davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-21

in the remainder of this story. as show ing what became of her baby doll.
 If Irene felt bad. how do you suppose gentle Gladys felt, lying there among strangers, unable to cry out, unable to move and being carried away from those she loved? Words cannot tell her agony. Yet through it all she bravely smiled. Poor, gentle, Gladysl
 How long she remained in the seat no one can ever tell. It seemed to her that she must have gone half around the world, for Gladys didn't know much about geography and couldn't be expected to realize how big the world is Finally the porter came along and picked up the box in which Gladys lay, and when he had opened 1t he smiled and murmured to himself that he knew what to do with it. Gladys was badly frightened. She had never met the porter, and ste didn't know but he meant to butcher her. However, her fears in this respect were groundless The porter took her captive and held her prisoner under some papers until he reached the end of his run Then he took Gentle Gladys, still confined in the box, and left the train, carrying her a long distance through the town until he reached a small house in the outskirts of the city. When he prepared to enter the house Gladys was that frightened she would have cried out had she been able. But on entering the porter went up to a thin
 little sick girl lying on the bed and said:
 'I have brought you something nice, Sally"
 He laid the box on the bed by her side and watched her as she with trembling hands opened it. It was good to see the little ones face light up with joy, and to hear her exclamations of delight as she looked on Gladys and her elegant dresses. Gladys was rejoiced that she had come to this place, and she loved the little girl. Sally played with the paper doll until she was tired out, and then she fell asleep, clasping Gentle Gladys to her bosom. No one will ever know the good that Gentle Gladys did
 Through long, feverish nights and dark, dreary days, Gladys lay at the side of the sick child, always cheeriy smiling and never leaving her presence for mo- ment. Sally did not forget. Her starved soul seemed to expand under the infiu- ence of the paper doll and, though she grew weaker and weaker in body, there had been awakened in her something that had never been there before She forgot her sickness; she didn't mind the fever; love had come to her and she was happy. It saddened gentle Gladys to see the little one failing. as she knew her to be. Night after night she remained by the side of the child, and every time that Sally would look gentle Gladys smiled. It was all she could do. And it helped wonderfully.
 If gentle Gladys was unable to arrest the waste of the disease and save the life of the little one, 1t Is not to be won dered at. Many, many men and women
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-21

cheek. "I never meant to lie, to really lie,' he whispered to himself. But l guess tibbing grows to be lies after one gets older. and then one might be ruined by lying. l never thought of that. Of course, nobody would trust a man that told falsehoods, and nobody would give dishonest boy employment
 Then Jimmy arose and went out to do his chores, and he performed them with new interest. And somehow, now that he had begun to realize what 1t meant to tell falsehoods, be found a great pleasure in doing the work assigned him, and doing it honestly and well.
 little later his mother called him to supper and Jimmy called back to her: Pm not quite through with my chores, Mamma, But will come to supper as soon as l have finished them" Then his heart felt so light, and a new sense of pride and responsibility came to him. After all, 1t was glorious thing to be truth ful, to be trusted and believed.
 At the supper table Jimmy said to his father and mother: I've made up my mind, Papa and Mamma. to never. never deceive you, or anyone, in anything
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-21
BY c. L. PHIFER.
HE Old Man cut off chew of to-

THE Old Man cut off a chew of to-
 bacco and deposited 1t in his mouth. = Then he settled down in comfort ana began his story. He spoke slowly, chew ing between breaths. so as to get the full enjoyment of 1t.
 You see, I never had no education to speak on. went to subscription school for six months when I was eight years old. and that was all there was of 1t. I might have went longer, but I didn't like the way teacher learned me things"
 The Old Man smiled and continued:
 II learned purty fast, too. Before qutuated I sas reading in McGuffy's second reader, which ain't so bad in six months, and l was figuring in fractions. It was In the reading class that l got my setback We was reading that piece that begins. I would was reindeer l read that verse. The next line begun, If was a rabbit After 1 had read my verse the teacher ast me what a reindeer was.''
 The Old Man stopped to chew.
 Now, l had never seen no reindeer and 1 didn't know what 1t was. But looked at the next verse, which said, If I was a rabbit and lowed 1t must be kind of a rabbit. I just s'posed that.the writer was talking about n rabbit all the time. It was the best reasoning I could do and it warnt so bad for an eight-yearold colt. if I do say 1t myself But the answer made the teacher mad.
 What do you mean by talking like that?' the teacher asked as he grabbed me by my hickory shirt collar and twisted 1t until was nearly choking. I'll teach you that a reindeer Is n great big animal with horns, and not rabbit. Do you under stand7 And he shuck me powerful hard. That made me mad. I never went to school no more. It warn't no way to trent n boy who was doing the best he knowed how, and I thought he hadn't no call to net so, when my pap wns paying him for learning me what didn't know. l told my brother. five years older than me. thnt when 1 growed up I was gon' to lick the teacher for the way he edi- cnted me-
 The Old Man ruminated fin silence. The word hrs in these later days assumed an intellectual meaning, but ruminate means to chew, and in the old days 1t had lit- eral significance.
 When I wns ffteen," the Old Man re- sumed. "I was quite n chunk of boy and decided l was big enough to wollup the teacher. One day the hull neighbor- hood turned out to work the roads. Teacher wns there. and was there, and my brother Joe wns there, and q hull pnssel besides. told Joe I was going to lick the teacher that day, and kept my eyes open for good chanct to pick a fuss with him. But. try as hard as I could, l couldn't make out no way to start a fight. We ct our dinners. and still hadn't done nothing. But along in the afternoon they was building corduroy road out of sapplings and we had to make a culvert. There was two big logs to carry to act ns the sides and an- other to lay on top of them, as a kiver, before we put the dirt on; and as we was tugging at them the folks got to talking about how people had managed to lift great hefts before they had der ricks and things, They talked about the Oysamids of Egypt and the Tower e<
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-21

dressed Gladys in one after the other of the gowns for an hour at a stretch. Gladys bore it all with patience and never said a cross word to her mamma.
 When Irene would go to school Gladys would lie shut up in her box, that did look like coffin, and never say word. And when Saturday came, then Gladys would be brought out and become the center of attraction, while the little girls would cut out new dresses for her. A very queer person was Gladys. She didn't eat a bite, and yet she remained plump and, ap- parently, in good health. She didn't talk, either. This is the reason why there is no conversation in this story. though con- yersation properly belongs in every story. Irene talked to Gladys, and she could feel what Gladys evidently meant to say, but the paper doll never really said a word. Yet that she was happy there can be no manner of doubt. If she wasn't why should she always smile so pleasantly?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-21

not be believed or trusted
 Many, many hours did the poor heart broken mother talk to her son, the way ward Jimmy, about his wrongdoing, and earnestly and lovingly and pleadingly did she beg him to be truthful in all things; also the father used his influence with the little Jimmy, but all to no avail, it seemed, for after a week of strict truth telling Jimmy would suddenly lapse into his lamentable way of ''fibbing" again Of course, his falsehoods were not so seri- ous now as they would become as he grew older. At the time I am writing about Jimmy would falsify concerning trivial things, hoping to avoid a bit of work by so doing. It was his duty to feed the horse and pigs each evening and to cut the kindling wood for the mornings fires. He would run down to the barn and busy himself playing with his dog Rover. often forget ting the pigs and horse till he heard his mother calling him to supper. And when she asked him if he had performed his chores, Jimmy, wishing to eat his supper without delay and then fearing the dark after supper (all bad children fear the dark, would tell story, saying that he had fed the horse and pigs. But his father. having caught Jimmy telling n @~isehood once, was always on the watch
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-21

have sat at the bedside of loved ones. longing for the power to stay the hand of death, and were utterly helpless; and Gentle Gladys was so small. The night that Sally died she looked at the paper image, which had been dressed in it's most gorgeous gown for the occasion, and, lifting wasted hand, laid 1t over the doll that lay on her breast. So gently left the spirit of the child that Gentle Gladys could not tell when the bosom ceased to lift with the breath of life
 Since the little one had passed to the world of shadows with Gentle Gladys ly- ing on her heart, it was deemed appro- priate that the paper doll should be buried with her. Gentle Gladys did not care. It is hard to go under the ground, under the rain and snow, while still llv- ing and loving life; but Gentle Gladys
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-21
When Jimmy the "Fibber,", Reformed.

of his son, and would go to the barn and the pigpen to see whether or not the ani- mals were eating their supper. And so it always turned out that Jimmy was caught In the act of falsifying, and often his poor father felt forced to punish him. either sending him to bed without his supper or denying him some little inno- cent pleasure he had been anticipating. But punishment or coaxing seemed of no avail in Jimmy's case And the parents were all but distracted over their only child's sinful ways.
 One evening Jimmy's mother called him to her, saying Son, do you remember the story about our great George Wash ington and how he once thoughtlessly cut down a cherry tree in his fathers or chard just to try the blade of his little
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-21

hatchet? And do you recall how that honest boy confessed his wrongdoing to his father, who was very stern and se- veref But George Washington was not a boy to fear punishment when he knew he deserved it, and to his stern father said I cut down the cherry tree, father, and I cannot tell you lie about it. Punish me If you think I deserve 1t, but let me first tell you that I did not realize that l was doing any harm. Well, of course, the father did not punish his son for having cut down the cherry tree. for his heart swelled with pride over his sons honesty. And from that day to the end of the elder Washington's life only the closest and sweetest intimacy existed be- tween that grave, stern sire and the noble son who could not tell lie. And George Washington became great because he could not tell lie,' he could not deceive in any manner, and all who knew him admired and respected him."
 Then Jimmy's mother arose and left the room, leaving Jimmy in a meditative state of mind. For long time he sat there, thinking, and as he thought there came to his mind the life history of many great men and among them all not one could be pointed at with scorn as having been dishonest blush covered Jimmy's
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-21

again, and from this day l intend to be like George Washington-to be able to say, l cannot tell a liel''
 "A fine resolution, son." declared the father, slight quaver in his voice, ''and I know you will keep 1t. And your mother and I shall never forget this day and shall help you in your good resolu- tion.''
 And. to think that our dear Jimmy should have made US so happy on this day of all days smiled the happy mother. flor this is the anniversary of the great George Washington's birth
 Maybe it was the day that helped me to see the error of my ways" confessed Jimmy. Anyway. the story of the cherry tree and the hatchet made such all impression on my mind, Mamma, that it set me to thinking, and thinking made me ashamed of my past 'fbbing.' So, the truth for me in future, no matter what the consequences"
 'The consequences of truth-teling are always good" declared the father. "No harm can come from honesty. Only dis honesty and deceit bring disastrous re- suits, and then comes ruin. Be honest, my boy, and all people will trust and re- spect you. and your life will be the rich CT and the more successful, and there will never be cause for you to feel re- gret. l am glad that today you have found 1t impossible to tell lie.''
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-21

Why. Gladys smiled even after she had laid out in the rain all night and taken that frightful cold. She knew that her mamma didn't mean to forget her, and. though she had suffered untold agonies when the lightning and thunder played around her, and her mamma was in good bed, forgetful of her child; though she felt the ink running out of her, leav- ing her pale and wrinkled and badly dis figured, yet Gladys smiled bravely when Irene rescued her in the morning and tried to let her mamma understand that she didn't blame her. Irene dried Gladys out as best she could and kept her In bed for several days. It was during this time that Gladys first understood how deeply she was loved, and when q new dress was
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-21
BY CHARLEs LINCOLN PHIFER.

b1 CHARLES LINCOLN PHlt Eh.
 ITO BEGIN with. Gentle Gladys was a
 paper doll. She had no parents to
 4 speak of, but was printed and cut out by machinery. Brothers she had none, but there was large number of sisters, all of whom were her twins and looked just like her. The edition ran Into some thing like ten thousand, which makes the family of Gentle Gladys one of the largest in all history.
 Gentle Gladys was made with under clothing on her. This, as many young people can realize, was a decided ad- vantage for her. It made 1t impossible for her to take bath. Besides, her hair was always done up just so, and every little girl who has had her hair in a snarl and had to have the kinks combed out can appreciate the advantage of being made like Gentle Gladys was Moreover, the young lady-she was either a baby or a young lady according to how she was dressed-was so made that with two movements her clothes were changed. One movement was taking the one color off and the other was putting the other color on. Gladys possessed six gowns and six elegant hats, all of them very be- coming While ordinarily iInmovable, re- maining in the same position in which she had been made, it is a fact that some times she moved her hands when she changed gowns-or, rather, when someone changed gowns for her. In one dress she had her hands in a nun. In another she held a bouquet. In a third she was hold ing up her train; and the trimmest ankle showed under the rufned petticoat
 Gladys was person of great refinement and fine disposition. She was exception ally good-natured. never being known to complain or speak harshly. She remained where she was placed and always greeted visitors with a pleasant smile.
 Gentle Gladys lived in a little paper
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-21
R OwPuZZle Corner t
LETTER ENIGMA.

My first Is in bright, but not in sun: My second is in ride, but not in run: My third is in grey, but not in blue: My fourth is in old, but not in new: My fifth is the same as my fourth, you
 see: My sixth Is In danger, but not in ice:
 My whole, of two words,
 Are intended by. me
 To tell boys and girls
 Just what they should be.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-21
aA AIlTTLE BOYS A ESSAY ON %
 \GEORGE WASHINGTOH/

dians feared Him Greatly. George wasent afraid of anything in the world, an he wood as soon a fought lions or elefants as to fight British an Indians An his being so Brave was what Made him so Truthful, for its onlie Rewards what tell lies. If George had told lies he never Wood a bin a Great Leader. lyer is always found out sooner or later an then he sees His Finish, for folks in general wont stand for no lyers. They want Honest Men an wimmen an Boys an Gurls. IT all people, including Kids, was as honest as George Washington the world Wood be far better off and there woodent be so Much trubble on account of Lies an folks wood be Happier
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-21

box, along with her gowns and her hats Her picture was painted on the lid of the box, and she never gadded about. It Is presumed she slept most of the time, for she had to remain in the box while her mamma was at school; yet no one ever saw her with her eyes closed. She was too well bred to sleep in the presence of company.
 There, 1t has come out Gladys got mamma sometime after she was made. She was tied, while shut up in her box, to a Christmas tree and given to little girl around the corner from the church. This girl. Irene by name, was delighted with Gladys, and loved her very much, just as a little mamma ought to do. She called in a neighbor girl, and the two
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-21

~ FORGE WASHINGTON had a very
 rlarge and Immense Famlie. He was >S the Father of Our Country, an 1t Rep him very Bisy to look after us All. He was very Honest Boy an owned up to his Pa when he cut down the Cherrie Tree with his little ax. But his Pa probably did not lick him, for Nuthing is said about a Licking in the History what curtains to George. I guess his Pa was so Tiekeed when George said Pa l just can't tell a lie, I cut the Cherry tree down, an you can fog me if you want to. So his Pa probably decided to spair the rod and Spoil the chile. But George wasent spoilt He growed up to fight Indians and the British an to be a Herow. An all the British and the h.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-21

put on her she looked about as well as ever and was so happy.
 Soon after this Irene and her mamma went to neighboring village for visit, and nothing would do but that gentle Gladys should be taken along. Gladys was safely lying in her box, along with her many gowns, and Irene carried her in her hands. Once in the train, the paper doll in the box was laid on the seat, and when the train stopped Irene, forgetting all about the doll, left her lying there, and never missed her until the train had pulled out and it was too late to get the child. Then Irene cried, of course, and her mamma scolded her for being so for getful. It was the last time she ever saw gentle Gladys. She never even heard of her afterward, and will be interested
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-21

Babel and the Hanging Gardens. because they liked to hear teacher tell about these things. Finally some feller ast how much the bell of Moscow weighed, and I knowed my chanct had come"
 The Old Man paused once more to chew Possibly he had an ulterior pur- pose as well. All good story tellers know the value of pause before the cli- max comes, and these plain old pioneers are, many of them, genuinely good story tellers The old Man continued.
 q told Joe that now was the time l was going to lick the teacher and for
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-21

him to see fair play. l edged up clost, and waited to see what the teacher would say. He thought a moment and said:
 "I declare if I hain't forgot
 'Then I throwed myself at him. l grabbed him by the collar and twisted his shirt jest as he had mine, till he was mighty nigh choking. I WAS a likely feller, and teacher was a kind CT puny, you see. But some of the folks made to take me of, for they thought heap of the teacher. Joe tried to keep them away, but they finally pried me part way loose, and teacher ast, Jim, tell me what this means, and if I need 1t I will let you lick me. Honest I will"
 The Old Man chewed deliberately.
 "Then opened up. Oh, but l was billing. The words naturally seemed to pour from my mouth. Teacher says I. when was a pore. ignorant little tike, you ast me what a reindeer was, and told you 1t was a rabbit. It was the best knowed, but you grabbed me by the col ls and beat mo over the shoulderA be-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-21
BY WILLIAM WALLACE, JR.

YIMMY BROWN was often a very
 naughty boy. His naughtiness took on , the form of ''fbbing," or, to speak more to the point. Jimmy told falsehoods at times. But l am glad to say that he did not often wander from the path of truth, though he was the victim of temp tation occasionally, which was very, very wrong, indeed. And this fault of Jimmy's caused his parents much anxiety and ap- prehension, for they knew that unless he could be made to realize the great error of telling falsehoods he would become a failure in life. The parents also knew that 'fibbing' boy might grow into a very dishonest man, and that all the world stood aloof from one who could
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-21
How Grandfather Taught the Teacher.

cause I was little and didn't know no better. And pap paid you to learn me, too. That warn't no way to treat a fel- Ter that was doing the best he knowed how. Now you can't tell what the bell of Moscow weighs, and I. ignorant as am, know, because it is in the back of the old elementary speller. I am going to lick you, teacher, till you learn.'"
 The Old Man looked round on his hearers and smiled.
 'Well, the fellers cheered and told me to light in. But teacher said: Jim, I low you are right. But give me a chance.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-21

Tell me what the bell of Moscow weighs and then if I ever forget you may lick me, and welcome. If you meet me on the road or at meeting or anywhere, ask me what the bell weighs. and if I forget. then It's your turn
 Well, I let him off. Says I, The bell of Moscow weighs 225 tons, and l hope you have learned your lesson.'
 And he had. I used to meet that fel- Ter after that, and as fur as he could see me he would yell, Joe. the bell of Mos COW weighs 225 tons.'
 "He was mighty good to me after that, too. He ust to lend me books and show me how to do sums, and he helped me a heap. Teacher had learned his lesson all right
 And the Old Man chewed vigorously.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-21

proved herself equal to this stupendous sacrifice, and lay in the little white coffin, gowned in the garments of life, with the same sweet smile upon her lips that had in the old days charmed the heart of Irene; and there she lies on Sally's pulseless breast, probably smiling still.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-21
CURTAILINGS.

q) Triply curtail day of the week and leave a celestial body. @ Triply curtall a section of a book and leave name ap- piled to a boy. (3) Triply curtail the name of a parent and leave that which we must not eat too freely of.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-21
BEHEADINGs.

Q) Behead trimming used on ladies' dresses and leave a sudden attack. (2) Triply behead a religious ceremony and leave sinful thing. (3) Behead the name of month and leave an ornamental gateWaY.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-21
TRUTH.

I EFT boys and girls throughout l. this land,
 In station low or high, Declare, that like George Wash
 ington,
 They cannot tell lie- Let Truth and Honor be their
 guides,
 And never for one day
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-21
OUT OF HIS DEPTH.

Teacher-What Is the depth of the Att lantic in midoceanf
 Patsy Bolivar-Give it up. teacher; it'A too deep for me