davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-11-05

fish and Boers were going to war again. Nobody knew exactly why, because these people were Copper Boers, who sang psalms instead of hymns and cut their hair in the form of plate, and lived in q remote corner of the land, away from the railways and the newspapers; but they asked the predikant, and he said that 1t was all on account of two men called Ballot and Franchise, whom their old president had refused to deliver up to the English at the demand of Cham berlain. As they had great confidence in the old president, who had been fa- nous as hunter in former days, every one was sure that the war was just. So after awhile the father of Stephanus sad dled his horse, hung a large bag of mealie flour upon his saddle, filled both his pockets with sticks of dried meat called biltong, took his new rife and his bando- Her and rode away.
 Nothing more was heard of him for nearly two years but sometimes reports would come that the English were be- ing driven into the sea, and so they all prayed to God and hoped that 1t would soon be over and that the Boers would once more possess the whole of the land. At last Kaff1r brought intelli- gence that a new army of rooibatjes, thicker than locusts, had come up from the coast, occupied the capital and driven the Boer cammandos northward bt ore them. Soon afterward 1t was reported that the father of stephanus had been killed.
 When Jacomina heard of this she brought her son the Basuto pony, which could tread safely over the toughest ground, and he took his fathers old rife and the cartridges and the bandolier and the Bible and the biltong and the maize flour, not forgetting to put two boxes of matches into the pockets of his trou- sers, and he said good-by and rode away
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-11-05

shot"
 stephanus had been so stunned by the explosion that he felt too stupid to be afraid, so he lay there quietly and closed his eyes. He e,heard the voice of the big man saying:
 q shall count 12 slowly, and then if you do not answer me you will be shot"
 Stephanus felt too stupid even to make up a lie, which would have been almost justified under these circumstances, so he said nothing, md the big man began counting very slowly. He stopped long time after he had said 10, and still longer after Il, and then for the first time a great fear began to grow upon Stephanus, and in another minute he might have told where the headquarters of the commando were. But just as he was making up his mind he heard a great roar of laughter, and when he opened his eyes he saw that the big man had put hls pistol away, and everybody was making ridicule of him again.
 Then the soldiers lifted stephanus from the ground and took him into a tent and made him sit up at table and gave him brandy and called him a hero. And as this was Christmas Day he had a large slice of plum pudding. But all the while he knew that he had not been really brave at all, but only stupid.
 When his wounds were healed Ste phanus was sent into Pretoria to q con centration camp, where he found hun dreds of Boer women and boys who had been brought in there from the outlying farms. Soon afterward peace was de- clared and he was sent home again. When he arrived he found his father there, for he had not been killed at all, but only wounded and taken prisoner. Each was very glad 10 see the other, as you may suppose.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-11-05

outspanned and unpacked their goods and built square house of logs and mud and sowed maize and Kafir corn and settled there.
 After awhile some other families of Boers came into the district. having also trekked from the encroaching Englishmen. Everybody was glad to meet, partly be- cause all Boer people are related to one another, and partly because they settle some miles apart and do not intrude upon one anothers privacy. Then traders visit ed them and purchased their wool and ostrich feathers, so that they soon became prosperous. But the father of Stephanus always gave 1.-the of his possessions to tho predikant who travelled from farm to farm in order to hold the services on Sun days.
 Stephanus did not have much education. The predlkant taught him to write. and he learned to read from the Bible. Once he was sent to school to an Englishman; but he was told that the world was round, which seemed contradictory to the Scriptures Stephanus did not say any thing, but he thought 1t over for a week and then saddled his horse and rode back home again.
 But his head was packed with real knowledge of essential things. He could talk 50 well in three different dialects of Kaffir, even including the clicks which you make with your tongue in speaking, that if he entered kraal at night time he was taken for a native boy. He had shot two lions, which came down upon hls herds, he could outrun the zebra for a short distance, and he could put hole through an empty meat can at 300 yards He knew all the traditions of his country how the first settlers had been treacher- ously murdered by the Zulus on Dingaan's Day, and the avengers, forming their wagons into a square, had broken the at tack of the ferocious savages, firing,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-11-05
Stephanus Paulus JOubert;

This is the story of q lit Boer boy. and it Is the story of thousands more and In no way remarkable.
 His name was Stephanus Paulus Jou- bert. The first two names were given him because they were in the Bible, and the last came to him fro. his great grandfather, who had been driven out of France by the French King Louis XIV. because he was Protestant, and had set tied In South Africa. Stephanus lived for the first five yea of his life In the Cape Colony. One day surveyors came along and began to lay out township near the farm. Afterward there came wagons full of bricks and storekeepers came with goods, and they began to lay lines for the steam carriages. When hls father saw these things he said to his wife, 'Jacomina, hier kom de Engelsmans. Laat ons nu trek" So they packed all their goods into the big, canvas-covered OK wagon, inspanned the 12 oxen, took their cattle and sheep and trekked away north ward till they had left the Englishman far behind. After about two months, seeing that the oxen were thin, his father stopped beside stream and said, 'Jacomina, laat ons nu uitspan." So they
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-11-05

South After awhile he came to cross road, and here he met a number of farm ers' sons, mostly about hls own age, who had been too young to fight when the war began, each with his rifle and his biltong and his mealie flour, and at last they came to a little lager in the hills, where nearly POO men were crouching in the rocks, watching the campfire of the Englishmen below them.
 They were under a brave leader, called De Wet, who had been a butcher In Bloemfontein before the war. The Eng lish had tried many times to catch him, but he always got away. Then the Eng fish built great blockhouses all along the roads, which they connected with barbed wire, and they sent out different columns to surround him. Once he was nearly caught, but De Wet gathered his cat tie In the night and drove them against the wires and broke them, following with his men, so that only q few were cap tured Stephanus followed him for nearly three months, but although the English chased him for days and days, they could never catch him.
 At last, however, two different columns of English soldiers cornered the com mando among a range of hills, and they were forced to fight. half mile to the right they had set up a dummy gun of wood, and they laughed to see the big shells of the Englishmen knocking the rocks to pieces all around 1t, while they themselves lay snugly in their trenches. waiting for the opportunity to steal away at night. Presently, however, the Eng lish seemed to discover the trick, for they ceased to fire at the dummy gun, and now the Boers heard the great shells come shrieking over their own heads, tearing up the ground and covering the rocks with yellow smoke, which suffo- cated all those who breathed it. Now, stephanus was very much afraid, espe- cially as he covered among the rocks and heard the bullets singing and whist ling through the air, but he did not show that he was afraid, for fear that his friends might laugh at him.
 All at once a great shell came plump Into the middle of them and the rocks flew straight up Into the air with the force of an explosion. For while Ste phanus did not know where he was. Then he opened his eyes again and found that he was lying with number of dead and wounded men, and the rocks were covered with splashes of yellow poison from the shell. He saw his comrades running toward their horses and he heard some of them call to him, but it all
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-11-05

also, remarking: "Oh, mamma dear, two weeks In town will fly by. We won't get lonely or homesick."
 All afternoon the twins husled them selves getting settled In their new Guar- ters. At D o'clock Oracle, her room In perfect order, sat down to write to her mother After all 1t seemed lon.s time since she had seen her. When Bert learned what Oracle was doing he laughed and asked: What can you have to tell mamma so soon7 Why, she left us only an hour or so ago"
 An hour or so ago! But to Oracle. 10 was mothers girl, 1t really seemed a whole day. "Oh," she replied, "I'll write her how lovely my room Is" Then she looked at the clock and continued to speak: Why, brother, it's chore time at home. Mamma Is looking aller the cream and milk pans" Then poor Oracle sighed In spite of her effort not to.
 'I guess Dave will finish stacking the fodder this afternoon" ventured E...t hls mind also flying home.
 Ut seems most like jail-this being In town," said Oracle, looking from the window. Just see how the people hurry along without ever speaking to each other. The street seems full of strang ers.'
 Then both Bert and Oracle sat silent
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-11-05
The Evolution of the Horse

All children love that noble animal, the horse. But l wonder how many of them know from what sort of little animal yes, little. and emphasize the adjective. too-he evolved from.
 As we trace, step by step, the horses descent. by the marked pecullarities of teeth and feet we find that he came from a line of ancestors so unlike the present development that they would suggest nothing of the horse that we know. His first ancestor was strangely similar to the contemporary ancestors of the uapirs and rhinoceroses, which proves still fur ther the theory that all modern quadru- peds have diverged from one type
 Now, here Is a fact which quite aston ishes us-the earliest known ancestor of our horse was no larger than the domes- tic cat. and 1t had four toes on each front foot and three on each hind foot.
 The horses ancestors changed gradually as conditions changed about them. As the continents rose higher and higher above the sea level, and other influences brought about change in climate--which became colder and dryer-the forests gave place to broadening, grassy plains which had effect upon the forest ani- mals. At q former period of the world s history. about the end of the Age of
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-11-05
The Story of a Boer Boy Hero. By V. K. Emanuel.

while the women loaded their guns for them, until thousands of Zulus lay dead outside the lager.
 He had learned all about the English, too, who had taken away the slaves, and how six rebel Boers had been hanged at Slaughters Nek in his grandfathers time, when the ropes broke, and the soldiers sent for new cords and hanged them again. Then of the War of Independence when the rooibatjes, as the English were called. had been shot down at Langs Nek and Ingogo; and how General Shuts, with n handful of volunteers, of whom his fla ther had been one, sealed the precipitous Amajuba Mountain in the dark and scat tered the Redcoats like a herd of ante lope and won back the independence of the land. So 1t was no wonder that he grew up to hate the Englishmen. But when the English hunters rode up to the farm his father welcomed them and gave them coffee seven times a day, and showed them where were the zebras and the buffalo and the big antelope for the sake of the freemasonry of the hunters craft.
 When Stephanus was IS the rumor spread through the land that the Eng
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-11-05

seemed like dream, and he felt sleepy and comfortable and had no desire to move or answer them. So he lay still, listening to the roar of the big guns and the crashing of the shells, and presently he fell asleep.
 When he opened his eyes again he was , surprised to see that he was lying upon the grass little distance from the white tents of the Englishmen. He was wrap ped in blanket, and close by him were a number of other blankets, each of which contained the body of Boer who had been killed by the explosion. Not far away from him were men with spades and when Stephanus realized what had occurred he felt very serious and tried to draw out his Bible from inside his coat; but he could not move his arm, because IL had been injured by a piece of the shell.
 Then somebody who had seen him move came up, and soon Stephanus was sur rounded by a circle of men in yellow jackets, whom he knew to be English soldiers. Out from among them stepped a big man with two stars upon either shoulder and a short, red beard. He put his arms round him and lifted him from the ground, and Stephanus, thinking that he was to be killed kicked the big man upon the shin, so that he dropped him and said ''Wowl' And everybody laughed.
 Then the big man looked severe and said to Stephanus: My boy, where are the headquarters of your commander
 Stephanus lay silent and pretended not to understand what the big man had said, although in reality he understood English quite well, because It is so like the Boer speech that everyone who is not as stupid as an Englshman cannot help understanding 1t the minute that he hears it spoken.
 Then another man came up. Stephanus hated him the moment that he set eyes on him, for he could see by his appear ance that he was one of those renegade Boers who were traitors to their coun- try and had joined the Engishmen. So when this man repeated the English of ficer's question in the Boer speech 1t made Stephanus so mad that he replied: i shall not tell you"
 Then the big Englishman looked still more severe, and said to Stephanus: Do you understand the consequences of your refusalf" Stephanus, forgetting that he had pretended not to understand Eng fish, answered: T don't care
 Thereupon the big Englishman, with a ferocious scowi, took out pistol from his belt, loaded 1t, cooked 1t, and pointed It at his head and said:
 If you do not answer lns you will be
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-11-05

MT. Tompkins could get to the front door to look out. in rushed an excited pair of twins, who gave a leap, landing In his arms.
 Why, Bert and Gracie" cried Mrs. Tompkins, kissing each twin on the cheek. What does this mean?"
 That town isn't to our liking" ex- plalned Bert, just wee bit embarrassed. But say. papa, I took the liberty to hire a man to bring us home. Our trunks are out there In his wagon. We thought 1t over, and decided we can learn a whole lot at our district school for a few years yet. And Gracle-well, she was so-homesick, you know"
 ''You would better make your own excuses" retorted Oracle, turning on Bert. 'You were packing to come be- fore you knew had done the same thing"
 "Well. well,'' declared MT. Tompkins, 'thls Is the happiest day I've had since since"
 "since our jewels left us yesterday" said Mrs. Tompkins. "But-the dinner will spoil; I must set extra plates for our visitors And, papa. have the driver. who brought our little man and woman home, stop for dinner"
 ''Is there enough for all7" asked Bert. snfflng his nose in the Kitchen. Pm about starved for our old home cooking. Town meals don't seem to agree with me somehow"
 "Plenty, and some to spare" declared Mrs Tompklns. '"rhe truth is just felt that there would be company today for dinner, and l put visitors names in the pot"
 Ut is my prayer being answered." con fded Oracle, her arm about her mothers waist.
 And we don't wish to go to town to sch2o pt. till paRS and you go svdas, wss us on as we are. I'd rather live In the country anyway, so l would. Town is like a jail-to anyone who has been used to better things"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-11-05

T think as brother does," agreed Oracle. "I don't like living in the coun- try"
 'All right" answered their mother, well talk It over with papa this evening during supper"
 And so they did, the plan developing to send the twins to school In town for the remainder of the winter. But at first their father shook his head and sa i'd !: What, give up my little man and woman2 Why, home would be almost un- bearable without them. It would be like a day without sunshine"
 But 1t would be for the rest of the winter only" urged Bert "As soon as school Is out in the spring here we would be again with a lot of city education
 But there is plenty of time for city schooling after while," argued papa And he put down his knife and fork. Why, 1t takes my appetite to think of coming in and finding no little, troublesome twins here to make me happy"
 'oh, you would see us every week, !" explained Oracle. You and mamma would come to town every Saturday, you know"
 And we'd come home for Thanksgiving and Christmas," promised Bert.
 ''All right" consented papa. rather du- biously; but mamma looked at him so reassurngly that the cloud passed from his brow. ''We'll let Bert and Oracle go and stay in town till they express desire to come home again., she said, quietly. So the plan was settled.
 Early the next morning, which was Sat urday, the twins. in company with their parents, started to town. In the back of the spring wagon were their little trunks containing school books and cloth ing So no more country school for Bert and Oracle that winter! They were to become "city master and maid" and learn to conduct themselves accordingly. No more carrying of dinners to school In q tin dinner pail. No more long walks over the country roads on frosty mornings. No more of anything that smacked of rural surroundings. So thought Bert and Oracle as they rode along towards the mecca of their hopes.
 On reaching town Mir. Tompkns drove at once to the home of his friend, Judge Grey They were welcomed warmly by the Judge and his wife, who gladly made room In their house for Bert and Oracle.
 After the business of the lldren's board and schooling vas arranged Mir. and Mrs Tompkins kissed the happy twins good-by and departed for their home, promising to come again in two weeks Two weeks!' And Bert smiled when his mother said 1t would seem like yesr. And Grscis smiled bit
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-11-05

thinking Of that dear old place away out on the prairie. After q few moments Oracle spoke again:
 Say, Bert, this Is the evening the Browns were coming to our house; don't you remember? My, wish we had waited over till next Saturday. When Frank, Sadie and Jess Brown come to visit us we have such a splendid time. I won- der what they'll think when mamma and papa tell them of our coming to town to attend schoolf'
 Don't know" grunted Bert, answer ing Gracies last question. And he wished with all his heart that he were at home again, but he would not admit 1t to Oracle then.
 That evening the children sat through dull supper. The Judge and his wife were good souls, but they knew nothing of little folks Oh, how the children longed for the old, sweet home-freedom that pervaded their parents house. How the dear recollection of social converse about the table came to choke them ns they tried to eat. How unlike their own jolly papa was the stern, low-voiced judge who rarely smiled and never laughed. How unlike their cheerful mamma was the dignified Mrs. Grey, who talked to them as though they were grown-ups. And how i'll at ease did both children become in this strained position.
 'I don't like it," said Bert that night as he got Into bed without hls mothers assistance In tucklng covers and without her good night kiss.
 q wish were at home" sighed Oracle, as she knelt by her bedside to say her prayers. Then she turned her wish Into supplication:
 "Oh, dear Father In heaven. please bring somebody to take me home to- l hOmpsifkf
 Early the next morning Oracle was out of bed and had her trunk packed, as If for a Journey, before the others of the household were astr. Then she crept
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-11-05

Oracle and Bert Tompkins were twin sister and brother. They lived in the coun- try far. far from any town or city. A very few times they had gone with their parents to see the sights of the nearest town. which was half a days Journey from their home. But these occasional visits had had a bad effect on the ehil- dren, inasmueh as they were made dissat- isfied with their rural surroundings and longed to live in the busy center or that part of the country.
 One day, as they were playing about big hay stack near the barnyard, Bert, De- coming weary of the sport, lay down on the loose hay that Uttered the ground ana began to build air castles.
 "Say," he called out to Oracle, 'don you wish we were living in town? l hate this quiet country life. I'd like, above all things, to go to town to school, IT only for one winter.
 "Oh. so Y ould I !' cried Oracle. See, there are wagons going to town now. Wish we were riding along In one or them And Oracle looked longingly after several farm vehicles that were vending slowly over the section road towards the place of their desire. q wonder" she continued. "wby 1t has never occurred to papa and mamma to send us to town to school2 great many people do send their children there you know. We could board--and have the lovelest time. I'd rather be town girl and wear a hat to school than to be a country girl and wear sunbon- net"
 "S'pose we ask mamma and papa to take us to town for the remainder of the win ter" suggested Bert. There's Judge Grey, who is one of papa's best friends. He would take us to his home to board, I'm quite sure."
 And Judge Grey hasn't any children of his own," said Oracle. Maybe he would like having us for while. Mamma says Mrs. Grey Is so quiet and dignihed; per haps if she had pair of noisy twins like us to manage 1t would put more life in her"
 Well, so my little birds would fly away from their own nest to liven up that of others, would they?' asked voice near by; and Bert and Oracle looked up to see their mother standing near them. She had been listening to the children's con versation. Sitting down on the hay beside the little ones she put her arms about them and said: Come, tell mamma what you would do."
 Wed like to- go to school in town," explained Bert. "It would be so nice to get away from the farm a while. We wish to be like the town boys and girls"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-11-05

'I'll not accept the key to your heart That you and shall never part: For I'll not marry you, you, you; No. I'll not marry you, Sir"
 BOY: (Taking key from his pocketbook and of
 fering it.) Iris will give you the key to my chest So you may have gold at your request: If you will marry me, me, me, If you will marry me, Miss"
 GIRL: (Running towards boy, smiling, and hold Ing out her hands for the key.) 'T will accept the key to your chest That may have gold at my request: And I will marry you, you, you; Yes, will marry you, Sir"
 BOY: Withholding key and turning on his
 heel) "Ah, ha, hal So my moneys all Then I'll not marry you at all: No, I'll not marry you, you, you: I'll not marry you, Miss" tGirl holds out hands in supplicating manner, but boy walks on with knowing smile as the curtain falls.)