davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1896-12-25
thousand wears before Ruth CLEANED for

thousand years before Ruth cleaned for
Boaz, and where Jesse and David had
rested. The remainder of the journey
was made by easy stages, the humble
couple stopping to rest at such quarters
as their means could afford.
They arrived in Bethlehem in the after
noon and found the little city crowded
with a host of people bound on mission
similar to their own. Every caravansary
was filed. The streets were thronged
with people seeking accommodation, and
after repeated efforts to obtain quarters
in the city proper, which numbered at
that time only about 5000 inhabitants,
and was, therefore, unprepared for an
emergency of this sort, the footsore wan
derers struck out into the country. After
travelling about a mile they found the TT
tie khan, which is now known as the
Chapel of the Nativity"
The little inn which was thus destined
to be famous over the round world was
set in a hollow over which waved the
branches of an olive grove. 1t was built
around court whose open sides, cut in
the limestone rock, were designed for the
stabling of horses and cattle which be.
longed to the guests who patronized the
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1896-12-25
especially oh Christmas eye =
HER +
ias Gees 0so @s&ee AeasM

especially oh Christmas eve"
The tramp took another Whit, and
something like moisture appeared in his
eyes.
81 had wife once" he remarked. =
"Indeed!" said the other with a show
of interest. "Where is she now:''
"She was sent to j. mean, she
died. She bad consumption"
MeKeena attempted to give evidence
of sympathy and the ragged intruder
tipped back his head and his eyes cleaned
more than ever.
Had kid, too," he remarked.
whats become of him?''
"He's in the reform-that is to say,
stranger, he is now prosperous mer-
chant in New York. He lives on Fifth
avenue, he does, and has an English
coachman."
Keena, endeavoring TO look as though
he believed the others narration.
"'Pon honor"
Again there was silence, which was
finally broken by the tramp.
"Any vittels?"
"Yes."
McKeena produced his lunch basket
and his visitor ate ravenously, as though
he had not touched food for twenty-four
hours.
You turn in, pard." remarked the
tramp. ''I'll keep up the fires
The other hesitatcd, but finally laid
down and took nap. All the way to
New Orleans this programme was fol-
lowed. Early one morning as the train
stopped, the tramp said:
Goodbye. think I'll light ont before
we git to town."
Then he turned to the other and haud-
ed him an envelope. Before McKeena
could answer he was gone. The former
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1896-12-25
THE OLD YEAR.

II all the old years days could speak,
! wonder what they'd say
The snowy days, the blowy days,
The fiowery days of May;
The summer days when shady ways
Were made for children's feet;
vacation days, when for their plays
Iee country was so sweet!
II all the old years days could speak
Just think of 1t awhile
Would their report bring bitter tears,
Or the sunshine of a smile?
All! could they speak from week to week
Or honest work well done,
or well-used powers in study hours,
OF fairness in the fun?
OF thankful thought for kindness wrought
Where homes are rich and glad:
of tender care to give or share
Where homes are poor and sad;
OF pleasant ways in dark. duh days:
OF little, gentle deeds;
OF earnest hours among hearts flowers
In plucking hurtful weeds?
Can the rear speak of patience meek
Where grief has stopped awhile.
OF courage bold, for the weak and old
A loving word or smile?
Methinks the year must seem most dear
If thus Its speech can be;
O'erfuil of joys for girls and boys
A year of jubilee.
The CongregationaIiSt.
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1896-12-25
Pirkins chuckled

j an. i.
1t was customary with the Piffkinses to
exchange New Years gifts and not to
make the presentation until after break
fast. Therefore, when Mr.. Piffkins en-
tered the dining groom, Mrs. Piffkins was
apparently unconscious that he carried
bulky parcel, while he in turn was quite
unaware that a small, queer-shaped pack
age lay beside his wife's plate.
"My DEAR" remarked Mr.. Piffkins, as
he set down his coffe cup and rolled up
his napkin, during our married life there
has been only one serious cause for con-
tention-well, perhaps two-but no mat
ter. intend to remove that cause"
81 have also determined to turn over
a new leaf, as you will presently see"
and she nodded mysteriously toward the
queer-shaped package.
II have resolved during the coming
year to discontinue the use of tobacco" ("
And he awaited the burst of delighted
surprise to follow.
Mrs. Piffkins turned pale, doubtless
with joy, replying tremulously: 81 can
not accept this sacrifice; but l hare re-
solved to yield to your entreaties, aban-
don society and devote myself in future to
nay home
Say no more, Maria, have hitherto
preferred to remain at home in order that
/ might smoke, but"
mo, Silas, it is / who
s'In token of reformation I have pur-
chased with money I would have squan-
dered on the weed the silk evening dress
you so desired"
"And l." cried Mrs. Piffkins, shave
also prepared surprise for you. With
the money had saved to give reception.
/ have bought you IA meerschaum
pipe"
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1896-12-25

surprised to see a tramp seated near
the stove, toasting his toes to his heart s
content.
"Hello," said McKeena.
"Hello," responded the tramp to NJ
Keena's exclamation.
For moment they stood there, and
then McKeena, waving his hand. said:
"Don't mind me-"
"All right" remarked the tramp, and
with that he seated himself again before
the stove. >McKeena also drew up a
chair. Then he took q cigar case from
his pocket.
Smoker he asked.
''Thanks"
After a few whiffs the tramp remark
ed:
''Be you the feller that runs the pota-
toes?"
81 am"
McKeena himself lighted a weed and
then said:
Il presume it was you who fred the
stoves?"
sit were"
"Much obliged"
Don't mention it. You lemme ride
and I'll call it square. pard:"
every well. How far are you going?"
New Orleans"
4utu luey pOtu SHuhcu III silence. NC
Keena examined his companion casually.
He was tall man of athletic figure, and
1t was evident that he possessed enorm-
ous strength. His face was covered with
a bushy growth of whiskers and with
eyes about as bright as two Goals. He
puffed at his cigar with evident enjoy
ment.
"How's potatoesY he said.
"Good."
"Any family ?"
sYes; wife and two, and / miss them
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1896-12-25

Civ mi Regards to de little wife; Like.
wise de Kids an Bi Drum fer de Boy
at first thought i'd Bore you. But i'm
glad diddent Now. Had de gun on
you wen yu com in, but yu were kerte-
GUS an diddent Shoot. wuz thinkin'
to Lay yu out an Amt sorry diddent
with Kind Regards, From yur ole Pal.
believe me, very Faithfully yourn, Bill
McGinnissy."
Bill McGinn;ssy was the name of the
train-robber whose misdeeds had made
him the terror of the South. He was
wanted for about fifty crimes The
young merchant shuddered and then
gazed doubtfuly at the new, crisp $50
bill
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1896-12-25
IN ENGLAND.

A MONG all the Germanic nations
~ Christmas has ever been the most
L \ popular of all church festivals
In England it was, and is, the one great
national feast. and in the Anglican
church and among the Lutherans of Ger
many the exclusion of many minor festi-
vals from the calendar has only coneen-
trated the popular affection upon Christ
mas.
The Puritans made a vigorous battle
against what they thought a supersti-
ton, and in 1862 it was ordered by Par
lament that no observation shall be had
OF the tve-and-twentieth day of Decem-
Der. commonly called Christmas Day, nor
any soiemnity used or exercised in
churches upon that day in respect there
of. A little before, in 1647, the town
crier of Canterbury proclaimed that
Christmas and all other superstitious
festivals should be put down. and mar
ket held upon Christmas Day" But none
of these orders had much effect. In
Scotland John Knox did succeed in pretty
efectually suppressing the observance of
Christmas, in the Lowlands, at least, but
he simply transferred the popular Gus
toms and superstitions to New Years
Day. There is an English rhyme of this
period that illustrates the popular feel
ing on the subject:
All plums the prophets sons defy,
Aid sptce-broths are too hot;
Treason's in a December pye,
And death within the pot
christmas, farewell. thy days fear.
And merry days are done;
SO they may Keep feasts all the year,
Our Saviour shall have none.
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1896-12-25
sELflslaNess OF ONE MAN.
After All Her Planning She Failed
to Get New Wrap,

After All Her Planning She Failed
to Get New Wrap.
where is that lovely wrap you were
selecting when l saw you the other
day?" asked the young woman in Marie
Antoinette hat.
"Oh. don't speak of it," groaned the
young woman in the brown turban. '.It
makes me i'll to think of it."
What on earth is the matter with it?
Didn't it fit, after all? Or
"It fitted so well that | might have
| known something would happen SO
couldn't get it. Oh, dear, | know
shall be perfectly healthy this year. too.
l always am when l have to wear an
old wrap; nothing will give me even a
cold in my head. JuEt let me get a
lovely new one, though, and"
''The mere leaving of the front gate
open is enough to give you pneumonia.
Yes, know just how it is myself But
you said that you had plan by which
you could get that darling jacket
and
Teach my husband a lesson at the
same time! I know, but somehow it
failed to work, and it wasn't my fault
in the least, either. 1t was this way:
Henry makes such fuss over my bills
that
Already? What will he be after you
have been married twenty years?''
Il shan't mind it, then, dear. 1t is
only while you are becoming accustom-
ed to thing that it hurts. Well, to get
even with him, make great outcry
over his carelessness where his own
garments are concerned. Now. last win
ter got new wrap and he new over
coat. When the warm weather came
got a lot of moth balls and put my wrap
carefully away, not that meant to
wear it this year, but only to call atten
ton to my carefulness He just left
his coat hanging in the closet, and l
was so angry with him just then that
l wouldn't remind him of it, l saw
that I could point moral this fall, so
he'd be ashamed to refuse me a new
wrap for taking such good care of the
old one
"Oh! l begin to see."
DO you: In the first place, asked
him for new jacket, and he said he
really couldn't afford one. OF course, !
knew that was only talk"
"Of course it was. Cant afford it. to
a husband is the Pretty Polly to par
rot, earliest learned, and"
"Oftenest repeated, l know. Well,
criedia good deal, but he was firm, so
l knew I'd have to play my trump card.
Next day went and selected the jacket
1 wanted. That evening l said: Don't
you want your overcoat, dear? He said
he believed he would go up and get it,
and oh, Laura, the moths had made
perfect wreck of itr'
SERVES him right. He
Eyes, b-but it didn't s-serve me
right, at all! He-he had felt badly be-
cause I cried, and had succeeded in
getting the money had asked for, and
now-now it will all have to go for
new overcoat for himself! Oh, did you
hear of anything so selfish ?'-Chicago
Tmes-Herald.
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1896-12-25
In Austria.

AS early as the 9th of November, vi
emma assumes an air of festivity; her citi'
zens have not forgotten that it is the
anniversary of their patron saint, st
Nicholas After a weeks intermission
the. public squares are once more cram
med with booths of all dimensions and
description, forming regular avenues,
crowded several weeks before Christmas
with representatives of every social
grade. If we take stroll through the
Ringstrasse, Christmas Eve, we shall
find that aristocratic thoroughfare de-
serted, but all the fats or apartments
are Illuminated. Christmas trees, loaded
with presents, form the evenings chief
attra ctiOD
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1896-12-25
Has a Snake Power to Charm?

A certain gentleman was convinced
by watching bird and it's mate wor.
rying a snake under a tree in which
they had built their nest that snakes do
not charm birds, says the Washington
Supper Table. 1t was at first thought
the bird was charmed by the snake,
but after watching the actions of the
two he noticed that the bird always
Kept out Of reach of the snake-"su
near and yet so far After several
minutes of that kind of teasing of his
snakeship the bird would come down
and go through the same maneuvers.
In this way they kept the snake from
climbing the tree to their nest and de.
stroying their little ones. Instead o.
being 'hypnotized" by the snake the
birds showed reasoning power and cum
ming superior to the snake.
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1896-12-25

palace, and the Gear moves slowly on
behind the Metropolitan Isidore. The
Emperor is followed by many other mem
bers of the Imperial family; while the
Empress contemplates the scene from a
covered balcony. The moment the pray
ers begin the Czar and the thousands of
his subjects who line the quarter and
streets adjacent, occupying the bridge
and pressing the soldiers on all sides, de-
voutly uncover their heads.
The water blessed, he is sprinkled by
the Metropolitan, makes the sign of the
cross, and slowly wends his way back
to his temporary apartments in the pal
ace, while thousands of hands are max
ing signs of the cross, and thousands of
voices CRYING out, Lord, be merciful!
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1896-12-25
WELCOME CHRISTMAS.

Thrice welcome, day of days! The skies
Ope wide their gates at thy command
And Heavens sublimest symphonies
Roll grandly over sea and land.
The dews of charity distill
Their incense everywhere, and comes
universal joy to fill
The highest and the humbleSt homes.
Thy son doth bless with holier kiss!
Thy breath a grander these doth hymnI
Thy wings do close the black abyss
OF evil, and no longer dim
Are valleys Of eternal peace,
Or land where Its own restores,
But skies uncurtained show increase
OF glory on thy crystal shores!
And thou dost light for me again
The yule-log on the homestead hearth.
The graves where long the dead have lain
Do open, as vernal garth,
And bloom for me once more the loves
That roseate made my youthful days;
Within thy freight lives and moves
My mother, haloed with the rays
OF Paradise. and as her twin
Lips with the olden fondlings part,
And /. enraptured, cuddle in
The velvet haven of her heart,
! see the pail of doubt unfold,
And gu the pathway of the sun
Gods finger writes in lines of gold
The words, For Home and Heaven are
onev'
Then, too, thy chimney glow reveals
My fathers face; the old armchair
Is his again, and Lulu kneels
Beside him with her Christmas prayer;
The sweet-yOiced pleadings uttered are,
And grandpa's lips do part to say,
"Thank God the gates are all ajar
'Twixt Home and Heaven on Christmas
DayT'
Then. welcome, day of days! Thy dawn
Is vibrant with familiar tones,
The veil that dims our sight is drawn,
The farther shore thy sunlight zones.
No growth of skeptic fancy now
Our faith in glad reunion leayens,
For 'tts engraYen on thy brow
That Heaven is Homes. and Home Is
Heavens!
Century.
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1896-12-25
In Mexico.

The devout of Mexico go to early mass
on Christmas morning. The minority de-
vote themselves to a toothsome break
fast, in which tortillas, chile con carne
tboiied beef and red peppers), tomalis
(corn husks stuffed with force meat, are
the leading features. After breakfast
come the festivities. These are of all
sorts and are imbued with religious
spirit of almost another age. In each
house. where the residence can afford it.
a little nacimiento (altar) is raised in par
lor, drawingroom or library, which IS
supposed to typify the birth of the Holy
Child. Wealthy people go to groat
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1896-12-25

establishment The rooms in that tavern
We're all bespoken, and the sole place of
shelter left to the travellers was one of
these cell-like apartments, in which there
was neither couch, table nor chair.
1t was understood that any guests who
would accept these lowly quarters should
provide their own bit of carpet as pro-
lection against the damp and would be
content and satisfied with the bundle of
straw which served as a bed. These
were the surroundings of the Virgin
Mother on the night of the advent of the
Son of God
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1896-12-25

midnight mass on Christmas Eve, and
so. pouring down along the bouievards,
all the world and his wife try to find a
place in one or other of the fashionable
churches, and, after the service is over,
all go round to see and criticise the
Creehe.
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1896-12-25
In Russia.

Several days before Christmas pretty
little pavilion is erected on the left bank
of the Neva, just opposite the entrance to
the Winter Palace. painted in sky-blue
and decorated with golden stars. Early
on Jan. 6 (the Russian calendar is twelve
days later than ours), this part os the
quay is turned into a noisy thoroughfare
and is occupied by the Imperial Guards,
dressed in their most picturesque cos
tunes.
At noon the procession starts from the
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1896-12-25
In France.

In FRANCO.
In Paris Christmas Day is kept as
religious festival and many who would
not dream of going to church on Sun
days make a point of attending mass on
lie Jour de Noel, and the blaze of the
tapers falls on crowded congregations.
men, women and children, kneeling.
standing and sitting on the wide area
of the Madeleine and Notre Dame. Of
late years it has become chic to attend
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1896-12-25
Odd Traditions.

Traditions are not good things to go
on in the writing of history, yet tradi-
tions are interesting, nevertheless. 1t
is we'll to know that, according to some
legends, the capital of France derives
it's name from Paris, son of Priam,
who is said to have fed there when
Troy was captured. These also tell us
that Troyes was built by the Trojans;
that Nuremburg was named after Nero,
Jerusalem after King Jebus, and the
Humbert after king of the Huns, who
drowned in it. From the same sources
we also learn that the Gauls derive
their origin from Galathia, a descend
ant of Japhet, and that Prussia is called
after Prussus, a brother of Augustus;
that the Scotch are descendants of,
Scotia, daughter of Pharaoh, and that
the city of Naples was founded on eggs.
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1896-12-25
A MelancholY siaiE

One of the most melancholy sights in
nature is a man trying to buy a Christ
mas present for a woman. He knows in
a vague way that the present must not be
a pair of suspenders or shaving set, but
when he comes to particularize the poor
man lapses into perfect imbecility, and
gives his sister the money and tells her to
buy the present
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1896-12-25
READY FOR BUSINESS.

Witha very active, energetic working
nan. or man Of business; cane or crutch
IS sign of some affirmative, but he will
have to use one or both if sciatica sets in
and disables his hip. Worse than all this,
he may be bcd-ridden for a long time, and
still worse, may be obliged to resort to sur
gical treatment Why all this should be
endured when the trouble can. be easily
cured must be because he dom. know that
ST. Jacobs Oil, the great remedy for. pain.
is a special cure for this very much dreaded
malady. 1t has proved itself the most
soothing and penetrating remedy for reach
ing the sciatic nerve and effectually curing
its agonies that has perhaps ever been tried
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1896-12-25
In GernianY

A. home around the tree, is the cul.
minating point of Teutonic reyelry in
Yuletide. The enthusiasm and the senti-
ment of youth and age have then at
tanned their pitch. and they are permitted
to give full vent to it for the evening.
The tree is Illuminated at the appointed
hour; 'Still night. holy night" is sung
in the domestic circle; sweet yapor of
domestic unity is inhaled amid smiles and
tears, and the feast of the Nativity is
thus initiated.
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1896-12-25

.,sle. wherefrom it is intended that the
birds shall make their Christmas dinner.
Even the peasant will contrive to have
a handful set for this purpose; and what
the birds do not eat on Christmas Day
remains for them to finish at their leisure
through the winter.
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1896-12-25

One of the prettiest of Christmas Gus
toms is the Norwegian practice of giving
| on Christmas Day dinner to the birds.
On Christmas morning every gable, gate
way, or barn-door is decorated with a
sheaf of corn, fixed on the top of tall
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1896-12-25
SURPRISE WAS MUTUAL.
Exchange of New Years. Gifts 1
the Piffkins Household

HIS is the first New
Years Day in ten
years that Maria
b a S n t quarreled
with me about Civ
ing up tobacco, and
now I've done it Of
my own a C cor d .
How pleased and
how surprised Maria
will be" Thus Mr..
~ fba norp;n- 80
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1896-12-25

mechanically handled the envelope and
gazed doubtfully at the new, crisp $50
bill and the following message:
'tYou Did me a good Turn. Bi a
Christmas present fur de Kids. wuz
Hard pressed Wen cum to de train :.
yu Took stranger in an Nourished Him.
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1896-12-25
American Horses for England

The London General Omnibus Com
pany has entered into a contract with
an American firm for the supply of
5000 horses for bus work in the metro
polls, which does not seem as though
they were much afraid of the new
motor car.
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1896-12-25
STATE OF OHIO, CRY OF TOLEDO, , :.

LUCAS COUNTY, 81.
FRANK ]. CHENEY makes oath that he is the
senior partner of the firm of F. J. CHENEY & Co.,
doing business in the city of Toledo, County
the sum of ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS for
each and every case of CATARRH that cannot be
cured by the use of HALLS CATARRH CURE.
FRANK J. CHENEY.
Sworn to before me and subscribed in my
presence, this 9th day of December, A. D. 1886.
SEAL A. w. GLEASON,
=, - Notary Public.
Halls Catarrh Cure is taken internally, and
acts directly on the blood and mucous surfaces
of the system. Send for testimonials, free.
Sold by druggists, 75c
Halls Family Pills are the best
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1896-12-25

Age finds its surest solace in the benignant
tonic aid afforded by Hostetter's Stomach Bit
tiers, which counteracts rheumatic and ma
larlal tendencies, relieves growing inactivity
OF the kidneys. and is the finest remedy ex-
tant for disorders of the stomach, liver and
bowels Nervousness, too, with which old
people are very apt to be afflicted, is promptly
relieved by it.
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1896-12-25
Chr.stlnas Eye.

Little bits of stockings.
Hung up In a row,
Always make Kris Kringle
Down the chimney go.
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1896-12-25
FELLOW TRAVELLERS.
HRISTMAS e v

HRISTMAS eve e
away from home
and the loved ones
is a dreary period OF
the year. At least
so thought CHARLES
McKeena, az he ira
versed tine top of his
nine cars of pota-
toes en- route for
the Southern mar
ket. He Was one of
the young dealers,
-
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1896-12-25
"A TimeIY Question.

II can understand how Santa Claus
comes down Tie chimney" remarked
Edgar, but ] wonder how he goes MP. r.:
Harper's Young People.