davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1909-05-29

spend a delightful afternoon. I think
the mothers of the district know just
where to find the children.
s'The other afternoon about 80 l hap
pened 10 look from the Office window
and ] had to laugh at tic motley array.
The older pupils were having a spirited
game of basket ball. Across the garden
space younger boys and girls were
skating Even the babies in their GO
carts were laughing and clapping their
infant hands, as the young nurse maids
circled around and around the grounds.
In this school we have always tried TO
instill in the minds of the young peo-
pie the care they should have for prop
erty. public and private. We want
them to-feel that the school is thiers,
and that they must guard it as a very
dear possession.
"We think we are fortunate to be in
our new building and the girls and
boys who will graduate on June 2 are
glad that they have had the pleasure
of spending the last terna of the gram
mar school course in a real school
house. Several OF these eighth grade
pupils toddled here in days gone by
with older brothers and sisters
through great lupin covered fields--a
very different place it looks to us now.
The San Francisco call., 1909-05-29
THE BALL GAME
RALPH RICHARDsoN.

Age I3 Years, 037 Church Street. City.
Twas bright. sunny morning in
May, when our team was lined up
against a fast team, namely, the Stars.
We were first at bat. Their pitcher was
husky fellow with terrific speed. But
We took courage Our first man UP was
walked Next came large fellow. He
knocked two bagger. The next man
knocked a home run. / was next at
bat. | stood UP to the plate like a
Texas Lacquer" Whizz The ball few
past me like a shot ''Balll1 the umpire
called. Then l stood up TO hit the ball.
Bang, 1t sailed far out in the field
But / was caught at home. Our next
man struck out. Next came sure hit
ter The first one over the plate he
sent over the fence, which meant a
home run. Our next man flew to the
pitcher
Now ii was their turn to try their
luck. But we were looked on as sure
winners. We walked into the field with
a proud look on our faces. Our pitcher
struck the first man out. The next man
knocked two bagger to right field.
The next man knocked a fly to me. L
caught the ball and quickly threw it to
second, thus making a double play. We
played two more innings, when the
game was called. off. We walked away,
the victors, at score of 4 TO o.
The San Francisco call., 1909-05-29
IN SCHOOL DAYS
MARION BROWN.
san HIafeO. Age IL Years

Katherine Perry Is little girl in our
school She has beautiful golden curls
and violet blue eyes. but she is very
fond of showing Off" This little girl
has a wonderful voice and we all love
10 hear her sing.
Katherine was absent from school for
a week While she was away we had
a new song
1t was the morning when Katherine
returned that we sang the new song.
While in the midst of the song kather-
ines hand waved wildly in the Ssir.
and our teacher. Miss Ross, was COM
PEELED to stop the singing =
What is the matter, Katherine"
asked Miss Ross
Miss Ross, isabel is singing it all
wrong" she said, looking at the girl
behind her.
''She is singing. oh busy care awhile
fOrbear. come. come away.
How do YOU sins itr asked Miss
Ross in amazement.
Katherine sang. "Oh busy Carroll,
wife of BarreIl, come, come away.
The San Francisco call., 1909-05-29
FIRST CIRCUS / EVER SAW
ELDORA FREEMAN,
Mountain View. Mountain View school,
Seventh Grade Age I3 Years

oh. that day / shall remember!
Ringing Brothers were going to give
circus. l was s years old at the time.
On every fence were posted their an
nouncements. | teased my father until
he was glad to take me- When we
reached San Jose we took a car. After
riding some distance we got off and
walked up long dusty road. 1t was
crowded with people
We soon reached a large fiat place.
where many large and small tents
stood Near them men sold lemonade
Papa took ME into the animal tents,
but was too frightened to stay. We
next went into the circus tent. On
every side were banks of people. ] re-
member papa putting me on a high
bench and how 1 fell through hole.
In the center of this large tent were
two rings. A pole stood in the center
of IT. Men brought in horses and girls
stood on their backs while the horses
raced around the rings. Next some
seals were brought in. BY the time
they began playing tricks | fell asleep
] knew nothing more until papa shook
me and said that it was time to go
home.
The San Francisco call., 1909-05-29
BARNUM & BAILEY CIRCUS
OLGA JANACEK.
403 Clement street. san Francisco
Richmond school, 4 Sixth Grade.
Are ~ NearS

The last circus l attended was Bar
mum x Bailey'S circus, the largest cir
Gus in the world. There were many
beautiful thoroughbred horses. There
were many elephants. One had a
paralyzed trunk. so the keeper told US.
from being overworked By pushing
logs and rocks from place to place
There was little baby elephant that
wished I could take home with me-
When you heard the lions and tigers
roar. you imagined they were after
you. 1t seemed pitiful 30 see such
intelligent animals inciosed in small
cages with hardly room TO breathe.
when they had been used to roaming
the jUngles.
Af,er ne lad seen the animals. We
went to the large tent where the show
was. There we saw clowns acrobats.
performing dogs and women doing
stunts on horses We saw big. clumsy
elephants performing
While we were watching we heard
a scream: "Oh. a lion is loosel" My
heart jumped in my mouth and for a
few moments i could not speak L
don't think I was the only one who
felt that way They soon caught the
lion, but / did not enjoy the circus
after that and hung TO my mother
The San Francisco call., 1909-05-29
A LAUGH ON THE TEACHER
EDWARD ATCHISON,
Port Costa. Age ~ Yenr-

shortly before recess / took my geog-
raphy up to the desk TO get some an
sWers before recess time.
When I got up to the desk it was
quite crowded. and I waited for the
teacher TO get through answering the
other children. He was sitting in a
chair with a spring that allowed il To
rock back and forth like a rocking
chair. unless a little catch was on.
when il would remain stationary and
erect.
] was standing BY the back. "A little
to the right of the chair. when il hap
pened. The catch was on. but he was
so worried from trying TO answer our
questions before recess. that he didn't
think and started to lean back TO an
swer me. Crack, went the spring and
down went the teacher. who. as soon
as he felt himself descending. gave "a
jump and managed to save himself
from an undignihed position on the
floor
The whole school reared and the
teacher himself couldn't blame them.
That was one of the most amusing
incidents l have seen
The San Francisco call., 1909-05-29
BETTY's FIRST RECITATION
FLORENCE DAWSON.
1858 Castro street, Oakland. Age ~
Years

1t was the last day Of school and
Miss Joyce'S pupils We're TO give an
entertainment. Betty Gilbert a dainty
little maiden of Q summers. sat primly
in her seat She was arrayed I'm her
best white pinafOre. ribbons and sash.
because for the first time in her life
she was to recite in public.
She had studied The Barefoot Boy
over and over again until she knew it
entirely by heart.
The much dreaded moment was fast
approaching. Suddenly Betty heard
Miss Joyce say, Miss Elizabeth Gill
bert Will now recite The Barefoot
Boy" After making her way to the
platform as one in a dream, the little
girl timidly began.
blessings on thee. little man"
She stopped and looked wildly about
her. How did the next line commence
The children and many of their rela-
tives We're waiting With an effort
she continued
'-Tarefoot boy with cheeks Of ban
The audience began TO laugh. and
poor Betty. realizing her mistake.
turned first red. then white and then
fell to the floor in little heap Of
misery.
1t was a very fearful little Betty
that returned 10 her home that even
ing with her tale of woe.
The San Francisco call., 1909-05-29

He three subjects announced las
Saturday for the writers contes'
were so agreeable 10 the JUNIORS
and SO many interesting letters were
received that the same subjects Will be
continued, the circus, the ball game
and an amusing incident at school, Sc
If you have not already written your
story on one of these subjects do so al
once and mail ii as soon as possible to
The editor of The Junior Call Cail
building, San Francisco.
AS in previous contests these stories
must contain not more Than 2o0 words
nor less than 100: must be written on
one side of the paper only and be
plainly marked in the upper left hand
corner with the number of words
therein contained. Stories which are
written on both sides of the paper and
not so marked viii not be used.
This contest is for the juniors of
California and elsewhere, who are be-
tween the ages of 10 and is years.
Watches viii be awarded 10 the six
most interesting. best written stories.
For the younger juniors, those who
are 10 years Of age and younger the
picture painting contest is continued.
Now for the subjects. You all know
about the circus. perhaps YOU can
even remember viyidly your first cir
Gus. and how it impressed YOU and
what YOU enjoyed Ine most; how the
great elephants frightened YOU and
made YOU cling closer TO mother S
hand. and how you p!tied the patient,
dusty camels and trembled at the
lions roar, Tel the story OF the cir
Gus IN your very best style.
The next subject is the ball game,
and what boy or girl does not enjoy
good ball game2 Describe some par
ticular game that you have witnessed
or played in, or that your friends have
played in. If y0u were defeated, tell
why. and how it happened.
For the amusing incident at school?
Well all sorts Of amusing things hap
pen in even just one day. so the diff
Guilty VIII be 10 select some incident
that appealed 10 you as especially
amusing, and if it happens to carry
with il a lesson so much the better.
For instance. we viii suppose that
Mary West has come 10 the city school
from her home in the country and is
not accustomed 10 the routine of the
new school and sometimes makes awk-
ward mistakes. The teacher asks
NaryFto take a note to the principal.
Mary attempts TO leave the room. but
openssa a closet door instead and walks
into the closet. The other pupils
laugh and Mary leaves the room in
confusion. What does the teacher do?
Tell the story as Mary herself would
Jelllit 10 her mother, or as Marys best
friend would tell il, or as Mary's big
brother would tell it, and see the diff
1erent ways in which q story can be
written Then after you have decided
on YOUR own story you can tell
whethersyou want 10 be the injured
herOineior the fl1ind friend or the big.
laughing brother, who thinks it is an
immense Joke. There are so many in
terest1ng. school stories TO be written
that The Junior Call expects 10 have
many pages of highly interesting and
amusing stories 10 publish in the next
lew weeks.
Hurry up8and write your story on
either the circus, the ball game or the
amusing incident; the sooner the bet
ter!
The San Francisco call., 1909-05-29
MY FIRST VISIT TO A
CIRCUS
CARRIE TESSIN,
20 stockton street, Napa. Contra
school, Low Seventh Grade.
Age II Years
CARRIE TEssIN.

The first circus / ever saw was in a
small town. 1t was only small show
-about as large as Ringing Brothers
side show.
OF the animals 1 remember the ele-
phant and. camel best. J thought the
elephant was a queer COW with a big
tail near its mouth.
Something very funny happened
with the camel The owner had no
artists to perform with the latter, so
he asked the boys if they would like a
ride on him.
Mike Smith said he would. try if he
were sure the Gamer could carry him.
The man said it could. so Mike mount
ed smiling all over his face. He soon
discovered, however. that a little mon
The San Francisco call., 1909-05-29
DAY | WENT TO THE CIRCUS
URSULA HILL.
Hearst Grammar school, Fifth Grade
san ErnuciSco Age IL Years


San Francisco. Age IL Years
As we lived in a country town; and
mad TO get up early TO take the tram
OF course we had to hurry. as the train
ieit at . o'clock in the morning
Ihe circus was in Stockton. AS tile
circus train was delayed at Mics rue
snow did not start on time we Went
10 the circus grounds and watched the
men putting up the tents and 1eeolns
the animals We waited until the
evening performance, which was splen-
qlds They had so many rlngsAlt WIS
hard TO watch all the performers we
also went to the side shows l thlnk
the sea lions and horses are the best
of all
When we got to the depot we found
the train had gone. AS we could not
ger room we had to stay In the
depot until $50 O'Clock in the morn
ing. AS there was a large crowd walt
Ing. to get home they put on special
all tired out
The most amusing thing to me was
what my brother said. lady, seeing
Two Two little bears, asked what animals min
they were. My brother said: Those
are Native Sons" When he saw the
elephants he said 'Oh. look at the
big things with two tails
The San Francisco call., 1909-05-29
AWARDED A WATCH
ONE ON THE TEACHER
CLIFFORD Il. FONTANA.
BafaNia. Cal. Pitts school. Age 10
Years

Batavia. Cal Pitts school Age IL
Years
I VIII never forget the dsy that VIII
iie Perkins brought = li[e mouse 10
SCHOOL We We're all hard at work
with our lessons. when all of sudden
one Of the girls gave a veil The
teacher called Order" and asked what
the trouble was. Before she could get
an answer the girls were all jumping
Up on their seats. a mOuseri they
cried. Girls. take your seatsl What
90 you mean by such cOndBct2 L am
ashamed Of YOU. The teacher told two
~ the larger boys to Kill the mouse.
They had great chase. one with the
poker and the other with a stick OF
stoNeWood. IT was great sport TO see
tlaf little mouse keep out of the way
OF those fierce boys
Just al the most exciting time we
saw our teacher grab her skirts and
jump up on her chair, screaming. oh
II s under my chair, Boys. do, oh. do
get il quick"
The mouse was soon killed the
teacher almost fainting. We got her
some water and she soon recovered
Say. teacher" said one Of the first
grade pupils. you wouldn't have got
scared II that had been a rat would
you2
what makes YOU think that. Mary2''
asked the teacher
Cause my sister says you wear
The San Francisco call., 1909-05-29
THE CAT AT SCHOOL
DOROTHY GUM.
J76 Twenty-seventh Avenue. BergerOt
school, Fourth Crude. Age Years

When we Were all busily engaged
in writing spelling the principal of our
school came into ourA classroom and
said: Would you like me to tell you
what our cat did this morning? On
Rafsfn day a very good boy gave Miss
Harrigan, another teacher in our
school, some raisins. While she was
busy correcting examination papers
she laid the raisins on her desk. In
comes Miss Puss, jumps up on her
desk. and steals the raisins After
having eaten them. back comes Miss
Puss, springs up to the glass on the
door and looks in as much to say,
Well. l stole your raisins.
The motto is. the next time some
generous boy gives you raisins put
them in a safe place
The San Francisco call., 1909-05-29

came back again and said Il cdn't
take anybodys picture here, they wig
gle too much We looked q some
thing else When we turned around
he was gone.
He went away altogether.
< Then another clown came out wheel
baby. She took the pig out of the
buggy. sat in front of us, and un-
dressed it. The pig started to squeal.
and the clown gave it a whipping. The
that.
This clown went away and another
one came out. He hurt himself and
started to cry terribly
If you We're at the circus that
ume. | suppose you can remember
it now.
The San Francisco call., 1909-05-29

not spoil the fun. anyway It seemed
as if o'clock would never come, for
that was when we were TO go to the
circus
Wher we got to the circus tent we
took q good seat and waited impa-
tiently for the performance.
All the animals that acted or didn {
act had to march around the rings,
and when the ponies came on to do
their little tricks everybody was say
ing: oh the little darlings. or
Aren't they cute2" or II just love the
sweet little things" and going on in
such a silly way
We saw the camels, elephants,
ponies horses. bears, lions, deer,
hyenas and donkeys.
We saw the circus over and went
home proud to tell what we had seen.
The San Francisco call., 1909-05-29
AWARDED A WATCH
MY FIRST COOKING DAY
FLORENCE DETTLING.
3S6 Utah street. san Francisco. Crocker
Grammar school. Age II Years

Monday was our cooking day. We
were TO make coffee and cake.
Our cooking teacher had ordered
sack Of salt and a sack of sugar. The
eroceryman in a hurry had put the
salt IN the sugar bin and the sugar in
the salt bin
The girls who made tile cake put the
salt IN instead OF the sugar. When
The cake was done il looked very nice.
Then who must walk in but one of the
members of the board OF education. He
came. near the table where the cake
was and said II looked very good. Miss
Pross 3 asked him If he would like a
piece He said he would like to try
anything the girls of the grammar
school had made. AT the first bite he
made. weird face. Our faces all
turned red as we knew of the mistake,
but had not told the teacher He said
il was very good and walked out.
The next day we saw a little item in
the morning paper saying that ne was
very i'll. We supposed it was from
the effects of the cake.
he never has visited the cooking
school since.
The San Francisco call., 1909-05-29
THE BALL GAME
Point Arena. Fourth Grade. Point
Arena Grammar school Age m
Years
HOWARD CHRIsTANSON.

Yesterday we had ball game be-
tween Manchester and Point Arena We
started about half past one. The Point
Arena boys had first inns. I was the
one ball over the base and when he
threw the next one over the base / hit
it and it went TO the fence. I made
first base safe and then / made home
After awhile the boys got US out and
they had their inns. They could not
hit ball very much because the pitcher
threw them out curves. After awhile
we got them oGt and we kept getting
them out and they kept getting us out
till at last we won the game The
score was 20 TO in favor OF Point
Arena We had a good time playing
ball
The San Francisco call., 1909-05-29
MY FIRST CIRCUS
IDA Aida CRAFT.
PefaInma. Waugh school District
Fifth Grade. Age 10 Years

The first circus that / went TO was
very interesting. There We're elephants
camelS. horses. ponies. etc. for me To
look at. At first / was afraid of the
big elephants and lions. But when /
got used to them 1 liked TO see them
eat and do their tricks. The ponies
We're very interesting. and / often
wished that one were mine 1 like
ponies very much and I often wish
that some day I may have one to
drive TO school and other places. There
were also monkeys in the first circus
saw that could hang by their tails
and eat. / really could not tell YOU
of all that / Saw. but / will tell you
of something more There were acre
bats that could swing high up to the
top of the tent. The clowns jumped
over the elephants. and the old fat ladv
clowns had TO crawl over them. The
pretty girls stood upon the running
horses backs and sang The dogs
jumped over high fence and If they
did not do it they would get whip
ping. One bear tried to ride a tricycle.
and he could not. SO the man took his
whip and hit the bear and il almost
bit his hand of.
The San Francisco call., 1909-05-29

When we got there / was amazed to
see how well the animals did their
parts.
many tricks He could tell all the dlf-
ferent colors and when told TO get the
flag which we all like best he picked
up the American flag.
There was a girl dressed in blue,
brown and white and when asked 10
point out the colors he did so without
delay.
I like to see the animals very much.
and since then have always liked to so
10 good circus
The San Francisco call., 1909-05-29
A NAUGHTY BOY
1865 Fifteenth Street Prescott school,
A Fifth Grade. Age 10 Years
m CARRIE REFS,

once in public school there was 2
boy whose name was Tom He was al
ways in trouble. The teacher used to-
get so out of patience with him. He
would make faces and throw paper
balls at the other children. One day as
he was performing these tricks his
teacher caught him. She called TO him
to come up to her desk and told him
TO sit down in the waste basket. The
shouts of laughter rang through the
room from the other children. After
while the teacher sent him 10 his seat.
No sooner had he got back when he
upset the ink. You ought TO have seen
the sight He was covered with ink
from head 10 foot and his new suit was
ruined. which / suppose was the cause
of his getting spanking. And it
served him right.
The San Francisco call., 1909-05-29
MY TRIP TO THE CIRCUS
MARIE HETTN,
Lagunifas. Marin County. SeVent
Grade. Age 13 Years

Having finished my lessons L asked
mamma IL I could go to the circus.
Mamma $ answer WIS no a the times
were too hard: but papa said. Never
mind the times. III take Marie
Arriving a the circus my excitement
was all aglow and to me the music and
noise were so much fun. The popcorn
man. the horses and the clowns oh.
look papa: see all the monkeys. See
the clown, and what are the men doing
swinging up ia the air?'' Those are
acrobats. said pa Then came the
giraffes, the horses, camels and ele-
plants. all gaily colored. Now came the
chariot races and the foot races; the
cute little donkeYs, which enjoyed
very much and having seen all the
circus. papa took me in the sideshows.
'Oh, papa. what 8 that long animal
doing TO the man in that ga ge,,.' That
is snake charmer said papa AS it
was. the time passed so quickly. Ny.
but there was 4 crowd. and in going out
| had my toes hurt by some one walk
ing on them. was awfully glad to
get home again TO mamma.
The San Francisco call., 1909-05-29

we We're ahead. At the end Of the
third inning We were farther ahead, and
y was plainly to be seen that we
would win.
Go it. Richmond.' Go it. Ber-
gerotlh came from either side as one
or the other was making home run.
r. the best player Of our team. mage .S,e
several home runs and we won. 10
cheer the losers we raised three cheers,
and on the following day note came
TO our town saying that as we We're
champions of the district they nopeu
we would be champions OF the city.
The San Francisco call., 1909-05-29
MY FIRST CIRCUS
GERTRUDE WILLIAMS.
lone Public school. lone. sixth Grade
Age 10 Years

went to q circus last SeptcrAcr
while ! was in Sacramento. and il was
the frst one l ever went TO.
There We're clowns OF all kinds and
ine performers. a small Japanese
walked up d wire. and when the
whistle blew for them to quit he sat
down and slid down the wire.
One of the funniest things i saw
was a clown leading small dog about
one foot long by a rope about four
inches in circumference.
There were many animals -
never seen befOre--a very ls-Se gfraiH
and her baby. a baby ele-slant. a li,S
tiger. a panther and lc-> Of kinds o.
animals
I was very tired when I got home.
but / had had a good time.
The San Francisco call., 1909-05-29
MY EXPERIENCE AT A
CIRCUS
GRACE sERPAS.
Benicia. Age l3 Years

I was about the age of s when I first
witnessed circus.
| heard all the children talking about
the circus that was coming TO town.
and about the grand street parade
When they told me about the wild
animals they were going to see
longed to go.
| asked mother TO go TO the circus
as | had never been to one before. She,
said we would go.
The San Francisco call., 1909-05-29
AT THE BALL GAME
DOROTHEA LANGGUTH.
3O4 Second Avenue. San Francisco.
Richmond school. II Seventh
Grade. Age IL YearS.

Going this afternoon? Where p,
why. to the ball game. of course =
This bit of conversation was heard
in every part OF the scnoolyard on
Thursday.
l went with my teacher and some
other girls and were all confident
we would win. The best player of
our team was in our class and so we
were doubly Interested. The first in
ming was not at all encoura ging. Our
team did poor work. but eheered
and at the end of the second inning