davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-09-12

The Happyhammers are the young
people who read the Youths Department
of The Houston Post. There are no fees
or charges of any kind connected with the
club. Boys and girls who read The Post
sending name, age and address.
1t IS the object of all Happyhammers to
hammer happiness when and wherever
possible" Hence the club name and motto
The club flower Ia the violet, the club tree
the live oak, and the club pet is the mock
ing bird. all being chosen by the members
themselves. The favorlte dog of the Hap
pyhammers is the Scotch collie, or shep-
herd.
The club colors are rose and gray. These
colors are intended to be worn with or
without the club button or pin. They are
made, into badge by pinntng or sewing
OF rose pink and the other of light gray.
The club button is made of celluoid. The
ground Is white, with the words Houston
Post II. III. Club painted in violet color
and is of violet color. The letter III Is n
large type on each side of the violet IT
makes Il pretty little badge and will be
sent to. any Happyhammer upon the re-
celpt of 10 cents. In ordering button.
address your letters to the Haphammer
care The Post, Houston, Texas.
For every new subscriber sent by a
Happyhammer for the Semi Weekly Post.
club button will be given free The sub
scrlber secured can be either for three
which OF the three 1t is, your badge Will
not cost You anything. When sending a
subscriber send your letter to the busi-
ness office of The Post.
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-09-12

on this account, notwithstanding that
men with nets and guns capture and de-
slroy them or rake their lodging trees
with poles burn sulphur under them, cut
down the trees and 10y various other de-
vices slaue liter them Nv thousands. some
times they remain IN region OF country
TOR years and are then abaafit from " as
long. or uniil rh,ar new range evinccs
scarcely and their former one becomes
abundant
AZ inc supply Of food alone determines
the migr0 sons they do not occur AT any
particular season, The power OF flight
enables trcsc birds 10 traverse aud sur
vov an astonishing extent OF country In
a very short time Their power OF vision
seems to be as ercat. enabling them 20
porcave with cert ainty the resources OF
the country with respect TO the food they
seek Thus, IN passing over am inviting
field they at once descend near tho earth.
but as promptly ascend to take n more
EXTENDED range when n sterile region IL
beneath them.
Mr. Audubon once tried to count the
number of fiocks successivey lying
through the air above him IN ~ single
hour. In short hmo nc had numbered
1863. but found 1t impossible 10 keep the
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-09-12
srNns A STORY.

Kosse. Texas.-Dear Mistress Primrose:
I viii attempt to write once more, after
long absence. Well, the contest Is now
iousjy looking for the one who wins. l
will not say wifi win but will send my
list of birds Well, Guy, you must not 90
Ike cur priee boys, stop writing Seha
your list Of birds.
/ will ten you an interesting story, /
read not }1ng ago about the PASSENGER
nigcon, or wild pipeor, which Is a Texas
bird. hut there are very few OF them IN
Texas now.
BOYS, how would you have liked to have
hunted In those DAYS. You could go hunt
ing pigeons as you hunt the snpe. Wen,
! must close. as am afraid l am crowd
ing YOU all out. A true Hap,
- Ernest Keeling.
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-09-12
A HAPPY HAP.

Warner, Texas.--Dear Mistress Prm-
rose: ] did intend to write a long letter
about birds. but / find THAT in this case
Il Is like il was when | quit plowing
and tried to write novel | missed my
talent.
First I thought I would write list Of
about $50 birds and then select my sub
feet for a story from out the number. but
when / began to write down the names,
| found taiat my thinker would not think.
so decided that instead of 10 birds. ]
would try 10 get along with list of
about fifteen. Failing to get a subject
for my story in that number, j wesiSG r
a walk, hoping that the exercise would
give me the inspiration.
/ had not walked far when / spied a
iayblrd and decided to kill him with a
rock and then ! would have a good sub
ject FIR my story, but reckoned with
on, mine host, or more correctly speaking.
7 reckoned without my jaybfrd. for every
time I threw a rock he would move. Per-
haps some OF the Haps think was ham
mcrng happiness in rather an odd way
when | was throwing at the jay, but then
Won must bear in mind that there was no
basrn done. / was like the little boy that
roIIIi not see the harm IN fishing on SUM-
day when he never got bite
Mistress Primrose. am little at q
Loss 10 know what to do about counting
sail higxls see them mentioned IN the
ynaners sometimes but don't know
whether they are domestic or Wild.
see that Ceiina Magiil infers that q
! wheat famine war the cause o. my vot-
ing for wheat, but she is mistaken. Well.
s,hiec, and All ioln IN a hearty three
| cheers for and tong I've King Corn.
As svsr' your ~ Thomas Taylor.
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-09-12

have hong and very sharp bills and nro
canable OF killing iarge prairie hawk.
There IN a bird that goes with bnfraloes
IN Africa and gives alarm when danger Is
Da'oun1 There In anoth.r bird in the Dark
Continent that the natives call the honey
bird. Whenever the men START to hunt
bee tree the hone, bird flies before them
ana the negroes follow II from tree to
tree and -. last u sDops and ehatterB at
them. They cut the tree upon which II
has aiightcd. and they always find honey.
The bird eats scraps OF honeycomb the
negroes throw away and then departs for
the tlngle,
Whv Lawrence George; who would
have thought OF seeing you here? You
are a Hap 30 am l. and l am a white
rose aS well as a violet. Your compose.
tion was every bit true OF town girls, btnt
not country girls. ] am a ranch girl my
self and have no time for frlvoiities. 7
think more OF sailing. stock and taking
care OF my horse and saddle and lasso
than OF such things. Well. Ill have 70
close. A true Hap. q. Logan
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-09-12
,,,1NNv cuIMNEY SWEEPS.

Franklin Texas.--Dear Mistress Prim-
rose: Good morning. Haps, How are you
we are going 10 have another con.
test, viii write and send ~ my list Of
birds. know / shall get beaten. Tor
do not lSn1w much about birds. ! THINK
The birds / have seen, but the mocker Is
the sweetest singer. -, p.
The chimney sweep Is funny bird, A.
a very small and builds It's nest ~ cnim,
neys They are made Of stickE and glued
sosether with wax OF the peach and other
trees. Partridges go in droves ana are
very nice TO eat. Chapsrrais are very
swift runners; II takes horse 70 csteA
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-09-12
HAP TRLkS.
prlmro.e MrIte. Her week.

prtmrose writes Her Week.
Iy Letter.
rnvhan.mcrs: There are many
e this week and some splendid
|, pleased each week to see how
lists are written. BE sure to
! name. age and address at the
| first page of your lEt.
! no Contributed lists the past
Edgar u. Clark. Chappell Hill:
COX. franklin. Jessie Theadore
hrrigan. Ernest Keeling, Kosse;
dcins. Huneerford; Minnie May
hBremond: Matte Octave Camp
hen; John Browner. Kingsbury;
|olstein, Mlildoon; Minnie Van
lexwell: Mark QuiEn, Waller;
Huntsville; Wayman Whitfield,
Alfred Alexander, Houston;
la Russell, Nixon: Eta Shrader.
ISIS: Mattle Blain. Courtney:
8. Brown. Oakland; G. Logan,
Many more lists are promised
b be as busy as a bird looking
list.
/ the letters sent In have been
|rrctive, and l am sure you all
descriptions and stories of the
tribe. Remember that all Fists
BIZ me by or before September 20.
may send in a long Est at the
hich will beat them all. Who
You can continue TO write about
long as you find 1t interesting.
/ need TO stop with the contest.
there will be birds in the longest
hich you never heard and about
II may wish to inquire.
er who win be second On the con-
hrd? The town and county that
boy or girl who wins will have
to feel proud Of dts bright-eyed
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-09-12
BIlAcKBIRDs.

Auter, Miss-Dear Mistress Primrose;
Hello. Haps, how do all of you do this
sutry evening. | think We. have very
will learn of birds In different. States.
send in a list OF birds. ! hope they are
ali right, | win write about the black
bird 1t 10 about as large as small chick
under its threat. In the spring time II is
very destructive to young corn and gar
dens. In winter time II gets into the corn
crib and destroys II as last as nc can.
Their meat Is nice To eat. Ihey Always
fiy in great numbers. -
yes. / agree with Il. c. Stockdick about
the tricycle We ought TO try TO make
close with much love to all the Hsps.
s'S Eta Shrader.
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-09-12


than tbs oest r9fla 6n4ld geYiJt Y ~
na ,xx E 9: gnsSs iscS'9 q T. .s
they rutheC intoie tQn4t ~ n ~
Arting toward IN ufdl 1etln4 ~ ~
Mr. lineS de$cende I ApI SWEPT ol&9e 4y91
the &Artli With intcnqesY Sble voscc1ly, tt1rI
nscn1keq t.exptndsc0lakly - - g ky4
axAtA. xhcS were seen WhoennG ana tNoo!
tpg Within he4f csncentr&ted nneA Whl1a
then resemhled tAe cut1s u aot4HAtIc ~
ncnt, These moyeuscnss Are 30 egnlirs1
70 the fiock esr4lie0. thu eAuyo eYoluktouo
hshlng performed ~ al which Noenuw, ~
thoues ths estsns4sa hsyk hss loa9
slcns when the heelm 81 tho Hfy3s CONS
into Wow ! giiatsning sheet cf aaure .
presented, and Arcn . rnnss Of rich, deep
turpio Sionpelled by hunger 70 alight,
they scatter the fallen leaves Of the forest
IN quest OF mast, thu rear paeeine over
the front nrarwilc Nike tim wlvee 81 tho
could hear the rattle 81 the en4ke. The
scissor~tafs swsmird around his hqaA -
darted down nnd had try 4or ne eyets
A. last alter RUNNING hattie 0f 4 hun.
drcd yards, the enAke lay dapd and each
htle tssd new Westward, statistical Thev
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-09-12

fseo. and the whole body appearing stall to
be on the wing. In a very brief time.
thus they CLEAN every atuGn of food upon
a vhst oxpnnsc q forest After feeding,
they rest upon the treak for a tGme, hit
toward sunset return to their roost. though
II may be hundreds OF miles Off.
Their period OF breeding Is not infu-
encud by season; the place Is selected wsth
reference to tho contiguity OF food and
water Forest trees or great Insight are
chosen. and upon these IL hundred nests
are often bliifs. fiylM structures composed
Of n few dry twias crosstng each other
and suppsi ted bv forks OF tho branches
The common note OF this bird IL like the
repeated ayllablo Ike. ko, lQe, but. at ths
tiiuc IL ~ a sort COZ COO, COO, shorter than
that OF the domestic species. The cggy
ere two IN number. of broadly ellptical
form and pure white. During Incubation
the male fupples the female with oocd.
A male and female generally comprise the
brood. The parerts feed them by dis.
gorgin4 into their bills the contents OF
thor crops. HUI the young soon leave
tho parent nest TO seek their own livcai.
hood The flesh of the Wild pigeon is Of
a dark color and tolorabie as pood. while
that OF the SQUAD Is greatly esteemed.
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-09-12
STORM RIRDs.

Corrigan. Texas.-Dear Mistress Prim-
rose: will write to let you know what
some of the bird habits are. The alba
tross wanders over the seas and oceans
storm near. Black martins always stay
near some house and keep the hawks off
the chickens. Mexican buZzards are
about twice as large as the American
buzzard. am Is years of age.
Jessie Il. Deggs.
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-09-12
A pARTRIDGE MOTUER.

Milano, Texae.-'Dear Mistress Primrose:
] have never written to the Haps before.
/ will tell of a bunch of partridges that
l ran upon once. They were all in their
nest with the old one when scared them
up She went hopping off with her wings
all dropped as If she was nearly dead. !
started towards her and as soon as had
gotten about twenty feet from the nest
mother. and / had no pet partrldges. 1
guess | had better close before my letter
reaches the waste basket. Your friend,
Bonney Younghlood.
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-09-12
ANOTHER LIST.

Elgin, Texas.--Dear Hanpyhammers: As
have not written TO you all in so long. |
will at last drop in line. | love SO well
to read the boys and girls letters. l pick
enteen bales and will have about thirty
more. l was 50 glad that Georgia got
her chair, as / gave some myself, l feel
81 sorry for Wilora, Georgia and Carl |
will try in the bird contest. | think the
knocking bird the incest bird in our coun-
try. 1t makes one feel so glad when they
hear its sweet notes. Yours In love to
all the Haps. Tony Miller.
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-09-12
pnAIRIE RuNNER.

chappeN fill, Texast-Dear Mistress
primrose: As VIC huv" ans her coif'es,.
~, ~ h,res. which ] have been working
IN Tor -oene time. ] wrote every pird j
co,,id th,rk OF that lives ~ Texas
The prnrie rlnners stay N ~, wss ~ .
.,,,inea and the same enlor as guinea.
Tssy can run faster then horse ana can
ma he shot unless from ambush.
'''g ,.,,o raisiurore orioie. also known as the
-, ro,,sn, firebird and fire hangbird,
ddsplays great Ingenuity IN using the bess
maferials which he can procure ana
skedns of stolen six and thread are ire
ouently found interviewer N ID 49,
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-09-12
LAZY BIRD.

Nuldoon. Texas-Dear Mistress Prim.
rose You will find my list of birds with
my letter. I will tell you about the lazy
bird ana little Joreat. do not like the
law birds at all. They are too lazy TO
In their slothfulness until the other birds
build their nests; then they lay eggs IN
them. The Joreat is a pretty little bird
It's color Is brown and white spotted. ~
hons around in the bottom and sings
.i.Toreat. Joreat" | will close. with love
to the dear Haps and Mistress primrose
~ 49, Emily Holstien.
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-09-12
A TRUE BIRD STORY.

DaNllla, TeNas.--Dear Mistress Primrose:
! wrote twice before when Aunt Mary
was at the head Of the department, but
have never written since the club was
named l thought l would write today
and join the Happyhammers, My mamma
mas been sick over two years and | am
all the housekeeper she has. | try To be
cheerful and do the best can SO you see
l am trying to hammer happiness at
home. was IA years old last May. ] do
not get to go away from home very often
but my books and organ are SO much COM
pany for me that l do not get very lone
some. AS my observations have not been
very extensive, and as have no books on
ornithology | will not attempt to make
out a list of birds for the contest, but
viii tell the Haps a true bird story. A
little wren came In 1T an east window
in a little dressing room ard began build
in my mushroom" sleeve. As l could
not spare the dress so long, took II from
the wall. But the little bird was not to
be 80 easily outdone. She came In with
had taken down my dress, She looked
around and at last she spftd' pair of
papa's trousers hanging on the nail, and
she went to work and built n nest In them.
Almost before we were thinking OF such a
thing there were four pretty little birds
IN the nest. 1t was certainly interesting
to watch the old birds feed their babies
and to hear them talk" toThem. They
were so forward that in short time one
OF them was trying TO learn TO ny, 1t
kept falling out of the window and we
would pick IL up, hut one Gay an oiu utii
saw 1t fall and she picked II up IN her bill
and ran through the cane patch with it,
Brother Homer and his dog ran after her
and made her drop it, The poor little
It's eyes closed. We put II IN the nest,
but next morning It was dead. Mamma
wrapped II in a little white winding sheet
little nephew who is years cld) took II
and dug n grave under a tree and buried
and put flowers on the grave. Success
to The Post and long live the Happy
Lena Gregory.
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-09-12

one. and Mexican cormorants look verx
much Ike eagles. They are found in The
all, am. your friend.
Annie T. Cox.
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-09-12
Hllda ard Ernest Japiet.
ItODO.


Maxwell, Texas,--Dear Mistress Prlm-
rose: Enclosed please find my list of birds
l VIII now write about bird called dodo
Ihis singular bird which was supposed TO
be extinct, was discovered In the MaurI-
tins Islands by the earlier voyagers For
many years their accounts of the dodos
were supposed TO be mere flight OF fancy
Lately, however, the discovery OF several
relics of this bird in various countries
mas set the question of this birds exist
ence at rest, but not the question of the
proper position of the bird. Some think
1T belongs TO the pigeons and some ID the
ostriches. In the Museum Of Oxford are
the head and foot of the dodo sole rem
nants of perfect specimen known to
have ex sted In 100 and in the same place
in the year 1871 during the meeting OF
the British association, were gathered to-
gether the whole of the existing remains
from every country. Its body was round
and fat, which occasioned the slow pace
and there were very few that weighed
less than 30 pounds. 1t has such large
wings II can not fly. 1t is still In the
range of possibility that this bird may
again be discovered, as at present little
of Madagascar has been searched. and In
that island, If anywhere. IL will be found
Mabel S. of Ganado, ! would like to cor
respond with you. or some other Hap Of
that place. as we expect TO move down
there after the cotton is all picked out.
! viii close now, with love to the Haps.
Mistress Primrose and the dear old Hous-
ton Post l remain, true Hap.
Minnie Van Every.
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-09-12
WIDE AWAKE.

EHingcr, Texas Dear NJ stress Prim-
rose: Well I am here again., agree
with Willie Wheeiess or fruit contest.
I know il would be interesting 70 all the
members. There are SO many trusts 20
vote for. and every Hap has M or hsr Ia Ia
csmnaign, Now ] will write about birds,
hut YOU need not expec. much. for am
not an expert wfher
The ostrich Is the largest OF all birds
NOW ..xigtirg and Is found chiefly IN the
deserts OF Africa and Arabia. fui
crown ostr Oh stsnds from eight TO nine
feet in height and Will weigh from 800 20
SO pounds The body OF tho ostrich *
iarg, the legs az icnf, measuring four
feet a mur@ and the Eeck is about the
sun,o length as the lego. The heed Is
ana II End The eye are large and bright.
N car see 4 distance or four TO fivs miles.
.i'he osirIt 4, f.eds on vegetable substances
4ad viii swallow s'tLes. glass. nails and
papcr 4 q II YER: iirngry. The osfr;ch
pa;i not NJ but can rrh a. swiftly a.
There waa mar hsss who shot ps,i-
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-09-12
ARnur scRrEcH OWLS.

Kinesbury. Texas Mistress Primrose:
I will send 81 Of names of BIRDS that
inhablt this STATE. ana also Try To , ,e,
something about the common screech owl
This bird IL very useful. as bt destroys 80
many pes.s around the farm Their. food
consists OF grea, variety on hi', mn ~
Al n uhtfai; they bePin their rounds. in.
epectirg the Vic!rgY OF form houses,
Barns, and corn cribs IL, search OF nice
and rats, making trips through the or
chard aud nurseries. deyourlng insfcs s.;
Thousands upon thousands oil insects o.
different Kinds thus fall victims TO the, :
Industry besides The dliefen, sp.ehs, 81 a.
nice, Tue screech owl feeds on other
small animals al chirntnks moles. ana
occasionally bats. During warm speIA y,
winter the. foraGe Quite extensively, ana
store up Ia Their homes cShsidcranle a uam,
weather. II is said tho only spccmen OF
pine mlce ever procured IN southern New
York by rr. a. x. Fisher were we're TAKEN AXE
Frog Frogs are eaten greedy by this owl
IIyidence goes 10 show that al times
this owl IL an expert fisherman ~ ~,
most invariably nests In the nonoWs ~
trees ilsuaily not over ten feet from me
ground The eggs from three to SIX IN
numbnr are placed IN the bottom OF the
cavity 10 The rotten wcoi. Thsy are ns-
posted in the latter part OF Marr'i or ~
Arrl. The common screech owl Is az
trib,Etod throughout the Whole OF w
United states and southern portaon OF inc
British provinces.
/ will say something about the mock nf
bird. did not vote in the bird con
tast AZ 7 was not a member at that time
MT n ! had been voting. I should never
have voted for the hooking bril-, IL y
one OF the mos destructive bros ans
farmer has to contend with II deg roys
so much fruit The farmers are forc.s
10 sack their grapes TO keep these birds
from eating the whole crop. They als'
| Al p0aEhas They are hGAuti
mi sire.ers and make nice pets.
I will bring nv letter 10 q close for feai
Of making II 100 long. am going :,
start to school the first 81 next mont
and hone when ] write again ] viii b'
able 10 write better. a true Hap.
500 John Brauner.
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-09-12

horizontal limbs Of trees fence rails and
on old stone walls This BIRD makes no
nest. but lays it's egg ON the bare gronnn'
aon,etimes H. very exposed positions, pc
tween coin or bntato rows or ia heids
only two eggs arc lad aud th"y are SPOT.
ted ana spockled with different shades OF
slate. drab. smoke ard lilac. gray uawny
olive, pearl gray and lavender The young
are always fairly well covered WIN a"""
and grow vary rai,idly 80,
Doves are also common mere. " is
well known bird tame ana gentle when
not moleatad oftcD nesting close 70 houses.
they are sometimes found far frorn waNr.
hut. as they are rapid flyers. distane.
does not ma tier ITO them. They gen"raiy
ncsf about the middle II March and their
nests arc, mostly found IN small bushes
and trees and rarely on the ground IpeT
food consists OF smoll seeds, various kinns
~ grain and berries. The male does NJ
ass 81 the female AT al, in building the
nest They usually lay two white eggs
The crow Is n very. shy bird ana very
OF harn 10 crops. The food OF the crow
t.8nsists largely Of corn but II also eats
other food The rests ale large ana very
hard to reach. Th5y are . s,np s OF
hair etc The eggs are spcekled with
Shades Of brown and gray. The young
are born blind and remain In the nest
about three weeks.
The turkey buzzard IS n weil known
resident In Texas They look their best
aloof. as their flight is easy ana gracetul
an effort as they sail In stately circles,
but on the ground they show themselves
10 be the scavcnRers OF the SOIL ihey
make little or no nest ana u Is always on
The ground. when approached In tnelr
nests they often disgorgo the foul con-
tents of their strmachs. TWO eggs are
generally Had and they are blotched and
| smeared with reddish brown, Chocolate
and lavender Sometimes an egg rs found
| which IL white. The young, when hatch
| ed. are covered with down and the nest
| described BY many other observers: Yours
truly. Coke Burns
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-09-12
SOME BTRps

High Prairie. T2sas.-Dear Mistress
fr,nrose: l viii Try TO write 10 the dear
osu i'ost aFaih Birds. That is a very
npou con-, St Niehtinsaies are very
y, they are small birds that sing
~ lMsht. Night hawks are BIRDS thai
,hres around at night Pengufns are large
y, u,iuS tnat stand IN straight. They live
Nh, y ,i,inshsners are small birds that have long
pl'S They live GROUND wuter. Fiamin-
soes are very tan birds and have hyig
~, ,.ss anu long. crooked neck. Cheffinohes
are very pretty bin Is. They resemble tho
''rSeking bird. They have a large body.
rosebud. wish You would send me the
sous, Just Tell Them That You Saw
Me-, Respecttnlly Sailie Wilson.