davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1896-12-20
BERT SNYDER.
PLAcERv1ILE, December IL, 1896.

Dear Editor: did not see my letter in Sun
days CALI, and guess it was because did
not put c. R. c. after my name. l am glad /
got the right answer to the puzzles solved.
I am glad Christmas will soon be here; then
we will have q few days OF vacation. With my
letter l send puzzle, and hope you wllp in
Sundays CALL, if you will have room. will
close my letter for this time. Your constant
reader. BLANCHE E. STOUT, c. r. c.
The San Francisco call., 1896-12-20
ALMA NJ. i. SCHAFER,
161 San Carlos avenue.
SAN FRANCISCO. Cal. Deo 10 !,

Dear Editor: This is the first letter have
written to The CALL. My papa works in THE
CALL compos in groom. saw the picture of
the little children in the hospital, and my
brothers and are going to send them some OF
our story books and some picture cards for
Xmas, and hope they will enjoy them. Your
little friend, EDITH B. LEAHY
219 Steiner street
The San Francisco call., 1896-12-20
watch ~

LOWER LAKE, LAKE COUNTY, Dec. z 1886.
Dear Mrs. Santa Claus: / am little girl
seven years old. Brother would like sailor
cap, baby rubber doll, sister a big geography,
mamma sewing-m achine and my dear papa
would like a new arm with an elbow, as he
has only one arm.
1 should like a dolly. live near Seigler
Springs and it is such nice place. There are
many people here with little children. Yours
lovingly. MAMIE PETERSON. q
The San Francisco call., 1896-12-20

chuckling to himself as he thought of the
Kings queer appearance.
Going right to the seashore, he found
the vessel ready to sail, and with fond
farewell to his beloved Rosebud. who
promised some day to follow him. he left
forever the country which ever since has
been ruled by king whose nose is yard
long.
The San Francisco call., 1896-12-20
sIsKIYoU, Or, Dec. Is, 1896.
Denr Edit,

Dear Editor: am little girl, years old
live on the Siskiyou Mountains. My papa is
section foreman here and takes THE CALL.
like to read Chiidhood's Realm; but l will
like it more to see my letter printed This is
my first letter, and if this appears in Sundays
paper shall write again. Your little friend,
HAZEL GREIYE NooNAN.
The San Francisco call., 1896-12-20

window, sat an old man smoking. A
boy in passing read the sign and looking
above told his chum:
"That's old Penalty up there on the
YaIch."
The San Francisco call., 1896-12-20
What Clus lc 1t +?

Time to do we'll,
Time to live better
To give up that grudge,
To answer that letter.
To speak the kind word
That may sweeten some sorrow;
To do now the good
You would leave till tomorrow
The San Francisco call., 1896-12-20
GIJ Stelner Stre0t,
sAN FRANcIsco. caI.. Dec. ls, 1se

Dear Editor: My papa has taken The CALL
for a great many years. 1 am always glad
when Sunday comes so 1 can read the chill
oren's page atte nd the Edison Primary
School. Ny teachers name is Miss Emmons
and like her very much. Hoping to see my
letter in print 1 remain your little reader,
ELSIE CAHILL, aged IL.
The San Francisco call., 1896-12-20

To spin themselves
They have begun.
Round go the tops.
A dizzy whirl!
Round go the hyiug
Boy and girl!
Till who can see
Boy, girl or top?
] wonder If
They'll ever stopl
The San Francisco call., 1896-12-20
SANTA CRUZ, Cal, Dec. 1S, 1896.

SANTA CRUZ, CaI., Dec IS, 1880.
Dear Editor: This is my first letter to THE
CALL, and wish to have it nice one.
/ go to the Laurel School, and am in the
fourth grade. My father has not taken THE
CALI very long, but likes it better than the
Examiner.
am almost sure have guessed the fourth
puzzle, and think it is Phoenix, the capital of
Arizona.
1 will close, hoping to see this letter in next
Sundays CALL. Your new writer,
BERT SNYDER
The San Francisco call., 1896-12-20

see it in Sundays paper. 1 am very much
pleased with ''Childhood'S Realm NJ. Hussey
in Oakland sells my papa The CALL Yours,
truly, GENEvIEvE SrRUM.
SAN Francisco, Dec. 10, 1896.
Dear Editor: thought l would write, as l
have not written you for long time. sent
letter before, in October, but you did not pub
lish it. l went to Alameda in vacation for
week and had inc time. 1t is very pretty
place and my grandma lives right near the
beach. Hers is the last house in the block. it
is a beautiful site, and there is a fine view.
They have a horse and buggy, but during my
visit the horse was lame. l enjoyed myself
very much. / go to the Jefferson school and
am in the fourth grade. My teachers name is
Miss Mayors, and l love her dearly. Hoping
to see my letter published i'll THE CALL am
your friend, ALICE MCGovERN, 10 years old
OAKLAND December IA, 1896.
Dear Editor AS l should like to belong
to the C. R. C. circle 1 write you this
few lines. go to the Franklin School and am
in the low sixth grade. My teachers name is
Mrs Ayres, and 1 like her very much. We
have taken THE CALL for year and & half and
think ii is the best paper. have two brothers
and my father is away most OF the time, be-
cause he is sea captain. Yours truly,
JAMES RICE.
The San Francisco call., 1896-12-20

"Post no bills under Penalty"
Thus read the sign. without the sign of
point or comma. Three stories above. at
The San Francisco call., 1896-12-20

OAKLAND, Cal, Dec. 1, 1896.
Dear Editor: am years old. This is my
first letter to The CALL, and should like to
The San Francisco call., 1896-12-20

December Santa Claus shall
bring
Of happy children happy
King,
Who with his sleigh and
reindeer stops
At all good peoples chimney
tops.
Z d CIIEpMAN
The San Francisco call., 1896-12-20
TX. Pi. A timely greeting.
NJ A NJ A CY E K ID L
Answers to Puzzles.

Correct answers for December 13:
/. Glisten, listen.
II. Cheap. heap.
III. Swords, words.
". Starlight This puzzle contained tive
errors.
V. Five.
VI Word square:
ma AR
A R Z A
r E R
A D
VII Ocean.
VIII. Pstience.
TX. Phenix.
Y. Mississippi.
The San Francisco call., 1896-12-20
Oh, the Merry
Merry Months!

Twelve twir!tng tops
AS light as air..
Two children gay
With streaming hair.
So many times
The tops they've spun
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-06-20

Welcome to the parents the puny
struggler. strong in his weakness. hi.
little arms more irresistible than the
soldiers. his lips touched with per-
suasion which Chatham and Pericles
in manhood had not. His unaffected
lamen tn lions when he lifts up his voice
on high. or. more beautiful. the sobbfns
child. the face all liquid grief. as he
tries to swallow his vexation. soften al
he arts to pity and to mirttful an6
ciamorous compassion.-Emerso
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-06-20
lcoPYRIoHr. 1861

crawled inside the huge box through
my improvised opening. To my great
establishment, I found nothing but a
layer of stone ballast in the bottom;
and reasoned that doubtless the other
cases were similarly equipped, and that
the weight was to keep the boxes from
being shifted in heavy sea; although,
as they were closely wedged IN between
the bulwarks this extra precaution
seemed supurhuous
Then in an instant had made the re-
solve that was to cause me so much
danger and anxiety in the next few
weeks-but unfortunately no hint or
suspicion came to me in time.
Here, reasoned, was an opportunity
especially sent by Providence for my
benefit. Unless betrayed by some un-
foreseen complication, I could lie I'M
suspected in this snug hiding-placc I'M
til the vessel was far from land. The
stewards stores would supply the nee
essary food; and, best of all, some dis
tant land would probably afford me OPP
portunities that my own country seemed
to deny me. 1 would become a stow
away, brave the captains wrath, and
strive to win his sympathy by working
industriously at any work that he might
set me at. To will was to act; and with
scarcely pang of conscience conveyed
ten loaves of bread and a few cans of
beef and tongue to my hiding-place;
then, piling the rocks around the sides,
found myself in comfortabl BILE if not lux
urious quarters. Perhaps might have
changed my mind had time been given
me, but as soon as morning broke the
steamer was cast loose from the dock,
and in a few hours the increased mo-
ton plainly told that we were out on
the ocean.
I determined to bide my time for a
day or two. and, although the confine-
ment was irksome, braved it out until
the sun had risen and set four times.
My reasons for this procrastination are
not easily explained, but an indefinable
feeling of dread made me hesitate, and
AS the sequel proved-saved my life.
There were several things which I had
noted from my hiding place that caused
me to wonder. In the first place the
Good Fortune Gas had ascertained the
name of the steamship to be) carried a
surprisingly large crew, although the
majority of them were not visible until
the second day out. And, for another
thing, the strict discipline that I had
always heretofore seen on shipboard
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-06-20

The tale have to tell is SO strange,
. SO weird, and SO improbable, that must
preface it by stating that what l say
herewith is absolutely all l know about
the subject. 1t will be noted by the
reader that on several important points
uy descriptions are vague and uncertain
-hsxt quite enough is known, and told.
to refute the assertion that there is
nothing new under the sun"
In the month of June, 1894, walked
the streets of New York without cent
E of money in my possession, and without
q friend in the whole city. Like many
another poor unfortunate, it seemed i'm
possible for ne to find niche in the
uord of labor into which could fit. 1
suIsisted entirely by the charity of
few good Samaritans, and became more
sind more Respondent as the uneventful
days dragged by.
On certain sunny afternoon L man
aged to elude the vigilance of the watch
nraz1 at a steamship dock, and walking
out TO the end of the pier esconced my
self among some bales of hemp, and
there went to sleep. 1t was night when
i aHAsol1e, but as there was no one to
wait for my homecoming, nor indeed,
any home for me to go to, it made no
particular difference.
Sf1ll, 4 was, as you may say, all Slept
out. and there were several hours to
dispose of before / could have an oppor-
tHaTty of passing out of the gate upper
cesved- So, with noiseless footsteps, I
wandered around among the piles of
merchandise until my attention was at
fracfed by the cabin lights of steam
ship that lay at one side of the pier.
With the exception of these lights,
~hSs9k were, of course, situated well aft,
no Stgua of life was visible; and although
Il stood alongside the gangway between
the wharf and tf-e spardeck, 1 could dis
Eduguish no watch or bar to prevent me
from going aboard. Inspired by feel
ing of curiosity the carelessness
(which left such a splendid opening for
the dock thieves, that 1 knew fairly
> awaETxed hereabouts, to make way with
portable property, L walked cautiously
up the steep incline, and as L started to
swing off the end to the deck, almost
~a3IEsd over the recumbent figure of
mar Before 1 could recover my
startled faculties and retrace my foot
steps, the sleeping sentinel gave groan,
End Z had barely time to drop down be-
hind water-butt before he arose to his
feet and commenced pacing backwards
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-06-20

and forwards Here was predicament
indeedi 1 knew that if discovered l
should be handed over to the ignorant
police justice who would be utterly I'M
moved by any statement that L might
make Unless 1 could get off the ship
at some other point, or the sentry should
once more relax his vigilance, L should
probably be caught and sent to Jail as
n vagrant, mot an actual thief. 1t
may well be imagined how 1 cursed the
IDLE curiosity that had led me to place
myself in such an unenviable position.
But repining was worse than useless.
determined to reconnoitre the posi-
blEties of escape, and watching my
chance when the scntry's back was
turned, L stole away in the darkness.
The steamship, as near as could Judge,
was of the typical tramp" class, with
ssfiarueck cut away between the masts
xor the better accommodation of cat
tie shipments. In the forward cut /
stumbled over quantity of stores,
which had seemingly not been taken
care of by the steward-hams, barrels of
flour, canned goods and as nearly as 1
could judge, several hundred loaves of
bread were piled up in disorderly man
-ner- Much as marveled at this further
exhibition of lack of discipline, it was
certainly lucky find for me-, and 1
made no delay in breaking off loaf of
1.-THE bread and munched it greedily.
The greater part of the cut was oc-
copied by large number of packing
cases, and while making my way over
them was surprised to discover by the
hollow sounds given forth that they
were seemingly empty Just about the
middle of the cut L ALMOST fell into a
small space which had been left between
two cases in slowing; and IN recovering
.Ely balance L wrenched loose one of the
tsoa rris on the side Again my idle curl
osity proved my curse, for without any
set purpose lowered myself down and
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-06-20
TIE MfAnasT WOMAN ALIVE


ets% ShSN@A Tbfst sfs was Even ADie -
ssef ftss BETTER Of - Lawyer
ffaefs Is So elderly s2fSster down in
lancaster es5sssty. Pa, who has earned
: fevssssfS4 81 BEING the rneanext svom-
~ SFfSe. Her whole career has tended
toward unfolding her right 10 this I'M
&YvfNG fepste, hat recent act of hers
sFy@674f1Iy effHeF7stl her claim I'm the
mind 81 Her 1sssehb6Fs>
Her HfeSHE2ess got her into litigation
WIFI = HefehbesF which lasted several
YeaY<, sFRA ended 81 length In her VIC
ssfy by FeSsef OF she eIeverpes> and
flsf4 work Of her lawyer. She antici-
bffeT mar tfas efS8BssI's bill would be-
large srst5, although woman of wealth,
tIfe Thought 81 having 20 part with sew
eF4I hundreds rssksd her mentally and
physically
One essy ths lawyer received "a hurried
es11 10 her koFase. where, Is was said,
She lay - She point of death He
found his client III s-bed. breathing
hard sHd apparently very weak. She
esplaiasd that she expected TO die very
shortly. and a. she had no near kin
wished Bffe TO draw up her last wiz
aBd testament. The lawyer made
ready. and them the old woman, be-
tween gasps. said:
y
that your two sons, John and William,
will divide between them all my prop
erty at my death They. are fine lads,
and / appreciate the fact that they have
always treated me with more consider
alton than any of my acquaintance"
The lawyer protested His sons had
no claim on her; perhaps she had some
poor, deserving relatives. No, there
was none, the spinster insisted. John
and William were to get all or she would
not die contented. After a half hour
of eXpostulation the lawyer finally gave
in and drew up the will in favor of his
sons and had it duly signed and wit
messed. Then it was placed in draw
where the testator said it would be
found at her death.
She was fast growing weaker, but
managed to say: snow, before L die
wish to settle my bill with you for legal
ork.''
But, madam, after such generosity
1 cannot take cent for such services.
Your goodness to my sons thousand
times more than repays me for my
" DIRK. / will not take a cent
But you must. 1 wish to leave this
world free of debt. Name the sum at
once"
Then she reached under her pillow
and drew forth her purse The lawyer
to satisfy her named the ridiculously
small sum of $40, which he received and
gave a receipt for. This done, he
backed out of the room. But as soon as
he was gone the elderly woman leaped
from her bed in the most sprightly
manner, ran to the drawer, got the will
and threw it into the fireplace, where
it went to ashes and smoke. She care
fully filed away the receipt, dressed
herself and is living to-day.-N. Y. Sun.
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-06-20
Times Change and We with Them.

''Da-a-arling," she said, and her head
Struggled closer to his manly shoulder
George da-a-arling, do you love rep
Helen" he cried. fervently, 81 love
you more than words can tell. Life
seems all too short to spend in kissing
you"
The weary cycle of the years rolled
on. Spring came and went. Clark
street was repaved and fell into decay.
Aldermen went to Europe, and were re-
placed by others who in turn grew ric,
and went away Again George and
Helen stood together, this time in the
grand hall of their suburban villa.
George, she said, don't you love
me?''
.'Of course I do, old gir1," he said.
But it seems to me that life is too short
to spend it kissing you Chicago
Times.
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-06-20

was not maintained; for almost every
evening was occupied in carousing, and
/ never heard the slightest protest from
the captain or any of the officers of the
deck. Finally the fragments of con
versation which I overheard between
t~vo of the sailors impressed me as be-
ing remarkable, to say the least.
Last cruise, eh, BILL said one.
'And I'm glad of it, too growled his
comrade.
well, am I, to tell the truth. 1t
is wonderful that we've never been sus-
pected in a whole year"
That's the shippers skill-and 1, for
one, don't grudge him his half share,
specially as he provided the vessel"
well, you and 1 have near eight
thousand apiece, an it'll be nearer ten
when we quit. That's more than we'd
make in year at cattle-punching."
But it's in such mean stuff Ear
rings and watches are all right, but it
won't be SO easy to sell them"
MELT down the solid and" here
the speaker walked away, and left me
wondering, but still unsuspecting.
On the fifth day out 1 was apprised
by the hustle around me that some
thing of unusual interest was tran
SpITlnS- 10 my great surprise no.
ticed that spars and ropes were scat
tered round the deck in seeming con-
fusion, that the smokestack was partly
taken down, that the boats were swung
inboard and hidden under tarpaulins
and that the English flag was fastened
to the main shrouds, union down. This
of course, knew was a signal that the
ship was in distress and required as
sistance; but when / noted that every
man on board was equipped with two
revolvers and Misunderstanding
bowie knife, 1 felt sick at heart, and q
mist came before my eyes
Overpowered by fear, L kept well hid
den in my packing box, but viii briefly
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-06-20
AN AMERICAN GIRL.
A Bit of Story Which Has the Merit of
Truth.

Here's a bit of story that comes
from London and has the rare merit of
truth. There was a certain young
American girl in London who had come
over with only the courage of youth and
the point of pen to keep the wolf away
She hadn't the easiest time in the
world, let me tell you.
One day she presented herself at the
office of an editor who had bought
STUFF of her. The great man was
busy, but as she insisted on seeing him
she was allowed to enter. She had a
bundle of manuscript in her hand, and
she begged the editor to read it at once
Oddly enough, he consented. 1t was
a story.
1t was a story about a young woman
writer who purchased a typewriting
machine on the installment plan. All
went well till the final payment of one
pound was due. She hadn't the money
and couldn't get it. Twice the people
who sold the machine gave her addi-
tional time. At her wits end, the poor
girl begged him to wait just two hours.
She gave him something to read, and
she wheedled him a little, and he offered
to wait
So she sat down at the machine and
ratified off a pathetic story of her own
struggles with fate and of her fruitless
efforts to raise money to pay for tho
typewriter. When she finished she put
on her bonnet and went to newspaper
office, sold the story and brought back
the money in time to save the ma
chine.
1t was prettily told story and a
pathetic one.
by Jove," said the editor, as be
finished reading it. Il always said you
could do fiction, but you never would
Come around next week, and I'll let you
know whether We'll publish it."
The girl hesitated.
eff you please, SIR" she said, won't
you decide now?"
''Why?" asked the editor, in surprise.
WELL" said the girl, you see, the
man who came after the typewriter is
waiting for the money" - Chicago
Record
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-06-20

narrate what happened as overheard hy
me from conversations during the next
few days.
The good bark c. B. Jones, of Brox-
port, Me-, bound from Buenos Ayres to
Boston with a cargo of hides and tai
low, sighted the steamer s'Good For
tune" of Bournemouth, with flag of
distress flying. AS all the steamers
boats Were gone, the first mate and four
seamen took the long boat and rowed to
the Good Fortune with the humane in
tention of relieving the signaled wants
of the steamer, bringing a barrel of
pork and a bag of biscuit. So weak, as
it seemed, were the crew of the steamer
that they could scarcely lend a hand
to hoist the provisions aboard After
quite long delay the long boat started
to return, but Capt. Jones was aston
ished to see that the boat contained six
others in addition to his own men. And
as they neared the vessel he failed to
distinguish the smiling, CHEEKY face of
his first mate Before he could recover
his presence of mind the men clambered
up the sides, and as ne advanced to
speak with them the foremost intruder
drew a revolver and shot him through
the heart. The scanty crew eagerly
threw up their hands in surrender, but
after they were bound the cold-blooded
monsters murdered them, as well as
the captains wife and child. a few
hundred dollars in the captains cabin,
few watches and a little money from
the forecastle and some miscellaneous
articles comprised the whole plumber,
and the ship was scuttled and sunk. In
due course she was announced as over
due and missing, as many another good
ship has been before; but what fiend-
ish ingenuity was displayed in destroy
ing the ship and her entire crew, so that
not one should live to tell the tale. Some
prizes, it seemed, netted them thou
sands, but in the majority of cases a
dozen human lives were sacrificed for a
mere trihe.
With my brain almost unhinged by
the horror of being in the power of
these demons, I lay long in a sort of
stupor. When I came to my senses
found myself struggling in the water,
with naught between my life and eter
nifty but my packing box. 1t fioated me
bravely, however, and when the dark
ness had cleared away 7 was picked up
by the Atlanta, of the Cunard line, and
conveyed back to New York.
Whether the Good Fortune-lyiDg
name, as she herself was a lie-sunk
in collision with a rock or iceberg, or
whether she still ranges the seas I'M
checked, I know not; but drowning
seems to me all too light punishment
for the wicked deeds of its crew.