davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-24
At the Big House.
The ,Possum and the Grub Worm.


Copyright, 1904. by the Bobbs Merrill Company
Janey was a veritable little woman in
tact and shrewdness. and when she heard
Ned accused of incivilities TO Snip and
Snap she FASTENED to turn attention from
him by saying the first thing that came
into her head. "Oh, Aunt 'Phrony, she
cried you haven't told us anything about
the 'Possum for long time. Don't you
know any more stories about him?'
II 'Phrony saw through the simple device
by which Janey meant to kill two birds
with one stone, she made no sign. but
obligingly racked her brains for more news
Of the 'Possum's doings. At length she
was able to remember a story about Mis-
Postum and 'Mistah Grub-wu'm.
'tDey wuz bofe un EN- mighty fat folks,
an lax lots er fat folks, dey wuZ right
lazy an nuver go nowhars dey ain halter
go, jes mosey roun' III ter git der vittles
an stay still at home de res er de time.
VILE tu'rr creatures all time traipsin an
trollopin' up an down de kyountry ter see
wat dey kin see an year vat dey kin year
an do wat dey kin do. Mis- 'Possum she
stay in a holler tree an snooge de time
away, an Mistah Grub-wu'm he snuggle
down jes' beneaf de top er de groun an
dream bout de time he gwine turn inter
beetle an live on top de groun."
"Do grubs turn into beetlesT' asked Ned.
rather incredulously.
.'Yas, sub, dat dey does! dish yer one
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-24
A TRULY STORY
ny RALPH WILBUR.

Uncle Rob sat in the old Plymouth rocker
with Ned roosting on one arm and Nan on
the other.
II was about the time when the sun didn't
want to go to sleep and the moon was too
sleepy to get up
Overhead the honcySuCkleS swung on the
treIlis. and a humming bird that was late
getting home took turns with hummsng
bird moth in slipping sweets from the fra
grant cups.
truly story; please do And Nan said:
Yes. a truly ooly-o0ly story
Uncle Bob laughed gently and said: Il
suppose you don't want anything about
giants or fairies or things like that do
YOU
If they're good big strong giants. l like
them" said Nod And Nan answered: IF
they're truly fairies with wings and only
do nice things 1 Ike them; but are there
any fairies?''
surely" answered Uncle Bob. When
little voice says. Don't do that; it's wrong
it's our good fairy. and when another says,
Never mind. who cares. It's our bad fairy.
and So"
Please Uncle Bob. just tell a story.
said both children. almost together.
So he told them this little story. which
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-24

chicks looked them all over and became
so angry because none of them looked like
her or for some other reason. that she first
tapped her wings a the whole brood and
flew away.
This would have been a sad plight for
the poor little orphans had It not been that
Jim the trouble at once and TOOK
charge of them
"All day long he led them round the
place and at night nestled them under his
wings beneath the porch. This he did. no
doubt because he knew he was somewhat
awkward as a hen, and didn't want to be
laughed at by the other fowls in the coop
At least l suppose that must have been the
reason. for he did all in his power to teach
those chickens that they ought to be geese.
No: / don't mean that. exactly, but that
they should not associate with other chick
ems In fact when other chickens tried to
associate with them they soon gave up the
idea for. next to a gander's hiss, n stroke
OF his wing or peck of his beak are his best
wea pons
ALAS for poor jim, In spite of his broad
wings which he stretched to the utmost 70
cover his growing family. the time came
when they felt they had to roost. So they
went to the chicken house.
Now what could a loving gander do? He
couldn't roost, So there was nothing left
except that he should waddle in the de-
spised chicken house after them every night
and squat on the floor to await the morn
ing. when he could proudly lead them forth
and have them all to himself and the boy,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-24

really happened-only there We're no fairies
or giants in IT.
Down on the eastern shore OF Maryland.
where they raise peanuts and pickaninnies
and watermelons. there lived little boy
He was not much different from other
little boys. except that folks liked him
And so 1t happened that one day neigh
Dor said:
- Here. sonny, take this home with you
and he handed him a nice gosling. all COW
cred with a greenery yellow down.
1T WAS the first gosing he had ever seen.
so he was very much interested and carried
IL under his arm for awhile down the hot.
sandy road. Until. becoming tired. he put
it down and was much Surprised to see 1t
wadd.e after him contentedly a little
dog So the queer pair reached the house.
where. after ne had been feAsted. he was
narnel Jim and for want of better place
was put in the chicken house to sleep.
Prom that day until he grew to be
a fine gray gander he made ii a rule TO re-
fuse TO associate with the chickens, and
never II he could help 1t would he let the
little boy out OF his sight, fighting valiantly
II any one attempted TO drive him away.
So that Aunt Dinah used to exclaim:
- Dress yo souls chillun: der's de two of
EN-. an amt needer one of EN- goose.
either
But one fine day tragedy happened
which changed Jim's affections.
"A hen having Eatched a brood of little
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-24
slot Machines as Newsboys.

You have grown accustomed to seeing
slot machines for the sale of chocolate,
chewing gum and candy, but no doubt
would be surprised If your father bought
his paper from one instead of newsboy.
In Berlin, away over in Germany. the peo-
pie are doing just that thing, and like the
method very much. Newspapers are sold
at such low rates that there Is almost no
profit for the ones selling them. This was
serious problem for the purchasers, who
struggled to think of some scheme for over
coming this difficulty. They have at last
solved the problem. Slot machines have
been brought to such state of perfection
that they have been adopted by several
Berlin companies. Many hundreds of them
are scattered throughout the city, and they
are universally used.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-24
At the Zoo.

The other day at the zoo a crowd had
collected in front OF certain cage In the
house devoted to reptiles, or snakes, as we
best know them. An attendant called the
attention to a beautifully marked cobra
who was in the act of shedding its skin.
Until now 1t was thought that the snake
simply cast off the old skin and donned the
new one, very much as boys and girls do
their soiled clothing. The cobra, however.
had a much more serious proposition 10
cope with His head and neck protruded
from the gray leathery-looking skin which
he had evidently just outgrown. He wrtg-
gled and Writhed, with great effort draw
ing his body from the covering. The new
skin was a gorgeous black and orange one
of indescribable beauty and fineness. The
old skin was gray and like a washboard in
its roughness as 1t lay revealed after 1t
was discarded. 1t uncoiled Itself as the
cobra wrthed out of 1t, laying as ribbon
might behind. The cobra struggled and
worked, an inch at a time of new skin be-
ing the result. Other cobras lay in the
cage-one in the garb of the unshed snake,
two others In their black and orange COW
ering AS the shedding cobra struggled,
one Of the others, as II seeing the need for
help, crawled to 1t and lay Its body on the
old skin, holding 1t frmer, that the cobra
might better succeed in what he was at
tempting. Still another friend IN need
came to his rescue, and thanks to the eff
forts of these who lay firmly on the resist
ing old skin. the cobra was every few min
utes showing more and more of his vivid
black and orange. There was stone
structure in the cage looking like bit Of
ornamentation. The cobra crawled toward
that and, drawing its resisting old skin 20
it, rubbed itself upon the roughness of the
stone Aided by this and the weight of tina
other two corbas, the old skin was finally
shed and the cobra was thing of beauty
in its new attire. The process took at least
half an hour and was accomplished only
after a great deal of effort. 1t was an In
teresting sight. and. a schoolboy said
who watched 1t, II wish we could learn
our zoology that way. I have studied all
about reptiles" he said, but / never be-
fore knew that skins were shed that way
or with any difficulty on the part Of the
creature itself"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-24

OF course, you know that England's nag
is called the Union Jack" Do you know
why? Two hundred and ninety-five years
ago Great Britains flag made its first ap-
pearance. James I added the Scottish
cross of st. Andrew, in consequence of diff
ferences having arisen between English and
Scottish ships at sea. Thus the union
idea is accounted for. James signed his
name Jacques" and 1t is thought that
this originated the term Jack" Others
contend that 1t Is from the Spanish word
for coat "jaco." Knights wore a little
coat or jacket over their armor, which bore
the distinguishing marks of the flag upon 1t.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-24

when he would Join them for a whole day.
"One evening in the fall there was a
great commotion in the chicken house. Evi-
IDENTIFY something terrible had happened.
for the fiuttering of wings, squaking of
chickens and Jim's Kisses all proclaimed It,
NO one ever knew just what the trouble
was: perhaps some of the other chickens
insulted some of Jims family; perhaps
rooster thought that Jim should either roost
or get out of the coop. and tried to explain
1t to him. At any rate, when the boy 8
uncle rushed in to find out about it he was
met by Jim with beating wings and defiant
squawks. And when he turned to escape
Jim tried to pull him back. and would
have done so, only the seat of the young
mans trousers gave away.
Jim dawled up to the house with the
piece of cloth in his beak after the young
man had rushed in and up to his room.
mo doubt Jim was willing to explain
matters. but the shouts of laughter with
which he was greeted prevented. and Aunt
Dinah held up her hands and said:
Dress yo souls, chilluni Dat Jim gander
got sense 'nough ter be governor er dis
we're state
I'm sorry to say that after that Jim's
temper got worse and worse, so that It
was hardly safe to be within his reach
And one night when Aunt Dinah put him
on the table she said
He sure was great goose when libin',
and L hope he'll taste good?"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-24

with only his hands and teeth for tools. 10
build whole system OF Subways with a
grand central station-his home-iu the
midst OF il. How he did work with tooth
and claw. now and then stopping to lunch
on a juicy angle worm!
Some people think Talpa is blind because
they never saw his eyes To tell the truth
they are rather small and hidden deep In
his fur to protect them as he makes his
way through the earth
Let remember as we go whilring
through out great city subways. that il was
this humble little engineer. the mole who
built the first subway. He also had rapid
transit in mind. for 1t is TO escape quickly
from his enemies that he makes so many
tunnels leading in different directions
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-24

NILS 1OSSu1h ohO quail Ill nST 10.
wat 1 tell bout, he lays low un-need de
yearf 'twel May err June an den comes out
an turns inter one'r desc yer pooty green
an brown beetles whar dey calls June
beetles; de kin chillen ketches an sets ter
junin'."
OF course the little folks wanted to know
what "junin' F." was.
'T.aws-amussyv said 'Phrony II thought
all chilien knowed how ter june a bug.
Wy, you jes' tecks de beetle an ties
string to i'm an hors on ter one cen err
de string an lets him fly ter de urr cen
er de string, an den he HUNS an buzzes an
fusses an eusses. an OATS wat dey calls
junin'.'
Now, den. femme start ag'in. done
tot you dat Mistah Grub-wum an Mis-
Postum wuZ bofe I'm 'em fat an lazy an
lax ter stay home. But dey mighty fond
er KNOWN wat gwine on in de worl,, an
wen tu'rr creeturs go ter de kyouncil ter
tend ter de fairs er de kyountry, desc yer
stay-at-homes ain gin EN- no peace, Wen
dey git back. pesterin' 'em wild queschins
bout wat went on at de kyouncil. One
time some err de creeturs wuz gwine by
FUN de meetin', an Mis- Postum she stan
In her do an hall em an ak 'em fer ter
come in an set VILE.
"Dey ses, ''Scuse we-all, ma'am, we
'bleeged fer ter be gittin' on an dey ses
ter one nu'rr behime der hans: Landi land!
les mex base an git outer dis er dat
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-24

DIAMOND
1. conscnant In summer" 2 male de-
scendant. g. Bottoms of the feet or shoes. 4.
One engaged In military service 5. Sound. g. To
behold. 7. A consonant In sumner
WORD SQUARE
1. Hearty. 2. Related. 8. Deceived. 4. Fin
ishes
DOUBLE ACRoSTIC
Ny prlmals spell peril and my finals language.
1. A number 9. To affirm. 8. number. 4. a
smile. S. boys name 9. opulent.
BEHEADINGS.
Behead:
l. Peril and leave wrath.
3 To long for and leave to gain.
g. small animal and leave a frame
f. To teach and leave to extend: again and
leave every
g. To impIore and leave beam OF light.
6. Deceit and leave to empty.
WORD PUZZLE.
FIJI the blanks with words that sound much alike
but spelled differently.
l. The 1890 lay on the sofa against the
2 The man saw a rat creep out Of the
in the rock
g. She ed all the money.
L. II will depend the $1,000 ----.
shall so or not.
HIDDEN ANIMALS
l. Hear the old woman pant. her breath IL 20
short.
O. At FIRST Agnes refused to CO.
g. Her boa really is beautiful.
T. Mabel, keep the baby out of mischief.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-24
The Bornbus Family.
(Bumblebees.)

BY BERTHA LUIsE CoLBURN.
The Rombus family, like so many others
in the pond country. were cave dwellers'
The entrance TO their abode was little
round hole which led straight down into
the ground for about foot, and then fol-
lowed the abandoned tunnel of old Mrs.
Mole to her deserted house. This tunnel
was fully five feet long, and the room at
the end was as large as a mans head.
Early in April, when Mrs. Bombus awoke
from her winter nap in the big grass rus
sock. she discovered this retreat, and
straightway took possession.
Her first work was to gather pollen, and
the pussy willows who lived over the way
were ready to give her all she wished.
How swiftly she collected it with her man
dibles passing IL along from forelegs to
middle legs. and putting it into the bas-
kets on her hind legs! These baskets were
only long, thick bristles. but they carried
the pollen as safely as our snugly woven
willow baskets carry fruit. She empted
the pollen in the cave, but she had TO visit
the pussy willows many times before she
had as much she needed.
Then she called on the ArbutuS sisters
and slipped the nectar from their little pink
cups until her honey bag was full Away
she flew to her home, and when she poured
the nectar from her honey bag" lol 1t
had been changed in some mysterious way
into honey. Whenever Mrs. Bombus felt
hungry she opened a little valve between
her honey bag. which is a kind of stomach.
and her real stomach. and swallowed a
drop OF honey. AS she is busy worker,
one would imagine that she would often
feel hungry.
After she had collected little mass of
pollen and honey she laid a dozen eggs In
II and hurried away to collect more pollen.
A second lot of eggs was laid, and soon
after out from the fIrst ones crawied yell
Iow-white grubs called larvae. They COM
menced to eat at once, pushing their way
through the pollen mass; as they ate enor-
mously. they increased rapidly in size
and made large cavities in the pollen. BY
and by they were full grown, and spun
themselves little silk cells which Mrs.
Bombus covered with wax.
She did not get this wax from the fow-
ers as she did pollen; II was secreted be-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-24
The Princess Merryheart.

It was more than hundred years ago.
Behind the wood by great lake, stood
the castle A boy. the son of the king. lived
there and not wish had been ungrante5
from the time OF his birth. In the beauti-
ful grounds with all the lavish profusion
or howers and rare fruits this boy Alceste
was allowed to romp and to do whatever
his fancy indicated Attendants hired for
the purpose of keeping him amused. were
always near at hand. and toys and games
were so numerous that large part of the
village was employed in making them
1t is unpleasant to tell that III spite OF all
this Indulgence Alceste was as unhappy a s
any boy in the kingdom. How he wished
that he was 81 simple peasant. free to roam
as ne would over the hills, away from the
grandeur that surrounded him. Although
he was handsome lad. the discomfort in
his heart left its traces on his face and
any one seeing him and not knowing that
ne was the son of the king would have
isl
Outside the castle peering through the
spaces between the massive iron fence.
little girl was feasting her eyes upon the
beauty and gorgeousness of the scene. She
noticed the richness of Alcestes dress, the
number OF his attendants attired in royal
livery, the quality of his toys and amuse
ments and wondered why the boy looked
so unhappy. The little girl was Thyra. and
she was the child OF shepherd who dwelt
at the foot OF the mountain in the poorest
and meanest kind of cottage Ever since
Thyra had been a wee bit of a baby
she had accompanied her father up the
mountain as he drove the fiocks and herds
of the king for pasture Thyra was big
enough now to go alone, and as her father
was lying II, with a fever. glad indeed was
he that Thyra was able to do his work for
him.
AS Thyra was straining her eyes to see all
she could inside the kings garden she
heard a faint ma-a-a. Thyra knew in a
minute that the cry came from tiny lamb
and that the little animal was in some
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-24

sort of pam or distress. She was at loss
to know where to look Under the bushes
behind the trees, everywhere she could
think of, but still the ma-a-a sounded, but
growing fainter all the time.
Some poor little lammie, thought Thyra
cannot go away and leave it to suffer and
perhaps die. Just then she heard a slight
rustling at her feet and on looking down
Ihyra saw a white creature. it's eyes ask
ing her plainly for help. Thyra was down
on her knees in a minute with the lamb In
her lap.
A cruel thorn had pierced one Of its paws
and from the wound the blood was trick
ing over Thyra's apron. Such accidents
OFTEN happened to the lambs of Thyra's own
mock so she knew just what to do The
lamb seemed to know that Thyra was its
friend, and beyond a gentle ma-a-a. held
SUN until the thorn was out. Thyra then
gave II TO eat from her own luncheon
nnding hollow shell in which to pour the
goat milk. The lamb was very hungry
and Thyra soon saw that there would he
little left for her
NO matter" she said. II had my
breakfast. and don't believe you have had
anything to eat for long time. YOU dear
little lamme"
Thus talking to the lamb Thyra rested
until the afternoon sun began to wane She
earned the lamb with her as she went
miner and thither, seeing to the wants of
her hock, and peace and contentment fell
upon the heart of the little shepherdess
Feopie VINO are alone great deal fall
easily INTO the habit of talking to them
selves. Ihyra was no exception and when
she was not singing aloud she carried on
the most animated conversations with
nobody knows whom. Perhaps the bees and
butterflies! The conversations were very
merry ones and Thyra's laugh was often
loud and mrthful in consequence On this
afternoon Thyra could not run about as
much as usual. because lammie was heavy
to carry and it hurt him to walk. Thyra
was thinking of the glimpse she had into
the castle grounds. and first thing she knew
a wish escaped her lips.
II wish-ohi how l wish that had been
born princess instead of shepherdess! I
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-24
Talpa, a Little Subway Builder.
BY MARGARET V. LEIGHTON.

Dear, dear!' cried Talpa, the mole. as he
viewed the ruins of mis- home and his sub
way. What cruel flood this has beent
Now l must find n new location on higher
ground" and away he scurried. Having
found hiIlock that suited him. he set to
work with his powerful hands to build a
new home. which was nothing less than a
round chamber followed out of the solid
earth with passageways leading from 1t in
all directions.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-24
A Gardea Coronation.

Have you noticed In the garden
Whom the flowers bend to greetf
Have you seen the gallant tulips
Spread their cloaks before her feeff
Have you seen tha modest lilies
Turn. still paler as they pass7
They're preparing for her coming,
Spnnkling perfume through the grass.
See. the butterflies are posing
Daintily above her throne,
With their fairy wings to Tan her
When she comes to rule her own.
Heart The Joyous bees are hummlur.
She h coming. she u coming."
She = crowned with sunshine golden.
And har heart Is golden. too &.
To her gsr1en Kingdom coming,
10 tho royal queen and trpe
Ring out, hare bellst Ring out, blue beilsj
Set the garden all a-tune
For oueen Rose IL crowned In aunahIno
In the royal mouth Of Juns.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-24

HISTORY PUZZLE.
Greene. Hobkirks BID, Guilford Court House,
1871.
WORD SQUARE.
UNIT
2. NICE
3.ICES
4. TEST
DIAMOND.
! .a IS
CONCEALED TRADEsMEN.
1. Plumber. 2. Painter. 8. Merchant.
PosTMAN.s BAG.
1. Horse-hose. 2 Crave-cays Z Ba1d-bads
4. Rocker-rock.
WORD PUZZLE.
l. Carpet. 2. Car. pets. s. Scar. pet.
DIAGONAL.
I :.s-
4 mtnUto
;. labor
.. suRmlaa
z. precipIce
g. staterpOm
d fraudulent
xxcURaIon.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-24

Such remarkable pirate gentleman You
have never before seen. There are a great
many things wrong about his costume, If he
has set out to be rover of the seas. What
are these errors, and how many are there2
The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1905-12-23
FUNERAL OF MRS. CLARK

Mrs. /. .. Clark of Okmulgs e
1. I. sister of Mrs. H. R. Clary
and Mrs. J. A. Farmer of this city
died in ST. Louis at Mayfeld' San
itarium on the 2Ist. The remair S
arrived on the 1880 train this
morning Funeral services will be
held from the family residence of
John F. Clary 1902, South Sixth
Street tomorrow afternoon at three
O'Clock. Friends and acquantances
are invited.
The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1905-12-23
A. NJ. Branttord Jr. Cor. Sec.

Col George w. Barefoot returned
at noon today from Washington.
He is looking well, life in the capi-
lal evidently agrees with him. He
will return to Washington after the
holidays.
The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1905-12-23

Berry Stringer and two others
were before Judge Grigsby this
morning on charge Of gambling
Stringer was fined $zs.o5. Two
vags were taxed SS.o5 each,
The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1905-12-23

WillaWalker of Ft. Sill has been
the guest of DIR. J. M. Bond and
and other old time friends the past
few days.
The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1905-12-23

Christmas will be generally obser-
in the city as holiday The Elk
press will issuse no paper.
The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1905-12-23

Isl Plunkard'' drew a large
crowd at the opera house lsst night
and was pronounced good show
by the majority of those present.
The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1905-12-23

GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEETS

The General assembly of the
church Of the Living God will be
in session here Dec. 2S-28 on the
east side Of the Rock Island track
at new brick building. 1t will lie
composed Of officers and other re-
presentatives. The public at large
is invited to attend its services this
being the first ever held in Chick
asha Elder R. Potter of Toledo,
Ohio white minister in the church
Of the Living Gods here to attend
the assembly.
j.. S. Christian, c. o.