davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1931-11-27

The late Chief Justice William How
ard Taft told, with many characters
tic chuckles, this story to which an
obvious political moral can be at
tached, says Golfers Magazine.
An old Quaker who wore the char
acteristic old-time Quaker costume
wide-brimmed, fiat hat and shad-bellied
coat-sold horse to an ordinary citi-'
zen.
After the horse had Travelled a few
miles and the dope had died out. 1t
proved to have spawn, ring-bone,
heaves, incipient blindness and other
horse maladies. In great anger and
with much difficulty the stung pur-
chaser dragged the decrepit wreck
back to the man from whom 1t had
been obtained at fair price.
On seeing the irate buyer and the
lettering horse approach, the Quaker
tapped his hand forbiddingly and
cried out:
"Thee bought him of thine own vo-
lition Thee bought him with thine
eyes open"
"Yes, but"
II repeat, thee bought him willingly;
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1931-11-27

"Of course do" her mother said.
"Oh well, 1t won't be so many weeks
till Christmas. He'll be back then"
But her voice hadn't sounded just
right. Edith knew why. The picture
of Ed in his flannel pajannas balancing
on the footboard brought back into
her mind, as, she knew, into her moth
er's, the thought Of the other abb
sentee. Dad had always been here
too, lying on the other side Of mother,
pretending to be half asleep. but maxi
ing jokes, really funny jokes at which
they'd all laugh: suggesting three abb
surd ideas~to one sensible one, If they
happened to be making plans for the
spending Of q holiday. Shed never
realize how Jolly 1t was until now
that 1t was all spoiled.
It was spoiled; 1t never would be
the same again. And It was all his
fault, his and that Mrs. Ingraham's.
Suddenly she found herself crying.
Her mother turned over and was hold
ing her>tight in her arms.
edith, dear!' she cried, what 10
It? What's the matter?"
What made 1t harder to stop crying,
enough to answer, was belief that
mother really knew what the matter
was all the while. The ignorance inn
piled by the repeated questions didn't
seem quite real.
II just can't-stand 1t, that's ALL"
the girl managed at last to say through
her sobs. IT know s-something hor-
rible is going to happen. But I don't
know what it is. Mother, isis Mrs.
Ingraham going to have baby?"
Her mothers arms were still around
her, but now they felt like wood, as If
they weren't alive at all.
After an appalling moment Of Sic
lence, she asked in queer, strained
voice, "What made you think such q
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1931-11-27

the last three days on the train. /
think I'll take my bag upstairs and
freshen up little before your mother
gets home"
He had said It for the sake Of say
ing something, doing something, break
ing the ice which, he reminded him
self, always formed after the first mo-
ment Of greeting. But she didn't take
1t with the relief he'd expected. She
gave him an odd quick look, started
to sayssomething but checked herself.
He waited an instant: then turned
away and picked up his bag. He was
standing with it at the foot Of the
stairs, when, for the second time, she
burst out:
you'll find your trunk and the rest
Of your things in the spare room," she
said.
She turned away quickly under his
stare, but he knew she'd been looking
at him when she said it with that
same excited, curious expression he'd
noted In her face a moment earlier.
He felt his own face growing hot. He
couldn't doubt but the girl knew what
1t meant. He managed the words,
THANK you, Edith" and with his bag
started up the stairs.
"Here they are" she cried. Mother
and Ed back from church" She flung
open the front door and cried out,
Mother, dads come home"
He descended the stairs again and
set down the bag. He could see his
wife and his son coming up the walk.
The resultant Of the conflicting forces
playing upon him was precisely moth
ing at all. The things he wanted to
do contradicted each other.
Good Cd, why had he come home
to q mess like this?
He supposed because he had no
where else to go. He had nothing but
his home and his job.
Nothingl
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1931-11-27

81 Know Something Horrible Is Co
ing to Happen, Mother. 10 Mrs.
lngraham Going to Have Baby?"
thing, Edith? What put it into your
head? Has anyone said anything like
that to you?"
She wouldn't take the girls stam-
mered mo" for an adequate denial, hut
pressed her with repeated questions.
"But nobody's said anything. moth
err she declared at last, mot even
limited. They haven't, mother. Real
ly, not word! I knew you were hor-
ribly unhappy all summer. And I
knew it was dads fault, and thought
it was about Mrs. Ingraham. But
when she went away, and dad came
back from California, thought It
would be all right. And then / saw it
wasn't-and knew he must have
done something awful that other peo-
pie didn't know about and thought it
might be that"
Her mother released the girl
from the embrace and asked pres
emily, what made you think he
must have done something awful?"
But the question sounded rather per-
functory, and Edith's dreary "Oh, !
don't know" served for an answer.
GRO BE coNTINUED.)
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1931-11-27
Constructive Sleep

To make our sleep constructive we
should review in our minds near the
retiring hour some of the things we
want to do on the coming day. so that
our so-called subconscious processes
can be active on these things to be
accomplished rather than with disturb
ing dreams. Taking our tasks to bed
for solution helps the tasks and also
helps sleep II we are otherwise emo
tionally calm. The person who keeps
his mind at work on constructive
problem while he is asleep does not
have disturbed sleep If his emotions
are stable and If life is faced with a
smile.-Hygeia Magazine.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1931-11-27

wouldn't 1t be nice If you could pick
the age you wanted and just stop
there7 What age would you pick7"
"Te go back to, you mean? Yours,
I guess" Some change in the quality.
of the voice caught the girls ear.
Then she turned a puzzled look on her
mother.
@But If you'd stopped then. I'd never
have been born-would II"
II didn't say wanted to go back"
her mother reminded her. Then, brisk
ly, she added, "See that big box over
on the window-seat? Go and open it
and see what's inside"
1t was an enormous green box.
Mother! 1t isn't for mew the girl
cried, as she struggled with the string.
"But / thought the matinee was my
birthday present"
She pulled the cover off the box and
caught glimpse of tan color. 1t was
a lovely, fieecy polo coat with satin
lining, light as feather and warm
as toast. Almost exactly like one
she'd envied Corinne Baldwin the pos
session of, up at the Brook, last sum-
mer. Yet, as she shook out the folds
Of 1t and slid her cold bare arms into
it's sleeves, she was In terror lest she
should cry.
Mother, how perfectly darling!" She
hoped her voice sounded all right.
''It's just exactly the-it's the only
thing In the world wanted, mother?"
She flew back to the bedside for a
kiss; then turned back for look at
herself in the long mirror. Already
the spasm of disappointment was pass
ing from her heart. This thing was
real, and it was really hers. It did
look lovely on her, too.
The girl slipped out Of her coat,
laid it across the back of a chair
where 1t wouldn't be lost to view, and
crept in beside her mother.
'sIf it's a nice day can wear it to
the theater this afternoon" she said.
II think that's going to be perfectly
great-the show I mean--don't you,
mother? Aren't you glad we're go
ing?"
She thought her mother didn't mean
to answer. The question hardly called
for it; certainly for nothing more
than an inarticulate murmur of as
sent. She was startled, when, at the
end Of pretty long silence, her
mother said, ''Im glad If you are; but
are you sure you wouldn't rather have
had the birthday party?"
"Of course I'm sure. I'd lots rather
go to the show" Somehow she felt
she couldn't quite leave it at that, and
she added. 81 didn't care about the
rarty, particularly" She had tried to
make that sound Indifferent and
casual, but she knew she hadn't
brought it off. Her voice had be-
trayed her. She was getting fright
ened.
After the silence had spun itself out
a while, she asked, "Why?" not be-
cause she wanted to. but because she
couldn't help it. 'Why did you ask,
mother?"
II don't know; 1t was just an. idea
of mine. You and Agatha Willard
had been such a pair Of inseparables
and had cared so little about anyone
else, thought perhaps, with her away.
you might be feeling rather lonesome"
''Oh, of course / miss her horribly"
Edith admitted. Sand I miss Ed, too.
Don't you, mother? Do you remember
how he used to come in, mornings like
this, when we were all lying here talk
ing, and sit up on the footboard, bal
ancing, with his arms around his
knees, so we were always afraid he
would go over backwards"
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1931-11-27
Weather Dictionary

Some people collect stamps and
some collect snuff boxes, but G. F.
Talman, librarian of the United
States weather bureau, is collecting
words relating to the weather. His
encyclopedia weather dictionary,
when completed, will contain about
$4,000 weather terms, including slang,
dialect, and scientific names for
weather phenomena. 1t may be some
years before the dictionary is fin
ished, but meanwhile each definition
is filed on a card and the cards are
In daily use as references for the
scientists Of the weather bureau and
others.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1931-11-27
A Sound Mind

1t has been demonstrated often that
the mere sound of dogs bark will
halt the digestive processes of the ca.
that hears it. With US, too, fear and
other emotions have profound infiu-
ence on our body functions. Little do
we realize how much we lower our effl-
cheney on the one hand, or add to our
happiness on the other. by the way we
permit worry, rage, prejudice to con-
troll us, or by the way we control them.
DIR. Jesse F. Williams, professor of
physical education, Columbia univer.
sity.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1931-11-27

she look2 What would she say7 What
would she do? The logic Of his POSI-
ton was all right, wasn't 1t? But
logic was no panacea for the trials Of
marriage. He'd found that out long
ago--should have found 1t out, at
least. Julia would never have writ
ten him that letter except in an agony
Of humiliation and despair. Whatever
the rights and wrongs Of the case
might be, she had been sorely wound
ed, and his reply. cold, curt contempt
uous, had rubbed salt into the wound.
He'd known 1t at the time. It was
what he had meant to do. He'd been
hurt and angry-indignant, rather
under an accusation that was out
rageously unjust. He'd got to remem-
Der that. he couldn't go crawling
back and ask to be forgiven. Shed
never believe In his innocence II he
did that. He might have told her.
though, In that letter, that he hadn't
seen Ruth Ingraham in weeks, and
never expected to see her again. That
wouldn't have compromised his pride
too much, and would have been re-
storative to Julia's.
AS things stood now, she'd keep her
grievance alive to balance his. An
arid, hopeless sort Of way Of living
that would be for two people who had
to share the same house, the same
children, the same bed! How long
would it go on1ike that? He couldn't
see any end to 1t. His home would be
a dead thing, just as his job was.
He had telegraphed Julia that he
was getting home Sunday morning.
but hadn't told her the exact hour or
the name Of the train. They could
figure this out, Of course, If they
wanted to, from the sending point Of
his telegram, but it wasn't likely that
this would occur to any Of them.
There was q possibility that he'd be
met, but the chances were against 1t.
On the whole he was rather relieved
when he found that he wasn't. He
couldn't have labeled his feeling either
as dread or anticipation. Whatever
it was, 1t turned him limp and breath
less. It didn't occur to him that any
one but Julia might open the door
he'd forgotten he had any children
but it was his seventeen-yearsold
daughter, Edith, flushed and bright
eyed with excitement, prettier and
more grown-up looking that she'd been
when he'd last seen her in. June, who
came flying down the stairs to meet
him. She cried out, dad! I knew
it was you!" and Rugged him.
There was warm reinsurance In that
hug. However Julia felt about him,
she had not, he decided, given any
thing away to the children.
He said, "Well, it's good to be home
again, isn't It? Are you glad to BET"
She said she was, but he felt sure
that there was something more than a
mere welcome on her mind. "Does
it seem natural?" he persisted.
Everything all right about the house,
and so on?"
"Oh, yes" she said, "sure. We've
been here quite long time, you know
since Thursday morning"
He felt his throat stiffen as he asked
the next question. Where's your
mother? She's at home, isn't she?'
ooh, she's here" Edith told him,
"but she's gone to church. Ed took
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1931-11-27

the car about ten minutes ago to meet
her and bring her home. They'll be
here any minute"
Embarrassment was piling up be-
tween them thicker and thicker. She
went to the window and looked out to
see If the car was in sight. 1t wasn't,
but there was quite long moment be-
fore she turned again and faced him.
Dad" she asked, hurting out the
words as If they had burst from her,
"why did you go to California? You
really did go there. didn't you?"
"Of course I did," he said. 81 don't
know why exactly. Mostly for the
ride on the cars, I guess. What made
you ask If really went?"
"Oh, don't KNOW" she said I'M
easily. II didn't mean anything in
particular, only it seemed sort of
funny"
well" he said. after another
silence. Il guess look as if I'd spent
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1931-11-27
WOMEN: wofch your
BOW FL s

What should women do to keep their
bowels moving freely? A doctor
should know the answer. That is why
pure Syrup Pepsin is so good for
women. 1t just suits their delicate
organism. 1t is the prescription of an
old family doctor who has treated
thousands of women patients, and
VINO made special study of bowel
troubles.
1t is fine for children, too. They
love its taste. Let them have it every
time their tongues are coated or their
skin is sallow. DR.. CaldwelPs Syrup
Pepsin is made from fresh laxative
herbs, pure pepsin and other HARM
less ingredients.
When you've a sick headache,
can't eat, are bilious or sluggish:
and at the times when you are most
apt to be constipated, take little Of
this famous prescription lall drug
stores keep it ready in big bottles),
and you'll know why DR.. Caldwell's
Syrup Pepsin is the favorite laxative
of over a million womeng
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1931-11-27
Plaque ON Historic Spot

A bronze plaque marking the spot
where gold was first discovered in
Silver Bow county, Montana. recent
ly was dedicated by the Butte chap
ter of the Daughters of the Ameri-
can Revolution. The plaque, which
was mounted on six-ton granite
bowlder, marked the spot where B.
ii. Barker and companions PANIED
the first gold from Silver Bow creek
in 1864. The spot is between Nissler
and Silver Bow.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1931-11-27
Lights Out

At church little Jane listened to a
sermon on LET your light shine"
The only part she remembered was
the text but she didn't understand
what it meant until her mother said !:
ut means being good, obedient, and
cheerful"
In the afternoon there was trouble
in the nursery and Jane excused her.
self for being naughty by saying I:
'Tye blowed myself out"
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1931-11-27
CHAPTER II
Edith


OF course, birthday was just like
any other day. It was silly little
girl idea that you woke up that morn
ing different; older and bigger. Edith
sat up and craned around for look
out the window. OF course, 1t didn't
really matter what kind Of a day it
was, since her birthday treat didn't
depend upon the weather. She and
her mother were going to matinee,
to see play that sounded rather jolly,
Captain Applejack."
The original idea, dads, for the cele-
bratlon Of her birthday had been
dinner party four couples. They could
play cards afterward, or dance. It
had tempted her. It was SO satisfac-
torily grown-up, and dignified. 1t
would have been perfectly slick-if
things had been right at home or even
not so horribly wrong.
There. was nothing to show, from
the outside, that anything was wrong.
Except for Eds being away at college
there was nothing about the household
to make it look different-to an out
sider-from what 1t had always been.
But If she brought any Of her
friends home with her she was sure
they'd guess. Even If dad and mother
refrained, as they probably would at a
party. from getting into one Of their
terrible rows, just the way things felt
would give everything away. She
couldn't even be sure that the girls 60
ing upstairs to lay aside their wraps
mightn't discover that all dads things
were in the spare room and that moth
err was living alone in the room that
had always been theirs. They'd draw
their own conclusions from that, most
likely. But what would those con-
illusions be?
The intolerable thing was that Edith
couldn't be sure. She hadn't been
able to draw any, herself. And she
couldn't even have talked to her best
friend, Agatha Willard, about that.
She was almost glad that Agatha had
gone away to boarding school in the
East. It made 1t easier, somehow, to
keep up the bluff. Only, what was the
use? oh, dear, what was the use of
anything?
She felt her throat getting stiff and
abruptly she turned, beat up her pill
low and lay down again. It was no.
where near time to get up. She had
better go back to sleep If possible.
her mothers voice called to her
from the next room. The communicate
ing door stood open, as it usually did,
these days. ''You awake, Edith?
Happy new yearl Come in and give
me a kiss"
Edith sprang out Of bed and with
out stopping for bathrobe or slippers,
for the cold floor felt good under her
feet. and the chill air delicious as it
bathed her body padded into her
mothers room.
After the kiss Edith sat for mo-
ment stroking her mothers firm
smooth arms, but at the question
How does it feel to be seventeen"
she desisted.
81 don't know" she said. 81 was
just thinking about that. OF course
I've been practically seventeen for
quite long time, and I'm not sure
that that wasn't nicer-having it to
look forward to, mean. Because
what I've got to look forward to now
is eighteen, and that is not so thrill
ing. mean this is practically the end
of-well. of growing up. Mother,
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1931-11-27

Needed the Trappings to Lure "Other Sucker

I did not force him on thee; can do
nothing for thee"
"Oh, shut up" said the victim. II
don't ask you to take the animal back.
just wanted to borrow your coat and
hat so could sell him to some other
sucker"
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1931-11-27
EIsvs SYNOPSIS

Acting in perfectly good faith In an Of
fort to aid neighbor. Ruth Ingraham. in
of the Chicago ageney Of life insurance
company. IL wrongly suspected BY his wife.
Julia. OF inhdelity,
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1931-11-27
Writers' Pluck

Writers Pluck
Sinclair Lewis, at an Algonquin
luncheon, praised writer's pluck.
"A writer" he said, twill work
two or three years on book, make
$40 out Of 1t, and then plunge pluck
lily into two or three years. more
work on another book.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-18
NEWTON, KANS., HIGH SENIOR
MIDWESTERN ORATORY ENTRY
Selection of Robert Rayburn
at Kansas City Completes
Contender List.
Seven Competitors to Meet
President Hoover Here
on Friday.

The field of contenders for the Ma
tional Oratorical Contest finals here
was completed at Kansas CITY Sat-
urday night when Robert Rayburn. 10
year-old Newton. Kans., high school
senior, was chosen gas spokesman for
the Midwestern zone in the last re-
gional meet.
Young Rayburn won with a prepared
Grafton on TESTS of the Constitu-
tion." and an extemporaneous speech
on "Hamilton's Part in the Constitu-
tional Convention" over Miss Leah
Zion OF Sheboygan, Wis, who bid with
an Grafton on The Constitution
Today" -'1''''A
The completed field of entries in the
National Oratorical Contest finals
which will be held in Constitution Hall
next Saturday night, and the regions
they represent. follows:
James Alfred Moore, IS. Western
High School, champion of The stars
National Capital region and the Young
est competitor in the group; Miss Ever
Louise Conner. l6, Chicago. Central
zone; Jack Emmett. 10, New York Citv.
New York zone; James Pelham. IL
birmingham, Ala, Southern zone; VII
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-18
MASSING OF C0LORS
BUGLER II YEARS OLD
Mickey Bedini, Guard Mascot, Is
Given Place on Program at
Cathedral Next Sunday.

An 1l-year old bugler, Mickey Bedini,
Smascot Of the 260th Coast Artillery,
District National Guard. will sound
Taps" at the fourth annual massing
of the colorS service at Washington
Cathedral Sunday afternoon -..-..
In previous years the performance
of his duty has gone u noted Army
buglers, as 1t is one of the most i'm
portant portions Of the service which is
held yearly in commemoration of the
Nations dead. under auspices OF the
District Of Columbia Chapter OF the
Military order OF the World War.
Young Bedini is said to be an accom-
plished musician. He has already ap-
peared in similar roles on other occa-
sions. He also will march with the
26Oth Coast Artillery Drum and Bugle
Corps, which will provide music for
1.-THE procession of colors. which opens
the service in the amphitheater. In
strumental accompaniment will be pro-
vided by the United States Marine
Band, with singing by masSed choir
of 200 voices.
Arrangements for the service include
special seats for groups OF disabled vet
Grams. More than 10000 persons. In
Guiding Mrs Woodrow Wilson Mrs.
William Howard Taft and representa-
tiyes Of more than 100 patriotic, mill
tary and religious organizations, Will
hear the young bugler Oh this occasion.