davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Van Buren press., 1898-09-24

tn. waited the situation changed.
Il say. Joe. it's Dustin off. screamed
Boz. 4 long crack ran between them
and The shore. as with an earthquake
shndder ard tremendous report that
almos: drowned Bob's cry. the over
burdened ice pirted and SWING out
ike huge raft into the current. The
sudden lurch threw them from their
feet; for d moment the rocking cake
vas flooded with water. They sprang
up quickly. but already the gap was
I far too wide to leap. They we're fairly
launched for a voyage down the 81.
| Lawrence-no holiday trip. as they
were TO take =.
1T first they were dreadfully fright
ened: reckless people. when once they
realize their danger, get just as badly
scared as other folks. They climbed
/ into the boat and crouched on the bot
tom. crying bitterly; they would glad
/ IN have taken any sort of whipping for
the sake of being where there was
some one 10 whip them. But after a
time. as their ice raft steadied and no
immediate harm came. they began TO
| feel more confident and could almost
enjoy the novel ride. Surely. they
would get off somehow.
Their unmaBageabie craft. however.
kept persistently to the middle of the
stream in the midst of an undulating
field Of chunks too small TO bear up
even a boy. Gnd they were forced to
wait for further developments.
The old skiff. though they knew that
il was utterly unseaworthy. was a
great comfort 10 them. Itrested near
the center of their raft. and made a
sort of cabin; they felt much safer in
or beside ii.
1t was late In the afternoon when
they had started on their involuntary
excursion. and II was now growing
dark. This brought new terrors and
more tears: they were cold and hun
CRY. and the prospect was cherries
and unhopeful. To escape over the
ice pack at night was. of course, inn
possible; and who could tell what
chances they were missing. Yet it is
HOit tudH IiktlN AHdt iut ddI MITES
saved the lives of these desperate lit
tie eastaways.
And wretched as they were. their
misery was a small matter compared
will the torture their parents suffered,
when the boys did not appear for sup
per nor even at bedtime. What had
really happened was about the last
thing to be suspected.
Their empty stomaehs soon remind
cd the little fellows that they had
taken along a bit of luncheon; and
on rummaging their pockets they
found three apples and few dough-
nuts. These they divided with great
care and devoured with rayenous rel
ish. The cold. however, was chilling
them TO numbness.
Say. Bob. don't you s'pose we can
start a fire." chattered Joe. We can
get wood from this boat. She wouldn't
float anyhaw.
The seats were easily pulled out.
and they proved to be Of pine. These
The Van Buren press., 1898-09-24
A CAUTIOUS MAN.
He Had AccomnodatedO One Nnn an,
Was Not Going to BE Caught
the Same Way Again.

Before | went west" remarked th,
man who had just returned, II heard
a good deal about western hospitality
1t is there all right enough, althoughat
one time | came near thinking other
wise.
while | was there ! had occasiona
visit a former friend. and while driving
out where he lived / noticed that boil
on my wagon had become loose. Wht
| was examining it, a native eams
along. The horses i was driving were
spirited ones, and not daring to leave
them, and seeing | would need .
monkey-wrench, | asked the neweomd
If he would go to the house near by and
see if he could borrow one for me. Asa
further inducement | exhibited a q
cent piece.
"Td like ter oblige ye, stranger, re
piled the native, earnestly, as he looked
longingly at the money | held out. I
really would. But ye see, I've gone out
of the accommodatin' biz'ness.
'Why?' | asked, bluntly.
'Wul,' he answered, as he shifted
uneasily about on his feet, las week ]
wuz comm along this yere road ~henl
met a neighbor of mine. Bill said he
i wish ye would go up ter my housean
see if my wife is thar Wul, | like ter
be accommodatin' an all thet so
went. Right thar wuz whar ! mades
mistake, fer no sooner wuz ! at tnr
door then | wuz hit with a mop-hande
a skillet, three iron pans an a few otheF
things that | didn't hey time ter take
any notice of. Of course she 'pologl2eu
when hit wuz all over, sayn' thet she
thought | wuz her husband, but | CAM
see how thet made matters any better
fer me. Thet's how things stand, stran
ger. I'd really like ter accommodate
ye, | really would. Maybe hits les e.
ye say hit is an hit ain't nothin bu'S
monkey-wrench thet ye want; an 'heH
maybe yer wife lives up thar an ys
wish ter find out whether she is on 'h'
warpath or not. | can't afford ter take
any chances. I'm n married man my,
self. But If yer want ter go up thar !"
go with we an stand out in the miau''
Of the road an lend my moral support.
81 concluded to risk the loose Do"
and rode on."-Detroit Free Press
The Van Buren press., 1898-09-24

fright. The ice pack was breaking
ar up the stream appeared i swell
ing crest of ice and foam. which swung
forward with a great heaye OF the
foe and a loud crashing of the grind.
ing blocks. Before anYfhing could be
done 10 save the boys il vas upon them.
Their ice raft reared. cracked. and
swayed downward. broken into three
pieces. \ cascade Of water and spray
surged over its surface. and had not
the skiff 10 which they cluns been
firmly frozen 10 the remnant of their
shattered ark. they would have been
swept into the general deluge. The
crisis was passed; but as they eareenea
away on their diminished float, still
blindly gripping the sides of the skiff,
they heard with fresh terror the
shouts of the men on shore: They are
lost. They will surely 60 down ths
rapids"
Down the rapids on d chunk OF icel
Had il been the wild and tortuouS rush
Of the Long sault" their case would
have been absolutely hopeless, and the
ending of this story would have been
a tragedy too terrible TO tell. 1t was
only the "Gsloup'-but that was quite
enough.
Already they were feeling the sue
tion of the stronger current which was
swinging them Ear out toward the Ca
nadian shore. Then the swift slide be.
gan. Cake after cake shot forth from
the edge of the pack and raced down
the broad sluieeway-and now their
own darted forward.
For some distance the great ava
lanche of water slipped smoothly,
though with great velocity, over the
even slope of lis bed, and the train of
ice blocks was Sc scattered and drawn
out by the rapid motion that the dam
ger from collision was diminished.
This was followed by series of long,
giddy swoops that made the boys feel
as if they had left their hearts behind
them. Then the channel became ir-
regular; the current twisted between
little islands, and the water grew bois-
ferrous. tossing wildly, writhing in
sudden eQu1esi bursting III IouHldlIls OF
spray against submerged ledges. Here
was the real danger. The heavy ice
cake pitched snd tumbled, and it
seemed to Bob and Joe that it was
tossed bodily into the air. Again and
again the waves dashed over them. Yet
through it all they hung on with the
cIinch of desperation.
At last, by an unexpected swirl, they
were cast into sort of pocket among
the islets, where a great quantity of
the drifting ice had lodged. Close to
the edge of this mass their battered
raft was drifted, heaying on the swell
and slowly revolving; it almost
touched.
The fateful moment had come. and
its opportunity was not wasted. As
with single motion they leaped to the
nearest ice block, and before their un-
stable stepping stone had time to feel
their weight, TO another, and another,
and another. No man could have done
it; no ordinary boy could have done it;
The Van Buren press., 1898-09-24
The Transparent Terrier.

1t is found that the N-ray shines
through a fox terrier as if he were a
Chinese paper lantern. The expert
ment has just been tried on an animal
of this species which had swallowed a
diamond ring, the trinket appearing
twinkling in his mdst-visible as a fly
in amber or gold fish in glass globe.
All the Gos family will do wisely t o lay
the lesson 10 heart and look sharp
what they swallow.
The Van Buren press., 1898-09-24
NIGHT.
4rhe woEd

Night gently comes. ard Ger the world
Her stare embroidered mantle throws,
And hearts that ache. ard Eyes that weep
A season brief forget their woes
a restfui sense OF quiet peace
Doth deepen as the light grows dim
The peace OF rest from Gods white throne
Between the blessed Seraphim.
As when a day of doubt and strife.
And somber clouds that heaven doth hioe.
Doth end in gleaHs OF mellow light
Its storm and gloom all pressed aside.
30, softly comes the blessed night,
And wraps US n forgetfulHess,
And peace-God's peace-comes down 10 US,
Like some kind angels soft earess.
Faint eexy odors fill the air
Where tall ferns grow and grasses creep,
And nature sinks 10 needed rest,
And silence lies mid shadows deep
8 g tired-out hands ard weary feet,
And aching heart and troubled breast.
How Ike balm eomes down the night
With soothing for tired brain. and rest.
Day Is for hard and stubborn fight,
BY all iife's burdens sore oppressed.
Night sees the heavens with stars alight,
Like angel eyes 10 guard OR rest.
Al uight with ehli9iike, trustful faith.
wnen most defenseiess ard most weak.
We cs.mly rest ourselves on Him
Whose arm alone can safely keep.
The evening star. set like a gem
Upon the forefront Of the night,
Marshals a myriad host afiame
With flashing fires ard lusirous light.
Sleep folds us UP as night the flowers.
A holy stiffness rests on all.
And strength, renewing Natures powers.
Builds up anew for dutys call.
Thank God for night Its rest and peace
Smooth out the tangled web Of life;
The soul on wings scars far above
Earth's SORROWS. chickering's and strife.
Until the night shall fee away,
And all its darkening shadows cease,
Be Thou our help by night ard day,
Keep US. our God. In perfect peace.
William G. Haeselbarth, IN Christian
Work.
The Van Buren press., 1898-09-24
THE FLAG.
Thou victor flag OF food and field
In frseAnu,fS ora naeSt wars

fhou victor fag OF food and field
In freedoms grandest wars.
No freeman shall 10 tyrants yield
The banner Of the stars.
Before thy folds shall despots quail,
Though long enthroued in might,
And bondmen freed thy splendors han
With raptures o. delight.
Il equal or unequal fight,
Wherever freemen dare,
Thy presence shall inspire with might
And lead to triumph there.
Yet more than war thy meaning is,
Thy colors signify
The calm Of the eteraities,
The sweetness OF The sky!
~ home thy luster evermore
Shall brighten and increase,
Until shall shine 10 every shore
Thy freedom, JOY and peace
TIL everywhere thy radiance shines
To honor. truth and worth.
Till faith unfettered builds her shrines
In every land on earth.
Thus shalt thou greater glory yield,
Bright banner of the stars.
Than trophies OF the best fought held
OF freedoms grandest wars!
-Aella Greene, in Springfield (Mass) Re
publican.
The Van Buren press., 1898-09-24
ON THE TEXAS.

.pon.t cheer. the poor devils are dying.
The guns had just ceased their deep roar
Ard the great Spanish battleship lyihs
All riddled and running with gore
HID aown the white flag of submission.
our tars drawing rapidly near
EIate with their yietory's fruition'
Were beginning Ike madmeh TO cheer'
They stopped when their captain had
spoken; .,u
The shouting ard tumult grew stli.
And standing in silence unbroken,
All felt a quick, generous thf.H
or pity. respect, admiration
For foemen so suffering. SO brave
And hastened. each man In his station,
To bind up their wounds and TO save
Thrice thanks, gallant captain. for trying
Wars horrors and pains TO assauge,
"Don't cheer, the poor devils are DYING
Irsbers In a more chivalrous age.
Archibald Hopkins. in Springfield 'Mass')
Republican.
The Van Buren press., 1898-09-24
False syntnx Corrected.

There appears to be no end 10 wv
humor of examination. Here Is 'n,
latest story that has come TO u.s. anu
that to us, at least, is new. 1t appears
that at an elementary examination !.
English which was lately he'd III :
school near New York city two sen,
tences were given out to be corres''.
by the younger scholars. The Ms. s'
sentence was to be corrected us 10 ~ ~
subject matter and the second as 10 ~
syntax. These were the sentences
THE hen has three legs"
"Who done it?" i.
When the papers were hanueu II =. /.
was found that one of the eNanllu'.' .'
had apparently regarded the sen.eutt, "a.
as subtly connected in thought loi H'
answer was as follows: o..
"The hen didn't done it; God donei'
-Bookman.
The Van Buren press., 1898-09-24

When they awcke the red morning
sky was glowing in their faces like an
open CRATE 1t was delusive sugges-
tion, however, for the air was cruelty
cold and the boys were half frozen.
Their fire had burned out; its embers
were dead and black, and the pool
OF water which had formed about il
was covered with skim of ice. But
what surprised them most was to see
that they were no longer drifting.
Their raft lay motionless. The frost
of the night had chilled the foe till
it had clogged and stiffened; up and
down, as far as they could see, the
ragged surface extended without
single opening to show the water that
coursed beneath. Joe ran to the edge
Of their floating prison and tried the
surrounding ice with his heel: but the
imperfectly cemented chunks broke
apart at the first push. This was no
bridge for boys; a squirrel could
scarcely have crossed it.
They sat down on the wreck of the
boat; and again the tears gushed from
their swollen eyes and trickled into the
puckered corners of their unfed
mouths to be gulped with their so5s.
At last nature had her way with them,
and they howlcd like the hungry and
forsaken babies that they were. When
They saw that they had attracted the
attention Of a man on the distant
bank. they howled still more Justify.
but with a note of greater hopeful
ness.
The man ran 20 the beach, leaving
his horses standing in the road. Then
Others appeared, eagerly gesticulat-
ing; evidently they were discussing
plans of rescue. After an interval a
wagon numbered down from the road,
cutting deep tracks through the rem
nant of snow. bearing a heavy boat.
such as log-drivers use. Not by this
means. however. were the hapless
Youngsters TO be saved.
For already under the warmth of
the mounting sun, the float WAS soft
ening; and just as the men had backed
the wagon close TO the river and were
lifting of the boat. there came a sound
that made the horses start forward in
The Van Buren press., 1898-09-24

and even these nimble and practiced
"water-rats" of the mill-pond were
tried to the utmost. More than once
they stumbled, hut they never faltered; !;
at the very finish Joe slipped and went
under. but Bob, from a steadier foot
hold, caught him and dragged him up.
An instant later they were climbing
the banks; and Il ere they flung them
selves upon the frozen snow utterly
spent,
The Van Buren press., 1898-09-24

will aid never comet" He clos.,,
eyes and sank back upon his bsa
Water enough for both f..
days, Tom said" he repeated :, "
self; "only two days for ba'g ala
were there but one to driri 't
maybe five days with care. :. ,aI
tha or some other vessel viii AaN
be here in that time. But in ,v.9 9lsl
the owners will hardly have bas Vah
to learn of her loss and send m, 10
other schooner.
"Tom, dear old Tom"-and HI. ,
eyes filled with tears-"you sbsS
saved, anyway" u
His eyes wandered around n.
again, as IL in search of sonaa wv
and fixed upon a cupboard on tbsa
'sThey say it is an easy deatb va ",
murmured-.that stuff we toot :
Malay Tom
BY a superhuman effort he a.,
staggered to the cupboard, and toJ
small tin can from one of the shelys,
was filed with sticky green
| stance.
Ten grains should do it." he d4oa
Though Malay Tom used TO tats
much as that to make him drpprs
He put some of the stuff on tb4N.,
of his knife, looked at it eagerly y
a moment, and then swallowed ~
Then he staggered back again n ~
bed, and fell limp across the matt,,'
For a moment he lay there viths
moving; then sharp report rom.1
him and he raised his head.
1t was then that Toms pistol b,.
the silence. Harry started, raisedI,
head, and tried to get up. gnt s
drug was acting, and he could not ,i'
II wonder what Tom is shootipo,,
he said half aloud; dear old Tom ham,
be sorry at first, but then. hem +
saved-to go home-and take cara
mother"
He felt happy, strangely happy. and
he began to laugh.
He thought he could see the ol1hor,
again. He could hesr the birds srn
ing in the apple tree before his he'd
room window; there seemed TO bs :,
many-more than ever before. He wa,
dered down by the little brook tb,
ran through the meadow.
How sweet the water sounded =, T.
rippled over the pebbles; and The or,
grass, how tempting; it was so coS
and shady, that he longed to lie in h
forever.
But he could not, he must not. Ton
was calling from down in the oreha,3
calling to him-was waiting for him
"Yes, Tom, yes; I'm coming-con.
ing he called.
He sprang from the bed and com.
menced to run. He was speedin,
through the meadow; then he climbed
the high fence that separated it from
the orchard. He was running as f,s,
as he could, but Tom kept calling. and
his mother. too. Their voices wer,
growing fainter, fainter, as though
they were running away from him.
Even then the Martha had sightel
the little guano island and was maxim,
for the cove of anchorage.
They found the bodies of The tw,
brothers side by side on the sand, an,
in the hut water enough for both io
| two dnYs.-Arrnsv
The Van Buren press., 1898-09-24

How they were taken from the lower
end Of the island by hardy boatmen
who had come out to search for their
bodies need not be detailed; nor how,
amid the rejoicings when they finally
reached home. they escaped the pun
ishment they 50 richly deserved.
The Van Buren press., 1898-09-24
Ueconsidered.

His Wife-There is my dressnlaAe' '
bill. Please draw a check for IT, M
The Judge (absent-mindedly) w. ~.
take the papers and reserve NY
cision.
"You will-whatT
motion granted - with costs
Puck. ...-..-
The Van Buren press., 1898-09-24

they split by striking them on the
rowlocks. and Bob whitfield off big
pile of shavings. Joe had a few
matches, and after several failures
they got a flame which blazed up
through the kindling, and threw a
Climmer over thc gray ice and black
water. The boys laid on the bits pf
board, and soon had fire that warmed
their spirits as we'll as their toes and
fingers. When it began to burn low
they tore off one side Of the slliH to
feed IT, This opened up the interior
to the direct glow. and made a coy
nook in which they curled together
and they actually fell asleep.
The Van Buren press., 1898-09-24

The winter had been unusually long
and cold that year. and the spring
thaws came late. When the boys paid
their usual visit to the shore on the day
OF their foolhardy adventure, they
found the little millstream still tight
ly frozen; and broad margin of un-
broken ice fringed the banks of the
81. Lawrence itself-though a medley
Of great cakes mingled with pulpy
fragments was pouring down the mid
de. So they strapped on their skates.
and soon had earned very good whip
ping by the senseless risks they took;
but nobody was there to see them,
and as nothing in particular happened.
they presently wearied. Then they
caught sight OF an old flat-bottomed
skiff. lying upside-down on the beach.
That looked interesting. and they
pried it over. 1t was warped and rot
ten, and gaped with cracks; evident
ly it had lain there a long while.
what shall we do with her?"
queried Bob; for Of course, being
boys, and such boys, they must do
something.
III! tell you what exclaimed Joe.
LESS shove her over the ice an send
her downstream. She's no good here" f"
This is a sort of reasoning that only
boys can appreciate; but with boys it
goes. The two madcaps pulled of their
skates and began tmggiug.
"she's heavier'n a dozy old saw log" 4"
cried Bob; and they had to scatter
snow over the bare gravel OF the beach
before thes could slide the ponderous
affair down 20 the ice. Then it went
easier, and a. last they got ii to the
edge Of the opcI water.
Here they paused to take breath be
sors giving the final push; and while
The Van Buren press., 1898-09-24
Paris ExpoSitton I'm 1ano

The guarantee fund for the Paris ex.
position of 1900 amounts to $4,000 900.
The balance will be betrayed by state
and city.
The Van Buren press., 1898-09-24

The forced expression of cheerful
aess went out of Harry's face as his
brother left the hut, and he fell bacL
exhausted upon the bed.
Poor Tom, poor Toni" he mur.
INJURED. TO die like a rat in a tran,
Oh. God! will the Martha never come .
oh. if could but do something's He
half rose from the couch and gozsd
around the little hut.
Two days. only two DAYS more >,
he groaned, "and theu-and tben-oh
The Van Buren press., 1898-09-24

Even then the Martha had sighted
the little guano island and was maxim,
for the cove of anchorage.
They found the bodies of he tw,
brothers side by side on the sand. an,
in the hut water enough for both io
two days.-Argosy.
The Van Buren press., 1898-09-24
ON AN ICE RAFT
BY Lawrence Boone,

Toe GILLETT WAS perfect little
ri "wafer-rat," and Bob Adler was no
better. OF course, as they did every
thing together, there couldn't be much
difference. To be sure, JGe's father
worked in the kawmill, and Bob's
father owned it; so Bob was dressed in
clothes that cost a little more, but
after he had worn them week you
wouldn't have suspected it. He had
good shoes, too, but he never put them
on in warm weather. Al summer
long both boys went barefoot, with
their trousers rolled above their
knees, and spent most of their time
in, under and over the mill pond,
swimming and diving and racing about
on the floating logs. The last was
dangerous sport for even the best of
swimmers may be drowned il he goes
beneath a mass of logs; they close
ever him and shut him down like a
heavy floor, and when he attempts TO
rise there are hig chances that he
won't be able TO find an opening.
In winter the boys found things
rather dull. and could even be induced
is, Bob was induced-partly by me-
ehanical appliances-and where Bob
went Joe went But when spring
came. and the melting SHOWS and early
rains began to break up the ice, moth
ing could hold them. Away to the
river they ran in spite of everybody,
ard percned on the bank to watch the
endless procession of big cakes as they
surged and bumped down the flooded
stream. If that had been all they
might have been forgiven, for ii GER
tainly is an exciting spectacle. fear,
however, THAI they didn't always stick
to their safe perches on the shore; /;
and If they yeutured further, no mat
ter how cautiously, they took an awful
and inexcusable risk. Stealing rides
on an ice-pack is more perilous even
than playing tag on drive of logs. To
stake our lives against a little fun is
game that never pays. and il is as
wicked as it is silly. Life was not
given for a plaything-eyen to boy.
1t happened that the mill which
Bob's father owned was near the
mouth OF one Of the smaller rivers that
Cow into the ST. Lawrence; and as
the ice rarely Went out Of two streams
at exactly the same time. the boys
had the benefit of two successive
break-ups greater of which was
scarcely less formidable than an Are
tic foe. for the channel was fully n
mile wide. Will this green ST. Law
renee ice. sweeping in turbulent
grinding masses toward the sea. even
Bob and Joe were afraid to NEEDLE ;
yet they had INDUCED in the reckless
sports so long that danger had a fasci-
nation for them, and at last they
yielded to temptation.