davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-12-26

ALLY was a little Southern girl. All {A her 12 years of life had been spent in a delightful town situated on ~ that magnificent body of water
 called Tampa Bay. And during the past two years Sally had longed and loEged to go to the North to visit some of her kinfolks who resided there. Their letters had described the heavy snow storms and the below-zero weather, the enjoyment of sleigh riding and skating.
 few days before the New Year Sally's father came in one evening from his busi- Less and asked his little daughter:
 Would you like to pay Aunt Grace and Uncle Tom visit on New Years Dayf"
 Sally jumped up ond down, clapping her hands in glee, crying out: "oh, yes, papa, dear! There Is nothing l would love so much as going away up North for | visit. And won't uncle and aunt and my cousins be surprised when l come walking i'm But--may l go, papa?'
 .'I am inclined that way" smiled papa. ''The fact is, have some business to look after in Iowa, and as l shall be only 30 miles from Sister Grace's home town 1 would not think of returning without first seeing her and her family. So, if my little daughter Is very good, and ex- tremely anxious to accompany me on my
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-12-26

Harold for his help and directed him to their home. which was a poor, unpainted, frame house in dirty street which swarmed with unkept children. There Harold met the mother. a care-worn little woman with a sweet smile Together he and she set up the tree in the front room" (the best of the three rooms the house contained) and then she gathered to. gether the handful of simple toys that had been given to her little ones Christmas Eve. 'I'll not be able to hang new presents on the tree she declared But the children will be so happy to re- ceive their gifts all over again since they are to come of a real evergreen Christ mas tree"
 "I'll go home now" said Haro'd. But I'll return this afternoon, and l wish you'd send the children away from home for an hour or so. Pl have something to put on the tree. and it must be sur prise to them"
 The careworn little mother smiled her gratitude, and asked Harold all about himself, telling him he was the first boy she had ever met who interested himself so kindly in the poor. And you'll re ceive your reward. I'm sure." she added, tears in her eyes. Then she promised to send the children from home that after noon at the hour Harold mentioned.
 At o'clock Harold. accompanied by his grandfather and mother. entered me poor little frame house. carrying baskets filled with pretty gifts and good things to eat Soon the castoff Christmas tree was loaded to it's capacity, and the overflow was put on a table beneath the swaying boughs. There was doll for the little girl, a drum for the smaller boy, 8 fife and gun for the older boy. There were sidewalk skates for each; there were tops, picture books, balls, candy. apples and popcorn in great quantity.
 Then a sheet was hung across in front of the tree so that the little ones on their return might not see 1t till the hour for its 'unveiling," which would take place at o'clock. And Harold was to return, dressed like Santa Claus, to hand the presents from the tree.
 As they walked homeward after com pleting their good work old grandfather said to Harold: "I'm glad, my boy. you have devoted your day to such a char itable cause. It opens my eyes to your worth"
 You opened my eyes to my own un- declared Harold. And then and there 1 made a New Years resolution. re- solved to do something to make others happy, and I soon found the oppor- tunfty."
 .Biess my son." said Harold's mother And the three walked on in happy si- lcnce.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-12-26

long to return there again and again''
 The preparations attending the trip were hurried through, and on the fol- lowing day Sally and her father started toward the great Northland. They would reach the home town of their kinfoIks on the evening of the New Year. Oh, such happy antiipatlons!
 The first day their road led through familiar places. but on the second day new scenes opened up to SaIly's view. And she was obliged to have the window closed. so cold came the Northern winds. "Ugh!' she shivered, us she. with her father, dropped of the train at little station in Missouri Ugh. I'll freeze. papa. wonder if it gets much colder than this up in Iowa?''
 Papa laughed. Why, daughter, 1t is yet above zero here--I just read the ther- mometer that hangs against the station wall over there. It is seven degrees above zero. And up where Sister Grace
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-12-26
.s Dick Sunshine.
BY HELENA DAVIS.

fitted before him. Suddenly they were aroused from their reveries by sharp peal of the doorbeii. Grandmother got up. saying as she did so: "I'l answer the door father You know l gave Susan the day off; she was so good to remain here on Thanksgiving and Christmas. so l gave her New Year to visit with her home folks. Susan is a most deserving servant. father. She has grown old in our service"
 Yes. we are an aged household moth CT, said the old gentleman. But there goes the bell again. I'd better go to the door. mother. Your back is a little lame from that last spell of rheumatism. Let me act in Susans absence
 No. don't trouble to put down your pipe, father. I am already up, and shall see who is ringing. Oh-it's our morning paper. l guess. l see a boys cap over the lower part of the doorsash.. Aud Grandmother Smith opened the big hall door. As she did so young. happy face looked into hers. A boy-perhaps ten years old-stood there, holding q roll of papers under bis arm. As grandmother looked down into hls eyes. the boy smiled brightly. saying: Are you Mrs. Smith. mumY'
 Grandmother returned the smile and re- piled: 'Yes, I am Mrs Smith. little man. What is wanting?'
 Wy, I'm your paper boy. mum. an I've got your paper here" And the lad held up paper to grandmother. An. since you nre Mrs. Smith, l want to thank you for your patronage durin' the past year. and beg you to continy takin' papers from me this year. An I want to wish you an Mir Smith a most prosper ous an happy New Year. num-
 Grandmother Smith took the profrered paper and stood lookii into the bright face of the little newsboy His eyes were round and blue, sending out gleams from a pure soul. His cheeks were like two ripe apples, his teeth shining be- tween a pair of smiling lips. Everything about the rugged little chap denoted hap plness and health.
 After delivering himself of his speech the little paper vendor was about to de- part when grandmother suddenly thought of something. Wait a minute. little man. Won't you come in and have a
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-12-26
BY WILLIAM WALLACE. JR.

Ee AROLD had enjoyed a most happy HA Christmas, and did not realize that Is M t was over till one evening when
 he went to bed with the conscious
 ness that the morrow would be the New Year. Well. how time does fly, he said, drawing the covers snugly about him. And here Is another year--coming in tonight at 12 o'clock
 Then he fell to pondering over his past year and planning for the future "Ah. haven't made a single resolution for the coming year" he soliloquized Well. have done my best during the past year and do not feel the necessity or turning over new leaf"
 And happy iD his comfortable and lov- ing home Harold fell asleep And his sleep was that of the care-free, worthy boy who is beloved by parents. teachers and comrades. and who gives fullest love
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-12-26

bama. And even in her nice warm cloak and furs she shivered ns she walked about the station platform at the Mis- souri towns.
 once well into Iowa the weather grew colder and colder. and when at last their train drew into Dashvile. the home of Aunt Grace. a real blizzard was In prog ress. Sally had watched the snow and sleet which battled agnnst the sides of the flying train and wondered how peooie managed to live through such weather. Surely. people don't go out in this sort of storm she said to her father
 Certainly. my dear." papa replied They don't mind this kind of weather. They have so much of 1t that 1t ceases to be a novelty"
 "Oh, l wasn't thinking of 1t as nov city," confessed Sally. "I was thinking of 1t as-awful."
 Once inside Aunt Gracc's home Sally got warmed through ana throuRh." for
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-12-26

~ GRANDMOTHER and Grandfather Fl 4 Smith sat in their cozy living room, W# grandmother knitting and grand
 W father looking steadily into the
 Are which burned so brightly in the grate.
 At length grandfather sighed and spoke:
 Mother" he sald. 'tI was Just recall. ing our past New Year's-so many or them that have lost count. And was thinking how nice 1t was when our son Tom and our girl Stella were at home. for then we had some young life In the house. someone to plan for and to make merry over
 "Yes." said grandmother. her voice low. "Yes, father, 1t is very sweet to nave children ahout-and young folks. Old people like you and me need bit or sunshine now and then. the sunshine that comes from a childs face. l. too. h. ve been recalling the old davs-when Tom and Stella were at our freside. two happy children But, dear. we should he more happy to know they are grown to man. hood and womanhood. and have homes and children of their own.
 "Yes." murmured the old man in dreamy way. Then he frightened up. And Toms children are such dear little things" he went on. That plump. pink baby. named for his grandpap.' And the old grandfather smiled. And Toms girl Margaret. why, there isn't nicer child in the whole country than our Margie Although she Is but five years old she hns the intelligence of child of twice that age She is marvel. bless her dear heart''
 -'Yes. we have two dear. loving chill dren. and four sweet little grandchildren" said grandmother But they are so scattered that we can see them rarely There's Tom, away out West. and Stella is in the far East. But-I am so happy that they are so well fixed In life; that Tom and Stella are so happily married and have such promising children. l would not have kept them with me if could. It is Gods law that each man and woman shall be the center of a little household of his own and her own"
 Then grandmother dropped her knitting in her lap and sat dreaming. Grand fathers eyes had again sought the fire in the grate. where pictures of the past
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-12-26

lives 1t goes 40 degrees below zero with out making a fuss about it. either"
 And on they travelled through coun- try covered with deep snows. and Sally. sitting beside the car window. was wrapped to her chin. for although the car was well-heated according to The Northern peoples ideal she felt the chill of ice in her little body If she removed her wraps. At St Louis Saly's father had hurried to convenient shop. here womens and girls wraps were sold. and had purchased heavy cloak, muf and boa for his shivering daughter The heaviest wrap she had ever worn down in Southern Florida was a light danr sl jacket. But she had suffered cold at every station after leaving Northern Ala
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-12-26
Harold's New Year Resolution.

ton we must all ask ourselves.' And grandfather drew his chair to the table and sat down. At the same moment Harolds father and mother entered the dining-room and took their respective places at table, bidding the grandfather and grandson a pleasant good morning and Happy and useful New Year"
 Then the subject of conversation turned upon some interesting topics. and all joined in the friendly exchange of Ideas, and grandfather and Harold did not re- new their conversation. But after break fast Harold kept thinking of his dear old grandfather's words, Have you done anything for others while doing so much for yourself?" And his life to the pres ent moment lay before him, causing him to blush as he ran over the 14 years he had lived. All that time he had been the recipient of favors from his parents and grandfather All that time his path had been paved for him. his education con-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-12-26

and gratitude in return.
 On the morrow he was up early and dressed and down to the dining-room when the bell rang for breakfast. oid grandfather was the second person In the dinlng-room. and greeting his grand son cheerily, he asked: Well. my boy, have you made any good resolutions for the New Year?''
 No. grandpapa, haven't felt the need to do so. l haven't done anything dur ing the year just passed that l am ashamed of, and, therefore. l have not planned to change my behavior"
 "Ah, Harold, it Is not the fact that we have pleased our own ideas of living rightly, but the question, Have we con sidered others sufficiently while living up to our own ideals? I'll grant that you have been good boy, close student, an obedient son, and all that. but-have you done anything for others while doing so much for yourself? That Is the ques
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-12-26
TOMS RESOLVE.

M going to turn a brand-new 4 leaf,"
 Said little Tom. the sinner; But I shall wait till after I Have had my New Years din-
 ner. For, 'mong the things that I'll
 resolve
 Is to check my appetite, And cease from eating everything That I can find in sight. "But just this once I'll eat my fill; Then, if my stomach pain, I'll turn the leaf and make resolve To ne'er do so again.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-12-26
The Busy Ant.

7E NTS have six ears, which are To-
 cated at about the queerest places y . imaginable-the legs. The ants are deaf to all sounds made by the vibra- tion of the air, but detect the slightest possible vibrations of solid matter. This Is supposed to be to their advantage. So sensitive are their feet that they can de tect the drop of a small birdshot dropped on a table from height of six Inches and about fourteen feet distant from an artificial nest placed at the other end of the table. The ant also has an elaborate array of noses.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-12-26
BY MAUD WALKER

Mamma. 1t is terribly awful where the snow covers everything. I am so glad we live down here. Come. let us hurry down to the bay I want to look on water that Is melted. All the fakes and streams up North looked like our icebox. Ugh. 1t was so cold !''
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-12-26

A friendly greeting is given you above. To read 1t rightly. take the initial letters of the first eight of the pictured objects and write them together and they will spell two words of the greeting. The remaining three words are xivem complete. There are Ave words In aus
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-12-26
S SOURpUZZLE =ffOOPNER
LETTER ENIGMA.

LETTER ENIGMA. My first is in king. but not in queen: My second is In pink. but not in green: My third Is in wrangle. but not in fight: My fourth is in darkness, but not in night: My fifth Is the same as my three. you know; My sixth Is in come. but not in go: My seventh Is in six. but not In eleven: My eighth Is the same as you found in my seven:
 My whole is that
 Which all people love,
 And you'll know what it is
 When you solve the above.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-12-26

There is a ''petrlfed forest" in Arizo- na, and a natural bridge over . canyon is constructed of petritied tree. over 100 feet in length.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-12-26
ZIGZAG PUZZLE.

This zigzag contains seven words of four letters each If the words are right ly guessed. and written one below an- other in correct order, their zigzag let ters-beginning with the upper left-hand letter and ending with the lower left hand letter-will spell the name of favorite holiday which comes but once each year. The cross-words are: 1, A part of speech. 2. Extreme warmth. 8. A place where many people congregate together. 4. To remain. b. A small bird.
 s. A musical instrument. T. covering.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-12-26

ANSWERS TO LAST WEEKS PUZZLES. LETTER ENIGMA-Freeztng
 ZIGZAG PUZZLE = Chimney Cyoss- pords: l. CGyt 2. Shop 8. Ehtp {. Sham 5. Ntne. 6 Lead. 2. Ycar.
 HIDDEN NAME PUZZLE = Soxta. Words contoSntn0 tho sfNtta! letters: 1. 6vn 2. Ant. 8. Nep. 4. Tear. 5. Arch
 REBUG-Whes the bell dJd rtmc tie etrJs sssd boys sU res fer sohoex
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-12-26

q $: : $ ::: $: : :: $:
 Are which burned so brightly ID
Imperial Valley press., 1909-02-20
SITE FOR EXPERIMENT STATION.

Collegiate Institute Heber has large tract of land available for the of agricultural schools and experiment sta ton and able to offer suitable and sufficient site for the posed station of the State University Such station could be most advanageousy conducted conjunction with the agricultural work of the Institute and obviously location at Hebe most de sirabe As the Institute has offered such Ocaon there other land inducements the passage the bill providing for experiment station and there is dis position the part Fl Cenro compete with eber for the location
 Fl Centro not n the race against Heber but will do all that be done the Institute in securing the expert station adjunct the Institute in whose advancement the whole valley is interested
Imperial Valley press., 1909-02-20
BAD BILL KILLED BY PUBLICITY.

Assembly bill 946 introduced by Johnson of San Diego by request the purpose of which was to make mutual water compa es virtually carriers thereby destroying the value of water stock, is dead Publicity killed it.
 Very few persons in Imperial Valley that such had been introduced until The Press published the and called attention the of the b District Attorney Esheman informed by The Press of the attempt get bill of that character passed and he went Sacramento nve procured copies of the bill and them the other of this county that all settlers in the valley should have notice of what being done at Sacramento by the San Diego member who is supposed to represent Imperial Valley
 doubtful thatthe would have been valid had it passed but would have complicated the situation stockholders of the mutual companies could good though purpored to be of relief for certain land holders for whom Mutual Company Mo- has refused provide of rrgatng their land delegation Sacramento and objected the of the b it's pro- ponens agreed at once to abandon it.
 The searchght publicity water compan from being orpedoed by craft creeping upon them in dark.
 Bill 947 providing easy method of increasing capital stock of mutual remains to be considered Number Ones refusal to issue stock leaves many andhoder with out of retaining their land and it important them and the interests of the valley generally that of lief be devised and adopted.
 informs Press that it was intro duced simply have something build lief and facilitate the watering of the dry district He calls attention to the fact that there enough low of the Colorado for all the land which proposed to rgate from that river aad The taking month how much water being actually used Imperial Valley the idea being that the community
 make actual of the Colorado the entitled thereto this correct law It is therefore to the interest Imperial have mach water actually being possible at
 the earliest possible date to acquire priority that may be diverted hereafter for Arizona Mexico
 That correct outline of the araon and it is clearly necessary that the extension of the valley be prosecuted diligently in order the reclamation ge arid and useless If Imperial Valley does make early of the water available other region will dol so and stop the development of this region
 The ndhoders in the dry sections of district one are not to be cenured for trying get the bill passed if they really did try seriously it through Perhaps how ever they only used it threat to compel attention their plight and to further the of the other bill and get from Number One the relief to wbch they justly entitled
 1t would be unfair neYerthees to the settlers generally to destroy the value of their water stock to throw the whole water question into ange than it and that reason the common carrier bill is decidedly objectionable
Imperial Valley press., 1909-02-20
THE WELLBORN DECISIONS.

Judge Welbons reversal of his opinion the validity of contracts in Imperial Valley will tend from the minds of settlers the fear of disturbance of conditions apd endless litigation between the companies supplying water
 Although the previous action of the court did not affect the relations between mutual companies and their stockholders and forecast of what might be the of possible litigation caused uneasness the minds of holders of water stock and undoubtedly discouraged the California Deve oment Company from going ahead with extensions and improve mens of system The to compel the supervisors fix mxium water rate based upon the decision the Number full of possibilities of dis cord.
 Judge Webons declaration that the scheme of the ters of the C. D. Co., to compel landhoder bonus water stock for the privilege of buying water illegal de vice good and therefore seemed to be good law As general proposition appealed to the of equity in the lay mind.
 practical merits or demerts of plan depend the destination of the money derived by the parent from the sale of stock of the mutual companies When that desna
 n the pocket of promoter the scheme the cunning device of getrichuck operator and vicious not it. legal When however the applied to construction of r rgaion works and to maanance of the system of which the mutual companies canals and which all reclama on the valley depends the plan practically beneficial to the landholder, if it be of dubious legality
 matter of fact the mutual companies which composed users object supplying the parent company through division of the proceeds of sale of their stock funds for construction of main canals and mantanance of the system It would be equitable the of to the secured to the mutual companies property interest in the main system but long the main system maintained s benefit of the settlers, the practical result the 
 There is no question that the decision Number case disturbed conditions California Development Company unable proceed with work requiring large expenditure Neither there doubt that obtained by that from the sale of water stock properly applied for the benefit of the valley whole expeden therefore to waive objections to the plan originally operated and to find in law for recognition of the validity of existing contracts
 Judge Wellborn should finally decide that the present rangment permissible under the law ntmated in his state ment of for eopeng the Number much con would be avered and the greater good greater number in Imperial Valley would be served The amportan consider aon that litigation water questions be cleared away rapidly possible and dscord between the settlers the irrigation companies reduced to the minimum Imperial Val ley needs water and less agitation
Imperial Valley press., 1909-02-20
AN IMAGINARY OBSTACLE.

An Arizona statesman proposes memorial asking Congress negotiate with Mexico for change of the boundary line to due Noge leaving the mouth of the Colorado California the American sde and correspondent of The Times comments that he evidently not of the Mexican statute that nc the death penalty any Mexico portion of her terri torial area"
 Possibly the for the Arzonans unacquantance with is That fiction has been dssipated by dgen examination the Mexican constitution and statutes but
 picturesque idea and persist in har boring it.