davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1907-12-19
= az S's 4z SSs zeAaHssS sAn zsS
Simple Sin1on's Part i'm
a Christmas Dinner

feather-breadth escapes known only to
himself and the Martin family.
May Day dawned warm and sunny.
Worms had fairly wriggled themselves
into the goslings mouth that morning,
and he felt more than content as he
Squatted in the sun on the back kitch-
en- step. Suddenly, in turning his head
to the left, he spied a tempting red
object peeping up from great, round,
whitish looking surface. The gosling
made a dash, and splash! he went
under the shining white surface. He
had that red bit, however, and as he
swallowed it he instinctively struck
out with his legs. What delightful
sensation the gosling had then. He
seemed born for padding, and as he
padded he kept bobbing his head
down into the white substance and
fetching up the most appetizing
things Evidently the world had been
made for nothing except gobbling and
padding.
By and by he began to feel tired.
He determined to jump out on the
steps again, but strange to say all his
jumps turned to paddles. He couldn't
seem to get over a hard, brown object
next to the steps. He decided to try
no more but just to sit still, so he dou-
bled his short legs up under him and
floated After a while he felt himself
sinking, but he padded twice or thrice
and got UP again. Still it was pleas
anter to drift, so he rested once more.
Lower and lower he sank. Strange
odors floated UP around him. Drowsi-
ness besieged him. Not much except
his head was now above surface, but
somehow, as he rested his bill on that
cool substance the gosling didn't care.
Just then Mary Ann came out with a
pan of Feelings and dashed them in.
Peep peep!" murmured the COS
ling. bobbing up and down.
La" calculated Mary Ann, and ran
for the shovel
When she had shoveled him out on
the grass she finished her exclamation.
La! amt that fool goose got no
more sense that to go swimmin' in the
slop bucket"
"Peep!" replied the gosling, placidly
turning over on the grass in the warm
sun with a deliciously filled feeling.
Lazily the summer months drifted
by. One day and another that fool
goose as every one came to designate
him, figured continually before the
! public eye. So entirely devoid of
sense did his eScaDadeS seem that the
hired man named him Simple ST.
mon," for short.
With the coming of the snappy De-
cember days people began to think of
Christmas feasts, and the farmers to
look over their poultry with an eye
to the markets. One frosty day when
Mrs. Martins kitchen breathed spicy
odors her husband slouched in.
I've just been looking over the
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1907-12-19

wee striped bantams, two long legged
peeyish turkeys. and two perpetually
hungry ducks But when it came to
the twin goslings there was only one
OF them. OF course, the different twins
associated together and told each 9th
g. their trials and joys, their fears
and hopes; but the gosling was the
yellow sheep Of the family He knew
no troubles but his own, he wanted
little and when he found a happy
hunting ground Of bugs he had it all to
himself He had also little habit
II wabbling in while two chickens
fought over bug, quietly gobbling up
the insect and calmly turning his back
without even 50 much as a reminder
that there no longer existed a cause
for quarrelling. Others might have
sharp bills to dig and fight, but he
had a broad one to grasp and retain.
IN his independent. happy go-lucky
way he waddled through the world,
making strange friends. and having
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1907-12-19
Christmas HobqobIins.

Christmas time in Greece is known
as the season of the Twelve Days be-
cause over there its observance lasts
for that length of time.
The children are early taught that
during the Christmas period ghosts
and hobgoblins are abroad in the
land, and they must be very careful
of their actions, for fear of punish
ment
Santa Clause, with his good things,
does not seem to be very popular in
that country. 1t is on New Years
eve that everyone makes merry and
that sweetmeats and gifts are given
between friend and friend
Gaily dressed children go about
from house to house, singing and
playing, and in return for their en-
tertainment are given figs, nuts and
candy, and sometimes other kinds
of food.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1907-12-19
HOLLY AND MISTLETOE

back curtains The scarlet berries
of the mountain ash and drywood are
particularly decorative. Partridge
vine. wintergreen berries, bitter
sweets, gay summer leaves, butter
nuts and walnuts gathered green in
the branches. myrtle, ivy, all are good.
Notices give a festive air. Heavy
cardboard forms the foundation for
the letters, use laurel or cedar cut
into small twigs and liquid glue or
mucilage. Frost powder often is
sprinkled over the letters, Occasion
ally a bact .ound of gay velveteen is
used.
Love will bring Christmas"
Live is king"
1.-The gladdest day of the year.
christmas peace
old Christmas still comes once a
year"
A clever decoration for large hall
is an evergreen arch embellished with
clusters of holly or carnations. Ar
range palms and ferns on the land
ings.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1907-12-19

for the Queensland sugar plantations.
heard of the gathering and dropped
anchor off the island on Christmas
morning The captain, however, see
ing the number of natives, hesitated
to modest them.
Telling the story, Mr.. Patton said:
my first anxiety was the labor
schooner but soon a new peril threat
ened. Some Of the heathens had not
met since war had ragged between
them. At first they simply glared at
each other, and then old hatreds broke
out and hot words were spoken.
again and again l started some
contest that would scatter the excited
groups, but they soon came together
again. Then 1 went from group to
group and tried to spread better
feeling. Our Christmas gathering was
nearly turned into a scene of blood
shed in our very garden, but fortu.
nately all passed off most happily"
Among the Head Hunters of Formosa.
Through the center of the beautiful
island of Formosa there runs, like a
backbone, a great range of forest-clad
mountains. The original inhabitants
of Formosa, a wild, savage, ferocious
race of men, live upon these noun
tains. Christmas was first carried
to these people by brave missionary
named George Leslie MacKay.
MacKay had spent several years on
the coast and in the interior, but he
hesitated long before he took his life
in his hand by seeking out the bar
barians OF the mountains, to whom
no white man had ever ventured.
The favorite pastime of these saw
ages was to cut off the heads of their
enemies and decorate their huts with
them. They had been indulging in
this sport when MacKay drifted into
one of their villages and spent Christ
mas day with one of their chiefs.
"The chiefs home consisted of one
large room 30 feet long" said MacKay.
"a fire blazed at either end The
men, dressed in coarse linen sacks
! with holes cut for the arms, and q
broad belt Of braided rattan, in which
was stuck a long, crooked sharp-point-
ed knife, stood around one fire. while
the women, with much the same dress,
save that in addition they had many
rings of brass around their arms and
limbs, and innumerable ornaments on
their bodies, squatted around the
other fire.
$50, on that Christmas night, sat
there with these rude people, the
room lighted by the fires and by can
dies made from the heart of the fir
tree. The men smoked their bamboo
pipes, while the women were busy
threadmaking on curious little ma
chimes Of their own; and all, men and
women, were laughing and talking
merrily and making a great noise. 1t
was certainly a merry Christmas, and
strange one to me.
after a time, with the help of the
native converts, who had accompanied
me on this dangerous trip, sang
some Christmas hymns to these saw
age mountaineers, who had never
seen a white man before; and / spent
Christmas evening trying to explain to
them the old, old story that has been
told so often in SO many lands since
the first Christmas morning"
The savages took great pleasure in
the singing of the Christmas hymns.
and MacKay and his friends came to
no harm by their bold expedition.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1907-12-19
Two of Them.

Christmas is the limiting" season;
hints that would be resented at other
times are then permissible.
"Now, Eva said the fond uncle,
wishing to know his best little niece's
mind upon a highly interesting sub
ject. and preferring to get at it indi-
rectly, eff l were going to buy doll
for a little girl, what kind of a one
do you think she would like?"
ooh, Uncle William answered the
mite. there is nothing like twins!"
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1907-12-19

missionary stationed at Bailundu, AT
RIGA, tells an amusing story of how
Santa Claus terrified the black chill
dren at her mission station, where he
first appeared to them a year or two
ago
They had celebrated Christmas at
Bailundu before, but they never had
Santa Claus, so Mr. Slower dressed
himself up as the benevolent saint
''He had been padded and powdered
and packed until his own mother
would not have known him. said
Mrs. Slower Presently we gave
the signal and the door flew open and
in walked Santa Claus. But dear me,
what CONSERVATION!
''He was greeted with shrieks and
groans and cries of:
"'Let me Quit
eft is the evil one!'
"1t is the day of judgment!
"The small fry, catching the in
lection of terror from the elder black
people, fed to the bedrooms, fell down
upon their faces, crept under chairs
and tables-anywher to hide them
selves
Poor Santa Clans never had such
a greeting before. AS soon as he
realized the panic he had caused, he
tore off his tall hat and white cotton
beard. and from the bags on his back
began to throw gifts right and left,
and to tell who he was.
Treasured once more, they we're
soon all laughing and chatting, MUNICH
ing the great red breads dough
nuts), tasting their fruits or nibbling
at the sweets in the familiar little
bags.
"One man wondered which end up
he was to hold the fork Santa Claus
had given him. Another Immediately
tried on his new shirt. The girls ar
ranged their bright-hued handker-
chiefs into nobby turbans, while 9th
ers tried to find some place about
their scanty clothing where they could
stow away the bunch of bread, paper
of needles and cake of soap given to
them.
Each one tried to talk louder than
his neighbor, SO they examined the
costume Of good old Santa Claus, who
had frightened them almost to death
One man said he thought Elijah had
returned, another that it was John
the Baptist. Yet another thought it
was Satan himself, and all my sins
rose up before me- while fourth
confessed: My only thought was to
hide myself"
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1907-12-19

az r ANY of old Speckle's queerly
assorted brood were stepchil
= dren or only adopted she never
betrayed it by even SO much
as an upward roll of her eye. Truth
10 tell, old Speckle knew as we'll as
any one that her inclination ito set"
had come at a slack egg season but
the maternal instincts thrilled her.
and with a touching trust in human
providence she submissively turned
every egg in her nest each day, and
sat week longer than any other hen
would have thought compatible with
her dignity.
Most of Speckle's offspring came in
twins. There were two fluffy white
chickens, two pert black ones, two
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1907-12-19

There is an old Morse legend that
when Bladder. the Light God" was
Killed through the treachery of his
own brother. drops of his blood fell
oa the leaves Of the holly. These
G.ops are now the red berries"
1Ianv are the traditions Of the pa
gan misteltoe In ancient Britain
during the days of the Druids the mis-
tletoe branches were cut with great
ceremony by the white-frocked priest
and blessed. A sprig of the berries
was given each householder to be
placed over the door of his home.
Thus all evil spirits were propitiated.
Branches of green are excellent.
Evergreen wreaths are seen finished
with a large rosette of. red baby rib
bon. The festoons and garlands have
a rope foundation; strong linen thread
and fine florist wire are necessary to
fasten the green's. Clusters of green
cry are arranged in vases and jardi-
nieres. Running pine is required for
light work Bands of evergreen loop
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1907-12-19

5 WHITE men push out,
year by year, into the re-
hottest corners of the
earth, they carry Christ
mas with them as a gift to
the savages with whom
they come in contact. The
American troops have
done this in the past two
or three years in some
of the hitherto untraveled
islands of the Philippines,
had never dared
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1907-12-19
Her Secrets.

Wife-Have you any secrets you
keep from me, dearest?
Husband-None, darling.
Wife-Then l am determined will
have none from you either.
Husband-You have secrets, then?
Wife-Only one, and 1 am resolved
to make a clean breast of it.
Husband (hoarsely)-Go on!
Wife-For several days I have had
a secret-a secret longing for a new
dress with hat to match for Christ
QaS.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1907-12-19
A Christmas Feast That Nearly
Caused RIoodshed.

Rev. Frank Patton, son of the IA.
nous South Sea missionary, John G.
Patton, tells of a thrilling Christmas
which he spent in 1899 at Lenakel, on
the island of Tanna, in the South Pa
cific.
He had a mission station there, and
his native converts were no strangers
to Christmas observance; but they
invited large number Of their heath
en- friends to come to their Yuletide
feast. These heathens knew moth
ing about Christmas, and were quite
unaware that it is supposed to be a
period of peace on earth and good
will toward men,"
Over 1000 natives were gathered for
the great feast The crew of
"blackbirding schooner" eager to get
Kanaka labor by fair means or foul
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1907-12-19
A COMPROMISE,

Nov. sir, told you I'd spank you
if you disobeyed me-" said the bright
boys mother, land I'm going to do ii"
Say, ma" pleaded the boy, femme
off an I'll tell you what pas goin' ter
give you for Christmas"
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1907-12-19
When TO MoraIize.

We will not expatiate upon the evil
and folly of over-indulgence in Christ
mas giftmaking until after Christmas.
Such moralizing follows the dark
brown taste of the morning after
Atlanta Constitution.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1907-12-19

where the Spaniards had never dared
to venture.
Strange, indeed, are some of the
experiences which fall to the lot of
these adventurers when they first
play Santa Claus to a barbarian race
that has never heard the glad old
story Of Yule.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1907-12-19
ZNezYChYzStM0S
Surprise

HIS year" said
Cartwright firm
ly, there are 60
ing to be no
Christmas sur
prises in my hap
py home-none Of
t b o S e pleasant
little attempts at
playing S a n t a
Claus which be-
gin with suspense
and effort and
end in mortifca-
ton and disap-
pointment. I am
going to take my
wife down town
and let her pick
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1907-12-19

Where Santa Claus Caused Terror.
zGrS. Bertha Slower, the wife of a
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-11
IMPORTATION OF
RAW MATERIALS
PRODUCTS FOR MANUFACTURING
PURPOSES INCREAsE IN VOL
UME AND vALUEs-sUREAU OF
STATISTICS ISSUES STATEMENT.

Washington, March 10.-A statement is
sued today by the bureau of statistics
shows that the importatiohs of mahufac-
turers material continues to incseasa.
the value Of the imports OF raw ma terials
for use in manufactures IN the seven
months ending with January, 1907, was
S262 10000, against s223, 10000 in the same
months of last year, VII 10 i1anufactrres
imported for fu'sHe use In W .ufst' NJ
ing am - SloS,0O0,ooo, against si-3
0OO,0oo Ia corresponding period of last
year.
Crude materials formed go per cent OF
the total imports for use in manufactur-
ing, and imports for further use In man
ufacturing 1875 per cent.
Cement imports aggregated $4,000. .o0J:
copper, $23,500,000; raw cotton, $500, 900;
uncut diamonds, s7,0O0000; diamonds cut
but not set, nearly s15,0O0,oo0 fibep s24.-
..s3, coo: hides and skins, s45,0o 900 India
rubber, $1,000, 600; pig iron, ss,3000E silk.
s4l, 500 coo; pig tin, nearly 00,000.
In quantity, cement imports agg4sated
744,OO0O 900 pounds and wool 95.000.01 All of
these items showed large increassslexcept
wool, which decreased over 5.00,1 from
the corresponding period OF last w.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-11
EXPOSITION WILL
OPEN ON MARCH 18
GOVERNMENT EXHIBITS ARRIVE
FOR GREATER LOUISVILLE EX-
POSITION PRESIDENT WILL
PRESS BUTTON. START SHOW.

Louisville KY, March 10.-Govern-
ment exhibits for government court at
the Greater Louisville exposition have
all arrived from Washington including
colonial fora and faunasi, a model of
the battleship Kentucky, the dead letter
museum and various other displays OF
national interest. The exposition opens
March is. In Industrial hall 800 manufac-
turers, all of Louisville, have installed
exhibits.
For half an hour after the great fair
is open to the public by the pressure of
President Roosevelts finger at Washing
ton, dedication exercises will be held
among the participants. With President
Mcdonald at the exposition will be Mai.
NJ. j. Wright, president of the Southern
exposition held here IN 1883; all officers
of general rank that came from the
south during the civil war the governor
of Kentucky and his staff, and other dig
nitaries among whom Associate Justice
John NJ Harlan of the United States su-
preme court is expected
All former governors and United States
senators of Kentucky have been invited
and many Of these are coming to mlngie
with the present congressman and sena-
tors serving the commonwealth In the
United States assembly
The displays include an art exhibit,
containing 300 works Of local painters
ana a literature exhibit comprising 800
works OF local authors. All railroads
within the Southeastern Passenger asso-
citation have declared rates of one fare
plus % cents for round trip passage and
the rates apply to all territory east OF
the Mississippi and south of the Ohio and
Potomac rivers. Eighty miles in Indiana
and Evansville have been included.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-11
THE OIL INDUSTRY
SLOWS INCREASE
BULLETIN ISSUED 1v CrNsiis ALL
REAU SHOWS 104 PETROLEUM
REFINERiES IN OPERATION.
VALUE OF PRODUCT INCREASES.

Washington March 10.-According to n
bulletin issued by the census bureau on
petroleum refining in the United States
for the~calendar year 1906, there were l0i
petroleum refineres in operation Their
total capital was S136. $50, ,541: they en-.
ployed 1910 wage earners paid in wages
~, ,9s9 367: used materials costing S39, ,3a7, :
213, and manufactured products to the
value of 800. As compared with
1900 these figures represent increases as
follows:
In number of rehneries, 3S.7 per cent
capital. 43 per cent; number wage earners.
80 per cent; wages paid 4S.7 per cent;
cost of material, 35.5 per cent. and value
Of products, Az per cent.
The principal products. together with
the value of each follow:
Burning oils, including the different
grades of both Illuminating and fuel oils.
Si0o5d ,S25; residum. s3l3S.36l; parafhn
oils. $6,210.219. paraffin WAX, $40 0O07, 274;
reduced oils, $lG,794.7Si; naphtha and gas
oil. $2l 3l4,S37: neutral filtered oils. 81 49,
153 and all other products. sl5,025, ,S02.
The total volume Of refined products
for which quantities were reported in 1908
was 50. .G3S, 40 barrels of fifty United States
gallons each. This included "a 344, ,522 bar
rels of burning oils and 5.Sli .2s9 barrels
of naphtha and gasoline. The various
classes of products show substantial in
creases in value between 1900 and 1905 ex-
eept neutral filtered oils, which decreased
1879 per cent. Crude petroleum produced
in the United States IN 1904 aggregated
117.0G3 42l barrels. of which 2,647,060 bar.
reis were exported and 66,9s2 .S62 barrels
used by refineries in this country.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-11
Finest Vessels in World viii
{ m o jamestown
WILL Be ATTRACTIVE SHOW
The Navy Department. is Notified
of Some of the Vessels That
viii Be Sent to jamestown
Exposition.

Washington. March 10-In addition to
the great ironclads of the Atlantic coast.
commanded by Admiral Evans, the naval
display at the jamestown exposition will
include some of the finest vessels of for
eign navies. These are mostly of the
cruiser class, but as the armored vessels
of this type are equal to battleships in
size and scarcely less formidable in ap-
pearance, they will make an attractive
show. The navy department has been ad-
vised up to date of the coming of the
following foreign ships:
Great Britain--The armored cruisers
Goodhope, flagship; Argyle, Mapstead and
Roxburg under command of Rear Ad-
mral Neville.
France-Armored cruisers Kelbar and
Victor Hugo and another cruiser to take
the place OF the Jean Bart, recently
wrecked off the African coast, commands
ed by Rear Admiral Thierry
Japan-rhe cruisers TsulIugo and Chi
tose. under command of Vice Admiral
ljuin. These vessels are expected to ar
rive in Hampton Roads May S.
Portugal-One cruiser, probably the Don
Carlos.
Austria-The armored cruiser Charles
VI, and another cruiser, not yet named.
1talY-One armored cruiser and one oro-
teeted cruiser, yet to be designated
Sweden-One warship, not vet named s
Brazil--One to three warships, not YER
named.
Chlle-The cruiser Zenteno.
Belsium-Will send a military delega-
ton.
china-A military and n naval delega-
ton.