davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The People's friend., 1894-06-29

The rope was first firmly tied. with
| slip and sailor knots: then three strong
| pieces were attached to the back and
two arms, running thence to the main
rope. about which they were carefully
braided and wound with small cord.
! Then Archie seated himself in the
chair. and was firmly tied into it by a
piece of rope passing about his waist.
| lie tucked the flag in or one side OF
his body and the mcalsack on the
other. The sword he held in his ham
ready for immediate use. As final
precautiOn the loose end of the rope
was tied aroucd & tree
Now, remember" said Archie t.
the other boys, that YOU are to Go inst
as tell you. If VI shouldn't be able
to hear me call. bear in mind that two
twitches on the rope mean lower.
three tWitches haul up while just one
twitch means stop where you are.
Are you all ready2"
Yes" answered the other bows.
They were quite pale, ami looked a
good deal more anxious than Archie
did.
Archie let himself slowly over the
edge of the cliff. facing it. while the
other boys paid out on the rope. Their
companion gradually disappeared from
sight. They could hear his clear voice
crying out every few minutes: "All
right. boys! Lower away" The rope
uncoiled foot by foot. Archie WAS
now we'll down the face Of the cli1T3,
and not far from the eagles eyrie
Suddenly. there was fierce rush Of
wings from above. The parent eagles
darted down SO close to the intrepid
boys head that one of them brushed
his cap Off, and it went whirling down
to the base of the cliff.
Archie slashed about him with his
sword. and the eagles wheeled away
for a minute: then they came swoop-
ing back, fercer than ever The
boy was now but few feet above the
shelf of rock, and the young eagles
were adding their harsh cries to the
screams of the old birds. The BOYS on
top of the cliff, no longer able to hear
their companions voice. and terrified
by the outcry beneath them, ceased
lowering on the rope. Archie was
fighting off the eagles with all his
might, and had no chance to give a
signal. Finally, he struck one of the
great birds a telling blow. which broke
its wing; and as it went screaming
and tiuttering down the cliff, the other
eagle ceased for moment it's fierce
attacks. Then Archie Trasped the
rope in front of him and pulled sharp
ly upon it twice. His blood was up,
and he was bound not to back out.
now that he was so near the coy
eted prize. Thus treasured, his com
paniOns continued to let him down. \
little furthcr-there. His feet have
touched the ledge and he calls out.
and, at the same time. signals to the
boys: Hold where you are!''
The People's friend., 1894-06-29
WOMAN'S CHAT.

THE American Lady Vernon, former
ly Miss Lawrence, who has been an in
valid for several years, is at Pau, and
is gradually recovering.
QUEEN VICT0aIA and her daughter
Beatrice are accomplished strawplait-
ers, and can and do make handsome
hats for thc,r masculine relatives Tho
German emperor is reported to value
very highly divers hats made for him
by his grandmother
YOUNG Enrlishwoman, L"dy Mil
dred Jessup, has written IN opera
which has been produced and crtAu-
sjasticaIly received at Florcncc- Hex
husband wrote the libretto. Lady Mil
dred is the youngest daughter of Lord
Strathmore and is about twenty-five
wears old. She calls her work Ethel
india"
WOMEN in ''s1nart" London society
dress magnificently with quantities Ct
Jewels for ornament at balls. concerts
and dinners in the season. For their
country house gayctics also they pre-
pare gorgeous costumes; but at the
theater and at London dinners in the
autumn or winter they prefer to wear
what they call ''littlc gowns''-prctty
and rather simple black dresses, worn
without Jewels. not too low-nccllcd
and with goodly quantity of sleeve.
The People's friend., 1894-06-29

; But at this instant the infuria ted
mother eagle, seeing the invader in
the very midst OF her precious brood,
dashed upon him like whirlwind,
and struck her talons into his brown,
curling hair. before he could make a
motion to defend himself. The pain
of the blow was intense but fortuna te-
ly the brave boy did not lose his self
possession. He still held the sword in
his right hand. and, making a quick
upward thrust with it, he caught the
eagle under one Outspread wing, and
drove the point of the blade deep into
it's breast. The great bird gave a con-
vulsive movement. its talOns relaxed,
and it fell, wounded and struggling,
at Archie's feet. With quick move
ment the boy pushed it from the ledge
and it disappeared down the cliff
During this struggle the eaglets had
huddled together in the furthest cor
ner of the ledge. against the rock
Though half-blinded and stunned by
the beating of the mother eagles
wings about his head and shoulders,
Archie crept along the shelf of rock,
seized one of the struggling birds. and,
in spite of its fierce resistance with
beak and talOns, thrust it into the
canvas sack. Then he gave the signal
to be drawn up. 1t was not until he
was ten or twelve feet above the ledge
that he remembered the flag; but,
looking down. he saw that it had fallen
on the rocks, during the struggle with
the eagle, and lay partly outspread
ever the edge of the shelf.
The boys above hauled on the rope
with will, and. in a much shorter
time than it had taken him to make
the descent. Archie found himself at
the top Of the cliff once more, and out
of danger The blood was trickling
down his face and neck, however, and
for a few moments he felt as if he
The People's friend., 1894-06-29
PEOPLE WHO WRITE.

j. M. BARRIE, the novelist, is report
ed seriously i'll from lung trouble in
London.
COUNT TOLsTOI is writing "cosmo-
politan drama which he says is to be
the last of his works.
ENGLISH critics are finding fault with
Mr.. GladstOnc's translation of Horace
They say that GladstOne's Horace is
very stiff and very pedantic.
Rosa YOUNG, a direct descendant of
one Of the Pitcairn mutineers and a
woman of more than usual intelligence,
is writing a history of the Pitcairn col
ony.
MRS JULIA WARD HOWE celebrated
her seventy-ffth anniversary recently.
She is at this ripe age in the full pos
session of her faculties, and is rejoicing
in a beautiful and vigorous old age.
IT is reported that some ld-fashioned
English people who have met Rudyard
Kipling during his present visit to Eng
land are paincd at what they consider
evidence Of AmericanizatiOn in his man
ners.
ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON has grown
thin to emaciatiOn. His wrist is now
so thin as to look, it is said, as if a child
could break it in two. His lean body
has become visibly lcaner, and his face
is SO sharp at the chin as to give n v
shaped appearance to his physiognomy.
The People's friend., 1894-06-29
RETROSPECTIVE.

| would l were a child again. when July
Fourth is here
50 that | could enjoy the roar that rends the
atmosphere;
To feel again the wondrOus thrill that comes
alone to boys
When all the earth seems bursting into every
kind OF noise
To have my being tingle with wfelrning WV e
of giee
Because some friend had lit pack of crackers
under me-
To know the bliss. now long since gone of
soaring tinid maids
BY throwing at them as they pass small paper
hand-grenades.
1 wish 1 still could see the fun that lies in
frightened cooks
By setting giant crackers of upon the pantry
hooks.
l grieve to think I'm grown so old do not feel
the spell
That once came from the thudding squibs I
dropped into the well.
I'd love to taste just once again the pride
that always comes
To boys on Independence day from having
burned their thumbs.
l wish l might find heart to smile as once
used to do
When burning powder dropped on me and
Scorched my trousers through
But most Of all l wish that 1 could still feel
sympathy
With boys who now are just what in old days
used to be.
But time. alas. has left to me no symptom cen
OF that,
Else Ia not have chastised my son for blowing
up the cat
-Gaston V. Drake, in Harpers Bazar'
The People's friend., 1894-06-29

should faint from weakness But he
made strong effort and recovered
himself. His companions were trem-
bling with mingled terror, dismay and
joy.
'Oh. Archie! I'm so glad you've got
back alive!' cried Dick. throwing his
arms around his brothers neck But
how YOU are bleeding, and how pale
you look! Are you very badly hurt?"
NO. it's nothing at ALL" said Archie,
rather family. "One of the eagles
scratched me little. Please unite the
rope. | want TO lie down and rest
few minutes
Half an hours rest. with hatful of
cool water brought from a neiChbor-
ing spring, refreshed Archie SO that he
sat up and began to joke about his ad-
venture. Il must have looked funny
enough, fighting the eagle with that
chair tied to my back he cried. but,
can tell you. it was a pretty ticklish
job. ! wouldn't do it over again for a
hundred dollars"
And wouldn't do even nay part of
it over again for n hundred dollars"
exclaimed his brother, MY! how
frightened we were when the eagles
pounced over the cliff after you
weren't we. boys? We hadn't even
sense enough left to haul you up"
We'll. am glad vou didn't now"
said Archie, for then we should not
have had our young eagle. Well, l
feel all right again. Suppose we start
for home"
OF course the whole atc-y leaked out
An artist who was spending the sum
Elcr in Riverton heard of the boys ad-
venture and went out to look at the
cliff and the eagles nest. When he
saw the flag trailing from that lone
shelf away up on the rock he was SO
much impressed that he sat down and
made sketch of it for painting. N.
Y. Independent.
The People's friend., 1894-06-29
THE DARKY WAS A HUSTLER
Took Him One Hour to Fall in Love anC
Only Ten Seconds to Fall Out.

Took Him One Hour to Fall in Love ant
Only Ten Seconds to Fall Out.
On Brush street ear the other even
ing was young cOlOrcd man and his
girl, and they not only held each 9th
ers hand as they rode, but the young
man Slipped his arm about her waist
and didn't seem to care copper for
the winlIs and smiles of the other pas
Sengers. After time a white man
got up and passed out on the platform
and becl<Oned the young man to come
out. The latter hesitated to leave 8
good thing, even for minute. but fin
ally did 50, and was asked:
Young man DO YOU love that girl?'
yes, sab, | does" he promptly re
piled.
"And sire loves you?"
"She do, sah.'
'How long have you known her?"
"BOut an hour"
isn't that falling in love pretty rap
idly?"
Yes, sab, but dat's de way | does
Doan take me ober ten minutes to fal
in love wild anybody. We hain't lik.
white folks bout dat"
How long does it take YOU to fall ou
again?'
The young man looked into the ca-
and saw that another cOlOred man wht
had been standing by the front doo'
had taken his seat. Not only that, bu
he was holding the girls hand in hif
and their heads were humping togethe'
in the most affectiOnate manner. Ht
took this in at glance.
''How long, sab? How long? Why
jest bout ten seconds. sab. an de ter
seconds hev expired
And he dropped off the car and wen'
off in the darkness whistling a tuns
without quaver of sadness in it.-De
trOit Free Press
The People's friend., 1894-06-29

then the parent eagles came wheeling
over the cliff. They SWOOped down
very near the little group on the rocks,
and their broad wings made a whist
ling and roaring sound which would
have frightened most boys thoroughly.
But Archie, who was the oldest of the
four young adventurers, and their
natural leader, and who had announced
his intention of going down the cliff
for the young eagle when the time
came, did not seem to be at all scared.
The sword will keep the old birds
off, +" he remarked. If it doesn't they
Will get the worst of it.''
Archie lay down on the edge of the
cliff and looked over "Yes. we are
just exactly over the ledge where the
nest is" he said, as he rose to his feet
again. The rope wants to pass over
that smooth. hollowed-out rock. That
will take me down just right, and the
shelf isn't more than forty feet below
US. Just take d look, boys, and see
the little caglets moving around and
raising their wings, just as if they
were going to fly! Lucky they can't
Ah, IHOCSH. II LlleS COClI, we SuOuIu
never catch one in the world
The other boys cautiously drew
themselves up to the edge of the cliff
and looked over. The face of rock be-
meath them was about one hundred
and twenty feet high. 1t was almost
perpendicular; but there We're shelves
and crevices, here and there. whose
thin layer of soil gave a foothold to a
few shrubs and dwarf trees.
My. | should hate to go down
there exclaimed Willie Hills. as he
pushed himself carefully back from the
edge of the cliff.
Pooh" replied Archie. Its as safe
as sitting in church, if you fellows
keep tight hold Of the rope and do as I
tell you. Well, let's begin operations"
The People's friend., 1894-06-29

cliff? Well, I've kept watch of it, and
the young birds are just getting SC
they sit out on the edge of the shelf
and fap their wings little What do
YOU say if we catch one of EN-. put
him IT a stout box and send him to the
/ director general of the worlds fair
with note reading something like
I this: Dear Sir: Please accept Fourth
/ OF July contribution to the world 5
falr, sent by four Rhode Island boys.
Long may the American eagle wave
no, scream. Yours truly. Willie
/ Hills Charlie Graham, Dick Pond.
Archie Pond How would that sound
-eh?"
/ The boys broke from each others
embrace and danced around like wild
Indians.
"GloriOus:" cried Willie Hills.
"Splendid.' cried Charlie Graham.
''Immense"' cried Dick Pond
'We1, meet Dick and me here at
eight o'clock, then" said Archie.
And mind you don't say word about
the scheme to anybody. There's just
the rope we want upstairs here in I'm
Gle Williams barn. and there's stout
| little basket-chair without any legs for
| the fellow to sit on who goes down the
cliff for the eagle"
\ fifteen minutes past eight that
morning. the four boys stole down the
back stairs of Uncle William Ponds S
barn, with the following articles in
their possession: Ninety feet of rope
q legless willow armchair. a big
United States fiag-used for draping
public halls; rusty old sword without
scabbard, and an empty canvas meal
sack. They sneaked across the garden
and the pasture, keeping the barn be-
tween themselves and the house. Then
they crossed the road and took a path
through the woods aHd up the rocky
slope which eliminated in Bryant's
cliff.
Il don't believe there are five fell
lows in town who know about that
eagles nest" said Archie Pond.
Nor l, either" replied Willie Hills.
Il shouldn't have known anything
about it if you hadn't told me-"
THAT was splendid idea of yours,
to take the flag along and hang it
across the shelf where the nest is"
cried Archie. "Won't it look pictur-
esque. though, and patriotic! If uncle
could only see it, know he wouldn't
scOld."
When the boys reached the cliff,
they hid the things which they had
brought with them and took a good
view Of the surrounding country, to
make sure that no one was in sight.
Only the white steeples Of the two
village churches could be seen gleam-
ing over the treetops. There were no
houses in the vicinity, and, as it was
the great national holiday, DO hay
makers were at work in the meadows
beneath the cliff. Il guess the coast
is all clear" said Charlie Graham. Just
The People's friend., 1894-06-29
MUCH IN LITTLE.

WHEN real nOblcness accompanies the
Imaginary one Of birth, the imaginary
seems to mix with tie real and become
real, tOO.-Grcville.
POsTuUMOUs charities are the very
essence of sclfshncss, when bequcathcd
by those who, when alive, would part
with nothing g.-Colton.
WHAT sad faces one always sees in
the asylum for orphans! 1t is more
fatal to neglect the heart than tho
head. Parker.
IGNORANCE is q mere privation, by
which nothing can be produced; it is
a vacuity. in which the soul sits notion
less and torpid for want of attraction.
johnson.
THE method of the enterprising is to
plan with audacity and execute with
vigOr; to sketch out a map of possible
ties and then to treat them as probable
ities.-BOvee.
IN all worldly things that a man pur-
sues with the greatest eagerness, he
finds not half the pleasure in the pos
session that he proposed to himself in
the xDectatiOn-SOuth.
The People's friend., 1894-06-29
An Extra Room,

The real-estate man had sent the
facetiOus man to look at a tive-roon
house he said he wanted. The pros
pective tenant found it in need of ex
tensive repairs and went back to the
agents Office.
II didn't want siX-rOOm house." he
said solemnly.
"That isn't a six-room house, retort
ed the agent.
Eyes, it is.
"But | say it is not" and the agen'
began counting them; there's the
kitchen, two bedrooms. reception room
and dining-room: that's five. amt it?'
eyes, and there's room for improve
ment: that's six" added the facetiOus
man, and wanted to see something else
Detroit Free Press.
The People's friend., 1894-06-29
THE WANDERERS RETURN.
In His Absence His Parents Had Under
gone a Change.


gone Change.
Twenty-Five years ago a boy went for
pint of milk. He hid the can beneath
a stone, directed his course to the near
est wharf, shipped as 4 cabin boy and
went to sea. Years went by and he
was given up for dead. But he wasn't
dead: he was amassing vast wealth-a
common thing, by the way, with sail
Ors. The other day he returned, found
the can where he hid it, procured a
pint of milk. ana, going to his boy
hoods home. entered and said:
'Father and mother, here's your
milk"
He was given warm welcome, but
he noticed that there was a change in
his parents appearance: they had not
the old familiar look. He questioned
them and explanations followed,
through which, though they were still
his parents, the change in their ap-
pearance was accounted for. Shortly
after his departure from home his
father died and his mother married
again; then his mother died and his
new father married again. Thus on
his return he found the old home as he
left it, the only difference being that
he had new father and mother. Yer
lily, truth is stranger than fiction
Scissors
The People's friend., 1894-06-29
THE GLORIOUS FOURTE.

"Oh! ia like to make q racket
And get off my Sunday jacket
Said the jolly little cracker Of the pack,
For to 6izZle l am signing,
And to whizz through space a-fying.
Is the exercise that l most surely lack
'4Oh, want some punk and crackers,
Just the l0udest kind of whackcrs,"
Said merry little fellow, bright and gay,
For long to sec them fizZing,
And to send them of a-whizzinr
Just to scare the girls as they so by to-day
SO the two, they came together,
In the pleasant July weather,
Both the Jolly little cracker and the bog:
And the one, he made racket,
While the other burned his jacket,
But to both it was Il day of kcenest joy
Mrs. j. T. Grcenlcaf. in Wide Awake
The People's friend., 1894-06-29
PITH AND POINT.

First Dear Girl-''Kow did you like
my singing?" Stead Dear Girl
Singing is not the name for it.''-Hallo.
-He-"Do you know | think you are
most singular grip" She (covly)-
81 assure you it isn't from choice. -
n. Y. World.
-Mother-'Now, Fritz. remember it
is more blessed to give than to receive. .
Fritz-"Yes, ma, but | am not selfish -
-Ulk, Berlin.
Commonwealth Have We an extrv
coat, ma 'am?" Lady-"Yes; extra coat
of whitewash to put on the back
fence" 'Hugh!'-Cleveland Plaip
Dealer.
-Smythe-"Do the hard times affec,
your business?" Landladv Theatrical
boarding house )-''Not at all: my board
ers wouldn't pay, any how. '-Raymond's
Monthly.
THAT takes a big wait off nv
mind," calculated the travelling mar
when he found he was in time 20 catcl
a train he thought he had missed. .-Buf
falO Courier.
-Hicks-"YOur mouth reminds me
Of cupid's bow Miss L. Rhodes (de
lighted - ''Really?" Hicks - Yes
you're always shooting it off tf''-Kansas
lily Town Talk.
Judge Ito prisOrer)-'We are now
going to read the list of your former
convictions" Prisoner-''In that case
perhaps, your worship will allow me tt
sit down. lie Baillage
-Johnny-''Pop. may I ask You .
question in arithmetic? Happy Father
(proud Of his sons love for study)-Cer
tainly, my boy, certainly" Johnny
''lOW many times what makes seven"
-Gcntleman Ito house agent)-'"The
great disadvantage is that the house il
50 damp" House Agent" Disadvan
tage, sir? Advantage, call it. In case
OF fire it wouldn't be SO likely to burn
-Tir-Bits.
81 don't know what to do with
Kinkin's poem, said the editor. ''Why?"
''If | throw it away. he'll say I'm zeal
Gus, and if | print it. his friends viii
say tried to make him riGiculOus.'-
Washington Star
-Bubbsby-'I understand they re
trying to pass bill prohibiting baby
carriages on the streets bet the kid:
are kicking" Gubbsby-''I should say
they are. Why even the Youngest o:
them are up in arms. '-Kutfalo Ex
press.
Mrs. SpelSeczy-"0h, you may not
see any beauty in me now: but YOU
told me that You fell in love with my
face" Mr.. S.-"Ycs, my dear: but wher
fell in love with your face your feat
ures were in repose. '-Boston Tran
script.
One Of the ladies in fancy dress was
though fair enough. d triie fat There
spake to her a reporter: May | ask
what character you Representa-" Heller
of Troy" She answered. What did
you think it was?" ''WeH." he mur
INJURED, 81 thought you might be Heller
of Avoirdupois !'-Tit-Bits.
-Ethel-"It's too bad it's cold. J
prayed for warm day. Does God al
ways answer prayer?" Mamma-''Yes
if you ask for thing in the right way
and if YOU don't He reproves you by moi
giving it." Ethel-"Oh. | see now
The governors told me to try to say my
prayers in French this month, and |
guess | made mistakes. ."-EIarlem Life |