davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Savannah morning news., 1903-12-20

"And to the Brown Bear" said the
Crippled Hermit.
1.-The Brown Bear sleeps in winter"
piped out the very tiniest squirrel.
Then go and wake him." ordered
the Crippled Hermit.
HE has a very bad temper" said
the Gray Squirrel, to explain his hesi-
tation.
Tell him sent YOU" said the Grip
pied Hermit, land that I want him to
bring some of his honey for little
Lena"
Honey" The squirrels almost
tumbled over To think of any one
being brave enough to ask the Brown
Bear for honey
But away they scampered at the
Crippled Hermit's command.
"Give us a present for little Lena"
they cried at nest and lair, land bring
it at once to the hut of the Crippled
Hermit"
At midnight procession of animals
came down through the moonlighted
aisles of the great forest. There was
the bear hugging to his breast a great
piece of honeycomb that dripped gold
en- juice all over his brown fur.
The Crippled Hermit put the honey
carefully in a blue bowl and the
Brown Bear licked his fur sulkily.
Il love little Lena" he said, "for
she brushes the snow from the trap
The Savannah morning news., 1903-12-20

hung the beautiful string of berries
and the red apples, and at the very
top he put the holly branch, and at the
bottom the blue bowl of honey, and
the goose.
And standing on the lowest branch,
with outstretched arms like an angel
was the wonderful doll in the blue
satin dress.
II was almost morning when he fin
ished. but the stars shone still and
white.
Let's call her out now" said the
smallest squirrel.
'oh. yes, let's" said the smallest
rabbit.
SO the Gray Squirrel jumped on the
window ledge and tapped, while the
other animals drew back 10 the edge
Of the forest. and the Crippled Hermit
With them.
Lena opened her eyes, and when she
saw the Gray Squirrel on the window
ledge she she came and looked out.
The moonlight shone on the beauti-
fui tree. and Lena gave n little gasp.
ITS Just a dream" she said, and
rubbed her eyes.
But when she looked again she saw
that the tree was stili there.
"Oh, grandmother, grandmother"
she cried, come and look Ny little
The Savannah morning news., 1903-12-20
AN ENCOUNTER
WITH SANTA CLAUS
nv CHARLES BATTELL LOOMS
Author of Cheerful Americans"
Illustrated by Johnson.

u wasn't that Simeon Hanback,
,ian,t believe in Santa Claus; doubt
- ha had ever heard of him. In his
novbood he had lived among very
..roctical people who thought fairy
tories a waste of time, if they We're
not downright immoral, and, Santa
Craus or no Santa Claus, on Christmas
nav Simeon had been wont to work
irst as hard as on any other day of
the year.
Won may ask whether Mr.. Hanback,
ala not have eyes. Could he not see
tho show windows in the toy stores,
uhere there was always sure to be
some representation of the CHEEKY old
saint? But if you stop to think you
will realize that Mr.. Hanback, had no
ewes for toy shops, and when he saw
crowd around a window he said
consoles idlers,' and hurried on his
way.
No. Simeon Hanback,, bachelor Of
fortv-five, knew nothing of Santa
claus and it goes without saying that
he did not care for children either.
He knew that all people had to begin
Inv being children. For his part he
had got through the painful necessity
as soon as possible, and at thirteen
was lust as dull and commonplace as
he was ten, or twenty, or thirty years
later.
Behold Mr.. Hanback, preparing for
sleep on Christmas Eve. He lived in
an old house downtown that was
blessed with old fashioned fireplaces.
That is, he lived in one room in the
old house; it being given up to
dodgers.
Mr.. Hanback, had worked Fate at the
office, and he intended going back to
work next morning because this being
a workaday world, the only thing to
do was to work and amass money, for
the night cometh when no man may
work unless he be burglar.
Mr.. Hanback, had a we'll developed
fear of burglars. He had never seen
one, and you may wonder how he
had Imagination enough to conceive
of what he had not seen, but he had
often read the accounts of their d.
ings, and he had known men who had
suffered losses due to their depreda-
tons, and he was firmly convinced
that there were burglars, and he
was so sure that his open fireplace
would form an especially attractive
The Savannah morning news., 1903-12-20

taking down a cheap Autograph from
a nail he pressed on the wall paper
and it broke and let his hand into a
cavity, from which he drew a handful
of silver and gold and a roll of bills.
You have done WELL" said Santa
Claus. "All these years you have been
saving up this money that you might
go with me tonight to add to the
Christmas happiness of those whom l
visit. 1 have no money, and there are
many among those L visit who need
money more than toys. Is 1t not
lucky that / found your"
VERY lucky" said Simeon under the
hypnotic influence. Santa Claus looked
at him searchingly and he said, Il
suppose you know that 1 have three
other hiding places for my money"
II did not know it," said Santa
Claus, rubbing his red cheeks delight
fully, "but it pleases me. Only keep
a little for yourself"
Eyes, will keep enough, but must
give the other away. When shall we
"As soon as you have collected it,"
| Simeon took down two other
I wretched chromos, and from behind
them he took out hundreds Of dollars.
Good" said Santa Claus, Now
we must be going. 1t is a cold night
You will need to dress warmly"
While Simeon was dressing Santa
Claus looked out Of the window at the
snow-covered roofs of the houses,
gIistening III the light of the Christmas
moon.
hurry"
Eyes, we will hurry and you will be
happy. Did you ever think of doing
this before?"
Never before" -
THAT is why you have not been
happy" . oobood
Simeon.
"I suppose you will regret this in
the morning." said Santa Claus wnen
thew were out on the roof He gather-
ed up the reins as he spoke.
1T will regret it in the morning.
was the parrot-like response.
"That is because you did not get
into the habit of doing 1t sooner. But
YOU will be happy tonight.
IT will be happy tonight.
Over the house tops scampered the
tiny reindeer, and If Simeon had not
been under a hypnotic spell ne would
have wondered at the strange ride, but
he thought of nothing but the getting
rid of that which he had saved an
these years. In those chimneys that
were too small for his mortal form ne
sent down money by Santa Claus, but
sorne of the larger ones he descended
himself, and saw many happy children
dreaming OF the morrow. What a pity
that fhe saint could not have influence
ed his entire life. But his hypnotlsm
dld not outlast the night. Stin,
long before the ride was ended simeon
had given away all his money, ana AZ
last santa Claus left him near the
Harlem river with Just carfare home.
Christmas morning was dawning N
the east when Simeon Hanback,, who
had made hundreds Of children happy
by his lavish donations Of money, en-
tered his room and rubbed his eyes.
The frat thing that attracted his at
teDtiOn were the three holes in the
wall paper. He rushed - them and
discovered thar he he'd been robbed
N their contents. He booked ~ bic
bed and there Icy the pistol The
f0R cleared from his brain
The Savannah morning news., 1903-12-20
THE CHANGED
CHRISTMAS TREES
BY TEMPLE BAILEY.
Illustrated by Il. S. Truman.

The Forester swung his AK and a
chip few out of young fir tree, then
again and again the dull blows sound
ed and more chips flew until the tree
lay on the white, white snow.
When the Forester had cut ten slim
young trees, he loaded them on his
sled and shouldering his ak, went his
way, singing.
He passed many poor houses by the
roadside, and at one of them little
Lena stood and clapped her rough
hands as she saw the trees.
"Am I to have one of these, Fores-
ter?" she cried.
The Forester shook his head. NO."
he said, they are for the little rich
children of the town"
But he had a kind heart, so he
picked out little fir bush from under
the pile Of trees and gave it to the
child.
And that night Lena's grandmother
hung two red candy balls on the little
bush and rough wooden doll.
Now, as it happened, the Gray
Squirrel sat on the sill and watched
the bent little old woman as she
trimmed the poor little tree, and he
ran home and told his wife and chill
dren about it.
Lets go to the Crippled Hermit"
said the Gray Squirrels wife. So
away they went and sat in a row on
the Crippled Hermit's hearth and told
him about it, and the Crippled Hermit,
who lived in a hut in the depths of
the forest among the wild things Of
the wood, understood all that they
said, and when they had finished he
remarked:
you say she is a good child?"
She's darling" said the Gray
Squirrels wife, enthusiastically
'She is the best of children" said
the Gray Squirrel, more soberly.
"Often she goes without her breakfast
that she may feed the birds in winter.
She warns the deer when the men
come to shoot land she saves us from
the traps"
Then she shall have a fine Christ
mas tree" said the Crippled Hermit
positively. Each bird and beast shall
bring what he can, and I will get the
tree"
"Tll go to the birds and the rabbits
and the doe, and to Loo, the Wolf"
said the Gray Squirrel.
The Savannah morning news., 1903-12-20

so that I can see it. She's welcome to
the honey. But I am nearly dead for
Sleep" and he yawned and yawned
again, then dropped down in a corner
and snored.
Then came the rabbits, launching
along timidly, with uplifted ears and
quivering noses and each rabbit had a
tiny red love apple in his mouth.
ooh, where did you get those ?"
cried the Crippled Hermit.
1.-THE Lady of the Castle laid them
on the terrace for us as a Christmas
treat" said the biggest rabbit land
we have brought them to little Lena"
So the Crippled Hermit put them in
a red heap beside the honey.
The squirrels came next, bringing
treasured boards of nuts, and the
birds brought bright berries which the
Crippled Hermit strung into brilliant
chains
Out of the forest, too, came a big
eyed doe, and in her mouth she bore a
great branch of holly that spread out
on each side of her head like horns.
Il had nothing else" she said shrink
| ingly, but she saved my fawn."
Then two red foxes brought a fat
goose. about which the Crippled Her.
NIT asked no questions.
Last of all came Loo. the Wolf.
There was a flash of blue as he
| leaped through the door, and all the
animals pressed forward to look as
he laid on the table a beautiful doll.
LOO" said the Crippled Hermit,
| sternly, after his first exclamation OF
wondering delight. You have been
stealing"
But Loo held up his great head
/ proudly. II leave that for the little
/ foxes" he said. and all the little foxes
J hung their heads and looked at each
The Savannah morning news., 1903-12-20

dren must be in another room, fol-
there was no one here but a man sound
asleep.
No, not sound asleep, for as the
somewhat heavy saint alighted on the
hearth Simeon stirred and then sat UP
Simeon Hanback, was a miser, but he
was not a coward, and when he saw
the Realistically dressed man on his
hearthstone, he reached for the pistol
that he always kept under his pillow
ana pointed it directly at the corpulent
body of the good old fellow.
Stir one step" said Simeon, land
I'll blow your head off,"
But Santa Claus was no coward
either, and not knowing the meaning
or malice or uncharitableness he sim
ply smiled and said:
1t is one of the machine-made toys.
l do not make them because they are
really dangerous. Do you intend to
give it to your SOM"
Simeon was surprised at such an ir-
relevent speech from the burglar, and
he said:
Don't pretend to be out of your
head, for that won't save you. Just
drop that bag of plumber and come
with me. III introduce you to a po-
lice officer in double quick time"
1t is a we'll known fact that Santa
Claus, among his other gifts, has hyp-
motto power, and now that the tone of
Mr. Hanback, showed that he was not
Joking, but. actually meant to do bod
lily harm to the saint, old Santa did
as he was bid, knowing that the power
of the man would cease as soon as he
willed 1t to.
He dropped the bag, and two dolls
fell face downward on the hearth, as
II they did not care to see the dis
comf1ture of their kindly creator.
you've been robbing toy shops
Where do you expect to dispose of the
goods" said Simeon in most insulting
tones.
Santa Claus laughed as only he can
laugh. rs it robbery to take from
ones own warehouse? These are my
toys, made by my good wife and me-
and l hope to make many children
happy with them. What have YOU
done this Christmas to make your fell
low men happy?"
Come now, no can't" said Simeon,
still leveling the pistol at the breast
of the old saint. But Santa Claus
gazed full in his eye and Simeon felt
strange compulsion on him to do as
the other willed
Santa Claus stood on the hearthstone
and smiled at Simeon, the miser, and
that hard man slowly let fall his arm
and at last laid the pistol on the bed.
Still gazing intently at him, Santa
. said suggestively:
Where is the money that you are
going to shower right and left among
your fellow menu"
And Simeon said "Some Of it is be-
hind the wall paper over there"
Good" said Santa Claus, this is
the night you will need it, Go and get
it,"
Simeon walked over to the wall, and
The Savannah morning news., 1903-12-20

other out of the corners of their eyes.
NO" explained the Wolf. Far, far
away in castle at the edge of the
town lives a little girl. who has SO
many dolls that she throws them aside
and asks for more. She is spoiled and
unhappy. One night as 1 passed I'M
der her window this doll came flying
through and I heard her cry, / hate
the doll. Nurse. 1 told you I wanted
one with a pink dress. and you have
bought the blue l went on, but VIII an
the Gray Squirrel told me of the plans
for little Lena, / thought of the doll
and have travelled fast to bring it,
What a tree she will have" whis-
pered the smallest squirrel to the
smallest rabbit. and they stared with
all their eyes.
Now ready ALI" cried the Crippled
Hermit, and they went out to where a
fine tree lay on a sled. The Crippled
Hermit hitched the Bear and the Wolf
together, and drove his strange team
to the house OF little Lena, while all of
the other animals slipped silently
through the shadows of the forest and
followed after.
The Crippled Hermit stole softly in
to the poor little hut, and brought out
the fir bush, and as his tree was too
tall to go into the small room, he set
it up in the yard, and on the limbs he
The Savannah morning news., 1903-12-20

entrance for them that he was always
meaning to board it UP. But to do so
would cost money, and Simeon was no
spendthrift. Why, he did not even
utilize the fireplace as a good spot
for hearth fire. A wood fire when
he could keep just about as warm
by wearing his overcoat until he
had finished reading his evening pa
per? And then to bed with the
overcoat taking the place of a
blanket
You do not know much of the habits
OF misers if you have not thought ere
this that Mr.. Hanback, must have
stores of gold laid away in unexpected
places in his room. 1t was not all gold,
for some of it was in silver, and some
was in bills. but there were at least
four places in the room that held
enough to have provided him with a
warm and cheerful old age if he had
been looking for any such foolish lux
ury.
And so this Christmas Eve Simeon
Hardack read his paper. shivering in
his great coat and then putting out his
tallow candle he undressed in the dark
and went to bed.
He had hardly covered himself with
ms coat before the moon came out and
sllFered his room and made him wish
that it could be minted. which was
really quite an exercise of imagination
on his part. He rather liked the moon
light because he got it for nothing, but
he often wished that it's rays were just
a bit stronger so that he might save
candles
How many people whom Santa Claus
visits really believe in him? I am
afraid that they are so few in number
mat the old saint would feel depressed
II he were told. But happily for him
he seldom comes into speaking contact
with his beneficiaries. and so he has
come along year after year with his
packs of good things and has fondly
supposed that his coming is looked for
by the whole earth.
1 don't suppose he could have picked
out less likely place to visit than the
room of Simeon Hanback,. But no
thought of anything but the bringing
or happiness to all within the house
came to Santa Claus, and he stopped
MS reindeer on the sloping roof, al
lowing the sleigh to rest on the south
erly slant while the eight little fell
lows stamped and fidgetted on the
northern incline. That is his usual
practice on slanting roofs, as otherwise
in his absence the deer might run
away with the sleigh.
There is no doubt but that Santa
Claus has a marvellous property Of &C
commodating himself to small Chin
neys, else his way would be barred in
countless instances. but the house in
which Simeon lived had an ample
chimney, and as Santa stepped into II
he said TO his reindeer, quite as II they
understood every woodland maybe
they did.
This reminds me Of old times, my
little fellows. There are crowds OF
children living here and the old folks
came from the country, and / dare say
III find tree already pretty well load
ed with gifts. Well, I'll give them
some things they can't get in modern
stores, for all my things are made BY
hand and warranted 20 last"
The reindeer ate little mOuthfule Of
snow and butted each other piayfuliy
ana with q happy smile on bis red
face, old Santa descended.
lie stepped out upon the hearth and
saw ~ the moonlight that the chill
The Savannah morning news., 1903-12-20

fir bush is gone and in its place is a
wonderful tree"
TITS the fairies" muttered the
grandmother. as she came and stood
by the child.
TITS the good Saint" said little
Lena.
For neither OF them saw the row Of
shining green eyes that cleaned from
tree and bush at the edge of the for
est, or the bent figure OF the Crippled
Hermit as he trotted happily back to
his hut
The Savannah morning news., 1903-12-20
BUSINESS LOCALS.

Stove mats. oil stoves, wicks Of all
kinds, mats and stove elbows and pipes
at cut prices. Savannah crockery and
Hardware Company, s03 and 305
BrouRhton. west.
ed L. Byck, corner Bull and Bryan,
has Just received the finest selection
OF imported and Tampa cigars ever
brought to this city. They are espe-
ciaily adapted for holiday purposes.
CAN and be convinced.
w. M. Davidson a Co. the real estate
company are ne people 20 see for your
realty business, stocks and honda,
thoroughly reliable. 40 East Bryan.
The Savannah morning news., 1903-12-20

1t all comes back to me now. That
burglar in the fancy bal costume must
nave drugged me after all, and got
away with the money that have been
saving for so many years"
He rushed to the fourth hiding
place. There was money there, but it
was his smallest hoard.
A servant passed his open door on
the way down to light the kitchen
fire.
Merry Chris tmas!" said she.
Merry nothing!" said Simeon Har-
dack, savagely.
But for all that, his money made
many Merry Christmasses that day'
The Savannah morning news., 1903-12-20
JOFINSON'S TONIC
wifi Core Grip
Cures Neglected and Mistreated Cases of Grip.


will cure every every and every child who will
take it. is Superb Grip Cure driving every of grip poison
from the system does its work quickly and effectively 1t
In hour the blood and begins to neutaze
Grip poison within day places the victim beyond the point of
danger and before the end the uddy cheeks attest return
to perfect health.
Those who take the tonic and depend solely upon SAFE
Those who do not place their lives jeopardy wonderful
medicine and hundred times better than quinne doing
single day what slow and uncertain qunne do days.
Keep bottle of this tonic always hand You may need
any and when you you badly Men have
driven rough roads twenty-five miles to getit
the price 500 should consider this too high when
compared with the good it Does
The Price IS SO Cents
and this returned every buyer who pleased with
the tonic
Boy Bottle of Johnson's
Chill and Fever Tonic To-day.
For particulars write A. B. Girardeau, Savannah, Ca
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-05-21
LOCAL NEWS ITEMS.

From Tuesdays Daily.
Mrs. G.. B. Carmel, of Batavia, was
in the city today on business.
Mrs. Charles Gilbert, of Selma, was
in the city yesterday on business.
Al decree of divorce was granted in
the case Of Reta Reed VS. N. f. Reed
Mr.. and Mrs. NJ P. Kriddlebaugh.
of Hynes, was in the city yesterday on
business.
Children's hats for so cents and rs
cents at G. A. Herrick & Co., 115 East
Main street.
Children's trimmed leghorns at SOC
and 75c. Baker Millinery, corner Of
Court and Second streets.
Mrs. E. S. Williams and daughter
Ella, of Drakesyille. left this morning
for Broken Bow, Neb., to visit for a
time with friends and relatives.
A telegram was received in Ottumwa
late Tuesday by H. NJ. Cocherill
conveying the news of the death OF his
cousin, Thomas Eyre, an old resident
Of Wapello county, but for the past
two years of Clarinda. Mr.. Eyre died
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-05-21
LEGAL.
SheriH's Sale.

Notice is hereby given that by virtue of
general execution, to me directed by the
clerk of the district court of Wapello coun-
ty. Iowa. against the goods. chattels. lands,
tenements, etc, of S. NJ. Wilson, defend
ant, in favor of Albert +. Frye. plaintiff,
l will offer at public sale, to the highest
and best bidder. for cash. at the front
door of the court house in the city of OF
tumwa. Wapello county, Iowa, on the 23d
dy of May, 1908. between the hours of q
o'clock a. m. and A O'Clock p. m. on said
day. all of said s. NJ Wilson'S right,
title and interest in and to the following
described property situated in Wapello
county, Iowa. to-wit:
Lot 4, of Summers subdivision Of out
lot twenty in the city of ottumwa, Iowa.
Sale to commence at the hour of 1:3o
o'clock p. IN. of said day.
Witness my hand this 21st day of April,
1908 ]. II. CREMER,
Sheriff of Wapello County, Iowa.
by JOHN d. STEPHENS. Deputy.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-05-21

South Moore street, left this afternoon
for Portland, Oregon, where they will
make their future home.
Miss Bessie Line, of Agency, who
has been visiting relatives, returned
home yesterday afternoon.
Trimmed hats $1.50, So and $3.50 at
our new location, corner of Second and
Court streets. Baker Millinery.
Mr.. and Mrs. F. E. Osborn, of Abing-
don, who have been visiting relatives
in the city, returned home last even
ing.
Mr.. and Mrs. Richard Samuels, of
Laddsdale, who have been visiting at
Hiteman, returned to their home last
evening.
Mrs. Katie Miller. of Pennington,
who has been visiting relatives and
friends in the city, returned home last
evening.
Married, at the residence of Rev. j
w. Lambert in this city May 20, DR.
l.. w. Moreley of Chillicothe and Miss
Mollie Viewer of Buchanan, Mich DR.
Moreley is a practicing physician and
resides at Chillicothe.
Martin Arthur, who resides on the
corner of Cooper and Sanborn streets
and who is employed at the CONNER
cial Printing Co, caught his left thumb
in the press this morning while al
work and it was necessary to ampu.
tate the injured member. He was at
tended by DR.. ]. w. Elerick.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-05-21

tFrom Thursdays Daily.I
Miss Jennie Goodwin of Agency was
in the city today shopping.
Frank Mcmillan of Agency was in
the city today on business.
Mr.. and Mrs. l.. A. Butolph and chill
dren, who have been residing at SOB
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-05-21
Notice for Bids.

Notice is hereby given that the propos-
ais for the erection of a school house in
the Independent District of Cottonwood
Grove, Competine township, Wapello coun-
ty, Iowa, will be received by the under
signed, at his office in Competing town
ship, until one o'clock p. m, May 2Sth.
1908, at which time the contract will be
awarded to the lowest responsible bidder.
The board reserves the right to reject any
and all bids, The, plans and specifica.
lions for the proposed school house may be
seen at the residence of Mr.. u. s. Haw-
thorne Hedrick Il. No. >. Iowa, Compe-
tine township. and, also at the office of
the County Superintendent in the Court
w. S. HAWTHORNE, Secretary.
Hedriek, No. 2.
April 2sth, 1903.