davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-01-01
Picture OF WhiteReld.

A writer in the Sunday Magazine
draws pen-and-ink picture of White
field, the famous preacher of the last
century, as he appeared when, sur
rounded by the beauty and the fash
ion, and the lower classes of London,
he preached one of his open-air SER
mons:
In and out among the well-dressed
many there moves a crowd of people
who wear neither silk nor velvet
There is the artisan, with his wife and
children, who have come out here
chiefly for the sake of the fresh, sweet
country air; there are the city clerk
and his sweetheart doing little firt-
ing to while away the time; there is
the poor needie-woman, whose pale
face has such a wistful look, that we
fancy her heart must he beginning
.dimly to guess that if she could grasp
the meaning of the great preachers
words, it might possibly bring into her
aife even more warmth and coloring
than there Is in the dresses she stitches
for the grand ladies.
Suddenly the murmur Of voices
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-01-01
The MistletOe.

In old-fashioned English families. a
branch of the mistletoe is suspended
on Christmas eve from the ceiling of
the hall. Any woman who passes be-
meath the mystic spray incurs the pen
atty of being then and there kissed by
any man who chooses to avail himself
of the privilege. One of the supersti-
tutions associated with this custom is
that the maid who is not thus kissed
at Christmas will not be married dur
ing that year.
This hanging of the mistletoe is a
relic of the days of Druidism, handed
down through the centuries. The
Druids reverenced the plant when
found on the oak. the favorite tree of
their divinity Tutanes. At the winter
solstice, q great festival was celebrated
in his honor. The people, led by their
priests, the Druids, went in procession
to gather the mistletoe. When the
oak was reached OH which it grew,
two white bulls were bound to tree.
The Chief Druid, clothed in white, as
cendcd it, and with a golden knife cut
the sacred plant which was caught by
another priest in the folds of his robe.
The bulls, and often human victims,
were sacrificed and the mistletoe, di-
vided into small pieces, was distribut-
cd among the people. They hung the
sprays over the doors of their houses,
as q Precipitation and shelter to the syl-
van dcties during the season of cold.
In the Scandinavian mythology, the
mistletoe is plant of no mean impor-
tance, it, SO the legend relates, having
been the instrument Of the Staying
of Baldcr, the god of cloqucncc and
poetry.
Bladder, one day, told Friga, his
mother, that he had drcampt Il dream
which forcb0tlcd his death. She, to
protect her son, secured an oath from
fire, ice, earth, water, the animals. and
plants that they would do Balder no
harm. He being thus assured, took
his place amid the combats of the
gods, and fought without fear.
Loakc, his enemy, seeing that not
one of is arrows, which fell in show
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-01-01
Sales from Il am. to 2 pm.

lers upon Balder, did him the least
harm, determined to discover the Sc
cret of his invulnerability. Disgdis.
ing himself as an old woman, he paid
his court to Friga, and complimented
her upon the valor and good fortune OF
her son.
She, seduced by the fattery, answer.
ed that nothing could injure Balder, as
all the powers of nature had sworn not
to harm him. She added, however,
that there was one plant which she
had not invoked, thinking it too insig-
rificant to infiict injury on any one.
"And what may be the name of that
plant ?" asked Loake, in the blandest
of tones.
"It is feeble little shoot which
grows on the bark of all oak" answer
ed the simple Friga.
Loake Immediately procured the
mistletoe, and made from it an arrow.
Entering the assembly of the gods, he
said to blind Heda, "Why do you not
contend with the arrows of Balder?"
81 am blind, and have no arms" an
swered Heda.
"Balder is before thee. Shoot p' said
Loake, handing her the arrow of mis-
tletoe. Heda shot; and Balder fell
dead, pierced by the insignificant
plant.-Se2ecIe3.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-01-01

that it would hardly hold the stitches
then she thought ofrhow soon the Goa
would be gone, and whatever she die
she must keep fire, for the weather
was cold and the snow was coming.
No doubt this seems long thought
to you, but then the mind is quick in
passing over thoughts, and mothers
thoughts come very swiftly sometimes
and when she did speak she said, "My
darling, God has not given us the
money to keep any Christmas" HeI
voice was low and sweet, but Fred0
looked greatly distressed, and the
bright smile died out of her face
"Who wants to hear story?" the
mother asked. Now, if there was any
thing that Carl and Freda really did
like, it was story; so Carl, on his
footstool, and Freda, nestled in hel
mothers lap, were eager listeners.
And Minna told the sweet story OF
the Christchild, of His birth, life and
death, not forgetting to remind them
of His taking the little ones in His
arms and saying, "Sutfer little chill
dren to come unto me, and forbid
them not, for of such is the kingdom
of heaven"
When the story was ended, she told
Carl that she would like him to read at
home while she took Freda for a look
at the stores. The child's delight was
great, never greater than when before
a confectioner's window. "Oh! look,
mamma, look at that lovely boX-it is
only eleven cents; do buy it, NAM
ma"
But Minna shook his head and wip-
ed away tear with the corner Of her
shawl. She could not spare even the
few pennies. Did you never notice
how God often prepares for our needs,
Just as he brought Fred Gay to the
window at the same moment that Min
M came there with Frcda. Now,
Fred had some money that he had saw
ed to buy presents with, but he felt
sorry for the little girl, ana, taking Il
bright half-dollar from his store, he
handed it to the child, saying, "Take
this, little girl; it is for YOU"
But the child was frightened and
hid her face against her mother.
"Yes, take it, little girl; it is for your
own self"
"Minna looked into his brown eyes,
and, seeing them full of kindness, put
her hand on the child's head, and said,
"Takc the money, darling, and thank
the gcntlcman."
You would he astOnishcl if you
could know how many things that
hali-dollar paid for, tree AMI all. But
you ought not to he surprised to know
that this is Il true story, or that Fred's
Christmas was great deal nicer than
it would have been if he had not felt
that it was more blessed to give than
to receive.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-01-01
Conserve Your Strength.

Some of our young people have read
till they are crazed of learned black
smiths who at the forge conquered
thirty languages, and of shoemakers
who, pounding sole-leather, got to be
philosophers, and milliners who, while
their customers were at the glass trying
on their spring hats, wrote volume of
tirst-rate poems. The fact is, no
blacksmith ought to be troubled with
more than five languages; and instead
of shocmakers becoming philosophers,
we would like to turn our surplus of
philosophers into shoemakers; and
the supply of poetry is so much greater
than the demand, that we wish milli-
ners would stick to their business.
Extraordinary examples of work and
endurance may do as much harm as
good. Because Napoleon slept only
three hours Il night, hundreds OF STU
dents have tried. the experiment, but
instead Of Austerlitz, and Jena, there
came of it only sick headache and Il
botch of recitation. We are told of
how many books a man can read in
the five spare minutes before break
fast, and the ten minutes at noon; but
I wish some could tell us how much
rest man can get in fifteen minutes
after dinner, or how much health. in
an hours horseback ride, or how much
fun in Il Saturday afternoon Of cricket
He who has such All idea of the value
of time that he takes none OF it for
rest, wastes all of his time.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-01-01

which had been running through the
vast assembly is. hushed. The duch-
esses and countesses incline their
heads a quarter of al inch forward ;
the fans and the actresses cease to fiut-
ter; the mass of the people make lit
tie rush all in the same direction.
Every eye is fixed OH man who is
ascending slowly green bank near at
hand. At first sight there is nothing
very remarkable in his appearance
His figure is tall and spare, and dress
is homely when he turns towards the
audience. we see that he squints, and
he has no especial beauty of feature.
But the moment he begins to speak
his face is forgotten in his voice. How
does it thrill with holy passion as he
tells of his dear Lord; how does it
ring with stern indignation against
sin, and yet how does it melt with ten
6erness over the sinner! 1t is so clear
that it is heard at the further end of
the wide assembly: and yet so sweet
that music is the only word that can
give an idea of its tones.
His face, too, and his feature has
changed since we last looked at him.
Meaning has come in to every move
ment of his hand ; each feature answers
to the theme that is upon his lips, as does
the lake to the lights and shadows in
the sky above; his form seems to have
grown majestic, and to be like that of
the desert preacher. or Of him who
cried against Nineveh.
Wh,n he speaks of heaven we al
most believe that he has been there; !;
when be tells of the Savior's love and
sufterings it seems to US that he must
/ have walked with Peter and John at
His side; when he tells q story by
way of illustration, as he often does,
the description is so vivid that we lis
ten breathlessly, as though we really
saw the scene he paints with our bodi-
ly eyes.
For two hours the tide Of eloquence
flows on increasingly, and still the lis
tening crowd remain enthralled. Diff
ferent signs of emotion appear among
them.
The hard faces Of the mechanics
work with unwonted feeling; the
brow of Hume grows smooth; even
Chesterfield, who hitherto has stood
like a statue Of one of his own anccs-
tors, so far forgets himself when the
preacher, in a lively parable, is descriL-
ing blind beggar on the edge of Il
precipice, as to start forward and muir
muir, so save him, save him."
No wonder they are thus moved, for
the preacher himself sets the example.
The Christian Arbitration, (Phila-
delphia) well merge next year QS90)
into the Messenger Of Peace. The
name will be Christian A7dltrdtiOn and
Messenger of Peace. 1t will be pub
lished ut Richmond, Ind, ind Phila-
del phia, Pa.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-01-01
Indifference to Human Misery.

They who are shocked at single
murder in the highway, hear with In
difference of the murder of thousand
on the battlefield. They whom the
idea of a single corpse would thrill
with terror, contemplate that of heaps
of human carcasses, mangled by hn-,5
man hands, with frigid indifference.
If murder is committed, the narra-s
tive is given in the public newspaper,
with many expressions of eommisera-
ton, with many adjectives of horror,
and many hopes that the perpetrator
will be detected. In the next para
graph the editor, perhaps, tells us that
he has hurried second edition to the
press, in order that he may be the first
to glad the public with the intelli-
gence, that in an engagement which
has just taken place, eight hundred
and fifty of the enemy sOere killed. By
war, the natural impulses of the heart
seem to be suspended, as if fiend Of
blood were privileged to exercise
spell upon our sensibilities, whenever
we contemplated his ravages.
Amongst all the shocking and all the
terrible scenes the world exhibits, the
slaughters of war stand pre-eminent;
vet there are the scenes of which the
com passionate and the ferocious, the
good and the bad, alike talk with COM
placepcy or exultation. 5s
The immolations of the Hindoos fill
us with compassionate or horror, and
we are zealously laboring to prevent
them. The sacrifices of life by our
own criminal executions are the sub
iect of our anxious commiseration, and
we are strenuousiy endeavoring to di-.
minish their number. We feel that
the life of a Hindoo or a malefactor Is
serious thing, and that nothing but
imperious necessity should induce US
to destroy the one, or to permit the de-
struction of the other. Yet what are
these sacrifices of life in comparison
with the sacrifices of war? In Napo-
Icons campaign in Russia, there fell,
during one hundred and seventy-three
days in succession, an average of two
thousand nine hundred men per day.
More than five hundred thousand hu-
man beings in less than six months!
And most of these victims expired
with peculiar intensity of suffering.
"Thou that teachest another, teachest
thou not thyself?" We are carrying
our benevolence to the Indies, but
what becomes of it in Russia or at
Leipsic? We are laboring to save a
few lives from the gallows, but where
| is our solicitude to save them on the
field? Life is life, wheresoever it be
sacrificed, and has everywhere equal
claims to or regard. / am not now
inouiring whether war is right, but
whether we do not regard it's calami-
ties with an indifference with which
we regard no others, and whether that
indifference does not make us acqul-
escc in evils and in miseries which we
should otherwise prevent or condemn.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-01-01
Freda's Christmas.

| Hans Strobbe was not good fathel
to the little ones, for he had learned te
frequent the saloon on the corner, ant
it is easy to believe that, when he came
staggering home, he did not bring
much happiness with him this is very
sad, but it is true.
But Minna took great comfort with
her boy Carl. Even when he was on:
ly ten-year-old boy he would carry 8
pail of water from the pump, though
it was never so full, and he would chol
away at the knottiest stick that he
found in the lean-to behind the kitch.
en-, so that his mothers wood-boX was
always full. And when baby Freda
cried, he took her up so carefully and
sang to her SO gently, that her tears
ceased to flow, and she would lie in his
arms quite satisfied with the care that
she received.
1t would take long time to tell al
about them, 80 we must be satisfied tc
know that while Hans went from bad
to worse, until he was arrested and
locked up, Minna was striving hard tc
keep home for the children, as well
as to bring them up in the fear of God
And when Christmas came, Carl was
sixteen years old, while Freda was but
seven. AS to Hans-none of them
know where he is, nor do they wish tC
do so.
Freda had been playing with some
children in the yard, and they had
been Dragging of what wonders they
would find in their stockings. And
that brought her into the house
"Mamma, why cannot hang up my
stocking as well as the other girls?"
Minna thought Il moment before she
spoke, and in that time she remember.
ell how difficult it was to get enough
for the children to eat, and then she
thought of the toe of Freda's shoe that
needed to be mcnded besides, she
looked down ut the knee of Carl's
pants that had to bc pieced very care.
fully, because the cloth was so thin
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-01-01
Christmas Day.

All hail, the Lord Ia born to save,
Born TO redeem uE from the grave,
Born as the safe and only way
From darkest night to heavenly day.
Born as our light while here we tread
In sinful mazeS daily led,
Born as our life while here we lie,
Ensnared by sin and doomed to die.
Born with his worfof truth to show
All doubling footsteps where TO go.
Born TO dispense his heavenly grace
On all the sons of Adams race.
Born true repentance to impart
TO every broken, contrite heart,
Born saving faith each day, TO give
To all who through his name will live.
Born by his Spirit, cleansing soul
And mind and heart till all is whole,
And free from every taint OF sin,
Perfect and good and pure within.
Born to prepare in heaven place
TO each believer Of the race,
Born with the saints to dwell above,
Where hearts meets heart in peace al
love.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-01-01
i Christmas Song.

On Judas hills the sun had set;
The moon rode high DER Olivet;
The starry skies, in watchful rest.
Leaned DER the blue lakes peaceful breas
Fair Sharon's roses on the air
Were breathing out their fragrant prayer,
And DER the sweet and holy calm
The dcws Of Hermon shed their balm.
In that blest hour of peace and love,
Bright angels left their home above,
To bear to the unconscious earth
The story OF a Saviour'S birth.
To Tell how Gods beloved Son
Left for q time His royal throne,
TO bring to our unworthy race.
The riches OF His Fathers grace.
Well might the herald angels then
Sing "Peace on earth, goodwill to men,"
And all the host Of heaven reply,
GAIL glory be to God on high!
And earth take up the joyful song,
And rolling years the notes prolong,
Till all creation join the strain,
and shout as one the glad "Amen"
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-01-01
Christmas Carols.

It Is the blessed Christmas time,
And on the frosty air there swells
The music Of the sweet-voiced bells,
Ringing their oit-repeated chime
or how the birth
or Christ on earth
Brought down the peace OF God TO men.
O,joyfully they sing Of peace,
In ancient carols sweet and clear,
But mingling with their chant hear
The sound of strife that will not cease.
But nerce and strong,
Still rolls along.
Until their song is drowned again.
hear the worlds deep undertone:
The prayers for bread, the sound Of tears,
The bitter curse, the ribald jeers,
The sighs for rest, the knell, the groan;
While from afar
The sound of war
Rolls sullenly upon my ear.
But still the bells repeat the strain.
Rejoice! rejoice rejoice again
Peace arc good will are come to men !"
And, az ! hear their sweet refrain,
Before me pass,
AS in glass,
The centuries since the Saviour's birth.
I see the star OF peace arise.
And send Its beams OF heavenly light
Down through the gloomy shades OF night
But few are they
To whom ray
Comes through the clouds that wrap the
earth.
And then, as In troubled dream,
Nations and empires rise and fall,
With kings and priests and creeds, but al
Are lost In the fierce, rushing stream
OF war and blood.
Whose wrathful flood
Sweeps throne and fame beneath Its tide.
Now dark skies growing clear see,
While errors tidal wave recedes,
And, In the place Of iron creeds,
Men learn 70 love sweet charity.
And glad bells play,
On Christmas Day.
Goods pence Is here, and shall abide"
Though still comes not the perfect day,
I read the future by the past,
And know that II shall come ut last
That darkness shall be sweptaway;
That love and peace
Shall still increase
Till hushed 10 rest all strife shall be.
Peal out, sweet bells, your melody!
Gods peace IL lik u flowing river,
Which widens ever and forever,
Until 1t rolls mighty sea,
Whose waters swell
UniAthomable,
AS wide as is eternity.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-01-01

The Christian arbitration, (Phila-
delphia) well merge next year QS90)
into the Messenger Of Peace. The
name will be Christian IN GltrdtiOn and
Messenger of Peace. 1t will be pub
lished ut Richmond, Ind, ind Phila-
delphia, Pa.
Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1890-11-21
Sarm Copies.
ROAD zen

One of the most important subjects
the farmers can discuss at their Institutes
the coming winter is the iml'ro vement of
country roads. Within the last quarter
of a century marvellous improvements
have been made in railway and ocean
transportation. bu. within that time
there has been little or no progress in the
making or improving of common country
roads. Railroad transportation rates
have been reduced until it costs no more
to carry "A bushel of grain to the sea-
board than it does to haul it the average
distance from the farm to the railroad.
1t does not look very we'll. then. to be
grumbling about freight rates when there
dragging loads of grain from the farm to
town over bad roads. Good roads
would greatly lower the cost of trans
portation. and bring the farm nearer the
market. In no better way can the sell
ing value of the average farm be in
creased than by good roads. The pop
ular way to make any expense abhorred
is to show it up as a tax. a very good
application of this can be made to bad
roads. Some of the taxes about which
the farmer is urged to grumble are utter
ly insignificant in comparison with the
indirect taxation of the bad road over
and often through-which he hauls his
products to market. 1t costs money to
build good roads, but they are worth all
they cost. 1t costs a good deal more to
travel over bad ones Than it does to build
good ones. One of the best things the
farmers of any community can do for
themselves and the common welfare is to
unite and thoroughly improve. the high
ways. The best methods of doing this
should be discussed and decided upon at
the institutes, and organized efforts made
TO carry out the improvements Farm
and Field.
Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1890-11-21
Che 6ousehoIo.
SOME RECIPES.
From Springfield Republican,

From springfield Republican,.
1t Is said that Mrs. Senator Georges
baked hash is noted in the State of Miss
issippi. This is the way she makes it:
Hash the cold beef fine take stale wheat
en- bread, biscuit or any other kind, and
crumble Il quantity equal to the hashcd
meat add II egg, well beaten, half a
cup of sweet milk, a little salt and pep
per. thyme or other flavoring; mix
well then melt an even tablespoonful of
butter and stir it into the mixture. Stir
it up thoroughly, pour it into the butter
ed pan and bake in a hot oven.
Grape catsup: -Four and one-half
pounds of grapes, two and one-half
pounds of sugar, one pint of vinegar,
one large tablespoonful of cinnamon,
one-half ia Jlespoonful each of allspice
and cloves; separate the pulps and skins,
boil the pulp and pass through a colan-
der as above. Add the sugar and spices
and boil - minutes. Pour in cold vine
gar, remove from the stove and bottle
Immediately.
Corn gems: one t%eacupful yellow corn
meal, the same quantity of flour, one
tablespoonful of sugar, salt, one tea
spoonful baking powder; sift the in
gradients together and add two well
beaten eggs and enough sweet milk to
make II soft batter. Bake for about half
an hour in well creased pans.
Bread soup: One onion cut very fine
and cooked until soft in one quart water;
add II cup bread crumbs, salt, pepper
and butter to season, and serve hot: a cup
of milk or cream is Il great addition to
this soup: it should be Il thick. smooth
soup.
Cup pudding: Two cups flour, four
cups water, one tablespoonful butter,
II of sugar. one teaspoonful salt; boil
part of the water, r%cserving the rest in
which to mix flour smooth. add one beat
en- egg and flour to water. boil five min
utes, then add one cup milk and beat
well. Wet a dish with cold water, pour
pudding in, when cool turn on to a plate
and serve with the following: Sweet
sauce: One-half cup sugar, one table
spoonful each butter and flour. one pint
boiling water, boil 10 minutes and serve
hot with cold pudding.