davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Los Angeles herald., 1905-12-17

her garden truck" the envy of all
the neighbors. In short. they had
horses and cattle and lands and were
at peace.
But in the course of time the business
OF coffin-making gave to the Alten-
bach farm the name OF being "hant-
ed" Superstitious country folk. al
though they liked old Hugo and his
wife, began to whisper that spirits Wis
tied the farm and that strange lights
were often seen dancing IN the ada
cent woods. Young people wouldn't
pass that farm after nightfall for all
the money they ever heard of, and
even i'm daylight they looked askance
at the CHEEKY house and jumped nerv-
ously IL the little dog came barking a
welcome down at the gate.
Old Hugo paid no attention to all
this, for he was as hard-headed as he
was soft-hearted, and he never could
have understood why people were afraid
of the dead, or stood In awe of the
dueer-shaped boxes that nav and then
went out of his shop.
/ say it is doubtful whether he no.
ticed how few of his neighbors ever
visited him, except on solemn busi-
ness, or observed the lack of travel at
night along the big road that skirted
his farm. For about this time there
had arrived at his home a child that
had begun to make the place livelier
than ever and was beginning to abb
sorb his thoughts.
She was a tiny little thing, scarce
years old. when the county mail hack
driver set her down at the Altenbach
farm. She had opened her blue eyes
wide at the funny little old man and
the tall, smiling old woman, and she
went straight into their hearts when
she asked if that was "reelly Santa
Claus house."
Poor childl She had seen her father
and mother distant relatives of old
Hugo, dead and buried within n week
of each other. She had watched with
tear-stained face the disposal of her
parents household goods and the clos
ing of the house. And she had cried
herself to sleep the night before she
was told that she would have to 60
and live with the Altenbachs, far away
in the country.
over hill and dale the hack had lum-
bered along that sunshiny day and the
passengers had generously supplied her
with big red apples and amused them
selves by showing her the birds and
flowers and fields. 1t was late In
the afternoon when she reached the
Altenhach farm, but grandpa and
grandma met her at the gate, and
the gate, and that night she had fresh
milk to drink and was put to sleep in
a new little trundle bed which old Hugo
himself had made, alongside of grand
mas downy couch.
don't know whether grandpa ever
Los Angeles herald., 1905-12-17
ey fobert M. Yost

Old HuNyo Altenbach had a fine farm
and mon ay IN the bank. But he lived
in a remote Missouri county, where
railroads had not penetrated, and he
was both a thrifty and handy" man.
He hadn't lived long in that section
before he discovered that professional
undertakera we're unknown and that
II was marry weary miles to the near
est town where collins could be had.
Moreover. when a person died in that
remote section the cost of burial
seemed to he out Of all proportion to
the necessities of the case.
Now Huelo Altenbach had been a
carpenter i'm his younger days and he
knew how ho make collins as well as
anybody. So he put up q shop near
his farmhouse. bought walnut lumber
and black velvet and white Innings and
silver handlas and screws, and then
shrewdly let .it be known that i'm order
to accommodate the community he
would make caskets on short notice
and personally attend to the burial of
the dead when so desired at n very
reasonable price. 1t Is possible that
the conditions alone put it into old
Hugo's head to do this, and that his
object was not really gain, but 1t so
happened that by this means he had
added largely to his wealth and the
people firmly believed he did it out of
pure neighborliness, for they appre-
ciated the fak,t that it was n great
accommodation.
Old Hugo himself was a sunshiny
man. He was short and stout, and
wore a white beard and white hair
that fell to his shoulders. Even while
engaged in his grewsome task of fash
Joining collins, he sang from morn
till night" like the miller on. the
River Dee. HIS good old wife-tall and
thin and angular, sharp-visaged and
sharp-voiced. loved him with a love
unfading and they were happy
couple. They had had rosy-cheeked
boys and girls. but all had grown up
and married and gone away, leaving
The old couple desolate at heart, but
still happy in their own affections
Prosperity had followed their hard
Iabors all the days of their lives. and
now, in their old age they had plenty
and to spare.
AS a farmer old Hugo outclassed
all his neighborS He had the latest
inventions and the best labor-saving
machinery. His house was the only
one in all the county that contained
drum cylinder churn and a washing
machine. His farm alone had a rotary
plow and Il threSher. In consequence
his corn and wheat went first to mar
ket and got the highest price; her but
ter was the choicest at the stores and
Los Angeles herald., 1905-12-17

Is so strangely true that the second
childhood of a man entwines itself
with the babyhood that happens to
reach daily for his hand or appeals to
him in its helplessness. Perhaps he
realizes more than we can understand
that he has run his own circle OF lie
and has come back to the starting point
to find his own image standing there
ready to start over the same pathway.
It isn't so much that he loves child
because 1t happens to be his own
grandchild as the fact that it Is a
child-weak, helpless and appealing,
the counterpart of himself in the
mysterious days before he knew him
self. And so old Hugo sat and gazed
at the little waxen face and now and
then put his big brown hands softly
on the little white fingers that mad
become so cold and stiff. Mrs. Hugo
wept quietly and then closing her lips
tightly and letting a grim look come
into her face. as though 1t were wrong
to grieve much over a child that was
not of her flesh and blood, she went
about doing those preliminary offices
which are so necessary and yet so
difficult 20 do in the house of the dead.
Hours passed before she went over to
the old man and said to him kindly:
Hugo, you had best be stirring.
You know you will have her little
COllln To HlHkt.
He turned upon her a look of anguish
which she had never seen him wear.
"What?' he answered Make my
little Margy's coffin? Could 1 do
that?"
yes, Hugo. You have often told the
child yourself that those things didn't
ever trouble you, because they were.
things necessary to be done. And she
wasn't afraid.
Presently the old man broke away
from the bedside and almost tottered
across the yard to his shop. Feebly he
unlatched the door and went within
He shuddered as he touched bunch
of the black velvet. Then he fell to
work on the saddest task it ever fell
to his lot to do. He selected the softest
white cedar and planed it smooth. He
cushioned it we'll and lined 1t with white
satin and finished it with the very sill
yer handles and screws that little Mar
gy had played with. And when 1t was
finished he carried it, walking tip-toe,
into the house and laid it alongside the
little white figure and then turned and
went away.
They buried the child in the country
grave yard, and good old Mrs Hugo
planted roses and geraniums over it
and watched and tended II.
Old Hugo bought little grave stone
with the words, "Our Marguerite neat
y chiseed in it. Then he tore down his
shop and told the neighbors that he had
quit the business.
Old Hugo had made his last coffin.
Los Angeles herald., 1905-12-17

did know her given name, but after he
had watched her for several days and
listened to her chatter as she followed
all day long at HIS heels. After he had
studied her sunshiny face and her
golden hair he gravely announced to
grandma that her name was Mar
guerlte. Afterward grandma said
1t was too long a name for such little
girl and 80 she called her Marcy"
Marguerite crept right into the heart
Of old Hugo. as 1 have said. She called
him Santa Claus and he used to carry
her about on his shoulders when he
went across the fields to direct the
hired men and see that the great har-
vest was progressing rapidly. And the
things she learned to do for grandma
would tire you If I undertook to mem
tion them all. Her little feet were
swift to do errands of love, and her
little hands busted themselves with
carpet rags and button sewing and
small work in the garden. 1t was a
great day when grandpa gave her a
pony, all for herself, and taught her
how to ride It, first around the barn
lot with old Hugo holding the bride
rein, and then in the front yard with
old Hugo standing by and holding his
breath lest she should fall off, and
later out through the big gate. all
alone, and up the big road to the woods.
After that 1t was glorious fun for the
child to jump astride her pony and fly
away where the green trees invited to
cooling shades, where she gathered
blackberrles and mulberries and learned
to talk with the leaves and trees and
birds.
Little Marcy was perfectly fearless.
Knowing nothing of danger, or of
wicked folks, she was a stranger to
superstition. and she had all the cour-
age of ignorance and good health. Still,
it was a long time before old Hugo
permitted her to discover that some-
times he made collins. "Grandpa's
shop was a source of great curiosity
to her! but he kept the door locked
against her nearly all winter, and lit
tie Marcy persuaded herself that that
was where Santa Claus made all his
toys. With this idea firmly fixed in her
dear little head she reasoned that IL
she persisted in trying TO see into the
shop she wouldn't get any toys at
Christmas time This was why 1T was
easy for old Hugo to keep her in ig-
norance of his carpenter work.
And. so it came about. very natu-
rally, that the old man bethought him
when the Christmas period began to
make little Margy's idea of his coffin
shop come true. Hence, about the first
week in December he began to make
mysterious trips to the far distant
town. He would convey wagon load
of grain out and return at night, long
Los Angeles herald., 1905-12-17
BULL HEAD BREAKFAST,
THE EPICURE'S DELIGHT

Perhaps the most recherche private
bull head breakfast ever given in
Southern California was that given
at his home in the Puente hills by ex-
Sheriff w. r. Rowland some seven
years ago. This was gotten up on Il
superb scale, and the genial ex-sher-
iff was his own major domo as well
as host Everybody as was anybody"
was there. The guests numbered four
hundred, and perhaps this is where
this magic limitation originated. They
We're carried to and fro on a special
train.
Probably it was on this occasion that
the first innovation, in confining the
liquors to those made in the country
occurred. There was on that occa-
sion red wines and White, still wines
and those that sparkle in the glass.
There was the stimulating airs that
came across from the San Jose valley,
which leads down from Old Gray back,
and those that crept from the sea. All
gave zest to the bull heads that We're
devoured on that occasion. There was
a hogshead of mint juleps and other
trifles like that, besides the cham
pagnes chambertins and claret. 1t was
generally conceded to have been the
most delightful affair of the kind that
ever took place In Southern Cali
fornia. The whole effect was embla-
zoned by good speech making and good
took the principal honors himself, as
he is, with the exception of Dan Free
man, the best raconteur in Southern
California.
Only Three Years Ago
An exceedingly enjoyable breakfast
of this alfresco sort was that given by
Col. Ike Polk and Col. John r. Brad
bury some three years ago, out on the
Bradbury orange plantation, on the Si-
ezra Madre foothills, between Monrovia
and Azusa, and like the Rowland
affair, was plentifully garnished with
champagne and other wines. IT
was quite gala affair. and Polk and
Bradbury proved themselves major
domos of a high order assisted by
professionals, whom none know better
than themselves how to stimulate.
The best bull head breakfast given
about Los Angeles during the past
year was arranged on the place of a
newspaper man, General II. G. Otis. at
Hollywood. Joe Romero was major
domo, and acquitted himself we'll. 1t
was rendered to the numerous staff of
the Times office, from Arizona to Hall
fax, and appeared to reach the spot.
OF course there have been innumer-
able barbecues. political and others, in
Los Angeles county, especially in the
old Democratic days, either to stimu-
late the "unterrified" to the fray, or
to rejoice after the triumph. There
have been clam and mussel bakes, al
though these have been much rarer
than i'm the east. When we consider
how abundant clans, mussels and
cookies are in Los Angeles, and all the
coast counties, 1t is singular that we
have not had more clam bakes. When
we add that we have corn in abund-
ance, the argument for their introduce
tion is complete.
Los Angeles herald., 1905-12-17
THE SHOWER LADY

Hurry. hurry!
People scurry,
For the Shower Lady comes
Soon she'll rustic,
Soon she'll hustle
Soon the rain will tap like drums.
Watche her sliding,
See her gliding
Overhead, across the sky;
Dark her tresses
Black her dress is
You can see II trailing by
Lightning flashes,
Thunder clashes,
These are her artillery;
When she RACES
Earth nor stage is,
And the sight is grand to see!
Rain is pouring,
Quick restoring
Thirsty leaves and parching grains;
How IL pattersl
How Ii spatters!
Playing tunes on dusty panes.
While it's streaming,
10, a cleaning
Ray OF sunlight from the sky;
Clouds are marching,
Rainbows arching,
Shower Lady passes byl
Annie Willis Mccullough.
Los Angeles herald., 1905-12-17

What man or woman would be inspired
to lead a better life by seeing the
statue of an angel, knowing that the
angel lacks this sympathetic bond of
having lived and suffered with us?
"God created these spirit angels to
wait upon and serve him, to do his
bidding They are divided into nine
choirs, and each one of us has guard
Ian angel. We seldom preach sermons
about angels in our church. Why?
1t may be because we know so little
about them. Angels do not appear to
us now as they were said to hae done
once, though occasionally we have peo-
pie here who insist they have been
visited by a heavenly messenger"
Los Angeles herald., 1905-12-17
Literary Men Used to It

George Ade was listening gravely to
a compliment. At the end he said:
"Thank you. You remind me OF
something.
"A little while after the appearance
OF my first book / went to spend n week
in summer resort outside of Chicago.
''The landlord of the modest hotel
said to me:
Mr.. Ade, you are literary man.,
I believer
II blushed and smiled and answered
that had written few triles, nothing
more.
81 have several literary men stop
ping here the landlord went on.
Well, I'm rather glad of that,
said l.
"'Yes,' said the landlord. I like
literary men. They never object to
paying in advance. They are used
to it. '"-Chicago Chronicle.
Los Angeles herald., 1905-12-17
A Chance for Budding NoveIists

Budding novelists should have a
chance. We, will send this paper for
the following blanks most satisfactor-
lily and send the complete product to
this office. The tale Is entitled:
THE PREVARICATION OF PRIS-
He put an arm around her waist.
-"' he asked In a low voice.
-" she replied, shaking her
-" she said, reprovingly.
-" he apologized.
There was silence for a little while.
Then Arthur returned to the attack.
What right had she to be so decided
about it? he thought.
-" he said, G."
-, she admitted
-" he went on, -" He
Priscilla thought how best she could
put it; At last she began:
=" She looked timidly at him.
-" was Ills monosyiiabic COM
ment
g." she persisted
He stood up In front Of her, and, cried
to her from the fulness of his heart.
Love gave him eloquence.
-" he said
-" she said.
teeth ont he aI%md %"t5erea with S%oi SIsGEPse
lovingly upon the name.
He held out his arms to her, and no
longer could she resist him.
-" she cooed.
"-?" he asked, hardly able to be-
lieve his ears.
"--," she lisped.
Mr.. Howells is hobnobbing with po-
tentates at Portsmouth. Mr.. Clemens is
finishing Ewes diary, and Mr.. James is
in England writing Jolly things about
Americans, so Mr.. James Macarthur
will serve as judge.-Harper's Weekly.
Los Angeles herald., 1905-12-17

Gee. Maggie il our pa was one OF
them street cleaners our kids would
have baby carriages, too"
Los Angeles herald., 1905-12-17
The Forster Family

The Forster family while their i'm
mense landed possessions We're just
over the line, in San Diego county,
We're looked upon and looked upon
themselves as Angelenos. Old Don
Juan was an Englshman, who came to
California early in the last century.
TIe was a butcher by trade. and by a
natural and benevolent assimilation
Los Angeles herald., 1905-12-17
Next in Rank

Next TO the archangels came the
cherubim and seraphim i'm the heaven
ly hierarchy The seraphim are sup
posed to be closest 10 the throne Of
the Creator. while the cherubim. who
are wiser than the seraphim, are given
special duties to perform.
In his Madonna di San Sisto Ra-
phael represented cherubs as little
children with tiny wings. Some We're
just heads and others had arms, but
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1905-07-18
AGENTS WANTED TO
SELL REMEDIES

A man with a horse and wagon can
make a good living selling the j. III.
Camp remedies in Wisconsin. This
Milwaukee firm wants an agent in
every county in Wisconsin to push
the sale of these goods, which have
already established a reputation for
efficacy. They win their way on their
own merits. Persons desiring tC
learn the terms upon which
agents work should address j. III.
Camp Remedy Company, Milwaukee,
Wis. This company makes Camps
Condition powders, Poultry Powders,
Cough cure, Curative Tonic Wine,
Kidney plaSterS, Compound syrup OF
Sarsaparilla, and other preparations,
including full line of family remedies
extracts and toilet soaps, All of these
articles have proven that they will
do all that is claimed for them
These goods sell on sight and givG
satisfaction. Reliable men will DC
well to confer with the company
regarding territory.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1905-07-18
BIG CROWDS GO
ON SUNDAY TRAIN

The Sunday train on the Green
Bay & Western was crowded in every
car when it left here Sunday morning.
1t was estimated that fully one humid
red and fifty were on board when it
started from the station. So many
were there, that an extra coach was
taken and that was nearly filled,
This coach was sent to Stevens Point
from Plover in order to carry the
crowds that were to GO to that city
and the main train was crowded again
till it reached Scandinavia.
At that station, coach was taken
from the lola & Northern which met
the regular train, and this one was
also crowded before the train had
passed two stations. Still. another
coach was necessary before they
reached Green Bay. AS said, this
was the largest crowd the popular
Sunday excursion train has carried
as yet, but the promise of a clear
warm day brought out the crowds.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1905-07-18
DEATH OF MRS.
ST. TRICKEY

The sad intelligence of the death O
Mrs. S. f. Trickey, at Waupun, Wis.
July II, 1905, will be keenly felt by man,
leaders of this paper who cherished
her acquaintance when she was resi-
dent of Armenia, Wis. The funera
was held on Friday, at Waupun, from
the Congregational church, Rev
Rottman, of Fairwater, officiating
with interment in Forest Mound
cemetery.
| Emma d. Oliver, the youngest
daughter of r. G. and Cordela Oil yer
was .born at Mackford, Green Lake
county, Wis.,, September 2, 1857
Being the youngest of a large family
she knew the love of fond parents but
a short while. On November 26, 1877
she was married to Shepherd F.
Trickey, of Armenia, Wis. To this
union three children were born,
Clarence E., of Chicago, Elmer 0. OF
Merrillan, Wis, and Ella B., who has
constantly cared for the mother
through all her sickness. Besides her
children she leaves to mourn her
departure Mr. Trickey, two sisters
and two brothers, namely, Mrs, S.
Goodell, Clara Oliver and James
Oliver, of Spencer, Ia, and r. II.
Oliver, of Waupun. The children all
were present at the funeral.
The deceased lived for % years in
Armenia, after which they moved to
the state of Maine remaining there
but two years. 1t was there that heI
long term of sickness began. In the
year of 1900 she fell victim of a
tumor supposed to have been of a
cancerous nature) which caused her
most intense pain until death. She
was taken to Chicago in 1902 fol
treatment What are considered: the
| best physicians and surgeons were
consulted, but of no avail. Hel
suffering in the last days was sc severe
that her nearest friends only rejoice
that she has been called from this
world of pain.
Mrs. Trickey made her peace with
God in early youth, and has led q
most sincere christian life all hel
days. During the five years of hcl
continued suffering, she bore the pain
without a murmur, leaving it all with
| the Master whom she served. At hel
request she was taken to Waupun
where she chose to die and be buried
Many intimate friends from far and
near came TO tile funeral with theil
floral offerings that were in evidence
from the home to last resting place,
The text used by Rev. ROttman, "At
evening time there shall be light, .
was chosen by the deceased before hel
death, as also were some of the
hymns.
Sympathy from a host of friends is
extended the bereaved family, fOl
there has departed from this life a
model wife and mother and diligent
christian worker.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1905-07-18
CHOW TO GET
CIGARETTE PAPER
Infamous Methods Used in Eva.
ding Will Of People as Ex.
pressed by Laws.

The methods used by some corpora.
tions to outwit the laws and chosen
principles of a state for the sake of
gold, are almost beyond comprehens-
ion in their crlmnality. There is no
great wonder that the laws
restricting vices are of only nominal
value, when the best talent in law
interpreting is used to find a loop hole
through which nefariouS scheme
may be worked to get around the
letter of the chosen will of the people.
This is we'll illustrated in certain
letter that came to our hands in the
last couple days, and duplicates of
which are being poured into the city
by nearly every mail. 1t reads in a
heading calculated to attract attent-
ion, "How to Get Cigarette Paper
1t says that if one will enclose a sum
of money, the paper will be shipped
into the state in package direct to
the purchaser. AS there appears to
be loop hole in the cigarette law in
this state allowing the stuff to be
shipped in, in original packages, this
is being taken advantage of by manu-.
facturers of the paper to bring into
the state that which the state has
decided has done all the evil it should
be allowed to do here. The factories
are even willing to go to the trouble
of doing the stuff up in little packages
and shipping it to the consumer
direct, in order to get around the law
and hold it up to ridicule till it is laid
away as not effective, when they will
! laugh at the efforts of the honest
citizens of the state, and those who
| had courage to strike blow against
that which was wreaking more harm
| to the states youth than any Other
| thing. Such an action is nothing
| other than Infamous.