davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-12-24

whirling mazes Of the giddv dancel Laugh
eth he ever at the merry jest for whose re-
turn from halls Of mirth and revelry the
sheriff's deputy impatient waits! Indeed
we do, all of US. It seems to me that I
once heard a gifted writer, q profound
thinker and most accurate analyst of hu-
man nature remark, in her essay read ut
the high school commencement, that all
men and women wear masks, and much
marveled that one 50 young had discovered
a truth that had eluded the search of the
sages.
Christmas dawned at last, and very few
people observed a singular phenomenon
recorded in the history Of the day, to which
allusion has already been made, that large
awnings of sackcloth had been stretched
across the entire heavens, from which
showers of ashes were being sifted upon
the shuddering earth. Many people re-
marked that it was cloudy, and some said
that it was showing. So little note do care
less mortals take Of momentOus occur
rences in nature. l knew about the sack
cloth, because knew the people who put
it up. They had been up nearly all night
stretching that emblem Of woe, carrying
ashes and setting out tear-jugs.
Nobody saw any sackclOth and ashes at
the Bars. The children could hardly wait
to eat breakfast, and few and short were
the morning prayers they SAID, for heart
and mind were set on the locked room in
which the Christmas tree blOomed and bore
most rare and radiant fruit. When the
door was opened how they trooped in,
singing like the blackbirds in the royal
pie. What shrieks of delight as every body
selected the wrong things on the tree, and
chose unto themselves the most absurdly
inappropriate gifts And when the room
was Garkened and the candles lighted,
what a fairy land it was. How the tapers
cleaned like little stars! What chorus of
Obs and Abs as the tree glittered in a
brave spangle of frostwork Of gold and
silver. What walls Of dismay when the
tree caught fire; what united and vigorous
blowings and puffiings that blew it out
again in such merry laughter! What sup
pressed excitement when a soft jingle of
sleigh-bells in the next room, growing
louder and nearer, until just as every body
was just ready to faint or scream with sus-
pense, a gruf voice shouted: whoa,
Prauceri Whoa, Dancer! Whoa, there,
VixenI' The door few open and Jack
The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-12-24

"what on earth did he go there for
Christmas Ever" asked papa. THAT Lost
Creek man came in and settled yesterday"
"Why," said Tom, in a troubled way, 81
guess-perhaps-I think Jack thought you
sent word to him to go right up there last
night. He, that is, perhaps he only got this
word few minutes before train-time, and
hadn't time to see you, and thought
Here Toms voice wandered away.
81 don't know what Jack thought" said
papa, ''but know what I Think
Jack came home about two o'clock, in
ample time for dinner Oh, but he was
furious at first. Raging mad. "Red hot
Gus said. But the dinner and general mer-
riment cooled him of.
WELL" he said, "rll give you my bless
ing, but don't you ever do it again"
And they promised they wouldn't.
Only mamma groaned in spirit and in
words. Married in Kitchen" she said,
'by little Dutch preacher, with cook
and q housemaid for witnesses. Oh, Eve
Ign! Evelyn, how could you.'
But Evelyn, still clinging to Tom, and
smiling as though she could never, never
cry any more, said if she hadn't promised
Jack she would do it again.
The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-12-24
"Good Santa, you've been at my Jacks

"Good Santa, you've been at my Jacks
cigars"
And when he fastened on Efae's brace
lets, and kissed her merry Christmas, and
told her every day ought 10 be Christmas
to her, she said:
''Good Christmas Saint, know whose
muff your fur cap is made Of"
Didn't we laugh, and didn't we laugh
more loudly still when Gus shouted: "Old
Santa, we're on to you" And the white
bearded old Saint threw a beautiful dress
ing-gown on papa's shoulders, and stuck q
smoking-c cap so rakishly on one side Of his
head that every body screamed again. Oh, it
was fun, and only poor Evelyn's sweet, white
face, paler than ever, and lightened like a
saints by her brave smiles, softened the
laughter little at times, and made every
body feel more tenderly toward her, in
spite of her great wickedness and rebell-
ious conduct. And when it was all over,
and Santa had quit bringing things out of
his invisible sleigh or taking them down
from the tree, Ellie said:
"Why, Ja-Santa, you haven't given
Evelyn any thing"
And it flashed upon every body then that
Evelyn was in disgrace, and was to have
no Christmas. But she bore her punish
meut 50 SWeetiy anu DraVely- one Just
walked up close under the beautiful tree,
cleaning with its Christmas jewels, and
took Jack by the hand, and said, oh, 50
softly, in such a peaceful, contented voice:
''I'il take Santa Claus"
And then Jack pulled of his fur cap and
white beard, and the very clock on the
mantel stopped ticking as mamma sank
into chair and family gasped:
"Tomv'
And every body stared and rubbed every
body's eyes, aSd stared again, and stared
and stared. And all they could see was
Evelyn with her white face, with new roses
family glowing in her cheeks, lying on
Tom Applegate's breast, just as though it
belonged there, her arms around his neck,
and a big fur-clad arm clasping her waist,
and no Jack any where in sight. Some Of
the children began to cry.
Father" said Santa Claus, quietly.
Then papa dropped into the nearest
chair, which happened to be a piapo-stool
that upset with him, and the ice was
broken, for papa, sitting on the floor
with piano-stool leaning up against his
back and a smoking-cap hanging on the
The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-12-24
CHRISTMAS SAVED.
fcoxr1xurp rRox FIRST rAcE.]

backward in rayless midnight I suppose
that never, Never, sincethe destruction Of
Jerusalem aud the persecution OF the carly
Christians, was there such period OF
human suffering and mcasurcless, wide
spread misery. But this half century Of tears
wcpt itself away "a footnote by Evelyn
states positively that this period covered
one hundred years, while . note in the ap-
pendix -A-by Mr.. Barr, who had o great
deal Of paper to take up about January l.,
asserts that it was the shortest twelve
months he had ever known, but I can not
now stop to reconcile these conflicting
statements), and the Christmas bells were
Ginning again. Here again, ] find in this
same excellent history Of those days, on
the twenty-fourth page Of the chapter on
December, the statement that all holidays
had been forever abolished, and voiceless
gloom and sad-eyed sorrow were to walk
hand in hand on the dates Of all such, down
to the end of recorded time and back again.
But it seems that a great many ignorant,
common people, with PLAIN, everyday
stomachs, with the digestive apparatus
thereunto appertaining in fair working
order, had not heard this decision, which
probably had been imperfectly promul-
gated, SO they went right on frolickihg
and merry making just the same as
though the sun shone and payday came
every Saturday.
On the streets and in the stores every
where the annual exhibition of Christ
mas frenzy went on, and all the world was
a mad world, my masters. Chattering
lunatics crowded and jOstlcd, crushed and
e,bowed other lunatics that giggled and
elbowed and crushed and crowded back
again, with no earthly idea Of doing any
The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-12-24

thing else, while they apologizcd to each
other Just for the sake Of being cordial
Mild imbeciles bought utterly impossible
things to send to feeble ones who had no
earthly use for them, while other mad men
and women, after fighting their way
through impossible crowds into the stores,
loaded themselves down with fragile wares,
remorselessly doomed to everlasting smash
in the hopeless struggle to get out again.
A few stranger msniacs, so far away from
their home asylums they could not get back
to them by Christmas, bought hetero-
generously, and then madly gave their pur-
chases to gamins in the street, who CRATE
fully jeered them, and called them ''Reu-
The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-12-24

bringer with more eager satisfaction.
Lucy stopped the accounting for q period
Of ridiculously hearty laughing, in which
she was joined by her companion with such
appreciative vigor that the strident black
jack boughs fairly vibrated in the woods
above them. Finally after q long period
Of accounting, made long by the frequent
Interruptions for intervals Of laughing,
Lucy said:
''There now. With economy we can live
on this-sav about how long" She
looked up for an opinion. Will was looking
Ut the spread refectively.
''Four whole days. But we've only Q
quart Of milk. And to own the truth, I'm
awfully hungry right now, Loo! I'd like
to eat whole chicken If could do it with
any regard to prudent economy"
'Dear fellow! SO hungryl Well this is
my Christmas dinner and you shall cat rs
much as you want. Begin now. believe
I'm hungry, too" And Lucy, making q
great pretense Of badinage, was neverthe-
less perfectly in earnest.
20, it won't do at all, Loo. I was joking
about being SO hungry" Will said, in q
faint remonstrance.
"Never mind. I'm the hostess. Have
some of this chicken. I roasted it myself.
And Just think OF our Christmas dinner
down here in the bottom Of this old IRON
mine.'
This was quite enough to start them both
laughing In fact almost every thing IS
funny to two young people who love each
other, and are alone together.
After very protracted dinner they fell
to discussing serious subjects of an infinite
variety of type, from the stars, which upon
theory they ought to be able to see from
this subterranean point of observation, to
the vast satisfaction of an unbroken and
perfect friendship between two people for
life. Then again, something of the ludicrous
would come up and the staring oak walls
of the old iron-mine rang again with such
merry pcals of laughter as never before nor
since could they hope to respond to.
Then they discussed the question of
whether it was really growing dark; and
finally settled it in the affirmative. Then
at the end of a paroxysm of unusually loud
laughter, caused by some absurd say
ing OF Lucy's, voices were plainly heard
above them and quite near. In short, the
rescuing party was at hand.
The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-12-24
THE RESCUE.

THE RESCUE.
Snow, Lucy, before we move step out
of this-very''--he hesitated.
''Delightful old iron-mine," suggested
Lucy.
''Yes, this most pleasant of iror-mines,
want to say that Of all the good, clever,
generous''-here he glanced at the basket
in remembrance of her magnanimous sur
render of the whole stock of provisions to
him-"courageous, and and altogether
lovely young women of my acquaintance"
here Lucy put up her chin and poutcd
ittle-''you are the best of them all And
won't bulge out of this spot unless you
promise to marry me right away"
Nobody knows what Lucy's answer was
since it was drowned in the chorus of hal
loes from the party now gathering round
the mouth of the old mine: But they were
married on New Years Day. And Father
Pin declares that all the girls in the neigh
borhood have been trying to induce young
men to fall into old iron mines-not so deep
as that one, to be sure. But deep enough
in which to eat a dinner and get engaged.
The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-12-24
n. w. To1isr:
Rocked the Turkey Asleep.

UOCKeu CIIc L uTKVy lABIteps
80, you good for nothing wretchr' ex-
claimed Big Williams wife, as she reached
her hand out of bed and felt in the cradle
to see if the baby was covered up.
.'Whash Ter matters" murmured Big, as
he turned in his sleep.
this minute"
Ibid bring him up. He'sh in the cradle"
mo such thing. You've drank too
much hard CIDER. You wrapped the Christ
mas turkey in baby's blankets and rocked
it to sleep in the cradle, you wretch and
baSy is downstairs on the sofa catching
enid -
The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-12-24

dashed in, dressed up like Santa Claus, and
began to distribute gifts amid . chorus of
screams Of delight, some Of them little
timid. Why, even some Of the older chill
dren were half afraid Of him, he looked 80
real, even with Jacks voice, which he
tried to disguise and make 20 gruff; Robbie
and Irma firmly believed it was really
Santa Claus, and so did Claude, ut which
The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-12-24
His Christmas Presents.

Arabella Topcrust and Cholly Weakpate
were engaged. Cholly works as clerk in a
dry-goods house and sells tape cut on the
bias, and Arabella's father is q pork-packer
who has higher aspirations for his daugh-
ter than to have her marry Cholly.
On Christmas morning Softop met q
chum, who displayed an embroidered hat
tip his lady had sent him for Christmas
present.
'What did Arabella give you, Chollys"
he asked.
''She gave me the shake, and her old man
gave me boot"
The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-12-24
The BOarder's Sock.

The star boarder on Christmas hung up an old
sock,
And the boardin'house missis put in it q rock
Then the serving maid thought she would not
be outdone,
So she stole to the sock and thrust in a bun.
Now, the boarder, awaking, dressed up in the
night,
And expectant slipped slyly downstairs with q
light;
Then he boldly walked in with the air Of lord,
And there pinned TO his sock was a bill for his
hoard
The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-12-24

STUCK SNOkING-CAP 50 KAkISHLY."
bens" for their pains, as is the manner OF
the street Arab when he receives benefit.
Any place in the maelstrom was solitude,
and SO it was that Tom and Evelyn met,
right in her own papa's big store. And
they talked in low tones, while Efie,
touched with pity, unbent as she stood
guard, and frigidly recognized poor Tom,
much as a compassionate icicle might drop
tear upon the traveller whom it is assist
ing to freeze.
''What will Christmas be without you!"
said Tom, moOdily. There will be no more
Christmas"
''And what will it he without you, dear
TOm!'' she said, with quiyering lip, and
then went on, braveiy trying to hide her
The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-12-24
He Was Insignificant.

"Arabella," said Cholly Softop to Miss
IcFlopley, ''did you ever notice that some
people are amused with very little and in
significant thingsr'
'.Are theyl Well, you must feel amused
continually, then"
allow so!''
"Why, you are with yourself SO much Of
the time >,
The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-12-24
II He Had Luck.

'sWhat will we have for dinner on Christ
mas, DEAR" said Jem Pincbem's wife on
ristmas We.
"A pair of chickens, If have luck and
Old Herman don't lock his coop tonight. {"
The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-12-24
Dead Stuck on Himself

81 do like pig" said Mr.. O'Greedy, as
he helped himself for the fourth time to a
liberal plate-fun Of the viands at the
Christmas dinner.
'You should be dead stuck on yourself
1t that rate" said his landlady, with q
smile, but in rather a cutting tone.
The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-12-24

The season Of swapping presents is draw
ing near. The old-time custom Of giving TO
those who could give naught but thanks
and gratitude in return had much . COM
mend it-Boston Herald.
The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-12-24

credulity Master Gus scoffed and said,
stoutly: "HOh, it's Jack!' and was grave
ly rebuked for his skepticism by Trudie,
while baby Annie cried outright. And when
Santa Claus put the new scarf around
mammals neck, and kissed her, and wished
her many a merry Christmas like this one,
what q clapping Of hands when mamma
said:
The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-12-24
ssThash AL"

'sWhere did you get that turkey you have
in your hand, Sim!" said Mrs. Shrinkem-
as he entered the house at midnight with a
sixteen-pound gobbler whose skin was
hanging from its carcass in shreds.
'sWon hip at er Chrishmush rattle, m,
dear. Nishe t-tur-tur-hici- ky. COsht
me four-hic-teen-dollas
s'Well, what is the matter with it, What
makes it look 50 Queerl"
'Thash nuthin'. ! led .
few p-epi-hic!-ets OF er fenshe via
him coming home. Thash all.n
The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-12-24

81 SEE by the society advertisements
that Madame Highflyer will receive callers
on New Years." said cold-blooded dry
goods dealer. 81 shall instruct my collector
to call on her with the little bill she has been
owing here since she purchased the outfit
for her watering place trip last summer"
-GOOd0lrs Sun.
The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-12-24

The fire was all out, DER the table were strewed
The bills and the notes for which he was sued;
With a sock in his hand. he had fallen asleep,
While mice through its holes played hide
and go peep"
But people that morn, who laughedin high giee
Der jokes from his pen till they scarcely could
see,
Knew little the hardships the writer went
through,
new.
BURT ARNOLD.
The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-12-24

The man who lays down the law to his
wife and tells her that under oath to his
lodge he is forbidden to receive Christmas
presents may miss getting token Of his
wife's affection, but he will save money by
the loss.-FdH Riser Advance.
The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-12-24

CHRISTMAS REvEgIE.-" What are you go
ing to buy your wife for Christmas pres
entl' asked Gus de Smith of Judge Peter
by. "rm thinking Of getting her piano. ~
"Can she play!'' "No, Of course not. Do
you think I'd be such fool as to buy her q
piano if she could playl'-T1as Siftisgs.
The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-12-24

Kind Providence truly had come to his aid,
And brought tine success for which he had
prayed:
No more would he wander around for the news,
While his feet met the paves through the soles
of his shoes.
The bank-bills would buy him q new suit Of
clothes,
And next year he'd hang up a whole pair Of
hose;
His faith in the public again he'd renew,
And give them paper both novel and new.
Alas his air-cast!es were bubbles that broke,
When he turned in his chair, and, in turning
~awoke;
The room and the table all vanished in air
Gone, gone to the dickens-he never knew
where.
The bell Of ST. Nicholas pealed forth its chime,
As Oft it had done before in its time;
And gray streaks Of dawn shone in his cold lair,
Proclaiming that Christmas in earnest was
there
The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-12-24

You've man, if you are going to get mar
ried soon, get married before Christmas.
You can talk economy much better As a
husband than you can as a lover, and may
delude her into thinking that in not max
ing her Christmas present you are doing
Q noble PhiladslphiG Her0ld.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-07-23
NEW YORK
The Very Select Styles in Elegant Lace
Boas and Straw Ionnets.

The Very Select Styles in Elegant Lace
Boas and Straw I%onnets.
The new lace boas are both useful
and ornamental, and black and cream
lace are alike useful in their manufac-
ture. The lace is arranged in such 9
way that it forms a roulcau correspond
ing in size and shape to the fur boa.
Most of these are about two and a hali
! yards in length, and are tied with rib
bons a few inches below the chin.
Ready-made, these novelties are expen-
sive, but a lady of taste can easily con-
struct one at about one-third the cost OF
those sold in the shops. Very expensive
lace for their make is to be eschewed,,
because, when soiled, the boa must be
discarded. They are charming adiuncts
to summer toilets, and give a finish to
any pretty summer dress worn out Of
doors. Moreover, the boa will be q
protection for the throat when driving,
coming out of church, or on any occa-
sion where II feels the need of slight
extra clothing.
Small dark straw princess bonnets.
with the brims edged with a putting of
velvet, and a high coronet above, OF
clover heads, snowballs, Jacque buds
and other fine French flowers, are fav-
orite head coverings, with tailor-made
costumes Of dove-gray albatross, mauve
cashmere, silk-dotted veilings and the
like. These are charming. The many
light-wool fabrics for the tailor-made
dresses are u%ncommonly elegant this
season, and if artistically cut, which is
a sine qm0 non, they are the perfection
of summer wear. Emphasis must be
given by repetition to what has before
been said, that there is no street gown
in which a woman looks better dressed
than a costume OF this description, when
perfectly fitted, adding grace to around-
ed form and roundness to Il slender onc,
as many dressy additions have been
made to these bodices of these gowns,
which at first were too severe and I'M
adorned to prove becoming to all fig
ures.
It is now quite the fashion to make
up semi-transparent muslins over light
foundations Of batiste or sateen. These
look very dressy. more especially if a
few knots of colored ribbon are added.
and if the hat be trimmed with flowers
to correspond. Dark blue and golden
brown rough-and-ready straw hats are
generally worn with such gowns. Pink
and pale lilac India muslins are ex-
hibited with tiny flowers scattered owe
their surfaces, which are to be made up
over foundations of plain pink or
manve. Black velvet ribbon is more
used upon dresses OF this sort than the
quantities of lace that loaded them last
year.-N Y. Evenin7g Post.