davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1910-11-22
The First Thanksgiving.

The first Thanksgiving in New En-
land is described IN letter written TO
n loving and old friend" and dated at
plymouth. this llth Of November.
1921" This flowing and old friend"
is supposed to have been certain
George Morton, who had married
sister of Governor Bradford and who
came over to Plymouth in July. 1923
The letter Is signed E. W., and these
are taken to De the initials Of Edward
Winslow. or the 102 emigrants who
landed on the 18th (old style) OF De-
cember. 1G20, Oh the bleak coast Of
Cape Cod, almost one-half had died
and nearly all Of the remainder had
suffered seriously from destitution and
the rigors of the winter, for which they
were Ill prepared. The reward. how
ever, Of the industry Of the few who
were not disabled was so abundant as
to call forth the thankfulness Of this
very religious colony. The letter al
luded to says: You shall understand
that in this little time that few OF
us have been here we have built seven
dwelling houses and four for the use
of the plantation and have made prep
aratiou for seven others. We net the
last spring some twenty acres Of bar
ley and peas, and. according to the
manner of the Indians, we manured
our ground with herrings, or. rather,
shads, which we have in great abun-
dance and take with great ease at our
doors. Our corn did prove well, and,
God be praised, we had good increase
Of Indian corn. and our barley indiffer-
ent good, but our peas not worth the
gathering"
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1910-11-22
AN ORIENTAL GARDEN.
n Is Not Planted With Flowers, and
X Has No Lawns.

n Is Not Planted With Flowers, and
Il Has No Lawns.
A garden does not necessarily mean
collection of flowers arranged more
OF less symmetrically, with spaces or
la wn. shelter of trees and paths hitler
and thither. There have been gardens
that, beyond terra Gotta jar or two
holding q rosebusb or Towering a.
mond, have had no green thing within
their gates.
I know Of an oriental garden in Fee
where white garmented Moors come In
the cool of the evening to sit and listen
to ancient stories that they know by
heart, or to music that was old when
the pyramids were new, or perhaps to
look at a dancing girl or two taking
soft steps while they smoke their mar
giles, yet that garden is nothing more
than series of arches upholding walls
beyond walls, toned faint. mysterious
yellow that Is not yellow. but white.
and yet not white, but rose. In the
middle is a pool of water in a stone
basin that looks blue because Of the In
tense sky overhead and that SHIN
mers with gold In reflections from the
walls. In the corner stands a mighty
Jar full of strange scarlet blossoms.
and rugs Of deep color and intricate
pattern lie on the sun warmed flags
There Is always the fairy music Of
dropping water. and wonderful sbad
ows move among the arches.
This place is garden for all that 1t
Is so builded of man. The word court
will not do for it-Century Magazine
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1910-11-22
A Garden In Stony Ground.

Our second summer on the farm
brought us some experiences In garden
ing. We selected q patch OF ground,
about eight square rods, in the east bill
lot. The whole field produced nothing
last year except st. Johns wort: Tie
plowing was done early. We did not
reach the country until June "a, and it
was three days later before We began
planting. Then we put in variety OF
garden seeds, including beans, corn and
potatoes.
The soil is a light colored vOlusia
loan, fine as wood ashes, but very stony.
We cleared the little plat of stone, cover
ed the seed, and waited. In three day 9
there were "green things growing" In
three weeks We were eating fine lettuce
and radishes, and at the end Of six
weeks there were beans and cucumbers
ready. From that time until we left the
farm the last Of August, the garden
yielded bountifully.
The season, of course, was very dry,
yet everything kept green and grew
wonderfully. The potatoes seemed fair
" to bound, and at the end Of two
months were handsome sight, in full
blossom, the vines tall and full and
close. The beans showed excellent foil
AGE and seemed not to mind the drouth
at all.
The whole secret appeared to be cul-
tivatiou. The soil was stirred constant.
ly. No fertilizer whatever was used. l
could not have found more unpromis-
ing site on the farm, nor one where the
soil seemed less suited for garden.
The lack of rain was serious. In spite
of all this, the result was most surpris'
ing. We delighted in taking visitors to
the field and pointing out what could De
done on an abandoned farm. Now II
eight rods will respond In this way to
close attention. why not eight acres, OF
eighty? Was 1t the regular and constant
hosing, the everlasting stirring OF the
soil, that produced this oasis In the
midst of o worn-out, dried-up, waste,
abandoned, and apparently utterly
worthless fislds-Cor. Country Gentle
man.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1910-11-22
THANKSGIVING Table Decorations


Here are some suggestions for the
decoration of the Thanksgiving dinner
table:
Instead Of the costly flowers for the
central ornament of the table make
centerpiece that will delight every one
by its novel appropriateness. On a
mirror plateau place pumpkin, the
yellowest and fairest that ever glowed
between rows Of fading corn. The top
must be cut of and some Of the center
removed The space Is then lined with
smilax. asparagus fern or the hardy
dogtooth fern that every country boy
knows defes the frost and can be
found as fresh under the snow as
when wet by summer rains. Heap
the space high with lady apples, grace
full punches of grapes and yet more
ferns. allowing few of the latter to
stray down the side and rest their
pretty tracery on the white cloth.
Or get a low, round wicker basket
and pile 1t high with rosy checked ap-
pies, letting three or four of them drop
from 1t on the tablecloth to signify
abundance. At each plate place red
apple decorated with ruff and frilled
paper cap and sketch with ink comic
face on the smooth skin. 1t will create
no end of fun for the children.
Or pile basket with either apples or
pears and place border Of autumn
leaves around 1t; also one around each
Of the plates at the table.
Get a big bunch Of yellow chrysan-
themums and put them either in an
old blue ginger jar or brown earth
enware pitcher. Failing these. small
bean pot such as is used for baking
beans will prove a decorative recepta-
Gle for them. Place two or three of
the chrysanthemums on the tablecloth
near it.
A basket piled full Of yellow ears Of
corn Is a unique centerpiece. With
this should be placed at each plate
three grains of corn-to commemorate
the time In 1923 when the crops fail
ed and the colonists were threatened
with starvation, being put on rations
of q few kernels of corn day. A day
Of fasting and prayer was appointed
then. and directly after. as II in an
swer. there was long continued rain
storm. and vessel arrived laden with
provisions. Then in gratitude day
Of thanksgiving was appointed about
the middle of July. This was observed
for some fifty years. when the day
was changed to harvest time. Boston
uorald
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1910-11-22
STUPID PEOPLE.
Couldn't Tell What Grow Up Straight
and W.. Served on Toast,

and Was Served on Toast
Never ask any one TO supply you
with missing word. says writer In
the Atchison Globe, and IL the expert
ence which ne relates Is typical 1t Is
good advice. A woman was engaged
recently In writing letter to friend
In which she was telling Of what they
had to eat at party. She was getting
along very well when all OF sudden
she stopped to think. What" she
called to her family, rs that green
stuff that grows up straight"
Evergreen trees" some one replied.
"Oh. no." said the woman; II mean
something to eat"
Onions" was the reply.
mo-" she said. mot onions"
Lettuce" beans" "peas," and so
on, were all called out by the family,
all anxious to supply the missing word.
"None Of them is right" said the
woman. Then she tried new tack.
what Is It." she said. "they serve
on toast?"
"Poached eggs" said one member OF
the family.
"Jam," said another.
Then the woman got up. tore her
letter into pieces and put the thing
of till later on.
Three days later she was In gro
Gerry store and saw something marked
"15 cents a bunch" that sent her run
ming all the way home.
Tt was asparagus" she cried. Il
should think some Of you might have
known 1t was asparagus! Didn't say
1t grew up straight and was served on
toastY
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1910-11-22
CHR|STY'S TRIPLE
THANKSGIVING
By CARL WILLIAMS.

III E had just come In his car from
the Beacon Hargrave wed.
FL ding. In Howard Christy's
estimation all weddings were
bores, but Que must. be bored In the
cause of a merger Still hanging fire.
And now. with the ceremony and
quickly dispatched reception behind
him. he was headed for the Office once
more. His patient secretary would be
awaiting him.
"Mother!v'
In the half gloom. half mist Of the
oncoming twilight. as his car was
wedged in among scores Of other We
hlcles in front Of the Grand Central
station. he heard that word, and heav.
en- only knows why he leaned forward
to see who had uttered 1t.
He Locked Straight into the dewy
depths Gf wonderful violet eyes. but
they were not Fixed on him.
They locked far beyond, across the
tangle OF vehicles. to where woman
with soft brown hair and beautiful
gray eyes smiled to the girl from out
a mass OF furs and violets.
Christy forgot to urge his chauffeur
to get out OF the tangle somehow. He
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1910-11-22
DIAMOND CUT DIAMOND.
o. Henry Was a Shade Smarter Than
the Magazine Man.

the Magazine Man.
A friend of the late o. Henry writes
Of him: HE was reckless in spending
money and frequently gave elevator
boys and bellboys five and ten dollar
notes. But he wasn't easy despite his
financial regardlessness
His friends recently narrated an Ia
cident showing the mans shrewdneSs
A magazine noted for slow pay lh'y
said. contracted with him for three
part story for which he was to receive
$1,000. He got $500 advance before
starting to work and when he turned
In the second installment (none OF 1t
had been printed yeti got $500 more
and asked for the third $500 as an
advance before finishing the tale.
"The editor In an effort to save mon
ey apparently declared that. after all.
the story didn't appear to be worth
more than $1,OOO-this when he had
the two installments in his office.
"All right said o Henry; I won't
write the third one then And he
didn't. He laughed at the editor.
"'Well. them said the latter, I'll
run the two parts and then let our
readers have a guessing contest as
to how the story ends-and put up.
perhaps. a $500 prize to the winner
"For q moment the author thought
he was outwitted. Then he said: Go
ahead. and I'll win the prize He In
tended to win 1t tooT-Boston Herald.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1910-11-22
Miaaad fha Snuaak.

Some persons like one sort Of shoe
and some another. but the kind which
was desired by Pierre, the French Ca.
madam mill hand, has never enjoyed
a wide popularity.
"shoes for Sunday" Pierre stated to
the young man who advanced to meet
him as he entered the salesroom OF
the big shoe factory.
He then sat heavily down on one OF
the red plush seats and allowed the
salesman to insert his feet In pair
of bright yellow shoes. When they
were fairly on. Pierre stood, moved
bis feet this way and that, took d few
steps and. shaking his head. sat down
again.
"What's the matter?" asked the
clerk. do they hurt your Are they
too tight"
Pierre shook his head violently.
"She no tight" he said. but also
she no talk. Shoes for Sunday must
talk, talk, all the way up In church
for to SCUM stylish, seeT - YOUTHS
Companion.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1910-11-22
LIQUID Manure.

Is COW urine of great value for any
special crop? How may 1t best be utillz
ed? G.. c. b. Dayton, o. llt may be
distributed by means OF water-tight
tanks and sprinklipg attachments. but
this method is seldom satisfactory and
should be avoided If sufficient absorbents
can be secured to change the mass to q
semi-solid state, suitable for handling
with a shovel. A free use OF bedding
mplishes this. One thousand pounds
nj fresh cattle urine CONTAINS $50 10. wa
ter SIS 10. nitrogen and 4 o ID. pota, b.
n IL rapid In its action, being what 10
termed a "forciug manure" and has
bseu applied with benefit to root crops
and grass, but it is not so good for cereal
crops. The nitrogent content gives it
lis chief value, being much superior IN
ouality to that found In dung. As the
nitrogen is all in solution, too, 1t is more
Immediately available. On the other
hand. owing TO the great bulk OF water,
nrins Ia less convenient to apply and
cannot be carried 80 far with proht.]-
Country Gentleman.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1910-11-22
Thanksgiving.

indnNs9tNIn9s
Let us give thanksl
What!
You haven't got
Anything to be thankful for.
Or
You have got
What
You can't be thankful fort
Oh. say.
That's no way
To feel about good thingl
Brace up and bring
Yourself to me front
Don't growl and grunt
And do the sorry stunt.
Pull out Of the ruck
II you're down on your luck
And reach for the skies that are blua
Get out Of the shade
Your troubles have made.
BY heck, It is up to you'll
We know this Is a vale Of tears,
Chuckful OF woe and sorrow,
And turkey that We eat today
Is not so good tomorrow.
We know that labor Is q cross.
But still We have to bear II.
We know that fortune breaks sometimes.
And we cannot repair It.
But, say,
Occasionally good things come our way.
Don't they? Sure they do.
And bully ones too.
So let US growl and swear and kick
On every day save one.
On that one let US pause and thank
The Lord for what he's done
The way We thought he ought to do
To square himself with me and you.
Say.
We can stand for one Thanksgiving day,
Can't We? By gum.
II everything is on the bum
We must be TO blame some.
What.
w 4 IamDfOn
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1910-11-22

TIME little brown house by the road.
With vines running up to the caves
y Where the summer long there were
bursts Of song
And a fiutter OF wings in the leaves;
Oh. the little brown house was merry
In the days that used to be.
When the boys and girls. with their SUM,
curlB.
Were close at the mothers knee.
But the little brown house by the road
Is lonely now and still.
For Robin is dead. and Alice is wed.
And Louie must bide at the mill:
Father Is gray and silent,
And the mothers foot Is slow.
And you hear the clock with Its faint
tick-tock
AS you could not long ago.
The little brown house by the road.
From the swift train flashing by.
| watch It stand in the quiet land.
Under the quiet sky.
From the time OF the golden daisies
To the hour of the falling leaves.
From the time Of seed to the waving mead
And the flush of the ripened sheaves.
The little brown house by the road.
When / passed II yestere'en.
Sudden and sweet It laughed to greet
My eyes with a dazzling sheen
There were lamps in the twinkling win
dows:
/ knew as I ratified past
That the fire was bright on the hearth
alight
And the children home at last.
To the little brown house by the road
Had come THANKSGIVING day.
And the wintry air. II they felt It there.
Had the tender warmth Of May.
The fathers tongue was loosened.
And the mothers laugh was clear.
For the chrism Of love was poured above
The home in the waning year.
The little brown house by the road:
Oh. mother. old and gray.
Honest and true they return to you.
The children who went away,
And Rev. who II on In the army.
And Archie. afar on the sea.
Never forget the tasks they were set
At home by the mothers knee.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1910-11-22

YOU CAN DROP ME- and not so much
HERE rs by the flicker
Of an eye!ash did he betray his aston
ishment as his master stepped from
the car and. immaculate In frock coat,
gray trousers. silk hat, soft gray gloves
and boutonnieie, stalked through the
gloom and crowd into the brilliantly
lighted station.
Christy had private car In one of
the uptown yards, but he gave 1t no
thought. He bought ticket for Tru-
mansburg. He was going home for
Thanksgiving with mother"
Years had passed over his head since
he had left Johannesburg. He had
often thought Of going back for visit,
but the second thought was better than
the crst. 1t always ended in his send.
ing for his mother to visit him instead.
Christy was not a Napoleon Of finance.
In all these years he had made no
meteoric rise. but he had climbed
steadily, and now. as he had acquired
4 patch Of gray over each ear and
.rifling stoop Of the shoulders. he had
.urncd over his fifth million.
Eminent nerve specialists had warn
I'd him that he must cease his endeav-
ors or lose his health. but Christy
aughed at them.
Neither urg!ngs Of friends nor orders
If physicians had any effect. Yet he
now yielded to the note of JOY In q
girls voice and was going home.
The girls voice had brought home
and mother back to him. and as the
train dashed on he smiled softly to
himself and planned his arrival at
lone.
He had taken the fier because 1t
was the first train out. A word to the
amiable conductor. and the engineer
was instructed to stop at Trumans'
burg.
The station was dark when, a little
after midnight. the train paused just
long enough for the single passenger
to drop to the platform.
But there was light in the post
office across the road from the depot.
and presently man came out to take
Tie mail bag flung off by the messen-
GERS.
That train stop here" he asked In
.rcdulously Of Christy.
For moment" was the amused re-
sponse. do you know where | can
get a bed this time Of night"
The mail carrier regarded him with
iisdain. "Of course" he said loftily.
This town amt so small that 1t does
1T have hotels. You can always get
nto the Liberty House-if you ring
Ioud enough. It's two blocks north,
re east"
In the morning he hunted up the
,esidence Of one of the clothing store
1roprletors and induced him to open
ais store. Here he selected an outfit
less conspicuous than his wedding
l,uest attire and Of the sort he had
,nce regarded as the last word Of ele
gance.
He lighted a cigar and strolled over
70 the church. He knew that the fam"
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1910-11-22
Eir.. pot,taa. In Scotland.

II Is claimed by a correspondent that
the first person to grow potatoes In
the open field In Scotland was Thomas
Prentice, a day laborer In the West
Barony of the parish in Glasgow. near
Chapel Green. That was In the year
172S. It was about four years after
that date TINT he lPrentice) entered
the market with them and was very
successful with his experiment, as he
made $500 of 1t. which he sank In
double interest aud died at Edinburgh
in l762.-Glasgow Herald.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1910-11-22

be answered In a whisper. II thought
1t was only mother, Nan, but when
saw you l realized that there were two
persons | had come to see. Is there
any chance for me"
For a moment the girl was silent.
Once she had dreamed dreams Of a
home in which she and Howard Chris
ty should live happily ever after.
Then he had made his first SCOOP IN
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1910-11-22

Don't think of the city ~ 90 place Of
easy work and big pay" It's nothing
of the sort. All the city work that
paws well Is special work by specially
gifted and specially trained persons.
The city 10 far harder for the common,
the unskilled worker than In tho coun-
try.-Nsw York Farmer.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1910-11-22

sat quite StlH Ior
one long thought.
full minute.
Then he leaned
forward with a
singularly serene
expression on his
strong, determin-
ed face.
you can drop
me here. | am
6 OF n g out Of
town."
"Yes. sir" was
the mans me-
chanical reply,
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1910-11-22

no YOU think that last years bitter
experiences win prove 70 the farmers the
supreme folly of holding their potatoes
for bigger price when offered 'air oSss ss
N ,ou do think 90, then you have an6seeF
think coming. g.-Fruitman's Guide.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1910-11-22
Producers and Consumers Exchange.
AN ORGANIZATION WHICH Is UNDER
TAXING Co.oPERATIvE BUSINESS.

One hundred and fifty stockholders
we're represented, either in person or by
proxy, at the annual meeting Of the
Producers and Consumers Exchange,
which was held at Hotel Eagle, Bruins
wick, Nov. Sd. The meeting Of the
stock holders, held in the morning, was
presided over by the president, Maude-
vile Hall of Turner Center. The report
OF the treasurer, &. L. Stevens Of Charles
town, Mass, showed that during the
past few months the financial condition
of the organization has steadily improv-
ed. Remarks regarding the future work
of the Exchange were made by G. 5.
Stetson, master of the State Grange.
He also gave the Exchange an invitation
to meet during the session of the State
Grange to be held in Augusta in Decem-
Der and it was decided to use portion
of the Wednesday afternoon meeting for
that purpose.
The stockholders elected the follow
ing officers: Directors for one year,
Vaudeville Hall OF Turner Center, Leon
S. Merrill of 0rono, Frank s. Adams OF
Bowdoin, Z. G.. Tilley of Ashland, G. s.
Stetson of Greene; treasurer and man.
ager, b. l.. Stevens of Charlestown,
Mass. auditor, Z. c. Patten of Topsham.
A meeting of the directors was held in
the afternoon at which plans for the
future work of the Exchange were dis
cussed but no action was taken. The
directors organised with Vaudeville
Hall of Turner Center as president,
Frank S. Adams of Bowdoin as vice.
president and E. Fl. Libby of Auburn
clerk.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1910-11-22
chs,itv'a visitlno Day.

Charity begins at home, but at
Thanksgiving time 1t ought to 90 visit
ing and help to make happy the lives
of those to whom turkey is only a
memory or a mockery.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1910-11-22

Don't Deceive Yourself.
Plenty Of people imagine they have
nothing for which to give thanks, but
imagination u deceptive.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1910-11-22

Ey celebration al
W ays started
with the morn
ng service, while
The most depend
able grandchild
remained ut home
10 baste the tur-
ley and keep the
Are up.
he had not long
Io walt before
the old farm wag-
n drove up, and
lt was Christy
who helped his
mother out and
l.iSsod the with.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1910-11-22

kissed the with 0
.red cheek rs he held her in his arms
for an instant.
The old lady looked up in surprise;
then, with glad little cry. she threw
her arms about his neck.
81 didn't recognize you-you looked
90 like one Of US. Howard" she said
tremblingly.
That's what I'm thankful for. !
can still be one Of you" he answered,
and he told himself that the losses he
would have to stand on the deals that
would suffer In his absence were well
repaid by the look of delight In his
mothers eyes.
They slipped quietly into the church,
and none realized that the man In the
cheap suit was the "Christy boy OF
whom they had heard 80 much and
seen nothing.
They set him down as one Of the
distant relatives Of the Christys. and
only Nan Copeland. seeing with the
eyes Of her heart, could tell that 1t
was the much talked of millionaire.
Ii was Nan whom Chrlsty sought
when the short service Of prayer was
done. She laid her hand timidly III his,
hut her eyes spoke her welcome not
to br concealed
what In the world brings you herer'
she asked in surprise. 1--WE thought
that you had quite forgotten Trumans'
burg"
T came to see my mQther-apd you,'