davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1903-01-01

visit" said Mrs. wertheimer, with
many misgivings.
But when she had entered, she
heard q baby's soft gurgle, and sure
enough, there was her baby on the
bed in an inner room. as sweet and
as dimpled as ever, making the best
Of II in her strange quarters. Mrs,
Wertheimer told her story and begged
Mrs. Harris to let her have the baby
back.
81 can never be happy without it."
she confessed, with tears running
down her cheeks.
We'll, now, isn't that funny" said
Mrs. Harris. II made up my mind
that | must have a baby, because al
my friends were poking fun at me
for being without mi So / thought
| would surprise my husband and have
n here some night ready for him
when he got home. But, my gracious!
you should have heard him. He was
as mad as q March hare and wanted
to know what l meant by bringing
home a strange brat. | told him
wanted something to love and cud
die, and he said, Love and cuddle!
Nonsense! Can't you love and cuddle
met That's what / married you for,
anyway. You Just take that brat back
where you found 1t. | won't have II
around" He was so mad that he
went away this morning without kiss
ing me good-by, a thing he has never
done before" and she wePt at the ter
ribls recollection. Then recovering
herself, she snapped out:
Take 1t away. l eve want to sec
another baby"
When MI. Werthimer returned that
evening, there was the baby in her
accustomed place on the floor, with
the dog performing his old tricks, and
the bird splitting its throat with mel,
ody, the cat purring an acccmpani.
ment. But what was more to him,
there was his wife who met him at
the door with a loving caress, some,
thing that had not happened since
their honeymoon, a long time before.
"Hurrah for the baby" he shouted.
This is what l call a happy family
Mrs. Wertheimer put the baby in his
arms.
ut is u New Years baby, dear
husband" she said softly; my cruel
conduct"
mo more of that" said Mr.. Wer:
theiner, hugging wife and baby to-
gether. 1.-THE past is forgotten, and
we shall begin the New Year over
again, but we must give the baby
an appropriate name. have it," he
exclaimed after a moments thought.
"Roxana, that's her name; it means
the Dawn of Day. and that's what
she has been TO us. So. here you are,
Roxana," and he tossed the ~squealing
infant up in the air, while Jack, the
dog, tried to jump and catch its tiny
feet as they dangled just beyond his
reach.
Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1903-01-01

feathery white fakes falling, we
laughed. When it kept on and on till
the snow was nine feet deep the laugh
was on the other side Of u mouth.
The snow settled and froze, and we
were in for it. -
There was whisky enough and pro-
visions enough, SO that we did not fear
dying of thirst and hunger, but we
were pining for amusement.
Forty forty days and forty nights
shaking dice and playing poker at the
Red Goose had become monotonous.
The Red Goose was q saloon. The way
it got its name a. this-which Is
also the beginning Of the end Of the
thing that happened. 1t was all fin
ished, the saloon was, and ready for
business, and a big smooth s~ignboard
waiting to be painted. but there
wasn't a man there could paint it.
| We were falling into the way Of
| speaking of 1t as "Old Bob's" when
along came a dandylooking young
chap with pants cut smaller at the
ankle than at the knees, and boot.
Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1903-01-01

blue-eyed infant, with little wisps of
golden curls hanging around g shape
ly head. It was bobbing arour 4 in a
wobbly fashion. its tiny hands
stretched out trying to reach a large
gray cat, wisely sitting just beyond
its grasp, blinking at the new acquisi-
ton in sleepy wonder. Jack, the dog,
was manifesting his approval of the
new arrival by furiously barking and
wagging his stumpy tail. at the same
time frisking around and upsetting
the cat, drawing her about by the
tail. and performing other astonishing
feats to entertain the baby.
Great Caesart" he exclaimed.
What's the row anyway? Have you
started a menagerisr"
this Is our baby" explained Mrs.
Wertheimer. relating her experience
and intentions.
We'll, now wei have some fun and
life around the house" said he. get
ting dom on the floor to investigate
the new p%laything. She's mighty
pretty. anyway" was his decision. In
a few moments he was mixed up with
baby. dog and cat in such a noisy
revel that his wife, with en- express.
sion OF disapproval, came In from the
kitchen, where she had gone 10 pre-
pare supper.
John, | didn't know you could make
such a fool of yourself. Just look at
your clothes. all lint and dust, and
you are making more noise than the
whole lot put together. Have you
no consideration for the neighbors?''
Well. what did you get her for, If
you don't want me to play With herr
And he laughed good-naturedly. II
can't Just sit and look at her; that
ain't enough"
Il took her. responded his wife Sc.
vereIy. because it Is our duty to make
a home for some child that didn't
have a good one. You'll make such
fuss over this one that it will soon be
spoiled, and l wan ii to grow IN
good and sensible. have my own
ideas about its training. Come, gei
up, supper's ready"
For two weeks Mr.. Wortheimer lived
in paradise, and, strange to say, he
never once wen out In the evening.
But not so Mrs. Wortheimer. Babies
require a good deal OF care and atten.
ton; she had not calculated on this
and her idea of duty became very
much modified. In fact. she com
planned Of the trouble the baby was
giving her. in addition to which there
was a tribe OF Jealousy. Mr.. Wer
theimer devoted all his time to the in
fsns and non to her. True, she had
never invited his csrssses, but thai
did not make any difference; the baby
had wedged in between them. and she
Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1903-01-01

iy that poor people who kept on hav-
ing children should be able to pro-
vide for them without holding out
siders responsible by soliciting help"
In spite OF It's unwelcome reception
the seventh Hopkins was really the
finest OF the lot a bright, healthy and
attractive baby, In his extremity the
father advertised 1t for adoption, and
his advertisement was what Mrs. Wer-
theimer saw, when In the throes of
her desire to procure one. II was a
windfall, and as soon as she set her
eyes upon il she recognized a fine
brand to be snatched from the burn.
ing. and adopted it at once, but Mr..
Hopkins was not to deliver the baby
girl until an hour or so before the
husbands Homecoming on New
Years eve, so as to be a surprise for
him.
When Mr.. wertheiner returned
home after his days toll on the even.
ing In question. he was amazed to find
sprawling on the Goor, surrounded
with soft pillows, q chubby-faced,
Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1903-01-01

began to rub his hands together. In
a minute a dozen voices we're urging
him to play. He said he was afraid
his fingers were too stiff. They gave
him a drink of whisky and seated
him at the piano. He ran his fingers
along the keys several times and be-
gan to play, The men looked up from
their cards. He played the piece
through and part of The Girl | Left
Behind Me- and stopped to rub his
hands and straighten his fingers.
He threw his head back and the
long, wind-blown hair slid down on
his shoulders. His voice rose in vol
ume and richness and thrilled US with
its vibrant sweetness.
The men dropped their cards and
their elbows on the table and rested
| their faces in their hands and listened.
| Some others went over to the window
and looked out into the white. cold
moonlight.
There where you see that dark stain
on the floor which water never would
wash put IS the spot where young
Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1903-01-01

Fhad M~arblehead died with an oath In
see that greasy-looking spot On the
wall is where a dab of Jim Earring.
toms brains stuck and stayed till IL
dried and his partner scraped it or
with his ~bowie-knife.
Plank by plank the blood-stained
door slipped out; inch by inch the
smoke-grimed walls dissolved; the
bottles and glasses melted away.
The thousands of miles of savage
wilderness and trac&less desert they
had conquered TO reach this golden
fringe Of creation were not. And out
OF the pure white moonlight and the
diamond-crystaled snow stole In the
faces and forms at home, sweet home.
There was q grand roll Of song and
sound, a low, slow wall of melody, a
snap, twang and silence.
The men waited, each in his atti.
tude OF listening, for the length of q
breath, and then one big, concordant
sigh broke the stiffness. By ones and
twos and threes, without a word or a
sign, they went out into the silence
and the snow.
This would be a good place to stop
the story, but it did not happen that
way at the Red Goose.
The first ones in to get their morn
ing dram found the proprietor in a
towering rage. He said he thought
that old musician a nugget forty
karats fine that had just rolled itself
into his hands for a Christmas pres
ent. He had made him a bed by the
fire, taxing the grizzly bear skin from
his W bunk to make the floor softer
tor him, and told him there was plenty
OF wood in the corner and for him 10
lust help himself at the bar. Ana
when he put his head in at the partf.
lion door and called Christmas Gift
to wake the old chap up to breakfast
he was gone. So was the grizzly skin
he slept on-so was the gold in the
oox on the wall end Of the bar; four
thousand dollars in gold dust-every
n of it gone.
In its place he had found q piece az
paper with some lead.pencil scrib.
blings on IT, which read:
Excuse my leaye-taking unheard.
And the hour, for my way 1t is far;
Taking you as a man of your word.
! have helped myself at the bar.
For your kindness | give this advice;
Never leave your dust laying round
loose,
Never trust either women or mice
l painted your sign of the goose.
The laugh was Of old Bob.-San
Francisco Call.
Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1903-01-01

heels four inches high and tapered
down to the size of a two-bit piece.
He wore a soft SLOUGH hat, an en-
%broiGered flannel shirt, and had a red
silk sash tied around his waist. He
said he was broke" and looking for
a job.
Old Bob asked him If he could paint
a sign for the saloon. He asked what
kind of a sign was wanted. Old Bob
told him he wanted a figure OF a great
originality and n that would tell the
name without any printed matter. He
always put on airs in his speech when
he thought he knew more than the
other fellow did, and the dandy chap
was understanding, In spite OF his
clothes.
Well, the stranger took the job, and
when 1t was done and put up over the
door and old Bob came out to size it
up he was roaring mad. He swore be
wouldn't pay for II. The figure paint.
ed on 1t was a big red goose. The
painter called all the town to prove
that he had painted according to order
b. asking each one separately what it
was. Every one of them said, Red
Goose" He then asked pointedly IL
it was not Of great originality" and
every one to a man said it was the
first red goose they had ever seen.
So old Bob had to pay for the sign
and set Up the drinks besides. After
they had settled it the dandy chap sat
down to a game of poker In the saloon
which he had christened, and in the
morning Of the next day walked out
of it and left with all the available
gold of the town in his pockets.
1t vas that night ] spoke of--the
night before Christmas. The boys
kept a roaring fire in the fireplace and
tried to keep the cheer going, but it
was too plainly an effort-all except
at the card tables. The most improb.
able things always happen without
warning. In at the door Of the Red
Goose, like a bird blown from the
night, came a shivering, oldishlooking
man. His hair was long and a stub.
bly, beard hid the under half of his
face. He was lost, he said, and near.
ly froze, and had the rheumatism and
wanted to warm at the fire.
We all stood back and let him have
the fire to himself. He stretched his
long, slender fingers in the warmth
of the large blaze, warmed his feet
at 1t and turned his back to warm.
His eyes wandered round the big
ugly room and lit on the piano.
The man at the Ere set his glance
SO ~questioningly on the instrument
that Polaris volunteered to tell him
that II was a 'pyanner." and asked
him II he could play on the "critter.s
he said he used to play a little, and
Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1903-01-01

the void in his heart. Moreover, he
was a jolly sort Of a man and felt the
need Of something to bubble and gush
ever. His home environments were
well, were somwhat frigid.
On the contrary, Mrs. Wertheimer
was 3 strict disciplinarian on the
score Of duty. dogmatic and unyield-
ing in her disposition. and opposed to
sentimental Displays. van her smiles,
when she forgot herself and INDUCED
IN such worldliness, were frost-bitten.
But she had gathered the idea at the
Woman's club. during a protracted
and heated discussion OF the subject,
that II was the duty OF every woman
to assume the guardianship OF at least
one embryo human being. for the
purpose OF training 1t according to the
standard recognized by the club, In
the right way, OF course, and thus
save an immortal soul from contami-
nation by the wickedness of the world,
which was badly In need Of making
over again. Besides that, the lady
had noticed the waning influence of
the dog, cat. and bird to keep Mr..
Wertheimer at home in the evenings.
Hence, Mrs. Wertheimer thought a
baby in the house might accomplish a
double object, to wit: A halo and a
stay-at-home husband.
"Let me see," she said. pausing in
her busting, John and I quarreled on
Thanksgiving day, ano to make him
understand that be was in the wrong,
j gave him corned beef and cabbage
for dinner instead Of turkey. Then
again, on Christmas day he was not
as liberal as thought he should have
been, and the turkey was tough,
there weren't any ~cranberries, and
the only dessert was bread pudding
instead Of plum-accldental. Of course.
To make up with him. | think | will
present him with a baby on New
Years day, and that will keep him at
home for a year at least. But where
shall ! get onef"
Now it so happened that Mr.. John
Hopkins had more children than be
could care for; half b dozen of them
reaching up like the steps of a ladder,
all vigorously healthy and constantly
ciamoring for something to eat and
wear. His wages not increasing with
mis- family, 1t was very difficult to sc:
even bread. To add to his misery,
Mrs. Hopkins committed the folly OF
presenting him with a seventh, and
rs a last straw, she up and died In
the midst of its raising. leaving him
forlorn with an eight-months-old baby
and a string of children too young to
help care for 1t. It seemed to him
that the world was cold aud unfeeling,
fer the neighbours, instead Of offering
any assistance, intimated quite plain,
Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1903-01-01

was crowded out Of her rightful,
though unappropriated place.
The matter ranked in Mrs. Wer-
theimer's mind, and the thought Of
getting rid of 1t grew in her heart.
So it was, that m night when Mr..
Wortheimer had hurried home, ready
for a romp before supper, there were
no signs Of life in the house; no bark
ing dog, no singing bird, no Growing
baby.
Where's baby?" he inquired Of his
stern-faced wife, with a sudden mis-.
trust in his heart.
"oh, yes, it's always baby, baby,
nothing but baby" answered the wom-
an, petulantly. Il suppose you
wouldn't have cared II I had caught
my death of cold, or worked my fin
gers to the bone waiting on 1t. as long
as you could have something to play
with. l made up my mind last night,
after ! had gotten up three times to
attend to it, that / would not be i'm
posed upon any longer, SO this morn
ing l took it to the Founding Asylum
and"
"You-took-that-poor-ch to
an asylum" stammered Mr.. Werthei'
mer with sudden anger and a curl OF
contempt on his lips. You took that
little motherless child to a public in
stitution after promising its father
that you would take its mothers
placer thought every woman had
some love in her heart, II not for her
husband, then at least for q helpless
babe, but you-a nice religion you
have, with all your prat:ng about
Christian duty and charity-it is des'
picable."
Mrs. Wertheimer was appalled, at
this outburst from 4 husband who had
always been klad and gentle, and his
contemptuous look and bitter lam
guage frightened her. Womanlike,
she began to cry, at which her hus.
band softened and looked surprised.
1t was the first time he had ever seen
tears in her eyes. Could ii be possible
that she had a heart?
Martha, / said more than l should
nave paiAOu "S. never HlHd hDOui
the baby, it's. only one more disap-
pointment and / will live through it. -
With that he turned away, but his
wife, whose eyes were opened to the
full significance of what she had done,
called him back, and putting her hands
upon his shoulders, looked him full in
the face with a strange, unwonted
expression in her eyes.
John, / must tell you the truth
now, 1t was not heartlessness, it was
because-oh, John, do you not under.
stand? vas Jealous of your love for
the child. was afraid you had ceased
to love he. My hardness was all as.
sumed, John. Say you forgive me.
and / will go this moment and get the
child again"
The woman's habitual reserve melt.
ed under the tender caress of her
husband.
Dear wife, / have always loved O
but it seemed to me that you did not
love me, you were so-no, | will not
say II, because ! know now that / was
wrong. My heart is big enough for
both you and the baby, so let us go
after it before we do anything else"
But the baby was not there. another
woman who wanted q baby having
taken 1t away. 1t was too late that
evening to do more, sc procuring the
Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1903-01-01

Of the two for the same object
did not emanate from the same
view point: there was nothing marital
in their thought. the son-and-heir idea
never occurring to either Of them.
A dog, a cat and q canary bird had
hitherto been the objects of Mr.. Wer-
theimer's aTnusements when OF duty,
but he had grown weary OF the monot
ony Of all three and wanted something
human that he could love, pet and
cherish-animals did not seem to oil
Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1903-01-01

r.. THEI-
MER wl~ted q
baby
Mrs. Werthei-
mer's a o.
ito ms for a
household c e n
ter of attraction
was substantial
~ IN the same
direction.
1t must be adj
mitted, however.
that the desires
Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1903-01-01

will not find Mantown on the map of
California, for the reason that it most.
ly ceased to be before the map was
made.
When the Parson, who was an early
riser, threw the wet floursack he had
wiped his hands and face on at my
head and said: "The old lady IN
there's pickin' her geese, Tom" and
Polaris and | looked out and saw the
Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1903-01-01
CHRISTMAS In MARTOWN
A Mining Camp Story

"Mantown" had been showed In
forty days. 1t was on the night be-
fore a Christmas the thing happened
which I am going to tell you. You
Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1903-01-01

address, Mrs. Wertheime- resolved TO
start after her baby early in the morn
ing-it was her baby now. truly.
A vigorous, impatient pun at the
bel and a young woman with a weak.
childish face appeared. There were
traces of ecent tears, and the cheeks
were red with much rubbing.
IF this is Mrs. Harris, permit me
to enter and state the object OF my
Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1903-01-01

WEI
@--s-....--
The gus
POUR debt
John
thoughts
The ca
hat new
Kaiser.
Unfortu
10 posith
money.
They've
nit or val
on got a
The ma
mohs alw
ct him dt
Steps Al
american
I'M the liz
The Sui
smain be-
Chance II
Another
Nnself pr
lethods b
! ba. ta1L
nv can't
.,,.t,,
~ ~orth
"~
60. -
80. 90 ~,
" n
r.
o.....-1
$3.50
oss@AD. \
Anuson'
Ea..p.,,
sposnn-4
-
pAn.I
-. A,.I.,1
.g 10y
So MI
No.. 49,
a-Is-,..s
-s.x..,
-A~ 49,
u,a 80
49, - ~
civ tbat
nuld have
II looks
ashingtor
hinge a.
M
4 ,,,.r 81
atarIoo ~
Th,o 81
$50 ~
=
! ,.,u..,.
80 -
4 r., 800
u. Co.
yin. ~
49,, s,,c
rsg.rd ~
- .oc,a
- go
p,,ra, 49,.
~, ee mT
- M
"a NJ
a,u.a WIZ,
A. a. 4.
,1,sm $50
-
y,ha aa.to,
ca,,sa q =,
4, DIavar,s.
w, &
anas -, :
ro,,r .hov.
$3.50 wara
ana 49,
inv w.
Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1903-01-01

Patti is &c
rewell 5oui
3 Is poslHl
without
Gions upuII
" say tha
claTauons !
Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1903-01-01

doctor
cause ii ei.
N players
ror IL he I
ends for v
Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1903-01-01

Since VIII
II. It il
lillian and
abandon (
|rnan allit
Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1903-01-01

Four thous
mes we're
one New
ople who
He'd to ex
tle!"
Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1903-01-01

Agriculture
cretary w
ange affect
lex up pota
cement wit
/ farm To
mething2
Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1903-01-01

A Russian
giment, mas
User becaw
imam. 1t \
lperor bus
alters here
Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1903-01-01

Rural free
$4,000
In who h
bm his bel
( exorbiA
Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1903-01-01

tells the
is on thu
d win top
less he acI
Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1903-01-01

VI. DeIyanl
.toSnuan.
Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1903-01-01

"
ME
Au|
agd
ing
it'll
the
her
4
gre
car
the
mes
Ing
att
thi|
the
of |
the
wrd
ter
gu1
fro
the
9th
mel
to |
q n
not
Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1903-01-01

To
but
sli
wee
pro
ref
w
HI u
Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1903-01-01

G
rea
II
r.
gla
r.
oft
Exc
lead
Coll
kNo~|
moi
so c
Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1903-01-01

A lunauc
pred to sa
/. II mus
me other
sane.
Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1903-01-01

Steps Al
Tnerican
Enl the liz
Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1903-01-01

Michi
Essing a
las worth.
Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1903-01-01

"a Philad.
|ght while
sally the
|ght TO WI
Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1903-01-01

San Frai
very 1.oot
bmpIete II