davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Worthington advance., 1900-04-13
Sunshine in Shady Places.

While Easter is for every age and
condition, there are none to whom it
can have deeper meaning than to the
invalid and to the aged, and none to
whom loving ministrations can brin 3
truer joy. The beautiful lilies, the
helpful Easter booklets, the appropri-
ate pictures, the written verse, the
bright greeting, are thrice welcome to
the "shut-ins" who have less varied
sources of happiness than have 9TH
ers. Let them not be forgotten, the
aged mother in the neighbor's home
nor in ones own-the fever GONZALES
cent in the hospital, the cripple in the
laundress' family, the suffering daugh-
ter in the house on the hill. The ex-
preston need not represent expendi-
ture of money. 1t may take the form
of letter, dainty and cheerful, or of a
short poem, prettily copied, delivered
personally or by post, and if a flower go
with the Easter message so much the
sweeter is it.
The observance of Lowell's in]unc-
tion, to make sunshine in life's shady
places" is never more fitting than at
Easter-tide, when it is right that mind
and heart sunshine should be the por-
tion of all.-Chicago Standard.
The Worthington advance., 1900-04-13

ments: But the greatest bea utu1s. Wa.
the soft light in her changed eyes.
On 2 lovely summer. morning. Lii
Burdell, plump and rosy from weeks g.
care and Kindness, stood on the buck
porch of the Gleason farmhouse, scat.
tering corn Lo flock of hens. Mrs;
Hill sat near, shelling peas freshly
picked in the morning dew; and Thusa
Hill Gleason, docking years younget
and prettier, was stirring in q house.
wifely fashion about her spacious
kitchen, getting ready substantial
breakfast j. Est
"Look, grandma" said ILL, ''aint
they pretty? An squawkin' jes' like
they did the Gay came for the eggs.
an neither me nor them a-dreamin]
how soon we'd all be livin' here to,
gether." &*-f,.s =
All, Lill, you little guessed what you
were doing that day, when you stopped
at the wrong house-the first house
where the hens were "a-squawkin'!,'
Nor did your Miss Thusy-who will al:
ways be ''Miss Thusy" to you-realize,
on that cold spring: evening, that the
ragged, tempted little tramp, with
whom she shared her own scanty meal,
was an angel entertained unawares.-
Leslie Dane, in Good Housekeeping. :
The Worthington advance., 1900-04-13
MA4feH mirrors.

In Japan whatis known as the magic
mirror is seen everywhere. According
to japanese myth, the first magic
mirror was inventedsto tempt the sun
goddess to ecomeaout of a cave in
which she5had secreted herself. On the
back of thesmirrorare seen birds, flow
ers, dragons and psychological scenes,
in raised designs, artistically executed.
When looked at directly the real mir
ror refectss the object in front of it.,
just the same as an ordinary mirror
does, but when a bright light is re-
flected from its highly polished sur
face on to screen there is at once de-
picted on the screen a bright-lined i'm
age on Clark ground, representing the
raised design on the back of the mir
rom. Y. World.
The Worthington advance., 1900-04-13

herself for wasted time and strength,
crept into bed beside her adopted
child. ..-a}$
Henry Gleason was also keeping
vigil with memory. A chance word
with Nathan Burnside had led to IN
explanation of that summer evening
ride SO long ago. Was it too late to
sue for pardon? Would Thusa be de-
ficient in proper pride, if she would
listen to a second avowal? She still
remained Young and lovable in his
eyes. Yet, after all, she had been ito
blame in not explaining the. breaking
Of the appointment. ..-.
So pride and affection contended in
the widower's heart also. The circles
made in the ocean by the casting in of
a pebble go on widening; and phi
losophers tell US that every physical
movement produces never-enaing Vi
brations in the cosmic' ether. The
thoughts set vibrating in those two
practical, middle-aged hearts were to
have swifter results than either
dreamed.
Two or three days later, just before
Easter, Lill Burdell was carrying q
basket along the village street. She
wore made-over calico gown of Miss
Thusa's, shoes and stockings, warm
underclothing, and"a neat straw hat
on her smooth hair. Proud of her de.
cent apparel and the trust reposed in
her as represented by "quarter"
tightly clinched in one hand, she ex-
amined the houses along the street,
and finally stopped hesitatingly be-
fore one:
"Miss Thusy said, "a white house
with green Shutters but I can't re-
member whether she said the first
or the second. I've forgot the name,
too, so 1 must run my chances.
There's some hens a-squawkin', any
way"
She opened the gate and walked
boldly the tagged walk to the front
door. The true city gamin, male or
female, is untroubled by bashfulness.
Her ring was answered by tall,
thin, gray-haired man with melan-
choly gray eyes. Lii held out the
basket in one hand and the quarter
in the other, saying:
The Worthington advance., 1900-04-13
Frog Showers in Arizona,

It rains frogs in Arizona. The old
timers believe there is no doubt OF it,
though they cannot explain from
whence frogs were originally ''lifted.' -
But this much is straight there be
a summer rain along the line of the
Southern Pacific in southwestern Ari.
zona, and behold the next morning
every little pool has a myriad of little
lean green frogs, with marvellous
croaking powers. They don't wait for
nightfall like their more civilized
brethren elsewhere, but keep up the
music by day as by night. They live
where water comes only about once a
year. They can't live over the interim
under the sun-baked black rocks; they
assuredly haven't hoped from the Col
orado river, and they are all of size,
to boot. If they didn't come from the
ground or from the river, they must
have come from the skies. And that's
what the Hassaympers firmly believe.
IN. Y. Sun,
The Worthington advance., 1900-04-13

She set the table in the little sitting
room they played at being well-to-do
in numberless innocent, childlike ways,
these two slim sparrows-and put on
the two little brown-howered plates.
the two thin china cups and saucers with
the tiny faded Tosebuds and the almost
invisible line of gilt, and the worn sill
yer spoons, the last of the mothers 3
wedding outfit. Thusa cut tho bread
and butter, set the tea to draw. then
went to the buttery for the prunes.
The window looked on a side lane, and
Thusa was startled to see that it was
open, while white, wolfish, hungry
face was framed in the aperture, and a
desperate hand was emptying the bow!
of prunes, scattering the purple juice
recklessly over the snowy shelves.
Thusa suppressed little scream.
that she might not startle her mother,
and stared at the Intruder. The crea-
ture, as if turned to stone, held it's hand
arrested midway from bowl to mouth.
A childish terror began to overspread
the sharp features, and Thusa stepped
nearer to the window.
"Poor soul!" she said,> gently. "Are
you SO hungry that you have to rob
our shelves? Don't be frightened. I
wouldn't hurt you for the world.
Take this
She quickly buttered slice of bread.
and the marauder, clutching it, burst
into tears, which she wiped away with
her juice-stained fingers, creating a
fearful effect.
II never stoled!" she cried, "but. I
amt had scarcely bite for two days,
an when I see them things in the
dish, jest had to take 'em."
"Come around to the kitchen
door, said Thusa, pityingly. She
spread second slice of bread, and
poured into a little pink-sprigged cup
her own slender allowance of milk.
In view~of such abject misery, what
mattered milkless tea and a short
ened ration of bread and butter? The
girl slipped around to the kitchen door
and stood there, ragged, unkempt, al
together wretched. Thusa watched
her compassionately, as she ate and
drank like a starved animal-for the
time being she was little more. TAX
The Worthington advance., 1900-04-13
AN EASTER MIRACLE.
,
How 1t Saved . Little Austrian Tow,
from BY. ,
Napoleon.

1t was in the year 1899, when the
armies of NAPOLEON were passing over
the continent of Europe and conquer.
ing all that came in their way. :,
1t was Easter morning, and the sun
shone brightly on Feldkirch, little
town situated on the Ill river, lust
within the borders of Austria. The Ill
flows into the Rhine.
Quite early on this morning there
suddenly appeared on the heights
above the town to the west the gilt.
tering weapons of $4,000 French sol.
dders, the division under the command
of Gen. Massena.
There was d hasty assembling of the
town council, and it was decided that
deputation be sent to Messena with
the keys of the town and a petition for
mercy.
In the midst of all the confusion OF
the hurrying to and fro and the anxious
consultation the old dean of the church
stood up serene as was the morning,
with no thought of fear in his brave
Christian heart.
ut is Easter day." he said. 1--WE have
been reckoning on our own strength,
and it is but weakness. Let us ring the
bells and have service as usual. We will
leave our troubles in the hands of the
Higher Power" :.
Soon from all the church spires of
FeldkGch the Lells rang out ioyously,
The street b*came thronged with wor.
shippers on their way to church. Loud
er and more triumphant pealed the
bells as they rang out the glad mes
sage, and the Eills putting on their new
green echoed back: "Christ is risen,
He is risen from the dead"
The French army heard the sounds
OF rejoicing, and Massena concluded
there could De but one reason for it,
He was sure that the Austrian army
had arrived in the night. =.
He ordered Lis men to break up
camp, and almost before the bells had
ceased ringin2g-long before Easter
services were over, the French army
was in orderly retreat. -,
BY noon, not tent, not soldier
not glittering bayonet was to he
seen on the heights above Feldkirch
Boston Globe.
The Worthington advance., 1900-04-13

'Miss Thusy says will you please
let her have a dozen fresh eggs
for Easter, an she wants 'em good
an big"
Henry Gleason stared at the odd
little figure, who stood stock-still aft
er delivering her message.
Miss Thusy! Was the world COM
ing to an end? Then the explanation
occurred to him. Thusa must have
sent this queer child to his next
neighbor, Mrs. Wilson, who sold eggs
regularly, and the girl had mistaken
the house.
A sudden thought whirled into his
mind. Not being widely read in the
poets, the line
Take the goods the gods provide thee.
did not occur to him, but he acted on
the principle implied. He took the
basket and the money, and bade the
child come in. He was alone, the
housekeeper having gone to the next
town to do some "trading," and the
hired hoy was plowing.
Easter eggs! Thusa. should have
such an Easter basket as no young girl
in the village could boast. In the bot
tom of the basket, he 'arranged two
dozen of the finest, freshest eggs he
could find in the henhouse. Then he
wrote hurried note-not high-sound-
ing, but with true love in every line.
Truly he was making up for lost time.
He slipped the money inside, sealed the
letter and laid it on the eggs, folding
a paper over ali. Then he went to the
housekeeper's cherished window plants
and loaded 1he basket to the very
handle with Easter lilies and roses.
'Ain't there no change from the
quarter?" asked sharp, city-bred Lii,
looking curl ously from him to the
flowers and back.
"Inside-in On envelope. Miss Thusa
will understand"
did he spose I'd lose it, if he gave
it to me in my hand?" said Lill to her.
self rather scornfully, trudging off
with her fragrant load. A little later,
| the flUwer-laGcn basket was dumped on
the Hills kitchen table by breathless
Lil1, who had come as near to running
| as the safety oI the eggs would permit.
HE sent you all these lots an lots
of flowers, Miss Thusy, an the eggs an
change is at the bottom of the basket.
He said you would understand
He! What was the child talking
about?
Didn't yon go to Mrs. Wilson's,
Lin?"
II went to The first white house with
green shutters''-Miss Thusa dropped
white and trembling into the little
kitchen rocker -''where the hens was
a-squawkin', an the man that come to
the door give me the eggs an the flow
ers. I didn't see no woman any
| wheres.'
iThusa sprang suddenly from the
chair and lifted out the flowers, ELL
bringing water for them in an J. old
fashioned pitcher. When the note ap-
peared, Thusa caught it up and fed to
her room, scarcely glancing at the
eggs. Kneeling beside her patchwork
covered bed, Thiisa wept and smiled by
turns over her old lover S note, in which
he told her he would be with her in an
hour. Then, womanlike. she got up
and began to freshen and improve her
faded face and hair, her plain gar
The Worthington advance., 1900-04-13

ing the cup from the grimy fingers,
and going back to wipe the shelves,
Thusa brought out a third slice OF
bread and butter.
By gentle questioning, she learned
that the girls name was Lill Burdell;
that she was 13 years old; had lived
with woman in New York, who beat
and abused her, trying to make her
steal; and that she had run away;
tramping and begging by day; sleep.
ing in barns at night; honestly try.
ing to get work at the farmhouses;
and nervously warned off the prem.
ises of most. with few cold pieces
as if she had smallpox, that dread OF
rural districts.
Her clothing was literally rags
fastened about her, heaven knows
how! yet there was certain frank
and independent look about the small
sharp features, despite the stolen
prunes. Thusa's starved maternal
feelings yearned over the child. She
brought her in to sit by the fire, then
softly closing the door between
kitchen and sitting-room, she told
her mother the pitiful story. Mrs
Hill let the tea grow cold in her cup
as she listened.
II was thinking," said Thusa, as
she refilled her mothers cup, "that we
might-if you are willing-take this
poor child in, to help around the
house, and give me a chance to dc
more sewing"
If you think it would be best
Thusa. I should hate not to take her
if it wouldn't be flying in the face OF
Providence-with the interest money
to meet, and ALL"
"The winters about over. The
Lord seemed to put it into my head
I believe He'll open the way for us to
afford it. And don't see how it can
be flying in the face of Providence, to
follow the verse that says: Feed my
lambs.'"
"Well, you're the one that keeps
things a-going, Thusa. You've the
best right to say" and the old lady
drank the last of her tea, and ate the
remainder of her bread and butter
looking fondly at her little brown
fiowered plate as she did so.
It was long past the hour'for steady.
going villagers: to be7in bed. Lill Bur
dell, fed, washed, consoled, was sleep
ing like an infant, in one of Thusa's
lavender-scented bedgowns. Her ben
efactrcss sat by the small window
gazing out across the fields. She
was restless, and her thoughts were
of her old lover. Ministering to the
starved and homeless wa,f had set he1
thinking of what might have been, il
she had not been so proud and defiant
i: in those early days. Henry had sure
ly been entitled to an explanation
All, but that bitter, reproachful look
of his!.. She could not forget it. He
might have had more faith in her, in.
ste I'd Of marrying Cicely Mellen with.
in q month. If he had waited, he
would have seen that Nathan Burn.
side was nothing more than an or.
binary friend. (Alas! he had seen it.
after he had forged his own fetters.)
So pride and regretful love battled
in thf, lonely heart. The night wore
on, q I'D Lill Burdell dreamed laven.
der-s, ented dreams. It was halfway
to dawn: when Thusa, reproachirs
The Worthington advance., 1900-04-13
No Cause for Desnair

Mrs. Youngwife-The baby talks in
cessantly. think he will grow up
to be congressman.
Mr.. Oldbach II wouldn't WORRY
about it, If I were you. Maybe he'll
be q barber.-Philadelph Record,
The Worthington advance., 1900-04-13
I'm waiting, my darling. for thee
Paschal Candles Symbolism.

The Paschal candle is the name given
to the light which appears on the Cos
pei side of the altar during mass and
vespers from Easter to Whit Sunday.
It symbolizes the rising from the grave
of Christ, the Light of the World"
In the year 1457 it was recorded that
the candle used at Canterbury was of
300 pounds weight. There is also men
toned as a matter of history that on
one occasion the Paschal candle in the
church at Norwich, England, was SO
tall that it had to be lighted through
an opening in the roof over the choir.
The Worthington advance., 1900-04-13
An AdmirinH Wife,

Kippax-And who is your favorite
author, Mrs. Softly?
Mrs. Softly-My husband.
Kippax- me! did not know
that he wrote.
Mrs. Softly-Oh, but he does; and so
nicely-cheques!- Brooklyn Life.
The Worthington advance., 1900-04-13
Hard I'm.

Gentleman-Are you really so hard
up?
Tramp-Hard up? Why, sir, If suits
of clothes wuz sellin' at penny
apiece, I wouldn't have money enough
to buy the arm-hole of vest.-Tit-
Bits. >--".s. g ..-
The Worthington advance., 1900-04-13
Good Advice.

Mr.. Gaylush-Oficer, I can-hic!-
see two moons up zhere and-hic!-
hear 'em talking to each other!
Offcer-Ye can, eh? Well, We don't
want to believe nawthing that We hear,
and only half what ye see!-Puck.
The Worthington advance., 1900-04-13
Desperate Case.

"Papa," she said, "the count has as
sured me that he can't live another
day without me-"
"Humph," grunted the old man. II
didn't think he was as hard up as all
that."-Philadelphia Record.
The Worthington advance., 1900-04-13
Blessing Of the House.

Among the Gregorian Armepians the
periodical "blessing of the house, takes
place at Easter. This consists of the
repetition Of 9 prayer by the priest,
accompanied BY the burning of III.
cense, and the sprirkling with holy wa
ter in the s''sala' OF central room st
the house, .ss. Il
The Worthington advance., 1900-04-13
He Paused Too Long.

He Paused Too Long.
Johnny is seated at the piano read
ing.
Johnny's Mother (from above)-
Johnny, why aren't you practicing?
Johnny-1 am, ma.
Johnny's Mother-Wen, I don't hear
anything.
Johnny-Well, I'm practicing the
pauses.-Musical America.
The Worthington advance., 1900-04-13
In Olden Time.

what, ho! Within there!" shout
ed the knight at the castle gate. The
warder gat him up, yawning pro-
digiously. "Another man with a ho,"
said he to his faithful valet.-Indian.
apolis Press. ~
The Worthington advance., 1900-04-13
Not Sufficient Time.

"Have I time to run across the street
and match sample of ribbon?" asked
the woman of the depot gateman.
''Oh, dear, MOI" he replied. ''Why, the
train leaves in three hours and half. ~
Chicago Post.
The Worthington advance., 1900-04-13
A Surprised Wife

'Now, Percy, darling, where is the
surprise you promised you would have
for me when 7 had finished the course
of cooking lessons?"
"Oh, yes-why-I discharged the
cook!"-N. Y. World,
The Worthington advance., 1900-04-13
His Kind Heart.

She-That bad little brother Of mine
got at the piano yesterday with ham
mer and broke six of the strings.
He-May I come to see and console
you every evening while it is out of
order?-Chicago Times-Herald.
The Worthington advance., 1900-04-13
Very Flatterins

The Doctor-Why have you sent for
me?
The Husband-Oh, my wife's mother
is feeling bad, and she says she doesn't
care whether she lives or not.-Yon-
kers Statesman.
The Worthington advance., 1900-04-13
Warmed I'm ut Last.

"Wake up!" cried the hall boy, 1.-The
hotel is afire!"
"Good!" returned the sleepy guest.
"This ramshackle old barn will be
heated at last."-Philadelphia North
American.
The Worthington advance., 1900-04-13
Follow Suif.

Softy-How very fond Of hunting
Mr.. Bouncers must be.
Sharpleigh-Bouncer hunt? Why,
he's never even been after q red her
ring.
Softy-But he told me he kept sew
eral packs.
Sharpleigh-So he does-of cards.
Ally Sloper.
The Worthington advance., 1900-04-13
Partly to Blame

Are you the best man at Billy
Browns wedding?"
mo; I attend as guilty bystander."
what do you mean?"
II introduced Brown to the girl last
summer."-Chicago Record.
The Worthington advance., 1900-04-13
Ont of the Ordinary,

Ont OF the Ordinary.
"What was this row about?" asked
the policeman.
1T all came about" the father-in-
law explained, 'by some of those
cheeky boys throwing shoes at the
BRIDE"
"Well," said the policeman, "that's
customary"
eyes; but not ."-Tit-Bits.
The Worthington advance., 1900-04-13
Explained.

Explained.
II must confess to a great deal of
egotism,' said Willie Washington.
"Indeed?" responded Miss Cayenne.
eyes. think about myself entirely
too much.''
''Oh, that isn't egotism. That's mere
ly the usual human tendency to worry
over trifles. es."-Washington Star.
The Worthington advance., 1900-04-13
Example Close. ut Hand.

Papa" asked little Dickey, puzzled
at something he had found in his school
history, what is governing body ~"
"Your mamma is governing body,
my son." answered Mr.. Meeker, plain
tively.-Chicago Tribune.
The Worthington advance., 1900-04-13
Takes ON the Color

Hogan-There is wan thing about a
black eye that is dacint.
Grogan-An' fwat is that?
Hogan-lt turns green before it goes.
indianapolis Press.
The Worthington advance., 1900-04-13
A Word to the Doctor.

"Doctor," said Mr.. Newpop, "when
you send in your bill for this boy, please
to remember that he came unfinished.
He hasn't hair on his head or a tooth
in his mouth. You ought to throw off
The Worthington advance., 1900-04-13
Softly Su4gested.

"Don't you enjoy hearing the old
songs?" asked 1.-THE young man with q
sentimental look in his eye.
eyes," answered Miss Cayenne. "Do
youknow any?"
"Yes; what is your favorite?''
"Oh, it depends on the mood chance
to be in. You don't know Bid Me Good
bye, and Co. do you?"-Washington
Star.
The Worthington advance., 1900-04-13

studying the Impressior.

Studying the Impression.
"How is that speech?' p asked the pom.
derous statesman. ..
'Fine. It was concise, lucid and in.
teresting. You made every point per-
fectly: clear"
"Do you mean to say you under
stood it right away?"
EYES,"
''Well, I'll have to take it home and
rewrite it; that's all. If people fully
understand what you have to say the
first time you say: it, they are mighty
liable to think you're not Deep
Washington Star.
The Worthington advance., 1900-04-13

"Now don't deny it. Mr.. Softchap p
you're trying to lure me on to kiss you!
You wild, wicked rakish youngmen are
all alike-and I suppose must yield
with a good grace!"-Ally Sloper.
The Worthington advance., 1900-04-13
A Cordial Invitation.

Mother-Was your aunt glad to see
you, and Tommy, and frankie, and
Fred? j. .....lr 49,. "
Johnnie-Yes, ma'am. ..~-. I
"Did she invite you to call again p
aTes; and she told us to bring you,
and papa, and Susie and the dog next
time. Harlem Life. .s
The Worthington advance., 1900-04-13
His Waterloo.

Visitor lat insane asylum)-Who is
that wild-looking man in the padded
cell?
Attendant-Thatis il Prof. Adder, the
expert accountant.
Visitor-What drove him insane?
Attendant - He attempted to
straighten out his wife's household
accounts Chicago Daily News.
The Worthington advance., 1900-04-13
A Tendency Of the sex.

III you marry that girl I'll cut you
of with dollar" :... ..'@%*
II know you better than that,
mother; you'd make It 80 cents
Chicago Record
The Worthington advance., 1900-04-13

Superstition OF British AitlEmaids.
Scotch and English milkmaids be.
lieve their cows will '.go dry If they
forget to wash their hands when
through milking.-N. Y. World.
The Worthington advance., 1900-04-13
Why He Is Single.

Wederly-I suppose you have never
given marriage thought.
Singleton-Oh, yes, I have.
Wederly-Then why are you still
single?
Singleton-Because have given mar
riage a thought. - Chicago Daily
News.
The Worthington advance., 1900-04-13
Play Too Short, Perhap,.

He-Did you enjoy the matinee,
dear?
She-Very much. sat next to Mrs,
Gadabout, whom I hadn't seen for
years. We had a nice long chat
Catholic Standard and Times.