davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washburn leader., 1907-12-20
House Plant Showers.

Shower your plants two or three
times week to wash the dust off
their leaves and prevent the ravages
Of the red spider This pest fourishes
in hot, dry atmosphere. Keep it
moist and he will not do much damage.
A showering, bear in mind, doesn't
mean a slight sprinkling. 1t means a
real shower, and the result of it is that
your plants are wet all over.
There is only one thing better than
thorough showering for house plants
and that is Il dip bath. Fill large
tub with water and souse your plants
under, leaving them submerged for
two or three minutes, and you have
the satisfaction Of knowing that water
has got to every part of them. No in
sect can possibly escape such bath
as that.
If the red spider has begun to injure
your plants before you We're aware of
his presence, heat the water in your
tub to 12O degrees and immerse the ill.,
tested plants i'll it, allowing them to
remain under about half minute.
This will kill the spider without in
juring very delicate plants.-Eben E.
Rexford in Outing Magazine.
The Washburn leader., 1907-12-20
The Wisdom of karma.

The pundit Karma sat by the river
and watched the ripples.
A man came toward him carrying a
skin of wine on his shoulders.
"NIaster," he said to Karma, sis the
bridge safe?" And he pointed to the
twisted ropes that crossed the stream.
"I am not accustomed to pass judg-
ment hurriedly," replied the pundit.
Before 1 can either condemn or praise
the bridge I must know that it has
beer fully tested twice."
"You are too fussy," said the man
and straightway started across. But
the ropes sagged beneath him. and
finally he fell into the current.
"The bridge is not safe!" Karma call
ed to him.
The man angrily waded ashore.
"But I thought you required two
tests?" he said to the wise one.
'"That is true" Karma replied. "A
little while before your arrival tried
to cross and fell in the river myself"
And the man was very angry. and
when he reached safe distance lie
rudely threw stone at Karma, but
happily missed him.
The Washburn leader., 1907-12-20
Where Are the Old PEOPLE?

1t is proper to speak of man under
thirty as "old man. i'll jocular way.
but after that it becomes dangerous.
AS for old ladies. they have long ago
disappeared. Thirty years ago it was
comm on in society and in print to
speak of an old man or an old lady
without meaning any disrespect or CIV
ing the least offense. Now it is posi-
lively dangerous-in fact, isn't done.
Why this change?
Partly because the physical and
mental conditioner the average person
Is better than formerly, but principally
because people have decided not to
grow old. That settles it. We are
largely taken at our own valuation and
are not now disposed to make it Il low
one in this city are to be found many
men who retired from business Il gen
Grafton ago. 1t was once the custom
in this country, as it is now in Eng
land, that when a man had secured Il
competence he retired from active work
and lived serenely. Nowadays it is sell
dom done. A competence now means
not an income of il few thousand dol
lars, but an unlimited amount. There
are to be found multimillionaires
above eighty who are Just as anxious
to make money as ever. and they seem
to lie quite as Philadelphia
INQUIRER
The Washburn leader., 1907-12-20
A Watchman'. Precaution.

An official of one of the big manufac-
turing concerns of Cleveland happened
to be near the plant the other night
and thought he would take a turn
about the place to see If the watchman
was attending to his knitting. The
watchman was there, all right. He
had a revolver in his hand when the
officer found him back near the engine
room, ready for any one who might be
hunting trouble, and he had an elec-
tric searchlight in his other hand to
hunt for intruders. But in order to
avoid so far as possible any meeting
in the big dark factory that might be a
source of mutual embarrassment the
watchman had taken the simple pre-
caution of strapping large bell to his
ankle. By this means he had been
able to avoid any unpleasant scenes
when he made his rounds from time to
time during the Cleveland Plain
Dealer.
The Washburn leader., 1907-12-20
Personally
Conducted.
Ey ARTHUR COTTONWOOD.
Copyrighted. 1907. by J. c. Reed.

"lt has been very much like Il
dream" the girl was saying earnestly
"Of course l had pictured it all out to
myself, but never imagined it would
be anything like this. 1t has BEEN
she paused as if seeking a proper ad-
jective-"heavenly," she said at length,
with Il little reminiscent sigh. "Thc
only trouble is that it ends all too soon
Day after tomorrow we sail for home.
Lancaster looked at the pretty, eager
face beside him, and the pathos of it
touched him. He was trying to imag.
inc how the word "heavenly" could
apply to the dull. colorless wanderings
Of these personally conducted" tour
lists. He glanced through the door into
the next room. There they We're. gath
cred about tired looking guide who
was using his umbrella as a pointer
while he explained nasally, "This, la
dies and gentlemen. is an excellent eX-
ample of Rembrandt's later work"
They We're weary looking but eager
group, anxious evidently that nothing
should escane them. They lifted their
tired eyes to the picture indicated by
the umbrella and stared at it duly
while the droning voice reeled off it's
stereotyped phrases like some school
boy reciting we'll learned lesson.
1--WE must go back" said the girl,
glancing uneasily at a tiny silver
watch. 1--WE are missing lot"
"You had better rest awhile" Ian
caster counseled. well take it all in
by and by. think l know this gallery
quite as well as the guide does. I'll
show you Il Vandyke that they will
miss entirely. Well take our time and
go back to the hotel leisurely."
The girl looked at him narrowly.
"Then you've been here before:" she
asked.
Lancaster nodded his assent.
"I've been watching you since you
joined us at Cologne" she said. "NIost
of the time you've been very much
bored. l concluded you had seen it
all before"
Lancaster said nothing. He was
wondering if some sudden intuition
had given her an inkling of the truth.
eff YOU had taught school in Iowa
as many terms as l have" said she.
IF you had slaved and saved and look
The Washburn leader., 1907-12-20
At the End
OF the Wait.
By WILLIAM H. HANDY.
Copyrighted, 1907, by NJ. NJ. Cunningham.
By WILLIAM H. HANDY.

A deep feeling of content and salts
faction possessed David as he looked
across the hills and valleys to the
south.
EYES," he said within himself, "she
will like this when she comes"
He bought the plateau on top Of the
hill, scarcely more than forty acres In
all, and hired men to clear it.
He took an ak and went with them
into the timber, for, although David
was dreamer, he could work with his
hands even while the visions were up
on him.
Before autumn came the ground was
cleared, and then fruit trees and ber-
ries were set out. The house which
David built was planned carefully that
it might be rest to the body and a
pleasure to the taste. A half dozen
oaks had been left growing in the yard,
and hedge of roses was planted all
the way around it. Walks were laid
and flowers planted beside them.
David had some h1oney-not much,
but enough. Still he chose to work
every day among the trees or in the
garden. Every evening he sat on the
porch and dreamed and waited.
When the orchard was bearing and
the rough places had been made
smooth David's lodge on the hill was
the admiration of the community.
Visitors were brought to see it, and
tourists, who sometimes came to the
Ozarks, went out of their way to see
the hill that blossomed as garden.
David still worked and dreamed and
waited Sometimes at evening as he
sat alone upon the porch and looked
out over the silent places-the hills and
the valleys-a sense of loneliness came
over bin.
Suppose she should never come?
Even the shadow of doubt made him
grow sick at heart. But she would
surely she would. Somewhere was the
girl of whom he dreamed. the one that
loved the things he loved and thought
the thoughts that came to him.
Some time she would grow tired and
turn aside to the hills. Then she would
find the fairest one of them all, and
when she climbed to it's top the home
would be ready, and he would be there
waiting.
One day when the apple trees were
in bloom and the oaks We're brown Da-
The Washburn leader., 1907-12-20

been, there hers had gone also, and
whatever she had felt or dreamed he
had, too, understood.
Often she turned her wide open,
frank eyes upon him in wonder at
the keenness and power of his
thoughts, his seemingly unbounded
knowledge.
Il wonder" she said musingly, why
you are not out in the world"
Il am" he laughed, ''unless you call
this paradise"
"But you are not ambitious?" she
questioned.
"No. Why should be?"
"There is so much to do in the
world" she said, "and you have so
much ability"
II work every day." He smiled.
"But there is so much to be done to
help people, and they need it so much"
whenever I see a fellow that needs
help l help him if can," he replied
cheerfully.
"But think Of the multitudes you can
never see here" she argued.
:'Do you believe that everybody was
made to quit his work and go out and
hunt for distress?" he asked.
mo, of course not everybody"
eff there ever was one that was not,
that one am I. l was made for this"
and his gesture took in the hills and
sky. 81 was made to live and dream.
I did not make humanity suffer, and
God has never laid on me the job of
curing their diseases and distresses,
except such as l meet in my daily
work.
"It is a pleasant philosophy" she
said, with slow smile, "but fear it
is selfish
She seemed to he troubled as they
went down the hill and said little.
For two weeks he did not see her
again. He waited, poised dizzily on
the narrow ledge that runs between
darkness and light.
If she was really the dream woman.
after a little struggle with the sense OF
duties that, although never hers, had
been laid upon her, she would see as
he saw and come to know that this
was her life too. But if she We're not
the one for whom he had so long wait
ed she would go away and he would
never see her again.
1t had been another day of doubts
and fears. Perhaps she had already
gone. Possibly he was a crazy dream
er, after all. The sun was down and
the robins had begun their good night
song when he went to the house. AS
he came near his step quickened and
his heart beat fast She was on the
porch, just as he had seen her that
FIRST time.
AS he hurried toward her she arose,
her soft hair blowing lightly about her
face, and, with a smile of timid con-
fession, held out her hands to him.
He took them both and held them
tight. The lids dropped and covered
her eyes, and the blood came up until
it blOomed q beautiful confession in
her checks.
81 knew you would come. dearest AS
l dreamed of you it was always like
this"
EYES, she said softly; cit was al
ways just like this
The Washburn leader., 1907-12-20
that had always been waiting for

that had always been waiting fol
you"
She was still nervously pulling hel
gloves. The personally conducted
focA. headed by the guide, swinging
his umbrella like shepherds crook
were filing out Of the room beyond
bound for the hotel.
''Are you going back to Iowa to teach
school?" asked Lancaster.
"Yes." she said quietly.
There was rather painful silence
for time.
'Is teaching school in Iowa some
thing very, very desirable?" he pur
sued.
mot always" she confessed.
II was thinking" said he, ''that aft
er we got home l should like very
much to come to Iowa if you'd let me
and then I'd like to bring you back
here for little personally conducted
tour all our own-just yours and mine
I haven't showed you tenth part OF
what I'd like to show you then when
just you and are in the party"
He leaned nearer her.
II want that personally conducted
tour to go on forever" he added.
He spoke quietly, but with such ear
nestness that the hot blood crept even
to her temples. He noticed that hel
hands were trembling and that hel
breath had quickened.
"It would be no end better than this
tour" said he. "What do you Thurs
Of it?"
Very deliberately her eyes were lift
ed to meet his. He read in theil
depths an answer that set his pulses
bounding.
"Oh, it would be- she began.
"Heavenly," he suggested, with
gay laugh.
Eyes, heavenly" she said softly as
his hand closed over hers.
The Washburn leader., 1907-12-20
81 KNEW YOU WOULD COME, DEAREST"

II KNEW YOU WOULD COME, DEAREST"
vid felt as he worked in the orchard
strangely torn between doubts and
hopes.
A vision would come of coZy
hearth, with the dream woman sitting
where the light fell on face and hair.
Then it would fade, and he would see
himself, old, lonely and disillusioned
by time. the wreck Of foolish hope.
It was after sundown when he came
to the house. AS he entered the yard
he saw girl sitting on the edge Of
the porch looking across the hills to
the south.
She did not turn, and as he stood
still watching her his pulse grew
strong and rhythmical until every
nerve in him sang.
This was the dream woman.
"Do you like it?'' he asked directly.
She did not start at the sound Of his
voice, but looked up and smiled. Eyes;
it is perfect"
He sat down on the edge Of the
porch near her. II am visiting my
aunt, Sic eApl0Aucu, anu ""nsSNA
to climb this hill. When. got here 1t
was so beautiful and restful / couldn't
leave"
For a few minutes they sat in ST.
lence. The south wind came from over
the valleys laden with the incense OF
the wild plum and the wild grape.
They breathed the clean, sweet air III
perfect content.
She arose to go. He went with her
to where the road turned down the hill.
"You will come again?" he said.
eyes," she said. II would like to-"
81 will show you the place" he prom
Ised.
Two days later she came again. They
went through the orchard and garden
and then to the edge Of the hill where
1t falls away almost perpendicularly
They sat on a fiat rock and watched
the sun go down.
"Isn't it restful?" she sighed. $50
quiet. but full of thought"
They talked of trees and vines, the
aills and the seasons, of books and
people. Wherever his thoughts had
The Washburn leader., 1907-12-20

| made curious patches of color on til.
dancing floor On the lawn were score:
Of small tables served by negro walters
looking oddly unhappy in their over
alls. which for the night replaced theil
usual service clothes.
Yes, it was all perfect, but Nells
smiled little sadly to herself as she
recalled the anticipations which the
invitation had aroused. She still love(
their old farm, but her steprnothel
would never permit her to go to the
country. 1t was something she was
supposed to forget.
Teds fashionable farm" had been q
great disappointment to her. 1t was
all so unreal, so insincere, and most OF
all she was disappointed in the dance
ITSELF She made herself comfortable
in one corner Of the dark porch. where
the music came but family to her ears
and where she was not liable to inter.
ruption.
For an hour she sat huddled in a
rustic chair that had cost as much as
whole parlor suit in real farm
houses, and it was not until she heard
Ted's voice that she recalled herself to
the present.
"I've been looking for you every
where" he announced as he came to-
ward her. 'The ball is making great
hit. Every one says it is the best of
the season, and as q reward Bess says
that may have leave of absence for
half an hour"
"Your sister makes charming host
ess," said Nella, with an approving
smile. ''It must be a great relief to
have some one to take from your
shoulder the burden of entertaining"
"You bet" declared Ted, with more
fervor than elegance. "This dance will
cover multitude of social debts. But
come; let's get out of this and into the
real country. 1t lies just across the
road. We can sit over there with the
real rustcs and imagine that we are
enviously looking on and listening to
the music.'
Nella fell in with the suggestion, and
lduSlluSly lllcy SlOlc dCIOSS luC lOdu
to where little knot of the real farm
ers had gathered to watch the fun.
Ted found seat for her on q smooth
stone and took his place by her side.
"It's funny" he said, "that we on
the other side of the fence want to
come over here. While those over here
wish that they could be over there
It's human nature, l suppose. to want
what we know nothing off,
81 have been on both sides," she re-
minded, land like this side best. So
clety is all right for those who know
nothing else. but am awfully tired of
1t, Ted 1t is all so artificial and so
unlluman."
"Inhuman. too. for that matter. y
chuckled Ted. 81 say. Nell, how would
you like to chuck it all? I'm sick of it
too. This is Il real farm in spite of its
society trimmings. I'll cut out some of
the trimmings, and We'll make it real.
Then we can live on both sides of tho
fence. content Oh either side With the
knowledge that we have the key to the
gate
Nela's hand stole into his. "lt would
be very nice-on both sides of the
fence-with you," she said softly.
The Washburn leader., 1907-12-20

ed forward to this, perhaps you would
enjoy it as l do. But you've been aw-
fully kind since you've Joined us.
You've shown me lots of things
wouldn't have missed for worlds and
that I'd never have seen but for your
thoughtfulness. Oh, knew you must
have Travelled this country quite ex-
tensively."
She looked at him with an intent
ness that was rather disconcerting.
"Tell me-" she said, "why should
you, knowing all these things as you
do, care to travel with us?"
Lancaster regarded her for time in
thoughtful silence. Dare he tell her
the truth? He looked into her clear
gray eyes and decided to risk it.
'Shall 1 tell you the real reason?" he
asked.
"Why, yes, Of course" she replied,
with a little note of surprise in her
voice.
"Well, then," said Lancaster sturdi-
", "it was because of you."
The color deepened in her cheeks.
"Oh!" she said, with sudden compre-
hension. Her eyes fell. She was alb
tractedly pulling her gloves to cover
her embarrassment.
"You remember that evening at the
hotel in Cologne" Lancaster went on,
''when you and l were partners at
whist? l joined your party the next
morning. l wanted to be with you
just to be near you"
al rather wish you hadn't told
me-" she said uneasily.
"Would you rather had fibbed po.
litely?" he asked.
"No-o," she replied slowly.
"You see," Lancaster explained, "I'd
been poking about the continent all by
my lonesome, and, to tell the truth, I'd
not been having a very hilarious time
of it. And that night at Cologne He
paused.
Eyes, that night at Cologne?" she
prompted.
ut seemed" he said very gravely
'as If you fitted into niche in my
life that had been made for you and
The Washburn leader., 1907-12-20
On Both Sides
By W. r. BRYAN.
By W. r. BRYAN.
Copyrighted. 1907 by E. c. PARCELS.

"Looks pretty. doesn't it?" demand
ed Ted Barrion as Nella Fenway came
out on the broad piazza.
The girl glanced over the we'll kept
lawn, past the road and so across the
fields to the cool dark of the woods
beyond.
"Pretty!' she repeated scornfully.
ITS just the loveliest thing ever
saw. 1t looks almost like the coun-
try"
almost" echoed Barrion. Il say.
that's a bit rough on a fellow. Slicher-
ly guaranteed that it would be the real
thing"
'vThat's just the trouble" she eX-
planned. "You just go to the man and
The Washburn leader., 1907-12-20
Cupid's Lucky Day.

s'What is the best and luckiest day
to be married on?' somebody once
asked an old gypsy whose fame as a
sibyl had spread far and wide. The
venerable dame smiled a sardonic
smile and answered in oracular fash
ion: '"Today is never lucky, nor yet
tomorrow. The only lucky day is yes
terday."
But there is popular rhyme, so pop
ular and so we'll known that perhaps l
ought not to quote it yet again, that
tells us definitely what sort of luck,
good, bad or Indifferent. we may ex-
pect according to what day we have
chosen on which to appear before the
altar of Hymen.
Monday for wealth,
Tuesday for health,
Wednesday the best Of all;
Thursday for crosses,
Friday for losses,
Saturday no luck at ALL
October is said to be the luckiest
month for marriage, though June is
almost equally fortunate. May is sup
posed to be the most unlucky month
out Of all twelve. but l have known
several May marriages that have been
more fortunate. prosperous and happy
than the majority.-Modern Society.
The Washburn leader., 1907-12-20

CHUCK IT ALL !'
tell him YOU want to give a barn
dance regardless of expense. Your
jack % lanterns are carried by an art
ist, and they are Illuminated by cleo
trio lights instead of candles. You
dance in the barn. but the dancing
floor YOU laid down costs more than
some OF the real barns themselves. and
the band YOU Imported from town will
play the same music that we are going
to have all winter and by the same
men,
81 wanted to have the best he said
a little sulkily as he turned away. y
little hand rested upon his arm for =
brief instant. though he felt the i'm
press long after it had been removed.
1T is the best-your best" she said
"But it's not Il real farm dance any
more than this is I; real farm, Ted.
It's all Il play and Il pretense. We
were to Wear print dresses, and Rita
Farnum is upstairs getting into de-
collete mule gown trimmed with real
lace. That; her idea of the way q
farmers daughter dresses
Ted glanced approvingy at the sim
pie little print frock that suited so we'll
the fresh, rounded figure and the
piauant face above.
1T is useless to paint the lily-untii
the lily is faded,' he said, with little
laugh. "When Rita Farnum gets to
heaven and she finds her angelic robe
is not to her liking she will search the
other place for dressmaller to fix it
over. All dressmakers will go to-the
other place. he added
"Thats the feminine belief" assent
ed Nella, with ripping laugh that re-
minded Ted of the song of birds in the
early morning.
That's where they ought to co." he
growled Even eternal torture will
not atone their crimes against art and
nature in the way they fix over the
human form to make it conform to the
dresses they have built on those wire
models"
"How about the way you have made
this farm over into toy? That is just
as bad.''
"What's the matter with the farm?'
demanded Barrion. Its one of the
show places of the country. You are
the only one who has said anything
against it,"
II am disappointed" explained the
girl. "You see, dad does not like to be
reminded of those times when-er"-
Before they found coal on his farm
and he got into society,"" completed
Ted, who knew the story Of Joel Fen
ways sudden rise to riches and his
subsequent avoidance of any reference
to his country life.
"Well, dad has hated the country
ever since, but love it. This has been
my first visit to farm since the old
days. / was like little girl promised
lew toy when l heard / was to be
one OF the house party for the barn
dance, but it's not the same" she add
ed wistfully "You are wearing over.
alls and a cotton shirt but you've got
your society manner on, Ted"
The arrival of hay wagon loaded
with guests from nearby farm
closed the argument Others of tho
house party hurried out on the piazza
and Nella was free to wander to the
side porch.
From a society point of view tho
arrangements were perfect. At the
foot Of the side lawn was a stubble
field in which lay the great yello',
pumpkins cut into jack-o'-lanterns snt
lighted by electricity. as were those
that lined the front lawn. At the real
was the huge barn lighted by arc lights
hung in great Japanese lanterns, which
The Washburn leader., 1907-12-20
Tho Real Attraction.

English Girl - You American girls
have not such healthy complexions as
we have. cannot understand why
our noblemen take fancy to your
white faces.
American Girl 1t isn't our white
faces that attract them, my dear; it's
our greenbacks.-St. Louis Republic.
The Washburn leader., 1907-12-20
Close Quarters.

Gilman Yes, we've got to move.
We've got nice servant girl, and we
don't want to lose her.
Subbubs = Objects to your present
place, eh?
Citiman-Yes; her room in our fiat is
3 by S, and she's easily 2 by 6 feet her
self.-Oatholic Standard and Times
The Washburn leader., 1907-12-20
Bombarded.

"Ah, my friend" said the old SOL
.lier, "you don't know what it is to be
In the midst of shower of shells"
Eyes. do" responded the younger
man.
"Been in the war?"
"No. but / have often sat in the
parquet while the gallery gods were
munching peanuts."-Detroit Tribune.