davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-03-03

short about HP' threatened large.
Tut, tut Mr.. Munsey," said Marcus.
while Tullus nodded assnt to livery wud.
I'VE want you to share our Joys, not gle
mad.
THE fact is that his young scapegrace of
a son. Ddgar. has run OF and married my
young madcap OF daughter Ethel What's
done can't be undone We've buried the
Ratchet and stint bygones after bygones.
And now we want to tunn over the
surplus funns to the happy pair, and to do
II quick, too Come in, you rascals, and
git your dowry from the county trisurer"
They came in reluctant, yet not abashed:
a comedy. likely pair OF youthful lovers.
sindin' somethin' warm to the innermost
parts OF me chist: and while Ethel glanced
just onct roguishly at large, Edgar lanced
that superior gaze stidily at him.
This is my place OF business. and It is
not the county trisurer's Office" said
large. with sort of deadly, despairin' DO.
likeness. with all possible wishes for the
young people'-Lord, what wishesl You cud
fairly hear them frlzzle-'T must insist on
your withdrawn thither-'
'Yis." Numbered young Ballinger, his
pertubrint chin in excilsis; ''yis we will
go. but that covering thing over there goes
with us, and without unbuttoning his coat
either. / saw him come out OF this room
Yesterday you. yourselves, told me OF
deal to be contaminated today for those
chromoes on the table. Do you want q
police investigator"
But without a wud or look, Mr.. Meme
dict went out between the Jolly Ballinger
brudders, and with the happy pair az
rear guard; leavin' me to renict with me
old frind Johnsing on the vanity OF human
wishes. and large TO chew q fresh place In
his bleeding lips.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-03-03

He is a slow moving fellow and dares not
travel far from his burrow in a stream or
ponds bank or the chamber of the round
topped home of dirt clots and rubbish that
he has built in the early fall. After a
snowstorm you can follow his tracks to the
orchard or TO some particular oak tree of
which he knows, and here you find where
he has dug in the snow for decayed apples
or sweet acorns. You can always identify
his tracks because he drags his tail, and
as the days go by the continued travel over
the same route makes a well worn path to
and from his feeding ground.
Z Nature gave him a soft, thick, warm fur
Nut in doing so it created demand for
his skin, and this demand has grown to
such an extent that It may be matter of
only a few years before he will have been
extermlnated in the eastern states. He Is
extremely easy to catch and his fur wears
the best and is the warmest of all cheap
furs, but the time is coming when the
muskrat automobile coats will be among
the costliest OF furs.
The fox is another animal that has to
hunt his living from day to day. During
storms of several days duration he goes
hungry, for then grouse, rabbits, MICE
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-03-03
moss and the lichens.
partridge. and Quail suner.


The ruffed grouse or partridge is found
in the heavy timber and thick brush lots.
In winter you can track them back and
forth through the forests, and here and
there at the foot of tree. by log or a
stump, or under the dropping boughs OF a
spruce, are depressios in the snow where
they have snuggled
In deep snow they tunnel for several rods
and sleep in these burrows. covered COM
pletey by snow As you walk along the
snow suddenly upheaves before you and
with a loud whirring Of wings the part
ridge darts OFF through the trea trunks,-
II you are careful and go slowly you can
track the bird under a log or q stump, and
there you see him smuggling comfortably.
After he has flown out. sometimes almost
into your face. you put your hand into the
cavity and find that It is warm and per-
fectly sheltered from the wind. At this time
of the year the ruffed grouse live on the
buds Of birch. poplar. maple and pear trees.
and they pass the night In the beds just
described or roost on a limb OF Ii pine.
spruce or hemlock tree, well sheltered by a
hill or a Tavine.
Poor little Bob White Cor quai) often
has a hard time in winter. His habits are
such that when a storm comes he and his
flock OF friends seek shelter under q
stump. a hollow log, in a woodohuck bur-
row and the like.
II the snow is light he has no trouble
about digging himself out. but should II
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-03-03
Bre,r Fox ana His Breakfast.

Here you will see where he has caught
a meadow mouse, after digging into the
snow and chasing it out of Its snug little
nest OF grass. Again, in swamp at the
foot of a hill giving shelter from the wind
he has followed the tracks OF ruined
grouse and finally pounced upon 1t as 1t
slept under the roots of an upturned tree.
When day finally dawns Bre'- Fox takes
himself to a thicketed lowland and, curl
ing up by log or stump. sleeps the sleep
of the well-fed
The little meadow mouse is we'll pro-
tected so far as warmth is concerned, for
when there Is no snow he lives In a nest
of d led grass, in a hole in the ground
under a stump, log, pile of stones or
boards. As soon as a deep snow has fallen
he begins to build neat little nest OF
dried grass blades, using the coarse ma
terial for the covering and the finer for
the lining.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-03-03

associate. Mr.. Pinch" replied large, side
steppin' mudestly
And !. without namin' names, showed the
gold sealed stock in escrow, and explained
the conditions on which It was to pass.
So much so good. Young Ballinger nod
ded a grave approval, and thin asst for the
details of the elopment
cit won't do" he declared with an en-
patio bang whin large had explained his
ideas. II must meet Ethel at the door, not
you.
Remember, haven't seen her for years;
I haven't heard from her except by the
hurried note which implored me to take
part in this mad scheme. II is unly family
ixigincies which destrain me to consint.
but before / do l must hav a wud with her,
SEPARATELY and apart.
"A young girl, even II she has a mind
is apt TO change 1t so often that she can
hardly recognize 1t hersilf. There is TO be
no undoo influence in this case, Mr.. Nun
sey."
But Miss Niggles is most alert and Wig
liant" large OBJECTED. "She Is apt to hear
Ethel, follow her. and give the alarm. At
least, l shud go on the porch wild you; so
that in such a case wan Of us cud neck the
old pelican into silence. while the odder cud
hurry my darlln' away
Young Ballinger seemed struck by this
observation. l fought the endearin' term
hit him hard, too.
VERY WELL" he said at lengt' arter he
had swallered onct or twict like the
preacher and the fly. There can be no
objectun to your frind Mr. Pinch goin'
with me. Ethel doesn't know him; he cud
work no spell. Let him tackle the old dame
a. she hatu q x,yfII lra a
dfferince to U.S."
And so II was agreed and 50 II trans
pired. much 10 the chilliness of me back
bone. Young Ballinger and I left large
with the spankin' team in the side-cut.
We crep' t'roo the darkness 20 the silent
and shadowy porch.
The shine OF the front door faded; some
thin white slipped out like ghost. 1t was
Ethel. In an instant she was In her brud-
der's arm-for an instant unly. and yit
long enough for him TO breathe, for her 10
ketch vital wud
oh" she peeped In an agOniEin whis-
per. "she heard me-Miss Niggles, she is
comm down the stairs to the alarm Stop
her stop her, or We are lost"
Pinch" murmured Balllnger, stunnly,
reminder your task; do your sheer. We
await you in the woods" And on they
put hand in hand. like birds in the night
did wait. TO the trimble of my back
bone. listenin' for the carpet slippers; but
they came not. There was not a sound
there was not a sign that Ethefs absinct
had been noted.
At lengt' I hurried back to the carriage
There sat large with the spankin' team
invintun strange eusses. Where. oh, where
were the brother and sister,
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-03-03
BALLINGER SURPLUS FUND
Gentleman George Draws Anothe
Card and SmitherS MOralizes.

the unknown.
Wen make a start tomorrer. Pinch
said large as he sorted the persplctusses
like a deck OF cards.
'All right, Mr.. President Munsey," 1
replied, as folded the scrip with the gold
seal out.
Bot pretty and live the county town
proved with a big summer hotel in its CEN
ter not bad TO winter In We inskonced
Ourselves in it. and havin sent few
sheers to the editor of the weekly, follered
the example of our mine by awaitin' devil
opmints
They came like decidedly green bay
tree From the leadin tailor troo the
mayor and the council. up to the pastor
Of the swell church. the hull town tunned
out to pay us its respicts-a spontan' us
tribute, which cud not fail to increaFe
vans fait' in the brotherhood of man.
Incidentally l may add that the weekly's
currant issue contained this item:
An evidence of the cosmis reputation OF
our beloved burg as a center of culture and
a source OF health is the pregnant fact that
Messrs. Noah Munsey and Abel Pinch, joint
owners OF the famous One-Two-Three mine,
are now enjoying for few weeks the lux
urious care OF mine host of the inn, far
from the madding crowd The o. T. T.
has just declared its thirty-fifth semi
monthly per cent dividend, and not a
share OF 1t has yet been marketed by these
genial proprietors OF this modern Pactolus.
We wish we stood in your boots, gentlemen
both"
Ezra Menedict came also, a meager man
yearnin' for fat in all its infinite vari'ty.
large relaxed his rule In his case and
talked fnance and 1t was wonderful the
pipe dreams he devolved over the cigars.
"But Mr.. Munsey." at length pleaded
Menedict. III yop should decide to enter
active operatuns. along these lines &c
promisin', would It not be prudent to dis
pose OF some Of your holdings In the o. t
T. for spot cash. mind, and to wan who
wud be proud TO make your will his lawR'
Hum" REFLECTED large, fiickin' of th'
ash; II might; purely as an act Of frind
ship"
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-03-03

standn' late on the main road near the
school, and thin drivin furiously away.
Had Ballnger found reason to SUSPECT?
Thin we must be up, dom and on
Wen land that fust hundrid tousand at
all events" snarled large between his Bit
ten lips.
And sure enought promptly at twllve
Menedict arrived. with an anx'us smile and
lumpy inside pocket. which med us beam
full as greedy.
"Yis," he said, in answer TO our looks,
''I've got 1t in there in tousands."
And l cud hardly count out the scrip. me
fingers were that adrip.
There yoG are" said large, his eyes
like elctfc bulbs; "the first installmint
right ard tight, and sure to DOODLE In vally
In t'irty days. Wen trooble you for its
equivalent. Mr.. Menedlct"
The County Trisurer raised his palsled
hand-he was fumblin' with the top but
ton-whin there were sturdy steps without,
a sturdier ray on the door: and the sturdi-
est pair Of old boys liver seen entered in
a brudder act and stood, all aglow, side
by side.
Most sorry. we're sure" began wan,
Ito disturb gintlemin OF sech statun, but
the clerk said Menedlct was here
And our business can't wait. as you will
all admit" finished the other
How do you dare-who are these men q;
demanded large.
THE Ballnger hrudders," gasped poor
Menedict, shrinking into a Garner and tryin
TO pull clusser tOgedder his buttoned cut
''The Ballinger bruddeTs Marcus and
Tull'us-and oh. my God, frindly, jolly, re.
united"
Right you are, Menedict. We don't
blame you for bein' knocked silly" cried
the two good old boys amid apoplectiC
chuckles
You will state your business. and b,
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-03-03
ReptiIe. RurY rhemseIre..

Snakes seek the shelter OF burrows and
places Of similar character below frost
line and there remain in torpid state all
winter. At the approach Of winter the
turtles. frogs and salamanders burrow In
the mud at the bottom of some river,
stream or lake. and there remain until the
coming spring. 1t is not unusual to find
a frog or a salamander deep among the
leaves below frost line, In a woodchuck
burrow or other hole In the ground,
and in springs the frog remains active all
winter.
The insects, the butterflies and the
moths nearly all pass the winter as eggs,
or in the larval state or the pupal stage.
Tear Off piece of bark from a rotten
forest tree on the coolest day of winter
and you will find grubs, worms and spiders
hidden there AS soon as you take them
into a warm room they begin to show
signs of life and in a short time become
quite active.
Attached 10 the limbs of trees and
bushes under the caves OF buildings and
in old sheds and barns you find the cocoons
Of butterflies and moths In these woven
cases sleep the creatures, waiting for the
warmth OF spring to transform them into
the last stage of their lives beautiful moths
or butterflies.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-03-03
IHHRl

from the winters cold, few people
ISEtfI think Of the condition OF the birds
49, and beasts and other creatures.
provision for whose welfare and comfort
rests entirely with nature.
As you go to and from your business,
wrapped in fur and wooden garments. do
you ever pause to look at some bit OF an
tmal life; chickadee or a brown creeper,
perhaps, a midget Of feathers no larger
than the end Of your thumb?
How do they manage TO keep from frcez-
ing when the thermometer registers 10 or
% degrees below zero?
Nature has two chief ways Of providing
for her furred and feathered children in
\ tlnter. Some Of the mammals she puts to
bW and 20 sleep as soon as cold weather
sets in. and they slumber until spring.
Most of the birds she sends to warm,
southern climates where there is an abund-
ance of food. why she favors some Of her
charges and allows others to suffer from
cold and hunger is a secret OF her own.
As a rule the mammals are better housed
than the birds, for most of them seek
refuge from storms and cold in hollow
tree trunks or burrow in the ground, and
many of them use these places as perma-
nent alternating homes. The woodchucK.
the gray squirrel, the chipmunk and many
OF the mice hibernate as soon as 1t begins
TO get cold, though they sometimes come
out during prolonged spells of warm
weather.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-03-03
II.

While our pisoator'al divershun was pro-
grtssun so favorably that there was livery
prospect OF greedy bite. noted tin
dency in large to wander from the line
with a faraway look IN his eyes, which l
cudn't mistake. somethin' or somebody
had reused the sintimintal ilemint Of his
nAtur'.
II didn't watch out he wud be up in
the saddle and on at fun tilt, reseuin dis
trissed maidens, yieldin' to livery ginerous
and rheumatic impulse. rightin' wrongs.
In a wud. instid OF wronging rights.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-03-03
Two Little Girls.

I'm twins, ! guess, cause my ma says
I'm two little girls An one o. me
Is Good little girl; an the other n abe
Is Bad little girl as she can be.
An ma says 90, most ever day,
An she's the funniest ma cause when
Wy men my ma she sob an sigh
An doll won't mind. an list cry,
An say, Dear Good little girl, goodbysi
Bad little GIRLS coined here againW
Last time at ma act that away
cried all 10 mysef awhile
Out on the steps, an men smile,
An get my doll all M In style,
An 80 10 where mas at, an say;
Morning TO you, mommy dearl
Where's that Bad little girl wuz heref
Bad little girls gonsd clean away,
An Good little girls coined back 10 stay
flames Whitcomb Riley.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-03-03

glimp, may we be july TANK
Ik8I full"
C1S And he pulled card from the
box containin' the dub'us and DETECTED
claims of the Charakter Surety company.
1t was short and to the pint, like
Dutchman enj'yin his fiaggon, and read
in manner follerin:
The Hazardous people are also after
Ezra Menedict who wants to be bonded in
$4,000 as treasurer Of Palisade county. Let
them have him. He may be all right but
the Ballinger surplus moneys will come
into his hands along with other court
funds In other words if he chooses to go
wrong he has the greatest possible chance
with the least possible risk
"a wise decision not TO insure a tirrible
tempattun," REFLECTED Gentleman George
II know somethin about the Ballinger
funn.
There are two brothers, Marcus and
Tulrus, fummerly in business togedder but
now hatin each odder like poison and
fightin' toot' and nails. The big Ballinger
block they owned was sold troo some fool
litigatun, and cool million paid fust into
coort and thin into the county trisurer' 8
ONCE, there TO remain until a hull calendar
of scots have been tried. appealed, re-
vussed and thin tried again.
II say, too, Menedict may be all right
but Il he don't realize his opportunities,
thin he orter be taut."
by Prof George Ringgold and his tai
ented assistant, William Smithers. two
witsP" / asst
by those silf-same prides OF the cur
rio'lum. You see, smithers, II is time we
branched out
We've got tidy bit in hand from our
last coop. We must use IL to put our
4ves IN moneys way, 10 WOO forum with
Hortun. The county seat is a pretty live
town, a little on the main lines. where
We are still unknown 20 fame.
whats the mater with our blossonin'
out there as two gintlemen from the gold
ing west with independent means and
pilantropio inds."
II twig. says !. with me finger to me
nose.
And ! forthwith fetched from the closet
the unclaimed package had bought az
the expriss auctuun. 1t consisted OF the
charter articles Of Incorporation and blank
stock certificates OF the One-Two- Three
Mining company, shipped by Noah Munsey
the prisident, from saphorn. at the time
whin the great boom there was at its
height; and reRchin' town arter the boon
had collapsed into splintsrs. Consistently
il had been unclaimed by SECRETARY Abe
Pinch. the consignee. who had not cared
70 carry amy asSd weight in his skip for
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-03-03
JOkSIet.

Grandpa, what's the difference between
rheumatism and gout9" asked Willie, who
knew his grandfather was a sufferer from
both these painful diseases
well, sonny" answered grandpa, you
put your thumb in a vice and turn IL TIL
you can't bear the pain any longer and
that's like rheumatism; then give the vice
couple OF extra turns and you'll get q
faint inkling of what govt is"
And Willie knew his grandfather was suf-
fering from govt that day
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-03-03

In this hollow ball of grass, the size OF
hat crown, there Is single opening
where the owner enters. Tunnels in the
snow lead to and from the nest in all di-
rections, and here a meadow mouse re-
sides until the melting of the snow leaves
the nest exposed to view. Then he takes
up his abode in his former habitation.
His little stomach is often empty, for
while he sometimes lays by a store Of
grain and seeds, that is when he lives near
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-03-03

From these yards they make excursions
through the forests and crop of the ends
of twigs, returning to the yard at night.
Their coat Is now thicker and heavier
than the red summer coat, and unless the
SHOWS become so exceedingly deep that they
cannot travel enough TO get food, they
pass a comparatively comfortable winter.
Caribou. elk and moose winter In much the
same manner, but the elk and caribou
paw away the snow and eat the grass the
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-03-03
squir

squiri co .--.-....-y .-ep close u
their shelters
No sooner does the storm cease than you
find Brer Fox's tracks wandering about
the country for miles and miles. Few
animals travel as much as he does, prob
ably because few have the ieetness and
ability TO take care OF themselves that he
possesses.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-03-03
~.

We didn't know. the next marnin'. whin.
warn and tarn be rage and chagrin. We
hobbled back 10 town. In sinse, which
win prisintly appear, We nivsr did know.
Unly wan clue had rewarded our anx'us
sarch. A carriage had been observed,
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-03-03
Jim Grow. winter way.

Jim Crow. too. 10 sometimes forced TO
put discretion aside and seek the habitat
Of his old enemy, the farmer, hoping that
he can pick up a bit of food that has been
cast aside or. winging his way In the
teeth OF a cutting wind he flies to the or
chards and eats the decayed apples that
still cling to the branches.
In the field he tears to pieces any
meadow mouse nest that may be exposed.
hoping. no doubt. that the owner will be at
home. This fellow, too. roosts In the
thick pine, spruce and hemlock timber.
The few ducks and gulls that choose to
remain In the north all winter seem better
ntted for the weather than any other OF
the birds Cold weather seems to have
little effect on them.
II the lakes freeze over they seek open
water on the rivers. and there the shell
brakes and whistle wings sport as cheer
fully as though 1t were the warmest day
of spring. When one dives and comes up
with n hsh the others attempt to take II
from him, and the gulls. too. try their
best to rob their feathered neighbora,
even deliberately lying In wait for Them
and attacking one as soon as he appears
on the surface.
But what of the little chickadee, the
brown oreeper, the white-breasted nut
hatch and the downy woodpeckerP One
might suppose that with the thermometer
registering 20 degrees below zero every
one OF these little creatures would be
frozen In a single night.
But no. The following morning the
chickadees are as jolly and lively as ever.
hanging by their feet head down and
climbing about the limbs like miniature
acrobats. Not a second of time are they
quiet. but as soon as they have found a
cocoon, torn 1t open and robbed It of the
butterfly or moth chrysalid that 10 inside
they begin searching for another.
The lives of the brown oreeper, the nut
hatch and the woodpecker are similar, for
while the chickadee Is busy looking over
the branches proper these other birds are
creeping about the bark, and with bills
that are better adapted for chiselling than
that OF the chickadee they peck their way
into some crevice and pull from its hiding
place the larva of an insect.
AT night these birds seek the shelters
of hollow trees and limbs and the wood
pecker has been known to excavate .
nest for sleeping place only.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-03-03

replied. from whom her crule father sepa-
rated her so absolutely that until wrote
him he didn't even know where she was.
She is proper girl, Smithers, for all her
spirits and wudn't hear to an elopmint
until deranged to have her brother present
to give her away. He comes on from col
lldge. this afternoon"
What day is this?' / asst arter a mo-
ment's REFLECTION.
Friday you fool"
IT fought l DETECTED somethin ishy.'
And thin large whit off on his high hoss,
cussin and bratIn me for a false and
weak hearted pal. of a Negative mind and
a capt'us temperature, until was glad to
follow implicitly his plans.
But in holdin' on TO this string to the
Ballinger milruns are you gcin' to let so
of the odder?" I ventured.
mot at ALL" declared large with n
mighty oat. 81 eXpict Menedict to supply
the funns for the honeymoon"
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-03-03

a grain field. Those Of his relatives who
lnhabit the owlands and outskirts of fields
and brush lots eat the bark of trees, some
times doing great damage to pear trees.
apple trees and berry bushes Sumach
heads he dearly loves and dock seeds also
help to keep him alive