davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Brenham weekly banner. [volume] (Brenham, Tex.) 1877-1907, 1891-12-24

but before went to my room 1 had
written this letter from mamma to Mary:
"MYDEAR LITTLE DARLING Il have Just fin
ished reading your sweet letter and not very
little one. either. And how do you think did
it? Looking over your shoulder as Nursie
wrote it for you. This will seem very queer to
you, and cannot make you understand it now,
but you will some day. So papa did not need
to send your letter to me, and he wanted so
much to keep it I told him he might. I think
it will do papa good, too, whenever he reads it.
AFTER you went to sleep last night kissed
you in your little bed, just as used to. think
you must have felt it, for you smiled very
sweetly. saw papa go to your room and kneel
down by your side for long, long time, and
he kissed yOu very gently.
He had hisipansy and your letter with him,
so knew he ,was thinking Of me, too. You
wish to know ~. about Heaven, my little ole
You shall, by and by, better than can tell you.
But I'll tell this much, that it is more beautiful
than all the pretty stories I used to tell you.
Don't think about it too much, my little one
but play you have pretty Heaven where you
are.
II am always so happy and you must not be
sad for me. 1t will not be long before we are
all together again 1 think papa will have
more time to play with you in o few days.
Brenham weekly banner. [volume] (Brenham, Tex.) 1877-1907, 1891-12-24
what I tell her to, and this is what want to

what I tell her to, and this is what want to
say:
MY mamma died last year and want to
talk with her so much that 1 thought you could
find her and give her this letter from me.
Il hope it won't trouble you much and if you
will do it will try 20 be very good little girl
and say my prayers every night. Good-by.
MARY
my DEAR LITTLE MAMMAL wonder II you
know how very, very much 1 miss you? Some
times think hear you calling me, and run
to your room to see, but everything there
is still Then 1 come back to my little room
and have cry all by myself. told Nursie to-
day how much wanted to see you and talk to
you. guess she had something in her eye for
she wiped it long time with the corner Of her
apron, and when she was through she asked
me II it wouldn't be nice to write you letter,
so this is the way she fixed it.
"She said I must write a little letter to God
and ask Him to find you and give you this let
ter from me. So told God 1 would be very
good little girl and say my prayers every night,
and so guess you'll get this. 1t seems so long
since saw you, mamma. Everybody told me
would get used to it, by and by, but don't.
Brenham weekly banner. [volume] (Brenham, Tex.) 1877-1907, 1891-12-24
CHRISTMAS Condolences.

"What lot of things Santa Clans
brings into the house." unused little
fellow, "since father failedin business. .
Christmas fattens out many fat
wallet.
Santa Claus forgets all the bad things
we co. -
1t is a bad boy who ties his new tim
rattle to the dogs tail.
The destructive boy who pokes 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 If
there is hole in his stocking before
hanging it up.
1T was very kind of Mr.. Lavish to,
takemy two girls out for a 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.
Brenham weekly banner. [volume] (Brenham, Tex.) 1877-1907, 1891-12-24

stormy night in the middle of winter.
In my library was briGhtly-blazing
fire; on the table a student lamp with
colored shade, which filled the room
with rich and mellow light.
An hour may have passed, for l dis
covered that 1 had been mapping, when
l heard the patter of slippered feet in
the hall, and Il moment later my little
daughter came in for her goodnight
kiss.
In her dainty night robe she llneeled
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 a 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 stairs: Good night! Pleas
ant dreams and happy birthday"
While she was caressing me so pro-
fusely, 1 heard little click IN my letter
rack where 1 placed my letters to be
ready for the morning mail. Reaching
over found a dainty package and read
this address upon it:
Brenham weekly banner. [volume] (Brenham, Tex.) 1877-1907, 1891-12-24
MY CHRISTMAS RIVAL.

Somehow, just then the drowsy smile DER.
came
The restless dimple midway of her chin;
And sleeps moist finger Quenched tue hazel
fame
Her curling lashes jealousy hedge in.
How sweet her slumber is, my thoughts Gi-
vine;
I'm sure yellow love-locll strays athwart
The coverlet, as if it sought to shine
Close to the happy beating of her heart.
She dreams-but not OF me. Too well know
Whose image sways her sordid little soul;
A stalwart gentleman, this favored beau,
Not young, and rather stout upon the whole.
His head hath white Of many winters frost
His beard is boar, his brow is marked Of
time;
But, in good stead of graces he has lost
The beauty of his treasure is sublime.
In fact, had some worthy gifts Of him
Myself in days not passed beyond my mind;
IT'S true his kindness now looks somewhat
dim,
As bygone favors often do, find
Yet on this Christmas eve they give ne pause,
And lend me grace his triumph to survive.
Reign over her in peace, friend Santa Claus,
She'll fout your claims next year when she
is five.
Eva Wilder McGlasson.
Brenham weekly banner. [volume] (Brenham, Tex.) 1877-1907, 1891-12-24
Bertha tool, book and began look

Bertha took a book and began look
ing at some pictures.
Bertha! Bertha" said Jack, putting
himself ont in his efforts to make his
voice 'growly;' don't you think you
better go be helpin' your mother Std O.
loollin' at foolish pictures? When l
was boy there was always somethin'
useful to be did by children"
Mamma doesn't want me-" whined
Bertha.
"Why 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
crooky style"
Bertha giggled at Jacks voice and
''crooky" expression.
You laugh at me, miss" he cried,
dropping his growly voice for little
scream of pretended anger. "Why,
never did see such disrespec' in all my
life, never! When was a boy my
mother'd took my head off my shour-
ers if laughed in anybody's face; but,
there! chilrea isn't what they used to
been!'
Bertha giggled again.
faint fair to keep laughing" COM
planned Jack.
well, you do talk so 'xactly like
grandpa" said Bertha, land act like
him, too; but I'll try not to laugh any
more"
She put down the book and began
looking at Jack, swinging one foot as
she sat in the great library chair.
SIS it Necessary for you to keep that
foot a-wagglin,?" asked Jack "Tain't
mannerly for child to sit a-swingin'
her foot right before my eyes. When
Twas a boy focts were made to walk
on, not to swing about"
please, l never was boy" said
Bertha.
Jacks face grew awful with sudden
wrath.
did l hear my own ears?' he ex-
claimed; 81 shall go imegitIy to your
to speak sarsy to me? When Twas a
boy, anyone who spoke that way to
grandfather got put to bed and kept
there for a week.
Jack started on prodigious stride
toward the door, but had taken but a
step or two, when he tripped on the
long dressing gown and fell headlong.
At this, both broke into loud laugh,
but Grandpa Wyman, behind the cur
tain, made never a 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
out, O. the Specs" he walled; what
ever shall do?"
Never mind said Bertha, cheerily,
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 CROSSE"
Il guess grandpas always are" re-
turned Bertha.
No 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
Explains things beautifully as they go
Brenham weekly banner. [volume] (Brenham, Tex.) 1877-1907, 1891-12-24

never touched anythin' b'longin' to their
grandfathcrs; now you see!'' with which
! knowing observation Jack marched out
of the library, followed by Bertha.
But after supper something remarka-
BILE happened; 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 1 took your spectacles to play with
this afternoon, and broke one of the
glasses out. think papa II have it
mended if l ask him to-
Grandpa Wyman swallowed hard,
then said, comfortingly:
Never mind, my little dear, acct
dents will happen. l remember doing
much the same thing once when 1 was
little boy; so no matter, grandpa
doesn't care Mt 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 a 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! really love Grandpa Wyman
now; hope he'll live forever! but I
didn't use to wish So
81 wonder what changed him SOP
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 coasted when he was boy"
Its jolly to hear bout when he was
little boy nowadays" said Jack. Then
he repeated Bertha's remark: Il Won
der what changed grandpa SOP" 81
think" he added, in his droll, little way,
that 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 to himself:
That's just about 1t, my own little
Jack! You 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 a new Grandpa Wy
man came with it-one who has sense
enough to remember that when he was
little boy he was very much the same
as little boys are nowadays"
And Grandpa Wyman deserves a COM
pliment, for it is very wise old man
who learns so well a plain, simple les
son.-Mrs. Harriet a. Cheever, in Chris
tian at Work.
Brenham weekly banner. [volume] (Brenham, Tex.) 1877-1907, 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 up, and was
sure she had fooled old Santa when a
new dolly was found in her stocking
Christmas morning Utica Observer
Brenham weekly banner. [volume] (Brenham, Tex.) 1877-1907, 1891-12-24

women are the pupils, and as long as
we live there are lessons to be learned.
Grandpa Wyman was 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 a child, and 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
trious and almost as quiet as her
mother; but one day Bertha and Jack,
and Jack in particular, taught Grandpa
Wyman a very useful lesson.
1t was just before New Years day,
and that, you know, is the great time
for making resolves, but Grandpa wv
man hadn't thought of making any re-
solves; he seemed to think he was a
pretty good old man, and he really was,
but we are never too old to determine
to do better in a coming year than we
have done in the past.
Well, this afternoon, just before New
Years day, Grandpa Wyman 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-
ment, and while he was reading Bertha
and Jack came into the library. The
children were not generally allowed to
play there at all; but this afternoon the
furnace fire got rather low and the
nursery was GooG; so mamma said If they
Brenham weekly banner. [volume] (Brenham, Tex.) 1877-1907, 1891-12-24

Inc 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 as tho this year should be
The last beneath the sunny sky
That e'er kind Heaven shall give to me
With sympathy my heart shall beat
For every creature God has made,
And love to man, divinely sweet,
Each moment shall my breast pervade-
Revenge or hatred shall not find
Within my being room to hide;
And malice, poison of the mind,
Condemned With serpents to abide
Each day shall see some duty done,
Some act Of pure unselfshness;
And everywhere nay feet shall run
To help brother in distress.
Tho many years may come 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
Brenham weekly banner. [volume] (Brenham, Tex.) 1877-1907, 1891-12-24

No, l won't"
said Jack; all I'll
think bout by
that time II be
h ow gran d p a
scolded bout his
old glasses, and
said when he was
a boy chill re n
Brenham weekly banner. [volume] (Brenham, Tex.) 1877-1907, 1891-12-24

See my strands OF popcorn white,
See the presents, row on row,
Swinging, swaying, to and fro.
Oh, tho strange and motley fruit
That I bear from branch to rootl
In the forest dim and vast
Where my early days were passed,
Never dreamed such estate
Fer would be my happy fate.
But they came and blow on blow,
The strong choppers laid mo low.
Wanted me tor Christmas; SO
Here l am, and can see,
That there really could not be
Much of a Christmas without me.
Ding dong Ding dong!
Oh, the music sweet and strongl
In the steeple bell swing,
And ring and ring and ring;
For am 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. 1 pray,
Would be the merry Christmas Day,
Without the clang and surge and swell
OF lie. the Happy Christmas Bell?
And now I pray. just look at m,
Mr.. Christmas Bell Mr.. Christmas Tree.
In boasting just be pleased to pause,
For /, you can see, am-Santa Ciausl
OF much account when Tn around.
High and low and rich and poor,
come with gifts TO every door.
If ever the time should come about,
When the over-wise ones vote me out,
And should g with my deer and sledge,
Over oblivion's outmost edge
Out Of the dear world sight and ken,
What would become of Christmas then?
So, Christmas bell, and Christmas tree,
Be little more modest, and look at-ME-
Oh, hoi on no what's all this fuss?
Better keep still and look at-US.
Now tell us true, old pine-wood tree,
If 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, where'd you go,
If it 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 n. Y. Independent.
Brenham weekly banner. [volume] (Brenham, Tex.) 1877-1907, 1891-12-24

But mamma and papa, of course, couldn't sleep
Without stealing down and first taking peep
The great joy of Christmas-the sweetest that's
known
Upon their glad faces is faithfully shown,
And, while they are playing "St Nick in the
dark,
A word to 'us old folks we wish to remark
o, don't you remember with thrills of delight,
The waiting and watching for Santa Claus
night
How. eyes all a-sparkle and cheeks all a-fiame..
You eagerly counted the days till it came
And then, how you hung by the chimney with
care
The biggest long stockings that mamma could
spare,
And marched with your brothers and sisters to
bed
Where visions of sugar plums danced through
your head.
o. never a night was so long as that seemed;
You couldn't get sleepy, you tossed till you
dreamed;
At last came the morn when you quickly arose
Almost too excited to button your clothes.
Then downstairs you rushed to the psrior's,
closed door,
Then paused, hardly daring to further explore
Lest raught might be there. Tnen-Hurrahf
what q shout
You gave when you found Santa Claus was.
about.
That moment supreme you can never forget
Its ever good influence clings to you yet;
'Tis sweet to look back on and live through
again,
The joy of your lifetime twill always remain
So give to your children that memory bright.
OF childhood's most wonderful Christmas de-
light,
And hang-not one stocking-but two for each
chick,
For nothing's too good or too much forSt. Nick
H. C. Dodge, in GoodalIs Sun
The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-09-06
THE STATE PRESS

Referring 10 The Dalles fire the s-,s.
rfs'7 says: THE TACT that all thesa 80 -
hagrations come in midsummer 60. eon-
press on us another lesson, and thar 4. w
axiom that prevention Is better thar 80 80 cid
the IRE departments Of Spokane, seattis v',. "
burgh and The Dalles had been emulora sAsns.
ing the season OF midsummer aror,S alf'
occasional wetting down OF the bu.ir..s = J. ne
tricts, the flames could not have eots-. .' ~
furious Roadway, and the eonnagration 80 49,
never have occurred. But instead the, -. -
around ana waited for rain TO do the wo.. J.
protection' ana as the hot days rolled BY 49,
thing became so dry that fire once startss -
furious wind could not have been chscr.. = 4
the New York FIRE department. 1t wifi ~ ~ y
that 1t Is not customary for the fire depsr,r.1a
OF city TO do this work Of prevention. Ts.s =
true, but why 80 Is question, unless sueh -
would be less necessary and more incoa v....1 80
In great city than In a smaller place. sna -
we have modelled our departments ann 49,
OF the great cities they persist in rems,-s~s
true to the copy"
Anacortes American: "The institution NJ.
day throughout the country Ia one of ths - -s.1f
steps yet taken by the wage-earner and -
bright promise Of doing more toward MR. :
ing the tangled skeins OF intercourse 49,
labor and capital than perhaps any other ~
ure heretofore adopted, beside having -
enoy TO widen the horizon of the indiyidrsss
borer by bringing him into contact Va !.
members Of other branches OF work"
Spokane Reufets: ''Nelson Bennett. W.
Gently bought the Tacoma Ledger, also vsssu.
60 to the United states Senate. Ono OF -.
fine years two or three ambitious eentls-..
with more money than newspaper senss v,ll
awake to realization that a daily revsns,..
is poor property for senatorial aspIrant a.,
that time there will be an excellent opepinv -
Washington journalism for practical nsvspsns,
men with a little cash in hand"
The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-09-06

the bright, breezy day; the winding beauty
OF river: the placid loneliness of lake;
the babble of the rushing brook;
the green grass that underlies the waving
canopy of orchards. and groves full OF
bloom and scent are not among the wealth
of those spots where the agrarian dema-
gogne and social incendiary make the
most converts. In Oregon, Washington
and California the farmers only pretend to
believe in the "People's party" and the
sub-treasury scheme; they are too cheerful
to sincerely embrace such lunatic beliefs,
but in certain parts of Kansas the Ameri-
can farmer is as unloyely and unioving in
his aspect as his soil and surroundings; he
is soured by his sutferings and depressed
by the dead level aridity of his treeless
land.
1t is not good for humanity to lead lives
of badly-requited toll in repulsive climates
and unlovely, monotonous scenery. Moth
ing is so benumbing as isolation in a land
without outward beauty; as well expect
fine manhood to flower among the Esqui-
rnaux, pursuing the happiness of pigs in
feeding on whale blubher in the perennial
ice and snow Of the Arctic sea; and moth
ing is so softening and humanizing for
hard natures as the good fortune of being
surrounded by scenery where the spirit of
nature, through babbling waterfalls, in
green-clad trees and flushing flowers calls
attention to that ubiquitous beauty that is
part of the vast benevolence of God.
The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-09-06
OUTDOOR EDUCATION.

The happy habit OF outdoor recreation
that makes man. when he has earned his
leisure, a rambler in the woods, on the
hills. by the river or lake, or seashore is
the best balm for hurt minds: the best
tonic for debilitated bodies. The balm
comes with the "breezy call of incense
breathing MORN" bringing with it the
breath of thousand flowers; the physical
tonic is in the mountain airs, while there
is moral lift in the spectacle of the beauty
and breadth of nature that whether
in vivacity or repose always seems
a perpetual rebuke to the harsh.
querulous narrowness of man. The
man who takes a little time as he
walks through life to cultivate taste for
something of outdoor life and leisure,
whether he is humane angler or hunter;
whether he studies nature in trees or rocks
or flowers will never be an unhappy old
man simply because he is old, for as long
as he can get out of doors at all his leisure
will not find him listless, but will be a
blessing, not bane TO him, as it is to so
many men when youth IS gone and they
have retired from active business.
In Thoreau's diary Emerson found the
entry, "The lady slipper comes tomor-
row." showing with what happiness of an
ticipation he watched for the coming of
that shy wild flower, whose day of bloom
he had learned in his lifelong habit of
learning by observation the secrets of the
woods. If it be worth a mans while to
grow old cheerfully, and like flower and
leaf bring something of his youthful color
and beauty of body and soul to the grave
with him; if he would keep something of
his natural music in him to the last he
would do we'll to live like wild flower,
keeping something of the happy hues fife
and health to the last. by living out of doors
as much as possible when his duty to his
family and business is over and he has
justly earned his hour or day of recreation.
A walk through beautiful woodland, by
the bank of charming lake or river, is bet
ter for tired soul and body than billiards or
baseball; better even than a trip on a
bicycle, which is sure to dstort the knees.
Joe Jefferson, the actor, in answer to a
friends question what he was doing to
educate his children, playfully said: Not
much beyond teaching them to fish and
to speak the truth"
This is not all of education, but it is a
very important and essential part of edu-
cation to child who is expected to grow
in moral usefulness and mental serenity
from youth to old age. The gypsy ioy in
outdoor life is in US all: and it ought 10
have decent, free play; fair chance to
feed and flourish in childhood, SO that
even in old age We can find our best mood
always reflected in these lines of Lowell:
unestranged birds and bees!
O face of nature always truel
O never unsym pathiZgng treesl
Q never-reiectIng roof OF blue,
Aethinks my heart from each OF these
Plucks part OF childhood back again
Long there imprisoned, as the breeze
Doth every hidden odor seize
OF wood and water, hill and plain;
Once more am l admitted peer
In the upper house Of Nature here
And feel through all my pulses run
The royal blood OF breeze and sun.