davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1894-12-21
THE CHiLDREN'S DAY.

Regardless % Past Troubles Mako Christ
mas "a Happy One for Them.
Whatever may be our circumstances 3.
let Us endeavor 20 make this Christmas
day as merry anu joyful 10 ourselves
and those around us as possible. II
absent ones are thought of let them
be remembered with gladness II re-
verses and sorrows have come with the
year just ending let us bury them on
Christmas eve. To the discouraged
let US be healthful and life-giving
stimulant. ever mindful Of the power
OF sunny and buoyant example. Let
US make our crosses seem as light as
possible TO those who love US Let
frowns be buried in smiles just for .
day-the merr:est, happiest day Of all
the year Try the panacea Of laugh
ter upon the sick-better than all the
medicines ever invented. Wherever
there exists sorrow let US try. even il
we can do ever so little, to wipe IL
away for the day. II ingratitude has
come to US let US believe that there
must exist a cause of which we know
not. II the spirit Of unforgiveness has
come TO any of us let the Christmas
Joy soften our hearts. In mercy think
of our enemies. never forgstful OF the
fact that life is too short To harbor i'll
feelings No matter what we have
borne during the year. or what we
feel we may be called upon to
bear during the year to come,
let us be merry on this an.
niversary of the natal day Of
that Christ who viii mend every
wrong. who viii set all things right.
though Ills WAYS are not cur ways and
His blessings are slow in their coming.
And whatever may be our own trials
let US not for a moment show them to
the children of our homes. Christmas
IS their day. If it be not for us it is
cruel TO take it from them. Before
them. at least. let us carry the smile:
let us be young again il but for day.
renewing our youth in the games and
rornps we can all give 10 the little
hearts which came from our hearts.
And in the innocent pleasures OF child
hood. perhaps. we shall forget the
world. and the hard side of our lives.
Then. percharce, will the lesson come
home TO US that whatever our trials,
whatever our crosses. we are kings
and queens Of happiness in the pos
session of home and children. For
wherever true love exists and reigns
there Will always be happiness. The
happicst hearts are never far of from
homo filed with the love Of q good
wife and the merry laughter of chill
dren. And may those two greatest
elements of life be found in every
home into which these words shall
penetrate, carrying with them the
merriest and gladiest Of Christmas
greetings from heart which. II it
could. would bring Joy to every being
in the universe. Home Jour.
nal
The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1894-12-21

responsible for IL. und I don't vcald
dare gif IL to anybody but dc owner.
DO you know the lady. Shon?"
The miner reflected for moment.
anu thcn in his old blunt way told the
man what he had heard through the
canvas partition. His strong voice
grew soft and mellow a. he rcneated
the little ones words. and a tear stole
down his bronzcd check as he told OF
the mothers grief and OF her resolu-
ton that her baby should not be de-
privcd OF her Chri.'ras pleasures.
Then he detailed his plans. anu con-
cluded by saying:
sandy Claws IS on that little 'un's
trail. Sol, an he's goin' to run onto
her camp in great shafe. an to-mor-
row mornin' when she wakes up that
ring ought TO !. among the stuff she
ends in her stockin's"
Holy Moses, Shon. dat vas a gray
horse nit some more colors. Dat vas
different. uri You baed your lifetime
dat ring will be dere. und you dond pay
me ron cent, too. That two dollar
viii be my chip in init the poys. Und
see here, Shon. derc's a leetle beauti-
ful ladies' gold watch that l brought
here from Denver nit my first stock OF
goods und it's SO shmall dat nobody
won't buy it in dis camp. und dat goes
init dc ring for de lectle girls Christ
mas. too. IND say. Shon. ven you see
all dc boys ind you don't got enough
yust bring me shnow ball und I'll
lend you ten dollar on it und put Santa
Claus name on the ticket don't vas
Slylock ven vas o Shew. und don't
you remember il, Shon."
With the ring in his purse. the ring
placed on the woman's finger when 1t
the altar she took the name Of the dear
The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1894-12-21

Now. what 90 you guest But you could no
guess
What Santa Claus did last night.
He Allied our stockings up TO the brim.
Packing them hard and tight.
And the dear old fellow--would you believed
He planted q Christmas tree
And hung it thick with beautiful things
For Tommy and Ruth and me
Tops and trumpcts and drum and sled
Marbles and bat and ball.
a shining lockct and picture books.
And \ cur,y-haired. brown-eyed doll.
Oceans Of nuts end cancics-Oh
II you had been there TO see
All the treasures that Christmas brought
For Tommy aad Ruth ard me
Tommy razcd. with a sober face.
Then lifted his head TO say
There's plenty OF boys and girls. know,
Who haven't gift to-day.
Why did he bring so much to us,
There's more than enough for three:
II isn't fair that so much should be
For Polly and Ruth ard me.
:" It's easy guessing. The dear old saint
Has piled up his treasures here
To give Us three glorious chance
To share in his Christmas cheer.
So, with lovingcst hearts aud open hands.
Wen try our best to see
How quickly re can divide them all
Polly and Ruth and me-
Golden Days
The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1894-12-21
20, mamma. mamma, wake up. I
want To tell you something"
The widow started from her Sseea

want 10 t-4l You Something
The widow started from her sleep
~ had such . funny dream. mamma"
the little one said IL dreamed santa
Claus was in here. but he didn'. look .
bi. Ike our old santa. lie was a great
big man with long black whiskers, and
he came 10 the bed and looked at you,
SO pitiful. ! could see him in the
moonlight that came through The win
dow. and il didn't seem like l was
asleep at all. lie looked NJ you lit
tie while and then at me. and
dreamed shut my eyes real quick. TO
make believe was asleep. lie leaned
away over you and kissed me just as
easy as could be. and whispered God
bless you. dear and then when
opened my eyes again he was gone.
Wasn't it a funny dream?'
The mother smiled at the queer re-
cital, little dreaming that what Mid
get believed TO be vision of the night
had been q reality.
''If he was really here. darling" she
said. '.he was no doubt hunting you,
and may have left you something.
Jump up and look ut your stockings"
The little one needed no second bid
ding. She was on the cold floor in .
moment, and through the gray light
Of the early dawn the mother watched
her.
20. mamma. Mamma"
A smile of pleasure came over the
mothers face at the cry Of delight.
Every pang it had cost her to give up
the ring she so priced was softcned by
the happiness which chung to her dar-
ling's tones.
20, mamma
"wcll. what did youget. baby?"
The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1894-12-21

Later m The day ne met Mrs Maynard
and conquered his modesty enough tn
hold quite q long conversation with
bar. IL was observed. too. that he as
sisted her on the stage when she sm:l-
ingly bade ndieu TO the camp, and waved
his hat Enthusiastically as the drivers
whip cracked and the vehicle bowied
away.
A few mon ms later at their old home
In the east, Midget said TO little
playfcllow:
I'm going to have a new papa pref
" soon"
"Nho?' her companion asked.
big John Santa Claus l don't
know his other name yet"
CAPT. JACK CRAWFORD.
The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1894-12-21

And now once more comes Christmas
day. Once moro. borne abroad on the
words OF sinple-minded shepherds.
runs the story. God and man have
met in visible. actual union, In . life
which Is both human and divine. :.
Lift up yourselves to the great mean
ing of the day, and dare TO think Of
your humanity - something 90 sub
timely precious that il il worthy Of
being made an Offering TO God. Count
II q privilege to make that Offering as
complete as possible, isecping nothing
back, and then 60 out to the pleasures
and duties Of your life. having been
truly born anew into His Divinity, a.
lie was born into orr humanity on
Christmas day.-Phillips Brooka
The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1894-12-21

tour through the mining towns had
gone 10 pieces The manager had
fled. and Mrs. Maynard. his leading
woman. known on the bills as Miss
Eta Baker," sat in the chccrless min
ing camp hotel. her eyes red with
weeping and her brain almost dis
tracted. Her trunks. with others, we.c
held in the stage Office for the fares OF
the company from the last stand, her
purse was empty. and she trcmbled at
every apprc aching step. fearing 1t
might he that Of the rough-speaking
landlord, coming TO give her notice
that she must vacotc the room.
Mrs Maynard was widow with
one child. n sweet little flaxcn-haired
chcrub who had child's part in the
play. Her late husband was an APP
parcntly wcll-to-do man. and ut their
home in an eastern city they lived in
peace and plenty until the dread de-
stroyer. pneumonia. left her widow
at the age OF twenty-one. After the
funeral Of her husband she learned. TO
her Consideration. that his debts large
ly outweig he'd his property. and ere the
first great grief over his death had
been blunted by the hand II time. she
found herself homeless and pcnniless-
In the days of her girlhood and early
married life she had taken a promi-
nent part in amateur theatricals. and
the talent she displayed in that line
had excited favorable comment and
had gained for her mcrited recogni-
- ~ hn cit Nv
When lief. alone in the world and COM
PEELED to labor for the support OF her
self and little daughter. her thoughts
naturally turned to the stage. and she
soon found herself enrolled rs n mem
Der Of a company bound across the
continent on California tour. At
Denver she was taken i'll and the COM
pany was Obliged TO leave her there.
and when. after n long battle with
mountain fever, she rcgained her
strength. her money was exhausted
and she was without employment
Then It was that mn irresponsible
manager secured her services, with
the result above stated.
The weather was bitterly cold. and
the small sheet-iron stove in the room
occupied by Mrs. Maynard and her
daughter seemed incompetent to bat
tie with the keen temperature which
penetrated tho thin walls OF the rough
structure dignified with the name,
1.-THE Cosmopolitan Hotel" The par
tition walls which separated the dit
fercnt apartments were OF canvas
stretched on infrcquent joists, and
reaching but little higher than the
head OF o person standing erect.
Midget" as the wee mite OF .
daughter was called, sat near the stove
with q shawl thrown about her delicate
shoulders TO protect them from the
cold. Looking up into her mothers
fearful eyes, she said:
"s!smma. please don't cry so much
for IL s,axss rue feel awful bad to see
your tcara an, sure God will not
forget US, for praysl every time
woke last night for Him to take care
Of ur, and after prayed always felt
40 good and happy. just 40 II ! had
heard linn whisper to ms that lie
The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1894-12-21

"A watch. real gold watch. a little
teenie watch. and it's running"
"A what. Midget? Why. child. Is
your brain turned? Santa Claus never
brings gold watches to poor children. =
"Oh. he did. mamma. he did. he did
and there's something in your stock.
ings, too"
I'm my stockings? Why. my darling.
are you crazy?"
mo. mamma, it's a real watch, and
IL is ticking. Just look"
She ran to the bed with the treasure
in her hand. The mother took the
tiny time-picce. and her eyes opened
wide with wonder when she found that
Midgcts words were true.
Here are your stockings. mamma.
and they are so heavy I can hardly
carry them l just believe I did see
Santa Claus, and wasn't dreaming at
all"
The mother reached for the stock
ings. and when she felt the weight
and IL flashed across her mind that
they were frcightcd with money, she
held her breath in astonishment. She
poured the treasure out on the bed
Gold. silver and greenbacks. wealth
she had never dreamed she would pos
sess, and in the shining heap lay her
wcdding-ring. with a note attached.
Opening the paper. she -ead:
Madam When you Think sandy
Claws forgits pccpel that's in trouble.
You ar of yure base. fur lie nose his
biz. and 50 dus Big John. even il he
doant want you to no He done This,
and rite il an slip il in unbcnone to
Him. for be Herd you and yure babby
talk an node your trubblc. an the boys
node Thare biz. too. Big John is the
oanly sandy Claws in this Here camp.
yures. The proprietor"
Scarcely knowing whether she was
waking or dreaming. the woman has
tily arose and dressed herself. and
taking the little girl by the hand went
TO the hotel Office. The moment they
entered Midget cried out:
''Oh, mamma. there's the Santa Claus
saw in my dream. That large gentle
man with the whiskers. Wasn't IL
you. sir?''
The big fellow attempted to run
into the street. but the landlord
caught him and pulled him back He
blushcd like q schoolgirl as he faced
the wondering woman. and blurted
out:
'Ma'am. don't mention IL, IL you
please. Nc an the boys found out you
was in trouble. en- we just got together
an pulled you ont as Christians had
ought to do"
Its jest like this, ma'nm." the land
lord said John. var. is a big. bash
full fcllcr when thar's a woman In
sight. an he made US all swar we
wouldn't never let you know whar' the
lift came from It's all right. ma'am,
and you kin pack up an go to yer
friends lest as soon as you want to. an
In year you'll forgit you ever had a
bit o trouble In yer life. We're all
,nly too happy to make you a merry
Christmas. ma'am, and we all hope
rou may have mn ny more OF EN-"
20. sir. how can ever thank you
Tor this" she said. addressing John.
4 was indeed in great trouble,
AND"
But he had escaped from the door
Ind ran blushing down the street
The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1894-12-21

erywhcre
Within our hearts they blossom gay.
And she'd their fragrance free and far;
It's always 80 on Christmas day.
In memory Of His golden star
The race OF man hid waited long
To see that lily ia the sky
To hear the perfect anrel-song.
''of peace to earth and praise on high"
Oppressive night OF Egypt lay.
Till with its glow loves star arose:
In hope ana cheer OF Christmas day.
The yearning centuries found repose
Twas like the change the morning brings.
Awaking men to duty bright:
o'Twas like the song the bucbird sings
OF lovely spring and her delight;
Twas like the coming Of the May.
hcfreshing age. rejoicing youth
So beautiful was Christmas day
IN its creative hope and truth
The Heaven and earth we know arc ono:
God cares for earth as worlds above;
Wherever stars In peace look on.
There shincth His abiding love;
But nearer 10 our heart, there lay
longing for the Man Divine.
And so there came the Christmas day,
And In the east His star did shine,
What tender tones OF kindness sweet.
We speak because Of His new birth:
In happiness the virtues meet
To tell His story 10 the earth
GOOD will and peace have ample play.
Naught seems our paradise TO mar
Because IL - the Christmas day.
And all the world beholds His star,
Our children shout and dance in glee.
Surprises sweet await this morn.
Like ships across the summer sea,
Good gifts TO them and US nrc borne.
The holly riistens With It's spray.
The mistlctoe makes mirth and cheer
II is rlad-hcartcd Christmas day.
The merriest day OF all the year.
William brun;on. in Good Housekeeping.
The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1894-12-21

one whom she mourncd, John started
on n tour OF the saloons and gambling
houses Of the camp. Quietly he told
the story to the listening groups. "A
woman in distrcss?" That was
enough for the generous war:n-hcart.
ed miners congrc-atcd in the various
places. and the canvas bag~John car.
ried grew more AMI more corpulent in
proportions as he went his rounds.
Gold. silver and greenbacks came into
the fund from willing hands. and when
at nine that night the tour was com
pleted. the bag seemed almost burst
ing with its load Of treasure. Return
ing 70 the hotel with few cornpan-
ions the miner had a consultation with
the landlord. which concluded with the
latter saying bluntly:
"Ycs. take a knife nm slit the or
merry thing. I kin have piece SC wed
over the hole"
During the early hours of the night
men moved softly about the hotel Of
ice whispering mysteriously. or sat
near the stove discussing some matter
gone TO the lndv's room, ostcnsibly
for womanly chat. but really ON a
mission at Johns request, and when.
an honr later. She silently glided into
the Office a score of rough miners sur
rounded her.
''She is just going TO bed" the wom-
an said. The poor creature Is tired
a - L.. -
take q small dose Of laudanum. She
will sleep like top. The little girl is
sleeping soundly, and assisted the
mother to place the few cheap pres
cnts she had purchased in the little
stockings hanging on the back Of q
chair near the bed. The woman took
hers of just before l came away, and
they arc lying on her shoes near the
foot OF the bed"
Along after midnight, had not Mira
Maynard been securely locked in the
arms OF opiatc-induccd sleep, some
very mysterious transactions would
have met her eyes. She would have
sccn honest old Johns bcwhisxercd
face at the opening thus made, his
head cautiously enter. and his keen
eyes peer around In the dim light
which came through the window from
the winter moon. Then she would
have seen his burly form come noise.
lessly through the opening. move eau
tiously 10 a chair and remorc there
from the tiny. prcscnt.laden stockings.
She would have seen the great form
stoop and would have heard the
searching fingers moving over the
floor. and then have seen the miner
assume half stopping attitude. and
move away grasping the baby stock
ings In one hand and pair OF much
larger dimensions in the other. But
she swectly slept on, unconscious that
her room had been invaded by "a warm
hearted representative Of Santa ClsuA
The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1894-12-21

Persistent trimming tends 10 Efficiency.
The one who would possess real
strength of character must remember
TO act ut all times and in all matters as
he would were he already in possession
Of longed-for perfection. A struggle
toward the goal for day. followed by
q day Of deliberate relaxation and free
dom from alert watch fitness. will
never result In perfected spiritual
strength. There Is no item Of duty.
however small, the doing or neglect
Of which twill make no difference
And every moment has IT. own duty
q d TimeA
The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1894-12-21

Dimples examining her new Christ
mas doil)-Buddy, how do you s'pose
Santa Claus got pieces just like
mammals wrapper TO make dollic's
dress?
buddy don't know less maybe
Mrs Santa Claus buys rcmnsnts
Harper's Young People.
The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1894-12-21

Now. Tommy. you must remem.
Der that IL is more blessed 10 i've
than to receive" Yes. know. mann
ma" said Tommy. but I amt self
ish "-IIarpcr's DasaS
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1894-05-31

girl and frowned. The tiny sister tried
to quiet the crying child. The Dago
girl plucked off a grape and was put
ting it in her mouth, when the little
boy sobbed out:
Mammal mammal"
The Dago girl knew the meaning of
that word; she thought of Ii PARKWAY
fiowery churchyard, under the softest
of blue skies, and how she used to go
there and wait for her mother to come
out and hold her up tight to her breast
as she used to do. and how there was
only mound there. And here was
this newsboy, her enemy, whose
mother had so recently left him,
and left him with two children to
look after. To spite him she had spent
every cent she had made that day, and
would go home to the Italian woman
and be beaten, and. without any sup
per. be showed into a corner of the
room to sleep as well as she could.
but
She dashed to the ground the grape
she had been about 10 eat. ran forward,
and, putting the whole bunch into the
| hands of the crying little boy, leaned
over and kissed him.
"Miss-a mamma moocha?" she said
Mamma angiol. Dago girls mamma
| angiol too"
| She heard sob beside her. Looking
up she saw the older boy with his face
| working
! ''Dago girl" he said and choked. She
! laid her finger on his arm. me
know-a," she nodded. ''Dago girl cry
a too. Dago girl pity mocha
And without another word she
marched off in the direction of the
court where she lived, happiness in
her poor young heart that had not
| been there since she had come to Amer
| ica-went on to meet the beating and
the scolding, but with something very
bright around her which she had known
long ago under the softest of blue skies
| before the mound had been made in
| the far-away churchyard.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1894-05-31

woman just so much as she must. but
not another cent And here she had
ninety-eight cents; she would play a
tune. get the other two cents. go in and
buy the bunch of grapes that reminded
her of some she had seen growing over
| in Italy, and she would come out of the
shop eating them in the face of the boy
and his little brother and sister.
She pulled out her accordion to its
full length and made such a sound
that a man who had stopped to talk
politics with friend tossed her exactly
two cents and told her to shut up.
''Goodal goodai' laughed the Dago
girl. She had the price of the bunch of
grapes. Me shut-a up. Me no playa
'Disy Bella Va!''
She looked over to the boy and his
small brother and sister. They had
paid no attention to her music; they
had not noticed her, though she stood
in the full glare of the electric light.
For the little boy was regularly crying
for the grapes now, refusing to move
a step, and the older boy was puzzled
what to do. He had not cent in his
pocket, and if he had had dollar he
| would not have dared to spend it in
this way. For his mother had died
that week, his father lad run away.
and here he was left to take care of
these little ones and sell papers and
| black boots at the same time, until ne
found something better to do.
The Dago girl knew ali about his
sorrows, and she was happy. 81 will
| show7a him what-a 1 can do. Va.'' she
said. ''Then let-a madrone beat-a me.
| Me getta dollar for playa 'Disy-Bella-
Sir
She fixed the bright red kerchief on
her curly head till It looked like lib
erty cap, pulled down her short. black
velvet jacket, put her accordion under
her arm and marched toward the shop
door. She saw thai the elder boy was
| trying to comfort his brother, without
effect.
No, no. cried the little fellow,
'grapesl grapes"'
| ''Dago!'' said the little girl as she
saw the accordion player.
| The elder boy looked up.
| The Dago girl, with her head on one
side and humming a tune, went into
the shop.
"Wanta the grapes" she said, point
ing to the bunch outside.
The clerk in the shop would have
put her out, as he put out all peddlers
and musicians, but she emptied her
pocket before him-one hundred cop
pers.
''Wanta grapes" she said.
In sort of wonder the man went tC
the door and unlocked the fruit. He
would have wrapped them in fine paper
for her.
mo, no." said the Dago girl, SINE
eata Them" and grabbed them out OF
i his hand, geranium leaves and all.
She went slowly down the shop, out
at the door. holding up the beautiful
bunch of grapes. There outside was
the boy with his little brother and sis
| ter. At sight of the grapes held aloft
in her hand the little boy became fran
tic The older boy looked at the Dagc