davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Los Angeles herald., 1907-06-23

sitting on a bench where a few sun
shafts stole to them over a tall building,
would tell them of her own childhood
home in sunny Italy. And she would also
tell them of the trees, flowers, fields. that
abounded in this great country, if one
but had the money to go where they
were. But alas, they never had the
small change to pay for street car ride,
consequently could never plan on getting
out of the city to rest their eyes on the
clear sky above them and the green fields
about them and the rivers and creeks
flowing so merrily by.
But the summer had come on with all
its terrible heat; men and horses drop
ping dead from 1t In the streets-even
under "the elevated" where the shadows
ever hung like veil of gloom. And
many terrible tragedy of the summer
heat did little Artie and Bessie see from
their window. And many a sigh they
heard from their mothers lips as she
tolled and toiled to keep starvation from
their door.
Los Angeles herald., 1907-06-23

don't know that papa isis kllledT asked
Artie, his eyes wondering.
"No, guess they still think him alive"
said the mother. ''But 1 must not stop
to talk, dear; I've got to make the rent
this week while work Is flush. As soon as
the hot weather is over It will get slack"
And the tired mother rose and went to
her machine.
As they sat on the floor by the window
Artie whispered to Bessie: "a fairy just
whispered to me-a fairy from the sky
that / should 60 out and find my grand
father and tell him about our papa"
But how can you go to the Great
Country" asked Bessie.
81 think I'll find him in the street-our
grandpapa Somehow, the fairy just now
told me to go into the street and find
him." And Artie rose and left the room.
putting up warning finger to Bessie and
whispering her to say nothing about 1t
to their mother.
"I'll be back before supper time" he
conflded on slipping out through the open
door.
In a few minutes Artie had gained the
street, with its dense throng and insuf-
ferably humid atmosphere. He went
toward the corner, scanning everybody he
met, for he felt that he was soon to find
his grandfather.
But the crowd passed the little boy by,
not one stopping to ask why he searched
the faces of all old men he happened to
see. Pretty soon, to Artie's astonish-
ment. he found himself near to the little
park-or open square-where his mother
often went with him and his sister on
Sunday afternoons. Feeling that breath
of the air in the park would revive him,
tbo oil In IN n
bench near the entrance. Soon he became
absorbed In the play of the many chill
dren who came there from the close tene-
ment houses nearby. Some were playing
tag" and others rolling balls and mar
bles. Artie was on the point of asking TO
be allowed to join In game of ''toss and
catch when an old mans voice fell on
his ear. Turning, he saw that a stranger
had taken the end of the bench he sat
on-a stranger with white hair and beard
and the complexion and general appear
ance of a countryman. He wrote a long
linen ulster and held on his knee the
proverbial carpet bag" of the rural dis
tricts Artie was all attention, for the
old man seemed to take hold of his very
heart. He was mumbling to himself In
dazed way and referring to bit of solled
paper that resembled an old letter.
"Ah,' he was muttering. strange l
No. 132 Dash street. But they say at
that place they never heard of such a
person. that the present family has lived
there two years. Well. and at the box
factory they say he left there long, long
time ago, was discharged on some slight
offense. So, in the five years since he
last wrote me he has become lost In this
great city. But it was my fault-all my
fault!''
The old man refolded the letter and
placed 1t gently in his breast pocket,
then closed his eyes wearily as If to
shut out the sight of the noisy crowds
about him. Artie's heart was a-6utter
He slipped along the bench to the side
of the old man. and, touching his hard
ened, wrinkled hand, said: Are you
looking for your son. Mr.. Old Gentle
man?"
The old man jumped nervously from
the shock of the child's touch and voice.
Los Angeles herald., 1907-06-23
BY MAUD WALKER.

Now, Toddles," said mama, tying
Toddles' broad straw hat on his pretty
curly poll, you are going to the park to
play for an hour or 80. Grandmama will
accompany you, and You must be very
good and obey her in everything. And,
above all things, don't outwalk dear
grandmama. She is too old to keep pace
with your sturdy little legs
"All right, mama," said Toddles, lift
ing up his rosebud mouth to be kissed.
''I'll be tareful TO not walk 200 fas' for
gramma, an I'll do jus whatever she
tells me to"
Then down the steps leading to the
pavement went little Toddles Brown, his
chubby hand In the slender, aged hand of
his grandmother who was leading him.
Toward the beautiful park, full of
grassy plots and tall, green trees, they
went, Toddles asking questions c5out
everything in sight and grandmama an
swering them untiringly. They were firm
friends, these two, little Toddles and
grandmama.
After entering the park grandmama
sought a shady seat neaf the children's
romping ground, and turning Toddles
loose bade him to run and jump and roll
about in the soft grass.
Soon Toddes became acquainted with
a little boy a bit older than himself
Their introduction came about In this
way: Toddles lost his hat while running
Los Angeles herald., 1907-06-23

pened not to have baby girl on hand?
Then would you like brother? I think
II brother would be very, very nice, for
he'd grow up to play with you"
And on rainy days I would not get
lonely for somebody to play wifi me-"
said Toddles. ''rhat would be ever so
nice, gramma. Maybe I'd like a baby boy
better AN baby girl. Sposen we write
for boy baby, then, gramma? I'm sure
I'd like him."
"Well let's sit down and talk 1t over"
said Grandmama, leading Toddles to a
bench that stood under a tree near by.
Now, suppose we Just ask the stork to
bring us a baby-either q boy or girl.
Don't you think that would be better
than specifying which kind you want?"
And Grandmama took a piece Of paper
and a pencil from her purse preparatory
to writing a letter to a stork.
Yes. gramma, JUS say this: 'Mr.
Stork, will you be kind 'nough to bring
a bahy-any ole kin'-to me? I'd like
a girl. If you have one handy; but II
they're all looked by other people. JUS
please bring me boy. Or. IL you amt
got no boy handy, Mr.. Stork, bring me
two twins. oh. yes. bring me two
twinsn"
Hereupon Grandmama smiled as she
wrote, and Toddles noting the smile.
said: what you lRughin' fer, gramma?
Amt twins the mex best after a boy or
n girl?"
well. I'm not so sure about asking
for two at once" said grandmama, shak-
ing her head. I'm afraid the stork
might think you selfish in asking for
more than one. OF course, we might add
postscript, saying that If there CHANGED
to be two babies on hand that were not
ordered they would be most joyously re-
ceived at the home of Archibald John
Brown"
''oh, that's the way we'll do 1t. gram
ma," exclaimed ToGdles. You write
that to the end OF the letter. And
Toddles sat smiling as grandmama wrote
put the letter." asked Toddles after his
grandmother had finished writing. ''Shall
we drop it in the mail box by our house,
grammar
"oh, I'll attend to posting the letter.
Toddles," Grandmama assured him. I'VE
must not drop 1t in the mail box, though.
The stork might never get 1t that way.
Wen place it under the hedge near the
park entrance, for the stork Seems to
be in the habit OF coming here often. and
his quick eye will detect the letter ad-'
dressed to him."
This manner of posting the letter to
the stork pleased Toddles, and with his
own little hands he took the folded sheet
of paper and hid 1t safely under the
hedge near the entrance to the park.
Then he and Grandmama went home.
having spent most of the afternoon in
the park.
The following morning, just as Tod
dies was opening his blue eyes after
their nights sleep, Grandmama came
softly into his room. A smile wreathed
her face as she sat on the edge OF Tod
dies bed. do you remember the letter
to the stork. ToddlesT' she asked, after
having kissed her little grandson good
morning
"oh, yes'm, gramma," cried Toddles
do you spose the stork got itf'
"He certainly did," answered Grand
mama, patting Toddles' rosy cheek "If
you'll come to mamas room you'll see
there the dearest. blue-eyed baby girl in \
the world. And she's Toddles' sister.
too"
"oh-h,hw And Toddles leaped from
Los Angeles herald., 1907-06-23

then opening his dim eyes he looked
Artie over carefully. why, sonny, you
nre the living image Of my boy when he
was little shaver. You've the same
eyes, hair, nose and chin-only you look
sickly and he was healthy and as rosy
az an apple. What Is your name, ladr'
arthur Atkinson, and my papa's name
was Thomas Atkinson. His father lives
on farm that lies In a big valley bor.
dering on a beautifl lake. Nj grand
papa, you know; and he got angry be-
cause my papa married my mama. But
If my grandfather could only know how
good my mama is he would not hate
her; he would love her very much. Ever
since my papa was killed.
The aged man leaped to his feet.
''Killed?' he gasped. Then he sank to
the park bench, low moan escaping his
lips. "Oh, too late, too late to find my
boy"
But not too late to find his children
and their poor mama," said a little voice
beside him. And Artie's hand crept into
the big. hard hand of his grandfather.
Half an hour later Artie went slowly
up the many stairs to his own home.
leading an old man whose hair and
oedru were While anu Wno tdiheu Bently
to the little boy who guided him. And
few minutes later the old man was
talking in the most affectionate way to
Artie's mother and sister, saying every
few minutes: Eyes, my dears, you must
go home with me tomorrow. Away from
this heat and want. away from the city
that killed my boy, to the country where
you shall all find home and love await
ing you. l came to fetch my son, but
am too late: but l hear his pleading in
the voice of this little boy; he is say
ing, Father. take my wife and babies
and protect and love them. For my
sake, father, do this And by all that's
holy, l mean to do 1t, too"
And that is how Artie and Bessie
found the Great Country and the Great
Woods, and best Of all, a good grand
father and grandmother, who took them
to their hearts and loved them.
Los Angeles herald., 1907-06-23

week-think of 1t! And then he said 1
should quit work and stay at home with
the baby and keep our fiat of three rooms
neat and clean. And soon the stork
brought our Bessie. She was so pretty
that we decided to keep her to play with
you. Your papas wages were raised to
SIS week. oh, we lived so grand, with
nice clothes to wear on Sundays and car
fare to go to Central Park and to Coney.
Then the trouble camel Your poor dear
papa fell down an elevator shaft and
was-brought-
Artie felt his eyes getting dim as his
mother finished the story, the story that
always made her cry so long and so
deeply. Then, as she kept her hands
pressed over her eyes little Artie bent
over her, saying: Some day I'll be big
and strong like papa and I'll earn $15-
SIS a week, ana we'll go to Central Park
and Coney of Sundays; and-and, listen,
mama, we'll go to the Great Woods in
the country-wherever they are-and stay
a long, long time"
Los Angeles herald., 1907-06-23

Il mean Archibald John Brown"
At the Zoo Toddles found heaps and
heaps of things to enjoy. Yes, James
Arthur Franklyn had spoken the truth.
There were babies everywhere. And how
their mothers, all Gagged or fenced, did
love and caress them. "Why, grammu
they are JUS like peoples, amt they?"
said Toddles, watching the buffalo mama
washing her baby with her long, pink
tongue. But, say, gramma, how could
a stOrk-One stork-carry all these babies
here7"
oOh. he brought one at time" ex-
planned Grandmama. "And the stork al
ways has assistants during the busy sea-
son." she went on. Now, one stork
could not carry the baby elephant, you
know, so he had to call in two or three
others to help him. Then, on the other
hand, one stork could bring half a dozen
baby monkeys; they're so tiny, you
know"
well. do the same storks what brung
the baby animals to their mamas bring
the baby boys and girls to their mamas?"
Toddles asked, his eyes full of eager in
quiry.
81 think they are the same storks,"
nodded Grandmama Yes, on second
thought, I'm sure they are"
Then why don't they bring a little
JDdOy girl 10 our mousse aSkeu ToddleS.
1--WE don't live so very far from the Zoo.
Would we have to write and ask stork
to bring what we want?"
II think that would be the better plan,"
answered Grandmama. "If we trusted 1t
to just wishing for a baby the storks
might not catch our wish, you know.
But, dear. do you want baby slster?'
"Shore," declared Toddles. "I'd ruther
have one than kite or-or-a automo-
bile. reckon. Anyway, I'd ruther have
one than-than-a boy baby. You see,
gramma. l want to be mama's only boy.
An / don't want no uver boy. Seer
the stork-on getting your letter-hap-
Los Angeles herald., 1907-06-23

But I've told you, Artie, that your
fathers people were very angry with him
for marrying me. They wanted him to
marry girl who would fall heir to n
great and beautiful farm adjoining their
own. Then some day your papa would
have the whole valley along the side Of
a big lake, for his own fathers farm and
the girls farm would become one II the
two young people became husband and
wife. But your papa grew tired of the
country and determined to seek his for
tune in the city. And so 1t came about
that he never went back after marrying
me- for his father was very angry with
him and wrote him to stay away. OF
course your papa was too proud to go
begging to his parents. He had done
nothing wrong, and he felt they had done
him great injustice. After his death
l could not write to his people about it,
for l did not know where they lived.
Your papa had destroyed every letter
from them after the Misunderstanding.
Then my grandpapa and grandmama
Los Angeles herald., 1907-06-23

be heard over the rumble of street noises
and the clatter of their mothers sewing
machine, they began longing to get out
into the world-into the open somewhere.
They had heard fairy tales Of great forests
that grew in the world away from the
city; they had heard fairy tales of noun
tains and waterfalls. of winding streams
where fishes swan and played in the
sunshine that sparkled on the clear wa
ter. They had heard fairy tales of
homes-blg and comfortable, where plenty
to eat and to wear were tucked away in
valleys, with gardens full Of flowers and
vegetables and trees full Of fruit. all
about them.
And it was their poor. tired mother
who had told them of these wondrous
thingsl Often on Sundays she would take
them to a little square, where a few trees
grew and where plots of grass were
hemmed in from the chlldren's feet, and,
Los Angeles herald., 1907-06-23
Queens Of England

Sophia Charlotte-or Charlotte Sophia,
as some historians designate her-was the
queen consort of George ILL.,. king
of Great Britain and ireland. She was
born at Meckleburg-S g-Strelitz May 16, 1744.
While but a child Charlotte showed great
aptitude in learning and was devoted to
her studies. In later years she became
one of the most cultured princesses In
Europe.
According to various biographers George
III. fell in love with her through read
ing one of her letters. which displayed
most noble and brilliant mind. However
that may be. It is a fact that the match
was one of love-
When Charlotte became Georges bride
she was in her seventeenth year, and all
.ngland paid her most gracious homage.
On arriving in England the young queen
began the study of the English language,
the King aiding Fer all that he could by
reading to her from the best English au-
thors.
Charlotte Sophia was prudent, we'll
informed, charitable and of a sweetly do
nestle mind" says one historian. But
she had her little failings, for 1t was said
Of her that ''she was fonder of diamonds
than the Queen of France. and of snuff
than the King Of Prussia" She was the
mother of nine sons and six daughters,
two of whom die0 in early infancy. In
speaking of her motherly solicitude one
bographer has the following TO say:
"One day lady OF high rank said to
III Queen: My children must be doing
well. for they have plenty of servants to
attend them The Queen quickly ex-
claimed: What! do you leave. them en-
tirely to attendants? l dare not do so,
for it is impossible that servants, how
parent"
For some years before the Queens de-
Los Angeles herald., 1907-06-23

One afternoon when the heat wns so in
tense that their mother was forced to
quit work till she might rest from sheer
exhaustion Artie went to her side as she
lay on their poor bed. Say, mama, tell
me again of my father. l love to hear
about him. He was whole American,
wasn't he? And you are whole Italian,
aren't you? And that makes Bessie and
me half an half. doesn't it7" the little
fellow quer1ed.
The mother smiled. though almost too
weary to do so. Yes, dear child" she
replied. 81 was brought to America when
/ was little, like you are. grew up
working In box factory. There met
your papa; he was one of the bosses, and
he showed me every favor he could. We
were married when l was 16. Then soon
after you were born your papa lost his
job. He was out of work a long time. Then
he got II good place Mt big wages-$15 a
Los Angeles herald., 1907-06-23

the bed at one bound "a baby sisteri
oh-h-h. how gran, srammal I'll run
an see her this minute. An tomorrow
I'll take her to the park VIII me an In
terduce her to James Arthur Franklyn,
too. You know II it hadn't been for
him we never would have thought of
writing to the stork. for it was him at
tole us about all the babies at the zoo
at the stork had brung there. So, James
Arthur Franklyn mus see an play VIII
my new sister what the stork brung las
night
And Toddles toddled on toward his
mothers room to welcome his new sis
ter that the stork had so generously
brought In response to bis letter of the
previous day.
But to Toddles' great disappointment
Los Angeles herald., 1907-06-23

Bessie had come to the bedside and was
listening with all the seriousness of her
six years. "Yes, mama,' she said, gent
ly, stroking her mothers face lovingly;
''We'll go to the Great Country where
there are birds and flowers and--and-
fairies, too, when bruver gifts big and
strong and works like papa did for SIS
week. And you'll have n nice white
shlrtwaist with lace on 1t, and I'll have
a big doll what opens its eyes and crys
II ! squeeze it. And bruver will have
have--a pair of roller skates"
Not when I'm big like papa" declared
Artie. "I'll be a man. Then turning to
his mother, he continued: why don't
we, ever go to papa's fathers house? It's
in the country, where there is grass a.
plenty and great big fields. Papa used to
tell you all about 1t when / was baby,
and said when he got some money laid
up we should all go there to visit"
Los Angeles herald., 1907-06-23
Beheaded Words.

My first is a fruit that grows In the
North. Behead and get part of your own
anatomy.
My second Is the name of. a glrly Be
head and get the name Of a sport enjoyed
by lovers of horse flesh.
My third is the name of a black bird.
Behead and you'll have an exercise much
enjoyed by people during the summer.
Ny fourth Is a piece of furniture. Be
head and obtain part of your own head.
Los Angeles herald., 1907-06-23

he learned that many months must pass
before the new baby sister could 90 to
the park to meet James Arthur Frank
lyn, but In the meantime he was per-
mitted TO invite that worthy young man
to his home to see the little sister who,
as Toddles expressed it, >.'belonged partly
to James Arthur Franklyn."
Los Angeles herald., 1907-06-23
HOW He Would Get Even.

A contractor on a large public building
had a hod-hoisting machine put In to do
the work Of the hod-carriers. The follow
ing morning one of the discharged hod-
carriers came to watch the machine work.
tractor, saying: "Yep, it's ali right to
carry bricks and mortar, but 1t can't
vote."'
Los Angeles herald., 1907-06-23

mise-which occurred in 1s1S-the King
lost his mind and became a most pitiable
object to behold. This caused the Queen
to spend her last years CT sickness in
Los Angeles herald., 1907-06-23

constant worry and grief. Her lord and
King survived her two years, his mind
still clouded at his death.
MARY GRAHAM
Washington State journal and Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1906-1907, 1907-04-10
GREAT NORTHERN is
FINED FOR REBATINC

Minneapolis, MINI. Agreeing to a
stipulation of facts in fifteen counts
involving illegal rates, the Great North
ern Railway company was today found
guilty and fined $4,000 by Judge Page
Morris in the federal district court.
This handling of the case is to facilit-
ate an appeal by the railroad to the
federal circuit court of appeals upon
the question whether it is possible to
bring prosecutions under the Elkins
law on charges which defendent alleges
are covered in the new Hepburn law.
With the appeal in view, the court
proceedings today were perfunctory.
The rebate cases against the Chicago,
St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha railroad
were taken up by the court following
the disposition of the Great Northern
matter.
Washington State journal and Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1906-1907, 1907-04-10
GREEN LIGHT
FOR SAFETY
That's q Feature Of the New Railway
Signal Code.

The white light, SO long the signal or
sign of saftey in the signal code Of
American railroads, is soon to give way
to the green light, states a San Fran
cisco report. The General Managers
association, representing all the steam
roads in the country, favors the change.
The general managers have adopted a
new code which is attracting much at
tention among operating officials, al
most all of whom are convinced that it
insures greater degree of saftey than
the one at present used, and it is be-
lieved that it will soon be universally
adopted by the railroads.
The three colors in the new code are
red, green and yellow. Red means
danger ahead and commands the engi-
neer to stop instantly; yellow is a
cautionary signal, warning the engi-
neer to bring his train to a stop,
signifying that there is train in the
block ahead of the one he is entering,
and green signifys that everything is
Washington State journal and Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1906-1907, 1907-04-10

clear and that he may proceed at full
speed. In the old code white served
the purpose.
Many of the accidents in the past, II
is said, have resulted from broken
glass in the signal lamps, the red glass
in the signal box being broken and the
shattered pieces had fallen out, display
ing the white light or natural flame.
This led tht engineer to believe that
the track was clear and he proceeded
at full speed and crash resulted.
Under the new system this light
would have indicated nothing else than
that he should stop his train as none of
the three code colors were displayed,
and the same would be indicated il
either of the other two colored glasses
should be broken.
Many times yellow has reddish
cast and tc the eye of the engineer
may frequently appear to be danger
signal, in which event he would bring
his train almost to stop before dis
covering the difference. This mistake
would always be on the side of safety,
thus increasing the value of the code.
The yellow then, is only in degree
less significant than red. for il means
that there is train one block ahead
instead of in the same block
Washington State journal and Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1906-1907, 1907-04-10
Finds His Son a Burglar.

TRYON, Neb.-R. Kempthorne, a
rancher, captured burglar in his house
few miles west of here the other
night, and in the morning discovered
he had caught his own son, Benjamin,
who disappeared mysteriously 20 years
ago.
Kempthorne found the man leisurely
going through the drawers of dresser,
stuck a revolver under his nose, and,
with the aid of the hired man, tied him
up. The prisoner was locked up in an
outhouse, and Kempthorne intended to
turn him over to the sheriff.
When he looked in on the man, who
was asleep upon the floor, he recog-
nized his son. The burglar acknowl-
edged his identity, and the father will
keep him at home.