davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Los Angeles herald., 1910-12-04
GIVES A NOVEL PRESENT

Dear Aunt Laurie:
My story of Christmas shopping is
more like Thanksgiving shopping.
One day, near Christmas, one of my
friends stopped another friend, Alta,
as she came out of a store after do
ing some Christmas shopping and
asked her to go to some stores with
her. Alta readily accepted the invi-
tation as she delighted in looking at
Christmas presents. Imagine her sur
prise, then, when Bertha took her to a
large grocery store where she gave a
list of substantial and fancy groceries,
among them a box of crackers and a
sack of flour.
When they left the store Alta could
no longer withhold her curiosity, and
so asked Bertha what they were going
to do with it all. Bertha then told
her that her father and uncle were go
ing to give a gift to a couple of old but
hard working people.
The day after Christmas finally ar
rived and Alta hastened to Bertha S
house to show her present-and to find
how the surprise had worked.
Well" laughingly told Bertha, 'fine.
Los Angeles herald., 1910-12-04

mess for the distinguished visitor,
Grandpa Bowers And at the exact
time stated Grandpa knocked at the
door and was ushered into a very de-
cent-lOOking room, for Tad had gath
cred up the odds and ends from tables,
chairs, sofa and floor and piled them
in q corner behind a great screen. So
there was place for the little company
to sit in ease around the cheerful
CRATE, in which gloWed a gas log.
AS grandpapa was the last to arrive
the party began or the instant of his
appearance. Stell poured out some de-
licious tea and May handed it to the
guests in tiny china cups Archie was
quite sober and was intrusted with the
sugar and lemon, though Stell kept her
eye on him, for he was handling her
pretty Japanese sugar bowl.
After the tea had be drunk, grand
papa drinking a toast to his little
granddaughters first, and then to his
genial host and lost's distinguished
young brother the tory-telling began.
And the thrilling indian story, just as
grandpapa related it, was as follows:
Nov, my little ones, you know
grandpap isn't very young. He has
lived his threescore and ten, and fif-
teen years added to that. So you see,
he has many memories to call up to
mind, many interesting events, past
and gone before the present busy
world was born"
"Oh, gran-pap, how could that be?
The world is very CID" cried Archie.
Il said the present busy world son."
smiled grandpapa. Il speak of the
men, the women and the children, too.
bless them, who run this old world
today" exclaimed Erandpapa.
And 1 will tell you of time when
I was youthful and helped to run this
world which has now crowded me to a
of which l am going to speak took
place when | was 20 years old. With
my parents l lived on the western
frontier, and the red men We're all
about us to the north and west. and
sometimes they made things pretty
lively for the settlers, as the frontiers
men were called.
"Well, it was the fall of the year,
about this time if I recall it rightly,
and we had gathered in all our corn
and had it ready for the husking So
my mother and sisters made great
preparations for Il husking bee to be
held il our immense log barn"
"a what grandpapa?" asked May,
deeply interested.
"A husking bee said grandpapa. "a
party of young folks to come in and
husk the corn, and after the husk ng
to have barn dance and supper. Oh.
that sort Of entertainment was abo t
the only kind of social f7ncton the
settlers had when 1 was boy. OF
Los Angeles herald., 1910-12-04
MARIE MAKES HER PLANS

Dear 4-unt Laurie:
Marie Wade had five dollars to spend
for Christmas presents.
But, oh, how shall 1 spend it?" she
asked herself
She took piece of paper and wrote
the names of every one she wanted
TO remember and beside the names
what she would give each one.
Mother would have a linen collar.
Father razor holder, Arthur, her
brother, would be given a penwlper.
for he wrote so many letters; Lillian
Perkins, her chum, would receive a
bead necklace, and Bessie Parker a
bright, red hair ribbon.
She would give 16-year-old Elmer
tucker her cousin, .sailboat to helm
pass his time away, Grandmother
would b. given a spectacle holder for
her glasses, and Grandfather one lust
like it. Uncle Ernest would get a
cigar.
To Billy Rice, who was away at
college, she would send poster like
she had seen and admired at I,illlan's.
When she finished her list she took
1t to her mother, who smiled as she
read it, but promised to take her down
town the follow. 6 day. And oh, what
time they had as she bought her
Christmas presents.
When she got home she said. "Dear
me, na.lma, it Is hard work buvinp.
Christmas presents, but then I know
they will all be pleased"
ANNIE MCPHERSON
p. H. S., grade 8. 9l1 West Thirty.
fourth street.
Los Angeles herald., 1910-12-04

course, we had our Christmas and New
Year dinners, and we sometimes had
a taffy pulling. But the husking b e
was the years event in the home. And
every farmer of any standing in the
community had a husKIng bee. Some
times there would be two or three a
week, and then the young folks had a
grand social time of it.
"Well, we had our husking bce, that
l am telling about. There was great
crowd, about thirty young people and
dozen of Their elders. And most of
the men We're armed. The red men bad
been committing some dep edations in
the county west of us, and We didn t
know but they m ght come in upon us
at any dav-or night, rather So the
men went about their wolk and th-ir
play armed and ready to fight if ale
upon to do so. Oh, those Were brave
days. my lads and lassies." And grand
papa nodded his gray head empnatical-
ly. "There may be much of n,erest in
life now, the accumulation of property,
the gaining of power, but can such
compare with the spirit of t. ose d US
/ speak of, when every man was lp-
ing to build up a new world, deve.O
her resources, make her bosom to bios
som with rich fields, to drive tn saw
age out and to invite V liz It on in? ?
All, those days were worth Wnile, my
children!
"Well, after about twenty or thirty
bushels of corn had been husked-corn
chosen for the grinding into meal for
our bread-the real fun of the evening
began. The barn floor was cleared or
huskings, a fiddler-the only musician
in that part of the country, therefore
much in demand-stationed on a broad,
fiat box in one end of the barn, and
a prompter to call the figures of the
old Virginia reel and the square quad
rifle, and the dance began. 1t was in
dulged in by the young folks. their
elders seated about at the sides of
the barn looking on at the fun.
about 10 o'clock my mother gave
the signal to my sisters to join her at
the house, as it was time to serve the
lap supper AS the three opened the
barn door to pass out my mother gave
q sudden low cry. Indians, she gasped
Then she and my sisters leaped back
into the barn and closed the door. All
was confusion in a moment. The men
felt for their guns and the women hud-
died together, whispering in fear. Some
of them were determined to depart for
their homes, saying that their houses
would be rifed and destroyed during
their absence if the terrific redskins
were about.
'NoY, friends, all be quiet and l
shall 90 out and see just what 1t all
means. There may be Indians about,
but they may not be in any great
and hope not on the warpath.'
Los Angeles herald., 1910-12-04
FINDS HER DEAR LOST FATHER
With a Nickel and a Wish, Hazel
Buys a Papa
FIRST PRIZE

Dear Aunt Laurie:
TT WAS a crowded day in Decem Der
Hundreds of people thronged the
a streets, peering into shop WIN
dows or hustling along the streets
homeward bound with armloads OF
Christmas presents.
Almost every one was bundled up
in warm furs. They could afford to
laugh at the cold winds and the snow
flakes They had homes, suppers and
warm fires to look forward to after
the shopping was done.
Not so Little Hazel, who trod the
cold pavement along Broadway. 0he
had a home. if the place where she
slept could be called home. She also
had a supper. if the crust of bread TWO
weeks old could be called such
AS she walked along she saw the
beautiful gowns and hats and ever
so many things in which fine ladies
glory. ,,,,.iz4
II wish [ might buy mother Christ
mas present" she said half aloud as
she dug her purple little hand into
her pocket. , -.
found today and that won't ouS
much"
She wandered along until she paused
in front of a pastry shop. the WIN
dows were laden with various KINDS
of dainty cakes.
went in. E..
a nickel? 1 want it for mother; she
very ILL.,"
The woman was very kind-hearted'
and. struck with Hazel's pitiful voice,
she said:
yes, my dear, you can. Which one
do you wish?" 49,
moment.
please fill out this order and send
it to the child's home"
He asked Hazel where she lived and
then gave the saleslady the order.
Il heard you say you wished you
might buy mother a Christmas pres
ent," he said, turning to her again.
Now I will help you do So
He called a carriage anu taxing
the load Of dainties he had ordered,
they went away. He took little Hazel
to a great many stores and purchased
clothes, shoes, stockings and coal.
The clothes were not only for her, put
for mother also.
When they reached home the gen
tleman rushed at mother and Kissed
her. Hazel did not understand.
"I knew her, Alice, by those great
brown eyes" he said. Il remembered
them ever since that fateful day when
the ship sank and we were parted.
We've been Christmas shopping
Alice buying presents for mother
Hazel" said mother, "this is your
own dear papa"
This was indeed fine Christmas
shopping. for with five cents and a
wish Hazel had bought a papa.
RFTTY CHAPMAN.
455 Gladys avenue. Ninth Street
school, grade AS.
Los Angeles herald., 1910-12-04
BUYS GIFTS FOR THE POOR

Dear Aunt Laurie:
Marjorie Humphry was a wealthy
little girl. She had a maid and gov
erness and her fond parents bought
her whatever her heart could desire.
One day Marjorie asked her parents
to let her buy her Christmas gifts all
by herself. Her parents were greatly
astonished and did not like the idea,
but finally consented.
So one day soon after the Humphreys
carriage was speeding along the shop
ping district. In it was Marjorie and
her maid. Her father had given her
one hundred dollars for her gifts.
After gazing at the Christmas things
in the first store she told Marie, her
maid, she did like anything in that
store and they started for the next.
Again nothing pleased her and none of
the other stores did either so she was
about to go home and let her mother
do the buying for her.
She heard a timid voice near her ask
the salesman the price of toy en-
| H%s@<::%.<2:<c<s%e%*:< e%*:<.%..%:i:.:.I"H:."
So spoke my father, a man of calm and
practical mind. I shall go unarmed
and hold up my hands. The Indians
will then allow me to advance and
speak with them
Much to my mothers anxiety, my
father would not allow any one to ac-
company him, and, blowing out all the
candles for a moment, so that the In
dians might not see into the barn
while he was passing through the open
door, my father passed into the night.
AS soon as the door closed behind him
my mother lighted a few of the can
dies, and there, in the dimly lighted
big barn, where so much gayety had
been enjoyed a few minutes before, all
was anxiety, suspense. Farmers were
there who feared to go home, for they
might find their buildings destroyed
and their cattle and horses driven
away. Several young people were much
distressed, for they had left their aged
parents at home alone.
presently the barn door opened soft
ly, and each one there drew in his
breath quickly, for two red men en-
tered Then behind them came my
father smiling and saying in CHEEKY
voice: Welcome to Big Chief. Make
how-how to him and to the other big
Indian. Give them food to eat and
much coffee to drink and much to-
bacco to smoke. They are our friends
and guests
"Well, my children, you should have
seen the happy look of relief that came
over the faces of that husking bee
party. And forward pressed the men,
shaking the hands of the Indians. 1t
proved that they had been pursuing
a deer and had got off their reserva-
ton, and as a heavy snow was begin
ming to fall had sought shelter in the
home of their white brother. And hear
ing the noise of the merriment in the
barn had doubtless been listening at
the door and maybe trying to peep in
through the crack to learn its cause,
when my mother opened the door and
saw them, giving the alarm, for she
afterward said she thought she saw
hundred redskins. Well, those Indians
remained to the supper and seemed to
enjoy watching the white folks enjoy
themselves. And they slept that night
morning"
Los Angeles herald., 1910-12-04
CLUB OF GIRLS PLANS
TO HELP SANTA CLAUS
HONORABLE MENTION

Dear Aunt Laurie:
EEnWHAT joy Christmas does bring
to most boys and girls" for is it
~ not then that dear old Santa
Claus comes with his ever welcome
pack Of toys?
But you see there are some poor lit
tie children whom old Santa forgets to
visit, and this is the reason our Christ
mas club worked so steadily sewing on
little dollies' clothes.
We had just come back from holly
picking a crowd of merry and enthu-
sastic girls. But now as we sat again
in our sewing circle our thoughts re-
turned to the little girls who would
be so glad to get our dolls on Christ
mas.
Don't you think, girls, it would be
nice to give a bag of candy with each
doliie and then pin on card with a
sprig of holly, From Old Santa?'"
Yes, indeed
Though our dolls were mostly fifty
cent ones, we knew that on Christmas
morning they would bring joy to many
little dolliless girls. Each one wore
dainty little underwear, skirts, dresses,
hoods and coats. We also had books
and balls and tops for the boys
What a happy set of girls we were as
we took our basket of gifts to Santa
Claus. helpers, who would soon find a
home for them in some little empty
stocking.
Don't you think Aunt Laurie, when
those little girls wake up in the night
and find they have a real little dolie
beside them, they will thank old Santa
even if he does forget them some
times? Your niece,
PEARL JOHNSON.
649 South Boyle avenue.
Los Angeles herald., 1910-12-04

There was a great treat in store for
the children. Grandpa had come to pay
visit to their home and that meant
pleasure and entertainment for them.
Say, kids" solemnly spoke Tad, the
eldest of the four, "as soon as supper
is over let's get at grandpa before
mamma carries him off to the charity
meeting at the church tonight. l want
to hear one of his stories"
"Oh, yes, let's speak to grandpa be-
fore supper to make sure of him. sug-
gested Stell, the elder of the two girls.
And let's ask for an Indian story
"Goode, goodie, Sout!" cried Archie,
the younger son, dancing combina-
ton of jig and hoedoWn. IAN Indian
story, sure. I'd rather hear grandpa
tell an Indian story than to go to a
first-class game of football. Gee! Let's
go in a bunch and--what you call it,
wait upon him anl invite him to be
our guest of honor in Tad's den to-
night. Hurrah!"
SAY, a little less noise. you Indian"
laughed Tad. Then he told Stell and
May to act as the invitation commit
tee, and wait upon their venerable
grandfather.
Yes. Wen behave with dignity"
said May, looking in the direction of
Archie who threw up his head indig
But ten minutes later, when Stell and
May knocked on their grandfathers
door and were hidden to enter, they
found Master Archie already in conf
Dental conversation with the old gen.
tleman.
say, girls I've got him fixed. He's
going to be one Of us tonight i'm Tad's
den, and he's going to be speaker of
the evening. See?"
say you have your nerve" scowled
May, looking her disapproval of
Archie You were not on the invita-
tiion committee. and so you just
sneaked in ahead. I like your nerve,
do"
Then Grandpa asked for an ex-
planation, and after the situation had
been put before him, he said; "Well,
Arch'a has not given me an invitation.
So the committee is not too late"
There was an indulgent CLEAN in the
old mans eye as he addressed his
pretty and very ladylike little grand
daughters, aged, respectively, II and
l3. Archie was and Tad was Is.
So. in good time, Stell and May ten
dered a most digni1ed invitation to
spend the evening of that day with
them in Tad's den, a place so full of
boys traps and odds and ends that
Grandpa, who had peeped into the
place the day before, wondered where
the company We're to sit. But of this
he said nothing.
That evening. just a few minutes
before o'clock, Tad had all in read
Los Angeles herald., 1910-12-04

Papa had a large basket of groceries
and uncle had a sack of flour and a
neighbor had the crackers. Just as
they were about to put the things on
the porch a streak of light flashed on
us and we had to run. Uncle and 1
ran out into the back yard where we
were forced to stay. fiat on our stom-
achs, in the snow behind wood pile
in order not to be detected by the peo-
pie, who we supposed were away for
the evening. We had to stay there
quite a while as Mr.. and Mrs. =
seemed bound to find out to whom
they were indebted for the gift"
That's the reason you're hoarse
like that, isn't it? Well I'd get caught
before I'd lie in the snow and catch my
Los Angeles herald., 1910-12-04

gine. She turned and saw a poor rag
ged little boy. The engine was a cheap
little thing, but he never had pos
Sessed such a thing.
He turned away sadly but Ray put
out OBTAINING hand and bought him
the largest engine in the house. Then
she revisited the stores and bought
something for every little poor child
who stood near the toys There were
so many that she had a large bill for
her father. Her money was not enough
She returned home late in the after
noon and when her parents asked to
see the gifts. she told them what she
had done.
They told her she had a right to buy
whatever she wanted, but now she
could not buy her relatives anything
Mr. Humphry received bill for sew
eral hundreds and he paid it cheer
fully. Marjorie went with her mother
and did buy each relative a gift. And
every Christmas Marjorie remembers
the poor. ELSIE WINKLER.
615 East Thirty-sixth street, Twen-
ty-eighth street school.
Los Angeles herald., 1910-12-04

help she had not been able to gather
as many nuts as usual.
They said to each other: Let us
leave mother and go live by ourselves.
She will not allow us to have party.
We are tired of never having any fun.
Lately mother is always crying: Come,
boys, you must work; go and see If
you can find more nuts.
So they combed and brushed out their
long, bushy tails, and made their eyes
very bright, then started to the ci Y
to enjoy themselves. They hal fne
time running along the fanc s, stop
ping now and then to gather something
very nice to eat.
After a while the sun set and c'ouds
gathered. The chill winds of night be-
gan to blow and the squire hoys felt
more uncomfortable than they ever
had in all their short lives.
However, they ke~t up brave hearts
until they wore near the city, and
Los Angeles herald., 1910-12-04
A PAGE FOR HERALD JUNIORS

My Dear Boys and Girls:
With this issue of the paper you
find a new style for your Junior. Watch
closely and you will find many other
surprises in store for you. New fea-
lures of a most interesting character
are being planned and for the present
at least you will be relieved of the
responsibility of writing letters and
limericks and will have only the pleas
ure of reading the amusing stories and
looking at the cleverly drawn pic
lures which will be provided for your
entertainment.
This plan has been adopted after
consultation with your teachers and
with many of the boys and girls them
selves, and I believe that many of
you will feel that during the winter
while your school work is heavy it
will be better to discontinue your con-
tributions.
Your loyalty and faithfulness to the
paper which was created for you and
maintained largely by you has been
something of which 1 am proud, and
you may all share in that feeling.
You have done excellent work and l
am sure that many of you will feel
that this paper has been of benefit to
you-at least l hope so. 1t has been
the aim of the little Junior to both
amuse and encourage you and spirit
of friendliness has been established
among many of its readers which will
last through all the youthful days, I
am sure AS for the affection and in
terest many of you have shown for
me, 1 cannot tell you what it has
meant to me nor how earnestly l hope
to hold your interest, even though our
association must necessarily become q
little less personal and intimate.
l trust you will all enjoy the nov
elites we have in store for you and
that you will still come to The Herald
office when convenient to see your
la..... ATTNTrN T.AJTPTE
Los Angeles herald., 1910-12-04
FINDS A PRETTY BURRo
Dear Aunt Laurie.

Dear Aunt Laurie:
AS I was sitting by the table with
NV cousin Mabel heard Aunt Laurie
call to us;
"Oh, look what is here; little
burro."
We both jumped up and ran to the
door, and there was the dearest little
burro walking right THROUGH the yard,
We caught him and kept him for
three or four days. But on the fifth
day the owner came and asked If we
had found a burro.
said "Yes, one came here few
days ago"
He looked at the burro and in sntl-
ing way said:
Il will let you keep the burro for a
month or so, and then if you like it
you can keep it while l go to Los
Angeles during the winter. In the
morning you can come to my house
and get a small bride and a saddle"
The next morning we went to his
little cottage and got the saddle and
bride.
We drive the burrO now and if we
let him get his head down while we are
on his back he will stand on his head.
He has not hurt any one yet and
hope he never will.
VIRNA BURROWS.
Seventh grade. Age 10 years. 519
East State street, Redlands.
Los Angeles herald., 1910-12-04
XMAS SHOPPING A DELIGHT
Dear Aunt Laurie:

Dear Aunt Laurie:
What a delight it is to have saved
about $40 or $15 from your earnings
and when Christmas eve has arrived
at last to go downtown with some one
to accompany you. You will see smil-
ing, rosy-faced children with their
mothers. Perhaps you will see father
with his little boy or girl.
Then your attention is drawn to the
pretty things in the Santa Claus store,
as you used to call it when you We're
younger There are the pretty books
simply chuck full of things that you
never dreamed of before. Yes, you
must buy one; you cannot resist the
temptation when you think of rainy,
lonesome evenings.
But where are the dolls? Oh, yes.
there they are, in the back of the
store. Now you see dolls of all sizes
and makes. Your attention is attracted
especially to that kid body doll, two
Los Angeles herald., 1910-12-04
FINDS LOST SISTER
Dear Aunt Laurie:

Dear Aunt Laurie:
Eva Smith was little girl of years.
1t was drawing near Christmas and,
of course, every one around her was
in furry of excitement.
Eva did not know much about Christ
mas, as her family was very poor.
Her poor, tired mother had to wash,
and her father worked hard every day.
So little Eva's life was not very
happy one All she knew of Christ
mas was from hearing her companions
discuss it.
However, one day as Eva was sitting
in h-r favorite spot in the apple tree
young woman walked up to her and
said:
Gould you please direct me to Mrs.
Smiths house?"
Certainly. I am Mrs. Smiths
daughter" Eva exclaimed, getting
down from the tree.
Before Eva and the lady were fairly
to the house Mrs. Smith rushed to the
woman, saying: SISTER! Is this really
you?"
1t proved to be- Mrs. Smiths sister,
whom she had not seen for years.
That afternoon she took Eva up town
and also gave her S1.50 with which to
buy some Christmas presents.
Let me see," said Eva, II hardly
KNOW Wnat 10 Duy, as there are so
many pretty things"
First she selected a pretty vase for
her mother, and a handkerchief for her
papa, also pretty purse for her aunt
who had given her the money With
the rest she purchased some extra pres
ents to give to her playmates Then
she went home very happy.
Her aunt stayed with Mrs. Smith
several years and then provided an
other home for them
This was the first time Eva had ever
been Christmas shopping, and she had
very happy time. Your loving niece,
1LENE CLARK
S26 East Forty-first street. Mckinley
aVenue school crrad de R6