davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1910-11-23

how lot of good folks around here
used to say that the Prohibition
party was all punk and the only
practical way to work fer temper
ance was thru the Anti-Saloon
League. And now when it came
to show down didn't q lot Of
the same folks go back on the
Anti.Saloon league and vote fer the
same men as did the brewers, sa-
loon keepers and booze democrats
jest cause they had the G. o. F.
tag on?: What's the use to try,
Silas?"
"Oh we'll, Zeke" says I. don't
worry. Some day the people will
get their eyes open. It seems to
me if it.. only the Offices we are
after, it don't make SO much differ
ence if we win or not; and if its
reform we are fghtin' fer it seems
to me as if we have got 'em on
the hump right now" -.
Il don't know about that" says
Zeke. 1.-The daily papers say that
the last gubernatorial lection has
buried county option fer good"
"Shucks!" says I. "them fellers
has buried county option a dozen
times before. but like Deacon Haw-
kin's cat: it has always come back.
And it's healthier and more TO-
bust lookin' critter every time it
comes back. County option is jest
to let the people decide fer them
selves and who is E. E. Smith that
he should deny the people that
right says I. and kicked a hole
in a sack of flour. Il expect to see
a county option law passed in the
next legislature and Mr.. Eberhart
will sign it too. And it's sucf
spoutin' agitators as you and ms
as is forcin' 'em to it, too," say!
I. ''Why, land sakes! Zeke, didn''
, we force a Teller. who two or three
,, years ago even refused to sign {
legislature county option petition
to come out on a county option
platform in order to be elected
And didn't we force the salool
friends and the few saloon keeper
as lis left in the county to vote fe
!, that platform? Hezekiel Dusty! |
, seems to me as it's US as has tn,
! right to crow, says and slappe,
Zeke over the Ieck with an empt!
, bran sack. #.
: Well sir, when the dust ha
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1910-11-23

tened, q m m ed
eyes. The broader back of the man
was sturdy enough to carry the bur-
den, but the mother was bending un-
der the load.
Don't worry, MOTHER soothed the
man. ''They have their families and
their cares, and we must be content"
1T is not that" she murmured, but
and the eyes had frightened look
in them-T do not feel equal toto
writing-the letters any more. IL
find them burden now
The man gently pressed the hand
that had penned the daily letters.
"Rest, then, mother, rest! They will
not He stopped, he could not say
they would not miss them, and yet the
quivering heart at his side knew he
meant it. "That is it," she replied
slowly; "they will not miss them, and
that is-what-hurts"
The eyes dropped, and the head
rested heavily on the shoulder by her
side. They sat there a long time
watching the fading light and the CON-
ing up of the new moon. The dew
Of the evening wet them before they
rose slowly and made their way inside.
Long habit and training cannot be
changed in a day or night, and moth
er's yearning for her sons insisted
that some message should be sent. but
each week the letters grew shorter and
there was no heart or life in them.
Sometimes they were so perfunctory
that one was merely a duplicate Of the
other, mere reference to the weather
and crops and an assurance that all
were we'll. The hand copied from day
to day what the brain had dictated TO.
one. There was little variation.
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1910-11-23
HOMESTEAD
),TxS&i;1;:..::Si;:::.:::::.: 4
- E&a11i;i:

The summer passed and harvest time
approached again. The Thanksgiving
season brought it's train Of mem
cries. ~ :%4
A week before Thanksgiving she
looked anxiously for letters from her
sons. Each day they drove mile
to the village for their mail. but the
letters were not there. Two. days
before the event the frail body was
keyed to intense suspense. On the
morrow one Of them surely would
write and gladden. her heart. But
they returned from the postofice with
out the letter.
I'VE must go to the village today, IA
ther," she urged on Thanksgiving
morning. I'VE need-we need salt or
sugar. forget which,
The man accepted the gentle lie
without culver. There was single
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1910-11-23

THEY SAT DOWN AT ularly. She was
THE TABLE ALONE. a wise mother
and did not expect a reply to every ef-
fusion of her own. They were busy
boys, engaged in the battle of life.
Sometimes weeks passed. and then
few lines compensated for the lonely
waiting.
They fel; in love and married In
time. They brought their brides in
hurried visits TO the old home. Chill
dren came to them. and each birth
added to the cares Of the father. She
longed intensely to know of her grand
children. and if she wrote long ram
bling letters Of the old farm her heart
was aching for minute details Of the
children born in the image Of their ia
theirs.
But the rush Of life in the cities
made the farm seem long way OF.
Letter writing was oftentimes irk-
some, and the seven sons had duties
that absorbed their time and strength.
The letters grew fewer and their
length shorter. On the old homestead
the aged couple vigorously read over
and over again the brief epistles, pom
dering and thinking and specializing
and signing.
In due time the seven sons forgot
to write or delegated the work to
their wives. They were too occupied
to waste their time in epistolary COM
position. They know, moreover, that
their parents knew they would send
word if anything unusual happened.
And nothing unusual happened to
them-that is. nothing that would in
terest the aged couple living on the
old homestead. They would not care
to read Of things in the city which
were so vital to the sons Of the sew
enth generation-of social gatherings
of business Developments. of art lee
lures. of politics. of religious and char
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1910-11-23
In the Same Situate n.

A man who lived near physician
was employed by the doctor to set out
some shade trees around his residence.
A short time later the physician was
called to attend the mother:in.law of
the man who had set out the trees.
The old lady died. and the physician
presented his bill. After paying it
the citizen thought of the trees and
made out and presented a bill for
them. But the trees died. protested
the. doctor. $50 did my mother-in-
law" retorted the other man. The
doctor paid the bill. s.; 5... =1.
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1910-11-23
To The; Old
BACK To
,%.:::;;;;; .s W; ~
:::;@ 3;y1| l3*;: /.

at the foot of the hill where the
turnpike swerved sharply to
20 the left to avoid climbing the
abrupt elevation and close by,
the brook. which. finding it's source
somewhere among the hilltops. mean
dered leisurely through swamp and
swale and cut the farm sQuarely in
two, stood the old homestead. The
moss grown shingled roof peeped mod
estly from behind screen Of age-old
trees. and the low down sagging foun-
dations were scarcely anywhere visi-
bic behind the rampant growth ct rose
bushes that clambered halfway up the
south side Of the house. There were
lilacs grown into trees. syringas that
crowded half across the gravel walk.
a giant honeysuckle vine that had been
choked and pruned back until its gnarl
ed old trunk resembled a grotesque
freak of nature.
The old homestead had housed and
reared seven generations of men and
women Of the same name. but 1t had
come to pass that those of the seventh
generation were widely scattered and
the old homestead no longer knew
them. There We're seven Of this gen.
eration-seven boys-and the last to
leave the old homestead had gone
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1910-11-23

IOrtn. ike the
others, to battle
in the larger
world for life
and happiness.
Unlike many
old couples left
behind on the
farm to watch
and tend it in its
declining years,
these two were
not shorn Of the
necessaries or
even the luxu-
ries Of life. They
had laid aside
their little sum,
and they lived
with no dread
Of the morrow,
No shadow OF
debt or threat OF
mortgage fore
closure h u n 6
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1910-11-23

day, with its calm
peacefulness and
thoughtful rehec-
tons. Her baby
had been of an
artistic and re-
ligious tempera-
ment. and the
Sabbath was con-
Secrated to him.
She could speak
more freely and
intimately Of her
err thoughts
and home life.
a nd b er pc n
moved more rap
idly over the pa
per.
At first the
W ee KY letters
were answered
more or less reg
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1910-11-23

tAN i u - = W - -
wre at h ed in a
holy smile as she
b u s t | ed about
and c h a n 6 ed
dishes and added
more to- t h e
tables supply.
1--WE only set
places for your
spirits, and not
for your bodies, y
B Ii T uuI"u~u
guilty.. "A nd
you are all such
hearty .eaters!"
Yes, h e ar t y
eaters-big e a t.
ers, mot b e r::''
they said in one
voice. "But we
know where you
keep the turkey
and the cranber-
~- ~o~11. n~A %ho
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1910-11-23
FREE ADVICE.

To properly enjoy the turkey
feast on Thanksgiving day, your.
general constitution can be consld-
erably improved. and the colds
stopped by only taking a few doses
Of Elfstrum & Co.'S Fluid extract
Cascara Sagrada Aromatic. Is
cents an ounce or two ounces for Is
cents. This superscedes all other
mixtures and pills generally used
for constipation, both for old and
young people. Children like it. 402
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1910-11-23

ity work. These
were things OF
the city and not
Of the country.
r h cir parents
would not under
stand, as if the
mother love was
not melt S j We
en- Dug h to EN-
brace all things
that touched the
hearts and lives
of her offspring!
So the sadness
and loneliness of
the life on the
old homestead
took on a keener
edge. The aged
couple would sit
hand in hand and
W a tch the de-
parting rays of
sun with mOfS-
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1910-11-23
"UnC|e Si|aS" Talks About the Elections
~ Has Dusty" Downatt the

The day after lection l thought
I'd jes take a stroll down to the
mill to see about some chicken feed
and one thing and another. Now
Hiram had 'phoned over early
about how the vote countin' had
PANIED out the night before SO I
reckon I weren't overly hilarious
like myself over lection results,
but you ought to have seen Zeke
Dusty. Why he looked more like a
bottle of blum than nothin' else.
We didn't say much neither of
us fer some time. l sat down on a
sack of oats and blowed my nose a
half dozen times and Zeke kept
busy mendin' an,old belt.
Finally I spokes up and says, says
I, Its a rather raw mornin",
says I: >s: - f.
'Rather,". says Zeke.
Looks to me as we'll have either
rain or snow" says l.
1T does that" says Zeke, and
rubbed an openin' thru the dust on
one of the window panes. He sat
lookin' out at an old birds nest as
was swayin' back and forth on. the
bare branches of the old Eastwood
tree fer quite a spell.
i At last says, 'Zeke. cheer up!''
says I. ''somebody had to lose.
Both sides couldn't win. I should
think an old pop-prohib like you
oughtn't to mind sech small thing
as defeat. You ought to be used
to it by this time.
II m gettin' sick and tired Of
politics. says he, ''I'm goin' tt
quit. 1t makes me sore when
think how year after year we have
talked and hoped and wished fe1
What we have believed to be RICH
and when lection came we've al
ways got it in the neck. It's tn
people, 81, the people, as makes M
sad. Look. fer instance as hov
those graspin' stand pat republic
ans join hands with, that booze
stinkin tamany bunch and the PEG
pie fall right in line back in New
York. Wasn't Beverage. Of lndi
ana, far above the average republic
an statesman in standin' up fer tn
peoples interest and what thank
did he get fer it but to be turne
down. The Interests don't: car
fer party name, and they'll eve
secretly help democrat to take re
venge on an honest republican.
"What crime has Hon. E. L.
beck of Douglas county ever don
but fight for the best and pure:
there is in Minnesota politics? Bu
would it do. to let him be RI
elected? Not on your tin type. til
{ it may bea f1atterin' one. Speal
; ers were sent out in Douglas coul
ty by the score. Money ",
shipped ID BY the peck and sui
able lies were spread the last d.
, and the people we'll, Lobeck
!. defeated bys54 votes. DON'T :
i contender when our prohibitit
speakers used to come around, &
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1910-11-23

cleared off. the indigo had all faded
on Zeke's face. He went out and
turned the water on and set the
mill again once more. And as
the wheels began to hum, Zeke
dumped sack of barley into the
hopper and began to sing:
ooh say, can you see by the
dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the
twilight's last gleaming.''
Yes it was the same old Zeke
Dusty again. Flour and feed
grindin' at the same old stand!
And then I got to thinkin' as
Zeke's spirit typifies the great
American spirit. We low our
selves to be worked up to a fever
heat of partizan fee}in' and bitter
ness, but after the votes are count
ed and the victors gets out the
band to do their little stunt,
the defeated steal off to their hunks
| to forget it all in blessed sleep,
cause there's nothin' else fer them
to do. And when they wake the
next mornin' they find that the
wheels of the great American
rep lblic are spinnin' again as usual
and they too go back to their work
and soon forget the injustice and
animosity of it all.
And so l took the cue from old
Zeke and went home and split more
wood that afternoon than l had
done fer month.
| But somehow when Josh Wise
came down the road in his auto
mobile a tootin' victory. .thonk
honk! honk| honk!," jest could
not pay no attention to him cause
I can't take to man who has no
higher ideals of American politics
than dollars and cents.
ST.. $751;. vSILAS BLUESTEM.
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1910-11-23

MORROW. and they lived in
quiet peace on the homestead that had
sheltered so many Of their ancestors.
But there was loneliness in the moth
er heart. When the first son had bro
ken away from the farm the pang had
been sharp and cruel. but there were
six left behind Then the second had
grown restless and followed in the foot
steps of the elder. The third waited
a few years, silently tilling the fertile
farm and watching for his chance. 1t
came one day with unexpected abrupt
ness
Mother. I'm going to the city tomor-
row." he said at the close of hard
days work in the fields. my oppor-
tunity has come"
There was no open opposition, but
the heartstrings were quivering. So
| the third son went, and after him the
fourth. In few years the remaining
sturdy babies had grown to the stature
Of manhood. and they, too, cast longing
eyes cityward. Would not one of them
remain on the farm?
| The last to go had been her favorite,
for was he not the baby? And with
bis going the light seemed to go out Of
the world for the aged couple. But
these two were of pioneer stock, and
they had met and overcome adversely
in many forms, and in time they fell
back upon each others company and
found a measure of contentment.
There were seven sons. and each
week seven letters left the homestead
mailed to different addresses. One went
to Chicago, another to New York, u
third to Boston. two to St. Louis, one
far off to the Pacific coast and the last
to nearby city. Monday was devoted
to. thoughts Of the eldest, and the moth
er brain and heart put into his letter
all the little news Of the home life
which he had loved. He had been de
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1910-11-23


all the other good things. Wait until
we see?"
The raid on the kitchen which fol-
lowed worked havoc with the weeks
cooking, but the joyous cries and
wrangling words mingled with laugh
ter were music to her ears She had
her seven sons back again, and they
were boys still in spite of boards and
deeply lined foreheads and wrinkled
cheeks. ...-...:.
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1910-11-23

itate the call of .
the bluejay and whistle the piping song
Of the finehes. She had learned the
nesting season of the different birds
he had loved, and her letters were full
of woodland scenes and wild life.
Wednesday was day Of easy letter
writing 1t was all about crops. the
condition of the north and south fields.
the probable yield per acre and in
harvest time an account of the results.
On Thursday her letter was addressed
to the young architect in New York.
and she spoke of the things which he
had loved. and Friday she roamed the
woods agein for material, for be of
San Francisco was the hunter and
trapper Of the family. and Saturdays
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1910-11-23
Thanksgiving
George Ethelbert Walsh
"a
copyright. 1910. by American Press Asso'
ciation.] "%

she peered into the streams and the
dark pools Of the river for information
about the silveryS pike and speckled
trout. for the sixth son was OF the
Izaak Walton school, Then came Sum
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1910-11-23

voted to the live
stock, and she re-
corded faithfully
the details of
their progress.
3 i'll y. his pet
horse, had long
g i nc e died. but
another colt had
been named after
him, and he was
always held in re-
serve for his alb
sent owner.
Tuesda Us let
ter w a s IN or z
difficult of COM
position. 1t call
ed her forth into
the woods to get
news, for the sec-
ond son had been
q roamer and a
friend Of every
squirrel and rab-
l,3A IT, -1,,l1 IN,
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1910-11-23

morning mail. and
perhaps-perhaps
but who can
tell? They drove
9 low l Y through
the crisp autumn
air and returned
at dinner time.
They were both
very silent and
grave. The man
was more con-
cerned over the
white drawn face
at bis side than
at the neglect Of
his sons. If they
only knew - If
they only knew!
They sat down
at the table alone,
she rousing her
self by a final ef-
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1910-11-23

More valuable than the immedi-
ate money saved to the woman who
studies the ads is the education the
practice gives her in yalues-in
how and when to buy. This serves
her always, under all circum-
Stancps
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1910-11-23

WANTED: Everyone in Will.
mar and vicinity to read the open
ing chapters of the new serial by
Robert w. Chambers in the Novem.
Der number of COSMOPOLITAN
MAGAZINE. 1t is the greatest no.
vel of the year and is illustrated
by Charles Dana Gibson.
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1910-11-23

ment of three nights and two matt
nees, with Thanksgiving matinee.
Nov. "a, in that city. The prices
for these engagements have been ar
ranged at 50 cents, Is cents. $1.00
and $3.50. Seats can be secured in
advance by sending remittance for
the number desired. to l.. N. Scott,
Manager, Metropolitan Opera House
St. Paul or Minneapolis.
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1910-01-14
A THRIVING BUSINESS.

The amount paid out for bueay bounty this month was
S1oo-a lump of onethrd over the sum drawn from the
treasur that last month Truly the supervisors
have managed develop lively business in buejay
destruction the space of months Scalp bounty
other predatory pests socaed footed up $780, making 5000
the toll upon Amador taxpayers in month, This is
only starter The demands will doubt climb apace,
until the county managers will be compelled wipe the
bounty from ordinance book There is valid for
county bounty law anyway The abuses that grow up the
wake of such laws than offset any real good they
can accomplish Beside which the housewife is just as
much entitled protection from the ravages of and mice
flies and forth the farmers and ockmen Where is
the public treasury that could withstand the drain of
ssten policy on this bounty proposition
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1910-01-14
Editorial Column,
PINCHOT'S DISMISSAL.

President Taft has summary dismissed Clifford Pnchot,
chief of the u S. forestry service. This action has stirred
up lot of controversy, in the public service
has commanded attention than Pinchot because of his
advocacy of the conservation policy in regard natural
of wealth in forests and sites Pnchot
really the originator of the conservation policy naug
uraed by the Roosevelt administration and in this work he
has pshed imesable service for the benft of the
country. AS the father of this great reform he will
occupy prominent place history 1t is be regretted
that circumstances of his making rendered his dismissal
imperative He letter Deliver criticisng
the administration for taking his views
questions and This letter made public in congress- Of
there remained but open the PRESIDENT
nameyo discharge the ndscreet official for nsuborduaon
Pintho is evdeGtiy afflicted with swel-head He has been
auded and pampered such that he had conceived
overwhelming idea of his Importance lie was a
bgger than Taft in his estimation and doubtless
imagined he could crcse his superors and carry the
dict of the people with him. We take stock in the
PLANTATION that Pnchot realized that he inviting his
discharge On the contrary he imagined he 1ntrench
ing himself public opinion by his mutnous letter. and
that he could thereby promote the adoption of his extreme
views His address his subordnates In the service
his retirement parakes of the spirit of nsubordnaton
in telling them that the claims of the people higher and
more sacred than the claims of the administrations trusm
of course but nopportune and another slap the
"higher-ups and incentive to rebellion Without de-
tracing the important service rendered by Pnchot
believe the Of conservation will suffer by his
t;rement radical reform cannot be effected step
1t must be brought about slowly by STEP the people
become educated in the matter, and avoid any violent
interference with vested interests
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1910-01-14

Mayor Mccarthy creating favorable impression o
successful administration of the affairs of San Francisco
On the of taking his he publicly declared that he
owed allegiance first and above all to the trades unons-a
most unpatotc from private citizen, and in
ceedingly bad from mayor elect In taking office he
launched out into bitter TRADE of abuse of the outgoing
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. evidence of unsound judgment
Again he has declared his answering opposition the
bonds the acquisition of the Spring Valley SYSTEM
going and paying business the time working for
the mpracticabe Geary line All this does
aueur we'll for the new administration