davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1894-01-27
WAS PREPARED TO DIE.

Bat Whsn the Time Came His Vision
Failed to Come True.
Some time since, says the New York
Telegram, certain farmer in the mid-
die of this state, an eccentric cid fel-
low the heighbors said, had vision.
Somebody appeared to him. a spirit,
q hobgoblin or what not, and informed
him that he had only few months to
live. The date fixed was in Novem-
Der.
The farmer took the matter very
seriously, but he had no fears. He
told his friends that he was about to
depart, and began to get ready. He
paid all his debts, which is more than
even death can induce every one to do,
and offered his farm utensils and his
stock for sale. He wanted to clean
things up handsomely, as every hon
est man should do, and leave no en-
tanglements behind him. Among 9th
er things to be disposed of were two
cows, but as he wanted to live COM
fortably while he did live he concluded
to hold on to those cows until the last
moment.
Oddly enough, now that the time Of
his exit is close at hand, he has had an
other vision. "A new set OF ghosts or
hobgoblins have appeared to him and
informed him that arrangements have
been made to allow him to stay in this
wicked world q little longer. He was
rather relieved At the postponelnent OF
his funeral. but still felt degree OF
embarrassment,fo ,forpretty nearly every.
thing he had, wagons, horses and har'
nesses, rakes, hoes, axes, some cords OF
wood behind the house, had all been
got rid of. and the farm looked a
though it had just been abandoned.
The old fellow is . bit riled, how
ever. "This vision business" he said
the other day, "has cost me DEAR" and
he has been heard to use some rather
strong expressions about hobgoblins
in general and this particular hobgob-
lin that seems to have been playing .
practical joke on him.
He is specially glad that he didn't
sell those cows. They are about all he
has left, but they will serve rs nu-
cleus for the things he will have to
buy in order to run the farm. When q
stranger comes along nowadays and
says he would like to take peep at
those cows with a view to purchase
them, the farmer comes as close TO pro-
family rs q country church deacon
ever gets. He thinks the swear words,
but bites his tongue and remarks that
he hasn't any cows for sale. but Is
thinking of buying herd and going
into the dairy business.
The moral of this is that hObgoblins
are very useful creatures in their WY;
that when they tell you to pay your
debts you had better follow their ad-
vice, but il they tell you yen are going
to die you had better take .camomile
tea and send for the doctor. At any
rate, don't part with your cows.
The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1894-01-27
a Rstlsss Psopas.

The curious fact has been mentioned
by Sir Samuel Baker that . negro has
never been known to tame IN elephant
or any wild animal. The elephants
employed by the 1ncient CsrthaginiAns
and Romans were trained by Arabs
and Carthaginians, never by negroes.
Sir Samuel was distressed by the utter
lack Of pet animals among the children
In Africa; and he often offered rewards
for young elephants, but never sac
eeeded IN getting one alive.
The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1894-01-27

second night in the snow and ice, and
then Nine. Charbonnet went alone
down the mountain to q hut, where
she induced two guides to 60 back
after her husband and Ponta. Char
bonnet's dead body, with skull and
limbs crushed, was found at the bot
tom of the crevasse. Ponta was un-
conscious, but revived after he was
taken to the hut.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-12-19
Christmas Feasting In Old Times.

Thsre are certain dishes which are
peculiarly dedicated by custom and
tradition to the Christmas feast. The
plum pudding is almost the sole sur
vivor of long list of equally savory
ones. There was the boar's head, al
ways the herald of the feast, and al
ways seasoned with mustard. Next
in Importance was the peacock. The
skin was carefully stripped of, with
the plumage adhering; the bird was
then roasted; when it was done and
had cooled, it WAS served up again in
its feathers, and, with gilded beak,
was sent to the table. Sometimes the
whole body was covered with gold
leaf, and piece of cotton, saturated
with spirits, placed in its beak and
lighted as it made its gorgeous entry.
The noble bird was not served by COM
mon hands; that privilege was re-
served for the ladies most distin-
guished by birth and beauty. Geese,
capons, pheasants, and pies of carps'
tongues also helped to set out the
Christmas table in days gone by. But
while Christmas, as far as its eating
was concerned, always had its special
ties, it's liquor carte was unlimited.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-12-19

been employed since boyhood, and
had gone to L., to take place IN
the iron works. And not a word had
ever come from Nan.
A bitter loneliness filed his heart
as he entered his cheerless room with
its carpetless floor and curtainless
window. The fire in the rusty little
stove had gone out, and the cheap
kerosene lamp on the wooden mantel
gave only sickly light.
Heyser shivered and flung out of
the room, muttering something be-
tween his teeth. 1t was too early to
90 to bed, and he had lived 80 entire
ly to himself during the past year
that he had no friends in the tenement
house upon whom he could drop in
for an hours talk. What WAS he to
do with himself? Walk up and down
Main street, he supposed, and see peo-
pie stare at him because he had no
bundles.
As he went downstairs he heard the
Payne children laughing, and through
door that stood little aiar saw them
hanging up their stockings.
Heyser's heart swelled with self
pity, and he tugged at the mufier
about his throat as if it were choking
him as he went stamping down the
bare, dark stairway. In all this
Christmas festivity he had no share.
There was no one to give thought to
him, no one of whom he must think.
And it was all Mans fault. She had
ruined his life. How could he help
hating her? Why had she never sent
that apology? Evidently she had
never repented her share OF their
quarrel.
Reaching Main street again Heyser
hesitated, gave quick glance around
him to see if any one were looking
who might suspect his purpose, and
then turned abruptly down a street
that led directly to the river. He
walked rapidly, with his head down,
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-12-19
'-N Ers.
Christmas in Egypt. s

The following Christmas experience
in Egypt is related by writer in
Frank Leslie's Popular Monthly. He
was at the house of Greek who was
apparently not Cresus, as the entire
furniture of his cafe consisted of q
stone.and-mud fireplace in one corner,
palm.branch divan occupying the
remainder of that side of the banquet
ting hall, and lot of rush mats on
the earthen floor. I took the place of
honor on the divan, says the writer,
and soon the Arabs commenced drop
ping in and squatting on the floor.
Our Copt had made 80 much noise that
he had awakened the whole village.
It was Christmas Eve, or, rather,
morning, and I felt liberal, so I or
dered coffee and mastic for the party,
and kept the landlord busy until I had
filled the whole lot-a feat never be-
fore accomplished in Tel.el-Baroud.
I began to feel hungry, and the land
lord fished out from under the divan,
which also served as chicker-coop,
three squads, which he killed, plucked,
broiled and served up on Arab bread.
This bread is baked of unbolted -four
in round cakes, seven inches in diane
ter. It is hollow like doughnut, and
of about the consistency Of heavy
blotting paper.
After breakfast everybody went on
hunting expedition. After their re-
turn they all went for their bath, a
change Of clothes, then to dinner
| and such dinner!
The bill of fare could scarcely be
equalled at that season Of the year in
this country; the little oysters from
Alexandria Harbor (they we're first
planted there by MoKillop Pasha, who
was admiral of the Egyptian fleet un-
| der Ismail Pasha), soup, fish from the
Mediterranean, turkey, ham, ducks,
J snipe, fresh vegetables of every de.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-12-19
Christmas Tree Myths.

In almost every land the Christmas
tree has taken root, with numberless
pleasant myths and mysteries, charm.
ing to childhood, clinging to it. But
some of the old fantasies we instinc-
lively reject. We relegate to OBJ
livion the witches and demons who
were supposed to have special power
to work mischief during Christmas
tide. Odin then swept through the
air with his malignant crew, foretell-
ing calamity; Berchta, sometimes
lovely, then became a malevoient
witch, the bugbear of all children;
Rupreoht frightened the little ones
with threats of punishment If they
forgot their prayers; and the dreadful
Klarbauf, who kidnapped all naughty
children, was the terror of the nur.
sery. Even st. Nicholas, the beloved
Santa Claus of children nowadays,
used to make his appearance carrying
a huge bundle Of rods, so that his COM
ing excited terror as well as Joy.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-12-19
Christmas Fare.

One remarkable feature of the siege
of Paris--in 1870-was that every
ones appetite increased enormously.
So says the author of ''France in the
Nineteenth Century," who was wit
ness in the scenes she describes.
Thinking about food stimulated the
craving for it, and before the end of
the wear there were serious apprehen-
sious of famine. OF the appearance
of things during the holiday season.
the author says: - -..
Christmas Day of that sad year
came at last, and New Years Day, the
great aud joyful fete-day in all French
families. A few confectioners kept
their stores open, and a few boxes OF
bonbons were sold; but presents OF
potatoes or small packages of coffee
were by this time more acceptable
gifts. :,
Nothing was plentiful in Paris but
champagne and mustard. The rows
upon rows of the last named article IN
the otherwise empty windows OF the
grocers reminded Englishmen and
Americans of Grumio's cruel offer to
Katherine of the mustard without the
beef, since she could not have the beef
with the mustard.
Here is the bill of fare of o dinner
given at q French restaurant upon that
Christmas Day:
Soup from horse meat.
Mince OF cat.
Shoulder of dog with tomato sauce.
Jugged cat with mushrooms.
Roast donkey and potatoes.
Rats, peas and celery.
Mice on toast.
Plum-pudding.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-12-19
What Christmas Means to Children.

What is Christmas not to the
children? Itis their golden milestone,
the landmark from which they meas
ure everything. AS soon as they stop
looking back to one Christmas, they
begin looking forward to another. An
atmosphere of mystery-always de-
lightful to a child-enshrouds the
Yule-tide. 1t is more than family
gathering, and a big dinner and
presents and candy unlimited. It is
the Christ-child, and Santa Claus,
elves and fairies, singing angels and
kneeling cattle, worshiping shep.
herds and gift-bearing Magi, Star OF
Bethlehem and manger, ga sleighful
of toys and eight tiny reindeer" all
blended in the blissful confusion i'm
possible outside of q child's brain,
that knows not reverence or irrever-
ence, but bestows wonder and love
with impartial generosity upon Chris
tian story and Pagan myth.
So it is, after all, to the children
that Christmas is. dearest. Next after
them it is most loved by those who
have never lost the childish heart,
those greatly to be envied ones who
still feel "Christmas in their bones
as the holiday comes around and re-
joice in the joy of others more keenly
than in their own happiness; for the
true meaning of Christmas is lost al
soon as the element of selfshness fndi
place in the celebration.
Even the children soon learn this,
and they are defrauded if this lesson
if: not early and tenderly brought
home to them. They must not be de.
pfived of the joys of giving, and the!
will not be slow to learn that thell
nerry-making is sweeter and gayer TO,
the thought that by sending happines
into the homes of the needy they have
made themselves one with the spirit
of the Founder Of the feast day,
whose whole life was one continuous
gift. The sweet solemnity OF the
thought will not cloud the mirth. 1t
will, if it is rightly taught and appre'
hended, be the brimming drop IN the
cup of happiness of old and young
Philadelphia Times.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-12-19
PROMINENT PEOPLE.

I president CLEVELAND suffers still from
rheumatic gout.
CECIL RHODES, the Premier OF Cape Col
ony, South Africa, Is worth $15, ,O00, 900.
Francis KossUTR has taken the oath Of
allegiance to Emperor Franz Josef, Of Aus.
trla. E... - -,
ANDREW CARNEGIE, the Pittsburg ironmas-
ter, says that "a man who DIES rich dies dis
graced." -,-'. ,.
NJ. T. MYosH1. the Chief Justice Of the Su-
preme Court Of japan, Is deacon In Con-
gregational church.
EcosoMrc writers declare that the income
Of the Gear OF Russia Is equal to S25,0o per
day every day In the year. s..
THREE Englishmen are lecturing In Amer
lea this season-Conan Doyle, Dean Hole
and David Christie Murray. ... ....~.
ROBERT LOUIS sTEvENsoS's estate In
Samoa includes 400 acres of forest land, and
Is situated at an elevation ranging from GOO
to 1900 feet. e..
CAPTAIN CHARLES KNa, the novelist, has
been offered the Adjutant- Generalship Of
Wisconsin. He and Governor Upham were
classmates at West Point. J. .~
TIE Bishop Of Chichester, England, tho
Rev. DR.. Dunford, now In his ninety-second
year, has Just returned home from pedes-
trian tour In Switzerland and the Italian
lakes. ..'.-'
OSCAR WnDs wears an enormous cravat,
and his coat tails are alittle longer than any
body else'a. He Is adorned With gold chain
bracelet. and his little finger Of his left hand
Is ringed to the naih ,.
CzAR NICHOLAS means to abolish the Rus,
sian secret police, and to allow greater free,
dom to the press. He says that II he is fated
to be murdered, ali the secret police In the
world cannot prevent It. f.
GENERAL WILLIAM q. GIBSON died In Tif-
fin, Ohio, recently. he was known in Ohio
as General Bill Gibson, the silver tongued
orator." He was born in Jefferson County,
Ohio, seventy-two years ago.
COUNT CApRrv1. the e1-Chancellor of Ger!
many, had never been active IN public lie
when called to Office In 1890. But he took to-
speechmaking as duck to water and soon,
made q reputation as a trenohant debater.
HENRY KENNEY, the Hartford Conn mil
lionaire, who died recently. was a lucky
man. In 1912 he invested $3.50 In fire In
surance company. Since then the invest
ment has paid S124,s64 in cash dividends,
and Is now worth more than $4,000.
CONGRESSMAN CIRCUIT, Of Vermont, has one
peculiar fad that Is noticed BY nearly. every
visitor to the hall Of the House OF Represen-
tatives In Washington. He insists on hav-
Ing bis chair covered with oilcloth to pro:
tect him more satisfactorily from unexpected
drafts Of air.
NIB. CARNEa1E's munifcsnce has given
Pittsburg q 81, ,0o0, 600 library building and
900 year to run It, but the library Is
without sufficient income for the purchase
Of books and the management OF the con-
Germ, so that the city Will be slow In receive
ing the full benefit OF the gift.
say of Dr. Parkhurst, the New York civic re-
former, in youth: "Charlie Parknurst was
n likeable young fellow. He relished lively
conversation md jokes, and seemed to en-
joy witty sarcasm particularly well. He was
persistent fellow, with strong purpose.
But he MAS only q fair salesman"
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-12-19
AT CHRISTMAS TIDE.

so blithe this hour. when once again
The Star glows steadfast in the sky;
20 hope attuned, when human pain
Grows less, for faith that help Is nigh;
So hallowed, when the angel train
With song and hE-p are passing by.
Once more, between the midnight's gloom
And the pale rose OF breaking dawn,
Heavens matchless lilies wake and bloom,
And far athwart the east are drawn
The pencilled sunbeams which illume
All pathways men must journey on.
Again the Sages and the Seers
Bend low before little child;
And Ger the long aud stormful years,
The desert spaces vast and wild,
The strife, the turmoil, and the tears,
He looks, and smiles, the undeAled.
'Tis Christmas tide! At Mary's knee
The shepherds and the princes meet!
Love-bound In dear humility,
To clasp the Infant Saviour's feet.
The Star is bright ore land and sea;
The Gloria song is full and sweet.
Margaret E. Sangster, in Harper's Bazaar.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-12-19
Mighty Near 1t.

It's getting close to Christmas; across the
hills and dells, ....
You can almost hear the Ginning und the
rhyming of the bells;
But the skies are clear and candid, with no
clouds that dream Of snow,
And you hear In dark and daylight all the
Elfn bugles blow!
It's getting close to Christmas; there's q
something in the air
That seems to breath Of Bethlehem and Ill
tho glory there: -.
And sweet the bells and bugles sound
through our dreams OF rest
Ping, bells, your sweetest music! and bu-
giles blow your best!
It's getting close to Christmas. o, time OF
peace and Joy!
And o, to be once more, once more, wake
full, watchful boy,
With the stocking IN the corner for old
Santa Claus to fill!
But we still thank God for Christmas, and
we're boys in memory STILL!
F. L. Stanton.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-12-19
the old sofa gave him the history of
the months she had spent apart from

the old sofa gave him the history of
the months she had spent apart from
him.
sI left baby with Mrs. Wisk while
T went to l. to leave note for
you," she said, as she nestled against
him, her arms about his neck, and
her rosy cheek against his rough and
bearded one. II couldn't let Christ
mas go by and not-JeTy, we must
never, never quarrel again"
"Never!" rejoined Heyser, ferv-
emily. "And now I'm going back to
L.. I've got to buy you and the
baby something for tomorrow. I can
keep Christmas now as well as other
people. :" ...
And any one seeing him coming
across the bridge on his way home,
two hours later, would almost have
imagined him Santa Claus himself, 80
loaded down was he with bundles of
every shape and size.
Impatient as he had been to return
to Nan and the baby-whieh as yet he
hardly realized as his own-he had
taken time to go to his lodging house
for Mans note, and he read the words
it contained with eyes suspiciously
dim.
How gayly his heart beat as he
tramped across the bridge! How happy
he felt! Christmas was q glorious
time! He didn't wonder people en-
ioyed it
And this time when he reached the
cottage it was ell aglow with light and
warmth, and Nan met him at the door
and exclaimed over the number of his
bundles, and laughed because he had
bought the baby drum and a toy
engine. .
"But we can save them for him, !"
she added; ''and just come out into
the kitchen, Jerry" ..
Jerry followed her, wondering what
he was to see, and gave little gasp OF
surprise when he found q nice supper
spread upon the table and delicious
aroma from a coffee pot filing the
room.
"I've learned to cook, Jerry. Mrs.
Bosley says I can't be beaten at it, "
sail Nan, laughing, though her eyes
were full of tears.
Jerry's lips quivered, and he swal-
lowed lump in his throat. Then he
put his arms around his little wife and
drew her close to his happy heart.
"This is Christmas, sure enough,
Man," he whispered, huskily.-Inde-
pendent.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-12-19

sprang through the gateway aud tore
the baby from his arms. She was
weak and almost breathless from
fright and her run up the hill.
Heyser looked down at her, passing
his hands over his eyes as if to clear
away a mist.
"Nan!" he cried.
sJerry I" and around his neck went
one round arm, while the other held
the baby close to her heart. .
sIet's get away from here, Nan, "
said Heyser, thickly; and he led her
through the gateway and down the
hill, paying no attention to old Mrs.
Wisk who ran after them, crying and
wringing her hands and saying she
had gone out only for a minute to
borrow little molasses, and If the
baby had been burned she never would
have forgiven herself-never!
Heyser's brain seemed strangely
confused; but just at the base of the
hill he stopped.
seWhat did she mean, Nan?" he
asked; "and-what's this?" he asked,
touching the baby.
Didn't you know?" she cried.
"Oh, JerryI I thought some one
would surely tell you"
Heyser shook his head. He couldn't
answer her just then.
Nan stopped at the gate of the lit
tie brown cottage and drew the key
of the door from her pocket; but
just as she put it into the lock Heyser
threw both arms arms around her and
strained both mother and child to
his breast. ....
"Oh, Nan, I have missed you so T.
he whispered. huskily. "And te
think you've been living here all this
time!"
"I knew you'd come back, Jerry,
she said, and then she drew him into
the warm sitting room, stirred the
fire, put the baby in its cradle, ano
then seating hers elf beside him or
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-12-19
An Old Christmas Custom.

It was an old custom in Oxfordshire
for the maid servants to ask the men
servants to bring in ivy and other
greens with which to decorate the
house. If any man refused, the maids
stole pair of his trousers and nailed
them On the gateway. As a still
greater punishment, the uncomplying
men were debarred from the privi-
lepes of the mistletoe.