davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1904-12-24

contestants are encased from the wais
down, or. If the sacks are long enough
from ths neck down. Thus prepared,
they are given a certain distance TO 60,
and are prepared to cover the distance
in any way they can quickest, as, for
example, jumping or rolling. A potato
race, or an egg race, is yet anothe.
game which will furnish great amuse-
ment. In these there is laid out on the
barn floor a row Of potatoes or eggs
for each contestant, and these must be
carried one at a time and deposited in
a basket or box, In case Of eggs being
used the breaking of one of them loses
the race. The boys will also enjoy O
pig race. For the purpose a pig for
each boy should be released in a room
in the barn, and the boys be given
each a designated pig 10 catch. 1t
may be hard on the pigs, but it will be
great sport for the boys and the audi
Cnce.
Christmas night in the house is the
eayest time Of all the holiday season.
Grandmother has prepared for it, and
the last trace of embarrassment has
worn away from the shyest Of the
youngsters. Bob apple" is a good be-
ginning for the evening. Place a num-
Der of apples in a bowl of water and
let each have a try at catching one Of
them by the stem with their teeth.
Wet faces and soiled dresses will be
fully compensated for in the amount
Of fun that is had. Later, a hunt
through g.andomther's garnet viii
provide the necessaries for Christmas
munmers, in which old Father Christ
mas leads the jewellers, composed OF
such characters as Dame Plum Pud-
ding, Sir I.oin of Beef, Miss Pumpkin
Pie, etc. Charades and shadow shovrs
follow in 'apid succession, and then,
as q climax, comes a Virginia reel, Ia
which old and young participate. Then
TIE singing of a Christmas carol, and
the happy guests are of to bed and
pleasant dreams.
When grandfather's big sled calties
them beck to the trains that are to dis
tribute them TO their far-away homes
they will vote this the merriest
Christmas Of all they have had, am,
grandfather ard grandmother will
wish nat Christmas might last
throughout all the year,
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1904-12-24

1t often happens that Christmas
greens are frozen in transit. In such
cases put them at once into a very
cool, dark cellar where they ran thaw
out very gradually. The temperature
should not be allowed To- exceed As de-
grees Fahrenheit. Frozen holly IL
very little damaged if intelligentlJ
treated, but a single night In q warm
express car may cause il - turn black
Mistletoe and wild smilaX arc muc,
more susceptible 10 frost injury. Tht
California holly is not n member OF
the holly, but of the rose family. II
is not hardy in New England, but i;
worth %cultivating IL all parts Of the
south.
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1904-12-24
AzHzzAa & SUMS
WS3(IHRI&hkSs
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9

will tire OF It. Another game that II
less noisy is blindman's wand, il
which the parties playing form a circle
about the one who il blindfolded. Tha
b.indfolded one has a cane or small
stick, and after the others have circled
about him to the accompaniment OF
any well known song, he points his
waUd at one in the circle and initiates
the noise made by some animal. The
one pointed to must repeat the noise.
Disgusting his voice so that he may
not be known. Three times may the
test be repeated, initiating a different
animal each time. If at the end of the
three tests the blindfolded one is still,
undecided as TO who he Is pointing tc
he may run his wand over him ana
find out in that way, If possible. II he
guesses who 1t is places are exchanged
and the game begins over again.
Christmas candles sound Christ
masy, and will be remembered by the
elders as one Of the pleasures Of long
ago. A lighted candle is placed uroD
a small table, when one person il
biz dfo,ded and stationed with hrs
back TO the candle, and c,ose to IT, HI
is then to take four steps forward,
turn around three times and return
and blow out the candle. Simple as
the game il, it will afford amusement.
fer an hour on Christmas eve.
If grandfather wishes to provide
something especially for the boys, and
has a big barn, he can get up a series
of races. at which the girls will be In
tcrested spectators. A threelegged race,
in which the legs Of two contestants
are tied together, will be exceedingly
funny, especially TO the onlookers
Another Is a sack race, n which thu
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1904-12-24
FIXING CHRISTMAS DAY.
Whv the Holiday Is Always Cels-
brated Oh the Twenty-Fifth
Of December.

There are no definite illusions in the
writings of any of the disciples oil
Christ as to the date OF His birth, MOI
has there ever been produced proof
of any character as to the exact period
in the year when Christ was born,
There are, very true, occasional refer
ences to the event in the Scriptures,
indicating that the nativity occurred in
the winter season.
The institution of the anniversary
dates back to the second century OF
Christendom, and It has been since
uniformly celebrated by nearly all
branches of the Christian church with
appropriate rejoicings and ceremonies.
The frequent, and somewhat heated,
controversies, however, relative to the
date of Christ's birth early in the
fourth century led Pope julius |. to
order a thorough investigation of the
subject by the learned theologians and
historians of that period, which result.
ed in an agreement upon December %,
and that decision seemed to have Sc
settled all disputes that that date was
universally accepted except by the
Greek church, says the American
Queen. While this date was never
changed, the reckoning Of it IS mads
according TO the Gregorian calendar,
which was adopted in the latter part
Of the sixteenth century, and upon
which computations of time in nearly
all civilized nations have since rested,
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1904-12-24

In, for, with the horses going at a good
gallop, the small sled at the end of the
string is almost sure to upset and sill
Its occupants into the drifts beside the
road. To be sure, all will want the
honor and excitement Ct riding on that
last sled, and to avoid controversy
grandfather must have arranged a
schedule so as TO give leach one a
chance at it, and must try to be i'm
partial in the splitting Of them into the
snow drifts,
Another amusement that g~randfath-
err ran take charge of might be called
a fox hunt, only there is no fox, and
the trail must be marked by bits of pa
Per scattered along. If the snow is
deep it is not practical to make the
trail too long, or into the deep drifts,
but should follow marked paths, but
when the snow Is not deep it may 60
anywhere about the farm. The hunt
srs must follow the trail by the bits OF
scattered paper, and at the goal there
should be a little prize for the winner,
though not one of sufficient value to
make the less fortunate ones feel badly
at not having won.
or course grandfather and grand
mother will have little presents for all
the children, and it adds to the interest
TO have a Christmas tree for them, bur
not one of the ordinary sort that IS
set up in the parlor, Instead, II the
weather is not too severe, it should be
out Of doors, and any orchard or shade
tree that is not too high may serve as
the regulation evergreen. If night Is
chosen as the time FOR the Christmas
tire. festivities, a few lanterns mag
serve the purpose Of candles, and the
children should climb the ladder IN
search of their own presents. o!
course the boys, as the better climbers
should be made ~ climb the higher
limbs for their presents.
For grandmother's part. inside the
house there are many games in which
ell can engage. The games should bf
simple, so that they may be readily
understood. The old-fashioned coun.
try games are BY far the best for such
an occasion.
Blindman'e buff needs no eyp'ana'
ton. and Is 3 Jolly way in which tC
pass an hours time, but cannot b
EuUe0sa t9o Long, or th2 CaiidfsE
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1904-12-24

DACK to the Cid farm home rush
Id children and grandchildren for
the Christmas tine. Truly 1t Is
The merrlest season Of all the year,
whom brothers and sisters and cousins
rather at %grandma's for the holidays.
They come from city and village and
country, and grandfather meets the
trains and takes each party as it ar
rives out to tho farm in the great bob
sled, behind his lest team, and that Is
the first pleasure of the Christmas
outing, or. rather, the second, as the
anticipation has been the first.
The cousins, many Of them, are
strangers, or practically so, to each
other, and TO make the family party a
success they must be entertained in d
way that will get them thoroughly ac-
luainted, and grandmother and grand
father. as hostess and host, must pro-
vide entertainment of a sort that will
accomplish this. At the same time the
entertainment must recall the old
home days to the elGers, so what Is
more appropriate than the old farm
games that are ever new. There must
be soI 9 hing fer every minute of the
waking hours TO prevent the forma-
ton OF cliques that would breed antag-
on!sms among the various sets of cou-
sins, and there must be enough Ct
variety to keep all interested.
Grandfather takes hoid of the ar
rangements for the outdoor games
Above all things. there must be a
hitching party, for the children from
the city know none Of its pleasures
Again the big bob-sled comes into
play, and into its commodious box are
tucked all the wee mites Of the party,
with an abundance of hay and warm
comforters. Behind the big sled ara
hitched several small hand sleds, the
smallest one OF all being at the ex-
IRENE end of the lire, and onto these
crowd the boys and girls, and often
times some Of their parents, who have
not forgotten the joys of such a froiic.
Then away they go, up hill and down,
over all sorts of roads and around
,harp corners. And at the sharp cor
pers Is where the greatest fun comes
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1904-12-24
HIS CHRISTMAS "NIXlE."
The Experience of a Post Office Clerk
u. the Holiday Season.

The Mike" clerk-the one to whom
goes all mail with insufficient or illeg-
ible 2ddresses-took from his desk in
q quiet corner of the post office a tiny,
rumpled envelope.
Il never came across a Mike that
was addressed to anyone | knew ex-
cept this one. Last Christmas the let
tiers began to pile in as usual, adj
dressed to Santa Claus. | reckon |
get a hundred every year. On Christ
mas eve | was working late, and was
very sad and lonely here in my cor
ner. There was a great rush at the
other windows Of the office, and the
mails were loaded with Christina
gifts and greetings. A merry crowd
rushed through the corridors and
laughter sounded all around, but "A
great shadow Of sorrow rested over
me, and MY eyes burned as | bent over
my work. Finally the messenger
brought me the last few Mikes of the
day, and laid them ON my desk. |
took up the first one mechanically.
Attached to it was a note from Carrier
No. "a:
"'Thls was given me by a little girl
at 302 Walnut street
MY blood tingled when ! read 1t,
for that was my own home. The en-
velope was a small one, addressed 20
santa Claus, North Pole | recog-
nized my own little girls cramped
writing. | thought | had a right to
open it, as | was her Santa Claus, al
though she did not know it. This is
the letter"
lie carefully spread it out, and -eld
t up so il could be read.
Dear Santa Claus: We arc very sad
At our home this year, and don't want
you to bring me anything Little Charlie,
my brother. went up to Heaven last week,
and all / want you to do when YOU come 10
my house Is to take his toys to him. l
will leave them In the corner by the CHM
ney, his hobby-horse, and train, and every
thing. lie will be lost up in Heaven WIN
u. them. specially his horse. lie Always
enjoys riding it so much. SO you JUST
| 4hht lif4l 10 Ii4it hi' ~ 'rNH'
leaving anything to me. Ii you could give
papa something that would make him
stop crying all the time, II would lie the
best you could do for me. | hear him tell
mamma that only eternity could cure HIM
Could you give him some of that? Be surs
TO take the things to Charlie, and | VIII
tie your good little GIL MAHlAN'
In the silence that followed the read
ing OF the letter the Mike clerk put
the tiny envelope back in bis desk,
says the Youths Companion, When
he did speak there was no sadness in
his voice.
"Well, Santa Claus came and took
the hobby-horse and the train and
everything. If he did not take them
10 Charlie, he did the next best thing:
he left them with a little fellow with
a twisted leg at the Children's hos
pital. Whether old Santa Claus had
any eternity to give away or not, |
do not know; but | do know that a
little child gave me SOM falth thai
answered just as well"
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1904-12-24
A Cnstlu Exneriment.

Crawford-Instead of buying you .
Christmas present, why don't YOU have
your wife make you something with
her own hands?
Crabshaw-Can't AFFORD it. She ones
made me a Observation-Disclosures
smoking Jacket. and the materials sbC
boaghy lott me the least payt at.e -
SPOT i6ge
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1904-12-24

Mamma-You have addressed your
letter "Mr. Santa Jlaus Adam Why
did you put the Adam there, dearl
That isn't Santa Claus nape.
Bobbie-Well, who is the Christmas
Adam, then?
What Christmas Adam? never
heard Of one
"Thcre's q Christmas Eve, and toeit
ought to be o Christmas Adam
sbQulj talsH kgaaas tiy l2utqat
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1904-12-24

The Christmas tree has by no means passed the day OF its use
fulness, and let us hope that it never may do so, but a variety IS some
times desirable at Christmas time, as well as at other times, and 10
get it the spiders web may be substituted for the tree. The way OF
arranging it is to have a large spider made OF wire and other material
suspended from the ceiling, or attached TO the wall To this are
brought a number OF reels, or spindles, one or more for each person
to be remembered. Each spindle should contain a different colored
string or ribbon, AMI these arc then threaded in a b~ewildcring maze
through the furniture, from room to room, up and down stairs, and
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1904-12-24
USUAL MISFITS.

Fat Lady-Going to hang up your
stocking, are you? What do you wani
In it,
Midget-Im lookin' for an automo'
bile. What are you?
Fat Lady-Oh, I'm hoping for a dia'
mond ring.-Chicago Daily News.
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1904-12-24
A Renliniscence

well, Johnnie, what are you going
10 give your iittlc brother for Christ
mas"
~ dunno. | give him the measles
las! year, '.~chic2s9 Record Herald
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1904-12-24

then at The lar end OF The ribbon is the present. To secure the present
the child must follow the winnings OF the ribbon wherever 1t may lead
until the gift is arrived at and claimed. Such a plan is productive OF
much innocent amusement, and the surprise at the end OF the ribbon
all The more appreciated for the search it has taken to find it. fo'
Christmas house parties, either for children or Tor grown ups, the
scheme will add much to the pleasure OF the occasion, and will serve
as a means OF getting all present better acquainted. When the sons
and daughters and grandchildren return to the old home Tor the holt
day season a spiders web will add to the merriment OF the season
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1904-12-24
Sordid.

Now merry Christmas comes again.
And Santa Claus doth fret the soul.
He gives you diamond scarfpins when
You'd rather have a ton OK coal.
Washington Star.
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1904-12-24

HERE Is no Sunday school but
should have and does have its
Christmas celebration. II is not
Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1904-04-07
! en- TIRED.
Everybody is Tired Spring
Weather Does it-EveryOre
Shos,,tl Be Cautious.

Depression of the nervous system at
the approach of spring is the cause
General l;issitlite. DUH heavy sensa
lions continual tired feeling. with irrcg
elar appetite, and sometimes loss of
srcr. nerrna meets every indication and
proves itself TO he perfectly adapted to
all their varied peculinrties. Peruna in
vigoratcs the system. rejuvenntes the
feelings restores the normal appetite and
produces regular sleep.
That tired feeling which is the natural
result OF the depressing effect of warm
Weather Immediately after the invigorat-
in, cold of winter, quietly disappears
when Prruna is taken. Thousands are
lliiy tcSiifyug TO its priceless benefit.
Mrs H. iIassatt, 1900 w 18th street,
lDcs Moincs. la. writes: II am happy to
give my endorsement for your valuable
medicine. Pcrina rs | consider it Il val
liable medicine TO take when the system
is run down from ovcrwori. About
two wears ago | felt that must take IL
long rcst as had been unable TO work
for over q month aud could not regain
my strength could not sleep AT night
snd was in q very nerv"us, high strung.
condition | decided 10 Try what ire-
r'ila would 10 10 hujfd up my strength,
and am plcascd 10 say that began to
improve Very horty. and in less than
iNNo months was able TO take up my
work. and felt better thnn | have for
gears. | take it now twice year and
ind that il keeps me i'm perfect health.
Mrs. Nassatt was for over ten wears tho
manager of Il plant furnishing ladies
Near and employing hundreds of
-iulnen.
Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1904-04-07

2l;25 Chestnut street, Erie, Pa. says:
For two years ! had kidney trouble
and there was such a severe pain
through my loins and limbs that
could not sioop or straighten up with
out great pain, had difficulty in getting
about and was unable to rest at night,
arising in The morning tired and worn
,nt. The kidney secretions were irreg
ular and deposited heavy sediment.
Doctors treated me for rheumatism,
but failed to help me. | lost all conf
dence in medicine and began to feel
as ii life were not worth living. Doan's
Kidney Pills, however, relieved me so
quickly and so thoroughly that glad
ly made Il statement to that effect for
publication. This was in 1898, and
during the six years which have elaps-
III have never known Doan's Kidney
Pills to fail They cured my Wife
of 4 severe case of backache in the
same thorough manner
a FREE TRIAL of this great kid
ney medicine. which cured Mr.. Bier
bach will he mailed on application to
any part of The United States. Adj
dress Foster-Milbsrn Co. Buffalo, N.
Z. For sale By all druggists, price so
cents per box.
Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1904-04-07
The Republic of Canada.

Lcsiiess Monthly: Twenty years ago
20 per cent. of the people would have
welcomed the annexation of the do
mni0n To the United States. Ten years
lgo only 10 per cent of the men who
hink thought seriously of such Il move,
md today no one eyer mentions the
natter nj all. FTw enty years ago only a
'ew drcamers dreamed Of the republic
IF Canada. Ten years later 10 per cent.
IF the people We're in favor of 1T, and
oday twenty out of every hundred ca
ladians would Welcome The news that
canada had cast off the cable that
noors her to the motherland and had
)iossomcd out as y nation.
The relations between the people of
he United States and of Canada VIII
grow more friendly and pleasant as the
ears go by because of the wholesale
wrapping of citizens now going ON.
billions of Canadians have gone TO the
itates, and in the next decade millions
IF Americans will have crossed into
canada. We shall like each other bet
er as we sec each other more, for we
North Americans are the people all Of
Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1904-04-07
EeIs From the Mile.

Chicago News: Eels are so highly
priced In Germany that the supply Is
generally short of the demand, and az
enterprising German firm has therefore
started an ceiling industry i'm the lower
Nile delta. The industry is centered In
Matarieh- Mcnsaleh, Il station on the
railway, where a large depot has been
established, to which the cells are
brought for sale by the fishermen. who
receive for them about cent each Be-
fore dispatch TO Trieste, whence they
are sent to Hanburg by rail, the cells
are cleaned, rubbed with salt and
packed in casks between layers of ice
1mpresnated With fornalin. 1t is cX-
pected that when the scheme is i'm full
working order no less than about sixty
tons, OF 10000 GELS, will be sent from
Alexandria weekly.
Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1904-04-07
Labor.r Becomes millionaire.

The most Interesting citizen Of Dam
Vile. ILL.,. Is Michael Kelly. Thirty
years ago his pick and shovel were hts
only capital. He prospered as a labor
er. saved money to buy a farm. found
coal underneath his potato patch, and
now mike Kelly. as he is affection
ately known. Is worth s4,0O0,OOO. A
town has been named after him. When
he first turned UP in Il Daneville brick
yard he could neither read nor write
He will retire from business on January
!. next. aged Is years, one Of the rich
est men in Ill:ao.a
Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1904-04-07
10000 Plnnts for l5c.

This is n remarkable offer the John A.
Sazer Seed Co., La Crosse, Wis, makes.
They will send you their hig plant and
seed catalogue, together with enough seed
to grow
1000 fine, solid Cabbages,
1000 delicious Carrots.
2,oGo hlanching, nutty Celery,
1000 rich, buttery Lettuce,
1000 splendid Onions,
1000 rare. luscious Radshes,
1000 gloriously brilliant Flowers.
This great offer is made in order to in
duce you TO try their warranted seeds
for when you once plant them you Will
grow no others, and
ALL FOR BUT Ice POSTAGE,
providing you viii return this notice. and
il you will send them 20c in postage, they
will add to the above /" package OF the
famous Beriner CaulAower. &C. n. W
Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1904-04-07
The Wife,s Chance.

Town Topics Whipper soc that
here has been Il reduction In the price
If theatei seats.
snapper Yes, Goittc says that he
AN afford To take his wife now.
Whippei iiadti't he been 10 the the
ttei amy before the reduction2
Snapper YES but he TOOK his Ste
OPT pher.
Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1904-04-07

Phlladelphia Press: You sag he
won't EXPRESS an opinion on he var in
tho cast Q?
M. he's running for councilman in
mis- ward. you lSnoY,
What has that TO do With it,
well. there's one Japanese and one
Russian vote IN tile waGd and he
wants to catch en- both.
Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1904-04-07
A Mean ADVANTAGE.

Philadelphia IA-ess: Il cannot cur
YOU" said DIR. Fox, unless you promise
to do exactly what tell you. Do you
solemnl. prcmise?"
II do replied the patient
All right. Let me have your checl
for that old account that has been
standing SO long.
Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1904-04-07
neacll the Snoi.

10 cure an ach-
ing back,
The pains OF
rheumatism.
L h e tired-out
feelings,
You must reach
the spot-get at
the cause.
In most cases
It's the kidneys.
Doan's Kidney
Pills are for the
kidneys.
G Ii arle 8 Bier
bach, stone con-
tractor, living at
Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1904-04-07
IN Artist In His Line.

Atlanta Consultation: bars one
thing likes about ole satan
Tell me dst,''
%M"en he loasts q sinner. nobody In
ie setlleltent kin complain dat he amt
we'll done"
Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1904-04-07

Town Topics. She Does Your employer
ever tell his clerk funny stores?
He-Np, but We don't dare undeceiYs
him.