davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1897-12-24
CHRISTMAS LONG AGO.
All Presents Had to Go Into the
Christmas Stocking.

All Presents Had to Go Into the
Christmas Stocking.
Robert J. Burdette in the Ladies'
HONE Journal tells in his humorous,
way how he remembers the Christmas
OF long ago. Most of the Christmas
presents in those days were designed
by the manufacturer for the hang
ing stocking. Anything too big to go
into a stocking had to go over to some
bCdy's birthday. In any family where
there was more than one child the old
reliable 'NOah's ark was always looked
for. We hailed with ordinations of
astOnished recognition Noah and Mrs
Noah, ATessrs. and Nine. Shem, Ham and
Japhet. There was no way Of telling the
men and women apart. They were ex-
actly alike, but the elephant and giraffe
you could distinguish at a glance, on
account Of the spots on the giraffe. So
also the dog and the COW, because the
COW was always white and blue, while
the dog was invariably plain blue.
Within "a hours after the landing on
ATarat the baby would have all the
paint sucked of Shem, Ham and the
hired man, and the doctor would be
sent for.
''The red monkey climbing a red stick
was another regular Christmas visitor.
He was highly esteemed as a light
luncheon by the baby. 1t never seemed
to affect the infant unpleasantly-tO
himself, that is-althOugh the cloudy
symphony of red and blue about his in
nOcent mouth was apt to make the be-
holder SILVER. But it made the monkey
look sick. Then there was a man on
the box, with a major-general's uniform,
beating a drum. You turned a crank,
the general lifted his stick high in the
air, and something in the box made a
noise as much like drum as a peal Of
thunder is like PiccOlO. These things
as toys were Of no great value, but as
practical and useful object lessons they
were beyond all price, on the minus
side"
The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1897-12-24

fuI than helpless mother With q hrn-
cry ehiIdP
Among the crowd OF passengers who
had hurried into the station came Reu-
ben BullwinkIe. The discomforts Of
the journey had no apparent effect
upon his invincibie good humor. Din
ner is now ready, ladies and gentsl" he
shouted. liable de hOte, OF Ia carte,
all the 1uxuries Of the season at prices
within the means OF any millionaire.
Never mind the cost. A full stomach is
better than a full pocket book, and you
can't have both together in this ranch.
Walk right up to the festa1 board and
enjoy your Christmas dinner"
After this outburst Of dime-museum
eloquence Rube looked about him for
some evidence Of appreciation, but
every one was too busily occupied in
the scramble for food to heed his
vagaries. But no, not every one, for as
Reuben's eyes wandered over the room
they observed the forms Of the lone
woman and her little boy standing idly
by the stove.
Reuben was an old and experienced
traveller, and withal a shrewd observer,
and it did not take him long to read the
pathetic story Of this group Of two.
There was no doubt in his mind that
they were faint with hunger and with
out sufficient money TO pay for food.
The drummer Rube pushed his travel
ing hat to the back of his head and
scratched his bald pate as he held
secret consultation with the angelic
and interior Reuben. 'Rube, old fel-
low, what are we going to do about this
business? We can't enjoy our Christ
man dinner knowing all the time that
hungry eyes are watching every mouth
ful Of food we devOur; no, that's out
Of the question, but what can we do?
That woman is no pauper, and she.
would probably scOTch US with glance
if we presumed to offer her money, or
even to blow her OF to a dinner. But,
great Caesar! they must be fed some
how. Now if we could manage TO
scrape up an acquaintance with the boy
I think we could make the deal; so let's
see If we can hypnotic him."
Agreeable to this resolution Reuben
fastened his gaze upon the child until
he caught his eye, then smiling the
same old smile which had won him
friends from Boston to California, he
addressed him: ''HOw's this for a
Christmas, little boy?" But the little
boy only clung closer to his mothers
skirts and scowled at the presumptu-
Gus stranger.
whats the matter, little friend,
can't you find a seat? You just come
with me now. and If we don't find a
place Tn much mistaken"
The boy ceased whimpering and
looked inquiringly at his mother.
The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1897-12-24
A sOMNAMsULIsTs FEAT.

yE-2Izs on the Roofs of Houses and
Gets Into n Strange Apartment.
Edward Reilly, of 1900 King street,
Wilmington, Del, performed a wonder
full feat in his sleep. In his night clothes
he climbed from his bedroom window to
the roof of his house. There are Is
houses in the row, and he walked along
the roofs of the row for half an hour,
then he climbed down, but climbed into
the wrong window. The window he en-
tered was on the rear Of the second
story Of the house Of Amos BrintOn,
two doors below his house.
A niece Of Mr.. Brinton's was slumber-
ing in the room at the time, and, awak-
ened by the noise Of his entrance, she
screamed when she saw his ghOstlike
appearance. Her screams brought Mr..
Brinton, who upon entering the bed
room fired a shot, which missed Reilly.
The gas was lighted, and to his amaze
ment Brinton discovered that the in
truder was his neighbOr.
He saw that he was asleep, and with
a punch awakened him. Reilly at first
wanted Brinton TO apologize, but when
he found he had been walking in his
sleep and was not in his own room he
could not say enough to excuse himself
The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1897-12-24
ACROSS The sTREET.
The Change That Came with Another
Christmas Time.

Christmas Time
Last Christmas the house across the street
from mine was the brightest and gayest OF
any in the block. There were beautiful
Christmas wreaths in every window and the
whole house was aglow. The shades were
thrown up high and the soft lace curtains
parted wide. The tree in the great parlor
Of the house across the street was larger and
it had cOstlier presents on It than any other
tree In the town. And most Of the presents
were for the little girl IN the white dress
and the big pink sash who could be seen
from the street dancing around the tree, the
happiest, sweetest little maiden IN all the
world and the light and life and JOY Of the
house across the street.
This Christmas time all is dark and silent
and gloomy IN the great house across the
street There are no Christmas wreaths
IN the window, no ray Of light comes from
behind the closely drawn blinds, no childish
voice Is heard within the house. There IS
no bright and beautiful tree, but on the
spot on which the tree stood last year there
Is something white and as beautiful In its
silk and satin and velvet finish as the skill
and wealth Of man can make It. But the
sight Of it brought a chill TO the hearts Of
those who saw It carried into the house on
Christmas eve, and when the eyes of the
mother and father fell upon it their hearts
bled anew
The passers-by who saw the bands Of
white Ruttering from the knob Of the door
Of the house across the street went on to
their own humble houses thanking God
that their own little ones were left to them
no matter how little Of wealth OF beauty
there might be IN their homes
The poorest house IN which there was the
laugh Of children was 50 much less desc
late than the great mansion across the
street IN which the ehild's laugh was for
ever still II added 70 the melody Of Par
adIse that Christmas morning. 1t rang out
cieaE and sweet aeress the jasper sea II
had gone through the gate Beautiful and
into a house not made with hands eternal
IN the heavens-Detroit Free Pres
The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1897-12-24

Reuben thought he could detect the
conflicting emotions of the woman in
the struggle between womanly pride
and mOtherly love. He saw her tighten
her hold on the hand Of the boy and
turn slightly away.
Slipping forward and politely dolf-
ing his hat, he addressed the woman:
Madam, beg your pardon, but you
see I have taken q notion to that boy
of yours, and as I am far away from
my own little ones (this was rank du-
pIicity, for Reuben had neither wife
no. children, near or far, and as this
is Christmas Gay, am feeling a little
lonesome You, being a parent your
self, can appreciate my feeling, for
doubtless were you away from your
boy you would naturally be interested
in any child which reminded you of
your own. Now beg you to permit
your little boy to be my guest and eat
bis Christmas dinner with me-"
The woman lifted her dOwncast ewes
to the honest face of the stranger, then
blushing slightly, without either for
bidding or cOnsenting, replied diplomat
ically: Tommy is afraid of strangers
However nOncOmmital this answer
was, 1t was equivalent to a full consent
when made 10 n knight of the grip, and
either owing to the hypnotic power
Of Reuben Bullwinkle or the cravings
Of appetite, no difficulty was expert
enced in winning the child's consent
to any arrangement which had for its
ultimate object the eating of q din
ner.
Hungry children are not very fastid-
iOus, aud however unappetising the
viands of that rorlorn lunch counter
would seem to you and me as we sit
down to our Christmas turkey at our
own table, 10 the little hungry boy they
were lit for a king, and If everyone
throughout the land enjoyed his Christ
mas dinner as little Tommy did in that
dingy old station, it was indeed a merry
Christmas.
However, it came to pass that the boy
was finally satisfied. He had stuffed
himself to his full capacity. and with a
sigh Of supreme satisfaction prepared to
slide OF the high stool, ignoring all OBJ
legations and without a word Of excuse
or thanks 10 his genial host 1t was
very probable that with the purely
natural selishness which we are all
heirs 10, but which is more plainly evil
dent IN children owing to their limo
cence, the BOY who did not think that
his poor mother was still fasting, but
with the sublime faith Of childhood in
the OmniPotence Of parents. he rested
in the conviction that she was old
enough to look out for herself, If indeed
be gave the matter any consideration,
which is not at all probable
But Reuben had not forgotten, and
had made up his mind that the woman's.
fast should be broken
wait a minute. Tommy" said he.
seeing the boy was about 20 escape.
Don't ycu want something m0re27
$40 7 don't want no more" an
sIFered the polite Tommy
stFoVidn't you Ike a nice big apple
- pat fu your Poclsf 2-oz hold on, I've
an idea It's Christmas, sou know. bat
you di6n'L know that MAS cid S1uta
Claus Pc FessQ1 Teg didu't k1pF Sre,
The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1897-12-24

Concealed in n seal RfzE, But II IN
IoeIrs EEanT Loc1zE-
A Cineinnatian but lately returned
from England tells Of a rather novel in
novatiOn in the way Of locks and keys,
or, to speak more correctly, key.
At a country place he visited he was
surprised to see his host unlock the
gateway Of the place with a small key,
that in some mysterious way was pro-
dueed from a large seal ring he wore.
Yet the ring was not large enough to
be conspicuous by reason OF its size OF
style. As he expressed some surprise
in the matter, his host said:
''This is a master key. You see il
slides under the set in the ring and oc-
cupies no space whatever. It win IN
lock every lock about the place, even
my dressing bag. my trunk, bond box
and wine cellar"
He was asked as to the arrangement
in general, whether one key, say Of the
Isutler, would unlock the front door.
Mot at all" be replied. ''The locks
are all arranged in suites. The butler
can unlock all the doors that are in his
department, and the housekeeper can
unlock the linen closets and other doors
under her supervision, but she cannot
get into the buffers domain. And in
every other department about the place
from end to end every one has his or her
key, but have only the master key.
All Of the doors open to me. Ny valet
can open my dressing case and closets,
but he cannot get bottle Of wine. OF
course the arrangement in a seal ring is
novel, but it is very handy for me. In
the first place cannot lose it and in the
second place everything opens TO me
without asking a question"
No doubt Yankee ingenuity viii pro
vide the same arrangement, but as yet
no mention has been made of such an
article in this country.-Cincinnat
Commercial Tribune.
The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1897-12-24
"MY WIFE'S LIFE. -
How I was the means
Of saving it.

Wheh the lungs are attacked and the
symptoms Of consumption appear, then
begins the struggle between affection and
that destroying disease which Stays its
thousands annually. It is a happy issue
to the struggle when disease IS Conquered
and health restored. Such an issue does
not always end the struggle, but it did IN
the case Of Nj. K. Morris, Memphis, Tenn,
who saw his wife wasting and weakening
and physicians helpless, and then sug-
eested the simple Iemedy that wrought
the cure. He tells the story thus:
Seven years ago, my wife had severe
attack Of lung trouble which the ply
sicians pronounced consumption. The
cough was extremely distressing espe-
cially at night, and was frequently
attended with the splitting of blood The
doctors being unable to help her, In
duced her to try Dr. Ayers Cherry Pectoral
and was surprised at the great relief it
gave. Before using one whole bottle she
was cured, 50 that now she IS strong and
quite healthy. That this medicine saved
my Wife's life 7 have not the least doubt
always keep Dr.. Ayers Cherry Pectoral
In the house. whenever any Of my family
have a cold or cough we use it, and are
The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1897-12-24
NEW ZEALAND POSTAL BANKS.

A WOr1<inEman Tells OF the Advan-
taEes Which He Enjoys.
The Record has received from Tom L.
Mills, of Washington, New Zealand, the
following information regarding postal
savings banks in that country:
New Zealand has q population Of about
10000. The number Of post Offices open
for savings bank business in 1885 was 357;
It must be 400 to-day. In 1895 the number Of
open accounts with the post Office savings
bank was Isl, 6S3, Of which 101, 3S7 were for
amounts not exceeding go (S1OO, which
shows IT to be essentially a workers bank
0;251 new accounts were opened last year,
and 22,OO1 accounts were closed Deposits
received in 1885, s2,794, sos; withdrawn
E425 173; at credit Of all accounts, go Se5, 543,
giving an average Of about ELS to the credit
Of each account.
Amounts standing to the credit Of open
accounts in postal savings banks at end Of
the wears named.
The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1897-12-24

Besides the above there were seven pri-
vate savings banks in 1885 holding e725, 153
CsS,6 1863 to the credit Of depositors at the
end Of that year"
In his letter forwarding this informa-
ton Mr.. Mills, who is prominent in
union labor movements in New Zealand,
says:
ct seems strange that any modern state
does not run a post Office savings bank, for
to use its functions has been with me a
habit from my youth up. As boy I could
put odd penny stamps on q card provided
by the post Office for school children, and
when the dozen spaces were filled took the
card to the post Office, where I was cred
tied with another shilling to my account
To-day my own children follow out the
same system. As q youth could bank a
form, crown, half-sovereign or eL And
then, again, at a moments notice I can
withdraw any small or large portion Of my
savings bank, with branches in every post
Office in the United States Of America"
Evidently the wOrkingmen of New
Zealand realize that they have valua bic
friend in the postal savings banks Of
that cOuntry.-Chicag Record.
The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1897-12-24

E@e asa frsn he eold Hines zen
80 - $500.

&c ea fEon the Geld Hines Tells
Abouf the F7eadhers
= had Just returned from the top Of the
t-<1zat pass and was apparently glad Of It.
inquired friend. eColds'
Yes hut not sc bad as It VIII be along
~ 5EnuaTT, after the MOSQUITOES get ont
q the air and let the wind have a chance.
4aen = gets good and cold A man told
ne ETno had WInbered up there seven years
that i was 50 cold N January that they
tEoze the flames Of their candles and sold
-1em Tor Strawberries Re said they kept
thsIr Gres over night by putting them out
~ the ar and letting them freeze and then
tHay7ed them out IN the morning. He said
be had seen four men die Of cole from
eating whisky that was frozen so hard It
wouldn't thGW inside OF them He said
tae COWS ali gave ice cream TIL they froZe
to death. He said be knew clerk IN 2
hCtel on the Yukon that got rich selling
the diamonds he wore, said diamonds being
nothing on earth but ice crystals that
didn't thaW TIL after the clerk had got out
q the country He said he had seen a man
1all on the ROOF a barn and freeze so
stiff before he 1T that he broke IN two
vixen he hit the ground He said he had
seen smoke freeze IN chimney TIL the IRE
wouldn't draw, and he knew OF one case
where the smoke frOze after It got 100 feet
up and fell back on the house, knocking
hole IN the roof big enough to drive yoke
Of steers through He said the reason the
nights were 50 long In that country was
that the dark got frOze 80 hard the daylight
scuidn't thaW It's way through IN less than
SIX months. He said"
Excuse ne, interrupted the friend, "did
this party have afhdavits with these state
mentsg"
He said he had, but I guess he must
have frO1e to death hunting for them, be
cause he never came back when I asked
him to 60 after them for me" and the re-
turned Chilkater smiled a smile that was
childlike and bland.-WashingtOn Star.
The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1897-12-24

way. But I am fairly fixed in my Opin-
ion that somehow or other, in the
merciful providence Of the Lord, he viii
walk the golden streets Of the New
Jerusalem, wearing a crown of eternal
life-and I viii tell you one reason why
think 50:
1t was almost noon on Christmas day
when the through express pulled into
Starvation Junction six hours late.
DesOIate and dreary as the station ap-
peared, the travel-worn and hungry
passengers were glad to see 1t, as they
had been informed they could procure
refreshments on their arrival, as no
other opportunity had presented itself
to satisfy their hunger since the pre-
viOus day.
The storm which began in the night
had developed into the unmistakable
blizzard so much hated and feared by
all who travel by rail. The engine had
done all that iron and steam could do
against its inveterate foe, but in spite of
gallant efforts the blizzard seemed to be
getting the best Of the battle, and for
some time before the tuain pulled up at
the station the iron lungs of the engine
seemed to labor with a painful effort as
it plowed its way through the drifts.
The station was equipped with the
usual lunch counter, upon which was
displayed the uninviting and meager
fare which generally greets the travel
ing public at such Institutions. There
were sandwiches for those who could
afford TO pay. ten cents for the small
suspicion OF the flag end Of some old
remnant Of fat mercifully hidden be
tween two slices Of stale bread. There
were beans-baked beans, hard, dry
and musty, which could be had for Is
cents; ten cents for two indigestible
looking dOughnuts; five cents apiece for
eggs-bOiled eggs, boiled hard, boiled
until they were black and blue, boiled
to the consistency of an india-rubber
ball. Nobody could tell how long those
eggs have been boiled. I say have, be-
cause probably most of them are doing
duty yet on that lunch counter. And
then there was pie-at least something
that went by that titIe-and coffee,
too, that would be recognized only by
the name.
It often happens under circumstances
of this nature that there are some who
have not started on their journey with
the expectation Of being put to ex-
ira expense, and are consequently not
prepared for the eNOrbitant charges Of
the railway lunch counter, and are
therefore placed in a very unpleasant
situation.
Among the crowd Of hungry mOrtaIs
who gathered in the dingy station were
The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1897-12-24
MOTTO ON THE DENTISTS WALL
EnraEed the Suffering Patient But
Pleased the Tooth Fuller.

L1A-LAE@A the 5uMEELLE ELLAE4L nut
Pleased the Tooth Fuller.
II tell you what It i" the infuriated pa
Hent was saying to the dentist, Il don't
mind so much the way II which you yanzed
out that tooth, nor even the fact Of Its be
ing the wrong tooth, nor the price you
asked Ter paralyZing my nerve, nor any OF
the disagreeable things you've said to me,
nor the insinuatiOn that a ten-year-Old
child would have stood It better; no, can't
say that care for any of that racket 1t Is
something else that barbed the iron that
entered my SOUL mean my Jaw"
I suppose you didn't ike the manner IN
which. assisted you out Of that chair!''
said the dentist.
1T wasn't thai" continued the man with
the fractured jaw Il was IN the army and
am used 70 being shot out Of a cannon Nor
II wash. { the pain when you took the top OF
my head OF No, SIR, it was none Of those
It was that framed and emblazOned motto
on your wall which aroused IN me the feeling
that insult had been added TO injury"
The dentist smiled as his eyes followed
those Of his tOOth-tOrtured patient, and read
those words
The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1897-12-24

Ihe readers Of this paper VIII lie pleased
e learn that there IS ct least one dreaded
dlsease that science has been able 70 cu-e IN
all its stages, and that Is Catarrh. Halls
Catarrh Cure Is the only positive eare
known 70 the medical fraternity. Catarrn
beng q constitutional disease, requires a
constitutional treatment Halls CSt1rrh
Cure Is taken internally, acting directly
upon the blood and mucous surfaces Of the
system, thereby destroying the foundation
Of the disease, and giving the patient
strength By building up the constitution and
assisting nature Ia dong Its work The
prOprietOrs have so much faith IN Its cura-
tive powers that they offer One Hundred
Dollars for any case that il fails to cure.
Send for list Of testimonials.
address F. J. Cheney & Co., Toledo, o.
Sold By Druggists, 75c.
Halls Family Pills are the best.