davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Baltimore County union, the Towson news., 1909-11-13
Subterranean Animal Life.
(From the Chicago Tribune.)

The underlife of the caves has
world of its own. Animals are born
in subterranean caverns followed out
by streams develop, reproduce and
die while forever deprived of the sun
light, There is no cave mammal ex-
cept rat, nor is there a cave bird.
There are no animals that require
much nourishment.
Grottoes with underground rivers
have the most life. Usually the sub
terranean life resembles the general
types of the country. 1t has entered
the cave and become acclimated
there, undergoing divers adaptive
notifications. So we generally find,
in modified forms, the life of ourtime.
But in some caverns there seem to be
the remains of an ancient animal life
that has everywhere else disappeared
from terrestrial rivers and lives only
in certain caverns.
The creatures of modern species
that have adapted themselves to
underground conditions are sharply
separated from the light dwellers.
Their skin is whitish, or transparent.
The eye atrophies or disappears alto
gether. The optic nerve and the
optic lobe disappear, leaving the
brain profoundly modified. Other
organs develop in proportion Those
of hearing, smell, touch. become
large. Sensitive hairs, long and
coarse, appear all over the body
These changes are produced gradu-
ally. In animals kept in darkness it
has been possible to see the repression
of the eye and the hypertrophy Of the
other sense organs. With fishes OBJ
served since 1900 the absence of light
determined a remarkable arrest Of
growth. Their length was about two
inches and their weight less than an
ounce, whereas similar fish kept in
daylight reached five inches and two
and seven-tenths ounces.
The Baltimore County union, the Towson news., 1909-11-13

tion is sent back to barracks. There
he continues to writhe until the first
section returns, and the bugle sounds
relief from quarters. He has made
up his mind to ask the advice of the
president of the academic board.
And the latter, as ne strolls down the
shady walk to his home, is surprised
to find a cadet running breathlessly
after him, saluting, and eagerly in
quiring if he may ask question.
Certainly" says the professor.
And then he tells the professor the
strange incident of his sweetheart's
lips, and asks what he shall do.
Do ?" answers tn e professor.
why, if l were in your place I'd say
no more about it, and marry the girl
as quick as I could"
The young soldier salutes and starts
off to find her with heart as light as
a summer cloud.
The Baltimore County union, the Towson news., 1909-11-13
Cold is the Clay.

Cold is the Clay.
written for The Union-News.)
Cold is the clay
That wraps thy form in close array,
The grass grows green. the flowers bloom,
Above thy tomb.
Bright as the star
That sheds its radiance from afar,
Though to the earth we thee consign,
Thy light shall shine.
Thou art not dead,
Though low they lay thy whitened head,
Though quiet now thy body lies,
Thy soul shall rise.
Far, far away,
There dawns better, brighter day,
There falls no sable gloom of night
Upon the sight.
MILTON HEATHCOTE.
The Baltimore County union, the Towson news., 1909-11-13
Emergency Ironing.
(From the Farm Journal }

Although all linen is sweeter for
being dried in the air, if time comes
when you need to do it up imme-
diately, try my emergency plan :
Wash the linen as usual, then dip it
in hot water and shake it well fold
as we'll as possible and run it through
the wringer then wrap it in dry,
white cloth, and iron at once without
starching.
The Baltimore County union, the Towson news., 1909-11-13
''Fur Fetched Jokes. "
CFrom the Weekly Telegraphl

Where do we get our most valu-
able furs?" asked the teacher.
From the fir tree" said the wide
awake boy.
This recalls story of young
woman from the country who entered
a draper's shop and asked for muff
Yes, miss, said the shopman.
What fur?"
What fur?" echoed the girl in
astonishment. why, to keep my
hands warm, of course!"
The Baltimore County union, the Towson news., 1909-11-13
She Was Too Quick.
fFrom cleveland Plain Dealer.

There were three at the little table
in the cafe, lady and two men.
Suddenly the electric lights went
out, and the lady, quickly and noise
lessly, drew back.
An instant later there was the
smack of a compound kiss. AS the
electric lights went up each man was
seen smiling complaisantly.
81 thought l heard kiss, said
the lady, but nobody kissed me-"
Then the men suddenly glared at
each other and flushed and looked
painfully sheepish.
The Baltimore County union, the Towson news., 1909-11-13

Lawyer-''You say that you left
home on the 10th?" Witness-"Yes,
sir" Lawyer" And came back on
the 25th?' Witness Yes, sir"
Lawyer What were you doing in
the Interim" Witness" Never was
in such place"
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-07-31
Capturing an Alligator

Three boys went out hunting near
Millen. Ga, and, among other trophies
of the chase, killed an alligator seven
feet long. Putting the body in a
wagon, they We're bringing him to
town, when one of the boys. who was
sitting near the middle of the wagon.
began TO triumph over the fallen
enemy by kicking him in the side. He
kicked perhaps four times and then
something happened so quickly that
the boys could not explain it, There
was rush, snap and yell and the
kicker went out of the wagon head
foremost, leaving, as souvenir, a part
of his trousers in the gators teeth.
The others woke up to the Importance
of prompt action, but one boy. who
took a little too much time in getting
ready for dive into a sandbank.
struck the ground minus shoe heel.
which the saurian swallowed Then
the boys rallied from their stampede
and, advancing to the wagon, put an
end TO their lively foe this time maxi
ing no mistake about the job.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-07-31
SHORT ARTICLES BY JUNIOR READERS

With congress too frightened to act,
with the people swearing allegiance
to his enemies and with his army re-
duced to band of half starved men
by death, sickness and desertion would
Washington have been blamed for los
ing heart in the unequal struggle? De-
spite ALL he remained true and conf
dent that right would finally triumph
over might
He has been aptly called the father
of his country" To him the country
owes its freedom from the yoke of
Great Britain. without Washing ton
the revolution would not have lasted
six months. When the struggle for
liberty was ended the reins of the gov
eminent were handed to the father of
his country" He was regarded by his
soldiers with feeling of awe and rev.
erence. The people looked to him to
establish the United States as a nation.
Washington was a true patriot a
patriot without a superior He was
truly, the greatest man of his time He
rose slowly and sublimely, like a star,
till he reached the zenith of his fame.
the highest pinnacle of earthly glory.
The world gazes with admiration at
the dizzy heights of grandeur on which
rests the lofty genius of Washington.
sublime in its glory.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-07-31
Asked If He Were Blind

There is a story of an elderly lady
standing on the curb by a crowded
crossing in the height of the season.
too nervous to venture off the pave
ment. She was anxious TO get to her
destination on the other side of the
thoroughfare, but hesitated to risk
the journey. Presently she perceived
stranger offering his hand She
seized IL and they both plunged into
the traffic. "A motor bus all but ran
over shem: a taxicab whizzed past so
close that the lady fahcied her last
moment had come. She chung tighter
to her guide, who never finched. but
went madly on under the heads of the
with bicycle. and the wheels of a
hanson twisted the feathers of the
lady's toque. A tramcar at that mo-
ment passed an inch from their toes
and a butchers cart knocked her hand
bag yards away A motor horn at her
ear nearly frightened her out of her
wits, and the pole of a bus, catching
her in the back. pushed her on the
pavement. BY this time she had found
voice to upbraid the man TO whom she
had been clinging.
''Oh. dear. Oh. deari It's a wonder
I'm alive, What do you mean MANI
1 might have been killed a dozen times
over. Are YOU blind?"
That's just what 1 am, marm,' re-
piled the poor fellow; so 1 held out
my hand for some one to lead me
across"
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-07-31

shone, as a solitary star, on the track
Here they found huge st. Bernard,
none other than our friend Jack, sitting
in the middle of the track, trembling
and shivering in the cold, with allan
tern wired to his collar. The dog
jumped up joyfully when freed, but his
tail, stiffened from the cold, could not
wag with its usual velocity.
What in thunder did any one want
to tie a dog to railroad track this
cold night, and with lighted lanternw
1t was the fireman who spoke. Then
suddenly his eye caught the CLEAN of
the broken rail, and with an exclama-
ton he called to his companions to look
They did. and their faces grew grave
a. they thought of the danger that had
been so imminent.
But who had tied the dog to the
track? Here was a mystery. There
were footprints in the snow. Faint
tracks. which led to the village, could
be seen, but that was all. As they
stood, gesticulating and wondering who
their benefactor might be. the sound of
an approaching horse was heard. 1t
grew nearer and nearer and finally
stopped a few feet away, and a boy
climbed down from light business
buggy. Then a crack of a whip and
the hoof beats continued, this time re-
ceding in the distance.
Running up to the dog. around which
the men were eireled, the boy threw his
arm around the neck of his beloved
pet, who in his turn barked in recogni-
tion.
What does this mean?" Us this your
dog?" Did you tie him .here?" were the
various questions from the men.
Yes, yes" cried Kenneth, for it was
he, Il did"
And he told them the whole story
of his fear Of his mothers condition
and his perplexity as to what he should
do on the discovery of the broken rail.
Then suddenly he jumped up from his
leaning posture over the dog. saying
that he must now return and see what
the doctor. who had driven him to the
train, said of his mothers condition.
But he was gently detained by the
crowd of excited passengers, who real
lied what the boy had done and how
much they owed him, also the dog
Question after question was poured
upon him with such rapidity that the
boys mind was bewildered
Who was his father? What did he
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-07-31
Wonderful Things
Three CRATES Did

There were three little giraRes, all an
cunning as could be,
Who went out for frOIc just to see
what they could see.
They twisted up their necks, indeed. in
IMPLICATED knots
And stretched them over fences into
other peoples lots.
They couldn't see their hind legs. their
heads were up so high
They must have breathed a purer air
than either you or T.
And so their feet got tangled and the
little giraffes fell;
But, on the ground. what part OF them
was first. can any tell2
Now when they saw their tangled legs
they Strengthened out the lines;
And when they stood erect once more
they grazed on lofty pines.
When one of them, quite delicate, was
seized with fainting spells
The others searched for water. which
they took from deepest wells.
They saw the lofty pyramids. with
green grass on top.
ooh. come along" the eldest said, lets
go and eat ii up"
They loosed the Implicated knots until
they were duplex.
And they We're just tall enough TO
reach the high apex.
The youngest giraffe, getting bold. on
seeing Luna rise.
Was just about TO eat her up before our
very eyes.
But his brother told him not TO, For
If you did, you see,
The man might thump your insides in
your dorsa1 cavity"
Lets go TO sleep another cried. upon
the mountain side.
It's excellent for pillows. though it's
never yet been tried"
"All right" the other answered, "al-
though it's rather steep.
With our bodies in the valley. why We
guess our heads will Sleep
So they loosed the duplicated knots
and stretched their supple necks:
Their heads We're up so very high they
looked like little speeks.
What shall We do tomorrow said the
youngest of the three.
Let's wash our faces early in ths
Caribbean sea"
@ Huntington Whalsy.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-07-31
Washington, the Patriot
JASPER B. SINCLAIR,
~ Clement street, San Francisco. Age
N Years


~ Clement street, San Francisco. Age
10 Years
tvfHAT Milton is to poetry, Black
w stone to law, Napoleon to rulers
Shakespeare to the drama and Demos
themes to oratory washington is to
the American nation. without Wash
ington the United States would stlii
be a colony Of Great Britain WASH
ingtou was the soul OF the United
States when it was struggling against
the power and wealth of Great Britain
He led the American army through
eight long years Of conflict TO the goal
81 All its ambitions liberty. In lff5
bs drew his sword with reluctance
and in 1888 shesthed ii with joy In
that period he gained immortal fame
for himself and liberty for the United
States.
m ii had not been for Washington
the world would have had no Lincoln.
Farragut, Dewey. Webster or any OF
the long line Of immortal Americans
The leader of the Continental army
extricated his country from the throes
OF revolution and gave ii liberty
Tbroup-bout the war he displayed
his consummate skill and ability His
victories were won by his superior
judgment ana the determination OF his
soldiers. As strategist he has Few
superiors. CORVALLIS termed him the
@old fox because Of his strategy.
washington proved his claim to the
sobrfouet al Trenton. at Princeton, and
IN his retreat across New Jersey lie
fought his battles like Napoleon,
laid his sieges like a Caesar and con-
Quoted his retreats like an Alexander.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-07-31

you. Do it yourself. Be honest"
And now this was a great deal worse
than compositions, for this was to be
sold for money and printed in maya
zine, TO be read by ever sand ever so
many people,
She must have turned in her little
bed in her nursery at the thought for
her mother called:
What, not asleep yet, Margery? Try
10 go TO sleep. dear. Mamma feels a
great deal better
Better. How could she feel better
when she was not doing what was
honest?
Phis first doubt of ner mother was a
terrible thing to the little girl-so ter
rihle that the black edged letter was
for the moment forgotten.
For hours and hours. 1t seemed to
her, she heard the voices, low and
earnest, sometimes merry.
That seemed the most bitter thing OF
all-that her mother should be so
cheerful about it. And that her dear
teacher should help seemed scarcely
less terrible
AT last she fell into a troubled sleep.
1t was early morning when she
awoke.
The sun was just creeping up over
the hills and gliding the windows of
the little house.
With her first waking thoughts the
trouble of the night before came back
to Margery with overwhelming force.
1t was too much for her
She clutehed the black edged letter
In her hand and went and threw her
self softly on her knees by her
mothers bed. burying her face in the
blankets.
But mother love has sharp ears and
MRS. Woods was soon awakened by the
sound of Margery's sobbing
Ny darling. what is it? You are
cold and trembling, dear one.
Get right in here. between mamma
and Miss Hilton. There. dear child
put your head right in its old place
on mammals breast.
What is it, dear one? What do
you feel so terribly about?"
The story isn't honest mamma:
YOU had help, It's worse than cheat
ing lin composition. How could you,
mamma ?"
Why, YOU poor child-you almost
make me laugh. Lots OF people write
together like that. darling.
The letter is all written TO say we
viii work together after this. The
story is TO be in the name of BOTH"
20, but mamma. there's something
else-something worse! It's got a
black edge and-are you sure you are
better, mamma? Uncle Billy said not
TO tell you until you were better"
Now. you do brighten me, child
What has black edge? letter?
Where is it? o. give il to me.
why, it is from England. l don't
know any one in England.
%, it is from a lawyer telling me
of tile death of an old uncle of my
mothers whom 1 have never seen.
The dear. kind, good old man has
left me ten thousand dollars
What a blessing his money will be
to us allr'
And there. sitting up in bed. be-
tween her dear mother and Miss Hill
ton. Margery joined in the plans they
made. of the home they would have
together; of the stories the two ladies
would write, and the good times they
would havei
And then and there Margery made
a resolution that she ever after faith
fully kept: Never, never. to have any
secrets from her mother!
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-07-31

writing stories for the magazines and
was beginning to succeed quite well
with it. She was a woman of educa-
ton and refinement and such work
suited her far better than cooking and
cleaning.
Almost her only companion was the
teacher of the little school They were
not far from the same age, and their
tastes were much alike, particularly in
their love of literature.
Margery and Miss Hilton had not
gone far on the dusty road before the
stage came Gathering up behind them.
When the stage driver. odd Uncle
Billy" saw who IL was he stopped his
horses so suddenly that he almost
threw the passengers off their seats.
Well. WELL welIi" he said II de-
clare. Miss Hilton. You way over here
and walking, in all this heat and dust.
Climb right in-yOu and the little gal
Mrs. Woods little gal. amt 1t?
How's your ma, sis? Sick? Well, that
too bad"'
When they got to the house Miss
Hilton thanked Uncle Billy and went
on into the house.
Look here. little gal I've got let
ter here for your ma. but 1 reckon
spell, till she gifts oetter-shes sick,
You say? The letters got a black
border and l reckon it's bad news.
Il guess II I was you I wouldn't say
nothing about it till she was better"
This was great responsibility for a
little girl. To have black edged let
ter in her pocket; 70 know that it
probably contained sad news for her
dear mother and not to say word
about il, was indeex a heavy burden
for little girl 10 bear
But she got the Supner-She was a
fine little house keeper-made toast
and tea for mamma and took it in to
her.
Mamma looked more cheerful since
Miss Hilton came. 1t made Margery' s
heart ache 10 think she would have TO
make her feel bad again.
After Margery washed the dishes.
Mrs. Woods called her in to her.
Margery, darling" she said, you
had better sleep on the little couch in
the dining room tonight.
Miss Hilton is gong TO move the
little stand in here. by my bed, and is
going to help me with that story
You know I must nnish it and send
it off. or I will lose this chance and
perhaps others; and 1 need the money
so much.
Good night. darling. good night"
Margery lay down on the little bed
and tried TO go TO sleep.
But the black bordered letter which
she had put under her pillow came con-
stantly before her mind and kept her
wide awake.
She could hear her mother telling
Miss Hilton what to write. and could
hear the scratch, scratch of Miss Hill
tons pen upon the paper
Occasionally she heard Miss Hilton
ask her mother IL another word
wouldn't be better. or make a sugges-
ton as TO the plot
All at once thought came into her
mind that made her feel worse than
all the rest
1t wasn't honest. the way they were
writing that story. Miss Hilton and
her own dear mother were doing what
wasn't honest,
Miss Hilton had said In school many
time: Write your compositions
yourself-receive no help from any
one"
And her mother sIways said. BE
honest about your work, darling. Never
allow any one to do your work for
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-07-31
How They Saved the Limited

do? An engineer? Why. they knew
him Well
Meanwhile purse was collected and
a gentleman passenger came forward
and presented it to the boy, together
with his card. saying that when the
latter needed assistance TO call on him.
But Kenneth stoutly refused the purse.
saying that they would have to see
his mother about that. Two of the
gentlemen accompanied him home while
the others returned to the train.
Today Kenneth Osborne is one of
the most trusted engineers in the COM
pany, in which his father had been en-
ployed and which he himself had aided
when a boy.
His mother fully recovered her
health and loves to tell the story of
her boy and his faithful dog, Jack
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-07-31

gested that we must go in a higher
part / led the way and Alice followed.
When we got half way up the tree
Alice said:
"Oh, have a bug up my nose" and
we laughed and laughed. Then we at
tempted to get up the tree. Alice was
climbing just like a boy. She was
nervous about falling, so / kicked the
bucket down the tree. It sounded so
funny that we laughed and before we
knew it we were on the ground.
Then we attempted to take the cher
ries TO the house, but when we got to
the creek what do YOU suppose hap
pened? Why, Alice fell right in the
creek with the cherries.
Jesse came to the rescue and we got
the cherries to the house. 1t is a Won
der we got them there. isn't it9
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-07-31
PICKING CHERRIES
EDITH cRANDELL,


It is lots of fun picking cherries
when you fall down the tree half a
dozen times, isn't it, This is the sill
Hest thing that / have witnessed yet.
Alice and I were up the tree picking
cherries yesterday. We picked few
in one part of the tree and then l sug-
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-07-31

1t wasn't hard for me at ALL
spread my arms and legs and
Just knew by instinct how to fly.
But was very young and small
Another time the Jersey cow.
When went out to pet her calf
Addressed me with genial laugh.
Then talked to mel wonder how
Or how understood-or whether
The COW can still recall it.. Oh,
That jolly time. when. long ago.
We talked and talked and talked together.
And then there was the awful night
The big black giant burglar came.
He had agun. but all the same
4 knocked him over m fight
And threw him out the window and
Well, thst Is all. Inever told
My father had been so bold,
But you perhaps will understand
pie only like TO hear
gs that they themselves have done.
! seldom have the fun
z NY advcntures clear.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-07-31
SECRET ADVENTURES

I'm more or less like other boys
That is, so far as people know
Who go to school, but hate to go,
Who like to romp and make noise
But really I'm as differentl
Inside of me know a lot
or things, and others I've forgot
That would provoke establishment
Such great adventures as I've had.
Such secret wonders as I've seen!
Why, il ! told you what mean
You'd think was funny lad.
] know you would for always when
tell of my surprising deeds
My father just goes on and reaos
And mother smiles and whispers. Ben
BE careful what you say. my dear.
OF course your mother always knows
And understands, but just suppose
That some one else should overhear.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-07-31
HELEN Il. MoNTFeRT,

. Street, Sacramento, Cal. Age Is.
! n OTHER, dear, how is the
pain now?"
"A trifie easier, Kenneth"
Hadn't I better go for DIR.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-07-31

Most people only like to hear
or things that they themselves have done
And so seldom have the fun
OF naak,ng ny advcntures clear.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-07-31

Now just for instance long ago
walked up to the attic floor
sIhesc things don't happen any more
And few right down three fights or so
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-07-31
THE SECRETS OF MARGERY
BY Eleanor Brainerd

- He pine woods were dark and
still-so stiiE There was not a
sound except the moaning OF the
wind fn the freetons Afaroa-r..