davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1907-12-17
oUTDiD UNCLE SAM.
How an Old Lady Found Person the
National Postoffice Couldn't.

How an Old Lady Found a Person the
National Postoffice Couldn't.
"The fates call and mortals obey"
The speaker was small precise and
elegant old lady whose diminutive stat
ure was quite forgotten by her hearers
in the realization of her force and dig
nifty. She had gone to the dead letter
sale under protest and was narrating
an experience which grew out of the
purchase she had made. 81 went to
that sale not because | wanted to or
was interested or expected to buy any
thing, but because I've an impertinent
grandniece who limited l was too old
to be in such a crowd.
"After awhile the auctioneer offered
package as big as a sack of -four,
and bought it for So cents. Then
when | brought it home I found it
contained nothing but lot of worn,
threadbare clothing mended almost to
death. | was just about to force it
on that grandniece of mine and make
her distribute it to some poor families
when found letter in the pocket of
the coat I've kept that letter. The
writer was a young girl from down
east in Massachusetts. She was send
ing that clothing as the only Christ
mas gift she could make for her broth
err Ben, who lived in city In Wis
consin.
"Well, when | read that letter just
sat down and cried to think that poor
girls sewing had all gone astray.
made up my mind that if the postal
authorities could not find that girls
brother could So did up the bun
die again. put letter outside asking
the postman to return the package to
me if he couldn't deliver it and then
addressed the whole thing to Mary
Burgess Brother Ben. -, Wis.,
Would you believe that that postman
in that Wisconsin town really found
that poor boy and gave him the bun
die? An6 now I've letter from the
girl in which she tells me both she and
her brother are in much improved cir
cumstances. that Ben has a fine posi-
ton in a furniture factory and that
they are soon to be together for good"
Washington Star.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1907-12-17

gold twenty and ten mark pieces and
another of silver five mark pieces. His
majesty fills his pockets when he goes
walking in the parks at Potsdam, and
the little children and old men and
women who are fortunate enough to
meet him or soldiers standing sentry,
stamping in the snow, are certain of a
gift, accompanied not infrequently by
joke.
The kaiser's best side Is seen at
Christmas. There is story current
that once near the palace of Sans
Souci the kaiser came upon a half
frozen sentinel with very red nose and
eyes. The sentinel, with stiff fingers.
brought his rifle to the salute.
Gold day." said his majesty. The
sentinel did not reply, but his teeth
chartered.
"How long have you been ON dutyf"
asked the kaiser Still no reply.
"Stupid7 said his majesty. why
don't you speak when address your
The sentinel moved his jaws and lips,
but no word escaped. The kaiser burst
out laughing and, turning to his adj
jutant, said:
Take this chap into the palace, put
him before fire. thaw him out. par
ticularly his jaws. see he gets a big
hot drink and big feed, and, here"
turning to the sentry. take this and
drink my health and the empress"
The soldier found voice at last. He
beloved out the one word MATES
taet."
The empress is always practical with
her gifts. Every year her majesty
grows more popular among the best ell
ements of the people. Her unassuming
ways, entire freedom from hauteur,
consideration for servants and kindly
interest In the welfare OF the poor and
helpless endear her in ever widening
circles of Germans. She is fond Of pre-
senting ladies with costly lace.
The young princes, headed by the
crown prince. show little discrimina-
ton in their gifts scarfplns, rings.
so on, being their staple gifts, varied
sometimes by book, picture or a
statuette. Victoria Louise's gifts OF
dolls to her friends are numerous. To
favored friends she does not mind pre-.
senting kitchen ranges and furnished
dolls houses. She is In close asso.
citation with the matrons' and soldiers
orphanagcs at Potsdam. and the mum.
Der of little girls who receive her gifts
is enormous. Stores of oranges and
honey cakes are collected by her for
distribution on Christmas eye.-New
York World.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1907-12-17
Her Little PRAYER.

Former Comptroller Edward NJ
Grout of New York city tells a pretty
little Christmas story.
He said that little girl relative of
his was visiting her grandmother on
Thanksgiving day. Already the child
had begun to speculate on what Santa
Claus was to bring her at Christmas
time, and, as children-especially girls
will do when they are at the home
of an indulgent friend. she began to
rummage through closets and drawers.
In the course of her investigation
she came upon brand new white muff
1t was the very thing she had wanted,
AMI she knew that Santa Claus chief
purchasing agent-grandma-h OBJ
tanned it for her.
Taxed with it. grandma admitted the
truth.
But" she said. you must forget all
about it until Christmas day.
that night as she was being put to
bed the child astonished her mother by
adding this to her evening prayer:
Please. God. make me forget all
about the little white muff Santa Claus
is TO bring. New York Times
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1907-12-17
THE THREE WISE MEN.
Who Were They?-An unsoIved
Christmas Mystery.


Christmas Mystery.
One Christmas mystery remains un.
solved. Who were the wise men of the
east the magi who followed the star
of Bethlehem from afar to do homage
to the newborn Saviour?
The simple story as told in the Bible
Is one of the most familiar in Christ
mas lore. Any child could recite 1t in
detail Painters and sculptors have
made 1t the theme of the most inspired
products of their brushes and chisels
but to this day the Identity Of these
wise men remains a mystery.
search of the great paintings in which
the subject is e.'eated produces be
wildermeEt. There are half a hun.
dred different ideas presented. The
varying versions of the books Of the
ages are as many.
1t is fair to assume from the fact
that the visitors were received at court
by King Herod and that they carried
gifts Of value that they were In their
own country men Of royalty or close
to 1t. Herod evidently deemed it well
to treat them with Difference. for dis
quieted though he was by their news
of the comet that was to lead them to
the birthplace of the Redeemer he dis
sembled and told them that when they
had found the newborn he would re.
turn to worship with them.
Much of our Information about the
early days Of the Christian era comes
from the monks of the fourteenth cen
fury, who delyed deeply into historical
sources since lost to the world. Their
story of the three wise men has receiv-
ed wide credence According to these
monks, the wise men were three great
kings called Caspar, Melchoir and Bal
thasar Caspar was the oldest and
from the north. At the time Of the
birth Of Christ he was sixty years old
and for more than two-thirds Of that
time he had ruled In Arabia Baltha-
sar was black. native of Saba. from
the east. and forty years old. The
youngest was Melchoir. from the south
NHOoc SOuAlly W 10 al SlllSa. 6c w ds
twenty years old.
Impelled by some mysterious power
they dropped all the cares of state and
followed single star thirteen days
and nights without eating or sleeping
till it led them to Jerusalem.
Then the story follows that of the
Bible until they returned to their own
countries.
The story does not stop here. 1t tells
circumstantially the after life of the
three wise men. The good Apostle st
Thomas journeyed to their country and
baptized them, and all three went out
to preach the doctrine of the Christ.
They were slain by barbarous gen
tiles. and later the Empress Helena
mother of Constantine, recovered theil
sacred bones and took them to Con
stantinople. Thence they were carried
to Milan and finally found an ultimate
resting place in Cologne, where they
now are.-New York Post.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1907-12-17
CHRISTMAS OH SHIP or ICE.
Strange Story of Skipper Shipwrecke
on the Pacific.

Strange Story of Skipper Shipwrecked
on the Pacific.
Captain S. A. Hoyt. secretary of the
Masters and Pilots association Of Seat
tie, Wash. and possibly one of the
most widely known seafaring men on
the Pacific coast, has fund Of expe-
riences to draw from when he wishes
to while away an hour. Up in the big.
pleasant rooms of the association the
captain recently told the following
tale:
1.-THE approach of Christmas always
reminds me of the December that
spent on an ice ship. Never heard of
one? Well. they are unusual. l was
master of the little brig Holly, and
along about the LIST of November we
were wrecked away down south of the
Horn. The ship went on an ice foe
and was battered all to pieces. We
did manage to save some tools and
food and part Of the cargo.
Il put the crew to work to cut Off a
large pinnarle of the berg. Then / set
them all to work with axes, and we
shaped it into graceful ships hull.
After that we followed it out inside
making cabins and everything like q
regular ship, and with some of the
timber saved from our vessel we rig
ged her as bark. side lights and ev-
erything. even going SO far as to paint
her and name her the Holly. She was
fine craft and fioated like duck
when finally launched. We spent
Christmas on board of her and had a
great time. l loaded part of the wreck
ed Holly's cargo in hey and we then
started for Callao. which was our des-
tination.
1.-THE ice ship sailed fine and was as
good a sea boat as any in which l sail
ed This was only. however, when we
were down south in cold water. The
nearer we got to the equator the light
er became our vessel, and finally dis
covered that our ship was melting be-
meath us. Another two days and we
would have been in the water when
steamer picked us up and also saved
the cargo. This paid for the loss of
the vessel. which was also insured, SO
the owners came out ahead in the
end"
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1907-12-17
IT SAW WHAT HAD NEVER sEEN BEFORE,
A GROWING CHRISTMAS TREE"

berry tree. The ladies of the house
came out about 2 o'clock and deco
rated the tree, with the assistance of
some OF the men. Even the men re-
quired stepladders to reach the top
most boughs. First, the ladies gave
them some artificial icicles, which they
hung ON the branches in great profu-
sion. AS the sun was shining brightly
by this time, it gave the icicles a very
glittering appearance, and the wind,
commencing to blow, shook them gen.
tly. making the Illusion more perfect.
Then long bright ribbons of many coll
ors were suspended from the topmost
limbs and fruit and candies tied on
with ribbons of the same color-or-
anges with orange ribbon. apples with
red ribbon, lines with green ribbon
etc. Small toys were suspended from
the tree; large ones were at the base
1t presented very gorgeous spectacle,
and the sight of the happy children
that surrounded it made one wish to
be child again to enjoy 1t to the ut
termost. But the best was yet to come
SIN the front yard were the presents
intended for the grown people, and
each man received one. One was q fine
surrey. Five were each given fifty and
seventy-five dollar saddles. Several
married men got handsome metal bed
steads, with springs and mattresses.
Twenty or thirty fine hats, costing
81 apiece. were distributed and many
other articles, all the best of their
ceived an all leather suit case. This
last item may seem strange on a ranch,
but there are many polished gentle
men among the employees who would
consider suit cases very necessary
should they have occasion to visit the
city.
"All this while music was to be
heard from a band stationed on the
front porch. where many of the visit
ors were seated. After the Santa Claus
of the Christmas tree had retired and
the presents to the grownups had been
distributed all repaired to the porch
and front yard to see again the glee-
full children and the tree, and surely 1t
was thing of beauty and, with its
fruits and flowers, looked as though 1t
had been transplanted from fairyiand.
1.-THE people that came from a dis
lance departed before nightfall. but
those that lived near by remained for
an evening of music and good cheer,
and thus ended a happy Christmas
day."
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1907-12-17
THE ACTORS CHRISTMAS.
Life on the Boards Is Not All Happy
Holiday.

Lire on tne 6odrCS Is NOt All HAPPY
Holiday.
81 like Christmas" said an actor.
mo two are ever alike in my busi-
ness. Last year. for instance. the COM
pany | was with was four weeks be-
hind in salaries, and we were simply
hanging on with the hope of the big
houses Christmas day pulling US out
little. We were playing one night
stands and left some little town in
New York state for Wheeling. w. Va,
right after the performance. 1t was a
trip that called for three changes of
cars. and there We're no sleepers in any
of them.
Every car on every train was loaded
with holiday excursionists. and every
male excursionist was loaded with rye
and birthstone. There were fights
fresh every half hour, and constables
met us with open arms and clubs at
every station. No eating stations were
honored by US, and we arrived at
Wheeling too late to give a matinee
performance, our manager had two
black eyes ard a broken wrist, and
our star had lost a new set of teeth,
without which he refused to play at
night
THE report had 1t that we were all
in JAIL and there would have been no
house anyway. We had to get up
three benefit performances before we
could get money enough to buy tickets
to New York. but we got there. How
ever. as | SAID before. Christmas days
are not all alike. Buffalo News.
Genesis of the Hailstcne.
If it We're not for the countless tril-
lions OF dust particles that float, sep
arately, invisible, in the atmosphere
there could be DO raindrops. snow crys-
tails or haiistones. From a perfectly
dustless atmosphere the moisture would
descend in ceaseless rain without
drops. The dust particles serve as
nuclei about which the vapor gathers.
The snow crystal is the most beaut-
full creation of the serial moisture,
and the hailstone is the most extraor-
binary The heart of every hailstone
is a tiny speck of dust. Such
speck, with a little moisture condensed
about it, is the germ from which may
be formed hailstone capable Of fell
ing man or smashing window. But
first 1t must be caught up by a current
OF mir and carried to the level Of the
lofty cirrus clouds. five or six or even
ten miles high. Then, continually
growing by fresh accessions Of mois-
ture, it begins its long plunge to the
earth, spinning through the clouds and
flashing in the sun like diamond bolt
shot from rainbow.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1907-12-17
THE NEWSBoYS' PIE.
1t Took Man Who Looked Like Bina
ham to Find IT,

ham to Find 1t.
Tramp! Tramp! Tramp. Two hun
dred and fifty pairs Of little feet, keep
ing step, are marching to dinner in the
New York newsboys' lodging house.
Five hundred pairs more are restlessly
awaiting their turn upstairs. In prison,
hospital and almshouse the great
city is host and gives Of her plenty
Here an unknown friend has spread a
generous repast for the waits who all
the rest of the days shift for them
selves as best they can-turkey, cot
fee and pie. with vegetables to fill in.
AS the file of eagle eyed youngsters
passes down the long tables there are
swift movements of grimy hands, and
shirt waists bulge. ragged coats sag
at the pockets. Hardly is the file seat
ed when the plant rises: Il amt got
no pie. 1t got swiped on mew Seven
despoiled ones hold up their hands
The superintendent laughs-it is
Christmas eve. He taps one tentative
ly on the bullying shirt What have
you here. my lad?H
Me pie responds he, with an limo
cent look. Il was scarf it would get
STOLE"
A little fellow who has been eying
one of the visitors attentively takes bis
knife out of his mouth and points 1t at
him with conviction.
Il know you" he pipes. You're q
p'lice commissioner. | seen yer picture
In the papers. You're Binghamm
The CHATTER of knives and forks
ceases suddenly. Seven pies creep
stealthily over the edge of the table
and are replaced on as many plates
The visitors laugh 1t was a case of
mistaken identity.-Century
Whore Bells Ring Underground.
Near Raleigh. in Nottinghamshire
England. there is a valley said to have
been caused by an earthquake several
hundreds of years ago. and it is now
usual on Christmas morning for old
men and women to tell their children
and young friends to go to the valley,
stoop down and hear the bells ringing
merrily in the ruins of the church un.
DER the grouud.-Tit-Bits,
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1907-12-17
CHRISTMAS NEAR THE POLE.
Where Seal Meat and Whales Blubber
Take Turkeys Place.

Where Seal Meat and Whales Blubber
Take Turkeys Place.
II think Christmas. 1888, was my
most memorable one" said General
Greedy the artlc explorer. with my
command was proceeding southwark
In the hope of obtaining help. and
about the Goth OF October we en-
sconced ourselves Ia a little hut at
Cape Sabine. Our supply Of food was
running very low, aud we were on
very short ratlons, every one being al
lowed just food enough in each TWEEN
ty-four hours to sustain life. Under
these depressing circumstances and
amid the awful silence Of the polar
night the cheerfulness that we contin-
ued to maintain was remarkable.
christmas day came mt last Christ
mas in the arctic regions! At 6 O'Clock
we had our breakfast-thln soup made
Of peas. carrots. blubber and potatoes.
Our Christmas dinner was served at /
o'clock first course. a stew OF seal
meat. onions. bubber. potatoes and
breadcrumbs; second course, served
one hour after FIRST. stew OF raislns.
blubber and milk; dessert. a cup OF
hot chocolate One of our party had
some tobacco still left. and he very
kindly made a cigarette for each one
In our little party.
II VIII wager that IN all Christen-
dom that day not another present was
given or received that gave such in
tense delight 10 the recipients as did
those little rolls Of tobacco and paper.
They were quickly ahame and being
pulled away at for dear life. and thus
my most memorable Chrlstmas-a
Christmas near the north pole ended
in smoke. "-Plttsburg Dispatch.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1907-12-17
KING HERoD's RoosTzR.
The Legend Of st. Stephen, First Of
the Noble Army of Martyrs.

the Noble Army of Martyrs.
Ever since that first Christmas eve
the cock has crowed all night long on
the anniversary to keep away evil
spirits, for the cock is holy bird and
a knowing one. There is a pleasant
tale of him and St Stephen, the first
martyr. whose day is Dec 20, close by
his dear Lords.
st. Stephen was King Herod's stew
ard, 1T seems, who served him In the
kitchen and at table. One night as be
was bringing in the boar's head for his
masters dinner he saw the star shin
ing over Bethlehem. Immediately be
set down the huge platter and ex.
claimed:
mo longer, Herod, will l be thy sery-
ant, for a greater King than thou Is
born"
What aiIeth theeY' cried the king
wrathfully. DO you lack meat OF
drink that you would desert my sery-
ice for another'sT'
Nay answered Stephen; II lack
neither meat nor drink, but the Child
that is born this night is greater than
all Of us. and him only win serve"
That is as true quoth Herod. smit-
ing the table with his fist, "as that this
roast cock on the platter shall crow be-
fore u.s."
Hardly were the words out Of his
mouth when the cock stretched bis
neck and crowed Justify, "Christus ma
tus estr At this proof that Stephens
words were true Herod was 50 angry
that he made his soldiers take Stephen
outside the walls Of Jerusalem and
stone him to death And this il the
reason why unto this day St Stephen
Is the patron Of stonecutters-Ab bie
FarweIl Brown in Lippincott's N-ga-
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1907-12-17
STRANGE Christmas supsrstition

II north Germany a person must not
spin during the twelve nights of Christ
mas lest he or she should walk after
death, nor after sunset on Saturday,
for then mice will eat the work If it
is desired to have money and luck all
the year round. one must not fail to
eat herrings on New Years day. ner if
you wish to be lucky must you rock an
empty cradle or spill salt wantonly or
cross in:Ees or point at the stars. II
a dirty cloth is left on the table over
Christmas night il will make the an.
gels weep. If you point upward to the
ra:nbow it will make the angels feet
bleed. and If you talk of cabbages
while looking at Tie moon you will
uurt the feelings of the man in it.-Tit-
Bits
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1907-12-17
WHEN SANTA WENT AsTRAY.
Miracle of the Loaves Repeated For
Washington's Poor.

Washington's Poor.
The day of miracles has not passed
according to the firm belief of hun
dred or more poor people in Washing
ton. Last Christmas day Almas tenn
pie of the Shriners gave its annual din
ner to the poor. 1t was a well planned
affair, generously contributed to. and
turned out big success. But the most
notable thing about it was not on the
occasion.
While the Shriners were feeding
their guests there came to their hall
$50 loaves of bread. The huge six
foot Santa Claus was busy cracking
Jokes as he waddled about and took
tree. In the middle Of one Of his sto-
ries there entered another big, fat San
ia Claus. carrying colossal basket
full Of bread. and behind him were
three or four negroes, also carrying
baskets Of bread. One of the Shriner
committeeman at once inferred that
some one had sent gift of bread to
be distributed and signed receipt for
the $50 loaves. In few minutes they
were handed around to the heads of
families. and an additional smile of
Christmas joy went around with them.
When the festivities were nearly
over and the crowd had begun to dis
perse a man came running in and ask
ed:
ibid you get $50 loaves Of bread"
Eve did," was the reply.
"What did you do with itT
"Gave it away"
"Well. that was an order from the
Carroll institute. 1t came here by
mistake. But 1t is all right. We are
glad you gave It away. and II you need
more let us know" and the man went
away. evidently fully satisfied with
the incident.-New York Times.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1907-12-17
Christmas ON
T af5's RANCH.
(N EcRETARY OF WAR TAFT is

~ ECRETARY OF WAR TAFT Is
NJ part owner of one of the largest
NJ ranches in Texas, the Coleman
Fulton ranch. SO called, a liz, 900
acre farm" eleven miles from Corpus
Christi on the San Antonio and Aran-
sas Pass railroad. One hundred men
are always and $50 men sometimes
employed on it
Il was so fortunate as to have the
pleasure of seeing unique Christmas
tree on this RANCH" writes Mary Elise
Muncey in the st. Louis Globe-Demo-
crat. christmas morning. though
warm. was foggy. and slow rain fell,
but by II o'clock the sun came out,
and the people at the ranch house be-
gan to make their preparations. Ever
since early morning the employees
from the different farms had been COM
ing in. All kinds of vehicles were
pressed into service. Some came on
horseback and some on foot. There
were many children.
II saw what had never seen be-
fore. a growing Christmas tree. Just
in front of the house was large null