davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-12-28
MOLLY'S REWARD

Just then came a ring at the front
door, soon followed by Moliy's chum,
Elizabeth. who lived across the street
40, Molly, where were You this morn
tng?" she exclaimed. You mustn't
stay away from Sunday-school today,
for you know it's rally Sunday. and
besides the bishops going TO be there.
came over early to tell you"
Yes, Molly" said her mother, II
remembered 1t was rally Sunday, and
/ didn't want you to be disappointed
twice In the same day, so / deter
mined you should go this afternoon.
And now you see, you are being paid
for being such "A good little girl this
morning. for although you Couldn
go to see your bishop, he is coming to
see you! We will excuse YOU from
the table, and Elizabeth NAV 20 up
with YOU while you dress. Come down
when you re ready and I'll button your
dress and tie your hair"
A very happy little Molly rushed up
stairs arm in arm with Elizabeth, and
before long they were on their way
to Sunday-schooI The bishop was
there, Molly spoke her piece, and ev-
erything went we'll That night d
special prayer of thanksgiving went up
from the little girl TO the heavenly
Father who had helped her forget
herself in her duties and then had re-
warded her In double measure,--M. X
H., in Nashville Christian Advocate,
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-12-28
Mr.. Can't and Mr.. Can.

o. Mr., Can't from Mr.. Can
Is a very different sort of man.
For Mr.. Can, he always tries:
And Mr.. Can't, he always cries.
Now, Mr. Can gets many a blow,
But he gets the best in the end, you
know.
While Mr.. Can't gets nothing at all,
For he's down too low to suffer fall,
o, Mr.. Can gets up with a grin
And he says: I'm bound In the end
to win"
But Mr.. Can't Is pitiful sight,
For he's whipped before he's begun
to fight:
And he says 1t puzzles him quite lot
Why some can win and some cannot,
.. rocr Mr. Can't. He never knew
The secret I'm going to whisper to
That you can win If you only try,
And you certainly can't if you only
cry:
And that Is the reason why Mr.. Can
From MIR. Can't is different man.
Herald and Presbyter.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-12-28
The Little Birds
Christmas
BY MYRTLE PALMORE.

Little Ruth sat by Il warm fire, and
seemed to be lost In thought. Az last
she turned TO her mother and said, II
am thinking, mamma. how the poor
little birds will spend their Christ
mas. Here l am by warm fire:
| shall have n nice dinner soon, and
tonight / am to have Christmas
tree, with lots of presents hung on
1t. and my little friends will be here
to see me. But the poor little birds
will have no Christmas tree"
"Oh. yes. they will" said mamma.
"A tree in the cold woods. and all
white with snow and ice" said Ruth ;
my tree viii be placed in warm
room, and will be hung with all sorts
of presents"
But mamma said. The little birds
would not change their tree in the
woods for your tree with it's rich
lights. BE sure they are as happy
In their way as you are in yours. You
must feed the little birds when they
come to you for food"
SO when Ruth took her presents off
the tree she hung bread on ii and
carried 1t out in the yard. and every
day the little birds would come and
get their food until they would eat
sat OF her hand
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-12-28
THREE THANKFULS
by KATE HUDSON.

me We're all together once more
for two DAYS anyway-father and
mother and we four children and
fathers favorite sister Aunt Sue,
you aSnow--end a bit OF trouble and
bi, cramped sleeping quarters don't
matter much anyway"
Your mrther must have had her
hands fun getting dinner for 80 many"
suggested Miss Carr.
We all turned to and helped
said Lissfe, so she shouldn't get too
tired. Aunt Sue set the table. ami
Nellie cleaned vegetables and peeled
the potatoes, and Tom brushed up tho
rooms and dusted---you'd be sur
prised to see how nicely that boy can
do it--and helped me do the beds
Dick turned the ice cream freezer. and
twlrled round and helped wherever
help was needed We were busy and.
oh, SO hungry when at last dinner
was ready, Ut was fun 10 see that
big dinner disappear! And poor faith
err was no sooner through carving the
first seven platefuls of turkey before
he had to start right in on the second
helping; and really we had most as
much fun cooking our dinner as eat
Ing IT, and | do think Thanksgiving liz
about the best day In the year, unless.
perhaps, II Is Christmas Oh. thank
you ever and ever so much, Miss
Carr" flushing rosiiy as she took and
began to undo the package handed to
her
you've had such a busy holiday"
smiled Miss Carr, that you'vs hardly
had tirne to feel thankful"
Il feel thankful all through Lissie
assured her earnestly. because We
were all homo together once more,
all we'll and altogether. And thank
W So sot tina tavafy4 n ri
which I'm going To hang where all OF
US can see II right above mothers
sewing machine" And slowly and
reverently she read:
Home Is where there's one to love,
Home is where there's one TO love us
So let's give thanks for Home"
The Christian Register.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-12-28

things but on they came. The worst
of i! was that at the top of the hill
SANTA Claus could see dozens of little
boys ard girls looking wistfully down
upon all this profusion. many" Of the
children reaching out their hands-aII
In va!n-and some OF the youngest
ones crying bitterly
Now. although SO petted and
someH hat spoiled. Santa Claus had
naturally n fine. generous heart {the
whole world Is ready TO prove tha).
end the sight of all these forlorn lit
tie boys and girls made him feel very
sad irdeed. He tried his best to
throw toys up to the children. but his
arms and hands seemed turned to
toad. Meanwhile q loud voice came
from somewhere. saying over and
over All fer you All for YOU,
but even the worst Of Nightmares
came to an end, and. when Santa
Claus awoke, he was much comforted
to think this was but "A dream
Then what happened?' 1 asked
Mr.. North Wind, for his voice was
suddenly gentle and almost dying
away. At my question he shook him
seif trtc fresh vfgor
''Sarta Claus never forgot that
dream The next day was his seventh
birthday and his mother could not
imagine why with all his beautiful
new presents, the boy all that morn
ing was SO quiet and thoughtful The
truth Is Santa Claus was beginning to
see that to share with others was the
only happy way for him. It seemed
suddenly mean and undesirable that
he should have so much, and he was
hunting about in his mind to reach
the best plan for giving.
s,tt {D4 ~. l.
we have nearly reached your Green
wood Farm; but that was the begin
ming. That very day, after dinner.
he got out his new scarlet sled. and
asked all the boys in that neighbor-
hood, big and little, to try ii In turn.
Seeing him come in at supper time
in such a rosy glow. his mother de-
cided that fresh mir. after all. was
best. Sc after that Santa Claus lived
much more out of doors: and. If he
grew big and strong. his generous i'm
pulses and power 10 love increased,
too. it'st as steadily,
"Wetl, when Santa Claus became a
man. he had a large fortune left to
him ny his Aunt Joi}ity (such was her
curious uame); ami he was not long
IN deciding to use This vast amount
of money, year by year, in making
Christmas a brighter day for the chill
dren everywhere. By this time Santa
Claus had grown SO hardy that he
preferred the coolest, snappiest kind
Of weather to any other Accordingly
he butt his home away at the North
Pole You have nj ouce guessed an
other reason for his doing THIS. and
YOU arc right The North Pole woul3
be a fairly private place in which &c
weep SIfetT 1ts t"rTTtEr 7T71Tg EFUTCtg,
Hardly any one dropped in of an
evening The rest you know too
how every Christmas Eve sees Santa
Claus TN his sleigh guiding the REIN
deer swiftly from door TO door and
leaving all those charming gifts the
children at peep Of day find In their
stockings"
Just then we found ourselves at
Greenwood Farm, so I shook Mr.
North Winds white mittened hand,
and gave him hearty thanks for his
story. As l went in to buy my ducks,
I could hear Mr. Winds voice greet
ing Farmer Green. 1t sounded like
this
Merry Christmas! Happy New-ooo-
100000 Yearn'-Christian Regis
ter.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-12-28
RUTH FARMER

My Dearest Aunt Nancy am
sending in something for every de-
partment this week and ] am send
ing two drs wings You can have the
ore you think Is best put on cur page,
or, If it's enough room. you cmn put
both on / truly hone that our page
Will he the hest one that we ever So ",
and ] hope each member viii have
sonnet hing for each department I am
indeed very glad that Louis "a going
10 have his pictures taken, and think
he rs very kind to exchange with us.
and 7 2zas-tai1ll-- h1I4a- he WIIl send Il
70 you. Aunt Nancy. and have II put
on our page. for I haven't any If my
pictures that has been taken lately,
so I cannot exchange yet but II he
viii send me ore now when l have
mine taken ! will be cure to send
him one. ] Eot card from Marion
fieogheqan not long ago and think
IL was real sweet Of her to think of
her cousins when she was so busy
In school 7 wish she would write 10
our page ofteuer I wonder what all
OF our cousins are going to DO for
amusement this Christmas. I hope all
of them will have a nice time as I had
last Christmas. Wishing You and all
my cousins a Joyous Christmas and a
happy New Year
From your loving niece.
MYRTLE. pAT.MGRF
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-12-28
When Grandfather
Was Young

| Well" said grandfather. holding
Dot on his knee while the others
gathered close about him, II don't
know much about robbers, but l re-
member the time when l came pretty
near being one myself"
you" cried the children,
81 was only a boy, about as big as
Max here, and we lived out in the
country" grandfather told them. Il
was going home through the woods
one evening when something struck
me right on the head. 1t came with
such a thump that jumped and look
ed around t. see who could be throw
ing stones and what. do you think ii
was? Only a nut that had dropped
from a tree but it made me stop and
look around a little. and that was
how / happened to catch sight of a
fine pile of nuts hidden in Il hollow
at the root OF an old tree.
Hello Here's a fnd!" / said.
"Quit, Quit Quit! sounded Il queer
little voice, and something went sour
rying away 50 quickly through the dry
leaves that / couldn't see what it
was But | didn't stop to think about
that; I hurried on home planning how
I'd get that lot Of nuts the next morn
ing. We lived away from the town,
you know. and we had no peanut
stands or candy stores to buy from.
We cracked nuts and popped corn for
ourselves in the long winter evenings,
so a good pile Of nuts was worth hay
ing,
Early the next day l took a bas-
ket and was Off for the old tree to get
my treasure before anyone else found
1t, The nuts were all there, and they
looked even nicer by daylight than
they had in the evening. | was just
beginning 10 pan them out when the
funny scolding little voice came again.
"Quit, Quit, St-chu. st-chu. quit"
and as ! looked around ] saw a pair
of bright eyes watching me, and there
sat a grey squirrel twitching his tail
and seolding me with all his might,
All at once / knew what he was try
ing to tell me-that those were his
nuts and that l had no right to take
them. He was such "a little fellow,
and he was so bright and so cross that
/ felt ashamed OF myself,
IAN right, old fellow I told him.
Il think you're telling the truth, |
am bigger than YOU are, and I'll get
my own nuts and let yours alone
And so I did"
Did he know what you said?"
asked Dot wOnderingly.
"Well, I'm not sure that he under
stood just then, but he soon learned
10 know that ! was friend Of his,
and by the next summer he would
jump onto my shoulder and try TO hide
nuts in my pockets IL / pretended to
go to sleep under the tree. | was al
ways glad he did not have to remem-
Der me as robber."~-Kate w Ham
ilton, in Sunbeam.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-12-28

/ 80, mother" cried Molly. rushing
/ into the house Saturday afternoon.
The bishops going 10 be at Emma's
Church tomorrow morning! Please,
may / go down there with herr
Now, to Molly there was but one
bishop. The bishop who was the one
she considered her own particular
bishop, the one who had baptized her
and her mother before her and who
sometimes came to dinner at their
home when he was IN town. OF course
Molly never failed to be present when
the bishop preached at her church.
and how could she stay away now
when he was to"be so near. only
few blocks away
Mollys mother did not believe In
visiting around on Sundays as some
people do. she thought her own pas
tor had a right TO expect to see her
and the family in their pew every
week However she knew how deep
~ her little daughter loved the bish-
OPP, and so for once broke her rule
and agreed that Molly might go with
Emma the next day
Early on Sunday morning n very
happy little girl jumped out Of bed
and ran to the window TO study the
sky. Bright sunshlnei Goodyi Mol
ly took her morning dip In the bath
III D. NRElpNl I4E4 IdtI tEBNEl8llN NGII,
dressed herself very carefully. and af-
ter laying her white dress ard hair
ribbons with her new red ovat and
felt hat on the couch, she slipped on
her wrapper and skipped down stairs
to breakfast
Alast There In tho dining room
was papa alone. AS he kissed the lit
tie girl good morning, he said: Mama
has one of her bad headaches this
morning and is not able to get up.
Can you help with the children, Mol
ly? BE quiet as you can, won't you?"
Molly's face fell Her FIRST thought
was for herself and her great disap-
pointment Quickly, however, she re-
membered poor mama up stairs SUIT
fering, and in an instant she answered
briefly; "All right, papa, IN go and
dress the children"
what dear little mother you
are, Molly" said her father as he gave
her a second kiss
Upstairs flew the little girl First
she went to her own bedroom, where I
she knelt down and ed God to help
her be good and unselhsh; then to the /
nursery where Bob and Billy and ba- |
by Sue were awake and just begin |
ming noisy rolnp In a little while !
she had the children dressed and down /
stairs. and after breakfast they all /
went out on the sunny porch where
book of Bible stories kept the little |
foIks- quiet
just as the family was finishing
their monday meal, who should open
the diningroom door but mama, MY
head is so much better" she said "af-
ter he long quiet morning nap / had
! thought ] would come down and
nave a cup Of tea with you"
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-12-28
When Santa Claus Was Little


Haven't YOU always thought OF
Santa Claus AS being. in his first years.
a chubby. roly-poly, Tel-checced
youurster2 That is the way I've al
ways pictured him. But do YOU
know. We were both entirely mistaken
You look little doubtful, and !
can understand that, but let RE tell
YOU the true story, as ! heard IL from
Mr., North Wind.
The way ] happened to hear the
story was this:
was walking, one day in late De-
ccmher, along stretch Of country
road. on my way to Greenwood Farm
TO buy ducks I had two miles to go,
SO, to amuse myself, fell 10 making
a few tardv plans for Christmas.
After ! had arranged just what &C.
give Betty and her brothers and sig
tiers. and Barbara and her brothers
and sisters. l thought next Of CeCily.
I am especially fond Of CeCiiy. and SO
wanted to think very hard about her
r.ft. In order to do this 1 sat down
for few mintes on an old tree
stump beside the road
Pretty soon 1 heard a chickadee
whigtied, and he answered | whtstled
again; but this time he was suspicious,
and made no reply The third time,
however, ne mao tlab@ up MS NINA
to be friendly Between the chickadee
and thoughts of Cecilys present
might have been late indeed at Green
wood Farm, had not some one luckily
brought me to my feet
I had just exclaimed aloud II
know what I'll do! IN paint her
picture Of Santa Claus as a little boy,
round red cheeks, laughing face
"He wasn't a bit like that" came a
clear piercing voice. At the same
moment an icy blast made me spring
from the stump, and step briskly for
ward on my way.
1t was Mr.. North Wind who had
spoken. and he now kept me COM
pany. as he continued: Tn glad I
have O. chance to put somebody right
on that point. No, you may believe
me or not, but Santa Claus. up to
seven years old, was a very different
child from your idea Of him Pale
peevfsh"-
WHAT" l cried.
Pale, peevish, shrilled Mr. North
Wind in my startled ear, by no
means a favorite'
you amaze me" said !; but when
he was seven %
Il will tell you all about IT," said
Mr.. North Wind. santa Claus was
an only child, and his mother was
forever afraid Of his catching cold. SO
she kept him indoors q great deal"
Enough TO ruin any childs dis
postticnl" cried /. Indignantly, for
vou may be sure | was going To stand
Nv Santa Claus through thick a.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-12-28
Little Girl and The
Christmas Toys

It WINS early Christmas morning The
Brown Flannel Monkey stuck his head
out OF the top Of Littie-Glrl's stocking
and made faces at the toys heaped
on the hearth ruHg quick" he
cried. before she wakes up. Which
Of as VIII IAttle-Giri like hest?"
Instantly the Toys began 10 talk all
nj once. and to show OFF their accom-
piishments. A top started spinning.
woody lamb cried "taa- an ~ Two
gayly dressed dolls sprang from their
boxes. and e. music-box began lively
tune. The confusion was put an end
70 by loud humping noise. and out
from dark corner walked "a tan. thin
stranger, so big and black that he
frightened some Of the llttle toys al
most IN 10 fits
Friends he said Il am Mr.. I'm
hrella. AS ] am only a Useful Pres
snt. II Is not likely Little-HrI win
care for me Therefore let me be
Judge among you. Nop'--~each IN turn.
Miss Plnk-si .Dollte. you begin"
The Pink SiIF DOH tossed her curly
head and courtesied grandly 10 the
Toys. 'JAttle-Giri must love me best"
she declared. because l am so beau
slfuI'"
mot necessarily" sharp voice
broke in. Beauty for dolls Is out
Of style nowadays. She'll choose me
hrst. for I'm a Natural Don"
mo, she'll like me: for m not
lilly doll, but furry Bearl'
mo, me; FOR can say Baa~aal"
ME. for / am Jumping Jack. and
( can make her taught"
ME for ! am Il Brown Flannel
Monkey, AMI can scare her
In spite OF all Mr. Umbrellas efforts
20 keep orde~ the noise and arguing
was as ba i 9s ever again. but in the
midst Of IL all the clock struck six In
stantly every sound was hushed, every
toy stood stft and still in its place on
The nursery rug. In her crib in the
corner Li'tlc-Cirl began to stir. and 10
stretce- SIZE ga up, rubbed her
Meepy c"es md stared harc at the
toys Then she sprang out of bed,
trotted nr"r II 1er prestI Is. and
picked out-~-what do you suppose?
Not the larh or even tho Brown
Flannel Monkey no. she stopped and
drew from, he5 hiding place behind a
picture bc IL. Jer'fna Ann, the old
rag doll wi'h g new head Tucking
her lovingy lnder ne arm, l. ttle-Giri
stretched out her other hand for Mr.
rmbret.a. S'e opened him spread
him carefully over her lad and
Js8ljnas. and then trotted off to wake
Mother ard say a merry Christmas"
Gertrude Kneyels. in the Church
xaaD.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-12-28


ssss- ae--e Nancy Hasn't thtS
sa zr1arr4ec 1,s-s~ rae vary shortest II
sessyrs So @s th&. Z; = the shortest ]
1sk@4 srot~ EHrw@. We have moved.
n 5es~# ss-ees ard their three chill
sg-e- So coming FRIDAY I VIII be
~, gAt ~ see them. We have been
s4xs.A-lr Sy-as raj weather for necrm
sser EAvsE't we> Just think! rot
u E-scw TITS winter, hut there may he
aze yes. We GET here on Saturday
ard TT Sunday Doris and Louise
Thomas. EuhA Brunette and Kath-
feen 0akes Game. certainly was sur
prised to see them. bat awfully glad,
too. I've been real busy since we
moved hope yo~u VIII have a nice
Christmas 7 know ! WILL unless
something quite unusual happens
I'm a Tomboy Aunt a%ncv. and
I'm the baby Most Of the old peo-
pie call me Little Buck." for papa.
His name Isn't "Bnck." really but il
is william Byrd, and he has bean
called Buck all his life Wish
ing you happy Christmas. I am,
Your niece.
RUTH FAR FR
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-12-28
re K@ 81! " J1X ~! CK &c M

Nieces Ncphews-Aunt Old
a
OF all things
n OF
heart 90 a
open fires kno a
g.
AsNy S.
Thv r hope
an Of a
q < 1
had q
90
q
Thursday. January thoai fail
AUNT NANCY.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-12-28
ANGELA PHIPPIEa,
Tnann. Va. Dec. u. 1919


Dear Aunt Nancy really ought
to have written before, but ] just
haven't had time. WE moved not long
ago. ! am the same girl that used to
live at Hickory / don't know whether
T have ever told you I was n minister $
daughter or not, but ! am. We were
MT Princess Anne four years and we
have moved here since the conference
/ have mot Lucille Marston and go to
the same school she goes to- and
IKE her very well l expect TO have
a Christmas tree Christmas. and then
| will write and tell YOU what Santa
brings me will, also tell little
about my trip in the summer. | went
10 see a lady friend who raised me-
and had n very nice time. Please send
me another badge. my brother broke
mine Now / will have to close, Please
excuse my writing, l viii try and do
better next Tina,
Your loving niece,
LOIS CAMPBELL
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-12-28
Trenholm. Va

My Dear Aunt Nancy,--~My paper
has given out. so Will write Just a
few lines. Well. Christmas Is almost
here. and / hope Santa will come TO
see you, Aunt Nancy and all my
cousins, too, and bring You an
abundance OF good things / have got
ten some nice Christmas presents, and
they are real pretty, too. I am going
to write 10 Santa In a few days Wish
Ing Aunt Nancy and all my cousins
"a merry Christmas.
From your little niece.
ZEIMA PAT4MORE
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-12-28
THE COMING or TrE TOYs

/ want to be there when the toys
come back,
In the old-time home they knew;
Before the tin engine had lost It's
track
And the little white doll turned
blue
want to be there when they hunt
them up. =
And dust OFF the trumpet and drum.
/ want to be there in the Christmas
dream,
When ali OF the old toys come.
There will be golden and glittering
things.
All new and polished and bright,
That will CLEAN where the spirit OF
childhood sings
In the glow of the Christmas light:
But only the broken toys will do.
For the childhood fancy. / know,
AS out of the shadows that round
them drew
They came from the long ago.
want to be there when the little red
sled
And the hobbyhorse come along,
And the old wooden skates, and the
books they read
That told OF the Mother Goose song.
1 know vvery child by the wide old
hearth
VIII dance and caper and sing
When down from the dust to the
Christmas mirth
The battered old playthings swing
1 want to be there and see the quaint
smile
On the lips of the boy that knew
The trumpet so changed from the mod.
ern style a
On which in his dreams he blew
And ] want to hear over and over
again
The roll of the phantom drum
When down from their dust to the
hearts OF men
The toys that we played with coma
Baltimore Sun.
There are twenty-seven mission
stations in Central America. There are
nineteen missionary SOcietiex at work
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-12-28

stances tlr think we have been
doing pretty well for some time. All
II Ass / am sure, will do our best
after the holiday season.
Wishing you and all the Y. I. e.
members a very merry Christmas and
"a happy New Year. I am,
Lovingly,
DALLAS DAHL
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-12-28

My first is in snake but not in rake,
my second is in ate and also in bate,
my third is In nail but not in bail,
my fourth Is in tan but not In fan.
my fifth is in and as well as in fan,
my sixth is in cat but not in fat, my
seventh is in LII and also in BILL my
eighth Is in rain and also in cane, my
ninth is In blue as we'll as In glue,
my tenth Is in snail but not in rail- my
whole is ONE that I hope will visit
us all.
ZELMA PALMORE.