davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-12-20

dancing and fool plough hot cookies.
blind mans buff etc. In England the
favorite dish for dinner at this season
of the year is the boars head with an
apple or orange In his mouth and set of
with rosemary, plum pudding and mince
pie The houses and churches are
decked with evergreens, especially with
mistletoe, to which the English have at
tached a singular sacredness since the
days of the Drufds.
The English children look forward even
more eagerly to the Christmas season
than the American children. 1t is their
Thanksgiving and Christmas combined
They have all the good things to eat that
grace the home of the American children
at Thanksgiving, and besides receive
their presents at the same time Many
of the American games for the Christmas
season were originated In England hun
d1eds of years ago. such as blind man s
buff and dipping for apples In tuo OF
water. These games at first were only
for the Christmas festivities.
Christmas means much to the juvenile
Door of London-in fact. 1t is the biggest
day of the entire year in their lives
Most of them belong to what have come
to be known as the ragged schools. ana
each schoo, is given a deiectable feast
it'll a few. inexpensive presents on the
side The churches throw wide their
doors and provide Christmas goodies.
These dinners are. naturally. the talk or
the children for months beforehand. And
they crowd the various halls where they
are held in droves. Everyone is served.
In thousands of Instances. Christmas
baskets, containing food and supplies,
are sent to the homes of crippled children
or invands unable to attend the big
feasts.
Right at the very door to our own
country-Ellis Island-a Christmas cele-
bration of more than passing interest
takes place every year. There Is never
Christmas that does not find at least
one steamship depositing its load or I'M
migrants from Europe Strangers in a
strange land on Christmas Day. Surely
they are worthy of all that can be done
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-12-20

He FOREST AFTER MISTLETOH.
tor them to make them feel little of
the Christmas cheer! And much Is done.
In the main hall of the Immigrant quar-
tiers at Ellis Island. which has a seating
capacity of 1900. stage is erected
from which prominent speakers address
the Immigrants The speakers are chosen
according u their linguistic ability. and
every immigrant present will hear at
least one address in his own language.
Not tnfrequently singers from the grand
opera houses in New York are present
and cheer the new arrivals with their
beautiful songs.
The little immigrant children are treat.
ed to all sorts of Christmas gifts dear
to the heart Of childhood and their
fathers and mothers come in, too. for
Yuletide remembrances Several months
before Christmas donations come in from
all over the country. From the middle of
December packages begin to arrive. some
containing touching little offerings of
cheap toys, candies. ornaments and fruits.
From the Ghetto. from little Italy. from
the crowded alleys and the sitting tene-
ments come the gifts.
Not infrequelfiy from a distance comes
a check from a man, himself once n NIL.
grim at the island. to whom fortune has
been kind He asks that the money be
expended for toys. warm clothing for the
infants and substantial gifts for the mar
ents. And In this way the matrou OF
the island collects enough gifts and toys
to make the children who spend their
first Christmas in the land of the free re-
member IL all their lives There is al
ways a big Christmas dinner and a
Christmas tree on Christmas Eve MANY
Of the little ones have never had 40
many good things, and so much attention
in all their lives before. Sometimes
though. they are too sad to enjoy the
feast and the presents. for even In the
r. H,rk
fatherland left behind and a new. nm
known land ahead
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-12-20

" METROPOLITAN santa Claus with
quarter of a million dollars in
is chubby fist and g smile that
means good cheer to hundreds of
thousands of povertystricken of New
York Is beginning to stir from his H.
month sleep. The almost numberiess char
table institutions and private individuals
who loosen their purse strings at this
time OF year to provide a ray of Christ
mas sunshine for the dreary round of life
of those unfortunates who are engaged
almost increasingly in a hopeless battle
with fate are planning to feed and en-
courage more than 100000 of such hu-
man drift this yuletide.
The good work involves hard and earn
est toll on the part of those engaged in
it and does not cease with the providing
of the funds. Hundreds of fashionable
women vie gladly for the pleasure of
serving grimy Bowery derelicts and
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-12-20

New York is spending 100000 for i'm
provements to its fire alarm systec,
When It Is completed it will probably -
the finest In the world.
The San Francisco call., 1909-03-20
A CHAT WITH THE JUNIOR FAMILY

interesting
Call which viii
the Florence A a Warm Reception
Barbary
doubtless
/ q To
delightful
a that
whom has
given particular information
the boys oseph school lost Aonzo
Spaniel
which shows how jealousy viii make genemany
and unhappy
particular story
picture puzzle they not know
viii
their
wisely
appears
door the pupils the Mission
how Crowley the principal gathered
flock and the first
the
subject Ny Cousin" re-
will
already
ha 70
side Of the only and the
plainly
carefully
Call
Have you reading viii
of
Of San
Calls
further regarding the styles. Watch
The San Francisco call., 1909-03-20
GOOD STORIES IN FEW WORDS AND BRIEF POINTED POEr1S
TAPS at Sea

In all honor and respect, II the
humblest among them. the sailors fu-
neral rites are given. In two long
parallel columns = 1900 yards from
flank to fiank-the great white ships
push onward. Seven bells strike; by
preconcerted orders the propellers
throughout the feet cease turning. and
the ships, slowly losing headway, come
to stop and lie quietly rolling on the
swell of the ocean Away down the
column of the second squadron the na-
tional ensign scars quickly TO the peak
of the mainmast of one OF the vessels
there, then droops slowly to halfmast;
instantly on all the ships the flags fut-
ter upward, then sink half way down
again. and $4,000 men await in silence
the consignment to the deep OF all that
remains of one whose soul has taken
flight from among them. The time for
the distance the sweet, solemn notes
of "Taps'-Iights outcome floating
through the air. a moments pause.
and up to the peak once more on the
ship over there the ensign rises; up to
the peaks on all the vessels the flags
stream out again. A signal shows at
the yard on the mainmast OF the flag
ship. Full speed ahead. both en-
gines." the order sounds down into the
engine rooms from the bridges, and
onward the fleet steams again over the
sunlit sea Let 1.-The dead bury the
deadi
The San Francisco call., 1909-03-20
petting a Horse

Not many people know how TO pet
a horse, from the horses standpoint
at any rate" said a trainer. Every
nice looking horse comes in for a
good deal of petting. Hitch a fine
horse close to the curb and you'll find
that half the men. women and chill
dren who go by will stop for a minute,
say Nice horsey," and give him an
affectionate pat or two.
THE trouble is they don't pat him
in the right place. If you want to
make a horse think he is going
straight to heaven hitched to a New
York cab or delivery wagon, rub over
his eyes. Next to that form of en-
dearment a horse likes to be rubbed
right up between the ears. In pet
ting horses most people slight those
nerve centers. They stroke the horses s
nose. While a well behaved horse
Will accept the nasal caress compla-
Gently. he would much prefer that nice,
soothing touch applied to the eyelids.
Once in a while a person comes along
who really knows how to pet horse.
Nine times out Of ten that man was
brought up in the country among
horses and learned when a boy their
peculiar ways"
The San Francisco call., 1909-03-20

But / was wofully wrong, for out OF
this basket he took a small black
creature-one OF the kind known, be-
lieve, as an Aberdeen terrier. breed
I have always disliked. 1. as you have
noticed. am an Irish spaniel
Here, Bush" he said (my name is
Bush), is a companion for you" and
he held the thing toward me. Com
panion! For some days. 1 need hardly
say, l did not approach the reptile,
and I kept away also from my master
and mistress, just to punish them, al
though I am afraid they were too much
occupied with their new toy ito OBJ
serve 1T. And then gradually I allowed
myself to come round and resume my
old habits.
But how different everything was!
At meal times. whereas I used to get
all the tidbits, 1 now received only
half; when my master whistled in the
old days 1t was for me, but now 1t
might also be for that other, and in
deed he was often there before me-
In short, 1 was no longer an only dog.
Things went on like this for some
months. until one day Scottie tas they
called him) began to be i'll; and he got
worse and worse, and at last he died
One had, of course, to make some show
of grief, but, by Sirius, how glad l was
at hearti had the greatest difficulty
u hCEp Ily Ld44 SIl1l--ll WOQlQ No > .
and when I heard my mistress say,
Well. in future. dear, Bush shall be
our only dog" 1 had to pretend / had
flea to cover my emotion
From that moment all my old hap
piness returned; I had the place again
to myself; had all the hearth rug,
and al the tidbits, and all the caresses.
and all the walks. My master grew in
ma gnifcence, my mistress in beauty.
TQrrr al n haf
changeable minds; and one day what
should appear out of wholly blue
sky but another basket, from which
there crawled another dog; but this
time a more genuine article, a cocker
spaniel pup. The first thing he did,
as If his mere presence were not
enough, was to frisk toward me and
set his horribly sharp little teeth in
my ear Naturally I gave him bite
that sent him screaming round the
room, and my master opened the door
and sternly ordered me out, while nay
mistress caught the creature in her
arms and kissed it A good beginning
And so 1t went on: 1 was always in
disgrace for complaining of assault or
for showing my intense disapproval OF
the vaciIlation of these people and the
loss of my recovered privileges; for
once again the hearthrug ceased to be
my own, and I secured only half the
tidbits, and when my master snapped
his fingers I often did not get there
first, for these little cookers are very
nippy, and Vincent, when he took me
out, took the other too.
1t was while I was one day medi-
tating on my misery that a brilliant
thought came to me-brilliant as con-
sidered it then, but wicked as l know
now. 1t is, as you are probably aware,
the nature of the spaniel to be, while
friendly to ALL passionately faithful to
one alone, and that one a man. This
little dog was too young and mex
perienced to have come to any con-
clusions about the composition of a
household: he was naturally without
knowledge Of class or degree My plan
was to take advantage of his ignorance
and Elasticity, and persuade him that
Vincent, the handy man, was his mas
The San Francisco call., 1909-03-20
A Song of Beauty

oh, sing me song of beauty, I'm tired
OF the stressful song.
I'm weary OF all the preaching, the
arguing of right and wrong.
I'm fain TO forget the adder that under
the leaf lies curIed,
And dream of the light and beauty that
gladdens the gray old world,
Oh. sing of the emerald meadows that
smile all day in the sum-
The ripple gIeam OF the rivers that on
through the meadows run!
Oh, sing Of the signing branches OF
trees in the leafy woods,
And the balm for the heart that's
hidden afar in the solitudes,
The birds-let them sing in your sing
ing and fash through the lines
you write.
The lark. with his Tilt in the morning.
the nightingale charming the
night,
The butterfly over the flowers that
hoyers on painted wing
All, these. let them brighten and tighten
the beautiful song you sing!
And let there be faces of lovers. and
let there be eyes that glow.
And let there be tears Of gladness
instead Of the tears of woe,
And let there be ciinging kisses OF lips
for time that part,
But never tristful shadow to darken
a trustful hearti
Ay, sing me a song of beauty-away
with the songs of strife.
Away with the specter of sorrow that
saddens the most of life.
Though under the leaf the adder OF
death and of doom lies curled,
Oh. sing. for space. of the beauty that
gladdens the gray old world
The San Francisco call., 1909-03-20
When Your Work Becomes a
Grind

When your work becomes a grind
Calmly take yourself aside;
DO it with an open mind,
And let reason be your guides
Ask yourself. and answer true,
Undfsturbed by foolish guile,
Why the tasks you have 20 do
Are no longer worth your while.
When you are Inclined to lag
AS you start upon your way
When the moments seem TO drag
AS you labor through the day.
Take yourself aside somewhere
And sit down alone and try
Honestly to answer there
When your conscience asks you
''Why?"
You may think that you are wronged
When your tasks no longer give
Joy that once TO you belonged.
When you merely work TO live.
But, withdraw somewhere. alone,
And you probably viii find
That the fault is all your own
When your work becomes a grind.
The San Francisco call., 1909-03-20
Laughter of a Child

The laughter of a child will make
the holiest day more sacred still.
Strike with hand of fire, o weird musi-
clan, the harp strung with ApolIo's
golden hair; fill the vast cathedral
aisles with symphonies sweet and dim,
deft TOUGHER of the organ keys; blow.
bugler, blow, until the silver notes do
touch and kiss the moonIit waves. and
charm the lovers wandering midst the
vineclad hills: but know. your sweet
est strains are discords all compared
with childhood's happy Iaugh-the
laugh that fills the eyes with light
and every heart with joy o ripping
river of laughter! Thou art the blessed
boundary line between the beasts and
men. and every wayward wave of thine
doth drown some fretful fiend of care
o laughter, rose Tipped daughter OF
JOY, make dimples enough in thy
cheeks to catch and hold and glorify
all the tears of grief
The San Francisco call., 1909-03-20
And Her Name Was Katrina p

Doctor Jones was looking out OF his
window one morning just as the new
Dutch girl was preparing 70 hang out
the wash He saw her struggling with
the line. some four feet too short for
the opposite pole. His surprise was
heightened when he saw her suddenly
gather up the loose line and start on
the dead run for the farther pole. She
repeated the experiment several times.
landing in a heap each and every time
she reached the ropes end.
WOnderingly he called her over.
Var, Mister Jones, dar line be too
short"
Yes. so I see." replied Doctor Jones.
still scratching his head, but what
made you run?'
Var, dots all right; sure I was only
a-tryin' to reach dat pole before dar
line give Oudt."-Ralph williamson
Perry
The San Francisco call., 1909-03-20


ter. and thus bend his affections en-
tirely in Vincent's direction.
/ knew enough of our real master to
be sure-that directly he found out that
the dog liked Vincent more than him.
self he would lose interest in him and
let him go-give him away to the next
caller. or even sack Vincent and the
dog with him.
And so 1t was: the scheme worked
perfectly. The little dog attached him
self to Vincent with an adoring per-
sistence. Nothing could get him away,
or IL he were induced to go upstairs,
he was continually running to the door
and whining for Gas he thought) his
master.
Our real master was furious. Con
found the dogI" he used to say, or
What's the use Of dog that doesn't
love you" And then he would lay
his hand on my head and say that at
any rate / was loving and faithful
until didn't know where to look. And
then one day Ii all worked out as I
given to neighbor
I have never been happy since for he
was faithful and brave little dog. and
my master and mistress would have
rejoiced in him, and 1 had robbed them
of a friend, and set stone where my
heart should be, just through my vile
jealousy and selhshness; while as for
he seemed to understand that 1 had a
paw in the business, for he was never
the same to me again.
Yes, / did a low thing, and l am
sorry for it. I did thing that no
spaniel and gentleman ought to do. l
wish you would kick me once, hard, and
then I could die happy.
The San Francisco call., 1909-03-20
THE CONFESSION OF A SPANIEL

out on his errands, even though I
could see that he tried TO make people
think that I was his
That was in London, in house near
Kensing gton gardens. where 1 had many
friends
In the country I was equally lucky, for
we moved every spring to place with
many rabbits near IL. and though I
never caught one I rejofced in their
proximity. 1t had very sunny spots
TO lie IN, too.
You see how happy I was. as happy
as only an only dog can be.
That is my tragedy.
How little we expect the upheavals
of lifei One day my master returned
in the evening. much as usual, but car
ryinE a basket Fish I thought, with
out enthusiasm-cat food; or perhaps
fruit, which IS. If possible, duller still.
The San Francisco call., 1909-03-20

RDONT like TO 20 out with this thing
on my conscience
want TO tell the whole story and
die in peace
3: Let me begin al the beginning
was an only dog. 1 had a very
happy home. Ny mistress was a beau
tlfuI woman. with long skirts on which
II was allowed 10 lie. Ny master was
"A magnificent man, fond OF walking
They were both weak, TOO. and fed
me at meals with little bits. and let
gne Iie close 10 the fire. That was up
stairs. where. Of course. I liked 70 be
best. bat downstairs was good too for
he maids did not mind dogs (as some
dol am tOldb. and there was a handy
man named Vincent who fed me very
:unctually. and with whom ] walked
The San Francisco call., 1909-03-20
Worry

Worry brings worries. and the SEN
sible girl should learn to avoid them
in her home, and perhaps her business
life. What good lies in wearing a long
face and always thinking the worst
will happen? I'm so worried" Is the
cry OF many people; they forget that
they must worry others as well as
themselves.
The way to achieve success is TO feel
sure you mean to achieve 1t.
The San Francisco call., 1909-03-20
ROyal SuDerstitiOns

1t is not only the ignorant and un-
learned who are superstftious. and even
such practical person as the German
emperor is apparently not without a
certain amount OF superstition. He has
always been careful that the ancestral
cradle of the HohenzOllerns should be
used for each infant member OF his
family in succession.
The San Francisco call., 1909-03-20
The Best Way

This world is a difficult world. indeed,
And people are hard TO suit.
And the man VINO plays on the violin
Is bore to the man with flute.
And I myself have often thought
How very mucn better 'twould be
II every one Of the folks 1 know
Would only agree with me.
But since they VIII not. then the very
best way
To make this world look bright
Is never TO mind what people say,
But do what you think is right.
The San Francisco call., 1909-03-20
Without a Single Leaf

A curious tree grows in one of the
numerous islands which are studded
about the Pacific ocean. 1t grows, at
its full height, 10 nearly 80 feet. with
branches spreading like a huge UNI
brella. yet it is completely leafiess, the
species having never been known to
show signs Of a single bud Its sap
is useful as medicine, but as fuel the
wood is worse than useless. being as
hard as iron and quite as difficult TO
burn.
The San Francisco call., 1909-03-20
When Mounting a Photograph

TO get the best artistic erect the
print should be slightly out OF the CEN
ter The top margin should always be
narrower than the side margins. both
side margins should be equal and the
bottom margin should be wider than
those at the side.
The San Francisco call., 1909-03-20
A Troublesome Mirror

Mamma" said Flossie,- this ole
looking glass isn't any good"
why, what's the matter with it
dear?" asked her mother.
Every time l try to look in it, ex-
planned Flossie, my face gets in the
way"
The San Francisco call., 1909-03-20
Verse of the Week

Time is-the present moment well
employ;
Time was-is past, thou ean'st not it
enjoy.
Time future-is not. and may never be:
Time presents the only time for thee.
The San Francisco call., 1909-03-20
The Point of Interest

James was watching man paint a
house. He seemed to be very inter-
ested. when he said to the painter:
Fall down and see how fast you will
come
The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1909-09-23

The public schools Of Honolulu and
of some other parts of the Territory
are so crowded this year that unless
some measures Of relief can be devised.
a large number of the children Of school
age will have to lose year out of
their education, year that can never
be made up.
Superintendent Babbitt states that
last Friday, although the reports were
not all in at that time, the Royal School
was all full except the sixth grade.
The Moiliili School was filed to over
flowing. The Kaahumanu School had
refused admittanee to thirty-fve would
be pupils, twenty-five Of whom were
over school age The Pohukaina School
could accommodate just few more in
the second and third grades. The Ka-
uluwela School could take ten more
in the second grade.
The Central Primary School was al
ready turning pupils away on account
~ A&Sh IA AVUA4 LII bAEE1 Il AE w dIh4A&
School had eighteen over its seating
capacity, and the Kaiulani School had
turned away twenty eight. The Cen
trial Grammar School was all full, ex-
eept for the seventh grade which could
accommodate a few more. The Manoa
School had thirteen over its seating
capacity.
On the other side of the island the
Kaneohe School was overerowded and
was turning pupils away, and was ask
ing the Supervisors to supply an extra
room. Alaloa had applied for an extra
room.
The Hilo Union was calling for extra
teachers. In fact, the capacity of the
schools all over the Territory is as q
general thing far below the number of
pupils who want to attend.
And the Beard of Education is up
against it. The Legislature turned the
schoolhouses over TO the counties and
it is up to the latter TO supply room
for the children. But the counties say
they can do nothing. As consequence,
Hawaii Is boosted school system is not
for all. There are many children who
should and who are by law required TO
attend school, for whom there is no
room.