davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-21

weak wooden frames, and not houses At for people to live in. Men throw up these useless structures and put their families therein to live. That's an in- justice to the families So I come along and throw down the ugly and frail shack and then the man has to build a better home for his family. So. my mother, you see there's method In my madness
 Well, I'd rather you used more meth cd and less madness, my son." said Dame Spring, for she was of such gentle turn of mind that any rudeness or loudness irritated her and made her unhappy.
 Wei, l have a purpose to fulfil in this world,'' laughed Master March Wind, "and since it is not a pretty, peaceful duty, but rugged, ferce fighting one. I must do it with will and not allow myself to worry over the consequences. Do you ever stop to think of the good l do by starting little hur- ricanes, mother dear? Why, blow sickness and disease out of the land. l find old heaps of filth piled up here and there, breeding disease germs. What do do about them? I don't trip past and leave them to smolder and ferment. just go to blowing, and l blow them to pieces-scatter the debris, and so dry 1t and purify 1t by opening 1t to the suns rays, thus removing from humanity a very grave menace. That's why I blew the hay ricks away from the old farmers field. Those ricks were rotting and old, and all beneath them was moist ure and heat, and that was causing dis ease. So I blew them down and scat tered them. and made them healthy
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-21

us till we've turned black and bue that's what I think
 MT. Giddlngs took Pats hand, and look ing into his face, said: '1 have known your good heart all along. my boy, but l didn't know how to reach 1t. I'm sor- " we had to have this terrible accident that I might find the way to 1t. But well, let's get good and dry. Then we'll all go to my house for a little supper and talk over our afternoon and the days to come. What say you, boys?"
 You're a brick. Mir. Giddingsr' cried Jack. And Hank declared the same. And all expressed their pleasure in ac- cepting the invitation to sup with the good teacher whom. until the present hour, they had despised so heartily.
 And, Mir. Giddings, I mean to make up for my past" said Pat. "Ive lots to undo, and I mean to begin undoing it right from this hour"
 ''We'll forget the past, my boy smiled Mir. Giddings Well live in the present and work for the future. So the past is dead between us. except this hour when we got to understand each other. And now we'll pay attention to drying out, so we can hurry home. Miss Mat tie will look after the school all after noon for me-"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-21

tice to various little growing plants which she can easily tell by their individual shapes, for Little Girl has studied botany long enough to recognize various garden plants while they are still in their infant state.
 And isn't 1t a curious fact that Little Boy always delights in gardening vegeta- bles and fruits. while Little Girl devotes her time to flowers and ornamental plants? But this is as it should be, for we must have the practical and useful combined with the beautiful and .osna- mental.
 There Is one very necessary thing for the young and inexperienced gardener to learn, and to learn well; he or she must know the difference between the weeds and vegetables or flowers. little boy one time pulled up all the tomato sprouts in his mothers garden, thinking they were weeds, and he wished to be of use in helping to keep the garden clean of that ruinous intruder, the weed. But alasl the little fellow did more damage than good, and he should have been taught to know the shapes of various vegetables and flowers, for then his labor would not have been lost. and no harm would have come to the tomato bed. So. take warning from that boys experience, and study your botany as well as your gardens MAHY GRAHAM
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-21

of the tree as If intending to try to res- cue the crying Jack. What should he do? Pat needed his help. but he feared to plunge into the water, for he always got cramps when. the water was cold, and the river had some bits of floating ice still on it's surface. Then he felt that he should not delay, but climb to where Jack was hanging helplessly from the loosening limb.
 But the cries from Jack. and an occa- sional strangled cry from Pat. brought to Hank his voice. and rushing up the hillside, he called out with all his might: 'Helpi Help! We're drowningl We're hangingl Helpl Murder! Firel Deathi"
 Then he felt hand on his shoulder, and turned to see beside him Old Giddy, who had suddenly come through a hedge that grew down to the waters edge. Hank told him as best he could about what had happened, and the teacher lost no time in hurrying to the river. There Pat was still struggling to keep above the driftwood that came sweeping down upon him, but which was imperiling him every moment Owing to the swollen condition of the river, and the floating driftwood and bits of ice-cake, Pat could not swim, and was in danger of being drowned at any moment by being beaten under by the driftwood
 Mir Giddngs took in the situation of both boys at a glance. With a call to Jack to hold on a moment longer, and to not struggle, for struggling caused the limb to loosen from the tree, and then instructlng Hank to climb to Jacks as- sistance, he threw off shoes and coat and hat and was in the water, making his way as best he could to the side of Pat
 It was indeed hard struggle to get ashore through floating ice and driftwood with burden hanging to his back, but the teacher was as brave and determined as he was kind and gentle, and soon he got ashore with Pat clinging to his shoulders, but so exhausted that he could hardly speak for several minutes.
 In the meantime Hank had succeeded in assisting Jack to safety though it was no easy task, and they, like the teacher and Pat were exhausted from their eff forts and excitement. As soon as all four were assembled on the bank the teacher said Now, boys, let's have fire to dry out our clothes, and to warm us up a bit, for, although the day is fine for March, it is hardly as warm as one would like it for q swim in an open stream. So let's gather up some brush and have fire"
 As they set to work gathering wood for the fire Pat said to Hank: Say, what do you suppose brought MT. Giddings here? I'm ashamed to look him in the face-he has been so kind, and has really saved my life in the bargain. What can 1 ever say to him, anyway" The boys were out of Mir. Giddings' hearing and could discuss the recent excitement and their own wrongdoing without being overheard.
 Well, I haven't the slightest idea what brought him here" said Hank; 'but I'm alfred thankful that he dropped from the skies just when he did, for otherwise there'd be two boys dead on this bank. And I say he's hero, and I mean to make clean breast of my part in playing hockey and my past ugly feelings toward him. He's good little man, and better teacher than we have deserved. Let's try to be
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-21

worthy of him in future. What say you, eh?
 T was just thinking the same way" confessed Pat; 'and I mean to ask his forgiveness
 At that moment Mir. Giddings had roaring fire built and called to the boys to join him and Jack in the enjoyment of it. As the four stood about the blaze MT. Giddings said: Well, boys, I sup pose you wonder how I came to be Johnny y-on-the-spot just when you needed me. The truth is, I saw you going off over the hill. and I knew you meant to play truant this afternoon. left the school in charge of Miss Mattie Strong and followed you here. intending to try my powers of persuasion on you, for it hurt me to feel that I had no good in- duence over you. l wanted you to like the school-to feel kindly toward me"
 "Stop, MT Giddings, you make ne feel like a criminal!' said Pat in trembling voice. We are a most ungrateful bunch-Hank, Jack and l, and I've been the meanest of the three, too. But l am ashamed, and I want you to forgive me. You've been too kind and tolerant of us all winter, and now you cap 1t by saving my life. It's too much, l say. You've been too good to us. You ought to fog
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-21

limb. Anyway. one of you'd better get off" he said.
 All right, I'll jump Into the riveri" called out Pat, making believe to prepare to jump. Just as he did so the limb broke and he fell headlong to the river below, striking with such force that he went at once to the very rivers bed. And hardly had he fallen when Jack set up cry, for he was hanging on for dear life to the dangling limb. which was still attached to the mother trunk by a mere string of bark, which would break away with another moments exertion from Jack.
 Hank looked at his comrade in the water, then hurriedly turned his eyes up- ward to where Jack hung in such a peril ous position. He was so excited and frightened that he could not speak and ran first toward the water. where poor Pat was struggling, and then to the base
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-21

washerwoman had hung them up to dry. Oh, he did make himself troublesome at times!
 One day while he was resting his dear, fond mother came to him, saying:
 'Son, I wish you would be less stormy and bothersome. You create such a dis turbance everywhere you go, and people are afraid of you. Why, I overheard dear old farmer talking to his son the other day and he was complaining that you had blown the chimneys from his house, and that on the same day you had blown the ricks O. hay from the fields, causing him much trouble in gathering 1t up again. Now, I know you love to frolic, but you should not do harm to the property of people or to the people themselves.''
 But Master March Wind only laughed and laughed, till his mother declared he had no consideration for either herself or others.
 "Well, gentle mother" smiled the hap py and frollcsome youth, Master March Wind, "I can't help my disposition. It is my nature to be rough and noisy. and to play pranks on people and things.
 
 ings? I help you in your work every day. You cause the grass to grow, and I come along and blow against it, caus- Ing it to become hardy and self-support- ing Were I to be mild and gentle the grass, the weeds, even the trees, would become so weak that they would not be able to hold up their heads. l blow against them, and they, in self protec- tion, lift up their bodies and brace them- selves against me. It's battle for strength. you see, and 1t makes them strong to hold out against me- Then Master March Wind smiled at his moth CT, whom he loved very, very dearly, waiting for her reply. She sighed gently and said:
 Maybe you are right, my son, in re- gard to the flowers and trees; but what excuse have you for having blown down certain houses and hay ricks2 That was doing real harm to property"
 Again Master March Wind laughed. Then, with q more serious face, he ex- plained: You see. mother dear, do these things to make men more careful. Why. the houses I blew down were mere
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-21
BY MAUD WALKER.

HAA ASTER March Wind was just
 little fellow-a mere baby
 breeze-when the incidents to
 Y be related in this story began.
 He had just come into being and had not yet learned the world. beautiful mother Master March Wind had, a young and lovely mother. and her name was Dame Spring. Wherever she walked flowers would soon spring up, and if she but smiled at the trees buds burst forth, soon to blossom into leaves. And her presence caused the skies to smile through the leaden veil that old Winter had left draped over them. But in spite of her gentleness and beauty, and her love for flowers and bright skies, Dame Spring had many trials. One of these trials-or, I should say, iher greatest trial-was her own dear, boisterous son, Master March Wind. He was, from the very first, mischievous little chap, and 1t was his pleasure to rush forth of morning and blow through the grass and trees and make them rattle and shake, frightening the early insects and the lit- tie nesting birds. And then as he grew and he did grow tremendously fast-he 
 road, kicking up the dust and causing 1t to fly into peoples eyes, making them cry out: "Oh. this terrible March Wind!"
 Then he got to playing with the school children, pulling at their hair and jerking off their hats and bonnets, carry ing them off down the town street or the country lane, making the youngsters race after him to recover their possessions. But the children so enjoyed Master March Wind that he grew very fond of them, for they never cried out against him and always loved a race with him. Even the little girls delighted to have him blow their curls about wildly, and to take away their little shoulder capes and bonnets. They would laugh merrily, declaring they loved Master March Wind, and wished he might stay with them al- ways.
 But pretty soon Master March Wind got to be very big. strong fellow, and he would go about the country blowing down fences, young trees and small houses And he enjoyed ripping the clothes from clothes lines ns soon as the
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-21
again. ''

again."
 q believe you are right after all, my son." confessed Dame Spring. .I never thought of the good your mischief does at times. I shall know that from hence forth your motives are good, no matter how you work to accomplish your pur- pose l have heard so much complaint about you that I had not given your side of the matter as much thought as I should have done. But now am proud of you, for under all your merri- ment, your mischieyous nature, there Is much good purpose. Go on blowing, my son, and blow good and hard"
 "Yes, my mother, and 1t is time for me to rise from my rest. I've been lying down all afternoon, and the mead ows and fields are still very wet from the melting of the heavy snows, and in no condition for the farmers blow. must blow and blow and dry things up. So farewell till later, mamma"
 Then Master March Wind rose and blew with all his might, causing the housewives to rush to their open windows to close them. "oh, it's that awful March Windi" cried many of the housewives. uOt uHuerSlduuluB tue Boou ol thc very Wind they were condemning. And 1t will blow and blow all night" declared one pretty young girl who wss going to a party that evening, land I'll have to wear my high shoes and my warm wrap, for this March Wind is so fierce that slippers and a light wrap are out of the question:"
 When Master March Wind heard the little Miss make this remark he smiled. "Ah-ha,' he whispered, If hadn't risen and blowed like fury of demons, that dear girl would have gone forth clad as Z for summer And that's when I came at the right time, for I've saved her sick spell and her father a doctors bill. And yet folks abuse me and wish l would remain away. But what care IT know my work. and I delight in doing 1t. Now away to blow and blow, and to toss over some old shacks of houses that have no right to stand And I shall make merry everywhere tonight, for I'm full grown now, and know my strength" And then Master March Wind broke forth into a regular gale that wes glorio"s to see.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-21
The
BY WILLIAM WALLACE. JR.

oA VAhLAan4 " AGA4a(EB SAss
 > HERB were three of the boys in
 the school who did not like the E teacher. Not that he was cross V teacher, nor an unreasonable
 teacher, nor a partial teacher but because he was a TEACHER. And dur ing the entire winter term of school these three boys had been mischievous and at times rather unruly, causing the teacher much trouble and anxiety. In fact the teacher was a good little man. of nervous disposition, and 1t wounded his feelings to have any of his pupils feel so unkindly toward him, and to have them miss their lessons and to cheat at exams. And more than anything else 1t hurt him to be obliged to punish the pupjls for their shortcomings.
 The school was in the country and was what Is usually called "a district school" There were no grades and all the pu- nils. ranging from five to IS years of age, were instructed by the one teacher, the good little man alluded to in the para graph above. Now, the boys and girls who attend the town and city graded schools can have no idea of the trying duties of teacher in an ''ungraded' country school. He must teach the in- fant class their letters and instruct the more advanced pupils in Latin. So you will readily understand how he must of
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-21
4 OURPUZZLE| lE1ACoRnER
NOVELIST ACRosTIC.

All the words described contain but four letters and if rightly guessed and written one below another, the initials will spell the surname of a novelist who Is very popular with the girls and boys over twelve years of age:
 1. Something we use at table. ?. most necessary metal. B. That which causes the thermometer to fall. 4. crowned monarch. 5. The title of po- bleman. G. A part of speech. [. That which covers the beach.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-21

idea of playing hockey that afternoon and of going to the river a mile distant. The river was always the place of rendezvous for the boys during the sum mer vacation, but Pat decided the vaca- ton time was too far distant to wait for. so he determined on playing hockey fl he could get ''confederates' to join him in his wrongdoing.
 When he whispered his "seheme'' to Jack and Hank they at first shook their
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-21

heads, feeling bit afraid to steal away from school for half day. They often consented to play along the road to school of a morning, arriving there very tardily and having no valid excuse for being late, but to play the truant for half a day was a bit scarey to contem- plate.
 ''We'1 get fogged-or kept in at noon for a week." whispered Hank. "Yes, an teacher'll send word to our folks about what we've done," declared Jack "why don't we wait till Saturday and then go to the riverT
 ''Yes, wait till Saturday an wake up to find it's raining, or that you've got
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-21

necessity be a patient teacher.
 The names Of the three boys who, without cause. disliked their good little teacher, were Jack Adams, Hank Riggs and Pat Donivan. Pat, red-haired, freckle-faced little chap of 12 years, was the leader of the three, and was himself as full of mischief and unruliness as 1t is possible for one young mortal to be.
 One beautiful day toward thet end of March Pat called Jack and Hank to the rear of the schoolhouse in private con- sultation. It was during the noon hour and Pat had felt the laziness of the com ing warm weather in his bones, as he expressed 1t And he had conceived the
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-21
LETTER ENIGMA.

My first is in yellow, but not in black; My second Is in boat, but not In smack: My third is in urge, but not in beg: My fourth is in anatomy, but not in leg: My fifth Is in heart, but not in beat; My sixth is in fire, but not in heat: My seventh Is the same as my third, you
 know: My eighth Is in love. but not in bestow;
 My whole spells that
 Which we all dearly love;
 And you'll know what 1t is
 If you read the above.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-21
REHEADINGS.

CD Triply behead a church officer aud leave to study a lesson. (2) Trply be. head a precious stone and leave that which ladies wear over their hair. t3b Behead a disreputable man and leave primitive habitation In the woods used by huntsmen.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-21

A bit of chalk, some pencils,
 An empty bottle, too, Some tacks, a wornout thimble, The top of an old shoe; Some crooked pins, all rusty,
 A pipe stem made of clay; All these were in Bills pocket, And he put them there to stay
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-21
INSIDE BILLY'S
 POCKET.

DILLY had pocket. 1 Neither broad nor deep, But inside this pocket
 Little Bill did keep Half a dozen marbles,
 A little rubber ball, A kite string and some scissors,
 A jack-knife and an awl;
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-21
Gardens for
 the Children.

TT T will soon be time for making gar E dens, and there is nothing more de- nghtful or more wholesome for the # children than to take spade and hoe
 and dig into old mother earth, pre- paratory to seed-planting. Loosening the soil. leveling it. shaping 1t into pretty beds for the growing of flowers and vege- tables, all is such joy, such an interest ing work, for boys and girls.
 And after the garden has been finished will come the satisfaction of seeing the little green sprouts peep through soil. Then will form tiny leaves, and next Lit tie Boy and Little Girl will be able to name the growing plants. "An onioni A carrot! A radish!" you will hear the It. tie Boy explaining happily. pointing out various growing bits of green. "A mar- gold! four-o'clockl A sweet peal' Lit tie Girl will exclaim. directing your mo-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-21
Question of the Hour.

''We are really at loss to know how to punish Earlie." she said. "We have tried all the punishment in our kinder garten list without effect. We have req soned with him and told him that he will cease to be our petty pet and will grow up to be a bad, bad man, and"- Madam" interrupted the gentleman of the old school, who was visiting them, 'you will find on the trunk in my room B very excellent strap that I shall not need temporarily"
 But, of course. he didn't know any thing about modern methods.
 HIS IDEA
 Ra.her-I think Tommy will easily se- eure a position with the gas company when he grows up.
 Mother-How do you knowf
 Father--In all his arithmetic exnm- nles he insists that twice two is eight.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-21
CURTAILINGS.

(1) Doubly curtail a song and leave social function. (2) Doubly curtail a child in school and leave young dog. (3) Doubly curtail an opening in the side of a building and leave a breeze.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-21
ANsWERs To LAST WEEK,s PUzzLEs

HIDDEN ARTIST PUZZLE: Bonheur. LETTER ENIGMA: Shamrock.
 BEHBADINGS: CD Despdir-pdfr. t2D Fiint-iint. (3) Pled0e-ledge.
 OURTAILINGS: CD Gallant-gdH. (2i GrapeLgrGpe (3) Seek-see.
 Hack Dot Puzzle for Wee Ones.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-21

Hack Dot Puzzle for
New-York tribune., 1909-03-19
WHAT IS GOING ON TO-DAY.

admission the American Museum Of Natural His
tory and the Geological Garden
for the Salvation Army Settlement in
Cherry street the Army Hall. No. 122 West l4th
street 10 a. m. 70 1880 p. m.
Discussion of "A Wornan's Court at meeting OF the
Woman's Forum No % West 44th street II a. m
Ba zaar OF Ladies' Association OF the New York
Founding Hospital, Delmonico's. IL m to 10 p m
Robert Bruere, The Protection of Infancy and
Period of Early School Life under the auspices
OF the COMMITTEES on Literature Art OF the COL
ony Club, No 100 Madison avenue. 1l;So a. m.
Miss Ethel NJ Arnold. on Or Thomas Arnold OF Rug
hy'' Horace Mann school, Teachers College. Broad
way and 10th street, 2:30 p.
DR. Daniel TrembIy MacDougaI ''Darwtn's Influence
on Botany Columbia University, 4:lO p M
Dinner Public Speakers Club Hotel Asto evening
Dinner OF Institute. Of Brooklyn St Denis Hotel
evening.
Dinner Of graduates for President Taft Waldorf
Astoria, D. m
Dinner OF the University OF Michigan Cuo Hotel Astor
p m
Meeting OF the New York Railroad Club. % West
Both street, p M
Meeting OF the Society OF Chemical Industry. Chemists
Club, No los West b5th street, sis ?. 10