davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1902-09-27

"Our chances for honor" said the large
wasted philosopher, "are greater as an
cestors than a. posterity. "-Indianap
News.
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1902-09-27

With the true artist money is secondary
considerations; but it is usually very good
second-Puck.
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1902-09-27
81 SUFFERED TERRIBLY
WITH FEMALE WEAKNESS;
SAYS MRS. ESTHER N. MINER.
81 Had the Headache Con-
tinually-.CouId Not Do My
Work..Pe-ru.na Cured.
Mrs. Esther M. Miner, De-
Graft, Ohio, writes:

Mrs. Esther M. Miner, De- {
Graft, Ohio, writes: 81
"Iwas a terrible suffenerfr0m
female weakness and had the
headache continually. I was
not able to do my h0usew0rkf for ;
my husband and myself. IWrofe
you and described my condition
as near as possible. You rec0m-
n1ended Peruna. It00k four bot
ties and was completely cured.
/ think Peruna a wonderful med
icine and have recommended 1t
to my friends with best results.
...Mrs. e. M, MiLner.
Miss Mamie Groth, Platteville,
Wis, writes. "Accept a CRATE
full girls thanks for the Won
derful help I have received
through the use of Peruna. Although
looked we'll and strong I have for se1
eral years suffered with frequent back
ache and would for several days hav
splitting headaches. I did not wish t
fill my system with poisonous drugs
and so when several of my friends ad
vised me to take Peruna, I asked m
physician what he thought of it. 81
recommended it and so I took it and al
entirely without pain Of any kind now.
Miss Mamie Groth.
DR.. s. B. Hartman, President Of TIL
Hartman Sanitarium, has had owe
Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1902-01-30
said he. "this'll be as good IS drink t

my mate BILL
The expression of his face IS he said
these words WA: not ut all pleasant,
and l had my own reasons for think
Ing that the stranger was mistakel
even supposing he meant what h said.
But it was no affair of mine, thought
and, besides. it was difficult to know
what to do. The stranger kept hangs
ing about just inside the inner do"N.
peerng around the corner like II cat
waiting fer a mouse. once j stepped
out myself into the road, but he e
mediately called me back. and. as | did
not obey quick enough for his fancy,
most horrible change came over his
tallowy face, and he ordered ms in.
with an oath that made me jump
AS soon as was back again he We
turned to his former manner half
fawning, half sncering. patted me cn
the shoulder, told me l was a good boy.
and he had taken quite a fancy 70 tAe.
Il have SON of my own. said he rs
like You as two blocks. and he's all The
pride of my art. l'ut the great thing
for boys is discipline. sonny--disciiliMe-
Now, if You had sailed along of Bin,
You Wouldn't have stood there 10 be
spoke totwice-not you. That WAS lever
Bits Way. nor the way oi such 90
sailed With him. And here. su'e
eonugh. is my mate Bill. with q siy-
glass under his arm Bless his old art
To lie sure. You and nell Just SO liaclS
into the parlor. sonny, and set behind
the door, and We'll give sill a LITTLE
surprise--b.ess his art ! say again.
SO saying the stranger backed ai"ns
With me into the parior, and Pat m's
behind him in the corner so that We
We're both hidden by the open tl@"r
WAS very uneasy and alarmed, It's N0u
may fancy. and ii rather added 10 my
fears To observe that the Stranger WIS
certainly frightened himself. lie eiearci
the hilt of his cutlass AID leascitcd the
blade in the sheath, ard go the time
we We're kept waiting there he Kept
swallowing as il he felt what we used
to oall Il lump in the tllrcsi.
At st In strobe the captain, slammed
the door behind him, without looking
TO the right or left. and marched
straight across the room to where his
breakfast awaited him.
.3ill." said TIC stranger. IN a Voice
that thought he had tried to make
bold and big.
The captain spun round on bis heal
end frontedMs: all the brown llad gone
out OF his face, and even his nose was
blue; he had the look OF a man who
sees II ghost or the evil one, or some
thing worse, ii anything can be; and,
upon my word ! felt soilN to see him.
all in u moment. turn 50 Old and sick.
Come. Fin, YOU knnw me; YOU know
an Old shipmatc, liill, surely said the
stranger.
Tho captain made a sort of gasp.
"Back Dog" said he.
And who elsc?r returned the other.
getting moro at his eaSe. Bl&ck Doe
as eyer MAS. come fer to- see his old
ehipniatc. Billy at he Admiral BEN
bow inn. All, Rill, FIJI, we have seen
a sight of timex, rs two, since | lest
them two talonS.' holding III, his lnu .
Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1902-01-30

until illness came upon me three years
ago. first noticed it by being irreg.
ular and having very painful and
scanty menstruation; gradually my
general health failed; j could not en-
Joy my meals; became languid and
nervous, with gripping pains frequently
in the groins.
81 advised with our family phys
ician who prescribed without any inn
provement. One day he said Try
Lydia Pinkham's Remedies I
did, thank God the next month was
better, and it gradually built me up
until in four months / was cured. This
is nearly a year ago and have not
had pain or ache since. "-BoNNIE
DELANo, 324s Indiana Ave, Chicago,
lll.-S5ooo forfeit " above testimonial Is not
genuine.
Trustworthy proof is abundant that
Lydia e. Pinkham's Vegetable
Compound saves thousands Of
young women from dangers resulting
from organic irregularity, suppression
or retention OF the menses, ovarian or
womb troubles. Refuse substitutes.
Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1902-01-30
OCEANIC observation-disclosures
Which Produce 1t Light
at Great De pths.

~,
l.o'l.,oii sies' -. ~,
ae lofiesto,. 90 :" " *
ah'o'1i'l -, p'ss'ai ~,
SHOWS itscli ,i4e.@ go ~ 'li'''Stss'.
l-oMssl,.ts aihe' S''tsi iia,' -
CO.'S ol s'iI.iiN' - ,.,yt,'.,',s,p1. -
u aeel'lN il'.Ieslii1s l's,ts..ie ~ So.
49, pV,i - w
na''si'is ~ ",iiS,l .ti,91l
lS'is', ~ ~, iih,oil' 90 49,,
,N@ls ua'l.' - itas iSi'5 49,.
.hat nearly an we i'i''l ioMs
Si1e ll'lusollh' liiiAoie,.i' W. i'Ss
oe:.ita, ii.e.ias'sl @ea1
81 uSa'sa a'.'. ',sssi,S ,,,st ,iai,t
s,1iile lp',' W ,i''i,'
i I'M, l'ou' ~ - 49,
lissen 10 l'e Wy Vt'.sa 's"'' i,,, 49,
,,l " 80 s,,,.t,
l'$l.es .ii"' ~, '''i,,'' ~.
slVs ',.i' ~ ~, - 4
49, .i'.' IN, ~ sni,, ~,
apisaiea i,he - .i',is't ~.
= }'oM - ,,,,,,,s,,
,,iiis - ~
ls ao,e. ls'i ~.
~ aS.l '.'s ~ y
Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1902-01-30
Plano Record Broken.

Printers Ink: The New York Even
ing Post finds that 100000 pianos were
sold In the United States In 1901, most
of which went to the west, especially
northern Oregon, Kansas and northern
California. The record for the pianos
established in 1S92-125, 900 Instruments
has therefore been made insignificant.
The fact that the people of the west
have heretofore bought organs, and
that the general prosperity has put
pianos within their means, argues we'll
for the state of things in that section.
1t would behoove advertisers to try
the effect of well-tiled space upon
them, with intent to find out whether
they will not buy something else than
pianos
Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1902-01-30
Interested Her.

! Philadelphia Press: Nellie - You
seemed much interested tonight in the
conversation of Mr.. Tomlinson.
Edith-Yes; his conversation was
about sensible matters, such as few OF
the young men of the day discuss.
Nellie-What was it?
1Idith-The superior advantages of
married life as compared with bachel.
ordoYn
Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1902-01-30
Educate Your Bowels.

/ Your bowels can be trained as we'll
as your muscles or your brain. Cas-
carets Candy Cathartic train your
bowels to do right. Genuine tablets
stamped C. C. C. Never sold in
bulk. All druggists, 1oc.
Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1902-01-30
Easy.

Boston Evening Transcript: Mrs.
Greenland you say he actually signed
the name of the president of the bank
to check for $4,000. What could have
led him to do such a thing?
Mr.. Greene suspect, my dear, it
was because of fear that il he signed
his own name the check would not be
honored.
Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1902-01-30

Philadelphia Press ''Hnh." exclaimed
Mr. Rox, after reading his morning mail.
our boys college education is making
him too blamed smart
Whats the matter?" aske,! Mrs. Rox.
II wrote to him the other day that I
thought it would be kinder for me
not to remit the check he asked for. Now
he writes:
Dear Father-I shall never forget
your unrernitting kindness.'#'
Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1902-01-30
LethareicvllIe.

Chicago NEWS: fta He says if 1
marry him life Will be one long, sweet
dream.
May-My gracious. lie must expect
to sleep all the time.
Ida-I wouldn't be surprised; we are
going TO live in Philadelphia.
Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1902-01-30
Left for Him.

Philadelphia Press: "Ugh!' exclaimed
Micks, as he tossed away the half-eaten
apple, the birds who frequented the or
chard where that came from must have
ccntinually oversight themselves"
IliCks
Well, they say the early bird catches
the worm.
Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1902-01-30

A consignment OF Wheeling stogies
recently shipped to England was en-
ronously classified as leather manufac-
lures" by the customs officials. Posi-
bly, has something to do with the
tobacco war in England.
Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1902-01-30
MISS BONNIE DELA|N|O
A Chicago Society Lady, in a
/ Letter to Mrs. Pinkham says:

Z "DEAn Mrs. P1sKnAM OF all the
grateful daughters to whom you have
given health and life, none are more
glad than l.
e.My home and nv life was happy
Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1902-01-30
Complaining.

Judge: Monkey You say Your appetite
is poor?
Elephant-very poor, don't think l'y
eaten ton of food in Two days.
Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1902-01-30

Philadelphia Press: II made one hole
in Ave strokes, " announced the new golfer
g!eefuliy.
The idca!" excllilned the other golfas
who was even never. II invariably make
~ hole with every stroke. never can hit
the ground IN the same place twice.
Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1902-01-30
"Reminiscences.

Life: He-Ah. those days of our
young love! You remember that af-
ternoon you promised to meet me, and
didn't cose? How I raved!
She-Just like man! And there was
I suffering agonies trying on that dress
you liked SO much.
Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1902-01-30

King Alexander of servia slapped
Queen Draga in the face. Draga seems
TO have lost her pull.
Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1902-01-30
Oh. Soph!.

Philadelphia Press: Mrs. Browne
didn't know your son ";ts at college.
Mrs Nlaiaprep oh, yes; he's been
I, ia1S ROW,
Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1902-01-30
.,..,nn rhla

Chicago Tribune "All / asked of the
executors OF my grand1atheF's will. .
said young Ai'Clup. VAS the stone deer
that stood in the front yard.
Ibid YOU gel il - asked one Of the by
ISLANDERS.
,sclatantially he answered. Il got
the marble heart.
Put chats ola tiley told him.
We'll didn't say it was gnu," he
said. With Il ferooia3.s grin
Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1902-01-30

Hereford Times Here is what hap
peneii TO Il young woman who teaches
In public school in Boston, as
Neraciousiy recorded on the spot.
Say, teacher, here's II tuberose
brought you" said u snudgcd faced
youngster the other day.
And bealning her thanks, She asked
him where he got 1t.
20, say dat was easy" he replied. g
got 1t off'n dead lady
Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1902-01-30

lfyou wish beautiful, clear. white clothes
use Rcd cross lsaii l!luc. LANCE or
3 CENTS.
Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1902-01-30
CHAPTER H.
BLACK DOG APPEARS AND DIS
APPEARS;


BLACK DOG APPEARS AND DIS
APPEARS.
il was not long after this that there
occurred Tie aest Of The mysterious
events that rid rs at last Of the cap
tain, though not as you viii see, Of his
affairs. II was y bitter, cod winter,
with long, hard ffosts and heavy
gales; and it was PLAIN from he first
that my poor father WAS little likely
TO see the spiins He sunk daily and
my mother and had all the inn upon
our hands, and were kept busy
enough without paying much regard to
our unpleasant guest.
1t WAS one january morning. very
early - pinching. frosty nurning-the
eove an gray with ioar-frost. The rip
pie tapping sofdy on the stones, the
sun atiil low, and only touching the
hilltops and shining far to seward.
usual. ard set ont down the beach, his
cutlass swinging under the broad
skirts of the old blue coat, his brass
telescope under his arm, his hat tilted
back upon his head. ] remember his
breath hanging Hike SMOKE in his wake
as he STROBE Off, and the last sound
heard Of him, as he turned the big
rock, was Il loud snort oil ils!ia,natlon
as though his mind WAS sim running
upon Dr.. I.iqcsey.
wei, mother was up stairs with fla
Their; and / vas laying the breakfast
table against the captains return,
when the panlor door opened. and IL
man stepped in on whom | had never
set my eyes before He WAS a pale, tai
lowy creature, wanting two fingers on
the left hand; anc. though he wore IL
cutla:s, he did not look much like a
fighter. j had always roy eyes open
for seafaring men. with one leg or two.
and ! remember this one puzzled me.
lie was not sailorly, and yet he had a
smack Of the sea about him, too.
! asked him what Was for his SER
. vice, and he said he would take rum;
but as / was going out of the room TO
Fetch 1T he sat down upon table and
9otioned to me to draw rear. ] paused
where | was with my napkin in my
hpnd.
scome here, sonny says lie. Come
nearer here"
took a step nearer
rs this here table for my mate
I3ill?" he asked, with kind of leer.
/ told him / did not know his mate
Bill; and this was for a person VINO
stayed in our house. whom we called
the captain.
We'll" said he. my mate Bill would
| be called the captain, as like as not.
He las n cut on one check, and a
| mighty pleasant way with him, par
ticularly in drink, has my mate Bill.
Wen put it for an argument like, that
your captain has cut on one cheek
and we'll put it, if you like, that that
cheeks the right one. All, WE'LL / told
you. Now, is my mate Bill in this here
| house,"
i told him he was out walking.
Which way, sonny? Which way is
he gomez"
And when had pointed out the rock
and told him how the captain was like
ly to return, and how soon. and an
swered few other questions. All"
Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1902-01-30
.c.srr,ng enc Tnsl.

1lrs. Winslo1v's sooTHIsa sYRup for Children
teetliing; sofens the gums reduces nfam1nnl I'll
lays pain cures wind collie. % cents bottle.
Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1902-01-30
ARE YOUR CLOTHES rADEDe
Mlstnkcn Kinhnes..

Csc Red Cross Bah Blue and make then
white again. Large Oh package. cents
Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1902-01-30
srArn OF ONO. CITY OF TOLEDO,

STATE OF 1 Gn1s; c GDTs OF TOLEDO ss.
y FRANK j. CHENEY makes oath that he is the
senior partner of the firm Of i. J. CHENEY s. Co.
State aforesaid and that said firm viii pay the
sum of ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS for each
and every case of CATARRI that cannot be
cured by the use of HALLS CAVAHRn CURE.
FRANK j. CHENEY.
Sworn to before me and Subscribed In my pres.
cnce. this 9th day of December a. u. 1856.
sr., A. W. GLEASON.
Notary Public
directly on the blood and mucous surfaces of tho
system. Send for testimonials, free.
+. j. CHENEY & CO., Toledo o.
elT-Sold by Druggists, 75c.
Halls Family Pills are the best.
Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1902-01-30

Catarauai, Ont, is a SINGER of local note.
She writes:
~ Lax knowledge " IN thanks the value
of PcrHra rs IA splendid remedy In
case OF u severe cold. Lasf winter
caught cold and did rot pay the proper
attention 70 Ii nHHl IL got SO bad fsaf
conIi nor afteHd 10 my regular work.
Ny aHHr advised me TO Try Pcfufa ana
4 commenced taking u al once. Wifiifn
three days found great relief. In Ten
DAYS was nor entirely Wen bur my
sJsrem was f0aci u,. and feif much
stronger ffan hai before. We keep
II on hand, AMI If any member of the
family feels SICK i dose or f%o Of Pc
rama Is all thar is needed 80 cure.
MSS MAUD PALMER.
Winter is half over. People are con
tinung TO catch colds anil not a house
but hears the wiilier eongh. People are
trying Ia get something to cure these
troubles which are almost inevitable at
this time Of the yalr ! can safely he
said hat nine-tenthS OF the people IN
he United States haze i cold some TIM"
during the winter There is one remedy
which WIN prevent colds aud cough and
cure them with certainty when con
traeted This remedy is Peruna Taken
with regularity during the winter
months. Il viii cWirely prevent colds.
conehs. IA griiipe. consumption, hrons
without failure catarrh and recent cases
Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1902-01-30

Dyeins is as simple as washing VIXEN
you use PUTNAM FADELESS DYES.
Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1902-01-30
The Teacher's Tuberose.

Apply to any agent Of the Canadian
Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1902-01-30

200 10 25O l,us. per acre, is
extremely profitable a, pros
ont prlee.of com SalEer's
seSis Yrodlsc everywhere.
Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1902-01-30

Grea,ost cereal food on
oarth-s0 bus. grain aud I
tons magnificent hay PEI
acre. Tint paye,
The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1902-08-24

ment and return forthwith to Germany.
She told her plainly-so at least. the tale
runs-that a marriage between her ana
the czaroWitch would be frauSht with
misery for both, as he was already de-
votediy attached to another who was al
ready his wife in all but name And when
the Princess refused to he guided by her.
declaring that the marriage must take
place as it was too late to break or
the engagement. she was bitterly lnolS-
nant-nay. furious.
Whether this story is true or not. one
thing is sure. the Czarina went out OF her
way time and again. in the troublous
DAYS that followed the death of AleXan-
der III, to slight her sons betrOthed and
inhict on her humiliation. The young
Princess was treated as one who was
forcing herself into the imperial family
was made to feel herself an intruder, in
fact Even after her marriage the same
state of things continued. for when she
tried to take her place as Czarina by her
husbands side she found her mother-in-
law firmly installed there. Even To-Day,
after years of married life. between her
and the Car there is always Czarina
Marie.
The young Czarina is In very trying
position, one so trying, indeed, that for
a proud woman-and she is proud wo-
man-it must sometimes be well~nigh in
tolerahle. She is full of energy; she has
head that can think and heart that
can feel, ana she would give her right
hand to be able to do uSefuI WorK IN
the world and better the lot of those
around her. And she can do nothing; she
is helpless. tied hand and foot; for when
ever she tries to do anything. Czarina
Marie bars the way. If she announces
her intention of undertaking any work
whatever, no matter what, she is sure
to be informed that CZarina Marie has
already made arrangements for the do
ing of the said work; and IT, In spite of
this warning. she persists in undertaking
il she is sure to be forced to give 1t up
sooner or later, let her struggle as she
may For all officialdom is on the side
of her rival, and to struggle against Off
ciadom in Russia is as useless as to
struggle against the gods.
Yet there are Russians who rail against
the Cars wife for wasting her time
reading English novels! So far as society
is concerned she has no influence at all.
1t is Czarina Marie who decides what
fetes shall be given and to whom invita-
tons shall be sent: and If Czarina Alex
andra insists. as she does sometimes on
having a voice in the matter she insists
in vain a often as not. There have been
many battles royal on this point between
the two Czarinas; those that were fought
while the coronation festivities were I'M
der discussion are still spoken of at the
Russian court with bated breath 1t is
always the Dowager, however, who has
carried the day, and who will no doubt do
so in the battles to come, so long, at
least, as the consort is the mother only
Of girls. Should she ever present the
Car with an heir the state of things
might perhaps be altered
The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1902-08-24
Kaz- MA
Z
Narragansett Pier.
LOST PLANET FOUND AGAIN
Eros, Which Mysteriously Disap
peared, Turned Up Once More.
Nara gansett Pier.

peared, Turned UP Once More.
New York Times.
After having vanished from view for
more than a year. the planet Eros has
now been redscovered. The astronomers
of the country are on the qul NlNe, Tor
this elusive wanderer of the skies is look
ed upon as the means whereby they will
be enabled at last TO calculate the exact
distance from the earth to the sun.
Eros was first discovered on August Is,
1898 by Herr G.. Witt of the Urania Oh
servatory in Berlin. He gave it its name,
and in less than a month all the great
telescopes of the world were at work try
ing to calculate its orbit 1t was learned
that the new planets course approached
nearer to earth than that of any other
planet that the moon was the only heaV-
emily body closer to us than this one. me
discovery was regarded by astronomers
as their most important find within a
century.
To show why Eros was regarded as of
such great importance it is necessary to
consider what was done in the way or
planet hunting before 1898. As long ago
as the time of Coperncus attention had
been called to the wide gap between Jul
piter and Mars, and it was theorized that
fhe interval must be Travelled by some
body that was as yet invisible: Astron-
omers began to devote their chief efforts
to locating it, and between ISL and 1898
more than 900 new planets had been as
covered by the observers.
Previous to 1891 the discoveries were
made by the laborious method of repeat
ing telescope observations time after
time until an orbit was calculated but IN
December, 1891. Max Wolf of Heidelberg
learned how to use Photographic plates
Nv the aid of these plates the course OF
a new planet traced itself and the con-
tinual redraughting of sky charts. a work
that had taken much time and labor be-
The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1902-08-24

tronomers, before earth and Eros are
in the relative positions where the calcu-
lations can be made most effectively. But
even now the new planet is near enough
to make every nights Investigations val
liable. All the obserVatories are making
calculations.
Later the diffe rent astronomers will get
together and determine what results their
combined efforts have achieved. 1t may
be that computation of the different an
giles Of observation may effect the de-
sired result before the end of the year.
The disappearance Of Eros, more than
two years after its discovery, was re-
ported from the Harvard Observatory in
May, 1891. The light of the planet had
been growing gradually more indistmct
since the preceding February.
The End of this month was the date of
the rediscovery. Prof. G. D. Ling of the
Chamberlain Observatory, Colorado,
caught sight of the elusive Eros that
night He notified the Harvard astron-
a