davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1899-12-21

liam was well enough to be lett We
were all delighted, the more so We,
cause we thought that now salnue'
could stay and have our Christmas
tree with us. He laughed and thanNeu
us when we said so, but in molllei'.
afterward | noticed that he LOOKUP
very sober, even sad. Well, thinking
over everything made me very WIue
awake, and l guess it must have pech
as late as IL o'cl5ck when l was sure
heard somebody down stairs III tne
sitting room, which was directly unuci
our room. l thought at once tnat !.
might be robber and perhaps ought
to speak to Samuel in case he shouIu
not hear the noise. waited TIL
heard the noise again very plain anu
was sure that | knew where 1t was
some one trying to open the door OF the
dark bedroom, which stuck ana hau
to be forced down before pulling. Inc
children did not awake, and l maze
up my mind that l would not speak 10
them and get them scared to death.
thought that l would go down stairs
very softly, steal past the sitting room
door and so through the other way 10
the kitchen and wake up Samuel
got up and put on my dress. Then
l went down stairs. and l don't be-
lieve l made any more noise than
cat. l saw a faint light shining from
the dark bedroom, and l knew had
not been mistaken. Then all of sud
den thought that father and mother
might have come home and father be
looking to see if the money was safe
l thought would make sure before l
called Samuel.
l went into the sitting room and
crept across to the dark bedroom, keep
ing close to the wall. / peeked in, and
there was Samuel rummaging in the
chest where the money was. Then
knew that, however good Samuel
might be in other ways, he would take
things. 1t was an awful shock.
wonder why l did not scream and run,
but l kept still. l went back up stairs
and locked myself into the chamber
Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1899-12-21
HOLLY SUPERSTlTlONS.
Old English Legends In Connection
With the Tree.

Old English Legends In Connec tion
With the Tree.
Many are the legends and supersti-
tons connected with the holly. Old
authors write Of the tree as the hulwer
and the holm, while in our old ballads
it is nearly always the holm tree. 1t is
as the holm that Spenser includes it
among the trees that grew in the forest
where Una and her gentle knight
sought covert" Coles, in his quaint
Herbal" tells us that the smaller
branches of the holly may be used in
decorating houses and churches, and
that those of larger size are very
necessary for carriers to make whips
and for riding rods" and (which may
seem a little strange" to the reader
who knows no better, zone Of his
orchard Of that bigness that, being cut
down, he caused it to be sawed out in
boards, and made himself a coffin"
In some parts of Yorkshire curiously
enough, to this day it is believed that
If more ivy than holly is used in the
Christmas decorations the wife will
"wear the breeches' for the ensuing
year. An old farmer was once seen
pulling down the ivy with which the
kitchen was decorated. III ha' moan
o. this" he whispered to his squire.
In Yorkshire, too, they have the beau
tiful superstition that Christmas is the
one feast Of the year in which the fai-
ries may rejoice; they may hear the
holy name without having to fee and
hide and they have been heard to join
in the carols. Once little elf child,
we are told, was forgotten by some
mischance, and was heard weeping
and wailing up and down the house.
though none saw him till Whitsuntide.
Speaking of this to an old woman in
Devonshire, she assured US that the
fairies had left the child '.of purpose"
If any one had had wit to sprinkle
(chrsten) him, he never would have
gone back to his people. but would be-
come a Christian child.
The holly used for decorations. both
in church and house, should be taken
down on Candlemas eve. or misfortune
will come on parish or people. In TAX
ing down holly in some parts of Eng
land it is thought unlucky to prick the
finger if blood comes, but if a leaf
stick to dress or coat it is a good omen.
In old days branch of holly picked on
Christmas eve was as efficacious as the
rowan. or mountain ash. in. protecting
from witches and warlocks or evil
spells. twig. brought from church.
might be kept. like the Eastern palm.
for the same purpose. Your cattle. too.
will thrive, and your sheep and goats
bring forth twins if you fasten up n
bit of holly in stall or manger or fold.
that Gods creatures may rejoice with
man on the anniversary of his biz th.-
Monthly Packet.
Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1899-12-21

ton. We knew Mr.. Stackpole. He
was the man to whom father had sold
his woodland. 81 went to visit my
sister last week." said the man. 81
haven't got any settled work. Yester-
day my sisters husband saw your ia.
Their, and he told him how he had left
you all alone up here and felt sort of
worried, and l thought as long as
was just loafing around and no use to
anybody might just as we'll come up
here and look after you little and
stay till your folks got back and look
out there didn't any wolves or robbers
or anything get YOU" The man laugh
ed again in such a pleasant, merry
way when he said that, and then he
went on to tell us that his sisters hus-
band said Uncle William was better
and the doctor thought he would get
we'll, but he guessed father and moth
er would have to stay there for awhile.
We asked the man in, and he made
himself at home at once.
1t seemed to me | had never seen
man so very kind as he was, and he
was so quick to see things that needed
to be done. He went out of his own
accord and drew a pail of water, and
he brought In wood for the sitting
room fire. We children all agreed
when we went up stairs to bed that
night that there never was a man so
good, except father. We had told
him our plans for Christmas, and he
was so much interested. He said of
course we could have a tree. He
would cut fine tree, and if Uncle
William was not well enough for IA
Their and mother to leave him on
Christmas day he would go to Ware
willie himself and stay with Uncle Will
liam, so they could come home. He
said, too, that he could go down to the
village on foot, and if we would make
out list of the things we wanted he
would go down and buy them for us.
He went the very next day. We gave
him all our money, and he brought
back everything we wanted. We de-
cided to make him some presents, too,
Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1899-12-21

Their" said Samuel. "Did your father
tell you where the money was"
Eyes, he did" l answered. 1 had to
or tell a lie. l trembled for the next
question.
Where did he tell you it was?" ask
ed Samuel
"In the chest in the dark bedroom"
said l. That was the truth, and it did
no harm.
Whereabouts in the chest"
"In the secret drawer"
ooh! SO there's a secret drawer. Did
your father tell you how to open it,?
/ said he did.
'Well, you just come in here and
show me how to open it," said Samuel.
l went with Samuel into the dark
bedroom and showed him how to open
the drawer. l could see nothing else to
do. | stood back while he opened it. l
wondered if it would be wrong for me
to cry out as if l were astonished when
he discovered that the money was
gone. Then all of sudden l heard a
sound that made my heart jump with
Joy. l heard sleighbells and then IA
theirs voice shouting to the horse.
Father has come" said l.
Samuel made one leap and was gone,
rushing through the kitchen and out
the back door.
ran and unbolted the south door,
and there were father and mother,
come home sooner than l expected.
When l saw their faces, l just broke
down and sobbed and sobbed and told
them all about it in such queer snatch
es that they thought at first l was out
of my mind. Father said afterward
that he never heard such tumble of
popcorn balls and secret drawers and
Samuels. When father fairly under
stood what had happened, he lighted
the lantern and searched out in the
barn and the sheds to be sure that
Samuel was not lurking about the
premises. but he did not find him. Fa-
Their said he knew the man; that he
belonged to a good family, but had
been sort of shiftless and unlucky.
When we were all settled down
again for the night and / felt so safe
and happy with father and mother at
home, | could not help feeling troubled
about poor Samuel out in the storm. |
hoped he would not die of cold and be
found dead when the snow melted in
the spring. There was quite severe
snowstorm. That was the reason why
father and mother had reached home
so late. They had been Obliged to drive
II, = .syagr
snow.
We were just sitting down to our
Christmas dinner next day when we
all stopped and listened. Then the
sound came again, and we were sure
Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1899-12-21
that somebody was out in the storm

that somebody was out in the storm
calling family for help.
at is the man. said mother. "Do go
quick IS you can" Mother had been
worrying about Samuel all day. She
said she did not want him to perish If
he had tried to wrong us, and father
had been all around the farm looking
for him. He thought, however, that he
had gone down to the village the night
before.
We opened the door, and we could
hear the calls for help quite plainly.
Father pulled ON his big boots and
started out. The storm was very thick.
Soon we could not see father, but we
could hear his shouts and the faint
cries in response, and then we saw ia
Their coming back half carrying Samuel
J. Wetherhed.
Samuel was pretty well exhausted,
besides being frightened and ashamed
when he saw where he was, back in
the house of the man he had tried to
rob. He tried to stop on the threshold
of the outer door, spent as he was. Il
guess you-don't-know," he began
but father interrupted him. Come
along inv' cried father in hearty way
that he has. you have been good to
my children, and as long as you didn't
do what you set out to there's no use
talking about it."
Samuel was pretty we'll exhausted.
He had spent the night in an old barn
on the other side Of the mountain and
had been f1oundering about in circles
all day, trying to find the road. How
ever, he was able to eat some Christ
mas dinner with us, though he hesitat-
| ed about that, as he had done about en-
tering the door, and all of sudden he
dropped his knife and fork, bent his
head down over his plate, and we saw
that he was crying, though we tried to
take no notice.
Samuel staid with us that night and
was present at the Christmas tree,
though he seemed very sober and dash
ed his hand across his eyes a good
many times when his name was called
out and he got his little presents.
| The next day the storm had stopped
and father put the horse in the sleigh
and took Samuel down to Lebanon to
take the train. We never saw him
again after he had shaken hands with
US all and thanked mother in a voice
that trembled so that he could scarcely
speak and father had driven him off il
the sleigh.
That day we girls pulled the corr
balls to pieces and found the bills in
side, not sticky at all. The next day
father took the money to the bank
though he said he didn't know but corr
balls were safer, since robbers knew
that money was in banks but he didn'
think they had any suspicion Of its be
ing in corn balls.
We spent the next Christmas in ou
old home in Wareville, for father ant
Uncle William had made up and WI
had gone back there to live. We had /;
tree, and the day before Christmas
great box came by express with
handsome present for each of us. Their
was no name sent with them. but W
always knew as well as we wanted tC
and father and mother thought SO. Toe
that they had come from Samuel J
Wetherhed, who, we had heard, ha'
settled out west and was doing yer,
we'll
Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1899-12-21

and sat down on the edge of the bed
to think. 1t did not seem to re that
1t was of any use for me to stay down
stairs and watch Samuel. l did not
think he could find out the secret
drawer without any help. l could not
stop his taking the money if he was
determined. Then, too, l reasoned that
If he did not find it that night there
would be time enough for me to hide it
tomorrow, and father and mother were
coming home mex. day.
did not sleep any that night 1 took
of my dress and lay down. Before
daybreak l had my plans all made.
tried to treat Samuel just as usual
when l saw him in the morning, and
guess l did. After breakfast l carried
pitcher of water into the parlor as
II | were going to water the plants.
Then l lighted a match and touched 1t
to one of the candles on the Christmas
tree to make it appear as if had only
wanted to see how it would look. and
then l touched it to the tree, and it
blazed up. l waited until dared wait
no longer, and then | dashed on the
water and screamed fire at the top Of
my lungs. They all came running in,
Samuel first. He rushed for more wa
ter, and the fire was out In q minute,
but the tree was badly singed, and the
children began to cry.
"Now, don't you cry" said Samuel
"I'll go this minute and cut another
tree
So Samuel started off and Charley
with him, and then | made Flory and
Janey go up stairs. You two have just
got to go up stairs and stay there while
| fix surprise" said 1. Surprises were
favorite amusement with US children.
Flory and Janey laughed and ran off
up stairs in a minute.
| set some molasses on to boil. Then
| got the money out of the secret draw
er and made six little parcels of it. roll
ed as tightly as | could and wrapped
in letter paper. Then as soon as the
molasses was boiled | made popcorn
balls. Luckily had enough corn pop
ped. When l called the girls down
Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1899-12-21

and l began little wash leather mon
ey bag, like the one l had made for ia
Their. Flory made penwiper and
Janey a worsted bookmark.
Samuel J. Wetherhed cut a beautiful
tree for US, taking us all into the
woods to pick it out. Then he set it
up in the parlor so firmly that it did
not shake. He rugged some sockets
for candles and helped us string pop
corn for decorations and make candy
bags. He could sew as well as moth
er. Samuel ]. Wetherhed was the most
Industrious man l ever saw. He was
not idle a minute. He MIXED and did
all the barn chores, he made the fires
and drew water and swept the floors
and washed the milk pals for me, and
all his spare time he was at work up
on our Christmas preparations as bust
ly as we were. He found some boards
and tools of fathers and made some
wonderful things with them. There
was a nice box. which he showed US
how to line with flannel, for mother
to keep knives and forks in, a little
boat for Charley and a number of 9TH
er things.
l felt much easier In my mind about
the money after Samuel j. Wetherhed
came.
We had given Samuel the bedroom
out of the kitchen to sleep in. He said
he would rather have that, because it
was so handy for him to build the fire
in the morning, and l did not have the
first suspicion that anything was
wrong until the night of the day but
one before Christmas. l had been
sleeping well since Samuel came,
through feeling so safe, though | had,
as | afterward remembered. often
started awake, because | thought |
heard a noise, but that night | did not
go to sleep as soon as usual | was
very much excited thinking about
Christmas and father and mother COM
ing home. Samuel had gone down to
the village that morning and got a let
ter for me from mother in which she
said that they were coming home
Christmas morning, since Uncle Will
Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1899-12-21
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Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1899-12-21
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Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1899-12-21
| HAVE 4 FARM

three miles from Cambridgport, Vt.
of 400 acres with wood and lumber
enough on it to pay the price asked.
Buildings are in good repair, has a
good lot of fruit of all kinds, is on
the main road to Chester. Price is
way down.
l have customer for a house
with land enough for a good garden
in some nice village. Price about
$1,000.
The times., 1899-06-11
A PECULIAR LEGACY.
Mother of the Beneficiary Sues to
Recover $50, 900.


Winchester, Va, June 10.-Mrs. Mary
r. Trundle. of this city. has instructed her
attorney, NJ. NJ. Lynch, to institute pro-
ceedings to obtain possession of a legacy
of $4,000 left her daughter. Miss Hattie
A. TrundIe, who is now dead, under the
will of the late Adoph Sutro, the former
millionaire mayor of San Francisco. Cal.
About twenty years ago Miss Trundle was
travelling in the West and became ac-
quainted with Sutro and his family. Later
she appeared as chief witness against him
in divorce suit brought by his wife. In
order to weaken Miss Trundies testimo-
ny. it is alleged that Sutro caused stories
rejecting on her character to be published
in several Western papers. Miss Trundle
went TO Europe. where she died in 1891
Her body is inferred in the Sacred Heart
Catholic Cemetery in this city.
When Adolph Sutro died last August
the eighteenth clause Of his will was found
to contain the following: Il will and be-
queath to Miss Hattie A. Trundie the sum
of $50. 600 as a slight reparation for a
great wrong done her" The wrong" is
supposed to be the newspaper publications
referred to. Her mother. Mrs. Mary r.
| Trundle. who is the only heir, is now seek
| ing to obtain the legacy. Mrs. Trundle
was not a party to the suit which alleged
| heirs brought to break the Sutro Will and
which was afterward compromised.
The times., 1899-06-11
FISHERMEN AT WAR.
Hand-Line Mem ut Holly Beach@Mu-
tilcte Nets

-
Sea Isle City, n. j., June 10.-Serious
trouble is brewing between hand=lihe
fishermen and the owners of twou-.big
pound nets on Five Mile Beach. The hand
liners have drawn first blood, for they
have almost destroyed the two big pound
nets. The trouble began some time ago
when a number of the eighty Swedish and
Norwegian fishermen who~go to the-Five
Fathom fishing bank every day threatened
to destroy the pound nets. Some time be-
tween Saturday night and Monday morn
ing the chains and ropes that held the
pound nets in position were cut in numer-
Gus places. The nets were also badly
mutilated, and for three days the pound
net fishermen have been unable TO lift
their nets. The damage amounts to a
considerable sum. as the, nets were, almost
ruined.
Recently the many hook-and-line fisher
men who rendezvous at Holly Beach have
experienced considerable Inconvenience by
the pound fishermen monopoliZing the
space at the Holly Beach fish platform.
where fish are barreled up for shipment.
Then, too, the hand-line fishermen claim
that while the pound -netters catch thou
sands Of 'mossbunkers," which are nom
marketable and only fit for use as bait for
sea bass fishing. they refuse to sell this
bait TO the men who use the hand line on
the banks"
Game Warden Hilton and Capt John
Taylor. of Anglesea. who are the managers
and part owners of the pound nets. say
they will do everything in their power to
| apprehend the men who mutilated their
nets. Detectives are now at work on the
case %
The times., 1899-06-11
General wood Coming Home

Major General Wood, U. S. ". Military
Governor of the Province of Santiago de
Cuba, has been granted leave OF absence
in order that he may accompany his family.
which is now in Cuba, to his summer resi-
dence in Long Island. General Wood, his
wife. and three children will leave Santa
go Wednesday on the steamer Dewey for
Boston. After seeing his family comforta-
bly, domiciled at the summer resort, Cen
eral Wood will probably visit Washington
TO confer with the President in reference
to Cuban affairs. He will then return 10
his post of duty. General Wood wrote tn :
department some time ago requesting per-
mission to bring his family TO the United
States, as he did not care to have them re-
main in Cuba during the rainy season. His
visit in no way pertains to Army business.
it is said at the department, and If he stops
in Washington on his way south it wi
only be to pay his compliments to Presi-
dent Mckinley.
The times., 1899-06-11
THE WYOMING BANDIT WAR.
Scouting Parties stin Pursuing the
Daring Railroad Robbers


Casper, Wyo., June 10.-The authorities
continue to send out scouting expeditions
after the bandits who dynamited the Union
Pacific express train. The whole State is
in state of war, and there Is not town
in Northeastern Wyoming that has not
armed and sent out a posse Still 1t looks
as IL the road agents are safe in their lair
in the Hole In the Wall"
Adjutant General Sitter states that there
is probability that in the event of the
posses now operating against the Hole in
the Wall outlaws being unsuccessful.
State troops will be sent against the ban
dts There is a well organized company
of the Wyoming National Guard at Dou-
glas, the home of the Sheriff Joe Hazen
who was killed Monday by the outlaws and
the soldiers have volunteered to a man for
the work. The company is composed of
some OF the finest horsemen and rife shots
in the West. and should they be ordered
out they Will surely give a good account
OF themselves.
A Casper man who came in this morning
states that it is generally believed the fugi-
tIves will continue north along Powder
River where there are numbers of old
time cattle rustlers who will give the ban
dts all the aid, shelter. and horses they
may want. The Hole In the Wall coun-
try Is now occupied by three or four big
sheep outfits. owned by well-known stock
men. who will not give any assistance to
the bandits. The difficulties OF the chase
are shown from the story OF one of the
posse who was with Sheriff Hazen when
he was killed. After the fight It was found
the posse had passed within thirty feet OF
the bandits. who were crouching in the
sage brush Hazen was ambushed and kill
ed by the robbers at a distance Of seventy
! FIVE feet.