davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1912-02-24

1t is almost time to expect them,
and how eagerly they are greeted as
the first sign of spring. No matter
how bleak and drear a winter may be,
pussy willow knows when the time
arrives for her to put in her appear
ance. She whispers to herself, Inc
sunshine warns my veins and SENDS
thrill of life and energy to the very
tips of my roots and branches. 1t is
time for me to arouse from my winter
slumber and begin putting forth my
buds. The little children love me
dearly and they will soon come in
search for me. | must not disappolnt
them, for I love the little folk as well
as they love me. How tenderly they
stroke the soft fur of my pussie! |
like to feel the touch of their fingers
as they handle me and hold me to
their rosy cheeks and compare the
size of my catkins with those they
have oulled in other years. They say
each year that these are the largest
pussies ever grown, that they never
saw such lovely pink tints on any
others, and the dears DO not realize we
are hlushing from pride and pleasure
a. their praise. We want the world
to be brighter and happier for our be-
ing in it, and though we must soon
give way to the flowers of the fields,
we will improve the little time allot-
tea to us for doing our share of the
worlds work" So talked pussy willow
as she awakened in the clear, frosty
air and realized that the sap was ris-
ing in her veins. and her years work
must begin.
But it is a human Pussy Willow
nh | oil a
Quainted just now. Her real name was
Prudence Willoughby, given her by her
old aunt, Patience. in memory Of a
dearly loved parent. whose name she
desired to perpetuate. But Prudence
did not seem to suit the wee little
girl baby, and it was shortened into
Pussy for a pet name, and, as soon
as she became old enough to mingle
with other children, they quickly
turned Willoughby into Willow, and
so it turned out that little Miss Pru-
dence was known to all the neighbor
hood as Pussy Willow.
In her case, the name fitted the
child as no other could have done.
Shy, retiring. yet courageous withal,
her gentle ways and smooth temper
c0rresponded to her name. She was
thu only daughter, and a great pet with
nef three OlQet brothers, VINO Nl6u
with one another in their devotion to
Pussy No child WAS ever so perfect
in the eyes Of parents, and Aunt
Patience, who was member Of the
family, could see no fault In her favor
lite niece.
Even her coloring took the pussy
willow tints. A soft rosy flush adorn-
ed her cheeks, and as she grew older
she was often dressed in combina-
tons Of soft grey and pink, which were
her favorite colors. The bright reds
and blues worn by the other girls IL
the community were not for her, MOI
the gay plaids in which they delight
ed. She went about like a demurt
Quakeress in long coat and close hoo(
of light grey, and lovely picture she
afforded in the opinion of those whC
knew her best.
So she grew to maidenhood and tool
her place in the quiet gaieties of hel
native village, where she easily be-
came the leader in many pleasan
work for others. Seifshness was un
known to her, and often a kind deeC
Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1912-02-24

o.-can you explain the first six
verses of the fifth chapter of James?
g. G. S.
Answer.-This is a prophecy rOIat-
ing to the last days" Verse 81 ana
is contrary to the expectations of
many Christian people who are antIci-
pating the worlds conversion to
Christianity before the second coming
Of the Lord. This is a elear-cut state
ment of the Apostle describing the
conditions that would exist in the last
times. Had he been living in these
times he could not have described the
situation of affairs in the world more
accurately or concisely. Is it not true
that treasures have been heaped to-
getherT' II Is said that one man con-
trolls directly or indirectly more than
S16,oO0,0O0, and that another individ-
ual has given away over 5000, 900,
Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1912-02-24

and yet has not touched the principal
Of his wealth. Are not the rich men
living in pleasure; and are they not
'Wanton" vagance-luXurious in
their ways of living? Verse 81 Elk
pensive palaces. yachts, automobiles,
jewels, balls, banQuets, and various
forms of amusement are aggravating
the poor and unemployed to such an
extent that they are crying out; and
these cries" (verse A. have swelled
into a mighty volume and find express
sion throughout all the public press
Do not all intelligent people know that
the vast accumulation of wealth has
been brought about mainly by fraud"
(verse a? 1t is the farming class,
1.-THE laborers who have reaped down
your fields that are the real wealth
producers of the world, and these are
the ones who have been defrauded the
most by the political and financial
Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1912-02-24

The United States supreme court
has decided that a wealthy society
woman need not pay something like
si10,s35 customs duties on an imported
$40. 600 necklace, holding that un-
strung pearls, although drilled, do not
constitute a necklace" This ought
10 let US all out, says the st. Adams
Messenger Send the cut and sewed
garment and the buttons in over the
line separately. and. according to law
we do not import a pair Of pants.
Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1912-02-24

Now my neiahber, Brown, hearty
and matter of fact man, asks in per-
feet good faith wherein the sense of a
custom like this may lie. What is the
justification for fasting, he asks. And
the few considerations I present to
Brown may interest a larger audience.
Probably an occasional and judicious
regimen of fasting on hygienic grounds
alone would benefit a good many of us,
to suggest one immediate and practical
advantage of the custom. Among the
more fortunately situated of the popu-
lation at least the harm resultant from
stuffng is greater than that from
starving. To put wholesome check
on the stomach even though it be for
only a part Of the year would prove a
genuine health measure for thousands
of Americans.
But Brown, admitting as much as
this still presses his inquiry as to tho
distinctively religious value of the Gus
| tom. l confess there is perfunctory
view of the matter sometimes obtain
| ing which seems to me without found
alton, The attitude, for instance, which
permits one form of healthful food as
| being religiously allowable while an
other form, equally healthful, is con
J denned as being religiously offensive
| does not appeal to my Judgment. Or
| this point the jocose query Of Jona-
than Swift would seem to be unanswer-
able,
| Who can believe with common senss
| A bacon slice gives God 0ffense;
| Or how a herring has q charm
| Almighty vengeance to disarm?
Wrapped UP In majesty divine,
Does He regard on what we dine?
But fasting. as a symbol of spiritua
Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1912-02-24

frauds of the times. Pity the poor
rich (verse u in the coming time OF
trouble such as was not since there
was a nation" CMatthew xiv. 2D, for
theirs will be a season of special sor-
row and anguish of mind when all
the accumulated wealth will become
vaIueIess. Verses ? and 3.
Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1912-02-24

Have you ever had real earnest de-
sire to set things to going right in your
society or town? Most all Of us have
yearning spells when we would be
willing to pull the labor oar for right
if we only knew where to begin. Well,
do not get the notion that charity is
the only thing which should begin al
home for it is not. Didn't 1t ever
dawn upon your mind that things
would be better if you were better
We are all prone to think everything
would be better if the other fellows
were better. We all have little habit
of overlooking the chief of sinners. On
occasion, when ! have wanted things
different, have made myself different
and 1t wasn't necessary to ask the 9TH
er fellow TO be different, for changed
conditions seemed to lure him into bet
ter ways without spoken word, There
is a lot of such work done in the shops
and factories and churches, and the
mass never seem to know how II was
done. 1t is simply a demonstration
of the power Of love through self con-
troll and a righteous heart The great
est power known to science makes the
least noise.
Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1912-02-24

The movement to have the govern
ment withdraw its sovereignty over
the Philippine islands in 1916 is OPP
posed by the leading democratic papers
Of New England.
Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1912-02-24
SUNDAY MORNING TALK
THE FAST OF THE SPIRIT.

The observance Of Lent just at hand
is general enough to command some at
tention even from those not particular
" concerned. Even il one be not a
churchman himself, he doubtless has
among his associates some who are,
and can hardly avoid certain impress
sions of this season of religious de-
voutness. The church bells ring and
services are multiplied There is some
moderating Of the round of social gal
ETY..
of the population observe, during these
40 days, prescribed periods of fasting.
They refrain from certain kinds Of
food on certain days and on certain
days they eat practically no food at all.
They honor that old conviction, en-
bodied in the church's programme in
ancient and modem times. that the
life of the spirit thriyes best when the
body Is denied.
Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1912-02-24

The brother-in-law and son-in-law
Of Roosevelt are reported as positively
for President Taft's denomination,
This makes the mystery Of Sycamore
Hill all the more mysterious.
Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1912-02-24

There is a law before the Canadian
parliament requiring every infant shall
be vaecinated before it is four months
old. because infants are a menace to
health
Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1912-02-24

When a woman asks a male &C
quaintance how her new hat looks, he
usually pulls himself together for a
flow of honeyed words.
Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1912-02-24

The dairymen of Canada say that
the industry does not pay one per cent.
on the money invested; and Canada
has Just imported $4,000 worth of
butter from Australis
Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1912-02-24

The Charleston News and Courier
says Those people who think that
solicitor McCabe Is going to be put
ont Of the department Of agriculture
1l not know who his friends are"
Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1912-02-24

The superior court of Ohio has ruled
that the dictagraph is a competent
witness. This keeps it in court.
Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1912-02-24

II so many people did not pray for
things that would not be good for
them, there might be more evidence of
prayers answered.
Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1912-02-24

When it comes to the As stars in the
flag they all shine with the same mag
nitude. The original thirteen are lost
in the galaxy.
Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1912-02-24

II is recalled to mind that Theodore
was not so pronounced upon the tar
if when he was president as he might
have been.
Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1912-02-24

Southern New England has not fully
gotten into the winter Of 1912. We are
free from snow while they are snow
balling one another in Texas.
Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1912-02-24

A marble bust of Commander Peary
is to grace the Museum Of Natural
History in New York. Who can see
it without being reminded Of Dr..
Cook?
Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1912-02-24

The statement that Washington was
only opposed to three consecutive
terms hasn't the endorsement Of the
Father of Our Country.
Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1912-02-24

Those who have spread butter thin
have forced down the market. Keep
it thin and the price will stay down.
Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1912-02-24

They say IF Governor Wilson uses
all the safety razors that have been
given him, somebody else is going to
capture the barber vote"
Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1912-02-24

RooseveH's declaration that his hat
is in the ring makes one class of
citizens feel like shouting; fright you
are, old SPORT"
Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1912-02-24

The Ottawa Citizen says: Governor
Foss Of Massachusetts, has pardoned 81
prisoners, including II murderers. And
yet we wonder at crime in the United
States"
Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1912-02-24
Bible Question Box

Your Bible questions Will he m
RTeEed In these columns or By mail
IL seat TO our Bible Question Box
Edit0r,
Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1912-02-24

Let fasting be a matter Of the spirit
and not an outward form merely
Whether you eat meat or eat fish, OBJ
serve all the. appointed days or observe
none of them, be Jealous at least tC
refrain from any habit mental, or ply
steal, which in your better moments
you know to be injurious. Refrain
from speaking unkindly of your neigh
boT refrain from envious or impure
thoughts refrain from taking unfair
advantage in business or sport, refrain
from books that merely parade evil
cease from neglect of those means
OF spiritual culture that have always
made men strong. This is the kind O.
fast that will do the whole world good
A poet Of three centuries ago, Rober
HerriclS, puts it pretty plainly:
Is this a faste-to keep
The larder leane and cleane
From fat or veales and Sleeper
Is it to quit the dish
| OF flesh, yet still to fill
The platter high with fish?
No; tbs taste to dole.
/ Thy sheaf Of wheat and meat
/ Unto the hungry soule.
To show a heart grief rent
To starVe thy sin, not bin
And that's to keep thy Lent.
THE PARsoN.
Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1912-02-24

1t doesn't make any odds how
much we differ on the ten greatest
Americans; it is generally allowed
that Edison belongs in the list.
Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1912-02-24

In Maryland the girl who can en-
terrain a man in the kitchen as well
as in the parlor seems to take the
cake.
Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1912-02-24

Happy thought for today: Forget
what you fear and set your mind upon
what you love.
Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1912-02-24

Truth is one of the things which can
not be polluted hence, the source Of
truth is not open to suspicion. Truth
always has and always will express
itself in mysterious ways. No man,
no race, no nation, can claim to pos
sess all truth and speak with truth
Receiving a new truth has been said
to be adding a new sense to ones self
and new sense would be oftener add
ed ware men what they profess to be
instead of something else.
What makes a child more welcome
in howell than i'll a palace? In the
natural order of things it seems as If
the place for children to multiply is
where there is the most comfort and
the largest opportunity for them; but
we notice that the largest families in
this country are being reared by men
and women in the tenements. Love
and misery appear to walk hand in
hand oftener than they should but
they do not walk in vain. From novels
have risen presidents, and from waits
gathered from the streets have come
governors and statesmen. By an UNI
written Jaw, the boy born lowest down
seems to be endowed with most talent,
and to be blessed with the greatest
energy and persistence. The child born
with a golden spoon in its mouth lies
In the lap of luxury and gets a mis-
conception Of real life; but the boy
born to hardship soon learns what he
gets he must work for. The early i'm
pressions Of life make the man and
those who think 1t a downy bed of
ease are too often doomed to find it
hard board and dry crust.
Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1912-02-24

When they we're selecting the TWEEN
ty-fiVe most beautiful words in the
English language recently, "accommo-
dating was nver thought of. Per-
haps you see no reason why it should
have been; but you must admit that
it is first cousin to kindness, and
both are related to love, which did get
into the list, so it must be admitted to
belong to a beautiful race 1t may
seem to you that man is the most ac-
commodating creature on earth: but it
took Jersey colored man to find out
that chickens are the most accommo-
dating things God has created, for he
said Chickens is SO accommodating I!
Dey's so accommodating. sur, yo' can
eat 'em befo' dey's bawn, an yo' can
eat EN- ahftah dey's ded." Looking upon
the word in this light it does seem to
ante-date itself and then lap over. 1t
viii get dollar for man who hasn't
earned 1t, but 1t seldom aids the man
who earned it to get 1t back. The Jer-
sey negro appears to have discovered
the full extent Of the words elastic
ity.
Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1912-02-24

This is a timely notice: There will
not be any great change in the style
Of strawberry boxes this year, The
bottoms will be worn high as usual
Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1912-02-24

Kansas is contemplating the enact
ment Of law which makes misrep-
resentation through advertising a
crime There is no doubt that it is
Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1912-02-24

A Chicago man has been sent to
Jail for snoring This shows what
constitutes petty crime in the city
~ the~faIe.
Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1912-02-24

humility, as suggesting abandonment
Of pride and resoIute conquering Of
the flesh has an, abundant justification.
II is simply a denial of the body that
the spirit may have a chance. II keep
my body UNDER said the great char
acter we know as the Apostle Paul
He would not allow physical appetites
to permit the body to master the soul.
And it will be sorry day for the
world when men generally refuse to
follow that example, declining to make
any physical sacrifice for the greater
good Of clear moral vision, of a spirit
ually sensitive mind
Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1912-02-24
EDITORIAL NOTES.

II poverty is disease, no one dare
ascribe its origin to the microbes in
our money.
Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1912-02-24

The man who wrote do not let
yourself be carried away by enthusi-
assn unless you have return ticket"
knew what he was talking about
There is danger in enthusiasm, even
if it be true that nothing great has
ever been achieved without it. It is a
force that is as contagious as the
measles, and it means accomplishment
whether the project 1t is used to pro-
mote is the advancement of truth or
the promotion of yillainy. 1t has been
sometimes a blessing, and sometimes a
curse to communities and nations. 1t
is a good thing under control; but a
perverted energy when it fires a mob
and leads men to unjust and dishonor-
able acts. There is no return ticket
when one is carried away in such a
manner-there is no coming back 1t
matters not about man-made laws,
since man dishonored by brutal pas
sions cannot get back where he was.
Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1912-02-24
There are a great many WAYS TO ruin

There are great many ways TO ruin
a town as well as TO skin cat 1t
is not the man who hurrahs the loud
est who is the darling citizen. The
wellbeing of town does not rest in
such n campaign for progress as Nor
witch has recently been through The
WELL being of a town must rest per-
manently upon the moral character
and integrity of it's citizens. Little
commissions now and then in good
cause are commendable. town in
which the standard Of manhood is not
gaining is in a bad way; so Is the
town where the per cent. Of untrust-
worthy citizens are constantly increas-
ing. The men who make a town are
the men who live orderly and econom-
ically, who trade at home and pay
their bills promptly, who promote pub
lie improvements and who are willing
to be taxed for the betterment Of ev-
cry good thing. The good citizen Is
always at the door of service and the
post of duty with 100 cents on a dol
lar to meet every demand upon him.
Ii takes a live man to keep the door
of the mind open. Some men have a
mortal fear that evil may creep in
and they will be undone, so they keep
the door shut unless the truth comes
to them accompanied by some one to
identify it, or vouch for 1t, before it Is
made welcome. They do not seem to
know that where Timidity is made the
sergeant at arms the real truth gets
shunted aside altogether too often. i
| the revelators of the Scriptures had
not kept the door OF their minds wide
| open, releyaton would have been gar
| bled Mankind has not been told this
: guarded truth would make him free
Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1912-02-24
THE MAN WHO TALKS

There are too many folks living sec
ond-hand lives. These people are
moved more by what other people may
think or say than by the promptings
of honest convictions. In fact, most
of them do not have any convictions
except those ready made, or framed
for them. Whether they follow good
or evil guidance they do not do any
thinking to speak of for themselves.
Such living is not the fruit of en-
lightenment, but the flower of stupid
ity. 1t is up to every person not only
to be a good trail finder, but relia-
bic trail maker. The seed others SOW
must bring forth something of and
for ourselves The power to absorb
is significant Of the sponge-the power
to give forth the power of the cleo
trio battery The more man puts
into life, the more he gets out of it.
No man is fully alive who is uncon-
scious Of the sustaining power Of God
every day.
Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1912-02-24

1t seems as if the world was ad-
vancing more and more as the old
Sunday go-to- meeting face is fading
away as a symbol of piety. 1t used
TO be a real serious thing; but now
look at it. If it is taken as anything
more than Old-fashioned foolishness it
must be in a very remote country viii
lage where its uselessness has not been
discovered. To the best of folks, now
adays, who live near to God every
day is Gods day, and they know that
without His boEntiful sunshine and
showers man could neither exist nor
subsist on the earth. The Ruler of
the universe is contributing to the
well-being Of His children every day
in a most material way; and enough
is provided for all. The men who
shout loud in prayer to their Heavenly
Father do not appear to know that he
can read the inmost thoughts of their
hearts every hour, and that many
prayers are too earnest to ever be ex-
pressed in words. The mystery of
Goodness is past finding out, but the
practical effects of it are what will
bring abiding peace to the nations and
e-establish on earth paradise.
Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1912-02-24

There is more or less of mix-up in
this world upon theories and facts;
and too few persons appear to know
the point at which theory ends and
the fact is born. 1t may be a theory
TO you that heaven is within you; but
this is not theory to the man who
has had a true spiritual birth, for the
moment he realized the truth where
theory stood, there stood a fact; and
facts are immovable, so the theory has
faded away for ever. Theory is the
forerunner of fact, and Tryon Edwards
declared Facts are Gods arguments;
we should be careful never to misun-
derstand or pervert Them Yet, men
who are blinded by passion or preju
dice will fail to recognize facts, and
will talk Of theory long after it has
ceased to be theory 1t is theory to
them because they will not have it any
other way. This perversity was what
gave rise to the proverb that None
is so blind as those who have eyes
to see and will not see!' Too many
do not want to know the truth if 1t
cannot he squared by their measure,
which is wrong.