davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-09-14

Purcca~~ ye4r tscaess sDd reserve yo1s
sf<zspsng eAs A<<emnodax1oos - No -
nsc1u1 etross. nese1a steek-
Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1889-12-21

her choice in the matter were of trivial
Importance. A slight shadow Of dis
appointment stole across her brow, but
was instantly dissolved when their
eyes met, and as they gazed lovingly
upon each other she waited him an
imaginary kiss by a system of free
masonry sacred only to themselves.
Then they parted. She tripped into
the grocery store, where the village
postmaster held forth. A travel-stained
letter was handed her by an admiring
pumpkin, whose features danced with
marionette vivacity, and, who with
gaucherie gallantry, endeavored to
whisper some words of sly import, but
the ~impervious maiden merely an
swered him in monosyllables, being abb
stractcdly occupied in the contempla-
ton Of the letter. When she had
fathomed the author of the almost OBJ
liberated superscription, she turned sud-
denly to the enraptured rustic, and,
bidding him a consuming 'thank YOU"
fed precipitately from the store.
Marcy hurried homo with the letter,
supposed to contain glad tidings. Her
face fairly glinted with the exertion Of
that mad rush, for the letter was from
her father.
''Oh, il Rupert only knew the truth
but no-pshaw! I am SO childish.
Could his proud heart Withstand such
a shockP" She was thus thinking
aloud a she swung open the jutting
gate.
Her mother stood Mt the door with q
wistful expectant smile upon her vener-
able countenance, and as she perceived
the letter which her daughter had dis
played in approaching her heart leaped
within her. thrilling every fiber with
gladness-
Its from fatherl" cried Marcy,
thrusting the envelope with palpitating
hands into those Of her parent. The
latter nervously opened it 1t read
thus:
MI DAZZLING wnE: Am I mad or Il II only
q dreami ! can hardly pen you these lines. 20
rapidly docs my heart trey-ssa with JOY. The
warden has Just told me hat I en- 70 b par
doned. ! am delirious nth bliss, . The moro
70 iecause I viii b ~ home on Chrlstmae day.
The long drsAry nigat has passed, ard day
stsals happily on. Ican not write. LAM Ovsr
Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1889-12-21
How She May De Recognized.

We have. in our time. adverted, re-
verted. and auimadverted TO the fact
that when a young lady puts on her
fall ulster AID her Derby hat one can
not tell whether TO offer a caramel TO
her or to beg a hunk of tobacco from
him. The girls and the boys have a
way of getting themselves up so much
alike that we have until now been I'M
able to tell t'other FIN which. How
profoundly we, at the present writing,
rejoice may be imagined when we say
we have at last solved this vexing
problem, mastered this perplexity
And it is simple. too, when you 20 at
it Alright. All you have to do is to
watch thes person pass a plate-glass
show window. II it is a man he will
sidle along sort o sheepishly and look
20 see if anybody is watching him; then
if the coast is clear he will take a quick
sly peep at himself in the rejecting
window and, lest possibly somebody
may be watching him, he will look up
and down the froRt of the building as
if all he wanted to know were whose
store this might be. II it is n woman
she will look squarely into the window.
stop, look at herself leisurely, calmly,
turn clear around to see that every
thing is all right, give this a hitch and
that a yank, press it all down smooth
", and sail on, conscious that she has
not shown any of that petty little van
ity that the man displays when he
wants to look into a mirror and dares
not have it known that he wants TO.
A man doesn't object to being alone
with a mirror. but when it come Co
standing before one right out in pub
lie and confessing that it is a pleasure
to look at ones self it takes a woman
for that. And this is how you can tell
them apart. - Washington Post.
Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1889-12-21

ne walked croucalngiy to the other
side of the room. He mechanically
picked up his seal cap and approached
the front door noiselessly. never for n
moment taking his eyes from the soul
racked girl. A look from her might
have changed his purpose, but fate had
decreed differently. He passed put with
soundless tread, and closing the door
after him with guilty softness disap-
peared in the darkness.
When be had gone, Marcy arose. 8
prey to the widest ~fancies. She was
bcwildered, dumfounded, heart-broken.
She moved with uncertain step, aud
reeled like an inebriate, at last sinking
upon the chair he had just vacated.
For some time she allowed her wander.
ing thoughts to absorb her, ever and
anon brushing her tear-soaked hair
with a trembling hand. 1t was all SO
dreamlike and misty. She closed her
to open them after a spell and eudeavor
to reconcile herself into the belief that
it was all a distempered nightmare.
But his heartless, biting words rang
too harshly in her sensitive ears.
As she leaned back in the ample
rocker her eyes came on a level with
the fatal letter. She pressed forward
eagerly, even rs a haif-formed truth
darted into her brain, and 4 conviction,
the purport of which almost stifled her,
found a secure Judgment. Intuitiyely
she had guessed the reason of his uu-
eXampled conduct-he had read her
fathers letter. Quick as a flash she
was on her feet. She graspcd the en-
velope with impulsive fervor, and kiss
ing it again and again. wept and
moaned over it with gushing tender.
ness. When the torrent of her grief
had spent itself, she bolstered her cour.
age with a naughty toss Of her tumbied
locks, puckered her pretty lips deiiant-
ly, and softly stole to her room.
Christmas morning, as the sun, just
peeping over the hill tops, lighted up
the earth's white ~countenance into a
million little facets OF dazzling Splendor,
a solitary figure wended its way slowly
down the wheeltracked road, CHANGING
to the right and to the left with thai
uDfamiliarity peculiar to a stranger.
1t was John Kissel, the pardoned
convict. He had never been in Mil.
creek valley before, his wife and
daughter having moved from the scene
of his crime not long after his convic.
ton. Forgery was the bette noir that
had landed him in a felon's cell, but he
had long repented his folly, and had
left the prison with the avowed inten.
ton Of leading an honorable life. Con.
finement had wrought terrible havoc
with his once rugged frame, and as be
moved along that strange road he pres
ented a yeritable shadow of his former
self.
A milkman who had passed on his
way to the city gave him ample instruc.
tons to lind his wife's cottage, and
with slightly quickened pace he soon
stood before it. He followed up .
freshly imprinted trace of tiny foot
steps, and, with trembling hands,
knocked gently on the door.
What pen could deliEeate the ineffa.
BILE burst of joyous greeting that fol-
Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1889-12-21

The reunion of wife and husband.
lowed the reunion of wife and husband
after so many years of enforced separ-
alton? A propitious shaft of sunburst
broke in upon the serenity of this hap
py scene; it lighted up the coy little
room in which these two souls sailed
forth again into a new world of happi-
ness and fell in rich radiance upon the
low, papered walls, Furnishing every
thing into a gay smile. 1t beamed upon
a tranquil, heaven-lifted countenance,
in whose soft eyes a tender prayer OF
blessing stole forth to the merciful Al
mighty. 1t shone alike with an i'm
partial glory upon a stern, manly face,
touched by the crayon of time, gazing
graciously upon q devoted wife, who
chnng-oh, so entirely contented-to
him she so fondly loved.
The sound of nearing footsteps struck
gently upon the sacredness of that bliss
full meeting. The door quickly opened.
an angel fitted across the narrow
room, a sweet, endearing voice cried
'.Father!" and in the next instant a
rough hand was smoothing away a gush
of rapturous tears.
Even while the hallowed kisses of the
father fell upon her upturned face her
thoughts wandered to her recreani
lover. He had cast her into the very
dregs of dependency; his cruel, un.
wonted action had chilled the generous
glow of her heart; he had blighted her
cherished hopes, torn the rose of life
from her bosom, and added care ans
sorrow to her lot; but she paused for a
moment in her fast-forming thoughts.
A tear of regret was finding its way
slowly into her eyes, but she banished
it as unholy, and as she looked into the
famished eyes that regarded her so
lovingly she tore the image OF Rupert
from her heart, and there stole into its
place that warmth of tilial love that
renders the soul adamant against the
most blighting blasts.
She was about to break forth into q
transport Of glee when her fondling
parent forestalled her.
Marcy. my darling, I'm afraid your
Christmas presents will be very few
this year,
'1Oh, father. / am the happiest girl
on earth. for no one has such = present
as l have today"
And what is that, Marcy" he ques-
toned with III feigned incredulity.
yourself. "-EdtOin n. MaLey.
Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1889-12-21

wheimcd, .ncieduious. ~bcnumbed. fell Marcy
that this Christmas at least shall not be n dull
one for her. May God protect you both until
You urc In my arms again. Your faithful hus-
band. JoHN KIssEL.
Their JOY was dumb. for they could
find no words to give u~tterance. so
sudden was the unexpected revelation.
1t was an inward riot OF bliss. a
smothered ecstasy Of incredibly. At
last it burst forth into a full jubilee of
felicity, and as they wept with JOY in
each others arms, they offered prayers
of gratitude to the infinite.
God has at last answered my
prayers" softly murmured the humble
parent, while the daughter. clingiug 20
her side. gazed into the flames, which
danced in unison with her Auttering
bosom.
That night rs Rupert opened the door
of the Kissel cottage he was somewhat
surprised at the unusual profuseness of
his sweetheart's greeting. She was all
smiles, all dimples, all engaging viva
city. II his heart had ever doubted
before. he had no need to doubt now.
Never bad he seen her look lovelier.
Lets remain at home Tonight"
she said, ~appealingly; II have SO many
things to say to you" And before he
could give an answer she had her white
arms about his neck and had kissed him
tenderly.
Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1889-12-21

People fetch some mighty clear ar
ticles aboard OF a ear BOW and then"
said the conductor OF a Wabash avenue
train last night on bis home trip.
They seem to think a street-car j. q
combined juBk-shop or frcight-house
on wheels or a general delivery wagon.
One evening at Sixteenth street Il fell
low rolled a barrel OF apples ont 70 the
track. The car was full OF passengers
aud the platform hadn't standing-room
for n wal6ing-stick, and yet ne wanted
to lick me because / wouldn't let him
put his barrel into the car.
But the queerest thing / ever saw
in the street-car business happened in
my ear yesterday afternoon. At State
and Madison streets a middle-aged
man with a long box under his arm got
on the ear. He took the rear platform
and stood the box on end mex to the
iron gate. He was a stupid-looking
foreigner, and l took him to be a car
penter moving his tool-box to another
Job. At Twenty-fifth street. as there
was no one else OF the platform. / got
what he had in the box.
"Oh. that's my son. he said, in an
easy sort of way.
WHAT | gasped, thinking the man
was joking.
Its my youngest % He died a
couple of days ago and / took him out
to the graveyard this morning. but the
man at the gate said | must have 4
pass for the boy, and I'm taking him
back home until / can get one.'
pose he had gone to the cemetery with
out a burial permit. and there he was
going home again. with corpse stand
ing on end aboard of a street-car. It's
the first time | ever acted as conductor
on a hearse and | was glad when he
got of at T~hirty-ninth street with his
box Chicago Mail.
Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1889-12-21

And each little bosom was heaving with signs.
For tonight their stern fathers command had
That they should retire precisely ut seven
Instead OF at eight; for they troubled him
more
with questions unhcard-of than ever before:
He had told them he thought this delusion a
No such being as santa Claus ever had
And Ic hoped after this he should nevermore
How he scrambled down chimneys with pres
ents each year.
so restlessly tossed on their soft, downy beds.
Eight, nine, aud the clock on the steeple tolled
Not . word had been spoken by either I'M
When 'willic's sad face from the blanket did
And Whispered, Dear Annie. is you fast
why, no, brother WILLIE" a sweet voice re-
I've tried it In vain. but ] can't shut my
For somehow itmakes mo so sorry because
Dear papa has said there Is no Santa Claus.
Now, we know that there is and IL can't be de-
For he cs me every year before dear mamma
died;
Blu then i've beer thinking that she used to
pray,
And God wur.d hear everything mamma would
say.
And perhaps she asked him to send Santa
Claus here,
With the sack full of presents he brought
every year"
well. why tan't We pray dest as mamma did
then.
And ask bod TO send him with presents adenY'
tive been q linking 50, too" And without IA
word more,
Four little bare feet bounded out on the floor.
And four little knees the soft carpet pressed.
And two tiny hands were ciasped close 10 each
breast.
snow, Willie, you know, we must firmly be-
That the presents we ask for we're sure to re-
ceiye.
You must wait just as stll, till 1 say the
Amen
And by that you win know that your turn has
come then"
"Dcar Jesus, look down on my brother and
me,
And grant US the favor we are asking OF Thee.
j want IA wax dollie. a tea set. and ring.
And an ebony work-box that shuts with o
Bless papa. dear Jesus, and cause him to see
That Santa Claus loves us far better than he;
Don't let him get frelful and angry again
AT dear brother Willie and ANNIE, Amen"
Please, Desus, ct Santa Taus tum down to-
night,
And bling us some pesants before II Is light
i want he should dive me n nice little sed
With brlght shinin unners and all painted ed:
A box fhll OF tandy. IA book and a toy,
Amen. and den Desus III be a dood boy.
Their prayers being ended, they raised up
their heads,
And with hearts light and cheerful again
sought their beds.
Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1889-12-21
E. CHRISTMAS GIFT.
Marcy KisseI Lost n Lover but Found n
Bleeding Heart That Needed Her
Attention.
The Convlct's Return, and How IL Affected
Those He Cared for Mo4-A Noble
Sacrifice.

st. Agnes weather. after many pre-
monitory symptoms, had at last set in,
and Mnlcreek valley lay silently wrap
ped in folds of sheeted snow. All night
long the busy white bees of winter had
fallen in little drifts, powdering the
desolate landscape with ermine splen-
dor. The tall eyergrc2ns in front OF
the Kissel cottage were Uttered with
puffs of the silent downpour, which
brought out in heightened relief the
lustrous tints of their heavy yerdure.
Hillocks of celery in adjoining fields
resemtaed white-crested surge in their
regular undulations. To the south, in
the misty uplands, the towering man
sions of Clifton printed their turrsts
vaguely in the uncertain light.
The morning broke cold and cheer
less. A faint CLEAN of leaden tight
struggling through a chink in the tar
nished curtain of Marcy'sroom fell upon
a tumbled mass of black hair and half
concealed tho slumbering countenance
beneath il. A small white hand lay
serenely imbedded in a downy pillow.
Could n have turned those unruly
curls to one side they would have be-
held a tranquil smile on Marcy's
regular features, for she was dreaming
of Rupert. Suddenly this Endymion-
like bliss was interrupted by a knock at
the door, and, even as her eyes opened,
his fervent dream-kisses CONCEALED on
her lips, and>she became painfully con-
scious of the chilly temperature Of her
room. The delicious spell of dream
land had been dissipated, and she felt
as if she had been precipitated from the
stars to the ditch.
Yes. mother, I'll be up in a mo-
ment."
When she kissed her mother good
morning her bright face fairly glowed
from the energy of the sudden toilet.
.'Oh, mother, what beautiful Christ
mas weather we shall have" she burst
forth, CHANGING at the newly carpeted
fields. In her enthusiasm she failed to
notice the effect Of her words on her
parent, but continued to contemplate
the formless scenery before her.
Mrs. Kissel sat gloomily gazing into
the generous glow of the fire. A
shafrw of remorse swept across her
furrowed Brow-a feeling OF sorrow
swelled at her heart. The gladstone
thoughts of Marcy only served TO
teighten her own forlorn lot. Christ
mas had no ~endearing charms for her;
the generous beam of affection and
homebred membranes which brought
Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1889-12-21

Nearly all the steel pens used in this
country are manufactured here. though
20 years ago nearly all were imported.
Now only the highest priced ones are
imported. We use about LOCO. 00o
gross every year, which is not so large
. number as might appear, consider
ing that it represents fewer than three
pens apiece for all the inhabitants. As
many people who use them wear out .
gross (144 pens) or more in a year, u
Is evident that there must be q great
many who never use q steel pen at all.
The pens are made Of imported steel.
which is preferred because OF its more
uniform quality. It is rolled into big
sheets and cut into strips. after which
It Is annealed, rolled to the thickness
required, then tempered and cut and
stamped into pens. Much skill is re-
uuired in all these operations and in
those of finishing the pens for use. The
manufacture and trade in steel pens
has seen very little change for a gcner-
tom Good Housekeeping.
Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1889-12-21
Women's Work.

The San Francisco Call suggests a
society for tightening the burdens OF
ome who have houses to keep in
order, and says:
Does the shoemaker try to tighten
the woman's work by sewing the but
tons on honestly or clipping" the foot
wear with honest leather? Does the
tailor who makes the pants with his
boosted be~nevolence of double knees
ever put them on the right place or
large enough? Does the carpenter ever
put the nails and hooks where a medi-
um-sized woman, let alone a child, can
reach them?
Is there ever but the fewest possible
shelves that a woman can reach with
out standing on a chair at the risk Of
breaking her back?
Ii is a very little thing to have no
waterback to IA stove-so q man thinks,
but u a wife-of-all-work it is-well,
there is no word strong enough to ex-
press the trouble it causes. A sink or
= level. with cold water. is not an easy
thing to keep clean. Why not make a
little decline? Also bring the zinc ever
the edges somewhat. The continual
settling of grease in the fine cracks on
interstices is very trying to a delicate
stomached woman.
The bureau-drawers that never open
or shut without a trial of temper, why
cannot they be made to run smoothly?
1t should be declared a punishable
offense to make a window that can NOT
be brought In TO clean.
Men Invented all these awkward ana
inconvenient things, and men made
them, and they are responsible for the
broken-down, haggard-looking women
we see on the streets. or rather in the
houses.
Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1889-12-21

30 thinking he gently extinsuished the light.
And tripped down the stairs 70 retire for the
night.
sun
Pat the darkness to fight and the stars one
by ono,
Four little blue eyes out OF sleep opened
wide.
And nj the anne moment tho presents CAPPED.
Then ont of their bed they sprang with "A
bound,
And the very gifts prayed for were all OF them
found.
And they laughed and they cried in their in
noccDt gice,
And shouted for papa to como quick and
see
what presents old Santa Claus brought in the
night,
Just the things that they wanted and left be.
fore light.
"And now, added Annie, ina voice sweet aad
low,
lyon q believe there's a Santa Claus. papa, ]
know"
While dear little Willie climbed up on his knee.
Determined no secret between them should
be.
And told In soft whispers how Annie had said
That their dear blessed mother, so long ago
dead,
Used to kneel down and pray by the side OF
her chair,
Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1889-12-21

They were soon lost In slumbor. both peaceful
and deep,
And with fairies in Dreamland were roaming
In sleep.
Eight. nine. and the little French clock had
Ere the father had thought Of his children
again:
He seems now to hear Annie's h-alf-supprcsscd
And TO see the big tears stand In willie's blue
eyes.
IT was harsh with my darlinss," he mentally
'And should not have sent them so early to
bed;
But then I was troubled, my feelings found
vent.
For ban stock to-day has com low ten per
cent.
but of course they've forgotten their troubles
ere this,
And that / denied them the thrice asked for
kiss; no
But then, to make sure, I'll steal up to their
door.
For ] never spoke harsh to my children DO
SO saying he softly ascendcd the stairs,
And arrived at the door to hear both OF their
prayers.
His Annie s .bless papa" draws forth the big
And wIllles crave promise falls swees on his
'straa.s; ssssass IA Forgotten" 'a'a he. with
.'How II cnsed when a child to have Christmas
draw nigh.
j will atone for my harshncss." he inwardly
my answering their prayers ere ! sleep in my
bed"
Then he turned to the stairs and softly went
Threw on velvet slippers and silk dressing
Donned hat. coat, and boots. and was out in
A millionaire facing the cold. driving slect;
stopped he until he had bought every
From the box fun of candy 10 the tiny gold
Indeed, he kept adding so much to his store
That tho various presents outnumbered q
Then homcward hc turned with his holiday
And with Aunt Mary's help in the nursery
Miss dolly vas seated beneath a pine tree
Nv the side of y table spread u for her tea,
A work-box well filled In the center was laid.
And ON 1t the ring for which Annie had pray
A solder in uniform stood by = sled,
with ~, bright shining runner and painted all
There were balls. dogs. and horses. books plsas-
And birds Of ali colors werc porched IN = tree.
while Santa Claus laughing stoca up IN The
A. Il getting ready more presents to drop;
And = the fond father the picture surveyed.
He Thought for his trouble he had amply been
And So said = himself q hs brushed on :
Il ana SsIplsr tonight than I've bean f0r ;
assesissr IN nshe n ) rule, / believe.
Eve"
Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1889-12-21

Does farming payf 0, yes; II you
60 At 1t right it helps to pay the inter-
est on the mortgage.-Puck
"Yep say that drinking is me Of
your husbands failingsr" "Failingsf
Q. no. IT is ~ Of his spesesses."-
Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1889-12-21

And that God up in Heaven had nswered her
prayer.
'"Then VIC dot up and prayed des as well as we
tould.
And bod answered our prayers, now wasn't
He dood."
81 should say that He was. II He sent you all
these"
well, well. let him think so. the dear little elf.
'Twould be cruel 10 tell him ] did IL MYSELF.
Blind father! who caused your stern heart TO
relcnt.
And TIE hasty words spoken so soon to repent7
Twas the Being who babe you steal softly up
stairs,
And made you His agent to answer their
prayers.