davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1903-01-27

fragments he remembered titillated his
own Gallo nerves so delightfully."- after
the emotional tension Of the song Of
patriotism and the exhaustion Of car.
rying the viol that he concluded the
ladies' too, must surely find them
cheering.
Some Of them confessed afterward
that they were comforted by these
sounds as Of a gigantic bumblebee In
musical practice. Others said they
were so queer and foreignlike they
made them lonesomer than before.
They fairly "loved" to hear even that
old fiddle grumble out an attempt at
"Dixey" or "Julianna Johnson Coming
to Town" The night wore on
And. OH how slow that keen eyed star
Has tracked the chilly gray!
What-watching yet? How very far
The morning lies away!
Mrs. Pembroke, moved by half con-
scious remorse for her daylight ungra-
ciousness, came out to her gate as
Blossier stopped there for the second
time and asked him in to have "a dram
and snack"
Pretty Miss Molly Boon called to him
once as he went by her mothers house
and asked him to come in and help her
move sick child. Miss Molly gave
him a cup Of coffee. The east was gray
with the welling dawn when Blossier,
weary enough, stopped before the last
house at the end of a street. His bow
arm dropped; his eyes fastened them
selves on a corner Of the house. Yes
there it was-fire! A curling spit OF
flame leaped, vivid in the darkness,
around the corner above the floor OF the
porch.
The double bass fell. Blossier ran up
the walk. Before he could reach the
house the sneaking flame had grown
bolder. 1t had fastened itself into the
wooden pillar by the wall. He shouted;
he threw q stone at the door as ne ran
Around the corner the fire was burst
ing up from a pile Of debris against
the wall. 1t caught like teeth In the
dry clapboards. The porch pillar was
burning. Blossier ran in upon the blaz'
ing stuff. He had torn off his coat and
wrapped it around his fists, and he
kicked and knocked the brands far out
into the gravel walk and the grass
Two women were now beside him. II
looked as if the house would go. The
little hames were burning merriIy.
That meant most Of the town would
go, for a fine dawn wind was springing
up. They brought buckets OF water
and ladder, and meanwhile Blossier
was whipping the fire with shovel he
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1903-01-27
A nasebalI Game,

Four wide ones in the third and Ho,
gan paraded.
Dooley tilted the pellet to the outer
most port precinct for hassock and
invested second citadel through Groo-
gins insane heave.
Jones' agile mitt engulfed Smiths
towerer to left garden, but failed to
ferry it In before Hogan's extremities
soiled the rubber.
Donovan jabbed a solitaire to left
pasture, stabling Dooley, but met his
death purloining bag. Higgins made
three frantic lunges at the leather but
Cuffs saffron muff let him amble down
the trail to the initial roost.
Duffy's steaming grasser to right
meadow incinerated Cuffs fingers.
Doyle dunked safely to larboard, Jut
Browns swift return Of the globule
contributed to Higgins demise ut the
plate.-Kansas City Independent.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1903-01-27
Manners on the Road.

No one should object to turning out
for loaded team if it is necessary, but
when there are two tracks and one is as
good as the other it is the proper thing
for the man with the load to keep to the
right. About dozen miles from here is
a strip of sand road with two full width
tracks. Driving over this one morning
met seven teams strung out about ten
rods apart and each one on the lefthand
side of the road. There were many
people upon the road, some going one
way and some the other. | pulled my
horse to one side and watched these out
fits out of sight. The gentleman who
was with me counted twenty-seven vehi-
cles of all kinds, and some loaded, whose
occupants had to turn out for these
drivers. Turning to me he said: IF those
fellows had been upon their own side of
the road not one of those twenty-seven
teams would have been obliged TO pull
out. The road would not have been so
dusty, and for one | should have better
opinion of human nature"
Another incorrect idea: Some people
think buggy or cutter can turn out
more easily than a wagon or sled. Not
always SO. In many cases the weight of
the heavier vehicle holds it down. 1t is
not SO likely to tip over as is lighter rig.
IL is stronger and not SO easily broken,
and light vehicle has the same rights
upon a road as has lumber wagon.
The same applies to foot passengers. In
deep SHOWS it is our duty to give them a
chance at the road, and it is brutal to
drive foot passenger out into the deep
snow simply because we have an advan-
tage over him or her. Vicious or un-
manageable horses should rot be driven
upon the road, but when we meet a colt
or horse that is frightened at some
thing, good manners will cause us TO
favor the driver, if possible, by keeping
as far as we can ou, of his road. We do
not own the highway; it belongs to all
alike.
BY the way, what an excellent time, in
some localities, to haul gravel for our
roads - Richard ii. Wood, NJ. D.,
Montrose, Mich, in Tribune Farmer.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1903-01-27
Feed the Best Foods.

If the hens are kept for profit it is not
economical TO feed them the mouldy
grain. Only the best to be had should
be given laying hens. In proportion to
her weight the hen produces more than
the COW, and in order to derive that prod
uct she must be treated literally. If the
hens are compelled to hunt their food
entirely and receive but little considera'
ton from their owner, they will be unable
to give satisfactory return on the farm.
A hen can be made to lay throughout
the winter season by good treatment
Mirror and Farmer
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1903-01-27
One of the Unsuccessful.

"why don't you fix that hen-house
door?"
"Oh, ha'n't got time"
"Why don't you fix that pig-pen
floor?n
"Oh, it does very we'll the way it is.
Once-in-a-while, when l have time l
clean it out. But say, sir, it's doin'
very we'll"
"Why don't you bring that mower imp"
"Oh gee, clean forgot. / was busy
at something else more important,
though, think"
"Why don't you mend your cultivator
natead of buying new one? All it
needs is few three-eights-inch bolts,
with two half-inch ones. They would
cost less than new cultivator.
''Ob, didn't think. Would it be as
good as a new one?"
Invariably yes, and much cheaper
"Well, never b'lieved much in mend
in. Dou't pay, no-how. I've only lived
here ten years, but I've had four new
culrivators, and need mother one nOw."
What makes you pile up your manure
in little piles when you draw it out upon
your fields?"
Saves it from washin' away. l can't
afford to throw manure away
1.-The best way is to broadcast it when
drawing. Then all the ground gets its
portion. The way you do only small
portion gets fertility, and that gets too
much. What, don't SOW oats? Pray why
not?"
''Oh, never had any luck with them.
ha, ,v,I
and I've quit raisin' them
Then explained how the rains had
washed down the fertility in his little
dung piles, making very rich spots where
they stood, and leaving the rest of the
field bare. He said any way, he didn't
believe there was much in farmin'
"Why don't you curry your horse?"
Cause ] never b'lieved it paid for the
time il took. Some men'l work an
worry currying their horses till they can
see themselves in 'em like you can in a
lookenglass. 1t don't pay, an I'm a
'no'ing it.
"where do you get the seeds you
plant?"
II git 'em where l can git 'em the
cheapest"
'Do they always prove to be good and
true to name?"
mo, not always; but save a right
smart money which other men throw
away. Good seed costs money now-a-
days"
what about your own house, its con-
veniences, or the reverse, the way you
keep it, etc.-l say, sir, how about it?'
"Well, there ha'n't much to tell about
it. don't buy many household imple-
ments for wife to do the kitchenwork
with. She don't need a wash shene any
more'n | need three legs. She don't
need sink, or the water supply handy
any more'n a toad needs apron. There
is only five of us, and my wife can do the
work fur us and carry water from the
spring to cook with an drink. Drilled
wells here cost money. She wanted a
buggy to ride to meetin' in, but | give
her to understand that was trying to
save, and hadn't time to meddle with her
nO-how. Her n the kids have
to walk to meetin', levin me by myself,
and I'm glad, awful glad, we ha'n't no
buggy"
Something like the above discourse
would take place if We were to stray into
some mems farms and talk with them.
Their "life's words" are: "Oh, l han't
got time; oh, it does very well; oh, clean
fOgot; oh, didn't think; don't b'lieve
in Sich; oh, never had any luck that
way; oh, you can't make me think SO,
an you needn't try."-Cor. Country
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1903-01-27
A Witty Reply,

Whenever the United States supreme
court, on hearing the argument Of
counsel for plaintiff in error, is entirely
satisfied that he has no case, the chief
justice is apt to say to counsel for de-
fendant in error that the court does not
care to hear further argument. At one
time Hon. Matthew Carpenter from
Wisconsin was counsel for plaintiff in
error and opened the case. Before he
was through the court was satisfied
that there was nothing in 1t, and so
when he had concluded and counsel
for defendant in error arose Chief JUS
tice Waite said, THE court does not
care to hear any further argument"
Counsel was a little deaf and, al
though noticing that the chief justice
spoke, did not hear what he had said
and, turning to Mr.. Carpenter, who
sat beside him, asked what had been
said.
"Oh, hang it, replied Carpenter in
tones audible to the bench. THE chief
Justice said ne would rather give you
the case than hear you talk."-YOuths
COMPANION.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1903-01-27
STATE OF MAINE.

COUNTY OF OAtOkD, S.
Board OF County Commissioners, December
session. 1902.
UPON the foregoing petition. satisfactory evi
dence having been received that the petitioners
are responsible. and that inquiry into the merits
OF their application IS expedient, 1T Is ORDERED
that the County Commissioners meet al
the hOuse OF George W. French, In sumner. In
said County on the 18th day of May, next, al
ten Of the clock A. NJ, and thence proceed T.
view the route mentioned In said peu
tiOn Immediately after which view, a
hearing Of the parties and their witnesses will be
had at some convenient place In the vicinity
and such other measures taken In the premise,
as the commissioners shall judge proper. And
IL Is further ORDERED, that notice OF the time
place and purpose OF the commissioners meeting
aforesaid be given to all persons and corpora
tiOns Interested. by causing attested copies oi
said petition, and OF this OrNler thereon, TO be
served upon the clerk OF the town OF sumner
aforesaid, and also posted up in three public
places In said town. and published three weeks
successfully In the Oxford Democrat, q
newspaper printed at Paris In said Coun.
ty OF oxford. the first of said publications, and
each OF the other notices, TO be made, served anu
posted. AT least thirty days before said time OF
meeting, 20 the end that all persons AMI corpora
tOns may then and there appear and shew cause
II any they have. why the prayer of said peu
uOners should not be granted.
ATTEST CHARLES L. WHITMAN, Clerk.
true copy OF said petition and order OF court
thereon.
ATTEST CHARLES +. WHITMAN, Clerk.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1903-01-27
VlRcHOW AND HIS WAYS.
Herr Professor Was Blunt, but He
Once Met His Match.

Herr Professor Was Blunt, but He
Once Met His Match.
The late Professor Virchow was, In
his own country at least almost as
famous for his excessive bluntness Of
speech as for his very remarkable men.
tai attainments, says the Philadelphia
Press. Often he spoke so unfeelingly
to the students who sat under him In
the lecture rooms that they have been
known to leave his classes and not re-
turn. According to Berlin traditions,
one of the professors favorite replies
to wrong answer to one Of his ques-
tions was:
Certainly not. Any cook would
know better than that"
On the other hand, he seemed to ap-
preciate the spirit in some Of his stu
dents which prompted them to answer
him back In very much his own tone.
Once when he was presiding in very
old and faded suit of clothes he turned
suddenly upon seemingly bashful
man sitting near him and asked:
do your eyes tell you the truth?
What color Is this coat Of mine"
Without an instant's hesitation the
young man rose and said: 81 presume
it was once black. Now it is any color
except white
That student was passed.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1903-01-27
Random Thoughts.

The Dairy Instructor idea Is all rlSnt,
only instead of one there ought to be ten.
The score card plan is to the point also,
and is quick and sure way to educate
our farmers with no expense to anybody.
The State of Maine can well afford to
spend some money to educate its farmers
in every branch of the business. Dairy
ing, stock raising and orcharding are
special subjects near to the hearts and
pockets of our farmers just now and the
more we all know of these subjects the
better The farmers themselves in a
community might club together and
arrange for a weeks course of special
instruction on the subjects in which they
are most interested.
One of the greatest pleasures the city
resident has, is his visit to the country
in the summer; to go to the country and
popular thing.
These city people are finding out that
there are as good brains under the straw
hats of the "hayseeders" as under the
silk tiles in the city. They find that the
farmer is his own boss, that he has some
have to pay rent every month or buy
every mouthful he eats.
The farmer is looked upon as happy
man and with respect. The results of
city people visiting the country for sum-
mer vacations will be the gradual buying
up of our small cheap farms; they are in
demand now and in few years we will
have no abandoned" farms left.
Both the present and future of agricul-
ture is bright.
The man with the strongest arm is not
always the best farmer.
Save money to buy a bull; but don't
try to save money when buying bull.
One of the most important of your busi-
ness transactions is the proper selection
of bull.
When building ''castles in the air., try
and gather some materials that can be
used on the earth.
The farmer is more than handler.
He is creator of wealth. He gives
something to the world it never had be-
fore.
Nearly all other occupations depend on
him and his productions. He supplies
the raw materials for almost everything
that is manufactured or used. Whatever
wealth and comforts he may have are
from his own personal efforts and are
direct from the earth itself
He is not an oppressor, but builder,
and the world is better for his presence
in it.
The very fact that man is farmer
should be his recommendation and he
has no right to degrade the name by dis
honest methods.
The time has come when everybody
stands ready to do honor to the upright,
intelligent, progressive tiller of the soil.
Consider yourself benefactor and
then prove by your doings that you are
one.
Don't wait for something to turn up!
Good luck follows in the wake of good
judgment.-By E. P. T. in Lewiston
Journal.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1903-01-27
RU7S

The walking sick, what
a crowd of them there are:
Persons who are thin and
weak but not sick enough
to go to bed.
"Chronic cases" that's
what the doctors call them,
which in common English
means-long sickness.
To stop the continued
loss of flesh they need
SCOTS Emulsion. For the
feeling of weakness they
need SCOTS Emulsion.
1t makes new flesh and
gives new LIE to the weak
system.
SCOTS Emulsion gets
thin and weak persons out
of the rut. 1t makes new,
rich blood, strengthens the
nerves and gives appetite
for ordinary food.
SCOTS Emulsion can be
taken as long as sickness
lasts and do good all the
time.
There's new strength
and flesh in every dose.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1903-01-27
The American Iron "Plant.n

The Englishmau was being properly
surprised at the rapidity with which
the skyscraper was going up.
"Deah mew he exclaimed, lit seems
as If your buildings grow as rapidly as
your maize"
"Yes, replied the westerner unblush-
ingly, land the process Of raising them
Is much the same"
"Fawncy! Won't you explain fur.
therY
"Well, you see, we just get an iron
plant, put it in the ground, have the
street sprinklers water 1t, and In Il
month or six weeks the skyscraper Is
full grown"
And, taking another breath, the cous-
In from overseas managed to believe
it.-Memphis Commercial Appeal.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1903-01-27
"MAD ANTHONY" WAYNE.
He Was the sanest, Coolest Soldier
In Washington's Army.

In Washington's Army.
John II. Spears in Harper's demon
strates that General Wayne, commonly
known as Mad Anthony" was In
reality the sanest, coolest soldier In
Washington's army.
"They called the hero Of Stony Point
and the Maumee rapids Mad Anthony
Wayne" says Mr.. Spears. "The title
was originated by an Irish soldier who
had been confined I'm the guardhouse at
the order Of the general, and 1t was
taken up by the people because Of the
wild enthusiasm and determination
with which Wayne led his men when
the supreme moment of battle came.
But observe that when the war Of the
Revolution impended he ransacked his
tory for accounts Of battles that he
might learn military tactics, and he
gave his days to the training Of his
neighbors. At Stony Point he led his
men in spite of his wound, but in pre-
pairing for the battle he appealed to
the pride of his men by parading them
'clear shaved and with hair well pow
dered,' while the prelaid plans includ-
ed even the slaughter OF the dogs, that
no yelp should betray the approach Of
the assaulting host. When in Virginia,
he charged the hosts of CORVALLIS
with only 500 men to back him; when
In Ohio, where the honor Of the nation
and the integrity of its territory were
committed to his care, he took legion
Of boys and miscreants' gathered from
the slums and trained them until their
skill with the musket equaled, II 1t did
not surpass, that Of the most noted
backwoods Indian fighters.
Mad Anthony Wayne as a leader
In battle was unsurpassed, but 1t
should also be remembered that his
record as n drill master is unequaled."
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1903-01-27
before did he fee! its CALLING deficien-
cies as now. Why, a fife would be bet

before did he fee! its CALLING deficien-
cies as now. Why, fife would be bet.
ter!
Blossier felt the picturesque and po.
etical element in his plan and that it
was odious to be obliged to depend on
such means for its execution. How
ever. there was no chance Of getting
fife and learning to play it within an
hour. so he soon contrived more opti-
mistic views of the case as it stood. A
bass viol gave forth ut all events a
very strong masculine sound, well cal
culated to convey assurances of protec-
ton.
He put himself again into his ragged
coat. again took up his ragged straw
hat and started forth to inform the Ia
dies of his intentions. There would be
nothing comforting in it If in the night
that heavy scraping boom took them
unawures-"tcut au contraire." he said
gravely to himself.
1t was not hard to spread the news.
The women were concentrating their
weakness for the night. Scattered rel
atives were ilocking together to spend
it ut the most central house of the
clan. The women living on the out
skirts of the village came over the
bridge or down the turnpike or up the
stage road, as the case might be, to
lodge for the time being with neigh
bors more closely neighbored than
themselves. The general trepidation
passed the bounds Of reason. Many
Strathboro households had been ex-
clusively feminine for many months
yes, years. Their natural protectors
had been long endangered beyond the
chances of this misadventure; but,
with solidarity Of sentiment that did
them credit. the women all agreed to
suffer In kind with those who had spe-
cial causes for alarm. and uncommon
fear prevailed.
Blossier was a little man. little,
thin. dim, hay colored man. but with
so French face and of type so as
sociated in our minds with dark color
ing that it seemed as If he must have
faded to his present tints after centu'
ries of exposure to the weather.
The viol was much taller than he
was, and of course after he began his
patrol at 10 o'clock he soon found
more reasons than sentimental ones
for wishing it something else.
On his first round he stopped in
front Of every door on one side of the
street and doomed forth few deeply
buzzing bars of the "Marseillaise' or
still more unfamiliar and dislocated
strains from "Orphee aux Enters"
He had vague doubts as to the appro-
nriateness of Offenbach. but the jolly
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1903-01-27
The Night Meal,

The heaviest feed for poultry or other
animals should be at night. Sleep favors
digestion and keeping the stomach full is
the best protection against cold: If any
corn be given it should be at night. 1t
will be all the better if warmed and some
of it is charred. A cold grain OF corn,
sometimes ice cold, has to be warmed be-
fore it can be digested. At night, when
exercise is impossible, no unnecessary
burden should be placed on the system.
In the morning it is better to feed poultry
with grain scattered among straw and let
them scratch for it.-Mirror and Farmer
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1903-01-27
ro the Honorable Roarl OF County Commls.

To the Honorable BOard OF County COmmis-
sioners In and for the County OF oxford
The undersigned, inhabitants of oxford
County most respectfully represent that common
convenience and m cesSity require the location
OF a new road In the twn OF sumner, commenc-
ing at "A point near the foot OF the hill. north
westerly OF the house OF George W. French,
known as the Il. Y. Tuell place. in said Sumner.
and near a gate way at the bend In the ROAD. In
the most convenient place; thence running In a
south wetterly course around the hill. AMI down
the valley, In the mot feasible route, 10 the
sumner road, near Cyrus Hazelton's. and near
the point where the road turns To go 10 North
Parts.
They therefore pray that you Will, after due
preliminary proceedings. locate said way.
Dated this 34th day OF Sovemb'r r, 1892
JULIUS z. SKILIlSGS and 81 others.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1903-01-27
Bedford the Foundation.

The Celestial City is clearly the fab
ric of Bunyan's own imagination, an
elaboration most probably of the town
of Bedford, which. though not walled
city. had its gates fixed here and there
to guard the town in troublesome times.
The gateways on the old Bedford
bridge, within which Bunyan was I'M
prisoned for so long and through which
he passed times out Of number, must
have been foremost in the mind Of the
great dreamer.-Bookman.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1903-01-27

One thing seems difficult to compre-
hend, that you cannot force hens to lay.
We feed condiments and stimulants and
think we can drive the machinery of the
system, but these agents, valuable in
their place, were not made for that pur-
pose. Eggs come by invitation. Seek
first of all for the kingdom of content.
ment in the hen yard. Study the wants
and fancies Of the hens and satisfy them,
then the eggs will be forthcoming.
Try this for one month and see if it does
not pay in dollars and cents. In spite OF
limited supply, the poultry yard is
doing more to keep down the bill at the
''corner grocery" than any other depart
meut on the farm.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1903-01-27
A writer on milk substitutes for gro

A writer on milk substitutes for grow
ing calves, remarks: "Since we have
found that hand-separator skim milk is
quite as good for growing calves as whole
milk" etc. No one has found that sep
arator skim milk or any other kind OF
skim milk, is as good as whole milk for
growing calves. Nothing will match the
natural milk for that purpose. Fairly
thrifty calves can be grown on skim
milk, with the addition OF some
good stuff to 90 with it, but it Is never a
match for the whole article In its natural
state.-Maine Farmer.