davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Grit-advocate., 1904-03-25

OF the Brazos north to Abilene, and
much of the virtue of the table was
dependent upon the resources of this
hen ranch" whose fame was spread
abroad throughout the land Saved
by the surprising grace of pie and
chicken tlXings,' the halting place
chosen for so slight reason by Buford
and his family had become perma-
nent abode. known gratefully to many
travellers and productive of more than
living for those who had estab-
lished it. 1t was, after all, the finan-
cial genius of Aunt Lucy, accustomed
all her life to culinary problems. that
had foreseen profit in eggs and chick
ems when she noted the exalted JOY
with which the hungry COW punchers
fell upon a meal of this sort after a
season Of salt pork, tough beef and
Dutch-oven bread.
At first Major Buford rebelled at the
thought of inkeeping. His family had
kept open house before the war, and
he came from land where the
thoughts of hospitality and of price
were not to be mentioned in the same
day. Yet he was in a region where
each man did many things, the first
that thing which seemed nearest at
hand to be done.
From the Halfway House south to
the Red River there was nothing edi-
Bile. And over this Red River there
came now swarming uncounted tbou-
sands of broad horned cattle. dri en
by many bodies of hardy, sunburned.
beweaponed, hungry men. At Elist
Vile, now rapidly becoming an i'm
portant cattle market, the hotel ac-
commodations were more pretentious
than comfortable, and many cow
man who had sat at the board of the
Halfway House going up the trail.
would mount his horse and ride back
twenty-five miles for dinner. Such are
the attractions of corn bread and
chicken when prepared by the hands
of a real genius gone astray on this
much miscooked world.
Thus the little Southern family
quickly found itself possessed of
definite, profitable and growing busi-
ness.
Buford was soon able to employ aid
In making his improvements. He
constructed large dugout after the
fashion of the dwelling most com
mon in the country at that time. This
manner of dwelling, practically a roof
ed-over cellar. its side walls showing
but few feet above the level of the
very practical and comfortable form
Of living place by those settlers who
found a region practically barren OF
The Grit-advocate., 1904-03-25
GOT THERE AT LAST.
Presidents Messenger Long Delayed
by Senatorial Courtesy"

One of the prerogatives of United
States senator is that when he steps
aboard an elevator in the senate wing
of the capitol he is carried immedi-
ately to his destination, no matter in
which direction the elevator may be
bound or who may be aboard. Three
rings of the bell indicate that sena-
tor wants to ride, and the conductor
loses no time in responding to the
call
One day last week Mr. Barnes, the
assistant secretary to the president,
stepped aboard senate elevator
from the ground floor. In a portfolio
under his arm he carried message
from the president of the United
States to the Congress.
Senate floor" said Mr. Barnes, as
the conductor shut the door.
Just then there were three rings OF
the bell and the Indicator showed that
a senator wanted to be lifted ont of
the terrace The elevator went down
instead of up, and Mr.. Barnes went
along. The senator in the terrace
only wanted to go to the ground floor.
AS he stepped off, however. there was
another senatorial ring from the ter
race. The senator wanted to 20 to
the gallary floor, and the elevator
went there without stopping. As the
car started down there We're three
rings from the ground floor. and again
the car failed to stop at the destina.
tion of the presidents secretary, For.
tunately for Mr. Barnes, this senator
wanted to get off at the senate floor
and the congress, after long delay, re.
ceived the message from the presi-
Washington Post.
The Grit-advocate., 1904-03-25
~7N.ss-.<1N.,s-A1N-ss-~9N~{

timber. and as yet unSupplied with
brick or boards. In addition to the
| main dusout there was rude barn
bun. OF sods. and towering high above
the squat buildings rose Ine frame of
the first windmill on the cattle trail,
landmark for many miles. Seeing
these things growing up about him.
at the suggestion and partly through
the aid OF his widely scattered but
kind-hearted neighbors, Ilajor Buford
began to take on heart Of grace. He
foresaw for his people an independ-
ence. rude and far below their former
plane of life, it was true, yet infinitely
better than a proud despair.
1t was perhaps the women who suf-
fered most In the transition from
older lands to this new, wild region.
The barren and monotonous prospect,
the high-keyed air and the perpetual
winds, thinned and wore out the
fragile form of Mrs. Buford. This
impetuous. nerve-wearing air was
much different from the soft. warm
winds of the fower-laden South. At
night as she lay down to sleep she
did not hear the tinkle of music nor
the voice of night singing birds, which
in the scenes of her girlhood had
been familiar sounds. The moan of
the wind in the short, hard grass was
different from its whisper in the
peach trees. and the shrilling of the
coyotes made but rude substitute for
the trill of the love-bursting mocking
bird that sang its myriad song far
back in old Virginia
One day Aunt Lucy, missing Quar-
terly Meeting, and exc bethinking her
self of some of those aches and pains
of body and forebodings of mind with
which the negro is never unprovided.
became mournful in her melody, and
went to bed signing and disconsolate.
Mary Ellen heard her voice uplifted
long and urgently. and suspecting the
cause, at length went to her door.
What is it. Aunt Lucy?" she asked
kindly.
"Nothin', man: jess rasslin' wifi
ther throne O Grace er I'll Bit. We
The Grit-advocate., 1904-03-25
CHAPTER XVI.
The Halfway House.


Miss May Ellen" cried Aunt Lucy,
thrusting her head in at the door.
''oh. Miss May Ellen. wish't you'd
come out yer right quick. They's two
o them prai' dogs out yer a-chasin'
ouah hens agin-nasty. dirty things"
Very well. Lucy" called out a
voice in answer. Mary Ellen arose
from her seat near the window,
whence she had been gazing out over
the wide, fiat prairie lands and at the
blue. unwinking sky. Gathering each
bit Of stick, she and Aunt Lucy
drove away the two grinning daylight
thieves, as they had done dozens of
times before their kin, all eager for
taste of this new feathered game that
had come in upon the range With
plenteOus words of admonition, the
two corralled the excited but terror
stricken speckled hen, which had been
the occasion of the trouble. driving
her back within the gates of the in
closure they had found necessity for
the preservation of the fowls of their
hen ranch"
Lucy?' said Mary Ellen, leaning over
the fence and gazing at the fowls.
"Yess'm. that same ole hen, blame
her fool soul! She's mo bothern
she's wuf. We kin git two dollahs
fer her cooked, an seems like longs
she's erlive she bound fer ter keep
me chasin' 'roun' after her. | clare.
she jest keep the whole lot O. ouah
chickens wore down to frazzle. she
traipsin rOun' all the time an them
afollerin' her. An, of co'se," she
added argumentatively, we all got to
keep up the reppytation O. ouah cook
in. | KANT ask these yer men a
dollah meal-not fer no lean ole hen
wifi no meat ontoe her bones-no,
ma'am."
Aunt Lucy spoke with professional
pride and with certain right to au-
thority. The reputation of the Half
way House ran from the Double Forks
The Grit-advocate., 1904-03-25

all po' weak sinners, Miss May Ell
lem
Yes, | know, Lucy
n does you know, Miss May Ell
len, ! sorter gifts skeered sometimes,
out yer, fer fear mer supplercashuns
amt goin' take holt O. heaven Jess
righ-. White folks has one way er
prayin'. but er niger KANT pray
erlohe-no, nam, jess KANT pray
erlone"
Now, Aunt Lucy" said Mary Ellen,
sageiy, there isn't anything wrong
with your soul at all. You're as good
an old thing as ever breathed. I'm
sure of that, and the Lord will re.
ward you if he ever does any one.
white or black"
Does you think that, honey?"
Indeed | do"
We'll, sometimes | thinks the ord
amt goin' to fergive me fer all ther
devilment | done when | was I'll. YOu
know, Miss May Ellen, hit take a life
er prayer to wipe out ouah transsres-
shuns. Now, how kin | pray, not to
say pray. out yer, in this yer Ian?
They amt church in hunderd mile
o yer, so fers | kin tell. an they
shohly amt no chu'ch fer cullud folks.
Seems to me like, eff | cd jess know
er single Niger. so'st we cd meet
onct in er while, an so'st we cd Jess
kneel down tOgetheh an pray com
terrible like, same's eff 'twus back in
ole Nehginny-why. Miss May Ellen.
I'd be the happiest ole CONAN ever
you did see''
Mary Ellen rose and went to her
room, returning with her guitar. Lis
ten, Aunt Lucy" she said; Il will
play and you may sing. That will
make you feel better, | think"
1t was only from perfect under
standing of the negro character that
this proposal could come, and only a
perfect dignity could carry it out with
grace; yet there. beneath the floor of
the wide prairie sea, these strange ex-
ercises were carried on, the low
throbbing of the strings according
with the quavering minors of the old
time hymns, until Aunt Lucy wiped
her eyes and smiled.
lhank yer, Miss May Ellen she
sald' thank yer a thousand times
You shohly does know how toe com.
fort folks mighty well, even pore ole
niger"
On the morning following Aunt
Lucys devotional exercises that good
soul seemed to be altogether happy
and contented and without any doubts
as to her future welfare. Mary Ellen
was out in the open air, boanetless
and all a-hlow. 1t was glorious, sun-
ny DAY, the air charged with some
The Grit-advocate., 1904-03-25

essence of vital stimulus. Tall and
shapely. radiant, not yet twenty-five
years OF age, and mistress Of earth
best blessing. perfect health-hov
could Mary Ellen be sad?
Chick chick chick chickee," sb,
called, bending over the fence of thr
chicken yard. Chick. chick, chick"
III be thah t'reckly wifi ther feed
Miss May Ellen" called out AuD-
Lucy from the kitchen. And pres.
emily she emerged and Joined her
mistress at the corral.
Aunt Lucy" said Mary Ellen. "do
you suppose we could ever raise a
garden? / was thinking, if we had a
few peas, or beans, or things like that
you know"
"Uh-huh!"
And do you suppose rose busl
would grow-a real rose bush, over
by the side of the house,"
Law, no, chile, whut you talkip
bout? Nothin' hain't goin' to grow
yer, 'less'n hits little broom cohn.
er some O that alfalafew er that sobt
er things. Few beans might, ef we
wortered 'em. My lam" with sud,
den interest, as she grasped the
thought. ''whut could | git fer right
fraish beans, real string beans, does
wOndeh! Sakes, eff l cd hev string
beans an apple pies, shohly Cd
make er foh'tune, right quick. String
beans-why, law, chile."
We'll have to think about this gar.
den question some day" said Mary
Ellen. She leaned against the corral
post, looking out over the wide e..
panse of the prairie round about. Are
those our antelope out there, Lucv?"
she asked, pointing out with care the
few tiny objects, thin and knifeIike.
crowned with short black forking tips.
which showed up against the sky line
on distant ridge. Il think they must
be. | haven't noticed them for quite
a while"
"Yass SIM said Aunt Lucy, after a
judicial look Them blame iii goats.
Thass um. | wish't they all wuzn't SO
mighty peart an KNOWN all ther
time. so'st Majah Buford he cd git
one O. them now an then fer to eat.
| member mighty well how Cap'n
Franklin sent us down er quarter O
an'lope. Mighty fine meat, hit wuz."
''Er-Miss May Ellen" began Aunt
Lucy presently. and apparently with a
certain reservation.
"Yes?"
The Grit-advocate., 1904-03-25
Dresden China Pre- !uctInn.

Among scores of secret p '1cesscs
.uccessfully guarded is that which has
given to the world the exquisitely
beautiful Dresden china. 1t is said
mat not even king may enter the
guarded walls of the factory at Meis-
sen, where the porcelain is made. with
the solitary exception of the King Of
Saxony himself; and every workman
is under a solemn oath. to which the
severest penalties are attached, never
to breathe word of what goes on
within the factory.
The Grit-advocate., 1904-03-25
(To be cOntinued.)
WHERE HE GOT THEM.
Little Boys Explanation Embarrassed
Generous teacher.

Little Boys Explanation embarrassed
Generous Teacher.
At recess one morning little Nathan
Garowski withdrew to corner and
wept, and the heart of his pretty
teacher was moved with compassion.
Whats the matter, Nathan she
inquired gently. why don't you play
with the others?'
Nathan looked up with dimmed
eyes. Dust and tears mingled on his
brown cheeks. He pointed mutely to
his skirt and then broke into a roar.
1T was the dress of Rebecca. Me
mudder no money has for buy me any
ting. | nefer have the trouser, and
the children-the children-they stick
out the finger on me. and make a
laughs. They call mccall me-a
gi-girl."
Don't mind them, dear" said Alice
Harmon with sympathy. They shall
not laugh at you long I will get you
coat and trousers, too"
Several days later Nathan appeared
in the glory of new suit and strutted
about basking in the admirihg glances
of those who had despised him. His
cup of pride was filled to Overlooking
when the superintendent came in with
the principal for visit Of inspection
Nathan, well in the foreground
glanced at his garments and looked
at the strangers for appreciation.
Why, little boy, what fine pair of
trousers said the superintendent af-
fably Where did you get them"
Nathan drew himself up to his full
height, and outstretched his hand in
the direction of his beloved teacher
Il got them off her." he announced.
Il got them off Miss Harmon"
Then Alice Harmon, with the blush
of confusion on her fair face, ex
planned: "The-the children-on the
East Side always say off when they
mean from '"-Lippincotts
The Grit-advocate., 1904-03-25
CATAMOUNT At SCHOOL.
Fifty Pupils Held in School Room for
Nine Hours.


Not long ago catamount. full
grown and vicious, remained in the
bcughs of maple tree near the door of
school house in Pennsylvania. while
fifty children were held at bay in their
schOOlrOOm for nine hours.
The school was holding its first ses-
sion in several months, the thaw hay
ing opened the mountain roads. The
last lad who arrived discovered when
a short distance from the door that
he was being trailed by catamount.
He rushed into the building, bolted the
door and told his news.
Benjamin Mccarthy, the teacher.
smiled, but wheL he looked out of the
window and saw the beast crouched in
the boughs of the tree. his amusement
turned to alarm. The program ar
ranged for the opening was followed.
and by IL O'Clock had been carried out.
but the catamount was still awaiting
its prey. Shouts for help from cau-
tiously opened windows merely serted
to enrage the beast.
Noon passed and the catamount still
held its strategic position. When the
sun began dropping in the West the
pupils fell into panic.
Finally their cries reached Andrew
Russell, a teamster and with a re-
volver he ran to the building and saw
the beast. His first shot wounded it
as 1t leaped from the tree. A second
shot reached a vital spot as the animal
tore the coat from Russell's back.
Russell escaped injury, but had to be
almost entirely supplied with clothing
before he was able to cross the noun
tain
The Grit-advocate., 1904-03-25
DOCTOR DID 1T,
Put on SO Pounds by Food.

Feed physician back to health and
he gains an experience that he can
use to benefit others. For this reason
Grape-Nuts food is daily recommend
ed to patients by hundreds Of physi-
clans who have cured themselves of
stomach trouble. One doctor says:
Although a physician and trying to
aid and assist my fellow beings to en-
JOY good health it must be admitted
formerly did not enjoy the best OF
health myself. In January, 1899, 1
only weighed 119 pounds. At this
time | was living in the Ohio Valley
and began to think had about seen
my best days. One day about yeara
ago had an opportunity to try Grape
Nuts food for my breakfast. liked
1t so well that | ate three teaspoon
fuls three times a day and have reg
ularly used it up to the present time.
and ! now weigh 155, gain of 36
pounds and enjoy the best of health.
Not only has Grape Nuts made
this wonderful change in M. but
through it l have helped my friends,
relatives and patients. The sustain
Ing power of this food is simply won
derful.
Il have one patient who is a sec
tion hand on the c. & O. r. R., who
eats nothing in the morning but four
tablespoonfuls of Grape-Nuts and yet
does his very hard work up to lunch
time and enjoys the best OF health
and strength.
Il could name great many cases
like this and l still prescribe Grape
Nuts in my practice every day" Name
given by Postum Co., Battle Creek,
Mich.
Ask any physician about the scien-
t1hc principles on which Grape-Nuts
food Is made. He'll tell you the prin-
c1ples are perfect.
Then 10 days trial proves that
the principles are carried out in the
food call the good of the grains so
treated that anyone can digest it all'O
Shown In renewed physical strength
and brain energy.
There's a reason"
Look in each pkg. for the famous
little book. The Road to Wellviua"
The Grit-advocate., 1904-03-25
Siberia.

Siberia is yet the land Of mystery.
Popularity, it is supposed TO be a
country clad in ice, of dreary wastes
of snow. barren plain and jagged
mountains. This popular idea is not
altogether correct. True, there are
mountains and barren deserts; but
there are vast plateaus and immense
stretches of fertile. well watered
plains. The climate is extremely cold
in winter and excessively hot in sum-
mer.
The Grit-advocate., 1904-03-25

Kidney Pills after eight years OF tor
ture.
Henry Soule of Pultney St. Ham
mondsport, N. Y, says: For eight
years l suffered constant agony from
kidney complaint. l endured the
worst torture from gravel and the
kidney secretions were excessive and
contained sediment like brick dust. l
had to get out of bed from ten to
twenty times a night and the loss Of
sleep wore me out. Indigestion came
on and the distress after eating was
terrible. Doan's Kidney Pills effected
a complete and lasting cure, and after
the symptoms of kidney trouble were
gone my stomach began to work as
it should. This lasting cure, espe-
cially in a person Of my age. proves the
great value Of Doans Kidney Pills
more convincingly than could any
words of mine"
Doan's Kidney Pills sold by all drug
gists; price 80 cents per box. or mail
ed on receipt of price by Foster Mil
burn Co.. Buffalo, N. Y. Write for
free trial.
The Grit-advocate., 1904-03-25
Fruit Tree GRATING.

The grating of fruit trees has to-
day become such common operation
that there is no need to present the
ordinary methods, but what is less
fruits of certain species and graft
them on the branches of other trees.
La Nature. Paris. publishes a photo
graph showing how pear of one va
riety was grated on a branch not its
parent
The Grit-advocate., 1904-03-25
Immense Library.

According to some interesting sta.
tiStics of the library of the British
Museum the number of books which il
contains is 1.150.O00, not counting
single sheets or parts of works that
are accumulating. The shelves OF
the library exceeds siXty-nine miles in
lalgth.
The Grit-advocate., 1904-03-25
Revised Version.

little tot. who had been sent to
Sunday-school for the first time, was
taught to repeat a short verse of the
Bible. On his return home his proud
parents asked him to repeat what he
had learned. Without any hesitation
he blurted out: THE Lord is my shep-
EeId, | shall get all | want" Not
su,h h bad version, this, by the way,
of David's saying.
The Grit-advocate., 1904-03-25
Value Of Russian Skins,

The average value of sable skins in
the transbalkan province of Russia is
$14. Those who buy from the hunt
ers expect 800 per cent. Fox skins are
bought at $40 and squirrel skins at
% cents.
The Grit-advocate., 1904-03-25
Her Status Exclaimed.

Bobby is little boy who is a seek.
er after the wherefore of things Some
days since he was questioning his
father as to the nature of :. weapon
"A weapon, my SON. explained his
father, lis something to fight with
is ma your weapon, pap
The Grit-advocate., 1904-03-25
Snirc in an Irish Boa.

A young Englishman was being
driven past a promising-look Irish
jarvey if there were any snipe in it.
rs it shnipe, sorr?' was the reply
"Shure, if ye went in widout gun
they'd ate yeZ"
The Grit-advocate., 1904-03-25
Deaths That MAY Be Avoided.

1t is found en- investigation that
nine-tenths of the deaths and prac-
tically all Of the sickness in the world
a"e due to insanitary conditions that
could be corrected. and to bad habits
that weaken the body and make it less
able to resist the disease that comes
its way.
The Grit-advocate., 1904-03-25
Canal Will Reduce Route.

Steamers sailing from New York
to San Francisco by way OF the
Strait of Magellan. must cover some
70 o90 miles, including the usual stops
required for Coalng. When the canal
across the Isthmus of Panama is
opened the distance will be shortened
To- 5,294 miles.
The Grit-advocate., 1904-03-25
Counterfeit Silver Coins,

OF the smaller silver coins that have
been cCunterfeited. brass has been the
ingredient. After coinage these pieces
are plated heavily and may pass read
lily under a careless eye, though in
most cases the coins are light.
The Grit-advocate., 1904-03-25
Quick Mail Delivery.

Letters dropped into a box in Paris
are delivered in Berlin within an hour
and half, and sometimes within
tkritytive minutes. They are whiske ed
through tubes by pneumatic power.
The Grit-advocate., 1904-03-25
Worlds Smallest Coin,

The smallest coin in the world hav-
ing genuine circulation is probably
the Maltese grain" tiny fragment
of bronze about as big around as the
top of a slate pencil and worth only
rle-twelfth of penny
The Grit-advocate., 1904-03-25
What to Do.

When a man playfully points a pis-
tol or gun at you, knock him down;
don't stop to inquire whether it is
loaded or not; knock him down. DOM
be particular what you hit him with.
only see that it is properly done. If
a coroners inquest is held, let It be
on the other fellow-he won't be
Observation-Disclosures Times.
The Grit-advocate., 1904-03-25
Good Work of Bible Society.

The American Bible society EN-.
ploys 400 colporteurs, whose sole
work year in and year out is to place
the Bible in the hands of the people
One million and three hundred thOuS.
ard Bibles were handled by these
men last year-a matter of G50 tons
almost two tons TO a man
The Grit-advocate., 1904-03-25
BaIdheaded Men Form Club.

A bizarre club has just been formed
at Fribourg. The only qualification
for membership is a bald head. Per-
sons seeking admission must have
bald heads which absolutely shine.
The rules set forth that the members
must meet every month in orde" to
eat ham and listen to music.
The Grit-advocate., 1904-03-25
Parliamentary Interpreters.

There are so many languages
spoken in the provinces OF Austria.
Hungary that interpreters are employ
ed in the various parliaments to in
terpret the speeches of the delegates
and make them Ineligible to al. the
members.
The Grit-advocate., 1904-03-25
Whales Have Little Slumber.

Do whales sleep? This is one Of
the questions now being discussed by
foreign scientists. 1t is maintained,
on the one hand, that animals with
such well-developed brains must need
occasional sleep. On the other hand
it is stated that whales have been
known to follow a ship for days, dur
ing which they could not have slept.
The Grit-advocate., 1904-03-25
Red Pepper for Ants.

small boy who lived with his aunt
and grandma noticed that the regular
black pepper shaker was Elled with
red pepper. This startled him and
turning to his aunt, who sat next at
the table, he said You better not eat
any of that red pepper. Aunt Harriet;
grandma says that red pepper kills
ants. s."-Christian Intellgencer.
The Grit-advocate., 1904-03-25
Snail Eatinu Contest.

A snail-eating contest took place re-
Gently in Paris restaurant for 80
louis between two boulevardierS
Special Burgundian srails, fed on vine
leaves. were used. An excited crowd
watched the competition and cnthus
iaStically applauded the victor, who
Swallowed 2l3 snails.
The Grit-advocate., 1904-03-25
You Know This Kind of Mar

Men who believe they are architects
of their own fortunes always blame
someone else for the construction of
their miSfOrtuneS.