davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1916-03-24

Second noor-to the right-take
the elevator" said the man.
Did you ever try to take an eleva-
tor in q department store and find
that 3,943 other American citizens and
citizenettes were also trying to take
the same elevator?
How sweet it il to mingle in the
arms Of utter strangers and to feel
the pressure of foot we never hope
to meet again!
was standing b. one of the coun-
tiers on the second floor when q shrill
voice crept up over a few bales of dry
goods and said. Are you q buyer or
handler"
Il am looking for q Christmas pres
ent for friend wife," l answered. IL
want to get something that will look
swell on the parlor table and may be
used later on as Q tobacco jar or q
trOuser stretcher!"
Fourth fioor-to the left-take the
elevator" said the shrill voice. but
shriller.
OOWCu hCdu 4 WalhCu away.
! began to feel sorry for friend wife.
Nobody seemed to be very much in
terested whether she got Christmas
present or not
On the fourth floor l stopped at a
counter where a lot of eager danes
were paving over some chinchilla rib
bon and chiffon overskirts.
1t reminded me of the way an emo
tional hen digs up grub in the gar
den.
] enjoyed the excitement Of the game
for about ten minutes and then
said to the clerk behind the counter
who was refereeing the match, Can
you tell me where I can buy a ster.
ling silver Christmas present for
friend wife which l could use after
ward as night key or a bath sponge?"
Fifth floor-to the rear-take the
elevator" said the clerk.
On the fifth floor l went over to a
table where young lady was selling
The Life and Libraries of Andrew
Carnegie" at four dollars q month and
fifty cents a week. and in three years
1t is yours II you don't lose the re-
ceipts.
She gave me a glad smile and felt
thrill of encouragement.
Excuse me-" said, but am look.
Ing for Christmas present for friend
wife which will make all the neigh
bors jealous, and which l can use aft
terward as an ash receiver or a pocket
flask"
The young lady cut out the giggles
and pointed to the northwest.
went over there.
To my surprise l found another
counter.
A pale young woman was behind Il.
! was just about to ask her the fatal
question when a young man wearing
ragtime expression on his face
rushed up and said to the pale young
lady behind the counter: Il am look
Ing for suitable present for a young
lady friend of mine with golden brown
hair. Could you please suggest some
thing?"
The pale young woman showed her
teeth and answered him in a low,
rumbling voice, and the man went
away.
Then came an old lady who said: Il
bought some organdie dress goods for
shirt waist last Tuesday, and l would
like to exchange them for q music box
for my daughters little boy. Freddie,
II you please!"'
The pale young woman again showed
her teeth ana the old lady ducked for
cover.
After about fifty people had rushed
up to the pale young woman and then
away again. went over and |
spoke to her.
Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1916-03-24

Il am looking" l said. for . Christ.
mas present for friend wife. want
to get something that win give her q
great amount of pleasure and which ]
can use later on as pipe cleaner or q
pair Of suspenders!"
The pale young woman tainted, so ]
moved over.
At another counter another young
lady said to me: Have you been
waited onr
NO." replied; Il have been
stepped on. sat on and walked on, but
l have not yet been waited on"
What do you wish?" inquired the
young woman.
Il am looking for a Christmas pres
ent for friend wife," he said. Il want
to buy her something that will bring
great Joy to her heart, and which ]
might use afterward as a pair of slip
pers or a shaving mug"
The young lady caught me with her
dreamy eyes and held me up against
the wall.
YOU" she screamed, you complete
a total Of 25,493 people who have been
in this department store today without
knowing what they are doing here
Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1916-03-24

ways shone through his pallid skin
and had earned for him his cognomen
Of Black Jake, trembled Q little. and
the thin. blue lips pulsated with low
muttered maledictions heaped upon
the world In general. The sporting
element soon forgets old pals down on
their luck. he reflected.
Nervously scanning the faces OF
shoppers emerging from the doorway
OF . department store. Jakie's face
lighted up a. he saw . petite figure
laden with many bundles start across
the sidewalk Marie Lecourtl Yes,
1t must be she. Marie, the prettiest
girl in the Follies chorus. Should he
speak to herr Perhaps she would
have at least Q kind word for the fell
low who had bought her many din
ners at swell cafes and had lavished
his money on her when he had It. In
stinctfvely he started forward. his
hand on his ancient velour hat. the
one relic Of palmy days.
But almost ~ he started he checked
himself. No. It would be better not
to speak to Marie. for she, like an
the rest Of the old crowd, would turn
him down. would refuse to speak to
q bum.
He stepped back to the shelter Of
the elevated pillar Just % Marie
turned to cross the street. Her BRIGHT
eyes twinkling with good cheer. she
came up quite close to Jake. Sud,
denly q fash Of recognition crossed
her countenance and she almost
dropped her packages a. she rushed
forward.
jake" she cried, "fs Il really
you? Where have you been? What
are you doing here and where are you
going?"
Before Jake could think Of an an.
swer to the questions which called
for recital Of almost his entire life's
history, she went on:
For goodness sake. Jake, you look
. sight! What's the idea of all this
poor-folksy makeup? 10 It q stan or
are you really forced to wear them :"
Forced 10 right" replied Jake.
I'm broke. ] saw you as you came
out of the store. but ! didn't know
whether you would want to speak TO
me or not"
Silly" laughed Marie. "Waut 10
speak to my old pal? OF course 1 do.
And now that have seen you We are
going to have . good. old-fashioued
chat. but We can't stand here in this
wet and talk. I am living with nv
married sister now and Just came
downtown for few things to hang on
the Riddles tree. Come ON IN ana
help US dx the things."
jake thanked her. but remonstraf-
Cd that his attire was scarcely suit.
able for an evening call. Marie n
Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1916-03-24

human being. working for a living. and
every time l see a hundred dollar bill
] get red In the face and want n drink
OF water. You know, Hep, NV father
didn't spend his life wrapping it I'D in
bundles and throwing it into an iron
woodshed against the time I became
old enough to use it as a torch."
"Say!" chirped Hep. who badnY
paid the slightest attention to wbat I
was saying. why don't you ge, her an
emerald necklace? Some idea-what9
saw one the other day for az GOA
Wait minute! I'll give you a card 70
the manager"
Give 1t to the chauffeur" l said M
pushed Hep into the taxi. "Bv tho
time ne gets you home you'll owe him
enough to buy emeralds."
Then ! left him fiat and moseved
on for department store to get a
Christmas present for friend wife
Say! did you ever get tangled nm IN
one OF those department store mobs
and nave crowd of perfect ladies' use
you for doormat?
got mine!
They certainly taught me the Huer.
ia glide. all right
AT the door nice young man with
q PINK necktie and quick forehead
bowed to me.
What do you wish?" he asked
WELL said, I'm down haro 4.
get Christmas present for friend
vile. would like something which
would aiord her great pleasure when
! give II to her and which could use
afterward a. a penwiper or q fishing
rod"
Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1916-03-24

N0DW est. These tall. stately
trees stood very straight
and still on this cold night. By and
by the tallest and the oldest of them
said:
How happy l shall be when at last
i am strong enough and tall enough to
be cut down by the wood cutters. |
hope when they do cut me down that
i may be good enough that they will
want me for some great ship, and then
shall have a chance to sail the seas"
What do you know about ships and
the seas?" asked a little pine tree who
stood at the foot of the tall one.
The stately tree bent his branches
very little and looked down at the
small tree, at his feet.
Il have heard many stories of the
seas, and the ships that sail on them.
for the birds sit in my branches and
sing to me all the time of the beauties
and wonders of the world Then. too.
the starbeams. who are much older
than the birds, have some truly won
derful tales to tell of things that they
have seen In their trips around the
world. There is the Starbeam of the
Brightest Star, just peeping over the
hilltop. He can tell some truly won
derful tales"
The little pine tree trembled for
very Joy. This was his first winter in
the forest, and these thAgs were all
new to him, just as was the snow that
was covering his roots, and making
them all warm with its white blanket.
Wont you please ask the Starbeam
to tell US q story?" asked the little
pine.
Let us ask him to tell US again the
Christmas story" said another of the
older pines, the one he told US last
year."
So, when the Starbeam came over
and rested gently on the tallest pine.
he asked 1t to tell again the Story of
the First Christmas.
Il love to tell this story best of al
stories that know" said the little
St&rbeam.
"Once upon q time q long time ago.
long before even the oldest pine trees
here began to grow, q beautiful WON
an, named Mary. and her husband. Jo-
seph. went on journey to little city
called Bethlehem. All, the people in
that country went to this same city. to
pay their taxes, and when. Mary and
Joseph got there, they found 20 many
people, that there was no room left
for them at the inn. The only place
where they could fnd shelter was in q
stable. and here they went That night
q little babe was born. and its mother.
Mary, laid him in q manager on some
nice clean straw.
Away of in the East. the Brightest
Star appeared. He had never been
seen before, and some wise men who
knew that this was the time for the
babe to be born. saw the Brightest
Star as they started out to find the
babe. All their long journey the Bright
est Star kept just In front of them to
show them the way to go. and when
they rested at night, the Brightest
Star would rest too, and wait for them.
At last they reached the city Of Beth
lehem. and found the little babe in the
manger with his mother by his side.
These wise men had brought some
very costly gifts to this babe. and II
Is the birthday of this babe that IL
celebrated every Christmas, and 1t II
in his memory that gifts are given to
the poor.
THAT Is all of the story, and It IL
time for me to be going" and the Star
beam went gayly on. dancing over the
tops of the trees.
Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1916-03-24

and refuse to be q human encylope-
dia for the sake of eight dollars q
week. Go on. now; throw yourself in.
to second speed and climb the hill"
l began to apologize, but she
reached down under the counter and
pulled out q club.
This" she said. with a wild look
in her side lamps. this is happy Yule-
tide, but, nevertheless. the next guy
that leaves his brains at home and
tries to make me tell him what is a
good Christmas present for his wife
will get a bitter wallop across the
forehead"
The girl was right, 80 I went home
without present.
! suppose I'll have to take Helps tip
and get those emeralds after all.
But first I'll 60 down to the deli
catessen store and see II there's any
thing there.
Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1916-03-24
THE GIFTS FOR MOTHER

The giaddest hour Of Christmas day.
The time the hearts are ighteGt
An every care u chased away
An all the smiles are brightest.
II when the family. young an old.
From dad to little brother,
With all the love that hearts can hold
Come bringing gifts to mother.
We keep her presents till the last
An then when she sits rocking.
An all the other gifts are paused.
We 60 an get her stocking.
We gather round her easy chair.
First one an then the other
Steps up an says: wen. declared
Here's something else for mother!"
An with each present goes = kiss.
An ell 10 still an quiet
When mother murmurs: what u thisf'
An hastens to unite It.
Then everybody wildly cheers
An shouts for perfect gladness.
An mothers eyes are moist with tears,
But not the tears of sadnessL
Oh. here's q scene that gold can't buy.
Or stage In imitation,
The smiling face. the glistening eye
OF loves own celebration.
And with each jolly Christmas day
We pray to know another
When we shall meet the self-same way
And bring our gifts to mother.
Detroit Free Prea
Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1916-03-24
CHINESE SHOE W0RKB0x


The small girl who would IKE TO
make mother or elder sister gift.
but whose pocket money II limited.
should try her hand at the little Chi
nese shoe workbox shown here. She
will surely succeed II she can sew at
all. and II she win be very careful
about the cutting and sewing. The
beauty of It IL the piece bag win
probably supply the materials for max.
ing. while Is cents will buy the fur
One must cut two pieces Of card.
board. each seven inches long, then
shape 1t into q sole and take OF one
quarter inch from the toe Of one piece.
The larger piece il covered on one
side with white muslin and the small
Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1916-03-24

q department store when l ran across
Hep Hardy, limping in the direction
Of taxicab stand.
up late. aren't you. Hep?" in
quired, glancing at the Waterbury.
4 sure am running behind my SEIZED
ule this morning, John. Hep wheezed
Accident"
What's the matter? Fuse blow out
end leave you and your favorite bar
tender in darkness?" ventured.
Nix" he answered; Il interpolated
q new step in the Tango about five
this q. m. and my partner, an impul.
give little thing from Spokane. didn't
ct my signal, with the result that she
soped on me and lost one of her
snch heels somewhere between my
81, ,kle and my instep. I had to wait
al Doctor Shop was open so he
luld probe for 1t. The medicine ped
ller found It all right and my left
sfheel 10 bit wobbly, but I'll be in
she roped arena tonight when the bell
ngs. clamofing for my favorite rag,
~ can bet on that, John, old pal"
Inc dapce bug has you for fair,
.asnt 1t. Hep" I laughed.
Not at ALL" Hep came back; but
IKE . lot Of other ginks who have been
going through life with stoop shout
ders and plantation feet I've suddenly
discovered how to be graceful and l
have to stay up all night to see If
other people notice It. Where are you
goingf"
I'm going down to see one Of those
stores and make fool out of fifty dol.
lars-little Christmas present for
Peaches." answered.
Fifty dollars!" Hep sneered. Say.
John. II had wife. and we were
speaking to each other. fifty dollars
wouldn't buy the ribbon around the
bundle. Fifty dollars! You make q
noise like . pike"
"Sure!" 1 snapped back. TT you
had q wife you'd take her down to
your favorite jewelry store and let the
clerks throw diamonds at her till they
fell exhausted. But I'm Just a. regular
Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1916-03-24

er with q bit Of muslin IL sewed all
around the white covered sole and
then to the smaller sole. silk upward.
When this 10 sewed together you have
sole half an inch In thickness turn
ing up at the toe - the Chinaman's
shoe does. FIJI this with cotton.
The one thing to remember II to
take time in making this pretty box.
It costs next to nothing. but 1t will not
be q success II carelessly done.
The writer saw an exquisite model
Of this work case that 10 to be given
to bride. 1t IL carried out IN white
satin embroidered IN silk and silver
thread In . wistaria design, the lin
ing being Of wistaria-colored silk to
match.
This should be . hint to girls who
have friends marrying during the holi-
day season. II embroidery 10 beyond
the donors skill. q tiny spray Of
orange blossom tied with silver cord
might decorate the top. or the initial
of the bride could be placed there.
Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1916-03-24

the Chi.
dre,s Chris.
mas nee
srrsyed Win
toys and fiiigree,
and brilliant gsw-
eavs deity hung
that catch the eye q
old and young. WITH
fairies bright and tintsd
birds cali forth Glad
enraptursd words; and
msny eyes viii greet the
sight when I an viewed By
eandle-ieht. Beneath my
bouehs there Hes scene o
house and yard and village green:
With mimic railway running through.
as railroads of are won't to do. am
alas. . Christmas tresi And this vii b.
the death for me: for when the Yuletids
seasons past. upon the ssh-heap TN b
cast. However. while I'm standing here
host Of children viii cheer. and cause their
youthful cheeks to Glow. because q One Child oao
ago who came this waiting world 10 bless and nG
our hearts with happiness- And %. you 80
- I'm eAd 10 b
the
III
ehs-
dren
Chris
mas
tree
n Rev. r. G. k,ehaA. B.o.
Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1916-03-24

We spend too much time wonder
ing what the new year will bring u.
1t 10 better to ask ourselves what
we are going to make Of It. Life
does not come in sealed packagea
ready for use when opened Time
Is only its raw material and from
it we can make very much what We
choose. Instead Of waiting for some
prize to drop into our hands. let Us
seize the days as they pass and
mold them into forms Of usefulness
and beauty.
Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1916-03-24

This II an English custom The
gifts are hidden in large pan Of bran.
A string II tied to each package. and
on the end Of the string Il the name
of the one for whom the package il
intended. When all have their strings
they all pull Then comes the fun OF
getting the bran Oh and opening the
packages.
Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1916-03-24
Meeting Adverse Conditions.

Conditions master weak natures
only; they challenge strength, endur-
ance. courage. and pay tribute to the
steady purpose. the resolute win. 1t
is easy to SAIL with the wind: one
must have knowledge. skill, judgment,
to sail against the wind.
Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1916-03-24

AY! Did you ever
take what little
was left and start
out to buy friend
wife q Christmas
token?
A quaint pastime,
10 1t not?
Well. to make q
long story lose its
cunning, l clinked
q few iron men to-
gether one morn
ing recently and
started out to find
something new and
nifty in the gift
line for Peaches.
Waa hraazin1 for
Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1916-03-24
Cheap chrIstmas calss.

Dissolve level teaspoonful Of soda
in two teaspoonfuls Of warm water.
add half . pint Of very thick cream,
stir for . moment. then add half .
cupful Of New Orleans molasses, mix
thoroughly. add half . pint Of brown
sugar. three and . half cupfuls Of sift.
ed -four. through which has BEEN
mixed . tablespoonful each Of CHINA
mon and . tablespoonful each Of
cloves. spice and nutmeg: add Z t.
blespoonful of grape juice: stir into
this . pound Of sultana raisins cut
into halves and ioured, and half :
pound Of citron- Bake one and Z half
hours In . moderate oven.
Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1916-03-24

sneiter an0rued Dy the elevated r0au
pillar, his threadbare raincoat drawn
tightly about him. his hands thrust
deeply into his pockets. as he gently
tapped first one foot and then the 9TH
or on the wet pavement. Not that Jake
was cold, but his shoes had worn quite
thin. and the dirty. brown slush had
sought out all the little cracks through
which It might seep and find Q COM
Portable haven.
g going to be lean Christmas for
me-" jake sighed reflectively to the
cleaning lights of Broadway. Awful
lean"
In his pocket he jingled his one
lone quarter against the key Of his
cheap Sixth avenue room and smiled
as he -thought Of the days when he
had 1ingled gold coins. In those days
the racing game had been good. and
Jake was one of the best-known book
les at Sheepshead. Then he had been
af1uent. He had dressed in the height
OF ultra-fashion and radiated with that
ready-money look.
The dying out of the racing sport
and too frequent trips to the bar had
left Jake stranded. without q friend
In the world.
Silently and modify Jake reflected
on his hard lot. His chin. with its
two-day growth Of heavy black beard,
that same heavy beard which had al
Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1916-03-24

NE COLD winter night the
snow was gently falling on
the pine trees of the for
est. These tall. stately
5000 .x-osUhs
, 1916-02-03
Good Groceries.

The j. s. Brown and Brothers
Mercantile establishment of Den
yer, through the best reliable men
on the road, have built up a bus
mess throughout Colorado and
Wyoming with a quality of goods
in every line that holds its own
against all Corners W. have tried
every line of food-stuffs that is
put on the market in Saratoga
and it has gotten to where we
can't hardly face anything on the
table unless we know that it is
~ .S.B." goods.
The Saratoga Grocery makes a
specially of this line and have
built up an enviable trade on the
name "J.S.B." We especially call
attention to their canned goods in
which you find the very prim ar
ticle in the best preserved condi-
ton and in a palatable, clean fresh
shape. In price, quality and guam
tity it leads without even a close
second. When we hand out in
formation of this kind We mean
it, and this is nothing more than
a tip to u friends who like the
best for the least.
, 1916-02-03
SOME Correspondent.

A splendid "a correspondent
was lost to the journalistic field
when a Larkins, Pa, young man
enlisted in the United States Ma
rine Corps.
Shortly after enlistment the
Larkins boy found himself in Hal
ii with the Marine Corps expedi-
tionary force, and, in a letter to
Sergeant Frank Stubbe of the To-
cal recruiting station, he wrote,
concerning the occupation of that
Caribbean isle by the force of sea
soldiers, "a mutinous, riotous, Sc
ditious and unanimously violent
party of Cacos barred our way to
Haut de Cap. Their heedlessness,
rashness, and precipitancy led
them to attack our party, but they
certainly found it a dismal, for
lorn, and piteous task, for we dis
posed of them with neatness and
dispatch"
"Our only loss in that battle
was the correspondents Il, was
Sergeant Stubbe's comment.
When the sweet strains of the
song Mother" played by a street
piano, waited through windows
kept wide OPEN because of the
balmy, spring-like weather of the
last few days at Baltimore, a re-
cruit for the Marines burst into
tears and left the recruiting sta
ton of the 'sea soldiers" in the
Custom House Building.
The recruit had not yet been
enlisted and the recruiting ofic-
ers made no effort to prevent his
leaving
"The sound of a bursting shell
in battle might have conveyed the
same sort of idea to that young
fellow, and it is perhaps just as
well," remarked one of the re-
cruiting sergeants when the re-
cruit, motherward bound, left the
office.
, 1916-02-03
Musical Graduation.

Mrs III. F. Newport held an af-
ternoon musicale Saturday, Jan.
18th, to which the parents of the
pupils were invited, including a
lew invited guests. A very fine
program vas rendered and the
work of all the pupils showed full
ly the hard work and training
Mrs Newport had given to this
work. The program was as fol-
lows:
Primary Grade.
"Tu Whit Tu Whee," piano So
TO- by Mary Kincaid.
First Grade.
Evening Bells," piano solo, by
Ruth Winsor.
swinging Hammock, piano 80
10, by Vera Large.
The Fairy Echo" piano solo,
by Frances Paulson.
Song of the Katy Did," piano
solo, by Grace Winsor.
Happy Holidays" piano solo,
by Mary Paulson.
Italian Song" piano solo, by
Olive Fryer.
iarrentella," piano solo, by