davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-11-21

classmate. In her letters to Louise she
eulogized Joe.
All this was preliminary to her
subtle plan for matchmaking.
In July the correspondence lad be-
come SO cordial in it's exchange that
Joe felt at perfect liberty to slip away
to night train and go to Flavius, Ind.
He told the Testers an elaborate lie
| about going to Indianapolis to settle y
tax claim against some property left
10 him by his uncle. Miss Louise
Rhodes, having been advised of his COM
ing, told her parents an unblushing
falsehood to the effect that she had be-
come we'll acquainted with Mr.. Barnet
while she was attending the seminary
in Ohio.
That day at Flavius settled it. They
strolled under the NAPLES and went
driving along a winding creek road,
an ardent Flavius couple in the front
seat and the overhanging bows sweep
ing the canopy top of the Rhodes fam
lily carriage.
They sat side by side in the big dir
;ng-room, while State Senator Rhodes.
at the head of the table. ordered the
timid hired girl to deliver immense por-
tions of spring chicken to the young
man from Chicago.
From that time on the development
came with the rush of closing chapters
in novel. Joe wrote almost daily. and.
after an interval of two weeks, he was
called to indianapolis to settle another
tax claim On the occasion of his second
visit to Flavius he proposed. but he was
not definitely accepted, with the full
consent of the state senator, until he
had paid third visit.
All this time he was pretending to be
carelessly Indifferent to the photograph
in the Lester fat, and Louise Rhodes, in
her letters to Mrs. Lester, sometimes
mentioned that she would be glad to
meet Mr.. Barnet, having read so much
about him.
Last week the Flavius girl came to
Chicago for the long-deIayed visit.
Joe had been advised that the photo
graph girl was coming. He appeared
at the fiat promptly at eight o'clock.
Mrs. Lester, futtering with Importance,
met him at the door.
Joe did not wait to be welcomed. He
slammed his hat and coat on the rack,
rushed into the parlor and then and
there threw his arms around Louise
Rhodes and kissed her.
Mrs. Lester shrieked and then tot
tered over against an armchair, actually
faint with terror. She thought that
Joe had gone stark, staring mad.
There had to be an immediate ex-
PLANTATION, but it did not satisfy Mrs.
Lester. She said the two of them were
no better than the people who go to
matrimonial agencies or put sloshy
personals into obscure weekly pa
pers. She was shocked beyond express
sion.and did not fully forgive them until
they had pleaded for at least five min
utes.-Chicago Record.
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-11-21
The Spirit of tn. Home Coming.

There are many people who regard a
Thanksgiving day as a meaningless
day, and its celebration once a year a
waste of time and a mockery. 1t might
have been. they go on to say, day of
reality to those who in early colonial
times had hostile tribes, inclement
weather and threatened starvation to
fight, and whose natures were wrought
upon to all their depths of fear and
gratitude. But for us in these days of
no national crises, in these days of
moneygetting and materialism. a
Thanksgiving day means only day in
which, oftener than not, observances
are a bore.
Yet for all that, and In spite of what
the croakers say. year after year in
every home in town and country some
glad preparation for it is made. Feasts
are prepared. Welcome stands ready.
To the returning wanderer arms are
outstretched; to the homeless way
farer the hand is extended. Cost of
labor and pain of preparation are for
gotten in the joy of reunion. ALI the
year that has gone has been with many
but as vista looking toward it. For
them all the year to follow shines as a
new pathway leading to the same
No New Englander, close pressed as
he may be. stays willingly away from
the family gathering on that day. Rich
and poor alike are stirred by one COM
mon impulse-to go home. One man
may want to feel once more the COM
fort of an old familiar chair that no
change of fashion has moved from its
long place. Another wants
the sense of peacefulness that belongs
to certain sunny window with ger
aniums in it when all the world with
out is quiet and stiffness reigns within.
Somewhat the nursery,with its tattered
books, and some the associations of
old sounds, as the clicking of the gate
or the hurrying footsteps up the stair.
Some want the friends of childhood !;
and back of all, and through all. and
over all. each and every one wants the
finding again of the mother, the face
and the voice and the touch of her-of
her whose love has never FILTERED,
whose sympathy has never failed, who
welcomes them without reproach, who
rejoices in them without envy, who is
proud of their success without measur-
ing their failures, who has kept her
ideal of them undimmed, and yet who
will minister to them the livelong day
as to one saved from an angry tempest,
her arms their support, her warm heart
their resting place.-Harper's Bazaar.
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-11-21
DAY DREAMS.

The children played. in the cool morn air.
at what they would like to be:
They posed as lords and ladies fair,
And folks of a high degree.
For life looks fair at the break of day.
With little of work ard much of play.
And all is possible-so they say
When the heart. when the heart is young
The morning changed to the heat of noon.
And then to the twilight chill:
The children wearied of high life soon.
And quarreled. children will.
But they ran away home in the fading
light,
To sob out their wrongs ere they said good
night.
And the mother. the mother made all
things right;
For their hearts, oh. their hearts were
young.
And we need not sorrow. as years roll on.
If the hopes that have ceased to be
But bring US, when passion and youth are
gone,
To the truth at the Fathers knee,
Who husheth us up. when our prayers are
said,
Forgetful of sorrow. in restful bed,
To awaken again when the night has fed.
Where the heart will be always young.
Lily Oakley. in Pail Mall Magazine
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-11-21

ternal roof. And when DIR. Wellman
arrived in response to Mrs. Morton's in
vitation, to help eat the conventional
Thanksgiving turkey with her, he
found the invitation transferred to the
Granville homestead, where there were
more heartfelt rejoicings than had been
known for the last six years. And no
one was happier than Aunty Morton as
she saw with what pride Farmer Gran
vile introduced his children and grand
children to the assembled guests. and as
the festivities ended she joined in sing
ing that grand old hymn:
praise to God, immortal praise,
For the love that crowns our days."
adding to herself:
The minister was right. and this
life-error is at last righted."-E. Ellen
Cherry, in Good Housekeeping
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-11-21
Thankful for rhankselvInr.

Good morning, old Thanksgiving!
How do you do, to-day?
I'm very glad to see you:
wish you'd come and stay.
We children love you dearly.
And grown folk oft declare
They could not do without you
You're welcome everywhere.
I'm really, truly thankful
For every bit of fun
I've had since your last visit
For all the friends I've won;
And for my pets and playthings,
My books and schoolmateS, too:
For what I've learned, by trying
In earnest, boys can do.
And now, Thanksgiving dinner
Hurrah. the turkey brown,
Plum pudding end mince pie in
Ny thankful list put down;
And all the other dainties
That crowd the pantry shelf.
And don't forget, Thanksgiving,
I'm thankful for yourself
M. Thayer Rouse. in Golden Days
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-11-21
as to matrimony.

~ ~
as to matrimony.
Many a bachelor, after spending an
evening at the Lester fiat and rioting in
the simple delights of Dutch lunch"
would remark to some other bachelor.
as they were walking homeward: Say.
if knew where there was another Mrs
Bert Lester, I'd be a married man il
less than six months"
The Testers had a dozen or more
friends, mostly of the hotel kind. bot
Joe Barnet held the record for constant
attendance. When there was any sort
Of social gathering at the Lester fiat
Joe was neither absent nor tardy. He
and Bert Lester had been good friends
long before there was any Lester Hat
Mrs Lester believed that Joe was an
lawfully nice fellow" She had laid GER
tain plans for his future.
Louise Rhodes had been preached to
Joe Barnet for a year.
Her picture was on the Lester mantel
and her name went back and forth be-
tween the Testers.
"Oh. Joe, 1 must have Louise come
up to visit me-" Mrs. Lester would say.
when she had dragged Joe up to the
photograph for the bundredth time
'eYou'n like her immensely. She's as
clever as she can be. and pretty-Joe
her father has plenty of money, too;
think of that"
81 don't see why that would inter
est me- Joe would reply, with an in
difference which was wholly assumed.
"Well, # / was a man, there wouldn't
be many girls like Louise Rhodes rum
ming around SINGLE"
"You couldn't marry more than one
Of them"
you're very bright tonight, aren't
you? Wait till you see her. I know
you will fall in love with her, and then
it will serve you right if she refuses to
look at you at ALL"
Mrs. Bert Lester and the much
tall,ed-of Louise Rhodes had been class
mates in a girls seminary in Ohio. Aft
er graduating Kate Townsend returned
to Chicago, and promptly accepted
Bert Lester. Louise resumed n coun-
try-town existence at Flavius. Ind,
where her father owned a grain ele-
| yator, a bank, a general store and a
hub and spoke factory. His country
possessions were marked by white
farmhouses and huge red barns. Mrs.
Lester once visited Louise at Flavius.
and when she returned home told
fanciful stories of the Rhodes posses
sions.
Last spring, while Mrs. Lester was
writing to Louise, coaxing her to come
to Chicago on a visit, Joe Barnet did a
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-11-21

perhaps caused by the knowledge that
one of her darlings would be excluded
from the circle of uncles. aunts, cous-
ms, brothers, sisters, children and
grandchildren that usually assembled
to celebrate this day of mercies.
After few days, when Aunty Morton
came to facilitate the arrangements,
she brought with her the brightest
and dearest little boy the Granville
family ever saw. Katie Rugged and
kissed him to her hearts content. Mrs.
Granville drew him to her heart with a
thrill of pleasure, and Farmer Gran
vile exhibited an interest in him quite
unaccountable to himself and astound-
ing to eyewitnesses. She told them in
explanation that he was the child of n
friend of hers who had come to spend
several days with her, but insisted that
she should continue to assist Mrs. Gran
vile as planned before her arrival. She
continued to bring the little boy each
day and his coming was looked for
ward to by all with great pleasure.
Farmer Granville having the most
leisure of anyone devoted much of it
to the child's entertainment. They had
SO many plays in common that it was
difficult to tell which of the two enjoyed
them most. The little boy rode fear
4
and to market on his foot, until he
| was wild with delight. One day he
crept onto his lap, and passing his little
dimpled fingers through the long gray
| ish-looking beard, exclaimed: you
| look like my grandpaPa."
do -" said Farmer Granville; "of
course you love your grandpaPa. Where
| does he live?"
81 don't know" said the child, "brt
| love you better than l do Frankie's
grandfather, for he can't ride me on his
| foot or on his shoulder, or give me APP
Piles to eat, either"
IAN invalid, no doubt" thought
Farmer Granville. but he felt flattered
| nevertheless. He had not the remotest
| idea that he was talking to his grand
| child, and that the ''grandpapa" the lit
| tie boy referred to was picture OF
| himself inclosed in case. carefully pre-
served by his discarded daughter, so he
! answered.:
| "Wel], will be your grandPaPa while
you stay. and ride you ON my foot every
day. and on the pony, too. tomorrow, if
you like"
"This is Frankie's grandpapa," said
the little boy, just as his mother had
always said to him when she showed
| him the picture; and he ran his fingers
more vigorously through the long,
thick beard, and passed them lovingly
| through the wrinkles about the eyes
| and mouth.
| Things were progressing just as
Aunty Merton wished, SO the next day
she brought the baby over, a sweet
curly-headed little girl of two years
The baby was double joy in the Gran
vile family. and when she kissed
''dranpapa" after Frankie's prompting
the pride and qualification of Farmer
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-11-21

THE PHOTOGRAPH ON THE MANTEL.
very unusual thing. He wrote a letter
to Miss Louise Rhodes, of Flavius, Ind,
young woman whom he had never
seen.
Mark the cunning of the scoundrel.
This is the way the letter ran:
"Of course, you dare not overlook my
vast presumption in thus addressing you
One fact you must consider, however ! am
with the Testers much of the time that
] am, to all intents and purposes. mem
Der of the household, and this may entitle
me to the privilege of joining in the invita-
tons. You may remember that May will
mark the third anniversary of their mar
rage. I am arranging to give little din
ner in their honor, but I want to make 1t
a surprise to them. AS you are Mrs Les
ter's most intimate friend it would be al
most a calamity if you were not present at
the dinner. You will understand, of course,
that / could not have forwarded this infor-
nation through the agency of Mrs Lester.
Don't tell her that have written to you
1 do not want her to learn Of the dinner,
and there are other reasons
The letter closed with a final plea for
pardon, and Joe mailed it in the con-
sciousness that he had done very
clever thing. He believed that any
young woman, no matter how strict her
beminazy training had been, would have
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-11-21

longest and she would be with them, to
know no more parting.
Quite early she posted her letter, and
pn her way home called in at Farmer
Granville's; for now having undertaken
the work of reconciliation, she bent
every thought and purpose of her heart
to accomplish it. The family were dis
cussing the merits of the breakfast
table, and Aunty Morton, always a well
come guest, was ushered directly into
their presence. They were also dis
cussing the approaching Thanksgiving
dinner which had been celebrated from
time immemorial at the Granville home
stead. Mrs. Granville was urging its
discOntinuance the present year on ac-
count of her health having failed so
signally as to render her unable to
superintend the necessary prepare
tons. Farmer Granville was unwilling
to forsake the old-time custom even
for one year. and now that Mrs. Nor
ton had come in the idea at once pre-
scented itself to secure her services to
fill his wife's place, in which the dear
soul cheerfully acquiesced. not doubt
ing but that this was an opening for her
in the prosecution of her plan of recon
citation.
otrt-of-the-way inches were to be con-
verted into bedrooms. and blanket
closets were to be locked through and
renovated. and the pantry ard larder
to be rcpleEished. all of which Aunty
Morton entered into with spirit and
impressment. Several hours each day
this task of love was performed. Her
assistance was timely and her presence
an inspiration. for it was a noticeabl
fact that as the day closely approached
Mrs. Granville became more invaIided
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-11-21

Granville was without limit, who in re-
turn tossed her toward the ceiling, and
allowed her to pull his whisl1ers and
cover his eyes to play ''bopeep" as much
as she liked.
Thanksgiving was drawing so near,
and the worry of hope deferred worked
Mrs. DR.. Wellman into a severe head
ache, which lasted over the following
day. So recommending her to keep
quiet, and giving many instructions to
her servant, Mrs. Morton took the two
children with her to complete the ar
engagements for her neighbours Thanks
giving feast, where they were again in
stalled "chief in state and power"
As she was about to take her depart
ure for home, while making the chill
dren ready. Farmer Granville asked
her to bring the mother to see them,
adding:
''She must be almost an angel TO have
such lovely children"
Thank you; no doubt she will be
pleased to come" Mrs. Morton replied
st will have some things at home to at
tend to tomorrow, being the day before
Thanksgiving. but we will be out walk
ing in the afternoon and will call ON our
way home"
true " ACT -siO- coA
called in the next day at Farmer Gran
ville's with the children and t!,eir
mother. The reader. no doubt. antic-
ipates the result. Farmer Granville
took his daughter in his arms and
pressed her to his heart. weeping like a
child. Indeed. there were no dry eyes
among them. but all seemed to rally
sooner than he.
1t is needless to say that Aunty Nor
tom lost her visitors. for not a step were
they allowed to depart from the pa-
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-11-21

his son-in-Iayv. had made himself rep
utation. and his line of practice was be
coming broader each succeeding year,
while Judge Penrose. the man he would
like to have had for q son-in-lavv, was
a man of Incorporate habits, and bid
fair to come out ut the end of life with
less money than he started in with.
As to Farmer Granville's family. it
scarce seemed like the same family at
all. Mrs Granville had dispensed with
some of her domestics, and had taken to
active labor. thereby hoping to find an
antidote for her troubles. She went
so quietly about her self-imposed tasl.s
that it really seemed painful to wit
ness. Farmer Granville was snappish
and cross, until the past year a marked
change had come over him. and he
seemed more tender. Perhaps, because
his beautiful and patient little wife ap-
peared to be going into decline, and
the fear he might lose her had take n
hold of his mind with softening infiu-
cnce. The youngest daughter, Katie,
who was but IL years old at the time
of her sisters marriage, tried to en-
courage her mother and quiet her ia
tier. and went to Aunty Morton to pour
out her young hearts sorrow into her
sympathetic ear.
''It is all safe in Gods keeping, dear
child, and things will grow better un-
der His care, in His own and therefore
the best time" she had said again and
again to Katie.
And now she believed this was the
Lords time, and knowing that He ever
uses instruments to accomplish His pur-
pose. she believed He would make her
an instrument to bring about a recon
Citation 1N%fxuaan this father. nn6
daughter. She clasped her hands in
prayer and said: Lord, help me-" and
felt as sure He would do so, as the little
child who goes to it's earthly parent
asking help.
She tapped little call-beIl, and he-
one woman servant brought in n light.
"Hand me my writirg-desk, Mary.
There, that is all want tonight. Thank
you,' and the servant withdrew.
She wrote 4 letter and addressed it. II
| was to Mrs. DR.. Wellman, asking her to
| come with her two little children
as soon as possible and stay TN
ill after Thanksgiving day with
| her. She also wanted the doctor To
come on that day. too, and earlier, il
| he thought it prudent to leave his pa
| tients, he would know best. Having
| thus arranged things to her own sat
| isfaction, she drew forth her Bible and
| cad again the precious promises that
had so long fortified her for u life OF
| faith and works, after which she knel;
| down and committed all to the Lord
| Then, retiring to rest. she slept as
soundly as an infant might in its low
| ing mothers arms.
With the early mornings dawn Mrs
| Morton arose and felt refreshed. Al
| though several years before. the grave
| had claimed the loved husband Of hel
youth and her two beautiful children
| vet she felt that but little while at thl
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-11-21


before bright blazing fire in her own lit
tie parlor. Her thoughts had gone out on
many errands of kindness as she sat
there in the shadowy twilight. Moth
ing unusual for her. however, for her
life was living epistle that could be
read of all men. it was SO humble, quiet,
holy, Christ-like. She loved to sit thus
Sin the twilight and plan her little love
-errsods, and think how many poor
would be likely to need her porridge the
next day, how many little shivering
children she would meet and relieve,
what deed of kindness she could do to
bring sinners into the better way. For
Aunty Morton had grown wise in her
intercourse with the world. She had
found that whatever the difficulty of
understanding words. deeds are almost
always Ineligible. and she revealed
her soul In inarticulate speech as an
earnest. pure and truthful life. This
was a language which the profoundest
admired and the simplest could appre-
-ciate- Her pastors most elaborate dis
course ON sanctifcation proved tame
and ineffective in comparison with the
eioQuence of this woman's humble and
holy walk with God.
Many were Aunty Morton's thoughts
ON the evening we introduce her to the
reader. The minister had given notice
that in two weeks would be Thanks
giviog service. She wondered why peo-
pile should have to be reminded to give
gha nlcs. Her life was one continual
song of thanksgiving. 1t would have
seen in accordance with her idea of
r,aany things if the president and gov
errors should say in the beginning of
each year: Let the present be year
~ MI
the bountiful blessing of basket and
store is not given an withdrawn in a
day"
Then the minister had made a re-
quest that all his parishioners should
come to church that day. especially
those who were sometimes remiss in
their attendance, and he. with the
Loru'S help, would endeavor to hand
forth convenient food for them. There
Was one thing the minister said that
seemed to have a significance for her,
: and she dwelt long upon it in thought:
There are many life errors that can be
more easily righted, more lasting rec
-ssncliiatIons made at this time of cele-
Srating mercies than at cny other;
perhaps caused by the hallowed associ-
Then let each of us look well about us
and see if we cannot do some thing to
make the world better"
Now, Aunty Morton had been think
ing about Farmer Granville, neigh
Dor. who, because his daughter would
not marry the man he intended she
should, and did marry the man he in
tended she should not. had in an angry
moment forbidden her to come again
under his roof. and also refused her
any communication whatever with her
mother and sister. Farmer Granville
was naturally kind man. and when
the paroxysm of anger had subsidized he
would have been glad had he not said
any such thing. but his pride kept him
from recalling his daughter and &C.
Enowiedging her husband as a son.
Thus things had gone on. and it had
E7ow been SIX years since DIR. Wellman,