davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-05-08
THE FROG FAMILY IN THE POND.

tumble while trying to injure the frogs! We'll had I known that I would not have come so hurriedly in answer to your cries for help. And had l seen you go into water over your head I should not have hurried to save you, for you were en- gagged in cruel pastime when the acci- dent happened. And you did not get as much as you deserved. You have been bad fellow, injuring-or trying to injure-- other creatures, whose right to live is as great as your own. So, run along home and tell your mother what bad fellow you have beeA and ask her forgiveness And then get on your knees and ask your Creator-who also created the little frogs to forgive you. Then maybe you will be a better boy in future. You must learn the lesson of Charity and Kindness be- fore you can ever be successful in life or have true friends. Everyone Ndislikes a selfish, cruel child.'
 Both the Boy and the Girl stood with dropping head, their faces flushed with shame. The Girl at last spoke: Well promise never to throw stones at the frogs again, Sir.
 "Yes, I'll never do so again." agreed the Boy, still keeping his eyes bent on the ground. q guess 1t was wrong for me to dc as I was doing when I fell into the Pond, and that was sent on me by way of punishment. I'll tell Mamma all about it, and-if she thinks I deserve it, I'll go to bed without my supper. I hope I really didn't hurt any of those little croakers, Sir"
 "W ell. in future be quite sure that you do not hurt them,' said the young man. And now I'll be on my way, and shall believe you a repentant boy, sorry for his past wickedness. Goodday to you both. '
 The Boy and Girl stood looking after the young man till he was lost to view behind some trees; then they turned slow ly homewGrd. And as they walked along the Boy dripping and most uncomfort- able, they resolved never, never to injure a harmless living thing again.
 And in the house of Mir. and Mrs. Frog great preparations for party were going on, for little Greenback had awakened, feeling quite himself again, but not able to go out to play with his comrades. the other little frogs. So the happy and in- dulgent parents had planned to have a party for him that evening, and had sent out invitations to all Greenbacks little friends to come just as the full moon was peeping through the trees at herself in the Pond. And they felt not afraid. for MT. Frog and many of his friends had seen the Boy in the Pond and had heard his frantic cries for help, and later had overheard every word said by the young man to their cruel tormentor. and knew that the monsters would not return to annoy them again. You see, they could understand the young man, the Boy and the Girl, much better than the Boy and the Girl could understand them. And 1t made them feel very happy and secure when the two children promised never to throw stones at them again.
 And so it happened that peace and con-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-05-08

During the progress of the violent de- bate in Congress in 1920, which resulted in the historic measure known as the Missouri Compromise, on tho question of excluding slavery from Missouri, John Randolph made use of the phrase, Ma son and Dixons Line," as the dividing zline between slave and free states, Nary land at that time being a slave state and Pennsylvania a free state. At that time the crossing of the line from the South mea Ut freedom to the fugitive slave. The refer- ence thus made to the Mason and Dixon's Line by Randolph as dividing line be- tween slave and free states brought the phrase into general use, and 1t continued to designate the line between freedom and slavery till after the Civil War.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-05-08

The old man was as eager to tell the Z story as the children were to listen to it, and soon the three little Americans were seated about him. paying the clos est attention.
 Well, this Is the story, which l got from my mother, the housekeeper here during her lifetime. And she got it from her father, the gardener here at the hall a generation before. And be had the story from the old butler, who lived here at the time my grandfather was lad. And so the story came, from one generation to another. And the old man looked keeny at the children, T don't doubt a word of it. It Is said that on certain nights-usually during war times-the spirit of Sir Lewis Percy re- turns to this hall and enters his old suit of armor. And the story goes that he takes sword in hand and goes out at the Postern Gate, riding away on his milk white steed, and that he seeks out the English Army and takes command for night-if there be night conflict. but if not, he gives advice to the ofii- cers. And ere the dawn he has returned to the hall, leaving the suit of armor in its old place, there against the oaken wall, and no one ever sees him depart or return" As the old man paused to give strength to his narrative, Lewis, whose eyes were on the suit of Sir Percy's armor, excaimed
 "Upon my word, l saw that armor move just now! Do you suppose his
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-05-08

spirit Is in it?''
 All eyes were turned upon the armor, but none could see the least movement of it, and hearty laugh was indulged in at Lewis expense. You have vivid imagination, Brother" declared Percy.
 "Oh, if he were really wanting to wear the armor, he'd never come to don it during the daytime. He only appears at night" explained Parker. You'll never see the old knight in his armor. I can warrant you"
 The luncheon bell rang and broke up the storytelling, and as the children ran toward the great dining-room Lewis said to Percy: 1T would have sworn that the armor moved while ago."
 That night, after the house was quiet, Lewis crept to the broad, shadowy stairs in the second floor hall and peered be- low. He was in hopes of seeing the armor move, walking toward the outside door, But he waited in vain. Growing sleepy sitting huddled in the shadow of the heavy bannister, and fearing that he might not keep awake till Sir Percy arrived-for he had great hopes that he would see him--he went several steps nearer the lower hall. There he seated himself to walt patiently.
 After few minutes with quiet reign ing throughout the great hall, Lewis heard the heavy door turn slowly on it's hinges. Then, to his wonder, knight of the Middle Ages walked slowly into the hall and fitted upon himself the suit of Sir Percy's armor. Ah at last he had
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-05-08
BY HELENA DAVIS

~RoAK! Croakl Cfoakl Croakl " To the Boy and Girl sitting on Nfallen log on the bank of the Pond,
 the above vocal sounds made by MT. Frog meant nothing more than idle vocalizing But had the Boy and Girl known the Frog language they would have understood the meaning of the five "croaks" that came in base notes from the edge of the water. Mr. Frog was calling to his wife, Mrs. Frog. The good lady had gone to call on some neighbors at the farther end of the pond, and dur ing her absence something had happened which caused her husband to call to her to come home at once. The something was a heavy stone which had just been thrown into the pond and which had hit little Greenback Frog, son of the MT. and Mrs. Frog of this story. And the blow had hurt the little fellows leg very bad ly and MT. Frog, like all husbands and fathers, wanted the mamma Frog to come at once and assist him In dressing their little sons hurt. So, ="croak, croak, croak," rang out over the clear water of the pond.
 And on the fallen log near to the bank sat the Boy and the Girl, enjoying a very cruel sport It was from the hands of Boy that the stone had fallen, for he and his companion were busy throwing at the frogs in the water.
 "Ah, there is another frog Hurry and hit itl" Thus cried the Girl to the Boy And so they continued their sport and pretty soon dear little frog, by name Greenback Frog, was severely hurt. And then it was that the father of the in- jured creature called to his wife to come at once, as their son needed her.
 And like all mothers, poor frightened Mrs. Frog hurried home as fast as she could go, keeping In the shadow of the moss-coyered stones that grew beside the pond. And the trees and tall grasses sheltered her from view of the Boy and the Girl who would have pelted her with stones had they caught sight of her.
 On reaching her own home. which was the cozest place underneath a great pro- jecting rock all covered with moss, and
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-05-08

nearer to him than did the first, just missing him by hair. "Ah, saved from those horrible monsters" he said. .I'll creep down the pond under the grass and not risk the open again" And this he was doing when another and greater splash came, jarring the very log under which MT. Frog had taken shelter and causing tremendous commotion over the whole pond. But this time it was not a mere stone which struck the water with such force: It was the body of one of the monsters" who had been throwing stones at the harmless and de-
 fenceless frogs. It was the Boy who had lost his balance while bending over to catch q glimpse of a poor little hopping creature that he might pelt 1t with
 stones. When the Boy fell headlong
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-05-08

mendous weight Percy asked of old Parker: (Which of our ancestors wore this, Parker? He must have been very big, strong man to have carried all this on his body while fighting.''
 "Ah, that was worn by-by-why, that was worn by Sir Percy, the first of the name and the builder of this hall,' re- piled Parker, scratching his head to as- sist in calling up his fading memory. "Yes. Sir Lewis Percy wore that armor. And he wore 1t in good cause. He fought for his king, lads."
 Were you here then?" asked Julia in- nocently. Both the boys laughed, but old Parker shook his head sadly: "No, Miss Julia, was not. But I wish might have been, for those were won- drous times when Sir Lewis Percy lived here. He had this hall built-one wing at time Half of it was completed during his lifetime, which covered 75 years. His son. John Percy, was what we call a spendthrift, and ran the place greatly in debt. He almost ruined It. Miss Julia. But his son walked in q different path, and again the old hall and the broad acres bloomed with thrift. He was-let me see-he was Adam Lewis Percy, your grandfather, many, many times removed. An, he was a great man, too, but not so great as his grandfather"
 Just then Parker saw his master ar irving by the big gate in front of the house and hastened away to serve him. The old gentleman, now in his ninetieth year, had been for drive about the park and the childrens mother had accompa- nied him.
 "Ah, still studying the portraits of your forefathers. my children" said the dear old man as he observed the attentive faces of his great-gra ndchildren in the hall. But on such a day you would better be romping in the park. rowing on
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-05-08
Origin of the Mason and Dixon'.s Line.

~ HE historic Mason and Dixon's Line
 Is name that was given to the - boundary line between Maryland and Pennsylvania about one hundred and fifty years ago. It coincides with 39' 43, and 26.3" north latitude. Except for dis tance of 22 miles the line was marked out by Charles s Mason and Jeremiah Dixon, English engineers. They surveyed 1t for distance of 258 miles west from the Delaware River between November 13, 1763, and December 26, 1767 Each fye-mile stone bears the coat of arms of Maryland cut on one side and that of Pennsylvania on the other. The inter- vening milestones bear the letter "P" cut on one side and the letter "M' on the opposite.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-05-08
BY WILLIAM WALLACE, JR.

- HE children had gone to England to pay a visit to their great-grand-
 father. And it was their first time
 to leave their New World home.
 Their father had left his native land-England-when a mere boy, to seek his fortunes In the great United States of North America. And now that he was q well-to-do merchant, residing in Vest ern city, he had decided that his two sons and one daughter should visit the old home. And thither they had gone, accompanied by their American mother, . sweet, lovable lady. The father, being 50 occupied with his business, could not 10 with his wife and children, but prom ised to run over'' for them before the summer was spent and to bear them com pany homewards across the Atlantic.
 But I must tell you the names of tte children. There were Percy and Lewis, named for their grandfather and great grandfather, and Julia, named for her grandmother. Percy was the eldest of the three, being 12 years old. Lewis was two years his junior. Julia was seven. And they were the best of playfellows, Julia entering into all the sports of her brothers.
 After arriving at the old manor house of their ancestors, the children were con- stantly busy asking questions about the many interesting things they saw there. There were the long, dark halls, full of portraits and armor. The first were of the ancestors and the last had been worn by them when in battle. The children never tired of looking at those relics of the past generations of their blood, and the old footman-Parker, aged 7o-would not only answer all their questions, but would vouchsafe much information to them besides. One day. while examining an entire set of splendid arrnor (of tre-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-05-08

which was only two inches from the water In which the Frog family loved to bathe and dlsport themselves, Mrs. Frog found little Greenback crying from pain. He was not saying "Oh, mamma, I have been hurt so badly On, ohl oh, oh.'' like children cry. He was calling out series of sad little croaks, each particular croak sounding exactly like the other croaks to the human ear. But to the Frog ear each particular croak meant something like this: "I have been hit by a huge rock thrown from a monster on the bank. Had 1t hit my head it would have killed me, Mamma. Oh, how the stone bruised and tore my ankle!'
 Mrs. Frog, with her anxious husbands s aid, soon had the little ,Greenbacks in- jured ankle bound up with n broad. soft
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-05-08

in the water his sister set up a loud cry for help. Help brother Is drown ing." she cried with all her strength Help! Help''
 And from the water came the below ing of the tioundering Boy, who was more frightened than hurt, for the wa ter in the Pond was nowhere over his head. But like all cruel boys, he was coward, and at the first danger to him. self, beloved and screeched in a most disgusting manner. While menacing the life of harmless little frogs he had gloat- ed over their danger and laughed loudly when he struck the poor little Green back. But now, unhurt, and foundering
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-05-08
The Children and the Knight.

the river or out in the garden helping the gardener. It's gloomy in this old, dark hall for children, particularly American children. They have so much sunlight and fresh winds over in the New World, and never have old places-musty from generations of use-like this manor"
 "Oh, grandfather, we love this hall, {" cried Percy. Parker has been telling us the history of this armor." And Percy designated the suit. of armor which had interested them so much.
 The aged grandfather shook his head knowingly. "Yes, yes, Parker, like his old master, lives too much in the past. But the young blood will rouse us to the present day. It is good to have children about, I can tell you" And the old gem tleman chuckled in merry way. Then resuming, And did Parker tell you about the story of that particular suit of armor--the story as 1t has been handed down from one generation to another in the servants hall?'
 ''Oh, no, sir,' said Lewis and Percy in a breath. May we have the story from him, sir?"
 "rut, tut, you'd better be in the gar den, having old Hoe-and- Spades the name grandfather applied to his aged gardener) telling you about cabbages and crcumbers, my children. Musty armor- hundreds of years old-can hold no inter- est for boys and girls Of the twentieth century,
 But the boys and the girl of the twen- tieth century thought differently on the subject, and after their mother and their great-grandfather had gone to the libra ry, where two callers awaited them Per cy suggested that they go to the outer hall, where they could see old Parker doEing on comfortable bench, and ask him to relate the story of the armor of Sir Lewis Percy.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-05-08

blade of grass, with some healing clay underneath it. And little Greenback de- clared he felt like going to sleep now, and resting. So, in his cozy bed he crawled, and was soon fast asleep, his loving mother sitting beside him.
 ''Ill drop down the Pond and get some- thing nice for our son to eat on his walk ing" said MT. Frog. And kissing his wife and sleeping son he hurried away But hardly had he left the sheltering roof of his secure house when. splash! went a stone in the water close to his head MT. Frog lodged into the shadow of a fallen log just in time to save himself from another stone which went splash!
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-05-08

in water not quite to his shoulders he beloved forth wildly, Joining his voice to that of his sister.
 It chanced that young man was walk ing through the woods when the Boy fell into the Pond, and he heard the calls for help. Hurrying to the spot where the Girl was jumping up and down ex- citedly on the bank he saw the Boy in the water Why don't you wade out, lad?" he called to the frightened Boy. ''The water isn't deep enough to harm yeu!"
 Thus assured the cowardly Boy stood upright on his feet and rubbed the wa ter and pondmoss from his face "Oh, , he walled, I'm going to diel Oh, call to Mamma and Papa to come for me!''
 You're foolish little 'fraid cat, ,"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-05-08
CHARADE.

CHARADE.
 My first is food
 We all like to eat;
 It should never be sour,
 But always sweet.
 My second is an insect,
 Both dark and small,
 'Tis common in all countries
 And we'll known to all.
 My two joined together
 Just one word will be,
 And it flies in the meadows
 Both happy and free.
 BEHEADINGS. l. Behead an article of dress worn by both ladies and gentlemen and get that which cannot be bought, but which is wor,l more than anything else in the world. 2. Behead a modern small musi- cal instrument and leave an old-time musical instrument 3. Behead to dash noisily together and leave whip.
 CURTAILINGs. ]. Curtail to be foolish and glddy and leave part of window. 2. Doubly curtail to wrangle and make loud noise and leave shellfsh. 8. Doubly curtail q tool used by car penters in their work and leave little bird
 ANSWERS TO LAST WEEKS PUZZLES. CHARADE,-Springtim q. Spring. 2. 1imc.)
 ZIGZAG c PUZzLE-Monev. Cross ,cords 1. Man. ?. Hot. 3. Fan. 4 Net 5. You UNIQUE LETTER PUZZLES-(1p Too scise you are, too tcise you be; I see you are too toise for me. (2) Ton sigh for c cipher, but I sigh for thee; Oh, sigh for no cipher, but oh, sigh for me; then let my cipher thD cipher be; and giue sigh for sigh for thee. BEHEADINGS-1. Cledn-iedn. 2. Pl0te- late. B. Mice-ice.
 REBUS = Ben aud Tom tCent fishing one morning When they reached the rirer theU sdD t icds diu.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-05-08

laughed the young man. "Come, walk ont of the pond"
 The Boy did as ordered and found he was not hurt at all. But he was un- comfortably wet and his shoes were filled with water. When he reached the bank the young man asked how he hap pened To fall into the Pond.
 1T was f1inging rocks at the frogs" ex- plained the Boy, splitting water from his mouth and gulping. T was standing on that log there and it turned with me and went head over heels into the deep- est water ever saw"
 "Ah ha," said the young man, looking the Boy over. And so you met with your
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-05-08
A Fortunate YOungster.

n UEEN WILHELMINA'S baby, heir
 apparent to the throne of Holland, " is the most fortunate youngster In the world when 1t comes to a matter of covering his pink toes. An American firm has just manufactured several pairs of shoes for him; one pair out of a piece of goods of the queens wedding gown; one of cloth of gold; another of cloth of silver, and still another pair of the very finest patent calf and cloth of silver.
 Beautiful silks and brocaded satins that cost s100 per yard were used. The latter pair of shoes are tiny carriage boots In exact miniature of A woman s boot Satin brocade in ecru aud white fur were used In connection with the pat ent calf. Each style of shoe for this sprig of nobility is made in three colors. pink, white and blue.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-05-08

lieve a word of old Parkers story about it. 1.-The old fellows mind is bit off. he declared. ''I never could believe a ghost stories, anyway"
 And then. finding the gardener and the garden more interesting than the foot man and the great hall, Lewis sought out the former and learned about cab bages and lettuce and beets rather than about knights and armor hundreds of years old He had watched for ST Percy and the old ancestor had disappointed eand embarrass him.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-05-08
OmPuzZle Corner t
LETTER PUZZLE

LETTER PUZZLE.
 My whole of six letters is a kind of tree. My l, 9 4. 6 form a desire. My 4, 5, form kernel My 3, ?, form something by which we are governed.
 ZIGZAG PUZZLE.
 This zigzag contains seven words of four letters each. If the words are rightly guessed and written one below another their zigzag letters, beginning with the upper left-hand letter and end ing with the lower left-hand letter, will spell q game much enjoyed by children The crosswords are: 1. Something which looks very pretty over little girls ear 2 The name of central state. 8. A city dwelling. A. To be afraid. 5. Some thing used for catching animals. 6srnc way q lazy person likes to be- :. Some thing we always have in pairs.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-05-08
ABOUT PEANUTS,

@VEN if 1t were pot for the circus
 America would eat more peanuts than M any other country. The demand for the nuts has never been fully supplied During the years 1907 and 1908 Japan ex- ported 100000 pounds of peanuts and the greater portion of them came to this country. Many localities in the southern part of the United States are devoted al- most exclusively to the raising of peanuts md yet the demand is much above the supply.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-05-08

tentment reigned in the Pond, and that no other children ever came there to throw stones at the dear, lively little frogs, for the story of the Boys experi- ence got about, and the lesson he learned was applied to the other children In the neighborhood.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-05-08

wv HEN the. moon is rising, w During tn month O
 May, Children love to watch it, And leave their sport and play. For in the moon, so glorious, The old May-Man is seen; And if you count your fingers And say "Red, white and
 green,"
 And keep your eyes upon him, Your wish will thefl come true; For the moons old May-Man Will do all he canYdo To bring your hearts dear wishes And make your May-time
 bright,
 If you will only ask him When you see him rise at night.