davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-12-16
CHRISTMAS
TOBOGGAN
By MANDA L. CROKER

TN a sheltered cleft on the noun
tain side where the scraggy pines
~ made polite obeisance to their
bare-headed neighbors, the Halfway
house had stood, harbinger of COM
fort, for a score of years.
And now, though the old stage lay
rotting in the valley and the traveller
Numbered along by rail beneath its
very foundations, the friendly gables
seemed reckoning to imaginary guests.
Tonight, too, the pine branches
cracked merrily on the wide hearth,
as if the snubs of progressive pub
lie were not worth minding, lighting
up the long, low room in the cleaning
of the Christmas Eve.
Two women cOnverSed in tender
monotone in the CHEEKY illumination,
and the elder was saying: THE paper
cannot be found and, of course, the
property goes to your Uncle Hermon."
The other rose YEARLY from her
place before the fire and stood lean
ing her head against the black old
fashioned mantel.
Then uncle really intends taking
our home away from us?" she said, in
terrogatively, looking down into the
patient mother face.
certainly, my daughter" came the
reply in cheerful resignation, land he
expects to take possession soon, too
But your father always made much
of the Christmas time and, for his
sake, we will keep the day gladly, you
know
Eyes, know" and the girl turned
away toward the next room, tucking
up her sleeves with little gingerly
thrusts as she went.
The brace of cartridges Brother Ned
had shared the day before made a
pretty picture as they waited, plump
and round, for the last turn of the
skewer. After they were ready for
the morrow's roasting the tall, queenly
girl went over to the open doorway a
moment to contemplate the pictur-
esque landscape she had loved all her
life.
Even the scrubby oaks are restful
up here" she unused, land / don't see
how am to bring myself to be turned
out like-a beggar!"
Making a sudden dash at her eyes
with her handkerchief, she resumed:
"Of course, if mother is bent on hav-
ing a sunny Christmas in the face of
it all, why, I won't be shadowy."
Hearing a CHEEKY whistle outside she
continued: Med doesn't care about it
boys don't. o yes" correcting the
uncharitable thought), "he does care,
but not as do
The mother rocked to and fro be-
fore the fragrant blaze, humming an
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-12-16
Mr.. BEsby's Christmas
Gift

M RS. BUSBY was finishing a
NA pair of "bootees" for her
- daughters newest baby,
screwing up her mouth with the in
tricacy of the pattern. Mrs. Griggs
in the opposite rocker watched her.
Il guess must be going" she an
nounced, finally. 81 only ran in to
wish you Merry Christmas. I won't
see you Tomorrow Call Christmas a
holiday! I've two people to cook for
usually-Christmas it's twenty!"
"And you'd not be content on other
days, if you hadn' s'many then" re-
turned Mrs. Busby. we'll go to
Toms, as usual He married college
girl, and told him: These college
girls may know sight more about the
structure of the human body than the
rest of US, but they don't know half
as much about making it comfort
able!'"
And now she has you come over
every Christmas and see what good
housekeeper she isl" finished Mrs
Griggs, knowing the story as we'll as
her hostess.
"M'hm. Can't you stay"
THANK you, no. l hoped you'd
show me Mr.. Busby's Christmas gift.
tits upstairs, and I'm afraid he'll
come in. He hasn't seen it, though
so you've got ahead of him
fnally?"
81 have. 1t beats all the way tina
man finds things out and then leases
Last year got him set of Dickens
and kept it hidden three weeks be
tween the mattresses Of the spar
room bed. The night before Christina
was thinking how I'd surprise hin
when he said, smiling like: That's
mighty nice set of books in the spar
room bed, Cynthy; it's pity to kee,
'em there, with the bookcase so han
dy,' he says"
But he hasn't found out this year?
"No; guess he was ashamed of be
ing so mean. I've seen my present
though"
But thought you said it was kin
of mean to try to find out"
ooh, that's different. My present
the handsomest kind of wrap, Mr.:
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-12-16
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 a 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
than the observance of Christ
mas Day, and that is, Keeping
Christmas.
Are you willing to forget what
you have done for other people
and to remember what other
people have done for you; to
ignore what the world owes you
and to think what you owe the
world; to put your rights in the
background and your duties in
the middle distance and your
chances to do little more than
your duty in the foreground; to
see that your fellow men are
just as real as you are, and try
to look behind their faces to
their hearts, hungry for joy; to
own that probably the only good
reason for your existence is not
what you are going to get out
of life, but what you are going
to give to life; to close your
book of complaints against the
management of the universe
and look around you for a place
where you can SOW few seeds
of happiness-are you willing to
do these things even for a day?
The1, you can Keep Christmas.
Are you willing to stoop down
and consider the needs and the
desires of little children; to re-
member the weakness and lone
illness of people who are grow.
ing old; to stop asking how
much your friends love you and
ask yourself whether you love
them enough; to bear in mind
the things that other people
have to bear on their hearts; to
try to understand what those
who live in the same house with
you really want, without wait
ing for them to tell you; to trim
your lamp so that it will give
more light and less smoke, and
to carry 1t in front so that your
shadow will fall behind you; to
make grave for your ugly
thoughts and a garden for your
kindly feelings, with the gate
openAs~e you willing to do
these things even for a day?
Then you coz, keep Christmas.
Are you willing to believe that
love is the strongest thing in
the world-stronger than hate,
stronger than evil, stronger than
death-and mat the blessed life
which began in Bethlehem nine.
teen hundred years ago is the
image and brightness of IT,.
Eternal Love?
Then you can keep Christmas.
And if you keep it for a day,
why not always?.
But you can never keep it
salone.-Youth's Companion. .s.s,,.s
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-12-16
Crying Need of the Day.

Money" said the philosopher,
thoughtfully, sis made in cheap things.
Trihes have laid the foundations for
most of the great fortunes of to-day
Young men who wan: to get rich should
remember that. There is always a field
for the resourceful man who will consent
to give his attention to something short
of the gigantic undertakings of the
time. A patent corkscrew retailing for
a dime has made more than fortune"
Possibly" suggested the ambitious
youth, you can tell me of some trifling
need of the public which will give wealth
TO the man who fills it,
Easily" returned the philosopher.
"Just at this time the greatest need Of
the greatest number appears to be
suitable Christmas present for young
lady that will cost not to exceed $11S.
and that will look as if its purchase had
left little out of $40 bill. Chicago
Evening Post.
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-12-16
UNDER THE MI ,TLETOE.
Little Comedy Act in Which tn
Maiden Aunt Played the Part
of Villain.

Scene-A parlor in fashionable home.
Everything on stage that can be bor-
rowed from the upholsterers on the
strength of a line in the programme: "Ac-
cessories rented from Varnish & Suffers,
the popular upholsterers.
Dramatis personae:
Mr.. Van Tucker.
Miss Edythe Smithers.
A maiden aunt
Crutain raises, disclosing Mr.. Van
Tucker and Miss Shithers ensconced on
Varnish & Suffers finest sofa.
Mr. Van Tucker-Nice old custom, this
Christmas, business. Don y think so?
Edythe-Yes, indeed I do, Mr.. Van
Tucker. love every one of the dear old
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-12-16

brothers palm, wondering if by that
time anything would happen that they
would not have to go at all.
Ned tossed the note into the ma
ternal lap contemptuously and his sum
ny face darkened. who cares for his
charity extension, I'd like to know"
he exclaimed. Its only because be
can't do otherwise and make it pay"
His lip curled disdainfully and quiv-
cred into silence. He did care" after
all, poor little brother. And Edith's
heart smote her as she kissed his
flushed cheek in sisterly sympathy.
After all, he had been drawer than she.
Its a veritable toboggan," ex-
claimed Eermon Cameron's wife as
the fine team cantered up the treach-
erous slide" Really I am afraid of
an accident"
Fudge, Mrs. Faintheart; what can
happen?" laughed her husband, gayly,
as he cracked his whip over the sleek
bays.
Truly, it did not seem possible for
anything to happen out of ,sarmony
with the lovely holiday. NeysTheless,
few minutes later the ss}enity of
the day was all broken UP for the
Camerons. Frightened at something
by the roadside the horses became
unmanageable and, in a twinkling, be-
coming detached from the sleigh, ran
wildly around the upper turning.
throwing Mr.. Cameron heavily to the
ground.
The impetus of the accident sent the
vehicle spinning down the CLASSY in
cline, it's occupants perfectly helpless
to stay their mad fight.
The Fultons, startled to see q run
away team dash into their grounds,
ran out to recognize it as that of their
friend, Cameron, and in a short time
they were bending solicitously over
the unlucky man who, prone on the
Christmas snow, was moaning uncon-
sciously.
1--WE will take him up to the Wild
ow's," said Mr.. Fulton, glancing in the
direction of the friendly gables, while
you go for the DOCTOR" addressing his
son, land then we will look for the
rest of them
Prudence Cameron prepared a couch
for her unfortunate brother-in-law,
with queer sensation tugging at her
heartstrings. He had meant to stop.
but not in this manner. Surely there
was a Prov;Slence in it.
Here are some papers we picked
up" said Mr.. Fulton, laying a roll in
the widows hand. 'They must belong
to him. Examine them and see.
haven't my glasses with me-"
In her own room Mrs. Cameron
looked the papers over. "Of course
they're his" she unused, unrolling the
grimy outer wrapper. Unfolding the
inside paper she read: Il hereby give
and bequeath the Halfway house to
my sister-in-law, Prudence Cameron,
and"
she read no further. Down at the
bottom of the instrument was the pc
culiar chirography of her injured BROTH
er-in-law.
1T was never lost!" she exclaimed;
"Fbur Hermon never meant that
should see this"
Putting the precious document away
carefully, she went downstairs with a
queer little smile triumphant on her
patient face. -. - Ie&
The physician and Hermon's family
had arrived and the wife was saying:
We went right on tobogg aning down
to the uneven road at the lower turn
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-12-16
by His most devoted followers.

by His most devoted followers. He
trod the wine-press of agony alone.
Yet this Nan of Sorrows has con-
quered the world Other illustrlous
men lived out their little day and all
that remains of them is the memory
of their deeds. They sought to build
up material kingdoms; Christ's realm
is in the hearts of men. His teachings
have survived the overthrow of q
thousand kingdoms of earth. His
words to-day are as potent to sway
men as when they came burning from
His lips. All the higher civilization of
earth yields Him reverence and
homage.
Age but serves to strengthen the
might of His power and to confirm the
promise of the prophecy: "At the
name of Jesus every knee shall bow
and every tongue confess"
WILLIAM RCssER COBBE
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-12-16

Griggs I was over at Parker's one
day and that head clerk he called me
aside and let out that Mr. Busby was
going to buy me one of those nice
fur-trimmed coats, and wouldn't l like
to choose it, without him knowing it?
So chose-and won't have joke on
Mr.. Busby tomorrow"
THAT was real nice of that clerk"
at was, and seeing how l could trust
him, asked him to advise me which
one OF those nice warm bathrobes to
choose for Mr.. Busby-I just couldn't
decide between the red one and the
green one He said"
"Oh, by the way, he told me real
funny story about bath robe. He
says lady wanted to buy her hus-
band one for Christmas and asked his
advice. He told her to wait until to-
morrow, as some new ones were COM
ing in then, and"
why, that must have been the very
day was in; though l didn't sec any
new ones when went back the"
"M'hm. And he just called her hus-
band in that night and told him to
choose for himself, so he wouldn't
have to exchange it the day after
Christmas. Her husband thought it
the best joke yet to think what laugh
he'd have on her when she gave it to
him. So he chose blue one and
why, what's the matter, Mrs. Busby?"
Without word, Mrs. Busby fed up
the stairs, returning moment later
with blue bath robe in her trembling
grasp.
did you ever in your life know any
body as mean as that clerk?" she
gasped.
Elisa ARMsTRONG RENGOIyGH
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-12-16
THE OLD MANS CHRISTMAS.

1t is past, like beautiful dream; but sweet
was the dream to me;
For the children came as in the days of old,
and cuddled around my knee;
And l told them the tales used to tell
ere my locks were thin and gray
To the other children of my love: The
children that went away!
I forget the vacant places-the fall Of the
wintry snow;
In the light of their rosy faces lived in
the Long Ago:
l lived in tho long ago; but the Present
was perfect then
For all of the bitter snow that falls on
the lives of men.
! only knew they were near me, in a
world made new again,
And the Winter volets Of Life were
trimmed with the Springtime rain;
1elt their kisses sweet on my withered
checks and cold;
ana saw, over threads of silver. the
Gieam OF their curIs Of gold.
1t Is past like beautiful dream; with
all the songs that were sung;
And l. feel, in tho after Silence, that the
world is for the young;
And thanks be to God that the world Is
SO. with all its sunny years
That at least. one time in our lives we
know kisses. and love, and-tears!
F. l.. Stanton. in Atlanta Constitution.
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-12-16
THE DOOR OPENED AND A STRONG
MAN STEPPED IN.

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. I 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 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 boys
ackshully cut hole in the roof so Sanity
Claus could come down through it! La.
If you want things carried through re.
gardless, you let a lot of Rocky Mountain
boys take it in hand They won't stop at
nothin'. l reckon they'd h'isted off the
hull roof if 1t 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. an
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 hull Sunday school, for the
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-12-16

customs, and there isn't one single one
that l do not religiously obey.
Mr. Van Tucker (softly)-Every single
one?
Edythe-Yes, every one, Mr.. Van
Tucker. Why not?
Mr.. Van Tucker (still more softly
Even the one about the mistletoe?
Edythe (blushing)-Why, Mr.. Van
Tucker!
Mr. Van Tucker (relentlessly)-There's
a sprig of mistletoe hanging over this
sofa. No, don't 60. Remember what you
said. o, you must. IA kiss.] There.
you've kept your word.
Miss Smithers-Mr Van Tucker, you're
just awful.
Enter the maiden aunt-Well, Edythe
did the best could in fixing up the
room. I put the mistletoe right over the
iafa, where you wanted it so particu-
larly.
Edythe-Why, aunt:
Mr.. Van Tucker-Umm.
Curtain.
= Chicago Daily News.
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-12-16
Still Som ething 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.
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-12-16
Not to Be Caught Again,

Not to Be Caught Again.
my wife says she doesn't want me
to give her solitary thing for Christ
mas this year."
"Are you going to take her at her
word?"
Not much! I did that once I'm
an advocate of peace whenever it can
be had with or."-Chicago Record
Herald.
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-12-16
Hia Calculation.

Mamma-But these cheap toys break
so easily. 80
i Papa Johnny is never
satisfied until he breaks his toys, SO
thought I'd give him something that
won't give him much trouble. Brook
lyn Life al h. 5.s3. tsi# Il 4. b
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-08-26

of air. The one shown in Fig. Is
combination of two bulbs and an idea
Of NJ. Andre, the naturalist.
Moreover, during the Initiating proc
ess, the subject is placed in little
stove or oven heated by an alcoholc
lamp, shown in the figure just in front
of the operator. After a few minutes
the caterpillar begins to assume the
appearance of life, and it Is then ready
to be placed in an entomologist's col
lection.
Various other openings Of an indus
trial or artistic nature are available
to the French 'bombyculturist.' Inc
butterflies arc worked into brooches
or even into highly ornamental cathe
dral windows by placing, for example
some Actias Mimosae and other insects
together with some desiccated flowers
and leaves, between panes of glass
Our elegant danes also affect q gor
geous decoration Of their hats With
butterflies, for which purpose the In
sects must undergo certain extensive
preparation. After the wings have
been covered with transparent alco.
hol varnish, the butterfly is glued upon
a piece of satlnette which is afterward
cut out to conform exactly to their
contour. A steel or silver wire is run
through the thorax, forming skeleton
at once rigid and light. Mounted In
this manner, the butterflies become a
very attractive and graceful ornament
Scientific American.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-08-26
The Weight of the Children.

With regard to the standard of
weight for growing children. that us
ualiy given by authorities in the matter
Is that at five years Of age child
should weigh about as many pounds rs
it is inches high. AS rule, this will
lot be much over or under forty
pDunds. Children who come OF large
families should weigh something more
than that. The rate Of increase should
be about two pounds for every inch
of growth, with tendency for the
weight to exceed this standard proper
tioEately rather than to fall below it.
When child is rather heavier in pro-
portion to its height than this stand
ard, it is sign of good health. If the
child is growing rapidly it should not
he allowed to full much below it with
out being made to rest more than has
been the custom before. A deficiency
Of weight in proportion to height Is al.
ways an unfavorable sign. Any inter-
ruption in the progress of increase Of
weight. especially during the continu-
ance Of growth, must be danger sig.
nal that should not be neglected by
those interested in the patient.-West.
minister Review.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-08-26

such ruin originally fell. Gathering
impetus as it went, the avalanche pro-
jected it's thousands of tons of SNOW
on the pine woods, through which it
cut a road as clean as though every
tree had been felled flush with the
ground by the axe Of miraculous
woodman.
"The chief glacier above the woods
Is the famous one called the Scaletta,
but it was from a smaller field on the
Jatzhorn that the trouble came. 1t had
been showing for about week and
the depth of new snow In the valley
was about ten or twelve feet, much
more on the high peaks. Next came a
warm spell of true April weather. The
new snow settled-i. G., grew COM
pressed by its own weight and the
softening influence of the sun. You
are to remember that this new snow
did not lie upon the earth nor yet upon
a bare rocky bed. 1t lay as 1t had
upon the hard frozen crust Of the last
winters falls. AS 1t contracted from
above it naturally began to expand
slightly on its unstable base. The
movement begun continued, and the
whole mass commenced to shift. III
nally it came away, leaving cash of
over a mile long on the side Of the
Jatzhorn where it had parted from
the main mass. This cash was up
wards of fifteen feet deep and was
plainly visible miles away from the
bottom of the valley.
"The fall was on such scale that
it swept everything before it down
the valley sides. Acres Of pines of
unknown age went down as easily as
skittles, and the giant moved down
the valley with roar heard for miles
away. and under cloud Of snow-dust
so thick as to become & veritable fog,
through which nothing could be seen
for many minutes. For weeks after
every tree and rock within a large
radius was shrouded with a dirty COW
ering of wet snow mingled with all
manner of dust taken up by the fierce
draught of the fall. Now. an ordinary
well-behaved avalanche is content to
roll it's troubled masses down into the
bed of q valley. there to stay until the
sun has effaced it's last relics from
the summer landscape. Not so this
one, the force and weight of which
carried it right across the valley so
that it partly mounted the opposite
hillside-a thing almost unprecedented