davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1886-12-22

''wHAT TIE DICKENS DO YOU wANT!'
day become sour misanthrope. He discon-
tinued his business; he closed his dwelling;
he Stunned his old friends and associates,
To them and to the world of trade and So
ciety he had become as dead as though his
name and his former virtues We're cata-
logued on the granite of the cemetery.
So long had this boen his condition that
it had ceased to excite remark. When he
passed his former companions, often cross
ing the street to avoid them, they could
only look at him in mournful silence
But at a social gathering about the time
referred to, when this subject was brought
up, and the opinion had been expressed
that there would never be change in Obed
Sproule till the day of his death, q silent
listener observed:
6 Has any one tried to break through this
shell of pride and hardness, and reach the
real man within?n
g Real MANI" was the incredulous answer.
"There is none. The man has been given
over for years TO incurable bitterness and
wrath. We have all seen his condition,
and we all know how hopeless it is. OF
what use to court rebuff and insult by try
ing to change it!"
We who knew him in his better days
can not shirk our responsibility in this
way,n was the gentle but firm rejoin Ter.
:" The question may one day be asked of you
and me, where is thy brotherp What
shall we say if we have made no effort to
rescue him from his worst enelnies-the
demons within him?''
A brief silence followed, and the painful
subject was not resumed; but one of the
party went to his homo that night resolved
that the attempt for which he had pleaded
should be made.
It was made upon the very next night.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1886-12-22

shortly before a certain Christmas not
long since, must have been reminded of
that sentiment
Not that physical decay, or the tongue of
fire, OF. the heavy hand of the tornado had
visited it. No force of nature had dew
astated its fair proportions and comely
looks; and as for the tooth of Time-Such
substantially built houses as this, with the
ordinary repairs such as its owner never
failed to make, Will defy the old scythe-
bearer for centuries. The change of which
l speak was in IT'S general aspect, in the
use that was made Of it, in the face so
to speak, that it showed to the pass
er. For men Who knew its history
would tell you that time was when
its many windows and shutters were thrown
wide open to the light of day; when music,
mirth and laughter were heard at night
from its par1ors: when fair and manly faces
looked out from it, and when little children
romped up and down the broad stairs, and
played on the lawn in front. But it had
long been strictly closed to all the world
save its moroSe, hermit-like occupant. The
shutters were closed, the doors fast locked,
rank weeds had grown up about it, and its
whole exterior was chill and forbidding.
People who had watched said that some
times it's solitary dweller came out and in
at rear door, always boiling it upon his
entrance; and that, saving this, no living
persons were ever seen about the prclnisas.
Even the tramps, the beggars, the peddlers
and the book-agents, who prevent life Csc
where from. becoming monotonous, paused
at the gate, looked doubtfully at the pros
pect within, and passed on.
Like house, like master. From a genial,
hearty man, Obed Sproule had almost in
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1886-12-22

1t was q bitter one, clear, starlighted and
beautiful, but with an air as keen as i1ivis-
ible dagger points The solitary figure OF
Obed Sproule, muffled almost from ears to
heels in his cloak, was skulking with the
step OF thief through the gateway of his
desolate home when hand was laid upon
his shoulder.
What the dickens do you wants was
his rude salutatiOn.
The man who had arrested his steps car
ried in his arms what looked like a large
bundle.
. Here is a poor little child that l have
picked up,n he said ''She is homeless
and destitute. Let me warm her by your
fire.
No-be off with your vagrantsl Take
her to the alms-house and warm her
there. L don't keep open house for pau
pers."
Do you remember me?''
Sproule looked the other in the face, and
replied, pettishly:
g used to know you, when I knew any
body. You are Silas West, suppose"
When you knew anybody, as you say,
was one of your best friends. | did you
many valued favors, and was always well
come to your home. Now, when I ask shell
ter, not for myself, but for this forlorn
wait defy you to refuse l-yes, Obed, in
the name of our old friendship, I say you
dare nott''
He was shivering with cold, but was more
affected by this blunt appeal. His hard
face, or what could be seen of it, did not
soften; but he uttered q brief "Bring her
in" and made for the back door, followed
by the man with the burden.
Inside the house, the latter was intro.
duced into room where DUST litter and
confusion prevailed, where costly furniture,
rare books and ornaments were heaped
about in utter neglect. A fire smouldered
in the wide, old-fashioned fireplace
Sproule stirred it and threw ON wood from a
pile that lay on the carpet, and the ruddy
blaze soon cracked and famed up the
chimney.
Mr.. West removed the wrappings which
envcloped the form of his charge, and re-
/ vealed to the ungracious host beautiful
little girl of perhaps six years, golden
haired, blue-eyed and red-cheelxed, dressed
coarsely but very comfortably, as became
the season. Sproule looked at her and de-
1nanded harshly:
''What mummery is this2 You said tho
Child was picked up by you This is no
vagrant.'
II told the truth Ipicked her up tonight
at the orphan asylum and brought her
here"
"You said she was homeless and dcsti-
tute /"
"That is no home for any child who is en-
titled to a better one; and she will be desti-
tute SO long as the love that she should
have is denied herr
A harsh, forbidding reply was on Sproule's
lips. Something restrained it. His eyes
were arrested by the childis face; some
thing in it held them there. Could it be
possible that his hard face softened as he
looked! He held out one hand, and said,
gruffly:
"Comc here"
1t seemed more wonderful still that the
little one was not repealed, but she came to
him at once.
Humphp' he said. What's your
name?'
'sBessie, sir.'
He started, and looked from her to Mr..
West. He seemed balancing between ana ger
and curiosity, hesitating to ask another
question, when the confidence and tallxa-
tiycncss that nature had given to the child
decided the matter.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1886-12-22

was wrong. He was tall and gaunt, with
long, yellowish hair and sickly sprinkling
OF beard, like a thin growth of wire grass,
growing where the land is poor. His wife
had been educated into meekness and
thought that she should find her greatest
pleasure in lowering over the Sizing bacon
and watching the hoe-calze. Nan, the girl,
was a beautiful blonde, full of life, but
afraid of her father. Sim Buck, to whom
Nan was secretly engaged to be married,
was, the neighbors said, "a rip shorten
sort Nv er Teller that mout er mount ter
suthun eff he would try, but the chances
wuz ergin him."
Mrs. Horner took up the supper, and,
signing YEARLY, said:
"Come. pap, an eat er snack"
The old man drew up his chair, waited,
with an air of Impotence, until the other
members Of the family were seated and
then asked blessing, beginning with an
elongated tgracious Lord' and ending with
an unintelligible sigh.
CANT yer goin' ter eat nothin', Nanr
"Ain't er haungry.n
"Buck's tuck yer appetite, l reckon"
tSirp'
sHeard whit l said. WALL never min,
I'll take his appetite the next time he
comes on the place"
Pap said Mrs. Horner, don't torment
the child"
The old man took a swallow Of butter
milk, looked at his wife and replied: LET
us don't have no advice, Martha. Keep in
the straight an narrar path an don't fret. !"
About one month later, on the day before
Christmas, old Horner. while splitting a
"rail-cut'' some distance from home, acct
dentally stepped in the opening of the log
just as one of the ''gluts" flew out. The
two sections of the log closed on the old
mans foot and ankle, and but for the thick
sole of his boot, would have crushed his
foot. He uttered an exclamation of thank
fulness, muttered few words in praise of
old Riggsby, the shoemaker, and then at
tempted to hberate himself. This, he soon
found, was not an easy or even possible
task. His axe, maui and wedges were be-
You'd his reach. He shouted until he could
only croak, and then, in despair, he began
to pray. The stiff sole of his boot began to
yield, and the splintered sides of the log be-
gan to painfully press his foot.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1886-12-22

sWhats sHuntsman' Didn't you ever
play Huntsman? Why, it wouldn't be
Christmas at all at grandpa's without
huntsman Aunt Lizzie wanted to play
girls plays, like Come In, Come See, and
Brimble-come Bumble-come; but Life and
Ben and Mamie and all US boys and girls
said: s'Twould be real mean not to have
Huntsman' So when the girls had cleared
the table, in the dining-room, Uncle Oliver
says:
$500 ahead, boys, and get the chairs
ready
''We all played but grandpa. He said
twas leetle too much for an old fellow like
him, after Christmas dinner, but he'd
help do the laughing.
1--WE put his great armchair in one cor
ner and fixed the other chairs up and down
t middle of the room, back to back;
chairs enough for everybody that was go
ing to play, all except one.
ssUncle Oliver said he'd be the first
Huntsman. Then all the rest of US sat
down, and Uncle Oliver gave us each
a name / was Bear Life was Wolf,
Mamie was Fox and Aunt. Lizzie was Hare,
and so on.
IS When we were all named Uncle Oliver
began to run round the chairs, pretty soon
he called: .Bear!' jumped up and caught
hold of his coat and ran after him, then he
called Fox and Mamie grabbed my jacket
and trotted after me as fast as she could
trot So, you see, Uncle Oliver called us,
one after another, till we were all running
round the room, laughing and shouting and
making such racket that the hired man
told the folks in the Kitchen:
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1886-12-22

"Come on ter the house, Sim, an git yer
present. Thar ANTI no back-down in me-"
When they reached the house the old man
said: Hide out here till go in an have
some fun with Nan"
He had never seen his daughter looking
90 happy.
"Whuts the matter, Mani"
"Euthin'.n
.sWall, whut makes yer giggle thater
way4 WY, Martha's gigglin' too. Iwlsh
I mer die ef ever seed SIGH pack or
geese. Contound yer, Sim, told yer ter
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1886-12-22

arotnd, too, at the end of the procession.
When the huntsman said: 'BANG!' Tige
didn't know what to make of it, and ran
around after the folks were sitting down
putting and catching their breath. / tell
you q fellow has to have pretty good wind
to play Huntsman.
I'VE played lots of times more, and the
next time Tige ran round just as he did at
first, but after he'd got the play into his
head, when the 'BANG' came he sat right
down and pounded the floor with his TAIL
That's his way of laughing. l 'spose.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1886-12-22

HE CHASTITY flicker Of
a smoking oil lamp,
suspended from a
weighty chain a t :
tached to tn Q old.
fashioned gables Of
two rather tall build
ings, lent all air of en-
chantment to the low,
matched cottages lin
ing both sides of the
main street of an an
Gent hamlet in ro-
mantle Suabia,; and
t h i s pleasant sensa-
ton was made even
more realistic by a
rr1onon M TIM oilxynrxr
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1886-12-22
NAN AND SIM.
Story Of an Enforced Christmas
Present.

AN, come here er min
it, said old Bob Hor-
ner, addressing his
daughter. The girl,
who stood spreading
the covers on an old
fashioned bed, pre-
tended not to hear her
fathers d e m a n d.
MAN, eff ! leone airter
yer, I'll bet ycr'll
wish yer had come.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1886-12-22

BESSIE'S CONQUEST.
AS Of Old, "a Little Child Shall
Lead Them"

0ME one somewhere
has written that
houses, like men
have their seasons of
life and death. Oae
who had known the
mansion of Q be d
Sproule Us it was
years ago, and who
had CHANGED to see it
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1886-12-22

az tell you, the jolliest part of playing
Christmas is playing Huntsman, and the
jolliest part of that was seeing Tige help
play, and the next jolliest was seeing
gran pa help laugh'
That is the way Bart Carver told the
story to Archie Greeley a week after last
Christmas. Do you wonder, reader mine,
we all loved Tige, he was such wise,
fun-loying dog, Or that all the grandchil
dren thought Christmas the best day of the
year, grandpa so enjoyed seeing them
happy
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1886-12-22
DIX o. R17e,
CHRISTMAS-EVE I'm SUABIA.

Curious Customs Obtaining Among the
Countrywide of a Fertile Portion of
Southern Germany-Practical Charity in
q Poetic Garb-A Pathetic Incident.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1886-12-22
). M LGshetak
PLAYING "HUNTSMAN."
The Jolliest Part of Bart. Carver's
Christmas.
A True Story for the Children.

I'D I go to grandpa's
last Christmas? Of
course / did. | al
ways go there to
Christmas.
"Did | have a good
time? You never had
a better time in your
life, Arch. Greeley. [
tell you. The iolliest
of it all was playing
'Huntsman.'
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1886-12-22
'HE DAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS.

WAS the day before
Christmas and out
on the street
Was an in &c s 9 ne
tr "a m ping q n d
stamping OF feet,
As, to and fro briskly.
mankind moved
about,
And from the gay
N a r k cts G q m Q
throngs pouring out.
New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1886-05-05
She was Too Kind.

One of Buffalo S would-be smashers'
several times met a young and good
looking girl and determined to become
acquainted with her. He tracked her
to a prayer meeting at a prominent
church one evening recently. Alter
the service, noticing that she was
alone, he approached her, begging
pardon for intruding, in the usual
way, and walked beside her. She en-
tered into conversation in a pleasant
way, and the "masher" began to think
he had made conquest. At length
ne asked her to go with him to a Ger
tain restaurant. epolitely declined,
but said that he might go to her home.
After a little he said:
"Will / be liable to meet any one
there?"
ooh, yes" answered thegirl; you'll
see my father and mother"
"But won't they object to my ac-
companying your
No, sir, she replied. ssYou have
done me no harm, and, though you
have not treated me like gentleman,
father and mother do not know any
thing about it,and they will treat you
like one. am sure they would be
glad to see you, and they might, per-
haps, offer prayer in your behalf
By this time it was pretty hot for
the "masher," and he hastily excused
himself from proceeding in the direction
OF the sensible girls home.-Bufalo
Courier.
New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1886-05-05
Good Coffee-How To Make It.

Coffee is, with good reason, a favor
tie morning beverage, and, happily
there are but few who cannot take it.
for it is valuable addition to the
diet. It is nutritious, and acts upon
most people as a gentle stimulant, i'm.
parting energy in action, and pro-
ducing a feeling Of restfulness after
great fatigue. 1t also prevents waste
OF tissue, and enables people to un-
dergo great and protracted labor up
on insufficient food. This has been
tested where endurance has been tried
toits utmost, in Arctic expeditions, in
long and toilsome army marches,
and in caravans which plunged into
the mysterious dangers Of the track
less deserts, and which were sustained
by coffee through every exposure and
deprivation of other food. Let
the coffee urn, therefore, send up it's
fragrant stream as an invocation to
Hygeia. 1t is pretty and pleasant, if
you can afford it, to make the coffee
at table, either in a French biggin or a
vienna coffee-pot," over an alcoholic
lamp. But it is good enough for NOR
tails, brought smoking hot from the
kitchen fire. A good and economical
way OF making coffee, is to put the
proper amount for thefamily, q heap
ing tablespoonful for each cup, into
the coffee-pot, pouring over it an equal
number of cups of cold water and let
ting it stand over night. In the morn
ing bring it to the boiling point before
serving. Made in this manner, it needs
neither egg nor other settling" to
make it clear. Egg, however, makes
it richer. Never be pound foolish and
get any thing but the best coffee. Either
Java or Mocha-or the two mixed,
'alf and 'alf." BY all means heve it,
ifpossible, freshly Drowned and ground,
and you will get finer fayor.-Good
Housekeeping.
New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1886-05-05
PRIVATE DETECTIVES.
How the vanderbilts, Astors, and Jay
Gould are Protected Against Cranks.

How the vanderbi1ts, Astors, and Jay
The arrest OF a Japanese young man
who imagined that the daughter of
the late William II. Vanderbilt was
his sweetheart, and wildly sought her
throughout his boarding houre, leads
to the discovery, writes a New York
correspondent of The Indianapolis
Journal, that the residences of the
Vanderbilts, the Astors, and Jay
Gould are constantly guarded against
cranks by private detectives.
Theprivateservice for the protection
OF the Vanderbilts, Astors and Gould
was organized three years ago, and is
ostensibly separate from each family,
though the men who defend the Van
derbilts and Astors are provided by
the same establishment, and prac-
tically work together. Regular patrol
duty is done, night and day, and
twenty detectives are exclusively EN-.
ployed for the purpose. There are
four Aston residences and five belong
ing to the Vanderbilts, all in or close
to Fifth Avenue, between Thirty third
and Fifty second streets. The spies
are on watch eight hours each per day,
and the beats are SO arranged that
the nine houses, can not be approached
unseen by one or more Of the guards
men. William III. Vanderbilt was the
originator of this system, and he was
melted to it by the large number o.
cranky letters which he received. He
protested to have no fear of rational
evil.doers, but was apprehensive that
maniacs might attack him or some
member of his family. Since his death
the mails have been laden with all
sorts OF appeals, demands, end threats
directed to his sons.
Jay Gould's self protection is more
secret and characteristic. He does
not intrust it to a detective agency,
but hires his own bodyguard. For
years he has always been accompanied
by a stalwart young fellow. But that
is a safeguard against Wall street
enemies. Cranks who might cut up
capers in or around his home are un-
der the view Of spies whose quarters
are in a room OF the Windsor hotel
across the way. That is additional
topatrol duty done by a separate set
OF men. These employees OF the
millionaire families, whose name are
poor peoples synonyms for wealth,
are lkeptinformed as to every new dem
onstration by crank, and they
are. alert to descry and drive off the
monomaniacs who attempt any ex-
ploits. During the western strikes Jay
Gould has made the trips between his
home and office in cab, instead of
elevated car, as formerly, and it is OBJ
served that a ring at his bell brings a
sauntering Waterman to the foot OF
the steps about as quickly as it does
the servant to the top. One of the de-
lenses in Could case is against those
who would write antagonistic senti-
ments with chalk on his sidewalk and
steps. Men and boys are frequently
caught att and compelled to desist.
New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1886-05-05
Things in General.

The exports OF wine and brandy
1rom California last year were 4, $780,
sOe4 gallons, double that of the ye&r
previous.
in round numbers the value of golG
In the principal countries of the world
is 1928 100000, and the value OF
silver is $2,754,OO0,000.
LQw-ceiled rooms are being advo-
GATED in England, not only on account
OF the more cosy appearance CT the
room, but because it is believed that
better ventilation is afforded through
the prevention Of an upper strata Of
irremovable foul air.
Since Uncle Sam went into theIhlild-
ing business in 1889 he has construct
ed 329 public edlffces, at a cost Of
1914, 100000.
"Why do all the cold waves .conae
from the northwest, my dears" asked
a fond husband. son, because there
is SO much GOODNESS between st. Paul
and Minneapolis, was the reply.
4 It has been a. custom for medical
prescriptions ts be written in Latin
since the earlest;ages, when only doc
toss, priests, andlawyers were educat
ed and Latin was in universal use in
civilized countries. The authorizations
OF Latin words and symbolic signs of
modern doctors are probably used to
prevent patient knowing what they
are talking, as sotaae persons might
possibly use the prescription them
selves injudiciously andgst into troub-
lie. 1t is a ia1easure of safety as well
as professional secrecy.
Rev. Mr.. Nakepeace, of Andover,
Mass, gave the Congregational min
listers in Boston some good advice, in
discussing "the responsibility OF the
church for the entertainment of the
people," He recommended that khe
church ftspend less time in advertisr
ing the theater by preaching against /
it, and occupy more time in proyid- |
ing something better"
New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1886-05-05
Queen Victoria's Latest Letters.

from Blackwood's Magazine.
OSBORNE, February 13, 1986.-Iam
stunned by this dreadful news; YOU
dear, excellent, distinguished father
also taken away from us, and from
dear Scotland, whose church he sc
nobly defended. I have again lost 6
dear and honored friend, and my
heart sinks within me when I think
shallinot again on earth look on tina
noble presence, that kindly face, and
listen to those words Of wisdom and
CHRISTIAN large -heartedness which used
toedo me SO much good. But Ishould
not speak of myself when you,
his children, and your dear moth.
er, and our beloved Scotland,
lose SO much. Still, I May be, hope,
forgiven if I do appear egotistical, for
l have lostso many, and when / :feelso
alone.
Your dearfather was so kind, so
wise, and it was such a pleasure to see
him at Balmoral. No more! Never
again! These dreadful words [ SO
often have had to repeat make nv
heart turn sick! Gods will be done!
Your dear father is at rest, and his
bright spirit free
We must not grieve for him. When
[ saw you at Balmoral you seemed
anxious about him, and l heard the
other day he could. not write. Pray
convey the expression of my deepest
c17,oro+ b1, IA v1<,,7r loo ~ M - II ~, III. 80.
health, I know is not strong, and to
all your family | mourn with you.
Princess Beatrice is deeply grieyed,
land wishes me to express her true
sympathy with ycG all. I shall be
most anxious for details of this terri
ble event. Ever yours, truly and sor-
r0wingly. VICTORIA r. and [.
The Rev. w. Tulloeh.
THE QUEEN TO MRS. TULLOCH.
WINDSOR CASTLE. February II, 1856.
DEAR Mrs. TULLOCH: You must let
one Who respected, admired and loved
your dear distinguished husband to
writesJo you, though personally unac-
quainted with you, and try to say what
l feel.
My heart bleeds for you, the dear,
worthy companion OF that noble, ex-
cellent naan, SO highly gifted and large
hearted .azld SO brave, whose life is
crushed 10y the greatest loss that can
Defall q woman.
To me the loss ofsuch afriend, whom
/ SO greatly respected and trusted, is
very great; and | cannot bear to think
/ shall never again see him and adj
lnire that handsome kindly face and
noble presence and listen to his wise
words, which !te'eathe such a lofty
Christian spirit. ] am most anxious
to visit you, ard trnst that you will
allow me to do SO quietly and pr,
vately, as one who knew your dear
husband so well, and has one through 4
much sorrow, and knows what you
eel and what you suffer,
Pray express my true sympathy
20 all your children, who have lost
such a father.
My thoughts will be especially with
7ou tomorrow, and pray that God
nay be with you to help and sustain
1ou. Believe me always yours, most
incerely,
Verona r. &