davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1910-12-24
Yuk Clap

This game Is of German origin, and
lis very popular about the festive sea-
|son. The idea of "Yule Clap" Is to
give a little present to every member
of the party, and before hand each
gift is carefully wrapped up in paper,
with the name of the recipient very
distinctly written: then comes an
other wrapper with the name Of an
other OF the party on it. and so on
the more the merrier, till each little
,sift is wrapped in quite number of
napers. addressed differently. Then.
when the party has assembled. the
INST comes to the door with his par
ce,s and with q loud knock and call
ing "Yule Clap" hands one into the
room: it is Immediately bounced upon
and opened by the youngster who sees
his name on it, but only to be passed
an when the second name is revealed,
and SO 1t goes round the rooms eau
sing much fun and excitement, till it
Ands its rightful owner and with a
loud knock another "Yule Clap" is
handed into the room. II time is linn
itsd. or there are many guests. two or
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1910-12-24

has been on earth it has made
merry at a midwinter feast The lit
tie children in your house or mine,
and the little children across the
street, are Just like other little chill
dren in Russia, in Norway, In France
and in Italy. or the German Father
land who have made ready for their
Christmas trees when the winters sun
has set and the Christina stars are
shining over head.
At the time that the Holy Babe lay
In the manger In Bethlehem to be the
Christmas Babe for the Christian
world the Romans were celebrating
their Saturnalia and trimming willow
wands, as we trim Christmas trees, of
course with difference. But just the
same they were celebrating the mid
winter festival. They danced and
sang, gave gifts. and hung wreaths
while across the Alps to the north the
Wild Huntsman was chasing through
the woods to be the terror of all
naughty children.
The Christmas tree honored be-
cause it was evergreen gained fresh
honors when adorned with tapers.
The evergreen was eternal, and the
lights shed glory around How Jolly
is the raising of the Christmas tree!
How the children love to talk about
1t before hand and to trim 1t, or to get
the gifts from its overladen boughs.
In Germany the whole household
goes to church. In many villages the
church is left in darkness, and the
worshipers carry lighted candles, COM
ing in .one by one. ultil it is a bril-
liant sight. When the season is over
the old hymns are sung. "Es ist der
Tag des Herrn," and Christmas greet
ings are heard on every side.
The Julafred. or pe.:e of Christmas,
is publicly proclaimed in Sweden and
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1910-12-24

Norway. The churches are decorateus
and the children are the first TO enter
in the gray of the early morning NO
ore is forgotten. The poor are ro
membered with food and clothing. ana
best of all the little brothers OF tue
air, the birds, have tree hung Win
a sheaf of wheat for Christmas cneer.
In Servia and in Bulgaria no one
crosses a strange threshold II II ca"
be avoided. Friends rejoice together.
the little children dance and sing anu
gifts are exchanged. An ancient ceIo
mony has to be performed by tnS
head of every household. Before
mouthful of food is eaten early IN tne
morning, corn is placed in stocKihs
and the chief of the family sprinKies
a little before the householder. saying
Christ is BORN" to which one OF the
family replies: He Is born indeed
Then the house-father has to Wish
and advancing to the burning logs on
the hearth, he strikes them until the
sparks fly upward, with r. good wish
for the horses, another for the cat
ties. the calves. and the goats, and 50
On t0TOuGE luG Gul1IC bdhA ~ SS~S~~
on the farm, concluding with special
prayer and an extra blow upon the
embers of the logs for plentiful har-
vest. In this manner the gods Of ma
ture are appeased Then the ashes
containing "the wish" are collected
and buried secretly. AS for the Yule
logs, they are not permitted to burn
entirely away, but the fire being ex-
tinguished the burnt ends are placed
in the clefts of fruit trees 80 as TO
ensure a bountiful crop.
The more playful customs OF put
ting hats about for presents as French
children do, of baskets which italian
children make. of girt boxes and the
tour Of st. Nick prevail everywhere.
Even in the tropics Christmas Is OBJ
served, as If the cold snow lay round,
about Mexico has many beautiful
customs, and Catholic countries new
err forget the feast of the Babe In the
Manager in church.
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1910-12-24

lighted at six o'clock. Then I'll como
in and be Santa Claus"
'Oh. you mustn't do SO much" she
protested. looking at the many par
cells.
Il have no one In the world to do
anything for" he said earnestly, so
you will be giving me all the Christ
mas cheer l shall get by letting me
do this. And. more than that, it will
do little Lou more good than a load
of medicine"
He returned to the city for another
shopping expedition and promptly at
six o'clock he was back at the little
home. On the doorstep he slipped in.
to big fur coat adjusted a beard
and the usual Santa Claus makeup.
Then he softly opened the door and
slipped in. He gave an approving
glance at the gaily-decorated. brilliant
ly-lighted little tree to which Mrs. Ell.
lis was putting the last touches.
That is f1ne!" ne exclaimed
THE young lady came back with a
doll for Lou. and when / told her what
you had done. she stayed and fixed it
for me. She was here all the after
noon. stringing cranberries and pop
corn, and making candy bags"
I'll slip behind the tree. now, and
you bring the little girl out She won't
be afraid of me. will she?"
"Oh. no: she loves Santa Claus!"
The doctor was more than repaid
for his efforts by the cry of delight
that issued from Lou when her mother
brought her from the bedroom and
propped her up in pillows in an old
rocking chair.
Il couldn't find you last year." said
Santa Claus in a gruff but tender
voice, but / have brought you
enough this year to make up"
The tree was nearly stripped before
Doctor Fordney discovered tiny blue
envelope addressed to Santa Claus in
handwriting that made his heart
beats quicken. He opened it and by
the light of a tiny candle read that
which made his Christmas eve an eve
Of beauty.
And this is the last, little Lou" he
said, carrying her picture-book.
Santa Claus, you won't forget Miss
Leigh, the young lady who brought us
the Christmas dinner?" she pleaded.
Little Lou. am going there right
from here. She shall have everything
she wants"
"And you won't forget Doctor Ford
ney?"
NO; I'll give him the best Christ
mas he ever had"
But, Santa Claus. won't some one
give you present."
"A beautiful lady is going to give
me the loveliest gift in the whole
world tonight" he said.
"Oh, l am SO glad! I wish I could
do something for you for all the
things you have brought me-"
You can, little Lou. In half an
hour will you go to bed and shut your
eyes tight and try not to think of
your presents, or the tree or of me
until morning?"
He stopped to receive the imprint
Of baby lips and to feel the lingering
pressure Of soft arms about his neck
Copyright. 1900
ASSN~
"The mirror OF all courtesy" should
be polished on Christmas day.
l3Eg112e~~
"A royal train, believe me-" is the
reindeer equipage of good old St Nick.
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1910-12-24


at banquets where women make bold
to do these things. Both these habits
grew on him till they possessed him
body and soul. He went from bad to
worse, until at last he killed his best
friend at the gaming table. He now
wears the stripes and is eating his
heart out in the state prison.
When I had retired for the night /
found myself in large luxuriously
appointed sleeping apartment, on the
hearth a fire of CHEEKY logs, the fac
smile of the one below.
AS l sat and pondered, what was
my surprise to see stalwart, seafar-
ing man enter, wearing the garb Of
South Sea Islander. I knew he was
an "old salt" by the lurch in his walk.
Following him came train Of at.
tendants. They put upon the table
great jugs of liquor.
Taking no notice Of me they went
on hilariously cracking their jokes
and taking great swigs from the jug.
Just as I was wondering if the lead
err could be Willie, whom the aged
couple had mourned as dead, was
attracted by sound at the door, and,
looking in that direction, l beheld
very beautiful young woman, attired
as Shakespeare's Ophelia. She came
forward and began to repeat her lines
as to a crowded house. The strange
company ceased their prattle and gave
her the most devoted hearing. They
we're about to give her an encore
when there entered dissolute-look-
ing young fellow, with refined feat
ures, bleared by the excessive use of
and, calling him brother, embraced
him as one does after a long absence.
The younger man produced bottle of
champagne and began to treat all
round.
A disreputable-looking Italian had
followed Ophelia into the room, and
when he saw the champagne flowing,
his eyes glittered with an unholy
light
I had at least collected my wits
enough 10 T6dllL6 IAdS eAAAod6 sAAS
strange gathering were the three chill.
dren to whom my hosts had just In.
troduced me.
l had just about shaken myself free
of my weird surroundings and had
summoned strength to move from my
seat that I might go below and send
the dear old people to embrace their
children when a noise sudden and
loud took rly breath away.
Instantaneously my strange guests
vanished, l opened the door to see If
I could catch a glimpse Of their de-
parting figures, but no creature was
In sight.
Whence came the noise which had
startled them into evaporating? All,
again 1t came! 1t was but the rattle
of the wind upon the easement.
I looked and, 10! my fire was re-
duced to embers, knew only too well
that / had been dreaming, that my
strange company had been but the
phantoms of dreams, that had been
asleep and that was not to give my
kind host and hostess the pleasure Of
a reunion with their lost children.
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1910-12-24
Might Be Better.

NOW, Rastus." said the Sunday
school teacher, after Rastus had belr-
ed to eat the Christmas dinner givar
to the class. you have had turkey
mtnce pie, oysters, jelly, cake. ica
cream, sweet potatoes, peas. corn
white potatoes. bread and butter cal
cry, olives, pickles, and I don't knan-
how much else besides. Could vo,,
imagine anything else that wo,,,S
make Christmas pleasant" 4
well. num-" breathed Rastus trv.
ing to button his vest and giving ~
with glad smile, well, MIN. catn'r
think o nothSa' a6is4s it 'ud be =
watahmelon.
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1910-12-24

lookin' for Santa Claus for years an
years an it's mos time for him to be
along here
The sergeant was dumfounded Two
days later he rode down the valley to
the army headquarters and sought out
the quartermaster.
Il want two blankets" he said, big
ones, and warm; 40 pounds of coffee,
case of sweet crackers, and some
ginger snaps If you got 'em, and some
sugar, and-let me see-got any can
ned goods, pears and peaches and the
like O. that?"
The day before Christmas was clear
and bright. The troopers were walk
ing about their campfire, their guns
stacked, but within easy reach. The
sergeant was not there. Pretty soon
the little girls came out from the
cabin, hand in hand. They had hard
ly reached the camp when the cap
tain of the guard suddenly straight
ened up.
Halt" he cried, "who comes here?'
The soldiers sprang for their guns
and stood across the trail. Climbing
down hill bordering the trail was a
man with a long white beard and a
fur cap. He was laden with parcels
Susie saw him, and uttering glad
cry ran to him and stood between
Santa Claus and the soldiers.
"You sha'n't shoot him." she shout
ct; you sha'n't shoot Santa Claus!"
The soldiers grounded arms and
laughed until they couldn't laugh any
more. Just then there was sound
of horses hoofs on the rocky trail
1t was an unusual thing. there was no
joke this time. The soldiers straight
ened up, ready for action. Santa
Claus dropped his parcels and gripped
his revolver.
In a moment the rider was among
them. 1t was high officer in the
Federal army, and he glared about in
angry surprise.
What means all this buffoonery?"
he growled, his keen eyes boring
through Santa Claus.
Santa Claus, entirely unabashed,
told the story. emitting nothing. He
said the father Of the little girls was
in the Confederate army and they and
their mother were alone in the noun
tains; that the winter had come on
them unprepared, and he had ordered
the quartermaster to get together
some things to tide them over Christ
mas.
The gold braided officer looked into
the fearless eyes of the sergeant, the
men standing respectfully about him.
and then at the half-clad little girls
and their. blue hands and lips.
It's all right, boys" he said, "en-
tirely all right. 1 got couple O. lit.
tie chaps O. my own back in the hills
of Kentucky, and / hope the good
Lord will raise up friends for 'em same
as you folks have been to these. Good.
by!"
Then he rode On down the trail
That night the Yankees and the lit.
tie family of the Confederate soldier
had a Christmas dinner in a coy
little mountain cabin.
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1910-12-24

Copyright. 1910. by W. &. Chapman,

manger-cradled Babe of Bethlehem
Beginning with this old. old journey.
the spirit of giving crept into the
worlds heart. AS the Magi came bear.
ing gifts, SO do We also-gifts that re-
ieve want; gifts that are sweet ana
fragrant with friendship; gifts that
breathe love; gifts that mean service.
gifts inspired still by the star that
shone over the City of David nearly
two thousand years ago."
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1910-12-24

hltAy pOoI-AouoS VIZ SAAS
Great Post Road at Mini
Udinsk, now, in these days of the
trans Siberian railway. place of
some Importance.
was alone, on my way from Peters
burg to Irkutsk On the previous day
| had overtaken a convoy Of prison
ers In chains, and as on the morning
of the Russian Christmas day l was
sitting by the high brick stove. saw
the Cossacks and their despairing
charges arrive
remember walking and talking
with several of them in that wilder
ness of newly fallen snow. Most OF
them were. or said they were. victims
Of the INSCRIPTIONS agents provoca-
teurs Of the government. and all
seemed bitter against the czar and
his advisers-as indeed they we'll
might be.
Another Christmas OF the Greek
calendar l spent in Servia-in Bel
grade. the capital of that gallant lit
tie state. the powder-magazine of the
Balkans. 1t was a cold, bright, sunny
day. and an air Of festivity was every
where. The service IL the cathedral,
attended by the king and his cabinet,
was brilliant affair, and after a
stroll in the delightful Kalemegdan
garden. overlooking the Danube, l
lunched with my friend the minister
of justice and his charming American
wife. The streets were hung with
flags, exchanges of presents and flow
ers were universal, and many were
the quaint Serb customs.
The twenty fifth Of December three
years ago spent YEARLY in the stuffy
restaurant car of the Nord express be-
tween Paris and Petersburg. Again.
was alone and I remember, as we
steamed out of Wilma station to the
great plain towards Dunaburg. the
chef of that celebrated express pro-
duced his triumph-an English pud-
ding, with small piece of holly stuck
in the top. My fellow passengers, be-
ing all foreigners. failed to appreciate
1t. But did
Another memorable holiday was that
l passed in the reindeer-skin hut of
Laplander halfway between Alexan.
drovsk and Kandalaksha. was tray
cling by sled. had left Kirkenaes.
on an arm of the Arctic ocean, q
month before and was now working
my way south toward Archangel.
/ produced a bottle of much-shaken
port wine. in honor of the occasion,
and poured out glass for my host.
He was very suspicious Of it. and
compelled me to swallow mine first.
Then he slipped his. and pulled a WY
face. His wife tasted it, and shifted
suspiciously, and afterward the SER
wants, but all declared it was some
horrid English decoction-some medi-
cine, it must be, they said. They had
never before tasted wine. They had
never seen bunch of grapes, never
a rose, and never even tree.
One Yuletide dinner l ate at Ciro's,
at Monte Carlo. where the fooling was
fast and furious. and with my friends
watched 1.-The tables" afterward,
supping across at the Hotel de Paris,
and receiving present from the
monster tree.-William LIE Queux.
ss1@1sS<
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1910-12-24
three "Yule Chaps" may be set going
together.
Conclusive Evidence.

Mrs. Miggers told me this morning
downtown that her husband was go.
ing to give her a pearl necklace for
Christmas" says Mrs. Fggers.
Nonsense" replies Fggers. HE
isn't going to do anything Of the
kind"
Well, he just is, for I was with
her and helped her select 1t, and saw
her order 1t sent home; and then she
helped me pick out the set of furs you
are going to give me-"
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1910-12-24
Time and Place.

When one is eating some expensive
spread
A dinner costing ten dollars per
head
When he is filed with costly food and
wine
And CLOVIS with JOY and feels extreme
~ fine,
IT'S then, It's then he speaks In words
sublime
About the splendid meals Of oldeu
time.
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1910-12-24
Christmas Gpe

Christmas eve! And a blustery
night
Snow-furries almost binding the
sight;
Eddying winds shift to and fro
And toss from the chimneys smoke
clouds low.
On the street is heard a noisy throng
OF pleasure-bent shoppers, hurrying
along.
Laden with bundles and baskets and
To gladden. the hearts of girls and
boys.
Let the wintry winds moan on. and
sigh
Through the forests. and sing their
lullaby:
Meath holly-wreathed branch and
mistletoe
l rest and sleep while TIE tempests
blow.
Christmas eve! And the sound OF bell,
Yuletide harmonfes, break and swell,
And sing of a Babe in Bethlehem,
Born in a manger-Saviour of men!
e. A. Fergerson.
+ 75 fi 5F7n5t
}28g2N~
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1910-12-24
He Was sure Of That.

West Point cadets administer 81
lence' as a punishment to those who
have offended them"
well, know one thing
what Is that?"
my. wife is no West Point cadet"
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1910-12-24
Could Spare Better Ma,

The passing Of Santa Claus would
be attended with the sincere apos.
trophe OF jewellers in Christmas lands.
II could have better spared a better
man"
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1910-12-24
CHRISTMAS JOKES.
Sure to Enjoy IL.

Sure to Enjoy II.
Molly-"Do you expect to have
much fun at the Christmas party?"
Dolly-"How can / help having it?
My hat will be trimmed with mistle-
toe"
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1910-12-24
By U'lh,ar D@ne2hit

Bethlehem Juda among the
princes of Juda"-Matthew II, 6.
%. little town Of Bethlehem. how still we
thee lie
The song brings back the silent peace Of
/ Chrfstrnases gone by,
Brings back the olden mystery, and sets
the heart a-thrin
With fancies of the snow-draped frs that
With memories Of rudy lights that night
would find aglow
Which from the cottage windows flung their
banners on the snow.
above thy deep and cireanless sleep the
The stars above the little town were very
They a+ m aaae aeA trturnphart,y from lands
To other lands that beckoned him with
dawn's enchanting glean-
But under all the silent stars that marched
from east to west
The little towr-the little town-contented
was at rest
yet tn thy dark streets shineth the ever
lasting light
The mellow blaze Of memory still leaps
And through its wondrous necromance
the bare trees it ilurnes
All pink and white radiant with snowy
apple blooms
Whose petals when the winter winds the
branches sway and lift,
Float drearnily away. away. to pile in drift
On drift
The hopes and fears Of all the years are
Are met IN every little town seen In the
Christmas light,
For Of but muses. now, when this
old song is sung.
head and heart were young
treasures. for Of them
He builds anew at Christmas time his
"toyyr Of Bethlehem"
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1910-12-24
The Status.

$50 the idea was not carried out OF
having the militia called out"
mo; 1t was called down."
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1910-12-24
Christmas in
Odd Corners
Yu,e.ide Recollections of Traveller
sesesseeesegeeeeee

T has been my lot to spend
many of my Christmases in
foreign lands. l recall one
dismal holiday spent in a
filthy post-house on the
Great Post Road at Mini
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1910-12-24

HEN Christmas bells are
ringing merrily on Christ
mas eve it is pleasant to
think that the whole world
is celebrating, and that as
The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1910-01-26
JEFF COMES FROM NOBLE sIREs
Claim Made BY Member of Family in
England.

LONDON, Jan. 25.-James j. JEFF
fries is a descendant of an English
lord. This discovery was made by
John Jeffries of Marlborough, who
has been delving into the genealogy
of the Jeffries family.
In addition to being a descendant
of a noble family of England the
blood of the family of Judge Jeffries
the noted avenger of Lord Mon
mouths rebellion. runs in his veins.
Mr.. Jeffries of Edinborough was in
London and announced this world
startling news.
"The American Jeffries is a direct
descendant of Lord Jeffries," said he
Lord Jeffries was a brother of the
Hanging Judge Jeffries. who dealt
out the death sentences by the hum
dreds to the followers of Lord Mon
mouth during the reign of James IL.
Lord Jeffries had seven sisters, six
of whom were well-known Jacobites
After the Monmouth rebellion
they fled to Virginia, which was then
an English colony. They married
and the former heavyweight cham
pion can trace his direct descent ia
one of these"