davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-07-21

you. You're the first human being that
have seen in 500 years. But now that you
are here, what do you propose TO dor
Jacques said he wanted to go down and
start for home.
The dwarf asked him where his home was.
When Jacques told him the dwarf whistled
and said: why, that is on the other side
of the EARTH
The dwarf thought for a moment. and then
said Let me see" and he looked on the
side Of the wall where there were lot of
figures. Addressing Jacques, he said You
know the rainbow travels all over the world
and see we will be in your village In three
months and a day. You had better stay
with me and l will take you back home
safe enough
Jacques said he would think about it. But
when he went out and looked down he could
see nothing but dark woods and what he
believed were wild and savage animals NOV
Ing through them, he concluded he would
stay.
1t was a strang life he passed with the
dwarf. At times they were over the ocean,
and again over large cities, and then again
over wild and desert countries. They must
have been nearly all over the world.
A few days before the three months
elapsed Jacques wanted to start for the bot
tom of the rainbow, but the dwarf told him
he need be In 10 hurry, for while 1t took five
days to climb up he could descend in a few
Minutes
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-07-21
A HISTORIC PIPE.

To many people who smoke their pipes
often become great keepsakes and are
handled with the tenderest care, but seldom
is it that one has history attached to 1t as
legendary as pipe at present in the pos
session of an old man In Riverside, r. l.
This pipe Is made Of black birch, and after
a somewhat peculiar design, the bowl being
supported by two small feet carved in the
wood. The owner of this historic and tour
ing pipe bought it a half century ago, and
after using 1t about. four years 1t one day
very mysteriously disappeared.
Back in the days half century ago the
owner used to tell a quaint legend about
1t, which he revived when he recovered the
pipe. The story goes that it was one time
the property of King Philip, the famous
Indian chief, who reigned in the Mount Hope
territory more than two centuries ago, and
that 1t was taken from his body after his
death at an Indian battle In 1876.
The present owner tells that the man from
whom he got the pipe firmly believed the
story that it belonged to King Philip four
years. When the present owner laid 1t down
one day, over 40 years ago. and went to
look for 1t again 1t had apparently walked
away, and after several close searches he
gave up finding it, and for years had nearly
forgotten it, until one day recently he was
visiting an old lady friend, who suddenly
got up and left the room, soon returning
and handing the pipe over his shoulder.
Much to the old mans establishment his old,
old pipe had again come to life. He pressed
his friend for an explanation, and was
merely told that she had found 1t the other
day while cleaning house, and knew MOTH
ing about Its previous ownership.
The old man then questioned the husband
of his old friend as to how he came into
possession of 1t, but could find out nothing
further than that the husband had bought
1t from an old sailor at Bristol. AS Bristol
was a seaport of some importance several
years ago, this pipe has probably travelled
nearly or quite around the globe since the
owner laid 1t down 40 years ago, and with
Its history on Its travels, this pipe probably
has no parallel In the biographies Of smok-
ing utensils.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-07-21

had everything to eat. There were great
piles of wheat, corn, vegetables and fruit,
which the dwarf said the birds had brought
him. He said that when he wanted game
the hawks brought 1t to him. and that the
gulls brought him more fish than he could
use. The goats, he said, furnished him with
milk, and when he needed water he drew
1t from the clouds.
In a large fireplace, which occupied all Of
the space In one end Of the room, there was
a small fire, the flames from which, instead
OF going up the chimney, passed out through
two openings, one on each side OF the fire.
place. Jacques asked what the fire was for.
"I'll show you," said the dwarf. THAT'S
what 1 paint the rainbow with Then he
poured some liquid from vessel onto the
fire, and at once the most beautiful colors
burst forth. Taking Jacques outside, the
dwarf said: "Watch!''
The bright colors poured from the open
ings on opposite sides of the building and
kept extending farther and farther along
the rainbow until they reached the ground.
1t was the most magnificent rainbow that
was ever seen, yet the colors were so soft
that they did not dazzle the eyes.
When they re-entered the house the dwarf
looked at Jacques good humoredly. "Ha,
hai' he laughed, and said I'm gald to see
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-07-21

where they are"
They took him to place where the rocky
walls were covered to their tops with
spiders webs, over which thousands of
spiders were crawling. Here they taught
him how to catch the spiders with two
twigs, but instructed him to catch only
those with red mouths. Jacques learned his
lesson quickly and soon had a hundred
spiders in a glass Jar with which they had
provided him After his task was COM
pleted the witches gave him a squirrel,
nicely cooked, and he helped himself to
fruit from the trees.
The witches treated Jacques very well
until one day he had only 80 spiders when
the largest sister beat him with her broom
until he was one mass Of bruises. But when
she had gone the little one came and rubbed
some salve on his bruises and they were
well In an instant. From that day Jacques
and the little sister were good friends and
often played together.
Jacques was continually trying to find
some way out of the valley, but there
seemed to be none, for everywhere the rocks
were straight up and down, with no pro-
1ecting ends for a foothold. Once when he
was looking very sad the little girl asked
him what was the matter, and he told her
that he wanted to get out Of the valley, so
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-07-21

On the day they were to reach his home
Jacques watched with straining eyes. At
last, in the early afternoon, he could see
the church spire, then the schoolhouse and
then his own house. The rainbow slowly
settled down, and one end rested in the
meadow behind his home.
jacques gratefully thanked the dwarf, and
had started to go when the dwarf called out
to him. Hey" he said, "if you want to
get even with the old witch get her broom
and make her give you 80 bags of gold be-
fore you will return 1t to her. She has a
hundred bags of gold. But don't let the
broom get between your legs or it will carry
you off again.
When Jascques rushed into the house
there was great rejoicing, for his parents
had mourned him as one who was lost.
Jacques arose at daybreak the next morn
ing and went to the old witch's house. The
broom was outside the door, and Jacques
seized 1t and ran.
The old witch heard the noise and opened
the door with a loud 'Hal Hat But when
she saw that jacques was running away
with the BROOM instead Of the broom carry
Ing him off, she sprang after Jacques,
shrieking at the top of her voice for him to
bring back her broom.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-07-21

is exactly IL o'clock, you can stand in one
of these polished grooves and your shadow
will fall little to the right of the line of
the groove, and this will be true of each
groove, showing that all the grooves point
very nearly southeast.
1t Is certainly strange that the marks
should be cut in the solid stone. What are
they for? Why do they all point in this
particular direction? Who or what cut them
so smooth and straight in this tough old
rock? Look about anywhere In the park and
more can be found There are some very
fine ones on the west side near One Hundred
and Fourth street. Whenever they are found
they all point southeast. If we were lost In
the park and found one of the marks we
could use 1t as a compass to show us the
way home. Strange as are these marks on
the rocks, we can find thousands more all
over New York state and through New Eng
land. Still more strange, nearly gil point
pretty nearly south or east of south.
Return to the park and walk back to the
iron bridge, and then keep on to the left
till the rustic arbor Is reached Here,
little to the right, will be found a large
white stone, shaped somewhat like big
egg. Go to Ii and examine 1t closely. 1t is
very hard, CLASSY, and appears to be COM
posed of many different materials all boiled
together In confused mass. 1t does not
resemble In any way the black rock on
the path, and many people think 1t was cut
into this curious shape and placed there by
the Park Commission as an ornament.
Walk along the path to the merrygo-
round and turn to the left, and just by the
next building will be seen, on the right, an
other round stone perched on top OF a mass
of dark rock. This stone does not in any
way resemble the black rock on which 1t
rests. These two round stones are strangers
In New York. They were brought here thou
sands of years ago. They came from some
place far to the northwest. Where they
came from we do not know. We can only
guess that they must have Travelled many
miles and must have had a pretty tough
journey, for their sharp corners have all
been knocked off, and they show the effects
of many a fall as they were carried along
through ice and water till they were finally
landed here in Central Park. So sure are
men of science that such stones came from
some far distant place that they call them
travellers or travelled bowlders," drift
powders or simply 'bowlders."
Is there any connection between these two
powders and the southeast grooves? 1t is
now thought that New York state was once
buried deep under a great sheet Of ice, that
extended from Canada down as far as
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-07-21
The Fatal Earrings.
BY KATE STEPHENS.

It was just 100 years ago this summer that
a Frenehman named Du Lac went on a
voyage up the Missouri. At 81. Louis which
was then little town, he chartered boat
and loaded 1t with trlnkets that delight the
indian taste-that is, he had such things as
blue and scarlet cloth, guns and gunpowder,
lead for bullets, knives, copper kettles and
silver baubles. For aid In his work and as
a crew he engaged ten men,
For more than seven hundred miles they
worked up the yellow waters of the Mis-
souri, without any stirring adventure. But at
length they came to the tribe of Indians
known as the Poneas, and among the war
riors gathered on the bank was one who was
somewhat Of red dude This Ponca coy
eted what would improve his looks. and he
noticed pair Of silver earrings boatman
of Du Laos wore. He at once set about to
obtain the prize. In his eagerness he
brought the boatman furs worth more than
~ times as much as the ornaments and Of
fered them In exchange But the boatman
refused to barter. The Ponca persisted
The boatman still refused.
At last the warrior, unable to win the
coveted ornaments by any persuasion or Of
FER, waylaid the boatman and shot him in
the neck. The sailor fell, the Indian stripped
from his ears the rings and left him for
dead
The Ponca's delight at getting what he
had so coveted led him to hang the rings
In his ears and appear before Du Lac, bring
ing the commander what he had offered the
boatman for the trinkets.
Du Lac was Mortified and rushed forth to
find the boatman seemingly dead and the
Ponca's arrow still sticking in his neck He
called together the warriors, and one Of
them, skilled In treating wounds drew out
the instrument and laid upon the cut plant
which he first chewed and charmed" by
invoking the great Manitou
Some potent thing healed the boatman,
and next day he was about in excellent
health. His recovery eased the wrath of
his companions against the Ponca and they
continued their journey up the Missouri.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-07-21

Jacques was young and active, and he had
no difficulty in keeping far In advance of the
old woman. The broom tried to get between
his legs but he held 1t fast so it could not.
When Jacques reached his home he rushed
in the back door and shut and bolted it;
then he went to a window and looked out
AT distance he saw the old witch stand
ing and shaking her skinny fist at the house.
For days the old witch followed at the
heels Of jacques, wherever he went, and al
ways begging him to return the broom to
her, but Jacques turned a deaf ear One
Gay she said to him: IF you will return
me my broom will give you a bag of gold. -
No." jacques said; II want so bags of
gold, and l will not return It for less
The old witch offered 3. and 10, and &c
and 40 bags of gold, but finally she gave
Jacques 90 bags of gold, and he returned
her the broom.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-07-21

the task Of bringing back "dust to dust"
They are in some cases invisible and also
parasitic.
The sensitive plant closes together when
roughly handled. Some plants have odors
or perfumes in the flowers or leaves to at
tract or repel. The geranium, white water
lily, ill-scented wake robin, hawthorne, pick
erel weed, wild mint, pitcher plant, white
swamp honeysuckle and the rose are exam
Piles Of these varying types.
Some plants are climbing, some creeping,
some inclined to the bush form, some are
air plants and some are aquatic or water
plants, so that when the whole botanical
field is surveyed the plant variety is found
to be very great. Much pleasure can be
lgnorantly, of course, derived from plants
and flowers by the mere act OF looking at
them, but with a little knowledge of even
the commonest flowers so easily obtained
from the many now available books on the
subject the pleasure is multiplied over and
over again, and the local flowers carefully
studied take on marvellous and undreamed
of beauties that will repay the student for
the time spent In studying them. Many
plants, herbs and flowers also have medici-
nal properties, and deservedly find a place
not only in the domestic medicine chest, but
also in the official pharmacopae.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-07-21

a valley surrounded by precipices a mile
high. No sooner had Jacques gotten OF OF
the broom than 1t rose In the air. and in
few minutes was lost to sight. This made
Jacques feel lonesome, as he had begun to
consider the broom his companion in ad-
venture.
He found himself In a very nice place.
There were trees on every side loaded with
fruit Of every kind; the grass was soft and
green, and almost at his feet was a brook
with water clear as crystal.
Jacques stood undecided which way to
turn, when he heard voices over his head
crying: "Hoi Hol Hoi Mother has sent us
a boyr
He looked up and saw three young witches
sailing around on their brooms. Two of
them were good-sized girls, but the third
one was smaller than Jacques. They
watched him for a short time, then the
oldest one said: I'VE won't harm you IL
you will do what we ask of you, and we
will give you a rabbit or a a squirrel every
day for dinner, and you can take all the
fruit you want
Jacques asked her what they wanted him
to do, and she told him he must catch a
hundred spiders for them every day. Come
along" she added, land we will show you
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-07-21

Boys and girls are too apt to conclude
that beyond the beauty of the wild and Guilt
waited flowers they have but little real value
in the world. They live by eating and drink
ing? In their leaves they have mouths and
stomachs, by means of which they derive
the carbon, which is the principal food and
raw material of plant life. They aid in
consuming the animal waste, and from this
they are so made as to be able to derive
nutriment and, in turn, throw Off oxygen as
waste which is so absolutely needful as AMI
NAL nutriment. They are thus easily seen
to be of more consequence in the economy of
nature than IL they were mere symbols of
beauty. The botanist quickly finds new
world In and among his studied plants and
the flowers that bloom as an incident in
plant life.
Plants are full Of very curious devices, by
means of which they accomplish that which
would at first seem impossible. They in
geniously scatter their seeds by explosion,
by means of wings that sail the wind, and
by the birds and animals. Even man himself
is pressed into service as an unconscious, but
effective, seed distributor. The young plant
Is given a good start In life, and no fairy
tale is stranger or more interesting than
the life history of flowers.
Some plants are day blooming and others
blossom in the night, because their insect
visitors, upon whom their very life de-
ponds, are diurna or nocturnal, as the case
may be- Some plants are luminous that the
insects may the more readily perceive and
reach them Ia the dark. The sundew of
England and the Venus fytrap OF tropical
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-07-21

bag Of provisions he thanked her, and as
she few off waved his cap at her and then
he continued his way. He climbed and
climbed for four days, only lying down to
sleep when fatigue compelled him. On the
fifth day his provisions were exhausted and
Jacques felt that he could go no further
hut just when he was ready to give up he
reached the top.
1t was level plain, upon which goats
were grazing and over which innumerable
birds were lowering. In the middle of the
plain there was a small brick house of
frey red color. Toward this building
Jacques made his way, surrounded by the
goats and with the birds circling overhead.
As he approached the house the bleating
of the goats and the noisy ehattering of
the birds brought fat little dwarf to the
door. He was jolly looking little chap.
'Heyn' the dwarf cried; where did you
come from?''
jacques told him from the witch's valley.
"Ohl You are the lucky one" said the
dwarf. You are the only one that ever
got out of the old witch's clutches. "But,
come" he added, you must be hungry after
your hard journey up here"
The dwarf led Jacques into the little house
and set good meal before him. The dwarf
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-07-21
Little jacques And The Witch.
~ FRANK G. STARK.

Once upon time IN a small village in
France, there lived boy named Jacques.
On the outskirts OF the same village there
was living an old woman whom everyone
excepting Jacques believed to be witch
he said she was no more a witch than he
was and that there were no witches any
how.
One day Jacques was passing by the hut
with other children, when he noticed
broom standing by the door. "Hello!" he
cried, there's the broom the old witch
rides on through the sky. I'm going to take
a ride on it myself"
With that he straddled the broom, when
-"Whiskl' and jacques gave yell-but
before he could Jump OF Of the broom he
was a hundred feet In the airl His as
tonlshed companions stood in wonder watch
ing him soar through the sky until he was
only a dim speck In the distance.
When jacques mustered courage to look
down he saw they were flying along over
mountains and lakes and rivers and plains
On they went until they reached the other
side of the moon; then they descended into
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-07-21
Strangers In New York.
A NATURE LESSON.
BY CHARLES BARNARD.

II any OF our young readers happen to
visit New York, 20 to Central Park. Enter
by the gate at Seventh avenue and Fifty
ninth street and walk under the stone bridge
and over the iron foot bridge and turn to
the left On the right Is a level meadow
and on the edge of the grass, just ahead,
rises a mass of gray rocks. At the next
turn in the path go up to the top of the
rocks. Then go down to the left in the first
little valley or depression in the rocks to
the grass. Then turn around and look back
over the rocks. Look closely, and several
smooth, shallow grooves or depressions all
exactly parallel will be seen cut In the
rock. They reach almost to the top of the
rocky mound. II the sun is shining, and 1t
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-07-21
THE BOYS IDEAL MENU.

Here's boys ideal menu:
At least, think 1t is, don't you?
First course, mince pie-happy dream
And then some turkey and ice-cream,
And cranberries and pumpkin pie.
Third eourse-well, now, suppose we try
More turkey and a lemon pie,
And custard pie, and apple pie,
And-neyer mind the reason why
Well eat them alive will or die
And then-the little stomach elves
Can fight 1t out amongst themselves.
LA ToUCHE HANCorR
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-07-21

that he could go home to his parents. The
little witch appeared to be very sorry for.
him and offered to let him use her broom.
When Jacques tried it he found the little
broom was not strong enough to carry him.
1t would rise a few feet stagger around In
the air, and then tumble to the ground. He
tried over and over again, but 1t was of no
use-the broom was too weak.
One day Jacques saw a rainbow with one
end resting in a large, open space, and the
other extending away over the cliffs. He
ran to the bottom of 1t, and to his amaze
ment saw that there were steps leading to
the top. He did not hesitate an instant,
but started up the steps. He had gone but
short distance when he heard a sweet
voice calling "Jacques!" 1t was the little
witch, who came flying on her broom. She
had a bag in her hand, which she gave to
him and said: Jacques, here are provisions
and bottle of water You will need them,
for it's long journey to the top of the rain
bow. Goodbyl I'm sorry you're going to
leave me-
When the little witch gave Jacques the
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-07-21

tion toward the southeast. Many hard
stones were frozen into the ice, and as it
moved the stones cut these grooves In the
old rocks. Many powders from distane
mountains were carried along on top of the
ice, and when, at last the Ice melted away
the powders fell down here in Central Park.
The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1902-05-29

In his boyhood. Henry Clay made
up his mind that he would become an
orator. In this he was discouraged by
his parents and those who worked
with him on the old plantation. but
his ideal was so strongly impressed
upon him that nothing could shake H.
Some one gave him a reader. and
his first effort was 70 memoriEe a
number Of selections. He asked his
friends 10 hear him reclte them. but
they laughed at the idea Of a bare
footed boy being an orator.
Young Clay, undaunted. went into
the barn almost every day. and. With
the horses and cows for an audience
recited and practiced oratory. These
we're his nrst audiences; and, as a
great Statesman. he remarked. in later
years. that they we're bis most pa.
tient. earnest listeners. The expert.
encs. which now seems ridiculous
was. in fact. q very helpful one fer
tks brilliant young Kentuckisn. who
later became an eminent sr.-suc-
cess
The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1902-05-29
travelling d. panaeroua

Constant motion jars the Kidneys
which are kept in place in the body
by delicate attachments. This Is the
reason that travellers. trsinmen, street
car men. teamsters and all who drive
very much suffer from kidney disease
in some form. Foley's Kidney Cure
strengthens the kidneys and cures all
forms OF kidney and bladder disease.
Geo. II. Hausan. locomotive engineer.
Lima. o.. writes: Constant yibra-
ton Of the engine caused me a great
deal Of trouble with my Kidneys. and
I got no relief until ! used Foley 2
Kidney Cure. Sold by Bonner & Bon.
ner.