davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-08-05
HOW LITTLE GRACE WENT A SIGHTSEEING BY MAUD WALKER

1t was little Gracies birthday. She
was FIVE years old, and 1t was to be
gala day for her. In the afternoon several
of her little friends were to come In and
help her to eat the beautiful snow-cov-
cred cake which her mamma had baked
the day before, and on whose white crest
was Gracie's name and age spelled out
In little red candy drops. Oracle had been
given peep at this wondrous CONNECTION
as 1t stood In the icebox to cool. And,
besides the great birthday cake (which
was to hold five lighted pink candles
when placed on the little banquet table,,
there was to be all the ice-cream the
little hostess and guests could eat.
Oracle was up early on the morning
of her birthday. The sun had hardly
peeped In through her bedroom window
when she Ieaped ont Of bed. saying: I'm
FIVE years old today. ! must not begin
the day by being a lazy little sleepy
head" Then she was dressed In jlfy
and ran down stairs to help mamma with
the breakfast.
I'm big enough to work now, am ]
not mammaT' she asked as she helped to
pick over the strawberries for breakfast.
Eyes. you are big girl now, dearie; but
you are stlll mammals baby"
"And papa's little woman," said low
ing voice at the door, and Oracle looked
up to see papa standing there. Now,
must give my little daughter a whipping
much as / dislike to do So" he said
with mock gravity, holding out his arms
to catch Oracle who pretended to be
very much afraid. 'One-two-ihree-
f-o-u-r-f-i-v-e, and one to grow on!"
cried papa. giving his laughing little
grille the ticks so lightly that she hardly
felt them.
And SO the morning passed away with
fun and frolic, and great preparations for
the afternoon party. AS 1t was papa's
vacation time, he remained at home with
mamma and Oracle, helping with the ar
rangements.
The guests were to arrive at 2 O'Clock
In the afternoon, and Oracle was dressed
for the occasion at /. While her mamma
completed the table decorations Oracle
went out or the front steps to walt for
the appearance of the company. While
she sat there she heard low sobbing
near her. Looking round she beheid a
little glri-not quite SO large as herself
standing half hidden In nearby door
way crying quietly against her ragged
sleeve. Oracle was all interest and SYM
patty In an instant, aud. jumping down
from the steps. she ran to the forlorn
little one and asked In a sweet voice:
whats the matter. little girl? Come
don't cry any longer. I'll help you."
I'm l-o-s-ti" sobbed the child. more
tears flowing
"Oh, well. I'll take you home. Do you
know where you liver
The child nodded her head and pointed
in a certain direction. Thea she dried
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-08-05

never paid to him.
Through the kindness Of sea captain
Howe's wife and little ones were carried
back to America upon credit. Howe fol-
lowed them the next spring, being IN
debted TO a Scottish mechanic for steer
age passage.
MY Invention Is patented and In sue
cessful use In England" he wrote to
brother, but without profit to me. and
wholly out of my control"
The tenth day after bis return to Amer
lea his poor young wife. who had been
obliged to suffer such poverty and disap-
pointment, died. And then followed years
OF struggle, of lawsuits against infringers
who were coming money OF Howe's In
vention. But not once did the man give
up. He knew that he was In the right,
aud he entered the fight to win. And win
be did, but only after long. long years Of
struggle.
In 1867 Howe's sewing machine had
brought him In royalty the amount OF
over two millions of dollars.
In speaking to an old friend about his
struggle to obtain rights TO his own In
yention, Howe said: Had I given up, as
nearly all starving inventors do give up,
when the fight seems all against them, !
would have died In an attic of a broken
heart"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-08-05

her eyes and looked at Oracle. 81 tum
dat way" she said. 81 lives way down
dare"
"Do you know your home when you see
lt?' Oracle asked.
Again the child nodded her head and
held out her tiny hand to Oracle, saying
in a pleading voice: '"Tum, take me to
mamma"
"All right" said Oracle, grasping the
thin little hand in her own pink. chubby
one and starting In the direction the
child had designated.
Down the street the two little girls
went, hand In hand. At the FIRST corner
the lost child pointed down a side street,
saying: Down at way" Oracle, not
watching the way she was going, was
soon lost In a crowded narrow street I'M
familiar to her; but she did not for
minute doubt that she could make her
way back easily. On they went, Oracle
in vain trying to locate the child's home.
I'm five years old today" Oracle said
to herself. land I'm big enough to take
this little lost girl to her home"
The street they were in was filled with
jabbering foreigners, dark-browed and
very poor In appearance. The dirty,
greasy little shop windows became In
teresting TO Oracle, and several times
she paused TO examine their displays. In
one window were a number of odds and
ends of broken toys. Gracie's companion
became interested and pointing to a doll
with one eye gone said: II wis l tould
hab dat dolly
In, an Instant Gracies hand was at the
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-08-05

little silver purse that hung round her
neck by chain. From 1t she extracted
seven pennies. the purses contents, and
led the child into the shop where she
asked an old Italian woman the price of
the one-eyed doll. In another minute
the seven pennies were In the old wo-
mans hand fshe had seen the amount
when Oracle counted 1t out Of her purse),
and the doll was In the arms of the little
lost child who Rugged 1t lovingly to her
breast and smiled her thanks to Oracle.
Then out they went again. But in the
street hurdy-gurdy was playing and
the italian and Hebrew children were
dancing merrily to Its music. While
Oracle and her companion we're watching
the jolly youngsters a pretty little dark
eyed girl came to Oracle and said:
would you like to dance with me7"
Oracle knew how to dance a little, for
her mamma had allowed her to attend a
dancing class for little ones. Loving the
sport Oracle consented, telling her little
companion TO remain where she was till
she should come for her. Then locking
arms with the little italian they spun
round and round to the music of the hur-
dy-gurdy. When at last the musicians
moved on Oracle returned to the front of
the shop where she found her little com
panlon waiting for her. still hugging the
doll.
But this time Oracle and the child did
not search for the latter's home alone.
Oracle had told her new-found dancing
companion of the little childs dilemma
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-08-05

and she, knowing that quarter of the
town 80 well. offered her assistance In
finding the lost ones home. So down the
street the three went the little Italian
entertaining them with strange fairy stor-
les till Oracle really forgot the errand
she was on and that she had been gone
from home longer than she should be
without her parents knowledge.
And as they went there were so many
strange sights to see. The little Italian
girl seemed pretty well acquainted with
every one In that part of town and they
would stop and chat with shopkeepers
or laundresses. Once they payed a short
call on an old spaghetti dealer.
Just as they were turning into another
Lismally dirty street the lost child gave
q cry of pleasure. "Ah, mamma! Dare
she isl" And Immediately she ran into
the arms Of a small woman who kept
vegetable and fruit stand. Evidently the
mother had not missed her child for she
made no demonstration, but put the child
down and told 1t to go and play with the
other children.
And now Oracle turned about to go
home. She looked about, hoping to place
herself, but all was as strange as though
she had been set down In foreign land.
mercy me, I'm lost" she whispered TO
herself, for the italian girl had met
"chum' and had gone up the street with
her. "Guess I'll have to find a police
man to take me back. she murmured.
Twenty minutes Ia ter, her hand in that
Of big, blue-coated pollceman's, Oracle
turned into the block where she lived
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-08-05

just ms her father came running down the
street toward them. Where have you
been. dear?' he cried, grabbing Up Oracle
In his arms and kissing her. "Mercy,
how frightened your mamma and l have
beenI We Just discovered few minutes
ago that you had disappeared from the
stoop. Then we searched everywhere
In the house and at the neighbors. !
was just going to see II you had strolled
round the corner to watch for the Ice
cream wagon when here you came"
"Oh, I've been n sightseeing" laughed
Oracle. And | took little lost girl to
her mother, too," she added by way OF
excuse. ut was very kind act for me
to perform on my birthday, wasn't 1t
papa?"
ayes, but taking the little girl TO her
mamma got my own little woman lost
from hers who Is this minute suffering
suspense. So we must thank the good
policeman for bringing you home to US,
then go as quickly as we can to mamma.
Eyes, and 1t must be almost time for
the party" suggested Oracle as she
tripped homeward holding to her papa's
hand.
.'The party is already there-waiting
for the runaway hostess. And now that
you have turned up-to be spanked by
each of your dozen little comrades
everything will be all right as soon as
the ice-cream arrives"
And as Oracle told her parents and
little friends all about her experiences
In taking a lost child home she ended by
saying: "We1l, 1t was the greatest birth
day l ever had, and I've had good
many, too, for now I'm Ave-"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-08-05

Eyes, yes" cried several fishes and
crabs and Holsters. Lets have n race
between crab and fish. Then let's see
our friend Lobster give race with fish"
Then all was confusion for few mo-
ments while racers were chosen and
judges selected. 'Say, friends" said the
host, II suggest that our guest Of honor,
this young person from the land, be in
vited to race with one of us. Let him
pick his opponent from those already
chosen TO race"
All agreed to this and Benny, thinking
It would be great fun to race. with a
lobster chose the biggest one present,
saying: Now. I'll give you the start of
10 feet and beat you without half trying.
| think a handicap race will be more ex-
citing, and 1t will give you a chance to
hold your own against me-"
The lobster laughed, and replied: mo,
I'll not grant you the handicap. There
wouldn't be any race under such clrcum-
stances. for should you give me 10 feet
the start of you I'd be at the end of the
race before you had got fairly started.
Suppose | give you so feet the start Of
me. That'll be more in keeping with our
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-08-05
relative powers Of speed | fancy. &"

FeIu'iNe po"eis Vi speeu ! AMY
but as Benny SHOOK MS memo emphau-
eally TO the ioosters proposition laugn-
ing at the egotstcal teilow IN MS Sleeve
tney at last agreed 10 start even so lney
took tneir places, toeihg up 10 hne
drawn In the sand by a crab. Then the
starter counted zone, two. ihree-gol"
and away sprlnted Benny beside the
lobster Rut II he started beside The
lohstor he ala NOT tosn Inn noor 20 hin,
,oSs"a. 49, =. $50 - ao,,,t - 81.
,onse' .nap u 'aass - Noun' nee Ao'
before Benny could realize lhat the race
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-08-05

Benny sat on the end of the little pier,
dangling his bare, brown legs over the
shallow waters of the blue and placid
bay. He held IN lazy fashion a swing
Ing fsh line with a hook undated, for
some wise funy had come to examine the
worm which had covered its black, sharp
point, and, examining, had decided TO
taste the worm bit by bit, till the many
samples had uncovered the dangerous
hook sufficiently for Mr. Finny to realize
the trap 80 temptingly set for him. Then
desiring to get even with the monster
who would thus try to catch him or one
of his fellows, he nibbled cautiously at
the tempting worm-hesh till nothing was
left on the hook save a rusty spot near
the point.
4'Ah, hal" grinned the 1sh, swimming
slowly away. "Now catch one OF US II
you can" Then he was of into deeper
water to tell his mother OF what had
happened.
So Benny, all unaware that the hook
hung black and threatening in the water
"A veritable warning to the fishes to
keep their distance-sat with his drowsy
eyes upon the cork wondering II 1t would
ever bob with the nibble OF a nsh. at
last, becoming too sleepy to sit up. Benny
tied the end Of the line to a projecting
plank of the pier and stretched himself
out his full length to sun and to sleep.
The August sun soon sent him to sleep,
and proceeded to burn a nice little blister
on the end Of his nose the while. for
only that part of Benny's piquant face
thrust Itself out from under the brlm OF
his big sun hat. But Benny had not slept
more than 40 wLnks when he was reused
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-08-05

Goals till we die death OF slow and in
tense torture"
.Thats true" said Benny. my mamma
always cooks Holsters and crabs alive.
But I'm sure she doesn't know that 1t
hurts you, or she would not do SO. I've
heard her say that fish and Holsters and
crabs feel no physical palm"
Suppose we hold the same ignorant
idea concerning you ana your kindr said
a crab that sat near one of Benny's bare
feet. Suppose l should take 1t Into my
head-for crabs have heads-that you
could not feel my pincers should clamp
them over your toesr
"Oh, p-l-e-a-se DON'T" cried Benny,
feeling n bit frightened, for the crab
looked so vicious. and he was afraid he
might do the cruel thing he limited at.
There was hugh went up from all
the fishes, crabs and Holsters at this, and
Benny's host said: Never fear, lad uot
one of my friends here would do you any
harm. They, like you, are my guests.
And now that we have assembled for
good time let us drop the present subject
of conyersatio and forget that there has
been anything unpleasant said on either
side. What do you say to few racesT
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-08-05
A FeU Minutes With
the Inventors.

In 1919 Elias Howe, inventor OF the
sewing machine, was born at Spencer,
Mass. His father followed the double
occupation OF farmer and miller, Elias,
when mere lad, was employed In one
Of his fathers mills during the vacation
season, and attended the district school
when IL was In session. When ii years
OF age he went to work for a neighbor-
ing farmer, and from there Journeyed TO
Lowell for the purpose OF learning the
trade OF cotton manufacturing machin-
cry.
A financial depression that year caused
the manufactsry to fail, and young Howe
went to Harvard, where as an appren-
tce he entered a machine shop. But be-
Ing of a restless disposition. Howe re-
NAMED there but a short time, going
thence TO Cambridge, where he entered
n nautical instrument factory.
Here 1t was that Howe FIRST dreamed
OF the sewing machine. and here he began
TO bring that dream 10 a reality. He was
% years old when be began work on bis
invention 10 earnest, and had wife and
one or two children to support by daily
labor. Thus his invention. for want Of
time, came to a state OF partial perfec-
ton slowly, aud In 1874 he gave up bis
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-08-05

and lobster fashion.
Benny was introduced to the callers
bowling low before each and shaking the
fms OF the fishes and the claws Of tue
crabs and Holsters. Then all sat on the wet
sand In the shadow of the long pier,
which served as a roof over them.
I'm sure find 1t very pleasant to
meet you ALL" said Benny, with just
touch OF embarrassment. 'Its quite a
surprise to me to learn that fish, Holsters
and crabs can talk and have feelings like
-like-like, ahem, like-people. l never
suspicioned them of-of-of knowing
things like we know"
"Oh, the beings in the water are very
much like those on the land" observed
one big lobster, reaching out long claw
and patting Benny on the shoulder. "But
there are some funny notions concerning
us among the Inhabitants OF dry land.
For instance, I've heard 1t said by boys
and men who were here In the water
trying to catch us that we have cold
blood and cannot feel. They say the fav-
orlte way of cooking us and our little
cousins, the crabs. Is to plunge US In
boiling water while we are still alive, or
put US In a broller and hold us over the
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-08-05

entire time to 1t. himself and family
suffering great prlvatlon In consequence.
He obtained a patent on his Invention
September 10. 1919. i've years after hav'
Ing begun work on II. But, though the
machine was a decided success. Howe
received small benefits from 1t in Amer.
lea and England. In the latter country
the poor inventor was swindled out OF his
in,1ntlon. He aud his wife and babies
almost starved In London, whittier he
had gone to look after the royalties on
his sewing machine, royalties which wers
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-08-05

CONUNDRUMs.

When are old people like toasted breadl
When crusty.
When are arguments like ladies' bath
Ing costumesl
When cut short.
Why are hens like day laborersf
They have to scratch for q living.
What Increases the more we press til
pillow.
In what way does an artist differ from
q cook?
One draws fowls and the other sssss
them.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-08-05

If there's a ash on my hook. One thing
sure" he went on as he walked out on
the pier, III fish and Holsters and crabs
can really feei-well. ! don't want
mamma to ever put 'em In boiling water
alive again, SO I don't"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-08-05

i never have no freckles. nor
Red blisters from de sun;
My color Is de kind you'd call
Fast black, A-number -oneI
And there's my hair, SO sidney, too;
And, honest, don't think
1t Is a thing so very bad
To have a natural kink.
The Frankfort roundabout. [volume] (Frankfort, Ky.) 1882-1908, 1906-02-24

Our buyer has just re-
turned from New York,
where he has been for ten
days studying the markets
and making the purchases
of our spring stock of
The Frankfort roundabout. [volume] (Frankfort, Ky.) 1882-1908, 1906-02-24
WHEN HER BACK ACHES.
A Woman Finds All Her Energy
and Ambition Slipping
Away.

Frankfort women know how the
aches and pains that come when
the kidneys fail make life bur
den. Backaches, hip pains, head
aches. dizzy spells, distressing
urinary troubles, all tell of sick
kidneys and warn you of the
stealthy approach of diabetes,
dropsy and Bright's disease.
Doan's Kidney Pills permanently
cure all these disorders. Here S
proof of it i'm a Frankfort woman 5
words:
Mrs. TIME Lagle, of 527 North ST
Clair Street, vile of NJ. ID. Lagle,
proprietor of barber shop near the
depot, SAYS: For some four or five
years, 1 hardly knew what it was
to be free from an aching back,
and the irregular action of the kid
neys at the same time, caused other
symptoms. which were very annoy
ing and distressing. Although |
tried different remedies | was
unable to find anything that would
do me any permanent good until |
learned of DOan's Kidney Pills and
procured box at }. w. Gayle's
drug store. | had taken but few
doses of this good preparation when
l realized i was regaining my
health, and on a continuation Of
the treatment, | found my condi-
ton so much improved as to be
almost beyO belief. For all of
this l owe my thanks to Doan' S
Kidney Pills"
For sale by all dealers. Price 30
cents. FOster-Milburn Co., Buff
falo, n. Y, sole agents for the
United States.
Remember the name-Doan' -
and take no other.
The Frankfort roundabout. [volume] (Frankfort, Ky.) 1882-1908, 1906-02-24
A MYSTERY SOLVED.

How to keep off periodic attacks
of biliousness and habitual consti-
patton was mystery that DR..
Kings New Life Pills solved for
me-" writes John \. Pleasant. of
Magnolia, Ind. The only pills that
are guaranteed to give perfect sat
isfacton tn everybody or money re-
funded. Only 25c at all druggists.
The Frankfort roundabout. [volume] (Frankfort, Ky.) 1882-1908, 1906-02-24
WELL GAINED.

Capt. f.. NJ. Drane, the retiring
Postmaster, has been presented
with handsome gold-headed
walking cane. Capt. Drane very
highly appreciates this token of
esteem from the force who worked
under him for the four years just
passed.
The Frankfort roundabout. [volume] (Frankfort, Ky.) 1882-1908, 1906-02-24

The experiences of various unso-
phisticated members of the Legis-
lature formed no little part of the
household talk of that time. One
member from the waters of Hell
for-Sartin' Creek" was inclined TO
attend divine services OH Sunday.
StrOlling down street, without a
guide, he finally landed at the door
of the Episcopal Church. He en-
tered and remained till the congre-
CATION was dismissed. Later, a
friend was inquiring of him If he
went to church. and where? oh"
said he, - went down and hunted
around and saw a One-horn, tin-top
church and went in"
"How did you get along was
the inquiry?
EASY enough" he replied, II
didn't want to be out done; so |
riz and fell with the balance!"
The Frankfort roundabout. [volume] (Frankfort, Ky.) 1882-1908, 1906-02-24

The old Dominion Restaurant, of
Dennis l.. Haly, with old Ben, as
cook, fed its thousands of public
men from all parts of the country,
representing all stations and ranks
of public life, and the stories and
incidents, affecting public men,
that floated through its rooms,
during the cOnvivial hours, would
fill volumes.
The Frankfort roundabout. [volume] (Frankfort, Ky.) 1882-1908, 1906-02-24
NIGHTS ALARM.

An alarm from box II, at 7:l0 p.
M, OH Tuesday, called the fire hoys
to house on Taylor Avenue,
where chimney was burning out.
No damage was done.
The Frankfort roundabout. [volume] (Frankfort, Ky.) 1882-1908, 1906-02-24

Another member, from the North
Fork of Bitter Creek, brought his
frau with him to see the Legisla-
ture and the sights of the big city.
The Frankfort roundabout. [volume] (Frankfort, Ky.) 1882-1908, 1906-02-24
(For the Roundabout
OLD TIMES IN FRANKFORT.
No. y.

A familiar form on the streets of
Frankfort. of that day. was the
portly figure of Col. S. I. NJ. Major,
who was the Mayor, Public Printer
and proprietor Of the Woman news
paper. He was an accomplished
scholar and had, perhaps, the best
selected library in Central Ken
lucky. He was often seen in COM
pany with his two inseparable
friends and admirers, Geo. r. Val
landingham, city, clerk, and Al
Hensley, legislative reporter.
Col. j. Stoddard Johnston was
editor of the Woman, and the
friendly bouts between it and the
Common wealth, of which Col. A.
G. Hodges was publisher, were
sharp, crisp and racy. The two
papers were long the accepted or
gans of the Wing Tor Union) and
Democratic parties.