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

find far more pleasure, too, in dolls with
movable eyes, hair that will brush and
faces that can be washed. Above all else
the clothes must come ON and off. Wash
dresses are generally liked most by chill
dren. because they can be done up.
1t is very funny the decided preference
for certain compilations in the doll fam
lilies. The boy dolls most children like to
be brunettes; but nothing ever approaches
the popularity Of the blond girl doll. \
great novelty this year is doll that walks
alone-not wheeled as some of the walk
ing dolls have done in the past, but actu-
ally puts out one foot after the other, and
walks as naturally as though it We're real
flesh and blood.
Boys always did and always will like
drums and things that make a noise.
There are some wonderful rocking horses
this year, with names as glossy as silk
and tails banged in The most approved
style. \ rubber frog attached to the end
of which is bulb. that when pressed
makes the frog jump. is something entire
ly new. And it is so real that it will an
sWer III every respect naughty Tommy's
tendish ambition to brighten his small
sisters
For boys there are any number of toys
which have a bearing on architecture in
all forms. Bridge building. house build
ing, ship building and the laying of rail
road tracks and the management of trains
are all worthy of recommendation. The
practical iron constructor, something en-
urely new this Christmas, Will teach Il
boy important laws of nature and science
But so simply does he learn them that he
IS under the impression he is merely play
ing.
10 designate all the other excellent toys
for instruction would be impossible. Some
thing new but not particularly attra ctive
are the Brownie dolls. Like the negro
babies, these new dolls are too unnatural
to inspire much longing in the breasts
OF tiny mothers who take their doll chill
dren to their hearts. In games there are
many new things. The game of Babb.
which consists in driving small wooden
pegs into certain holes by tapping on the
under side with a small wooden mallet, is
greatly in demand.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-12-24
A Plan for Christmas Eve.

Some ancient religions, as those of the.
Greeks and Romans, furnished opportuni-
ties for man to relapse periodically into
primitive impulse, allowing the natural.
not the artificial, man to express himself.
In our religion another oppOrtunitv once
year has been given us, when goodwill
may have all its way with us-good- will
that is greater than all prudent restraints.
all economic theories, all cOnsidera tons of
convenience.
And what an opportunity it is for us,
who, in our intercourse with men, are so
often hemmed in by cOnventionality or
controlled by self-cOnsciousness To reveI
in goodwill, To have the church and
state sustain us in it! To have custom
and tradition give us their sanction II
is like getting ones childhood back again.
or having health once more. or. after a
citys bondage, feeling the freedom of the
nils. W hat if in our generGSities we
make mistakes it takes time to remedy, if
tomorrow we must retrenchl What of
anything, if goodwill can reign with us
for day.
Then away, too, with discussions of the
meet and appropria te-that poor gifts
may go to the poor and rich gifts to the
Well-tO-dO. In the good will first sung by
the angels to men there was the glad ans'
sudden burst of unlOOked-for Joy, given
fully, without conditions, without balanc-
lngs, without questionings of deserts-a
blessing to all, to the just and the unjust
the sinner and the saved.
1t is in this spirit that Il group of we'll
known men and women mean to work this
Christmas eve. To the poorest and the
needlest, to the hardest worked. they
mean to carry bountiful gifts. retiring
themselves quickly, as they came, so as to
remain unknown. Their desire is to bring
into the life of some poor suffering soul
the glow and warmth that come of unex-
pected joy and fullness-unexpected I'M
earned and undeserved perhaps
We measure so much we do for others.
We weigh our best impulses against their
deserts and our ideas of the appropriate.
And yet the glad burst of that melodious
message of goodwill to all should teach
us this one of Gods ways might be ours
by making our gifts as joyous outpour-
ings, filling full of promise the lives of
those who wait. So that, like the voices
of those angels who sang, the gifts we
bring may be as though they fell from
eaven.-Harper'S Bazaar.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-12-24
Christmas Entertainments

For Christmas entertainments in the
church, cantatas give an opportunity for
the children to take part. Such enter
tainments should be given early in the
evening, and care should be taken to avoid
exciting the vanity and self-consciousness
of the young participants. Wise mothers
object to their children's coming into such
publicity, and in order to meet their Objec-
tons a skilled and sensible leader should
be secured-one who will teach the chill
dren their parts without unnecessary de-
mands upon their play time, who will reg
ulate the tempers and allay the passions
which are sure to be aroused unless the
small people are well guarded. First of
all impress upon them that they are to
consider the pleasure of others, not their
own, and that selishness can have no part
in Christmas pleasures. The decorations
and other accomplishments must be suited
to the place.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-12-24

of the DIuidicAl religion perhaps thou
sands of years before our ca. The Druid
~~ligion WAS Il curious combination of ma
lure, sun and fire worship. Nature was
adored In the oak. which. in North Eu-
rope was the sturd;eSt. largest and
strongest member Of the plant world: the
sun was Wor>hiped because it gave light
and heat and brought lie to all the w0rld;
fire was wOlShiped because ii was not
only the warming and comforting e,c-
ment. but also. when unbrdlcd, Il demon
to he dreaded. Thus. the Dluidical cere-
monies and worship comprised IA cOmb,na
tiOn Of ricS. some undoubtedly a growth
of the climate and country which the peO-
pies devoted to this form of religion in
habited. The great festival Of the year
was at the midwinter season, when the
sun, after sinking low in the southern
skies, began to return toward the north
and to bring with it renewed life to the
Northern Hemisphere. The date was,
approximately. about the time Of our
Christmas, the third or fourth week in
December. At the beginning CT the last
week in the last month the sun is ut its
lowest point, and from that time the days
begin to lengthen and. little by little, the
ice king lOosens his grip and retires TO his
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-12-24

people who surround these wonders that
the charm lies. Big, bright, anxious eyes,
yearning, chubby fingers and hearts so
filed with longing that they are near to
bursting for the possession of some GER
tain china beauty with flowing blond
locks or a rocking horse which gallops.
Little boys gaze with respectful Won
derment on all the household things in
tended for their sisters amusement, but
it is at the sight of a martial soldier,
train of cars or a boat that can be sailed
in the bath tub at home that their hearts
beat faster. Girls always like dolls They
never can have too many. The increase
of another doll in the little woman's fam
lily is treated precisely as the advent Of a
real baby in the mothers. While new
and young it is tenderly cherished even
u the detriment of older and better
shown children. But once the newness
RIBS off, and dolly's cheeks begin to fade
and the crimp comes out of her hair, the
youthful mother, like many am older one,
decides that the baby is old enough now
for her to go back to the rare virtues dis
covered in her frst-born children. SO you
see the little woman can't have too many
dolls. Only don't buy them too large.
Eighteen inches is a good size, easy to
carry. A child grows very tired of doll
big enough to be cumbersome. Child
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-12-24

1t was twilight by the river-we prepared to
cross the flood
We knew the need of danger a night of toll
and blood.
Calm silence ,pcrmeated every line and
every rank
AS we mustered for our country on the
rivers dIrkling bank
Above the troubled waters no struggling
moon rays glCam-
We saw the fOeman'S watChires blaze be-
You'd the gloomy stream.
Twas brilliant, Hateful, fearfu-it seemed a
hope forlOrn-
No sound Of drum or trumDet or fife or bupIe
We knew Our desperate enemies we knew
the >arch'S power.
We knew the dreadful crsis-our country's
darkest hour
We dreaded not the waters-feared not the
Delaware
None cared for death or danger. for Wash
lngt0n was there.
1t was midnight on the river and fiercclv
cold the frost
upon the icy waters our feeble barks were
tOSS'd
We ferred DER the treachcrOus waves mid
icebergS small and large
And toied away the live-long night with
ferryboat and barge
And ere the Sunbeams flashed again in homo
fUl ranks we stood
TO march upon the Hessians' camp-to strika
the men of blood.
Stlll silent, calm and reSOlute we croSS'd
the dangerous wave.
10 reach the base invaderS-America TO
save
twas Christmas night and memory brought
the messenger divine.
AS we saw tne blazing camptires of the
mn soldiers from the Rhine
Inc mercenarieS bought for hire to crush
our country down
Ihen we brCathed Il VOW for liberty and
vengeance on the crown
Our cannon broke the Sience-confusion To
the foe ~
Our columns marched to triumph mid drift
ing sleet and snow
Ana then our hearts beat high with hone
a. tne word to "charge" was given.
ohe DloW for home and liberty, humanity
and heaven "''-'''''i''
lie HeSslans rousd from slumber-from
-, dreams of war and spoils-
TO find themselves surrounded and T., +bo
freemCn's tolls 80"
a GLORIOUS Christmas night! Nv bows. Iet
49, cheerS of triumph ring!
Oh! HASH the news across the sea IN Eng-
land despot king.
ANU zen the ruthless tyrant his scepter
never more P
Hhall Cypress Il freedom peopIe or ruIa
Columbia's shore
ana trenton. glorious Trenton. that mama
shall ever be '""' """is
a tallSman of liberty-a watchword for tho
free "oiu 1of inc
Charles J. Beattie.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-12-24

own regions in the north. Then begin the
rejoicings at the suns return. In ItaIy
the festival took the name of the Satur-
MALTA, a season of the widest license.
One Of the favOrite Cbservances of the
Saturnalja season, as we'll as of the
Druidical festival at midwinter. was the
setting up of tree. Frequently ornament
ed with rude decorations; around this in
the public squares of every city IN South
ern Europe circles of men. women and
children danced and shouted To the
Druids the oak was sacred tree; to the
gay jewellers in the sub-tropical countries
of the South the green tee Of the Satur-
MALTA was merely the emblem of the re-
turning life ard foliage Of the summer.
Long before the time of Christ, among
the Celts Of France. England ana the
British Islands, at the mdwinter fest
val a tree decorated with bits of gay cloth
and bright polished metal was carried in
procession. Generally it was an oak, but
whatever its species, it was hOnored as Il
symbol and was set up in the Dru;dicai
circles, portions of which still remain at
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-12-24
THE BIRTH O. CHRIST.
The Message to the Judean Shepherds
the Best Ever Given Mortal Man.

No better tdlngS were ever given to
mortal man, writes Evangelist Dwight l..
Moody in the Ladies Home Journal, than
that first Gospel message delivered to the
humble shepherds on the Judean hills.
There must have been special Solemnity
about that night. Above, the heavens
were respondent with the glory of God,
and even the elements seemed to appre
ciate the benedictiOn of peace and good
will toward men," A holy quiet rested
on the scene. The noise and tumult of
the overcrowded streets in the distant
city at last were stilled, and one by one
the lights below them disappeared.
In the realms Of another world those
who had long looked for the promised re-
demptiOn gaze down upon the scene. Pro
phet and lawgiver, king and leader all
look toward the One who shall make the
atonement for their transgressions. And
as the shepherds watched and waited for
the morn | imagine that their thoughts
and conversation were on heavenly things
1t may have been that they were talking
over the strange rumOrs which they had
heard regarding the son that was born to
Zacharias, and how it had been prOphe
sled that he was to become the "PrOphet
of the Highest" At least. their thoughts
and conversation that night must have
been on things above, for God reveals His
best gifts to those "whose minds are stay
ed on Him." 1.-THE time is at hand" l
can imagine one saying, 1.-The Messiah will
soon be here to save us from our enemies"
"Great is the Holy One of Israel in the
midst of thee eXclaims another. And
thus as they rejoice among themselves
there suddenly bursts upon their sight the
glorious light of the other world; midnight
gloom is transformed into midday bright
ness, and there appears before them the
Angel of the Lord. He procaims the de-
iverance for which this world had so long
Jearned. With eXultant shout the choir
IF heaven chants again the Gospel mes
sage, that first and glorious carol song
And as the full meaning Of the vision was
realized what thrill Of love and joy must
have filed their souls. How their hearts
must have burned within them as they
FASTENED to worship their Savior King in
His lowly abode at Bethlehem.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-12-24

or our own factories, the jewelry may be
made from gold brought from the Trans
vaal, Australia, or Colorado: the dia-
monds may come from Kimberley, India or
Brazil, the rubies from Siam, the sap
phires from Burmah, and the pearls have
been brought up by dark-faced divers off
the coast of CeylOn.
The Christmas tree is thus more than
a fanciful reminder of the day and sea-
sen. 1t is an historical institution recall
ing customs which years ago became OBJ
solete and a religion which has been
dead for many centuries. 1t is Il
beautiful token of the season and Il REM
iniscence of ages so remote as to have
left no written trace. There is no dan
ger that the world Will forget or ignore it.
AN institution which can last for thirty
centuries at least is probably good for
thirty more
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-12-24

above this is long cushion with slip
for Il thimble, and res>.ng upon this a
spool of silk and one Of thread both white
and black, fastened by ribbons run
through them and stitched at the ends.
The two outer ends are shaped with card
board and the edges are bound with rib
bon. The fastening is effected by means
of button and loop. If plain linen is
used a monogram may be embroidered on
the outside.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-12-24

Stonehenge and many other parts Of
Great Britain and Ireland, and was
adored as symbol of life, and finally
consigned to the flames, a huge pile of
wood being placed around it and set on
hre Where there was round tower.
the tree was burned in this artificial fur
mace, but otherwise the great bonfire was
the center of attraction and around its
glowing flames the people capered and
rejoiced. Gnu
1he chronologists have never agreed as
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-12-24

came from Germany and France, but is
now made in this country. The glass
bulbs, emblems Of the sun and moon,
form very important item of industry in
several large glass factories in Bohemia,
and, being hand-painted and packed with
great care, give employment to hundreds
OF women and children in the great CEN
ters OF the glass trade The presents
hung upon its branches may represent all
parts of the globe. The dolls may come
from Germany, the knives from England
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-12-24
Gifts for Women.

Women's wants, if measured by theiT
belongings, would seem to be almost in.
Vulnerable, and of a kind which require
constant renewing and replacing. Won.
ans interests and occupations require a
greater number of small things for their
equipment than do those of men, and
Christmas gifts for them are, therefore,
more easily prepared. Women's belong
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-12-24
GIFT FOR A BACHELOR
The Presentation of "Housew;feu
May Make His Heart Glad

4'1aS WHAe his Heart Glad.
Inc heart of bachelor who is far from
nome and friends may be made glad bv
the presentation of a simple "housewife."
or bachelors companion This is by no
means so helpful or attractive as a real
wife, but III The absence of the genuine ar
,lcle the bachelor will be delighted to
have the imitation at hand when buttons
come off or clothes rip. The housewife
may be made Of bronze leather, of kid,
of linen, Of cretOnne or Of silk for the
outside, which is all in one piece Use a
stiff interiining and ii lining of some
durable material. On the large fly ribbon
or tape furnishes place for scissors, etc;
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-12-24
DECEMBER.

ings have the further advantage of being
useful as We'll as beautiful. Men are al
ways pleased with simple gifts, and are
usually embarrassed when presented with
expensive articles of any sort. The value
to them of gift is, as it should be with
all persons, in proportion to its simplicity
and usefulness and out of proportion to
rs
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-12-24

dENE is no prettIer
sight to be seen any
where than can be
found around the
toy counters in the
big stores at the
Christmas season. 1t
is not in the toys, al
though some of
them are marvellous
enough to inspire
rapt admiration, but
in the groups of tiny
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-12-24
Didn't Get 1t

Freddie want watch for Christ
mas. Colewigger-You are rather young
to have a watch. Freddie-I'm as old as
the little boy next door, and he can take
his watch all to pieces.-New York Jour.
nal.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-12-24
First Tree in America.

MONG the queer
relics of 4 great an
tiqnity is the Christ
mas tree. The very
name Of this object.
familiar as it is ut
Christmas time. in
di;catcs Il Christian
origin. but there is
no doubt whatever
that the customs
connected with the
Christmas tree, to-
cether with the tree
itself were Il part
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-12-24
n Phenomenon.

When Christmas comes with merry pace
The small boy is peach;
His stomach is the resting place
OF everything in reach.
Indigo
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-12-24
THE CHRISTMAS TREE
AN INSTITUTION OVER THIRTY
CENTURIES OLD

Holy Trees IN the Roman SaturnaIia
The DrUidicai Sacred Tree-Synboi-
ism of the Glass Globes and Candles
Survival Of Pagan Worship.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-12-24

And here's your last milestone, you're pass
ing from view.
Your record. we know. will be faithful and
true,
When weighed in the balance" may we
stand clear,
Triumphantly greeting heavens jubilee year.
Farewell. fading year. All hail to the new,
Well shun every folly, and virtue pursue;
Each day as it passes some mission of love
Shall lessen earths woe, and place treasure
above.
Western Rural.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-12-24
THE WANING YEAR.

o o r, lingering old
year, how lazy, how
slow,
You're trudging along
with your capful of
SNOW:
Your youth. / remem-
Der, was gladstone
and gay,
You capered. and frol-
licked, and danced
all the day.
But you became older
as Sol rolled along.
He chastened your
spirit, and mellow
ed your song.
You bleSt US, you
plagued us, you fur
nished us cheer,
Deceitful, capricious,
yet lovely old year.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-12-24
CHRISTMAS IN THE STORES.
Toy Counters Surrounded by Little
Folks an Interesting Sight.

HERE is no Drettier
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1897-01-29

paid seventy.eight cents postage on the
"Boston Recorder" and fifty cents on
the PanopIist," small monthly pam
phlet.
Arthur Livermore says that in 1878,
the only papers taken through the post
office at Haverhil Corner from below
Concord, were the "Boston Recorder y
and the Boston Courier"
Country newspapers were frequently
delivered to their subscribers by post
riders" Such an one lett Danvllle, on
the day OF publication of the North
Star" for several years previous to 1871
and distributed about two hundred and
fifty copies through Walden, Greensboro,
Sutton, Lyndon and St. Johnsbury. In
that year he sold his "route and good
will thereof" Tor quite sum. These
carriers were an institution in their day.
They were intrusted with commissions,
and carried money for their patrons.
No great revolution ever accomplished
the good to humanity which resulted
from the introduction OF cheap postage
We can hardly comprehend such state
OF things as existed when communication
was SO slow and costly. Still the study
of these times is well worth our while, /
it does nothing else than to convince Us
that the wise man was right when hi
said. that It was not well to suppose
that the former times were better thar
these.
F. P. WELLS,
Newbury Center, Jan. 81, 1897
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1897-01-29
Newbury Center, Jan. 81, 1Ss
Book Notice.

SHORT STORIES OF OUR SHY NEIGH
BORIS. By Mrs. NJ. A. B. Kelly. Cloth
12mo, pa pages, illustrated. Price, 90
cents. American Book Company, New
York, Cincinnati and Chicago.
A series of short, interesting stories is
presented in this volume by Mrs. Kelly,
treating OF animal life as found in the
commoner types such as most children
have seen and with which they already
have some acquaintance. She tells OF
the robin, the mouse, the butterfly, &c,
in style delightful to adults as we'll as
TO children. The numerous artistic illus
tratons distributed through the text are
helpful to a clear understanding OF the
subjects and add much to the attractive
ness of the book.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1897-01-29
Edmunds on the New Treaty.

Ex-senator Edmunds has come out
strongly in favor Of the arbitration
treaty. He is an intense supporter
of the Monroe doctrine and believes
the building OF the Nicaragua canal
under the auspices OF the United
States. to be Of urgent necessity. lie
says the adoption OF the treaty VIII
not affect either, the fear that 1t
would being the main objection
made by those who oppose IT. An
other objection made to the treaty IS
the supposed danger of leaving 1t to
any European power to name an
umpire in certain contingencies. Mr.
Edmunds disposes of this objection
by saying that, so far as our cons'd-
cradle experience has gone in such
matters. we have never had occasion
to complain of the action OF any SOW
ereign in naming an umpire OF III
deciding dispute.
al believe most earnestly in interna-
tional arbitration to the utmost extent
that civilized, just and selfrespecting ma
tions can go; and most earnestly hope
that the senate will ratiiy the treaty as
it is proposed as the first step-very
great and suspicious toward the at
tainment of peace among nations
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1897-01-29
Apple Growing In Grand Isle.

Bulletin SO of the experiment station
treats OF apple growing in Grand Isle
county. 1t gives statistics OF the crop
for the past year, and briefly states the
methods in vogue as regards orchard
stock, cultivation, fertilization, wind
breaks, spraying, grating, picking, stor-
ing, marketing etc. 1t is thought that
the bulletin will be helpful throughout
the state, to those interested in apple
growing. 1t will be sent free of charge
on application to the experiment station
Burlington, Vt. A postal card is suth
cient.