davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-01-23
AWARDED A WATCH
BUSTER
EVERETT GRIFFn

EVERETT GRIFFIN.
1882 Invent y-tEfrd street. san FraE-
cisco. Everett Grammar school,
a Eighth Grade. Age IL Years
Last winter I went with my father
and mother up 10 our cottage at Mesa
Grande. Sonoma county. on the banks
OF the Russian river and while there
became very good friends with q collie
dog named Buster. who belongs to the
postmistress at this place. He is so in
telligent that he can almost talk.
il was our habit 10 go TO the station
every evening when the train arrived
and get the mail. On one dark night
while on our way to the station we
missed Buster. but could hear him
barking loudly some distance UP the
track. and no amount Of whistling
would bring him 10 us. Ny father
thinking he had freed a coon, went up
TO Investigate and found that a land
slide had covered the track for about
100 feet and Buster stood there bark
ing at it, We hurried TO the station
below and notified the railroadmen and
the trafnmen when they arrived Bus
ter was the most talked of dog in the
valley for saving the train from a
wreck. and the railroad company gave
him a silver collar.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-01-23
QUICK ACTION OF A DOG
HATTIE SCHULTZ.
Al T. Street, San MateO. san Hateo
School, Seventh Grade. Age IA Years,

That was narrow escape
Thsi.e was a great murmur among the
people standing around a large black
and white dog
A neighbor of ours has a beautiful
dog named Prince. He is a very brave
dog. The incident of which | am going
to write is how brave Prince" saved a
train wreck in which were many people.
A few weeks ago Prince was taking
his morning stroll beside the track when
he noticed that one rail had large
piece separated from it. He heard the
whistle of the train, and by instinct
knew the danger to 1t. He ran TO the
corner where men were stationed TO
signal the engineers. On his way
Prince picked up a doll in a red dress
and carried it to the Waterman. Prince
began to bark and whine and tried to
hold the doll in the air. He took the
mans trousers in his teeth and pulled
him toward the loose rail. The watch
man soon saw the danger and signaled
with his red flag, and the train was
stopped Just in time. The people were
very thankful for their lives and brave
Prince received a silver collar.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-01-23
THEO'S KITTENS
INEZ CoPPLE,
HopIand. Age II y ears

We once had a dog named Theo.
Thee was a small black dog. with white
feet. N5w. Theo was always chasing
cats Whenever he could find any TO
chase. Theo just simply hated cats and
would kill them.
Our cat. whose name was Tilly, had
five small kittens. One day lilly was
going through the front yard. when
Theo ran after her. Poor Tiliy ran
soon Killed her We felt very bad, be-
cause we could not very well raise the
kittens. Theo went to the back yard
gate and barked. We never allow him
to go into the back yard, but he whined
so pitifully that we let him in. What
do you think he did? Why. he ran to
the kittens and laid down by them and
your mother Theo has always liked
cats since he Killed Tilly. 1t looks aw-
fully cute to see five kittens Following
him.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-01-23
CLASS IN CHAR pE OF
BY Miss Mary A. Scherer,
Principal GARFIELD Primary school

= o where you VIII. in this or in any
other land. you will not find
school work as interesting. in
tensely so. as in the foreign quarter OF
this city.
II the teacher goes with heart full
OF love and the determination of a
conqueror. then her school life will be
happy here. il not. her PLACE as else
where. In this district thdlclsfs a full
eNempification OF with whak measure
We mete shall il be mea&anae to you
again" All Of the teach ere are
building better than theyHknow
The girls early in life act out too
well the part of the little mother in
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-01-23

by a class of year olds. She rushed
down an aisle with her purpose de-
picted on her countenance 10 one OF the
discordant ones, when she was told.
Hes got no father and no mother.
Her face softened. which softening pro-
cess was not unnoticed by the class.
shortly after there was more discord.
at which the teacher sprinted down
another aisle after another malcontent.
Again she heard. Hes got no father
and no mother" Again her heart soft
ened.
When a third discordant one was
greatly in evidence she started forth
again 10 discipline az any cost, when
she heard again. Hes got no father
and no mother.
The teachers query at this time was.
Am ] in an orphan aSylumr"
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-01-23
A LITTLE DOGS DINNER


My table is set. Please give me my
dinner" This is what the little dos
means. though his way Of saying IL IS
Bow wow wow
His mistress feeds him in the dinlnS
room, but she is careful Of her carpet
so she keeps a large napkin or tower 70
spread over il. There is bowl TOO
that is the little dogs especial prop
erty. His dinner is always put into II.
and the bowl and napkin are kept IN
cupboard that he can reach.
He mas watched his mistress When
she spread the cloth and set the DOW
on il TIL he has learned to do IL himSeii
At dinner time. when he hears the
plates and goblets jingling in the china
closet. he goes to his cupboard ana
opens the door with his paw re taxes
his table cloth in his mouth and spreads
it on the carpet with his mouth ana
paws. TIe brings the bowl and sets *
down in the middle of the cloth. Inen
he barks. to say that his table IS readN'
But he does not keep barking. as II ne
meant TO tease for his dinner lie SITS
down by the bowl and waits quietly and
patiently till 1t is given to him.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-01-23
ROVER AND TILLY
GEORGE LIENAU.
salem school. seventh Grade
Age II Years

l have a large dog named Rover. He
was six weeks old when | got him for
a present. He was a very smart little
puppy When he was two months old
he learned how TO speak for his food
and shake hands. And when he was
two months and half old he would
know the exact time when TO sit up,
when | get out of school to play with
him. When / was 10 years old Il
friend of mine gave me little dog
that l called Tiliy. TiIly was a little
house dog that is awful short and rat.
She sleeps behind the stove most all
chickens out of the garden JiIIy IS a
very old dog now She never knew
how to speak, but she learned how to
speak from my other dog Rover. I
was offered So for her, but l didn't
want to part with her.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-01-23
sHEP'S HER0ISM
AGNES PATTERSON.
30f Oregon street. Redding. Grammar
school, Seventh Grade.
Age Is Years

One summers day my brother and I
took our dog down to the bOathouse
on the lake. Our father is the boat
house keeper.
We have our own boat, which we
occupy a greater part of the time We
took our boat. the Victor, and went
out upon the lake.
We had not gone far when Shep. see
ing a swan. leaped In after il. In do
ing SO he overbalance1 the boot. and
Ben, my brother, being on the end.
fell in.
Shep. having heard Ben's cry, turned
and swan toward him. He caught him
by the shirt and swan toward the boat,
where / managed to pull him in.
So YOU see Shep saved Sens life.
And Ben and Shep have been the best
of friends everfsince.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-01-23
PUG-A TRUE DOG STORY
DONNA LEGGETT.
Box 39I, Santa Rosa. Cnl Wright
school, High Third. Age 10 Years

Two or three years ago stray dog
came 10 our place. At first we did
not like the appearance of him; he
looked so mean. He was black and
brown. We took him to school, think
ing We would get rid of him, but he
followed US home again. So we de-
cided TO keep him. Papa named him
Pug. Pug is a great fighter and when
q strange dog comes he is ready for a
the time. He is never loose unless he
breaks his chain. which he has done
quite often. We have lots of fun with
him when we try to get bone
apple or anything he happens to have
away from him. When we take a
stick and try TO get the bone he'll hold
II between his paws and try 70 break
the stick with his mouth and all the
while he is growing and swapping. but
only in play. He is very fond of
grapes and we throw them to him and
let him catch them. We all think a
great deal of him now and would not
give him away for anything
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-01-23
AWARDED A WATCH
SPASMS
RALPH WINSTON SHORT,
Asnew. Cal. Agrew Public school.
Age IL Years


Age IL Years
The boys and girls may think Spasms
IS a funny name for a dog. but il they
could see my dog l am sure they would
say she has the right name.
Whenever she wants to please any
one she has such cute way OF wrink-
ling up her face and showing her teeth
and Whisking round and round until
any one would think she was really
crazy
After a while she found three little
puppies in the barn that had long. soft
hair, just like hers We gave two of
them away, and Spasms put in most of
her time training the other pup. but
she could never teach him to be quite
SO cunning as she
one day she took him out in the
field and he got caught in a trap that
had been set for coyotes. Spasms had
been in the trap herself and understood
II, so she came tearing to the house for
help We guessed from her antics
what was wrong and went with her
When the pup was released she barked
and whisked around in great joy and
went of holding up one foot and limp
ing to show him how to walk on three
feet.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-01-23

He always seemed pleased. He has trav-
eied on trains and Streetcars. Once he
wandered off to a neighbor's house, and
was scalded. 1t left a hole in his coat
We could not match the cloth, so he has
TO wear ragged coat. He soon ceased
to be a favorite. He is a very nervous
dog, but a splendid watchdog. He
likes to play hide and seek. and find a
He is also very affectionate with those
he likes, but he don't like Japs or any
one with stfck-he is ready for bat
tie. One lady said he bit her heel, but
that is not the worst thing he has
learned to do--he has developed into
quite a thief. He stole half a roll of
butter, a fried chicken, a loaf of bread
and 20 pounds of pork
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-01-23
THE DOG MESSENGER
Croker Tract. COlma p. %. Shertdan
School, A Eighth Grade.
1H NRar4


The date on which my story begins IA
November 10, 1907. One day my broth
er. with gun in hand and his dog at his
side, went among the hills 10 hunt for
squirrels. He had shot two and was
crawling after another. with the muzzie
of the gun pointing toward him. when
the trigger caught in a twig Of a bush
and the gun was discharged. the bullet
entering his right leg. He gave
scream and then fell to the ground un-
conscious. When he came TO he found
his dog beside him. He called the dog
to him and smeared some blood on him
and said, Go home The dog at his
masters command went home anc
barked loudly. Hearing the dogs bark
and seeing the bloody finger marks. We
followed him as fast as we could We
soon found Louis. for that was nv
brothers name. He had once more
lapsed into Inconsistencies. and when
he recovered for the second time he
found himself in a warm bed. with the
doctor leaning over him. He soon got
we'll and now he and his dog are the
best of friends
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-01-23
MY DOG sPEcK
HAROLD JORDAN,
43S North Eleventh street. san Jose.
Low Fifth Grade, Grant School.
Acr ~ Hesr,.

We have a dog named Speck We
got him when he was 8 months old.
Now he is 4 years old. He is smart
dog, and understands anything you say
TO him, Every morning he goes to the
depot with my father. If the cellar
door is shut and he can not get out. he
will cry until somebody will come and
let him out
Sometimes people at the depot Will
give him some bones
Not very long ago he had a fight
with another dog. He got bit very
bad on the neck. When he got. home
mamma washed it and tied it up. The
next morning he would not come out
rag off and he went out in the street.
Now he is all well and goes out every
day
We have a cat. and he will sleep with
her and eat with her. If another cat
comes in the yard he will chase it out.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-01-23

eager for the teacher to hear his an
swer, said, Point Richmond"
On the afternoon preceding the
Christmas holidays. after the teacher
had unioaded her cargo OF sweets for
the little ones. she told the children
our legend of Santa Claus. She waxed
eloquent regarding his coming down
the chimney. Suddenly a dull looking
little girl possessing a deep bass voice
asked How about the people with
gas stoves2,'
A teacher was deeply interested with
one Of the sections of her baby class.
when a little girl excitedly came up to
her and said: George put some horse
meat on my head" The teacher said.
Horse neat and looking down at
the child's hair saw couple of grains
of oats
Ateachcr new to primary work and the
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-01-23
AWARDED A WATCH
ROMEO AND JACK
HOWARD BRYANT.
42S Thfrtx-sixth street. Oakland. Pied
mont school. 4 Eighth Grade.
zee II Years

Ny uncle IN Illinois had Newfound-
land dog named Romeo A neighbor on
the south side of my uncles house had
z dog named Jack. who was a cross be-
tween mastin and collie. and a bitter
enemy of Romeo. Whenever the two
dogs met a fierce battle cnsued.
About half a mile down the stream
that flowed past my uncie's house stood
"a mill A dam about three feet wide
bad been huin so as 10 form a pond
and the water on one side was very
deep
Romeo often made a trip TO the
town. about q mile below the mill. to
fetch the mail. and the min being in
his direct route he had 10 cross the
dam coming and going.
One day when Romeo was on his way
back he met Jack IN the middle OF the
dam. There was instantly a fierce bat
tie in which Jack was thrown into the
pond When Romeo saw him struG-
Cling in ihe water his life saving in
stinct seized him and he plunged in
and dragged Jack out
Thus Romeo sawed Jacks life and
after tlist the two dogs were the best
% friends
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-01-23
S1ALtJTHFe rfIIs FLAG cARrIELD ERIE1Ar sef1ocns
SSGHOoL

- >-l1o>llA E4ho ~
Many of them after school are vendors
OF dinerent things-gum, matches and
the daily news. With such children
us necessary to be ever on the alert.
Ihey are quick mentally, keen judges
OF human nature and always up to
date, whether ii be horse race, prize
fight or the latest cut of the clothes
of both sexes
rev of the humorous doings OF the
little ones might be interesting.
teacher in class of year olds was
about TO teach the melody of song
commencing oft to Slumber Land we
go The children previously had been
taught the words by the class teacher,
but this teacher thought she would see
what the little folks understood. She
said: Where is Slumber Land" One
bright eyed lad said. Oakland" No.
the teacher said Another boy. very
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-01-23
FUZZ AND THE PUP
LOUISE De SASsEsE.
81 silver Az. san F'rnncfseo. Age Is

One day. TO my surprise. my uncle
brought me home very handsome spitz
dog, and his name was F'uzz. He was
very intelligent dog. as he seemed to
understand great many words and
could perform number Of tricks A
short time ago my brother broueht
home a little pup. Fuzz did not vel
come him at first. but after q few DAYS.
acqua.ntance allowed him TO occupy
part Of his lodgings
Fuz1 would never leave the ward
even IL the gate was opened Not 50
with the little pup. He would scanoner
away every chance he got one dav
when the gate was open out went the
pup. and Fuz1 ran after him. They
had heard some excitement in the street
ali The children were shouting. Here
comes the pound"
fux1 heard the words and saw the
wagon. ran after the pup. caught hin,
in his mouth and tretted back into fhe
yard. When he set inside the gate no
dropped the pup and stood watching At
the vptn gate. Snarlinx ali the time
something ne had never done before
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-01-23

Lof|ITOR AT GAJSF> IEI.O ESRIFIA2.
the household.
Many of the boys are street mer-
chants before and after school When
the nlilkmen are leaving their supplies
at the threshold of the city's homes
some Of the boys are up, armed with
boxes which they leave at the doors
OF some or the commission houses
where first come is tirst served in
the getting for a small sum, of eggs
that have been cracked in transit. The
boys get up about O'Clock in the
morning. leave their boxes and return
home TO get a few more winks Of sleep.
Then they are UP again about O'Clock,
when they return 10 the commission
houses for the eggs. after receiving
which they start on their selling tour.
which does not last long. as they have
ready customers for their stock
These boys then come to school.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-01-23
SPIDER
MARION ID. BALDWIN.
1874 Fell street. san Francisco. A
~ fenrS

Spider, the leading character in this
story, reminded one more. of a large
rat than dog.
At the time the events of this story
took place we were living across the
street from the panhandle.
Spider was never idle. as his fayorite
amusement was making a noise re
sembling that of bark at the passing
automobiles.
One hot summer day | was sitting on
the front steps watching Spider. He
was evidently conscious Of this atten-
off.
About half an hour had passed and
was just getting UP to go in the
house when / saw two automobiles
come tearing down the street. Spider
as usual ran to the middle of the street
TO bark. The automobile that was in
the lead turned out of his way. This
confused the dog so that he ran right
in front of the other machine. | thought
surely that the poor dogs time had
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-01-23


cisco. Age 10 Years
one Saturday morning I woke up
with a feeling that something nice
was to come TO me that day. At first
I couldn't think what il was and then
7 remembered il was the day for The
Junior Call
] sprang quickly out Of bed and ran
downstairs, but TO my disappointment
when I opened the door the paper was
not at its usual place on the porch.
] went back to bed. but in a few min
utes got up and dressed and went down
stairs 7 looked again and again, but
every time ] came back disappointed.
7 was doing the dishes and a tear
dropped ia the dish water NJ mother
asked me what was the matter. and ]
told her. 1 was missing my dog and
said. 1T is raining. and I haven't The
Junior or my dog 10 keep me. company.
] went 10 the basement in search Of
amusement, and what do you think ]
fOund2
There was nay dog lying by the steps.
He had the paper looking at Alonzo
with intense interest He was studying
every pose Of our little Call friend as
eagerly as I would
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-01-23
THE TRICKS OF BRUNO
ADOLF BAUER.
1874 Blake street. Berkeley. 81. Joseph's
school. age Ia Years.

One time | was over in the city visit
ing my brother at his garage and
man passed by with brown and
white setter dog. My brother asked the
man If he would make his dog do some
tricks for me. So the man told his dog
Bruno. TO dance a twostep for me. The
man then began to whistle and Bruno
took his tail in his mouth and danced
all around. He then told Bruno he
wanted to read. so the dog ran all
around In search of paper and
brought it to his master. Another
trick of his is this: His master will
tell him to bark when he names a GER
tain number. He VIII name a lot of
numbers and when he names ii the dog
will bark.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-01-23
FAITHFUL PRINCE
LANCE PAPST.
Eighth Grade. OIimpO school. OrIand.
Age 15 Years.

Age 10 Years.
One day my friend and j went down
to a lake He had his dog and / had
mine His dog would so in and get
sticks when he threw them in. He
kept him in the water 50 much that
he gave out But he was close 10 q
little island. so he got on it. 1T had
begun TO get dark and we thought
that he was dead My dog would
work in water. 50 1 sent him out TO the
island and in a few minutes he came
back with the little dog. We thought
that he would die and we carried him
home and put him in a box and COW
cred him up with sack Prince
morning the dog was all right After
that my friend would not make his dog
go into the water. He said that Prince
was the best dog he ever saw and
that II Prince had not been there his
dog would have died.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-01-23
AWARDED A WATCH
THE PRIDE or THE FIRE
COMPANY

FAY THORPE.
Redwood city. Grammar school. Eighth
lrade. Age II icnrr

Grade. Age ~ Years
When my father lived in Nevada he
owned q large St Bernard dog named
Don. Don was often called the fire
dog, because DE belonged TO the fire
company There were three fire COM
panies ia Carson City. and Don be-
longed 10 the third. The three COM
panies had a large fox tail and the
company that reached the fire first kept
the fox tail. The third company gen
orally kept the fox tail, as Don was
such a swift runner.
One night there was very large
fire. and Don was the only one in
papa's house that heard the bells ring.
The minute Don heard the bells he
bounded 40 the door. bat il was locked.
He then began 10 bark and run around
the room but even this did not seem
TO wake anybody.
Don looked 10 see II my father was
awake. and when he saw he was still
sleeping he jumped upon the bed and
began to lick his face. Papa woke up
Immediately and began To dress. The
third company didn't lose the fox tail.
because Don made up for the delay and
il reached the IRE first after all.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-01-23
LADDIE
MARIE GIANoT'TT,
1929 TWenty-fifth street. San Fran
cisco

CISCO
Laddie was a large st. Bernard dog.
He was used as q watchdog on my
grandfather's farm. One day my
grandmother. my little sister and my
self We're left at home alone. We
were busy working on the front porch.
when Laddie, who had been lying at
the foot of the stairs. gavA low
groWl The next instant a large coy
ote rushed upon Laddie from the
him and soon the coyote lay dead at
our feet. We were certainly very
thankful that the coyote had been
killed, because if my little sister
had have been on the porch alone no
one knows what might have happened.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-01-23

come. I screamed, but it was useless.
for Spider had politely rolled between
the wheels and had not even been
touched. He stood still minute and
watched the machine till it was out of
sight. then pficked up his ears and
walked toward me with 1orCily air. as
If he had been the hero of some noble
feat
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-01-23
DOG ROSE
KATIE WALTERS.
1877 Tiffany Avenue. sgasssz school.
4 Fifth Grade. Age II Years

Last summer | went TO visit my aunt
who had most intelligent dog. Dog
Rose could do many tricks and was
very fond of the children especially the
baby. Rose would helm my aunt on
washing day. She tool. the articles one
by one IN her mouth and so, helped 10
hang tho washing on the line.
One dar my aunt went out and left
baby sleeping. On her return baby
was laughing. To her surprise, doggie
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-01-23
DON
DE WITT pRINDLE.

Selma. Fresno County. Age IA Years.
The dog wish to tell YOU about was
born under the house January s. 1895
He is of d family of five. He was very
pretty pup. black as a crow. When
quite young lie learned to come when
called TO see baby IN the looking glass.