davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1902-12-19
THE CHOIR-BOYS' CHRISTMAS,
Delightful Concerts SOmetimes Give N
by Them in the Cathedral
Cities of Europe.

Dean Farrar, writing in the Culver
of ''The Great Social Festival" says:
1 know of more than one cathedral
city in which at Christmas time the
little choir boys-often boys who
come from very humble homes-eivc
delightful concert, during which
they act with hearty fun some very
bright and humorous scenes. They
take real interest in the special
music of the services and anthems
and carols of the season, and they
are invited to spend an evening of
genial amusement at the deanery
and in the houses of some of the
kindly canons. Here they enter joy
ously into all the time honored fes-
tivities. In the dim light of some
old vaulted room or corridor the
great bowl of the snapdragon sheds
it's blue lustre, while, with shrieks of
laughter, the boys snatch out the
burning raisins. Then they hunt for
the little presents in the large bran
pie, and carefully put them in corn
ers till the games are over, when
they carry them home to their par
ents; or they have fishing rod, and
each in turn throws the line over a
curtain behind which someone is con-
cealed, who fastens on the line an
appropriate gift for each boy in turn.
Then follows the Christmas supper,
with its flaming plum pudding, end
less crackers, and unrestrained mirth.
The evening usually ends after sup
per with one or two carols, and
"Auld Lang Syne" sung in the most
correct and traditional fashion; after
which the boys go back to their
homes in high glee, and with the
memory of an unusually pleasant
evening to make the sacred season
more and more dear to them.
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1902-12-19
ABUSES OF THE DAY.
The Veriest Cynfc, Though, Would
Hardly Consent to the Abolition
of Christmas.

1t is the latter day fashion to talk
somewhat cynically of Christmas and
its celebration. We are told that the
ancient custom of exchanging Christ
man membranes among friends
has become matter of calculation
and vulgar display, that people nova
days spend more than they can afford
In buying Christmas gifts, and give
them grudgingly and expect in return
presents of at least an equal money
value. Even the Christmas dinner,
with its plum buildings and mince
pies, is fair game for the present day
humorist. He gloats over the dyspep-
STA and indigestion which ensue, and
paints the day which should be the
happy climax of the year as mourn
full season made memorable by empty
pocketbooks, blasted expectations
and pepsin. Many people have perhaps
unconsciously caught the cynical
spirit of the hour, and in condemning
the abuses connected with the celebra-
ton of Christmas have apparently lost
sight of the spirit which still WHITES
>
But men talk more lightly than they
feel, says the Chicago Tribune, and it
is not likely that the chiefest of the
cynics would willingly consent to the
abolition of Christmas. He would
miss the glow of kindly feeling which,
in spite of all that he and his fellows
may say, still warns the heart of the
world when the holidays come round
Perhaps he is still of an age when Ego
ing home for Christmas" means so
much. At least, he has not forgotten
the annual meeting Of all the members
of perhaps scattered family at the
old homestead. Perhaps he has
homestead and children of his own.
In that case it will be hard for him
to remain cynic. No man can play
Santa Claus for a brood of his own
without confessing that, aside from
any religious significance, Christmas
brings too much innocent happiness
to be ever forgotten or neglected.
So far as the abuses of the day are
concerned, each man may correct
them for himself. And after all is said
and done 1T is likely that they are not
so widespread or SO serious as some
people seem to imagine. Certainly
there are thousands of people who
give and receive gifts on Christmas day
with no thought beyond that of the
kindly pleasure which is found in
both. There are many families who do
not spend more than they can we'll
afford to spend in making the day
memora BILE, and if little self-sacrifice
be involved now and then, man must
be heartless to condemn it. Not every
little boy eats more mince pie than is
good for him, and a great many thou
sand children get the only opportunity
they have in the year to eat their
fill of that and other delectable
dishes,
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1902-12-19
A DAY FOR CHILDREN.
At Christmas Time Let Us Help Make
the Little Folks
Happy.

Christmas seems to be the one fes-
tival of the year which rightfully
belongs to the children-the, time
when the Christ-child came
into the world, born in such lowly
place, that no child, however humble,
but should share in the joy of his
birth. If we have children in our
homes, says a writer in the Farm
and Fireside, let us invest the Christ
mas-time with all the beauty and
brightness that is possible. Teach
them the sweet old Christmas songs,
such as 'Holy Night" "Once in Royal
David's City," 80 Little Town of
Bethlehem" and "Joy to the World
Tell them again the story of the
birth of the Christ. All children love
it, and it is ever new. These talks
are made more interesting by looking
at pictures. Good copies of old
mas terpieces illustrating the life of
Christ are very cheap now, and
should be in every home. Such
pictures as Corneggio's Nativity
1.-THE Worship of the Magi,' "The
Madonna and Child,' will make last
ing impression on child's mind.
AS Christmas commentaries Gods
greatest and best gift to the world,
ii is sweet custom for friends to
give some gift to each other symbol
izing their love. In too many homes
the children are in danger of having
their own idea of Christmas one of
getting something, instead of sharing
in the joy of giving. In this way
they lose the best part of the Christ
mas joy. Be sure to let even the
little ones have share in the Christ
mas preparation; teach them that
the best part of every gift is the
love that goes with it, and to try to
make a happy Christmas for as many
as they can. 1t would be a good
thing if all children would commit
to memory these lines, by Phoebe
Carey, and practice them:
Children whose lives are blest with love
untold,
Whose gifts are greater than your arms
can hold,
Think of the child who stands
To-day with empty hands!
Go fill them up and you will also fill
Their empty hearts, that be so cold and
STILL
And brighten longing eyes
With grateful, glad surprise.
May all who have at this blest season seek
His precious little oEes-the poor and weak
In joyful, sweet accord,
Thus lending to the Lord!
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1902-12-19
oLD-FAsH1oNED CHRISTMAS.

Christmas like it used to be!
That's the kind would gladden. me,
Kith and kin from far and near
Joining in the Christmas cheer
Oh, the laughing girls and boys!
Oh, the feasting and the joys!
Wouldn't it be good to see
Christmas as it used to be?
Christmas as it used to be
Snow attending bush and tree
Bells a-jingling down the lane,
Cousins. John and Jim ard Jane
Sue and Kate and all the rest
Dressed up in their Sunday BEST
Coming to the world of glee-
Christmas like it used to be.
Christmas like it used to be-
Been long, long time since we
Wished (when Santa Claus would Gomez
You a doll and I a drum.
You a book and 1 sled,
Strong ard swift and painted red
Oh, that day of jubilee,
Christmas like it used to be.
Christmas like it used to be!
1t is still as glad and free
And as fair and full of truth
To the clearer eye of youth.
Could we gladly glimpse it through
Eyes our childrens children do,
In their joy time we would see
Christmas like it used to be.
Nixon Waterman, in ElMott's Magazine.
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1902-12-19
FESTIVAL SPIRIT IN ART.
A Grand Theme for Some Artist to
Place on Canvas-A Name That
Will Always Inspire.

Hail gladstone season of Holy Days!
-haid to those phases of the season
of cheer exemplified by art wherever
found-art in the palace or in the cot
in the forest or in the open-art
upon the stage-art> in the shadow of
ten thousand belfries-art in canvas
touched and awakened into splendid
color by the hand of genius.
The season of Festivity and of it's
twin sister, Hospitality, has always
appealed to artists. just as the Ro-
man drama is said to have had it's rise
in the festivities of the rustic youth,
so it is true that many glorious can
vases, ancient and modern in senti-
ment, have been resultant from his
tory's feasting days-some splendid
ones, indeed, by poor, hungry paint
ers who never lived to experience for
themselves anything approaching the
safety in which they reveled on can
vas
A grand theme for painter some
day. says a writer in the National
Magazine, would be New England
Christmas table scene-in the early
part of the nineteenth century, for in
stance, when wide, old-fashioned fire.
places, with side-settle and backlog
and crane-hanging and warming-pan
comforts were the order of the day:
when, as also at Thanksgiving, all the
members of the family come together
to the home fireside-when the live
oak ceiling timbers rang and rang
again with Yule-tide cheer.
The one for whom the years great
est Holy Day was named will, as in
ages past. inspire the artist as long as
the world shall last. From the baby
in Mary's improvised cradle in Bethle-
hem down to the cruel cross on Cal
vary, each step of His life has been
painted again and again.
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1902-12-19
WHAT HE FORGOT.
The loot of the whistle or the Woes
of the COmInuter During the
Holiday Season.

The commuter sat in the train al
most buried from sight under his
load of Christmas presents There
the red wagon for Willie and the
wax doll and the doll house and the
doll buggy for Susie. There was
great mysterious package for Mrs.
Commuter, and there were a half
dozen other packages and parcels for
various friends and relatives.
The commuter with all his weight
of Christmas joys did not seem to
be happy. He sat glaring savagely
around the car as if seeking to find
something that was not there.
Hello, Billy" said neighbor COM
muter. SCOT your Christmas things,
l see."
YES" said Mr.. Commuter "All
but"
Cali but what?"
The commuter again stared wildly
around the car. Il don't know" he
said. 1--WE got all but one thing and
L cannot for the life of me remem-
DCI WHdU II "dS' lHCIC l)IuA
string on my little finger. That was
the red wagon. Got that. The blue
string, that's the wax doll. Got that
The white string, that's the doll
buggy. That ID. & S. on my cuff.
That's drum and sled. Got that. The
f. That's the furs for my wife.
Got that. The other things. Got
every one of 'em. But there was
something l didn't get because l
knew it was something about cars or
trains, or something like that, and
[ think of those things all the time,
anyhow, and | didn't see how l could
forget. 1t was something that l
would be reminded of all the way
down town on the cars, and now [
can't remember. 1t isn't seats, nor
toy cars, nor nothing like that. Con-
found it, it was something about
cars
"Wel1, here's our station" said
neighbor commuter. ''You can't get
it now. There's the whistle"
The locomotive gave long, mourn
full toot.
"That's it, said the commuter.
"that's it. Dash my stars. II was
toy whistle for Willie. Chicago
Daily Tribune.
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1902-12-19
A CHRISTMAS SERMON.
Preached ny the Genuine Uns elfis h
ness of a Little Ded-Ridden Girl
in Her Letter to Santa Claus.

When we are prone to- think that
Christmas has degenerated into a
date for the payment of obligations
as regards gifts, it is pleasant to en-
counter genuine unselfishness. writes
Katherine l.. Smith, in Youths Com
panion. A true incident of this kind
occurred last year in a large western
city.
The day before Christmas the clerk
of large hotel, while sorting over
the mail, came upon letter adj
dressed to"Mr. Santa Claus Hotel"
AS no such gentleman had registered
there, the clerk showed the letter to
two or three of the guests, and they
decided to open it.
1t proved to be from little girl,
who signed merely her given name;
she had added, however, the street
and number, which were in one of
the poorer parts of the city.
What most impressed the readers
was the fact that although the child
had asked Santa Claus for many
things,-"a doll for Susie, dress for
mamma and dog for Tommie"-not
one thing in the long list was to be
for herself.
Two of the business men who had
read the letter determined to seek
out the little, unselfish being, and see
how she was situated. They found
in humble home which lacked many
of the comforts of life poor bed
ridden little girl who had written to
Santa Claus with the supreme faith
of childhood, and asked for gifts, not
for herself, but for those she loved.
The visitors, touched by the child s
pathos, consulted a physician, and
>ascertained that with proper treat
ment she could be cured. She was
sent to hospital; and in that city
now there is a we'll child who can
thank not only the generosity OF
others, but her own sweet nature for
her new strength and happiness.
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1902-12-19
Never Forget the Note of Thanks.

Be sure to send a note of thanks
for gift received at the earliest
possible moment. Write it before
your ardor cools. Make it hearty,
spontaneous, enthusiastic. You need
not be insincere. Even if you do not
like the gift you must like the spirit
that prompted it. Never defer writ
ing with the idea that you will thank
the giver in person. You may do
that as well when opportunity offers,
but do not risk delay. Nothing is
more discourteous than .belated
thanks.-Ladies' Home Journal.
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1902-12-19

you must stop at the house for me
Tell my wife not to be anxious; I'-t
gone to my mother. She's old. ant
she's sent for me. I'll be bacn Mon
day.
| Phil helped him on with his over.
coat, and brushed a bit of imaginar:
| dust from his hat before handing il
to him.
Il wish 1 had time to get something
to take her." Tom Dorkins said, as
he pushed the box of cakes into his
desk and locked it. give always sent
her present"
you're all she wants. Mr.. Dorkins.'
Phil ventured to say. He was hardly
more than boy, and he had a deal OF
swallowing to do to rid himself of the
lump in his throat
Some spits of snow were falling as
Christmas eve drew to a close, and
corners of the house.
Grandma Dorkins piled an extra log
on the brass andironS, and the rudy
glow lit up the room with a festive
air.
II wish the wind didn't howl SO
about the place." she said, restlessly
st seems that mournful, exactly as
if it knew I'd been hopin' against hope,
an Tom wasn't comm this year
either"
She smoothed her black silk apron
with nervous, trembling fingers as the
up-train's whistle sounded.
''I'll soon know now" she whispered
feeling suddenly weak and old. If Tom
shouldn't come, 1 don't believe I'd ever
get over it. That's what's been keep
in me up all through the fall, an to be
disappointed again" She sat with
wide, eager eyes on the door. He'll
come right in, for he knows I'm ex-
pectin' him."
Yes, he knew she was expecting him.
AS he came up the board walk he could
see the freight Pickering on the wall,
the wreath of Christmas green hang
ing against the window. His hand fum-
bled at the latch minute, then he
opened the door gently and went in.
"Tom got home last night after all :
old Mrs. Dorkins cried, delightedly, ~
she reached Homer Fox the blue mia ;
pitcher from the kitchen window G:..
Christmas morning.
Gee whuts! You don't say?" He
mer exclaimed, stamping the snow
from his rawhide boots. 81 guess
you're happy as birds in the spring
time, Gran'm Dorkins!"
Tom, hearing voices, came out from
the sitting-room, and finding Homer
went half way in the snow to meet
him.
prosperity amt pulled Tom up a
Bit" his mother thought, fondly. "He
acted real glad to see Homer. What
long handshake he gave him" Farm
and FireSide
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1902-12-19
COE'.BIoOded.

"Some people," said Uncle Eben,
'looks at de price tag SO hahd, dat
givin' Christmas gifts gifts to be purity
nigh as coli blooded as boss trade"
Washington Star.
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1902-12-19
The Method.

Johnny-Where does Santa Claus
get the money for all the things?
Papa-Wel, you wouldn't under
stand it now; but when you're older
You'll find that he raises it by an
income taX.-Puck.
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1902-12-19
would Answer His Purpose.

Uncle Ned-Was it you 1 heard
singing 81 want to be an angelo"
Johnny-Yes; I'd be satisfied if
Santa Claus brought me flying ma
chine.-Puck.
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1902-12-19
Circumstances Alter Cases.

Crawford thought you were per-
fectly delighted with the Christmas
present your wife gave you?
Crabshaw-At that time didn't
know she'd had it charged.-Judge.
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1902-12-19
Cruel.

Miss Oldgirl-Have you hung up
your mistletoe yet?
Miss Youngthing-No, indeed. II
isn't necessary for me to use bait
N Y. Herald.
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1902-12-19

Homer Fox amt goin' to do his best tt
fetch him!"
Toms got to be a regular high
flyer" observed the postmaster. "Ha'
his private car an all that sort CT
thing"
'To see that poor OF soul havin
faith in his comm year in an year out
an never shown hair nor hide o
himself" Homer broke in, excitedly
Its more'n flesh an blood can stand
Gimme pasteboard box Peter Crump,
one big enough to hold these" He
unwrapped the cakes Grandma Dor
kins had given him and laid them on
the counter. ''There! If Tom Dor
kins has got piece of heart in him
away anywhere them cakes'l make
him own to it,"
"He writes to her sometimes an
sends her money" Peter Crump said,
as he brought an assortment of boxes
Huh! What's money to her when
she wants him!" Homer said, with
scorn, selecting box and trying. the
cakes, to see if they would fit. Lem
me have pen an ink an sheet o. pa
per-
He wasn't much of scribe, and he
sucked the top of the pen frequently
as he wrestled with his problem. Final
ly it was done, and he held it off at
arms length, surveying it with pride.
This is what he had written:
''Tom Dorkins, for nine years your
mother has baked these cakes for
your Christmas homecoming, because
you liked them when you was boy.
Has she got to send them to the Well
lington orphan asylum this year, same
as always, on account of your not
enough of her to come?
.HOMER FOX."
eff that don't bring Tom Dorkins
nothing WILL" he said, conviction in his
voice.
His epistle was spread over the
cakes, the lid tied on securely
stamped and addressed, while Peter
Crump winked at SO fragrant viola
ton of postal laws under his very
nose.
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1902-12-19
GRANDMA DORKINS'
CHRISTMAS 8 8 as
BY MARY N. WILLARD.

S TOM comm home this
Christmas, Mis- Dorkins 2"
Homer Fox asked, as he de-
livered the pint of milk he
brought daily to the little
house at the upper end of
Scarborough.
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1902-11-27
Train IS HELD Up
-,ve MASKED MEN ROB A
TRAIN ON THE ROCK 49,
LAND ROAD.
NOW OPEN the EXPRESS SAFE
.xp, os,on OF THE DYNAMITE IS
HEARD FIVE MILES
AWAY.
a,ow OPEN the EXPRESS SAFE
gift AWAY WITH THEIR BOOTY
-nc,MEFR FORCED TO DETAcH
MAIL AND EXPRESS CARS
FROM TRAIN.

Davenport, Iowa, Nov. "a west
,onnd passenger and express train on
t pUa Rock Island road, known as No.
~ was held up by twelve masked
rohhers soon after midnight this
morning, at a point three miles west
nf davenport. The robbers uncoupled
tho express car and ran it two miles
fnrther west, where the safe was
,,lown open with dynamite. The ex-
nlosion was heard in Davenport.
The train which was robbed left
Chicago at 6:O5 last night. 1t was the
fast train that runs through to Fort
worth via St. Joseph and Kansas
City. ,.,-
learned that the robbers were sue
cessful in removing the contents of
the safe from the express car. No
nerson was injured. It was nearly
two hours before the train could pro-
coed.
The robbers succeeded in stopping
the train by placing a red lantern on
the track, and when the engineer saw
the danger signal he brought the train
to a stop. Five masked men boarded
the train, detached the mail and ex-
press cars, and, forcing the engineer
to accompany them, took these cars
westward, leaving the rest of the train
standing on the main track. Near
Gale Siding the express car was
blown up. The train usually carries
a large amount of money.
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1902-11-27
NEWS IN BRIEF.
Overflow From the Wires In q Con.
don0ed Form,

Overflow From the Wires In a Con.
densed Form.
Emperor William has invited Co.
Quelin, the French actor, to attend the
next great court hunt
1t required just twenty seconds for
Tom Daily of Brooklyn to put Joe
Tipman, a Baltimore featherweight,
down and out at Baltimore. They
were to have boxed twenty rounds.
One million feet of lumber, the en-
tire kiln system, and much more val
liable machinery Of the Tunis Lumber
company at Norfolk. Va, was de.
stroyed by fire. The losss is $5O,OOO
Owing to the unprecedented losses
IN stock and crops, due to the con-
tinued drouth, the premier of New
South Wales has convened mee.::...SS
of all the political parties to devise
means of relief for the sufferers.
The navy department is informed
that the Hancock has been placed in
commission at the Mare island navy
yard. She was formerly an army
transport and will now be utilized as
a receiving ship at New York city.
The Burlington & Missouri river
railroad increased the wages of the
switchmen of its system to the Chi.
cago scale. The Illinois Central rail.
road has also advanced the wages of
its switchmen to the same scale al
Omaha.
The Industry and Exchange Bank OF
Christiana, Norway, has suspended
payment. The other banks have
agreed to cooperate with the govern
ment in guarantee of 100000 tc
cover the banks liabilities to its
creditors.
Thomas j. Borden, a member of the
Borden family whose name is linked
with the textile history of Southeast
ern Massachusetts,. died at Provi
dence, whittier he had been taken af
ter being stricken with appendic:ti!
some time ago,
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1902-11-27
THE MARKETS.
Latest Quotations From Grain and
Live Stock canters.

Latest Quotations From Grain and
Live Stock canters-
St. Paul, Nov. "a. - Wheat - No.
Northern, u q 74c; No. Northern,
SO @ Tic; No. 3, 66@70c; no grade,
59@65c. Barley - Mating grades, 46
@56c; feeding grades, 35@45c. Rye
No. 2, 47@4Sc. Flax-No. 1, s1.19 Ia.
Oats - No. 3 white, 29@31c; No. 4
white, % 10000; No. 3, 2S@29c.
Minneapolis, Noe. 24.-Wheat Mo.
1 hard, 743-8c; No. 1 Northern,
70 $50; No. 2 Northern, II 7-8c.
Duluth, Nov. "a. - Wheat - No.
hard, rs SIC; no. Northern, "a LIS;
No. 2 Northern. " 1-sc; No. spring
20 1-2c; oats, soc; rye, 49c; barley, IS
@53c; flax, SLIT 3-4.
Chicago, Nov. "a. - Wheat-No. 2
red, TIC; No. 8 red, 70 q 73c; No. 2
hard winter, 75c; No. 3 hard win,
ter, 67@72c; No. 1 Northern spring
75c; No. Northern spring, 73@75c;
No. 3 spring, 67@73c. Corn-No. @
Sc IL q SIC; No. 8, Sc IA q Sc 34c
Oats-No. 2, 20 1-2c: No. 8. % 1-2c.
Milwaukee, Nov. "a. - Wheat-No
1 Northern, TIC; No. 2 Northern, Is IL
@76 1-2c; May, II 1-2c. Rye-No. I
511-2@52c. Barley - No. 2, &C 1-2c
Oats-No. 8 white, 81 Ia @ 80 1-2c
Corn-December, Sc 1-2c.
Sioux City, Iowa, Nov. 24.-Cattle-
Beeves, $4.50@6.75; COWS, bulls and
mixed, $225@4; stockers and feeders,
$2.5O@4.50; yearlings and calves, S2.5f
@4. Hogs, $6.05@6.30; bulk, $1,000
615.
Chicago, Nov. 24.-Cattle-Good to
prime steers, $5.75@6.S0; stockers and
feeders, $2@4.60; COWS and heifers
$1.4O@5; calves, $3.50 q z; Texas
fed steers, SO q 4; Western steers
$3.50@5. Hogs-Mixed and butchers
$6@6.4O; good to choice heavy. $6.40@
$50; rough heavy, $6@6.30; light, sc
@6.2O. Sheep-Good to choice weth
ers, $3.5O@4.1O; fair to choice mixed
$2.5O@3.5O; Western, $2.75@3.S5; ma
tive lambs, s3.50@5.25; Western
lambs. $3.75@4.75.
South St. Paul, Nov. "a. - Cattle -
Good to choice steers, $500; good tc
choice COWS and heifers, $3.25@4;
veals, $2@5.5O; good to choice West
ern steers, $4.25@5. Hogs-Light an6
light mixed, $5.90@6.20; mixed an6
butchers, $6@6.30; heavy, $5.8O@6.30i
boars, $2.50@3.50; stays, $5.5O@5.75
underweights and rough, $5.50@5.75
pigs. S5,25@575.