davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-12-26

They climbed down the grape-arbor, and
when they reached the ground one of them
took him up in his arms and ran Off toward
the woods as fast as he could.
When he got tired another took him, and
so they took turns until they got him so far
away that there was not a house to be seen
anywhere.
They entered another woods, in the mid
die of which WAS a large cave filed with
long tables covered with pies-apple pies,
mince pies, pumpkin pies and every sort of
pies that you could think of. See here"
said the leader of the little men, pointing
to the pies. ''tlese are for little boys who
can not wait until to-lnorTow; so sit down
and help yourself" But Eddie was too
frightened. Hes bashful,' said one of the
men laughing: ''let us help him. Here,
Jack" he continued, s'lift him upon the
table and hold his hands"
So Eddie was lifted to the table and his
hands held tightly behind him.
The leader cut a pie in small pieces and
forced them into Eddic's mouth.
Eddie tried to keep his mouth closed, but
they held his nose as ann do when they
want little boys to take bad medicines, and
every time he opened his mouth to breathe
the leader would put a piece of pie right into
it.
BY and by Eddie got so full that he
thought he couldn't stand it, but the men
would not stop. They kept laughing at
him and giving him more pie, and when the
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-12-26

for three or four days, md then all to once
they'd snatch We bald-headed. You must
kinder consider these things in buying a
present.
. "What shall l git? Tn thinking of a
pair Of shears, or a wash-baSket, or a silver
thimble. or some such a thing"
"Don't you git nuthin' of the sort.
You'd feel purity fiat to go and pay a dollar
for work-basket, and then have her cuff you
up to a peak jist the day before Christmas,
wouldn't YOU! That's the trouble, YOU see,
you've got to p@urtect yourself and give a
present at the same time"
How do you do"'
81 never buy nuthin', but you go and get
a pound of candy. Give me four sticks and
hide the rest under the house. If she keeps
good up to Christmas you kin put it in her
stocking and she'll be sure to give you back
half of it. If she goes to knocking things
around you've got sunthin' that you kin
realize OF. You amt stuck OH a basket or
hardware or srMthin' that's no good to a boy.
Candy is allus worth its face value, and
what you can't eat you kin use i'll hiring the
big boys not to lick ye."
Il guess I'll do it,"
"Of course You will. Tell 6re, Jim,
there's nutlin' like plamnin' a little. Every
Christmas / give my father six hard-biled
eggs, and as he hates 'em like pizen, he
pats me on the head for my goodness and
hands me back every blessed onel'-De-
trott Free Press.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-12-26

are HELPLESS. 1t is in such a contingency
that the boosted wisdom of man seems most
useless and ironical. 1t all becomes plain
enough a few days afterwards, but it is too
late then to correct mistakes; a Christmas
present once made becomes an open con-
fassion. and that's the end of it.
There are articles of utility and value i'll
abundance that we might properly select
for gitt purposes, ii we would, in preference
to wasting our money on things OF no con-
sequence. We will not, or we do not, how
ever, come across such articles ut this season
of the wear. BY force of some occult and
confusing sentiment we insist upon going
10 the counters where the goods are of the
sort that we would not think of buying I'M
der other circumstances at any price. 1t is
partly our fault and partly our tate-partly
u want of education. and partly a rule of
being. There is a touch of vanity in it, too,
perhaps, We dislike to be thought over
practical in a matter that has to do with the
emotions mainly, and there is always the
fear that our generosity may be miscon'
strucd ii we give something handy to have
in the house. We would much rather
squander our money on the merely gandy
and trashy than have our friend think us
capable for a moment Of suggesting thai
they are not able or not disposed to buy fol
themselves all they need in the way of arti
cles OF daily use and value-and it must b.
allowed that our friends are often quick Il
take . view of that kind.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-12-26
Providing for Contingencies.

A boy about ten years old, with a boot
blacks kit on his arm, yesterday winked
to a lad about three years older to come into
the alley behind the post-office, and when
he had him there he said:
Il want you to give me a little advice"
That's me. What is it?!"
"Pm thinking of buying mother a
Christmas present"
81 see. What kind of a mother is she?"
sob, purity fair"
"Ever lick yep
"Once in a while; but l guess I needed
it,"
"Ever sneak up and go through your
pockets after ye git to bed?:"
"No." s
Jaw around when she has to find your
hat or boots:"
mot much"
swell, now, you look a-here. I'm old
erin you are, and have had three mothers to
your one. They can't allus be depended
on. I've known 'em to be as slickas grease
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-12-26
EDDIE AND THE CHRISTMAS Pie

Story of a Greedy Little Boy Who Could
Not Wait Until Tomorrow.
On the day before Christmas Rosa was
very busy making pies and buildings for the
Christmas dinner.
Her little brother Eddie sat watching her,
his mouth watering at the sight of so many
good things.
When he saw a large mince pie taken
from the oven and laid upon the window to
cool he began plaguing mamma to get a
piece.
OF course, I'M would not cut it, as
Annie and May were coming to dinner on
Christmas, and she wanted everything to
look nice.
Although Eddie was not a bad boy, yet,
like many little boys, he liked to have his
own way, and when he saw mamma would
give him none, he made up his mind to get
some ever though he had to take it without
permission. That evening, when mamma
put him to bed, he made believe to go
asleep, but he did not go asleep IL bit.
When everything was still he stole down to
The pantry, cut a big slice out of the pie
and ate it.
When lie had finished he put the pie
back upon the shelf and crept back to bed,
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-12-26

AOtS - u
girls warm sympathies enlisted in favor Of
the shivering creature and those two wee
children she saidshe had at home.
A basket containing many good things,
both to eat and wear, was soon prepared,
With Which Mrs. Finn, for such was the
womans name, went on her way rejoicing,
and that very evening Eva and her mother
drove to the house designated by Mrs. Finn
as her home. 1t is dismal and tumble
down, while the room into which they arc
ushered is devoid of a fire and cold and
cheerless. The hearty welcome they re-
ceiye, however, more than makes up for the
character OF the surroundings. Two little
girls, of about Eva's age, approach anc
greet her warmly, praising her generosity
with tears in their eyes. Eva is q little dis
concerted, for she does not feel deserving OF,
the compliments sllowered upon her. The
Finn girls We're, as has been said, nearly Of
the same age as their young benefactress,
but they are pinched and wan, and much
smaller.
1t was a happy Christmas for the Firms,
and as Tor Eva, She vowed that night, as
she tumbled into her warm bed. that she
just felt too jolly for anything, and this
was the very best Christmas she had ever
spent.
and do you know why" asked her
mother, bending over her.
No, mamma; whyY:" said the little girl.
Because you have to-day discovered the
source Of true happiness; namely, doing
good"
And her mother was right, for while Eva
knew well the transient pleasure of receiy-
ing, she had never before experienced the
true, the lasting pleasure Of giving.-News-
boys appeal.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-12-26

i'll tile woods and forests; holly was the
only plant that kept its brightness and
beauty in the desolate winter, so they
brought the boughs into their homes, shat
the sylvan spirits might repair thither and
remain unnipped by frost and cold winds
until a milder season renewed the foliage on
their darling abodes." 1 think, after this
pretty reason for decorating, you will always
fancy a dainty summer fairy is pceping at
you from behind the holly branches, and very
likely is laughing at you when You pull a
long iace about chilblains or lessons. A real
fairy, Of course, can not feel pain, so she
would not understand your comical looks.
AS the holly held such a power over the
minds of the Romans, the Christians adopted
the custom Of using it at Christmas, and
thus avoided shocking the prejudices of
newly-made converts. There were some
people once who held a curiou theory
about our winter evergreen; they assert
ed that the sun never caused this tree to
throw a shadow, and, having it thus asso-
ciated with extreme brightness and light,
they sprinkled the face Of %newly-born
children with water impregnated with
holly.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-12-26
THE HABIT OF GIVING.

1t Is Encouraged and Strengthened by tho
Practice of Christmas Present-Making-
Money Devoted to Such Gifts, However
Intrinsically yalucless, Not Thrown
Away.
The wholesome influences of Christmas
are many and varied. but in no single re-
spect, perhaps, is it so seryicable as in that
of promoting the habit of giving. A person
must be a churl and a skinfint, indeed, who
does not feel moved to present somebody
with something at a season when the very
atmosphere is filled with Kindness and lib
erality. One may keep his purse-strings
frightened all the rest of the year, but they
are bound to relax a little when Christmas
comes. There is such a thing as being en-
ticed to goodness; the temptations are not
all in the other direction. We are creatures
of habit, the best equipped and most indie
pendent OF us, as we'll as the frivolous and
unresisting; and giving is very considerably
a matter of habit, a thing to be caught as
we catch a great many other tendencies of
feeling and action, good, bad and indiffer-
ent. When we see our neighbors buying
presents and preparing to make themselves
and others glad-for giving is twice blessed
in the fact that it insures pleasure to both
parties-we are led almost without know
ing it to put our hands in our pockets and
do likewise.
That we spend much money foolishly in
these cheerful Christmas times is unques-
tionably true, in the sense that we might
often make better selections of presents
than we do. But the selection of presents
is IN art, and can not be learned in a day.
Besides, we are always hurried at Christ
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-12-26
THE NEW YEAR.

q New Years greeting: Happiness to all!
How sweet the words that fall upon the
ear,
like birds notes when among the blooms
they call
Each other in the spring-time of the year!
Che words of friends, and others still more
dear,
FALL on the heart this morn as
dew.
And, frcshcning it, new blossomings appear
Within Affections bower. We never knew
Until this loving greeting brought them into
view.
Another New Year comes to all this day,
And every bosom with emotion swells,
ana or the face the Sniilo that, like Il ray
or Sunlight beams, or quiet gladness, tells
or that rare peace which in the pure heart
dwClls,
And crowns its being with n bliss supreme.
Oh, JOY! how full thy yet unfathomed wells!
How sweet the draught! how bright thy
waters gicam!
How like Heavens living springs they to
life'S vision seem!
Another New Year! While its moment fly,
Be it our aim to live each passing day
Upright and pure, thruSting MI evil by,
And walking firmly in the holy way.
For stIength from God let us unceaSing pray,
That so, in all we're called to do, no fear
May rise to turn Our trusting hearts aStray
From that bright cline, whose splendors
shall appear
When we have entered Lies amending, glad
New Year!
Golden Rule.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-12-26

:" Now. they won't hold another thing"
Said Santa Claus. with pride.
A twinkle came in mouSc's eyes,
Bat humbly he replied:
+" Its not polite TO contradict.
Your pardon p! imIiorc--
But i'll the fullest stocking there
Icould put one thing more"
Oh. ho.' laughed Santa: "Silly mouse!
Don't ] know now TO pack?
BY filing stockings all these wears,
should have learned the klack."
-And theIi he took the stocking down
From whore it hung so high.
And sad: Now put in one thing more;
/ give you leave to try"
Tho mousie cluckled to himself,
And thcn he softly stole
Right to The stockings crowded toe
And gnirM cd Il little hole!
Now, if you please, good Santa Claus,
INc put in one thing more;
For YOU Will own that little hole
Was moi i'll there before"
How Santa Claus did laugh and laugh!
Aud then he gayiy spoke:
" Well! You shall have a Christmas cheese
For that nice lutte jokc!"
Wide A 9ii11te
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-12-26

dwelling s of good Christians on thu
MS anniversary and brought with u b,a eve Of
a S,i blessings for the children. This h gifts
10 Tradition is still to be found lingcpiInaaa u
ue,'aany, though Santa Claus does m
ss.m 70 De specially connected with mot not
m ,n Inc truth of the original belize lazy
Claw enough indicated by the wors ~
C crnuS, which IN the Gothic or anc asra
c,anss means "child' and son" "Sau4s
~ is not very difficult to see how the hid.
OF mems religious belief. 800 or aoo mango
ago changed the character of the ,o years
those who had put away Catholic sen tgend.
III England and wished to have their "nr ,el's
a more dignified character, thought i, W. .o ol
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-12-26
EvA,s BEST CHRISTMAS.
How "a Disconnected Little Girl Discov-
cred the Source of True Happiness.

How N n;scOntcuted Little Girl DiSCOv-
cred the Source of True Happiness.
"Oh. dear sighed Eva Phelps, as she
leaned against her mothers chair, and
gazed disconsolately out of the window at
the flying snowfakes, | an tired OF play
ing. and | don't know what to do. Mamma,
what can | do? l nave tried most every
thing"
"Why, my daughter" responded the pa
tient mother. '.that is a strange question to
ask, surely. Haven't you any number OF
TOYS. books and games with which to amuse
yourself: Where is the doll your uncle
gave you? the one that opens and shuts its
eyes, you know
"Tve played with that, an one eyes
stuck, an it won't cry, an'-an'-"
CAN what!' said the mother, smiling
at her little daughters woe-begone face.
"An'-Oh. | don't know
swell, l know one thing, Eva, and that
is you have a great habit of saying am
for 'and,' and don for DON'T can you
not correct yourself, my dear?."
mamma, you are dlWdys telling me
about things, an'-and, l mean, it is so hare
to remember them ALL" said the little girl,
looking up at the kind face above her with
q laugh and a whine.
"Do not whine, my love, leave that te
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-12-26

But after all, the principal thing is the
learning to give. The making of Christmas
presents is a transient matter, and soon
over with; but the opportunities Of giving
we have with us all the year round. There
is danger of mistake Just the same, also, in
other months as in December, if we trust
to our notion and impulses. 1t is not
every scheme Of charity that is deserving;
not every beggar who comes to your door
is a man who ought to be helped. There
is an indiscriminate kind of giving that
probably does more harm than good. The
danger of drifting into that sort of liberal
ity is not difficult to avoid, however. The
excellent people who in every community
make it their business to know all about
local charities can easily tell you how to
place your benefactions where they will do
the best service. They can make judicious
giving as easy for you as need be desired.
There is probably no country in the world
where organized charities are better ad-
ministered than in the United States: and
the man who wishes to give, and yet dis
trusts his ability to draw the line which sepa-
rates the deserving from the undeserving,
has only to put his money in the hands of
some w%ell-known institutions of that
kind, and he may rest perfectly assured
that it will reach the right spot. The main
pOAAV 40 ono 6iNAiSs eAO AdDlO VI UtlllS
willing to spare money for benevolent
and philanthropic purposes. And there
can be no doubt that such a habit is en-
couraged and strengthened by the prac-
tice of Christmas present-making. Even
If the presents be intrinsically valueless,
the fact remains that one must spend
money to obtain them, and that he can not
help being the better for it, and the more
prompt and cheerful to give in other direc-
tions when the occasion shall serve. The
money is not thrown away, therefore, which
we devote to Christmas gifts and nothing
~more--things of a day only, to be glanced
at and tossed aside; for we are thus put in
the way of giving, and it is only what we
give, you know, that we have, when the
final account comes to be settled. st. Louis
GLObe-Dem0crGt.
Bundles seem to be the order of things
at present, big bundles, little bundles,
square, round, of every, size and shape i'm
aginable. And how happy the faces beam
ing above the bundles, that contain So
! many love tokens for the dear ones at home.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-12-26

putting a piece of Christmas tree under his
head to make him dream of Santa Claus.
A little while after the window was opened
and a crowd of little men in gray suits and
long boards crept into the room.
Where is hep" whispered one. "There
lle. ISL said another, pointing to Eddie's
crib.
Poor Eddie, he was so frightened that he
could not speak. The men gathered about
the crib, took Eddie out and carried him to
she window.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-12-26

UullUllS ICW OlI llio
jacket they only
laughed the louder.
He got so very full
gradually that he
could not breathe
at all, but gave one
scream for mamma
and o and fell
back dead.
At least he
thought so, but
when mamma, who
had found him ~
ing pale and trembl-
ing in his bed, had
sent for the doctor,
the doctor said he
had eaten too much
and had had bad
dreams.
1t was not until
the next day that
mamma really
found out what
was the matter, but
he was so very sick
from the fright that
she could not scold
him.
Eddie found out,
though, that mann
ma knew best, and
now when mamma
says mo he does
not ask again.-N
Y. Tribune.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-12-26
SANTA CLAUS.

The German Significance of the Name an d
How the English Modified 1t.
Santa Claus was one of the Oldest ideas.
says a writer on the subject of the Celtic
West in pagan times, as he was Of the pagan
East before. In Christian times he was
still regarded with religious reverence, sit
ting as he had for ages in Egypt and else
where i'll the arms Of his mother. Santa
Claus was, in fact, the Child Jesus in the
middle ages, and throughout that period the
festive creed OF Germany and all Celtic
Europe was that he visited every family
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-12-26
SANTA CLAUS AND THE MOUSE.

One Christmas Eve, when Santa Claus
Came to y certain house.
no I'LL the childrcn'S stockings there,
He found Il little mouse.
v A merry Christmas. little friend"
Said Santa, good aud kind;
The same 10 you. sir said the mouse.
%" thought q wouldn't mind
"1f j should stay awake tonight
And watch you for awhile
" You're very Welcome, lirttic mouse"
Said Santa, with II smile.
And then he filed the stockings up
Before the mouse could wink
From toe to top, from top to toe,
There wasn't left II chink.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-12-26

love, leave that to
Carlo. Why do you
not go in to see
the tree; l am sure
you did not half
look at it this morn
ing. just think;
that little tree
came all the way
from Maine, just
to hold your pres
ents for you, and
now you never
give it Il look.
What do you sup
pose the poor ever
green would say,
if it could speak, of
the cold welcome
yon gave it?
ooh, now you're
plaguing me, mann
ma-a-a," drawled
the little girl,
sprawling out sus-
pended by one
arm from the arm
of her mothers
chair, and squirting
with one eye at the
line made by the
curtain against the
outside light.
'Plaguing you?
How is thate:"
"You're always
telling me that
trees and posts and
things are looking
at me, and talking
about me to each
other, and laugh
ing at me i'll their
sleeves, when they
can't talk OF see or
anything at all;
can they,manlma?''
"No, my child"
res pended her
mother, %absently.
She felt neglec-
ted, did this little
girl with every
thing that wealth
could bring at her
command. Neg
lected, was it? No,
that was hardly it.
What could it
have been, then,
that caused her to
wander about in
this aimless, dis
contented fashion.
The truth was Eva,
like a good many
children, was IA
little spoiled; she
had never been de-
l'rived Of anything,
consequently she
QlQnot KNOW how to
ENJOY her blessings.
"lfye PLACE, num-
there Il poor woman
as is down below.
am shure she's bit
ter cold, an l let
her warm herself
a bit" said Kate,
entering the ROOM.
"Verywcll, Kate;
I will go down. l
have some clothes
for her, if she is
worthy said Mrs.
, Phelps.
Mamma, may
I go down, too?"
said Eva, now inter-
ested. OF course hel
mother consented.
1t did not take
1opu. 10 ro{ %b1 1;%%I.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-12-26
THE HOLLY.

The Origin of the
Use of the Shrub
for Religious Fes-
rivals.
The use of holly
for religious festi-
walls probably began
with the introduce
ton of Christianity
into England. 1t
had been adopted by
the early Christians
at Rome, for the i'll
habitants of that
city held the tree in
great %veneration,
and this is hardly
to be wondered at,
as Pliny says there
was growing in his
time a famous hol-
ly near the Vul-
can: upon it was a
glass plate bearing
an inscription re-
cording its age
This tree was old
er than Rome itself,
and had stood there
500 years. Many
branches must it
have given for the
festivals that We're
held in honor of the
god Saturn, for the
people considered
it an emblem Of
peace and friend
ship. The decora-
ton of houses With
holly is also a Gus
tom that was orig.
inally copied from
the Romans, al
though we had not
curh a Orattv rao.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-12-26

He should resolve to
walk with the baby at.
nightIlone. and not &C..
companied by a seeth-
ing mass of profanity.
He should resolve.
when intending to Jake
Il friend home TO din
ner, to send Il message
to that effect to his
wife.
He should resolve TO
eat his dinner pleas
antly, even if it is a lit
tie cold, through his
having kept it waiting
half IN hour.
He should give his
wife a %ten-dollnr bill
occasionally and insist
that she spend it on
herself us she pleuses.
Cut this one out.
He should resolve to
kiss his wife OCCASION
ally and compliment
her. \ wife is never too
Old or too plain to APP
rl'eciute such courte-
Is from her
He should resolve,
when in difficulty. to
consult his wife about
the matter, and in nine
cases out of ten she
will wonder that he al
lowed himself to be SO
troubled.
He should resolve to
curtail his liquor and
fnhnn6n n~rnrco. nrl