davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1928-12-23

"I have an engagement. Sorry"
"Oh, we all know" taunted Marie.
well. you'll be along yourself later"
Jack returned, land I've got to get out
to Cliff Heights and back. I won't be
there before 10 now"
His mother looked after him as he
disappeared through the door. She was
a white-haired old lady, as softly sweet
as Mrs. Morgan was definite and cap
able, and her glance at Jack was the
slightly lonesome look Of the mother
who is left behind inevitably and
naturally.
With supper over, the group scattered
again.
THE young people In the party seemed
= to melt away. Phyllis saw Jerry
| settle down with Uncle Alec to talk
business. When every one was comfort
able, she went to look at the children
again and make sure that they were
not feverish after their big day. Cherry
had seemed SO flushed when she went
| to bed. But she was all right now.
| And suddenly the disappointment Of
| the day seemed to come over Phyllis
again. She buried her face in her
hands and let the tears come quietly.
How dreadful to be crying on Christ
maSl How dreadful for a happy wife
and mother, and still she cried And
Mrs. Morgan, who had seen everything,
was planning Christmas present for
her daughter-in-law that would startle
the entire family.
At first the plan seemed absurd:
When the elder Mrs. Morgan had
broached it, Phyllis had refused to
think of it. She couldn't let her
parents-in-law take all that RESPONSE
bility. 1t was altogether too much for
them to think of taking the children to
Miami for the Winter. But Mrs.
Morgan had not let it go with first
refusal. She came back to the point,
insisting that it was the best thing for
the children and the best thing for
Phyllis, and she made it hard for
Phyllis to refuse. Jerry was complete
convert to the plan.
Then the children began their own
campaign Of coaxing, which was partly
| instigated by Mrs. Morgan. But, as
Phyllis said to her own mother, it didn't
seem right.
IF it were you, mother" said Phyllis
"I might feel differently. But Jerry's
mother doesn't seem to know much
about children. How do I know the
children would be properly cared for?
OF course, she offers to take Ella along
and Ella is the best nursemaid I've ever
had, but, even then. it hardly seems as
if should let them 60
Phyllis mother wrinkled her brow
and worried This wasn't thing with
in her experience. Her idea of mother
hood had been, as she often said, to
"give up everything for her children II
wasn't a thing within her experience
to send children of and 10 away
to spend long months in Florida with
out her care.
When Phyllis finally said that she
! could not get along without the chill
: dren, Mrs. Morgan's answer seemed tc
have been waiting for just that state.
ment.
"I think that's the trouble, Phyllis
: Yet one of these days you must gel
along without them. They'll be going
off to school soon, you know"
"I'll meet the school problem when
, must" Phyllis said; they'll be oldel
/ then"
Evening star., 1928-12-23

anything but beautiful. But when her
mother sighed and said she didn't
really see how she could get along
without Marie, Phyllis memory jumped
guiltily. That had been her own big
argument against letting the children
go south.
Christopher came. in, too. He was
vaguely apologetic in his manner to-
ward Mrs. Kent. He had brought
Marie violets, great single ones, lying
loose in the box, for that was the way
Marie liked them, and the smell of
them filed the living room as Marie
put them in silver bowl and bent
over them lingeringly.
You'll stay for dinner, Christopher"
asked Mrs. Kent.
why" he said awkwardly, marie
and had planned a little party to-
night"
sighed gently II hardly see my little
girl these days. And she'll be gone so
soon"
She looked very pathetic, and Marie's
face filled with pity.
"Oh, Chris, let's stay here" she sug-
gested.
"Of course" he agreed, his face fall
the dinner with Marie's mother was
from the gay little one for two that he
had been planning.
Nonsense" said Phyllis, run along,
both of you Mother will come home
with me, or if she's too tired I'll stay
here with her"
So it was settled. Marie and her
gallant went off in beam of Joy, and
Phyllis, the married and experienced
one, dined with her mother and listen
ed to her gentle "reminiscences of all
their childhoods, her worry about
Phyllis, her sweet desolation. 1t struck
her once rather comically that she got
her type of conversation by direct in
heritance.
If mother only had something to do,
Phyllis kept thinking. But it was too
late to put golf-stick into her hands,
even though she was not yet So.
It was too late for many things. too
late for most occupations, except those
which concerned her devotion to her
family. They played a quiet game of
double solitaire and talked of Phyllis
children until at 10 o'clock Phyllis
telephoned Jerry to call for her.
He came promptly, entering the room
like fine breath of wind
We'll, mother" he said. ready to
Evening star., 1928-12-23
White House Idea Is Sensible

been any more hills those two babies
would have copped em off themselves
Washington was quite a farmer In
stead of putting Golf course on his
land he put in Indian corn (that he
had captured from the IndianS).
| His nineteenth hole was in his own
house. Washington was the most ver-
satile President we ever had. He was a
| Farmer, Civile Engineer and Gentleman
He made enough at Civile engineering
to indulge in both the other luxuries.
And Jefferson sitting up there on his
Hill believed in equality for all. But
he dident divide up the hill with any
poor deserving Democrats. CFor Demo-
Gratis were poor in those days as they
are today, and they were deserving
then as they are today. It just seems
like they are the Lords unfortunate
reople) Then down at Staunton, in
Republican Virginia, Jefferson had an
other hill, and think that Is what give
Mr.. Coolidge the idea that to live in
history you must have plenty of hills.
Years ago some fellow in Baltimore
left two hundred thousand to do this
very thing on, but he left only eighteen
months in his will for Congress to ac-
cept or reject. Well Congress cant get
much less accept or reject anything.
Then they have great high ideal, and
they consider 1t an insult to take money
from an individual. I'VE are not Pau
pers, how dare anybody give us any,
thing, we will build our own White
Houses" We can, but it took sixty
years to get a new roof on the old one.
We had to get Congress in there and
threaten to let the roof fall on em be-
fore they voted this new one. Then
besides 100000 wouldent hardly be
enough to pay for the Senatorial tnveS-
tigation to find out where the man got
the money that he gave to the Country.
If he got it working for rich man,
why 1t was tainted.
Now want to see us get this new
White House. The one in Washington
is nothing but Zoo. Tourists have
wore their ears back peeping through
those iron bars to see If they cant get
peep at the President. Give him q
place out in the country where If he
sees anybody coming it will only be a
Neighbor and not an Office seeker.
got place out in Oklahoma, Oo-la -gah,
Oklahoma, near enough to Claremore
so he would have all the advantages of
Washington. Now would offer him
that place of mine. But I guess its
too near In to Washington. Some Sena-
tor out in Colorado or Wyoming will
want him there, so mine Is too close to
Washington to be acceptable. But for
the Lord sake let's get one for its a
very needed thing, and he wrote very
human document in asking for 1t.
tcopyright. 1921
Evening star., 1928-12-23

come home? The house is like 8
morgue. No kidS-ro wife"
So he had missed her, thought Phyllis
cheerfully, bundling herself up in hel
furs.
It was very cold. The windows of the
car were frosted, and Phyllis slid dowr
on the seat with her feet on the
radiator.
Gold, mother?" asked Jerry.
"You know" Phyllis said,"I think
it's about time you called me Phyllis
again. Mothers nice word, very nice
but it is occasionally misleading. Some
your mother"
Jerry laughed, one of his pleasant
shaking laughs.
"All right, sweetheart" he said
"hows that?"
1t was very satisfactory.
DUT resolves could not keep Phyllis
- from aching for the children. She
missed their presence and missed do
ing things for them and feared for
them in a hundred devious ways. After
the first three weeks, she went to a
few meetings of the clubs she had long
since ceased to attend, and found them
mildly interesting. She even gave a
bridge party, and in the wake Of that
came invitations to other parties. But
the days were very, very long. "Just
as they will be when the children grow
up," said Phyllis grimly. II may as
we'll find out now what am going to
do with my time. can't go back and
do the things I did when was debu-
tante. We got to learn to fill the
days."
There was also time to help Marie,
now that she saw Marie's great prob
lem. She spent as much time as she
could with her mother and the soft
idleness of the older woman seemed al
ways to menace her. 1t was especially
threatening, because Phyllis herself was
still unsatisfied. In the six weeks of
the children's absence she had learned
a great deal about amusing herself, but
that was all Amusing herself and get
ting into company again were not
enough. She still had vacant hours in
the day and all the activities were
strung loosely on the hours.
And then the thought came.
Jerry" she said one night at dinner,
what would you think if went to the
university?"
What do you want to do that for?"
Evening star., 1928-12-23

beauty as debutante, it made her fee
queer.
She sat at the head of the Christmas
supper table and tried to bring her Spir-
| its up to par.
What will you have, mother?" asked
| Jerry, carving the turkey.
He was not addressing his own mother
He was speaking to Phyllis, for he had
fallen into the way of calling her that
At first she had liked it. It was a con-
slant naming of the marvellous bond be-
tween them. Now she was rather less
fond. of the casual way he said it, using
it in place of almost all the old endear-
mentS. 1t made her feel older and re-
minded her OF her primary responsible
tiles. Tonight it reminded her that she
was the head of family and not at all
girl, while secretly she kept nudging
down that outrageous jealousy of Marie,
who was, after all, only five years
younger and looked like poem in vel
vet The color of ashes of roses. Christie
pher was talking to Marie in low, alb
sorbed voice, and Phyllis, seated be-
tween her mother-in-law and her eldest
aunt, wondered what he said to bring
that enchanted look into Maries ewes
Not so long ago-four children.
Those children of yours are growing
up, Phyllis" said the aunt "Ten more
years and your Bob will be as old as
Jack"
Phyllis looked at Jack, her young
brother. Perhaps Bob would be like
that, in 10 years-independe a little
bored by every one who was even a
little older than himself.
In 10 years she would be 80, and
Jerry AZ. What did people do after
that?
You've given every one a delightful
day." said Jerry'S mother. 'tI hope
yours has been as pleasant as ours"
Again that keen look almost embar-
rassed Phyllis.
'Oh, yes" she answered; "it's always
joyful to watch the children"
Mice to be the children's mother on
Christmas, isn't it? always found it
SO with mine. But they will grow up,
and then you are only the children's
grandmother on Christmas, and that's
not a full-time job"
Being mother is full-time one"
81 know it is to you," said Mrs.
Morgan, kindly, "but you mustn't let
them absorb you too much, you know"
Phyllis was about to answer when she
saw Jack pushing back his chair.
You're not going, are you, Jack?"
she asked,
Evening star., 1928-12-23

"HE whole family seemed to be
showed under with tissue paper
and yet not all the presents
were opened In one end OF
the room the tree glittered mag
nificently with its Christmas yield of
electric flowers and fruit, colored birds
and shining balls. Presents, handed
out by Jerry Morgan, master of the
house and chief official of the celebra-
ton, were being exclaimed over, and
there were recurrent high spots of ex-
element as now, when Marie. Phyllis
Morgan's young sister, lifted the cover
of tiny blue box and held up a dia-
mond and amethyst bracelet while
Christopher, her flance, stood by
the door, rapturous at her happiness.
Phyllis had been kept steadily rejoic-
ing over the children'S SatisfactionS,
and her adjectives were growing a lit
tie weary 1t had been fun to see
Jerry's pleasure in the new silk dressing
gown she had bought for him, stretch
ing her allowance to its very limit. She
liked being hostess at these family par
ties, which were always held at her
house because of the children, and she
was glad every one was having a good
time. But at the sight of Marie'S brace
let an odd feeling came over her. She
the little pile of gifts beside her. There
were the lovely napkins from her
mother-they we're beautifully embroid-
cred and edged with lace, with the
cloth to match. Marie had given her
the linen pillowcaseS. The handker-
chief had come from Cherry, who had
hemmed it herself. Bob had bought a
package of absurd pink writing paper
that his 10-year-old soul rejoiced in
for his mother. The chair backs of
real filet-yes, she needed those. The
ones in the living room were fraying.
All the presents were lovely-and yet,
as Phyllis looked over at Marie, who
was still holding her wrist up to the
light, adorned already with its expen-
sive bauble, she wondered what Jerry
would give her. His present hadn't
come yet. Yes, here it was. Jerry, in
his role of Santa Claus, was bringing
an enormous box to his wife.
"The children have had enough" said
Evening star., 1928-12-23

$50 will you, and little more f1ex-
ible. I wouldn't let myself be one OF
these ingrowing mothers, Phyllis"
"Ingrowing?"
ITS a little bit like disease, ]
think. Some women catch it when
they're young and going through that
time of bottles and cradles. You have
some of the symptoms already-think-
ing that the children wouldn't be safe
away from you, and thinking you can't
get along without them. Yet sometimes
you're all tired out with being a mother
and little resentful."
Phyllis remembered those keen eyes
fixed on her on Christmas day, and
flushed. She wanted to be angry, but
there was a cool impersonality about
Mrs. Morgan against which one couldn t
rouse anger. 1t was like science. The
elder lady looked at Phyllis kindly.
TRY it out, my dear. I think it's
worth trying"
How do you know?" asked Phyllis.
Well" said Mrs. Morgan, "I've had
four children"
Somehow Phyllis never thought of
Mrs. Morgan as the mother of four
children. She knew Jerry'S sisters and
brother, and she knew that all the Nor
gan children had the greatest admira-
ton for their mother. She was always
the counsel they sought when they were
worried and up against things, even
Jerry. But she seemed such definite
individual. Even to Phyllis she wasn't
just Jerry's mother. She was Mrs. Nor
gan.
Because she was Mrs. Morgan, Phyllis
weakened. There was week Of sew
ing and planning, of packing and ad-
vising, and then two small excited fig
ures waved at their mother from the
rear platform of train.
Phyllis felt faint as the train van
ished. In the first place, the strain
looked dangerous. There were grinding
wheels and open windows, and the rail-
ing on the observation platform didn't
look too firm, and there were strange
looking passengers.
'I think we made terrible mistake,
Jerry. Those children aren't used to
being away from home. And the lone
illness does leave an awful mark on a
child's psychology. Did you notice how
pathetic poor little Cherry's face was
yesterday?"
II thought she looked pretty cocky in
that new coat"
Just on the surface. Her face was
sad. I noticed"
kilograms en- route and the first
Evening star., 1928-12-23

Jerry. Here's something for the chill
dren'S mother"
Phyllis hadn't told him what she
wanted She hadn't told any one, but
she had leap of secret excitement at
the sight of the big box. If it should
be a fur coat! It was all very well to
watch other people get their presents
and act as If you did not care what
came your way, but secretly, at 29, with
your younger sister gloating over plati-
mum bracelets and pile of household
linen beside you, you did carei
For a. minute after opening her box
Phyllis did not lift her head. Jerry,
fortunately, had gone back to his place
beside the tree. It was several minutes
before he called out to her
How did you like my present,
Phyllis? They told me that it was what
you'd like. Look nice in the hall before
that table, won't it?"
TITS gorgeous" answered Phyllis,
hoping her voice had no false notes.
What did you get, mother?" asked
Cherry.
Phyllis held it up-"A rug-a lovely
old one-a treasure"
1t was silken Persian rug, and Phyl-
lis guessed that it must have been very
expensive. They needed a rug like this
ner mother SO. But-why couldn't
Jerry have thought of something else?
tits just rug" said Cherry. You
did want rug, mother? Not brace
let, like Aunt Marie?"
you've a terribly domestic mother,
young one" said Phyllis brother,
swinging Cherry to his shoulder; "if
you gave her a tiara she'd trade it for
a set Of china. She likes moldy old
rugs, and green young kids"
X
DHYLLIS tried to laugh, but just then
Wills wife opened huge box and
took out a long fur coat, dark, rich,
handsome. Will watched her anxiously.
Hope you like it, he gulped Phyllis
thought she was going to cry, and then
what would happen to this family party
and Jerry'S feelings and the children's
joy?
But no one seemed to notice. She
thought for moment that Jerry's
mother was looking at her curiously
and then the elder Mrs. Morgan began
talking to some one else with an alb
sorptlon that showed her mind was far
from Phyllis, Jerry, his duties over
came up to his wife.
'Tired?' he asked.
'Dn, just little. But it is such
fun to watch the children"
That was the way to restore her equi-
librium, to think about the children
Christmas was for them, primarily
Phyllis concentrated on that though;
while she picked up paper and eau
toned the children against eating more
candy and admired Marie's lovely lin
gerie. Marie always had heaps of pres
ents, but that was natural to any one
as young and lovely as Marie. So many
OF Phyllis friends and relatives nov
sent books or toys for the children ans
left Phyllis and Jerry out, except for d:
card. That was what was customar!
when you had a family, and it was, o
course, both right and proper.
The rest of the party went to the liv
ing room, and Marie sang ballads whil
Christopher leaned over the piano ant
admired her. Phyllis resented the fac
that no one thought of her any more
except as the children's mother, thu
housewife. And at 20. having been :
81
Evening star., 1928-12-23

~ the papers. Guess you been
II reading in all the papers about
\ President Coolidge's appeal to
the st. Louis Post-DiSpatch to
get them to use their influence with
Congress and get Congress to get an
other White louise. One where the
President could geI to and far enough
away SO that congressman and Sena-
tors couldent come to eat breakfast of
him. The house don't necessarily have
to be White, but 1t must be a house.
He wants it somewhere In motoring
distance of Washington.
So all the Congressman from Main
to Oregon have offered sights. They
say they are in motoring distance. 1t
sounds to me like a mighty sensible idea
and guess that is just about what will
kill it off. Every State will get into an
argument and because their State don't
get it it will be voted down.
Mr.. Coolidge makes the statement In
there that he has at least been the
healthiest President we have ever had
Say he better kinder look up some
history. D don't know much about 1t,
but they tell me that we have had some
pretty husky birds in there.
That old Andrew Jackson, from what
have heard of him, he was not exactly
what you would call physical wreck.
He had to be tough to think up all the
things he had done to the Cherokees.
Then of course getting down to PreSi-
dents that I have had some personal
knowledge of. Take Taft for instance
Cor take him for his weight). He never
struck me as being what you would call
enemic. Then there was Roosevelt.
Now Calvin Is pretty much of man
and can handle mean pitchfork in a
Picture during campaign year. would
ent hardly have liked to see Cal put
the Gloves on with Teddy" in fact
wouldent even want to see him lay
himself liable to bodily injury by hav-
ing gone On the same Tennis Court with
the Col. Course of course if History
Wasent too big liar, which it generally
is, why old honest Abe Lincoln wasent
hardly a bottle fed baby all through
life. Even if he dident split those
rails, just piling up rails after some
body else has split EN- is not hardly
childs play. So Calvin really took in
some territory when he announced him.
self the healthiest man that we had
| ever had.
You know think Calvin was just
| feeling SO good at that time, the elec-
ton was just over and his gang had
| done pretty well, in fact they had prac-
tically done extraordinarily we'll Course
| they got a few States that they will
hand back to the original owners, but
! they are liable to keep enough of them
to have made the last election worth
while,
Evening star., 1928-12-23

Now he says in his appeal, that "The
President has the Yacht Mayfiower, but
going on it don't get you away from
sea level. and that what is needed is to
get away from sea level, as Washington
is practically located at sea level" Now
that cant hardly be blamed on the
Yacht Mayfiower. He seems to like the
Yacht but the fact that it only operates
at sea level Is a kind Of disappointment
to him. Now its awful hard to get a
Yacht. II don't care how much you pay
Evening star., 1928-12-23

have worked. Almost overworked, you
might say. Now, just when we are tax
ing the children home, Jerry's been
given a big case to try out West and
Phyllis is going with him. I'm to take
the children home and let the other
grandmother take charge"
Mr.. Morgan mused. He looked some
what tired, as did his wife.
That's fine" he said at last. "Fine.
I'm glad of it. But it's just as well we
didn't tell them about the measles and
Cherry's sprained ankle and BobS in
fected finger. Just as well"
"Just as WE'LL" echoed Mrs. Morgan.
But my Christmas present to Phyllis is
such success that nothing can spoil 1t
now."
Copyright, 1921
Evening star., 1928-12-23
THE PROBLEM is TO GET THE MAYFLOwER AWAY FROM
LEVEL

for it, to get really away from sea level.
That's one of the things they have
worked on for years is to get boat
that will leave sea level, and come back
without having entirely impaired their
usefulness. If you can get one of the
'Leaping Tuna" type, that's the nearest
you can get to what he is after.
Its going to be hard to cop off good
high hill around Washington. For
Washington and jefferson got in ahead
Of Coolidge or Hoover. II there had
Evening star., 1928-12-23

letters from the children told story
of joy. Cherry and Bob seemed to have
set themselves industriously to the task
of having a good time. Indeed, in
Cherry's second letter she remarked in
Straggly letters: Grandmother says I
Evening star., 1928-12-23
BY WILL ROGERS.

LII know is just what read in
" the papers. Guess you been
II reading in all the papers about
1 \ President Coolidge's appeal to
Evening star., 1928-12-23
Christmas in District
When Nation Was Young

(continued from Fortrth page.)
The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-05-24
Nine Slain by Bomb
Blast in Argentine

Buenos Aires, Argentina, May "a.
-tP-Nine persons were killed out
right and Al are known to have been
injured in a bomb explosion in the
Passport bureau on the main floor
Of the New Italian consulate yester-
day.
The bomb, placed in wall cabinet
in q room where there were three
employees working and 20 persons
waiting, tore a hole six feet high
and four feet wide in the wall, many
Of those in the room being struck
down by debris as well as by frag-
ments.
While L. was thought anti-fascists
might have been responsible for the
explosion, the police had no cleW.