davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1899-08-10

cabin. We stod thar till the last one
had passed, and then we went down to
find EN- in the mewl shed. They was
half choIled with the smoke, and we
could pick 'em up by hand. started in
to count EN-, but give it up at $50. The
number was fully TO hundred, and most
of EN- was full grown. 1 was fur club
bin EN- along, but the old woman felt
to pity the varmints and carried 'em
water by the pailful. Them posSums
was with us till heavy rain fell and
drenched out the fire. 1t was in tho
mawnin' that they started off, and any
body but a blind man could hev seen
they was grateful. They went off up
the same trail, and as they passed us
they almost spoke right out and said
they'd never forgit the favor. Did you
ever hear a 'possum purr?"
NO, | never did,
ITS like cat, only more noise to
it. They went past us purrin' and
twistin' their tails, and the last of 'em
looked back and put in a few extra
purrs and twists. l didn't count much
on luck, but the old woman stuck to it
that sunthin' good would happen, and
it come out as she said. That fall thar
didn't pear to be a coon in all Tenes-
see, and the price of 'possum hides
went up to fo'ty cents apiece. Jest
about time the fur got prime and | was
goin' to hustle l went out doahs one
mawnin' to see a big 'possum standin'
thar. In about a mint he begun pur-
rim and twistin' his tail and coaXin' me
to foller him. l sot out, and he led me
to a bit o woods about two miles away
which had escaped the summer fire,
and right thar | got my reward"
Find a big bag of gold?' l asked.
mo, sab, but next to it. That pos
sum colony was all thar among the
holler trees, and in the cos of month
| got 37S pelts and had money to live
on fur hull year. They was waitin'
to be killed to show their gratitude, and
one of 'em had been sent to show me the
way. 1t was the biggest 'pOssum kill
ever known in the world, and folks
around we're are still talkin' bout it.
That was 'possum gratitude, sab, and
you jest excuse me if | say that be-
tween the gineral run of folks and the
gineral run of 'possums I'll take pos
sums every time
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1899-08-10
" The Ungrateful Varmint Carried Off
the Hog"

all the con around yere bout my field
was burned up. | had three acres I'M
der the hills where the ground was
moist, and that con come along nicely.
Bout the time the kernels begun to
harden mn the old woman was look
in over the field when we run agin
- coons in heap. They was on their
way into the con, and they was pore
and weak. Didn't pear to me as if they
had had anything to eat in week. l
could hev killed 'em all with club, but
the old woman stops me and says:
"'Zeb, don't you do it. The fur amt
prime yit, and KILN would be all loss.
Let them coons feed up for a month
and you'll make money out of it,.
at looked that way to me arter a bit,
and we stood aside and let them coons
into the con. Mo of 'em kept comm,
until, in three or TO days, it wasn't no
trouble to count hundred of the var
mints. They was 100 pore and weak
to git out o. the way at fust, but purity
soon they begun to fatten up and jest
counted that I'd hev coOnskins mutt
to buy me Il mcwl That con was wuth
90 cents bushel, but | didn't be-
grudge it to the CoOns. | was waitin'
and hangin' on till the fur got prime.
and them coons Enowcd il and played
me low-down. | was goin' to start out
on Il Monday and begin KILN, but Sun-
day night the hull drove made off, leay
in only two lame cOons behind. and all
| got for their pelts was 20 cents apiece.
After my con was gone not coon was
to be found in the hull county"
"But you discovered that possums
has gratitU,le"' / observed, as the old
man maintained a sullly silence.
'Wall, | was comm to that he re-
piled. 81 reckon it was the next sum
mer artcr the coons played me that
trick that the woods all round we're took
fire. Thar was fire on every side of us
fur week, with tho smoke so thick
sometimes that yoU could skassly
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1899-08-10
THEY NEVER SPEAK.
The Most Austere Order of Nuns
Now in Existence.
Women Who Have Vowed n Life ST.
lence-An Incident Showing the
Relentless Severity of Their
PenitentiaI Rules.

An article in the Wide Wide World
Magazine tells of the str*ugest and
mostaustere order of nuns in the world,
who dwell far down in the southwestern
corner of France, on the borders of
Spain, and under the shadow of the
Pyrenees. These are the Bernardines
of Anglet, sisters of St. Bernard, the
almost incredible severity of whose rule
most resembles that of the famous
Trappist monks. Indeed, they appear
even more meritorious when one re-
members that weak women cannot bear
the same hardships or sufferings that
men can. These devoted nuns abandon
themselves to life of solitude and take
a vow of perpetual silence, which every
one must allow is far more praiseworthy
in a woman than in one of the sterner
sex. The only occasion on which the
-rsasssf1s, !, pen their lips to speak is when
they join in the prayers. If it were
not for this they would probably almost
forget how TO talk!
Over their heads, and arranged so as
almost to conceal their faces, they wear
long black wooden hoods, which are
rendered the more striking by the great
white crosses that are affixed to the
backs. Each nun wears rough wooden
sabots, and round her neck a chain, TO
which is attached large cross. There
is little of the appearance of the or
binary nun about their attire.
1t was the Able Cestac, a sanity
priest of Bayonne, who founded the
convent at Anglet in 1880. At first, ow-
ing to lack of funds, the nuns went
through every sort of suffering, often
having absolutely nothing to eat and
no prospect of obtaining anything.
However, by sheer pluck and hard work
these courageous women overcame
every difficulty, and now, although they
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1899-08-10

draw breath. AFTER day or two the
wild varmints begun to show up in my
clearin'. In one afternoon | saw two
deer, three bars, two wild cats and |
dunno haw many coons, woodchucks,
squirrels, 'possums and rabbits. Some
of 'em jest flew across the clearin' into
the woods beyand, and some hung
around and didn't pear to fear me as
much as the fire. Bein' down on bars
and coons l driv 'em along as fast as
they showed up, and likely might hev
done the same by the possums but fur
the old woman. We was out west of
the cabin, fightin' fire in the bushes,
when she suddenly calls out to me:
"'Refo' the Lawd, Zeb White, but /
never dun see SIGH a sight as that over
thar
ION the trail leadin' down from the
spring was procession of 'possums,
all bound fur the clearin' around the
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1899-08-10

are not rich, they can at least provide
themselves with the neceSsaries of life.
Their needs, after all, are very small
They fast constantly, and when they do
eat, their food consists of vegetables
dry bread, and, three times week, a
little-a very little-meat. The refec-
tory is long, marrow, whitewashed
room with a matched roof and no ar
tifcial flooring, merely the deep sand
of the dunes, which, however, provides
the most comfortable of carpets. Each
nun has her earthcnware pitcher of
water and a little drawer in the rough
deal table where she keeps her wooder
the Bernardines take their meals kneel-
ing on the sand. At the appointed hour
they make their way in single file to the
refectory.
Every hour of the day is carefully
mapped out, for the rules OF the order
insist that not moment shall be vast
ed. There are constant prayers On
every occasion. Each time the big clock
of the monastery chimes the hour every
nun falls on her knees and spends few
moments in prayer. Out in the fields it
is marvellous to see how weh the oxen
know those chimes. Directly they hear
them they stop instinctively, starting
on their way again the instant the Sis
ters rise from their knees.
The cemetery is as austere-lookinG
as the rest of the nunnery. The graves
are the simplest little sandy mounds,
huddled close together in the most
pathetic way, with rude cross traced
in cochleshells upon them. At the
head of each is a little bush, while frs
and glaoIpy cypress trees are dotted
around. Here the nuns spend much of
their time, praying for the souls Of the
dead, sometimes at the grave of the
Able Cestac's father, holy man who
is buried here; and sometimes in the
tiny matched chapel which they have
erected.
Perhaps the following story will IL
ustrate better than any mere descrip
ton how minutely the penitential rules
of this extraordinary order are obeyed
Two Bernardines lived side by side for
five years in two adjoining cells, and
so thin a partition divided them that
they could even hear the sound of each
others breathing. All this time they
ate at the same table and prayed in the
same chapel. AT last one of them died,
and according to the rule of the order,
the dead nun was laid in the chapel, her
face uncovered, and the Bernardines
filed past, throwing holy water upon the
remains as they went. When it came
to the turn of the neXt-door neighbor,
no sooner did she catch sight of the
dead nuns face than she gave pierre
ing shrek and fell back in a swoon.
She had just recognized her dearest
friend in the world, from whom she
had parted with the deepest pain many
years before to enter the convent. For
FIVE years the two friends had lived side
by side without ever having seen each
others face or heard the sound of opa
rnother's voice.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1899-08-10
ONE ON THE CLERK

Just after the night clerk had come
on at the hotel and curled his mustache
to his liking, his attention was called to
business.
kerosene lamp for 237," requested
the bell boy,
kerosene lamp" echoed the clerk,
as he whirled the register about. LET
me see. Bondly and wife, of Plunker-
Vile, in 237. l thought so. Never ban
| in first-class hotel before. Go back
| and show them how to use the electric
light. Wonder they didn't send for a
tallow candle" and the clerk took sew
eral of the corridor loungers into his
confidence.
Lady says if this hotel can't afford
! send it quick" said the bell boy, who
had made the round trip in phenomenal
time. she acts pretty hot"
pretty cold, [ should think. Go back
there and open the register, show the
lady how to use the water faucets and
how to turn off the electricity. Thank
| the Lord she can't blow it OUT
The next word from 237 came with
a rush. 1t was brought by vision of
loveliness. dressed in bewitching style,
her face flushed and her blue eyes
throwing off sparks. Make on: our
bill and receipt it at once" she said, as
her dainty foot beat time on the marble
thing.
'But Mrs Bondly-"
ATTEND to my order, sir. Include in
your bill a carriage and an express
wagon to transfer us and our things,
and ten Mr. Bondly when he comes in
that he will find us at the other house,
where we will spend the rest of the
season. Understand, we must go at
once. want to go to a hotel where it
will be possible to warm some milk for
baby before the little angel starves to
death"
Then the loungers had fun with the
clerk, and the best he could muster
was Il sickly grin.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1899-08-10
! ri QUAD'S !
sVEIN OF HUMOR :
LAYING OVER THE MAJOR.
COPYRIGHT, 1898.

There was to be a new postmaster
appointed at Golden Hill, and Major
Wellman was put forward by the Big
Jack Mining Company and looked to
be sure winner. Uncle Ike White took
the field, however, and then both cam
didates went about with petitions.
Each felt that the ten men working the
Red Horse claim would settle the mat
ter whichever way they went; so the
major went down to see them, and
took along a plug of tobacco and pint
bottle of whisky for every man. When
he had worked things up to the right
point, he said:
well, boys, you know l want to be
postmaster of Golden Hill, and I'd like
to have you sign my petition. prom
Use to run the office i'll good shape, if
appointed"
Coin to put on any style over
things?' asked the leader of the ten.
Not a bit. l shall always be glad
to see any of you"
And free drt1Ks?"
"Well, now and then"
won't think you are better'n any
body else if you git the Officer"
Certainly not. You'll find me just
as | am now"
The men were almost ready to sign,
but thought it would be only fair to
hear what Uncle Ike had to say for
himself first. A day or two later he
came down to see them, and when he
heard what the major had done and
promised, he said:
Boys, didn't bring nuthin' to drink
and no terbacker. | was afraid YOU
might think l was tryin' to buy you.
As l understand it, Major Wellman
says he won't put on no pertickler
style if elected
That's his promise"
And he'll treat the crowd once in
awhile?"
He says he will
And he won't feel pulled up nor
nuthin'?"
NO"
Wall, boys, the major is good man,
and | amt sayin' a word agin' him.
} jest want to put case to you.
'Sposen it was wet, dark night?
'Sposen you ten fellers was up town
and wanted to put in three or four
hours? 'Sposen you was standin' in
front of the postot1ice, and ajor Well
man was lookin' at you? l amt say
in he wouldn't step out and ask you
to drink with him, but I'm sayin' I'd
go heap further than that myself.
Boys, you know my reputation around
these parts"
of being the biggest liar in the ter
ritory?"
That's it, and right here is where it
counts. The major would stop at a
drink and a hand-shake, but I'd throw
that door wide open, yell out for the
gang to come in, and when [ got you
all in your chairs, with pipe in every
mouth and a jug on the table, I'd begin
to lie about bars and wolves and wild
cats and keep it up till every mans
h'ar stood up and pushed his hat off.
1t amt the postotfice you want to look
out for, but for the lynn, and for the
bewtiful evenin's you'll pass with the
biggest kind of liar. Is Major Well
man liar? Did any man ever hear
him lie? Could he cook up bar story
to make anybody SILVER? Think of
these things and make no mistake"
Uncle Ike got the ten names on his
list and was duly appointed.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1899-08-10

In one of the big circuses there is a
big elephant that has not lain down for
20 years. All the other elephants lie
down to sleep, but this one sleeps stand
ing up, the most he has ever been known
to do being to lean against post to
sleep. When he is awake he stands
gently swaymg to and fro, never rest
ing till he closes his eyes.-Cincinnati
Enuuirpr
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1899-08-10

"Speakin' bout 'possums," sid old
Zeb White one afternoon as we were
tramping over the Cumberland noun
tains, but l don't reckon there's no
Sarmint like him. I'd been huntin'
possums fur ten years, and had killed
en- by the hundred, befo' found out
shat 'possum was a squar' critter. |
mean that it's his natur' to do the
squar' thing, same as the right sort of
man."
| replied that if such a trait existed
in any wild animal l had never heard
of it, and deemed it a curious thing:
and he continued:
You see, folks don't set out to study
animals, and so they don't know. Take
bar, fur instance-he hain't got no
gratitude about him. One summers
day, ten or twelve years ago. was sit
tin on the shady side of the cabin,
when big he bar come rollin' down
the hill out O. the bresh. He'd stepped
into trap which Tom Barnes had sot
in the woods in the spring and forgot
all about. | reckon that bar had
dragged that trap around fur weeks.
and it Il 1T hev bin mighty oncomfort-
able. He stood thar and looked at me.
and | sOt thar and looked at him. 1t
bein' summer time and fur no good, |
didn't want nuthin' of that bar. He
wanted sunthin' of me, though. AFTER
he had looked at me fur about five
minits the old woman comes to the
doah and says:
"Zeb White, thar's a vhoopin' big
bar out thar
Yes
He's got a steel trap on his foot
and he's wantin' you to take it off.
'"That's Jest what that bar did want. ="
said Zcb to me, land his actions
showed it so plain that | went out to
him. The trap had a chain on it about
six feet long, and | went that nigh to
the brute. l got stick and pried open
the jaws o. the trap, and that bar sot
thar and licked the hurt for ten minits
befo' walkin' off. He 'peared to be
mighty pleased, and men the old wom-
an decided that he was the sort of a
critter to do us good turn if it ever
come his way. 1t didn't pan out that
way, though"
How did it come out?"
"Why, the blamed, ongratcful var
mint got all well Of his hurt by Oc-
tober, and he come Back one night and
carried off the hog from the pen and
tipped over my two bee hives. That
was the way he repaid me, and have
never helped another bar out of a
scrape. The very next summer | found
one caught in holler log and starvin'
to death and whinin' fur mercy. but |
passed on and left him to die. I'm say
in that any man who sets out to be
squar' with a bar will shorely git left -
How is it with coons?" | asked.
wall, a coon is better'n bar, but
he's not exactly squar'," was the reply.
"One sezun it was so hot and dry that
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1899-08-10

Father-What do you mean, by kiss
ing my daughter, sir?
Suitor-Why-er-we were just re-
hearsing our amateur theatricals, you
know.
Father-Well, you seemed to know
your lines pretty well.-N. Y. journal.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1899-08-10

Mistress Bridget, l told you I want
ed all the eggs for breakfast soft, and
several were quite hard.
Bridget-Sure, mum, they were all in
to bile the same length of time, only
some of them felt the heat more than
others.-Brooklyn Life.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1899-08-10
Sheer Vanity.

"Why is it that pretty woman is
most successful as lobbyist?'
"Well-because when pretty wom-
On talks to man he somehow gets the
idea that she wouldn't waste time on
him unless he was tolerably cookbook
ing himself. "-BrookIyn Life.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1899-08-10

She--l am afraid you only know the
worst side Of my husband.
He-Perhaps did-until | met you.
She-What am to infer from that?
H4-Now ! know his better half
Chicago Daily News.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1899-08-10
4 Beautiful One.

Jaggles-Did he go to an artist to
have his black eye painted?
Wuggles-I couldn't say, but there's
no doubt the fellow VINO gave him =
black eye was an artist.-N. Y. World.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1899-08-10

"Your nvmhtr said the warden to
the new prisoner, is 800"
"rhank YOU" replied the eX-cashier.
"Ive been trying for years to get into
society, and here | am in the 400 at
st."--Chicago Daily Record.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1899-08-10
Cruel.

Cholly-I sing only faw my own
amusement, We know.
Mabel-And does it really amuse YOU
to see other people sulfcr?-N. Y Jour
nal
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1899-08-10

He-Arc you sure | am the only man
You ever really and truly loved?
She-Perfcctly sure. | went over the
whole list only yesterday. - n. y
Weekly.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1899-08-10
Excellent Advice,

My boy" said musician to his son
don't be too sharp nor vet too fiat
Just be natural. "-Tit-Bits.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1899-08-10
RcceIyed Their 0nictns.

HAS Hcnpecli any settled opinions?"
"Oh, yes! His wife settles them
Puck.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1899-05-03
Echo Answers, What9

"What is your city going to do in
celebration of Dewey Day?" queries
the Chicago Tribune, by telegraph, of
Montpelier newspaper reporter. Up
to date echo answers, "What7" Will
it not sound well, the answer the re-
porter must send back to Chicagol
While all the country will be ceiebrat-
ing with professions, the ringing of
bells and firing of guns; while cheers
for the Hero of Manila Bay-whose
heroism every added scrap of history
that gets past the frigid zone of diplo-
macy augments-are ascending all over
this land, and the orators tongue is
recounting the glory of the victory of
May /, 1898, Montpelier, the town of
Dewey's nativity, will be making her
everyday round of business, labor or
do-nothing-according to all present in
dications. That will be proud tidings
to send out from the capital of YER
mont. The prophet hath honor, I'M
limited and exuberant, in his own
country. Why not proclaim it, and
start in season to make the proclama-
ton commensurate with the glory and
magnitude Of the occasion2
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1899-05-03
State Officers Paid In Pelts in 17SS.

Probably few people to-day know
that the original name of the state
of Tennessee was Franklin, or that
in 1888 the salaries of the officers
of this commonwealth were paid in
pelts, but the following is correct
copy of the law:
"Be it enacted by the General AS
sembly of the State of Franklin, and it
is hereby enacted by authority of the
same, That from and after the first day
of January, 1888, the salaries of this
common wealth be as follows, to wit:
"His Excellency, the Governor, per
annum, one hundred deerskins.
"His Honor, the Chief Justice, five
hundred deerskins.
1.-THE Secretary to his Excellency,
the Governor, five hundred racoon-
skins.
"County Clerk, three hundred beaver
skins.
"Clerk of the House of Commons,
two hundred racoonskins.
"Members of the Assembly, per
diem, three racoonskins.
"Justice's fee for serving a warrant
one minkskin. "-Independent Banner.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1899-05-03
IN THE :FAR EAST,

MANILA, April 26.-General Wheat
on's command, the Kansas and Monta-
ma volunteers, repaired the bridge over
Bagbag river this morning. The vol
unteers then crossed and attacked the
Filipinos in their trenches and after a
short but sharp fight forced the enemy
back into Calumpit. The artillery is
now Smelling the town. 1t is only a
question of time when General Near.
thurs troops will capture the town.
A small river and another trench
still intervene between the Americans
and Calumpit. General Hale's brig
ade holds hanking position on the
right. The American losses in this
mornings fight are three killed and
three wounded. The Filipino loss was
small as they are well protected by
earthworks.
MANILA, April 26.-There was fight
ing around Calumpit this afternoon.
Calumpit church, just outside the town.
The natives were strongly entrenched
on the outskirts of the town. They
were also in force on the opposite
bank of the Rio Grande and from that
position were firing on our troops.
The rebels brought artillery into play
for the first time since the outbreak OF
hostilities. They fired shrapnel from
several guns in the trenches, but the
shot burst over the heads of the Amer
leans and 80 far has done no damage.
Reports from Spanish sources state
that Gen. Antonio Luna has succeeded
Aguinaldo. Luna threatened death to
all natives in whose possession the
American proclamation issued by the
Philippine commission shall be found.
MANILA, April N.-The main body
of the Filipino army under Gen. An.
tonic Luna WIS routed this morning by
McArthur's troops.
Kansas and Montana volunteers pur.
sued the fleeing enemy, driving them
to position beyond Apalit, four miles
west of the Rio Grande river. The
enemy's loss is heavy. Our loss is one
killed and six wounded, including
three officers
WASHINGTON, April 27. - Private
advices from Manila tell of extraor
binary precautions to protect General
Otis from assassination. For several
weeks it has been realized that Manila
is full of natives, friendly to the Fill
pino cause. Treachery against the
lives of high ranking officers is ex-
pected.