davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-29
EMMY LOU IN THE
SECOND READER
Hare-and-Torto or, the Bliss
of Ignorance.

HERE was head and foot in the
second reader. Emmy Lou heard
it whispered the day OF her en-
trance into the second-reader room.
Once head and foot had meant
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-29

Emmy Lou listened, letter by letter, to those
ten droned out five times down the line,
then twice again around the class Of fifty.
Then Emmy Lou, having already labored
faithfully over 1t, knew her spelling lesson.
And at home 1T was Emmy Louis joy to
gather her doll children in line, and, giving
out past lessons. recite them in turn for her
children. And so did Emmy Lou know by
heart her second reader as far as she had
gomez she often gave the lesson with her
book upside down. And an old and battered
doll, dearest to Emmy LOUIS heart, was al
ways head, and Hattie, the newest doll was
next. Even the Emmy Lous must square
with fate somehow.
Along in the year new feature was intro
duced in the second reader. The second
reader was to have medal. Dear teacher
did not seem enthusiastic. She seemed to
dread tears. But it was decreed that the
school was to use medals.
At recess Emmy Lou asked Hattie what a
medal was. The big fourth and ffth-reader
girls were playing games from which the
little girls were excluded, for the school was
large and the yard was small. AT one time
1t had seemed to Emmy Lou that the odium,
the obloquy, the reproach of being little
girl was more than she could bear, but she
would not change places with any one, now
she was an intimate friend.
Emmy Lou asked Hattie what it was-this
medal.
Hattie explained Hattie knew everything.
A medal was-well-a. medal 1t hung on a
blue ribbon Each little girl brought her
own blue ribbon. You wore il for a week
this medal.
That afternoon Emmy Lou went round
the corner to Mrs. Heinzs little fancy
store. Her chin just came to Mrs. Heinzs
counter. But she knew what she wanted
yard of blue ribbon.
She showed it TO Hattie the next day
folded in its paper. and slipped for safety
beneath the long criss-cross stitches which
held the calico cover of her second reader
Then Hattie explained One had to stay
head whole week to get the medal
Emmy LOUIS heart was heavy-the more
that she had now seen the medal. 1t was a
silver medal that said Merit" 1t was
around Kitty Mckoeghany's neck
| And Kitty tossed her head. And. when,
| at recess, she ran. the medal swung to and
fro on its ribbon. And the big girls all
stopped Kitty to look at the medal.
There was a condition attached to the
gaining of the medal. Upon receiving it
| one had TO go foot. But that mattered
little TO Kitty McKoeghany. Kitty climbed
right up again.
| And Emmy Lou peeped surreptitiously at
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-29

Dough-" said Emmy Lou, swallowing
miserably.
Mr.. Cato was Modified. Forget now it
was A: A is do here. Always in the future
remember the first letter in the scale is do.
Whenever you meet it placed like this A is
DO; A Is do"
Emmy Lou resolved she would never for
get. A is dough. How or why or wherefore
did not matter. The point was, A is dough.
But Emmy Lou was glad when the music
man went And then came spelling, when
there was always much bobbing I'D and
down and changing of places and tears.
This time the rest might forget but Emmy
Lou would not. 1t came her turn.
She stood UP. Her word was Adam. And
was dough. Emmy Lou went slowly to
get 1t right. 'Dough-d-dough-m. ADAM.
said Emmy Lou.
They laughed. But dear teacher did not
laugh. The recess bell rang. And dear
teacher, holding Emmy Louis hand sent
them all out. Every must go. Desks
and states to be scrubbed mattered not.
Every one must go. Then dear teacher lift
ed Emmy Lou to her lap. And when she
was sure they were every one gone Emmy
Lou cried. And after while dear teacher
explained about A and do. so that Emmy
Lou understood And then dear teacher
said. You may come in" And the crack
OF the door widened and in came Hattie.
Emmy Lou was glad she was an intimate
friend. Hattie had not laughed.
But that day the carriage which took
dear teacher to and from her home outside
of town-the carriage with the white,
woolly dog on the seat by the little colored
boy driver and the spotted dog running be-
! hind-stopped at Emmy Louis gate And
dear teacher, smiling at Emmy Lou just
arriving with her school bag, went in, too,
and rang the bell
Then dear teacher and Aunt Cordelia and
Aunt Katie and AUNT Louise sat in the
psrlor and talked.
And when dear teacher left. all the
aunties went out to the gate with her, and
Uncle Charlie. just leaving, put her in the
carriage and stood with his hat lifted until
she was quite gone.
AT her age" said Aunt Cordelia
ITO have to teach said Aunt Katie.
How beautiful she must have been
said Aunt Louise.
Is said Uncle Charlie.
But she has the little grandchiId," said
Aunt Cordelia; .'she is keeping the home
for him. She is happy" And Aunt Cor
| della took Emmy Louis hand.
/ That very afternoon Aunt Louise began
to help Emmy Lou with her lessons. and
Aunt cordeiia went around and asked Hat
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-29

ties mother to let Hattie come and get
her lessons with Emmy Lou.
And at school dear teacher, walking up
and down the aisles. would stop, and her
fingers would close over and guide the
laboring digits of Emmy Lou, striving to
copy within certain ruled lines upon her
slate the writing on the blackboard:
THE pen is the tongue of the mind
Emmy Lou began to learn. AS weeks
went by. now and then Emmy Lou bobbed
up a place, although sooner or later she
slipped back. She was not always at the
foot.
But no one, not even dear teacher, who
understood SO much, realized one thing. The
day after lesson Emmy Lou knew 1t. On
the day it was recited Emmy Lou had
lacked sufficient time to grasp 1t.
With ten words in the spelling lesson
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-29
PROSPECTS NOW in SIXTH
THEY LOST THE ENTIRE SERIES TO
THE RINKY-DINK TEAM.
Leaders Won Five Games and
strengthened Their Position
Eleven Double Centuries.

The Rambler team stiil leads the indie
pendent League by a good margin. The
leaders won five out of six from the Pud-
Nos last night, while the best their near
est opponents Alcazar team, could do was
to split even with the Reliance. The
Royals and Rinky Dinks took straights
from the Deweys and Prospects. The lattsr
team dropped from fourth to sixth place in
the race by losing last nights series.
Eleven 200 or better scores were rolled
Failey, of the Alcazars. was high, with
242 and Gregory, Of the Royals, was Sec
ond, with 21S. Sachs, OF the same team,
was third. with 215 The scores follow:
ALCAZARS vs. RELIANCE.
(Washington Alleys.l
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-29

the blue ribbon in her second reader. And
AZ home she placed her dolls in line and
spelt the back lessons faithfully, with COM
fort in her knowledge of them. And the old
battered doll, dear to her heart, wore often
est medal of shining tinfoil. For even
Hattie, in one of Kittys off weeks, had
won the medal.
1t was late in the year when a rumor ran
around the second reader room. The trus-
tees were coming that day to visit the
school
Emmy Lou wondered what trustees We're
She asked Hattie. Hattie explained. They
are men In black clothes. You darent move
in your seat. They're something like min
isters." Hattie knew everything.
''Will they come here, in our room?"
asked Emmy Lou. 1t was terrible to be at
the front desk. Emmy Lou remembered
the music man. He still pointed his bow
at her on Fridays.
"Of course" said Hattie; "comp'ny al
ways comes to our ROOM"
Which was true, for dear teachers room
was different. Dear teachers room seemed
always ready. and the principal brought
company TO it accordingly.
1t was after recess they came-the prin-
cipal. the trustees dhere was just one trus-
tee), and visiting gentleman.
There was hush as they filed in. Hat
tie was right. 1t was like ministers. The
principal was in black, with a white tie.
He always was. And the trustee was in
black. He rubbed his hands and bowed to
the second reader class. sitting very
straight and awed. And the visiting gen.
tleman was in black. with shiny black
hat.
The trustee was big man, and his face
was red, and when urged by the principal
| to address the second reader class, his face
grew redder.
The trustee waved his hand toward the
visiting gentleman. "Mr. Hammel, chill
dren, the Hon. Samuel S. Hammel, cit
izen with whose name you are all, I am
sure, familiar" And then the trustee,
hopping his face. got behind the visiting
gentleman and the principal.
The visiting gentleman stood forth. He
! was a short. little mana little, round man,
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-29

whose feet were so far back beneath a pre-
ponderating circumference of waist line
that he looked like nothing so much as one
of Uncle Charles pouter pigeons.
He was a smiling-and- bowling little man,
and he held out his fat hand playfully, and
In it shining white box.
Dear teacher seemed taller and very far
off. She looked as she did the day she told
the class they were to have medal. EN-
my Lou watched dear teacher anxiously.
Something told her dear teacher was
troubled.
The visiting gentleman began to speak.
He called the second reader class dear
children" and mothers of a coming gen.
eration," and "molders of the future well
fare"
The second reader class sat very still.
There seemed to be something paralyzing to
their infant faculties, mental and physical,
in learning they were mothers" and mold
ers." But Emmy Lou breathed freer to
have it applied impartially and not to the
front seat.
Their country. the pillars of state, every
thing" it seemed, depended on the way i'm
which these mothers learned their second
readers. LAS mothers and molders they
must learn now in youth to read, to num-
Der. to spell-exactly-to spell!' And the
visiting gentleman nodded meaningly.
tapped the white box and looked smilingly
about. The mothers moved uneasiIy. The
smile they avoided. But they wondered
what was in the box.
The visiting gentleman lifted the lid. and
displayed a glittering, shining something ON
a bed of pink cotton.
Then, as if struck by happy thought. he
turned to the blackboard. He looked abou,
| for chalk. The principal supplied him
Fashioned by his fat, white hand, these
words sprawled themselves upon the black.
| board:
''The best speller in this room is to re.
ceive this medal"
| There was silence. Then the second
reader class moved. 1t breathed a lone
| breath.
| A whisper went around the room while
dear teacher and the gentleman were con
| ferring. Rumor said Kitty McKoeghan,
started 1t. Certainly Kitty. in her desl
| across the aisle from Hattie, in the sight OF
all. tossed her black head knowingly.
| The whisper concerned the visiting gen
tleman. He is running for trustee" sait
the whisper
Emma Lou wondered. Hattie seemed e
boxes and fences" she whispered to Emmy
Lou. land that's running for trustee"
! The rumor was succeeded by another.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-29

a. said Emmy Lou, hastily, ''B, c, d,
E, F, G, H. and was going hurriedly on
when Hattie, with a surreptitious jerk.
stopped her.
THAT is better" said Mr. Cato. "A. B. c.
d, Z. +, G, A-exactly-but we are not go
ing to call them A, 5, @. ID. E, +, G. A"
Mr.. Cato paused impressively, his bow
poised and looked at Emmy Lou-''we are
going to call them''-and Mr.. Cato touched
a dot-"do"-his bow went up the punctu-
ated stairway-'re, mi, IA, sol, la, 81. Now,
what is this?" The bow pointed itself to
Emmy Lou, then described curve. bring
ing 1t again to a dot.
"a" said Emmy Lou. The bow raped
angrily on the board. and Mr.. Cato glared.
DO" said Mr.. Cato. "do-always do-not
A. nor b. nor c. never A, nor b, nor G again
do, do" the bow rapping angrily the while.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-29

They were at dinner when Emmy Lou got
home. On a blue ribbon around her neck
dangled new medal. In her hand she car
ried shiny box.
Even Uncle Charlie felt there must be
be some mistake.
Aunt Louise got her hat to hurry Emmy
Lou right back to school.
At the gate they met dear teachers car
rage, taking dear teacher home. She stop
ped.
Aunt Cordelia came out, and Aunt Katie.
Uncle Charlie, just going. stopped TO hear.
Spelling matchr' said Aunt Louise.
mot our Emmy Lou?" said Aunt Katie.
1.-The precious baby" said Aunt Cordeiia.
"Hammel," said Uncle Charlie, "McKoe-
ghany." and Uncle Charlie smete his
thigh.
ITO be Continued on Saturday.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-29
DEwEYS vs.. ROYALS.
marion Alleys.)

DO you like Mrs. Austin's New press'
, 1903-02-12

Some time g a registered package
sent from the New York p~ostofFice.
containing n large sum Of money, "a
received at its destination apparently
intact, but on being opened was found
to contain nothing but waste paper.
Suspicion could not be directed to any
n clerk of the many who had handled
1t The inspector had often noticed
that the glue used ut each postoffice
had an odor dis~tinguishnble from hat
of any other. He investigated along
this line and was finally rewarded
when in an office neal the destination
OF the package he discovered an iden-
tty of smell between the registered
package and n gluepot on the counter.
He caused a watch to be set upon the
clerks in the office In the usual way
and finally caught his man spending a
portion Of his Ill gotten gains.
, 1903-02-12

Patrick. a thrifty tradesman in the
neighborhood of the Dublin docks. was.
the story goes, a man who never spent
n penny more than he needed to spend.
but he was nevertheless as good a man
at the making of an Irish bull as any
who lived between Bantry and Bally-
castle.
Having one day occasion to send a
letter to II place some distance. Patrick
called a messenger and asked him his
price for going such a distanc.
1T Ill be n shillin'." said the man.
Twice too much!' said Patrick. Let
1t be sixpence."
"Nivver," answered the messenger.
1.-THE way is that lonely that I'd nivver
go II under n shillin'."
Lonely. is itT' said Patrick. scratch
ing his head. Faith. an ye're right.
Now, man. I'll tell ye what well do;
make it sixpence. an III go wild ye to
kape ye companyr
, 1903-02-12

A correspondent OF the North China
Herald writes this dissertation Upon
roast pig: How little western writer's
understand the Chinesei Who has
not read and reJoiced over Lambs
Dissertation Upon Roast Pigr It Is
moi everybody who has tie chance
OF seeing iLamb's fascinating story
worked out In reel life. In the begin
ming Of the present Chinese year l
passed through a busy market village
where the people kept many pigs. In
the ia.ddie of the night a fire broke
out In the market village n de-
stroyed the whole place. No lives had
been lost. but most of the pigs had
been roasted. especially those too fat
to run quickly. Roast pigs! Burning
houses! Lambs story In real life!
Quite naturally | remarked that some
folk must have had q splendid meal of
roast pork in those days To my sur
prise the natives asked with disgust:
"A splendid meal! Who would eat
that sinking, smoky stuffY The
palate Of the Chinaman absolutely re-
jects smoky roast pork! All that mag
pificent epicurean description culmi-
mating In the n word 'crackling'-a
delusion. a yarn. n lie! gloated over
that yarn when a boy and grew ex-
cited us the story went from one page
to another. Now to find the whole
thing go up In smoke!"
, 1903-02-12

In one of the middle cities Of the
United States there lived a local wit
and his favorite butt. Both were prom
inent clubmen and enlivened the same
social set. One was named Black and
the other Brown. Black was immaeu-
late In his dress, while Brown was
careless. often wearing his finger nails
In mourning and an ecrute collar with
a full dress suit. But family connec-
tons excused his shortcomings. Cne
evening the pair arrived at a reception
and met the hostess simultaneously.
The two James mentioned together
suggested n bonmot to Brown. but the
opening was disastrous.
1.-THE colors are very much in evil
dence tonight" said Brown.
To which their hostess replied. Eyes,
l see they are. and. If rumor Is to be
credited, they are fast colors."
no. no." broke in Black; Brown
won't wash."-Argonaut.
, 1903-02-12
Another read:


Wild sheep depend for greatest pro-
lection ON their climbing capabilities.
They travel where no man can follow,
and often in climbing use their knees
instead of their fore hoofs. Their fret
instinct at the approach Of In enemy
is to start for the mountain top. aiming
If possible to get above and keep above
the enemy.
Wolves. wolverines and eagles are
their most common enemies, and the
lambs suffer extensively from these.
Wolves are capable of taking down
grown animals. but in summer hunger
seldom induces them to make tine
struggle, ard in winter they prefer
lower attitudes. There are many stories
told of the lordly ram doing battle
with wolves, which are on a par w.:h
the story OF lenping from dizzy heigh,s.
The old rams are cunning, and in tL!s
lies their greatest safety. They ere
perfectly at home on rocky ledgcs
where the wolf Is not. and If they caa
gain such n position they will. with
one charge. hurl the wolf to the rocks
below.-A- J. Stone in Outing.
, 1903-02-12
She nepra,.,ea tn. ch.rse.

At the mems 50 rvice in a Yorkshire
parish the vicar tried to convey the les
son that the truest heroes m heroines
are those who do noble deeds In the
secret corner of the home. where n
can see or applaud.
"few OF you seem to think" he con
Guided, that your wives staying nj
home uncoinplainingly TO mind the chill
dren and prepare the meals are
heroines, and yet their touching devo
ton TO duty proves them to be So"
1t certainly hadn't struck one old
farmer in tins way before, and as oon
as he got home he promptly told his
wife that the vicar had called her 4
heroine.
Whatever does that meant" asked
the good lady.
"Oh. 1t means n woman who stays in
{ house instead of goin' art to show
hersen." explained the farmer vaguely.
"Then I'm not a heroine. an III
thang L vicar to mind what he's say
In" snapped the wife. II go TO his
church as much as L other women do.
an he must be blind If he can't see me
Why. I'd five different colors In t
bonnet ! wore last SundayT"-London
Answers
, 1903-02-12

Who does not love j tranquil heart, u
sweet tempered. b. danced life? 1t does
not matter whether 1t rains or shines
of what misfortuncs come to those pos.
sessing these blessings, for they are al.
ways sweet, serene ana calm.
Tint exquisite poise of character
which we call serenity is the last lesson
Of culture: 1t is the towering OF life,
the fruitage of the soul.
1t Is as precious as wisdom. more
to be desired than gold-yea, than even
fine gold. How coz mptible mere
money wealth looks in comparison
with u serene life-a life whioil dwells
in the ocean OF truth, beneath the
waves. beyond the reach of tempests,
in the eternal calm!
How macy people we know who
sour their lives. who ruin all that is
sweet and beautiful by explosive TEN
pers, who destroy their polse OF charac-
ter by bad blood! In fact 1t is n ques.
ton whether the great majority of PEG
pie do not ruin their lives and mar
their happiness by lack Of self control.
How few people we meet in life who
are well balanced. who have that ex.
quisite poise which is characteristic of
the finished character!-Success.
, 1903-02-12

Mark Twain WAS once asked by a
friend II he remembered the first
none he had ever earned.
Yes" answered Mr.. Clemens. pun
ing ~meditatively on his cigar, Il have
a distinct recollection OF 1t. When |
was a youngster, I attended school NJ
a place where the use OF the birch rod
was not an unusual event. 1t was
against the rules to mark the dcsGs In
any manner. the penalty being a tine
of So or public chast!sement
Happening to violate the rule on
N occasion. I was offered the alter
native. | told my father. and. as he
seemed 10 think 1t would be toe bad
for me to be publicly punished. he
gave me h s.. At that period Of my
existence So was n large sum while a
whipping was OF little consequence.
and So here Mr.. Clemens reflective
ly knocked the ashes from his cigar
''well." he finally added. that was
how I earned my first So"
, 1903-02-12
Lighthouse without n Light.

The most extraordinary of all British
lighthouses is to be found on Arnish
rock. Stornoway bay-a rock which is
separated from the island of Lewis by
a channel over 800 feet wide. On this
rock a conical beacon is erected. and
on Its summit a lantern IL fixed, from
which. night after night. shines a light
which is seen by the fishermen far and
wide. The way In which this light
house is Illuminated Is this: On the
island of Lewis is a lighthouse. and
from II window In the tower a stream
Of light is projected oil to a mirror
In the lantern on the summit of Arnish
rock. The consequence is that. to all
lntents and purposes, n lighthouse ex
lists which has neither lantern nor
lighthouse keeper.
, 1903-02-12
Taking a CHANGE.

He looked happy enough as he
walked up to the postofiice box. set a
huge bundle on the door and began
taking pretty square envelopes there
from. dropping them by twos and
threes into the box.
big lot OF letters" remarked the
policeman. Nice day too"
"Letters" said the happy man. "My
dear fellow. these are not letters.
They are wedding Invitations"
A stern look came over the face of
b hitherto friendly policeman.
"My friend" he said. Il am sorry TO
disturb you. but l must do my duty.
Come with me-"
"ArrestedY'
ayes"
ION what charge, sir? This is an
outrage"
Not at all. You are advertising u
lottery through the post"
The man went along.-Kansas City
Independent.
, 1903-02-12

An amusing extract from a Belgian
paper gives the following Incident:
A woman whose husband had lost
his life in u railway accident received
from the company 10000 francs by
way of compensation. Shortly after
she heard ;hat n traveller who had lost
a leg had been paid 10000 francs.
The widow at once put On her bonnet
and shawl and went to the office of the
company.
Gentlemen, how is this" she asked.
You give $4,000 francs for a leg. and
you allowed me only 10000 francs for
the loss of my husband!'
MADAM" was the reply. .the reason
Is plain. Twenty thousand francs
won't provide him with a leg. but for
ten thousand you can get n husband"
, 1903-02-12

Curran. the famous Irish advocate.
was a master of repartee. but he did
not always score. though he enjoyed
an encounter none the less II he was
fairly beaten. One day. In a gay mood.
he stopped and chatted with a certain
Father O'Lenry. "Ah. father" said
the advocate. waiting for an opening.
show ! wish when ! die that you had
the key to heavenH'
"Why?' said the priest. for he guess
ed a trap was laid
Because you could let me In"
"Ah." said Father O'Leary, cit would
be better sor you II ] had the key of
the o.her place. for then I could let
you out"
, 1903-02-12

well. my man." said the visiting
physician OF a Dublin infirmary to a
patient. how do you feel this morn
ing?"
Purity well. sorr.' was the reply.
That's right | hope you like the
placer"
Indeed and I do. sorr!' said the
man. There's only wan thing wrong
In this establishment, and hat is I
only get as much mate as wud feed a
sparrow"
"Oh. you're getting your appetite,
are your said he doctor. Then Ill
order an egg to be sent up to you"
"Arrah. docther," rejoined the pa
tent, would you be SO kind as to tell
thin ut the same time to sind me up
the hin that laid it,"
, 1903-02-12

A Georgia darby arrested for steal
ing n possum from a white man said
to the judge:
Il don't u 1t no stealth tall, yo'
homer. kaze de possum wuz raise fer
de niger. des lax de mule wuz. Let
de white man take de turkey en- leave
de possum fer de Niger il what !
says!'
But" said the Judge, 1.-The negro
frequently takes the turkey toor'
Not dis season. suh," was the quick
reply. 'Dey roostin' too high-"-At-
lanta Constitution.