davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1900-12-15
A DAGGER FILL.

There are two tiers of boxes in the
Comedie Francois, Paris, in which
the ladies wear fine dresses. The
lower tier projects further into the
body of the house than the upper, so
that any object, falling from the lat
ter, might readily strike person sit
ting in the former. While Perrot,
the tenor, was revelling in his pierc-
ing high notes the other night,
much be-jeweled woman in one ofthe
boxes in the second tier, chanced to
lean over the rail to gaze at the or
chestra stalls. The movement shook
a piece of jewelry from her hair, and
it fell swiftly into the box beneath.
Under some circumstances the orna-
ment would have been lost, but it so
happened that it found safe and
sweet resting place. A fresh, big
eyed beauty in the lower box sudden
ly startled her friends by clutching
her pretty neck and exclaiming
"Oh, think I'm stabbed ]" Every
body bent solicitious1y toward her,
demanding to know the trouble. She
tapped her breast and gasped: II
felt sharp weapon strike me here.
At that moment gentleman enter
ed the box. Pardon my intrusion, f"
he said, "but my wife in the box
above dropped a jewel out of her hair.
Have you seen anything of it ?"
The lovely girl, who thought her
self stabbed, sat upright in her chair
and looked frightened. Then she
dashed into the back room, from
which she returned shortly, and said:
"Here is the jewel" holding forth
handsome diamond dagger. Where
she found the dagger would have re-
mained mystery unless young
man, who had been sitting at her
side, saw where it dropped just inside
her corsage.
The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1900-12-15
HAD HIS LITTLE BOYS MIXED.

Albert G. Lane, assistant super
intendent of schools, was visiting one
of the public institutions of learning
on the great West Side, where the
children of one of the lower grades
were being trotted out in review.
They were shown pictures of several
American poets and asked to name
them One was that of Eugene
Field. A bright youngster having
promptly identified the dead poet,
Mr.. Lane saked him to cite some of
Mr.. Fields poems. The boy, with
out hesitating, did so, one of which
included that pathetic gem entitled
"Little Boy Blue
Every good, said Mr.. Lane, Every
good. Now, my son." he continued,
"can you repeat Little Boy Blue
for me?"
No, sir" was the answer.
"Well, let me think" unused the
visiting official; 1t is a good many
years since read the charming title
poem, but l believe l can give it al
most verbatum," which he proceeded
to do as follows:
Little boy blue, come blow your horn,
The cows in the meadow, the sleeps in the
corn"
But that was as far as the assistant
superintendent of schools was allowed
to go, for at this interesting juncture
the teacher in charge could not con-
tain her suppressed laughter, and the
recitation was rudely interrupted.
Mr.. Lane was then walked up
Chicapo Exckanee.
The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1900-12-15
PRESENTS FOR HIS WIFE.

Hello, old man ! What have you
in all those bundles ?" asked a gay,
airy young bachelor of careworn,
solemn looking young man as they
met in a suburban railway train.
Presents for my wife," was the
sententious reply. cts her birth
day."
"Well, what are you bringing your
wife in that package from your tail
ors?" gayly pursued the bachelor.
Trousers, was the reply.
What ?"
Yes, I repeat trousers. Just you
listen. On my birthday my wife got
me three or four beautiful lace hand
kerchiefs, such as women carry at
afternoon teas and such places, and a
black velvet hat with high feathers,
one of the three story kind that OBJ
struct your view of the stage in the
theater. They looked mighty we'll
on her, and she asked me if I WASH t
having a nice birthday.
WCllJ L OlQu ul1Q l1dl VCly
much, but when Christmas came I
got another deal of the same sort. I
gave my wife pretty gold ring.
She gave me turquoise ring too
small to go over any of my knuckles,
and she wears it now next to the one
/ gave her. But that wasn't the
worst of it. She got her sister to
give me some after dinner coffee cups
and my sister to make me a lot of
lace doilies. That was all I got for
Christmas.
Tomorrow is my wife's birthday.
In this package I am bringing her
pair of trousers which l had made to
my measure and which I shall wear.
In this parcel is..a pair of the very best
patent lether shoes, size 81z, a good
deal too big for my wife; in this
package is box of cigar, and in my
pockets 1 have a new meerschaum
pipe and a packet of tobacco. Now,
I don't see how she can fail to have
a happy birthday. Do you? hope
she'll enjoy it, for l want to get even
for all the pretty things she has CIV
en- me-"
The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1900-12-15
TRAINING SADDLE HORSES.

DR.. J. {. Curryer, of Minnesota,
writing i'll The american A.g,1tultu,-
ist, says: In teaching colts the walk
trot- -canter it is necessary that they
have some good thoroughbred blood
close up, and if they have good action
they may make admirable saddle
horses, but if they are low headed
and naturally gated trotters it will
be difficult to teach them the saddle
horse gaits. First, they should be
properly shod, say with I8 ounces
shoes forward and 10 ounce behind,
provided they have good action, but
if they have poor action add ounce
to each front shoe at the heel and
make the shoes with a roll toe. A
good way would be to let the colts
wear these shoes few days before
beginning to teach them.
We want them thorough at the
walk first, then perfect their trot by
riding them at brisk jog, we'll taken
in hand, and let the canter be taught
last. Give them several daily lessons
in the biting harness before mount
ing them, and these lessons in the
biting should be continued daily un-
til they are thoroughly mouthed and
hammered. 1t should be remembered
also that these biting lessons are very
hard work, and the head should be
but a little higher than the natural
pose in the first lesson The first
lesson should be correspondingly
short, refining the head little higher
and the chin little more in each
day. The first lesson should not ex-
ceed 80 minutes, and they can be
safely increased in length of time up
to two hours.
The canter is taught by urging the
colt out of the trot into the gallop
and gradually taking him in hand
until he has the canter proper. You
must be on good terms with the colt
you are teaching, and the first thing
Of all is to teach him that you are his
friend. and let your rule be not to
overwork him in his lessons, and he
will learn to love it. Do not fool
away any time on a horse that
is poorly bred or laggard. for you
will sooner or later give him up in
disgust.
The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1900-12-15
PRETTY ROUGH SPORT.

So full of peril is the lumberman' S
life that even his sports and games
must be spiced with danger or they
will pail upon his taste. On the long
winter nights a cruel game called
'Jack, where be yer" is frequently
played.
The middle of the largest room in
the camp is cleared. Two men are
securely blindfolded and, having pre-
viously drawn lots for the first whack,
they kneel on the floor. In his right
hand each man holds stout leather
strap, in his left another leather strap,
or rope is held by the end, either
close to the floor or, in some camps,
actually on it. The latter strap, be-
ing kept taut by the combatants,
guarantees auniform distance between
them. They are quite near enough
to hurt each other severely, which
not infrequently happens.
Now, the man who has been lucky
enough to draw the first call shouts,
'Jack, where be ye?' to which his
opponent must Immediately answer,
"Here l be-" Then the first man
strikes at the place where he imagines
his adversary to be with the heavy
leather strap. If he hits his man, he
is entitled to another blow-may call
out again, Jack, where be ye?' and
the other must answer, "Here 1 be. "
This is continued till the first man
misses, when he must take his turn
at being struck.
The others form ring around the
two combatants, bets are made, and
each faction encourages and applauds
its chosen man. There are regular
rounds, and the game is usually kept
up until one or the other has had
enough or perhaps till one is carried
off the scene wounded. Hard heads
can stand hard knocks, and volunteers
for the sport are numerous. At the
beginning there is generally no NAL
ice: A hard blow is struck-it is
expected-it is the game. But it oc
casionally happens that the game de-
velops into fierce duel.-Pea,Son's.
The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1900-12-15
A SLEEPY GUEST.

There is we'll known legal light
of Chicago who is in deep disgrace
without the shadow of an excuse for
himself to bolster up his sinking spir
its. He went out to Hyde Park the
other night to dine informally with
some friends, and his hostess who
had been married but short time,
put herself out to entertain him.
The dinner was excellent, and the
judge did full justice to it. They
had coffee in the library, and the big
gest, most padded leather chair was
put at the guests disposal. With a
sigh he sank into its cavernous depths
and prepared for a luxurious evening
with good cigar ahead of him.
Brilliantly his hostess rambled on.
She told stories that were witty, and
she gently deferred to his views, but
presently he left her to do all the
talking. IN the midst OF a striking
account of theater party she stop
ped with jerk. There was no re-
sponse and dead silence punctuated
only by a gentle and regular breath
ing. The judge was fast asleep in
his big chair. There was no doubt
of it. Nothing could conceal the
fact. With one indignant and COM
prehensive glance at her plainly de-
lighted husband she arose and ma
jestically swept upstairs. And she
did not go down again.
1t was some time later when her
husband apologetically came up after
her. He had not expected her wrath
to last. 'Did-did you think you
were badly treated?" he asked.
''How long did he sleep?" asked
the still insulted wife.
Again the grin overspead her hus-
bands face, but he spoke in a sad
tone, as beftted the occasion. 'Near-
ly an hour" he breathed. / would
not mind" pacifcally
Then it was the worm turned.
"Mind !" she stormed. "Of course
I wouldn't, only you have grounds
now for the rest of your life for say
ing I talk so much it puts people to
sleep !" And she wept.-ChicagO
Meas.
The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1900-12-15
EARNING HIS COLLEGE COURSE.

Speaking of snobbishness, the Lis
tener is glad to have occasion to note
a.case of old-fashioned manly absence
OF that unpleasant quality. Spend
ing Sunday recently with friend
in very delightful summer resort
not far away, where good many
Pleasant cottages have been built
on cliff commanding a fine view
OF the summer sea, the Listener hap
pened to be sitting an the veranda
with his friend as milkman's wagon
drew up in the street. The milk
man, sturdy young fellow of pleas
ant face, dismounted, rang a bell by
way of warning to the maids of the
vicinity to get their pitchers ready,
and then started around with his cans
and his pint measure. As he passed
around to the back door Of the cot
t-ge, the Listeners friend sa1uted
him as one gentleman salutes anoth-
er. And when the milkman had
gone, the other said:
Tint young man is member of
the class of go at Harvard College. "
'Indeed?"
Eyes. He is carrying himself
through entirely by his own exer-
tons, and he takes this way of help
ing himself out. Idaresay he makes
enough money selling milk at a good
figure to people here in the sum-
mer time to pay the greater part of
his expenses for the remainder of the
year at Cambridge"
docs he water his milk 7"
"Not perceptibly. tits very good
milk, and have no doubt he is as
honest as the business allows"
There was a young man in the
house who belongs to the class below
the milkman's in college, and he tes-
titled to the excellent standing of the
young man at Harvard.
Such all incident is one of a good
many which go to prove that Harvard
men are by no means all idle swells.
Perhaps there is not nearly so large
a proportion Of students at Harvard
who earn money in the summer time
by table waiting at the mountain and
seaside resorts as at Dartmouth or
Amherst, but there are certainly a
good many men there who earn every
cent Of their college expenses.-Bos-
fo,, IT. er1ibf
The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1900-12-15
HOW HE SPELLED IT.

The small boy appeared in school
with one chubby finger enveloped in
bandages.
81 know my spelling lesson" he
said with an engaging smile to his
teacher, "but my fingers sore Iwon't
be able to write it..
Now, the teacher had had several
years experience in directing the aim
of the young ideas, SO she listened
with an unmoved face to this tale OF
woe.
"Never mind," she replied COM
popedly, Il am not going to have the
class write their spelling lessons to-
day; it's to be an oral exercise"
The countenance of the small boy
fell, but he took his place in the ranks
with outward composure.
Finale said the teacher when
his turn came.
The small boy pondered for mo-
ment. Then ''p-h-i-nu-l-t-i-e" he
spelled triumphantly an animal with
four legs" and he was very much
hurt when he was told to take his
seat and learn his definitions all over
again.
Another small boy with golden
curls went into barber shop on Sat
urday and climbed into the chair.
"How much do you charge to cut
hair?" he asked in his most grown
up fashion.
Fifteen cents" replied the knight
of the razor.
The golden-haired one looked crest.
fallen at this for full minute, while
he regarded a bright dime in his
palm then he laid his head on the
back of the chair with a sigh of re-
signation.
"Well, give me 10 cents worth, u
he said.
The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1900-12-15
THE CASE NOT FULLY COVERED.

well, did that fortune-teller who
advertised that she could reveal your
past, present and future carry out her
agreement - eyes, l suppose she
did. She said 1 had been in love
with beautiful, dark eyed girl that
1 ami now in love with another, and
that will marry somebody else. All
this seems to apply to my case. 1
have been in love with beautiful,
dark-eyed girl, and the one 1 love
now is unfortunately the child of hon
est. but poor, parents. 1 don't see
why the fortune-teller forgot to men
ton that tall blonde and the little
Hoosier girl l used to be engaged to,
though"
The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1900-12-15
THAT FIN-DE.sIECLE QUERY.

That much mooted question wheth-
er new century began with January
I, this year or January I, 1901, still
sticks unsolved in the craw of many
people. A solution of the problem
can be found IN Webster's Interna-
tional Dictionary which gives this ex-
plicit definition of the word century :
Century is the reckoning of
time, although often used in a
general way of any series of a
hundred consecutive years Gas a
century of temperance work.,
usually signifies division of the
Christian era, consisting of
period of 100 years ending with
the hundredth year from which
it is named as, the first century
CA. D. 100, inelvusive) ; the
seventh century CA. D. COL
1907 the eighteenth century CA.
D. I7oI-I8oo.)
The authority OF such a parsonage
as Prof. w. H. M. Christie, the as
tronomer Royal of England, is con-
sidered by the Chicago Tribune as
sufficient to settle the question. That
journal wrote the professor whose an
swer was substantially the same as
given in Webster's. So we are not
as yet living in the twentieth CEN
tury.-PeSS and Ink, PHILADELPHIA.
The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1900-12-15
VOL. 81. WHOLE No 1875.
NANCY.

In brown Holland apron she stood in the kitchen,
Her sleeves were rolled up, and her cheeks all
aglow:
Her hair was coiled neatly; when /, indscreetly.
Stood watching while Nancy was kneading the
dough.
Now.who could be neater or brighter, or sweeter,
Or who hum a song so delightfully."- low,
Or who look so slender, so graceful. so tender:
As Nancy, sweet Nancy, while kneading the
dough2
How deity she pressed it, and squeezed it, ca
And twisted and turned it. now quick and now
Ah.me. but that madness I've paid for in sadness
Twas my heart she was kneadng as well as the
dough.
At last. when she turned for her pan to the
dresser,
She saw me and blushed, and said shyly.
please, go,
Or my bread I'll be spelling, in spite of my toll
ing,
ing the dough-"
I begged her permission to stay. She'd not
The sweet little tyrant said, "No. sir no no ~
Yet when had vanished on being thus banished.
Ny heart staid with Nancy while kneading the
dough.
I'm dreaming, sweet Nancy. and see you in fancy,
Your heart, love, has softened and pitied my
woe.
And we, DEAR are rich in dainty wee kitchen
Where Nancy, my Nancy, stands kneading the
John A. Frazer, in The Century.
The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1900-12-15
THE HURRY MAIDEN.

know little maiden who is always in hurry
She races through her breakfast to be in time
for school:
She scribbes at her desk in hasty sort of furry
And comes home in a breathless whirl that fills
the vestibule.
She hurries through her studying, she hurries
through her sewing,
Like an engine at high pressure, as If leisure
was crime;
She's always in scramble. no matter where she's
going,
And yet-would you believe it 9-she never is
in time.
1t seems a contradiction until you know the
reason;
But I'm sure you'll think it simple as do
when state
That she never has been known to begin thing
in season,
And she's always in hurry because she starts
The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1900-12-15
Then, for the sake of these heroes

Then, Tor the sake OF these heroes
who have all been mustered out"
by the Great Commander, let the
keystone State prize the old cabin !;
let the people of the Quaker City pre-
serve what should be so dear, and let
"Old Glory" float to the breeze above
the honored structure. r. z. ~,
in Wewto7On pa Ente,bYlSe.
The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1900-12-15

my SON." said his father, solemn
ly, when you see boy always loaf
ing about the street corners, what
place in life do you think he is fitting
himself for, I'd like to know?"
"To be policeman"
The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1900-12-15

TEAcHER-"I just gave you the
proverb, The burned child breads
the fire. Now can any of you tell
me similar proverb?"
Pupil-"I can, teacher. The
washed child breads the water. -
The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1900-12-15

ONE LITTLE Girl in the Slums-
"Wot dyer say she died of %
The Other Little One-"Eatin' ice
cream on the top of puddin' !"
First Mentioned-"Lor' What a
jolly death p
The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1900-12-15

He is young enough who has
health, and he is rich enough who
has no debts.
The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1900-12-15

LITTLE DoRoTHY-"Papa, what is
powder?"
Father-"It is something people
get blown up with. -
Little Dorothy" "Is that what
makes you scold mamma so when she
puts it on her face? :"
The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1900-12-15
SOME BEAUTIES OF NATURE.

DR.. Charles c. Abbott in Libbin-
60tPS Magazine calls attention to one
of the delights of autumn which often
is disregarded by those who other
wise appreciate the luxury and beau
ty of outdoor life in the pleasant
weather of early fall. He says: "The
two senses only of sight and hear
ing will not always suffice when we
ramble out of town. have tramped
from dawn to dark with noted nat
uralist, who only exclaimed from time
to time, See that colored leaf = or
Hear that bird = and never once re-
ferred to the odor laden air.
"No one loves the autumn leaf bet
ter than l do or appreciates more the
merits of a meadow lark. 1 have
seen the hillsides one vast sheet of
gold and crimson, yet the day was not
given wholly to color, and listened to
many lark's exultant song, yet the
day was not given wholly to music.
Seeing and hearing much, we are all
too apt to be content and forget that
we have missed much if the sweets
of the scattered leaves and withered
weeds have been disregarded. 1t
matters not how commonplace the
surroundings, breathe througha a bruis-
ed hickory leaf, and you may linger
the while in Araby the Blest."
o---
THEY WERE assured of a success
full season of grand opera, at least
from a financial standpoint. Accord
ingly the manager deferred to the So
ciety women who had made this thing
possible.
"I prefer Italian OPERA" said one.
"The music is so soft and 1ow."
"Ah, but Wagner is my choice !''
Eyes, but the Italian interferes but
little with the conversation in the
boxes" "
True, but Wagner will give us an
excuse for talking all the louder. -
PHILADELPHIA Press.
CHoLLY-"Aw-he called me a
liah. What would you do about it,
doncherknow-aw?"
Miss Peppery-"Well, if l were
you I'd make it a point to always tell
the truth when he's around"
"WHAT MADE that widow elope /?
Did her friends object to the match ?"
"No, but she said her first marriage
was so tame and undressing"
The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1900-12-15
COULDN'T BE SET DOWN.

The Lewiston (Me. } Journal tells a
story of young minister in prayer
meeting who cut short "Unc1e Ira, "
prosy old deacon, by ringing a bell
at the end of every FIVE minutes.
But after doing so he felt sorry, be-
cause he had apparently hurt the
feelings of an old father in Israel.
So he arose and went down to "Uncle
Ira" and put his hand on the old
mans shoulder.
"Uncle Ira," said he, "I'm sorry
for that. l ask your pardon and"
Uncle Ira looked up, the anger still
in his eyes.
"Why, ye don't think / set down
on account of that pesky little bell of
your'n, do YEP" he demanded.
"Why, EI-well I thought, y
stammered the minister.
"Wa1," said Uncle Ira, Eye needn't
think no more about that. I want to
tell ye right now that no bell amt
ever goin' to set me down in this
churCh where I've talked nlgh on tC
twenty-nine years. want to tell ye
right now, young man, that if
hadn't swallowed my chaw I'd kept
on talkin till I'd 'lucidated that pint
if it had took me all night"
II THINK it would be a good plan
to send Willie up into the country fol
month, suggested Willie's father.
He's never been on a farm, and il
would be rather novel experience
for him." mo you don't" inter
rupted Willie. "I've heard all about
the country, ard I'm not going any
where where they have thrashing ma
chimes. It's bad enough when it's
done by hand"
The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1900-12-15

"WHAT MADE that widow elope? !?
Did her friends object to the match ?"
"No, but she said her first marriage
was so tame and undressing"
The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1900-12-15

CHOLLY-"A Aw-he called me a
liah. What would you do about it,
doncherknow-aw?"
Miss Peppery-"Well, if 1 were
you I'd make it point to always tell
the truth when he's around"