davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1912-12-24
OUTDID UNCLE SAM.
How an Old Lady Found Person the
National Postoffice Couldn't.

Nde'Sbdi SStSttiSS SOdiSb
.The fates call and mortals obey"
q The speaker was a small, precise and
elegant old lady whose diminutive stat
ure was quite forgotten by her hearers
in the realization of her force and dig
nifty. She had gone to the dead letter
sale under protest and was narrating
an experience which grew out of the
purchase she had made. Il went to
that sale not because l wanted to or
was interested or expected to buy any
thing, but because I've an impertinent
grandniece who limited I was too old
to be in such crowd.
"After awhile the auctioneer offered
a package as big as a sack of -four,
and l bought it for SIS cents. Then
when | brought it home l found 1t
| contained nothing but a lot of worn,
| threadbare clothing mended almost to
death. l was just about to force 1t
! on that grandnieee of mine and make
/ her distribute it to some poor families
! when | found letter in the pocket OF
! the coat I've kept that letter. The
| writer was young girl from down
! east in Massachusetts,. She was send
ing that clothing as the only Christ
mas gift she could make for her broth
er Ben, who lived in city in Wis
consin.
"Well, when | read that letter / just
sat down and cried to think that poor
girls sewing had all gone astray.
made up my mind that if the postal
authorities could not find that girls
brother | could So did up the bun
| die again. put letter outside asking
| the postman to return the package to
me if he couldn't deliver it and then
addressed the whole thing to Mary
Burgess Brother Ben, -, WIS.
Would yod believe that that postman
| in that Wisconsin town really found
that poor boy and gave him the bun
die? And now I've letter from the
girl in which she tells me both she and
her brother are in much improved cir
| cumstances. that Ben has fine posi-
ton in a furniture factory and thai
they are soon to be together for good
Washington Star.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1912-12-24

q DAUGHTER PLAYS ON THE GUITAR.
and buildings break the sound waves,
or in suburbs on the hillside the effect
Is unspeakably delightful.
Pleasantest of all is it when you are
sitting in the inner court or quadran-
gle of Porto Rican home. Around
you on four sides the house rises above
you, and in the grounds or in great
tubs and porcelain pots rich flowers,
graceful vines and Testful trees afford
shade. color and perfume. The sound
Of the bells Gescends from the air
above very much like a benediction.
You sit in an easy chair. and servants
bring you tea or steaming coffee,
sweetmeats and biscuits. CONNECTIONS
ard cigarettes. while daughter or son
plays ancient songs or dances upon a
mandolin or guitar.
The churches are crowded; so are the
clubs and most Of the places Of recrea-
ton. Every vehicle is in use. and here
and there can be seen young men and
women trying TO initiate English mod
els. SOlJG VI Tue pSOpAE Va tlC liiodA-
tain districts carry out many of their
early superstitions in regard to Christ
mas. They hang over the doors OF
their houses boughs of trees which are
supposed to possess charms and often
conduct marriage ceremonies under
great canopies made Of these charmed
trees.
A great many wild flowers are in
bloom at ChriStmastide, and these are
worn by children of the mountain dis
tricts in wreaths and garlands about
their heads, necks and waists. The
Christmas giving is sadly missing in
our new possessions. The churches
hold no Christmas tree. and there are
few charitable societies to give feasts
However. one hospital for old people
and orphans in Ponce gives a Christ
mas fete, and the inmates have good
meal and receive warm clothing, med
icines ana other needfGl gifts.
The American occupation has brought
extra Christmas cheer to the people OF
the island. The American residents
celebrate the Gay in good American
fashion, ana. best Of all. they put
money into circulation and give zest tt
industry and business.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1912-12-24
CHRISTMAS OIL SHIP or ICE,
Strange Story Of a<ippsr shipwrecked
en- the Pacific.

Strange Story Of 2.sipper shipwrecked
en- the Pacific.
Captain s. A. IIoyt, secretary Of the
Masters and Pilots association of Seat
tie. WASH. and possibly one of the
most widely known scattering me, on
the Pacific coast. has fund of be
riences to draw from when he wishes
to while away an hour. Up in the big.
pleasant rooms of the association the
captain recently told the following
tale:
1.-THE approach of Christmas always
reminds me of the December that l
spent on an ice ship. Never heard of
one! Well, they are unusual. | was
master of the little brig Holly, and
along about the LIST of November we
were wrecked away down south of the
Horn. The ship went on an ice foe
and was battered all to pieces. We
did manage, to save some tools and
food and part of the cargo
Il put the crew to work to cut of q
large pinnacle of the berg. Then l set
| them all to work with axes, and we
shaped it into a graceful ships hull.
After that we followed it out inside.
making cabins and everything like a
regular ship. and with some Of the
timber saved from our vessel we rig
ged her as a bark. side lights and ey-
erything even going so far as to paint
her and name her the Holly. She was
a fine craft and floated like a duck
when finally launched. We spent
| Christmas on board of her and had a
great time. loaded part of the wreck
ed Holly's cargo in hog and we then
started for Callao. which was our des-
/ tination.
'The ice ship sailed fine and was as
good sea boat as any in which sail
ed. This was only, however, when we
were down south in cold water. The
nearer we got to the equator the light
er became our vessel, and finally dis
covered that our ship was melting be-
meath us. Another two days and we
would have been in the water when a
steamer picked US up and also saved
the cargo. This paid for the loss of
the vessel, which was also insured, so
the owners came out ahead in the
end"
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1912-12-24
THE ACT0R'S CHRISTMAS.
Life ON the Boards Is Not All Happy
Holiday.


81 like Christmas" said an actor.
"No two are ever alike in my bust
ness. Last year, for instance. the COM
pany | was with was four weeks be-
hind in salaries. and we were simply
hanging on with the hope of the big
houses Christmas day pulling us out a
little. We were playing one night
stands and left some little town in
New York state for Wheeling, w. Va,
right after the performance. 1t was a
trip that called for three changes OF
cars. and there were no sleepers in any
of them.
Every car on every train was loaded
with holiday excursionists. and every
male excursionist was loaded with rye
and birthstone. There were tights
fresh every half hour. and constables
met US with open arms and clubs at
every station. No eating stations were
honored by us, and we arrived at
Wheeling too late to give matinee
performance. our manager had two
black eyes and broken wrist, and
our star had lost new set OF teeth
without which he refused to play at
night.
"The report had it that we were all
in Jail. and there would have been nc
house anyway. We had to get up
three benefit performances before we
could get money enough to buy tickets
to New York, but we got there. How
ever. as | sand before. Christmas days
are not all alike Buffalo News.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1912-12-24

gold twenty and ten mark pieces and
another of silver five mark pieces. His
majesty fills his pockets when he goes
walking in the parks at Potsdam, and
the little children and old men and
women who are fortunate enough to
meet him or soldiers standing sentry,
stamping in the snow, are certain of q
q joke.
The kaiser's best side is seen at
Christmas. There is story current
that once near the palace of Sans
Souci the kaiser came upon a half
frozen sentinel with very red nose and
eyes The sentinel, with stiff fingers,
brought his rifle to the salute.
"Cold day." said his majesty. The
sentinel did not reply, but his teeth
chartered.
"How long have you been on dutyT'
asked the kaiser. Still no reply.
"Stupidl' said his majesty. "Why
don't you speak when ! address your
The sentinel moved his jaws and lips,
but no word escaped. The kaiser burst
out laughing and, turning to his adj
jutant. said:
Take this chap into the palace. put
him before fire, thaw him out par
ticularly his jaws. see he gets a big
hot drink and big feed. and, here, u
| turning to the sentry, take this and
drink my health and the empress"
| The soldier found voice at last. He
beloved out the one word Mates
taetr'
The empress is always practical with
her gifts. Every year her majesty
grows more popular among the best ell
ements of the people. Her unassuming
ways, entire freedom from hauteur
consideration for servants and kindly
interest in the welfare of the poor and
| helpless endear her in ever widening
circles of Germans. She is fond of pre-
| senting ladies' with costly lace.
The young princes, headed by the
crown prince. show little discrimina
/ ton In their gifts-scarfpins rings
dogs, cigarette cases, matchboxes, ant
so on. being their staple gifts, varied
sometimes by q book, picture or
statuette. Victoria Louise's gifts o.
dolls to her friends are numerous. TX
favored friends she does not mind pre-
senting kitchen ranges and furnished
dolls houses. She is in close asso
citation with the matrons' and soldiers
orphanages at Potsdam, and the mum
t Der of little girls who receive her gift'
is enormous Storee sf oranges ant
honey cakes are % lcted by her TO
distribution on Christmas eve.-Nev
4 York World.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1912-12-24

berry tree. The ladies of the house
came out about o'clock and deco
rated the tree, with the assistance OF
some of the men. Even the men re-
quired stepladders to reach the top
most boughs. First, the ladies gave
them some artificial icicles. which they
hung on the branches In great profu-
sion. As the sun was shining brightly
by this time, ii gave the icicles very
glittering appearance. and the wind,
commencing to blow. shook them gen.
tly, making the Illusion more perfect
Then long bright ribbons of many col
ors were suspended from the topmost
limbs and fruit and candies tied on
with ribbons of the same color-or-
anges with orange ribbon, apples with
red ribbon. lines with green ribbon,
etc. Small toys were suspended from
the tree; large ones were at the base.
1t presented a very gorgeous spectacle,
and the sight of the happy children
that surrounded it made one wish to
be a child again to enjoy 1t to the ut
termost. But the best was yet to come.
"In the front yard were the presents
intended for the grown people. and
each man received one. One was fine
surrey Five were each given fifty and
seventy-fve dollar saddles. Several
married men got handsome metal bed
steads. with springs and mattresses.
Twenty or thirty fine hats. costing
81 apiece, were distributed and many
other articles, all the best Of their
kind. | saw young man who re-
ceived an all leather suit case. This
last item may seem strange on ranch,
but there are many polished gentle
men among the employees who would
consider suit cases very necessary
should they have occasion to visit the
city.
"All this while music was to be
heard from a band stationed on the
front porch. where many Of the visit.
ors were seated. After the Santa Claus
Of the Christmas tree had retired and
the presents to the grownups had been
distributed all repaired to the porch
and front yard to. see again the glee
full children and the tree, and surely Il
was a thing of beauty and. with its
fruits and flowers. looked as though Il
had been transplanted from fairyland.
"The people that came from dis
lance departed before nightfall. buf
those that lived near by remained fol
an evening of music and good cheer
and thus ended happy Christmas
| day."
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1912-12-24
Her Little Prayer.

Former Comptroller Edward Nj
Grout of New York city tells pretty
little Christmas story.
He said that little girl relative of
his was visiting her grandmother on
Thanksgiving day. Already the child
had begun to speculate on what Santa
Claus was to bring her at Christmas
time. and, as children-especially girls
will do when they are at the home
of an indulgent friend, she began to
rummage through closets and drawers.
In the course of her investigation
she came upon brand new white nun.
1t was the very thing she had wanted.
and she knew that Santa Claus chief
purchasing nt-grandma-had OBJ
tained it for her.
Taxed with it, grandma admitted the
truth.
But" she said. you must forget all
about II until Christmas day"
That night az she was being put to
bed the child astonished her mother by
adding this TO her evening prayer.
Please God, make me forget all
about the little white muff Santa Claus
is to bring"-New York Times.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1912-12-24
An Old christmas Custom.

A century or two ago there was
custom in Germany for all the parents
in a town or village to send the pres
ents they designed for their children to
one chosen individual. who called at
each house clad in a motley robe, a
mask and huge faxen wig. Knock
ing on the door. he called In a loud
voice for all the good children to ap-
pear and receive the gifts which the
Christ Child. the Christ-Kindlein. had
sent them. This was the primeval
Kriss Kring.e. Coleridge describes this
custom and records that the bad little
children had rod left for their cor
rectioh.-BTooklyn Citizen
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1912-12-24
CHRISTMAS NEAR THE POLE.
Where Seal Meat and Whales 8lubber
Take Turkeys Place.

axe uTkSJ TiSSS'
Il think Christmas, 1888, was my
most memorable one" said General
Greedy, tie artic explorer. With my
command was proceeding southwark
In the hope of obtaining help, and
about the 10Th of October we en-
sconced ourselves in a little hut at
Cape Sabine. Our supply OF food was
running very low, and we were on
very short rations, every one being al
lowed just food enough in each TWEEN
ty-four hours to sustain life. Under
these depressing circumstances and
amid the awful silence of the polar
night the chcesfulness that we contin-
ued to maintain was remarkable.
christmas day came at last-Christ-
mas in the arctic regions! At o'clock
we had our breakfast-thin soup made
of peas. carrots, blubber and potatoes.
Our Christmas dinner was served at 1
o'cock-first course, a stew of seal
meat, onions, blubber, potatoes and
breadcrambs: second course, served
one boar after first, stew of raisins,
blubber and milk; dessert. a cup OF
hot chocolate One of our party had
some tobacco Still left. and he very
kindly made a cigarette for each one
in our little party.
81 will wager that in all Christen-
dom that day not another present was
given or received that gave such In
tense delight to the recipients as did
those little rolls of tobacco and paper
They were quickly aflame and being
puffed away at for dear life, and thus
my most memorable Christmas
Christmas near the north pole-ended
in smoke" Pittsburg Dispatch.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1912-12-24
~The Queens Christmas Card"

Queen Alexandra has not given up
her interest in behalf of the unemploy-
ed. Last Christmas she sanctioned a
unique plan TO raise more funds for
them. This was in the shape OF the
issue of a Christmas book. consisting
Of poems. stories. sketches. drawings
and music. which was entitled 'srhe
Queens Christmas Card" AIgernon
Charles Swinburne. Alfred Austin. the
poet laureate; Thomas Hardy, Marie
Corelli. Hall Game. George Meredith.
Arthur Wing Pinero. Sir Laurence
Alma-T adena. Edwin A. Abbey. VIII
liam Holman Hunt. Sir Edward John
Poynter and Sir Edward Elgar are
among the host Of those who contrib
uted The production of the book was
practically gratuitous II sold for
half crown. and the proceeds were
devoted TO the qneen's unemployed
fund.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1912-12-24
SANTA CLAUS
IN PORTO RICO.

THRISTMAS in Spain is a reli-
q gious festival rather than so
" cial one 1t was so originally in
Porto Rico. but the population
has been influenced partly by the
spirit of the new world and partly by
tie many Amcrican merchants who re
side in the cities and who exert an in
duence much greater than the num-
bers would seem to warrant.
The churches welcome the day with
chimes which begin at midnight and
last until the midnight Of the next day.
What with one church beginning ten
minutes too soon and another ten min
utes too late and a third at the right
moment, what with bells which ring
every fifteen minutes and bell ringers
who under some ancient custom will
sound the great bells every half hour,
the air is filed with music which never
seems to end.
IT you are near campanile the eff
feet is not altogether pleasant on ac-
count of the volume of sound striking
the ear with too much force, but in a
public square several hundred yards
from the nearest belfry. where trees
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1912-12-24
Vacations as Christmas Presents.

In a letter to the employees OF the
Bourne mills of Fall River, Mass, an
nouncing the regular profit sharing div
idend on Dec. "a last, Treasurer George
A. Chase said: "The board of directors
has unanimously authorized me to an
no,snce to you the experiment of va
cation week in August, 1907. The mills
will close Aug. "a and reopen Sept. s.
thus allowing you ten days of rest and
recreation. In lieu of regular pay you
win get an extra dividend on your
wages. payable just before the yaca-
ton. TO the amount of 30 per cent OF
the average weekly wages" This
promise was faithfully kept.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1912-12-24
1T WAS THEN BEGUN THE sHooTIN'.

1T WAS THEN BEGUN THE SHOOTIN.
Well, the biddin' started lively, and it
got to gittin' hot,
Fer every mind in Cactus on that sim
gle thing was sot
Purity soon I'd staked my saddle, worth
two hundred dollars net,
Just to own fer one short second that
blamed drug store toilet set.
1t was then begun the shootin', no one
seems to know jest how,
And twas lack of ammernition that at
last broke up the row,
And thirteen of US was hurried, but the
worst blow that we met
Was in findin' that come bullets had
gone through that toilet set.
But we plugged the punctures in it, and
we plugged the wounded, too,
And agreed we'd arbitrate it, and the
bunch ID see it through,
So we sent gift committee, but they
came back sorer yet,
Fer the teacher d fluttered eastward,
SO we have that toilet set.
Denver Republican.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1912-12-24
When shepherds Watched by Night.

Some historians contend that the
shepherds could not have watched by
night on the Bethlehem plains in De-
cember. it being period Of great in
clemency. In answer to this a well
known student says: Bethlehem is
not a cold region. The mercury usual
" stands all the month of December
at 46 degrees. Corn is sown during
this time, and grass ard herbs spring
up after the rains. so that the Arabs
drive their focls down from the noun
tains into the plains. The most deli
cate never make fires till about the
end of November. and some pass the
whole winter without them. From
these facts | think it is established
without doubt that our Saviour was
born on the 2Jth day of December. the
day which the church throughout the
world has united to celebrate In honor
of Christ's coming in the flesh."-Wash-
ington Star.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1912-12-24
Chr Sstnllas ON
7 afS's RANCH.
part owner OF one of the largest

Fulton ranch. so called. a 175O00
acre farm" eleven miles from Corpus
Christi on the San Antonio and Aran-
sas lass railroad One hundred men
are always and $50 men sometimes
employed on it
Il was SO fortunate as to have the
pleasure of seeing unique Christmas
tree on this ranch" writes Mary Elise
Muacey in the st. Louis Globe-D Demo
crat christmas morning. though
warm, was foggy. and slow rain feu.
but by II o'clock the sun came out.
and the people at the ranch house be-
gan to make their preparations. Ever
since early morning the employees
from the different farms had been COM
ing in. All kinds of vehicles were
pressed into service. Some came on
horseback and some on foot There
were many children.
Il saw what had never seen be-
fore. a growing Christmas tree Just
in front of the house was a large null
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1912-12-24
Christmas In
Cactus Center.
IVY oMEN's scarce in caet.. Can.

ENy oMEN's scarce in Cactus Con-
wv ter, and there amt no bar
gain stores
Fer to start them Monday rushes that
break down the stoutest doors,
But we had some Christmas shoppin'
that the town amt over yet,
Jest because of one small woman and
drug store toilet set.
She was Cactus center's teacher, and
she hadn't left the stage
Fore she had the boys plum locoed,
and ! don't bar youth nor age.
She was cute and smart and pretty,
and she might "a been here yet
If it hadn't been for Dawson and his
drug store toilet set.
1t was old and scratched and speckled,
fer twas in his case fer years,
But old Dawson, sharp and clever, put
whisper in our ears
Lowed he'd sell that set at auction, and
he says, "Now, boys, you bet
This'll make a hit with teacher-this
here swell new toilet set"
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1912-12-24
The Most Popular Christmas Poem.

The Most Popular Christmas Poem.
The most popular Christmas poem
ever written for children was that IA
miliar to the world. beginning:
Twas the night before Christmas. when
all through the house
The poem was written by very
learned man, DR. Clement Clarke
Moore. profound Greek and Hebrew
scholar. He was professor in the
General Theological seminary in this
city. He was born In 1TI9 and died
In 1863. New York Globe