davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-09-19
Danger.

While I was walking in the garden
one bright morning, a breeze came
through and set all the flowers and
leaves a-fiuttering. Now that is the
way flowers talk, so I picked up my
ears and listened. Presently an elder
tree said: "Flowers, shake off your
caterpillars."
"Why ?" said a dozen all together,
for they were like some children who
always say "Why?" when they are
to do anything. Bad children those.
The elder said: "If you don't they'll
gobble you up"
So the flowers set themselves shak-
ing till the caterpillars were shaken
off.
In one of the middle beds there was
a beautiful rose, who shook off all but
one, and she said to herself: "Oh,
that's beauty I'll keep that one."
The elder overhead her, and called
Zone caterpillar Is enough 10 spoil
YOU"
But" said the rose, "look at his
brown and crimson fur. and his beauti-
full black eyes, and scores of little
feet. I want to keep him. Surely
one won't hurt me-"
A few mornings after, l passed the
rose again. There was not Il whole
leaf on her; her beauty was gone, she
was all but killed, and had only life
enought to weep over her folly, while
the tears stood like dewdrops on her
tattered leaves.
One sina indulg edhas ruined manly
boy or girl.-Christian Weekly.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-09-19
The Ordinary Girl.

"Just an ordinary girl" said an
acquaintance. "There are hundreds
like her."
This of youthful specimen of the
sex who met us on the way. She was
simply clothed, merely plain, dull
plaid of some kind of wOolen stuff
which fitted her rather square, and
robust form so loosely that arms, lungs,
heart and lower eXtremities had room
for movement as she walked briskly
along. She had no Jersey" with It's
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-09-19
WRITTEN BY ADELAIDE PROCTOR.

I hold him great who. for loves sake,
Can give with generous, earnest Will;
Yet he who takes for loves sweet sake
/ think hold more generous still.
I bow before the noble mind
That freely some great wrong forgives !;
Yet nobler Is the one forgiven
Who bears that burden still and lives
It may be hard to gain and still
To keep lowly, steadfast heart;
Yet he who loses has to fill
A harder and truer part.
Glorious 1t is to wear the crown
OF a deserved and pure success;
He who knows how to fail has won
A crown whose lustre Is not less.
Great may he be who can command
And rule with just and tender sway;
Yet is 6iviner wisdom taught
Better by him who can obey.
Blessed are they who die for God.
And earn the martyrs crown OF light;
Yet he who lives for God may be
A greater conqueror in his sight.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-09-19

Close the ear to slander and evil
speaking the memory to thoughts
that soil the life; the heart to influ-
ences that impair the sympathies, the
mind to reasonings that degrade its
judgment; the eye to sights that dis
tort the landscape of life and impair
its beauty, and the soul to impressions
that destory its happiness for eternity.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-09-19
Rock of Ages.

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in thee,
Not the labor Of my haLds
Can fulfill thy laws demand;
Vile. to the fountain fly,
Wash me, Savior, or die.
Could my tears forever flow,
Could my zeal no languor know,
All for sin could not atone,
ThOu must save and thou alone;
In my hand no price bring,
Only to thy cross cling.
While l draw this parting breath,
When my eyelids close In death,
When l rise TO worlds unknown.
And behold Thee Oh Thy throne,
Rock OF Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-09-19

"How few persons there are who
frown down the talebearer and the
slanderer! But on the contrary en-
courage their willing tongues by Civ
ing willing ears! Every community
is more or less afflicted with these
stabbers of the regulations OF others.
Readers, turn deaf ear to all mis-
chievous gossip" "'.%
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-09-19

When you have learned to listen
you have already learned the rudi-
ments of a good education.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-09-19

Seize the moment of excited couri :
iosity on any subject to solve your;
doubts. #
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-09-19

Soft-shelled eggs indicate that the
hens are too fat. Set them scratching.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-09-19

The Canada Presbyterian makes 8
point against the cry for young min
listers from the age of the several cam
didates from President and Vice-P Press
ident. Cleveland is fifty-one years Of
age, Thurman is seventy-four, Harri-
son fifty-tive and Morton sixty-fonr.
Thousands of Christian citizens viii.
try to make these men rulers of sixty
million of people, who would consider
them, were they ministers Of the gos-
pei, too old to take charge of q small
village congregation. When the,
children Of. light go into the polling
booth, as children of this world they
always vote for experience. tli;f
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-09-19

A clegyman visiting woman IN
severe illness, asked: ''Do you derive
much comfort from the instruction of
the Bible?" "Oh, yes, indeed was
the replied. "Whatparticular passage
do you rely upon at present2" ask the
minister. "Grin and bear it," replied
the sufferer. The clergyman departed
to look up a concordance.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-09-19
Popery and the Republic.

BY EDWIN H. NEvIN, d. D.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-09-19
Siluto PeHteo.

. . s. =. = : =.
FAMILY INTIMAcY.-should never
make brothers and sisters forget to be-
polite and sympathizlng to each 9TH:
er. Those who contract thoughtsess
and rude habits toward members OF
their own family will be rude and
thoughtless toward all the world.
But let the family intercourse be true,
tender, and aftectionate, and the man,
ners of all uniformly gentle and COM
siderate, and the members Of the fami-s
ly, thus trained, will carry into the
world and society the habits OF their
childhood. They will require in their
associates similar qualities. 5.sI5s
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-09-19
What Others Say.
Romish Schools.

Joseph Cook, in the prelude to one;
of his recent lectures, made the follow
ing points against the Romish paro-
chial schools ~ lsl.
]. 1t is historically true and noto.s
rious that Romish priests when they
had their way never yet gave in their
parochial primary schools sufficient
instruction to fit a population for the
responsibilities Of free government.
2. Roman Catholic parochiaI
schools are avowedly intended to ut-i
terly destroy the American public
school system. s
3. The instruction given in them
is always sectarian, generally mntil-
ated, and sometimes thoroughly mis-
leading. Examples were given from
one or two Romish text books, Bis
marck declares that the saddest sight
he ever saw was that of the mutilated
text books used in the French schools.
Mr.. Froude found their systematic
mutilation both in Europe and Amer
lea.
4. Roman Catholic authorities
wholly deny to the civil government
the right to conduct the secular edus
cation of the people. 20
S. The church denies to the parent
the right of private Judgment In the
matter of education. Refusal to send
children to the priests school is fol-
lowed by denial to the rites of the
church. g1 = I,
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1888-12-21

notice in the little peddlar's ensemble that
bleak Christmas Eve.
The roads were frozen tight; the sidewalk
boards snapped like fire. crackers. Above
in the cruelty clear sky the moon looked
like an unscabbered scmeter blade. Gilt
tering daggers flashed from the stars and
cut the air into blasts as sharp as wolves
teeth. The quivering particles of frozen
moisture looked like bits of broken glass.
Oh! but it was cold!
Angels! Angels! Here's your angels !"
1t was Il queer cry, but not queer enough
to attract the attention of passers-by. What
right had freezing, starving Tom Newton to
expect the rich and comfortable and muffled-
up people, hurrying to cozy homes with
armfuls of presents, to get chilled inspect
ing his paltry stock of goods?
Angels; gold, silver, red, white, blue!"
Angels they We're, in miniature, a score or
more of them. To Tom they were beautiful.
Had not his crippled father fashioned the
smiling face and cherub form out of wax.
and pale. invalid sister Elsa dressed and
decorated them in their cheerless tenement
house room all that day?
They meant food and warmth and medi-
cine, if sold. Toms heart grew respondent
as the hours went by. No one wanted
angels to hang on Christmas trees. Oh! if
some real good, true angel would only lead
them to want them.
The crowds began to thin out. Tom grew
colder and colder. He took up his basket at
last with dreary sigh.
"Oh, my!"
Little Toms heart went out in gasp. He
reached down toward a fat, bloated pocket
book lying in the snow, SO fat and so
bloated that the ends ofseveral bills showed
at one end.
Here. boy! lost that"
The sharp tones belonged to richly
dressed woman, and size fairly grabbed the
wallet from Toms hands.
yes, ma am. I'd have given it to you. if
| know'd it was yours, without your ask
ing. Angels, ma'am, please buy one!"
How much?" came the vinegarish de-
mand.
only dime"
lgive you five cents for one for your
honesty" And she passed Tom nickel,
selected the best image, and swept on in all
her meanness and comfort.
Tom did not look very grateful. but he
was encouraged, and he shouted out his
wares more vigorously than ever as he
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1888-12-21
ed from the room unceremoniously.

ed from the room unceremoniously.
Has she gomez" he gasped to Mrs. Dan
forth; has Miss-Miss Vernon gomez"
Just leaving"
One word, my lady!"
Grace Vernon. just in the vestibule, paused
and paled.
Il have a word for you" spoke the Cap
tain, in low but impressive tones.
Miss Vernon shrank from his ominous,
face. and tried to assume an air of offended
dignity.
Your manner is insolent," she began,
with chilling hauteur.
And yours assumed to brighten the truest
friend these people have, Miss Vernon"
ALLOW me to pass"
Captain Tarble's eyes emitted a grim
glow.
DO you insist?" he cried. Then so be it.
I wish to avoid a scene here; but. if it must
be, the police"
Sir"
"Ah, you pale and tremble. my lady.
saw you this morning"
Miss Vernon did not reply, but looked as
if she could annihilate the stanch mariner
there and then.
Il have but one demand to make of you."
he continued.
"Indeed!"
llSbIIH GHOSo UldUOnuS. OEubr6u GH0
Captain sternly.
What diamonds?" stammered the siren.
pale and alarmed.
That you stole from the Christmas tree
this morning. substituting paste ones, made
in clever imitation of the set"
Shamefacedly, Grace Vernon handed over
a package. Then she left the Danforth man
sion, never to cross it's portals again
Captain Tarble," said Sidney, that morn
ing, later.
We'll. Sidney?"
What was the row about that woman?
She didn't leave here because she wanted
to-"
DO you wish to know" asked the Cap
tain.
Il do"
THE truth2"
Entire"
He told him, emitting no detail. The
worried expression left Sidney's face at the
explanation.
Il feared her." he murmured. She was
dangerous woman, a siren, whose fascin-
ating smiles nearly won my love, only to
shipwreck my happiness for selfish and
mercenary motives"
That hour the real diamonds replaced the
false ones; that hour. too, Sidney Danforth
knew that he was free to WOO the shy and
lovely Ethel: and he shuddered as he real
lied how pity and interest had nearly en-
meshed him in the wiles of siren adven
turess.
Pretty Ethel blushed like schoolgirl
when he caught her under the mistletoe at
midnight and claimed the privilege of a
Christmas kiss.
She fluttered like coy dove. but the light
in her shrinking eyes showed a tinge of that
emotion which borders on the deepest,
truest friendship of a womans heart.
1t was something more-the caress of deep
and honest love-and she knew it long be-
fore her visit at the Danforth mansion was
ended.
The whole story was soon known, and,
when Christmas cheer rang high under the
green mistletoe, they all voted the doughty
and clever Captain Tarble veritable Santa
Claus.
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1888-12-21

Tom, it's dreadful cold!" whispered Elsa.
after their task was completed. Father Is
shivering, and won't tell us he is cold"
Tom looked out through the frosted panes
obviously,
I'm afraid I can't find any more wood to-
night. Oh, Elsa, see here! There's the old
trunk. It's empty now. 1t will keep up
little heat, off and on, until morning"
"Oh. Tom! never do that!"
why not?"
You know it's the trunk fathers mother
sent him when she died, packed with clothes
and silver. 1t nearly broke his heart to sell
them The trunk is sort-sort of sacred to
him."
But it's empty and broken. We must
have fire. Elsa. He might get another
chill and die
AS softly as he could, Tom began breaking
up the old trunk. The children watched its
boarded ends glow and flicker in the stove.
"Hello!"
Tom, separating the worn leather from the
curved top board, uttered the ejaculation
forcibly.
What is it, Tom2"
Look, Elsa!"
He had found between the lining a large
envelope, old, discolored, but still sealed.
ITO my son. Robert Newton" read Tom.
I'll open it, Gracious! Oh. Elsa, the good
angel, the real angel, has come at lasti"
Yes, for from out the unsealed envelope
there fell upon the floor a score of bank
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1888-12-21

Christmas, with ten cents as it's cost, than
the richest nabob with his millions.
Twenty cents for meat and bread, five
cents for popcorn, five for candy two for a
stunted tree limb, two for candles. one for a
sheet of tinsel paper, and Tom started
homeward, jolly as a lark.
We'll have enough to eat till tomorrow,
and Il Christmas in the bargain" he MUIR
INJURED cheerily.
Motherless Elsa greeted him at the door
of the chill dreary room they called home.
Mr.. Newton, shivering on the sparse couch,
tried to smile.
What luck, my boy?" he asked.
Something to eat, and better luck to-
morrow" responded Tom.
"Ah, how nice if we had fire, Toni" said
Elsa.
Elsa. fire! Why, I got a great pile of
wood before left"
Father was so cold, used it all up"
Then I'll get some more"
Staunch, energetic Tom had secured the
vicinity for stray bits of fuel. Too often.
however, a sparse armful represented the
pickings of a whole square of alleys and
cutters.
1t afforded heat for an hour, and cooked
the supper, and then stringing the popcorn
and cutting the tinsel and trimming the
Christmas tree, not forgetting a bright
gold angel as its guardian, Tom and Elsa
never noticed the fire go out amid their ex-
element
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1888-12-21
ILL.
"Ohl Captain. don't be so foolish!"

On! captain, don't be so fooliShl"
"As favor, Mrs. Danforth. I'm queer
old salt, you know, and never sleep Christ
mas evening, so let me have my own way.
Besides. there's small fortune aboard that
Christmas tree. and I'd like to guard it"
Captain Tarble had his own way, and
everybody laughed at his whims and fears,
as they bade him a CHEEKY goodnight and
left him to the solitude of the reception
room, where Christmas tree had been set
up and decked out. as was the annual Gus
tom of the Danforths.
The old Captain had his suspicious. but
he kept them to himself. He lay down on q
lounge, with a speculative look mt the jewell
box which Sidney had shown him, and de-
cded that the night marauder fortunate
enough to secure Branches costly Christ
mas present would have a lucky haul in
deed.
Then he nodded and dozed and awoke
with start. 1t was just daybreak. Some
one was at the tree.
A white-robed figure, that of woman,
was there. He saw a hand reach for the
Jewel-case and sprang to his feet.
He was out into the corridor in moment,
but the thief was too quick for him, He
sat down in the hall. Who was the ma
rauder?
Merry Christmas. Captaln!"
Eth? Hello it, YOU, Sidney Awake so
soon? I've sons. ling to tell you. The tree
has been robbed"
What"
yes
who by?"
"A woman-dressed in white-ran up
stairs, took the jewel-box--"
"Ha, ha Capt.. n, you've been dreaming!
Why, there's the jewel box, safe and
Sound"
They had entered the room as Sidney
spoke Yes. the jewel-box was intact. The
Captain marveled
Il saw some one at that tree" he began.
Captain" remarked Sidney. with quiz
zioal look, did you sit up all night?"
L dozed, OF course"
And had steaming tumbler of grog,
sailor-fashion, to begin with, and dreamed
1t all. You sea-faring men are always Soc
ing spooks, you know"
SldneyS bantering did not change Captain
Tarble's opinion one whit, however.
Il saw her, and-I'n watch" was the
grim decision Of the Captain; so discussion
OF the theme ended for the time being.
That was morning of pleasant greetings
and surprises. Mrs. Danforth electrified all
but Captain Tarble by informing them that
Miss Vernon had received IL summons from
a sick friend, and would not appear at break
fast, as she must hasten away on an early
train from the city.
oh! you dear, good brother!" cried
Blanche, in an ecstasy of delight, as Il jewel
box was handed to her. "Diamonds!"
Everybody had to look at them. Captain
Tarblc started as his turn came.
Pastel he almost shouted.
What! Are you joking, Captain?" cried
Sidney. alarmed at his guests excited face.
No, sirl understand it ALI" And he bolt
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1888-12-21

oh, the sprinkle, sprinkle, sprinkle
OF the diamond powdered snowI
Flashing from the cloudy portals
To the crowded street below;
Tufting Christmas-tolling belfries
With Il mantle pure and white,
Crunched 10 music on the pavements
Through the happy, joyous night.
Oh, the twinkle. twinkle, twinkle
OF the stars on Christmas morn,
Shining as they shone at Bethl'em
On the hour our Christ was born;
Glinting smiles for human rapture,
Misty dimmed at human tears,
Warders at the heavenly portals
Through the march of onward years
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1888-12-21
III

III.
Christmas Eve, and laughter and music
and happiness reigned in the spacious
drawing rooms of the Danforth mansion.
There were two of the guests, however,
missing from their accustomed places, but
those two were in the house. In fact, Cap
tain Tarble had just entered the library, a
strangely stern look on his bronzed face,
and with him, her dark eyes flashing the
deepest rage and dread, the siren-like Grace
Vernon.
You order me to come here as if you had
a right" she began,
Il have! Steady, now, my lady" spoke
the Captain. You sit down right there.
have a few words to say to you, and they
shall be brief. I've been watching you since
L came here, I suspected something wrong
when Mrs. Danforth told me that you were
Vernon's daughter"
Her old friends childl-your tone is in
solent, sirl"
you are not her old friends child; you
are an impostor!" responded the Captain
forcibly. The Vernons had one child"
and am that orphan waif"
And that child was a boy. My lady,
hate to make row at Christmas, but you
are deceiving these good people. Who you
really are, don't know, but you're a bold
one, for was in India when Charles YER
non died. Some way you got hold of the
family papers, suppose, and drifted here,
and decided to represent yourself to be the
daughter of the Vernons. Dare you deny
it? Try it! I can prove what I say"
No, the false Grace Vernon did not at
tempt to deny it. Her face white as death,
she sat staring at Captain Tarble with
wicked, steely eyes, as if she could kill
him then and there.
And you have unmasked mel" she gritted
forth finally.
mo; as I say. want to make no row,
only won't see this family imposed upon
1 know your game. You got that free
hearted boy. Sidney. interested in you. You
got him to pity you-a week ago, in mo-
ment Of rashness, he almost asked you to
marry him. You entrapped him."
"Oh, this is unbearable" choked out Grace
It's true. You expect to hold him to his
silly promise, yet you know he regrets it,
Now, then, my lady. have a proposition to
make to you. Leave this house."
The dark face glowed defiantly.
and give him up?"
You'll have to-"
And if do?"
Il shall not say a word of your true char
acter until you are gone. First, however,
you will write note to Sidney Danforth
for me to deliver, releasing him from the
Encouragement you tricked him into"
The rage of tigress seemed to fill the
sirens heart, but she controlled it we'll.
Il will do it." she said finally. Il will leave
here tomorrow"
And the noto?"
Il will write at once"
Good; you are not so unreasonable. after
all. Now, then, my girl, don't want to be
hard with you. When you leave here come
to me and will give you money to start you
in some respectable business; but never
trouble the Danforths again."
"Bafied-foiled!" raved the dark beauty in
her own room tFat-aigh.t~ "Qhl II is terrible
to lose the man | love, the fortune 1 crave!
could kill that meddling Captain. All but
L shall not leave here bootless. I have pro-
vided for contingencies. leave tomorrow,
butt shall leave as rich Womanl"
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1888-12-21

passed the last block of stores between the
place and home.
She broke my bad luck, anyway"
chuckled Tom. I've sold three more. I
guess there's no use trying any more,
though. Now for Elsa's Christmas"
Poor Tom! He counted more on Elsa's
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1888-12-21
81 ski N9 FNGEkSi
BY DWIGHT WELDON.

H! but it was cold.
aLittle Tommy New
ton, blowing his fin
'gers and stamping his
feet, and in a wailing,
frozen-up tone crying
out his poor basketful
of wares, voted it so;
and if any one in the
wide city had a right
to act the thermom-
eter it was Tom. for
mittenless h an d S b.,
poorly shod feet, bare
neck. and scantily
covered form were
the main points of
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1888-12-21
HRISTMAS is coming, my

In his bright eyes, and kissed him instead
They were rare couple, and members of
rare family. Outsiders had called the
stately home Of the Danforths, located on
one Of the most fashionable boulevards of
the great city, the house of good cheer. and.
II the royal preparations for Christmas going
on in kitchen and parlor alike we're any in
dication, the coming holidays were not
likely to be far behind cherished, happy eel
ebrations in the past.
Mrs. Danforth had reason to chide her son
on the present occasion. He had called her
aside with shade OF charming secrecy and
intrigue in his manner as he glanced at his
pretty sister, Blanche, and had shown her
the present he designed for her,
No wonder his mother stared and admired,
and then looked dismayed. In a satin
lined case nestled a set of diamond jewelry
such as even she-social leader as she had
been where gems We're sometimes worn
that represented a fortune-had never seen
equaled.
Brooch, necklace, pendants solitaire,
cluster and bracelets-the set was COM
plete. marvel of flashing beauty, all the
more beautiful because of the severely
simple gold setting.
Sidney. Sidney!" she gasped. they must
have cost"
Never mind, mother. No gift can make
can be too good for Blanche You know
the fortune l inherited from your sister
should have been equally divided between
Blanche and myself, instead of coming en-
tirely to me. 1t has always given me a
sense Of unfairness. Well, l have simply
invested her share in these gems. They
have value she some day may need to use
and i'll her own right; so don't lisp hint of
it. She will be delightedly surprised. All,
Grace-Miss Vernon. I did not know you
were here"
rustling curtain had betrayed an auditor
to the domestic colloquy. A dark eyed.
rather handsome woman, few years older
than Sidney, came into view, with flush of
apology upon her face.