davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-12-25

"To little Laura said little Tommy.
looking solemnly at the bartender.
"She's my sister, y'know. She thinks
Santa Claus is comm 10 our place sure,
tonight, with big sled down there II
Sharpe's door, that's a doller'n a half.
That money was to help buy it; cos, you
see, told Laura she'd be cert'n to gel
it. But" continued Tommy, slowly
and the room would have been perfectly
silent but for his voice, for all the Iner
were intensely interested, "I-dSn't--
ee-how-I'm to-get l., unless-un
less you can give me Job, Mr.! Soakcy
That's what l came in here fer; not tc
drink"
silence on the part of the; crowd, and
then came a cheer that echoed cleal
across the street. Whenit had subsidized
young Robins said:
"Well, done, kid: You didn't think
we meant to take. your money, though,
did YOU? Let's have a glass, Soakey, and
put sometAing.in IN it to start the collec
ton" ;,
The schooner went round, and wher
it was handed to Tommy it was freighted
with over 81 in shining quarters and
halves that jisgled merrily against the
glass. Tommy emptied the money out
upon the counter.
It-ain't-all-for me, is it2" he
gasped.
"Of course it is" said Robbins. "And
give the boy another hot lemonade,
Soakey, and let him CO."
Tommy tried to thank his benefactor,
but his voice failed, and his eyes were
filed with happy tears. So he made the
best of his way to the street.
Half an hour later he was outside the
town, with a big parcel under his arm,
and pulling the long, handsome sled be-
hind him.
1t was showing heavily, and the night
was pitch dark. Every little while he
slid off into the ditch, but his happy,
buoyant spirits brought him quickly to
the road again.
The snow was foot deep now, ano
the sled pulled heavily through it.
Suddenly there was rush and con-
fused roar behind him, mingled with the
loud jingling of sleight bells. Tommy
partly tumbled to one side, and not q
moment too soon. A pair of runaway
horses dashed by him, the driver giving
feeble yell as he sped by. In another
moment horses and driver had van.
ished in the blackness.
"That's Robins" said Tommy with g
nervous shiver as he drew his breath and
started after the runaway. He didn't
walk now, but found himself trotting as
we'll as he could through the heavy snow
and finally he broke into wild, plowing
run.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-12-25

Suddenly he stumbled against some,
thing that lay on the edge of the road,
just at point where the bush ended,
and where the fierce northwest wind had
swept the circling snow into drift three
feet high. The cutter had tilted and
spilled its driver here. But cutter and
horses had vanished.
Tommy knelt down and shook the mo-
tionless form; but he got only an inartic-
ulate grunt in reply.
"Drunk,' said Tommy. Then he
stood up and listened attentively, hoping
to hear the sleigh-bells of some home re-
turning reveler. But only the "swish'
of the wind as it dashed the snow in his
face answered his unspoken and anxious
inquiry.
'One, two. three, heave!" said Tom
my, as he dragged the heavy form of the
man upon little Laura's Christmas pres
ent. One more big effort, and he had
him on.
If it was hard pulling before, what was
it now? Poor Tommy made very slow
progress, stopping every short while to
gather breath and strength, while the
snow came down heavier, and the wind
blew wilder than ever. His fathers cot
tage was the nearest place, and that was
mile away. Still he trudged on, often
coming to his knees; but as often he rose,
borne up, like Horatius, "by the brave
heart within
Suddenly Tommy made an appalling
discovery that chilled him a hundred
times more than the bitter wind. He
was off the road.
He dared not leave his burden to try
and find the track; but he turned, as lie
thought, directly back with his load,
hoping to come upon the road again.
Poor boy. He did not know that the
road, as he turned, was just behind him,
and that lc was lcavlngit at every heavy,
tired step he took.
He was nearly done out now. His ILL
clad feet and bare hands were bitingly
cold, and the snow had worked under
his trousers up to his knees. Almost
every second moment he stumbled, and
once his burden slid off the sled and he
had terrible work getting the unconscious
man on again.
He became very sleepy, too. He tried
hard to keep up, but flesh and blood
were beaten, and he sank down COM
pletely exhausted. He lay beside Rob-
ms, his parcel of little purchases clasped
under one arm and his head resting upon
his sleeve.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-12-25
The Origin of Christmas.

Long before the Christian era, the 25th
of December was religiously observed by
the 'Sun Worshipers." On that day is
about the first perceptible return of the
sun to the northern hemisphere. His re-
turn would drive away the frosts and
SHOWS, warm up the frozen earth and
clothe the earth in beauty and luxury.
The people looked upon the sun as a
god, an intelligence, withdrawing to the
south just long enough to let the people
sec what their home, the world, would
be without his presence. His return on
the 25th of December they hailed with
delight. They rejoiced. They sent
presents to their friends. They held
their religious fcasts, with music, mirth
and dancing. Sometimes to great excess
these feasts were carried. When Christ
came and His doctrine was preached
among the "Sun Worshipers," many
were converted to Christianity. To
break off their old habits was very diff
cult. When the 25th of December came,
it brought the "Sun Feast" There
was the enticement to 60 and minglc.
The Christian leaders were not slow to
see what the influence would be, so they
gave the day Christian significance.
They met in their meeting houses. They
gave presents to each other. They
talked of Christ, the spiritual sun, who
had come to give light to and warm the
spiritual world. He was the "light of
the world" "The people which sat in
darkness saw great light" and eight
had sprung up" "The light shineth in
daykness, but the darkness comprehen-
deth it not" "The worlds were made
by Him." Therefore the sun was made
by Him. The Sun Worshipers "wor-
shipped the creature more than the
Creator" but the Christians worshiped
the "Creator, who is BILE sed forever
more" The superiority of this over
that was soon made visible, and the
masses were released from idolatry. 1t
mattered not whether the 25th of De-
cember was the birthday of Christ or not,
the effect was the same.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-12-25

With dropping wings and generally
detected air, = turkey was pacing the
barn-yard, when fox, who had slyly
crept up, put his head over the fence and
asked in sympathizing tone:
"What is the matter, my poor friend?
Is there any way can help you?"
81 fear not" replied the turkey;
"only little while ago saw the farmer
cycling me critically as he sharpened his
knife, and I think my hour has come. !"
"Why not hy?" said the fox; con this
SIDE lies liberty"
II am too old bird to be caught
thus" replied the turkey; "better to be
stuffed with oysters and richly garnished
than barbarously manglcd by YOU"
just then the farmer appeared.
"Wonder where the geese have all
gone" he said; "the old woman has de-
cided that she doesn't want any turkey
for dinner, after ALL"
"'Tis better to endure the ills we have
Than fly to others that we know not Of"
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-12-25
BE CHEERFUL.

"You find yourself refreshed by the pres
ence Of cheerful people; why not make
earnest efforts to confer that pleasure on
others2 You will find half the battle is
gained if you never allow yourself to say
anything gloomy" We were recently inn
pressed BY the above wholesome remark at
most opportune season. A Christian was
bemoaning the sad condition Of affairs-i
Nothing was right in the church or out Of It,
The crops were failing; the financial outlook;
of the country was most unpropitious; the.
weather was most unfavorable TO health; and
as he spoke his very face reflected contin-.
ual prophecy of ill and mental disturbance.
The worst feature of all was that at the very
moment that he INDUCED these feelings he
stood be ore an unbelieving world as the;
representative of a religion that seeks to fill
the soul with 'joy unspeaka BILE and full Of
glory" He not only rendered himself
miserable by fruit'ess repinings, but he
caused others to stumble through his gloomy
forebodings, instead of ministering to their
highest good. In whatever light we view
such conduct, we must see how utterly at
variance it is with the Christian state
Sons of God! Heirs to al eternal mansionl
Let us cultivate cheerfulness Verify, it Isl
the way to show our kinship with the saints
in light.-CAristian Adrocatc.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-12-25
THE BETTER WAY.

When great need is brought before God
in prayer He may answer that PRAYER BY
supplying the need or removing it: just as
We may balance q pair of scales with q
heavier weight in one scale than the other,
by adding sufficient to the light scale to
counterpoise the weight or by so reducing
the weight as to leave only the Gonnter3otse @
burden which he felt that he had not
strength to bear, and asked that the burden
might be removed. God answered the prayer,
SO far as the inadequacy Of his strength to,
bear the burden was concerned, not by tax
ing it away, but by giving him the power
and the grace to bear 1t joyfully. Thus, that;
which had been the cause OF sorrow and!
regret, now became the occasion Of rejoicing
and triumph.
And was not this really better answer to.
Paul's prayer than the mere removing Of;
his thorn would have been? The latter
course would have left him open to the
same trouble when the next distress came;
but Gods method at once and forever de-
livered him from all the oppression Of the
present and of all future similar trials.
Hence he triumphantly exclaims: Most
gladly, therefore, will rather glory or re-
ioice in my weakness, that the strength Of
Christ may overshadow and cover meas
the covering of tent or tabernacle en-
braces and protects all it contains"
All! who would not wish to share in the
Apostles thorn in the flesh, if thereby he
might be brought in reality into the expert
encc of his deliverance from the opp ession
of all weakness all injury, all necessity, all
persecution. all distress; and might hence
forward know that the very hour and time
of weakness was the hour and time of truest
strength?
But Paul had not only this joy: he had
also one further source Of still greater pleas
ure. Not only did he find strength in weak
ness. and joy in distresses, but for ChriSts
sake he could take pleasure in them;
because Christ was exalted and magniied,
and received glory through the weakness
and suffering of His secvant.-heu. j. Hud-
,oR TdVlor.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-12-25
| who seemed to enjoy the scene i'm

who seemed to enjoy the scene i'm
mcnsely.
"Just 'nuf, Tom" said Bob Brass, the
grocer's boy. "There's ten of us. Set
'em up, Soakey, an give the kid a hot
lcmingnade."
The "kid" let the steaming "ieming-
made" stand before him, and as all the
men raised their glasses to their lips and
exclaimed with laugh. "Hcre's to yer,
Tommy" he said quietly:
"No, not to me. To little Laura"
The men set down their glasses.
"To-to who?" demanded Mr.. Soakey,
with knowing wink at the crowd.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-12-25

AMONG Senator Edmunds' many wit
tv speeches and crushing repartees
hardly one can have been wittier or
more crushing than his answer to some
speech of Senator from Texas. The
Texas Senator had just sat down hot,
exhausted and convinced. Senator
Edmunds got up and in his driest man
ner sent this rustling across the aisle:
"Now, if my friend from Texas has any
good reasons for his proposition, I wish
he would kindly state them, instead of
giving us the poor reasons and keeping
the good ones to himself"
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-12-25
REST IN, THE LORD AND WAIT.

The Lord would have us know that we
are weak and that he alone is strong. It
may cost US many struggles before we
comprehend this fact. Ambition scars and
strives, and falls; humanity plans and
struggles and fails; but when man comes at
last into the presence of his Maker, and
casts himself unreservedly upon Him, he
then lays hold upon eternal strength. e
pride to eo hube ous Lsf to
bring to nought our fondest plans and most
cherished purposes, and then, upon the
wreck and ruin of ali our hopes he can lay
broader foundations, and build for us better.
than all our plans, and show US that He is
a tender Father, and a gracious God, su-
preme in power, boundless in wisdom and
in loye.-The Christian.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-12-25
Was that shout? But he was too
tired and sleepy to raise his head.
How snug he felt And how sleepy!

4 4
Surely that was shout. very faint,
but repeated, sounding louder and
nearer. One voice, two, three-a dozen
of them. He need have no care now +!
Wouldn't little Laura laugh and clap her
tiny hands when she saw him; and the
sled.
But what had come over the sled2 1t
seemed to have wings and to be travel
ing through the air like the famous
wooden horse in the fairy tale, above the
snow, and he upon it. Yet all the time
the voices continued beside him, that
sounded to his dreamy brain like the
hum of bees.
Suddenly the air grew wonderfully
bright and warm, and Tommy opened
his eyes to find himself-at home!
When Tommy's father and party of
men, with lanterns that looked like, so
many winter frefics glimmering here and
there over the vast field Of white, came
to where Tommy lay they PLACED the lad
upon the sled. and, covering him with a
warm coon coat, shouldered Tommy,
sled and coon coat, and carried the boy
home that way. >,
Robins was saved, too, though his life
was despaired of,,for short time; and in
respect for the jbrave little lad who en-
dured so mueh to save drunkard's life,
he swore never to touch liquor again, an
oath: he has not since broken.
That was ten years ago; little Laura
was six years old then. And if you know
YOUR addition and add six and ten to-
gether you will get what is considered a
very delightful age when pretty girl is
concerned.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-12-25

The King of Siam is about to send
five Siamese boys to the United States
to be educated at his expense. The
boys ore to be placed in charge of an
American missionary and will probably
be sent to school in Pennsylvania. 1t
is the Kings custom to educate the
sons of the noblemen and the princes
of his domain in various countries, and
when they return to Siam appoint them
to high Government positions.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-12-25
THE CHRISTMAS BELLS.

Hark-hear the bells,
Whose music tells
OF Christmas joy, as sinks and swells
Each sound that sings
Of happy things,
This birthday of the King of Kings.
Lo, on this day,
The glad bells say,
In Bethlehem, far, far away.
And long ago,
In manger low,
Was born the Christ Who loved thee so.
A radiant star
Shone bright and far
Above the plains where shepherds were,
And led the way,
That Christmas Day,
To where the young Jesus lay.
o glorious morn
When Christ was born
Among the garnered wheat and corn;
o happy place
Where His dear face
First shed the sunshine of its grace.
Above the plain
A heavenly strain
Of music rang; and its refrain
Is ringing still
Ger height and hill
'Be Peace on Earth, to Men Goodwill"
Rejoice to-day,
The glad bells say:
Put all the cares that ve1 away;
Let Christmas cheer
Find welcome here
And bless this best day of the year.
To Christ thy King,
AS tribute bring
Thy heart, and let the offspring
With love be sweet,
As at His feet
Thy lips its grateful VOWS repeat.
Rejoice and sing,
The glad bells ring,
In honor of the worlds dear King;
Let love increase;
May discord cease.
All hail, all hail, thou Prince of Peace!
-Eben E. Renford, in Youths Companion
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-12-25
Calvary had in it the health Of immortal

God.
Tell it how to all the earth and to all the
heavens--Jesus, our King, is sick with His
last sickness. Let couriers carry the swift
dispatch. His pains are worse; He is breath
ing q last groan; through His body quivers
the last anguish; the King is dying; the King
js dead It is royal blood. 1t is said that some
/relgionists make too much Of the humanity
Of Christ. 1 respond that we make too lit
tie. If some Roman surgeon, standing un-
der the cross had caught one drop Of the
blood on his hand and analyzed it, it
would have been found to have the
same plasma. the same disk, the same fbrin,
the same albumen. 1t was unmistakably
human blood. It is man that hangs there
His bones are of the same material as ours
His nerves are sensitive like ours. If it were
an angel being despoiled would not feel it
so much, for it belongs to different order
Of beings. But my Saviour is man,
and my whole sympathy Is aroused.
l can imagine how the spikes felt-how
hot the temples burned--what deathly
sickness seized His heart-how mount
ain, and city, and mob swan away from His
dying vision-something of the meaning OF
that cry for help that makes the blood Of all
the ages curdle with horror: MY God! my
God why hast Thou forssken mef"
Forever with all these scenes of Savtour's
suffering will this city be associated. Here
His unjust trial and here His death. Oh, DE-
rusalem, Jerusalem!
But finally am thrilled with the fact that
this city is a symbol of heaven which Is only
another Jerusalem. ''The New Jerusalem"
And this thought has kindled the magma
ton of all the sacred poets. am glad that
mayed among old manuscripts Of the British
museum until he found that hymn in ancient
spelling, parts of which we have in mutilated
form in our modern hymn books, but the
quaint power of which we do not get in our
modern versions:
Hierusaem. my happie home.
When shall come to thee7
When shall my sOrrowes have an end,
Thy joyes when shall see?
Noe dampish mist is scene in thee
Noe colde nor darksome night
There everie souie shines as the sunne,
There God Himseife gives light.
Thy walls are made of precious stones,
Thy buwurkes diamondes square;
Thy gates are Of right orient pcarle.
EIccedin. richie and rare.
Thy turrettes aud thy pinnacles
With carouncles doe shine;
Thy verrie streets are paved with gould,
Surprising clear and fine,
Thy houses are of yvorie,
Thy windows crystal ceare:
Thy tyes are made OF beaten gould,
o God! that were there.
Our sweetc is MKT with bitter gaule.
Our pleasure Is but paine;
Our ioyes scarce last the lookeing on.
Our sorrows stie RENAME.
Bnt there they live in such delight
Such pleasure and such play,
As that to them a thousand yeares
Doth seme as yesterday.
Thy gardens and thy gallant wakes
Continually a.e greene;
There grow such sweete and pleasant flowers
As no where else are scene.
Thsrc trees forevermore bear fruite
And evermore doe syringe;
There evermore the angels sit,
And evermore doe singe.
Hierusalem! my happie home!
Would God were in thee!
Would Goa my woes were at an end.
Thy ioyes that might see!
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-12-25
RELIGIOUS READING.
THE WORD WAS GOD.

nohO NAo tOUs 4.
With God He was, was very God,
Before the skies were arched abroad;
Before the stars were set on high,
To syllable His majesty; ~
Ere earth had her foundations laid,
Or out Of dust was mortal made;
With God He was. was very God,
He who for US the winepress trod.
The world His coming waited long,
The theme Of prophecy and song;
Yearned up to God, through blood and fire,
Unsatisfied her one desire;
And all creation groaned afrosh,
To see God NANTES; in flesh:
To see esrsh's tribes, scattered abroad,
Gathered In One, the sons of God.
When TIE was rpe of woman born.
Men turneu upon Him in Their scorn;
A Man of sorrows and OF grief, .zE
In vain He sought on earth relief;
Homeless by day, at night no bed, a
Nor pillow for His weary head;
For Him no respite could there be,
Till finished was His ministry.
He walked beneath the circling sun,
Spaka but the word, and it was done;
Rebuked the waters in their might,
Gave to the blind their longed for sight;
He spake, the deaf were quick to hear,
The riaed tomb confessed Him near,
So gracious he to guide and teach, 4
The common people loved His speech.
The shiv'ring rocks were rent in twain,
And earth herself felt throes of pain;
The sun for shame, in his high place,
Hid from the sight his very face;
The startled tomb bs gave ZIP their dead,
When this Man bowed His thorn-crowned
head. - .' ~
Who tasted death for you and me,
Alone that day on Calvary.
-Rev. J. E. Rankin, LII. d., In NY o. ;
server. a. r.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-12-25

GENERAL GRANT was no admirer of
statues of public men as he had seen
them in the United States. He once
said that when he thought CT death,
among the dread pictures coniured up
was that o. himself in bronze, mounted
upon one of those sorry steeds, of which
there ale too many in the Washington
parks.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-12-25
His Christmas Tree.

"What did you have on your Chistmas
tree, Softly?" inquired NILSSON.
"Myself. I had to climb tree to got
out of the reach of my creditors"
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-12-25

IT 10 dangerous to let man die in
hotel In Paris. A queer French law
enables the landlord to present his bill
to the relatives for the death. Seven
hundred francs was the item recently
demanded from an American family for
the decease of one of its members in a
well-known hotel. This extortion
would have been three times as great
If the person had died of contagious
disease, and doubled if the deceased
was a prince or member Of any rich
old aristocratic family. The allow
ances by the judges, however, are gen
orally much less than the claims of the
landlords.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-12-25
concerned.

Anyway, that's what young Robins
thinks, who is going to marry Laura-no
longer "little," but tall, beautiful, mod
est young lady-this Christmas Eve
Detroit Free Press.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-12-25
A Christmas Thought.

The turkey is handsome fowl
As proudly bout he struts,
But he's much handsomer when stuffed
With dressing and chestnuts.