concerning the trains con-
tinued and grew, and the boys in the
neighborhood used to laugh and call
them his big pets.
Johnnie vas a serious boy, and his
fathers death made him more so. He
did not seem to cart to play with other
boys very much. His mother used to
urge him to do so, saying that he was
getting too old-fashioned, yet dreading
all the time that he would follow her
advice, for he was very companionable.
Johnnie was old-fashioned; but a hoy
would have been very old-fashioned
indeed not to want to celebrate the
Fourth of July royalty. For this special
Fourth that l am going to tell you
about, Mrs. Duckworth had promised
her son a dozen packages of little fire
crackers and five packages of great big
ones; but Johnnie, although he did not
say anything, was not satisfied. What
he wanted was a colored light, and he
wanted it fervently and persistently.
The year before one of the rich farmers
celebrated the Fourth by a display of
fireworks in the evening, the like of
which Johnnie had never seen. The
farmer had imported them from far New
York. There were rockets and Roman
candles and scintillating wheels, such
as the little village way up in the north
of the state had never had on the coun-
terofits one store. And, wonder of won
ders! there were great lights, green and
red, that lit up acres and acres of the
farm, and even illuminated Johnnie's
and his mothers facesas they sat on the
little piazza of their home watching the
distant show. The next day Johnnie
The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1898-07-02
UNION OF SKIRT AND WAIST.
Pins and Wear "Braces,"
Like Her Brother.

Since women have so invaded the
domain of mems attire it is a pity they
shouldn't adopt therefrom something
truly practical and useful, as well as the
''four-in-hands," and vests, or even
shoes, which the smart girl appropri-
ates for her own.
The superstition is that when a WON,
an gets up on a summer morning she at
once proceeds to array herself in a cot
ton blouse and Il skirt-simple, inof-
fensive garments, one would think, but
experience has proved that in unison
they can be yeritable fiends. The blouse
is donned first, then the skirt, followed
by a waistband TO conceal their union.
Now, that skirt will certainly drop at
the back, so, to provide for this contin.
gency, a safetypin-usually of a fancy
order and of such proportions that il
might pose as a freak in a travelling
shows put through all three-i. e..
blouse, skirt, and waistband-to hold
them together. Just when one is about
to compliment ones self hat it's man.
aged all right this time it is discovered
that the blouse has worked up at the
back, and there is a bagginess about il
which suggests that the wearer's body
is back to front. This must be RENE.
died, so the huge pin is removed, the
blouse is pulled down, and when the pin
is adjusted once more the skirt is not
right. Here's a really good idea of 8
remedy:
What could be more effectual than 6
pair of braces to keep the skirt in po-
sition? Not of course the fearful and
wonderful articles sold under the name
for masculine wear, but a nicely-em-
broidered pair bestrewn with bios
SONS, which are, for the most part.
strangers to every botanical order. In
future, then, let Tilted damsels demand
the return of their presents, especially
If they include embroidered braces
Chicago Tribune.
The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1898-07-02

floating down the river. In fancy he
could see it going its course, shining
brightly and lighting up the trees on
the opposite bank. And how surprised
the little fish would be to find the river
turning red! He wished he could see
the fishes with their mouths wide open
staring at his light-the little fish who
didn't know anything about the Fourth.
Johnnie did not need to be so p~atroniz-
ing in his feeling toward the fishes, for
he himself did not know much more
about the Fourth than that people
always shot off ~firecrackers on that
day. He was glad he had not gotten a
green light, for it wouldn't make much
contrast with the night, which is dark
green. Then, as the water looks green
anyway to the fishes tit must, for it
looks so to people on land), why, they
wouldn't be much surprised to see the
river simply lightening-they would
think it was morning. But think of the
exquisite shock to each fishy heart to
be awakened by a burst of rubiness
overhead Johnnie's head was sinking
lower and lower on the window sill and
his thoughts were getting very fan
tastic, as you see. Rousing himself, he
slipped into his little bed and then put
his hand up under the cool pillow to
touch-the red light! Think of 1.-THE
had taken it to bed with him!
The wind, as Johnnie's senses were
being stolen by the sandman, was in
creasing, and there was a distinct smell
of rain in the air. The boy opened his
eyes and looked put of the window.
The wind seemed to be blowing the lit
tie fly-away sailboat of a moon over the
green sky at a dashing rate. Johnnie
thought the o was a boatIam not
making him think so-and as he closed
his eyes he wished he were in the boat
and wondered if he should be able to
hold the sheet of the golden sail in such
a gale, and then he fell fast asleep.
1t seemed to him that he had been
sailing for some time when there was a
stopping of all things, and he awoke
with a start. 1t was at that solemn
hour just before dawn. Johnnie crept
to the window to see if there was now
a promise of a fair day. The storm had
ceased, but it must have been a furious
one, for the firm little bridge hat Mr.
Duckworth had built over the river a
few steps from the house was broken.
Johnnie could plainly see the wreck in
the clear night. Just then he heard a
sound, a sound as big as a sigh, way,
way off. It was the Canadian express
The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1898-07-02
A LESSON IN MOBILIZATION.
me Way Manager "Jim- Moved His
Company of Entertainers from
Place to Place.

The best paying theatrical eombin.
alton ever heard of was a colored one,"
said the buyer from the south.
Ministries, eh?" said the theatrical
man.
No, not exactly MINISTRIES, though
they did plenty of singing and dane
ing. l believe they were really the first
troupe to bring this buck-and-wing
business into favor on the stage. But
that wasn't exactly what made it paw
so well; it was the small cost, Of trans
portation. It's a hint for the army men
these war times.
"Jlm-never mind his other name.
His first name is Jim, and lie knows
Afro-American nature, among other
things|Jim got the troupe together in
a city where the negroes are as thick as
flies, especially along, the levee. 1t was
a sort of vaudeville show that they
gave, representing old-time southern
life, with plenty of room for singing,
and ~pigeon-wing acts, and cake walks.
Jim knew that a levee niger loves a
dance-that isn't any mere stage the
cry, l can tell you-so he offered some
thing-1 don't know how littIe-some-
thing in the way Of cash, to every dark
skinned bum and roustabout who could
cut pigeon wings and would 90 on the
road with this show to act as 'supe.'
Il didn't take him many days 10 get all
the 'supes' he wanted and string of I'M
derS'udies besides. 1t was like being
paid to eat and sleep, to them.
There were five principal roles in
that drama and room for about 80
'supes.' When the show was over in one
town Jim had only to buy tickets for his
principals. He would say TO the 'supes:'
Boys. deere going to play at Blankville
tomorrow or whatever the next stand
might be. The ~neighboring country
would be overrun for 81 hours or sc
with coloreG actors and when the cur
tain went up at least so per cent. of The
'supes' would be on hand. That was 4
good working quorum for the cotton
picking and the cake walk Genes. Not
one Of those niggers would have missed
the show if be could help it."
well, did Jim make a fortune out
of it?" asked the theatrical man.
NO" said the southerner. That was
the pity ofit. Jim was beginning to get
along splendidly when the carelessness
of a freight train conductor resulted in
the Death of one of the finest cake walk
ers in the troupe. The conductor sud
denly backed the cars. or something
like that, and the poor 'supe' got
pincbed between the buffers. And after
that Jim fel: that the lives of his troupe
were not safe unless he paid out all his
receipts buying railroad tickets for
them, That made it necessary to dock
the number of 'supes,' and the snow fell
off."-N. Y. Sun.
The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1898-07-02
HUMOROUS

Soulful Youth lat piano)-"Do you
sing For Ever and Ever?'" M~atter-of-
Fact Maiden-"No; 1 stop for meals
Tit-Bfts.
Worth the Money.-"Why do you al
ways give that blind man a nickel?"
HE knows me, and he always winks at
me."-Chicago Record.
A Observation-Disclosures twins, Pat;
wan bhoy an wan gur-rl." His Brother
-"Begorra, thin am Oh an uncle or an
aunt, Oh dunno?"-Puck.
Her Exception.-"He is fippant. He
can't be serious if he tries" yes he
can. He is very serious when he tries
to be funny."-Harlem Life.
He-"We must devise some plan for
getting your fathers consent to our
marriage" She-"Well, we-er-might
put our heads alphabetically
Life.
Ironical Fate.-"What was the great
est disappointment of your life" asked
her dear friend. "When a deaf and
dumb man tried to tell me he loved me
in a dark hallway."-Boston Traveller.
The Office Boys Romance.-"Mr.
Jenkins, I've got al uncle, a brother aud
two cousins ip this war;" Il see; you're
fixing to get off to a baseball game
every time we hear rumors'of a battle,
Chicago Record.
Yeast-"I see by the paper that two
army mules demolished a provision
wagon at Tampa the other day." Grim
son-"So the soldiers are not the only
ones who are kicking against the poo,
tare.-Yonkers Statesman.
The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1898-07-02
AN CHOIR.
One at Lead Hall Chapel, Near York,
England, Sings Only Once
a Year..

About a mile from the village of Tow
ton, neal York, there is an exceedingly
interesting and curious old church,
known as the Lead Hall chapel. 1t is re-
markable for several reasons chiefly
because of its age; its small size, prob
ably it would not seat 20 people alto
gether; its main fittings, and lastly, be-
cause of its curious choir.
To understand about this choir it is
necessary TO review a little of the his
tory of this famous old place of wor-
ship. There are two theories as TO its
origin. Il is most commonly believed
that this chapel is the one known to
have been built by Richard III. in 1851.
II is claimed that the yearly services
now taking place in it are a survival of
those that were formerly ordered for
the purpose of praying for the souls of
the good Christians who fell in the great
battle. Another ~supposition declares
this chapel to be attached to the old
manor house of the Tyas family at LEAD
Hall, and that the memorial chapel of
Richard III. has long since disappeared.
1t is obvious, however, that, If this
were the case, a service every six
months would not greatly edify the peo-
pie in their spiritual life!
Having thus explained the chapePs
history, w may go to the choir. There
are W. services yearly held at the Lead
Hall church-one in April and another
in October. There is, therefore, no reg
ular body of choristers, but on such oc-
casicns a choir is made up from the
chief singers in the neighboring towns,
who are under the control, for this pur-
pose, of awell-known musical professor
in Yorkshire. The majority of the men
and boys who make up the choir are
drawn from York and Leeds. They re-
ceive a stated fee for their days services
and are provided with refreshments.
The regular service of the Church OF
England is used. The congregation at
these services often does not exceed half
3 dozen people, or half the size OF the
choir! The. vicar of a neighboring
parish conducts the services.
Those who maintain the theory of the
chaPers origin in the time of Richard
III. declare that the king made a grant
of money for the holding of memorial
services, and that it is for this reason
that two services a year are regularl,
held.-Sunday Reader.
The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1898-07-02
A BIG FLAME OF RED ROSE.

asked in the village what the great
| lights were, and was told that they were
called Grecian lights. Immediately the
desire to possess SO much glow seized
Johnnie, and he resolved to have one
himself the next year. His longing was
so deep that somehow he could not tell
anyone about it, not even his good
mother. His secret had a charm for
him. In the following spring he was
still as enthusiastic, and he began to
hoard the occasional pennies he made
by one and another little service to the
village folk. By the last week in June
he had saved Is cents, and was ready for
his purchase. And now, how to secure
the glorious brilliancy?
It had to be imported" Johnnie
asked a good and tried friend of his on
the freight train bound for New York to
get it for him. During the next week
Johnnie's Imagination worked so hard
thathe seemed to think his friend would
return standing, like the Goddess of
Liberty, on the freight car, holding
aloft a whole sunset and sunrise of
light. Silly Johnnie was so carried
away by his fancy that he received a
real shock when, on the day before the
Fourth, Jim tossed him only a small
package as the train slowly passed his
house, calling out gayly: Open your
mouth and catch your light"
Johnnie ran indoors in a state Of great
excitement and showed his treasure to
his mother, who rejoiced with him in his
happiness.
That night, just after he had blown
out his candle, Johnnie was looking out
of his window trying to decide whether
the morrow would be fine or not. There
was something in the air he did not
like, and he saw that a storm was com
ing. The moon was shining, but there
was a certain stiffness in the warm
wind. The little river was running more
swiftly than usual.
However, Johnnie could not feel that
the Fourth would be unpleasant, and
he began to think what he should do
with his red light, and the splendid idea
came to him to build a small raft and
set the light on 1t, and then send II
The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1898-07-02
What He Would Like.

A man who looked the picture of
melancholy and physical discomfort
was sitting IN the front step of a store
which had been closed in honor of In
dependence day. Every time a patriotic
explosion occurred he gave a nervous
jump.
whats the matter?" said his friend.
Aren't you going to join in the festiv-
ities?"
mo. 1 don't like gunpowder."
"But isn't there anything that you'd
enjoy? This is a holiday, you know,
and a little innocent diversion is only
appropriate"
"Yes, there's one form of sport that
would suit me f~rst-class."
"What is that?"
"Pd like to go somewhere and throw
Star.
The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1898-07-02
whistling for a switch at the junction

whistling for a switch at the junction
The boy waited a: the window to see il
go by. Suddenly a thought flashed into
his mind and his heart stopped beating.
He slipped into his clothes in a twink
ling and stole quickly downstairs and
quietly out of the door, her scuttled
over the plain to the place where the
little river fell over the crest of a slight
hill and then dashed under the railroad
bridge. AS Johnnie thought might be
the case, the bridge was as much of a
wreck as the little one was. The rails
were twisted and lay like jackstraws
among the jumbled wood. Johnnie
heard the distant sigh again, and his
heart beat wildly. What could he do?
In a few minutes the express would
come. Suddenly he thought of the red
light under his pillow. Taking a full
breath, he ran home. He heard the
sigh again, but no nearer. at hasn't
started! 1t hasn't started!"h he thought.
There's still time, still time!" In q
minute he was again in his room, and
had the light and some matches in his
MANU-. ~ SCcLucu dS6S W Hlm. NE
heard the faint sound again, but nearer
this time. "Oh, it's started! God help
mel" he gasped, as he fed out into the
thinning darkness again. He didnot go
to the bridge, as you may suppose, but
ran at full speed up the track toward
the sound, for well he knew that the
express couldn't stop short Of half a
mile at the least. On, on he sped. At
last the right distance was reached.
And now the whistle sounded clear,
some way down round the bend. John
ME put the light in the middle of the
track and struck a match On the rail,
but the rail was wet from the rain and
the match fickered and went out.
Nearer and nearer came the thunder
and shrill sounds. Johnnie gasped and
struck another match on the case of
the red light. This time he was success
full. He touched the match to the pow
der. There was a sputter, then another
sputter, and then a big flare of red
arose and spread up and over the plain,
just as the headlight Of the locomotive
rounded the curve.
The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1898-07-02
Waving wildly, Johnnie sprang back

Waving wildly, Johnnie sprang back
from the track. To his joy he heard
the air brakes scrape and the steam
escaping. The great train passed on,
but at a lessened rate of speed. After
it our young hero a pell-meI- He
saw the sparks belching out of the
engines chimney, and saw that the
train had stopped near his home.
When he came up to it, he found the
men walking about with lanterns, and
asking what was the matter. Imagine
their amaZement when a small boy Of
ten explained all to them. Think Of
the cheers that rang out in the gray
air! and of how the question, put by
one conductor: whats the matter
with Johnnie Duckworth?" was an
swered with a roar: HES all right"
Mrs. Duckworth was awakened by the
~snortiug locomotive, and heard the
cheers, in which she seemed to dis
tinguish her sons name. Johnnie saw
first a light in his mothers room, and d.
rectly there was a light in the parlor and
the front door opened. He called feeb-
ly, "Mother!" for the terrible nervous
strain he had been under vas beginning
to tell upon him. Some of the men heard
his little cry, and gently raised him
on their shoulders and carried him to
her, cheering and cheering again. Many
of the men passengers went along with
them. They mounted the steps, and
then in a short word or two told what
had happened, for their little rescuer
needed care. "Mr. Duckworth over
again" had tainted. Several of the men
stayed with the anxious mother, and
the others went away and stood at q
distance waiting to hear news of the
boy. Soon tidings were bnought that
he was all right, and then another long
cheer rent the air. Johnnie heard it
and smiled at his mother, who was
hugging him and crying and laughing
at the same instant.
The section gang was summoned and
the bridge repaired in two or three
hours.
Johnnie was well enough to be taken
out on to the piazza to see the express
steam away with everyone leaning out
of the windows or standing on the plat
forms waving and shouting to him and
his mother.
While the repairs were being made
Mrs. Duckworth received gentleman
after gentleman. They made every
kind of grateful offer to the proud
mother, but she refused them all with
quiet dignity, saying that her son had
but done his duty, and he would be
repaid for having done so, a very long
time off, she hoped, when he should
reach the terminus where his father
already. They appreciated her
feeling, and honored her too much to
insist. Nothing. however, prevented
the president of the road, who was in
formed of Johnnie's bravery, from see
ing that he had a splendid start in the
railroad business he so much loved, and
in which he has now a position such as
Mr.. Duckworth, ST., had never in his
most hopeful moments dreamed of for
his son.
The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1898-07-02
Cottage Cheese Balls.

Press half a pint of cottage cheese
through a sieve; add half a teaspoonful
of salt; one-fourth t~easpoonful of white
or a dash of red pepper, and a drop OF
green coloring; add a tablespoonful of
carefully melted butter and mix thor
.ougEIv. Form into balls about the size
of English walnuts and stand away I'M
til perfectly cool. This may be placed
in a lettuce and French dressing
Ladies' Home Journal.
The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1898-07-02
The River of Death.

The word Chickamauga, like a great
many other proper names of places in
this country, is'of Indian origin. It is
said to be a Cherokee name, signifying
"the river Of DEATH" and, according to
q legend which has fioated down among
the Indians, the stream received its
name from the accidental drowning Of
the people of a village by q sudden rise
attributed to a cloudburst. Chickabom-
my is another name of similar charac-
ter. the Indian word signifyfng turkey
lick" or a place where turkeysar are wont
to assemble. Chicopee, the name Of 8
town in Massachusetts,, signifies "the
place Of birch bark."-St. Louis Re
public.
The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1898-07-02

Sing a song for the flag of the Stars and
the Stripes!
The flag of the Red and the Blue!
The flag which will live while the ages
shall last,
Because founded on bravery so true!
IT'S the flag Of u country. the Fig Of
the free!"
The flag of our Union foreverI'
h flag that rs bound to Americas heart
With a tie which no hardship can sever.
Fling 1t out to the breezes in village and
town,
The city, the mountain and plain!
It will tell its own story wherever tbs seen,
And tell not the story In air
IL cheers for the flag! give cheers for
the boys"
Who bore it through havoc and woe
For the sake Of the freetpzu it won for III.
all
In the years that have PASSED long sReI
Mary D. RxiDA In CbristtaA Work
The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1898-07-02

After breakfast on the Fourth John.
ME and his mother went to see what
left of the red light. A little
charred board was all that remained.
Johnnie took this home as a memento,
and then went about setting off his
~frecrackers like any other small boy,
almost forgetting the big thing he and
his red light had done.-James Pen.
nington, in n. Y. Examiner.
The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1898-07-02

OF the heart leaves of lettuce make
little yellow-green nests in which
are to be placed tiny speckled eggs
made of cream, or Neufchatel cheese
softened with butter, rolled into shape
and dotted with parsley. Serve with
mayonnaise or French dressing poured
undSr the nests so that sauce is invis-
ible, --Boston Budget
The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1898-07-02

Recollect 18th what delight
Ust to stay up bout all night
Helpin' 'em fire anvils. or
Maxim other sounds O. war.
Ust TO wish the earth was drilled
Out inside and powder-flled,
And that l could somehow just
Touch 'er off and hear 'er bust!
Was no cannon-crackers then;
Kind O. wish they had a been.
Then they would O. sounded sweet,
Now they lift me off my feet.
I've begun to think at noise
Was created just for boys,
And the Fourth don't seem 10 me
Nice as what it ust to be.
JUS as patriotic, still
Somehow ! don't catch the thrill
O. the loud to-doin's like
When l IA a little tyke.
Wasn't nothin' then but I
Had a finger in the pie,
But that finger, as you see,
Got blowed off eventually.
Nixon Waterman, in L. A. w. BuTle
tin