davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-09
LITTLE LHYS VISIT TO THE DAYS OF YORE


"Ah here is an invitation to a barn dance
at the farm of Belinda Davis father.
Read 1t, and you'll enjoy knowing Be
linda"
Dear Lillian began the letter. I'VE
are to have a Barn Dance next THURSDAY
Night. the Lord willing. Father and
procured the Fiddler from Town. We viii
have all the Young Folks here. You must
come, Dear Lily. 1 have asked James
Wright and he said he would call for you
with his cutter. He has such fine new
cutter. But you know More about II than
l do. Come early, for the dance Will be-
gin at Early Candle Light. Your Devoted
Friend. Belinda Davis
From that letter Lily went to another.
and another find.rg in them the news of
the daily social life of fifty and sixty
years ago And how perfectly fascinating
did Lily find those boys and girls of olden
days, for their letters pronounced them
to be little gentlemen and ladies in the
fullest sense.
So deeply interested were Lily and
Granny" that the cook had to call them
twice to luncheon before they real -ed it
was 1 o'clock. Then, reluctantly laying
luncheon. they went down to enjoy just
such meal as would have been set before
them fifty years ago. And how Lilly did
enjoy it. too! And all during the meal
grandmamma talked of the young friends
Of her youth, describing just what each
girl wore at the barn dance to which Be
linda Davis had invited her And men
she told of the 'husking bees and the
'taffy-pullings'' and the "barn-raisings.'
and the simple and happy country we'd
dings, and the Unfair dinners following.
Oh. what a world of news of those days
grandmother had. And it was told so
wildly that Lily felt that she knew the
people and loved them and that all these
happenings had taken place but a few
months ago instead Of half hundred
years ago.
And when at last evening came. and
Lily had to go home, she kissed grand
mother on each cheek and said from her
heart: "Oh, granny. ] have had the best
time today ! ever had. I am so glad
came here. 1 can go to Ethel's any time
but / can't go back into those old days
and meet all those lovely boys and girls
any time. Oh. 1t has been such a happy
day.
And grandmother smiled sweetly as she
said: II live those days over so much
darling, that 1 have double their joy. The
farther they recede the more precious be
comes the memory of them. And / an
glad you like my girl and boy comrades
I loved them dearly"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-09

yellow sandy shore. and above was a
gray-blue sky without speck of cloud to
composition" he said, holding the sketch
up to his companions for inspection. Il
want this little sketch, and shall frame
it nicely. 1t comes from hand that will
some day paint great pictures.
Marie could not sell one of her sketches
without first consulting her mother, so
she invited the strangers, who proved to
be tourists from an eastern city, to &C
company her to her home. After she had
explained to her mother the object of the
strangers call the joy and surprise of the
good parent was most touching. To have
such able critics these cultured ladies
and gentlemen praise her little daughter s
work was most encouraging. She offered
to give :ketches to the callers, but they
refused to accept them as gifts and ended
by buying half dozen of Marie best
drawings and one water color sketch OF
the ocean. And after they were gone,
carrying away the little artists work
Marie and her mother sat down to count
over the money that they had put into
Marie'S hands for her sketches. You can
we'll imagine how happy they were when
they counted over $25. Oh. what a for
tune for such bits of paper! Marie was
in the widest of spirits and her good
mother was SO rejoiced at her little ar
lists first success that tears of joy ran
down her cheeks.
Mamma. I shall paint and paint. and
after this l shall put my pictures on ex-
hibition some place in town and sell them
to tourists. and with the money l re-
ceive for them I will soon be able to go
to Frisco to study. Oh, isn't that splen-
did to think about?"
Yes. darling" agreed the mother But
l think you will have better success sell
ing your work on the coast-as you did
today. for many will buy just because
the sketches are made by so little and
pretty and hopeful an artist. And now
that the tourists season has just opened
l have the greatest hopes that you will
not only make rapid advancement in your
art. but will sell enough for it to enable
you to do the thing you SO much desire
to do-tO go to Frisco to study
And it happened that Marie's fondest
hopes were realized the very next year,
and most of her school expenses were
betrayed by the money she. received for
her pictures sold to tourists who bought
from her on the beach, often giving the
order for some certain view they liked
most.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-09
OUTDOOR GAME.
The Sea and Her Children

n LII the players but one stand, in
~ circle. Each one is then given the
4 name of a fish by the player on
the outside, who represents the sea. The
sea- walks around the outside of the
ring calling her children one after an
other by the names which have been
given to them. Each person, on hearing
his or her name. follows the sea or those
who have already formed into a line
behind the sea.
When all the fish children have been
called the sea runs around anywhere with
the fish following. calling "The sea is
troubled. The sea is troubled" Suddenly
the sea picks up shell from the center
of where the ring of players was at first
formed. All try to DO the same thing. As
there are shells enough for all players
with the exception of one. the ore who is
left Without a shell becomes the sea for
the next game. AS in all outdoor plays
gentleness must be learned and practiced
When shells cannot be procured for the
game apples or nuts may be used.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-09

sees the color everywhere and it hurts
her to be obliged to confine herself to
black and white. I will gladly assist her
all that I can with the mixing of her COL
ors.''
That very evening an order for water
colors and brushes was sent to an art
dealer in Los Angeles. and Marie's name
was signed to the order And for two
days Marie lived in the skies OF hope.
waiting patiently for the colors to come
to her. At last, on the morning of the
third day, the box of water colors and
brushes and pad of water color paper
arrived by express to Miss Marie Adams.
Marie declined to eat any luncheon that
day, and with colors and pad in hand
hurried down to the seashore. All, now
she would get the desired effect in her
drawing. The sea and sky would look
from her paper as it looked i'm nature.
So intent on her work was Marie that
she did not observe several ladies and
gentlemen approaching the spot where
she sat in the shadow of some huge rocks
She did not know of their presnce till
painting, little girl?'
Then Marie looked up and beheld the
strangers grouped about her.
It's my first attempt with colors," she
explained. Then she held up for inspec-
ton the quick sketch she had made. II
was SO true in color and drawing that the
party of ladies and gentlemen were as
tonished to hear it was Marie's first
color sketch. "Why. the little girl has
exceptional TALENT declared one of the
gentlemen. When all fell to praising
Marie's work Marie. elated at their en-
couragement. showed a pile of drawings
she had made with pencil, and which she
intended coloring. why the child is q
real artist" declared the gentleman who
had spoken. zone ses poorer stuff than
this exhibited at the galleries at home,
and from the hands of artists. too. Say,
little maid. will you sell one of those
dra wings to me-?
Marie was never so surprised in her
life Sell one of her poor efforts! Why
il seemed absurd. She almost feared she
was dreaming. But the gentleman had
picked up drawing of the lonely ocean.
blue and peaceful, with one long. white
capped wave stretching across-It near the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-09

will help to make the days of yore more
complete.
dered what grandma NINA had planned for
her. There was no sign of preparation for
company. yet the old lady had said they
would receive their visitors at once. But
not one person had come TO call; not
single ring at the door bell had resounded
through the quiet house. The busting
about in the kitchen downstairs and the
songs of birds M the trees were the only
sounds to break the peaceful country
quiet.
Now, day off your hat and sack. dear.
said grandmamma. "Then we'll have our
company.
Lily went into another room and put
her hat and jacket on bed. She brushed
I'D her hair a bit, for If callers were COM
ing she must be tidy to meet them. But
all the while she was quite mystified over
grandmother words.
On returning to the living room Lily
drew her chair close beside her grand
mother and prepared for the surprise.
Then it was that grandmother took from
the table near her a large. beautiful in
laid box. She turned the key in the lock
and opened the lid. Before Lily lay a
mass of yellowed envelopes Of old-fash-
toned design. And the inscriptions on the
letters were in quaint. old-fashioned form.
Now. before we chat with these dear
girls and boys" said grandmamma. TAX
ing up a packet of letters. well be in
troduced to them in person. so to speak.
And she removed from a little drawer in
the box a. number of old photographs and
still older tintypes
Here is Belinda Davis. ore of my very
best friends when l was about your age, "
explained grandmother. selecting the pic
ture OF a smiing-faced girl in the oldest
attire Lily had ever seen. And this is
James Wright. my first school sweet
heart He is grandfather now. and his
son is one of the finest lawyers in the
west. And here is Mary Ann Purvis. Oh.
we have had so many good times to-
gether in the days that are gone. And
here are the Barton girls-taken on the
same card: and this is dear. jolly old
Thomas Grant. who fought with the great
Grant and who became q war hero. And
he. too. was a little oeau of mine-in the
old days
"Oh, and so you had beaus and sweet
hearts then--the same as now?' ex
claimed Lily.
BLESS you child" smiled grandmamma
1--WE but repeat ourselves in our children
and our grandchildren. But let's have
chat with these jolly little comrades o
my youth And the old lady began
opening the time-yellowed envelopes
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-09
Facts About the Child.
hood of the Great
Lafayette.

A T his birth Lafayettes name was
entered on the rolls of 1.-THE Black
Musketeers," for his great-uncle,
who had in his younger days been a
Black Musketeer-and who possessed no
male issue-desired that the family should
he represented in the regiment in the per-
son of his great-nephew.
When only twelve years old Lafayette
became a well known cadet in France, for
he was the heir to his late titled IA
TIERS estate and had also fallen into pos
session of his rich great-uncle's fortune,
for the aged kinsman had died soon after
Lafayette's arrival in Paris. in his elev-
enth year Lafayette's father had been
killed in battle few months prior TO
Lafayette's birth. and while the child
was still in infancy his mother died. Thus
he was nurtured and educated by serv-
ants and tutors.
At the age of fourteen Lafayette was
betrothed to Marie Adrienne de Noailes,
the twelve-year-old daughter of a wealthy
duke who resided in Paris and who was
a member of the court. Two years after
the engagement Of the children-the boy
then being sixteen and the girl fourteen
the marriage took place and the couple
opened an eStabHSnmenL IN the SdSesl
city in the world" becoming great social
favorites.
A year prior to his marriage the hand
some young musketeer had attracted the
attention of no less person than the
beautiful and pleasure-loving Marie An
tc.nette, queen to Louis XVI, and for
Il short time he became one of the gayest
Of that gay court. But, soon tired of the
idle worthless life at court he withdrew
himself to his old home in the Auvergne
mountains of southern France. a quiet
place where he might study and think.
And there he remained till time to take
his bride, when he re-entered the gay
social life of Paris.
But he was TO longer the pleasure lover,
and he became a hard worker in his regl-
ment and when the great opportunity
came for him to unsheath his sword in
the cause of liberty he did not hesitate,
hut came forward eagerly. 1t was during
the revolution in the United States that
LAFAYETTE first saw active service. and we
all know the history of those trying times
with which he became 50 closely identi-
fed.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-09

from her drawing teacher. lndeed, IL
WAS in her drawing that Marie was most
proficient She was what her mother
called born artist" And any one looK-
ing over Marie's folio of drawings would
agree with her teacher and parents that
the child was unusually gifted in that
line.
But Maries parents were too poor to
give her the advantage of study in city
where the best training was to be had
Their home was in small town on the
Pacific coast aid the one teacher OF
drawing there was a lady who was her
self only an amateur, but who gladly I'M
parted what knowledge she had of art to
Marie Adams
One day while looking out over the
great blue ocean Marie wished she might
try her hand at painting a bit in water
colors The tint of sea and sky appealed
TO her artistic eye and she could not sat
isfy herself with charcoal or crayon on
white paper. 1T seems like leaving out
the soul of the picture to leave out the
color Marie said to herself. When she
went home with her sketches that after
noon she told her mother of her longing
FOR box of water colors- And mothef-
like Mrs Adams called upon the draw
ing teacher TO inquire what the price of
an OUTFIT of water colors might cost and
where they might be procured
I'm just give you my Arlists Ma
terlal Catalogue" said the drawing teach
err. You will see by il that you can
procure III desired materials from
house in Los Angeles. | am so glad you
think OF getting colors for Marie. she
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-09

house porting over Old books. Inat was
just what they both said mentally
Their aged grandfather. sitting on the
porch in the sun. understood something
of what went through their minds. ana
as it wanted Il quarter of an hour III
time for them to start to school-lt was
the first day of the fall term-he called
them to him.
81 know You feel reluctant about soins
To school, he said But don't believe
YOU realize how much You have to be
thankful for in these fine days of the
present time. ] will tell you of the hrst
day of school in the woods of Kentucky
when | was a youngster of some twelve
or fourteen years of age-if you care to
hear about it.
"Oh, yes: tell us about it, grandpapa.
said JUNE, eager to have anything oc-
cur when might take from her mind the
thought of school for the time being
And Jack added his voice to hers: yep,
Gram-pap let's hear about it
"Well, when | was youngster we
lived in the hills of Kentucky and the
hills were covered with heavy tl1npel;
The neighborhood was sparsely settled
and there was thought of public
school in those days. But as there were
a number of growing boys and girls IN
that especial part of the country the
fathers got together and decided to send
to a town in Indiana for a schoolmaster:
One was found who would keep school
for a dollar per month per head-that Is,
lie would come and teach the young IDEA
how to shoot for the price of one dollar
for each pupil at the end of each month.
well ii was cold, frosty morning
early iii November when our first school
set Long before daybreak my father
hustled my brothers and sisters and my
self out of our beds in the attic. It's fust
day of school, youngsters he called at
the foot of our ladder-like stairs. Come,
be stirring Can't waste dollar a month
on each of you less you git the wuth
of it
I'VE pulled ourselves from bed, dragged
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-09
Difference Between Then" and |Now"
'TTTET < < TTSF.T .s.TETTET TFFTfF*

was used by the entire class that was
considered advanced enough to learn
their own language.
In the corner. seasoning beside the
fireplace, were several hickory 'gads
Such long, heavy switches were brought
in each morning by the teacher to use in
flogging the pupils, for the old idea pre-
vailed that unless the rod was used. and
plentifully. the child would be spoiled.
The teacher and pupils went into the
school as natural enemies And it was a
lucky boy who managed to escape a CAD
ding at least twice a week.
"Oh. how horrible." exclaimed JUNE
81 would not have gone to such a school
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-09
Then

on Our clothes in the cod. dim dawn
for we were not allowed candles to dress
by-and went downstairs to the kitchen,
where we washed hands and faces in d
tin basin of cold water. Hurriedily we
ate our breakfast-by candle highland
got together all the books that had been
accumulated by the family during their
life There were 'Bunyans Pilgrims
Progress the Bible, the New Testament
badly damaged copy of Milton's Para
disc Lost. a copy each of McGuffy' S
Reader and Speller. I have no idea where
how my parents had ever gotten to-
gether such an extensive library, but 1
do know it was the admiration of those
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-09

living in the neighborhood, and the good
prea cher used to come to our house Sat
urday nights to StlCy. as lie put it.
well. by IS o'clock school was in SEES
sion. There were about twelve boys and
girls, ranging in ages from five years to
twenty Not one of them could read we'll
enough to go through a sentence without
assistance from the master Some read
from the Bible, some from Old books of
history, some from regular text books.
but the latter We're scarce. There was
but one grammar in the school, and it
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-09

or me to come and spend the day with
her. AS you know. l must attend to my
preserves-which / have just started-and
shall have to ask you to give up your day
with Ethel and go to grandmamma's in
stead. Next Saturday you may go to
visit Ethel"
But, mamma, demonstrated Lily, Il
have planned for whole week to visit
Ethel at her new home in the country.
And she will be expecting me. And some
other girls are to be there, too. I shall
be so dreadfully disappointed if have to
give up my day with Ethel
Mrs. Parker meditated a bit. then said:
"Well, do not see any other course open.
dear. And, you know, my preserves have
reached that stage where I must either let
the fruit spoil or remain home and at
tend to it. Mary has her hands full with
the Saturdays baking and cleaning, and
I cannot leave the preserves to her. L
hope you can make up your mind to go to
grandmamma for this one day. You must
remember she is papa's dear OLD mother.
and her little granddaughter will not re-
fuse to go to her when she is feeling In
need of companiOnShip.
''Oh, I'll go, mamma. said Lily in
half-hearted way. But l shall be MAX
ing Il great sacrifice / have planned so
much on this day with Ethel And Ethel
has made arrangements TO nave me all
day party, too. But l shall phone her at
once that / cannot come-that l must go
and stay with grandmamma instead. Oh.
it is so hard to have either grandparent
or baby sister or brother to mind.
There's Pearl Graves, who has to remain
at home so much to care for her baby
brother. 1 think it a real hardship, so |
do
Then, in very unhappy mood, Lily
phoned her regrets to Ethel and hur-
riedly made ready to go to her grand
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-09

mothers cottage, which was in the coun-
try, about mile from the city limits.
Lily got off the street car right at her
grandmothers gate. and could see the old
lady sitting beside a window overlooking
the roadway On seeing Lily the grand
mother waved feeble hand. and sent
such a sweet smile that Lily's heart melt
ed, and she could not bring herself to go
up to the old lady with an unpleased
countenance.
"Oh, so my little grille has come to pass
the time with me- said grandmother as
I,ily entered her room. "How glad / am
to see you, child. And how like your
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-09

How are you. granny she asked,
sympathy in her voice for somehow, just
coming into her grandmother's presence
had driven out the hard feelings she had
entertained against the dear old lady. L
hope you are better, now.
"You make me quite well, dear said
granny. "And I have planned a little
party for YOU today have decided to in
vite in the children of my childhood-my
best girl and boy friends, YOU know.
Would you like to know them, dear?"
ooh. granny, how funny TO speak of in
vitins those who were children during
your childhoodr' exclaimed Lily. why,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-09

they must all be like you now, dear old
northumberland grandfathers.
mo, l mean TO let YOU know them just
as they were in the days of yore." de-
clared grandmother. "And we shall pro-
coed to receive them now. before lunch
con. And by the way. the luncheon is to
be prepared and served just like it would
have been fifty or sixty years ago. which
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-09

father YOU are today-.he same blue eyes,
the same color coming and going in your
pretty cheeks, just as it used to do in his
face when he was little chap
Lily kissed the wrinkled cheeks. ana feit
a glow of pride pass through her as the
old lady complimented her on her pretty
eyes and bright complexion. She loved
to be told that she resembled her father.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-09

9TH Jack and
Junie were pout-
ing. They hated
starting to school.
The very loveliest
fall weather was
in progress and
they wanted to go
gathering nuts and
autumn leaves. In
fact, they didn t
want to be shut UP
in a stuffy school
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-09

lily. dear, I have
just had a phone
that grandmamma
Is not very we'll
and that her COM
panion has been
called away on a
matter Of business.
leaving the dear old
lady alone. except
for the cook, Jane.
And grandmamma
wants either you
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-09

R. AND NJ r 8.
ADAMS had al
ways been very
proud of their one
child. Marie. She
was an exception
ally bright little
girl, always stand
ing at the head OF
her class in school,
and calling forth
the highest praise