davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Globe-republican., 1891-12-24
ToGoD,
In Heaven

/ turned it over and over in utter
alnazcment- In one Of the corners l
found the evidence of grief-two little
blisercd spots What can this mean?
said to myself At last the thought
dauned upon me that the nurse might
hare placed it there to gratfy some
childish whim of my little daughter.
Debating what to do / finally decided
to open the package before mailing it
intending to close it again-for saw
it had been properly stamped and
scaled. This is what read aloud to
myself and what more ! read bet tween
the lines is too sacred for ne 10 repeat:
DEAR GoD:-I am little girl and live in
Philadelphia Nursie says everybody Knows
wAere Philadelphia is, so OF course you do. I'm
too lItt1e to Eritc very well. and Nursie says it
has been . long time since she went fO school,
but she thought you wouldn't have much
trouble in reading her uritiEg SO she is going
to do d. for cae- She says sic will write lns1
The Globe-republican., 1891-12-24
ON EARTH AND GOOD WILL TO MEN.
BY II. G. Dodge.

II was so glad TO know tha; Nursic is so good
to you. Give her q Kiss for nc. Pet your little
kittens for re, 100. told all this TO papa last
night il his dreams and he will write it out for
me. Pleasant dreams and happy days and q
merry Christmas TO my precious darling. Your
loving angel MAMMA
Tie world looked strangely different
to me the next day. seemed to find
sunshine in unexpected places. Faces
which before were blank now lighted
up with meaning.
handed my crippled newsboy quar-
ter for my evening paper and forgot to
stop for the change. hurried home at
night with lighter heart, for carried
in my pocket mammals letter to Mary.
After dinner gathered my household
together in the library. With Mary in
my lap read to her the letter from
mamma. A breath from Heaven filed
our hearts and home that night. 1t was
Christmas eve. and our home has seemed
more like Heaven to all of us ever since
y. b. MacKendree, in Phila- Press.
The Globe-republican., 1891-12-24
wouldn't romp, but would play quietly,

wouldn't romp, but would play quietly,
they might amuse themselves in the Ii
brary for awhile. Grandpa Wyman,
behind the thick curtain, was about to
order them out, when Jack said:
'Oh, 1 tell you, Bertha, let's play /
was grandpa and you was me, and play
/ talked to you just like grandpa does;
that'll be good, quiet play"
Bertha laughed and said: well, wait
till l get papa's old dressing gown and
a pair of grandpa's specs; there's pair
lyin' around loose in his room"
'You better not let him catch you in
his room." warned Jack.
go, know better than that" said
Bertha as she scampered of.
In a few minutes she returned and
merrily at the figure little Jack
cut in his papa's dressing gown and
grandpa's spectacles.
Now you must be doin' scmethin', -
began Jack; lit doesn't make much
difference what. and I'll make my voice
awful growly, just like grandpa's."
The Globe-republican., 1891-12-24
what tell Ter to. AID this is wa.t want to
The Christmas Tree.

what tell her TO- asd this is wast want to
say:
My mamma died last year and want TO
talk with her so r.uch that I though. you could
fili her and give her this letter from Ee.
'IhOpe il Won't trouble yo- much, and il you
will do il will try 10 be very good little girl
andeay my prayers every night. Good-by.
MARY
"AY DEAR LITTLE MAaXA:-I wocder if you
know how very, very E.rcn miss you? Some-
times thins lear ycu calling me. aad run
to your roon to see. but everything there
Is still Then co-e back to my little room
ard have cry aii by myself. Ito,d Nu.sie TO-
day how much wanted TO see you and talk to
you. Iguess she had something in her eyc .or
she wiped IL . long time with tie corner OF he.
apron, and when she was through she asked
ne II IL wou!dn': be nice TO write you . Letter
SO this is the way she fxed it.
'.Shc said must write . little letter 20 God
and ask Hin to find yoa and give you this let
ter from nee. So I told God would be very
good little girl end say my prayers every night.
and 30 guess yGu'll get This. It seems so long
since saw you, mamma. Everybody told me
would get rsec to 1t, By end By, but dent
The Globe-republican., 1891-12-24
but before went to my room l had
written this letter from mamma to Mary:

but before went to my room had
written this letter from mamma to Mary:
My DEAR LITTLE DARLING Il have just fin
ishcd reading your sweet letter and not very
little one. either. And how do you think did
ite Looking over your shoulder as Nursic
wrote il for you. This will seem very queer to
you, and Cannot make you understand it now,
but you will some dag. So papa did not need
to send your letter to me- and he wanted SO
much TO keep it told him he might. l think
il Will do papa good, too, whenever he reads il.
After you went TO sleep last night / kissed
you in your little bed, just rs used TO. think
yOu must have felt it, for you smiled very
swrctly. sag papa 60 TO your room and kncel
down by your side for q long, long time, and
he kissed yCu very gently.
He had his paasy and yoU- letter with him,
SO knew Ec was thinking OF me, too. You
wish 10 know al about Heaven my little one.
YOu shall, by and by, better than can tell you.
But I'll tell this much, that il is Elore beautiful
than al the pretty stories l used to tell you.
Don't think about il too Ianch, NY little one,
hut play you have pretty Heaven where you
arc.
Il am always so happy and you must not be
sad for me. 1t Will not be long before we are
all together again ! think papa will have
more time 10 play With you in . few days.
The Globe-republican., 1891-12-24
along. I'd love Grandpa wynaa if he

along. I'd love Grandpa Wyman if he
was like that"
'Well he never will be, :" said Bertha,
in a discouraging tone, because when
he was q boy the children never did
anything wrong; they were all just like
grown-ap people, and never did the
least thing out the way
Il bet they did, said Jack. promptly.
''Why, jack" replied Bertha, what
makes you say that?"
But Jack was in decidedly defiant
state just then. The thought of having
to confess about the glasses seemed to
have sOured the gcod-natured little fell
low.
Il bet he acted just like any other
boy" persisted Jack. Il wouldn't won
der a speck if he was just horrid lid
when he was little. only he's forgot all
about it all now. Only think how old
he ISL
Il don't think you talk pretty at all,
Jack" began Bertha, seriously; latter
you go to bed you'll think about it,
The Globe-republican., 1891-12-24

women are the pupils, and as long as
we live there are lessons to be learned.
Grandpa Wyman was u very unfortu-
nate old man because he had forgotten
something. And what he had forgotten
was something which old people ought
always to remember. and that was
that when he was young he behaved
very much like child, anda very child
ish child at that.
But now. when he was seventy years
old, Grandpa Wyman seemed to expect
that his grandson Jack. aged eight
years. would behave as well and know
almost as much as his father: and that
Bertha, aged ten, would be as indus
mother: but one day Bertha and Jack.
and Jack in particular. taught Grandpa
Wyman very useful lesson.
1t was just before New Years day.
and that, you know. is the great time
for making resolves, but Grandpa Wy
man hadn't thought of making any re-
solves: he seemed to think he was
pretty good old man, and he really was,
but we are never too old to determine
to do better in coming year than we
have done in the past.
Well. this afternoon. just before New
Years day, Grandpa Wymau had gone
to the library to find book, and when
he found it the room was so dark he
went behind the curtain to read a mo-
ent, and while he was reading Bertha
and Jack came into the library. The
children were not generally allowed to
play there at nll; but this afternoon the
furnace fire got rather low and the
nursery YVES cool; so mamma said if they
The Globe-republican., 1891-12-24

stormy night in the middle of winter.
In my library was n brightly-blazing
fire; on the table student lamp with
colorcd shade. which filed the room
with rich and mellow light.
An hour may have passed, for dis
covered that 1 had been mapping, when
heard the patter of slippered feet in
the hall, and a moment later my little
daughter came in for her goodnight
kiss.
In her dainty night robe she kneeled
by my chair and said her Now l lay
me-" thought heard little sigh as
she finished it. She climbed into my
lap and kissed me time and time again.
There seemed to be q sweet and Pc
culiar tenderness in her childish ca
resses. At length she skipped away
with her nurse to bed, calling back to
me from the stars: Good night! Pleas
ant dreams and happy birthday"
While she was caressing me so pro-
fusely, heard a little click IN my letter
rack where l placed ny letters to be
ready for the morning mail. Reaching
over found a dainty package and read
this address upon it:
The Globe-republican., 1891-12-24
WHEN l WAS A Boy

never touched anythin' b'longin' to ttci,
grandfathcrs; now you see!' with which
knowing observation Jack marched out
of the library, followed by Bertha
But after supper something rcmarl<a'
BILE happcned; oh, something very re-
markable indeed! Jack. like the manly
little fellow he was, went up to Grand
pa Wyman and said:
'Grandpa, I'm very sorry, but Bertha
and took your spectacles to play with
this afternoon, and broke one of tho
glasses out. think papa IL have ii
mended if ask him to-
Grandpa Wyman swallowed hard,
then said, comfortingly:
Never mind. my little dear. acci-
dents will happen. l remember doing
much the same thing once when l was
little boy; so no matter, grandpa
doesn't care ut all"
Jacks look of utter wonder almost
made grandpa forget himself. and ask
the child what on earth he was staring
at. but he checked the impulse in time,
and the next moment Jacks hearty, re-
lieved: ''Oh, thank you, grandpa.
made him feel very comfortable.
That night Grandpa Wyman laid
awake long time making resolves.
and there came day before the win
ter was over when, on passing the
nursery door, he overheard few re-
marks. which made him feel very
thankful he had made the resolves for
the new year. and had kept them, too.
Jack was talking. and, just as grandpa
was opposite the door, he caught these
words:
''Ho! l really love Grandpa Wyman
now; l hope he'll live forever! but
didn't use to wish So"
Il wonder what changed him sO?'
came in Bertha's voice ''he seems like
a new grandpa. What nice little story
that was he told US last night about the
way they ceasted when he was Il boy"
Its jolly to hear bout when he was
q little boy nowadays" said Jack. Then
he repeated Bertha.s remark: Il won
der what changed grandpa so?' II
think, he added, in his droll. little way.
''th2t the old Grandpa Wyman run out
the door when the new year came in,
and a new Grandpa Wyman run in.''
Out in the hall the new Grandpa Wy
man said softly t. himself:
That's jnst shout 1t. nv ov1 little
Jacki Yon and Bertha made the old
grandpa so ashamed of himself that he
did bid himself good-by as the old year
went out. and when the new year came
in l really believe . new Grandpa Wy
man came with it-one who has sense
enough to remember that when he was
a little boy he was very much the same
as little boys are nowadays
And Grandpa Wyman deserves a COM
plimcnt. for it is a very wise old man
who learns SO we'll a plain, simple les
son.-Mrs- Harriet A. Cheever, l. Chris |
tian at Work. !
The Globe-republican., 1891-12-24
CHRISTMAS CONFIDeNCES.

What a lot of things Santa Claus
brings into the house," unused n little
fellow, ''sincc father failed IN business. +"
Christmas Aattens out many a fat
wallet.
Santa Claus forgets all the bad things
VIC do.
1t is q bad boy who ties his new tin
rattle to the dogs tail.
The destructive boy who pokes a hole
in his drum won't annoy his neIghbors.
The bad boy who doesn't grow good
at Christmas is beyond all hope in this
world.
The cute boy always looks to see IL
there is :. hole in his stocking before
hanging it up.
1t was very kind of Mr.. Lavish to
take my two girls out for sleigh ride"
philosophical the butcher, but wish
he had given me the ten dollars the
sleigh cost on account of his meat bill"
Christmas Judge.
The Globe-republican., 1891-12-24

You used TO tell me such pretty stories about
Heaven and the angels. Arc you an angel now
How funny il must be TO float around In tho
ar. You used to tel me not to cry when you
were sick 30 long. because you would be very
happy where you were going.
Il wonder Why people look ut me so funny.
They always look sad when they sec me. Some
times I ask Nursie to tell me vhy but she don't
seem TO know. You looked 50 pretty, mamma,
when saw you before you went away. have
. little pansy you gave me yet Papa has one,
while. wonder what makes papa so still now.
He doesn't have much time to play with me-
either, like you
Sometimes want to put my arms around
your neck and kiss you just before so to sleep.
And then look out Of my window. way up TO
the stars and wonder il you are up there.
Nursic is real good to me and CLUES my dolly's
head when I crack it.
I'm so sleepy now, mamma have to hold
my eyes open with my fingers
Good night, dear little mamma
From your little darling
"P. Sod Tabby has some more kittens.
Two are white and two &C H.ack."
The letter dropped <-om my hand.
While reading these a.ving words 1
lived my whole life over again. How
selfish and sordid it all seemed to me
now. The picture stood out in bold re-
lief-the artists hand was that of a
child. How long sat do not know,
The Globe-republican., 1891-12-24
Bertha took book and began look

Bertha took book and began look
ing at some pictures.
Bertha! Bertha said Jack. putting
himself ,out in his efforts to make hi.
voice -growly:' don't you think YOU
better go he helpin' your mother std o
lookin' Et foolish pictures? When
was boy there was always somethin
useful TO be did by children
Mamma doesn't want me- whined
Bertha
--Wh! don't you sit up straight?
again quoted little Jack: you'll get the
round shoulders the first thing you
know: when I was boy it was the
fashion TO sit up propily. not in that
crooly style"
Bertha gigglcd at Jacks voice and
''crOoky" expression.
''You laugh at me, miss he cried,
droppi.g his sgr.wly voice for little
scream of pretended anger why, l
never did see such ,disrespec' in all my
life, never! When 1 was a boy my
mother'd took my head off my shoul'
ers ii laughed IN anybsdy's face: but,
there! chilrep isn't what they used to
been!'
Bertha giggled again.
Tain fair to keep laughing" COM
planned Jack.
'Well. you dc talk SO 'xactly like
grandpa" said Bertha, land act like
him, too; but Ill try not to laugh any
more
She put down the hook and began
looking at Jack, swinging one foot as
she sat in the great library chair.
'.Is it Necessary for you to keep tha4
foot a-wagglin'?- asked Jack -Taint
mannerly for a child to sit a-swinEin'
her foot right before my eyes When
Twas Z boy fOots were made to s-alk
on. not to swing about"
please. never was a boy said
Bertha.
Jacks face grew awful with sudden
wrath.
Ibid l hear my own cars?" he ex-
claimed: Il shall go imcgit.y to your
mother and ask her does she low you
to speak sarsy to me? When Twas a
boy. anyone who spoke that way to
a grandfather got put to bed and kept
there for q week.
Jack started on a prodigious stride
toward the door. but had taken but
step or two. when he tripped on the
long dressing gown and fell headlong.
At this. both broke into a loud laugh.
but Grandpa Wyman. behind the cur
tain. made never sign. When Jack
got up he threw aside the dressing
gown. but the spectacles. to his real
distress. had lost one of the glasses.
''Oh. dear me. here's one O the glasses
ont o the specs" he walled; what
ever shall Go?"
'.Never mind" said Bertha, cheer;ly.
tell grandpa the truth about it-that's
ALL"
.'Oh, but he'll scold until my head'n
ache,'' said little Jack. II say, Bertha
he added. soberly. what do you sup
pose makes grandpa SO cross?'
Il guess grandpas always are" re-
turned Bertha
mo they amt" said Jack. Harry
Swans got grandpa that lives with
him, and he says he's just elegant; tells |
him stories and takes him to walk. and
xplcins things beautifully as they 20
The Globe-republican., 1891-12-24

One little girl in an uptown fam
lily anxiously inquired of her mother
Christmas eve if she thought Santa
Claus would go in the dining-room. as
she had told him in her letter she
wanted dolly and she was afraid Santa
would see her old one and think she did
not need one. She finally hid her doll
in basket and covered it mp. and was
sure she had fooled old Santa when a
new dolly was found in her stocking
Christmas morning Utica Observer
The Globe-republican., 1891-12-24

See my strands OF popcorn white,
See the presents. row on row,
Swinging, swaying, to and fro.
On, the strange and motley fruit
That bear from branch to root!
In the forest dim and vast,
Where ny early days were passed,
Never dreamed such estate
Fer would be Eay happy fate.
lat they came and blow on blow,
The strong choppers laid me low.
Wanted me tor Christmas; SO
Here am, and can see,
That there really could not be
Much df a Christmas without me.
Ding dong! Ding dong!
Oh, tie music sweet and strongi
In the s1eeple bell swing.
And ring and ring and ring;
For I'm the Christmas bell.
And my glad notes surge and swell,
And better than aught beside tell
OF Loves dear birth. Of peace on earth,
Good Will to men. Now what. pray,
Would be the merry Christmas Day,
Without the clang and surge and swell
OF lie. the Happy Christmas Bell:
And now pray. just look at M,
Mr. Christmas Bell. Mr. Christmas Tree.
In soasting just be pleased to pause,
Tor !, you can see, am-Santa Claus!
And neither OF you are, I'll be bound,
OF much account when I'm around
High and low and rich and poor,
l come with gifts to every door.
II ever the time should come about,
When the over wise ones vote me out
And should with my deer and sledge,
Over oblivion's outnost edge
Out OF the dear world S sight and ken.
What would become of Christmas then?
So Christmas bell, aad Christmas tree,
Be little more modest, and look at-ME,
Oh. no! oh. no what's all this fuss?
Better keep still and look at-US.
Now tell us true. old pine ewOOd tree,
II We weren't here where would you be:
Would you ring out so jolly clear,
Old steeple bell, if we weren't here?
And you, old Sanity, wherc'd you 60,
II il weren't for us. I'd like TO know?
For in spite of all you can sing or say.
We boys and girls make Christmas Day.
-Carlotta Perry in ". Y. Independent
The Globe-republican., 1891-12-24

The future gives no secret out.
What is to be she guards full well
And leaves the searcher still in doubt
But as know not, therefore,
Will act rs tho this year should be
Tho last beneath the sunny sky
That eer kind Heaven shall give to me.
With sympathy my heart shall beat
For every creature God has made.
And love to man. divincly sweet
Each momclt shall ny breast pervade.
Revenge or hatred sha not find
Within my being room TO hide,
And malice, poison If the mind
Condemned with scrpents to abide.
Each day shall see somc duty done,
Some act OF pure unsclfshness;
And everywhere my feet shall run
To help brother in distress.
Tho many years may como to me-
Like those now numbered with the past
A priceless pearl this one shall be
AS tho, indeed. it were my last
CIV. Crofts. in Inter Ocean.
The Globe-republican., 1891-12-24

NO, l won't"
said Jack; ''all I'll
think bout by
that time III be
h ow gran dpa
scolded bout his
old glasses. and
said when he was
a boy CHI il rem
The Globe-republican., 1891-12-24

THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRIsrMAs.
The Globe-republican., 1891-12-24

AM the Christmas
Tree!
Come and take o
look at me:
See my tapers
burning bright:
The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1891-07-09
Trouble in the Moon

Prof. j. L. Ray, who has been for
somes months past closely studying
the moons contour through his great
telescope, now comes to the front with a
statement of a startling discovery of re-
cent terrible volcanic action in our long
considered dead satellite.
For some months past lie has been Of
the opinion that volcanic action on the
moon. if it has been extinct, is not so
now, even though he could not supply
reasons by the nebular hypothesis. '.On
the night of June 49, SAYS Professor
Ray, my theory was confirmed as I
gaZed upon our once quiet and modest
Luna, evidencing tremendous energy
over her whole surface which presented
itself. | saw that what here of late have
been considered great gray plains are in
reality great seas, or else a molten mass,
as | saw immense sheets, seemingly of
water, thrown through the lunarian at
mosphere and finding a resting place at
least a thousand miles from where they
formerly were. l saw several great
mountains sink-the whole moon swayed
to and fro and everything in the Lunar
heavens was in the widest confusion |
gazed with intensest awe upon this aw-
full spectacle for hours, until the confu-
sion finally subsidized and there seemed
to be a dead calm as before. / feel fully
confident that the moon was thrown
several degrees out of her course, and
she is also perceptibly nearer, perhaps
10000.
ssNow, how this may affect the natural
order of things | cannot tell, but as the
revolution of the moon is caused by an
instantaneous force hurting our satellite
into space, and the constant attraction
of the earth, then if this constant force
of the attraction of the earth increases
as the square of the distance decreases,
and this instantaneous force remains the
same. we see that the two forces no
longer balance, and this harmonious
action of forces would be destroyed, and
and the moon will finally come directly
to earth and terrible will be the crash
so it may be that in the near future
our satellite and the earth will unite and
become one, as they were once before,
some time in the history of the universe,
far back in eternity
The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1891-07-09

At San Francisco, Cal, the work of
laying the underground telephone cable
has begun. When the underground sys-
TEN is completed there will be 5000 miles
of wire dispos Of
The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1891-07-09
PRAYER.
Pray when the waves OF sorrow

Pray when the waves of sorrow
over the spirit roll;
Pray when the LORDS bright sunlight
Is shining upon thy soul;
Pray when thy souls life's threaten6d
BY some besetting sin;
Pray for the Lords deliverance
From foes without, within.
Pray when the friends look coidly,
Or foes hurl a venomed dart;
Pray when some thoughtless speaker
Has caused the tears to start;
Pray when you walk the desert,
Or faint beside the way;
When the road seems rongh and thorEy,
Pray, without ceasing, pray.
For prayer scales the steepest mountain.
And lightens the darkest vale;
1t soothes the toughest pathway,
IT'S weapon that cannot fail.
No honest, earnest seeker
For help was e'er turned away;
Whatever thy need or burden,
Pray-without ceasing, pray.
The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1891-07-09
MANASSAS BRANCH.

WARRENToN-Trains Nos 8, TO- IL, and 10,
connect daily to and from Warrenton, and No.
IA daily except Sunday.
FRANKLIN DIVISION: Daily except Sunday.
Leave Rocky Mount $50 a.. m. Arrive Franklin
Junction $40 a. M Leave Franklin Junction
Observation-Disclosures leave Orange for Cor
louisville S:15 P. M, 1245 p M. daily. Returning.
leave Gordonsvlle for Orange at 1880 A. NJ, $3.50
P. NJ daily, and 600 A. NJ, daily except Sunday.
SLEEPING CAR SERVICE.
On trains Nos. 9 and TO- Pullman Buffet
Sleepers between New York and Atlanta, ANA
Atlanta and New Orleans.
On trains No. IL and IL Pullman Buffet Vesti-
bule Sleepers between Washington and New
Orleans New York and Washington to Hot
Springs via Salisbury; and Washington ana
Augusta.
On trains No. Is and l6 Pullman vestibule
Sleepers between Washington and Cincinnati
and Louisville.
On trains Nos. 13 and IA Pullman Buffet Sleep
ers between Washington and Memphis via
Lynchburg and Bristol.
Through tickets on sale at the principal sta
lions to all points. For rates or Information
apply to any agent of the Company, or to
c. M. BORUM, d. p. A.
Lynchburg, Va.
JAS. !, TAYLOR, G. P. A., Washington. DC.
nOv13