davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1896-12-24
PICKING CHICKENS TO MUSIC
Queer Customs Of the italian Poultry
Dealers of San Francisco.

Queer Customs Of the italian Poultry
Dealers of San Francisco.
The sailor has his musical shanty to
which he keeps time as he trots about
the capstan until the anchor is hoisted
to the peak, the farmer trills lay to
tighten his labors as he pitches hay into
the wagon, and these songs are familiar
to many, but who ever heard or saw
gang of italian chicken pickers sing and
denude fowls to the time of the musio5
Such scene can be witnessed any
Friday evening in season at the Clay
Street market, while the employees Of
the big poultry houses that have their
places of business there are preparing for
sale the chickens that the housewife
buys for the Sunday dinner.
The men seat themselves in half cir
Gle and each takes fowl. One stroke
of sharp knife across the throat puts
the unfortunate squawking broiler out
Of its misery, and then the foreman Of
the gang starts his song. As they catch
the air and the time the others chime
in, and in All instant the plucking be-
giI:s. With rhythmic motion the n1mble
fingers grasp the feathers and pull them
out during all the time of the song.
Feathers fly in all directions, but the
song goes ON until the last pinfeathers
are removed and the carcasses are tossed
into o pile, ready for the man who puts
on the finishing touches and prepares
them for the inspection Of prospective
purchasers.
The rapidity with which chicken is
stripped of its feathers is astonishing to
the uninitiated who have tried it but a
few times. and SO adept have these men
become that they finish their fowls al
most simultaneously, and the process is
repeated in unison. Three dozen birds
are not considered heavy nights work
for one man, and when pressed for time
they manage to compass even more than
that
The song they sing is remarkably live
" and sweet and much resembles the
song of the fishermen as they row their
boats, though the time is much faster.
San Francisco Call.
Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1896-12-24

she was not coming, returning every
time with his head full of snowfiakes.
Then he would plant himself with great
conscientiousness in front of the old
clock, watching the swinging Of the
pendulum.
At last There was no mistake, the
hands pointed to where the mother had
shown him. Jakob went to the bedside
Of his sleeping father, shook him by the
shoulders and cried into his ears, ''Fa-
ther, the trainI'
The man lay in deep sleep. After
| drinking the tea a sweat had broken
out, and heavy dream seemed to op-
press him. for when the child bent over
him he struck at him. But Jakob could
not be deferred. He knew what was at
stake if his father missed his duty. He
got the flag and put it in his fathers
hand. He dragged the heavy overcoat to
the bedside. He yelled. he tugged and
pulled at the sleeping man-but in
vain. The train signal could now be
heard outside.
"Quickr" the boy cried. "The train,
fatherl Get upl Listen, dear father
Do listen to mei''
eyes, yes, the man murmured 81
am there already" And he turned to
the wall again.
"There is nothing left but for me to
go out, the boy said to himself, "for
somebody must be out there.
With quick decision he slipped into
his fathers heavy overcoat, drew the
cape over his head and seized the flag.
He arrived just in the nick of time at
his post, for a few moments later the
train thundered past the grotesque little
form. The snow had covered him from
head to foot. With great seriousness he
presented the flag, and the rosy child
face beamed most sweetly from under
the snow covered cape-a storm waited
Santa Claus on a solitary night.
| AS such be may have appeared to the
youthful lady who stood in the open
window Of a compartment car, gazing
out into the silent Christ night, for sud
denly she beckoned with her hand, and
the next instant heavy object came
flying from the passing train right be-
fore Jakob's feet.
| He picked it up and hurried into the
house with it. There, after dropping his
fathers heavy oyercoat, he hastened to
the window to examine his present in
the bright moonlight. 1t was a small,
fine purse. He opened it and found it
almost filed with bright new silver
ooin. Jakob fairly screamed with de-
Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1896-12-24

''There must be almonds in it. Goodby,
mother, and give my best regards to the
Christ Kindl, if you meet him ON the
wayr'
Then Jakob went to his tree, gazed
on it rapturously. and from time to
time clapped his hands, for in anticipa-
tion he already saw all the branches
and twigs hung with apples and nuts.
Though the mother could not return be-
fore O'Clock, and the clock was now
striking only 4, Jacob nevertheless every
little while went out doors to see whether
Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1896-12-24

GS - III shdNjuS- i nave ucfcI
learned, and the ambition of my life is
to glide over the smooth surface Of the
frozen river. "
II shall be delighted to instruct you,
Miss Lakeside, +" Thornley, said eagerly.
And he meant what he said He little
dreamed then that she weighed $50
pounds-little cared, perhaps, for love
is reckless and unreasoning. Thornley,
himself, when equipped with an over
coat, pair Of rubbers and his everyday
clothing, tipped the scales at about 100
pounds.
"Do you think you can support me,
Mr.. Thornley," she asked coyly.
Support you?" repeated the gallant
but rash Thornley, as he rose from his
knees and grasped her hands to begin
the lesson Support you? Why, could
support you for-for life, Miss Lake
side. I"
"Oh, Mr.. Thornley," she cried,
blushing like rose. Her eyes fell, and
moment later she and Thornley, fol-
lowed them. Grasping her by the arms.
Thornley, tugged until the veins stood
ont like whipcords on his brow and
finally raised her to her feet again. She
made four desperate strokes with her
wabbling skates, quite unintentionally
kicked Thornley's feet out from under
him, and then sat down again with
vehemence that called forth cracking
protest from the astonished ice. Thorn
ley picked her up once more. They struck
out a second time. History repeated it.
self, aud the habit soon became chronic.
Thornley's brow was beaded with per
spiration- 1t began to dawn upon him
that she must weigh at least $50 pounds.
When he picked her up for the seventh
time and attempted to guide her wan
dering and irresponsib BILE feet, he changed
his mind
''If she weighs an ounce, she weighs
30Op' he thought, with a gasp for
breath This il positively dangerous
The ice is only about six inches thick,
and there isn't a life preserver within q
mile Of usl'
He paused for a moment to rest the
right arm that had been holding her up
for half an hour and to yet the numer-
GUS painful kinks out of his back.
tYou are tired, Mr. Thornley," she
murmured
THAT 's-that's right, he painted.
''Are-are you still sure you could
support me for life?" she asked mis-
chievously.
Support you for lifef" be gasped.
'Of course 1 could if 1 only had der
rickl'
And that night 1870 pounds Of offended
loveliness started for home
EARLE III. EATON.
Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1896-12-24

lowed himself to drop into the nearest
chair. ''Have you really been out
there?'' he inquired.
"Of course. You can depend on it, !"
Jakob assured him.
The fiagman's wife examined the
purse and found in it card, with the
inscription, ga Merry Christmas " 1t
took long time until they succeeded
in spelling out the words. Finally she
said: ooh, l knowl 1t means Frau
Marcy provincial German for Mary
Christmas. God bless herl She must be
a very kind hearted ladyp
''Very likely she is Santa Claus,
mother, ventured Jakob as he sailed
into his apples and nuts.
Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1896-12-24

currence of Christmas. There are people
who will tell you that Christmas j. not
to them what it used to be; that each
succeeding Christmas has found some
cherished hope or happy prospect of the
year before dimmed or passed away; that
the present only serves tx remind them
Of reduced circumstances and straitened
incomes, of the feasts they once be-
slowed On hollow friends, and Of the cold
looks that meet them now in adversely
and misfortune. Never heed such dis
NAL "reminiscences. Look Cd the merry
faces Of your children, if you have any,
as they sit ropad the fire One little
seat may be empty. One slight form that
gladdened the fathers heart aud reused
the mothers pride to look upon may not
be there. Dwell not upon the past. Think
not that one short year ago the fair
child now resolving into dust sat before
you with the bloom Of health upon its
cheek and the gayety Of infancy in its
joyous eye Reflect upon your present
blessings, Of which every man has
manv-not ON your past misfortunes, Of
which all men have some. Fill your
glass again, with a merry face and con-
tented heart. Our life on il, but your
Christmas shall be merry and your new
year happy one.
Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1896-12-24
FOOD FOR THE CATS.
English sparrows Have to Fight For Their
Lives In London.

English SparrOws Have to Fight For Their
Lives In London.
If left to himself, the London sparrow
would probably multiply exceedingly,
for there is enough waste from every
human household to keep at least one
pair of sparrows. That would give some
thing like 1900, 600 sparrows to the
area of greater London. But these fg-
ures do not represent actual facts. The
sparrow population is vigorously kept
down, not by want of fecundity-for at
the zoo, for instance, where food and
shelter abound, the birds seem to breed
at all seasons of the year-but by the
operation of the natural enemy, that
great fact in all wild life, which even
the progressive London sparrow cannot
avoid. The natural enemy in This case
is the London cat. If any one will count
up the number of houses in his or her
knowledge which do not possess a cat,
the numbers and ubiquity of the natural
enemy will become apparent Poor
people keep more cats than rich people,
so the small houses abound in cats.
Rich folsL' cats which have large
houses, as rule, only catch the spar
rows on their own estate. but poor cats
have to poach at large. and their ravages
among the young sparrows are prodi-
gious. 1t has been observed that spar
row killing cat bags on an average two
young birds day. No amount Of cor
rection seems to prevent their indul-
gence in this form Of sport They know
it is wrong. but it is too fascinating.
One young cat of the writer's acqnaint-
ance went into a fit after a mild beating
for killing young sparrows, and rs soon
as he recovered went off to catch an
other. a cat in the same house which
was surprised with two naked nestlings
in its mouth slipped them underneath a
mat on the stairs when it saw its mis-
tress approaching. Nature is too strong
for them, and the drawing room pussy
seems no more able to resist the taste
for sport than the stable cat London
Spectator
Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1896-12-24

ana words Of command Of their drivers.
create tremendous din, above which
ever and anon rise the solemn words of
the priest, "Benedicat vos omnipotens
Deus, Pater ct Filius ct Spiritus Sane
tus!' the choristers bringing the bless
lngs to a close with a responding
"Amenr
Every one who has wintered in Spain
will recall to mind the "Missa del
Gallo, or cocks mass" celebrated in
all the churches on Christmas eve. or
rather Christmas morning. The chanti-
cleer being the bird that is first to her
aid in the advent of the morning light,
the Spaniards, by a happy and quaint
conceit. like to imagine that he is anx-
ious on this night Of nights to call upon
them even at midnight to be awake and
to salute the happy morning. In the
principal churches of Madrid and Seville
this midnight mass in honor Of the
''DiOs NinO" is rendered with exquisite
pastoral music, castanets and tambour-
ines playing an important part in the
orchestra, while now and again, by
means Of a special instrument, pathetic
and birdlike notes swell up with pecul-
lar beauty, as if some midnight bird
had lent its voice to mingle with the
angelic psalms to herald in the mystic
coming Of the babe Of Bethlehem. In
the churches Of the small provincial
towns and villages the instrumental
bird notes are replaced by those Of an
ordinary rooster, which by some device
known to the peasants is made to crow
at the appointed period during the cele-
bration.
Not only on the continent of Europe,
but also in the southwestern counties
of England superstition prevails to the
effect that animals possess the power of
speech at 12 O'Clock on Christmas eve.
Inasmuch, however, as only those per-
sons who are entirely free from mortal
sin are supposed to possess the privilege
of understanding their utterances, there
is no authentic record extant as to the
character of their remarks on these oc-
casions EX-ATTACHE
Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1896-12-24

-~-~ tuC6 IL RclcIdIl1 duI1lItbtl,
even by those who do not believe in him
as divinity, to have been for the good
of mankind, for the betterment Of the
world. In those 1900 years a most re-
markable change has taken place among
the sons of men. Their ideals have been
changed radically-bave been raised
from the low level of selfishness to the
high level of generosity. of good will to
all and of helpfulness. Year by year the
circle of Christian influence has widen
ed, and today it is felt in some degree
in every part Of the world, save in some
few remote regions, like the densely
darkened interior of China, or some as
yet unvisited corners in Africa.
Even among many of those peoplss
who have not as yet accepted the -.
gion founded on the first Christmas day
Jesus is held in high esteem. He is can
Dnized as a saint by the Mohammedans.
He is known to the Buddhists as a great
and good min, and when Japan made
war upon China, although the mass Of
the Japanese are as yet non Christian,
their soldiers were cautioned not to con-
duct themselves with the cruelty Of pa
gan times, but to remember that the
eyes of Christendom were upon them
and must not be scandalized by wanton
slaughterings Of the helpless and the
innocent. 1t is true that these warnings
were forgotten at Port Arthur, but the
blood that was ruthlessly shed there
was abjectly apologized for by the mi
kado, and in the main the war was con
Quoted without the old time barbar-
isms.
1t is also true that there was a war;
that there are still occasional wars be-
tween Christian nations, and that all
wars are violations of the teachings of
Christ but the fact remains that the
world is now practically at peace.
Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1896-12-24

wv III waters flow;
]. |. ! ! !" : :. !"
GSNAH. Where the cattle are a-browsin
KAEAAZ1M an the Spanish ponies
RHTETAE grow;
\EFNEElV Where the northers come a.
Hx1zA Y1R whistlin from beyond the
SFT$G1Nh s'neutral strip"
mM(5&SX An the prairie dogs are sneezin
CNZA D1fN if they had the grip;
SRNSU Where the coyotes come a.
W howlin round the ranches
after dark,
An the mocking birds are singin tu the lively
medder lark;
Where the poSsum, an the badger, rattle-
snakes abound,
An the monstrous stars are winkin Ger
wilderness profound;
Where lonesome, tawny prairies melt into airy
streams,
While the Double mountains slumber with
heavenly kind in dreams;
Where the antelope is grain the lonely
plovers call
1t was there that attended the Cowboys
Christmas ball.
The town wuz Anson City, ole Jones' county
seat,
Where they raise Polangus cattle an wavin,
whiskered wheat;
Where the air Il soft an bammy. an dry an
full NV health.
An the prairies is explodin with agricultural
W6aitns
Where they print The Texas Western, that Alec
McCann supplies
With news an yarns an stories Nv most amazin
size;
Where Frank Smith pulls the badger on know
in tenderfeet,
An Democracy's triumphant an powerful hard
to beat;
from Lamar,
Who fused ter be the sheriff back east in
Paris, sah"-
Twas there, l say, at Anson, with the lively
Widder Wall,
II 1T went to that recepshun. the Cowboys
Christmas ball.
The boys had left the ranches an cum to town
in piles;
The ladies, kinder scatterin. he'd gethered in
for miles,
An yet the place wuz crowded ez remember
we'll
'Twuz got fur the occsshun at the Morning
Star hotel.
The music wuz fiddle an lively tambourine,
An viol ''cum imported" by the stage from
Abilene.
The room wuz logged out gorgeous with mis-
tletoe shawls
An candles fickered frescoes around the airy
walls.
The wimmin folks looked lovely. The boys
Till the leader commenced yellin: "Whoa,
fellersl Let's stampedel"
An the music started, sighin an a-wailin
through the hall,
Ez kind nv introduction to the Cowboys
Christmas ball.
This leader wuz feller thet cum from Sven
sons ranch
They called him Windy Billy, from Little
Dead Man s Branch.
His rig wuz kinder keerless-big spurs an high
heeled boots.
He he'd the reputation thet comes when fellers
shoots
His voice wuz like a bugle upon the noun
tain's height
His feet were animated an mighty movin
sight.
Then he commenced to holler: 'tNeow, fellers,
stake yer PEN
Lock horns tn all them heifers an russle 'em
like menl
Salute yer luvly crittersi Meow swing an let
'em go!
Climb the grapevine round email hands do
cedol
Ye mavericks jine the round up-jest skip her
WATERFALL
Huh, hit wuz gettin active-the Cowboys
Christmas ball.
Larry Chittenden. Poet-Ranchman.
Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1896-12-24

lately. Jim," he said, glancing around
to see that none of his relatives was in
sight, "but I'm in it this time. Pops
promised me a new pair Of skates if I
get IS on my December report, which II
be made out next week, you see. If I
don't miss Sunday school and kin tell
what the text is, Nam she sez she'll
get me an air gun. Whoopeew
And here Johns exuberance was
given vent in a series of whoops with
gymnastic accompaniment.
"But that's not half Of 'em, Jim, {"
he continued. "You know, when sis's
beau comes | hang around and work
him for candy and sich, but she has
promised me dollar eff l keep off her
territory on beau nights. Then my
uncle and my aunt, seein I'm tryin to
be good, are goin to chip in, and as I'm
goin to two Sunday schools IN strictly
in it, and don't you fergit it. "
Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1896-12-24
ANIMALS CHRISTMAS
THE PART THEY PLAY IN EUROPEAN
CELEBRATIONS.

Curious Customs but Little Known In This
-Superstitions About Beasts and
Birds Blessing the Flocks-A Rooster
Mass In Spain.
Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1896-12-24
pUDD's NEW
JOHN Fl. CARPENTER
PLAN AND ARTISTIC PAPER HANGER

Calls attention of all who need work in his line
that he will promptly attend to all orders by
mail or otherwise. and guarantee satisfaction.
WINDOW SHADES OF all kinds on hand and
hall decoration neatly executed. A trial respect
fully solicited. Popular prices. Estimates rem
kered. P. 0. box 42s. Office. % Delaware street.
Residence, % Cak street, North Woodbury..
Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1896-12-24

She was a beautiful girl,
and Thornley, was the hap
piest man along the Hnd-
son river because she was
paying his sister Emily a
two weeks visit. There
was a stretch Of CLASSY ice
below the house, and when
Thornley, jokingly asked
her what he should give
her for Christmas she
smiled sweetly and re-
Piled:
Give me a few lessons
Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1896-12-24
MRS. CHRISTMAS.
TRANSLATED By JOSEPH soHM.
copyright, 1861

4b was III tilo d1lcIuOOu.
High up in the mountains
on the line of the Black
Forest railway, in one of
those small cabins which
at regular intervals line
the side of all European
railroads, housing those
poorly paid men whose
duty it is to inspect from
time to time the roadbed
for a certain distance and
warn passing trains Of
eventual danger, a door
1,1n0al onl N ~vnx~,a.p.
Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1896-12-24

Johnny Blank is under
very high pressure in an
effort to be good, if his
own statement is to be ac-
cepted. He met a friend
yesterday and made his
companions eyes bulge
with his story.
saI hn.nsE LA
Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1896-12-24

Among the most pleas
ing features Of the uni
versal good will that pre-
walls at Christmastide in
the old world is the kindly
disposition shown to ex-
Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1896-12-24
More

fedicinal value in bottle of Hoods Sarsar
parilla than in any other preparation.
hore skill is required, more care taken, more
expense incurred in its manufacture.
1t costs the proprietor and the dealer
More but it costs the consumer less, as he
gets more doses for his money.
hore curative power is secured by its peculiar
combination, proportion and process,
which make it peculiar to itself.
fore people are employed and more space oc-
cupied in its Laboratory than any other.
More wonderful cures effected and more tes-
tmonials received than by any other.
hore sales and more Increase year by year
are reported by druggists.
More people are taking Hoods Sarsaparilla
today than any other aud more are
taking it today than ever before.
More and STILL MORE reasons might be
given why you should take
Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1896-12-24
A USTIN Ii. SWACKHAMER,
OOunsellor-at-LaW.

And Master IN Chancery. Green's New
Building, No. Cooper Street, Woodbury., New
Jersey. June 2, '67
Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1896-12-24
SINGLE COPY FIvECENTs
20
TIE WOOD.

Witch hazel, dogETood and the maple here,
And there the oak and hickory,
Linn, poplar and the beech tree far and near
As the eased eye can see.
Wild ginger, wahoo. with its roam balloon,
And brakes Of briers Of twilight green,
And fox grapes plumed with summer, and
strung moons
OF mandrake flower between.
Deep gold green ferns and nosses red and
gray
Mats for what naked myths white feet
And cool and calm a cascade far away,
With ever falling beat.
Old logs made sweet with death, rough bits Of
bark,
And tangled twig and knotted root,
And sunshine splashes, and great pools Of dark,
And many a wild BIRDS flute.
Here let me sit until the Indian dusk
With copper colored feet comes down,
Sowing the wildwood with star fire and musk
And shadows blue and brown
Then side by side with some magician dream
To take the owlet haunted lane,
Half rooted with vines, led by d freely gleam,
That brings me home again.
Madison Cawein in ''Undertones.
Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1896-12-24

Christmas timeI That
man must be q misan-
thrope indeed in whose
breast something like q
jovial feeling is not rous-
ed, in whose mind some
pleasant associations are
not awakened, BY the e
Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1896-12-24

row, had hung a sprig Of mistletoe.
He could not help it-he kissed her.
She looked 90 pretty, SO innocent, under
that sprig Of mistletoe.
Yes, it was an ungentlemanly and
unmanly thing to do. Her frightened,
startled look panied him. He stsmmered
out miserable excuse. Her great eyes
filed with tears, and she gave a little
choking sob when he apologized.
Dear little innocent, II he thought,
II would not have hurt her for the
world.
And she-after he was gone-she
dropped into a great chair and sobbed.
Like him? I love him. And to think
that he should kiss me at last and then
to say he didn't mean anything by it'll
What does he think put the mistletoe
there for?
Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1896-12-24
THE SKATING LESSON.

How Thornley, Fulfilled His Rash Christ
ma FrprnfGa
Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1896-12-24
Nearly Nineteen hundred christmases.

Yet a few years, and the
world will have seen 1900
gChristmases - 1900 ami
versaries of the birth of
him whose personal infiu-
ence is generally admitted,
Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1896-12-24

Up the broad steps they
tripped into her home.
The gas burned low. Her
slender fingers hung to his
a moment. She stood di-
rectly under the gas jet,
under which some one, in
autIpiDarinn pf rho NOR