davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1889-12-26
The Christmas Carol.

Christmas carols are not by any means
of recent origin, for they were used by
devout Christians long g when every
country was ruled by barbarians and the
life of the people very primitive. AS
early as the second century they were
sung and have been in vogue ever since.
The early Christmas carols were deeply
religious. They showed pious feelings
and sentiments, but in a few years de
veloped into wild bacchanalian songs
which the clergy promptly forbade to be
used. The reaction which followed
caused the carols to be more religious
again, but all during the Dark Ages they
were decidedly frivolous in character.
In England under the Anglo-S Saxon
Kings, they were very merry songs, but
occasionally grew to be more than in
decent. The early Puritans abolished
the use Of Christmas carols altogether,
and never allowed anything but the
psalms 10 he sung. Since that time they
have been about the same in style rs At
present-some religious and others light
and gay.
The first regular collection Of Christ
mas carols known to have been made,
was m published in the year 1921. The
custom Of singing carols ON Christmas
Eve is an old one, and though not much
INDUCED in throughout this country, is a
time honorcd practice in England.
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1889-12-26

me mother pressed her boy to her
breast and blessed him, and for his sake
affected a cheerfulness she was far from
feeling. While they remained thus.
talking Of what all Bonnie vas going to
do when he was older, the doctor came
to see Sis, the little lame girl, as was his
custom.
"She is much better" he said. after
his examination, "and will be able to
walk again in a little while" Then he
hustled out and was gone, for he was
kept very busy visiting his patients.
Mrs. Benton and Bonnie rejoioed az
the doctors announcement, and they felt
that they had something 10 be thankful
for, If they were poor, for they had long
feared that Els would always be a
cripple.
"It's q great consolation 10 know that
little Sis will o % be we'll and strong
again, " the mother said.
cts better than any Christmas pres
ent, " Bonnie assented.
After Bonnie was in bed asleep. Mrs.
Benton sat till long 10 the night over ner
sewing, and, as she stitched Up the
tedious tiresome seams, tears rolled from
1er eyes down her cheeks.
Il was . bitterly cold night. and a deep
NOV lay on the ground and as the shriIl
north winds swept ruthlessly around the
house, rafting the loose doors and win.
dows, the poor woman remembered that
The wood pile was almost gone, and that
be larder was noa<ly empty, and her
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1889-12-26

Christmas is the great modcru,gi

Christmas is the great modern give;
away.
Now, girls, bring out the ffty-oent
nccktic for Charles, and prepare to re
ceivc a $50 locket.
The best Christmas gift is what every
man may give himself. And that lisa
good record.
"Books suitable for the holidays"
reads an advertisement. But it fails to
mention the most important-pocket-
books and bankbooks.
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1889-12-26
..Do You know who.psipssas{s sfsnsa

500 y6r know whospainhdtmssfanss
Mr.. Neil Gordon asked of the polite pro-
prietor, Mons. Fouquerein.
Certainly monsieur knew; but he wa
unfortunately under Obligations not "a
reveal the name or address of the artist
"Could the lady paint another such as
this-say in time for a New Years giftf''
81 presume so, monsieur. II monsieur
desire, / can at once send an order for o
duplicate" +.
And he ob~sequiously took the gentle
mans address
"How 500 can you send iti" the lat
ter inquired.
"At once; in fifteen minutes; so soon
as my Office boy returns, II that will suit
monsieur"
The gentleman left the shop, and Sc
cured the first messenger boy he CHANGED
to meet.
For a pecuniary consideration this
youth agreed to follow NJ. F~ouquerein's
office boy, take the address Of the house
to which he should go, and Immediately
inform Mr.. Neil Gordon thereof, at the
l%atter's residence.
1t was a simple plot, but, as 1t proved,
effective.
1t was barely s o'clock when Eva May
nard came In from n walk-one of the
long and lonely walks to which she was
accustomed when her days work was
over. She found the little tea table laid
and a small parcels for herself, with 8
note, lying upon the table.
at is my mother-of-pearl FAM" she
said, after glancing over the note.
Mons. Fouquerein has a customer who
wants both this and a duplicate, to be
ready for New Years. l was sure il
would be liked, and now l think l shall
soon get plenty of custom"
An hour after, when her mother had
retired, and she sat reading aloud, while
! Laura sewed on what looked like a piece
Of bridal trousseau, there came a ring a
the front door bell.
The girl whose business II was to wait
on Mrs. Sutton's dodgers, fastened tc
answer the summons, and Immediately
appeared in Mrs. Maynard's rooms.
ga gentleman to see you, Miss Eva,
and here's his card, num-"
Laura glanced at the card in Eva's hand.
and then at the blushing face of hel
sister; and well posted in such delicate
matters, slipped out of the room as the
visitor entered.
cit is Mr.. Gordon, mamma" slit
answered, to her mothers inquiry. "a
knew he would come some day, though
Eva doubted it. "
And when, an hour later, Eva came
radiant yet subducd, it needed but one
glance at her face to know what kind O.
an interview she had had with the love,
she had deemed so forgetful.
Mrs. Bolton learned in time, to hei
great yexation, that had she been more
appreciative of the Majors Christina
present, her late husbands nephew haC
probably never married ''that Maynard
girl" who, as Mrs. Neil Gordon, wa
now so much admired in society.
She still WINS the Christmas fan, but
has painted its duplicate.
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1889-12-26

heart sank within her. At last her task
was done, and going to the little bed in
the corner, she kissed the two un.
conscious sleepers, and with a heavy
heart retired TO her own poor couch.
Meanwhile DIR. Custer went on his
rounds. lie was a gruif old man, but
the people all knew him and loved him,
for he had a kind heart, and was always
ready to sympathize with the poor aud
needy. He visited many patients that
night, and he stopped at many houses
where there were no patients, for he had
an object in view, and the cold night
winds could not deter him from carrying
it out,
The next morning Mrs. Benton was up
early, for II was the day before Christ
mas, and she had a great deal of sewing
to do for people who were going to the
Christmas ball down at the Cross Roads.
When breakfast was over, she said:
"After you feed the horse and the
calves, Bonnie, you must run over to Jcr-
ry Cobbis and see IL he will haul us a
load of wood"
Bonnie hastened out to feed the stock.
and IN a short time returned out of
breath with running and excitement.
"ohl mother, mother" he cried,
springing into the middle of the room
"look out there in our woods at the men
and teams. They're going to haul wood
for us, for 1 heard one of 'em say so as
he passed the stahLs-"
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1889-12-26

Christmas comesi he comes. he comes
Ushcred with n rain Of plums
Hollies in the windows greet him
come driving home 20 meet him;
Every mouth delights b. name him;
Wet and cold, and wind and dark,
Make him but the warmer mark
Leigh Hunt
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1889-12-26

they have got n big turkey that they are
going to roast, and the most nice red
apples, and, OH so many good things.
/ wish we could ever have things like
that"
The mother laid down her sewing
with a sigh, and tears came into her eyes.
VI wish So, too, Bennie," she said,
sand if it was possible, we would have
them. But we are poor folks, and poor
folks can't afford nice things. 1 am
sorry that 1 can't give you more than 1
do. You know 1 work hard all day
long and earn all I can, but people don't
pay much for plain sewing, and it takes
all the money l can get to buy food and
clothing, aud hire wood chopped. Poor
little Sis has to have medicine and the
doctor must be paid, and Pm afraid 1
won't have money to pay for it all. Poor
children, l feel sorry for you, and wish l
could earn more for your sakes," and
poor Hrs. Benton buried her face in her
hands, and was a long time silent.
Don't, mother" Bonnie said, coming
md putting his arms about her neck.
"Don't cry. You are the best mother
that ever was, and when l am old enough
to work, I'll earn money for you, and
then well have nice things and grand
Christmases' and be as happy as can be. &"
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1889-12-26
The Travellers Christmas.

"The drummer's life is not what it's
cracked up to be- remarked Sample
case. what do you suppose I made
my Christmas dinner on this yearl7
Couldn't guess, " replied his friend.
"'On wheels"
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1889-12-26
The Mean Man.

The stocking n his little gin ho filed with
sweets and toys,
And With % pair ~ bran now skates he
stufed his ltUe boys.
Within the stocking Of his wife ho placed "a
handsome pin.
tnd in his mother iu laws o. wrap for muE
fling up her chin.
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1889-12-26

Thor rhcn he went back TO visit her
in her uirsl home she and her family had
disappcErcd-swallowc up in the big
city 10 which they had Qonc-and not 70
Do found or heard of, until there came 10
bifs, from his unclc's widow, the intclH
gence Of her approach ng marriage with
Tho young clergyman, Of whom be had
been somewhat jealous, even though be
had, az be fancied, good reason to be-
licvo that his own sentiments wero u
derstood and rcciprocated by the fair
girl, who, indeed, had never ceased to
think Of him, despite his apparent for.
g%otfulnoss Of her.
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1889-12-26
THE DOCTORS GIFT.
A CHRISTMAS STORY,

OTHER, l wish we
could have Christmas
and Santa Claus, and
lots of nice things like
h people. When
l was at Deacon
Gooden's 10 day, they
mad great piles of pies
and cakes cooked, and
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1889-12-26

81 hope so; for, as you know, my heart
IS set upon this match. Neil Gordon is
not rich, but between you there will be
enough; and in other respects he is the
safest match that / know of-and that is
what you most need, Eulalie. II you
will be "A little less open in your encour-
ment OF him, and we can keep him out
OF the way of that Maynard girl"
81 don't believe there was anything in
it," interrupted Eulalie, hastily. 81
don't think he cared for her-a girl who
makes her living by painting and music"
"The Maynards are of good family.
though poor, and these girls are well
educated and ladylike. Neil thinks it
nobler in them to prefer not to be de
pendent upon their relatives. Eva in
deed, let me assure you, is a rival not to
be despised and if / had any idea Of
how things might turn out, | would
never have engaged her to paint those
water-color sketches last summer. To
think of Neil going with her always to
select views and act as escort and pro-
t%ector!'
at was her artfulness, and / believe
they have moved to town ~purposely to
throw themselves in his way!" said Miss
E%ulalic, sharply.
mo, they are too proud for that; but
l have taken care to put him on an en-
tirely false trail. And he is not Likely
to renew his search, since l informed him
OF what | heard from Wilkins-that
Miss Maynard is shortly to marry that
clever young country parson, Mr.. Boyd.
OF course, l did not consider it necessary
to mention that the prospective bride is
Laura, and not Eva"
The loquacious lady paused in her dis
course to renew her examination of the
fan-the Christmas offering of the gal
liant Major.
"What a pity that his Judgment did
not equal his taste, and prompt him to
select something more appropriate to my
age. This is too light and youthful for
me: and it strikes me now that it would
be the very thing for Mrs. Herrick."
"But if the Major should sec her with
it."
Nonsense! He could only sec it on a
close scrutiny, and then would not rec
ognize it. Really it has come just at the
right time!'
Certainly. How Providence does
provide" laughed Eulalic, satircally.
And before an hour had passed, the
fan, with an elegant little not from Mrs.
Bolton, was in the hands of Mrs. Her
rick.
'It's perfectly lovelyw said that lady,
odmiringly. "'But what am I to do with
so many iansl have already a score of
them for which have no use. This one,
know, is from Fouquerein's, forI saw it
yesterday, aud noticed these tiny initials,
Ell. NJ, among the heartsease. will
take it there, and exchange it for that
lovely bonboniere to give to Mrs. De
Lanccy. If Mrs. Bolton ever sees it
again, she will imagine it a duplicate. -
Later on that Christmas Eve a hand.
some young mar entered the fashionable
emporium Of NJ. Fouquerein and inquired
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1889-12-26

'rOonT try to stuff roe. cried the COB
bier, Indignantly.
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1889-12-26
A CHRISTMAS FAN.

$1,000 we AAkA
palette, rose from her seat, and standing
in the midst of the room, held up with
a graceful pose a fan of silk and mother
of-pearl, exquisitely painted.
'Indced, Eva, it is your masterpiece, "
said an elderly girl, tall and handsome,
as she took the fan and examined it.
A pleased smile lit the pale face of n
lady who reclined in a rocking-chair
engaged in the certainly not artistic work
of darning lincn-ine old linen which
told plainly enough that the owners had
known ''better times"
al will take it at once to Monsieur
Fouquerein," Eva said, turning to a mir
ror, and beginning to adjust the pretty.
gold-brown curls above her smooth fore
head. cit wants only three DAYS TO
Christmas, and he was anxious to get all
my work in time. The rest l can finish
tomorrow"
And envcloped in a thick veil and man
tic, she left the house in which they had
lodgings, and tripped lightly down the
street to the store of a dealer in Clancy
and artistic work, " in a fashionable bust
ness quarter of the city.
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1889-12-26

] will insertono more Claus says Santa,
bling.
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1889-12-26

1t was Christmas Eve, and the snow
was falling without, as Mrs. Bolton sat
IN her coy dressing-room, looking over
4 quantity of dainty articles, useful or
ornamental, which stewed the table be-
foic her.
The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1889-10-04

en- straw and grain knd came through
'spring poor" The ewes were in poor
condition to raise lambs. During the
latter pnrs of May and early June the
weather was cold and more than half
the lambs died. To finish up the loss
the wolves killed 40 more, SO that when
| should have saved at least 200lambs, /
saved less than 60, making 1t an exceed
ingly exceptional case. If 1 had been as
successful in raising lambs in 1858 as |
have been in 1880. the value of the ad-
ditional increase OF stock. together with
this years clip of wool from that in
crease, would have wiped out the sheep
Indebtedness and placed several hundred
dollars to the credit side of the ledger.
Perhaps this communication cannot, be
better closed than with the following
quotation from the American Sheep
Breeder and Wool Grower:
"If a man will begin with q flock of
sheep and give his best endcavors for 80
years never to let one fall sick. never to
let a good eve fail to raise q lamb, never
to let a poor animal stand in the way of
a good one. never to let a sheep die, and
if. in spite Of all, it does die, not to lose
the fleece, he has givcn hostages to for
tune, and the chances are q thousand to
one that he will not be left to an impecun-
ious old age."-J. Fl. Townley. IN Ash
ton Leader.
The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1889-10-04
The

st. Paul Globe:-A water famine is one
of the calanities that Minnesota people
never have occasion to dread, yet our ad-
vices from various sections of the state
indicate that most serious Inconvenience
are to be feared unless there is a good
rainfall at an carly date. Tn dry sum
mer we have had is telling on the water
supply. In many localities the wells are
drying up, and in some instances the
smaller running streams have failed.
The Mississippi river is said to be at n
lower stage thar it has been within the
last twenty years, and all the streams that
are feeders to it are correspendingly low.
A dreuth at this season cannot hurt the
crops. except to cut short the fall pastur-
age, but it will undoubtedly be a source
of great Inconvenience to those who live
at a distance from the lakes and from the
larger running streams. If the winter
freeze-up should come without q good
rain in adyace, the situation will be more
serious for those who are dependent on
wells for their waite. supply.
The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1889-10-04
Valuable Crop.

Youths Companion:-A western man,
proud of his immensely productive acres,
was showing a visitor from Vermont
over his farm. and while Boosting of his
crops, turned upon the Vermonter
with the question:
You can't raise much back there on
those stony Vermont hills; can your"
"oh yes, yes We generally get fine
crops
But you don't raise much grain, do
your
ooh yes; we raise a sight of barley"
"Yoa do2"
ooh certainly; l don't know what our
farmers would do if it wasn't for their
barley
"Do you get much for 1t?"
ooh, we don't selIit. no sir; we don't
sell a grain OF it2"
You don't feed it to your stock?"
ooh no; you don't catch us wasting
barley Ike that"
well, what do you do with it them"
why, man. we save every grain of il
for seed-that's what we do with it."
This is the western mans story, and
he naturally thinks this a queer kind OF
EARNING for profit"
The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1889-10-04
Your name In Print.
Mr.. 0. E. Matson is in Sioux CITY.

MT. ". Il. MAtSon ID IN SIOUX CITY.
Mr.. Jessie Foote went to Sioux City
Wednesday.
Mr.. f. A. Craft went to Sioux City
Wednesday morning.
Mr.. Ad Reber left for Iowa Monday
with a carload of stock.
Auditor Ryan was up from Chamber
ain the first of the week.
Mr.. John Wolf has been on tho sick
list for the past ten days.
Mr. William Conley, of Iona. Iowa,
has been visiting his brother, Mike, this
week.
MRS. A. II. Stewart and Mrs. &c. Bar
ret,, of Dubuque, Iowa, are guests of
Mrs. w. II. Curiiss
w. A. Scott. The erstwhile editor ofthe
Pukwana Press and lately OF Mitchell, is
now editing apaper in Sidney, Nebraska.
Mr.. A. P. Whitford. representing the
Bradstreet Commercial Agency, was
around Tuesday to see how much some
of US poor devils were worth.
Mr. Elmer Benedict has bought out the
Shaffer stock OF goods at Chandler, Chas.
Mix county, and will move there this
week with his family. He will also be
postmaster. The people of that section
will find him an honest and pleasing
tradesman.
The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1889-10-04
The 1--we West.

@A4H W NDs
Lewiston Journal:-One Of the talka-
tive people that I've met at this busy,
cheerful place this week, is n drummer.
II call this a pretty slow town." said
he.
You do, chi"
Il should say SO. In a town of this
size out west, there would be five or six
hotels; three OF four newspapers; two or
three elevators; half a dozen railroads; a
dozen beer gardens; three or four shoot
ing galleries and u crowd on the street
all the time. To a man that's been
travelling in the west all the time this
town seems like a country village. lis
SO all through the east. Dead. dead
dead, Cant sell any goods. No use to
try. Tn going to skip for the live west
again, right off. The last western town
l was in was a daisy. sold four Gus
toners bills of six or eight hundred dol
lars apiece In less than four heurs and
didn't half try. 1t would paralyze me to
find a town like that in the east. Con
found the east, anyway. It's deaG l
tell you. | have no use for 1t. | want
to be in a place where there Is some
life"
What line of goods are you sclling?'
| asked.
Collins"
The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1889-10-04
minneapolis aaa at. pun, Excursion

Minneapolis aaa at. pnnl Excursions
The Manitoba a series of
cheap excursions to Minneapolis and st.
Paul during the months of August and
September account of Minneapolis Ex-
position and Minnesota State Far.
The rate for the round trip will be one
fare with value of admission coupon
added. The attractions in Connection
with the above events are more uumcr-
Gus than any previous senson. For the
Minneapolis Exposition, August Dist to
Sept. 2sth. the famous 18th Regiment
band of New York City has been secured.
Capt Paul Boyton. the celebrated
swimmer and worldwide traveller will
give daily exhibitions of his life saving
apparatus and educated SEALS; a genuine
Japanese village will be IN full working
order; lady cadets from the University
will drill, all nations will be represented
in a magnificent congress, and an impos-
ing array of industrial aud agricultural
wealth will fill the eommodlous hall
of the Exposition Building.
For the Minnesota State Fair at Ham
Inns Sept. 9th to 14th there will be seven
days of racing, running and trotting;
eight days of Texas Vaqueros; National
Guard & Grand Army Sept. 10th. Mill
tary Band with 40 pieces and many other
attractions. Call upon your nearest
Manitoba ticket agent for futher pnrtic-
ulars. (3w)
The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1889-10-04
sHttchelrs Clean Etcnt.

Redheld Journal:-Mitchell is making
aclesn fight for capital. The newspapers
and newspaper correspondents are not
making misrepresentation by the whole
sale as those of Pierre are. Mitchell, if
she fails to secure the persirnmons, will
have nothing to regret except that her
people were unable to do enough work
to get the capital. There has nothing
been done by Mitchell that will react.
1t is a clean fight.
The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1889-10-04

Sioux City Journal:-Peter Egan. Jr..
of LeMars, Iowa, and Miss Ida Burgess,
of Delmar, Ia, were married at st.
Mary's church, in this city. Wednesday
morning. After a two weeks visit in the
East they will be at home ut Maurice
Oct. 10. MIR. Egan Is starting a bank at
the new town of Sioux Center, on the
Sioux City and Northern railway and
will go there as soon as q house can be
prepared.