davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1903-12-25

make his ofrer- ahead of me. WIN yOs
marry met?
Mrs. Baker gazed with terror-strick-
en- eyes at the mud-bespattereo. %
draggled object before her.
= Marry your she repeated. why
I don't know you.
Don't know me! Sophrony Baker.
can you look me In the face and say
you don't know me?"
The captains wig was over one eye
his false beard was pulled under the.
left ear, his nose was scratched and So.
were his cheeks.
well, WELT" said the skipper.
mournfully, 81 knew I'd been through.
enough to turn body's hair gray. bus
I'm blessed If thought 'twould change
me so my friends wouldn't know me.
He put his hand to his face. Good
land!" he calculated. al forgot had;,
on them trimmins. s."
He tore OF the wig and whiskere
"Now dyer know mey. he roareds
"Why-why. do believe it's Captains
Peters!" cried the astonlshed widow.
What does 1t all mean?"
Then Capt. Shadrach Peters unfold
ed a plain. unvarnished tale. He told
of his scheme for pleasing and sur
prising the widow and her children.
He told how he went astray in the
dark, and. after several narrow es-
capes. stepped upon a brittle tongue OF
ice. which broFe and fioated with him
out into the Spring Hole" He, feel-
ingly narrated the story of the robbery
of his bag Of presents. He described
the chase and its mishaps. But more
than all he dwelt upon his undying de-
votion for Sophronia Baker.
But. Capt. Peters," said the blush
ing Sophronia, how am I to know that
you really care for me?"
"How?" said the dilapidated suitof.
looking down at the remains Of hie
costume. How? Why. say. do you
think I'd be da-that Is. d'you think
I'd be fool enough ter go and git this
way fer my health?"
Then the ring was brought forth ana
exhibited.
why it says From Shadrach TO So.
phronia,'" said the widow, reading
the inscription. 81 should like ter
know, Capt Peters," she added with Q
slight toss of her head, "why you took
it for granted that would marry
your
why. Sophrony? Why. because .
started out ter git yer. and I will GA
yer, no matter If there's 80 lubbern
with offers in the. way. I've said that
I'd marry you. an I will, If I have ter
The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1903-12-25

joiced in the nickname Of "Gizzard."
This parsonage had been christened
Hartwell Doane, but Hartwell, in the
mouths of his playmates. soon shrank to
Hart" and from heart to gizzard Is but
step. Peters younger brother Abner
accompanied the party, but. as he was
only six years old and played with dolls,
he didn't count.
The rubber boots were a Christmas
present. Peter had wanted a mechan-
ical locomotive and blank cartridge
Young Peoples History" instead. He
was wroth, but the boots were there, so
he felt it his duty to see how deep he
could wade without "goin' over the
tops of EN-" which has been the test of
rubber boots since boyhood first made
their acquaintance.
When the boys came in sight of the
pond Abner ran on ahead, while Peter
and Hartwell followed more leisurely, as
becomes people Of experience and big
boots.
Whats Alb yellin' about?" Queried
Hartwell.
Abner. standing at the top Of the sand
bluff overlooking the "Spring Hole. I"
was dancing and screaming in great ex-
element.
"Santy Claus!" he screamed; SANITY
Claus!'"
/ HE b'lieves in him." said Peter,
scornfully; "he amt old enough ter
know that Sanity Claus is jest yer folks
What about Sanity Claus, ABB" he yelled.
Hes down here. Hurry up! Quick"
"Sees somebody he thinks is Sanity"
commented Hartwell. 'He don't know
any better. Amt nothin' but a kid.
What is it, Abby? Jimmy Crickets!
Spuds, look there"
The Spring Hole" was steely blue in
the morning sun. and two or three cakes
of ice were drifting about its surface.
One of these was floating about 80 yards
from the shore below, and on 1t sat a
figure dressed in red, with a fur hat and
white hair and whiskers
by gum!" said Hartwell: 81 b1ieve
it is Sanity Claus!"
There amt no such thing" said
Peter, land you know 1t, Gizzard It's
some feller dressed up"
"He hollered ter me-" said Abner.
There, he's holler'n ag'in."
. what did he say, Spuds," said Hart
well. after they had listened for a mo.
ment
"Said fer us ter take Gabe Blanchard's
dory and come and git him ashore
"He swore, then" said Peter; that
The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1903-12-25

An hour later the stars were trease:
to the somewhat unusual spectacle Of a
nautical Sanity Claus, seated upon his
pack in the middle of a floating cake OF
ice. and expressing his opinion of the
situation with fluent and blasphemous
vigor.
On Christmas morning, just after
breakfast, Peter Baker. aged IL, COM
monty known as "Spuds" was on his
way to the Clam pond to test his new
rubber boots at the Spring hole"
"The Spring hole" is the name given
by the townspeople to a portion of the
waters of the pond lying along the north
ern shore. 1t is half a mile long and
nearly as wide. and does not freeze ex-
cept in the very coolest weather
Peter was accompanied by his bosom
friend. whose age was nine. and who re-
The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1903-12-25


Fishers ditch. The kpeessof the red
trousers were scraped through on the
frozen hummocks Of Nickerson's field.
1t was painting. ragged wreck Of q
Santa Claus. who. after shaking on his
pursuers In the pine grove behind the
Widow Bakers domicile. crept down in
the shadow of the stone wall and lodged
In at the kitchen door.
The kitchen was empty. and the skip
per sat down In q chair and regained his
breath. His temper was entirely gone,
but 1t was some satisfaction to know that
he had reached his destination unrecog-
nized.
They may find out about 1t after
ward" he soliloquized: ''but mebbe I'll
have somethin' ter show fer 1t then"
He heard voices in the parlof and sur
missed that they were those of the widow
and her boys. but, when he tiptoed to
The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1903-12-25

the dory carried were conjectured to
contain anything from burglars "swag"
to smuggled whisky.
Eel creek was open for its entire
length. but Clam pond appeared, unfor-
tunately, to be frozen all over. It was
dark by this time. and the mate advised
returning to the schooner and giving
up the expedition for the night, but the
anxious lover would listen to no such
proposition.
''I'n walk acrost the pond on the ice. I"
he said; lit pears ter be solid enough
fur's we can see. and it's by long odds
the shortest cut ter Sophrony's. Chuck
out them bundles and I'll start.
But the bundles were heavy and very
clumsy. The captain tried carrying
them in various positions, but ended by
throwing them down on the ice and
swearing vehemently. Then the mate
had another idea.
Il tell yer. Cap'n Shad," he said:
there amt no use in luggin' them SANITY
Claus buds. You put 'em on, and III
take yer other clothes back ter the
schooner. Ter-morrow I'll bring 'em
round ter the hotel. The Guess Again
will be in the harbor by mornin', more'n
likely"
Hotel! Yer dom s;pose I'd go ter a
hotel In them red nre signals, do yer?
That amt a bad idee of yours, though.
tell yer what. I'll ask the wilder ter
let me sleep In her barn ter-night. and
you git my reg'lar clothes round early
In the mornin'."
It was a chilly change and slow one
for the captain persisted In dancing
about on one leg and yelling adjectives
to the cold. At length, however. he
stood forth CARRIED In the red suit
Are yer goin' ter put on the wig ami
whiskers?" asked the mate.
yes. yes; I'll put 'em on. It's the
easiest way ter lug 'em. Besides. mebbe
they'll keep my ears warm. There. that.s
all right What In time are YER grin
MIN att"
-oh. nawthin'." gasped the purple
faced Mr.. small: II was only goin ter
|-ha-he-eneeze."
He tramped or into the darkness
leaving his subordinate to roll abont n;
the bottom Of the dory with his hands
tightly clasped over his mouth.
The captains walk began well. The
night air was crisp and bracine. the ice
appeared to be nrm and to extend over
the entire surface Ct the pond But one
cannot zee far on dark night, and salt
water ice at its best u treacherous
stun
The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1903-12-25

well with the bag of presents between
them leaped to the sand and scampered
up the face of the bluff By the time the
captain had pulled his clumsy craft to
land they were high up on the crest of the
hill
you young rascals!" roared the irate
skipper; 'I'll see you some other day
There's a good time comm"
Another than Capt. Shadrach Peters
would have returned to the schooner and
have postponed his call upon the widow
till a more suspicious occasion. but the
skipper of the Guess Again was determi-
nation itself. He had said that he was
going there, and what he said he stood
behind. People knew him. He deter
mined to wear the wig and whiskers, as
they might serve to conceal his identity
should he meet any Of his Orham ac-
Quaintances.
Little Abner Baker had not fed With
his elder brother and Hartwell, but had
hidden behind Blanchard's fish shanty.
He had determined In his small brain
that the chance of gazing upon Santa
Claus did not offer itself twice in life
time. and that he ought to make the best
Of it. He resisted the longing to examine
the contents Of the bag, and when Capt
Peters started down the lane that led
to Mrs. Bakers. Abner followed him.
Jimmie Ellis was leaning over his front
fence, and Abner hailed him. Come on,
Jimmie" he screamed. ITS Sanity
Caus!"
Jimmie's yell Of delighted surprise
brought out five other little Ellis hope
tuls. and the captains following grew in
numbers. He turned. saw his satellites,
and quiokened his pace.
TITS Sanity Claus!" screamed the chill
aren. %Hooray!"
Otis Gaines numerous progeny joined
he troop. So did the Bellows youngsters.
The captains progress was becoming a
triumphal procession. Ahead, where the
houses were more numerous, windows
we're opening and people were hurrying to
heir front gates. Children were racing
from all directions The skipper left the
.ane and began to run across the fields.
His whooping pursuers did likewise, and
The chase was on
1t led over hills and through bushes.
Across the surface of frozen, flooded
cranberry swamps, and over stone walls
and fences. The crowd now included
men as well as boys, and the shouting
was tremendous. The fur hat was left
hanging on the wild cherry boueh which
scraped It on. One fur-topped boot stuck
h the mud. when the foot which II
adorned broke through the Ice q ziby
The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1903-12-25

wait 20 years. What l say stand be-
hind. You know me-"
"Oh, well, then" said the matter-of.
fact Mrs Baker. IF that's the case
then I'd better say yes at once AND
save time. But, really, Shadrach." she
added, T ought to tell you that the
gentleman was only my Cousin Barnar
has, who'd been talkin' Of buyin' my
wood lot and who'd come over to offer
me a price for it."
When the valiant Mr.. Badger re-
turned to his cousins residence he was
accompanied by a hundred men and
boys armed with pitchforks. clubs anc
brickbats They were prepared to cap
ture the lunatic at all hazards. but they
were not prepared to have that per
son meet them at the door with his.
arm about the plump waist Of the wio.
ow.
AS the disappointed crowd was leav-
ing. Mrs. Baker saw her two sons
sinking away with it. and called then
back.
Peter, you and Abner come here
this minute" she commanded.
Are them your children, Sophrony7~
asked the petrified captain; them two
there?"
Eyes, certainly, Shadrach. forgue
you had never seen them. Boys. why
don't you look at the captain?"
A smile. somewhat grim. but denol-
ing intense satisfaction, slowly spread.
over Capt. Peters face.
"Sophrony," he said. I've alyavs.
felt it IN my bones that 1t would be ..
pleasure ter be father ter them tive.
boys"
The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1903-12-25
(copyright.)


The best woman on Cape Cod or
anywheres else; that's what call her.
Fust time ever see her. l says ter
myself 'Shadrach Peters, says l,
that's the lady you've been look.n' fer
all these years I made up my mind
then that she was goin' ter be my wife.
and what 1 once say stand behind.
You know me-"
The coasting schooner Guess Again.
Of Falmouth. Mass, Shadrach Peters,
master, was rolling and pounding
through the Icy waters Of Vineyard
Sound. Capt. Peters. who had just
made the assertion above quoted. was
seated on the locker at one side OF her
cabin, with his feet braced against the
stationary table. His first mate. Mr..
Alvin Small. was seated opposite. with
his feet braced against the side Of the
table.
Eyes, street" went on Capt Peters;
,"Sophrony Baker Is all right She's a
wilder, she is. and they tell me that
she's got two of the incest boys ever
was. amt never seen 'em. cause last
September. when Twas In Orham. they
was visitin' their uncle over In Barn.
stable. but I feel 1t in my bones that
'twould be pleasure ter be a father
ter them boys"
What don't understand" said the
mate, slowly. "is what you're goin' ter
do with them things"
Them things" were prominently
displayed on the cabin table. There
was q red coat, short and trimmed
with cheap fur; red trousers, fur-trim-
med like the coat; a big fur hat, fur
topped boots, and white wig and long
white beard. Such was the coIlecuon
which called forth the mates wonaer. :
II calIated they'd puzzle yer" said
the skipper. rather proudly; "but
they're part OF my scheme. Here's
t'other part"
He pulled from the locker beside him
a canvas bag. Opening it he displayed
wooden horses, tin soldiers, pop guns
and toys Of various descriptions Nov
yer see, don't yer?" he said: SANITY
Claus"
SANITY CLAUSE" said the mate, who
began to look as II he entertained sus-
picions Of his superior's sanity.
Yes, Sanity Claus. When yer want
ter please girl yer tell her how pretty
she is; amt that so? When yer want
+, ter please a woman yer tell her she
looks younger than she ever did; amt
that so? Well, when yer want ter make
q ten-strike with mother. yer do yer
best ter stand in with her children;
amt that so?"
t Mr.. Small said he wouldn't wonder
II twas.
"You bet 1t isl" said the skipper, en-
Enthusiastically. well. now yer under
stand amt never asked Sophrony If
shed have me, but, from what I've
gathered in the h'af-dozen times see
her. figgered that she want dead sot
agin me. But want ter sort of clinch
things. yer understand. so this is my
scheme. She told me once that she
alters had q Christmas tree fer the
children on Christmas Eve. Ter
night'll be Christmas Eve, and my idee
Is ter run the Guess Again inter Orham
harbor, stead of keepin' ON ter Bos-
ton. Then I'll take my bundles over
ter the shore. lug 'em up somewheres
near her house. rig up in my Sanity
Claus buds and bust in on 'em jest as
they're havin' the tree. Presents fer
the boys, oceans Of 'em. Then I'll say
The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1903-12-25

you amt out Of here in one minute,
you'll have q lesson In flynn. What
I. say I stand behind. That's what
folks say who knows me. Now. git!"
'Oh. Barnabas, don't go!" pleaded
the trembling Sophronia-
I'll guess I'd better. SOS to git
help" stammered Mr.. Badger; IL
guess-perhaps-T-had-" The last
word was spoken in the dining room.
The protector had ned.
Now then. 6ophrony." said Capt.
Peters. TN sorry 70 bounce your
company IN that fashion. but amt
been Through what I've besn through
5est to stand hy and zee another chap
The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1903-12-25
He Helped some one.

NO" he said, disconsolately. -r
wasn't able to do anything for chriss
mas"
why pot?''
"oh, only had little money, and,
put it on tn. wrong horse"
well. don't feel downhearted, OLE
man. Your money probably helped
out somebody's Christmas all rfrbk
enough. Chicago Evening Post.
The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1903-12-25

proves it amt Sanity Claus. Sanity Claus
wouldn't swear"
Eyes. he would" declared Abner,
stoutiy. '-if he was fioatin' round the
Spring Hole on . cake Of ice,s :,
Lets go git him on. anyhow" said
Hartwell, and they scrambled down the
bluff to the beach Gabe Blanchard's
dory. which he used for visiting his oys-
ter bed. was anchored close to shore
The boys climbed in. and the two Older
ones took the ores.
HES settin' ON his bag Of presents,
announced Abner. who was perched in
the bow. Il bet there's al kind Of danny
things In there
Hold on minute. : said Peter: '.I's
The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1903-12-25
Mfnce Pie Hi.tory

Christmas mince pie was originals
a compound o. the choicest spices ana
edible productions Of che orient. n
was eaten in commemoration Of The.
offerings OF the three wise men who.
carried rare spices, frankincense ana.
myrrh from afar to the infant Cbrirk
born in the Manager.
Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1903-10-01

Special Correspondence Of Beacon
With Saturdays great notification
meeting at Mt. Airy: the Democratic
campaign struck its stride, and from
now on there will be no let up in the
battle.
Mr.. Warfiel6 and his running
mates on the State ticket will eointo
every County and endeavor 10 nd.
dress as many people as possible
between now and Election Day.
Chairman Murray vandiver has
about completed the itinerery of the
candidates, and the list OF speaking
places will be published this week
Nearly all the thousands Of en-
thusiastic Democrats who gathered
at Mt. Airy knew Mr.. Warfeld
personally. but il was the first time
that many of them had met Mr.. VIII.
liam s. Bryan. the candidate for
Attorney General, aud DR.. Gordon
i. Atkinson the nominee for Comp
troller.
Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1903-10-01
REGISTER THE VOTE!

The importance of registering the
full democratic vote is perhaps, new
er understimated by the leaders OF
the party in the State of Maryland,
but this year it is simply impossible
for the leaders, the rank and file or
the party as q whole tOoverestimate
it. This is peculiarly true OF Balti-
more City and the counties where
republican rows are vigorous.
The two factions in the republican
party are as widely apart as they
ever were. and the republican State
convention did absolutely nothing
TO heal the breach, some Of the per-
formances of that day and especial
ly Of that night, IL anything, in
tensifying the bitterness;-but that
head OF the republican State ticker
in but one way and that is in the
registration.
As result Of the convention 3
work very many republicans are so
thoroughly Disguised. and this ap-
peals 10 the better element in their
party especially, with the whole
dirty proceeding, that they will
NEGLECT to register until the time has
passed when in all probability they
will have forgotten their disgust, and
would be glad enough to vote had
they not sulked through the time of
registration.
This willhelpt the democratic ticket
appreciably in Baltimore and in sew
eral counties, but il is a rank alb
surdity for the democrats TO bank on
the republican quarrels for demo-
cratic victory this fell. Mr.. Will
liams is strong candidate and well
poll alarge vote in spite of republican
dissensions.
On she other hand the shrewdest
political observers in both parties
can see no possibility for the repub-
lican Legislative nor more than a
very small part Of the local ticket
pulling through even in several
usually strong republican counties,
as a result of their family rows.
Thegreat fight will be made around
the governorship, with land slide
on the rest of tneticket in democratic
favor. II the full democratic vote
is polled, there is no reason why the |
State should not 60 heavily Demo- |
cratic.
Remember too. democratic voters
that the registration is going on now, |
but that IL will soon be overi
Remember too. that the registra-
ton will tell the tale on the 3rd. of
November
Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1903-10-01
Ten Thousand Churches In !,

Ten Thousand Churches In the
United States have used the LONG.
man Il Martinez Pure Paints.
Every Church will be give a liner.
al quantity whenever they paint.
Don't pay 81. 30 q gallon for Lam.
seed oil (worth so cents) which you
do when you buy, thin paint in a can
with q paint label on IL.
3 4 make II, therefore when Won
want fourteen gallons OF paint. buy
only sight gallons Of pure linseed
oil with it.
You need only four gallons of L.
q NJ: Paint, and three gallons of
Oil mixed Herewith to paint a good
sized house.
Houses painted with these paints
never grow shabby, even after rs
years.
These celebrated paints are sold
by
@. ]. PALMER. Palmers J. G.
CRADDOcK, Jarboesyille /; g. w.
JOHNSON, Solomons-Aug. 2O2m-
Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1903-10-01

]: Wesley Freeman, Of Great
Mills, has been appointed st. Mary's
county agent for the Equitable Life
Assurance Society OF the United
States, the strongest life assurance
Company in the world, havinga sur
plus OF SO. 900, 600. and $3.50, OOO, 900
assets. It win be to your interest
10 consult Mr.. Freeman before So
curing life insurance policy.
Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1903-10-01
TIVE oEmocRATlc TICKET.

= 49,
FOR Governor.
EDwIN WAKEFIELD,
OF Howard County
For Comptreiler.
GORDON T. ATKINSON.
OF somerIset County.
FOR Attorney General.
WILLIAM SHEPARD BRYAN.
OF Ia Isinaore City.
For House Of Delegates
GEORGE L. BUCKLBR.
GEORGE Il. GARNER
For Clerk Of tine Circuit Court.
J.MARsHALL DENT.
For the Orphans Court
JOSEPH n. KEY.
wILLaAA q. COPPAGE,
HILARY PARSONS.
For Sheriff.
WESLEY FREEMAN.
FOR County Commissioner.
J.THOMAs ABELL
For County Treasurer.
JAMES J. COUGH.
For Register Of villa
PHILIP GREENwELL-
For States Attorney.
HARRIS CAVALIER.
For Surveyor.
GEORGE u. DENT.
Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1903-10-01

THE democratic convention was
cut and dried" they say. The re-
publican convention was cut but not
dried, in fact not even cured and the
proceeding savored of the very
unpretty word, rotten.
Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1903-10-01

The republican howl is boss. :"
"Geel" Have we q Pearre, Colds
borough or a McComasP Read Sgd
ney Mudd's paper on their per-
formances.
Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1903-10-01

Messrs. Abel and Long will sell
at Auction on Saturday next at 10
A. NJ, and all day thereafter, from
the stock OF A. A. Lawrence.
Clothing and a variety OF Goods
will be sold at buyers prices.
Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1903-10-01

Our new Fall and Winter stocks are
ready-comprising the most extensive
assortment Baltimore ever contained OF
Mems, Youths and Boys Clothing,
Furnishings and Cloths for Tailoring.
Mr.. 4. NJ Freeman will be pleased
70 personally serve his many friends
from this section.
Likes. Berwanger & Co, 10 and l2
East Baltimore ST., Baltimore, Md.
Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1903-10-01
Wanted.

Wanted Q young white man to work
In blacksmith shop. will pay good
wages. Apply to
ADAM T. WHILE,
Milestown, Md.