davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1898-12-23
A BUSINESS STROKE
MRS. Grumpy In Her Christmas BurS.,
Ing Adopts Grumpy's Method.

MRS. Grumpy In Her Christmas Buv.-
ing Adopts Grumpy's Methods.
grumpy always has a financial spasm
when the Christmas returns come in. and
this year his spell was an unusually had
one.
Thunder and lightning, womanv, he
began; look at these bills. Do you take
me for coal trust or sub-treasury of
the United StatesY Glaring more fierce
~ as account after account was examin-
ed, he broke out again: I'm not a profane
man, Mrs. Grumpy, but ripity rip my but
tons, if this don't beat financial panic.
Five hats! We have one daughter mad
am, and she's not two-headed freak!
And eleven dresses! Have you gone
crazy? Do you think of appearing on the
stage at your time Of life, or has some
dressmaker hypnotized you? But just
cast your eye over this one. All kinds of
capes, sacks, jackets, circulars, shawls
and listers. Are you planning a Polar
expedition, or are you under the delusion
that we are going to camp out this winter?
Now, l do throw up the sponge! Nine
pairs Of shoes and hosiery by the gross.
Going to open up an emporium, or did you
yield to the destinations Of a bargain
counter?
''I'd like to have you take enough inter-
est in our impending bankruptcy to in
voice the balance Of these traps and ca
lamities- candles, toys, collars, cuffs, cor
sets, gloves, handkerchiefs, laces, jewelry,
skirts, and what's this? Shields.
Now, what in the rip-snorting creation
does an Anticipated veteran like you want
with shields? Where's the bill for jave-
Inns and dynamite guns? If it's not
state secret, I'd like sto know whether
you intend to take the field in South At
RIGA or Cuba. Woman, have you any ex-
PLANTATION to offer for this brazen attempt
to ruin meT'
"Only this. You have always sought to
impress upon me that should adopt your
business methods. You declared that you
were going to make the money fly provid-
ed the election went your way, and made
all these orders subject to the same condi-
tion'
"Oh, comprehend Your extravagant
scheme includes plot to place the entire
blame upon me. Twill not exchange GRIM
nations or refer to the viper that stings
after it has been warmed in ones breast.
l simply and absolutely repudiate. You
may work out your own salvation in your
own devious way."-Detroit Free Press.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1898-12-23
zll| E $! I
.s>~aI5l~@A <~SObD0[3C2Gs
EJ0Ur Tc1I
SOLDIER rs

Of them back beneath the old roof. except
oh, my boy! where are you tonight
What are you doing? You can't 20 to
sleep on Christmas eve without remem-
bering the old home, and your mother,
Robbie the old mother who tried to make
your Christmases happy years ago! Faith
er doesn't say anything, but there is a
look on his face know well. He is get
ting an old man, and he depended on Rob
to help him. He was our first. None Of
the others were quite the same. / remem-
Der the Christmas after he was born as
If it were yesterday. Eleven months old,
and he sat on his high chair like prince.
We gave him Punchinello on the end Of
a stick, and when he turned it round it
played a tune. His little face Of aston
ishment, how sweet 1t was! How we low
ed him! II you had died, Rob, it would
have been easier; but to know that you
are alive, and don't care-that's the hard
part; it is that that breaks my heart!
l shouldn't like to die before Rob comes
back. His brothers might be harsh with
him. William is very bitter. He has al
ways been a dutiful boy himself, and he
cannot understand such behavior. How
handsome he looked when he arrived to-
night, and how prosperous! He must be
making big income, should say, by the
way they live; but he was always close,
and he is worse than ever since his mar
rage. Emily must have bought a new
travelling cloak! Last year she wore a
brown one trimmed with fur. 1t didn't
look shabby to me, but she is so extrava-
CANT! Five servants now, and only those
two children. No wonder Will is getting
gray; it must be a strain on him to pro-
vide for such a household / wonder if
Hannah remembered to put frilled pillow
cases on her bed. / shall be annoyed if
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1898-12-23

a bit, and putting on our best rubber boots
went and called on our best friends in the
mining cabins and settlements, and re-
ceived our friends from the mining cabins
scattered up and down the frozen creeks.
"At 2 p. NJ, when the darkness was set
Ting down in the valleys, several hundred
miners met by agreement at McCarthy's.
1t was the only building in Dawson that
could comfortably hold large assemblage
of people. Mac had prepared a program
of events for the day and we had each
Clipped In an ounce Of dust toward de-
fraying the expenses. The sawdust had
been removed from the floor and a score
Of candles and lamps were arranged about
the room. Mccarthy himself wore boil
ed shirt in honor of the occasion. On a
broad board table along one wall of the
room a luncheon had been arranged for
the Christmas celebrators. For a half
hour after arriving at Macs we were busy
stamping snow from our rubber boots and
walrus hide shoes, peeling off extra cover
ings and In general hand-shakings and
more Merry Christmasings.'
Now, boys, fall right in and tickle
your gizzards over there, shouted Mac
urbanely to the crowd.
There was room for only fifty to eat at
a time, so while one squad was standing
up and eating at the table, the rest were
sitting about on the benches. We told
stories Of other Christmas days in other
camps, talked about what the people down
In the States were doing, wondered what
had transpired since we last heard from
there five months before), wondered who
was dead, how election had gone, and
what the people would say when we go
back with our heaps of gold and stories Of
how rich we had struck it.
"At last the last man In the crowd Of
Christmas celebrators had been to the
long table and had filed up on baked
beans, fried pork and bacon, Goldfish balls,
macaroni and coffee. Then Mac read the
program and the entertainment proceeded.
A dozen men made speeches. few of
them genuinely humorous appropriate to
the occasion. America and God Save
the Queen were sung and resung. The
Norwegians and Swedes sang their ma
tional songs, and the sounds Of the first
Christmas celebration In the Klondike
were carried on the wind down among the
icy crags Of the lonely, frozen Yukon. 1t
must have been below 30 degrees below
zero when we pulled our fur caps on and
strapped our heavy garments about us
late that arctic night and went trudging
home through the snow to our cabins
along the creeks"
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1898-12-23

and verified these excellent people insisted
upon, and when town and country were
rejoicing, Christmas bells ringing, Christ
mas tapers twinkling and Christmas car
OILS thrilling, their home was robbed Of
half its rightful cheer in their strenuous
determination not to be imposed upon by
Santa Claus or any Of his train.
But to turn = our original thought. Did
the parents who would have none of Santa
Claus gain anything by their resolution to
be rigidly true to a tangible and material
order, or, clinging to the husk, did they
lose the fruit which was growing within
for the healing of the nations? Many
things not susceptible of proof by the evi-
dence Of the physical senses are really
true in that higher realm where the inn
agination rules. One Of these never-dy-
ing, never-failing things is Santa Claus,
and year by year the weeks over which
his scepter is extended are weeks Of rare
beauty and time when goodwill every
where shines in mems countenances and
Is the handspring Of their lives. Children
see and feel this wonderful festival Of
love on the earth, but they cannot enter
into it fully, and so those who were wiser
than we, In good old days fragrant in
memory, christened the Christmas season,
when the yule-log burns, and the holly
CLEANS, and the world is glad, as the spe-
cial gala-time of Santa Claus. Believe
in him all you can and he will give you
blessings heaped up and running over ia
pay you for your faith. Harpers Bazars
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1898-12-23

gy, understanding fur, so that only the
race appears. Every man has a prodig-
lous growth Of whiskers, sometimes a foot
long, and hair that rea ches below the rim
OF the caps and lies across the shoulders.
mere were but dozen calendars in
an that region and very few men had any
idea OF dates. Some did not even know
what month it was. One day, as we sat
at McCarthy's, some one suggested that
christmas was approaching and we
thought of observing the occasion. A
week before Christmas we all agreed upon
q celebration, and, crude though it was,
we had a day that none Of us will ever
forget. 1t was more remarkable from the
fact that there were in and about the lit
tie hamlet Of Dawson City over LOO
men, No one earned less than SIC day,
and the larger part had each risen from
poverty to possessions worth several thou
sand dollars in period of three months.
| suppose the combined wealth in actual
gold In the district then was nearly ST.
100000, and clear prospect Of increasing
it to twice or thrice that sum in another
five months. / don't believe that COM
munity richer per capita has existed in
this world than that was at Dawson City.
Yet we had mockery Of civilization and
hardly any Of the comforts Of life of a lot
of paupers.
Every one was informed on Dec. "a
of the fact that next day would be Christ
mas. Some 300 Of us went down to Nc
Carthy's to celebrate the holiday. Dark
ness set in at that period at about 1: 80 o..
M, but we had become accustomed to the
20hour nights. When it got along to
about IL 80 p. m. we got our watches out
and waited. At exactly IL the signal was
given. The whistle at Joe Ladue's saw
mill screeched for half hour, and over
300 shotguns, rifles and pistols were dis
charged, in volleys, singly, in quartets and
in trios, for hours. Every one shook hands.
Some danced about the room, and big,
burly miners Rugged one another, while
Merry Christmas was shouted again and
again. 1t was the first time in the whole
experience Of the Klondike that we felt
in sympathy with the outside world.
"On Christmas morning we brushed up
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1898-12-23

she has forgotten, for it Is just one Of
the things Emily would notice. She has
all her sheets hemstitched.
The children are beauties! Eric is the
picture Of his father at the same age, and
what spirit! Cecil takes after his moth
er's family. / love them dearly, but it's
a good thing children come while one Is
young-I couldn't stand the racket for
long nowadays. Ernest looks thin. He
doesn't get on, poor boy. 1t would have
been wiser If we had given him his own
way and let him go abroad, but we did it
for the best. Father says we cannot do
more than act upon the light Of the mo-
ment, and that it is useless grieving over
what Is irretrievable, but l can't help
grieving. Amy has had hard timel-- No
one would think, to look at her now, what
pretty girl she was when they were
married. She has no nurse girl for baby,
and that is the same dress she wore last
year, with new trimmings to freshen it up.
We must give them check with their
Christmas present, but not before the 9TH
ers--they would not like that-just quietly
when we are alone.
Minette and Charlie came last, though
they live nearest Of all. She planned that,
the little rogue! l know her tricks. She
was not going to arrive In the character Of
bride without making sure Of her audi
ence; and how pretty she was-a perfect
picture in those lovely furs. Father says
she is exactly what I was as girl, but
my hair was never so golden. And Char
lie adores her. ought to be thankful for
that marriage. Her house Is prettier than
any Of the others, but don't know how
she will manage. She uses the best
things every day, and never draws the
blinds for the sun. When say anything
she pulls my cap on one side and asks II
/ remember Aunt Christmas soft blanket
They all laugh at me about that, but I
can't see the joke. It was far too grand
| for our room, and the red and green
stripes made the furniture look shabby, so
I.put it aside for one of the children, and
now none Of them will have it. 1t can't
| be soiled, for 1t is wrapped up In the same
paper in which it arrived ten years ago,
| and It's q beautiful thing there must be
| pounds Of wool in it, not to mention the
silk.
/ Charlie sits next TO- Emily. wonder
what she win wear! / wonder which cap
| should put on! The one with the pearl
| drops is the most becoming, but the lace Is
not real I'll wear the new one, and let
her see that my Brussels Is as good as
hers. / think I'll give Amy the old Honi-
| ton. She has brought presents for every
one, the kind little thing, though she Is so
shabby herself. She showed me Nells
| tonight. Pink silk covers for cushionsl
| She Il going to sew them on In the morn
ling, and they win be on the couch as q
/ surprise Tor Nell when she is carried down
to dinner. The pink Win make her look
lies pale. Nv precious lamhi 4 week
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1898-12-23

Roadway even in the richest of the dig
gings. All through December about half
the miners used to spend days in loafng
about McCarthy's saloon at Dawson. The
other half puttered about their cabins,
dug little now and then, mended their
fur suits and made shoes from walrus
hide.
AT McCarthy's sometimes $50 or more
men would gather around the roaring fire
and strange scene 1t was. Imagine an
assemblage Of men in a rough, barn-like
structure, furnished with board benches,
and Illuminated by dozen Pickering can
dies. Some men are dressed in baggy gar
ments of fur, others In several coarse,
heavy overcoats over heavy wooden
clothes. All have caps of half-cured, shay
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1898-12-23

puddings We're like ours, but that was
when l made my own. l wish l could
have made them this year, but dared not
suggest it. They are SO Eighty nowadays,
these fine servants. Maria would have
taken offense at once, and it would never
nave done to be without her just now
with house full of visitors.
1t felt like old times tonight, and how
happy father looked welcoming them all!
lie will ruin those boys before the holi-
DAYS are over 1t was the same with our
own children; If he was obliged to dis
appoint them, he was miserable for the
rest OF the day. Such tender heart as
ne has! l never knew man like him.
he has never lost patience with me In all
these years, and have been sharp With
him many time about such little things!
When | have fretted about the children
going away and leaving us, one by one,
l have remembered his faithful love and
been comforted.
Foux children. three grandchildren, III
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1898-12-23

ing days or weeks in preparing for pro-
per celebration of holidays. OF all of the
days that attracted unusual attention on
the part Of the Yankee soldiers, Christ
mas stood at the head, however.
With most Of the young fellows Christ
mas, 1861, was their first away from
home. Many Of them had hard work to
appear happy as they looked at presents
from dear ones and ate the good things
sent them. But great changes had taken
place before Christmas, 1862. At least
$4,000 of the Army of the Potomac had
fallen out of line-dead, wounded or pris-
oners. The track of it's march was red
red from Yorktown to Richmond and from
Richmond to Malvern Hill; from Cedar
Mountain to Manassas South Mountain
to Antietam, and the reddest spot was
Fredericksburg. What gloomy Christ
mas it was for the Northerners. They
had, only few days before, been badly
defeated in their attempt to drive Lee and
the Army Of Northern Virginia from the
heights Of Fredericksburg. The people at
home may have started Christmas din
ner to the boys but it did not reach them.
o.. Christmas, 1868, the army was shiv-
ering along the Rappahannock and Rapi-
dan, and as far out as Culpeper Court
House. 1t was too cold, and the men
were too poorly housed to enjoy the day.
Christmas dinners were the order of the
day in 1864. The army was strung along
behind Notifications from Richmond to
below Yellow House, on the Weldon Rail-
road, distance of nearly forty miles. The
Sanitary and Christian Commissions had
arranged to supply the army with a
Christmas dinner. Few men were over
looked. Except that in 1861, it was the
happiest Christmas for the Yankee army
since the trouble Aegan. There were many
signs that the Ii, 1t Christmas would be
enjoyed at home and so it was by all who
escaped from the hot times from March %
to the evening of April 8, after Grant and
Lee had met at Appomattox.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1898-12-23
CHRISTMAS sUPERsTITIoNs.
Things That One Must Not Do Under
Penalty of Bad Luck.

Things That One Must Not Do Under
Penalty of Bad Luck.
In North Germany you must not spin
during the twelve nights Of Christmas,
lest you should walk after your death, nor
after sunset on Saturday, for then mice
will eat your work. Speaking Of eating,
If you want to have money and luck all
the year round, you must not fail to eat
herrings on New Years day, nor, If you
wish to be lucky, must you rock an empty
cradle or spill salt wantonly or. cross
g-lives or point at the stars.
If you leave a dirty cloth on the table
over night you will make the angels weep;
If you point upward to the rainbow you
will make the angels feet bleed, and if
you talk Of cabbages while looking at the
moon you will hurt the feelings Of the man
in it, who was a cabbage stealer in his
salad days.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1898-12-23
XMAS IN KLONDIKE.
ONE DAY OF GOOD CHEER DUR
ING A DREARY WINTER.
At so Degrees Below Zero, and While
the Bitter Winds We're Roaring,
Dawson City Celebrated in a Crude
but Joyous Manner.

He December days
and nights, accord
ing to one Of the
miners who came
back from the Yu-
kon diggings with
plenty of gold, are
the most trying of
the year in the Klon-
dixie region, especial
~ at Christmas time.
IF l live to the age
of Methusaleh," he
saws UT Iop,f h.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1898-12-23

w O R L D once
contained a faith
er and mother
who did not be-
lieve in Santa
Claus. They were
afraid, too, to let
their children be-
lieve in the bless
ed old myth, fear
ing that the fan
cy would make
them credulous,
or that it would
have the effect Of
teaching them de-
ceit. Facts which
could be nrovad
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1898-12-23

they do now, while the gentlemen went
abroad visiting friends. The visitor en-
tered, shook hands, took seat, convers-
ed for few moments, and after partak-
ing Of refreshments-of which boned tur-
key and picked oysters were the staple
dishes and sherry and whisky the most
popular drinks-had another handshaking
and terminated the visit. The custom is
of Dutch origin.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1898-12-23

Indies towards the enjoyment OF rare
fruits. rare scenery, and festivities that
always crowd the Christmas season.
Christmas trees, the American Santa
Claus. and stockings, cut comparatively
little figure in the celebrations at Havana
and in the other Cuban cities, still balls,
parties and masquerades follow one an
other in bewilderingly rapid succession,
and it is not to be assumed that the soldier
boys will remain in camp all of the time
that this fun and variety is going.
This mardi-gras class of celebration,
particularly prominent in Porto Rico, is,
however, bound to pail on the true Amer
lean taste, and while it extends over
week or more, the one especial day will
be remembered and signalized. In
the Philippines our soldier boys IND
European tastes quite in evidence, with a
fair representation of residents from the
United States. Manila is a progressive
city-cosmopolitan enough to include the
energy and variety that make the holiday
season quite a gay round Of entertain
ments and celebrations.
In the tented field proper the soldier has
occasion to feel joyous and hopeful. An
other Christmas tide, and nearly every
regular and volunteer on soil now foreign
will have returned to where the home
Stars and Stripes wave in peaceful gram
deur. The palm tree will be a memory,
the Christmas tree-real and generous
will bear double gift for the soldier and
the hero!
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1898-12-23
The New ADVANCEMENT.

II suppose you're going to have another
old-fashioned Christmas at your house
this year, Hoply?"
"Can't possibly arrange it. Hired girl
gees to matinee in the afternoon, reception
in the evening and dance later on"
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1898-12-23

Hang up the bachelors stocking,
re fmps that fly by night;
And dance around 1t hooking
Its lean and empty plight.
For him no gladness bring ye
The single, selfish soul;
In It no presents ding ye,
They'd all drop through the holA
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1898-12-23
A MOTHERS MUSINGS.

YET, three-Quarters
Of a pound, bread
crumbs, three-quar-
tiers, eight eggs. /
told her to be care
full In weighing, but
you can never tell.
Last year 1t fell to
pieces before 1t came
to table, and spoil
ed my pleasure fo1
the rest Of the din
ner. Father used to
say that nobody's
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1898-12-23

N the armies during
the civil war holidays
were not notably diff
ferent from other
days. This may be
accounted for on the
ground that every
day with armies In
active service, liable
at any moment to be
ordered to engage In
dangerous undertake
ings, all had near.
ly enough to think
oborf without Cnon1-
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1898-12-23
BELIEF IN SANTA CLAUS.

1t Will Give Blessings Heaped Up tn
Pay You for Your Faith.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1898-12-23
An Old-Time New Year.

The method in vogue in New York City
half century ago was for the ladies Of
the family to remain at home, much as
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1898-12-23
IN THE CIVIL WAR.

Holidays Were Not Notably Different
from Other Days.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1898-12-23

\ Ia camp and gar
j rison d u t y
~ may not be
able to celebrate
this Christmas Just
as they would like,
but most Of them
will not make a
mournful time Of it.
They have become
accustomed to SOL
der life and indur-
ated to strange eli
mate. This is one
Of the first requi-
sites in the West
The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-03-11
18th BlRTADAY-MARCH 4.
-sSrcegress From Beginning Ii shown
sRy Comparative Statements.
ASSETS.

Hundreds Of homes have been huilt and
s>housands OF dollars have been saved by
The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-03-11

the people OF Houghton county through
the Northern Michigan Building & Loan
Association. The fret series stockhold
ers will be paid off in full June 30th next
or July 31st, without doubt. These
stockholders will have paid in at that
time $33, 600 end will receive 100000.
Join in the procession. subscribe for the
37th series which commences April L.
Commence to save your money and the
time will come when you will enjoy it.
The easiest way to get rich. Mr.. C, OF
Red Jacket, has been paying So month
to W. FL. Faucet, assistant secretary.
Tor the past nine years and today he can
bring in his certificate and get an order
Tor 5000.
Mr.. Il, OF Hancock, has been paying
S25 month and can now draw 81 800.
You can invest any sum per month
rom so cents TO $25 and you have the
'ame opportunity to become a stock
lolder. Call at my Office and get full
PARTICULARS. w. Fl. FAUCETT.
Borgo Block.