davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Waterbury Democrat., 1900-12-21

came from near by. We were fright. tened by this time, and Billy whis- lpered: "A ghost!'
 'Pshaw!' said, ghosts don't make Ia noise, and there is no such thing, anyway, and I bravely turned my head and looked about us. There it was, coming slowly towards us white and specter- er-like-moying steadi. ly from tree to tree, and you can inn agine our hearts were humping live fly. Billy said, getting close to him, 'hang on to your bag and we'll run I called to Jack, softly: Come on, Jack; drop quick, and you can have half my nuts.
 Before he could answer we heard so1ne one sobbing, and soon voice called out: Oh, boys, come quick! I'm so sorry, so sorry!'
 "This was no ghost, but Sally, hold ing Jacks head in her lap and irving ito revive him. He had fallen from the tree and broken his arm in his hurry to follow us, and, frightened nearly 10 death at being left alone with the ghost. had tainted. Sally then told her story. She had overheard us boys talking one day and knew of our plan Ito coon the nuts. and thought she would have some fun out of it.
 We all went home feeling glad Jacks accident was no worse. Sally told straight story to her people. saying we all went over to her house iand Jack fell from tree. The doctor was there and set his arm, and he was our hero, but no one knew ot our ghost and the stolen nuts"
 ''Is that all?" asked Tom.
 "Nu,' Grandpa Winslow said. "there'. a sequel. At Christmas time we were all invited to Silas Holmes to dinner Ian unheard of thing. and We went with wonder and curiosity sticking out al! lover us. There was big turkey and al: sorts of good things. and in the center of the table great dish of chestnuts but they were not disturbed until even. ing, when we were all invited into the great kitchen. and Siias said while ws roasted chestnuts he would tell us a ltale. Then he told of how when he was Ia boy he fell in the creek and our fat he 1, Dumped in and helped him out. and an. other time when he grew up his house burned. and father and mother tooA him with his wife and Sally into their own home, and kept them until his house was rebuilt. Then when Mrs Holmes died. leaving Sally a little girl mother used to care for her and helped him get along until she was old enough to do the work herself and so he ram. bled on.
 . Father spoke up and said: There , there. Si.as, that will do.' We wondered what was coming. Silas took the big dish of nuts and asked father to empt ! Ithem on the hearth and as the nut: 'rolted out big. yellow envelope fell or top of the pile. Father picked it up anG on it was written: "A Merry Christ mas, from Sally and Silas.'.
 ! Some years before this father hac met with misfortune and was obliged to put mortgage on our home. We boys knew the strugg.e >a was having and how mother was growing sad
Waterbury Democrat., 1900-12-21
Stolen Diamonds Recovered.

ALBANY. Dec. 21.-One of the great est crimes in the history of Albany coun- " and one of the most sensational rob berries of the decade has come to light in the recovery of the $1 ,O0O diamond cross stolen from the residence of Mrs. Fran ces Lintner. widow of Joseph Albert Lintner, on Nov. 15 last. The cross and other jewelry stolen were recovered by Pinkerton detectives. and the crime was fixed on Miss Lucia Johnson. who comes from the state Of Alabama and who was q guest at the residence of Mrs. Lintner
 No charge will be pressed against Miss Johnson on account of the supposed so- cial standing Of her family. and, although she went away from the city escorted by two detectives, she was not under arrest on q warrant charging her with the
Waterbury Democrat., 1900-12-21
THE NOTE APPROVED
Demands Will Be Presented
 Without Alternative.
GERMAN TROOPS GAIN ILL REPUTE,
Punitive Expedition Against Chinese Undertaken In Defiance of Under- standing to the Contrary
 Pending Negotiations

LONDON, Dec 21.-According to a dispatch to the Reuter- Telegram com pany from Picking, dated Dec. 20, the ministers have again decided upon the terms of the preliminary joint note. The dispatch says it is understood that they nave adopted certain British amend ments which will require the approval or various governments and that proba- biy some weeks will elapse before negn- tlatlonS commence.
 All the governments have approved the British amendment" says the Pe- king correspondent of The Morning Post, and the demands will be presented to the Chinese plenipotentiaries without any suggestion of an alternative.
 'Cn many grounds the Germans are gaming worse reputation for severity than the Russians ever had. The coun- try is practically in q defenseless state, moreover. because Count von Walder- see will not allow Chinese troops to do anything. and the foreign troops are ab- sent or engaged in footing.
 Tt is reported that five days ago the German troops visited Lung ching and shot 50 imperial troops who were en- gagged in suppressing Boxers and also killed 80 other Chinese, including three converts. They took POO prisoners, in cluding 30 natives attached to the An glican mission.
 Tn consequence of an appeal from the magistrates. however, the prisoners were liberated in return for the payment of 2O,0OO taels. This punitive expedition was in defiance of the understanding that no such measures should be taken pending the negotiations. The Germans are said to have footed the place.
 The Russian bank, according to a dis. patch to The Daily Express from St. Petersburg, is endeavoring to raise q loan ill New York for rebuilding the Manchuria railway.
 Lord Lansdowne, secretary of state for foreign affairs, has concluded negotia- tions, according to The Daily Mail, by which Russia will, Jan. l, give Great Britain entire control of the railway from Picking to Shan-hai-kwGn.
Waterbury Democrat., 1900-12-21
FROM ENGLISH SOURCES.

An African who had visited England declared snow as rain gone to sleep"
 Joseph Chamberlain usually says his little very we'll but he was guilty of a "bul' not very long ago when in. par Hament he was speaking against bill proposed by another member, and turn ing toward that person said: The honorable gentleman shakes his head -l am sorry to hear it.
 The greatest amateur photographic CT of his day is Sir Benjamin Stone, NJ. P He has about 3O,oO0 negatives that he has taken during a busy lifetime of @ years, and each day the collection grows. Sir Benjamin has also won dis tinetion as an oriental traveller and as . practical scientist and writer on sci entific subjects.
 A Chinese bank note issued during the Ming dynasty, about A. D. 1890, has been placed in the British museum among the specimens of early printing from China. This is supposed to be the earliest specimen extant of bank note issued from any country. and is about 300 years anterior to the issue of the first note in Europe, from Stock. holm.
Waterbury Democrat., 1900-12-21
A BROADWAY INCIDENT.
Pnsscr-By Gives Twice to a Beggar and the BesEar Doesn't
 Stop Him.

One of two men who were walking on Broadway talking was attracted by the appearance of 3 one-legged beg gar who sat, a crutch beside him. on the edge of some steps in front of a store, holding out his hat to the pass ers-by. So he reached in his pocket. pulled out number of coins and took from among them one which he dropped in the beggar's hat. The one legged man inclined his head. not serv- ilely nor humbly, but with a calm and decorous sort of politeness in acknowl- edgment of his gift, says the New York Sun.
 As for the giver, he seemed to take no heed whatever of that acknowledg- ment; he simply kept on talking with his friend; at the time, however. con- tinuing to pick over the money that he held in his hand, and in a moment he dropped another coin in the one-legged mans hat.
 Maybe he thought the first coin was not enough to give; perhaps he gave also for his friend; possibly he had struck it rich and felt flush and gener- ous and wanted to give; he might have been absentminded; but anyhow he gave twice. And as for the one-legged man he. SO to speak. was not carried off his foot by the incident at all; he sat perfectly steady. As the second cci.l dropped in his hat he inclined his head gravely. with an acknowledgm little more pronounced in manner than the first, but with no obsequiousness or foolish show of thanks. This was Broadway, it was business man who was giving him this money. and he was making a business acknowled gnent. And maybe he thought that. if hc did not disturb, by too much profuse*2&s of thanks. what might be a sort of in voluntary or automatic action on the part of the giver who was thus repeat ing perhaps he would keep on giving.
Waterbury Democrat., 1900-12-21

People talk of being all run down, overworked, out of sorts generally.
 Nine times out of ten it is the blood that is out of order. The blood is the life of the system, you know. lift becomes thin or lacking in strength the sys- tenn naturally suffers with weakened system disease finds an easy mark.
 Burdock Blood Bitters is one ofnature' remedies. A purely vegetable compound. It is a blood maker; it strengthens and builds up the system; drives out the disease by removing the cause.
Waterbury Democrat., 1900-12-21
Three Miner on Fire.

WILkESBARRE, Pa, Dec. 21.-Des- pite the efforts of as large a force of fire fighters as can be got into the colliecy the fire at the Delaware, Pine Ridge and Laurel Run mines is steadily gaining Extra men were put on, and lines of hose have been laid to every available open ing, but all without noticeable effect, fop the fire creeps onward steadily and has a firm hold on all the three mines. There seems no way of stopping it by the or dinary means, and the officials are con- sidering the advisa bility of sealing the openings all around the fire and then flooding the mines. This will be done only as q last resort on account of the great expense and the damage to tue mines that it would cause
Waterbury Democrat., 1900-12-21
OAKVILLE HAPPENINGS

All the churches are making their preparations for the proper observance of Christmas
 The trolley cars carry large crowds 10 Waterbury every night to do Christ mas shopping.
 There was large attendance at the poverty dance given by the PequoitS last night in their hall on the Water town road.
 The contributions in the Union chapel next Sunday will be usey for the Christmas entertainment for the sunday school children
 Mrs A. \. Stone has gone to Spring field 10 spend Christmas
 John Bement. freight agent at tnc depot has gone to his home in SaIIs- bury.
Waterbury Democrat., 1900-12-21
WOMAN.

h New Mexico woman is trainnlas- ter on the Southern Pacific
 There were 574 lady patentees out of s6,OC0 applicants at the British patent offices during the last year.
 The ribbons this season are charm ingly varied in lowered. striped and spotted designs. the pannette rio bon being especially soft and rich.
 Various designs in gold effects are made for the hair. and tied prettily at one side with narrow black velvet rib bon. The tendency is toward more rather than less decorations, and for flat. broad effects.
 Every well regulated family should have q soup kettle. Into this go all bones, trimmings and bits both of meat and vegetables. and out of it comes a nutritious and easily digested food suitable alike for invalids and children.
 Mark Twain's daughter has become: in limited degree. a professional sing CT. Her name is Miss Clara Clemens. She has studied in London and Berlin. and her mezzo-soprano is said to be rich and striking.
 Among the black hunters of kanga- roos in western Australia are 27 wom- en. It is professional business and there are about 125 persons who make it their regular business to hunt and capture the animal Is.
 To test the heat of an oven put in q sheet of thin white paper. If too hot the paper will blacken and blaze; if it turns yellow quickly the degree for puff and pastry and that with butter and yeast is attained. Cakes will do better when the paper colors more slowly.
Waterbury Democrat., 1900-12-21
NAUGATUCK NEWS

High School Glee Club Rehearsing
 ''The Village Blacksmith"
 The night schools held their last ses- sion last night until after New Years.
 There was solemn requiem high mass celebrated at St Francis's church this morning for the repose of the soul of Sister Catherine.
 A midnight mass is to be celebrated at the close of the old and the be ginning of the new century. This mass is to be celebrated in all Catholic churches.
 There was a fair sized crowd at the show given by the Waterbury Vaudeville company at the Gem Opera house last night.
 There was a rehearsal of ''The N1l- lage Blacksmith,' by the High school gIee club at the Central avenue school last night. The cantata is to be pre- scented at the Gem opera house on Jan- uary g. There are a number of me voices in the club and the cantata should be good.
 The Naugatuck foot ball team will not be photographed until after Christ mas. owing to the illness of Jacconelli.
 A large crowd was present at the re
  ile dancing class at Pythian hall last night.
 Division No l, A. o. IT., will meet tonight. All members are requested to be present, as business of import ance is to be tranSacIeG.
 Rubber City lodge. \. E. O. F.. will meet tonight. All members are re- Quested to be present as officers for the q rh a hg nlpiTpu
 John Clifford who attends Tufts college, is home for the Christmas hol- idays
 It is reported that when school starts up after the holidays Il vigorous search will be made for truantS.
 The advance agents of the Nashville Students and Gideon's minstrels was tn town yesterday.
 A number of sports from here were disappointed last night as they went 10 Waterbury to see the lights, which were declared off on account of poor attendance
 The condition of James Worrel, who was injured some time ago in foot ball game, remains about the same.
 The commissioners on benefits and damageS to the property owners on Ma1n, Maple and Oak streets will meet to-tporroW morning, when it is Npect- ed that Attorney Sweeney will finish his case for the borough and Attorney Kennedy will start his for the defend ants.
 There were seven tramps at Chief Smiths hotel last night
 The public schools will close for two weeks tonight.
 The glove department of the G. l. R. Glove company's factory will be shut down for two days, Monday and Tuesday.
 All of the stores in town will be open tonight on account of the holidays
 A number of people who work in different factories in town will leave for their homes in different parts of the state tomorrow.
 The ushers and stage hands of Col umbus hall will give a concert and dance at that hall on New Years eve
 There was no session of the bor- ough court this morning.
Waterbury Democrat., 1900-12-21
wATERToWN JoTTINGs

Funeral of the Late James Currie--
 Coming Dance of the w. A. c.
 The funeral of the late James Currie LOOK place from the residence of his mother on Watertown Heights yester- day. The funeral services were large " attended, many relatives and friends pelnS present from out of town. The moral offerings were many and beau- tliul, especially the ones given by his fellow students of the center school. lntefment took place at the Evergreen cemtery. The pallbearers were James D. McGowan, Frank Mattoon, Harold Roberts, Pearl Skilton, Louis Bates and Walter Krantz.
 w. A. c. Dance.
 The coming w. A. c. dance prom Ises to be one of the best ever given hy this popular club The music will be hfst class. The stage program has not as vet been completed. The club officers wish to announce that MT aud Nils John B. Kelley. two of Oakville's $ reSldents. will appear in an original tWenty-minute sketch entitled "A Girl With an Appetite.' which k a very clever piece. Other local stars will alSo apear.
 A polo team composed of several of the EhhE@ men here has been organized ahu Will play their first game with the cakTIlle team in the near future. The game will be played on the Heminway pond.
 A special meeting of the Watertown A. C. will be held at the club rooms, under the hill. this evening.
 The center and all other schools in fln n l,,,- f,,. cation of two weeks. Most of the teachers will leave tomorrow for their respective homes. where they will en- Joy theIhriStmaS holidays.
 Miss Lucy Woodward. T student at Neliesley college. is home for q week
 Charles kilbourne and Samuel Hos klns. both of whom have been sick, are improving slowly.
 Tickets for the coming firemen's fair are selling rapidly. Several canvass ing books have been distributed among the young ladies and il iS hoped that every ono will greet the holders of these books kindly
 Elnathan Black has commenced get ting his ice harvest. The ice is quite good and about eight inches in thick ness.
 Most of the factories here will close tomorrow night until after Christmas.
 MT Blackman. whose house was burned to the ground last summer. ex- poets to build in the spring on the same site as the other
 The stores about town have been decorated for the Christmas trade.
 Wallace Atwood was in Poxbury yesterday afternoon on business
 The condition of Myron McNeil re amins the same
 McNeilS Waterbury and Watertown express is being run by MT Scott.
 ". J. Miller still accommoates sev- erai of his wandering friends nightly.
 The regular meeting of the Water tonW grange was held last night.
 James Shields is now able to con- tlnue his duties, after an illness of q few weeks.
Waterbury Democrat., 1900-12-21
Kramer Wins Bicycle Race.

NEW YORK, Dec. 21--Before a crowd of 5000 persons at Madison Square Garden last night Frank L. kra- mer of East Orange, N. J., formerly amateur champion of America won the 25 mile professional bicycle race by wheels length from Bob Walthour of At lanta, who in turn finished a wheels length in front of Tom Cooper
Waterbury Democrat., 1900-12-21
Noted ClubHyo1no nead

PORTLAND, Me, Dec 21-A dis patch received here announces the death ill San Francisco of Mrs. Philip H. Brown of this city, one of the best known clubwomen in the United States. Mrs Brown went to San Francisco some days ago to meet her son, Captain John H. Brown. who has been invalided home from the Philippines, and was seized with mn
Waterbury Democrat., 1900-12-21
Goshen, III.

Goshen, III. Genesee Pure Food Co. Le Roy. N. Y.: Dear Sirs: Some days since q pack age O. Nour GRAIN-O was left at my office. l took it home and gave it q irial. and l have to say I was very much pleased with it. as substitute for coffee. We have always used the best Java and Mocha in our family, but l am free to say I like the GR-A1N-G as well as the best coffee I ever drank.
 Respectfully yours.
 A. c. JACKSON, NJ. D.
Waterbury Democrat., 1900-12-21
Consul General Stowe Back.

NEW YORK, Dec. 21-J. c. Stowe, consul general of the United States to South Africa, with headquarters at Cape Town, arrived here on his vacation on the new Red Star liner Naderland. He has net been in America for three years and left for his home in Kansas City in order to spend Christmas with his fami- ly, who left Cape Town in June last.
Waterbury Democrat., 1900-12-21
Puddlers Want More Pay.

LEBANON, Pa. Dec 21-The pud- ders in the employ of the Lebanon roll ing mill struck for an increase in pay from $3 to $50 per ton. The company refused to grant the demand. The pud- dlers based their claim for higher wages on the recent advance in the price of iron. About 200 men are rendered idle in con sequence of the strike.
Waterbury Democrat., 1900-12-21
Big Ice Harvest.

NEW YORK. Dec. 21.-There is prom ise of an early and an abundant ice crop this season. Conservative estimates place the harvest from the Hudson liver be- tween the state dam and Waterford bridge at OC,0OO tons. Present indica- tions point to all abundance of good ice all over the northeastern part of the country under exceptionally favorable conditions for cutting
Waterbury Democrat., 1900-12-21
Ny Silent Love.

My love is lying still.
 My love has gone to -5st: Her harGs are lightly creased
 Upon her gentle breast. Tread softly, Whisper lew,
 While l my vigil keep My love is nine months old,
 How sweet she is--aslcept Chicago Times Herald.
Waterbury Democrat., 1900-12-21
Death Sentence Corn1nuted.

WASHINGTON, Dec 21.-Corporal Samuel \. Nelson, Company F, Twenty fifth infantry, was convicted by court martial of murder committed in the Phil ippine Islands and was sentenced to be executed by hanging. The president has comnluted the sentence to imprisoum ent for life at hard labor in the United States penitertary at Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
Waterbury Democrat., 1900-12-21
Ice Cream fn fine Arctics

A favorite dish with the Eskimo is an ice cream made of seal oil, into which snow is stirred until the desired consistency has been obtained; then frozen berries of different kinds are added. This decoction is about as tempting to the civilized palate as frozen cod-liysr oil. -------
Waterbury Democrat., 1900-12-21
SCIENTIFIC.
The jelly fish wraps himself around

The jelly fish wraps himself around his food and thus absorbs it.
 Photographing objects solely by the light from the planet Venus has been successfully accomplished.
 It is remarkable. says F. s. Scales, that weevils never injure the germ of the grain, which therefore grows as well when it has served as a nest for his little pest as previously.
Waterbury Democrat., 1900-12-21
SOLD BY ALL DRUGGISTS.
IOo Big q Job.

Suppose had to run this earth Just half a minute? I'd probably get rattled then,
 And backward spin it. I'd likely mix up sun and air
 In darkness set her; m glad the Lord still holds the iob: Hen do it better $. s. Riser, in Chicago Times -Heral>
Waterbury Democrat., 1900-12-21
Their Wishes.

We pulled the wishbone, she and r.
 She, biushfng, looked away; wished for her and heard her sigh, We pulled the wishbone, she and L. 2. She won the wish and that was why
 I mourned my luck that day. .s We pulled the wishbone, she and I,
 She, biushing, locked away! Yet, though she won the wish she made,
 did not lose: ycu see 1t was double game we played, And go she won the wish she made! 5 4xSt night she told me--ah. the jade!-
 That she had wished for me. Co, while she won the wish she made,
 did not lose. you see z~a T, Kiser. in Chicago Times Herald.
Waterbury Democrat., 1900-12-21
Cities in the United States.

cities which have population exceed. ing 3o,o0o. They have a total popula. ton of 1s,S72,46 The average popula. ton is 14O,S39. a