davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-09

ded to him to set the price. But he hardly
knew what to ask, so told Mr. Blake that
whatever he thought right in the way of
rent would suit his parents and himself
All, we'll not stand on a few dollars -
said the old gentleman. who had every
appearance Of wealth and good nature
Shall l say So per month-n advance?
And. OF course, that leaves you your own
private rooms. 1t gives US our private
rooms - three - and the dining room,
kitchen, living room and the use of lawn
and porches. Ell. is that satisfactory"
But you must look over the house and
see that it suits you said Mrs Jackson
Our rooms are cheerful and large. but
you might find some objection, or want
some changes"
NO. it will be all right" declared the
old gentleman. And may we come in
this week? Here is the first months
rent. Please give me receipt for it. and
make the date on the day we take DOS
session.
1t did not take long TO complete ar
rangements for the new tenants. and the
next day Mrs. Jackson went on her visit
while the Blakes installed themselves in
their new quarters. And they proved such
dear old people. and made no trouble
Whatever. And Jimmy told his parents
ABOUT the motor boat. and had their con-
sent TO take from the rent money enough
10 buy third share in it. And with q
happy heart he ran to tell the good news
10 jessie who clasped her hands. say
ing Il had faith in your finding a way
10 get in on the boat. Jimmy You are
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-09
Spiders AirShip.

WONDERFUL airships are now made
w by men who sail around in them
high i'm the air. There are many styles
of these machines now. but it was years
before any one could make one of these
great canvas ships rise from the ground
If people could build airships as easily
as a spider we could all fly to distant
lands to enjoy new sights every day.
When spider wants to travel through
the air he first climbs high rock or
post when the wind is blowing. Then
he starts spinning fine silk threads.
which float out into the breeze. AS soon
as the wise little insect feels that these
small threads are strong enough to hold
him. he springs into the air. to be car
ried along by the wind.
Sometimes the spider mounts high into
the sky, where he sails for miles before
he comes down to the fields and trees
again. Usually baby spiders travel In
this way. yet thew are not afraid. In one
family there are often forty or fifty tiny
baby spiders about as large as pin heads
1t is hard for all of these to find food
in one place, SD when they are hungry
they decide to sail away i'm search Of
breakfast or dinner. The spider children
scramble up to the tops of small plants
and there spin their sails and start away
with the kindly breezes. When they ar
rive I'm new homes the spiders usually
find no trouble i'm getting food. for Moth
er Nature spreads many tables for her
children.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-09

| to go out with us tonight. We should
| have listened to him. for he is wise and
| knows what Is best for us Oh. why did
we coax and tease him TO take us forth
, into danger? Oh, l fear he has met with
terrible harm-maybe lost his life.''
So stricken with remorse and grief was
poor foolish Mamma Rabbit that her
son and daughter had TO get her into bed
where she lay moaning and accusing her
self of being her husbands destroyer
"Oh. IL he doesn't soon come home" she
walled. Il cannot live
Thus passed the night in the Rabbit
household. and toward dawn a tired tap
ping was heard at the door Flecklet, i'll
and grief-stricken. ran to the door, for
he knew it was his fathers knock. Oh.
AS he entered his own doorway he fell
helplessly TO the floor All that night
he had been chased by first one dog and
then another. To misead the first dog
he had rushed wildly toward the town.
There he had succeeded in getting away
from his pursuer only to run into the
path of another. At one time there We're
four CANNES after him. full tilt. and
barking. till the night echoed their cries.
oh. how poor Mr.. Rabbit suffered, But
of one thing he felt sure: his family were
safe. He had saved them by almost sac
rificing himself
Toward morning Mr.. Rabbit had eluded
his last tormentor and had hidden him
An hour later he crept out and hurried
with what little strength he had toward
his own home. And there his grief
stricken family. condemning themselves
for having insisted on his taking them
into danger. welcomed him with open
arms and joyous hearts.
Can you ever forgive u.s." cried Mrs.
Rabbit. helping her WORKOUT husband to
his bed. "Oh. 1 can never forgive myself
for this nights work.
Yes. my dear. l forgive you whis-
pered Mr.. Rabbit. But it was a hair
breadth escape for all of us. Oh. I trust
our own safe and happy home will be all
you want in future,'
II shall never. never leave our own
dear woods again. vowed Mamma Rab-
bit. Nor t. declared Flecklet and
Petite in one voice. And never will we
! forget orr own waywardness in not wish
ing to obey our dear father, whose wis
dom was shown this night. Oh. how can
we ever make amends to YOU. papa
dear?" And both children fell on their
knees beside their fathers bed.
You are all forgiven, my dears," sigh
led Mr.. Rabbit. Now I must rest
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-09

the bushman soon has a fine fire which
he feeds with more leaves.
The Malay sailors follow much the
same plan as the bushman. They use a
piece of split bamboo. making a notch
across its hollow side. Saving into this
notch slowly. then rapidly with a sharp
edged piece of bamboo. wood dust is soon
made. This catches fire and falls upon
the dry leaves which the wise sailor has
placed to catch the sparks. In the for
ests of South America the natives often
strike two stones together until a little
spark flies out. Instead of using dry
leaves to receive this tiny bit of fire
they prefer to build little heaps of fluffy
bird feathers.
Striking a light" is a term which has
come to us from our ancestors. They
struck two flint stones together until
the spark few into a finder box Of char
red threads of linen. This tiny light
was blown into a flame. Then a match
tipped with birthstone sulphur was
lighted from the little fire so that the
candles or stove fires might be lighted
These finder boxes and the birthstone
matches We're always kept where they
We're very easy to get. If YOU have read
the old story. .'Tinderbox.' by Hans An
dersen, you will remember that the
soldier promised to bring the witch the
finder box for helping him to find the
trea sures in the earth.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-09

heard nesting down to rest and gossip
ing the news OF the day to each other
| before closing their pretty bright eyes.
! And above the road shone the most
. beautiful moon one could wish for. In
deed the night was perfect in
| every respect. The Rabbits trotted along
leisurely, Mrs. Rabbit smiling to herself
| at the serious face Of her husband, for
he. poor fellow knew that all would
not he pleasant and safe after they
reached the outskirts of the town.
And Papa Rabbits forebodings proved
of avail. for after the first three miles
of the road were traversed dark OBJ
ject doomed in the road i'm front of the
party. And then another dark object ap-
peared and still another. And voices of
people came to the Rabbits ears, carried
along on the evening breeze.
And then something else occurred. The
smallest of the three dark objects sep
arated itself from the other two and ran
down the road TO meet the approaching
Rabbits. And this object barked very
threateningly. 1t was dog
Papa Rabbit stopped short. Mamma
Rabbit and her two children did likewise
And all pricked up their long ears in ter
rOr. Mamma Rabbit turned pale and
trembled. Flecklet began to wish he
were at home. safe in his little bed. Pet
tie began to cry and to hide behind her
father. "Oh. what shall We do"' she
walled.
every one of You run for home" COM
manded Mr.. Rabbit sternly Not a mo-
ment to delay. but go like the very wind
Don't stop till you are in the house. Sc
curely locked in your rooms. Co."
Mamma Rabbit. accompanied by her
children. ran off down the road at break
neck speed. She never once stopped to
look behind her. Had she done so she
would have seen sight that would have
frozen her very blood Papa Rabbit sat
still in the road. watching the coming
dog. No an inch did he bulge till the
deg was within ten feet of him. Then he
leaped aside into the long grass. going
off in direction directly opposite to the
one taken by his family. He was leading
the dog away from the road followed by
| his dear ones-his dear ones who had so
| foolishy led him into this danger
When at last. after a most exciting
| run. the mother Rabbit and her children
! reached home thev looked about for the
father Rabbit. But no sign Of him any
| where. Then thew all fell to weeping
and wailing. and Mother Rabbit declared
| that If anything happened to her dear
husband she would know that she was
| the cause of it. ooh. my children. I
| have been such fool to urge your father
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-09
Effect of Earthquake
on Domestic Animals

TT would seem that domestic animals
! are especially susceptible to the threat
ened danger of approaching earthquakes.
1t is reported Or good authority that just
before the earthquake in Chile. In 3D.
every dog left the city before the lnhabi-
tants felt the faintest suggestion or II.
And in Java, in 1867. Immediately before
the earthquake. every rooster croWed
Justify and left the doomed city. 1t is
said that on the Orinoco river the croco-
dies invariably leave the rivers banks
just previous to earthquake. Five
DAYS before Elike was destroyed by
earthquake Gin 373 B. CO it is reported
that moles, mice. weasels and serpents
were driven out of the ground by the i'm
pending catastrophe, and that they
showed great signs of anxiety and fear.
Just before the great Sicilian earthquake
of 1888 animals that nest underground
came to the surface, as well as various
kinds of fish that came from the waters
of the bay.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-09
Striking a Light.

THE world was thousands of years
old before matches We're known.
The little tip OF the match looks very
simple, vet il is made of so many sub
stances put together that il took chem
lists years and years to discover Just
what materials could be used i'm making
IT, Savages know nothing about matches
% make their lights in other ways.
sometimes the unciyilized people rub
two dry pieces of wood together until
one catches fire. Often they use two
stones. striking against the other
until a spark falls amid some dry leaves
and starts small blaze.
The Australian bushman uses a method
or his own to procure d light. First he
selects two pieces of light wood. each
about foot long. from the cork tree
OF black fig tree. One fiat piece. he
lays on the ground amid a pile of dry
leaves Upon this strip of wood he kneels
in order to hold down the ends Then
he rolls the other pointed stick between
the palms of his hands that il bores
a hole into the fiat strip of wood. This
makes fine wood dust which catches OH
fre. sending its spark among the dry
leaves BY blowing upon the tiny light
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-09

forever helping me in hundreds of ways.
And | am only too glad to give her this
little pleasure She's to be gone two
months. Isn't that fine for her? Away
laughed gOOd-naturedly.
Then Jessie had to say goodbye. and
run home. for her mother was awaiting
her to go shopping that morning. And
after she had left the gate Mrs. Jackson
stood looking after her. She is the dear
est girl In the world. Jimmy she said.
And sometimes I have a little hope that
you and she may continue to be as fond of
each other after you have grown up-and
| hope you may become sweethearts, and
afterward-' She stopped and kissed
her manly son the forehead. And
afterward become husband and wife"
Jimmy's face was radiant as he replied:
"If I may be worthy Of Jessie. mamma.
ii is all I ask" Then he turned about
and went into the house to finish task
he had set himself to do. But all that
day Jimmy wondered and wondered how
he could manage to earn enough money to
buy a third share In the motor boat. He
wanted to be of the excursion parties to
look after Jessie Suppose those boys
should get careless while handling the
boat! Suppose ever so many things Yes.
he must get share in the boat if pcs
sible.
That afternoon he went to see Ned and
Billy and they promised to hold the
DEAL for a week giving Jimmy time to
find some way in which to earn the money
to become partner in the boat. Then
Jimmy. full of hopes and fears. went
home to think 1t over. He had scarcely
seated himself on the porch when fine
looking old gentleman entered the gate.
advancing to the steps. Good afternoon.
young man." he said. bowling TO Jimmy.
Jimmy was on his feet in a moment. re-
specially inviting the old gentleman to
have a seat on the porch. Then the old
gentleman introduced himself as Mr..
Blake. II am looking for nice quiet
place for the summer. he. explained.
And as l passed this house. with its cool
porches and big lawn, l said to myself
Here's what l want for myself and wife
and her maid And-yes we have Il
grandchild, too. Now. have you rooms
10 let for say. three months. in this bow
er-like nest? l am here to pay your price.
for / want rest and quiet. We-my wife
and I-pass most of our time In the city,
where my business keeps my attention.
But we have promised ourselves three
months of complete rest and quiet So,
having heard of this pretty town. I ran
up here to investigate. And this house
has beckoned me in.
Mrs. Jackson had heard the old gentle
mans remarks. and had come upon the
porch. but she waited for Jimmy to re-
ply. giving him a nod Of assent.
Jimmy introduced his mother to Mr..
Blake and explained that she was going
away for two months. and that they
would be very glad to come to some terms
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-09
Westminster Abbey.

IN all London the most interesting
building is Westminster Abbey For
over 500 years kings and queens have
| been crowned there or buried in the
vaults of the great church. At first
1t was intended that only Persons of
royal blood should lie within the abbey,
but afterward many great and good mer
were given burial there, until now
there are more graves of celebra ted
men and women within the church than
in any one cemetery in the world.
In the grand old abbey everything is
most beautiful and costly. In order
to see the magnificent pointed arches.
the costly stone pillars, the stained
glass windows, the rich wood carving.
as well as the bronzes and marble
busts of England's famous men. one
would have 20 spend much time in
Westminster Abbey. The building, be-
ing composed of chapels built at diff
ferent times during the past eight
that usually visitors require guide
books to learn of the many interesting
parts of the great abbey. In the poets
corner there are the tombs of many of
Englands great men and women, while
busts and tablets have been erected
to the memory Of others The only
foreigner honored by bust in this
corner is our own poet, Longfellow.
OF all valued treasures of West
minister Abbey the coronation chair is
the most priced. Seated in this beau
tiful carved oak chair. with its high
slanting sides and high pointed back.
every sovereign since the time of Ed
ward I has received the crown. I'm
derneath the seat of the chair there is
a stone which was brought from Scot
land many years ago. In Scotland It
had been the Scone Stone, on which
their kings had received their crowns.
Tradition says that this famous old
stone, which was taken to Scotland by
the crusaders, was the very one upon
which Jacob rested his head in the
desert when he had his we'll known
dream When the new King George V
of England is crowned in Westminster
Abbey the service will be the most
ella hOrate.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-09
Facts About the Fishing Worm

composed of earth and comminuted vege-
table matter which they have swallowed
and Gigested. are deposited on the sur
face and in the course of their lives they
bring up a good deal of the sterile under
soil. mix it with particles of vegetation
from the surface. and deposit il in their
castings. These. accommodating year after
year. century after century. form the
rich layer Of humrs. tOp-soil. in which
vegetation chiefly thrives and on which
the gardener and farmer depend for the
successful growth of their crops
Not all the humus is due to earth
worms of course, for insect larvae play
some part in its making. Also the natu-
'ral decay of vegetation and its mixture
with rain and dust brought by the winds.
assists in soil-building. But investiga-
tons made by Darwin showed that the
earthworm plays an important part in
the formation of humus
Thus. as the tiny coral polyp is ever
helping 10 form continents on which man
can live. and perhaps also to control the
climate and moderate the extreme tenn
perature. SO also the earthworm is rem
dering efficient aid in covering the land
with rich soil. enabling vegetation to
flourish and making the earth ha bita BILE
for the human species"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-09
How Marbles Are Made.

livery year there are probably thou
IL sands OF marbles lost by boys with
holes in their pockets yet years ago any
child would have treasured just one Of
these toys. Then the only marbles
known were those made by Mother Ma
ture. You nave probably seen hundreds
of them. for they were only pebbles. To
make them Mother Nature first sent the
frosts to split pieces off of rocky cliffs.
When the pieces Of rock fell into the
water they ground round and round
among larger stones until finally they
became smooth and round. When the
children found them on the shores they
were happy.
About 200 years ago the Dutch of Hol.
land made marbles much like the mos,
expensive kind We today. From Hol-
land the marbles were sent to England
Later the early settlers OF America
brought some of these toys over to the
new land from Europe. Now many OF
our marbles are manufactured in Saxony
India or China and brought to the United
States. These "agates" or reals are
made by machinery in much quicker
time than the pebble marbles of long
ago. Now. instead of waiting for frosts
hammers break off small squares of rock
About 1000 of these are placed on a
large round milestone with circular
grooves in ii.
Over this a large round block of oak is
put and kept turning all the time. while
" dtCi pOuiS over TIE Hill 1Iduud
ly the small stones work around through
the grooves until they are worn smooth
and round. Then they are taken out and
glazed. In this way the factory which
has many mill stones. can turn out thou
sands of real agates every day.
The alleys called chinas, plasters or
pOtteries are made of a kind of clay
which is baked in wooden mods then
dried and painted Marbles called crys-
tails, glimmers or glass agates are very
are all made of glass they soon become
Clipped. These alleys are made by melt
ing glass and then pouring II in polished
molds. Each mold holds but half of the
marble. but the halves are put together
SO carefully that the seam cannot be
found The tiny alleys are called pea
wees. while the large ones are called
bumboeS.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-09

~OYS when YOU dig about in moist
Il dirt in quest Of that little creature
- commonly known as the Fishing
worm" that YOU may supply your fishing
hooks with bait. do you know what an
important factor that same insignificant
worm is in the matter OF soil building:
Well in order that YOU may give him all
credit due. and possibly he merciful
enough TO kill him before managing his
poor helpless body on your hook. the fol-
lowing is quoted from most able sci
entific work pertaining to the subject:
The chief economic Importance of
earthworms tfshing worms, is princi-
Pal agents IN forming the mantle of humus,
or soil. which covers the dry land in all
parts Of the world. and buries the hard
rocks end sterile soil beneath it, Earth
worms abound In all parts of the world
they eat their way through the soil and
come out at night TO the surface. where
they forage about for leaves and stray
bits of vegetable matter, which they drag
Into their burrows To be nibbled and
swallowed at leisure Their castings.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-09
I Hammock a Boy Can Make

each of the sides OF each stave II the
slaves are very broad more margin might
De allowed. but care should be taken not
to make the two holes in each staye come
too close together. as that will cause the
wood to split Fasten the slaves at one
end of the barrel together with a rome
threading il under and over through the
holes. Then fasten the other end of the
slaves together in the same way allow
ing half of the rope for each side
DO not cut the rope, "a the long ends
left are for hanging the hammock from
trees or posts. In threading the slaves
keep the rope very loose. so that the
slaves may spread when swung as ham
mock Remove the bottom of the barrel
and any hoops that have been left on.
Spread out the hammock and swing be-
tween two shady trees. To protect the
wood from the weather. paint your new
piece of work pretty red. For comfort
use a washable quilt to throw over the
hammock when you wish to enjoy your
story book of wonderful people.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-09

after the evening meal. and paid
no attention to the conversation of her
son and daughter Flecklet and Petite
Flecklet was the son. a fine fellow or a
hare. and Petite was the daughter. a
dainty little miss. and her brothers jun
Tor
What was that you were saying.
Fleck?" asked Father Rabbit. addressing
himself to mis- son.
FleckIet laughed Why. dad. | was
lust saying that we are the only stay-at-
homes in the forest. All the other hares
go out to see the world. Now. there are
the Whitefeet. they went TO the very edge
of the city last week and had some thriil-
ing experiences. And the onor'hoses
have made many excursions from the
forest going right into the very midst
of people And | should like for our
family TO see some of the strange places
the Whitefeet and the ShortnoSeS ten
about We are bit old fogy. | fear,
dad.
Mr. Rabbit sat more upright than be
fore when his son made the last remark
Then he shook his head enphatlcaily-
"No son." he said, I'VE are not old-fosy-
We are cautious We have never had
hair OF our backs damaged. Never have
any OF us smelI the close pursuit OF
dog We have been content 10 remain in
our own happy little world, and thus far
have escaped any danger.
And missed many pleasure. de-
clared F'lecklet "One should see some
thing of the world even though one run
some danger in doing so.
And that's what | say. too. agreed
Petite. rubbing her face with a soft
paw. Il do get SO lonely staying at home
all the time without the least Bit of eX
element. Like brother. I'd be willing to
run into danger il by SO doing | could
have some pleasure and see new sights
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-09
Strength of Tiny Creatures.

1YHEN compared with the strength OF
man the strength OF an insect Is
most remarkable indeed. For instance
the busy little ant can carry a load forty
or fifty times as heavy itself, anC
the ordinary beetle can propel a burden
100 times its own weight. The insignifi-
cant house-fy gives 100 strokes of its
wings in about two seconds, thus ena-
bling II to go a distance of thirty five
feet in that time.
Perhaps the most wonderful of all in
sects is the dragon-fy. 1t goes through
the air at the rate of sixty miles an hour,
and can stop instantly or change its
course backward or sideways without
lessening its speed or changing the posi-
ton of its body.
One little honey bee will hang suspend
ed from limb while from its body a
hundred others will depend. one holding
to another. chain-f shioned. And one
cannot see that the first bee waivers or
finds its load heavy.