davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-09-14

leaving port that morning Hi was sent round on
the quarter deck to polish up bit OF brass as
'ad some'ow been hoyerlooked. There was a
good many passengers there. for some ow hit
q natural feeling on leaving port to want to take
last look at the land--the last look the most o.
them was to take on earth, poor soulsi Gloss TO
were sitting with their Dabies-bright, bouncing
boys, both OF them-and they looked good deal
alike; both with big brown eyes and and
brown air. In fact, Hi would ave taken
them to be cousins or near relations
OF some sort. if the mothers admit been so DIFF
ferent. one dressed in silk, with a fur-lined
cloak and a hat with fea- hers; the other in a
plain gray dress and bonnet. The babies didn't
OF them-the one 'eld by the lady in the fur lined
cloak, lad gold chain with queer little trinket
on it round lis neck"
This was news to me. Ihad that gold chain
and triuket in a box up stairs. The sailor went
on:
1.-The mothers sat side by side, but they didn't
ave nothing to say to one another 1t was the
babies broke the ice atween them. That baby in
the arms of the little woman-'er that wore the
gray sress-smart little colger e was!' e just
hup and grabbed the hother baby's chin. Then
what did the other baby do but snatch the chain
away from i'm, so that was the little fellows
and was torn-an ugly scratch, clean across
'You remember?" said my uncle to the law
yer. and Mr.. Clifford nodded his head.
The lady IN the silk cloak, she was good
stuff for all she looked so proud" continued
the sailor. ''for she gave Ter boy a clip on the
fingers, and she says: 1E's bad boy and the
little fellow shall take ths chain to pay for
'aving is 'urt.' With that she unclasps the
chain and fastens l: round the other baby's
neck. And if you'll believe me, sirs, neither
of those babies so much as cries out, but both
on 'em burst. cut q laughing This pleased
both the mothers nightly. They was young
things. and anyone could see with 'alf an eye
them was the first babies. The next moment
they was talking together like old friends.
That minute the crash come -
You know it was by the chain he was identi-
fed, said my u Gle.
Are you sure, Maxim, that there was no
Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-09-14
sHE GAZETTE: WORTH, TEXAS SUNDAY. SEPTEMBER IA

shout. ~ jrmp on a moving dummy, without
having some one remind me that was be-
having in q very indecorous way for the heir TO
such a fortune; As for my uncle. he never
showed particle OF sympathy or affection for
me. but will say that he did his whole duty
by me, according to his ideas of how boy
teachers for me. He kept me from bad or low
associates. He dinned manners, manners,
manners! into me from morning until night.
was never allowed to eat what liked. to run
fast, to sit up or lie abed beyond a certain hour,
to go out in the rain, or to get my feet wet like
other boys. But will assure you had just as
many colds and aches other boys.
1 don't know how should have got along if it
hadn't been for Merrill. He never failed me. l
tramped on his lawn: broke down his choicest
plants tore of his labels, mislaid his tools did
all the thousand and one things by which boy
can worry o man, but Merrill never gave me
cross look word. fell into the habit of steal
ing out to Merrill's coy quarters over the stable
for half hours chat before went to bed.
shall never forget the night Merrill first
spoke to me of his boy.
in honest surprise, for the idea that any one
cou more than tolerate boy was to me.
The man answered with sharp exclamation that
was ike the cry of a wounded animal.
bow
l didn't need to ask; his tone told me what II
meant: but after bit said softly:
When did it happen. Merrill?''
Drowned when The Queen OF the Sea was
sunk, more than ten years gone by. Wife and
child. Both taken and left
1t was my turn to choke and feal queer. It
always made N sick and faint TO hear the name
of that steamer. For the life of me ! couldn't
tell h i'm Of my part in the wreck. But don't
think ne would have heard me if had spoken.
An awful look had com upon his ace. It
the first time in my life had ever seen strong
man wrestling with grief that stronger
than he.
1T was hard enough to lose her," he
Rroaned. "but to lose the boy. too! The pretty
baby-such a dmpled. laughing, loving little
fellow. We were living up country, you know,
and she had just been down to the city to
some friends and buy some things for herself
Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-09-14

passed and had noticed how different his keen,
handsome face was from those OF the other peo-
pie who went by. 1t was the face OF gentle
man. and though the hawthorne tree did not
know what gentleman was, it could see the
difference in the faces.
HE must have breathed the pure air. He
must have seen things blossom was the vague
thought of the tree heart.
There was always a crowd OF rough, brutal
men about the corner OF the uncared for piece OF
ground. As there was nothing built upon 1t and
il seemed to belong to nobody, the worst of the
bad and idle ones got in the habit of loung-
ing; smoking and quarreling there, and even the
policemen avoided it. Drunken fellows stag
gered and souabbled, shouted and maundered
there; lads played pitch and toss, thieves ban
died jokes about their spoils and met to talk
their plans over. The place was so given over to
registering noise snd evil that the more decent
people felt it unsafe to pass it.
The place is an eye-sore and Terror" the
re ctor said, looking across the street from his
study window. every pestilential thing is
thrown into It TO poison the air; that is bad
Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-09-14

chance for the chain to have been put back
again OF the neck of the baby from which it
was taken?' asked the lawyer.
"Chance, sir You wouldn't ask IL you'd
been there. The rich woman made a rush for
the cabin, shrieking for 'elp. But the other
mother-the one in gray-she lust stood still
and cid FER baby tight in 'er arms. Not a word
or cryi She wasn't six feet from me. Some
BODY tossed er pair of life preservers. She
tied them both upon the child. Hit wasn't
three miuut es from the time we was struck be-
fore we went down. They picked me up from
the water, sir but HI own hi was ashamed Of
my mates.''
well, sir, :" said my uncle Cwho was not my
uncle), turning to me, You understand? YOU
were not my brothers. child. All the privileges
ana comforts and indulgence you have had you
were not entitled to. But / doubt very much
sir. -
My head was bursting and nv heart h.d
numo sort OF feeling. If had been lonely and
cut on from family ties BEFORE where was nowI
hoooed even OF the shadow parents had cher
ishei, outcast OF humanity!
There were five other babies, - said help
lessly. 40
lawyer.
The parents OF one OF the remaining bows
went down with the wreck. The father Of the
other boy Is in this room. -
near MS quick breathing but didn't dare LOOK
at him or he at me.
Don't make another mistaken cried
Inonas MAXIM, seaman, came to our relief
MIS- q X! he roared; he came up and nut
hana on the shoulder of each of us. Just You
make any mistaken
de turned US SO that we fronted one OF the
great Sliding doors, set with a mirror that
reached from the floor to the ceiling.
Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-09-14


I know II boy who lives in this city who has
the strangest fancy in the way of pets have
ever known. His father owns q coun'ry place
in the mount aims and he generally spends his
Saturdays and Sundays out there. In that
neigh5orhood there are n great many rattle
snakes and venom GUS adders. He delights in
catching these snak es alive, in bringing them
home 10 town, where he keeps them In his room
in box. Whenever his father mother finds
out what sort OF pets he is play ing with. there
is immediate trouble In the family, and the
suit IS the box is very carefully and cautiously
brought to Central park and presented to the
menagerie. Then the young man starts out on
a still hunt TO fill it up again.
Last year. in AsheviiIe, s. c., I frequently
met very pretty young lady who had pet
black bear cub that followed her around like a
pet dog.
Several years ago DR.. Cohen, who worked for
Barnum when he had his muse um on Park Row
ana Broadway, had pet panther that was as
tame and playful as a kitten. Another man,
who had similar pet came very nearly paying
FOR his fancy with his lie. He was taxider-
mist and kept & shop on Varfck street, and
raised panther cub until it became almost full
grown. One day the old gentleman aid down
on the lounge for his after dinner nap, leaving
his pet in the room. After he had been asleep
C. few minutes the afectiOnate brute began lick
ing his masters hand. His rough tongue soon
brought blood and with the taste of blood all
the savage in his nature instantly arose, and he
brought his sharp teeth almost together upon
his wrist. Before he could do much damage,
mist was rescued from his peri!ous position. He
was badly hurt, though, and he ordered the
panther shot the very slme day.
We have in the park now an alpaca, s species
of Peruvian llama. 1t belongs to a wealthy
gentleman who lived for years il Persia and
made pet oft. 1t came with him by steamer
to New York and followed him TO the park,
where it was put on exhibition. Every day or
takes it out for a walk.
Every spring, when our Southdown sheep
Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-09-14

minutes she stopped crying, then she sat up
and began to scratch at the earth with her fin
gers. The tree wondered IL she was going to
make dirt pies, but she was not. she made lit
tie squares OF the soft dirt and stuck the old
stems OF the leaves in them. Perhaps sometime
she had wandered far enough into the better
part Of the city to see a square or garden. and
she trying TO N Ike somethin; like 1t. She
busted herself over it and changed 1t again and
again. 1t was more to her than a few tiny
squares OF dust and leaves. 1t a new inter
est which actually filled her mind so that she
forgot her sorrows Did she know that the
hawthorne tree was watching her and whisper
ing, Poor child, poor child?'' She felt some
comeioTt about her at all events and suddenly
she put her arms round the trunk OF the tree and
rested her sorrowful thin cheek against it and
looked up in the branches and smiled as II at q
friend.
- mustn't die, "said the Hawthorne tree tear
fully to itself when at last she went away. 1T
IS quite plain that mustn't die. The-the chill
dren need me. even though l can't blossom
1t would have been cut down without doubt but
that 1t chan reed to stand on q small square of
ground whose owners were rich and unbusiness
;s enough 10 forget that 1t belonged to them.
AT one time there had been sort OF wooden
fencing aoont this piece of ground, but this had
rotted and broken and fallen away here and
there so that there gaps IN it. and anyone who
wished could make his w1v in and out.
Because 1t v as neglected and seemed to belong
TO no one, the neighborhood became worse
and worse. this Enclosure became gradually
such hideous prison FOR the poor hawthorne
tree as would in the end have been its death il
res cue had not come.
But must tell you how this came about. In
the dread .ul houses. the filthy, narrow streets
and courts, the people who were herded to-
gether often had wretched refuse they wished
TO throw away. cat died, dog-It was easy
10 throw them over the rotten palIngs into the
inc.osure; poor creature had fever or small
pox and the mattress on which he had died must
be disposed of. SO the dark night it was
bundled and thrown into the ncosure to lie
there to be rotted by the rain and sun sud beaten
into chah by the wind which scattered its seeds
of plague in the air. drunken men and women
used to stagger into the Enclosure to wrange
and fight and fall into stupid sleep. Thieves
used to meet there to talk over their plans; often
desperate braw.s arose which ended in the fash
OF a knife in the air or thud OF bludgeon, and
awful oaths and cries which brought policemen
aud people running together. Once there was
found among the loathsome weeds the striped
dress of a convict who had escaped and changed
his clothes there so that he might not be reCOg-
nized.
The hawthorne tree remembered the night
this had happened. 1t had been a dark, sultry
night and the first thing the tree noticed WAS a
Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-09-14

There are msay varieties of guinea pigs, the
white, black, pied and angora, the latter species
having the same odd kind of hair that the an
CORA rabbits have. All of these pigs have more
inte llizence than rabbit IS. and with patience
they may be taught to follow their owner around
like dogs. and they are more apt 10 forget their
owners presence for a particularly tempting
tuft OF greer than well bred dog would be.
Their food is similar to that given RABBITS.
PROPER FOOD FOR PET DOGS.
In this article will not say anyt hing about
white mice, not that they not made pets OF
by a good many boys and girls, but they can
not be called nice pets, and where other pets
can be had would not advise anyone to spare
the time and trouble necessar, for their care.
To tel you how to take care of pet dogs and
cats would have to write q book, and even
then l would leave many things unsaid. will
therefore confine myself to one niece OF advice
concerning the proper kind of food for house
dog. Do not feed your dog meat. The best diet
Is boiled Indian meal and milk. Once or twice
a week the meat drippings might be mixed with
the meal, and once week it could be given q
bone with some meat on it to knaw. Too much
meat will ruin the best dog in the world. A
good many ladies' feed their pet dogs candy,
sugar and cake. These are especially bad for
dogs teeth.
Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-09-14

have is the squirrel. He makes q bad house pet
unless he is kept in close confinement in his
cage, for he will gnsw hole in So parlor
chair with the same unconcern that he takes 8
nut between his fore paws and forces his sharp
teeth through the shell into the kernel. There
rather undesirable pet. The flying squirrel is
the only kind that will breed in confinement
All squirrels can easily be tanned il they are
caught when they very young. The flying
squirrel makes a far better pet than the gray
and IL ack varieties. Squirrels should be fed on
corn, hard crusts of bread. nuts and apples.
GUINEA PIG HUTCH.
The guinea pig is one of the incest CT pets. 1t
IS more trouble, however, to care for than the
rabbit. Guinea pigs should be kept out doors in
the warm months in hutches that are built the
same way that the rabbit hutches con-
structed But when the frosty nights come you
must move your pets under shelter where artih-
cial heat can be secured. for they not hardy,
and cold weather is apt TO prove fatal.
Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-09-14

steaIthy, shutting sound, as il some one was
making his way through a gao in the side OF the
board fencing which was left standing, then
heavy, limping feet had dragged over the
ground, there had been the sound OF hoarse
painting breathing which had drawn nearer and
nearer, till the breather stood beneath the haw-
thorne tree, and then, with stifed oath, he
dropped, threw himself on the earth, and leaned
back against the trunk.
Its dark enough ere he said, can I
shan't have no bulls-eye lanterns a-fashin' in
an disturbin' of me. They re not fond o. this
corner, them blokes. They leave it to itself. I
shall have a chance to change these ere toys for
them nipued from that chap as had fell asleep
on his tramp: They amt swell, but they're less
cousPikyus than them L IN wearin'.''
He changed his convicts dress for the poor
things he had stolen and then limped painfully
away. He had hurt his leg in making his
cape, it was said the neJt day when his things
were found. There were spots of blood on some
Strange people 81: under me in these days -
sighed the hawthorne tree; land somehowsI
can't help feeling sad for them aIl-even the bad
ones. Perhaps they can't be good when they
live here and never breathe the fresh air or see
ANYTHING blossom. -
But not long after this it found out that there
were some who lived there who were good, but
It was al'o true that they had often breathed the
fresh air and seen thing, blossom.
Not far from the loathsome, barren plot of
ground where the hawthorne tree lived its sad
life there was a church. 1t was an Old church
90 old that in its records there were the deaths
OF some OF the first people who had died in the
great plague of London, hundreds of years be-
fore. 1t was not q beautiful church and GER
tainly not fashionable one, but it had rector,
and his rectory q quaint house across the
street only short distance from the hawthorne
tree. 1t ought not to be considered a very en-
yIsble thing to be the rector OF this East End
parish, but the rector and his young wife
were people with warm and strong hearts
and found their hands and time full Of things 10
interest them and keep them busy. 1t would be
very easy to write a book full of the things they
found to DO and did, but have time to tell only
one thing-how they became the friends Of the
hawthorne tree and saved # from death and de-
spair. he tree had seen the rector often as he
Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-09-14

lives-to be the only one saved out of a passeu-
ger list of over 100 persons, OIL steamer run
down in q fog right here in the Golden Cater
Not that remember anything about It'll Bless
you'll Twas too little for that; and I'm glad OF
1t. It's bad enough to dream of it, as I have
done, and then to wake aad think you see dead
faces around you, and hear the awful cries OF
drowning men.
Do you suppose any hearty fun-loEing boy
likes to find out that tho world is expecting all
sorts OF wonders of him? Just because had
been miraculously saved from the waves and
was the son and sole heir to very rich man.
Why, if had been priZ and genius. and
had lived to be q thousand years old, !
couldn't have done all that those newspaper
fellows predicted of me. It's awful thing
TO have so much expected OF you. couldn't
toss ball to another boy. or Join game of
leap-frog on the street, or have romp with my
dog. o. MUNICH bag Of peanuts. or yell. or
Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-09-14

have their lambs, l have great many applica-
tons from ladies and gentlemen who want to
buy lambs to take with them into the country
as pets for their children. but as we arc not al
lowed to sell them, the requests must be denied.
Lambs make pretty and affectionate pets, in
deed their affection is apt to become nuisance.
Every year several of our lambs are left mother
less, and we forced to send the youngsters
into the arsenal, where the engineer takes care
of them in the warm engine-room. The little
fellows soon grow greatly attached to him and
follow him around thu building, never letting
him get out OF their sight. After q while they
grow troublesome that are Obliged to
transfer them to the caro- of the shepherd in the
sha OId
Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-09-14

made their way across the street to the rectorv
and the group. with their oaths and foul worlI
made it necessary often to keep the Windows
closed.
THAT poor old hawthorne tree" said tho
rector $ wife one day, what a horrible desc
late life for it. The wonder is that it did not die
long ago. And vet it struggles to put out Few
green leaves every year.
at is marvellous that any green thing can live
there, - said the rector. Zone often wonders
at the couI age Of the poor bits OF plants tina;
somehow manage to live and feebly bloom 10
their rough pots or boxes in the windows o.
some poor child or woman living in one room
up a wretched court. -
lone might almost fancy tina: they had souls
and lOnged to give their bit OF brightness s. =
sort OF com Fort to the miserable lives"
The rector looked very thoughtful. He knew
Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-09-14

dirt and misery, thou gh it could not put forth as
many leaves as it used, and some Of its branches
died. The truth was that it had been led TO
make the struggle through very sad and SIM
pie story.
One morning there had staggered and fallen
bing child such thin white-faced little thing,
with such a woeful look in its hungry blue eyes,
and with the marks of cruel stripes and bruises
showing through its rags. It lay and sobbei
and sbivered mt IL the hawthorne shivered too,
and a. last, because It could do nothing else,
Dropped two or three of its leaves upon Its
cheek. The child moved and by q chance the
little leaves tell into its hands. Who knows
but that all the hawthorne's wishing and SYM
patty had given the poor little leaves some
touch OF the magic charm of love. The child
looked at them through her tears, the rain had
washed them to a fresher green than usual, and
to a child who had never seen the coun-
try grass and flowers they seemed SO
pretty. After she had looked st them few
Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-09-14

those wrstched courts and miserable lives Sc
well.
''If that unholy spot he said, could BE-
cleansed. fenced in, and given up 20 the poor
old hawthorne tree to die peRceably in, or il tbs
poor thing mi yht live and even have some other
humble green thing near it, how II wOuld
purify the whole street,
He ended the words almost with a start a. Il
some sudden tn ought had struck him.
THAT they should even see some simple fresh
thing putting forth its leaves and growing in
their midst would be good tn ing"' he said
elf it could only be. All, if
And this was the be ginning OF the hawth0rns
trees new life.
Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-09-14
JOHN aIERRILL's BOY.

CAN'T tell you how I felt
when l first saw John Mer-
rill, our new gardener. No
boy could have helped lik-
ing his frsnk, pleasant
face, and 1, a lonely,
friendless child of eight,
felt that here AT least was
somebody I could depend
upon for help and sympa-
tiny.
You see I lived with my
uncle, a hard, stern man,
and l lived a wretched sort
of a life, for all the bril-
lisnt prospects people de-
clared l had before me.
How would You lIke-you
boys who have fathers and
mothers and happy homes,
and blessed common. place
Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-09-14
CAKE OF DOMESTIC PETS.

superintendent ConISIin of the Central Park
MenaGerIe Gives Some Advice How Pet
Dogs Should be Fed.
Let me gay before begin 10 write to children
about the care of pets, that I am afraid very
many of my young readers, especially those who
live in large cities, and only see the country
during the bright summer months, through the
windows OF excursion trains to and from day 5
outing, will not find this article of particular
value to them. Such pets as I am going to tell
you about can not be kept in crowded towns.
They need the country, and unless you live out
OF this big city at least portion of the year I
fear you viii not profit much by my advice.
Still there are many boys and girls who live on
the outskirts of New York who may find barns
for their pigeons and hutcheS for their rabbits.
II is to these boys and girls and to real country
children that I shall address myself.
FUN N A PIGEON LOFT.
A pigeon loft affords the average boy about as
much amusement as any diversion that comes
Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-09-14

enough to begin with, and the plague tina.
gathers about that corner is the worst Of al
Something ought to be done.'
he and his wife often said that somethin,
ought 10 be done. but it seemed impossible q
say what could be done. The poisonous odon
OF the rotten garbage which was thrown owe,
the remnants OF lettering, decsying palina