davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-24

something very hard. He stopped down and thrust his hand into the debris, and to his wonder felt something very much like an iron box. Without word to his mother or Laura the two were still at the supper table that had been drawn close to the sick womans bed) he got down on his knees and began to un- earth-or unash. rather-the mysterious box. After several minutes hard work he drew forth q small. metal-cosered box. fastened with a paddock. In the lock stuck the key, which Fred turned. The lid flew open, and on the top of the contents lay yellowish bit of soiled paper Fred ran his eyes over it and read these badly scrawled words:
 ITO whoever finds this box: Be 1t known that I. the one-time owner of this treasure, tired of life, have departed to another world. Whoever Is brave enough to come into this house and live here may possess the treasure found herein It Is told throughout the coun- ty that this place is haunted, and that 1, It's owner. am wizard. Men avoid me. So l go to a better world and leave to whoever may find thls box it's con tents. providing they live in this house and clear the place of the wicked sian- der.''
 Fred sprang to his feet and carried the box to the bed. where his surprised mother and sister read the strange mes sage contained therein. Then the three eagerly undid an old cloth which was wrapped about many coins of large de nonination. After these were laid on the table and counted there proved to be five hundred dollars In gold pieces and a deed to the mouse and grounds, together with many tax receipts. Mrs Jones looked over the dates of the lat ter, and seeing that the taxes had fallen due several months before said to her son: Erred, If you want to keep this place you must hurry to the city tomor- row and pay up the last years taxes Then I reckon the place will be ours But, to make sure of 1t, you'd better see old Mir. Sneider; he'll advise us what to do Now, isn't this the luckiest day of our lives. children? Why,1 I'm almost we'll already And Mrs. Jones smiled contentedly.
 ''I call this place the treasure hovel instead of the haunted hovel,'' laughed Fred. And not word to anyone till we've fixed 1t about the deed Plenty of folks would rob us of what we've got by right. Why, the owner says the one who lives here Is to own the place and the treasure And I reckon we're going to live here for awhile, anyway"
 Indeed we are" cried Laura. ..Why, we're all so happy in the country
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-24

from the basement.
 About midnight he returned home in good spirits, waking Laura, who had fallen asleep In the one rocking chair be- side her mothers bed. Come, Sis" he said in voice of good cheer. There ain't no time to be sleepin' ner dream In. This time tomorrow we'll be set in the street less we make some ar engagements about hotel. You see, tomorrow the officers will set us and our furniture out of here. If ma was well being sick makes 1t look different color. So, let's be packin' tonight.
 But, child, where are we to go?' asked the sick mother, who had not yet been asleep. Her anxiety over their distress and her own physical sufferings had kept sleep from her eyes. we can't go anywhere without rent money"
 I've found place where there ain't no rent" said Fred. Folks are afraid of it cause they say it's hanted. But I know there ain't no such things as spooks. Anyway, even hanted house is better in storm than no house at all, say. We'll, I've already seen the little old Dutchman what has the ex- press wagon, and he has promised to carry us and our goods to the new place if we're ready to start by o'clock. He says he must be back in time to get his trade. So we've got to hustle to- night, Sis"
 And Laura and Fred did hustle" that night, and when 4 o'clock arrived their worldly goods were ready. The Dutch, man was on time to the minute and soon, with Fred's assistance, had the wagon loaded to it's capacity.
 s"Well, we'll not have to be SCI on the sidewalk today by the officers," sold Mrs. Jones, climbing up to seat on the wagon beside the old driver. Fred and Laura managed to find 'place to hang on to, to quote Fred. at the rear end of the wagon. Then, with d chuck from the old Dutciiman the one horse started with hls load. s 3
 After two hours of riding-the first hour rmbling over the city paving stoIes Tired directed the driver to turn to his left and rourd ledge of rocky Tiff that pointed into the sandy beach. There rude but comfortably large stone hut came Into view in the center of a till able patch of garden. A few trees shaded the front yard, but as the sands from the sea often encroached upon ,ham through the power of the winds, they were not full of vigor. However, the spot was not urcheerful To the front of the hut ran the line of rippling bay full of craft, while behind stretched wooded hills and farm lands. But the hut itself seemed isolated. there being no neigh boring house within several miles of 1t.
 Here we are at home till ordered by
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-24

The ants of Ant-Town were very busy little people Indeed. Never an idle hour did they spend, but worked from the dawn of day till long after the sun had set And they were a happy little people. too, although it would seem as r they had few peasures for to- work all the time is rather hardship with boy kind and girl-kind, and is not quite nat ural And the old saying that ''all work and no play makes Jack dull boy Is true in the case of humankind. But not so with ant-kind. Those industrious little fellows love nothing so much as work. Indeed, it is doubtful if they could live in idleuess.
 And so it was that the ants of Ant Town were the busiest ants in all the world--or so every one who knew them said. There were real families among them, inst like the families of our own kind; there were the papa ant, the mamma ant. the little sons ant and The had their own home, a section in a hill. a hill belonging to the whole community of ants And the hill was for all the world like a great apartment-noi.se in a city. As you know, an apartment house is filled with corridors, halls and suites of rooms. And many families live under the one great roof, each family heving one of the suites with its own private hall. =a
 And so it was with the Ant-hill. It was nothing more or less than a big apartment house, where dwell hundreds of ants. each family having its own cell. little fiat, so to speak.
 Now, in this great apartment hill there was one family that attracted the atten- ]. ton of dear little girl, who lived in big house--a real house. you know on the hill, just above the place where the ant apartment-house stood This lit tie girls name was Polly Dear, that is what her mamma called her. It was always Polly Dearl" here, and Folly Dear!" there and Polly Dear" every where. The ants had heard the rame so many times that they had grown quite used to it, and in their own way loved 1t well
 But the strange thing about 1t was that Polly Dear looked to the ants like some huge monster, the top of whom their eyes never had had the power to reach They could see the feet of Polly Dear quite plainly; also they could see the hare legs above the sandaled feet, and the dimpled knees, that looked so big and queer. Then fell a lot of ruff1ed white stuff and blue checks, and above these moving things would stretch long arms, with fat hands at their ends, hands that would clap and clap and make great noises like wind and thunder. So thought the ants of Ant-Town on hearing Polly Dear clap those chubby hands, which in truth were very small as seen by a real live human. But ants see things in a strange way, you kSow. Their being so small makes every
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-24

someone with more right than we have to git out!' shouted Fred, leaping from the wagon. And now, MT. Sneider, If you'll lend me a hand we'll have your wagon empty in a jiffy. First we'll fix mothers bed; then we'll get the other traps into the house. And as soon as l sell clans enough I'll be down to your corner where you and your wagon hang out and pay you for today's job"
 ''That'l be all right, son. said Mir Sneider, hurriedly unloading the wagon. Then, half an hour later, and just as he was departing, he slipped dollar into Laura's hand, saying: "Git something for your ma to eat She can't walt for clans. And If the boy ever has the money he'll make 1t right with old Bill Sneider. I'm poor, too; but not sick So, I can work and keep grub on the table, Then he was in his wagon, rat ting back toward the city.
 Fred had found driftwood enough to make a fine fire in the open fireplace, and Laura, who worked with will, soon had bed ready for the exhausted mother, who declared that in spite or the fatigue of her long ride she felt bet ter already for having left the base ment room of the ill-kept tenement house. And so week went by, Fred having found employment with fisher man down In the bay. He earned dol lar day, and that kept them in neces- saries.
 On the first Saturday evening after they had moved into their new quar- ters-which so far had produced no signs of being haunted" Fred sat beside the chimney corner, digging into the aead ashes with a sharp piece of stick. He had not taken the time to clean the fire place out on the day of their arrival. and had built the fire for week over the ashes of former fires. As he sat plunging the stick idly into the accumula- tion of old ashes he felt it strike against
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-24

fly, for he was just coming out with huge load of dirt. a few confidential worlds
 Say. Papa Ant, I just had battle with dreadful giant who had come here to destroy you and all your family and friends. Well, he got the worst of it, reckon and isn't hardly likely to return. But If he should do so-well won't 1 just give him the hardest pounding he ever had in all his naughty life? I'll grab him and throw him into the creek and give him good washing, for 1t wouldn't do him any harm, 1t wouldn't You see, I'm going to protect your dear little ants and your property, too. love to watch you work; it's as good as play Ing games And l haven't sister nor brother. so l have to find my own com panions Mamma and Papa give me toys-dolls and Teddy bears and such but they can't even move of themselves Now, l like you much better than toys, for you're real little people and build such splendid houses and provide yourselves with food. Oh, you certainly are little dears, and I'm going to keep a watchful eye on you. And tomorrow I'm going to bring some teentsy -weentsy bits of sugar and meat and some cake crumbs and lay
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-24

When dinnertime came Polly Dear had to go away, for. her mammas voice was calling from the top of the hill, Polly Dearl Come to dinner" But as soon as Polly Dear had gotten through the meal she ran down to AntTown again. for the sun was still about an hour from sinking behind the line of blue timber in the West.
 As Polly Dear drew near to Ant-Town she was surprised to see a boy-a dirty faced, ill-kept. little urchin - strlding toward her place of destination. He car ried a little spade in his hand and, no doubt. meant mischief, for he would stop every now and then to dig into the earth with 1t. Polly Dear ran faster and fast CT, determined to reach Ant-Town before this bad boy should do so, for she feared he might do the ant hill harm.
 Hello, kidl'' sang out the dirty-faced urchin as he and Polly Dear neared Ant Town from different directions. "Where'd you come from?'
 From my home. Boy" replied Polly Dear "Whered you come from and what do you want hereT'
 .'I come frum down the holler." said the boy, grnnng broadly. An I'm go
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-24

begged Mrs. Jones to go to The city hos pital, where the poor were doctored with out charge, but the mother would shake her head, saying. .'I can't leave my little Fred and Laura. am all that they have In the world. I must stay with them and let my friends-though as poor as myself-and my, children do what they can for me. I've always been strong woman and HI pull through this all right without having to leave my children alone." 4sf
 And so the weeks had dragged by, Mrs. Jones not improving, but growing grad ually worse. And then the money gave. out. and want. with sickness, came to torture the poor mother and her little ones. The agent had called four times for the rent, the last time saying; Pm offul sorry Miss Jonze, an wouldn't pester you bout the money ef the durn ole t-trap belonged to me; but youse know how 1t is I git me walkin' papers served on me ef don't git the rent. Ar me Iosin' me own job wouldn't help rouse d bit; for the next chap as got me place would begin by turnin ye out into the street. So, it's pay er%' And the Ignorant agent, whose 'Job'' depended npon the promptness of his collections, pointed his thumb toward the street door. hAs I wuz sayin'. Pm blamed sorry for Ill youse, I am. But pity don't pay rent ner put grub inter the mouth, does ltr'
 And few days later the eviction no dce was served on Mrs. Jones, sick in ped and without food or fuel In the AousA and two little hungry mouths want
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-24

thing else seem to them of gigantic pro portions.
 And that Is how 1t happened that Polly Dear was thought of In Ant-Town as a giant. But ants, like children, grow to trust and love those whom they have found to be their friends. Polly Dear was known to be the friend of all the ants in Ant-Town and especially of the one family have Just mentioned. The way Polly Dear had come to single out this one family was this: One morning, as she sat watching the ants working about their apartment-hill, she saw one great ant carrying a huge load on his back, load three or four times as large as himself. Behind him went a swift, little ant, slender and pretty. Beside her ran two smaller ones. whom Polly Dear thought to be boy and q girl. The great ant was no doubt the papa; the slender, pretty ant, the mamma. and the little ones the son and daughter. That was the way Polly Dear figured it out. And she watched these four particular ants very closely, and became assured that she was right in her supposition re- garding them Yes. the four kept together all day, working side by side In complet
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-24

in empty close to the beach. And I'll We all went in there and fixed our lunch. and the Anderson boys said it was a de serted hoye where an old miser had lived once, and that all the fishermen and clam-diggers that lived near the spot said it was haunted Now, I'm not afraid of haunts are you, ma? And I'm in the notion of going out there today and ind in. if the place still empty. and If It is we'll just go right there and live til you are well again.. It's so fine out there with all the fresh air you can breathe, and < so much, sky overhead that 1t; makes your eyes ache tryin' to look at 1t all to once. E Oh, the clouds was just beautiful the day was there. l never seen such sight. It was glorious, ma, honest It was And Fred's eyes gleamed with the pleasure of recollection as he grew enthusiastic over a rapidly formed plan.
 But, Freddie, 1t takes money to move.. And after we're moved 1t takes more money to get food and fuel explained the mother, 4ss.
 There's a big hill not far away where . lots and lots of trees; grow I could go there and get wood plenty of it.
 .'Rut what would you eatT asked Laura, like her mother. n bit doubtful of her brothers plan.
 ,sI'll dig clap aud. all that we den.t eat Tn sell" said Fred. hope in his young voice. Lots of men make good living dlggin' clams.
 Then neighbor came N to bring bit of food for the needy woman and children, and Fred, unobserved slipped
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-24

she called to him, shaking her fists "If you do, Pll--" But Polly Dear didn't say just what she would do, but the gleam In her blue eyes and the threat in her voice made the bad boy understand what she meant. Gathering himself and his spade from among the bushes and weeds, the naughty fellow betook himself of In hurry, glancing back occasionally to make a wry face at the defiant little girl who so bravely stood her ground. After he was out of sight Polly Dear sat down beside the ant apartments house, saying to the head of her favorite fam
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-24
How He Got the Answer

A little boy ran into grocery store one ' day with a memorandum in his hand.
 Hello, MT. smith, he called out to the grocer. 'I want 13 pounds of coffee, at 32 cents a pound.'
 'Anything else, son?' asked the grocer, trying hard to recall the name of the boy.
 .Yep, I want 26 pounds of ham, at IS cents a pound seven and half pounds of bacon, at 20 cents pound five pounds of butter, at 291a cents a pound; Il pounds of granulated sugar, at six cents a pound. Now. have you got all that, sir?'
 The grocer ran over the list, the cus- toner meanwhile checking off the ar ticies on his own memorandum. When finished he said: Yep, that's all. Now, what do they all come to, sir?'
 The grocer ran up the figures and gave the boy the answer. And where am l to send the things?" asked the grocer, preparing to weigh out the articles.
 "Oh, nowheres, sir. It's my arithmetic lesson, and I had to git the answer some how. Thank you for your trouble, sir
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-24
' OWPuZZle Corner $

well-known proverb Is hidden in the following seven sentences, each sentence containing one word of the proyerb the words appearing in their regular orders Never look a gift horse in the mouth. Sometimes the wise man knows less than the fool
 Man is often his own worst enemy A dumb woman keeps secret well. Let man keep close guard of his tongue.
 We think our own children better than the children of others
 A feeble mind thinks Itself capable to counsel with the great.
 RIDDLE
 I've seen you where you never were,
 And where you ne'er will be; And yet within that very place
 You shall be seen by me. GA mirror). Answers to Last Weeks Puzzles. Letter Enigma; Base ball. AS . Beheadi,tgs and cnrtdflin0s: t1) Beat. ing--edting. ta)Trdck--ratk t3) Drdtc--- ra,o (4) Stedm-tedm. (5) Mortf1--- mart t8) Hnnger-hun0 t7) Dolldr- doll. t 1
 Hidden odo0e: Pretty Is as pretty docs
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-24

ing the hill where they were to have home. Polly Dear supposed they were at spring house cleaning, for they kept running In and out of the hill, carrying such loads of dirt in their mouths. Then they would occasionally go away down the road, running right through bits of weed or grass-never going round, but over or under-and fetch bits of food in the shape of a dead worm or bug to their apartment-hill. It was wonder to Polly Dear to see the size of the loads these little workers could carry without effort They trateled as fast with a load as without one.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-24
LETTER ENIGMA.

My first is in gold. but not In dig; My second is in horse, but not In pig; My third Is In hasten, but not In go; My fourth is the same as my third, you
 know;
 My fifth Is in hand but not In glove; My sixth is In truth but not in love; My seventh Is In robin. but not in chick; My eighth Is in stone but not in brick; My ninth is the same as my eighth. you
 know; z My tenth is in winds. but not in blow;
 My whole spells two words
 That of spring are a part; s-
 And they stay through the summer
 Before they depart.
 BEHEADINGS.
 n) Behead that which signifies night and leave a honsebont famed in sacred history. A
 t2) Behead a vessel belonging to a dairy and leave a, decorative garden vase in. which flowers and vines are grown. (3) Behead that which flashes from the eye and leave a long, sharp weapon used by soldiers In ancient times.
 (4) Behead a hard substance from which houses are sometimes built and leave a sound that eminates from plano key.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-24
IN THE TREASURE HOVEL
BY HELENA DAVIS.

For two months Fred and Laura Jones' mother had been i'll with rheumatism and the doctor had said that she could not get well unless she moved itno more yhealthfui place. Her present home was in a basement room of an old tumble down tenemert-houss in great city Mrs. Jones had been employed in laun- dry as starcher before her very serious Illness, and had managed to lay away enough to Keep her during the two months illness of which you have been told. But at the expiration of that time the last cent had been spent for rent, fuel and food, and now eviction, and pos sibly starvation, stared the poor sick woman and her two children in the face, for the weeks rent was past due and the agent was expected to have eviction pa- pers served on the suffering woman who lay helpless ir her bed.
 Repeatedly the poor neighbors had
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-24

ing bread. Its up with us, Freddie and Laurie" she said, her face drawn with the pain of rheumatism and hunger What are we to do, I wonder?"
 ''The neighbors can't help us," said Fred, flor several of 'em are about to be eyicted themselves. We're all poor alike in this house."
 An all over this part of the town" declared Laura, child old for her years. She had suffered poverty, and seen others suffer so much in her few years that she had little of the child left in her poor little heart and mind. The thought of food, clothes, rent, employment for her mother had clouded her life thus far. And it was much the same with Fred, whc, however, had more of hope and clieerfuness in his makeup than had his , older sister. Say, ma." said Fred, ''once when l went clam-diggin' with the Ander- son boys I seen little old shack stand
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-24

In to spade up this ant hill. seen 1t yesterday when men paw came a-past here frum town. I like diggin' up ant hills, do."
 Well, you aren't going to get to dig up this ant hill," declared Polly Dear in a very emphatic voice. ..This place be- longs to me, it does.'
 'Ha! ha! ha!'' roared the boy, raising his spade and making dart for thes ant hill. How'd you git a-holt of this place, I'd like to know? I reckon it's as much mine as It's yourn. Mebby I'll show you what I'll do with it." And the
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-24

boy took q strong hold on his spade and set the edge of it's blade on the ant hill.
 In another minute spade, and boy were rolling over In the sand down the hill side. and Polly Dear her eyes flashing fire. her hands clenched firmly into hard little fstss her whole body shaking with excitement. stood the victor, for she had with one mighty thrust, pushed the bad boy from the edge of the ant hill, and then thrown his spade after him.
 Now, don't you come back here. Boy"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-24

And they oft invited guests In Nell and Annie Lee. Kittle played she was Miss Pickles She liked the name. you know; For, although she said twas sour. Twas very good. also. Junie played she was Miss Candy: (To offset Kitties sour)- And Miss Pickles with Miss Candy Played there by the hour,
 MARY GRAHAM
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-24

In the garden during summer
 Kittie went to play With her little comrade, Junie,
 And they stayed all day. Meath the green tree, tall and spreading Where their playhouse stood, With Its play walls all about 1t
 Of big sticks of wood. A fiat stone did form a table
 Where they drank their tea: