davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-12-29
THE DONALD SERIES-NO. 9.
FOR TINY BOYS.

Dear old Santa brought to Donald every
thing the little fellow wished for but
cowboy suit and toobox.
He was perfectly satisfied to give up the
cowboy suit because his mamma had
taken him through all the large stores
where Santa keeps his toys, and the kind
clerks told him that Santa had ali kinds
except cowboy suits. Now Donald feels
pretty sure that next year the good old
fellow will have them too. But the tool
boxl Oh, how disappointed he was when
he did not find it among his presents! He
asked his mamma why Santa Claus did
not bring it to him.
WELL" said mamma, II think Santa
was afraid 1t would get you into more
trouble than it would give you pleasure;
but perhaps if you wish it so badly we
can give Santa your beautiful long train of
cars in exchange for a tool5ox."
ooh, no. | just love my steamcars," he
said. without thinking one bit.
'Well, then" said mamma, "you choose
which of your gifts that kind Santa sur
prised you by sending, though you did not
ask for it, you would be willing to give up.
and | shall write a letter to Santa asking
him not to feel too badly that you are not
satisfied and to please change the toy
which you send for toolbox.'
The little fellow went to the playroom
with very serious face.
In about half an hour mamma followed
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-12-29

old guns and pistols which were used in
the Revolutionary and Mexican wars, as
we'll as the late war, and a heavy iron
pike is one Of the lot made by the order
of Joseph z. Brown, Governor of Georgia,
to arm the militia with when firearms
were scarce, and there is also one of the
signal corps glasses, made in London, for
the use of the Southern army.
Northern visitors often ask for some OF
the evidences of the wealth and luxury
that the South was noted for before the
war, but such relics do not belong to Con-
federate days. Then even the daintiest
and most delicate of Southern women de-
prived themselves of every comfort that
they might send clothing and other ne
cessities to the fathers, brothers, hus-
bands and sons, the latter often mere chill
dren of Ia. The silk dresses of the rich
were used to line coats and blankets, that
they might be the warmer for it, and as
time went on it became a difficult matter
to buy even dress of ordinary print for
love or. money, especially Confederate
greenbacks, SO homespun dresses were
verg generally worn. A sample of one of
these is shown which served as the we'd
ding dress of young lady of John G. Cal
houn's family, with leather buttons, also
home m ade. Bonnets and hats were con-
trived of all sorts of materials, and in a
case there is one especially hideous affair
of black satin and bombazine, which in
those days was considered Glove of a
bonnet" In another case is a pair of
white satin wedding slippers, which in
some way were also made by feminine
fingers.
A daguerrotype of a sweet-taced girl is
there, and the story connected with it
makes one interested in the original.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-12-29

During the war q soldier left this picture
with lady, asking her to keep it for him
till he returned for it, but as he never
came it was supposed that he fell on some
battlefield, and now the daguerrotype is
placed in conspicuous place, IN the hope
that some one may recognize and claim it.
There are many army blankets, and one
of these was used by General Cheatham in
both the Mexican and Civil War; there is
the saddle from which General Paul Sem
mes fell when MORALLY wounded at the
battle of Gettysburg; there is a bracelet
made from the buttons of General Beau
regards uniform; there are the field
glasses and knapsack carried by General
Gordon, and buttons and epaulets which
adorned the uniform of Stonewall Jack
son. Then there is Confederate quilt,
each square made of pieces of Confederate
flags, parts of Jefferson's hat lining or bits
of ribbon with the names OF Southern
heroes embroidered upon them.
There is one article, however, which
causes the tears to spring to the eyes of all
who view it, and that is an open satchel of
an officer who was killed, containing ar
ticles just as they were sent home TO the
dead soldiers wife. There is Bible, a
NEE rschaum pipe, silver fork and silken
underwear, which tell of the refinement
and accustomed luxury of him who died
on the battlefield, and in one corner is the
last letter received from his young wife.
His widow is dear old lady now, with
hair as white as snow, and the younger
generation never tire of hearing her remi-
niscences of the war, and how her hus-
bands friends escaped with his body in the
night through the lines of the enemy. A
blanket is exhibited which she made for
him with her own fingers, and lined with
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-12-29
CONFESSIONS OF A BAD BOY.

1t was cloudless day, that 31st OF De-
cembeT in the early sixties, when | took
my first ride in train.
The steam cars, as they were called, had
been running but a short time in Oakland
and were making only two or three trips
day.
| had great desire to ride in the cars,
for, to my verdant mind, they were super
natural.
Ny uncle, with whom l resided, lived
about a block from the railroad. He was
a conscientious man, without children OF
his own, and he had found my training a
serious matter.
Often he tried to impress upon my mind
the danger of my being on the track when
a train was due.
Many times day / would run down the
street TO see if the whistling iron horse
was in sight. If not. l would put my ear
on the rail and listen. as | had heard that
it would signal its approach by making a
rumbllng noise.
Often l would sit in the shining sand
and wait for the train to pass l would
amuse myself by digging deep holes in the
sand.
Taking up handful, 1 would slowly
open my fingers and let the grains drop
through into little mounds, which | would
play were people and would give names to.
If [ were not at the corner when the
locomotive came putting down the track,
l would skip through a cloud of dust to
where l could watch the strange and noisy
engine, with its cumbersome yellow
coaches, until they turned the bend and
were lost to my view.
The engine which most delighted my
youthful eyes was diminutive one called
Liberty. Standing in front above the cow
catcher was figure of negro holding the
American flag in his right hand. 1t was
made OF iron and painted in brilliant
colors. The man looked as if he were on
strike and was always just going to Jump
off. | had chum about my own age g
years. who was as much interested and as
anxious as L was TO ride in those cars.
We had often talked the matter over, and
decided that we could watch and wait,
and whenever we heard that any member
OF either of our families was going to San
Francisco we agreed to let each other
know and to be on hand to follow.
| was always on the alert and one morn
ing my vigilance was rewarded. | learned
that my uncle was going to cross the bay
that day with his turkeys, which he in
tended to sell in the City. Now this was a
golden opportunity not to be missed, for
Santa Claus, that wonderful and mysteri-
Gus parsonage, had his headquarters in
San Francisco in those days.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-12-29
fed great deal, they grow so fast. Lo
Reproduced from a photograph

fed great deal, they grow so fast. Look
But the girl said no more, and in a
minute, all in a tumbled little heap, she
was lying upon the pavement, having
tainted dead away.
What scream it was that Bobbie gave
No horn could have been heard so lar, at
least so thought the man who had carried
Brown-Eyes into the little shop and was
sprinkling water now and then over the
white, still face that looked so pitiful IN
the gaslight.
as she dead?' walled Bobbie.
"Wall, now, [ reckon not, replied the
man; "but see here, youngling, you're as
great on the howl as a coyote. What's
your name?"
"Bobbie, but mamma calls me Blue
Eyes,
The brown eyes were open now. and the
timid little creature, who had indeed faint
ed from hunger in the midst of Christmas
plenty and Christmas cheer, reached for
her brothers hand, saying feel bly,:
1--WE must go now, Bobbie."
"She's hungry, she is" whispered Bob.
Hungry! River of Jordan! and you
don't say SOP but he was examining the
face of the girl critically as he spoke, and
something he saw there gave strong tug
at his heartstrings and set to playing all
the fountains of memory as well as all the
sympathy or man toward neipleSS
womanhood be it in ever so slight form.
What is your name" he asked abruptly.
"Jerusha Ellen Ford, but mamma calls
me Brown-Eyes.
"'.Ierusha Ellen?' an odd name. l
never heard but one person called that,
and she was my sister. | came out here in
'55, turning 10 the shopkeeper, 'all the
way from Name, round the Horn, and up
in the mines. tryin' my luck here and
there, and-well-I reckon | know what
hunger means. the cantankerous beast !
Where do you live. Brown-Eyes?"
'I'll show you" said Blue-Eyes, and off
they went together. the girl walking feebly.
Presently the good man hailed a hack,
put the children within, jumped in him
self, after giving orders to the driver, and
when that hack stopped at last at the
children's poor home on Shipley street, a
good many packages, that looked sus-
piciously like Christmas, followed the
party up the shaky steps and into the poor
room where Mrs. Ford received them,
wondering if the world was indeed come
to an end, and she safe in heaven with her
babies, or if she only dreamed.
Look lookp' cried Robbie, and 80
mamma ~ said Jerusha, now quite recov-
cred. He has been SO kird-so kind
Just like papa. He made us eat rolls and
real chicken all the way home"
"And we rode in carriage, too. just
like rich folks" interrupted Bob. What
do you think of that?"
Well. haven't time to tell you just how
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-12-29

To scamper off to the home of my chum
took but few minutes, as he lived within
two blocks. l was at the depot on time,
and had to keep up a continual lodging
to keep out OF the way OF my guardian.
jackie, my chum, was slow in putting In
an appearance and was almost IN despair.
At the last moment he came rushing down
the street, closely followed by his two
younger brothers.
We did not have time to get rid Of this
most unwelcOme contingent, for the bell
was ringing and the train moving as we
jumped upon the platform OF the last car.
Jackie grabbed one of the youngsters and
another. l Jerked my burden up on to
the first step.
The little chap had run pretty fast and
was breathless and hatiess. The button
holes in his trousers were too big for the
buttons on bis little calico waist.
The two parted company, and as l
dragged and tugged to get that infant up
the steps to the platform the Kaleidoscope
Always believed that we could enjoy our
ride better by remaining on the extreme
end OF the train. So we all sat In bundle
on that platform and held the iron railing
with firm grip. 1t was delightful ride
through the woods. We stopped now and
thento take up passenger, then went
flying along past the trees and stations till
w SAAAAS w eAiC AOilS AhAo Woo I'll
expected. 1t was entirely new to US, and
our spirits sank considerably as we rode
over the water. We never thought of adj
miring the beautiful bay, nor the green
hills back of Oakland. Our thoughts were
at home. The younger members of our
party did not try to control their feelings:
but screamed vociferously for their moth
ers. When we reached the wharf we were
glad to alight, and nobody minded the
red-faced brakeman who grinned at us
and asked US whether we thought we were
an escaped menagerle.
We were surprised, annoyed and disap-
pointed wnen we found that we could not
go aboard the boat without tickets. We
had supposed it was only necessary to
push right on.
While Jackie-and / were discussing the
situation the passengers were going on the
boat, Willie was sucking his thumb and
Eddie was crying over his trouble with
buttons.
All at once couple of cold, hard fingers
caught my ear and a stern voice with
tremor in it Jared on the solemnity of the
scene by exclaiming:
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-12-29
Wasn't that a glorious Christmas,

Wasn't that a glorious Christmas,
though?
According to some of Santa Claus par
ticular pets daylight came at least an hour
earlier and lasted at least an hour later
than it has any time this winter. 1t is
quite possible that the almanac does not
bear out any such statement as that, but
couldn't almost anything happen on
Christmas? Certain it is that the sun got
up bright and early, and blazed away all
dav, till he went down in a blaze of
glory that would have made one OF Tur-
ner's pictures look pale and washed out.
But the blazing of Old Sol wasn't a
circumstance to the blazing of the Christ
mas trees.
They were the most gorgeous that ever
delighted big folks and little.
If they had all been dragged out of the
parlors and the churches and the halls and
planted in one great big field they would
have made a regular forest, those Christ
mas trees.
And wouldn't it have been gorgeous
old forest to get lost in, though!
All those candles would have made any
place warm enough-surely.
And there would have been plenty to
eat, and plenty to wear, and plenty of
things Tor cDlturen 10 play WlID. LOSC III
a forest of Christmas trees!
ONLY think of it. 1t would be like that
Jolly dream that every boy and girl has
some time or other, of being shut up in a
house all made of gingerbread, with win
dows OF lovely candy, and with everything
in the house made of icecream or plum
pudding, or some kind of candy. And in
that dream nobody ever knows how to get
out of that house without eating every bit
OF it up.
1t is all very awful-awfully nice, and
awfully scary, too. For what if YOU
shouldn't be able to eat everything, and
after you had eaten so much your Stom-
ach ached, you couldn't do anything mere
couldn't even get out to wake your
mother up-and had to smother IN
house full of good things you couldn't eat?
But, of course, being lost in a forest of
Christmas trees wouldn't be anything like
that. There would be sure to be lots of
other children there, you know, and you
could run around and shout, and build
Camptires and every thing.
But the reason | began to talk about
Christmas after it is all over for this year
is that YOU children might just as well
keep it up little while as not.
Some of you have dozens of things you
don't want.
You mustn't be too sure either, my dear
babes, that Santa Claus only neglects the
naughty children.
He's rather an old rascal, that Santa
Claus. He quite favors people who
already have plenty of things, and brings
gifts when they are needed least.
Perhaps he Just means TO have the things
distrt buted-I shouldn't wonder a bit.
Probably he thinks it is best to teach
fortunate little children what a 10y it is
to make other people happy, and SO he
Just brings them things to give away.
So then can't you small folks who have
too many presents Just go on giving them
away for awhile?
I'll Just tell you children a secret that
nobody likes 10 talk very much about.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-12-29

"You Young scamps, what brought you
here?"
did not attempt to explain, and my
ear felt as if it were being pulled from my
head as was marched into car.
NV frightened and disappointed little
companions in crime followed, and we
were put into car and told to stay there.
The return trip was not as pleasant as
we had anticipated.
NV uncle accompanied us, and he scolded
and scowled with every turn OF the wheels.
When we reached our station | parted
from my friends.
When we were at home again my uncle
told me quietly to prepare to receive cor
rection.
He then left the room in search of my
aunt, and disappeared from the house in
a twinkling, only to bob up in moment
high up among the branches Of large
OAK tree which shaded our door.
Ny uncle came out, saying, HE has run
away. but I shall soon find him." and he
shut the front gate with terrible clang.
Presently my aunt followed him, tying
her bonnet as she went.
When the coast was clear / climbed
down. | went into the house and got
flour sack, into which / cram med food.
This l fastened to rope and pulled up to
nv retreat. | also hauled up into the
tree two fiat boards and blanket and
pillow.
1 felt very proud of my fort and thought
I could stay up there as long as l liked.
MY aunt and uncle came home talking
anxiously, and | laughed to think what
fun it would be to bring them to terms:
1t grew dark presently and then cold
colder.
1 was very tired and soon fell asleep
clinging to my ropes and boards. Horri-
BILE dreams came to torment me, and L
thought was being torn limb from linn b.
The misery of those hours l shall never
forget. Too obstinate to go down l shiy-
cred and ached and wept.
In the depths OF my naughty little heart
] must have been sorry and ashamed, but
l could not give up yet.
After while it began to rain forlornly,
and nv cup of woe seemed full. Still
waited on, feeling that great principle
was at stake. After interminable hours OF
darkness the bells rang out all at once.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-12-29
minds have drifted to the rough West to
work out a future" With that sentiment

minds have drifted to the rough West to
work out future" With that sentiment
this paper has no patience.
American history is illuminated by the
lofty and noble lives of men of the West
and children of the wilderness. Washing
ton was product OF the woods and fields
and began his career of usefulness by sur
veying the wilderness. Franklin was first
set at work in his fathers chandler-shop
cutting wicks and filling molds In the man.
ufacture of candles. At the age of 13
Hamilton was put to work in counting
Office. John Jay was born in New Y ork
when New York was frontier, and prac-
ticed law in the metropolis when it had
less population than Spokane now has,
and much less of civilization and refine
ment. Jefferson's father was Virginia
planter, and Jefferson was a hunter. dar-
ing rider and swimmer in the wiIds, and
of a decidedly rustic bearing in his early
manhood.
Jackson was born in cabin, and was
essentially a product of the backwoods
and the frontier. Webster was born on a
farm and worked at common farm labor
Clay was the "millboy of the slashes" in
the pioneer days of Virginia, and at IA was
set at work in a country store. Lincoln
was child of the backwoods, slept on a
bed of cornhusks, read by the titful fire of
the open hearth, toiled at the laborious
long arm at the sweeps of the flatboat, and
sold goods from behind the counter of a
little store.
Grant was farmer boy of the West, q
tanner and teamster. Garfield was a
backwoods product, and his first pro-
ductive labor was as a canal-boy. Sheri-
dan was schooled in war on the Texas and
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-12-29

Oregon border. The Shermans came out
of Ohio in its pioneer days. and the Har-
risons were products of the trough West"
Turning from craftsmanship and war to
the more quiet paths OF literature it is
learned that Cooper was reared in the
wilderness of Central New York. In the
language of his biograph er, 'the wilder
ness was his earliest and most potent
teacher" Irving's father was a small
merchant in New York. Hawthorne's
father was captain of a trading vessel, and
part of his boyhood was spent in the
wilderness of Maine. OF these surround
ings he has written that "nine-tenths of
the adjacent country were the primeval
woods
Longfellow was reared in provincial
Portland, Me-, and his biographer has
written that sit possessed no deep wells of
experience or culture; it was compare
lively new place In a new country"
Whittier was farmers boy and learned
shoemaking.
The list could be continued indefinitely.
Ii aught IS conclusive lin American his
tory, it is the lesson that the National
greatness and glory have come up from the
common walks of life, and that great
part of it, much the greater part when
population is considered, has been gem
Grated in the wilderness or within sight of
the border.
Minds poisoned with the delusion that
they are too noble and lofty for associa-
citation with Western character are not
wanted anywhere. They are the froth OF
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Spokesman Review.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-12-29
BLUE-EYES AND BROWN-EYES.

She stood looking in at one of the shop
windows little off Market street, pale
faced, puny little creature in cotton gown,
coarse shoes and rimless hat, looking with
hungry beseeching eyes at the heaped-up
toys, and once in while reaching her
small hands out convulsively as if just to
touch them would be Christmas enough
for her.
The lad whose fingers held her gown was
a wee little fellow, all dimples and roses,
with rings of f1axen hair tum bling about
his eyes, and his cheeks were round and
kissaple as any child's could be.
Evidently, whatever of good his home
could give was lavished upon Blue-Eyes,
for his appearance was in striking contrast
to that of his sister.
BOBBY" said Brown-Eyes, half under
her breath, ''if only you could have one of
those beautiful horns-just the little one
up there that shines so! Wouldn't it be
fun to make it cry all sorts of things? Eli,
Robbie?''
mo, I hate horns," answered Blue. Eyes.
"They make mammals head ache.' But,
all the same, the boy was looking at the
big and little tooters in the window with
eyes that seemed not to agree with his
words.
Il wish" he went on presently, II wish
you could buy some OF those cakes over
there and eat every one of 'em yourself.
You gave all your breakfast to me, know,
and your supper too. You've done it lots
of times, and mamma says you'll starve.
That's what makes the big holIows in your
cheeks, she says. And and don't
want a horn - nor Christmas. nor
nor anythingp'
But there were little hints of tears in the
blue eyes.
"Why, Bob, you know 1 never get very
hungry, as you do''-there was quaver
in the girls voice that she could not quite
repress-"and at any rate, boys have to be
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-12-29
MEMENTOS OF THE LOST CAUSE.
Swords and Other Confederate Relics
at Atlanta.

Swords and Other Confederate Relics
at Atlanta.
There is small hall just beyond the
Massachusetts building at the Cotton
States and International Exposition which
contains exclusively mementos of Confed-
crate days and the ''lost cause"
OF course, old battle flags figure extern
sively and are the object of much in
terest and sentiment. An immense blue
flag is the one which floated over Fort
Moultrie during the BON bardment of Fort
Sumter. Another is of silk, and was made
by the ladies of Richmond, Va, from their
evening dresses and presented to General
Kirby-Smith. 1t figured at Bull Run An
old Georgia veteran is worn and dilapi-
dated stained and SCARED from having
done duty in twenty three battles. On the
wall, just opposite the door, so that they
greet each visitor as he enters, are two
flags held by shield, upon which, in
golden letters, are the words:
Fame's trophy. sanctifed by tears,
Planted forever at her portal,
Folded? True. What then?
Four short years made it immortal.
There are many swords, among them
being. those of Robert E.. Lee, General
Pelham and Stonewall Jackson, and por-
traits also of these famous men. A very
handsome sword exhibited was captured
from Federal officer, and q nited States
tent was picked up at the battle OF Seven
Pines. The signal cannon of the Rowena
is shown, which vessel was captured by
the Confederate privateers in 1862 and
taken to Charleston. There are several