davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1884-06-23

80 "a 81 Ladies' White Lawn
sorih 81 each. Will be sold ut
pa "a GA Ladies' White Lawn
~ ,,,mmed in both embroidery
! worth from 81 to $3.50 each.
lid OF 81 and 81 so.
aaI /, I'll Ladies' White Lawn
.ssorted in styles, and we guar
,hs finest garments ever shown
market and for less money than
sar can buy the material.
sSais 5000 yards Bleached Soft
IA Muslin. Regular price l0c.
s,old at Sc per yard.
"a Is $50 yards 42.inch Bleached
! Casing. Worth lSc. Will be
5tlsc.
yIog Worth S5c. Will be sold
Err yard.
m. Worth 20c. VIII be sold at
Ia yard.
\ rs is an assorted lot of Summer
/, IN black and white pin stripes,
n will be sold ut 35c.
Es9is 20 pieces of Pin-Striped
|cbcck Silks at 473c., of most ex-
NJ value. pa
4 100 is IL pieces Of Shaded Silks.
N garnet, wine, gold, brown, and
I. rreen, at 65c. a yard. These
|srlicularly desirable.
Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1884-06-23

I !..!l !, see,oys Z seas snoAins
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-12-26

been soaked the night before, and were now
put in the gunboat covered with water, and
the gunboat was set oyer the fire upon two
mud bricks made for the occasion. A
watched pot may not boil, but a watched
gunboat did, for three heads bent forward
and six eyes gazed intently upon the con-
tents Of the vessel over the fire, until the
water was bubbling and the peas dancing in
and out among the bubbles.
Eat short intervals a few peas were
taken out in a spoon and allowed to cool,
and a pea was tasted by each of us and
judgment given as to its being done.
Finally we were unanimous in the opinion
that the gookas were cooked enough. Meal
was brought forth and stirred in, and the
pudding was allowed to remain on the fire
until it had thickened, so that there was
danger of it's being scorched. The peas
were dark skinned, and had given the
pudding a purplish hue. The gunboat
was lifted off and set on the ground to cool.
While we were waiting the fire was re-
newed. Corn-meal saved for the purpose
was put in a pan and thoroughly dried and
Drowned. This corn coffee was divided
into three portions, put in three quart ket-
ties, and boiled.
Sat last our dinner was ready. The
gunboat was put on the ground in the cen
for 1f tho chobopr opl wv cot
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-12-26

&c celebrate the birth of Him.
vi welded maid" and virgin horn.
u maze atonement for our sin.
W. halloWed be the Christmas morn.
may none forget the Christmas day..
Nhen GOD, His only Son did rive. a
'1AHu ne assumed to mortal CLAW.
so that a dying world may live.
NOV, may we learn from this great gift
obestoWed by God, from Heaven above,
~ s daas nearts, and minds to lift
N, may we work for others good.
And not a vile ambition feed
while there are those who want for food.
AND weary, weary hearts that bleed.
we may not be in reach Of SUCH
AS Justly might our aims demand:
But thousands need the balmy touch
VI a warm and generous hand,
"A pleasant smile, or word of cheer.
WIN always outweigh loads of gold.
IN vanishing dread, doubt and fear,
AND making weak ones strong and bold.
NOW we can give as much rs this,
NO matter what our lot in life,
80 let us each and all dismiss
Our love OF worldly din and strife.
And while Christmas bells are telling
VI the bright star of Bethlehem,
Slay Utmost hearts be swelling
FOR peace on earth, good will toward men.
Detroit Post.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-12-26
CHRISTMAS IN A sTocxApE.

How Three Prisoners of War Dined in De-
cember, 1864.
As the guests were rising from a dinner
table which had been covered with the good
things of the season, one of them said to the
hostess: "No one could enjoy a dinner
more than 1 have enjoyed this"
"Joln will not agree with you," turning
toward her husbands; she insists that he
helped to cook and eat q dinner which
tasted better than any 1 have ever pre-
pared"
The guests joined in requesting the hus-
band to tell the story of that dinner, and
after they had moved to the sitting-room
and were comfortably seated John began:
"On the last Thursday of November, 1864,
three of lis sat in a shebang in the prison
stockade at Florence, S. G. Shebang vas
the prison word for a dwelling constructed
in this way. An excavation about seven
feet in length, six feet in breadth, and two
feet in depth was made. The earth taken
out was banked up perpendicularly on
THE EDGE OF THE EXCAVATION
inside; outside the surface was sloped. Two
crotched sticks driven firmly into the ground,
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-12-26

in '79 or 80, and, after keeping it in
the house a year, I senti it to Mrs. Brown;;
then she must have sent it to MIS-
Smith, for l saw it in Mrs. Smiths par.
lor for a long time. Then it suddenly!
disappeared, until it turned up in Mrs.
Green's bedchamber. Well, to cut q
long story short, I've traced that card
from house to house, and 1 don't be-
lieve there's a family in the village that
hasn't had it for a Christmas present.
How natural it does look, to be suret
And it will probably look just as natural
to Mrs Smith; but then, I've got to give
her something, l suppose"
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-12-26

slowly, that the little mind may a k
in the meaning, and watch the rapture of
the upturned face, the marvellous Won
ders that fills the young soul, ask yourself
if the vision does not furnish the most pleas
ure that anything real possibly could give?
But, you say, it is not real, it is not true.
Granted. What is real and what is true?
The prospective possession of wealth that
gives you pleasure, the castles that you
build as you bend over your books or
con the figures of your trial bal
ance, the enjoyment in expectancy, the
pleasures in futurity, are they real?. Yet
if you analyze your OWL happiness you will
find that it is not the present, that it is not
what you see, it is not what you have, that
makes you happy or that gives you the zest
of life, but it is what you do not see, what
you hope for, what you expect to have and
to know. And why should you confine the
children to narrower limits and a colder
reality that belongs to maturer years?
On the other hand, is it not true that in
n sense, the story Of Santa Claus is a
reality? Suppose he does not drive rein
deers Of flesh and bones; suppose the jingle
of his bells IS not heard; suppose his round
little face does not actually Beam from under
his fur cap as he emerges from the hre-
place. suppose tuolc 10 III Aoliu nag IAN
brownies and the elves do his bidding; is it
not true that in a land where mortal eye
has never seen, amid glcrics and beauties
that the human mind has never conceived,
in the midst of purling brooks and
sparkling fountains, perchance, sur
rounded by music that ravislles the
ear of cherubim and seraphim,
there. is a Friend whose heart overfioWs
| always with love beneicence to the race, a
Friend whose advent proclaimed Peace
on earth, good will toward men," and
from whom springs all the inspiration OF
Christmas-tide, year after year? And what
are we, the. fathers and mothers, the
brothers and sisters, who are driven i'll per-
plexity from store to shop day after day to
provide necessary adjuncts for a merry
Christmas, but the elves and brownies, the
genii who obey the behests OF good am
Nicholas, in providing for the little children
the happy hours that Christmas brings?
Let the little folks enjoy while they can
the quaint faith in the brownies and the
fairies, and by and by they can learn all too
soon that all their joy was but a phantom
and will fly to other joys no more real OF
substantial because INDUCED in ripper years.
The good hymn writer well wrote This
world is all a. fleeing show for mans IL
fusion given" and there is little occasion to
dispel the bright delightful illusions that
cluster about %childhood's Christmas before
the Young mind can enter into those of latel
years.-BMlington Hawkeye.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-12-26

around it. Two of us had
SMALL TIN PANS
and one a flat piece of sheet
iron for plates, and each had a
spoon. Not one of us would
have been called a religious
man, but we hesitated, looked
at one another, bowed our
heads, and were still. But it
was only for amoment, and
then the Kentuckian volun-
teered to act as host, and helped
us and himself.
"When that dinner was over
the contents of the gunboat and
quart cups had vanished, and it
was just noon. After such
unusualexertion we lay down,
drew our blankets over us, and
slept. We were awakened near
night by a neighbor, who called
us that we might get our ra-
lions. After returning to the
shebang the Iowa man said:
Boys, I'll think of that dinner
as long as I live. Why, I amt
hungry yet.'"-N. Y. Sun.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-12-26

old stove to bake it, an we hadn't no plat
ser TO put It on, and there wasn't huff dishes
an cheers fur us all to sot down at the fust
taole, and dad chopped his hand in tryin'
70 carve it. and when he kicked the table
over and left the house he was mad. 1
reckon this chap who got a black eye said
sunthin to dad about Merry Christmas, and
l reckon dad didn't wait two seconds before
he hit him."
aAnd where is the turkey?"
Dunno. Reckon the dog has got it.
lam she's gone fur the river to drown her.
self, dad he's locked up, the children are
nome bawlin', and I feel like runnin' away
an goin' to Buffalo. If another Kriss
kringle strikes our shanty, we might as
we'll let the fire go out and freeze to death in
a decent mamer.-Detrott Free Press.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-12-26

This is a good time to propose to q
girl. She will be afraid to refuse for
fear she'll miss a Christmas present.
Hotel Nail.
1t is said that $500, 900 are annually
expended in Christmas cards in this
country. The Christmas card for ten
cents beats a five-dollar Christmas pres
ent all to finders-from the giver's
Observation-Disclosures Post.
"A Williamsport (Pa:) young lady
sired for Christmas. She said: "Call
around for me Christmas morning and
bring a minister with you" Two souls,
two hearts.-BreokJast Table.
On Christmas eve, in San Antonio,
Tex, the Mexican pastors walked in
shepherds costume, with gayly decor
ated crooks and jingling bells, visiting
the babe of Bethlehem in many private
houses, and finally celebrating mid
night mass in San Fernando Cathedral.l
This is an old Mexican custom.
1t requires a cool brain and a steady
nerve to carry a man successfully
through a bewildering array of Christ
mas presents ready for purchase. The
average man would fare better by going
in blindfold and buying the first thing
he could clap his hands on. "Resolve
me this doubt" was probably first
spoken at a holiday counter. :
When you see 'well-dressed man
standing in front of a shop window and
wearing the air of n who has buried
his last earthly friend, do not be mis-
led. The poor fellow isn't meditating
suicide, but he's got a list of gifts that
must be purchased and he don't know
what on earth to get.-PNtsburgh Ieke-
graph.
1t is said that the custom of maxi
ing New Year calls is on the wane.,
Last year best society in New York.
merely hung out baskets" To travel
about a city all day, in q suit hired for
the occasion, dropping cards into a
basket, is about as wild and hilarious
fun as to sit on a fence and see your
best girl go by with another fellow
No7ristoWn Herald.
First Innocent-s'Is your father 20
ing to hang up his stocking to-night,l
Bi1l?" Second Innocent-''Dunno; but
if he does. I don't believe he'll get any.
thing" First Innocent" What makes.
you think SOP" Second lnnOcent-"Be-
cause, as 1 was standing where he left
me, just outside the door at Pat Malloy's:
saloon, while he went in with q couple Of
men, there was a good deal of noise,
but l could swear I heard pop say he
guessed he wouldn't have anything in
his this time"
Mr.. and Mrs. Blimber, loaded with
good things for the stockings of the two
little Blimbers, paused On the threshold
of the bed-chamber to reconnoiter the
ground. It was quite still, and their
bosoms swelled with the emotions pecul-'
lar to Santa Claus on such happy occa-
sions. The darlings are asleep" said
Mr.. Blimber, land we can 60 in" But
they had not advanced three steps be-
fore there was a cracking of the bed, a
rustling of clothes and the half-smoth-
cred accents of a small boys voice, say
ing: Wake up, Jimmy; it's almost
time for dad to be coming down the
chimney"
I'll declare - exclaimed Mrs.
Thrifty, 'if there isn't that Christmas
card again. 1t is getting a little soiled,
but I guess it will last a few more years.
Let's see; l got that from Uncle David
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-12-26
what that meaps if we keep it up-death

A PLACE IN THE TRENCH.
I want my bones laid in New York, where
l was born. l know we have had a mean
Thanksgiving dinner. and it does seem as
though we had to look around a little to find
something to be thankful for; but we are
alive yet, and we may yet get home after
all. T~hanksgiving's gone, but if we live
until Christmas we can have q dinner, and
won't be hungry after we have eaten it,
elbow" inquired my two comrades,
eagerly.
1--WE won't feel much hungrier" than we
do now if we each put bya spoonful of meal
and a spoonful of gookas every day from
now until Christmas, and l think our saw
ings will make a dinner that will be salts
flying
"After some discussion as to the relative
strength of our appetite and our wills it
was decided to lay by our six s%poonfuls of
food every day, all agreeing that the spoon
fuls should not be heaped, but even. 1
dreamed that night Of feasting on all the
good things i'll the way of food that 1 had
ever heard of or eaten. The next morning
we made two bags of generous size. In the
afternoon when our rations came we put
three s%poonfuls of gookas in one bag and
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-12-26

had added by picking up every splinter as
large as a toothpick and every chip as large
as a ten-cent piece that w discovered in
our wanderings about the stockade.
"The occupants Of q shebang near our
own, in addition to the usual cooking uten-
sils-quart bottles and tin or sheet-iron pans
possessed a gunboat. This was a piece
Of old roofing tin, made into a pan more
than a foot long and about six inches wide
and deep. The corners where the tin has
been cut off or turned were soldered with
corn meal. 1t was not slightly, but was con-
venient. We had bargained before for the
use of this gunboat.
"The fre was lighted. The gookas had
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-12-26

row, and the turkey was huns " ;"
Chris mas dinner"
"Well?" NO wanted it
"WelI, this mornin' some OF Us h. %a another
billed, and some baked, and we e. n Ee It t'i nam
shindy. When we decided to Dak : =, quarter.
went out to buy stutfin' and loss !" AZ n' come
Then dad went out to buy st nanrow ed some
home tight. Then mann oo on%s oysters,
cr.ckers an got trusted fur some o'
an the turkey was stuffed"
.SThen what99" fro ,n,ff in the
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-12-26

chimney, which was meant to represent a
human figure. In a moment of art enthusi-
asm one of us, a Kentucky cavalry man, had
fashioned it when the chimney was put up.
Is would have made a t~obacconist's Indian
split its wooden sides with laughter. But
our thoughts were as shallow as our faces.
latter a time the Iowa man spoke:
Boys, it must be Thanksgiving Day at
home, and my folks are just through their
dinner. l don't believe they cared much for
it,
eve are silent for awhile. I was. the
first to speak:
"'Well, boys, we mustn't think about
home,' or any one there. We ali know
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-12-26
A SYMBOL OF THE SEASON.

AS birds to sun-land wing their
way in blithesome bevies and
with song, so from the gift-hand,
Christmas-day flow tokens that
hfe's joys prolong. The sea
sons symbol, like a charm, wish
and delight is interlocking; and
platnest gifts the heart will warm
De they but found within q stock
ing! ~ Time can destroy the
dearest whim; the sweetest joy
age can bedim; but on lfe's
way all love to pause each year
aday with Santa Claus. Tho
heads be bowed with weight
of years, and onward
crowd life's. sadding
cares, the mem'ry turns
at Christmas-tide in
grooves of child
hood joys to glide.
~ Then hang
the stockings
great and SMALL
Our chimney
sprite will
know them
all! He reads
the wish in
every mind,
and tries the
wished-for aye to
find. Yes! hang
the stocking - young
and old! Let Saint
Nick's legends
be retold! Let
old heads
play the
Chri stmas
p t s,
which
pr've th't
naught
a age
~ young
... hear
ts!
Albany AYyl
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-12-26

three ~spoonfuls of meal in the other. Ev-
cry succeeding day the bags received their
portion, and were felt Of a~fectionately, to
find out how much they contained.
CHRISTMAS MORNING,
1864, after being long waited for, came at
last. The faint light of the morning found
us stirring. We had boarded our fuel, saw
ing a little every day. 1t was not an easy
thing to do, for the daily fuel ration of
ninety men was three sticks of pine cord
wood of average size. To this supply we
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-12-26
GlFT-MAKlNG.

A Man to BE Pitied = The
Beautiful Custom of Making
Christmas Presents.
This is a time when the purse
strings are opened as they are
at no other season of the year.
And why not? We pity the
man, from the bottom of our
heart we pity the man, who
draws them tight for fear some
thing will drop out, and who
has never felt a single emotion
Of benevolence, OF tenderness
at this time of universal gift
making. How singularly pen
urious and poor some men
grow at the approach of the
holidays; they are verging on
starvation we should suppose
from their language. We do
not by any means advocate
extravaganza, but what should
there be to prevent us from
giving gifts to our friends, ou1
parents, or children? How il
will do our own hearts good
to remember each one of the
family with a small gift, and to
allow the children to do the
same. How such things are
appreciated in after life. A
ring, a cup, a book, it will be
a treasure when the giver is
gone. How much tenderness
there is concealed in the ex,
preston: "Mother gave me
this on Christmas many years
ago." or Brother gave me
this as a Christmas present a
few years before he died, and ]
hold it very dear" The form OF
A. lo,4o 80 o.oJJ-1 1-l Ill.,,
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-12-26

aridge-pole laid in the crotches, armyblank-
cts stretched over the ridge-pole and fast
ened to the earth slope with wooden pins,
a mud chimney at one end and a hole for a
door at the Other. finished the building.
cit was in the afternoon. We had re-
ceived our daily rations-about three table
spoonsful of gookas, or COW peas, and a
little over a pint of corn meal-had cooked
and eaten them, and were sitting Oh the
ground floor of the shebang, our eyes list
IesslY turned toward q bas-relief upon the
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-12-26
HOLIDAY
Highly gifted-Santa Claus

Highly gifted-santa Claus.-M p.
Journal.
These are the days when a girl
don't care how large a stocking she
wears.
-.Got anything for a Christmas pres
"A little boy being asked who was
the greatest man in the world answered,
"Santa Claus" A seasonable reply.
If the children ask how Santa Claus
got down the chimney, tell them he
fiue down in his winter soot.-Boston
Bulletin.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-12-26

Charley wanted to give Clara a Christ
mas present, but couldn't make up his mind
what it should be; SO the next time he
called he frankly told her the difficulty UNI
der which he was laboring. "Want to
make me a present, Charley" Clara ex-
claimed, in well-disguised establishment.
"Why, Charley, you forget yourself. -
Charley took the hint and offered himself
on the spot.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-12-26

yet speak in the most tender accents
through these things. Let %gift-giving be a
part of your Christmas. Give cheerfully.
Do not forget the widow and the orphan.
Send coal, and flour, and meat to such as
you know need these things, and do not
forget the children. Your Christmas will
be all the sweeter for it.-Christian
World,
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-12-26
CHRISTMAS CAROL.

The earth is cold and drcar tonight.
The wind goes moaning through the trees
while summer birds have winged their fioII,
To greener fields andSwarmer seas. Aen'
The dear old year is nearly gone,
Yet as it slowly dies way,
Ut steps another pace along,
And brings another festive day.
Tomorrow Christmas bells will chime
An anthem full of joy and mirth,
I'm memory of that blessed time
When Jesus Christ was born on eartb
Moan on We night winds if We will.
Yea, mourn for the departing year.
But let the troubled heart DO stin,
And Christmas be a day of cheer.
What care we for the winds without
Whatcare we forthe frozen earth.
fT 70 eaT1samas pc Peli = VIII soon ring out
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-12-26

"A dyspeptic view of Christmas and
Christmas presents:
Wives and sweethearts al remind us
We may make our lives sublime,
And departing leave behind Ut
Sad memories Of many a dime.
Philadelphia Press.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-12-26
WHAT'S written is written. The old yea

WHAT'S written is written. The old year
we can not recall. That leaf in the book Of
our life is turned; it is closed; we may not
change or erase a single mark. Regret over
its black spots is all in vain. But a new
wear opens to us a fair, clean page on which
We nav write what we list. Think you it
win look a year hence a. this n does we
have lust closed?-Golden Rule.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-12-26
A PLEA FOR CHRISTMAS LORE

The Delightful Visions of Childhood Be-
gotten by the Beautiful Story of Santa
Claus.
The annual advent of Christmas brings
with it, to the maturer portion of the popu-
lation, much that is intensely practical of
care and thought. The fancies and fantastic
%unrealities that people the recollections Of