davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1906-02-14
BERTRAND'S VALENTINE.
BY Ernest Gilmore

Bertrand had only been in America a few weeks
He talked in such broken English that when he
went to school the boys all laughed.
We'll have lots of fun out of him." Dick Steele
observed. "Oh my! Amt he a picture ?"
Yes he certainly picture-the sleeves of
MS ola coat out at the elbows, patches his
knees and his tattered shoes tied to his feet with
strips of leather. But Notwithstanding these
drawbacks, a true artist would have enioyed
sketching him. sturdy little form, a pleasant
face with honest blue eyes, an obedient SON.
kind brother, true, brave boy-that is picture
of Bertrand.
He did his best to master the English language
and the other boys did their best to torment him
But he tried not to mind their teasing One day
at recess he saw Herman Downing and Dick Steele
looking at something which he thought very beau
tiful
Hello" called Herman; "watchin u.s. are YOU?
Want to see what we've got?" and he displayed
wonderful sflken- fringed valentine, with cherubs
floating about in blue sky underneath which
flowers doomed and birds futtered. I'm goin' to
send this to my sweetheart, Dutchie. Where's
your valentine for your sweetheart?" laughing as
if his question a good joke
II hat got a sweetheart-my Gretchen" said
bertrand seriously, "but not buy de valentine
haf TO money" and the boy turned away from the
merry laughing boys with a misty look In his
big blue eyes.
II say" said Dick, Tets hunt up comic va1en-
tine to send him tomorrow, a rag-tag bow bow
ing down to a rag-tag girl"
Good! so we will" assented Herman
me valentine was bought-a ludcrous thing
and stored away in the coat pocket Of Herman nm
til the morning should come
But the boy for whom it was intended did NOT
arrive at the school-house much to Hernan,s and
Dicks regret. They found out from one Of the
scholars where he lived, and after school they took
their seds and raced out to the dingy old tene-
ment sweet-faced. crippled girl opened the
door in answer to their rap
wed like to see Bertrand" they said
sick" %
Iney stepped within and stood mute and mo-
uohess at the scene before them. sick woman
was lying on a cot looking very pale and weary
young woman, with arm in sling. seemed
10 be waiting upon her. And Bertrand sat before
sInoudering fire with bandaged throat and head
IA get up If could" he said but my head
reefs as II twould split when I move. You're good
TO come and see me. Please sit down"
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1906-02-14
A PLANTATION STORY
Being Aunt Jinseys Tale of the Bird That
Bought Bargains


Bought Bargains.
On his seventh birthday little Pate received a
silver quarter for of his gifts; and he al
lowed to down to the small country store with
Uncle Bergen, the coachman, that h. might spend
it, He returned with-of all things, planta-
ton where fat poultry were plenty-a lean and
protesting old speckled hen!
His mother upstairs in her own room; Aunt
Jinsey, his coored nanny" received him on the
front gallery.
What you got dar, honey boy?" she asked, Gu
riously. What you do with dat OF hem"
Il bought it with my silver quarter" returned
Pate, stoutly. His own belief in the suitability of
the purchase was beginning to weaken.
Aunt Jinsey threw up her hands and laughed.
ooh, yah-yah-yah!" she shouted. "Ain't we-alI
got chickens 'nough dis Broadlands plantation
widout you go to de sto' an buy dat OF hen what
look like she belong to Mathusalem's grandmud-
der?" she inquired.
Patricia and Isabel here joined the court of in
curry Perhaps they had hoped for some small
treat when their brother returned
But she cheap" murmured the little
boy, disconsolately, he seated himself on the
gallery steps and nursed his purchase.
"Nothin' amt cheap what don't want" said
Aunt Jinsey, conclusfvely. "Suttin1y not sorry
OF hen like dat when we-all got de finest chickens
in Miss'sippy an mo- dan we-all kin eat"
The gloom deepened on Pate's countenance. The
OLD nurse saw it, and to relieve the situation of
fered one of the ready tales with which she was
you minds me o. young Miz. Song Sparrer Dat
lady what might call a bargain seeker
She amt think bout much else She amt talk
bout much else. All she kin say dest CHEAP!
Cheap! Cheap!"
This sounded promising and all three children
settled themselves to listen. "Mr. Song Sparrer
talk to her dest like been talkn' to you, little
Marse. He beg her look at sumpin sides de
cheapness when she go to market
de lady amt listen She fotch home string I'm
place o. worms, an when Mr. Songs parrer ak
how he gwine eat SIGH truck, she say oh but you
must mind how cheap dey wuz. body got to
scratch for worms but I dest pick up des-hyer
strings for n song. Dat what 1 give fur em-a
song-yes, sir an sung dat song myself Dey
amt cost nufFin''
AN dey amt with so much as totin home,
said poor Mr.. Song sparrer, he peck at de
string. an try to make a snack on 'em"
Pate let his bargain slide from his knees to the
steps. Somehow, there was likeness to string
Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1906-05-16

deny himself and wife OF the pleasures OF life, all to
accumulate wealth, and when broken down In
health lay down by the heap and die and leave all
to the lawyers and court, or to worthless heirs to
blow to the winds, that whistle requiem to mock
the folly and failure of his lifei And pray do not
fathers see all this and go and repeat the idiOtic act
Surely the wise man may learn from the fool.
Mans stay on earth is brief, but span. Nature
has made ami e provi,ion for his stay. Nature
calls and man is. Nature demands and man re-.
spends and is not.
When we think OF the seeming millions that have
passed from the stage Of action and the millions still
wandering over the earth, coming and going like
the leaves OF the iorest when we think OF his hopes
and fears Of his ambitions and wars surely we sym
pathize with a writer of old who asked: "L>rd,
what is man that Thou art mindful of hint" "Man
hath no pre- eminence over the beast; as the one
dieth so dieth the other"
| The hope Of the world was sounded by the man
who climbed the hills OF Gallilee; who put man
above the vulgar traditions of a dead past, and
placed him child OF Father kind and mesciful;
ID the immediate presence of infinite possibilities
for good and taught him that 'the love OF money IS
the root of all evi;" and that out on the Infinite
ocean of life there port from every storm;
that on the Intellectual heights the soul, crowned
with mercy would reciprocate the genius OF its be-
ing and respond to the divinity OF its Creators that
Oh earth even SO in heaven, there was room for all;
that mercy connects the soul with heaven, and that
selfshnees was the open gate to premature death.
All the truly great thai have lived, lived q
life attuned to the far OF sounds and symphonies Of
truth in all it's unique beauty, and felt the presence
Of things visible and invisible. To them life was
reals to them, to know the truth was to know God;
to them life was but pathway through the clouds
aud mists Of ignorance, up to the ideal heights
where. mingling with the dawn Of newly created
world, stood sjar the door Of Immortality; to them
death was . necessary and iustiiabe appendsge,
under the present modification Of existence; and
they accepted life and death rs tht will OF the Gre
ator as patt and parcel OF the wisdom Of the mas
tsr builder Of worlds; to them humanity was the
fletsam and jetssm on the ocean OF Time, and that
bye and bye on the shore Of Immortality, all would
IS gathered AZ the property Of the Great King Of
Kings.
Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1906-05-16

1t s announced that the public school teachers OF
New York have received orders from the board OF
education to require pupils to carry their books un
der their right arms on even dated days and under
their left arms on odd dated days. II is explained
that this will tend to the equal development Of both
sides Of the body and to avert danger OF curvature
spine. Should any pupil happen to make mis-
take as to dates and carry his books under the arm
on an odd dated day the consequences might be dis
astrOus Il must be that nearly everybody bow
suffers from crooked spine because the discovery
was not made earlier that such rule should be en-
forced Hitherto school authorities have mistaken,
" assumed tnat nature would correct the uni0rtun-
ate tendency under consideration; that is, that when
hoy got tired Ui carrying his load Of books under
his right arm he wOnd put it under his left arm, or
swing it over his shOulder-any way 20 secure re-.
lief from fatigue, particularly when the load In
cludes several Dnsbridged dictionaries; but It must
be- remembered that the boys Of previous genera
tiOns we're fairly supplied with intelligence and COM
them when one arm got tired and that relief could
be secured by emitting the burden 70 the other
Under the new rule, by the way, shifting the bur
dan will mot BE allowable. When youth starts for
home with his books nader his right arm on On
even dated CAV be must carry the load under chat
arm the whole distance, however much be may shi.
fer from fatigue. To be caught on May with his
books under his left arm would ruin his standing
for precision and obedience To chuck them into
the rear end Of delivery wagon and catch on
would damage the whole beautiful system and prob
ably put twist in his spine from which he would
never recover. The new generation might be able
% ret along with the same instinct under which
fo-mer generations have euFvfvoit the iaculty Of
acting and thinking for themselves we're not afro
phied by the substitution Of lot Of diOtC rules for
the exercise OF their own wits.
Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1906-05-16

on its delicate breast and blow into it's mouth and it
gapes, and we say it is alive.
What was 1t that put that delicate machine into
actiODS We say life; and then we ask what is lie;
and pause, for we do not know. And the same nm
known cause that possessed and animated, with.
draws, and we say it is dead.
Thus man. The sport of bliss
Rises Times eventful
having swelled moment there,
Thus mes into Eternity
When we deduct from our years, our babyhood,
the hours we Sleep and decrepd age, truly the few
years of active life is but feeting dream!
why should We poor players on life's little stage,
and fume each other in our rage
pray God to help us in our selfish wayf
Woman lives to loye; but man, poor misguided
man. is ever striving for honors! Ambitions Star
leads him over the rough, path that ends in
disappointment, and but too often in an ignoble
grave!
The human race has traversed this mundane
sphere seeking to know the impossible leaving the
movable things, designed for his earthly comforts,
by the waysde until the reflection OF mature years,
at the close OF his journey holds mp the lamp OF ex.
perience before him, when he exclaims: "Had l
known twenty years ago what know now, would
Oe better off, "Had only known" has been sound
ed around the world since the dawn Of cvz atiOn.
Cato said, in a harrangue to the Roman senate: "a
fool will never learn from a wise man, but wise
man may learn from fool.
fool is one that will not learn ilom experience,
and yet under this head, the world has but few
wise men. For after all, one man thinketh him
self capable Of doing that which another cannot do.
Does not the young man laugh at the drunkard in
the street, And pray was not the drunkad recruit
ed from the ranks of the Young meni
Does the crowd jeer at the thief in the clutch
es Of the eherii And pray not the thief raised
in the same sOcetyi
Does lot the father work day and night in the
rain and sunshine, and drive through the storm and
Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1906-05-16

T have been accustOmed-the scales fell from my
eyes, found myself most impressed by realizing
sense OF the appalling amount OF error and cant In
which We of the United States have INDUCED on
this topic (the African in America) We do still.
Even now we not infrequenty hear the successor to
the ahoitiOnst and humanitarian OF the anti-c
war period-the "Uncle Tom" period-announce
that the difference between the white man and the
black man is much less considerable than IS ordi-
narily supposed and that the only real obstacle in
the negro's way is that che has never Eeen given
chance"
For myself, after visiting the black man in his
own house, came back with decided impression
that this is the sheerest OF delnsiOns, due to pure
ignorance Of rudmentary facts; yet we built upon
lit in reconstruction days as upon foundation stone
Ia self evident truth!
Meanwhile one thing is clear: The work done by
those rho we're in political control at the close Of
our Civil war was work done in utter ignorance OF
chronological law and total Disregard OF unalterable
fact. Starting the movement wrong, it will yet be
productive OF incalcuable injury to us.
The negro after emancipation should have been
dealt with not as political equal, much less forced
into position Of superiority; he should have been
treated as q ward and dependent-frmly, but in
spirit OF kindness and absolute justice. Practically
impossible as policy then, this is much less so
now. At best it is something which can only be
slowly and tentatively apprOximated
! This view Of the case is beng gradually adopted
by many OfthOse who know anything about the
negro Even at this late day, when some Of the
Southern states have disfranchised the illiterate
negro the wisdom Of such policy is recognized By
many in the North and there is reason to believe
that Maryland will follow the example OF the South
ern states sooner or later. It would not surprise
some to see Pennsylvania follow before many years.
There can be little dOuot that il Pennsylvania to-
day face to face with the proposition as Ala
bama, Mississippi, Virginia and other Southern
states have been, Pennsylvania would do as they
did. Whether or not what s known the Race
Problem" will ever ba settled with anything like
satisfaction to the different parts Of this country,
there is every Indication that within comparatively
few years the negro will be largely eliminated as an
politics in any way and he should be out OF il in
every way.
Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1906-05-16

its recOnst ucton free OF duty. For Boston, after
the FIRE Of 1872 it did nothing whatever, and it had
done nothiog beyond temporarily remtting duties
for Portland, Maine, burned ont on the FpnEth Of
July, 1866. The JohnstOwn food disaster passed
without government aid for JOhnstOwn. So did the
event Of wreck and ruin by tornado ct 81 Louis.
great wave swept over Galveston killing ten
times Ms many people as the San Francisco earth-
quake killed, ard almost wiping ont The Nltq, but
Galveston was left to recover without federal aid.
Then came the Baltimore 6re. Baltimore neither
asked for nor received financial assistanee from
Uncle Sam. The big sum already expended for
San Francisco has been appropriated with1ak con-
stitutional authority. The San FranCisGa1s are
like the rest Of mankind. Their appetite grows By
what it feeds on. Having got something lof both
ing, they want more, but your dear old Unelh has
said emo mOre.''
Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1906-05-16

determined opposition to the negatiOn of the police
powers of the State, and said that he "would fill
buster for forty days to prevent the adoption OF the
Richardson amendment" Again, on Monday
when the railroad rate bill was being debated he
manifested as vigorous an OPPOSITION to clause In
that that also threatened TO interfere with
the right the States Co compel separation OF the
races travelling. The incident Is thus related Oy
the Associated Press:
The Senate today spent the major portion Of its
time ON one amendment to the railroad rate BILL
but, insteAd Of accepting It, adopted substitute
The provision which was made the basis OF the dis
cussion was that suggested by Mr. FORAKER promo
iting the granting OF rebates, passes, drawbacks or
special r4..s to passengers railroads., and also
prohibiting determinations In the way OF accomo-
datiOns where equal rates are PAID.
The discussion took u broad range, covering first
the pass question, and than the race question IN
the Southern States The race issue was raised In
connection with the clause relative to discrmina.
tions, which was interpreted referring to sepa
rate cars for the races aud it called very warm
protests from MIR. Bacon Mr.. Money, Mr.. Culber-
son and other Southern Senators.
Mr.. Money said that the Southern people were
preiudiced against the negroes and were willing
that such should be understood to be the tac Ihere
are many who are willing to ride with the negroes,
he said tsand we are willing that they should do 80,
there is no accounting for tastes"
Further on he said:
t.If anything could kill this bill, / think the in.
strument has been found for doing so. won't vote
for rate bill having race clause in 1t, and am
sure there are many ON this side who will not"
This protest resulted in the adoption OF q snDst
tute offered by Mr.. CulbersOn, Of Texas, which
eliminated the Objectionable teature.
That is the kind Of representation that the SouCn
wants in Congress. Men OF convictions VINO are
not afraid to avow them in any presence, and VINO
adhere closely to the fundamental principle 81 our
that respects the rights OF the States 20
make SUCH internal regulations as they may deem
ft and proper for an adequate police OF the CON-
mon wealth.
1t is because Senator Money stands for this prln'
ciple that the people Of Mississippi reelected MIN
by such AN overwhelming majority three years ago.
Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1906-05-16

There no occasion for the display OF temper
OccasiOned BY Father Hherman's scheme to march
from Atlanta to the sea- along the route pursued by
his father. The purpose Of the son was to verify
or correct certain statements Of history The mis-
take be made was to ask for detail OF cavalry to
accompany him. Thie GlOoked like rubbing in
matter which IL sufficiently painful and nortiiying
without revival Of old recOllectiOus. The Presi-
dent wisely forbade the of troops Tor any such
purpose. II Father HheRhan@ had taken his tour
Ialanelhen w0nla hare NMab miAh 0diaeOnFtasys III
he wished companions be could have found old
veterans Of either army who would gladly have
pilOted him. Il was only dozen years after the
war; when sad incidents were fresh in memory and
the people OF Georgia pr0etrate, that General
Sherman himself journeyed over part Of the terri
tory through which be had marched to the sea. He
had no escort and was treated with uniform court
esy. At various railroad stations many people
were present TO see him. and nowhere was he treat
"a with the least iDciviIity And 80 Father Shar-
man would be pleaaAnty received Without any body
guard except hia riding whips The GeOrgians OBJ
feet simply 10 what wonla l0oE like = triumphal
procession T. troops we're omplOysl as bodyguard.
Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1906-05-16

Y Has ik ever occured % yOu; viutIm Of hard lncks
that it may be mainly yOur Own iaulti The devtls
You know likes TO tease ~ we'll as TO torture MS
victims IL Il absolutely true that ninty I've men or
every hundred who complain Of hard luck, can
trace the cause 20 their own improvidence One
man works for wages and saves part q bis earnings
Gradually be owns bic home and geta money ahead.
He owes no debts and can defy hard luck, or at
least il fairly we fortified ngnlnlt it. Hard luck
doesn't wn6ta much time 0n that man, Int turns %
the fellow who can do nothing but kick ANA squirm,
With whom he can play as = Cat plays with mouse
before giving Il ite finish. The rst ellOa did net
reach Easy street BY being close or stinRy. he
spent money egitimately, he could AFFORD IL; had
more pleasure than the man who wOrks aud turns
his wages over 10 people Who are ID no way entitled
to them
Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1906-05-16

Uncle Sam is very good and very generous, but he
cannOt put his hand 10 bis pocket and pull ont
enough to rebuild San Francisco with. The fact is
the government has already done more ipr San
FranefscO than il ever did for any other afflicted
citv. All that il did for Chicago alter the great
Are 1871 was to admit building materals for use IN
Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1906-05-16

out sincerity by the lips Of countless brides, but
man in hie eg0tism, has held on to it as slender
thread Of connection with tho sterner days. The
RresbyteFian general assembly has Just published
hook 0i forms and services for BY the keepers OF
he faith and the new book Omits the word ''Obey0
tory Offset to thie the seEvice also 0ita words
IIworsdly goods" which, from time immemOrial,
have been 'sendowed" with more or less earnest
hess BY brides and grOOme. As it wac generally
new red bnggies and GLOVER forties' owned by the
groom that were thus tendOwed,n y while the brides
dOwers usually consisted OF sschests'i Of things
Mysterious and incomprehensible to man, this &C
tion OF the general assembly 10 taken as something
% gain.
81 But after ell, who cares rap whether the word
,obey" il 10 the marriage service or mott Certain
II no one ever took 1t seriously and, anyway, il IL
no time to weigh mere words when one is stumb-
ling along ia The dark after minister who himeeIi
is only picking detached sentences ont 0f book.
And 30 court 81 Law ever recognized the ssendOw
ment OF ROOde at the steps Of the altar. The only
Significance to the matter il thnt ass hasing
their way. They have ceased long ago TO Obey"
and now they are not going 70 make even pre-
tense ~ perlunctory promise
Fire Sunday afternoon Destroyed IL GuipOrt the
|immonse tutpentipe and fOsin pIant Of the 8. p
Shooter Company, which il located one mile north
o the central part Of the city. The 6Ee originated
Id the c0nmiaeary, which Was consumed, then
buildings and roain store shops, covering fully
twenty acres Of ground heirg destroyed. Fnlly
900 barrels Of rOsin and several hundred barrels
Of turpentine we're l0at. Loss estimated at i1lly
$500, O0O covered BY inenrapCe. Oficials cay that
theplant viii Immediately be rebuilt and business
resamed. hundred men are temporarily thrOwu
ont al >mployment
Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1906-05-16

Hat is Lifef is q question that has
puzzled the brain Of man in all
ages, and will ever remain to vex
our human being; man has never
found the solution to the question
and never will.
A child is born into the world,
limp. No sign Of life. We press
Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1906-05-16
OPENING EYES TO FACTS.

HARLES Francis Adams in an art
icle entitled Reflects Light from
Africa in the Century magazine
for May, makes some interesting
observations as a result Of study
Of conditions in Africa. Says he:
Looking about me among Afri-
caLs in AiriCa-iar removed from
the American environment to which
Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1906-05-16
SHALL "OBEY" NO LONGER.

ANS tyranny Is slowly yet surely
crumbling beneath the stead on
slanght Of w0man's emancip ion.
At che present rate Of attrifl8n Il
will be only few years until mas.
culine domination OF the earth m
be but flCtiOn, thenla men ~,
and then : tradition to be viii "a.
ed ID future nurseries TO irie 10
Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1906-05-16
He Is q fool who thinks by force Of skill
70 turn the current of : Wcman's win,

and women hsve willed their completest liberty a
ell things under The burning starS
The last great chunk Of the rock Of mans pre-
rogatives that has fallen into the swift stream 81
wOlnan's progress ie the tObeyn ID the marriage
service. OF course, Tor long time this simple
word has been mere meaningless form pooed With
Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1906-05-16
WHAT IS LIFE /?

Written for this paper BY Col 7 s. Felter Springfield H.