davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1902-12-02

Old Sandy c.. who used to collect the
mining royalties for the Duke of Ham
ilton, was bit of wag. One day
Sandy was late for his train for Boz
ness, and the only way he could catcl
his connection was by walking acros,
the line. A certain gentleman Informed
Sandy that it was useless for him tt
attempt to cross by the railway, al
there was Waterman stationed at the
camp bridge, who would allow no one
to pass over it.
What sort o. countryman is hep In
Quired Sandy.
IAN Irishman," was the immediate
rejoinder.
well" responded Sandy, 'if he Is an
Irishman I'll get over" And straight
away he went.
Coming up to the bridge. Sandy es
pied the Irishman coming out to stoI
him, but before Pat had got time to
breathe Sandy gasped out: II beg your
pardon, sir. l see you're a man of au
thority. and | have just to throw my
self on your tender mercies.'
"Jabers, go on!' returned Pat without
q moments hesitation.
Had the Waterman, Sandy used tc
say. been a Scotchman he would have
had to fight him. and had he been al
Englishman he would have had to de
bate the question.-Pearson's
The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1902-12-02

He wondered whether Miranda was
so little altered. Celia Jane opened the
door and told him that Miss Miranda
had just stepped down street and would
be back In few minutes. Would he
wait?
He would and did. She ushered him
into the sitting room, and before the
door closed on her back he had spied
the old daguerreotype lying face up
ward on the table. He was so absorbed
b. looking at It and in the memories it
called up that he did not hear Miss
Miranda enter the side door. She had
looked at Celia Jane in wonder when
the little handmade said a gentleman
awaited her in the parlor.
Who could it be? Instinctively she
caught up a vagrant brown lock and
throat. A pretty pink color mantled her
cheek at the thought of facing a stran-
ger. She had led such quiet life.
mo, not greatly changed" thought
John Bland as she walked into the sit
ting room. The light was dim. for Celia
Jane had lowered the venetian blinds
when Miss Miranda started for the vii
lage.
GOOD afternoon. sir" she said and
stood waiting.
Her visitor did not answer immedi-
ately, and when he spoke his voice was
low:
Il have just heard that my little girl,
Lena May. played havoc with your
roses this morning, and l came to
apologize and to make any amends in
my power She has no mother to look
after her, and sometimes''-
Miss Miranda started. Where had
she heard that voice?
May l replace them with any flow
ers you may nameY
Miss Miranda, without answering,
crossed the room and pulled up the
blinds. The man behind her muir
INJURED. $50 you don't know me, Mi
randa?' Then he turned, and the light
fell on his face.
"John-yOuY
Eyes, Miranda, l." He held up his
hand. In it was the daguerreotype
"And you kept this, Mirandap'
Miss Miranda gasped and put out her
hand to take the picture from him,
but he imprisoned her futtering fin
gers In his own.
"Why-why did you keep it. Miriam
da %
There was note of triumph in his
voice.
Miss Miranda made gesture of pro-
test. 81 did not know that it was there
untiI'-
Her hands were held closer. mi
randa, can't we go back to the old
days? 1t was not my fault or yours,
and we've lost SO much happiness, you
and l."
Miss Miranda strove to withdraw her
hands.
IF you can look me in the eyes and
tell me that you don't care and never
did care and won't have me, I'll co.
But Miss Miranda could not say that.
She did not try to.
"And anyway" said John Bland lat
er on. 81 have to make amends for
those roses. Poor little Lena May! You
must teach her better"
The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1902-12-02
Appropriate substitute.

The son of wealthy distiller in the
north of Ireland was upon his mar
rage promoted by his father to the po-
sition of managing director and was
handed over one of his fathers resi-
dences, known as Distillery House, a
handsome mansion standing In beauti-
full grounds, situated about half a mile
from the firms extensive works.
Some months afterward the son, be-
ing in the neighboring town, stepped
into the club for lunch, and, meeting a
friend there. invited him to join In the
repast During the progress of the
meal the young director remarked to
his guest:
"We have been thinking Of changing
the name of our residence. 1t scarcely
sounds well for my wife's letters to be
addressed from Distillery House.
Gould you suggest a suitable manner"
The friend laid down his knife and
fork, thought for a moment and then
said:
Il think have hit upon it. What do
you say to calling it Alec HallT'
The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1902-12-02

perhaps you can cure my asthma an
rheumatic. Yes. think you'll do"
But ! thought you wanted a poet"
groaned her sutton despairingly.
$50 | did, but I've changed nv mind.
A woman with my prospects in oils got
the right to change her mind as often
as she likes. You can bring the preach
er over as soon as you please"
The young doctor came back to us
cooking ten years older 1t had been
fair and square agreement, but we
could see that he wanted to throw us
down. He was as poor as a church
mouse, but the prospect of riches which
we dangled before his eyes could not
Danish the memory of Widow Stebbins'
face. Finally Perkins whispered to
me:
Lost his nerve Have to be braced
up. Champagnes the stuff"
But that was where we made our
mistake. The doctor was one of those
chaps who grow ugly under the infu-
ence of the sparkling fluid. Just when
we had him at the point where we
could hear wedding bells and oil wells
gushing simultaneously he broke loose,
punched our heads all round, and the
last news we got of him was that he
! had left Oil City in a wagon. with a
black eye and broken nose.
For week we mourned and could
not be comforted-that is. the younger
men mourned Old Perkins, who had
invested the capital In the matrimonial
enterprise, swore not softly, but often.
At the end of that time we hee
that Widow Stebbins had married IL
railroad conductor, who had won her
out ON the plea that she could travel n
passes all over the world. That such
bait could win woman who by the
stroke of pen could command mil
lions Is one of the Inconsistencies of the
sex generally and widows in particu-
lar.
Three days after their marriage the
conductor had executed five leases. and
the farm looked like modern beehive
Then a strange thing happened and
knocked out the husband, the geolo-
gists, the borers and all hands on the
ground. Not a drop of oil was ever
struck ON that farm. They went down
to sand rock and other kinds of rock.
they bored and they torpedoed, but it
was q dead loss. The oil basin seemed
to have made an island Of that farm.
A year later it was offered to any man
who would take it and pay the taxes.
| never heard whether the doctor
learned Of his narrow escape or wheth-
er the unfortunate railroad man hung
himself In despair, but personally
have always been profoundly grateful
to Widow Stebbins for pronouncing me
knee sprung. nearsighted and empty
headed.
The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1902-12-02

Between the ages of fifteen and forty
five, the time when womanhood begins
and motherhood ends, it is estimated that
the aggregate term of woman's suffering
is ten years. Ten years out of thirty
One third of the best part of a woman s
life sacrificed Think of the enormous
loss of time But time is not all that is
lost. Those years of suffering steal the
bloom from the cheeks, the brightness
from the eyes, the fairness from the form.
They write their record in many crease
and wrinkle What boon then to wo-
man, is DR.. Pierce's Favorite Prescription
1t promotes perfect regularity, dries up
facilitating drains, heals liberation. cures
female weakness, and establishes the deli
cate womanly organs in vigorous and per-
manent health. No other medicine can
do for woman what is done by Dr. Pierce s
Favorite Prescription.
The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1902-12-02
FLAGS ON THE CAPITOL
What II Means When They Are Fly
Ing Mt Hall Mast

What 1t Means When They Are Fly
ing at Half Mast.
The flying of flags over the capitol at
half mast is regulated by the strictest
rules. Whenever these flags are seen
floating half way down the mast it is
a sure indication that a vice president,
senator or representative is lying dead
or that the action is taken in response
to presidential proclamation ordering
the flags on public buildings at half
mast in respect to the memory of some
prominent official of the government
who has passed away.
When the sergeant at arms of the
senate or house Of representatives
learns Of the death of a member of
either of those bodies, he at once
orders that the flags over the senate
chamber or hall of representatives be
half masted. This is often done before
the houses of congress themselves are
officially notified of the death. A good
deal of discretion is exercised in the
manner of placing the news of death
Of this kind officially before the senate
or the house. Upon such an announce
ment it is customary for the houses to
adjourn in respect to the deceased SEN
ator or representative, and in order
that the current business may not be
stopped early in the day the announce
ment is generally made just before the
houses are ready to conclude their
days work
Officers of the senate and house
when they fly the flags at half mast in
response to proclamation by the pres
ident regard their action as one of
courtesy, as they do not recognize the
power Of the president to order con-
gress to do anything except to assem-
Bile in extraordinary session. They
have always responded to the requests
of such proclamations. 1t would be
nice question, II one could imagine that
it could ever be raised, to know to
what extent the presidents authority
would allow him to order flags at half
mast on the capitol. While his author
fty would not extend over the EN-
ployees of the senate and house, yet
the capitol itself for many years was
in fact controlled exclusively by him
30 far as the care of the building is
concerned, and the superintendent of
the building is today appointed by him
without confrmatory action on the
part of the senate.
As a matter of fact, the capitol has
for years been under the direct control
of the committees on appropriations of
the two houses of congress. but that
control has been accorded them by the
failure Of the president to give any or
ders to the architect or more lately to
the superintendent of the capitol. If
he should order that official to fly flags
over the capitol at half mast and the
order should be disobeyed, he would
have power to dismiss him and appoint
some one else in his place without the
concurrence of either branch of con-
gress, except so far as the appropria-
ton for the officials salary would be
involved. These are practically moot
questions, but they occasionally form
interesting subjects for Preside talks
when flags are half masted in response
to presidential proclamations.- Wash
ingtOn Star.
The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1902-12-02
WIDOW
STEBBINS
BY GEORGE M. BRISBANE
Observation-Disclosures
Copyright, 1901, by
A. s. Richardson

Perkins of Ohio was an old man, a
lame man and decidedly homely man,
but he had a shrewd head and a mint
of money. He brought his mint of mon-
ey to the Pennsylvania oilfelds with
the intention of increasing it to two
mints. incidentally he met Widow
Stebbins.
Widow Stebbins lived in the center of
the oil belt on a farm Of twenty-one
acres. Fifty years old, with face that
would stop clock, she had been wild
ow for fifteen years. She had done her
best to secure husband No. 2, but every
man in the surrounding counties had
fought shy of what they termed the
homeliest and the taikiest woman in all
Pennsylvania. But when oil was struck
Widow Stebbins became the center of
masculine interest. The valuation of
her farm kited up into the thousands,
and she determined to kill two birds
with one stone She would acquire
riches and husband at the same time.
She calmly announced that her farm,
for which she had been offered $4,000,
was neither for sale nor to lease, but
whoever married her could do what he
liked with the property. Every man
who heard of this imagined he had the
chance of a lifetime, but the widow be-
came more and more particular every
day. She even refused men ON account
of the color of their hair or the size Of
their feet
Perkins was among the first to offer
his heart and hand to Widow Steb-
bins. Here was an opportunity that
would not demand the investment of
any of his treasured capital. The fes-
tive widow looked him over and point
ed to the gate.
"You can pass right on. / don't be-
lieve I'd have married you ten years
ago. when l used to feel like goin'
out in the fields an sparkin' a scare
crow
Perkins swallowed his pride and Of
fered her 100000 cash for the farm,
but again she laughed at him. Then,
with righteous wrath blazing in his
bosom, he rode back to town and called
three Of us young fellows into a con-
ference. We were all single. and one
of us was to be the victim. A cold
black and white. Perkins was to fur
nish all the capital for us to make a
good appearance before the widow,
The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1902-12-02

One may pet or patronize, according
to ones nature, chipping sparrow,
bluebird or phebe, but he is indeed
well coated with self esteem who does
not feel sense of inferiority In the
presence of jay. He is such a shrewd.
Independent and aggressive creature
that one is inevitably led to the belief
that he is more of a success as a bird
than most men are as men. Conspicu-
Gus by voice and action during the au-
tumn and winter, when other birds are
quietest. he becomes silent when other
birds are most vocal. If he has love
song. 1t is reserved for the ear of his
mate. At this season he even controls
his fondness for owl batting and with
1t his vituperative gifts. The robin. the
catbird and the thrasher seem eager to
betray the location of their nests to
every passerby, but the bluejay gives
no evidence of the site Of his habitation
by being seen in its vicinity.
The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1902-12-02

In collections, centuries old, to be
seen in both China and Japan are
specimens of the most remarkable
drawings in the world, pictures of all
kinds drawn with the thumb nail The
nails of the thumbs on the left hands
of the artists of these are allowed to
grow to an enormous length, some
times to foot or eighteen inches, and
are then pared down to a pen shaped
point. Dipping this oddly constructed
pen in beautiful vermilion or sky blue
ink, the only kinds of ink used in these
sacred thumb nail drawings, the artist
gracefully outlines his work.
Occasionally the bold touches from
the studio of master In this depart
ment of high art are life size and
are sketched by few sweeps of the
artists arm. Like other pictures and
sketches of the orient, these sacred
thumb nail pictures are mounted and
rolled up like scrolls
The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1902-12-02

According to the late Richard A
Proctor, says the London Chronicle
the phrase Il guess" to English ears
so ridiculous, is really identical with
the old expression. Il wis.," meaning
Il know" The word guess has
changed its meaning entirely In Eng
land, but has partly preserved it in
America, where Of course the native
says Il guess" when he is more or less
In state of certainty. There are many
other examples of words that have
played fast and loose with e" and
"w," such as guardian" and ward.
en-" guard" and ward" "guichet'
and wicket"
The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1902-12-02

1t is notable fact that in Abysslnia
none but those who are related to the
monarch is permitted to wear gold in
any form. They may deck themselves
with diamonds and other precious
stones, but the jewels must not be set
In gold. The penalty for infringement
Of this law is death by decapitation.
The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1902-12-02

and the one who secured wife and
farm was to divide profits with the re-
naming three We drew lots, and |
won. Perkins was liberal as to my out
fit, even to the diamond stud and gold
headed cane, and it was a pretty swell
man who drove up to Widow Stebbins'
gate.
had heard of Widow Stebbins, but
had not yet seen her. At the first
glance | stood ready to shed my finery
and shovel dirt at 80 cents per day
rather than marry her. Perhaps she
read my feelings In my face, for she
promptly placed her arms akimbo on
the fence and informed me that | was
knee sprung, nearsighted and empty
headed. What | said In return was
equally frank. My plain talk about her
personal appearance rather tickled her
sense of humor, and as l took my de.
parture she called out that if she didn't
find man that suited her better with
in month she reckoned she'd drop me
a line
Duggan went out next, and hand
SOIHeI letlOW WISH l 10 De IOuLQ III lue
oil belt He was cordially welcomed
and was beginning to feel like a man
led out to execution when Widow
Stebbins suddenly asked him If be
could write poetry. On his replying
that he could not she shook her head
and said that she had decided to marry
a poet. Duggan obligingly offered tC
learn. but she declared she couldn't
wait. She wanted full fiedged poet
not one who was just experimenting IL
the art
"You see." she said. when l was 9
young girl | started to write poetry
an had to give it up for the washtub
Seem that I'm rich now. I'm goin' bach
to it, an | want husband that'l ap
preciate an help me-"
Our third man was physician. The
widow looked him over critically and
asked:
"Can you write poetry?"
mo, madam; am doctor"
"Lawzeei You're the first doctor
that's proposed. I'd like you to writs
poetry; but then. ! can do that an
The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1902-12-02
Winter Tourists Tickets Now on Sale via
Southern Railway.

southern railway.
To all the principal Winter Resorts at
very low rates. The resorts of the South,
Southeast and Southwest: also Cuba, Cali
fornia and Mexico offer many inducements
to the tourist.
Some prominent resorts are ST. Angus
tine, Palm Beach, Miami, Jacksonville,
Tampa, Port Tampa. Brunswick, Savan-
nah, Thomasville, Charleston, Columbia,
Aiken, Augusta, Pinehurst, Camden, Sum-
merville, Asheville, Hot Springs, "The
Land of the Sky" and Sapphire Coun
try"
Tickets on sale up to and including
April 80, 1903. limited to return until May
81, 1903. Stop-overs allowed at import
ant points.
Through sleeping-cars of the highest
standard between principal cities and
resorts. Dining-car service unexcelled.
Write for copy of winter Homes in
Summer Land"
Chas. L. Hopkins, District Passenger
Agent, S2S Chestnut ST.. Philadelphia, will
be pleased to furnish all information.
The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1902-12-02

human beings, and spared the woman
cast to them In the arena It 10 astonish-
ing how little sympathy women have
for women. In the home the mistress
sees the maid with the signs of suffering
she recognizes so well, but she does not
tighten the sick girls load by a touch of
her finger. In the store the forewoman
sees the pallor and exhaustion which
mark womanly weakness, but allows
nothing for them. 1t 10 work or quit.
Doctor Pierce's Favorite Prescription
makes weak women strong and sick
women well, by curing the womanly
diseases which undermine the health
and sap the strength. vFavorite Pre-
scription" establishes regularity, dries
weakening drains, heals Inflammation
and liberation, and cures female weak
ness.
SWhen first commenced using DR.. Pierce's
medicines writes Mrs. George A. Strong, Of
Cansevoort Saratoga Co., N. Y. III was suffer
ing from female weakness disagreeable drain
bearing down pains, weak and tired feeling all
the time. ] dragged around in that way for
two years, thea began taking your medicine.
After taking the frst bottle / began to feel
better. took four bottles Of DR.. Pierce's Favor
lite Prescription, two Of Golden Medical Dis
covery,' ons vial Of the Pleasant Pellets also
Now feel Ike a new person. can't thank you
enough for your kind advice and the good your
medicine has done mes
wFavorite Prescription makes weak
women strong, sick women well. Ac-
cept no substitute for the medicine which
works wonders for weak women.
DIR. Pierce's Pleasant Pellets are the
most desirable laxative for delicate
women.
The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1902-12-02

| suffered from catarrh of the worst
kind and never hoped for cure, but EIy's
Cream Balm seems to do even that
Oscar Ostrom, as Warren Avenue, Chica-
go, III.
suffered from catarrh; it got so bad |
could not work; used Ely's Cream Balm
and am entirely well.-A c. Clark, 341
Shawmut Ave, Boston, Mass
The Balm does not irritate or cause
sneezing. Sold by druggists at so cts, OF
mailed by Ely Brothers. 56 Warren Street,
New York
The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1902-12-02
sly

Squire Jaones-I s'pose Cy must be
Orful smart arter tew years in college,
amt he?
Uncle Hennery-Smart! WAL, reck-
onl Wy, that boy writes his expense
items all in French, squire Chicago
News
The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1902-12-02

hair he had smoothed that day. 1t was
still wavy, with scarcely a trace of
gray. And yet she was an old maid.
and he
"Oh, Miss Mirandy, the youngster
from the old Virgins place has been
and picked off every one of your red
rosesp'
Miss Miranda, followed by the ex-
cited Celia Jane, rushed to her beloved
rosebush. Not bloom remained. Miss
Miranda was speeches. with indigna-
ton.
''There she isl said the little maid,
and Miss Miranda turned to see peep
ing through the palings a small girl of
five or six years.
Ibid you pick my fiowers?" she asked
sternly.
The child raised pair of clear brown
eyes to Miss Miranda's severe gaze.
"Yes'm," she answered simply.
swell. neverl What did you do it
forT"
"'Cause l wanted them for father.
He's been sick"
But they were my flowers" said
Miss Miranda sternly.
Don't care; | wanted them for ia
Their. He likes flowers"
Miss Miranda threw up her hands in
despair. "Why, she's a perfect little
savage" she said to Celia Jane. Then,
turning to the small offender: "Well,
don't you come here again. you bad lit
tie thing! Run homel I'd like to give
that child what she deserves! What
did you say their name is. Celia JaneT
II don't know, ma'am. It's a lady
and her niece. The little girls moth
er's dead. and the fathers only been
here two weeks and is just up from a
spell of sickness. Miss Butler says he
lived here years ago and has come
back to buy the Virgins place"
"Well, he may have money, but he's
got bad young one, and I'll tell him
30 when get the chance"
When she went back to the sitting
room, she returned the box OF daguer-
reotypes to the corner cupboard. She
did not notice that the one she had
been looking at when interrupted still
lay on the table
Il declare Celia Jane, I'm so upset l
can't think of anything but those roses.
I'll not try to work any more today.
but after lunch I'll run down to the
village to see about my new bonnet"
Why did she remember that he had
always liked roses in her hats? IN
consciously she decided that it would
be roses this year. pale pink ones, COW
cred with black lace
The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1902-12-02

Farmer Skinfint (reading signI-
"Eyesight Tested Free of Charge
Gracious! Mandy. in go an find GU
If it's hurtin' my eyesight few read tn,
paper.
Mandy-An' If 1t is are yew goin' tev
squander good money on spectacles?
Farmer Skinflint-No; I'm goin' tev
give up the paper.