davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-03

bit, nd just as eyerythinp was about ready for the start, Mamie began to cry and scream vigorously, holding to her little stomach and doubling up. "Oh. my stummick!' she walled. My stum- nick"
 Now, what can be the matter?" And the anxious mother came to her at once. But fn spite of her gentle solicitude Nan nle kept on bending double and crying very loudly, ''Oh, my stum-mick!'
 At this point the father came into the shack. He became much alarmed at seeing his little girl in such distress. To go on with her in this condition was not to be thought of, and the parents fell to doctoring the child as well as they could without conveniences of any kind. If only We had hot water" said the mother.
 T seen smoke raisin' over the hill yon-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-03

if he were alone In the town, if he had no friends or relatives here, and he re- piled that he was not only alone in thls town, but in all this big world
 Pauline's sympathies were reused at once In behalf of the old man, and that evening she went into the library, whither the old man had gone after dinner, and offered to read to him if he wished her to do so.
 An, come here, little daughter" said the old gentleman, smiling at Pauline Come, tell me your name What? You are the daughter of my hostess? Well, then l shall see much of you, shan't 1? l hope we will become great friends this summer"
 "Then shall you remain in town all summer?" Pauline asked the question with some surprise. All her life she had thought that to remain in town all sum mer would be very, very hard to bear on account of the insufferabe heat Of course, she and her mother had remained at home all the previous summer; but their circumstances would not permit of their going out of town. But Pauline could not conceive of any one stopping in town during the hot season unless obliged to do so.
 Yes. l shall stay right here unless-'' And the old gentleman paused. Yes, I think I shall remain in town right along indefinitely"
 'Oh. there is always a nice cool place on the east side of the house, way round under the trees" said Pauline. And we have nice rustic bench. But an easy rocking chair would be better for you. The rustic bench is only comfortable to look at" And Pauline laughed merrily.
 'I am sure we are to be great friends'' declared the old gentleman. Come. read to me from this volume of verse I know you can read with expression"
 Pauline drew a chair close to the old gen tleman and read aloud to him for half an hour, after which he thanked her earnestly and said he must retire to his own room as very old people were Ill i, very young ones, they must go to bed early.
 Mamma, what's our old gentleman's s name?' asked Pauline, joining her mother in the sewing room. Well. child, what will you say when I tell you he did not give me his name?" replied Mrs. Rogers. When he came to see about room and board he paid me in advance for week s accommodations. I said I would give him a receipt but he shook his head. saving
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-03

see her former acquaintance, but Pauline saw an amused smile playing on her proud lips as she turned her head away. But today Pauline did not mind the cut, and when about to pass Grace she said in a friendly voice:
 Grace, I'm sorry to discover such a weakness In you. l used to have great deal of admiration for you, and it hurts me to find you so unworthy"
 Grace merely lifted her head in the air, glanced at Pauline as though she were some insolent street beggar, and passed on.
 And so the time wore away, and Paul. inc found herself quite happy in spite of their changed circumstances She was so busy all day, helping her mother, prac- ticing her music (which she did not neg lect, even though she had no instructor and reading and chatting to the Old Man. But there seemed to be something on the Old Mans mind, for so often when Paul. inc was reading to him he would stop her in the middle of a sentence to ask her to go over the passage again. Then, he had not paid his board, except for the first week, and twice he had borrowed small sums from Pauline, who had glad ly loaned to him what little money she had saved toward some sheet music that she wished so much to buy.
 One afternoon Pauline was reading to the Old Man in the library. Suddenly he put out his hand and stopped her. Then he said:
 Pauline, what would you and your mother do were not to find the money to pay my board? Would you turn me out? Speak plainly, for I must know the truth-and at once."
 Pauline laid aside the book and drew her chair close to the Old Man.
 No, sir" she said in voice full of tenderness. "You are welcome here as long as you wish to remain. If you have no other friends in the world but mamma and me, you may call our house your home for--always."
 But the money, childf Do you mean to say I can stay without payingr
 "Yes, sir, you may stay without paying if you have no money. You are old and alone, and mamma and l are very fond of you. If you are in need, do not worry about your board and room. Mamma will tell you that under no conditions would she have you fret over the small sum you are indebted to her for. You shall be one of the family, sir, and mamma and I shall do all that poor people can
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-03
BY MAUD WALKER.

The story which Is about to be re- lated happened many. many years ago in the Far West. That is to say, the scene of action was at that time called tlie Far West, for 1t belonged to that region of country west of the Mississippi River but east of the Rocky Mountains.
 And in thal far-away land there were at the time of my story no railroads such as honeycomb the country now, and there were no large cities, either. The towns were few and far between, and rowing bands of Indians wandered here and there sometimes becoming very hos tile toward the white men who were en- croaehing on their territory more and more, and driving them from their hunt ing grounds.
 And the White Settlers" as the from tiersmen were called, travelled from the more civilized states to the new country Out West" In big covered wagons that were drawn by oxen or mules, horses seldom answering the purpose of drawing the heavy burdens. for their strength and endurance were not adequate for the travel.
 One fine spring day a white-cauyased wagon was seen going over the prairie road leading toward the setting sun. h. side this wagon, and on the front seat. sat man and a woman. The man held the lines which guided a pair of we'll
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-03

he never had business transactions with people whom he could not trust. Then, as he was going out 1 asked whom l had the pleasure of enrolling in my register. He turned and looked at me with such quaint smile, saying: Just call me the Old Man. for I'm quite sure you will not have another boarder as old as l am. We'll I felt so sure of his honesty that l made no objection to his coming in without a name. He is doubtless bit eccentric, but man of fine character"
 Maybe the dear old man is in some sort of trouble," said Pauline. q do hope we can make him happy and comfortable during the summer"
 The days wore on and Sunday came. As Pauline was going to her room to dress for Sunday school and church she heard the Old Man call to her from the porch. Little one, will you conduct me to your church? Being stranger here l do not know the way. Besides, my old legs don't walk as nimbly as they used to, and I feel more certain of myself when I have some strong young person beside me-
 "oh, yes Sir" said Pauline 'T shall |. be so glad to take you with me. When Pauline led the Old Man down the church aisle that morning several of her old d-tiIne friends looked at each other and smiled knowingly, whispering little would be witicisms about the queer-look- ing old man who accompanied her. ''Is he Father Timer" whispered Grace Van Horn to Marie Temple Look at his walk-hls gait, I should say. It resem- bles the limp of dray horse."
 Marie Temple laughed softly, whisper ing back: Same poor old relative, prob- ably, whom they did not know when they Thew better days,' but who Is good enough to visit them in their boarding house."
 Wonder who his tailor is?" whispered Grace Van Horn. Guess he must have lived during the early ages. He is an antique."
 Yes, I should think they would set him on the mantel. or put him in the cabinet" whispered Marie. Just note the whiskers. will you?"
 Needs shave" snickered Grace. Then the stern eye of lady sitting in the same pew with them caused them to be- come silent.
 A few days afterwards Pauline was helping the Old Man down town to Q shop where he wished to make some pur- chases. and passed Grace Van Horn on the street. The latter pretended not to
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-03

taken of their supper, Mamie surprised them all by saying: "The stummiek-ache is goned, an I can eat some bacon and bread, ma" And you may better believe the father mother and Sam were de- lighted that she had recovered from her very painful sickness of the entire after noon. So she was given q good supper and then told to go to sleep. The parents had brought the bedding from the wagon and had made up beds on the floor
 As Mamie lay very quietly, eyes tightly closed, her mother, thinking she was asleep, whispered to Sam to go to bed and make no noise during the process. Then, she and the father soon crept quietly into their bed, and were soon slumbering soundly.
 After the house had been silent for about half an hour, and Mamie felt sure
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-03

built mules that were trotting along as If the burden of the wagon-household goods piled high inside It, and the hu- man beings on top it all-were of no consequence.
 As the mules trotted along the woman on the front seat would occasionally turn to someone inside the wagon behind her and say: Now, Mamie, stop that bawl- ing. You know well enough that we couldn't go all the way baek-eight or ten miles-just to git cat. Therell be plenty O cats whur we're a-goin' to. mind that. Never yet seen . place whur white folks lived that there want plenty O squallin' cats.'
 But 1t ain't any ole cat at I want" came a mournful little voice from the depths of the wagon, away Inside un- der the canvas cover. T want Pussy Piggin."
 "Au, she ain't no punkins," came an- other voice from inside the wagon, q boys brusque voice. "I'd be glad to be shed O her if twas me"
 q want Pussy Piggin," walled the lit tie voice, which was plainly that of a little girl.
 
 just started we'd a-gone back fer her." said the man on the front seat, who was none other than the father of the voices from the Inside of the wagon. And the woman beside him on the seat was his wife, and mother of the little ones tucked away inside. But we can't go back now. as we're a good piece frum thar now"
 An, yonder's a housew cried the boys voice, and a dirty little masculine hand was thrust from beneath the side of the wagon cover, pointing toward a little frame shack that stood like a dot on the prairie. Then the faces of the two chil- dren might be seen peeping from un- der the wagon cover, interested in any thing that spoke of animal or human life on that prairie where there was such a dearth of it.
 But even as she peeped at the lone 'settler's' shack the little girl kept on crying softly and murmuring every few minutes: .1 want my Pussy Piggin. :" "I reckon we'd better stop thar an water the mules an fix our own snack" said the man, meaning by thar the frame shack. And within a little while the moving wagon had pulled up in front of the settlers" shack and the driver had called out: Hello. thar!" But as no response came from the inside of the shack the man in the wagon got down from his high seat and went to the pine board door and pushed it open. The place was deserted. the settler having pulled up stakes" and moved away. Soon the movers were inside the shack, the woman setting some cold victuals- from the messbox in the wagon-upon an old pine-box table which remained in the shack. During the noon hour. while the mules ate their dinner and rested, Nan nie-the little girl from the wagon-sat very silent. meditatng deeply. After
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-03

we was in the wagon, that she meant to steal away at night an take one of the mules an ride back for sy-Pig- gin. I bet that's whur she's gone"
 And so it dawned upon the parents too, that their little girl had gone on dangerous trip over a lonely prairie road, beset by Indians and wolves, to fetch her pet cat Hurriedly the father mounted the remaining mule and rode off towards the old place they had left on the previous day. The mother and Sam remained at the temporary camp, the former praying silently for the safe return of her precious child.
 In the middle of the afternoon the waiting woman and boy saw two mules coming over the prairie. on one a man and on the other little form, clad in pink calico dress, which futtered In the warm breeze. In their eagerness to greet the returning runaway, and her protector, the mother and brother went down the road, waving their hands in welcome.
 After a few minutes all were together, and the mother, after clasping lovingly the little hand of her daughter, said:
 Why, child, how could you do such a thing? And you was so sick all aft ernoon, too. It was dreadfulp'
 ''No ma, I wasn't bit sick. was pretendin'. just to keep us from goin' on, fer if we'd a-gone much further I couldn't a-gone back fer Pussy -Piggln. An Pussy was so glad to see me- She jest come runnin'. She must a-bin aw- ful lonesome round that place whur there wasn't soul except herself"
 But. child. don't you know 1t was wicked to pretend you was sick-an to go off that away. Why, we wus scared to death.' And the poor mother bent an injured look on the little girl.
 .'I s'pose I wus wicked" admitted Mamie. But reck-o-leckt that heard you say onct that of two evils we must choose the-the-littlest. Well, 1t wus much wickeder to leave my Pussy Piggin thar alone to starye than 1t wus to pretend like I wus sick. An meant to get back before you wus awake. didn't know 1t would take so long to go there. l couldn't ride very fast for old Ginger jolts so. But, pa. show ma an Sam Pussy Piggin."
 Whereupon the father, smiling indul- gently at his kindhearted little daughter, took from the breast of his coat a tiny blue-eyed, fuzzy kitten. that sat blink ing at the light and stretching it's mouth as if very sleepy, though contented In It's nest.
 You see, ma,' said Mamie. Pussy Piggin Is an orphan, an I'm her step ma. So, couldn't let a little fb an dangerous ride in the nighttime keep me from doln' my duty to her, an love her like she was my own-jest as you love me. ma. An you wouldn't leave me. to starve. would you, jest be- cause you'd got started without me?'
 "No, my child, I'd go to the end of
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-03

der awhile ago." said the father. May be there's some settlers over thar. I'll git on one of the mules an ride over an see if l can git some sticks fur fire. It's good five mile to the next crick whur we'll be able to git wood"
 And so the father rode over the hill- mile away-and returned with a few sticks os green cottonwood with which he made a little campfire in the yard. And soon there was some hot water in the coffee pot, which was given to Mamie to drink some of 1t being used to dip clothes in to lay over the badly behaving stomach. But In vain! Still did Mamie bend double and weep, declaring, II can't git in the wagon till tomorrer, ma, l jest can't. I'm too sick. Can't we stay here all night?"
 And so the afternoon passed away with Mamie still complaining, the cramps in the ''stummick" apparently no better. And the parents were too much alarmed about her to try to push on that day, and decided to remain in the deserted shack till the following morning, when, if the child was able, they would pursue their journey.
 That night. soon after they had par
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-03

And those in the little frame house slept on and on, not waking till dawn. Then the father rose and looked towards the little pallet-bed where Mamie had been lying, intending to inquire of her should be be awake-how she was feel ing after a good nights rest. But to his astonisbment he saw an empty bed. He spoke to his wife and she still drowsy, declared that Mamie had just gone out to look about and would probably come in within few min utes.
 The father, mother and Sam were soon up and dressed, and Sam went out to call his sister, while his father went to feed the mules, hoping to make an early start on their journey Can you imag Inc the wonder of them all when they failed to find Mamie, and discovered the
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-03

that she could creep out of bed without disturbing the sleepers; she got up and went ever so softly from the shack, drawing the door shut after her. Then she flew towards the mules. that were tethered to grass near the house. An, I'll ride on Ginger" said Mamie, lead ing the larger of the mules toward the wagon. There she found the bridle, and after some difficulty had the bit between old Ginger's teeth. In another minute she was astrlde his back, riding off down the road toward the east.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-03
OUR PUZZLE CORNER.

None ever saw me, you will never see; And yet l am the confidence of all Who live and breathe on this terrestrial
 ball.
 (Ans.-Tomorrow.) Answers to Last Weeks Puzzles. (D Saspender = pen. (2J Continue = tin. (S) Contertare-tert. (l) Concove-cape. Letter ni0n,d:-BdSebdH
 Prorer6 PuSSles = Epery cloud has a silUer lining.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-03
LETTER ENIGMA.

My first is in blue, but not in green; My second is in loyal, but not in queen; My third Is in oven, but not in bake; My fourth is In swan, but not in drake; My fifth is the same as my fourth, you see; My sixth is in honey, but not in bee; My seventh is in meal, but not in corn; My eighth is in misery, but not in forlorn;
 My whole spells a word
 Meaning fragrance and beauty,
 And to cultivate them
 Is every child's duty.
 u) Behead large number of birds col lected together and leave door fasten- ing.
 @ Behead market place and leave the work attributed to genius.
 (3) Doubly behead a man who works in stone and brick and leave a male child.
 (4) Curtail that which means to be dull and spirltless and leave kitchen utensll. (5) Curtail a celestial body and leave the cry of COW.
 HIDDEN PROVERB PUZZLE. 4 proverb is hidden in the following six sentences, each sentence containing one word of the proverb, the words ap- bearing In their regular order:
 A good man fears no censure. The setting sun promises another day. The hen protects her brood as tenderly as the mother protects her babe.
 We never miss the water till the well runs dry.
 The grass grows best where no feet tread.
 The glutt lives just to feast on the fat of the land.
 RIDDLES AND ANSWERS.  He that in music takes delight, And he that sleeps secure at night, And he who sails too near the land, And he that's caught by laws strong
 hand,
 He who his time in tavern spends, And he that courts of law attends Are all acquainted well with me; My name you surely now must see. (Ans.-Bar.D
 I never was, but always am to be;
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-03

absence of one of the mules?
 "Oh, it must have been some prowling Indians! walled the poor, distressc mother. "They must have crept in while we slept and stole away our darlin' child. Oh, what can we do?-what can we do?"
 Say ma," said Sam, after few mo- ment's thought, and while his father was bridling the other mule, preparatory to starting to the nearest town to give the alarm, "I bet Sis has gone back after Pussy Piggin. She said yesterday, while
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-03

the earth for you if you'd get lost from me-" said the mother. "And you shall not be scolded for this net, for I see plainly that we should have gone back for Pussy-Piggin.''
 Well, she'll never be left again." de- clared Mamie. 'Ill watch out for her just as you an pa watches out fer men Sam"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-03
LITTLE NEEDS APPREHENSION.

Ned stood by the nurse, looking intent ly at his baby sister that was being lulled to sleep. "Ain't she nearly un- conscious?" asked Ned in a whisper, al- luding to the baby.
 Nurse nodded affirmatively, continuing to sing lullaby.
 ''Then stop singing or you'll sure kill her," declared Ned
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-03
Undaunted Billy.

Billy Johnson was a fellow
 Living in the town: And he made moon-eyes at Sally Little Sally Brown. But young Sally didn't like him. So she passed him by: But our Billy was a hero
 And again did try.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-03

win the h zee of Miss Sally, And one day did take To the little girl in question
 A big ginger cake. But Miss Sally turned her nose up; Tossed her flaxen curls; Then rerused the cake, so Billy Said. ''rhere're other girls"
The Idaho scimitar. [volume] (Boise, Idaho) 1907-1908, 1908-06-27

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t a to lin Mr. said:
My with public in when
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of
called Invariably he
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to the
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law of God
that which revealed them their Doctrine in
The Idaho scimitar. [volume] (Boise, Idaho) 1907-1908, 1908-06-27
MORMON DISLOYALTY.

Before the committee privileges and elections investigating the right Of
to n Staess B.
CrcloW resident Salt Lake City and United
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eadt the
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direct rebellion kingdom of God"
Mr. Chchlow S theocacy
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uihe and have
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The Idaho scimitar. [volume] (Boise, Idaho) 1907-1908, 1908-06-27

The book
o the
is o of thee
o the nation
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-20
TO MEET "HAM" YOUNG'S BODY
DELEGATION ARRANGES TC
BE AT RAILROAD STATION.
Plans for the Funeral Next Monday
Morning-Intermen in Mt.
Olivet Cemetery.

A delegation of veteran telegraphers and
members of the Sons of Jonadab has
arranged to be at the Union railroad sta
ton at 4:42 clock this afternoon to re-
ceive the remains of Col. Ham Young.
who died yesterday in Chicago. His sons,
William and Edwin Young, will also be
at the station with a number Of personal
friends.
The funeral will be held at 10 o'clock
Monday morning from the Church of the
Immaculate Conception, Sth and N streets,
where high mass of requiem will be said.
The interment will be in Mount Olivet
cemetery. Three of the pallbearers will
de selected from the veteran employees OF
the Western Union Telegraph Company s
office here and three from the Sons of
Jonadab.
Frank Young son of Col Young. is &C
companying the remains from Chicago. A
telegram received today from NJ. j.
O'Leary of New York. secretary of the
Photographers Mutual Benefit Association,
states that he will come to this city and
attend the obseQuieS as a representative
of that organization.
The several local councils of Jonadabs
have arranged to hold a meeting in COM
bnation this evening. when Sovereign
Chief S. II. Wiley will preside, and ar
engagements made to participate in the
funeral ceremonies of their sovereign
secretary. 1t is also expected that a
meeting of the Old Time Telegraphers will
also be held for the same purpose.