davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1908-01-10
Christmas Eve G@0d]EN]ER@h0

the crowd that swayed and struggled
in. and Jimmy was driven back to the
counter.
Women came In to plead for their
babies at home. Boys and girls
came in to remind him of their broth
ers and sisters. BY nine o'clock he
had given to every small inhabitant
of the alley.
Then Jimmy tried to 60 to bed,
but was so weak and giddy that he
could not climb the stairs So he
sat in the armchair instead. He
felt strange as we'll as poorly. The
chairs, the fire-irons, the coal-scuttle,
the table-cover, everything, seemed to
turn into fantastic figures, and long
tailed demons were running up the
blinds. Santa Claus on the mantel-
piece was scowling and sneering at
him.: :.
Jimmy got into a sudden rage with
Santa Claus and struck him with his
fist.
!: Santa Claus tottered on tho man
telpiece, but rfghted himself. He was
more solid and weighty than Jimmy
had imagined, and there was a clink-
ing sound as he swayed-a sound of
clinking money. The truth flashed
upon Jimmy as he sank back exhaust.
ed in the armchair. The "long
stocking" was in Santa Claus, aud he
could not get to it, and he never
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1908-01-10
ST: NlCK'S NATIVE LAND
The CITY Of Amsterdam

The city Of Amsterdam, as you may
know, claims St. Nicholas as its pa
iron saint, and throughout all Holland
his birthday, December 6. is celebrat.
ed as st. Nicholas day. During the
first week Of December the shops are
gaily decorated and everyone turns
out to visit them. At the candy stores
large quantities Of st. Nicholas cake
are on sale. This is a crisp ginger
bread, made in tho form Of little men
and women, and may be bought in
different sizes. Vrijers, or sweet
hearts, IL another name for them.
After dinner on st. Nicholas eve
the children Of the household sing
songs of praise to their dear old saint,
and very often, right a. they are In
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1908-01-10
Jin1r11ie's:. . =.
Christmas,
.> Stocking
By OWEN OLIVER.
.MoGoNo&o~ e&oW4
Copyright. 1877. BY Joseph B. Bowles.)

:, Copyright. 1877. BY Joseph B. Bowles.)
7HERE is honor among the depi.
III zens;, Of Paxton alley, but Mr..
Smiths toy.shop stood at the
very entrance, and they reckoned him
out OF bounds.
y FROM time to time evillooking men
muttered TO- one another about the
long stocking that Mr.. Smith was
supposed to have filed; but he had
figured in the prize ring in his young.
er days, and he was said to sleep
with a big knob stick. beside him.
So the matter ended at mutterings.
A big. powerful man was Mr.. Smith ;
and he had a powerful edge to his
tongue. Every one in the alley feared
him except Jimmy: = r. ~
Mr.. Smith knew him as the extra.
ordinary paper-boy who brought back
dime given him In mistake for q
penny, an event which was his
tortcal in the alley. At the time 1t
gave rise to, doubts as to Jimmy's
sanity, but afterward it was held that
~ was playlng up to the old
man"
Anyhow, Mr.. Smith took two pa.
pers regularly afterward: and the day
after his funeral-which was the day
before Christmas eve-a sleek man
In a shiny top hat invaded Paxton al.
ley. escorted by policeman, and
took evidence as to the identity of
the boy called Jimmy who sold pa
pers to the public generally. and in
particular to the late Mr.. Smith.
When the sleek man was satisfied
upon this point he proclaimed Jimmy
the sole legatee of the estate, which
comprised: the little shop and house
and all their contents.
You'll find long stocking some.
where. / expect" the lawyer said,
and you'd better bring it to me to
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1908-01-10

only saw his shirtfrcnt. He was in
evening dress, you know
But were there no distinguishing
features, such as a shirt stud, Ora
moustache?" suggested.
"Oh, yes!" She responded quickly,
The had moustache: and l think he
was tall, because he had to bend down
when when he did it, His shirt stud
was plain gold one. I believe"
WELL" said I, "how many tall men
were there in the party who possessed
moustaches and plain gold shirt
studs?"
LET me see," she unused; there
was Capt. Jack Harland, Mr.. Porter,
and your nephew Jack"
frowned severely. Jack was an
impairment young rascal, whose pre-
sumptuous attentions to Kitty Main
waring had disguised me on several
occasions
Jack" said. lis quite capable OF
behaving in such a disgraceful man.
ner."
YES" she assented, almost cheer.
fully; but l don't think it was Jack.
At least" she added with bright
smile, Il want you to be a dear old
I mean, q good, kind-hearted person,
and find out for me-
1T, shall be done!"' I cried, rising
both to the occasion and to take my
'eo'e' a.;
H.
1T is one thing to make a promise
all the glow of generous moment
and another thing to keep it in the
cold, practical light of after-reasoning
However, did the best that could
In the first place wrote to Jack, who
was then at Harvard, and, without di.
vulging the source of my Information,
stated briefly what had come to my
knowledge, and asked him If he could
throw any light on the matter. It was
some two or three days before re.
ceived his reply which was character
istically brief and ran:
Dearest Uncle:-I received your
letter containing a vivid description
of what you term the shameful out
rage Now, don't mind confessine
to you that am the culprit, because
you have been young yourself (once).
and know that the path: Of youth is
strewn, etc. Besides, there were ex'
tenuating circumstances in this case
Like tbs decent old sort you are. make
It right for me With the girl. and fol-
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1908-01-10

believe he could walk; but ~hen. q
woman came in for ten-cept doll.
he managed to crawl to the window
to serve her. ..
; There was wild chorus Of recog-
milton when he appeared between the
dfngy green curtains that slid along
a rail. JIMMY" "Jimmy!" Want
any one to, run your errins, jimmy"
Eyer might give us somethfnk, jim
N.Y." He heard all these greetings
and a dozen more.
He shook his head and returned to
his seat. He certainly did feel i'll,
and he seemed to lose things for q
few minutes. until Bill Black came
in for three little. toys. Bill was
looked up to in the alley as a man
who did big jobs and the Blacks
were generally reckoned wellto-do;
but Bills transactions hadn't been
very profitable lately, and he had to
be careful, because he knew that the
police had their eye on him. So they
were hard up, like the rest.
Found the long stockin', Jimmy?"
he asked, casually, when he had
taken the toys.
NO." said Jimmy. And If I had
it 'u'd be at the lawyers, Bill, an
don't yer make no mistake"
Bill growled under his breath. III
yer didn't look half dead I'd knock
yer head orr, yer young hound" he
said, "insinywaitin' ag'inst an honest
man. Coin to offer to do anythink
fer yer, the missus was. wot I'll soon
put stop to now"
He gave Jimmy a ferocious scowl
as he went out, and Jimmy resolved
that II he found the stocking he
would take it to the lawyer at once.
He went to the door and faced a
crowd Of excited faces that ranged
in rows from the front of the shop
right across the alley. .-.
JIMMY" they cried. "Give US
somethtnk! Yer might, JIMMY"
Jimmy always said afterward that
he only did it because he thought he
was dying. and the toys would be no
use to him, and the pains in his
heart "drawed him out of himself"
He tried to speak, but his voice was
only whisper. So he beckoned to
a big boy and whispered to him; and
the boy stood up on the doorstep,
and shouted to the crowd: "Jimmy's
goin' to give yer toy each. jim
my
The big boy went spraying before
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1908-01-10
ECZEMA COVERED BABY,
Worst Case Doctors Ever Saw-Suf!
fered Untold Misery-Perfect
Cure by Cuticura Remedies.

my son, who is now twenty-five
years of age, when four months old
began to have eczema on his face.
spreading quite rapidly until he was
nearly covered. The eczema was some
thing terrible, and the doctors said II
was the worst case they ever saw. At
times his whole body and face were
covered, all but his feet. used many
kinds of patent medicines, to no avail.
A friend teased me to try Cuticura.
At last decided to try Cuticura when
my boy was three years and four
months old, having had eczema all that
time and suffering untold misery. l
began to use all three of the Cuticura
Remedies. He was better in two
months; in six months he was well.
Mrs. r. L. Risley, Piermont, N. H.,
Oct. "a, 1906"
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1908-01-10
SOMETHING OF A CYN,C.
Papa Had Extreme Views on the Sub
ject Of Marriage.

Miss Marie Cahill. the actress, chose
the chorus girls for her new play,
marrying Mary" by measurement.
The Bertillon system was employed.
by this excellent system of meas
urement," said Miss Cahill the other
day, lone gets, in chorus girl, the
real thing. Mirage is avoided. You
know what mirage is? Quite sure?
Well, at any rate, I'll point out it's
meaning to you with a story.
"A boy looked up from his book
one night.
"'Father.' he said, what is d mi
rage?'
"The father answered glibly from
behind his paper:
1.-The union of man and woman
till death or the law them do part
But said the boy, that's mar
rage, amt it,
"'Same thing, sonny; it's the same
thing. replied the father. "A man
imagines he sees wonders and delights
where there is nothing. Fight shy Of
'em both, my boy"
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1908-01-10
Truth and
Quality

appeal to the Well-1nformed in every
walk Of life and are essential to permanent
success and creditable standing. Accor-
ingly, it is not claimed that Syrup Of Figs
and Elixir Of SIENNA is the only remedy Of
known value, but one Of many reasons
why it is the best Of personal and family
laxatives il the fact that it. cleanses,
sweetens and relieves the internal organs
on which it acts without any facilitating
after effects and without having to increase
the quantity from time to time.
It acts pleasantly, and naturally and
truly ~ . laxative, and it, component
parts arc known to and approved by
physicians, a. it is free from all objection
able substances, To get it, beneficial
effects. always purchase the .genuine--
Enthusiastically the California NeSyr,uup
Co., only, md for sale by III leading drug,
gists. <
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1908-01-10

eyes thoughtfully bent upon the
ground, regardless alike of passers-by
and the people who would have passed
by had l not collided with them.
l cannoned OF an eminent dignltary
of the church, and ran full tilt against
a smartly dressed couple who were
lodging round the episcopal back. Il
could only see the billowy edging OF
a dainty skirt-and what not-above a
still daintier ankle, and the bottoms
OF pair of Immediately creased trou.
sers.) My murmured apology was cut
excessively short as raised my hat
and my eyes at the same time. It was
Jack and Kitty. looking very spic and
span, and no little pleased with them
selves.
Eth? What" gasped, taken some
what aback.
Kitty's smile was as the wine Of
Oporto in its intoxicating sweetness.
"Oh," she cried, 1T is Mr. Walker!"
1T u.s." said I, frowning at her levity.
I was feeling in no particularly light
mood myself just then.
She pouted and turned to her com
panion
Don't you think, Jack" she said,
you ought to tell your uncle about
about it,"
"Certainly,' responded that young
hopeful. "You will. my dear uncle, be
delighted to learn that l have just OBJ.
tanned Mrs. Mainwaring's consent to
my engagement with Kitty here"
"Hum-a exceedingly delighted
pray accept my congratulations" l
stamnered.
Thanks" said Jack. II thought
you would be pleased" The young
vagabond actually winked as he said
this.
"Ah, yes-of course" said I, with
futile attempt at dignity. Kitty is 4
charming-that is, you will both be-
er-very happy"
I'VE mean to be-" he asserted stout
ly. Don't we, little woman?'
yes" she whispered softly, press.
ing his arm with her daintily gloved
hand. Irony Of ironies! had bought
those gloves!
I'll look you up this evening at
your club" said Jack. making as If to
move on
"Yes-do," said l.
They departed in a clustering gale
Of laughter, two young, handsome, per-
fectly mated creatures, and T.
l damned my hat firmly down upon
my head, and walked away as if the
love affairs Of mere boy and girl
could have no interest for a confirmed
old bachelor Of something and forty.
Kitty and l are the best of friends
still. She is Mrs. Owen now, and does
not seem at all to regret having
thrown herself away upon worthless
young scamp like Jack. She actually
adores the fellow, and has forgiven
him his outrageous treatment of her,
even though the only "extenuating cir.
cumstance" was bunch of mistletoe!
But then, women are like that-hum.
bugs, yes, humbugs, call EN-!
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1908-01-10

alone. indeed, on Nest of the occG
sions when called she was cut, a
piece Of bad luck 1 had not hitherto
been accustomed to: and when did
find her in. she was either surrounded
by friends, or engaged in elaborate
sewing operations which necessitated
the constant attendance of her maid.
Once or twice, too, l caught sight of
Master Jack in town, when by the
calendar he ought to have been pursu
ing his studies: and the circumstance
coupled with his obvious anxiety to
avoid me, filled my mind with vague
foreboding.
what the deuce does it mean?" l
asked myself, as l strobe along with
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1908-01-10

would. because no was going. to die.
He saw Santa Claus leering at him
when he woke. and in his dreams,
and when he sdozed. Then te sudden
ly looked frightened. Some ono was
knocking loudly at the door. sThatwas
what frightened him. Jimmy woke
completely just as the knocking
ceased. He must have been asleep
4 long time, he thought. because the
fire was low; and he supposed he
had been what they called light
headed. There was q grating: noise
outside the window-the noise of
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1908-01-10
ExtenIuat.ing
Circumstances !
A. Christma. Story .,.. a.
ii Ez:i t. Ii
By ANDREW D. GRANGE.
fS5Gs =" p 80 ,s-'ct j. ss.7aes .' i 4

~ - 49,: + ,~a> 80
<I@( T was an objectionable liber-
c IT," said Kitty.
~ The temptation" began.
She cut me short with an angry lit
tie frown.
THAT has nothing whatever to do
with it." she remarked icily.
"On the contrary" said I, 1T pal
hates the offense, if it does not alto
gether excuse it. Let us consider the
facts of the case You were spending
Christmas with your aunt, Mrs. Glen
torridon, in the country. One evening,
as you were passing, along darkened
corridor, on the way to your room,
you met certain gentleman
He wasn't a gentleman" she inter
posed quickly.
obi" l exclaimed. II certainly
thought that your aunt's guests
He wasn't true gentleman she
added disdainfully, ''or he wouldn't
have acted as he did,"
"A discourteous gentleman, then
who taking advantage of the darkness,
deliberately kissed you upon
Don't he ridiculous!" she snapped.
II asked you to help me-.
Il am endeavoring to do so," said I.
Then do it properly" 1 assumed
an air Of profound gravity. Kitty re-
garded me thoughtfully out of a cor
ner of her deep blue eye. "You see"
she continued. IT don't know who it
was-and-well, you know; it makes
it rather awkward for me-"
Didn't you see his face?" L asked.
NO." she answered. HE came up
behind, and-and it was all over in
a second" She shuddered prettily. 1T
was quite DARK she added, "and I
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1908-01-10
AXE care Of: and If I were you

take care of; and if I were you I
should take the name of Smith,"
Under ordinary circumstances Jim
my would have been elated by his
good fortune, but somehow the world
had not interested him lately. He
had had terrible cough for weeks
his business exposing him to the
climate-and just now he felt tired,
and had nasty pains in his side. and
seemed to be burning all over.
He moved in on the morning of
Christmas eve. and explored the
house: with a kind of numb curiosity,
He spent most Of the morning in the
shop parlor in the armchair in front
OF the fire. He did not even go out
to the quick-lunch room for the beau
tiful dinner that he had promised
himself. He had taken a lot of milk
from the milkman. and he kept drink.
ing that He did not seem to care
about anything but milk, and every.
thing felt strange and uncanny. The
figure on the mantelpiece-a white
bearded old gentleman which he be-
lieved was called Santa Claus was
the strangest and uncanniest of all.
The fire was almost out, so he put
on some more coal. He saw that it
was nearly four o'clock. "Lumme!"
he muttered. 1--WE let the day 60, an
'aven't done no bus mess. This won't
do. Ill take down the shutters, an
open the shop
1t had been a hard autumn, and
the people on whom Paxton alley
preyed were short of money. So Pax
ton alley was short Of money, too.
II few entered the shop; there were
enough outside. A dozen cold, red
blue noses flattened themselves
against the glass: 4 dozen shril
voices clamored: q dozen little hands
pointed with grimy, chilblainy fingers
here and there. ......s 49,
Jimmy remembered when he was q
lid" how he used to spend hours ut
the toy-shop window, and how the
woman he lived with then had thrash.
ID him for; spending on marbles q
penny Of tho money he had taken for
papers. It. was his own money. he
held. or he wouldn't haye., done. it.
For, by some freak of nature, Jimmy
was honest But now he could hard.
ly sit up in chair. and he didn't
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1908-01-10

passed it to me, keeping her eyes fixed
on the tea-cosy the while
Then We talked about other matters
until it was time for me to go.
"Good-bye," she said; land thank
you for taking so much trouble"
1T was no trouble" assured her.
One must do the polite thing, you
know, at any COST
II can only hope" continued, that
in time you will be able to forgive my
nephew for such an act of gross i'm.
pertinence
"Ah, yes!' she answered warmly, II
think-yes, I am really very glad it
was Jack"
oh" calculated sharply.
Rather than one of the Others" she
concluded hastily.
w.
wandered disconsolately in a less
frequented part of the avenue trying
to think things out. 1t was now close
upon a month since my last tete-a-tete
with Kitty, and during that time l had
never once been able to catch her
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1908-01-10

WecO0lG0e6l0 FoflS.N0s
MIR. EDWARD M. BURTT, N. JET
4V4 ferson Ave., st. Louis, No., writes:
''ltaffords me much pleasure to an
nounce that have used your medicine
at various times for several years. and
that it has given entire satisfaction, not
only in my own family, but also that OF
others of my friends. And would cheer
fully recommend the use of Peruna, as
l certainly do endorse your medicine"
Catarrh OF Head, Nose, Ihroat.
Mr.. Charles Levy, 80 Allen st., New
York, N. Y, writes;
II am very glad to tell you Of the
cures wrought by Peruna in my family.
my son, aged seven, who had ca
tarrh of the nose, was cured by two
bottles of Peruna, and had catarrh of
the head, nose, throat and ears. One
bottle of Peruna cured me-"
Pe.ru-as Ta6lets:-Some people prefer
tablets, rather than medicine in a fluid
form. Such people can obtain Peru.
ma Tablets, which represent the solid
medicinal ingredients of Peruna.
Ask Your Druggist for Free Peruns
Almanac for 1908.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1908-01-10

the midst Of a song. candies and nuts
and other goodies come down to them
through the chimney! Then they go
to bed and early in the morning find
their stockings and their, queer lit
tie wooden shoes--which had been
left by the grate---crammed full of
presents, just as American children
find their presents on every Christ
mas morning.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1908-01-10
A joyful Christmas.

Blow ev'ry horn at early morn
And beat the noisy drum,
And let us make the echos wake
For Christmas day has come.
Let Joy bells ring like everything
And all the world be gay.
And let us shout the gladness out
On joyful Christmas day.
Let sorrow go and Yuletide flow
The King our tribute pay;
In music sweet his praise repeat
This is his natal day.
ROBERT r. CARRELL
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1908-01-10
Behind tho Times.

We'll, one thing Is sure: you amt
no lady, nohow," was what 4 Con.
necticut LADY" said a. she stood, With
arms akimbo looking at Mrs. Grace
Thompson-Seton, % she saw her out
in the Rockies riding 4 horse astrida.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1908-01-10
BURGLAR on to the Job.

Burglar (rousing the sleeping head
of the family-"Don't move or I'll
shoot! Whar's your money hid?" Head
of the Family (struck by a bright
thought)-"It's in the pocket of my
wife's Dress" Burglar-"That's all
right. I'll just take the dress.
Thanks"
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1908-01-10

An old bachelor says that some wom-
en- marry for the purpose of obtaining
q listener who can't get away.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1908-01-10

PILES CURED IN TO IA DAYS.
FAZO OINTMENT is guaranteed to cure any cas-
CT Itching. Blind. Bleeding Protruding Piles In
D 10 IL Gays or money refunded. Soc.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1908-01-10

There are countless roads on all
sides to the grave.-Cicero.