davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1908-09-09
I535SElQg
zs8H!S
Tho catk,ns.

ne Catkino. IN,
Il every pussy willow were
A kitten soft and gray
{ When snowflakes fell upon their fur
What would those pussies say?
Each tiny paw. despairingly,
Would clutch the slender bough,
And every little kit would cry,
Meow! Meow! Meow!"
But when the sunshine came again
And April days grew warm,
I'm sure that all the pussies then
Would quite forget the storm,
And stretch out all along the stem
To dry their silken fur. q
While every single one OF them
Would purr and purr and purr.
And II the children. full OF glee
At pets Of such q kind,
Ran toward the pussy willow tree.
What do you think they'd find?
Why every pussy from her place
Would spring to share the fun,
And through the fields a merry race
=
Would RIM and run and run.
Mary A. Thompson, in Youths Com
panion.
THE STORY OF MUssENToUCHIT
BY the time baby was twelve
months old she had learned many
things. She could say kitty" to the
little soft furry ball OF a cat, and
"tove' and "burn. for once she had
put her hand against the hot stove
and she never forgot the pain Of
the big blister that came on the dell
cate flesh, and she knew the moon
and the stars and the trees.
About this time she heard long
queer word many. many times day
The word was Mussentouchit
Baby wondered who Mussentouchtt
could be. The strange thing lived In
the bureau drawers. Baby knew
that, for the moment she got her lit
tie busy hands into mama's drawer,
somebody would say. "Mussentouch,
IT.
1t lived in the seA fng-machine. Foe
, the moment baby set the wheel go
ing. "Mussentouchit" was Dreamed in
her ear.
It lived In the tall jar that stood
on the little round stand. Every.
body in the room shrieked "Mussen
touchit. when baby put up her hand
to touch the jar
In the corner Of the parlor there
was glass globe half filed with
water. In the globe lived three lit.
tie goldfish. Baby was very fond OF
climbing into chair to see the tiny
goldfish dart across the pretty lake.
But, whenever she put her fingers in.
to the globe to touch one of the pref
~ creatures, somebody screamed
"Mussentouchit."
This went on till baby was two
years old. There was no word she
( heard SO often as the long, queer
word, "Mussentouchit."
Mussentouchit was everywhere-in
the shining books on the parlor
table; In the fower-beds: among the
roses: even in mama's work-basket
the strange thing lived, and, II baby
but took up reel Of silk or cotton
there was "Mussentouchit."
n One day baby found herself by the
glass globe all alone. The family
were busy, and for a few minutes for
got the little. prying, restless darling
This was her chance. Up went the
chubby legs into the chair that stood
near the goldfish globe. Poised on
the rounding cushion. baby reached
far over to touch the goldfish. In
reaching, she lost her balance and
fell, dragging the globe to the floor
There was q crash. a scream. a rush
and mama was on the spot. Baby
was picked up, kissed, and scolded.
Il dess I titled ole Mussentonchit
Is time" she said, shaking herself
and walking off.-M. F. Butts, in Wide
Awake.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1908-09-09

A farmer had a very sagacious dog
which he had trained to count his
sheep as they passed through a partic-
suiar opened gate, against which pile
Of stones were placed for the dogs use.
As each sheep passed through the dog
placed one Of the stones aside. One
day, much to the farmers surprise, he
found the dog trying to break stone
III half, and on himself counting the
fock he found there had been an ad.
dition In the night of a lamb.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1908-09-09
Crowded Solitude.

Here is an extract from the pros:
pectus Of a hotel in Switzerland:
...Weissbach is the favurit place Of re-
sort for those who are fond OF soil.
tude. Persons in search OF Solitude
are, in fact. constantly flocking here
from the four quarters of The globe
London Tatler.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1908-09-09

In haste picks up the poison bottle in
mistake for another potion he will b
quickly appraised Of the fact by the
stickers on the bottle. These stickers
win naturally inform him at once that
he has the wrong bottle, causing him to
drop It hastily and continue his search.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1908-09-09
what it's kracked up tn bee. wud
Civ wun of my fore quarterz fer 4 drink
ofswater but ges kin stand IT awhyel

got to thinker that II 1 snud lie
for want. of water ;:the kids at- aknle
wud fele purity bad nm maybe susen
REvens wid put the wrethesi civ .ier
for Krtstmes on my graz an maybe
they wnd fire on a salut over my gray
thinkin' that 4 dide game an with my
,butes on az the Teller who kot killed
BY Dix Of Egle Pas did.
It must be an awfel long ways tn
arizona. &. r
am mitey tired setln' down tn. a
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1908-09-09
IN cHERRY.T1ME.

SIItluS IN Tue W6ll-SQ&QeQ hammock
near the front gate sat Edna-Louise,
fat rosy Edna-Louise, in white frock
and pink sash and great big pink
butterfly bow tying back her curls.
holding q dainty little splint basket
from which che was eating ripe red
cherries as fast as she could, and
awaiting for father.
Standing under the maple-tree Just
outside the gate were Jimmie and
Polly Ryan, waiting for mother, who
had gone into the house next door fot
"the wash. lame little Jimmie and
slight, pale. Observation-Disclosures little
Polly, with both her thin and rather
cloudy little hands clasping the iron
fence ratings and looking with large,
soft. hungry black eyes at Edna
Louise eating her cherries.
Edna-Louise's basket was empty;
there were no cherries left but her
four earring" cherries four large
red luscious globes Of sweetness grow
ing two by two on double stems. Ed
na-Louise popped two OF them into
her round little, red mouth.
but the other two she could
not eat. she really had no room
left for them. So she held them out
between thumb and foretinger to Pol
ly at the gate, and said. Want cher.
ry?o
Did she?! 1olly's peaked little face
| grew rosy-red with pleased surprise,
With bashful nod and grateful
glance she took the fruit, gave one Of
the cherries to Jimmie while she ate
the other; and. turning to the tired.
looking woman dressed in faded
black. who just then came out OF the
adjoining area-way. she threw both
arms around her and cried out de-
llightedly. 20 Nanny, we had some
cherries, Jimmie and me" Kate
Hudson in the Christian Register.
FRANKS BIRTHDAY GIFT.
"Oh." said Helen, Is she found her
little brother Frank one day in the
pantry. What are you doing and
how did you get in here?"
4 found the key" said Frank.
sAnd what are you doinE?"
Tasting everything i cam" said
her brother. Il have tried all the
JAM Jelly and have eaten two bis
cults and five figs and a piece of cake
and some gingerbread and"
"oh. you musn't, = cried Helen.
What makes you such naughty
boy? You will be sick"
No. l WON'T" replied Frank, help
ing himself to another piece Of cake.
you certainly WILL" said Helen.
"and what a foolish boy you are when
you know you can have all these
nice things at your birthday supper
tonight. Come right away with me- y
I'm going to have some mince Pile
first said Frank.
Quick; here comes mother, /" cried
his sister, and Frank hurried away.
1t was not long before Franks
mother found him very sick and he
had to take some bitter medicine and
be put to bed while HIS little guests
enjoyed the good things at the birth
day supper. Your niece.-Lillie Hur-
tie in the Brooklyn Eagle.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1908-09-09
a JAPANESE HOME.
Lack Of Ornament and Extraordinary
Cleanlineass Mako the Charm.

Lack Of Ornament and Extraordinary
Cleanliness Make the Charm.
we ended our pleasant day by be.
m9 taken % see the houses and gar
dens of MT. lwasaki, . magnate OF
TOXIC. our most having arranged the
Visit beforehand. After long drive
IN : landau, which was driven by q
Japanese coachman CARRIED In q dark
blue kimono and mushroom hat. with
9 pelto. or groom, dressed N the
same way, on the box, We came to
the two houses. One was European.
fuM o., me things, while the other,
IN which the former lived, was jap
anese. Having removed our shoes,
We were taken over 3it. Wish I could
describe ITS Vaccinations; but where
there were no ornaments, no furni-
ture, no pictures save q kakemorn
here and there, no curtains, no color
anywhere. ttsis dificult to say where
IN lay the charm.
And yet It was charming. The flne-
ness Of the mating. the beauty OF
workmanship OF the woodwor the
lacquer frames OF the screens, which
We're 30 adjusted that they parted at
q touch without = SOUND. the extraord-
mary cleanliness everywhere, and,
above all the different little courts
on which the rooms looked were
delightful. The bathroom particular
Ily pleased me- Made Of some light:
-
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1908-09-09
~~e~~eeo~.

~
There are couple Of awful bores
at my club" Indeed! who is the
other7"
Child Cook, come quick, the nursery's
anre Cook-What goes on In the
nursery Is no affair Of mine. Tell the
governess.
Landlady-You make an awful noise
with that flute. SBoarler-Well. Pin
sorry to hear 1t. Landlady-so's ev.
erybody else.
! notice that you always sit at your
wife's left, Mr.. Meggs." "Yes," frank
y replied Mr.: Meggs; that's the side
her glass eye is on
Candid Friend You will have to
work hard to win the helress. Impecu-
MUS One I'm have to work a jolly
sight harder II don't.
Poet-Well. the publishers have finally
accepted one of my poems. Frank
Friend Out of gratitude you ought
never to submit them another.
Nell-Love doesn't seem to agree
with Maude. She is thinner by twenty
pounds than she used to be. Belle
She has loved and lost, eh7-Tlt- Bits.
Suppose lend you the. money you
want, how do know that l shall ever
see It again?" SIS the word Of an hon.
est man worth anything?" -Oh, Of
course! Bring him to metz
Dawson-The facial featnres nlain,y
indicate character and disnos,t,on In
selecting your wife. were YOU governed
by her chin? spenlow-No; but have
been ever since we married.
First Landlody-.r mano.a 70 .eon
my boardera longer than Wv, ID g.
ond I.andladv-O i do,,t snam W.,
keep them 80 thin that thsn Loot ,onaa.
than they really are,-Tit.Bits
Mrs. Nevhore hon.h4 !. ~, ,,,,,,..
Of mn,,c for NV ,,on,,,eas = , L.. p 20
81 tbInk sba,l, nosta. - 80. - p o.. ..s s
irving all a,tarnnon Mss pann. 80
she wos vary - poarso .ss W. !. ~.
.,,.. p,.,.,L 80 :
vonth ..te,, ~. j. &c. sne A ~.
ms,. az oan,. .a - sao,. ans nope lul
cal o,r,. ..vo,, ,,,,.s. ,,a..,. ~ 49,.
.vner+ hora,a.s ns,.,..ss . .es
M. -, 's Ne"s
80. ~ a. "N. leenaerins ms resls.
a a Ia, ~ sr, us tne missus
=. tan.,., - que sol in'sr Tue aoit
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1908-09-09
mite Sc me. I fist wanted her tn let
the folks know ! kud live without there

me folks know | kud live without there
vittels,
walkt past the hous twice. nobody
seemed to notes me. | waz Just goin
around the korrer to grosery when /
run rite into pc. lie wasn't ezey be-
Klaus we wuz iii the strete. he waz
NURSE than ole everett True ever will
get.
when ! got in tn hous waz put in
the bath tub an wasn't tire timez wuns
with hot water an twice with cold.
even the dog CROWD at me- sat the
supper label the folks were quiet
felt like an toutEast. but after / he'd
gone tn bed sno.her KUN up an put
her ar1nz around ME an we talkt it
over an ! ges everything is square now
an ! am goln tu church tomorrer.-
Cincinnati Post.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1908-09-09

tax the milk in. i waz In hopes susen
mite know It waz me. / hammered the
.bak dore. maid a big raket.
finely ! herd sum wun say now git
him Towser. run. bette the dog
to the wagon. the boss waz aslepe
the horsez got skared at the dog and
run. the boss fell out. the horses run
long ways. when they stopt l crawl.
ed from under the wrek an run thru .
park.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1908-09-09
NAY SAVE MANY LIVES.

stickers ON Hottie warnins It Cons
tains Poison.
Az long as people, through careless
mesa or otherwlse, will continue to ad-
minister poison In mistake for medi-
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1908-09-09
SATURDAY..

its purity hard to hay the polise on
yer trak. al morning I lodged them,
one big cop got me. but tole him that
! wurked rite around the corner an kud
prove It. the bluff worked. but my
heart Wac in my mouth.
! tried for wurk at several phases
= kudent get OBJ. every thing lukt
dark to me.
finally ! deslded to walk past our
hous in the alley. figured the kuk
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1908-09-09

anyhow. I ses they vii wisht they had b!
ben respecktfel ter me when they here
how hey got up In the world after
awhyel an am rich an own lots Of
.houzez. am on termorrer fer nevada
tu get rich digen gold. hev bin wateh--
en- car bein loded to go to airizona
an ! kin walk the rest OF the way. q
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1908-09-09

Prohibitionist ParapAraae.
what we want now" said one M.
hibition campaigner, ais some pic
turesque title for our candidate, such
as 1t Is now customary to give the head
Of the ticket"
Every true" replied the other.
why not refer to him as the peerless
leader? Washington Star.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1908-09-09
Frank b Raynclr. 4 life saver al one

Frank B. Rayncr. a life saver at one
Of the New York stations. can have
any ONCE in the gift Of President
Roosevelt that he can I'LL, and with.
out bothering his head with civil
service.
King Edward VII is the most heav.
ily insured man alive.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1908-09-09
TuEsDAY'

TUESDAY. ~
! must hev KUN an awfel ways last
mite In this car for; 1t bumped around
q mite. Its kold in here but there is
some straw around the boxes SO \ ges
4 kan kepe warm for ! hev my mind
maid up. tn stick 1t out.
but etin' cold sausee an bred ain't
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1908-09-09

II o man wishes to marry woman
forty years old, should he ask hee
father for her?
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1908-09-09

The manager-I don't exactly like
the way you have drawn your tramp.
You make him talk like stock broker.
The playright-Well, that's all right
this year, amt it7- Cleveland Plain
Dealer.
Ever notice how many, things there
are III the shop windows TINT you have
no earthly use for? VI.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1908-09-09
WEDNESDAY,

II l he'd knowd that the car waz
bein bumped al round the raleroad
yards wud not hev gone thursty al
day an mite. when got out at last ]
found that 4 NJ rite here at home al
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1908-09-09

Y 10 : =
that's rsspecktabel an he put me es
wurk fedin kowz.
4 ! never did lik kow9 much. they arc
al rite in summer tn LUX at. but new
er did llk tn wurk around them. ifels
that erned my daley brede today. !
wurked hard enuf.
the mllkman haz nice dauter. /
tole her wunst today that expect to
be King or somethin' some day. l tole
her ! expected to go al round the wurld
some dry an she buged out her eyer.
found a button In one poket that
susen CIV me las woke an believer her
tikel tn my love Civ 1t to this girl. I
tole her that she Is dreme an thai
she wud LUX wei in a manshun Tx mins
is tn be an after super she Civ me
two doughnuts. etc wun. the other
is for my piller tn slepe on.
the boss drove me to bed at Z oklock.
the life of some wurken men Il hard.
FRIDAY.
the boss made me git up way In the
mite We had got to town with the
wagon waz on before Owl carr wac
runen. It was cold an krepy. I kinder
visit that kud 60 tn skule agen but
! dident let on tho. | know Dgle Pete
alwayz kept stiff upper lip.
the lnilkman stopt often at places
wher he went inside wnnst bum
KUN up tn the wagon an askt for milk
! tole him that waz brave man
altho small an he lated but he wax
bluff al rite but ! waz skared al rite.
finely we KUN mere our hous. but
we don't take milk Of the man wurked
FOR SO wasent much skared.
but we kun tn Susen evens hous and
] tole the boss he waz cold an wud
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1908-09-09
PRINCESS ELvIRA's THREE
4 TRIALS

Elyira was princess. and. when q
mere baby, had been engaged to the
The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1908-04-16
SCATTER DUST IN MIDocEAN
LATEST FUNERAL FAD.
Manager of Cremation Company
Tells Of Strange Rites, and Shows
Type of Tin Canister That
Is Used.

New York-According to London
cable dispatch published here a wom-
an passenger on the latest eastward
bound trip of the Lucania scattered an
urn full Of human ashes III midocean
and obtained certificate from the
captain to the effect that she had
done So
Though no names were mentioned
in the story, the woman was quoted
as having said the ashes were those
Of prominent New York business
man, who had directed that his re.
mains be thus disposed of and had
specified the Lucania because it had
been his favorite vessel. It was rep
resented that the time Of the mid-At-
lantic ceremony was observed most
carefully as relatives Of the deeedent
were to attend a simultaneous me
mortal service in New York. The
woman departed for this city on the
Lucania's return trip.
When the cable dispatch was shown
to the manager of the United States
Cremation company he said.
Without some clew to the name it
would be quite impossible for us to
identify the case referred to. Such
midocean ceremonials are by no
means so uncommon as they once
were 1t is not at all unusual now
for some man or woman who has
been a traveller to request that such a
disposition be made Of his or her
mortal remains The idea which ap
peals to them seems to be that at the
viii Of ocean winds and currents, on
the billowy surface of the element
they had loved best in life, they shall
continue their travels after death.
I'VE have a sealed tin canister
which we " for that purpose; It has
considerable buoyancy and will re
4aain afioat for some time"
The manager exhibited one Of these
receptacles It was painted a dull
black, and its sole decoration was q
number stenciled upon it in white
Cylindrical in form, it was about eight
inches deep by six in diameter.
Not infrequently," the manager
continued, 1T has been the wish Of
the decedent that his ashes be permit
ted to sink to the bottom of the sea
In that case the canister is weighted
But on the other hand, the desire
sometimes is that the ashes be al
lowed to remain afioat at the will Of
the elements. Not long ago one ol
The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1908-04-16
TALKS WITH TONGUE CUT OUT.
Fooled Doctors In Reaainlng Powers
Of Speech and Living.

New York-Four years after his
tongue was cut out TO check the
spread OF cancer Thomas Mcguire,
known to theatrical folk throughout
the country as the one-time manager
of the Fourteenth Street and Bijou
theaters IN this city. can talk and
sing and eat solid food much ike 9TH
er people. His case attracted the at
tention OF medical authorities here
and elsewhere several years ago, fol.
lowing the operation upon him on
March 12. 1904
Mcguire says he was given one year
to live by the physicians when the
operation was performed. he had
smoked 20 cigars a day for 20 years
before that The doctors told him he
could never talk again, once his
tongue wac cut out at the roots Sub
sequently he told OF his efforts to
talk after the operation and how they
we're crowned with ultimate success.
II was about a month after the op-
GRAFTON that Mcguire first tried to
talk He said he was thinking how
hard it would be never to talk again
and as he thought he suddenly cried
out loud: I cant stand for that"
Then Mcguire says he knew he
could talk. and he soon surprised his
doctor by doing SO
Mcguire was regarded as physio.
logical wonder and his case aroused
much interest.
The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1908-04-16
Fifteen-Year-old Boy Also Six Feet
Four Inches Tall.

New York.-Charles Lane Of Ben
sonhurst is Is years old and figures
that he has as much license to glide
over the waxed floor in a waltz or
two-step as any man OF his age In
fact, Charles knows he has more
claims, If size counts for anything, to
whirl about to the Merry Widow
Waltz than other men, for he is six
feet four inches high and weighs 1856
pounds.
All week Charles has been getting
away from the Bensonhurst high
school, where he occupies three desks,
to waddle to his fathers tailors. who
have been working day and night with
an extra force of New York clothes
builders to rig the young giant up for
his social debut at the Knights of Co
lumbus charity bali. in Prospect hail.
Brooklyn The task Of molding dress
coat has been laborious. In its pres
ent condition 1t would encircle secre.
tary Taft and Timothy Woodruff and
The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1908-04-16

not good enough for those fellows,
and they call themselves 'morticians'
Now that the matter has been called
to my attention I win bring It up at
the next meeting of the association.
Trading stamps What next?'
The woman who disclosed the trad
lng-stamp scheme entered Rolston's
undertaking establishment accom-
panied by her brother. She appar-
emily was about 40 years old. John
Morris, manager Of the establishment,
noticed that she did not have the
grief-stricken appearance of widows
who come there on a similar errand.
Throwing back the long veil that
hid her face she brushed a tear away
with black bordered handkerchief.
Il might as we'll tell you at the
start" she said to Manager Morris,
that l haven't any money to throw
away on funerals. What I want is
nice. plain casket, not expensive,
but at the same time one that will
look all right | don't want it to look
cheap. for folks probably would talk
about it. Something for about $50, /
think, would be the proper thing"
Mr. Morris showed the widow and
her escort several caskets at the price
named, and they selected one which
the man observed was good enough
for a king"
A brown robe was preferred to a
black one, because the decedent was
partial to the former color. Other de-
tails OF the funeral were arranged,
after which Mr.. Morris asked the
widow and her brother to be seated
in the Office while he took down the
name and address.
1t was at this iuncture that the
woman asked about the trading
stamps.
You've made mistake, madam"
said the undertaken
And you don't give trading
stamps?" she calculated. Well, then,
III go where l can get them. know
two women who buried their husbands
in the last year and the undertaken
gave them trading stamps. They live
on the northwest side. One lady got
a beautiful parlor lamp for her stamps
and the other an onyx top center table.
And you mean to say you don't
give stamps?" Why, the very idea!"
She was still talking about stamps
when she reached the sidewalk.
The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1908-04-16
Great Falls, Mont, People Look tc
Philadelphia for Relief.

Philadelphia. COWBOYS Of the west
know how to fight Indians. corral
horses and cattle and usually deal
quickly and finally with either man or
beast. But in town out in Montana
called Great Falls, the authorities
have acknowledged their inability to
cope with plain, everyday dogs. as is
evidenced by letter characteristic Of
the western brusqueness. which was
received by Chief Deputy Prothono-
tary James w. Fletcher It follows.
Office of the City Engineer Great
Falls, Mont. Mar. z, 19OS.--City Clerk,
Philadelphia-Dear Sir: Your city is
credited with having the most prac-
ticable city ordinance for the regula
ton of dogs Of any city in the United
States. ! would esteem it favor II
you would furnish me with a copy Of
said ordinance. Our city has more
dogs to the square inch of population
than the Holy City of Damascus, and
for every dog executed two more ap-
pear to fill his place. Jack rabbits in
California are not IN it. Our dogs are
licensed renegades, they wear high col
lars covered with brass tags and