davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-04-03
cAndy"'s cApril Fool Surprise.

and also peeplng without. But not liy- ing being did they see. Guess the kids nre hiding behind the hedge, waiting to see us open the door, so they can call out April Fool!" " said Andy Wish had squirt-gun full of water, and I'd raise the window just enough to shoot out through, and when they creep up again to ring the bell-as they will sure ly do-Id give them an April Fool plump in the face.''
 "Yes, but one never has the weapons of war when they are most needed,'' con- soled Mary. "But-there's something on the doorstcp-it looks like n pocket book a great fat one. Very likely 1t is nailed to the step and is filled with cotton or snnd.''
 Andy peeped towards the doorstep and saw the pocket-book 'Yes. it's some joker who is green enough to think we'd pick up purse on this day. Why, if I saw greenbacks sticking from the cor ners of the purse on the first day of April, wouldn't touch the purse, for there'd be joke connected with it some- how. and I'd not get the bills"
 Just then Mrs. Graham came into the hall. She had waited for Mary or Andy tc open the door, but as they seemed nyerse to doing so, she decided to do 1t herself Possibly some of the neighbor children were trying to play an April Fool joke on Andy or the girls. and 1t seemed pity to spoil their sport by the absence of the intended victims from the door.
 When Mrs. Graham was nbout to open the door Andy crept on tiptoe to her side. Wait, mamma.'' he whispered. Some wise guy has put n fat pocket book on the doorstep and is, of course, watching to see one of us open the door. So. let's mnke him wait so long thnt he'll be glad to come here and ring the
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-04-03

bell again. Then we'll catch him in the, act"
 Mrs. Graham looked from the parlor window, screened by the lace curtain so that no one on the outside could see her. and beheld the fat pocketbook on the doorstep. She smiled, saying: Well, I'll just go back to my sewing and let you keep watch for the April Fool per- petrator of jokes. When you catch him. please be mild in your treatment of him. He's always an inoffensive offender"
 Andy and Mary laughed under their breath mt their mothers merry advice, and took their stand beside the window. Mrs. Graham returned to the sewing room and was soon lost in work.
 But for five minutes-which seemed quite an hour to the watchers-Andy and Mary stood beside the window, peering from behind the lace curtain. And noth- ing happened. The dark figure seemed to have grown fast to the spot behind the shrubbery close to the side of the house. After another minute of vain waiting. Mary whispered to Andy: "watched water never boils, brother. Wed get better results if we returned to the sitting -room.''
 "All right, sister," said Andy. "Well leave the pot long enough for it to begin to boil" So saying, Andy led the way to the sitting-room. And just as they had seated themselves to wait patiently the doorbell gave a long. loud peal, re- sounding throughout the house.
 With a quick leap, Andy was at the door. jerking 1t open. But no one was there. He looked np and down the street. but not soul was in sight Mary was soon beside him, and even Sissy, whose deepest interest lay in finishing her new frock to wear on the morrow. came running to the hall door to see what the joke was.
 Its some kid" declared Andy, land he's hidden somewhere nearby. But he may watch in vain to catch me pick up that purse. It may stay there till to-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-04-03
aasAssAesAesaen~m4A1a
Gertie and the Bear.
ss ..


 bravery. And Bert and Ethel Brown were her companions. .'Say. Gertie," said Ethel. ''wouldnt you be afraid of big black bear?"
 No, indeed" declared Gertie. Just you show me big black bear md I'll show. you that am not afraid of him."
 Of course, Ethel was poweriess to pro- duce the bear, so there was no way of proving Gertie's courage at the moment. But as the three children wended their way homewards. Bert began evolving n plan in his mind. He meant to test Ger ties bravery somehow. for he was tired of her boasting. Besides, he really be- lIeyed the little girl had sincere faith in her own courage and he wanted her was timid nt times and afraid of things. After leaving Gertie at her own home a fine old farmhouse on the public road Bert and Ethel continued on their way to their own abode, another farm half n milo further on. q say, Ethel" said Bert, "I have plan to test Gertie's great and boasted courage. Tomorrow is the first of Aprll-our day for jokes, you know. Well, I'm going to get a good April fool on Gertie So no matter what happens you needn't be afraid, for a cer- tain animal you encounter on your way homewards will not be as dangerous as 1t appears"
 Ethel laughed, and asked to be taken into the secret. But Bert said he had told her enough to prepare her and that she'd enjoy the joke more If she knew nothing of the particulars.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-04-03

Certie. If 1t is bear he will eat mo up if I stay here. I don't believe he's seen us yet. Let's stoop low down in the grass and creep to the top of the bank. Once there we'll call for help and run as fast as we can towards my house. Papa may be about the barn, and will see us and come to our rescue Oh, l nm so frightened I can hardly stand up. Come, let's creep away before the bear sees usi"
 As she said this Gertic stopped to her krees and hands and began crawling to- wards the opposite side of the ravlne, keeping well hidden in the tall grass, which stood rank and dry on either side of the country road. Her cheeks were pale here eyes startled and her knees trembling. Ethel crept along beside her for a few pnces, then said: But, Ger tie, you aren't afraid of anything but snakes and cyclones, and that wild beast there Is neither of them. What are you creeping away for in this manner? Are you really afraid?"
 .'Oh, yes, we may be eaten aliye." hoarsely whispered Gerle "Oh, I'm so faint can hardly move, l wonder If the bear IS stlll III tDe saihe spot Where ne was when we turned our backs toward him. Are you afraid to lock back. Ethel, and see what he's doing? l can't-for I'm so frightened"'
 "Yes, I'll look back" agreed Ethel In calm and loud tone. "Oh, the bear is comlng-on his hind legs. See, he's walk ing upright" But as she said this, Ger tie became so pale with fright thnt Ethel felt she must keep her In suspense no longer and laughingly said Took back ward Gertie, and you'll see the bear is none other than brother Bert He's been playing an April Fool trick on you"
 Gertie dropped to n sitting posture in the grass and wiped the precipitation from her face. Then, seeing the tall form of Bert advancing, n great dark buffalo robe over his back, she turned q deep crimson color, shame and embarrassment
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-04-03

on her face. 'sOh," she gasped "Oh, Bert. how could you be so mean? You frightened Ethel and and me almost to death'
 "No, I wasn't frightened bit" ex- plained Ethel truthfully. 'I knew 1t was Bert all the time, but I felt that you deserved to be tested-your courage. yoa know So I just pretended to believe the dark, crouching figure to be bear"
 And I wanted to teach you lesson, Certie," said Bert, joining them and as- sisting Gertie to rise to her feet. Come, Gertie, 'fess up. You are as easily frightened as ary other girl-if the right thing comes along to do the work. l al ways knew you'd turn white at sight of real danger, so decided to let you have the opportunity to know yourself. Now, you have gotten acquainted with the real Gertle Smith, ard know she is as much of coward as anyone. in the presence of a bear Sayey, Gertie?' And Bert laughed good naturedly. But I promise you one thing, Gertie; Ethel and l will never give this joke away Mum is the word. And l think you'll thank me for having shown you to yourself in truth ful light"
 Gertie's face was serious. "Yes, I am really ashamed of myself, Bert" she de- clnred. q have been boastful of eour- age I did not possess. At heart l guess I am coward"
 No, one is not a coward to be afraid of dangerous wild animals for the pres ervation of life Is the first law of na- ture But one is either fool or brae- gart to pretend to be not afraid. It shows good sense to keep safe distance from danger or harm. And 1t Is admirable to always tell the truth" said Bert.
 ''Yes, you an1 Ethel have taught me lesson today which I shall never for get" said Gertie. And after this shall make no foolish pretenses. Thank you, Bert for playing bear and for fooling me on the 1st of April"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-04-03

1t before we perpetrated 1t, though I had some doubts regarding the all-to- gether truth of his statement" And Sissy looked at Andy knowingly. "Now. 'fess up, Brother" she went on. address ing her brother, didn't Mary and I really fool you last April Fools Dnys''
 Not q bit of It. declared Andy. "i smelt the mouse before he even peeped from the hole, so to speak. But since you girls had gone to so much trouble preparing the joke-why, I didn't wart to disappoint you. 50 l bit like n greeney."
 Both Mir. and Mrs. Graham laughed. and Mary and Sissy looked their doubts nt Andy. And so the morning meal was finished. accompanied by happy conver- sation and laughter. Then Mr. Graham went to his office, the children to their chores and Mrs. Graham about her house. hold duties.
 About 9 o'clock Andy and Mary were in the dining room. looking over some new books. Mrs. Graham and Sissy were in the sewingroom completing Il frock for Sissy to wear on the morrow. So absorbed were the four that no one heard soft footsteps approaching the front door. And not one of them saw a tall dark form fit past the pnrlor window. stop at the doorsteps and place pocket book on the top one. Then he gave the doorbelI peal and quickly withdrew to q hiding place behind q thick bunch of shrubbery.
 Each of the four Grnhnms In the house heard the doorbeli. but each waited for Q fNf trtn frafs1 d 1x,p unn one trying to fool us," said Andy. going on tiptoe to the parlor window and peep ing from behind the lace curtain. But he'll not catch inc, I'll promise you"
 "I suspect It's the Andrews children" said Mary. following Andy to the window.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-04-03
lsa.V.N'2e'&.N'2se'&e2.e'' lsa.
BY HELENA DAVIS.


 MN TITLE ANDEvA stood in the big
 stone kitchen of the old Dame Gre
 gon mixing n huge cake. As she A worked she longed and longed to
 be as happy and free as other It. tie girls. for she was an orphan, working for her ."board and bed" at the old Dame Gregon's castle. And the old Dame Gre gon was q hard mistress. domineering and cruel, and she had no mercy on the little Andeya.
 When little Andeva first went to old Dame Gregon's castle In the mountains she was taught to make very fine light. sweet cake, certain kind which the old Dame was very fond of. And every day little Andeva was obliged to bake half dozen cakes for the old mistress of the castle and her household of grown daugh- ters and sons and daughters-inlaw and sons-in-law. And the little girl often be- came very tired, and longed and longed to be free to go down the mounfainside to play with the happy peasant children from the surrounding gardens and vil- lages. But never had she the time to play, even if she had had little comrades to join in her pastime. She was kept very busy all day long baking fine, sweet cakes for the Dame and her household.
 And on the day of which l speak she was very busy, and also very lonely and unhappy. She was mixing in huge bowl the ingredients for n cake, and ns she stirred and sifted and beat the things together the dough began suddenly to rise from the bowl into a white frothy mountain Little Andeva was greatly sur prised, for always before it had taken the heat from the great oven to cause to ,fa never risen to such q height.
 ..What can be the matter with my doughf" she asked herself. Have l put in too much yeast? But even had l done so, 1t would not rise so quickly and go so high in the air"
 ssNo little girl, you have mixed your cake dough after the right recipe" said voice near to Andeva's elbow. You are not to blame for the action of the dough: I am responsible for it.
 Andeva turned about to see a fairy standing beside her. She was so much astonished that she could not speak for q minute and stood staring at the beauti- full creature beside her.
 q know how unhappy you are. little Andeya," said the fairy, ''and I have come to take you to happy home where other children will welcome you. And this cake dough, which you will observe is turning very hard, will lift its way through the roof of this stone kitchen, and by 1t we will ascend to the clouds. From there our way is safe--once out of reach of this castle.'
 "Oh, good fairy, are you speaking truly or am 1 but dreaming?" cried little | Andeva.
 '.The moment Is real, and not dream, l said the fairy. And now we will ascend | to the roof, and from there to the clouds and then we will go on and on till we reach land far from here; and there you will find happy home."
 As the faity said this, she took Andevas s hand. and together they climbed to the roof of the stone kitchen by the great pile of dough which had turned to a substance as hard as rock. And as there were little
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-04-03
BY WILLIAM WALLACE. JR.

0H O ELL, this is April Fools Day, 1" ]" said MT. Graham as the family gathered about the breakfast table. "I wonder what pranks
 you youngsters will be playing on each other today Why, when l was . boy the first day of April was more ex- citing than the Fourth of July, and we were up early and at our harmless pranks'
 "I wish it were that way now.' said Andy, the second son of the household ..Id just love to play some pranks on the kids at school, but the other boys don't seem to care about such sport. When they play jokes they must be of a practical sort. and don't approve Of that form of fun"
 "You are right, Son." said Mir. Gra- ham. "Let the young folks enjoy then'- selves all that they can so long as they refrain from playing practical jokes. Fun should be. as yon say. in an innocent form"
 'sTd. just love to play some sort of Apri-fool on Andy" laughed Mary, the ten-year-old daughter of the household. But he's always so cautious that to fool him is impossible"
 "yes, we played little April fool joke on him. last year." said Sissy, the four teen-year-old daughter. "And he da- clnrcd afterwards that he knew all about
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-04-03

morrow before I touch it."
 "Oh, that's unfair to the kid," said Sissy. q say, let one of us pick up It's terribly disappointing to lay plan to catch someone on April Fools Day, and have it prove a failure. Let one of us pick up the pockctbook and give the i! joker his fun.'
 Not me-" persisted Andy. 'Tll not fall so easy. If you girls want to do it-- go ahead. And when some kid from be- hind the hedge yells out April fool" don't get mad.''
 Not bit of It., laughed Sissy. "Come on, Mary, let's pick 1t up together. What do you say?"
 "All right. Sissy I'll help to give the joker his triumph" consented Mary. So together they opened the door and stopped down, their right hands grnsping the big pocketbook together. They held it mo- ment, expecting to hear .voice from some hidden spot calling out "April fool.' But not vocal sound disturbed the quiet around them. They were some what surprised at the result of their picking up the book, and decided to look inside of It. They returned to the par Tor, where Andy still remained, and there opened the mysterious pocketbook. To the surprise of all, they beheld n great fold of bills-amounting to five hundred dollars. And around the bills wns wrapped paper on which these words were wrltten: "To the Graham bold enough to open this on the first day of April"
 "Why. what can 1t mean?" gasped Sissy, almost afraid to keep the money in her hands. Tt looks like sure-enough money"
 Tt certainly is sure-enough money" declared Andy. now more surprised than his sisters. Gall mamma here, Mary. She'll know what to do with this April Fool joke"
 Mrs. Graham came to see what the joke was all about, and on looking at the money pronounced 1t genuine "Ne'll turn it over to the police," she said. "someone must have lost it near"
 But she did not finish her sentence, for the front door suddenly opened and out stepped the tall, dark form Which had been hiding behind the bushes. With one glance ut the newcomer. Mrs Graham dropped the purse on the floor and threw her arms about his neck. "Oh. my boy, Snmmy!' she cried. And in another mo- ment Mary, Sissy and Andy were joining In tho huggng-bee, as sammy called 1t. and all were too happy for words. "Why. you came as real surprise said Mrs. Graham. holding her eldest born of to look him over. 'lts been three years since ve last beAeld your dear face" she said
 ''Ycs, and I've made my bile. mamma" said Sammy. tnll, sunbiirnt fellow of 2o "I struck it rich in the gold fields of Nevada, and that pointing to the pocketbook-''ls only trife for the Gra- hnm brave enough to pick 1t up on thls dny. And I guess the two young ladies of the house captured the prize. eh7' And everyone looked at Andy, who de- clnred he'd been the biggest 'chump'' iu the world.
 "oh. yours will come yet, bub" prom ised the sunbUrnt brother.
 
 The largest drydock in the world will be constructed by the United States ut
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-04-03

The largest drydock in the world will be constructed by the United States Ut Pearl Harbor. Hawaii
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-04-03

The next day Bert got the teacher to excuse him from school half an hour be- fore closing time. As this was nothing unusual.-a pupil being excused from school on some good excuse-none of the other pupils attached any importance to Berts going. In fact, Gertie Smith did not notice his absence at all, she was so occupied in getting her last lesson of the day.
 At last 4 o'clock came, and Ethel, full of anticipation, took Gertic's arm and hur- ried homewards. She knew there was q surprise waiting for them on the road side somewhere between the schoolhouse and Gertie's home. At little ravine--so deep that in going down into 1t one lost view of the surrounding country and could not be seen from any of the farm houses-Ethel's alert eyes caught the dark form of what appeared to be a big animal crouching in the high, dry grass. The creature was some two hundred feet from the roadside and was crouching as if to hide itself from the view of pedes- trians. Ethel knew at once that it was Bert disguised in an old buffalo skin which had been In their family ever since she could remember. As Gertie had not  yet caught sight of the "animal' Ethel directed her attention towards 1t. 'See that great dark thing moving in the grass!" she whispered. 'Can 1t be a bear?' And she drew back as if afraid, hiding herself behind Gertie.
 As Gertles eyes took In the creature in the grass she trembled with fear and said to Ethel: "Oh, don't push me In front of you, Ethel! Oh. is 1t a-bear? Oh. let's run--lets run for our lives!'
 But you aren't afraid of anything ex- cept snakes and cyclones" declared Ethel. struggling to keep Gertie between herself and the Lear" "Oh. please stand here and keep the bear from running after me! I shall run away If you but stay here to hold the beasts attention. Will you stand right here till I am safe out of the rayine?"
 "Oh, goodness, no!' honrsely whispered
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-04-03
.eWN.Ge'g.c,'U@e.'2.e4e'g.S.
BY MAUD WALKER.


 ~ERTIE SMITH always declared
 x she was not afraid of anything ex-
 cept snakes and cyclones. This was boast she was In the habit
 of making when in the company of her little schoolmates. And there were some of her young friends who were in- clined to doubt this statement.
 "Gertie Is safe in saying she fears only snakes and cyclones said Bert Brown one day, flor snakes and cyclones are about the only things we have to fear in our country. But I daresay she'd change her story-or add some other names to her list of things to be feared-if we hnd wild animals in our part of the world"
 And in way, Bert whs probably right, for in the state where Gertie lived there were few wild animals. The prairie wolf, the rabbit, the prairie dog and the snake comprised the sum total of creatures to be feared. And where Is the prairie child who fears the little coyote? And as he was tlie most dangerous of the creatures named except the snake, Gertie was safe in making such statement. But of course, Gertie meant for her young friends to believe that she was not afraid of creatures other than those that in- habited her state. She might even have included such animals as tigers and lions, for she hnd no idea of them other than what she had picked up from reading. One day while going home from school Gertie was again boasting about her
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-04-03
puZZle Corner s
CITY ADDITIONS.

1. Add weight to tin vessel and get n Chinese city.
 2. Add vital part of the human anat- omy to a reservoir of water and get an English city.
 8. Add smoked meat to village and get a German city.
 4. Add a cruel conflict to a carpen- ter's implement and get a Polish city. ANSWERS TO LAST WEEKS PUZZLES. CHARADE-Bob-o-Ynk
 TRANSPOSITIONS -1. Recd-decr 2. Tide-edit 3. Lidr-rdH. 4. Hades-heads.
 HIDDEN POET PUZZLE = Byron. Words containing tho initiai lctfcrs: 1. Bee. 9 Year B. Road {. old. 5. Name. REBUS = The children hunt coiored Edsfcr eggs.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-04-03
CHARADE.

MY urSt IS Il urlnk
 That is bad for man;
 My seconds tho same;
 Guess 1t If you can.
 Both arc intoxicants.
 Not plain Adams ale;
 And when properly joined
 They can never fail
 To name a small river
 In the East it does flow: But I'll tell you no more,
 Or else you would know.
 zIGzAG PUZZLE. This zigzag contains seven words of four letters each. If the words nre right ly guessed and written one below another their zigzag letters, beginning with the upper lcft-hand letter and ending with the lower left-hnnd letter. will spell that which 1t is glory to sec. The cross words arc 1. To drop to the bottom of river. 2. To scorch by fire. 3. A holy season observed by Christians. 4. The prickly covering of nut. .. To fly from tree to tree. 6. A small body of land surrounded by water. :. Long. black fish.
 DIAGONAL.
 This diagonal contains five words Of five letters each. If the words arc right ly guessed and written one below another their diagonal letters, beginning with the upper left-hand letter and ending with the lower iight-hand letter. will spell n weapon much used in warfnre in oldcn times. Tho cross-words are 1. Some thing which comes from fire. ?. 4 fine, hralthiul fruit. 5. Meaning swift of foot. 4. Cold and drcar. ,. To spread on ia niussy manner.
 CONUNDRUMS. Why is m account book like statu. ary shop?
 Bccduse if is full of aguyes What makes everybody sick except those who swallow its
 FfGffefu.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-04-03
How the Joke Was Turned.

That we're planning joke,
 So twill be a surprise" Then softly they crept
 To grandpapa's room; And in 'twixt his sheets
 They lay an old broom. And into the fireplace
 They piled coal so wet That should grandpa want it No fire could he get. But just as they'd finished,
 Their ma called to say: "Grandpa's off to the depot; He's leaving today. "So come and say farewell
 To your grandpapa, dear, For we'll not get to see him Again for a year"