davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1901-12-15

solemn than at this point-'Pve 'ad
mind to turn to the comic line-to see il that
would move err
Don't do it, Tolderoy; don't do it." urged
Bob, earnestly. ''She respects you as it Is
Tol6eroy; but IL you
Il know-I know, murmured Mr. ToIderoy
Il don't say as 1 should so far lower meself
unless she drove me to it; but 1 might. Ere
she comes.
Here they all come with much laughter
and jollty, and many innocent Jokes those
hardworking folks. who lived their lives so
far away. from the public they sought to
amuse: and who yet despite all their uddi-
ties were very simple and very ordinary peo-
pie after all-had cast aside. for an hour or
two their strange, unreal life-had come out
from the odor Of sawdust and naphtha. and
had fully made up their minds to enjoy them
selves. At first of course az might have been
expected. Mrs. Giddings carried herself with
certain stiffness to Mrs. Saggers. the fat
lady; showed her, in fact, that even though
they might be part of the same great pro-
fession had to draw the line somewhere
But when once they got fairly settled at table
with Bob at the head and Mr.. ToIderoy at
the foot, and when once the first bottles or
champagne had gone down the table and IN
again, even Mrs Giddings unbent And then
1t that dark scheme entered into the
brain of Mr.. Tolderoy.
He began to make eyes at the fat lsdv
There mistake about it, and it was not
mere pol1teness-delioerately, and with NAL
ice, he began to make eyes at the fat lsdv
Love and wine may have made him reckless
and he may have lost sight of the fact rbat
the fat lady's husband was a giant alike bv
nature and by profession. In a word Tolde
roy was desperate. He drank the first toast
to the fat lady in loud voice:
Mrs. Saggers. ma am, 'eres full shows IN
you an may yer hgger be as 'eavy as the
takings.''
Mrs. Saggers blushed and giggled, and Mr..
Saggers "a very mild-eyed young giant was
he and weak In the knees) looked pleased
Mrs Giddings looked at Tolderoy and half
raised her glass, but the reckless ToIderov
kept his eyes firmly hxed the ample charms
Of Mrs Saggers. Even when Bob proposed
the health Of the old show and all who
belonged to 1t Tolderoy might never havs
met Mrs. Giddings before for any look he gave
her.
''Tolderoy," whispered Bob Judkin In soma
alarm when the tables had been cleared away
and all the speeches made and they were
ready for dancing, "Tolderoy. you re gciny
too fart
II can't 'eIp It, guv nor" replied Mr. Tolde-
roy. II ate meself for it-but I'm bein' soured
It's been pent up for long time-an' I think
that wine must ave brought 1t out IL the
party begins with G dances with any ono
else. If it's so much Sir Roger there.II
be murder. To see round that waist
would be too much for me-"
Perhaps Mrs. Giddings knew the danger sha
faced; perhaps her heart was softer even than
The San Francisco call., 1901-12-15

ways sing, ''Brekekekex. koax-koax!
Brekekekex, koax-koaXr But these little
tree frogs sang with such good will, the
croaking grew louder every minute, and
al last made such din and clatter it was
like the sound of an enormous rattle. The
children laughed till the whole wood re-
echoed, and the hares and the deer start
ed and took fight, thinking the shooting
season must have begun.
But now came the great treat Carma
had in store for all the children: she gave
each OF them one of the dear little frogs,
explaining that they are great weather
going to rain. and also that they can be
made as tame as any other animal If one
is is really fond 9o. of ts them The chil,
flies and make them very happy
and comfortable. and they would
friends they would have in the frogs.
Soon a little frog was seen to be sitting on
the dinner table in every cottage catching
all the flies and swallowing them down as
into its great big mouth. And
each child had much to tell of the
and every one of the little creatures had
a glass filled with fresh water and with
nice green leaves in ii to go in and out OF
never thought Of running away. hut STAYED
quite contentedly in the homes Carma had
found for them. They al had TIE love-'
Jumper, and Croaker, and SDindle-
shanks. and Bandylegs. and Hump
hack, and GOCgleeyeS. and I.eaD-
frog, and High'inSs, and Jack-in-the-
box, and Will-O' -the-wisp. and ever so
many more that had never ,heen thausht
OF. But sometimes IN mild liSht In
springtime tho frogs all diSanneared Thew
troopcd OF 10 attend the great frog COM
gress I'm tho wood and tho Vounger and
stronger ones carried on their hacks ali
those who were too feeble 10 walk,
And when they were assembled they
began to talk ut once IN frog languac,,-
that Is 10 say, they croRked the whole
night long-telling how happy they we're
IN their new homes. and each one nralslur
the good behavior OF his own boy friends
one little frog. who was rather lame tolj
how his leg had been crushed one ,loN.
by something falling on &, and how tho
child he lived with cried on seeing This
and tied up the little limb so gently and
attended TO him so we'll that he was able
now to walk about again a little, a.d
hoped to be quite recovered bv naxt
spring. Then all the frogs sang one more
grand chorus as A finale, and the meeting
broke up. so that they were all home
again before the children awake
Then the story goes on to relate how
Carma was one day seen by a king who
was travelling through the wood The
king fell in love with her and induced her
to accompany him to his palace by telling
Carma that she could cheer his sicicS
mother with her songs. Carma could
never refuse to administer comfort so sh,
went to the queen. only to find that ler
presence was not desired The queen
wished her son to marry rich princess,
The San Francisco call., 1901-12-15

and feared that he might marry Carma
instead. Carma in sadness tried to es-
cape to her home; but found herself a
prisoner in the. palace When she i'm
plored the king to set her free he became
angry and losing control of himself IN his
rage stabbed her. Carma, however. re-
covered from her wound and was finally
restored to her friends.
She went homo with the old people. who
tended her lovingly till she was well anf
strong again. and when for the first time
she reappeared among the children il
their woodland haunt there was grelt
rejoicing. They brought with them to
bid her welcome all the little tree frogs
she had dsonce given them. and each little
frog clasped with its foreleg tiny 7'''-
shade (the sunshades were mushrooms
some round, some fiat, some broad. so12"
long) and the effect was so irresistihlY
comic that Carma laughed alond. and that
was the first time she had laughed since
she came from the palace.
"Snce we are all so happy again I will
make something beautiful for you. she
said; and. lifting her fingers in the air.
she called out: "Come! Come! Comet
Gomez
In a moment the whole wood was bril-
liant with firefies-she caught them in
her hand and placed them in the chill
dren's hair and in her own, till they all
looked as II they were crowns of stars.
Then i'm all that dazzling light they
formed circle round her and began 20
sing their songs again as i'm old days.
They SANG them all from beginning 10
enQs as iASt rs one was NhlSneQ NheN re-
memhered another--it was glorious
evening.
Rut suddenlv Carma Grew deathlv pale
and the 1frighteneds children gathered
close around her, Tor there. looking sn
SNd. and with tears In his ewes. stood the
King. He fell on one knee before Carma
and implored her 20 Forgive him-he had
been ill or he would have come sooner,
She must take nty on him and retura
and be his Queen.
Rut Carma shooS her head and said.
You stabbed me fnr 'ovc and Won fe-
ceived me with your falsehoods. Never
viii l go with YOU again, | win stay
here with the children who love mo and
who cannot dn without NO Tho Queen,
mother told me Won should wed a falr
nrinress with broad lands and rich
Jewels. Marry her. then. and forget me
ard leave me hero I'm neaca. where I am
so happy that ' viii rernn'n fnrevar,'
And as he still nersisted IN his en-
trea les, tlnt wa- rrare than tho ohtldrno
could stand. and thav nuiled him and
pushpd him and h~stiad hin, and naitad
Kim with frwo~s .''l thrv had d~iven i,ir,
from tho wrcd 'rhn., thov como hnc,,
cor.erted, ard I'll ur'-~ow'1~ that It was
littln revolution thnt thov had iust
rrade. for eu~h thi~oe haa not heen hsar.l
of then: tn them &. uas r,a~elv childish
Justice How coul1 thev lot tl,at rnan
rar''v oee Carnra whom hc had h,,-. her
ard r,ada her unhapr.-7 No. 10 Si1 not
deserve her: he could obov h'7 mother
and r7arrv the other one hut tha'r Car
ma should never BE- h'~: 10 had lost her
through his own fault She was born
The San Francisco call., 1901-12-15

for singing. not for marriage. She was
their Carma, only theirs. They would
make her so happy that she would never
be able TO think of any one else.
1t was only strange that she did not
hate the King: but whenever she saw the
mark which the dagger had left. then she
sighed softly to herself. that the children
might not notice il.
But the dagger itself she planted in the
earth and ii took root and grew, and 4
splendid rose tree Sprang forth from It.
as tall n beech, so that they could sit
in its shade and inhale the perfume of
hundreds of roses.
The book closes with an article entitled
Carmen SYLVIA in which the Queen
gives a short sketch of the influences in
her life which have led her to do what it
has been given to no other queen besides
stretched for her the boundaries of her
kingdom until she numbers among her ad-
mirers children-and grown people. too
who live in lands far from her own
an empty sounding name.
The fairy tales are preceded bv an n
PRODUCTION written by George l.. B. Davis.
In it Mr.. Davis has given a very charm
became Queen of Roumania. an idea of
the life led by Carmen SYLVIA, which IN
many respects differs SO wide - ~ ,
popular conception 90 what Cueer's 80
must be. may be gained from the follow
ing selections from Mr. Davis introduc-
tiOn;
.Roum0nia is one of tho most remarkable
women Of modern times, and the story
OF her life Is as strange and wonderful
As an Oriental legend,
She IN almost fairy creature by birth,
for she was born q prineess M a roman,
tic castle on the Rhine, Just four DAYS
her ancestors had lived for nearly a
thousand years. Thev were tho heroic
Princes ot Weld, famous allie In sehol.
arshlp war and religlon, surreundinr
the castle on three sides was "A great for
est, and as tho PrlNceSs grew To girlhood
Il was her chief delight 10 roam ahout
under the giant trees, accompanied only
hv two la~ge naNlSh dogs.
The Princess proved TO possess n min,
worthy OF her noble ancestry. AT She
composed verses; at II she attempted to
write novel; at II she comoosed dramas
and acted them with the aid OF her COM
panions and dolls; at Is she studied three
est in politics; at II she had the reputa-
ton Of being the best educated Princess
in Europe. throughout her teens she was
called 1.-THE Princess of tho Wild Rose"
because of her rosy cheeks sparkling
Just when Elizabeth was entering wo-
manhood a young German Prince was
exciting the admiration of all Europe by
his military courage and skill He was
Prince Charles of Hohenzollern, whom
warded by placing upon the throne OF
the first ruler of new dynasty
The San Francisco call., 1901-12-15

people would sometimes ask her.
The angel teaches me them"
What angelo"
''The angel who brought me here; he
sings to me in my sleep and when wake
know them
And people shook their heads and went
surprise. They thought it quite natural
that Carma should sing, just as the
birds do, to whom the angels also teach
their songs, else how should they learn
them? She told how all the children
are brought down here by angels; she
was quite sure of that, and If only chill
dren would pay heed to them the angels
would teach them many things while they
are asleep.
She had a harp that had been given her
py an old man who showed her how to
play it-as much as he knew himself; the
rest she learned from the angel, and her
toster-parents were often astonished to
hear her playing in the night and then to
sec her next day apparently in no wise
tired, but on the contrary as bright and
lively as If she had slept the whole night
long.
1t was an unfailing source Of amuse-
ment 10 the children TO sail the little
boats Carma made for them out of the
broad coltsfoot leaves skillfully bound
together with sedges; and she made little
and spiders web. and placed them in the
boats; and the little harps began Of them
selves 10 play so Sweetly as they fioRted
away on the stream that the children
their hands 10 catch the boats, but they
slipped away between their fingers, or IL
ever one was. caught the harp IN II
stopped playing Instantly. = All
this made the children take such pleas-
ure in beautiful things that one never
heard OF naughtiness IN the whole VII
lage; they were so happy q never oc-
CURED 20 them 70 set IA mischief They
knew Il would distress Carma ana for
nothing IN the world would they do that
In the very hot weather they made
Carm0 a hover Of green branches TO sit
under IA her boat. They were always
very curious 10 know where she lived. for
they had never seen her home, and one
daN she told them she slept among the
squirrels In the wood And the very next
daN when she came there were five or six
squirrels running up and down her harm.
They rushed down among the children
and were quite friendly. nlaying with
them and then pretending 20 tease them
by suddenly dartinE away into the trees
swinging themselves from bough to
bough and peeping out as though to saw
Catch me If you can" In the midst Of
hands and said. Away and they were
off like the wind.
on another occasion when Carma ar
rived the bottom of the boat looked as
green as If IL were strewn with forest
leaves but when she tuned her harp and
began to sing all the leaves stirred and
less tiny little tree frogs that lifted I'D
their heads and prepared to sing, too. But
frogs have only the one tune: they al
The San Francisco call., 1901-12-15

Mr.. Tolderoy gave her credit for i3e that as Il
may. presently when the dance was at its
height, and the oil lamps were rattling under
the sturdy steps OF Mrs. Saggsrs who had one
OF the bounding BROTHERS for partner Mrs.
GiCdlngs seated herself in corner away from
the others. and gazed pensvely at Mr. Tolde-
roy who was drinking champagne in gulps at
a side table After a little hesitation Mr. Toll
deroy put down his glass; and by stages
coming little way, and going back again
and then coming further-got at last to Mrs
Giddings. and sat down. within about three
feet of her
IT'S 'ot night" said Mr.. Tolderoy. star
ing straight in front of him
1T is. indeed, Mr.. Tolderoy." replied the
lady. in a faint voice
You make it otter. Mrs G." said Tolderov
in the same tone
Mr. Toideroyl' demonstrated the lady.
glancing round him.
You do, num-. said Tolderoy. desperateIv,
i don't know what 1t is. but you ave an ef
feet on me. mum, like a Turkish hath rnst
I'm 'ot-as If love was bringing out a rasb -
me- then I'm cold. as If was in a draurbt T.
may not be romantic. Mrs G. but it's the
truth. At the present moment can feeI a rash
all over me-"
It's the champagne said Mrs Cidd,,-.
looking at him. slyly
1T amt, num- retorted Tolderov ..r ma,
be 'eated-I may ave looked on the snarl~Iir.
goblet slightly more than usual: but it's Io,,.
hArS. ". tndI > HONln me at this
movin' me nearer to yer" Indeed this was
far true that Mr.. Tolderoy was sIidtns
along the bench and rapidly decreasing the
space which divided him from Mrs. GiddlngS
1T ain't me legs. Mrs. G-its love wo5.s
movin' me-"
We'll. hope it won't move you anv f,,,-
ther." said Mrs. Giddings. I'VE shall bs,-a
every talking about it, 's
II don't mind.' said Mr.. Tolderov .srL
may ave summink else to talk about before
long, I feel it In me bones that I'm ~" sa
beasts that PERISH e
Don't call yourself names 1-ords-,-.. 80.
Mrs. Giddings. It's the easiest thing IN 49,
world for a man to talk about love-b,1+ -,
he-Mr. Tolderoy-what are you doingq,,
Mr.. Tolderoy. whether impelIed bv Io,-o -
his legs it is impossible to say had sud o,.- ~
the remaining part of the form which [1tv,,.,
him from Mrs. Giddings, and had also sI,d -
arm about her waist. Happily for hin, 80
she did not seem greatly to mind: ana : 80, 80.
minutes later Mr.. Tolderoy had plunsa5 ~
the dance himself with Mrs Giddings a -
arms And, wonderful to relate Mr., MS
emily he passed Bob Judkin, he winked soia-SS
ly at that gentleman. '''''-
A little later coming to Bob alons =.
pered hoarsely In his ear: uiS-
There was party begun with . - d.
YES, remember" said Bob Ioo,t
him wonderingly. a1
There's summink about as tb.. 80
as got tired of; she wants to ro = bt. . & &parIy
down the alphabet. She's goin' to r,ata a. - sr -
With another solemn wink Mr. TolderoS l1S IL, ~ 1.
away In search Of the party sHueo
published by D. Appleton G. %
York. Price 81 5O) w. NeW
The San Francisco call., 1901-12-15
y Christmas Story Of Real Worth. y

the vision out of the train to the plat
form of a railway station at which the
train has stopped
The train rushes on. and leaves Andrew
alone in the darkness. He is soon met
by a ruffian. who knocks him insensible
robs him and leaves him for dead in a
deserted place. The thief has exchanged
Judkin's clothes for rags, so that the
BODY may be taken for that of an un-
known tramp. Judkin, however, is not
dead. After while he wakes from stu
por into semi-consciousness. The blow he
has received has destroyed his memory
or past events. so that he does not re-
member his name. though he is left with
enough sense to enable him to act in q
partially rational manner
Without money, in rags and not know
ing where to go for aid, the rich Andrew
Judkin sets out to learn the lesson which
the vision has said is before him. To his
half-crazy brain it seems as If the child
appeared to him at intervals to guide him
along the way he must go.
Judk1n undergoes great privation and
sunerinS. Still, in the midst of his sor-
rows he learns slowly of the great good
that exists in the world in spite of the
efforts which men like his former self
make to destroy 1t. Some of those who
have suffered the greatest wrongs at hts
hands come forward readily to help him
in his dire extremity.
Slowly reason returns to Judkin. and
with 1t comes the memory of his identity
and of his past life. But he has learned
well the lesson which the spirit of his
childhood pointed out to him. His recent
experience, in reality short, has been SO
terrible in its intensity that 1t has nodded
him into man who sees under all the
sin and misery of life the good which lies
at its foundation.
1.-THE Man Who Knew Better" is at
times reminiscent of "A Christmas Car
oil" but not to it's detriment. If Mr.. Gal
lon has, perhaps unconsciously. Initiated
some parts of Dickens story, he has
worked after a good model and has in
fused even into those parts enough orig
inality to produce creditable and salts
factory result. On the whole, the story
is a good one, and can be recommended
to those who take pleasure, as most do
in associating themselves for 2. little sea-
son with the spirit of good will which
works to make the whole world kim
Breaking out from under all the solenn
nifty Of the leading incidents of the book
are flashes Of real humor. Quite amusing
is the description of Christmas party
held in travelling theater booth. at
which gather people whose normal life is
passed amid sordid -roundings, which
at first sight would seem calculated to
crush out of existence lightness of heart
The San Francisco call., 1901-12-15

and sentiment. The expenses of this fes-
tivity are betrayed by Bob Judkin, who
from being member of the travelling
troupe has, by inheritance. come to be a
man of wealth The moving spirit of the
party is Mr.. Tolderoy, who has long wor
SHIPPED member of the troupe, Mrs. Cid
dings.
BY the time Bob and his daughter got to
Barking it was quite dark and the fair was in
full swing. Only the old booth doing
business, save on its own private and personal
account. Mr. Tolderoy-as solemn and mel
ancholy in appearance as ever-was assisting
manfully to get the place in order for the n
tertainment of the evening-htting up tables
and piling benches which not wanted up
in corners. and only desisting from his efforts
to launch sarcastic remarks at those OF his
helpers who did not appear properly to ap-
preciate the necessity of hurry. The appear
ance of Bob Judkin tenderly assisting to carry
on the wine, caused even the face of Mr. Toll
deroy to relax. He cannot be said to have
smiled; Mr.. Tolderoy seldom did that: it would
be more appropriate to that his features
slid into a gentle expression and his lips
twitched appreciatively for moment and then
were still.
I've run round since got ere" whispered
Mr.. Tolderoy. taking Bob aside. ''an' they're
all comin'-at least all of them as we know.
There's the inJyrubber man. Az Saggers, the
giant, an Mrs. S.. the fat lady, an the 'uman
ostrich (as as consented to take his vittles
unperfession'ly). an the Boundin' Brothers
Also the owner of the learned pig; the pig
stops at home. I think that's ALL"
when they coming?' asked Bob, who
was all impatence.
They closes early and comes as soon as
they've dressed replied Mr. Tolderoy. Then
lowering his voice he added impressively. ''The
party begins with C is now a preparin' of
'erself in moo character"
''Indeed?" said Bob, with deep interest.
Yes. guv'nor-that Of a breaker She
as played II before. sir-but never, believe me.
as she'll play it this night. 'ope." added
Mr.. Tolderoy. darEly. 1T 'ope nothing won't
'appen-I 'ope so. indeedy'
Does she still resist you. Tolderoy?' asked
Bob, feelingly.
Resist. guv nor. She won't SO much AZ look
at me-save perfession'ly. 1 suppose it amt
to be wondered at; she is that superior that
she ad 'er doubts as ia whether It was right
and proper to invite Mrs. saggers. the fat lady.
1 respect 'er for it. guv' nor. but ad to point
out that Professional is Professional after
all. an the drama is the drama; so she give
way"
''She is a good-hearted woman, Tolderoy.,.
said Bob.
"Guv nor. she Is all cart; she bubbles with
it. ave 'oped that 1t might bubble my way
but it don't The things that woman makes
me contemplate would shock yer gov nor-they
would. indeed. I've even ad a mind'-the
face Of Mr.. Tolderoy was more heightened and