davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The St. Louis Republic., 1902-12-21

| practice of his profession all danger of the
| spread Of the disease being over. he had to
| put up with a very severe lecture from the
| ready tongue of Mr.. Billy Sanders.
| Il declare Randolph. I'm ashamed Of
| you. be jisged ef l amt, Why. supposin'
| that little forrin gal had "a took the small
! pox and a died?
Wouldn't that "a been i purity piece OF
| business for you to stagger around under:
why. in the name o. charity. didn't you
| ketch her by the ear an lead her out Of
] the room
Well heartily wish you had been there
| to carry your plan out couldn't do thing
| with her
why. could tote her on the palm of
my han. Randolph she amt biggern a
| sparrer." persisted Mr.. Sanders.
''Whyn't you put her out by main
! strength"
Well there are several reasons re-
| sponded Darlington.
''One is that she slipped in before I knew
she was within a mile OF the place: another
| is that she had hold of Mans hand before 1
going to cut.
But the real reason why I didn't insist
on driving her away is that didn't want to
have fight with woman
But. Randolph. that child is as shy as
a fiyin' squirt an lots gentler than old
Kate. the nag you drive to your buggy
Mr. Sanders persisted. but there was a
sparkle in his eye as he spoke.
DO you mean to tell me, Randolph" he
went on that child, not much bigger'n a
hummin' bird an mighty nigh as cute. reel
Iy frailed you out up thar whar you couldn't
holIer for helpT'
''No. I didn't say that replied Dorring
ton. with a laugh: but you will say it, and
I'll never hear the last OF it.
We'll, you may say what You please.
she's q very brave little woman and the
best nurse have ever seen.
There Is no doubt In my mind that she
saved the lives OF Nan and Valicombe.'
To say that the little French shoemaker
was grateful to Zepherine would fall far
short of the truth.
He took 1t for granted that she was an
angel In the shape of a woman. sent spe-
cially to relieve him from pain and to drag
him back to life. and he conducted himself
accordingly.
Not Sunday afternoon passed that he
did not stroll out to Shady Dale to see her.
He came and went so quietly that Mr..
Sanders was moved to say that he went
about as il he were a fake of thistledown-
It was during one of these visits that Miss
Johns took occasion to tell Mr.. Valicombe
why she had como SO far from home.
She told also of her father: how he had
gone away from home and how she. too,
had come away to find him.
Some day, she said, she would be able to
go to New Orleans. where she knew her Ia
ther was.
At this Mr.. Valicombe shrugged his shoul-
The St. Louis Republic., 1902-12-21
"wm be compelled! Well, that is differ

"win be compelled! Well. that is differ
| ent"
| "Will you marry mer' he asked.
| 'Win T'-all the color left her face.
l "Will you be my wifeT'
why, you must be In great trouble II you
l come to me.
Have you no others to go toy
| She had suddenly recovered her composure
and was now. to use one Of Mr.. Sanders's
comparisons. as cool as a cucumber.
Il want no other" he answered.
do you think would come between you
| and Nan? She would break my heart by
hating me-"
Then let US leave the matter to Man." he
suggested.
why, I never heard OF such a thing
protested Zepherine. You must be"
II certainly am he answered. At that
moment Nan came out Of her house, and
when she saw zepherine and her father she
ran to them.
"Nan. have Just asked this young lady
to leave her home here and live with u.s.
Nan gave shrill scream Of delight. "Oh,
won't that be funr'
But you don't understand" said Zepher-
Inc.
''Oh. don't I? Why. goosey, you must
think I'm . baby-and will be one when
you come. You'll be my itseybitsey NAM
ma"
''Oh for shame,'' cried Zepherine. getting
very red in the face. Whereupon Nan seized
her dear friend and squeezed her as only
Nan could squeeze.
You'll break every bone in my body"
protested Zepherine.
you haven't answered my question:" said
the doctor.
'Say it. goosey. and be done with IT, in
sisted Nan.
'Oh, Nan. love you; you know 1t well.
will do anything to please you.''
"Popey there's your answer said Nan;
and then she ran away to the house. a very
thoughtful and considerate performance
"Oh. I thought all the time that hated
you." said Zepherine after they had talked
awhile.
But when saw you holding my dear IA
ther's hand I knew the feeling was some
thing else
She paused a moment and then exclaimed,
What Christmas this is for mcr'
And for me!' said Dorrington.
Copyright. 1902. by J. C. Harris.
The St. Louis Republic., 1902-12-21

, example. Sarah Clopton going last and clos
| ing the door behind her.
At the end Of half An hour Mr.. Sanders
| knocked. and the door was opened by Zeph-
crime, whose happiness had somewhat sub
dued her. An hour before she was a girl
but now she was q woman. with response
bility tugging her sleeve.
Not one of her friends but could see the
change. She could hardly bear to leave her
I father. and she sat holding his hand and
| stroking it and frequently looking up into
! his face.
Mr.. Sanders went up to the tree and took
| package from it. For Miss Nan Dorring-
| ton. A thrip's wuth of candy from an old
lover. An here's a letter marked Zepher-
Inc.
TITS badly spelt an they don't seem to
be much in it,
81 want nothing but this" said Zephar-
tne
"Nothin' but the letter? Well. here it is,
honey"
Il meant want nothing but my father"
replied Zepherine.
We'll, he's q good chunk OF a present.
said Mr.. Sanders; and then he went on dis
tributing the presents.
Suddenly Sarah Clopton asked where RAN
QOlpn DOrrlnSton h2Q gone.
Hes outside" said Zepherine.
II heard him walking"
Sarah Clopton observed that the young
woman had opened all her presents save
one-the first she had received.
But when Peter valicombe came and sat
by her father she excused herself.
She ran to her room and tore the envelope
open,
mad hrf>R zi,1h
Dorrington. He said he had long sought for
an opportunity to apologize for his rude
ness on the occasion Of Mans illness, and
would she kindly permit him to speak with
her q few moments?
She placed the note in her trunk and then
stood wringing her hands. uncertain What
to do
She looked at herself in the mirror and
made mouth at the refieetion she saw
there.
Then she went out upon the veranla and
saw Dorrington sitting on one of .he low
double seats scattered about the lawn. She
hesitated. but finally gulped down her shy
ness, or fear. or whatever the feeling was,
and ran down the steps and went toward
him.
Dorrington rose to meet her, hat in hand
and wanted her to be seated, but she shook
her head and Immediately opened the at
tack
when you make fun of me as you 60 you
are too cruel she declared Indignantly.
you are too cruel when you speak 20 me
of apology.
''You do that because you know how Eurt
am because Of the way l spoke to you
when Nan was i'll. Yes, think 1t is cruel"
Tears were in her eyes and her lips quiv-
cred.
But. Zepherine." he said. little sadly,
IT remember nothing but my own rough
speech and manner.
IF you were rude you had a right to be.
But isn't there some excuse for me?
"Will you forgive me?'
"It is L who should say that" Zepherine
declared: but Dorrington noticed that she
was very particular to leave 1t unsaid
you haven't answered my question:" he
insisted
Because it has no need of answer" she
replied
We'll. I will ask you another that You
will be compelled to answer" he said.
"Oh. compelled-' She smiled at MIN. tut
there was trouble in the smile.
The St. Louis Republic., 1902-12-21

orchard and the buejays were vigorously
chiding q gray squirrel in one of the big
| oaks
An early breakfast was the rule at Shady
Dale. and Christmas morning was no excep-
ton.
The negroes were crowding around the
| back door. ready to cry out Christmas
gift" to ali who came in sight.
Then Sarah Clopton made her appearance
and the negroes were soon in possession Of
the presents intended for them and not one
was forgotten.
Following this came the justly famous
Christmas tree. Mr.. Sanders threw open
| the door Of the parlor.
The room presented a very beautiful ap-
pearance. The heavy red curtains had been
drawn together to exclude the light of day.
The illumination came from the six big
candlesticks that had done duty In the
Clopton family for many generations.
The Christmas tree also bore burden Of
small candies attached to it's boughs. and
was, furthermore. loaded with packages Of
various shapes and sizes.
1t made a very brave show indeed. It was
placed at one end of the large room, being
fianked on either side by curtains which
completely concealed the corners
From behind one of these curtains came
Peter Valicombe. who said that everything
was ready.
Then, turning to Miss Johns, he said in
French: ''Mademoiselle, will you please
play for us one of the songs you heard when
child-one that your good father taught
you?"
Zepherine hesitated. her hands clasped to-
gether. But why?" she asked: and then,
without waiting for an answer. she went to
the piano. drew a deep breath and began a
lifting melody that her father had COM
posed for his violin.
1t was very beautiful: but few among
those who were listening heard it to the
end.
The curtains behind the Christmas tree
slowly parted and stranger made his ap-
pearance. He moved toward the piano,
smiling.
His hair was white as snow, but his face
was that of a man in the prime of life.
His features were at once fine and strong
and his eyes were brilliant.
"Oh, how beautiful exclaimed the i'm
pulsive Nan Zepherine thought she was
enraptured by the melody, but Nan was no
longer listening to the piano.
For some reason or other which he never
could explain to himself Randolph Dorring-
by the hand and led him nearer the piano.
As FIavian Dion listened to his own mu-
sic. played by the daughter who had been
all in all to him, he broke down; the tears
began to roll down his face.
He fumbled awkwardly for his handker-
chief, saying:
II beg you pardon. That ees my III girl!
That ees my li'l' child! I have seen her,
oh NOT for MANY a long timei''
When Zepherine turned around the first
thing she saw was Randolph Dorrington
holding the hand Of
Her thoughts flew no further. "Oh, what
is this?' she cried. But there was no need
to tell her; she knew.
She had been expecting something like
this.
She ran into her fathers arms and held
him tightly, while he stroked her hair and
fondled her face. calling her by all the net
names that were dear to her childhood's
memory.
II reckon said Mr. Sanders, wiping hts
eyes with his big red "hankcher" '.I reckon
we'd just as well postpone the case an
leave the witness wi her."
He went out, and all the rest followed his
The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1902-03-29
4 lovers feelings are more soft and sensi-

lovers feelings are more soft and sensi-
BILE
Than are the tender horns of cockled
snails.
So it is no wonder that their tender
feelings were wounded by this trife.
AS Harry rose angrily from the table
he accidentally struck against it in
such way that the golden egg. which
May had put down, started to roll to-
ward the edge. and before either of
them noticed what was happening it
fell to the floor with crash AS it did
so it burst asunder. and something
bounced out that could not help at
tracing attention. AS it rolled off into
a corner every turn threw oW sparkles
of prisnatic light May uttered an in
voluntary "Ohv' as soon as she saw
what abe egg had contained. and. for
getting all about her anger, her face
flushed with surprise and pleasure.
Glancing up at her from the wreck Of
tile egg Harry saw the change of ex-
preston on her face. and the absurdity
of his anger came over him like flash
He began to laugh and. stepping across
the room. picked up the engagement
ring with its flashing solitaire.
IF you won't try to eat my Easter
egg" he said. I'D like chance to eat
my angry words of the last few min
utes."
"All right" said May. land I'll join
YOU
He looked fair into her laughing eyes.
then took her unresisting hand in his
and slipped the ring on her finger.
''Can you understand the giyer's
mind now?' he asked.
YES she whispered
And do you object to it?' She made
no answer, but it was one of those
cases where an answer in words is en-
tirely superluous. When he finally de-
eided that he really must go now he
stopped down to pick up the remains
of his Easter egg and found that it was
broken fairly in the middle between
the big and little ends.
Look. he exclaimed. Fate has ar.
bitrated our discussion. The shell has
broken just where had cut the hole
in 1t to put in the ring
That's all right" said May saucily,
II accept the decision. but think we
had better have scrambled eggs and
oWelets for awhile at first
The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1902-03-29
IEA@ TER J0IL[LI77lIE@,
BY FRANK TOWNLEY.

To make Easter merely a Sunday
of joy" would be to rob the holy Sab
bath of that reverence always due to
the first day Of the week. But reli-
gious observances, while always ear
nest, are various, and different people
have applied their own peculiar hu-
NOR and customs to the celebration of
Eastertide. Now it is typical of the
resurrection of our Lord. again of the
bursting forth of spring and to some
folks of lively yet conventional views
the close of long season of fasting
and denial Among the pioneers of the
American border there was little unity
of religious faith and often not enough
of one kind to set the fashion for stat
ed observances. But Easter had its
traditions. and there was so little to
make the burden of border life agree
able that every event was seized upon
by the young as an excuse for frolick
ing.
The Easter egg somehow appealed
to all people of whatever lineage An
article of food and commerce. treas
ured like gold at ordinary times. the
egg was excused from fixed duty ON
Easter and given over to the carnival
mob for all kinds of sport. If nothing
more delirious was thought of, there
was an egg feast all day. with menu
of fried. boiled. scrambled or poached
eggs at every meal. Small boys look.
ed forward to Easter, or 'Paas." much
the same as to Fourth of July They
wanted eggs by the hatful. the bas-
ketful or the barrelful. and they stole
them as shamelessly as city urchins
do the fuel for bonfires.
Dyed in various colors. the Easter
eggs came from hidden stores for the
family feast. and when the amusement
of stealing and dyeing for general use
became too tame the boys also laid by
stores Cor vagabond feast in the
woods Eggs were roasted in ashes
and devoured with the relish that goes
with an out of doors appetite. To lend
The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1902-03-29

brate the resurrection they held JOY
full festival in honor of the deity who
personified the opening of the spring.
The early church, with its habit of
adopting as many of the popular reli-
gious rites as possible into the new
faith, found it an easy matter to trans
form the feast Of the earth's awaken
ing from the sleep of winter to the re-
joicing that Christ should initiate the
resurrection of the souls of men from
the sleep Of the grave.
Before the Christian era throughout
Europe blossoms bore the names of the
pagan deities, but with the revolution
of religious ideas the plants had to be
rechristened and the legends attached
to them reconstructed to conform to
the new faith.
Perhaps from a feeling of reverence
but few were named for Christ or any
member of the trinity. We still have
Christ's thorn, which is supposed to
have furnished the material for the
| crown of torture.
Upon the Saviour's mother a wealth
of flowers were bestowed. The plants
coming to us with the prefix "lady,"
The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1902-03-29

further zest u the feast the boys Of
one neighboFhood would raid the hid
den stores of another. If the party
raided was alert, there would happen
scramble as fierce and bloody as a
football rush. If the contest was close,
then eggs raw or eggs burning hot
were fired intos the faces of the COM
batants. Perhaps there was economy
in the long run in this recklessness, for
the boys who reveled in an Easter
feast didn't have any appetite for eggs
the remainder of the year.
In olden times the church gave to
Easter a festal coloring by letting the
people down to their common tastes at
the close of Lent. Witty stories and
anecdotes were told to arouse the
'paschal laugh" With all nature
smiling in spring it was natural that
the human heart should open itself to
joyous thoughts.
New clothes on Easter Sunday is an
old custom. An ancient verse runs in
this strain:
At Easter let your clothes be new
Or else be sure you will 1t rue.
There were many superstitions about
new clothes for Easter, and Shake
speare records the custom. Vanity and
the dictates of fashion due to the
change of the seasons may be at the
bottom of the modern notion of dom
ming new gowns and bonnets at Eas-
terrible, but it is also happy and inno-
cent way of expressing joyousness.
Lent is over, pleasure may resume it's
sway, and woman should initiate the
trees and the plants by putting on
fresh adornments.
The maids and SWANS Of Ireland in
the good old days INDUCED in what
they called the 'dance of joy" at the
dawn of Easter. Happiness is a cure
for evil, and perhaps in the evolution
of creeds and customs the great spring
tide festival may become again car
nival of innocent merrymaking for the
devoutly religious as well as the secu-
lar world.
The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1902-03-29

HERE'S MY PART OF THE SPREAD"
ment the well known fact that she was
not like other girls and that the best
laid eggs as well as the best laid plans
'gang aft aglee."
They had spent Easter eve together,
and the time had come when he should
take his leave if he did not wish to
break the Sabbath. But as he stirred
as if about to go May said:
II have a cake of my own making
that want you to try before you 60"
This was exactly the opening he had
been waiting for all evening.
Thank you," he said. And l have
something of my own cooking that
want you to try"
Something of your own cooking"
she asked, opening her brown eyes
very wide.
Exactly. and l hope you will enjoy
it,
"What is it? Candy?'
II didn't know candy was cooked.
thought it was just made"
How witty you have become since
you went to the city," she retorted.
with mock bow.
''Oh. you have no idea" he replied
calmly. Now you go and get your
cake. and when you come back I'll
have my spread ready"
May left the room. wondering what
Oh earth was coming. OF course she
rather expected d present or soute emil
of some kind from him after he had
been corresponding with her for some
months in as affectionate a vein as she
would allow.
After she had left the room Harry
stepped out into the hall and took
neat little package from his overcoat
pocket He placed it on the table aft
er christening the cord with which it
was tied and waited for May. She re-
turned presently with plate of cake
and tray bearing steaming cups of
coffee.
Here is my part of the spread" she
said. land if you don't like it | am
afraid there will be trouble"
And here is mine he said as he
pushed the box toward her.
May opened the box with as much
curiosity as might be expected from
an ordinary girl. She found golden
egg carefully packed in batting.
Why" she exclaimed. Il thought
the goose that laid the golden egg was
killed long agor'
$50 it was. but this one was laid by
the great American hen especially for
your Easter celebration"
''Oh and there is poetry on it too! I
am afraid that is more than can
swallow"
Harry blushed modestly while she
read aloud:
TRY to eat me. and you'll find
My contents show the givers mind"
The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1902-03-29


differed greatly in being more beautiful
and lovable and harder to propose to
than other girls. She didn't follow I'D
any of the usual leads that are so like
ly to bring up the momentous question
naturally when young people are to-
gether. On the contrary, she seemed to
realize several sentences ahead what
he was going to stammer out when he
had made up his mind to propose and
never failed to change the subject skill
fully. OF course this only made him
the more eager to have his face set
tied.
When Harry came home from the
city for his Easter holiday, it was with
grim determination to go back as an
engaged man or know the reason why.
He knew that he would have to do
something clever in the way of pro-
posing, and, as he had studied the mat
ter carefully since Christmas, he felt
sure that his plan was one that would
surely succeed. But in coming to that
conclusion he overlooked for the mo-
The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1902-03-29
Am EASTER COMEDY
BY A. 8. LEWIS.

copyright, 1902, by A. B. Lewis.l
Mrs. Dubbs hadn't lived with Mr.
Dubbs twenty-five years without know
ing his peculiarities. He never made
Christmas presents; he never observed
birthdays; he did not regard Easter as
the proper day to bring out new head
gear. Mrs. Dubbs had always rebelled
about the latter, and the time had final
ly come when she meant to break out
in open defiance. She began long
weeks ahead to cut nickels and dimes
off the household expenses and lay
them aside for another purpose, and
when at last Easter drew near she
counted up her savings and found the
sum sufficient to buy what her soul
craved for. She didn't expect that
Dubbs would be pleased, but if she
got out of it without a solemn lecture
she would be more than satisfied
Queerly enough, Mr.. Dubbs had not
only come to the conclusion that he
needed new hat, after wearing his
old one for five years, but he so far
went back on his record as to decide
to bring it out Easter Sunday. 1t took
considerable scheming on his part to
buy new plug" and get it home and
deposit the box on the spare bed up
stairs the day before Easter, and, al
though he was home when his Wife's
new bonnet arrived in it's bandbox, it
room and left beside his hat without
his being any the wiser.
That evening as Mr.. Dubbs was re-
turning home from the store he found
a puppy on the doorstep shivering with
the cold. and in the goodness of his
heart, for he was good in streGks. he
picked up the pup and carried it in
side. In the goodness of her heart
Mrs. Dubbs welcomed and fed the
stranger, and, instead of turning it Que
in the cold world, she let it remain and
make itself at home. Shortly before
bedtime Mrs. Dubbs smiled to herself
as she looked over at her husband and
said:
John. do wish had new bonnet
for tomorrow"
Yes. and wish had new hat"
he mumbled in reply.
There was silence for time as she
patched pair of trousers and he read
his paper. and then he suddenly start
ed up and remarked:
II wonder where that purp ISL"
"He must be up stairs" she gasped
as she looked around.
1t was race between them to the
top of the stairs. and they came out