davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Los Angeles herald., 1907-06-16

1t was our National Flag Day, and Lulu,
Tom and Oracle came home from the pa
rade full of patriotic enthusiasm. Tom
had been one of the foremost In the pa
rade, belonging to the Adams County
Boys Drill Regiment" which marched In
uniform with fife and drum. while Lulu
and Oracle had ridden in their pony cart
in the line of vehicles that followed the
regiment" The day had belonged to
the youth of Adamsyille, the parents, of
course, turning out in the morning to
watch the drill and flag display, and
many had been the compliments paid to
the youngsters, both boys and girls, on
account of their fine display Of flags and
the orderly drill and parade that took
place in the public square.
When Lulu, Tom and Oracle, very
tired, but much excited over the morn
ings celebration came home 1t wanted
an hour till dinner time. Half starved,
they sat on the big front porch to rest till
they should be called to the longed-for
meal. and to chat over the interesting
event of the morning. I'll tell you,
girls, | never did understand how q man
could be afraid when he is going into
battle 1t seems to me that the martial
music, the cheers of his comrades. the
bravery of his officers and the sense that
he is about to fight or die for his country
would urge him on and make him feel
like hero, robbing him of all thought
of fear for himself. I'm quite sure I'd
feel that way. Fight for my country;
fight till help to win victory or die In
the conflict would be my cry"
you've never been at the 'front.'
smiled Lulu. Maybe you'd feel differ
emily were you facing a row of cannon
handled by the enemy"
IF anything I'd feel all the braver and
determined to fight" boldly declared Tom.
well, perhaps my Tommy would feel
just like other boys have felt on such
occasions" said a soft, quavering voice
in the doorway, and the children looked
up to see dear old grandma standing there
with her sewing in her hands. She came
out on the porch and took the easy
chair that Tom gallantly brought for
ward for her. Then as the three grand
children gathered about her for they
loved to sit and chat with grandma-she
put her sewing in her lap, pushed her
glasses from her nose to the edge of her
soft white hair, and smiled about on the
rosy faces of her dear little ones"
II don't think I've ever told YOU chill
dren of your Great-uncle Alf's experience
during the short time he was a soldier,
have To-
"Oh, no; we've never heard about it,"
cried Tom. Tell us, granny, dear. Was
he ever in a battleF'
Grandma smiled, then began: mo. not
in a real battle with men, but engaged
In a battle with Fear, which was almost
too much for him. You see, we've never
talked much about your Great-uncle Alf's
war experiences, for he was-a deserter."
Grandma looked calmly about on the
three young faces as she gave this bit
of information ABOUT her youngest and
favorite brother, who had long since been
Los Angeles herald., 1907-06-16

One of the picnickers-a lively boy of 12-
got too near the waters edge, and in a
careless moment stepped backward ana
went tumbling into the river. He strangled,
spluttered, grasped handful of mud from
the rivers bed, and came to the top,
yelling Justify for help. Several strong
arms were out to assist him on shore; and
the accident which might have been fatal
was but a laughable incident after all,
the young picnickers declaring they had a
fine joke on their comrade, who was
obliged to go off In the woods to change
his clothes, donning what garments could
be spared by various of his boy friends
till his own should be dried hanging from
a tree limb.
But after the boys haG departed from
the picnic ground, going into hiding with
their dripping friend, one of the little
girls espied something bright cleaning
through the handful of black mud brought
up in the clenched hand of the Inflated
chap who had fallen into the river. She
took q stick and loosened the mud from
the object, and behold! there came Into
view Master Nickel.
"Oh, lookie!" cried the little GIRL who
was none other than Daisy Peck, ''see
what Sim brought up in his hand. It's
mine, for I've discovered It,"
"No, it amt" said a voice behind her,
and Daisy looked up to see Freddie stand
ing there, his eyes on the coin he had lost.
That's my Nickel and as soon as the
other boys come back from fixing Tom up
Ill prove it to you. It was Tom that lost
Los Angeles herald., 1907-06-16

/ moor bows who were possibly that night
sleeping their last sleep on the field OF
battle. / was reused from my reverie
| by soft tapping on my window-pane.
| Quickly rising, ! went to the window, and
| there 1 saw the face of my baby brother.
He was thin, pale and his eyes burned
| with a feverish light. without making
| an outcry / raised the window and had
him In my room instantly. He threw
himself on the bed, too weak to stand,
and In a hoarse whisper said: Sister,
you must hide me-I've desertedr
"For moment my heart cried out
against what thought to be the act of
a coward; but / was too much overcome
to speak just then and stood looking at
him, love, condemnation and fear battling
for the mastery of my tongue. AS l stood
there All reached out and caught hold
OF my hands. Instantly / was on my
knees beside him, sobbing on his breast
Tell me, Brother l urged, how could
you do it?
HE smiled at me and began to speak
very softly. Sister, l simply coudn' t
stay 1t was fear-FEAR-tha drove
me to do 1t. kept thinking of what
would become Of you at home-of dear
old father, of darling old mother, of you
a girl alone with a whole burden on your
back | dreamt that mother was sick
and calling for me. l saw the crops gone
to waste for want Of hands to take care
OF them. l knew there was a battle to
fight at home, a battle | had never
thought of before. Then l feared that I
might be killed-and there would be no
one to look after those at home knew
that Tom and Dan were in the very thick
est of the fight and might never come
home again. Why should my father give
all his sons? Two of the three was
enough for the country. One should re-
main with the old folks. And SO the
other night we drew up in line for a
battle the next day. Our enemy's camp
fires glowed a few miles from our own
When the sun should rise the next morn
Ing we would be ordered to advance. The
guns would be fired, the battle fought,
and l would sleep that night my last
sleep without having told you all at home
that instead of having been hero 1 had
been a coward-a coward to leave those
who needed a fghter-a hero-at home.
The thought of mother being sick, of
fathers feebleness, and your burden With
out someone to help you, was too much
for me that night. l lay under the stars
and thought and thought. At last, my
head aching, my blood on fire In my veins
decided to-to-oh, sister. l decided
to-DESERT! got up and went to
our picket lines. The night was dark
and 1 waited my chance. Pretty soon
crept on my hands and knees away from
the camp-away-fr
had to do it or 1 would have lost my
mind. 1t was not fear of fighting that
drove me to do tit was fear for the
safety Of those at home
"Alf stopped speaking here, and fell
over into a faint. l called our parents
into my room. l shall not try to tell you
of their mingled feelings; but over all
there was a prayer of thankfulness from
our mothers lips that once more she held
her baby boy to her breast.
But the dear boy who had come home
to us under such circumstances did not
Los Angeles herald., 1907-06-16

prevailed upon him to stay at home and
help with the work on the farm. But
day by day ALI became more and more
restless. The spirit of war seemed to be
ever upon him. He talked Of nothing but
war and the Union. One day he came
creeping into my room. his face pale, his
eyes unusually bright. Coming to me he
bent over my chair and whispered In
my ear: Sister, I've got to gol My help
is needed to win the victory. Every boy
and man should now be ut his post.
can't stay here and plow and SOW and
reap when the din of battle Is ringing
forever in my ears. You must explain 1t
to our father and mother. l can't make
them understand; maybe you cam Well,
before could scarcely get it through
my head that our young Alf really meant
to go he was gone. He left home at
night without word of good-by, for he
dreaded the pain of such parting and
wanted to spare us as well as himself.
well, l told my parents the best 1
could. but the blow was a hard one, In
deed. Three sons-and not one left to
help the old father who was getting
feeble. Three boys-al gone to shoot other
boys, or be shot themselyes My mother
broke rapidly under this last shock, be-
coming Ill through anxiety over her boys
especially over Alf, whom she knew was
far from rugged and would doubtless sue
cumh to the army Drivations and hard
Los Angeles herald., 1907-06-16
BY MAUD WALKER.

Master Nickel was not a boy, nor a
man; nor was Master Nickel he"
Master Nickel had no sex nor legs nor
hands nor feet nor head! But Master
Nickel was most important in the eyes
more especially In the pockets!-of little
boys. Master Nickel, then, was nothing
more than a flve-cent piece. But Master
Nickel's many experiences are worth tell
ing to the little boys and girls, for he
lived with the small folk of the land
mostly. OF course, he sometimes got into
the possession of a grown-up, but he did
not stay so very long. Grown-ups have
such small regard for nickels in general,
and this one in particular, for he was
worn quite smooth and had no great
value in the eyes of adults. (Now, 1
must beg the little readers pardon for
speaking Of Master Nickel as the mascu-
line gender, since 1 just said he was not
a ''he." But l find the story easier to
tell If l use a personal pronoun, and the
masculine gender seems to fit Master
Nickel better than does the feminine, for
he had often such hard knocks and
tough" experiences that were / to call
him ''she' it would make the reader
shudder sometimes Therefore you will
pardon my use Of the masculine pronoun
employed in speaking of Master Nickel.
He could not remember the time when
he first came into the world, but there
was a date printed on one of his sides
that told you he was pretty old for so
little a thing. He did remember, though,
the first real admirer he ever had. This
admirer became in q short time his chum,
confiding all his plans and great inten-
tions. But some of these plans meant
the expenditure of Master Nickel. This
was a very unpleasant thing for him to
contemplate, too, since he had grown so
fond of his owner. The owner, admlrer
and chum was small Tim O'Toole, an
Irish laddie of 10. Small Tim had no
other money, so Master Nickel held full
dominion in the greasy pocket that had a
little hole in 1t. But this hole had been
duly tied shut with a bit of string, so
that Master Nickel might not be in dan
ger of falling out.
"Ah, you fine feller," said Small Tim
to Master Nickel one day. "I'm glad me
dad give you to me. You're the furst
nickel I ever had, an I mean ter spen'
Los Angeles herald., 1907-06-16
BY HELENA DAVIS.

ships. The days passed most miserably
for us-the old father, too feeble to look
after the farm; the old mother, sick
through anxiety over her boys, and I, the
only daughter, too helpless to do any
thing but pray for those at home and
those on the field of battle, and to attend
the housework with what heart l could
command
Several months went by without a
word from Alf. We could not locate him,
though we tried hard to do so. Occa-
sonal letters came from Thomas and Dan,
but they did not know where their baby
brother was. (Alf being the youngest
child of the family we always alluded to
him as the baby brothero.
Now the conflict between the North
and the South was growing more and
more terrible The news Of great bat
ties and loss of life came to us regu-
larry, causing my mother to become more
and more i'll and my father to grow more
feeble. The summer was fast waning,
and the crops were all garnered, though
we had met with dreful losses on account
of having so little help. Deep gloom
hung over our house, for l felt that All
was dead, and although I never limited
at my sorrowful conviction | could read
the same fear in my parents faces
"One night in the early fall l was ly-
ing in my bed awake. thinking of the
Los Angeles herald., 1907-06-16

get out Of his bed for three months. The
shock to his nerves had been too much.
Kind neighbors came to help nurse him
back to life, keeping their lips sealed
about him until the terrible conflict of
war was over. But even after peace once
more reigned In this beautiful land of
ours my brother ALI did not recover his
health, though he was able to 60 about
the farm and visit the neighbors. And
when the SHOWS of winter fell in the year
'65 ALI again took to his bed to never
leave 1t In the body. In the spring we
laid him to rest, and we praised our
great Creator that the dear boy had come
home to us to die, and that he had not
fallen on the field of battle with that
fear in his heart, that fear for his dear
ones; but not fear of battle. While some
might call him a deserter those who knew
him and understood him called him a
hero"
Grandma wiped tear from her eye as
she finished the story; and as they rose
to go In to dinner. Tom, with his arm
about the dear old lady's waist whis-
pered: I'm glad you told me the story
of Great-uncle Alf 1 had never thouht
of-that side of 1t before. Well never
speak of him as IA deserter, granny
dear. He was-a-HERO."
Los Angeles herald., 1907-06-16

when we git back this evenin'."
Away they went to the river. There
they found several of the town boys,
rods in hand, fishing. But all stopped
to examine Master Nickel who was the
pride of Freddie's heart
Gee, it's an old oner' said one small
fisherman, polishing Master Nickel on his
sleeve. Cant hardly see his year.
But he's worth five cents" declared
Freddie.
Not when he's as slick as this" Pro-
tested the small fisherman.
whats sickness got to do with Its
value?' asked an older boy. Here, toss
him to me an leave me look at it. 1
know good money
Freddie tossed Master Nickel toward
the big boy. but, sad TO tell. the slip
perry little fellow went wide the mark
and fell, splash! into the water. A cry
from Freddie rent the air. All the boys
cried OH for they realized the great
loss Freddie had suffered.
Gee" said the big boy, you can't
toss straight. can you? 1t was your
fault 1t went in the water"
1T wasn't walled Freddie, proving
himself a girl by crying. Il tossed
straight, but you don't know how to
catch. You've lost me my nickel, an you
ort to have to give me anuther one"
Yep, that's right" asserted Sim, his
heart beating with sympathy for his sor-
rowing friend. Besides, had not Freddie
promised that -Sim-should help to
spend the coin that evening after their
return to town?
And so Master Nickel lay in the cold
water, seven feet from its surface. He
Los Angeles herald., 1907-06-16

pocket. Where did you get 1t, and
how much did you pay for it?"
II got it down at the postofflce store
and l give FIVE cents for it," answered
Freddie, spinning the new top on the
sidewalk.
''I'll give you a nickel for IT," said
the little girl. And she produced Master
Nickel from the folds of her apron.
Freddie Spinner was not anxious to sell
his top, but after a little bargaining he
decided to let the little girl have it If
she would promise to allow him to spin
1t few minutes every day. The little
girl (whose name was Daisy Peck) glad
" promised Freddie the pleasure he asked
Tor and the exchange was made, Daisy
getting the top and Freddie pocketing
Master Nickel. But with the nickel in
his possession Freddie soon departed from
Dalsy's gate and went OFF In quest of
something to buy. Like Daisy Freddie
could not keep money without its burn
Ing his hands. He was running toward
the Racket" store, where fve-cent
counter held all that was dear to a boys
heart, when he met Sim Brown, q boy
of his own size.
himself starting to the river with
fishing rod over his shoulder.
Coin to the Racket" said Freddie.
I've got nickel to spend!"
"Where'd you git it?" asked Sim, all
interest
sold my new top what bought yesN
te'day to Daisy Peck fer it." explained
Freddie. not very careful about his gram
mar. But Sim cared as little for gram
mar as did Freddie and understood him
perfectly.
AN where'd you git the fust nickeI?'
Sim questioned.
Earned it packing water to ole Miss
Anderson's garden" said Freddie. "But,
see!' and he lovingly held Master Nickel
up to view. I'm goin' to buy some
thin now. Want to come long with
me?"
Say, why don't you go fishin' with
me fust; then when we come back well
spend the nickel together" suggested
Sim. "See, I've got lots of bait" And
he held open his pocket, displaying to
the admiring eyes of Freddie a wrig.
Cling mass of angle worms.
"All right" agreed Freddie. ''Well
go fshin' furst. I'll git somethin' great
Los Angeles herald., 1907-06-16

1t for me. I tossed it to him as he sat
there ON the bank, an he missed catching
it. So 1t went into the river. But as he's
been kind enough to fall in an bring 1t up
clenched in his fist I hain't got no more
fault to find with him. But the nickels
mine, all right"
And owing to the evidence brought to
bear in the case, Daisy relinquished all
claim to Master Nickel, who once more
became the property Of Freddie.
"say, well all have a treat orf'n It,"
said Freddie, in burst of generosity.
''We'll all go to the Drug Store and git
big dish of holky -poky an go outside on
the sidewalk an divide 1t amongst us.
What you all say to that?"
"Grand!" cried the little girls in one
voice.
And Master Nickel knew his fate.
Again he was to commence his wander
ings from hand to hand, from pocket to
pocket, from drawer to drawer, till at
last he should be so worn that none
would accept him in payment. Then what
would become of him?
Los Angeles herald., 1907-06-16
Ling Loo, and the Giant

Little Ling Loo
Found giants shoe:
The shoe was broad and deep.
Ling Loo got inside
And did gayly ride
Across the ocean deep.
Los Angeles herald., 1907-06-16

shone brilliantly though, and attracted
the little fishes that came swimming that
way. They would stop in their frolic to
examine the quaint, round glistening
thing and to nibble at its hard edges.
they would swim away, laughing and
chatting together about the funny new
stone that had come into sight in their
realm.
So the months went by and Master
Nickel still lay in the bottom of the river.
One day picnic crowd-boys and girls
came to the messy bank that shaded the
very spot where he was. They spread a
cloth and had their basket-dinner there,
laughing and chatting beneath the trees
that furnished them with such fine shade.
Los Angeles herald., 1907-06-16

To an isle he went
On adventure bent,
As he sailed in the giants shoe.
So he landed awhile
On the bonny isle,
For he'd nothing else to do
While he rested there
In the fresh night air
A step was heard hard by.
Ling Loo took peep
Up the mountain steep;
Then, frightened, began to cry.
For a giant strobe
Der the mountain road,
Coming straight towards little Ling Loo.
And one foot was bare
As it cleft the air,
For the giant wore but one shoe.
"Ah. hal" hit cried,
When Ling Loo he spied,
Little chap, you've got my shoe.
But, come, dry your eye;
You needn't cry!
For I'll tell you what I'll do.
'I'll let you stand
On my outstretched hand;
1t will bridge the ocean deep.
Then, when l say Col
Be ready, you know,
To make the home-stretch leap"
Los Angeles herald., 1907-06-16

believed himself to have undisputed sway
In all things, the reins of Caroline guided
him without his knowledge.
Toward middle life Caroline became
sufferer from gout in its worst form,
but, not wishing to be held in contempt
by her husband she would bear her pain
without a murmur, sitting in the midst
Of her ladies and gentlemen of the court
and conversing as though she were in
the best Of health. And, again, on occa-
sions she would plunge her leg and foot
into ice-cold water to lay the infiamma-
ton and pain for the time being that she
might take long walks in the company Of
the King.
Caroline was born in the year 1888 and
died In 1877.
MARY GRAHAM
Los Angeles herald., 1907-06-16
KNNW HIs sIIRIncr

One day a party Of boys were discussing
great men Of the past. One chap spoke
in glowing terms OF Daniel Webster, the
great dictionary man." and friend. wish.
Ing to correct him, whispered from he.
hind his ear: 'It wasn't Daniel. n wa.
Noah that wrote the dlctionary,5 where.
upon the. speaker, with a scornful LOOK
whispered IN answer: Noah built the
ARK, you ld1ot.N
The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1907-07-06
(ourtney'S Full Vamp Shoes

for Men, Women and Children, and
when you purchase a pair of Shoes
made by these people you can rest as
sured that you are getting full value
for your money. Full Vamp mean hon
esty, or in other words, the leather is
not cut out under the tips, as in other
shoes. Cutoff vamps shorten the life
of any shoe. You can't tell when they
are going to snap. What's the use Of
taking a chance when you can get
Courtney's Shoes for no more money
than you pay for the mutilated kind?
Call and let us show you how Full
Vamp saves you money.
Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1907-08-02
TIE plERROT COLLAR,

There is q little collar now in fashion
which has beer suggested by those
worn by Pierrots on fete days of
France. 1t is made of linen. gathered
into a ruff about three inches wide.
n then is tackled to a bodice or jacket
somewhere between the neck and
shoulder. On exclusive" summer suits
the Pierre collar is quite the newest
feature.
As a rule. these suits have first a flat
collar Of the goods, rather round in
shape and under which the Pierrot coll
lar Is basted. 1t Is never sewed tightly
10 the Jacket. because it is frequently
taken off for the purpose of laundering.
Extra Pierrot collars are sometimes
supplied with a suit.
The edge of this collar is finished with
hemstitching or ii is bordered with very
narrow lace. This latter should, IL pos
sible, be real.
The Pierrot collar seems TO be re-
garded as indicative of many things.
Its quality and fineness are scanned
much as IL 1t were a handkerchief. III
fact. for summer evening wraps Ii ia
being made entirely OF the finest real
lace, duchess or Venetian rose being
zone too good for this pert little collar
The women to whom the Pierrot col
lar & most becoming are those with
broad shoulders. IL ~ not at all desir-
able for women WHOSE shoulders would
slope down from under it's jaunty full
ness. II appears nm many summer
blouses. particularly those Of plaid
silks.
Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1907-08-02

this new Brothers company will DO
swamped with It,"
And them"
More than 5000 poor people, for the
most part old. will find that the savings
OF a lifetime have vanished into moth
ingness before their eyes. 1t Is an awful
thing even to think uch a suspicion
against a man. but the idea is growing
upon me. and Theodore Shelf saw what
! thought when he showed me out of
his brougham this afternoon
Then what asked the girl In a
horri6ed whisper, will you do?"
Nothing. What can l do? To
breathe a word OF 1t aloud would be
a libel, and If i did not get sent to Jail
they would pack me off TO Hanwell as
a malicious mailman. Shells name il
as good as a banknote in the city this
day. and for everybody's sake i trust
/ have wronged him foully, and that it
may always continue so. But. Amy,
dear, | haye a heavy foreboding on me
that in less than half a years time
there will be a mob OF wretched people
shooting themselves or going to the
w~orkhouse because he has ruined them.
and they haven't the pluck or the thews
left TO m life afresh."