davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-12-20
Afriend Of Children Writes
a Play.
TO Be Presented Christmas
Night With Miniature Cast.
The Dramatist Reads His Prologue
and the Toys Do the Rest.

There Is at least one family OF children
unusually good time on Christmas night
for in addition to all the regular fun of
the season they are 10 witness a stage
performance arranged especially for
them.
TEE NEWS is glad OF the opportunity
10 furnish an "advance notice" OF the
show for the sake of a hint to others who
are interested in amusing their children
or their friends children. The identity
OF the little folk who have got the fun
in store for them must be concealed as
they are ell bright and go read THE
|NEws, and the author of the play wants
ITO give them surprise.
The drsmatist in this case Is also the
stage carpenter and the scenery painter,
only production. He has already written
plays that have been applauded by grown
people. In the first place he has con-
structed good roomy stage well equipped
with curtains, "city scenes" country
scenes and all tho other necessary ac-
cessories. There is one church scene and
the music Is to be- furnished by real
organet. For the actors and actresses the
author has secured all the toy shops in
the city and got together a wonderfully
effective company of dolls that tsik,
rooseers that crow, spiders that crawl,
and score OF other characters made out
Of tin and wood and crockery, but each
one is so cleveriy stuffed with automatic
machinery that he, she or II will act well
in the part assigned. They have already
appeared with great credit to themselves
in sundry rehearssls. The title Of the
play is
CHRISTMAS IN FAIRYLAND.
Before the curtain goes up prologue
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-12-20

on to lie down on one of the cots. Tho
doctor left some medicine but there was
that in his handsome face as he turned to
go that convinced me he had no faith in
the power of his drugs TO help this case
"a marriage Is n trying matter. Yes,
I'll feel the better for rest, spoke the
captain, while sat beside him with my
cold fingers pressed to his hot leaping
pulse. "Therc's n great crowd gathered
and the lights-I was always fond Of
light"
And so he wandered on. To him the
imprisonment and the death OF Edna
Crawford had become as a torturing
dream and the joyous hallucination was
glowing reality.
Ragged men on crutches, CHASTITY faced.
lnen with the fever marks on their cracked
lips and in their hollow eyes were about
The cot, but IL the captain saw them his
wild fancy transformed them into we'd
ding guests, and their whisperings of pity
for one more wrctched than themselves
were TO him congratulations on tho great
event that was TO ln,te him to Edna Craw
ford.
1t was bitterly cold night and the
voices of the guards calling out the pass
ing half hours about the prison were muf.
fled and hoarse. The approaching Christ
mas day had no pleasures in reserve for
them.
A thin brick wall separated the hospital
from the cookroom to the west whcre
Mas and his minstrels began to sing
about o'clock.
The music was In honor of the approach
ing wedding All the pain lines melted
from the bronzed face.
Once he tried to join In tho chorus when
"My Old Kentucky Home, Good Night"
was sung, but the effort died out in rat
p tie in his throat.
At length the concert was over and the
lights In the drcary hospital were turned
down. But the captain still heard music
that was not for our ears, and lights
burned before his closed eyes that were not
for our vision.
From Carey stSeet on the west a hoarse
voice shouted at length, Twelve o'clock
Post No. 1, and all's welll" "Twelve
o'clock Post No. 2, and all's wellr' and
so from post TO post about the prison went
up the same cry, the last man adding,
"And a merry Christmas to alll'
Tho captain had been so still aud his
bands so cold fer the past hour that I
thought him dead, but like an echo he
whispered "All's welll''
From the Richmond churches tho bells
Changed out thoir salutation 20 the Christ
mas day just born, but the captain heard
them not. True to his pledge he has
joined Edna.
ALFRFD r. CALHoUu.
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-12-20

Come back 10 me then, and whether the
Union fails or wins, our union can DO
staid only by DEATH
And SO they parted again, Edna Craw-
ford helping her lover to escape into Ken
tucky where he met Buells army and So
cured n commission in the Third Middle
Tennessee cavalry.
Then the young captain began to count
the Christmas days. That Of 1851 was
spent on the banks Of the Ohio; that OF
1862 was passed in the terrific series Of
battles that ended in Bragg's defeat mt
Murfreesboro. Before the victorious Union
legions, Edna Crawford and her mother,
Drawing the inclemency Of that most in
element weather, fled for safety TO Chat
tanooga. They might have remained at
home in security, for not only the captain,
who at once sought them out, but every
Union soldier worthy tho uniform he wore,
would have protected them, but in those
days the invading Yankee was regarded as
q cruel monster.
The privation brought on cold. Con-
sumption followed, and u monster more
inexorably cruel than the war god had an
irredeemable lien on Edna Crawford's life.
Rosecrans advanced on Chattanooga and
Mrs. Crawford took up her dying daugh-
ter and fed 10 Knoxville. Burnside came
down through east Tennessee and seized
Knoxville, and Bohannon's troop was the
first to onter the city with the stars and
stripes.
Edna was dying when tho captain found
her and gave her every care.
Christmas, 1863, will soon bc here, my
darling" he whispered at their last meet
ing. But she did not hear him. The lit
tie hand grew colder In his grasp, and
with her life gono al life became indiffer-
-ent To him.
When George Bohannon left Edna
Crawford's grave a change came over
him. He who had beon the life of the
camp and tho soul of hope became de.
spondent aud morosc There was no
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-12-20
A Few Punctureicss Tire.

A Brooklyn man has invented leather
tire for bicycles which, It Is predicted, will
make a wonderful change over the rubber
pneumatic The tiro, 1t is claimed, cannot
be puncturcd and is not apt 20 slip In
ruiny weather. 1t Is also claimed that 10
Las moro elasticity than the present tire.
According 70 the inventor, the tire Is made
from the best tan sole leather md two
pairs can be cut from a hide. The ends are
joined by bins seam, made perfectly
smooth. The tire Is scwod on the inside or
portion which Ats I'm the RIM. About
foot OF this scam Is left open and fitted
with a hcinR SD that the rubber inner tuba
Nay be inserted. This Is very strongly
made especially at the ends, where expert
ence has shown that bursting often occurs.
The leather tire will stand 20 pounds 10
the square inch moro pressure than tho
rubber one ana can be mode almost as
hard n desired. After they arc hnished
they 60 through process which makes
thcyl absolutely waterproof, so that 10
wet weather they do not ret sogey.
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-12-20
A NEW SANTA CLAUS.

Without the wind was wGiling.
Tho night was cold and drear;
Within the red logs cracking
Proclaimed the Christmas cheer
S1f Santa Claus would only"
S2id little Bertha, "now
Come down the set black chimnc
With painted doll and COW.
"With elephant and zebra
And scarlet coclSutoo,
Ehinooeros and camel
And frog and kangaroo,
81 should be very happy
To SEQ his features sweet.~
Her father said, with laughter.
"The logs would burn his feet
IL sent them to the kitchen
and told thom that no doubt
Scuta'd come Gown the chimney
Wien he saw the logs put cut.
Thcn up stairs went the father
A.lnu Ching with dolig.t,
Pct on a great fur ulster
And hair and whiskcrs white.
Ee brought the toys Down with him,
And when they focked about
He gave them fruit and candies
And laughed TO hear them shout.
He gave them toys and kissed them
And sent them mp 60 bed,
That he might join the reindeer
And speed upon the sled.
"The children all arc happy"
Unto his wife said he,
"And we shan't have tho bother
OF dressing mp that tree.
"Hurrah for all the blessings
That light our cory koni
Hurrah for Merry Christmas
And peace unto az menl"
X. Il. Myc zICTEIcK.
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-12-20
CHAPTER III.
now THE SECOND ONE WENT.


II was bright, happy year for the
youngsters, contrary TO the laws Of fiction,
for they had love and hope and hard work
60 FIJI the time and good common sense TO
guide them, but old Eben had never re-
Tented, and there was shadow over the
little home, happy as IL was. One evening
late in the year young Eben had come
homo from his work and settled himself,
as his habit was, to study, when he was
suddenly interrupted.
81 want TO talk n little while, 7" said
Mildred, pulling his book away and seat
ing herself on his knee.
Good" said young Eben, smiling,
"but you must pay for my time"
But after she had done that very salts.
factorily with kiss she sat for long
time with her head on his shoulder, saying
nothing till at length he said, ~ thought
you wanted TO talk 10 me, dearY'
Still she was silent moment ms II 10
were hard TO begin. Then she said, "What
would you like best for Christmas pres.
entr'
Young Eben laughed. "Its some timo
10 Christmas yet" he said. II hadn't
thought. Besides you gave me the most
precious gift I'm the world last Christmas.
Anything else world seem very small after
that"
"How lovely 10 say thati" she ex-
claimed, kissing him again. And 10 say
10 as II you meant Il. But that is Just
what am afraid Of. y
This was bcwildcrlng. "wha. are you
afraid OFF" asked young Ebcn
81 think"--shc faltcrcd, "that the an
gels are going 90 bring you-about Christ
mas time--a blessed gift straight from
heaven, and I'm afroid you'l II 'ove it more
than you do me. Then cana food Of
tears--happy ones that young Ebcn was
too wise 10 try to stop.
Old Eben might have soltencd n biz II
he had known about this, but, OF course,
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-12-20

same time. Her grandmother finally got
a box OF 100 cigars with a pretty gilt
paper over them for s1.25. Then they
went home and a little later Teddy was
abed, trying hard to keep awake and
think, but she couldn't, and i'm very
few minutes she was sound asleep and
dreaming.
That ends the prologue and then the
curtain will 60 up and the play is to show
what Teddy Dimple dreamed.
The cast Of characters is as follows;
MoRTALs.
Teddy Dimple, Pa DiPple, Ma Dimple,
Grandpa Dimple and Grandma Dimple.
MArERIALIzED SPIRITS AND OTHER THINGS
Santa Claus, Chris Kringle, his brother;
Ha lequin, famous dancer; Snow Drop,
an ice fairy; Ice Cap, the Esquimaux;
Ba- Ba- Boo, little Jap; Icicle, guardian
OF the North Pole ;Green Jacket, de munk; ;
Gibbons and Ohara, the French wrest-
lers; Buster Brothers, trapeze performers;
Huckle Berry Doc, the coon; Inspector
Byrnes, the cop; Susie Hosana, Alielujah
Jane, Sinful Mary, and Pious Pete, the
Salvation Army.
AUxILIARIEs.
Shoppers, shopliiters, peddlers, soldiers,
giants, fairies and many Others.
LIVE STOCK.
Doodle Doc, Brer Rabbit, Domino, an
educated pig; South Down, mother OF
Mary's little lamb; Roger, the elephant;
Bronchitis. little horse; spiders, camels,
kangaroos and many other things.
No seats Will be reserved except for
children and grown people must stand.
Santa Claus, one of the leading charac-
ters in the cast, Will give souvenir gift
to each boy and & irl in the audience.
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-12-20

"wE WILL BE MARRIED on CHRISTMAS DAY"
pluck and energy, started for California to
regain tho lost fortune, but before doing
so ho became bctrothed to EDNA Crawford,
the beautiful daughter of neighbor
"Win or lose, Edna III be back at the
old home, and we'll bc married on Christ
mas day, 1868" That is what George
Bohannon said TO his sweetheart when no
kissed her goodby In tho summer of 1859.
Like Ike hero that he was, the young
Tenncssoean went Co work in the Golden
state, and never mail passed that the
dear girl In the old home did not hca- of
her lovers Frightening prospects. But
"man proposes and God disposes."
- In the midst of his growing prosperity
young Bohannon, in the mines OF Calaver.
as, heard Lincolns call for men TO como to
the defense of tho Union, and for the time
the old spirit of patriotism beat the long
roll In his heart. His forefathors had
fought in every war for the Union, and,
thrilling with these memories, he dropped
his pick, abandoned the prospect OF certain
wealth and FASTENED back.
Tennessee was in the hands of the en-
sfTfy, se-t -tl.s.t H. rTas- only By stealth that
Bohannon could reach his homo near Muir
frccsboro. lie found nearly ali his old
ncighbors on the side Of the south. Edna
Crawford's father and her two brothers
were i'm the Confederate army. and all the
fympa,hics OF his botrotbed were on the
same side.
But tho changed relations did not
change their love. "Iwould not have YOU
fight against your convictions. said Ei
na. "But go 60 the side where your heart
calls Won IL a. vet f.,o years (tpOrfrc. the
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-12-20

HE LOOKED 10 SEE WHAT IA MIGHT lie.
even old Eben's mansion, despite the
barred doors, and reaching his stony heart
as he sat thinking OF his well beloved son,
and of the wife of his youth, so long dead.
1t was another stormy Christmas eve.
Suddenly he rang for servant and sent
for his lawyer IN haste and within an hour
he sat alone again, looking with happy
smile at the new will he had made II
win go to my son in tho morning" he said
TO himself, land we will have happy
Christmas once more"
Smiling tenderly, he fell asleep in his
armchair in front OF the great open fire.
place. where tho flames woro roaring up
the chimney. After q time he awoke with
a start.
Between him and tho fire stood Alice,
reading the will ho had just made. She
was furious with rage as no saw at a
glance, and just as he started she was
about to tear the document in two.
With an angry cry he leaped forward,
his Indignation giving him strength no
had not felt for months, His cry startled
her, and with quick movement she cast
the paper into the flames before ne could
reach her. Then with hooking laugh
she turned toward him.
And then she stopped. The shock had
been too much for the old man, and no feu
on the floor before her insonsblo.
That night in young Eben's cottage
there came feeble wall, telling that
now born soul had flown in through the
storm to the warm shelter of happy
mothers arms. All was well, the nurse
said as she brought the lusty man child
out, for Eben TO sec, and the young
fathers heart, was moved with great
yearning. 1t must not be, he thought,
that there should be any anger or hatred
any more Ia the world. Whatever lay in
his power he would do TO bring pence.
So, when the first excitement was over
and he was told that Mildred was asleep
and must not be disturbed, he buttoned
himself in his greatcoat and set out in tho
storm to seek his fathers house and ask
once more for his love.
The wind buffeted him, and he laugh
ed. The driving snow beat upon him,
and he shook IL of lightly Suddenly a
paper huttered along on the gale and
struck him In tho face, and he instinct
lively reached up and caught IL. Then,
stepping under light, ho looked to see
what it might be.
Here was magic, II you please. The will
that Alice had thrown into the flames had
been caught In tho roaring draft of tho old
fashioned chimney and had been carried
by the spirit Of Christmas straight TO the
hands Of tho heir. II was scorchod lit
tie, but not injured.
Young Eben glanced through it and
then noted the date and with "A glad shout
sprang forward again. At his fathers
door Alice met and would have stopped
him, but he pushed her asidewith laugh
and went straight TO the old mans room.
-rhere e-lay- old Ebcn, weak from his
fainting lit, but little the worse for it.
My sonl My soni" no cried out eager
ly. Now can die I'm peace"
die nothingr' exclaimed young Eben
with chccry laugh. God has sent you
grandson and n son tonight. Youn
have many merry Christmas yet with me
Ind minc. +"
And 80 10 was. DAVID A. CURTIS.
Fair q Flmwood social Committee now
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-12-20

tive enough to feel il an injury to his own
Importance and unreasonable enough to
feel his anger increasing week by week.
One day when no was more incensed than
usual he made "a viii leaving all his for
tune to a distan Tcousin, Alice Withers,
who had come 10 keep house for him.
When he told her about IL that night, a
gleam of triumph came in her narrow eyes.
IL was what she had hoped and schemed
for, but her face was grave, and hor voice
steady, as she spoke in reply:
"You are doing too much for me, Cous-
in Eben," sac said. "I have done nothing
TO deserve such kindness, and, pardon me
for saying It, you are doing cruel injus-
tice TO your son.
II was crafty speech, for she knew that
the old man would resent the charge of in
Justice, and her eyes flashed again when
he said harshly, Il have no son. had one,
but he left me. Never mention him
again"
And so the breach seemed hopeless, but
Christmas was coming again. and strange
magic is working everywhere in the Christ.
mas season, softening mems hearts and
quickening all impulses TO peace and good
will. As the year drew TO u close old
Eben grew weaker and more inflrm. Day
after day he sat alone, careless Of his busi-
ness, thinking always Of his ruined hopes
and eating his heart. On young Eben's
birthday he shut himself in his room and
would see no one, but he was harder than
ever next day.
Nothing moved him till that strange
magic Of Christmastide came. Here, there
and everywhere 1t worked, penetrating
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-12-20

Miss Mildred, saw things little different
ly and would perhaps have used another
word than love in speaking of bis father
Certainly it did not seem as IL his filial
love was very strong when he came to tell
her what his father had said. In those
days he told her everything. Afterward
he grew older and learned good many
things.
Miss Mildred did not take IL well.
Young Ehen was dissatisfied with the
promptness with which she said that she
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-12-20

would never forgive herself II she should
be the cause Of quarrel between him and
bis father.
Young Ehen looked at her attontivoly
before speaking again, and that was
thing calculated To bewilder man. You
couldn't fully appreciate the beauty Of her
brown hair with its odd CLEANS of red and
OF gold before you would be- admiring he-
broad low forehead, full I'm the temples,
rounded ana symmetrical as II wns. Then
q Hash from her deep, large. hazel eyes
would fasten your gaze for moment, till
tho perfect complexion and chiscled, classic
features would coax 10 taway, and the sweet
glory Of her face would perplox yon so with
It's multiplicity Of charms that you would
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-12-20
Two Christmas Ewes.
Copyright, 1885, by American Press Associa-
tiOn.l
CHAPTER L
HOW THE FIRST ONE CAME.

HOW THE FIRST ONE CAME.
"Not another word, sir, !" said old Eben
Withers in his usual decisive manner II
know nothing about the girl, and don't
desire TO, but do not intend you to marry
for some years, and then you are not to
choose a penniloss bride. You are to build
up the family fortune, sir, not scatter it.
No; will not listen" And he turned
TO his morning paper again.
Young Eben said more than his prayers
sometimes, and IL would not do TO set
down all he said TO himself as he left the
room. He was as plucky a lad as there
was in seven counties around, but he bad
always been obedient, partly from sense
of duty and partly because OF the genuine
love that existed between father and son.
= Bnt-eYen young Ehen, after he met
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-12-20
Subscribe Now for 1896.
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Campaign hand the first Will
al THE NEWS
subscriptions Weybossef
What better Christmas cOud
subscription THE NWSa that Republican
that prints the day while it is
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-12-20

he didn't. IIo kept himself well informed
about tho lad he loved, but proud as he
was TO SEQ that his son could make his way
I'm the world without help, no was sensi-
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-12-20

Fair q Flmwood social Committee now
poned. Dancing every evening. Music
National Band orchestra, Affair Hall. Elm.
wood avenue.
The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1895-05-03
nUsINEss ANNnrNcEMrNr.

The subscription price Of TuE Cmomcf.r IL
II per year. 30 cents Coz aIx months. 20 cents
Tor three months, which positively must be- paid
Ia advance. All subscriptions yin b. promptly
stopped 40 expiration Of time paid for.
Obituary aud similar notices will be charged
for ~ tho rate d Q cents per line. We viii
furnish rates Tor display and local advertising
on application.
Our JOB printing facilities are hral-olals. and
our specially lie good WORT. Estimates land
samples where poaa.ble) viii be furnished on
application.
hoWs communications and articles on ques.
tlona Of public interest are solicited. but W,
assume no responsibility for The expressions
contained In all such comm unioations and
articles published.
hemiitanoea can bemade In various ways thar
Arc perfectly safe, but al romittancea sent are
e the risk Of sender. Postage stamps OF and
econt denominations will be received in sums
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All remittances aud business communication
should be sent 20
TRAVIS BROS. Publishers,
CAMDEN, TEN.
The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1895-05-03
DR. CRAWFORD oENsuRrD.
The Florida Legislature Hits Him a
Hard One.

Hard One.
Some time ago The ST. Louis POST
DIp0ich sent ont inquiries % various
state officers asking n the statute books
Of the several states contained laws
against lobbying.
One OF these inquiries reached Hon.
John l.. Crawford secretary OF state
Of Florida Instead Of answering the
question as asked be replied; "Tho
lobby controls the legislature oi Flor
ida" This vas published in The POST
Dispatch 81 April 9th, but seems did
not meet the attention OF members 81
the legislature now in session until
very recently. This serious condem-
nation Of tho lawmakers of the "Alli-
gator State aroused the wrath of the
house at Tuesdays session. Speeches
severely denouncing tbI statement
were made and action wos demanded
reluting the serious reelection upon
the lower house.
After an animated discussion, q COM
mittee was appointed 10 report on the
matter
Resolutions condemning as untrue
the statement Of the secretary Of state
we're reported unanimously by that
committee and wero brought be-
fore the house upon the question Of
adoption.
Friends of the aged secretary Of
state claimed that his letter to The
POST Dispatch was written before the
assembly OF the present body. This
was not proven, though his friends
asked a suspension OF action until this
statement could be verified By a tele-
gram from St. Louis explaining.
Members OF the special committee
thought that time enough had been
given the secretary, but he had not
furnished an explanation.
Upon the call of the previous ques-
ton, the house adopted the resolution
by a vote Of "a to 20 and the lower
house places on its journal a severe
censure of the state secretary.