davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1891-12-26

if it is true that by cheerful kindness |
have saved my wifes nerves and turned
the doctor out of doors, ought | not to
give her present of the amount of her
usual doctors bills? Jupiter! That's
an idea, and l will. 1t is good way to
round up this one kind year.
1t is curious how smiles furnish a
house. | presume you know what it is
to have your wife beg you to buy a new
chair. or picture, or some other thing.
Our things get worn out. Well, my
wife hasn't asked me such a thing all
this one kind year. Yet somehow | say
the old home looks better furnished
than it did year ago. Maybe its the
sunshine on the old things. Sunshine
can do almost anything.
have been surprised by my own in
creased appetite for breakfast and dim
ner. \ fellow can't eat and scOld too.
Now breakfast was my favOrlte time
for scolding-except dinner at night
for take my lunch down town. Let
me see: that makes every meal at home
a GROWERS feast. Well that was about
so. Ny lunch was my best meal, for
ate alone, and there was nobody to fret
at Now all is changed. Meals at
home, | like them. There are no salt
tears on the bread God forgive me.
How often | used to make somebody
cry. wife or one of the two children, at
table. All is now changed in this one
kind year.
In fact, the thing has gone with me to
the store. l have gradually got in the
habit of being first civil then kind, to
the boys. 1t is like oil down there the
last few months. 1t is queer, but every
body hates to be scolded: even do. A
kind word is better than whip with
Yankee clerk. Now | am going on one
kind year more. l don't make any very
loud pretensions, but l think there's
deal of gratitude to the Almighty in be-
ing kind to His creatures. Perhaps it
The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1891-12-26

caught, and now that | am better
man She is a sweeter woman. 1t makes
my heart ache to recall how often she
used at first in this kind year to glance
up at me with a surprised and ques-
tioning look, when | spoke gently. |
caught her studying me, curiously, as
if she were wondering if had secretly
made Il fortune recently. or had met
with what the minister calls Il change
of heart. or was growing to be :. boy
again. | think She decided on the lat.
ter, for her eyes grew soft and young,
like the girlish eyes | first loved years
ago. And she began to act young her
self. She resumed the use of the pet
name she gave me long, long ago. | new
err let on, just silently kept to my re-
solve: Not one cross word in one kind
year
The best of all is the decided improve
ment in the dear woman's health.
Now some of you doctors explain that
if you can. My wife eats better, has
more nerve, more vitality every way.
The children do no: worry her half as
much as they used to- She gets along
with less fretting at the servants. Can
it be because | worry and fret her less?
Is there anything to that old sore about
Il man being the head of the family"
the whole body is sick. ELI? Exactly.
I'd rather have any kind of an ache
than an ache in my head-piece. Now
The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1891-12-26

/ presume | have been about the same
sort of a fellow as for many years. But
to my faithful wife | have not spoken
one fretful or cross or complaining
word, to the best of my knowledge and
belief, for twelve months last past. l
have not made much money this year,
but have made one heart glad.
Now let me tell you how difficult this
was. Did you ever stand by running
stream and think how smooth as oil its
swift flow was? Then you thrust your
hand in the water, and 10. it was a mill
race. The waters boiled and spattered
about your hand till you could hardly
hold it there.
Well, now | never realized the force
of my snappy, scolding habit to that
woman till my new VOW began to check
it. | found that had been in the con-
slant habit of playing the coward-that
IS, scolding good woman. A dozen
times each week the fretful words
sprang to my lips. | shut my mouth
tightly, and my. how the bitter stuff
bubbled and boiled against my teeth on
the inside. You may laugh. but. actual
ly, had to chew the words. Ny wife
quite lady for proprieties. used to ex-
claim: ''Harkley. | do wish YOU would
not chew that spruce gum as you leave
the door. How it looks on the street"
Which generally made me laugh as
kissed her good morning. Dear heart
it was far better that | chew my spleen
than her gentle spirit with biting words,
this one kind year.
| have noticed an increased fondness
IN my wife, this one kind year. She
draws near to me oftener, she confides
in me more, she has lost that I'm
afraid-of-you" look that half the time
she used to wear. We consult now
about family matters; before we used
to telephone to each other, as it were
Her spirit has improved. The irrita-
ton that / had inflicted, it seems she
The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1891-12-26

the things in the hall, he hur-
ried out to his wagon and drove
away, leaving Mrs. Oakley greatly
puzzled. Surely there must be
some mistake. she thought. But no; the
packages We're all plainly marked:
James Oakley, No. Sc East Fourth
street and on the sled was neatly
painted: dick Oakley" In the paper
box was a French doll with real hair
and eyes that closed when she was laid
down. a little card attached to it was
marked: Margaret" There was also
a ball marked Robbie" and such lots
of candy and pretty things for all. The
stockings We're soon filled to the very
tops, and the other things laid out on Il
table, where the children found them
the next morning.
There was a joyful meeting around
the breakfast table, but Mrs. Oakley S
face Wore Il puzzled expression. Finally
she asked: Where could all those
things have come from?"
Why, mamma said Margaret.
Santa Claus sent them. l know he
did, cause | wrote to him"
GU wrote TO MN. SAID ner mother.
Yes. wrote and told him where we
lived.
This made the matter clear enough to
the children. but only deepened the
mystery for the father and mother.
In the afternoon, when full justice
had been done to the turkey. Margaret
sat holding her beautiful new doll
Dick was out drawing his sled through
the streets. and Robbie was asleep, a
summons came from the front door
As Mrs Oakley went to answer it she
found there a tall. bearded man, who
inquired for Mr. Oakley. She led him
to the little sitting-room where her hus-
band sat propped up with pillows in
his armchair. The caller went
straight to HIM, seized his thin hand
and asked: james. don't you know
your old friend Tom Raymond" 1t
was indeed the friend and playmate of
his early days.
But how did you find me?'' inquired
Mr.. Oakley.
"Oh, l had it from Santa Claus, y
laughingly replied his friend, and then
The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1891-12-26
She Was Particular.

A woman who had spent full hon
in one of the stores looking for some
thing for her son, was finally asked ,
she was not rather particular for
would be purchaser who had such
choice of Christmas presents.
why. yes, | suppose ! am, She re
piled, but tell you need to he.
Then your son is also particular"
Il should say so. Hardest boy to su.
YOU ever saw. Why, he's turned III
out doors, had fight with his father
set the house on fire and taken tm
horse off and sold it. And if | shgu.
get him anything he didn't happen Z
like he'd kick all the furniture out O
the windows, order his father off tn
premises and use me for a foot-wiper
Oh, we know Tommy from top 10 hot
tom, and we've got to be very parlicn
lar and consult his feelings. "-De;ro.
Free Press
The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1891-12-26

he sat down and the two talked over
the events of their boyhood. They had
sat together in school; together they
had climbed the hills and hunted SPUR
rels, gathered nuts and rowed their
boats on the broad Hudson.
AS the talk went on a suspicion grew
upon Mrs. Oakley of the manner in
which Santa Claus happened to send
the presents. But the visitor gave no
clew to the mystery, nor did she see
through it until Margaret had told her
the whole story of her letter to Santa
Claus.-American Agriculturist.
The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1891-12-26

81 know how ungrateful 1t must
seem, papa, when | have 50 many bless
ings remaining But l could not help
thinking how lie was with US year
ago, so strong and full of life, and
now
Here the sobs again checked her utter
ance.
The good doctor was strongly affect
ed, for Robert Tracy had been as dear
to him as a son.
But. Helen. it is not certain that
Robert went down with the ship
Here DR.. Rvrne checked himself, too
wise. as we'll as honest, to hold out
false hopes.
One morning. few days later, Helen
entered her fathers study
Papa, would the present you spoke
of buving me cost as much as fifty dol
lars?'
Yes, my dear; all Of that, certainly"
Then would you as soon let me have
the money instead?'
DIR. Byrne smiled.
What idea has entered your busy
brain now. Helen? Or is it that you are
getting mercenary?"
A faint color came into the pale
checks.
1T is not that. papa: but the Widow
Howe-she that has the crippled boy,
YOU know-thinks that she could sup
port herself and children nicely if She
had sewing machine, and so"
Il see. | see,' said the doctor, taking
out his pocketbook, and putting two
ffty-dollar notes in Helens hand.
There is no balm for such wound as
yours, my daughter, like that of minis
tering to the needs and alternating the
sorrows of others
80 begin to find, papa. said Helen,
with smile that lighted up her face
with more than its old beauty.
The first day of the New Year had
dawned, and was near its close 1t had
The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1891-12-26

HUDSON river, Wnere ne Was DoiH. MS
little cottage with the tall lilacs in
front, and the kitchen garden in the
rear, was very dear place to him. His
pleasant-faced, sunny-he arted wife kept
the home always bright and tidy, and
the three rosy children filled it with
glee and laughter. Margaret, the old
est, was "a sweet, loving girl; Dick was
sturdy, manly little fellow, and Rob
bic was the darling of the house.
Mr.. Oakley was Il skillful mechanic
and an Industrious, God-fearing man;
but times were dull for him in Smith
vile Center There was little going on
in the way of new building, and he
often had to be absent from home for
weeks together, while employed at some
remote place.
After many earnest talks with his
wife they decided to remove to the west.
where new villages and cities were rap
idly growing up. So they found pur-
chaser for the little cottage, and had an
auction sale of the COW and horse and
all the furniture except some heir
looms and a few articles which they
would not part with. Then, after bid
ding their neighbors good-by, they en-
tered the cars and were whirled away
to a new home in tlourishing town in
Illinois.
1t was early in spring. The red-bud
bushes were bright in the thicketS, and
a thousand flowers, new and strange to
the immigrants, painted the prairies.
An air of bustling activity pervaded the
town. Buildings We're going up on
every side, and Mr.. Oakley soon found
employment at better wages than he
had ever received in his old home.
For time everything went we'll with
him and his family. His work was i'll
constant demand. and if his thoughts
ever turned with tender regret to the
green hills which surrounded his former
home, he had only to look 1T his rosy
children and picture to himself the
career which seemed open for them in
the vigorous growing west.
Spring wore away into summer. and
under the long and rainless heat the
river which flowed past the town
Shrunk into Its bed. leaving great
stretches of Shiny ooze fostering in the
fierce sunshine. Autumn came at
length. with soft south winds laden
with germs of disease. Robbie. the pet
of the house, was stricken with a
malarial fever. For long days and
nights he lay in his crib, tossing and
moaning. with flushed cheeks and
heavy eyes. At length the crisis was
passed. but recovery was slow: and
while Robbie was still the mere shadow
of the ruddy-cheeked little boy he had
been, the fever seized upon his father
There Were sorrowful times now in the
little household. Mrs. Oakley watched
day and night beside her husband and
little boy, and helpful Margaret proved
herself treasure
When the first brief, wintry days
came Robbie was once more playing
The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1891-12-26
New TEhR, fss,.

been very busy one to Helen ana
happy one as well; for hers wa, .r. :.
those sweet and loving mature, :,
find JOY in the reflected happ.aa,, :,
others.
She had caused the widow hr.,~..
sing for joy" and this conscious.
had brought into her own great aas.
All the younger members II !.
family had gone ont to some cutrr,...
men. Helen had wanted to hay, =, H..
talk with her father, but a stranger,
with him, SO the servant SAID. and ~.
a lonely feeling in her heart. >l,.e.,
up to her own room.
DR.. Byrne came up almost imm.as..
~. There was strange light IN
eyes, and more than usual ten crr-
and solemnity in his manner. d, l.e ii.
his hand on Helen's head
How is it with thee tonight. dane.
ter?"
1T is well. father"
After night, the morning: aftrrw.,
ter, the spring. God is often kin Ter,
us than we can even ask or think
He is very good, father"
DR.. Eyrne drew his daughter am
within his
Come into my study, Helen. "a. =
your New Years gift. Becausr ia
have forgotten yourself in curir, Ii
others. did You think your Old t.,.1
is going to forget you?"
"Oh, no, papa; but You gave il 10 M
you remember. in money. | diG@,ez
pect anything-indecd, don't t.-.
You ought to give me anything more
well, well. my child, just con-, IL
look at it. If you don't want is. d
would prefer its equivalent in m.u.r
YOU can tell me So
With silent wonder in her hear.
unmingled with curiosity, Helen >.a.
at the half open study door.
The shaded light upon her fa,.e-
who was standing near it. and Whoa.
vanced eagerly toward her
Helen looked up, bewildcred, iuto.l
face of the man she had incurred .
dead, and then. with a faint cry oE as
threw herself into the arms that la
opened to receive her.
DR.. Byrne almost regretted his ~.
cipitanCy as he looked upon his oan-
ter's pale face. But JOY does no at.a
kill, and his fears We're entire Gs,>
The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1891-12-26
around the house, and his father, upon

around the house, and his father, upon
whom the fever had spent it's force,
could only sit. wan and pale, in his arm
chair. His little savings were rapidly
melting away and a long winter had
at hand, and who was to fill the chill
dren's stockings and make the day
merry one for them?
Margaret was thoughtful little girl.
and she pondered long over the matter.
Two days before Christmas she got a
postal card, and sat down and wrote on
it as follows;
DEAR SANTA CLAUs:-We have moved
since last Christmas, and am afraid you won't
know where to find us, so I write this. We
live now at No. SO East Fourth street. Papa
and Robbie have been awfuly sick, and papa
isn't well yet. Please bring Robbie a ball and
Dick "a sled, and would like doll. for lost
mine when we moved. Good by.
''MARGARET OAKLEY"
She wrote the name of Santa Clans
on the other side of the postal card,
and just then her mother called and di-
rected her to go to the grocery for some
things. SO she took her basket and
started. accompanied by Prince, the
dog. As she passed the corner she
dropped the card into a mail box
which was fastened to a lamp post. All
that day and the next Margaret went
singing through the house, in the old
light way she had shown SO
little since sickness had invaded the
household.
Soon after the postal card was
dropped into the box the postman came
around and threw it, with a lot of other
cards, letters and newspapers, into a
bag which he carried to the post office.
There a clerk took the bag. poured the
contents out on a table and began sort
ing them over. When he came to Mar
The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1891-12-26
AN EVENTFUL TWELVEMONTH.

mot One Cross Word in One Kind
Year"
He never spoke an angry word to
me-
1t was just one year ago, December
81, that the fearful wife of my neigh Dor
made to me the above remark. Poor
Charley. He ran a locomotive between
Boston and --. He was killed on the
last day but one of the year.
Now this simple verdict from the lips
of his wife set me to thinking. | re-
member that | took the resolve that
very night, as, in company with a
brother of our lodge, | turned away
from Charley's door: so help me God,
my wife shall l. able to say as much
Of me this coming year" And now |
may, | trust, record it. l have lived
one kind year. To many other people
The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1891-12-26

Then up, up, up in the merry day.
With hearts and faces happy and gay,
And voices OF ringing cheer"
Il meant to try if / couldn't keep
My eyes from shutting and going to sleep.
So to get little peep
At santa Claus, flying. flying
Out in the FROSTY Christmas night,
When the moon and stars Were shining brlgh,
And all the snow was white. white. white.
They said it was 10 use trying,
For straight the boys and girls all go
TO the land of dreams before they know.
But it was making great mistake
To say that couldn't stay awake.
How long it was never could tell;
Twas hours and hours, know very well,
When heard a silvery, tinkling bell
Out in the moonlight stealing.
On it came-a ting a-lng ling,
And lingely, jnGely. Jingely, jung
You never heard such a ring, ring, ring
OF dear little sleigh bells peaiing.
Il held my breath, for at once / knew
Twas Santa Claus and his reindeer too.
OF course it would never. never do
To let them know was weeping
He might have carried the books and toys
TO some other little girls and boys,
If had made speck of a noise
And he thought | wasn't sleeping.
Ting ling, ling, and ring ring, ring
How IL kept on sounding.
/ surely heard the crack OF the whip
And the queer little reindeers bounding.
Then-there was q noise about the house,
stepping, stirring and humming.
| held myself as still as mouse;
Somebody, sure. was coming.
q Up, up, up for the merry day,
Christmas night has passed away.
Up. my little ones, all
The bells We're ringing ard ringing on
But all the night and the dark was gone,
And mammals own CHEEKY call
Came along with the other din
Just as the sun was shining in.
Sydney Dayre, in Christian Union.
The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1891-12-26

pated when he returned to the room a
hour later.
The good doctor was fond of Il joke.
If your present doesn't suit yol
Helen" he said, slyly, Il will try
exchange it, or give you its value
money that is, if you don't rate ii
young man too high"
Helen glanced smilingly from h,
lovers to her fathers face
you are very kind, papa, but ! 4,
very well satisfied with my New Year
gift. AS to receiving its value in none,
not all that the whole world contain
can give what it is worth to me.
Mary Grace Halpine, in n. Y. Week.,
The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1891-12-26

as the good doctor himself as
serted, though he looked as if he en-
ioyed it as well as the youngest among
the merry group that surrounded him,
none of whom ever thought it nece ,sary
to put on long countenancc because
father had come Indeed, this was
The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1891-12-26

will go further than longer creeds. For
if man is not kind to his fellow. whom
he has seen. how shall he be to his God
whom he has not secn?-liarkiey Hank
err in n y. Weekly
The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1891-12-26

garets little let
ter he laughed
and showed it to
L II o III a $ K a V
nond, anOt h er
clerk who was
busily engaged ut
anot h er t a b | e.
NJ +. X a Y IN o n d
read it through.
The name Oakley
attracted his at
tcntion. Nv hat
if it should be
James Oakley, the
friend of my boy
hood. ' he asked
himself.
ChriStm as eve
came, and Mar
garet. Dick and
Robbie. with the
unwavering faith
of childhood. hung
up their stockings,
said their prayers
around their mo-
theirs knee, and
were soon tucked
away in their lit
tie beds, dream
ing of Christmas
and Santa Claus.
Mr.. Oakley, too
| feeble to sit up
more than a few
hours at a time,
had already re-
tired. Mrs. Oak
ley sat thinking
sadly of the disap-
pointment which
seemed awaiting
the children for
the first time in
| their lives. Sud
denly the doorbell
rang, and as Mrs.
Oakley ope n e d
the door, there
stood an express
man and in the
street a loaded
wagon. From it's
depths he drew
out a big fat tur-
key, a hand-sled
and a heavy paper
box wrapped up
in thick paper.
Having deposited
The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1891-12-26

always the signal
for incre 4 5 { q
nirth and happi-
ness.
The hoIid ay 5
were approaching.
and the doctor ;
four daug h t e rs
were all discuss
ing the important
subject of Christ
mas and New
Year gifts, and
comparing notes
as to the bcauti-
full articles they
had seen in the
shop windows.
We said all. and
vet there was one.
a fair. Sweet-lOok
ing girl, sitting a
little apart from
the rest. who did
not join in this
animated CONVEX
Sation. though ey-
identity from no
unfri t n d " IN O.
tiveS.
This was DIR,
Byrne's oldest and
best loved daugh-
ter. and he noticed
her quiet mood.
" And what does
Helen want for
her New Year
gift:.''
The doctor re-
GREETED the ques-
ton as soon as il
passed his lips.
Helcn's quickly
averted eyes filled
with tears. her lips
quivered. and. at
ter silently strug-
Cling for a few
MON e II I 5 " / t h
her feelings. she
arose and left the
room.
As soon as the
doctor could do SO
unObServ e d, h e
f ollo W e d h c T,
going directly to
h er c h a IN b e +,
where he found
Hele II so b b ing
with an abandon
ment of grief that
alarmed him.
My daughter,
he said, in a tone
o f t e n d er re-
proach, ''do not
give way to your
sorrow thus
Helen lifted her
head from her ia
theirs shout d e r,
with a smile that
was Sadder even
than tears.
The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1891-12-26

-Bobley says that Christina,
great give-away.-Rochester Post.
The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1891-12-26

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