davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-01-02
THE SNOWY owl.
Something About This Winter Wis.,
itor to the United states.


itor to the United states.
Our Animal Friends,
This beautiful owl makes It's nest in the
far north, and IN winter visits the United
States. Arctic explorers have found It as
far north as they have ever reached. They
tell MS that 1t nests on the ground or on
mossy rock, for, while most owls nest
in trees there are mo trees IN these far
northern regions even the shrubs are
sminted.
They do not construct a nest. or at
most, only gather together few leaves
and Feathers. The eggs are eight or ten
IN nlQimber, about two and half inches
in length. and nearly two inches IN the
smaller diameter. and, Ike all Owls eggs.
they are OF dirty white
The young birds are at first downy and
brownish-gray IN color, II Is mot tisl after
they have left The nest that they are
white, marked with brown Ike the old
birds.
The snowy owl hunts its prey by day.
Rabbits or hares, grouse anl ptarmig9h
are pounced upon and eaten, and also
small ouadrupcds IKE mice and Jennings.
which abound 4n THE Arctic regions. II
also catches FISH, watching sllently by the
streams TIL u fish comes near the surface
whoa the owl selZes II IN It's strong claws
The snowy owl is about two feet In
length from hin 10 tip OF tai, and It's
wings when extended measure nearly five
feet from tip TO tip. Most specimens are
white marlScd with brown; bu. rarely is
one secn pure white. The plumage IS ex-
treme4y thick and warm; eyen The feet
arc clad in feathers 10 the tips OF the
claws.
Most writer's that have been to the Arc
tic regions say nothing about the voice
of the owl 80 we might infer that they
but an explorer of the lasf century de-
scribes Its cry as very unpleasant.
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-01-02
coon WISHES FOR ALL.

Houston, Texas.-Dear Haphammer: Our
club is so extensive and our page 50 small
comparatively that short letters are
really essential, but ] ann not capabie OF
writing a sensible short letter. How in
the world am to tell all wish In as few
lines as Nora and Arne Steenerson? I'm
awfully glad, dear Mr.. Haphammer. that
love to Mistress Primrose. l must tell
dear little Me Belden that / want to kiss
him and hug him hard che is little nit OF
a boy) for the kind wishes he sent me one
wear ago this month. / was very sick last
Dec. Urn abbreviate the month to make
my letter shorter arpd my best friends
filled the clubs page for me, and, only 4
dear Nack's good wishes. / thank you
very much and hope you, with The rest
of our club members, viii enjoy the New
Year all the way through l send heaps
of love to dear Sunset Wood and Prairie
Fairy. Yours, etc.
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-01-02

tice lJoster fred n simple question at HIM
ana he answere 1t SO promptly nhG with
such confident air that the Justices were
Htsrtled.
BY degrees more profound legal snbjecis
were lee up to. For about an hour the
boy withstood crosshre NJ the most
all three supreme Judges. His ready and
correct answers caused the greatest sur
prise. Not only did the questions embrace
Fundamental law. as treated by Black
stone aud Cooley and az made by the gem
eral trend OF decisions, but they also COW
cred the technique of the law practice.
byron tod the men who we're present at
his examination that he was republican
and a Methodist He said he believed In
n protective tarin and bimetailisfn. tie
was in favor OF Cuban independent se and
the ANNEXATION OF Hawaii he said that
he wo,ld rather talk 10 his father about
law than play marbles, although he ex-
pressed fondnes1 for some kinds CT
spirits and exercise.
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-01-02

All goods and arlioles OF every kind land
ed or received upon any OF the wharves
ere thereafter at the risk of the owners,
ana NOT or tho company and must be re-
moved the same DAY, or at furthest the
neAt day. after which time any Of saiJ
GOODS and articles rema.ning on the
wtarves. the owners ana consignees
thereof. will he responsible for. and will BIZ
cnnrged an additional wharfage of one
fchednic for every day they so nemair, and
may be removed by the Wharf company
without further notice Cat the risk and TX.
pense OF the goods and The owners and
consRnecs thereof to any par. of the
premises, continuing the charge fos adj
niuohai wharfage each day they remain
OF said PROMISES or the Wharf company
iray have the same removed and stored
elsewhere than on !ts own premises with.
out further notice tat tho risk and en-
tense OF the -"piS ard tho owners and
oonsigpees ~ ~ aud the same Will be
he'd unrl all chnrees are mid Same
wharfage ITO Ge .asgod on nh goods or
articles delivered from one vessel % on
other provided that either of such veF-
sei3 IL fpst TO The wharf or TO airy vessel
fast 10 the wharf
The company hereby gives notice that g
viii not be liable for losses if caused nv
excessive or unusual weights or by piling
ar heavy articles such rs anit. more than
three sacks high, and Railroad iron more
than two tors high. on tho wharves: or by
landing articles OF extraordinary weisht
such as locomotives, without special Der
mission IN writing. from The coinpany's
agent. Out THU II VIII Hplu All feTahIs
liable for ouch damage as may he oescca Z.
stoned by overlooking the wf.arycs with
out special permission.
All vessels of 80 tons and over not en-
gagged In receiving or discharg,mg cargo.
or seized by legal PROCESS. and lying at
tho wharf after such ss-iziwe. viii be
charged wharfage nj the rate or 2Ia cents
per registered ton for each day or part OF
a day.
The company also gives notice that II
does not undertake storage. and will not
be responsible for losses or damnee from
any cause TO goods or articles landed o.
received on It's wharves
On all Hhtpmenis over the cOmplry's
wharves. both inward and outward. the
vessel receiving or d~charglng cargo Will
be held responsible for the wharfage. ansi
the company will hold the vessel until the
wharfage In paid.
But no cotton or other cargo will be
permitted 10 be loaded from the wharves
mont Of the wharfage or satisfactory pro-
visions therefor by the vessel. except as
to vessels with general cargo for gulf
ports.
An wairfagc Ia contracted to be paid
and In due and payable to the company AT
It's office in Galveston.
Cotton and on cake will be permitted TO
remain on the. wharves for ten days with,
out extra charge. but an additional
charge OF one-tcnth the regular tarin VIII
be made per day for each succeeding day
tho articles remain on the wharf. In addi-
lion To the regular wharfage on such ar
tlclcs.
Vessels of less than 70 tons will he
charged wharfage at tho rate OF 81 per
lie. B.AILy. Secretary.
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-01-02
THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS.

Go,dthwaite, Texas.-Dear Haphammer:
I have been reading the Happyham,ner
page some time and have often thought J
would write. so will ask you TO enroll my
name ON your list. am Il years old go
to school and am in the eighth grade. A.
studies. T WIN tell you mine l ike arith-
metic first. and history next. someone's
l can hardly decide between the two.
Our school turned out last THURSDAY fcr
the holidays and gave US until ,he hrsi
Monday in January. That VIII be ten
days.
When are you going to let us have aI;-
Of the contests you have had, but hope
to when we have another. | have ~
cycle and enjoy riding In the summer
three OF any friends and | went out N
Tie country to spend the day. we TOOK
our dinners and had a fine time. GUY
Fasen, am always glad when you honor
us with one OF your interesting letters.
ferol Treyalyn
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-01-02

lion will not half tel the number. for I
h5ve seen one string of blackb,rds pass
thirty minutes, and there are more than
one string, for there are a hundred or
more. 1 have seen these strings ngnt ~
one place as small es they could, an !
when they few II sounded like thunder.
can imagine this without seeing It. IN,
old saying of Lord Byron is true mat
truth Is stranger than Action"
expect l am & stranger to Mr.. HAP
hammer. as Joined whsa Mistress fr,m-
rose was making us visit. NV contest
has been favored by many, and hope
Mr.. Haphammeg viii also favor 4. must
close, as my letter Is getting long
Sitmpter l,thcrrdwc.
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-01-02
cHnlsrMas FOR DEAD nRorHnn-
The Little Girl Found TINT the Mail
Cnn Not Reach Heaven.


The Little Girl Found TINT the Mail
Cnn Not Reach Heaven.
New York Mail and Express.
A little girl probably 10 years old, bud
small for her age, stood in the postoffice
building this moruing waiting for the
stamp window TO opon. In her hand she
held a small package, roughly tied In
brown paper. When the window opened
she was TO first TO speak to tho stamp
clerk. she handed hor package through
the window. asking how much postage 1t
would take TO send 1t to It's destination.
The clerk looked at the address, and then
back at the child. Postoftice clerks see
many strange addresses. but the one which
he saw there was the strangest he had
ever come across 1t read:
Robert McNaughion,
Heaven"
To the clerk the little girl explained that
the package contained present her father
had given her on Christmas. Tho one 10
whom 1t was addressed. she said. was her
brother. who died week ago, and she
thought 1t only right that he should share
her Christmas. Her parents, she said.
knew nothing OF her intention. nor did she
want them to know It, She had few PEN
MES with which TO buy the stamps. and
when she was told that the United States
mail did no. ca.ry to where her brother
was her eyes fillrd with tears, and she
turned away. holding the little package
tightly in both arms.
The little girl told tho clerk her name
was Elsie MacNaughton. and that she
lived ut No 23i Houston street. Her
father she said was gripman on the
Broadway cable line.
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-01-02
Two OId-Faxhtoncd Games.

When your grandmother was girl she
didn't expect 10 have good a time AT
Christmas as you do. There weren't as
many beautiful presents then. and the
rules were stricter. But there were two
games. often given as Christmas presents.
which the boys and gir.s OF today don't
know anything about.
One OF these was battledoor and shut
uecock, Played with rackets IKE those
used In tennis. only smaller. The gams
consisted In driving back and forth a ball
OF cork, in the top OF which were glued
two small feathers, SO that the bottom. or
rounded end, was always presented for
the blow. "Grace hoops" too, were highly
recommended for young misses OF the
quality" IS tending 10 develop ease and
grace Of bearing. stick was he'd In
each hand. ard the player was required 10
catch On these sticks the hoop thrown
by the other player. Grace hoops are stu
used by grown men and women on ship
board but They are thrown at a standard.
in a game more resembling Qu0ita.
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-01-02

pen and ink the next time she writes. Pear
is IA years old.
Lee Carter OF Carthage says he is com.
ing 10 Houston soon and Will pay the Hap
hammer visit.
Ella Fox wrote nice letter from Buck
holts and asked admittance to the club
She Is welcomed.
Minnie Van Every Of Canada SAYS she
visited Mustang creek bottom recently and
had a nice time.
Tom Baker OF Addicks SAYS he went
hunting with friend the other day and
killed catamount.
Willie Couard of Milano becomes a Hap
this week. She is IL wears old and soss
to school to Miss Olga Pool.
Halle Book of Oakland will hammer
happiness with the other Haps this year.
He is a new member and years old.
Blossom" Happyhammer who lives
at Devers. says Christ was the grandest
character the world has ever produccd.
''Sunflower.' Mumford Hap. has sonie
songs TO exchange. but forgot 80 give her
true name for the Haphamner to PRINT.
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-01-02
THE SEALING or LETTERS.
Something About the OId-Tims
PrOreas and the Modern.

Before the invention OF the glmned en-
veaDpe, various methods were used foa
sealing letters The first seals consisted
OF a rnx that was affixed to clay or boie.
and later 10 chalk or creta asiatica. a
mixture Of pitch. wax and p.aster
Tho use OF wax did not become general
until the Middle Ages. Betswax. made
yellow by time, was the first material
used Then came sealing WAX mixed with
a wal5ir substance Red wax began with
Ions VI. M lib. and greeil WAX made
It's appearance about 1867. IN tho th.r~
were added TO the other cosors: aud black
wax = rarity met with IN the seals OF
u5e military and religious orders.
Among the apcients, ring seaIs we're
used not ouiy for sealing letters. but also
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-01-02
'o'ars pe'' j. Rush Payne.
RIDES THE BICYCLE.

have rsad the letters on the Hapryham.
mer rage for SOME tir.c, so have as9iae zee.
/ would write ard ask you TO elliV., ny
name. am ~ years old and nm IN s, we
ninth grade. MY favorite study IL aiSep'a;
I hayc a bjcvcie and my friend Feroi ana
! enjoy n riding very much. We take rld as,
every evening after school, but the roads
have been so muddy lately on account H., oi
the rains that we could not take our usus d,
rides 7 hope Santa Claus resnemhereu an
of the Haps, also Mr.. Hap, 4 true LAP
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-01-02
A uAPPY HAP.


Houston, Texas.--Dear Haphnmmer:
am a stranger in Houston except amoni
the liappyhamtners, so OF course at n tim
like this IL Is natural that l wanted 1
come IL and sec. you awhile, Rugus want
TO knox IL tomboys can joint the Bache
lors' club, but j can not give her an an
swcr yea. Her application has been sub
initted to a COMMITTEE. but We will no
hear from it soon, for
IT'S the might before Christmas,
The ground is all wet,
Old Santa Is coming,
But how VIII he get
Around In the mud
Which Is all over town.
] fear that my stocking
VIII never be found
i sit by the fire. and
A vision / see
OF our fair land from
The lakes 10 the sea;
Amid all the buster,
The noise and clamor
j see here and there
A bright HappyllamIner.
They're not gatehred In Houston
AS II for review.
But all are at work
Doing all they can do
TIC make others happy;
Each one does a part.
And thus hammer happiness
For many a sad heart.
They're all over the States,
They are In Mexico.
But. be where they may,
; or wherever they GO
They never forget
They belong to our band,
And every one hammers
AS fast as he can.
Now. since they are busy,
And l with the rest
Must hurry along
And be doing my best.
To all Merry Christma5--
Let every ono hear
And also wish you
A Happy New Year.
Your happy Hap. Thomas Taylor.
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-01-02
SOME GREAr CHARAcrERs.

Pennington, Texas.--Dear Haphammer:
come again, with another little note for
the Happyhammer letter box. The con-
test / believe, is who was the grandest
chaaacter before the year 100? There are
several characters who deserve especial
mention as the grandest of the world.
Christopher Columbus Hannibal, Alexan-
der the Great, JULIUS Caesar and Charlie
magqie are grand characters that lived
about 7sS K D., and was king of the
Fraress He was the son of King Pepin
the Little Char.enisg,ie was continually
nj war He slbjug ited The Saxons and
many other tribes in Germany. He ike
wise made oonqueSts in Spain and Italy
Char,enaene died In the year Slf. having
relgned foriy-two years. His attendants
placed a golden throne IN his sepuchre
and set the dead body OF the emperor
upon 1t.
many and Britain, and mad overcome
three millions of men and killed one mill
ljrn. Caesar and Pompey collected great
armies. They encountered each other at
Pharsal.a Caesar gained complete Vie
fory. Pompey made his escape .nto Egypt
hut was there murdered. Caesar was as
sass.ila ted, however. in ~ u, g.
Alexander the Great was King or the
Macedcnians He snbdpel the. Grecian
staies and defeate1 the Persian k1g, Da-
RUS. and completely subdned Persia lie
died 3ea H. c.
toned i believe Charlemasne was the
grandest.
AZ i see my letter s. getting too long, l
wa oose go Grover Robb.
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-01-02

patronage TO the church. II has been said
that he laid the foundation of all that IL
noble. beautiful @ad useful in tire history
OF the Middle Ages
Haps, we will all make new resolutions
for, the coming year, Let us resolve to
make the Haps page moro intcreeting
than over before. Hoping the New Year
will be one or happiness and prosperity
to you all. am. sincere Hap,
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-01-02

Tho largest dog IN the world Is owned
by Wayne Bailey OF Rutland VT. HIS
name Is Nero. He weighs nearly 300
pounds, his neck measures thirty inches
and he is more than six feet long. His
back reaches well above an ordinary
dining table. and he can easily reach up
and lick the face Of a tall man who Is
sitting IN chair. He is almost as strong
as a horse and although he caid easily
Kill man he IS quite as gentle as a kilt
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-01-02
TWO INFANT rRoniGEEs.

white Gwin. Learned IN Anatoniys
byron Gilbert. Member OF the Nnr.
Wilhc Gwsn of Chicago and byron
Nowse Gilbert OF .Atchlson, Kan, arc In
saat prcGivics that ars today tho talk of
two learned professions, Tho former holds
certificate Of proficiency in anatomy
from professors Of recognized medscat
college. and the jattec has successfully
passed q rigid examination before the SUI
pfeme court justices of his state and has
beea awarded certificate OF admission
10 the bar. #
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-01-02
Twelve C1hriatma.cs Ia Row.

In this country the boys and girls are
very well contentcd with the glorious fun
of single Christmas day. What would
they think II they could share I'm the
celebration OF the young people OF some
OF tho European countries who have
twelve Chr.stmascs In q rowc In England
Twelfth Night is almost as great day as
Christmas. In fact. II Is called 'old
Christmas" because II was celebrated as
Christmas before the calendar was
changed. IL.
two dishes or Attic frosted cakes are
passed Mound, one for the gentlemen and
Gre for the ladies. In each there is one
cake with ring and one with a broken
sixpence. The two who get the ring VIII
be married. before the year Is out. The
broken siNpcnce Indicates an old bachelor
or an old maid. but 81 the two agree to
Join their sixpencc there Is Il chance for
one of them. In one OF our small cities.
where there are several families VINO
unite In keeping Twelfth Night every
year, thoy have but one ring, and who.
ever gets II ~must give mo party next
near, j
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-01-02

-as small locks were not commentator
sealing caskets and chests that contained
valuable objects: and they we're even used
for SOAKING the doors of houses and apart
ntesfts.
TO usc waters. which were brought from
Italy by the soldiers and officers or the
Freclch army, These waters were cut
with a punch out OF a thin leaf made OF
flour
Finally gummci envelopes gradually be.
gan TO rep.acc scaling wax and waters
nearly evoryweaerc. The first envelopes.
date hack TO 1910. Thc machine FOR fold
ing them war invented In iStS. by Edwt,
Hall and Warren dc In Rue, and In ISIS
Capable Of Holding and cumming $500 en-
ve,opes an hour. Since 1870 the annual
production of envelopes has been. greatly
Increasing, and there are now being mani
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-01-02
w,uAr M WANTS TO BE.

Pennington, TeXas.--,Dear Haphammer:
Here l come with q ChristmaS sree eshiss
for each and all and asking membership
in yo,,r ranks. / am a little boy, IL years
old: very little Tor che age. as Weign
only IS pounds. | 60 TO school anu sVu .,
hard as | want to be n great scltoIU
when | shall have become a man. | ilke
figures, drawing. pennanship and mn
giiage best. am fond OF man cs@wMts,
too. I win ask question:; Wha' sreas
man was / named for, who figured in our
revolutionary period? -
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-01-02
HAP TALKS.
the Haphnmmcr Has to Say
TO Our Boys and Girls.

Happyhammers: We begin the new
Nth 6156 members enrolled. That Is
band of boys and girls and the Hap
er hopes each one will resolve to live
the club motto during 1898. We must
N to improve the page in every way
lie. Let each one give more attention
work OF preparing letters for this
Ind endeavor to make them interest
Tall. There were several good letters
Seek, which will make Il nice be-
2 for the year Of improvement.
pique. catalogue, phthisis and few
words of like character and you will
that foreigners have so much
In learning English. Owing to sill
tiers and letters having several diff
sourds, English is said to be the
Bifficult of all modern languages to
3Nor this reason scholars and societies
>een trying to institute spelling re-
4 but they are rot very successful.
learn how to spell when they are
(en, and they don't like to change.
There are many people who now write
b tho" catalogue, "catalog," and
fmne, program and SO on. A
in recent publication pokes fun at
eforns proposed, and publishes this
verse to show how queer our lam
would look il all the words were
b Just as they sounds.
I"Litl Will had monkt
Claiming UP yelo silk;
|Hi sukt dhi yelo pant oil Of.
1t mad him dethli six;
|Dhl huming top IL salient now,
Dbl Dol liz lad asaid,
|And dhi munld duzent jump around
Sins It'll VIII daid!"
bostal Santa Claus visits the Boston
flee every year during the week be-
christmas. No one knows his name.
Jose whom he helps do not even know
hey have been helped.
y packages are mailed every. year to
foreign countries or TO other parts OF
United States as Christmas presents.
pr some reason postage is not fully
bn all of them. IN such cases the
yes are either returned to the sender
BIT to the dead-letter office and the
rs for whom they are intended arc
>ointed
postal Santa Claus calls at the post
and pays all the postage due on
packages and they are forwarded
lt more delay, Santa Claus paid more
20 in this way last year and disap-
without leaving Ills name. and this
be has come again to repeat his good
fers are scarce and expensive In
r, so clever French inventor has in
kind of artificial oyster which Is
e be so nearly like real oyster that
hn expert can tell them apart. or
the shells used are genuine-but
|can be used again ard again at COM
|vely small expense, The French au-
es are trying to stop the manufac-
IN the ground that the materials used
frmful.
Happyhammers have been enrolled
lows:
lHooper... 80. Dickson, Tenn.
rnnb,.. =. ~. -. Turtle Bayou
Bock... ~. ~. -. -. Oakland
w. ....,,... BuckhClts
r. Howell, Ferol Trerr,ip ard
fry Belle Seyern-........ Goldthwaite
Sonard.-. ~. -. -. 49,. .Milano
k fayne N. -. -, ...Pennington
hembers. ~. -. ........ 81
reek . totai.'. -. -. ........... 6147
49,
Pber Of Happyhammers. 1886
SOME SHORT LETTERS.
Fl Tubb Is nsw Iiappyhammer Who
from Turtle BAYOU.
b Jurxcrman OF Gonzales would like
Fca mind With xfssx,o ~ tkn ll.n~ 'N