davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1900-09-27

took up his pen and dipped It In the
ink and then sat there, thinking, thiuk-
ing, of his baby. He recalled every
little look. its smile. its new habits,
added day by day. His heart swelled
ut the thought OF all that he had
dreamed for his boys future. Was
God good? Was II true, this gospel Of
comfort he had brru preaching these
three years? Why, then. was he not
comforted? The baby had died Thurs.
day night.
Three days now. and yet the world
expected him to so on with his work.
write sermons. make calls. attend TO
the thousand little details that must be
remembered or some one would notice
and begin to complain. How could he
take up the burden Of life and carry
1t? How could he regain his old enthu-
slasm or help Dorothy? Were they
not both smitten to the dust by this
heart loss? He found himself sayin.
all this and even half fearfully asking
himself II Dorothy had not made Il
mistake to share her life with him.
What could he offer her? What career
was possible for them now In this lit
tie place?
The ink had dried on his pen. and he
sat there holding it. unable to write a
word. Dorothy had gone out to the
well, and when he missed her step IN
the kitchen and glanced out Of the
window to see her she was sitting on a
bench he had built under the cotton
wood in the yard, the only tree on the
place. She had left her pail ut the
we'll and sat there looking of toward
the little knoll which he had shut out
Of his sight when he drew down bis
curtain.
He sat down with n groan, and for
q moment the world seemed utterly
empty and useless to him. He had sa,
there for long time, feeling all the
while that his place was by his wife's
side to comfort her. but hesitating fol
the first time since their marriage as
to the right thing to do or say, wher
1 q knock at the door reused him. He
knew some one must have Knocked
several times. He went through tht
sitting room and opened the door.
A little old woman stood close up tC
| the door, and a farm wagon and horst
were out In front Of the fence.
"You don't remember me, Mr.. Kirk !
eaid tho little woman in a voice 81
thin and feeble that Malcom was In
stantly reminded Of a call he had mad,
in the spring on family living OF
what was called "The Forks" eigh
miles from Conrad. In very desolat'
ravine between two ridges Of land tina
formed almost the only hill country fo
miles around.
"Yes, do" he replied. ut is Mrs
| Barton, Isn't itr'
The woman's face lighted up family.
eyes, and I'm In trouble. great trou
bic, Mr.. Kirk, and want you to hell
The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1900-09-27

been to antagonize the business men
in his church against Kirk with some
success. Kinks wife he's been a great
help to him. think | never knew a
more happy union Of workers In all my
life. She has been the organist and
the leader in Sunday school work. and
her social influence in the town Is very
strong. The church membership has
grown from forty odd to over hun
dred. and Kirk has managed to gain a
hold on n large group Of young men. /
think largely on account Of their ad
miration for his unusual muscular de-
velopment. think it is probably true
from what feel and hear that already
the influence Of Kirk and his wife and
their little church In this wild western
town is the strongest influence that
ever entered the place. They ere very
much broken up by the loss OF their
baby. 1t has been tremendous dis.
appointment to them. | am very anx-
ious for them, as think of what the
result may be on their future work.
The pay of a Home Missionary out here
Is small, and for some reason Kirk has
not been able to make much with his
writing. cannot help asking myself
how the loss of their baby will affect
their whole work here. Mrs. Kirk
seems to be stunned by tho blow.
shall leave here Monday. and my great.
est regret is that ! cannot be Of more
help to my old classmate. He Is at a
crisis In his career. and everything de-
pends on the way he accepts this death
of his baby
This is only fragment Of Wilson's
letter, but the number of times he re-
ferred 10 the death of the baby as
marking crisis in the lives of Malcom
and Dorothy revealed the depth of the
impression made upon his mind by the
manner in which they were affected by
their loss.
He went away on the morning train,
and Malcom, who had gone to the sta
ton to see him Off, came slowly back
to the parsonage and went into the lit
tie room next the kitchen which he
had fitted up for study.
Dorothy was at work in the kitchen,
and Nalcom sat down at his study ia
bic and looked out of the window
across the prairie. 1t was unfortunate
that from that window he could see the
little cemetery in the distance. He
finally rose and drew the curtain clear
down and went back to his desk. He
The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1900-09-27
CHAPTER VII.
TIE ANGEL OF DEATH.


Nearly three years after Malcom
Kirk and his wife had made their
promise in the little Home Missionary
church of Conrad, one evening in Sep
tember, stranger stepped out of the
east bound Chicago express upon the
platform at Conrad and inquired for
the residence Of the Rev. Malcom Kirk.
He lives up by the church." said the
man to whom the question was put.
Come out to tho end of the platform
and III show YOU
The stranger followed, and the man
pointed up the street where the tower
of the little church could be seen.
You'll find him in the parsonage
close by at the right of the church"
The stranger thanked him and start
ed down the platform steps, when the
man called after him:
They're having trouble at the min
istcrs house. | thought if you didn't
know ought to tell you. They have
very sick baby there"
The stranger paused and looked un-
certainly at the man.
IL won't go there, then, If ought
not. | am one of Mr.. Kinks old semi
nary classmates. l stopped Off on my
way home from Colorado, where
have been taking my vacation. Per
haps l had better not call there to-
night. | didn't know OF his trouble
DO you know how sick the baby Isl"
mo. It's serious. The doctor has
been there nearly all day"
The stranger hcsitatcd md h,t.,%
moved on toward the parsonage.
II will simply stop and in?r 'r' -
the house and then 80 to liz" ho'.I
he said to himself.
When he knocked at IN" li,,lr "Ir.,.".
age. Dorothy herself opc",., ... ,r'.'
This is Mrs. Kirk? | ~. NJ WI
son, one Of Mr. Kinks ciLsNu.oir- 81
IIermon. You remember me: was
on my way from Colorado and stopped
off to see him. only just heard OF the
illness OF your baby. T.
Come in, Mr.. Wilson. know Nal
com will want to see you," she said,
and he entered with some reluctance
70 lntrude at such time, but her man.
ner assured him that his presence was
grateful to them.
Three years had made some changes
in Dorothy. She was beautiful
still. and there was something more in
the face which Gods children always
have after trial and suffering have
purged the life within. Wilson noted
I'm a glance the simple furnishings Of
khe room, the unmistakable sign Of
economy.
He was struck also with the pro-
found atmosphere OF the first great
kroublc that had come into this wo-
mans home. 1t was SO positive that
he felt unable to say anything COM
monplace by way Of sympathy.
In the next room Malcom Kirk was
walking up and down with his baby in
his arms. Tho day had been very hot.
and the upper chambers Of the littlo
house were sitting.
! The Rev. George Wilson will never
forget that sight this side the deathless
paradise that all of the redeemed shall
The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1900-09-27
Niagara Falls Excursions
LOw-Rate PersonaIIy.C Conducted Trips
via Pennsylvania Railroad.

September and 20, October 4 and IS
are the remaining dates for the Penn
slvania Railroad Company's popular
ten-day excursions to Niagara Falls
from Philadelphia, Baltimore, AND
Washington. Special train will leave
Washington 500 II. H., Baltimore 800
u. m.
Excursion of September 20 from
Philadelphia will run via Manunka
Chunk and the Delaware Valley; speci-
al train will leave Broad Street Station
500 a. m; on other dates special train
Will leave Philadelphia at s:lOa. m.
Round-trip tickets will be sold at
$1,000 from Philadelphia, Baltimore,
Washington, and all points on the De
laware Division; Sll.25 from Atlantic
City; $500 from Lancaster; $3.50 from
Altoona and Harrisburg; $500 from
Sunbury and Wilkesbarre; 1915 from
Williamsport and at proportiOnate
rates from other points, including Tren-
ton, Mt. Holly, Palmyra, New Bruins
wick, and principal intermediate sta
tons.
For descriptive pamphlet, time of
connecting trains, stop-over privileges,
and further information apply to near
est ticket agent, or address Geo. w.
Boyd, Assistant General Passenger
Agent, Broad Street Station, Philadel-
phia. 96-2t.
The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1900-09-27
fro BE CONTINUED NEXT WEEK.
Trying to Please Empioyers.

Mistress-l am surprised. You say
you were married six months ago. di-
vorced three months ago. and remar-
ried to your husband las, night.
stic-Yes' m. You see, at the
first place he had they wanted mar
ried man, so we got married; but the
next place they wanted single man,
80 we got divorced, and l came here
Now he's found place where they
want man for gardening and wife to
cook, so we got married again, and I'm
going there with Hmm. Y. Weekly.
The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1900-09-27
Photographic
ReprOduCtiOnS

taken by corps of our own artists,
portraying all that is worth seeing.
This Beautiful Art Series will be
published weekly, beginning June
I'd, in twenty consecutive numbers
of sixteen views each. The whole
will constitute a large and beautiful
J volu."a of
$40 Magnificent Art Productions
size 8 K II inches
OUR TERMS S-Write plainly your
name and address, and mail the
same to us with Ten cents each
week, and your name will be enter
ed upon our BOOKS and the parts
will be mailed to you promptly, as
soon as published.
Send in your orders at once to in
sure prompt delivery. The parts are
numbered consecutively from l to
20, aud subscribers should indicate
each week the number desired. Back
numbers can always be secured.
Subscribers sending us postal or
der for $3.50 will secure the entire
2e parts of the series.
CLUBs-Any person sending us ten coupons
properly flleed out, and order one dollar week
| ly. win be given one set Of the parts free.
LARGE ADVERTISERS AND PARIS EX.
HIBITORS SHOULD WRITE TO US FOR
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| CANVASSERS-Perso not employed can
make big money by writing to US for special
| terms to agents.
| SAMPLES OF TIL ESE PARTS MAY BE SEEN
AT THE OFFICE OF THIS PAPER.
PARIS EXPOSITION VIEW COMPANY,
ia Fifth Avenue New York.
The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1900-09-27
Malcom stared at the shabby. dusty,

mS.
Malcom stared at the shabby. dusty,
wornout figure. and instantly 1t fash
ed into him that she had probably not
heard yet that his baby was dead. Her
next words told him that was the fact.
"Ive come straight here from home.
My boy. Mr.. Kirk. have you seen him
He left the farm Saturday with the
double team and load OF hay.
haven't seen him since. know he Is
in some saloon. drinking or drunk. and
the money for the hay all spent. Oh,
Mr.. Kirk. for Gods sake help me to
find him and get him home again! For
the love Of your own baby that you ex'
pect to grow up into good Christian
man to comfort and bless you help me
to get my boy out Of this he'll and save
him. for my heart Is broken when
think of how he was once as innocen,
and happy as your own baby"
The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1900-09-27
Good Nose for News.

Henry" whispered the maiden, in
some embarrassment, as they stood in
the hallway, where the young and
handsome reporter was preparing tc
say goodnight. ITS dreadful of me
I know, but I've been eating onions
Great Scott, Fannie!' he eX
.laimed you don't think that's G
scoop on me, do you? knew that
as soon as I came in."-Chicago Tri
pune,
The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1900-09-27
Checrful.

"Is there any way" said the moth
er of the family that had just moved
in to the neighbor on the other side
of the backyard fence, "by which we
can get rid Of the cockroaches in this
hcuse?"
"Well," replied tho neighbor, "all
the other folks that's lived in that
house has got rid Of 'em by movin'
away."-Chicago Tribune.
The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1900-09-27
Curiosity.

"Women are funny creatures" unused
the janitor philosopher. Lit wan wum-
an in tn car drop letter, an tn won
an opposite will roide tin blocks out av
her way troyin' to pick up thot letter
whin no wan Is lookin'." - Chicago
Daily News.
The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1900-09-27
A Recipe.

Some deep-drawn sighA
Two dreamy eyes.
And lips as red as rosea
A smile. a tear,
And then. my dear.
The average man proposes
-Elliotts Magazine.
The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1900-09-27
A Glorious Exa mpls.

All, ne was poor and friendless whe,
He bravely started out;
But we'll he won his way with me.
And died. at last, OF gout.
Chicago Times-Herald.
The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1900-09-27
An Amended Statement.

Jack-You are the only girl-
Mabel-Come now! You know I
can't believe that.
Jack-Wait till am through. You
are the only girl who ever refused to
believe that she was the only girl
ever loved.-N. Y. Journal
The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1900-09-27
Paris and the
Exposition
Illustrated

PARIS, the most beautiful city in
the world. presents this wear the
most magnificent Exposition of the
marve,s of the Nineteenth and a
for. cast of the Twenty Century ever
kuown. Millions of people will Jour
ne, thousands of mil-s at vast ex-
pense to see t h e MATCHLESS
~ONDERS of the FAIR. Millions
more can secure, ut tntling expense.
beautiful
The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1900-09-27

Our wisdom comes too late TO MI
Our deeds with Joy complete;
We seldom find the mustard 'till
We've eaten all our meat
-Elliott's Magazine.
The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1900-09-27

II apds the first time he had broken dotcn
In the pTcsSnCc OF Dorothy.
some time enjoy. When Malcom Kirk
turned ard came toward the door
where his wife and Wilson were stand
Ing, his classmate saw on his face "A
look Of suffering which the strong,
homely. marked features emphasized.
For three weeks he had hardly closed
bis eyes.
. Ho had prayed, his wife besid. him
every night on his knees by the Vt,i,
crib that their Grstborn son might be
spared to them. But tonight, as the
baby lay in his arms. he knew that the
loving Father had some great reason
unknown to them for taking to himself
this bit OF humanity that for n few
months had made the littlo parsonage
on tho prairie the very garden spot OF
all the world 10 them.
Dorothy. w,inIUt n word. '"oh the
baby from h. naSband. a@L he. with
out word. ci. ned his old classmates 8
hand, and ill" men stood there q mo-
ment praying.
ITS you. GeorgeY said Kirk. 1T
seems good to see your face. We
Malcom Kirk sat down and buried
bis face In bis great hands and sobbed.
The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1900-09-27
RetOrt Airy.

"Those acrobats are very fresh"
Said Miss Magee to me;
20, some are fresh and somersault."
Said | to Miss Magee.
philadelphia North American.
The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1900-09-27
COPYRIGHT, 1900. by THE ADVANCE PUBLISHING co.

H,lstra ions lv Herman Hcyer
Gilpin observer., 1900-04-26
The Necktle Club.

There is an organization In Philadei-
phia known as the Necktie club, the
members of which have asserted their
intention not to marry. Recently one
of the members announced his engage
ment and was fined supper for his
fellows. He spread fine repast for
them, at which the menus were printed
on white silk neckties, in small gilt let
ters. A pin, composed of a miniature
silver spoon, knife eand fork adorned the
center, while n portrait Of the groom
to-be peeped out at the top under the
words, IT'S on me-"
Gilpin observer., 1900-04-26
Comedy and Tragedy.

Into the terrible tragedy of war are
inserted now and then bits of comedy
and kindness, which, like Shakes
peares testers, tighten the otherwise
intolerable gloom. During the Zulu
war in South Africa an overwhelming
force of natives was opposed to little
band of English sailors. From the
Zulu host stepped warrior laden with
an ancient firearm, which he calmly
mounted upon a tripod in the open,
while the sailors looked on, admiring
his pluck, but wondering much what
he proposed to do. At last one jovial
tar suggested that their photographs
were about to be taken, and by COM
mon consent no shots were fired. Hav-
ing loaded his piece with great delib-
Grafton, the Zulu primed it, sighted it
and leaning hard upon its breech, he
fired. The recoil knocked him head
over heels backward, while great
roar went up from the delighted sail
ors. He sat up, looking dazed, and
then, amusement over, he. with his
countrymen, charged. and were ami
hllated by a volley from the steadily
aimed pieces Of the little band OF blue
jackets.
Gilpin observer., 1900-04-26
DAVIS CAPTOR.
GEN. HENRY HARNDEN. WHO
DIED RECENTLY
Acted AS Spokesman In tho Famous
swamp Chase Near Macon. Georgia
Witnessed Col. Pritchard's Rebuke to
the Men Who Insulted the Confederate

Gen. Henry Harnden, who died re-
Gently at Madison. Wis, was one of the
officers whose men captured Jefferson
Davis, president of the Southern Con-
federacy, at the close of the civil war.
and Harnden was the man who acted
as spokesman on that occasion. AS
colonel of the First Wisconsin cavalry
he had been dispatched with body of
100 men to scour the woods and
swamps between Macon, Ga, and the
South Carolina border, in search of Da-
Wis and members of his cabinet, who
were fleeing south. They had set out
on the evening of May 6, 1865, and
after four days of hard riding through
swamps and thickets had come upon
body of men whom they took to be
Mr.. Davis escort There was an ex-
change of shots before the discovery
was made that the opposing force was
not composed of Confederate, but con-
sisted of Michigan cavalry under Lieut..
Col. Pritchafd, who was also in search
of the leader of the lost cause. The
two forces then united, and the same
evening the camp of Davis and his as
sociates was discovered and surround
ed.
Harnden has thus far described the
capture: Col. Pritchard and l rode to-
Gilpin observer., 1900-04-26
itiE Anour srHnla ACES.
Ono Ser ious Dinicuity that Confronts Cen
Gus Enumerato:s.

Gus Enumerat0:s.
The most difficult task of a census
ehumerator Is to obtain information
about the. ages of people. 1t is as
sumed that woman may lie about her
age and n man about the fish he
catches without committing sin, but
the phenomenon goes still further.
Young people usually want to be con-
themselves younger than they are and
to their actual age. Children under
fifteen throw their ages forward to six
teen, girls stretch point to be eighteen
and boys nineteen or more always like
to be considered men. Therefore the
age returns of Il census are usually
more incorrect than any other, and it
is impossible to determine accurately
whether the average duration of life is
increasing or decreasing. 1t is impos
sible, for the same reason, to ascertain
the death rate, the number of men of
military age or the number of women
capable of bearing children. For eX-
ample 1t is interesting to know wheth-
er the period of child-bearing among
the different classes of people is longer
or shorter; whether negroes die earlier
than whites; whether the labOring part
of the population live longer than those
Of sedentary occupation; whether
criminals are recruited from the young
er or older element of society; whetn-
er the employment of children is in
creasing or decreasing, and many other
estimates whose value Is threatened
by the inaccuracy of the age statistics.
Gilpin observer., 1900-04-26
GAVE AWAY HALF A MILLION.

Probably the most lavish Christmas
gift ever given by father to his chill
dren was handed by Col. Isaac l.. ELL
wood, the barbwire magnate of De
Kalb, ILL.,. to his five children last
Christmas morning. which has just
come to public notice. Just after
breakfast Col. Ellwood passed out to
his children five little slips of paper,
each of which proved to be check for
100000, payable to the holder. Real
izing that 1t was a holiday, and that
the banks were closed, he afterward
handed each of them five $40 gold
pieces for pin money" Col. Ellwood
has grown immensely rich out OF the
manufacture of barb wire. He is fine
type of the self-made, public-spirited
western millionaire having contrib
uted literally to education and to pub
lie enterprises. He began life as
clerk in country store in New York,
Gilpin observer., 1900-04-26
BEST ROUTES 70 rRANsvAAL.
To South Africa and What 1t Costa to
Get There.

SO.s>-
Get There.
"Well, said the man who knew some-
thing about it to the man who didn't,
''if you want to go to South Africa you
have got to have money or you've got
to swim. Swimming is slow because 1t
Is $500 miles from London to Cape
Town and 5000 miles from New York
to London. or to Southampton, from
which port the ships sail. You can go
from the other side by the German
East African line. but that takes you
around to Delagoa Bay only There
are, several English lines, but the best
are the Union and Castle lines sailing
every Saturday from Southampton.
The fare from here to London is any
thing you want to make it, from $50
up. From London to Cape Town by
Royal Mail boats is 5000 first-class,
$12S second, s67 third, and the usual
time is II days. By intermediate boats
first-class fare is S1S4; second, SLIT;
third, $67. and the time is 21 days. II
you want to camp out you can get an
open berth ticket for $52. The Ger
man line goes through the Mediter-
ranean, stopping at Lisbon, Naples,
Zanzibar and other ports. The British
and Colonial boats sail every two
weeks from London. as do the Aber-
deem boats. but these latter go direct
to Port Natal Before the war you
could get tickets direct from London
to Johannesburg via Natal, but you
can't now. The fare was 1854 first
class, 1852 second and s193 third, with
10 per cent less rate by intermediate
boats. When you have got to Cape
Town you will find railroad travel ex-
pensive and distances about as stretch
ed as in the United States. For in
berg, and 1t costs, first-class, S57 to get
there, or nearly six cents mile, dou-
BILE the usual rate in this country. Sec
ond class was 500 and third $21. Time,
two days. From Cape Town to Kim
berley, which is. now open, the dis
tance is SAT miles. and the fare. first
class, is, or was before the war, $40;
second-class, $27; third, S13. and the
time was day and half. From Cape
Town to Bulewayo it is 1850 miles,
and the first-class fare is 800; second,
$50; third, $2S, and the time is four
days. That, you see, gives you plenty
Of time and opportunity to spend
money for bed and board, though l
don't believe you have our kind of
sleeping cars down there. The rail-
way time from Durham to Johannes
berg is 27 hours, and to Pretoria 30
hours. Incidentally l may add that if
you want to do any telegraphing you
will find it somewhat expensive also,
the rate from England to West African
points running from $1.01 word to
S2.64, while to the East Coast it runs
from $1.21 to S1.3S. 1t is bit cheaper
in South Africa, being 81 cents to Cape
Town, Natal and the South African
Republic and the Orange Free State,
and $1.O1 to s1.07 to other points. TAX
ing it all in all man doesn't want to
start to South Africa with much less
than thousand dollars in his pocket,
if he expects to get back home again
without having to work his way"