davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1905-12-24
RANG wESTMIEsTER's BELL.

Now that most Of the summer visitors
from the United states have gone back
American girls in London as there were
n while ago, bur of those who remain
there isn't a prOudeT one today than
li1tle Miss MacNiven. of Butte. Mont.
Little Miss MacNiven. whose years num-
Der only eight, had the honor of ring
ing the bell OF Westminster Abbey that
summons worshipers TO the venera bic
church. II is the first time little Amer
lean girl has ever done this, or. In fact,
any little girl. so far is known.
IL is because the small Miss MacNiven
possesses the enterprise OF the true
American girl that she had this en-
viable experience. She and her parents,
who recently went to London. were pay
ing the visit to the Abbey" which is
by Americans in the metropolis, when
the little girl wandered off on tour of
inspection of her own among the royal
tombs- Spying one of the vergers. or
~ piled him with questions IL hap
pened that. during the absence on hoii-
day Of the regular bellrlnger of the
Abbey. il was this officials duty TO
ring the bell, and the hour Of 3 o'clock
service approaching, he asked his small
questioner. TO whom he had taken a
fancy, if she would like TO be the first
little girl 70 call worshipers to West
minister Abbey.
Naturally she jumped at the chance.
and so when her parents had been col
lected,' all parties set out for the room
below the great belfry Of the Abbey.
where the chimes are rung. and there.
after being instructed by the verger.
the little girl from Butte laid hold of
the dangling rope and rang the bell.
The call to service at the Abbey CON
sists of several long strokes. followed
by three quick ones. which. the verger
explained. were designed in the early
days OF the great church. to warn the
various clergymen 70 be in their places.
Not every little girl could have rung
the bell correctly. but Miss MacNiven
did, and 1t win be a long time before
she fOrgets her experience
The Washington times., 1905-12-24
THE GRASSHoPPERS DANCING SCHOOL.
little Feet Struck Rhythm Elegant to Sc.

Dancing school was i'm session in the
meadow where the Hopping Grasshop-
pers lived. 1t was to be the last hop of
the season, and the spot chosen was
broad clear spot where a haystack had
recently stood
Everything was there-the gallant AMI
the gay, the green and the gray. Prof
Locust was resplendent in his best
clothes. and his spectacles fairly
beamed. The little Hopping Grasshop-
pers were all looking their prettiest. and
the audience was on tip-wing with ex-
pectation.
Ana yet in his heart Prof Locust was
sad, for in ali the season past he had
not been able to teach his pupils how
to waltz. and 1t was expected OF him
IF l can only slip through without
the fathers and mothers noticing per
haps they won't ask about the waltz -
he said TO himself as he took his place
and looked up and down the ballroom
Herr Cicada turned up his hind legs
and set the droning bagpipes a-going
till the meadow hummed. From his
mushroom seat he could see every inch
OF the ground.
Choose your partners
All the little Hopping GrasshOppers
stepping forward. cOurtesied and swuns
The Washington times., 1905-12-24

away in a rather Indifferent two-step.
II was soon over. and the sooner the
better" thought the professor In the
QuadTille they would do better
All. that was indeed different, The
response 10 his call was unanimous
The little ooy and girl Hopping Grass
hoppers trOoped TO their places in smil-
ing couples.
They bowed 10 partners and 10 cor
nerS. They chasSeed right and left; they
balanced and ladieS-changed and four
handS-aTOunded. they grand-right-and-
Iefted with the best Hopping Grass
hoppers that ever lived. and the pro-
fessOr grew radiant
Some one i'm the audience WHISPERED 3.
'Will they have the waltz neXt2' and
Professor Locust hurriedly called fO~
the CalOp before anyone could hear
In the galop his pupils were not 10 be
beaten anywhere. They sailed around
the ballroom with great leaps and piT-
Quettes. and resumed their seats breath
less amid the cheers OF the parents and
visitors.
Professor Locust nearly burst his
cheSt-prOtectOr in his pride.
81 can surely leave the waltz out.
he thought. mo one will think of IL
now. 80
A number of little Hopping Grass
hoppers did some fancy paS-SeUls-a
shadow dance. hornpipe. 4 CarmenCiJa
solo. a highland fiing-nOthing was con-
sidered too spirited for these nimble
young folks
Little Miss Katy Hopping Grosshop-
The Washington times., 1905-12-24
RIDDLES.

The Sphinx asked What Is the Sc
cret OF success
Push. said the button.
Take pains. said the window
Never he led said the pencil.
BE up 20 date" said the calendar
Always keep COOL said the ice.
Never lose your head. said the bar
rel
DO business on the tick" said the
clock.
DO a driving business" said the
hammer.
Make much of small things" said
the microscope.
Never do anything oThand. said the
glove.
Spend much time in reflection" said
the mirror.
BE sharp in all dealings" said the
knife.
Find a good thing and stick to it."
said the glue.
Trust to your stars for success. q"
said the night.
Strive 70 make a good impression. o.
said the seal.
Turn all things TO your advantage. 90
said the lathe.
Make the most Of your good points -
said the compass.-BroOklyn Citizen.
The Washington times., 1905-12-24
WINTER NIGHT FUN.

Bandase the eyes of one Of the com
pany and ask HIM 10 listen for a sound
telling him that he cannot point out the
din ection from which il comes Ster
some distance away softly. and theu
flip up two nalf-dollar pieces together
sharply The blndfolded person viii
be almcst sure 10 point in the wrong
direction
Another one Of these tricks. also based
on the fact that the senses often mislea6
persons. Is 10 press a coin against yOul
forehead and then 10 throw the head
back 50 that II VIII rest there Their
wrinkle YOUR eyebrows and forehead sc
violently that the coin viii fan down
Now tell any members of the party
that he or she cannot force a coin &c
drop that way from his or her forehead
Let the victim bend The head far back
press the coin firmly into the forehead
but slyly. take it away when you re-
move your hand The victim Will have
the sensation that the coin is there. and
Will wrinkle broWS and forehead ferOs
ciousiy until at last The laughter OF the
rest exposes the joke.
Tell one of the party 70 shut the eyes
tightly. Then place a little pellet OF
bread or anything else ON the top ot
the person index finger, and then guide
the victim middle finger 10 the TOD OF
the pellet and tell him 20 move the pei
let around. Ask The victim how many
pellets there are. and he Will be sure
to say two.
The Washington times., 1905-12-24
AN UNEXPECTED SANTA CLAUS

a a
and sighed
4 fear that 7 will have lonely
Christmas after all said he
The captain lived all aIore i'm n
mouse by the sea and ne mad invited
mis- nephews and nieces and grand
children down 10 spend Christmas with
him. The children loved the great old
house house dearly and every Christmas
romping and laughter
Ihis year the captain had hIled the
place, as usual with presents and
goodies; but two days before Christ
mas the weather had become savage
ana the snow had come down fiercelv.
until now the old house lay quite shut
OF. and the only thing that was not
Whlte' as Ear as the captains keen
eyes could reach. was the sea and
that was gray aud sorrowfuI and very
angry
Well, / must surely give them M"
said the captain on the morning before
Christmas. Even IF they started and
got as Tar as the railroad station. thew
can never dream Of getting through
the nine miles OF drifts between the
station and the house"
And again on Christmas Eve he sigh
ed ana said: Too bad, Too badr'
And he looked at all the goodies ana
an the pretty gifts and there was a
tear IN his eye and it ran slowly Jo-yn
into the white beard. for the cant9t"
had looked forward all year TO Cbrfst
mas Eve with his loved Cnes
II grew ddIheF ana darker and the
captains old servant. who rad been
his steward on the ships that the can
tain had sailed, brought IN his an
neTs and the captain ate IL sadly. The
old steward was sad. too. because he
loved the children almost as we'll as
the captain did. and he had lots of
presents for them slowed away him
self ''ii
We'll, Jack" said the captain after
the lonely dinner, there's no use in our
grumbling. What can't be cured must
De endured. The children won't come
thls year, that's sure So Iat's gI,-e
someone else Christmas Just harness
up the Old nag and wen fl the sleigh
with things and III take them over ~
BIZ Ruland's s children Poor man
guess Ihat he hasn't been able to make
died" '''N VIZ
Captain Meriwether." said the stew
ard. you can never get 70 Ruland's In
this storm. It's a good five miles and
you'd perish before you got there"
on must think that / m getting soft
JACK said the captain. laughing GO
ahead and get out the Sleigh
Begging your pardon. sir" said the
steward = won't. That Is. | won't Un-
less you VIII let me go I'm your place"
ia ha! ha!, laughed the captain.
mutlny ehI Well / guess that you
and l would better 20 together"
The storm was worse than ever when
the TWO sturdy white-bearded sailors
went forth into the darkness and the
cold; but the= pushed along gallantlY
Tor several miles Then the old nag be-
came bewildered and at last the sleigh
became sta3lsS tn p great drift. while
the spray from the surf pelted them
The Washington times., 1905-12-24

that they invited the grand duke and all
his retainers 10 have Christmas dinner
with them. On Christmas morning all
the great guests arrived, hungry as
bears, for the grand duke had given
orders that no one should eat a thing
in order 10 preserve fine appetite.
Everybody's mouth watered when the
roasted birds were brought in, but at
the first bite the grand duke jumped
up. sputtering and splitting. and shouted
wrathfully:
To horsei To horse, I am poisoned,''
The people OF TinkletOwu fell on their
knees. and the grand duke and his re-
tainers galloped away and did not draw
rein until they had arrived a Nickle-
town.
Here the grand duke said TO the
burgomaster. who had come TO welcome
him:
For goodness sake, don't talk! Have
you anything 10 eat2''
"Certainly.' said the burgomaster Of
Nickletown. giggling We have some
very fine geese from Tinkletown." And
then. while all the people Of NickletOwn
laughed like anything. he told how the
cunning men had exchanged crows for
The grand dukes brow furled more
ana more. and when the story was done
so l am indebted to you for nearly
being poisoned, Ell? Seize them.
guards
The guards seized all the people OF
Nicketown. and then, at the dukes or
ders. they packed up all the roast geese
and hurried 70 Tinkletown with the
prisoners.
Here the grand duke told the people
Of Tinkletown what they had done
NOW" said ne, Il find IL hard indeed
10 forgive you for nearly poisoning me
but If you will tell me something very
wise TO do TO the people OF Nickletown
1 will grant you pardon.
The burgOmagter Of Tinkletown laid
his finger alongside Of his nose
d &c &c nj AT al ha
should love one another at this season.
Let us overlook byROnes and invite the
good people Of Nickletown TO sit down
20 dinner with us. And in proof OF the
fact that there is perfect good feelInc
among us we will let them have all our
nicely roasted crows. and we will help
your royal highness eat up their
geese"
THAT Is truly "A wise idea" said the
grand duke. "and ] viii see that the
people OF Nickletown eat up every scrap
OF crow"
And so they had to. and IL did not
please them at all.
The Washington times., 1905-12-24

with freezing mist that stung as IL il
We're hail.
the captain could hardly hold the reins
The horse will never get through"
shouted he into the stewards ear. in
order TO make himself heard above the
roar OF the gale.
There's a rough shelter made of
Wreckage little way ahead on the
Deach, shouted the steward. and if
we can reach il we can leave her I'm IL
and protect her with blankets while we
go on 10 Bills on foot with the things"
Good fdr you, shouted the captain.
The shelter was reached at last but
not until both men had pulled horse and
sleigh bodily out Of more than one drift
II made a safe place for the weary
horse, and then the two sailors shouf-
dered the Christmas load and started
on the two-mile walk 10 the fisherman's
shauty.
1t was terrible struggle. Every mo-
ment the wind became stronger and the
snow thicker. and again and again one
or the other would stumble and fall
headlong into the drifts. But neither OF
them even suggested turning back
They We're bound 10 bring Christmas
10 the Rutland children. and they would
have persevered II the gale had been
ten times as bad.
However. despite their pluck they were
quite exhausted when they reached the
rude cabin at last. The steward sank
helplessly into the snow. and the cap
tain had barely enough strength left TO
knock at the door.
And when the door was opened he
nearly fell down. too, but with aston
ishment For in the little shanty was a
great crowd Of people. and they all
sTieked:
Grandpa and "Unclel"
And how they did swarm over the
frozen old captain, And how they did
hug and kiss the old steward when Bill
rutland led him in, And how excited
they all were captain and steward and
children so that nobody could under
stand how IL had all happened TIL one
of the grown-ups explained that they
had started despite the storm 10 reach
the captains house. but had lost their
way, and had finally found shelter just
I'm time In Bill Rutland 3 fishing shanty.
And" said Bin. though / could give
them shelter. / couldn't give them food.
for We were on short commons So II
you had not been so kind and thought
ful of my poor children, all your own
people would have had to go hungry
this Christmas eve
Well said the captain, revereutly.
II expected TO play Santa Claus. but 1
didn't know what a very necessary one
] would turn ont to be. It shows again
that we can't try TO help anyone with
out helping more than we suspect"
And so. though the captain did not
have Christmas eve in his own house.
he had a very. very jolly time Just the
same. And the next morning. when the
storm had cleared away and all the
snowy beach and the blue sea sparkled
In the sun, IL was a merry party indeed
that drove TO his house where they
spent a week never 10 be forgotten The
writer knows that none Of them ever
forgot Il. for she was one OF those very
nieces.
The Washington times., 1905-12-24
"Save the Poor Christmas Birds"

drown themselvesl The Christmas birds
are trying 10 drown themselvas"'
Goodness said the mayor. You
would better ring the nrebeII and call
out the volunteers
The volunteers came running. dress
Ing themselves in their uniforms as
they ran. This made ii somewhat
awkward for them TO hurry. because
the tailor, who was the fire chief got
tangled up IN his coat so that r. was
all around his face, and thus he hap
pened TO run into the shoemaker. who
was the second assistant firepail car
rier, and the two fell down. The
butcher, who was carrying a ladder
fell on top Of them, and by the time
everybody was Strengthened out the
geese had swum 10 the very middle
OF the pond and did not pay any at
ten'ion whatever to the town goose
hero; who stood on the bank. crying
kindly.
Here, Christmas birds. Here sweet
Christmas birds, If YOU get wet feet
you may get sore throats. and think
how bad sore throats VIII be with
necks as long as yours
The geese. however, did not look at
him at all
Thank heaven. you are here said
the gooseherd 70 the volunteer ire
men Now you can save them,
How so2" asked the tailor, indig-
nantly. What do you mean by send =
ing for US? There is no fire around
them and we cannot do anything in
the matter"
What you need" said the shoe
maker. lis a life-saving crew. II you
had more learning you would know
that without being told"
You are right" said the schoolmas-
ter. who had arrived by this time.
II our burgOmaster had taken my adj
vice long ago we would have one now
and we could save the poor Christmas
birds"
The burgomaster scratched his head
ana said; But you never advised me
10 get up a life-saving crew"
Of course not said the schoolna =
ter You would not have taken the
the same"
That is right" said all the people.
IF only our schoOlmaster's advice had
been followed
Just then three men from Nickletown
came along. and when they heard and
saw what had happened the;. said 10
the people Of TinkletOWn-
You may well consider yourselves
lucky that these birds are out in the
water where they csanot harm YOU
Have you not noticed chat lately they
The Washington times., 1905-12-24

army. They were gone out of sight
No, There they were-taEing the curve
of the meadow.
The audience watched breathless-
Now they were on the other side The
musicians stopped playing, for they
were too far away 20 hear
Now they were on the home stretch
One could hear the whirring OF their
wings.
Now they flashed into view.
Twinkle. twinkle. whir, swish. hop,
skip, jump
They were back again, and dropped
into their places while the audience
nearly raised the dome of the blue sky
with their deafening huzzas.
The professor nearly tainted with
joy. but recovered himself before the
waltz could be mentioned.
"AH take places for the Virgins
Reel
All even the spectators. arose and
took their stand in two long rows that
reached hall way TO the meadow fence:
and in the JOY -Of that mad whirl OF
forward and back. dOS-a-dOs. down the
middle and up again every one forgot
completely that there was such a thing
as the waltz. and the professors repu-
tatiOn was saved.
He knew ell the time that a waltz
in a stubble field is an impOSsibility.
and Hopping Grasshcppers can't waltz
anyway
The Washington times., 1905-12-24
HOW THEY KEPT THEIR SANTA CLAUS.

Marcy was crying and the Boy looked
very serious and dismal indeed.
she said-she said. Marcy sobbcd.
that there wasn't any SANITY Claus at
all and that our fathers and mothers
got all our presents for us. and that
SANITY was all humbug just a sort OF
make-believe. TO fool the little taGs.
And she said. Sara Pickett did. that you
and ne was too old u hheve I'm such
nonsense. "
The Boy grew sobeTcr and sobere..
Marcy he said after q long time Of
thinking. If we gotter give him up. we
just gotter. But first let's ask Father.
He's coming up the lane now with Il
lead of pumpkins.
Father came in from the barn and up
the steps IKE boy. He whistled as he
The Washington times., 1905-12-24

would be full TO the brim with all the
things that children love"
Dolls said Marcy.
Skates and rifles?" asked the boy
"All the things said father. Maybe
no rifles. because that was before they
We're invented. But anyway. he was
fuTny-looking. all knObby and bunchy.
He wouldn't say 4 word. but Just walk
around TO the sunny corner OF the
square. All the Door children who had
no Christmas at home would come run
ming and call:
Father Methodist Have YOU gift
for me- And he always had.
"One Christmas 4 little girl who was
SO DOor that she had TO go barefoot in
the winter found pair of beautiful
shoes in one OF his pockets. She slipped
The Washington times., 1905-12-24
THE GAME OF WICKED THING.

One of the players represents the
Wicked Thing" He hides somewhere
and the other players walk around eau
uously. singing;
How lOyfully we'd play and sing
It there We're not a Wicked Thing
The clock strikes One, The clock strikes
two,
The Wicked Thing is watching you.
The clock strikes Three, The clock
,strikes Four,
The Wicked Thing Is at the door"
The Wicked Thing Jumps from its hid
ing place the moment the last word
is sung. and II il Succeeds In catching
another player. the captured one musJ
take the mart
The Washington times., 1905-12-24

ner came shylv forward with Master
Gray Hopping GrasshoppeT. and togeth-
er they triDped through what is called
the hopping minuet IL was done sweet
~. and everybody went into raptUres
Then. after a slight refresh~ners of
tutti-frutti fraDpe and golden dew wine
the professor stcD-ed forward and n
nounced that the last dance Of the pu-
pills would be Little Sally Waters"
But the waltz" somebody said
Partners had been secured long be-
fore. for this was the favorite dance
Hand in hand they faced each other
two by two down the meadow thev
sang to the drOning of the hind leg
bagpipes:
Little Sally Waters.
Sitting in the sun:
Signing and crying
For young man"
Their little feet struck out with a
rhythm and precision elegant 20 see
Rise. sally. rise,
Wipe your eyes out with your frock :"
And here they leaped into the air and
sailed across the ballroom and out into
the meadow beyond They didn't stop
anywhere II was like a migrating
The Washington times., 1905-12-24

took off his jumper and put on his coat.
He whistled as he came down the hall
way. Then. as ne caught sight OF the
two solemn faces at the door of the
sitting room, one Of them swollen and
tear-stained, he stopped mis- whistle. d.
HullO. youngsters: what's up? Mar
gy. Marcy. you'll never be a man If
you cry"
Father picked her up tenderIy in his
strong arms. and right away the ache
at her heart felt better.
Sara Pickett said there wasn't any
Sanity Claus and we was Just foolish to
think so. Only babies believed in him. -
The smile died out Of Fathers face.
He said:
so Sara Pickett said that. did she?
Poor Sara Pickett. Let's go in by the
With Marcy on his arm and the Boy
holding TO his free hand. they went into
the cozy sitting room. where the wood
fire was swapping and cracking. and
the flames were ieaping and making
jolly shadows in the corners where the
Winter dusk had begun TO creep.
Let's see. said Father, as he set
tied into the big arm chair with a child
on either. side. Let's see. We were
you a story2"
''Oh, yes. Father
Well. long. long ago there was a good
Dlshop. ana his name was Nicholas and
ne lived In a faraway country. He loved
children with all his heart and the little
- 'I4N pCSS NStN 70 IOllOW Wnefe ne
went on his walks through the town.
and the httlest ones he would carry
and the bigger ones would hold onto the
skirts of his gown In a ring around him
and he would talk with them and laugh
with them and teach them songs to
sing
Then sometimes he would find a
sunny corner in the square and the
youngsters would cluster all about him
and he would tell them wonderful stor-
les The children would poke around in
MS pockets and find candy and things
Always on Christmas Day he would
put on special coat. very big and long
and full oF pockets and every pocI1et
The Washington times., 1905-12-24

them on. and then looked up with a
shining face. and said:
" think you must be a saint. Father
Nicholas
And after that they called him St.
Nicholas
When the grown people asked why
he spent his money in such a foolish
way, he would say, very grave and
81 do it in the name ot the Christ
Wen. at last good old St Nicholas
died. and all the children cried. and all
the fathers and mothers cried too Be
fore the next Christmas came around
the Rrown-ups put their heads together
and said:
The body of St Nicholas Is gone.
but we must not let his soul go from
us Let us keep his spirit in our hearts
each Of US. Then he can never die
SO from that time. every Christmas
the spirit OF ST Nicholas comes round
and knocks at the doors OF the hearts
Of all the people and says"
Remember St. Nicholas, and let his
soul live through yours
Now Santa Claus is just the Dutch
name for ST. NicholasEa kind of pet
name, because they loved him so. And.
so you see, although the body OF ST
Nicholas died. his soul lives on and on
always. in the hearts OF the fathers and
mothers and aunts and uncles and
cousins. and even brothers and sisters.
And you can tell that 20 Sara Pickett
hdIBN anu the boy looked up with
happy eyes. The story made things so
plain and true, and lovelier than the
old way Of believing. But a new thought
had struck the Boy.
will he live in our hearts. too.
Father-Margy' and mine2"
He surely will. II you let him"
Marcy, whispered the Boy as theV
lay In their beds and all the lights were
out. Lets you and me earn some
Christmas money and be a Santa Claus
spirit 10 Father and Mother
Lets said Marcy from her corner
Of the room
And they both went wandering In the
Land OF Pleasant Dreams.