davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1908-12-22

gold twenty and ten mark pieces and
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 intrequently by
joke.
The kaiser's best side is seen at
Christmas. There is Il story current
that once near the palace of Sans
Soucl the kaiser came upon half
frozen sentinel with very red nose and
eyes. The sentinel, with stiff fingers,
brought his rife to the salute.
"Cold day." said his majesty. The
sentinel did not reply, but his teeth
chartered.
"How long have you been on duty?"
asked the kaiser. Still no reply.
'Stupid' 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 .Maies-
taetr'
| 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 aud
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-scarfpins. rings
dogs, cigarette cases, matchboxes, and
so on, being their staple gifts, varied
sometimes by book, picture or q
statuette Victoria Louise's gifts OF
dolls to her friends are numerous. TIC
| 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
orphanages 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 fol
distribution on Christmas eve.-New
| York World
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1908-12-22
WHEN SANTA WENT ASTRAY.
Miracle of the Loaves Repeated For
Washington's Poor.

The day of miracles has not passed.
according TO the firm belief of hun
bred or more poor people in Washing
ton. Last Christmas day Almas tenn
pie of the Shriners gave It's annual din
ner to the poor. Ii was well planned
affair, generously contributed to, and
turned out a big success. But the most
notable thing about it was not on the
programme and made the hit of the
occasion.
While the Shriners were feeding
their guests there came to their. hall
$50 loayes of bread. The huge six
foot Santa Claus was busy cracking
jokes as he waddled about and took
down the gifts from the Christmas
tree. In the middle of one of his sto-
ries there entered another big, fat San
ia Claus. carrying a 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 a 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
cd:
Ibid you get $50 loaves of bread?"
eve did" was the reply.
"What did you do with it?"
"Gave it away"
''Well. that was an order from the
Carroll institute. 1t came here by
mistake. But it is all right. We are
glad you gave it away, and If 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, 1908-12-22
CHRISTMAS NEAR THE POLE.
Where Seal Meat and Whales Blubber
Take Turkeys Place.

Where Seal Meat and Whales Blubber
Take Turkeys Place.
Il think Christmas, 1883, was my
most memorable one" said General
Greedy, the artic explorer with my
command / was proceeding southwark
In the hope of obtaining help, and
about the Goth of October we en-
sconced ourselves In a little hut at
Cape Sabine. Our supply of food was
running very low, and we were on
very short rations, 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 at Iast-Christ-
mas in the arctic regions! At 6 o'clock
we had our breakfast-thin soup made
of peas, carrots, blubber and potatoes.
Our Christmas dinner was served at !
o'clock--first course, stew of seal
meat, onions. blubber, potatoes and
breadcrumbs; second course, served
one hour after first, stew of raisins,
blubber and milk; dessert. a cup OF
hot chocolate. One of our party had
some tobacco still left. and he very
kindly made cigarette for each one
in our little party.
Il will wager that in all Christen-
dom that day not another present was
given or received that gave such In
tense delight to the recipients as did
those little rolls of tobacco and paper
They were quickly afiame and being
pulled away at for dear life, and thus
my most memorable Christmas
Christmas near the north pole-ended
in smoke Pittsburg Dispatch.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1908-12-22
0UTDID UNCLE SAM.
How an Old Lady Found Person the
National Postoffice Couldn't.

National PostoffIce Couidnt.
"The fates call and mortals obey"
The speaker was small, precise and
elegant old lady whose dimlnutive 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. Il 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 | was too old
to be in such crowd.
"After awhile the auctioneer offered
a package as big as a sack of -four,
and | bought it for 50 cents. Then
when | brought it home found 1t
contained nothing but lot of worn,
threadbare clothing mended almost to
death. | was just about to force 1t
on that grandniece of mine and make
her distribute it to some poor families
when | found a 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
er Ben, who lived in a city in Wis
consin.
"Well, when | read that letter l 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 be couldn't deliver it and then
addressed the whole thing to Mary
Burgess Brother Ben. -, Wis
Would yon believe that that postman
in that Wisconsin town really found
that poor boy and gave him the bum
die? An6 now I've letter from the
girl in which she tells me both she and
her brother are in much improved cir
cumstanees. that Ben has 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, 1908-12-22
CHRISTMAS OIL SHIP OF ICE.
Strange Story OF Skipper Shipwreeied
on the Pacific.

Strange Story OF Skipper Shipwreeied
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:
''The approach of Christmas always
reminds NE of the December that
spent on an ice ship. Never heard Of
one? Well. they are unusual. | was
master Of the little brig Holly, and
along about the 1st 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 of a
large pinnacle 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 a
regular ship, and with some of the
timber saved from our vessel we rig
ged her as a bark, side lights and ev-
erything even going so far as to paint
her and name her the Holly. She was
fine craft and foated like a duck
when finally launched. We spent
Christmas on board of her and had a
great time / loaded part of the wreck
ed Holly's cargo in he's and we then
started Cor CalIao which was our des-
tination.
The ice ship sailed fine and was as
good sea boat as any in which | 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 u.s. Another two days and we
would have been in the water when a
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, 1908-12-22
An Old Christmas Custom

A century or two ago there was a
custom in Germany for all the parents
in a town or village to send the pres
ents they designed for their children to
one chosen individual, who called at
each house clad In motley robe, a
mask and huge flaxen wig. Knock
ing on the door, he called in loud
voice for all the good children to ap-
pear and receive the gifts which the
Christ Child the Christ-Kindlein. had
sent them. This was the primeval
Kriss Kringie. Coleridge describes this
custom and records that the bad little
children had rod left for their cor
rection.- Brooklyn Citizen.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1908-12-22
Hidder, Gifts
of the....
ChriStmastide.
BY AL0YsIus COLL

TCopyright 1867 by Aioysias COLL
THINK you. my little baby boy,
I That TIA gifts are all for you
The picture books and the painted
blocks
And the soldier men in blue?
But what Of the joy in mothers heart
When she saw you dance for eiee.
When you woke to see the candles burn
On the boushs of the Christmas treei
Vou ciappsd your hands and you
! laughed aloud
When you found the little plow
With the oxen team that logged or
wheels
In the shade of the greenwood Dough
But what of the silent tenderness
That stirred in mothers breast
When you drove the oxen to the barn
Ia the twiiighs hour to rest?
VouR eyes in wonder opened wide vide
: When you saw that the little
train
Would rattle down the carpet track
And then run back again
| But what OF the golden train of thought
That follows your baby feet
To scatter the flowers of mother love
Where the way is bright and SWEET
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1908-12-22
Christmas In
Cactus Center.


wv oMEN's scarce in Cactus Gen.
w ter, and there amt no bar
gain stores
Fer to start them Monday rushes that
break down the stoutest doors,
But we had some Christmas shoppin'
that the town ain't over yet,
Jest because Of one small woman and
= drug store toilet set.
She was Cactus center's teacher, and
she hadn't left the stage
Fore she had the boys plum locoad,
and | don't bar youth nor age.
She was cute and smart and pretty,
and she might a. been here yet
If Il hadn't been for Dawson and his
drug store toilet set
It was old and scratched and speckIed,
fer twas in his case fer years,
But old Dawson, sharp and clever, put
whisper in our ears
Lowed he'd sell that set at auction, and
he says, SNOW, boys, you bet
This'll make hit with teacher--this
here swell new toilet set"
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1908-12-22

berry tree. The ladies of the house
came out about 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 very
glittering appearance. and the wind,
commencing to blow, shook them gen.
tly. making the illusion more perfect.
Then long bright ribbons of many col
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 a very gorgeous spectacle.
and the sight OF The happy children
that surrounded it made one wish to
be child again to enjoy it to the ut
termost. But the best was yet to come.
'In the front yard We're the presents
intended for the grown people. and
each man received one One was a 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
kind. saw young man who re-
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 it
had been transplanted from faiiyland.
THE people that came from dis
lance departed before nlghtfall, but
those that lived near by remained for
IN evening of music and good cheer.
and thus ended a happy Christmas
day"
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1908-12-22

Well, the biddin' started lively, and it
got to gittin' hot,
Fer every mind in Cactus on that sim
gle thing was sot.
Purity soonNl'd staked my saddle, worth
two hundred dollars net,
Just to own fer one short second that
blamed drug store toilet set.
It was then begun the shootin', no one
seems to know Jest how,
And twas lack of ammerniton that at
last broke up the row,
And thirteen of us was hurried, but the
worst blow that we met
Was in findin' that some bullets had
gone through that toilet set.
But we plugged the punctures in it, and
we plugged the wounded, too,
And agreed we'd arbitrate it, and the
bunch ID see it through,
So we sent a gift COMMITTEES, but they
came back sorer yet,
Fer the teacher ID fIuttered eastward,
so we have that toilet set.
Denver Republican.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1908-12-22
4Tbe ovesn,s christmaa csrd.v

tifC N<NCSI tftSAfido Oe~f ds
Queen Alexandra has not given up
her interest in behalf of the unemploy-
ed. Last Christmas she sanctioned a
unique plan to raise more funds for
them. This was in the shape of the
issue of Christmas book. consisting
of poems. stories. sketches. drawings
and music. which was entitled "'Ihe
Queens Christmas Card" Algeraon
Charles Swinburne. Alfred Austin. the
poet laureate: Thomas Hardy Marie
Corelli. Hall Caine. George Meredith.
Arthur Wing Pincro. Sir Laurence
Aima-T adema. Edwin A. Abbey. VIII
liam Holman Hunt. Sir Edward John
Poynter and Sir Edward EIgar are
among the host of those who contrib
uted. The production of the book was
practically gratuitous. 1t sold for
half a crown. and the proceeds were
devoted to the queens unemployed
fund.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1908-12-22
STRANGE Christmas Superstition.

In 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 IL 1t
is desired to have money and luck all
the year round one must not fall to
eat behring's Oh New Years day, nor IL
you wish to be lucky must you rock an
empty cradle or spill salt wantonly or
cross knives or point at the stars. II
a dirty cloth Is left on the table over
Christmas night il vii. make the an.
gels weep, il you point upward to the
rainbow ii will make the angels feet
bleed. and if you talk Of eabbages
while looking at the moon you will
uurt the feelings of the man in it.--Tit-
IN Saxon Times.
In Norman aud Saxon times an OK
was always roasted whole over the
Ynle log at Christmas.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1908-12-22
CHI SSGI6nQs on
T @f5'S RANCH.
President elect William Il. Taft :

President elect William II. Taft =
part owner OF one of the largest
ranches IN Texas. the Coleman
Fulton ranch. so called. a 10000
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.
II 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-
GRAFT christmas morning, though
warm, was feggy. 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.
Il saw what | had never seen be-
fore. growing Christmas tree. Just
in front of the house was a large null
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1908-12-22
Her Little Prayer.


Former Comptroller Edward NJ
Grout of New York city tells 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 indulgeht friend, she began tc
rummage through closets and drawers
In the course of her investigation
she came upon brand new white mutt
1t was the very thing she had wanted
and she knew that Santa Claus CHIEF
purchasing agent grandma oh
tanned 1t for her
! Taxed with IT, grandma admitted tbs
truth.
But" she said. You must forset al
about II until Christmas day
That night as she was cling put t.
bed the child astonished Ter mother by
adding this 70 her evening prayer:
please, God, make me forget oil
about the little white muff Santa Claus
is to bring New York Times
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1908-12-22

Christmas is the great religious festi-
val when the kind heart finds many
ways of ministering TO the joy and
pleasure of others. The good women
of Boston who originated and sustain
the Animal Rescue league have hit up
on the unique idea of Christmas tree
for The cats that are waiting for homes
at that institution A bush is provided
and trimmed with meat and other suit
able eatables for such animals, and
just before they are turned into the
room the members of the Kindness
club are admitted to enjoy the antics
of the cats.
This club is composed of boys whose
ages range from eight to thirteen
years and Is the outcome of the
league's work in poor section of Bos-
ton. They are pledged to do some kind
net each day and to protect animals
from cruelty. After the cats have de-
molished the tree and gone to sleep
the boys are given refreshments and
sent home truly filed with the spirit of
Ihristmas.-Nsw Ior4 s.si, 49,. -
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1908-12-22
THE ACTORS CHRISTMAS.
Life on the Boards Is Not All Happy
Holiday.

TlOIiQdJs
81 like Christmas said an actor.
"No two are ever alike in my bust
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 a
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
ears, and there were 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 and a broken wrist, and
our star had lost new set of teeth,
without which he refused to play at
night
1.-THE report had it 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.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1908-12-22
Vacations as Christmas Presents.

In letter to the employees of the
Bourne mills Of Fall River, Mass. an
nouncing the rc~'iar profit sharing div
idend on Doe u last Treasurer George
A. Chase Nai.i The board # directors
has unanimously antho!a "a ne to an
nounce fa ION the experiment OF va
cation wees ia August. 1907. The mills
will cl5 ing. 81 and reopen Sept. 3,
thus al. yoH ten days Of rest and
recreation a lieu OF regular pay you
will &c: H; ayfra dividend on your
wages, pavas.e Just before the vaca-
ton, to the amount of 80 per cent Of
the average weekly wages" This
promise was faithfully kept.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1908-12-22
Her Best Friends Gift.

Wickers ~ Isn't 1t unfortunate that
dark Miss Manley has just the faintest
suspicion of Il mustache?
Her Best Friend-lt is. indeed. |
sympathized with her last Christmas.
ers-Sympathlzcd?
Her Best Friend-Yes. Without the
poor dear knowing it | sent her mus
tache cup.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1908-12-22

You CLAPPED YOUR HANDS AND YoU
LAUGHED ALOUD.
VOU set the sails on your tiny ship.
And you sent it out to sea
On a silver lake with shores Of moss
When the wind was fair and free,
But what Of my silver lake Of dreams
Where never a ship may start,
But bears you at the PROV to sound
The fathoms of my heart?
A n, beat your taps to the soldier
toys,
Unyoke the oxen team,
And draw the fires IL your painted
train,
Come to my arms and dream,
Tor thine are the gifts of a tender day
And night of childish Joy;
Mine is the everlasting gift
Of a mothers heart-my boyl