davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-04-26
TEACHING A YOUNG LARK.
How It's Mother Coaches 1t to Hop
About and Fly.

How Its Mother Coaches 1t to Hop
About and Fly.
J. NJ. Barrie. the noted Scottish story
writer, in Scribner's Magazine told
how a young lark got it's first lesson.
A baby lark had got out of it's nest
sideways, a fall of a foot only. but
dreadful drop for a baby.
You can get back this way" it's
mother said, and showed it the way.
But when the baby tried to leap it fell
on its back. Then the mother marked
out lines on the ground on which it
was to practice hopping, and it got
along beautifully SO long as the mother
was there every moment to say, How
wonderfully you hopw
Now teach me to hop up" said the
little lark. meaning that it wanted to
fly, and the mother tried to do it in
vain. She could soar up, up. very
bravely, but she could not explain how
she did it.
wait till the sun comes out after
the rain" she said, half remembering
What is sun? What is rain?" the
lilllS bllu dShcu. IL yOu CduuOl leach
me to fly. teach me to sing"
"When the sun comes out after rain,"
the mother replied. then you will
know how to sing"
The rain came and glued the little
birds wings together.
81 shall never be able to fly or sing"
it walled.
Then of sudden it began to blink
its eyes, for glorious light had spread
over the world. catching every leaf
and twig and blade of grass in tears
and putting a smile in every tear The
baby birds breast swelled. it did not
know why: it futtered from the
ground. it did not know why.
The sun has come out after the
rain" it trilled. THANK you. sun!
Thank you! Thank you! Oh. mother.
did you hear me? l can sing"
Then it 6oated up, up. calling,
Thank you. thank you, thank your
to the sun. "Oh. mother. do you
see me? am f1yingT
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-04-26
The Hnnnx Medium.

A clergyman relates that a worthy
freshman with an impeachment in his
speech brought him child to be bap-
tized. While making a record of it he
was in some doubt as to the correct
spelling of the family name given to
him and asked the man how he wrote
it.
Indeed and l don't write at ALL"
was the reply.
81 just want to know" said Father
Boyle, whether the name is 'McGrath'
or 'Magrath whether the second part
of it is spelled with a big 'G' or a lit
tie g."
After scratching his head hopelessly
the puzzled parent saw his way out of
the difficulty We'll, father, just spell
it wild a middlin sized g Exchange
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-04-26
Your CanarY.

Don't forget to give your canary the
best of water and seed every day. See
that he has a good fish bone. Clean
his cage every day. Keep him out Of
the hot sun and the glare of night
lights and yet let him have sunshine.
Talk to him; talk to him with kind
voice. Let him out of the cage occa-
sionally. We give crumbs of bread
soaked in milk, lettuce, chickweed, a
little piece of egg, sometimes a little
fruit. nut and lots of good things and
let him eat or reject as he pleases.
Remember he is a prisoner in con-
inement. dependent on you every day
for health and life. and constantly
strive to make him happy. A little 10
cent looking glass will add greatly to
his happiness. Take care that neither
sun nor other light reflected shall daz-
zle him.
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-04-26
A Good Memory.

A bad memory in most cases might
be more properly described as one rust
ing from sheer want of use. The fact
is our brain cells are always ready to
oblige." but we do not give them suffi-
cient encouragement in their well
meant efforts, Naturally the individ-
ual may cultivate a memory for GER
tain details more readily than for 9th
ers. but the general basis of all recol
lective acts is the same, and there is no
department of human mental activity
in which the motto that practice
makes perfect" holds more truly than
in the science of mnemonics. The
view may be expressed. indeed. that
we never forget anything presented to
our brain cells. When we say we have
forgotten, we really mean that we can
moi find the mental Photographic mega
tive whence we can print off a positive
London Chronicle.
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-04-26
How General Butler Freed a Man.

General Buffers gift for springing
out and taking advantage of every
techuicality was fully illustrated Ia the
famous case of respectfully connected
man in Boston, who, being affected
with mania for stealing. was brought
to trial on fosr indictments General
Butler was the prisoners counsel If
the prisoner was convicted on all four
indictments. he would be liable to
Imprisonment for so years. AS the
court was assembling General Butler
agreed with the counsel for the prose
cution that three indictments should be
quashed on condition that the prisoner
should plead guilty to the one which
charged the theft of the greatest
amount.
The prisoner. to his amazement, was
ordered by his counsel to plead guilty.
Say guilty. SIR" said the general
sternly. The man obeyed. and the
other three indictments were not press
ed. But when the counsel for the pros
ecution moved for sentence General
Butler pointed out fatal flaw, mani
fest to every one when attention was
called to it. In ten minutes the aston
ished prisoner was free man. 1t Is
said that the court laughed at the ruse
the cleverness of which it was impos-
sible not to admire.
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-04-26
BETTER THAN LAW.
Julius Was Stumped, So He COnc1ud
ed to Return the Property.

Julius Was Stumped, So He COnclud-
ed to Return the Property.
81 was in Mississippi during the car
petbag days." said the Pittsburg story
teller, land one night at hotel l was
robbed of watch and money. l found
out next day that it was one Of the
colored servants, and 1 went to a JUS
tice of the peace and swore out war
rant. The justice was also a colored
man, and he didn't seem anxious to do
the right thing. l think he was in with
the thief. though willing to give me
show. When the prisoner took the
stand, he declared that if he had stolen
anything it was while he was walking
around in his sleep. The statement
caught his honor, and he said:
"'How yo' gwine to hold a pusson
'sponsible fur what he does in his
sleep? Oar amt no law bout dat If
Julius dun took dat watch an money
an didn't know what he was dom, den
he's got to be discharged from GUS
tody'
81 was pleading my own case" con-
tinued the Iron City man, "and re-
piled to the judge that the rule ought
to work both ways. If julius had tax
en- my property in his sleep, he ought to
return it while he was in the same con-
dition. wasn't blaming him for being
somnambulist and was willing he
should go free, but should expect him
to enter my room in his sleep that very
night and leave my lost property on a
chair. That was a stumper on judge
and prisoner. and after scratching their
heads and wiggling around his honor
replied:
Julius, dis yere case has dun got
mixed up. 'Cordin to law yo' got away
wild de stuff an can't be held. but cord
in to de white mans dreambook yo's
got to walk in yo'r sleep ag'in tonight
an put yo'r stealin's back in his room.
Dat will leabe everything jest as it
was befo'. an it pears to me dat yo'd
better tackle some older msl an do it
wild yo'r eyes wide OPEN
Julius didn't wait to walk in his
sleep again, but handed me my proper
ty before we left the courtroom
Philadelphia Press
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-04-26

The biggest episcopal throne in Eu.
rope is at the Exeter cathedral. Com
posed of the very best oak, with mag
nificent carving executed by the most
expert designers of the day. the throne
scars upward in beautiful tapering pin
nacles, which rise up to the lofty roof
of the sacred ediice. The throne is
not only the biggest, but one of the
oldest. 1t was saved from destruction
by the Puritans by the ingenuity of the
Cavaliers, who when the Roundheads
marched on Exeter pulled down the
throne and divided 1t into 365 pieces.
one for every day of the year. The
pieces were safely secured in many
hiding places, and when peace was re-
stored the pieces were put together
again without the aid of a single nail.
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-04-26

| always pray that may never out
live my illusions or my front teeth,
though all else may fail me.
Admiration is like porridge-awfully
stodging. but you get hungry again al
most as soon as you've eaten it.
\ good nose is an abiding resting
place for vanity. You know that it will
outlast your time and that age cannot
wither nor custom stale its satisfactory
proportions.
The quality of mercy should not be
measured out by teaspoonfuls in a
medicine glass. but should be sent
round in watering cart by the county
council.
They've no sense, men haven't. The
very best of them don't properly know
the difference between their souls and
their stomachs. and they fancy that
they are a-wrestling with their doubts
when really it is their dinners that are
a-wrestling with them.
1t is the duty of all women to look
happy-the married ones to show that
they don't wish they weren't married
and the unmarried ones to show that
they don't wish they were.-New York
Telegram.
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-04-26
THE BLACK VENUS,
An Ugly Stone Figure worshiped By
Peasants of Brittany

Even false religions die hard, and
there are reminders of all extinct
faiths still existing in the world. One
of the most curious relics of paganism
which are still worshiped in a Chris
tan country is the gigantic black
stone figure of woman which is to be
found in a forest Of the district of
Morbihan, in Brittany.
1t is known as the "Black Venus"
but probably dates far back of the
time when the Greeks and Romans
worshiped that goddess. Antiquarians
assert that this ugly idol belongs to
the age of the serpent worshipers, one
of whose subterranean temples is in
the neighborhood. This would make
the figure far older than the Christian
era
The statue is that of a huge, un-
couth woman, with a sullen, angry
countenance, her form enveloped in a
loose mantle.
The superstitious Bretons have al
ways worshiped the figure, asserting
that it has power over the weather and
TIE IL Tue luOl Is IQey
declare that the grain dies on the ear,
and If the anger Of the black woman is
further reused a tidal wave sweeps
over Morbihan.
Twice the stone was cast into the sea
by pious folk who hoped thereby to put
an end to this idolatry, and twice the
peasants dragged it back and set up an
altar before it.
About two centuries ago Count Pierre
de Lannion, on whose estate the figure
stood, in order to save the statue from
both friends and enemies, dragged it
by 40 yoke of oxen to his own chateau
and set it up in the courtyard. He cut
an inscription on the base of the pedes-
tai, declaring the figure to be a Venus
carved by Caesars soldiers.
The count and his chateau are both
gone. but the huge black woman, over
grown with moss, still stands in the
forest, and the peasants still beseech
her to bless their crops.
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-04-26
A STRANGE LAKE.
The Peculinrities of n Body of Water
In AuSfraliR.


Lake George is situated about four
miles from the railway station at Bun
gendore, Australia, and has for many
years engaged the attention of scien-
tific men by reason of the singular and
ineXplicable phenomena connected with
it. The estimates of its size vary con-
siderably according to circumstances,
but when moderately full about 20 by
miles will be found 4olerably correct.
At either end the land is fully 100 feet
above the highest recorded surface of
the lake. which possesses no known
outlet, although it is fed by numerous
mountain creeks.
The lake was discovered by BUSH
man in 1920 and was known to the
blacks as the big water" 1t was then
supposed to form the source of river
having its mouth on the south coast,
but subsequent visitors were much
perpleXed at the manner in which the
blacks avoided the lake, of which they
appeared to entertain a superstitious
dread, one aged aboriginal stating she
had seen it all covered with trees, an
other explaining that the whole of the
water sunk through the bottom and
disappeared, while others remembered
the lake only as a series of small
ponds.
During the following 20 years con-
siderable variations were noted in the
depth and extent of the lake. In 1871
the lake became partially dried up, the
moist portions being simply grassy
swamps. A few months later large
numbers of sheep were pastured in the
bed of the lake, but fresh water had to
be carted for the use of the shepherds,
that of the lake being too salt for hui
man consumption. The place remained
more or less dry until 1852, the year of
the great floods in that part of the col
ony, when it again became filed, with
an average depth of nine feet. Since
then the surface level of the lake has
varied considerably, but the bed has
never been so dry as in former years.
There are indications that many hun
dreds of years ago the lake covered a
far larger area than any yet recorded,
remains of trees over 100 years old be-
ing found in spots formerly under wa
ter. The saline character of the lake is
the more remarkable by reason of its
being fed by pure and sparkling fresh
water streams.
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-04-26

A Russian military paper tells of
lieutenant who overheard a sergeant
giving a recruit a short lecture upon
his duties. THE military service"
said the sergeant. requires little pray
er to God and strict attention to the
orders of a superior" Somewhat as
tonished at this singular definition of
military duty. the officer ventured to
ask the sergeant for his authority.
whereupon the sergeant produced an
ancient volume containing the follow
ing: The military duty requires lit
tie: prayer to God. and strict attention
to the orders of a superior. Army
and Navy Journal.
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-04-26
THE INDIANS PAID.
What the White Men Charged Them
For Killing One Donkey.

For killing One Donkey.
In "Reminiscences of Old Times In
Tennessee story is told of the good
faith and honor of a party of Chicka-
saw Indians. While hunting one fall
they shot donkey. installing the
creature for wild animal. They sold
the hide, and it finally came to the
hands Of John Barnes in Upton.
When the Chickasaws returned to
the region of Upton for their annual
hunt the next fall. Barnes invited them
to shooting match. the prize to be
the skin of a very rare animal
Thirty braves appeared at the con-
test, and one of them won the prize.
When he saw the skin, he turned 1t
over and said: "Ha, ha, me kill him!
Me shoot him! Seer' And he pointed
to The fatal bullet hole.
Then Barnes told them that they had
but he was sure that they had done
IT by mistake. believing it to be a wild
animal.
The Indians listened attentively to
the white mans words and then con-
suited together few minutes. Finally
they separated. each brave going to his
pony. unhitching him and leading him
to the spot where a gang of white men
stood, Barnes in the midst of them.
Then one of the Indians spoke:
I'VE sorry we kill donkey. We think
he belong to the woods. We find him
in cane. We think him wild We
sorry; now we pay. We take no white
mans boss, pony, nothing of white
man. We honest. We have ponies.
that's all. Take pay" And he mo-
toned to the long line of ponies. held
by their owners.
How many?" asked Barnes.
White man say" returned the In
dian. take plenty"
The honor of the red men was not
equaled by the white men. for. be it
recorded to their shame. they took
from the Chickasaws So ponies to pay
for the accidental killing of one dom
key.
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-04-26
A Legend of the salty Sea.

There are hundreds Of queer myths
and traditions given to account for the
fact that tie sea is salt The Arabs
say that when the first pair Sinned they
were living in beautiful garden on
tract of land joined to mainland by a
narrow neck or isthmus. When it be-
came known to the Holy One that his
people had sinned, he went to the gar
den for the purpose of driving them out
and across the narrow neck of land
into the patch of thorns and brambles
on the other side. Anticipating what
would be the consequence of their hei-
nous crime, they had prepared to leave
their beautiful garden and had actually
gone so far as to send the children and
goats across into the thicket
When the Holy One appeared on the
scene, the first pair started to run, but
the woman looked back. For this the
man cursed her and for such q crime
was almost Immediately turned into a
block of salt. Compare with Genesis xix,
&c The woman, more forgiving than
her husband, stopped to pick up the
shapeless mass of salt, when imme-
diately the narrow neck of land began
to crack and break. AS she touched
what had once been her companion she,
too, was turned to salt just as the neck
of the lard sank and the waters rush.
ed through. From that day to this, the
Arabs say, all the waters of the ocean
have rushed through that narrow chan
mel at least once year, constantly
wearing away the salt of what was
once our first parents, yet the bulk Of
the two salty objects is not diminished
in the least
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-04-26
ENGLISH MONARCHS.
Death Often Unkind In the Manner
of Their Taking on.


of Their Taking on.
Of the mOnarchs who have reigned
over England since the days of the
Norman conquest nearly one-quarter of
the number have met violent death.
William | was killed by fall from
his horse, William II was shot while
hunting, whether by accident or de-
sign is still one of the unsolved prob
lens of history; Richard was killed
by a shaft from a crossbow while
besieging the city of Chaluz, in France;
Richard II was murdered in Pontefract
castle, Edward ii was murdered in
Berkeley castle, and Edward V in the
Tower of London, Richard III was
killed on the battlefield of Bosworth
and Charles | had his head cut off in
London.
Elizabeth's death was FASTENED by
remorse that she had ordered the ex-
ecution of Essex. and her sister Mary
sickened and died soon after the loss
of Calais. declaring that the name of
the city would be found after death
written on her heart. The death of
Edward HIS son. the Black Prince,
caused the aged monarch to die of
grief. So after the loss of his son
in the White Ship. Henry | was never
seen to smile again and lived only a
short time. Henry VI and George III
were insane during the latter years
of their reigns and finally died from
what in these days would be called
paresis. Charles II, Henry VIII, Ed
ward " and George " FASTENED their
deaths by the dissipated and sensual
lives they lived. Only two monarchs
died of that great national scourge.
consumption: they were Edward VI
and Henry VII. Queen Anne's death
was due as much as anything else
to overlooking. Only two monarchs,
Henry VI and George III. died after
long illnesses
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-04-26
LIBEL IN ENGLAND.
Not Hard There to Give Cause For
Actions ut Law.


EnglGnds libel law is terror to the
defendants. a short time ago young
playwright sold a piece to a London
manager and drew small royalty
each week. which was paid by check.
One week when the playwright pre-
sented the check to the bank for cash.
ing it was returned to him marked
No funds" The playwright had the
check framed and hung conspicuously
n his study. He took pleasure in
pointing ii out to visitors and making
biting comments until one day the
managers lawyer called and told the
young man that he was committing
a serious libel on the manager, where
upon the check was taken down at
once.
Over in England the railway COM
panies. or at least one of them, put up
in the station placards bearing the
names of passengers who had violated
rules of the road, with addresses, the
nature of the offense and fines impos-
ed. The offenders took the matter into
court, and now the placards show only
the words opposite the offense, -
passenger"
1t frequently happens that names
given to villains and ridiculous cha;ac-
tiers in fiction will duplicate in real life.
4 certain English novel had its scene
laid on the west coast of Africa, and
the villain of the book was a major
in the army, supposed to be stationed
there. To the novelist's dismay there
appeared one day out of the unknown
real major. bearing the name of the
villain of the novel, who also had been
stationed on the west coast of Africa.
In vain the unhappy author protested
in tine consequent action that he had
never seen OF heard of the plaintiff
A verdict for the latter was given.
with substantial damages.
A Birmingham lawyer held that one
could libel a man effectually enough
by leaving out his name. He brought
an action against local paper for
persistently emitting his name from
its reports Of cases in which he pro-
fessionally was engaged. Presumably
he imagined that the loss of the adj
vertisement he would have obtained
by his name repeatedly appearing was
damage enough. He was nonsuited,
however.
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-04-26
Poison Proof Animals.


Neither differences of organization in
animals nor in the constitution of the
poisonous substance generally afford
any clew for interpreting an exception
al want of effect. Unaccountable is
the immunity of rabbits against bella
donna leaves (Atropa belladonna, dead
ly nightshade). You may feed them
with belladonna for weeks without OBJ
serving the least toxic symptoms. The
meat of such animals, however, proves
poisonous to any one who eats it. pro-
ducing the same symptoms as the
plant.
Pigeons and various other herbivora
are also to some degree safe from the
effects of this poison, while in warm
blooded carnivora it causes paralysis
and asphyXia. In frogs the effect
is different one. consisting of spasms.
The meat of goats which had fed on
hemlock has sometimes occasioned
poisonous effects. Chickens are near
ly hardy against nuX vomica and the
extremely dangerous alkaloid, strych-
nine, contained in it, while in the
smallest amount it is a fatal poison to
rodents.
More remarkable yet in this respect
is the immunity of Cholepus hoffman
nj, kind Of sloth living on the island
of Ceylon, which, when given ten
grains of strychnine, was not much af-
fected. Pigeons are possessed of high
immunity from morphine, the chief al
kaloid of opium, as well as from bella
donna. Eight grains were required to
kill a pigeon, not much less than the
mortal dose for a man. Cats are ex-
tremely sensitive to foXglove Oigitalis
purpurea), which on the contrary may
be given to rabbits and various birds
in pretty large doses.
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-04-26
Calling the Doctor.

A good story is told of DIR. x. who Is
the physician in charge of the female
wards of one of our best known chari-
table institutions. One evening about
9 o'clock Mary, new Irish servant
girl, knocked at the door, saying:
Doctor. the head nurse wants you
to come down torsupper"
The doctor, swelling in his pride of
superiority above the nurses, sent the
Irish girl away with a curt message
Half an hour later the head nurse came
to his room looking very serious.
Doctor" she said, mo. s is very bad
indeed. l think you ought 10 see her at
once" o.
'Why did you not let me know be-
fore?" was the reply.
why, DOCTOR" said the nurse, 81
sent you word by Mary half an hour
ago"
1.-THE foolw said the doctor. "She
told me to come down to superb
"Why," said the nurse, 81 sent you
word to come down to eightr'
An inquiry made the whole thing
clear. Mary thought it more polite to
say Come down to supper" than to
say Come down to ate"-Pearson's
WaaLIv