davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1892-12-22

legged little stove, and through the
opening appeared the face OF he Red
headed Girl.
"Merry Christ mas!" said she.
"Nlerry Christmas!' replied the
Dwarf
81 thought I'd come over and tidy
you up some Tor the day.
"I4uckv Tor Inc the day we met upon
the root!" said the Dwarf, CALAMITY.
For the only busting the throne
chair had ever received was at the
hands OF the Red-headed Girl who de-
scended the ladder in q businessllke
fashion.
One day you might say she was ex-
cellel in uyiness by only one person.
that person being the Dwarf. Upon
the next day you would agree that
there WAS no more hideOus person lv-
in than he-except the Red-headed
Girl.
Her crime against Beauty consisted
OF angles, whereas / hat OF the Dwarf
was q matter OF curves. She worked
in a candy factory, which fact was
generally emphasized by various rib
bons usually seen upon candy boxes
and which she wore about her neck, as
we'll us the vague odor OF vanilla eX.
tract which clung o her.
She and the Dwarf made q strange
pair.
Alas that all men cannot be Pier
rots! And again, alas that allwomen
are not Columbines! Yet, upon second
thou lit. pei llaps it is better so.
The Rrii-headed Girl was wrapped
in plaid mayent a shawl, whose reds
Jared tierceIy with those OF her hair.
With her the Dwarf dropped all of
his humility and became pompous.
He privately believed himself an
ALon- beside her. The cat looked
Gu ninyly from one to the other, as
the Dwarf, with the end OF a ba9gy
umbrella knocked his hat and coat
from their pegs behind the door,
"Bon iour!'' he cried airly, rs bow
ing lii a stately fashion, he left the
room. Pirrrot was II Frenchman. 1t
would almost seem hat the Dwarifelt
himself to be Pierrot to the Red
healed Girl.
"Bye-hye?' said she, sharply. "shut
the Il or!"
And then she produced from under
the magenta shawl two pieces OF
mInce pie, the half OF chicken two
sandwiches, two sausages aud two big
green Juicy pickles. Eyeing them she
grinnrd.
"Enouuh for two," said the Red
headed Girl
And then occurred to Absalom an
idea which was q shock. He felt faint,
floor
Merry Christmas, Absalom!" said
the Red headed Girl, in q ocular way,
and produced from her pocket pa! 'el
containing smoked fish, which she
gave h m.
The compliment was q delicate one,
and Absalom, approaching it, was
touched, AMI became resigned.
And as he ate the fish his yellow
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1892-12-22

up your friend Send some remcm-
brance to the pretty model. And the
pleasant people Of the Rhine are in
the city; 90 see tlienl--heinc strangers
doubtless they will be glad to see even
you"
Van was Thoroughly aroused now.
'But you must stay with me- he
pleaded, IL can never DO nil that by
myself. No, DONE so!' seeing her
look about. as II meditating flight.
You must stay. All, do!' turning
upon her the ln!l ire oimaGnetic eyes,
whose power, when lie chooses to ex-
ert it, the tender sex find it hard to
resist. The Spirit: being feminine,
hesitates.
How can ! devote ali my time 0
one mortal, when l have so much to
do?' she said, perplexedly. NO. it is
impossible! Sti!I''-markins Vans
dei-ction-'I can help You. But no
man can have two spirits, SO you
must rid yourself OF that ugly,
morose one that you have now.
Ii you do that, can endow you
with half Of my soul--thc half will be
large enough for Il man-hu' the old
thiS?"
"G|adly,' said Van.
Then the Spirit softly kissed his
eyes, n strange lethargv stole over
h m, and he felt and knew nothing
more till he opened his eyes again and
they fell Oh Il figure seated comfort
ably opposite TO him and watching
him with hooking smile; Il figure odd
ly Ike his own.
Van was startled Tor al instant
and then it grew clear to him that
this was his Old Soul chat he had
abandoned Tor he Christina Spirit
'Well,' he said geniuliy, "there you
ar.!"
Evidently" murmu;ed the Soul.
"And, now" pursued Van, what
shall! | do with you?"
The Soul surveyed him with the
utmost nonchalance. 81 think shall
just stay around here q biz with you,
old man." it said, ;tirly. cit will be
somewhat OF a relief to move without
having to take you along, Body"
"Oh!' said Van, in some alarm.
"but that won't DO! No man wants
two souls goin: about with him.
don't need you; I've got a better one,
now, and think III dispose OF you
Tell you what" with sudden inapira-
ton, 'I'll give you to old Goidth-
waite; he hasn't any SOUL at all. Sold
it to the devil, they say, long since"
And Van laughed contrntedly. "Will
that suit your he asked courteously
The Soul smiled at him with smiling
contempt. "Well, ha dIy!' it sneered.
CTS all very pretty to be generous,
bur it is scarcely the part Of man of
pruds nee to give himself away in any
sense. And you would do it compete-
ly. Have you realized what it is you
would do? Nothing more nor less
than make another man q present OF
the entire history OF your life. Not
only the deed but the motive. Hal"
laughing lightly. III touch you there,
eh?"
Van gasped. But" he said, 1.-the
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1892-12-22
He Had Had Experie nee,

Jeweler-1ou say you want some
name engraved on this ringg"
"Young Man-Yes, Iwant the words:
George to his dearest Alice" engrav-
ed on the inside of the ring. It is a
New Yeas gift to young lady.
rs the young lady your sister,"
NO she's the young lady to whom
l am engaged"
"Wel!, if were you I would not
have George to his dearest Alice en-
graved on the ring. If Alice goes back
on you, you cannot use the ring
again."
What would you sugeest2"
II would suggest that the words be:
George to his first and only love.
You see with that inscription you can
use the ring b alf a dozen times.
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1892-12-22

ing to a trap door in the roof; a bed
which wasan rony, being large enou2h
Tor a family; a bandy-legsed stove,
placed upon d piece of q tailed oil
cloth, and the huge throne chair upon
which he sat, and which had been
given him by the property man. These
were the things he saw.
"Miaw" said Absalom, insist ently
shiv, ring close TO the Stove, and re-
garding some sticks of wood beneath
it,
"Nou are certainly wonderful cut!"
Here Quinto frightened. "And be-
cause it is Chris; mas Day you shall
have an extra stick 10 make you
warm while am at the matinee. But
we must he economically must be
but one!''
The dwarf climbed down from his
great throne chair and threw another
dry stick into the yawning mouth of
the bandy-legged stove. But gingerly
and judiciously placed, it soon gave
forth a holiday glow, and the cat
reeled Off q sonorous tipsy purr, as
the Dwarf climbed once more in his
throne-chair. Then but the purring
OF the cat, the cracking OF the fire, and
the Earring sound OF the elevated
trains was heard.
"ln an hour | shall see her! And
| am miserable And when see her
l shall be still more miserable" said
the Dwarf, finally, in fretful tone.
"Absa|om, that is love!"
Absalom purred forth burst of
surprise, Interrogation and tolerance.
Renan would have liked Absalom.
And dance! You should but see
her dance!" added the Dwarf, in q
fever.
The cat arched his back and
winked.
Columbine I love you! But YOU
have eyes only for that idiot of a
Pierrot, with his sugar paste face"
Absalom coughed sympathcticaly
and forgot to regain his tongue, which
hung for @ minute from between his
teeth like a red wash-rag out to dry.
YOU'RE only cat! You cannot
know" Absalom looked thought
full and his yellow eyes blazed. "But
I'll know to my sorrow what love
is" And the Dwarf swelled like a
hideous little toad. His was most
sup-rb ugliness, only accomplished by
the most heinous offences in the mat
ter OF curves.
"That Pierrot! A new pantomime
will mean Il new Coumbine to him,
while II would love her forever!'
"Pierrots! How the women adore
Pierrot!"
"Heigh?" cried the Dwarf, sharply
"Absalom, know better, but could
have sworn you really spoke that
time! We understand each other
you do speak to me-but not in voice
But that time land it is true
Women do love the rascals-these
fierce Pierrots! I heard him tell hel
that when she danced, she danced up
on his heart. That Pierrot! Some
day a canvas palace will fall upor
him, and who will suspect a poo,
merry fellow like myself? They al
shrek with laughter when ! come up
on the stage. l am comical, will
murder in my hearth"
"And-if-she would suspect me?'
he added after, moment.
"Ah, who?" purred the cat, in quit'
! an evil way, with hall closed eyes.
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1892-12-22

motive was yours. How can ] be
blamed for that? Everything I've
done has been at your instigation. 1t
is all your fault"
"Yes?" mockingly. "But you pay
the penalty, not l."
Van was silent with dismay; the
Soul glanced casually at him and
smiled with satisfaction.
mo; ! think you will not give me to
old Goldthwaite. Ishouldn t careforit
myself-he is too feeble to do my bid
ding: I need some one strong and
lusty," with slow malice, "Some one
like you. The last body ! had" it
continued pensively, was old-old!
and weak. 1t failed me many
times and grew very tired OF it. I
was glad when it died, and was as.
signed to you. You have not
alawys done as l would have you.
Often you've defeated me by blushing
and stammering, just when I required
cool self-possession. But yourgetting
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1892-12-22

christmas Eve! Well. according to
Ill that's orthodox. oughtto be feel
ing peaceful and good, vii ish toward
man. But don't. Not Il bit. Who
does2 Who hut 81 child or q fool ever
feels happy ut Christ mas? Nota soul.
There is always the remembrance OF
some other happier time. Always one
thinks OF the vanished faces hat were
once so dear. Taken altogether, old
Father Christmas, you're u mon
strous fraud-a cheat--a Hhited sepul
chre! The whole thing is an aiferta-
tion; and the word has grown too
old, too sad, too hald, TO keep it up
longer"
lie sat up and lighted the cigar be-
tween his teeth, and then sank with Il
sigh of comfort, into his sleepy holiow.
For my part shall remember moth
Ing or nobody. Why should |? Who
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1892-12-22
CHRISTMAS BELLS.

Ring, Ring the bells! Peal forth the chimes
That call to prayer and praise their times
But toll them not in dole. ul tones
Comet Down upon your marrow bones!"
Ringi Ring the bells at sunrise hour.
From every churc that owns a tower
And let them ring ut rventide
For farers by the lone wayside.
&ngl Ring we sweet tonsued, gladstone
bells,
The Heaven-born song that Bethlehem
tells!
Ring! Ring the hells-'ts Christ's birthday
With angel choirs we'll sing and pray!
Sound "rlh His praises every where
Through earth, and sky, and sea, and air!
Let every Il art an ntf'rin bring
And every tongue proc aim Him king.
Who came from Heaven to dwell on earth
That we through him might have new
Then peal the bells this Christmas tide;
Let itch and poor stand side Y sd;
Heavens gates for ali H.. opened wide
For all alk was crucIied
Then let all hearts united be
In Him. through all eternity.
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1892-12-22

"And she will dance-w'il Dance
murmured the Dwarf. dreamliy.
And one would say that the cat
slept. =, r..,,
Rat-tat-tat! came from tho little
trap-door in the ceiling. ~.
"ltis that Red-headed Girl from the
attic of the next housed" said th1
Dwarf as he sprang with agility up the
narrow ladder. The square DIT OF a
door was hooked with q huge rusty
hook. AS he opened it some spar kl'
ling snow fell within and drifted hiss
ing on an icy wind against the handy
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1892-12-22

cause you re all alone. You deserve
i to bel" And the Spirit stamped her
foot ina very human way, and gazed
at him out of lovely, accusingeyes.
"But." said Van, bewildered, but
never stopping to ask where she got
her very accurate information. "what
can do? Tell me how can better
my lott"
The Spirit frowns. "There it is
again! Why don't you ask How can
better ny neighbours lot?" So long
as you think only OF yourself, just so
long will nobody else think OF you"
Van leaned back and sighed resign
eddy.
The sweet voice went on. go look
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1892-12-22
ROSES,

A w
Ae! the git have for thee
SOer my heart reposes;
Take it. friend this cluster lair
Vi fragrant Christmas roses.
Some are tinged with April dawn,
Some are almot dripping
With Oc,ober's crimson blood;
Some are slowly Tipping
All their prta 3 in the glory
o. s"me vanished Sumner dear,
While their perfume tells the story
VI the passing yeur.
Hark! Dost hear the raindrops falling
Mid the May-tiie bowers?
Scent the periume,h at breeze
PLIERS from tile flowers?
Hear the blilhc>umr warblers singing?
Catch the low and pleasant sound
Caused by Au'umn sof ly flinsing
Jewcs to the ground?
This my wish: as thy pure lilies
Gentle Autumn closes,
May it arner. d sweets distill
Like these Christmas ross.
Good Housekeeping.
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1892-12-22

Mrs. Bentgood-"You don't seem
happy, uncle. What's the matter?"
Uncle George Whillikers-who is I'M
familiar with properties-"Matter
%'nough! I don't see what call that
lunatic in TIL baskets got fer maxim
faces at me jest'cause Pm from tn
pountrv -
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1892-12-22
Both Pleased.

"My dear" said Mr. Bloobumper,
on Christmas morning, "here's a box
OF superb cigars have bought for
your Christmas present"
CHOW thoughtful OF you, you dar-
ling!" replied Mrs. Bloobumper. ri
hope you will appreciate this sealskin
sacque which l got for you" Truth.
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1892-12-22
In I S92.

Mrs. Hicks--Do you believe in q
really and truly Santa Claus?
Dick Hicks-Of course do, man.
ma. (Aside) ! think it is too cruel for
children to undeceive their parents in
auoh matters.
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1892-12-22
A RARE CHRISTMAS GIFT.
BY MAY d. ENGLE.

HRISTAIAS
EVE" soil
o q u i z e d
V y Went.
worth, lean
ing back i'll
hi s arrll--
chair and
ind olen thy
clasl'ing lis
hands be-
hind his
hand so III e
blond head.
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-11-20
THE TUG=OF=WAR.
The Mounted Contest Will Be the
Next Sporting Feature.

The mounted tug-of-War contest will be
the next great feature that will interest the
sporting public. All the teams, eight in
number, are hard at work training in vari-
Gus parts of the city, and, from the interest
manifested by the friends and supporters OF
the different teams, this promises TO eclipse
anything in the tug-of-war line heretofore
attempted.
Each team feels confident of coming out
first, and they are going into the match
with the grim determination either to win
the first prize and championship or come
out OF the saddle and tournament piecemeaL
None but those who have watched the train
ing fro@~the commencement can form any
idea OF the improvement in the men aud
horses since the first practice.
1t should be borne in mind that the rope
is not allo wed to be fastened OF attached to
the men. horses. saddles or harness in any
manner, yet any member of the various
teams. with his hands and body, sitting on
one of the trained horses, can easily pull
over five able. bodied men. No two teams
way. yet the effect appears to he about the
same in every case. OF course it is hard 10
make a comparison even by one who has
watched them all practice from the fact
that nc two teams have been matched to-
gether as yet, and il is not likely that they
will be until the nights of the tournament.
when the public can see for themselves
which system and teams are the best.
Inc Eastern papers, especially those OF
Chicago and New York. are paying cOnsid-
cradle attention to this contest.
AS the time draws near for the struggle
in the pigskin the public interest is increas-
ing and everybody appears to be going to
take 1t in just to see how a tug is con-
ducted on horseback. The prize money,
$1,000, is in the hands of l.. r Elert, Mayor
elect. and the captains of the various teams
will decide on the referee at their meeting
next week.
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-11-20

possibly descended from the quinnat, but in
any event il is so modified that it must be
regarded as different species.
II have given the species the name of the
lake from which it was first taken. One of
the two type specimens has been sent to the
United States National Museum, the other
Is in the museum of the Leland Stanford
Junior University. With these two speci-
m ems was a small fish, about five inches
long, of the kind on which these salmon
we're feeding. This little fish was without
spots, and has some eighteen rays in The
anal fin. Apparently it is the young of the
quinnat salmon; certainly ii is not the young
of the species iB question:"
Some Of the anglers who recently pros
pected in the tidewaters of Olema Creek
for hookbills-so called by residents Of Point
Reyes-repOrt having seen several fish Of
spawning In the shallow brackish waters.
One of the number was captured by a hunter
who had shot 1T on rifle. 1t was a sur
prise to many of the old anglers who have
made winter fishing with rod and line a
study fer many years. AL Wilson was
puzzled.
He said the fish did not bear any resem-
banee to the hookbill or steelhead, and the
only fish he had seen in other waters that
resembled it was the dog salmon. The new
arrivals would not look at the most tempt
ing of lures. although many kinds were
tried. The fish captured 'by the gun route
had very large and beautiful eye. The
head was larger than the steelhead salmon
and of dark green color. The upper part
of the mouth was very dark, and the teeth
in the front row were long and sharp. II
was suggested that the fish be properly pre-
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-11-20
ROD AND CREEL.
Arrivals at Point Reyes-Salmon Fish
ing on Eel River.

Arrivals at Point Reyes Salmon Fish
ing on Eel River.
Professor David Starr Jordan of the
Stanford University has written to an
Eastern exchange OF new variety of fish
which inhabits Kamloops Lake in British
Columbia. The professor says:
1.-THE existence Of this fish was first known
to me from conversation with Mr.. A. C.
Bassett of Menlo Park. CAL, very en-
thusiastic angler. who had taken the fish in
the Kamloops Lake in British Columbia.
/ was unable to identify the fish from the
account given by Mr.. Bassett In going
for summer outing in July. 1892, Mr.. Bas-
sett went 10 Kamlo0ps Lake and secured
two type specimens, which were carefully
placed in alcohol and sent to me.
1T seems to be a species of salmon entirely
distinct from the five hitherto automatically
recorded from the waters of the Pacific
Coast. There is not much doubt from the
account of Mr.. Bassett as well as from the
appearance of the fish that il is land
locked species of salmon. Its nearest re-
lationships seem to be with the king salmon
or quinnat (Oneorhynchus tshawvtscha), but
from the quinnat II differs somewhat in
celebration, and especially in the very much
smaller size of the anal fin and in the re-
duced number OF branchiostegals. 1t ID
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-11-20

pared for shipment and sent TO Professor
Jordan for classification. There are many
of the same kind at present in the stream
Local anglers are awaiting the arrival of
Al Hall from Point Arena. Hall left for
the Garcier River. which is within a few
miles of the above town, last Tuesday. He
expected to have few days grand fishing
at the mouth of the river, where the steel
heads congregate and lodge until such time
as they can safely ascend the stream on
their journey to spawning beds.
A letter from an angler and sportsman,
who is resident of Navarro. MendoeinG.
to the sporting editor. states that if the Fish
Commissioners are DESTROYS OF stopping
Illegal net-fshing they can now have a
grand opportunity of securing good bag of
Navarro River. Greek and Norwegian
fishermen are constantly seining the mouth
of the river with nets. the meshes OF which
would not allow the minnow to escape.
The writer concludes by saying that a
visit from Fish Commissioner would be a
welcome surprise to the anglers aud sports
men OF Navarro. as they had never seen one
in that part of the country.
Ihe cut which appears in this article rep
reSents AL Wilson, an angler of the old
school. who has killed more salmon with
the rod on the rivers Of this coast than any
other member of the local fraternity. The
photograph was taken on the banks of the
Eel River few weeks ago. 1t was Wilson's
last fish. thirty-pounder, which he
landed with rod used for striped bass
fishing. Wilson is not an ichthyologist, but
as a angler he can teach scientists many
little things concerning angling which
would add materially to their budget of in
formation,
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-11-20

that the latter paid more attention 70
gopher holes than he did to the dogs. a
N an of this caliber can never nope TO De-
come successful judge OF coursing meet
ing, for his decisions, and especially IN long
drawn out races, must be unreliable and
unsatisfactory. The club was very Tor
tunate indeed that the veteran Judge, John
Grace. was on hand to Judge some OF tne
rounds. Had it not been Tor his presence
in the saddle the sport would have come TO
premature close. as many of the gentle
men who had dogs entered for the stake
had positively refused to run their charges
unless Grace would consent TO ri0e 10
sum up the whole affair in the shortest
manner possible 1t seems as If long-distance
coursing on this coast is bound to become
failure and that the future meetings at Mel
ced will not be worth going to see
As stated time and again in THE CALL
the spectators see but very little OF race.
The start consists of the liberation of a
brace of dogs from slips 10 a Thoroughly
seasoned hare who lopes away in front Of
the dogs as If he was going in quest Of
draw within dangerous proximity to his
scut down go his ears on his back and he
instantly becomes veritable ball of fur.
He has realized that his pursuers are not
coyotes. but some foreign species of animal
that can run circles around the wild dog OF
the plains.
The hounds get within driving distance
and dash is made for the flying ball. It
is missed. and away shoots the pursued as
if shot from the mouth of rifle. The dos
follow as best they can. but they seldom
reach their quarry until it has covered .
mile OF ground Now, then, the cOursing
proper begins. but, unfortunately tor the
spectators, they are too far away to appre-
ciate the fun. They can detect one or the
other of the dogs in the distance flying over
the sward, but unless the onlookers happen
to be on raised piece of ground they can
not detect, even by the aid of field glasses,
which of the dogs is doing the best work
and especially if the race is by any means
close. In MERGED coursing all the sport is
centered in the run-up, and probably one
or two turns then it is lost to all but the
judge and owners of dogs, who generally
follow on horseback.
There promises to be red-hot days sport
at Ocean View to-day. The manager of the
park has grand lot of strong running hares
on hand which he says will surprise those
gentlemen who witnessed the wil-o'-the-
wisp races at MERGED. John Grace will
judge. and, as the stake is large one, the
Interest in the sport will certainly be great.
Several San Jose and Santa Clara dogs
have entered.