davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1902-12-25

jik peasant nanicd Klto-
ma lay dying in little village in far
away Russia.
katOma knew that he was going to
die. 1t was Christmas eve but there
was no gladness in the season for him.
His wife, whom he had loved very
dearly was already gone. For three
consecutive years now his crops had
failed. A few weeks before the wolves
had devoured his last COW. If lie had
been entirely alone in the world he
would have said to death, Come: thou
art welcomev'
But there was one other. his boy
Cssip. The idea of death became ter
rible when he thought of leaving his
boy all alone with not q c0pcck to bless
himself with.
When l tell you that it takes 1C0
cOpecks to make a ruble and that a
ruble is less than 60 ce..tS. you Will
understand how dreadfully poor Ka
t0ma was.
He could not die peacefully fer think
ing of Ossip's future. His dim eyes
turned fondly toward the pillow hy his
side, which the boys thick black hair
almost covered. Ossip lay motiOnless
in sleep. The sick man pat one feeble
hand upon his boys smooth forehead
and silently commended him to heav-
ems care.
The house was very still. The hour
was late. Ossip's healthy. regular
breathing was the only audible sound.
= liz
friend for his boy out of the millions
of good people this big world sWarmed
with, Katoma felt that he should not
mind how soon he was laid away un-
der the frozen sods.
While his hand rested on Ossp's
head and his heart was filled with
these anxious thoughts the door of the
hovel opened softly. The moujk
turned wondering eyes in that direc-
ton, and there, coming noiselessly to-
ward him across the beaten earthen
floor, was Il tall woman with soft
brown eyes full of plying tenderness.
She came close to the bed, on Ossip's s
side of it, and, looking down upon the
sleeping child, she muttcrCd:
"PerhapS this is the one at last"
Katoma looked at her anXiOuSly.
"Whence came you, go3d mother.
and what seek youT'
Across the sleeping boy she an
swered softly:
Il have come for Ossip. They told
me in the village that thy days were
numbered, and l knew that Ossip
would need friend l will love and
The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1902-12-25

brother answered 1ly:
ALAS, that l know not yet. I was
seeking the neal st town to ask coun-
sci Of the pries..''
Daboushka laid a kind hand Oh the
boys arm.
Put care away from thy your@
heart. Thou hast found an asylum
for thy crippled brother. He shall
travel no farther on the frozen roads.
He shall be my own little Petrusha.
have tiny truckle bed into which he
will fit to a nicely. Such as l have,
dear child, make thee welcome to in
the Christ Child's name"
The night was but very little older
when the three children, Ossip, Vasa-
!issa and Petrusha, fed, warmed and
comforted, were sleeping the care free
sleep of innocent childhood.
Only the tall lad and Baboushka sat
by the fireside, because there was no
bed left for them.
''Tell me, good mother" the boy said,
looking straight into her kind eyes,
why are you so good TO all children?
Your fame has gone abroad"
BabOushka did not al. tsvCr him at
once. When she did, her voice sounded
as sweet and solemn as church chimes
at vesper time.
"Yes, l will tell you, my son, for you
are nearing your own years of respon-
sibility, and it will be well for you to
learn in good time the solemn lesson
that an opportunity once lost is lost
forever.
Many years ago / was setting my
house in order when three men stopped
at my door with a great piece of news
"'We have seen radiant star in the
east they said, and we know that the
Christ Child must be come. Leave thy
labor Come with us to find him and
to do him honor
''But I sent them away with words
Of foolish impatience. 'Seest thou not
that I am setting my house in order?
Go thou to where the star beckons
thee, and l will follow at some more
convenient time. 1 can see it's light
without thy help
$50 they went their way and left lne
to go mine. But when the tinn@ came
that | found it convenient to f. GN
the star clouds obscErCd the heavens.
and there was no star to be seen, and
so | knew not how to seek the Christ
Child
Il have been seeking him ever since,
up and down in the land. Whenever,
wherever | see a little child | think
perhaps l have found the One l seek,
and my heart yearns over him. But
not yet have l found the Christ Child.
whose face must shine With the radi-
ance of the star lost"
With tears Of sorrow wetting her
eyelashes Baboushka fell asleep in hel
chair. She had filled all of her beds
with cold and friendless children.
And as she slept tender hand
seemed to dry her tears and loving
voice to whisper in her ears:
"1nasmuch as ye have done it unto
the least Of these little ones We have
done it unto me. They were homeless
and ye took them in. They were hun
CRY, and you have fed them. They
were cold, and you have warmed them
The Christ Child is in thy own heart
And on that glad Christmas morning
Baboushka awoke with a great peace
! In her soul, for she knew that she had
found him she had been seeking far
! and wide
The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1902-12-25
IT was brilliant holiday store,

TT was brilliant holiday store,
the windows and the shelves and
the cases ablaZe with filigree
and thrOnged with dolls and
dishes and engines and trains and
skates and sleds, and hobbyhorses
that galloped, and COWS that mooed,
and mice that ran, and-and every
thing, absolutely everything, that ever
enters the most rapturous Christmas
dream.
In the center of the large show win
dows, fronting upon the gay street,
stood two soldiers. They were by all
odds the finest soldiers in the store,
much superior to the personnel COM
posing the different troops and regi-
ments and companies stationed here
and there along the aisles. The pair
were made of tin, to be sure; but they
were Of heroic stature, eight inches
tall, richly uniformed in black and
yellow, and could be wound up SO that
they would present arms several times
in succession.
The other soldiers, poor things, were
compelled to remain the whole time at
a carry" or a fright shoulder" with
out relief.
Naturally these two soldiers were
proud and Of aspirations reaching be-
The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1902-12-25


Dear sooo murmured drowsily, see
Sri' santa ing the kind face bending
over her:
Dear, good Mr.. Santa Claus. l
want
When she opened her wistful, dark
eyes again, the same kind face was
bending over her as she lay on her cot
in the little brown house, her father
holding her in his arms, while beside
her was the most beautiful doll Of
which she had ever dreamed, and,
clasping it close to her heart, little
Dorothy asked with reverent joy, the
dark eyes filed to overfiowing:
Dear Mr.. Santa Claus. is you God
toO:"
CALLIE BONNEY MARBLE.
The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1902-12-25

ana tHItS icIldlt WcdRl1eSS. 1T makes
weak women strong and sick women
we'll
g.nh pleasure write to-day in praise of DR.
I..ror and his medicines" A" says Mrs Mary Con
~. Of Appleton, Lawrence Co, Tenn. Was
troubled with female disease; the back of NV
head hurt so could not lie in bed and I
wli.i have to sit up, and then would have
~u. D. pains from my waist down 1 could scarcely
r4I-c mp NV feet and hands would feel almost
like ic-- Since taking DR.. Pierces Favorite
rrr-eEiption l can sleep we'll all night Could
hardly dra" around before l took your 1nedi-
CHIC and now can do MY houseworl, and help
ms husband i'll the field. Words cannot express
tn" hanks owe to DR.. Pierce"
Weak and sick women are invited to
consult DR.. Pierce, by letter, free. All
correspondence is held as strictly private
and sacredly confidential Address DR..
r Y. Pierce, Buffalo, N. Y.
Dr. PierCe'S Common Sense Medical
Adviser, containing more than a thou
sand large pages, is sent free on receipt
of stamps to pay expense of mailing
ORLT. Send 81 one-Cent stamps for the
cloth-bound volume, or only 2I stamps
for the book in paper covers. Address
DR.. K. V. Pierce Buffalo, n. Y.
The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1902-12-25
Christmns Causeric.

There is a Christmas tide in the
affairs of men, which, taken at the
food, leads On to-baEkruptcy.
4 young man will hang up more
than his stocking If he buys his best
girl a present.
The tall man will be short after
Christmas.
A man is thankful for small fayorsi
but No. II slippers do not come under
that head
1t will not be necessary to tell the
neighbors that you gave your son q
drum.-Truth.
The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1902-12-25
Not Through Yet.

"What kind of a Christmas did you
pass" asked the friend.
The same as usual" answered Mr..
Bliggins sourly. Twenty minutes Of
turkey and mince pie, and six weeks
Of pepSin. w ashington Star.
The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1902-12-25
NO.. L.
What Would
You Give For
A Good
Appetite?

The hungry boy is the strong
and healthy boy. Farmers and
horsemen never buy animals that
are dainty and won't cat-not If
they know it. The man or woman
who cannot eat, cannot work long,
will soon be sick.
Weknow something that will give
you an appetite. 1t will not be
fictitious appetite such as is aroused
by powerful drugs, but healthy
appetite for good food. 1t will also
arouse the vital organs not only to
an appetite for wholesome food,
but it will put them in condition
to take care of food, to grow strong
from it.
This preparation is called Vinol.
Its composition is no secret. 1t
is happy combination of the
valuable and essential principles of
cod liver oil, with iron and a good
table wine. 1t is pleasant to taste,
and both nourishes and creates an
appetite for nourishment. Thou
sands upon thousands of bottles
have been sold on the guarantee
of money back if not satisfied with
the results, and it is very rare to
have a customer call for the money.
Mail Orders Supplied :. so!,i. sfs Express Paid
The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1902-12-25

ter land across the seas - our own
blessed America, l make no doubt -
and how, when they had encamped for
the night, her aunt, who was the only
relative she had In the world, had sent
her into the woods to gather fagots to
put under their soup kettle, and how
she had wandered so far that she had
The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1902-12-25
CouIdn,t Give Herself Away.

Charley Easyman-Well, Willie, your
sister has given herself to me for
Christmas present What do you
think of that?'
WillieHuh! That's what she done
for Mr.. Brown last Christmas, and he
gave her back to herself before Easter
The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1902-12-25
LOCKING FOR
SANTA CLAUS

The snow was falling on the noun
tains, hiding their tops in misty veil,
and the air was full Of whirling fakes
which were rapidly covering the brown
earth with carpet of white and oblit-
Grating the trail up the mountain side
where trudged, or, rather, stumbled,
along grotesque childish figure in a
The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1902-12-25
Undoubtedly,
: and DrOSDerOus

Il wish you Il happy and prosperous
new year." said the soubrette.
Thank you," replied the contortion-
ist. Il am reasonably sure of making
both ends meet
The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1902-12-25
His One REQUEST,

Mamma-Now, what would you like
best for 4 Christmas present?
Willie-Oh, I'd like to see the school,
house burn down! May I?-Philadei-
phia Press
The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1902-12-25
Sudden and SurprisinE,

What do you most desire for Christ
mas, Miss Mabel?'
"Oh, George, this is SO suddenw
"Wh-what do you mean?"
"Why. of course, l want your
The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1902-12-25


her rag doll in the little sroino ",o 70
brown hut which served frd Santa
as shelter and home. Claus.
''Santa Claus may not come here
now mother has gone" the little girl
said, land it must be near Christmas,
so l will find him, and perhaps he viii
take me in his reindeer sleigh to see
mother and God"
Little Dorothy paused i'll her task
of sweeping the one room of theiy
home, and, putting some potatoes in
the ashes to bake, that her fathers
supper might be ready for hi.:l. SIZE had
wrapped herself in his old coat. donEed
her red hood and started cut to find
Santa Claus.
1t CHANGED that day that one of the
mine owners was down from the city
The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1902-12-25

yond their present narrow quarters.
They pined for wider sphere. AS
they stood and stared with stern, fixed
gaze through the plate glass into the
gay street they talked together in toy
language, and none, not even the most
versatile linguists among the people
passing and repassing. knew that they
talked.
"Oh, to get away from this eternal
guard mount over lot Of frippcry!
sighed the one.
with all my heart" agreed the
other. The monotony is frightful."
I'D give half my solder to receive
orders to report to some little boy"
continued the first "Oh, for change"
But the majority of little~boys are
so rough and careless" responded the
second. 81 understand they scratch
you and bend you and otherwise NAL
treat you without cause, ard soon
you're done for. prefer duty of a
more quiet, instructive nature. where
l may teach by means OF my drpJrt-
ment rather than by violent action"
"Well, | should enjoy hard drill
and tussIe. | believe asserted the
first
Our organism is too tine for such
active service. my lad inCul:seEtly
corrected the second. What scratches
and dents: No. 10. Give me a post OF
more elegance. whore my uniform will
be treated as it deserves
Christmas day had been over and
gone a month when after their separa-
ton the two soldiers again encounter
cd one another. but this time in grCag
heap Of rubbish at the city dump
where the dump man had unwitting i.
thrown them cut.
"IIurrah, Hello old chap" excla!ln
ed the first soldier delightediy.
Hello returned the second. will
rather more reserve. Goodness. Beer
through the Seven Years war;
Well might he put this query. The
| other soldier was Il perfect wreck. HI
| aad lost an arm and foot, his head
was sharply inclined forward upon h
| chest, he had only one eye. his bod,
| was twisted askew, his gun was l.o
| Ken, his cap WIS missing. his features
| were battered and distorted, and rs IL!
his uniform Of black and yellow-ther'
was hardly a spot Of paint on him.
| live been having my tussle,' an
| aounced the first. With a cracked laugh
But you-why. you evidently foun.
| lust what you were looking for"
| Yes" explained the second. Il fel
nto an excellent post. 1t was th,
hands of little boy, sure enough, hui
he wasn't allowed to hurt me. See.
| haven't mark on me-" And he ex
hibited himself proudly.
| True. he was still in dress parade
| condition.
| Thunder and Mars chuckled thu
first. And look at me, Do you NEAR
The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1902-12-25

Ou d lOul VI lilSiJSCtlO.l,
and, having seen Dorothy
on a previous trip. he
had, remembering anoth-
er little girl who was very
happy on Christmas eve,
brought down a Christ
mas box for Dorothy and
so strolled along with her
father as he started home
ward, that he might give
it into the hands of the
little maiden herself. But
when they reached the
brown hut Dorothy was
not there, and when re-
peated calls brought no
answer the two men,
alarmed, started in OppO-
site directions to seek her,
Mr.. Golden following the
almost obliterated path
up the mountain side,
where, a mile beyond, he
found the little one al
most buried in the falling
snow, and as he stopped
The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1902-12-25

man s rOugn jacket, the
sleeves rolled over and
over to let out the small
brown hands, while the
edge of the coat, on Il line
with her heels, left a trail
in the snow. A red hood
covered the child's head,
dark curls peeping out
around her face, and in
the fearless, wistful eyes
shOne a new light, for
Dorothy was going to find
Santa Claus. When her
mother had gone to heav-
en- a short time before,
they had carried her up
the mountain, and God
and Santa Claus were al
ways associated together
in the child's mind. So,
If God lived up there. San
ia Claus could not be far
away. Thus reasoned lit,
tie Dorothy in the hours
when her father was of
working in the mine and
she was left alone with
The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1902-12-25

1GHT was falling fast, and
the snow vas piled high
against tie outer walls of
the hOvel where Il poor mou-
jik (DpaSaut) n1inrd K1to-
The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1902-12-25

n fysy 5MMH'S RISK

A a trso.ze performer is greater than a
mans She nIust have mans courage
..E "a mans muscle to succeed. But
... nu7t also work under conditions of
Winch a man knows nothing. MANY
All accident to women acrobats must
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-12-30
BIadensburu.

Bladensburg, Dec. 26.-Owen Ham.
ersley, Willie Decker and Made Shaw,
who have been attending school at Ce.
dar Falls, are spending their holiday
vacation at their homes.
Stanton Yeager is visiting his broth
err, Alton, at Laddsdale the first Of the
week.
Harry Mcclure is home from Quincy
for a two weeks vacation.
Miss Roxy Parker, of Morning Sun,
is visiting her father and other rela-
tives, at this place. for few days.
Born, to Mr.. and Mrs. John Smith,,
Saturday, December 20, a daughter.
Mrs. Charles Copeland and family,
of Batavia, will spend Christmas with
J. M. ]. Allen.
Mrs. Fred Daley and children are
spending few days this week at the
home of Jacob Daley.
Mrs. H.. Green and son, Raymond,
left Wednesday for Viola, ILL.,, to spend
Christmas with her mother.
Mrs. Skinner, of Ottumwa, is visit
ing at the home of her father, Mr..
Green, this week.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-12-30

Court Hill made flying trip to OF.
tumwa Tuesday.
Henry Arnold was at the News
office on business Monday.
John Smith and family of Bunch
were visiting at the Simmons home
Saturday.
VIM. Heller of Agency was in the
city on business Monday.
S. q. Odenbaugh and Harry Skinner
were pleasant callers at the News
Office Sunday evening.
Austin Simmons of Pickel avenue
was visiting few days with Mile
Porter of South Ottumwa recently.
Charley Wood returned home Mon.
day from Kirkville where he visited
relatives over Sunday.
Mrs. Ada Dunning of Sorghum Ridge
is visiting her mother Mrs. Loz OF
Ottumwa.
Henry Cunning was a pleasant and
welcome visitor at the parental home
recently.
Mike Horen, of Honey street, made a
flying trip to Ottumwa Saturday.
Bern Buckholz, of Kansas, former
resident of this locality has again
returned to the home of his youth.
John Dunning of Sorghum Ridge is
on the sick list.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-12-30

Okla, arrived at the Jacob Schlotter
home one day last week for few days
visit with. relatives and friends after 4
five weeks visit with friends in Indi-
ana.
Mrs. D. NJ. Perry called on Phoebe
Seitz one afternoon OF last week.
Martin Lutte transacted business at
Eldon one day last week
G. w. Seitz and wife visited Thurs
day with Martin Lutte and wife.
Miss Nora Davis is absent from
school this week on account of sore
throat.
A series of meetings are being held
at the White Elm church, conducted
by Rev. Hegar and Rev. Davis.
Willard and Bertha Ham are i'll with
very bad attack of grip.
Vacation at Olive branch school
Thursday and today.
News has reached here that Ed
Brandon of Idaho has left his wife to
attend to his merchandise business
while he took d trip to California for
his health.
G. w. Seitz is i'll with bad cold
Sam Ham was an over Sunday Wis
itor with Perry Miller.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-12-30
Abba.

Abba, Dec. 26.-Dwight F. Downing
of Oskaloosa was in town on business
yesterday.
The Sunday school of the First
Presbyterian church gave a very elab.
crate program at the Christmas tree
exercises Wednesday evening, it was
entitled the King of Glory They
were all dressed in Oriental costume.
G. r. Miltonberger, who is travelling
out OF Lacrosse, Wis, is spending the
holidays with his family in town.
Mrs. S. A. Newell is spending the
holidays with her daughter, Mrs. Cres-
well, OF Burlington.
w. L. Way, of Lovilia, was trans.
acting business in town.
w. w. Watson has been quite ill
for the past week with bronchial
troubles.
Miss Carrie Johnson, of Ottumwa
expects to spend New Years with Mr.
and Mrs. AL Johnson, West Benton
street.
Charles Taylor is home spending the
holidays with his parents.
Ward Hamilton and wife, of Water.
loo, are spending the holidays with
relatives and friends in town.
Miss Carrie Whited, who is teaching
school at Hilton, is spending the holi
days with her parents in town.
Miss Olive Shockley, who is teach
ing in the public schools here, went to
tGrinnell this morning to spend the
holidays with her mother, and broth
er, who live there.
Tim Salisbury, of Chicago, is spend
ing the holidays with his father D. w
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-12-30
The Nickel Plate Road

will afford its patrons an opportunity
to take advantage of low rates for
Christmas and New Year holidays, by
selling tickets at a fare and a third for
the round trip to all points on their
line, December "a, %, 81, 1902, and
January 1, 1908. Return limit includ.
ing Jan. 2, 1903. Through service to
New York City, Boston, and other east
ern points. Chicago passenger station,
Harrison street and Fifth avenue. For
further information, address John r.
Callahan, General Agent, 113 Adams
street, Chicago. fs
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-12-30
Seymour.

Seymour Dec. 27.-Mrs. Frank Gus
ter of Greencastle, Mo-, is visiting in
Seymour, the guest of her parents, Mr..
and Mrs. John Burr.
DR.. E. H. Jones of this city has Sc
cured position in the insane hospital
at Mt. Pleasant at salary Of $4,000 a
year. He departed for that place Tues
day evening. DR.. j. B. Muir of Oska-
loosa will take his place here, having
arrived in Seymour Tuesday.
Mrs. |. N. Tenant returned home
Monday evening from weeks visit
with relatives in Oskaloosa.
Miss Zylphia Gunther arrived in Sey-
mour Monday from Joplin, Mo-, to
spend the holidays with relatives.
Mrs. A. w. Maxwell returned home
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-12-30

Yampa, Dec. &c. w. Burnaugh
and sister, Mrs. Maggie Smith, attend
ed the /. o. O. F. meeting at Hedrick
last Tuesday night.
MIR. and Mrs. Perry Yeager were in
Ottumwa on business Wednesday.
Mr.. and Mrs. G. w. Giltner were OF
tumwa callers Thursday.
Mr.. and Mrs. Thomas Rifle and Mrs.
James Burnaugh were Ottumwa shop
pers Saturday.
DR.. G. Henry, of Competine, was a
professional caller in this vicinity
Saturday
Mrs. Jane Nye, of Agency, visited
Mr.. and Mrs. ]. T. McMinn Saturday.
Thomas Rifle and family visited at
Arthur Broadfield's in Competine Sun
day.
Mrs. James Burnaugh will visit over
Christmas with her daughter, Mrs.
Fisher, of Ollie.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-12-30
DrakevilIe.

Drakeville, Dec. 27.-Mr. and Mrs
John Fouts are rejoicing over the ar
rival of a son.
The box supper at Elm Grove was
well attended last Saturday night.
Pard Sayles left Saturday for Os
kaloosa, Kansas to visit his sister-in
law, Mrs. Frank Cammack, who is
critically ill, and from thence will re
turn to his home at Peyton, Colo.
Mrs. Baker and children spent Sun
day here with her parents, Mr.. and
Mrs. VIM. Irelan.
Harvey Russell, accompanied by his
daughter, Mrs. Belle Moss, and little
daughter, Miriam, left last Wednesday
for Kansas to visit his daughter, Mrs
Grace Spaulding and family.
Phil Rothenstein moved his family
to Paris last week.
Will Cooper of the G. G. B. c., is al
home spending the holidays.
Louis Goodlander, one of the young
boys who went to Trenton last week
and passed the examination, returned
Monday and took possession as agent
of the Rock Island depot at this place
Mrs. Gus Humphrey of Broken Bow
Nebraska, was here Tuesday calling
on friends and relatives.