davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1902-12-25

ooh, my, that musthave been lovely
| cried Isabel Howell. II wish we had
| such big ireplaces now"
"Well, they were nice" said Aunt
Debby, ''but they had their disadvan-
tages. You see q great deal of the
heat from the open fire went up the
chimney. When we were scorching
our faces to get our feet warm, our
backs would feeI-some times-as if
some one was rolling snow down them.
And if we were warming our backs our
noses and our feet would be cold.'
How did you bake your bread with
out stove?" asked Edith Brown.
"In the oven, to be sure"
"What oven?" questioned Edith.
1.-THE fireplace didn't have an oven, did
ii ?"
"Our ovens were made of brick and
built right in the kitchen wall. We
heated the oven with glowing logs
from the fireplace"
Then Aunt Debby went on telling
stories until she fell asleep in her
chair. We girls were SO quiet one
could have heard pin drop. Present
ly there was such noise outside that
Aunt Debby awoke with start.
whats that noise?" she asked,
looking around in dazed way.
II think it must be Santa Claus"
Betty Jones answered with a chuckle.
1t was Santa Claus, and he was super
intending the unloading of ton of
coal. Presently he came again-this
time with a load of wood. Aunt Deb
by's dear old face fairly shone by the
light of the fire.
"How good God isl" she exclaimed.
"How good you all are!"
How good you are, dear Aunt Deb
BY" cried out Isabel Howell.
When things had quoted down
again, Fannie Stearns said: "What
did you use to do Christma when you
were a giri?"
Il can tell you what did one Christ
mas eve Christmas was on Monday
that year. On Sunday we went to
church as usual. The pews were like
little houses. They were high and
square, with swinging doors. There
were seats on three sides. The pulpit
was high and was reached by flight
of deep steps. Over the pulpit was a
sounding board. Father used to give
out the hymns and Melinda Wyckoff's
father would, sound the key on his
pitch-pipe. Folks can talk all they
want TO about the music in church
nowadays, but, oh, wouldn't like to
roll time back just to hear that music
of auld-lang-syne? We had choir
Mr.. Wyckoff was the leader-and they
sat facing each other, the men on one
side, the women on the other. We had
instruments, too, violins, flutes, clari-
nets and bass-viols. Oh, my dears, it
was beautiful.
II told you we didn't have any stoves
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1902-12-25

we found out that Aunt Debby was in
straitened circumstances. She did
not tell us, however, and we did not let
her know that we knew. But half
dozen of us planned a surprise for her.
We invited ourselves to Christmas
eve supper at Aunt Debby's. 1t was
bitterly cold evening when we dropped
in about half-past five, informing her
Iaughingly that we had come to take
tea with her. She had always been so
hospitable that it was pitiful to see the
dear old face suddenly pale. Of course
we knew the reason-a scarcity of
provisions. Doubtless there was
enough on hand to satisfy the hunger
of herself and Sukey, but what could
she do to satisfy the healthy appetites
of six young girls? But we chased the
pallor from Aunt Debby's face by
hastily telling her that, it being a
surprise, we had brought our supper
along. How pleased she was then.
And how de1ightedly she watched us
as we arranged the table! Such
supper! We had brought coffee, sugar
and cream. and Sukey made the coffee
and waited on the table. We had cold
sliced chicken and tongue, bread and
butter, biscuits, jelly, fruit and sponge
cakes. And when we were through
eating there was more food in the
basket than we had eaten. We told
Sukey TO take care of it and her face
was aglow when she put the good
things away. When the supper was
cleared away, Aunt Debby told us
stories of auld-lang-syne. There was
bright fire in an old open Franklin
stove, Aunt Debby looked at the glow
and felt the warmth.
eve didn't have such nice warm
room as this when l was a girl" she
said. Folks hadn't even heard of
stoves where we lived
''Oh, Aunt Debby!"
'You needn't say, oh, Aunt Debby!'
Mollie Gray" the old lady continued,
smiling on us, "for it's the truth. We
had big fireplaces then, that would
hold great logs. Over those blazing
logs we cooked our meals, boiling,
stewing and roasting. We used to bake
apples over the fire, stringing them
on wires. IA FOR potatoes we baked
them in hot ashes"
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1902-12-25
MARY E.WILkINS.

amt well, but dunno what aiIs him.
I've been real careful of him. He's
worn thick flannels, and he's had
wholesome victuals; l never let him
have pie
"Lemuel was always dreadful fond
of pie" l said. / felt kind of sorry,
for / remembered how fond poor
Lemuel had always been of mothers
pies, and what good ones he used to
make himself.
II know it," said Mehitable. "He
wanted to make some himself, when
we were first married, but I vetoed
that. l wasn't goin' to have a man
messin' round maxim pies, and 1
wasn't goin' to have him eatin' of
'em after they were made. Pies amt
good for him. But l declare | dunno
what does make him act so kind of
spiritless. told him to-day thought
he'd better make resolution for the
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1902-12-25
Animal Omens.

The actions and voices of domestic
animals on New Years Day are per-
haps considered in some countries
more significant than any other
omens. A dogs cheerful bark in the
morning is most suspicious sign,
while his howl is very unfavorable.
To meet cat on the morn of the
New Year is considered by peo-
pie in the Latin countries as sign
that they will change their residence,
and it also betokens i'll for the fu-
ture. Throughout southern Europe
it is regarded as most fortunate
sign to see a pig, signifying plenty
for the coming twelvemonth. The
sight of snake Is the worst con-
ceivable omen, for it means death by
violence. To see a jackdaw, magpie
or crow is sign that the beholder
will be cheated on all Sides during
the following year.
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1902-12-25

| All, any more III my
brothers Reuben and Silas. The
i three had lived together and kept
bachelors hall ever since our
mother died. 1 was married and
away from home long before she
died. l didn't know how they
would get along at first, but
all of the boys had been used to
helpin' ma a good deal, and they
were real handy, and when l asked
if they wasn't goin' to have house
keeper, they wouldn't hear to 1T.
They said they wasn't goin' to have
no strange woman round in mas
place, nohow. So Silas he took hold
and did the washin' and ironin', and
Reuben did the sweepin', and Lemuel,
he was the youngest, next to me,
! did the cookin'. He could cook a din
ner equal to any woman, and his pies
beat mine. My husband said so, and
[ had to give in they did.
Well, they seemed to get on so
nice, and none of 'em had ever SEEM
ed to think much about the girls, not
even when they was boys, that j
must say l was astonished when
Lemuel he up and got married to Me-
| hitable Pierce. She was a little along
in years, too, rather mere so than
Lemuel, and dreadful smart piece.
She was good lookin' and had prop
| erty, but she was dreadful smart and
up an comm. / could never see how
| Lemue1 got the courage to ask her
| to have him, he was always kind OF
mild spoken little fellow Reuben he
declared he didn't. He vowed that
Mehitable asked him herself. He
said he knew it for a fact. and he
said it with the tears rollin' down
his cheeks. Reuben was the oldest,
and he'd always been terrible fond
of Lemuel. "That poor boy would
never have, got in sech a fix eff that
woman hadn't up an asked him, an
he didn't have spunk enough to say
no. said Reuben, and he swallered
hard.
Mehitable had nice house of her
own that her father left her, all fur
nished and everything. so of course
Lemuel he went to live with her, and
Mehitable's house was pretty near
where / lived, so I could see every
thing that was goin' on. 1t want
very long before I said to Hannah
Morse, my husbands old maid sis
ter that lives with us and teaches
school, that I believed Lemuel was
henpecked, though hadn't anythin'
against Mehitable.
II don't see what else anybody that
married Mehitable Pierce would ex-
pect," said Hannah. She spoke real
sharp for her. I've always kind of
wondered if Hannah would have had
Lemuel if he'd asked her. WELL"
said I, 81 hope poor Lemuel will be
happy. He's always been such a
good, mild, willin' boy that it does
seem a pity for him to be rode over
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1902-12-25

Bradds-"Going to make any new
resolutions this year, Spikes?"
Spikes-"New ones? / should say
not! I've got lot of old ones I've
never used, by jove!"-Chicago Daily
News.
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1902-12-25

New Year and stick to it, and see if
it wouldn't put some spunk into
| him."
Pretty soon she went home. l
could see she was real kind of trou-
bled. She always did think good
deal of Lemuel in spite of every
| thing.
The next day was New Years, and
in the afternoon Mehitable came in
again. She didn't have her SEWN AS
she generally did, she was very in
dustrious woman. She jest set down
and begun twisting the fringe of her
shawl as if she was real nervous. Her
face was puckered up, too. II don't
know what to make of Lemuel," said
she, finally.
'Why, what's the matter?" said /.
'.He says he's made resolution
for the New Year" said she, land
that he's goin' to keep it."
"Well, what is it," said /.
II Dunno" said she.
well. if it's a good one you don't
care, DO yon?" said /, land it couldn't
be anything but good one if my
brother made it,
IL dunno what it is" said she.
won't he tell?"
mo, he won't. 1 can't get word
out of him about it. He don't act
like himself
Well, 1 must say 1 never saw such
Lemuel after that. He wouldn't tell
what his resolution was, and she
couldn't make him, though she al
most went down on her knees. 1t
began to seem as if she was fairly
changing characters with Lemuel,
though she had spell of bein' her.
self more'n ever at first, tryin' to
force him to tell what the resolu-
ton was. Then she give that up, and
she never asked him where he was
goin', an he could come in my house
an set jest as long as he wanted to,
and she bought him a short-tailed
coat and some store collars and
man. He got to stayin' down to the
store nights, an talkin' politics with
the other men real loud. / heard
him myself one night and I couldn't
believe it was Lemuel.
Well, Lemuel he never gave in. and
he never told till the next New Years
day, when he said he would tell He'd
said ali along that he'd tell her then.
I'd got most as curious as Mehitable
myself by that time, and New Years
mornin' I run over real early-they
wasn't through breakfast. He was
most through. He was finishing up
with big piece of mince pie, and
he'd made it himself, too. When he'd
swallowed the last mouthful, he
looked up and he laughed, real pleas
ant and sweet, and yet with more
manliness than I'd ever seen in him.
"S'pose you want to know what
that New Years resolution WASP"
said Lemuel.
81 guess / can stand it awhile lon
GER" said Mehitable. Now the time
had come she didn't want to act too
eager, but / showed out jest what I
felt.
For the land sake, Lemuel Bah
bit, what was it?" said /.
Lemuel he laughed again. "Wefl, it
wasn't much of anythin','' he said, in
his gentle drawlin' way. 81 didn't
make no resolution really"
what, Lemuel Babbit!" cried Me-
hitable.
NO" said he; 81 couldn't think of !
none to make, so ! made a resolu-
ton not to tell that 1 hadn't made
Home Journal.
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1902-12-25

| open, and in came Alabama an Indi-
an chief whom Deacon Van Brunt had
once befriended. He was glittering
The Great Spirit had sent him, he
said. An Indian can find a path or a
road if anyone can. Alabama had
made path from Deacon Van Brunt's
to the church, difficult task and we
had TO hurry for fear the path would
be closed. The horses were brought
from the shed and the women and chill
dren were put on their backs. Then
we started, Indian file, for Deacon
Van Brunt's, which was half a mile
away. Alabama headed the process
sion. 1t was a wearisome march in
the cold and storm, but everyone was
too thankful to complain. Mrs. Van
Brunt-dear soul!-was looking for
us. The logs were blazing in the big
fireplace and there was an abundant
and excellent supper ready. Alabama
was given the seat of honor. There
was prayer-meeting worthy of the
name at Deacon Van Brunt's before
the dawn of another day. AS for the
heaters, they were sent for and put in
before we had another service in the
old church"
There was the sound of sleigh bells
outside and presently in came Judge
Howell.
'IVell, Aunt Debby," said he, in his
genial way, ''if these girls don't know
enough to go home when it's bedtime,
why don't you send them?"
"We know enough to stay" laughed
Isabel, when Aunt Debby is telling
stories.''
We put on our wraps, kissed Aunt
Debby good night and piled into the
sleigh. Sukey told me as passed her
at the door: ''De jedge done bring
Missile Debby mighty nice turkey an
all kin's er fixin's."
There were other delightful sur
prises for dear old Aunt Debby, but
we had to go home and go to bed
first.
The girls went in a crowd next day to
wish Aunt Debby Merry Christmas. 1t
was a glorious day, clear and cold and
bright. We smelled' roast turkey be-
fore we opened the door. Aunt Debby
was at the table with four small
guests, ranging in age from six to
twelve years. In response to our won
dering looks, she said, sweetly:
"They are orphans. They came to
wish me Merry Christmas and kept
them so that they could have one.
poor dears!"
Dear Aunt Debby, she was passing
on" her blessings. All that day gifts
kept coming, baskets, hampers, and
even barrels full to the brim.
things been lookin' da'k fo' some
time" Sukey confded to Betty Jones,
who went into the kitchen on an err
rand, "but Missile Debby done say:
Don't yo' fret, Sukey, benin frown
in Providence God hides a smilin'
face Den she say: 'Sukey, rs fo'
scoah yeahs en- ober an de good Lawd
neber failed ter provides not 'fraid,
Sukey.' "-Chicago Advance.
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1902-12-25

with glee
And wonder what the gifts the saint snail
bring to you may be;
"A thousand fancies fill your heads, thou
sand dreams you dream
OF doliies made in wondrous ways or
things that go by steam;
You'll like whatever comes, you know,
Ard childishly you VOW
To keep your treasures well, but, oh,
Where are the toys of last year now?
You shouted at the Jumping Jack you'd
begged the Saint to bring;
You laughed to see the antics of the mon
key on the string;
The fairy book, the pictured blocks, the
little train. the doll
All how you danced with gla6ness as you
looked upon them all!
But that was long, SO long ago,
And you, you know, somehow,
! Have newer wants to-day, and oh
I Where are the toys of last year row?
oh, anxious man, oh, lady fair you court
the fates to-day,
And there are blessings rich and rare for
which you meekly pray;
A loving glance, a happy smile; perhaps
the strength to take
New-found responsibilities for wealth or
honor's sakei-
( You grasp new hands and gladly go,
And faithfully you vow
J To cherish and to love, but, oh,
Where are the toys of last year now?
IS. E. Kiser. In Chicago Record-Herald.
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1902-12-25

rough-shod, and have all the will he
ever did have trodden into the dust. ="
"Well, that is what will happen,
or I'll miss my guess" said Hannah
Morse. For a long while l thought
she was right. 1t was really pitiful
to see Lemuel. He didn't have no
more liberty than five-year-old boy,
and not so much. Mehitable wouldn't
let him do this and that, and if there
was anythin' he wanted to do, she
was ssot against it, and he'd always
give right in.
Mehitable she bought all his
clothes, an she favored long-tailed
coats, an he bein' such short man,
never looked well in 'em, and she
wouldn't let him have store shirts
and collars, but made them herself,
and she didn't have very good pat
terms, she used her fathers old ones,
and he wasn't no such built man as
Lemuel, and 1 know he suffered ev-
erything, both in his pride an his
feelin's. Lemuel began to look real
downtrod. He didn't seem like half
such a man as he did, and the queer
est thing about it was: Mehitab BILE
didn't pear to like the work of her
own hands, so to speak.
One day she talked to me about it.
II dunno what 'tis," said she, "but
Lemuei he don't seem to have no go
ahead and no ambition and no will of
his own. He tries to please me, but
it don't seem as if he had grit enough
even for that. Sometimes think he
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1902-12-25
A Time of Rejoicing.

We are all rejoicing in the oncom-
ing of the Christmas time. Some of
us who are no longer children in
years are still young in heart, and
we are as eager for the dawning of
the Christmas day as are the children
themselves. Only those whose hearts
are calloused beyond the power to
feel at all can be Indifferent to the
influence of that subtle and beautiful
1t is in reality the Christ spirit, and it
is such a good and helpful spirit that
it is pity we do not try to keep it
in our hearts throughout the entire
year. 1t is pity that we do not
sing and rejoice throughout the en-
tire year, and it is pity that the
whole ransomed world does not lift
up 'its universal voice" in praise and
rejoicing because of all that Christ
mas means.
But we rejoice that they who look
for Christ in the world will find him
in so many homes and in so many
lives. 1t is true that ''the world
never was so full of humble, unos-
tentatious Christian service as to-day.
Beneath the uproar of contending
principles and the clash of opposing
forces, which seem sometimes to fill
the whole world with the tumult of
their antagonisms, there is another
world, full of pain and sorrow ana
heavy with care, but full also of the
sweetness of sacrifice, the joy of sur
render, and the peace of unselfish-
ness."-Young People.
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1902-12-25
A Cruel Blow,

Miss Flypp (tearfuIly)-I thinh Mr..
Higgins is real mean.
Miss Fosdick-What has he done?
Miss Flypp-He asked me what l
thought would be a nice Christmas
gift for young lady, and I told him
a diamond brooch. Of course / sup
posed I was the young lady he al
luded to, but what does he do but GO
and buy it for that perfectly odious
Julia Traey."-Leslie's Weekly.
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1902-12-25
: Br ERNEST GiLr1 . re.

girls called her, lived in a quaint old
lone-story house in an old-fashioned
street. She was aunt Debby" to all
/ the young folks of the village. Al
though she was over so years old, her
memory was excellent, and she could
tell a story that would interest any
one. She was dear, CHEEKY old soul,
and we all loved her. An old colored
servant lived with her. We girls often
dropped in to see Aunt Debby and to
remember her in various ways. 1t was
late in December of hard winter that
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1902-12-25

Y brother Lemuel mar
ricd Mehitable Pierre e
when he was quite along
in years. Nobody thought
he'd ever get married at
all, any more'n my
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-09-25
TOPICS OF LIE TOWN

AR E " Wiggins. of woodward. is n
the city
= o. Esus Of FaIrview. O. T.. IS IN the
city fer the fair
Sir j. A. armstrong. of Cheney was
Ia the city On business.
Mrs :. J. Dennis. of 3s S0alh Main
street. s houe rrom oklahoma CIV
AIRS A. r. Mills. If Vmita. Z t. IS
visiting her aunt. Nrs. Il r 3-aa.ey. vi
this city
Ca-tain Ash ana wis returned Sunday
from their summer S visit in eastern uh.a
and Indiana.
Miss Wlnaie Trousl7t- II Newton. kan.
IS visiting Mrs = II Rattan. az as Soath
water street
Geo @. II Buckner. n Euaaio IS visit
Ing Judge W. g. Buckler AID ether re-a-
iives n this CITY.
Don A. Sweet traffic manager ~ The
Pec7s Valley ana Northeastern RailEVay.
VAS 81 Wichi-a Saadav.
Mrs F. r IIn 81 Greent5wn Ind
Ieft for her home Yesterday. STEER g three
weeks visit AZ Haven. Aan-
Mrs. ira Wood. 81 Kansas city. re-
turned home SATURDAY,. after q pleasant
visit VITA friends iu this civ
Mss Grsce Wilkinson of oregon IS the
glest az hlr aur-. SI-s Chas Philips
and her cousin ar ~ T. Har-
Mrs e. 2 Cumming r5r-uer-r az t'is
cstE. n1w ~ Fancl Ctty. 81 IS VIsl--
ing her parents a-d many friea-s.
= 41zray and vtf Il ueneer csc.
were II 1he eity Yesterday a tar Wy
e. Cheney. Lrs Azrras eld laua-
Mrs A. w. Brant of Be1te-5 Clty.
F-ure is ,-fSsrf-. her -r- Banner T,~a-.r
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-09-25
TESTING The MACHINERY
For Economy In Operation the DOId
Plant EXeeIIs


one would think 70 look q the new
D0id packing house, that 1t is ready for
cunning. but stiI there are a great many
men AZ work in different parts of the
building.
The machinery in the fertilizer was run
ming yesterday and machinIsts were going
about with Oil cans in their hands lub-
rloatiBg the different parts and it was
moving 50 evenly that scarcely a Jar
could be felt They were testing the
machinery and making doub.y sure
that everything was gu right.
one force ~ men were al work put
ting the Ions iroa bars in place IN the
big coolers in the cattle house "a which
the sides If beef viii hang. There are
three immense coolers in the cattle house
that VII hold nine hundred cattle OF
eighteen hundred sides Dold VIII soon
have completed one II the best cattle
killing embellishments IN the west
Superintendent Charles Dsrrigraud was
s. the sausage department yesterday,
making the machinery spin with COM
pressed air 20 see that il was all riEht
There were men pa the same part q the
building building little platforms up
near the ceiling an which VIII Zee placed
little dyuamos 70 r11n the other uachin-
cry X is Simply wonderful how ittie
shafting and belts are used ID the rew
Dold plant. Every thins IS rsn by cleo
fricity. steam. or compressed afr
The machinery in the lard refinery IS
ell N place and x IS ready Tor bush
ness Dold has spared no eSrense IL this
department and all The very latest scicu-
tine discoveries are Etiiized in rnis de-
partmcnt to make tie very best lard
ever sold ora any market in any country
The big paekinE house merger is sand 10
have been brought about f1r Vhe purpose
o. economy in the operation ~ the pack
ing houses but for economy 81 operation
tn cid house III rhIs city VIII hold It's
own with any packing house IN Amer
Sea or any amount n pacsing houses
uaerceG into one concern
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-09-25
VICTORY is ASSURED
Republican Party Making Great Gains
Throughout County.

Alr. H l. Jacobs OF Payne township.
chairman OF the township delegation 10
the Republican county convention. has re-
turned from a trip through Illinois He
found that the Republicans were in a
big majority wherever he visited, every
member Of the party was working hard
and there was no doubt that the party
would carry every state by large ma
jority. When ne returned he went right
II work for the county and state and
found that the Republicans Of his town
ship had not been Sleeping during his
absence. but were working away, and
tile party Is assured of the most sweeping
victory IN its history.