davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1891-12-24

A woman who had spent a full hour
in n of the stores looking for some
thing for her son" was finally asked II
she was not rather particular for q
would-be purchaser who had such q
choice of Christmas presents.
"Why, yes, l suppose l am, A." she re-
piled, but | tell you | need to be-"
"Then your son is also particular"
81 should say sol Hardest boy TO suit
you ever saw. Why, he's turned me
out doors, had a fight with his, father,
set the house on fire and taken the
horse of and sold it. And If | should
get him anything he didn't happen to
like he'd kick all the furniture out of
the windows, order his father OFF the
premises and use me for a foot-wiper.
Oh, we know Tommy from top TO bot
tom, and we've got to be very particu-
lar and consult his feelings. Detroit
Free Press.
The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1891-12-24

/ presume ! have been about the sam
sort Of a fellow as for manyyears. But
to my faithful wife / have not spoken
n fretful or cross -or complaining
word, to the best of my knowledge and
belief, for twelve months last past. I
have not made much money this year,
but have made n heart glad.
Now let me tell you how difficult this
a Did you ever stand by a running
stream and think how smooth as oil its
swift flow was2 Then Won thrust your
hand in the water, and 10! it was a mill
race. Phe waters boiled and spattered
about your hand till you could hardly
hold IL there.
We'll, now 1 realized the force
of my snappy, scolding habit 10 that
woman till my new vow began 10 check
it. found that | had been in the CON
slant habit Of playing the coward-that
is, scolding a good woman. A dozen
times each week the fretful words
sprang 10 my lips. l shut my mouth
tightly, and my! how the bitter stuff
bubbled and boiled against my teeth on
the insidel You may laugh, but, actual
ly, l had TO chew the words. My wife,
quite a lady for proprieties, used 10 ex-
claim: "Harkley, / do wish you would
not chew that spruce gum as you leave
the door. How it looks on the streetV'
Which generally made me laugh as /
kissed her good morning. Dear heart,
1t was far better that l chew my spleen
than her gentle spirit with biting words,
this one kind year.
l have noticsl1pn increased fondness
10 my wife, thiy one kind year. She
draws ear TO me o~ftener, she confdes
in me more, she has lost that 'I'm
afraid-of-you' look that half the time
she used 10 wear. We consult now
about family matters; before we used
to telephone TO each other, as ID were.
Her spirit has improved. The irrita-
tion that i had inflicted, II seems she
The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1891-12-24

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 n suspicion grew
upon Mrs. Oakley of the manner in
which Santa Claus happened 10 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 Agricultural.
The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1891-12-24

caught, and now that / am n better
man she is a sweeter woman 1t makes
INV heart ache TO recall how often she
used at first in this kind year to glafce
up at me with n surprised and ques-
tioning look, when I spoke gently. ]
caught her studying me, curiously, as
II she were wondering II l had secretly
made a fortune recently, or had met
with what the minister calls n change
of heart. or was growing to be a boy
again. 1 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. Inev-
err let on, / Just silently kept to my re-
solver Not one cross word in n kind
year. a. Ssr-
The best Of all is the decided Improve
ment in the dear woman's health.
I Now'some Of you doctors explain that
I4ggnEEf -. acknowledgements s
more nerve, more vinSlity dvsfy way.
The children do not worry her half as
much as they usedto. She gets along
with less fretting at the servants. Can
Il be because ! worry and fret her less?
is there anything to that old sore about
a man being ''the head of the family?'
/ II so, why, when the head goes wrong
the whole body is sick, Ell? Exactly,
I'd -rRther bays RySkipdq OF n nehe
J than aH ~ nssAeahs4
The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1891-12-24

pated when he returned TO the room an
hour later.
The good doctor was fond of a joke.
'If your present doesn't suit you,
Helen" he said, slyly, II will try to
exchange it, or give you its value in
money-that is, II you don't rate the
young man too high"
Helen glanced smilingly from her
lovers to her fathers face.
lyon are very kind, papa, but l am
very well. satisfied with my New Years
gift. As to receiving its value in money,
not all that the whole world contains
can give what II is worth to me-
Mary GRACE Halpine, in N. Y. Weekly.
The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1891-12-24

Hudson river. where he was born. His
little cottage with the tall lilacs in
front, and the kitchen garden in the
rear, was a very dear place to him. His
pleasant-faeed, sunny-hearted wife kept
the home always bright and tidy, and
the three rosy children filed it with
glee and laughter. Margaret, the old
est, was a sweet, loving girl; Dick was
a sturdy, manly little fellow, and Rob
bic was the darling of the house.
Mr.. Oakley was a 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 fromghome for
weeks together, while employed at som
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 a 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 a iourishing town in
Illinois.
1t was early in spring. The red-bud
bushes were bright in the thickets, and
athousand flowers. new and strange to
the immigrants, painted the prairies.
An air Of busting activity pervaded the
town, buildings were going up on
every side, and Mi. Oakley soon found
employment at better wages than he
had yer received in his old home.
For a time everything went well with
him and his family. His work was in
constant demand, and IL his thoughts
ever turned with tender regret to the
green hills which surrounded his former
home, he had only to look at his rosy
children and picture to himself the
career-which seemed open for them in
the vigorous growing west.
Spring m 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 ooz 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, th~e'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 a treasure.
When the first brief, wintry days
came Robbie was ~once more playing
The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1891-12-24

II know how ungrateful II must
seem, papa, when 1 have so many bless
ings remaining. But could not help
thinking how he was with. us a year
ago, so strong and full of life, and
now"
Here the sobs again choked 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 DIR. Byrne checked himself, too
wise, as well as honest to hold out
false hopes.
One morning, a few days later, Helen
entered her fathers study.
"Papa, would the present You spoke
The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1891-12-24

Then uu up. I'M In the mcfXy. 49,.
with hearts ana ianeu happy and gay,
And voices OF ringing sheer
II meant to try II l couldnt keep
NY eyes from shutting ana going tosieep'
SO as TO getA Ittle peep
out in tne tr9s,g Onrlstmas nlgnt,
Wheh me moon anu staIs WIZ sn'nius viie"S
ana an the SNOW WAS Wnl.e' wh'e' ""W;
Ihey eAia y W. hvnse tIsint,
huIIslrhlgnN my WE Sn. WV 49,
~ ~ -" = - -"
-.Rrt-,t -. ,,.nf,s. a groas miatalsa
qc,sas ,Ns, fNEo,ars, So ,,s,Ue ~
How fone IL vae 4 nevsr raoId teIig
The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1891-12-24

the things in the hail. 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 were all plainly marked:
james Oakley, No. 80 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 vas 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 were soon filed TO the very
tops, and the other things laid out on a
table, where the children found them
the next morning.
There was a joyful meeting around
the breakfast table, but Mrs. Oakley's
face wore a puzzled expression. Finally
she asked; Where could all those
things have come fromP"
"Why, mamma, said Margaret,
''Santa Claus sent them. l know he
did, cause / wrote to him"
''You wrote to himP" said her mother.
Eyes, l 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 vas 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 Raymond2" 1t
was indeed the friend and playmate of
his early days.
'But how did you find meP" inquired
Mr.. oakley.
"Oh, l had IL from Santa Claus"
laughingiy replied his friend, and then
The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1891-12-24
New TkAa, 1850.

been a very busy one TO Helen, aud a
happy one as we'll; for hers was one of
those sweet and loving natures that
find Joy in the reflected happiness Of
others.
She had caused the widows heart to
sing for Joy" and this consciousness
had brought into her own great peace.
All the younger members Of the
family had gone out TO some entertain
men. Helen had wanted 10 have n little
talk with her father, but a stranger was
with him. so the servant said, and, with
a lonely feeling In her heart, she vent
up to her own room.
DIR. Byrne came up almost immediate-
ly. There was a strange light in his
eyes, and more than usual tenderness
and solemnity in his manner, as he laid
his hand on Helen's head.
slpssls3t With hee tasnlshA dAnahe
ut is well, father"
AFTER nighf, the mordsgy nfter win
Ter. the spring. tod IL &c. 7t1
us than we cam e asls Or think
"He is very good father
DIR. Byrne drew his daughters arm
within his.
"Come into my study, Helen, and get.
your New Years gift. Because you
have forgotten yourself in caring for
others, did you think your old father
b. gning IA forget yon2n
oh mo- papng but Won gave IL TO me,
lyon remember, in money didn't exA
pect anythine--fndccll \ don't think
you Ought 10 give mo anything more.'
"well, wellym child, just come and
look at IL. II you don't want it, or
would prefer its equivalent in money,
you can tell me So"
With silent wonder in her heart, not
unmingled with curiosity, Helen stood
at the half open studyhoor.
The shaded Light upon her fathers
desk revealed the faint outline of a man
who was standing near it, and who adj
vanced eagerly toward her.
Helen looked up, bewildered, into the
face of the man she had mourned as
dead, and then. with a faint cry of joy.
threw herself into the arms that had
opened to receive her.
DIR. Byrne almost regretted his pre-
cipitancy rs he looked upon his daugh
ter's pale face. But joy does not often
kiln ahd-his-fear were entirely dissi-
The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1891-12-24

will go further than longer creeds. For
II a man is not kind TO his fellow, whom
he has seen, how shall he be 10 his God
whom he has not seen?-Harkley Hark-
err, in N. Y. Weekly.
The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1891-12-24

me.
Itwas Just one year ago, December
tHat TIC teafhfFwife Of my neighbor
made 70 me the ahaSE~xsmagk neas
Charleyi He ran a Locomotive betwcoh
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 I took the resolve that
very night, as, in company with a
brother of our lodge, | turned away
from ehnrley's door 80 help me God,
my wife shall be able to say as much
81 me this coming year. Apd now 1
may, 4 trust, record IL l have lived
One kind year. To many other people
The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1891-12-24

around the house, and his father, upon
whom the fever had spent its force,
could only sit, wan and pale, in his arm
chair. His little savings were rapidly
melting away and a long winter had
only Just begun. Christmas was near
at hand, and who was TO fiji the chill
dren's stockings and make the day a
merry one for them?
Margaret was a thoughtful little girl,
and she pondered long oven the matter.
Two days before Christmas she got a
postal card, and sat down and wrote bn
ID as follows;
rDEAR SANTA CLAus;-we have moved
since last Christmas, and ] am afraid you won't
know where to ind us, so ! write this We
live now at No. 80 East Fourth street. Papa
and Robbie have been awfully sick, and papa
Dick a sled, Ind l ' would like a doll. for l lost
mine when we moved Goodhy.
"MARGAREr OAKLEY
:. She vrote-ts
ON the< other side af the postal card,
and Just then her m~othercnnet and d.
rected her 10 go 20 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. AL
that day and the next Margaret went
singing through tho house, in the old
liehtshearted way-she had shown so
little since ssiexness had invaded the
household
Soon after the postal card was
dropped intothe box the pustman came
around and threw it, with a lot of other
cards, letters and newspapers, into n
bag, which he carried to the post office.
There n clerk took the bag, poured the
contents out on a table and began sort
ing them over. When he came 20 Mar
The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1891-12-24

tracted,' as the good doctor himself as
serted, though he looked as II he en-
ioyed It as well as the youngest among
the merry group that surrounded him,
nvneeof whom ever thonghtit neee ssary
10 put on n long -countenance because
ass.e s.uSsSSmeS fndeed. this was
The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1891-12-24

always the signal
for piHerea d
mirth and happi-
ness.
The hol
were approaching.
and the DOCTORS
four daug hi RS
were all discuss
ing the important
subject of Christ
mas and New
Year gifts, and
comparing notes
as 10 the beauti-
full articles they
had seen in the
shop windows.
We said all, and
yet there was one,
a fair, sweet-look-
ing girl, sitting a
little apart from
the rest, who did
not join in this
a %n.i oon'eI
identity from no
unfri endly o.
tiyes.
@ M. N.
pnrna,s o,das, and
hSs,-,onad danaL
-
- -;a,NmsaS
a,,,,
anu Wr'ee uoes
Heieh "ans ior
her new lear
gut
~ "oVVoi re-
$500 vic fues
- 90 eoon "' ~
Pass.u N'' "ps,
heien quickly
avertea eyes MED
WIN tears her hps
quivered' ana al
Ter silently htrnR-
gling ior a rev
MON ! Wit
her ieeiings. she
arose anu iei' inc
roo'n'
AS soon as the
doctor couia 40 SO
unooser a,
ca n =
gong ul'eo'y
miieie no ,Cuiiu
ne .., ol
W.
"'
hlhhiAACu AlAhAls
The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1891-12-24

ter he laughed
and showed il to
Thomas RIA "
mond nnotber
clerk who was
busily engaged at
anot her table.
Mr.. Ray on d
read it through.
The name Oakley
attracted his at
tentinn.,M hat.
If it should. be
James Oakley, the
friend of my boy
hood?' he asked
himself.
Cbristm eve
came and Mar
paret. Dick and.
Fl. Robbie with the
unwayering faith.
Of childbood HING
nDtbeir stockings.
said their nravers
around their mo-
thhr's knee. and
were soon tucked
away in their lit
tie beds, dream
- 10 Cbr;s.-as
and Santa Clans.
Mr.. Oakley. too
feeble TO sit up
more h a a few
| hours at a time.
had already re-
tired. Mrs. Oak
lev sat thinking
sadly of the disan-
pointment which
| seemed awaiting
| the children for
the first time in
their lives. Sud
denly the doorbell
rang, and as Mrs.
The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1891-12-24
AN evsNrFuL r%weCvEMoNrA.

'Not One Cross Word In one Kind
Year"
''He never spoke an angry word 70
The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1891-12-24

Doweis. a. ma. NO equal as a liver medI-
cine. Price, 75c. FREE sample bottles
at A. BrandcnberRer's drug store
The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1891-12-24

SAMttk ~ %s. 'sIs5 S:sss vol
The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1891-12-24

This was DR..
Byrne'soldest and
bestowed daugh-
Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1891-05-29

d. Mills has his goods boxed and
ready for shipment to Gladwin. j. b..
Francis will move his stock of hard
ware into the Lutz block as soon as
Mr. Mills moves out.
An editor of neighboring exchange,
with the spirit of enterprise and proph-
ecy IA well, coursing in his veins, gives
vent to his feelings III the following
unique and truthful manner: "Yea,
verify, blessed is the man that sitteth
not on the seat of the kicker, nor min
giles himself in the congregation of
the moss-back, but his light Is in his
town and his schemes are to build up
his own and his neighbors' business,
and he shall be like the tall sycamore
growing by the sweet water river, his
leaf shall not wither in the early
cottonwood, for the Eli of the boomer
shall be left behind to hold the bag"
The publishers of The Canadian
Queen, Toronto, Canada, are offering
two new prize competitions, with
leading prizes consisting of pair of
Shetland Ponies, carriage and harness,
Free Trip to Europe, first-class pi-
ano, two weeks vacation to any sum-
States, all expenses paid; safety bicycle
or tricycle., one hundred dollars in
cash, suite of parlor furniture, ladies'
gold watches, etc, etc. This magazine
has become famous on account of its
prize competition. Hundreds of Amer
leans have won valuable prizes in pre-
vious contests. Sample number of The
Queen with full particulars, will be
sent by the publishers upon receipt of
the address Of any lady and six U. $. 2
cent stamps. Address, The Queen,
Toronto, Canada.
There are two benefits to be derived
from advertising-the direct benefit
and the indirect beneft-and the man
who fails to see the direct benefit of
keeping his business before the public
should feel that the indirect benefits
of keepingup a local paper and keeping
up the town, were sufficient induce
ment for him to advertise. The publicat
large has no interest in this matter. If
q paper is doing its best in times like
these, to build up Il town, it is laboring
under many disadvantages and has Il
right to expect some assistance and en-
couragement from those who, of all,
will be benefited by its efforts. The
public should keep an eye on the firms
who advertise, and give them their
patronage. This is business and it is
right. 1t is looking after the interests
of every individual in the community.
Besides, as rule, liberal advertisers
are liberal dealers, and the public can
get better satisfaction from them than
from the tight-fisted firms who would
rather have their shelves stocked with
"back numbers" than pay small ad-
vertising bill occasionally.
Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1891-05-29
General News.

Mt. Clemens has fifteen doctors.
Mt. Clemens has about 800 strangers
in its midst.
A new 1000 school house is to be
erected at Mt. Clemens.
Landlord Collins recently lost $50
but cannot tell how, when or where.
The authorities at Croswell are try
ing to strictly enforce the liquor law.
A driving park association will he
organized at Sand Beach with $3.50
capital.
The Croswell L. p. society are con-
sidering the ACCESSIBILITY of building
new church.
A factory is to be put up at Croswell
which will manufacture broom and
shovel handles.
Rev. F. +. York preached his fare
well sermons to Richmond Congrega-
tionalists last Sunday.
Croswell boys have organized a cricket
team and base ball will now have q
little rest in that vicinity.
The work of ballasting the PIT. Austin
division of the f. d p. NJ. for broad
gauge has been commenced.
Mrs Isaac Ward, living near Lapeer,
was burned to death last week, her
clothes catching fire from burning
pine stump.
Commencement exercises are to be
held in Richmond on the evening of
June 9TH. There are nine members in
the graduating class.
Cheese will be made in eight facto-
rics in Sanilac county this season,
Croswell, Peck, Roseburg, Amadore,
CarsOnville, bennington, Cumber and
Elmer City.
\ little 2-year-old son of Gustave
Paapst, living southeast of Marlette,
fell into Il swill barrel, which was sunk
in the ground, one day last week, and
was drowned.
John Heath, q farmer living > miles
from Port Huron, was blowing last
sg'E, when he found some wild
arnips which he and his sons ate.
The man was dead in 20 minutes but
Che sons were saved after hard labor
ON Che part Of the doctors.
1h1s. Wurtzenhurg, German, who
came TO work for John Taske, an
arn farmer, about three months ago,
1 ie'lll Rove with Iaskc's pretty daugh-
,N', p. uecomirg Jealous, shot her.
lg r.l IN % fgccariOus condition.
Charles was arrested, and languishes
in Jail at Mt. Clemens.
Chester Dcmott, of Capac, narrowly
escaped death last week by being run
over by Il train, while crossing the
track. The train was wild one and
running fast. The man did not see it
until Il was nearly upon him. As il
was, it converted the wagon into kin
ding wood and threw Demott into the
ditch several feet away where he es-
capped with a severe knocking up.
A Port Huron street car was struck
by freight train while crossing the G..
q G.. 4. R'y and the car turned COM
pletely over and wrecked. Edward
Traverse, who had charge of the car,
jumped, but in doing so broke his leg.
He would probably have been killed if
he had remained in the car. A law
suit will be likely to follow, as there
was no gate tender on duty and the
gate was swung for safe passage.
Rev. Henry n. Bissell, former pastor
of the Presbyterian church at Mt.
Clemens and Congregational church
at Armada, died at his late home in
Erin, Macomb county, on the 18th of
May, of pneumonia. The funeral was
held at Mt. Clemens and was ono of
the largest and most solemn ever held
in the community. Mr.. Bissel had
preached the gospel in that county for
81 years and was a dearly beloved
pastor.
Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1891-05-29
Drain Your Cellar.

A few dollars worth of tile will keep
q cellar dry forever. We have an
sizes at low rates.
TAPPAN & LAW.