davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-12-24

Of the present time escapes from his
cares by retreating to his yacht and
racing over the water under full sail
ION ore of these occasions about the
middle ST February of a forgotten year
he plunged farther into the wilderness
than ever before, attempting to trace q
frozen creek to its source, and about
noon suddenly emerged into. a little
clearing of whose existence he had not
previously been aware. Knowing the
hospitality Of the pioneers, be decided
to visit the little log hut that stood on
the edge of the clearing and get his din
ner before returning TO his office.
After unstrapping his skates he start
ed toward the house.. from the stone
chimney of which a cheerful smoke was
ascending. He had proceeded but a few
steps when he was confronted by an
aggressive apparition that startled him
into headIong activity. Just in time to
eseape a gnarled and twisted pair Of
horns, he sprang nimbly to the top of a
stump. Beneath him stood the strangest
creature he had ever seen The head and
| horns we're tuose of a sheep, but instead
of a wooIly fleece the animal wore a
kind of overcoat made of hempen canvas
sewed roughly with cords of Eastwood
bark. a careful examination convinced
him that his assailant was the veneer
able leader of a small flock Of sheep,
though he could by no means guess the
meaning of his incorporating appear
o,aa TTo-s1v co 4fcGo1 hinaco1f tho f,o
creature was not supernatural, he jump
ed down from the stump intending to
procsed 20 the house, but before he had
taken five steps he was sent headlong
into a sncwcrift. He was blinded and
half smothered by the.dry snow, and as
he partly rose to his feet, spluttering
and clawing, he was bowled oyer again
by his aggressive enemy.
Now Preston had heard in his youth
that when attacked by a butting ram
one should lie still and wait for the
brute to go away. He decided to try the
plan, but he made the mistake of his
life. He had barely fattened himself
out On the ground when the am landed
On the small Of his back with the force
Of a pile driver. The ram seemed inclin
ed to use him as the circus clowns 10
the cushion on which they turn ON
saults, and he quickly realized thaf
though such a scheme might have heei
all right with a belIwether reared j
the lap of luxury, it was a complet
failure with this crook pated, -eroas
grained old wretch who had taken to
wearing a burlap overcoat and had
pair of horns that would have dom
credit to a dilemma. AS soon as Prestai
recovered his breath he uttered a yell
that reused the echoes for miles anf
grappled with his tormentor. He caught
him by the horns and together the
rolled through the drifts. collided viii
stumps and sent the nov flying !
clouds, while Preston's yells minglel
with the frightened bleating of the ram
The uproar brought the farmer on the
scene, and with a few we'll directed
kicks he made the ram lose interest III
the battle aud return to his neglected
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-12-24
san,n r,aas, preaicauent.

Santa Claus seemed upset. He STOOD
of, put his hands in his pockets and gazed
in puzzled despair at the row of long limp
stockings. Here was a stieker. He went
up to one, turned it inside out, inspected
it, twisted it, counted its checks and again
stood off and looked az it in an agony OF
despairing uncertainty. We'll, III be-
bowed, said Santa, .sif in these days Of
bicycling, / can tell which is a mans and
which is a woman's." Then a sudden
smile wreathed round his troubled face-
"BM I guess a 40 cent bicycle lamp viii
do in either casel''
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-12-24

g-N-T
ago, when Henry Preston. the patriarch
of an important Canadian family, set
tied in Kemoka, the strangely directed
energy of Colonel Talbot was changing
the wilderness on the northern shore of
Lake Erie into fruitful province. Year
by year shiploads Of peasants came from
Great Britain to take upland in the ter
ritory where he was almost an absolute
monarch, and with them came many
younger sons of noble families who
were ambitious to make their fortunes
in the new world. Among the latter
came cur hero, and it was in the first
year of his exile that the little adven-
ture occurred that all who enjoyed his
acquaintance often heard him describe.
In those days a Canadian winter had
many terrors that have since become a
memory The autumnal rains changed
the level country into a series Of vast
swamps, and when these miry reaches
were frozen to a depth Of several feet
the winter had a foundation On which
to build. In consequence, from the lst
of December to the middle of March
there was almost uninterrupted cold
weather, when the thermometer remain-
ed steadily at a point it cannot now
reach without the aid Of a cold wave
from the northwest. but the swamps
are now drained, the forests that held
the snow have been cleared away and a
variable climate has taken the place of
the earnest weather that was then the
rule. Even worse than the cold, how
ever. was the almost unimaginable lone
illness. When the winter had fairly set
in. the intense frost put a check on all
communication, even though it solicited
and improved theroads that were usual
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-12-24

the panes, but the eyes Of the soldiers De-
am accustomed to the dusk The gray
haired little ran had ceased his efforts to-
open the window and stood with his back
to it, his face expressing his fright and
horror at what had happened and what
was about to happen.
Fleming heard the ticking of q clock
somewhere over his head, but he did not
look up to see. In his ihdecision his eyes
wandered 80 the ciyilian, and he was.
amused at the old mans fright. But,
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-12-24

NH
were shining with a feverish excitement
and his courage seemed to grow as the
fever rose.
"Ssop, l tell you again. he shouted
'This is murder that you and those in
that rooni, too, are bent upon r
stIt is warl"
tit Ia not warl The battle is over, and
you fight here without purpose! What is
the possession OF this church to either Of
your And to fight, too, at such . timer
Fleming locked s%cornfuliy at the old
man who yet held his attention and i'm
pressed him..
Sat such a timer he repeated. tits
true that it's night, and THO nov is tall-
ing, bat we're not pGrlorf Soldiers to sock
our tents because Of a winter night.
Tits rioce than q winter night, said
the old man sternly, raising his accusing
finger again and pointing it at Fleming.
Listen"
Tho unseen clock overhead began to
strike, and Fleming and his men, awed de-
spite themselves by the old manssinnnner.
counted tho strokes under their breath.
One, two, three, they counted, and On up
to IL, standing In silence and making no
movement, asif some new power possessed
them. Nor did amp sound come from tho
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-12-24

o IN H WINDOW.
" quite as bad as those of Scotland 'sbe-
fore they were made. As neighbors in
the early twenties often lived ten miles
apart visits were %infrequent. and daring
the dreary winters not a few Of the
hardy pioneers went mad from sheer
loneliaess. And to this d~esolation was
added a s~uffocating feeling of being
buried alive. The dark forests rose on
every side and travel where they might
the pioneers could find no relief from
the incIosing walls. For almost 100
miles in every direction there was no
elevation sufficiently great to overlook
the forest and gladden. the eye wltha
view that would give the imagination
fhe sense of freedom it craved. What
wonder that in such a situation the pio-
neers were sometimes known to climb
the loftiest trees at the risk of their
lives SO as to gain wider prospect such
as they were accustomed to in the civil
liked and pleasingly diversified countries
from which they came.
But this distressing state of affairs is
now a thing of the past. Instead of the
isolation that tortured the pioneers
there is now a danger of overerowding,
instead Of monotony there is overmuch
variety, where numbering stagecoaches
toiled once a week over corduroy rail
road trains pass every hour, and a
Canadian winter is now a season of
leisure and enjoyment.
The village, of Kemoka, where Pres
CON Jax< o,.a -or1~-~r 49,
from 1920 to 1880, was enc Of the
dreariest spots on the continent during
the long winters that then prevailed.
1t was deep in that forest that gave a
name to the Longwoods district, and
the settlers who ~patronized the store,
blacksmith and inevitable tavern were
scattered over a large territory. In such
a place, where companionship was SO
necessary, it was but natural that a
man who had been gently nurtured
could not find it, and during his first
winter young Preston was often on the
verge of despair. In his position as post
master the poverty of the pioneers was
brought home to him more keenly than
in any other way. At that time the
young colony was so ~misgoyerned and
every department of the public service
was so scandalonsly conducted for the
benefit of private individuals that the
extortienate fees charged by officials
frequently made letters cost from 5 % :
shiiiings when they reached the office
at which they we're to be delivered.
Letters from home were naturally the
greatest souroe Of pleasure to these
lonely people, yet many were so poor
that it was impossible for them to pay
these fees. Letters that were not re-
deemed were exposed in the window of
the office, and it was no unusua sight
to see some Of the nnfortunates to whom
they were addressed. gazing at them
with hungry eyes. Sometimes they rec
ogDized the handwriting as that OF a
loved one beyond the sea, and then the
disappointment was all the more bitter.
10 escape from the thoughts and feel
ings provoked by such surroundings and
social conditions the young postmaster
often put on his skates and found relief
in the exhilaratjon he derived from
skimming through the forest along the
CLASSY streams, just al q business d
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-12-24
The Deception of soma.

He gGyly rhymed of mistletoe
And ruby l'ps 50 long. o know
He thought he'd rather Ike TO see
lust what twas in reality.
lie tried. and that young doubling
Thomas
was s~traightway sued for breach OF
promise.
Oh, yes, he still writes little rhymes.
But now OF snow and Christmas chimesf
He pipes his sweet Pierian lutte
TO pay that breach OF promise suiti
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-12-24

Cleanliness is indispensable to success
In most kinds Of cookery, but it is espe-
cially to be observed in the making of all
dishes where the lightness of eggs is to be
attained. A greasy pan. spoon or fork
will spoil theebest intentioned work, even
II everything else be scrupulonsly clean.
PROGRESSED cooks are sensible of the impor-
tance Of this detail and never suffer other
hands than their w to cleanse the bowl
In which eggs for 4 souilie or any other
delicate preparation are to be whisked.
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-12-24

i1Al . 1ffE LII liz a IIlA4 E0Ol h%A7
cE.rDEC INTO TROUBLE"
man who was at home with nature aud
had a way Of making the best of the
rougher side Of life. His wife YVES a
woman who was in every way in accord
with him. and when Preston was usher
ed into the ore room of the hut she re.
turned his greeting shyly, but still
frankly.
""This is the new postmaster, jane, =
the farmer had said by way of intro
duction, "and old MeIchisedec went at
him as if he'd been keepin back a
registered letter, and do yeh know" be
added, with a wink that required fUSy
half of his whiskered face TO execute,
s'he didn't know that today was Christ
mas until ! told him."
The woman looked at her husband
la%ughingly and, understanding the
meaning of his wink, she ehimed in:
"That is funny, but | don't suppose
he'll object to havin his Christmas
dinner with US just the same.
"Well," replied Preston, looking
hungrily at a huge wild turkey that
was browning in a heavy iron pan on
the Goals before the roaring fireplace,
"you may be pokingsfun at me, hut
that old gobbler is no joke. and he
smells appetizing."
TIE bill Of fare. though brief, was of
a kind to Satisfy an appetite sharpened
by vigorous exercise in the open air.
The savory turkey was stuffed with
chestnuts, and there was a large wooden
dish fun Of gteaming potatoes that had
been saved for the occasion. These, with
fresh scenes of johnnycake. completed
the homely banquet.
While they were at the table there
was a. sudden stir in the pieces of blaf-
ket that covered a large sap trough in
the orner and the q~uerulous cry Of q
baby was heard. The mother fastened
to take her child from its primitive
cradle, and while she was Eashing him
the father explained to the guest:
That's the little man that got Mel
chisedec into trouble and made us post
pone Christmas"
"But / don't understand how, . said
Preston.
well, replied his host half humor-
ously, half deiantly, "hardworkin
folks like us never have time for Christ
mas, but when this little fellow came
along it didn't seem jnst right that he
shouldn't have one But things wasn't
ready just in time. Yeh know yourself
there couldn't be no Christmas without
baby havin socks to be hung up, so we
had to shear old Melchisedec to get
wool, and as the socks didn't get made
till tits week we just naturally had to
postpone Christmas until we were ready
for it.
Preston entered into the spirit of tho
occasion aud added a handful Of pennies
to the little doll and string of glass
beads that Santa Claus had left in the
stiff little pair of stockings. and the
shadows were long before he passed the
guard of Melchisedec and returned 10
his lonely office.
TO BE sure!
I'm London they call . store q ehap,
don't theyS"
yes
"And an elevators q lift. isn't itpn
Eyes"
ss1hen / suppose they call an elevator
boy in a store d shoplifter. "-Chicago
Tribune.
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-12-24


cold blasts from Labrador, but in win
ter it Is discomfors realized There 10
hitter cold, and ehe ocean storm brings
with il salt and frozen spray which be-
numb the most powerful The people
are an odd mixture. The first settlers
were Basque fishermen and sailors, and
these were followed in the course Of
time by sturdy Scotchmen from the
highlands and French peasants from
Quebec or from the faraway fatheriand-
English sailors and fishermen were add
ed from time to time, so that the people
Of today are a combination impossible
to match in the nsw world. Like all
jewellers in a cold climate, they have
become devont and conservatives Once
they drank hard, but today prohibition
covers them with her white banner.
Their Christmas day is more like thas
Of the Canadian than of the New Eng
lander or New Yorker. Religious serv-
ices are held, and every one turns out in
his or her best. The clothing is not
what would be called fashionable in
American cities, but it is well adapted
to the cruel climate. Three or four coats
and trousers often mark the man and as
many wooden suits the woman
In nearly every churehyard is q
shrine to some saint, especially to those
connected with the weather. The favor
ite is that of Mary Of the Shows, and
another Anne, who is said to protect
mortals from the torments of the ice.
On Christmas day there are always can
dies burning in these little shrines and
prayers said by wives and daughters
whose husbands are on the mainland or
the rocky, icebound beach. Here
Eco, is kept up the lovely old practice
of the Christmas carols and 1.-THE
waits in Christmas eve groups of
singers go from house to house or else
hold pretty ceremonies Of song in the
village church, while on Christmas day
church and house alike echo to the ia
niliar tunes OF Christmas in both Eng
land ard France. In the afternoon and
evening there are parties where games,
music and dancing pass the hours swift
~ away.
A touching feature of the Gay is ths
OLD French custom Of remembering the
needy This is done after the morning
service in church and consists in the
young people Of families that are pros
porous going with appropriate gifts to
the homes Of the poor. AS you stand on
the village street you will see a hand
some. well dress sd girl struggling witha :
bag OF -four under her arm and with
her brother or betrothed, carrying in
one hand a generous basket Of potatoes
and in the ether one OF fish or meat
Another party xiii be bringing clothes.
dolls and a great Christmas cake, while
a third win be laden down with little
pieces OF raiment, caps and boots for tha
children of some poor neighbor.
1t is a survival OF the olden times
when the lord of the manor bestowed his
bounty upca al of his tenants and in
its present form is as pretty n way OF
observing the day as anything which
can be found
Appropriate.
Clara-Now, I'm all ready for thsban.
How do l look, Jack?
Jaek-You remind me of a dsrvish in
his war dress.
c.ara-oh, you nasty thingl I'll
Jaek-Don't cry, darling. ] simply
meant you were dressed to kill.--London
Punch.
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-12-24
What He Was After.

The Lady In the BackgrouDd-Don's
you think, Tom, that the baron has an
extremely aristocratic air?
Tom-Yes, and he now evidently wants
to acquire q plebeian heiress.-Harlsra
Life.
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-12-24

May-Chzistnsas always puzzles me.
Bello-Hows
May-I don't know whether ! should
DO thankful fos the things / didn't ex-
peut or disappointed about the things
expected and aidnst get
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-12-24
Hin Ealing.

Her Mother-I am surprised at Charles
s~quandering so much money on g phono-
graph.
The Wife-I am not. He always did
like to hear himself talk.-Barlem Lifa
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-12-24

"Eky Is 1t that nine times ont OF ten a
man viii forget what his wife tells him 10
purchaser
Sits to his interess ~-zclsyelsnd Plain
Deaier.
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-12-24

Az Oh b1lc DcntpA
track Of tourist
and health seeker
lies the twin 5
land territory
known as Cape
Breton ~ con-
Meeting link be-
tween Nova Sco-
tia and New-
a~oundland Ii is
cool and pleasant
in summer be-
ing swept by the
sea wind on the
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-12-24
"a POSTPONED
CHRISTMAS
copyright 1888. by the Autsor.l

LII coDiJ ~ O
postponed Christ
mas is a tradition
of the Preston
family; but, like
most traditions,
it requires a few
words of expla-
nation to make it
clear how such
an unaccountable
thing could hap
pen.
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-12-24
CHRISTMAS In
CAPE BRETON.
BIZ hARenEeIrA ARLINA HAMM.

Copyright, 1888. By the Author.l
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-12-24

Clara-Now, I'm all ready for thsbalL
How do l look, Jack? &
Jaek-You remind me of a dsrvish in
his war dress.
C:ara-Oh, you nasty thingl III
Jaek-Don't cry, darling. J simply
meant you were dressed to k~ill.--London
Punch.
The San Francisco call., 1898-04-08

visions of the preceding section, and of the delivery thereof, which books shall at all times show the amount of said material and supplies on hand and in store, and when. to whom, and for what purpose each article was deliver ed. He shall be responsible for all ma terial and supplies in said Yard, and shall not deliver any article except upon the written order or requisition of the President and Secretary of the Board of Public Works, and he shall take the written receipt, indorsed upon said order, of each person to whom any delivery is made, specifying the date of such delivery and the amount and kind of material and supplies de- livered. For any deficiency in his ac- counts or for the delivery of any ar- ticle without such order or requisition and receipt, he shall be liable upon his official bond. All cobblestones, or stone blocks or other material with which any street or portion of street may have been paved or planked shall, if at any time removed from said street, be taken to said Yard, and there kept, accounted for and disposed of by the Storekeeper in the same manner as other supplies.
The San Francisco call., 1898-04-08

der said work to be done and direct said Board to notify said person, company, or corporation of the fact of the pas- sage of such ordinance.
 The Secretary of said Board shall thereupon forthwith in writing notify said person. company or corporation of the passage of said ordinance; and if said person, company or corpora tion shall not within ten days after re- ceiving said notice commence in good faith to do said work and prosecute the same diligently to completion, the Board shall invite sealed proposals for doing said work in the manner provid- ed in this Article; and all the provis- ions of this Article in regard to such proposals, to the awarding of con- tracts, to the execution of contracts, and to the doing of public work, shall apply to all similar proceedings taken under this section. On the completion of the work to the satisfaction of the Board the contractor shall be entitled to recover from such person, company or corporation the contract price for the expense of said york; together with incidental expenses, in an action instituted in a Court of competent ju- risdiction. On the trial of such action, the certificate of the Board of the com- pletion of said work to its satisfaction shall be prtma facie evidence of the regularity or all the prOceeOlngS pr1Or thereto and of plaintiffs right to re- cover in said action
 Sec %. Except as otherwise in this Chapter specifically provided, no or dinance for the improvement of any street other than for sewers, sidewalks and curbs, except for the improvement of the streets constituting or lying along the water front of the City and County, and except for such work as is provided for in the next preceding sec tion, shall be passed by the Supervis- ors without extending said improve ment throughout the whole width of such street.
 Sec. 26 Wherever in this Article the word "street" occurs, it shall be held to include all streets, lanes, alleys, places and courts which have been. or may be hereafter, dedicated and open to public use and whose grade and width have been legally established; and the grade of all intermediate or intersecting streets in any one block shall be deemed to conform to the grades as established at the crossings of the main streets.
 The word improvement" shall be held to include grading, paving, plank ing, macadamizing, piling and capping; and the construction and repairs of sewers, cesspools, manholes, culverts. drains, sidewalks and curbs.