davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-25

fun as were the boys that he meant to get even with
 At last, however, Halloween did really arrive, and the air was full of expecta- tion and anticipation. Everywhere boys might be seen in little groups, in the alleys, in old tumbledown buildings and in stables. And everywhere they were whispering and cautious. Plans were be- Ing laid, doubtless, which called for the deepest secrecy to insure their success ful development.
 About 10 o'clock Fatty Thomas gave a long, low whistle He was In the shadow of his fathers barn and was waiting for the other members of the gang" Im- mediately after his signal whistle there appeared in various corners of the alley and stable yard four small dark forms And one at time came stealthily for ward, and soon the group was complete. There were Fatty, Tom, Smithy, Walt and Bert, the last named having just joined the gang that day.
 well, we're off to old man Perkins place for the first stop, said Fatty 'After that we'll let the route develop itself" There were four assents, and away they all went, creeping down the alley behind barns and outhouses
 "We're In luck with all this cloud over the sky whispered smithy
 "Sure," declared Walt. 'It's a night made to order-just fits Hallowe' en-
 Then they went along without speak ing, ranging themselves into a long line not wishing to attract attention by going together.
 They soon reached the premises of old Mir. Perkins, and went round to the barn.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-25
THAT HALLOWEEN GHOST Story for Boys by Maud Walker

came from the white object that was still waving slowly and menacingly It's arms. "Ah, and so you chaps are out to do mischief, eh? We'll I like doing little of 1t myself. l overheard enough to know that you want m auto ride. Suppose I act as your chauffeur7 l know a ma chine pretty well-well enough to run her oyer the bridge, or Into the railroad cut. '
 If one Had been listening outside the barn he might have heard five young mas culine hearts beating like sedge hammers. But he would not have heard single boyish voice, for all were dumb with fear. "A ghost-a ghost9' was all they could think. And that was quite sufficient to cause them to become speechlesg
 Well, l guess silence means consent" said the great white things voice. And we might as well jump into the auto and pull out. Come, who'll sit beside me?"
 More beating of hearts accompanied by shaking of legs and chattering of teeth. "Ah, don't all speak at once," said the voice. And the long arms waved and waved. Well, I'll Invite Fatty Thomas to sit in the drivers seat with me. He's a brave lad, and leader of this gang. believe
 Fatty thought his time had come. And as is often the case. where fear at first makes one speechless 1t will produce glib ness of tongue after a few moments of intense silence. Fatty found his speech and cried out: "Oh, no, no, mol I'm very Hand want to go home. 1 don't care to togo out = Hallowe'en enlng. Ill really must go homel'
 And I!'' cried another voice, trem- blingly. And must-Ii" came another.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-25
Little Certie's Halloween.

gone?" cried Fred, under the bed look ing everywhere for his books.
 And somebody's stolen my shoes, walled Ned, flying about the room like hen on a hot griddle.
 Well. that's strange" said mama, 1 have also had a time hunting my wrap per and slippers. And your papa can't find his smoking jacket anywhere. The old Halloween witch must have been busy in the house last night. Everything is topsy-turvy."
 Maybe if you look in the storeroom. and under the bed in the guests cham Der, and maybe in the closet in my room, you may find some of the hngs you've lost" said Gertie.
 .'Ah, It's Gertiel' cried Ned, his face lighting up. While we were upsetting things out of doors last night she was busy inside. We'll. who'd have thought ftp
 Well" she said. ''I wanted to feel what Halloween is like. An I had lots Of fun, l did
 "Well, I guess you did. Sis" grinned Fred. But one thing nice about you you put people next to where you've hidden their things. So. it's not so bad after all"
 "Oh. isn't that right?'' asked Gertie, her face becoming serious.
 Well. maybe next Halloween I won't tell the next morning. I'll let you all hunt till you find 'em.''
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-25
BY WILLIAM WALLACE, JR.

The Queen Bee. a npe specimen, too, of beekind. sat on a tiny branch of a wild rosebush overlooking her domain, which spread for acres, acres and acres around. She saw the members of her hive working very diligently sipping the honey from the fall blossoms, for as long as a flower remained from which to cull sweets. just so long would the bees work. And Queen Bee was ever watch ful that things went on as they should.
 well, guess the winter will soon send the frost to nip the last blossoms, she unused, flaming her wings together; and 1t behooyes us all to do our work and do 1t well. There'll be plenty of honey In the hive for us during the long, hard winter, and it's about the finest honey, too, that has been made in long time. The flowers this year have been unusually fragrant and moist, as full of honey as a nut is of meat, as the say ing goes."
 But Queen Bees reverie was broken in upon by a quick rattling noise in the grass. Looking down, she beheld just beneath the leafiess rosebush upon which she sat a small but aged grass hopper. He was a gay sort of fellow and was chirping and hopping about like one of half his age, and Queen Bee was much amused at the dwarfed little old chap.
 "Hi, there, Mir. Grasshopperi' she called, flaming her wings in friendly way ''And so you're still playing, are you? What do you mean by passing all your time in likeness, eh? Don't you know that 1t isn't wise to think only of the present? Tomorrow is coming, my hopping friend"
 "Ah, ha, Queen." said the Grasshopper; , But allow me to correct you regarding my title, please, before I answer your
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-25

my hive folk and myself to starve. So. good afternoon, sir'
 And Into her hive flew the Queen Bee, as busy as ever bee could be. And away hopped the gay Major Grasshopper, chirping Justify, and as happy as any light-headed flop of an old fellow could be.
 And happy he was for a week. Then the aspect of his life changed very sud denly, A cold wave struck the land, and he and his kind awoke one night to find the dry grass about them rustling and cracking in an Icy wind that brought shivers and aches to their limbs. "Ugh!" cried Major Grasshopper, trying to find a warm spot somewhere, but to no avail. Everywhere on the ground the cold struck with a terrible force, and when the sun rose on the next day the grasshoppers saw that everything was covered by frost Ugh! Ugh!' was all they could say. and no more did they hop about, chirping as gay, as thoughtless fellows do They shivered in punches, keeping close together in the hope of getting warm. And how they suffered! The frost had sucked the life out of every thing, and not one morsel of food could they get. The grass was without one drop of juice, and want and misery stared them in the face. Yes, even death seemed now within 0 few days of all grasshopperkind
 "Ah, I know what I shall do," said Major Grasshopper, oIie of the sufferers. ''Ill go right down to the edge of the meadow and ask for shelter and food from Queen Bee. She's an acquaintance of mine and therefore must be my ad- mirer No one ever could know me with out admiring me-"
 So saying, the poor, vain, benumbed fellow hopped lalnely away from the group of his suffering friends. And it took him some time to reach the edge of the meadow where the bees lived in their cozy and well-stored hives. As he drew near to the hive where his ac- quaintance was the queen, he beheld her coming out for q few minutes sun and air. But he noticed that she did not seem to mind the sudden cold. AS she glanced down into the frost bitten grass she saw her chance acquaintance, L4ajor Grasshopper. But how changed Instead of hopping and chirping gaily about like a two-month old, he was all drawn up and shivering, his wings held closely to
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-25

And as fast as they could speak each of the "gang" declared himself In favor of returning to bis home and mother as quickly as possible.
 But you've just started out" said the voice. And Ia Halloween ghost-am ready to go with you. And not only does excitement and adventure go hand in hand with me, but thrilling dangers-yes, real disasters, dangers that sometimes cost life itself. What say you to riding this auto over the bridge7-or Into the 50-foot railroad cut?'
 ''Oh, no, no, mol" screamed Fatty, his voice unnatural in Its tones. 'That would kill us.''
 But 1t wouldn't kill me-" said the voice. 'I'm q ghost. and can't be hurt, you understand. And it's the Halloween spirit to think only of ones self and of ones excitement and fun. The cost to the other fellows don't count. So, I'm In for some fun, md insist on your ac- companying me. I can't promise that you'll all come back with whole heads and bodies, but it'll be lot of jolly fun for me-"
 At this five boys fell upon their knees. some weeping and begging to be allowed to go home, and others too much fright ened to frame sentences, and merely grooming and moaning.
 At this instant the barn door opened slowly and old MT. Perkins. holding a lantern in his hand, stood In the opening, looking on the strange scene. "Ah, ha, so you've come to do some mischief to my auto and buggy, have you, you young rebels?" he said, smiling and stroking bis beard. Well, and so the ghost is go. ing to take you for ride for life, chi
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-25

'Now for the auto," whispered Smithy. And then for the ride" With the as- slstance of three others Walt soon had the staple that held the paddock on tue door drawn, md the door swung open. Gee, that staple came out easy" said smithy. We didn't need that old screw driver I brought. I could have pulled 1t out with my teeth.''
 "Guess the old man fixed 1t so we could go in without doing any harm to the lock- whispered Tom. But where's the auto?'
 "There 1t Is, in that corner-that thing covered with the"
 But Smithy did not finish the remark. He stood aghast his eyes staring and nis tongue glued to the roof of his mouth. And all the gang had unconseiously as- sumed like attitudes of surprise and horror And all eyes were staring at a strange white object that had come of sudden from the darkest corner of the great and almost empty barn-a white thing of enormous height that waved long white, wing-like arms. But the most for bidding part of this white thing were it's eyes, which gleamed and glowed like living coals And in the place where it's mouth would naturally be was a glowing light also.
 At last Walt found voice. "Come, let's get outl' he said In hoarse voice. But at the very moment when the gang turned to act upon his order the great door swung shut and the frightened boys heard a strong bolt slip across 1t on the outside. Then speechless horror reigned for few seconds. It was broken by a low, grating voice which evidently
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-25

oughn't to be-"
 When at last Halloween arrived Gertie crept off to bed earlier than was her wont, and, after her mama had kissed her and tucked her in, and said good night, she lay very still till she knew she was entirely alone. Then she sprang from bed and ran Into Ned's and Fred's room and gathered up their books-all that she could earry-and lugged them off to the storeroom, big and dark. But Gertie was not afraid-not a bit of 1t, and the dark storeroom held no terrors for her. After she had hidden the books under some old rubbish she returned and found Ned's school shoes Che was wear ing an old pair for the festive even ing), and Freds mittens and ball. These were hidden In the closet of her own room. Then to mamas and papa's room she went, getting papa's smoking jacket and his box of collars and cuffs. And next she gathered up mama's morning wrapper and slippers. These she carried to the guests chamber, where they were safely placed under the big bed.
 'Now, I guess I've had some fun," said Gertie to herself. And off to bed she went, as happy as any real little Halloween culprit could be.
 But Gerties real fun came the next morning, when Ned and Fred set up A cry about their books, shoes, mittens and ball. "Gee, where're our things
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-25

his sides in a vain endeavor to keep what little warmth there was in his body. And how hungry he looked, tool Queen Bee felt sorry for him, and spoke kindly to him:
 Good morning. Major! You do not seem in very good spirits this cold. frosty morning. Are you ill?'
 ''Oh, kind Queen Bee I'm both cold and starving. Give unto me shelter and food or I shall perish.'' Thus walled the grasshopper gay who had whiled the summer away, and with winters first roar found himself poor.
 "Ah, my dear Major" replied Queen Bee, in a sympathetic voice, 'it hurts me to see you suffer and not to do some thing for you. But 1t Is impossible for me to give you what you ask"
 But you have n hive. and can cer- tainly share it with me-" walled Major Grasshopper q ask for but one snug corner where I may sleep and eat curing the winter"
 But suppose, Major, I should find a corner in my hive for you, what would supply of food stored up," spoke the Queen.
 But you have plenty of honey in your hive, and will surely offer me share of It," declared Major Grasshopper
 The Queen Bee famed her wings a minute, then said: My dear fellow, dur ing all the summer you have played and made merry while my workers have toiled to fill this hive with winters food. And now you come to me and ask to share that which you had no part in earning. No, were I to respond to your request, my dear sir, you could not live in this
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-25

And do you all wish to goT'
 "oh, no, MT. Perkinsl" walled SmIthy. ".'lease, Mir. Perkins. help us to get home."
 ''Yes; if you'll please allow us to go quietly away from here we'll never, never come to your place again on Halloween" .weepingly promised Fatty, and the other boys added their broken voiced promises to his.
 And may I trust you to keep yonr promise?" asked Mir. Perkins. setting the lantern down.
 ''oh, yes, sirl'' they screamed in uni- son, jumping up and rushing to him.
 Well, well, you are a great set of braves, And the old gentleman laughed. Come, Bill, get out of your togs and let's assist these young rascals out" And, to the astonishment of the gang" Bill Bates appeared from the midst of Il lot of white cloth-sheets. probably.
 "Oh-h-h-hr" went up five exclamations. And by the light of the lantern i've small faces turned red with shame. "Only Bill Bates rlgged up as a ghost, murmured Fatty. We might have guessed it.''
 But you didn't" grinned Bill Bates. And now, Boss what shall we do with the gang? Tie 'em up till morning and call In the police?'
 Five faces went white again, but soon became their normal color when old Mir. Perkins said: Nope; we'll take to the house and give 'em some ice-eream and cake. Then they can go home.'
 And that was the way tue exciting in- cident ended. the old man giving them genuine treat and allowing them to go home. And they promised never to mo- lest him again.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-25
Queen Bee and Major Grasshopper

question. Now, I'm not plain Mister. I'm a dignined major, and beg you to address mo by my title. Major Gay Grasshopper Is my name in full"
 "You don't say so?" said the Queen Bee, her voice full of sarcasm. "And pray, how did you become major. sir?"
 "oh, assumed the title which best became my rank,'' boasted the Grass hopper. "You see, everyone of my kind looked up to me as being a very great fellow and they all realized my dignity"
 But do you work7 T" asked Queen Bee, smiling into her wing, so that Major Grasshopper might not see her amuse- ment.
 Work! Why, my dear Queen. did you ever hear of a grasshopper working? No indeed, we never stoop to such plebeian pastime. Grasshoppers-as you should know-are aristocrats. They do not toil.''
 "Ah. I understand" nodded Queen Bee. "An there's an old saying which runs something like this: The grasshop- per gay whiles the summer away, and with winters first roar finds himself poor"
 "Ah. ha, ha! What a pretty rhyme" And Major Grasshopper laughed gaily.
 But it won't sound so pretty a week or two hence," warned Queen Bee.
 "Oh. Pm not in the least worried. . smiled the gay Major Grasshopper. 'I make 1t point to live today and let to- morrow take care of itself"
 Well, l suppose that is all very well while today lasts," coolly remarked Queen Bee. But when the tomorrow which is to take care of itself-comes along, then you'll have to laugh out of the other side of your mouth. I'm think ing. But l must bid you good day Ma jor, for I've world of work to do You see. the winters coming and don't want
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-25
( A Halloween Gates Experience.

Beside window an old lady sat, Twas the glorious Halloween, And she had no light, as you may guess, For she didn't wish to be seen. But she sat where she could look with
 out,
 For the hour was getting late, And she knew the boys would soon be
 there
 To carry away her gate. And while she sat and peered without She heard q tramping of feet; And later she saw a merry crowd Of boys coming down the street. They gathered about and unhinged her
 gate,
 Then carried 1t cross the way Where they hung 1t high up In a tree, To stay till the coming of day.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-25

lines. The honey to the gatherers and their assistants in various work. And must now be about my own duties, so, good morning-and farewell, Major Grass hopper. Should you survive the winter that is now upon us take the warning you have had and learn to make provi- sion for that tomorrow which hitherto you held In such scorn"
 Then the Queen Bee flew into the hive and Major Grasshopper sat shiyering in the cold, dead grass.
 II guess it's too late for me to turn over q new leaf" he sighed. But, after all, it's we'll to prepare for cold weather in time of sunshine and warmth, though no grasshopper on earth could be made to understand it. Ah, that was wise saying, that the grasshopper gay whiles the summer away, and with winters first roar finds himself poor! Poor, Indeed, am I and my kind with the first frost. And now l must return to the other hop pers and huddle with them under dead tuft of grass till death shall come and relieve us of our suffering. An. it's very hard to end ones days like this, but tue way of the idler is hard, very hard. :" And old Major hoped wearily away.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-25
A Jolly Halloween Game.

most lively time may be had playing the following little game of "Bobblng Apple" The boys and girls participating in the game have their hands tied tightly behind them. A large bowl Ca wooden chopping bowl will answer the purpose nicely) is filled with water and placed in the center of small table. In the water big rosy apple is dropped and each par ticipant in the game is told to take bite from the apple as it floats on the water. If one gets a good bite-without trying the second time-he or she will have hls or her wish If made that night on dark cellar stair. But only one at tempt to obtain the bite is allowed at a time. The children stand in circle and bite in turn, counting from right to left. They may go round and round, biting at the ''bobbing apple" as many times as they like, but the boy or girl who sue ceeds in getting a bite during the first round Is the winner of tho wish.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-25

The old. lady smiled and sat quite still, As she looked across at the tree "Now, some other boys will soon come
 long
 And bring the gate back to me-" So there she watched, and another band Of boys cross the way soon thronged, And seeing the gate up in the tree Carried 1t over to where 1t belonged. They never once guessed the truth. you
 know,
 For if they had, you see, They'd have taken the gate to some
 other yard,
 Or left 1t up in the tree. So the old lady smlllngly went to bed, As happy as happy could be; But when she awoke the next morning
 she saw
 Her gate cross the way in a tree
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-25
As
BY ANNIE JAMES.


 Gertie was 6 years old, and she was much excited over the approach of Hal loween. She could not remember of there ever having been a Halloween before. That was because she was too young the year before to pay any attention to Hal lowe'en, though her brothers, Ned and Fred, had had a merry enough time then. And Gertie knew what one ought to do on Halloween, or at least. she said she knew. "One wants to disturb fngs, don't they, mama2' she asked of her mother a few mornings before the ar rival of Halloween.
 Mama laughed. "Why, what do you mean by that daring?'
 "Oh, to do like Ned an Fred do," re- piled Gertie. '"rhey put hngs where they oughn't' to be, you know. That's Hal loween fun, isn't 1t, mama?"
 T guess SOL smiled mama, kissing her dear little daughters dimpled check. Then she left Gertie to her play and went about the household duties. And Gertie laid her plans for the forthcom- Ing occasion. "I'll have Halloween all by myself" she declared I'm a little girl so, of course. l can't go out wifi Ned an Fred, putting fings where they
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-25

Say, boys, whatre we going to do to old Perkins this Hallowe'en7"
 The question was asked of three or four boys, ranging between 9 and F years of age, and the questioner was Fatty Thomas, the Header of the gang" The small group was in the barn be- longing on the premises of Fatty Thomas father, and the time was Saturday morn- ing. just one week before the "Glorious Halloween Day" And 1t behooved the boys to be preparing for the coming fes- tive occasion.
 well, we fixed his wagon and buggy last year." laughed Tom Banks. He told pop that 1t took him a week to find all the parts of the wagon, and an- other week to get them together in cor rect shape again. Gee, be was madn'
 'Well, I'm not in for doing any real mischief" declared Smithy Black. "But when man is as ugly to us boys as old man Perkins always Is I'm in for getting revenge. Not real revenge, you know; but just getting even, you might say"
 "Yes, old man Perkins has always been pretty hard on us chaps," agreed Walt Holt. wy, only last week I was pass ing through his big vineyard-the one that stretches along north of town-and he saw me, and came yelling after me to get out at once. No poachers allowed on my land, etc. It made me sore, 1t did; for I've never done any harm to old man Perkins, and he'd no right to yell out at me as though l were some sneak thief.''
 Well" and Smithy Black wlnked at the other boys, "I don't remember that you were conspicuous by your absence last Hallowe'en And it seems to me that we did a good deal of mischief to his wagon and buggy"
 But he'd chased Us out of his melon patch the summer before," explained Walt And we only got even with him on Halloween"
 ''Oh, we've got to give the old gentle man a little reminder that we're still do- ing business at the same old stand" laughed Tom Banks. "But what shall 1t be this year?''
 That's Just what I asked the eang,"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-25

hive 10 minutes, for the workers kill off the drones and you would be a drone, never having done a days work in all your life. l warned you about week ago that winter was coming, and you only laughed and said you lived for to- day and would let tomorrow take care of itself. Well, here Is that tomorrow, Major. And 1t Is taking care of Itself; but not of you. No, I cannot do any thing for you, for 1t is the law of the Bees that no drone be allowed to live on them. You have not helped to build this hive, therefore you may not share It's shelter. You have not assisted with fll-
 ing the combs with honey, therefore, you may not eat of 1t. The hive belongs to the builders and their assistants in various