davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1908-12-24
Old Christmas Superstitions.

An old German saying is that be-
tween II and - o'clock on Christmas
eve water can be turned into wine.
The lamp or candle must not be al
lowed to burn itself out Oh Christina:
eve or tn".c VIII be II death in The
family with the Year
y Mag.:"r supeistiti, Il is tina; any
ne who eats nuts without honey on
lhristulS Val lose h.; tech. Ano hel
j.; that Il pillow t!rnGi at midli b:
;,.iIi bring dreams CT Il future lover.
1t is unlu@ky to trip on Christmas
day.
The Sicilian children pace penny
roya! in the beds Christmas ev" be
cause they believe il always flowers
at the exact nGur of Christ'S birth.
All children born at midnight Oh Dee.
81 will become great AMI lannon's
The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1908-12-24
lence Drake was picking up his pa
per again when
The snow lay on the ground;
The stars Shone bright
ippi"c du

Inc snow lay on the ground;
The stars Shone bright
All, it was the quaint old English
carol, with it's liquid, sweet melody,
which he'd learned at his mothers
knee, and it was the American girl
across the court who was singing it:
When Christ our Lord was born
On Christmas night.
No wonder the tears came to his
eyes. That particular carol and that
particular girl made up a combination
to which he was bit sensitive if the
truth had been dragged from him.
Just that very morning he had writ
ten home:
There's little American girl Oppo-
site. I don't even know her name,
but the mere sight of her keeps me
straight She's all alone. and she's
evidently studying music. AS for her
singing. she has the most beautiful
voice the good God ever saved from
lost violin, voice to make you
pray, little mother, to turn your laugh
ter to tears, to turn your tears to
laughter"
From the day when he had first seen
her, watering her geraniums on the
Sill, the window across the court yon-
der had become 4 sort of shrine. And
at each new glimpse of her an inform
ed prayer of thanks surged up within
him that creature so lovely had been
sent by heaven to keep the word
gentleman" stainless, to make it a
thing to strive for and to take a
Clearly comfort in.
She was Il stranger too. 1t was a
bond between them. Tonight perhaps
she was suffering like him from home
sickness and loneliness. How soon he
could make her forget all that. They
could have Il reveiIlon of theft own
and jolly little supper. laughing to-
gether in sheer happiness Of Il mutual
understanding of the Christmas spirit
abroad. Unchaperoned: What would
they need Of chaperon. they two
two toilers for the sake of art. COM
rades in arms made equal in rank by
the blessed chance of being both
strangers in this wonderful old Paris?
There was moving CLEAN of some
thing behind the geraniums yonder
The CheeSecloth curtains stirred. and
then the window was lifted. She
threw out some crumbs to some cold
looking sparrows. The last rays of
the winter sun touched the fine, white
parting that separated the Furnished
waves of hair.
If he only dared speak to her! She
might misjudge him before he had a
chance to show his intentions. But he
would do if. He would seize the mo-
The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1908-12-24
ilothe-'s Coronation O.v.

That first Christmas VA &C. moth
r.'s coronation Gay. Fact n'~'rl'in.:
i,lristmas perpetuates the r',.:.n!y o.
her great glory. In public AN III pri
vate celebrations of it he's Sh"'.li be
the central figure. solemn gadness
akin to the Creators satisfaction in
his every good" work should I'll her
soul.
In Mr. Harrison S. Morris beautiful
poem. "Incarnation," we read how a
tinbered frame walked in the sun
shine through a city stree -
Nor knew that out of rlyriads one
beside him saw Shadow run
That clasped the centuries in it's shade
But, like loving spirit there.
In even football at his side,
A shadow walked the pavement wide
With Bonded head and l:.nb,e pride
And angled cross asant the air.
1t as if the dateless sun
Forgot the years, the far abode.
And, 10. upon the sJrdid road
The cross worn NaZarean trOde.
Holding the journey never done.
Every mother who holds her baby 10
her arms repeats. unconsciously or con-
Sciously, the story Of the incarnation
The blended shadow 'clasps the centJ!-
ries," past, present and to come, and
eternity itself ''in its shade. Marion
Harland in Independent.
The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1908-12-24

nlata aniov,uent 'WHY Is CEoNAN LIKE
THIS Box
every one on the American gLnoo"'
not in Cronan's confidence was the 40
sencp Of cigarettes When the coite
was served Cronan announced llat
Santa Claus had commissioned hin 10
convey Il splendid giTt t" III" ":''S.
He then produced the taif filed hoS
"Why is Cronan like this box: eh-
Enthusiastically asked one officer VINO
belonged to the conundrum class %
humanity
Ties not full" one wit replied
"IIe's q delight to the eye" said ah'
other
Hes white. straight. and whatever
yellow there is in him is the best yel
low there is" haZarded a third.
Perhaps" admitted the questionef
But ny answer Is this: You find Cro
nan always where the smoke is thick
est."-ChicagO Tribune.
The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1908-12-24
A Worlc,Aide HoIidax-

Practically every race and nation OBJ
serves New Years day by some time
honored custom. The feast" is said
to he the oldest of all. having it's origin
III prehistoric times in sun" or ma
ture" worship, AS time grew apace
the festival took on curious customs
here and there. so that now it repre-
sents charming mixture of mythol-
ogy. legend and superstitions expressed
by quaint customs almost as varied as
are the people who observe them. In
the United States the day is scarcely
more than holiday. with an unro-
mantle watch night thrown in. but
in Scotland. England. Germany. France.
Russia. Spain. Persia. China and ia
pan it is enriched by tradition. 70
nance and charming custom.-Phila,
delrhia Press
The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1908-12-24
The Navy's Christmas.

Christmas in the regular navy IS Oh
served as one of the big holidays of the
year. Starting off with grand dinner
in the middle of the day. discipline is
from then on relaxed. and the fun is
fast and furious till shutdown. and of
ten the evening is enlivened by amateur
theatricals The vessel is gayiE Coco
rated with bunting. and at each mast
head and at the bow and stern green
trees are dashed if procurabe
The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1908-12-24
"Come. We must be going home. 1t

Come! We must be going home. It
is a bit late"
She was silent while they left Mar
guerys aid hailed a fiacre. Then she
broke out in a queer little voice that
was low and tremulous:
Il think you must have a sister. You
take such good care of girl"
The fiacre rolled into the glare of
an overhead arc light, and he saw her
looking at him with a half mysterious,
half divine gratitude.
please don't do that" he answered
in hushed voice. Something inside
him was pounding furiously. Some
thing at his temples beat and
throbbed.
Don't do what?'
Look like that"
She not only looked like that, but
more so.
young man, young man." laughed
she, with mock warning. Il fear you
are wishful of turning a girls head"
THE Lord be good to me- he broke
out, his pent-up passion of dreams
rushing to his lips now that the bar
rier fell. Don't you see it's because
well, I'd hoped to pass the evening
without telling you that I loved you
that's why was hurrying you home
J told you little while ago it was
your friendship 1 wanted. 1 was
wrong"
She made no answer, but stretched
out her little gloved hand to him,
then drew it back quickly unnoticed.
3 singular smile on her lips.
you've known me for a few hours
only" he went on in a steady voice.
land 1 understand what you think Of
me for speaking like this. If / had
known you for years and had waited
and had the right to speak and keep
your respect His steadiness did
not carry him to the end of his SEN
tence.
Then she laughed joyously, deli
ciously.
You are Mistaken" she said. Il
have known you for years. l used to
chum with your sister Gertrude at
school, and you used to come down
from your university, and we'd take
walks. And we went up to all the
meets to see you run. and you used to
win. You called her your kid sister
and me the other kid and you kissed
me once. You've forgotten the little
girl who stood silent in corners and
looked at you with wide eyes. But !
couldn't forget. I used to have Ger
trude write me all about you till she
married that missionary and went to
live in China. And then l had your
photograph-the one in your track suit
And just to think for whole
month now you've been living opposite
The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1908-12-24
Christmas With
The PiCkWiCkianS
s*s+s+e*sassts+ststst =

70 chronicler of Christmas do
IAI ings has done it 50 inimitaDly
u as Dickens, and nowhere has
Dickens described them bet
Ter than in the "PickWick Papers"
one might read the paragraph relating
10 the observance Of the holiday half
Il hundred times and not become weary.
The Christmas spirit is everywhere
evident III the chapters devoted to the
holiday making. From the beginning.
when the hero. his three friends and
his faithful servant start for Dingley
Dell to the hour Of their return there
is Christmas in every sentence:
rs brisk rs bees. If not altogether as
hight as fairies did the four Pickwichiars
assemble on the morning Of the I'd day
Of december in the year Of grace in
which these their faithfully recorded adj
ventures we're undertaken and accom-
pl.=hed Christmas was close at hand in
al his bluff and hearty honesty. 1t was
fae season Of hospitality. merTimcnt and
open HeartcdHcss. The old year was pre-
pairing like ancient Philosopher, to
call his friends around him and amid the
sguud Of feasting and revelry to pass
gently and calmly away. Cay end merry
VA the time and right gay and merry
were at least four Of the numerous hearts
that v ere gladd- ned by its coming.
After travelling through a wide and
open country where the wheels skim
over the hard and frosty ground" slow
ing w rs they draw near country
town. where the horses are changed,
then again "daShirg along the open
rn:sd. with the fresh air blowing in
their faces and gIaddcning their very
hearts within them" they arrive at
Diuglry Dell. where we are Introduced
to that famous parsonage, the fat boy.
He is an old acquaintance Of Mr.. Pick
wick. bu, 10 Sam Weller his face is
strange To follow this first meeting:
Having given this direction and settled
with the COachman, Mr.. PickwiCk and
his three friends struck into the fOotpath
across the fields and walked briskly away,
Leaving Mr.. Weller and the fat boy con-
fronted together for the first time. Sam
looked IT the fat boy with great astcT.-
ishru"ut. but without saying Il WORD. and
The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1908-12-24
No ParsImony In PhiIadeIuhia

Philadelphia opens its purse strings
wide on New Years day and blows
itself extensively on its great parade.
Some years ago the leader of q down
town organization. which presented
something like $4,000 in costumes
alone had Il suit which took several
months to make. The design alone he
had been thinking out for two years
ahead, and lie had secured the service
of highly priced ard secret costumer.
The material in this mammoth suit,
for it took some fifty pages to carry it,
was OF the finest texture. He showed
it to few friends at his home about
month before the day on which he
was to don it. 1t was SD larTe that it
took up two rooms in the upper story
Of the house.
The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1908-12-24
This Unromantic Age.

"It shoIy DO look" said Miss Miami
Brown sadly, "like dar war no mo ro-
nance desc days"
what's de trouble" asked Erastus
Pinkly.
II takes notice dat when you asks q
gemman to q Christmas dinner ia
doesn' 'splay no interest in whethuh
dey's gwine to be mistletoe in de pah-
lor, but keeps hintin' aroun' to fin out
how bout de turkey an fixins on de
dinner table"
The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1908-12-24
When MistIetoe Was Banned.

Because of it's association with pa
gan rites the mistletoe was for centu-
ries forbidden 4 place in English
church decorations at Christmastide.
and 1t was not even mentioned in old
rhymes until the seventeenth century.
in Herrick's time, although the holly
and ivy had for two centuries previous
been the subjects of various poetical
pffnSinnS
The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1908-12-24
Self Help.

Dashaway-Wel!. In, IL Jasper how
are you getting on with your Christ
mas dinner?
Uncle Jasper-Fust rate. sab. Colo
mel WinterblOssom done guy me a
present of a fine fat turkey. sab.
Dashaway-That's very strange.
just left the colonel. and he didn't say
anything about it.
Uncle Jasper-No. san. He's got to
count dem turkeys fust.
The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1908-12-24
In Christmas Land.

Mistletoe just overhead
Touch one spray above!
Holly berries just as red
AS the lips of Love.
Christmas skies Of blue and gray,
Heaven in bright view.
And the sweetest g1ft today
Just the lips OF YOU
The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1908-12-24
Rural Repartee.

"Sary," sIickered young Alb Corn
tossel, Il kinder think I'll put myself
on tn Christmas tree fer you this
year
"If you do All" giggled Sary. they'll
not take you off this year They'll let
you stay there till you Git ripe enough
70 pick
The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1908-12-24
Christmas Diplomacy.

Lady-My husband won't wear thos.
shirts ] bought him for Christmas,
didn't think he would. And now 10
like to exchange them.
Cierk-For what. madam?
Lady-Wcll. you might let me looS
at some lace handkerchiefs and soh'
silver hatpins.-Puck.
The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1908-12-24

N 'OSH ID
Bun Caribbean sea
waters for long time. ii looked ~
though the Christmas dinner womb
consist only of canned stuff and fresh
vegetables and the peculiar cigarettes
of the tropics. Fortunately the steam.
er Philadelphia arrived ut La Guayra
one of the ports blockaded. and, as II
could not unload. Captain Diehl. the
commander of the Marietta, succeeded
in inducing the commercial vessel to
part with two turkeys and some Gran.
berries which. among other things
had been brought from New York
carefully slowed away in the icehoS.
The Philadelphia had DO Egyptian eliza.
rettes. and the question arose where
they could be got. Cronan pondered
deeply over the weighty problem and
/ then asked permission for 4 boat
Without indicating what he proposed
to do he gave the orders To p"nc,.ed To
the British cruiser Tribune whi,h was
one of the ships enforcing the block
ade.
Cronan was received by the ward
| room mess of the Tribune with nlen
| arms. IS special mark OF apprpcla
/ ton of his visit box 81 Il hundred
Egyptian cigarettes was bruush, forth
| by the executive officer Crcnan was
| invited to take one. His eyes Fingered
| longingly on the box Ills he extracted
| a lonely weed. He remained about
quarter of an hour. aud then. reach
| ing over to the box. closed it and 10
the establishment of the Britishers.
put it under his arm. They We're 200
/ well bred to demonstrate. but their
! eyes spoke volumes. 1t WAS their last
box. Cronan went over the side and
was pulled away TO his own ship, leav.
ing behind disgust and desolation. As
soon as he reached the Marietta be
asked Captain Dieh for one of the
4 4 Il n.
The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1908-12-24

fortune 10 10
with him on the
gunboat Meiei.
Ia during the
blockade uf Ven.
ezuela in Isr
by Great Bril-.
n n. Germany
and Italy, There
was no duty Too
oherouS for him
to undertake. no
service he was
unwillingtoface
His men stood
solidly behind
him. ready 10 e.
W n e re yer he
would lead.
AS the Marie;.
IN had haan
The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1908-12-24
His Popularity Explained.

II don't SEQ what makes that your,
friend Of mine SO very popular" sac
Willie Washington. HE is in deInanu
for any number III Christmas parties
THAT is very easily explained, ar
swered Miss Cayenne. "He is so neal
sighted that he Is continually mista'
ing holly for mistletoe"
The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1908-12-24
A Word of Holiday Caution.

Little Gracie-I don't think my new
doll is quite as nice As your new doll.
Little Ethel-Well, / don't think you
ought to say much about it, cause 1t
might hurt Santa Claus feelings
Brooklyn Life.
The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1908-12-24
Pat CrOnan and
The Cigarettes

HE heroic conduct Of Lieutan,,.
William P. Cronan. [.
~ in saving turret's crew
from death on the battlesbi,
Connecticut last year was to have has,
expected from man of his charac,o,
Pat Cronan. as he is known in and
out of the navy. belongs TO that cl,xs
of officers who reflect credit on n.
country and the service. Il WAS nv
The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1908-12-24
Circumstances Alter Cases,

Crawford-I thought you were per-
fectly delighted with the Christmas
present your wife gave you.
Crabshaw-At that time I didn't
know she'd had it charged.
The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1908-12-24
Hoy Il Was Done

She The idea, And we weren't
even standing under the mistletoe:
Ie-NO. | did that sub rOsa,-
Brooklyn Eagle
The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1908-12-24

III NC - anu thlS
he are fu ] V
packed up and
sent to the ward
room of t Ii G
Tribune with the
compliments of
the American of
fcers, and he
accompanied Il
with fifty ciga-
retteS.
The Christmas
dinners on the
Marietta and
Tribune as well
were great sue
ceSSes. The on
ly bar to com
The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1908-12-24
THEIR
OF
NOEL
Virginia LeiliaWent7
COPYRIGHT. 1909 er nonEa sseAaux

n ERC!. monsieurv' cried the
II" concierge as he cheerfully
took the silver coin. "a
The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1908-12-24

D chronicler Of Christmas do
ings has done it so inimitably
as Dickens, and nowhere has
Dickens described them bet
The Glenwood post., 1908-12-19
GENERAL NEWS.

1t is reported that the last stage
coach used in the Yellowstone park is
to give way to an automobile.
According to a professor OF the Uni
versity of Chicago. John d. Rockefeller
will devote $50, 10000 to the promotion
of education in the Oriental nations.
Orville Wright. the aeroplanist, has
written letter stating that he intends
to join his brother, Wilbur Wright,
in France, some time in January next.
The total winnings of Ing Edward
of England for the racing season in
England just closed were 7,453 out
of nine races with five winning horses
A 100000 garage is talked of for
Philadelphia. 1t will contain 2S7
rooms, each large enough for two au-
tomobles, which will be rented at $25
and $50 per month.
President Roosevelt has applied to
the Belgian government. through the
Amerit an legation, for hunting per-
init in Belgian territory in Africa,
which will be granted.
Ammunition to be used by President
prepared at New Haven, Conn, and for
warded to Washington, together with
the weapons which the President will
use.
A constitutional amendment author
izing a $50 O,0OO,0e0 bond issue for high
way Improvement is the ambitious
aim of Pennsylvania motorists. They
are being ably aided by Edwin s. Stu
art. the governor.
Cuba will witness modern automo-
bile race this winter Plans are being
made by the Cuban Automobile Asso-
citation for a great road race in Febru-
ary.
j. P.erpont Morgan has contributed
500, ,Ot0 for the rebuilding Of the Epis-
copal churches Of San Francisco de.
stroyed by the earthquake and fire
The Glenwood post., 1908-12-19
IRRIGATION AND
COLONIZATION
IMMENSE PROJECT FOR IMPRov-
ING VAST TRACT IN COLO
RADIO AND NEW MEXICO.
OLD C0ST|LLA ESTATE.
PLANS TO BRING OVER 100000
ACRES OF VALUABLE LAND
UNDER CULTIVATION.

Denver.-Financed by David H. Mof-
fat, Charles j. Hughes, Jr., and east
ern capitalists, a company which was
incorporated on the 10th inst, will
spend over $2,OOO00O carrying out in
Colorado and New Mexico one of the
biggest and most important power, ir-
rigation and colonization schemes ever
promoted in the entire West, says the
Denver Republican. Most, if not all,
of the land belonging to the historic
old Costilla estates in Costilla county,
Colorado. and Taos county, New Mex
leo. forming the major portion Of the
historic old Costilla or Sangre De
Christie land grant, has been purchased
by the company. This means that 500,-
tilla county and large acreage in
Taos county will be developed to at
tract thousands of settlers who will
convert an immense arid area into
thriving orchards and farms.
The company has been incorporated
both in Nevada and Colorado under
the name of the Costilla Estates Land
Development Company The incorpor-
ators are former Congressman Frank
lin Brooks of Colorado Springs, his law
partner. Horace G. Lunt, H. Alexander
Smith, Fred G. Moffat, nephew of
David Moffat. and Gerald Hughes.
David II. Moffat and Charles J. Hughes
are said to be the two principal Colo
radans behind the company.
The first step taken by the COM
pany, it is said. will be to provide irri
CATION facilities that will reclaim thou
sands of acres under its control. A
small portion in the southeast corner
of the southern part of Costilla county
which the company will improve is al
ready irrigated Situated on the Cul-
ebra range, which forms the eastern
boundary of the Sangre Christie grant,
extending down to New Mexico along
the eastern boundary of Taos county
is watershed and from the small
streams running from it, water will be
diverted for power and irrigation. The
Rio Cuebra, the Vallejo, Rito Ventero,
near the San Pedro mesa, the Quartos.
Jarosa and the Rita Torcida are the
principal creeks flowing from the shed.
The Rio Grande railroad extends
through the district of which the town
of San Luis is the center.