davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-31

the fence, going in the direction of the river. ''Wish that old fence wasn't here," he murmured. "Oh, therere lot of boards off 1t down by the alley" Then he ran with all his might to the place where several of the fence boards had been torn away by some men who were digging place for a new sewer pipe. The men had quit work for the noon hour, and Club examined their work tools. But these held little interest for him, and soon he found himself outside the fence that confined the yard of his own home and yet he had not gone through the gate nor over the fence. He had walked right out at the place where the workmen had been digging. And 1t was really very difficult to know just where his own fence ought to be, for the dirt had been tossed every which way, and the line where the fence had been was completely obliterated. So Club eased his little conscience by think Ing he had not really disobeyed his mammas instructions after all, for he had not gone outside the fence-there being no fence at that particular spot.
 Once outside the fence 1t was very ehsy to stroll down the alley in the di- rection of the river. Of course Club had no notion of going far from home. He just thought to walk along the alley behind the neighbors houses and look for stray cats. No cats coming to mo- tice, he went on and on, soon emerging into the street about two blocks away from his own house.
 There he stood for minute. wonder ing whether he should turn back or con tinue his walk. Again his eyes sought the line of timber that marked the river bank, and he said again to himself: II wonder how big the fishes In the river arer' Then, thinking that it would be long time before his mother should re- turn, he decided to walk toward the river for little piece and to return be- fore his mamma should do so.
 And so 1t happened that Chub did the very thing he should not have done; he disobeyed his dear mamma. And once his mind was made up to go toward the river he went off at full speed. making the alley dust fly from his little fat feet He hadn't hat nor jacket, but the day was so warm that he didn't need them. So on he flew toward the river. his little face beaming from the suns rays and dripping with precipitation.
 The line of trees looked very close in-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-31

place q little bit. Suppose we go out aud stir up some excitement.
 'Ah, wisely said," declared an old ele- phant, whose trunk had baked so ha I'd that 1t could not bend, "A great idea. Suppose we go into the world and see what it's like"
 I'm with you. friend animals" said a brisk mule with q pair of very long ears. m ready to run and kick up my heels this very minute If others of my friends will join me-
 "Ah that sounds jollyr' cried n young colt, as frisky as you please. Come, let's be moving before that sour old woman re turns to the kitchen"
 "Then away they all went, jumping from the window and going of toward the chicken coop, just as if they knew two little ones were there longing for q picnic dinner. At the moment when they arrived Penny and Bobby had gone Into the edge of the makebelieve forest to hunt for fairies, SO the elephants, the dogs, the mules and colts all frisked about, Jumping right on Fenny's white apron, which she had spread upon the ground for make-believe luncheon cloth. And hardly had they become located upon the cloth when back to the spot came Bobby and Penny. Now, the funniest pnrt of this funny happening was that the very minute the cookie animals got upon that white cloth they became mere sweet cakes again. and lost all power of action or speech. And as they never did have feeling, they were mere cookies once more, just like they had been half an hour ago, when first coming from a very hot oven.
 "Oh! see the eookies And Penny ran with all possible speed to the spot where her apron lay covered with elephants, dogs mules and colts. "Oh old Nancy brought them to us. Isn't she dood?'
 Well if she didn't bring us a spread!" exclaimed Bobby, lmping up to the picnic
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-31

were watching the little picnickers from behind the chicken coop. They belonged to old Nancy. Upon missing the ani- nal cookies from the platter she had started in quest of them, thinking that Bobby and Penny had slyly taken them away during her 40 wlnks. But just as she neared the shady spot behind the chicken coop she was surprised to ob- serve the little dough animals capering about jumping upon the apron which lay spread as if ready to receive them. And then, while still dumb with surprise, she saw Penny come toward the spot and saw that the little girls surprise was almost as great as her own. Then fol lowed Bobby's appearance, and from the manner of both children Nancy knew that they had had no hand in the strange conduct of the animal cookies.
 1T reckon I'm bewitched," Nancy whis- pered to herself. Anyway, them young sters are as innocent as lambs Let 'em eat the elephants, the dogs-the whole fool dough menagerie, fer I'll go in ea' bake lot more of 'em. But of all the tricks l ever saw in my life this one beats 'em. Dough animals-baked good and hard-getting up and running off to serve as q picnic dinner Pshaw it's too silly to talk about. l reckon the whole things a dream. But I'd better get into the kitcnen or my bread VIII lake legs and run away the next thing"
 And that's the story of the picnic din- ner that came to Bobby and Penny in the edge of the great forest where terrible animals and fairies abounded. And 1t may be Just q dream, and 1t may be that it really happened; but we have no way of finding out about it, for 1t happened so very, very long ago, and Bobby and Penny are grown up now and have for gotten about 1t, while Nancy, now very old woman, will not talk of the time when dough animals came to sure enough life"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-31
When Naughty Club Went A-Fishing.
BY HELENA DAVIS.

Chub was . little boy. His real name was not Chub, but because of his being such a roly-poly little chap the name seemed to suit him better than did the name he had been christened by, which was Charles Andrew. Now, his mamma and papa both thought that Charles Andrew was entirely too heavy for their son till he should grow to be a big boy, 80 he was called Chubby when a tot and Chub when he got to be six years old.
 We'll, as soon as the fine weather of early summer had set in Chub began beg ging his mamma to allow him to go to the river. half mile away from his home, to fish. He had never gone fishing alone for during the previous year he had been too young to go to the river unaccompanied by his father or mother. And he had never fished, either, except in the bathtub. or in the pretty pond in the back yard where the water lilies grew. And, of course, he had never caught any fish in either of those places.
 So, with the first summer days Chub
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-31
Poor Lost Lottie.
BY ANNIE JAMES.

find her way to the door.
 "Why, what are you doing alone here7" asked lady's voice. And Lottie looked up to see very pleasant lady standing near her, with kindly eyes bent on her face. Lottie's quiyering lips could not re- ply, and she broke into tears. Then, the lady becoming more tender with her, the poor child stammered out: 'I'm lost from my mamma, I aml Or maybe it's my mamma that's lost from mei'
 '.Oh, you little preciousl' declared the lady. taking Lottie's hands In her own. How can some people be so careless of their little ones as to lose them on the street? Come, dearie, don't cry. We'll find your-''
 "Oh, there she is--there she isr' And Lotties mothers voice rang out as It's owner came rushing toward Der little girl. "Oh, my darling, I thought you were losti When I came from the store about 10 minutes ago you were nowhere to be found. I looked up and down the street. I went into the shops next door. Then I became almost distracted and ran to policeman to help me hunt for you. And he suggested that we come back here be- loit nchNihS oul Scucthi auu here you are, my precious one."
 Then, with her arms about her mammals neck, Lottie told of how she had gone into the store to hunt for the mother just about the time that the mother had returned to the outer door to join her little daughter.
 Mercy, it's awful to be lost in a big city, mamma" said Lottie In conclusion. And mamma said, "Yes, darling, and we'll not be parted a single moment again-while in the .clty. Now, let's go and have some dinner, for l know my little Lost and Found Grille is as hungry as she can be after so much excitement" ."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-31

down to rest minute And, as I have said, the day was very warm. Within a very short time Chub's eyes had gone shut and Chub's head had dropped upon the soft, green grass behind him. Then Chub slept and dreamed of fishing. After little birds shrill note caused him to wake and recalling where he was he started up quickly, determined to run home with all possible speed He had entered deep bend in the river, and was now confused as to which direction he had come from. As q matter of fact, he started homeward the wrong way, taking the direction which led him fur ther and further away from the desired destination.
 And so the time went on and Club s feet were weary and sore. He climbed the bank several times to look for the town, but somehow the church spires and tall houses had disappeared from the face of the earth Chub's heart sank with fear Was he lost? The truth of the matter was that in walking in the wrong direction he had followed a curve in the river which led him away from the town, and threw long bill between that place and his present location.
 Then poor little Club realized his dear mamma's wisdom in refusing to allow him to go to the river alone. He sat 
 down and wept tears of real anguish Somehow, he felt that he would never see his dear home, his darling papa and mamma again. And there were old Rod ger. the horse, little Sport, his pet dog gie. and Tabby, the cat, and Fiddler, the canary bird. Oh! none of these would he ever behold again. Oh oh, how very naughty he had been to run away! And that great big fish that Fatty had bragged about! It was all two-story Alb, that was just what 1t wasl
 How long this might have lasted we cannot say had not dear voice at that moment cried out: Chubby. dear!' And Chub looked up through his tears to see his own mother coming down the hill to- ward him. He forgot his disobedience in the moment of extreme happiness and ran to greet her.
 "Oh, mamma, I've been lost" he cried, fresh tears streaming from his eyes.
 .sYes, and hadn't it been for an old farmer whom l met on the road you might never have been found." said his mother. 'I missed you from home, and those workmen in the back yard said
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-31

Bobby was seven years old. He had curls and freckles and a sore big toe Penny was Bobbys sister, aged five. She had curls and freckles, but no sore big toe. Now, the sore big toe was what kept Bobby home from school one day; it hurt him to wear his good shoes He didn't mind wearing his old shoes-those with the holes in the toes. Oh, no, in- deed; he liked wearing those old shoes, for then his sore big toe could take a peep out of doors-or I should say out of shoe-every little while. And as Penny was still too young to go to school Chey lived in the country, where there were no kindergartens) she did not need a sore big toe to keep her at home. The fact is, Penny would have loved to go to school; although her brother Bobby wished very much to stay at home every chance he got.
 "Ill tell you what let's do," said Bobby on the morning of our story. Let's have a picnic down behind the chicken-coop. Mamma won't care If we go there, for that won't hurt my sore big toe
 "0h, doodnessl Won't at be jes' fne?'' cried Penny And she clapped her hands in glee ."I love picnic, I do, bruver." !" (Fenny remembered a picnic that her mamma had taken her to almost year ago.) .
 'tWhat'n we have for our picnic din ner?" asked Bobby. Mammals gone to town an Nancy, she's so cross to us that I'm afraid to ask her for cake an bread an jam"
 'Ill ask her." suggested Penny, run ming off to the kitchen. When she en- tered she found the old servant very busy baking cookies. "Oh, Nancy, will you please dive bruver an me some cook les for our picnic dinner? We're goin' to have a picnic down behind the chicken coop" Thus spoke Penny, addressing the sour-faced old, Nancy, who never liked to have children come about her domain.
 Nope, you can't dip into my bakery" Nancy snapped. "It's bad enough that yer mommer told me to cut out a lot of cookies in the shapes of animals for you and Bob. I can't take time to bake a lot of extra ones for you to eat be- tween meals. If you wait till teatime you'll have a lot of elephants, cats, dogs, and the goodness only knows what else, to eat. Yer mommer got a lot of them little animal-cutters last time she went
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-31

deed when viewed from the yard of his own home; but in covering the ground, step by step, the distance became great, and before Club had reached the first few struggling bushes that led to the greater trees on the river bank he was quite exhausted. He really had not meant to go all the way to the river but after starting his curiosity had be- come so great that he could not turn back. ''I may get peep at fish as big as the one Fatty saw swimming in the water" he said by way of encour- aging himself.
 Once on the bank of the river he wan dered along and along, looking intently into the water, hoping to see the great fish, that had figured In Fatty's fish story And In this way he forget to take notice of the place where he had started from-the point where he had approached the river. After walking for sometime he became very tired and sat
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-31
Looking

lines. Won't that be jolly? Now, kiss hurrying home again in about an hour"
 Club watched his mother depart then he wandered about the yard for little while. But the confines of the fenced domain held little attraction for him, and he went to the gate and watched the passers-by.
 But pretty soon he found his eyes straying toward the line of timber that bordered the river half q mile away. II wopder how big the fishes in the river are?" he questioned himself. II bet l could catch one f--lf-only l could go there alone. I wonder why mamma won't allow me to go fishing alone? I'm most as big as Fatty, an he goes with jest Tommy. And Tommy isn't much >biggern me-"
 Then Chub strolled down the side of
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-31

away out in the ocean. So, if Tommy and Fatty thought there was any chance of catching such large fish as they have doubtless described to you they have been misinformed about the size of river fish. And 1t is very wrong of them to use such exaggerated forms of speech. Exaggera- ton is one kind of falsehood, you know, dear"
 Well, maybe they saw a fish what looked as big to them as an elephant" insisted Club. Fatty said he saw one swimming right under the water where he stood, and if he'd had a fish line and hook he'd a caught it."
 "Well, well, we'll learn more about fish some day soon," promised Chub's mamma ''And for the present you may run and play in the yard. But don't get on mammals s flower beds; and don't stray outside the fence. l must go down town on an err rand, and after I return-if you've been a good boy and obeyed mamma-well have little outing. Sam will hitch old Rodger to the phaeton and Club may handle the
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-31

they had seen you going off toward the river about noon. So I followed the path this way. On reaching the road 1 didn't know which direction to turn to look for you. An old man happened to have seen you coming this way and put me on your track. Otherwise you might have been lost over night. Now, you see what your disobedience has done for you? l had planned little fishing picnic for you this afternoon and went to town for the fishing rod and line. And after everything had been arranged you spoiled it all by running away. No-not a word, my naughty child. You have disobeyed my orders, and you shall go straight home and get Into bed without your din ner or supper. No, do not protest; you must be punished. Had you been good boy and obeyed mamma your day would have been glorious one."
 And in his heart Club vowed to never disobey his mamma again.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-31

began begging and coaxing his mamma to lllow him to go fishing in the big river 1t the outskirt of town.
 "Why, Chub, I couldn't think of allow mg you to go to the river alone" explained lis mamma. You might fall into the water H get snake bitten. Oh, there are 50 many dangers to beset a little man like ny Chub when he has neither mother nor hther with him."
 ,leaming in his eyes. "Tommy Peters and Fatty Smart went all by themselves yes erday, and Fatty said they pretty nearly Mtched a big ish-oh. as big as-as-as ! elephant"
 .No, no, no, Chub" said mamma, purslng ID her lips and drawing her little son on \ Ter knee. ''No, dear boy, fishes as large Rs elephants do not exist In rivers Whales re the largest fish known. and they stay
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-31
4 OrPuZZle Corner $
LETTER ENIGMA.

My first Is in anger, but not in mood: My second is in lake, but not in wood; My third is in pear, but not in tree: My fourth is In hive, but not in bee: My fifth is the same as my first, you know :: My sixth Is In baker, but not in dough: My seventh Is in ear, but not In corn : My eighth is in trouble. but not In forlorn
 My whole of eight letters
 A language does spell;
 And the children who read this
 Know me very well.
 HIDDEN PRoVERB. well-kDown proverb is hidden in the following six sentences, one word of the proverb being contained in each sentence, and the words appearing in their rlghtful order:
 Every one should do his best in life. Sometimes very small cloud obscures the sun.
 A boy or girl with a noble ambition has in his or her possession a gold mine. Sometimes a clear-visioned man can see behind him.
 To be a great thinker doesn't always mean to be a silver tongued orator. The lining of garment should correA spond with 1t in quality
 BEHEADINGs. CD Doubly behead a pattern in a car pet and leave that which means an omen or a signal.
 t2) Behead a place in a barn where a horse is kept and leave name often ap- piled to an object of great height (3) Behead a small white grain used for food for people and leave a hard sub stance to be found in great quantities in Greenland
 CURTAILINGS. Tt1rf rfofI oil rnI ov,1 leave the effect of a fire-lit room. (2) Curtail a sweet, sticky food and leave certain kind of stone used for sharpening fne-bladed instruments. (3) Curtai copper coin and leave place where pigs are kept.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-31

cloth. Well, Nancy ain't so cross after all. But say, I'm as hungry as wolf from the forest behind us. Suppose we fall to-"
 Ugh! but dis elephant is dood? ex- claimed Penny, eating off the trunk of the largest elephant. An dat little tolt wifi the long main-ughl I'm doin to eat him next"
 Bobby was too busy with eating dogs elephants, colts, mules, all mixed up to- gether, to say anything more for 10 min utes. In the meantime a pair of eyes
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-31
CONUNDRUMS.

What is the difference between an auc' tion sale and seasickness?
 Ore is the sale Of effects aud the other is the effects Of safi.
 Why Is an orange like church stecple Because toe get q peel from il When was the great Napoleon most shabbily dressed?
 When out at Eiba felboioJ
 Why is dog biting his own tale like a good manager
 Because he makes both ends meet. What two animals accompany you everywhere you go?
 Four tloo cdlres.
 ANSWERS TO PUZZLE CORNER. Letter Enigma-Green Trees. Hidden ProUerb-A totse man keeps his his oion counsel.
 Beheadings--(1 Dark-ark. CD ChwrN- urn. (3) Glance-lance. (4) Etons-toAs.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-31
Pretty Is As Pretty Does.

There are some small boys, And some small girls, too, Who sullenly do pout
 The whole week through. Their tempers are ugly
 Their faces, also; And, people dislike them
 Wherever they go. There are some small boys, And some small girls, too, Who are happy and helpful The whole week through. Their manners are lovely, Their faces, also; And people do love them Wherever they go.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-31

A and B were two old sail @s who lived in houses on top n c-fn- like rock in the middle of deep bay. A man brought provisions and mail to them once a week. On making the perilous ascent to the houses which one did he reach firStf The path was a very crooked one and crossed and recrossed it. self many times before 1t reached the summit.
 Follow the black line leading from the boat landing and thus you will trace the mans winding way.
New-York tribune., 1908-04-05
Continued on eighth page Of Part VI.
ORIGIN OF The PUBLIC HOUSE.

In these days when intoxicating liquor os any
or description IS regarded BY small but "a
natiCaI section Of the community the root OF al
evil. II IS interesting look back over past ages
and discover the genesis of the modern pUoic house
England. II s unnecessary in So doing % g
further back than the Roman Conquest Of these
islands though II IS quite certain that even prior
20 those far off DAYS there were people VINO made
d livelihood by selling some kind Of intoxicating
beverage With the opening I'D of The country oy
the Romans EOstlerlcs spranG up Tor t-le con
venlenCe OF travellers As time vent on the selling
OF liquor became lucrative rla- wherever the
traveller broke his journey his thirst might re
Quenched. This naturally produced competition
among the many tavern owners. especially in the
large towns. who We'd with one another 70 the
means of attracting the thirsty II in these
circumstances that the ale stake pole 10
which was attached q furze bush. first came into
prominence In 1910 these signs became great
nuisance that lax was passed 20 rle effect rIat
ale stakes projecting more than seven feet over
he kings highway wee prohibited laC- which
gave rise 70 the p-ove~b that good wine needs no
bush There are very few OF the old
existence tC-da-- The last survive was -na
old Bell in EJIboru. which was demolished IN
1881 Like its ancient predecessors t b0asLet 0f z
courtyard with Eallery. and large gates which
were closed gut exactly on the same principle
as the Eastern ''Ca-aVaEss-at-'f
New-York tribune., 1908-04-05
OPENING OF WESTERN CHINA.

Consul Mason Mitchell reporting from Caua~-
hiEE. gives the following Information the r-rL-
known region uI Western China and the TLoe-zu
UCrderlanu.
"TaystenIu- IN the province OF Szecawau. west
ern China. Is t-e last Town before reaching lLe
LlbeJau border i = situated an elevation uT
s ite feet. Ia tie high mountains LIaC extend
through Western C1Ina into Tibet To reach
TatserIu from CLuLg-Nius requires tweuty-0ue
days and from there to iue TibeIlu line aI-ur zen
additional days the route crossing Elouucz- passes
over i GO feet high
"Tatsculu = 3 small town. with low wooden
houses and a population of qNG. mostly T.5-tfEs.
lis straregCal and commercial importance due
being the gateway 20 Tibet and the high nIaysaus
the uOrthve ST. L. this district are splendid
grazing pastures. where a fine quality Of wool is
produced. Further OF IS the Taclln River whi-l
forms the boundary between Eastern Tibet md
one Of the aboriginal Chinese tribes called tie
Atan-zu.
A large trade IS done here in rhubarD and L--s-
the latter taken from the small nCru.ess deer
~ this district musk is the most valuable Tire
price Of the medium quality being thirteen times
weight in silver
The product Is obtained from a sa-lka gland
in the abdomen r. is carefully dried and sewn
small bags called musk pods. OF one ounce rst-l-
made from the skin Of the animal The musk deer
of mort rtvrestsru China fs allied species Hnf -
only found elevation over &o1" feet lt stands
about twenty inches al the shoulder. 1ar It's rH.-l
Characteristic IS the absence Of "0tlers in "o5l
sexes. The NAL have tuSkS p-orrIdtc= from the
lower Jaw a length Of three inches