davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-09-18
KEEPING CHRISTMAS
BY Henry Van Dyke.

1t is a good thing to observe
Christmas Day. The mere mark
ing of times and seasons when
: men agree to stop work and
make merry together is wise
!. and wholesome custom. 1t helps
one to feel the supremacy of the
; common life over the individual
life. 1t reminds a man to set
: his own little watch, now and
; then, by the great clock Of hui
: manity.
But there is a better thing
3 than the observance of Christ
mas Day, and that is, Keeping
5 Christmas.
2 Are you willing to forget what
you have done for other people
5 and to remember what other
z people have done for you; to
ignore what the world owes you
: and to think what you owe the
Z world; to put your rights in the
& background and your duties in
: the middle distance and your
z chances to do a little more than
your duty in the foreground; to
5 see that your fellow men are
z just as real as you are, and try
to look behind their faces to
5 their hearts, hungry for joy; to
Z own that probably the only good
( reason for your existence is not
5 what you are going to get out
& of life, but what you are going
3 to give to life; to close your
hooE Of oop,n1oiptc opoipct tho
& management of the universe
s and look around you for place
3 where you can SOW a few seeds
& of happiness-are you willing to
s do these things even for day?
3 Then you can Keep Christmas
{ Are you willing to stoop down
s and consider the needs and the
3 desires of little children; to re-
member the weakness and lone
5 illness of people who are grow
Z ing old; to stop asking how
much your friends love you and
; ask yourself whether you love
Z them enough: to bear in mind
Z the things that other people
5 have to bear on their hearts; to
z try to understand what those
: who live in the same house with
; you really want. without wait
Z ing for them to tell you: to trim
s your lamp so that it will give
5 more light and less smoke, and
Z to carry it in front so that your
: shadow will fall behind you; to
; make a grave for your ugly
: thoughts and a garden for your
5 kindly feelings, with the gate
; open-e~e vol willing to do
these things even for a day?
; Then you con Keep Christmas.
Z Are you willing to believe that
Z love is the strongest thing in
5 the world-stronger than hate.
z stronger than evil, stronger than
Z death-and tnat the blessed life
5 which began in Bethlehem nine
Z teen hundred years ago is the
Z image and brightness of IT,
s Eternal Love?
& Then you can Keep Christmas.
And if you keep it for a day.
3 why not always?
But you can never keep it
3 alone.-Youth's Companion.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-09-18

right man, but at last a very polite
clerk who had been answering questions
as fast as dozen people could ask them,
turned to him and said:
Murdoch? What address? Penrose
street or Penrose avenue?''
Are there both?' asked the colonel,
as the possible blunder dawned on him
Yes; one on the West side, one on
the South side. Where did you wish
your goods to go?"
Of course, Penrose avenue is on the
South side and Penrose street is on the
West side, and Col. Battersly had him
self made the mistake. The goods had
been receipted for, the clerk told him.
1t was pretty late to attempt getting
them back, but they would try The
clerk made some notes, ratified off a few
words about the terrible rush, moved
off and left the colonel standing dazed
in the crowd. He went home, and as a
precaution got out of his trunk a
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-09-18

scrape the cake dishes, an tried to keep
'em interested all the time, so they
wouldn't ask about their pa.
when Big Dan an Joe got back, the
other men had great time riggin' up the
tree We was afeerd they wouldn't be
able to buy Christmas tree candles in
Crystal City; but, my land! they got
about ten dozen of 'em, an no end O.
tinsel an shiny balls an things to hang on
the tree, an lot O. little flags to stick in
among the evergreen decorations. We
had no end O common taller candles on
hand, an the men were perfectly reckless
with 'em. l reckon they put as many
as 200 of 'em up around the room.
An what did they do but go an rig
Big Dan up as Sanity Claus! They
wrapped him up in big bearskin one O.
the boys had, an put about a quart O.
flour on his long, husky whiskers to
whiten EN-, an they put big fur cap on
his head, and he did look for all the world
like Sanity his own self Yes; an he had
a string o. sleigh bells they got at the
stage office stable; an them bows
ACCESSIBILITY cut hole in the roof so Sanity
Claus could come down through it, La,
if you want things carried through re-
CARELESS, you let lot of Rocky Mountain
boys take it in hand. They won't stop at
nothin' reckon they'd h'isted off the
hull roof if it had been necessary to make
the appearance of Sanity true to life. Such
fun as the boys had over it all! An of
all the capers they cut up! Seemed like
they were all boys once more. Me an
Ann Dickey an Mary Ann Morris were
the only women in the camp, an we had
our hands full gettin' up the Christmas
supper we intended havin' after the tree.
Mind you, there wasn't child in camp
but just them two pore little orphans. ar
all that fuss was on their account. Ifyou
think rough miner boys can't have the
kindest O. hearts, you just remember
that, Every man seemed to be tryin' to
Guido the others in doin' somethin' for
them little folks
Well, jest wisht you could have seen
them children when the time come for
'em to go up to the hall an see their
tree! Little Freddy he give yell O. joy
that most split our ears, an he jest stood
an clapped his hands, while his sister
KEEP sayin': How lovely it is! Oh, is
mt it beautiful Then Freddy he
schreeches out: oh, there's my choo-
choo engine! Goody!' An how little
Elsie's eyes did shine when she saw no
less than three dolls on the tree for her
self! There was enough stuff on that
tree for a hull Sunday school, for the
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-09-18

This is the busiest and happiest holi-
day time ever had, except that I want
all the folks at home to enjoy it, too"
You must all come to dinner to-
mOrrOw-nO, to-day" said Mrs How
ard as the young people started home.
ct has been so many years since |
had such flock around me that must
make the most of it. | want Frances
to have good time so she will want
to come every year"
Frances felt a touch of self-reproach
on Christmas morning when she re-
membered the neat little parcels she
was to have opened on the evening be-
fore She had fallen into the happy
sleep that visits the pure-hearted with
out thought for the lovely time she
was having and little prayer for her
family and friends. AS she smoothed
out the note slipped through the beau
tiful ring, she smiled to read the ten
der message-"My Dear Daughter:
| hope this will be the happiest Christ
mas of your life to reward you for
giving up your own pleasure to crafty
Aunt Caroline. Many happy returns Of
the day, sweetheart. Mother
Mrs. Howard found time on Christ
mas day for a long letter to her broth
er, in which she said, tYou must be
prepared to give us your little Fanny,
for I am sure Horace Devon has per-
suaded her that Cedar Hill is good
place to spend a lifetime. He is a
rising young architect and has a fine
place in the city, to which he goes
every day. This may sound like strange
tales, but l did not want the news to
strike you too suddenly. OF course the
young people are not rash enough to
make plans far into the future without
consulting you, but 1 can find no fault
with their anticipations Horace is
A.
But Mr.. Storey had laid down the let
ter with bewildered look that plainly
showed his pain and establishment
His wife expressed no surprise, though
tears came into her eyes as she said,
"You might have taken a hint from
the child's short letters in which she
spoke of being perfectly happy. have
been hoping this would be happy day
for her, but l am not quite prepared
to say 1 like the realization of my
wishes"
With the light streaming through the
stained glass windows on the ever
green and holly wound around the
stately pillars of the church and the
Christmas music in her ears Frances
found it hard to '-eep her thoughts
from the mental picture of the bare
little church Cedar Hill had boasted
in other days. GLORY to God in the
Highest" sang the sweet voices just
as the choir in the church at home
was doing at that very moment, but
there was no inconsistencies in her
heart
Under cover of her big hymn book
Horace Devon softly pressed her slim
hand while the ushers seated late ar
rivals in the little pause that followed
the anthem, and she smiled to think
her mothers Christmas wish had
come true.-Baptist Union.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-09-18
An Exploded MYTH.

do your little ones believe in Santa
CLAUSE
No They did til last Christmas,
when their papa played the part. l had
the children in the hall and he was to
come from upstairs with lot of pres
ents for them"
''Yes?"
We'll, we had the lights turned low
and he thought he was down when he
wasn't. They recognized his language"
Chicago Herald
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-09-18
Still Som ethin" to Do.

HAS your wife finished her Christ
mas shopping?"
Yes. She expects now to be able
to put in all the rest of her time look
ing at things she might have bought
for less money if she had only known
it."-Chicago Record Herald
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-09-18
Har6 LICK

Aunt Mae-What are you crying for.
Johnny?
Little JOHNNY belong to two Sun
day schools and they are both going
to have their Christmas trees on the
same night.-N. Y. Truth
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-09-18

Never buy yellow-fieshed turkey. 1t
is a sign of poor feeding. A fine turkey
should have firm, white flesh. Purchasers
should also notice that redness and
coarseness about the legs are the sign of
an old bird
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-09-18

strangely carved bracelet, antique, ORR
ental-a noble present, he thought, for
his niece; and for his nephew an old,
bejeweled war mask-it had been
mandarins. And he took them to Mrs.
Murdoch, saying nothing of their great
value, and said they were for her girl
and her boy But after dinner that night
Mr.. Murdoch tapped at the colonel's
door, saying:
II hope you won't think of giving
those rare curios to the children, colonel.
They're worth their weight in money"
Didn't cost me a cent, Murdoch"
blurted the soldier. They're part of the
well, the loot-that is, picked 'em up
in China and-they-the children will
appreciate them more as they grow
older"
Murdoch walked away without an
other word, but that night the woman
told her brother, softly and with evil
dent desire to be grateful, that papa
was so scrupulous, he didn't want the
children to receive such presents.
''You know, brother she said, hes
SO conscientious that he thinks you
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-09-18
Very Dainty.

Viola-F'red sent me some of the dain-
test articles for my coy corner
Ida-What were they?
"a scimiter, skull and a warclub. -
Chicago Daily News.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-09-18
Always Helpful.

Books are delightful when prosperity
happily smiles; when adversely threat
ems, they are inseparable comforters.-
Richard Anngervyle.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-09-18
To Judge a Book.

When book raises your spirit and in
spires you with noble and courageous
feelings, seek for no other rule to judge
the work by; it is good, and made by
good workman.-Bruyere
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-09-18
Not the Christmas Kind.

1t is not the rainy-day stocking that
gets hung up at Christmas.-Judge.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-09-18
which to Choose.

Of two evils choose the less; of two
goods, choose the greater.
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-11-15
PATCHWORK TABLE TALK.
Stewartville, MINI.

mere am little pencil in the hand lady who is
nndlng 1aut with subjects given
one says hey should have subjects help
Hora training, such as honesty, Virtue TRUTH Kindness
duty to home, duty
dinner Dell Is ringing She lays roll
OH where can hear all that is said Tramp tramp That
IS the children coming to dinner school. Now thew
are seated at the table. One little girl says, please pass
the bread and little boy pass bread, please"
NOV" as am only a little pencil table
manners 90 not know which Bang! The little
girl has dropped her knife on the floor
am sure she could have been the table
they talk about different things. says There is
poor show in Chinook for water lady talks all
the time about hens She Spanish are the
best layers The boy keeps banging against his
cna1r am glad when the meal is boy asks
MS mother for pencil was one here
JUST oeIore dlnner He spies the
me, runs away with pocket,
h1itil 1iaoe' Guy Putnam
Chinook Mont.
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-11-15
IN THE GREAT, NOISY WORLD.
(HOnorable MentiOn.)


Il have been lying here for and haven't been
picked up by one gruned Just then some
one kicked 1t out into the street "Oh, ex-
claimed the pencil II really there was so much
lie In the world Listen!
paper telling all about the races!' Buns only
Oh!' said the pencil looking around
der what else there to discovering it was
near window 1T listened. YES sir, I'm will be
elected, said stout gentleman. But makes YOU
.alhh SO: SAID another You know he by
large majority right here in Hennepin waiter
ratified sirlon steak, lamb chops What sir? Ice
cream! certainly Meanwhile two ladies themselves
near the window and sad YES expects to
start Tomorrow She she going for her health The
very IDEA OF leaving Mr. Brown The con-
Versaton continued for while approached
the window and closed it. Wen" the pencil there
are a great many things in this after ALL
Seventh Grade, -Mareuer;ta. Rouo
South Side School. St James Min,
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-11-15
TO THE TUNE OF NO TUNE,
(High School Credit.)


The pencil hastily laid down on the desk as the
teacher of the primary grade
aires and presidents to the boarso hastily
missed the groove of the DESK striking a below its
destination, and consequently began downward career
to the floor Such tries however, the
inmates of the they noise but the
pencil heard and noticed all, like fated
mine before he starts his regions
Dxon he began rolling heard marching the
board to the tune of played little
tapbel Then he struck the floor and remained
less below the sunshine blinded him
the aerial regions of desk.
Next he heard little Jimmy recting,
three Afterwards followed the teachers
good James; and now tell how three and
three are?' But Jimmy unused COMMITMENTS
was greatly bewdered and quickly which
was the praiseWorthy solution the problem The
teacher said sympatheticay 'ry again, Think
ing she had misunderstood him. loud voice.
Ihree The teacher became angry hastily How
dare you trife with me! told you wrong and
now you repeat to Take your
case after school, Jimmy took his
with tears took his pencil began writing Three and
three three wondering why teachers though in
the wrong must persist in contradicng bringing
his careful reasoning to naught.
Nnth craze -Magnus Fossum,
Luverne
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-11-15
BEHIND A BLUSHING EAR.
I16dC1I,
Red Wing, MINI.
(High School Credit.)

am red and three-cornered, my owner partic-
ulary fond OF threecornered pencils
my owner had been using for long, working
journal Junior and it must
much for between times my
cfuly So was tired, and when
halr was glad to take My cousin the pen,
her ha1r too; his remarks sharp
l went to sleep to avoid hearing him.
awoke just in time to hear little ring There
literature class is called and where that pencil?
walks off time want it. And yellow
one hasn't point sharp enough to a
lleVe II bought twenty pencils they'd disappear
~ay! This was the voice of Meanwhile she
rummaglng under his desk and everywhere while
great danger of falling, her head So then
the teacher raped the desk
my brothers to do with thanked goodness
bought me, for was it be unpleasant be
knocked against the desk The rappng attract the
attention of mistress you take this front sea
ana my brother was pointed accusingly mistress
Although could not her face being hair,
sure mistress blushed tip her ear against
which was resting became hot "There," she
tered, might have known it, She tossed head and
with that down tunbled broke my point
AS she sat down account of that lead
pencil!" Augusta Newander
f"el1tn GRADE Grafton, NJ D.
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-11-15
For Saturday, Dec. 6:
"a PATCHWORK STORY"


The stories must contain at least five of the fol-
lowing things: One mousetrap, elevator, die
tlonary one hair brush pair of rubber boots
catboat one automobile, quart apples, one
half dollar, man, three children.
Only the specified number Of articles may be
used If you wish to have any children the story
you must make them three in number. OF the other
features there must be but each. The papers
must be mailed to reach the office
Not Later Than Friday Morning, Nov. g.
They must be strictly original, written I'm ink,
on one side only of the not than words
in length nor less than 10o marked with the
of words and each signed with the grade, school, name
and address of the writer. The papers must not be
rolled.
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-11-15

to say heard her noun then remembered
she mad written down the parsng of it, onged to
tell her. In my confusion tried jump up and tell her
but by so doing jumped groove rolled down the
oesk ana Tell to the floor This the angry and
OF course no one else but myself was my fault
MABEL then picked me and laid groove and T
tnought OF the old saying, children and
not heard thought it applied we'll so re-
NAMED quiet for the Of the period.
HhSLul Iraoe Martha r. Cunrath
Jordan,
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-11-15
Northwestern Topics.
For Saturday, Nou. 20:

'THE MOST BEAUTIFUL THING YOU EVER SAW
WIIY?'
What is the most beautiful thing you remember
having seen? Is it sunset, picture, a person, an
animal, what? Try to describe the thing
itself and also tell why it seems "the'' beautiful
of all the things you, have seen. What counts
in this contest is the ability the editor see
with your eyes-not merely what the chosen theme
may be in itself The papers must be mailed so as
to reach the office
Not Later Than Friday Morning. Nov. 81.
They must be strictly original written in ink on
side only of the paper, not than 300 words
in length, less than 100 with the number
of words and each signed with the grade school
and address of the writer The papers must not
be rolled
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-11-15

abuses me! He scratches me with
his pen, writes on me with his pen
Gil, and carves me with his knife
"A little girl sits in me- said a
smaller one, and treats me very
nicely Then the teachers desk
said, am wiser than all of
you, and better looking, too.
I'm sure I would rather be what I
am, even though I let the mice in.
hold such valuable things that I
have to be locked up Hold your
tongue! said the waste basket. 7
know how much all the children
stood to-day. That is more than
you know If I didn't know more
than; that I would go away. 1 have
dozens of books on my shelves,
and pretty curtains cover them
from the DUST said the bookcase.
'Ting-a-ling-ling,' sang the clock, I
can keep better time than the
Children And the bell said, If I
had to keep still all day and only
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-11-15
A WoEFUL, WooDENY GRoAN.
(HOnOrable Mention)

(1onorable Mention.)
After school, at the end of the teacher was
making out report cards corner of the teachers de
there was DID, pencil is what it heard
AS she picked up Tommys card she said that
10Y mas tr1ed this month! Here is Johnnie's
Annas my pupils all getting ready for the high school
ana mere the card of Freddy the wrigger never
KNOW" TO SIT STILL and here is the Nellie fearful
ana also the card of Mary On
she wiped tear from the nose and the pencil
'orleu over ana groaned: Forrest Topping,
B Fifth Grade, Cyoo1e+ Min,
Jefferson School,
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-11-15
MAREl'S LITTLE MlScHIEF-MAkER.
(HOnOrable MentiOn.o

(Honorabe Mention.)
Inc grammar class called sigh my owner
pcheo me up ana started for the front what
clt sign meant She didn't have her prepared
stened ntenty for time the teacher called name
1 thought surely it would be my owners
According to judgment this class was a failure One
grl was called upon to noun, as she was Just
tnen whispering to the girl behind her. she did not know
noun TO parse This made the angry and she
scooeo Ihen another called upon she could not
parse It. Eark! did hear Mabeps name called? s,re
enough Mabel arose. stammered and did not know wb.+
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-11-15

uAdH gave me TO the boy, who put
me into his pocket and walked out,
feeling quite proud because he was
the owner Of such a fine lead pencil.
He took me to school next day
and all the boys and girls gathered
around, saying: What a fine lead
pencil you have!"
When school called the boy laid
me on his desk. He raised his
hand and asked the teacher If he
could sharpen his lead pencil.
The teacher said, mo, wait till
recess. You cannot sharpen it in
school time" But the little boy
was so anxious that he could not
wait until recess. So he put me
under his desk and began to white
away at me. The teacher came
down and asked him what he was
doing. He slipped me into his desk,
but rolled out upon the floor. The
teacher picked me up and saw that
was sharpened and said: what
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-11-15
THOUGHTS OF COMMON THINGS,
CHonorable Mention,)

Honorable Mention.)
on my way home from school day lost my pencil
ot the next morning found it, and this told me
it heard: $1,000 - ~ ~
"hen the children and teacher had gone the iani-
tof came 10 sweep He said Ho! no! pencil to
lose. But ne let me lie there all
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-11-15

people hurryng to and fro but they did notica
my poor little mistress very knew was
not as cold as the hand that Finally
man bought two of brothers. had sold all but
she started home
Suddenly there shout, looking I'D saw horse
tearing down the street. But the little
tlme The horse her a moment and I saw no
more, for she had dropped man who was passing
picked me up and carried little bow but
have often wondered what became the little girl
Eighth Grade, -Emma Pellet
Cehtfal ocnoo East st. Louis,
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-11-15
AMONG LIFE'S SHADOWS.

On very cold day in January in hands of a.
poor little girl who trying me- She was about
seven years DID, and was crying if her heart
because she had to sell before would
apt to treat her cruelty crowds of
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-11-15

ta1 at night would feel badly rings me
SO n1uch m sure I'll out you would said all
the desks in chorus. Then teacher and all
quiet" -Genev. Dnnoonson
0lA'n 01aoe. Stewartvile,
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-11-15

'9our devotion to s my reward" he an
swered But he did know pencil
-Enn1v Heath
~ixth Grade, Red Wing MINI
East School