davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1915-12-23
Once Upon a Cine.

My little child comes TO my knee
And. tugging, pleads that he may ciim
Into my lap to hear me tell
The Christmas tale beloved SO we'll
A tale my mother told me.
Beginning "once upon time"
It is a tale OF skies that rang
With angel rhapsodies sublime;
OF that great host serene and white.
The shepherds saw one wintry night
And Of the glorious stars that sang
An anthem once upon time.
This story Of the hallowed years
Tells OF the sacrifice sublime
OF one who prayed alone and wept
While his wearied followers slept
And how his blood and Mary's tears
Commlngled, once upon time.
And now my darling at my side
And echoes of the distant chime
Bring that sweet story back to me.
OF Bethlehem and Calvary,
And Of the gentle Christ who died
For sinners once upon a time.
The mighty deeds that men have told
In ponderous tones Of fluent rime
Like misty shadows fade away.
But this sweet story bides for aye
And, like the stars that sang OF old.
We sing Of "Once upon time"
Eugene Field.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1915-12-23
Che Gift Month.

December-the gift month! "Give; IT.
is like God" says an old proverb.
Christmas is a happy time because
then the best feelings of the heart are
elected and allowed full play. What
would otherwise be smothered down as
suggestive of sentimentality, as un-
seemly, as indicative of too dear
dream, may venture forth in the good
congeniality of the Christmas season
and, quickly attaining unto beautiful
gift-fulness, blossom out In good will,
gIadness, Christ-Iike kindness. bless
ing and blessed.
1t is well that there should be such
a season. We are all kinder than we
seem. Life as it comes to us with its
imperative pressure Of duty demands,
its brain racking cares for the immedl-
ate future, it's pitiful misunderstand-
ings leading unto arrangements, cold
ness, forgetfulness-life, even as 1t is
and ever must be unto us mortals, Gre
ates, as it were, an icy film over what
Is the kindliest and best in all our
hearts.
Then comes the Christmas season,
with its memories Of other years, Of
better, happier hours, and the hand OF
a little child brushes away that ice
fiIm, and there rise up silently Into
our busy day those gentler, kindlier
feelings which, though dormant were
not dead.
At home we are loved best; there, too
we love best In the genial Christian
home, as in no other place on earth
there are full meaning, full apprecia-
tion,. full enjoyment Of the God given
eift, Christmas.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1915-12-23
Santa cIaue Up to Date. Old fashioned Christmas.

Every year am tempted to come out
on housetop and tell the young and
self raising generation the truth about
Santa Claus.
/ believe 1t only right that the chill
dren should know Santa Claus no lon
ger goes about in a dinky little sleigh,
delivering toys down the chimneys. He
simply couldn't do it If he tried. That
kind Of thing was all right when bis
business was small and he was young
err than he is now. In those days he
made the toys himself-glued even the
little tails of the little toy sheep In
place, stuck the little eyes on the tops
of their little heads, painted the little
bodies as different from the real thing
as he could and do 1t quick, and then,
hitchlng up his six relndeers. delivered
the whole batch before sunrise Christ
mas morning. 1t is different now.
Santa Claus Is old, and all he does ID
to live on the profits Of the business.
The business now is run under the
name Of 8. Claus & Co., and the firm
has many workers-clerks, drivers and
the rest. Some Of the employees Of
this big frm have grown 30 careless
that they miss little boys and girls who
live In ont of the way places. Old
Santa Claus never did such a thing in
bis life.
II any Of our young people are over
locked this year they must not blame
Santa Claus He is just as jolly and
good as ever. They'll have to blame it
on the new driver that looks after their
section OF the earth.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1915-12-23
Wby Santa. Llvse.

Was there ever wider or more low
ing conspiracy than that which keeps
the venerable figure of Santa Claus
from slipping away, with all the other
old time myths. into the forsaken won
derIand OF the past? or all the per
sonages whose marvellous doings once
filled the minds OF men he alone sur
wives.
He has outlived all the great gods,
and all the impressive and poetic
conceptions which once fitted between
heaven and earth-these have gone,
but Santa Claus remains by virtue OF
a common understanding that child
hood shall not be despoiled Of one OF
its most cherished beliefs, either by
the mythologist, with his sun myth
theory, or the scientist, with his heart
less diatribe against superstition.
There is a good deal more to be said
on this subject II this were the place
to say it. Even superstition has Its
uses and sometimes its sound heart OF
truth. He who does not see In the
legend Of Santa Claus beautiful faith
on one side and the naive embodiment
of a divine fact on the other is not at
to have a place at the Christmas
board. For him there should be mel
ther carol nor holly nor mistletoe.
They only shall keep the feast to
whom all these things are but the out
ward and visible signs Of an inward
and spiritual grace.-Hamilton Wright
Mabie. Z
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1915-12-23

The backlogs flame has died away;
The embers into ashes drift.
Outside the SHOWS are eddylng, gray,
And piling fast In many rift.
White robed Is now the cedar tree
Where once the catbird nightly sang,
And from the caves by two and three
The icicles like arrows hang
The shadows on the somber wall
Fit, cross and dance amid the gloom,
And streaks Of ghostly color fall
In changing hues about the room.
The spiders in the corners dim
Within their webs the closer cling,
And from the mantel's oaken rim
A pair of children's stockings swing.
DER field and forest, lane and road
Fast and still faster swirl the SHOWS.
And in the barn loft snugly slowed
drowsy rooster wakes and crows.
The clock strikes twelve, and midnight
wanes.
While winter skies stretch cold and
drsar.
Frost flowers blossom on the panes.
The SHOWS float by and disappear.
And then across the rooftree swells,
Borne by the winds that fall and rise,
A sound Of many hurrying bells.
A sound that Gibbs and peals and dies.
And next adown the chimney creeps
The chiIdren's saint in all the lands.
And, true to all the trysts he keeps.
White bearded on the hearthstone stands.
Ernest McGaffey In Ladies' Home Com
nanion
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1915-12-23
The Christmas Tree.

The Christmas tree ls rooted deep in love;
It's verdant branches tower far above;
Its fruit are emblems of fairer cline;
Its odors whisper of happier time.
IT'S planted in all lands to spread and
grow,
And faith and hope among its treasures
glow,
Till the green life tree In our midst shall
stand
And earth once more becomes an Eden
land.
From ''christmas Chimes"
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1915-12-23
n.o,..n,,ns Like Toys Too.

1t is really the grown folks who have
a downright good time at the toyshop.
They usually spend long time exam
lining everything before they settle on
Just what they want to buy for Christ
mas. Then If it is a mechanical toy
they insist that 1t shall be wound up
and put through its PAGES. If 1t is a
piaytking composed Of lot Of small
items each piece must be looked over
and put In its place.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1915-12-23
4NOt Until Next Christmas"

1t was said the other day by an old
southerner in Washington that no
home loving virginian ever would move
until after the next Christmas. The
next Christmas comes and goes, but
there is still another to come, and the
moving is put Off and, happily, will be
put OF until holiday spirit has gone
from the south, a spirit that will 60
when the south goes.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1915-12-23
A chriatmas Secret.

Christmas is time Of secrets,
So I'll whisper one to you;
Grandpa says that all who try II
Find that every word is true:
would you have a happy day2
Give some happiness away"
Grandpa says this little secret
Should be carried through the year
And II all would try to heed 1t
Earth would soon be full Of cheer.
''Would you have a happy day3
Give some happiness away"
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1915-12-23

The Swedes have a custom at Christ.
mas time Of decorating a pet lamb
with red ribbons and bells. then load
ing It with gifts for the family. The
lamb Is turned loose in the house, and
each person attempts to catch Il and
find his or her gift.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1915-12-23
The suprsms oIft

Fear not, my friend. giving more thar
your due;
Remember the gift presented to you
In the long ago and try TO be true
When Christmas comes.
william LytI&
The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1915-12-31
WHEN SlLAGE IS DANGEROUS
May Not Seem to Injure Some AMI
mails, but II Has Lost Its Food
Value-learn Little Details.

(By PROF. c. H. ECKLES, Dairy De-
partment of University of Mssouri)
Spoiled silage may not seem to in
jure some farm animals, but it is dan
gerous to others, and has lost much
Of its food value for all. The loss
results almost entirely from mold, and
could have been prevented, although
the only thing to do now is to study
what has happened in your silo and
learn how to do better next year.
Unless the silo was sealed or feed
ing was begun Immediately after fill
ing, from six inches to a foot at the
top is sure to be spoiled. 1t should be
put where it cannot be reached by
any farm animals. Lower down, the
presence of spoiled silage always in
dicates the presence of air, as the
molds which give 1t the appearance of
rotten manure could not work with
out air. The lack of sufficient wate-
in filling is the commonest cause of
the presence of air, but sufficient
tramping in an alright structure is
also necessary. Red mold, which
sometimes causes alarm, is no more
dangerous than the less conspicuous
forms which often pass unnoticed.
The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1915-12-31
FLAVOR AND AROMA
I'M MAKING BUTTER
Quality Depends Largely on
Changes Made While Cream
Is in Ripening Process.

BY the ripening of cream is meant
the changes it undergoes from the
time of separation until it is added TO
the churn. Upon these changes de-
ponds very largely the quality OF but
ter as regards texture and flavor. The
temperature at which cream is held
determines the firmness or texture,
while the flavor is dependent upon the
by-products from the bacterial growth.
The purpose of ripening cream is
fundamentally that of giving the but.
ter the desired flavor and aroma, but
in addition it increases the ease and
efficiency of churning. Cream is rip.
ened in one of two ways:
First, it sours or ripens as a result
Of the action Of bacteria which are
normally present in milk or cream;
or,
Second, it ripens as a result of &C.
ton Of certain kinds OF bacteria which
are added in what is termed start.
err"
The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1915-12-31

FEEDING POTATOES TO COWS
Value of Tubers for Milk Production
Depends Upon What other Kinds
of Feeds Are Given.

The value of potatoes for milk pro-
duction depends to considerable eX-
tent upon what kind of feed they are
fed in connection with. With clover
or alfalfa hay, potatoes would have
greater value than if fed with wild or
timothy hay or corn fodder. This is
true because potatoes are rich in
starch, or what is known as carbo-
hydrates in feeding terms, and low in
protein. Glover and alfalfa are rich
in protein, while the other feeds men,
toned are low in protein. Putting two
feeds together that are both low in
protein does not bring as good results
as when they are combined so that the
feed low in protein can be fed with a
feed high in protein. BY combining
potatoes with some feed high in pro-
tein, they could be made to equal
about one-fourth the feed value of
oats (ground) for dairy cows; that is,
pound for pound. Combined with
ordinary farm grown feeds, potatoes
would hardly have this value for milk
production in comparison with ground
oats. According to this estimate, po-
tatoes would be worth only Is cents
bushel or less when oats are worth
32 cents a bushel.
Potatoes have a somewhat higher
value for meat production than for
the production of milk and are more
valuable for pigs or for fattening
cattle than for mich cows. With the
price Of potatoes below rs cents a
bushel it generally pays to feed them
on the farm, especially If there is a
shortage of grain or long distance
to haul to market.
The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1915-12-31
EARLY TRAINING FOR HEIFER
Much Difficulty Experienced on Some
Farms With Young Animals
Kindness Is Favored.

On some farms great difficulty is
experienced in training the young
heifer to be MIXED Often the meth
DDS resorted to are brutal, and the
permanent result is more or less a
failure. The actual training of dairy
heifer should begin long before she
comes in milk. In fact, when she is
little calf is none too soon.
All dairy animals should be taught
to lead, to be groomed and handled
in every way while they are young.
The important thing is to manage
The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1915-12-31

person is apt to expectorate, proved
that the bacilli il such masses on
glass are still alive after 4, but en-
tirely dead in less than 8 hours, and
still alive in the material on wood
and muslin after S, but dead in less
than 16 hours.
The tuberculous material in thin lay
ers on glass, wood, and muslin, kept
in dark room, was proved to con-
tain fully virulent, living tubercle ba-
cilli after 80 days. The contrast is
remarkable, tubercle bacilli of the
same kind Of material, dying in a
smaller number of minutes in the sun
shine than the number of days they
remained alive in a dark room.
AS most varieties of disease germs
are more easily destroyed by germi-
cides than tubercle bacilli, and as tu-
bercle bacilli, in the thin layers in
which they are likely to adhere to
clothing, blankets, rugs, draperies,
furniture, walls, floors, etc., are killed
by the rays of the sun in less than
half an hour, though they remain alive
in dark places a month and longer, it
is reasonable to draw the following
conclusions:
(a) AS general sanitary principle
it is desirable that all dwellings, sta
bles, etc, should be so constructed
that an abundance of sunshine can
reach their interiors.
OBJ AS a general protective meas.
ure against disease germs, it is an
excellent practice to expose uten-
sils for handling milk, and milk cans
after they have been cleaned, to d.
rect sunlight, and to hang or spread
wearing apparel, blankets, bedding,
rugs, horse blankets, etc., periodically
where the sun can shine on all parts
81 them.
The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1915-12-31
Horticultural!
S|6.AW5} " $
BEST COMBINATION ON FARM
Poultry, Fruit and Fees Are Directly
Benefited in Various Ways by
Being Kept Together.

OF the many different lines of agri-
cultural interests, poultry raising, fruit
growing and bee keeping can be COM
bined to the best advantage. Poultry,
fruit and bees are directly benefited
by being kept together. Three essen
tial crops, meat, fruit and honey, can
be grown on the same ground at one
time, each contributing to the success
Of the other in various ways.
Fruit trees afford the shade and
protection necessary for fowls and
bees. They yield food in blossoms,
insects and fallen fruits and in return
arc benefited by losing all that is so
benefciaries of their beauty. Fowls
not on.y decrease the insect pests in
tho orchard, but they deposit rich
nomshment unsurpassed in quality
for soil The majority of farmhouses
and suburban residences have or
nhards or plots of ground that with
very little preparation can be made
into ideal poultry runs. Where begin
ners are planning plot to set out in
fruit, future growth should be consid-
cred, standard apple trees should be
planted 35 or 40 feet apart each way,
as the trees do not get large enough
to bear under ten years, nor attain full
growth under twenty years. Many de-
sirable crops can be secured in the
meantime by setting out two peach
or plum trees or rows of pear and
cherry trees between the apple trees.
This leaves ample room for bush fruit
or berries to be raised and cultivated.
1t is best to put early baby chicks in
the young fresh-planted trees and
bushes to prevent damage to tender
roots from scratching. Baby chicks
thrive best among bushes and vines.
The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1915-12-31
HOW TO PRUNE FRUIT TREES
Trimming During Dormant Seasons
Tends to Wood Production-Sun.
mer Pruning Is Exhaustins.

Heavy top pruning increases the
woody growth Of trees. 1t may invig-
crate weak trees. 1t tends to lessen
fruit production or even check it alto
gether. 1t induces the production of
water sprouts, which are practically
parasites as far as the welfare of the
tree is concerned
Prune weak trees relatively heavier
than strong growing ones. Prune every
year, removing small amounts of wood,
rather than removing the same aggre-
gate at longer intervals. Remove wa
ter sprouts as fast as they appear.
Root pruning lessons wood produc-
tion and is sometimes practical in case
of a tree which refuses to bear fruit.
The scientific principle involved is
that vegetable growth is checked and,
as is the tendency in all growing
things, fruit is produced as a mature
The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1915-12-31
PROPER ATTENTION
TO DAIRY UTENSILS
AL! Pals and Cans Should BE
Heavily Timed and Seams
Covered With Solder.

(By p. BENNETCT. West Virginia Ex-
pertinent StationD
One of the most frequent sources Of
contamination in milk lies III the i'm
proper care of utensils. All milk pals
and cans should be heavily timed and
all seams covered up with solder so
that there are no lodging places for
dirt, or crevices that are hard to clean.
Rusty utensils should never be used
in handling milk, since is is impossi-
BILE to clean them thoroughly. All
dippers, pals, strainers, cans, etc.,
should be rinsed with cold water to
which some washing powder has been
added. In the washing process brush
should be used rather than n cloth,
as the cloth soon absorbs the milk,
and becomes filthy. After washing,
the utensils should be rinsed thorough
ly with steaming hot water. Do not
dry them with cloth; instead, in
cline them on clean shelf over pegs,
so that the water will drain off read
lily. II the utensils are allowed to
drain out of doors the shelf or rack
should be at least four feet from the
ground and in location where they
are not exposed to dust.
The importance Of the sterilizing
process, while well understood by most
people, Is quite frequently overlooked.
While milk vessels may look perfectly
clean after having been mashed, they
may still be contaminated with bac-
terra. These bacteria can be destroyed
only by proper sterilization, such as is
obtained by exposing the vessels to a
boiling temperature for some length
of time. Where only small amount
Of milk is handled steam is very often
not available and in such cases the
simplest method Of sterilizing Is to
place the vessels in boiling water for
five minutes.
Every farmers wife knows the
germicidal effects of sunshine, and
takes advantage Of 1t by placing her
fruit jars where they are exposed to
the sun. The same is true OF milk
vessels, but too often they are placed
in the sun where they are also ex-
posed to dust and flies.
The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1915-12-31
CRATE-FED POULTRY
is MOST DESIRABLE
Fat Is Distributed Throughout
Tissues of Entire Body, Thus
Making Flesh Tender.

Unfattened chickens are hard and
muscular, especially If they have
been permitted to range at will. Pen.
fattened birds-confined in small
quarters and fed heavily on corn
are an Improvement, but their fat is
usually deposited in Jumps in the
abdomen and s., layers on the intes,
tines, where much of it is wasted in
dressing and cooking.
In crate-fed stock the fat is distrib.
uted throughout the tissues of the en-.
tire body, thus making the flesh ten.
der and sweet. This is the secret OF
the high quality produced by this proc
ess.
Anyone can successfully fatten
chickens In this manner il he will pay
attention to details. The work may
be conducted in a small way by the
individual producer or consumer, or
on a large scale by the commercial
fattener No one has monopoly of
the business; there are opportunities
for all.
The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1915-12-31

Sunshine is an amazingly potent
and in the dairy and stables The
practice OF exposing cooking and 9th
er utensils used in connection with
food to direct sunlight makes use of
this fact, although comparatively few
appreciate exactly the work done by
the sun in this regard. Probably only
those who are acquainted with tests
which have actually been made real
ize how quickly sunshine kills disease
germs exposed to it. Hence the fol-
lowing tests may be generally instruc-
tive and interesting, says the United
States department of agriculture news
letter
A pasty, creamy mass OF tubercu-
lous material, which was proved to
contain uncountable numbers of viru-
lent tubercle bacilli, was Obtained
from tuberculous cow and spread
in thin smooth translucent layers on
sheets of glass, pieces Of wood, and
strips of muslin. Some of the sheets
of glass, pieces Of wool, and strips of
muslin were then placed outdoors on
a moderately warm, clear, calm day
where the sun could shine on them,
and an equal number were placed in
a dark room. After Is minutes ex-
posture to the sun, the tuberculous
material on the glass, wood, and mus
lin still contained large numbers Of liv-
ing, virulent tubercle bacilli, which
were proved to be fully capable of
causing tuberculosis, but after 80 min
utes exposure to the sun no living
tubercle bacilli could be found; every
test that could be made proved that
they were all dead.
Similar tests with quite large opaque
masses of tuberculous material, larg-
err and denser than any tuberculous
The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1915-12-31
IL pid-And Il Didn't.

With a groan and a snort the ex'
press stopped at the wayside station,
because the signal stood at danger.
On the platform stood a number of
passengers waiting FOR the next train
"a slow. Glad of the chance of trav-
cling more quickly, they began TO
open the carriage door and enter.
The guards face turned purple with
wrath. Rushing wildly along, he sig
nailed to the daring passengers to keep
back.
Stand away, there!" he ordered.
Stand away! This train doesn't stop
here!"
The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1915-12-31
Young Peach Trees Not Headed Back
and Will Break With First Good
Crop Of Fruit.

stage of growth is reached. Root prun-
ing long continued is likely to perma-
nently weaken the tree.
Pruning during dormant seasons
tends to wood production and, during
the growing season, to fruit produc-
ton. This does not mean, however,
that summer pruning is advisable, for
it is exhausting and If continued re-
duces the vigor of the tree. II should
be resorted to only under special con-
ditions. Winter pruning, If properly
practiced, is not Objectionable from
the standpoint Of fruit production.
Trees properly pruned from planting
time to fruit bearing need compare
lively little pruning thereby. This
practice also gives better formed trees
and better results than IL the young
trees are neglected, necessitating later
the removal of large branches.