davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-23

" Y of the stairs that led to the
~ street and rested his chin in
the palm of his hand. Some of the fel.
lows came along and hullooed to him,
but Teddy didn't answer. He didn't
want to play with the fellows just
now, for he was battling with great
sorrow.
Tom had said it, so it must be true,
for Tom was eight years old and didn't
have to go to bed until o'clock. Ted.
dy's hour for retiring was half past
7, and he realized that the extra half
hour made man Of the world cut of
Tom, while it left the unfortunate Ted.
dy still baby.
Tom had stuck his hands into his
pockets-Tom's trousers were lovely
and rough, just like his father's-and
had staggered around telling all the
fellows that there wasn't any Santa
Claus! When questioned further, he
had said that there used to be, but
that this year there wasn't going to be,
and there never would be again.
No Santa Claus! If Teddy hadn't
been six years old, he might have
cried, but Of course one as old as be
never cried.
Teddy wondered if he'd better tell
his mother. He decided he wouldn't.
Why should his mother, whom he
loved so dearly, be made to suffer any
longer than was necessary?
1t was hard, though, during the next
two weeks, which seemed like years,
not to tell, and when Christmas eve
came and his mother gayly brought
ont his biggest pair of stockings and
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-23

"Child, I'm a stranger here and I'm
ever so lonely. Everybody else has q
welcoming home tonight-has some.
one to whom he can give presents and
know that they'll be appreciated. It's
Christmas eve and l too want to for
get myself for while and play Santa
Claus for somebody"
IF l really thought y meant all
that" muttered the waif skeptically,
I'D say, why not practice some O
y'r good intentions on me. Lordy
knows, I need EN-"
The dictator's face became radiant
He laughed whole-heartedly as he had
not done before in years and took one
Of the wee girls half-frozen hands
hands kindly within his big gloved
one.
1T shall all be just as you say" he
cried, much to her establishment
Come along with me now-tirst some.
where to get you a warm coat and
hood and some furry mittens. Then
we'll go to a fine restaurant. And
after you've eaten every bit you can
hold, we'll go see the toys and you
can pick out your own present"
''Y'r not kiddin' me, mister?"
"On my honor, no.
'Then, if it's all the same to you
let's hit the toy departments first
I've had M eye on big yellow-headed
doll real hair it is, too!-there in the
Emporium f'r six months"
we'll do just as you say, kiddie
but on one condition"
Whats that, mister?'
you must tell me that you don't
believe all the things you said about
General Fernandez of Mexico
.'I'll call him Santa Claus If that'll
suit v any better, mister"
Under present circumstances that
name strikes me as quite appropriate
for him, murmured the dictator. But
come on now. It's going to be Z
really merry Christmas after all :
~
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-23


Don't be scared, ma'am." spoke
the Westerner. "You see, I've just
been up to the Moodys Of
yours, l believe-acting Santa Claus.
Knew that you had little one here,
saw the tree and thought maybe
could make her happier by going
through my act"
"Oh, would you?" cried the lady in
quick delight. Indeed, it would cap
the climax of all her Christmas eve
joys"
''Smuggle me into the room with
the Christmas tree" suggested the
Westerner buoyantly. "1'll do the.
rest"
It was passing strange, but, conduct
ed into the apartment and half hid
ing behind a screen, the Westerner
studied the walls of the room circum-
specify, just as he had done at the
Moody mansion. A great glow spread
over his face as he noticed a portrait
over the piano, in the special place Of
honor. It was wreathed with holly
and evergreen.
''No, not forgotten; that's certain"
he uttered in an intense tone. Il
guess I've landed in q real home spot."
The little one of the household
came in, leading the children Of some
poor neighbors. They screamed and
then futtered with delight as Sanity
came into view. Then their eyes.
danced as his jolly manner restored
confidence. He handed out the pres
ents from the tree. The air quivered
with the joyful shouts Of the happy.
little ones.
For Uncle Reuben" he read the
card pinned onto an old worn wooden
stocking. Where's he? Come on.
Uncle Reuben!" he shouted into
space, and his tone was a sob.
"Oh. he isn't here" prattled little,
Esther, stepping forward. He hasn't
been for two Christmases. That's.
him." and she pointed to the holly
wreathed portrait. He'll come back
some time, though. Mamma says so,
don't you, mamma? And every Christ
mas / put q nice card in his old
80 5sEE 81 t. q
stocking, and then save them all up,
| to give to him when he comes back.
A choking sound came from the
throat of the Westerner. He turned
aside and reached under his robe. It
was to unclasp a great belt buckle, q
belt bullying with gold.
'Your Christmas gift, Mary" he
cried to the mother of little Esther.
"Only trifle out Of a whole mine
it's full OF. the stun, and he threw
It, into her lap.
Then off went costume and cap.
Don't you know me, Nary"
Uncle Reuben!" she gasped.
"Uncle Reuben and Santa Claus,
both in one!" shouted the Westerner
hilariously. Little Esthercome!"
And Esther bounded into his arms
in wild transport of recognition and
delight s
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-23

to be opened tomorrow"
"Oh, of course that" smiled the
servant, taking the box. Il will place
it with the other gifts. All, Mr.. Mer.
wyn,' and the servant stepped aside
to admit him.
For Miss Worthington,' said Mer-
wynn, handing his gift to the other.
His gift was picture he had painted,
and with it was letter.
Slowly Merwyn descended the steps.
He paused for few moments on the
pavement to take a last look at the
home that held so much for him. A
sinking figure approached him from
the shadows.
Mister" he stammered, I'm poor
and need the gold coin man gave
me for delivering box to that house
tonight, but"
"Ah, I remember" observed Mer.
wyn, recalling man and circumstance.
"A gold coin is so rare for a trifiing
service" resumed the other, that ]
was suspicious. Then again I didn't
like the face of the man who gave 1t
to me; 1 followed him. He met some
others like himself. heard him laugh
over an explosion about midnight
Great heavens!" calculated Mer
wyn. comprehending, and was up the
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-23

lost doors and windows and was bleak
and cheerless indeed. A rickety
stairs, however, led to a room in one
corner of the loft. It was cozy and
warm and at one time had been har~
ness room. Here Bill had "camped."
He had fished out an old oil stove, a
cot, table and chair from the town
dumping heap.
A particular housewife had present
ed him with roasted chicken because
one side was slightly charred. On the
rude table beside it were half a dozen
homemade doughnuts and a real
mince pie.
Bill took a last look at the goodly
array of comfort then went out to seek
a branch of arbor vitae which would
serve as Christmas tree.
AS he neared the barn on his return
he came to a speedy halt.
A light glowed over at one corner of
the place. It proceeded from lantern
set in the feed box of a Manager In
the manager itself across the stale hay
it contained a blanket was spread,
and, swathed in coverings upon this,
as revealed by the lantern rays, lay a
little sleeping babe.
Near by serious-faced man was
shaking the snow from his shoulders.
Beside him, seated on an old suitcase,
was a comely but care-worn woman.
The man began to speak. Bill, agape,
drew into the shadow and listened. It
was to hear enough to learn that bad
luck was driving these homeless ones
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-23

hung them up at the end of the man,
tel he could hardly keep back the
tears. How disappointed he and his
mother would be when they got up in
the morning and found the stockings
empty! She leaned over ard kissed
him tenderly. Are you tired. dear?"
she asked. "You don't seem as happy
as usual"
Teddy assured her, as we'll as he
was able for the lump in his throat,
that he was perfectly we'll. His moth.
er, like the wise one that she was,
didn't press the question. She merely
drew up her low rocking chair and sat
beside the bed until she thought Ted.
dy was asleep and then she crept
quietly down stairs.
Teddy lay for long time after she
went. watching the freight flicker on
the walls. He couldn't go to sleep and
besides what was the use, when there
wasn't anything to wake up for? A
good many tears rolled out Of the cor
ners of his eyes, but he didn't care
now.
He must have lain there for about
four Or ten hours, he thought, and had
just Shut his eyes to rest them from
the light, when he heard sound, a
very little bit of a sound. He sat up
quickly in bed and listened eagerly,
because it sounded, it really did sound,
as If it might be sleighbells. In min
ute, he didn't know just how, he was
leaning out of the window.
He didn't feel as If he had walked
there at all, but more as if he had just
skinned along without any effort on
his part, as If he had been some sort
of delightful fish bird. He leaned away
out of the window, not feeling bit
afraid of falling, and looked down up
Oh the street.
Yes, down there on the street, al
plain as day, he could see the reindeer
shaking their long horns and prancine
until the bells that seemed almost to
cover them filled the air with their
musical jingle. And then there was a
CLEAN of red. Somebody was climbing
! into the sleigh! There was the echo
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-23
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Under the Mistletoe
BIZ N. P. Heatherington


k<.e<.e<sssee<,e<3.x<se<.. <,k<t,sk<,
Copyright by Western Newspaper Union.)
It was an ideal Yuletide. The sweet
notes of church chimes throbbing out
melodiously, Peace on earth, good
will to men," announced it.; laughter,
smiles, gay greetings among the
street crowds emphasized it. Two
men going tn the same direction,
strangers one to the other, yet oddly
mutually involved in fateful circum.
stance of the hour, unconsciously
lessened their gait to catch the final
notes from the distant belfry.
He in advance, swarthy, evil-eyed,
bearing a neatly covered box under
his arm, uttered an ugly, sinister
chuckle.
Before that hour strikes again
this!" he Missed malevolently rather
than uttered, and he tapped the box
and strobe on, grim with some pro-
found purpose,
The man ten PAGES behind him,
young, handsome, neat, but none too
fashionably clad, carried thin, square
package suggesting a canvas, for his
was an artists face, and he was an
artist-Chase Merwyn.
Had he spoken his hearts thought
he would have whispered softly:
Before this hour strikes again
shall have said good-by to all I love. =
He of the sinister semblance strobe
on and turned into fashionable resi-
dence thoroughfare. Unconsciously
like shadow, the other kept almost
even pace with him. Under an arc
lamp Chase Merwyn paused to look
over the package he carried. His OBJ
jective point was mansion, daz
cling place of light and luxury, and
before it the sinister-looking man had
halted poorly-dressed fellow strug
Cling along without an overcoat. and
blue and pinched with the cold.
The twain were conversing and the
man with the box handed it to the
other, pointed to the doorway of the
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-23
Ualph'n Uunhrratntt
BY HAZEL OSWALD

@es1sa= <0S~@
8NNlg T WAS Christmas eve. and
FB Caleb Churton, the money
g lender, sat in his great din
ing room, surrounded by all that
makes for luxurious living.
$50 Jack preferred his artists work
to this" he unused, chuckling con-
,temptuously while he half spoke the
words.
Ten years before, his elder brother
had told their father chat he was not
cut out for a Shylock, that he pre-
ferred to get living by pleasanter
means than his fellow beings flesh
and blood, and had gone out into the
world cursed by the father and
laughed at by his brother.
1t was three years later-and IL
, months after he had announced his
marriage to fellow artists daughter
that old Churton died, leaving all
the business to Caleb, and not men
3tioning Jack Churton by so much as
b single word in his will.
To do him justice, Caleb had re-
belled against this as much as he
could, but he had found out that his
brother was able to keep his head
above water, and, after offering him
q share to be Indignantly re.
fused-Ca1eb applied himself to the
task of doubling his fathers wealth.
All these things went through his
brain as he sat by his fire. OF sud.
den thought struck him.
II will go and parade my wealth
before them-will make the wife bit
terly envious and Jack sorry that he
ever refused mel"
With this amiable intention he rose
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-23
H+,e+,e +..set
One Christmas Eve
BIZ Harru T. Barker

X<tk<te<te<s&<1ef<$y,ek <<se<sef<<ssee<<3e<se<tkx
copyright by Western Newspaper Union.)
He was grinning like schoolboy
at the gyrations of mechanical
clown. His bluff hearty laugh seemed
to come straight from his heart. His
long white whiskers, bearskin coat,
merry eyes and full-round figure
suggested the veritable Kris Kringle
to T.
Men, women and children were all
smiles as they looked him over, but
too polite to linger and embarrass
him. The proprietor Of the store, OBJ
serving the slight halt in the passing
procession, beckoned to the stranger.
my friend" he spoke rapidly,
could l have word with you?"
"A dozen, If it suits you" respond
ed the other heartily, and followed his
interviewer inside the store.
Its Just this" explained the store
man: we've got Santa Claus-see
him yonder. in that booth, shaking
hands with the children?"
II see him." nodded the Westerner.
HE is on till midnight and / can't
spare him. A family here-the Moodys
best people in town-want me to
send them up a Sanity. You're just
made for it. Come-ten dollars cash
and it won't take you an hour. Ill
furnish the robe and cap"
The Westerner smiled queerly. III
tako tha ioh he reDlied
Directed by a lad from the store,
he was piloted to the Moody mcnsion,
admitted and shown into room on
the main parlor, where a Christmas
tree stood, loaded and ablaze.
All around it the hired Sanity gazed
keenly, almost eagerly. He appeared
to be scanning the various framed por-
traits on the wall and seemed disap-
pointed, as if in that inspection he
missed something he had expected to
find.
A servant came and helped him on
with his costume, directing him in
what he should do when the children
entered the. festal room. An admir-
able Sanity he made. He went through
his part in a merry heartsome way,
then quietly slipped out through
the side door and proceeded down the
street. He seemed to have been over
the ground before, for he reached his
destination by pursuing lanes and by
ways where he would not be observed
in the costume he still retained.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-23
~ ~ ~ " %,k$.e<>k<
Santa From the South
Blu DeLusle Ferree Cass


While the newspapers throughout
the United States were busily an
nouncing the warlike operations OF
Gen. Sancho Fernandez here, there
and elsewhere that December, it was
a fact that the revolutionary dictator
of Mexico was really in Washington,
D. c., where he had been peremptor.
lily summoned by the president.
His conference at the capitol was
short and very much to the point. 1t
was pointed out with painful decisive
ness to the Senior General Fernandez
that hereinafter he would have to
make his ragged army respect the
rights of U. s. A.
The pill that General Fernandez was
thus made to swallow was not sugar
coated, but it unquestionably did him
good. He went down the White House
steps that day before Christmas a
sadder and a wiser man. However
the dictator of Mexico was a philoso-
pher.
General Fernandez muffled his face
deep in the soft warmth of his fur
collared greatcoat, and started of
down the avenue.
BY and by he came to the business
district where throngs Of last-minute
shoppers were busting about. Snow
had begun to fall heavily-great f1eecy
flakes that filled the whole air and.
supplementing the gay holiday decora-
lions and shouts of street hawkers.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-23

from their former
home, penniless,
on foot, to the ia
ther of the wife,
ten miles further
on. The storm had
driven them to
temporary shelter.
The h u s b a n d
and father had
t a k e n a W e ! l.
thumbed volume
from his nOcket.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-23

steps in a fash.
Quick! Quick
open!" he cried to
the servant, just
setting the chain
on the inside.
1.-THE m u 81 c
room!" uttered
Merwyn excitedly
and hurried thith-
er, turned on the
light switch and
made a dash for
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-23

dants. Quietly and
enjoyably he had
laid his plans.
These were now
perfected. A week
ack Bill b a d
gone to house
keeping" He had
discovered an old
abandoned barn
just beyond the
town limits. The
lower mart had
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-23

It was in the
snow-drifted gar
den of q neat but
humble little cot
tage that he final
ly halted.
I'LL do it, he
spoke to himself,
If / can work it.
Maybe I'm not
forgotten here!"
He knocked on
the door and a
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-23

m a n S ION a n d
passed on. His
Aessenger pro-
ceeded up tn g
steps, which Mer-
wyn mounted also.
It was in time to
s e 9 a servant
open the door and
to hear the other
say:
"A present for
Mr.. WOrthington;
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-23

gave the scene an
air of fairylike
unreality.
The jolly, free.
handed Christmas
spirit was con.
tagious, but it
made him feel
very lonely. He
wanted a com.
r a d e. someone,
anyone, in all this
big. huSV city,
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-23

sell, little girl!
"Twenty-One."
"I'll take them
all. Here's a
quarter. You can
keep the change
"Whadda y do
in this FTP
still suspicious.
The great Gen.
eral Fernandez
smiled at the wait
sadly. indulgently.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-23
plRntu nf Hrnnf
BY O. F. WOODRUFF

Z EDDY sat upon the top step
Y Of the stairs that led to the
c&roof opI rocfod hic ChiY, in
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-23

When Churton's man came back. he
was told that the master would Io1
be home for some days.
The Daytona daily news. [volume] (Daytona, Fla.) 1903-1926, 1915-02-26
.DAuBERT IN SHOOTING
CONTEST AT READING
BY JAKE DAUBERT.

I've often read about ball players
wishing they could play continuous
baseball, and I've heard of a few that
do play all winter long and then
play the regular season in the sum
mer, and perhaps they like it, but not
for mine I'm always glad when the
baseball seasons opens, but I'm just
as glad when it closes. For when the
curtain goes down on the last act I'm
off with my bat bag in one hand and
my gun case in the other. | put the
bat bag away in the trunk and clean
the gun, and it doesn't take me many
hours to book passage for a nice quite
place where can hunt, and hunt 10
my hearts content.
If thought that | couldn't get out
in the fall and winter and put the old
gun to my shoulder and bang away
at something | don't believe I'd be
able to play good game of ball dur
ing the summer That's a fact |
SiiHDlS IONt lIt Olu ppoIt VI iI'h''hN'
and | find that the way with a great
many of my friends who are ball
players. Take this fall for instance.
Just as soon as the game season
opened | was Jonny-on-the-spot and
| stuck to it until just few weeks
ago. Now | take up my other favor
ite winter sport, which is trap shoot
ins.
you know there is lot in common
between shooting and playing base
ball You have to have keen eye in
both sports, and think the one helps
/ in the other And of all branches of
shooting, trap shooting is the one
that requires the most expert use of
ones eyes, though steady nerves
count just as much. A week ago |
entered a tournament at Irwin, Pa,
against a field of Twenty-Five expert
shooters. At first | thought | would
be lucky if got in the money at all.
The shooters were all cracks and to
me, who makes trap shooting but a
The Daytona daily news. [volume] (Daytona, Fla.) 1903-1926, 1915-02-26

ent For, you know, had it all plan
ned out then what | would do when I
got in fast company.
was born in Shamokin, Pa,
April II, 1885, and from the time
was big enough to throw or catch
a baseball ! had it in mind to be a
professional player. After | got my
first start with the Kane club ! felt
as il | would make good and, sure
enough, the following year | went to
Marion, Ohio; then to Memphis, and
from there to Toledo. That was
when | thought / had begun climb
ing, but my joy didn't last long, for
Toledo sent me back to Memphis
and | just quit fiat for three weeks
and went home. | was going to go
into business in Il small way and
would have quit baseball altogether,
but for the fact that the man ! was
going to buy out backed down at the
last moment and | finally went to
Memphis. Then, of course, as most
fans know, was bought by Cleve-
land and from there | came to
The Daytona daily news. [volume] (Daytona, Fla.) 1903-1926, 1915-02-26

recreation, it looked as If was in for
a good drubbing. But | surprised my
self by having my shooting eye with
me, just as ball player sometimes
surprises himself in the spring by
having his batting all tuned up and
able to pick out the best from the as
sortment Of any pitcher. ] won first
money in the shoot and am so salts
fed with the result, that I am going
to take a chance tomorrow at the big
shoot in Reading, Pa. If the old eye
The Daytona daily news. [volume] (Daytona, Fla.) 1903-1926, 1915-02-26

and the nerves are there like they
we're week ago, 7 ought to con first
money again.
"Of course | can look back on the
days when | didn't do much shooting
in the winter and very little hunting.
Mainly because | didn't have the
time. That was when ! was breaking
into the game. You know have only
been playing ball, professionally since
1906. That was the year | broke out
with the Kane, Pa, club of the Inter
state league. I'll never forget how |
went into that game hoping that ]
would make good so that some day /
would get into the major leagues and
be able to do just what | am at pres
The Daytona daily news. [volume] (Daytona, Fla.) 1903-1926, 1915-02-26

Brooklyn, and ! am mighty glad I
did come to Brooklyn.
I've been pretty fortunate since I
joined the Brooklyn club. I've been
awarded an automobile, which l use
so much that I'm afraid / will have
to go out and win another before
this one wears out. live in
Llewellyn, Pa, most of the time dur
ing the winter, but I'm glad to call
Brooklyn my home. There you have
the story of what | do in the winter
time and the story of my life, such
as it is.
fRead the new ad-top half of page
eleven-big bargain-in Allandale.