davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1888-12-21

he almost dropped his lantern, but with the
quick instinct of criminal he grasped and
cooked his revolver and turned the lantern
toward the sound.
Its bright circle Of light shone on the wall
like the illumination of magic lantern, and
in the center of it was q prettier picture
than over a magic lantern exhibited. 1t
was little child of six or seven years sit
ting up in her cot. Her eyes were dazzled
with the light Of the lantern, but they
sparkled with merriment Her long curls
fell over her shoulders on the white en-
broidered little night dress.
The burglars revolver dropped to his side.
"You know me9' he said.
"Yes. You're Santa Claus. 1 tried to
keep awake last time, but l couldn't. 1
think was asleep this time when you came.
but / walked up just in time, didn't II"
The burglar didn't seem to know what to
say.
.Did you just come down the chimney
Won't you turn around the light so that 1
can see you'll 1t hurts my eyes. 1 never
saw light like that. didn't know you
needed o light. Did you always have onel"
"Yes-generally. Hadn't you better go to
sleep againl"
"Oh, no, l want to see what you brought.
Did you know I was bad that other dayl
I've been awful good ever since and mamma
said she thought perhaps if kept right on
being good all the time that perhaps you
would forget about that time. Did you for
getr'
81 forgot all about it. Where is your
mamma and papal"
"Oh, didn't you know there was party
at Mrs Hammon's2 Yes. It's Christmas
Eve party. They were going to take me,
but they thought would fall asleep. Mamma
says get cross when wake up"
"You don't seem very cross now"
sob, not when I'm right awake, but just
when I'm not quite awake"
"Did they leave you here all alone7'
"Oh, no; Katy was to wait up with me,
but / guess she's down in the kitchen.
She'll be disappointed when she knows you
were here. Katy's going to hang up her
stocking, too. Are you going to put any
thing in it2''
81 don't think she deserves any thing
when she left you alone"
"Oh, think you might put something in
or she'll be awful Disappointed, and then you
could put in potato for leaving me alone.
Wrap it up in lots Of pieces Of paper so
she'll have to wind and wind and wind be-
fore she comes to 1t. Won't you turn the
light round so that l can see youf"
81 don't think you would care to see NE,
but I'll turn the light away SO 1t won't hurt
your eyes. There, now"
s'Oh, can see you little. You haven't
long white beard. What is that over your
facet You're not bit like Santa Claus
you fpighten me-"
'You mustn't be frightened, my little
pet. Nobody would hurt you I'll take
that off,
s'Oh, does It come Of! What is it for? Oh,
know-it is so the SCOT in the chimney
won't hurt your eyes"
"That's it. / had a sweet little girl like
you once-a long time ago. Perhaps if she
well, hadn't you better go to sleep now"
II didn't know Santa had a little girl OF
his own. Is that why you bring things to
little girlsl"
"Yes, that's the reason. Now, you must
lie down again and try to 60 to sleep
The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1888-12-21

stole him from us and in spite of all our
| efforts we never saw him again until one
evening we found him at our door dying
| from privation and ill-usage. And when he
passed to the summer land, Never cried
my mother, tpever shall woman or child
enter my house again. Then we left our
| old home, which is miles and miles away, and
came here, where my life has been lonely
| enough, l can tell you, for my mothers
whole nature seemed to change on the day
of my little nephew's death, and from beng
q kind and loving woman she became avery
"a very arbitrary one. Your coming has
made it OIL SO much brighter, but live in
| constant dread that she will find out"
"Ohl no, she WON'T" interrupted the lit
| tie widow. mo one but Dan knows I'm here
and there's no fear of his telling. He's q
good fellow, Dan is" and Ursula fancied
there was blush on her cheek as she said
| so.
ayes, he seems to be q good fellow"
said the landlady's daughter, with sigh
Well, the widow had been installed in the
| front attic room for month and q half,
when she awoke one morning to say to her
self: "Dear mel This is the day before
Christmas and I'll have to leave Walter
| alone while go out to buy him some toys.
must try and go while the old lady Is
taking her nap, so that Ursula can stay with
him."
But she couldn't get the work-on the
payment for which depended the buying Of
| the toys-done in time to carry out this plan,
so she was obliged to start just after the old
lady had taken her nap. And, fearing to
leave the child in the room with the fire,
she carried him to the room below heated
by the cellar furnace, the occupant of which
being really "a single gentleman" was
away at business, and after enjoining him
to touch nothing, but sit and look out of the
window until she came back, she kissed him
goodbye and departed.
Walter sat still for a long quarter Of an
hour. Then he slid from the chair and
| walked about the room, looking ct the
pictures, and pipes, and canes, etc.
Then he began thinking Of Santa Claus
spears to me-" he said, in his sweet baby
voice, ''there isn't q bit Of chimney any
| where at all in this house for q boy to hang
his 'tocking. An how's Santa ClauAto come
down the chimney if there isn't any CHM
ney, That's what I'd like to know. There
| must be a chimney somewhere around.
| Guess I'll go look for it."
And, sitting down on the floor, he unbut-
toned and took of one shoe and drew of It's
| attendant stocking, and, leaving the shoe
behind him, but carrying the stocking in
his hand, he, totally forgetting his mothers
| injunctions in his earnest desire to find q
chimney, opened the door and started out
| on search for one.
Down the long stairs he toiled, to be con-
fronted by the closed parlor doors. s'Guess
there isn't any chimney in there" he said.
after trying in vain to turn the door-knobs,
and away he went down the next fight of
The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1888-12-21

woman-and woman with little boy.
shall have to speak Of you as party For
really I don't dare to go SO far as to call you
"a single gentleman"
This set the little widow laughing and she
looked prettier than ever-her smile CLEAN
ing through her tears as she stood on tiptoe
and kissed the faded cheek that had not
been kissed before for years.
So the young widow and her lovely bl1e-
eyed, golden haired boy-'the perfect model
Of little angelo Ursula declared him
| were installed in the front attic-room that
very evening. And coy room It was,
too, with o CHEEKY fire in O tiny stove, and
warm crimson curtains draping the corner
window, that overlooked the broad, busy
street.
81 think you will find 1t real snug quar-
tiers here, Mrs. Brown" said Dan Lewis,
as he sat down the party's trunk. (He had
been friend of her husband, and was al
ways ready to do her good turn.l "You
won't see the old lady as long ss she has Q
game leg, and guess that may be for
years, or it may be forever as the song
| says; and the daughter, though ! haven't
spoken to her more'n half q dozen times,
strikes me as nice sort of woman. Pretty,
too, if she wasn't SO awful thin"
And, as time went on, Mrs. Brown
found her q nice sort of woman-in fact,
a very nice sort Of woman. True, she
only saw her for about an hour every after
noon, when old Temperance Shape was TAX
ing her after-dinner nap, but given an hour
every afternoon for few weeks and two
women can become very well acquainted.
And soon-Ursula telling It In chapters, as
it were-the little widow knew the whole
history of her landlady and her landlady's
daughter. OF which history it is only
necessary that I should repeat that portion
relating to Ursula's only brothers wife and
chlld. And will repeat it In Ursula's own
words.
"My mother fairly idolized my brother"
she said, sand hoped and prayed that he
would never marry. But, shortly after my
fathers death, when he was but twenty
three years old, he did. And in two years
his wife deserted him and her baby
boy. He lived only q year after she left
him. Then my mother gave all her love to
his child. who looked a. much like an angel
as your " alter does. Well, when the boy
was five years Of age his wicked mother
The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1888-12-21

did it all up IN brown paper,
And laid it Just there by her plate;
She put on her glasses so slowly,
Thought that never could wait,
But when she had opened the bundle,
My patience" she said, show completed
A dear little box for my knitting
Now isn't old Santa Claus sweet?
ITO think that the funny old fellow
Should notice that needed just this,
If he should come in here this morning.
I think should give him kiss"
She never once looked at me, never.
OF course, I had nothing to say,
But was 80 mortified, truly,
just had to run right away.
Poor Grandma! do hate to tell her!
But some day, of course, she III find out,
And then she will laugh toremember
What once she was puzzled about
But as for that beautiful work-boI
She laid with such care on the shelf,
How c7n she think Santa Claus brought II.
made the thing for her myself
-Hargaret Johnson.
The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1888-12-21

L =
came down the chimney. And papa, do
you know" getting wider and wider wake
as she spoke, she has q thing over his eyes
to keep the SCOT out. And he don't look
bit like the pictures-oh, there it is on the
hoor.'
Mr.. Porter picked up the burglars mask
and muttered something very strong be-
tween his teeth. The next moment he was
applying such means as he could think Of
to calm q woman in Mysteries.
.
Amonth after this one Of Mr. Porter's
clerks said that a rather unpromising- look
ing individual insisted on seeing him per-
sonally and would tell his business to no
one else.
When the man came in he was haggard
and in every way disreputable, but with
weak face ather than a bad one.
swell, my man, what do you want with
metz
81 want work"
"You needn't have insisted on seeing
me for that purpose. I'm a busy man. My
foreman will tell you if we want any extra
help"
81 have been trying for q month to get
something to do, but can't get q job. I
wouldn't have come to you if could have
got it any where else"
"Still don't see why you come to me-"
"BecauseI have only one recommends
ton and that is no good to any one else.''
"Who is it 'FRONT.'
ut is from your daughter"
"Nonsense. have only one daughter
and she is but child"
"Yet you love her all the more for that,
don't YOUR
"Why, of course, what's the use Of talk
ing like that! There's something wrong
about you, my man. You're crazy
The man approached Porter's desk and
laid his hand on it.
ayes, there's something wrong and
want to put it right Mr.. Porter, want
honest work orr tcdnt you to give back to
me pour d1u2hter's Christmas present"
Porter sprang to his feet with cry and
for moment the two men glared at each
ether.
81 will get honest work for you," said
Mr.. Porter.-Ltdte Sharp.
The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1888-12-21

"THE DOOR SOFTLY OPENED, AND THROUGH IT
THERE CANE SHY LITTLE LASS WITH HER
DOLL"
And the gifts that were brought! Oh! I
couldn't name half.
But the sight of them all might have made an
owl laugh,
Ora mule kick his heels up in glee.
There were dishes and dolls, marbles, tops and
Noah's arks, cotton rabbits, cakes. candies and
buns,
More than you or ever shall see.
There were skates and bicycles OF each style
and size,
And every treasure girls heart could prize,
Twas the joiliest possible sight.
But alasl Every one had been left with q
sigh,
With sob in the breast and a tear in the eye.
Not smile was seen that Christmas night
As Santa Claus gazed on the presents and
thought
OF the pangs he had caused and the grief he
had wrought,
There entered in anger and woe,
Dame Nature, with scorn on her darkening
brow,
Who, with voice like the thunder, asked Santa
Claus how
He dared to conduct himself so.
"Don't you know, sir" she cried, "the fow.
ers of spring
Are born of the smiles that Christmas may
bring
The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1888-12-21

stairs, till the lowest hall was reached. And
here, pausiug at an open door, he looked in
at q grim old woman sitting in big, old
fashioned rocking chair, with her knitting
in her hand. And there stood the child,
tightly grasping the little red stocking, one
tiny foot bare, his blue eyes wide open and
bright smile on his rosy lips, when this
grim old woman Glanced to glance that way.
"Who are You, and what do you wanta"
che asked in so gruf o voice that nine hun
dred and ninety-nine children out OF thou
sand would have been 80 affrighted by 1t
that they would have turned and ran or
stood aud screamed. But Walter was the
thousandth. He did neither. Into the room
he walked, the smile still on his rosy lips,
and in his bird like tones replied:
"Why, grandmamma, Pm little Walter
and I'm looking for chimney to hang up
my 'tocking. SANITY Claus comes tonight
and there's nof1n' but stove hole in my
room and I'm sure he toodn't git froo that. !"
Temperance Shape dropped her knitting
In her lap. "rm not your grandmamma,"
she said, shade less grufdy than she had
spoken before.
"But won't you bet" asked the child,
coming up close to her and looking up
earnestly into her face. "Won't you bel
My other one has gone to Heaven, and my
papa's gone there too. You look just
like very nice grand"
But, before he could finish the sentence,
Temperance Shape caught him to her bosom,
the ice around her heart melted and ran
dissolved in warm tears from her eyes.
Her daughter, coming in q few moments
after, stood for an instant as though turned
to stone, and then few to stop the little
widow in her search for her boy, and tell
the wonderful wonderful news.
Walters 'tocking' hung by the kitchen
chimney that Christmas Eve, but, bless
you it couldn't hold half, no, nor quarter,
the sweets Santa Claus brought him. And
as for the kitchen table, that was nearly
covered by the presents bought for the
golden-haired darling by Aunt Ursula,
Grandmamma Shape and Dan Lewis. Yes,
Dan Lewis, for the old lady had actually
allowed him to call and leave his presents
for the widow and her boy with her.
Ursula had met him at the toy-shop
whittier her mother had sent her and had
told him also the wonderful. wonderful
news. "And now, Mr.. Lewis" she went
on, hesitatingly, "now that my
, vvnn<hov L. nnro mora lilo fho u1ofhop
The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1888-12-21

Twas q month before Christmas; for some
woful cause
The affairs of our mutual friend, Santa Claus,
Were In q confusion most dire.
His toys were behindhand two weeks; seems
to me
his workmen had been on strike or spree,
And there were none others to hire.
The "Jacks" wouldn't jump nor the toy
watches tick;
Tho sheep bleated badly; two reindeer fell
sick
Ina way that occasioned much fear
30 Santas old visage grew sad and perplexed,
And he spoke out as follows-you'll see he was
vexed,
And with plenty of reason it's clear:
"what's the use, anyhow
Here I've labored. 1 vow,
Eighteen centuries past to give presents to all.
And each year in that time
Been to every CLINE
From America clear to the great Chinese wall.
"How I've skipped DER mountain ridges,
Crossed the streams on slim frost bridges,
Dared all dangers and privations,
Often gone without my rations,
Chimneys choked with SCOT descended,
Cheered the sad, the poor befriendedi
"Yet in all that long. long time. though twill
hardly be believed,
Not one solitary present have ever yet re-
ceived,
And I've half mind this Christmas Just to
send proclamation
Unto all the boys and girls OF every cline and
every nation
That it's their turn to give presents and it's my
turn to receive,
And I'll be at home from seven until ten next
Christmaa eve"
Thus speaking he curled himself up in heap
And was soon snoring loud in a long and deep
eleep.
Christmas eve was at hand. Santa Claus sat
In his frost palace, far in the north. to wait
What the boys and girls chose to bring.
And bis face, though he tried just his best to
look jolly,
Was for once, l am bound to declare, melan-
Not a tune could he whistle or sing.
The door softly opened, and through it there
came,
With quivering lips and cheeks all afiame,
A shy little lass with her doll.
No word could she speak for the sobs that
would rise,
But she placed at his feet without lifting her
eyes,
Her darling, her treasure, her all.
Then boy with his sled entered in, winkine
fast
To keep back the tears, which he conquered ut
last
And he spoke out: "The coasting was
splendid,
But-but"-there he faltercd and fed through
the door,
And a mother came in, poor and ragged, who
bore
In her hand fair flower, sweet-scented.
She sobbed: "This is Bessie's; she's dying,
you know,
She felt that she ought to give something, al
though
This flower was all she could send
Then faster and faster the door swung, until
The floor was heaped high with presents and
still
The procession appeared without end.
The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1888-12-21
ELSIE'S SANTA CLAUS.
His Recommend in Applying fol
Honest Work.

IL BURGLAR ran
the bright disc of
his dark lantern
along the mantel
shelf o n d then
pls ced together
some ofthe trinkets
he found there.
81 know you,"
cried out q mellow
childish voice from
the corner of the
room.
The masked man
was so startled that,
The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1888-12-21
GRANDMA'S MISTAKE.

DOR GRANDMA I
do hate to tell
her!
And yetit does seem
very queer.
She's lived so very
much longe z
than / have,
A n d I-why, I've
known tia year!
Even Alice begins
to look doubt
full,
And she is so baby.
ish, too,
And mamma slyly
la n g his at the
nonsense,
ut grandma be.
heveS 1t Is true.
The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1888-12-21


ef Jack and me;
We're 30 little, and you know
You've so many ways to 30,
You might miss such teenty-weenty tots Is Wa
Jack, he wants . Noah's arb,
And real dog with bark:
And, If you please, he would 20 like drum,
A toboggan and some skates,
And some oranges and dates,
And just little bit of chewing-gum.
Then he needs an overcoat,
And, o, he'd like boat,
Some candy and q pair of rubber boots,
And he'd be so very good,
"Dear Santa" If you would
Bring rabbit and little gun that shootsi
As for me, please, Santa, dear,
Tho perhaps you'll think IL queer,
There's but one thing that I'm really dying for.
o, Santa, can't you guess2
A dolly-thats it-yes,
'Twould make me the happiest girl that e'er
you saw.
She must have a pretty face,
And dress that's trimmed with lace,
And a string to pull and make her say ina
ma"
And on the other side
Il know, for have tried,
Another string to make her say "pa-paT
Please get me one that cries,
Opens and shuts her eyes;
And do try and find dolly that can walkl
You wind 'em up, you know,
And then round about they go.
| For, of course, doll can walk IL she can talk.
And then dolly'll want q bed
And q mattress and spread
And q table and some chairs and dishes, too:
For, without them, don't you see,
Poor, dear Dolly, she might be
Hall -starved and sleepy, and I'd not know what
to dor
Dear Santa, that IL all
And don't forget to CALI
Both our stockings you'll find hanging where
the clocks
Ticking the hours away
That will bring us Christmas day
And my dolly to your grateful GoldilockA
The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1888-12-21

Ta1s is the Christmas time and the merry
holiday season, and all that, but still we
claim that it is out of place for an under
taker to get into the swim and advertise
stalking novelties in holiday goods. "6'S-
6kH2
The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1888-12-21
A CHRISTMAS THAW.
How It Resulted from a Little
Boys Conf1ding Innocence.

J EVER there was a
woman with a frozen
heart, it was o d
Temperance Shape.
From whence came
the cold waves that
turned it to ice no
one,in the neighbor-
hood where she lived
ever knew.
She had arrived in
tn t neighborhood
when q woman Of
about sixty, with
three vans Of furni-
The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1888-12-21

, 40 ssa.A 90 ssvAAss soaeoSo snvo.,
4 hss detn,cs'Vn With T e gdsys'
The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1888-12-21

Bran and Shorts at II. kiaumsnn's
uBt rethiveu another carload.
The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1888-12-21

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The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1888-12-21

boys Englkh. :Thete Ii also
The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1888-12-21

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The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1888-12-21

He laughs at Il now; but it's not clear to me
He would like to have others laugh too, don't
you see?
So please not to mention my name.
Rock Island daily Argus., 1888-09-17

One of Rockford's best business men ia
expected in attendance upon the state
convention. Sept. 1928 Mr.. L. A.
Trowbridge, the gentleman referred to is
cashier of the Third National bank, of
Rockford, and has q large influence in
business circles. He is well known as q
Sunday school worker, is closely identi-
fed with the Y. NJ. C. A, of his city. and
IN fact has a name in all lines of relig-
ious work'in the northern part of the
state.
Many persons have inquired if the ses-
sions OF the Y. NJ. G. A. state conveu-
ton will be open to visitors-and this is
to announce that all sessions will be open
to visitors and everybody is cordially in
vited to be present as often as possible