davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-05-15
AWARDED A WATCH
RELIEF TO THE POOR AND
HELPLESS

CHESTER FLINT.
665 Fleetwood street. Oakland. Pied
mont school. Eighth Grade
Age IA Years

One million dollars. if properly spent,
should bring happiness and comfort to
many poor American homes. If Mr.
Rockefeller should leave me that
amount and I should be able to carry
out my ambition, my time would be
very well spent
] would like to carry out Mr.. Pea
body's idea and build row of houses
for New YOrk's poor and helpless.
Those Americans who did not seem to
have the knack of city life I would see
comfortably settled in some pleasant
farming region, where they would not
be troubled by the hustle and hustle of
city life. l think a home for the Grip
pies or those suffering from some dis
ease would be very Suitable. This
home ] should have in some little
mountain retreat. where the sick could
have the pure. sweet mountain air to
breathe. and cool. refreshing spring
water to drink. Under such conditions
many ought to get well. Next 1 think
II would be good plan to organize
clubs TO help the poor and helpless.
/ would leave the rest. TO the kind
hearts of the good American people.
BY this time my million would be
spent, and well spent.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-05-15

I would have the best stock that
money could buy and try to have
enough milk to furnish the little
babies in the nearby cities. who need
p6re milk. would try to have the
best fruit and berries that good gard
ener could produce / would want TO
make this a home where the children
would be happy and grow up TO be
good Young men and women.
AS TO their education ] would have
the boys taught how to till the soil.
building trades and also give them d
business training. The girls TO be
taught TO be good housewives, espe-
cially in the art Of cooking and sew
ing. But ] should aim TO give each
one the work 10 DO that he or she
should like. SO that they would all be
happy ! would want to get them in
terested in reading good books and TO
love music.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-05-15
MY WAY OF SPENDING A
MILLION
MADELINE MYERS.
1916 Market Street. Oakland. Durant
school, seventh Grade. Age
ID NenrS
MADELINE

one millionl What would do?
What couldn't l do2 After I'd put
aside S250,0O0 for home for mamma
and papa and an education and travel
for myself and sisters I'd deposit $780,
600 for the good of humanity in the fol-
lowing way: Three thousand dollars
could be drawn by any sober. indus
trious American working man for a
home. and as / do not believe a true
American wants charity | would not
give it TO him, but loan it without in
terest with the understanding that he
should pay it back in stated sums when
well and working. If out OF work or
sick his payments could wait. II he
should die then 1 would give his fam
lily a deed for the home and enough
money to ray the doctor and funeral
bills
In this way the money would always
he coming back to make other hearts
happy with the homes needed by so
many good. honest American men who
are raising boys and girls and trying to
make good citizens of them.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-05-15
AWARDED A WATCH
THE BIG QUESTION
MAUDE HARBOUR,
MADEIRA County. Coarse Gold school
seventh Grade. Age II Years


II I had $1,000 eco TO spend at my
own pleasure, / could find many good
uses Tor it, As charity begins at home.
] would first help my father. mother
ana grandmothers; also help my broth
ers and sisters in obtaining an educa-
tion. Attend college. fit myself for a
business life, then buy a farm where
I would spend most of my time attend
ing TO my stock and poultry and grow
ing fruit and vegetables. / would have
home near the seashore in southern
California where l would rest and
spend my vacation. Then my charity
would begin TO reach out ! would
give 81 600 to an orphans home. 81 geo
10 a home for respectable poor old la
dies, $4,000 TO build a lodging and
boarding house for respectable young
working girls, with rates so reason
able that they could pay their own
way without the worldly temptations
that so many meet with. l would be
ready and willing TO help many char
liable causes. l would keep a portion
of my money on interest as a protec-
ton for myself and property, invest a
few hundred in railroad stock, travel
and visit many places of interest to
develop my mind and intellect, but
would not allow my money to make
fool of me.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-05-15

no mother nor father. I know how
would feel if ] We're an ofphdh. n, -.
would make a home for Them, and then
buy them things which they wouId en- en-
JOY. This way l would make them al al
happy. would do this until they ar ar
were grown up and could WORK iSi
I would go and fix my own home up
and. as my fathers health is very pooI.
/ would try to make him go 10 some
place that would be good for ms ne ss.,sii
go TO San Francisco, where nSNS
never been and see the great al
building there. Then / would coihe
back home again. / would put what
money / had left in the bank
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-05-15
MY WAY
KATHLEEN MANSFIELD.
ZIG Inv street. BenlcIa

Were I to receive a million dollars
from John d. Rockefeller L would at
once set about building a home for
crippled orphan children. or any child
whose parents were too poor TO pro-
vide it with proper medical aid
/ would have IL built somewhere in
beautiful California. probably in or
near. Santa Cruz / would equip il with
a hospital. and a corps OF physicians
and nurses. all modern surgical instru-
ments. fruit and vegetable farm, a
dairy.
Then / would have some ponies for
those able to ride and a carriage for
the helpless. i would have q school.
year. / would. in fact. make the home
as complete as million dollars could
make it.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-05-15
DIVISIONS OF S1,OOO,OOO
TILLIE SPELLMAN.
10 AiNaradO street. san Francisco.
Horace Mann Grammar school d
seventh Grade Age IL Years

II John ID. Rockefeller would be so
cOnSiderate as to leave me 81 OO0 GOO Il
would not keep it all. as some people
do, but would divide it among the diff
ferent institutions of san Francisco
The first thing would do would be to
buy home for my parents
Second. give some of the money In
the children's Orphanage.
Third some toward the building of
the public schools which were destroyed
in the disaster of 906.
Fourth. l would keep some Of the
money TO tour the globe and the rest
i would keep for rainy day
i must not forget my brothers as L
would like to have them share the
money.
would send my oldest brother TO
Europe to finish his course in music
and art 1 would put some money aside
for the education of my youngest
brother
These are my plans. but L do not
think Mr. Rockefeller would be so con-
siderate as to leave me any money
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-05-15


II John =. Rockefeller We're TO give
ne million dollars I imagine l would
be contented. The first thing I would
90 would be to erect 8 home for orphan
children I would try TO make this
home as homelike as ] possibly could.
Il would have nurses and doctors to
treat and care for the children. There
would be a playground attached 10 the
building TO content the children. I
would have the basement Of the
orphanage fitted up as playhouse
Tor them TO play in when the winter
comes and when il rains and is too
cold TO be outside. I would educate
these children by sending them TO a
grammar school and then 10 high
school. When they had finished high
school Z am pretty sure they would not
forget what ] rad done for them.
would have certain days Of the week
Tor visitors TO come and visit the
orphans.
would live in this home and devote
my whole life and time to help these
orphans. ] would send the children TO
Sunday school according to the belief
Of their passed away parents. II 1
only were not dreaming this, / would
then show my good spirit.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-05-15
IF l HAD A MILLION
HARRIET STONE,
428 Third street. PetaIunia. Washing
ten Grammar school, seventh
Grade Age IA Years

If u. Rockefeller should leave me
million dollars / would try to make 9TH
ers happy.
First. I would donate large sum to
the church / am attending, and in which
/ am greatly interested.
Next | would buy 200 acres OF land In
the country, where | would build
home for orphans.
| would have each room neatly fur
nished. / would have one room set aside
for a library in which the children
could read.
| would have garden for each one
and horses for them to ride. / would
also have a gymnasium for both. girls
and boys.
l am sure this would make me very
happy and also those whom L should
help.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-05-15
MY PLANS
ALICE BLAkELEY.
2115 Broderfek street. san Francisco.
m Years Old

II j. ID. Rockefeller should leave me
81 zoe. 900. which / never expect to have
/ would give 10 the orphans new
home and send out clothes To those who
needed them. Then / would give 80
much to the Salvation Army, and i also
The home for the orphans would cost
about $50, 900 for the way / would want
it built. On one side OF the house l.
would have q park. and pElt up swings
and have rocking horses for them TO
play on. and / think they would be very
Happy. Then. If I had mCQey enough
left. / would takeamy folks around the
world and on our return r would buy
a nice home and live happy for a long
time.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-05-15
WHAT | WOULD DO WITH
MONEY
MILDRED AYREs.
Temporary Address, Campbell. SUIT
Gramriar school. Age I3 Years

GramIaar school. Age I3 Years
II John ID. Rockefeller would be so
kind as to give me one million dol
lars tho first thing ! would do would
be to build a beautiful schoolhouse for
the Sutro grammar school.
| am sure the next thing / would
.pttend to would be TO build a home
for the poor people we see begging
on the streets.
/ would put some money in the bank
Then | would select a good building
site and build lovely home in San
Francisco for the family While 1T
was being built I would travel from
here to the islands of the Pacific. from
there through China and India. across
Asia through Europe, stopping at all
places of interest; then take the boat
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-05-15

IL John Rockefeller left me a million
dollars / would make good use of il.
First OF all. would make a park for
abe children. 1 would have swings
dpnkeyS. goats and many other things
that would please the children Next
/ would build libraries for the people
of San Francisco. Then I WOnld help.
the school by building a large building
in the middle of city block i would
have a large yard a block long with
trees and grass. would also have
swinGk. This would be done for the
AgassN school. / think / would helD
San Francisco in many ways
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-05-15
MY THOUGHT THAT WOULD
MAKE OTHERS HAPPY
EVA LA BERGE,
90 Cook street, Fourth b. Richmond
Grammar school. Age II Years

NV thoughts were that if John D.
RockefelIer should leave me $1,000 COO
what / would do with il. Instead OF
spending it for anything that cost
much. I would give It TO the poor. i
think that a million dollars wouldn't
be enough for the poor of our great
city. 1T 20 ~,
noor children who have no homes 10
he taken care of and little babies VINO
have no fathers or mothers and nave
nothing to eat. Those are who /
would give ii to- If there were very
many of these children / would spend
it all on them. / wouldn't spend any
on my own self until / gave All the
/ would keep myself
NV mother and 1 think it would be
a very good idea. AS soon as | got
the money l would get ready and 60
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-05-15
Doe. Face Rock ON the Beach.

so as TO have more room for the pri-
mary department. The grammar school
would receive q liberal amount and
public park and playground would be
fixed for the children. A large amount
would be set aside for a high school
when the town became large enough TO
have one. l would give great deal
to foreign missions. When l graduate
from high school ] intend TO go to col
lege. and part of $1,000, 900 would come
in very handy in paying my way Last
of all. if l shouldn't win a watch I
would buy one.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-05-15
WHAT | WOULD DO WITH A
MILLION DOLLARS
ELIZABETH HoYT.
Birds Landing. Willow Spring school.
Fifth Grade. Age IL Years


Birds Landing. Willow Spring school,
Fifth Grade. Age IL Years
If John d. Rockefeller left me a mil
lion dollars ] would be very glad
first would put away sum of money
for rainy day. l would build a large
building in the country for poor chill
dren. j would have schoolrooms and
they would study. / would let each
boy have a few pets. like rabbits. doves
and other small things. ] should make
them take care OF them. though.
would let each girl have a small flower
garden and they would give the flowers
to the sick children in the hospitals
I would teach them to sew, knit and
embroider. Then / would find places
for poor men and women who We're
willing to work. / would do every
thing I could to help the poor and
needy | would invest so I could get
money all the time to keep my work up.
would take mamma, papa, my sister.
brother, grandmother and aunts to
Rome Venice. Italy, England. Scotland,
ireland Paris and many other interest
ing places.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-05-15
IF JOHN ID. ROCKEFELLER
GAVE ME $1,000, 900 WHAT
WOULD / DO?
VICTORIA CoNRADO.
1914 sacramento street. Richmond
Grammar school, 4 sixth Grade

If had 81, 200 600 / would travel
around in Europe. There l would stay
a few years. l would take up course
of music and painting. When had
France. and later / would go TO such
Countries as Germany, Holland and
Belgium.
would visit Austria Hungary.
where all the fancy glass is made
would then visit all the places around
there. | have often read about the
great cities. especially Athens. IN
Greece. and Rome. in Italy. | would
Client ruins are would like to go to
Rome, where are many famous and an
eient ruins. In Belgium | would go 10
see the great rug factory in Brussels.
When [ had seen what | INTENDED 10
see | would come back TO my old nome
in California and to dear old Frisco.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-05-15
WOULD SHARE 1T
MINNIE TEAsoN.
Hayward. Age 10 Years

Hayward ASt I'd
If Mr. j. ID. Rockefeller We're 10 Sise
me a million dollars | would dlvlde IL
with my father. mother and brotners;
| would have a big garden Iuli OF
ali kinds of flowers. l would give my
friends money and presents, SO theS
I would have a big automobile ana
a chauffeur to drive. would take my
friends out riding with me- ,.
l would give a big party ana liIN .I.'
all NV friends and neighbOrs to come
| would take mamma on long trip 10
Germany
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-05-15
WOULD USE 1T IN BUILDING
RUTH RHINE
Richmond school. Age IL

If John d. Rockefeller would give
me 100000 I am sure would De
would invest my money by. buying ana
selling land in San Francisco, tnal -
to say. to build hotels ana apaTtIie ~,
Francis hotel. and 1 am sure couIo
have very beautiful hotels and apart
ment houses for 100000; and MAYBE
some day l can be just as rich. as ne
is and live in grand style, having
maids and servants.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-05-15
MY WAY
LAWRENCE QUIMBY.
LOyalton Public School. low Sixth

UTHUt. AEc II CHS
What | would do if John u. Rookie
Teller would give me 81 ,000, 900. First,
would help my crippled uncle if medical
aid could render il. Next l would get
my parents a home in a large city and
see that they We're comfortable. And
next | would finish my education, so
that when my parents got old | could
take the best of care of them. | would
help the orphans and the poor. and
would give some of it to a charity.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-05-15
OIL! FOR A MILLION
VERONICA REMEDY.
4I6 Duncan Street, San Francisco. Age

If seems to be a very small word,
but lit means a great deal. If you
haven't the material to do a thing
with. why you. have to leave il alone.
Well, one million dollars. Just think
of the word million. 1t seems a great
heap to me. | think If J was lucky
enough to get my hands on it that 1
would try to put il to great advantage;
In the first place the first thing |
ents and brothers and sisters would
have a nice comfortable home. with
many pleasures attached to it. And the
next thing Is TO see Jhat my brothers
and sisters would set a good, thor
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-05-15
WHAT | WOULD DO HAD
S1,O0O,OOO

burHngame. Burilngame school. sew
enth Grade. Age II Years

enth Grade. Age II Years
III John ID. Rockefeller should leave
me $1,000. 900 this is what I would do
i would like TO build large home
or homeless children out in the coun
ry- They would all have the best Of
care There should be no faVorites All
should be treated alike. They would
have large grounds to play in and good
matrons to take care of them
EVERY Christmas they should have a
Christmas tree and some nice rreseDfs
With my million / would like to do All
the good could for all the people 7
couid Just as long as 1 could IN as
many ways as 1 could
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-05-15
WHAT L WOULD DO WITH
$1,OOO,0OO
ANITA DETTMERING.
292 second Avenue. san Franeist"-
Richmond school. A sixth
Grade. Age m Years

If NJ. Rockefeller should leave me-
81, 000 900 1 would build home Tor OF
phanS. / would buy a large ranch. 0ulld
a home and have a school attached 70 II
/ would go out into the city and Sel
some homeless children. i would MAKE
everything as comfortable as possible
At vacation would take them Olir traN-
cling j would try to give them a 2ooq
educa ton until they We're able 70 WORK
and make their own living ! take more
interest in this than in any other tAllns
hope my plans will succeed some day
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-05-15
IF JOHN ID. ROCKEFELLER
SHOULD LEAVE ME A
MILLION
FEDORA FREEMAN.
Mountain View. Mountain View senoo'-
Grade Seven. Age Is Years

If my name were read from MT
RockefeiIers will with a million dol
lars by il, / would be one OF the
happiest girls in the world
4 ticket would be purchased Tor my
mother and me which would take US
to the most Interesting parts OF the
world. When 1 returned l would give
a free lecture or talk TO the school
children There would be many thou-
sands of dollars left. With these
would build a cottage for poor slrls
and boys 1t would be absolutely ifee'
costing 100000.
Then I would build an orphan asylum
where poor children alone would De
entered.
I'd put 100000 away for old age
and to finish my education.
With the rest of the money WouId
make my mother and father comfort
able for the rest OF their lives.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-05-15
MY MILLION
LATRECIA HACKETT.
1905 Union street. Alameda. HaiGht
school, r sixth Grade. Age rs
Years

Years
MY mind might change after Z got
the $1,000. 600, but at the present time
would try to improve orphan homes.
/ have not yet had the experience OF
orphan life. and hope never to. but
nevertheless i can sympathize with
those who have.
i think more ought 10 be done toward
the interest OF making the poor or
phan children happy. Not many peO-
pie give this a thought though il is
TO be considered very seriously. Just
place yourself in a chids plaee-uo
mother, no father nor relative COM
panions, and completely among strang-
ers- IL would be a pretty dull life
I hope in the future more will be
done to encourage and interest these
poor orphans through life.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-05-15
MY CAT FARM
LUCILE sC01"r.
SebastapOI, Sebastopol school. sixth
Grade. Age I3

Grade. Age IL
II John D. Rockefeller should be
kind enough TO leave me $1,00o,00O
would be very glad. ] should set out
and have built cat farm. I would
buy FIVE acres of land, around it put
wire three feet high to keep the kit
tens in. and in the yard make a very
large barn. IN the barn would be
hooks and crannies. also a few stalls
so the cats would be at home. I
would have trees and catnip in my
yard. ! would have the barn filed
with loose hay. I would keep several
cows so they would have plenty of
milk. ] then would begin my collec-
ton OF cats. I would send boys around
10 get the ats and kittens in the city
thin ones and not the kind that are fat
and have good owners who take good
care of them. would have long
trouEhs in which ! would put milk for
them. ln the yard would be little
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-05-15
LIMIT TO A MILLION

HELEN SPRINGER.

IL John ID. Rockefeller should leave
me a million dollars 1 would buy large
piece OF ground in the POtrerO and
build playground for the children. as.
there is no place for the children TO plaN
in the neighbOrhood. / would buy my
mother and father comfortable horne
If there should be any money left
would use it TO finish my musical edu-
cation. I here are many other things /
would like TO do, but there is limit 20
even million.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-05-15
AWARDED A WATCH
WHAT / WOULD DO WITH 4
MILLION
JOHN W. GALE.

MenlO Park. Sixth Grade. Age II
Years
I always feel awfully sorry for poor
people. and ii John ID. Rockefeller
would give me q million dollars
would help an the poor people ] could.
Just think Of an the poor people that
live in tenement houses ia New York
city and Chicago some OF them are
dying from starvation and others are
dying from consumption and other
diseases that breed IN dirty places. II
any OF the juniors have read some of
the books written by Horatio Alger Jr.
bout poor people and tenement houses
they know how the people suffer. and
IL any OF the juniors have not read any
OF these books they should do so. When
am man and II am rich I viii help
lots OF poor people II I win a watch
for writing this story I viii give IL to
some poor boy or girl.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-05-15
# ROCKEFELLER SHOULD
LEAVE NE $I,O00,O0O
REINA WILEY.

San Ardo, Fifth Grade. Age IL Years.
If Mr.. Rockefeller should leave me
s1.00 900. ] would make a home for
some of the orphan children, who have
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-05-15
IF JOHN ID. ROCKEFELLER
SHOULD LEAVE ME
S1,00O,00O
MABEL l.. GALE.

0ceanO. Arroyo Grande High school.
second Year. Age IL years
If John ID. Rockefeller should leave
me S1,000,000. here are few of the
things / would do: First of all /
would free our home from debt. buy
some property and build some COM
Portable cottages TO rent to re-
spectacle poor people at very low
rates. | would provide anything that
would tend to better mammals health
would build a room on onr church,
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-05-15
AWARDED A WATCH
A LITTLE GIRLS WAY
ELIzABETH suTH

1876 Eighth Avenue. Oakland. SWEET
school. A Fourth Grade. Age
II Years
II had 81 Gee. 600 what would 7 do2
Why 7 woul6 buy a large pretty ranch
near my home, with a little creek run
ming through il and beautiful trees
and pretty green things TO rest the
eyes ] would furnish il with large
buildings with many sunny. CHEEKY
rooms the ranch and buildings TO be
for the purpose Of making a home for
All the boys and girls who have no
happy homes Of their own &