davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1897-12-25

>. u. I. -.

!! l.! I =! ks1llll.
- q r. I. 49, when the
qcpokaI g. - our otonce, be was
'tszned 60 inse nanner to excite adj
~ knUw VIXEN ~ are licked. We
wee licked that night inside Of three
minutes. but for the sake Of dignity we
let the aRair 60 on for two minutes
more. Then we intimated in seven diff
ferent languages that we had had
enough and to spare, and Mr.. Carson
gave us = few extra thumps and sent
US back to our bed. The town was his
for the next hour, and b used up 200
cartridges and yelled until his voice
gradually faded away into q croak.
Next morning he surrendered himself
and was fined ten dollars and costs. but
that fact didn't console us to any great
extent. We feel that we have lost at
least 50 per cent. of our personal pres
tige, and we are sure to have At least
200 stops on the Kicker. but We must
accept the situation in 4 philosophical
way. We thought we were . thunder
storm on wheels and weighed ton, but
have had the conceit taken out of us
in the most thorough manner, and have
no excuses to urge. n. QUAD
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1897-12-25
Copyright, l0.)
: 0n0AmD0 0AD1D00he

II KNEW that there was local cleo
ton being held at Tiptonville. and
when within two or three miles of the
town came upon an oldish man seat
ed on log by the roadside. ! natu.
rally asked If his party was doing all
that could be hoped for.
Fur shore, stranger" he replied. Il
was all ready to vote that way when
skedaddled."
"Were you obliged to leave town be.
fore casting your ballot?" continued.
noticing look Of disappointment on
his face.
Rather that way. sab, !" he answered.
uttering a dry chuckle. II had my bal
lot all made out when sudden call cum
for me to hold on"
''Called away by sickness. eh?"
"N-o, sickness didn't call me away;
my vote was sorter challenged by the
ole woman, l reckon"
"You don't mean your wife chal-
l@nged your vote 2" asked in astonish-
ment.
That's about it, stranger. I was
jest on the pint OF handin' 1t in when
she showed up and called time. hol-
Tered to sum of the boys to hold her a
mint and gin me q chance to fling in
my ballot, but they was too late"
"But why did she challenge your
vote?" persisted, as he sprang up in
alarm at sound in the underbrush.
.Wall," be replied, looking furtively
about, I'm not much up on law, 50
didn't hold out fur what might hev
bin my rights. When I left. Injiana
two y'ars ago. l also left the ole wom-
an thar, and ! sorter figgered when
she turned up 1t the polls that It was
p'raps jist As well not to quote law
or git into any dispute IL could help
il. Yes, I lost my vote, but hain't
feelin' bad about it. Fact IL, stranger,
when I think how outrun Hammer in
that two-mile race through the bresh.
/ feel powerful thankful that only my
vote was lost-powerful thankful! Kin
so spar me another pinch o that ter
backer3 Seems like It had = soothin'
eject on my narves, and cant say
when Hammer may bob up agin and
lin me another run fur Nfei"
y QUAD
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1897-12-25
OK man Wbo Dldn't a..
tcopyrisht, la7.,

IIALF IN hour before the train for
I'M Cheyenne was due roughly-clad
man with rifle on his shoulder and two
revolvers in his belt entered the depot
AT Wharton and said to the ticket
agent:
"Tm old Jim Kelso. Mebbe you never
heard of me?"
mot that I remember o." replied the
agent.
.Waal, that don't make any differ.
cnce, l reckon. I want to 60 up te
Cheyenne"
"a dollar and forty cents, sir"
"What fur?"
'For q ticket to Cheyenne"
"But I'm old Jim Kelso," protested
the man.
"You might be old Jim anything else
and it would make no difference. II
you ride you'll have to pay. Want .
t;cket?"
mo, sir. I jest called to ask II you
hadn't . new conductor on this train
4 young, smooth-faced Teller who come
out here from St. Louis q month or SO
ago."
Eyes, sir-Joe Cummings"
"Waal, what I'm goin' to do Is to
skeer the butes right of this kid aid
60 up to Cheyenne fur nothin'. No
use to pay fare when ye kin blur the
conductor"
that's the idea. chr" asked the
agent.
That's the idea, sab, and If he don't
show up agin for q week you'd better
send a party out to hunt fur him in
The woods. Some folks may pay their
way up to Cheyenne, but amt that
sort. Names old Jim Kelso remem-
ber."
Eyes, TIL remember"
Mr.. Kelso walked around by himself
until the train rolled mp, and he didn't
see the sign which passed between the
agent and the conductor. AS he started
to get aboard the smoker the conduc-
tor took him BIZ the arm and pressed
the muzzle of revolver to his car and
said:
mfr. Kelso. have you got ticket for
Cheyenne?"
Ill don't think hev," was the re-
ply.
"Are you going to get onc?"
'Mebbe don't need one"
perhaps not. II you are going up
alive you'll want a ticket and can take
any car. II you are going up az a
corpse your friends at Cheyenne can
pay the bill and you'll 60 in the bag
gage carl"
''I'll think it over" said Mr.. Kelso as
he stepped back a few feet to size up
things. but before he had made up his
mind the train had departed.
Coin to Cheyenne 2" asked the agent
a. he looked out and saw the old man
leaning up against the wall.
"Name's old Jim Kelso," replied the
buffer as he looked up and down the
tracks.
"Yes, know"
"And the conductor didn't skeer."
ooh, he didn't:c
"And shan't skassly go to Cheyenne
not this time. I'm goin' over to the
Hill to think it Overland to kick my.
self-and to figger it out-and to hang
right around these yere parts and let
you and Cheyenne ana that conductor
from st. Louis go to grass and be
hanged to you'll" NJ. QUAD.
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1897-12-25

[onn01enen Ruho 1061 ~ s. I|
ooai6 evideoeo g 6lQ1eI
every - Wae 30 ea1ly -oooo
~ ecTamh)e foe I'D - - -
vaearies. Bat no. net every O. - -
Reuben's eye9 wandered over ~ 49,
they observed the fotne q TIE Ione
woman ard her little boy standing my
BY tha stove.
Reuben WAS an old and experiences
traveller, and withal . shrewd observer
and II did not take him long ta Rad The
pathetic story Of this group Of two
There was no doubt IN his mind toat
they were faint with hunger and With
out sufficient money to pay for food.
The drummer Rubc pushed his travel
ing hat to the back Of his head and
scratched his bald pate o b held .
secret consultation with the angelic
and interior Reuben. "Rube, old fell
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.
full Of food we devour; NO, that's out
Of the question. but what can We dot
Tint woman. II no pauper. and she
would probably scorch NJ with . glance
IL we presumed to offer her money. or
even to blow her OF to dinner. But.
great Caesar! they must be fed some
how. Now II we could manage 10
scrape up an acquaintance with the boy
l think we could make the deal; % let's
see IL 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: Flows this for a
Christmas, little boy?" But the little
boy only chung closer to his mothers
skirts and scowled at the presumptu-
Gus stranger.
"What's the matter, little friend.
can't you find a seat? You just come
with me now. and II we don't find q
place I'm much mistaken"
The boy ceased whimpering and
looked inquiringly at his mother.
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 DON
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 a. I am far away from
my own little ones (this was rank du-
plicity. for Reuben had neither wife
no- children. near or far), and a. this
Is Christmas day, nm feeling a little
lonesome. You. being . parent POUR
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1897-12-25

All Pseseats ma % g. ~ -
ChPlstMas oaoekSng.
Robert ]. Burdette IN the Ladies'
Home Journal tells In his humorous
way how he remember the Christmas
OF long ago. sNost Of the Christmas
presents in those days were designed
BY the manufacturer for the hang
ing stocking. Anything too big to 60
into q stocking had TO 60 over to some
boly'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
aetonished recognition Noah and Mrs.
Noah, Nessrs. and Nine. Shem. Ham and
Japhet. There was no why Of telling the
men and women apart. They weretex.
actly alike. but the elephant and giraffe
you could distinguish at = 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 e. hours after the landing On
AYarat the baby would have al the
Faint sucked on Shem. Ham and the
hired man.. and the doctor would be
sent for.
The red monkey climbing . red stick
was another regular Christmas visitor.
He was highly esteemed a = light
luncheon by the baby. II 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 shiver. But II made the monkey
look sick. Then there was man on
the box, with major-general's uniform.
beating . drum. You turned . crank.
the general lifted his stick high in the
air. and something In the box made
noise a. much like drum u peal OF
thunder II like plecolo. These things
a. toys were Of no great value. but -
practical and useful object Lessons they
were beyond al price. on the minus
nide.s
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1897-12-25

. woman and little boy. These two
made no effort to secure a place with
the eager crowd at the lunch counter.
but stood unnoticed and alone beside
the stove. It was easy to see that they
did not belong to the opulent class Of
society, for. though scrupulously neat,
their clothes were of cheap material,
and several skillful patches on the gar
ments Of the boy indicated careful econ
omy. There was weary and anxious
look on the woman's face as she bent
down and whispered something to the
child, who was whimpering and tug
ging at her dress, casting longing
looks ut the lunch counter.
To close observer the situation was
perfectly plain. for there was no doubt
that the boy was pleading for q chance
at the edibles, and the mother, with
out the means Of relief, was trying to
pacify him. OF course. in 4 selfish and
greedy world 1t il no uncommon thing
for some to 60 hungry, for when %
many are actually starving to death II
seems hardly worth while to waste
sympathy on those who are only fast
ing little. and yet what i more pitt
full than helpless mother with hun
cry child?
Among the crowd Of passengers who
had hurried into the station came Reu-
ben Bullwinkle. The discomforts Of
the journey had no apparent eject
upon his invincible good humor. ~Dsu-
g. H., L.
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1897-12-25
n. ats my mas
-A>.o - go


Trees amt fash'able these days:
Asst him why, an pa says: Ceuss
Don't b'lleve In Santa Claus!
Says he hates the noise and russ
Makes him aggravate an cuss'
Don't see why ma keeps him. No
Amt NO use at can see.
Fl me was him an him was me.
Bet ia have . Chris'mus tree:
Ma list smiles an says: too baov
AT list makes me awful mad.
Other little boys has pas
What believes In Santa ClauA
Hate mean pAs-I'll tell him %
list A. soon a. can grow.
wisht ma lock him out tonight
When he comes, list serve him rights:
Make him stay out there. an then
Cobulins an boyle men
Ketch him fore the mornin' come
Bet you then I'd have q drum.
An q whistle at I'd blow.
Whether he don't like er no.
Wisht-why. here's pa. an see
That he's bought q Chris'mu tree.
Says he thol ght he'd fool the kid
Ats list what mas husban' did!
Baltimore NewA
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1897-12-25

dl-fT
MONDAY last. when Col. Sage Green.
~ Of this town. departed for Pilot
Hilrto deliver speech to the citizens
Of that town In the interests Of new
railroad. We warned him to begin and
end with the railroad and not wander
on to Christopher Columbus, a We
knew he would be quite apt to do. = The
colonel has . lecture on Columbus, and
while never yet invited to deliver it as
> whole he is always seeking to work
In few chapters under some other
head. We know the Pilot Hin people
like book. They can stand a good
deal Of Gen. jackson and William
Shakespeare, but they are down on
Christopher Columbus and George
Warrington. The colonel thanked US
for our caution and rode gayly away,
and that evening he had an audience to
make him proud. He began on the
railroad all right, but vanity soon
switched him on on Columbus, and
three minutes later he was flying for
his life. He reached here Wednesday,
after lying in the woods SO hours,
and a more lonesome and bedraggled
object was never seen. His first act
was to tear up his address on Columbus,
and his next to get drunk. and we have
strong hopes that he will get some
sense into his head as he sobers up.
Every town has its idioms, and they
should be respected. Here Ut Givea-
dam Gulch we are down on Shake
speare and up on Columbus, but if the
Pilot Hill people are the other way
their feelings should be consulted in
stead of.outraged.
MAI. 0EIOTWELL 10 SNUDBED nv A
BEAR,
ME HAVE ON several occasions an
!" nounced our belief that Maj.
6hotwell was the meanest critter in all
Arizona, and something happened the
other day to corroborate all we have
said. The major was on his way to
Lone Pine, to dodge his creditors in
this town for awhile, when he ran slap
mp against a cinnamon bear at the
crossing Of Dog Creek. The bear was
enough to eat grass. and the
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1897-12-25

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
his Christmas dinner with me-
The woman lifted her downcast eyes
to the honest face Of the stranger, then
blushing slightly, without either for
bidding or consenting, replied diplomat
ically: Tommy is afraid Of stranger. =
However noncommital this answer
was. it was equivalent to full consent
when made to a 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 din
ner.
Hungry children are not very fastid-
ious, and however unappetising the
viands of that forlorn lunch counter
would seem to you and rue n we sit
down to our Christmas turkey at our
own table, 10 the little hungry boy they
were fit 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 merry
Christmas.
However, it came to pass that the boy
was finally satisfied. He had stuffed
himself to his full capacity. and with =
sigh of supreme satisfaction prepared to
slide OF the high stool. ignoring all OBJ
legations and without word Of excuse
or thanks to his genial host. It was
very probable that with the purely
natural selfishness which we are al
heirs to. 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, II indeed
be gave the matter any consideration,
which is not at all probable.
But Reuben had not forgotten, and
llAd made up his mind that the woman's
fast should be broken.
"Wait a minute. Tommy" said. he.
seeing the boy was about to escape.
Don't you want something more?"
mo, i don't want no more" an
swered the polite Tommy.
"Wouldn't you like . nice big apple
&c put in your pocket? -or hold ON, I've
IN idea. It's Christmas. you know. bat
you didn't know that was old Santa
Claus The reason you didn't know me,
Tommy, il because the blizzard blew
my beard clean of. Yet all the same
I'm going to fill your stocking. and II
| can't get at your stocking I'll Ill some
thing else for you. Here, young lady,
let's have one Of those big paper bags.
Now, Tommy, well call this . stocking.
Let's All it up. Whatll you have7 Ap-
pies. Of course, and doughnuts and some
of those delicious sandwiches and pie
like your mother makes,' and guess
that exhausts the bill Of fare. Now hold
he end Of the bag tight and don't spill
out the vicuals; and. Tommy. your
mother wants you"
The refreshed travellers had MI ret
led themselves in their seats and the
train was jogging along again - best It
sould through the snow. Passing
through the car Reuben looked careful.
y about for the woman and child, q bel
- = A. Al
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1897-12-25
AcAoss THE sTReer.

The Change That Cane with AnotAes
Chrastnas Time.
Last Christmas the house across The street
from mine was The brightest and Qyest Of
any in the block. There were beautiful
whole house was aglow. The shades were
thrown up high and the soft lace curtains
parted wide. The tree in the great parlos
Of the house across the street was larger and
It had costlier presents on Il than any othes
tree in the town. And most Of the prcseats
were for the little girl in the white dreo
and the big pink Ssh who could b seeo
from the street dancing around ths tree. the
happiest, sweetest little maiden h I'll The
world and the light and life and Joy Of The
house across the street.
This Christmas tine al = dark and silent
and gloomy in the great hose across The
street. There are 10 Christmas wreaths
in the window, NO ray Of light comes from
behind the closely drawn blinds, no childish
voice u heard withis the house. Thess 4
no bright and beaatiful tree. bit q Ne
spot on which the tree stood last year these
i something white and - beautiful il IL
silk and satin and velvet finish - the akill
and wealth Of man can make Il. But the
sight Of il brought chill to the hearts Of
those who saw i carried into the hoase On
Christmas eve, and when the eyes a tie
mother and father fell upon it their heasta
bled anew. !.
The passersby Who NV the basds a
white 6uttering from the knob 81 the door
q the house acros the street went q to
their own humble houses thanking. God
that their own little ooes weze LEFT 70 then.
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 % much Isn do
late than the great mansion aeron he
street in which the ehildis lugh Ne fer.
ever still. II added to the melody Of Par.
adise that Christmas morning. L rang out
clear and sweet across the jasper -. Il
had gone through the eate Beautiful ana
into . houss not made with hands eternal
in the heavens.-Detroit Free Pres.
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1897-12-25

~Jest plain water, majah."
Capt. Chisholm" said the major,
a. he put down his glass and rose to
his feet. lis there . report to the eff
feet TINT the cotton crop has failed?"
mot that have heard Of, sab. Cot
ton crop seems 10 be all right majnh. :"
HAS the state of Alabama repudi-
ated her state obligationsf"
mot that know Of"
Anything wrong with corn, oats.
peanuts and tobacco?" continued the
major.
Nothing wrong. sah-not that I've
heard Of" answered the captain. do
20, suspect anything wrong. majah?"
"Yes, sab. do"
"And will yo' kindly cxplain?"
II will, sah. When l find Capt. CHS
holm. true SON of the south, drinking
plain water. out OF a plain glass, sur
rounded by a mob who are also drink
ing plain water, out of plain glasses, it
strikes me that the glorious south is
on the eve of a great calamity or I had
better get along to the compress and do
my business with Kurnel Skellings!
Gentlemen, excuse my abrupt depar-
ture. and yo' can divide the contents Of
this glass between yo'!"
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1897-12-25
WITHOUT ANY OBJECT.


HIHEN the stage stopped Mt the
wv hotel in Wolf Run after long
days drive every passenger Of us was
confronted by the spectacle Of a man
hanging to the limb of a tree on the
public square. 1t WASN'T. considered
good form" to ask any questions in
regard to the affair, but after supper |
strolled out and met citizen who
seemed 30 courteous that / ventured to
observe:
"Ycu appear to have had q hanging
Lerc to-day?"
Eyes, we hung a man." was the re-
ply. Il expect he ought to be taken
down and buried tonight. but I don't
see any of the boys around"
"You had an object in hanging him.
l suppose?"
II expect we did, sir, but was q lit
tie late and didn't ask no questions.
Yes, we must have had an object"
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1897-12-25

His Wife-And you are to defend that
shopltfter9
The Lawyer-Ny dear, she isn't =
shoplifter. She was formerly: but she
has. saved 70 much money in the last ten
years that she has become . klspte.
meDioc -Dootoo Ttasolee.
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1897-12-25

did he shoot anybody, sterl horse
Or anything of that sort?"
Cant say, sir. He was about done
kicking when got here, and didn't
ask anybody what he had done. They
must have had an object, though. They
always do have an object when they
hang man. I'll find out what it was
ii you say So"
"Oh, it makes no difference. It was
all right to hang him, of course, but
had a passing curiosity to know what
crime he had committed. You needn't
30 to any trouble on my account"
But he did. had just gone to bed
when the landlord came up with a
tough-looking stranger, whom he intro
duced as Pete Mccoy. Pete sat down ON
the side Of the bed and began:
stranger, Bill Harper was a-tellin'
me that you was akin about the man
we hung to-day"
"Yes, I asked some one ON the street
what he had done to deserve hanging. -
"You wanted to know our object?"
"Well, just asked, you know"
'Might the Teller hev bin yer broth
?" asked Mr.. Mccoy, after a long
look at me.
@Oh, no"
~No friend Of yours, eh?"
mo, sir"
.And you are not here to spy around
and make any trubble over the hang
in'?"
Il am not. am on my way over the
divide"
"Wall, them" said Mr.. Mccoy, a. he
looked considerably relieved and rose
up to 60. "rd jest as lief tell you all
about il. 1 was the man who led the
crowd. and we didn't hev no object
tall"
Jest hung him, eh?
Jest hung him, sir, and we didn't
need any object, didn't hev any and
don't want none, and IL was you 1
wouldn't ax no more questions about it.
II you do, we might hev an object in
SEEM how you would look in his
p.ace!"
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1897-12-25

D n e HO w or
other Reuben Bull
Wrinkle will get
! n Q Heaven .,
though 1 don't
suppose he will do
&, ~uv ors1:uorv
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1897-12-25

major was 90 frightened that he made
no effort to get away. and yet there
was no tragedy. The bear sized him
up. rolled him over two or three times.
and then walked on in disgust. He
didn't propose to lower the reputation
Of the Bruin family by eating any
such specimen Of humanity. We have
been told that the major took It as
snub and feels very much cut up over
It. and we are glad Of It. He is . sleek.
slick Liar. . professional dead-beat, and
NO decent coyote would howl over his
grave e he were dead.