davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-03-30
T Tommy's April Fool.
BY TLoRENcE1A. DAWSON.

"It,s s shame, complained Susie as she ran into tbe room where her mother and Aunt Jane sat sewing. Tommy has been April foollng me all day and l can't catch him."
 Loud laughter foated through the open door and boyish voice exclatmed "Oh. say; that was good onef Oh, April fooll April fooll'
 What's he been doingg' inquipcd Aunt Jane. looking up from her sewing nj susie's flushed face.
 "He was eating something and had little hag in his hand said Susie. q thought 1t was candy and asked him for some. He said, Certainly and held out the bag 10 ne stuck in my hand without looking. and''-Susie shuddered-''it was dead mousen
 Aunt Jane sat erect so suddenly that her glasses dropped Into her lap. "Now I call that dreadfull" she asserted
 Mrs. Lefferts smiled Tt wasn't nice, she said. "but I shouldn't be cross about 1t. Susie. Take It in fun and try to fool Tommy in return"
 1T have tried. lots and lots of times" said Susie, "bnt he always sees through my tricks"
 Aunt Jane's face lighted with sudden de- termination. Never mind. Susie.n .n she said ''I know way in which we can fool Tommy"
 That boy has been teasing and laughing at his sister all morning." Aunt Jane con tinued when Susie had left the room. "He slipped into her room before she was awake md buttoned ID her shoes and frock and apron so that she had 10 unfasten them all before sine could get dressed He had her chair tied to the table leg when she came down to breakfast and he sent her two April fool letters through the mail, and
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-03-30
my Lenerts Did You Dourhnutsr

ton?" asked the doctor, when he had drawn the principal facts from her
 He was hurrying of to play ball." replied Aunt Jane tremulously, and youknow how boys swallow anything; and l think, now, that l must have made the rings of cotton too thin. l remember l put n great deal of dough around them. but there was enough cotton to swell up inside that boy and kill him..
 The doctor said nothing He helped Aunt Jane Into the buggy and they drove of. Tommy wns meanwhile e grooming and twist. ing upon the sofa, Susie bathing his forehead with cold water.
 "Wheres Auntie sue?' she asked. sud denly. "Is she making me hot lemonade. or anythlngg
 Nc Tommy dear; Aunty's gone for the doctora
 "whatr exclaimed Tommy
 "1'he doctor, Tommy; Dr Whitman. Now, He still dear. He'll be here In few min utes and stop the pain right away
 For moment Tommy was silent. Then he said "sne. couldn't you make me glass of hot lemonade? It might make me feel better nntii the doctor gets here"
 susle fixed the cushions under her brothers
 a head and ran to do as he asked. When she returned with stenmng, odorless glass the sofa was empty.
 Tommy. Tommyi'' called Susie. Receiving TO answer, she laid the glass on the table and ran Into the hall, still calling him. At that moment the front door burst open and in iuttered Aunt Jane, followed by Dr. whitman. When Susie told her tale Aunt Jane col- lapsed. The doctor began to laugh. "No wonder the young rascal decamped | when he heard that I was coming" he said. "He knew I could tell that he hadn't eaten those doughnnts." That night as the rest of the family were going Into supper, Tommy burst into the house, flushed and happy from his game of ball.
 April fool, Auntyl April fool, suei' he cried. and then darted up stairs to wash.
 Tommy Lefferts. just walt til I catch | your Aunt Jane called after him. "You told me you ate those doughnutsr
 So I did, Aunty." said Tommy from over the banisters. 'I ate every single bit of 1 doughnut there was in them, and4 besides. alis fair In an April fool"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-03-30

Ion,t know what he hasn't been doing Now f'ln going to each him that he laughs pest who laughs last.
 A little later Susie heard Aunt Janeeal ling her. and as she ran down the back stairs delicious odor foated up to her. She found Aunt Jane placing plate of steaming dough nufs on the table.= s'-~'.- .' =--s
 aoh. aunty, how good May have onef' she cried. 4
 Aunt Jane laughed and shook her head "rbeysfe first of April -doughnuts. dearie, she whispered, s"stuffed with cotton to fool Tommy.
 Susie elapped her hands. "Oh, how splen- did! Let me give them to hlm, quick hes just going out to play ball, and he'll be fooled before all the boys.
 selzlng the plate. she skipped into the front hall, where her brother was getting Into his sweater.
 "see what aunty has made, Tommy" she said.
 Tommy's face frightened. How many can have2''
 "ob. two or three, I suppose Susie an swered. demurely She had almost said, "As many as you please, but checked her self. thinking that such generosity would LOOK suSplclOus.
 Tommy helped himself to three of the doughnuts and snatched his cap from the rack. "Tell aunty thank you, he called back as he ran out of the door.
 Tommy returned sooner than Aunt Jane and Susie had expected. He walked into the sitting room. rosy from his play but with a troubled face susie's eyes were dancing and her lips twitched.
 How did you enjoy the doughnuts' Tommy?" she, asked.
 They were bang up."
 Susie looked puzzled. ''Do you want an other7'' she suggested
 Tommy hadilam down upon the sofa. NO, not now" unanswered, slowly. "I-I began to feel queerfout there playing ball. That's why I came hone" He turned restlessly : upon the lounge, with an expression of pain
 Aunt Jane andtsusIe exchanged glances.
 Perhaps you ate too many doughnuts Tommy Aunt Jsne suggested. {. "oh, no'm," replied Tommy. "oniy three and I've often eaten six at time. I don feel as if were sick from eating doughnuts Only, somehow, Il feel so-so heavy. Tn getting an awful pain" He twisted upor
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-03-30
HOW BOBBY BECAME A HORSE TRADER
BY JAMES DOUGLAS CAMPBELL.

'I daren't".
 'Why?"
 eBecause." sobbed the boy, If look at him won't have the heart to sell him.
 What is your name2@
 Bobby
 Bobby what7''
 Bobby Kirk
 A low whistle from the man met this last reply.
 Why do yon sell him 7''
 We need the money? ?"
 Who needs the money 2"
 My mother and father" . There was moments silence. and then Bobby heard the man patting Dick on the back
 Presently the man said: "six dollars well. I guess l can stand that" and thea Bobby heard the rustic of crisp, new bills. That lump got bigger and bigger iu his throat and hls heart felt like lead.
 Here you are said the mnn, and the deep voice had grown bit husky. 1 With one arm ncross Lis eyes Bobby helh the other one out, and his fingers grasped some bills which the man stuck into them. "Goodby.n said the man. as he started away with Dicks hHlterst strap in his hand. When he had led the pony as far as the cor her of the street he looked back and there was the boy seated once more on the uD- turned feed bucket, with his head buried even deeper in his folded arms.
 Two hours later little figure slipped In Q the side gate md made his way toward the stable, there to have q last look at the empty stall of his lost friend
 When Bobby reached the door he stopped short in amazement and his heart beat with glndness, for there, standing in his stall as If he had never been out of It. was Dick He raised his head and greeted Bobby with little whinny, and the boy put his arms around hls little comrade's neck, and this l time they were tears of joy. Well" said Bobby, Tn a puzzled voice.
 how about the money?' and for the first time be put his hand In his pocket to count It, but Instead of finding $8 he drew out sir l new ten dollur bills Bobbys eyes opened wide with astonlshment
 T knew you were worth if, Dick boy" he said, "but was afraid to ask more because they needed what little they could get In a l hurry"
 This brought back to him the condition of affairs, and after giving Dick another hug he made his way 10 the house. When he entered the sitting room he saw 1 strange scene. Seated on the sofa were his fntber and mother. his mother's head resting on his fnther's shoulder. and stand- ing near them was the big man with the i brown Deaf0. lhey were hH crying, and had they not seen him be would have lodged out of sight, but before he could do so they had rushed down on him like an avalanche. His mother and father kissed and hugged him, and his mother was try tug to tell hlm that they would not have l to move or give up anything now. His Tnele Jack for ft was his Uncle Jack, they told him, was shaking both his hands and calling him brick and trump and | such names. And when Bobby pulled out i the new bills this same Uncle Jack told 1 him he had better keep those to buy apples for Dick.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-03-30
PART II.

PART II.
 When Bobby left the horse market it was quite dark, and thls time, when he reached home. he entered the front door trying to whistle He started up the steps, and his mother came down part of the way and waited on the landing for him. She had evidently been listening for his coming
 She asked him if he would mind very much moving Into smaller house and not having quite so many nice things. She tried to laugh through her tears, and said she knew they could be happy In sweet, simple little home. And when he told her that he would be happy wherever she and his father were she cried some more and called him her brave little man and her comfort. From that minute hls mind was mnde up.
 Early the next morning, before any one was up, Dick heard the key turn in the stable lock, the door opened and there stood Bobby. Dick thought his little masters eyes were mighty red nnd they wore redde stil when he left the stable, leading Diel by his halter Dick wondered why the, were out so early and why Bobby was lead ing him that way, but he knew that any thing Bobby did was all right, so they wen on down the street.
 Once Bobby stopped. and turning around said, in ehoked voice: 'I wouldn't do it Dick boy; l wouldn't do f.. but she cried SO and 1 know they cant afford It. and then with his head bowed. he led the pony on toward the Town Hall
 Shortly after Bobby had started from home big man with brown beard and boylsh blue eyes left the small hotel In the town, and after standing for Il moment as if undecided which way to go, walked slowly to the corner of the street. There, percelYlng the string of horses and the hustle and stir two blocks away, he turned l,It +4a, fta fhaf ii slowly through the row of horses. examin- Ing first one and then another with erlti cal eye
 As he drew near the end of the line his eye fell upon something which brought the corners of his mouth down in a queer little smile.
 Seated on an upturned feed basket. with his head bowed upon his lap, sat boy and standing close by him, his nose rest Ing almost on the boys shoulder, was fat little pony scarcely higher than tn, mans waist. Tied to the pony 8 mane wal bit of paper on which was printed II rough letters the words sTo Sell"
 The man halted and stood surveying fhis picture for q full minute before he made his presence known. For sale7" he asked in Il deep. kind voice, and as the boy raised tenr.atained face and nodded hi, head, the man drew closer and placed hl' hand upon the pony's back.
 How muehi' he asked.
 The boy got up and going around tC where the man was. turned. and with hi' back to both the pony and the man, said with q sob, "Six dollars"
 'Is he kind and gentle?" asked the man hls mouth again coming down at the cor ners
 peculiar little gurgle that sounded liki ''yes'' came from the lips of the boy. whose back was still turned.
 stAyhat are you looking at l'
 "Nothin''
 Well. why don't you turn around?'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-03-30

boy again and heard the fairy bell, but what fooiishnessl-there are no fairies. And he tottered on, while the fairies sang:-
 He has eyes, ne has eyes,
 But he cannot sec, and one fairy stepped out and looked at him. but he never saw her.
 Tn. a few moments the sound of a gal loplng horse grew nearer, and into sight dashed a snow white pony, with q gay cavalier on his back. "whoa.'' cried the man. .let's rest here" and, jumping to the ground he stopped to q little stream near by and, filing the hollow of his hand, cried, ITO the fairest fair, and drank the draught.
 The fairy bell rang out, but the man dla not hear it. His pony turned and laid his wet muzzle on the mans hand, and looked him In the face. "Ha! hal" cried the man..
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-03-30

What thlnkest thou, my sweet Elf7 Twas ever said thou sawest the fairies. Nay, nay, my little pony, there are no fairies.' and he mounted and rode away, little knowing that his pony Elf couid see every little fairy hidden under bush and flower. Scarcely had the sound of the ponys hoofs ceased 10 beat on the air when q lady, alone, and walking slowly paused nnder the elm.
 What a lovely spot said she; If one only believed In fairies one could easily see them here" At this little elf stole for
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-03-30
dropse And the bells rung ont with merry

drops" And the bells rung out with merry chime.
 Just then the first rays of the sun stained the blue sky with pink. and in m instant the fairies had disappeared, leaving the boy and girl looking at each other
 ''Was 1t dream?" said the girl. No replied he, for there is your necklace" But even as they looked at 1t the fairy gift faded away. The boy said nothing, but one of the dewdrops had fallen in hls hand. and he had
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-03-30

her neck and admired It's shining beauty. The boy looked long at the Queen, then -sid:-
 .Queen Mnybell the gems look like dla- monds, but as gaze at them l see the trees and the sky and the tiny stream reflected there, and think they must be lovely dew
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-03-30

hidden 1t next his heart where no light coul0 strike 1t, and all through his life when De heard people doubt the existence of fairies. he would take 1t out and look at the spark Ing dewdrop, and then he knew he had once danced with the elves In the moonlight "un- der the spreading greenwood tree.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-03-30

hair.n The girl said promptly; "Diamondsl'
 Why" said Phookn.
 Because they shine,' replied she, and the chorus of fairy voices rang out
 She has eyes, she has eyes,
 But she cannot seel "What will you take away with you?n said Phooka 'tThat neeklaee," cried the girl, pointing to the one the Queen wore. The Queen took 1t off and the girl hung it around
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-03-30

Answer 10 last weeks puzzIe, Webster (web stir) and Reed.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-03-30

ward and commenced 10 dance on the elastic sward. just where moonbeam shone through the trees. The Indy started, leaned forward and watched the pretty creature for moment Her cv grew bright, her lips parted. the soft rose color flushed in her cheeks, as she stood aad looked; then tossing back her hair, she said; What tricks the moonlight plays us l thought saw fairy. Midsummer eye madness! The bell rang out, she started, then laughed and walked on, but as she passed where the fairy had danced in the light of the moon beam she smilingly said: Tt seemed so real. but then, everyone knows there are no fairies. !" and passed out into the world and lost her chance Of knowing fairyland. After she had gone the bell rang, ding dong, ding dong, and out rushed the fairies:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-03-30
Now left, now right, In the moons bright light,
 We wind in our magic maze.

Sweet rang the tiny voices, and so busy were they that they never noticed small boy and girl who had stolen up and were looking at them with wide open eyes As the Queen Elf danced by the boy he caught her dress and said Let us play with you. What is your namef' The fairy said: My name Is Maybell, and these are all my peo- ple.'' ..Oh," said the little girl, what pretty name, and where did you get those lovely, sparkling dlamonds?" The boy said. :. sister, those are not dIamonds.' Then, what are they?e said the girl. but the boy shook his head and did not answer.
 Come and dance with us!' cried the fairies. Both children danced and played, until suddenly the el6n bell rang ''ding, dongr' and all the fairies stopped and stood as though ready to fly away. From among them came fairy wearing black cloak and with wand in his hand. My name Is Phooka," said he,."and Maybell, our queen. desires me to tell you that 1t is now almost the hour when fairies must disappear, and as 1t is midsummer eve you, having seen us. are entitled to take away present, but first you must tell us what you think these sparkling gems are that shiue In our queen's s
Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1903-01-30
OUR BIG VOTING CONTEST
WITH ITS QUAKER RANGE PRIZES WILL
SOON BE IN PROGRESS.
Time of Entry Ends Tomorrow Night-some
Districts Hang Bashfully Back and May
Get Left Altogether Matters Stand
To-day in the Seven Districts.

The Reformer's great Quaker range
voting contest, in which seven first
class ranges are offered as prizes, will
soon be in full swing, as the time in
which contestants may be entered
closes at 6 O'Clock tomorrow night,
Jan. 81, and the voting will then be-
gin. Up to that hour entries may be
sent to the Reformer office by tele'
graph, telephone or by letter. After
that hour it will be too late Read the
advertisement which appeared on the
| Sth page of the Reformer of last week,
explaining all the details Of the amend
ed and final conditions of this remark
able offer 1t does not appear in this
weeks issue. Enter your name. or
that Of your friend, church, lodge or
other society, at once. DO not let your
district 90 unrepresented and TINS
splendid opportunity be lost to your
people Prizes will be Withdrawn
| from such districts as do not have at
/ least three contestants entered when
the time of entry ends tomorrow night
Be warned in season.
| In some districts warm and lively
/ battle is already assured. District NO.
/ | and District No. 3 have each four
contestants entered and the people are
| laying out their campaign plans with
energy and determination; but District
| No. hangs bashfully back, like
/ frightened schoolboy, with lis finger In
/ its mouth and not a single entry
! Don't be faint-hearted, No. i! Here
/ is the range, waiting for you to step
up and take it. Nos. ,, > and have
done just one better, while No. I Is
coming to the front with two entries.
/ But, remember, the time is short
| Don I lose your chance
! Besides the seven ranges offered as
! first prizes. second or consolation
prizes will be given in each district to
! the contestant having the next highest
number of votes Any person, church,
club or other organization Is eligible
/ for this contest and any number may
enter The prizes are absolutely free
of cost to voters as full value In sub
scriptions to the Reformer, advertising,
or single copies of the paper are given
| for all money paid us. The votes and
| the prizes are free Awards Will be
made exactly ms promised, immediate
/ ~ upon obtaining the voting results.
| Ullery L Co, the new owners and pub
| fishers of the Reformer, are thoroughly
reliable, as any bank or business firm
in Brattleboro viii testify. They will
do just as they agree to do, They
have bought these valuable ranges ;
they offer them to you free, and now i
il for you to say whether you will
come forward and take them or not
The ranges are shown at the Brattle-
boro store of Emerson Il Son, and they
are beauties. They bum either coal
or wood, and will take in two foot
wood. Go and see them.
Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1903-01-30
FROM THE LOCAL STANDPOINT.
Views and Phases of the Lieense-Prohibition
Question, as Regards Local Application

The polls will remain open until .
O'Clock next Tuesday.
The machine" will get its final
blow on Tuesday next
1t is safe to predict that Brattleboro
and Windham county will go yes
by a handsome majority.
One good example is worth many fine
precepts. This is as true today as ever
and applies we'll to the prohibition pre-
tenders.
But little interest has been display
ed up to now. but things are begin
ming to warm up bit and a fairsized
vote may be expected.
As the Reformer predicted. DR.. Con
land was elected and a high license
bill passed. Now it is zip to you, and
YOU. and you, Mr.. Voter, to support
the measure.
Be honest and vote as your con
science dictates. If you are drink
ing man don't imagine that people
don t know it. The chances are that
they know more about it than you do.
A vote for the local-option bill
eyes, means a vote against public
plunder. The fees will be paid in the
form Of licenses and 90 into the pub
lie treasury instead of into the pockets
of the politicians.
The corruption under prohibition has
been pretty thoroughly exposed and the
"open" saloon humbug does not fool
apv one not blind to the facts or ignor-
ant of every day conditions here and
in other places. Woodstock Age.
You have all seen how this law is en-
forced how it has been run to enrich
petty officials, cheap lawyers and dis
honest politicians: how the saloons
have been driven not out of existence
but into dark places and liquor selling
into the hands of those most untitled
for it: how it has debauched courts as
well as private character: how liquid
poison is substituted for pure liquors
how it has. given Vermont reputation
for prudishness. hypocrisy and back
woods self sufficiency and simplicity
which has done permanent and last
ing injury to the business of the state.
You have seen it all-have lived in the
midst of it Is it not reasonable to try
change which we can discard If II
prove not success: To us it seems
that there can be but one answer and
that answer "Yes. Banner and Re
former.
Bishop Michaud of Burlington in a
newspaper letter, places himself in OPP
position to the new license law, his
chief reason being that he wishes to
keep the saloon out of Vermont" as
long as possible. This assumption that
there are now no saloons in Vermont
seems strange, coming from lifelong
resident of Burlington. Further on n
his letter, however, the bishop places
himself squarely among the supporters
of the new law by quoting approving
1 lv from a letter he once wrote to T.. W.
1 Clement: .Why not give people who
wish to take a stimulant an cpportun-
ity of taking a small bottle of pure
wine or glass of lager beer, instead
of obliging them to go into hidden
places to fill up with poisonous wbis,
/ key?'' This is exactly what the new
law does under its "third class" IL
cense provisions.
Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1903-01-30
YES OR NO.?
THE VOTERS DUTY TOWARD THE STATE.
The Question to be Settled Not That of the
Open Saloon-Shall Brattleboro be Given the
Right to Govern Herself!

Next Tuesday will offer every Ver-
monter the opportunity to do his
share toward ridding the state of
the present prohibitory law with its
attending hypocrisy and corruption.
The question to be submitted to
the people is not that of the open
saloon; it is the time honored ques-
tion of home rule. Shall Brattle
boro have the right to say how the Ii
quor traffic shall be controlled in Brat
tleboro, or shall some scattered town
ship, in which conditions are totally
different, dictate Brattleboro's policy?
Shall the present prohibitory measure,
which is an admitted failure, be re-
tained on our statute books, or shall
there be substituted high license,
local option bill, framed with the idea
of controlling the liquor traffic as strict
" as possible? These questions are
worth the consideration of every voter
be he prohibitionist or not.
Vote YES" next Tuesday and you
are doing your part toward establish
ing law which the Reformer believes
will be in the interest of temperance:
a law under which less liquor will be
sold and more money will go into the
public treasury. Vote "NO" and you
are placing your stamp of approval on
hypocrisy, corruption, machine rule
and political debauchery.
Don't stay away from the polls be-
cause you think your vote will not be
needed. Be on hand. Cast aside per-
sonal prejudice. Vote for the best in
terests of Vermont