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

told you little while ago it was
your friendship l wanted. | was
wrong
She made no answer, but stretched
out her little gloved hand to him,
then drew it back quickly unnoticed,
singular smile on her lips.
you've known me for few hours
only" be went on in steady voice,
"and l 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. IT
have known you for years. | 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 l used to have Ger
trude write me all about you till she
married that missionary and went to
live in China. And then had your
photograph-the one in your track suit
And just to think for whole
month now you've been living opposite
to me, across the court, and | never
knew it. All, Lanse, I've felt for
years you would come to me, and when
saw you tonight my first impulse was
to stretch out both hands and be so
glad, so glad. At once. though, | saw
you'd forgotten. so determined not to
tell you who was. | wanted you to
recall. When / spoke of your having
a sister just now l tried to make you
recall, but I'm glad you didn't, be-
cause it's me, all me, as am. that you
love, and it's so good that way"
A little later through the frosty air
the midnight bells of Noel rang out
clear. Then at the last. very softly,
from a darkened room across the
court, Lansing Drake heard verse of
the old Christmas carol he had sung
at his mothers knee:
The snow lay on the ground;
The stars shone bright
He bowed his head in his hands for
the great gift that had come to him
When Christ our Lord was born
On Christmas night
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1908-12-22
THEIRNE
OF
NOEL
Virginia L oiIfaWelrtz


ERCI, monsieur cried the
V concierge as he cheerfully
IVA took the silver coin. "A
happy Noel, monsieur
Lansing Drake entered the little i'm
passe on the broad Avenue du Maine
shaking his shoulders. for his back
ached. He had been working at the
Louvre for five steady hours-till the
very last fraction of light held out.
Why not? What part had he in the
festivities of these happy French peo-
pie? Was not he one of the homeless
ones, separated by the width of an
ocean from his family?
In his studio apartment he threw
himself on divan with pipe and a
Journal Amusant. But the Journal
was full of illusions to the season, and
somehow he sighed. The eve of Noel
Christmas eve! 1t had been the very
best time of the year over there in his
dear southern home. What were they
doing now? Getting the things ready
for the trees, and tying up the wreaths
of holly with red ribbon, and hanging
a branch of mistle-oh. pshaw, what
right had he to think of such things
tonight?
A clatter Of sabots across the flag
stone court-the small daughter of the
concierge fetching water from the
common tap; from the Boulevard
Montparnasse the toot of st. Phil
1ppine du Roule train and then ST.
lence. Drake was picking up his pa
per again when
The snow lay on the ground;
The stars shone bright
All, it was the quaint old English
carol, with its 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 combination
to which he was bit sensitive If the
truth had been dragged from him.
Just that very morning he had writ
-
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1908-12-22
Mothers Coronation Day.

That first Christmas was the moth
ers coronation day. Each recurring
Christmas perpetuates the memory Of
her great glory In public and in pri-
vate celebrations of it hers should be
the central figure. Solemn gladness
akin to the Creators satisfaction in
his Every good" work should fill her
soul.
In Mr.. Harrison S. Morris beautiful
poem, Incarnation. we read how a
laborer, laden with "a tray Of tools, a
timbered Frame" walked in the sun
shine through a city street
Nor knew that out of myriads one
Beside him saw a shadow run
That clasped the centuries in its shade
But, like a loving spirit. there,
In even football at his SIDE
A shadow walked the pavement wide
With Bonded head and humble pride
And angled cross aslant the air.
1t was as If the dateless sun
Forgot the years, the far abode
And, 10, upon the sordid road
The cross worn Nazarean trode,
Holding the journey never done.
Every mother who holds her baby in
her arms repeats, unconsciously OF con-
sciously, the story of the incarnation
The blended shadow 'clasps the centu-
ries," past, present and to come, and
eternity itself sin its shade Marion
Harland in Independent.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1908-12-22

ure, rather the expectancy of an ex-
plorer who, venturing far, finds the
present good, though that to come be
unknown.
Presently they went out and hailed
a fiacre.
where shall it beY" asked Drake.
"Laures? Voisin's? Peters? No,
have it. Marguery's.'
So they drove to Marguery's, and
Drake ordered bouillebaisse Ito be
quite seasonable) and a langouste
mayonnaise and bird and some
sweets
They had very jolly little supper
indeed and no end of amusement
watching the merry looking French
people at the tables. all devouring
bouillebaisse and other nice things.
"And to think" cried the girl as the
clock struck IL, shivering with pre-
tended alarm. that I'm sitting here
at this hour, unchaperoned, in o
French restaurant-with a man who
hasn't even been conventionally intro.
ducedv'
"Don'tw cried Drake abruptly
Come! We must be going home. 1t
is a bit late"
She was silent while they left Mar
guery's and hailed a fiacre. Then she
broke out in a queer little voice that
was low and tremulous:
81 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 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
-re 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
I-well. I'd hoped to pass the evening
without telling you that loved you
that's why ! was hurrying you home.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1908-12-22

ideas. and the observance of Christ
mas day is yearly taking on more OF
an American character.
One evidence of this is the growing
custom, so common in the southern
states especially, of eyidencing ones
appreciation of the occasion by the
free use of tin horns aud other agen-
cies for the production of noises.
The first intimation one usually re-
ceiyes that the day has arrived is the
result Of an enthusiastic and determin-
ed attempt about 3 a. IN. on the part
of a native youngster to blow his
lungs out through the small end OF a
tin horn, ard bis enthusiasm is in d.
rect proportion to the size of his horn.
But as the old adage has II. 1.-THE bet
ter the day the better the deed" and
the tin horn Is only another expression
of the time honored sentiment Merry
Christmas to you albany and
Navy Life.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1908-12-22

THE cAMELs OF THE WISE MEN SWEEPING
BY.
Content are we, the children of his
hand,
To wait, nor insoIentIy demand,
Assured that in Gods own good time
he will
Unlock the door and let us understand
Of all thy gracious gifts, o God Most
High,
The dearest of them all is this clear
eye
OF faith with which we shrine the
miracle
Of faroff Bethlehem and time defy.
o Virgin, vert thine eyes less unafraid
Or didst thou shrink, sore startled and
dsmayed,
When first thou felt that life within
and learned
On thee Gods precious burden had
been laid?
What must have been thy happy, sweet
amaze
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1908-12-22
Christmas
Quatrains
BY GEORGE CREEL

a GAIN the star dawns in the east
"A srn sky;
Again we hear the shepherds
startled cry
As waking from his midnight sleep
ne sees
The sames af the wise men sweeping
BY.
The years nave worked their measure
Of decay.
Where are the inn and stabIe7 Who
can say
"This is the spot" or "There the very
place
Where Lord Christ came into the light
Of day?"
No more chants caiphas his vengefui
song.
And scattered to the winds are all the
throng
That cIamored for Barabbas, only
held
In memory by reason Of their wrong.
The weak souIed PLATE long has passed
away;
Great Caesar, too, is now at one with
clay,
Their mighty Rome forgotten save
as theme
To keep the srumbIins schoolboy from
his play.
But still the scent of frankincense and
myrhh
Steals down the centuries, and as il
But yesterday, so sweet and new it
seems,
Did Virgin Mary bear the Harbinser.
let fools with much pretense of. Wis
dom scout
The truth and was their heads in owl
ish doubt
Of Great Jehovah's all embracing
scheme
Because there is door they stand
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1908-12-22
The Nays Christmas.

Christmas in the regular navy IS OBJ
served as one of the big holidays Of the
year. Starting off with a 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 gayly deco
rated with bunting. and at each mast
head and at the bow and stern green
trees are dashed If procurable.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1908-12-22
Brother piekev on Christmas.

Dey say bit is better ter give dan ter
receive. but wants ter put my friends
on notice dat ] been 'p'inted ter be a
receiver 'twell after Chris mus.
De Chris'mus turkey roos' mighty
high. but by de blessin' er Providence
some er us got mighty long reach.
he dat give ter de po' lends ter de
Lawd, but In dat case some folks think
dey'lI halter wait too long ter git dey
money back
Hit don't take much ter make de
worP happy. but mos folks fin 1t
mighty hard ter spare even dat much.
Atlanta Constitution.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1908-12-22
This Unromantic Ace.

ut sho'ly do look" said Miss Miami
Brown sadly. like dar war no mo- ro-
nance desc days.
What's de troublef' asked Erastus
Pinkly.
Il takes notice dat when you asks
gemman to a Christmas dinner he
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 fixin's on de
dinner table,
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1908-12-22
self Helm.

Dashaway-Well. Uncle Jasper, how
are you getting on with your Christ
mas dinner?
Uncle Jasper-Fust rate, sab. Colo
mel Winterblossom done guy me
present of fine fat turkey. sab.
Dashaway-That's very strange. i
just left the colonel. and he didn'. say
anything about it.
Uncle Jasper-No sah He's got to
count dem turkeys fust.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1908-12-22
When MistIetoe Was Banned.

Because of its association with pa
gan rites the mistletoe was for centu-
ries forbidden a place in English
church decorations at Christmastide,
and it 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
effuSionS.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1908-12-22

HUMILITY DIVINE MANGER BIRTH
Hosanna! Glory 10 the Son Of Man!
o happy moments ere his work began
OF lifting from the world its weight
of sin
And making straight salvation's tender
plan!
No hint Of Pontius Pilates last decree,
The lonely horror Of Gethsemane;
No prescience of thorny diadem
Or shadow from the hill Of Calvary.
Humility divine! A manager birth
The humble stable bathed in holy
light
The Babe upon truss OF straw-the
mild
Eyed kline awaked to wonder at the
sight!
Alas, still fingers issue of that kline,
The thick of wit. who can detect no
sign
OF God in christ's dear birth nor I'M
derstand
The marvel of the holy bread and wine.
And sons of doubling Thomas still
abide
With US on earth and still the truth
derde
Because they cannot grasp his nail
torn hands
And sec the blood sush from his
pierced side.
o shame of shamesI The wise men
saw on high
Gods guiding star CLEAN in the cast
ern sky
And straightway journeyed forth
across this world,
With ne'er a question of where or why.
Thy place within the heavens ever
hold,
o blessed star, and like those men of
old,
May we have faith and hope to fol
And at our journeys end the Christ
behold!
Kansas City independent.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1908-12-22

An interesting item regarding the
mistletoe is that 1t Is the only plant
whose roots refuse to shoot In the
ground. popularity possessed by no
other parasite. 1t Is found on the fir,
the lime and the apple tree as well as
on the oak.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1908-12-22
Circumstances Alter Cases.

Crawford-l thought you were per-
fectly delighted with the Christmas
present your wife gave you
Crabshaw-At that time didn't
know she'd bad it charged
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1908-12-22
A. G. WYNKOOP,
BUYS AND SELLS FARMS,
COAL, MINERAL AND
TIMBER LANDS.

Represents First-Class Fire Insurance
Companies, Full charge taken of Farms
and Dwellings Investments carefully
made. Business Conducted Confiden-
tally and Promptly. Offices opposite
The Jefferson. Charles Town, w. Va.
SURETY BONDS.
Call for 1909 Calendar.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1908-12-22
How IL Was Done.

She : The idea, And we weren't
even standing under the mistletoel
He-No. l did that sub rosa.-
Brooklyn Eagle.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1908-12-22
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 gift today
Just the lips of you.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1908-12-22
A Word of Holiday Caution.

Little Gracie-I don't think my new
doll is quite as nice as your new doll
Little Ethel-WeIl, don't think you
ought to say much about it, cause it
might hurt Santa Claus feelings
Brooklyn Life.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1908-12-22
The Woman Of Il.

Mrs. Dorcas-W What was the first
thing she did when she got the Christ
mas present?
Dorcas- Went to the store to find out
what it cost
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1908-12-22

To see the aureate halo blaze
And from the wide flung gates Of
paradise
70 hear the mighty harmonies Of
praise!
Loud sang the golden throated cher
ubim
And all the wheeling hosts of sera-
phim,
Whose snowy pinions changed to
canopy
Of virgin white the heavens sapphire
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-05-05
MANY LOCAL FIRMS
BID ON ARMY WORK
Magnitude of Undertaking No
Bar to San Francisco
Contractors
Several Alternative Plans Pro-
posed for Transport Land
ing Place

Sealed bids for extensive docks, a
seawan and warehouses which will be
built at Fort Mason for the army trans
port service were opened at noon yes
terday by Major George NICK. William
son., constructing quartermaster for
this department. Most of the bidders
based their estimates on the govern
ment specifications, while others bid
on their own alternative plans and
some fled bids on both 1t is evident
that the magnitude of the undertake
ing does not Brighten local firms, for
they are in the majority among the
bidders from all parts OF the country.
Major Williamson will send the bids
with his recommendation to the quar-
termaster general at Washington for
final approval.
The bidders and the amounts Of their
bids were as follows:
On the government specifications
Warren Improvement company, $685.
80; Ferrolite company OF San Francisco.
$1,774,20 P. J. Carlin construction COM
pany of New York. s1.17S.000: Penn
bridge company OF Beaver Falls. Pa, ST.
624. 400: San Francisco bridge company OF
San Francisco, $1,479.00o; Pacific con-
struction company of San Francisco,
s1,S25. 600; Robert Wakefield of Port
land. Ore. s1.673,023.
On the alternative plans-P. ]. Car
lin construction company Of New York,
81, 098,000; L. J. Mensch & c. Leon
hardt of San Francisco. s1,31S.900
Healy-Tibbitts company OF San Fran
cisco, s1,749.000; San Francisco bridge
company OF San Francisco, S1,297, 900;
Pacific construction company OF San
Francisco. s1.7s7 900.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-05-05
HAS RIGHT TO Mss,
SAYS MERRY WIDOW
Mrs. Seaman Relates 0scula-
tory Incidents in O'Brien
Divorce Case

Testimony that may be regarded as
expert as to the privileges Of widow
in the matter of kissing was given by
Mrs. Agnes D. Seaman in deposition
read yesterday in the trial of tho d.
vorce suit of Captain Charles F. O'Brien
against Mary Alice OBrien.
Has Captain O'Brien ever kissed
your" asked Attorney J. J. Barrett.
Yes" she answered
Are you married?" was the next
question.
NO; 1 am a widow. so have right
to kiss any man II please" candidly
replied Mrs. Seaman. The kissing, she
added, was in the presence of O'Brien's
wife.
Mrs. Seaman, who formerly lived at
1851 Vallejo street and before that at
2525 Van Ness avenue, but who is now
a resident of Cuba, introduced the sub
ject of kissing early In her testimony.
She said that at her home. after a
dinner at SWANS, she saw Colonel
Caleb Maddox put his arm around Mrs.
O'Brien and kiss her, receiving a kiss
in return. A Mr.. Trainer, who was OF
the party. wanted to kiss Mrs. Seaman
she said. but she would not let him.
1T was just frolic," the merry
widow testified. I'VE were all lively.
We were all laughing and carrying on
together, the four of us"
She said she did not believe Mrs.
O'Brien had any feeling for the colonel
that was wrong. Her feeling for him
was just the same as mine was, or that
of any one else. The colonel was very
pleasant and very handy to pass the
evening with" She said she never
heard Mrs. O'Brien call the colonel
hero.
Testifying about a mining man named
De Salya. Mrs. Seaman denied that Mrs.
O'Brien told her De Salya had onered
her $4,000 to elope with him A gay
second hand clothes man was also IN
troduced He used to come around
often, but Mrs. Seaman said she never
heard that he had offered Mrs. O'Brien
$50, 900 to elope with him.
The deposition of Mrs EsteIe kohn
was also read yesterday. after which
the case was continued for a week.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-05-05
INDEPENDENCE LEAGUE
IS SUED FOR LAW BOOKS
Publishing Companies Allege
That Hugh j. McIsaac Owes
for Legal Tones

Hugh J McIsaac, who mixes politics
with law, being high in the counsels OF
the Hearst Independence league, mas
neglected to pay for his library, ac-
cording to q suit filed against him In
the Justice court. McIsaac is the part
ner OF Daniel Ryan. who also ran" for
mayor last November. He is sued for
s1s2.4o for books supplied by the
American law book company OF New
York and the West publishing COM
pany of ST. Paul, Mimi.
The complaint states that McIsaac
in August, 1905, executed promissory
note for $3.50 to the American law book
company and has since failed TO
lfouidate It, His dealings with the
West publishing company were in
June. 1906, when he contracted TO pay
s1s7 for books--s27 in cash and $40
month. In all he paid $97 on this latter
bin, leaving due balance of So
1t is alleged also that he owes
the West publishing company SIS on a
separate account. These three claips
have been transferred to Joseph Brown,
in whose name the suit was brought. At
torney Sanford Feigenbaum drew the
complaint
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-05-05
NO COMPROMISE
ON HETCH HETCHY
Irrigation Districts Offer to
Withdraw Opposition for Use
of City Reservoirs
Mayor Declares Proposition of
TurlOck and Modesto Will
Not Be Accepted

Mayor Taylor received a telegram
yesterday from City Engineer Marsden
Manson, who is in Washington, D. c.,
to urge the granting of San Francisco's
application for the Hetch Hetchy water
rights. informing him that the Turlock
and Modesto irrigation districts are
still opposing the project. While the
mayor did not make public, the contents
of the telegram 1t is known that Man
son wired that the opposition of these
districts alone prevents the granting of
this city's application for a pure water
supply. The representatives of the two
irrigation districts insist that II the
application is granted their. districts
have the Eight to draw their supply
from the storage reservoirs built by
San Francisco. To this demand Manson
and the other San Franciscans in
Washington will not acceed.
The supervisors have announced their
readiness to approve of the stipulations
entered into with Secretary Garfield by
Manson, who has full power to repre-
sent San Francisco in the negotiations.
but they will not consent to this city
building storage reservoirs and then
giving the irrigation districts joint
interest In them.
Mayor Taylor. when seen after the
receipt OF the telegram, said:
THE irrigationists of Turlock and
Modesto want US to build reservoirs for
them. and there is where the hitch In
the proceedings comes In, for we are
not willing to do So
The irrigation districts are .waging
the same kind of a fight they offered
several years ago when San Francisco
first made application for a supply of
water from Hetch Hetchy. They In
sisted then, as now, that the storage
reservoirs built by San Francisco's
money be placed at their command and
that they at all times have first call
on the water supply. San Francisco
through her representatives refused to
enter into the agreement, with the re-
suit that the irrigationists brought
sufficient power to bear to halt the pro-
ceedings.