davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Minneapolis journal., 1905-11-06
HE DESERVED SPANKING.

IA RS. JOHN P. NEWMAN, Bishop Newman's widow who
IVA proposes to found kindergarten in Jerusalem, has
great affection for children great Of chldrens
anecdotes;
Anent an embarrassing situation, she said day:
This reminds Of dinner that Denver gave
during a Methodist convention in her city.
The dinner sumptuous The leading lights of the
church and Of the state there presiding elder
taking drink Of water, broke a glass.
1.-THE hostess began the elder that the accident
Of consequence, but her welmoduated voice
easily overpowered by the loud shout Of her little
{. .Oh, mama he cried, it's Of the borrowed ones,
isn't it9,"
Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930, 1905-12-21
THE UP-TO-DATE SANTA CLAUS

Once more 1t was Christmas and old Santa
Claus,
With his white whiskers dangling around
his fat jaws.
Gave his engine a start, and then. laden
with zeal
And with gifts, started off in his automo-
bile
He fitted past corners and whlzzed up the
lanes,
He ran over dogs and he smashed into
trains;
He came with zipp and he passed like
flash;
He scared peoples teams and knocked bug
gies to smash;
He ran over chickens and knocked chin
neys down,
And spread CONSERVATION all over the town.
The odor OF gasoline foated behind
Where he hurried II on the wings Of
the wind;
He crippled old people and stayed not TO
see
How badly they Jared or learn whom they
might be-
The children who watched for his coming
he crushed
Beneath his broad tires. as onward he
rushed
He scattered his gifts while he sped
through the night,
Content to permit them to fall where they
might.
The wrecks and the sorrow and suffering
showed
The course that he took with his glittering
load,
And, having gone home with his glad du-
ties done,
He murmured ~ guess I've the records
all won:
When they see where I've passed I don't
think that they'll walt
Very long to admit that I'm right up-to-
dater
Il. E. Kiser, in Chicago Record Herald
Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930, 1905-12-21

figure spreads out his hands and says:
THE little ones will be better next
year." Then he takes one of the rods
from the black visitor and drives him
out. The visitors play on the instru-
ments they have brought, and the whole
family sing Christmas hymns. The an
gel;c visitor then empties his basket on
the table, and leaves there a great num-
Der of iced cakes, gilded nuts, ginger
bread horses, and wooden toys, and then
departs. The mother tells the children
to be good all the year, lest the rod
should really be left for them on the
next Christmas, and all have supper and
go to bed.
Christmas day is happy one for
most children all over the Christian
world, and 1 hope that because this is
so they will remember that this day is
kept because eighteen hundred and eigh-
ty-one years ago Jesus, who said Suffer
little children, and forbid them not, to
come unto me, for Of such is the king
dom of heaven" was first a babe in his
mothers arms.-Mary Kyle Dallas in
the New York Ledger.
Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930, 1905-12-21
CHRISTMAS EVE IN BETHLEHEM
Observances in the Christian Town Set
in the Heart of Moham mechanism.

III TIC OF uOnam IN eQani6m.
Bethlehem, the central spot of interest
IN the Holy Land at Christmastide, is .
Christian town set in the heart of Mo
hammedanism, where once year the
Greek church grants the use of the grot-
to of the Nativity to the Latin church,
says London Sphere. The ceremonies be-
gin on Dec. 81 by the image of the
youthful Christ being carried from the
oasillca OF St Helena to the sacred
grotto or the Nativity, where the tradi-
lIonaI spot of ChriSt's birth is marked by
silver star set i'll the rocky pavement.
Inc service begins at 10 o'clock In the
evening. 1t opens with the chanting Of
psalms without any musical accountant
ment. The patriarch of Jerusalem usu-
any ofiiciateS in the grotto. but on thi,
OCCASION ne Is represented by the Latin
plshop. The interior of the church is
most picturesque, for there are only a
lew chairs provided for foreign visitors.
"hlle the bulk of the congregation Is
made up of the Bethlemite women in
their blue dresses with red frontlets.
wearing peaked caps when married and
nat caps covered by white wells when
single
AS they enter the church they at first
kneel down and then sit upon the ground
IN true oriental fashion. I'm the dimly
lighted church." says one who has seen
the service, these squatting varicOlored
nGures, with their beautiful faces lit I'D
by hts and starts by flashes of the can
dies, intent on devotion seem like so
many modern Madonnas come to cele-
brate the glory of the first Madonna"
Precisely at midnight the pontificaI
high mass is celebrated, the figure of
Christ is brought in basket and depos-
tied upon the high altar. and the process
sion forms to accompany it to the crypt
As the long, chanting procession winds
through the dimly lighted church there
IS something weirdly solemn about the
ceremony, and as the sacred image
passes various acts of worship are per-
formed by the devOut attendants. On
the procession moves through the rough
hewn, dimly lit passages from the Latin
church to the grOtto Of the Nativity.
When the procession of richly robed
ecclesiaStics reaches the silver star set
IN the pavement the priests pause and
stand i'll group about the basket, which
is deposited upon the star Around this
star is the inscription, "Hic de virgine
natus est c'Here he was born of a
virgin''), for this is the spot upon which
tradition places the actual birth of Je-
sus. There the impressive narrative OF
the birth of Jesus as found in the gospels
is slowly recited, and when the pas
sage duke H., =, And she brought
forth her frstborn Son and wrapped
him in swaddling clothes and laid him in
a manger, because there was no room
for them in the inn," is read the figure
is reverently picked up from the star and
carried over to the opposite side of the
grotto, where it is put into a rock cut
manager. This concludes the service.
Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930, 1905-12-21
MAKING CHRISTMAS TOYS.
Thriving Industry in Germany, France
and Switzerland.

and Switzerland.
In parts of Germany, France and
Switzerland every humble householder
takes more interest in Christmas than
the average American boy. This seems
Ike n strong statement, for Christmas is
pretty thoroughly appreciated by the
young of America. But, great as the
festival is to them, It is not essential to
their existence. They could get along
without Christmas, but the toymakers
in Switzerland, the Tyrol and south Ger
many would starve without this midwin-
fer holiday which makes a market for
their goods. There are wood carvers,
doll dressers and toymakers in every
hamlet and home of the Tyrol. They
depend upon the small wages they make
from these toys to put bread and butter
in their mouths.
All through the winter season every
boy and man carves out wood animals
and toys for the factories. Everything
is handmade. a Noah's ark of twenty
or thirty wooden animals that retails
for Il quarter in this country does not
pay the carver more than a few pennies.
The boys are taught to handle the
knife early, and they learn to cut out
wooden ducks, hens, horses, COWS and
other toys before they have reached their
teens. Working all through the early
winter days and nights in their little
homes, they make the wooden toys that
delight so many children throughout the
world.-New York Mail and Express.
Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930, 1905-12-21

other in black, with 4 bunch of rods.
God bless you ALL" says the figure
in white. Are there any good children
here?'
Are there any bad children here?'
asks the black figure
MY children are all pretty good"
the mother answers.
II am glad to hear it," says the white
visitor. Il have gifts here for good chill
dren.'
stop" the black figure cries; "they
are not good. Hans struck his brother
yesterday. Gretchen does not know her
catechism, and Petra broke piece from
the Sunday cake as it sat to cool on the
window sill. l will leave rods to whip
them with"
The children begin to cry The white
Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930, 1905-12-21
away, he stumbled down the narrow
! stairs toward home and Elspeth.

away, he stumbled down the narrow
stairs toward home and Elspeth.
Not far from the tower stood a man
sion, where a great throng had assem-
bed to watch the old year out and the
new year in. Silken draperies rustled
jewels cleaned, music rippled on the
perfumed air, and happy voices rang
sweet and high. But every sound was
slieDced, and bright eyes grew dim in
the flood of melody which suddenly
poured about the gay throng. They
crowded toward the music room, trying
to catch glimpse of the player. Those
who were near saw a, slender man, with
falr curling hair brushed back from a
brow as pure as a woman's Quietly he
sat before the grand piano, playing with
out the slightest effort such masterfuI
music as had hushed the listeners to
awe-struck silence.
"Who is hep was the question passed
from one to another.
He is a friend of fathers" the
hostess told them. Father met him
abroad some years ago, and by helping
MN IN search for some missing friends,
won his heart. Father invited him here
for the holidays this year. but he de-
clined the invitation, then this evening
suddenly and Unexpectedly appeared.
These great musicians are always eccen-
trio, you know. l heard him tell father
that this is an anniversary he does not
like to spend alone.
At eleven o'clock the hostess seated
her guests in a circle, saying, Now we
will turn down the lights and tell ghost
stories till midnight" The young people
fell in with the spirit of fun, and ghosts
walked, hobgobblins shrieked and ghouls
moaned, till the more timid begged for
mercy.
1t was almost twelve o'clock when
new voice suddenly broke into a moment
airy pause. Everyone looked up to see
the musician standing in. the door.
''My friends" be said, "my story is
not of the spirits of the unseen world
it is of lad who once, on a night like
this, left home and friends and went
out into the wide world, with Music as
the priestess who presided at the altar,
where burned the fires of his ambition.
Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930, 1905-12-21
THE CHRISTMAS TREE
according to Tommy

The trees In our orchard and down by the
well
In summer time give US our cider and
jell;
The apples and peaches, the ounces and
The plums can pick from my window up,
stairs,
All grow in the summer; and oh! it's a
treat
To have all the nice Juicy fruit you can
eat
But none Of the summer stuff satisfies me
Like that which we pick from the Christ
mas treel
The fruit Of the summer Is good in It's
With stone-bruisy feet and with tan on
- your face
It's fine to. climb up where the robbins
nice yellow apple ali mellow and round.
And take IL away from the robber SO bold
While he and his mate fly around you and
scold.
It's fun at the time, but It never could be
As nice as the fun Of the Christmas tree.
One time / remember my bad cousin Jim
Dared Charley and me to climb out On
limb
No bigger than one Of my thumbs; and l
did
Cause Jimmy was calling me "sissy-boy
kid"
Aue llnU-Well, you re certain WudL Hdp-
pened, guess.
And Jim got a whipping; cause big sister
Bess
Told Jim's pa and ma what happened to
me
never fell out Of a Christmas tree.
The Christmas tree grows in a night, and
1t bears
Things lots and lots nicer than apples and
I've seen on It's branches doll-babies and
And steam-cars and soldiers and big sugar
plums;
I've gathered new mittens and picture
books, too,
Right off from the bent-over twig where
they grew,
And candles grow lighted there, so you can
Fore daylight the things on the Christmas
Sometimes in the parlor, sometimes in the
Sometimes in the dining-room-be place
The Christmas-tree grows with its wonder
full fruit,
And sometimes 1t has a plne-bo1 for a
root!
The funny thing is that oftentimes find
Right there what for weeks 1 had had on
my mind,
And always, on Christmas, who wants to
Had better look under the Christmas-tree.
Strickland w. Gillian, in Leslies Week
".
Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930, 1905-12-21
"see. Jack. what uncle b,oupb. me-.

"See, Jack. what uncle brought me-
cried Ethel, holding out for his inspec-
ton beautiful necklace of delicate pink
coral carved with wonderful skill by
some artist of the distant Orient. The
chain was formed by stringing together
pieces of coral as big as Ethels thumb
nail. Each piece was carved in the like
ness of beautiful classic faces. half OF
which were laughing and the other half
crying. These two faces were so like
the sensations the children had endured
during the last hour that Ethel noticed
1t, and when she held up the chain and
explained the resemblance Uncle Jack
laughed more heartily than any one else.
Philadelphia Public Ledger
Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930, 1905-12-21

| ~ HRISTMAS tide has come again
and all the little children are
thinking about Santa Glaze, and
some are wondering if he will
come to their house this time.
There is hardly any reason for any child
TO believe that he will not come. A
good many things change in this world,
but on Christmas Eve merry old Santa
Claus is always heard of-his hair as
white, his nose as red, as ever; his bag
of toys just as full; his cry down the
chimney Of amy good children here?"
just as loud.
Santa Claus, and a very good name,
too; and stockings are not the only things
that hold toys. Little German peasant
children often set their wooden shoes
on the hearth on Christmas eve, pretty
sure of a cake and a toy; for children,
however poor their parents may be, are
made much Of in Germany. And in some
places in Europe curious thing hap
pens. The mother, the father and the
rest of the family sit about the fire to-
gether on Christmas eve.
All the room is tidy. The children.
half hopeful, half terrified, draw close
to mother, father, or grandmothers, as
they hear a sound of trumpets or horns
outside. Then the mother says: "What
can this be-" and opens the door, As
she does so, number of very strange
looking figures come in--amongst them
one person dressed in white, with wings,
and great basket in his hand, and an
Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930, 1905-12-21
New York Mail and Express.

Shipwreck, a weary sickness and deliv-
erance a miscarried letter returned to
its writer long afterward-all these came
to the lad, and when at last, overcome
by the deadly 'heimweh.' he turned to-
ward his home, he found it empty-the
loved ones gone. The years have passed
and the lad is a man, but the father and
the mother he has not found, nor does
he expect to greet them again until the
New Year of heaven dawns for him, as
he believes it has already dawned for
them So, when the midnight comes /
play each New Years Eve as las the
lad played on that last night long ago
my message to my dear ones"
The clock on the mantel warned for
twelve, and the musician turned to the
piano and played again simply and low
ingly Pleyel's hymn, singing as in the
long ago the beautiful words his mother
loved.
As the last note died away in the quiet
room the tower clock began to strike,
but was drowned by the music of the
chimes. A thrill ran through the hushed
circle as they recognized the strain they
had Just heard, but the musician arose
with a mighty cry, "Mein Vaterw and
ran out into the night, guided by the
music of the bells.
When the old bell-ringer shut the door
he could not see, for the tears that blind
ed him, the hurrying figure on the pave
ment. A moment later he was gathered
close to the heart that yearned for him,
and together, in the opening of the glad
New Year, they went out from til
shadow of the old bell tower, home to
Elspeth, whose mother-heart came near
to bursting, with the joy of a sons home
coming.-The Housekeeper.
Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930, 1905-12-21
Individuality in Gifts.

The personality of the giver expressed
in the wrappings about the Christmas
gift adds value to the simplest Offering.
After all, it is the spirit Of the giver
rather than the gift itself which gives
the greatest pleasure. The favorte rib
bon, the slip of mistletoe, the color of
the tissue paper covering. the card which
bears the Christmas greeting, all express
love and well-wishing.
Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930, 1905-12-21

may be fabricated from baseball bat
and two cigar boxes. Shellac the boxes
and sandpaper the bat. An ordinary
cobblestone hand painted with lampblack
and household ammonia makes an excel
lent door weight. A novel pipe rack for
fastidious smokers may be made from
small strip of one-inch plank. Bore holes
in it for the stems of the pipes to pass
through. A dried muskmelon shell makes
an attractive tobacco jar.
Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930, 1905-12-21
New Years I'm France,

New Years in France is a greater
day for exchanging gifts than Christmas.
The custom of New Years calls, once
so popular in this country, but now fallen
almost into disuse. is still supreme in
Paris. Great family dinners, in which
the orange figures most prominently, add
to the gayety of the day. So crowded
are the pavements ON the boulevards
that pedestrians sometimes have to take
the middle of the street.
Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930, 1905-12-21
Christmas Hints,

A simple and tasteful homemade pic
ture frame may be constructed from
common gas pipe cut into suitable length
and tied together at the corners with
shoe strings. A neat paper weight may
be made by wrapping half a brick in
paper such as butchers use and tying it
with red tape. A dainty towel rack
Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930, 1905-12-21
A Youthful Schemer

Little Emerson-You don't believe Ia
any such ridiculous myth as Santa
Claus?
Tough Jimmy-Naw! I'm next to
dat game. All de same, it's a good
graft to let on you believe In him an
git all dat's comm to you
Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930, 1905-12-21
Christmas a Lucky Birthday.

There is an old superstition that to be
born on Christmas day is to be lucky
all ones life, and in Silesia there is a
belief that a boy born on Christmas
day must be brought up a lawyer or he
will become a thief
Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930, 1905-12-21
DevOnshire's YuIe Log,

In Devonshire the Yulc log is known
as the Ashton fagot. The fagot is COM
posed of bundle of ash sticks bound
with nine bands of the same wood.
Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930, 1905-12-21
Uncle Jacks Gift
~ XIV 80 $5M1&
By Helen Watson Beck.
"ONN0N~oNN

. REAKFAST was usually a very
peaceful meal in the Irwin house
hold, but on Christmas morning
~ the children chartered together so
hard that noOr Mrs. Irwin WAS
Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930, 1905-12-21
The Message
of the Bells
,j.~ RsNz% $Es&<H GM
NsS9Ss,S Ce5$SgsESs
~NNN%NN%~N

- UN clouds scudded gustily across
oE the sky, hiding the peaceful face
sOf the moon, whose radiance
touched the edges of her somber
49, raiI with frinro Of cilunr Tho
The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1905-07-29
uu,ton Demand Growing.

During the last decade a most re-
markable growth in the demand for
mutton has taken place in the United
States and England. The demand Tor
wool is also increasing and values rls-
ing. On the other hand, the world
SIMPLY of sheep is decreasing. owing
to long droughts, both Australia ana
South America are short, while in TINS
country the range territory is being
rapidly restricted, and it's ability 10
supply mutton and wool is uneoual 10
the demand.
Henceforth Americana depend more
and more upon it's farming sections for
sheen which. if well bred and we'll
cared for, will prove especially pront.
able to the small farmer as means Oh
increased income and soil fertility
The success attending the efforts o.
The Chicago market to induce the
farmers of Illinois, Michigan. Indiana
Ohio and surrounding states to avail
themselves of the profits of sheep iced
ing. and evidenced by the growth o
The business at this point, has proVes
moth popular and profitable.-Buhetii
American Shropshire Association.
The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1905-07-29
TO MAKE WASHING EASY.
Kerosene a Cleanser That Does Away
with the Hard Rubbing Often
Imposed on the Worker.

A reader sends us the following
method of doing the washing: Al
night put all the white clothes TO
soak IN clear. soft water. The next
morning. rub them lightly through
the water in which they have been
soaked, with the addition of half
bar of soap. which has been sliced
into water and heated until dissolved,
to each tub of water. Put on the
boiler two-thirds full of water and
prepare as for boiling, the usual way,
with soap or washing powder. Take
about a quart of the soapy water and
nut it where it will boil up and as
soon as it boils, add to it two table,
spoonfuls of coal oil, and stir 1t thor
oughly. pouring the mixture into the
boiler of water and stirring 1t well.
Into this, put the cleanest clothes,
LET boil 10 to Is minutes, take out and
nut in another lot OF clothes, let boil
as before. If more water is needed, MI
with soft water and little more soap
The clothes will need but little rub
bling, and will rinse out clean and
white. and may be blued and hung IN
the sunshine; reheat the boiled water
and. if more soap is needed, adding
1t to the water, in which the coloree
clothes will wash out, nice and clear
with but little rubbing.-The Com
moner.
The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1905-07-29
JAMMED HIS CRAZY BONE.
And the Graceful Manner in Which
He Passed It Over Was
Inspiring.

The good-natured man was busily work
ing in the Office of the oil company with
tai, slender Venus standing beside him
drinking in his honeyed words or wisdom,
relates the Worcester Post. At his ex-
IRENE left was a set of shallow drawers:
The Office boy inadvertently left one OF
them open, and the big man jammed his
crazy bone on the knee, called scientificai-
ly the patella, believe, and the CONVEX,
sation in which he was engaged sounded
about as follows: you all observe,
please, Miss Smith, in making record
Of this transaction that-blankety blank.
Who the -. left that drawer openy'
Miss Smith, in the anguish of sympathy,
said: "Why, Mr.. Brown, you aren't hurt,
are you?" The innocent inquiry evoked
the profoundest irony from the other.
whose knee still felt the jar Of the contact
with the drawer.
20. no! l wasn't hurt. To smash one =
knee against hard substance is merely
a pleasure, and often take hammer and
pound the kneecap for the delicious sensa-
ton that it excites." The girl burst into
tears and had to take an afternoon on to
recover from the effect of the sarcasm Of
her friend.
The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1905-07-29
SWORN OFF ON PEANUTS.
The Henpecked Man Arouses the
Suspicion Of His Better-Hah
by Eating Them.

81 am very fond Of peanuts" said the
henpecked man, according to the Philadel-
phia Record, but I've had TO give them
up. No, not on account of my health.
You see, my wife acted so foolish about It
that | cut out the peanut habit simply to
keep peace in the family. l frequently
used to buy a bag to take home IN the
evening, and generally ate few on the
way. Well, the other evening my VIE,
who has most suspicious nature, sneered
at me when / reached home. Been eat
ing peanuts again, have you?" she re-
marked. Why. yes. my dear, l said,
pulling the bag from my pocket. flne
thing to sober up on, EN-? she continued.
/ cazed at her in blank amazement. 'Oh,
YOU needn't play innocent, she went on
L know all about it.. How many drinks
have you had today My dear, | ex'
postulated, I don't know what You mean
/ have had nothing to drink. Don't tel
me- she exclaimed. I've found you, ou'
at last And with that she flashed or
me some foolish newspaper clipping to tne
effect that after inbibing too freely feW
peanuts have q wonderful effect IN sober
ing a person up. Of course, all argu
meut and denial would be futile; rather
than that have given up peanuts.