davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1885-11-02
NEW TO-DAY.

National Brewing Company.
Brewers of genuine Lager Beer. put up In kegs
and bottles. for export trade.
CHAs E. HANSEN. President.
GEO. T. vOLTZ. Secretary.
ARMOUR MCLAUGHLIN. Supt.
g. E. cor. Fulton and Webster sts., San Francisco.
Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1885-11-02
LETTER LIST.

List Of Letters remaining in the HALEY Idaho
PostofAce for the week ending October 81, 1895
Persons calling for any Of these Letters will Pleas
cay Advertised
Becker Mcbride Robert
Cumbo Jerry NcNullen John
CoyleJ AcD0nel Frank
Finck 8 Newman Geo
FleckOJ O'Brien Mrs G
Harris Shorthand Russell
Hsiney Net TslnsJ
Jones Bert vanborne VIM d
Kpp Noah.3 waNWE
h. BEW6. Postmaster.
Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1885-11-02

By the piece, y and Is cents each.
In lots OF 100, one-half of above prices
Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1885-11-02
Blanks! Blanks! Blanks !

The following blank forms are for
sale, for cash only, at the TINES office:
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1885-12-25
For the Sake of the Little Ones,

Desolate hearts will find their best comfort
during the Christmas season, in giving some
child now living some benefit, delight, or
pleasure for the sake of those VINO have gone
beyond their reach and beyond the power of
their ministrations. For the sake of our loved
little ones we can strive to make some other
little one happy. For the sake of our own
loved ones, whose lives are eternally bright
ened we might strive to brighten as far as we
can those of the loved of others. For our own
sakes we should try to learn the deep and holy
joy of covering the burial-place of our sor-
rows with the light and blossoms of outgoing
love, charity-the kind that seeketh not the
evil-consideration helpfulness for those who
are our fellow-voyagers, through sunshine
and through storms whose hearts, hopes, dis
appointments, and sorrows are yet in some re-
spect similar to our own, although we may
know it not. For the sake of the Lord whom
we profess to follow we should consecrate our
selves anew each anniversary of His birth to
becoming disciples of the love of which He
taught us, full of charity, tenderness, unself-
ishness, and crowned by humility. Each year
we should consecrate ourselves anew to the
effort to do our little but unfailng best to-
ward increasing tho knowledge OF, and MAX
ing more real the advent of ''peace on earth,
goodwill to men,"
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1885-12-25
For Only A Minute.

A writer in the San Francisco Chronicle
says:
II fancy most people like to watch children
at Christmas tree. l would have given
something to have been in one house know
when the children rose on Christmas morning.
They had been very particular to know about
Santa Claus the night before. They had ex-
hausted all the information their parents
could give them.
They had hung up their stockings, and the
eldest boy, still of very tender years, suggested
a scheme to the nursemaid to borrow pair of
his fathers trousers for the purpose of giving
Santa Claus room. 1t was explained that the
presents would all fall through, but he was
wise enough to propose tying them at the feet.
After they had gone to sleep the Christmas
tree was prepared with splendid elaboration,
and carried into the room very quietly.
The toys-and there were plenty of them
were displayed on the floor the stockings
filled with candy, and everything was done to
surprise them. 1t did not need any bell or
knocking to wake the house next morning
The children woke, and in about ten seconds
everybody in the house knew that Santa Claus
had come. 1t was day of bewildered de-
light. ALI me! 1 would give an awful lot of
prospective fortune for one minute of the SEN
sation those children enjoyed.
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1885-12-25
The Empty Arms.

To all whose arms are empty-and obi they
are so many-must come especial comfort on
Christmas Day. We count the years that they
(our beloved) have spent beyond the shad-
ows" We remember the Christ-child who by
His coming added additional sanctity to all
child-life; who by His life blessed all the chill
dren, large and small, who would come to
Hlm-who would learn of Him His meekness
and lowliness of heart; and who by His death
opened the Gates of Resurrection so that all
men could see and believe and receive, could
have hope for themselves and sweetest comfort
for their loved ones
A poor woman said excusing herself for
helping suffering child: "She looked 30 like
my little SUSIE could not help it. 1t is we'll
every one don't look SO much like our own, or
we should ruin ourselves" Nay, 1 think we
should in that case do something very differ
emit from running ourselves. If ever the time
could come that each could see in every other
human being likeness to some one they loved
o seeing that could drown selfishness and all
its attendant train of cruelty and injustice
drown them in an overflow of generous
thought, deed, and affectionate interest-this
life would partake Of the heavenly.
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1885-12-25
The First Christmas in America.

The chronicles of the Pilgrims, describing
their arrival in Cape Cod Bay in December,
1920, refer thus briefly to the first Christmas
spent by them in America:
"Monday, being Christmas Day, we began
to drink water aboard. But at night the mas
ter caused us to have some beer; and SO on
divers times, now and then, some beer, but on
shore none at all"
What was done in Plymouth village the next
Christmas is more fully described in the quaint
language of Gov. Bradford:
son We day called Christmas-day, We Govr
called them out to worke Gas was used), but We
most of this new company excused themselves
and said it went against their conscences to
worke on ye day. So We Govr told them that
IL they made it mater of conscience, he would
spare them till they were better informed. So
he led away We rest and left them, but when
they came home at noone from their worke he
found them in ye streete at play openly; some
pitching ye barr, and some at stoole-ball, and
such like sports So he went to them and took
away their implements, and told them that
was against his conscience, that they should
play and Others worke. II they made ye keep
ing Of it mater of devotion, let them kepe their
houses, but Their should be no gaming or revel-
ling in ye Streets"
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1885-12-25
Eyergreens at Christmas.

The use of the Christmas tree, with its fruit
OF presents, is recent in England, and was in
troduced few years ago. There is great dis
pute about its origin, whether in India, or
whether it does not represent the tree Yggdra-
sil, or world tree-the ash tree of existence of
Scandinavian mythology, But the use of ever
greens in England is as old as the days when
the Druids brought the mistletoc from the
woods with solemn ceremony. In Stoves
time every mans house, and also the parish
churches, were decked with holm, ivy, bays
and whatever the season of the year afforded
to be green, and the conduits and standards
in the streets Ca hint for the present telegraph
companles), were likewise garnished. In the
year 1444, he says, there was on the LIST of
February, great tempest of thunder and
lightning which set st. Pauls steeple on fire;
and at Leadenhall, in Cornhill, standard of
wood which was set up in the pavement and
nailed full Of holm and ivy was torn up and
cast down by the malignant spirit Gas thought
On Christmas Eve, at the time the Yule-log
was brought in and lighted with the last years
brand, it was customary to decorate the win
dows of every house, in cottage and hall, with
bay, laurel, ivy, and holly leaves. An English
gypsy told Mr.. Charles G.. Leland the reason
for using evergreens on Christmas. 1t is this
''The ivy, and holly and pine-tree never told
word where our Saviour was Inning Himself,
and so they keep alive all winter, and look
green all the year. But the ash, like the oak,
told of Him when He was hiding, 30 they
have to remain dead through the winter And
30 we gypsies always burn an ash fire every
Great Day." CHARLES DUDLEY WARNER.
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1885-12-25
Merry Christmas.

That is the saluta!icn of the day the world
around, and we hope our readers may realize
all the pleasant conditions implied in it; for
to be merry implies the capacity to get away
for little from the worry, the apprehension,
the chagrin and the troubles that make up
the greater part of life for perhaps the great
er number. May the people be lght-hearted
and fancy free in the presence of this de-
lightful festival Perhaps it is the greatest
day of the year if we consider the number
and dispersion of those who celebrate it, and
the common humanity involved in what ia
celebrated. For Americans only the festival
of our national independence, clarifying the
triumph and realization of the grandest Of
all political conceptions, is a day certainly
second to none; but Christmas is n festival of
such extended human brotherhood that it as
Stimulates the world to family, taking in
whole nationalities and races of men as the
various members Of it, and is none the less
effective in this way for the fact that it is
older than Christianity itself, as festival Of
ope in what is to come
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1885-12-25
Dear Old Santa Claus.

One Of the pleasantest events of Christmas
time is the advent of our dear, though my
biological, friend, Santa Claus. 1t is the uni
versal wonderment of childhood how the old
gentleman, who does not seem to grow stingy
with the passing years, manages TO visit so
many homes at about the same hour, and to
crawl down small and sooty fues with SO large
pack on his shoulders without soiling his
beard. 1t is rather a sad experience when
boyhood and girlhood discover that he is an
imaginary parsonage. and that-but let the
myth remain, untouched by the stern and
grinding facts Of later life. Rich and poor
are under the spell of expectation, and num-
berless stockings will be hung up in the hope
that If Santa Clrus does not come to fill them
some one else will. Rare gifts will pass from
hand to hand among the wealthy, and even
the pinched and poor will be made glad by
some little token Of love or friendship.
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1885-12-25
Where Santa Claus Lives.

Far away among the snow clad mountains,
says one who writes pleasant things for the
little ones, not far from the North Pole stands
quaint little gabled house, on one end it
has long, low wing, built out as it were into
space, 80 long does it appear in the uncertain
light of an Arctic winter. The wing has no
windows 1t is blank mystery, but the house
itself looks like some huge lamp, as the lights
from the windows glimmer and shine for miles
away.
This is Santa Claus home. Here he lives
all the year round, sleeping in the summer,
but working hard through the long winter
months. On this Christmas eve, 1885. the
dear old man is sitting in large chair by the
fire, and what do you think his fire is made
of? Why the love and faith of little chill
dren, and the brighter the fire burns the
jollier grows old Santa. His queer old chair
is made of little boys broken toys, which are
carefully fastened together with magic glue,
and the bowl on his comical pipe is the head of
discarded doll. The walls of his rooms are
covered with m ottoes composed of loving
words which have fallen from the lips of the
little ones all over the world, and in every
language. Santa Claus caught them as they
fell, and bringing them tenderly home,
framed them in evergreens and bright memory
berries.
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1885-12-25
Yuletide Customs in Shetland.

The inherent standardization OF the Shet-
lander, which leads him TO repudiate the APP
pellation of Scotchman and to cherish in secret
the old customs and supersttions of his ances-
tors, asserts itself yearly in the high links
with which he continues to honor the old holy
days of Yule. Until within the last two or
three years he pertinaciously adhered to the
Old style in his observance of these festivities.
On Christmas Eve, New Years Eve, and
Uphelya-the twenty-fourth day after Yule
and that on which the holy or holidays are
supposed to be Sup the youths of Lerwick,
attired in fantastic dresses, go "guis-
ing" about the town in bands, visiting
their friends and acquaintance, and re-
producing in miniature the carnival of
more southern climes. On one or other
of these occasions a torchlight procession
forms part of the revelry Formerly blazing
tar barrels were dragged about the town, and
afterward, with the first break of morning,
dashed over the Knab into the sea. But this
ancient and dangerous custom has very prop
ery been discontinued. The dresses of the
guisers are often OF the most expensive and
fanciful description. Highlanders, Spanish
cavaliers, negro minstrels soldiers in the
peaked caps. kerseymere brooches and scarlet
coats turned up with buff, of the reign of
George H., Robin Hoods and Maid Marians
are found in the motley throng. Some with
boldness worthy of Aristophanes himself
caricature the dress, the walk or some other
eccentricity of leading pcrsonages in the towns
others-for the spirit of ''thc Happy Land
has reached these hyperboresn regions-make
pleasant game OF well-known political
characters. Each band of gusers has its
fiddler, who walks before it playing "Scallo-
way Lasses," or ,'The Foula Reel" or ''The
Nippin' Grund,' or some other archaic tune.
Thus conducted, and blowing horn to give
notice of their approach, the maskers enter
the doors Of all houses which they find open,
dance measure with the inmates, partake of
and offer refreshment, and then depart to re-
peat the same courtesies elsewhere At day
light the horn of the Most Worthy Grand
Cruiser, a mysterious parsonage whose person
atty and functions are enveloped in the deep
est concealment, is heard summoning all the
bands to end their revels, and when, in the
cold gray dawn of the winter morning, the
citizens Of Lerwick awake to pursue their
wonted avocations, not trace remains of the
saturnala of the night before.
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1885-12-25
The Mistlet0e BOugil.

The mistletoe was used by the Romans in
religious ceremonies, says Charles Dudley
Warner, and it may have been the golden
Dough" of the internal regions. The Druids
gathered it against the festival of the winter
solstice with great solemnty. the Prince Of
the Druids cutting it himself with golden
sickle. 1t was used as charm against evil
spirits, and excellent medicinal properties are
ascribed to it. 1t was supposed to possess the
power to preserve from poison and the mystic
property of giving fertility kissing under
the mistletoe" may have had reference to this
ancient belief. There was tradition that the
maid who was not kissed under the mstletoe
at Christmas would not be married during the
following year. 1t is an obvious suggestion
that in sections of the country where the stat
istics show falling off in marriages this plant
ought not to be let die out.
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1885-12-25
Christmas in the OIden Time.

Old time Christmas days were given up to
boisterous sports. The lord of misrule
reigned supreme. Churches were used to
dance in, boys jumped in sacks, grabbed with
their mouths at apples floating in water,
leaped and tried to bite mouthfuls of trecle-
covered cake, suspended by strings from the
ceiling. The burning of the big Yule log was
universal, and it was considered unfortunate
for a squint-eyed person or flat-footed woman
to enter within its blaze. The brands left
from the burning were sacredly kept as a pro-
lection against lightning, and for the kindling
of the next years log. In Norway, King Olaf =,
the saint, forbade the burning of the Yule
fire. Furnishing the offenders with manning or
death. 1t was belief, transported to
America, that cattle knceled in the attitude Of
prayer at midnight on Christmas Eve, bees
sang in their hives, and bread baked on that
day would never mold.
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1885-12-25
Christmas in Germany.

Christmas is far more sacredi the Father
land than the Sabbath, and the succeeding
days are scarcely less so. On the Sabbath
preceding the great festival the shops are open
and many good housewife goes piously to
church in the morning, does Christmas shop
ping in the-afternoon, and finishes her fancy
work in the evening while the younger people
are enjoying social dance. But on Christ
mas day all work and business are put aside.
The fatted calf has been killed, the festal gar
ments made ready, and for once sweet leisure
hovers over the German home. On New
Years Eve the Christmas tree is lighted for
the last time-then bids farewell to its glory.
Wherever the child of Germany finds him
self on Christmas Eve. his thoughts turn
fondly homeward. No glow of tropical lands.
no glitter OF Arctic seas, no dazzle of West
ern wealth, no dream of military fame then
looks so bright as the fir-tree in the window
far away, whose lights shine upon the faces
he loves.
"They are singing now the Christmas songs
at home" he says "and wishing for the alb
sent ones.''
He listens for the echo of the blithe old
bells, he sees the radiant windows, and hears
the children's shouts, and the mothers gentle
voice. The fountains of his heart are broken
up. All Christmas day he is child again.
In fancy he joins in the glad anthems that
fill the parish church or the old Cathedral
aisles:
Green with fresh holly, every pew a perch
In which the linnet or thrush might sing.
ELLEN SoULE CARHART
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1885-12-25
They We're Both Happy.

A word of advice to those who have plenty.
You remember Scrooge in Dickens "Christ-
mas CAROL? On the morning of Christmas
he determined to make himself merry and
happy. There was big turkey hanging in
the poulterers window, turkey that was
"twice the size of Tiny Tim. He bought it
and sent it as a surprise to poor Bob Cratchet.
1t was gloriods joke, very practical joke,
and he chuckled to himself and rubbed his
hands in glee as he thought OF the consterna-
ton Of the household on its arrival And the
next morning, when Bob come to business,
eighteen minutes and a half behind time,
Scrooge took him into his Office and said,
"Now, I'll tell you what, my friend, am not
going TO stand this sort of thing any longer
and, therefore" (here he gave Bob lch dig
in the waistcoat that he staggered back), "and,
therefore, am about to raise your salary"
1t was, perhaps, an odd way of celebrating
Christmas. but it is doubtful whether Scrooge
or Bob Cratchet was the happier man that
day
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1885-12-25
Christmas in Russia.

To wind up Christmas evenings fun, in
Russia, sleepy hen and rooster would be
brought in and put in the middle of the room,
while all around them would be put small piles
OF corn and barley, all the grains in each par
ticular pile having been counted Def orehand
Ii the hen approaches young mans pile and
picks at it some time before being tempted to
try her luck at another pile, that young man
is going to get married in as many years as
grains are eaten by the hen out of his particu-
lar pile. If the rooster approaches a young
mans pile of grain, the youth has but as few
years to live as the rooster chooses to eat of
his grain. The reverse is tue indication for
girls. The number of grains eaten by hen
out of a girls pile means death in as many
years, and the number of grains eaten out of
the same by the rooster means marriage after
a certain lapse of time.
Again, a basin would be filed with water,
tickets with mems names would be fastened
all around the borders of it; q boat con-
structed of nutshell and lighted taper
would be placed in it. The girl who sends tho
tiny craft ON its travels watches it with the
utmost anxiety until the flame of the taper
sets fire to one of the tickets at the border
The name on that ticket is to be the Christian
name of the girls future husband. Tickets
bearing feminine names are fastened to the
basin whenever the young men want to in
quire into their future, and much laughter
and fun there are at such noisy winter gather
ings OF the happy, unrestrained young people
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1885-12-25
No Stocking Big Enough.

II all the round, round globe was enc great
ball of striped yarn and the north and south
poles knitting needles, and fall the grand
mothers in the universe should have begun to
knit B. c. 70, ard had never ceased knitting
from then until now, the stocking filed over
flowing wouldn't be more than one-tenth big
enough 10 satisfy the imagination Of the little
blue-eyed boys and girls of the land, who lie
awake half the nights waiting for the reindeer
hoofs of old Santa Claus to patter on the
roofs and for him to dump the entire con-
tents of his pack for their especial benefit.
And yet, not one OF us but would be child
again, just for q night if we could Hartford
Post.
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1885-12-25
Wanted to Know.

The little folks are getting very excited
about their Christmas presents. A little three
year-old thus cornered his mamma the other
day:
evil I get any Christmas gift this year,
mammal"
'Yes, my dear" said the kind parent, 'ff
you are very good"
"Well, what will get ?"
'You will find out when Christmas comes ="
''No, mamma" he said, impetuously, ''tell
me now, so can see whether it's worth while
to be very good or not"
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1885-12-25
THE MERRLEST DAY,

What other day from year to year
So fills the souls of men with cheer;
What memories are half SO sweet
As those that in devotion meet
On Christmas morning?
The dawn upon the worlds long night
or him God sent to give it light
Hath spring of joy and blessedness,
That faileth not nor groweth less,
On Christmas morning.
I cannot hear the Christmas chimes,
Or list to Christmas singers rhymes,
But tenderer my spirit grows,
And gladness all my speech o'erfows,
On Christmas morning.
cannot greet our young or old
But merry wishes manifold
Return to me for like my own,
ALI hearts appear wide open thrown
On Christmas morning.
Our Christmas days on earth may be
How few God knoweth-only He;
Yet may our lives so Christlike grow
Each day our hearts shall feel the glow
OF Christmas morning.
With Christmas cheer for all the year
A heart set free from care and fear
Our souls may ripe for Advent grow,
And thus each year more gladness know
On Christmas morning.
BUXTON WEST.
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1885-12-25
THE MERRY CHRISTMAS CHEEh

Dainty little stockings hanging in row,
Blue and gray and scarlet, in the freliglt's
glow;
Curly-pated sleepers safely tucked in bed,
Dreams of wondrous toy-shops dancing
through each head;
Mother, STEPPING lightly, plans with tender
care,
How to give each dreamer just an equal share.
Funny little stockings hanging in row,
Stuffed with sweet surprises, down from tip to
toe:
Skates and balls and trumpets, dishes, tops
and drums,
Books and dolls and candies, nuts and sugar
plums.
Little sleepers waking: Bless me, what a noise!
Wish you "Merry Christmas" Happy girls
and boys!
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1885-12-25
On the Safe Side.

"Well ?" he queried, as he turned around in
chair.
Eyes, sah--I wanted to spoke to you a.
minit," replied the old man as he hung in the
door.
Gan right, come in. All you are Moses!"
"Yes, sab. Las var, de day befo' Christ
mas, yon-you presented dis ole man wild a
turkey"
so 1 did--so did. I remember the cir
cumstance now.
''You want to know if 1 am going to present
you with another turkey this year?"
''Dats bout de size of it, sah."
"Yes-um. Well, perhaps"
"Dat's what reckoned on, sab, an I was
gwine to remark dat las var you forgot de
oysters an crackers to stuff it wild, an L had
to go an sell dat bird fur foty cents an put
de money irto pork"