davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1892-07-16
FOR SALE.

Improved town lots. with good resi-
dences, and well located lot and store
tnereoh with good patronage, at st:
Martinville, La, also lot and store 1t
Cade station, La. RObt. Martin,
st. Martinville, La.
The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1892-07-16
LADIES

LADIES
Ne0ding a tonic, or children who want build
ing up. should take
BROWNS IRON BITTERS.
u Is pleasant; cures Malaria, Indigestion,
bliousness. Liver Complaints and Neuralgia.
The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1892-07-16
CLUBBING RATES.

We have made arrangementsIby which
we can furnish our readers with the
MESSENGER and THE HOME Magazine,
published at Washington, ID. c., for the
low cost Of Sl.25.
We have also made clubbing arrange
ments with that sterling agricultural pa
per, THE TEXAS FARM AND RANCH
published at Dallas, Texas. The FARM
AND RANCH and Messenerg for only Sl.25
The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1892-12-21

dreaming, perhaps, OF Christmas feast
ings and Santa Claus.
Arthur had not been dreaming long
when low knock startled Mrs, Hill.
What could it mean? And she trem-
bled little as she walked to the door
and opened it.
A kind-faced man with merry blue
eyes was standing there: he had very
fat pockets, and a sled in one hand ana
a parcel in the other; and Mrs. Hill
trembled more than ever, but from
quite another emotion than fear,
Mr.. Morris explained his errand; and
as he stepped into the room there was
a sound of other footsteps in the little
entry, but he shut the door and un-
loaded his pockets and laid his parcels
down.
my children sent these things to
Arthur" he said, laughing, as bags of
candy, nuts and raisins came out in
company with Jumping jacks" and
picture books. 81 hope Arthur won't
be offended" and he drew little doll
from the depths of one pocket.
"My children are all girls, and the
youngest one looked so disappointed
when suggested that doll was not
just the thing for boy that | con-
cluded to bring it along"
Mrs. Hill had hardly spoken; her
eyes required great deal of attention,
and her lips had an overmastering
tendency to tremble: Mr.. Morris, to
relieve her, looked as little as possible
in her direction.
But finally there was an end to
apples and oranges, toys, strings of
popcorn and candy, and the rest IF his
errand must be accomplished; so clear
ing his throat, and looking hard at the
ceiling he said:
MY wife thought the incest thing
for the mother would be ton OF coal
and barrel of flour"
Poor Mrs Hill-poor Mr.. Morris! for
it was almost as trying for one as the
other; he walked to the window and
examined the frost-worll; it was so
thick and fine that he glanced at the
stove next, and then at the empty wood
box and scuttle. The table, with its
dim light, row of spools and scissors,
with the unfinished coat in the chair,
told the story plainly.
Mrs. Hill looked up at last, and tried
to thank him; and Mr.. Morris SAID how
happy they had all been in answering
Arthur's letter; and he looked sohappy
as he said it, that no one could have
doubted him. Then he opened the
| door and man set a large basket in
side and went away directly.
II shall see you again, Mrs. Hill,
and hope you and Arthur viii both
have very merry Christmas. Good.
night" and he had gone before Mrs.
Hill could speak He went directly tc
a coal dealer and ordered a bag of Goa
and basket of wood sent at once, and
The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1892-12-21

in the bedroom door, his eyes still
blinking, looking from the chimney to
the table and from the table back to
the chimney, and then up to his
mothers face.
She drew him to the stove, and sit
ting down took him on her lap
81 didn't 'spect so much!" he exc
claimed, finding his tongue at last;
but amt it jolly-jolly" and clapping
his hands together he threw his arms
so tightly around his mothers neck
that ne nearly stopped her breath and
gave her Il sounding kiss.
1.-The stocl1in's full-an' you mended
the hole!' and he got down on the floor
and peered up under it. Its all sewed
tightw Then he pulled down the sled
and skates, tried on the mittens, wound
the scarf around his neck, scraped ac-
Quaintance with the candy, and took a
bite out of shining apple.
Words words were weak for the ex-
preston of his satisfaction; so he
danced up and down the room, and
clapped his hands, and laughed and
whistled, and finally turned somer-
sault, in the intensity of his JOY.
Then he and his mother had their
Christmas supper in the warm room,
with the freight shining through the
cracks of the usually grim old stove.
And they talked of this glad evening
for somehow the bitterness of its be-
ginning had passed from the mothers
mind, and the old carol which sings
that might is passed." most fifty ex-
pressed the thought of her thankful
heart
81 can see star" Arthur cried, and
sure enough, the frost had melted a
little, and Il star was peeping in; oh,
more than one! two, threc-yes, several
shining down on the poor little home,
as they had shone, long years before,
on lonely Juda, and telling again the
old yet ever new story of the Christ
chlld's birth, and of love and peace on
earth. Annie j, Holland, in Household
Monthly.
The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1892-12-21

looked up with a perpleXed expression
at his mother, who was afraid his pres
tnts wouldn't come through.
He examined the hole again, taking
its dimensions by thrusting three
fingers through it and stretching them
apart,
Yes, there was no doubt a good
sized toy could squeeze through that
hole.
Can you mend it, mother?"
80, Arthur, don't ask me to do any
thing.n she answered, fretfully, and
Arthur moved away little; for never
in his life before had he heard his
mother speak like that.
But the next instant she reached out
her arm, and snatched him passionate
ly to her heart
Arthur, dear, mother is sorry that
she spoke like that to you" and she
kissed the little cold face, while her
tears-so near the surface-rained over
her own face and his. 81 am tired, but
that is no reason for my speaking
GROSSLY to you: and mother will mend
the stocking before she goes to bed"
Arthur put his arms around her neck.
you'll have a happy Christmas" he
said, LOOKING up into her face with
beaming eyes; and her tears started
afresh as she looked at his hopeful face
and thought of the gloomy prospect.
Il wish l could make a fire and
warm YOU before you go to bed" she
said, rubbing his blue checks with her
cold fingers, land give you something
| to cat,
IL amt much hungry" he answered,
with Il brave smile.
IF finish this coat in time | shall
get something to eat, and | will wake
you up and give you some" and kiss
/ ing him. she turned back to her work
and began that weary stitch, stitch.
! Arthur hung up his stocking, and
( going back to his mother pulled The
/ shawl away little and kissed her on
| the neck-a form of caress which did
not interfere with the needle-and
with a bright face opened the bed
room door and shut himself in. How
cold it was, for the door had been shut
all day, that what heat there was
might be kept in the kitchen. He
would like to have opened it, for q
ray of light from his mothers din
lamp, but it would make her colder
so he kicked off his shoes, not parting
with very much else, for it was toe
cold to undress, and jumped into bee
and in a few minutes was fast as :ep
The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1892-12-21

hands in their pockets, and thrashed
one foot against the other, while they
called in cold voices to the passer-by:
"Paner, sir paper"
The heavens were studded with
cleaning stars which blinked merrily
down on the hurrying throng; and
through uncurtained windows were
glimpses of gay Christmas trees with
happy children dancing around them,
and smiling fathers and mothers look
ing on.
Holly wreaths hung in profusion and
festoons of evergreen and mlstletoe
adorned the walls: and over these hap
py scenes played the pickering light Of
the ''yule' logs glow.
The church bells rang merrily, and
the organs deep note peeled forth upon
the night winds; lights streamcd from
the windows and through the doors as
they swung to and fro, while softly on
the listening ear stole the sound OF
voices singing of Peace ON earth, good
will toward men"
But the peace and warmth and glow
had not reached French street, first
chimney, two fights down"
There was little tire-just enough
to give it the name-but it seemed an
empty title.
The curtain was not drawnwhat
need of that? since the frost had
| worked 50 thick screen that not even
loving star could peep in with hap
Ply Christmas greeting. Mrs. Hill, with
an old shawl over her shoulders, sat
close TO the table, with dim kerosene
lamp beside her.
She was blue with the cola, and her
| fingers were so stiff that the needle
went laboriously through the heavy
seam Her tired eyes filled with tears
now and again, but she dashed them
away-every minute was precious; for
| if the coat was not finished tonight,
and taken bacll-there was q sorry out
| look for tomorrow. And the thought
of the empty larder and coalhod nerved
her to frantic efforts at faster work
ing; and when the clock outside told
the hour of eight, it sent colder thrill
through her frame.
Arthur in spite of the cold, had
pulled off one of his stockings, and was
looking ruefully at large hole in the
toe.
Look he said, holding it up before
his mother, with u comical expression
on his little notified face.
so, Arthur, how you do wear your
stockings out. | mended them all NJ
last Saturday night"
But it coined right through again.
and Arthur glanced from the yawning
stocking toe to his mothers tired face
then back again to the stocking.
'Do you s'pose the presents will come
through?"
mo, am afraid they won't" she
laid, half bitterly.
But don't want 'em to!' and he
The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1892-12-21

did not leave the place until he had
seen them on their way.
Mrs. Hill was still sitting in the chair
where Mr.. Morris had left her when
the heavy step of the men with the
coal and wood, and their loud knock at
the door, reused her from her reverie.
The first thing she did after they had
gone was TO make a rousing fire, How
it cracked and snapped and she bent
over the stove and rubbed her stiff
fingers in the genial warmth. Then
she took Arthur's stocking, with the
yawning toe, and quickly mended the
big toe and put the toys in. The candy
bags and strings of popcorn she hung
around it, and piled the apples and
oranges in a plate on the shelf above,
and stood the shining new sled beneath,
with the skates, mittens and wooden
scarf hanging over it.
What fine show it made and how
, she longed to catch Arthur out of bed
to see it! but she wanted the room to
get warmer first; and then there was
the basket to be unpacked.
She folded away the coat-not fin
ished, but that did not matter now
and smiled brightly as she picked up
her spools and scissors and thought of
the day of rest before her.
There was everything in that basket
at least so thought Mrs. Hill. Two
pies; loaf of cake; another of bread;
/ little heart-shaped cakes, sugared in
/ pink and white; a plum pudding; but
/ ter; tea; coffee; sugar; cranberries; a
/ bag of sweet potatoes; squash; a tur-
nip; two glasses of Jelly, and a turkey.
/ The little table was loaded; it had
never groaned beneath such a weight
/ before
Mrs Hill hung the holly wreath,
which had lam on the top of the basket,
in the window; then opened the bed
room door,
Arthur" she said, softly, bending
over him; but Arthur did not move.
She kissed him on the lips; he puck
cred up his mouth, opened 1t, and
closed it again, with deep breath, and
was as fast asleep as ever.
Arthur, DO you want to hear about
Santa Clause" The sleepy eyes opened
and he rubbed them with his little fists.
"W-h-a-t?"
Il thought you would like 20 hear
about Santa Claus; your presents have
come"
Arthur was wide awake-as what
boy would not have been-and sprang
out of bed.
, didn't he come qrick?" and he stood
The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1892-12-21
CHRISTMAS GIVING.
Let 1t BE with "a Loving Heart, and Moth
ing That You Begrudge.


1t has been nearly two thousand
years since the first beautiful
Christmas gift came on earth, and it
was received with gladness and Joy by
shepherd and king alike. To-day, in
memory of that, i give you some little
trihe, because l love you, but give it
so ungraciously YOU scarcely like to
take it. A pretty way to send "a gift is
to do it up in one of the colored tissue
papers, tie 1T with the extremely
narrow ribbon that can be bought for
few pennies, the whole twelve yards,
and so give your friend the pleasure CT
untying the mysterious box, of remov-
ing the pretty ribbons and of coming to
the surprise at last, the something for
which she has longed for many day.
| know woman who has wanted PIN
cushion ten years, who in that time has
gotten two diamond bracelets and in
Vulnerable rings, but the long-looled-
for pin-cushion has never come. She
still hopes for it, and believes that this
year will certainly bring it. You say:
"Why not buy it?" Well, now, who
ever bought pin-cushion without the
intention of giving it to some body else?
1t is always something given to you
and not bought
Give with q loving and full heart,
and never, under any circumstances,
give that which you begrudge. Such a
gift viii bear no fruit for you, not even
the honest fruit of thanks. You can
quote as many times as you want that
Unto him that hath shall be given,
and so it shall, because it is Just thi.
way, my friend: You possess the gifts
of gentleness and graciousness, of 30
likeness and of goodness, and these are
gifts that call others to them. If PEG
pie are cross and disagreeable there i.
very slight inclination to wish them {
merry Christmas; if they are irritable
and snappish nobody cares whethe
they are blessed with u Christmas pres
ent or not; but unto her who hath tn,
graces which have cited will certain
ly come a basket full of good gifts
''pressed down, shaken together ant
running over Ruth Ashmore, in La
dies Home Journal.
The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1892-12-21

What do they want with met
And yet her little friendly note
Declares-thrice underlined
must not fail. Well, well, l won'tl
She's always sweet and kind
Now, let me see had not thought
Upon my wardrobe's state;
must look up my evening vest
BY Joye. it's rather late
To rummage for satin tie
And fish out gloves 10 match.
Great Scott! my best shirts at the wash,
And this one needs patch.
I'll thread needle-if can
II am the man who brags
OF single blessednessD and see
If can't mend these rags.
This threads too coarse; or else, perhaps,
Ny needle is too slim.
The light is poor or it may be
My sight is getting dim.
Why were mems Singers only made
TO drag and thump and jerk:
I'm thinking how her little hand
Would get around this work!
And how she'd smile ana bite her thread,
And LOOK so wise and calm,
Auu-ihcrc. I've stabbed my finger through
Oh. what an ass l am!
The clock ticks on. Unjust make haste,
Since She Gesires--alas
For those lost opportunities
Our thorgh,icas youth let pass!
But, as she's single still, who knows,
Some JOYS we may retrieve.
Perhaps she'll mend up life for me
lCFfrp ua,-t Christmas owe
Madeline s. Bridges, in Judge.
The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1892-12-21


l. The greatest event in the history
of the world is the coming of Jesus
Christ.
.. The greatest blessings often come
20 us while we are performing our daily
duties.
3. Gods special favors come to men
without regard to class or condition; to
shepherds at Bethlehem, to wise men in
the east.
4. The interest the angels take in
mans salvation shows the awful danger
of sin, the greatness of salvation, and
the value of the soul.
5. 1t teaches us to proclaim this sal.
vation to all men.
The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1892-12-21

ITS not the right sort of feeling,
perhaps, but at Christmas l like to give
ju st as valuable presents as | receive"
$50 do l. My rife is going to give
me a huudred-dollar dressing gown,
and / am going to give her hundred
dollar check to pay for it"-Life.
The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1892-12-21

y er; ne Wrlnkled
his eyebrows. pucl1ercd his mouth and
cranping his little fingers around Il
stubby lead pencil began to write; and
this is wl%t he wrote:
'DEAR SANITY CLAWS: Plese don't for Get 10
Fill my stocbin An Id like A Sled an a par OF
skates An plcsc Civ MOTHER the Very nicEst
thiuG you GOT We Live on French street.
First ChimBly down. Flights.
ARTHUR HILL"
He stretched out his little numb fin
gers, with sigh of relief; for printing
was hard work for Arthur's chubby
fist Then he glanced furtively over
his shoulder, to make sure his mother
was not loolling--but no; stitch, stitch,
stitch her needle went through the
heavy coat, and she did not once look
up. SO he folded the precious letter in
P painstalling manner, and sealed it in
the envelope addressed:
MR. SANITY CLAWS"
and stufdng it into his little pocket
regardless Of opposition on the part of
letter or pocket-went softly out of the
room; but his quiet movements ended
on the landing just outside, and he
tore down the stairs and through the
streets to the post office.
Perhaps the thought that there were
but two days before Christmas, and the
consequent fear that the gentle re-
mindcr might not reach Santa Claus in
time, gave the deer-lile fieetness to his
sturdy little feet,
There was no one in the Office, so he
walked boldly up and dropped the let
ter through the slot, and watched it
sliding down the inclined plane into
the receiving box. Then, with a fear
of being detected, he ran out of the Of
fee, and, with his hands in his pockets,
scampered home.
Arthur's letter lay among the others
for half hour or so, and then Il clerk
began asserting them for the mails.
"lIere's good onew and he laughed
heartily as he held up the crumpled
envelope.
"Mr. Santa Clausm and he laughed
again, in company with two or three
clerks who had gathered around him.
just then the door opened and the
postmaster came in.
The clerk held up the letter: "Nlr.
Santa Claus--addreSs not given. Are
you acquainted with the gentleman's
reSidence?n
Mr. Morris took the envelope and
laughed, also, as he glanced at it, and
was about to throw it down, when a
sudden vision of four little maids, with
an unquestioniug faith in Santa Claus,
rose before him.
perhaps | can find the gentleman, y
he said, with a twinkle III his kind blue
eyes; and putting the envelope into his
pocket hs walked away.
1t was Christmas eve. There had
been a heavy snowstorln the day be-
fore, and it had cleared off very cold.
The people were muffled in furs to
their eyes-if they had the furs-and
hurried along over the crisp snow,
which sang sharp little songs under
their feet The rude wind wrestled
with them at the street corners, max
ing the gentlemen catch wildly at their
hats, and tluttering ribbons and wells
in the faces of the ladies.
Jack Frost played coarse practical
jokes upon everybody and everything
within his reach, so that the market
boys felt obliged to run with the tur.
keys and turnips, blowing the while
upon their aching fingers or rubbing
their smarting ears
The newsboys, with muff1ers and
caps pulled closely down, held their
papers undey their arms and their
The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1892-12-21
Left That for Her.

Kingley-I suppose you have bough
all of your wife's Christmas present
haven't you?
Bingo-All but one.
Kingley-Which onef
Bingo-Mine-Mail and Express
The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1892-12-21

Miss Pinkey-A toilet set is entirely
too young for my grandfather.
Clerk lin silver novelty Department.
We also have them with fewer teeth
in the eom'yS. Jewellers Weekly.
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1892-06-11
Uncle Sans Strong Box.

The report of the committee Of ex-
perts says the whole system of vaults
and safes wherein are stored the treas
ures of the government is defective.
Vault No. in the Treasury building is
absolutely valueless as protection to
its contents. Other vaults named in
the report are also described as practi-
cally valueless. The commission rec
ommends that with such immense
value at stake, the government should
Immediately adopt throughout a system
of the best modern vaults, with the
most perfect locking arrangements.
They urge the replacing of every vault
in the Treasury building with new
ones. In rebuilding the vaults they
should be so constructed that they can
be at all times inspected from every
side. The report says that the vaults
in the subtreasury in New York are all
safer than the vaults at Washington.
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1892-06-11
Individual Influence.

There is much to encourage and for
tify in the following little sermon from
the pen of a New York Ledger writer,
and each one Of us might profit by
the advice it contains if we would give
it trial:
"Some people fall discouraged on the
highway of life because they cannot be
this or that great or eminent person.
Why should they not be willing to be
themselves? No person is without in
fuence. Why not make the most of
what you have? Since you cannot grasp
that which you wish, why let what you
have slip through your fingers? No per
son in the world is exactly like you.
You have your own faults, but you have
also your own excellencies, individual
to yourself. Give them air. Because
you are not a poet, should you not be a
good merchant? Because you cannot
go to college, should you therefore for
swear the alphabet? Because you can
not build palace, should you not re-
joice in your own humble roof, and that
because it is your own? Will not the
sun also shine into your windows if you
do not obstinately persist in shutting it
out? If you cannot have whole hot
house full of flowers, may you not have
one sweet rose? Accept thankfully
whatever blessings you have and try to
make the most of them
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1892-06-11
The Best Offer Made by a News
paper.

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Weekly Journal and AericmlfHriSt until
January 1, 1898, 25c; Daily and Sunday
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