davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1898-12-30

Then he had been asleep. lie had h.d
terrible dream. Thank God. he was
awake nowl lie carried Becky back
upstairs feeling every step as he went.
with slow care. Then he tucked her
into bed among blankets and quilts. and
kissed her.
His lamp was flickering out. and he
got another and carried il down stairs.
The big book on the high corner desk
lay open at page 40
What,
Abel Iappan could hardly believe hi.
eyes. lie took cff his glasses and
rubbed them on the lining OF his coat.
But when he put them on again. he
could still see two wayy. criss-cross
lines meandering from corner TO corner
OF page &c.
Mrs. Wyncoop's page, opposite. was
clean and uncrossed
We'll. now. who'd We believed I'll"
he laughed, in loud delight. His heart
.elt light and glad. 81 did il myself,
instead o. crossing out Mis- Wyncoop's!
And il can stay too tn remind me
that | amt going TO press that poor
Mckie woman n mite-not a mite-not
If she can't ever pay up. She's got
poor little spindling. crooked backed
girl, and the Lord knows that's enough
affection. That's more'n could stand"
With careful painstaking. he re traced
the slanting lines, his pen splutterirg
tiny fecks Of ink upon his intent face.
"There." he breathed softly, II guess
they're black enough TO remind me IL
amt stone blind Now I'll turn over
new leaf"
At the top of the clean. new page he
wrote, in his small. unsteady letters.
the word Lemons"
"I'll send Becky over with EN- first
thing in the morning-if can fire EN-"
he added. laughing again. Then he
slapped his thigh in sudden spasm o!
recollection.
why. bless your heart. they're in
the money drawer this minute, holding
their sides, like as not raled 'em all
in TO get 'em out o my sight"
A sleigh load Of belated jewellers was
crunching past. Their gay voices rang
out. and their laughs chimed in pleas
antly with his.
He hurried 10 the door. unlocked II,
and shouted after them at the top Of
his voice. little Becl1y's "Wisher Happy
New Year."-Annie Hamilton Donnell
in Country Gentleman.
The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1898-12-30
her bin tonight. you see il She amt

her bill tonight. you see IL she amt,
Becky says set down here By the
fire, do-and here you are! Well. all
is. | wish there were more like you IN
the world. Those shiftlcss Mckies,
Iow-that little scamp OF Jcl's been
in trying 10 get trusted again, but I've
struck. guess lis about time. too"
lie got down his big book from the
high corner desk and spread il open on
the counter, turning the pages lahori-
ously. Abel Tappau was his own book
keeper and had his own peculiar fash.
ion Of keeping" The great. leather
covered book--a fashion that would
have first puzzled. then foorcd the dap
FER. precise graduate of commercial
college, But il sufiiced for Abel Tap.
pan very well.
Forty ty-three. foriy-four.
forty-five = Wyncoop; that's your
page" he said "And declare II Page
40 amt the McKie page, right across
from yours. I'd forgot that. Twenty
nine-twenty-nine dollars and eighty
three cents. There you are. Mis- Wyn-
coop. You better reckon it up yourself
and make sure it's all right. We're all
as liable to mistakes us the sparks that
fly upward"
He tilted up and down on his toes
mildly incredulous Of any possible er.
ror in his reckoning, while Drusilla
Wyncoop went over the columns from
the top downward Her lips chippcrcd
audbly over the task.
"Yes; that's just right. Abel, and I'm
only thankful it isn't any more. Lord
Of liberty. who'd believe nutmegs an
pepper n salt would cost most $3O."
Her eyes rested on Page 4G. still lying
open on the counter. Her own page. op-
posite, looked almost empty in COMPARE
son.
From top 10 bottom and from side 10
side. Page 46 was full of minute. un.
steady words. traced with cramped
painstaking and hanked by a relentless
column of figures.
What n pageful." she exclaimed
you don't say the McKies owe the
whole Of that? Land Of liberty. don't
see how they get a wink Of sleep. and
New Year right on the verge. too, |
couldn't"
II guess il don't keep them awake
any. shiftless folks can sleep with their
heads under water"
Mr. Tappan's voice. loud with scorn.
echoed back from the high rafters.
Mrs. Wyncoop shook her head re-
monstraiingly. The words issued a lit
tie twisted out Of shape by the fat
shawl pin between her lips:
30, no. no. Abel; you shan't call them
shiftless. ! don't know about jerome
The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1898-12-30
MORE TAXES TO BE ADDED.
How the Policy OF Expansion works
In some OF the Europesa
Countries.

The French cal inet is Celebrating Z
scheme of progressive income taxation.
1t is designed 10 raise rs. 900 600 francs
year, and il will apply especially to
the Weather classes who manifest
their means in living and pleasure ex-
penditure. The rental value of the hlb-
ita ton will be used primarily TO cal
culate the income of the occupant. nd
this calculated income is increased 80
much by each servant employed. car
riage owned or employed and other evil
dences OF income. such as yachts. dogs.
motorcycles and the like. Additions to
taxable income from these evidences
OF wealth vary occording to place
Thus the employ of female serv-
ant adds 500 francs TO the taxable in
come of a person in Paris. zoo francs
in the larger cities outside OF Pans,
and so on down TO 400 francs for the
country villages.
The enormous demands upon the ex-
chequer incident TO the maintenance Of
the military and naval might OF the ma
ton neceSsitate radical measures Of
public revenue, and wealth must ac-
cordingly be placed under special con-
tribution. Great Britain imperial pol
icy has forced upon the wealth Of that
nation the most radical system of grad
uated income and probate taxes exist
ing anywhere outside of Switzerland
and New Zealand. and IL is only qucs-
ton of brief time at the present rate
of imperial progress and navy and
army expansion when the burden m ust
be increased per capita or per uni. OF
wealth. France is now TO follow suit,
and all over Europe wealth will Re
made more and more to contribute to
the support of the luxury Of colonial
and military expansion-not so much
because of the justice of this course.
but because Of the poverty Of til.
masses and their infammatory state
Of mind
There is no large nation in'the world
to-day where wealth is relatively 20
| lightly taxed as in the United States.
Blu. with the entrance Of the nation
into the arena of the world-grabbing
| and military powers all this must
change. Wealth will be made TO foot
the bill. Nothing can be more certain.
unless we are TO suppose that the md
die and lower classes of people in the
United States possess less of the spirit
and strength of resistance to the en-
croachments Of privilege and power
than the crushed and broken masses
OF Europe.-Springfield (Mass.) Repub-
lican.
The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1898-12-30
ANOTHER NEW YEAR.
Only ns Our Growth In Manly and
WomanIy Virtue Would show.

A modern author suggests that IL all
record and measurement of time By
hours and days and years could be
abandoned. we should gradually adopt
a newer and truer standard, and count
our age by inward rather than out
ward signs.
IT, by transformation OF mental habit.
this interpretive reckoning could sud
denly be brought TO bear. in what new
aspect should we see ourselves and
| our friends. How old would many
seem who are yet in the vigor Of youth.
and how youthful many whose brows
are wrinkled and crowned with silver
hair. We might not wholly separate
time and growth. but we should meas
IRE time for mortals as we do for trees.
by the indications of growth.
Who does not know the difference
who looks back and sees how the life
less years of his past lie half forgotten
while The life of the vital years has pow
er still TO set every pulse athrob? These
wears count. the others are ciphers. We
are a. old as their grand vitality
inwrourht into experience and ripened
into character has made us. We are
as old as our thoughts are high and
deep: as old as our love is wide and
warm; as old. and only as old. no mat
ter how many our years, as cur growth
in manly and womanly virtue would
show. The brain may have absorbed
facts and theories and PHILOSOPHERS
about goodness and the real self be
learning the alphabet OF Gods lesson
OF obedience and trust.
These being the natural food of the
soul its real growth depends on the
souls power of assimilating what has
been prepared by Divine hand for
its nurture Yet on no amount OF
thought about obedience. or love. or
goodness will the hungering human
nature thrive. No careful analysis Of
foods will build up the wasting tissues
or give new strength TO the growing
body. only that which enters into the
life becomes part of fiber, and blood. !
and one.--Washington Home Maya
zine.
The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1898-12-30

McKie, but his wife Amt. She's real
devoted woman. and works dreadful
hard. Maybe she don't know how to
make the money spend as wells she
might, but that amt shiftlessness. And
| never saw a tenderer hearted mother
than she is TO that little sick girl OF
hers. ! guess she humors her TO pieces.
Poor little thing,"
Abel Tappan stirred uncasily. A rev
Of golden lemons on the shelf looked 1T
him with silent reproach. The water
don't taste good" boys eager voice
said in his car.
"She looks like your little grand
daughter too" Mrs. Wyncoop went on,
driving the shawlpin home with in
trepid aim-'every body noticed IT. Be
fore she fell downstairs and crooked
her back the teacher-she boarded with
me then-said you could hardly tel
those two children apart when they
were together. She used TO get en- all
mixed up at school. Same colored hair,
with the same kinks in IT. and their eyes
just alike, and even their little dimp'es
matching! The little McKie girl was
fat and well then. like your Becky"
The lemons blinked their yellow eyes
reproachfully. Mr.. Tappan STROBE be-
hind the counter and swept them. with
succession of clatterS. into the money
drawer. out Of sight. lie was mentally
reviewing the items of Page &c. He
knew them by heart. How many. many
OF them were little unprctending lux
uries that little, peevish. sick child
might crave! How few Of them-her-
rings now and then. and salt Goldfish
or oatmcal--were nccessaries, II bad
nettled him over and over again a.
think OF X. but now, somehow, II
touched him against his will
Yes. O, yes, he knew they used to say
the little McKie girl--Love. Dove. what
was her name looked like Becky.
His Becky His little round, roly poly,
happy Becky!
After Mrs. Wyncoop's departure Abe,
Tappan took the big brown ledger back
10 the corner desk still open. Doggedly
he turned the pages and went TO work.
With quick steps the little New Year
was hurrying 20 meet the Old Year
His light footsteps made no creakinc
The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1898-12-30

over the snow Eleven-quarter past
-half-past-how close they were. al
most touching hands,
little voice reused Abel Tappan by
and by Becky S-but lie had never
heard Becky's voice from such a dis
;auce before. lie seized the lamp and
hurried upstairs. where he and his little
beloved. moihcrlcss Becky and cd
Nance lived.
The child was tossing on her bed. fret
ting palnii,ely. Her little face, in the
lamps feeble glimmer. looked unduly
flushed and thin.
MY back aches SOL" she whmpcrcd
Becky's back ached so. Becky's lii
tie straight-no, o. Lord have mercy,
il was crooked II bowed out piiifully
against the little white sheets. Becly's
face was sharp with pain
Abel Tappan shuddcrcd from head 20
foot. Tie lamp shook in his hand un-
safely Through the blur on his glasses
the little tossing head on the pillow
seemed strangely far away from him
Was il his little. plump rollicking. dan
cling Becky-his straight Becky he had
been so proud of always?
Tin so thirsty in my throat"
moancd the little crooked Becky on the
bed
He bent down unsteadily and kissed
her His heart broke in the kiss.
"Daddy'll fetch you drink right of, =
he faltered.
But she thrust away the glass he
brought her.
at don't taste good-take il away,
daddy. I'm so thirsty in my throat"
"Yes. yes; daddyll go get some nice
fresh water. right out of the well. You
wait Becky"
Becky lifted up her small, tangly
head and gazed up at him reproach-
fully.
Take it away. daddy" she cried
put lemon init don't taste good.
want a squeeze o. lemon in. an sugar
I'm so thirsty."
Abel Tappan's grizzled head bowed IL
self beside the child's
"Yes. yes; daddyll fetch lemon
right away and make it taste good"
he mumbled in an agony of grief
against her cheek. "Daddy'll see TO it
all nice"
Back in the store again. he could
find no lemons, though he searched and
researched With do~ged insistence.
Where could they be? There had been
plenty Of them, over there on the sec
ond. right hand shelf. in a row.
He moved boxes and cans, he cleared
whole shelves with a sweep of his arm.
B.ckys little wall sounded on. unceas-
ing, in his ears. lie must find them, lie
The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1898-12-30

Well.
" h e res Y our
money for EN- ?"
A b e ! Tappan
spOsSe sha.r u ly
The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1898-12-30

could not go back to Becky without
them. The yellow labels on some oi
the bottles Knocked him and led him on
TO unayailing hopes. The dim light:
twinkled their eyes and jeercd at him
A merry party going past outside
shouted and sang. and he shook his
tight fist toward them angrily. Where
could the lemons be? he asked himself
over and over in dull wonder. IL he had
only remembered TO look in the money
till.
I'LL 20 down to the Forks-they II
have 'em at Denby's," he muttered
Its good mile. but don't care il it's
so. don't care if have TO wake up the
seven sieepers, neither"
But how long it took to find his great
coat and get into il! He tried to hurry.
Heavy weights seemed to hang TO his
limbs and drag them back with dia-
bolical persistence. Would his arms
ever 90 into the sleeves? Was il GO
ing to take till crack o. doom TO get
his hat on his head? Big drops of sweat
scurried down the seams of his bag
gard checks. lie set his teeth dog
gedly.
If the lemons in the money drawer
had only logged against the door of
his memcryl
''I'll find one-big one-steal one
anything" he cried aloud.
Hark! was that the little voice, muf-
fled by the folds of the thick comforter,
still calling to him? Was it growing
clearer, nearer?
"Nisher Happy New Year. daddy"
Why il was Becky said IL herself,
standing in the murky doorway?
Becky. Her voice shrilled out TO him,
triumphant and sweet.
Abel sprang forward in sudden hor-
ror and caught her in his arms. Her
little nirhigown fell away from her
bare toes. and he felt the chill of them
against his wrists.
"Hnppy New Year" he repeated. me-
chanicallv. after her. He was hugging
the little cold feet ficrcely TO his breast,
and burying his face in the touslcd hair.
1t was Becky - Becky = and her
cheeks. against his, felt round and
warm. And she sat on his arm as
straight and strong as little ramroo'
The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1898-12-30
PRESS COMMENTS.

Dinghy is opposed most violently
to the "open door, policy. In other
words. he is going to bolt it.-Chicago
Democrat.
1t will be observed that the
deficit producing attachment of the
Dingley bill made a splendid record for
the year.-Pittsburgh Post.
Some people want TO take care
of the gold and give the masses their
paper promises. These are Sound"
money fellows.-Illinois State Regis
ter.
Under the imperialistic pro-
grammc we will all be patriots, for
none of us can escape the necessity of
bleeding" for our CONTRIBUTING
hamton IN. ~ Leader.
Since Mckinley has failed 10 give
congress a policy concerning the Phil
ipplnes. IL looks as IL the republican
members Of that body will have TO do
without. or ask Mark Kama for one
St. Louis Republic.
Senator Vest has sounded the
first note against expansion i'm the SEN
ate by introducing resolution against
a colonial system, pronouncing 1t TO
be l.--Mississipp Val
ley Democrat.
If we must be robbers. let us at
least avoid being hypocrites. The adj
ministration is taking the Philippines
only because IL thinks II aces manifest
nsterial advantage in their annexS
tiene Baltimore Sun.
The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1898-12-30
NOW THE SPOILS.
Vacancies to Be Created for once
Hungry Republican Party
Workers.

Washington advices intimate that
an executive order has already been
prepared which will remove from tho
classified service 957 deputy collectors
| of internal revenue, COO examining sur
geons attached to the pension bureau.
and a number OF minor places, IN order
to create vacancies TO be filed BY
party workers"
With what consistency can President
Mckinley thus unstarch the civil serv-
ice? In his message Of December s.
1897. he concluded his remarks con-
corning the important branch of our
government known as the civil service"
by saying: The system has the APP
prevail of the people, and II VIII be my
endeavor TO uphold and extend it,
l. his inaugural message he further
more declared that Reforms in the
civil service must GO on, but the change
must be real and genuine. not perfume
tory or prompted by zeal in behalf Of
any party simply because it happens
TO be in power" And while the presi-
dent appears to have overlooked the
subject in this years message If he BE-
credited with consistency Of purpose.
the omission must be attributed rather
TO the pressure Of war topics and for
eign affairs than a change OF views
or a wavcring in adherence to civil serv-
ice reform. The Chicago Times
Herald. one Of the strongest newspaper
supporters of the president. and which.
indeed. boasts that IL is the original
Mckinley organ Of them all. remarks
upon this subject:
Having so committed himself 10 estab-
lish the civA service OF the government
moro firmly on what he Justly styled .
basis OF business methods and personal
merit what would be thought IL he should
row yield to partisan pressure and throw
200 to 1900 places into the party grab bagf
The public looks to President Mckinley
not to take any step backward in the re-
form which. to use the words OF his prece-
cessor. has survived the doubts OF its
friends as well as the rancour OF Its enc
mics. and has gained permanent place
among the agencies destined to cleanse our
politics and TO improve. economic and
elevate the public service
Just when newly acquired national ter
ritory places fresh demands on our civil
service IL would be peculiarly untimely and
unfortunate TO make a breach In the wall
of approved merit that protects II from In
competence and partisanship."
Nevertheless, as the TimeSHerald ~
self puts il. this is long expected or
der. in anticipation of which the spoils-
men have been licking their hungry
chops for months" and now they are
sure that 1t is Forthcoming immediate
ly."-Albany Argus.
The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1898-12-30

~ f~ ffts ruueiy hN''p,
when snow is on the meadow,
where the violcts lie asleep.
when outward. drifting. drifting.
The old Year goes forlorn,
:, me mystic hour of midnight
Tx. clad New Year Is born
t.s, nieht watched IN sadness.
the passing OF the year,
ror n bore from me record
,rtat cost me many a tear.
mn a gentle voice has whispered
That the past | must forget
Nh waste this precious season
In useless vain regret
y, the coming OF the New Year
rnls my soul with thoughts sublime.
r,eslous seem the golden moments
onward borne by fieeting time;
Ana "a spirit stirs within me.
rrrinc me 10 nobler strife,
vvtfh an earnest. brave endeavor.
For a brighter. better life.
Ana with grateful heart and lowly.
thank the Power Supreme.
VINO extends my days In mercy
THAT the past may redeem;
FOR his loving hand that keeps me,
For Ills voice that speaks 10 me.
ortho opening of the New Year
Though lie close | may not see.
-Gracla southworth. In Western Rural
The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1898-12-30

Getting Ready for New Years Day.
Quiz,cr-W What are you putting cot
ton in your ears for?
Wise--Don't want TO be dcafened by
the sound Of broken pledges to-p.sr-
row.--N. y. Journal.
The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1898-12-30

Mrs. Cobwigger-Howd do you know
your husband kept the resolution he
made you last year to give up smoking?
Mrs. Tiillaire-I've the best Of proof.
] made him present Of box of ci-
CARS and he hasn't touched one OF them
the whole vear.-N. Y. World.
The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1898-12-30

Will Hanna be tried on the
charges which are ready TO be brought
against him? Hardly. And yet, no
body in the country, who has any
claim TO intelligence. doubts his guilt.
Great is Hanna-ism. and Mckinley -
its only prophet.-Tammany Times.
II seems the commission TO
whi;ewash Algerism gets pay-s7s0o0
out of s50.One 400 appropriated for
the president 20 use for the national de-
Tense. Is not this a little tortuous?
Would it not puzzle a common mind
how il Is national defense" TO white
wash Algei and Algerism Illinois
State Register.
The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1898-12-30

THE locked-out Operatives at Fall
River must have smiled at the news OF
the recent cotton mill strike at Atlanta
The inability OF the Hngley blu to
raise the wages Of cotton spinner 10
utterly impartial in its geological in
e6ectiveness.-St. Louis Republic.