davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-12-24

And on the dawn
OF Christmas morn
My childish heart was knocking
wild tattoo,
AS twould break through.
AS L unhung my stocking.
Each simple gift that came to hand,
how marvellous | thought it,
A treasure straight from Wonderland,
For Santa Claus had brought 1t.
And at my cries
OF glad surprise
The others all came flocking
To share my giee
And view with me
The contents of the STOCKING.
Years sped-I left each well-loved scene
In Northern wilds to roam,
And there, mid tossing pine trees green,
1 made myself home.
We numbered three
And bithe were we,
At adverse fortune hooking,
And Chrstmastide
BY our treSide
Found hung the baby'S stocking.
Alas! within our home tonight
No sweet young voice is ringing.
And through its silent rooms no light,
Free, childish step is springing.
The wild winds rave
Ger babyS grave
"here piumy pines are rocking,
And crossed at rest
On marble breast
The hands that filled my stocking.
With misty eyes but steady hand
| raise my Christmas chaice;
Here's 10 the children of the land
In cabin or in palace:
May each one hold
The key of gold
The gates of glee unlocking,
And hands be found
The whole world round
To nil the Christmas stocking.
Ladies' Home Journal.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-12-24
UNCLE JERRY'S
CHRISTMAS.

n G. L E J h r r Y
Foster was too stin-
gy to live, and every
body knew it. But
everybody d i d n t
k II o w h o W poor
Aunt Betsey, his
wife, had to manage
and cOntrive and
skimp to get along.
She never had the
handling Of an
money. Even the
butter and egg mon
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-12-24
A CIincher.

Mrs. Cobwigger-You are to ask only
one more question the whole evening
Freddie-Then, ma, if Santa Claus really
brings the presents why am 1 not to look
out of the window if an express wagon
drives up to the door ?-Judge.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-12-24

the bank; she didn't care" So She
thought on and on, not hardly sensin the
prayer a mite.
She went out to her work in the kitcb-
en- feelin' all broke up. She didn't know
why she should be, less she'd been kind.
er secretly hopin' to have Ellen and tho
caAdren. Christmas was more than She
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-12-24
Another Altered Will.

Little Alice-Mamma says she amt 60
ing to give you anything for Christmas
this year. Papa's Maiden Sister-Oh, she
isn't, Ell? Why not? Little Alice-'Cause
the present she give you last year was
worth twice as much as what you give us.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-12-24
Will Receive Calls.

do you expect to receive calls on New
Years day" asked Willie Hicollar.
YES" answered Mamie Hollerton; 'I'll
have to. The telephone exchange where 1
work wouldn't give me the day off. Isn't
If mean ?'-Washin gtOn Star
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-12-24
A Definition of Christmas.

Sunday School Teacher-Johnny, what
does Christmas mean? Johnny-My pa
says Christmas means swapping lot O.
things you can't afford for lot O. things
you don't want-Life.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-12-24
A FLORIDA CHRISTMAS.
How the Happy Day Is Celebrated in a
Fair Southern CITY.

III * | = L NJ y : in
Florida is a novel cX-
perience to North
erners. There the
manner of observing
this holiday is more
like Il Fourth of
j uly ceiebra ton
than anything else.
The incessant firing
of torpedoes and fire
crackers in the mid
de of the day and
the display of pyro-
technics in the even
ing rob the day of
much of IFS mVi hOl-
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-12-24


Ogical and sacred significance. n stroll
through a typical town in the realm of
fruits and flowers gives person from
the North some startling ideas. The
show windows are full of frecracters,
Roman candles, sky rockets, packages of
torpedoes and other fireworks. The July
weather is present, aquatic and field
sports are carried out in accordance with
a regular picnic program, and the sight
of thousands in holiday attire on race
track, the borders of some pretty lake or
a baseball park, gives little hint of Il ccle-
bration which at the North is attended
with sleighing, skating and Christmas
trees.
Only in the churches is the commence
ration suggestive and familiar. In some
of these great Christmas ship, with
evergreen-t trimmed masts, is displayed.
Bright little lads and pretty maids dress
ed in white and carrying tinsel wands
distribute presents to everybody. In the
negro quarters, too. the real yuletide fer
vor is shown. No one loves a holiday
better than negro, and the eating, drink
ing and singing i'll the rough, boarded
huts is engaged in with ardent zeal.
Through latticed windows and open
doors may be seen the smoking turkey
and 'possum. hoe cake, pumpkin pies and
watermelons. The patriarchal cOlored
preacher summons all his dusky clientele
to the rickety frame church in the after
noon or evening. fixing the minds of his
auditors on the sin of chicken stealing and
wandering in the white folks orange
groves after midnight. Then all hands
| ioin in the chorus of the old Christmas
song:
| ;,, shin
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-12-24

81 don't see your mistletoe," said he,
glancing up at the chandelier. ''Is it real
ly necessary" replied she, archly. Is
WASH fudge.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-12-24
The Flirt.

The mistletoe she keeps in view,
And though she says she won't
She's angry with you if you do,
And cuts you if you don't
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-12-24
Shin on, shin on;
Doan' git weary, chillun!

Shin on, Shin OIL
Oh, Jerusalem!
The weird chanting, accompanied by
the regular tapping of the feet of the
singers on the pine floor, is followed by
an adjournment to some large barn, where
the music from the negro Orchestra's vio-
Inns and banjos for hours keep up the
dance. between fragments of
'All de darkies am a weepin',
Massa's in de cold, cold groun,'
and ''Suwanee River" the pIantive
strains being waited sweetly through the
swaying pines.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-12-24
THE CHRISTMAS STOCKING.

y lie ghostly light | m
Sitting muSIhg OF
long dead Decen-
berS,
While the tire-clad
shapes are fitting i'll
and out among the
emberS
On my hearthstone IL
mad races. and l
marvel. for in SEEM
ing
| c.n dimiy see the
faces ana the scenes
of which I'm dream
ing.
0 golden Christmas
days Of yore.
In sweet anticipa-
ton
| lived their joys for
days before
Their glorious reaii-
Zation;
The age-herald., 1897-08-06
ABOUT THE COURTHOUSE
Doings of Interest in the Several County
 Courts

Doings of Interest in the Several County
 Courts
 There are no courts in session in the county count house, and all of the clerks are busy preparing the dockets for the ensuing term.
 Clerk Fergus Mccarthy and fiis assist ant Ollie Miles. have just finished thor oughly overhiauling their office. Quite a change has been worked and the room is now model of neatness.
 In going over old. discarded papers an unopened letter containing a check for s10 was unearthed. It was dated 1895. and was intended as payment of the costs of the court in a case
 Somewhat of a relic was found in Q hand grant written on sheepskin. The grant was signled by James Monroe president, and issued to Robert Reed in July, 1923. 1t was a conveyance of the following property to Reed, his assigns and successors: West half of the south east quarter of section seventeen. town ship sixteen, range one, west conta ming 29.26 acres, in the Tuscaloosa district
 Chief Clerk John G. Bradley returned yesterday from his protracted outing at St. Clair Springs. He is much improv d by his vacation, and is ready for lots of
The age-herald., 1897-08-06
TERSELY TOLD.

If you have decided to take Hoods Sarsa- parilla do not be induced to buy any other.
 The service on the Ensley dummy line was suspended for one day only. The running of one train was resumed yester- day. but no passengers are being left off at Ensley City. Only freight is be- ing carried through. Few passengers are being carried beyond Thomas.
 A pistol shot in the vicinity of the Flor ence hotel late yesterday afternoon att traeted a large crowd. Chief of Police Mcdonald was among the first on the scene and found that Peter Laskins, an Italian confectionery and fruit dealer on Nineteenth street, had been fumbling with a revolver and discharged it acci- dentally. He was placed under bond for discharging arms within the city limits.
 Yesterday morning Officer Mcknight and two young physicians were on Four teenth street and Fourth avenue vaccin- ating whomsoever they met. N. D. billiard, a ngro, is said to have refused to be vaccinated and being drunk, cursed the officer and physicians. Officer Me- Knight attempted to arrest him when the negro grabbed the patrolmans club and showed fight. The officer pulled his gun and soon had the negro in the city jail. Three charges of violating section 275, resisting an officer and disorderly conduct were docketed against him.
 Last night about o'clock Officer Ha- good arrested R. Collier, young white man, on charge of larceny of leather from D. B. Luster. The young man, who is only 1T years old, was employed by MT. Luster. It Is alleged that he sold or exchanged two blocks of sole leather for a pair of shoes to an Italian on First avenue. The Italian bought some scraps of leather and Collier is said to have en- closed the blocks of leather in the pack az. MT Luster says that he had missed small articles before, but never thought of accusing the boy. He will be tried this morning.
The age-herald., 1897-08-06
Lively Time in Store

Austin, Tex, Aug. 5.-The Texas rail- way commission was today served with a temporary injunction granted by Judge McComick of the federal district court. at New Orleans, att the instance of the Texas Express company, restraining the commission from putting into effect it's tariff on express shipments. The tariff was issued some tinie ago and went into effect today. The express company charges that it fixed express charges, at less than freight rates. and hence is ruin- ous to the business of the company A lively fight is contemplated as the com mission announced in case the express companies objected it would take steps looking to withdrawal of permits to do
The age-herald., 1897-08-06
THE FIRST DEATH

 A Negro Smallpox Patient Died Yesterday
 The Situation
 The smallpox situation continues unal- tered.
 Four new cases were discovered yester- out of thirteen suspected cases reported. Fifteen others were sent to the house of detention.
 The new cases were as follows:
 Sallie Lewis, colored, residence 1516 Fifth avenue sent to Red mountain camp.
 J. L. Lewis and Lucinda Draper were sent to the house of detention from the same place.
 William Richardson. colored, residence on Twenty-first street. between Avenues B and sent to Red mountain camp.
 John Burch, colored, residence PIP Fourteenth street sent to Red mountain camp.
 Six others were sent from the same place to the house of detention.
 Sylvester Williams, coFored, female, residence North Birmingham sent to Red mountain camp.
 Seven others were sent from the same house to the house of detention.
 John G. Hughes, the rgister clerk at the city hall. reports the following num- Der of vaccinations: Number vaccin- ated up to Wednesday, night, 4.97O Num- Der vaccinated, Thursday 7s; number vaccnated up to date. 5,04S.
 The number of vaccinations resulting from the house to house canvass yester- day was 296. s.,s.. ala. ....r..s g. One of the patients at Red mountain camp died of the eruptIve disease yes ,terday. It was the first death reported since the appearance of the smallpox. Miller & Co.,, the undertakers, sent a coffin out to the mountain in the after noon. Thr dead patient was a negro. Ensley City continues its quarantine | in force. but the dummy line operates one train.
 pr. Saunders. the state health officer, arrived in the city last night from Mont gomery.
 Helstated that the Montgomery author tiles were using every effort to stamp out the smallpox and were meeting with very good results.
 He said that, although there are a few isolated cases in other towns in the state, the disease is confined to Montgomery and Birmingham, but that there was no epidemic at either place.
 He expressed himself as we'll pleased with the efforts being made to arrest the progress of the disease and said that if they were continued he was satis- fled that it would have disappeared be- fore the arrival of cold weather.
The age-herald., 1897-08-06

hard work during the approaching term of the criminal court. He reported hav- Ing an excellent time.
 Deputy Clerk ard Register J. ". Har- grove. of the city court. and family, left yesterday on a two=weels pleasure trip. Several days will be spent in and around Decatur and Hartss1le, and then the Tennessee Centennial, at Nashville, will be taken in.
 DEED OF ASSIGNMENT.
 The Birmingham Pipe company. form erly the Little Pipe works, of Bessemer, filed deed of assignment yesterday to R. c. White, who is authorized to dispose of the company's property, which is To- cated near the Southern railroad shops, for the benefit of it's creditors. No lia- bilities are given.
 The company moved to Birmingham from Bessemer some time ago, and estab- lished their plant for the manufacture of smaller sizes of pipe.
 H. T. Beggs was president of the conn pany, and J. Early Lee, secretary.
 MARRIAGE LICENSES.
 The following permits to wed have been issued out of the probate office:
 John S. Kennedy to Miss Clemmie Shel- don; James Blythe to Miss Dora Traeh {; Lex A. Bennie to Miss Lizzie Thomson.
The age-herald., 1897-08-06
ASTOUNDING FIGURES
Statistics of Capital, Deposits, Loans and
 Discounts of the National Banks

Statistics of Capital, Deposits, Loans and
 Discounts of the National Banks.
 Washington Aug. 5-Tl1e abstract of re- ports of condition of national banks from 1864 is accompanied by diagram pre- pared jointly by the comptroller of the currency and the chief of the bureau of statistics. The diagram displays graph dcally the growth and conditions in the principal items of resources of national banks from 1864 to 1896 nclusively Ip October, 1864, the capital of the 50S banks amounted to $S6.S00, 900; a year latter the number of banks had increased to 1,513 and the capital to $393, 200 000. The cap.- tai gradually increased to $504, 800 900 on October l, 1875, the highest point reached until 1883, when it amounted to $509 700,- 900. The increase thereafter was gradual until 1892, when the highest point was reached, namely $6S6, ,6O00 000 In the fal of 1896 the amount had declined to $64S,- 5OO,OOO
 Loans and discounts reached their maximum between 1864 and 1SS0-ifn 1875 bhe amount was $9S4, 700 000 In 1880 that amount was exceeded by $56, BOG, ,000 With one exception from that date to 1892 there was a rapid increa Sc and the highest point ever reached was in October, 1892, namely. $2,171, ,000, ,000. In 1893 there was drop to $1,S43, 600, 900, but a recovery in 1895 to s2,O59, 100000. In the fa1 of 1886 there was a decline to $1, ,S93. 300 000
 The deposits have fallen to about the same extent as loan and discounts, the maximum being reached in 1892 when they amounted to s1, ,779 ,3O0,O 900. In the following year deposits declined to $1. .465,- 100000 and reacted the following year to $l,742, 100000. The minimum amount out standing is shown to have been S122. .9o0,- 900 in October 1890. At the close of the report year 1896 the amount had risen to $209, 900, 900.
 The average per capita of banking funds of all national banks in the United States in 1896 is shown to be $37.14, val V ing from minimum of s272 in Arkan- sas to a maximum of $12059 in Massa- chusetts. The diagram shows the aver age in each state. The diagram also shows by states and geographical divis- ions the capital, deposits and loans of all national banks and in addition an il- lustraticn of the changes in the various classes of paper money in circulation from 1864 to 1896. The chart is being sent to all rational banks and leading news papers.
The age-herald., 1897-08-06
A SLICK CONVICT.
He Escaped and Was Gone All Day Be-
 fore He Was Missed.

The sheriff's office was notified yester- day morning that Albers Wyatt, a Coal burg convict, had escaped from that place Wedni sday morning.
 Wyatt was what is known as trusty, and worked around the coke ovens pull ing coke He went to work as usual Wsdnes sday morning, but was found miss ing early in the afternoon.
 How he escaped 1t is noc known, but it is thought that he walked away, and, b5ing trusty, those who may have seen him did not suspect his intention.
 Wyatt wals sent up from CrenEhaw county some time ago, but the length of his senterce ard his crime are unknown.
 He was seen on the macadamized road nhar Glass dairy towards Vanderbilt fur naces yesterday, but when the deputy sheriffs reached there they could get no trace of him. He is still at large.
The age-herald., 1897-08-06
BUCKEYE POLITICS
Birmingham Citizen Takes in Republi-
 can Convention-W What Be Saw

Birmingham Citizen Takes in Republi-
 can convention-What He Saw
 MT Lee Cowart, ex-a ssistant district att torney to Mir O'Neal. returned yesterday from a business trip to Ohio.
 MT Cowelnt is an alent politician, and, as will be remembered, did more than any the democratic column last year. a feat that had rlot been accomplished before or since the war.
 ~Everything is lovely in Ohio," remark ed Alr. CoNaut, "and the de mocrats are feeling good, but thers is trouble Il th re- publican camps I attended republican senatorial convention, and aside from a little glorifiication over Mark Hanna, it was V,ry tame affair. The chairman readra long typewritten speech praisdng the good democrats for their valuable aid in promoting the election of MT McKin- ley ard the interest they manifested in behalf of the Dingaey bill. The name of Senator Foraksr was not mentionled Resolutions were adopted in effect that the country is now in a state of unex- celled prosperity.
 The democrats found in perfect har- mony, and are working industriously and express themselves as having no fears but that their nominee for governor, Horace l., Chapman, will be electsd. MT. Chapfran is strong advocate of free silver"
 Did you talk with any of the leading citizens on the new tafiff?"
 "Yes, quite number in Cincinnati. Many old line republicans expressed themselves as dissatisfied with the bill, sonls going so far as to don it an indi- vidpal grab bill,' and they proposed to show their contempt for it at the polls the first opportunity"
The age-herald., 1897-08-06
Mary Lee Mines, Too.
ADJUDGED INSANE.
J. w. Largent, @ White Barber, Ordered to |
 Tuscaloosa by Judge Feagin

Tuscaloosa by Judge Feagin.
 The doclo;it in yesterdays inferior crim- inaI court was quite lengthy, but few of the cases were of any importance.
 w. L. Dupuy a young white man, was charged with disposing of mortgaged property and obtaining money under false pretAnees. The first case was mol pressed. After consuming about an hour and half of the courts time, the de- ferdan't's attorney sprung the plea of brsa niay in the second case. Judge Fea- gin discharged Dupuy on the plea, as it was shown that he had been in the insane hospital. butt he read lecture to the at torneys regarding certain practices.
 J. w. Largent a young white barbsr, was up on the charge Of disorderly con- duct. He was fined &. but the judgment was a1terward set aside. as he will be Sent to tfBs insane hospital at Tusca- loosa.
 Cora Leighton and Jennie Cousan two inhabitants of the half world, were fined $6 each for assault ard battery and dis orderly conduct.
 Pos,e Jackson, grand larceny; continued until today.
 James A. Hughes. abandonment of fam- fly; judgment held up rEItil' today.
 Ben Davis and E1ph Jackson grand lar- ceny; not guilty.
 Jim Loftin, larceny from the person; i; bound over to the grand jury under bond of SEQ.
 Ed. Hayes. larceny from the person: no.i guilty.
The age-herald., 1897-08-06
TWO AGED PENSIONERS.
Veterans of Two Wars Signed For The r
 Quarterly Allowance.

NoIcrdIlS Ol TWO WhfS OlSilSQ F UT Ibt T
 Quarterly Allowance.
 Yesterday afternoon two aged veter- ans of two wars drew their quarterly pensions from the United States gov ernment through Fergus w. Mccarthy. clerk of the circuit court.
 Lieutenant James K. Cornell served in the war with Mexico, and when the late rebellion took place, cast his for tune with the confederacy. He draws a quarterly pension of $36 as veteran of the Mexican war.
 When the civil war broh, out he was a very rich man. He had passed from a river pilot and steamboat captain mp to owner of a vessel and a big plantation. "The Silver Star" an elegant boat for those times, was his property. It was valued at ss0,0O0 and was destroyed by the federal troops.
 He is now nearly S1 years old and broken in health and fortune. He re- sides at Martin station. on the Birming- ham and Bessemer dummy line.
 Ths other veteran was MT. John P. Pollard, a veteran of the same wars. He is 76 years old
The age-herald., 1897-08-06
Yellow Fever Suspects

Washington, Aug. 5.--The surgeon-g eral of the marine hospital seivic= has been informed by wire eff the capture to- day of .hree Cuban refugees at Pura Gordsa, on the coast of Florida, who are suspected of having yellow fever. The capture was the resuat of the coast in- spection service of the state and the na- ticral government. The suspects were senu to dIh- quaranltine station at Char loUleville haIbor for deten t'ion.
The age-herald., 1897-08-06
SERIOUS PLAY
Two Ensley City Negroes Badly Cut Eacl
 Other

Yesterday afternoon Deputy Sheriff Tom Jonss went 70 Ensley City and brought in Will Party and b. J. Harry, two negroes, on tine charge of assault with intent to murder. Beth men were badly cut about the face, head and neck. One of them had serious wounds in ibhe side just under the arm.
 When lodged irs he county jail the men were still very bloody but the wounds are not thought to be atal.
 The story they tell is to the effect 'thait yesterday morning they began 70 play fully scrap" with each cther. ard then became angry. One man is said to have used knife, while the ether had ham mer or like inStrument.
The age-herald., 1897-08-06

After all it is Nature that makes the cures. Only now and then she gets into a tight place and needs the helping hand of science. When the right thing is needed to check diseased action and start the organs and tissues on the way to health, Scott's Emulsion comes as the helpmeet of Nature. It feeds, nourishes, strengthens; and it does this all round-the Hypophos- phites act upon the nerves; the Cod-liver Oil feeds the hoJ,, For sale by all druggists,
 Oouy. 50 cents & sr.oo
The age-herald., 1897-08-06
ROUND COTTON BALE
MT. Bingham May Put in @ Plant in De-
 catur.

MT. Thomas Bingham, of Decatur, was in the city yesterday en route to Talla- dega for the purpose of Investigating the machinery for packing the round bale of cotton. MT. Bingham says he has been, Investigating the process and believes it is going to revolutionize the cotton pack ing system, and if after investiga ting he is satisfied with the practicability of the machine, will put in a plant at Decatur. Speaking of Decatur, MT. Bingham re- marked that there is not vacant house in the city. While business is compar- atively dull there seems to be feeling that times are going to improve and the people are arranging to be ready for it.
The age-herald., 1897-08-06
To Select Mine Foremen

An examination is b ing held in alhe office of J. D. Hillhoulse, state mine in- spector in the Chalifoux building, to se- lect mine foremen. It.sbegan yesterday, and will close today before the following board of examiners: J. D. Hillhouse. chairman; Priestly Toulmin, F. M. Jack son, Dave Kirkwood and George William son --ss..s