davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1900-05-24
%

4H1I " 7SSNSn-
-thirty-nine!'' Diantha Berry
cried, delightedly. The level rays of
the late afternoon sunshine sifted
through the close branches of the
great tree geranium and made an &C.
centric tracery in lines of light on
her plain face. The splendid plant
stood head and shoulders above her,
and its topmost leaves swept the
whitewashed ceiling. It's clusters of
rosy pink petals peeped out blushing
ly, all over it.
Across a narrow space of yard little
Leah Swallow put on her glasses and
tried to count the blossoms, too. Her
pale, lean face was wistful with long
ing. On her own window-sill pot of
stunted cactus grew.
It was late May, and the tiny village
stband" down the street little way
was practicingthe "Star Spangled Ban
ner" ambitiously. 1t was hired to go
to a little distant town to play on
Memorial day. There was only one
soldiers grave at home, and the peo-
pie had never made any observance
of the day there. 1t was of that one
soldiers grave that little Leah Swal-
~" was AC4el1AI1Ael AOCA
ry. across the yard. But it was Leah
who was crying.
By and by the great tree geranium's
petting ended; Diantha went back to
3ler sewing at the other window
''I declare, I believe I can smell lini-
ment," she. said, aloud. ''Leah's got
another of her spells of rheumatism,
I guess. She uses dreadful smelly
ointment. and the winds this way. I
scan smell it as sure as live
A sudden memory made her grim
features relax into smile. She was
thinking how Leah used to say-when
they were bits, -high-that she
could smell Mis- Job Daggett's boiled
dinner round two corners. Her talent
for smelling had developed early.
The band struck up the RED, White
and Blue and the faint rhythm of the
music set Diantha Berry's feet tap
ping. Across the strip of brown
grass, it sent Leah Swallows head
down into her open hands.
"Not that can't let 'em play
that!" she sobbed, desolately "That
was Benjie's tune. It don't seem as
If anybody else had any right to it
but Beljie. He used to sing it when
he wasn't but a speck of a knee-high
hoy and played soldier Then, after
ward, when-when it wasn't play, he
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1900-05-24
D1ANTHA BERRY SAT MUsING.

full fond O. flowers. His mother'd got
cactus blossom pinned onto his coat,
among the brass buttons. 1 can't bear
a cactus blossom. If things hadn't
been just so, I'd have sent Little Ben
jie off to war with plenty O. my pink
geraniums on his soldier coat"
Diantha Berry's voice came to a
stop with jolt. She had forgotten to
see how many blooms the tree gera-
MUM had last spring-when Little Ben
lie went to war. Little Benjie! she
had a clear vision of him before her
eyes; Little Benjie in his brand-new
soldier suit, with his brown, curly head
up in the air, tramping away like a
veteran. How plainly she saw him!
The way the morning sunshine had
played with his brass buttons-hOw
plainly she saw that! Was it the daz-
zle of it in her eyes that made them
water? Diantha Berry was old-if go
years is old-and lonely and grim.
There had been few shadoWs-or sun
hashes-in her life. Little Benjie had
been more to her than, in her heart,
she would confess. He had been to her
almost what her own son might have
been.
She sat back in her chair now, rock
ing fiercely, and remembered many
things. Little Benjie was in them all.
They filed before her mind in steady.
relentless succession-the time when
Little Benjie put on his first bits of
trousers and stumped across the yard
to show her the pockets in them-the
time when he first went to school and
she tucked pair of his beloved straw
berry tarts, unnoticed, into his lunch
basket, for a surprise-and the time
Diantha Berry drew in her breath
sharply, with the pain of remember
ing-the time when, in his brave sol
der clothes, he marched away to war,
to the tune of the 'Red, White and
Blue" That memory hurt her. She
wondered. in dull misery, if mothers
could feel worse than that. If Little
Benjie's mother-but she would not
finish that thought out. Her thin
lips clenched. What had she to do
with Little Benjie's mother? 1t was
only Little Benjie that mattered to
her.
''But I'd pity her-Fd do that, if
'twarn't for the way she treated me
when they brought home Benjie's body.
I'd have forgot all the rest then
wasn't ready to? Wasn't the first
one to give in? Do you suppose I'd
have let miserable little quarrel
stan between US then, when Little Ben
jie lay dead in the house? But Leah
felt different. She wouldn't make up
even then-then! If 'twarn't for that,
I'd pity her, settin' acrost there, all
alone. I'd be sorry for the mother O.
Little Benjie. I'd go acrost and see how
her rheumatism was, and I'd run down
the street where the bands practicin'
and make 'em stop goin' over that tune
of Little Benjie's. III tell 'em to have
pity-it hurts his mother so to hear
it. But now
She turned the pages of the diary
in her hand, searching for something.
1t was not thereof course not! 1t
was in the next little book further
along in the rom. She took it down and
found the page she wanted.
'They brought little Benjie home.
dead, to-day. Little Benjie deadl I
saw 'em take the box out of the hearse
and carry it in to Leah-poor Leah!
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1900-05-24

over a very clean ship and a very
tired ships company.
Bright and early the next morning
| the admiraIs launch was sent off to
bring the general aboard. At the last
moment it was discovered that there
was no fruit for luncheon, and Pom
Pey, the admiraPs cook, was sent in
! the dingy to get some.
Pompey was a character in his way,
and had been with the admiral for
many years. He was very proud Of
what he called his military bearing,
and wore his beard carefully trimmed
to a point. His hair and beard were
nearly white, and although he was
go years old, he ruled the other ne
groes with q rod of iron.
By ten o'clock every one was stand
ing by in full dress, when the quar-
termaster came aft and reported that
the adnliral's launch was returning.
The officer of the deck walked to
the rail and took a squint at the boat
through his glasses. A man clad in a
blue uniform was seated in the ad
miral's cane chair in the stern, but as
the gunwale struck him just below
the shoulder and the awning hid his
head, the officer of the deck was not
certain that it was Gen. Candy until;
as the wind lifted the edge of the
awning, he caught a glimpse of a gray
bc0rd.
Word was passed that the general
was coming off. The crew were beat
to quarters, the marine guard parad-
ed, and the gun squad, detailed to fire
the salute, took thF:r stations.
Everything was in readiness, and
the admiral and IS staff stood at the
head of the gan, way to receive the
guest. A hush of expectancy settled
over the ship.
The boat drew nearer. just as the
launch scraped alongside, boom!
boom!! came the salute from the guns.
Present arms!'' came the COM
mand to the guard, and at sign from
the flag officer the band struck up
'.Hail to the Chief
Amid all this military po1np and
splendor the occupant of the launch
was slowly clambering out, feet fore
most, and just as the last gun was
fired he stood erect at the top of the
gangway.
Merciful heavens! 1t was Pompey,
with a bag of fruit in each hand!
Confusion! The honors intended
for a general had been rendered a
negro cooki As the situation dawned
on the men, even discipline could not
check a general shout of laughter.
The old admiral himself laughed un-
til he could laugh no more.
It seemed that in Some way the
dingy had gone off and left the old
negro, and that he had managed to
convince the coxswain that 'sMarse
Farragut was jes' bound to have dat
fruit befo' the general came"
Pompey wanted to land at the port
gangway, but the coxswain insisted
that the admiral's launch never went
to the port side, and that the old man
would have to land on the starboard
side. aft.
Had the awning been a little high
er, the mistake in Identification would
not have occurred. As things were,
no one could be blamed, and the af-
fair was treated as joke, while
Pompey was nicknamed the General
When, an hour later, Gen. Candy
did come off, he was received with all
due ceremony, and on being told the
story, laughed till the tears rolled
down his cheeks, and demanded to
see the man who had stolen his salute.
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1900-05-24

the soft rustic when Diantha Berry
turned a leaf. At the top of the new
page she began again:
1--WE give up. Leah amt goin' to
answer my letter. It's most night
now, and I sent it acrost yesterday
mornin' when Mis- Daggett's little
boy went past to school. She don't
want me to come overland to-mor-
row mornin' they'll bury Little Ben
jie! shan't ever see his face again!' -
1t was like cry of pain, in little
neat set letters, there on the page.
It seemed to echo through the room.
The diary slipped to the floor with
a gentle thud. It lay there, unno-
ticed, a long while. The twilight
dimmed tonight while Diantha Ber-
ry sat musing. The darkness crept
about her like soft mantle and
wrapped her in. The low creak of
ly, was the only sound in the room.
After awhile she began to talk again
aloud, as lonely women do.
Tuesdays Decoration days, 20,
80, yes, Tuesday. To-day's the 27th
O. May. Well, I'm goin' to cut off
some O. my geranium tree blooms and
carry 'em down to Little Benjie Tues
day. They'll look so beautifuI-and
Benjie was dreadful fond O. pink flow
ers. There'll be enough to make
great wreath at his head. I guess I
can spare a lot of them to Little
Benjie! I shall have him all to my
self-Leah's got spell of rheuma tism.
If 'twarn't for that, I couldn't go at
all'
She experienced fierce joy, and the
sound of it was in her voice. She was
glad that Little Benjie's mother was
sick. Across the yard there was no
glimmer of light. Little Benjies
mother sat in the dark, too, and
unused. A faint remnant of daylight
kissed her wan face gently as it van
ished.
''He was such a little mite of boy,
Benjie was, when I put him into
pants" her thoughts kept on. with
relentless cruelty, ''and I sent him
over to Diantha's to show 'em to her
When he came back, all his little
pockets were full o. goodies. I can
see just how he looked, struttin'
acrost the yard, tal1in' long steps like
man. And I can hear how Diantha
laughed. She couldn't have been
much fonder of Little Benjie-she al
ways called him Little Benjie-if he'd
have been her own boy. But after
ard-afterward, when he laid still
and cold, in his blue clothes, she for
got she'd ever loved him. She forgot
then. IF he'd been her own boy,
would she have forgot? Would she
have kept away from him then be-
cause of little foolish quarrel?"
In the bitterness of her soul, Leah
Swallow flung out her arms and cried
out sharply. The rough motion tor
tured her pain-racked body. but she
scarcely felt it.
''Benjiel Benjie!" she moaned.
''Benjie- mothers boy, why didn't I
hold you back? I need you so. Why
did I let you go? Weren't there other
boys enough? Weren't there boys
whose mothers had other boys at
home? And you were all had, Ben
jie! We thought it was so fine. dear
the soldier clothes and the sound o.
the band playin' the Red, White and
Blue and the glory of settin' Cuba
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1900-05-24

Let Memorial Day be hallowed;
And the parent, widow, child,
As they gather where are resting
What to them death has despoiled,
Feel that with them it's BETTING
Thus to spend the time apart,
With the dead. who lie around them.
And the sorrows Of the heart
u. NJ. Thompson
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1900-05-24
~ SS q & . /
(OLUMBIkS |
MEMORIAL DAY.

THERE stately trees
beneath the sun
t h eir emerald
foliage spread
And the rivers seek
the. ocean, sleep
Columbia's hero
dead;
No bugle blast awakes
them now, no war
cry shakes the
pines,
R1rf OhOSt1v SeptFieS
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1900-05-24
FOR LITTLE
@BENJIEg
Decoration Story.

HE counted the
buds and blossoms
over again, with
slow care. There
were so many!
S@TbirtvlSaven-
The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-08-14
A SUIT FOR INTEREST.
Mrs. Cook Demands $50 From Mrs
Pomeroy-s Executors

Mrs. Cook Demands $50 From Mrs.
Pomeros7s Executors.
Lizzie Mann Cook. through Attorney A.
Leftwich Sinclair. fled a petition in the
Orphans Court yesterday afternoon, in
which she asks the court to require Charles
H Allen. of Boston Mass. and Edward A.
Bowers. OF New Haven, Conn, executors
OF the last Will and testament of Martha
S Pomeroy, to pay over to her the sum
OF $3.50, which she charges is Improperly
and anlawfully retained and held by them
1t is stated that the petitioner is a Iega-
tee under the viii OF Mrs Pomeroy: that
in her will Mrs Pomeroy gave aud be-
queathed TO her three 6 per cent Oregon
Short Line Railroad bonds of the value
of 81 ,000 each. requesting that she hold the
same until they matured and use only the
annual interest thereon until that time
Mrs PomeToy died February "a, 1889 and
her will was admitted to probate and rec
ord on April IS, 1899.
Mrs. Cook charges that the executors
delivered the three bonds to her some time
in May, 1900, but kept the interest which
had accrued on them between the date Of
the death of Mrs. Pomeroy and that date
which amounts TO $3.50. The petition was
called TO the attention Of Justice Barnard
who signed al order requiring the execu-
tors to show cause on Friday the oath
inst why they should not pay over this
money to Mrs. COoh.
The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-08-14
Tn THE F;JLICE COURT
The Usual Grind Made More Monet
onous by Persistent Attorneys.
Profanity, DisorderIy Conduct. and
Nasraucy the Principal Charges
Against the Prisoners-Two Cab
men Fined for Soliciting Patron
aGe-Disposition OF other Cases.

The number Of prisoners in the dock in
| the lower branch of the Police Court this
morning was unusually small. aid when
Judge Mills took his seat the indications
were that the business OF the day would be
concluded in less than an hour, TIE IN
expected happened. however, In the shape
of several long winded arguments by attcr-
neys over trivial matters and the result was
that il was 1I:30 O'Clock before court was
adjourned. The session was most no
notonous one. there being nothing to break
the usual daily grind.
William Thurs tou--asld James Sprigg, col
ored, were arraigned on the complaint Of
Policemen Tracy aid Sawyer, who charged
profanity and disorderIy conduct. Thurs
ton entered q plea Of guilty, and was sent
down for fifteen days in default OF pay
ment of fine Of 50. Sprigg denied that
he was guilty as charged and b. his state
ments showed That Policeman Sawyer was
TO say the least. mistaken. Judge Mills
dismissed the charge and ordered SpFigg
released.
Isaac DuvaIl coIored. was confranF ed
with a charge OF disorderly conduct which
Policeman Sroufe said was of a most ag-
gravated character. Mrs Mary OBrien
ard her father John Dice, >oFroborated
the testimony of the policeman Duvall
denied in toto all the allegations RE
fault of payment Of a Inc Of SO he viii
spend $50 days as the si.est 0. InteIdant
Stoutenburg-
Noah Price and Walter NJ Bland, col
ored hackmen. were arraigUed on the
complaint OF Hack Inspector Lamb, who
alleged d violation of the police regula-
ton prohibiting the soliciting Of patron
age. Price admitted that he was guilty
but Bland denied the charge. Judge
Mills administered similar punishmeuts
in the shape OF So fines. The fines were
paid.
John Wise. colored, created d disturbance
on Eighth Street last night. According 10
Bicycle Policeman McGrath, Wise SO
disorderiy that complaint was made about
his conduct by citizens. The loud shouts
of Wise, it was said, could be heard a long
distance from the scene of the disturb
ance- When arTaigned before Judge Mills
this morning he entered a plea Of not gull
ty and was disposed to argue Ordtna-
rily s. fine would have been imposed
but in view of the attending circumstances
an extra s. was tackled on. Wise was sent
to the farm for thirty days.
When Samuel Herbert was arraigned
charged with vagrancy he entered q plea
of not guilty and added that there was no
reason why he should be so accused. Aft
err hearing the evidence of Policeman
Nussbaum, Judge Mills decided that there
was cause for the arrest of Herbert and he
ordered the defendant to give bond in the
sum of $50 or go to the woTkhouse for
ninety days. Herbert went down
George O'LeaTy. who was also charged
with VagTancy, entered a plea Of not guilty
and sought to establish his innocence
Realizing that he was falling in that he
The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-08-14

made plea for Ieniency, with the result
that he was given a sixty-day vacation.
Lizzie DAILY, alias Lizzie Brown, who has
on at least one previous occasion bsen
sentenced to a term in the workhouse, was
arTaiened this morning charged with Va
grancy. She grew indignant when the In
formation against her was read, and de-
MED that she was anything other than a
respectable lady Judge Mills sent the
Daily woman to the workhouse for ninety
days in default of payment OF a fine OF
$40.
Dennis Jordan was arraigned charged
with disorderly conduct. and his sister.
Jennie Jordan. was charged not only
with disorderly conduct but with assault
ing Dennis The appearance of Dennis in
dicated that he had been given "a receipt
IN full." as Bailin Kendig expressed it,
for whatever disorder he created. He de-
clared on the stand that because he refused
to allow his sister TO receive the atten-
tons OF married men she had cut him
with razor. Judge Mills imposed a fine
OF SO for the assault and a fine OF s. for
the disorderly conduct, with the aIterna-
tive OF an aggregate sentence Of forty-fiye
days. The Jordan woman went down
The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-08-14
Merely senren. Not Irsune.

Perry Watkins, the eolored youth who was ar
rested at Takoma Park Sunday and turned over
to Policeman Barry, of the Eighth precinct, and
who has since been held at No. station. was
this morning furnished transportation TO BaIti
more by Sanitary Officer Frank. From the Bal
tInore authorities Watkins viii receive assistance
10 his home at Kent Island, in the Chesapeake
Bay. Watkins is the youth who oecasoned some
alarm at Takoma Park because of his peculiar ac-
tons It was supposed the negro was insane. but
an examination developed that he more fright
ened than anything else. He was recently releas-
ed from the Maryland Reforrnatory at Jessup's
Gut, and attempted to walk home. He took the
wrong road and arriving at Takoma, and finding
imagined the people who suspiciously eyed him,
mIstook him for the assailant of a woman and
were about to lynch him. Watkins was more
frightened than the residents of Takoma who
found him.
The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-08-14
THE NEW POLICE SURGEON
DR.. Charles C. MarBury Chosen fo
the Position.

Commissioner Ross today took up the
matter of the appointment of new po-
lice surgeon to take the place of Dr. ].
Ramsey hewitt, who was recently promo;ed
10 the Office of Coroner of the District
After d full consideration of the several
applicants for the position. and after care
fully going over the availability of each.
Mr.. Ross nominated DR.. Charles C. Mar
bury for the position, in which the other
Commissioners unanimously concufred.
Dr. Marbury is not only we'll fitted for
the position by his attachments and per-
sonal qualities, but he had the strongest
backing for the appointment among the in
auential people of the District
One OF the conditions of his appointment,
upon which Mr.. Ross was insistent, and in
which DR.. Marbury agreed. was that he
should open an Office on Capitol Hill where
he would he IN position to look after taat
OF the police and fire department MS.
This is the last of the appointments to be
made for some time to come, and It is now
expected that the visits of the off1ceseeker
to the District building will cease for q
time.
The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-08-14
HERRICK POISONING CASE
Sax Persons Now known to Have
Heen Affected.

CHICAGO, Aug. 14--Develormepts in
the Herrick poisoning case show that still
another person, making six in all, suffered
from a mysterious illness while staying
at the late E. P. Herrick's house. This
person, Mrs. Florence Hadley, recovered
after being removed to the hospital A
week later she returned TO the Herrick
house. and within thirty-sM hours was
taken i'll again with precisely the same
symptoms. She WIS again removed to the
hospital by Mr.. Herrick IN the middle of
the night, and again recovered. The sec
ond attack occurred Immediately after
drinking a cup of chocolate Sensational
disclosures are looked for at the inquest
on Friday.
The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-08-14
Held ON Charge of Murder.

CENTREvILLE, Md, Aug 14.-Matthew
Cheers, eolored, and his wife Mary Cheers,
charged with the murder of Solomon Rob-
erts, July q on the farm of Ohio Williams,
in Queen Anne's county, waived a hearing
before Justice T. Sud1er Roberts yester-
day and were committed for court Ex-
States Attorney Hopper represented
Cheers and James T. Bright represented by
States Attorney Harper, Col. Edwin H.
Brown and John E. Wilson. Robert A. But
Ter, the man Cheers accused of the muir
der, was present as one of the witnesses
and occupid tIont sat in the courtroom.
There are sixteen witnesses In each case.
The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-08-14
THREE BAD CoLoRED BOYS.
Thought II Joke to Steal. But
Found 1t Serious

Judge Taylor This morning disposed of
nine cases Of petit larceny preferred
against three colored boys who gave their
names as George Grant, Charles Wheeler.
and Peter Robinson.
1t was alleged that the boys had for
some time past been carrying On whole
sale thIeving business IL that section OF
the city known as Bioodfeid They ad-
mitted the charges aRd laughed as the
witnesses teztiasd against them, evident
" imagining the whole affair to be a
huge joke Judge Taylor showed that
the matter was serious. however, by i'm
posing an aggregate sentence of $50 days
IN Jail on each of the accused.
Those who suffered as the result OF the
thefJs Of the three defendants included
Hattie White. John W. Gray. Henry
Wheeler. august ". Flick, John ".
Payne, James Higgins Thomas Savoy,
John a Healy and Mrs Christine Miller.
They all lost articles OF various kinds
and values.
The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-08-14
NO HOPE OF RECOVERY.
The Doctor said, But Chamberlain,
Collie, Cholera, and Diarrhoea
Remedy Cured Him.

sBfy son was suffering with severe cramps and
was given up as beyond hope by my regular
physician, who stands high In his profession. A
neighbor ran in with bottle of Chamberlain $
Collie Cholera and Diarrhoea Remedy and after
administering three doses OF it my son regained
consciousness and recovered entirely within TWEEN
Crawford Va. This remedy is for sale by Henry
Evans, wholesale and retail. and all druggists.
The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-08-14
NoRFoLK's COAL TgADE.
Railway Dispute May Give Business
TO Newport News.


to NEWPORT News.
NORFOLK, Va, Aug. lit Is reported
here upon what is considered good au-
thority that the Norfolk AID Western Rail
way in view Of the opposition to the con
struction of the new coal pier the railway
wants 10 erect at Lambert's Point may d.
vert its coal trade from this port 10 New
port News II is said that the Pennsyl-
yania Railroad interests in the Norfolk and
Western are attempting to accomplish
this. The Pennsylvania has an interest in
the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway quite as
great as it has in the Norfolk and West
ern. and the Chesapeake and Ohio inter
est in that roads directory naturally wish
es the coal diverted to Newport News.
II is understood that connection be-
tween the two roads may easily be effected
at Richmond OF at point further west.
and the coal may thus reach deep water
at point where the expansion Of the COM
pany's business will be welcome.