davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-05-22

vantage But his turn would come. he
knew it would.
He forgot to study until sharply rep
rimanded. Just then Bud. with hisn
head. was coming down the aisle lie
had grinned at Marion, but she had
pretended not to see him Little Ralph
noticed that with pleasure. He would
humiliate Bud further so, as the high
headed hero tramped down the aisle,
not looking below his swollen nose
out went little Ralphs foot and the
hero fell spraw1ing to the floor
But little Ralph's triumph was short
lived. The strap was in evidence again
and he felt it where he had felt II
before but twice as hard. He listened
sullenly to the teachers remarks She
was trying to point out a lesson TO the
two belligerents that il is the coward
who does not give his adversary a
chance 10 defend himself Then TO
crown insult to injury she wrote IN
large letters on the blackboard. Ralph
Holman, Coward"
Little Ralph gave up then. He would
not try to study or be good. or any
thing. He failed ignominiously in his
lesson. so as merited disgrace he
was sent TO the basement to stay till
wanted. He knew that that meant an
other thrashing later. but he did not
care He would have felt better If he
had known that Marion had cour-
ageously spoken in his defense to the
teacher, telling her that Bud began the
fight. because she had ridden on little
Ralph's wheel.
The teacher was tired and perplexed.
She could not see why the boys should
act that way. Perhaps she ought TO
have talked with them before con-
demning the smaller boy so severely.
It/was hard to always know what to
do. The genus boy was an unknown
species 10 her. She began to compre-
bend that the boys were wrangling over
something more than the supremacy of
Nhe schoolyard Although neither was
10 years old. yet there was girl in
it, and the girl favored the one in dis
grace. That was the woman of it. she
thought grimly But something had 10
be done to the waiting cuIprit in the
basement and as the last of her
charges filed out at the close of the
session she crossed the hall and spoke
with the principal, who had the larger
children.
"FIl see the boy" he said. You send
him up To me and I'll see just what
the trouble is
AS little Ralph skunk along the hall
way to the dreaded principals room he
caught a glimpse of little girl in a
blue dress who was waiting on the
step. Well, no matter if he did get
thrashed. he didn't care-she had wait
ed for him.
Before he knew it he found himself
telling the big hearted man. who had
been a boy, all about it. It's got TO
be fixed up SOS to last he said ag-
gressively. she is my girl just as
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-05-22
from the Hungarian by
LOUISE S0UVAN

me whether I was rich. I replied
not at all. 1 didn't think. said. that
there were two persons in our village
who were poorer than we. That can
be remedied.' she said. / will fulfill
three wishes that your wife may pro-
pose And she left as suddenly as il
dragons had kidnapped her.
She was a fairy" said the wife.
THAT remains to be seen. You must
try to wish something, dear WIFE
Upon which the woman. without
like to have some sausage and we
could cook beautifully on this nice
fire.
No sooner were the words uttered
than a frying pan came down in the
chimney. and in it a sausage of such
length that it was long enough TO fence
in a whole garden.
This is grand they both exclaimed
together But we must be a little
more clever with our next two wishes.
How we'll off we shall be- 1 will at
once buy two heifers and two horses,
as we'll fat Pig said the husband.
And then he took his pipe from his
hatband. took out his tobacco pouch
and filed his pipe; then he tried to
light 1t with a hot cinder. but was
so awkward about it that he upset the
frying pan with the sausage in it.
Good heavens. the sausage: what on
earth are Won doing2 I wish that sau-
sage would grow on your noser ex-
claimed the frightened woman. She
tried to snatch the same out of the
fire, but it was too late. as il was
already dangling from her husbands
nose down to his toes.
My goodness. Help" shouted the
woman.
you see what you have done there.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-05-22

Was there ever such a long nooning
before, He stepped carefully on the
first step: had taken the second. when,
from right under his feet, came a noise
like the roar Of a cannon. followed
by whoops from his tormentors-Bud
and his friends. Like q shot he mad
jumped from the step at the report
he knew what they, had done; they
had fred off a toy cannon just as he
stepped there to scare him, but ne dld
not stop to think. He started TO run.
and the half dozen boys piling out from
under the steps raced after him.
Like fox he tried to double on his
tracks Why had he left the steps?
That way was safety. If he could only
get back there before Bud did He
lodged around the schooIhouse and had
just reached the steps again when Bud
caught him. A moment and they were
spra wiling in a fight on the walk
Little Ralph had managed TO get his
hands into Buds thick hair and he was
pulling FOR all he was worth, while
Bud between yelling and pounding was
making burning remarks IS to what
he would do if little Ralph ever spoke
TO his girl again.
Little Ralphs blood was up then.
He was beginning TO enjoy the fight
as he felt Buds hair loosen from its
roots. He was telling Bud and the
assembled crowd of delighted boys that
Marion was as much his girl as she
was Buds, when suddenly he felt
firm hand on his neckDand and he and
Bud were facing each other, each in
the grip of the teacher. who regarded
them disgustedly.
Fighting again. she said angrily
I know you are both to blame, for
one can not fight alone. What is all
this fuss about. anyway"
He began pulling my hair blus-
tered Bud. Fastening 10 the defense.
I didn't till he tripped me up and
began pounding" shrieked little Ralph
Just let me at him again. I'll. I'll
No. you won't" said the teaches
yanking him off his feet THAT settles
IT: 1 saw how you were pulling his
hair 1t is wonder he has any left
Bud, you wash your face at the sink,
then take your seat Ralph, you will
wash next. I'll attend TO both of you
very soon. 1t is a disgrace to the
school the way you two fight"
L never did fight before" cried little
Ralph His spirit was gone and he
dropped into a limp little heap on the
stone steps.
The teacher did not understand boys.
Then If I do not punish You for this,
you won't night any moreg' she said,
releasing her hold.
"Yes'm, sobbed little Ralph con-
tritely. He had seen her punish other
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-05-22

land TO the last page of the Looking
Glass said that figure s was the Wish
bone of the Jabberwock. and that figure
didn't look like anything she knew
about and she couldn't think of name
for it, so loom Paul. suggested that
she call it the Nameless Horror.
This naming of the Squiblums sug-
gested the offering of third prize for
the best name, and 1t was agreed that
the names must be written upon the
sheets of paper before they were sub
mitted to the judge. One fact was
made evident by experiment: that a
quick, light pressure of the hand across
the folded sheet of paper made the ink
spread as in figures g. ) and s. while
a slow, heavy pressure made the more
solid Squiblums. Another experiment
proved that one rather large drop of
ink. with one or two smaller ones an
inch or two away from it. gave more
complicated Squibiums.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-05-22

much as she's Buds; anyhow she Is
nobody's girl. and I'm going to have
her ride on my wheel when / want her
TO If have to pull out all of Buds
hair to make him let me alone 1
sha'nt run from him no more, no mat
ter how much strappin' 1 get. Would
you2" he demanded fearIessly.
The principal laughed He sympa-
thized with the small boy Outside
the window he caught glimpse OF
sobbing little girl in blue dress.
Women can't understand US men,
thrash me. too. but / don't care I'm
going to wallop Bud till he let's me
alone
Well said the principal smilingly.
Il prefer that you do your walloping
off the school grounds and out of school
hours But my advice is this-if you
intend to be master you must lose no
time about IT,"
He was shrewd. was the principal.
He knew the small boy was in the
right and he gIoried in his spunk. But
it would not do to be too lenient. so
he let him off with a reprimand. But
I'VE got to do something so as not 10
be called coward and TO make my
teacher take il off the blackboard.
the boy declared Wrathfully as he left
the room.
THAT won't be there tomorrow. said
the man gravely- That is only for
boys who throw stones and trip folks
up. Such things are cOwardly. but it
is not cOwardly TO defend yourself in
a fair fight"
The professor called his assistant and
they stood at the window watching
the boy and girl go down the steps
together and out of the yard. He was
carrying her lunch basket and their
little heads were close together
A moment later and the well known
sounds of a school fight filed the air.
Come" said the principal. II imagine
that Bud has been waiting for little
Ralph at the corner. May the best
man win
They could not see much of what
was going on There was a ring OF
dancing, excited boys urging them on.
GO it. Ralph, knock the daylights out
of him. The little fellow is on top,
Punch him again. and such various
exclamations of unholy giee reached
their ears At one side stood the little
girl. crying. They could hear her say
it was all Buds fault. that he had
jumped on Ralph and knocked him
down Then in a moment more the
bows separated Two dirty, bleeding
bows got up from the ground The
big boy wore the look OF defeat but
the small boy held his head high He
walked proudly down the road and. I'M
abashed, a little girl in a blue dress
walked with him. but the cries of
Coward would no more follow him.
In the code of the school he had laid
out the boss" and he was happy
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-05-22
By ELIZABETH ]. BROWN

TITLE Ralph Holman's heart beat
quicker than usual as he entered
the school grounds that noon. He
cast wary looks around, fearing
that his tormentors might be visible.
but aside from a few boys smaller than
he who were playing marbles and a
few girls in another part OF the yard,
purposeiy held back all the way from
his home. fearing to meet Bud Furlong,
who had promised him 3 1ickin' be-
cause he had given his CBuds) girl a
ride on his bicycle. His cheeks burned
when he remembered how he had run
when Bud came yelling after him. He
had skedsddled pfecipitately, leaving
pretty little Marion Avery on the
wheel. though he was ashamed enough
10 die for having done so. But little
Ralph was not q very big boy. neither
was he strong enough TO wallop Bud:
therefore discretion had seemed the
better part Of valor in his case and he
had run.
He had entered the house. crying.
His mother had coaxed him to tell the
story and had sympathized with him.
She promised TO see the teacher and
find out il there could not be some way
10 prevent Bud from picking on her
boy. but little Ralph did not want her
10 do that. That would put him down
a peg IA the estimation of the school.
Only 'sissies" had TO fall back on their
mothers FOR protection; he would get
even with Bud yet himself. and Mrs.
Holman. wondering st the queer ethics
in her boys code. agreed TO say moth
ing for the present.
But he did not feel very brave as he
entered the yard. Instinct told him
that Bud would be lurking near That
was Buds way-to lie in ambush and
pounce upon the unwary- Little Ralph
knew him Of old.
= was a two room schOolhouse on the
floor. with a basement under
nesrh. You had 10 mount a fight of
some six or seven steps TO reach your
door, and under the steps was a de-
lghtful hiding place. made by scholars
both past and present as a useful base
for sudden dashes on the enemy. 1t
had originally been securely boarded on
each side. but after one board had be-
come loosened. there was not a boy
that needed 10 be told what use he
could make OF the covert. It looked
innocent enough, but little Ralph re-
gsrded IL with suspicion.
How he hoped the bell would ring,
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-05-22

~ accidental drop of ink upon
n sheet of letter paper. which was
idly folded over the blot and pressed
down. resulted. in the making of such
an extraordinary monster Figure u
that more blots were tried. with the
result that the children were greatly
interested. and finally one of the
brothers, Billy big-eye." had an idea.
He did not say that he had an idea.
but his brothers and little sister knew
that he had one. for they recognized
the symptoms. These were of a kind
OF swelling up and a rounding of his
eyes (which was the reason for Civ
ing him the nickname, Billy big eye"
who you know, was Uncle Remus'
friend the OVID which was unmis
taxable evidence that he had an idea.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-05-22

Now the second wish is gone" said
her husband What can we do with
this thing%'
Cant we get it one" asked the
woman. Take it Off,
Don't you see that it has already
grown to my nose; you can't take IL
on" said he.
Then we must cut il or said she,
''as we can do nothing else
4 shan't permit it; how could I al
low my body TO be cut up2" said the
husband Not for all the treasures
on earth. but do you know what we
can do. love2 There is yet one wish
Ieft-you'd better wish that the sau-
sage go back to the pan and so We
will be right again
But the woman replied: How about
the heifers and the horses and how
about the fat pig; how shall we get
those?"
We'll. I can't walk about with this
ornament said the husband. ''and I
am sure you won't kiss me again
with this sausage dangling from my
nose"
And so they quarreled for a long
time. till at last he succeeded in per
suading his wife to wish that the sau-
sa ge go back to the pam Thus all
three wishes we're fulfilled and yet
they were as poor as ever. They. how
ever, made a hearty meal OF the sau-
sage. And as they came to the con-
clusion that it was on account OF their
quarreling that they had no heifers.
or horses or fat pigs. they agreed TO
live in harmony tbenceforward; and
really they auarreled no more after
this They got on much better in the
world. and in time they acquired heif-
ers. horses and many fat pigs into the
bargain because they were Industrious
and thrifty.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-05-22
Garden Time

ID viii soon be time for making gar
dens. and there is nothing more de
lightful and more wholesome for the
children than TO take a spade and hoe
and dig into old Mother Earth prepar-
atory 10 seed planting. Loosening the
soil leveling il. shaping it into pretty
beds for the growing OF flowers ana
veecta bles. all is such JOY. such an in
teresting work. for boys and girls
And after the garden has been fin
ished viii come the satisfaction Of see
ing the little green sprouts peep
through the soil. Then viii form tiny
leaves. and next little boy and little
girl viii be able 10 name the growing
plants. An onion, A carrot, a rad
ish-- YOU viii hear the little boy eN-
planning happily, pointing out various
growing bits Of green A marlSold-
A four-o' clock 4 sweet pea" little
girl VIII eNclaim. directing your notice
10 various little growing plants, which
she can easily tell bH their Individual
shapes. for little girl has studied bot
any long enough TO recognize various
"a rden plants while they are still ia
lheir infant state
. and isn't 1T p curious fact that little
boy always delights in gardening veg
etables and fruits. while little girl de-
votes her time 10 flowers and orna-
mental plants. But TINS IS as II
should be. for we must have the prac-
- and useful combined with the
Reautiful and ornamental
There is one necessary thing for the
young and inexperienced gardener 10
learn. and TO learn il 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 In
truder. the weed But, alas, the little
fellow did more damage than good and
he should have been taught to know
the shapes OF various vegetables and
flowers. Tor then his labor would not
have been lost. and no harm would
come 70 the tomato bed. So take warn
ing from the boys experience. and
study your botany as well as your gar
dens.-Na shington Star.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-05-22

suggested nearly every kind of name
he surprised the company by making
even a longer speech than his first.
He said. It's a queer game, and L
think it should have a queer name.
Let's call it 'Squiblums, so Squib-
lums was decided upon.
Then the Squiblums that were
thought to be the best were named.
Figure /, the Squiblums which suggest
ed the name, was called the Thuther-
wunger. Tommy Long Wing" called
figure the Mudpuppy and figure the
Jubiub Tree.
"Oom Paul called ngure 4 the Ants
Uncle and figure the "Megerthusa-
lum' because it looked like the skele
ton of the one he had seen in the nnu
scum.
Big Eye" called figure the Bad
Dream and figure Z the Banquet Lamp.
'.Tommie Tittlemouse, who knows
Alice from the first page of Wonder
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-05-22

upon. Tommy Long Wing" suggested
several, but they were thought to be
too scientific "Oom Paul" the young
est brother ESQ called because when
he becomes greatly interested in a
game or whatever he is doing his face
takes on very serious sort of wooden
expression that reminded us all of the
sad old man who was president of the
Boer republic). suggested Blots, but
that was thought too commonplace.
'Tommie Tittlemouse," the little sis
ter-who declared that she wasn't, be-
cause she's most and is a big girl
was really too excited to do much of
anything except talk about every
thing else than the name in a very
shrill voice, to giggIe constantly and
once TO clap her hands and shout
Bully whereupon her eldest brother,
Tommy. reproved her for using slang.
All this time Billy -big-eye" had not
said word But after the others had
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-05-22

Billys idea was a good one, and be-
fore bedtime arrived a kind of game
or contest was worked out which has
proved a very enjoyable way of pass
ing a part of the time at children's
parties The rules decided upon were
few and simple. Each child is to be
provided with eight pieces of paper
four with a glazed surface, like ordi-
nary letter paper. and four of paper
that has no glaze and is somewhat
porous, like the cheap kinds of tablet
paper. The reason for the different
kinds of paper is that entirely different
results are obtained in the shapes of
the figures made by the blot. After
each one has made his eight blots he
chooses the two he thinks are the
best and then they are all submitted
to one of the '.grownups, who acts
as judge and ava eds the prizes.
There was much discussion before
a name for the game could be decided
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-05-22
The Land of Thus and So

How would Willie like to go
To the Land of Thus and So2
Everything is proper there
All the children comb their hair
Smoother than the fur of cats,
Or the nap of high silk hats;
Every face is clean and white
AS a lily washed in light;
Never vaguest soil or speck
Found on forehead. throat or neck;
Every little crimpled ear,
In and out. as pure and clear
AS the cherry blossoms blow
In the Land of Thus and So.
Little boys that never fall
Down the stair. or cry at all
Doing nothing to repent,
Watchful and Obedient;
Never hungry. nor in haste
Tidy shOestrings always laced
Never button rudely torn
From its fellows all unworn;
knickerbOcker always new
Ribbon. tie and collar. too;
Little watches. Worn like men.
Always promptly half past ten
Just precisely right. you know,
In the Land of Thus and So,
And the little babies there
Give no one the slightest care
Nurse has not thing to do
But be happy and say 'BoOr
While mamma just mods and knows
Nothing but to dOze and dOze;
Never litter round the CRATE;
Never lunch nor dinner lates
Never any household din
Peals without or rings within
Baby COOS nor laughing calls
on the stairs or through the halls
Just Great Hushes to and fro
Pace the Land of Thus and So.
"Ohi the Land of Thus and SO,
Isn't it delightful. thought.
Yes lisped Willie. answering me
Somewhat slow and doubtfully=
Must be awful nice. but /
Ruther wait till by and by
Fore I go there: maybe when
I be dead I'll go there then
But@.'the little troubled face
Closer pressed in my embrace
Les don't never Ger go
To the Land of Thus and So
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-05-22
Song on a May Morning

Now the bright morning star. days
harbinger.
Comes dancing from the east, and
leads with her
The iowery May who from her green
lap throws
The yellow cowslip and the pale prirn-
rose.
Hail. bounteous May. that doth in
spire
Mirth. and youth. and warm desire;
Woods and groves are OF thy dressing
Hill and dale doth boast thy blessing.
Thus we salute thee with our early
song.
And welcome thee. and wish thee long.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-05-22

This" she explained, was a mas
auerade costume which your grand
father wore when he was young. 1t
is the habit of a Capuchin you see.
Your greatuncle. his brother, went as
cardinal OF the church, and very
magnificent he looked, I will tell YOU.
My second cousin went as the sultan
of Turkey He was a very stern look
ing man and needed only to look at a
person once to COW him completely.
Even today / think | should quail be-
fore him If he chose TO intimidate me-"
Who's this2' demanded Mary, show
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-05-22

him. Bud was gleefuliy dancing in
the doorway. with his face shiny with
drops of water. his hair wet as mop
hanging limp almost to his eyes. He
ran out his tongue and snapped his
fingers at his enemy, who was strug-
Cling with his righteous wrath. You
dassen't fight" he shouted. You're a
coward YOU are, and Il you ever speak
to Marion again I'll break every bone
in yer body, you little coward, you
Human nature could stand no more.
stone was handy and little Ralph
threw II fiercely IT took Bud on the
end of his upturned nose just as the
bell rang, but the ringing of the bell
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-05-22

ing a small miniature which she had
found in the bottom of the trunk. II
don't think her very pretty.
she wasn't" said grandma. 1T
was your great-aunt Salfna; but she
could sing exquisitely-some of the
young men called her the sweet warb
Ter of the Delaware because she sang
so sweetly and her home was on the
bank of that river"
Did you have champagne at your
parties then, grandma" asked John.
No dear, mostly port and sherry.
with little canary for the ladies'"
said grandma. There now" she add
ed Il think we've seen all that we can
today, and besides the suns out and
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-05-22

had not begun the trouble. he had only
defended himself as a gentleman should.
but the hardest thing of all to bear
was Marion's scornful looks. The little
beauty had slipped note into his ge-|
geography at noon. When, with blurred
eyes, he started to study his lesson he
saw the little scrap of paper 1t read:
II did like you till you ran away
most fell off that old wheel. You are
a coward TO run. l mated Bud He
tried to kiss me- / slapped him. I
hate you. You are coward"
That was the last straw. She hated
him 1t was drop of comfort to know
that she slapped Bud even if she did