davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-03-29
Bertha and the River Fairy

Bertha Lewis was the child of very
poor parents Her home was in the
country. about a mile from a large and
prosperous town. During the summer
months Berthas father earned a Hyeli-
hood by selling fish in the town-fsh
caught from beautiful river. on whose
banks his small farm extended. And
Bertha's mother made a garden In the
spring, and during the summer she and
Bertha peddled fresh vegetables about
the village, thus adding a trife to the
small income OF the husband and father.
But when the winter set in the Lewis
family Of three found themselves In dire
need Of the small necessities of life. Mr..
Lewis cut wood from the timber on his
and and sold it to the dealers of fuel in
the town. but the proceeds from this
source were very meager, and sometimes
the cupboard was empty at meal time
and Bertha went to bed crying for food.
The beautiful river, near to which
stood the little cot of the Lewises. was
The scene of many a gay festiyity during
the winter time, for crowds of young
people from town came there to skate on
JUS smooth-frozen surface. Sometimes
these skating parties would have night
carnival. and then the river would
present a gorgeous sight with its hun
dreds of Chinese lanterns festooned from
the bare branches of the trees bordering
The banks, And all along the line of
skating would CLEAN merry bonfires,
huilt for the purpose of warming the
participants in the carnival.
From the window of their little cot
BERTHA Lewis could see the merry makers
on the river. and for hours at a time
sne would sit there shivering. watching
me happy throngs that made the cold air
"ng with their laughter and song. And
often tears Of disappointment were in
HeT'ns's eyes, disappointment that she
N"a not been invited by some of the
,le,'E makers to join them in their sport
''o az times a longing wound come over
nts 10 change places with one of the
''su! girls who were luckier than herself
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-03-29

nards enough to get in my path, I'll fetch
nlm nome for supper. But I'm out today
Aor Dig fellows-deer or bear"
with his rife over his shoulder, drink
ing cup and piece of bread in his hunt
ing wallet, which was slung over his back
Johnny set forth, wAistling merrily as he
trudged along through the woods that
covered miles aud miles of hill land.
Soon after Johnny had left his home his
cousin Fred-who lived on an adjoining
1arm-eame to visit him for the day.
Johpny's mother explained to Fred that
Johnny had gone TO spend the day In
the woods. hoping to return with trophies
OF a great bag, for he had said that should
he get anything too big to carry, he would
bring a piece of the victim home--a foot.
a paw or horn--to prove his success.
and would take the horses and wagon
and go after the big" game left In the
wood.
We'll. I'll just go after him, Aunt.
said Fred. (which road did he take?"
1.-The bottom road leading across the
branch said Mrs. Brown. IF you will
hurry you may overtake him before he
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-03-29

In the center of a saucer-shaped basin
so by 90 miles In size, that Hes In the
heart of an Andes plateau. is the capital
Of Mexico. 1t has been said of Mexico
particularly that part OF it about Mexico
City-that 1t has a heavenly climate"
And true this is II one chooses the right
time of year TO find the heavenly
climate" The months when Mexico City
is at her best - when skies smile and
flowers bloom in prefusion. when the UNI
brella and oyershoes are left forgotten In
hall corners, when one day of beauty
is followed by a train Of days still more
perfect-are the months of spring. But
during the summer the traveller from for
eign lands would better strap on his
knap-sack, take his star IN hand, and
seek higher places. Not that the City
of Mexico Is situated at low altitude;
it has a fine and healthful elevation. and
were the city well drained-or drained at
all, one might say-there would be little
to fear from the summer rains, which
pour ana pour and pour till 1t seems the
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-03-29


share in other than watching 1t from
distance.
Suddenly from the crowd of skaters
there dashed a little figure, a figure gay
in red velvet and brown fur. Straight to-
wards the bend in the rfver-towards the
very place where Bertha crouched in hid
ing-it came. And Bertha's heart stop
ped beating for she saw it was the lit
tie girl whom she had so much admired
that evening. She drew herself deeper
into the shadow, not wishing to he SEEN
1t was evident that the little girl meant
to come round the curve, leaving the
confines of the skating ground behind
her. No one had ever thought of coming
down to that point in the river for the
ice there was never smooth. the water
flowing so swiftly round the curve that
in freezing it became rough.
But the little miss in velvet and fur
was wholly ignorant of the condition of
the river below the curve. and as none
of the merry makers had noticed her
withdrawal from their midst she was
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-03-29

the little girl, FOR Bertha had, Ia answer
TO her inquiry, told her where she lived.
The next morning, bright and early, q
fine sleigh drew mp in front of the home
of Bertha Lewis, and a little girl in red
velvet and brown fur sprang to the
ground. She was accompanied by a lady
and gentleman who proved to be her
parents. They were admitted to the
house By Rertha's mother. They stayed
long time; in fact, the clock was strfk-
ing u when at last they took their de-
parture- And they left behind them three
happy people. Bertha. her mother and
father. During their visit to thank
Bertha for her heroic act of the previous
night-when she had saved the life of
their little daughter-the lady and gen
tleman had learned Of the poverty Of the,
Lewises ana had arranged to succoN
them. The gentleman had a position In
his great warehouse In town that he Of
fered to Mr.. Lewis. Mrs. Lewis was en-
gagged by the lady TO act as holsekeeper
in her elegant home. And Bertha was to
be sent to mo schooi-the very school
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-03-29

coming on unaccompanied and unwarned.
And she was coming at good speed, too.
her curls flying behind her and her eyes
dancing with pleasure.
For only a moment did Bertha remain
hidden behind the evergreen bushes.
Then, her eyes resting on the great
yawning hole, she sprang TO her feet. her
henrt throbbing violently. She'll go right
into that hole unless" and Bertha for
got her own ugly old garments, forgot
that she was there. crouching Ike a
thief, stealing what pleasure she could
by watching the party to which she was
not invited. Right out upon the ice she
ran, almost slipping down in her haste.
And she was not moment too soon
Like bird on the wing the little girl
I'm velvet and fur came round the curve,
headed straight for the hole that looked
black and awful in the moonlight When
she was almost upon 1t she saw her
peril and her eyes became filed with
terror She opened her lips to cry out.
but made no sound. She tried to stop
her speed. but she was going so swiftly
that to 90 so at once was impossible.
She cfutched at her head, closing her
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-03-29

The gay children on the river. but fearing
that she might be seen by them should
she go directly down the bank In front
of the house lat that spot big BONFIRE
burned, throwing out light, she crept of
through the darkness to a point below
bend in the river. where, unobserved, she
might look around the point of bank and
watch aud listen to her hearts content
She found a sheltered spot behind q
cIump Of evergreen bushes And there,
right on the river a few feet from where
she sat. yawned a -great hole in the ice
one of those spots which in some rivers
never seem to freeze.
From where she crouched she could
see the merry skaters and hear their gay
voices much better than from the win
dow of her home on the bank. Here she
almost felt part of the happy throng.
She even smiled as she heard the laugh
ter floating to her on the icy wind. Be
ing used to the cold, she did not mind
the snow about her feet nor the cutting
wind which went right through her cloak
as though it were mere paper: Her eyes
were feasting on youthful happiness
happiness that she might not have
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-03-29
BY MAUD WALKER.

In the matter of pleasures.
Bertha was only II years old, but she
had known all the hardships attending
poverty. all the heartaches that accom-
pany unsatiSfied longing. all the miseries
of the poor. Her mother was kind and
loving. and her father gave to her the
very best he could manage to possess;
but poverty seemed to be the poor mans
lot, and he could not rise above 1t.
Often In his despair he would cry out: "Oh,
If could but give comforts to my dear
wife and innocent child!" And at such
times Bertha's little heart would respond
with deepest sympathy, and, putting her
arms about her fathers neck, she would
whisper gently. eneouragingly: MAYBE
the good fairies viii come some day and
bring TO us wealth. Then well have
everything we need
One evening there was a great skating
carnival on the river. A gay throng of
boys and girls filed it from bank to
bank. Their skates cleaned like silver
in the light from the lanterns and bon
fires Their faces were radiant with
health and happiness. Their voices rang
out like music, and their warm attire
was most beautiful and elegant to be-
hold. There was one little girl-about
Bertha's own size-who caught and held
Berthas attention. She was a dainty
miss with brown curls blowing from be-
meath her pretty toboggan cap, which
was worn we'll over her pink cara to
keep Jack Frost from nipplng them Her
little Jacket and skirt were of soft red
velvet, trimmed about with bands of
brown fur. She wore soft, warm, we'll
fitting leggings OF brown broadcloth,
which matched In tint the fur, on her
garments and the leather OF her shoes.
Her hands were slipped into cosy muf
of brown fur. She skated easily. laugh
ing and chatting with her comrades
Bertha singled her out, watching her
with glowing eyes and whispering to her
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-03-29

] ran through the underbrush, getting out
of his sight ! thought I'd lost him,
when, fully Is minutes after I'd fred at
him. be loomed up right in front OF me-.
let him have my aim again. But some
thing had got the matter with Tiny
aim. l mean-for the bullet went wide of
the mark again. 1t was all up with me
then. for I had to reload before could
take another pull at him. aHe was pretty
close to me. hut this tree was closer. so
l came up into its Inviting limbs, where
! decided TO wait till someone CHANGED
to come along, or till the old brute be-
low should tire of walking about at the foot
of my tower and looking up savagely at
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-03-29

me. As for my gun. it's below there
on the ground The old bear took sniff
Of it little bit ago
Fred had withdrawn from the path into
clump of shrubbery. where he was out
Of the bears line of vision. He kept one
eye on cid Mr.. BTuln. however, fearing
that his nose might tell him there was
another enemy near. And he took pains
to be pretty close to a fine, strong sap
ling with plenty of limbs close to the
ground. Where's your ammunition?" he
called out to Johnny, regardless of the
lntters waning about his taking.
IT'S on the ground in my wallet" said
Johnny. Then he added: Don't do that
again, tell you. Now. go as fast and as
quietly as you can for home and fetch
daddy here. / don't rest well astride this
limb. I'd find home and dinner more to
my taste"
But Fred had been thinking over some
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-03-29

gets beyond the first hill And now that
you are to assist him In the hunt I'll
look for something big-a deer at least.
And~if you go into the woods far enough
you may find couple of BEARS Mrs.
Brown laughed, having spoken in jest
She WAS always interested in the boys
pleasures. and was a most sympathetic
companion To Johnny.
Fred set out on the road Johnny had
taken half an hour before. He went at
good gait, hoping TO overtake his cousin
before he entered that part of the land
called by the farmers Of the neighborhood
The happy hunting ground But Johnny
must have outwalked Fred, for the lat
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-03-29

where their own little daughter went
And Just think. mamma" said Bertha
that day as she and her mother were
packing up their things TO move to town
(where they would be so happy In their
new employnentl. II was just wishing
that q fairy would come and change
things for US when round the curve came
the beautiful little girl. She proved to
be a real river fairy. didn't she?'
Yes. my dear child" answered
Bertha's mother. But you were better
than river fairy, for you saved hui
man life"
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-03-29

eyes, for she felt that in another second
she would be inside that hole which
yawned to swallow her.
Then there was a sudden stop. and
two little girls lay rolling on the ice not
FIVE feet from the very verge Of the hole.
Bertha had Ieaped forward and caught
the little girl as she was flying to her
death The suddepness of the contact
brought them both to the ground, and
the severity of the fab stunned them for
several seconds. As soon. however, as
they regained their senses and got on
their feet Bertha told how she came TO
be there and how she had run out On
the ice to save the little skater in peril
And In vain did the little girl beg Of her
to go to the place of merry making,
where she should be crowned a heroine.
Bertha excused herself on the plea of
her ragged garments and the fact that
she was a stranger.
Then ] shall bring my parents and
come TO see you Tomorrow declared
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-03-29

plan whereby he might relieve his cousin's
uncomfortable position more quickly than
by, returning to the farm. some two or
three miles away. And now he was about
to act upon this quickly conceived plan.
He very cautiously gathered handful of
dry bark and dead sticks from the ground
at his feet, cut a long branch from
growing bush nearby and on its smaller
end tied the dried bark ana sticks into q
thick mass, using his handkerchief In
lieu of a string. When this was fixed TO
his satisfaction he took from his vest
pocket a match. struck it and applied
the flame to the broomlike end of the
stick. 1t ignited quickly, blaze leaping
upward. Like a fash Of lightning Fred
made dash toward the bear, whiriins
the blazing stick round and round. its
tongue of FIRE forming huge circle Of
fame In tie revolution. The old bears
eyes widened With fear as he beheld the
awful sight, ard he went or through the
woods as fast as ne could. But IL his
excitement he did not select his path and
found himself entangled in a massive
grapevine through whose neshes he
could not go. And as he feared to turn
back and face that dreadful thing OF fire
he kept ON trying 10 thrust his huge body
through the trap which held him fast
Quick. your gun, Load and flre!"
cried Fred, still brandishing the blazing
mass. Hurry, the fires most QUIT"
Johnny came down the tree at leap,
and never before in his life had he load
ed his rife so quickly now. Then,
taking careful aim.- he fred. And this
time he did not miss his mark. The old
bear plunged forward. lifted himself in
the air and fell in the tangle of vine that
had imprisoned him. Again the rife was
raised to Johnny's shoulder and aim
taken, and again be hit his mark. The
second ball caused the bear to lie quiet,
for 1t had entered his brain.
Nov. 1 guess Wen go home and get
Uncle John TO come and help us get eur
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-03-29

squirrel home. - laughed Fred. -Gee, hsx
q big onep'
Eyes, but you shall have all the glory
of the game" declared Johnny. 'Ttl
you came he had mesiust where you Eol
HMM a tight place"
Mo, couldn't have got him alosse,
said Fred, going over and examining the
bear. az simply chased him into trap
and you did the rest But. it's about eat
ing time Let's go back to the house
and report for dinner Then, with Uncle
John.7 wen return here and get the
trophy Of our Skill 40 they say ta
books"
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-03-29

self: "Ah, If only I could be like her.
What beautiful clothes! How red her
cheeks are; and she is so happy that I'm
quite sure she never suffers from hunger
and cold
Bertha's> mother and father had gone
to visit sick neighbor that evening,
telling Bertha to go to bed when she grew
sleepy and not to wait up for them. as
they might be called upon TO sit till mid
night with the sick woman. SO Bertha
sat as long as she wished to by the win
dow. watching the gay carnival crowd at
their sport But when the clock struck
s she rose and put on her cloak--a
threadbear garment that could barely
hang together--and. wrapping her head
in an old shoulder shawl. passed out into
the night. She wanted to get closer to
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-03-29

Why Ia bread Hike the sum-
It sets at night. rises In the morning
and rolls up for breakfast.
Why Is man loos1lg fcr q ptaeo Hks
o man looking for wealth.
Both are hunting fortune.
Why are clocks like ixocrersf
They work with their hands
When are stolen Jewels fine pfezsussf
When searched for.
Why are cannons end etx.r>ncsdsr.
aIike7
Both have mouth-pteces.
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-03-29

FOR soon as winters SHOWS come dove,
And chill Is IN the air,
hunt q nice, snug hole and creep
Right In and Just stay there
It'll spring comes smiling round again
And calls me forth to eat.
And let me tell you, little friends.
Spring breakfasts are treat"
MAUD WALKER.
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-03-29
Riddle.

am found in 1ail. belong 10 q nre,
am seen IN a gutter abounding n rnfre:
Put my last letter third and 1t viii bs
found
belong to king without changing my
sound.
(Grate-Great)
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-03-29

Besides just sleepin in my cave.
As comfy as ] please,
With nothin' there to do but dream,
Or scratch my nose and sneeze.
I'D have TO be dragged all about
By children, great and small;
Up all day long, with meier napi
'Tworld not suit ms ar all
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-03-29
not q Teddy beat"

I'm glad I'm not Teddy bear,
Said little Master Bruin;
For then all through the winter long
There would be semethin' doin'.
Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-09-07
WORKING ON RED LIGHT
Transformed into Rendezvous
For Dcns of IniGuity.

The work of transforming the former
residence and business block situated
between First and Second South
streets and Fourth and Fifth West
streets into a stockade for. the housing
of the women of the local underworld
is going forward, and II all plans carry
as projected. the district will be ready
for occupancy in about a month or SIX
weeks, A considerable force Of men
IS at work, and home owners are nov
ing out of their residences leaving the
unblinded windows staring vacantly In
To tho street.
a high board fence has been erected
on the southern entrance to the pro-
posed stockadc, and numerous small
buildings not suitable to the purposes
of the place are being torn down. OPP
erations are being pushed on the now
buildings to be erected, and soon an
enclosing wall will be in place with
only two street entrances, one on First
South and the other on Second South
street
A number of residents Of the local
ity have been working steadily torase
Il fund with which to fight the removal
of the lower world denizens into the
district. and on Saturday, a fund OF
about $1,000 had been secured for this
purpose. While no legal steps have
been taken to prevent the consun,na-
ton of tho red light plans. yet II is be-
lieved the move can be successfully Gp-
posed and "a strong effort will be made
to win out in the courts against the
Citizens Investment companyof which
Mrs. Dora Topham. otherwise known
as Belle London. Is president.
Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-09-07
FAREWELL TO BISHOP
Edwin S. Sheets and Wife Guests OF
Honor mt Entertainment in
Tbirty-First Ward.

There is an interesting affair sched-
uled for tomorrow evening in the
Tbirty-llrst ward chapel when all tho
I adults of the ward will gather and bid
! farewell to Edwin S. Sheets who was
3 recently released as bishop of the
ward in order that he could take a
course in law at the Chicago uniyer-
sity
Various committees are working on
the affair ana unainteresting program
is in contemplation and refreshments
viii be served. Every adult menml Of.
the ward is invited and there will be
mo charge for admission. Among those
on the program are Messrs. Pike, Ash
\ ton, David Smith. Carl Badger. Mrs.
4 Jensen, Mrs. Brown. Miss Vida Fox;
Messrs. Faust, Van Savage, Carpenter
and others including the schulthess or
chcstra.
Last week there was a reception held
at the residence OF Mrs. n. &. Jensen
whore the new presidency OF the ward
primary association entertained Mrs.
1G. S. Sheets and the other members of
THE retiring presidency of the ward.
The stake presidency was also present
ITO wish Mrs. Sheets God speed and
health and happiness during her abs
sencc from Salt Lake during the next
q llreN NnarS.
Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-09-07
THAT sALTAIR SALE.
Tribune 1ndulges in n Weird Front
Page Story Without Foundation.

The Tribune has evidently been eat
ling Egyptian lotus, for 1T INDUCES this
morning In Il dream which is given q
flash head, Eastern Capital is after
Saltair'-''Fsyndicate is figuring on pur-
chasing the resort, and also the Salt
e Palace "---"Intent is to make Zion a
great summer resort-Cottages and no.
tells to be built mt beach, and railroad
to be electrified"
0 When Manager Langford of the Salt
air resort read the Tribune's idyl he
laughed heartily said it was n real
ten in accordance with that maxim In
equity jurisprudencetwh say. What
ought to be is; what ought to be done
has been DONE Mr. I.angford said
this was real. genuine news to him.
Let me read 1t again. he said. And
then smiled smile as broad as Il
Dutch cheese Yes" he observed Its
beautiful; only there's really nothing to
1t. Two years ago, there was an cast
ern syndicate approached us, n syndi-
Z cate represented heree by II. p Clark
and 4. ]. Shields, with Il view to pur-
chase, They put up a bond; but there
was n hitch about the terms, and the
@cheme fell through. Nothing In that
line has been done since. AS to selling
out. why, we are In business, Ii other
parties want this property, and VIII
4 give us our price, why of course we are
ready for the transaction. The railroad
and resort stands us in for about
a million dollars. However IL there is
any talk about purchasing from any
source. we do not know anything about
It. 1t Is our intention within the COM
Ing two years. ii It Is u possible thing
to build n llotel-but not on the beach.
II Will be built out in the lake sew
Nr,tl hmm 49,. y