davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1900-02-15
WINTER IN SWITZERL AND.

There is no doubt that the plan of
taking winter holiday in Switzerland
is being more largely adopted of late
years, for all who try 1t discover the
country is more lovely in winter than
in summer. During December, Janu-
airy and February in the high Swiss
attitudes there are never any stormy
days, and winter sports, such as to-
bogganing, skating, hockey on ice and
sleighing, all offer ample opportunity
for fun.
All this gayety has developed within
a few years. Fifteen years ago
shrewd man opened big hotel at
Grindelwald in winter and the inhabi-
tants around about were filled with
amazement at the wild idea, for no
body imagined it would ever be any
thing but a big failure Yet last win
ter guests had to be turned away.
New roads are being built, new no.
tells springing up for the express ac-
commodaton of the winter travellers.
Skating and tobogganing on the Enga
dine have become famous, and the
g owth in popularity of st. Moritz is
marvellous. Anything more beautiful
than the lake there after the first frost
before the snow has fallen cannot be
imagined, while the ice-tobogganing
is the fastest in the world.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1900-02-15

Among the familiar and more or less
amusing sights of the city of johann
nesburg are the big. stalwart Boer po-
licemen who ride about the town main
tanning peace and order according to
the laws of the redoubtable Dom Paul.
These policemen are not the most mill
tary looking individuals in the world,
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1900-02-15

The Bible eXhorts us to that patient
continuance in we'll doing that is nee
essary to the building of Christ-lik.s
character. Rev. J. r. Shannon.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1900-02-15

The February issue of Cheerful Mo-
ments will contain five original prize
stories besides other interesting origin
al matter for which high prices are
paid, that make it one Of the best OF
monthlies and one that is read and re-
tanned in the home. The February
1900 issue will go to press Jan. 18th
and will have 100000 circulation. Thou
sands of new subscriptions are COM
ing in TO their Office at ll3 w. 3lst St.,
y. Y. City.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1900-02-15

for, more often than not, their outland-
ish looking uniforms are two or three
sizes too small for them. and when
once dismounted they seem 10 be moth
ing but hands and feet. On their
horses, however, they are the most
expert of riders, and can manage tc
keep their seat on any sort of mount
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-07-15
THE TURTLE HANDICAP.
BY E. ]. WERSTER

AFTER Eben Brown sold his farm, -
said Deacon Todgers reminiscently.
thine hung pretty heavily on his hands
and he got into the habit of coming
down to the tavern and betting with
the boys. The moral element of the
community being against cards and
dice the good old man had to stir up
the sporting blood of the BOYS by
getting them to bet on races of various
kinds, horses, fast dogs. and finally
matches between donkeys. Eben could
generally hold his own in the betting
game, but Squire Rogers, who was a
pretty smooth old cOdger himself, ran
in ringer donkey in a race that Eben
thought he had all fixed. The result
was the transfer of a wad of bills to
the squire and bunch OF experience
to Eben. Eben felt sore at this
For an elder of the church to run in
a trick circus animal in a race sup
posed to be limited TO non professional
Pike county donkeys, is enough to
curdle the milk of human kindness,
observed Eben sadly; I'm a good man
and a pious, but I'll get even with
the squire if I develop paresis trying
to think up some plan.
And Eben sighed in an honest.
grieved sort of way that showed he
had forgotten all the money he had
won from the boys on other events of
a sporting nature
''Eben always had been given to fuss
ing with electricity, and magnets, and
scientific fOolishness, so when he didn' t
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-07-15

ing money to bet against that fat tur-
tie This time Eben. held the turtle IN
his hands until everything was ready
for the start. Then he placed the tur-
tie on the ground and gave him a ut
tie poke. Talk about racing turtles.
The fat turtle simply galloped over
the course. He didn't stop at the end,
either, but kept on at an increasing
speed until Eben ran and picked him
up. Eben collected his bets, this time
taking about all the money IN the
crowd.
q THAT turtle isn't ringer donkey
he said to Squire Rogers, and he's no
express train, but viewed as turtle
he's very fair on the gallOp.
Squire Rogers was clean puzzled.
4 don't mind losing my bet he re-
marked to me in a perpleXed way.
but what gets me is the actions OF
that turtle Man and boy I've known
Pike county turtles for years, but this
is the first time 1 ever saw one gaIlop.
THAT evening Eben called at the
home and began to gloat over the We
tory of his turtle.
That's a turtle in a million, he
stated emphatically. The only gal
Looping land turtle in the country. Your
Uncle Eben'S name will be laundering
down the ages as the trainer and fOS-
ter father of that turtle. I'm going to
get up a Grand Turtle Handicap. open
to all Pike county turtles Of good rep
utatiOn. That will increase my fame,
and if any benighted owners Of vag-
rant, unframed turtles are looking for
bets they win be accommodated
" You've made a good thing of it
already / warned him, and now is
the time to stop. Even a turtle that
adopts a joyous gallon as its means of
travel may go UP against the real
thing. It's the pitcher that goes too
often to the well and the owner of
sure things in racing that get broken.
But Eben wouldn't listen and kept
booming up his turtle handicap scheme
until nearly every one of the boys had
a turtle entered. The committee in
charge of the race handicapped Eben's
turtle back nearly half the distance of
the course. but Eben didn't seem to
care and kept plunging until he brought
the odds on his turtle down from to
/ to less than even money.
The day of the race Squire Rogers,
who had been growing more and more
suspicious of Eben's gallOping turtle.
managed to get Eben in the tavern,
and filled him up with Pike county ap-
plejack- Eben had been tOting his prec-
iOus turtle about in a basket all day,
but, growing careless under the Sc
ductiye influence of applejack, he put
the turtle on the bar and let the
squire have a chance to examine il
carefully. The squire came out of the
tavern fairly boiling with Indignation
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-07-15

to have at his castle door a PIaisham.
But" says Shamus, says he, there
never was such a thing as that
Sure enough" says the Little Red
Man, there never was, but still, if
Prince Connal wants it, we must try
to get it for him. This night, Shamus, -
says the Wee Red Man, says he, ''go
to the head of the Glen of the Fairies
to the Sciog bush FAIRY thorn, where
you'll find a bone ring hanging on a
branch o. the thorn, Take it with you
back home. When you get home young
Rory viii be chatting with your wife in
the kitchen. Don't go in there. but
go into the byre (cowshed) and put the
ring in the cows nose; then lie quiet,
and you'll soon have a Plaisham to
drive to Prince COnnalS castle door"
ShamuS thanked the Wee Red Man,
and that night he went to the head of
the Glen of the Fairies, and sure
enough he found the ring hanging from
one of the branches of the Sciog bush
He took it with him and started for
home. When he looked in through the
kitchen window, there he saw Nancy
and Rory sitting over the fire, chatting
and cOnfabing about how they would
get rid Of him, but he said nothing,
only went into the byre He put the
ana
as soon as the ring went into it the
COW began to kick and rear and create
great tendherdry of a noise entirely.
Then Shamus got in under some hay in
tie corner
1t was no time at all until Nancy
was out TO find what was wrong with
the brannet COW. She struck the COW
with. her fist to quiet it. but when she
hit 1t her fist stuck to the COW and she
could not get away.
Rory had come running out after
Nancy to help her. and Nancy called:
Rory, Rory, pull me away from the
Rory got hold OF her to pull her
away, but as he did his hands stuck
to Nancy, and he could not get away
himself.
Up then jumped Shamus from under
the hay in the corner. "Hup! Hup!'
says Shamus, says he; drive on the
PlaiSham''
And out of the byre starts the COW.
with Nancy stuck to her, and Rory
stuck TO that. and heads toward the
castle. with the COW rearing. and rowt-
ing, and Nancy and Rory yelling and
having They made a terrible din en-
tirely and reused the whole country
side, who flocked out to see what was
the matter
Down past Rory's house the COW
went. and Rory's mother, seein< him
sticking TO Nancy, ran out to pull him
away, but when she laid her hand on
Rory she stuck to him. and "Hup,
Hup! says Shamus, sage he; drive on
the Plaisham.''
So on they went, and Rory's father
ran after them to pull the mother
away, but when he laid his hands on
the mother he stuck to her, and "Hup.
Hupi" SAYS Shamus; drive on the
PIaisham''
On again they went. and they next
passed where a man was cleaning out
his byre. When the man saw the RI
diculous string of them he flung a grain
and graipful of manure at them. and
II stuck to Rory's father. and "Hup,
Hup! says Shamus. says he; drive on
the Plaisham.' But the man ran after
to save his graip (fork), and when he
got hold of the graip he stuck to it,
and Hup, Hup!" says Shamus, says
he; drive on the Plaisham.
On they went. and a tailor came fly
Ing out of his house with his lapboard
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-07-15

that turtle in a race against any turtle
in Pike county TOO
"Eben's turtle looked too TAT di il ~
heavy to carry of any honors IN ne
racing line. and the turtle match peiiS
new game. all the boys TOOK 70 ~
Eben made a few small bets, tnoLs ~
he had things fixed and was loOAi ll-ls
to see his pet win, but when EoeH 81 81
the turtle down it blinked its eyes az -
acted more as If it wanted to 50 -
sleep than engage in turtle Iunhihs
match. Eben seemed heart-oroheli-
How much sharper than ser
pents tooth is an ungrateful lano 1us
/ tie he groaned Raw meat anu a.
| lection and good advice have alWasS
been that turtles portion, ana no nov nc nc
settles down and sleeps as cainly -
| if his owners good money nam p ,ssls
/ wagered on his rescreant legs ana ia@s
disposition o5 hin,
..F,ben took the turtle up, turned MN
INSIDE down and seemed to be GYMS
him a most powerful shaking. 1ile ne
| he said TO the crowd. who were Grin
ming at his downfall; 5o,.
/ MAYBE my admonitions ana lsn Ne
| chastenings will touch the heart OF 1 llls
ungrateful turtle. At any rate We
ought to have another race TO give liIe
1 a chance to get back my money
| 'sThe boys felt it was just IKE Iliu-
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-07-15

sat down on the ditch and began TO
cry, while Prince Connal went off
home.
Poor Shamus lifted his head and
looked around. and there beside him
stood the Little Red Man.
90" says Shamus, says he don't
mind asking me-" he says, 'for it's no
use in telling you what's the matter
with me now. You might build a castle
for me" he says, and you might bring
oceans an rivers to it, an trees an
birds. but you couldn't do anything to
help nee now"
How do you know that?" said the
Little Red Man.
80, 1 know it WELL" says Shamus,
says he. you couldn't give me the
thing that never was an never will
be,''
Well" says the Wee Red Man, says
he, tell me what it is, anyhow: if I
can't do you any good, sure 1 can't do
you any harm"
So, to relieve his mind, Shamus ups
and tells him that Prince ConnaI had
ordered him within twenty-four hours
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-07-15

creature to have it in the same piso.
All the time. I viii just taek that Ii+,1O
battery in under the fFoat part az II
shell. That's the least a human ms
.n do to aid a poor dumb animal
1r,,ieh has undoubted gifts in the
sprinting lfle.
$50 while Eben's attention was dis
t-arted. SQUIRE Rogers managed tn
.a<a ont the little battery from the
l.sclx Of the turtle and slip it under
nc shell near his neck.
"At last the time came for the race
Al the other turtles were on the
-round but Eben held his carefully
q his hand until the word was given
- - tart Then Eben put the fat law
iooJing turtle on the ground and
-Y7otched TO see it gallon.
@And that turtle did gallon But Il
nos backward sort Of gallon. as if
~ animal was trying to get away
e. itself. Eben. of course, didn't
understand that his pet was trying to
tacl( away from the electric current.
1vbich was getting in its work under
the turtles neck
a. I'VE heard of alternate currents.
a.;5 Fyheu 7nazed like, as his turtle
baoire6 OF "a sight in the bushes to
he roar 0E re handicap course. but
tbis Is me ..-;t time ] ever really saw
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-07-15

If you were free of him the morrow.
the finest ana handsOmest young man
in the parish would be proud to have
you for a wife"
At first Nancy used to laugh at this.
but at last. when he kept on al it, it
began TO prey on Nancy's mind. and
she said TO young Rory one day: 'T
don't believe word of what you say.
Who would take me If Shamus was
buried the morra?"
why" says Rory. you'd have the
pick of the parish. I'D take you my
self"
"Js that true" says Nancy.
Il pledge you my word" says Rory,
IT would"
."Oh, well. even If you would itself. -
says Nancy, "Shamus won't be buried
tomorrow. or maybe. God help me, for
ten years TO come vet
You've all that in your own hands,
says Rory.
"How's that?" says Nancy.
why, you can kill him off," says
Rory.
Il wouldn't have the ould creatures
blood on my head" says Nancy.
Neither you need" SAYS Rory
And then he sat down and began to
tell Nancy how she could do away with
Shamus and still not have his blood
on her head.
Now there was q prince called Con-
nal. who lived in a wee sod house close
by Nancy and Shamus, whose fathers
before him. ere their money was vast
ed used 20 live in a grand castle.
SO next day over Nancy goes to this
prince and to him says: why. Prince
COnnal isn't il a shame to see the likes
of you Twin in the likes of that house. 3"
I know it is, said ne, but I cannot
do any better"
"Botberation." says Nancy. you
easily can"
Il wish you would tell me how" says
Prince COnnal.
why" says Nancy. there's my
Shamus has little or nothing to do, an
why don't you make him build you a
castle?"
All" says the prince. laughing.
sure, Shamus couldn't build me a
castle"
Says Nancy: you don't know
Shamus, for there's not a thing in the
wide world he couldn't do if he likes
to. but hos that lazy, that if you don't
break every bone in his body to make
him 90 it, he won't do it."
rs that SOP says Prince ConnaI
That's So says Nancy. $50 if you
order ShamUs to build you castle an
have it up in three weeks. or that vou'U
take his life if he doesn't, you'll soon
have a grand castle to live in" says
she
''Well, if that's So" says Prince Con
nal, I'll not be long wanting a castle"
So on the very next morning. over he
steps TO Shamus', calls Shamus out. and
takes him with him to the place he had
marked out for the site of his castle
and shows it to Shamus, and tells him
he wants him to have a grand castle
built and finished on that spot in three
weeks time.
But s;tys Shamus says he. Il
,leVer built a castle in my life. / know
nothing about it, an / couldn't have
you q castle there in thirty-three years.
let alone three weeks"
oh" says the prince, says he, "I'm
tout there's no man in Ireland can
build a castle better nor faster than
you if you only like to, and if you
haven't the castle built on that ground
in three weeks" says he, 81 ii have
your life. So now choose for yourself"
And he walked away ara left Shamus
standing there.
When Shamus heard this he was a !
down-hearted man, for he knew that |
Prince COnnal WAS a man of his word. /
and he would not stop at taking any
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-07-15

Shamus would not be long living now,
because there was no such thing known
IN the whole wide world as a Piaisham;
and though Shamus might build cas-
ties. and bring oceans and rivers and
trees and birds TO them, all in one
night, he could not get a thing that did
not exist. and was only invented by
Rory.
Well, off to Shamus went Prince
Connal, without much loss Of time, and
called Shamus ont of his little cabin.
he told him he was heartily well pleas
ed with all he had done for him. But
there's one thing more I want you TO
do. Shamus, and then III be content,
says he. This night | give a grand
supper TO the lords, ladies and gentry
of the country, and I want something
10 amuse them, so at supper time you
must bring me a Plaisham-"
"A Plaisham! What's that?' says
Shamus.
Il don't know" says Prince Connal.
mo more do II says Shamus, an
how do you expect me to fetch it 10
you, then?"
We'll" says Prince Connal, says he
this is all there is to be said about it
il you haven't Plaisham at my castle
door at supper time the night, you'll be
a dead man.
20. o." says Shamus. says he. and
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-07-15

" No wonder that turtle s.,,o,.
When he's put on the ground Sol1irs
Rogers sputtered wrsthfully. That
a regular electric automobile t,,,.t1a :
Eben Brown has tucked a tiny storeeo
battery under the back part of tbst
poor abused turtles shell. When he
Puts Ihe innocent creature on tho
tortured by the electric curren+ O tnL
poor animal has to gallop. It's crreIt,.
to animals and an outrage on unS,,S,
pecting men who thought thev baa
an easy thing betting against Far
land turtle lat
squire me
Seeing that abused turtle is nssd
to electric racing, he sort of murnrred
to himself. maybe it would be or,1eI y
take that battery out altogether b ~
il must be mOnotonous for the oue
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-07-15

mans life any more than he would
from putting the breath out of a beetle.
SO down he sits and begins to cry,
and while Shamus was crying there,
up to him comes a Wee Red Man, and
said to Shamus: What are you crying
about?"
'Ah, my poor man." says Shamus,
says he don't be asking me, for there S
no use in telling you, you could do
nothing to help me-"
You don't know that" says the Wee
Man, says he, cts no harm to tell me
anyhow
SO Shamus, TO relieve his mind. ups
and tells the Wee Man what Prince
Connal had threatened to do to him if
he had not a grand castle finished on
that spot in three weeks.
Says the little man, says he: Go to
the Fairies Glen al mOonrise the night
and under the Rockin' stone at the
head of the Glen you'll find a white
rod. Take that rod with you and mark
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-07-15

out the plan of the castle on this
ground with it; then go back and leave
the rod where you got il and by the
time you get back again your castle
will be finished"
At moOnrise that night Shamus, as
you may be well assured. was at the
ROckin stone at the head of the Glen
Of the Fairies. and from under it he got
a little white rod. He went to the hill
where the princes castle was to be
built, and with the point of the rod
he marked out the plan of the castle
and then he went back and left the rod
where he got il.
The next morning when Prince Con-
nal got up out of bed and went out of
his little sod house to take the air his
eyes were opened. tell you, to see the
magnificent castle that was standing
finished and with the coping stones on
it on the hill above. He lost no time till
he went over to thank Shamus for
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-07-15

building him such beautiful castle.
and when Nancy heard that the castle
was finished. it was she that was an
angry woman.
She went out and looked at the castle.
and she wondered and wondered, TOO.
but she said nothing.
She had a long chat with Rory that
day again, and from Rory she went off
to Prince Connal. and says she: Now.
didn't i tell you right well what Sha-
mus could do?"
Il see you did" says Prince Connal
and it is very thankful to you l am.
I'm contented now for life" says he.
''ann I'll never forget yourself and Sha-
mus
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-07-15
TEE FAT TURTLE SIMPLY GALL opEp OVER r11E CON-

show up at the tavern for a spell.
everyone thought he was busy with
what he called his Inventions But
one Saturday afternoon he came to the
tavern carrying a big overgrown land
turtle.
It's only a poor homeless turtle
l picked up and tried to make COM
Portable he said in answer to the
boys questions. No candidate for
first prize at a beauty show, but an
animal with good points, despite his
unassertive appearance.
And beyond his good looks what
might be the particularly progresses
ing qualities of that new pet of yours?'
inquired Squire Rogers.
He's a turtle, an honest. OMEN
faced turtle. and no galloping Buceph-
alus disguised as a donkey answered
Eben, sort OF tart ike. But while he
don't look like a sprinter, 1 will back
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-07-15

good humor for nine days and nine
nights after they have seen it."
We'll, says Prince Connal. thar
must be a fine thing entirely, and I'm
sure l would be mighty anxious To
have it, But" says he, where would
get it or how would / get it?"
We'll" says Nancy, that's easy. If
you order Shamus to bring a Plaisham
to your castle by supper time this
night, and promise to have his life if
he hasn't it there, he'll soon get it for
YOU"
Wei, if that's So says Prince Con-
nal, I'll not be long wanting Plais-
ham"
So home went Nancy rejoicing this
time, for she said to herself. poor old
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-07-15
THE WONDERS OF SCIENCE ARE PAST FINDING OUT

electricity working backwards. Tbs
wonders of science are past finding
out And Eben shook his head like a
man who has made a great scientific
discovery.
Just then Eben saw Squire Rogers
doubled up with ribald laughter Then
Eben understood what had happened
to his ga1lOping turtle For a church
member and a man who had been d
professor of religion two score and ten
years. Eben's language was fluent and
shocking. But Squire Rogers took j.
calmly.
I never dreamed such a respected
man as Eben Brown put that battery
in so as to win a race unfairly replied
the squire Knowing you for kind
hearted person, I thought you would
be pleased at my endeavOr TO make
life less monotonous for that big tur-
tie And judging from the efforts he
was making to trOt backwards as he
disappeared in the bushes, my humane
attempt to introduce variety into his
life was meeting with unqualified sue
cess
Your best friend can give you no bet
ter advice than this: For impure
blood. bad stomach and weak nerves
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-07-15
THE PLAISHAM.
BY sEUMAs MAcMANUs.

Author of Through the Turf Smoke" I'm
Chimney Corners" etc.
Copyright. 1900 by Seumss MacManus)
Nancy and Shamus were man and
wife, and they lived all alone together
for forty years. but at length a good
for-nothing street Of a fellow named
Rory. who lived close by thought what
a fine thing it would be If Shamus
would die, and he could marry Nancy
and get the house, farm, and I'll the
stock.
So he up and said to Marcy: What
a pity il is for such a fine looking
woman as you to he bothered with that
ould cOnIplainin' good for nothing
crony of a map that's as full of pains
and ache, as an eggs as full of meat
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-07-15

> says Shamus. says he, an