davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1893-12-23
ooRoe o. rHE LUAuAsA.

An Yntercstins stretch Of River UnIIhs
Anything Sem Elsewhsrs In Africa.
The western head sources Of the
Congo river were visited for the first
time by white men last year. and the
story they have told of the great gorge
they saw and the stream that plungea
through it, almost as swift as an arrow
Cor many mile, was entirely out Of
the common In Congo explorations.
The explorers were Lieut. Francqui
and DIR. Cornet, In the service Of the
Congo Free state. They traced the
Lualaba river from its fountain head
and made discovery that, as far as ID
known, Is duplicated nowhere in AT
RIGA.
Imagine narrow stream flowing
placid1y between it's rather low banks.
1t has gradually been gathering vol
ume from little contributions that a
dozen or hfteen tributaries have sup
piled. The channel is quite deep,
though not wide. Nearer and nearer
the water approaches mountain pass
to the north, which at a distance ap-
pears to have no passage through.
Suddenly the water rushes into rift
in these hills, and for many mile IL
tumbles along, zigzagging between
two gigantic, perpendicular walls Of
solid rock. Sometimes it falls head.
long as cataract, and then again it ia
merely rapid, with speed five times
as great rs that with which It enters
the hills.
This great gorge has a tortuous
course, bending first to the east and
then to the west. 1t is nowhere over
100 to $50 feet wide, and it rises 1000 to
1900 above the level Of the stream.
The walls rise nearly perpendicular in
every part, and are formed of the bare
crystalline rock Here and there in
some crevice little soil has formed,
just enough for tuft of grass or a
puny tree to take root.
At the level of the stream one can
see only q little ribbon of the sky
above, for at that great height the top
of the walls seem almost to touch one
another, and the trees at the top over
hang the edge and shut out nearly
every glimpse of daylight. At the bot.
tom of the narrow gorge the little
river glides swiftly, sometimes with
dliHos1 I'LL uuuroheu surldCe, dIiu Gueu
again lashed into foam by thousands
of rocks, whose tops rise above the sur
face; and then again the water pours
tumultuously over the edge of the de-
clivity, and then plunges on in series
of rapids.
In distance of forty-three miles
the river drops 1,5OO feet, and then il
energies upon the plain, and, forget
ting it's mad career, it flows placidly
along to join the Lualaba river, and at
the junction of the two rivers the true
Congo begins No other tributary oi
the Congo, or even the great rive,
itself, where it tumbles along in rapids
for 235 miles, between Leopoldville and
Matadi, presents spectacle SO savage
and so violent.-N. Y. Sun.
The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1893-12-23
CHRISTMAS GIVING.


Do Not Forget Those Who May Be Less
Fortunate Than Yourself.
But whatever the mode selected for
our Christmas giving, let us each and
all at this holiday time bestow por-
ton of our bounties, however small, on
some one not so fortunate as ourselves.
Our first duty is to those dearest and
nearest to us; then to our friends. But
let us take just one step beyond. No
matter how heavy we may think our
own burdens, there are always those
who are far moro heavily burdened than
ourselves. We are apt to think, at
times, that no one can be more afhict-
ed than are we, that none are called
upon to bear what we are bearing.
But, my friend, there are those whose
feet tread paths compared to which our
own are paths OF luxury; there are toll
ers OF whose toll we know not; there
are anguished ones to- whose anguish
we are strangers; there are homes in
which the sunlight of kindness rarely
enters. And they afe not in the dis
tricts of poverty, either. There are
homes into which a simple toy, one
flower, single book, sent on Christmas
morning, would fill the day with hap
piness. We all like to he remembered,
and with whom is remem brance
sweeter than with those whose friends
are fewP There is not one among
all our readers whose station lie
so humble but he or she can afford
one little act that will make the day of
the birth of Christ sweeter in its sig
nifcance to some other being. Send q
word of cheer into some home of desc
lation, if nothing more. Sympathy is
a sweet balsam; it softens the bitter, it
cheers the depressed, it brightens the
sorrowful, it helps the discouraged; it
is humane, it is blessed, it is Christ
like. Do something for some one else
on this coming Christmas; make some
little spot in this big world seem
brighter, and then there will surely
come to you, as so heartily and sincere
ly wish for one and all my readers and
my friends, the blessings of the seasonl
Let my intense wish, which is always
a prayer in the sight of God, come
straight to you, into your homes and
into your hearts; may you read it now
and hear it again on Christmas morn.
A right, good Christmas to you; may
health and happiness be in your homes;
may your daughters be fair of heart
and your sons be noble of mind; and
may the one of your affection shower
love upon you. May Christmas day be
only the first of many happy days to
come, reaching far, not only into the
year before us, but into the years to
come. Ladies' Home journal.
The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1893-12-23

not here for myself l have just
dropped in with a friend who wants a
nice beefsteak, pat of butter and few
potatoes to carry home in a basket that
you will lend him."
"You would have thought l was
Judge, too" said Tom. "Why / most
thought l was, myself, the butcher
was SO perlite to me-"
Then they went to grocer's and
added sugar and tea to the basket,
and the judge helped Tom with it
clear to Toms door.
How the children did hurry around
to get the supper. Dollie set the ta-
BILE all over again, put the potatoes on
to boil, fried the steak and boiled
fresh water for the new tea, while
Tom cut and spread the slices of rye
bread. Such happy little children!
Such merry Christmas Eve!
Mrs. Jones hard days work was over,
and as she reached the doorway of the
house in which she lived she stopped to
wipe away the tears from her eyes lest
it should grieve the children to know
] she had been crying. Only "A few shil-
/ iiuSS Ncic Ilcu up III tIic coTHeT ol usr
handkerchief, and those must, most of
them, go for the rent nearly due Oh,
| how she did long for ever so little to
make Tom and Dollie realize what Il
Christmas gift meant; but she was tired
and cold and almost faint from hunger,
SO she began to climb to the attic. AS
she got to the first flight she was greet
ed by an odor OF good things that made
her say to herself 1.-THE Stems are
having good supper" But it wasn't
the Stems nor the Swedish families on
the next floor. The Rilcys and O'IIal-
lihans were away, and the folks on her
floor and the one below lived mostly on
scraps that they gathered from house to
house. The door of her own poor room
opened, and out upon her CLEANED
light, sense of comfort and glow
of warmth, while the two voices she
loved best cried ''Come in, mo ther,
out Of the dark and cold. Merry
Christmas, for tho Christ Child's sake" "
All this happened thirty long years
ago. But every Christmas Eve, IN 9
beautiful home. enc Of the most bsauN.
The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1893-12-23

and then he would stop minute - II
he were taking rest before he started
again.
At last hc mounted the fifth pair Of
stairs and finally he opened the room
door, and there he stopped all out OF
breath, and beside him market basket
just as full of fat brown paper parcels
as it could be- And when they had got
it into the room and had unrolled every
thing and wondered over each separate
article, Tom told Dollie this:
1t had been bad day for trade, and
as the afternoon wore on Tom vas be-
ginning to feel that he should have to
come homo without a cent, when q
gentleman came along, stopped, looked
at Tom, and then put his foot on Toms
box. Tom was glad, so glad, that a
tear fell right out of his eye on a
''shined" part of the gentlcman's boot.
Tom brushed it in awful quick time, he
( said, but the gentleman must have
seen it, for Tom felt such kind pat
on his shoulder"
When the boots were done the gen
tleman asked Tom how much it was,
and Tom said on Christmas Eve the
| boys asked twelve cents, but he was
such a little fellow, and not over
strong. and he guessed his shine wasn't
worth more than eight cents The gem
tleman took out II silver dollar and
handed it to Tom, and Tom said If the
gentleman would stay by his kit, he
would run and get the change, but the
gentleman said: why, my boy, the
dollar is yours" And" said Tom, "he
said softly like: "A glad Christmas to
you in the Christ Child's name felt"
said Tom, "most too syelled to speak,
put l did get out that mother and
Dollie would be thankful, and then
somehow / told him my name and
where lived, and how hard mother
worked and about your back and Ruth;
ana then l told him. how / meant to
buy you aud mother good Christmas
! Eve supper. The gentleman, he says
To me: Tom, you put that dollar in
your pocket and carry it home to your
mother, and tell her to put it away for
take it, Ion, and put it in your own
pocket, and you will never see 1t with
out remembering this Christmas Eve;
and when you remember it, you will
look about you and find some good to
do, some help to give, for the Christ
Child's sake. And now,' said the gen
tleman, pick up your kit and come
along with me; / have an excellent
butcher and most obliging grocer,
and we will go and pay them a call.
And then" said Tom, che took one of my
hands in his, and we walked along to-
gether, and his great big hand made
mine so warm, and when he had
warmed one he made me walk on the
other side of him so that he could
warm the other. Ever so many people
touched their hats to us, and lots of
pretty ladies bowed and smiled. l
didn't know there were SO many kind
people in the world," said little Tom.
Well, at last they turned into an
other avenue, where there were rows of
all sorts of fine shops, and at butchers
they went in. Tom wished Dollie
could have seen it. Everything was
dressed up in greens and colored pa
pers, and, although the shop was full,
the "boss" came right up to Toms
friend, rubbing his hands and bowling
and saying: Good evening, sir. Any
thing wrong in the order to-day,
Judge? If so, We'll rectify it at once,
SIR" But the judge said: 'No. am
The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1893-12-23
TONS OF ROTTEN BOOKS.

Vast Quantities of Government Publica.
tions Found In the Capitol Basement.
For the past several months the SEN
ate has had special force of employees
examining and counting the books
which are stored away in the base
ment Of the capitol and in rented
buildings of the government. The re-
suit of their work will be report, the
purpose of which is expected to lead to
some reform in connection with the
government publications. The ex-
plorations into the subterranean depths
of the capitol buildings have been al
most like journeys into darkest Africa.
They have found more than million
books-how many more than million
no one can tell yet. There are innumer-
able publications by congress at each
session, thousands of books being
printed and divided In a certain pro-
portion between the senators and
members, each senator having quota
running from one copy of the Nautical
Almanac to one hundred copies of tho
agricultural reports. New men in
congress-, those who are inexperienced,
are in the habit of distributing these
books among their constituents, but
the old birds know better, for "a book
sent to one constituent is liable to
offend all those who do not get one
like 1T. In consequences of the wisdom
which some of our statesmen have &C
quired ON this subject there are stored
away in the capitol thousands Of books
belonging to q number of senators run
ming back as far as twenty years. Some
of the books found had been stored
away in the cellar since 1866. and there
wsse several tons SO completely rottei
thst their character could hardly b<
determined and they were carried
Of and sold tor jpnly 'Wsshingtoa
The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1893-12-23
The Bloom of the CHRISTMAS Tree.

At night we planted the Christmas tree
In the pretty home, all secretly;
All secretly, though merry OF heart,
With many o whisper, many start
dor children who'd scorn TO make believe
May not sleep soundly on Christmas Evc.b
And then the tree began 10 bloom
Filling with beauty tae conscious room
The branches curved in o perfect poise,
Laden with wonders that men call "toys,"
Blooming and ripening (and still no nolse),
Until we merry folk stole away
no rest aud dream till dawn Of day.
In the morning the world was girl and
boy.
The universe only their shouts OF Joy,
I'LL every branch and bough had bent
To yield tho treasure the Christ-child sent
And then-and then-the children few
Into my arms, as children do,
: And whispered. over aud over again,
That Oldest, newest sweetest refrain,
~ love you'll love you'll Yes. love roui"
And hugged and scrambled, as children do.
And we said IN our hearts, all secretly,
y zAfs u the bloom Of the Christmas tresiv
-Aasy hspes Dodsa y - NteA0laA
The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1893-12-23
IN MRS. LoaAN's CHILDHOOD.
How Christmas Was Celebrated in Her
Fathers House Long Years Ago.

How Christmas Was Celebrated In Her
Fathers House Long Years Ago.
With me the memory of the Christ
mas holidays of my child and girlhood
will ever be one of the most sacred and
sweet OF my life, from the larks O. the
school-chlldren, when I was onA Of
them, in barring in or out the teacher
till he or she gave us a holiday and
treat, to t;Ne blessed Christmas morning
when we all tlsw into fathers or moth
er's room screaming: Merry Christ
mas!' to find the thirteen pairs of we'll
filed stockings hanging round the
broad old fireplace and to receive the
warm embraces of those revered and
indulgent parents.
can never forget the happy hours
that followed in displaying our treas
ures, nor coming to the table to see ia
ther and mother open the numberless
packages that we used to prepare for
them!
The hours that we brothers and sis
ters spent in planning and executing
our surprises for mother, father and
each other, with the merry episodes,
mishaps and successes and pleasures.
will cling to us evermore.
The madcap fun we used to have
sleighriding and the merry dancing
and candy-pulling with the troops OF
boys and girls that were our friends!
How well we remember the sparkling
wood fire in the ample old fireplace
with rows of apples toasting before it
the great dishes of popcorn, popped in
a covered kettle, SO white, and fresh
and tender; the sweet, rich nuts ant
crystal cider for the evenings when VIZ
assembled in each others homes for {
good time and to play games of forfeit
and chance.
For genuine pleasure those time
have never been surpassed by the state
ly occasions of m4turer years, ant
more than once our heart has longe,
for those happy days.
The custom OF ceremonious calls ol
New Years day did not obtain with u
till later years, but the day was not al
lowed TO pass without celebration
usually with dinner party and dane
ing in the evening, and always wit
closing up of the accounts of the oil
year and beginning the new with man
resolves that were broken and forgot
ten before the ides OF many months ha
passed over our heads. Mrs. John A
Logan, in Chicago Tribune.
The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1893-12-23
GOLD PRODUCT OF CALIFORNIA.
Fabulous Contributions from n Single State
to the Wealth OF the World.


to the Wealth of the World.
Expert miners and prospectors pre-
dict that the new South African gold
fields, of which the wonderful city OF
Johannisberg Is the commercial center,
will, when fully developed, prove to be
the richest ever discovered. The char
acter and extent OF the deposits in that
territory certainly warrant the expec-
tntion that further operations will
place it among the most famous mining
regions in history, it's output already
exceeding that of any other district of
similar geographical area with the
single exception of California.
1t is California, indeed, that histor-
which to ascertain the comparative
richness of all other gold fields. The
record of that state in the yield of the
precious metal stands without parallel
in the history of mankind. No other
territory ever developed gold deposits
SO extensive, so rich, or so enduring,
nor has any ever witnessed profitable
mining operations extending over such
long periods of time. t
The gold produced in California since
1850 exceeds s1,250, 900, 900 and the yield
at present amounts to about SIS, 900, OOr
year, or perhaps s7,OOO,OOO more tina !,
that of any other state. The output
has decreased somewhat in recent
years. but the decline Is due not TO any
general exhaustion of the territory, but
to the suspension of the hydraulic
mines. which of themselves turned out
something like $4,000. 900 annually.
These figures set a high mark for
boomers of the South African gold
fields. They represent contribution
to the wealth of the world never
equaled by any similar area of terri.
torp on the face of the earth. And Cali
sornia, notwithstanding the diversion OF
vast sums of her energy and capital to
profitable mining operations for other
minerals, is still turning out more than
one-third OF all the gold produced IN
! ~ Unitsd States IN. Y, Herald.
The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1893-12-23
WHY lie Procrastinated.

81 don't think papa has any serious
objections to you, Harold" said the
young woman, encouragingly, but he
will probably ask you for some infor-
nation as to your income"
Sand any information lean give him
about my income" replied the young
man, disconsolately, will probably pc
followed by my immediate outgo. -
Chicago Tribune.
The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1893-12-23

couches had retired
To seek the sleep ID which their eyes aspired
Upon the mantcl DER the broad fireplace
There hung OF hose no solitary trace.
Because Sir parvenuc that night at tea
Had told the children, one and all, that he
Considered II outrageous form to be
TO hang their stockings there.
"Bcwarc.
My boys ana girls, of all that is not sure.
And past al controversy dc rigueur"
said he
z" We have TO be
Quito crcumspoct In oil our daily ways
TO do nc thing but what this volume says"
Aud here Sir Parvonuc roso up to get
Avolumc labelled "Blgrnoy's Etiquette:
Nine Thousand Rules For People Somewhat
To Teach Them Things They May and May
Not Do"
"I'vc SEARCHED this little volume through and
through,
And don't find there
That people who're polite hang anywhere
On Christmas Eve their hosiery:
Aud hence deem it but propriety
To let them lie just where they chance to be.
And as the book likewise contains no bit
About Christmas tree, dispense with it
we surely must" And so
They ull to bed that night did go.
Now Santa Claus, 1t happened, CHANGED to hear
The words Of Parvenue as rising clear
Up through the ilues they cleft the atmosphere
Z" Wen, declare" said he,
'Ihut is the worst ever Sect
And then he went his Christmas work about
And left Sir Parvenue and tribe entirely out,
Save fer u little note dropped through the tiue,
10 Parvenuc.
Dear Mr. 2, it said, II much regret
That Christmas must be run etiquette.
But since you've chosen that this same must
be,
Iou'll pardon mo
II ehduld seem your household to neglect
With you so strict must be circumspect
And since l chance to have no evening dress
] canuot call this evening" My distress
Is great, nut must eke obey the laws
That you've set down Yours truly, Santa
Claus"
The moral is. for those who choose to read,
That they enjoy monstrous little need
or ife's good things who think 1t well to mix
Our old-time joys with Mr.. Blarney's tricks
Oh etiquette, who doth some folks bcguile
To thinking Christine has gone out of style
Carlyle Smith, in Harper's Bazaar
The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1893-12-23

Jones and her two children-twelve-
year-old Tom and Dollie, who was not
quite ten.
Mrs. Jones worked from light to
dark, week in and week out, in fac
tory, and she got for her toll SO little
money that if it had not been for Toms
backing boots and selling papers l am
afraid they would often have gone to
led in their one attic room cold and
hungry.
While Mrs Jones was away at the
factory and Tom shining and shouting:
"Here yer full account of everything
going! evening hcxtra! only five cents!"
Dollie was Excepting the house tidy
against mother and Tom came home"
II was wonderful to see how much
this little deforned girl could do, for
Dollie was ahunchback, and don't be-
lieve she had ever known in all her life
what it meant to be free from pain;
yet, do you know, no one ever saw any
thing but a smile on the sweet, wan
face, and the neighbors told Mrs Jones
that Doliic sang all day long. and that
her songs were mostly about "beau-
tifEl land" where want and sickness
and sorrow never came.
But while Dol!ic sang her hands were
busy. and every thing that could shine
in that one room just had to do it, You
could see your face in the kettle. and
the stove looked like those in the shops,
it had such polish. There was not a
sunbeam that forgot to come down TO
peep in at the little houselseepcr
through the small bright window
Do ,.f old ri Il,
woman who lived in the next room,
said: ut is cryin' sin to iiape boords
under fut the like of them" She
meant, you know, the floor boards o.
Mrs. Jones' room. The only table th(
Jones' had was an ordinary kitchen
one, but it's top was white as snow. ant
when it was not set for breakfast o.
supper Dollie always kept spread OF
it. and what do you think she had To-
material? Just common newspaper
sewn together and the edges pinket
out with pair of scissors; and mus
not forget to tell you that Dollie ha'
to carry all the water for her cleaning
up five long pairs of stairs, for tn
pump was down in the back yard, an
as Dollie was not strong she could onl,
carry very small quantity Of water a
one time.
The day that am going to tell yo'
about was the one before Christmas
1t was quite late in the afternoon; he
work was all done and Dollie sat b.
the window looking out. 1t was YER
entertaining to watch the people il
the street SO far below her to-day, fo
most of them carried bundles. an
Dollie could guess by the shapes @
some of the biggest parcels what Nigh
be hidden under the brown paper COY
erings.
She was glad to think how happy a
the children would be when they wok
up in the morning and found sue
beautiful gifts close beside their pi
lows; and just then man came alon
carrying fir tree in his arms Ho'
lovely and green 1t lookedl How beat
tiful It would be when lights weI
shining all over it and dolls and drum
boxes Of sweets and gingerbread toy
were hanging from its branches! Ho'
Dollie did wish that she could have
Christmas tree. lSSen II it was only Jul
= tiny little one. and AZ she wished q
idea came into Dollie's golden hea<
What do you Suppose u wasf ! q
The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1893-12-23

All this happened thirty long years
ago. But every Christmas Eve, In 9
beautiful home. enso Of the most bsaut4