davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1909-01-09
AWARDED A WATCH
WEBB AND THE WILDCAT
EDITH l.. HIBBERD.


FeIton. sixth Grade. Age IL Years
Our bird dog. Webb. was 10 months
old and unframed when this event took
place.
We live in the country and the woods
grow very near our house For some
time my father had lost chickens be-
cause Of the wildcats.
one night he and Webb ran across
a fresh heap Of chicken feathers. As
soon as the dog smelled the feathers
ne started following the trail
II led TO the woods and papa followed
as fast as he could, but soon lost sight
OF the dog because the brush was so
thick
He was about TO return home when
he heard Webb come rushing back and
saw be was carrying a half eaten hen
IN his mouth.
The dog had kept on the trail until
he had come upon the wildcat as il was
eating the stolen meal Just what took
place we did not know, but supposed
the cat was frightened and ran. Webb,
instead OF finishing the hen, brought II
untouched 70 his master.
The dog had obeyed his instincts as
a retriever. and from then on was the
favorite pet of our family.
The San Francisco call., 1909-01-09
AWARDED A WATCH
RAGS
FLoRINE FEHRENBAcHER.
sIz kinIlng street. PaIo Alto

Rags was a big. shaggy dog OF the
poodle kind. He loved children, espe-
cially his little master, boy Of l3,
called Jim
One day he saw a small darky with
a basket of meat. He followed him un-
til they came TO a circus tent. Before
Rags could run q man had slipped a
collar on him. He was washed and
brushed and his hair curled. Then
they gave him the name OF Monseign-
eur Lafayette. Fer months he was
taught acrobatic feats on the trapeze.
This was considered wonderful and
was shown on the circus bills.
As Monseigneur Lafayette. in a
beautiful little automobile riding on
q high trapeze. you would never have
recognized the ragged frolicking Rags
OF 2 year before. But there was one, a
little boy called Jim, who studied that
billboard until II became a firmly
fixed idea that Monseigneur Lafayette
was Rags. He went TO the circus and
after the dog had performed he whis-
tied and called:
Rags. Rags
In a fash Rags was al his side, in
his arms, kissing him. licking him, and
IN the confusion that followed Jim
made his escape with him.
The San Francisco call., 1909-01-09


our primary schols a short time ago.
Mamma says she doesn't care If I
stay after school to weave" said an
other.
And still another. May I take my
weaving home tonight to show mamma
how l do it?7
'Will you show my big sister how
to make basket?"
Are we going to weave next term?"
MY doll is dressed in blue, so
am going TO trim her hat with blue"
What is ii all about?
Are the three RS being crowded out
of our schools nowadays by .fads and
frills?| Quite the contrary For in
spite of the entrance of these so called
"fads and frills." never has there been
more accomplished in the three RS
in our primary schools than at present
and never has the interest been greater
w. H. Maxwell, superintendent Of
the New York city schools, has said
in a recent article (Pearson's maga-
zine. January. 1909 that 'it has been
found that training the hands and the
mind together develops reasoning and
discriminating powers, and that gem
eral thing which we call Judgment, in
a way that could not be achieved under
the old system of the three RS
1t is always a difficult problem in
a large class of little children to find
interesting occupations, because some
The San Francisco call., 1909-01-09
MIDGET
CAROLINE READ.
ZOO Mound Street. RedwO OOd City. REQ
wood City Grammar school, Eighth
Grade. Age IA years


About two years ago visited
friend OF mine in the Santa Cruz noun
tains. They lived in a f1ne, big house
for her father was wealthy lumber
man.
She happened to be the possessor OF
a little black and tan dog. He was
brave dog. even II ne was little. Ont
night about II o'clock we were az
sitting around the fireplace IN the DIM
ing room, when we heard the from
gate click. We looked cut OF the from
window and we saw the form or
man coming toward the house. W.
knew he had no business there at tna
time of the night, as our nearest neigh
Dor was two miles distant
In a moment our little dog had the
man by the leg OF his pants. and We
distinguished a black mask across hit
eyes, but before we could look he Wal
gone. with the dog after him. IN
about an hour the dog came back viii
the mans hat in his mouth.
The next day we heard OF sewers
burglarieS in our community and we
might have been included among then
had it not been for Midget
The San Francisco call., 1909-01-09
AWARDED A WATCH
UNCLE JACKS DOG TEAM
CHESTER LEoNHARDT,
oakvilIe. Fourth Grade, Oakville School
Age IL Years

Swatka- a fun blooded malamoot,
worth $500. was a leader of a team of
19 dogs pulling Sans mail sled from
Valdez to Nome. Alaska. AS uncle was
starting from the store with his outfit
Swatka found ham conveniently near
and followed him down 10 the sled
with it in his mouth. but the store
keeper ran after him with an old mus
ket, and while he could not make him
bring 1t back he made him drop it,
One day, crossing an open space near
a lake. Swatka spied red fox and. for
getting his post of honor led the team
in a wild chase after the fox. upsetting
the mail and losing much time
Uncle had to camp out in the snow
all night. Next morning the wind was
blowing a gale. So uncle made an ice
boat of his sleigh and using his tent
for a sail called Swatka to jump on
and all the dogs scrambled to get on
with him. 1t must have been a funny
the lake with so many dogs hanging on
instead of pulling il.
The San Francisco call., 1909-01-09
AWARDED A WATCH
FAITHFUL DUCHESS"
ALFRED REA.
Jefferson school, COima. Sixth Grade.
Age I2 Years


Jefferson school, COima. Sixth Grade.
Age I2 Nears
One very hot day some other boys
and / went TO the beach. not far from
our house. 1 took my dog along,
which was a Newfoundland named
Duchess.
we had lots of fun going over
sliding down steep banks and throwing
stones for the dog to run after.
We got down to the beach at last
and being very hot undressed and went
in the water. We had lots of fun
jumping on the dogs back and max
ing her carry US out in the water.
One time one of the boys got on her
back and another boy threw a rock
out in the water, making the dog run
after it,
The rest of US ran off to hide from
the dog. Soon the dog began to bark
awfully.
We came out of our hiding place
and what did we see but the dog bark
ing over a body. 1t was the boy: the
dog had carried him out too far and
he fell off. The faithful animal had
carried him to shore and saved him
from drowning.
The San Francisco call., 1909-01-09
JACK
ELEONORE SCHRAFT,
pa P0trero Avenue, San Francisco.
Sixth Grade. Mission Grammar
school. Age IL Years

Several years ago large black
cocker spaniel started to follow my
uncle home He brought the dog back
to where he first saw it in the hopes
that il would recognize its home. But
in vain. The dog crouched at his feet
and looked at uncle with pleading eyes
which seemed to say, please take me
home" So uncle thought Il viii take
you home tonight and then we can look
for your owner.
The dog was brought home and soon
became great playmate with all and
We named it Jack.
After few weeks there was a parade
here which we went to see. Jack. as
usual followed us and got lost in the
crowds We all felt badly and walked
home down hearted. But on reaching
home imagine our gladness and sur
prise as We saw Jack waiting For us
on the doorstep He had found his way
home alone.
We still have faithful old Jack, and
never tire of talking of his adventure.
No one ever has claimed him. so we
feel that he is all ours.
The San Francisco call., 1909-01-09

old, and when ] was looking at the
windows on Market street Fanny, who
was smelling everything in the street,
found a little package. and as she was
well trained she knew it was near
Christmas and thought she would take
it home. did not know she had it,
and after buying my presents we
started for home. When we reached
my mother when Fanny dropped on my
lap a little package, and barked as if
to say This is your Christmas present"
l opened it and found a little ring
and not knowing where she found it
it would be hard to find the owner. and
as 1t did not ft me I gave it to my
cousin as a Christmas present from
Fanny
The San Francisco call., 1909-01-09
LIFE OF FAITHFUL TRIx
RAY JOHNSON
272 second Avenue. Richmond school
Age IA NenrN


272 second Avenue, Richmond school,
Age II Years
Trix was given to me nVe years
ago by a gentleman who was Ie4Nlhs
the city for the east. and who tod ms
that he was Trix's second master. Inc
first was man who Kept the cahuJ
store at the ferry building.
Trix used to ride on the Oakldho
boats by himself every day, sometimes
spending the day in Oakland. comins
back oil by himself. He was qead-
head All the crews on the boats kne"
him.
Trix's father was q bulldog that won
first prize at a dog show. His mother
was a prize fox terrier.
His second master drove team o.
fast horses and Trix was delighted 70
ride with him. The faster the horses
went the better he liked u.
When I became his third master y
didn't take US long to get acqualnte1
He Is quite an old dog now. Dut ne
still knows how to hight and catch
rats When he sees anything ne puti
me in mind OF ~A1onzo-" He standi
and looks at IL just like Alonzo does
/ have a coaster. and Trix likes 70 coas'
down hills with me- he is very intell.
gent for an old dog. He understano'
every word / say.
The San Francisco call., 1909-01-09

- Bartlett Street. san FRANCHISES
Eighth Grade. Horace Mann Gram
mar school. Age Is Years
Trixie is the name OF playful browI
and white fox terrier which Is the pei
OF our household. She was given TO me-
three years ago when quite a pup Tht
dog certainly deserves her names for
more tricky dog is seldom seen.
At the time OF the disaster OF 1906
she was badly frightened. but soor
got over It
BY means OF feeding her sugar she
has been taught TO shut the door and
to walk across the room on her hind
feet and many other tricks such as
dogs can be taught In fact. I believe
she can do everything but talk. Trixis
has to be taken out for a walk and
romp every night and when she re-
turns from her promenade some body
has to play ball with her. She has
had many balls. but destroys them al
fast as she gets them She likes hard
indfarubber balls best
Trixfe is a good ratter and Is the
enemy Of al the cats in our neighbor-
hood. She is very fond OF candy and
all kinds OF sweet things and can tell
a candy box or bag as quick as any
human
The San Francisco call., 1909-01-09

He followed US home and my brothers
and sisters were badly frightened when
they saw him. We fed him and kept
him all night The next day being
Sunday we went to Sunday school My
mother locked him in the cellar. After
we had gone, as he was making such
fuss, my mother let him out and
paid no more attention to him. A little
later we were Mortified by seeing him
come walking into the room and sit
down beside us My brother took him
out. When we came home he followed
us. After dinner my mother told my
brother to take him up town to find
the owner. He soon found a man whom
we supposed was the owner, as we
heard no more of him.
The San Francisco call., 1909-01-09
JIP AND MINNIE
lila Eden Park Avenue, FruitvaIe, Cal.
Fruitvale School No. 2, B Seventh
Grade. Age 13 Years
MAY MASON.

Long ago when my mother was a
little girl she had a tabby cat named
Minnie, and her sister Jue was given
little black and tan dog named Jip.
When Jip was puppy she was so
small that the man who gave the
puppy to my aunt carried the puppy in
his vest pocket.
The first time Jip had her puppies
and Minnie had her kittens, Minnie
raised the puppies and Jip raised the
kittens.
Jip had one bad fault. that was she
always used TO go poaching after hares
and rabbits, and one day she got
caught in a snare and broke her leg,
so she had to be killed.
The San Francisco call., 1909-01-09
PLAYFUL BRUNO
ALICE ERICSSON,
ST. Helena. Seventh Grade. Age
Years

ST. Helena. Seventh Grade. Age IL
Years
We have a dog that is quite large
His name is Bruno. He is black, white
and brown and very prettily marked.
Bruno is quite intelligent. He has
been taught to climb trees and every
time a person passes one of the trees
he climbs and says, up, Bruno, up"
he never fails to climb it.
I have made Bruno a bed in bar
rel and every day I put his blankets
out to air in the sun One night for
got to put them back That evening
we heard him whining and whining.
After a while 1 thought of his blank
cts, and sure enough. when l went out
TO look there were no blankets in
Bruno's bed I quickly took them in
and after that he was contented.
Bruno is very fond of popcorn and
candy. lie always gets his share Of
sweets on Christmas day.
He is very well trained to drive cows
and If you say to him. Bruno. do you
want to get the cows2" he almost has
a fit Although he is years old, he
is as much a puppy as if he were few
months old.
The San Francisco call., 1909-01-09
A FAITHFUL SERVANT
HOWARD BARTLETT,
Qunrtz. Quartz Grammar School. Age
IA Years

Last summer I went to visit my
grandfather, in Amador county A lit
tie branch line of the Southern Pacific
railroad comes within a mile of the
farm.
NV grandfather had his mail thrown
off in little bag at a place where the
railroad is nearest to the house, and
each morning and night his faithful
dog Jake, would carry the bag to and
from the train. Jake was a large shep-
herd about 4 years Old and his coat was
of a yellowish brown. He was always
good natured and never bothered any
one He was trained to sit up, speak,
shake hands and roll over.
While quite young he was taught to
carry the mail bag, and since then he
never neglected his duty Each morn
ing and evening grandmother would
tell him TO go get the mail, and with
the bag in his mouth off he would go,
Just before j left the neighbors set
out poison to catch certain dogs that
were bothering their chickens. Poor
Jake was unfortunate enough to get
some of that poison. and he soon died
Thus ended the life of very faithful
servant
The San Francisco call., 1909-01-09
MINOS, A CLEVER DOG
NORMAN EGILBERT
SO West Street, Redding. Seventh
Grade. Age I3 YenrS.

Grade. Age 13 Years.
| read in an English paper the ac-
count of Ia very clever dog called
'Minos." He knows more about arith-
metic than many children. He would
pick out from set of numbered. cards
any figure which you would call for.
When six was called he would bring
1t, then IL some one said add twelve to
1t Minos would trot over the cards and
bring one with eighteen on ii. Only
once was he puzzled. Some one asked
him to give the half of twenty-seven.
Poor Minos looked quite bewildered for
a moment, but he was not to be baff1ed
so. He ran off and brought back a
card with the figure on 1t. He has
photographs of famous persons. all Of
which he knows by name, and will
bring any one of them when told to.
He can spell too. for when a French
lady in the company wrote the word
esprit he looked at it very hard and
then brought the letters one by one
and placed them In the right order.
We should all remember when we are
trying to teach our dogs tricks that
there is no teacher so good as love
The San Francisco call., 1909-01-09
NERO. MY FAITHFUL DOG
HILDA EARLSEN,
Fitchburg Postoffiee. Lockwood school.
Seventh Grade. Age IA Years

One time a man moved away. He
had dog named Nero. He knew how
TO carry home packages. One day
mamma sent me to change $50 gold
piece Nero came along. When I went
in the store Nero went with some
other dogs. On my way home / called
Nero; he did not respond to my call, so
1 went on. Somehow had lost the
purse / never knew it till 1 got home.
My mother said Where is the money!
looked to see If had it. "Oh, mamma.
have lost your money. / will go
back and see il / can find it, 1 cried.
l went back no purse. l cried because
/ was frightened. Soon after 1 got
home 1 heard Nero at the back door
scratching on the door. He wanted to
get in When 1 opened it I saw the
purse lying down there. I picked it
up, looked in it. All the money was
there. "Oh, mamma, Nero has found
your purse and brought It h0meW I
never was so thankful in all my life
as | was then TO Nero, and gave him
nice big bone.
The San Francisco call., 1909-01-09
MY DOG BEAUTY
VICTORINE ROSS.
1916 Twenty-second Street, SaP Fran
cisco. Age 13 Years


About three years ago / had pretty
spitz dog named Beauty. She was
trained TO do a great many tricks. She
would roll over and over when told to
do so and walk across the room on her
hind legs with a piece of sugar on her
nose and great many other tricks.
II man would come to the house We
had to go, out in the yard with him.
otherwise it was not safe. If a woman
came to the house the dog would come
in and stand on her hind legs and put
out her paw to shake hands and then
would run out in the yard again. She
was greatly attached to a white cat
that we had and they would both eat
out of the same dish.
When / went east about two years
ago / gave her to a family to take
care of. but somebody poisoned her
and when / heard of her death / had
to cry to think I had lost my little
Beauty
We were offered a good price for her
but would not part with her.
The San Francisco call., 1909-01-09
AWARDED A WATCH
AN INTELLIGENT DOG
KARL J. PRIDE.


San Rafael Fourth street School, sew
enth Grade. Age II Years
There was once man VINO nae d
,-e~v intelligent Scotch collie. Coming
into his room one day he found his dog
In his armchair. The man went 10 the
window and made believe ne was very
rnuch excited. The dog jumped down
from the chair and ran TO the window
10 see what was the matter. He could
see nothing and so he turned Dack 70
eet into the chair again, but TO his
surnrise fhe man had taken II. So
the dog lay down on the floor and
slept 4 while and on awakening got
10 and went to the window and jumped
M and down and barked loudly.
The man got up to see what It was.
When he got 10 the window the DOG
turned around. ran and got into tne
chair. Now was not that pretty smart?
The San Francisco call., 1909-01-09
MY DOG
RUDOLPH TRErTEN.
1857 Twenty-fourth Street. San Fran
cisco. james Lick Grammar School,
ID Fifth Grade. Age IL Years

About three years ago my father and
mother went out walking and hun
cry looking dog followed them home.
My father tied him up in the barn the
first night and in the morning gave
him fine breakfast
He soon became fat and proved Him
self faithful. My brother and l de-
cided to go to the beach one day and
take Jack. my dog, along After being
out there for some time my brother
went in swimming. He was suddenly
attacked with cramps and gave pain
full cry. Jack plunged into the water
and swan to his rescue. He grabbed
him by his swimming suit and made
for the shore.
My brother was so heavy that when
they reached the shore Jack was SO
tired we had to carry him home. Ever
since that my brother and Jack have
been the best of friends.
The San Francisco call., 1909-01-09

occupation the chiersn must hav>
when It Is not their turn to recite "a
the teacher Therefore the ingenious
teacher racks her brain IN planning
variety OF forms OF busy work" In
some schools the problem has beer
solved by furnishing the children with
raffia. and little hands soon weave n
into baskets, fans. doll hats. hammocks
busy work that is satisfactory and
profitable.
Why satisfactory and profitable? Re.
cause children like IL. Because thev
can do 1t without direct supervisors
from the teacher. Because the ma
teriais are easily cared for in the
child's own possession and without re-
peated loss OF time In distributing and
collecting Because. best OF all. the
child works from day 10 day toward
definite end. and when finished thers
Is a complete article that. to the child.
Is worth while.
So strongly does this work appeaI
to the children that they spend their
play hours at home inventing WAYS Of
manufacturing these little articles. Sc
eager was one child that, not daunted
by not having any rama at home. he
found piece OF mating and used the
raveled strands in a variety OF attract.
i've baskets OF his own devising. Again
In the words OF Superintendent Ma
We'll. instead of the present svstoru
being a movement away from the prae.
tical 20 the theoretical. as a matte,
OF fact II Is a move away from the ola
system OF imperfect theory 70 the firsf
solid basis both In science and as3.
Ininistratlve experience, that we HAYS
yet found
The San Francisco call., 1909-01-09
JACKS LESSON
MARY G. CAsEDY,
$50 Hugo Street. San Francisco. Laguna
Honda School, B Eighth Grade.
Age Ii Years

Jack was only little lost spaniel,
and nobody noticed him as he fingered
about the streets of the crowded city.
looking pitifully UP into the faces of
the busy crowds as they surged past
At last, tired and lonely, he wan
dered out of the city to the seashore,
where some children, seeing that he
had no master, threw pebbles and
sticks into the surf for him to fetch
back, until tired and fatigued from his
long exertions he swan too far out.
Not having strength enough to fight
his way back to shore he would have
drowned had not fisherman, seeing
him struggling in the water, rescued
him and brought him home
Fer many years Jack lived happy
life by the sea ir the home of the
fisherman But never again did he ven
ture far out into the sea, for he had
learned his lesson.
The San Francisco call., 1909-01-09
FAITHFUL ROVER
GERTRUDE HARRINGTON,
S51 Fourteenth Street, San Francisco
First Grammar Fifth Grade

Last summers vacation l went to
Fresno to visit my grandparents. My
little sister Grace went with me. She
was only 4 years old, and she was very
fond of dogs.
My grandfather had a large St Ber-
nard dog whose name was Rover.
Every day Grace went out to play by
the brook Rover took very good care
of her.
One day Rover was busy looking at
some other dog when all of a sudden
he heard a splash. He looked around
and could just see the top of Grace s
The San Francisco call., 1909-01-09
TEDDY
LOTTIE CANSDALE,
z02S Ellis Street. San Francisco. Age
IL Yeara

Is Years
Teddy was a good faithful dog and
had a kind master. But one day when
he was walking through the woods his
master caught a bad cold Teddy
watched by his bedside day and night.
but his poor master grew worse and
worse And the poor dog thought he
only other member OF the family was
Tom, but Teddy could not bear to hear
his name called. One day when his
master felt that his end was near he
called Teddy by his bedside. Go and
get Tom" he said, II wish TO speak to
him." You may be sure he did not wait
one second, but. springing to his feet,
was about to dash through the door
when he ran against the wicked serv-
ant. who was just coming in Tom
The San Francisco call., 1909-01-09

-
Age ii Years
When my brother was a very small
boy. about or 4 years old. we had
some friends that owned a white spitz
dog named Prince. This dog be-
came very much attached to my brother
George, and, in short time he got so
that he would not stay at his own
home, but came 10 stay at our house.
This dog, Prince, came to be my
brothers shadow, and when he played
with some children for a while Prince
would lie at his feet and sleep until
George moved.
One day a large, heavy wagon ran
over one of his legs, but it didn't break
it. My brother carried him in and
went out to play, and my mother fixed
him up and made him comfortable.
After Prince was better and had re-
sumed his habit of following George
around, one day, some one seeing how
good a dog he was, stole him and
we have never seen our dear dog Prince
since that day.
The San Francisco call., 1909-01-09

said his master. Il wan- you to ten
me before I die that YOU will tdks
eoo5 care Of Teddy.s Tom said faith
fully ne would. but as soon as tns
kind master died Tom kicked the eVA
down the stairs. He lay there untn
a kind lady took him home. he - no"
as happy as our dear AlOnzO.