davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1906-12-20

them to God. men. we may be sure. of
meditative habits, of ascetic lives.
Inc fragments of early tradition and
the obscure records of ancient prophe-
cles, belonging to their nations have
oeen to them as precious DEPOSITS
winch srcke of God and were Grci,
with hidden truth. They, too, pine
for redeemer, for some heavenly
visitant. Their tribes, doubtless
lived in close alliance, and they them
selves were bound together by the ties
of friendship which the same pure
warnings after greater goodness and
higher things cemented Never vet
mad kings more royal souls In the
dark blue of the lustrous sky there
rose new or hitherto unnoticed
star. Its appaTition could not escape
the notice of these oriental sages, who
nightly watched the skies; their sci
ence was also their theology. 1t was
the star OF which an ancient prophecy
had spoken. Perhaps it dropped low
toward earth and wheeled a too swift
course to be like one Of the other
stars. Perhaps it trailed a line Of
light after it, slowly yet with visible
movement. and SO little above the
horizon or with such obvious down
ward slanting course that it seemed
as If it beckoned to them-as if an
angel were bearing lamp to light the
feet of pilgrims and timed his going
to their slowness and had not shot
too far ahead during the bright day
but was found and welcomed each
night as faithful indicator pointing
to the cave at Bethlehem.
Wild and romantic as the conduct
of these wise enthusiasts seemed
they did not hesitate. After due coun-
sci they pronounced the luminous.
| finger to be the star of the old proph
ecy, and therefore God was come
They left their homes. their state
and their affairs and journeyed west
| ward, they knew not whittier, led
nightly by the star that slipped on
ward in its silent groove. The star
shone out in the blue heavens and
slowly sank eastward over the cave
of Bethlehem and presently the de-
vout kings are at the feet of Jesus.
Who that has ever read the jeweled
sentences of Faber's bethlehem"
will ever forget them? Many have
read "Ben-Hur," with it's description
of the journey of the wise men, who
know nothing of this great book And
yet there is not in the whole c-cle of
English literature a more wonderful
bit of writing than Bethlehem"
The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1906-12-20
The Christmas Spirit
BY D. D. THOMPSON
Editor Northwestern Christian Advocate.

The Christ spirit Influences the
world today more than at any pre-
vious period in history. This is
supe-fcially manifest in the more
general observance of Christmas by
the presentation of gifts to friends
and the considerate kindness dis
played toward all classes of helpless
and dependent persons in providing
on Christmas day for their pleasure
and temporal needs. This, however,
is the least manifestation of the
power which the teaching and spirit
of Christ eXertS upon mankind. 1t
is especially seen in more kindly
attitude of men toward each other
The millennium has not yet arrived.
and the struggles between the ma
lions and classes viii continue for
wears; bat as the spirit of Him after
whom, Christmas is named finds lodg-
ment in human hearts. the animos-
tiles which separate men in antagon-
istic relations will diminish. and the
time viii come when the Christmas
spirit will be displayed during the
entire year as it is now displayed
upon each Christmas day What the
world needs most for the right solu-
ton of its serious problems is the
Christmas spirit.
The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1906-12-20
CHRISTMAS

mother" she whispered. how white
her cheeks are. and her hands, too,
how thin. I wish l might kiss them
I'm glad she's gone to sleep. Per-
haps when she wakes the pain will
be gone.''
She turned to go away, but a pair
of slippers sitting side by side at the
foot of the bed arrested her She
stopped and picked one up, strokins
1t softly. Joyce was always the afcec-
tionate one of the family Then she
looked at it The sole was pitifully
thin, and there was little break In
one side. Mothers wrapper lay care.
fully folded over the back of chair.
where she had put it. even In her pain
joyce looked at 1t also. The sleeves
had been patched, the collar mcnded
Joyce remembered with sudden
pang 1t was the best one mother had
She swept the wrapper of the chair
and took up the little worn slippers
then she went down into the sitting
room. Mag and Fan were still there
Girls" cried Joyce. dramatically
holding up the old wrapper, do you
think we girls ought to make Christ
mas presents when our mother has TIC
wear clothes like this? See how she's
patched the sleeves. and the collar
too, and just look at these slippers!
Fan wiped a tear away: so did Mag
Joyce's eyes were already full
IF we don't take better care Of
mother. perhaps we won't have her.
very long," said Joyce. solemnly
Girls" she added. lets do some
thing. Say we put five dollars out OF
our ten away for her, and fix ~ he,
things. / will. anyway. I'm gong tc
get her handsome pair of Juliets al.
trimmed in black fur. and stuff
enough to make her a pretty dressing
sacque. Mag, Will you make it,"
The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1906-12-20

MOTHERS. CHRISTMAS
BY SUSAN HUBBARD MARTIN


mere We're three girls of them. all
merry. hghthearted and thoughtless,
oas TINS evening a new seriousness
was upon them. For one thing. moth
er mad gene to bed with sharp neu-
saislc attack that somehow was be-
coming, OF late. a too frequent occur
rence- Another was that father had
lust given them their Christmas al
sowance. for it was the 18th of Novem-
per, and they had already begun to
plan for the great day.
Gifts, he had said, as he handed
each one crisp $40 bill. this year
YOU must really make this do Don't
spend 1t and expect more. for 1t will
1ot be forthcoming. Times are hard.
money not easy to get and necessary
expenses must be met, so remem Der
hft while we all love Christmas. as
ndeed we ought. yet we are not ex-
ected to give more than we are able.
Pecce on earth. good Will to men.
means more than a mad rush at bar.
ain counters, when one endeavors to
aaEe $40 do the work of SIS.
lie had put on his overcoat ard gone
cut, and Mag, Joyce and Fan sat and
looked at enc another
i've simply got to give Bess more
expensive present than 1 did last
vear.' said Mag. gloomily. gazing at
he hire. Just imagine my hunilla.
ion Christmas day when she sent me
hat beautiful watch fob. and all had
given her was little picture in a
claim oak frame. blush now at the
hcuSht OF it,
Dent say word" broke in Fan,
ragically II suffer modification OF
re spirit hundred times when /
hink of the little I can give Ten dol.
airs and 81 friends and relations to
make. presents to-"
Joyce looked up. Joyce was the
The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1906-12-20
On Christmas Morning.

Youngest. and she wore a brown school
tTess. Her chestnut curls were tied
With scarlet ribbons. 81 say" she be-
3an quickly. that's time the Christ
mas reformation began in this fam
ly. Three girls. Fan II, Mag 16 and
l 14h. Not orr Of us able to earn
renny, and all straining every nerve
% make it harder for father and do
something we can't afford. I'm like
lad. Christmas don't mean a mad
rush at bargain counters to buy things
for people who half the time don't
care for EN- when they get 'em. Use
less and impossible articles, too, most
of 'ern are. but we poor misguided
:nortals will take 'em just because
they're marked down from s1.15 to
10 cents. The facts in our case are
these. fathers poor. he works hard.
and mother isn't well. say it's time
to stop. I shall simply tell Bell (and
who has dearer friend than she Is.
I'd like to know that all 1 can give
her is set of mats for her dressing
table I'll make 'em as pretty as I
with EN-, but there I'll stop
But she'll give you something
handsome" put in Mag.
Cant help it," replied Joyce. her
fathers rich and mine isn't. If she
thinks any the less of me for 1t, why
she'll have to do it. Last year we
spent all we had and didn't have one
cent left to remember mother with,
and 1 went up to the attic Christmas
afternoon and cried about it. That
reminds me. I'm going up to see how
she is
Joyce crept softly into her mothers
room The light was turned down
low The figure on the bed did not
stir. joyce slipped over and looked
down at the pale sleeper. Darling
The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1906-12-20

Mag sprang up. Eyes, will, Joyce"
she cried. land l will give IS too l
never realized that mother was wear
Ing quite as poor clothes as these"
I'll give five," said Fan. slowly.
We haven't money enough to go
round anyway. Let us be brave and
tell our friends so. Perhaps in the
end they'll thank US for It,"
When mother came downstairs that
Christmas morning. she gave start
OF surprise. A gay little wreath of
holly hung by the window. Attached
to 1t was a large white card which
bore these words:
MOTHERS CHRISTMAS.
May She Have Many of Them"
A pretty brown wrapper with velvet
collar and cuffs hung over the back
of her favorite chair A dainty pair
of house shoes lay beside 1t, trimmed
in black fur. Near them was dress
ing sacque. soft and warm, of some
gray material finished off by a touch
of scarlet and a bow of ribbon.
shoulder shawl of white and blue
hung over one arm of the chair Two
pairs of kid gloves lay across it. On
the sofa was handsome comforter
of pink silkaline artistically knotted
with blue This was Fans gift, and
had been bought with a portion of her
money and made over. at Aunt Ra-
chefs so there could be no danger of
detection There were aprons, too,
and handkerchiefs sheer and fine
Father had given these
Mother stood still. then seeing the
new expression in her children's faces.
she took step forward. Praise the
Lord" she sang in her heart, but aloud
she could only say: MY blessed.
blessed girls as she gathered them
each one into her tender and loving
arms.-Ram's Horn.
The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1906-12-20
,jezk sz 80
HER RICHNESS
he Story OF Christmas Peacemalser
BY a. NJ. CONSTANTINE
BY a. NJ. CONSTANTINE
RICHNESS
a Christmas

Her HiShness. jumped off the piano
stool and ran to him eagerly
You are very late. sir knight" she
said. reprovinsly. "oh. two-,thrce
hours late."
Fatc is the offender, Your High.
ness. the young fellow replied, with n.
denrecattns wave OF his arm. My
train was delayed two hours, and In
the acciacn, several people We're
ALL
Oh murmured; the child.
But trust your MgEness Is In good
health. he added. With grave cour-
tesy. and all your royal brothers ana
her majesty the queen ?"
Then he kissed the outstretched lit.
tie fingers with great dignity and laid
a small package in one palm and n
handful of bcnhons in the other. And
then he wished Her Highness very
merry Christmas and again added his
courteous fluctuations for all the royal
relatives.
Her Highness cooed delightedly, and
oh-cd and ah-cd very softly. and when
she had Toasted her eyes on the tiny
gold en- pin and had read several times
tho inscription: ITO Her Highness.
from her devoted subject" she re-
taxed her royal gravity and threw two
soft little arms around his neck and
kissed him
oh thank you very much, sir
knight" she lisped, and thank you,
TOO. for Your good wishes"
The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1906-12-20

Now when Jesus was born in Beth
lehem of Judea in the days of Herod
the king behold there came wise men
from the east to Jerusalem, saying:
Where is he that is born king of the
Jews? for we have seen his star in
the east and are come to worship him.
When Herod the king heard these
things he was troubled, and all Jeru-
salem with him. Then Herod, when
he had privately called the wise men,
inquired of them diligently what time
the star appeared. And he sent them
to bethlehem. When they had heard
the king they departed, and, 10! the
star which they saw in the east went
before them till it came and stood
where the young child was. When
they saw the star they rejoiced with
exceeding great joy. And when they
were come into the house they saw
the young child with Mary, his moth
err and fell down and worshiped him,
and when they had opened their treas
ures they presented unto him gifts:
gold. frankincense and myrrh. And,
being warned of God in a dream that
they should not return to Herod, they
departed into their own country an
When the wise men saw the star
they said one to another: This is
the sign of the great king; let us go
ana search for him and offer him
gifts; gold, frankincense and myrrh.
Alleluia.-First Vespers of Epiphany.
There is something exotic in the
beauty of this whole story. 1t reads
In St Matthews gospel like for
elgn legend. The strange secrecy,
100, with which this kingly oriental
procession with picturesque costumes
and Jeweled turbans and the dark
laced slaves and the stately stopping
camels, passed over many regions.
makes it more like a visionary SPLEEN
dor. many-co1ored apparition and
not a sober mystery of the humble
incarnate word
What scene for the Imagination
vas the birth of the infant! His first
worshlpers in that poor cave of Beth
lehem are poor shepherds who have
been brought to the child by the an
gels voices. But now change
comes over the scene hardly in keep
ing With the lowliness of Bethlehem.
eAvalcade from the far east ap-
PEACHES Bethlehem. The camel bells
Ire tinkling. A retinue of attendants,
accompanies three Kings OF diner
emit oriental tribes, who come with
their various offerings to the new
born babe. 1t is a romance more ro-
mantle than romance itself would
dare to be. Those swarthy men are
among the wiseSt of the studious
east They represent the lore and
science of their day. Yet have they
done what the world would surely es-
TEEN the most foolish of actions.
They were men whose science led
The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1906-12-20
stroked Her Golden Hair.

Then she sat herself on his knees
and looked unendingly at the dainty
box and its golden pin and nibbIed
her bonbons in great content.
I'm" said he. presently. Isn't
her majesty at court to-day?"
No" Her Highness answered. DO
litely. "She-she went out for a
drive in the park Everybody rides
there in the afternoon. don't they
And-she's going to dinner at aunt.
les"
Indeed, breathed the knight, stand.
ing very rigidly. After time he sat
down again. The silence heightened
until 1t became oppressive to the
child. She observed that the bonbons
We're all gone, but he seemed lost In
reverie SO Her Highness begged
his pardon. and told him again that
they were 'alI gone"
He fumbled in his pocket. and abb
sently handed her another tribute, and
apologized. and then he gulped and
told her highness that she mustn't for
get him when he was many miles
across the ocean.
''And-and you will be away a long
long time? Away in London and Paris
way off in Eurore?"
Yes" he mumbled.
And nobody will bring me pres
ents." sighed the child. but. then"
she added. 81 don't want nobody to
bring me presents till you come
back"
The knight stroked her golden hair
affectionately.
Il don't think" he said. slowly, that
I'm coming back"
The child looked up with wide eyes.
Never" she demanded. wonder
ingly.
Never"
Never any more?"
mo. dear
Her Hlshness regarded him with
mystification.
"Never-comin'-ba And | won't
see you any more ever, and-and-she
won't see you any more?"
No
But l want you to-" she faItered.
Cause -" Then the tears came.
and he gathered her in his arms and
kissed them away and told her that
she mustn't cry. since she made him
feel badly, too, ard he didn't wish
to go away feeling badly.
Besides, he added, soothingly,
Somebody else will come and bring
you presents, and you can call him
your knight
Il won't" declared stifled small
voice from his shoulder. Only you
are our knight Only you,"
After she said this he held her more
tightly than ever and tried not to
groan, but he made such a failure of
his effort that the child detected the
break, and sobbed harder.
You mus come = back" she
walled. 'You-mus'-promis
He gritted his teeth, and forced
down the lump, and then he kissed
her again and put her down on the
throne and smiled at her reassuringly. |
The National tribune., 1906-02-22
THE PILOT KNOB BATTLEFIELD

Representative Rhodes, of Missouri,
has introduced a bill setting aside 160
acres of land and appropriating $4,000
for its improvement as a National Park
to commemorate the sharp little battle
at Pilot Knob by Gen. Ewing's forces
in 1864, which had so much to do with
defeating Prices raid into Missouri. The
ground will embrace old Fort David
son, where the most of the fighting
took place. The Government has al
ready a rifle range there known as the
Arcadia range and Grant Springs and
the Grant Oak. Under the latter Gen.
Grant received his commission as a
Brigadier- General of Volunteers. 1t is
marked and around it are several can
non from the battlefield of Shiloh. There
is also a monument to Gen. Grant. The
Pilot Knob Memorial Association. of
which David Murphy, of st. Louis, is
President, is deeply Interested in the
matter and working hard to secure the
passage Of the bill.
The National tribune., 1906-02-22
GEEMANY's DESCENT FROM THE
PERCH

The funniest event in diplomacy OF
recent years is the way that Gernanys
bluff of a tariff war was called Ger
many started out with a great deal of
trumpeting through the press as to her
dire intents with regard to American
PRODUCTS, and after March 1, we were
going to suffer terrible injuries to our
trade with that country. owing to the
fact that she had determined to put US
out of the favored Nation class. She
had concluded treaties with Italy, Aus
tia and Russia which gave them de-
ciGed advantages, and we would be left
skivering in the cold. For once the
exporters in our own country refused
to be terrified and laughed at Germany's
threats. The only people who seemed
To be scared were Secretary Root and
some other members of the Cabinet.
The Senate stood very pat, and refused
Mr. Roots overtures for a modification
of our tariff laws. 1t even threatened
retaliation, and had several bills in stew
TO impose punitive duties upon goods
coming from a country which discrim-
mated against American products. Mr..
Root was reluctantly compelled to con-
vey to the German Chancellory his in
ability to help them, and they must
prepare for the worst. Now the Ger
man Chancellory is trying to find some
way to save its face and climb down off
the perch. AS The National Tribune
has said, the products which we sell to
Germany are sold at a very low margin
OF profit, and they cannot be procured
from any other Nation as good in quail
ity and as cheap. Germany has been
trying to buy elsewhere for years, and
has done our products all the damage
| that she possibly could. with the result
| oe failure in her efforts. She can no
where get as good cotton, lard. pork,
| wheat, -four etc, as from America On
| the other hand, she sells us an immense
amount Of high-priced goods upon
| which she makes an enormous profit
A little disturbance Of this trade will
cause our merchants to seek to obtain
them from England and France to the
great detriment of the German manu-
facturers of wines, aniline colors, cot
| ton goods. etc. etc. Therefore, she
stands to lose much and we nothing in
any fight that she may precipitate. Her
threatened tariff war was therefore a
very transparent bluff, and does not in
crease her prestige in diplomacy.
The National tribune., 1906-02-22
FOR AN INCREASED RATE.

Col. W. L. Curry. the active and eff
cient Commissioner of Soldiers Claims
of Ohio. is always on the lookout for
some way to benefit the veterans and
their widows. He has started the circu-
lation of a petition among the veterans
of the Union army. Spanish War. the
Ladies' Auxiliary organizations and the
citizens of Franklin County to sup
port the efforts of Representative
E. l.. Taylor in securing the pas
tive f. l.. TAYLOR in securing the pas
sage of bills favori-- veterans. ant
especially one amending the act of June
81. 1890. to increase the rate of widows
pensions from IS to S12 a month. tc
grant pensions to widows who have
married since the enactment OF said
law. and to raise the income to which
the widows are entitled from $3.50 Il
5000 a year. The petitions are being
numerously tiened all over Franklin
County, which comprises Mr. Taylor.
district
The National tribune., 1906-02-22

The letter of Justice Rufus w. Peck
ham, of the New York Supreme Court.
to the Mutual Insurance Company In
vestigating Committee. will tend strong
ly to improve the situation, by its clear
cut. definite pronouncement upon the
actualities. Justice Peckham thinks
that Richard A. McCurdy, the express
ident, is clearly liable to the law for
his malversation of the policy holders
money, and that immediate suit should
be begun against him, so that he should
not be allowed to leave for Europe, and
place himself beyond the reach of the
courts. The President of the COMPANY
replies that Justice Peckham shall have
nc reason TO find fault with his action
The value of this letter of Justice
Peckham is that It clearly stamps the
unlawfulness of what McCurdy and
others of that ilk have claimed were al
the most but Irregularities, and within
the proper scope of their privileges. II
gives a much-needed admonition to in
surance officers everywhere to moderate
their greed if they would keep on the
safe side of the legal dead-line.
The National tribune., 1906-02-22
GRAFT IN THE PHILIPPINES.

The most astounding case Of graft in
the Philippines appears to be the work
of the friars. The Roman Catholics all
over the world are aroused TO indigna-
ton by the manner in which the friars
have looted the Church in the Archi-
pelago. When the Government paid
them some s7,00O,O0O in compensation
for their property in the Islands, it was
expected that the greater part of this
money would remain in the Archipelago
for the support of religion. Pope Leo
XIII explicitly and positively promised
Mr.. Taft that this should be SO, and
instructions were cabled to the Delegate
Apostolic to unfrock the Superiors of
the Orders if they did not turn over to
him the money received, to be held in
trust until the Holy See should make a
final disposition of the money. The
present Pope renewed these instruc-
tions, but the then Apostolic Delegate
died, and before his successor could be
appointed the friars put the money "out
OF reach of Pope or Delegate" The
result is that the Church in the Islands
with hundreds of parishes vacant. The
Western Watchman, of St Louis. the
leading Roman Catholic paper in the
West. says:
There is not q Catholic in the United
States to-day who would touch a dollar
of the money stolen from the poor
Catholic Filipinos; but the sack of holy
poverty does not refuse it; the long
sleeve of the friar will conceal it."
Father PheIan, who has been inyes-
tigating the matter. says:
IF ever there was tainted money it
was that realized by the monks from
the spoliation Of the Philippines. As
the history of that spoliation is written
the more sacrilegious does it appear.
The conduct of the monks has brought
disgrace on their Orders and on the
Holy See.
"As for the faithful they will insist
on knowing why monks who came into
the ministry on the plea that they did
not want, and would not have money,
now forget their vow and place $1,000
900 of tainted money above the H.
600, 900 of souls they left behind, and in
danger of being eternally lost, in the
Philippines"
The American Bishops in the Islands
are making urgent cries for priests, but
there is not even money enough to pay
the passage of the young priests in this
country who are eager to go to that
field of labor. The New England Catho-
lies have recently sent money enough
to England to pay the passage of six OF
eight priests to the Archipelago.