davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
St. Landry democrat., 1883-12-22

to the Conservatory TO and from
the door of which she was always
escorted BY either Madame Won Breeks
Won Starch or Mistress Huffey) she
found there a new pupil with Il mag
nificent bass voice, and that new pu-
pill was the fair-haired, blue-cyed young
fresco-painter. Not one word OF this
meeting, nor of the meetings that fol-
flowed it two or three times week for
six months thereafter, did the naughty
girl breathe to either of the three grand
mothers. and the two younger of the
trio eXulted greatly over the strict Wig
lance with which they guarded the
future Lride according TO their long
laid plars) of Diedrich Won Breeks, the
rich Holland merchant, due in New
York with the new year. But their ex-
ultat:on came to an end on New-Year's
Eve. On that evening the Conservatory
OF Music gave a pupil concert, and the
very first duet was sung by Miss Ger
trude Won Breeks and Mr.. EverdeH
Tremlett. In van had the latter
begged to be left Gu. of the programme;
in vain had he summoned to his aid a
mysterious throat disease. His pro-
fessor declared that sing he must, or
lose his place in the Conservatory, and,
what was still worse, prove himself an
''ingra-a-te!' And so the three grand
mothers, sitting in great state near the
stage, We're horrihed-that is, two OF
them were (great-gran munched her
caraways as placidly as ever)-by see
ing and hearing their granddaughter
made operate love to, in very real
love-mak ng way, before a most fash
ionable audience, by the young man
who frescoed their parlors.
In moment the whole truth flashed
upon their minds, and how they sat out
the rest Of the concert, so great was
their Indignation, they never knew.
But at last, much to their relief. it came
to an end, and the omincus silence with
which they received the pretty culprit
prepared her for tae storm (the after
elaps Of which have recorded at the
beginning OF my story that burst upon
her head as soon rs they reached home.
When it was over Gertrude was allowed
to seek her room. Here she threw off
St. Landry democrat., 1883-12-22

y
on the plains of Palestine. In what
ever manner it is kept, Christmas is
a day peculiarly belonging to home
and all that pertains to the sacred
ness of the hearth. One can not but
feel that women should hold in es-
pecial regard the day that did more to
take them out of dishonor and establish
them in honor than any other single
day that ever dawned over the earth.
When one sees the difference between
the savage woman and her captor. be-
tween the Greek woman, even, and her
cultured lord, between any SLAVE and
her master, and sees, on the other hand.
the pretty nearly perfect equality now
given by man to woman, if rot polite
ally, yet at any rate materially and in
personal consideration, one realizes
that the forces which came into play on
the first Christmas-day of all were
forces which lifted her from low es-
tate to a throne.
1t becomes her, then, to burn the fire
upon her hearth in it's honor, as if it
were an altar flame fed with spices and
famed by the breath Of prayer, to hang
the ground-pir.e upon her door, that al
who enter it may enter in the name of
the day. and the ho.ly-stcms and
laurel in her window, that all who
pass shall know the spirit that reigns
within, and to cast her wreaths upon
the mounds in the church-yards in the
name of Him who has risen from the
dead, and that none of all the house
hold who may have gone into the shad-
ows beyond shall TAIL to have their
share iii its remcmbrances. 1t becomes
them to spend thought and care and
money on their gifts and on their ia
bles, and to see that their poor also are
not forgotten, and to teach their chill
dren to sing carols not altogether as
mere music, or as part Of the merry
making, but as expressive of their rec
ognition of all that Christmas-Day
means, which, having raised one moth
er into the reverence of half the wor-
shipping world. raises also all other
mothers. For only in Chrstendom and
among those people who have heard
and understood the message sung BY,
night on the plains Of Bethlehem have
St. Landry democrat., 1883-12-22

riedly traced. and even while we were
reading this mother and land
laughing over it, and l saw at the
same time something ike a tear glitter
on its soiled and crumpled page, there
was 4 step at the door, and the WELL
known whiStle-he was always whist
ling-and then he was in our arms
the same bonnie, blue-eyed boy with
that high. fearless look; the same mis-
chievoas dimple in his chin; the same
loving smile that seemed the most
precious love-light in the world to us,
that will never die or be lost in this
weary life!
Home for the holidays! Tt was his
first year at school, and he had plead
ed so for this homecoming, that we
could not refuse, and all our plans had
included him-for what wo:lld Christ
mas dinner have been without our
boy?-and we had his sled,ss 1.-The May
flower,n out, for there was q furry of
snow, and we tried not to let him see
how fond and foolish we were about
him, or how we followed tAe sound Of
that whistling voice through the house
and wondered if there ever was such
another dear boySand rlanned out lust
St. Landry democrat., 1883-12-22
her cloak, turned the key in her door,
and took from her bosom note, which
she hastily read:

her cloak, turned the key in her door,
and took from her bosom note, which
she hastily read:
MY DEAREST" thus it rant suppose
in fact know-you will have a scene to might
with Her Royal HighnesS Won BreekS Won
Starch and her faithful henchwoman the
Duchesse dc Huffey. | am so sorry for you.
dear! But don't let them frighten you: and
don't be frightened at what ] am about to pro-
pose. Tomorrow will be New Years Day.
Consent, entteat you. to begin the new year
with me. | have but II humble home to offer
you. but in it waits the blessedest of mothers
and the best of grandmothers (who will make
your fourth to welcome you. l shall be watt
ing, when you read this note, with a carriage
around the nearest corner. Our alto and
tenor will be with me, ready to act as brides
mai:. and groomSman. Your grandmothers
would never consent to our marriage, and I'M
less you take q decisive step they will marry
you, in spite of yourself, to your Dutch fifth
cousin. Come. my darling, come.
"P. S.-If you find it impossible to make
yonr escape, why, then must beard the lions
in their den Tomorrow. and fight Il duel with
the Won Breeks Won Starch as soon as he ar
rives in the country"
Gertrude stood an instant in thought.
Then she glanced in the mirror. 1t re-
fected bride-like figure. Dress of
some clinging creamy white material,
daisy-decked head, q cloud of lace
clasped at the throat by a tiny gold
cross. She smiled softly, re-read her
note, waited impatiently until half an
hour had passed, and then unlocked her
door, opened it, and listened. All was
silent as the grave. Cautiously she
veatured out into the entry, CROPPED her
way to the stairway, and began to de-
sccnd the stairs. pausing on every other
step to make sure that no one was astir
and watching her. AT last she reached
the street door in safety. 1t seemed an
age to her until she had succeeded in
unfastening the heavy chain across it
in reality it was just three minutes
and then she felt for the key. It was
gone! Her heart sank within her.
''Poor Everdell! she said, and sadly
prepared to retrace her steps-not dar-
ing to try the basement-way, because
the servants slept in that part of the
house-when a faint light appeared
above her head, and looking up. she
saw great-gran, carrying a lighted can
die in her hand, coming down the stairs
as carefully as she had come down them
St. Landry democrat., 1883-12-22

family (she had been a Won Breeks Won
Starch herself, and had married a cousin
of the same name)-a family of great
prowess and many bags of gold in their
fatherland some century and half
ago. She was tall, stout and solid, with
3 round face. big black eyes, abundant
iron-gray hair, and a carriage that i'm
mediateiy suggested to the beholder the
last syllable OF her aristocratic name.
The fife grandmother, five years her
junior, was directly her opposite, being
short, slim and timber. with sharp
cut face, extremely thin, fair hair and
faded blue eyes.
Great-gran Pceky, notwithstanding
her eighty-three years, was by far the
best looking Of the three Though she
did look. must confess when MUNICH
ing her caraway biscuits, somewhat
like very nice meditatiye old rabbitl.
Her snowy white tresses waved prettily
St. Landry democrat., 1883-12-22

we are following IN old British custom
of the Druids, who hung the green up
within doors when the frost came, in
order that the sylvan spr.tes might still
find home in the wintry weather I'M
der the forest bough, and bring a bless
ing to the house that gave it to them.
Although in Latin countries the day
and its preceding night are celebrated
with countless bells and masses and
candles, and with midnight banquets
to sustain the tatgues of the celebra-
ton. yet the children there have no
such luck in school holidays proper to
the season as children do with lis, their
longest holiday ending the day but one
after the festival, while our little lads
and lassies look forward to Twelfth
Night as the winding up of their joys.
Nor are our children confined to any
one form Of the Christmas genius. AS
every nationality is represented with us,
so every form of Christmas sprite and
guardian is happily welcomed, from the
Santa Claus who came over with the
Knickerbockers, his pack full of toys
and swcetmeats, to the Petit Noel of
French settlements, who goes about
dropping silver pieces into the chill
dren's two shoes at the foot of their lit
tie beds; and all up and down the land
the flowers of summer are replaced by
the flowers that bloom in the tiny flames
upon the boughs OF the Christmas tree,
which, If it was originally exotic, has
now established its growth, and if it
has not become almost a native of the
soil, has certainly taken out naturaliza-
ton papers, and become citizen Of our
homes if not our forests.
We may console ourselves for the
neglect that the great festival has met
with in these regions OF ours by remem-
bering that Christmas was not celebrated
at all till nearly halfway into the sec
ond century Of the Christian era, and
even then it was an exceedingly nova
BILE feast, often COMPOUNDED with anoth-
er, that of the Epiphany, and sometimes
only honored SO late as the month of
May. Nor did it become firmly fixed
till two or three hundred years after
that, when, by the best authorities of the
old Roman archives of that early time
St. Landry democrat., 1883-12-22
Home for the Holidays.

No dreary splendors wait our coming.
When rapt ghost SITS from gaost apart,
Homeward we go to Heavens Thanksgiving,
The haryest-ca5hering of the heart.
Did we have happy Christmas9 No.
we didnot. | suppose it was all wrong
we, the children Of a King, journeying
here for a day--hut we spent every hour
of that pleasant festival time in bitter
sorrow and repin:ng; we, who had been
so happy, and expected that on our
heads, at least, would never be placed
sorrows crown of Sorrow that the
dark angel Azrael would never darken
our happy home!
He had written to us-our darling
that he would lie home for. the holidays,
written it in a little ill-sqelled letter
which his dear, boyish hand had hur-
St. Landry democrat., 1883-12-22
Law a crisp tnousand-dollar United

lay a crisp thousand dollar United
States Treasury-niote. But never did
Everdell or his wife hear from or see
her again, for very soon after their mar
rage she passed quietly out Of life, and so
will remain an enigma to them forever.
And Madame Won Breeks Won Starch
and Mistress Huffey, having succeeded
in marrying the merchant from Bergen
op-Zoom to a distant relative of the Won
Starch famiIy-sought out and lowered
for that purpose-departed with the
bridal pair for that once-renowned mill
tary town, and "the land of the free
and the home Of the brave knew them
no more. -llia7yaret Eytinge, IN Hdr-
per's Weekly.
St. Landry democrat., 1883-12-22

above her still dark eyebrows, beneath
which beamed with mild, dreamy
light her soft brown eyes, and a pleas
ant winter bloom fingered on her
wrinkled face.
1t was from her Gertrude had re-
ceived all the picture-books and sugar
plums, almost always bestowed in per-
feet silence, that had frightened and
sweetened her childhood, Grandma
Won Breeks Won Starch supplying the
lessons in department, and Grand
mother Huffey Cet me whisper it, the
punishments, usually inflicted with a
slipper or the back of a hair brush.
But in spite of the lectures and lessons
and other disagreeable things. Gertrude
led a tolerably happy life with her three
grandmothers until her eighteenth
birthday. From that day dated such
strict surveillance, so much sarcasm. so
many seedlings, that even the hair
brushand-slipper period seemed by
comparison a regrettable one. And all
on account of the young man who
came to fresco the parlor ceilings. A
handsome young man he was, posses
sing the highly euphonious name Of
Everdell Tremlett. But neither his
good looks nor his romantic name
availed him aught with the two manag-
ing granGmothers, who saw in him only
one of the working-day race, with
which the Huf'eys and the Won Breeks
Won Starches had nothing in common.
And therefore, VITA no more thought
about the matter than it John the man
servant had been there in his stead,
they allowed their granddaughter to
practice her music lessons in the back
parlor the sIiding-door being partly
open--while he was at work in the
front.
And SO it happened that Gertrude,
trying to play an ali from memory, and
finding it continually elnded her, was
about giving it up in vexation, when
some one softly whistled it behind her;
and turning quickly on the revolving
stool, she saw the young painter, brush
in hand, standing in the doorway.
.BeG pardon, but that is what you
wanted, is it not?' he asked, as he
ceased whistling. in ayoice as deep as
St. Landry democrat., 1883-12-22

nlcr gHFuen and covered the: one tender
flower blooming there.
. think said the Gardener, clasping
The plant with gentle hand
This flower is much too tender
Fer the winds of this lowar land"
| can tell you nothing about it except
the vague sense of nights that were as
days, and of days that were' as nights;
of sad, solacing words from people who
meant well, but who were Eall uncon-
scious of widening a wound. Was it
Longfellow who said: Before great
grief we are dumb?'' There was a
blind cropping of the LITTLE arms-a
fond, teyerish caress, and the last
Papa, m-a-m-ma, I am going
home for the holidays ard then:
His Lord looked down on thp flower
And His heart went out tCs its need.
lis just the plant for my garden,
a plant of celestial seed
And into the gates that were golden,
And DER the fadeleSs plain,
AND ose by the wonderfulEriyer of life
He planted the flower again"
| know we were not alone in our sor-
row; that the first snow fell on other
little graves that cover precious dust;
that at other tables there are vacant
chairs; that ever since the King of Is
rael cried in his bitter anguish: ooh,
Absalom, my son! my som! Would
God had died for theen' hearts have
been broken and homes deaolated, as
ours is in these sad holidays.
g And yet, dear heart! remembering thee,
Am not richer than OF old?
Safe in thy immortality,
What change can reach the wealth holdl
What chance can mar the pe4ce and gold
Thy love hath left in trust with me?
81 can not feel that thou art far
Since near at needs the angels are,
And when the sunset gates unbfsr,
Shall not see thee waiting stand
And white against the evening star
The welcome of thy heckonlng hand?'
Detroit Free Press.
St. Landry democrat., 1883-12-22
THE TALE or A VERY Bad BOY.

oh. this is the tale of n very bad boy:
He had done all he could other folks to annoy.
Then what do you think there was found to
employ
The very bad wits Of this very bad boy?
On the night before Christmas, st. Nick to
decoy,
Two stockings were hung by the very bad
boy.
Who said to himself OF the sweet Christ
mas joy
To double my share. a trick I'll employ;
Ill watch for St. Nick--and the fun I'll en-
I'll give him these stockings his time to en-
ploy;
And while he's at work." said the very bad
boy,
I'm hook from his pack just the handsomest
toy"
But somehow the fun had a bit of alloy:
st. Nick got peep ut the very bad boy;
He whipped up his steeds, and he cried out:
'Ahoy!
You'll get my young lad, neither candy nor
toy"
Then away went St. Nick, and he chucked
with Joy,
And he left not a thing for the very bad hoy.
--Harper's Young People.
St. Landry democrat., 1883-12-22

w tAAS w VA M
over, We doubt
if it anywhere
has such vari-
Gus and general
celebration ason
our own shores.
In the N ort h.,
am d S t SHOWS
an d hemlock
boughs, the day
has a delightful
domesticity, a
sense of shut-in
comfort and
well-be ng;; far
Their south fire.
cracke rs. and
pistol : shooting
give it a strange
at m o s p h ere;
and still further
south its songs
are give n to
balnly breezes
Ia d e n already
with the scents
of roses, of or
ange ii 0 W crs,
a n d of clean
ders, that make
the day as ge-
n ial a n d as
pleasant as it
must have been
nearly two thou
St. Landry democrat., 1883-12-22


throughout Holland, but the entire
world, at a time when you were not
dreamed of.
As for Great-gran Peeky, she had sat
softly rocking to and fro in her cushion
ed rocker, munching her caraway BIS
cuits-a store of which she always car
ried in little sachel suspended at her
side-sleepily regarding the group of
takers, and SAYING not a word herself.
But that was nothing strange for her.
She scarcely ever spoke save in monosyl-
tables, and never even in them when
Madame Won Breeks Won Starch and
Mistress Hufey were laying down the
law Ca favorite occupation of theirs, by
the-by), to servants, trades-people, OF
grand daughter Gertrude. And the last
thing that could have occurred to either
of the amiable lawmakers would have
been the idea of appealing to the old
lady for an opinion on any subject
whatever 1t suificed them that she
paid without grumbling the greater part
of the expenses OF the household out of
the income which was to cease at her
death, and yet allowed them to manage
all things pertaining to it in their own
way
Gertrude so named by Madame Won
Breeks Won Starch in honor of the pa
tron saint of Bergen op-Zoom-had lost
both her rarentsin her infancy, and her
father having been reduced TO poverty
some time before he died by various
gentlemanly vices, she had been left
wholly dependent upon her three grand
mothe4s.
OF these Great-gran Peeky was the
mother of Grandmother Hutfey, who in
turn was .he mother of Gertrude S
mother, while Grandma Won Breeks.
Won Starch held the same close relation
ship 10 her father.
The bassoon grandmother was at the
head of the American branch Of her
St. Landry democrat., 1883-12-22


Won Starch, as
she stepped into
the room from
the balcony, and
fled.
And the next
day the piano
was closed and
locked, and the
fair performer
a prisoner in her
own room; and
Grandm 9th CT
Hutfiey. meeting
Mr.. Everdel1
Tl,a,,,latt sc ha
came to work,
requested him in
one brief SEN
tence to g get
through hiswork
and 60 about
his business us
SooH DO PoS
sible.''
But love--b
his merry little
heart! laughs
at lock $ an d
locksmiths, and
the very next
tim G Gertrude
went for b er
sinoino lesson
St. Landry democrat., 1883-12-22

remaining, the
date was decid-
ed, whether cor
rectl.y or not
making really
very little mat
ter, so long. as
the fact for
which the date
is desired is thus
hallowed wit h
re me m brance.
Nor do we now
actually k G ep
h a t identical
date, since the
change from
Old lie to
NewStyle
St. Landry democrat., 1883-12-22

that OF the pas
so on gran d.
mother, though
much more mel
od;ous.
"Oll yes, thank
you said Ger
trude, w i t h a
blush; and turn
ing to the piano
again she played
the whole air
SklllIuuY II II Il
gracefully.
s.It's a beau
tiful thing, said
the painter, still
standing in the
doorway; "but |
think the song
beg;nningint this
St. Landry democrat., 1883-12-22
I'll wish Vol:

Il wish you happy New Ycar''
said Pingrey. ooh, that's easy enough
to say" replied Henderson; .fbut what
will you do towards makingI my New
St. Landry democrat., 1883-12-22

women been accorded any portion Of
that place and power which is their
due as the mothers and co-educators of
the human race.-Rarper's Bazar.
St. Landry democrat., 1883-12-22

Year a happy one:" Anything ! can,'
said Ptngrey '.Do you mean it?''
cried Henderson, dramatically. "Do
you mean it?' We'll, well, goodbye,
farewell. " Whats the mater with
you?" asked the hystifed IPingrey.
"Why, you are going away. forever,
aren't you9 You said you would do any
thing you could to make me happy.
Farewell, old boy, farewell.ss' And
Henderson walked briskly around the
corner, while the perplexed Pingrey
stood as if rooted to the SPIT for the,
space of five minutes -Bostsn TRAM
script.
St. Landry democrat., 1883-12-22

Christmas is time in watch the.
memory of every remediableI sorrow,
wrong and trouble in the WORLD should
be active with us.-Dickens.
St. Landry democrat., 1883-12-22
THE THREE GRANDMOTHERs.

'sAnd you would marry this fellow, =
said Grandma Won Breeks Won Starch,
in her bassooniest Chat is the only word
can think of with which to describe
them) tones, ''if you could?'
Eyes, ma'am,'' replied Gertrude,
meekly but firmly.
1.-THE idea is simply preposterous!"
declared Grandmother Huhey's tife-like
voice.
'.Preposterous indeedn' responded
the bassoon. ..More than preposterous
--disgraceful Amechan;c! common
workingman! q house-painter!"
Hes fresco-painter, tlmidly COR
rected Gertrude.
(Which amounts to the same thing"
groaned the bassoon.
''Michael Angelo" began Gertrude.
Heaven preserve us.'' shrillcd the
fife; '.she's bringing some Irishman
into the discussion now. Be silent,
miss. Well not hear another word
from you. And understand distinctly,
once and for all, that If that person
calls here tomorrow, which no doubt
he will have the impertinence and as
surance to do, you are to dismiss him
Instantly, or ace scdH"
Nd H. L
St. Landry democrat., 1883-12-22

But the star that shines in Be.hlehen.
Shines still and sha not ceased
And we listen still to the tidingsI
OF Glory and of Peace.
-Adcfa dc d. Proctor
The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1883-04-04
Don't step ON a Rolling stone!

That is what Captain Allen of the
Fire Department of Worcester did, and
that was how he hurt his ankle so badly.
After the doctor set the broken bone,
Captain Allen used PERRY DAv1s's PAIN
KILLER as a liniment. The suffering
was soon over, and the Captain was well
in short time. Knowing the accidents
to which firemen are constantly subject.
Captain Allen advises everybody cons
nected with Fire Department TO keep
a bottle of PAIN KILLER always on rand.
When Oscar Wilde saw Niagara
Falls, he exclaimed: Bulk but no
beauty.nl When little Detroit boy
fret saw the sublime cataract he sol
emmy whispered Mamma ! fee
like taking my hat off to God" This
is the difference between embryo
idiocy and embryo manhood Phil
dc1elohin Nescs
Trough ON Rats''.
Clears out rats, mice, reaches, flies,
ants, bedebugs, skunks, chipmunks, goS
pliers. Is cents. Druggists.