davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-14
A Young Edison.

Harker was the youngest of host of big
brothers and sisters. His mother still re-
garded him as her baby. much to the dis
gust of Harker who was twelve. and boy
to the ends of his bristling hair. 1t would
have taken Harker good while to con-
vince his mother of his growing brain and
body had not a happy chance accomplished
this work for him.
1t was the night of the last election,
when the returns were coming in from all
over the country. Harker's father had ar
ranged to have the returns reach him over
the telephone, but Harker found it was en-
tirely too irksome to stand at the instru-
ment with his ear glued to the receiver.
Harker conceived brilliant scheme. Get
ting stove-lid litter, he fastened 1t to the
telephone hook, the weight of the litter
being sufficient to keep the hook down until
he could carry his idea into effect. He then
took the receiver and disconnected it from
the phone, putting in its place two pieces
Of wire of sufficient length to reach from
the phone in the hallway to table In the
library To these wires he again connected
the ear piece, first tying around it sort
of paper megaphone. Thus equipped, Har-
ker drew up a couch by the table, removed
the stove-lid litter from the phone and
proceeded to get all the election returns in
a most restful and satisfactory fashion.
Harker'S father was delighted-his mother
was broken-hearted. She realized her
baby was a big boy and boy with a
future before him.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-14

and this time an old nursing bottle, once
Caddys, was brought. The warm milk
was poured In, and to Caddy's great de-
light the little creature sucked greedily
until the milk was all gone. That was a
triumph indeed, and Caddy could rest a
bit and look at her treasure.
She liked it very much and her eyes
shone like stars as her mother BUSTED In
with the lantern. She stayed only long
enough to mend the fire and smile at Caddy
giving a glance at her charge, happy and
satisfied, snugly rolled in the shawl and
sound asleep.
Il shall call him Billy" said Caddy. He
will join the squash class but he will
beat them all, cause he's alive" and Caddy
gave him little squeeze
Caddy. with her father and mother. lived
in wild and lonely place on the top of a
rocky, barren tract OF land called Mine
Hill" That it was full of valuable Iron
ore was well known. Many years before
q company had been formed, sunk shaft,
Bnd had found iron and copper. Tradition
says a couple OF Englishmen found silver,
which they melted into a bar and started &c
return to England with their prize; but the
Ship was lost and nothing came of their
Venture.
The mines were abandoned, the buildings
gradually decayed, and most of them fell.
One or two remained standing. and here
Mr. Sanders brought MS wife and daughter.
II was desOlate spot, high and lonely.
Woods and walls of hard white rock and
glistening gray granite, cold and forbidding
they looked; but fortunes lay waiting in
them. if one could only grasp them. At
the foot of the plot where Mr.. Sanders
made his garden, was curious gray rock
covered all over with what Caddy called
lunches" They were In reality garnets
OF a fine quality. Not garnets used as
Jewels. but for making sand-paper-the
finest il the world. Just above the garden
bubbled and spaFhled a mineral spring. a
fortune in itself, all UNDECIDED and severely
Jet alone, as the Sanders disliked the strong
mineral taste and there were other springs
near. They were poor, and settled here be-
cause ii was free. They were very kind
people. but life had gone hard with them.
The people Of the village said: They had
no faculty for getting along" They kept
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-14
Roller Skates.

1t is generally believed that roller skates
are a recent invention. They are not, for
more than 100 years ago many attempts
were made to ignore King Frost and skate
on boards.
The first attempt of this kind was by
Joseph Merlin. native of Huy, Belgium.
He went to England with the Spanish am
bassador in 176O. He was a maker of mu-
steal instruments. and had. among other
novelties, a pair of skates that ran on
wheels. A story is told of Merlin that ut
one time he put on these skates, took a
violin and attended O masquerade The
skates. which were not made to turn and
had no continuance by which they could be-
stopped, got contrary during the evening
and ran him through mirror costing 800
In addition to smashing the mirror, his yio-
lin, valuable one, was splintered and
Merlin himself was badly wounded and
bruised.
In 1919 roller skates were brought to the
attention of the public through the patent
office. This was the time when NJ Petit
bied patented skate fitted with thin cop
per wheels, which, however. persistently
refused to turn corners. From here 1t went
through various improvements anu modi-
fcations. until the roller skate, such as the
boys and girls of 1905 enjoy. was produced.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-14

a COW. chickens and pigs; they had gar
den. and In summer sold berries. wild plums
and vegetables to the people in the village
below.
Caddy's mother taught her to read and
write, and the simple branches. They were
too far from school for her to go. She
was a bright, sensible child, very helpful
to father and mother. She amused herself
when she had leisure with what she could
command from her surroundings. Few
children would be happy nowadays with
Caddy's playthings. Down by the gray
rock. covered with the punches" Caddy
had her farm and kept her school. Her
animals were made of potatoes and cucum-
: bers. curious creatures, but quite ingenious.
Pumpkins formed seats for her scholars,
and the scholars themselves were squashes.
There they stood. sat. in rows. waiting
for Caddy to come and teach" them as
she called 1t. Moving them about and
talking to them had been fun enough for
Caddy.
The few passers-by had smiled at Caddy's
ingenuity. But all was changed now; she
had live scholar at last.
The cucumber cow and horse and the
potato pigs. would wait long for their sup
per- and the squashes would have to crane
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-14
Offers on a Toboggan.

1t seems strange to think. that any full
grown, fourfooted animal should indulge
in play like child, and yet this is what
the otter does. His amusement Is tobog-
gaming, and his play ground Is in a slope,
covered with ice or snow that goes down
grade into pool of water. Here he takes
his recreation, and no little boy with new
sled ever enjoyed a coast down an Ice
bound hill more than this beautiful crea-
ture from the frozen north.
The otter is perhaps the most interest
ing of the fur-bearing animals. He is
quite large. sometimes weighing as much
as twenty-five pounds. He resembles the
seal and the mink, being, however, of heav-
Ter build, and is both supple and strong.
Living for the most part in water. he
preys on FISH which his swimming and div
Ing ability enable him to catch easily. The
entrance to his home, which is burrow
in the bank of a stream, is under the
water.
In the early spring, when the ice begins
to thaw, these animals start on their
travels from one stream to another, some
times spending months on the journey. If
they happen to see an inviting hill by the
wayside, they Immediately stop their pill
grimage and prepare for some sport. One
of the number leaves the water and slow
ly climbs the slope, making a smooth hol-
low in the ice with his body.
When the slide is prepared he lies
fiat on his stomach, thrusts his nose FOR
ward and turning his forepaws under his
soft sides, goes sailing swiftly down. His
speed steadily increases until he reaches
the water. Silently he parts the surface
and is lost from sight for a few seconds
then his head appears above the surface
and you can hear him give a call which
sounds like a whistle. This is signal
The next otter assumes the position and
shoots to the bottom to join his companion,
who has meanwhile era wled out on the Ice
Then another whistle, and the next in or
der slides and plunges, and the perform
ance is kept up until each one has several
trips to his credit.
The first makers of a slide will keep this
up for an indefinite time, speeding down
hill and then trudging up again to their
positions at the top, where they wait for
the whistle from below, in the meantime
playfully biting each other or rolling in
the snow. Finally though, when, like chill
dren, they begin to tire of their amuse-
ment, they go back in the water and fish,
Even then if they should happen to spy
another slide, abandoned by different
band of offers, they cannot resist at least
one trip. In fact, others prefer the ready
made places. it is only when they are I'M
able to find any such that they go through
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-14

kites often tave their strings partly COW
cred with powdered glass, so that they can
sever other kite strings. The men and boy.
who lose their kites in this way form into
bands of kite catchers; for kite which has
been cut belongs to whoever captures IL,
provided he was not the original owner. II
several catchers lay hands on descending
kite at the same moment he whose hand g
nearest the cut end of the string IL de-
clared the owner. If any dispute arises the
kite must be torn to pieces then and there.
That Is one OF the rules of kite warfare.
For weeks before the girls holiday the
Doll Festival" which occurs on the third
day of the third month. the shops are
crowded with stiff little figures of the
mikado, court ladies, MINISTRIES and testers,
for these are the kind of dolls the little
Japanese girls play with. Two of these
dolls are given to every baby girl as soon
as she is born. and she keeps them to hand
down to her own little daughters. So there
is often a large collection of dolls In every
family. On the dolls festival they are
all assembled and set out on a stand. to-
gether with all their dresses, their furni-
ture and houses, and the little japanese
maiden makes them offerings of rice cakes
and sweets. But at nghtfaH the dolls are
all packed away again to be kept fresh for
the next festival.
Two months later. on the fifth day of the
fifth month. the dolls have all disappeared
from the toy shop windows. and In their
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-14
About Dogs.

The best authorities agree that dogs
should not be whipped or struck a blow
more severe than a slap with tho band.
A dog is intelligent and as sensitive to the
tones of the voice as child. The voice
alone is all that is needed to reprove him.
II 1t is necessary to punish your dog do il
at the time of the transgression. and not
as one boy did, two days after the wrong
doing
This boy was the owner of a splendid st.
Bernard, who ran away from his home on
one occasion. When he returned his mas
ter cruelty whipped him, although a neigh
Dor demonstrated, warning him that the
dog did not understand what he had done
to merit punishment. when the dog goes
off next time do you think he will come
back when he remembers that thrashing
is awaiting him there? angrily inquired
the neighbor.
The boy paid no attention to the warming,
ami when Barko went away d week or 50
later the neighbours words came true.
Barko evidently decided that home with
lash was worse than no home at ALL I'm
like the cat of song and story, he never
came back" to the great delight OF the
neighbor, who believed-that in dogland
as well as childand, goodness should be re-
warded instead of badness punished.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-14
JAPANESE GAMES.
BY II. B. DCTTON.

No other country is so much like fairy
land as is Japan. With its cherry BIOS
SONS, its sunshine, its quaint buildings, the
fantastic dress, and its love of festivals, It
seems country made especially for the
delight of children. At the sound of the
candy mans drum the little city girls for
get their game of battledore and shuttle
cock, the boys tuck their tops up their
sleeves, and. penny in hand. gather before
the candy peddlers booth. He has no pep
permint or cinnamon sticks, but much more
tempting wares His kettle is boiling, his
bamboo pipe is in his hand. and you have
but to mention a fish, bird butterfly or
jinrikisha (carriage), and. like a glass
blower, he blows it for you with his magi-
cal pipe. A half a penny and the candy
fish is yours.
- Then there is the travelling theater man.
who lets the children peep into his wonder
full box and see the lively scenes that hs
describes in his songs. And there is the
'fire-eating man." who rolls flaming balls
up and down his arms and then tumbles
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-14

their long, crooked necks till they arched:
the new scholar had all the attention ow!
Billy grew very fast and was very intel
ligent. He would come when called. and
do some very amusing tricks He would
sit on pumpkin. with his back to Caddy,
pretending to say his prayers, and he would
not turn nor move until Caddy said
amen" He sat with the squash class,
but their education was sadly neglected,
while Billy's went rapidly forward. He
played hide and seek with Caddy among
the gray rocks and tall elecampane bushes.
Caddy was now very happy, busy little
girl. and doubtless would have gone on in
the same quiet way for many years on the
top Of the old Mine Hill. but for an acct
dent that suddenly changed everything.
One bright day in the early fall Caddy's
work was all done, and she and Billy were
having fine game Of hide and seek. Once
Billy did not come at Caddys call. She
ran toward the rough gray rocks and
thought she heard a cry. Drawing near.
tween two boulders. He had often hidden
there, but was now so big and SO fat that
he could not get out as easily as he used.
This time he could not get out at ALL and
Caddy pulled with ali her might. but
could not stir him in the least. She ran
for her mother, but as she ran she encoun-
tered man who was looking with interest
at the rocks. Strangers sometimes visited
the hill in search of specimens. This proved
to be professor from a distant college,
looking for minerals.
"Oh please SIR" cried Caddy, won't you
help Billy? He is caught In the rocks and
can't stir. I'm afraid he will die, he is so
fat and puffs So
The man hurried after Caddy, laughing at
her expressions and expecting to see a fat
boy. He did not laugh when he reached the
rock, but opened bag he carried, took out
hammer. and tapped sharply on the rock
q few times.
Then he bent his best efforts to release
the nearly exhausted pig. The hammer
and chisel soon set him free. and he ran
off to eat acorns as If nothing had hap
pended.
"And now" said the man as he gather
ed some dark many-sided stones and put
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-14

them, still burning. into his mouth and
swallows them while the children stand
wide-eyed before him.
In this fairy-like land there are special
holidays for boys and girls.
Especially for little girls there Is the ex-
citing game of "evil spirit one plays that
she Is the mother of seven children. vino
form line behind her. holding each other S
kimonos. In front of the mother stands
another little Jap-''the evil spirit" She
tries to catch the end child, and the mother
tries to prevent without breaking the line.
The boys of Japan scorn the girls games.
If the wind is right on New Year day all
other sports are abandoned for kite flying.
They first learned how to make kites from
the Chinese, but Japanese kites are now
very different. They are always rectangular
In shape and painted with some terrible
scene of war or grotesque warrior face.
For while the Chinese boy wants his kite
to be beautiful and fantastic, the Japanese
boy wants his to fly straight and high. The
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-14
A Young Speller.

Ellen was six. but looked four. One day
she was sent into the parlor to entertain
two ladies who had come to call on her
mother. The child succeeded beautifully
for a time. but after few questions the
ladies ignored the child and talked to one
another. Ellen looked out of the window
until her ears caught the following CONVEX
Sation:
Said one of the ladies: Somebody is
GEelIng1 very h-o-m-e-i-y, isn't She?'
Imagine her feelings when the object of
these remarks turned round and replied.
Yes, but she is also very SMART"
The remark left no doubt in the visitors
minds, who promptly changed the subject.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-14
THE wHIZZLEBANG

lneres naugnt TO compare. on a bright winters day
With a down a hill q ride in a sleigh
But Deb had sled, and her parents she'd tire
BY wanting and begging for flexible flyer"
She stood by in envy while friends coasted down
And IL seemed IL she the child n town
Who borrowed rides down childs sled.
Poor Debby just cried when she slipped bed;
BIT she'd dropped a little
Than she heard great shout; "Oh mercy herei''
Aud she Janey Swift and her small brother, Bose
Dressed gayly in ochre. vermillon and
They stood by the roadside In brambie and brier
To see Debby coast q kind flyer
small Debby dressed In her best azure gown
With her wooliy white ttm. Just the town;
Shed mothers mun. made Of sealskin warm
And papas red mufner keep her harm.
Her ribbons yellow, well her hair.
But the funniest part her withholding chair
Twas a flexible flyer Of the newest style,
And Deb didn't steer but STILL with a smile
While the fairy sled painted bright black
Rode up and down hill. with small Deb back.
oh. this. declared Deb she smiled a wide smile
is the way to do coasting that's really WHILE
so she whzzed and banged spun down the hill
IL wasn't dream she's there coasting stlu.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-14

stead are suits of armor, battle steeds.
swords, flags and guns. The boys festival
has arrived. and the streets are noisy with
the din of mock battle.
On high pole before many house fioa s
in the wind big inflated paper carp. This
means that baby boy was born in the
house during the past year. The carp is
chosen because he Is such a remarkable
fish that he can even swim up waterfalls.
and the Japanese hope their little sons will
pattern after the carp and surmouut ell
difficulties.
Little by little the fairyland beauty is
vanishing from Japan. There ugly
telegraph poles among the cherry and plum
trees. There are trolley cars to take the
place of the jinrikishas, and the grown-up
people are learning to dress like American
men and women. But the children still
frolic about in their rainbow-hued kmonos
and big sashes. and love better than any
American toys the magical candy man and
their own truly Japanese holidays.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-14
A Young Diplomat,

Edna" said mother, how is it you ana
Franklin are such good friends? All the
other children say he is very disagreeable."
Mother" replied the little diplomat, "one
day Franklin and 1 were coming home from
kindergarten. Franklin was very rude and
impolite. When we came to the top Of the
hill wanted to go one way and Franklin
wanted to go the other. I did not know
what to do. then / just took hold of his
hand and squeezed 1t real tight. Franklin
squeezed back harder than l did. After that
he wasn't rude and cross any more, but We
skipped down the hill together (the way
wanted to go). Ever since that day Frank
lin Is one of my best friends
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-14
q NEW0
| @PVZZLES|
49, ~

CHARADE.
My first Is happy. my second Is a personal pro-
noun my third is exclamation. my fourth is to
deceive and my whole is the plural of a beautiful
flower.
RHYMING ENIGMA.
My first is in want. but never In get;
My second is in Ike, but never in met;
My third is in run hut never in walk
Ny fourth is in plate but never in fork;
My fifth is in eat, but never in drink;
My sixth Is il cord. hut in link:
My whole is of the year
That boys and girls like to have near.
BEHEADINGS.
Behead: 1. To fasten and leave irritation. 2.
To exalt and leave tardy ,. To receive instruc-
ton and leave to acquire by service 4. A sharp
weapon and leave a part of a sentence 5. On
high and leave part Of a barn
WORD SQUARES.
Al. hollow place. > Not under. 3. An
unpleasant glance 4. Does wrong.
country. 4. Actual.
DIAMOND.
l. consonant in Jelly" 2. series of bat
ties. 3. Kinds of flowers. T. month. 5. Lis
tened t.. 6. period Of time. Z. eonsonant in
Jelly"
PRIMAL ACROSTIC.
Prima.s of the words defined below spell a winter
sport:
/. To neglect 2 A hillock. 3. To charge with
crime f. Complete. 5. To hurt g. Limited. 4.
Sullen
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-14


Here Caddy," said her father, handing
Ills little daughter a small object. Look
out now, don't ask questions; it's yours"
aud Mr.. Sanders hurried out again into the
cold snowy night.
Caddy was used to looking out" She
took the object from her father and did
not scream or drop It, when she saw 1t was
tiny pink pig. II was very weak indeed.
but It was alive, and made a curious little
sound. not much louder than a mouses
squeaI. Caddy did not call her mother
even. she was busy helping Mr.. Sanders.
Caddy knew she must attend to the little
fellow herself. and be quick about 1t. She
took down a little Old shawl that hung
in a corner on a nail. and drawing a chair
close to the fire, laid il carefully on the
cushion. Next she went to the pantry and
came back with 4 cup OF milk, which was
set on the stove to warm. Another journey.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-14
A Little More Patience.

There was once niser who begrudged
his poor horse the grain it ate. To econo-
mize he stopped feeding il. OF course. the
poor beast could not stand this treatment
very long-it died. The mans wife re-
preached him bitterly. no doubt saying, II
told you So" The miser only said: cit is
all its own fault. If it had a little more
patience it would not have happened It
was just getting used to it when II gave up
nd died"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-14

the laborious business of smoothing a hol-
low in the snow.
There seems to be no reason for this
practice beyond that of pure enjoyment
The otter has his play just as the puppy or
kitten, though perhaps more human in its
methods.
Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1905-07-13
Harry's horse resents
Mays lash

abouts, and If there We're, here are all
these English sailors and Captain Ia
Dor. Why need you stay? Indeed,
shall be quite safe-and hear. that
must be the last stroke of the BELL
But was not to be moved by whee-
ding. | repeated again that | should
remain where she was. Then She
grown suddenly stern again, withdrew
a little from me, but sat still, watching
the unlading with gravity which gave
me vague uneasiness | began to
have feeling that here was more
than appeared on the surface, and my
suspicious grew as l watched the sail
ors lift those boxes which were sup
posed to contain Mistress Mary s
finery In the first place. there were
enough of them to contain the ward
robe of lady in waiting; in the second
place, they were of curious shape for
such purposes; in the third place, twas
Ill those lusty English sailors could do
to lift them.
They be the heaviest furbelows that
ever maiden wore" | thought as
watched them strain at the cases, both
hauling and pulling. with many men
to the ends to get them through the
hatch. then ease them to the deck.
with regard to the nipping OF fingers.
/ noted. too. an order given somewhat
privately By CAPTAIN Tabor ata n''4 sE't