davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-12-23

and are alone today. and am going
to set another plate for you. We dine
at half past -
But he began.
.I'n take no butts " she interrupted
authoritatively, and she was a girl ac-
customed to having her own way. q
VIII not listen to. any refusal. You must
come Then she added pleadinglys
You will come. won't you2'
Before he knew what he was doing he
had stammered his thanks and accept
ed her invitation. When she had left
the store his gayety seemed greatly in
creased, and for the little waits the
dinner turned out even more gloriously
than it had promised. To them it was
indeed a Christmas such as they had
not before dared to dream Of
But it was not their last Christmas in
high life. The following year they were
invited to have their Christmas DIM
ner in the coy little fiat uptown with
a certain Mr.. and Mrs. Morgan. with
whom they appeared to be on wonder
fully good terms.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-12-23

Here's Jones' place" said the boy.
"but it's closed today.
Yes, but Jones lives upstairs, doesn't
hep said Morgan, who really knew the
district well.
Sure he does"
Then wen ring him up" and Morgan
applied himself to the bell. In the
meantime the little boy was wondering
why his expected nickel hadn't appear
ed, but refrained from asking for it to
the last moment.
Presently Jones opened the door. look
ing greasy aud unkempt
well, Mr.. Jones' said Morgan,
there's a little boy who wants a new
suit of clothes Don't you think you
could open up and sell it to him?"
''W-wha-what?" exclaimed the rag
amufan.
you see," explained Morgan. ''you
are going to have your Christmas din
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-12-23

thusiasm. and it was not many min
utes until he stood before his benefactor
thoroughly transformed. For the first
time in his life he had new shoes and
new clothes from his socks to his cap.
Having paid the tailor. Morgan took
his little friend by the hand and started
toward the street, but he suddenly
paused.
by the way. JONES'" he explained. 81
may want to do little more buying
here this forenoon. Do you mind if I
ring you up again.
Certainly not. sir: certainly not.
said Jones. willing to do anything to
oblige so excellent a customer.
"Now. Bud, tell me about Maggie and
Jack. Where are they going to have
their Christmas dinner?"
They're going to have it with their
mother when she gifts home
AT noon?"
ooh. I guess they're just going to wait
the same as I was going to do"
Where are they now?"
They're in der mothers room. and
Mrs. Munsey across the hall is keeping
an eye on them"
do you think we could get them to
come with US for dinner?"
do I think it? Gee. sure they'd
comet"
'Weu, let US go and get them"
| Presently Morgan was climbing the
dark stairway to the top floor of the
vile smelling. closely crowded tenement,
with Bud preceding him two steps at a
time.
Hey. Mag and Jack, what dyer think
Here's a gentleman as wants US to have
dinner wild him. And look at the moo
clo'es he's got for mel"
CHANGING about the room Morgan saw
that it was clean, though poverty
stricken, and the children were well
washed, though their clothes showed
evidence of much mending. They did
not require so thorough an overhauling
as their friend Bud; but, still, they
needed much to make their Christmas
day what it should be. Morgan found
little difficulty in winning their conf
dence. having so eloquent an advocate
as Bud, and as Mrs. Munsey looked in
he explained his purpose.
"Sure intended taking them over
myself at noon, but it's poor we are
am sure their mother will be thankful
to you for giving them a treat
Having made these arrangements
Morgan returned with his little crowd
to Jones and REINFORCED their cloth
ing with a warm coat for Jack and a
cape for Maggie. He then took them tc
a quiet little restaurant that he knew
To their imaginations it was a wonder
ful place, and he was too wise in the
ways of the poor to take them to any
place where their surroundings might
make them uncomfortable or where
they would attract the notice of the
other guests. The little restaurant was
in the rear of deIicatessen store and
was patronized only by the poorer
classes. The food, however, was plen-
tiful and wholesome. and entering fully
into the spirit of the occasion Morgan
placed his guests at a table and dis
cussed with them with much serious
ness every item on the bill Of fare. By
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-12-23

children everywhere in the streets, but
all of them had something to gladden.
their hearts. It might be only a little
rag doll or a penny's worth of candy,
but still it was something.
This man knew the city too we'll, how
ever to be deceived by appearances.
His boyhood had been spent in just
such a street. and he knew that some
where such boy as he was in quest of
could be found. With an alert eye he
glanced down alleyways and among the
garbage barrels until finally. in the
doorway Of a tunnbledown house, he
found the boy he was seeking.
A pathetic little figure with fearful
eyes was budding out of the reach of
the biting wind. With the skill of a
diplomatist Morgan proceeded with his
mission. He stopped in front of the
doorway and looked up and down the
street several times as if searching for
something. He then gave utterance to
an exclamation of annoyance, which
caused the little boy to look up at him
inquiringly.
Can you tell me where William Jones
clothing store is %
Instantly the boy frightened. Here
was an opportunity to earn a nickel
and he was at the side of his possible
benefactor in an instant.
It's just down de street. I kin show
you where it is"
Il wish you would, my little man..
and he started to walk in the direction
indicated. with the little boy at his side,
After a carefully timed pause, which
gave his guide an opportunity to look
him over with the keen sagacity Of a
street urchin, he asked:
did Santa Claus come to see you
last night?"
Nav" retorted the little arab with
an expression of defiance that only
thinly yelled his disappointment.
But you are going to have Christ
mas dinner, are you not?"
"Oh. yes replied the little man
cheerfully. Mrs. Dugan asked me tc
wait up for her. She does cleaning an6
dishwashing in one of the big houses
uptown, and they always gives he1
something OATS left over at dinner
She's asked me to come and have a bite
wild her and wild Maggie and Jack wher
she gifts home"
But haven't you any folks Of your
own?"
YES; I've got dad. but he's too drunk
to care for what as happens to me, anc
don't spect he'll git over it for two o.
three days
The case was so like that of his owr
youth that Morgan felt a lump rising il
his throat. A child always knows wher
he is being sympathized with truly ant
the little street arab was as comfortabl,
with his new friend as if he had known
/ him all his life.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-12-23

that the others are to guess. For in
stance. he may say 81 think of word
that begins with CAL" AS fast as
one of the players thinks of a word be-
ginning with those letters he calls it
out for approval. There is no method
in the group of guessers as to the order
in which they speak, SO that whenever
two people hit upon the right word at
the same time, both receive credit for it.
The difficulty and interest of the
game are much increased by placing a
limit upon the number of letters which
the word shall contain No proper
names or words not likely to be known
by the average person are allowed to be
used, but it is often the very simple
ones that prove most puzzling-for
instance, a bright lot of children were
long time guessing that b-e-a- was
meant for beau.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-12-23

Two boys in the Sunday school, who
stood at the head of the class, were in
variably asked the same questions
which were: who made you?" and "To
what do you return?" To which the
first boy always replied: God made
me-" and the second boy answered:
Dust of the earth"
On this occasion the first boy was alb
sent, so the first question, who made
you?" was addressed to the second
boy.
.Dust of the earth" he replied.
quite wrong, Tommy. God made
YOU" said the teacher Indignantly.
mo, teacher, the boy as God made
has gone home with the stomach ache. .
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-12-23

eat, then the cook thinks he ought to
have his wages raised.
If you We're in England this Christ
mas time you would hear people talk
ing about boxing day" and you would
know no more than did what it
meant. Again, the British boxing
day custom is one so old that no
body knows how or when it started.
Boxing day is the one after Christ
mas. and on that day people are ex-
pected to give gifts to everybody who
serves them in any way, and to many
who do not. Postmen, grocery boys.
messenger boys. milk boys and butcher,
baker and candlestick maker expect
something. Generally these persons re-
ceive and expect gifts Of money, but a
long time ago. before money was in
common use, presents Of various arti-
cles were put into boxes and handed
out to the expectant individuals
If the day after Christmas comes on a
Sunday. then Monday is boxing day
You can't get away from it anyhow.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-12-23
SANTA CLAUS PUZZLED

AT Christmastide. when far and wide
The bells made merry blare,
And soft and light,
Like lilies white,
The snowfakes filed the air
Old Santa Clans, with many a pause,
Was driving through the town,
With gifts untold
For young and old
His great sleigh loaded down.
Lets see" he said. that hats for Ted,
That coat for Willie Dean,
That wooden shawl
For Mrs. Ball.
That cloak for pretty Jean.
'sThat four wheeled cart for Jimmy
Hart.
The little chap that's lame;
That blue eyed doll
With haxen poll
Why, that's for-what's her name?"
Twas all in vain he racked his brain
You nameIess little elf.
I'm much afraid
That l. he said,
Must keep the doll myself
Just as he spoke our baby woke
Twas that same day she came.
Aha he cries,
With twinkling eyes,
Here's little what's her namel' {"
M. B. s.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-12-23

Mr. Austen Chamberlain's favorite
hobby is amateur farming He has at
Highbury Cat his fathers country resi-
dence, for the same house serves for IA
Their and SOM a little farm separated
from the garden only by a high wall.
He has stocked on this farm some of
the choicest cattle to be found in Eng
land, in particular herd of Jerseys
which he obtained originally from Lord
Rothschfd. His model farm supplies
the home with the best quality Of milk
and butter.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-12-23

ner with me at a restaurant. and I
think you would feel better if you
dressed up before you went. What do
you think?'
What the little fellow thought was
not of the things that could be told in
words. and Jones. seeing a prospect of
a sale, opened his shop without urg-
ing. Picking from the goods displayed
a complete outfit of warm clothing,
Morgan asked if they could not get a
basin of water and towel in a back
room so that their little friend could
dress up. After some difficulty these
necessaries and a dry, well seasoned
piece of soap were. produced. For the
first time within his memory Bud Les
ter, for he had by this time confessed
his name, approached water with en-
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-12-23
A NEW CHRISTMAS PARTY.

A topsy turvy party is a splendid
thing to have at Christmas time.
Everything must be done contrary to
what you would do at any other time.
By the exercise of little ingenuity you
can arrange many ways Of making fun.
An ordinary party usually ends with a
supper. at the topsy turvy affair you
offer your guests refreshments imme-
diately after they have laid aside their
wraps. This will. of course. surprise
them. The next thing is to have the
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-12-23

father as sober. If any one had been
kind to him then life might have been
different Suddenly he was stung by a
thought, and, springing from the sofa
where he was lying, he walked several
times excitedly from end to end Of his
bachelor apartment
III do it." he finally exclaimed. @By
thunder, I'll do it"
Taking up his overcoat, he began to
put it on when his eyes suddenly fell on
the clock. and he stopped with a laugh
It was already after 1 o'clock on Christ
mas morning. and. of course. he could
not carry out his purpose. Throwing
aside his coat, he resumed his walking.
but with a happier expression on his
countenance and a lighter feeling at his
heart than he had known for many a
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-12-23

II r you We're in Great Britain this
Christmas you would discover
some customs quite different from
ours in America. For centuries.
how many nobody knows exactly, men
and boys in English villages have gone
from house to house about u o'clock,
Dec q, and sung Christmas carols OF
songs. They mostly expect you to put
your head out Of door or window and
give them some money for their music
If you don't want to do this. then you
keep your house all dark and make no
sign Of life or sound, as if you are
asleep or away from home. But, in
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-12-23

H Nll6A Du5g Win +AAs
work he. found <solace for his loneliness
in the successful pursuit of money, but
when every one was resting he was
forced to rest also. and that made him
a prey to his thoughts.
AS a fruit broker and manager Of a
cold storage plant he had amassed
considerable fortune. He knew his
business from the bottom up, having
begun life selling bananas from bas-
ket in the streets of the city. Inch by
inch he progressed with that steady
thrift peculiar to a certain strain Of
Americans, and his thrift was vitahzed
by a spirit of enterprise Each little
business triumph had enabled him to
plan a greater until he finally found
himself at the head of the business.
Though he met many men, he was not
one to accumulate friends, and, as for
women. they had no part in his life.
And vet this is hardly true. One wo-
man there was whose memory was
cherished in the secret reeesses Of his
heart. A chance acquaintanceship had
developed on his part to love, but being
unused to the graces of social inter
course. and having the reputation of
being a hard and grasping man, he had
made but little progress. With the pre-
cipitation of a business man he had
proposed marriage before she had even
learned to regard him as a friend, and
when he was refused had returned to
his work with a desperate energy that
made the thousands grow beneath his
hand.
But on Christmas eve his success had
little value Not even his books, for he
had educated himself, could yield him
solace, and the sound Of merrymaking
on the streets but added to his dejec-
ton.
In all the great city there was not one
who had thought for him. 1t is true
that ne had given each of his employees
a Christmas turkey, but that was mere
" a piece of business-no feeling went
with it any more than with the payment
of ordinary wages.
But he could reproach no one. If
others had no thought for him, for
whom did he have a thought? At this
question the quiet face of Ethel Dan
gerfeld rose for a moment in his mem
DRY, but the vision was quickly brushed
aside In his gloomy introspection he
plunged further back in his life, to the
time when he was a lonely boy in the
cold and heartless city and there was
no Christmas for him. He could not re
member his mother as living, or his
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-12-23

smallest Christmas tree you can get
fastened to the ceiling upside down.
On the floor a number of packages
should be laid carefully wrapped and
tied with ribbon. under which you
should stick spray of holly. The
packages are all numbered, even num-
bers for the girls and odd ones for the
boys. Corresponding numbers are
written on slips of paper and put into
two hats, one for the girls and one for
the boys. Each guest is then asked to
draw a number out of the hats. In all
the packages the topsy turvy idea must
be carried out. In those with even
numbers you put toys or other things
that boys like. The older the girls the
simpler the articles should be. such as
tin soldiers, jumping jacks, woody dogs,
etc. In those intended for the boys you
should put tiny dolls, toy dishes and
the like.
The next thing in this topsy turvy
party is to have some one enter the
room dressed as Santa Claus with an
empty basket on his arm. but instead
of giving each person a present he
must demand one. Later in the even
ing the guests play a game. of forfeits.
when they have a chance OF getting
back their sif.-
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-12-23


self that she was not dreaming her
eyeJashes became wet with tears. Nov
ing quietly over to the group. she laid
her hand on Morgan's arm. He looked
up quickly, then stood up awkwardly
like a boy caught in mischief.
Miss Dangerfeld,' he stammered, Il
hardly expected to see you here
Nor you she replied. But there
are some poor people here in this neigh
borhood that I am interested in, and I
just ran down to see if they had every
thing pleasant for their Christmas. I
found that they were in need, and I
came here to buy something for them.
But you?"
1.-THE fact is" he stammered, 81 was
feeling lonely and did not have any
where to go for Christmas dinner, so
I just thought I'd do something fool
ish and hunted up these waits and
strays, and, well. we are here and hav-
ing a glorious time"
'I can see that you are" she said
gently to this strong, successful man
whom she saw in a light hitherto IN
dreamed of.
But she added. Il cannot think of
you not having any place to go for
Christmas dinner. Father and mother
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-12-23

In some parts Of Russia a queer geraa
is stin played which has much to do
with the future lives of the participants.
Some prominent person in the village
announces that the annual merrymak-
ing will be held at his house. On the
appointed day the young men and wo-
men hasten in huge excitement to the
meeting place.
There are songs and games and
dances, but they are simply a prelude
to the more important business of the
day.
When the time comes the hostess
leads all the girls into one room, where
they seat themselves on the benches.
Laughing and chattering. they are each
promptly muffied in sheets by the hos
tess. The head and hair and figure are
! completely covered, and when this is
done the girls resemble mummies.
The young men draw lots, and one by
one they enter the room where the NUT
fed girls sit. Helpless so far as sight
or touch goes. the puzzled lover tries
to find his favorite Maybe she would
help him if her eyes were not hidden.
but she is as helpless as he Finally he
chooses one. and then he may unve.l
her. This is the critical moment, ana
disappointment or rapture viii be the
result of seeing her face
It is the law and custom that the
man shall marry the girl he has picked
out. and if either backs out a heavy for
felt must be paid It is said that this
matrimonial lottery is productive OF
many happy marriages.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-12-23

day. At length he repaired to his little
bedroom for the night where he slept
with an easy conscience.
On the following morning, when the
children of all the world were rejoicing
with their toys and reveling in the good
cheer of Christmas, George Morgan,
the wealthy fruit broker. came down
town from his apartments and picked
his way carefully into one of the worst
slums. There were dirty and ragged
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-12-23

tactfuI questions he learned of the lux
uries they most longed for and saw to
it that they lacked for nothing. Little
by little he learned from them their
stories and became so absorbed that
he did not notice a quietly dressed lady
who had entered to make some pur-
ehases and while waiting to be served
had noticed the happy group in the
restaurant She could hardly believe
her eyes. but when she had assured her
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-12-23

Papa, will you buy me a drum for
Christmas ?"
"But. my son, you win disturb me
very much if I do"
ooh. no, papa! I'll drum only when
you are asleep
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-12-23
s HoIidax Gnme.

Here is game that is both amusing
and Instructive and can be played with
out paraphernalia of any sort. One
member of the company IS to give in
the proper order the frst three letters
Of a word that he has in his mind and
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-12-23
pon,f Trust Yonr -.

Take two pieces Of cardboard and cut
and arrange them as shown in the il
lustration. Almost every one will say
that B is considerably larger than A.
Now altar their relative positions, put
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-12-23

such a racket that it would be hard to
sleep. Sometimes a leading church
member who can sing gets some Of his
choir together, and they go out and
make carols to collect money for the
poor
Tt would not seem Christmas at all to
English girls and boys or even men and
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-12-23

Little Boy Cwho has been chased out
of the farmyard by turkey)-All right.
Just wait till Christmas. and III knock
the stufiing out of you
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-12-23
The Firat Chrtntmnn

Christmas was first celebrates -.
fixed holiday LOO years ago. Pre,-,o,,-
to that various countries ceIebra+sS ~.
Nativity in different months 80.
January to May.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-12-23
Homemade Toys.

These odd toys are easily made with
nuts and burnt matches.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-12-23

D George Morgan the
return of Christmas
brought no pleasure
Indeed. the advent of
the season of joy had
plunged him into the
depths Of the blues.
When busy with his
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-12-23

why IS ireland ike a bottle Of neas.
salSSS Because there's a Cork in IT
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-12-23

ting B in the place of A. Their size.
viii appear to be altered. A being fbfs
time larger than B. They are. how
ever. of exactly the same size. AZ wiz
be found by placing one on ton ~ +he
other.