davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-07-29
With Grandpapa When He Was Young

very angry and about to give her good
spanking. I'll teach you awful people
how to treat poor, helpless little KID
like me"' said Grandpapa In a very deep
and threatening voice. Now, what will
you promise to do IL | let you got Will
you 60 down stairs as quickly as the
banisters will carry you and FIX a cup OF
tea for me?''
Amidst the laughter that followed Anna
nodded her head affirmatiYely, and. leap.
Ing to her feet, ran down stairs with
bound. In few minutes Grandpapn,
accompanied by Mirtle and Danny, fol-
lowed her. going out onto the big back
porch which was SO cool and shady and
which overlooked the old fashioned flower
garden. There, already spread, WAS a
little ten-table with the steaming teapot
under the pretty cozy and the shining,
tiny cups. saucers. creamer and sugar
about 1t. basket of fruit-wafers and
glngersnaps was also temptingy dis
played.
"Now, Your Greatness" said Anna with
mock courtesy, bowling low before Grand
papa. and placing great armchair fer
him beside the tea-tabe. will you be
servedT'
with pleasure. my little lady" smiled
grandpapa. seating himself.
"Ah. now we're fixed o. K" said
Danny, seating himself cross-legged on a
porch bench and reaching for a wafer.
Eyes, we're all ready for the story which
l know grandpapa has on the end of his
tongue" said Anna, as she poured the
tea and handed 1t to Myrtle to pass round.
But jolly grandpapa--to tease the dear
little grandchildren a bit-said: what
is that-a story on the end of my tonguef
Well, well; just look and see. and II there
Ia one there. you may surely have it."
And grandpapa stuck out his tongue, turn
ing his head round SO that each might
see.
Eyes. sir. please Your Greatness"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-07-29
When Puggie Met Old Rodger.
BY MAUD WALKER.

Ing. Puggle graclously wagged back.
whined through the crack, trying to
thrust his nose through to touch that of
the stranger on the other side.
And ut once they were friends, and ut
once Puggie knew what it was that he
longed for. He wanted to be free to run
and romp and bark and frisk in the
streets and country-or wherever he felt
inclined to go.
As the newcomer seemed on the point
of leaving, since Puggie could neither
come out nor invite him in. the poor,
lonely, pampered fellow became desper-
ate and looked about for some means of
exit from his prison. All, there was the
way! A huge ash can stood close beside
the fence. From its top he could easily
jump to the ground outside. And It was
only the work of minute to leap upon
the cans top.
1t was pretty big jump for little
dog who had been reared In the house
without any opportunity for exercise.
But the reward was worth the risk to
limb or life. When he landed on the
ground on all tours there stood the big
dog-Mlss Lucinda Lay would have called
him mongrel-waitlng for him Just like
big brother.
They touched noses, which is the dogs
way of saying "Howdy-do" Then thew
trotted of down the alley. biting at each
other In play. AT the corner they stopped
TO nose about In garbage can, not that
Puggle was hungry. but his new ac-
qualntanee was. After finding a bone
the strange dog-who had been named
hodger when he was a little puppy
went Off into a corner behind buggy
shed and lay down to have his luncheon.
Puggie frlsked about him, barking, snap
ping and growing in play, but old Rodger
never paid the least attention to him till
after he had finished with the bone; then
he got up and trotted OFF down the alley
till he came to a street. Puggle close at
his heels.
All that day the two new friends romped
about, first In a street. then In an alley.
then In park to be Immediately chased
out by children or the park policeman,
aud when night came Puggie was tired
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-07-29

laughed Myrtle, 81 see story there just
as plain as can be-"
well. WE'LL calculated Grandpapa,
smiling. isn't 1t funny that never felt
or tasted IT? What is the story about?"
II think It's about when you were lit
tie like u.s. said Danny.
Grandpapa smacked his lips. as If tast-
Ing something. Then he said: Eyes, you
are right, Danny The story is about
the time when | was little shaver like
You. Let me see-that must have been
about three or four years ago, II / re-
member my age correctly" And the mer-
~ CLEAN In Grandpapa's eye made the
little ones all laugh at his Joke. "Well.
to begin--but first let me drink my tea
land Grandpapa swallowed of a cup of
the steaming beverage). In the days when
! was little fellow like Danny we
hadn't n summer vacation. as you have
now. We went TO school In the summer
that Is, a part of the time"
mercy mel" exclaimed Anna, drawing
her chair closer to Grandpapa. What
did you do that way for? No yacationl
How awful"
well. we youngsters. didn't think So"
said Grandpapa. I'm the first place, we
lived In new country. The state was
only sparsely settled In n portion, and
there being SO few families In the dis
trict the building Of a schoolhouse was
n question which was hard to settle. My
father gave an acre of ground. another
man In the community gave the lumber
to build a floor and windows and doors.
The other dozen fathers-who had no
money to donate-went Into the woods
and cut down trees of uniform size, hewed
them smooth and built a little ~ by IL
cabin. AS teachers were scarce. for there
IL - Ill.
the school board was obliged to take a
teacher who would come only through the
summer 20 us, for he or she. as the case
might be, could stay farther East during
the winter and get good wages In the
better equipped schools. Well, our first
school was a success. ! remember 1t
opened the first day of June and con-
tinued till the first of September. And
what splendid time we had. I'll never
forget Ii, never.
Early in the morning, just as the sun
was peeping over the eastern hills. mother
would rouse us out Of bed. Wed run to
the back yard, wash our faces at the big
pump, holding our heads over the water
trough as we splashed to our hearts con-
tent: then we would comb our hair be-
fore a little wayy looking glass hung on
the back porch, and--presto, pass! we
were quite ready for the breakfast, which
we ate on the same big back porch. You
see. we-my fathers family-liyed at that
time In a little log house of two rooms,
and as one was living and sleeping room,
and the other was kitchen and workshop,
we were without a dining-room. In the
winters we ate In the kitchen and found
1t very pleasant, too. beside the big, warm
fireplace, with its roaring logs.
Then after breakfast we again washed
our faces; mother gave our attire a
finishing touch by Strengthening a .gallus'
on one and setting a homemade cap
straight on another's head; then with a
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-07-29

At the next corner he missed Puggle.
well, l wonder where little Bob 1.-THE
name the boy had given Puggie) has
trotted off tol But he's no fool and will
turn up home all right, l bet"
And the boy WIS right. When he got
home two hours later there came Pugglo
frisking ut the gate to meet him. and
they way he wagged his tail In cheerful
greeting to both the boy and old Rodger
was enough to make their hearts go
pltty-pat with Joy.
And from that day, whenever the boy
started townwarI with the dogs at his
heels, Puggie would turn back and re-
main patiently Mt home, for nothing could
have Induced him to ever risk that town
r-aln-nothing.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-07-29

Many people claim for Robert Fulton
the glory of steamboat invention but
the fact is Fulton only gathered up the
wasted efforts made by inventive men for
the past half hundred years" and, add
In; his own inventive genius, made valu
able use OF them.
Bur all inventions have come to us
through a long nroc sss OF improvements.
and the last inventor who crowns the
feeble first efforts with success wins the
glory of the achievement for himself.
In 1765 Robert Fulton was born In
Pennsylvania. His father was an Irshman
"a tailor by trade-who emigrated from
the Emerald Isle while still In his teens
to America. the new world so full Of
promise. In course OF time he married a
young American woman of English de-
scent.
When Robert was only three years of
age his father died. AS soon as the child
was old enough he was sent to the dis
triet school, where, II is said, he was
not considered a very apt pupil, for In
stead OF deyotng his time to his books,
he busted himself In constructing In
genious little apparatus. much to the an
noyance OF his teachers and the amuse-
ment of his comrades at books. AS the
boy grew his talent for art became Pro-
nounced. and h, developed considerable
ability with his pencil, achieving quite
good deal OF success as an artist later in
life.
He was undoubtedly mos. energetic
and industrious boy, for at the age of II
he had succeeded In saving from his
earnings enough money to buy a little
farm for bis widowed mother which
would insure her modest living.
Then did the young art enthusiast
satisfy his great desire. He went abroad
to study under the direction OF Benjamin
West who, like Fulton. was a Pennsyl-
vanian. and who at that time was enjoy
ing a well-deserved celebrity In Europe.
But Robert Fulton soon gave up the
study Of art for that Of civil engineer.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-07-29

Dear Grandpapa had Just come to visit
them for the summer. All the children
we're happy to have him. for he was an
entertaining story teller. and, unlike some
old people, Grandpapa never was
''cranky" nor cross-grained Indeed,
Grandpapa was the cherriest person
about any house where he was an inmate.
Hardly had the dear old gentleman I'M
packed his trunk and refreshed himself
with a bath and nap when here came
the little ones creeping lightly TO his
door, listening at the keyhole to ascer-
tain IL he were asleep. They could hardly
wait till he should come downstairs to
sit on the porch with them.
II do believe he's waking" whispered
Danny, his ear at the keyhole in Grand
papa's door. II can hear noises"
Maybe he's snoring" suggested Anna,
edging nearer SO that she might hear
what the sounds were like
well, IL you call that snoring" said
Danny, holding up his finger as n warn
Ing for all to listen. 81 call 1t walking
ssho,yt "
Come in, youngsters" called a voice
through the door Then all three
Danny, Mirtie and Anna-ran Joyously
into the big front room upstairs which
was usually kept for company, particu-
larry for Grandpapa.
How'd you know we were herer
asked Danny, laughlngly.
"Oh, one would have to be without
ears TO not hear those stage whispers of
yours" assured Grandpapa, smiling In
diligently, you've been at that door
three times since | came In to lie down."
"Oh, Grandpapa, please forgive US IL
we disturbed you," said Anna apollo
getically, going to the couch where the
x.1A Ham
lovingly about his neck. at was very
naughty for U.s.
But Grandpapa hushed her by grabbing
her In bis arms. and. pretending to be
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-07-29

from his eyes and ears"
And as Rodger seemed inclined to stay
there, for awhile at least, Puggle decided
to do the same. They also found a very
jolly play fellow In the boy, who took
them with him fishing, hunting and
everywhere about the farm. Indeed, the
three were rarely apart The boy saw to
their meals. giving them all they could
eat OF the very kind of food they liked
best.
One day the boy started of down the
road which led toward town. He whistled
to Rodger and Puggie to accompany him,
and gladly the two did SO, bounding
ahead Of him, first into the grass on one
side Of the road, then into a cornfield at
the other. 0! what fun to be free to run
and romp at will, thought Puggle. And
so on they went to town.
In his happy frame Of mind. and being
80 taken up with his frolle, Puggle had
not noticed that he was nearing his old
home. In fact, he would have passed
right by the quite pretentous home OF
Miss Lucinda Lay, which fronted on the
"arlstocratic" avenue of the town had 1t
not been for very familiar voice falling
on his ears "oh, thank goodnessl there's
Doggie darlln'!" shrieked the voice. Then
Puggie knew he was very close to his old
mistress Giving one swift glance In the
direction from which the voice came Pug
gle saw the round dumpling-llk figure of
Miss Lucinda Lay coming down the stems
of her front porch. Her face was norid
her eyes more squlnt than formerly and
she seemed to walk with greater difficulty
than when Puggie had seen her last.
The danger which threatened him the
Imprisonment In that dark, lonely house
the caresses of Miss Lucinda, all came
over Puggle with lightning-ll like rapldity.
and without a bark of warning to either
Rodger or the boy, he turned tail aud
hed.
"Oh, there goes my doggiel" frantically
screamed Miss Lucinda Lay, directing the
remark to the boy, who, open-mouthed
with establishment, stood watching her,
not having seen Puggle's sudden de-
parture. run after him, boy run for
your life and catch my darln' Puggle"
But the boy, glancing round with the
expectation of seeing a pug dog, and fall
Ing to do 80, thought the fat lady" must
be bit out Of her mind; SO, whlstling to
Re Ser and Puggie-for he had not yet
noted the latter's appearance-walked
Off down the street smiling to himself.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-07-29

day. The tapping on the wirdow served
the purpose of bell and called us young
sters to books Once inside seated at the
forms, we listened TO the schoolmaster's
reading from the Scriptures. Then fol-
lowed the singing of the capitals of the
United States, which. by the way. was a
very good way to learn them. We also
learned the multiplication table the same
way. And you may be sure 1t was not
a difficult task then as 1t seems now to
some of the little ones | know" And
Grnndpapa looked knowingly at Danny.
who hung bis head abashed. It was a
wellknown fact In the family that Danny
had never yet mastered the mines"
'"Then, by aid of the tuning fork, the
schoolmaster would lead In n an old
fashioned hymn. One of the 'destrlck
fathers asked him why he did not follow
the Bible reading with the hymn. and the
teacher replied that youth wanted varie-
ty; that contrast made study and divine
worship take a-hold of the mind better
And | low he was right, too.
And then followed the study. which
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-07-29
"a Few Minutes With the Inventors
A Peep into the Life of Robert Fulton.

1t was at about this time that the young
man conceived the Idea that stream could
be used as a motor for the propellIng of
vessels.
To the Earl of stanhope he wrote In
1903 laying forth his plan. The Earl's
answer is given below, valuable for the
fact that 1t proves the date when RobeN
Fulton gave his attention to steam:
"Slr-I have received yours of the both
OF September, In which you propose to
communicate to me the principles Of an
invention which you say you have dis
covered respecting the moving of ships
by steam. ! shall be glad to receive the
communication. which you Intend, as
have made the principles Of mechanics my
particular study"
In 1901 Fulton had brought his sub
marine boat to a state of perfection, ac-
cordng to a report made by the French
government, which has not since been
equaled,
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-07-29
BY WILLIAM WALLACE. JR.

school, for we had to walk three miles,
and there was much to cause US to tarry
along the way. Our road led through
beautiful wood and over long, soplng
hill. And In that wood abounded deer,
rabbits, squirrels and many other small
animals, besides countless birds of every
description. Then there was pretty
brook--we called 1t crlek' In those days
to wade, and sometimes 1t took us 20
minutes TO ford 1t. too"
"Oh, just think OF IT. sighed Danny.
~ never have any such fun In going to
school now. Wish | had been Grandpapa's
little brother, instead of his grandson"
And | wish | had been his little SIS
ter" ventured Anna. what fun to wade
and carry ones luncheon
I'VE called 1t dinner--Dot luncheon"
smiled Grandpapa. Il doubt If many of
my little school comrades would have
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-07-29

known what the word luncheon meant In
those days.
But TO return TO my going TO school
or | shall be late" said Grandpapa.
when. at last. we arrived at the school
house the teacher would be there, sitting
In the shade of a tree in the yard and
reading his Bible. lie was n preacher of
the gospel to the little community, as.
well as Instructor TO the children. But.
for all that, he was a stern man, and In
side the schoolhouse were seyera! strong,
well-sea soned 'gads' with which to en-
force his rules. | had good reason to re-
member the strength Of one Of these gads
for many cars. In fact, | feel Jingle
In my flesh even now when | recall it.
But, of course. the fault was mine and
| paid the penalty.
well, after all the children had as
sembled for the day. the teacher rose.
put his Bible in bis linen coat pocket,
tapped against window with his tuning
fefk and seeexsd upon the duties of the
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-07-29

school when you were boy, Grandpapa,"
said Anna.
"0ut O. slght!" cried Danny. Gee
whlz! Grandpapa, don't you wish you'd
never grown up? Don't you wish times
had never changed7"
'If had never grown up and the times
had never changed" said Grandpapa. II
would not have these dear little ones
about me. nor would we be sitting here
on this delightful porch enjoying tea and
cakes. No, no, my dears" and a mist
came over Grandpapns GENTLE blue eyes,
although the old times are dear to re-
call. the present-with Its many dear ties
is sweeter ana more precious still"
what, story-telling?' asked low,
sweet voice. And the children's mother
came to join the group. Give me cup
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-07-29
First Steam Locomotive

The first public railway for steam loco
motives was opened In the year 1928, be-
tween Stockton and Darlington, Eng
Credit for the innovation was due George
Stephenson and Edward Peese, who COM
pleted the enterprise In the autumn of
that year, the opening day being Septem-
Der the 9th. A vast crowd of skeptica
people assembled to witness the starting
of the Iron horse" openly declaring that
1t would prove n failure. To quote from
an old description: 1.-The train weighed
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-07-29

was done aloud"
"Aloud." exclaimed the interested trio.
In n breath. Mercy! however could one
hear his own yoiceT' asked Anna.
oh we were used TO It," laughed
Grandpapa. "And as we were not gorged
with overmnch schooling we were all glad
TO embrace the small opportunity we had,
you may be sure. One Of the morning
recitations was grammar. and all the
sentences given the pupils to parse were
taken from the Bible. How often we
struggled through the Ten Command
ments. sorting ont the nouns. verbs, etc.
But the recitation which we all struggled
to excel In was the spelling. How we did
con those long words of many syilables
with too many silent letters. for we bad
the old system Of spelling each other
down and getting 'head-marks.' The boy
or girl who excelled In the number of
head marks during the term Of school was
the hero or heroine of the district
"How lovely 1t must have been to 60 TO
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-07-29

OF tea, ANN. dear, and let me hear the
tales What are they about this time,
father-farles
"Well-not exactly furry stories, daugh-
ter, but -"
'"They sound like fairy stories-they are
so splendldm exclaimed Danny. Eyes, In
deed, they're better than any fairy
stories" declared Anna and Mirtie In a
breath. "Grandpapa has been telling US
of his own school dnysr-in fact, we've
spent while with him when he was
young" said Danny. And whenever he
is In the mood TO take us back to those
days we'll trot right along with him. so
we WILL"
BLESS the children" smiled Grandpapa-
And their mother said Amen"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-07-29
CAN YOU GUESS?

CAN YOU GUESS?
Which is the most religious state7
--(Mass.D
Which is the Clearly Gtnte?
--(Wash.)
Which Is the most egotistlcal state?
--lMe.)
Which is the sickliest stateY
-Qll)
Which Is the medical slater
--Md.I
Which is the oldest stateY
.--(Ark.b
Which Is the most maidenly state?
MISSY
Which is the most paternal state?
-Pa.l
Which is the mining slater
--(Ore).
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-07-29
Then and Now.

I'm glad I'm ut little maid
Like they VIE long ago,
With mannefI prim, and frocks SO long,
And curls aFays Just SO.
Luxemburger gazette. [volume] (Dubuque, Iowa) 1871-1918, 1906-05-29

lid blonb lit unb blenbenb ipeiBen
Seint beiist." 0iaraoretbe pii6te
nit Dem Staubtih lei6t iiber bas
Bib meg. .g5 liegt etpas in ben
3ii9eu oeS blnteln GntliBes, a6er e5
lit niht biibih; es erifredt meiit
beim eriten Gnblid."
2inois idnies. sic betrdHtete
Die ibrlalen Sdnoe Der ihpar8en
Suttn, Die bon mabrbafter S6Snbeit
pnren, uno bieie beioen tpunberbar
geformten 5dnbfeu la9en i'm @or@
bergrunbe bes 8ilbes duf i6por5er
Sammet : l~lnterlaee. Die cine mir
'~tungsroIe Staffase fir Die Bartlett
berielben ab8aben. llnb nit bieieu
i6ipaben Sierli9eu Sing.r6en bate
lie @elo auf 8elb gebduft rnb goels
iteine eingeiadt.
2inbis panbte iid raid al. $50
lit @rdfin gIiiobetb'S Iortrdt?"
War9aretbe riidte bas belle Sat-
tuntuf, oas iie gum Sfub se9en
ben Staub iiber ben &0pf getniipft,
eben 3ure6t unb i9ien nad3uberten.
.gs lit anerbtnes zines bosepez
len, es hing bier an Der @aub, Der
i6tpar5en Sutta seseniiber, tie mar
ia ali6 braun. Die 8rdfin Gle; nah<
Luxemburger gazette. [volume] (Dubuque, Iowa) 1871-1918, 1906-05-29

@eg 81 treten. Nur nit Ulargnz
retbe bate er cine LANCE lInterre>
bung 9ebabt, iebr lanse iosar. aber
Die Ilte iprah in lester 3eit 10
ipenie, bab es 9inois 5peifelbait
blieb. Oh Der S9immer bon 3uneis
gung, Der ii1 einntal bel ibr se6eigt,
nift pieoer geihnunben lei.
8raf G9on fam freilid bier unb
ba einmal, nber es seibnb ~ie(ten.
DAB CT einen Gag bablieb, meiit rift
er idon mad einigen Stunoeu ipies
Der fort. Sb linn Der Iufentbnlt
berbnbt uno nerleibet mar, ipeil fie
Do weilte?
Ser @inter per9ius ipic Der Sriibs
ling ihfpanb, i'm 6luse. Die 8dume
beoedten iiG NIT 5artgriinem 2oibe
unb Der bonn gis b%efreite g8aiierfaIl
rauihte pieber mGftig burf Die
S1nttennaht bes Edrfes. Ser olte
Sietrih mar ale Gage beihdftigt,
bns biirre 2alib bes porisen Serhltes
bon ben HonbeQs 5u nebn,en, unb
Niarsnretbe liiftete uno pusie NIT Der
9ii6erma9b i'll allen Sdlen bes
S6lones lumber. Mud briiben i'm
prin3li6en 2uitihlobhen begann elm
reyes 2eben. Seppide unb Hpliterz