davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington herald., 1911-12-24

by wires to the top OF the tree. Just below
the candle cOnCca!ing the holder and the
awkward fastening. is large star. Below
this are the figures Of angels and smaller
stars. and underneath these The figure Of
Santa Claus is cozily tucked away among
the branches. Special effort is made to
have the crown of the tree beautiful and
brilliant, so as many lights as we can set
there are clustered about the central orna-
ments The lower branches are decorated
as fancy dictates. the pres ts being piled
upon the floor at the foot.
What is the meanre OF it all?
First. the color of the tree signifies hope
the hope that was born with Christ. The
candle upon the topmost peak of the tree
signifies that Christ is the light the world.
The large star symholizes the star of Beth
Iehem. The presents are symbolical of the
gifts the wise men brought to the infant
Jesus. CONSTANT READER.
Let me add to this cTear and simple de-
scription of the family Christmas tree that
The Washington herald., 1911-12-24
DisIikcs Hard TO Change.

l might draw out the shameful record
into an indefinite series of definite griev.
ances-all entirely unjustihable in the opin-
ion Of the injured party-resentment Of
which is as justifable.
After more unsuccessful experiments in
the role Of peacemaker than self-respect al
lows me to record, I write down, as my de-
liberate and sad conviction, that the bless
ing assured to the class in holy writ
They shall be called the children OF God, t"
will not be pronounced by those upon whom
they have practced their profession. No
matter how intimate I may be with you,
dear fresi6e companion. on this snowy De-
cember night. 1 should peril my standing
in your affections were I to attempt to
argue you out of a settled dislike for the
person who, you conceive, has done YOU a
wrong. The approach to the painful subject
would throw you behind your defenses of
justification. Were your own mother
or your husband-to endeavor to set the
matter in a different light from that in
which you view it. you would strengthen
your position by recapitulating the causes
that had brought you TO the present fixed
state Of mind.
Yet you covet peace on the birthday oil
him who was betrayed by one disciple and
forsaken, in the hour of sorest need, by
eleven, such peace as is the portion Of
the men Of =" good will"
Do not delude yourself or try to dclude
me with the specious stock phrase: l
wish him we'll. If know my own heart,
I cherish no i'll will. although he has
wounded me sorely. All 1 ask is that he
should go his way and leave me to &c
mine"
The Washington herald., 1911-12-24

were Kasper, Melchoir, and Balthasar.'
She found the names in the dictionary one
day. Then another girl repeated part OF
the hymn We had sung last Christmas:
We three kings of orient are.
From the east we've Travelled far,
Westward speeding. still proceeding
Following yonder star
The teacher just smiled and told US to
look up the three kings, or the wise men,
and tell her all we had found about them
next Sunday, as l said.
Now. I've looked and looked for some
thing to tell how many there were, and I
find the Bible does not say whether there
were three. or ten, or any other number
So I told my mother how puzzled we were.
and she advised me to write to you about
II. Won't you please let us know in Sun
days paper how people got the notion that
there were Just three wise men? 1 hope
you don't mind my bOthering you in this
way, but we don't know where else to find
out If the Bible doesn't tell us-why
should everybody take it for granted there
were that number, and put II into SER
mons, and hymns, and Sunday school
speeches? Seems to me all the preachers
and teachers and speechers ought to-
know what they are talking about
EMMA j. c."
As early as the second century the church
had a tradition that there were three
eastern kings who brought gifts to the
manager in Bethlehem, although the names
applied to them-as repeated by Emma's
classmate-do not appear in church history
until perhaps a century or more later.
The idea that there were three may have
arisen from the fact that three gifts are
named as their offering to the infant king
gold, frankincense. and myrrh. Or be-
cause the psalmIst had prophesied that the
kings Of Tarshish ISpainl and OF Sheba,
and Seba would offer gifts. In early paint
ings Of the nativity one Of the three kings
OF the orient is represented as Moor.
Our young Bible scholar need not be
mortified that she die not know the right
answer to the teachers question. Nine out
Of ten grownups-Bible readers and Sunday
school teachers-would have declared that
there were three Of the magi, and been sure
that the Bible asserts this. Catechise the
members OF your respective families. and
see II this be not true.
The Washington herald., 1911-12-24
sUNDAY-BREAKFAsT

sUNDAY-BREAKFAsT
Grapefruit. Oatmeal porridge and cream
Fish balls. Corn bread Toast
Coffee and tea.
LUNCHEON.
Celery soup in cups.
Sardines, picked, seasoned with white pepper
and lemon Juice put upon buttered toast
and heated IN the oven.
Baked potatoes. Bread and butter.
Canned beet salad. Crackers and cheese.
Rice pudding. Tea
DINNER.
Black bean soup
Calls liver a la mode. Mashed potatoes.
Canned spinach. Canned pumpkin pie.
Black coffee
s.
Grapefruit. Cereal and cream.
BroiIed ham. Popovers. Toast.
Tea and coffee.
~. LUNCHEON
Bouillon In cups. Cold calfs liver. Potato pun.
Crackers and cheese.
Cookies and cocoa.
DINNER
Tomato soup with whipped cream on each plate.
Roast turkey, cranberry sauce.
stswed chestnuts with gravy.
Canned green peas. Canned asparagus.
Mince pie with cheese. Black coffes.
CIors d'oeuvres-salted nuts and olives Bon
bons. Black conee.)
= =
TUEsDAY-BREAKFAs
Oranges Cereal sndcream.
The Washington herald., 1911-12-24
Whp Cdkes Stick to Pans.

Can you tell me why my cakes STICK
to the pans? They are invariably GOOD,
but the bottom Of each layer adheres to
the pan. 1t causes me no end Of worry
Last week bought set Of new pans, but
the result is the same. MRS. F. o.
Your new pans are more likely to stick
than those which have been seasoned by
heat. Boil them in hot water TO which
you have added little baking soda. Wipe
them dry and set in the open oven for an
hour. When you are ready to use them.
grease thoroughly with cold butter. The
pans should likewise be cold. The heating
in the oven IL only 10 season them
II you still fear sticking. set each pan
when you take the cake from the oven
into a shallow dish Of cold water. leaving
The Washington herald., 1911-12-24

her so shamefuly in the matter OF invita-
tons to a large party she gave last winter
that she could not find it in her heart to
Exchange gifts with her this year.
Everybody else in the family connec-
ton was asked excepting myself" she eN-
planned. And no excuse sent to us! My
husband was overlooked with me-and she
his own sister! l could forgive an insult to
me, but not one to him.
Said a man in my hearing, " Ny brother
and I are not on terms just now. His be-
havior in the settlement Of our father
estate completely alienated me- Until he
makes restitution we must be. as strans-
ers."
Another cannot forgive an open af-
front offered her son by his weather. cous-
in. Like No. 2, she is fighting the loved
ones battle. Loyalty demands it, in her
OpiniOn,
The Washington herald., 1911-12-24
zz4k< COMMON SENSE the f1ONE zzTg7
EEzSA EDITED byiMARbM f1ARLAND anzazzzzz1zzz==A
"COMCDOfGOOdWin'

the sinner may be rewarded according to
his works so far as those. works affect
you uapleasaEtly. Good people deceive
themselves in this direction more Otter
and outrageously than avowed sinners
This rep-O6ate who has crouch" against
arother-be he saint. or sinne--hopes
aloud that the rascal may get what's
coming TO him. ard that plaguey quick.
Our GOOD man or woman in whom the
Ieaven of uncharitableness Is working
quite as actively hopes TO himself and
audibly to neishbor and friend that " the
Lord may forgive him, as do. "
The Washington herald., 1911-12-24
Anent Number of Wise Men.

Apropos of the anniversary comes this
query from a girl who reads the Bible, and
v no would learn all she can Of the story
Of Bethlehem:
Il have always believed that there were
three wise men who came from the east
with gifts for the Savior Our teacher told
us last Sunday to find out this week how
many there were, and let her know the day
before Christmas. When she asked the
question firm, of course we all spoke up and
said three" How do you know" said
she. Why, everybody knows said one
girl. and another gave their names. They
The Washington herald., 1911-12-24

She does not like to ask the neighbors.
She is keeping house for her father. 1 can
fully understand the chld's ambition and
her reluctance to confess ignorance to
gossiping neighbOrs ready to criticise the
folly of setting q chit like that at the head
of a house
You gave her a recipe for pun paste,
warning against what goes by the name
of family pastry Perhaps the inClosed
may be what she wants:
PIE CRUST.-One cupful OF -four. one
big tablespoonful Of lard. Mix well to-
eether either with hands or fork, add
little cold water at a time to make right
stiffness; divide into halves, roll to suit
pan. The trimmings will make shell
for a soft pie the next day or so.
MY mother taught me to make such
crust and 1 find II makes a good one. With
butter at IS cents pound. pies come rather
high made of butter. ] might add I use
pinch of salt, but that may be as one
wishes.
Please send me address Of child that
wants dolly dressed warmly, as have
plenty Of new appropriate pieces. Also ad-
dress Of Charles D. v, as can take him
some good current magazines. l have
scarcely been SIX day and have ever been
watchful Of afflicted ones.
And again, address of mother Of eight
children. Ny married life has been mother
less, so must look after those that need
help VIII inclose clippings so you will find
it easier to get the correct addresses.
Mrs c. J. F"
call yours a model communication. You
inclose stamps for addresses (aH Of which
have gone by maiD. and to make assurance
trebIy sure you send the clippings to which
the letter refers.
II the bulk Of our correspondents would
initiate your example our duties would be
Iessened and our perplexities reduced to a
minimum.
The Washington herald., 1911-12-24

~ WOULD consider it a signal favor If
~ some one of your readers would give
me a formula for taking out a nico-
1 tine stain from a valuable Mexican
drawn work lunch cloth. Some care
less person laid a pipe upon ii. ri What
can put into liquid soap to keep it from
jellying?
In exchange for this information, ten
der q recipe which consider we'll worth
having. It has been tried with success:
sACHETs FOR .PERFUMING
CIOTHBS-Six ounces of gum benzoin.
four ounces of cinnamon and the same of
cloves, sandalwood. sassafras, wood Of
Rhodes, orrit root, cascarilla, rose leaves,
lavender flowers, pimento. and lemon peel.
Twenty-four grains Of musk.
" All the ingredients must be mixed thor
oughly together, having been first reduced
to powder. Put into little silk bags for
use small quantity laid upon a live
coal will perfume a room. The odor sris-
ing from It is as sweet and pervasive as
that from the finest French pastiles. This
Is a nice way Of pertaining holiday gifts.
MRS. ]. ]. F."
Cover the stain with cream OF tartar after
wetting It. Rub IN all the powder the
threads will hold. Then stretch the linen
taut over a vessel OF boiling water so that
the steam will rise through the stained
portion. Hold It thus for ten minutes,
rinse in clear water. and repeat the whole
process.
Salts Of lemon may be used instead Of
cream Of tartar. Rinse thoroughly between
the applications.
ri Suppose the soap does Jelly. 1t will
be none the worse for It., The addition Of a
little boiling water will make 1t HQuefy
again.
=
Recipe for Pie Crust
The Washington herald., 1911-12-24
Sek-Deceit Worst of Al.

II the offense has been keinous. you add.
d" 1 hope our ways will never cross"
One SANITY creature said to me OF an
ahenated friend, " II she goes to heaven.
as of course I hope and believe she will.
hope that her abode in the many man
sions won't be within sight of mine"
In none of these cases-and I am bold
to affirm in none that chafe your own spirit
as talks there any question of Christ
mas giving. AS boldly affirm that for
giving is the essential condition to good
will" You cannot cherish a grudge against
one for whom you in your heart desire
prosperity and happiness. Dismiss the
self-deception at once. and acknowledge
the ugly truth that dislike is linked TO the
wish-maybe unconfessed even in your
prayers-that some time and somewhere
The Washington herald., 1911-12-24

the stars may be bought at trifiing ex-
pense in shops that display Christmas cards
and other pictures and ornaments suitable
to the season.
That household is poor, indeed. that can
not set up a tiny tree on the morning OF
Dec. % in honor OF the great birthday.
The Washington herald., 1911-12-24

eet salad upon Romaine. Crackers and cheese.
Junket Cake. Tea
DINNER
Yesterdays soup.
Rolled beefsteak, with onions.
Canned Lima beans Riced potatoes.
Cottage pudding. Black coffee.
y 4
FRIDAY-BREAKFAST.
Oranges Cereal and cream.
Bacon. Griddle cakes ard strip. Toast.
Tea and coffee.
LUNCHEON
Sausage Potato soufie "a leftover.
Lettuce sandwiches. Crackers and Swiss cheese.
Cream puIs. Tea .
DINNER
Potato soup.
Oyster pie
scalloped tomatoes. Fried homfny.
Cranberry tart Black coffee.
= +
sATURDAY-DREAKFAs
Oranges Cereal and cream.
Salt mackerei with cream Eravy. Quick biscuits.
Toast Tea and coffee.
LUNCHEON.
Stew Of beefsteak and onions q leftovsr,
Stuffed potatoes. Celery and apple salad, with
heated crackers.
Cream cheese. Cake and tea
Vegetables soup.
Boiled eorned beat with sauce tartars.
Ladies' cabbage Canned string beans
Apple brown Betty. Black ecrss.
The Washington herald., 1911-12-24

~EE first and most sublime of Christ
mas carols will be sung in million"
of churches on the coming 18th OF
L December. The chapter embodying
it will be read reverent!y and ten
Derby by millions Of devout Christians and
will be the keynote of the Bible lesson in
every Sunday school in the CHRISTIAN
world. Each one of US could chant it
without book or prompting
GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST,
AND ON EARTH PEACE, GOOD WILL
TOWARDS MEM"
Thus it sings itself in memory and in
heart.
Some OF US have never known, and most
Of those who have learned Of the correct
reading of the last clause seldom bethink
themselves of It. Yet a majority of English
Bibles with marginal readings contain the
annexation: To men Of good viii! "
Read the latter section of the chorus as
scholars tell us It should be interpreted:
Peace on earth to men of good will
Then, close your ears 10 the chime Of
Christmas bells and your eyes to the glory
Of holiday decorations, and sit down with
me in Imagination. before the Pickering
YuIe fire and let US take the deep mean
ing of the carol 10 heart
x :;
spirit of Christmas.
We have read and talked and sung Of the
spirit of Christmas " until we would say
oThand. that nothing new can be said on
The topic In every household personal
likes and longings have been sacrificed to
The greater joy OF living. Children have
boarded pennies for months beforehand
taxing pocket money and foregoing
treats" Of divers kinds. that father and
mother. brothers, sisters, and playmates
may be the richer on Christmas morning
for the gift bearing the name Of the IN
selfish schemer. That must be in the sight
Of the Lord and his angels more precious
than the costly oblations of those who
give OF their abundance Hospitals and
prisons have visible proof that the broth
erhood of man is no mere courtesy title;
slurns and settlements and Sunday schools
in missionary regions are redolent Of tur-
key and plum pudding and afiuent in
candy bags. On this one day Of the year
a thousand touches Of nature, cunningly
applied, make the whole world kin.
We have taken for granted all our lives
that the Christmas spirit Is prominently
the spirit of giving. The assumption and
the conviction are all right as far as they
20 The literal rendering OF the text We
have quoted does not shake our compla-
cent belief. The open heart and the open
hand, unlocked and thrown wide open by
the spirit aforesaid. testify to the good
will" the reward Of which is exceeding
peace"
The Washington herald., 1911-12-24

selves that We are either altogether right.
or entirely excusable. whether it be a hu-
man life that is taken, or a reputation be-
fouleO. or a pocket picked, or a savage word
uttered that cuts into the listeners heart
like a poisoned dagger.
:: x
Keeping Christmas.
Forbear to judge, for we are sinners
all!' said the wronged monarch at the bed
side of the dying cardinal My plea is for
the living sinner against your self-interest.
your pride of place most of all, for him
who has offended against those you love
The Washington herald., 1911-12-24
Have You Forgiven Enemies?

My confidential chat in the soft radiance
of the Yule fire and four feet upon the
fender intimacy is direct, and, perhaps to
your way Of judging, brutally frank. You
have given royally-and Of that which has
probably cost you more than your nearest
md dearest suspect-to those you love
much. What have you forgiven Of those
YOU do not love at all whom you have good
reasons for disliking?
heard a woman declare yesterday that
she had not an enemy upon earth, so far
as she knew" In the next breath she
lamented that her sister-in-law' with
whom she used to be intimate, had sighted
The Washington herald., 1911-12-24
Sad ouerp Of a Mother.

A mother, whose letter is-too long and
too sad to appear in the Helping Hand,
tells me Of her Is year old daughter, who
has an ungovernable temper. who Hes
and steals. and, when confronted with the
proofs Of her sins. shows not tremor Of
romorse or regret"
The Washington herald., 1911-12-24
NOTICE

DECA USE of the enormous
d number of letters sent to the
department must ask con-
fribufors TO limit their coHlnlunica-
fions to 100 words, except in cases
of formulas or recipes which require
greater space. / want all my cor
respondents TO have a showing in
the Corner, and if my request in
this respect is complied with ii will
bcpoSsibIe to print many more letters.
Attention is called to the fact
that Marion HdrIdnd cannot receive
money for patterns, as she has no
connection with any department that
sells them Marion Hdrland.
The Washington herald., 1911-12-24

Minced chicken from yesterday morning.
Potato cakes. Toast.
Coffee ind tea.
LUNCHEON
Saint Of calrs liver Ia lef,over). with chesthuts
chopped in he gravy.
Roast sweet potatoes. Pe1nut butter sandwiches.
Doughnuts and cheese.
Tes.
DINNER
Combination soup Cgreen peas. asparagus, ETC.,
upon beef stock. leftover.
Cold turkey and cranberry sauce.
Rice croquettes. Fried salsify.
Mince pie Black coffee.
& 4
wEDNEsDAY-BREAK
Hawaiian pineapple. Cereal and cream.
Bacon and fried peppers. Hot buttered scenes.
Toast. Tea and coffee.
LUNCHEON.
Cheese pudding. Breakfast scones
Fruit salad with crackers and cheese.
crullers and cocoa
DINNER.
Turkey rack soup.
scalIop Of turkey AMI French mushrooms.
Stswed carrots. Canned beetA
Nuts and raisins. Black coffee
=
THURsDAY-BREAKFAS
Baked apples Cereal and cream. Clam frittsrs.
Aufnns. Toast
Tea and coffee.
LUNCHEON.
omeletts. with rest Of mushrooms left from yes.
tsrday, minced. seasoned. and folded within It.
Tomato toast ibakeO.
The Washington herald., 1911-12-24
Plain Speaking Rightly Meant.

Dear Constituents" children OF my
love and care and pride, who are daily
and weekly growing more like my own,
will you not take this plain speaking as II
is meant? Hearts are soft and spirits
attent at this glorious season. How many
acts of oblivion shall the angel Of Christ
mas record in this year of our Lord? How
many can frankly claim the blessing guar
anteed to Men of Good VIII?
Forgiving one another. as God. for
Christ's sake, hath forgiven you"
The words fall so naturally into place
upon the page that 1 cannot but write them
down. You can bear me witness that am
not given to sancttnionious cant It is
because my heart is full to overlooking with
affectionate solicitude for the welfare of
our big family that I press the question
home. I should be tolerably well acQuaint-
ed with the mysteries OF our common hu-
man nature by now. 1 hardly know a fam
lily in which there is not a feud of some
kind.
There are varying degrees of bitterness,
but in every instance each party to the dis
pUte IS Wholly convinced that he or she is
entirely in the right. 1t is a somewhat
optimistic theory of mine-and one that
begets largeness Of charity-that not one
person in 10000 sins Intentionally and
deliberately. One and all we convince our
The Washington herald., 1911-12-24

will fall behind you to make a grave of
your ugly thoughts and garden for your
kindly feelings with the gate wide open?
Are you willing to do these thinks, even
for a day? Are you willing to believe that
love is the strongest thing in the world
stronger than hate, stronger than evil,
stronger than death-and that the blessed
life which began in Bethlehem nineteen
hundred years ago is the image and bright
ness Of eternal love?
Then you can keep Christmas. And
If you can keep it for a day-why not al
ways"
The Washington herald., 1911-12-24

even letter than you love yourself. Let
the Act of Oblivion " include all. and
then forget in deed and in truth.
l cannot resist the temptation to set
the seal upon my homely talk by quot
ing what great thinker OF our practical
age says upon, the same key to which my
plea is pitched
Henry Van Dyke writes OF keeping
Christmas " in contradistinction to keep
ing Christmas day"
Are you willing to trim your lamp so
that it will give more light and less smoke,
and TO carry it in front so that your shadow