davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Climax-Madisonian. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1914-1917, 1915-11-17

So I did. and she
kissed me and kissed her. and we both
said Merry Christmas to each uver.
She went fast asleep again. but cert'in-
ly you couldn't expect little girl could
sleep. ] felt all my presents. Muvver
says us little folks have eyes I'm our
fngertips, and every minute the light
grew brighter. and then-I really sawl
Dear, dear Santa Claus. how could you
member just what / wanted?" She
rubbed her dimpling cheek ecstatically
against the old sleeve. But you
didn't put anything in muvver's stock
ing" she added softly.
He could not meet her reproachful
glance.
"'Twas IN a hurry l was he mum
bled, 'an' me bastes shtampin' widout
In the cowld'-
"Oh, she didn't know" the child in
terrnpted, "'eause when she was tight
asleep l found her stocking, and l put
that very rosy checked apple you'd put
In mine quite far. far down in hers
and some nuts too. Cert'inly l couldn't
give her the little doll or the picture
book, cause grownups don't care for
such things. really. But things to eat
are different. You don't mind. do your
He did not answer. For the moment
It almost seemed as If he had not
heard His head was turned quite
away.
sAnd she was s'prised-oh, you can't
think!-and glad too. So glad her
eyes got all shiny and bright. But you
can't guess what happened next. She
said. Bless my Santa Claus Wasn't
that funny7 And then she kissed me
most s If she 'spected.''
no Dr coNnrDrrrr.,
The Climax-Madisonian. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1914-1917, 1915-11-17


From tho Window.
heard by ordinary ears. echoed the in
vitation. The voices of the sleeping
plains waking at the thought of the
happiness I'm store for her. the voices
Of the snow covered trees where the
little leaves danced in the summer
time, and all the spirits of the birds
that had once darted in and out among
them and had nestled there sang now
In a mighty chorus. Come. come.
Gomez
Oh. that happy. happy road! Never
a child Of all the multitude Of children
on earth who had loved him, dreamed
about him and longed to see him had
been so fortunate as she. 1t was i'm
possible to hesitate a moment longer.
especially when the pursed up lips
might so quickly slip from the magic
word into a chirrup to the horses and
in consequence. sleigh and occupant
would vanish into thin air
do you really mean it?" she asked
TREMENDOUSLY. do you really mean itT'
For. though she was deafened by the
noisy voices. his had been the first to
speak. Twill you take me. truly?''
For answer he threw back the robes
and as she sprang to his side he gave
a great laugh and drew her closer to
him. Then he dragged an extra rug
from the bottom of the sleigh and
folded it about her.
Santa Claus swateheart mustn't
ketch the p-noo-moany," he cried
''Divil bit av it, What do 1 per-
caiye? Is it missin' a mitten We are
Sure that's disthressful. fer we can't
hunt it up now wild tonne racin' by
like mill shtrame"-
I'm unpartikilar. truly. / don't
mind the leastest Bit
"WelI. mine wud be too shmall fer
the likes av ye. anyway. an l made
thin mesilf. So tuck your hands closi
under. me darlint. an We won't be
afther falin' the cold. Now. thin. is II
ready ye are?"
Yes. oh. yesi''
Hi. there. Danny. Hi. there. White.
futr he shouted. Buckle to. me
byes. The luck av the wurrld is fold.
in her arms about me at this tonne
an no mishtake. Git a move on We
childer"
The horses obeyed his voice with
a1acrity, as If they were eager to gel
their work over. The bells jingled. the
snow beneath the runners gave out q
sharp Kissing sound by way of answer
and the little sweetheart. only her face
showing out of the old brown rug as
she nestled close against the mans
arm. laughed merrily.
The Climax-Madisonian. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1914-1917, 1915-11-17

violently protesting voice Of the COB
bier with her knitted jacket while she
dumped him. his feet still entangled In
the net, into an empty sack.
1t was Thanksgiving morning. In
the darkest corner OF the Tatem cellar
was a heap of bronze turkey feathers.
Up on the hillside was an acrid smell
of smoke from the bonfire where EN-
Tatem had cremated other evidences
Of her crime.
A delicious smell OF roasted turkey
pervaded the Tatem house.
EN- moved a little round table to her
mothers bedside and spread a snowy
linen cloth. There were a glass OF
grape jelly. some light biscuits, a dish
OF boiled rice. a pot OF fragrant tea
and-the turkey.
"Em Tatem." gasped her mother as
EN-, pale and smiling. sat down at ia
BILE, where did you ever get that tur-
keyT
Never mind" evaded EN- mysteri-
ously. IAN you've got to do. ma. is to
enjoy It."
You're not eating a mite. En-" pro
tested Mrs. Tatem after awhile. THAT
turkeys better than the one your pa
bought from old Deacon Pepper for
our silver wedding anniversary. That
was a delicious turkey. Old Deacon
Pepper always did have fine turkeys.
When Sadie Denton was here yester-
day she told me that young Deacon
Pepper has raised and sold a fine
flock They said he made $40 clear or
the whole lot"
YES" murmured EN-
81 never hear you speak OF Ned Pep
per, EN-"
NO, ma"
Mrs. Tatem looked shrewdly at her
daughter. 1t was something OF a shock
to her to discover that EN- looked sick
Like enough she's worked herself to
death sewing for Mrs. Meek, SOS she
could buy the turkey" she told her
self remorsefully.
There, EN-" she said cheerfully,
that's the best Thanksgiving dinner I
ever ate In my lifeF'
While her mother was taking her aft
er dinner nap EN- cleared away the
dinner dishes and afterward went up
the hill to the locust grove. She was
heartsick and weary. and she threw her
self down on the dead leaves and, put
ting her hands to her face. sobbed
softly.
From the Pepper homestead came
strains of music. There was the sound
OF laughter and presently a mans voice
The Climax-Madisonian. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1914-1917, 1915-11-17

There was an air of forlornness about
it, surrounded as it was by all that
glitter Of ice and CLINT of frost.
though the chimney smoke curling
slowly up through the sharp air told
Of certain homely cheer within. 1t
was off the beaten track. however.
and, despite the fact that Terry had
halted, he made no attempt to give
evidence of his presence by so much
as a shout. Out of the earth, almost
beside him, there had Unexpectedly
risen a small figure, and he now found
himself staring into a child's eager
face.
Are you Santa CLAUSE" she demand
ed, with bated breath.
He looked back at her. taking In,
even in his dull fashion, the delight
that widened her eyes and shrilled her
voice. Suppose he told the truth
what then? How the disappointment
would cloud the upturned radiant face
at the commonplace statement that he
was only Terry O'COnnor. He hesitat-
ed an inappreciable moment. Then,
because he had been born under a
dancing star and loved a Jest. he an
swered her question.
The child's laugh rang out on the air
in happy triumph. waking the echoes.
The horses stirred a little and their
dull, old bells gave forth a low sound.
but it wasn't music compared to that
which filed Terry's ears. He took up
the reins reluctantly. She pressed
nearer. putting out a small, resolute
hand as If she were one of those old
time, fierce browed highwaymen and
meant to stop his further progress.
"Ah, please DON'T" she protested in
a tone no knight of the road would
ever have employed, please Then.
with little rush, as If the words were
eager to escape: 81 was so sure it was
truly you, so sure. l saw you when
you were way off-just teeny, weeny
speck-and first l thought maybe 1t
was Pierre or p'r'rps the doctor or Mr..
Higgins, and l came down here cause
they always say How are your as
they pass-they're such noticing big
men. couldn't see very clear. you
know, with the sun shining one way
and the snow sending back baby SPAR
kles the other, but everything seemed
so happy, and when I heard you sing
ing / knew why-even your bells
sounded glad. glad! I just could hard
ly wait I've thought SO much about
you always-I knew you'd come some
day. Where-where are you going
now, STRIP
Home" answered Terry. honestly
enough.
She cast quick glance at the north
along the road he must travel and
The Climax-Madisonian. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1914-1917, 1915-11-17

singing "Annie Laurie" Long years
ago young Deacon Pepper-Ned Pepper
had sung that song to EN- Tatem, but
she had been shy and cold, and some
how Ned had felt rebuffed and drifted
away to SINCE his wings at other
flames.
at wonder what he would say II he
knew was thief, and I've got to tell
him." whispered EN- to herself.
A step sounded on the frozen ground
and a big bronzed man with troubled
gray eyes leaned over the fence and
looked down at poor EN- Tatem-
EN-" he ventured after awhile.
EN- jumped up, her blue eyes drown
ed In tears. 'Ned-Ned PepperP' she
cried In a frightened tone. Then. sud
denly recovering herself. she said In
frozen voice:
81 want to tell you something. Dea-
con Pepper-no-no-plea don't In
terrupt me. You missed your big tur.
key. didn't your
He nodded at disappeared
"You don't know where it wentF' she
declared tragically.
"oh. but did. EN-" be corrected
her.
st stole it, and came up here to
confess to you
You needn't say a word unless you
want to. En-" he interrupted quickly.
II happened to be up repairing the arm
on the windmill. and had my field
glasses along. 1 always like to glimpse
the distant view when I'm up on the
tower, and l happened to be looking
through the glasses when-when the
turkeys-went up to you-and the COB
bier didn't come back again; 50 knew
that you had It. EN-. and guessed you
needed It badly; 80 the instant you took
him made you a present OF him: 20
he was yours after air.
EN- poured out the story OF the de-
Inyed dividends and OF their pinching
poverty and how she had stolen the
turkey for her mother. II couldn't
touch n morsel OF It." she shuddered-
Ned listened and offered to write to
the gas company concerning her moth
The Climax-Madisonian. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1914-1917, 1915-11-17
Weiahina NebuIa cas-.

By studying the light emitted by a
luminous gas it is possible by purely
optical methods to determine the tenn
perature OF the gas and also its atomic
weight. Observations on the nebula
in Orion have been pursued since 1911.
By studying tho lines In the spectrum
of the nebula. which are due to hydro
gen, IT appears that the temperature
OF the hydrogen In the nebula is about
$1,000 degrees. The double ultra VIC
let line. which is attributed to the n.y.
pothetical gas called 'snebulium.r gives
as the atomic weight OF this unknown
gas the figure g. A strong green ray,
which is also due to an unknown gas.
gives the figure for its atomic weight
DseK hopkins was the first admiral
OF the American navy. being appointed
in 1775 by the Continental congress
commander in chief of the navy. while
ne at first achieved great success. be
was removed in 1777 on the ground Of
incompetency. he died IN 1902 AZ
Providence, r. L. where a monument
has been erected to bis memory.
The Climax-Madisonian. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1914-1917, 1915-11-17

whilst the joy av her heart crept in
there iver since"
What did she say? Did she call you
Santa CLAUSE"
Faith. she didn't-not thin nor
afterwards. She called me 'cushla ma
chree' = which names pulse av me
heart'-an' jooT an precious an
light av me eyes,
But those are my own names, truly.
all but the first one. and hearts con-
tent and
"Ah. the mithers = bless thin
There does be but one langwidge they
spake the wurrld over. Don't 1 know
the truth av it? An the haythins as
well. that haven't wurrd NV English
to their names-God pity thin. though
he made thin an gave thin their glib
berish. too-they say the same thing
in their outlandish tongue. an the lit
tie haythins understand as well as
you an me- Hearts contint' an
'wurrld's blessin' an -
"'Dear my little own. only muvver
made that up speshilly for me- She
told me So
did she. now? Begorra. the famil-
iarity av 1t sounds like music in me
ears. I reminder me own mither
whisperin' somethin' akin TO it wanst
whin Struggled cIost to her. Whistl
It's out ay their falin's fer us that they
do be gettin' the wurrds. afther all,
an that's betther than learnin' thin
from the books. Whin ye come to
think av it. it amt to be wondered at
that there's sort ay family raysim-
blance betwixt thin. seem as their
hearts are av the same complexion.
oh, there amt annythin' annyw eres
ike q mither's iove!''
For Just 2 little mlpute the ayfs
The Climax-Madisonian. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1914-1917, 1915-11-17

"TN' the shtar danced whin l
II was ..s,1 born :. ,...
were Santa Claus" laughed
the little maid.
Faith, twas because / was mesilf-
jest a slip av a babe that wud have
gladdened your eyes to see. Twas a
happy shtar. an it came peekin' in at
the windy. AN how are We. me broth
av b'yT it seemed to say. An l, not
KNOWN the spache av the wurrld, jest
shmiled back for an answer. A shmile
or laugh is the best spache, after all.
an don't We fergit it. Why, even the
brute dorgs know the differ betwixt
glum looks an cheerful ones. An the
shtar wasn't to be bate by dorg, not
it! Iv-ry blessed wurrd that lay in me
heart an cudn't git to me tongues end
the way bein' thin unknown-was
clear to it, an twinkle, twinkle. hop.
skip, jump it whit, a-twangin' its little
fiddle in chune to it's steps, Me NTH
er's mither-may the peace av hivin
be her sowrs rist!-near dhropped me
aft her knees wild amazemint, fer niYer
had she beheld such divarshions. An
by reason av the same she ran the pins
into me body, mishtakin' it fer a cush-
ion, but niver a whoop did let forth.
bein' all took up mesilf wild the joy
av the shtar. Sure, she cud have
made a Glove apple av me intoirely an
/ wudn't have been none the wiser.
She rectified her mishtake, did she, an
If she'd been in doubts that all the
saylestial fandarago was in me honor
she saw the truth av It thin. Ma
voruneen,' she SEE to me mither,
there's little happy shtar widout in
the hivins dom a quick shtep an up
an down the middle an ballin's to
corners all because av this newborn
babe who's laughin' wild the humor av
it, AN why not? SEE me mither, wild
certain f1erceness in the soft voice
av her. why shudn't the whole firmly
mint be set into a commotion av glad
ness because av him? Faith, If We cud
pennythrate to me heart SEE she, 'ye'd
see it dancin' as niver was. Bring him
here to me arms, alanna, that may
cuddle him clost, SOS he can fale the
bate av it. Thin the ould woman did
as she was bid. an me mither-now
the saints bless her swate sowli-held
me till her side an talked to NE low.
The Climax-Madisonian. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1914-1917, 1915-11-17

country. though farther on it wound
through the woods and over the low
hills. Back of them, three good miles
by now, was the little settlement. with
Wistar's tavern (Which had given the
place its name) as a nucleus, while to
the left stretched the plain, empty of
all sign Of life, and to the right there
was the same level whiteness, broken
only by solitary house which front
ed the road at some distance away
and seemed like a belated straggler
held captive by the relentless bonds of
winter as it peered longingly in the di-
rection of the small town from whose
companionship it was forever set apart
The Climax-Madisonian. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1914-1917, 1915-11-17
OF LOCAL INTEREST
Some People We Know, and We
VIII Profit by Hearing
About Them.

This is purely local event.
1t took place in Richmond.
Not in some faraway place.
You are asked to investigate il.
Asked to believe a citizens work;
To confirm citizens statement.
Any article that is endorsed at home
Is more worthy of confidence
Than one you know nothing about.
Endorsed by unknown people.
Mrs. Morris Peel, 40 Walnut St.
Richmond, says: 81 always suffered
from my back and nothing seemed to
help me- My kidneys we're out Of order.
l did not sleep well and mornings when
| got up I felt tired. Doan's Kidney
Pills. procured at Middelton's Drug
Store. did me world Of eooe. The
pains left and my kidneys became nor
NAL.
Price SOC, at all dealers. Don't sim
ply ask for kidney remedy-get Doan's
Kidney Pills-the same that Mrs. Peel
had. Fosisr-Ailbprn Co, Props. Bnf-
falo, 3. y. ftlm
The Climax-Madisonian. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1914-1917, 1915-11-17

strange huddle of marks ever forming
new paths and finally coming to an end
at the side of the road.
And the road led north and the road
led south. but nowhere was there any
trace of small maid faring forth on
mission of discovery. One would
never have dreamed of her passing
that way had 1t not been for those ad-
venturous footprints and for the little
red mitten that showed upon the snow
ike a hand flung out in a silent
goodby
The Climax-Madisonian. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1914-1917, 1915-11-17
Copyright by e. p. button z, Co.

~ ERRY O'CONNOR always de-
clared he was born under a
~ happy star, and he also main
tanned that at the time of his
coming into the world it had danced
for very joy. This statement, which,
no matter how much others might
doubt but could not dispute, he had di-
rect from his mothers mother, who
was present on that most suspicious
occasion and had observed the unusu-
al conduct of the stellar body from the
window. And, moreover, as If to es-
tablish quite conclusively the connec-
ton between the shining merriment In
the skies and the advent of the little
child on earth, the first thing the baby
did was to smile. Old Mrs. Mulcahey
knew what she was talking of. She
had seen many newborn children in
her time, and all of them, with the ex-
ception of her small and only grand
child, had worn such doleful counte-
nances that less hopeful person than
herself would have been cast into de-
spair. Whether that dazzling, dancing
star had blinded her eyes or had given
them a truer vision, who shall say?
She had seen-what she had seen! A
little joyful slip of humanity come
valiantly in to this world of trouble
equipped from the outset with the
sign royal of light heart.
1t was the humblest of cradles. But
to 1t, as to all cradles-so runs the old
belief-had troOped, unseen, the good
fairies with their gifts, and hither also
had come the wicked fairy, who is
seldom absent at such times and whose
malignant generosity mars all the gra-
cious giving. making possession only
too often of doubtful value. Here, as
elsewhere, she wreaked her evil will
so that the little child grew to be a
man known through the countryside as
a good for naught. That was the ex-
tent OF her work. however. She was
powerless to prevent another testi-
mony. He was also known as a kind
ly, happy so lucky fellow, his own
worst enemy, but the friend of all the
world. Such was the record of FIVE
and sixty years. and such 1t would be
to the end.
Terry dragged his squirrel cap close
ly down about his ears and pulled the
The Climax-Madisonian. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1914-1917, 1915-11-17

,alled old Mrs. Ia
tenn from h er
bedroom adjoin-
ing the kitchen.
EN-, come here
/ want to talk to
you"
Nv ell, mar"
said EN- YEARLY,
sinking into a
chair near the
window, W hic b
overlooked tn Q
yard.
"Ain't you
heard from the
company a b o u t
the dividend on
that gas stock7"
The Climax-Madisonian. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1914-1917, 1915-11-17
TO BE CONTINUED
OHIO WOMAN'S WISH
For Tired, Weak, Nervous Women

Bellefontaine, Ohio.-ssI wish every
tired, weak, nervous woman could have
Vinol. for never spent any money in
my life that did me so much good as
that spent for Vinol. was weak,
tired, worn out and nervous, and Vinol
made me strong, well and vigorous after
everything else had failed to help me.
and can now do my homework with
pleasure Mrs. J. F. LAMBoRN.
We guarantee Vinol, our delicious cod
liver and iron tonic, for all weak. rum
down. nervous. debiIitated conditions
B, L. Middleton. Druggist,
Richmond, Ky.
The Climax-Madisonian. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1914-1917, 1915-11-17

which, to her fancy. led henceforth to
an enchanted world. Then her eyes
sought his face again.
"Oh.' she cried breathlessIy. ~must
you go quite-quite yet?'
At the possibility of his departure
the Joy that had been written all over
her confident little person seemed sud
denly to take wing. leaving her de-
jected and forlorn. The pleasure had
bssn 80 brief--a mere dash Of bright
The Climax-Madisonian. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1914-1917, 1915-11-17


the Idlers Gath elioFe SO Vlgor
cred Around. ously to dull his
hearing as did
this little commonplace man, who
was generally in thrall to his own
pleasures. In spite of the laughter
which reached him In faint bursts he
strobe resOlutely to the door and let
himself out into the still, white world.
For a moment his will, nerved as it
seldom was. faltered. Back of him,
through the open door, he could see the
cleaning eye of the fire winking and
blinking in friendly wise. The grin
ming human faces turned his way. low
ial as they were, were alluring, but the
knowledge that the morrow would be
christmas and his rude sleigh contain
led what would go to the needs and
also to the meager pleasuring of the
shanty men at Thornby's logging
camp. as well as another and still
more potent thought, lent an unusual
frmness to his STEP He was not sure
of himself even then, however, though
he cleared the distance with a bound
which landed him in the center of his
waiting sleigh and shook out the reins
with wild halloo that startled the
placid old horses and made them whirl
forward on the frozen road with the
friskiness of youth. The noise of the
hurried departure brought the men
within the tavern running to the open
door, to stand there bareheaded. gap
ing at the diminishing speck which
they knew-and did not know. A man
of determination, surely, and hitherto
their acquaintance had been with one
who never could say no." or a quar-
ter OF a no on any occasion-the
real Terry O'Connor.
Meanwhile. as the sorry looking nags
sobered down to their everyday gait.
the man back OF them knew which
was the real self His own conduct,
despite the fact that he held its key,
had surprised him even more than it
had his companions. and as his thoughts
turned longingly to the spot he had
just quilted he LET his grasp slacken
on the reins. Il was better that the
horses should take their own way for
awhile. He could NOT quite trust him
self. Presently, however. when no
backward glance revealed the tavern
The Climax-Madisonian. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1914-1917, 1915-11-17

'sturb muvver, 1
crawled out of
bed, &C ause it
made me incon-
tented to lie still,
and there was my
stocking full to
the brim. / knew
who filed it" She
stopped in her re-
cital to smile at
him and to pat
his arm a gain.
"Then 1 climbed
up on a chair to
take it down, and
muvver ghed
out loud. Come
back to bed. dear
my little own
she said. Bring
the stocking and
C u d die do W n
warm and snug
I'm blanket land
The Climax-Madisonian. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1914-1917, 1915-11-17

-@-0 AA(
very rim of the
sky. Behind them
the white earth
stretched. T b e V
didn't glance i.l~,l
w h v s Il . uld
they? There was
not much TO see
nothing but the
empty plain and
the lonely little
house that seemed
70 SILVER there all
by itself; the ST.
lent little house
where no child
played or looked
from any of its
windows. 1t SEEM
ed to have no love
for the outer world
and no interest in
it. yet zigzagging
from its door were
the prints of GER
tain steps-too big
for a fairy, too
The Climax-Madisonian. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1914-1917, 1915-11-17

Before them the happy road. its joy
Gus voices still calling to her. went on
The Climax-Madisonian. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1914-1917, 1915-11-17

collar of his fur
coat up to meet it
shutting out the
shouts that rose
from the group Of
The Climax-Madisonian. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1914-1917, 1915-11-17
BY cLARIssA MAcKIE.

rcopyright. 1915. by American Press Assoc
ciation.l
The Climax-Madisonian. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1914-1917, 1915-11-17
Chapter II.
Che Ride Cesetber.

TN the shtar danced whin 1
was born
THAT was because you
were Santa Claus" laughed
The Climax-Madisonian. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1914-1917, 1915-11-17

s. Vm NJ" called old Mrs. Ia
The Climax-Madisonian. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1914-1917, 1915-11-17

1@ ERRY O'CONNOR always de-
clared he was born under a
. happy star, and he also main