davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1905-12-23
FOR AULD LANG sYNE.

We all know by experience how
difficult, not to say impossible, it is to
keep up the correspondence and ex-
change of Christmas and birthday
gifts commenced in our school days.
1t would be the height of folly to ex-
pect to continue through life all the
intimacies of youth. and yet there
are a few OF the early friendships too
valuable to be lightly cast aside, for,
after all, there are no friends like
the old friends" Still, unless there
be some definite plan, before we are
aware many friend has slipped en-
tirely out of our lives, if not quite out
of our minds.
A lady of my acquaintance, with
three other schoolmates, at the close
Of their college life, some twenty five
years ago, entered into an agreement
to write to each other at Christmas
time every year, and send a gift,
some trifle not to exceed twenty-five
cents in price, SO that whatever their
circumstances or how numerous the
drains upon their purses, it should
never prove burden.
It seemed such a beautiful thing to
do year after year. I have often
thought what pleasure it would be
10 plan for those early friends who,
but for this compact, might have been
crowded into the past by new friends
and the increasing cares and duties
of mature life. How pleasant to
know that, with whatever of pleasure
or pain the intervening months have
been filled, the holidays will bring like
a breath of youth, letters, whether
few words of explanation and regret,
or several closely written pages, still
letters, together with some time tri-
The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1905-12-23
CHRISTMAS CAROL.

The earth has grown old with its burden of cares
But at Christmas It always is young.
The heart of the jewel burns lustrous and fair,
And it's soul full of music breaks forth the air,
When the song of the angels is sung.
1t is coming, old earth, It is coming tonight
On the snOwfakes that covered thy sod
The feet of the Christ child fall gentle and white,
And the voice of the Christ-chid tells out
That mankind are the children Of God.
On the sad and the lonely. the wretched and poor.
The voice of the Christ child shall fall;
And to every blind wanderer open the door
or hope that he dared not to dream OF before,
With q sunshine of welcome for all.
The feet Of the humbIest may walk in the field
Where the feet of the h0liest have trOd,
This, this Is the marvel to mortals revealed
When the silvery trumpets OF Christmas have
pealed
That mankind are the children of God.
-PhjikiDs Brooks.
The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1905-12-23
CHRISTMAS BELLS.

Christmas bells will soon be ring
ing again. What a wealth of music
in their mellow tones
The merry peals of the Christmas
bells will cause the busy world to
pause in its mad rush for wealth and
power and to remember that centuries
ago an infant was born in manger,
whose advent made angels and men
rejoice. Day of days in human his
toryl
More than that
Christmas bells will announce that
The worlds day of generous gifts has
dawned once more, day commemor-
alive of Gods cheifest gift to men.
What memories the merry bells
Gallup!
How the joys of girlhood and boy
hood come trooping BY
How we of MONDAY almost think
Me still dwell in the morning L.
For few hours we will lay of our
burdens and forget our cares and me-
glect TO fret and sigh. Eyes Will
shine with the old time luster. Hand
shake will have in it the warmth Of
yesterday. And our laughter will
ripple and roar and shout as it did
before we took on so much dignity.
And what day for the children !
Is the skyever so limpid to the aver
age girl and boy as it is on Christmas
morning? And can the glee of any
other day in the long year be COM
pared to that of this festival of peace
and goodwill?
Christmas IS prominently the day
of domestic joys. What homecom-
ings and reunions
Is this not a pictnre of life: The
old home issweptand garnished. Mir
The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1905-12-23
A CHRISTMAS TREE FARM.

There is only one true Christmas
tree, the balsam fir. This is SYM
metrical, spicily fragrant, and has
straight, stiff branches, which will
support a good load of presents. The
hemlock, beautiful for massing and
roping, has branches too dropping
and flexible for a Christmas tree.
The spruce, suitable in other ways,
lacks the delicious odor of the fir.
This is fortunate, for the tree most
priced for Christmas is utterly des-
pised by the lumbermen. 1t has never
been worth numbering, and before the
Christmas tree industry began the fir
lands of Maine were actually exempt
from taxation, as being perfectly
worthless. To-day they are valued
at from $40 to SIS an acre, mainly
for their Christmas trees.
The Christmas tree cutters begin
their work as early as the middle of
October. 1t requires experience to
cut Christmas trees proftably. An
ordinary woodman will waste more
than he is worth. He must know
how to estimate, from the size and
general appearance of the tree, the
best height at which to cut it. A
green hand will cut it too long or too
short. injuring its salable qualities.
While part of the men are cutting,
others follow them and drag the trees
out of the woods to the nearest open
space. AS there are no roads into
the woods, this has to be done by
hand. In the open space they must
be punched and tied, and if this is
not properly done the punches will
come apart in shipping. Then the
butts of each bunch are sawed off, to
give neat, trim appearance. Then
they are hauled to the main road and
stacked. After the harvest is over
they are all loaded again and hauled
to the nearest depot, usually ten
miles away. There they are loaded
on the cars.
The industry began at about the
same time in Maine and the Catskills
some thirty years ago. But the frs
were cleaned out of the Catskills ten
years ago, and the old Catskill ship
pers now go to New Hampshire and
Vermont for their trees, taking their
cutters with them. They pay their
men $I.5o a day and board.
There are only about twenty men
in the business of bringing Christmas
trees into New York, and they may
be found at the Farm" every day
from morning until night. They are
a combination of the shrewd business
man and the man who gets his living
by some craft that brings him directly
in contact with nature.
The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1905-12-23

led her from the dark woods to this
cheerful little refuge.
BY and by the father opened the
front door and came out to shut the
blinds. AS he reached up he STUN
bled over a little figure huddled in
the snow.
BLESS me, what's here" he ex-
claimed, bending over the half fro
zen child.
"It's me, I" murmured Bette, drow-
silly.
"Where have you come from |?
What are you doing out this time of
nightl
II was trying to find the forest of
trimmed Christmas trees" whispered
Bette.
The husband and wife exchanged
an alarmed glance, for they thought
the poor child was wandering, but the
woman caught the motherless child
from the sofa, holding her close in her
arms.
"You We found the Christmas tree,
my lamb. Now tell me all about it
while you get warm and fed"
It was not very ineligible tale,
bat the mother nodded and smiled,
looking at the child's neat clothing
and her honest eyes. She seemed to
be able to fill all omissions in the
story.
"If only Jack could see that tree"
Bette murmured, as she fell asleep.
X X X X X 4
1t was Christmas night, and the
little kitchen back OF the shop was
full of happiness. Tom, chastened
and thankful, hovered around Bette,
while Jacks eyes never LEFT the little
girl. The father was content to hear
her voice and to forget all the anxiety
of the preceding night. The good
man into whose hands Bette had
fallen had not returned alone from
his errand to her troubled family. for
the frantic father had accompanied
him. and sat by Bette, sleeping
serenely in the strange bed.
A rap at the outer door summoned
the father, who left the kitchen, care
fully closing the door. The children
were in high spirits, and it did not
seem long before their father returned.
He lifted Jack in his arms, and soberly
turned to Tom and Bettie:-
''I need this room for business.
You children must go into the shop"
He threw open the door as the little
group reached the threshold.
There was profound silence, then
Jimmy T. yelled Tom.
''Is it real?' whispered Bette,
while Jack asked if God had sent it.
No wonder The cluttered little
shop was trans6gured, for in its GEN.
ter stood beautiful tree, the branches
reaching almost to the walls. The
good fairy who had smuggled it into
the room had been quicker than light
ming, for the tree was well laden.
"Oh, Jack Jack Isn't it lovely?
It's as fine as the tree last night -
cried Bette. She cooked her small
head and narrowed her eyes. II do
believe" she said slowly, II do be-
lieve it's the very same tree !"-New
York Herald.
The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1905-12-23
CHIsTMAs GIFTS.

1t is a beautiful custom-this giving
of gifts at Christmas time-but it is
sometimes greatly abused. At no
time in the year are the generous i'm
pulses of the heart so easily aroused
or so quickly put into operation as at
Christmas. 1t is but natural that
the thoughts of men are SO much at
tracted by the great gift of Gods love
as manifested in his Son, their hearts
should be touched by the same d.
vine feeling for each other.
The expression of interest, esteem,
and affection has always been made
through the medium of gift. 1t is
not at all strange then, that Christ
mas has become the chief gift season
of the year. But good deal of our
giving of gifts does not grow out OF
affection as much as out of false pride,
blind idolatry of tradition, and un-
willingness to brave criticism. And
so, in the effort to maitsin the re-
spect and regard of others-whlch
is not always successful we often
forfeit or, at least, compromise, our
self-respect.
Would it not be better TO send SIM
pie and sincere Christmas greetings
to our friends, whising them joy, and
peace, and prosperity than to load
upon them gifts they do not need,
do ,,ot uvant and wonld not purchase
themselves, and which are liable to
place them iD positions of embarrass-
ment3 The supreme gift that friends
can bestow upon each other at Christ
mas time is love unfeigned. This
does not require any mere thing that
money can purchase for its manifes-
tation. 1t is beyond price. And to
know that it exists is satifaction
keener and truer that can be produc-
ed by any other offering, however
beautiful or costly.
The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1905-12-23
THE CHRISTMAS OPPORTUNITY.

The poor are especially to be COM
miserated in midwinter. when their
penury is in sharp contrast with the
affiuence of their neighbors. Wheth-
er they are worthy" poor or not, if
they are cold, suffering, and forlorn,
Christmas is a good time for extend
ing them a warm hand-clasp and CIV
ing them a substantial lift, not mere
charity, but something more. loving
human kindness Ifpossible, Christ
mas should bring our unfortunate
friends something that is not mere
almsgiving, that partakes rather OF
that large tenderness which prompted
her who broke her jar Of precious
perfume and poured it over the head
of our Lord. Woman's Home Com
banion.
The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1905-12-23

Do NOT overdress the Christmas
table. Holly is always appropriate,
while white chrysanthemums seem
the very best possible flower. A
handsome centerpiece is high dish,
silver or glass, piled with several col
ors of grapes and other fruit, with
leaves, if possible. The cloth at the
bottom of the dish is wreathed with
holly. This is about as simple as
possible, but it is good. If flowers
be desired, a white chrysanthemum
at each cover will serve.
The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1905-12-23
@HE CHRISTMAS DREAM.



Twas the night before dye heard before
But really dOI o matter we'll use once &c %0re'
Ana Ana s nss %ss the re
0d s s. Sa fe611 of S6S sss an sI%a
Where Santa certain to stop in bis sleigh
AP ASsa %sas sEbs on TsS sSs h sa9 s % re s Sheen
e. s 1fas
And Ans pHsnK lis SO otund ed up chair
His cap was o from the far polar seas
AnS AND as b sBs
az DSsSeSSd deep
AGd stopped pa at my papas
nst ssns 9 aa abss as said
Wit w aS % %seSne
Ne He R fSS Els s va
Rud Rut IL Sshs was
That smile was SO jolly it MAIDEN smile back
4 % ss1s!sI
Then pair twin dolls round the room took walk
and spange% d land and Oh they @ cOId ns talk nds
dg And 60gwd %s sayy and me-
.sssss ss ss Ps sSst
And e saess Sns baeys Of ne and
Tsss sss SoppsS
ToI o eoas eae that Gs could best and you
so% on e d Snches p"m
And you've nothing to do but 60 pick them yourself
THE snow VIII falls in that beautiful land
lar freeZngly hard and so cold to your hand,
Put like pinkest whitest and sweetest popcorn.
Aud it's Christmas whenever you wake every morn
He picked up my slate and my pencil at last
And laughed himself he wrote very fast:
"Itte girls boys, love your fathers and mothers,
OS OSr ou mas 9a e
FORGET to all stockings forever"
And then fash he had vanished away
Ty the door the chimney, l never could say.
Mamma says that dreamed it. good saint of toys
Re a great deal busy to bother with boys.
Rnf awake wide awake, through 1t ALL
And heard time the clock struck IN the hall,
And dmvev closed, minute. you
Till the chimes and twas half after .,
And know Santa Claus too. by his looks,
Eecause him 80 often iD books,
Do'"u'' - -Mnn0 Hving In LeslisS Weekly
The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1905-12-23

WE HAVE all heard of the boar's
head. which in the Middle Ages was
the first dish brought to the dining
hall at the Christmas feast. Decked
with rosemary was this ancient Wand
and carried by youths chanting a La
tin carol. This ancient Christmas
ceremony is regularly performed on
Christmas afternoon in the hall OF
Queens College. Oxford. The head
is borne in on silver dish, shoulder
high, at the head of procession
formed by the college choir augment
ed for the occasion singing "The
Bears Head Song"
The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1905-12-23

SANTA CLAUs-"Ha Ha Here's
the usual list of urgent necessities, I
suppose. Let's see (reading), Dear
Santy-De inclosed stockin' is mine.
Me little brudder Jimmy amt got any
ter hang up er odderwise. but would
like a stockin' full, too. so please use
mine ter measure it wit an den dump
hisn on de floor an oblige yours
trooly, Smipsey Dugan.'
The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1905-12-23

the key, as perfect and full Of worth
as the love of the young couple.
I'VE will go out to dinner" Max
announced, proudly. "We'll have a
big turkey dinner, with wine, all by
ourselves. !"
80 we will p Maude answered,
gaily. "It will be SO ;nuch nicer than
having to cook it myself"
The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1905-12-23
CHRISTMAS IN OLD COLONIAL TIMES.

On Plymouth's first Christmas day
Governor Bradford, as recorded in his
famous log-book, called the people
out to work, as usual. Most Of the
company excused themselves, on the
ground that it was against conscience
to toll all that day. The governor
said if it was matter of conscience
he would excuse them until they were
better informed. So he and those
who followed him left them. On his
return at noon the governor found
them at play on the streets, some
pitching the bar, some at stool-ball,
and like parts. He took away their
implements and told them it was
against his conscience that they
should play while others worked.
It is said that grim Puritan govern
or reproved little children whom he
found gathering holly Christmas
Day. Certain it is that New Eng
lands little folks had not nearly so
merry a Christmas in early colonial
days as now.
On week days, Sundays and holidays
small Puritains, as well as large ones,
took life seriously. 1t was terrible
thing when little maid smiled in
church one Sabbath. When Deacon
Vests grandson, walking with him to
church, noticed a squirrel, be tweaked
the child's ear and told him Squirrels
were not to be spoken of on the
Lords Day." Children were trained
TO strict habits of diligence. Little
girls worked samplers, pieced quilts,
spun fax, knit socks and stockings
and comforts, wove tape. made lace,
and did many other things. Little
boys split pegs for shoes, set card
teeth, brought in fuel, and fed swine
and horses. Children were expected
to be always willing and never tired.
They had few playthipgs, and
most of these they manufactured for
themselves. In I743 there seems to
have been but one toy store in this
country. Boston had that.
The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1905-12-23

"PA," SAID the farmers boy who
had been studying astronomy at col
lege. ''have you heard about Mars
changing color p Gosh no y ex-
claimed the old man, in startled tones.
"She hadn' tchanged color when I saw
her out in the barnyard five minutes
ago."
The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1905-12-23

"Do YOU owe Jones any money!
"No."
"Why do you avoid meeting him?'
"Don't want him to owe me money. !"
The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1905-12-23

"THE mon that tells yez not t. wor-
ry has either just got through wild a job
Nv worryin' or is about t begin ut.
The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1905-12-23

NATURE has made occupation
necessity to us society makes it
duty habit makes it pleasure.
No MAN is so rich he can afford to
lose friend.
The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1905-12-23
AN ANCIENT CUSTOM

Most of us know that the Christmas
tree comes to us direct from Germany.
And we know of the tree-worship of
the Druids which obtained in England
and France, and which probably had
some influence on the later use Of the
tree in the Christian festival. But
we do not all know that a similar
festival, with the tree as Growing
feature, is observed among many
heathen nations, and that it comes
from sun worship, which is older than
history.
The revival of the sun after the
winter solstice has ever been the sub
ject of rejoicing and of celebration by
ceremonies which represent the new
light brought back to the world.
Our tree, with its small candles, its
gilded knick- knacks aud toys for
the children, is direct descendant
of this old festival in honor of the
sun.
Traces of it exist IN Iceland, where
the 'service-tree" is found adorned
with burning lights during Christmas
night. The English yule-log is a
faint survival of this festival. But
it is beyond these that l wish to draw
attention, back futher even than the
Druid mysteries of the Gallo forests.
It is to China, that home of all won
ders and of all history. As long ago
as 247 BIC. a tree with a hundred
lamps and flowers was placed on the
steps of the audience-hall. This ap-
pears again in the records of Princess
Yang, who lived 7I3,755 AID, and
who caused a hundred lamp tree,
eighty feet high, to be erected on a
mountain. 1t was lighted during
New Years night, and the illumina-
ton was seen for hundreds of miles,
eclipsing the light of the moon.
This candle-treeis no longer lighted
in China, being replaced by an un-
usual number of lanters, which are
hung everywhere. A suggestion of
the tree, however, still survives in
Japan. At the New Year two ever
green trees are placed without, on
either side of the door. Their tops
are tied together with the sacred
band of straw, and various objects,
dried Holsters and oranges are fas-
tened 10 the branches -StezO02f CuI-
IN, IN Woman'S Home Companion.
The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1905-12-23

THE best you have ever done is
not good enough to be your ideal for
the future.
Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1905-06-10
Holdcroft News.

Eoldcroft. Va. June s.-Much interest
Is being shown il the coming term ofthe
Circuit Court and II Is safe to say that
shis section Of the county Win be well
represented
Orr truckers are very much oiseour-
aged over the low price Of potatoes nd
some fear that they win not make
enough 20 pay ezpenses-
Niss Nettie Rivers Martin attended
the William and Mary finals Hbile in
williamsburg she was the guest OF Miss
LINE ChaTles.
Mrs { Il Aaorecock and children are
visiting IN New Kent
Miss Leila Binns has returned from g
Wait % relatives at Lsnexa.
Ars Rebecca Holdcroft. one OF ID,
oldest and cost highly respected ladiei
/ q this community Is ~ At the residenc
| Of Der son, Sergeant Samuel ". Hold
croft Of Richmond.
Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1905-06-10
Final Ball.

The final bah given bY the William
and Mary German Club ended the series
Of brilliant affairs which have followed
in rapid succession since Monday morn
INK.
Dawn found the couples on the way
home and the stays having the water
wagon after hwe hours Of dancing. dur
ing which time Kesuich rendered the
pieces. The hgarrs were beautifully led
by Or B Spezeer ard MI Davies
The tDnO$ng people were present:
Chapero1es-1esdames A and n
Barnes. \ L Henley. O'Keefe, Macon
and SouthaI
The Young ladies dancing were Misses
TySer Hundlry Meade Ida. Louise and
.SsthArins Bsnley Webb Harrison Mary
and Lucile Poster Ruf6n ~ B. ~ II and
Martha Speucer Ceddy Kelly Vim Eliz-
abeth. CsthArine and Agnes More
/ cock Beulah and Edna Brooks ElleI
j md Annie Barnes Ms Aoncure Belts
! l,aIt Egerton Helen Harrison. Mcken
ncv Holt Merrill Knox Mary and AuiI
Meade Welburne Logan Macon O'keef
Harrison Savage Jones and Macloue
The gentlemen were Messrs Dawes Lloy'
Spencer Jones Shewmake Ferguso
Meade Keyser Hobsoo Ellis Riddiok de
IN Henley HUdgins L ; and Dixon Eos
Ter Hynson Coleman Butler Ridoick .
and z 3 DoYeIle Chichester E Shev
make BIackisto1 Bowles Ne Soon
Hankins Barnes Guy Barnes Mile
spratley Savage Christian Maekret
Lane Blanken.hip Blanchard Willis Al
bitt Rawles O'Keefe Standing Wenric
Lawrence Roane HaTczm Warmer {
Slower aud DE- Spencer.
Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1905-06-10
SATURDAY. JUNE 10 1905

Or HRak;ns. who for 4 number OF
years has been health officer Of this city,
has been 81 ef6cient Official. The City
CouDcil recently passed sn order rr9uir-
ina the officer 70 visit the premises OF
every family II This city twice 3 month
for inspection The doctor as a conse.
qHsnOs banded IN his resignation We
believe the or6er Of the Council was
asking entirely roo much Of The health
of5osT he gets $50 q year salary
There IL not a physician II The Stat,
who oould afford 70 hold = position
that pays practically nothing AnC
which would require al least o1s-thirC
o. his time.