davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1921-12-26
VIZ HEN old Judge Ryan award :
" ed Holly Erwin a divorce he

\" HEN OLD Judge Ryan a"ao-
" ed Holly Erwin a divorce he
also gave her the custody Of
two beautiful little children, Holly,
named for her, and Justin, named
for the defendant, who was not
present to contest his wife's suit.
Following the divorce Holly re-
turned to the home that had been
hers for seven years. Her children
went about the business Of playing
as they had played In the old days
when their father lived with them.
Christmas was several days away
and there were naany things tho
mother must do to lend to the
occasion the cheer and happiness
that her children must have. She
left them alone and went into her
bedroom. Here she began wrapping
gifts in bright colored tissue paper.
Let's play house and be like
mama and papa" said Holly, aged
eleven.
IAN right" agreed Justin. Just
past seven.
I'm sick and tired Of promises.
I've lived on promises for seven
years." and Holly, jr.. gave a very
fair imitation Of her mother lifting
her shoulders with an intolerant
shrug.
"And more than that, I want to
know right now II you are going to
stop going around with that awful
Jim Drake. You can choose be-
tween u.s."
Little Justin was baffled. What
do say now7'
Miss Holly knew precisely. You
say. 'oh. hell. Holly; what a fool
you can be when you tryr'
Justin repeated the line.
The sound Of the door bell sent
both children scrambling downstairs
after their mother. II proved to
be q large square box and intrigued
the two minds Of Justin and Holly
Erwin's offspring.
Don't let's wait for Christmas.
Let's open this one now" they
begged in unison.
Holly hesitated, but finally gave
in. Her trembling fingers brought
out a large holly wreath. Tied to
the wreath was card that read:
ITO the Holly of my heart" The
writing needed no identifying
name. Holly Erwin buried her
head In the wreath and sobbed.
Little Holly tugsed Mt her
brothers arm. He followed her
The Washington times., 1921-12-26
Christmas
Tree
BY Mary Isabel Curtis.

"O almost every boy and girl at
holiday time a tree means
Christmas tree. But how
much, wonder, do you children really
know about this most beautiful tree
of all?
Many, many, years ago when Jo-
seph of Arimathea came from Pal
estine to England to tell the English
people all about the life and death
of Christ, there had never been a
Christmas tree in any country in the
world. Very few people lived in
England at that time and those who
did live there were wild, rough men
and women who did not welcome
strangers to their land.
Joseph and his frineds were glad
enough when they reached England
after a long and stormy voyage on
the ocean-for in those days there
were no comfortable, big ships such
as we now travel on. They had come
all the way from Palestine in a little
open boat exposed to bitter, winter
weather, and were cold and tired
and weary Of the sea.
After they landed they started to
travel back into the interior of the
country hoping to find some kindly
shelter. But no one would receive
them. On Christmas eve their food
was gone; they were exhausted and
almost perishing with cold when
they came to a little hill, that ever
since that day has been called
''Weary-all." There Joseph, in deep
announcement, dropped down on
rock to rest.
Il have strength to go no farther,
my courage has departed and my
hope is as dead as this staff in my
hands," he declared.
AS he spoke Joseph thrust his
staff into the ground. Suddenly, to
the amazement of them ALL the dead
wood began to grow. 1t put forth
branches covered with green leaves,
and then before their wondering
eyes broke into fragrant blossoms.
The dry stick of wood had changed
into noble hawthorn tree.
1T is a miracle!' they cried, and
all dropped on their knees.
Then one of them recalled a tale
that he had heard of how the trees
in Paradise hal blossomed on the
night tn eLord was born.
Strength came back to their
limbs and courage TO their hearts,
no that they were able to construct
few rough houses out of mud and
branches. And beside the miracu-
lous thorn tree they built a little
church, which later on was added
to, and became the famous Glaston.
bury Abbey.
For many years the sacred thorn
tree blossomed every Christmas
Eve, and the fame OF the repeated
miracle spread over all the land
Even today, II YOU should go to
England, You can go to Glaston.
bury and some one will show you
where the thorn tree grew,
The Washington times., 1921-12-26
Screen Version No eiised
BY Jane Mclean.

THERE's this to be said about
witches ~ grown-ups aren't
afraid of them in the day
time; eve nif one were to appear
on a birthstone broomstick and
humble words of warning it
wouldn't matter so long as the
sun shone; but in the dark, that's
different.
Because the wise men will tell
you that every shadow is a friend
of every witch, no matter what
shape she takes, and that's the
reason men and women become
children in the dark.
OF course, there are some good
witches-fairies they call them.
Eileen Barrett knew all about it.
She was positive that fairies lived
in. the flowers and rode on the
long, sweeping pillows that thun-
dered on the rock beach beyond
the little Irish village of Newrie.
Her father made the suggestion
bruskly that no fairy could ride a
roller and escape without broken
bones, but Aileen had two answers
to that. First, fairies didn't have
bones; and, second. If they did
they could mend them themselves
in a minute.
John Barrett laughed and told
Bridget, who ruled the Barrett cot
tage, and Bridget blessed the faith
of girlhood, and prayed that Aileen
would never grow up. That made
John Barrett sigh, for Aileen was
growing up every day. poisoning
into wonderful Irish beauty with
dark ringlets and velvet eyes and
soft smile. IS. ,s.a. .,..- 70.
Lots of food for thought for
John Barrett, who remembered
her mother just 90. Sometimes Il
seemed years ago and again it
scanned only hours. -e.
He strolled to the doorway. pipe
in his mouth and shrewd eyes al
most hidden by heavy brows.
Aileen had gone to the village,
SO he walked to meet her, peering
like a schoolboy after apples.
The Washington times., 1921-12-26

you, piggy?" and she flipped one OF
his ears.
The pig grunted. There. cried
Aileen. you see he says no; you
heard him. didn't your" They
trooped back. stepping sideways.
Here, Tom, you aren't afraid.
send him away"
Tom hesitated: in the end he
gained and developed desire to
go home, but his sang froid didn't
leave him. II it's a witch pig"
he said loudly, hell go away by
himself"
The girl resumed her reading and
the children their listening. Aileen
looked up to the blue sky and mo-
The Washington times., 1921-12-26

toned with her arms the course OF
this particular witch when she came
strolling down out Of the moon, and
the little heads bobbed up and down,
to the right and to the left, follow
ing with slavish precision the mo-
ton of her hands
But even witch stories can't last
forever, This one ended abruptly
with the arrival of a portly woman
hailed as mother by several treble
voices. On her arm she carried an
empty basket. and she bowed as
she passed II to Aileen.
Heaven bless We for bringing
the food, Miss, and may the Lord
The Washington times., 1921-12-26

reward we with a handsome hus-
band"
The girl took the basket. deposited
therein the book, and with a prom
Use of another story another day.
linked her arm through her faith
er's and started for home.
B ITS yourself is, the witch, I'm
thinking" he said. pointing with his
blackthorn stick toward she heck in
the basket. vrd Tof gym
mo. witches are always old" She
turned to wave a last farewell to the
urchins whose parting cries followed
her and to stop an aged crone who
plodded along bowed under load
of wood.
The Washington times., 1921-12-26

Her father watched her. Her gen.
uine kindness. her unfailing good
nature, her sympathy for the I'M
fortunate were the miiestones in his
fiery life.
You'll be awhile in the village?"
he broke in.
"Only little while, father, dear"
"I'u be moving along; Sir Fergus
will be expecting me-"
With the courtesy Of his race he
lifted his hat, including the wrin-
killed. carrier with his blooming young
daughter. 81,
There goes gentleman" said
the crone.
The Washington times., 1921-12-26
Household Hints

When carving, place the joint on
a dish large enough to allow its
being turned when necessary. Do
not serve gravy on the dish, but
hand It separately.
To restore stale loaves to their
former fresh condition, wrap them
in n wet cloth for a minute, then
remove, and bake the loaf in a slow
oven FOR half an hour.
The white of an egg applied to a
burn excludes the air and prevents
Inflammation.
The Washington times., 1921-12-26
Noted Astronomer and Whittier Of =
Subjects of Scientific Interest.

planet neptune mas any record
been made of it's revolution
around the sun? Also Of it's
rotation on its axis? In addition.
will you please state the same
facts as regards Uranus? When
were the above planets discov-
ered?-G. p, Woodhaven, L. 1.
has completed less
than half a. revolution around
the sun since its discovery in
September, 1886. Its period Of
revolution being about 1875 years
Q61.7s). 1t will not have returned to
the part Of the sky where 1t was
first recognized until the year 2011,
or 80 years hence. When found, in
1916. 1t was celestial longitude
nearly 32S degrees, and about 13h
degrees south declination, in the
constellation Aquarius. 1t is at this
writing in longitude a little beyond
1874 degrees, and about 46 degrees
north declination, on the border of
the considerations Leo and Cancer.
It has thus passed eastward through
IuC COIlSttiidtioh lSCSb, <IIcS,
Taurus, Gemini and Cancer, but
must still traverse Leo, Virgo,
Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius and
Capricornus and about half OF
Aquarius before it can complete
a circuit. 1t advances in celestial
longitude about 2 degrees and IA
minutes every year.
But Neptune was seen, without.
however, being recognized as
planet, by the French astronomer
Lalande, in May, 1875. He saw
that 1t had moved slightly between
two observations forty-eight hours
apart, but mistakenly concluded
that the apparent movement was a
deception, and so passed the object
as only a star. Thus he missed
the glory Of being the discoverer of
the second planet unknown to the
ancients, and left the opportunity.
open to Leverrier and Adams, half
a century later, to demonstrate its
existence from its attraction upon
Uranus. and to point out to the
astronomers in the observatories
where they should aim their tele-
scopes In order to see 1t. II only
I.alande had watched the supposed
star a night or two longer The
mind as a Judge often rejects the
The Washington times., 1921-12-26
Romantic and Gorgeous Photoplay,
Based on Dom Byrne's
Famous Story.

c"The Brides Play" made into mo-
ton pictures, directed by George w.
Terwilliger, scenario by Mildred Con-
sidine, which was created by C0sm0-
politan Productions and released as .
Paramount picture.)
The Washington times., 1921-12-26
This Day in History.

IN this day ST. Stephen, first Christian Martyr,
patron of horses is commemorated. Being the
day after Christmas it was formerly the custom for
the poor to beg for vctuas left over from the feast
The Washington times., 1921-12-26

The. Largest Bell in the World.
MANY claims put forward by different places
IA which profess to possess the largest bell in the
world. The most valid, however, is for the bell
shaped piece of metal in the Kremlin at Moscow.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1921-06-23
Marcos do Mia, Franciscan Mission
airy From Italy, Conceded to BE
Discovorer Of Arizona.

Seven Cities Esp. Siete Ciudades)
was the name given by Friar Marcos
Mia, in the Sixteenth century, to sup
posed large and powerful cities in the
present New Mexico. Marcos de MIA
a Franciscan missionary from Italy
was the discoverer of Arizona. He
is said to have labored successively
in Peru, Nicaragua and Mexico, and in
the last-named country was provinci-
al of IBIS order. By order Of the vice.
roy he penetrated northward from
Culiacan in 1889, and in May of that
year reached the region called Cibola
(perhaps the Zuni pueblos) but, some
Of his company being attacked by the
Indians, he turned back, reaching
COmpOstilla about July. His exagger-
ated accounts derived only from re-
ports) of the riches of Cibola and its
seven cities led to the expedition un-
der Juan Vasquez de Coronado Q54OO,
which De Mia accompanied as guide.
The supposed wealthy cities were then
shown to be ordinary puebos. and the
ffiar was sent back in disgust. D
Mas report. which has been fire.
quently published, is full of improba-
bilities, but there can be no doubt
that he crossed Sonora and part of
Arizona into New Mexico.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1921-06-23
TRUTH IN FRAGMENTS

Heart failure covers a multitude
Of bad diagnoses.
The paraso was used in Egypt in
Cleopatra's reign.
Some inventors spend all their lives
in trying to make both ends meet
Unless a man has self-respect he
cannot command the respect of 9th
ers.
In olden times the topaz was wora
to keep the wearer from sleep walk
ing.
Many a man who is unable to write,
manages to make his mark in the
world
Japanese people attain their full
height at an earlier age than do
Caucasans.
Even when the unexpected happens,
there is always someone who says:
81 told you So
A big crowd is an entertainment
in a small town. in a city it is only
an inconvenience.
Patents of nobility are frequently
renewed with the assistance of the
American heireSS.
In country that isn't fit for d
republic, the men defeated at the
polls go to shooting.
Yet when a man does have great
ness thrust upon him he really thinks
he has achieved it.
No matter how costly thing may
be, woman considers 1T valueless
when she has lost all interest in 1t.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1921-06-23
FINAL TRIUMPH FOR MAURICE
Small Boy Endured Much, but in the
End He Made Strong Point
Over Rivals.

Ten-yearold Maurice was In love
with the pretty new teacher and did
everything in his power to get ahead
of the others in winning her affection.
Monday morning he was distinctly out
of humor when in walked John and
gave the teacher ticket "Its to the
entertainment at our church" he said
proudly. II bought this ticket for you
so that you could come and hear me
sing"
A few days later he was more pro-
voked when in came Helen bearing
a ticket. Its to cur dancing class
party I want YOU to come and see
me dance" she smiled.
He scOwled and scOWled. But later
in the week his turn came to smile
above all the rest. He, too, bore
ticket to teacher, but his speech was
different. Here's a ticket for you,
Miss g." he smiled Its to the Ma
sons supper and I want you to come
and eat with me. not watch me eat"
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1921-06-23
TRfciNG WHIMS OF FASHION
ESch Century Seems to Have Seen
Scn:s Change for Which a Reason
/ Iiay &c Adduced.

In the Fifteenth century the waist
lire vas discovered, and the pointed
ad a carried to extreme, says the New
York Herald. The women wore tall
po,nted hats, pointed shoes, and points
were introduced in every possible way.
AT this time the church was strongly
in the ascendant and the models of
tile Madonna served as the inspiration
1or their costumes. AS these little
anodels were carved from ivory tusks,
the women followed the sa cred model,
sand the curve of the tusk was also
copied in their carriage, giving a sim
ldlar tilt to the figure, recently called
She debutante SLOUGH.
The Sixteenth century brought in
cOrsets, the heightened waistliila and
the Introduction of the full skirt. 1t
was in this period that Catherine de
Medici brought III collars and lace WAS
used III Wol.::-:l'S cGStu:.1 for the first
time. In the Seventeenth century,
Known as the romantic period, the
styles became very frivolous.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1921-06-23
Her "Cheeken s."

A charming little French war bride
whose husband brought her last year
to a home in an Indiana town. re
ceived the assessor, this spring, anu
in her husbands absence from home
endeavored to assist him in filing out
his blank. In her broken English, she
mentioned the machine, which, in 1T
modern case, the assessor took for q
graphophone After many desperate
attempts, she finally opened the case
and let him see for himself that il
was a sewing machine. Then he con-
tinued down the list, finally inquiring
if she had any chickens "Oh yes
yes" she replied, nodding, yes, l have
Chickens "How many doZen?'
asked the assessor. "No douzaine no!
no,'' she said, Il have just only a
lady and her husband. indianapolis
Star.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1921-06-23
ALL FRUIT GROWERS FRIENDS
Listed by the American For
estry Association.

The American Forestry association
has published the fact that a cliff
swallow will eat 1000 flies, mosqui-
toes, wheat midgetS, or beetles in a
day. The crops Of four chickadees
showed 1923 eggs of the cankerworm.
Take notice, Mr.. Fruit Grower. A
quail killed in a Texas cotton field
had eaten 1877 boil weevils, and prai-
RE chicken had over 800 Of them in
its crop. The bob white has been
known to eat, 135 different kinds of
insects. 1t has been estimated that
this bird will consume an average of
$4,000 insects and 100000 weed seeds
in a year. House martins, swallows.
and sWifts eat rose beetles, may bee
ties, cucumber beetles and house flies
The quail eats Texas fever carrying
ticks: the killdeer and other shore
birds feed on the larvae of disease
carrying mosquitoes; night-hawk's
evening meal consists of 500 adult
mosquitoes.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1921-06-23
That Relative Theory.

1t happened after the club meeting.
Two members met in the corridor.
81 was just thinking about poor
Uriah Humpson," said one.
"What about him?'
"Well, you know what a lovely
home his wife bought with his insur-
ance money!"
Yes, Of course"
"You know the man who married
his widow married again as soon "a.
Mrs. HumpSon passed away"
what, again."
"Yes; that's three times for him."
mo wonder you say, Poor Uriah.' !"
"Yes. indeed; just think how he
must feel up there looking down on
a man he never saw living in his
house as his wife's second husband,
with his third wife. "-Pennsylvanfa
Punch Bowl.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1921-06-23
THEIR ESTIMATES TOO LOW
Their Figures Concerning the
Weight OF Crowds.

Interesting experiments were made
some time ago at Harvard university
which seem to demonstrate that en-
gineers usually underes innate the
maximum loading caused by dense
crowds on bridges floors and plat
iorms. Forty men averaging 1913
pounds in weight placed in a box six
feet square caused an average pres
sure of 1S1 pounds to the square foot
on the floor.
An engineer has estimated the
weight per square foot of the densest
crowds on the New York elevated rail-
ways at only 45 pounds, but since the
Harvard experiments the opinion has
been expressed that the maximum
loading ON the elevated cars and plat
forms may be nearer 181 than 45
pounds. This applies to other close
packed crowds.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1921-06-23
WOULD TAKE BACK HIS RIB
Tomnnie Planned Dire Vengeance for
the FaithIessness of His Tickle
Playmate.

Little Tommie, precocious six
year-old, had been disappointed in
love. He had a date to play with
little Mary Ann In her house across
the way. When he got there he. found
she had forgotten all about him and
was sliding down hill on his rivals
new sled.
Tommie returned home, disguised
with all girls in general and one in
particular. He didn't cry nor did he
contemplate suicide. Instead he went
straight to his mama and with child
ish naivete said:
Mama, d'you know what I'd do If
| was Adam? I'd go right up to
heaven and I'd say, please, Mr.. God.
If it's just the same to you, I'd like
to have my rib back"
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1921-06-23
Free Picture Show.

One morning little Willie was tell
ing his mother and his little sister
Dora about wonderful dream he had
the night before.
The dream interested his mother,
but his little sister looked puzzled.
"What is a dream, Willie?" she
asked
"Oh. don't you know what dream
is?" replied Willie scornfully. "Why,
it's moving pictures in ones Sleep"
London Answers.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1921-06-23
The Point of View.

THE thing that strikes me about a
quadruped," said the student Of
things. thougftfully. "is the speed with
which horse, or deer, or dog, can
get over the ground"
yeah" said the lazy man. But
your point of view is one OF too much
energy. For me. l don't see anything
TO shape that makes you keep four
legs going at once when two would get
you there. "-Richmond TimesDis-
patch.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1921-06-23
Siqht Unseen.

He had always greatly admired the
khaki bag in which his wife keeps her
clothespins, so he persuaded her to
make one for his fishing tackle
few days ago he went several
miles from home fishing and was just
preparing TO assemble his line for a
good day when he discovered that in
stead Of bringing his fishing tackle kit
he had carried out his wife's bag Of
clOtheSpinS.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1921-06-23
Valuable.

''Mr. Grabcon seems TO have a
great deal of confidence in his private
secretary"
"The young man is worth $4,000
q year to, Mr.. Grabcoin."
"Yes?"
"Why, he can send callers away,
thinking that the only reason why they
can't see that great man, who may
be telling a funny story to another
dummy director, is because he's work
ing sixteen hours a day TO keep the
country from going to smash"
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1921-06-23
hune Forest Fire Losses

Forest fires, sweeping over 56. 1873, BOT
acres Of land in 40 states. have caused
damage amounting 70 SS5.715,747 dur
ing the five years 1916 TO 1920, inclu-
sive. according to the. United States
forest service A total of 16031S for
EST fires occurred during this time.
minnesota was the chief sufferer, it's
ioss being $30.S95, 1853
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1921-06-23
Tired

"Wur-wa'-tha'?" asked Tired
Tim.
"A woman said that she'd give me
a meal If I'd split some wood. | ate
the food and then told her / wouldn't
do the job. She called a big bull
dog"
81 don't see anything funny in that"
"You don't? Why. l thought I'd
split!
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1921-06-23
Helen,s Version.

A teacher in the IrvingtOn school
was carefully leading her pupils
through a lesson in the first grade
reader.
"Now, Helen" said she, "will you
please read the next sentence. Be
sure and do not forget the little mark
at the end Of the sentence"
Helen studied the sentence. 1t was
this: "Can you rum"
Then Helen read it thus: "Can you
run, little button hookr'-Indianapolis
News.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1921-06-23
1t Wasn't SO Funny, Either.

Weary Willie yawned expansively.
Tired Tim stretched his arms, he
was too tired to yawn.
After an hour or so Weary Willie
remarked:
ga funny thing happened to me the
other day, Tim"