davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1904-12-21

name Santa Claus is merely a different
form Of his real name, just as Carl and
Carlos are varying forms of the name
Charles, and Maria and Marie are of
Mary.
During his holy and useful life St.
Nicholas was very good to all the little
children he met, giving them presents
and making them happy in every pos
sible way. He Is, therefore, to be re-
membered at this season because it is
especially the children's feast day, and
his memory should be kept more green
in our hearts than the greenest leaves
Of the mistletoe that decorate our
homes.
One story told Of St. Nicholas re-
lates how he found three lovely maid.
ems who were very unhappy because
there was no one to take care of them.
and they were so poor they feared they
might starve to death. The good OLD
saint, hearing of their grief, went and
tapped softly on the window of their
home. When it was opened he threw
three purses filled with gold into the
window and hid before the girls could
see who it was that sent this unexpect-
ed gift.
The next night he did not 60, but the
night following he tapped softly again
and threw three more purses into the
window He waited like time and
then threw them a third present, but
did not hide quickly enough, for they
saw who it was-the kind old bishop
who loved children so tenderly. Of
course, they were very grateful for
helping them out of their trouble this
way. Some people think that the Gus
tom Of giving presents originated from
this old legend.
In Germany they keep the feast of
st. Nicholas on Dec. g. At this time
some one dresses in the traditional
costume worn by Santa Claus, gives
presents to the children who have been
good and sorrowfully says II have
nothing for you" to the naughty ones.
Ledger.
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1904-12-21
QUEER CHRISTMAS GIFTS.
Small Particles of RndiuHl Presented
by London Women.

Small Particles of RndiuEl Presented
by London Women.
There is this to be said of the latest
fad Of London society women-the Civ
ing Of small particles Of radium as
Christmas presents-that none Of the
recipients can complain of having re-
ceived cheap gift. To give radium in
this way costs from $40 to $50, the out
fit necessary therefor consisting of a
"spinthariscope" and a speck of the
new metal hardly big enough to be
seen with the naked eye.
Sir William Crookes, the English sci
enlist, invented the spinthariscope,
which Is kind of microscope through
which small quantities of the precious
stuff can be examined to better ad-
vantage. The spinthariscope sold by
London chemist who has the radium
monopoly is about the size Of finger
ring case and has an opening for the
eye something like that in child
Kaleidoscope. By taking the apparatus
into darkened room and squirting
through the eyehole one can see flashes
of constantly varying light shooting in
all directions, like miniature fireworks.
The idea Of making Christmas gifts
of radium has proved uncommonly in
fectious, and the run on the chemists
stock necessitated hasty communion
ton with the firms in Bavaria and Aus
tria who supply most Of the radium
that reaches England. - Washington
Post.
Bringing In the Yule Log.
The Yule log Is remnant of the
JUL, when the Scandinavians used to
k1ndle huge fires in honor of their
god Thor. in some parts of old Eng
land bringing in. the Yule log was the
principal ceremony Of Christmas eve.
Part Of the log was carefully preserv-
ed to light the Yule log Of the succeed
ing year. 1t was believed that piece
Of the log in the house was security
against fire, and If a squirting person
entered the room while it was burning
all sorts Of i'll luck would come to
the family.
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1904-12-21
Christmas In Canada.

Far away in Canada the Christmas
is very like our own. The turkey, we'll
stuffed with savory herbs, occupies the
place Of honor on the dining table, only
there are hot pumpkin pies, prepared
and served with a great deal of cream
to keep it company. 1t is the Christ
Child himself who is supposed to
come down the wide chimneys to bring
toys to good little children who are
really asleep, not shamming. The gifts
are generally wrapped up with huge
packets of maple candy, and "doughnut
dolls" are as usual as gingerbread fig.
ures used to be in old English fairs
Cleveland Plain Dealer
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1904-12-21
THE CHRIST CHILD's CRADLE
Part Of 1t Preserved. as a Holy Relic
In Rome.

Part of 1t Preserved. as a Holy Relic
| In Rome.
La sainte creche-the holy cradle-or
the portion of it which is preserved, is
in fact only part of the grating that
was placed across the stable trough in
! Bethlehem to hold the fodder for the
animals that fed there. 1t became the
cradle OF the infant Saviour when he
was laid within the rough trough by
: his mother and came in time to be re-
garded as one Of the most sacred
things on earth. This broken piece OF
! the grating was taken from Bethlehem
at the time Of the Mussulman invasion
, In the year G42 and was carried to
Rome, where Pope Theodosius took
charge of it as one of the most precious
! of relics.
! Whether or not the grating now
shown Is the true relic, it is certainly
extremely old and is interesting for
that reason and because of associations
. that have gathered about it since it be-
! came one of the mementos cherished in
the Imperial City. D. is one of the
greatest treasures of the ancient
! Church of Santa>AIaria Maggiore.
! It consists of Eve worn bars These
are of wood, worm eaten and gray,
!: that looks as though it might be oak
powdered with -four. The bars average
about yard in length, and the entire
grating is suspended In a crystal case
, by silver ribbons.
| This case is supported on carved gold
| and silver feet, and its full length is a
| meter, its height half meter. 1t is
; surmounted by beautiful enameled
statue Of the infant Jesus.
! During the year this magnificent re-
hquary is inclosed in a golden case and
disposed on one Of the affairs of the
, church. At Christmas time it is ex-
/ posed to view, and the festival of the
! nativity terminates with an imposing
| procession In which the relic is carried,
the solemn occasion being presided
over by cardinal.-New York Trib-
I une
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1904-12-21
Holiday CuatOms,

At the saturnalia, the heather pro-
totype of ChristW9qs, it was the Roman
custom to decorate the house with
evergreens. This was done to give the
woodland spirits refuge from the cold.
In Atlanta, Ga, it is the Christmas
custom to let free all prisoners whose
only ofense has been against the city
ordinances.
The holly and mistletoe that we use
for Christmas decorations show the
survival of the customs Of the Druids.
In Russia branches of fir trees are
used for decoration. In most parts of
southern Europe evergreen trees are
used, while In India the English
churches are decorated at Christmas
tide with all kinds of flowers, palms
and berries.
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1904-12-21

Buzz FAlHEST OF ALL WAS MARJORY DAW.
Now, Shaw tipped the butler-I saw the
coin pass
To turn down the gas in the hall
d-wus hung from bracket quite close
to glass
Not more than yard from the waD.
Then he waited beneath me, his senses
alert,
Till he heard the swish swish OF rus
ting silk skirt.
They were having Christmas eve ball.
In a moment his arms were about the
fair waist.
What cared he for the wrath of papa?
And he covered her cheek with his kisses
In haste
To the strains Of the piano afar.
But she. with cry. reached and turned
up the gas,
When he saw. to his horror, alas and alas,
He'd been kissing his sweetheart's
mamma.
Then up came the guests in response to
her call,
While papa was quite purple with rage,
And that Shaw was a cad they agreed.
one and all.
Not to show more respect for old age.
But the dame, with her vanity utterly
twisted
And quite unaware OF the error, insisted
That the maid should be gallantry's
wage.
London Sketch.
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1904-12-21
!. .R''laisin6
.Cbrisfma as
Funds
WAS going home to spend Christ
mas. AS l had no children-in-
deed, was not Observation-Disclosures.

WAS going home to spend Christ
: mas. AS had no children-in-
deed, was not Observation-Disclosures.
especially Christmas, bored me.
wished the season We're over and the
new year begun. The train pulled out
of the station, and took up a news
payer.
SuduSellY my paper was crushed back
on my face, a pair of small arms were
thrown around my neck and the round
face Of boy about four years old was
thrust within an inch of my nose. By
what right he assumed to treat a per-
feet stranger in this demonstrative
fashion could not conceive.
You little scamp, what do you
mean?'
I'm goin' home to spend Christmas"
AT that moment the conductor came
along for tickets and told me that the
boy had been put in his charge He
was to meet his father at st. Louis.
The little imp unclasred his hands as
suddenly as he had .clasped them and
made dash for the door. l dashed
after him, ~reviling the parent who
would put child his age in the care
OF conductor, and dragged him back
This did dozen times during the
day. When not trying to get Oh the
platform he was trying to sell an old
knife (no blades) to the passengers to
raise Christmas money. At first they
put him away, some of them impa-
tently, others gently, but he was so
persistent and got up such remarkable
financial schemes that at last ever,
one in the car was laughing at him..
There was something in this ire
sponsible naturalness that won my
heart. At nightfall, since there was no
one to pay any attention to him, l
called the porter. fed him and told
him to make up the cllild's berth,
which happened to be directly opposite
my own. Then the boy got sleepy, and
told him the sandman was com
ing around to weight his lids, and If
he didn't keep awake till he was un-
dressed he wouldn't see the old fellow.
wished to keep him awake till the
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1904-12-21
Ferns and Autumn Leaves.

Ferns and autumn leaves as Christ
mas decorations add greatly to the ef-
fectveness Of the conventional holly,
mistletoe and evergreens. Ferns grown
IN hothouses are easily obtained at the
holiday season, but are rather expen-
sive. Autumn leaves are at the COM
mand Of whoever has the time to
gather them In the fall, for they can
b preserved IN all their pristine glory
with little trouble. Autumn leaves
pressed in books, while retaining their
glorious colors, lose some of their live
Nness and their natural shape. but
whole branches Of them may be kept
intact by placing them in dry sand in
any cellar where there Is no dampness.
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1904-12-21

PAIR OF SMALL ARMS WERE THROWN
AROUND MY NECK.
porter could undress him. Neverthe-
less he fell asleep in my arms, and as
the porter was busy concluded to IN
dress him myself.
wake up!' 1 said, shaking him.
he opened his eyes. HAS the sand
man been around?' was his first ques-
ton.
Il should think so; long ago. It's bed
time''
1t was a hard hunt I had all over
his little body for buttons, but found
them. His shoe laces were in knot,
but united them and put him to bed
In his undergarments. Giving me
hug like bear cub he fell back on the
pillow and was asleep before l could
cover him up.
Before turning in myself l took 4
look at him to assure myself he was
all right. Drawing the curtains, the
lamplisht fell on his face. What a
picture Of innocence! Where was he
going? he didn't know. Who took
care Of him? He didn't care Perhaps
the parent who had sent for him was
at that moment anxious about him
and regretted letting him come in such
q way i had a dread that he woulo
wake up in the middle Of the night
with collie But If his parent worried,
IL worried, there was one who was
not In the least troubled about him. 1t
was himself. ~@
In the night dreamed that 1 was be-
ing garroted. I awoke and found my
self tightly clasped around the neck.
I put my hand up to discover what
was choking me and felt tiny arm
with a hand on it no bigger than my
watch and I'VE soft little fingers. A
stream OF lamplight came In where
the curtains hung loose. 1t revealed
the boy sound asleep. How he got
there didn't know, and ! doubt II no:
knew himself. Soy: f.
The next morning he resumed his
negotiations with the passengers to
raise Christmas money, but the most
impudent thing he did was to ask me
II. he had not lent me cents the night
before This 70 me, who had spent
money for him and had taken such care
Of him! s35 {; s3
felt 4 touch on my shoulder and
turned my head. q gentleman ~ the
seat behind me, with q bsnevolent face
and d twinkle - his eye, was looking
/ ut me
One can admire even impudence,'
he said, 4.if It amounts IS genius. This
boy = certainly q genius of elIrontery.
q He ought q ~ sneourn4 = Vhats6o
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1904-12-21
M19t1etOe,

The eastern mistletoe is parasitic on
deciduous trees as far north as New
Jersey. It grows in great punches
from one to three feet across and soon
disfgures tree. The people of Allan
ia, Ca, have free mistletoe. The city
authorities cut it out Of the shade
trees that line the streets, and any one
may take it away by the wagon load.
The plant Is in no danger of extermina-
ton, as we are satisfied with a compar-
atively small amount, despite its
unique associations, which ought to
make it in universal demand. The
trade is supposed to handle about TO-
600 pounds.-Country Life In America.
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1904-12-21
The Teachers Present.

The old schoolmaster was deeply at
fected. His scholars, noticing the d.
lapidated appearance Of his chair, had
presented. him with a new one for
Christmas. my dear boys,' said the
kindly old man, with tears in his eyes,
II can never hope to tell you how you
have made me feel by this token Of
your love for me. All 1 can do is to
thank you for the sacrifices you have
made Of your little purses for the sake
Of my comfort. If you have found me
severe at times trust you realize that
it has always been for your own good"
As the old schoolmaster prepared to
sit down in his new chair he uncon-
sciously ran his hand over the seat in
search Of bent pins.-Philadelphia
Ledger. 3.
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1904-12-21
Four Facts About Christmas.

Spanish children have no Father
Christmas. They think it is the
three wise men of the east who bring
them their gifts.
It is said to be unlucky to leave
Christmas decorations up after
Twelfth Night.
There is an island called Christmas
island In the Pacific ocean, so called
because Captain Cook discovered it on
Christmas day, 1777.
Plum pudding was originally plum
porridge and eaten for breakfast, not
for dinner.-Philadelphi Ledger. ~=%@
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1904-12-21
A Confession That Failed.

{ { $50 you concluded to AaIspeI the Santa
Claus myth from the mind Of your
youngest son?'
EYES," said the thoughtful citizen:
"You see, I thought that it would be
better to hurt his feelings than to
countenance deception in any FORM"
"And were his feelings hurt?'
mot at all. He looked at me pity
1ngly and said he guessed I had been
one Of the bad boys to whom Santa
Claus did not pay any attention.
Washington STAR
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1904-12-21

GOLD.
who he was, for he died centuries ago:
I know that some little girls and boys
are longing to say now:
"Oh, we're too old for that sort of
thing. We know there is no such
person as Santa Claus. Our presents
are given us by our fathers and moth
ers. We know all about it,
So far as the presents are concerned,
perhaps they are right, but when they
push dear old Santa Claus out of the
way as myth they are quite wrong
for Santa Claus was once as much
alive as any little girl or boy who
reads this.
st. Nicholas lived about the year 300
A. D., and he was a bishop of the early
Christian church in Asia Minor. The
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1904-12-21
Individuality In Gffts.

The personality Of the giver express
cd in the wrappings about the Christ
mas gift adds value to the simplest Of
fering After all, it is the spirit e
the giver rather than the gift itse.f
which gives the greatest pleasure.
The favorite ribbon, the slip of mistle-
toe, the color of the tissue paper COW
ering, the card which bears the Christ
mas greeting, all express love and we'll
wishing.
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1904-12-21

x Country Named Tor Christmas.
South Africa was discovered by the
Portuguese, who were searching for
an ocean road to India. Bartholomew
Diaz was the commander Of the two
little ships that formed the expedition
in 1886. Eleven years later Da Cana
took another Portuguese fleet south.
He discovered Natal on Christmas day
and thus named it in consequence.
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1904-12-21
TIE
miCfiefoe'S
Story

AM only sprig Of old mistletoe.
My leaves are quite Shr1veled and
dead
And my sap all dried Up such a long
That my berries they never get fed.
But Ill tell you a tale Of trick that
played
That lovesick young man and wealthy
young maid
Should contrive to get happily we'd
It was Christmas eve, and from where
l hung,
Tied up with a piece of string,
caught many a couple, both old and
young.
kissing like anything.
But fairest Of all the young people 1 saw
Was pretty Miss Eveline Marjory Daw,
Who was Al for the bride of king
Now. Marjory Daw. as you'll readily
guess,
Was admired by a dozen or more,
Each Of whom for kiss Of the hem Of
her dress
Would have given much treasure ga
lore.
But the only young man she pretended to
(To whose offer her father would never
agree)
Was a penniless fellow named Shaw.
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1904-12-21

ca. Today dear old Santa Claus may
be out Of sight, but he is undoubtedly
not out Of mind. He is probably re-
ceiving hundreds of letters daily-via
the fireplace or through the register
routes-telling of the fond hopes that
are fixed upon some especial toy, and
In the meantime, as if to bring the
thought OF this genial old saint ever
freshly to us, on the streets and in
the shops we can see men dressed like
Santa Claus.
In the midst of all this holiday t,lr-
moil how many children ever stop to
ask who Santa Claus really is, or
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1904-12-21
Gay Yuletide.
All hail the genial time of wear

All nail the gen1al time OF year
When every heart is kind,
When far and near there is good cheer.
And care Is left behind.
Old feuds forgot, old hates aside,
Now hearty clasps of hand,
While far and wide at Christmastide
Love reigns throughout the land.
Forgive, forget, truce to pride:
Healed are all friendships riffs.
At gay Yuletide on every side
We're worked" for Christmas gifts.
New York Journal.
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1904-12-21
Taking Time by the Forelock

Taking Time by the FOrelock.
Magazine 1Editor-It is time to ar
range for our Christmas stories.
Assistant-I have seen to that.
Are the authors at work."
Eyes; they dubbed together, hired 6
room in an icehouse, and I send the
Office boy round twice day to jingle
sleighbells under the window"
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1904-12-21
A Discount For Cash.

Miss Saintly-Now, children, will
give silver dollar at Christmas to ev-:
cry boy who has perfect mark in
conduct!
Billy McGinnis-Say, teacher, I'll
take quarter now n call it squared
Life.
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1904-12-21

Chr1stmas Decorations In Arizona.
Lariat Larry-Git out yer lassoes
boys. Here comes bunch of dudes
just what we need to decorate oul
Christmas tree.
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1904-12-21
Mrs. Tor1Eanp 8rixht Idea.

Mrs. ToF1aAP 0r14ht Idea.
what are you going to give your
husband for Christmas?''
= "A whole lot Of poker chips" said
young Mrs. Torkins, $50. that he can
have all he wants without having to sit
up all night tying to win them
Warrington Star.
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1904-12-21

Secure your votes on the piano at
Elmquist's Jewelry store. 37tf
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1904-12-21
Sainf "
I i
Nicholas
The Good

T this season Of the year it is
" easy to guess who it is that
"A holds the first place in tile
hoo NJ Tho obi11vo,, ,or,.;
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1904-12-21

4 Christmas Nenu, /
= D11AxIA03.
s = - Oranges. :u.1-. :, /
2 Cereal. Cream. 49,
Ham. EGHS ON Toast /
Hot Rolls PancakAs- L /.
x. ':' Coffee. fs I
:. DINNER.
ez.zzssz-1- Celery ConSomme ...s
Roast Turkey. Chicken. Rice CroqusttAs.
Sweet Potatoes. Baked Onions.
Parsnips. Egg Salad. Pickles.
Sailed Almonds 1inco Pio.
z Plum Pudding. so
20 Nuts. Candies. Raisins.
: Orange Ice. Coffee
90. BuP6ER. - 4s.-z5 5z -.
T. ~. Olives. = z1szs4
S. .z..Sr Cold Turkey. - s5.s-szz. - s
Eocaloped Oystsrs. Cold glaw
Baisin Brown Bread Cranberry Jetly.
Pineapple Ice. Assorted Cakes,
CofIoe. j,
Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1904-04-14
asenasor sIorgan's Cellar

Senator Spooner keeps very close
eye ON what he calls Senator Nor
gan's ceIlar.e He can tell more accur-
ateiy, than any other man in the senate
when the Alabaman Is getting ready
to speak and how prolonged the effort
viii be.
This s3cellars is in the depth Of Mr..
Morgan's mahogany desk. AS the lat-
ter prepares to speak he literally fills
his big desk full Of papers of many
descriptions, bearing I'd the subject IN
hand, which just now Is the Panama
canal and pending treaty. Day By day
he aceumuIates a stock of manuscript,
which is carefully stored away FOR use
When the desk II nearly fun Mr.
Epooner knows the tine for q speech
Is approaching. AS AIR. Morgan pro
ceeds le reaches down into the cellar
and brings out package after package
When the last comes to view Mr.
Spooner knows that the cellar II *
hausted aud that Dir. Morgaa's speecl
IL near confusion. ~ ashingtoz
Post.
Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1904-04-14

Yaka. which are the bests Of burden
In Tibet, are very sure-footed, and a
good one win carry load of over 200
pounds safely along the steepest nill-
side. They can exist on the scantiest
grass, but grain food suits them for a
few days only. Eight miles day is
good average work A recent traveller
tried leather boots for his yaks, with
out success. Tame yaks are white,
black. gray and brown and all inter-
mediate gradations Of these colors.
The wild gak is invariably black, and
in early spring his winter coat almost
sweeps the ground AT such seasons
wild and tame are almost indistin-
gnishable and a story is told OF big
game hunter In Tibet who shot his
own baggage animals by mistake.
Captain Stanley Flower writes from
the Geological gardens at Gizi, Egypt,
that the three specimens OF the curl
Gus .'shoe-bill' or whole headed stork
received from the White Nile in 1902
are still In good health and condition
In the Gizi gardens. No living exam
pie OF this rare bird has reached Eng.
land since the arrival Of Mr., Pether-
ick's original specimens In 1860.