davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-24
Little Prisoners,

From the Chicago Record Herald
L know some little prisoners who never get quite
free
Except when all the pleasant world is sunny as
be;
When skies are blue and winds soft and flowers
blooming gay,
And all the children have TO do Is lust TO RIM and
play.
Then out they come. these happy things that love
to stretch and grow
And round and round the soft green lawn they
gayly prance and 20
Until It's time for dinner, tea else 20 to bed;
Then they splash In clear, cold till they re
glowing, rosy red.
Now, / wonder could you guess it. what we call
these prisoners ten?
Well, I'll give you Just a good big hipt-I'u
whisper it-and then
You'll surely tell me quickly. you IL you
should choose
use them when I'm walking and they live inside
shoes ~
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-24

proach the log house half way up the
mountain side where the outlaw lived, and
1t would be almost certain death to do so
now. if what Rupert believed was actual
ly true. For the time Rupert told no one
his suspicious.
Meanwhile the search continued. On the
ing that if he would come alone to GER
tain place. where two wood-roads crossed
and leave a large bag of gold, an hour be
fore dawn. August "a, his daughter would
be left at the same spot that morning
about sunrise. But Mr.. Boldt must come
alone, and must do precisely as directed
Any attempt to do otherwise would cause
both Mr.. Boldt and the little girl to lose
their lives. So the robber said
1t was yet two days before the oath. Ru-
pert told no one his plan. but resolved to
take a long chance on capturing the BAN
dit and rescuing Gretchen before the place
for the rendezvous was reached.
The letter to Mr.. Boldt had not been
signed, but Rupert was more and more
convinced that Max was the guilty wretch.
He was also convinced that Max would
come down the mountain road from his
cabin, in the very early morning, carrying
Gretchen with him. and would hide the
child at a distance while going to receive
the gold.
Before midnight on the 23d Rupert bade
his wife and little girl goodbye. and then
nc united his trusty black steed. AS a pre-
caution he placed an old piece of mail over
the head, and another about the chest of
his horse. For his own protection he put
on complete coat of mail that had be-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-24

and Mrs Boldt with their little seven-year-
ola daughter Gretchen. Now Rupert has
wirsome little girl of his own, Hida by
name. about the same age, and the two
children soon knew each other we'll enough
to play pleasantly together. When Mr.. and
Mrs. BoIdt were away for the day with
some party that Rupert was guiding
Gretchen and her nurse would spend a
good deal of their time with Hllda at tu-
perts cottage.
on one of these days the party came
home and found the whole place in the
greatest excitement. Nurse had walked TO
the outskirts of the city with the children
and had sat down by the roadside to sew
while the two little girls played together
nearby Presently Hilda was heard calling
'Gretchenl Gretchen! Where is Gretchen
Nurse Joined in the call and the search
but no Gretchen could be found. In dis
NAV she went with Hllda to the hotel and
gave the alarm. Parties formed hurriedly
and hunted every nook and corner for
mile around If the child had been carried
away by a gigantic eagle her disappear
ance could not have been more complete.
Runners were sent to the mountains to
find the parents and tell them the painful
news. On their return the ground was
gone over again even more carefully than
before The small lake, the only place
near where she could have fallen into the
water was the opposite side of the
town. Bears had not been seen near the
village for years. and. strangely enough.
IIilda had heard no screams. All Hilda
could tell was that Gretchen ran away to
hide while she covered her eyes. but that
Gretchen never called ready
When Rupert heard the story he closed
his teeth tightly and spoke the one word.
''kidnapped!" Mr.. Boldt could hardly be-
leve it; but Rupert had known the des-
perate Max CAM for many years, and he
knew. too. that Max had an evil eye. No
deed was too wicked. no plot too dark for
him. 1t was worth a mans life to APP
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-24
Trick With Silver Coin.
From the Boston Herald.

From the Boston Herald.
Here is a way in which you, too. may
join, the ranks Of those who control the
magic power over the seen and the unseen.
1t is, perhaps, a very humble experiment
with which to introduce yourself into the
wizards circle. Yet 1t Will demonstrate
conclusively that you have the same power
Tin sense) as the greatest practicians OF
the black art.
Procure an empty basin. Set 1t near the
edge of table. Place a coin In the center
of the bottom. Then ask one Of the spec
tators to first stand alongside the basin and
then to walk slowly backward until the coin
is hidden from his eye by the rim Of the
bowl.
Now direct the person to watch the bowl
intentiy. Make him admit he sees nothing.
Then modestly state that you will cause
the coin which he knows is in the bottom of
the BASIN though invisible to him. to be-
come visible without his moving an inch or
you touching 1t.
He says II can't be done. You call for a
pitcher OF clear water: pour 1t slowly into
the basin until it is about half full. When
1t settles the result will be the coin will APP
pear perfectly visible to the eye of the sur
prised onlooker, and you will have proved
your power to make the invisible become
visibe-in this case at least.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-24
Lazy Folk.
From the Chicago Record Herald.


In most civilized countries laziness is
looked upon as vice. If a man does not
work neither shall he eat Is the rule in
such nations. But in tropical lands. where
nature is very kind, food can almost always
be had for the mere gathering. This will
explain why the Fantis of the West African
gold coast will not work. A penny day
will enable a Fanti to live like fighting
cock Why, therefore, should he distress
himself? If he wants any little extra. such
tobacco or strong drink, 1t is even then
hardly necessary that he should work for
it, for is there not his wife? He believes
in fair division of labor-the wife earns
the living. and he consumes it. A hundred
Fantis will do less than a dozen English
navvies. and do it badly without a white
overseer. Under Fanti overseer they soon
begin to shirk the work and lie basking in
the sun. and by and by the overseer joins
them. Every burden Is carried on the
head. Set them to carrying stones from a
heap and they will carry them one by one
on their head, walking to and fro. no mat
ter what the distance. A contractor for
some buildings at Cape Coast Castle intro
duced wheelbarrows. The Fantis rose to
the occasion. They carried the barrows on
their heads!
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-24
Knight Rupert Of Walden.

{ Far up in the German Hartz mountains
there lies a little village with a popula ton
of not more than five hundred people. SO,
at least. 1t is during ten months of the
year. But when the July and August heat
drives men, women and children out of the
great cities. many of them find their way
to this village of Walden.
B Then it Is that the quiet hamlet becomes
q gay. busting town. The big hotel opens
its doors and its windows, flags float from
the poles. and every eottager who can
spare a room and a bed has one or more
guests
For amusement the guests engage in all
the games and pastimes that usual In
such places; but the great thing at Walden
is the walking excursions into the forest. or
up some of the mountain paths For these
excursions a guide Is required. and most
popular of all the guides is Rupert the
wcodsman. No one else knows the noun
tains as he knows them; one else has
the iron endurance he has. or knows so
well what to do in times of emergency.
Thus Rupert has become a general IA
earned by his kind and thoughtful atten-
items.
Last summer there came to Walden Mr..
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-24

loi ged to his great grandfather. Adding
shield and spear he rode away. Strange
as 1t may seem. Rupert chung to this armor
of the oloen times. He had nothing but
contempt for modern firearms, which, as he
said. the veriest coward might use for de-
Tense.
In dark spot beside the mountain path
where he believed the highwayman would
pass Rupert took his stand. His good steed
was tied nearby. The plan worked out pre-
cisely as he had guessed. About O'Clock
in the morning the steps of a horse were
heard coming down the path. Rupert knew
that Max would be armed and that his only
chance lay in dismounting the villain a the
first stroke.
And so he did Max came carrying his
rife across his shoulder, but he was fairly
thr own before he had had time to use 1t.
With scorn Rupert seized the despised
weapon and flung 1t far into the forest.
Max did not attempt to rise, and Rupert
guessed that he must have broken a bone
in his fall The brave rescuer had caught
Gretchen when Max fell. and without a
word, he mounted his own horse and rode
as rapidly as the darkness of the forest
would permit
In the gray of the morning they came
past the old castle, and down the hill into
Walden.
shouted Mrs. Boldt cried. Messengers
were sent to bring back Mr.. Boldt and his
sack of gold.
After congratulations and a hearty break
fast a party of men went to capture the
bandit. He was lying almost where he fell
with badly broken leg. The authorities
now have him in safe keeping and the
jewellers in the Hartz mountains are well
rid of him.
AS for Rupert, he modestly declined the
bag of gold but Mr. Boldt Is building for
him this fall the handsomest cottage in
Walden.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-24
DAMS TRICK.

Once there was a boy. He was neither
very little nor yet very big. And there
wasn't anything extraordinary about him
until he learned a clever trick. This Is
how it happened.
Dan, for that was his name. had father
and a mother who let him do very much
as he pleased He had no brothers and
no sisters, which is generally considered
rather unfortunate for boy. By the time
he was old enough to play with other chill
dren he was 80 unlike them that he had
squabbles with them every day.
1t is true. as was said, that his parents
usually gave Dan his own way, but they
were very careful to show him what the
consequences were. When Dams mother
saw that there was danger of his forming
a certain wrong habit she would have a
little talk with him about 1t. and she
started list of words on sheet of paper
at the top of which she wrote Dams
friends This list was neatly pasted on
piece of cardboard and hung up in the
library.
When Dams mother found that he was
becoming careless in his manners. or in his
talk she wrote upon the list christopher
quarreled with any OF HIS playmates. the
name of John Quincy Quarrelsome" went
down. Dan WINGED every time there was
an addition of this kind 10
L.
as mothers are likely to be, so she started
also another list beside the first, and
headed in the same way, Dams friends
One day when Dan had shown a particular
kindness to a boy who needed it, she wrote
on list number two Mr.. Kenneth, Kind
ness" .., $780,.
That was a pleasure to- Dan, as 1t also
was to find Mr.. Ignatius Industry writ
ten down one evening after he had cheer
fully done numerous .errands and chores
for his mother.
Both lists grew gradually. for almost
any lively, healthy boy has some good
points and some-not so good. For aetlme
Dan was content to see that list rf0fnber
one did not grow faster than number two
If Mr.. Finnegan Fibber" went down,
Dan was uneasy until he had enlisted as
his friend 'Theophilus Truth"
Yet it seemed rather easy to encourage
such fellows as Ralph Rude. Isaac Ill
manners Caleb Crabbid, Cyrus Cruel,
Cornelius Crosspatch,'' ''Maxim.llian
Meanness,'' Marcus Nope Gideon
Greedy" "Enoch Envy" Peter K. Pride, -
dlesome' and the like Dan thought his
mother must be trying very hard to length
this list of his friends. Still he never
could say that single friend came that
he himself had not invited.
What troubled Dan was that list No
continued to grow. Dan thought he was
entitled to have some of the names crossed
off, after thinking about it he asked his
mother If she would not erase the name of
Finnegan Fibber, esq., for this friend was
the most unwelcome of them all.
The request was granted, and Dan was
considering which unwelcome chap he could
next discard, when, alas! his mother found
out that he had told another untruth, and
Finnegan came back. Dan was nearly
crushed. He could easily steer clear of any
one of the disreputable fellows for a day
or two at a time. but they would bob I'D
most Unexpectedly. Dan imagined he could
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-24

crystallized. Little crowns of it adorned
| their youthful locks. The boys had lengths
| of it disposed on their suits, outlining sailor
collars, and stripes down the pants legs,
| anchors and the like.
The receipts for making their popcorn
dainties were so good that some other chill
ore will want to know about them. Just
how saves lots OF bother from experiment
| ing sometimes.
| Here is a popcorn hint that is worth
| knowing right at the start. Never put pop
| corn near stove until you are ready to
pop it. The majority of people have the
Gea that it needs to be dry. This is a mis-
take, and that is the reason there is often
so much trouble about getting it to pop
Pour cold water on the corn the last thing
and drain Off. If the corn should be very
dry let it stand a few moments. Place it
in the pepper while still moist and keep it
i'll motion until the last grain is popped
If you follow these directions you will have
fine large kernels with no hard centers.
For corn crisp" boil together until it will
thread, a cupful of maple syrup, half
cup of granulated sugar and a tablespoon
each of vinegar and butter. Turn this syrup
over a quantity of popped corn stirring the
kernels around to make sure they are thor
oughly coated. When cool they can be pack
ed into squares any shape
= "SeafOam Popcorn '-Haying disca rded all
unpopped and scorched kernels from four
quarts of popped corn, place 1t in the oven
to keep warm, while in porcelain pan one
cupful of granulated sugar with a quarter
SoPiui VI wafer CoiilcS 10 the DOailnE point,
Dc not stir the syrup. Boil until it threads
when dropped in cold water Remove from
the fire and add pistache colorfng and fla
voring. Pour the hot syrup in a thin stream
over the corn, stirring briskly with a wood
en- spoon. then sprinkle powdered sugar
over the corn and stir until grains separate.
The white and green will resemble sea
roam For the other pretty tints mem
TONED, little rose fruit paste will give the
PINK tint-canned grape juice a beautiful
lavender. and the yolk Of an egg whipped
uL and added when the syrup gets trihe
cool VIII give the yellow tint. Use cochineal
Tor the red. A wintergreen flavoring is de-
ncious with the pink. Use vanilla flavor
iEg for the other tints.
For Cracker Jack" melt two cupfuls of
graduated sugar in granite pan stirring
constantly to keep 1t from scorching. When
melted to dark syrup add two tablespoons
each OF molasses and butter allowing 1t to
come to boiling point and then pour over
the corn.
Corn Crisp."-Save all the partly popped
Kernels from the other preparations grind
hne through a coffee mill and pour over IL
a syrup made OF one cupful OF Inolasses.
half cup of white sugar, a tablespoon Of
butter, and quarter teaspoon Of cream of
tartar boiled together until quite stiff II
some OF the taffy Is left over. heat slightly,
flavor with few drops OF peppermint, and
pill until very light. Cut into tiny cubes
and wrap In parafne paper.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-24

see them playing leapfrog and turning
somersaults, and doing high jumps every
where he went. They annoyed him amaz-
ingly.
Then it was that he invented his trick.
When "Dobbins Indolent Doohttle. esq.,.
came carelessly along one morning and in
yited Dan to join him in an idle stroll, Dan
said firmly THANK you, no, sir! This is
busy day for me. l have some work to do
and several brands Tomorrow I may join
you. but not today. Good day"
This fairly took Dobbins' breath. He
sneaked off and did not show his face again
that day. But with a persistence that did
MIN no credit, considering how thoroughly
lazy he is, he bobbed serenely up next
morning, looking as attractive as Incidence
can, and reminded Dan of his promise.
Dan looked at him severely, and ex-
claimed:
why. Dobbins Doolittle. 1 told you to-
morrow. Here you are coming today. Now
don't you ever come back until tomorrow
With that Dobbins was so completely dis
c0uraged that he stayed away for week
When he came shyly back one morning it
took only wave of Dams hand and the
one word, tomorrow" to ward him off.
Dan told his mother about it, and received
much encouragement. Besides that the
name of Dobbins l. Doolttle came off the
list. Dan was now delighted. A trick that
worked well in one case ought to work
well In others: at least so Dan reasoned,
and he set systematically to work to cut
the acquaintance of one friend after an
other on list No. 1.
Mr. Crosspatch came along with his face
all askew and asked Dan if he didn't ad-
mtre such contortions. mot today" Dan
answered. Tomorrow l may wish to try
1t. Please do not interrupt me until to-
morrow.
Ralph Ide, ESQ.,. received the same kind
Of rebuff, only Dan did 1t in a pleasant
way: Call again, call again, Mr.. Rude,
but not today. l have all can do today.
You may find me in different mood to-
off
them
1t was really great fun for Dan. "Of
course" he said, 1T is all make believe.
But just imagine those ugly chaps all the
while wanting me to play with Them and
then wanting me to be and look like them.
So put them off till tomorrow. Don't you
see never have to be good more than one
day at time? And there is only one list
OF friends now in the library-all good fell
lows all No. 2. 1 don't know where the
other list is. 1t is lost
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-24

scored, counting from the bulls eye OUT
ward, are 8, Z, 5, 3, /.
Are you practcng tbeA fSng shot? How
many In your tribe have We earned .a grand coup
achievement worth doing.
And how many arrows fan you keep IN
the air at once? Six is Igpod record. This
is excellent sport. 1t requires agility and
strength, rather than skill. but is fascinat-
ing OF course 1t requires clear, open
space, and the arrows need to be we'll
feathered. Notice that you may earn
feathers in this feat also
1t is earnestly hoped that every feather a
brave wears will be honestly and fairly
won. The temptation Is to give yourself the
benefit of the doubt il the margin Is very
close Better do 1t overrs and do 1t de-
cisively that there can be Ro question. Bald
Eagle knows one brave, now chief of his
tribe. who earned some feathers by doing
certain stunts according to the old standard.
In the revised Red Book Mr.. Seton has
raised the standard, and that chief Is going
to do the feats over or else throw away his
feathers That really was not required, but
he wants every feather to mean as much
as possible His war bonnet Is to him some
thing in which he feels reaI pride.
There Is but one bit Of dress that Mr..
Seton suggested should be worn by wood
crafters whenever they are playing Indian.
that Is, head band. and at least one
feather. The band is a simple strip of soft.
light leather, fully an inch wide, drawn
about the forehead and laced at the PACK
under this, at the front on side. The front
of the band should be decorated with bead
work and may be marked with totem or
other devices. From the back Of the band
bangles the scalp.
Be it remembered that the scalp Is an OBJ
ject which Mr. Seton intends each wood
CRATER to regard as almost sacred. To lose
ones scalp-lock through carelessness or in
difference Is nearly as bad as rebellion to
the laws of the tribe. To stake 1t in a great
contest and lose it while yaliantly striving
to capture that of an enemy Is no disgrace.
In such a case the council may In due time
vote the warrior a new scalp. But to throw
1t down carelessly somewhere. and probably
forget all about it. that means warriors
degradation.
Among the most amusing of the Indian
ceremonies is the bear, dance. This Is led
by the medicine man Of the tribe. and con-
sists of pantomimes of the conduct Of the
bear Every warrior tries to see how close
ly he can initiate the howl. the motions, the
sitting or lying Of the bear. The leader Is
fully dressed in bear skin. and all the
dancers are masked. Each tumbles ana
jumps and lies and bowls Independently OF
the other, so that the scene Is very gro
tesdue When the dance Is over the masks
are thrown aside and the warriors start
away on bear hunt.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-24
The Popcorn Booth at the Bazaar.
BY r. CELEsTINE c1JMMrNes.

Jack and Dorothy wanted to earn some
money. Their mother suggested "a pop
corn booth at the fair This idea was
hailed with delight, especially when she
told them that they could undoubtedly have
10 per cent of what they sold. And who
knows she continued. "but what your
booth may be the handsomest one there
We'll make it so.' said Dorothy. with a
determined little shake of her curls. And
they did, winning the prize money of $40.
1t was lots of work for two children to
think of undertaking, but their mother al
ways suggested, and the members of the
sewing bee" that met on Saturday after
moons were delighted to help, SO they got
along with their work famously The booth
frame was made by the carpenter. 1t had
dome-shaped top. This framework was
entirely covered with pretty drapery of
pink cheesecloth. and over 1t popcorn was
strung long strings arranged in festoons
on top and hanging in straight lengths
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-24
Clever Rat Actor,

From the Chicago Record Herald
AS is well known, many animals sham
dead to escape capture or to withdraw at
tention from their young. gentleman in
Ceylon once found his dogs making set at
a rat. He called them off and picked I'D
the creature by it's tail. 1t hung limp,
rigid and seemingly lifeless. Taking it to
the parlor to look at it by lamplight, he
examined it for several minutes Salts
fed that it was dead, he threw it to the
dogs which had followed him into the
room, and which were still quivering With
excitement AS soon as it reached the
floor the rat suddenly rose to it's legs and
bolted before the dogs could recover from
their establishment.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-24

tablets by Nature and Science is used, the
shells may be filled with sawdust OF with
gravel Plants artifcially fed in sa~dust
do not seem to require so many roots as
when they grow in soil. With the limited
space in the eggshell, sawdust and the
plant food are therefore preferable to soil.
1t Is not difficult to have plants grow in
sawdust until they are more than two feet
high. although there is so little space I'm
the shell for the roots
To support these unique, round -bottomed
flower pots. 1t will be found convenient to
have board with holes bored In 1t just
large enough to have the eggshelis set
firmly, one In each hole. Don't get the
holes too near together. Punch a small
hole down through the shell for drainage
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-24
Joe's Wish.
BY OLIVE PRESTON

III VIIINF PItESIUN.
L wish | were an ivy vine,
SO cool and green and bright.
And did not have to work by day,
Nor go to bed by night
For all the happy summer through
The ivies run and run.
Right over houses, walls and things,
Which | have never done.
What fun to stay out in the rain
And hing the houses side,
And when the sun comes out again
Be nicely warmed and dried
With such way TO take bath,
Without sponge and soap,
Most any one would gladly wash
And never frown, | hope.