davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-08-04
The Quarreling Pots.

THAT tale about the earthenware pot who picked a fight with the iron pot and was then smashed to bits. is mixed in a manner that's simply ridicu- lous.
 The earthenware pot knew very well what he was about when he invited the iron pot to fight, and he didn't get the worst of the fight either. Perhaps you'd like to hear the truth of the matter.
 I'm in for A pretty hard tussle." said the earthenware pot to himself. How ever, can move twice as quickly as the heavy iron pot, and I should be able to keep out of the way"
 So he did. lodging this way and that. The iron pot didn't touch him once.
 After awhile the earthenware pot drew the other after him. toward the open door. Suddenly he leaped aside as the iron pot leaped forward. There was a great banging and changing as the iron pot rolled down the kitchen steps, then on down the grassy slope that led to the spring, where it sank to the bottom with a loud splash.
 The cook heard the noise and hastened to the kitchen. but the iron pot had all ready disappeared.
 Moral: Iris not always the stronger who wins.
 It is sad to believe that there should be so many errors in the fables.
 Whoever heard of foxes saying grapes were sour? Foxes have more sense than that. And why should bird spend an hour dropping pebbles in pitcher so that the little water at the bottom would rise to the top, when he could fly to water nearby and get a good drink. all within five minutes?
 No, sir-ee, they're all wrong-every one of 'em. Some time you and l will give them the true stories, won't we; since We saw everything that happened?
The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-08-04
Donkey and the Sponges.

YOU'VE heard about the donkey and
 his load of sponges. Once, as he was crossing a stream with a load of salt. he slipped from the blanks that served for 8 bridge. and you remem- Der that great deal of the salt was dissolved in the water and the load was made lighter. After that he slipped" often into the stream. until the driver one day loaded the wagon with sponges. Again the donkey fell into the stream on purpose. but this time the load grew heavier instead of lighter. as the sponges became soaked.
 Now. this Is all right as far as 1t goes, but the fable never tells how donkey afterward became revenged on his driver.
 The story I'm about to tell will give you all this information. It will show you, also, that a donkey knows more than you'd think.
 After the donkey was fooled with the load of sponges he became very careful. What right had the man to take advantage of him. anyway He would show him. perhaps not right away; but he would show him some tiine tndt no redi uoHAey "ooio seoho for such bullying.
 "Ahaw thought the driver to him self, T have cured the donkey of this bad habit" You and I know that he hadn't cured the donkey. al all.
 One day the driver filled the wagon with bundles of cork to take to the next village. Here is my chance." said the donkey to himself
 When he came to the stream he flung himself into the water, over turned the cart, and every bundle of cork fioated away out of the poor mans reach.
 Moral: Don't drive donkey where there are streams.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-08-04
The OK and the Frog.

The OK and the Frog. THERE was once e frog. % the
 old fable tells us, who wished ! himself as big as an ox. So he swelled and swelled until he burst. Now. this is all a mistake. as will straightway prove to you.
 A frog once sat by the side of rushy pool. CThey always call pools rushy. you know(. But he didn't sit there very long, nor is he sitting there now.
 For he heard a COW browsing near the pool. The frog looked up as he heard the swishing of her tail.
 "oh. to be big and grand like a cow!" sighed he. Then. just to keep in prac- tice. he sighed again.
 But sighing's as bad as crying over spilled milk. Besides, he had an idea: so away he hopped to find MT. Reynard. It so happened that the fox owned a bicycle. Why he should, don't know. because you and know that foxes can't ride.
 Bring out your bicycle pump" said the frog to the fox. And he said few moro things. too. can't tell you what they were. as I didn't hear them "I'll be blowed!' exclaimed Mir. Rev. inard. when the frog had finished.
 No. you won't, 1t Is who will be blowed," corrected the frog.
 ''very well. then." remarked the fox. Then he took the bicycle pump and began to pump the frog full of air. The frog was swelling up finely un- til a mischievous boy came along and threw a rock at him. Sad to relate. it hit him. and he burst just like paper bag. taft Hn1- |tsa. N4~ . Moral: Watch out for bad boys.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-08-04
The Mouse and the Lion.

YOU also remember the story of the mouse who was once spared by the lion. and who. in return for this Kindness. gnawed the cords that bound the lion as he lay in a trap.
 I should. like to think that this mouse was so noble and grateful. but really, I know better. Indeed. very likely 1t was a different mouse alto- gether that rescued the lion.
 Thix .- the true story:
 There was once a mouse Gall true stories begin this way) who was a very hungry little mouse. Of course. most mice are never hungry.
 And this little mouse wandered along the roadway. When I say wandered" l meant osay he just ran.
 After a while he smelt cheese. Most mice, you know, don't like cheese. This one, however. was different.
 All at once he came upon a lion. who lay in q trap, bound round with ropes. The ropes of the trap had been placed but a short time before the lion was caught. and before that had been used to rope together several big cheeses.
 Little mousse" said the lion. don't you want to eat these ropes? They're all made of cheese. l won't hurt you"
 So the mouse gnawed and gnawed. He soca found that the ropes weren't made of cheese, as the lion had said. They did taste good, however, and were very nice to gnaw.
 IAt last the lion was free. He thought for while as to whether or hot he should eat the mouse. but the mouse settled the question by diving head first down hole.
 Mofal:s Be sure to keep mice in the house; they might come in handy in case you want a lion set free.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-08-04
More Than a Match

TEAR a quiet English town there M lived a farmer who was tre- l mendously strong. The fame of his exploits gradually spread over All England But the farmer cared nothing for his reputation as strong man. and would far rather have been left alone.
 In another part of England was man who claimed to be the champion strong man of the United Kingdom. Hearii.a of the farmer, he decided to challenge him to contest or strength.
 The farmer was blowing in the field when the champion strong man rode up
 sir" said the champion, q am told that in you I have a rival. Will you have a trial with me"'
 Without a word. the farmer picked up his visitor and threw him bodily over the hedge, without apparent ef- fort.
 Stunned and amazed. the champion slowly arose. He did not care to test the strength of the farmer further. He had just had abundant proof "t it.
 The farmer. in the meantime. had gone quietly on with his blowing. After a while he looked up. and. seeing the champion still there. demanded: Well. what else do you want?"
 How can I get home without my horse?" asked the champion humbly. Seizing the horse. the farmer threw 1t over the hedge as he had its master Perhaps you'll leave me alone now" murmured he.
 The other rode away. acknowledge ing himself completely beaten.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-08-04
Unknown Insect.

A bishop travelling through the wilds of Canada stopped at q log cabin and chatted with the boy he found within.
 Are there any Episcopalians about here?" he asked.
 Cant say. exactly" replied the boy; "the men killed something in the barn the other day. but l don't know whether it was one of them things or not"
The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-08-04
Legend of a Noun
 tain Lake

TAR up in the mountains there lived a woodchopper with his wife and little boy.
 The little boy was a good boy and honest, but he had one bad fault. He cried at the least thing that disturbed him, no matter how small . matter it was.
 Try as she would, the mother was lin. able to break the little boy of this habit. So. at last she was obliged to hold coun- ell with the boys godmother. who was . powerful fairy.
 Leave 1t to me-" said the fairy. After tomorrow I don't think he'u cry very easily.'
 The next day the little boy was climb ins a distance above his home, when . pine cone fell and hit him on the head
 Now, the boy really wasn't hurt at all, but right away he began to cry as . hard as ever he could.
 After q while he felt . little comfort ed. and thought he would weep no mora. Then he found that he could not stop. He sobbed more loudly than ever. and
The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-08-04
Beaten by a Bellows

@ NCE upon a time there was . | French duke who was anxious O to excel every other member of the nobility living in his neighbor- hood.
 The duke really was the best hunts man. he could tell the best story and sing the best song And he could blow his hunting horn louder and longer than any one else.
 He so enjoyed winding his horn that every morning he betook himself to the highest turret of his castle. and there made himself blue in the face by his footing. j For the people who lived nearby it was torture to hear this fearful din each day. Finally a count, who lived near, hit upon a plan. He fastened a huge horn on the parapet about his castle. and stationed behind it giant blacksmith with a monster bel- lows.
 When the duke blew his horn the next morning he was greeted by . louder blast from the counts castle Try as he would. he couldn't make nearly so loud a sound as the horn blown by the bellows.
 Imagining himself beaten by some great rival, the duke would not be comforted. His spirit was crushed He pined away and at last died.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-08-04
H@ FEE, Benn's rich!"
 Wonder what he's gona 0 do with it?"

I ;. wonae. Sxs.S ,.,, what hes so"a
 ''Gosh. he's lucky, but he deserves st all" These observations came from the various members of the Bloody Rob- bers." as they gathered together in Warmers barn and talked of the old hermit. who had just died. and the large sum of money he had left to Benny.
 In the first place, Benny was a queer sort of fellow. He was a Bloody Robber." which was in itself sum cient honor Tor any one person. and he was 8 crackerjack of a baseball pitch r; but for all that. there were times when he liked to go of all by himself and get away from the rest of the fel- lows.
 Benny, too, was just as bad one way as "Peeky" Rics was the other way. "Peeky'' talked so fast and so often that you wondered how his lips could stand the strain. while Benny was mostly as solemn and gium as an owl. and had very little to say.
 It was on one of his lonely expedi- tions= to the mountain that Benny first met the hermit. South Mountain. you know. is just four miles from the town. Benny didn't mind a- little tramp like this. and many a time he journeyed thither with his fishing tackle.
 On this day he cut a pole. fastened on his line and quietly settled himself to fish on the banks of the clear stream that splashed down the noun tain side.
 Somehow, he felt restless today. and when after a half hour had passed and there was not the sign of a nibble. he pocketed his line and trudged further up the mountain side.
 An hour or so later he was exploring a part of the mountain which he had never before visited. when he came across a path. It was faint. 1t Is true, but still it was a track-of either man or beast.
 Benny stood still for moment. Could it possibly be bear track? He had heard that bears were still ito be found on South Mountain. although he had never seen one.
 He determined to so on. at any rate. Cautiously looking about him. he silent ly continued on his way. soon tne pdlh SieW Hoio oSoIe"' <> little later he came suddenly upon small clearing. in the middle of which stood neat little cabin.
 BennyA walked up to the cabin. When quite close he saw, for the first time. that a man was sitting on bench un- der the one window.
 Although dressed very roughly, he was a retined-looking old man, and greeted the lad kindly.
 Benny stopped to chat for a moment and to rest. The old man skilfully of his love for the mountains and the
The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-08-04

great tears rolled down his cheeks. ss.
 Thoroughly frightened. he tried to ruA home. but he couldn't move. Meapr ss while. he cried and cried. and the teart continued to fall around him until he stood in a puddle.
 The puddle of tears spread. and thep- grew deeper. until they rose up to hnS. neck. Had it not been for his godmoth- er the fairy. he would surely have drowned. She came in little boat and took him to shore. As soon as she touched his hand he ceased crying.
 How glad he was. "TIl never cry agsin." he declared. and he kept his word.
 People wondered how the pretty little lake could have come there so suddenly. nor could they account for the fact that its waters were so salt The little boy knew. but he was so ashamed of him. self that he never told.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-08-04
Missed Connections.

A lady stood at the railway station. waiting for her train. Beside her was a little 3-year-old daughter.
 Presently a locomotive. with its ten- der, dashed by.
 "Oh, look. mammal" cried the little one; the engine has missed its train. too"
The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-08-04

way round, as sh&Rwn in Figure 3.
 thrust through the spool a smooth stick. Have it in such position that the cardboard spiral will rest firmly on its head and the tops of the nails Thrust a pin through the stick just below the spool.
 When you spin the spool by, means of string, the spiral wing will whirl around swiftly, and then spin swift ly up through the air for quite dis tance
The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-08-04
The Truth.

Wnlie-Do people ever get punished for telling the truth. ma?
 Mother-No. Willie.
 Wnlie-Then I'd like to tell you that I took jar of jam from the pantry yesterday.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-08-04
A Strange Mistake

r DITH. dear. I know that you'll "H enjoy yourself better than ever
 1 before in your life. Your Aunt Esther Is so charming"
 With these words her mother kissed her and a moment later the train moved away. bearing Edith alone on her journey. ---- All the way to Greenville she beguiled
The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-08-04

saw in the glass?" he asked. anx- iously.
 No dear, you're my great. big man." said mother.
 Freddie wasn't afraid of the queer glasses any. more. but he never liked to stand before the little one.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-08-04

IN one end of spool or bobbin drive two>little nails without heads. See that each is the same distance from the hole and directly opposite each other.
 Cut out piece of cardboard, using Figure as a model. Make the three holes in the middle to correspond ex- actly to the hole in the spool and the two nails
 Twist the ,niecA of cardboard all the
The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-08-04
The Right Way.

Professor-Boys. never go into any thing head first. Be sure you're right. then go ahead.
 Boys-But how about a professional diver2
The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-08-04
A Little Mixed.

Teacher-"Tommy. give me some prov erb about birds"
 Tommy-"The early bird-'' Teacher-"Yes, go on." Tommy-'"rhe early bird gathers no moss"
The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-08-04
Vol for an oculist.

Oculist-Well. sonny. what can I do for you?
 Bobby-Got an eyetooth needs pull ing.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-08-04
Couldn't See Him.

Johnny, did you give the letter to the postman. as l told you tO do?''
 NO, ma Jam, cause I didn't see him until he was out of sight"
The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-08-04

There are castles in air, That we build without care Some are real, but, again, Others stand but Gin Spain"
The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-08-04

.O BUILD castles all day
 Is not work, but just play; \ Course, the castles 1 mean
 On the sea sands are seen.-
The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-08-04

Did you say. Thank you when the lady gave you a piece of cake?''
 Yes, ma: but 1t didn't do any good. She didn't give me another piece"
The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-08-04

Many castles one rears-- Some stay hours; others years, But the ones built of sand I am sure are most grand.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-05-23
The Ideal Communists.

1t would perhaps be pushing meta
phorS to an UnWarranted extreme to
speak Of dignity Of labor" in C"nn"c-
ton with the occupations Of ants. Eut
if bv the phrase Ne mean that labor IS
the hounra blc LOT oi all CitiZerS, and
that all Ialors Of whatever sort arc
rIpnn the Same level Of rcSpCCtabiliiE.
then We might venture to apply the
saving even to the lab0rS of an ant
hill. For therein all arc WORKERS, from
the newly AcdCcd callow to the vet
eran Of Il second summer.
Therein is no taboo upon "hand toll.
An forms thereof are equally credit
ablc. we arc reminded Of the simpler
sta,e of society in the pioneer daNS Of
the United States and Canada and the
British colonies. Indeed, is * the nat
urai social order OF human commune
ties, until great possessions, earned
ana Inherited. or usurpcd, create q
favored class Surely this is an ideal
repuhIic-nn idlcrs. no tramps, n"
citizCn-rarasitcs, II" miScrs. no SPEND
thrifts, ~ paupcrs,-Harp
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-05-23
e Of NYrecl,.,d Ships.

n French DoriadicaI devoted I" man !
Ii NJ. .iffajr@ dlzt,rSs,- N" question q
what i. comes of wicked shWs ANA hr-
rivys at tine conclusion that tn" NInc'n
nri,s survive a great dr.ll longer n ~
i'm, C,r st-,E ores whcD tnry either FL
come buried in beds Of sand Or c!se Sink
to the bottom Of the OCEAN.
The is ut present NJ means 81 dctcF-
r,ininr tha IcTgth If time il take for
cithr- y disint"rgrate c"mplrtrly, b1t Il
IL lup.vn that woJden vessels nave hecn
G,-- IN after centuries not Yet wholly
decayed 1t IS not believed that IRON "r
steel vcscc's can resist FOR any great
tim TIN cherrcll affecCs Of sea water
vi on 4 wooden vessel sinks TIE rate
81 orngrrSs 10 tho bottom is very slow.
1t Is iaTovad to he faster than 100 fatn-
oms in - minutcs unless she IS Laden
with some such dense and wclghiy cargo
as coal or mineral ore
Thus, wh,n she touches bottom, csnc-
cially if the material be mud or sand, tn9
IMPACT is gentle AMI no damage IS done
ii tic structure beyond what It received
~ IN, surface. Neither < there any me
cha1icaI agency 10 interfere with il. Cur
rents are h,rm,e@s and tn force Of the
1vav,.= cnasas \. comDa-aiivelv fer feet
below TIN surface. 81 tEoro ~" 'F.t'c-l
lies practically n = quiet which VIII neY-
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-05-23
UNFORTUNATE AFFAIR.
Aged Ezra Smiley Fined $40 and Costs
In Portland Court.

Charged with kicking and striking Her
bert l.. Berry, detec-lve, Ezra Smiley,
aged 70, Il venerable appearing gray
haired patriarch, was fined $40 ana costs
in court at Portland Wednesday morning
Mr.. Smiley stands about 4 feet 10 inches
III height. While Ferry IS rather a well
built young man of average height and
about 30 years of age.
Berry Claimed that Mr.. Smiley had been
a former customer Of his while lie, Berry.
was working in a barber shop at Gardi-
ner. and that prcsuming on this ac-
uuaintancesir he approached him on
Congress street, near the Preble House
Yesterday, and said: 'IIow do you do,
MI Smiley" The aged man immediately
turned on him and told him to so on
a bout his business. why, don't you
know me-" Gucricd Detective Berry. NO,
| don't" answered Mr.. Smiley; but you
were the one who was rlaSuing me III
Brown & Turner's store just now
whcrcuron he turned and kicked Mr.
Ferry With all his force and then swung
4 haymakcr at him. Mr.. Berry said that
lie had seen Mr.. Smiley in Brown d Tur-
ncr's store Just previous to this incident
ana saw some other persons who were
evidently iollying the old gentleman, but
he had said nothing to him at the time
Then Mr.. Smiley took the stand. lie
denied That lie had ever seen Ferry be-
fore Yesterday, but said that as the latter
passed him to go out of Brown & Tur-
ner's store he said: What are you ped
ding, Mr. Smiley" whcrcupon the aged
gentleman says that he replied: "I'm ped
ding things to make pretty folks ask
oucstions." Then he says Berry an
preached him again on the street ana he
told him to go about his business, and
then when Berry persisted in annoying
him lie clicked him. Berry then leaned
over and said: Your pockets are full OF
rotato hugs, old man." and then hit him
! nm in the head Mr.. Smiley tncn com
rlaincd to Patrolman Massnre who told
Berry not to plague the ola man any
more ana Ferry made complaint Of as-
sault 10 tic police station-Portland IN
IrecS
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-05-23
A Tramp in Literature.

Symon Che English pCeD ! saw very
frequently, and l might as well accuse
him right away of being my literary
godflthcr. if | may be said to deserve
one. Whether he realized it at the
time or not, it was the writer's atmOs-
phtre which he let ms into that made
ne ambitious to scribblc On my own
account.
One day he told nc that he had re
ceiVed fifteen pounds for an article for
1.-THE Fortnightly Review
"FiitcCn poundS!' l mumhlCd to my
self on the way back TO my lodgings
willy. that sum would EccI, me her" in
London over 4 month" Later, in Fer
lin. | experimental for the first TIM
with the effects Of an article BY me in
a magazine. Sylnonss wonderful
ffctccn pounds were t. blame. l sent
the paper, 4 short account Of the
American tramp to The ContCmpor-
airy Review" 1t was accepted. in z
few days / received page proofs Of the
article. and in the next number it was
published. No youthful writer ever
had his horizon more ;lmbitinuely Will
cncd than mine was when that article
Was printed and paid for. l assured
tn editor iuetlnt"r that my tramp LON
W.s inrEhauStiblc, and begged Of him
to consider o'h'r submissive '!i'H'S "'
my part III" intimlt"d in his rpl|
that SUhniE%i"h "'lS I i''a'' g|''''%' "'''
tn1t Yum" '"ht'hll '"ra'S ..l'' ~, . .,'l.
mr. It's p"%'| ~ .
his readers had had enough - tid'
subject lor thc tinc beng
The little back room in Crown Tav-
orn. near Leicester Square, where -
number Of tho young writer's IN London
conEregatod III night il my time. has
given way to much moro prct"nti"us
quarters. Symons and had got into
the habit Of taking nightly walks about
town. interrupted usually for ~ hour
at least. about half-past II at this tav-