davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1899-12-21

their hatred of him. At any rate, it
would be a satire on silly tradition,
and, thank goodness, it wouldn't be con-
ventionaL
Mr.. Sidney Payson went into the first
department store and found himself at
the book counter.
"Have you any work which would be
appropriate for an elderly gentleman
of studious habits aud deep religious
convictions?" he asked.
1--WE have here the works Of Flavius
Josephus in two Volumes" replied, the
young woman.
"All right; I'll take them he said.
ST want them for my nephew Fred. He
likes Indian stories"
The salesgirl looked at him wonder
ingIy.
Now, then, want love story said
Mr.. Payson. Il have maiden sister
who is president Of a Browning club
and writes essays about Ibsen. | want
to give her a book that tells about
girl named Mabel who is loved by Sir
Ronald Something-or-Other. Give me
a book that is full of hugs and kisses
and heaving bosoms and all that sort
of rot. Get just as far away from lbsen
and Howells and Henry James as you
can possibly GET
Here is book that all the girls in
the store say is very good" replied the
young woman. 1t is called 'Nirgie's
BetrothaI; or, the Stranger at Birch
wood Manor It's by ImogeRe Sybil
Bcauclerc."
eff it's what it sounds to be it's just
what l want" said Mr.. Payson, showing
his teeth at the young woman with a
deviIish glee. "You say the girls here
in the store like it?"
Eyes; Miss Simmons, in the hand
llerchief-boX department, says it's just
grand"
''All right. III take it."
lie felt his happiness rising as he
went out of the store. His JOY shone in
his face as he stood at the skate, coun-
ter.
81 have a brother who is &c years old
and rather fat" he said to the sales
man. Il don't suppose he's been on
the, ice in 25 years. He wears a No. Q
shoe. Give me pair of skates for him"
A few minutes later he stood at the
silk counter.
What are those things?' he asked,
Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1899-12-21

"You have made me very happy. dear
brother. l feel more closely drawn to you
than at any time since we were all to-
gether at Christmas at the old home on
the North side. Come and see me. Your
loving sister, -
III.
"Chicago, Ill, Dec. 25-Dear Brother:
Greetings to you from the happiest house
hold in Chicago, thanks to a generous
Santa Claus in the guise of Uncle Sidney.
l must begin by thanking you on my own
account. How in the world did you ever
learn that Roman colors had come in
again? l have always heard that men did
not follow the styles and could not be
trusted to select anything for a woman,
but it is libel a base libel, for the scarf
which you sent is quite the most beautiful
thing l have received this Christmas. I
have it draped over the large picture in the
parlor, and 1t is the envy of every one who
has been in to-day. A thousand, thousand
thanks, dear Sidney. 1t was perfectly
sweet of you to remember me- and call it
nothing less than a stroke of genius to
think Of anything so appropriate and yet
so much out Of the ordinary.
John asks me to thank you-but must
tell you the story. One evening last week
we had q little chating dish party after
prayer meeting, and l asked John to open
a bottle of olives for me. Well, he broke
the small blade of his knife trying to get
the cork out. He said: IF l live to get
downtown again I'm going to buy cork
screw Fortunately, he had neglected to
buy one, and so your gift seemed to come
straight from Providence. John is very
much pleased, Already he has found use
for it, as it happened that ke wanted to
open a bottle of household ammonia the
very first thing this morning.
LAS for Fred S lovely books, thank good
ness you didn't send him any more story
books. John and l have been trying to
induce him to take up more serious line
or reading The Josephus ought to help
him in the study of his Sunday school les.
sons. We were plea sed to observe that he
read it for about an hour this morning.
When you were out here last fall did
Genevieve tell you that she was collecting
silk for doll quilt? She insists that she
did not but she must have done so, for how
could you have guessed that she wants
pieces of silk above anything else in the
whole world? The perfectly lovely cravats
which you sent will more than complete
the quilt, and l think that mamma will
get some OF the extra pieces for herself.
Fred and Geneveve send love and kisses,
John insists that you come out to dinner
some Sunday very soon-neXt Sunday If
you can. After we received your presents
we were quite shamed of the box we had
sent over to your hotel, but we will try
to make up the difference ip heartfelt
gratitude. Don't forget, any Sunday.
Your loving sister,
"KATHERINE."
1t would be needless to tell what Mr..
Sidney Payson thought of himself after
he received these letters.--George Ade.
in Chicago Daily Record.
Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1899-12-21

than ever. At length his grandsire suspend.
ed for a moment a morsel of beef half raised
to his mouth, and uttered a word of reproof.
Henry, my boy, it is not right that the
children should talk and the grown ones
listen Remember, you should be very good
tonight. They say that Santa Claus to bad
boys is not kind"
But see" re,orted the lad quickly. II
was good before and what did he bring me !?
Nothing. | wanted a Winchester aud he
brought me tin wagon"
The child would be a man before his
time" put in his grandmother. "He talks
of nothing but guns; and if he had them he
would kill us all, and himself in the bar
gain"
Il would be brave soldier-lile my fa-
ther," said the boy, his eyes filling with
tears.
And be killed by the Indians, as was he"
responded the old ranchman. ''My child, the
Grimms have been soldiers since The earliest
days. | have fought, in my time, with brave
men to lead me on to battle, and | tel you
there is nothing in soldering nothing but
hard work and slavery and bloodshed and
death. IL is a dogs lie; nothing more"
Later in the night, when Wells and Little
Hank were snugIy slowed away in the lat
ter's bed, the question of Santa Claus and
the Winchester came up again, but no
lengthy discussion followed.
1t must have been sometime after mid.
night when Wells was partially aroused by
the knowledge that some one was moving in
the room, and called out to know who it
might be.
"Nobody but me-Hank Grimm Not
gran'paw, but the little one. You know"
But that was quite enough for the SOM
noent gentleman from San Antonio. If the
sentence Has finished he failed to hear its
conclusion. Sometime afterwards, however,
he was aroused again; and this time so thor
oughy that he heard and understood ths
words that awoke him. They evidently
came from the living room into which his
apartment opened, and were uttered at the
top of Little Hank S childish treble.
Thar now. Santa Claus. I've got you this
time, and either that winchester comes or
| downs your meat-house. No tin wagons
for me this Christmas"
There was fierce curse grittingly NUT
tered; the sharp crack of pistol; and then
boom. boom;-two thunderous reports
almost as one, shaking the adobe walls of
the ranch to their foundations. A dense
volume Of smoke rolled into the sleeping
room, but Wells charged through it with
ready rifle, reaching the outer apartment
Just as old Grimm entered from another
door light in hand.
Little Hank lay beneath the huge table,
groaning dsmally and rubbing his shoulder
Otherwise the room was unoccupied; but
window near the door was open, and on the
Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1899-12-21


pond in Washington park on Christmas
day and had more fun for two hours than
I've had in six months. My ankles were
ralner weak and fell down twice, FORUM
ately without any serious damage TO my
self or the ice, but / managed to get around
and before / left | skated with a smashing
pretty girl. Well, SID | have you to thank.
never would have ventured on skates
again if it. had not been for the beautiful
pair which you sent me. ! was little
stiff yesterday, but this morning / went
out again and had dandy time. ] owe the
renewal Of my youth to you Thank you
many times, and believe me to be, as Sver.
your affectionate brother,
WILLIAM"
II.
"Chicaro. Ill Dec. 26-Dear Brother.
The secret is 0utl I suspected II all the
time II is needless for YOU to offer denial
Sometimes when you have acted the cynic
I have almost believed that Won were sin
cere until | have observed in you some
thing which toId me that underneath YOUR
assumed indifference there was q genial
current Of the romantic sentiment of the
youth and the lover How can 7 be in
doubt after receiving your little book-a
love storv2
"T lyroc, cid,o,, 5a,r +b.+ ,,,,, ,,,o,,ps no
r,ar,b.r mo at Cbristr 49, ", bo,ro 81
u,ays boer Tho so,,I aF tho,,oL+f +fnInase O.
,aciaIl,, 10 tbosa of NC ,,bo METEOROLOGICAL 10,
I must confcss however +bat I e,,naCtnG
I-oII 70 5o IT, daa,5I,, oor,,ort tir,,oI +tfrr-
and eard mo sornetbirp, heavy ana enrions
7 lrreuv II would he a bool; An of nv
friends send me books. That comes Of
Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1899-12-21
SO

the Menardyile road cNtricated itself from
the scattered jacals Of Fort McKavctt and
headed out for the open prairie. 1t was
early morning of the oath of December, 1895,
Wells had freshly risen from an unappctiz-
ing and indigcs;ible breakfast of grease-sod-
den tortllas and rancid bacon; had quar-
relied with the hotel keeper over his extor-
itionate charges for the last night lodging;
'was hungry; angry with the sharp sleet that
came drifting against his face from the
northeast; angry with the internal luck"
that doomed him to wander over the wild
'prairies OF southwestern Texas while the
rest OF mankind were happily preparing for
the holiday festivities angry at the abomin--
able cabbage-eat cigar which refused to
yield him solace from his woes; angry with
the world at large and-jUst at that moment
with the disrcputable looking "Greaser'
before him in particular.
Two gold pieces of $50" he growled.
"Where are they? Are they counterfeit?
How did you come by them"
The Mexican gravely held them forth in
his dirty palm for inspection,
"They are gold, senor. They were given
'me by the American, Senor Black-who
sends the meat Of goats across the seas in
cans. The money is the price of 40 goats
that | drove from the Rio Concho.'
Wells regarded the Mexican with search
ing gaze of suspicion.
Il know Col. Bill Black, and his gold is
good. But | think | know you, too You
were in the hotel just now when paid my
bill, and | think | saw you last night at the
store where | bought those cursed cigars.
believe you want to learn if have money,
so you can relieve me OF it farther out on the
plains"
The object of Wells dstrust threw his
arms aloft in humble deprecation.
"The Sacred Mother Knows
'Never mind that nonsense" exclaimed
Wells. roughly. I'm no baby, and I'll take
Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1899-12-21

hard dirt floor lay freshly discharged pis-
tol and a Mexican sombrero.
1T IS robbers that nave been here" ex-
claimed the ranchaan. 1T is Mexican rob
bers and they have shot my boy"
Wells dived beneath the table, brought
forth the injured lad and placed him ten
derly in chair; but he at once struggled to
his feet. Turn loose the dog, gran paw, or
he will git away. It's Santa Claus, and I'm
blamed if he didn't miss me with his pistol
right slap in my face. | never knowed afore
that Santa Claus was an Arkansaw man"
Wells turned from the excited boy and
approached the open window. Below it, and
directly to the right, the whitewashed walls
were torn and dishgured with shot, and
there were great splotches and dark, trick
ling streams OF something like red paint
shining in the light of the lamp.
lie turned to the old German; his fea-
lures pale but collected.
"You will not need the dog" said he.
"The man who tumbled through that win
dow is lying where he fell-and | think
will recognize him when see him"
Wells was right in both his surmises. In
"layin' fer Santa Claus" Little Hank had
taken a step that no midnight marauder
could have foreseen. In forcing an entry to
Grimm's ranch, the Mexican goat-herd.
who had trailed Wells all the way from Nc
Kavett, had gone directly to his death. He
lay outside the window, as he had fasen
when the bulk of two loads of bucEshot had
struck him, and when Little Hank gazed
into his dead face, its pallor more ghastly
still in the lamplight, he screamed and stag
gered back, covering his eyes with trembling
hands.
Il don't want to be a soldier" he sobbed
81 never want to kill another man as long as
l live"
But his sturdy old granddam-descended
no doubt, from long line of warke
Teutons-took him in her strong arms con-
solingly.
"But this man was a robbcr, my dear.
Killing was his deserts, for he came to muir
der us ali in our sleep. You saved our lives,
and now would you turn coward and make
us ashamed!'
1T was not brave deed" growled old
Grimm. "Thc boy thought to shoot Santa
Claus and killed a lazy thief of Mexican in
stead. 1t was a bul's-eye on the wrong tar.
get and no honor is won. Still am glad
it has happened, for it may frightcn his
babyish mind from this folly about soldier.
life and guns"
Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1899-12-21

Teacher lin Sunday school class)-
Now, boys, see if you can remember
what 1 taught you last time. What
does b. c. stand for?
Before Christmas!"-Judge
Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1899-12-21

pointing to some gayly colored silks
folded in boxes.
"ThoSe are scarfs.'
"Well, if you've got one that has all
the colors of the rainbow in it III take
it. l want one with lots of yellow and
red and green in it. l want something
that YOU can hear across the street.
You see, have a sister who prides her
self on her quiet taste. Her costumes
are marked by what you call 'unobtru-
sive elegance Well, | think she'd die
rather than wear one of those things,
so / want the biggest and noisiest one
in the whole lot"
The girl didn't know what to make
of Mr.. Payson's strange remarks, but
she was too busy to be kept wondering
Mr.. Payson's sisters husband is the
president of a church temperance so
ciety, so Mr.. Payson bought him buck
horn corkscrew.
There was one more present TO buy.
Let me see" said Mr.. Payson. What
is there that could be of no earthly use
to a girl six years old?"
Even as he spoke his eye fell on a
sign: Bargain sale of neckwear."
81 don't believe she would care for
cravats," he said. II think I'll buy some
for her"
He saw box of large cravats marked
"25 cents each"
"Why are these so cheap?" he asked.
"Well, to tell the truth, they're out
of style"
That's good l want eight of them
oh, any eight will do. l want them
for a small niece of mine-a little girl
about six years old"
Without indicating the least surprise
the salesman wrapped up the cravats.
LETTERS RECEIVED BY MIR. SID
NEY PAYSON IN NACKNOWL WLEDGM MENT
OF HIS CHRISTMAS PRESENTS:
"Chicago, H., Dec 27.-Dear Brother:
Pardon me for not having acknowledged
the receipt of your Christmas present. The
fact is that since the skates came l have
been devotinG so much of my time to the
reacquiring of one of my early accomplish
mentS that ! have not had much time for
writing. I wish l could express to you the
delight I felt when l opened the box and
saw that you had sent me pair of skates.
1t was just as if you had said TO me: VIII,
my boy, some people may think that you
are getting on in years, but l know that
you're just the same a s ever l suddenly
remembered that the presents which had
been receiving for several Christmases
were intended for an old man. l have re-
ceived easy-chairs, slippers, mufiiers,
smoking Jackets and the like. When / re-
ceived the pair of skates from you | felt
that 20 years had been lifted off of my
shoulders. How in the world did you ever
happen to think OF them? Did you really
believe that my skating days were not
over7 Well, they're not. l went to the
Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1899-12-21

And so Kris Kringle did not visit the
ranch that night, and Little Hank had to
wait for his rihe--but not, as it CHANGED. so
very long, after all. Arriving without
farther incident at his destination, Wells
first care was to visit the different gun,tores
of San Antonio upon an errand the nature of
which can be easily guessed. On New Years
Eve the Mckavett stage halted at Grimms
ranch to deliver package, and a few min.
utes later the heart of the younger Hank
was beating high with elation. Snugly
packed in a neat box lay two gurs--a tiny
winchester and light breech- loading shot.
gun. 1t was present fit for king, and
costler one than Jack Wells slim purse
could have stood unaided; but his employ.
ers had been told how their thousands were
saved and graciously donated two per cent.
of the entire amount towards rewarding the
principal actor in that Christmas Eve tras,
edy at the Two Boot ranch"
6. d. BARNES,
Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1899-12-21

SIDNEY PAYSON
was full of the bit
terncss of Christ
mastide. The Pay
sons had b e e n
reared to Christ
Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1899-12-21

encouragement belong.
Pause from thy Hirth awhile to ease the
load
Thy weary neighbor bears along life's road.
IT'S not enough, the love so true and ten
der,
Plighted to-day beneath the m!stletoe;
The faith of friends, the sacred ties of
kinship-
Upon this day more warmth our hearts
should know.
Let thy love flow, as boundless as the sea,
Into the hearts of all humanity.
'Tis not eiough, the dainty Christmas
token,
Though loving hearts with generous zeal
have glowed:
The bounteous charity, though free and
tender,
Is small beside the gift Gods love be-
slowed.
But one fit offering maycst thou impart,
Give unto Him pure and loving heart.
Adelaide ID. Reynolds, in Union Signal
The White Pine news. [volume] (Treasure City, Nev.) 1868-1906, 1899-11-02
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
s1ATE LAND OFFICE.
Carson CITY. nevada. Sept. %.

s1ArE LAND OFFICE.
Carson city. nevada. Sept. % ssgs
NolIcE rs HEREBY GIVES THAT THE
y state Of Nevada. under an Act Of Con
gresx approved June 16. 1850 (2i stats. SD. has
filed in the United States Land ONCE at Car
son City Nevada. List No. 2s3 of lands selected
under said Act, and-has applied fora patent
for said lands: that part Of said list is open 10
the public for inspection, and copy thereof,
by descriptive sub division'. has been posted
in a convenient place in slit uuted States
Land Once for TIE inspection of all person IN.
terested and tie pu iii generally.
Within ths newt sixtydays following TIE date
Of this notice protests or contests again the
claim Of sid At Of Ssyatt u any tract or
subdivision described in the list on The ground
that tn same IS moe valuable Tor mineral
than agricultural purposes. VII he received
and noted by tls Reeistsr IA Receiver 81 the
United States Land q Heat Carson city Ne.
vada, for report to ae Geier1i Lanl Odioe At
Washington. D. c,
The followin are TIA subdivisions daserib-
cd. to-wit. S. T.. y of y T.. = sec. 90 T. II n.
K. 50 T., u D. q. 4. n 10 acres.
Ed KELLEY,
| State Land. Register ofthe state of Nevada
Date Of first Insertion, October 5th. 1889. low
The White Pine news. [volume] (Treasure City, Nev.) 1868-1906, 1899-11-02
a GOOD SCHEME.
A Proposition to Give The Sold
iers a Medal.

The Reno Gazette has undertaken to
raise funds enough to present each OF
the volunteers who enlisted to fight our
battles with Spain with suitable med
al-sither of bronze or silver. IL i
thought the medals will cost from 81 81
TO 81 apiece, and as 5s4 men enlisted
that number Of medals viii be required
Up to October Both the Gazette had
raised s1+6 81 and asks that patriotic
citizens from other parts of the State
contribute what they can. Any con-
tributions sent to the Gazette will be-
publicly acknowledged and deposited
In the Washoe County Bank until a
committee of contributors is appointed
and the money turned over to said com
mites to buy and pay for the badge
they may select.
It Is not the, intrinsic Value of the
badge that tic. boys viii appreciate. but
they will be pleased with the knowledge
that their services were appreciated by
those of us who did not answer our
country's call in time Of need.
The White Pine news. [volume] (Treasure City, Nev.) 1868-1906, 1899-11-02

1t viii not he a surprise to any who
are at all familiar with the good quail.
ties of Chamberlain's Cough Remedy,
TO know that people everywhere take
pleasure in relating their experience IN
The use Of that splendid medicine and
in telling OF the bane6t they have re-
ceived from u, Of had colds ii has cured,
of threatened attacks of Pneumonia 10
has averfed and II tho children Il has
ing cough. IL l. a grand. good medi-
cine Fur sale b F. NJ. Clark, drug
gist.
The White Pine news. [volume] (Treasure City, Nev.) 1868-1906, 1899-11-02
A WEEKS FIGHTING IN SOUTH
AFRICA.

Tho censorship established by the
English Government over the dispatch
es from South Africa Is so rigid, that
full and satisfactory accounts OF the en-
gagements that have taken place be-
tween the Beers and the British are
impossible to obtain. From such gar
bled dispatches as have been published.
however, we have made the following
summary Of the weeks operations:
The British forces at Dundee, Natal,
under General Yule, we're mbarded
I By the Beers on the 20th, and on the
next day evacuated the town, ahandOn-
| ing their wounded and corsi leraDle
baggage The Boers, owing to the
poor organization OF their intelligence
department, failed TO take advantage
OF the situation. and General Ynle ar
rived safely with his men on the 10Th
at Ladysmith. where General White
and the main British force is located.
A battle look riacS al Reigfonteiu
moth - Lad Fsmith On Tuesday. when
! General Whi,- s'icceeesd in dislodging
. .orce Of Orange Free State Beers
I frem strong position. The English
losses were IL killed and 80 wounded
Boer losses heavy, but unknown.
General Symons, who was wounded
at the battle of Gl.ncoe, died ON We'd
nesday at Dundee in the hands OF the
1 Beers.
The total British casnalties in Natal
reported up to last Thursday. are -
officers and 10 men killed, and 81
officers and 49, men wounded. This il
an unusu lily large percentage and con
firms the stories Of Boer mIrksm inship
Besides, squadron Of Hussar-, con.
sisting OF about 81 officers and men, arr
in the hands Of the Bars.
A dispatch from Pietermariizburg.
Natal, dated the 9th. says that 9s'
Boer prisoners had arrived there that
morning.
The news from the western frontier
il even more unsatisfactory than tina
from Natal. The British at Kimberly
made sortie. about $40 strong, and
with the aid of armed trains routed {
force OF 700 Beers, after hsrl fighting
BOtha. Il member nf the Volksraad ant
famous Dutch fighter, was killed.
The White Pine news. [volume] (Treasure City, Nev.) 1868-1906, 1899-11-02
DRAINING THE coMsTocK.
The Risdon Hydraulic System Is
An Entire Success.

The Virginia Chronicle says that the
vast column of water being lifted to tie
Sutro tuun,l level by the Risdon h,-
draul;c system will be realized by COM
pairing the weekly measurements made
at the Chollar-Combinat shaft
more than a mile south of the c. & {.
These measurements disclose that since
the installment Of the Risdon hydraulic
system the water has been lowered 50
feet In the Characterization shalt
below where it stood when draining the
flooded levels began. The stage of
water in the Belcher shaft in Gold Hill
over two miles distant-also showed
that it was being lowered as rapidly as
In the Chollar-Combination, when the
last measurement was taken prior to the
suspension of underground work in that
mine. This proves eonclusiyely that
the Risdon hydraulic system is drain
ing the entire Comstock and that II
surpasses in efficiency that OF the pom
derous Cornish pumping plants in oper.
alton along the entire lode prior to the
suspension Of deep mining.
At the c. & C. shaft, where the pump
is located, the water had been lowered
last Thursday to point l2l feet and }
inches below the 1850 station. or total
of nearly 800 feet since commencing
operations.