davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1898-02-08
#A Miserable Wife.#


since then for her thirty years of hard
work-nothing but her board, clothes
and shelteri
"Why, you beat ALL Why, she is
my wife, and we OWL it all together.
"Do youf Then she can draw on your
bank acc3untH Then she has O horse
and carriage when shs wants themF
Then she has o servant girl when she
wants oneR Then she rides out for her
health, and has a watch and gold
chain as you dot To that sol
Professor, you must be crazy. No
body's wife lie boss in that shape. Who
ever heard of such q thingR"
"Now, look here. You Ray she did
we'll in marrying rich, and I cannot
see it. If she was getting two dollars
and @ half per week when you married
her; and had saved her wages, abe
would have now thirty-siz hundred
dollars. IL Ghe had invested it, she
would have had five thousand dollars.
4NDW NO0 @CA4 LAG @AS 9TOACn OOWus
used up and miserable, and looks 90
badly she makes you sick and she has no
money, no help, and will probably get
nothing but a Scotch granite tombstone
when she dies"
Professor, il you were q younger
man I'd lick you quicker'n o. spring
lamb Can jump O thistle"
What fort I am stating this case
fairly, am I mott YJur wife i'm no lon.
ger young She In no longer handsome.
Her hands are as hard 60 hard 90 o. To-
cal editors cheek, and she has stopped
over o milk can until she has o hump
on her back like an old tin ped
der"
Shut up, will your
''She has raised four children. One
of them iS at college. One i'm taking
music lessons ia Boston. The other
two are teaching school. She i at
home alone, going around In o. tread
mil life which will end in o. rosewood
comn and o frSt-claSS country fun
sral."
"Sbop that, Professor, will youG"
"While you ara still o. handsome
man, with just enough gray i'm your
WHISPERS 10 make you look interesting,
No doubt you have been thinking Of
some nice young girl Of eighteen who
would jump at the chance TO marry
your thirty COWS and twenty acres OF
hops"
Professor, I won't stay here n you
doa't let up on that"
"And your wife does not look well In
that new WRtertown wagon, 10 you
take your hired man and n0ighbOrn'
girls to meeting. Your wife never
goes anywhere, 90 you do not get her
q watch like your own, nor O new silk
dress, nor O pony that she could drive,
nor O basket phaeton that she could
climb into without @ ladder. She never
says anything, you have not got her o
set of teeth like your own, gold and
rubber, and her nose liz pushed up into
her forehead, and her face wrinkles.
She v goes out. She has 20 work
in the kitchen, 90 she gets nc nice shoes
like youFs."
Darn my skin il I don't"
mo, you won't; you will just let her
work right along, and then you will
marry some high flyer who will pull
every hair out of your head, and serve
you right, too"
Professor, for mercy sake, stopl"
"When you know, and / know, that
il your wife had @ chance forrest and had
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1898-02-08

N G~
Hooked ct the speaker admiringly.
He was about fifty years old, and SIS
robust as a man of thirty. His whisk
ers were neatly trimmed, showing a
full red chsekH wore a jaunty hat
and natty cutaway coat, and below his
vest hung a single fob and heavy gold
seal. I was proud of him. He was
such a perfect specimen of q New York
gentleman from the rural districts that
I wanted to imprint his picture on my
Aonazy.
80 your wife is miserablei"
Eyes. kinder droopin', with q dry
cough and no ambition. She inst kin
der drags around the house, and looks
90 peaked aud scrawnp it gives me the
blues. It does, I swan"
Naturally weakly, wasn't shes"
"Shel o, no. When I married her
she was the gmartest girl ON the creek.
she used to work for my father, and
the way she made the work stand
around took my eyes. She was O poor
girl, and her industry got her @ rich
husband"
Here he took out gold watch, looked
at the tim9, Du5 is back and adj listed
the silk fob on the front of his nicely
fitting trousers.
80 she did we'll, getting married on
account Of ner industryI'
why, Of course; che was getting
Only two dollars and Atty cents O
week, and she became mistress of o
farm"
Excuse mo, but now much are you
worth now3 Confidently, you know;
am a scientific man, and will never
Use such facts to your injury with the
assessor"
well, professor, I could crowd htty
thousand dollars pretty hard"
That is good. How long have have
you been married"
Thirty years next Fourth of Julv.
We Wens down to Albany on o little
teeser, and I proposed the match, and
Jane was within"
How much do you suppose you
nave made in these thirty yearsl"
h2m-um-lemme see. I got the
LAWS farm the first ten years, then I
lun ID deot fer the Simmons place, got
var prices for my cheese, and squared
~ Doth places. Well, I think I have
scared Up thirty thousand dollars since
we spIicad."
VERY good, indeed. And your
Inner
oa' you batl She was a ratlerl
S-o LOOK care of her baby and the milk
twenty cows. Itell you she made
''u"are fopl Why, we have had
;1' children, and she never had a
leu girl over six months in that
splendid! and you nave cleared
D.rIy thousand dollars in that timei"
Yes, easy"
madei"
~5he' Why, durn it, Professor, she
Is my wife"
1knoWit. But what has she madel
IUu say she was poor when you mar.
''u ner' Now, what has she received
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1898-02-08

26 19O&&]594 RA&@1
nice clothes, like other women, she
would be n Of the best looking wo.
men of her age in the town."
ST swami believe it."
"And, old as she is, lie you were to
get out the carriage next Sunday and
drive around with the colts, and tell
her you wanted her to go to meeting
with you, she would actually blush
with pleasure"
"DRrn'd it I don't do It,"
"Then, Monday, lie you were to tell
her you were going to hire a girl, and
that she must sit in the sitting room by
the new nickel-plRted coal stove and
work on that new silk dress you are
going TO buy her"
Professor, that's me-"
"ADd then hand her a nice wallet
with steel clasps and with five nice
new tWenty-doIlAr notes in il, and tell
her TO do her own trading after this,
because you have got tired looking
after no much money"
ST will, as sure on you live"
"And then, when the tear starts in
her eyes, and the same old blush comes
out that you thought was 10 nice when
you went on that teeter to Albany, if
you would kiss her"
Its all right, Professor"
GIFhar N emS~~% @A~.VS halo 90
think she had made something by mar
ryirg O rich man"
You're right, old man"
"Then / think you won't have q mis-
cradle wife any longer. Then you
would no longer want to sell or rent
the farm, but would be showing the
mother of your children how much
you respected her for her life Of de-
vosion. Then she would know she was
q partner in that $50, 600. Then, il you
made your will all right, and she had
q good rest, Think she would some
time be an eligible widow"
Think 50, Professor3"
81 know it. Woman is q plant that
wants sunshine. You have been leav-
ing your wife in the shade too much.
She has lost her color. You have made
her think she liz an old woman. she
has given up all hopes of admiration
and love, and ia only wanting to die
and get out OF the way. Suppose you
were treated sol"
"What met I'm all right"
Eyes, / know. Women pity you be
cause you are tied TO such O sorry look
ing wife. Foolish old maids and silly
girls whisper behind your back what O
nice locking man you are. and what q
stick Of q wife you have, and you are
just soft enough 10 wear tight boota
and oil what little hair you have left on
the top Of your hesd, and go around
figuring up how long befOre your wife
will die"
Say now, Gee here, Professor, there
10 q limit to endurance. lam going"
81 am coming down to zee you next
week; will it be ali right"
Yes, If you drop this kind of talk
and won't tell of nay complaints about
my wife. I'll try your medicine,
Would you stick for that prescription
about the pocketbook and twenty.
dollar notegG'
Chow much did you say you had
made t~ogetheri"
II cave. The drePP viii be all right,
and the pony and pkso on will be handy
for the gals. Oome down and Q us,
old man, but not o word about this
talk, II you wasn't an old man, I'd
Tipping his derby back on his head
and shaking the wrinkles out Of hil
tight trousers, no put his hands into
his pockets and Gauntered away.
''There," said /, sis one man who
has taken the Ouly legal and God-giveu
way of getting rid of o miserable wife
Albany Journal.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1898-02-08
A STORY FOR SOCIAL CHAT" FROM TIL
PEN OF An OLD MAID.

- S&SG VA S~~@AA 1890
PEN OF An OLD LAID,
Kind reader, ] will now give you Q
little of my experience and I hope you
all will be 90 kind as to sympathiEe
with me, for sympathy iq the greatest
balm for the aching heart. In fact I
am quite sure If there 10 an old maid
among you, I will receive some gympa
thy. No doubt many Of them have had
the same experience that I have had,
for I am an old maid myself. Old, did
I seyR Well, no; not exactly, for ! am
barely forty-seven, and I am sure no
sensible person would call that old,
though some of the giddy-headed little
kids about sixteen have been so unkind
as TO call me old. But you Q they
were just jealous because I looked 90
much better than they, for | am .
handsome woman when I get fixed up,
il I do say it myself.
Now I am going to tell you at the
very first that I have always been very
anxious to enEnare some handsome fell
lows heart, but although primp from
''early morn till deWy eve" it is OF no
avail, for no matter how temptingly I
bait my hook they simply refuse TO
bite. Why I can't catch ever . Crusty
old bachelor. Il is, to say the least .
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1898-02-08

Doet thou love life3 Then do NOS
squander time, for that is the stuff life
is made of.-Franklin.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1898-02-08

There has nearly always been a good
wife behind every great man, and there
is a good deal Of truth in the saying
that a man can be no greater than his
wife will let him.-Edward Egglegton.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1898-02-08
Womanl With that word,

Womanl With that word,
Lies dearest hopes and memories
come;
Truth, beauty, love, in her adored,
And earth's lost paradise restored.
In the green bower Of home.
-HalIeck.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1898-02-08

To the disgrace of men it IL seen that
there are women both more wise TO
judge what evil 10 expected, and more
constant. to bear it when it has hap.
pened.-Sir Philip Sidney.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1898-02-08

And yet when . strong brain 10
weighed with true heart, it seems to
me like balancing . bubble against .
wedge Of pure goId.-Holmes.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1898-02-08

rs, Professor, lam afraid
I shall have to rent or sell
my farm, my wife is so
miserable. I cannot car
~ it on without hiring,
and hiring eats up all the
profits"
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1898-02-08

A man who has not some woman
somewhere, who believes in him, trusts
him and loves him has reached a point
where self-respect has gone.-Holland.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1898-02-08
WOMAN

A noble man is led by woman's gentle
WOrds.-Goethic.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-02-13
Helm the Old Soldiers.
House of Delegates. February Z, IS

House of Delegates. February Z, 1893
To the Editor Of the Dispatch
An article appeared in the Rockbrldge
County News, in which the writer criti-
cised the measures which had been I'm
troduced in the Legislature to levy an ad-
ditional tax on the people for the beneht
of ex-Confederates." He used the follow
ing language--viz.: Look out. old Con-
feds, and stand to your colors." Don't
be tempted" 1T is only little exube-
rance Of a congested patriotism, suddenly
let loose" LET us not at this
late day, after all the glories of the past,
bring discredlt upon the cause by yielding
to the tempting gifts of our Lawmakers,
but cling TO the motto Of old Virginia
L am poor. but proud" I introduced
bill to permit the authorities, at their dis
erection, IN the counties and cities. to
levy a tax, not exceeding 4 cents on the
500 worth of taxable property, TO be used
only for the relief Of the needy Confede-
rate soldiers and widows of Confederate
soldiers, in the respective counties end
cities where the levy was made. When
this measure was under discussion In
the House, motion was made and car
ried to send the bill back to this commit
tee and frame bill TO make the levy
State matter. l then introduced a bill,
providing for cents additional tax. TO be
used for aiding the needy soldiers and
the needy widows of soldiers. This bill
was referred to the Finance COMMITTEES;
the committee has declined TO report the
bill. and has passed It by indefinitely. 1
yield TO the judgment OF the COMMITTEES.
and will abandon the fight. I will now ask
that my counties-Matthews and Glou-
cester-may have the authority TO levy a
tax, not exceeding cents on the 800
worth of taxable property-if the Board
Of Supervisors in it's discretion deem II
ploper-to be used only for the aid or poor
soldiers and needy widows OF soldiers.
The members of the Legislature receive
daily letters from old soldiers, asking
for relief. In obedience to these letters
there are now over one hundred bills be-
fore finance committees. asking for relief
for the old veterans, and 1 venture the
remark that every one Is deserving. There
are hundreds OF soldiers In Virginia who
have not asked for relief that are de-
serving. I don't think the action OF thu
members Of the Legislature in making
an effort TO get relief for the old veterans
il "a little exuberance Of a congestet
patriotism suddenly let loose" The ap
meals made before the Finance COMMITTEES
a few days since for the Soldiers HOME
by Colonel williams, Major Croker, Col
onel Northen, and Colonel Kean- wer'
true and sincere efforts. and cannot b
construed to be "a little exuberance OF ;
congested patriotism suddenly let loose
The Lawmakers are not making tempt
ing gifts; they are simply trying to pa,
a debt Virginia owes. No gift; it Is al
obligation that Virginia will not repudiate
No Confederate soldier should ever b.
permitted to be an inmate OF a poorhouse
we are poor" but we have enough 4
aid the needy soldiers; we are proud,
and hence we viii not let tho need,
soldier suffer. j. N. STUDIES.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-02-13
JEFFERSON DAVIS.

the confedaracy. reproduced here. which
was presented to her by Mrs. Davis on
April is, 1867, while prisoner In Fort
Monroe
Following is a copy Of the letter. writ
ten TO Mrs. OMelia when President Davis
was on the point OF leaving Richmond Tor
Danville:
Mrs. Mary O'Melia:
ss,rhe furniture in the Executive Man.
sion Il would be wen to pack and store,
as your discretion may indicate, ana IL
any one should dispute your authority
this will be your warrant. The Mayor
will give you aid and protection
"Your friend, JEFFERSON DAVIS.
I'D April. '65."
On the opposite page is the following
note to the Mayor Of Richmond:
His Honor, the Mayor. will ind on the
previous page that / have referred my
housekeeper to him. and will. hope. all
low me to commend her specially 10 his
kind care. Very respectfully and traly.
'JEFFERSON DAVIS.
"2d April, 'e5."
The letter is written on paper or fair
quality and the Ink appears TO be as
black as when II was first used. The
characters appears TO have been FORMED
hastily, as they doubtless were, ana the
wor.i ''be'' Is left out before the word
"pack, in the first sentence OF the letter
TO Mrs. O'Mella.
Mrs. O'Melia has treasured the letter
and picture greatly, but gives IL TO the
Confederate Museum because II viii pro-
badly be safer there than anywhere else.
Mrs. O'Melia now resides In Baltimore,
and although nearly 50 years or age, IS
healthy and strong
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-02-13

and as I think about them more and
more, they gradually take such shape IN
my mind as enables me to compose the
outline Of my story. Then I go to work
and build 1t up, little by little, until the
complete literary structure is erected
HIS IDEAS COME NATURALLY.
"Such ideas as those that ] select for
most of my books are not obtained by
travelling. They come TO Inc when L
need them. Mind. I do not intend TO
say anything against the stories tnat
are written by men who travel many
miles to accumulate the data, and spend
DAYS and weeks in getting the local
coloring to their liking. This Is not my
way. My books are written in my home,
and the ideas get their being there, too:
81 am still writing and feel so well,
and enjoy my quiet life so much, that 1
see 10 reason why j should not expect
to continue writing for many years 10
come"
And the writer OF this can bear witness
10 the fact that Jules Verne has all the
appearances of a man who will delight
the public with his thrilling volumes TOT
a long time yet, despite the fact that ne
IS nearing the limit allotted to mans He
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-02-13
Colonel bigger as n Reader
Fredericksburg Starr

49, NOT wither nor custom stare
,enite variety of gestures, accents
eIio saisros tones, appearances. anu ac
80 ~ the great {. II. ID. Vhe CleiA ~
tsoi'S ,fo,,sa of Delegates), at klchnohu,
nv tno arhis son of old SpotsylVanla coun'y
70 LIGHTLY the burdens or many ye,,.''
"a tte cares of many thousands ol D4iiS,
az" 80. rsaohnttons, and the thous]neS Va
Joi ,'. Ices of incipient legislation WIS.,
O'il0- .s,arv,ise. OF Incalcuablc help 10 a.
az 49, and having solved knotty pioA
,l... sr.r years and years, 1t Is saio 'na'
ioii r.,1 Iieoer's equal as parilduien-
=. hos never yet seen the hshl, ~
tat,,I,, NOT that of Virginias iesiSi" 80
,oIe And that voice ana hlaihet ..,ooi
-, ,,po his 1--WE feet SIX Oh o,0 49,
..,arhood no until his long Prince <ie ,s'.o
,a,,,,s in graceful folds arouno an &C.,
md wiry body, this ancien. unu me
oble servant OF the Oiu Done ,.ltas,oon
Motber OF Presidents anu 80 me
sIiPs ii IN a voice sweet ana low,
P"P.-' 80 "a murmur his musical hoso
S"iiii a's, tho House OF what measu1o
app 80, s,,ac consider. But nrst appeal
IL VIZ ,,arv often deceptive, anu DC
dne'o - words have been uttered ene
't,s rvthmic monotone mas oh" re-
SEM se cross between the shrek Oh ia 30 a
10 ,,,histIe and the bass note VI .
lnoaFo I'd thus continues the avn
sound, surging around the he w wa exit t, un -
House. seeking in van sh nSr desperation.
", that we dispense WIN atract
~ rim" This motion naS ~. ~ oyf,,l
70 steam brake for instantly ~" sorv,,ia-
sound ceases. and tne e' o',"r his glasses
for moment at the ms .s%Sy. didn't you
,o as II 70 say; ,Ssn resumes sum his
bland and chiidlike sm,,e and none sur
Few m, men vs SOula Clerks services to 70
the t s,aas his years yet be i9n ,Se
@aa,sol W" Of tho ufs and deeds o. . 1''
Bigger.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-02-13
pULLMAN,s LITTLE JOKE.
Young Women Much Interested IN
sanger Pullman, Inspector.

curcAGO. ILL, February 12.-Young
coo,ge M. Pullman is an object OF much
,rtarost To numerous young women. no"
that his mother, having elected TO take
har dover rights in her late husDanos
estate. will get about S2'5OoOoV' ins'eau VI
Fl 5Oo 600 left her by the will
As she is generous to her boys, they VIII
coma IN for a share Of 1t. in spite OF the
foct thar Mr.. Pullman, having no BELIEF
IN the business ability Of the youths ieit
them but 5000 year each.
George NJ. Pullman about a month ago
was visited by a man who desired 10
wrfte an account of his attempt at bread
winning. In a spirit OF fun Mr.. Pullman
gave his name as Sanger Pullman.
Mr.. Pullman was then working as an In
spector in the employ OF the Pullman
PaIace-Car Company. A few days AFTER
ward an account was printed. giving III
detail how sanger-in reality George
pullman had begun business life, ana
was earning his own living. Scarcely hau
the account been published when letters
from Tar and near were thrown upon
George Pullman's desk. They were al
dressed to mir. Sanger pullman, lnspece-
or care OF Pullman Palace-Car CON-
One letter. dated Toronto. Can, anu
signed Miss Changsable," reads:
You will probably remember neS. III }
me al the home OF Mrs. X, In New fotk
city, when you wera there last. l ani ,i,e
| girl with the red and green cnansed,,ll
| SILK 10 whom you said: Let me see tno
| color of YOUR eyes. Are they, too. cnanss-
| ableY liked you then as an ornani ..l
| TO society, but now you are even Dst1el
| as a useful member OF that great business
| community OF your country-Chicago,
would correspond with you. SEND 10 Mss.
| l.. for my name and address, nave W., :,
| fen 10 her to-day Yours, with nnecpO"'
Another letter from Boston said.
! "My Dear MIR. Sanger.--i admire yon'
| physioue. You are certainly handsome.
| Maybe II you write TO me and ma f ~
| sociable I'll answer you. ain hvt,.. ia
| gether against marriage. NO, 1 mls,isu, III. -
pressed into that happy state OF nnss;
They say I'm pretty and Beacon s'Se'
| can't beat me-" IN. w AND
Another letter, from Louisville, N.Y. ""'
| signed "a Friend" runs: sa~ar.
1Mv daughter, blue-eyed, nan s'a,,
haired Girl OF is. Is still In love Win soI
| She has long admired you. but 1 w. ses
| moi LET her write 10 you. NOW thas a.oo 600
YOU are employed and are makihs s m,
fight TO be independent l wlthuss"n now
objections. She may address ~"
| perhaps you might write nrsI. oa rrorx
Other letters OF like import sa''0
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-02-13
HILL ON NEW YORK ELECTIONS.
The Ex-senator Says the Democrats
VIII Probably Win Next Fall.

ALBANY, n. Y, February R.-Probably
no man in the state has watched the re-
turns from the first series Of spring cleo
lions. held Tuesday. with closer interest
than ex-senator David b. HILL The
Democrats in the Legislature are awake
10 the fact that while nominally out OF
politics, Mr.. Hill is as we'll informed on
the status Of party affairs throughout the
state as in the days when he sat on the
box seat and held the party reins openly,
and they were anxious to know his opin-
ion Of the significance OF the Democratic
gains reported from all quarters.
The ex-senator talked about the cleo
tions with tho manner Of man who has
heard good news, when seen at his law
office to-day. He said that he was much
pleased at the result OF the town meet
ings so far held throughout the State.
They indicated. he said, much Democratic
activity. and showed that with prudent
counsels and the absence OF party mis-
takes i'm New York the Democrats have
a good opportunity for carrying the state
at the coming fail election.
Further than this, Mr.. Hill did not care
10 discuss the meaning OF Tuesdays vote
ON political prospects in general. 1t Is
regarded as significant. however, that in
this brief declaration the ex-senator
makes the first public expression OF his
belief that the Democrats will win this
wear The only proviso attached to his
hopeful prophecy is the fear that Tam
many Hall may do something TO spoil the
party's bright prospects In this. 1t Is
pointed out, he reveals the fact that ne
has not forgotten the existence OF Rich
ard Croker as a possible disturbing FACTOR
= c,koto ,n1ffico this fall.
The Democratic members OF the Assem-
blv showed their citation over the town
meeting returns to-day by frequent sar-
castle references to them in the debate
over the Murphy resolution; and Senator
Cantor summarized the sentiment OF the
Democrats in the Senate, when he SAID
"Wen. it shows that things are coming
our way"
The Republicans point to the fact tna'
the spring elections do not always furnish
| n sure indication of the result In the
fan and recall that in 1892 the most won,
! derful Republican gains were recorded
( in the town elections, yet the state wen'
| hone,esslv Democratic in November.