davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1908-12-26
An English Custom That Is Interesting and Refreshing

in before the water should be put into
it. she suggests temptingly: And now
wouldn't you just like fresh egg.
m'm?''
While you are sight seeing you need
never miss your tea. for no matter how
out of the world you may think your
self. a modest but capable tearoom Will
confront you with it's promise Of COM
fort.
These little country tearooms are
very unpretentious. They usually have
a small bakeshop in front. From this
you enter the parlor beyond. where
one or two tables are spread. and you
sit and gaze upon the family heirlooms
and mementoes. and pet the cat and the
dog and the parrot. too, perhaps. while
YOU wait for your tea and thin bread
and butter. dainty and delicious, the
very saving grace to ennuied sight
seers.
Your English tea is the best
ever drank" you cry adIniringly to
gain smile from her. and she says:
"Oh, tea It's easy enough to have
good tea. You see. it's all in the max
ing You must have your pot hot be-
fore you pour in the water. And you
must always use fresh. boiling water.
That's all the secret of making good
tea But don't you drink tea in
American
Teatime is the social hour. You
visit and receive visits at that time.
and if you make your call at that hour
and tea is not served you feel dis
tinctly defrauded, and rush home for a
belated cup in your own particular
family circle.
The San Francisco call., 1908-12-26

for him to lose his temper. There also
he saw General Arnold, who afterward
sought to betray his country, but VINO
at that time was regarded as brave
and skillful leader, and many otnefs
whose names he had heard spoken OF
with honor. But most OF all ne Was
interested in Colonel Morgan's famous
sharpshooters, in their clothes OF DUCK
skin and their coonskin caps. with tne
tails hanging down behind. Each or
them carried rifle with long, heaVy
barrel and each wore powder norm
and a bullet pouch across his shoui-
der. Colonel Willett presented the BOY
to Colonel Morgan. who looked at him
approvingly with his sharp black eyes
would you like to join my rifle
men?" Colonel Morgan asked iokingiy.
Yes. / would like to very much.
Lightfoot replied, his face flushing
with pleasure
VERY we'll" Colonel Morgan said,
still laughing. but first you must show
US how well you can saoot. We can't
admit any one who does not know how
to use his rifle
He paced off SO yards to a white birch
tree and with piece of charcoal drew
a face upon the smooth white bark.
There lie said, as he came back,
there's the enemy; let me see you hit
him.
Lightfoot took the rife which Colonel
Morgan handed to him and raised it
quickly to his shoulder. The next mo-
ment he fired. The colonel laughed
Il ought to have told you to be care
full" he said +It is hair trigger and
you pressed it too soon."
perhaps / hit the tree, anyway
Lightfoot said, with slight smile.
Let us see,'' the colonel replied, and
they walked to the target. The bullet
had struck just above the left eye of
his target
That's funny accident Colonel
Morgan said. refusing to admit that
the boy could have hit the target inten-
tionalIy. Wen try it again, and this
time be sure you take aim. Maybe you
can put a bullet over the other eyer
They returned to their first position,
and after reloading the rife Lightfoot
$ again brought 1t TO his shoulder,
glanced along the barrel and fired.
TOO bad.' the colonel said. shaking
his head I'm afraid we shall not be
able to admit you since you don't un-
derstand how to handle your weapon.
Suppose we look at the target once
more" Lightfoot remarked quietly.
They found that the bullet had struck
above the right eye of the target, eX-
actly where the colonel had suggested.
The soldier was astonished. do you
mean to say that you did that on pur-
pose?" he asked.
well, I tried TO do it, if that's what
YOU mean" Lightfoot replied.
You're a member of my corps" the
colonel cried. Il haven't a man in ii
who can shoot like that"
So I.ightfoot became a member OF
the famous corps and he spent that
night in it's camp. sleeping in the open
air under a blanket. Word came on
the afternoon of the following day that
there was a movement of the enemy
and the corps was ordered to advance
The San Francisco call., 1908-12-26
SOME INTERESTING GAMES

name on a slip of paper, its size and
colors on another; and its habits on
third. The names of the sizes and the
habits are TO be placed each by them
Selves in different lots. This being
arranged one of the party draws out
a name from the first hat and reads It
aloud. and then draws out and reads
a slip from each of the other mats. ana
much merriment will be caused by the
odd associations: as when Mr. Smith.
for instance. is described as an elephant
10 inches long, with green head and
brilliant eyes. and prettily marked
yellow and purple, with tail of beau
tiful blue feathers and lives on slugs
and snails
The San Francisco call., 1908-12-26
The Piper

Piping down the valleys wild,
Piping songs of pleasant glee,
On a cloud 1 saw child,
And he. laughing, said to me:
pipe a song about a lamb
So l piped with merry cheer.
Piper, pipe that song again"
So ] piped he wept to hear.
Drop thy pipe, thy happy pipe,
Sing thy songs of happy cheer
So | sang the same again,
While he wept with joy to hear.
piper, sit thee down and write
In a book that all may read
So he vanished from my sight;
And 1 plucked a hollow reed.
And I made a rural pen,
And / stain'd the water clear.
And l wrote my happy songs,
Every child may joy to hear.
William Blake.
The San Francisco call., 1908-12-26
ART OF BALANCING

r VERY boy and girl who has seen
l. professional in the many feats of
balancing desires to initiate those feats
They appear to be quite easy, but how
difficult they really are the experiment
ers discover when the attempt is made
It is a good thing to learn to balance
simple objects, for it trains the eye and
the muscles. but we are now consider
ing it for the fun that may be had out
of it.
Get a pole to 10 feet in length, hold
1t with the left hand and place 1t up
right on the palm of the right hand.
When you feel that the pole is steady,
let go with the left hand. keeping your
eye fixed on the top of the pole. 1T it
leans slightly to the right. quickly but
gently move the hand in that direction
until the pole is steadied: if it leans to
the left move the hand in that direc-
ton With little practice you will be
able to balance it on the palm quite
steadily.
When you have succeeded to your
satisfaction with the long pole try
shorter one. This viii be more diff
cult to balance because when the long
pole leans an inch orHs so it is still al
most upright but a shorter pole, when
leaning an inch or so is much more
likely to fall. So when you gradually
reduce the size of the object until you
can balance a lead pencil you will have
accomplished the first lesson.
Now. using the long pole again try
balancing it on the fingers, first on one
and then on another. Then try it with
the left hand until you have mastered
each finger the palm and in some cases
the back of the hand.
You are now ready to try balancing
on the chin; later on the nose and
the forehead. The principle to be re-
membered is to keep the eye on the top
of the object always, and at the first
sign of it's leaning in any direction TO
move the base of support in that direc-
ton In other words, the center of
gravity. about which you have all
learned at school, must be kept directly
under the top of the balanced object.
If several boys practice this bal
ancing together they will find much
amusement in it, as they can have con-
tests and games with it--starting out
at the same moment, for instance, bal
ancing the poles, the one that keeps
his balance longest scoring point.
Balance first on the right palm, then on
the left; then on the first finger of the
right hand. then on the first finger of
the left. on the chin, the nose and the
forehead and so on, point being
scored for each feat.
The San Francisco call., 1908-12-26
IN FTERNOON tea in America is as
~ yet function in England it is

IN FTERNOON tea in America is as
~ yet function; in England it is
custom.
In England it is simply called tea"
and occurs from to o'clock daily, as
regularly as any other meal. How soon
and how happily you fall into its ac-
ceptance.
When whisking through the country
behind one OF the toy engines which
make American eyes smile. remember
ing the giants of steam locomotion at
refreshing afternoon beverage If you
have not along with you tea basket,
furnished for these special needs, with
out which few we'll regulated English
women travel, it is perfectly possible
to order tea at one of the stations. A
little notice framed and hung up in the
railway carriage will tell you about it,
You are forthwith provided with the
little pot full of the steaming decoc
tion. a cup as big as our coffee cups,
bath buns or bread and butter, and the
necessary cream and sugar, the former
in a dumpy earthen jar. sealed, as 1t
came from the dairy. Lemon is not
served; that belongs to the tea served
in Society along with the thimble
cups.
You drink your tea leisurely in the
railway carriage, and leave your cup
and teapot to be gathered up at one
of the stations along the way after you
have finished
In London, if YOU are at home when
the tea is brought up on the stroke of
the clock YOU have usually to deal with
a dark. fat little earthen pot smothered
like a baby bunting in an ornate
wadded tea coy.
The San Francisco call., 1908-12-26

and find out what it was. Led by
Colonel Morgan himself. the. men Went
forward along a wooded ridge toward
the British camp They did not at
tempt TO keep any order in their prog
ress, but they went silently. screening
themselves IN the underbrush, Wnicn
was thick along the hillside
They pushed forward in this manner
about a mile and half before they en-
countered the enemy. Then they De-
came aware of the fact that men were
creeping toward them as cautiously as
possible. Instantly the corps halted
and each man threw himself behind the
nearest shelter. thrusting his rife for
ward ready TO fire. 1t turned cut tnat
the men in front of them were Indians
and Tories who had been sent out by
General Burgoyne as skirmlsh line
to protect the right wing and nank OF
his army from surprise.
Lightfoot remembered the desperate
conflict of Oriskany, and his heart De-
gan to beat fast. But this time the
surprise was awaiting the enemy IN :
stead of the American troops, anu -
was rot long delayed. A rifle cracked
among the trees toward the crest OF the
hill. then another and another, as the
sl<irunishers, startled to find their op-
moments so close at hand. forgot their
caution and exposed themselves 20 the
aim of the sharpshooters Llght1ooI
did not get a chance 10 shoot- FssFih
from behind log which served hlnl as
n breastwork he could catch only =
glimpse of a dark body of the feathered
head of an Indian fitting from one tree
IN another. For a few moments the
firing was brisk and the enemy sent
yolley of shots in return; then the other
line melted away and vanished.
This was the signal for the AlIlelt-
n a
cans to advance, which tney ulu aS
rapidly as possible. keeping a snarp
watch ahead to avoid an ambush. Soon
thew heard the shouting of commands
and saw the CLEAN of red uniforms
between the tree trunks They knew
that the regular line was advancing
and that the British army was moving
in force. -
Again they halted, and obeying the
order to wait until the enemy was close
at hand they poured deadly fire
against the line. The redcoats waVereo
for a moment and then replied with a
volley which seemed to Lightfoot to
fill the woods with a shower OF hissins
bullets He could hear them thu0
against the trunks of the trees al
about him. Colonel Morgan's men fired
in return as fast as they could load
their rifles, and their bullets did much
more damage than those directed
against them. because each of tho
sharpshooters was careful TO choose hi:
man. while the English and Hessiar
troops fired in volleys and mostly ovel
the heads Of the patriots
But more and more men came up tC
strengthen the British line and the sol
diers, in spite of their losses, pressed
forward with so much bravery tha
Colonel Morgan was forced to retreat
The firing had been heard in the
American camp. however. and a regi
ment soon made its appearance, cage
to join in the fight. Then the British
in their turn were compelled to Civ
ground and the Americans drove then
The San Francisco call., 1908-12-26
The Moon Is Round

This Is a 'catch" game Of. some-
what diverting kind. The players sit in
a circle on chairs, and the leader takes
a walking stick and pretends to draw
a circle upon the carpet, saying as he
does, .oThe moon is round; 1t has two
eyes, a nose, and a mouth. And he
pretends to mark in each feature as
he mentions it. Then he passes 1t to
the next player to do the same, and
as each in turn does the drawing on
the carpet and repeats the words, the
leader says. Right or Wrong" They
are usually told shat 1t is wrong" be-
The San Francisco call., 1908-12-26
A Watch Holder

a novel little holder for watch is
intended for hanging upon the wall by
the side of a bed and into which a
watch may be slipped at night time
and be easily seen when required.
A piece of stout cardboard should be
used for the foundation, and in the
center a circular hole cut to mt the
watch it is intended for. The card
board can be covered with any pretty
piece of silk or brocade on which has
been worked some pretty little floral
design. 1t is entirely edged with cord,
and there is a loop at the top by
which it may be hung upon the wall.
At the back of the circular space, cut
in the center, is sewn small pocket
of wash leather. into which the watch
may be placed.
The San Francisco call., 1908-12-26
QUAINT IDEAS FOR PARTY COSTUMES

r. OR a children's costume party, a
Dutch girl dress for a girl from
to - years of age, is always a
favorite and is very easily made.
II has skirt Of bright blue and
white striped cotton. with bands Of
white cotton at the foot; the sleeves
are Of the same material, while a cot
ton material in a Paisley pattern forms
The bodice part: nainsook is used Tor
the revers. apron and cap. Two fancy
buttons or ornaments are sewn on the
CAP. and the sabots give the desired
finish.
Materials required: Three and half
Yards striped cotton 2S inches wide
e-quarters yard Paisley cotton, two
yards nainsook.
Pink Roses for Girl from to 3
Years-This effective little dress could
be carried out quite cheaply. The skirt
81 very full and made ia rose pink
sateen: the leaves are in green sateen,
and sewn to the waist at intervals.
pink sateen IS used for the bodice and
sleeves and q chain of artificial roses
fs crossed on the front Of the bodice;
these could. OF course, be made IN
naper: another chain is carried IN the
hand: a few would look pretty worn
in the hair.
Materials required: Two yards pink
and half yard green sateen-
uukmaid. for girl from to
1-esr.-rhis is. indeed, a dainty young
,,,sfden. The little shaped skirt and
bodice are Of white muslin, spotted
VIII pink; the opening in the front OF
l,odice is filed up with white lawn
,,-hicb also continues and forms the
apron. and is used for the flchu ana
rosette.
pale pink lawn makes pretty
The San Francisco call., 1908-12-26
written for The Junior Call by Will
lam Henry Ferber.)


lam Henry FerberD
4 KNOW Of no better way to help
childhood than to make children
happy; and the only way for young
people TO enjoy the springtime of life
IS 10 scatter the seeds of kindness into
the dark and gloomy places in others
hearts, and make flower gardens in the
lives OF others. where now there only
grow weeds of woe and plants Of bit
terness.
hope YOU viii catch my meaning,
because I should like 10 be understood;
but before you can cultivate such
flower garden you must pull out all
the weeds in your own lives.
And how viii you start2 suppose you
say on New Years day. 1 am going to
be happy every day this year. and viii
try to make everybody else happy with
whom / associate
II you try this and viii only per
severe you will look back with pleasure
over your diary of 1909 and find that
you have not had a sad day during the
entire year.
Two years ago ] resolved on New
Years day that I would try to be happy
during the entire coming year, and L
was, although I Travelled 10000 miles,
and met thousands of people. still
during all that time I never spent a
single hour in bitterness or anger, nor
did I allow my temper TO run away
from me or with me. but by exercising
& proper dignity and self-control have
The San Francisco call., 1908-12-26

Materials required: Three yards mus
lin 2S inches wide. one yard white and
one yard pink lawn. two yards ribbon
velvet.
A milkmaid costume for an older girl
is also very effective. as a rosy checked
milkmaid is very pretty sight.
dressed in a short pink cotton frock,
with a white apron with frills and
pink ribbon bows "a stage milkmaid of
course). the neck turned in and fin
ished with lawn kerchief, and elbow
sleeves trimmed with lawn ruffles. or
long sleeves turned back to the elbow.
A white lawn sunbonnet set on the
head, with strings dangling, completes
the toilet.
Hose white, and slippers black, and
white cotton gloves. A little wooden
pail and a tiny milking stool may be
carried.
Another pretty costume is autumn.
A girl representing autumn wears a
short skirt of some inexpensive cream
material, not too thin, decorated with
foliage. These come in paper in beau
tiful colorings. and may be easily ap-
piled to the material.
The short baby waist will be cut low
and outlined with a drapery of purple
chiffon caught on the shoulders with
punches of grapes.
The sleeves could be overlapping
frills scattered with leaves and the
sash OF ombre chiffon. Yellow or pur-
pie will be pretty.
Wear a large yellow straw hat
wreathed with grapes and tied with
yellow chiffon
Shoes and hose red, brown. white or
black. just as you prefer. The gloves
should be white.
Your fan could be cardboard covered
with wheat resting on q golden sickle
(gilded cardboard), the handle of the
sickle forming the handle of the fan.
The San Francisco call., 1908-12-26
Catch the Key

Chairs are placed in circle just suf-
ficiently far apart for the players
seated on them TO reach each others
hands. A string is tied to the first
chair and a key is slipped on 1t; the
string being held by the players. One
person stands in the middle OF the
circle and the game is for the players
to pass the key along the string so
dexterous1y that. although he may see
it. he can not catch it; when he catches
it the player, in whose possession II
last was. pays a forfeit and takes the
place in the center
The San Francisco call., 1908-12-26

Was terror IN Albany ana
in all the settlements up and
down the Mohawk valley and the
Hudson in the gloomy month OF
August in the year 17T7. 1t is true
that the danger of the Americans had
been made less by the defeat of Colonel
st. Leger and his troop of English
Tories and Indians in their attack upon
Fort Schuyler, but Burgoyne, who was
q famous British general. was still ad-
vancing from the north. Starting from
Canada with his army OF trained Brit
ish and Hessian soldiers and his Indian
allies, he had captured the forts on
Lake Champlain and Lake George.
where the Americans had hoped 10
resist him, and at last he was in the
Hudson valley. heading toward Albany.
There he was to meet Lord Howe, who
was TO bring up another army from
New York. which was in the hands of
the British Colonel st. Leger was to
have Joined them there with his forces.
but he had been compelled to retreat
TO the Canadian border after the pa
triots won the day at Fort Schuyler.
No doubt there was good cause for
the alarm which spread through the
American settlements. The only hope
Of safety lay in checking General Bur
goyne's army before it could reach AL
bany and join that of Lord Howe.
~ ltA A4ilS obJecN ia view ali the troops
that could be spared were sent up the
Hudson. and among the rest came the
victorious men of Tryon county. fresh
from their victory over Colonel St
Legcr.
With this detachment was Lightfoot
Al hrst sight you would have taken him
for an Indian boy. with his dark skin
and his quick. easy motions. He was
like the Indians. too. in his habit of
listening much and saying little. This
was not strange, for he had been cap
tured by the fierce Mohawks when he
was a baby and had grown up among
them until his father found him. only
p little while before the outbreak of
the war.
Lightfeot had hoped that they would
20 10 Albany before they joined the
American army. for he had never seen
the city Of which he had heard so
much But when they reached the mouth
The San Francisco call., 1908-12-26
The Whistle

A whistle. with string attachment
to IL. is to be secretly fastened to the
back of one of the company He IS to
be placed in the center of a circle Of
the players, and another whistle is to
be shown him, which he is told to find-
When his back is turned some one be-
hind him seizes the whistle, blows il.
and drops 1t quickly; he hearing it will
turn around instantly, then another
person must blow it again, and so keep
him constantly turning around and
The San Francisco call., 1908-12-26
Not What He Meant

A gentleman visiting Ireland sent a
new suit of clothes to the local tailor
Ito be let out"
A few days afterward he went down
to the tailor and said, What about-my
clothesg"
Most successful. most successful"
said the tailor. II have let them out
for month at shilling a week"
The San Francisco call., 1908-12-26
A DOGS PECULIAR TASTE

missed Gyp one day. / searched the
streets for hours. and had given him
I'D. when / met my former neighbor. the
singer. She inquired If ! was looking
for Gyp.
WELL she said ''he is at my apart
ment He climbed the four flights of
stairs. ] heard little noise outside
the door that seemed familiar, and
Judge my surprise to see Mr.. Gyp,
inquired if ne wanted his coffee. and he
wagged his tail and made the accus-
toned little noise to indicate his de-
sire
The San Francisco call., 1908-12-26

OF the Mohawk where il plunges foam
ing over the rocks into the Hudson
they were compelled to turn north with
out delay. for Burgoyne was pressing on
and there was no time to lose. as bat
tie might be fought at any moment.
AS matter Of fact the British had
already crossed the Hudson and had
reached the plain Of Saratoga The
Americans. under the command of Cen
eral Gates. had assembled at Saltwater,
not far from the British. and were there
The San Francisco call., 1908-12-26

to meet the enemy. General
was compelled to bring all
the provisions for his army from Can
ada, and this was no easy matter in
those days, especially as the Americans
sent out parties of men to attack his
provision trains at every opportunity.
So he was in a hurry to have the battle
over with in order that he might draw
his supplies from Albany. for he never
doubted that he would be the victor.
Indeed, he and his officers were SO cer-
The San Francisco call., 1908-12-26

tain of it that they did not pay much
attention to preparing for the contest
that was to decide SO much, but spent
their nights in their camp feasting and
drinking, as the fashion was then among
officers of the army.
Lightfoot was greatly interested in
the great earthworks and redoubts
which had been built to defend the
American camp. General Gates was
pointed out to him-a short, fat man.
who looked as though it might be easy
The San Francisco call., 1908-12-26

some seven years ago received a
little fox terrier three weeks old.
when he was about 4 years old l lived
sn an apartment. Next door lived
professional singer who took great
fsncv to my little dog. and every
-,-.~rina about II o'clock she would
knocx on my door and inquire IL sne
The San Francisco call., 1908-12-26
geological Recreations

The names Of each member of the
party must be written on slips of
papcr. and the whole placed together
in a hat. Each person is then to
choose q beast, or bird, and write its
The San Francisco call., 1908-12-26

o,,6 invite cyp to breakfast, as be was
81 the habit Of having little coHee
with her t,,,+ I've
After three years moved ABOUT nse
blocks away. and after haFins ieso III
-, rt,Nr, revr spartment about six months