davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-02-13
Contributed by P. S. w.

Ny Dearest John-Do you not think
1t would be well for you to take your
vacation at this time and join me
my perfect enjoyment of the Cape? If
you came there would then be nothing
lacking in my contentment.
This morning l arose before anybody
else in the house and walked out to see
a beautiful sunrise. 1t was one grand
day. so ! kept on down to the beach
and watched all the pretty little oyster
boats go out to their work. Most of
them are power boats. and when they
come back each will have on a load of
oysters, which will be weighed and
paid for at oyster houses situated in
the bay.
Near where I am stopping is a large
group of pines, on the slope of hill,
and a carpet of pine needles to recline
on when writing to dear you. AT the
foot OF the hill of pines is most beau
titul round pond, which one of my
friends here has named for her own
delight the Blue Pool" 1t is called a
depthlcss pond by the Cape Codders.
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-02-13
Contributed by r. B. ].

My Dear Brave Hero Mani am
thinking of you tonight, thinking of
you, and longing for the day to come
when we can claim each other before
the whole world.
How glad and thankful I am that 1
found you when you were in trouble.
for now you will always know I loved
you, not for what you could give me.
but for your own dear sake. What a
strange experience our caring for each
other has been-strangers, almost, yet
one in hopes. aims and purposes.
Someone has said, "The course of
true love never runs smoothly" How
true that has beeni oh, how dark and
black the clouds were at times! But
today. away off in the distance, I SEQ
a rift in the clouds with the sun shin
ing through. 1t is after the storm.
dear one, that we have our most glo-
rious sunsets.
Another has said, "All is fair in love
and war" Do we believe that, dear?
A thousand times no! Fair play is
best. even with the enemy. The brav-
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-02-13
What Did the Rector Saw?

with nine in It, you must not take
them out, but save 1t and hang 1t over
the doorway and then read your fat
by the next man who enters"
What are you talking about?" said
sister, pretending great scorn, but
really quite interested.
"Oh, replied, lying back in the
chair, "if a single man enters you mar
ry him, If it is a married man, you
are fated to be an old maid all your
life"
"Pshaw!" scolded sister, where did
you invent that?"
Soon I noticed her counting rather
carefully.
What have you? Nine?" I asked.
Eyes, nine" and with that she cool
ly stripped all nine out of the pod and
added them to the nice little collec-
ton in the dish.
1 wa: mad, but knew better than to
protest. She would only laugh. Any
how, she is older than I. and engaged,
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-02-13

too, so what interest would she have
In such proceedings? She had done 1t
to tease me. and 1 wasn't going to
give her the satisfaction of knowing
/ cared.
She went into the house for some
thing, and I quickly pulled out the
longest pods left in the bag The first
had 10, the next eight, and 1 felt it
was quite useless to hunt for a lucky
nine. but the last one l had taken re-
Vived my spirits, and after counting
three times from both ends of the
pod, so as to be sure, tucked it away
In my blouse. When an opportunity
came 1 pulled some thread out of sis
ter's workbox, and suspended my prize
where 1t would dangle above the head
of any unfortunate" entering.
For the next few hours you would
not have had to look far from the
front door TO find me.
Once 1 looked down the path Just
in time to see sisters fiance approach
ing. I seized the telephone book and
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-02-13

turned I'm resentment.
Now there he sat. buyer, and she
was model, parading the fall styles
in coats before him. She rather would
have died of starvation than that he
should see her thus.
At the day closed for the models,
Jenny took off the last coat and pu5
on her own shabby one. She walked
down to the firsc floor and there she
found MacHall. He came toward her
at once, and she knew that he had
been waiting for her.
"I've been looking for you. Jenny"
he said. "The last I heard of you.
you were at Starker's, and I went
there. They said you left two months
ago. I couldn't go home without sec
ing you, and when you walked out to-
day. You see, I'd Just come in when
that poor girl tainted"
He led her in through the revolving
door of plain. but generous looking
restaurant, put her into chair and sat
down opposite her. "Now, we can
talk" he said, smiling. 1--WE a lot to
tell you"
She looked at him piteously.
Il know you must have. After all /
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-02-13

batted down the pod just in time.
hadn't hung it there for him.
After he went, mother asked me to
go to the store. We would be gone an
hour, and, as I didn't want to lose any
chances, decided to let the pod hang
over the doorway while we were gone.
So. when we got down the walk, !
turned back, ostensibly for handker-
chief. 1 rushed into the kitchen and
told Mamie to take special note of any
visitors who might come. Then
seized the hassock and had nearly
fixed the pod in its former place, when
l heard sister calling. knew it wasn't
secure but trusted it would hang
there till I got back.
The minute we returned I consulted
Mamie.
who's been?"
"The rector came in for a few min.
utes," she answered.
"Rector!" L gasped. He is married
and has two grown-up daughters.
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-02-13
ByEAnnette Angert

1t ran thus:
Am going to mothers to din
ner with the children. You will
have to get your own dinner.
MARY"
When the hands of the clock pointed
3, a very weak and hungry man
opened the door to his home, but what
was his horror when his children ran
to greet him, to find their hair tossed
their faces and hands dirty and their
clothing torn and soiled. The dishes
that had been used for dinner were
on the table, torn newspapers were
scattered on the chairs and floor, and
the whole house scene of disorder
and confusion.
And in the midst of 1t all was his
wife, placidly reading a novel.
Mary, what's the matter?" he in
quired in astonishment
"Why, nothing" sweetly replied she,
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-02-13
Contributed S. X. C,

My Dear-I received your letter this
a. m. and 1t sure was all to the good.
l was afraid that may be you had for
gotten me.
You know, dear, I heard yesterday
that you said something about me, and
/ felt kind of hurt, for l thought that
perhaps you didn't mean what you said
day before yesterday. truly do think
that you are all to the good.
You sure were very nice to me Sun
day and appreciate 1t. You're a dear
and awful sweet
l sure did enjoy being with you Sun
day. I just loved your kisses and your
cute little ways. You have the dear
est voice of any kid l know. / could
listen to 1t forever; it makes me think
of running water and the wind in high
trees, 1t is SO sweet and gentle. / love
every bit of you-your hair and lips
and eyes, and your gentle ways and
your dear little bits of feet and hands.
Your kisses are just divine, too. 1
wonder If you approved of mine? Some
girls have. but they weren't like you.
I'm just mad about you and I'd like
you to approve of me. I'm an awful
poor letter writer, but / can love a
lot. especially little darling like you.
Gee, dear, you don't know how fool
ish l got about yor, all in one day!
You probably don't care for me like
that, do you? You must have been
tired, honey. dear. l wish / had been
out there. / would have held you in
my arms and kissed you to sleep and
then ] would have watched your dear
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-02-13
The Allowance Came All Rieht

She thought and planned and
planned and thought, wondering how
she was going to get that allow
ance, now that she had decided to have
it. A happy thought come to her mind.
She had also read in the papers that
when men of business concerns want
ed an increase in pay, they refused %
work until they were granted what
they asked. Why couldn't she do the
same.
The more she thought of it the more
it appealed to her, and she chuckled
to herself when she thought of Tom
trying to get his own breakfast.
That evening when her respected
husband came home from work she
met him at the door, her face wreathed
with smiles. After helping him off
with his coat she ushered him to the
table and piled his plate with the
choicest pieces her bill-of-fare offered.
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-02-13
BY viii Seaton

And so told him the whole story,
and how sorry / had been that he
didn't at least come inside the door
that afternoon. for Mamie said that he
called just before the rector.
He listened, but before 1 got there
he was shaking with laughter He
waited till I got to where l imagined
the rector walking up the street with
the pod on that shining silk hat of his,
and then he burst out and laughed long
and loud.
"Of all things" he calculated, "how
funnyi"
He got up abruptly and started Off.
It'll be right back" was all he said
He went home and came back soon
with little box in his hand.
This isn't q present" he smiled,
but it may interest you"
When l opened the box I found. to
my amaZement, withered old pod with
nine hard little kernelsi
AS l looked UP for an explanation
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-02-13
Love Letters That Have Made Good

have to write you and tell you love
you. Yes, love you with all my heart.
The minute l met you l knew I had
found my ideal. Perhaps you have al
ready guessed my love for you, al
though 1 tried very hard not to show
it on account OF Jim; but. dear, how
could I appear so totally Indifferent
when my heart was full of you?
Nell, dear, do you care for me a lit
tie? If you do wish you would write
and tell me may call on you next
Thursday night. l hope you won't
think i'll Of me for writing you such a
letter, but, dearie, it was a case of
having to.
Now, Nell. you must write as soon
as you get my letter, for the days will
seem like years to me until l hear
from you. Good-by, my dearest love.
HENRY.
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-02-13

he told me that that was the same pod
l had hung in the doorway. 1t seems
that by the time he called that day
the pod had dropped and was lying on
the carpet. The door was open, as
our veranda was well screened, and
while he was waiting for someone to
answer the bell he stepped over the
threshold and picked it up, intending
TO hand it to Mamie and tell her he
was afraid someone might fall on, it
However. when he found 1 wasn't
home, he forgot all about it. and car.
ried 1t back to his house.
Then, as he tells me, since any.
thing to do with me or my house was
becoming dear to him, he saved it, and
had never quite felt like throwing il
away.
Then 1t wasn't hanging there when
the rector called?" 1 gasped. "Oh, oh,
/ won't have to be an old maid. then.
will I?t
We'll" he smiled, "well ask thu
rector about it."
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-02-13

"only I'm on strike"
Out on strike. For what?" and
then it dawned on him what she meant
as she replied, why, for my allow,
ance."
and thus matters went on till Sat.
urday.
Shortly after IL of that day a half.
starved man handed his wife his paI
envelope, saying: For goodness
sake, take all you want, only give ms
a decent meal, and clean up this
house."
1t is needless to say that mother
accepted the allowance, but it is neces4
sary to add that, when some years lat.
err at the marriage of their eldest
daughter, Mary handed her future son.
1n-law check for five thousand dol.
lars, Tom was heard to remark thai
he never regretted the day his wife
struck for an allowance.
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-02-13

est warrior is a generous one, even to
his foe.
As stand at my window tonight,
looking at the stars, I know that some
where they are, shining down on you.
/ do not fear for thee, but, oh my
brave one, 1 want you! I want you!
Because you need me so. Do not fear
for me; / am safe.
1 often wonder when you will come.
Will it be when the trees are bursting
into life and blossom? VIII it be in
the summer time? VIII it be on a
beautiful autumn morning? Or will it
come in winter, when the snow is on
the ground? know. when the mists
have cleared away" I shall see you.
shall never forget to ask Him to put
His band on your head in blessing and
help you.
With courage. patience and love.
RUTH
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-02-13

Dinner finished, she cleared the
dishes. gave Tom his favorite pipe
and chair, and hurried the children off
to bed. These and various other du-
ties being fulfilled, she took her knit
ting, drew chair up near her hus-
bands, and began:
Tom"
Eyes, Mary" without glancing from
his paper.
Haven't 1 always been a good wifi,
to you since the day I took you for
better or worse?"
Eyes, Mary, you have" replied he,
wondering what was coming next.
Haven't 1 always cooked your
meals, washed, ironed and sewed your
clothes and taken good care of our
children?"
Indeed and you have, Mary, and a
lucky man am I in having such a
good woman as you. 'Tain't every man
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-02-13

as Is so fortunate"
well, now, Tom," she began, in a
coaxing tone, "if I am as you say,
don't you think you could spare me
an allowance every week, like all the
other women have? About two dollars
a week would be enough"
An allowance! Two dollars?" ex-
claimed he, now thoroughly aroused.
What would you be doing with two
dollars to spend on yourself? Going
to moving pictures. I suppose, and GAL
livanting around to whist parties and
the like, while and the children would
be half-starved? No, indeed. MY
mother, hard-working, respectable
woman, never had an allowance, and
no wife of mine will ever have one.
No sir; not while my name is Tom"
And with that he took up his paper and
resumed his smoking, signifying thus
that the conversation was at an end
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-02-13

ored girl, was sweltering in the kitch-
en-, while we were enjoying the cool
est spot in the place.
We exclaimed over the perfectness
of some of the pods.
1--WE eight in this one" said sister.
"Oh, really?" 1 replied, and then
there flashed across my mind some
thing 1 had read somewhere in a
dream book"
So l paused, and with an air of re-
vealing something choice Ito get Sis
ter's attention., 1 began:
You know, If you can find a pod
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-02-13

and to be thought of no more.
But 1t was far from mothers mind
to let matters rest there.
At 6 o'clock the next morning the
alarm rang as usual, but although
Tom waited and waited, his wife made
no signs of rising.
"I might as well let her Sleep" said
he to himself; "she must be all tired
out" and that morning he went to
work with only cup of half-drawn
coffee and piece Of bread to stave
off his hunger.
The IL o'clock whistle blew and
Tom was off, thinking OF the nice hot
dinner his wife always had waiting
for him.
Shutting the door with bang he
rushed into the dining room, ready to
sit at a dinner, which, alas! was not
there. Greatly perplexed, he read the
note which he found on the table.
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-02-13
Contributed hr F.RL

My Dearest Friend-It is just little
over a year since we first met that
day that has meant so much to me-
How my heart thrilled when our eyes
met, and as the rest of the day passed
found myself longing for you. I
knew then my heart belonged TO you
and to you only could I give it, And
all those loving words that you have
told me, how l shall always cherish
them. Only a few days after you ask
ed me to call at my home. Since then
l have loved you more and more each
dav
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-02-13

of thought she decided she must have
an allowance.
Don't I cook the meals, do the
washing, the ironing, the sewing, the
scrubbing, and take care of the chill
dren? And what do I get for it? Moth
ing. Surely If / hired out as house
keeper I'd get more than l do now"
Thus she conversed and reasoned
with herself one bright, spring morn
ing.
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-02-13

walked back again, passed through the
door, took off that coat and put on an
other one. There were no false move
ments, no delays The whole perform
anee was regulated as by machinery.
And 1t was unutterably monotonous
and wearying.
1t was a mid-August day, and the
best the fans could do was to stir the
fetid heat of the showrooms. The
buyers sat in their booths gripping
pencils and pads with moist fingers.
The collars of the men wilted. The
women, though dressed more sanely.
were pale with discomfort. But they
had come to town to buy coats, and
upon the present accuracy of their
judgment depended future sales and
their own positions. They saw only
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-02-13
Contributed byK. w.

My Own True Love--It was only
last night that you held me in your
arms, and yet 1t seems a year. Dear
heart, can it be that you have left me
forever?
I have pined my heart away hoping
that some day I might see your dear
face again. Your dear memories often
come TO me in my dreams. IL you
knew how much thought of you, you
would not stay away. but fly on the
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-02-13

there on the rocky and wave-beaten
shore, your hair blowing carelessly
above your boyish face and your deep
blue eyes looking down upon me, so
seriously and so full of tender love.
Tell me, dear one, il you meant all
you told me when crushing me closer
and closer to your heart, your lips pos
sessing mine in one kiss of ecstacy:
tell me If you were true. God knows
how / love you-worship you-my
darling boy.
Come back to me, Don dear, and
love me as you loved me last night.
That night, Don, was the most perfect
night in my life, and you made it per-
feet to me.
1 cannot bear to hear those waves
breaking up over the rocks The very
rocks where we stood together with
hands clasped. 1 listen to hear your
footsteps on the beach, but the cease
less beating OF the surf is the only
sound.
My heart is torn with grief. cannot
write more. Don; you and alone
belong to each other. Nothing will
ever take that wonderful love of yours
from me.
AS I write you these words. sweet
heart, tears blur my eyes. Tell me,
ah, tell me, Don. that you believe in
me and still trust me!
Yours with a thousand longing
kisses. BARBARA.
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-02-13

were sitting on the
veranda shelling
peas. I had the big
easy chair and Sis
ter sat in a little
s t ra / 6 h t backed
rocker, with the
dish in her lap, and
a bag of fat green
peas at her feet.
Mamie, our col
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-02-13

wings OF love to your own little girl.
When l see you with other girls ]
feel like leaving this world forever.
Have you forgotten that night SO Ions
ago when you asked me to be youl
wife?
Although you may never receive this
letter yet it eases my heart to write it,
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-02-13
Contributed bY ]. i. C.

My Dearfest Queen-If 1 could only
express in this letter the deep anxiety
l am feeling for you tonight.
1t seemed too bad that must leave
you to go abroad when was needed so
much to sustain and cheer you.
There is doubt in my mind yet that
my coming was pardonable. So much
Of my future depends, dear, on the
work accomplished here, as you know.
but still you, my queen, are the dear
est object l have on the face of the
earth. shall not rest easy until l
hear from you. dear. to know how your
health is.
May the God who watches over us
both protect you from all danger, ali
illness. while I am away. Time passes
slowly away from you, my queen. l
want to hasten home. We have so
much to look forward to, dear, that our
happiness will be one long re-. .lity.
Good night and rest assured you are
ever in my thoughts daily. hourly. Ever
yours, EARLE.
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-02-13

OTHER had been
reading the papers.
She had read in that
column dedicated to
the Sewing Circle, 3"
the greater part of
an animated discus
sion about the ne
cessity of wives
having allowances.
After a great deal
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-02-13

face until you were all rested.
Now, dear heart, answer right back,
please. think about you all the time
and wish that had you here in my
arms to love and kiss.
Now, don't forget and answer right
back. Tell me how much you love
me and what you think of me, please.
Lots of love and kisses, sweetheart
Lovingly, ROGER.
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-02-13

)R six hours she had
been doing the same
thing at intervals of
twelve minutes. In
fact, she had been
doing it for several
days. She put on a
C o a t, W a | k e d
through a door and
down a room for
fifty feet, turned,
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-02-13

Everyone who knows you speaks
good of you. l am not sorry that
have trusted you in all. l love you be-
cause you are my IDEAL.
1 am longing in my heart for the day
when we will be as one. Until then 1
will think of you in the day, dream of
you at night, hoping soon to have a
kiss from your own lips. 1 am ever
your devoted little girl. LOUISE.
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-02-13

Contributed by A. p. L.
Dear Mell-I'm desperate. simply
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-02-13
Contributed bY H. 8.

ABOVE ALL
oh, darling boy, If
you were here to-
night with me! l
seems eternity since
you left me. Close
your eyes for a
minute, boy, and
think, think of last
night. l can see
you as you stood
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-01-05
DRINK WATER TO
AVOID SICKNESS
SAYS AUTHORITY
Glass of hot water before break
fast daily keeps the doc
tor away.

Sanitary science has of late made
rapid strides with results that are of
untold blessing to humanity. The lat
est application OF it's untiring re-
search is the recommendation that It
is as necessary to attend to internal
sanitation Of the drainage system of
the human body as it is to the drains
of the house.
Those of us who are accustomed to
feel dull and heavy when we arise,
splitting headache, stuffy from a cold,
foul tongue, nasty breath, acid stom-
ach, can, instead. feel as fresh as q
daisy by opening the sluices of the
system each morning and flushing
out the whole of the internal poison
Gus stagnant matter.
Everyone, whether ailing, sick or
WELL should, each morning before
breakfast, drink a glass of real hot
water with a teaspoonful of lime
stone phosphate in it to wash from
the stomach, liver. and bowels the
previous days indigestible waste,
cleansing, sweetening and purifying
the entire alimentary canal before
putting more food into the stomach.
The action of hot water and limestone
phosphate on an empty stomach is
wonderfully invigorating 1t cleans
out all the SOUR lamentations, gases.
waste and acidity and gives one a
splendid appetite for breakfast. While
you are enjoying your breakfast the
phOSphated hot water is quietly ex-
tracing a large volume of water from
the blood and getting ready for a
thorough flushing of all the inside or
gans.
The millions of people who are
bothered with constipation, bilious
spells, stomach trouble, rheumatic
stiffness; others who have saIlow
SKINS blood disorders and siekly COM
plexions are urged to get a quarter
pound of limestone phosphate from
the drug store This will cost very lit
tie, but is sufficient to make anyone
a pronounced crank on the subject of
internal advertisement