davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1907-12-21

plates and ON which was printed this
statement:
Il have for a long time believed
that the people of this town celebrated
Christmas, not for the purpose of ex,
hibiting the true Christmas spirit, but
simply to Guido one another in making
a big show. II you are true to the
faith you possess you will forgive me
for what have done and thank me for
teaching you valuable lesson. 1t is
not what you give or shat you receive,
but the spirit in which it is given and
received. I give you all these things
with the heartiest good wishes and
with the hope that JOY will be yours in
fullest measure. sHow will you receive
them? NICHOLAS BRADSHAW
For a moment there was painful
silence. Then the Baptist minister
mounted chair and said:
I think Mr.. Bradshaw has, as he
says, taught us profitable lesson
We have been drifting away from the
true Christion faith. We have made
Christmas time not of joy but OF
dread to the people who have to pay
the bills. We give not for the joy OF
giving, but with the hope of receiving
something just as good in return. !.
propose a vote of thanks to Mr.. Brad
shaw for opening our eyes"
Some of the children and a few o.
the women were inclined to be sullen
but the vote of thanks was given with
good deal of enthusiasm, and Their
Old Nick opened the door of an ad
joining room which was filled with
real things to eat and fine presents for
all the. people, and when everybody
was seated and the feast was at its
height he stood up, saying in tones
that were rather husky:
Friends, l have for a good many
years been a skeptic. have not be-
lfeved in God and 1 have regarded all
people as being inherently mean and
selfish You have shown me that I
was mistaken. My old faith has come
back to me: you have made me the
happiest man in the world. God bless
you an"-Chicago Record Herald.
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1907-12-21

ali but loved the grizzled old man, and
marveled at him, for he knew the lake
bottom from Point Betsie to the great
log rollway that SCARED the bluffs
north of Waugoshance light, as most
men know dry land. Billy Noonan,
however, also loved the old captains
daughter, Mary, and had hoped-how
he had hoped!-to bring in big catch
of whitefish when he was given the
big tug to lift the last nets of the year.
Now lean Christmas, a very lean
Christmas, seemed certain in the Riley
home-a home for all homeless lads
at Christmas time. Mary's laugh had
been infrequent of late and her merri-
ment had been forced.
Here she was herself In the door
way as the crew dumped in. BILLY
Noonan,' she called, don't you know
you'll swamp the tug with the fish
jammed to the gunwalls, so?" There
was note in her raillery that cut him
to the quick. How queenly she was,
this straight, blue-eyed brunette, wrap
ped in the captains oilskins, flushed
from facing the STORM
Billy Noonan lay awake that night,
notwithstanding the long day at the
wheel of the lurching tug. Through
his window he stared out at the black
ness, and he listened to the wailing
wind; wailing, it seemed to him, COM
plant at the year of misfortunes and
oF Goh
plant at the wages and prices of fish
fixed by the union that made the lot
of Capt Riley so hard in an "off" year.
Far out on the Charlevoix pier no
white light shone, up and down the
angry lake the lighthouses and light
ships were nowhere else on watch,
the fog signals were silent, although
belated barges still stumbled up and
down the lake. Suddenly a fash in
the north, and another and another,
the fash of rockets, brought him out
of bed.
"This side O. Waugoshance, about
White Shoals" he calculated. bad
place with this wind
He shook his bed-fellow, Kelly, the
fireman, and finally reused him.
Get out Kell, someone's in trouble
near the straits and maybe the Alice
Riley can get a line to her first. "
Kelly knew what that would mean, at
least s40O day for the old man" and
he knew the need.
Everyone said the Alice Riley had
an uncommon crew.; two hours later
the tugs whistle blew four booming
blasts in the darkness strong ahead"
and five more that were Billy's fare
well to Mary If she was awake
cared. She saw from her bedroom
| window the tug steam through the
channel. sparks flying Weirdly in the
wind, out to the open lake where NO
light shone to mark the way for the so
miles OF desperate tussle with waves
! that now ct times buried the very
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1907-12-21

Capt. Riley was intently watching
from his net-loft window the approach
Of his biggest fishing tug, the Alice
Riley. Even in the inner harbor she
was pitching and rolling in the Deem
Der seas and was sheathed in ice from
bobbing timber head to the oYerhang
aft.
mot boxful, not one," he groaned,
seeing the nested fish boxes still
dashed to the deckhouse roof. But
the boys IL get their pay, somehow;
they'll get it, if have to slap mort
gage on all the outfit" No one else
should know it, but the truth was
Christmas cheer was not in Capt.
Riley's heart as he turned gravely to
the twine-reeling he had busted him
self with since he broke his ankle and
Billy Noonan had proudly taken out
the Alice Riley, the most powerful tug
that fished off Skilligalee in the Straits
of Mackinac.
The tug tied up to the dock with a
bump, there was some shouting, heavy
footsteps dumping on the icy wharf,
then up the shaky stairs and the door
flew open letting in a blast of raw
north wind and an ice-coated being in
oil skins who presently shed his chrys'
ais and became crestfallen skipper, a
curly-haired, alert young fellow, who
almost Rugged the roaring stove, for
he was drenched and shivering.
mot a pound, cap'n," was his greet
ing. "Breezed up so we couldn't touch
the nets" he added.
"Old Michigan must be cuttin' ur
considerable" the old man answered
cheerily. Never mind, boy, yen gel
'em next time"
But Billy Noonan knew how bad the
fishing had been all year, and could
figure as well as his employer how BAG
matters must be. Not a man of then
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1907-12-21
n Id NICK BRADSHAW was the
{ richest man in Jonesburg, and

IN LID NICK BRADSHAW was the |
NHL richest man in Jonesburg, and |
for 80 years he had also been |
the most hated. There was tradi-
ton that girl whom he was to have
married one Christmas day had eloped |
with another man a few hours before
the time set for the wedding. Whether
the story was true or not Old Nick. as
everybody called him, had become a
recluse, Nobody ever had kind word
Tor him.
1t had long been agreed that the
death of Old Nick would be the luck
lest think which could happen to
Jonesburg, wherefore there was gen
eral surprise when it was announced
one year that Nicholas Bradshaw in
tended to have a Christmas tree for all
the children in the town and that he
would on the great day give a dinner
to the people.
Three weeks before Christmas he
began his Preparations. He rented the
biggest hall in the place, had an i'm
mense evergreen tree set up in It, and
hired carpenters to fill it with long
tables. The people could hardly be,
lieve that their eyes did not deceive
them when they saw him getting
Things ready.
He made many mysterious visits to
the great city in which the Jonesburg
merchants bought their goods, and he
always returned bearing many boxes
and packages. Sometimes they were
too big or too numerous to be carried
by him, and he hired expressmen to
take them to the hall, while the people
stood Oh the sidewalks and made re-
gretful remarks about the way they
had wronged Mr. Bradshaw, or insist
ed that they had suspected all along
that beneath a stern exterior he pos
sessed kind heart
After the tree and the tables had
been ret up nobody but Old Nick him
self was permitted to enter the hall.
He explained that he wanted every one
to be surprised. He carried the boxes
and packages up the stairs alone, and
he had the windows carefully cur
tanned. 50 that nobody could see from
the outside what was being done
within
On the day before Christmas the
last assignment of Nicholas Brad
Bhaw's boxes and packages arrived
from the city. There was a wagon
load Of them. and the excitement of
he people as they saw them being
transferred from the railway station
To the hall where the feast was to be
held became intense. Old Nick saw
the wonder In the faces Of the citizens.
and he smiled with keen satisfaction
5The day was very cold, but he appar
entity was oblivious of the fact. The
people said It was the warmth of his
Heart that kept him from feeling the
hgta of the icy winds.
christmas day dawned clear. and
4 the town was astir earlier than usual
Expectancy was on tiptoe. The hal
was to he opened at 1880 sharp, sc
mat people who wished to go to church
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1907-12-21

all neatly tied with ribbons and each
bearing card on which was written
the name of the person who was to re
ceive it. The tables were set and
ready for the feasters. There were
big brown turkeys with drumsticks
pointing upward; there were huge
cakes, there were filed wineglasses at
the plates, and there were many vases
with bright-colored flowers.
But it was quickly discovered that
the turkeys were made Of papie,
mache, such as are used in make-be
lieVe banquets on the stage; the cakes
were nothing but painted blocks OF
wood, the wineglasses contained only
vinegar, and the flowers were artificial.
When the packages that had been cut
from the tree were opened they were
found to be filed with sawdust, except
that in each of them was slip of
paper such as lay beside each Of the
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1907-12-21
Gnd,s Giff fn Man

Jesus Christ is the Fathers I'M
speakable gift to man. His birth is
now conceded fact In history. His
coming was the beginning of a new
era in the experience of the race.
His coming was a mighty impetus
to civilization. To compare the civil
lization of the world before Christ to
tho present state of civilization is
like comparing darkness to light
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1907-12-21
Lies Real Mercies.

Life is a long Christmas stocking.
We cannot see the bottom Of it, nor
reach our presents, save as one by
one we take them from the top.
Thank God for the gifts that bulge out
at the top, the commonplace mercies
we have learned to expect. And thank
Him most of all that when we have
reached down as far as we can there
is room for some other little blessing,
hidden away in the toe, perhaps the
choicest little gift of all, which we
nearly overlooked.
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1907-12-21
Tha season,a Appeal.

Christmas comes once more with
it's annual appeal for hospitality, hos.
pitality for all that is sweet and ten.
der, natural and human, gentle and
child-like. Let US heed its appeal and
make room in our hearts. our lives
and our wor1d-room for the Christ
mas spirit, room for the child-like
temper, room for the love of God and
the love of man. Let this be our pray
er to-day to the Incarnate Love:
o Holy Child of Bethlehem,
Descend to us, we pray.
Cast out our sin and enter in;
Be born in US to-day.
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1907-12-21

every little while there were cheers
for Mr.. Bradshaw.
At last the hands on the courthouse
clock indicated that 1t was 1880, and
then one of Old Nick's hired men ap-
peared with the key to the door of the
big hail. With wild rush and loud
whoop the people crowded inside and
hurried upstairs. The Christmas tree
doomed gloriously before them. It's
branches were laden with packages
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1907-12-21
By S. e. KTSER.

could do so and still be in time for the
beginning of the ceremonies over
which Old Nick was to preside.
The crowd began to assemble an
hour before the time set for the open
ing of the doors. People danced on the
sidewalk, slapped their hands against
themselves to keep from freezing, and
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1907-12-21
Stumbled.

Something for Christmas?'' said
the polite salesman. We'll, how about
this? A neat and pretty little letter
opener, price"
But the other interrupted brusquely.
Il have one at home. thanks" ne
said. Il am married man, you Gee"
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1907-12-21

word and warm grasp of the hand,
let it be an expression of the giver's
hearty Identification with the others
interests and neees.--Ram's Horn.
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1907-12-21
An old EnoIish Custom.

The old country Englishman never
fails TO unbar his door at IL O'Clock
New Years eve to let the old year
out and the new year il.
The National tribune., 1907-10-31

the Government to appropriate perma-
lnently 10 its own service claims 10 slave
labor should be asserted, and the right
of the owner to compensation therefor
should be recognized. This principle
should be extended. upon grounds OF
military necessity and security. to all
the slaves of the particular State, thus
working manumission in such State;
and in Missouri perhaps in West Viz
ginia also. and possibly even in Mary
land, the eXpediency of such measure
is only question of time. A system of
policy thus constitutional. aud pervaded
by the influences OF Christianity and
freedom, which would receive the sup
port of almost all truly loyal men,
would deeply impress the rebel masses
and all foreign nations, and it might
be humbly hoped that it would COM
mend itself to the favor of the Almighty.
UNLESS the principles governing the
future conduct of our struggle shall be
made known and approved the effort
to obtain requisite forces will be al
most hopeless. A declaration OF radical
views, especially upon slavery, will rap
idly disintegrate our present armies.
The policy of the Government must be
supported by concentrations of military
power. The National forces should not
be dispersed in expeditions, posts of oc-
cupation and numerous armies. but
should be mainly collected into masses
and brought to bear upon the armies of
the confederate States. Those armies
thoroly defeated the political structure
which they support should soon cease
to exist.
"In carrying out any system of pol
icy which you may form YOU will re-
The National tribune., 1907-10-31

o
Of
from men and
a
in he atonalTnb
The National tribune., 1907-10-31
that his previous equally vigorous pro-
testations of immediate action.

that his previous equally vigorous pro-
testations of immediate action.
Lee Starts Against Pope.
There was one man who had entire
certainty that Mcclellan meditated
nothing serious against Petersburg or
Richmond, and that was Gen. Robert
=. Lee Pope's concentration along the
orange & Alexandria Railroad alarmed
Lee much more than McClellan's sc. 600
men within q miles of Virginia's Capi-
tai. Pope threatened GordonsvilIe.
which would cut off communications be.
tween Richmond and the whole South-
west. AS early as July II Lee began de-
taching from his army, sending away
first his best lieutenant, Stonewail
jackson, who arrived. July 19. with his
command and Ewell's Division at Cor
louisville. Jackson was far more wary
in approaching Pope than he had been
any previous antagonist, and after
reconnaissance sent back for reinforce
ments, to which Lee responded with A.
p. Hills Division. There had been very
ugly stories current as to McClellan's
knowledge of these important detach-
The National tribune., 1907-10-31

have been called here to pursue the
same system, and to lead you against
the enemy. 1t is my purpose to do so
and that speedily.
Il am sure you long for an oppor-
tunity to win the distinction you are
capable of achieving. That opportunity
shall endeavor to give you.
Meantime l desire you to dismiss
from your minds certain phrases which
/ am sorry to find much in vogue
amongst you.
Il hear constantly of taking strong
positions and holding them-of lines of
retreat and Of bases of supplies. Let
us discard such ideas.
The strongest position soldier
should desire to occupy is one from
which he can most easily advance
against the enemy.
Let US study the probable lines of
retreat of our opponents, and leave our
own to take care of themselves. Let us
look before and not behind. Success
and glory are in the advance. Disaster
and shame lurk in the rear
Let US act OH this understanding,
and 1t is safe to predict that your BAN
The National tribune., 1907-10-31
By JOHN McELROY.

ity Immediately connected with his
army to engroSs his attention to the ut
ter exclusion of anything else. Appar-
emily, however, he was less concerned
about the things which should have in
tensely concerned him than about those
with which he had no business. He found
time to write the following amazing let
ter 10 the President, the length of
which shows that it must have occu-
pied his mind for many days. Instead
of devoiing himself to his obvious duty
of caring for his army and using it for
the purpose for which it had been or
ganized at such vast expense, he was
trying to dictate a political policy to
the Government, a matter with which
he had not the slightest relation.
"Hea dquaIters Army of the Potomac,
The National tribune., 1907-10-31

Area. Worst of all, there was nothing
for the troops to do, and this affected
their health and spirits calamitousIy
Medical Director Letterman reports
that about 5000 were sent away from
Harrison's Landing soon after the army
reached there. but 1900 still remained
In camp. The Sanitary Commission was
appealed TO and that magnificent SOL
diers' aid organization called upon the
whole country for assistance. 1t sent
great quantities of comforts for the
sick. fresh vegetables. fruit and other
agreeable variations to the army ra-
tions, besides tents, medicines and a
large corps of trained nurses. This
mitigated. as far as human skill and
sympathy could mitigate, the evils of
the unfortunate situation CT .he army.
Mcclellan would not, however. give the
medicament that the men most need
The National tribune., 1907-10-31

Ad--yigorous and successful action. The
Southern admirers of Lee have said
much, with great reason, of his ex-
traordinary insight into the character
OF the commanders opposing him, and
this seems justified by his treatment of
Mcclellan. He was so certain that Nc
Clellan would not do anything that he
withdrew his whole army back into
Richmond and left him unmolested,
with the slight exception aof Gen.
French's midnight shelling OF the
camp from across the river. which has
Been previously mentioned.
McClcllan's Amazing Letter.
One would naturally think that Nc
Elellan had problems Of sufficient grav-
The National tribune., 1907-10-31

Army on an exceedingly narrow space.
scarcely more than two miles wide or
long in any direction. This would have
been very insanitary even in health
full climate, and was vastly more so on
that low-lying fiat in the torrid month
of August. The army was like one shut
up IN the narrow confines of a fortress.
where the water and the ground soon
became vile and poisonous from the
very presence of SO many men and ami
mails. 1t would have been much better
TO have remained on the field of battle
at Malvern Hill, which was on high
ground, above the surrounding mo-
rasses, and besides had far greater
The National tribune., 1907-10-31

prohibited, and offensive demeanor by
the military toward citizens promptly
rebuked. Military arrests should not be
tolerated except in places where active
hostiiities exist. and oaths not required
by enactments constitutionally made
should be neither demanded nor re-
ceived. Military government should be
confined to the preservation of public
order and the protection of political
rights Military power should not be
allowed to interfere with the relations
OF servltude, either py supporting or inn
pairing the authority of the master, ex-
cept for repressing disorder as in other
cases. Slaves, contraband under the
act OF Congress, seeking military pro-
lection, should receive it. The right of
The National tribune., 1907-10-31

Camp near Harrison's Landing, Va
July Z. 1862
Mr.. President: You have been fully
informed that the rebel army is in our
front with the purpose of overwhelm-
| ing us by attacking our positions or re-
ducing us by blocking our river COM
munications. 1 cannot but regard our
condition as critical, and 1 earnestly
desire, in view Of possible contingen-
cies. TO lay before Your Excellency for
your private consideration my general
views concerning the existing state OF
the rebellion, altho they do not strictly
relate to the situation of this army or
strictly come within the scope of my
official duties. These views amount to
convictions, and are deeply impressed
upon the mind and heart. Our cause
must never be Abandoned; il is a cause
of free institutions and seif-government.
The Constitution and the Union must
be preserved, whatever may be the
cost in time, treasure and blood. If Sc
cession is successful other dissolutions
are clearly to be seen in the future Let
neither military disaster. political fac
ton, nor foreign war shake your settled
purpose to enforce the equal opera
ton OF the laws of the United States
upon the people of every State.
THE time has come when the Gov
|ernment must determine upon a civil
ana military pOllcy covering the WnOle
ground of our National trouble. The
responsibility of determining, declar-
ing and supporting such civil and mill
tary policy and of directing the whole
icourse of National affairs in regard to
the rebellion must now be assumed and
exercised by you or our cause will be
lost. The Constitution gives you power
sufficient even for the present terrible
|exigency.
"RebelIiOn Now War.
This rebellion has assumed tie char
acter of war. AS such it should be
regarded, and it should be conducted
upon the highest principles known to
Christian civilization. 1t should not be
a war looking to the subjugation of the
people of any State in any event 1t
should not be at all war upon popula-
tion. but against armed forces and po-
litical organizations. Neither confisca-
tion of property, political executions of
persons, territorial organizations of
States or f. rcible abolition of slavery
should be contemplated for moment.
I'm prosecuting the war all private
property and unarmed persons should
be strictly protected, subject only to the
necessity of military operations; all pri-
vate property taken for military use
should be paid or receipted for; piIlage
and waste should be treated as high
crimes, all unnecessary trespass sternly
The National tribune., 1907-10-31
CHAPTER XIX.
GEN. JOHN POPE IN COMMAND.

GEN. JOHN POPE IN COMMAND.
Decision to Remove the Army From the
Peninsula - Gen. Popes Advance
Alarms Lee and Davfs-StOnewal all
jackson Hurried OF 10 Meet Him.
jackson Recognizes Formidable OPP
Ponent and Calls for ReiEfOrcements.
The Bloody Little Battle of Cedar
Mountain.
The Army in Narrow Confines.
The position which Gen. Mcclellan
had selected at HarriSon's Bar had, il is
true, many advantages, but it had still
more striking disadvantages. The first
of these was that it cooped up a great
The National tribune., 1907-10-31
(To be continued.)
Father Locke.

w. 8. Dunbar, 18th Me-, Lacey.
Wash, says that E. W. Locke was no
spy, for he knew him quite we'll He
lived in Portland. Me-. and the last
time he saw him Was on the way from
Boston to Portland IL, 1864.
Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1907-10-17
Lusatsnia Broke All Records

New York, Oct. 1I.-With her
record-breaking run of four days and
twenty hours from Daunt's Rock to
Sandy Hook over the Cunard liner
Lusitania left quarantine at 7:s0 this
morning for dock. The trip not only
breaks all transatlantic records. but
assures the Cunard line of the British
mail subsidies, which amounts to nearly
million dollars per year. The general
impression of ocean mariners and shin
builders is that the record is not likely
to be equalled by any other passenger
carrying ships, at least until some new
means OF propulsion is devised. Officials
of the Cunard Company still insist that
no effort was made for record breaking
and that the ship will doubtless do
considerably better if pushed to the
limit,