davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-12-21

St. Nicholas lived over HOO years ago in
the city of Patara, in Asia Minor. He is said
to have been fromthe first a wonderfully sanity
child. and when he became a man, though
he was but n simple citizen he rose, through
his active piety, to be Bishop of Mym. Won
derful stories are related of his good deeds,
and some of them are cOmmemorated to this
day in the various churches of Europe. A
wealthy gentleman in Asia, the story runs,
sent his two sons to Athens to be educated.
He charged the boys at parting to stop Mt
Myra on their way and pay their respects to
his reverence, the bishop. The boys reached
the city at night, and took lodgings i'll an inn,
intending TO make the promised call in the
morning. Now the landlord was "A very wick
ed man. and when ne saw the boys rich store
of baggage he resolved to rob and murder
them. SO when the poor boys were asleep
he crept up to their room and despatched
them, and, to conceal his terrible deed, he
cut up their bodies and packed them in a
pickling-tub with some pork, intending to sell
the whole to some ship in the Adriatic. Now
good st. Nicholas that night saw it all in n
dream, and in the morning he put ON his
pontifcal robes (for he was now an archbsh-
OPP, aud, with his crozier in his hand, went
in holy indignation to the inn. The landlord
was greatly frightened when he saw the arch
bishop, and, ON being accused, fell upon his
knees and confessed his crime. st. Nicholas
next went to the tub in all his pontifcals, and
he passed his hands over the boys, who at
once hoped up out of the picked pork alive
and whole. The happy fellows began to sing
praises to st. Nicholas, but he, good soul
would not listen to it. He told them to wor-
ship none but God. The boys, at once re-
covering their possessions went on their way
rejoicing, and st. Nicholas was regarded as
the special protector of boys and students
from that hour
''But how came st. Nicholas to be the pa
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-12-21
NEWS PARAGRAPIIs.

G1EssEN, GERMANY, has just been the scene
of one of the most remarkable lawsuits on
record. II was in relation to claim of twen-
ty-five pfennig, about five cents, which was
made by hotel-keeper of Giessen, against
the Government Telegraph Company, for
overcharge in the matter of n message that
contained the word z'ceiuhrzug 1.-TWO o'clock
train.) The sender of the dispatch, who was
evidently gentleman Of the old school, con-
tended that the expression constituted only
one word, while the telegraph managers, held
that it was composed of two or three words
rolled into one, and demanded pay according
ly. The litigation which followed lasted sew
eral months, and not only brought into requi-
sition all the legal ability of Giessen, but also
put to the test the learning of n number Of
celebrated grammarians In the end, how
ever, after mature deliberation upon the opin-
ions rendered by numerous experts, the court
decided that zrciuhrzug was single word,
and the telegraph company was obliged to re-
fund the five cents. A sensible conclusion
one would say, but the New York Times new
ertheless regards the precedent as Il danger
ous one, for, on the same principle, Hdt6eiR-
UhrhdRnoUerzchnellzug (half past twelve
o'clock Hanover fast train must, of course,
be regarded as a single word
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-12-21

daily before her eyes for lack of necessary
comforts without wishing and hopingy More
than that. there were the children-those little
mouths which she could not fill How long
they were over that box!
Then suddenly there was a step in the room,
and Frank stood beside her chair, leaning on it,
''Are you strong, Mary? Can you bear
somethingi"
'Oh Frank. what is it-dont."
Nothing bad little one. Time was when l
should have been proud to rejoice over this,
Mary but for your sake and for the children,
I think my pride is dead
And he put before her the mysterious box.
Papers, cried Mary, disappointed. "What
is it, Frank? What can papers do for us!'
Read, responded the doctor, pointing TO
n label
Marriage portion of my daughter, Mary
Barrett, nee Fayoursham."
But still Mary turned puzzled face to her
husband
"Tell me what it means"
There is more for you to read" responded
Frank. placing another paper under her hand.
'You are rich. Mary. that's ALL You see
am trying to be good and thankful in spite of
my own failure and disappointment Read"
Some years ago .ay daughter asked for
giveness at my hands. I refused it. Now it
~ lDN TURN 10 ASK ulll lltIh W hlllNu II II
to be? beg my daughter TO forgive me. l
send that which have so long unjustly kept
back from her and hers Let her and her
husband take pity on n lonely old man and
come to HIM The old house is dull and mis-
erablc il wants the music of children's voices
and there is room in it for ALL Let them come
to me. and will show how thankful can be-
"JoHN FAvoURsHAM."
Aud Marys arm was round her husbands
neck, and she was trying hard to keep back
the tears that would come.
"You will be good, Frank, and forgive him !;
and be grateful to him for my sake. | know
you will II is Christmas box worth hay
ing isn't it Frank Z"
o boy in buttons down with the lamp that
requires ''as much feeding as IA baby" No
matter about that now. Away with the suit
that it doesn't matter about dauhing There
will be new buttons when those are gone, and
plenty of lamps for the future And bye-and-
bye there will be big "To Let in the win
dows of the genteel old house, and the testy
old merchant will be no more alone in his lux
uriols rooms. but bright figure will sit be-
fore the silver service. and give him his cof-
fee and childish eyes will look at him with
awe. as, i'll some mysterious fashion, the auth
or of all this grandeur. And the doctor will
grow great amongst great surroundings, and
visit his patients in his carriage: and the
voice under the old gentleman's waistcoat will
torment him no more = English Paper.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-12-21
NO. 81.

tron of Christmas gifts and the particular
saint of the Christmas holidays {" After st.
Nicholas was made archbishop Of Myra, he
became very rich, and because he despised
money for It's own sake, he spent good por-
ton of his time in giving away his money to
others, and in such n way that none should
know from whom it came. II chanced that
there was very poor noblcman i'll Myra who
had three lovely daughters. Knowing that
they could have no marriage portion, st.
Nicholas, considerate soul, felt pity for them,
and one moonlight night he tool, purse,
round as n ball with gold, and, throwing it in
to the open window at the feet of the eldest
daughter, he hid himself from view. The
eldest daughter could now marry. What
good saint St Nicholas was and what n pity
he died so long ago! After while he, the
Saint, visited the nobleman,s premises again.
and did the mysterious kindness to the second
daughter. The nobleman now began to keep
watch at night, in order to discover whence
his sudden good fortune came. As good st.
Nicholas was about to throw another rounded
purse at the feet of the third daughter, he was
discovered by the grateful father who threw
himself at his feet saying; "OhSt. Nicholas,
servant of God why seek to hide thyself Z"
st. Nicholas made the nobleman promise new
er TO tell the discovery he had made; but the
secret escaped in some unaccountable way
and after ST. Nicholas died the nuns of the
converts in the East used to initiate him on
certain holidays in making secret gifts to their
friends. They used to put silk stockings at
the door of the abbess at night. and label
them with paper invoking the aid of good
st. Nicholas. In the morning the stocking
would be found full of presents. In time, as
you know, children began to initiate this GUS
tom. especially at Christmas.
ST. Nicholas used usually to be honored in
the old English churches by the election of a
boy bishop, whom the whole church were ac-
customed to obey for "A short time, because
st. Nicholas was the patron of boys. He is
still honored with grand festival at Bari on
the Adriatic, is the patron saint of Russia,
and of the mariners on the great winter seas,
and his name is borne by the Russian czars.
He is also the patron saint of New York city,
which, you know, was settled by the Dutch,
and of all saints he is most revcrenccd in Hol-
land. But there the young folks do him hon
or on St. Nicholas day, which comes on the
9Th of December, keeping it very much as we
do the Christmas holidays
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-12-21

WHOLE FARMS WASHED AwAY.-Never i'll
the memory of man has there occurred such
rise in the streams of Hampshire county. w.
Va. as by the recent flood, nor SO great de-
struction of crops and fencing. So extensive
has been the destruction that it amounts to II
calamity. Along the South Branch scarcely
a shock of corn or Il stack of hay remains
the whole valley is clean sweep crops and
fencing, and the cmbankments are all broken
and swept away. All the fat cattle and other
stock of every kind are left on the hands of
the farmers at the beginning of winter with
out food, and probably not a sufhciency of
food left to winter the horses that are used to
till the ground; consequently the cattle must
be thrown on the market, or seek n more fa-
vored country for food. A dispatch from
Moorefeld Hardy county, says that the de-
struction by the flood i'll that county alone
will reach 800, 600. There are not a thou
sand shocks of corn in the valley of the south
branch of the Potomac. Farms have been
washed completely away, and land that was
worth 800 an acre is now utterly without val
ue The suffering among the cattle is very
great and hundreds of farmers are ruined
The torrent reached from mountain to noun
tain. and was twenty feet deep.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-12-21

At Christmas, in each hall
Good fires to curb the cold
And meat for great and small.
The neighbOrs were friendly hidden,
And all had welcome true;
The poor from the gates were not chiddeni
When this old cap was new.-Od Song.
Of all the old festivals that of Christmas
awakens the strongest and most heartfelt as
sociations There is tone of solemn and
sacred feeling that blends with our conviviali-
ty and lifts the spirit to a state of halowed
and elevated enjoyment. The services of
the Church about this season are extremely
tender and inspiring. They dwell on the
beautiful story of the origin Of our faith, and
the pastoral scenes that accompanied its an
nouncement. They gradually increase in fer
vor and pathos during the season of Advent,
until they break forth in full jubilee on the
morning that brought peace and goodwill to
men. We do not know n grander effect of
music on the moral feelings than to hear the
full choir and the pealing organ performing
"a Christmas anthem in n cathedral, and filling
every part of the vast pile with triumphant
harmony.
One of the least pleasing effects of modern
refinement is the havoc it has made among
the hearty old holiday customs. 1t has COM
pletely taken of the sharp touchings and spir-
tied reliefs of these embellishments of life,
and has worn down society into more smooth
and polished, but certainly less characteris-
tic surface. Many of the games and ceremo-
mis- of Christmas have entirely disappeared,
uAI, like the sherris sack of old Falstaff, are
b come matters of speculation and dispute
among commentators. They fiOurished in
times full of spirit and lustihood, when men
enjoyed life roughly, but heartily and vigor-
ously; times wild and picturesque, which
have furnished poetry with its richest materi-
ais. and the drama with its most attractive
variety of characters and manners. The world
has become more worldly. There is more of
dissipation and less of enjoyment. Pleasure
has expanded into a broader, but n shallo~er
stream, and has forsaken many of those deep
and quiet channels where it flowed sweetly
through the calm bosom of domestic life So
ciety has acquired more enlightened and ell
egant tone but it has lost many of its strong
local peeuliarities its home-bred feelings, its
honest fireside delights. The traditionary Gus
toms of golden-hearted antiquity, its feudal
hospitalities and lordly wassaihngs, have pass
ed away with the baronial castles and stately
manor houses in which they were celebrated.
| They comported with the shadowy hall, the
great oaken gallery, and the tapestried parlor,
but are untitled to the light snowy saloons
and gay drawing-rooms of the modern villa.
- Washington IrDing's Sketch Book.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-12-21

Too ACCoMMoDATING BY HALF.-Some days
since, (says the Barton Monitor) there was
turkey shoot at Dry Pond, Glover, and the
boys who hoped to shoot or steal II turkey were
NIL there Toward night three of them, who
had not been successful in shooting, hustling,
or stealing. started home in rather n melan-
choly mood. As they were approaching II
farmers house. they saw three lusty turkeys
promenading in the door-yard, and conceived
the plan of lifting one of them. As they
drove up opposite the house, they called loud
ly to the farmer and informed him that they
were Just returning from the shooting match
and that the three turkeys i'll the yard had es-
capped from under the seat of their wagon
The farmer, n very accommodating man. by
their request, volunteered to assist in catching
the escaped poultry, and Immediately set
about driving them into the barn. The best
one of the three was soon captured, but the
other two having escaped, the boys told the
kind neighbor that it didn't matter, rs they
were coming back in the morning and would
then catch them. The pretended owners
kindly thanked the farmer for his assistance,
crowded the gobbler under the wagon seat
and swiftly drove away. Next morning rs the
owner of the turkeys was making preparation
for the Thanksgiving feast, he went out to
look up the turkeys that he might appropri-
ate the best for the Thanksgiving table. At
ter considerable search only two could be
found. Suddenly, as if II thunder-bolt had
rent the vail before the door of his under
standing n light burst upon him that caused
him to see the beauty and completeness of
the sell that had been played on him the day
before. Overwhelmed with chagrin, with his
plumes trailing in the dust, he returned to his
armed clnir in the kitchen to mediate on the
heights of human folly and the depths of hui
man depravity.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-12-21

A Kentucky girl, provoked at her partner
in croquet, some weeks ago, struck HIM over
the head with her mallet. He had brain fe-
Yer. and barely recovered, and soon after the
girl who had been held in custody, waiting
the result of the blow, made up with him,
and they are now married.
The first 81 bill issued by the govern
ment, known rs grcenback money, turned up
not long since in n deposit of the Third Ma
tional bank of Nashville, being letter A. NO
l, dated Washington, March, 10, 1868. The
treasury department at Washington Identified
the bill and it has been presented to the Ten
nessee historical society.
The Vice President and the Speaker of
the House have agreed to consider in force
the Joint rule against the sale of liquors in the
Capitol. Great abuses have resulted from
this sale in late years, going on as 1t does,
stealthiy and without an internal revenue IL
cense, and the Vice President and the Speak
er declare that it must cease.
A late resident of Salem, Mass, be-
aueathed certain property to his cousin, Nan
CIV II. Rogers, of Beverly. 1t has since been
discovered that he has two "cousins" in that
town bearing that name, but by tracing the
family back to 1858 it has been found that
one of the ladies is a degree nearer than the
other, and SO she will get the property,
The largest contract ever taken in Amer
lea from foreign nation was the one of ST.,
OOO COO given to the Providence, r. l., too
company by the Turkish government. The
company were three years in preparing to be
gin the work, and now they employ 25OO men
turning out 600 finished ini-Henry gum
per day. Two years more will be required t'
complete the contract.
Cora Young, a frail young woman, lately
acquitted of the murder of her paramour a
Auburn, N. Y, so fascinated one of the jury
men that he has deserted his family and elope(
with her. The verdict, which was contrary t.
all the evidence except the girls own story
leads to the impression that the entire jur.
were affected in the same way. What make
the matter worse, the wife of this elopinl
iuryman had become so interested in the cir
| that she had offered her home. She is no
| - A. ,,oxy nc cha xVoq
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-12-21

Merry Christmas! girls and boys.
Santa Claus, with team and toys,
Now is starting on his way,
With his ovetladen sleigh
Never needing cold or wetting,
Not single town forgetting.
But n puzzled look he bears
As he moves among his wares;
And doubt IL ever yet
Was Santa Claus in such pet.
Now he purses up his lips.
Snaps his rosy finger-tips:
All in vain he scans his store,
Names the children DER aud Ger
inst UHe boy deserves a switch,
And he has forgotten ,rhich.
witt.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-12-21

How we plod onl Yet ring the Christmas bells,
For children murmur, "Christ was born to-day"
We turn aside from work aud raise our eyes
To meet the holy radiance Of the skies,
Saying, "Ahl yes, it is Il holiday"
Dead TO It all Or quite content to give
token here, smile there, and to hang
Our cosy homes with holly. Then again
To life, with eager souls. II there were pain,
The angels gave no token when they sang.
matchless Love! which knew the sacrifice
or bnth and death would be for us who sing
Careless midst ripping lAughterl when we feel
one least thrill Of the panR, It ray reveal
To our dumb souls what Christ was born 10 bring,
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-12-21

And after him came neIt the chill December:
Yet he, through merry feasting which he made
And great bonhres, did not the cold remember;
His SaviOur's birth so much his mind did glad
Upon shaggy y-bearded goat he rode
The same whereWith Dan Juve, in tender years
They say was nourisht by tn IWan mayd;
And in his hand broad deepe bowie he beares,
OF which he freely drinks heanhe t. oil his peei
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-12-21
OUR CHRISTMAS MISCELLANY.
ChrIstnlaa Eve.

All the night the little snow-birds
Dreamed Of crumbs upon the ground,
For they knew on Christmas morning
Thoughtful hearts were to be found.
Holly berries cleaning crimson,
Tropic flowers Of scarlet flame,
Blushed their very best to honor
That One matchless, perfect name.
In the country, by the iirtside,
All the children's stockings hung;
Childish checks with sleep were rosy,
When the chutch-bells gaily rung.
In the solemn hours Of midnight,
Where the loudest laughter rang,
Something sweet and tender hushed 1t,
When the carol-children sang.
Who shall say that in the Heaven,
where the Christ himself doth reign,
Angel hearts were not the lighter
When His birthday came againl
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-12-21
The Vermont Phoenix.
PUBLISHED WEEKLY ny
FRENCH ~ STEDMAN.
once NO.O Granite Row, Main street,
DRATTLEBoRo, VT.

TRRMs.--To County subscribers, S2.00 per annu,I !;
to subscribers outside Of wndham County, S225 al
ways in advance.
RATES OF ADvERTIsISG made known on application.
Births Deaths aud Marriages inserted gratis Obitu-
AIRY Notices or Resolutions, Cards Of Thanks, &C. 1Oc
per line of ten words
o. L. FRESCH. ID. b. SrEDMAN.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-12-21

We will leave that little room also for the
street; not that it was at all inviting, how
ever, for the frost pinched the children's
noses, and sent the hands of the big boys
down deep into their trousers pockets. We
will stop before modest house of three stor-
les; very narrow it was, very prim, evident
Brenham weekly banner. [volume] (Brenham, Tex.) 1877-1907, 1877-01-05

THAT able and fearless Demo-
cratic journal, the Williamsport
(Pa.) San, thoroughly under
stands the eternal fitness OF
things, especially when applied
to the present state of the pol
itical atmosphere. 1t says that
"the President, without intend
ing it, gave tremendous i'm
pulse on Saturday, to the grow
ing feeling among respectable
Republicans in favor of the
election of Tilden. He said,
apparently by way of complaint,
that in case Of the Inauguration
of Mr.. Tilden mot one of the
Republican governments at the
South could stand for twenty
four hours! What honest man
OF any party at the North,
knowing the nature of these
Republican Governments,
would not hail such a result as
the redemption of our national
name from the blacklist disgrace
under which it now labors p
Brenham weekly banner. [volume] (Brenham, Tex.) 1877-1907, 1877-01-05
Keep Straight Ahead.

Pay no attention to slanderers
or gossip mongers. Keep
straight IN your course, and let
their backbitings die the death
of neglect. What is the use "
ing awake at night, brooding
over the remark Of some false
friend, that runs through your
brain like forked lightning2
What's the use OF fretting over
a piece of gossip that has been
set afioat to your disadvantage by
some meddlesome busybody who
has more time than character
These things can't possibly in
jure you, unless, indeed, you
take notice of them, and in
combating them give them
character and standing. If
what is said about you is true
set yourself right at once; if it
Is false let 1t go for what 1t Will
fetch. Ifa bee stings you would
You 90 to the hive and destroy
it2 Would not thousand come
upon you? 1t is wisdom to say
little respecting the injuries You
have received. We are gener-
ally losers in the end if we stop
to retute all backbiting and gos-
slipping we may hear by the way,
They are annoying it is true,
but not dangerous, SO long as
we do not stop to expostulate
and scold. Our characters are
formed and sustained by our
selves, and by our own actions
and purposes, ard not by others.
Let us always bear in mind that
"calumniatars may usually be
trusted to time and the slow but
steady justice of public opinion.
Brenham weekly banner. [volume] (Brenham, Tex.) 1877-1907, 1877-01-05

IT. relfth Volume, with bright
hopes and flattering prospects.
During the past twelve years
the BANNER has been an earns
est and faithful advocate OF the
cherished principles of the DEM
ocratic faith, laboring zealously
ior the triumph and success OF
its teachings. For the success
of these principles, firmly be-
lieveing as. we do, that they are
the only safeguard for represens
tative government we shall
zealously contribute all in our
power to maintain them pure
and intact.
The WEEKLY BANNER con-
tains a larger amount of read
ing matter than most papers in
the interior. In the last issue,
OF its thirty-two columns, TWEEN
ty were reading matter, con-
tanning the latest kilograms of
general interest, and informa,
ton on a great variety of sub
jects. We gave, and shall con-
tinue to give the latest local
news of general importance
occurring at the most promi-
nent points in Washington coun-
ty, where we have made ar
rangemeuts with local CORES
pondents to be furnished with
every item Of interest that may
occur in their vicinity. In
addition to this we shall
also give the local news of Ans
tin county, most of whose citi-
zens- look to Brenham for a mar
ket. In brief, we are determine
ed to make the BANNER worthy
OF the liberal patronage it is re-
ceiving, and hope, by strict at
tention to correct journalism, to !
receive large additions to our
subscription list.
Brenham weekly banner. [volume] (Brenham, Tex.) 1877-1907, 1877-01-05

The Williamsport (Pa.) Sun
says Gen. Grant, in less than
eight years, has done what no
former President ever accom-
plished. He has demolished
the Republican party, trampled
under foot the constitution and
ruined the entire country
Grant goes out and down under
a dark cloud,1 with the execra-
ton of all honest men upon his
head, and his name for coming
time. will be on record a- a trai-
tor and conspirator.