davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Redwood gazette., 1902-03-05

For First Mortgage Investment Sc
curities, call on Gold-Stabeck Land
and Credit Co. 2S-tf.
Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1902-10-13
RaWSOnville's
SencatiOn

rcepyEght, 1902 by the 8. S Mcclure
Company,
On a certain Tuesday ni~ht the vii
Age of Rawsonvii.e, containing about 4
thousand inhabitants. went to bed. Be
fore o'~.ock "Wednesday morning
there was tuzZ of excitement up and
down its length. Two events Lad hap
pened while 99S of the inhabitants
slept the sleeo OF he just.
One of the general stores was owned
by George Carter. He was a bachelor
of forty, who boarded with the Widow
Brown, and the widow had reported
his mysterious disappearance. As
crowd while standing on the horse
block in front of the store:
George Carter has vanished off the
face OF the earth, and it devolves upon
this community to unearth the mys-
terry"
The community first declared it's be-
lief that the missing merchant was
bankrupt and had run away to avoid
bis creditors
When the clerk had shown by the
books that that belief could not hold
water. the community looked for other
reasons and found them. 1t was known
to ii that lie acCompa MED the Widow
Snicer to Sunday evening church, and
tie Inference was that he had asked
he" u marry elm and then disappeared
80 avoid a breach OF promise suit. The
widow was cai.ed upon to give convict
ing evidence. She either couldn't or
wou.dn't
"Gentemen," said the deacon as he.
noc.lted the horse block again. we
Nre IT the trail. bot we haven't found
the hoIy yet"
~ search was made of the abandoned
red saWuliil. Of the creek north Uf tae
village and of the garret Of the store
but no one was found drowned or
kan~.-::i:; by The neck. Nevertheless tae
PUhAc proposed an inquest. and Squire
Eaddon was brought to the front.
hf.ec duly moppng his heated brow
with his we'll known yellow silk hand
kerchief he said:
Il don't know much about inQuests,
be: ! al!us supposed that you had to
have somethin to inquest on. But il
tie frcemen of this glorious communi-
I! Mlsh Inc to 30 ahead I'll do SO with
the greatest of pleasure"
1t was not only apparent to the free
men that there was no dead body be-
fore them to call for verdict, but that
the squire was aching to deliver
Fourth of July Grafton. and the pro
posed inquest was therefore choked
or
Joseph Taylor. the village carpenter.
had a wife named Polly. He had gone
over to Snow Hill to work for week.
leaving Polly alone. 1t was now sud
denly discovered that her house was
shut up and that she hadn't been seen
since the afternoon before Here was
Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1902-10-13
ssSazsSS2sss>Es:zes b Y1gt5G
E:',EilI llgXEEzEzSS lgEHzNzSS
2yZ ssgs
Excursion Rates.

OClSTl-SS -NS~i -'-''
On Gavs mentioned below the sale
of one-way CoIonist tickets IS author
lied from St. Louis, Thebis, Cair'
md Memphis, under the following
conditions: One-haIf of the standard
first class one-way rate, plus 800.
Missouri All points on St. l., 5.
W. Ry.. south o. Delta, Mo.
Arkansas.-AIl p-ints, except Lit
tie Rock and points on Little Rock
Branch between AItheimer and Lit
tie Rock.
Texas.-An points.
Louis;ana.-To all points On the Cot
ton Belt, Kansas City Southern, T.
& ?. except New Orleans, H. & S.
and Sout1e.n Pacific except La,
Fayettel.
Oklahoma and Indian Territory
All points.
Dates OF Sae.-OctobeF list, No
vember It and 18th, December 2nd
and 10th, 1902; January 9Th and Goth,
February I, d and 18th and April 'th
and list. 1903
Tickets are to be second class tick
cts. limited to continuous passage
and plainly st2mped on each coupon
"CoIonist. These tickets will not be
nonored in standard sleeping cars.
E. w. LeBEAUM ME-.
General Passenger and Ticket Agent
Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1902-10-13
National Convention Christian Church
Omaha. Neb. Oct. IS to %.
CHEAP Settlers RATES TO THE
FAR WEST AND NORTH
WEST

The BurIinE ton Route will renew the
cheap one-way settlers rates every
day during September and October,
1902. 70 Montana, Idaho, Washington,
Oregc. a-I California. such as $50,
from s.. louis. s333 from Chicago, and
s25 from Missouri river points. to Cali
fornia. Portland and Puget Sound ter
rirory, with correspondingly low rates
to Spokane district.
The Burlington route and its con-
nections best reach the entire west
and northwest territory. 1t is the
main road through the west. The map
shows
Cheap 7ound Trip Tourist Rates to
Coioraoo-uta7
During certain periods Of August and
September the Burlington viii make
such remarkable low first class round
trip rates to Denver, Colorado Springs
and Pueblo as 81 from St. Louis, SIS
from the Missouri river and SIS from
Chicago, good al summer; at other
periods only one fare plus So
Ask !oHr agent for details.
CooI Minnesota
Very low tourist rates to Minnesota
points daily until September 18th.
Homeseekers' Excursions.
First and third Tuesdays of August,
Septembr and October to many sec
tions of the west and northwest.
Round trip tickets with Il days linn
it.
Consult your nearest ticket agent or
write US Of your proposed trip and
let US advise you the least cost, send
you our publications and otherwise
assist you. L. W. Wakeley, general
passenger agent, St. Louis. Mo
Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1902-10-13
The INf L. 50 ss 80
craphie's - .. .s S1()RY

mystery No. >. Deacon Spoone- wss
still itching to deliver that Fourth 8:
July address, so he remounted the horse
block. called for order in a loud voice
ard said:
"Feller freenen. this ere case is as
plain as a knot on l0g-that is. it's
plain to ne. George Garter and Polly
Taylor have el0ped together and seat
dalized the fair name of town which
never even had dogdgAt before
When that devoted band of pilgrims
left the shores of old England to-
But he was choked off right there.
Every man and woman in the village
was sure that the key to the mystery
had been found, and what the pilgrim
fathers did was of no consequence.
How blind they were not to have
guessed the truth at the start. Polly
Taylor was good looking. smart and
inclined to be frivolous. While her hus-
band was SO serious minded that he
did not believe in husking bees. Be
fore nightfall twenty different people
had remembered her saying that
George Carter was q good looking man
and Of George Carter saying that he
wished he had met her years before.
Things had been talked over SO
many times before supper that it seem
ed as if there was nothing more to
say. But it was hardly over before
the Methodist church bell rang out
Ere alarm. There was no FIRE. Dea-
con Spooner had simply got new
idea and wanted to submit it to the
ereemen of Rawsonville. Once more
he mounted the horse block to indulge
IN a fervid address. This time be
meant to land the pilgrim fathers III
good shape. but he planned TO blind his
audience by first stating his belief
that the husband Of the heartess wife
ought to be communicated with at
&Hce.
aiis declaration was received wits
ec:husiasm, and boy was hired TO
ride over to Snow Hill and tell joe
Taylor that he was wifeless
It had come o'clock when thun-
tereiap shook the villas@lhat is, Joe
Taylor and his wife appeared. She
l@G gone over to Snow Hill to see him
about the contents of letter that had
arrived at the house. and he had re-
turned with her Men and women
were still gasping for breath and Won
Cerin@ what next when George Carter
came driving into town. He had been
over to Ora tton TO see his brother
who had been accidentally hurt. The
news had come after the Widow Brown
hai gone to bed.
There was no failure. no suicide, no
eiopement. Honest George Carter
hadn't thought of beating his cred
itors, and pretty Polly Taylor hadn't
thought Of stealing away from her
husband. For the last time the dea-
con mounted the horse block and be-
gan:
Citizens of this great and glorious
republic, we have assembled here this
evenin' for the purpose Of
But they hadn't The crowd GS3-
solved like fog, for Rawson vi!!s'e
sensation was over
WILLIAM RANDALL.
Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1902-10-13
Water Pipes of Glass.

In Germany water pipes are being
made OF glass with asphalt covering
to prevent fracture. 1t is claimed
that they give thorough protection
against moisture in the ground
against the action of acids and aka.
ltes, and that they cannot be pene.
0ated by gases.
Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1902-10-13
IRON MOUNTAIN LOW RATES

National Convention Christian
Church, Omaha, Neo., October Is to
23-On October Is. Is and is the Iron
Mountain will sell tickets to Omaha
and return, one fare s20.05, tickets to
be good returning leaving Omaha not
earlier than October IS. nor later
than October "a. except that by de.
posit Of ticket with joint agent and
payment Of so cents return ticket
may be extended to include November
30.
National Convention Christian Church
Omaha. Neo., Oct. I 5 to %.
For this occasion the St. l., |. NJ.
G s. R'y will sell tickets to Omaha,
Neb.. enc irst-class standard fare
for the round trip. Tickets on sale
Oct. IS to is and IS; returning not
earlier than Oct. is nor later than
Oct. "a
H. n. ATWOOD, Agt
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1902-12-19

Of Massachusetts at a spot 10 which
they gave the name OF Plymouth. in
memory OF the last English port at
which they touched. They had soon to
face the long, hard winter OF the north,
to bear sickness and famine. Even
when these years OF toll and suffering
had passed there was time when
they knew not at night where TO have
bite In the morning. Resolute and
industrious as they were their progress
was very slow, and at the end Of ten
years they numbered only 800 souls.
But small as it was the colony was
now firmly established and the strug
gle for mere existence was over. Let
IT not be grievous unto you. some OF
their brethren had written from Eng
land to the poor emigrants in the midst
OF their sufferings. that you have been
instrumental to break the ice for others
The honor shall be yours to the worlds
end"
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1902-12-19
JOHANNES UNIQUE
NEW YEARS GARD

In the department of the humors Of
New Years day must be placed the
card sent abroad by Johannes Seiden-
schwanZ, grocer boy.
johannes was a rawboned, innocent
faced youth who distributed cabbage
kerosene and other delicacies among
the customers of Sebastian Schwein-
furth, grocer. Johannes. called "Honce"
for short, had not been in this country
very long: therefore he was proud OF
his skill in writing and speaking the
English language. His task it was at
morn and noon and dewy eve to take
upon his shoulder Il basket of grocery
goods at which q horse might look sick
and shake It's head and carry the same
hither and thithor TO persons who lived
in the sixteenth story. more or less. OF
skyscrapinS apartment houses. 1t was
his wont TO whistle mp the dumb waiter
shaft and immediately send the pota-
toes and sau,rkraut bowling merrly
upward after the whistle. He was
good naturcd; he was strong as an OK;
he was also as lacking in the divine
sense OF humor as an OK.
Threc-iourths Of those to whose
kitchens Houce delivered onions and
molasscs never had seen. never would
see, him in bodily presence. yet to-
ward them he had the warmest good
will, in which respect he was an ex-
ample to all Though they knew him
not. he knew them, and he sent them a
joint stock New Years card. 1t cost
possibly = cents. Its ground tint was
the "Greencry gallery" which is Cx-
pressive of the highest art in color
scheming. Upon this basis OF greenery
gallery revelcd in glorious profusion
ffydowndillies Of a radiant yellow
that had no suggestion Of green The
green, however. was provided for in
several leaves borrowed pro TEN. from
the rosebush and painted fast to the
daffodil stems as though they grew
there
Honce, grocer boy though he was.
only distributor Of soap and mack
erel. who worked for 81 week and
found himself, was soulful. His senti-
ment showed in the cards printed mot
to, which, In gilt letters upon the green
yellow background read. Hearts
Greetings
Inside the card was the usual benc-
diction. with Kindest Remembrance
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1902-12-19
To All Ny Custerman,
]. sEIDENScHwANz.
Please and Return This Card Back.

The request for return was device
to save expense. Up shot that card
with the cheese and garlic wherever
Honce went on New Years eve. Back
II went In the basket down the dumb
waiter shoot. usually with a dime or
nickel upon Its face. Such New Years
wishes were well worth the dime or
nickel. At length IL bowled skyward
once too often. Ii assembled. Nesting
between a squash and a side OF cod
Dish. but II returned no more. A silver
quarter lay In the basket when Il went
back. but no bit Of green yellow card.
That was q New Years souvenir &
precious for the conscienceless last rs-
cipient to part with. J. VAUGHN. I,
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1902-12-19

way. Anybody SIGH a fool ez tub walk
ag'in de Lawd, he boun' tub be tuck"
AT o'clock on New Years eve Uncle
Absalom hobbled to the watch meeting
and up TO the altar rail. Aunt Hillary
was not TO be seen. Il hab a call fun
he Lawd. breth'n en- sistahs." he be-
gan. zen he hab said Stay not in de
house oh de richus but go tub de
cake walk, oh. Abs'lom. ma son. ma
son! Go pray in de mids' oh de sebbin
debbils en- de hawned beas'ses. Tuhn
dey hahts tub de wrath oh de Lawd'"
And the "eldah" hobbled slowly TO the
door. his face streaming with persplra-
ton. praying and eXhorting as he went.
The cake walk was about to begin
when Absalom entered Masonic hall
and took his stand in the middle of IT,
The young people, remembering his
fearful prophecies, spoke in awed tones
rs the old man. silent and motionless.
waited for the last noisy straggler to
hush and hear the further words of
warning. Only the leader Of the Jaw.
chessy" dared 10 whisper when the
"eldah" began solemnly. He will
stretch outen his ham en- Destroy a
wall from the fiddle cut off the words.
"Fust couple up de middler There
was n sigh of relief. and the Gavin
fiel' Breakdown" set hands to patting
and toes to tapping an accompaniment
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1902-12-19

~ n Jan. /, 1921, the sun rose, II II
II shone at all on that day on the
II bleak New England coast, on
scene OF misery on the spot
where the pilgrim fathers and mothers
had landed three weeks before. The
little company of seekers for religious
freedom had left Plymouth. England,
In September. at season Of the year
when the fields OF the mother country
still present an inviting aspect and the
contrast between the green downs and
the stern and rockbound coast al
most appalled, them. Nevertheless the
weary travellers landed. and on Christ
mas day the beginning of the first
house, for common use, TO receive them
and their goods" was made. Before
the coming of the new year the land
had been parcclcd out and some of
the stronger spirits had begun their
houses. 1t was not until the middle
OF January that all OF the company
left the Mayhower for the land.
In the meantime the rigors OF the
winter In the new land had been ex-
perienced. Before the wet spring had
passed and summer had come TO glad
den the land One-half OF the settlers
were laid away In the frozen ground.
Yet when the May1ower sailed TO
England in April not one OF the colo
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1902-12-19

sAAiE WAY violently. Then
the tip Of the second stick. firmly
grasped. came down on the floor with
a loud thump, and Absalom, keeping
time with head and arms and stick,
hobbled after the couple. Remember
Enoch en- de walk oh de Lawd - de
watch meetin' in the lines denr'
"Secon' couple fawwudsw But Alb
salon. chanting, half GREATNESS, I'm
de mids' oh wolves wha' go yo' out
fuh tub see? De ri-chus-nes en- wrath
oh de Lawd! started up and remained
the only one on the floor, for the sec
ond couple refused to submit to the
distraction the first had suffered
"Yo' Abs'lom" And Hillary Eu-
calyptus stood before him. But neither
Absalom nor the music stopped. TEX
hol' oh ma ahm, Hill'ry, en- see de
glory oh de Lawd on oh Iz-rul." And In
terror lest he should fall, as she real
lied that he was using but one stick,
and that i'm the air To accentuate his
language. she put her arm through his.
Then her head Strengthened up. her
body tilted back and her feet flew out
rs the music vibratcd through her
every fiber and muscle. Uncle Absa
lon felt the inspiration Of partner
His elbows cooked themselves at the
most approved cake walk angle. and he
took an extra step to the right. Aunt
Hillary instinctively did the same.
TEX de ole possum Ell coon ketch In
yo' foot. Hllry." whispered Absalom.
"Dey ain none oh 'em knows dat step
hyuh." There was no rheumatism in
Uncle AbsalOm's gait now. and he did
not know that the orchestra. with ex-
ira zest. was playing at greater speed
OF that the hall was filled with giggling
young folk. lie and Hillary were far
away on the old plantation walking
every one down. "Ole marsah" was
there with "ole missus," and young
marsah" himself was playing his VIC
lin for the whole harmful. Such step
ping and "sashaying." such pigeon
wings and scrapes and bows. the young
generation In Masonic hall had never
before seen. and the gigglers gradual
ly sllenced TO the verge Of dizziness by
such an "exput puffeshional puffaw
nance" gazed with admiration and
envy But Uncle Absalom and Aunt
Hillary remained In the past. oblvious
to all but the steps OF the couples who
succeeded them. until the grand march
was over and the dissipated old year
had gayly reeled out with II.
"Numbah wins de- big cake! called
the master Of ceremonies. and Absa
lom and Hillary stepped briskly up to
receive II just as Preacher Mulberry,
having dismissed the watch meeting.
opened the door OF Masonic hall. He
gazed. pe:ritied. at Absalom's jaunty
air and Hillary's youthful shipper. "Ole
and mlssus" suddenly van
Ished. but religion returned only half
way.
"He-he done gone. old Abs'lom." ex
planned the "eldah' rs the ''preachah"
stood dumb before the two. HE done
gone wild de ole yeah on de rheumatic.
Tain 10 use fuh tub try tub walk
ag'in de Lawd. preachah. He gwine
hab his way. en- anybody SIGH fool CT
tub walk ag'In i'm am boun' tub be
luck"
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1902-12-19

As then to tell this dismal tale Confucius began:
by the shores OF the great IIoangho, you know
A printer there lived long ago. and, oh,
He printed each day for the folk of Cathay
Cards, booklets and bills for the show, just "a
In a manner artistic, but slow.
Each type page carven by hand and spann-u
With ornaments gaudy and grand; they stand
As monuments of the work OF Lee Chow
The first Of the great printing band who scanned
His proof in the far yellow land
mandarin mighty Ling All Sing
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1902-12-19

Rang out on the air. 'Tis plot! IT'S snare
IT'S the work OF wizard To spell my kner
And the mandarin quivercd like jell.
That day the cook broke the great plate Of state
The hinges of the front gate, a weight
Dropped fun on Lings toe and he shrieked in his
woe.
''Ts the work of those dragons ornate; but wait
My thirst for revenge | will sater
He pouncod Lee Chow with swoop and whoop.
And boiled him next day into soup, poor dupe;
But the family and took pay for that shame
For they killed themselves all in n group grim troop
On the mandarins spotless front stoop"
The Chinese spook its tale had told but the echo
The shade of Johann Gutenberg spoke the print
Long years where you know. good printing fir
In Germany. the sea- there lived printer
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1902-12-19

In politics quite the whole thing that spring,
And printer friend thought that circular brought
To the potentates notice might bring or swing
Some custom from those in the ring
SO he carved in 4 manner quite few
Fine pages of words all askew and drew
AS embellishments big snake here and there
And bug and n dragon two true
They'd give the shivers to view.
Now Ling supersttious quite: in fright
He'd howl if they put out the light at night.
SO when from the envelopes shell there fell
That circular gorgeously swell a yell
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1902-12-19
| UNCLE ALB@AIl0[M]'@ |
WA7TgLH] IM]LEIE7TD[N@
By Riley M. A NEw0 wPnDs@ ewr-rNn
Fletcher Berry "1V' US'uu S'S@ uWuu
Copyright r. Berry
n AwD-a-wisht--t-I had wings like

an AWD-a-wisht--t-I had wings like
No-yah's dovel
Lawd-a-w isht--t-I had wings like
IL No-yah's dovel
L,wd-a-wisht-t-Il Lawd-a-wisht-t
IAwd-a-wisht-t- had wings like No
yah's dove!
"Den, Lawd, I'd fly straight up. so
fas' en- so hawd tell | crack de gates
Oh heaben open en- walk down Halle
lujah street! Dat de on'y kim oh walk
En- fuh Abs'lom."
Uncle Absalom. twisted with rheu
natsm, swayed 10 and fro as he sat
grooming and mutterlng to himself that
sunny Florida Sunday afternoon in an
old rocking chair at the edge of his
little sweet potato patch. Aunt Hill
larry Eucalyptus. his wife, washing
dishes just inside the open doorway
OF the shanty, cast an eye In his d.
rection occasionally TO make sure that
he was keeping the chickens out of
the potato vines.
"Lawd-a- wisht-t-I could pray like
Dan-l-yul prayed" sang Uncle Absa-
lon through the whole verse. adding:
Il would pray so loud tell de debbil
mex complement tub run tub de
ems oh de yuth. q Lawd. gimme de
ellenquinch tub show dey weakness
tub de chuchr A violent creakng OF
tae old rocker and more powerful
groan from Absalom brought Aunt Hill
larry 10 the kitchen steps. VIVA de
mattah wild yo'. Abs'lom? Ain 20
dinnah done greed wild yo'?"
Il is dine presumptuously. Hill'ry
Eucalyptus" replied AhsalOm solemn
~. but hab dose cake walkahs so
heavy on ma min dat 'bleege tub git
on ma knees en-
"Hyuh. yo' Abs'lom! Don yo' go
dom any SIGH foolshness! Yo' mem
bahs de las time yo' tuck tub yo' knees
yo' bruck up de bes piece oh fuhnchuh
In de house, en- | ain gwine hab no
mo- sich pceedin's."
Uncle Absalom settled back painfully
ns she disappeared inside the doorway,
and his shiny black forehead drew IL
self into deeper creases as he groaned
TO the sweet potato vines: ~Hill'ry am
/ Hike de res Oh EN-. She am tuck wild
de stylish oh de new preachah. He
\ got de town walk on i'm. De Lawd
4 hab mussy. Oh. 90, Gay-bri-yel go
blow yo' trumpet loudr'
Absalom hobbled TO church that night
on his two heavy. gnarled orange
sticks. The evening announcement OF
4 the watch meeting for the older ones
Hand the cake walk for the younger
4 members of the church TO be held ST.
simultaneously. the first ut the church
p nd the second at Masonic hall. on New
Years eve, was identical with that
(which had so distressed Uncle Absa-
9om's mind at the morning service.
n Il wants tub mex n few reemahks on
&c subjeck oh de cake walk 20 hab
@nounce' long wild de watch meetin'.
DBrothah Mulberry" he said. "De watch
lie place fuh tub spen' de las min'ts
D. de ole yeah en- de fus' oh de new.
De cake walk am one oh de wuks oh
e debbl. en- ain ben tub one of 'em
ence | wuz cunvuhted de las time.
De Lawd hab glib me tub tell yo' all
ha' de Bahble seq bouten hit. hab
eahed i'm say. oh. Abs'lom. ma son.
ba son: tell 'em de lambs ain got no
izness mixin wild de ways oh de
puts. fuh de goatses prancin' en- cuttin'
\ D. shall cas- 'em intuh outah darkness
e gimme de tex fun de fus' beginnin'
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1902-12-19

10 the whirling
IN usic as the
head coup ] G
started by Tn
lie b salon.
Woe unto 20!
Watch en- pray"
he cried. Zen
don walk ag'in
de Lawd!' His
I heum tic old
body shook with
the power of his
G III otion. III g
reached for his
Sunday handker-
chief, hanging
from an outer
coat pocket. and
one of his sticks
flew from his
trembling hands.
The couple re
passed him. and
his body swayed