davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1916-08-17

had II done, and Peter, VINO had de-
serted Us soon after dinner to play
ball, returned to beg US to take the
boards away, and grew quite unreal
sonable when we refused.
That night there was shower. and
the brook rose a trif1e. When we
fastened down through the orchard
after breakfast the new channel had
curved itself still farther, as streams
do when once they get started off the
straight line, and had washed the
southeast flower bed half away. Stella,
with cry Of grief, ran down the brook
into the pines, and came back with
sadly bedraggled Phlox Drummondi
plants in her hands, their trailing roots
washed white, their blooms broken.
"Horrid brook" she said. Lets put
1t right back into its proper place. l
don't Ike it any more"
"a sudden change of habit is always
dangerous" said I. Put the plants
In the mud somewhere till we can set
'em In again"
We now took away the boards from
the new dam, which had begun to hard
en- nicely. The next thing to do was
to stake out the pool above it. AS the
dam was ten feet below the line be-
tween the proposed bench and the front
door Of the house. the other end Of the
pool was marked off 20 feet upstream,
and between the two extremes we dug
H.
was easily accomplished by chopping
out the turf with a grub hoe and then
hitching Dobbin to the drag scraper.
The soil was a black, loamy sand,
which came up easily and was hauled
over and dumped for dressing on the
When we had the basin excavated to
depth of about a foot, all three Of
US for Peter was once more on the
job scattered to find stones to hold
the banks.
New England farms are additionally
stony-till you want stones. We ended
by taking some here and there from
the stone walls after we had secured
the pasture behind the barn for half
barrowload. When once the circum-
ference of the pool had been ringed
with stones, stood upon edge, we
raked the bottom smooth, sprinkled
clean sand upon it, and were ready to
let the water against the dam as soon
as the concrete hardened. We gave
it one more day, and then shoyeled
away the temporary dam, filled up the
new channel where it turned out of
the DID, and stood beside the dam while
the current, with a first muddy rush.
whirled against it. eddied back, and
began very slowly to rise.
"She holds, she holds!" I cried. "But
we've forgotten to put stones for the
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1916-08-17

water to fall over upon. It VIII under
mine the structure If we don't"
Structure Is good" laughed Stella,
regarding our little six-foot-long and
eighteen-inch-high piece of engineering.
We shouted for Peter, and ran to
the nearest stone wall, Juggling back
some fiat stones, which we placed d.
rectIy below the dam for the overflow
to fall on. Then, while Stella sat on
the bank and watched the water rise,
I shoveled some Of the earth removed
from the basin into the now abandoned
temporary channel and packed It down.
"Say, we can have fish in here"
cried Peter, who was also watching
the water rise.
you can have a four-legged fish,"
laughed Stella, as Buster came down
the bank with gleeful bark and went
splash into the pool emerging to shake
himself and spray US all.
l had scarce finished filing In the
temporary trench, and was setting the
poor uprooted plants back into the bed,
with my back turned, when I heard a
simultaneous shout from Peter and
Stella
Zone, two, three-and over she
goesr' cried Stella.
l faced around just in time to see
the first line of the water crawling
over the top OF the dam, and a second
later it splashed on the stones below;
behind it came the waterfall
Stella was dancing up and down.
"Oh, it's a real waterfallr' she cried.
1--WE got real waterfall all my own!
Come on downstream and look back ct
itv'
From the grove below it certainly
did look pretty, flashing IN the morning
sun. "And when there are iris bios
SONS, great Japanese iris, nodding
over ttr' I exclaimed
'Oh, can't we plant those right
awayT she asked.
NO" said I. Gardens are like
Rome, I'm afraid"
We went back and surveyed our pool
at close range. 1t was clearing now.
But the second pile of earth remained
to be removed from the west side. Pc
ter and 1 carted that off in wheelbar-
rows at once, dumping part Of it into
the hole where we had dug the sand,
and the rest into a heap behind some
bushes upstream for future compost.
Then we climbed the orchard slope for
dinner. Midway we looked back.
There glistened our pool, a twenty-foot
brown crystal mirror, with the four
flower beds all askew about 1t, the
ragged weeds and bushes pressing
them close, and beyond it only the
ground I had cleared with 9
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1916-08-17
scythe, and the scra ggly trees by


"Alas," said I, NOW we've built a
pool, we've got to build q whole gar
den to go with itv'
But it tinkles! Hear it tinker
cried Stella.
We listened, hand in hand The tiny
waterfall was certainly tinkling, a
cool, delicate. plashy sound. which
mingled with the sound of the breeze
in the trees above our heads, and the
sweet tyitterings Of birds.
ooh, John, it's a very nice dam, and
a very nice worldr' she whispered, as
we went through the door. and, after
all, 1t seems to me the greatest fun OF
gardening is all the nice other things
it makes you want to do after you've
done the first one"
THAT" said l sententiously, as per
haps the secret of all successful nv-
ing"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1916-08-17

whispered, pressing her mana penInu
Peters back
Sold a lot O. peas and things" said
Peter. Il got 'em all down in the
book. Gee, I drove over most every
day, an I'm goin' to be on the ball
team in the village, an l wanter join
the Boy Scouts, but ma won't let me
less you say it's all right, an amt
it,"
well think it over, Peter" said 1.
Stella was bouncing up and down on
the seat with excitement as the buggy
ratified over the bridge Lamplight
was streaming from Twin Fires. On
the kitchen porch stood Mrs. Pilig,
dressed in her best, and Mrs Bert and
BERT AS we climbed from the buggy
Bert raised his hand, and a shower
OF rice descended upon US. Stella ran
up the path, and Mrs. Bert's ample
arms closed about her Both women
were half laughing. half crying, when
| got there with the grips.
"Ain't that jest like the sex?" said
Bert, with a jerk of his thumb-"sC
durn glad they gotter cry about it"
"You shet up" said Mrs. Bert "For
all you know, I'm pityin' the poor
chiIdw
Mrs. Pillig had an ample dinner
ready for us, with vegetables and salad
fresh from the garden, and, as a
crowning glory, a magnificent lemon
pie
"This is much better than anything
at Sherry's," cried Stella, beaming
upon her.
We sat long while looking at each
other across the small table, and then
we wandered out into the dewy eve,
ming and our feet took us into the
pines, where in the darkness we
stopped by a now sacred spot and held
each other close in silence. Then we
went back into the south room.
"Oh, if the curtain stuff would only
hurry up and Gomez cried my wife
You must learn patience-Mrs. Up,
ton," said I, while we both laughed
Silly over the title, as others have
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1916-08-17
CHAPTER XIV.
We Build a Pool.

1t was the strangest, sweetest sensa-
ton 1 had ever known to wake in the
morning and hear soft singing in the
room where a fresh breeze was wan
dering. l saw Stella standing at the
window, her hair about her shoulders,
looking out. She turned when |
stirred, came over to kiss me, while
her hair fell about my face, and then
cried, Hurry! Hurry! 1 must get out
into the gardenr'
Presently, hand in hand, we went
over the new lawn to the sundial
which stood amid a ring of brilliant
blooms-which, however, had become
unbelievably choked with weeds in the
ten days Of my absence. The gnomon
was throwing long shadow westward
across the VII. We filed the bird
bath. which Peter had neglected. We
hurried through the orchard to the
brook, to see the flowers blooming
there, and there, alas! we found the
volume of the stream shrunk to less
than half It's former size We ran to
the rows of berry vines to see how
many had survived, and found the
greater part Of them sprouting nicely;
we went Up the slope into the rows Of
vegetables and inspected them; we
rushed to see if all the roses were
alive: we went to the barn. where
Mike had just begun to milk, and
shifted the warm, sweet odor.
Eyes, it's better for any mon to
be married. l heard Mike saying to
her. as 1 moved back toward the door.
Then he added something l could not
hear, and she came to me with rosy
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1916-08-17

done before us, no doubt. Presently
Mrs. Pillig's anxious face appeared at
the door. She seemed DESTROYS Of
speaking, and doubtful how to begin.
what is it, Mrs Pillig?' I asked.
"Well, SIR" she said, hesitantly, ST
suppose now you are married you
won't need me, after ALL" She paused.
81 rented my house," she added.
Need your l cried. why, now l
shall need you more than everV'
She smiled family, still looking du-
bious. Stella went over to her. What
he means is, that I'm a poor goose
who doesn't know any more about
keeping house than Buster does about
astronomy" she laughed. "Of course
you'll stay, Mrs. Pillig, and teach me" "
THANK you, miss-I mean missus."
said Mrs. PiIlig, backing outs
"Be careful" I warned. eff you let
Mrs. Pillig think you're so very green,
she'll begin to boss you
THAT would be a new sensation"
laughed Stella. 81 like new sensations
as much as Peter Pan did. Oh, It's a
new sensation having a home like this.
and living in the country, and smelling
good, cool air and-and having you"
She was suddenly beside me on the
settle. We heard Mrs. PilIig going up
to bed. The house was still. Outside
the choral song of night insects sound
ed drowsily. Buster came softly in
and plopped down on the rug. We
were alone in Twin Fires, together.
and she would not rise to go up the
road to Bert's. She would never go!
So we sat long, long while-and the
rest shall be silence
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1916-08-17
ITO be continued.)

Mrs. B. J. Closuit and sons are Wis
iting with relatives at Green Bay.
Mrs. Percy DAILY has returned from
visit with her parents, Mr. and Mrs.
Hougan at Madison.
Mrs. John Van Henkleon of Samoa.
CAL, former resident of this city is
visiting in the city with friends. She
will visit with friends at Merrill be-
fore returning to California.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1916-08-17
TonIaI furniture was based on the

Ionial furniture was based on the
Greek orders"
We found at last the picture of a
marble bench which could be dupli-
Gated in general outline with wooden
planking, so l telephoned to the lum-
Der dealer in the next town for two "a
inch-wide chestnut planks, and was
fairly staggered by the bill when ii
came. 1t appears that 24-inch-wide
plank nowadays has to come from
North Carolina, or some other distant
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1916-08-17

The first thing we did was to divert
the brook by digging a new channel
above the spot where we were to build
the dam, and letting the water flow
around to the left, close to one of the
flower beds. Then, when the old chan
mel had dried out little, l spaded a.
trench across 1t and two feet into the
banks on each side, and with Peter
helping, filled the trench nearly as full
OF the largest, --LATEST stones we could
find, which we all then tramped upon
stood two boards on edge across the
space, to make a mold for the concrete
above the stones. | sent Peter with a
wheelbarrow to pick up a load of small
pebbles in the road, of the most irreg-
ular shape he could find, and | myself
dug deeper in the hole where had got
the sand when we built the bird bath,
and brought loads Of 1t TO the brock
side. We dumped sand, pebbles and
cement into a blk box. one pail of ce-
ment to one pail Of pebbles and three
Of sand, and Peter and Stella fought
for the hoe to mix them, while poured
IN the water from a watering pot, for
l had read and seen the reason for
the fact that the success Of the cement
depends upon every particle being
thoroughly mixed. AS fast as we had
box full of mixture. prepared, we
dumped 1t into the mold between the
boards. 1t took an astonishing guam
dty Of cement-quite all we had, IN
fact-and to finish off the top smooth
and level had to get the quarter bag
left from my orchard work and the
bird bath. It was evening when we
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-04-26
RAIL STRIKE INQUIRY BEGINS.
4. =. Chamber OF Commerce WRnis
Members Views.

WssHINGroN. April 2j.--The cham
Der OF Commerce of ihe United states
has ordered a referendum sent 10 its
members upon the subject OF the threat
ened strike on railroads in connection
with the demands made by employees
FOR shorter hours and Increased wage
The chamber is urging its members 10
consider the Introduction in Congress Of
a joint resolution directing the Inter
state Comme1 &c Commission to lnNcsti-
gate certain phases OF the question.
As relating 10 the controversy a
statement of the chamber says, the
resolution would direct the commission
TO go thoroughly into the question of
minimum. maximum average wage
paid, with hours of service. To each class
81 railroad employees IN the United
states and So far as they are COM
parable the minimum. maximum and
average, with hours OF service, paid In
other industries where similar skill and
risk are involved the relation II wages
TO railroad revenues. the question of
whether railroad revenues based on en-
suing rates for transportation Will adm
Of equally favorable terms to all classes
of railroad employees and any other
matte In this connection that the com.
mission may deem relevant.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-04-26
CHURCH ROW BEFORE vESTRY.
Holy Apostles Rector Has Legal
Advantage, Even ~ he

Tn row over the election of wardens
and vestrymen which threatens to split
the congregation OF the Episcopal Church
of the Holy Apostles. Ninth avenue and
Twenty-eighth street, was In a deadlock
yesterday, with both sides digging them
selves in for a siege. Each side con-
tends II has elected the only regular
board of vestrymen and wardens, and
insists hat its board will be seated at
the next regular meeting Of vestrymen,
set for May II. At that time the real
test will he made.
The advantage of numerical strength
is claimed by the party headed by James
w. Patterson. a coal merchant of 337
Ninth avenue. The legal advantage il
claimed by the party headed by the rec
tor, the Rev. Or. Henry X. Denlinger,
who maintains that the canons of the
Episcopal Church make the ~rector's rul-
ing in elections final, subject, of course.
to appeal to the Bishop. Or. Denlinger
ruled at the election Monday night that
the slate headed by Louis T.. Schwab
was elected and will be seated unless
Bishop Greer reverses his decision.
Meanwhile the rector holds the ballot
box. which he asserts was stuffed,
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-04-26

Every employer of labor in this dis
trict. particularly those working for
eign labor and manufacturing war mu-
nitions. is Cow fearful Of Il labor war.
\ crowd OF $500 strikers marched
from Turtle CT, Elk TO Wilmeraing to-
night and gathered around the rear gates
Of the Westinghouse airhrake plant
While the marchers Jeer,d and hootei
about Zoe men broke down the larg, iron
gates. entering the plant. After endeav-
urinG to persuade a nunber of workmen
to walk out they left and with the main
body OF marchers returned to Turtle
Creek. Aside from the breaking down
OF the gates no damage was done.
Fred Il Nerrick. Socialist leader. who
formerly published a paper here and who
H. known To have been fomenting trouble
among the Westinghouse employees. was
arrested. Merrick was brought TO Pitts
burg and later released when NJ charge
was brought against him.
II was said here tonight on good III
thority that the United States Steel Cor
popAtion and other large industrial con
Germs are bending every effort to secure
a settlement of the miners strike.
only Il small supply OF hituminous fuel
is in sight. and the big industrial cor
porations will he in a sorry plight II the
strike continues any length Of time.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-04-26
MAYOR GETS ANTI.
GARBAGE PROTEST
Staten Island Delegation Of
fers suggestions to Keep
In%cineratOr Away.

MAYOR Mitchell discussed Yesterday
with a committee OF citizens from Staten
Island the location Of a garbage disposal
Clant on Arthur Kill. The conference
lasted for more than an hour and a, it's
conclusion those who participated seemed
OF the opinion that some sort Of solution
short of revolution and secession will
be reached. Mayor Mitchell assured his
visitors that he was eager to cooperate
with them in any plan hat would help
the city and the people OF Staten Island
out OF the present difficulty.
Those who conferred with the Mayor
were the Ri. Rev. e. A.. Cassidy. Edward
g Bridgemsn. president OF the staten
Island Savings Bank. Stapleton william
:. Van Clief. lumber dealer and owner
Of waterfront property. Port Richmond Z.
Dr. |. a breyfus. AIMING :. FRAN and
Robert r. Cone. field secretary ~ the
staten Island Civic League.
This committee presented to the Mayor
a copy OF the protesting resolutions
adopted AT a mass meeting last, Thurs
day Members Of the committee said
when they left the Mayor tina he had
explained in detail the developments
that led TO the selection of Arthur XIII
as the place for the garbage disposal
plant.
II was said that several suggestions
had been made to the Mayor. but mem
bers 81 the committee declined to make
them public. The Mayor suggested that
a committee Of Staten Islanders go to
New Bedford, Mass. where a plant sim
liar TO that TO be erected on Staten
Island is In operation, hut he declared
that the committee seemed no favorably
inclined 10 the idea. The Mayor also
declined to state what substitute plans
had been offered by the committee.
Another conference with the Mayor
will be held next Tuesday.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-04-26
FIGHT OVER WAR; ARRESTED
trOwd Too tpprrciativr. So Cop
Takes BclItgrrcnts 10 Court.

The whole trouble was that the aud
ence was too appreciative, That was
why Luke Morris, 30, OF c762 Eighth
avenue. and Michael Manning, IS. Of
1901 Eighth avenue, oun up in night
court last evening on "A charge of dis
orderly conduct.
Morris and Manning tried to settle
the war in Europe by instituting one of
their own at the corner OF 154th street
and Eighth avenue. Manning is an Eng
lishman and Morris appeared to be for
"home rule and the Kaiser" \ crowd
gathered and became factional. Parti-
san cheers led to arguments II scuf-
fling, Policeman Michael ordered an
exodus,
Morris and Manning strove to obey.
but their audience formed n %wranclins
wall through which they could not pass.
The policeman thrust his way to them
and hauled them to night court. They
explained things 20 Mas!s;ra;. Groei,i,
who told them
There's enough war over in the
trenches without you two starting a war
In New York. Sentence suspended"
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-04-26
I. w. w. CLASH AT PITTSTON.
80 Men Arrested After Fight With
Mine Workers.

PtTTsToN. Pa, April 2j.-Guns were
drawn and knives used IN a pitched ba;-
tie early to-day between |. W. ". agi-
tators and United Mine Workers Of
America at the Butler colliery OF the
Pennsylvania Coal Company in the Bos-
ton settlement.
Indications of trouble were seen last
night when I, W. w forces which have
been t~errorizlng the settlement for sew
eral days showed great activity. Early
to-day these forces gathered NJ the
Butler colliery. When the mineworkers
reported and refused to heed either the
arguments or threats Of the agitators
the battle started. state troopers were
in readiness and "A squad Of fifteen
mounted men came from the barracks
while the fight was on and dispersed the
rioters. Thirty-siX OF the ringleaders
We're placed under arrest. They were
fined $40 each and ordered to pay the
costs.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-04-26
STRIKE FEARED BY
ANTHRACITE MINERS
Operators Refuse Ten De-
mands Of Workers. but Of
fer Wage Compromise.
AGAIN MORROW

The negotiations between the anthra-
cite miners and operators for working
conditions which would prevent a strike
have failed.
At a meeting Of a b-conmitt of
both sides last night In the Union League
fused the ten demands Of the miners.
This will be reported to the full com
mittee tomorrow afternoon In the Hote,
McAlpin and II the full committee rati-
fies the action Of the subcommittee the
negotiations will end. II this takes
place. as is expected. a strike will wait
only upon the Word Of the miners, who
have been called to a convention m May
. in Pottsville. Pa. 70 vote on going out.
According TO the operators, the hitch
was caused chiefly by the refusal of the
miners to heed any agreement which
did not provide for a closed shop and
the compulsory collection by the oper-
ators Of all dues and assessments levied
by the United Mine Workers of America
against their members. This and a dis
agreement over the wage questionable
miners demanded "A 30 per cent. wage
increase. and the operators offered "A D
per tent. Increase for a shorter day.
equivalent to a I2i2 per cent. Increase
broke on the negotiations.
The miners gave out a statement re-
citing and UNFOLDING their ten demands.
They lay the disagreement to no par
ticular demand saying that the oper-
ators refused all.
The only hope Of aver'ing the gem
cral strike, according to the miners. is
that at to-morrow's meeting In the Me
.Alpin. the operators representatives
may yield.
John c. White. president of the United
| Mine Workers, said that he canno be-
lieve that the operators will deliberately
force a strike. He said that the operators
ave shown that they accept the principle
OF collective bargaining and have shown
their good faith by meeting the miners
representatives day after day.
ON the other hand. said NJ. White, the
miners have shown their rood faith by
continuing at work. even though all
about them they have seen workers in
other industries receiving large wage in
creases and other concessions lie
added
The welfare of $4,000 men. their
wives and children IL at stake. II the
operators want to be fair We can reach
an agreement
The operators statement said
Much as they realize the r%esponsi-
bili,y Of the step they take, the opera
tors believe that in rejecting the demand
for a closed shop and the 'check on
they are protecting the institutions OF
rhe country as we'll as the public, with
out in any degree desiring To- ~aniagonize
the interests or the principles Of OF
gsnIzed labor
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-04-26
HEN 20 YEARS OLD LAYS EGG.
Spanish Annie Breaks All Records,
DeIiRhtinI Her Own

HARTFORD. .Apri 25.-Spanish Annie.
tho grand old hen OF 20 years duly
authcnticated) owned by Col. James
Blanchard OF Dayville, il quite content
TO die because to-day she performed
what is probably her last labor in this
world. something beyond "All the Kings
horses and all the Kings men" for she
laid. a nice brown egg,
Spanish Annie, called BECAUSE She is
OF the black Spanish variety. hasn't laid
an egg in years. However, within "A
year she got her name in the newspapers
and her picture in many of them, when
she hatched out "A fine brood of chickens
aud was hailed as the worlds champion
Biddy,
Col. Blanchard, who ie proud OF his
famous hen, has discovered from his
poultry records that Spanish Annie was
matched July 4. 1857, and for years con-
tributcd generously to the Blanchard
daily egg supply. Some years ago her
shiny jet black Gathers bean turning
white and her eggs were fewer. Then
she lost her quick dashing gait. and at
present her feathers are a mottled gray.
Spanish Annie made no particular
comrnotion after laying her egg to day.
hut her happy owner arranged a special
feed for her.